BTB: More on horses, "that 2nd job"

Posted: 08 Dec 2010 01:49 PM PST

Just a few years ago, I rode Harv every chance I got -- it was so important to me! I drove 50 minutes to ride, I rode in sub-zero temperatures, I hated missing a day. I had aspirations as a rider, however modest. I also used to read novels. I used to go to movies and concerts. To the gym. To restaurants.

Then I bought my second horse, Riley.

There goes the gym membership. Reading? No time. But I still rode Harv, my semi-retired boy, and on a good day we'd do a little lengthening across the ring. Harv always knew that diagonal line was for the big trot.

Then Riley got sick.

I stopped thinking about riding and my aspirations as a rider. I don't like to think about last year and what Riley went through. It was awful, and I think managing his care changed the way I relate to horses. When Riley's hoof was resectioned (I like to say "lopped off"), it had to be kept covered, supported, and clean. It sounds dramatic but I felt like my care was keeping him alive, and this isn't that far from the truth. Caring for him became a second job. At least once a day, and often twice, I was out to check on him, change his bandage, clean his stall, give him meds. I had nightmares that he'd get his bandage off. That he'd get loose. That he'd founder. He was confined too. While he handled it well, I didn't, and the highlight of 2010 was the beautiful day in February when he was turned out for the first time in 8 months.

So now he's okay, and he's in work, and doing great. I want to ride. But damn it, I can't get out of caretaker mode. I get to the barn, and I'm determined to clean his stall, change his water, check his shoes, fuss over his feet, etc. etc. And if I'm doing this for Riley, I can hardly not do it for Harv. Two hours at the barn, and I haven't swung a leg over either horse. But it is deeply satisfying. When I leave they lack for nothing, and they're tucked in and safe.

My New Year's Resolution
I have to knock this off! I need to ride. Lesson. Ride. Clinic. Ride. Show. Ride. Don't let me forget, I'm a rider, after all.

Henny and Peter: Update from Eventing Nation blog

Posted: 08 Dec 2010 03:26 AM PST

I don't normally post more than once a day but Eventing Nation has an update on Henny and Peter. Here it is. Bob and I already have our tickets to Rolex and damn it, we were going to go as Henny/Peter groupies. Still hoping, still sending those good thoughts, may the parties involved find the wisdom to do the right thing.

clipped from www.eventingnation.com

Update: Run Henny Run

By Samantha L Clark on December 7, 2010 11:24 PM, Filed Under Eventing News and Notes

A source close to the situation tells me that Peter Atkins and Linda Martin both attended mediation on Tuesday, 7th
December with their attorneys, but no agreement was reached on Tuesday after
several hours of mediation. Mediation is where both parties and their respective lawyers meet together with an independent attorney in an attempt to reach an agreement out of court--it's a way to save time and money and reach a compromise.

At stake is the control of H. J. Hampton, aka Henny,
who is currently in New Hampshire. Since the mediation failed, this issue of control will now be decided by the
judge, who must rule whether Peter Atkins maintain control of the horse
within the judge's jurisdiction (NH), whether he should be allowed to travel
with Peter down to Ocala for the winter in order to train, or whether Linda Martin should have control.

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