I'm so far behind on writing. I didn't realize it has been since August since my last post. I've visited Rose many times since that last post but my time is simply consumed by other things and by the time I try to get around to sit down and write about my last visit, something else comes up. This evening since my youngest has let me off the hook from tonight's karate class, I'm trying to squeeze in sitting down and writing in between making sure homework is getting done and whipping together dinner.

I'm trying to remember everything from our visit this past Saturday but I'm sure I'll leave out a few things. THEN I'll have to find a minute to sit down and write about this morning's visit. They're using a new machine on Rose's back and today I got to watch the first session. But for now I'll just have to write about Saturday.

We get to the farm and I head straight to Rose's stall. Lo and behold, she's been moved. Her old stall was deep into the show barn just past the tack room but now, she's up front right by the door! She's the first horse you see when you walk in. I was pretty tickled. Not that she's up front but that she has a better view of everything. Now she can look out her front grill and see other horses working in the arena. This is good for her.

I slide the door open and immediately Miss Poopie Face hits me up for a treat (seems she couldn't resist laying her head in the only pile of manure in the stall). Of course I had a pocket full of treats so we went straight to our little neck stretches to each side. After the cookies were gone I went to the scratching. Her favorite spot is her chest. She makes the goofiest camel face when she's getting her chest scratched. So fingers cold and dirty I leave the stall. I was told by the coach that The Big Guy ran up to the hardware store but when he got back, he'd ride Rose for me.

While waiting on The Big Guy, I heard bits and pieces of how he and Rose are working beautifully together and how much he seems to really like this little swayback white pony. Apparently he is the only one that actually trains on Rosie. An assistant can get on and lope her around but only in his presence. I hear he will sit there and watch the entire ride. He rides her the most though. He checks her personally after each ride to make sure there's no signs of soreness nor injury.

The Big Guy pulled up and headed to the barn. I waited by the arena as he led her in and legged up. They started with their warm ups and then began loping around. I noticed the funniest looking menagerie of saddle pads hanging out from under his saddle. As the two loped their circles I could hear his assistants and family members teasing about his saddle pad contraption and all he did was grin. I couldn't keep from chuckling myself.

I did break out the camera to try to document her ride however I feel that The Big Guy was a little uncomfortable in front of the camera. I snapped one picture and then just put it away. I was planning on cropping him out anyway but figured I'd be better off to leave well enough alone. One day there will be a HUGE picture of The Big Guy on Rose for all to see. I can wait.

It was also then I noticed those floppy ears. The same floppy ears her sire is well known for. Each ear was out to the side and had that little flop motion with each stride. She had let her rider have complete control and she just oozed confidence. She was confident in herself and confident in her pilot. It was that moment I wondered if I'd ever be able to live up to the riding abilities of The Big Guy. I was watching a true team work together.

As they went into their turnarounds, I couldn't believe my eyes. Each step Rosie took was correct and precise. She never faltered and they were adding speed to boot. I couldn't believe it. Rosie was already spinning. She is quickly surpassing the expectations under saddle AND she was started 8 months later than her futurity peers. Everyone there already believes she's a Futurity contender. Call me superstitious but you won't hear me say that nor will you see me get excited until she's actually in OKC in 2010.

The arena was full and I don't think The Big Guy was intent on working on any stops which was just fine by me. I was happy with what I saw. After sitting in the middle he and Rose came riding over to the rail where Halie and I stood. While Rose rested, he explained his saddle pad concoction. He'd been trying to experiment with all her pressure points along the back and once he feels he's got the right formula for her he'll contact a manufacturer to put his design into action. This will be a HUGE plus for all those horses with lordosis out there. I'm excited about that.

As he explained his techniques for training on her I couldn't help but carry a smug grin on my face. I couldn't have picked a better match than The Big Guy for her. I was so happy with her situation and so happy that he was taking such good care of her. He told me she gets plenty of turn out time, she's better with her turn out time. That doesn't surprise me. She's the kind of horse if you keep happy, she'll give you 110% every time. I also told him the stories of how she'd dig craters in the field on her mole hunting escapades, how she'd chase deer and race me in the four wheeler up and down the fields. He smiled a huge smile and nodded and said "Yep, she's not like any other horse".

I second that.

So, I think by now with today's visit, writing about the first visit is completely obsolete. I had a hunch this would happen, that I'd never get around to writing about the first time around. I'll have to go on however because after today, my last visit with Rose two weeks ago IS obsolete.

Of course the day started out late. I had the alarm set for 4:00a.m. so I could get the horses here out, stalls cleaned and get the farm ready so I wouldn't have to work when I got back home, but things didn't work out and I ended up oversleeping by an hour. I ran to the kitchen, hit the on button on the coffee pot, scared the piss out of Halie when I woke her up by flinging on the light, threw the clothes on and hustled off to the barn to get the horses out. Thankfully everyone was polite enough to poop in one place so I just left the chores for us to do when we got back.

With all horses out, I loaded up Poison and drove up to the house to get the last of the things, down another swig of my coffee and we hit the road.

Two and a half hours later, we reach our destination. I pull up and park, unload Poison, rig up her water bucket to the trailer and then went to see Halie's mare. She had nicked herself and had been gimpy so Halie, trainer and I took her out to lunge her around a bit to see if she was still gimpy in which she wasn't, so good news for Halie, she was able to get a lesson in.

We put her mare back in her stall so Halie could come with me to visit Rose. From across the farm I could see her looking through her stall watching us walk towards her. Of course my left pocket was plumb full of cookies and I had her box of supplements in hand to take to the girl who is riding her. I could barely get the door open before her nose was right on me, sniffing out her treats. I immediately handed her one and proceeded to scratch all her favorite spots. After scratching, I'd stand near her hip and offer another cookie which would make her reach all the way towards the hip, stretching the muscles. Went around to the other side and did the same. Her rider came around the corner to let us know how Rose had been doing. She proceeded to tell me she could feel Rose getting stronger, her back is still holding up and they just put shoes on her. Oh wow! I was so excited! My baby had her first pair of baby sliders on.

After a great welcome, I went up to the office to discuss a few things with the gal who works there and it just so happened the Big Guy was in there. So, I started a conversation with him regarding another horse. Then he asks "where would you like your white filly to be." I told him I merely wanted for her to be the best she could be and that I didn't think she was futurity material due to her being so far behind any other futurity horses and of course the obvious, her back.

Now, the Big Guy can be a very stoic man. When I talk to him, you can see he actually listens to every word and you can nearly see him thinking. When this conversation started, he was very straight faced with a matter of fact voice but when I said "I don't think she's futurity material" he cocked a grin and said "if she's just as good as I think she's going to be, I wouldn't count her out just yet". He went on to say he really didn't want to get hopes up but she showed great talent and that she's strengthened in such a short time and what they're doing to maintain the soundness in her back. He said she's treated special for that since he's never had to deal with a handicap like hers before.

I went on to thank him for all he's done so far and that we really can only take it day by day with her.

After my talk with the Big Guy, Halie and I went to saddle up. I was nearly through my lesson when I spotted Rose and her rider walking up the road towards the arena. Now wouldn't you know I felt like the teenage kid waiting on her prom date to walk up the sidewalk and ring the doorbell and I had to snap back to what I was doing. I mean, Rose IS one of the reasons why I've got to be the best reining rider I can be. So Poison and I continued to lope our circles while I kept trying to "feel" my leads, Rose and her rider loped into our same circles. Another first I noticed. Rose was now sporting a full cheek snaffle! My last visit she was riding in just a side pull, now she was in snaffle and rode like she'd had a bit in her mouth for years. As Rose passed us in a circle, Poison nickered at Rose but Rose never acknowledged her old pal from home. In fact, Rose never acknowledged any other horse in the arena for that matter.

After loping my circles, I had to show my coach what I had been working on at home with my turnarounds and it was about this time I noticed that the Big Guy was in the arena. Rose and her rider were at the other end and her rider was dismounting while the Big Guy stood there and then it happened. The Big Guy legged up and walked off on Rose. As I was putting Poison through her motions I made a crack about how distracting it was and my coach said "well, go ahead and take a break for a minute if you want to watch". I responded, "nah, that's okay, I need to get used to this. I've got to learn and can't just drop everything every time Rose is in the arena." That's when my coach chuckled and said "well, take a break anyway cause I want to watch." I laughed and said "Okay, won't get any arguments out of me!" I trotted Poison to the middle of the circle next to the coach, Halie pulled her mare up beside me and it seemed at that point in time, everyone stopped what they were doing and just watched. The Big Guy loped her around to the right a few times, then took his leg off and she folded in half with her little stop. I know she slid at least five foot (she just got her shoes on a few days prior). As everyone exclaimed some sort of hoot or whistle after her little stop, my coach hollered across to another of the trainers "do you think he likes her". The other trainer looked at me with a huge surprised look on his face and said "he's NEVER gotten on any of the young colts that's only been under saddle three - four weeks. Never."

Then the Big Guy wanted to see what she do with her turnarounds. Each time he asked her to turn, she crossed over correctly with each step. She may have gotten bound up maybe and I mean a huge MAYBE 4 times, but each step was over and correct and she never once gave him a fit. He asked, she gave.

It was right about this time a young colt slip out of his halter at the end of the arena and decided to take off in that run of freedom around the barn, tail up and causing a ruckus among the stalled and pastured horses. My coach and the trainer on my right jogged out of the arena to help along with the rest of the crew that was in the arena. The Big Guy and Rose were at a standstill at the other end and at the opposite end, it was just me and Halie.

The Big Guy started Rose off again at a lope in right circles. As he came through the middle, he asked and my little white pony changed leads and they continued to lope a few left circles. My jaw hit the saddle horn. I looked at Halie and said, "did you see that!" She slowly nodded her head yes without saying a word. I think we were both in disbelief. I quickly said "good, cause nobody is gonna believe what we just saw."

With the runaway captured, everyone returned to the arena. The Big Guy brought Rose to a stop near us, dismounted, handed her reins to her rider, gave her a pat and walked to the rail. I swear I saw him grinning from ear to ear!

I asked him how she felt and he nodded and grinned and said she felt strong. She had a good mind, she didn't get "pissy" with him at anytime and he was happy with her. I could only reply "good".

So as Rose was led away, Halie and I rode for a few minutes longer then it was time for us to hit the road again. I led Poison to the trailer and unsaddled her, grabbed two handfuls of cookies and set off on my trip across the farm to tell my little white pony how much I loved her.

The pictures of her under saddle were from our last visit. The top photo is from today. Halie happened to get a picture on her phone while I was in her stall.

so. . . two weeks ago, what started out as a day trip for Rose turned into a trial period. I had originally planned to just haul her to the big farm and make her stay tied in the arena while I get my lesson in and while we were there, get a few opinions out of a few of the trainers there. I knew "The Big Guy" was out at a show, but no biggie, I could bring Rose back at a later date for his opinion. Besides, the day trips would be good for her.

So Halie and I loaded up Poison first then tried loading Rose that morning, but she would absolutely not go in the trailer, granted it had been awhile but I was not going to make excuses for her. We finally ended up unloading Poison and then loading Rose up first (still with a little resistance but she eventually walked up in there.) Loaded Poison and we hit the road. A few hours later we arrive at the big farm. Unloaded Poison, then backed out Rose. As I walked Rose towards Trainer to ask where I could tie her, he asked a few questions like how she was bred and all. (Mind you I never once mentioned the story behind her.) He proceeded to say she was cute and built nicely with the exception of her slight swaybacked appearance. He took her for me and tied her to the walker. I thought to myself "this should be interesting. She's never been on one of those". Needless to say, all those tying to the wall sessions absolutely came in handy for she didn't move after he tied her. He walked around her a few times, examining her then walked back to me, bottom lip pooched out nodding all the while with a serious look in his eyes. "I don't see why we couldn't try her out and see what she's got. We'd have to adjust some tack and stuff and probably work around her back, but I'd like to see what she could do".
I bit my lip and nodded and told him let me get Poison saddled up and I'll call my boss man (I always lovingly refer to Mark as my Boss Man) and see what he says.

All this time, Poison is dancing around the trailer, hollering herself into a sweat because Rosie left the vicinity. Again, I thought to myself, "you big dummy, you two fight when you're at home in the field and now you miss her". I proceeded to saddle her as I dialed the boss man from my cellphone. I told him what Trainer had said and asked about leaving her there for 30 days to see what happens. He agreed to the deal so I had that happy yet nervous feeling as I mounted up and rode to the arena.

I told Trainer that the boss man ok'd it and he told me he called his boss man too and that he ok'd it so the deal was set. Rosie was to stay and we'd evaluate her at 30 days.

For the entire hour I rode Poison during my lesson, Rose stayed tied to that walker and never once misbehaved. I don't even remember her calling out to any horse, she stood there as politely as could be. When my lesson was over and I was untacking Poison, one of the young colt riders untied Rose and walked her up to the trailer and handed me her halter and proceeded to walk her down to the two year old barn. Again, Poison starting hollering and dancing around for her as she walked away. I got Poison untacked and watered, then walked up to the show barn to see if Halie was done with her horse. She was still rinsing her down. Already I wanted to go see Rose again and see her stall and give her a last scratch. Trainer offered to drive me down to the other barn so we ran down there real quick, cookies in pocket. He teased me as I jumped out of his truck and quickly fed Rose two cookies, gave her a quick rub and hopped back in to drive back to the show barn. By this time Halie was done with her filly so I coerced her to come with me to the office to inquire about some paperwork. It was also a good excuse to see Rose one last time before we left (mind you I felt like that oddball owner doing all of this stuff). Ran to the office, saw about some paperwork, walked out the door and went straight to Rose's stall, again, with a pocket full of cookies.

I opened her door and scratched her here and there, handing her cookie after cookie. She met her new next door neighbor and pulled her same tricks with the squealing like a pig, ears pinned, tail swish and kick. I looked at Halie and said "oh geez, they're going to get sick of her before she's even here a few hours!" I eventually had to leave the stall. It was the only way to keep her from trying to keep her neighbor away from me and thus keeping everything peaceful and quiet.

After the cookies were gone, I scratched her lovingly one last time through the bars and turned to go. As Halie and I drove away, I never had such a feeling as I did at that moment in time. With all the horses I've hauled off to training or even sold, I never had that feeling. I've always felt a slight bit of relief for that was one less horse I'd have to work with or feed or take care of and hoped it would lighten the load a bit. This time, driving down the interstate, for the first time in years, I felt empty.

Coming up next......my first visit, two weeks after leaving Rose.

There should be some type of Facebook Users Anonymous group out there somewhere because I'd definitely be a guilty one signing up. If you're a Facebook user and one of Rose's fans, then you've been getting plenty of little blurbs. It's been so long since I posted an update here on Blogspot that this entry probably won't be read by most until next month.

I have plenty to catch up on here soon, but today won't be the day. I have to go back out and get Rose a good bath. I'll be hauling her to one of our trainer's tomorrow. One, she needs the experience (another good 2 1/2 hour haul) but then she'll have to stand tied under the covered arena while I get a reining lesson in on Poison. The Big Guy (we'll just call him Trainer X) won't be in. He's in Kentucky currently but the two guys that have been riding his horses (and one of ours) will be there and I'd like to get their opinion on Rose as well, just by looking at her. When the Big Guy gets back, I'll haul her back down and then get HIS opinion. Let's just say this trip is a small warm up trip.
Now, to get that dirty pony in and get her presentable.

Since it's hot outside and I'm in cooling off for a few before I head out to round two of working in the great outdoors, I figured it was finally time to sit down a spell and do a blog update on Rose. Her Facebook fan page has become such a help at letting me cheat, if I've only got five minutes on the computer, well, it only takes two seconds to do a quick blurb and go on about my business. Blogging of course, well, it takes a tad bit longer to write. Facebook doesn't help though when I have a million things running through my brain and I want to actually write them out, but those who know me know I rarely sit down. Sitting down is just not in my vocabulary. I'll wind up paying for it one day.

Little Miss Princess is doing wonderfully with her own little herd consisting of Nim and Dollar. She likes pushing her weight around then using them as scratching posts, they on the other hand think she's the neatest thing since spring grass. I think we know all the naive......horse AND human go through a learning process.

The bugs are so bad in the evenings she is stalled at night. She loves it. I go out late afternoon when the gnats get bad and she races to the gate anxious to be led to her room under the ceiling fan. Since I bathed and clipped her last week, she wears her Crusader mask with ears so the bugs don't chew her ears off. They're doing a good number on the horses WITH hairy ears here so I cannot let Miss Princess's bare ears left as a bug buffet.

She's still taping at 14.1 at the wither and 14.2 at the hip. I'm hoping soon she'll hit a growth spurt to at least push her past pony size. She's growing outward not upward but has been placed on a strict managed grazing schedule (and I've even got a grazing muzzle in the tack room for backup). She still gets only a handful of Purina Ultium but that's only to get her scoop of Recovery EQ down. I've sidelined the ponying off the four wheeler for now but that's only because I don't feel like detaching the huge sprayer off the back. I've still got to spray the fields for weeds one last time for the season. Other than that, she's living it up out here at the farm. Then again, what horse doesn't think they're living it up out here.