#WarriorsBlade

[thegreenhorseman]

The Gift of Love

I do not come from a “horse-y” family. At some point my toddler eye set upon a horse and the love affair began then. I had to ride every pony, every toy horse, the coin operated machines. I looked for horses whenever we passed a farm. I lived and breathed horses…books, Breyers, and believing they’d be in my life one day. When we moved to New York my mom reunited with a childhood friend…and she…

[thegreenhorseman]

Let's Talk About Unicorns!

Let’s Talk About Unicorns!

Unicorn: noun: something that is highly desirable but difficult to find or obtain Tomorrow is National Unicorn Day, so let’s have a little fun with it. (more…)

[thegreenhorseman]

Nahe's News: Happy Birthday in Heaven, Brother Blade

Nahe’s News: Happy Birthday in Heaven, Brother Blade

Aloha! I never met my brother, Blade, but he left an impression on Tiger and ma. (more…)

[thegreenhorseman]

Blade was never abused or neglected, but I don’t believe he ever truly had a person.  Until I met him he stayed in a nice pasture with two other geldings and a run-in shed.  He was given two meals a day and never bothered.  Some passing visitors would give him a peppermint or two but as far as I know he didn’t get much human contact beyond that for several years.

When I took him home he was a little underweight, had ulcers, and was very photo-bleached.  He had quite a bit of muscle atrophy.  With treatment and a personalized nutrition plan he has gained weight, filled out, and his coat glistens even when I don’t have time to groom him (seriously, I hadn’t groomed him in a week or so when I took the photos on the right).

All pictures were taken in July of different years.  Preventing photo-bleaching has it’s challenges with a dark horse but nutrition plays a key role in his coat health.

  I’m quite proud of the transformation I have achieved with Blade mentally, emotionally, and physically.

This is a contribution to the WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge: Transformation.  See more at https://dailypost.wordpress.com/photo-challenges/

Blade’s Transformation Blade was never abused or neglected, but I don't believe he ever truly had a person.

[thegreenhorseman]

Tiger was present for all of the events on December 11, 2019.  He and Blade were playing when it happened and he tried to comfort Blade the best he knew how.  When Blade was down he nudged him to get up.  He stayed close.  The concern on his face spoke volumes.

Once Blade was up Tiger continued to monitor the situation.  He gave us space when we needed it but didn’t stray far and checked in periodically.  He nipped at Blade’s broken leg.  I don’t know exactly his intention and I swatted him away but I imagine in a horse world it made sense to him and Blade.

When Blade grew restless Tiger came over and stood close.  He allowed Blade to lean on him.

Tiger participated in begging me for treats.  He definitely got some, but Blade got twice as many.

Once the vet arrived Ashley put Tiger into the round pen with some alfalfa.  From there he was able to see everything that was going on without getting in the way.  He was as much a part of the trauma as we were and had every right to know what was going on.

Being present and saying goodbye to your best friend is the best way to get closure.  I wanted him to be present.  I wanted him to have that closure.  He knew what happened and didn’t need to spend hours looking for Blade or wondering if he’d come back.

After everything was done and after I was able to wrench myself off of Blade’s neck, I took Tiger’s lead and all of us made our way down the hill to the barn paddock.  Tiger stopped halfway down and looked back towards Blade.  A sad half-hearted whinny came to cut the silence.  After giving him a few seconds to say his goodbye we got back to the barn.  He ate while I changed his blanket, kissed him goodnight, and returned to the house to warm up with mango ginger tea.

The next morning after Blade was buried we took some alfalfa to his grave.  Tiger and Blade “shared” a flake together.

Our friend had taken Blade’s sheet off and hung it over the round-pen fence.  I walked Tiger over and he took a long time taking it in.  In those moments Tiger’s expression changed.  He grew noticeably saddened.

All day long Tiger mourned his loss, standing in the same spot for hours on end.

Only when I came out to check on him (and I did often) would he half-heartedly eat his hay and take some treats.

He still ate his meals and devoured his alfalfa, but he had no interest in hay.

I went to the store and bought two bags of shavings.  I typically bed the run-in shed with wasted hay but for this occasion, I wanted to give him ANYTHING that could provide comfort.

I became worried Saturday when I came out to see him greet me with a stressed head bobbing motion.  He hadn’t touched any of his hay all day long.  Not even nibbled it.

While he ate his dinner I grabbed a book, flipped a muck bucket over, and read aloud to him.  I spent time with him and let him listen to my voice.

Non-horse people would think I’m crazy for it, but let me assure you….it made a difference.

Tiger ate a lot more that night.  In the morning he greeted me with a happy whinny.  He devoured his food.  While I began to clean up I noticed he was playful.  His expression had changed immensely since the night before.  He knew I was here for him.  Knew that I love him.  Knew that he wasn’t really truly alone.

Tiger may be healing faster than I am, but I still worry about his mental state living in solitude.  The whole reason he’s here is because I didn’t want Blade to be alone.  Now the tables have turned all too fast.

It didn’t take long for friends to reach out to offer up loaner horses to keep Tiger company.  I was offered horses to borrow and horses to keep.  I knew I needed to decide on something but I wasn’t ready for a permanent decision.

Knowing Tiger’s horsonality I wanted to figure out a solution that would be the best fit for HIM.  He’s a baby.  His mindset is still immature.  He’s sweet and impressionable but he’s also a brat and can be dominant.  He lacks manners.  I wanted to decide on a horse companion that would be suitable for his immaturity.

Do you remember any of the horses from my horse shopping in The Green Horseman’s Latest Quest?

Meet Nahe.

NAHE

Nahe is a sweet and incredible paint gelding of about 14 years.  He’s big, too.  He belongs to a friend who offered to let me borrow him to accompany Tiger.

Nahe is a big boy.  He’s sweet and has a very kind eye.  My friend told me that he is the top dog.  He asserts his authority but he is not mean. Just the boss.

This is precisely what I feel Tiger needs.  He needs the leader to keep him humble and teach him manners.  A leader that won’t put up with shenanigans but won’t be cruel, either.

Nahe arrived at our home Monday afternoon.  He stepped off the trailer quietly and we introduced the two.

Within 10-20 minutes Nahe and Tiger were new best friends.

I watched them for a while and they happily shared a hay pile despite my having laid out 2 or 3 piles.  My heart sang knowing that Tiger had a friend.  I knew then that he would heal just fine and that I can rest easier.  I’m still broken-hearted about my loss but my heart healed in a major way that day.

We don’t have a solid plan on how long Nahe will be with us, but we are both so happy and so grateful to his owner for trusting me to provide him with the same excellent care I’ve given my own horses.  So grateful that she was able to deliver him and offer Tiger and I some respite.

From the bottom of my heart…

THANK YOU

Tiger’s Tale Tiger was present for all of the events on December 11, 2019.  He and Blade were playing when it happened and he tried to comfort Blade the best he knew how. 

[thegreenhorseman]

Wordless Wednesday – 12/11/2019

[thegreenhorseman]

Wordless Wednesday – 11/6/2019

[thegreenhorseman]

Wordless Wednesday – 10/23/2019

[thegreenhorseman]

This is my favorite time of year.  The bugs are going away.  My face doesn’t hurt me.  It’s not too hot.

This is the time of year when I really love to spend time with mom.  I don’t mind working.  I don’t mind getting smoozles and cuddles.  I love my massages, my scratches, and pretty much everything.  Life is good.

Mom had last week off for vacation.  She was super busy getting stuff done (Vacation Means Getting Stuff Done) but she also made lots of extra time to hang out with me and the boys.

We have had some really great rides lately.  The most recent wasn’t really wonderful but we made it through.  I really am not a fan of evening riding, at least for the latest work session.  The lighting during sunset can sometimes bother me; we managed through it.  It was also a couple weeks since our last ride so I was pretty excited about getting out and going.  I LOVE to work!

Despite some of our arguments mom and I shaped up and became a good team….at least enough to get some good photos and video.

  Mom’s also really been on my case about finishing breakfast.  She complains that I’m a slow eater.  Should I remind her that I choked a few times last year?  I take as long as I want now on my meals.  I like to savor my food.  There is so much to enjoy.  The hay stretcher, the beet pulp, the supplements, alfalfa, flax seed. Zeno Bay and VaiVia both eat pretty much the same stuff but they are done long before me so mom separates us. When they are finished they come over and wait like vultures.  I don’t mind though.  We call it breakfast club and we discuss the plans for the day.

Mom even wets it down so it’s like cereal. She and I sometimes enjoy cereal together.

Either way I don’t mind the fact that she stands with me and grooms me or gives me scratches while I eat.  Morning scratches and cuddles are the absolute best!

It’s also beginning to get chilly at night.  Mom had our barnyard done by a pro and now it’s super nice and stays dry.  The other day mom saw rain in the forecast and let us finally go use the barn for the first time since.  The mats felt so nice and we happily weathered the storm and stayed dry all night long.

I’ve got to admit it.  I’m a mama’s boy.

But there’s nothing wrong with that right?

  The Blade Chronicles: Mama’s Boy and Proud of It This is my favorite time of year.  The bugs are going away.  My face doesn't hurt me. 

[thegreenhorseman]

Wordless Wednesday – June 19 2019

[thegreenhorseman]

Wordless Wednesday – May 1 2019

[thegreenhorseman]

Wordless Wednesday – April 24 2019

[thegreenhorseman]

This coming Saturday, May 2nd, will mark 2 years of having horses on the property.

I began working and cleaning stalls to ride when I was ten. Through middle and high school I was a “come and go” equestrian.  I was a devoted barn rat until drama of some kind ensued during which I vanished.  Horses being a forever love of mine, however, would never be out of my world for long.

I worked to ride through college.

After college, I helped out a friend for a couple years.

Horses fell to the wayside while I pursued my career and explored other hobbies.  I ran my first 5k and fell in love with obstacle course races.  I got into and even started teaching kickboxing…it’s how Zac and I met (He was an instructor).  It was during a women’s self-defense course that I was assistant teaching that led me to find Blade.

I was a horse owner.  Finally.  Twenty-six years and I was a horse owner.  A dream.

I also dreamt of owning a property with my horse onsite.  Boarding was amazing and I learned many things about being a good, responsible owner.  Zac and I saved up and in a few years we moved into the house we call home today.

September 2017

April 2018

  May/June 2018

September 2019

Another dream of mine.  Having horses right at home.  There was (and always is) a lot to learn while planning our horse property.  There was no fencing. No pastures. No barn. We did that.

I did research.  We busted our butts.  And on May 2nd, 2018 Blade came home with Happy.

I subscribe to the philosophy that horses are herd animals and NEED social interaction with other horses.  At the time affording two horses was out of the question.  I spent most of my savings on setting the property up and already work 12-hour overnight shits to earn more money.

That being said I do everything I can to provide my animals with a happy enriching life.

Something I find absolutely astounding is that in only TWO years there have been SEVEN horses on this property.  To celebrate two years I want to celebrate the horses that have called this place home.

WARRIORS BLADE: AKA “BLADE”

An obvious choice to begin our celebrations.  Blade was and always will be my heart horse.  When he came home he was a 10-year-old off-track thoroughbred. We did all of this for HIM.  I sacrificed novelty and restful sleep to make sure I was doing right by Blade. In the two years I had him home we developed a closer bond than ever before.  I had him trotting at liberty circles around me in my backyard with no fencing.

Blade was always happy to see me even when he played the “you can’t catch me game.”  We enjoyed bareback rides, grazing the backyard, and simply hanging out together.

PARAMOUNT’s HAPPY APPLAUSE: AKA “HAPPY”

Happy, a then 24 (I think) year old morgan mare just coming back from a suspensory tear.  Happy had spent fall on stall rest and during the winter I had begun helping my trainer begin hand walking which turned into 5 minutes walking bareback, 10 minute walking bareback, 15 minutes, then 20 minutes.  Then we added trotting the straights and soon after cantered the straights (Thank God she’s smooth and bareback riding was easy on her).  By May she was mostly recovered but still not ready to return to the lesson program.

As a way to help my trainer and also myself, I offered to have her at our home to keep Blade company while giving her more time off and exercise.

Happy thrived on the 24/7 turnout and the hill strengthened her throughout the summer.

By the end of summer my trainer missed Happy and wanted to bring her back into the lesson program for the flat riders.  It was a lovely summer having her as part of our family.

VIA VIA: AKA “LITTLE MAN”

I was given a month’s notice that Happy was going to be returning to the lesson barn.  I had a month to figure out how to give Blade a companion without putting myself in a financial hole.

I reached out to several rescues and eventually, my neighbor put me into contact with the rescue that saved Vai Via’s life from Moore’s kill pen in Pennsylvania.

Vai Via was a 20-year-old thoroughbred who found himself close o being shipped to slaughter in early 2018.  He was saved, quarantined, and spent time at a farm in Maryland.

When he arrived he was a nervous soul but very kind.  He had a smaller refined body that was solid and well built.  He loved to run and play…you couldn’t tell him he was in his twenties.

We were his home for a year and in that time I had the joy of learning who he was and earning his trust.   He was a bit nervous under saddle but on the ground, he’d do anything.  We did obstacle courses together and he even allowed me to try archery with him.

Due to the contentious ending between myself and the rescue I was cut off from contact and I am not sure as to what he is up to now. Not knowing that he is safe and happy is the most difficult part of the whole ordeal; as for the people, there is no love lost.

ZENO BAY: AKA “OLD MAN”

Zeno Bay came home with Vai Via as a package deal.  The two were inseparable best buds.  Zeno Bay was also a 20-year old thoroughbred.  They were rescued from Moore’s a week apart and spent their quarantine together.  Zeno Bay also lived with Vai Via in Maryland all summer until they were returned to NY to live with us.

Zeno Bay did not arrive looking as good as he did in photos.  In fact he looked better in the killpen.  While on the farm in Maryland he developed a quarter crack that extended to the coronet band and lost a lot of weight.

In only three months Zeno Bay was back on a healthy road.  He had more minor and easily remedied health issues.  Due to a large belly and ribby look, we opted to administer a Panacur PowerPac to address any worms.  During a wet week he stood in the run-in shed all day and stocked up…hand-walking and cold hosing took care of it.  I noticed he became aggressively itchy and upon investigation found he had lice (not transferrable between species but still gross).  I treated all three horses preventatively (and again two weeks later) and washed their blankets well.  During a frigid week in January, I came out to find Zeno had a swollen sheath (after talking to a few farms it seemed they all had similar issues with at least one or two of their geldings).  Since it seemed to me like edema (and with a phone call with the vet) I hand walked and exercised him daily and the swelling went away.

Aside from these minor issues, Zeno Bay was the most personable horse I have ever met.  He got along well with the other boys but was happy to leave the herd and wanted to be with you and in your pocket. I could do anything with this horse and as long as we were together he was happy.

One day while bareback riding I walked him over to our flagpost to fix the flag…the pole had retracted.  In trying to extend the pole back to normal height it instead came off in my hands.  I used this as an opportunity to train, but Zeno Bay was completely unphased by the waving flag.

Again, since things ended poorly with the rescue I have no contact with Zeno Bay any longer and it breaks my heart.  As far as I know, he has a very loving home and is enjoying his life.  If that home ever found me and reached out I’d be happy to send him my love and a bag of his favorite treats.

R TOMCAT: AKA “TIGER”

As things heated up with the rescue and stipend payments became later and later I knew the time was approaching to say goodbye to my sweet old boys.  I began my search for my second horse.  I made the decision to get a second horse to eliminate the drama of having anyone else’s on the property (I do not offer board).  I wanted a horse that was more sound than Blade the I could take to hunter paces and that I could jump.

A twist of fate connected me with R Tom Cat, a then 6-year old thoroughbred gelding.  His family was looking to place him in a good home.  He had raced a couple times and didn’t do well, so he was re-trained and brought to Kentucky for the Retired Racehorse Project.   He showed promise in the eventing world and his sire, Dance With Ravens, is among the desired sires for the sport.

Tiger came home in September just before Zeno Bay and Vai Via went back to the rescue.  He and Blade had about a week to establish a bond and get to know each other.  Tiger was smitten with Blade instantly.

Life with Tiger wasn’t easy at first.  I had flipped his world upside-down.  From a cushy stall life to 24/7 turnout.  From arena riding to the backyard hacks.  He took to pacing the fence and it drove me nuts.

Over time, however, Tiger has become accustomed to and satisfied with his new life.  He happily eats his hay, lays in the field, or in his bedded run-in shed.  He always comes to greet me and enjoyed being loved on.  He especially loves his face rubs.  He also still loves to work.  Recently we have been given permission to ide the neighbor’s cornfield and that’s his favorite since we have the room to gallop and stretch out.

NAHE

When Blade passed on suddenly in December a friend of mine reached out to me to offer Nahe on a free lease with the option to buy.  Nahe is a large paint (16.1/16.2hh?) gelding she acquired while she led trail rides in Hawaii.  That’s right. Nahe has come 5000 miles.   He’s been in New York for about five years now and grows a perfectly well-adapted winter coat.  He has a giant head and we THINK he’s about 15/16 years old.

Nahe and Tiger became best friends within 5 minutes.  They eat side by side and lay next to each other for their afternoon naptime.

Nahe is another in-your-pocket type and loves to visit with people.  He’s laid back in true Hawaiian fashion.  He makes his time getting around but on the trail is happy to kick it into a higher gear.  Like Tiger, I trust this horse and have many times ridden him in the cornfield bareback with a halter.

He also takes wonderful care of my neighbor who also enjoys spending time with him and giving him extra grooming sessions.  Right now he especially loves it because he is shedding white hairs everywhere!

SADIE

Sadie is our most recent and temporary resident but she is still part of the family regardless.

Sadie belongs to my trainer…another morgan mare.  She is the largest morgan I have ever met standing at 16/16.1 hands.  She has a thick cresty neck and her ribs are quite squishy but her whole presence is simply stunning.  Watching her move brings a sense of royalty.

Sadie went immediately into intense work.  I round penned her daily.  I also added in lunging on a line.  After that, I added in trot poles.  Sadie is a high energy girl and I have to be in the right frame of mind to help her find a sense of calmness and ease.  She carries a lot of tension so working with her requires me to be calm, quiet, and patient.  She thrives on praise and LOVES to hear she’s a good girl.  Sadie also loves to cuddle.  Being groomed and having her face rubbed is her favorite.

In only a few weeks she seems at ease but I am still working on getting on her.  To be honest I am quite nervous and I’m making it slow.  So far I have saddled and ridden her for I’ve minutes in a bitless bridle at a walk.  When she starts to get fussy I look for something she knows and does well, parties her, and get off.  I plan to build from there if the rain will ever let up.

 SEVEN HORSES in only two years.  Our property has seen a lot but we’ve done a lot of good.  All seven of these horses have thrived here and all enjoy people.  They enjoy being around people and they have had a good life here.  I am always working to improve our home and quality of care but I am satisfied with what we have done so far.

  Horses of The Green Horseman Family This coming Saturday, May 2nd, will mark 2 years of having horses on the property. I began working and cleaning stalls to ride when I was ten.

[thegreenhorseman]

Today would have been Blade’s 12th birthday.

I may have lost the physical entity that was Warrior’s Blade, but blessed beyond words to see him as he was.  I have some wonderful memories that will stay with me for my lifetime.

For his birthday I want to take some time to remember him and share with you some stories that you may not have known.

Blade had a rough start in life; he was born with a limb deformity.  His front right leg was badly misaligned…twisted from what I understand (I was not there).  The vets and staff took great care of him in trying to fix it through a surgical correction called transphyseal bridging.

During the transphyseal bridging process the vet placed a pin in the upper growth plate of his canon bone.  The pin was intended to slow the growth and allow the lower growth plate to speed up and thus straighten the leg.  Once they were satisfied with the correction they removed the pin.  The cast removal had also taken some skin with it so he forever had a white-haired scar on the inside of his leg by the time I met him seven years later.

Blade grew up and from what I’m told he was an obnoxious young man until the day they gelded him.   He was trained for the racetrack and on July 16th, 2011 debuted in race 5 at Suffolk Downs.  The poor guy didn’t stand a chance, finishing 32 1/4 strides behind winners Cold Shot and Get Back Jack.  On July 30th he came in 64 lengths behind Donna’s Glitter.  On his forth race September 6th he broke from the gate first, led the field for the first quarter.  By halfway he fell to second and finished the race 7th in a field of 9.  His final two races he continued to start well.  He launched from the gate and ran strong in the front for a half mile but ended the race so slowly he was recorded as “did not finish.”

Jack, Blade’s original owner realized he wasn’t cut out for the races.  After six failed starts Blade went to live in Connecticut (I think?) for a couple years where he trail rode.  In a year or two, he returned to his birth home in Fort Edward, NY where he lived a few years waiting to find me.

In 2015 I was on top of the world.  I had an excellent career started as a salesperson with a chemistry-based consumables company.  When I wasn’t traveling I taught kickboxing-style classes, taught a couple private clients, and assisted with krav maga classes.  I was helping with our women’s self-defense class when one of our students reached out to me about horses.  I hadn’t ridden horses in years…I loved them, but they were on the back burner during that phase of life.  They told me about this horse that was looking for a home and showed me a picture.

I’ve been offered horses in the past.  I have worked to ride my entire life up until that day.  I worked to ride when I was 10.  I worked to ride throughout college.  Hell, I still work to ride today.  I know the work and money required to have a horse and I’ve been able to (sadly) turn them down because of it.  Something about Blade drew me.  It was just a photo but I had a feeling in my gut.  It kept nagging at me for a week or so.

I met him.

I spent an hour with him.  I lunged him and he offered me join-up.  He followed me around the ring off the lead.  When I returned him to his paddock he looked back at me and watched me leave.

Then I returned and rode him.

I took a few more lessons on him.  At this point he saw me and eagerly walked over, happily leaving his two pasture mates.

I made plans, called a friend, and brought him home on July 3, 2015.

Our life together began with a hoof abscess that very weekend.  I learned how to soak and wrap a hoof.

The July heat and the stress of moving also gave him ulcers.  We treated him for those too.

A couple months later we moved barns due to the drama at our first farm.

Our new farm was home for a few years and that’s where we developed our strong bond.

It wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows.

Blade took pleasure in making me earn everything. He also had a new “neurosis of the week.”  Sometimes he hated his ears touched.  Other times he loved it.  Sometimes he didn’t mind a bath.  Other times the hose was a snake that would surely swallow him whole.

He was known to be the messiest horse at the barn and his stall was always filthy.  If we didn’t clean his stall properly he’d tell us so with a tactfully placed manure pile in one of his two water buckets.  He’s also pooped in his food bucket on the floor as if to say, “it’s high time you scrub this bucket clean, mom.  I deserve a clean food dish”

One of Blade’s vets once told me he was the most expressive horse she had ever met.  I believe that to be true.  He always told you how he felt about something.  For example, he was especially opposed to rain.  When it rained on summer days the horses still got turn-out….and Blade disliked that most.  He would stand with his head hanging feeling sorry for himself.  Meanwhile, his mustang pasture-mate loved the rain.

I artfully overthought and over-managed him at the beginning.  An overbearing helicopter mom with good intentions I had a spreadsheet made of the feed options and spent hours (more like days/weeks) of research deciding how to best feed him.  I made supplement containers for the multitude of supplements he received.

I also made a lot of mistakes that you don’t typically learn until you make them yourself.

I once “safety tied” Blade to a gate one afternoon to groom him.  Something bothered him and he pulled back.  The gate moved slightly toward him.  I tried to reach the safety release but it was too tight and Blade decided he wasn’t having it.  Before I could blink an eye he ripped the gate with the 4×4 it was attached to out of the ground and proceeded to haul it like a kite throughout the barnyard.

He crashed through another gate into a paddock and tore around the paddock in a panic.  There was nothing I could do but try to act calmly as I watched my beloved horse try to kill himself with the metal gate chasing him.   I finally talked him down and he stopped long enough for me to approach and remove his lead.  I assessed and to my relief the only damage was the obliterated gate and fence.  Fences and gates can be repaired and I called the barn owner right away.

The barn owner came and I helped him make the repairs.  He was surprisingly relaxed and forgiving about the situation.

From then on I never tied to gates and always used baling twine or a tie blocker ring.

I’ve made a lot of mistakes.

He has forgiven me for all of them.

Another story I remember rather fondly came while I was free lunging him in the outdoor arena.  He loved to run and the ground was flat and sandy for him to do just that.  He’d practice his “starts” by starting at one end; he got to top speed and halted fast at the other end.  Then he’d take off from the other end.  He held his tail high and pranced with such pride you’d think he was Shêtân the black stallion.

We had a small pony mare at the farm named Lulu.  She was a stunning blue roan and Blade loved her. One day while he was running free I watched in astonishment as he galloped straight for the fence, did not slow, and launched.

Blade hurdled and cleared the 50-inch top rail of the outdoor arena with ease.  On the other side, Blade ran to accompany his little Lulu who was in the adjoining paddock.

I rode him in lessons with my trainer for a while.  He loved to do canter poles.  He even tackled the more complicated setups on the first try.

One winter Blade slipped on ice.  I watched his legs swing out from under him and he landed on his side.  He got up but wasn’t 100% sound.  We gave him stall rest and the vet came out in the next couple of days when he hadn’t recovered.

Without any costly procedures (they wanted to use their new bone scan machine but that meant a trailer ride and a few days in the hospital) we decided to keep him on stall rest and revisit in a month.  We suspected a possible fracture to the hip, and the hind end is a difficult area to image given its mass.  He was mobile and the prescription for such an injury was stall rest.

Blade spent a month inside and after a few weeks was able to get hand walked.  I purchased a Back on Track sheet and in another week the vet was satisfied with his progress to allow supervised turnout in a small round-pen.  Blade was thrilled.

Eventually, he was given the clear to begin walking rides.  Then trot.  Finally, we were back to full riding.

All was well…Blade continued his usual antics.

Blade spooked at the object he had passed 10 times prior often.  He also chose random objects to suddenly spook at…I think for the fun of it.  My trainer often gave me kudos for my sticky seat.  When Blade spooked it was a 180-degree turn.  When I did fall I often landed on my feet.

He once spooked when another horse knocked the rail it was jumping with its hoof.  The hoof didn’t hit the jump hard enough to knock the pole down but it made a noise…and Blade was displeased.

A couple years in we went through a phase.  Blade began to buck…not a physical issue but a behavioral one.  For about a month I’d fall at least once or twice every ride.  It came to a point when  I didn’t even want to ride anymore.

Blade also made me chase him in the field, once for an hour or more.  He lifted his tail in happy rebellion.  It was a game for him.

I began to reconsider being his owner.  I searched for avenues to unload him.  Maybe give him back?  Offer him to a rescue?  Ask a non-riding therapy program to take him?

I learned Clinton Anderson’s groundwork and that saved our relationship going forward.

I taught him to lunge with respect.  To back up.  To yield the hindquarters.  The real magic came when he yielded his forehand to me.  The day I taught him that was the day I truly earned his respect and our relationship became a permanent bond.

He was better in his lessons.  Still played the “catch me game” in the field but not as badly.  He was normally happy to see me.

As time passed, however, it became evident that his body wasn’t tolerating being back into full work.  One day during a lesson he began to hop, buck, and flying lead change.  This time his bucks and hops were not behavioral…they were physical.  It was clear to us he could not get comfortable at the canter.

I began riding my trainer’s horses while Blade became a companion.  It was difficult for me but necessary since his body could not handle my increasing level of riding.

While Blade was a companion horse I began to learn liberty with him.  It wasn’t long before I had Blade trotting and cantering circles around me without a lunge line.

This was also the time I taught Blade to hug, to kiss, and to bow.

Hugging my grandma

We did things together regardless of his ability to ride.

After about a year I began to get on him for 20-30 minute walk/trot rides.  He handled it well.  I often got on him bareback and practiced my seat.

In 2018 I moved Blade home.  The 24-hour turnout on an incline significantly improved his overall physical comfort.

That summer Blade cantered sound for the first time in 18 months.  I never had an issue with his soundness once he came home.  He even returned to canter poles….his favorite.

Blade loved being home.  He loved to see me every day.  He still played the chase me game.  He would run to the opposite end of the paddock, stop, and stare at me.  I finally learned that when he turned toward me he was looking for an invitation.  He didn’t WANT to be CAUGHT.  He WANTED to be INVITED.

It took me 4 years to figure this out.

When he turned his head toward me after his initial flee I would stop.  While still facing him I would back up and draw him in.  He would begin walking toward me and I’d turn around and start walking away.  Before I got to the gate Blade would be by my side.

At the end of 2019 I brought Tiger (R Tom Cat) home.  Tiger, as you know, is an exquisite, handsome, and sound thoroughbred.  He competed in Kentucky.  He came trained already for jumping.  I built jumps and jumped him once or twice a week at home.

One day I chose to take Blade for a ride.  I still had some small cross-rails set up….maybe a foot high tops.  Low enough to step over for sure.  In a fleeting moment, I opted to turn Blade toward the cross-rail and see how he’d react.  He trotted right over the cross-rail as if he knew how all along.

Wow. That wasn’t so bad.

On the next go-round, I had planned to travel right past the rails.  I didn’t want to push him and didn’t have any crazy ideas of making him a jumper.  Blade tried aiming himself for the jump.  He wanted it.  He listened to me and we skipped it but I let him take it another time after that.  In the weeks following Blade started doing small jumps.  Verticals and cross-rails no higher than 18.”

I have never seen Blade more proud and happy….and he felt great.

Tiger pulled a shoe the week of our first hunter pace together.  On a whim, I chose to take Blade bringing zero expectations for him besides a nice trail ride.  Blade happily took every log jump along the course (and I chose not to jump any brick walls) since they were low and unthreatening.  At the photo jump I had no expectations.  He was historically spooky and the jump, of course, is a “looky” jump.

Things were going well so I figured we’d give it our best try at the very least.

First attempt.  Refusal.

Second attempt. Refusal.

I pulled to the side, let him watch the next group jump it.  Gave him a pep talk.  We cantered toward the jump and right as he started thinking about refusing I told him “No, you can do this.”

Blade continued forward and we took the jump.  Halfway over he threw his front legs forward and saw the scary items below him.  The first photos were beautiful.  The second half hilarious…and after the jump?

Photos courtesy of Brian Wilcox at www.connecticutphoto.com

Photos courtesy of Brian Wilcox at www.connecticutphoto.com

Blade was on top of the world.  I was proud. He was proud. I leaned forward and cheered him on.

Photos courtesy of Brian Wilcox at www.connecticutphoto.com

Photos courtesy of Brian Wilcox at www.connecticutphoto.com

NEVER EVER had I dreamed I’d be able to do this with Blade and WE DID IT.

AND BLADE LOVED IT.

Blade was incredibly smart, sensitive, and had an enormous heart.  He gave me everything he had and did it passionately.  He wasn’t exactly gentle but he was kind.

Our last couple of years together transformed both him and I for the better.  Those last few years we shared the same language without speaking a word.  I am not the same person I was and he was an entirely different horse than the one I adopted in 2015.

Making memories for my cousins, nieces, and nephews

Black Beauty was my favorite book growing up and I adopted my first horse…my own black beauty.

I became a better rider, better horseman, and better human for Blade.

I followed my dreams and continue to look to the stars as I reach my goals.

I was a horse lover my whole life…I began riding at 10…I worked to ride before…but Blade was the true catalyst that started my life with horses.

Folks, follow your dreams.

That’s the motto that joined us on every ride and it will continue to be a part of us as Tiger, Nahe, and I embark on our future path.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BLADE, YOU ARE FOREVER LOVED AND DEARLY MISSED

Remembering Blade Today would have been Blade's 12th birthday. I may have lost the physical entity that was Warrior's Blade, but blessed beyond words to see him as he was. 

[thegreenhorseman]

So much has happened since December that I haven’t had a chance to properly recap 2019 and lay out the plans for 2020.

At the beginning of January 2019 I was taking a hiatus from riding.  I had Blade, Zeno Bay, and Vai Via. I was in a great routine of spin class with my mom.

I also did a week of farm sitting for a new friend who became a weekly trail riding buddy this summer.

I brought my grandma to see the retired thoroughbreds of Old Friends at Cabin Creek

More about our trip: Taking Grandma to See the Horses

I rode along with one of my best friends and saw what a day in the life of a farrier was like.

Read the interview here: Interview With a Farrier

Read about our day here: A Farrier’s Assistant

By February Zeno Bay was looking and feeling like a totally new horse.  This is a 21-year-old thoroughbred gelding.  I began to foster him with the rescue group in September.  Being on a grain-free diet and outdoors 24/7 we successfully got him to gain a fantastic amount of weight in only 3.5 months.

All about Zeno Bay: Happy Birthday To…

A wonderful group of friends invited me out for cow sorting.

A couple girlfriends and I took a trip to Pennsylvania for the Horse Expo in March!

Adventure Time here: The Blade Chronicles: Mom’s Ignoring Me

We became chicken farmers in March as well!  In two months we raised them on our porch until we finished building the coop.  We designed and built the coop ourselves.

Article when the chicks arrived: New Additions to The Green Horseman’s Clan

Article when the chickens moved outside: The Blade Chronicles: What are Those?

When the weather got better we enclosed the carport to protect the hay better.

I also moved tack out into the tack room of the barn.

More on our projects here: Projects

VaiVia began to show how playful and special he was.  We always knew this but he started to relax and come out of his shell in the springtime.

More about VaiVia: Celebrations This Week and V’s Big Story

I had the honor of interviewing a fabulous young trainer who has been making waves in training wild mustangs.

Read the interview here: From Cheering to Training, An Interview with Samantha VanFleet

Through the spring and summer, I worked on projects and developed a new love for carpentry.

Some of my projects: The Busy Life of the Green Horseman

And Some More: Vacation Means Getting Stuff Done

We did end up hiring someone to help create a fantastic sacrifice area around the barn.  No more flooded stall and hoof-deep clay mud!

I managed to severely sprain my ankle.  I don’t believe it was broken but considering it still bothers me 6 months later I’d wager that something tore.  Despite this I managed to hobble myself all around to hang out with friends.

More on that here: When the World Gets You Down

and here: The Blade Chronicles: Someone Tell Mom She’s Broken

I had the chance to try out cross country for the first time on my trainer’s amazing palomino, Cassian.  I still call him my palomino unicorn.

Cross Country Clinic: An Adventure With My Unicorn

Zac and I had a date at the county fair.  I enjoyed seeing a bunch of horses performing and doing something different than the average horse.

Something special about a county fair: Horses With Different Vocations

Bt the end of summer tensions had risen to a boiling point with the rescue and I began to make plans to find a second permanent horse before sending Zeno Bay and Vai Via back.  I hated to see them go but it was a bad situation only getting worse with the rescue itself.  As difficult as it was for me it was also exciting because I was able to begin looking for a new horse to become our permanent family member.  I saw a lot of really great horses.

All about the search: The Green Horseman’s Latest Quest

COCO

In the middle of my horse shopping, a very special pair rode into town.  Meredith and Apollo from The Centaurride stayed with a friend not far from my home.  Though her path didn’t lead her to stay at our home I had the honor of treating her to a nice warm meal.

About the Centaurride: Centauride.org

Link to the article:

Photo courtesy of Stacia S

Tiger, or R Tom Cat, galloped into our hearts in September.  For a brief period of time, I was the proud home of four bay thoroughbred geldings.

Sunday Special: Announcing My New Horse!

The Blade Chronicles: My New Brother

Tiger’s First Weeks

Fall hunter pace season was underway.  I planned to begin by attending LKTA.  Tiger had thrown a shoe and gotten a hoof bruise.  Instead, we discovered how amazing Blade was!

Read it here: We Hunter Paced; But It Was Not What I Expected

Photos courtesy of Brian Wilcox at www.connecticutphoto.com

In the weeks to follow Tiger participated in two hunter paces.  We had a lot of fun together despite not knowing each other incredibly well.

Read all about it at: Tiger’s Hunter Pace(s)

  Photos courtesy of Brian Wilcox at www.connecticutphoto.com

December had to have been, without exaggeration, the worst month of my entire life.  I didn’t write about it all but in a brief summary:

The worst pain:

Maybe TMI for some of you but I had an IUD (intra-uterine device) inserted.  I’ve never had children.  The process had to have been one of the most intense pains I’ve had to experience.  I have been bitten, kicked, trampled, broken bones.  It didn’t compare.  I was in shock; shaking, sweating, and nauseous for hours.  It took days for the pain to fully subside.  Bardi and Kain both comforted me while I recouped.

Broken EVERYTHING:

Our ATV wouldn’t start.  We bought it new and we simply couldn’t get it to turn over.

The dump cart I used for mucking the paddock and hauling out bales of hay or water bit the dust.  The welds wore out and the sliding door was bent out of shape.

Our ShelterLogic collapsed, taking with it a corral panel….both were completely bent in half.

Lucky To Be Alive:

One weekend Zac and I ventured to the store…roughly eight minutes away from our home.  We wanted to beat the incoming storm.  We were on our way home and the snow had begun but was a light dusting.  We played it safe and drove slow.  Approaching an intersection slowly (yet downhill) we failed to stop….we slid through, across the street and into a ditch.  We came within 2 feet of a telephone pole and miraculously no cars were approaching the intersection at the time.  Somehow we managed to pull forward and into a person’s driveway to get out.  At the next intersection, about 500 feet later, we learned that in our road departure the brake lines were severed.  Zac had to use the emergency brake to stop the car from rolling into a much busier road.  We made it home safely and had the car towed but we are very lucky.

Food poisoning:

We have been enjoying HelloFresh and I had been planning to write all about the amazing meals we’ve been cooking together as a couple.  Unfortunately one of the meals we made was no good.  We suspect the chicken was bad.  We had a very rough couple of days…BOTH of us were sick to our stomachs!  Thank goodness for two bathrooms.

This is food from Hello Fresh but NOT the meal that made us sick.

Heartbreak

Blade broke his leg catastrophically while playing in the upper field. What was a joyful afternoon full of love and happiness ended with an indescribable loss.  Friends, family, and neighbors all cried.  Tiger mourned.

The Blue Horseman

Tiger’s Tale

I lost my best friend in December, but not before enjoying him charge through the fresh knee-deep snow.   Blade and Tiger played joyfully together often before his death.

The Friends’ Final Frolics

Tiger has been healing well with the arrival of his new friend, Nahe.

And I am beginning the year with some amazing new swag thanks to Cheshire Horse and my loved ones!

The Silver Lining

NOW IT IS 2020

What’s next?

Most of what I accomplished last year came on a whim.  I didn’t have plans for it all and I can’t really say what exactly is to come for the year.

I plan to continue building jumps.

Continue hunter pacing.

I am hoping to ride at Equine Affaire and/or in a clinic.

Really focus on my weight because I deserve it and so does Tiger

Decide on what’s next for the family; Tiger will need a permanent sibling.

  WHAT TO EXPECT ON THE GREEN HORSEMAN

Since I’m getting to this recap and forecast a couple weeks late you may have already noticed something new on the site.

Introducing The Sunday Review.

EVERY OTHER SUNDAY I will be publishing a new review of a product I have purchased and used.  The review will populate in your regular feed but you can reach it through the menu up ^^top^^.

The first review of the year began with The Sunday Review – CAVALI CLUB SPECIAL.  The second review is scheduled for THIS COMING SUNDAY 01/19/2020.

So to look again at The Green Horseman’s weekly schedule!

SUNDAY

The Sunday Review

Every other Sunday

MONDAY

Fun Videos

Catch it on The GH Facebook page

You can also find the FB page to the right——>

TUESDAY

Take The Reins Tuesday

Also found only on The GH Facebook page

Features good reads from other blogs and websites

WEDNESDAY

Wordless Wednesday

A photo I have taken.  Sometimes the photo has a quote but otherwise, there are no words.

FRIDAY

Farm Friends Friday

Also found only on the GH Facebook page

Features a slideshow, a video, or some photos taken from the Green Horseman’s farm (or life in general).

SATURDAY

Nothing scheduled for Saturdays at this time

So stay tuned and buckle in.  Visit often and drop some comments.

  As always…THANK YOU SO MUCH for visiting, commenting, sharing, and your overall love and support.

  Past, Present, and Future So much has happened since December that I haven't had a chance to properly recap 2019 and lay out the plans for 2020.

[thegreenhorseman]

The Friends' Final Frolics

The Friends’ Final Frolics

It seems a rarity that we have snow so early in the season.  The past few years we have had snow in December but usually, it’s only a few inches.  On Sunday, December 1st this year we were clobbered with an unusually large storm that dropped about 20″ of snow on by Tuesday morning.

Once it stopped snowing I took the blankets off the boys.  They have halfway decent winter coats…could still use a…