Greetings from the Hag Up North

It has been one busy month! So much so, that I sometimes forget that hubby has been away since the end of January! By busy, I mean not only at work (still doing a supervisor’s workload plus my own for the better part of two years now) but on the home front. No, I haven’t started spring cleaning LOL. In fact, my house is upside down right now because I am spending all my spare time riding my Morgan gelding Eddie. And what fun we are having!!! I should have “cowboy’d up” when I first got him a few years ago but instead, I let my lack of self confidence get the better of me. What a waste of time! Now, with having boarded him in town at a facility with an indoor arena, I stop by on my way home after work to get some riding/training time with him. It is working out really well and we have come miles since we first started. As mentioned in the last newsletter, I had taken him in our first two day clinic and it was great. I then had us signed up for a Ranch Horse Clinic but decided to pull out of that one. My reasoning was, with Eddie being still fairly green and my riding skills being along the same level, I wondered if it would be too much too soon for both of us. Things have been going so well and I did not want to jeopardize what we had accomplished thus far. My friend Shannon, who is helping both of us, mentioned that you should be at a certain riding level with your horse in order to get something worthwhile out of such a clinic and she did not want me to be disappointed if things did not bode well. It could have set us back and the money would not have been well spent. Clinics such as these are not cheap. So we came up with an alternative. We would board Eddie where the clinic was being held and I could ride in the arena during breaks or after the clinic times and use that time to introduce him to a small herd of steers (about two dozen) and see how he would take it all in. And when the clinic was in session, I could just watch and learn. The only fees to be paid were the stabling fees, which were quite reasonable. So that is what we did. I took this time to introduce Eddie to so many new things that after awhile, he became quite comfortable in his surroundings and the objects that at one time he though would jump out and bite him, no longer made him jump out of his skin. If you remember, Eddie was somewhat spooky and nervous. On the last day of the clinic and the last session, I was asked if I wanted to join in. At first they suggested that just tacking up Eddie and standing at one end of the arena would be fine and if it was too much for Eddie, I could simply leave. Either way, it would allow Eddie some time to contemplate and study the herd being walked through and the steers being cut by other horses. Well…things didn’t turn out like that. Instead, I was determined to make the most of this so I “cowboy’d up” and got in on the fun. At first us six riders rallied around the herd and kept them in a circle. Then one rider would approach the herd and split it in half, all the while selecting one steer to cut. They would drive/cut the steer away from the herd and kept it at bay between the herd and the surrounding riders. As the last rider finished, the clinician Paul looked at me and said “Your turn”….I was excited to be able to do this! So I walked a somewhat hesitant Edward up to the herd and urged him to walk through it which he did!!! Then Paul helped me cut a steer and I was surprised how fast Eddie really got into it. But then again, he is Ranch/Cutting Horse bred. Paul joked that he never thought a MORGAN could do this type of work LOL. After doing this a few times, we also learned how to drive a steer along the rail (in this case, the arena wall). The bottom line was to do it calmly…this wasn’t team penning. The steer of course would often stop and switch direction or try to cut in front of you all in order to get back to the herd and it was up to you and your horse to keep it away from its friends. Was it fun? It was a blast!!!!!! If you have never done this before, I would highly recommend attending such a clinic! Not only do you learn a lot of horsemanship and teamwork, but the overall excitement is just awesome! I am so proud of myself and Eddie for having been able to do this! This past weekend, I attended yet another Western Rider’s Clinic. Once again, Eddie and I did great! So much so that the other riders joked about me being “teacher’s pet” because she complimented us on good leg work, good hands and keeping a natural good balance in the saddle. I beamed from all the praise especially when some of the seasoned riders were often “reprimanded” for what they were doing and shouldn’t be doing. Yes, I know, I am gloating LOL. The two day clinic was fun but it was also very hard work! We had three hours between sessions on the Sunday to learn a pattern and Eddie and I did it twice flawlessly. No, we are not perfect by any means but for being able to do what we were doing in such a short time of being riding partners, I was impressed how well the two of us were working together. He has become quite the partner for me and our bond is getting stronger every time we are together. Whenever he is unsure about something when he stands next to me, he softly turns his head into me and touches me with his nose as if to seek reassurance. It is very touching and I always stoke him and talk to him softly when he does this. Am I romanticizing those moments a bit? Probably, but that tiny little gesture speaks volumes between us it seems as that connection we have only intensifies. It is a wonderful feeling especially after so many years of hesitating and being filled with a lack of confidence and self doubt (probably on both sides too). I am having the time of my life! I so wish my husband was around to see us. He would so very proud of me as this is what he has wanted for me for a long time, bless him. Its moments like this I miss him so very much! So what is in store for the next little while? This coming weekend I am heading with a couple of friends down to a little town south of Winnipeg for a Cowboy Poetry Gathering. Friends of mine will be there in the show and I am looking forward to spending some time with them. This takes place on a Saturday night and the following morning I will be attending a Cowboy Church Service. I find these Services to be quite reflective and interesting and so very different from a regular Church Service. Mind you, I don’t usually go to Church but my friend who will be doing the Service is on his way to becoming a Minister so I would like to be there to support him. Near the end of April Edward and I are signed up for another Western Rider’s Clinic and I am so looking forward to that. Yes, it is a busy time! I am keeping my fingers crossed that hubby will make it home for a couple of days during spring break! It will be a long haul between our next visit since he will be in Jamaica come April and then in Edmonton again until July….the life of a military spouse! Never a dull moment! But with my son at home, it is not too lonely and with my riding/training/lessons and all, I am hoping the time will go by quickly. Till then, I plan on living life to the fullest, as I hope all you will do! Happy and Safe Trails and remember, There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work and learning from failure.
Your HON Babs