Wow! For the first time in SEVEN YEARS I stepped hoof into the competitive dressage arena. And, I did quite well, if I must say so myself.

For my SM (surrogate mom) it was her very first time showing in dressage, so she was petrified. I knew that. Plus, my OM (other mom) was there to watch, call out test instructions, and take pictures so that probably added to SM's stress a little. But she shouldn't have worried. My OM was THRILLED to see me gleaming from the grooming efforts of SM, tack shining, tidy braids and good to go.

See what I mean? Gleaming!

We warmed up in an indoor arena with flapping canvas walls. My OM thought I might misbehave, but I knew I had to take care of my SM, so I just chugged around ignoring the scary walls. They said I was being very good.

When it was time to go into the ring and show off what we knew, my SM tightened up, locked herself into one position and stopped breathing. I was worried that she might pass out up there and fall off. But she didn't. My OM read the test and every time we went by her I heard her say "breathe, breathe" and for a brief moment my SM would relax a bit.

According to the judge (I remember her from YEARS ago! OM's friend!), I was very steady rhythmically, and those circles that we practiced, and practiced, were very accurate (my SM is an engineer - she should understand tangent points and circles!).

But, I couldn't allow my SM to be TOO confident so, since she was locked into position and couldn't do anything about it, I lifted my head and neck into camel-mode (as my OM calls it) and refused to put it down. And, it was a hot and sunny day so why would I want to canter much? Nah. Half a circle is enough, isn't it? Apparently not, according to the judge! Ooops. My SM will have to remind me about that next time.

All in all it was a good day. We went into the ring four times and did all right. I scored a bath, extra grooming and attention out of the adventure - plus a pretty easy day, truth be told. And, I had a visit from a very proud Mom. She misses me a lot, I know, but she's happy that I have a great place to live and an attentive SM who continues the tradition of spoiling me rotten.

How things have changed...

I haven't had a lot to say of late since I moved to Fredericton. I have a Surrogate Mom (SM) now who takes very good care of me. My Person (MP) came to visit on Saturday and gave my SM a lesson in how to get me to perform more like a show horse. Drat! I had this down pat. Grab the bit and yank - SM's bottom would rise from the saddle and I could do whatever I wanted. MP recommended a couple of position changes and there went my leverage!

SM and I are going to our first show together in a couple of weeks so I guess I should help her out. She's nice to me and brings carrots every visit. She grooms me until I gleam and am the envy of other horses here at the stable so generally speaking, life is pretty good.

Sometimes I yearn for my days as a pasture potato - just lolling about watching the canoes float by in the river. But, all in all, it's a good life here. I know that MP misses me a lot though. Her eyes leak every time she sees me.

Well, if my PERSON thought her dreams were coming to an end - what about me, the trusty steed?

I knew something was up when she spent extra time grooming me - getting all of my carefully installed encrusted mud out of every embarassing orifice, the knots combed out of my mane and tail and my bridle path clipped. Of course, I thought we might be going to a show. They're always fun.

She gets dressed up. My tack gets cleaned. And, I can show off for the other horses - especially the pretty mares - what a handsome dude I really am.

But no.

An hour later the big rolling barn showed up. They backed it up to the barn door and, to my absolute horror, my winter's supply of hay was loaded on! "Hay! Wait a minute! That's MINE! Are you going to starve me?" Not only that, but the last of my grain, my alfalfa cubes AND my apple chunk horse cookies went too. What the 'h' is going on?

Uh oh. My person came in with the leather halter. That can only mean one thing - onto the rolling can I'm going. Oh yeah - it's loaded with my food. Things might be ok! I won't starve at least.

I'll miss being a pasture potato. I Recognized Deanna - the BOOT CAMP director. Looks like I'm going back to work again. Oh well, I'll have friends there to talk to.

I'm sure going to miss the nightly pats, the carefully cut-up apple and carrot pieces that were my bedtime snack, and knowing that my person would be back first thing in the morning to see to my every heart's desire. But, she'll come and visit - I know it.

Now, if I could just get her eyes to stop leaking salty water all over my freshly groomed coat....

Good thing for her she's got friends and family that care.

Death of a Dream

Although I've known for months now that we have to move and leave our idyllic wee farm, the reality of it hit me, hard, this morning.

I fed Beau, tidied up his stall, filled the water bucket and brushed the night's accumulation of mud and crud from his coat - and realized that he's moving on tomorrow morning. I'm selling or giving away most of my horse and barn stuff and essentially watching my lifelong dream of living on a farm and having my horse at hand die.

So I sat on a bucket and sobbed. Hoover, the dog, didn't know WHAT to do other than sit and lick my salty face while I howled for a while in utter misery.

The realities of growing older include reduced physical strength and stamina with which to handle the chores that need to be done to maintain a place like this. But, since it took me a lifetime to find this spot, it truly breaks my heart to leave - even though I know we have to.

For the past several weeks I've been deluding myself that it's ok; that I'm excited about having a new house and new appliances (which I am). But, it still doesn't compensate for the sense of loss I'm feeling or the torrent of tears that need to be shed.

Nevertheless, I'm resilient to a fault and will, no doubt, bounce back and move on as one must do in this life.

New from Boot Camp

Hi all. Well, I've been at 'boot camp' now for about 10 days. Things started off easy, considering how totally out of shape I am. But, the rumour is that 'easy' is about to be a thing of the past.

At first all "The Trainer" (hereafter known as "TT") wanted was for me to walk around the arena, and maybe trot for a couple of minutes. Yep, I can do that.

But NOW, she's starting to ask me to BEND! What am I? A Slinky? And she expects me to keep trotting at least 2 or 3 times around the arena before I can go back to shuffling along. I think not. I am definitely going to have to introduce her to my repertoire of evasion and resistance tactics.

My human came to visit today and watched our session. She seemed pleased. I suppose she thinks I'll let HER ride me to. Huh! We'll have to talk about THIS for sure! At least she brought me some carrots and made me the envy of my barnmates.

HELP! I need HELP!

I should have known. My person came out to the barn this morning and spent an inordinate amount of time fussing with me. She clipped my bridle path, worked on my coat with the shedding blade and generally had me looking presentable.

THEN, instead of turning me back out so I could undo all of that work by rolling in the manure laden mud, she kept me in! What's with that?

Later on I heard a truck sound. When I looked out the window there was a huge horse trailer parked on the road at the end of our lane. Uh huh. Something's up!

Sure enough, I heard her talking to another person and the next thing I knew, my halter was on and I was taking the long walk down the lane. The other person opened the door to the cavern and the existing inmate screamed at me; "Run, run for your life! This can has wheels!"

Too late, I'd already stepped in and before I could think twice, my person tied me to the wall - and left me, shutting the door behind her. Where am I going now? Please tell me we're not moving back to Calgary. I can't face another 4000 mile ride. She said something about "boot camp". What's that?

If I survive this adventure - I'll keep y'all posted. If not - it's been fun ........

Mother Nature's cruel joke

This day is a cruel joke. After two gorgeous warm spring-like days on the week-end, overnight we reverted to pouring rain and wind. Now, the snow has begun in earnest and the wind is from the NE meaning lots of that white stuff - and the river is rising.

Hmm - where did my person put that ark, anyway?