Day 1 of the blog; Day 541 with Lena
So this is my first day of blogging about my wonderful mare. I’ve already had her for 541 days!! To you that mostly means that you’ve missed a lot! So let me try to update you. Let’s begin 542-6,570 days ago, i.e. my life before Lena.
My life before Lena consisted of many different horses. Buddy; my first stuffed horse. Countless wild horses I tried to connect with. Lesson horses, Casey was my favorite, but I was always forced to ride Lacey a stubborn old pony (mostly because no one else could get her to jump ;]). Sissy, an aging Quarter horse mare whose tragic death hit me hard. Buster, a slightly younger Quarter horse gelding whose similarly tragic death was blamed on me and left me even more broken than before. Then there was a dark period in which I let no one, horse or human, into my life. Shortly thereafter I was told my deepest desire would be mine; a horse of my very own.
His name was Bandit, he was a 12 year old paint horse with pitiful hooves, failing eyes, and a horrible habit of scaring the crap out of me. My dream became a nightmare and I would go days without interacting with Bandit at all; until my dad decided to get me a trainer. Linda was tough, but she knew what she was talking about and I had to do it the way she wanted (not different from any other trainer) Four days a week for an entire summer we worked, building my relationship with Bandit and gaining my confidence back. But I wanted something to grow with and Bandit and I just couldn’t seem to click, so after three years together I decided to sell him (from what I’ve heard he’s now happily winning ribbons at all the local shows with a little girl who really loves him) By then I was 18 and ready to go off into the world, learning new things at a grand university (preferably anywhere, but Reno) However I was made an offer I just couldn’t refuse; any horse (for a reasonable price) that I wanted if I stayed home and attended UNR. So of course I jumped at the opportunity. Scanning Craigslist one day I saw an ad for a horse auction in Quincy, California. The horses in the catalog were lovely, but none so lovely as number 12; a 16hh gelding named Drifter. I had to have him. I begged and pleaded and told my father that this was the only way; reluctantly he agreed. So it was that on May 16th, 2009 My father, my best friend Alyssa, and I piled into the truck and drove to the annual Feather River College horse auction.
The auction was unlike I anything I had ever experienced; the horses stood tied waiting to be saddle or were being ridden in the large arena to show off what they knew. For you see all the horses, save one 10 year old, were only 3 or 4 year olds. I didn’t recognize Drifter immediately, which in itself worried me a little. When we did find him he wasn’t what I had expected. He was a little stand-offish and uninterested. His student trainer was a man in his forties and he told me that Drifter’s back would often “go out and is probably out now” I had definitely had enough of horses with problems and reluctantly decided that Drifter wasn’t going to be a good idea. So Alyssa and I moved over to the large outdoor arena to watch the horses do the instructed pattern, which if I remember correctly consisted of walking in, trotting in large circles, both directions, a bit of loping (or cantering, whatever) then stop, dismount, pick up all four hooves, take off the bridle, put it back on, re-mount, and walk out of the arena. As we watched we put stars by the ones we liked. Number 4 had beautiful movement, good for either English or Western, we gave her one star. Number 7 seemed to really be understanding the commands and was very willing, we gave him two stars. There were a couple others and still infatuated I starred Drifter’s name on the list. Over the loudspeaker we heard that the auction was about to start and thought it best to take our seats. We sat down and watched as the first three horses went through quickly and then number 4 entered and Alyssa leaned over and said I think you should go for her.
Thinking the exact same thing I nodded my head in agreement and lifted my paddle immediately, and after a couple minute bidding war the auctioneer called sold. My nerves were so rattled; I felt like crying, throwing up and fainting all at the same time. It took me a few moments to realize that I had won her. I got up and walked out of the arena to where the horses were waiting tied. I found her easily and held her head for a minute or two, feeling the full weight and realization of the decision I had just made. And I believe it was the best decision I have ever made. and Thus Lena came into my life, hello Day 1.
{First photo of us ever!Auction day, I just won my baby!!}
It wasn’t until Day 5 that we were able to bring Lena home. and from there the days flew by. First Lena was boarded in a large dirt corral with 7 or so other horses, where she was picked on. From there we moved with Alyssa and her gelding Gabe to a comfy backyard situation with pastures, individual stalls with dirt runs, a nice arena, and some colorful new people. By now my first winter with Lena was coming and we left that facility for a large scale boarding facility complete with the largest covered arena in the city. We stayed there for the winter where Lena was fed straight alfalfa for the first time and I thought my life was over. Suddenly my sweet, willing, perfect mare was a raging beast full of fire and brimstone. It took me a week of tears and near accidents to figure out it was her feed. Once put back on mix she went back to being my amazing little mare. It was Day 319 when we moved to another barn down the street called Zephyr farms, there we began training for english hunter/jumpers.
Lena caught on more quickly than I did, faster than my trainer expected, but I knew she was that smart. We started out by doing the flat work in a group lesson then watching the other horse and riders over fences. I could see Lena watching and thinking, it was obvious to me that she was learning. When we started over fences it took no time at all for Lena to show me that she knew what to do. It was as if she was saying “I’ve seen the other horses do this, is this what you want me to do? Okay I’ll do my best.” And she did wonderfully. The days passed and we excelled, soon we were competing in the local shows and finishing in the ribbons nearly every time. On Day 426 in our second class, jumping 2’-2’3” , we were moving at a good pace and Lena suddenly decided she knew how to do flying lead changes; clocking out 5 changes in a row. I could not have been more proud of my little mare. We continued training until I wanted her home, where we have a corral in the backyard. On Day 479 we brought Lena and a friend’s horse home.
{our first show and we got a 2nd place and a 6th!}
Now we are almost caught up, though what happened in the coming days is very distressing. It’s anyones guess as to what actually happened, but my best guess is that Ketchum (my friend’s late cut gelding kept with Lena) tried to mount Lena, I’m certain Lena was scared and attempted to escape him. What I came home to find was a lame mare with thick cuts down the sides of her hips. I called my friend and had her take her horse away. Since then I’ve done everything to get Lena back up to where she used to be, Including multiple visits from the chiropractor and vet.
Day 537 my friend Alyssa and I saddled Lena and I hopped on first, she was stiff and sore. Resolving to lunge Lena for the next week or so we drove off to ride her horse Gabe. Long story short Gabe bucked me off and I landed on my neck/shoulder and rolled.
Day 538 I saw the chiropractor and my injured muscles were compared to those of someone who had been hit by a truck. After my appointment I went out and bought a lunge line and whip. I lunged Lena (carefully due to my aching muscles) and she looked better than the previous day, particularly without a person on her back. It was the highlight of my day. Listening to her quiet steady walk and trot (no faster, not yet) seeing her head drop and her ear turn inward. With one ‘whoa’ she would stop and turn toward me looking expectantly.
DAY 540 with Lena. Today was the first day that the weather was actually cold all day, and consequently Lena was full of it. She was at first a bucking bronco on the end of my lunge line, then suddenly she became a professionally trained lipizzan schooled in the “airs above ground.” As any horse person knows anger does no good in any situation, so I laughed it off and patiently, persistently asked her to walk and used my body as I knew I should. Finally she calmed down, but I made her walk for the rest of the time so as not to upset her hips any more than they already had been. I knew she had been feeling good and I was happy to see her energy (though admittedly glad that I had not been riding her =]) I ordered a custom made headstall for her last week. this local lady makes headstalls out of old western belts, and tools them herself. I’m super excited for Lena’s, she said she may even be able to put Lena’s name on it!!!
Well you’re basically caught up, because I was not able to work with her today due to school and prior commitments. (day 541) But I will be at it again tomorrow, my second post!!
