First of all, we have been giving Ellie too much grain especially since she is living a life of leisure. So she became quite a basket case and I haven't even ridden her yet. Also she doesn't know any ground work (re: manners). So we hired a trainer after much stressing and fussing and lose of sleep on my part. He is wonderful but doesn't want me to film him. He has been out here twice and Ellie is beginning to respect our space, lunge properly, lead properly, set her hindquarters, and give to pressure. She is still not comfortable around his flag which consists of an old car antenna with a crinkly flag attached to one end. He hits the ground next to her with it and she is at the point where she just shivers but doesn't move her feet. He can then touch her all over with it pretty much...again sometimes she flinches but she can tolerate it. She now lowers her head to put her halter on. She stands quietly for him. She is easy to catch in the field. So we are making progress. He is almost at the point where he will have us work with her.
Brings me to the second point. I think I am still very reactive to losing my Dommie. Ellie isn't him. I haven't been riding because I don't think (and the trainer agrees) she is ready. Spring is flying by and I have been somewhat depressed by all these events happening in our lives. I'm supposed to roll with the punches but sometimes...everything just sucks.
Did I mention that she has gone into heat twice in three weeks? And Duke thinks he is a stud so we have to separate them?
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| Stud Muffin |
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| Ellie in her stall |
Had my 6-month checkup with my oncologist who said that if it were him he wouldn't have any more CT scans because I have already had way too much radiation. So that's that. And I can keep the port in for another couple of years.
Life Lesson: when stressed...take a nap.
xo
Oh Cait, I so understand this whole post.
ReplyDeleteI know.
some days, i wake up, my head and my neck are killing me, and I think..........what???
How much can I take?
and then everything looks overwhelming, and I stumble around
finding no joy in anything.
Luckily, these funks don't last. I kick my butt on out of them as soon as I can.
But maybe we need to feel this way on occasion. THEN we can appreciate all that we have.
Amen! I agree with everything you have said. And after my cat died, another cat took to coming by, but he won't let me hold him and ignores me most of the time, but eats the food I give him. Nothing can bring back my cat, but oh--my niece is coming by, and that makes me happy.
ReplyDeleteLove your blogspots!
What Hilary said, can't top it.
ReplyDeleteGlad you're getting to spend time with your boys!
And I'm going to say something here you might really not like. Maybe Ellie isn't the right horse for you. It happens to all of us if we're in the horse world long enough. Don't be afraid to say "OK THEN, let's move on!" if you feel in your gut that it's just not right. If you feel that way, there's a reason.
no matter how much we want change, it's still change. ellie will settle, you will settle, too.
ReplyDeletexoxo