Amazing Renny

I am writing this entry on November 11th.  Hailee has still only been gone less than a week, but it's been a really tiring time.  She was getting ready to leave.  I travelled for a conference.  I'm dealing with the big end-of-semester rush.  So, I gave Renny his first full week off from work since he first learned how to be ridden.  And you can bet that on Tuesday, two days ago, I was nervous about riding him.  But I shouldn't have been because he's amazing!! He was mellow and quiet and thoughtful.  He never shied or acted strange or goosey.  He just gave me a quiet walk, trot, canter.  And his canter is so smooth and wonderful.  And he doesn't fret about ground poles or jumps or any other big old obstacles, including people.  He's just the king of mellow.

So, last night, I rode him in a lesson with Cheri and Baker, his first full hour lesson with me since he started the lesson program.  And he was great!  He just kept on going and never was nervous or surprised.  Baker rode Parker right up behind and practically onto Renny and Renny didn't even budge.  The cat came jetting around and he didn't even look.  And he was very happy to sidepass for me and canter and go over this pattern of groundpoles.  At the end of the lesson, he was breathing fast because of all of his hard work, but he did a great job!  I am proud of him and gave him the little nickname -- my little red corvette!

Sexy Ren in Blanket

Last year around this time, I moved to St. George and needed to buy my herd winter blankets.  I bought this beautiful two-tone one for Renny  and because he was a little baby, he just swam in it.  He looked so cute, but he was swimming in his blanket.  But this year, he looks like a big old show pony and he looks handsome and robust and sexy in his winter blanket.  Way to go, Renny.  That reminds me, last week as I was having a fall riding lesson at dusk with Stacey, Renny and his bachelor pals got themselves all worked up as it was time to come in.  So, they were running around the pasture.  But my guy was running like a speedster.  He was zipping around at top speeds, faster than any of them -- zip zip zip.  And he looked so cute I could barely stand it because he was zipping at top speeds in his bright blue blanket!  Handsome goofy boy!

My Bucket List!

I am writing this entry on November 10th and last week was when I changed my herd and sent Hailee  to live in Tennessee -- something I never thought I would do.  And last week was also when Vi and I had a great riding lesson in the Fall weather with Stacey.  Stacey set it up so that we were going to do flying lead changes over a ground pole -- and we did!  Violet knew what I was asking and was happy to give it.  We did it several times in both directions.  And it was fun.  She didn't act goofy or revved up -- she just changed leads with energy and talent.  So, I got off after that ride and had this little moment of realizing that I could take "flying lead changes" off my bucket list!  I had accomplished something that I did not know I would experience.  And now because I know that we can do them, I am going to work on putting them in our repertoire!

Working Jumping Vi

Here's a photo taken in November of my lovely girl.  I am really proud of Team Tenderness.  Vi  really loves jumping, so she has become much more responsive about speed, feel, agility.  And she's just so even and straight and true over rails.  I am proud and love her.  And because of her enjoyment and steadiness, I can say that I have been riding taller, happier, more securely.  We have been taking lessons with Jill Jewett and a private lesson with Stacey once a week and we have the best time.  I could go on and on, but I will simply say that it's been fun to practice jumping and cantering and counting and crossrails and verticals with her this year.  I know that we've become a happy team together!

Questplus Violet

Here's a photo of my beautiful girl.  She feels slightly disconcerted because I just gave her a fall dose of Questplus.  Beautiful dewormed girl!

Sweet Pony

Here's a photo of my sweet little guy on November 2nd, coming back from a ride.  He was wonderful about hitting his marks -- hitting all upward and downward transitions when asked and being a super good boy.  We are getting better at our work -- as I write this entry on November 10th, Renny and I are comfortable with all our gaits in the english saddle and with all sorts of patterns.  In fact, he is so good that I'm going to have to begin thinking about new challenges for my little guy!

My Tack Area

Ricky at St. George worked very hard to make our tack area even nicer.  And so in this photo you can see my little corner of the world -- you can see my grooming kit, my boxes, my emergency barn kit, my braiding apron, and my bag with my harness.  You can see a tiny happy world in that corner.  When I am in that corner, I consider it "my time!"

Halloween Ren

What a difference a year makes.  Here is a photo taken on Halloween morning 2010 when Renny is a mature responsible hard-working pony who carries his mom and three other friends.  He is a true gem and in this photo you can see that he does not mind wearing pumpkins.  But I have another photo taken of him on Halloween 2009 and that was an icky day.  That day I found out something very bad which would change my life.  And on that day, I have a photo of baby Renny  as he is looking at me in an annoyed way while wearing these same pumpkins.  He's as cute as a button, but far from the day of responsibly carrying his Grandma around the pond or in the outdoor arenas or at a brisk responsible clip during lessons.  Renny and I have come a long long way in the past year!!

Zen Renny

Here's my little guy, getting ready for a riding lesson.  I can't put him in the crossties without people coming to pet him and love on him and chat him up.  He has so many friends and fans.  And here you see him taking a teeny tiny itty bitty flash nap before he works in the arena like a pro!  I love this fella.  And Hailee brought me this fella.  I am grateful to my equine family.

Beautiful Hailee Eyes

Namaste.  I love you, Hailee.  And I'm grateful for all the wonderful things you've brought into my life.  I am grateful to have known you.  And I hope that I have helped you during your life's journeys.  And if your road becomes difficult, I hope you find your way home to me.  But I have faith that you have found a home where they will love you and guide you and enjoy you for your talent, beauty and intelligence!

My Goofy Beautiful Girl

Here's a photo of Hailee  taken on November 2nd in her stall, as she waits for dinner.  She's relaxed and working her jaw and looking around and pleasantly comfortable.  And she's getting ready to travel to her new life to be a ranch cow pony.  I love this yawning sweetie.

Pilgrimage in February

So, here is today's "correction" to the post I wrote in the preceding message four months ago.  I've been struggling with my emotions and thoughts lately.  I turned Hailee over to someone who thought she could be thrown away and lost several friends in the process.  Violet  lost her turnout buddy, Molly, and has a new one named Mystery. In all the excitement of these changes, Violet has been kicked once on her hock, and hurt herself running on her coronary band, and in the past week was five times double-barreled kicked, including pinned in a corner and double-barreled four times.  She's been on stall rest for a total of one month over the past 7 weeks and still has about four days of stall rest.  I am trying to maintain my spirits.  Hailee is with a good family now, a kind family.  And she can come home if she needs to.  Violet is getting love each day, and exercise, and turnout in the indoor arena because of the kind care of St. George people.  Violet is in good spirits and has been bringing her best heart to her work.  And Renny continues to be a wonderful strong sweet bright pony.

So, I need to rest my spirits and focus on St. Francis' prayer.  I need to work on being an agent of love and comfort and hope and peace.  And I need to work on forgiveness.

I've decided that each month, my pets should be able to direct some of my money to charitable organizations.  Actually, my home pets have been doing this routinely, giving money to the Humane Society to honor Tigi and Teacake.  But now I want Violet and Renny to have a chance to direct money philanthropically.  They've been doing this activity for two months now -- this month they gave money to a mustang rescue association.  I have a feeling that they're going to want me to direct money to paying for riding lessons for young people, thoroughbred retirement foundations, and any sorts of rescues that involve helping people pay for feed, etc.  It'll be fun to research their options with them.

Anyway, today I hope Hailee is well.  And I hope that Violet knows that soon she will be outdoors again, very soon.  And I hope that she makes a separate peace with Mystery and doesn't get hurt anymore.  And I hope that I can help train Renny well, so that he has a chance to be a remarkable little hunter pony.  And I hope that I can nurture forgiveness in my heart, for those who judged me harshly, those who hurt my mare, and for myself.  I hope I can nurture forgiveness. 

My friend, Katie, said that I needed to pray each day for 30 days for good things for myself and for those who hurt me, and I needed to pray even when I didn't *feel* it.  So, I think I am going to make that list of good things I am hoping for and do this very reasonable task. 

Namaste.

My Herd Changes

These photos and video are from November 2nd and I am writing on November 10th.  Hailee has been gone for about half a week to her new home in Tennessee.  While I was at my conference, I received a friendly report that Violet was happy with her new turnout buddy, Molly.  And that all was well.  And my friends have been nicer to Violet and Renny as they adjust to this change in our herd.  When I got back from the conference, I could tell that Violet and Renny were quizzical, but not sad or distressed.  But I imagine that miss Hailee and wonder why she's not with us.  I wish I could somehow explain to them that she's going off to follow a good dream -- she's going to try her chances at cutting and reining and showing and then make more foals to be part of her heritage.  I am sorry that the four of us can't always be together, but I am trying to do what's right for me, for them, for us.

Thank G*d for Sisters!

Here is a picture of flowers taken just two days before Renny's birth in May, 2008.  I am writing this post on Wednesday, February 16th, and I just got off the phone with my sister.  We had such a nice chat.  And she made me laugh so so hard.  I was telling her about these blog posts and how I am always 4 months out.  And she commented that it was "creepy" that my blog would continue for four months after my death.  Yup.  And then she and I laughed and laughed like Dolly Parton and Lily Tomlin on a bender when I told her that this week, I had posts about Hailee and so each day, I had to post "corrections."  We thought that was pretty funny!