Balance on a shoe string

So I’m settling into horse ownership. There’s a bit of panic involved at times – Oh my God, what am I doing, and then a breath and the thought that it’ll be all right.

I’m not able to ride as much as I want, that’s just the way it is right now. Having to balance family and work with horse time. That is why it was important to me to find the ideal boarding situation, where I would be comfortable having him live – knowing that if anything is amiss folks will be in touch with me, and where he’s got room to cruise.

I don’t want my family think I’ve deserted them all the time to go riding on the weekends, so I’m keeping my riding time during the week, and during school/work hours. I have to make sure I finish my billable work within a certain timeframe so that my riding days are totally free and I spend the day at the ranch. I just have to let my self adjust to that, and then build on it where I can. Balance.

And then the shoestring part. While we live a very comfortable life my intention with my horse activities is that it not put any stress on my husband. So the funds for everything equestrian related - is all me baby. I’m keeping an emergency fund in reserve, for, well true emergencies, and making a list of must haves – and then seeing how it goes. I’m splurging a tad on the boarding (although luckily in Ventura County the going rates are much less than in many parts of Los Angeles County), and have to spread out the other costs. BUT I’m truly overwhelmed by folks who offer and give. I’ve learned in other areas of my life that it’s ok to ask for help, most folks are itching to help others and pay it forward – and in the endurance crowd – and non endurance riders I’ve been blessed to connect with - this tendency is especially apparent.

Thank you to Honor & Dura, Vicky, Charlene, Brooke, Sandee, Sandy, Laura, Imme, Barbara, Tammy, Elizabet, Nina, Juan, Cynthia, Rebecca, Felicia, Larry and I must recognize the value of the crazy world of facebook. (Last names withheld to protect the innocent).

These folks have helped in so many ways, many of them maybe don’t even realize the extent to which they have contributed to me getting back into the saddle and making a dream of mine come true. I have been loaned tack, GIVEN tack, been given keys to tack rooms so I can access all of there STUFF so I don’t have to NEED anything right now. I have offers of rides (trailering), help, folks offering support and help, suggestions – and all given with a kindness to let me figure it out too. I’m the type of person that wants to do it RIGHT, but also wants to figure some things out on my own, I learn best by doing it, feeling it – feeling when it is WRONG, making an adjustment and getting it right.

I’m also persnickety about having the proper equipment – Ozzie goes best right now with a German martingale, helping to teach him to carry his head a tad lower etc. I rode him a few times last week without one -  while I waited for may bank account to take in another deposit or two – and he did fine, but I could tell that we were both a tad off and needed that aid. I searched a bit online for a used one, even though I knew the NEW one I wanted (Trail-rite.com). But then I discovered that the $1 breast collar I had bought at a tack sale before I bought Ozzie was way too big, the center of it fell to between his legs – so I just posted on an endurance tack page on Facebook that I was looking for one, synthetic material, any color, and just in usable condition. That I wanted a CHEAP one basically that would work for now (on my shoe string budget), well low and beyond a fabulous woman from NEW YORK offered to send me hers – and it just happened to be my color – for free, she just said ‘pay it forward’. And the breastplate has some good Tevis mojo on it.

And yes Charlene I need a crupper – it is on my must have list, even though Ozzie and I are not big fans. But that is the next purchase, I want to keep him comfortable with that bit of tack.

Getting to know MY horse: First Bath.

The importance of the first bath will not be lost on those who know me in the BIRTH world. Another hat I wear is of a certified doula, labor support during birth. All you horse people do this with your mares when they are birthing their foal, and just so you know, there is the same thing for humans. Check it out. But anyway, the first bath is important for a bunch of reasons, at least it is to me.

So during the time I was figuring out if I was going to buy Ozzie, I got to ride him a lot. On two endurance rides, and several training rides before that, and due to weather and timing etc. he never got a bath after riding when I was around. Now, this might seem funny but I LOVE giving horses baths, and I LOVE it when they LOVE it. It’s a pet peeve of mine when a horse does NOT like baths. And I have another little quirk; I like horses who like their faces rinsed with the hose.

A lot of the polo ponies I worked with in college would stick their nose forward, ears back – so water wouldn’t get in – open their mouths and let you spray that luscious cool water all over their sweaty heads, in their mouths – aaaah the joy.

So, the weather has been warm the past week. In the 80’s even. Ozzie and I had a nice ride, some work (yes boring – neither of us like the arena very much) in the arena – and we were both a bit sweaty and I had made sure we had time for a bath and to dry off.

Turn on the hose, adjust the pressure and start at the feet. He just stands there, turns his head to look and stands perfectly still, letting the cool water run over his body – dirt and hair coming off, he turns his head back facing front and sort of closes his eyes. I smile. He lets me hose off all of his body parts; nether regions and scrape a lot of lose hair off (that Canadian winter coat is shedding fast in this crazy California “winter”). And then we get to the face. 

I adjust the spray nozzle to lesson the pressure and emit a fine sort of mist. He turns his head and sticks his nose forward, ears back. And I just spray his face. He loves it. Mouth open – letting me spray his face all over, up on his forehead, in his mouth, swishing his tongue around. I add a little pressure for more flow and he just loves it. I use my hand to work on some of the hair around his ears and helping to slick out the thick hair under his jaw.

Then he gets his bucket while he dries in the sun. And I enjoy my sandwich. Both of us munching at the ranch. Happy & Content. And back to the barn today. Happy Days. 

Bringing Ozzie Home

Bringing Ozzie “Home”

The experience of walking up to a paddock, having a horse raise his head and recognize you and walk toward you is like nothing else. Yes, I am a mom, and that is an incredible experience but this tugs at a different part of me, it’s something I saw in my core for a long time.

So after about a decade out of horses, and riding a lot of other people’s horses I am a very proud horse owner.

The day I bought him. 

Following our Initiation at Eastern Mojave, Ozzie (registered name is SCA Opimian, a full Arabian – Russian lines - who hails from Sturgeon Creek Arabians in Canada. His name comes from an ancient Roman who had a hankering for good wine – right up my alley) had a few days off and then a vet check, which he passed with flying colors. The vet used words like “nice movement”, “I like this horse”, and “perfect.” I bought him, and brought him home last Tuesday (a week ago yesterday).

I also told my husband. Yes, I bought the horse before telling him. He took it very well actually, and I wonder if some day I’ll be looking for a husband horse. Big thanks to my fabulous friend and her husband, (kept anonymous to protect the innocent) for trailering Ozzie home. 

“Home” for Ozzie, is Aliso Ranch in Santa Paula. Aliso is a working cattle 7000-acre cattle ranch with incredible trails, hills, water crossing, water troughs throughout the ranch and a lot of nice people. Of course we moved in days before the first rain in months, but that’s ok, gives us more time to get comfortable there, get tack squared away and move in.

Ok I have a horse? Now what. Well now it's time for saddle, bridle, brushes, and other grooming paraphernalia. I'm so thankful to Vicky (a friend at Aliso) who has offered up ALL of her stuff - and gifted me a headstall - for me to use, so I can build my own supplies a little at a time. But I got a few things to start off with. The right bit;  Shiny new halter and lead rope (I hate the lead rope I got, one of those nylon ones, too light and flimsy... need a heavy cotton one I think), brush, curry comb, hoof pick. Bag of beet pulp pellets, some integrity performance feed. I'm trying out a fabulous used Big Horn saddle making sure it fits, and that's about it. On my list over the next few months: a new saddle pad, replacing my leather breast collar with a synthetic one, fleece cooler, crupper, a water proof blanket for cool nights when we are away at rides, and I'm sure I'm forgetting something.

Yesterday I rode Ozzie for the first time as my horse. The arena and pens were still closed because of the rain, and I was planning to just walk around the ranch, not very exciting, but still good for him to get used to his new environment. We explored the back side of the arena with menacing looking hoses and pieces of wood, did some circles in the parking area, and then one of the true cowboys of the ranch invited us to tag along with him up the road a bit.

The view from Ozzie's paddock, looking toward the big arena and the
ranch beyond. 

We went up the canyon, over a creek and tested out the footing heading up a hill, it’s drying out fairly quick but we didn’t want to push it going up too far, as it might still be a bit slippery on the way down. Our tour guide peeled off from us on the way back, to take the long way home, and give both of us a chance to ride home alone, good for both horses. That was the first time I was on the trail alone with Ozzie. Both of us did great, just easy walking in, looking at some fallen trees, some bit plastic pipes near the cow barn and getting used to walking between rows of lemon trees – surely something is lurking in the rows of citrus that will jump out at any minute. He’s also getting used to going over the big wooden bridge that leaves the ranch.

I hope to introduce him to cattle soon, with the help of a cow horse. Ozzie has gotten to watch some cattle during dinner time when they come out of the hills to be fed (due to drought there isn’t much food out on the ranch), sometimes he barely notices them, and other times he snorts and trots and flicks his tail.

 

What is that big black moooooing thing? 

I'm settling into my new schedule too. Balancing riding with work, family and sleeping, taking it easy at first, I’ve marked off three days a week to ride to start. That shouldn’t strain the marriage too much, right?

While I was planning to ride in a couple weeks at Cuyama (which is practically in my backyard, just 60 miles from where I live) for a few reasons it’s not going to pan out. My budget is stretched a bit this month as I line up needed tack (although I’ve gotten a lot of “donations” and loans, which is so appreciated) and get a few necessities that I’d rather not borrow or share. So I’m eyeing Vail Lake.

Happy Days & Happy Trails.