A Short Visit With A Big Impact

Visited Spikers today, he was in a cute nuzzle-y groom-y mood :D We chilled for awhile and i got some cute clips of him being adorable, and it was just so nice to see him <3

Does the Cold Ruin Everything?

I rode Spikers on Tuesday and he was pretty good :D Felt like he was giving me his head and useing his haunches... nice and forward, his canter is still awkward... but was better :) and I had a pretty good time!
Then I rode him today, and I don't know whether it was the weather changing a bit or if he was just having an off day but any time I even tapped him with the dressage whip he kicked out... he spooked at his "scary corner" (though he had perfectly ignored it Tuesday) and was just LAZY as hell and stiff! After I let him canter (a risky business when he's like this) he was more forward and loose, so we did finish on a good note, but I think my sore muscles and exhaustion sapped his want to move because I was not in a mood to bully him and make him go...

Riding him again next Tuesday, I will pray for Tuesday to be a good day, I love him and when he is stiff, it is miserable for the both of us!

See Spike In Action

A bit at least :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKFtam8DoM0
He's the gorgeous Flea-bitten (obivously)
I made a quick video to practice using WMM and to use some Spike clips :D
I hope to visit him this weekend :)
Feel free to add me on youtube if you have one!

A Sad Thought.

Not trying to be depressed but I was reflecting today and realized that, although I love Spike, I will never be able to show him or do any of the things I dream of with him. He is 16. By the time I am old enough to have a stable job, be out of college, AND have somewhere to board him (not to mention when I am experienced enough), he will be in his 20's, *far* past his prime. He will not be the horse of my dreams, and he may crush my dreams inevitably when he is put down. I see videos of people on youtube and their gorgeous horses who love them to bits and I am reminded that Spike is not mine... I love him as if he were, but I have to face the facts that he is not. I cannot truly get to know him because I can't take him out and build trust with him. He will forever be the first horse I truly loved (Cloud was close before he passed, but I didn't *love* him like I do Spike, and now I know that)... I would not have died for Cloud... I liked that horse but only when I felt my heart skip a beat when I saw Spike for the first time, before even riding him, did I know that I loved a horse. I dream about Spike, even though every time I think of him I am reminded that some rider rides him once a week and I rarely ever do. He is not mine and probably won't be, at least, not until he is too old to show. When he retires from the lesson program, I want him. I want to get to know him, even if it is just on the ground. I want to give him the peaceful retirement that he deserves, and that pushes me to learn all I can so that the horse I love can be happy in his advancing age. He is still so strong and so willing, so I hope he stays well for many years, but when the time comes when he can no longer canter or be a challenge to riders, I hope I can give him a retirement full of love and trust.

Little Moments

Before I went off to my lesson today I spent some time in Spike's stall with him. He nibbled on my shoulder and I rubbed his ears :) It was so cute! Eventually with all the massaging of his ears he almost fell asleep on my shoulder, his resting head weighed a lot, but it showed me that he is gaining trust in me which makes me so happy. I am going to try to get up to the barn Tuesday so I will hope to spend a bit of time with him then. The little moments when I feel like I am communicating with him remind me why I love horses and love him :D

Bad News...

Today I found out that Spike is being leased out... I mean, that already saddens me... but it only got worse. He is being leased by someone who gets to have 2 lessons a week and who doesn't even really like him. This means I might not get to spend time with him or ride over break, because if she is leasing on the days I ride him... she'll be put on first priority since she is paying the barn and I am not... I am just a crazy chick who loves a school horse who has no money so therefore no one cares about. I will bide my time and try to raise some money so that I could try to lease him in the summer.I want to help him with his issues, I know he trusts me, and I trust him with my life. He is huge at 16.2hh, and most other tall horses make me nervous, but the only time I am nervous on him is when I am nervous that he won't be seen as the awesome horse he is and instead be seen as an ADD crazy horse. I trust him and therefore I am mostly at ease when I ride him. He tries so hard and is so willing. I am going to be a senior next year and can't bear to think how heartbroken I will be when I have to leave for college and have to leave him behind because I don't think I could convince Margaret to sell him. I am working tomorrow so I hope this new "leaser" does not show up so I can spend time chilling with him in his stall and maybe take him outside to take pics of him playing in the snow...

Things I Want to Try With Spike

Of course, with some baby steps leading up to these things...

1. Joining Up- Ever since I read Shy Boy I have wanted to join up with Spike, it would be *so* much fun... I have been researching so that when I get the chance I will know what to do...

2. Trail Ride- alone (with a phone and first aid of course) down to the water crossing, perhaps with one other person who wouldn't mind taking pics of us <3

3. Jump- Of course! I mean, I need to be more confident over fences first, but eventually <3

4. Ride bareback and bridleless! Ahhhhh! Bareback is already so much fun... and it would test our bond <3

5. Just chill, finish teaching him the tricks I have been working on with him... build our trust, learn how to better speak his language :D