*The Fly voice* Heeeeellllp Meeeee....Heeeeeeelllpppp Meeeeee!

Hey everyone,

Sorry to semi-spam you with this, but I've had an update to my horse situation...for the worse.

Due to stress-related health issues, my wife had to give her notice at her job yesterday. She's going to be looking for another job right away, but things are kind of up in the air for us and any help would be really appreciated.

I know times are tough for everyone right now, but I would be grateful if you could share this if you can't donate.

Thanks. You guys rock. (Even if you don't share or donate LOL) 

Here's the link to our Indiegogo campaign: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/my-wife-s-horse#home

A Horse In Need

Hi everyone. This is a picture of me and my mare, Jehna.

I feel like an asshole for doing this, but...I'm asking for help.

Our financial situation is kind of shaky at the moment, and it would really help to have some extra money to pay for boarding my horse. I know it sounds super spoiled to have a horse when I'm not making a lot of money, but she really is part of our family. I've known her since she was a few months old, and anyone who knows us can see how deep the bond between us is.

Here's the link to our Indigogo campaign.

We're not just asking for free money! Anyone who donates will get something from us--my wife made a spectacular list of what you'll get for donating, including personalized art, funny anecdotes about Jehna, and more!

I know times are tough for everyone right now, and I understand if you can't make a donation! I would really appreciate it if you could share this for me.

Thank you, and I hope you have a really great week!

Lessons From the Horse World

Since getting my horse a little more than four years ago, I've had a number of people with more experience (I will be the first to admit that I am not terribly experienced) give me advice about horses.

And, in the end, every single one of them has turned out to be completely full of (excuse me, I had to) horse shit.

The people I bought her from were neglectful and often downright abusive when they actually interacted with their horses. Which was rare.

My former farrier kicked and frightened my horse to the point that she would hardly let me handle her feet/legs.

A sometimes-coworker talked about all his horse training experience. He and I helped another coworker move his daughter's horses. Every time he tried to load one in a trailer, there was rearing and all sorts of fireworks. I finally took one of the horses to a quieter area and just hung out with her until she was relaxed. She didn't magically hop into the trailer, I'm not claiming a mystical connection or anything...but she didn't rear once and she did load for me. I have loaded exactly one other horse in my life, so I really had no idea what I was doing.

All of those people made me feel shitty and insecure about what I knew and felt about horses...and then proved to me, repeatedly, that they were talking out their asses. As soon as they got frustrated, they got violent. They proved, over and over, that all of their skill with horses came down to force.

I'm not saying I don't get frustrated with my horse sometimes (and LOL does she get frustrated with me when I'm not communicating clearly, poor girl!), but I know myself well enough to know when it's time to walk away and take a break. I usually end up laughing at myself.

All of the most genuine horse people I've met don't ever say what excellent horse people they are. (This post is not me claiming to be one! I am very new and I have a lot to learn. I'm just lucky enough to have an amazingly patient and understanding horse to learn from. She makes me look good, trust me!) They might mention things they've accomplished in the horse world, but they have never outright told me they're more experienced, intentionally made me feel shitty or insecure, or talked down to me. Yes, they've offered suggestions or different approaches. They've been firm (with me and my horse) when they have to, but they have done it gently and respectfully.

And this is something I really want to carry over into the rest of my life. I want to remember that if someone claims over and over to be Captain Amazing at something, and they make me feel bad about my own lack of experience or skill...chances are they're full of shit. It's just sitting there, waiting to emerge (ew).

I tend to be very hard on myself, and other people (and at least one horse) always have more confidence in my abilities than I do, even when I've proven to myself over and over that I am capable. Slowly, I'm learning that the people (and horses) who believe in me are right, and the people who make me doubt myself are wrong.

Also, of the three people I mentioned, my horse met two of them. And she made it plain she didn't like either of them, and I wish I'd listened to her sooner.

For reading this whole post you get a picture of my baby as a baby. I believe this was taken the day she was born (August 30th, 2009)

Horsey Times!

I went to see my horse today!

I hadn't seen her in like a month, and she galloped over when she heard/saw me <3

Her coat looked amazing (until I gave her a spray-down with the hose and she rolled in the sand in an effort to keep the bugs down). And there were so many bugs! I just followed her around the whole time, swatting bugs, leaving a trail of horsefly carcasses in my wake, trying to give her some (relatively) bug-free grazing time.

It really is a testament to how good-natured horses are--if I were covered in bugs all day, every day, for months, I would be homicidal.

A-Z Challenge: H is for Horse

I've always loved horses.

My mom doesn't like animals, so I didn't have a pet until I was nine (okay, I had goldfish when I was four or five, but they didn't even live with me). We used to go horseback riding for my birthdays, and when I was old enough I started taking riding lessons.

I always wanted a horse, but I never really believed I'd get the chance. Even now that I've had a horse for more than three years, I still can't believe it!

My wife and I met a couple through our local BDSM group. The wife was a horse breeder, and when she found out I was interested in horses, she encouraged me to come out and meet hers. She bred Friesians and was just beginning a Drum Horse breeding program. One of the mares she'd purchased for the Drum Horse program had arrived already pregnant and had her foal. The foal's sire was unknown, and she wasn't a Drum Horse, so she was being sold. I leapt at the opportunity. I paid $250 and agreed to help around the farm to pay for board. What could be better than working at a horse farm in return for having a horse?

My baby! 

Jehna as I first met her--a baby moose (she ate that halter)

We eventually moved her to a boarding stable, where she grew and grew and oh dear god she's still growing. She is (probably) at least half Shire, possibly fully.

She loves to jump. I do not. Hence, free jumping

Yay for Horse Time!

I got to see my horse today!

Because I don't have a car, I've been getting rides with my aunt, but usually only once a month to pay board...which is better than nothing, but still sucks. 

Lately I've been doing a lot of new things with my horse--mounting, trying on a bridle, even my riding helmet--and not spending a lot of time just hanging out with her like I used to. 

I felt really shitty about that after the last time I saw her, so I resolved that the next visit would (mostly) just be cuddles. I did try on a bridle--the one I bought was too small for my Shire mare'a massive head. I bought some dog collars to lengthen it, but it still doesn't really fit so I'll probably have to get an actual draft bridle...

My wife wasn't feeling well and didn't come out, so I couldn't ride even if I had planned to (we're still at the stage of her just leading our horse around with me on her back). 

I'm feeling a lot better, both because I saw my horse and because I worked on our bond today instead of just showing up and trying to hop on her back. 

I think I'm going to try and make cinnamon buns...