Murphy's Law

5:28am Christine, who feeds the horses when Janine is off, attempts to contact me and Janine. Her infant daughter is running a high fever and she needs to take her to the ER.

6:00am Janine is abruptly awakened by a loud knocking on her door. It takes her a minute to realize someone is actually knocking on the door because she took NyQuil the night before and was sleeping hard. Janine is sick.

6:02am I am comforting my son Gabriel, who has a fever, and suddenly realize I haven't looked at my phone. I see Christine's text message from 5:28am, saying she can't feed. I text her back: "Hey--I understand," I write. I get dressed, not realizing Janine was just opening the door with half/shut eyes to see Christine standing there, face white, eyes worried.

6:20am I look back at my phone and see that Christine has sent me another text, informing me that Janine is taking care of everything. It's Janine's day off. She goes to church and has studying to do. I immediately text Janine: "I'll be there as soon as I give Matthew his breathing treatment." "Don't worry about it," she responds. "I'm feeding."

And that's how it started....

Janine began to clean up all the stalls and prepare the feed. It didn't take her as long as it normally does, and she smiled to herself, thinking that perhaps this feeding would go smoothly and she would be finished in plenty of time to eat breakfast, have a nice long shower to ease her aching head, and make it to church on time.

The horses had different ideas.

She headed out to let the good horses in. "Remember those?!?" She would exclaim to me later. The "good" horses include Sky, Naysa, Annie, Tucker, Barney, Cymba, Dani, and Richard. They are the ones who make it easy. They run to the barn, go in their stalls, and politely eat their breakfast.

Not today.

Janine passed Amanda on her way to let the ponies in. Amanda had come early to take care of her horse, Noble, whose legs had begun to stock up, even though he stays out in the pasture.

"I had a small apprehension," says Janine, "I thought maybe letting all the horses in was NOT a good idea. I'm really not sure where the thought came from--maybe knowing what brats they all can be. Their routine was messed up, you know. Noble NEVER walks by their pasture in the morning."

But Janine put aside her apprehension and opened the gate.

The horses THUNDERED to the barn. Janine followed on the 4-wheeler. That's when it all went to hell in a hand basket, forgive the cliche.

Naysa was the only horse, out of those eight, who went right into her stall. "Bless her," thought Janine. Everyone else was racing around, tails flying, heads up. Janine was able to coax Richard into the barn with only a mild interruption when he and Zappa, who was already in the barn, squealed at each other.

"This normally works like a charm," Janine said to Amanda, the exasperation in her voice as apparent as the frustration on her face. Amanda agreed, saying yes, she had seen it work before.

Since Tucker loves his food, he only ran around the barn twice before he went to his stall to eat.

Sky, Cymba, and Dani turned when they saw Janine coming, and rebelliously ran to the other side of the barn and into the first pasture, which was empty and open. Janine closed them in fast. "Ha! Caught!" she thought.

Janine then focused her attention on Annie, because if she could get Annie, Barney would follow. Annie ran from her. Janine had closed one side of the barn, and Annie ran in the other side. Janine tried to close the door behind her, but the dirt and hay from when she blew out the barn earlier had blocked the door channel. She asked Amanda to stand in the opening while she opened Annie's stall door. Amanda was trying to get Barney to go to his stall. Annie was spooked by Barney, and bolted out the opening of the door. Amanda had to jump aside to avoid being trampled. Both horses ran all the way to the back pasture and proceeded to graze.

Janine ground her teeth. "Arrrgh," she murmured under her breath. Then, as she walked toward the back pasture, she shouted, "I LOVE HORSES!!"

"That was to remind me," Janine told me later, "that horses are most of my life and I do love them more than anything. To remind myself that I really was not so hungry as to want barbecued horse. I hadn't eaten breakfast yet."

Janine led all the other horses in to their stalls. It took her almost 2 hours longer to feed than usual. She never made it to church.

"Well, of course," I told her. "You didn't feel good. You weren't even supposed to feed. You got woken up abruptly. You had somewhere you needed to be. Did you really think they would be good for you?"

"LOL," Janine responded. "You put it so very well."

Time Warp

Horses are magical. They seem to have a power that is beyond any earthly thing. Their presence is healing. How many times have we had a bad day only to have all the negativity vanish the moment we are touching our beloved ponies?

It has been a hard week for me. My mother had heart surgery. My son Matthew had an asthma attack. My son Gabriel is sick. And I have an infection as well. With everything going on, I haven't been able to be at the ranch. I've been keeping up with things through phone calls, and text messaging, and email, but it's not the same thing. These last four days have been excruciating! Alexis asked me at one point, "Do you want me to send you a picture of Sky? My ponies always make me feel better." And you know, looking at their pictures DID make me feel better. But I won't be complete until I have my arms wrapped around Sky's neck or my head resting on Naysa.

It seems that everyone at Forever Sky has been going through some manner of personal difficulty this week. I am grateful that we have our horses for comfort, and I am grateful that we have each other. I am also grateful we have a place we can retreat to when the world gets to be too much.

A horse communicator once came to Forever Sky and told me that the place was built on ancient Indian holy ground, that it was a place blessed with peace, with comfort, with tranquility. I don't know how much I believe that, but I do know that when I enter the ranch property I am suddenly filled with peace. (There also seems to be a time warp on the property, according to my husband. 30 minutes is actually 2 hours. 2hours is actually 5, etc.)

I'm looking forward to that time warp, to getting involved with my horses, my babies, and letting time get away from me. I'm looking forward to letting all the problems in the world vanish as I hop on bareback and ride around the property. I'm looking forward to seeing my Forever Sky family and maybe laughing out loud for the first time in a while. I'm looking forward to Forever Sky.

The Protective Mother...The Spoiled Child

When I walked into the barn today, there was one horse sticking her head out, looking at me.

Naysa.

She gave a low nicker, and I knew she was asking politely for a treat, preferably a peppermint. I obliged. When I started opening the peppermint, all the other horse heads began to pop out. First Tucker, then Cymba. Flea, Annie and Jayla. Sky, then Lady and little by little the rest of the barn.

I usually give in to all the beckoning horsey stares, and I end up getting finger cramps opening all the peppermints necessary to satisfy a barnful of horses, but today I was focused on Naysa. She had some crusty stuff in the corner of her eyes, so I wet a washcloth with warm water and washed her face. She lowers her head when I do that and leans into me. She likes having her face washed.

After spending some time grooming her and loving her, I decided to halter her and set out for the round pen.

The majority of the groundwork we have done together has involved overcoming her trust issues. Touching here, touching there, lifting legs, saddling and bridling, even mounting and riding around a bit, but it has not included any serious training or round-pen work.

I have TRIED to work with Naysa in the round pen, but when I am with her, I am the dotting mother. She trusts me, wants to be near me, walks with me, waits for praise. I have tried to send her around the pen or lunge her, but she doesn't understand and keeps trying to come back to me. The confused look in her eyes is too much for me to take. And I don't have the strength to do what I need to do and send her away from me and herd her around the pen. I don't have the heart.

Alexis walked up to the round pen while Naysa and I were practicing walking over poles and backing up and moving away from pressure.

"You're going to have to be the one to lunge her," I said. "I can't do it."

"I know," was all she said.

I realize that Naysa needs to start training in order to take the final leap that will make her a normal horse just like any other. But to do that, she must move out from under my protective wing and learn to be a horse again, not just mama's baby.

It's going to be hard for me to let go, but I know that in the end, Naysa will be a stronger and happier horse. And it's only through training that we'll be able to complete the fairy tale--that we'll be able to go to a show together and let her show the world that she wasn't just the horse that refused to die, but the horse that conquered her fears in order to shine.

Dreams, Reality, and saying Thank You

My friend Beth came into town yesterday. She hasn't been here in a year. When we pulled up to the ranch, she was amazed at how different everything was.

"When I was here last time, you were just putting in the stall flooring," she said with a touch of amazement. "And they were laying the tile in the breakroom. The arena wasn't there. There were only two pastures fenced. Wow."

Sometimes we get so caught up in what we haven't done, in all the things we want to do, in all the things we don't have time to do, that we forget the progress we have made in our lives.

I usually look at the ranch and see everything I haven't finished yet, everything I want and need to do. Today I was able to look around and feel proud of what has been accomplished in just a short year.

A year ago I didn't have a barn full of horses looking out of their stalls in anticipation when they hear the crinkle of a peppermint wrapper. I didn't have the company of my family of boarders to sit around with in the breakroom, talking and laughing. I didn't have a fantastic trainer. I didn't have my amazing barn manager. Actually, I didn't even have a barn!

When I take a moment to step back, take a breath, and really look at what has happened over the course of a year, since Beth stopped by for a visit the last time, I realize that Forever Sky Ranch has slowly turned from dream to reality. I have found friends and created a family. I have given my horses the home I always wanted them to have.

So I will just say THANK YOU to everyone who has helped Forever Sky become what it is, and to those of you who continue to help the ranch grow into the full dream of what it can be. You know who you are. I love every one of you. And thank you, Beth, for showing me that I do have something to be proud of, even if it's not to my level of perfection just yet. I can't wait for you to see what the ranch looks like next year!

Those Crazy Arabians

The Baker Show is over. We all had a fantastic time, except for Sky, who was ticked off the entire time we were there. When we were braiding her mane, the look in her eyes was one of pure distain. You could almost hear her say, "I am not a show pony! I am retired. I graze and look good. Please take me home."

Actually, Sky did very well on Saturday, especially considering she and I had only a handful of lessons the month prior to donning show gear and entering the ring. We were happy with the result. A nice place to start.

Sunday was a different matter altogether. Sky must have had time to plan during the night--or plot. She felt fairly put together up until we rode down to the arena, at which point Sky suddenly forgot she had been there the day before. He eyes became wild, her head high in the air. When the judge blew the whistle, Sky lurched forward and her body went rigid.
"Don't go in there!" she was saying. "We're all going to die!"
She tried to dart left, then right.
"Can't you see the teeth on that letter E?!"
She hopped to the side, snorting and blowing, avoiding the menacing judges who were obviously armed with tassers.
The corners must have been filled with popping firecrackers, though no one could hear them but Sky.
Several times when the letter C threatened to attack from behind, cantering out of the arena became a possibility.

"That's the best I've seen you ride," said Alexis later. "You sat back and pushed forward. You were determined to finish that test. Welcome to 'Thank GOD the test is OVER'"

"How old is she again?" a man asked as I left the arena with Sky snorting and doing that prancing trot in place, which means she really wants to get gone and get gone fast. "She's 26, "I said.

"Arabians," someone else said.

After that horrific episode in the show ring, I was SO happy she was an Arabian. Compete with a Quarter horse and have a test go that bad, people immediatley look to the rider. When an Arabian acts like a psycho crazy horse, people just shake their heads knowingly, and say, "That's an Arabian for you." I actually got "Patient Rider" on my test.

Oh, yes. I was glad the test was over. No doubt.

Now all the pretty show ponies are enjoying being home. They have the day off. So do we! But tomorrow the work starts over again. We have the Blue Angel Dressage Show to look forward to and a lot of work yet to do.

Just don't tell Sky.

B-I-N-G-O and Bingo was his name-O

Bingo is a kid's horse. He stands perfectly still and lets the little ones wrap his legs and brush him and struggle to get the saddle on his back. He lets them lead him to the arena. He rides them around, perfectly calm. They can kick him by accident and he seems to understand they don't really mean it. He never spooks. Never takes off. Never takes a step out of place.

With kids.

With adults, Bingo is a totally different creature. He spooks at will. He hops this way and that way. If the wind blows too hard, he breaks into a canter. He finds the letter E in the dressage arena terrifying. And let's not even talk about how he feels about plastic flowers.

Aubrey is currently leasing Bingo. She was excited to ride this morning, even in the cold, and headed out to the barn, "dressed like the little kid from A Christmas Story."

Her ride went something like this:

Bingo: Hey, we're warming up! Time to spice it up with some cantering?
Aubrey: No.
Bingo: Was that your leg or the wind? Just to be safe... Canter!
Aubrey: No.
Bingo: I think I heard Alexis in the barn thinking about cantering...
Aubrey: No.
Aubrey: Let's jump this crossrail!
Bingo: No.

To be fair to Bingo, he truly is a great horse. He just makes you, if you're an adult, work for it. And if you're a kid, he melts like Valentine's candy.

Practice makes....perfect? Not so much.

We have two days until the Baker show. Alexis is running around, getting everything ready and making sure we won't be missing or lacking for anything. It's possible you might find our kitchen sink in the trailer. Just kidding, Alexis! Really, Alexis has been GREAT. She is ridiculously organized. She has her detailed list, and she's checking it twice. Before I left, she was off to the store to pick up silver yarn for those beautiful horsey braids.

Alexis will make sure we are all prepared, and at least I can rest easy knowing I can look like an idiot while not missing a thing. It is my first Dressage show. I am scheduled to ride the A and B Intro level tests as an Adult Amateur. Do you know who else will be riding the intro tests at the show? Kids. Juniors. It's me--the old lady--and something like 7 youngsters who can't even drive yet, let alone buy beer. Oh, all my friends are getting a wild kick out of it. At least I can provide some entertainment! But hey, you have to start somewhere.

Alexis, on the other hand, will be dashing in her show gear and NOT looking like an idiot. She'll be elegant and composed, yet strong and sure, riding so beautifully it will make everyone cry. Thank GOODNESS she rides after I do!

Pick and Tuck team members will be riding both Saturday and Sunday. Come on out to the Baker Arena in Baker, FL to watch us ride! We're also having a cookout on Saturday night, so come join us! We'll be the group smiling and laughing and having a great time.

Organized Chaos

It's always fun feeding the horses on a rainy day. There's something about the drop in barometric pressure that makes all the horses act like 15-year-old high school kids. I opened the pastures to let up the first bunch--Sky, Naysa, Cymba, Lady, Annie, and Tucker. They are the "good" ones, the horses that run up to the barn without a fuss and make their way to their own stalls, no halters required. (Sky will even open her own stall door if it's closed.)

Today was not that day.

I followed Tucker, Annie, and Lady up to the barn, but the rest had not figured out that I had opened the gate. When I got to the barn, Aubrey was waiting. She had recently leased Bingo and had come to ride him. I looked down to the pasture to see Sky, Cymba, and Naysa looking for a way out. "Gate!" I called. "Go to the gate!"
As if they could understand English perfectly, the three horses turned and ran to the gate. They galloped all the way to the barn. When they got there, Sky went right into her stall. (Good girl!) Then Cymba came in and went directly into Naysa's stall.
"Cymba!" I said, and hurried over to Naysa's stall to get him out. He let me lead him with my arm under his neck and my hand on the side of his face.
Once I got him in his stall, Lady came in and promptly went into Naysa's stall. (Must have been the popular stall of the day.) Naysa followed her in and Lady bolted out. You could hear her exclaim "Oh!" But instead of going into her own stall, Lady ran back outside.
At that point I went into an open stall and looked out the window to see Annie grazing by the fountain.
"Annie!" I reprimanded. "Barn!" She looked up as if she was as innocent as a newborn filly. Then she trotted off, right to her stall. (Sometimes you think they understand English.) Tucker came in shortly thereafter. And finally Lady made her way back around to the barn.
I laughed and shook my head. "Chaos," I said to Aubrey.
"It's nice though," she said. "It's organized chaos."

Close Call

Today is the perfect day to start this blog. When I arrived at the ranch early this morning, I went to check on Schatzi. His mom, Leslie, had asked me the night before if I would look at his back leg and see if it was still swollen. It was. Hardly noticable from the front, the swelling was located just around his fetlock. There was a good deal of heat coming from the swelling.

I knocked on Janine's door.
"Just a minute!" she called.
I could tell I had caught her in the middle of something. When she opened the door, I realized she had just gotten out of the shower.
"Would you mind looking at Schatzi's leg? Leslie is worried he has an abcess. It doesn't look better to me. I think I need to load him in the trailer and take him to see Dr. Weekley."
"I'll be right there," she said. Then she paused. "Can I comb my hair first?"
"No," I replied. There's always a second with Janine when she wonders if you really mean "no."
Then Janine laughed and went inside to comb her lovely strawberry blond hair.

I had Schatzi in the cross ties when Janine walked over.
"It's the back left leg," I said. "There's heat, and I don't think the swelling has gone down at all."
Janine leaned down and picked up the back hoof. (Janine is in her last year at the University of West Florida. She has been working hard and making fantastic grades. She plans to head to vet school.)
"I see what you mean," said Janine.
Just then, Schatzi began to lift his tail. My eyes widened just as the manure started to fall.
I don't remember if I said anything. But I pulled Janine away just as the manure fell past her head.

We laughed and laughed. A near miss. Janine was able to go about her day without taking another shower and throwing her clothes in the wash, and I was able to saddle up Sky, knowing it was going to be a good day.

Dr. Weekley came out to see Schatzi and took care of his hoof, which was causing the problem. Now we have a week of soaking to look forward to. I'm sure Schatzi will make it interesting!