Where does the Time Go?

March 24th marked the third anniversary of when Carmen became a Canadian.

The first time she and Irish met

There have been so many ups, downs and in-betweens.

so much has changed since then (Spring 2015)

The weather was cooperative and the footing in the ring was really good- there was a layer of snow on top to make it extra fluffy. I started with lunging her and she found something quite spooky at the end down by the woods. it was interesting- she started with a spook and bolt. Despite trying really hard to listen it was just too much. But once I walked down that way she was quite happy to follow me. 

Closest I can get to a comparison (March 2018).
Clearly I suck at getting comparison photos

Once things were settled I hopped on. It was a ride of ups and downs- she was clearly spooked by the far end. I really couldn't see what it was but I think it was the snow on the trees blowing off. I didn't mind so much- we just worked at being calm and forward. There were some really good moments and some big spooks. I had to appreciate the irony of her having happy/floppy ears through troll corner and tense/tight through a different area. 

from my first ride on her at home

from this fall

I was working on our stretch walk across the diagonal. It was pretty good towards troll corner but not so good going towards P. I was determined to give the rein though and I did. She did one big spook spin going back to the safe zone. I simply gathered up the reins, brought her around the corner again and asked her to stretch again. It was never a good stretch but I never gave up on it either so yay me.

It was interesting, I was reading a post by a person I know only through FB and she was talking about how her horse makes her be authentic and face her own inner demons. It really resonated with me and inspired me to write this in response: 

"This is beautiful. Carmen made me face myself and my grief so that I could be whole. I think that was why we chose each other. I don’t know if I would have recognized her brokenness if I hadn’t been broken myself. We needed each other on a level that I have never felt with another horse. I know it sounds all mystical but it’s really not and there was a lot of blood, sweat and tears in our journey together. It was hard. But I am a stronger, more self aware person then I was three years ago and she’s a big reason. I thought I’d share so you know you’re not alone"

It has been a big journey- I have grown in confidence and self-awareness in riding Carmen. The difference in the two of us is not so much in the riding but in the every day interactions. We are comfortable with each other and she no longer seems worried about my reactions. I find that I expect her to act sensibly and she does. When she's worried she looks to me to see if it's okay (need to get that when she can't 'see' me in the saddle too). 

Often I'm in the barn and look up to see this

She's part of the family.