Monday, March 31, 2014

Don't Blink

Don’t Blink. Blink and the next thing you know life has somehow fast forwarded with out you even being aware of it.

Its April. The last time I posted… well I’m not even sure when that was (sorry!). How did that happen?

March has come and gone, quietly marking the anniversary of a few life changing events… for me at least. And, I would be amiss not to share them here.

In March 2009 I lost my Grandma who, outside of my mom and my sister I was probably more close to then most of my family members. Just two weeks later I lost my mare Katie.

Last Christmas with my Grandma

Katie was one of those once in a lifetime horses. More significant, maybe, because she was my first horse.  She was just a little bay Quarter Horse, but during our 18+ year partnership she taught me how to ride and a whole lot more about what it means to be human, to love, and to build a partnership.

She was thrown away by her humans , left to starve, and landed in my life at a time when I needed her even more then she needed me.  On the day I found out my mom had paid to buy her from the people who’d left her to starve and she was mine I remember brushing the skinny, muddy little horse and wrapping my arms around her. I promised her I’d never let anyone else hurt her. I promised her she’d always be with me and I kept that promise despite many hard times and life transitions.

She was small, with an unclear past, and at times a giant attitude and a big buck, but she was mine and somehow we found a bond and a partnership that lasted almost 2 decades.

Katiedid 2005


It was also in March/April of 2005 that I started leasing my current partner in crime Rio and it was in March of 2008 that I bought him. He wasn’t my first horse, but he was the first horse that I’d sought out, bonded with, intentionally bought by myself no help, no intention to sell on to someone else, not a rescue, not my sister’s horse or a friends horse…  A really big, grown up decision. Somehow despite moves, and changes, and job losses, and school, and life struggles we’ve made it to our 9 year mark together and I pray every day that he will always be with me and that I will always be able to be there for him in the way that I was for Katie.

Rio at 6 years old 2005

In March 2012 my niece was born making me an Aunt. And, GOD, I never knew I could love someone so much. She is the most amazing little girl with so much personality, and I hope that I will always be able to be there for her.

A year later in March my nephew was born… he is so much like my sister… who despite our occasionally turbulent relationship and differing opinions is probably my favorite person on this Earth…. Shhh don’t tell her that.  He’s going to be such a sweet caring little boy if you can pinpoint a kid’s personality at only a year old. He’s so smart, and so handsome. I hope that he stays his sweet, out going self.

Liam & Aunt Sammy

Evelyn Rose & Aunt Sammy


I hope that all the ups and down’s of life don’t change who they are inside right now, the way life has a tendency to do to most people.

It was March of last year that I started taking lessons with my most amazing trainer which has changed the way I ride. I've learned more in one year then I have in more then 20 years experience. 

So it seems March is destined to be full of so many memories… good and bad for me… what is the saying… in like a lion out like a lamb?

March this year hasn’t proven to be much different. This year I’m at a cross rode trying to decide on some career changing choices and hopefully put myself in a better position financially and tackle some demons that I’ve been hiding from for a while now…. Through it all my Pony has kept me sane.
I hope that through all the changes and choices I make this year that I’m able to continue to keep Rio in my life, and to grow with him.


We have grown so much in the last year and I hope to find time to share more about that in the next few days. If you read my blog, and you’re still with me after a sever month hiatus… stay tuned!


Rio March 2014