Thou Shalt Not Whine - NOT

Ok, first for a short whine fest. Yeah, yeah, I know - Mom's 11th commandment is thou shalt not whine. Ok. Works for the kids, but what if you're the Mom that made the rule? Guess that means I can bend it a little.

The washer died. The freezer went kaput. The dryer is gimping on it's last leg. My father's funeral is Saturday. The teenage girls are stretching their boundaries and giving us more gray hairs. It rained almost all last week. The garage couldn't fix the truck because it wouldn't NOT start for them. We asked the oldest daughter to spread her wings and fly. I went for a ride on Elias and found that we aren't matched and now I'm trying to rehome him. I'm waking up with me teeth hurting because I'm grinding them so hard. (The tooth I broke in half last October is killing me... ) I woke up with a huge cold sore on my bottom and top lip this morning. I'm stressed to the max.

Ok. Sigh. Done.

Anyways, we are getting a new fridge, calling in the repair man for the washer and my husband is trying out a new ride as his is finally falling apart.

The ride with Elias wasn't a total wreck, but just really made clear to me that his idea of a ride and my idea of a ride aren't even on the same planet, maybe not even in the same universe.

The mare left on Sunday. It was a sadness and a blessing. She will be missed. But she is going to a wonderful farm in Maine where she will become part of a regular schedule and be ridden and used by a lady who loves her.

Elias is missing his mare. His first reason for not wanting to leave the barn. He is barn sour, to a small degree. He did go, without too much of a fuss, but really, really wanted to get back. My friend Lxxx went out with me on her mare, and we went around the back pasture a few times. He was doing well, but feeling VERY good and wanted to GO! So we walked around out back and he started getting a little antsy about going back to the barn. When I put on the brakes, he was trying to convince me that he wanted to GO! So we turned around to go back around the woods. Then he wanted to trot. After a couple of paces, he tried slipping into a canter. When I pulled him back to a walk, he got a little light in the front end and my heart really started thumping. I put him on a tight left rein and turned him in a circle, with his head almost to my knee. He only turned once before he stopped and looked at me, questioning, "Why can't we GO!!!?" I got off. My knees were shaking. He is 16.3 hands. HE is TALL.

So, to let him know that he couldn't act up and get his way, I led him down the hill into the gravel pit, walked around down there a little bit (where we were going to RIDE) and then had him walk up the hill behind me. He had his best ground manners on. He walked the whole way with his nose on my shoulder and didn't crowd me or push me or do circles around me.

I was upset and I was crying. I just wanted a horse that would go out for a quiet walk. He needs a job. When I turned him back out in the pasture, he was cantering around in circles and figure 8's and had a wonderful head set and a perfect extended, floating trot. He needs a job. He wants to work every day. He wants to go, and go, and go.

So, if you know anyone who is looking for a work partner, he is sane, sound and can do lessons, flat work and jumping. He has shoes on all 4 and I have his papers. (And yes, I talked to Cxxxxxxxx, his old mom, who told me she was unable to take him back and I could place him in a good home.) :( Sigh. He is a gentle giant. A true, sweet soul.

So, when we got back to the house, since we had only rode for about 15 minutes, I rode up with Lxxx to her house and rode Mr. Reliable. Mr. Old Steady Eddy who is almost (may be) 30. The quarter horse gelding that I love. That I should have taken instead of Elias. Live and learn. We went for a wonderful 2 hour trail ride, walking along paths in the woods, next to the stream, through the field (with a few cantering steps thrown in for good measure) and then back home. It was a wonderful confidence builder.

NOPE! Please don't email or call. I am NOT looking for a horse. I still have Buddy and the ponies. Elias isn't gone yet. And I'm going to be very, very, very picky about what I take next. Maybe I won't take another until Buddy is gone.

Going to bed as the day tomorrow is going to be long and I need to catch up on some sleep I have been missing. Maybe this weekend I'll get in another ride on Buddy. He seems to be doing better and not lame or limping in the morning. Think old age is catching up to him, too. He's 29 this spring....