Dramatic Pony!

I love this photo because you can just imagine Renny working a herd of cows, trying to get them closer to safety before the storm rolls in.  He looks like his mama's son -- a good old cowpony!

My Beautiful Dog and her Chicken Friends

I am writing this entry on September 9, 2010, but this photo and video is from August 3, 2009.  My beautiful darling Zelia is looking at me with love and appreciation.  And I am truly blessed to say that just this morning, she looked at me with agreeable appreciation too.  We went for a jolly walk and had a happy breakfast and we kept each other cozy warm during the night because I've been leaving the windows wide open and the weather is getting brisker.  We are really a happy family!

My Happy Cutie Pie

Here's a June 1st photo of my delighted boy, grazing on long grass, enjoying his life while comfortably knowing that he's adored by Grandma and handsome as all get out!

My Untrained June Pony

Here's a photo and video taken June 1st, just a few weeks before Renny went into earnest training to become the most wonderful pony on the face of the earth.  His mane is strawberry blonde, his coat is still wintery, and he has the look of rough youth all about him.  Now he has a wintery coat coming in and a well-plucked mane and the look of responsible youth!  I adore this boy!

Cuddly Smooches

Namaste!  I hope you find a cozy corner and cuddly friend today!

Handsome and Annoying as a Baby!

Okay, so you all know that my darling, sweet pony went through an extensive month of training and that he's turned into an agreeable lovely sport pony.  He is genuinely affectionate toward family and friends, has a solid good nature, an outstanding work ethic, and a desire to learn.  No one could ask more from this pony.  So, I thought I would remind you of his absolute adorableness by showing you a picture when he was a little suckling.  This photo was taken on August 28th, 2008, when he was deeply in love with Ruthie, and the king of his little pasture!

Jacques Mamou Lagniappe, My Dear One

I love Jacques Mamou Lagniappe.  Everyone knows this fact.  He runs my household with a velvet paw.  He takes an interest in all matters, such as being an effective domestic lion, household tiger, and perimeter checker.  He has strong opinions about how and when I should feed him and his companions and clean his quarters.  And at night, he is insistent, with a solid tap-tap-tap on my shoulder, about waking me up and demanding that I lift the covers and let him snooze with me.  But he's losing weight again, after a nice long year of holding steady on methsimazole.  So, he's gone back to the doctor a few times over the past few weeks, and he'll go again today, September 9th.  He wants to explain his "position to his physician," so we can assess where he is on his kidney and thyroid troubles.  His eyes are bright and he hasn't really changed up his routine that much, but he is developing strong opinions about what he will and won't eat -- and I am working to oblige him.  I love this lovely fellow.

My Life So Far

So, I'm writing this entry on Thursday, September 9th, and I am feeling very thoughtful and mortal.  And so this morning, I woke up and realized that for as much as my entire life revolves around these horses and my financial life hangs on them that I am literally without doubt having the time of my life.  I am having the time of my life.  That I am tied into their lives and that they know and care for me as I care for them.  And that when I'm finally too old and rickety to ride or to Alzheimery to know much about anything that I'll be grateful so grateful so grateful that I had a friendship with Renny, and a relationship with Hailee, and a real meeting of minds with Count Fleet's granddaughter, Violet.  My herd, from Snowflake's Princess onward, just rocks.  And I had that happy thought this morning as I was sitting on my bed, relaxing and enjoying my time with my New Orleans krewe, Jackass and  Zelia.

Johnny Depp and Renny

So, I am writing this entry on September 9th and I'm feeling thoughtful.  Yesterday afternoon, I went out to the barn and brought Renny in from his pasture and set him up with his long-lines and then he professionally executed flowing changes of direction with trotting and happily quietly without fuss trotted over raised cavaletti multiple times on a circle.  He just banged it out, even when I was being all awkward and uncertain and clumsy with the lines.  He knew that I was sending him forward and so he just kept going quietly forward until waiting for direction.  I love him and I'm proud of him.  So, later that evening, while I was chatting him up in his stall, I talked with him about who should play him in the movie of his life -- James Dean or Marlon Brando.  And he and I decided that no one could play his cute adorable durable sweetness, but if someone were going to come close, it might be Johnny Depp.  So, that's where I'm at in life -- even Johnny Depp is not good enough to play my pony!

Patient Pony

Here's my pony, getting ready to give a brilliant little quiet happy workout!

Beautiful while Stepping Out

Namaste.

My Dressage Pony

It won't surprise you to hear that Mary at my barn is encouraging me to keep Renny and have him as my own little dressage pony.  As you can see in these photos, he would be a beautiful dressage pony!

Renny as Soccer Champion, June 4, 2008

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Here's a video when Renny  was a single week old -- is it any wonder he's such a champion!

My Bendy Flexible Baby!

Look at the collection and flexibility and roundiness of that pony!  Namaste!

Great Grandma Calls about Renny's Big Day!

I am writing these posts about Renny's big video day on September 8th and my mom just called to find out how it went for him.  I was so happy to be able to relate the story about my wonderful darling perfect pony! 

Light Light Light

Renny is light as a feather on his face.  He is joyfully trying to feel for his rider and his rider's desires!

Nothing Bothers Renny

I don't know why he was created to sweetly, but I have to say that nothing bothers my little Renny.  He genuinely wants to be a good loving kind-hearted boy.  He brings his best to his work.  And he acts sensibly in all contexts.  He's a blessing to me and I am hoping to develop courage through my training rides with him this Fall and Winter!

Renny's Sale Video Adventures

So, Renny was perfect for his under-saddle video which is great because the very knowledgeable Beth said that he needed to be.  I am glad the pony can perform under pressure!  But now she wants two last little videos of him to make his video sensational.  This week, and I'm writing on September 8th, I have to refine his long-lining skills and encourage him to not only change direction on the long-lines, but to jump cavaletti as well.  Then after filming his long-lining work, he has to run a chute and free jump. Then he can be done with proving his perfection!  But I like to joke and say that then he has to skydive from an airplane for his final video shot.  I love this pony and it is becoming more and more difficult to imagine selling him.  Even Coy admits to having affection for Renny.

Hailee and Her Two Moms!

Docs Unspeckled ROCK ON! Namaste!

Tracy Visits Hailee

The past month has been hectic.  I've got past the 5 year anniversary of my accident.  I've fallen off Violet.  I've seen Renny trained and greenbuilt and filmed for his sales video. I've ridden my own darling pony! I've learned new riding tasks and gotten more into the mindset of being a training rider rather than equitation rider.  It's all been wonderful, but really exhausting!  But one of the super nice events that happend among all this activity is that Hailee's first mom, Tracy, came to visit.  She hasn't seen Hailee since I purchased her, 8 years ago.  So, we were delighted when we went out to the pasture.  Hailee took one look and began to walk purposefully forward.  She took a small step and nod toward me and then walked right on up to Tracy and touched her fully -- a full joyful greeting.  She was happy to see her, as you can see in this photo.  I think Hailee was flummoxed to know that the people who love her in her life, don't disappear forever.  I was very happy on that Labor Day Monday -- Violet and I had a great riding lesson with Kelsey, Renny really cowboyed up and produced a great video, and Hailee was heart touched by getting to spend time with her two moms!  A really amazing tiring mindblowing weekend!

Renny's Ten Minute Ride

I was so frazzled that he'd almost been injured with a saddle under his belly and reins flying and galloping all over the farm and that he'd STILL delivered his very best heart to his work that I went home and cried myself sick.  I was sick all night long and deep into the next day.  But Coy said that I had to ride him for ten minutes just to test the brakes -- to make sure that he was still a sensible good boy rather than a terrified and naughty one.  And so against my judgement, I rode that pony.  And he was a Saint.  A hard-working pony Saint.  But then I gave him all day yesterday off, except for a brief little coffee chat with me in the morning at his pasture.  And now he's ready for light light light work and training!  And I am now his trainer -- with Coy's help, of course, every so often!

Renny's Big Video Day!

Okay, so on Sunday, September 5th, I went out to the barn early and let my little guy out for 40 minutes.  Then I brought him in to groom and prepare him -- making his socks white and his coat shine and trimming him everywhere.  He was a pony saint, entirely patient with everything.  Then Beth, Kelsey, Coy, Patrick, Emily and Nicole showed up to help with Team Renegade.  Renny posed for his photos beautifully and gave a great conformation shot.  Then he trotted for a hunter photo.  And this is when the excitement happened.  The girth was not tight and Coy had put his coat on a fence right where Ren would trot by.  Ren was trotting up and down up and down like a champion, but at one point, he saw the coat and took a step to the side -- not a shy, but a arching look.  And the saddle slipped.  Kelsey came off and the saddle dragged beneath him.  My dear pony was terrified and jetted around the farm for a number of minutes at top speed.  I was terrified he might run through the barn and hurt himself or run into a metal pump.  In fact, he ripped one of his stirrups off on the pump.  But when he finally stopped, he looked right at me and waited for me to come and get him.  And he didn't take a step away from me, he waited calmly.  And that poor dear pony didn't have a mark on him -- no gouges from the stirrups, no cuts from objects, no mouth wounds from the reins.  He was blessed and cared for by his guardian angel. 

And then the poor pony had to work.  And that wonderful pony gave beautiful perfect video.  He worked a pattern which showed him walking, trotting and cantering in both directions with several full stops, and he would give a perfect square stop and when petted would drop his head in a relaxed fashion.  And he gave his upwards EXACTLY when asked.  It was amazing.  I mean, I have never seen anything like it in my life.  He was better behaved than any horse at St. George.  And this was only after a second ride by Kelsey.  It was a tiny miracle on a blue sky radiant day.

And by the time Renny was done, he had worked officially 4 hours with a terrible scare in the middle.  I was blown away.  He was such a good boy, but man he wanted me to hurry up with his liniment bath and leave him alone, let me tell you!

I love that pony!

Renny and Kelsey Team Up!

So, on Saturday, September 4th, Renny and Coy worked with Kelsey, so that she could bond with Ren as his catch rider.  It was amazing.  She watched Coy warm up and then listened to instructions and then just bonded with my pony.  They walked, trotted and cantered like long-time friends in the late afternoon and I got to chat with Robin and Sarah about his many changes and mature attitude.  I was so wiped out by the fact that they were such a wonderful team that I conked out early -- which was good because the actual videotaping day was going to be filled with lots of excitement!

Preparing for the Big Day!

All right, so there's so much to post about the first 30 days of Renny's training, but I am going to focus on the events of the past weekend, starting Friday, September 3rd.  I met Coy out at the barn and the evening was dramatic and spectacular and broody.  And my little guy was perfect.  He was happy to canter over groundpoles, weave trotting between cones, work by all the jumps, and canter sweetly many many many times around the arena while working with Stacey's horse, Elliott.  I was so impressed with his very good nature, his absolute sweet nature.  In fact, I have learned that I aspire to many of Renny's qualities -- I want to share in his genuine affection for family and friends, his deep desire to learn, his outstanding work ethic, and his agreeable sensible good nature!

I Love This Pony!

Rock on.  Namaste.

 

The Very First Video!

Here is the very first video I ever took of any of my horses, taken on December 26th, 2007 -- the first of many many many videos!!!

Girls Hanging on a Cold Saturday

Here was a January 19, 2008 photo of Violet and Hailee when Hailee was a few months off from expecting Renny.  Hailee  had just arrived in November and after spending a week or so separated on turnout, I had begun putting them together.  Violet was in love instantly.  She had been aching for a friend.  But Hailee was more distant because she had spent a few years in pasture with buddies and plus she was busy making Renny.  So, Violet courted her with aggressive style -- offering to groom her, flirt with her, massage her!  She was like Hailee's little annoying sister.  You can almost see it in this photo, with Violet quietly standing beside her, with her ear flexed in her direction and Hailee calmly ignoring her!  I love these girls so very very very much!

Relaxing Sunday, Nitro in Tow

Here are some photos taken on a Sunday of April 28th, 2008 less than a week before Renny made his entrance into the world.  Hailee looks ready to have him and you can see that she's got a sweet gentle eye.  I sure enjoyed these special days.  Anyway, the funny joke was that I used to call him Nitro before he arrived as a way of talking about him.  But we of course gave him his sweeter name when we met our little tiny adorable pistol!

April Fool's Day with My Lovely Girls

Here is a photo and video of my girls, taken on April 1st, as they are relaxing in their pasture which hasn't quite started to grow grass yet for the Spring.  They love their lives at St. George and really think they have the best quality of care.  They have become real connoisseaurs in their expectations.  And why shouldn't they?  They are wonderful special girls!

Renny Eating in the Grass

Here's a June photo of my darling beloved little pony.  I'm writing this entry on Friday, September 3rd and I am working to coordinate Beth, Kelsey, Coy, and Patrick to get his photos and video made for the trainer and owner who might want to have him in his life!

 

Renny and Elliott

Here's an April  photo of Renny and one of his best friends, Elliott, a racehorse off the track.  Elliott is a peaceful loving fella and lives in the same aisleway as my little guy.