Baby Steps

 I'm sure we have all figured out that learning and new experiences are the most fun when you're engaged, interested, and confident because things are right in that happy place of new and challenging, but also not completely outside your comfort zone.

The research agrees horses are pretty much the same. Just like people though, it's interesting seeing the diversity of where that natural confidence or comfort zone sits.

I keep second guessing myself a little with the cob boys. I had zero hesitation with taking Reggie out to clinics and get togethers last year. Obviously I used common sense and did the homework so he'd be successful, but basically my mindset was that I knew he'd be fine, and so he was fine.  That pretty much expands to anything. He's certainly the more sensitive of the two, but generally if something's new or a little outside the box, Reggie is my guy.

Never fear, Buck. Reggie will lead the way!

Buck, I tend to treat like a baby. Tiny steps for everything. Huge praise, wow isn't he just the most amazing pony ever?! While poor Reggie is there hopefully not wondering why I just expected he'd do it 6 months ago, and without the carrots ;)

Reggie being fierce

In the theme of that, trailering. I've spent so much time just loading Buck in and out of the trailer. The trailer is not a big deal, it is a happy place. I don't think hauling him cross country as a weanling made him feel overly positive about trailer adventures. Finally, this winter it felt like he agreed maybe the trailer was a good place to be. But still, I had not actually taken him anywhere. This week, my husband likely thought I was crazy because I wanted to hook up the trailer and haul the horses literally 250' down the lane to their summer field.

G is a good sport

And so, I loaded Buck in the front, then Sophie for moral support in the back.

 

Baby step of it's own - putting them in adjacent paddocks for a week until he wasn't scared of her. (Yes, they go out together, but her joy in chasing him is strong. It's all just a fun game to her but I don't think he knew that, her way of showing affection is weird ;)

Then my husband drove them around the block while I walked Reggie over (because of course Reggie would be fine without his friends, right? ;) Then, that evening I went and picked them up. Same thing. Buck said it was a bit hard and scary and claustrophobic and he maybe put a tiny dent in the trailer roof, but he tried and was a good boy and got all the treats. We found a happy relaxed place at the end. Probably I'll do the same thing again next weekend until trailer rides = going to fun places more than scary claustrophobia spaces.

I don't think there's much bad in breaking things down to the tiniest baby steps and good experiences, but on the other hand, I need to be accountable for myself. Like is his comfort zone smaller and he's more of a worrier because I expect him to be? And is Reggie super confident because I just expect he'll get on with things? And Sophie dramatic because...well...she is? I have to be careful about that and remember to just meet everyone where they are each day.

They are a diverse crew

Anyway, 2026 is the year of Buck and he's got his first clinic at the club grounds in a couple of weeks. I might camp again this year, or maybe just trailer in both days. Reggie came camping with me last year, but we'll see where Buck is at with that. Lest you think I left things a little last minute, yes I did as far as the trailering and no he doesn't have to go if he needs more time. It's kind of the last outstanding piece of the puzzle with him. I think the whole 'trust bank' analogy explains the situation well - and it's only been the past few months where I've felt like there is room for bigger withdrawals without him going back to deciding humans aren't fun. The missing pieces I've been indirectly picking away at all this time have started coming together all at once and I think he's going to be the most fantastic guy. Honestly, no regrets about the snail pace - I think he just needed the time, because once he's good with something, he's absolutely solid and his confidence seems to spread rapidly.

Being his adorable self the other night. He'd like you to know he went over poles on the longe, all by himself AND remembered how to whoa and think about it when he wasn't sure.

Three

 As always, I'm over here like "Where does the time go?!" It's May 1st tomorrow, which is slightly wild. I came across some Christmas decor a couple of days ago and I had a moment of wondering why it was put away so soon? Isn't this the beginning of January? 

Meanwhile, outside the window

The boys both turned 3 in early April. Again, the poor timekeeping in my brain is sure it's only been 2 years, despite all evidence to the contrary.

3 feels like a bit of a milestone. They're not babies anymore, they're teenagers now that can have a part time job. 

Got a hayball for his birthday, says it's the best thing ever.

Two pictures of Buck, because Reggie throws his over the fence and cannot be trusted to not have it end up in the neighbour's property

Birthday treats

I've been ground driving them now and then. Reggie is pretty solid, but trotting is a bit exciting now and then - he thinks me jogging behind = me being angry and chasing him, so sometimes there's still a moment or ten where he's worried he's in trouble. I joke he's got a guilty conscience because the number of times I have shouted or hit him or chased him with anything ever = ZERO, but he's always cautious that I'm finally going to lay the law down on him. You can't be too safe, I guess ;) He's still into absolutely everything and stupidly brave and curious and smart and all those adjectives that mean he's going to be a lot of fun to keep one step ahead of.

Fun is basically his middle name

The filth makes him look like a roan

Late sunlight and ponies in the backyard is never going to get old

His bestie, Buck is also fairly sensitive, but generally a little more steady these days. Funny the changes since they first came. He was the one that had big stranger danger and a very minimal amount of trust. I actually think it's only been over this past winter that he finally decided we're worthy, because finally  the last few things he used to be quite anxious about just became no big deal. Ground driving with him has gone about how I'd expect. Once he decided the saddle pad was fine, it was fine, along with everything else. The gear, the lines, me behind are of absolutely minimal concern. This month, we had a day where he 'couldn't' turn right. Then he couldn't stop. He tends to push his shoulders into or through pressure (Reggie included, but thankfully he's learned humans are not acceptable). I am familiar with this default concept from the lovely Bridget. I've been told it's a bit of a driving bred characteristic, but I don't know, I had a TB mare back in the day that was fairly accomplished at it when I got her. Anyway, not a big deal, just fun to compare when Reggie is the opposite and by default would rather die than push into pressure.

The hair is impressive

 Buck's still the biggest fan of a spa day of any horse I've ever met, it's quite endearing how he comes running if he sees me with a brush or comb in hand. We all know I love a good pony spa day myself so he's a dream come true after years of horses that can take it or leave it.

The other night, we played with lining up at the mounting block and leaning on him. There was a moment where I very easily could have sat on him, but then I checked my sanity, because better steering on the ground feels like a sensible prerequisite. Sitting on him for the sake of sitting on him and being led around would be fun, but being able to walk around with steering would be even better :)

Looking grown up

I've got a clinic/camp out scheduled in late May and I think he'll be going to that. Likely just for some ground work and an outing, but I can see some short rides happening in summer. 

Reggie is currently butt high and gangly looking again, so he's going to need more time. Maybe we'll get a little more serious later in the year, depending on how he matures over summer. 

No one here really does 'serious', but you know what I mean

Ideally, if I was adhering to any sort of schedule (which I'm really not) they'll both be walk/trot and a couple of canters this year and then have a break over winter and be ready to be part time riding ponies this time next year. 

Catching Up With Old Friends

When we last left off I had a ton of interest in Sophie's ad but no one who A) seemed like the perfect home AND B) was ready to purchase. So, I let it sit. At some point in the 'letting it sit for now' process G made it known he actually really didn't want to sell her and wasn't changing his mind on that. He's retired now and I think I've mentioned he's the one doing pony chores in the morning while I work. He's also Head of Apple Acquisitions and Purchasing. He's pretty involved. I waited a day or two until I innocently asked if he had any change in his pockets, to which he responded with a quarter. I snatched it, "congrats on the purchase of your new pony!" HA! 

Her face when she sees him coming

Anyway, in all seriousness I'm sick of myself waffling. I can't even imagine how annoying it must be reading this saga. Normally I'm quite a decisive and logical person, but all bets are off when it comes to horses and pets. Unfortunately I think it had to be one of those exercises where I had to go through the process before I realized how wrong it felt. So, she stays, even though that makes minimal logical sense. We should note she officially belongs to G any time she's being annoying. She's always an absolute an absolute angel for him though!

                                                 

Extra costs and accessories now on my wish list may or may not include: 1. A three stall barn, 2. A three horse trailer. 3. An extra 2.5 tons of hay/year

In related events (that tie in surprisingly nicely with the above tale of indecision) let me tell you a story. Wayyyy back in the day in 2004, when I was first dating G, I had a little sorrel QH weanling that was the saddest neglect rescue case you've ever seen. Said little guy defied the odds and survived, and at about a year old, needed a friend to play with. Along came another rescue, a little black colt of unknown breeding rounded up in an SPCA seizure from a neighboring province. It was actually a perfect situation for the both of them. The little black morgan-y type ("Stormy") quickly became a favorite with G. 

Sophie's current barn was built as a bachelor pad for those two. 

"It's my house now!"

A couple of years passed and eventually it was time for both the boys to find their forever homes. I was finishing round 2 of university and due to start a new job in another province. Both the boys had a solid start in life and were good guys. This blog was maybe a couple of years out. The timing felt good, and neither were meant as long term horses for me. I was really sad and ridiculously attached to both, but logic ruled the day. Off they went to their new homes while I did career things without horses for a couple of years.

If you've been with someone for any length of time, you'll know there's often that ONE thing your partner opines you should have never done. In my life, in G's opinion, for 18 years I have been hearing about how You Should Have Never Sold Stormy. 

The above story also may or may not be relevant to the story of why G picked out a little black cob colt - poor Buck's not unfamiliar with being compared at every stage to the apparently forever perfect Stormy.

Buck gets more handsome by the day tho

History repeating where the baby horse needed a friend horse and then we had two of them

Recently, a friend mentioned the new therapeutic riding horse at our local barn. Name was different but description and rescue backstory sounded awfully familiar. Wait. WAAAAIIIITTT. Is he black? 21 ish? 

And so, this weekend, I got to say hi to him again after almost 20 years (and you better believe I got G a meetup too!) It actually felt really emotional to see him again after so many years. I'm incredibly grateful he indirectly found his way back to our small and remote town - the odds of that feel so tiny. He, of course, was politely like "Who is this strange human who is so obsessed with me?"

the famous guy himself. We did the math and he just turned 22.

In a really fun case of it's a small world, this spring break, he's sharing a paddock with Bridget <3 I haven't seen them hanging out, but they're similar people and I wouldn't be surprised.

Not B's best angle, but I'm forever amused that my antisocial pony has chosen a Sophie look alike as her first BFF. Plus, B actually came to say hi to me and that never ever happens, so I felt redeemed after Stormy's dismissal.

I went to watch B in her clinic with her little rider this weekend and had all the feels there too. What better semi retirement job is there for Best Pony than babysitting a good kid that loves her more than anything. It's absolutely the most perfect thing.

Anyway, to wrap this up, using entirely circular horse person logic, keeping Sophie = many years of hay bills, but potentially saves a lifetime of hearing about that horse I should have never sold. 100% a logical decision if I've ever made one. Never let it be said I didn't learn my lesson the first time :) (But also, No More Horses. No more 'projects'. No more baby horses just to keep other baby horses company.) I'm self excluding, I am incapable of logic, incapable of selling anything anymore.

Emergence

  Myself (and the local bears) seem to be emerging from hibernation at the same time. We've had a very mild winter, which means no snow or ice, but also means lots of dark, dreary rain soaked days. No matter how many winters I spend here, I don't ever seem to adapt fully. I might be intended for sunnier climates.

Lucky for all of us, sunshine and warmer weather has started appearing. I'm still working far too many hours, but it's starting to feel more established and the plan more secure. I've found a zone where I'm not feeling worried about finding time again for fun and self improvement. The horses have been getting more and more grazing time and are almost ready for full days out in their big borrowed field. With the climate here meaning sacrifice paddocks in winter, most of us have to monitor grass intake in the spring. They get grazing for at least an hour or two all year no matter what, but there's a difference between that and a big lush field that's rested all winter.

This about sums it up: Sophie just wants to visit, Reggie is happy to eat grass, and Buck needs zoom time

I took some time and audited a few hours of a clinic last weekend. It was exactly what I needed to get some motivation back. That, and the fact the boys are going to be three in about a week! Three feels like I better get my butt in gear, the boys won't train themselves. (Although they are incredibly smart and observant so sometimes it very much feels like they do!) A couple of the clinic lessons I watched had baby horses much younger than my two who were exceptionally well behaved and started. I know there are many roads to Rome and all that, but it did serve as a bit of a wake up call!

OK, we need a plan for both of you

Is itchy but feels the need to pretend grooming is highly inconvenient for him and has to sulk

I've been back to playing with tack and gear, and the basics of ground driving. G's been walking with me this week as an emergency brake because Buck is feeling pretty wild and worried about his friends and Reggie forgot how to turn right. They've both been excellent considering how little I've done this winter and how naturally sensitive and overachieving they want to be - not a foot out of place despite a lot of prancing and snorting. It's a long weekend coming up, so I'll have some time and we'll aim to get back to ground driving without our helper. It's all very boring and slow. I love this part of babies - they're so keen to learn and the progress occurs so quickly.

Happier ears when we're going to go do things

All dressed up

As an example of very boring but exciting baby horse news, Buck was absolutely terrified of blanket and blanket like things as a weanling. So, I wore my raincoat often and it happened to brush along him now and then, then my arm ended up over his back. Then the rainsheet kept ending up in the strangest places - like on the fence or under his hay pile. Everyone else started wearing them too now and then this past winter. Then a saddle pad touched him one time. Then finally it went on his back. Then a surcingle. Then a saddle, And, just when I was secretly thinking blanketing this horse was never going to be comfortable thing for him, he almost suddenly decided it was completely fine last week. 

Look! (That's G hiding ;)

The back is very short, the pony is an actual potato :)

An Unexpected Gift

 This was a surprise announcement! Why am I so excited? Besides the obvious convenience of not having to change clocks backwards or forwards by an hour ever again, this means an extra hour of afternoon daylight on those dark winter days. No more 4:15pm darkness - our shortest winter day will be 5:15 sunset - meaning for me, I will have time in the daylight after work every day of the year for hiking, running.... RIDING! I'll happily do morning feedings in the dark for an extra month or two for that tradeoff :)

Bonus pictures of ponies in the moonlight this week

Full moon Sophie (actually very sweet, does not seem affected ;)

Feels Like Spring

 Here I am again, where it feels like I don't have much to say besides the standard small talk about the weather. The normal rhythms of horse keeping at home continue on. 

Mow that yard

Weekends of filling the barn with hay, farrier appointments, pony grooming, fence and yard maintenance, and of course the never ending paddock picking and muck heap spreading.

On a nice sunny (spring like, even) winter day, the horses running and loving life, me picking away at chores, truly I can't think of anywhere else I'd rather be or anything else I'd rather be doing. 

Winter hibernation mode is slowly receding, it's even still been a little bit light outside a few times this past week when I've fed dinner. I'm still working a lot of extra hours, but outdoor time is calling my name more and more and it feels like spring is on it's way.

Happy muddy creature. The other two are equally filthy, but being paddock dirt colored naturally lets me trick you into thinking I groomed them prior to photos. No such luck with Sophie.

So, a quick check in. We're here, we're happy, we're all just a bit content and boring. We're commencing End of Winter Motivational Boost now :)

Intermittent Progress

 Sorry for the January radio silence. Honestly, the horses got slightly put on the back burner (or as much as they can when they live at home) while I let work and the weather slow down my outdoor time. 

It feels like it's always dark when I take a time out

                                  

I've already made some little steps towards some of my plans for 2026, so I do have some small updates.

I tentatively listed Sophie on a regional facebook page and had a ton of interest, but it's 2026 and everyone wants extra videos of all the things. I advertised locally enough that I think anyone truly interested would just get in their car and come visit. I wasn't feeling the joy for all the extra media right now, and I'll take accountability for that. So, I reevaluate. Do I send her to a trainer this spring for a refresh and professional marketing in a more equestrian area (big $$$$ given where I live) or just keep the odd ad out there and get more videos when the weather improves, in hopes the right person will come along at the right time? I think the second choice is the one for now. As nice as it might be to distance myself from the actual sale process, I will feel better meeting her new people. The not so secret part is that we like her just fine. She doesn't *need* to go anywhere soon, but I think I've finally wrapped my head around the idea of it. We'll reevaluate the trainer option if nothing happens here.

She's worth a visit

The boys continue to grow like weeds. It's a near daily occurrence where I'm questioning if they're taller/bigger  than last time I looked (which of course in 24hrs the answer better be no!) but the overall trend is that they're starting to seem Large Grown Up Pony instead of Baby Pony. 

This guy was dramatically lame one weekend but it was luckily an abscess that resolved fairly quickly. Was he really going to be ok with me fussing and wrapping and soaking his foot? It felt like a bit of an escalation from our normal hoof picking routine. All these little 'firsts' the pop up when you don't expect them.  But of course he was fine! Good minded ponies for the win.

Meanwhile, his friend is apparently grown up enough to wash his own dishes now.

I haven't signed them up for any outings this winter, but I do have a couple of clinics coming up that I'll go audit so I can learn. I'm feeling a little guilty about just letting them sit, but I try to remind myself that come spring there will be ample opportunities (and daylight) to get them out more. They're only just coming 3, so while seeing the world is valuable there's not much else I want to ask of them yet. Picking and choosing a couple of good outings this spring or summer makes more sense right now than clinics for the sake of clinics.

I have about a million variations of this picture, I think G feels obligated to send me a proof of life pic or video every morning when he feeds :D

Work is work. I've mentioned I want to expand out to more contract and freelance opportunities, and the last couple of months have been heavily focused on creating a good base for that. I've basically let that goal take over my life. It feels a little like I'm putting out maximum effort for minimum financial gain at the moment. I struggle to put myself out there too, so I find some of the networking and interviewing a  little anxiety inducing. I'm pretty grateful I didn't scale back the day job. While it makes my hours crazy right now, the sense of security having that paycheck definitely is worth it. I put way less pressure on myself knowing there is no great financial loss if this doesn't pan out.  Slowly but surely small contracts are finding me and my new barn/truck savings account is seeing it's first small deposits funded by new adventures. That feels like a positive! 

Further excellent media brought to you by NoTime TM and overly friendly horses

                                             

The better physical and mental health thing took a bit of a hit at the end of 2025/beginning of 2026. Nothing dramatic, I think it's just a tough time of year and the lack of sunshine gets to me too. Plus, the extra hours working at a desk don't do anyone any favors. The days are getting longer again and it's easier every day to fit in more outdoor activity, which feels like the key to it all for me.

Moody fog bitey face games

                                     

Hopefully I'll be back sooner rather than later. I've lost my riding and horsey mojo a little, but it's still such a joyful thing to have the horses at home. They feel a little more like an every day part of life rather than an "I went to the barn!' event I should blog about, so for now I'll probably just continue on with the general updates spaced over the winter.

Welcome 2026

Tis the season, for retrospection and new beginnings.

 I'm once again not here to set goals, but I find value in documenting the good things I'd like to bring forward from 2025 and continue to gain momentum on in 2026.  I should also acknowledge the things that weren't so great and how I'd like to move on from those.

These two keeping life fun no matter what else is happening

Starting with the not so great, at some point I have probably mentioned horses being a saving grace in the context that being a kid/teen otherwise wasn't fun times. 2025 brought some events that opened the box I'd stored all those not so great times away in. After so many years of peace and then suddenly being confronted with some final drama, it finally became obvious how not normal any of it ever was and how I probably needed a way to actually process it somehow. It's fun how good are brains are at normalizing things and 'forgetting' others. To keep this on a horse relevant tangent: Me, prior to 2025: "Horse shows make me so anxious and I have no idea why!" "That coach gave me a panic attack, but everyone else likes them. I don't know why they bothered me so much". Even "ha ha why am I so weird, that smell makes me really uncomfortable".  So, that is a work in progress, and much of my energy was put towards bettering both my physical and mental health through most of 2025.  I am already seeing improvements in my anxiety levels and enjoyment of things like lessons and clinics. Just having a better understanding of why I might feel emotional or uncomfortable in some situations and that it's a completely normal reaction is huge, that almost solves a lot of things on it's own. 

it sort of snowed over Christmas (then immediately melted)

Moving on from the heavy, not so great, and into the realm good - I've kept so active the past year. Funnily enough, the extra weight I was so worried about gaining in 2024 ended up barely on my radar in 2025 and so naturally it just disappeared back to the void. I feel like I need a disclaimer here where I say the number on the scale means nothing, we're all different and beautiful people, but keeping it real - as the adult pony rider, yeah I do get feelings when it's not within what I feel is a fair range for my equines to carry. But while I do need to be aware of it, I focus on that number as little as possible, because hiking, running, just moving and feeling good with what my body can do is where the happy feelings come from and I'll be continuing that into 2026 (and onwards).

getting large and in charge

As for the really, really good - the baby cobs! Not so baby these days- they'll be 3 come spring. Mr Bakari was seeming awfully large the other day and I weigh taped him right at 1000lbs. He's a little tank. Even Reggie is suddenly filling out and pushing 15hh. I'm not sure my photos ever show it, but his build from late summer to now looks noticeably wider in person. I'm only 5'1" so take my thoughts with a grain of salt, but both these guys feel bigger than they are, and realistically are going to be a little larger than I had hoped, more at the top end of what we might have expected genetically.

10/10 nosy and friendly

My end of year break was spent doing lots of incremental pony training and both are now happily ground driving. New Years brought further wild neighbourhood fireworks and we're all still a little on edge from that, but we made it safely through to 2026. I'm feeling like the boys are already fairly well prepared to transition to riding life, so come summer/fall of 2026 we'll have hopefully kept up the positivity and it will be no big thing for them (but obviously feel like a huge milestone for me). Current situation with Buck is that I've (as I knew I was but couldn't help myself) spoiled him a little so he's going through a bit of a pushy/testing phase so I'm here dealing with the consequences of my own actions with a not so cute full sized cob (in good humor, he's a good guy and not his fault the rules weren't stated clearly by me, just maybe I don't let my coaches or clinicians see what I've done until the evidence is gone lol).  Reggie gets a 5* review, he's generally lighter and more sensitive and honestly probably a little more suited to my horse handling strengths. I think Buck is going to be a very special pony, though and I'm really excited for the future.

getting dressed like a grownup

this guy struggles more with flappy things like saddle pads or blankets so this felt like a good milestone

While I said I wasn't setting goals for 2026, I would like to set out a few intentions. I think my wellbeing is going to continue to need a bit more attention than I'm used to giving, but I'll be consistent until that feels normal. I'd like to have some first rides on the cob boys, but if they're not physically or mentally ready that's good too. I'll put the work and the lessons and clinic time in regardless so whether milestones happen in the next 12 months, or further along it's going to be fun and enjoyable.

 

Reggie ticking "learn to reliably untie self" from his 2026 goals

loving that he leans into it and backs up to save time on adjusting his grip on the rope end

I'm going to continue with the extra contract work in pursuit of affording a new to me truck to tow those ponies around to the fun things I want to do. I know I talked about it this summer, but the right one didn't appear locally, the old truck is still doing the job, and personal stuff took priority a little bit so it's still top of list as far as finances. I think 2026 will be the year to find Sophie a new home, she's wasted with me and honestly I'm finding three equines is too much for me by every metric long term. Fingers crossed there's a perfect person out there, I'm not looking forward to it, but hey, it can't all be completely happy things.

Probably won't put this pic in the ad. This is her daily routine of trying to entice the boys to come play with her, but they say she's too scary

happy winter potato

In relation to downsizing a little, I have some new small barn plans done up since the boys have outgrown sharing their pony cottage and I don't trust Sophie's/the old barn to hold up to their roughhousing :)  Whether that will be an autumn 2026 project or a spring 2027 one isn't decided, just don't be surprised if I'm still blabbing on about property improvements over here for the next couple of years..

best of friends and happy to share hay and sleeping space, so it still works for now

I hope everyone enjoyed a little downtime in the past week. I appreciate this community, and I hope you all have a 2026 filled with wonderful things.