Oh The Places You'll Go...

This blog is dedicated to my partner in crime, and best friend Rio, and our progress together as we travel down the path of equine & human partnership. I hope to share our daily lives with friends who have been involved along the way, to keep track of our goals and accomplishments, and to share knowledge with my young riding students, and fellow horse friends along the way. 

Rio in September of 2009 Spoon Blue

I can’t keep a diary, I can’t even keep up with my own human related blog, so what possessed me to start a horse related blog, or think that anyone will actually read it is beyond me, but here we go anyways.

What better time to start a blog then on a very important anniversary for Rio and myself. It was 6 years ago in April that I first met Rio then Slick to our Tallahassee friends. He was curious, and willing, but very green and had not been ridden much in several months prior to my leasing him. He was then, and is still, a horse that very much looks to his rider for safety, security, and direction. I have to admit, I had been out of regular lessons for quite a while, and despite years of riding, I was intimidated by him. I almost turned the lease down. Not many know that. But, faced with the choice of no riding at all due to my own horse’s health, or taking him on I decided to give it a go, and never looked back.

After many, many struggles financially, and time wise to try to find a way to buy him, three years ago on this very day (March 29, 2008) I made the craziest and best decision of my life in purchasing him. Its been said that there is never perfect timing for having a kid. If you wait until your life is perfect you never will have kids. The same goes for having a horse I think. Despite the risks I took in buying him when I did everything always seems to fall into place. weather you believe in God's will or not, I know we were meant to be a team because no matter what road blocks presented themselves we have always found a way to stick together.   Its been quite the ride over 6 years, from bonding and working through some personality miss-communications early on to where we are to day, pursuing a show career in low level dressage and jumping. Or, at least those are the goals for this year, now looking very, very possible for us!

Many of the leaps forward that we have made have come in the past year and a half. With out school and major moves to get in the way I have been able to finally spend the time with him that he deserves.  In 2010 Rio dawned his new name, something I’d been thinking about for a very long time, that finally made him feel mine, and signified the start of a new life in a new place. He experienced his first trailer ride in 7 or 8 years with me on his move from GA to Orlando. He explored the trail system in our horsey community, and a local national park, which is something I never thought we would be able to do because his and my confidence level in each other weren’t quite there. He jumped in head first participating in summer camp activities with young riders.  And, with those leaps in confidence, and his super goofy personality Rio has become his on savior! Despite the ever constant challenge of providing for my baby in this economy, and as a teacher no less, we have made things work. Together we now teach youth beginner riders the ropes of basic equitation. Rio literally works to pay his board, but loves every minute of attention he gets from his young friends. He is learning to jump. And, he works in a nice frame willingly moving forward so different from the horse that used to go around the ring with his head up in the air trying to avoid the bit.   He is patient, kind, and curious. He loves having a job to do, and exploring new things.  We give each other unconditional love that only another horse person can truly understand.

The fact that we are still together and have come so far despite money challenges, despite having to finish school, despite moves, job losses, new jobs, my genera inexperience in many areas, and life transitions is a testament to how stubborn I am in not giving up, but mostly to having really great family members and horse people as friends in our lives a long the way who have been there for us. If you’re reading this I’m sure you know who you are.  You all have angel wings and are much loved by both of us!

Rio with his friend 5 YO Bristol 2011

I hope you continue to stay in touch with us, and follow our journey through this blog! I will do my best to actually keep up with it, and try not to bore you!