Saying Goodbye

I'll miss his nicker each time i'd say "Hello Mr. Bass".

 It hurts more than words can capture. Tuesday, January 20th, as I hugged him and scratched his favorite places, I didnt know it would be the last time he'd rub on me. Looking back now, I think he was saying goodbye.

The first time I met him, he captured my horse crazy heart. In the field of his herd mates, he tried to get all my attention. They say a Morgan chooses you, it is definitely true. I knew after that first meeting, that he had to be mine. I was 14 and he was 4.

Fond memories of riding, and shows, and even his bucking episode on the front lawn. At the time I counted how many times, it seemed to go in slow motion, but I stayed on. I tore my shoulder muscle but he never bucked again after that! I would read to him in the barn, do my homework with him.

 My best friend.

 I'm sorry I had to let him go when circumstances were out of my control. I tried to keep track of where he was. I even went to a dressage show he was in. Eventually I didnt see his name in any of the shows. Years apart and never a day went by that I didnt think of him and wonder where he was.

 On a whim I emailed a farm in Connecticut to see if they had heard of him. I thank my stars everyday that a local horse farm took him in 7 years ago. He was once again mine, mine to stay until his last day. These past 7 years went too fast, but I'm glad to have had them. Thrilled to have been able to ride him, still as spunky and full of heart.

He'd prance at the end of the lead, not to misbehave, but just to show off or to say he was feeling good. He taught me patience and strength.

 My best friend, I thought I had more time.
Rest in peace my old friend, WBM's Ambassador 06/09/1985- 01/21/2015

Lessons and Lessons

My lessons started with a phone call to a local riding stable. At the time it was Aspinwall in Lenox MA, but it was owned by someone different than who owns it now.  I was working on a girl scout badge.  After asking the lady a bunch of questions, she asked if I was interested in taking lessons.  I handed the phone to my mom, begging silently for lessons.  I was 7 or 8 at the time.

My first lesson horse was Dr.Cox.  He was the best lesson horse for a younger rider.  I am sure he had been doing his job for years.  He was a thoroughbred, brown, with a small white star.  Looking back, I wish I had started keeping journals back then.  He was my favorite for a long time.

There were other horses at that barn that I liked.  My riding instructor, Denise, ( I wish I could remember her last name, she was the absolute best ever riding instructor) had a few horses that she used for lessons. Esprit, was a white mare. There was Oberon, another thoroughbred.  One of the horses at the barn, his name was Blue, was for more experienced riders.  He was beautiful. I think he was a Morgan, but at the time, I didn't really know.  I did get to ride him eventually, before Denise left the barn to go to another, thankfully I was able to and did follow her to her next barn.

My riding instructor was awesome.  I wish I had kept in touch with her as I got older, and got my own horse and moved.  She taught us everything.  She taught the basics, grooming, picking hooves, tacking up. She also taught us, during lessons, the parts of the tack, parts of the horse. The best was that at a walk or a stand still while on the horse, we had to point or reach to each part that she was naming.  Looking back now, it was all to work on our balance, but at the same time it was fun.

I used to keep track of all those horses on little index cards, what I liked or didn't like about each one. What they looked like, if they were favorited by other riders. 

For the longest time after Dr.Cox retired, Oberon was my favorite.  Some of the other girls didn't like him, they called him lazy, but when I rode him, he was perfect.  Maybe I rode better than they did. Maybe it was because I treated him with the respect due to a wonderful lesson horse.

There isn't a day that goes by that I don't wish I had more time when my Mr. Bass was younger.  All the hours I would've put in the saddle.  I am just glad I did find him, and he can spend his last years not worrying about where his meals are coming from, and knowing that he is loved.  I did get a couple rides in on him before he started having problems keeping weight on, and I am thankful for that.  He is definitely my heart horse.

till the next time.. happy trails! 

Inspiration!

I had an opportunity to volunteer at a Youth Mustang Challenge Showcase over the weekend. Those kids are amazing!  To take a wild Mustang and gentle and train it enough in 6 months to do what these kids did is just awesome.  The mustangs were born in captivity but had no human interaction. They were wild.  The club that put on the youth challenge sorted the horses and matched them up with kids aged 8-18 yrs old. Then they did in hand trail and showmanship.  They had a free style competition too.  At the end the kids, actually probably the parents, could decide to sell the Mustang or keep it.

Summer and Sun

I love summer.  I love being able to spend time with MrBass and not have to bundle up like an eskimo.  I think Mr. Bass loves it too.
I try to stop everyday after work to spend time with him and let him graze.  I keep him on a lead and walk him around the yard.  Its very calming for me, and I think for him too.  Although once in a while we do have to remind him who is in charge.  I will have to get a video of him to put up.