1970's vintage dress pattern project... FINISHED :)

Just finished up my sheer yellow vintage dress pattern :)  This pattern is from 1976.  It was pretty simple.  I shortened the skirt and rounded it it to make a more hip T-shirt look.  It is going to go great with leggings and cowboy boots!  I painted the design on the yoke, which gives it a pretty neat throw back look.  What do you think?

Waldo Hills Heritage Ride

The plan was to take William on his first trail ride.  He had his shoes on, he was all ready to go.  Until, he got in the trailer with my friends 3 mares.  They did not agree that he should be allowed to go.  They all threw up a stink and Will jumped out of that trailer faster than I could say "Knock it off!"

So, I took a barefoot Laredo.  Four grueling hours, Larry and I slogged that trail like nobody's business.  Bring it.  And I rode it all in a crappy English saddle!  Bam!

Half way through we had a bbq lunch (delicious) and by the time we were done, Larry had been kicked in the chest by said mare above, and had four chipped hooves.  Darn rocks.  But no worries, he was fine, except for the rub mark that left his flesh sore under a boot cover.  Dang those boots.

We got home and I cold hosed him, fed him, doctored his little cut, found a sore on his back tendon, cold hosed some more, and then put him to bed.  This morning, he was bright and happy!  (although moving slow... just like me!)  Happy birthday me!

To Emerge

From beneath ruins of broken soldiers

She emerges with valiant whispers

Of a past she cannot shed.

But her feet are shaking,

Unsteady beneath her waking spirit

As she stumbles to find

what she is looking for.

He holds out His hand to catch her,

Puts His ear to her lips and hears

Her valiant whispers of uncertainty.

This is the pillar of two hearts

Fighting for life and love.

One sacred one broken.

This is the column of two strangers,

Brought together with reserve

And an expanse that no man can fill.

And she puts her hands on His chest,

And feels his heart beating there,

the fire of His love, His pierced heart…

and she emerges from her broken ruins,

and lets her spirit wake.

And They never forget...

Finally had enough sunny days to where the pasture dried up enough to do a little driving.  I'm too pregnant to ride right now, so I took the opportunity to check up on the boys and see where they are as far as remembering thier stuff.  William did AMAZING.  He was releasing his tail, lowering his head, picking up his back feet and propelling off the inside, soft in the mouth, well rounded and willing.
Laredo was stiff at first, argued with the outside reign a few times, but soon remembered what was up and who was boss.  He too calmed and rounded himself.  He is still unsure of the cantor.  I think he needs a back adjustment.  Maybe it just hurts?  Other than that, I have not been more pleased in a long time.

Then my 3 little cousins all got a ride on Laredo, who instantly realized children were on his back.  His eyes softened, his head dropped to the floor and his ears swiveled around to listen to their giggles in the saddle.  He was so sweet and calm.  That is why I bought this horse!

When all else fails...

For those of you who know the difficulty I had getting back to Oregon from Texas, it will be of no surprise to hear that the day before I was scheduled to leave, my horse hauler canceled.  He called me up and had the guts to say he had loaned his trailer out to a friend over the weekend, and it got totaled.  He had also conveniently lost his credit card and so could not rent a trailer to do the haul.  Did I mention I was at the airport picking up my mom who was going to be driving home with me the very next day? My world was shattered.  I was not going to leave my horses in the Texas waste land with no food or hay in the care of my landlord, nor was I going to send them to an auction.  They had both been up for sale for months with no real interest.  Suffice it to say, I was in a pickle.

That night, I barely slept.  I agonized over what I would do and how.  The next morning my mom and I went to this awesome little mom and pop cafe in Aubrey Texas, out by the vet clinic who had so graciously updated my boys' health checks the day before.  And we made phone calls.  So many phone calls.

"Hello, do you know of anyone who can haul 2 horses from Prosper to Salem?  HOW MUCH? Oh ok, thank you..." and so on.

Finally, we got three different referrals to Cross Country Horses, and on a last ditch effort, I called the number.  Turns out, God takes care of His own, even if it is in His own way.  Rene, the owner of the business, offered to pasture my boys at her private place until she returned from her current haul and could take them all the way to the front door of the barn outside of Salem.  Not only that, but she took the saddles and the tack box too, and the hay.

I was concerned that the horses shouldn't stay on the property another night, and refused to leave Texas without knowing the boys were safe, so Rene called a favor from a friend who was an equine dentist, and he showed up in less than an hour with a gorgeous trailer (and a beautiful blue heeler dog) and picked up the boys, the papers, the tack, the saddles, and the fee.  God gave me this kind of tranquility about the whole thing.  Laredo loaded like a champ, and William loaded right behind him after some investigation of the trailer.  With their little heads tucked in, and the extras on the back of the truck, I thanked God for coming to our rescue, yet again.

My drive home was a disaster.  Day one landed me in urgent care with pink eye, day three with double ear infections and a near ruptured drum.  Day four got me a speeding ticket, and all the while, we were burning so much gas from the loaded down civic, I was worried I would run out of money.  Still, every day I prayed that God would be my guide, that his angels would fly with us all the way home... and they did.

I expected my horses to land at Rene's for a month, and for her to haul them up in the beginning of April, but she was so on the ball that they left Texas on the 18th.
Two days before they were supposed to arrive, the barn owner where I was going to board called me and explained that a nasty strangles like cold was going around, and it was up to me if I wanted to risk exposing my boys to it.  As thin and hungry and tired as I knew they would be, I decided against it, and begged my cousin to let me borrow her horse barn for a few weeks.  She said yes, and again, I looked toward God and thanked Him.

Then, the night of the horses arrival, it snowed.  Not just a little snow.  It pummeled my cousin's house and barn.  We advised Rene she should wait until morning to risk coming all the way into Salem.  Another sleepless night.  The morning did not melt the snow, and I was anticipating the huge hill that leads to my cousin's barn, extremely steep, extremely icy, with a few blind corners thrown in.  No problem.  Rene's 63' truck and trailer setup crawled down that hill, straight to the front door of the barn.

My boys hopped off with bright eyes, healthy legs, happy nuzzles and ready to eat some Oregon hay.

When I think of how disastrous things could have gone, I again thank the Lord for all He did for me, my horses and Rene with her huge trailer.  If my boys had gone with the first hauler, who knows if they would have even made it?  I looked at Rene's website for a long long time one night, praying the two horses would make it safe, when I saw in the corner of her page these words:  "Runnin on Faith." Isn't that the truth?  Love has no Fear, and Fear has no place in our lives if we are living on love.   There is that theme again.  To love like Christ commanded, one must forgive, one must have faith, and one must be willing to sacrifice.

I know that Rene made a sacrifice for me and my boys.  She couldn't have possibly gotten a profit for hauling my boys so far for so little money, let alone keeping them on her personal property like she did.  But, I think that is just what people who love God do... they say yes, they love, and they run on faith.

Thanks Rene!

http://www.crosscountryhorses.com/

Sarah learns to love

The second Sunday of lent, 2012. 

On the second Sunday of lent, the sun shone.  Coming from Oregon, this beautiful Texas weather astounded me.  It shone so bright I was able to wear a sundress, and by 10 O’clock in the morning, had the windows and doors of my cottage thrown open.  But this Sunday was a Sunday like no other.  The patches of blood from Freedom’s killing still stained the gravel behind the pasture, but for some reason, the sun washed away its blackening color.  And then there was Sarah.

I met Sarah on Thanksgiving Day, the day I met the landlord and his family, and the day before I moved into the cottage.  The day I met Sarah, she was a mud covered mean nasty thoroughbred mare, what we often call the “boss mare”.  It was her duty to kick and bite the herd into submission under her, and if the herd failed to obey, she would pin her ears and force her bitterness onto the other horses.  As I went from one horse to the next, meeting all eight of them with the landlord’s children happily naming and pointing to each one, we came to Sarah.  She stood there with her eyes threatening, and her ears half pinned. 

I reached for her, but she was shy, and threw her head away.  I noticed her mane was matted and covered in nasty burrs.  I reached for the burrs, but her temperament would not allow me to touch her, and within seconds she had galloped across the pasture.  

Over the next few months, I noticed that Sarah had a special bond with Freedom, the large jumping Gelding and pasture mate.  They could not be separated.  She truly loved his companionship.  The next few months for me were also some of the most difficult I had ever experienced in my life.

I got laid off from my job and only source of income.  I was terrified.  Six months pregnant, alone, struggling financially so badly I worried how I was going to keep my electric on.  I took the weekend a weekend in January to wallow in the despair I felt.  I decided to go for a walk along the back side of the ranch.  I pulled on a pair of cowboy boots and a jacket and made my way down the gravel road toward the back pasture.  As I was walking, I gave up a series of prayers to the Lord, asking him in devastation to have pity on me and help me wade through this mud.  It occurred to me that I hadn’t seen any of the ten horses that roamed the property, not even my two geldings. 

As I walked around a heap of brick and other pieces of debris, the back pasture came into view.  But it wasn’t the pleasant pasture I was anticipating.  Something was wrong.  Sarah  had tangled herself in the white stretchy fence wire, ripping it from its posts, and dragging it about 60 feet into the pasture.  The wire was wrapped over her neck, between her breast and the around her left hock so tightly her leg was up and her head was low.  She couldn’t move.  Remarkably, my geldings calmly sandwiched her between them, heads low, softly nickering to her, reassuring her.  I approached her softly, and as I did, my geldings moved away.  The rest of the herd looked on with sadness; sure Sarah was a goner. 

At six months pregnant, I had a lot to lose by trying to free this mare.  She was known to kick and bite, but for some reason, I believe she knew I was there to help her.  For about 20 minutes I struggled, pulled, gently rearranged the wire.  Finally, she broke free and cantered off to join the ecstatic herd.  They leapt and reared, grunted and whinnied at the wonders of liberty as I stood there pondering this lesson. 

And then God spoke.  Elizabeth, you are this mare.  Do not struggle.  If you struggle, you will surely fall. Have faith.  While you are stuck in this fence, you must wait patiently for me, for I WILL rescue you, just as you have rescued this mare.  Do not fear.

Then, one by one, the herd returned to me, walking this time.  Each had kind eyes, and heads low.  One by one they came to me and touched me with their noses.  One by one they thanked me.  And at that moment, a peace washed over me, a grace I had never known, and I thanked God.

Sarah began to transform too.  In the barn, she would weave, a terrible habit created out of frustration.  I would often comfort her, pet her lovingly, and she would calm down.  But still there was something she lacked, or perhaps it was something that I lacked, that kept us from trusting each other.

And then Freedom died.  Sarah’s rock, her cornerstone, her best friend.  She watched him die.  For a week after his death, I monitored her.  She stood alone in the pasture.  She did not eat.  She did not bother the other horses, nor did she pin her ears or bite.  I worried about her, but there was nothing I could do.  Throughout the week I would go to the pasture and stand with the horses, talking to them softly, petting them one by one.

But something about the sunshine on the second Sunday of lent brought us together.  Sarah stood at the water trough, thirsty and looking at the dry plastic.  I pulled on some boots and immediately went out to fill the bucket.  She played in the water then, something I hadn’t seen her do.  She pushed her nose through the water, splashing me lovingly.  Then she put her head over the fence and stood looking me straight in the eye.  There was kindness in that eye, so I reached for her.  Instead of pulling away, she leaned into me.  I scratched her neck, her face, her ears, and one by one I pulled the burrs from her matted fur.

Again God spoke to me.  See how much she has grown and changed?  See how much more she is capable of love, and kindness?  She the anger she has left behind?  The fear of you she has conquered?  Soak up the beautiful sun and know that you have come this far as well.  You are yet again a new creation.  And I am proud. 

I was astounded.  It hit me quietly, peacefully, this revelation that not only had Sarah come so far, but I TOO had traveled this road with God by my side, and not only transformed myself more into his liking, but also those around me.  As people kicked and bit me along the way, God gave me the grace to love them anyway, to reach out my hand and fill their water troughs, remove the burrs from their faces, and offer my hand. 

So the two verses that follow truly made sense at that moment, a lesson learned yet again through the gentle quietness of a horse.

Stop being mean, bad-tempered, and angry. Quarreling, harsh words, and dislike of others should have no place in your lives. Instead, be king to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving you because you belong to Christ. 

Ephesians 4: 31-32

Look after each other so that not one of you will fail to find God’s best blessings, that no bitterness takes root among you, for as it springs up it causes deep trouble, hurting many in their spiritual lives. Hebrews 12:15

The death of Freedom

On the first Sunday of Lent, 2012, Freedom died.  And it was the violent and sickening death of Freedom that showed me the beauty of Peace, Love and Humanity.

Freedom, a nine year old registered thoroughbred gelding with impeccable confirmation, beauty and temperament, was the victim of inhumanity to the utmost measure.  Standing 16.1 hands tall, with what horse owners fondly refer to as a “soft eye”, Freedom was my dream horse.  And his only sin was being owned by a man who didn’t care.

                Horses, especially thoroughbreds, are prone to abscesses of the hoof in winter time.  Debris, nails, broken glass, rocks and other items can puncture the bottom of the hoof and cause a painful infection, which if left untreated can enter the blood, infect the bone, and cause unimaginable pain.  I watched Freedom suffer three abscesses in the months I lived on the ranch.  I also watched his owner, my landlord, shrug his shoulders and do nothing for the horse.  So, in my compassion for all living creatures, I took Freedom under my wing.  I hired and paid for a ferrier to come out to the ranch and trim Freedom’s hoofs, drain the abscess and take away the pain.  I fed and watered him, stalled him, and tried to help him.  But on a tight budget, I couldn’t afford the pain killers, or the other supplies to knock the abscess out.

                As a compromise, I asked the owner if I could search for a new home for Freedom, where he could have a job, and a family to love him.  Freedom was trained impeccably, and had been a winner in the fox hunting circle before falling into the hands of the owner of the ranch.  I found the perfect match for Freedom, a 14 year old hunter jumper named Taylor.  The moment she met Freedom, she saw what I saw – a diamond in the rough. 

                She and her mom took Freedom to the vet to get his feet looked at, and sadly the X-rays told a woeful story.  Freedom’s abscess and lack of care had been going on far longer than the few months I had been helping him.  Years.  His hoof wall was filled with debree due to no one taking the time to soak his infected feed.  There was swelling and scar tissue.  The outcome was that Freedom could get better, but would have cronic problems, and would need constant monitoring of the feet.  He did have a good outlook however, if someone would take the time to let him heal. 

                Unfortunately, Taylor and her mom didn’t feel that they were in a financial position to give Freedom what he deserved, or to take the gamble to undo what his owner had done to him.  They brought him back to the ranch in tears. 

                I met them at the barn and helped unload Freedom.  We all cried, and in our anger, expressed how shameful it was for his owner to treat his horses so poorly.  Choice words were said, and unfortunately overheard by the landowners 15 year old step daughter.  The stepdaughter in turn used our words as ammunition that evening, as she agreed that his cruelty to animals was wrong, and fought with the owner.

                At around ten that evening I got a phone call from the owner.  His voice was angry, and he told me how his step daughter was lecturing him about his lack of care toward the horse, and he didn’t appreciate that I had poisoned her with these thoughts.  He then announced that Freedom would be put down the following day, and that I was to remove my horses from his property as soon as possible or suffer the consequences. 

                The following day, I rounded up my two horses and put them in a safe pasture where I could monitor them.  I found Freedom happy in the back pasture, albeit in pain.  He greeted me and softly nuzzled me, let me scratch his head and neck.  I didn’t know it would be the last time I saw Freedom.

                At three in the afternoon, I heard a shot.  I ran to the big window of my cottage and looked toward the sound.  The land owner had brought all the horses to the pasture directly in front of my house, deliberately bringing them into view of my window.  He had shot Freedom, but in his anger and haste had failed to put the magnificent animal down.  Freedom’s eyes were wild, his head tossing in agony, blood spurting from his face and neck.  He struggled to get away from his owner, unable to find the strength to run.  The dogs ran away from the scene in fear, and the rest of the heard smelled the blood and began to pace and snort .  I ran onto the porch and started sobbing, the only words that could escape my mouth were, “Dear Jesus, no.  You sick son of a bitch, how could you do this?”

                Then the owner stabbed Freedom.  Freedom began to bleed out, and his head hung low.  The owner tied a rope around Freedoms head and staked it down, and one more shot later, the most beautiful horse I had ever seen crumpled under his own weight.  The shot rang out in my ears and I sobbed into my hands.

                As if he had just won a victory, the land owner left, coming back with a long strap which he tied around the animal’s body, and he drug the horse behind his station wagon, over a gravel road and dumped it into a pit, bruising the flesh and leaving a trail of blood. 

                My anger boiled, and my sadness at his inhumanity overwhelmed me.  I could not understand why or how any human being could do such a thing.  The most common synonyms for the word “humanity” are sympathy, tenderness, and goodwill.  And yet I had just witnessed a human act out of vindictiveness and hate, deliberately killing a creature for no other reason than power and punishment, and deliberately positioning the killing in front of me so I would suffer.  He had not put Freedom down out of tenderness or sympathy to keep him from suffering.  And he had not done so swiftly and painlessly.  It was a true act of Inhumanity. 

                I fled the property, the image of Freedom’s crumpled body fresh in my mind.  I went to mass, where I screamed up at the crucifix, “How can you allow these terrible things to happen?”

                And God answered me.  Freedom paid for the sins of his owner today.  He was innocent, perfect, beautiful.  Think now how I paid for the sins of all humanity.  Think of the Roman soldiers, and their vindictive hateful torture of me.  Imagine the pain you felt watching that beautiful creature fall, and magnify it by my twelve disciples and my mother as they watched me get dragged to my death, beaten and bleeding, defeated by this “humanity” that I love so greatly.  You must understand the true meaning of what was done to me.  You must understand the hate, the motivation behind my death, and yet I still chose to die.  Your tears for Freedom are real.  Your emotion is real.  Your love is real.  You are fighting all this hate with love.

                At the end of mass, the priest spoke the familiar words, “go in peace and love…” I wondered how one person going out into the world in peace and love could ever make a difference.  How many more Freedom’s must die?  How many more people must live not as humans, but as inhumans.  I thought of the disciples hiding together in a locked room, mourning the loss of their beloved friend. They were afraid to go into the world in love and peace at first.  They were afraid of the evil, the hate, the vindictive nature of the ones who despised God so much they would torture and kill him. 

                And in that moment, God gave me the strength to lean on his death.  As Jesus plead for all humanity saying, “Forgive them, for they know not what they do (Luke 23:34)” I know now that going in peace and love truly means loving all humanity, in its humanity and in its inhumanity, as Jesus did.  What greater price to pay is there, than death? And what greater way is there to conquer this than by loving and fostering peace? 

                Even in his death Freedom was beautiful, showing me what it means to love.  Even in His death, Jesus conquered hate, torture, anger, and inhumanity.  What more is there for us as Christians to do then truly go in peace and love? 

                Freedom, you are truly free now.  I will miss you, and I love you.

Quiet Mornings are my Favorite time of the Day...

After a night that is all too short, and often too cold for comfort, even with a cow hide on the bed, my alarm clock never gives me a break.  I'm up too early, every day, and it seems to be getting harder and harder.  My coffee pot broke (thats what you get for paying $9.89 at walmart for a coffee pot) and even if it did work, it doesn't have a timer on it to make the coffee for me to greet me when I get up.  Nope.  Nothing that fancy.  So the routine is getting old, but there are horses in the barn.

So it usually goes like this:  Alarm goes off, I hit snooze, and then it goes off again.  So I flip the light on, and wait for my brain to wake up.  When it does, I jump up and get as many jackets and sweats on as I possible can, then muddy boots, and a treck out to the barn.  The good thing is, the lights work in the barn now, so I don't have to use the flashlight app on my cell phone.  And then my favorite part of the day...

William's stall is on the very very end, so when I get close enough to see inside the dark barn, I can see him standing there, sleeping.  He is always asleep, tired and groggy.  But when he hears me, he opens his eyes and perks up.  I go to him first, and hug him, at least until he has to pee, and then he does, and I move on to give Laredo a hug.  (by this time, Laredo is wide awake and peeking over the stall door to say good morning.)  Then I pack buckets of water, and I chuck in the hay that isn't great quality but gets the belly full.

And all too soon its six o'clock and I'm going to be late for work, so I have to leave the quiet barn with its sweet smell, dusty stalls, and ponies.  That moment though, when all is dark, and I can see my breath, and my big Thoroughbred wakes up... knowing I am the first person he sees, knowing how much he loves me - he tells me so with his morning nibbles and kisses... that is my favorite time of day, despite the chore of getting up.

Come Holy Spirit, Come.

Last night, I went to a Charismatic Prayer group at a new to me church in McKinney.  It was fantastic.  The Holy Spirit was so alive there.  We sang together, and prayed together.  Hands were laid on me, and God spoke to me, giving me peace, and wisdom.  So many things blossomed from this hour and a half - friendships, a sense of peace and belonging, and most importantly, peace. 

Please vote for me!

Hey everyone!  I entered a writing contest on Horseloverz.com.  Please follow the link and vote thumbs up for my story! 
http://apps.facebook.com/contestshq/contests/113913/voteable_entries/39465574

The Secret of the Stable

Some people believe that when the wise men arrived to give gifts to our Savior, Jesus Christ, on Epiphany, they were the first to bow down to Him.  But this is not so.  There is a secret that not many people know, a secret about the night when the Christ child was born.  The night He was born, a magical thing happened in the stables far away.

On the Eve of the very first Christmas, the night was very cold, and the stars were very bright.  Mary and Joseph, weary from miles and miles of travel, searched for an inn where they could lay down their weary heads for the night.  But Mary soon realized that she was to give birth to Jesus on that very night. 

As she felt the pangs of labor creep up on her, Joseph frantically knocked on the doors of all the houses and all the Inns.  But there was no room for them.  Joseph, his eyes sad, began to lead Mary away from the houses, worried that his son would be born in the cold.  

As they walked away from the very last house, candles dimly lighting the windows, a very old man opened the door and called to Joseph.  He had seen the couple and his heart welled with pity and sorrow at their plight.  He beckoned them to follow him to a small stable behind his modest house.

Mary, in much pain, thanked God for even this small mercy, and followed Joseph to the stable.  The man led them inside, his lantern casting yellow light on the golden hay that blanketed the ground.  Joseph gently made a bed of straw for his wife, soothing her as she lay down.  As the kind man left, he said, “I am sorry you must sleep with the dirty animals,” but Joseph and Mary didn’t mind.  Joseph looked around them, saw the animals and replied, “Each of these animals is a creation of our God.  We are honored to sleep with them on this joyous night.”  The man left Mary and Joseph alone with the animals and returned to his small home.

There were many animals huddled in the stables.  The night was cold, but the heat from the animals warmed Joseph and Mary.  Sheep, Oxen, donkeys, and horses, all stood breathing quietly, watching as Mary labored to bring our Savior into this world.  One by one, the animals drew closer, anticipating the moment when the Christ child would be born unto us.  Their large eyes were soft; their kind faces seemed to be smiling.  How could they know that this child was to be King of Kings?

As the stars and moon shone brightly overhead, Mary gave birth to the Christ child.  Joseph wrapped the infant in blankets made of fleece, and laid him in a manger.   As Mary knelt in front of her child, the animals huddled around her, and at exactly midnight, each animal, one by one bowed its head and knelt in front of the Christ child. 

Mary and Joseph stared in awe as the creatures knelt and worshiped the King of Kings. The child smiled at them, playfully reaching out to pet their warm fur.  None of the animals moved, none of them uttered a beastly sound.  No bray from the donkey, no moo from the oxen, no whinny from the horse.  Instead, something much more magical happened. 

As the donkey knelt, he looked at the child and said in perfect human words, “Lord, I carried you here from Nazareth to Bethlehem, safe inside your mother’s womb.  I am proud to be your servant.  I will carry my load in all my days to come in Your honor, o Lord. And he who works me and packs loads on my back will see my devotion to please, and will think of You instead of me.  This is my gift to you.”

Then, as the sheep knelt, they spoke together, “Christ Child,  we warmed you in your first minutes of life on Earth, and we offer you our fleece, that you and your people may be warm always.  This way, whoever wears our fleece will think of He who created it, and the Glory will be Yours.  This is our gift to You.”

Next, the kneeling oxen spoke. Their huge and powerful bodies doubled and their large heads bowed down.  “My King, we offer you our strength.  Our backs will bear a burden always, and in love for you, we will work and toil for Your glory.  This way, whoever sees an oxen work, will see not us, but You instead.  This is our gift to you.”

Last, the horse knelt.  His solemn face was full of hope, his powerful body humbled in front of the child.  He leaned toward the infant and said, “Oh my Lord, I will be an instrument of many wars.  I will be the means of much travel.  I will carry your beloved people faithfully, and allow them to ride me to safety, through fields and through battle.  I give you my sure footedness, my loyalty, and my beauty, so that whoever sees me will see not a horse, but You instead.  This is my gift to you.”

As the animals gave themselves freely to Jesus, Mary and Joseph watched, knowing that someday, their son would do the same for all people on earth. 

So you see?  The first to bow down to the Christ child were the most humble of all beings.  They were the animals of the stable, not rich kings from far away.  They gave everything they had to Jesus, things that mattered more to them than any riches like gold, frankincense and myrrh. 

It is said that to this day on Christmas Eve, at exactly midnight, all the animals in their stables look up to the heavens and then bow down, kneeling for our Savior, Jesus Christ.  The animals, one by one, give themselves freely to the King of Kings, offering themselves to Him, just as you and I should do. 

HAY!

For those of you who have any inclign at all about what is going on in Texas right now, there is no hay.  And the hay that does exhist, is very very expensive.  Soo...

We finally got some in the other day.  Now let me remind you that it has been a tough find.  My two horses have been scrimping on food, and both of them are far too skinny for my liking, and theirs too.  So when we threw the hay over the fence, they pounced!  They gorged.  They ate and ate and ate.  I went back into the house and was doing dishes, and finally I looked outside into the pasture.  I noticed both boys laying down taking sunny naps, bellies full, sun warming their skin.  They looked so pathetic, and so sweet out there in their pasture! 

Awww to feel full!

If I had only taken a picture...

Well, the horses are all settled in to the new ranch.  They have a pretty decent place, minus running water, so hopefully I can think of something to get water to them instead of bucketing 5 gallons at a time out to the pasture.  ANYWAY...

I was out there fixing up part of the fence when I looked up and in the dim light of the evening, saw the landlord's 8 horses standing at the fence looking at me and my boys curiously.  They were so cute, all standing exactly the same, all their heads over the fence just looking.  It was like they were all saying "who are you?  what are you doing? we wanna see!"  Two little white heads, some stars on faces, a red colored gelding... they looked so dang cute! 

So I grabbed my cell and flipped it to camera mode, just as one of the mares decided she was being crowded, kicked at another mare, and broke up the perfect shot. 

Oh well. 

At least my boys are making friends :)

Back in the saddle.

Last night, I got to the barn pretty late.  It was dark, and there are no arena lights.  Crazy Texas weather, it was 80 degrees, and I was hot in a tank top.  But it didn't matter.  I pulled laredo out of the pasture and we saddled up.  He wasn't super happy about working before dinner, but his contempt was only mild.  We got to the arena and all alone, in the dark, we had a wodnerful ride. 

He is softening.  He is responding.  He bends when I remind him with a little pressure from the outside reign, and yields well.  He is a whole new horse.  When I got this horse, he was confused, angry, defensive, upset... He didn't understand the bit, or leg cues.  His fear pushed him forward, and the thought of slowing down or even stopping was terrifying to him.  Every cue meant "RUN FASTER!" and he did.  

But last night, in the dark, with William jelously whinnying from the fence, Laredo slowed down.  He put his head down.  He softened in the mouth, and listened to my heels.  He circled with a wonderful bend, and then found center, both ears back listening to me tell him "good boy, atta boy!" 

Something about the dark, about being totally alone, about not knowing if its going to be a good ride, or a bad one... there is something to be said about that.  And there is something to be said about great accomplishment and improvement, even after the road has been terrifying.  I can't imagine the peace Laredo must feel now, knowing that I am safe, that I am going to guide him, not push him, knowing that there is nothing to run from... not even fear. 

It was a good lesson.  For us both.

An exciting beginning!

It has been a very long time since I last posted on my blog, and that is simply because so many things have been changing.  I was away from my horses for 2 months because I moved to Dallas TX for a job opportunity.  Well, this last weekend, they finally arrived!!
We took them first to a little "barn" that I found on craigslist, thinking it would be sufficient for them, but when we got there, we quickly realized it would not do... at all.  There were two emaciated horses there, and they were both sick, caughing, with snot and goopy eyes.  I immediately worried about my own boys, and wormed them right away.  I also put them in the paddock and insturcted everyone not to touch them.  So sad to see someone else's horses so sick and starving, and there is nothing I can do.  I am half tempted to just go get some penicilin and give them a dose...

So I found a better barn and we are moving them today.  They will each have a cozy stall and turn out.  And as soon as we leave the first place, I will probably call the SPCA and turn in the owner of the poor horses that are starving.  It makes me so angry!  I want so badly to go in there and march out of there with both of them so I can fix them up and give them a chance at life... but I could never afford it.  How can God allow his creatures to do this to innocent animals?  Some humans are so cruel.  It's a lesson I will never fully understand.

A letter I wrote for my confirmation class...

Being the good little Catholic (dont laugh) that I am... I was a mentor for this year's high school aged kids going through confirmation classes.  I wrote them this letter and gave them each a gift after the ceremony, and today I found it again and read through it.  I think it is important to share it here...

May 12, 2011

Ok, today is the day.  What does it mean?  We have been going to classes all year, and now it’s finally time!  But seriously… confirmation?  What is going to happen?  What will tomorrow feel like?

Honestly, you will probably wake up tomorrow, and feel exactly the same.  You will go to school, eat lunch, go to your sport practice, or do homework.  But I promise, something will be different.

I have gifted each of you with a real sand dollar.  The prayer on the postcard gives you all the cool information on the symbolism of the sand dollar.  Read it.  Think about it.  Pray about it.  The story of Christ’s wounds and death are on the sand dollar.  But more important is what is inside! 

Inside each one, there are little bones that are shaped like doves.  They are there.  Trust me.  Just like the HOLY SPIRIT inside each of you.  When you were baptized, God planted his SPIRIT inside your body, just like he planted these little bones inside the sand dollar. (Amazing really).  During Confirmation, that SPIRIT is MAGNIFIED! 

Confirmation is the final step.  You are all fully Catholic. You are in communion with the Church, and also, God has set you forth as of this day to spread his SPIRIT.  Trust me, it’s in there!  Trust me, it will magnify! Just like a drop of water, it will soon flow into a river, and then the ocean – Huge and Powerful!  So the SPIRIT will grow in you, ever flowing, ever changing, ever MAGNIFYING.

You may not feel it today, or tomorrow, or even a year from now.  Let it grow!  Believe that those little doves are inside you, and let them take flight!

I am so proud of you!  I know that each of you will grow to live lives with purpose, and love, and SPIRIT. 

Let God in, and don’t shut him out.  Let the little doves fly inside you, and don’t cage them.  Be who God made you to be, and Enjoy your journey!

I am a bad ass....

... I hit a pop can from over 100 yards with the 270.  Then end.

A fourth of July to die for...

...another year has gone.  Funny how I mark years not by the Christmas season, New Year, or even the beginning of the school year.  Nope... The year starts and ends with the 4th of July.  So much happened over the fourth of July weekend.  I took Friday through Tuesday off work, and the sun came out to play.  Of course my holiday revolved around 2 things:  Horses, and Rodeo.

Friday was a standard drill team practice, nothing too special.  Horses did great, the team did awesome, and everyone got along. Saturday we headed out to the Rodeo in St Paul.  Sunday was a bit more challenging as something very unexpected happened.

My boss and her kids came out to ride my paint gelding (such a good babysitter).  I got to the barn early to feed so he wouldn't be pushy with the six year old.  But as I walked out to his pasture, I noticed his buddy, my thoroughbred was not acting himself.  Will is normally the bully (see previous posts) ramming his big head into me, nickering / screaming for food.  Not on Sunday morning.  He looked at me with his eyes droopy, looked at the hay, and then lay down in a pile of his own poop.

Now, I have had that horse for almost a year, and let me tell you - HE DOES NOT LAY DOWN.  So I immediately knew something was wrong.  I grabbed a halter and rope, and made my way over to a very tired, very sick thoroughbred.  By the time I got him on his feet he was shaking, sweating and generally not happy.  The kids had arrived by then, and wanted to know everything there was to know about why my horse was sick, and when would he be better so they could ride the paint.

I called the vet, suspecting colic after I noticed Will kicking and biting his sides.  I finally got a vet to come out and check on him, and we both became worried when his temperature spiked at almost 104.  We had to sedate him to do a rectal exam, which came out fine.  The blood sample was on its way to the clinic by the time the vet told me he suspected Rhino.  Great.  Rhino.  Just what I frikin needed.  I put the horse in his stall to chill out, and took a deep breath.  There was nothing I could do but wait for the blood test to come back.

It came back all clear.  So what was wrong with my horse?  The kids rode, and I got ready for the parades the following day (Monday the 4th).  Larry got a bath, and he got a tune up right before bed time.  I checked on Will, took his temp and gave him the electrolytes and probiotics the vet gave me.

And then the next day Will lost his whinny.

I had no choice but to go to the parades and the rodeo on Monday.  Larry was all ready to go, the team was counting on me, and I had to just get er done.  So I put some apple juice in Will's water and prayed to god he would drink something while I was gone.

When I came home, he was covered in little pock mark like bites... hives maybe?  And he still had no whinny.  The vet gave me some more bute and we wondered if he might have some sort of Laryngitis or something... so we hoped the Bute would take away the sore throat.  It worked, and within 2 days, my boy charged me at the fence again...

Naughty boy.  Gotta love him. I'll go into detail a little later about our wild Rodeo weekend :)

Just because you are big and mean...

... Doesn't mean Im AFRAID OF YOU!

And it all started on Friday.  There we were in the arena... and we were riding pretty good.  My big boy wasn't listening to the outside aids, in fact he was flat out ignoring them.  So Im all "Sure, Ill just switch the whip and hold it on the outside shoulder..." So I did, and I flicked his shoulder to remind him he couldn't run through the circle...

and he got mad.

and madder.

and even more mad.

I was letting him have his face to sort of start over, and then I gathered the reigns up again and asked for collegtion and shoulder, and WHAM!

He rears up.  I sat the first two, no problem, but the third was more of a rear / twist thing, so in my mind Im thinking "Holy crap Im going down, make sure you fall on the good leg, not the bad leg,,, oh God not the bad leg!  So I release the face, so we won't flip, and shift my weight so I slide off to the side (the good leg side) and Biff right onto my hip. 

He just stood there like a triumphant idiot so I got up, grabbed my whip, got back in the saddle and schooled him again.  He must have known he did something naughty, because after I got back on, he was a lamb. 

Short lived, let me tell you.

This morning I went out to feed, and it had started to rain, so I got out his little rain sheet.  (Mr. Sensitive doesn't like to be cold).  He put his head through the hole, and I got all but one buckle done, and he came at me.  I mean, nostrils flaring, ears twitching, head swingin, rearing up and strikin the air at me.  I took a step back to keep my face in one piece, and then I let him have it.  I was jumpin up and down, screaming and charged him fists flying...  he came back down on all fours and looked calm, so I walked up to him and reached for the buckle, and he came around and bit my finger!

Slap.  Square in the face.

I was done messing around.  I got a big whip.  A really big whip.  and no sooner had I entered the paddock with that whip, he changed his tune.  Back to being a lamb.  I wonder how short lived this time will be??

Collection and Canter!

After a month of no walking let alone riding, and then two of solid ground driving and collection on the lines, my thoroughbred had a marvelous breakthrough.  For those of you that have been reading (if anyone does) you will remember the bucks and insecurity my boy had when asked to canter.  Even on a lunge line or long lines, his canter looked  more like a rocking horse with cow kicks than a canter.  So we went to the crupper.  It started helping, and he loosened his rear end.  His topline grew, and it no longer looks like a tent. 

Last night, I drove him to warm up and got his head nice and collected.  He was bending nicely at the poll and yielding at the girth.  Then we went to saddle up in our new jumping saddle which fits him like a glove (he doesnt even flinch when I tighten the cinch).  A friend helped me on one end of the lunge line, and I asked for a yielded walk to both sides.  He yielded nicely, forgetting at times, but always responding to cues.  Then we tried the trot.  Again, he yeilded beautifully, even tracking out ward for a bigger circle.  He didn't bawlk like was the norm a few months ago.  Finally, i knew he was ready. 

I asked for a canter.  The first try, he got the correct lead, but felt unsure and stumbled down to his trot.  I rewarded his effort and we went back to a trot / walk circle.  The second time, he slipped right into a wonderful canter.  We did circle after circle of a beautiful collected canter.  All that Long Line Driving paid off!!!!!

Switched directions and he had no problem.  It was wonderful.  So our confidence was high, and we decided to ride free of the long line.  My friend stepped away and my TB and I trotted out and hit the rail.  I asked for the cantor again, and we were off!  It was amazing!  Such a wonderful treat after so much groundwork... must be because I'm a perfectionist!

Riderless Horse

I found this article online and just had to share it...

Article on the Memorial Day Celebration that goes with the photo above:"Our smalll equestrian unit, known affectionately as "Paso Fiesta", had already been participating in local parades for several years. We had entered the Palatka Memorial Day parade the previous year donned with patriotic attire. We decided the following year, 2006, we wanted to do something special. Something that really paid tribute to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our Country.We were hesitant to go through with the idea that came to mind and so we set it aside. We were going to use our tried and true patriotic red, white, and blue theme. Then one day while gathered for lunch the subject came up again. Why not go thru with it. Who cared if it was ethical, or went against regulation or not. It was the least we could do to show the veterans and their families we have not forgotten about them.Weeks were spent gathering up the props needed… an authentic Army saber, actual Cavalry spurs used by one of the riders ancestors, black riding boots, all black English tack with the proper bit, rigging, and a hand made saddle pad with the US insignia. The beautiful black Paso Fino stallion, Fantasma de Dominar, would play the starring role. Lastly, MSG Donald Rollison, a friend of one of the riders, would be in full dress uniform volunteering to lead the "riderless horse".Fantasma (aka "Phantom") was bathed and clipped and looking his best. This was to be the most important role of his life. He’d been everything from a trail mount, endurance competitor, team penning horse, show horse, and breeding stallion. He knew something was different that morning that we all arrived at the muster site. His normally quiet demeanor was exceptionally solid and serious. The rest of the horses in our group were also quiet and reserved.Though the rest of our group were dressed in our usual white attire accented with sequined red, silver, and blue vests, sequined bowties, white top hats, sequined saddle pads, and red, silver, and blue ribbons in the horses’ manes and tails, Phantom was the focal point. We took our time getting him ready as everything had to be just right. Don too was making sure every accessory to his uniform was in its proper place.It was time to get in line and wait, wait, wait. It was getting hot. We were getting anxious. We didn’t know how the crowd was going to react to our presentation. A few people that were near where we were lined up came to pet the horses and have their pictures taken next to them. Even the Mayor of Palatka came to stand by Don and Phantom as well as a few soldiers from one of the local military units.It was time to march. Don and Phantom leading the way. Ahead the crowd was loud. The Shriners were revving the engines to their go carts, fire trucks blasting their horns and sirens, hot rod cars gunning the motors to their big V8 engines. The noise was almost deafening. We gave ourselves plenty of distance from the commotion that was going on ahead of us. Not only to save the horses from the fumes and noise, but also to ensure that our presentation had the full visual effect we were hoping for. We were not disappointed.A wave of silence spread out before us as we approached. Hushed whispers could be heard on either side of the street. Parents and Grandparents could be heard murmuring to their children and Grandchildren the significance of the "riderless horse". Spouses and mothers of fallen family members wept at the sight they saw before them. One ragged veteran in particular caught our attention. He struggled to rise from his power chair, his wife steadying him as he rose. His hand lifted to his brow in a proud salute as tears trickled down his checks from behind his dark shades. He was fighting hard to retain his composure. We nodded in acknowledgement and quietly passed.
We knew we had done the right thing.And so it has been every year since. Phantom proudly leads the way and we still get choked up as we watch the reactions of the crowd. Veterans stand at attention and salute. Family members wave and thank us as we pass. All too often the true meaning of this day is forgotten amongst the hype and commercialism. This is our way of getting back to what it’s all about. Remembering our troops, our fallen soldiers, our heroes."

Thats a DIRTY pony!

So...

Laredo the tri color Tobiano paint came out to my barn yesterday afternoon!  He was so dirty you couldn't tell he was tri-colored!

I got off work and headed out to the barn.  I got my TB first, and got him all settled in his stall.  He was all soggy and wet, and glad to be inside.  Dummy would NOT eat his hay outside!  Its like he is annorexic horse or somehting. 



Anyway



Then I got Laredo and took him inside.  I lunged him for a few minutes, and honestly Iwas not impressed.  He behaved bad, but I then had to remember he has been out to pasture for a year.  In the end, he did some very interesting trotting, with his tail up like an arabian, all stretched out like some sort of walking horse.  Pretty funny!



Then, It was time to wash him off, with lots (a whole bottle) of soap.  The black was pouring down his body in waves.  I wanted to check him for cuts, rot and anything else I should know about before I ride him, buy him, or give him back.  I found a few cuts, and some bite marks, but nothing bad. 

After my friend and I worked on lathering him up for almost an hour, we were done and he was sparkly clean!  All beatuiful and tri-colored! He has spots I didn't know exhisted!

What a weekend!

It all started when a friend came out to the barn to help me with my TB.  She rode for a bit and then I jumped on him (naughty i know..) brace and all.  We did great... for about three cirles, then I asked him to lope.  He did.  check.  Then He stopped, so i  urged him on ane he went straight up.  Now normally, I would just lean iN, squeeze hard and ride it out... NOPE!  That dang brace kept my from using my left thigh to squeeze in, so instead, after a failed attempt, I just slid right off his back onto my bum.  I rolled and covered my face, anticipating the kick... but it never came  That stupid horse just stood there with his ears back waiting for me.  So I got up, dusted off, remounted and rode him again.  I win.  I always win. 

Then we went out and rode my friends horses.  Then we roped.  Then we went out and looked at (and rode) a big gorgous paint QH gelding I am looking at buyin.  He rocked my socks.  I really want him. 

Anyway, the sun was in and out, the hail came and went, but it was a good weekend. (Minus the butt bounce)

Chicks, Horses, and Sunshine!

My little chicks are growing up.  Every morning I feed them and fill their little water trough and they run up to me and peck at the food and fluff their yellow feathers.  They are soo  cute!  And the best part is, our Jack Russel Terrier stays home now, running in circles around the coop barking.  I won't ever have to worry about him running away again! 

I am also going to be leasing a horse for a few months to do some western stuff, ride in clinics, do some drill team stuff and generally enjoy the spring and summer.  He is dead broke so I can ride him, and not worry abut my knee. 

My thoroughbred is doing FANTASTIC.  He is doing wonders on the long lines.  He tucks his head into a beautiful arch and is learning to propel forward from the rear, instead of pull the rear behind himself.  He is loping better, not throwing his head and body all over, and learning to round himself.  I can't wait to ride him, and feel the difference in the saddle.

Speaking of saddles...

I need a new one.  Anyone have an old jumping saddle they don't need???

A dominance thing...

So, there I was walking out to the paddock, having fed and watered the other horses, getting ready to wrap it up and go shower for work... when WHAM!
The Thethoroughbred sprinted at me, no her CHARGED at me, head flying, mud splattering, hair in all directions, coming straight at me.  So I dropped the bucket, stood up as tall as I could, flung the lead rope around in the air and screamed at him.  He dugg in, slid up to me, threw his head, bobbed his body and snorted.  I kicked at him, jumped up and down, yelled...
So he spun and kicked back.  So I ran towards him yelling, throwing the rope at him, pushing him away.  So he turned and reared up at me.

Ok, let me put this in perspective.  He is 17 hands, at the whithers.  At the head, when he is excited, he is prbably easily 2 feet taller still.  When he REARS... good gravey he is a monster!  I was looking up at him, his hooves pawing the air, I could see the veins popping in his arm pits.  So what do I do?  I scream, "Im not afraid of you, you bully!" And I take the lead rope and whack him on the belly.

He flew off the handle.  He slammed down to the mud, charged again, caught me off guard and I had to step backwards... I stepped but my boot didnt, so I was knee deep in crap and mud.  So I grabbed the bucket and threw it at him, forgot the boot and screamed at him flinging the lead rope, kicking, flailing anything I could do.  So he took off running... straight for the gate.

I forgot to mention that my dog was waiting paiteintly for me at the gate, and when he saw that monstor of a horse coming at him, he tried to high tail it out of there.  So I yelled at him, "Ivan, stay.  Flush 'em out!"  So Ivan crouched down and started to growl, which put the breaks on the dumb horse. 

Finally, the horse realized I was the boss, and I wasn't going to back down, so he stopped running, stopped charging, and just stood there.  For good measure, I ran at him and chased him to the other end of the paddock.  When he was all calm, I let him come to me, and that was that. 

I win, you big jerk.

Sweet Sweet Success!

April 10th 2011 was a very succesfull Trail Clinic and Raffle.  We have decided it will be the FIRST ANNUAL Benefit clinic, so gear up for next year!  Everyone walked away with awsome raffle prizes, and we had a total of 9 rider and horse teams, which was perfect for the first clinic.  We all got our feet wet! Our clinician was awsome...  He dd two sessions and did a fantastic job.  I hope you all enjoy a few of the photos taken yesterday!  Oh I almost forgot... we raised a grand total of $436!!!