bareback

It's been years. Maybe ten? Maybe more. So long I can't remember what it feels like...I've always wondered, what does Koda feel like bareback?? 

Koda has no idea what a human feels like on his back, will he like it? Does any horse? I don't know, never asked one. I wanted the time to feel right to try riding Koda bareback. No rushing. No judgmental eyes. No pre-planning. Just letting it happen, whenever it might... 

Last night we enjoyed a misty outdoor arena ride. Altho we try to adjust our timing on weeknights, our rides tend to land during feeding time. Our boys are never very thrilled. What horse wouldn't rather eat then ride at supper time? They all know the signals and sounds. It's hard for them to stay focused, but they do. Doesn't matter if we ride inside or out, there are still signals.

I've been working on several things with Koda, mainly continuous movement. He makes me work so hard! I have also been asking him to listen more to my legs, and less to my hands. Needless to say, we have a long way to go. Side passes are better, but now our turns have gotten sloppy. There is always something to work on!

I have thoroughly been enjoying our rides, and last night was no exception. We typically end with one of us humans asking the other "are you done riding?" cuz if we asked our horses, we all know what that answer would be! When I got the "not sure" response from the husband, I saw my window of opportunity. I was done riding. Koda did everything I asked. So we unsaddled.

The look on Koda's face was priceless...he wondered why on earth are we going back into the arena? Did I forget something? He was too cute, silly horse!

First things first, how the H am I going to get up there with no stirrups? Koda stood like a rock by the mounting block for me, as I slid on....aww, my Koda is so warm - and 'um bony. Holy high withers! 

Couldn't remember if it was better to sit towards the withers, or further back? I shifted around, until it felt right. Bareback lessons from back in the day started flooding into my memory...toes up count, even more so.

We slowly sauntered, weaving around obstacles. My legs hanging, yet gently wrapped. I loved feeling Koda's strong shoulders shift, slowly from side to side. I wasn't ready to try faster gates. No need to rush into things. The idea wasn't to work anyways. It was to re-connect. To feel something different. Something special, like those big beautiful eyes gazing at me...

four hundred posts later

With some encouragement, in April of 2009 I started blogging. Not much has changed over the past five years, and then again a lot has changed…

Some things that have not changed:

• In the very first paragraph of my first post I said “…makes me want to work in the equine industry...I'll keep thinking about a nitch I may be able to fill, that combines my design skills and my love of horses…” Yep, I am still thinking. Sigh. 
• All three original horses continue to be a big part of our lives, and will be forever. I still don’t get to see our daughters horse Harmony very much. 
• I continue learning new things about being a horse owner, and wholeheartedly believe the not so little things done during the early years set the foundation for your horse’s entire life. 
• I'm still getting limited responses on my posts, altho people are viewing them. Five years later, my blog continues to be reflective in nature and non-controversial. Responses or not, it’s how I roll.

Some things that have changed:

• Koda did not end up being our son’s horse, as I had predicted. He no longer thinks that “Koda’s a beast” now he just thinks horses are time consuming and expensive.
• None of our horses live on the family farm anymore. 
• Blog authors/past readers disappeared. Some have gone the way of Facebook. Don’t be fooled it’s apples vs oranges. Hope someday they’ll be back. 
• Nemo’s color

photo from breeder

photo from three days ago

Have things changed a lot, or just a little, since you've started blogging?  

Of course there are a lot of other things that have changed for me since 2009, and yet much is the same. It would be silly to recap them all into one post, that's what those 399 links are for in the sidebar. Maybe I'll reorganize my posts someday? But then again,

“Life is a journey, not a destination.”

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson     

Sunday Stills ~ Fall Colors

We planted two Maple Trees in our yard, with hopes of someday getting syrup...until then, we enjoy their colorful Fall leaves:

Last week I shared many colorful Fall snapshots taken while exploring the Nicolet National Forest in Northern Wisconsin. See Sunday Stills ~ Landscapes or Fall Colors me Happy posts 1-3 of a series, for more Fall Color.

Fall colors me happy ~ part 4 of 4

It's our last night at the ranch. The empty cabins are slowly filling up. While my hubby was deep in campfire conversation, I snuck away with camera in hand to do some visiting of my own. But not before I put my long lens on, because the ranch residents have never come up to greet me...but wait here they come, all of them. Standing just inches away. I try changing positions, but wherever I go, they follow me. What the heck? The fuzzy residents usually run the other way. 

The owners grandson joins me for two minutes, and then goes back to playing with his friend, before rejoining me just as fast, to say "it's because your holding something in your hand". Smart kid. Apparently holding a camera makes me really interesting to all living things, and is code for "I am friendly, and won't harm you". Grandkids, dogs, donkeys, ponies and even their cat come out of nowhere to greet me. Only Thor, the big Percheron, keeps his distance. The camera doesn't fool him.

I've been trying for years to pet the cute herd of mini donkeys. They were so darn close, I couldn't take any photos. I had to walk back to our cabin, to switch lenses. Go figure. Hope the donkeys will still be as friendly when I return!

I put together a quick slideshow of the fuzzy residents cuteness, and Thor in action:



In the morning, we woke to steady rain and never did take that last bonus trail ride. We always pack up first, and then decide if we will head out for one last short ride. Mother Nature decided for us, and made it easier to leave. The rain didn't matter, after three wonderful days of bliss.

Several things became apparent to me on this trip. Spending time in the north woods can unknowingly change your demeanor. Each day unfolding another layer. Clearing the mind, of that which does not matter. Fueling the soul, and making my heart sing.

The essential joy of being with horses

is that it brings us in contact
 with the rare elements of grace, beauty, spirit, and fire.
- Sharon Ralls Lemon