Happy Trails

Darah asking Jim to jump over the railroad ties

Jasper talking to the Donkey

Pretty butterflies in the pasture

Your horse is only as brave as you are

This last semester was rough to say the least so it has been a while since I have written though my time at the ranch has never wavered. My birthday week has been spent pruning trees, filling holes, fixing fences. I took Jasper out on a road ride where he spooked at every single thing he could possible spook at. At one point he spooked at a deer so severely that it looked like a ballet move needless to say I love my silly horse. It doesn’t seem to matter how crazy he acts or how many times I wonder what exactly he was thinking I never worry about my safety around him. We are getting to be pros at opening and closing the gate and we even checked the mail (though he did dent the box with his butt). After his ride we were both soaked and sore so I cooled him off and let him enjoy some much deserved grass time. Yesterday I started working on the stalls making minor adjustments to theoretically make my job easier in the long run by keeping the bedding in the stall it belongs in. I started with the first two stalls as my test stalls to see how it works. Eventually I will be adding shrubs along the back of the stalls to help keep the dirt from washing away and potted lavender plants   by each stall to help keep away flies. Everything is a work in progress, but I look out and see so much potential that I can’t wait for it to become a reality. My biceps ached so much last night that it took effort to wash my own hair and still I can’t wait to do it all over again today.

Jasper hanging out with me

Woody intent on the horse next door

Jasper and Woody heading down the road

Woody and Shorty hanging out

I just need summer

Finals are quickly approaching leaving me with very little time to myself. I live in a pattern of sleep, study, work, and school. Usually by this time of year I start feeling restless for summer. I need the time away from school so I can regain my enthusiasm for studying which most of the time I honestly enjoy. For now I can feel summer on the horizon and I can’t wait for long lazy days spent at the barn. Today I moved Jasper to the back pasture which has caused him to give me sullen looks from across the fence, but I know it is a good move for him since the horses in the back pasture are about his age and more likely to play. I am still practicing cantering and I have started working with Jasper on clicker training so that eventually I can ask him to lay down. I have high hopes that by the end of the summer Jasper and I will be settled into our partnership. Once Leslie is back on her feet I would really like to go for a trail ride at one of the state parks. Until then I have been keeping stalls clean and taking care of Penny’s wound which is looking much better, and slowly getting the barn area cleaned up and fly free.

Darah walking Jack into the round pen

Jasper licking his lips

Champ and Jim waiting to play in the water

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She discovered herself in the lost and found

I have never been a very confident rider, years in the saddle haven’t eased my worry though a few horses broke through my walls enough for me to enjoy a nice canter. I always think about the worst possible scenario and think that my balance is less than stellar. The horse I loved before Jasper was perfect for where I was at that time. He never asked for more than I was ready to give, but Jasper makes me want to be better for him. Today Jasper and I reached a milestone in our relationship by cantering for the first time. For fifteen minutes in the round pen I was asking for a canter and got no more than a very fast trot, I called Leslie and asked what I was doing wrong and after a few minutes of talking we came up with a different approach. Before I climbed down to tackle the experience from a different angle I decided to give it another try. My tenacious nature is something Jasper is learning to live with. This time he eased right into a nice three beat canter, I was so surprised that we only made it once around the round pen before we stopped for me to frantically call Leslie to give her the news. Jasper probably thinks I am an emotional mess because when we were done I cried into his neck and not the bad kind of cry, but the good, unbelievably proud kind of cry. I have never wanted to “own” a horse I want a partnership. I want to be the person that untangles his mane, scratches itches, doctor scrapes, and give kisses. At just a couple of months in we are still at the very beginning of our partnership and I think his confidence balances out my caution nicely. 

Jasper posing before our ride

Intent on what lay ahead of us

Feeling all scratchy

Everyday I’m grateful for moments like these

It’s been a couple of weeks since my last post, but things at Hope Ranch never stop moving. Everyone gets fed twice a day and stalls get picked or stripped then it seems like there are always feet to take care of or wounds to doctor. Somewhere in all the constant motion that is my life I have moments that make my heart melt. Every morning I walk through the gate and Jasper turns and calls to me I feel a little more at home. Each time I work with him and things go well I gain more confidence in our slowly growing bond, and even the moments that he acts up bring me confidence when we work through them. I cherish the little moments, the learning experiences, and the quiet times when everyone is fed and happy. It seems like even when the rest of my life is chaos I can still feel hopeful about the future with Jasper.

Two feet move our body, four feet move our soul

Leslie is back, and things are gradually moving back to normal. Penny still has a gaping wound on her shoulder that needs doctored three times a day and the vet is coming back out on Friday to make sure she is healing properly. Yesterday we took Jasper on his first road ride and it went better than I expected but we still have a long way to go. It’s frustrating when I know that he knows exactly what I want from him and he decides to misbehave anyway. We passed the geese of doom with few problems and even made friends with a cute donkey down the road. I love this horse, but I am still on the fence…sometimes it seems like he gets me and when we click it is perfect, other times I worry that I am not going to be enough for him. Now that he is gaining weight and being fed more he has plenty of energy, I can feel it in his body when he wants to run and it makes me sad that I am not comfortable flying with him. On another note I am optimistic about the minor adjustments we are going to make to the ranch to make feeding easier and the hay go farther. I can’t wait for summer to get here so I have more time to tinker with things.

Jasper making faces after snorting dirt

Leslie riding Champ

The herd lining up for fresh water

Penny’s vet visit

Lafayette bouncing around

Walk as you babble please

I think The Fates paused when they first heard Leslie was going out of town. As soon as it hit the air Jasper laid flat out looking exactly like dead horse, Woody got bitten by a snake, Penny got a gaping wound on her shoulder, and yesterday we found a snake in the hay. I am almost worried that some huge spider will be hiding in the feed room somewhere (my own personal nightmare) or somebody is going to colic. Now I have a had a crash course in horse vet care and am especially vigilant about stomping and making a lot of noise when I first go into the feed room. For the most part this week I had to hit the ground running. There is always homework to be done and work around the house, now for this week anyway the care of the horses rests on my shoulders. Jasper seems to have started gaining weight and Woody’s foot is better. I am trying to squeeze fun in my days somewhere even if it is a ten minute ride on Jasper or hanging out with Nimitz for a little while. In the mornings and evenings I try to spend a little extra time cuddling Quince. Even when things get chaotic I still love every minute of it. I love watching the horses graze or play, and I really love when Woody comes over and takes a nap with me on the porch.

Jasper has a BEAUTIFUL stride

Selfie with Champ

Jim enjoying his hay