Being there for Boo

Hmmm…wouldn’t you know that Baythoven would come up lame less than a week before OHSET’s (Oregon High School Equestrian Team) first meet.  The horse goes through down times just fine.  It’s like he has an inner clock that says show season is coming up, it’s time for some lameness issues.  I feel bad for Sarah because this is the only showing she was planning to do with Bay this year.  We’ve called in our vet and she’ll be out on Friday to check him out.  I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed that it will be easily taken care of.

I am ashamed to admit that I haven’t been out to ride Boo in quite some time.  As a matter of fact I have only been making it out there about once a week to groom.  I’ve been letting my health problems dictate to me.  I can’t keep doing that.  So, today I put on my barn clothes and made the 30 minute drive out to see the boys.  Boo was the only one happy to see me.  Bay gets his attention from Sarah and doesn’t feel the need for mine.  Boo, on the other hand, only has me.  He was more than ready for a little grooming and treat time.  Once I got him cleaned up I tacked him up and put him on the lunge line for about 15 minutes.  We just did a light workout.  He’s not in any better shape than I am.  As a matter of fact he’s gotten a bit chubby.  He is in good company because so have I.  He’s still pretty fuzzy and I didn’t want him to get too sweaty.  Once we finished with the lunging I decided to cool him out from the saddle.  I climbed on and spent about 20 minutes just walking around.  That is the first time I’ve been in the saddle since October.  It did feel good.  I was a bit nervous but it all worked out.  Halfway through the ride I realized I’d climbed up there without my helmet which is something I never do.  Thankfully, he was a good boy today. 

When I turned him back out in the pasture he watched me for a bit before he went off to join his buddies.  I have been the only constant in this horse’s life for the past 10 years.  Today I realized that I need to make more of an effort no matter what’s going on in my life.  I love him, and I think he kind of likes me too.

A Change In Focus

Sarah isn't going to show Baythoven this year in the class A shows.  That means I don't have to keep up all those cumbersome memberships so necessary and vital to the show circuit industry. If Bay isn't showing, as far as I am concerned, there is nothing in those memberships for me. I do plan to keep my ODS membership.  That one always has educational opportunities for members even if they are not into showing.  A primary ODS membership comes with the "Flying Changes" magazine and it comes with a USDF membership which gives me the "USDF Connection" magazine.  Maintaining my connection with ODS will also give me the opportunity to help out at some of the shows.  I'd love to learn to scribe and I am hoping to get that opportunity.

I've decided to invest the money I would have spent on memberships into photography classes.  Of course I am thinking that my photography will take a decidedly equine bent.  I've already signed up for two classes.  One class in photography and one in photo shop.  I am jazzed about this turn of events.  It feels right.  It feels like a big adventure!

Gratitude

I made my way out to the barn on Sunday.  The weather had warmed up a bit and I wanted to check on the boys.  When I got there they were turned out into their pasture and were grazing side by side.  They paid no attention to me whatsoever until I made my way into the pasture with some horse cookies.  It was then they decided I was their long lost benefactor.

As they ambled across the pasture toward me I was struck by just how beautiful they both are.  Even in they're dirty blankets, even with their manes in a tangle and shavings clinging to their tails.  They are both pretty fuzzy.  I think Bay may even be fuzzier than he has ever been.  His tail is longer than I've ever see it.  It's past his hocks now.  Boo's tail has grown too.  It wasn't but a couple of months ago that I had banged it just above his fetlocks.  Now it's dragging on the ground again.  Looks like I will need to go out and wash it and bang it again on the first available 50 degree day.

I haven't been feeling well lately, but today for that few hours spent with my horses,  I forgot about everything but how much I love being with them. I have heard it said that people who have something that speaks to their soul, no matter what it is, will become so engrossed in it that they will lose time when doing it.  That is exactly what happens to me when I am with the horses.  Time slows down and eventually I lose track of it altogether.  I know I am not alone in this.  I know that almost everyone who will read this blog post knows exactly what I am talking about.  Aren't we lucky to have that? I know I'm grateful for every single moment.

Sunday Stills

Wondering About Blanketing

I am sitting here in my office.  The sun is filtering in through the windows.  Everything is warm and cozy inside.  Outside is a different story.  It was 25 degrees when I got up this morning.  That is unusual weather for the Pacific Northwest. Oh, we get cold weather but we don't usually get it for more than a few days in a row and then it's back to the 50's for daytime highs and lows in the 40's  to upper 30's at night.

I understand that for many people this is just your every day winter weather.  It's far worse in many parts of the country and around the world.  At least this has been a dry cold spell.  Still, it's not that normal for us and I find myself wondering if I'm doing right by my 22-year-old gelding.  I have him stabled about 30 minutes from home.  The elevation is a little higher and the temperature is a few degrees colder than it is here at home.  I have a light blanket on him (no fill) with a neck cover.  It's just to keep him dry and to break the wind.  He has a very fuzzy winter coat of his own, and I've always felt that was enough for our normal temperatures.  Now, with these temperatures, I am second guessing myself.  Should I be putting on a heavier blanket?  It's still getting to the upper 30's and lower 40's during the day...

He is outdoors during the day and indoors at night.  He seemed fine the last time he was checked.  He was warm and dry under the blanket.  His weight is still good.  I'm concerned that if I put on a heavier blanket he will just sweat under it.  I've had that happen before.  I've heard other people say they've beefed up the light turnout sheet in this cold weather. 

What do you all think?

Wordless Wednesday

Learning About Equine Photography

I spent some time this fall taking an online photography class.  It is a fine art photography class and the emphasis is on capturing the essence of the horse.  I heard about the class from a good friend who is a much better photographer than I am.  She encouraged me to give it a shot and I am really glad I did.  I’ve owned a Canon Rebel XTI for about 3 years, but I was lost when it came to taking pictures off auto mode.  With this class I would be required to get off auto. 

I was pretty nervous in the beginning.  I was worried I wouldn’t understand the assignments or even how to upload them.  I am definitely not a techie.  However, the emphasis here wasn’t going to be about the technical aspects as much as it was going to be about beginning to define our own vision regarding the essence of the horse. 

All that was needed for the class was a DLSR camera and some version of Photoshop.  I bought PS  Elements 9 from Amazon and I was set to go.

I didn’t turn out to be the star of the class.  I also wasn’t a total bust.  I didn’t get a photo that I thought worthy of printing and framing as fine art, but I did get an idea of where to begin my photography education which I intend to follow up on.  I am planning to take some of those technical classes to help me better understand the capabilities of my camera.  I’m also planning to take some classes in photo shop.  I’ve developed a better understanding of what fine art photography is.  The class was well worth the money and the time I’ve spent on it.

Although the actual goal of using photo shop was to take a good photo and then enhance it with photo shop techniques, I did learn how to make an interesting sort of photo out of what most would consider a real dud.  Here are a few examples. 



The website for the class is www.learntotakephotos.com