the perfect gift

Koda earned himself a break after two days in a row of arena work and trail adventure. If you missed my recent early November posts, here are links to day one and day two. 

You may recall I mentioned Brad had a goal, better said a gift, and suspected it was to get Koda ready enough that I would feel comfortable riding him during my birthday week. I didn't bug him ask for it, this time it was his idea. It was a very sweet surprise, as I had pretty much given up on riding this year. He was not only determined to find time, but patient and supportive with my never-ending hesitation.

I decided to cancel b-day dinner reservations on my day, because virus spread continues high in our area. Instead we stayed home, enjoyed rare November weather in the 70's and had a wonderful day in my favorite place = home. Brad surprised me, took the day off work and made breakfast. Yep, I am spoiled!! The plan was to work with the horses again. I told him I was ready to ride, but he wanted me to ride Cierra first. I did, while he lunged Koda. Brad briefly rode Koda first, before I got on. Riding Cierra felt awkward. I have ridden her before, but not much. Cierra was looky. She is used to getting to work, not lollygagging with a rider who isn't completely sure she even wants to be riding. I tried not to be nervous, walked around a bit but didn't stay on long. I felt like a duck out of water.

Cierra

We traded horses, and I rode Koda...my own horse for the first time in what feels like forever. 2 years and 4-ish months to not be exact. That is a long time! I really thought I would be so excited, happily emotional and love it - but, I wasn't any of those things. That was unexpected. Being in the saddle didn't feel like my happy place anymore :(

Koda

Oddly enough, riding Koda felt awkward too. I think I forgot how to ride!! Oh yea, heels down, sit back on your pockets, don't be tense, look where you want to go etc...good grief I think I need basic riding lessons again!!  Koda didn't do a single thing wrong, and yet once again I felt like a duck out of water. Maybe I wasn't meant to ride? Maybe those days are over for me?? Where did "that feeling" go? I didn't ride long, but I did it and survived to tell about it.

Brad decided to try ponying Koda just for fun. It has been many moons since my boy was ponied. At first Koda was like "you want me to do what?!" It was short and sweet, but Brad had a bit of fun and they all did good.    

 

Two days later we tried again. I was looking forward to riding Koda, and in a much better state of mind. This time Brad lunged Koda for a bit, then I asked to step in and lunge him. Know we do light lunging, and I look forward to the day we can once again skip this part. I hate lunging (even free lunging) and it didn't feel good on my injured shoulder. Meanwhile, Cierra waited by the rail. Much to Brad's surprise, I rode Koda first. I felt a lot better in the saddle, and we had a nice ride. Mostly walking with a little trot mixed in. My least favorite Koda gait. His trot is choppy, but he has the smoothest lope. Someday, I will float on my Koda cloud again...baby steps. He is totally ready to go at a lope, but I am not. 

 

Brad & Cierra in-between Koda ears

I am keeping our arena rides short on purpose. Not only do I not want to get sore, I want to keep it sweet. Brad wanted to ride Koda after I was done, so we switched and he um rode Koda out the gate! I hopped on Cierra and walked her around in the arena areas she got looky with me last time. We watched Brad and Koda ride the field like they've done it a hundred times, and then much to my surprise they went down a fresh bordering untrimmed trail Brad blazed a day ago!!

Brad & Koda in the trees, between Cierra ears

Koda was a rockstar, and it made my heart sooo happy to see Brad riding out on the trail!! 

our new tree line trail
Between the arena (on left) and the barn

I declined taking a turn on the new trail & field ride. Koda and I sat around for a bit watching Cierra & Brad explore the general area.

Koda & Aurora-sponge square pants
(sitting on the mounting block)

Koda: "are we done yet"

Brad and Cierra riding to the back of the barn

Later on the same day, I got what I asked for my birthday: to clean the junk up at the bottom of our property left by previous owners. You can't see it from our house, but I see it every time I hike the trails - which is often.

we loaded the tractor tires full of crap

Old mowers, shutters, metal you name it, tv etc. All this, and Brad had removed a refrigerator plus other large items the previous year. There is still some clean up left, but the major eye sore junk is cleaned up and about to be gone! 

a rare sight, Koda alone sleeping in the shelter
I think my boy was still tired from previous days activities!

OKay, so maybe they were all tired,
soaking up the sunshine before the rain

(Koda, Harmony, Nemo and Cierra standing watch)

We took advantage of the last day of warm beautiful weather, and rode a third time. Three times must be the charm, because I had fun and forgot to take photos. This time I did it all myself, lunged then rode Koda. He is being a sweet well-behaved boy. Brad snuck some poles into the arena. Love going over poles! I sang a silly song as I trotted around them, walked and side passed over the poles. It was a nice ride.

Truly the perfect gift.

 

the very next day

After Monday's arena time and walk-a-bout, Koda wasn't first to the gate. Impatiently waiting for his staff to come get him. He wasn't pushy and trying to do everything himself. Koda's mind was quiet. Soaking in all the sights and experiences of the day. It is a wonderful thing!!

The very next day, back to the arena he went. The look on his face was something like "me? again??" meanwhile our other horses are jealous. Cierra and Nemo would gladly take Koda's place, and poor Harmony waits by the gate. Wishing it was her turn. Just once.

They all get loved on the way to gather my boy, and some day it will be their turn. But right now, it is still Koda's. As valuable as sporadic lessons throughout the past year have been, it is a consistent string that will connect the dots. The twirling sessions are getting shorter and shorter, the easier Koda listens to transitions.

I thought to myself, maybe today would be the day I hop on Koda? It should be me getting on him first. I was gearing myself up, but then saw him hunch up and get bucky while twirling on the rope. Yea, not today. Brad had gotten after Koda for being a slacker and he didn't care for that. The fresh was still there. It didn't take long for me to talk myself out of it. I never said anything out loud, but once again felt defeated. Story of my horsemanship life.

I was surprised when Brad asked for his halter. You are going to ride him?! Brad said he has a goal, and for the first time in 2 years and 4-ish months, Koda had a passenger!!

I love watching Koda under saddle, he is such a beautiful horse!! I know I frequently make him sound like a naughty unruly boy, but he really isn't when there is understanding. 

They had a nice sunset ride, walking and some trotting. Koda would frame up, and get ready...no lope. Lol. "What, slow down?! Walk, trot, lope, then I get to eat. That is how this arena stuff is suppose to go." Much to Brad's dismay, I coached just that from the side lines. He is used to working Cierra, and Koda hasn't been in training for many years.
 

Brad has become such a good rider, he has the confidence Koda needs to settle his mind. Horses know. I am not only glad he rode Koda first, I am thankful! All is well that ends well.

sunshine for days

In the midst of the political and virus divide, there is one thing every Wisconsinite can agree on ~ our early November weather has been incredibly beautiful!! A week well spent soaking up sunshine for days, brightens up everything. Especially when out of the norm.

The great weather this past week inspired us to spend more time outside and for Brad to work with Koda again. Because Koda needs it, and I need it. All horses minds change when you give them things to think about, and his definitely settles.
 

It has been a while since any of our horses were asked to do much of anything outside of behaving during turnout & farrier visits. The earlier days Brad spent with Koda was evident. He is still acting up a bit when asked to move out on the lunge line, but my sassy horse is remembering what is being asked of him. Much faster.

On Monday Brad lunged him in the arena...

Then off to the woods we went for a walk-a-bout. This time all four of us. Brad with Koda in hand, Tank and I. Huge difference. Koda took the bottom of the pasture walk in stride. On the last attempt, he almost came apart rounding the first corner and couldn't take the increased pressure. Until I went back for the link, I didn't realize it was December 2019 when Brad began working Koda with long stretches in between. Not for the lack of wanting to, it was such a crazy busy year for him in so many ways. I am thankful Brad finds time to work with my horse when he can.

Cierra and Nemo joined the walk from inside the pasture
while Brad, Koda and Tank took the path

checking out the open field

walking the upper pines

Koda has only walked the actual pine trails once,
the year we purchased the land and rode them in June 2016

stopping on the main trail to soak it all in

Koda did struggle a bit with too much energy in the wide open field heading back home, but with Brads reassurance he kept himself in check. 

Reassurance is the main reason Brad is handling Koda in precarious situations first. Koda needs it and I don't have that in me naturally. Unfortunately I have to build it back up. I wasn't remotely this way in my younger horse years, but it's my reality now.

This walk gave me hope, and was a great way to kick off a week of warm late Fall weather.

October flew by...

...like a witch on a broomstick and no, that wasn't me on the broom!! Not much happened out of the ordinary at our place in October. Just trying to stay healthy at home, while the over-mentioned virus spreads like wildfire in our area. Sigh. 

As Winter approaches, we put future large projects on the back burner and work on as many smaller outdoor ones as possible. Like cutting wood, and cutting more wood. We have also worked on our trails. The rest of the time we are enjoying things like this:

Finding, Tank snoozing in his dads spot

Discovering, Angel fish floating in the Western morning sky

Seeing, tigers (aka Leo) on our walks in the woods

Watching, Leo love on Tank. He loves him soooo much its ridiculous

Enjoying, lingering Fall blooms like this surprise Iris bloom

These iris were transplanted from our old house, and bloomed a color I've never had. Iris are normally Spring bloomers, and even my re-bloomers have never bloomed in October. I am (re) learning to garden in different soil, where everything seems to bloom later.
  
Maybe this is the new normal? Very curious to see what familiar (or changed) Spring flowers appear this coming Spring in our sandy loam soil!!

Dreaming, always dreaming

Some day, the back of the barn will be extended with an indoor riding arena attached to it.

Walking, under huge powder puff clouds close enough to (almost) touch

Doing, endless chores while these guys enjoy Bed & Breakfast

(Koda, Nemo, Harmony & Cierra at feeder)

Appreciating, our horses. Every. Single. Day.
They all get along so well now, and trade-off being buddies.
 (Koda, Harmony, Nemo & Cierra)

Nothing spooky about peaceful morning views in the upper pasture. 
October 31, 2020