Summer Plans Cont'd

There has been a bit of a shift in priorities in 2025. I mean, it's probably pretty obvious there hasn't been a ton of riding or Sophie related goals going on for one reason or another. It's been a bit of a conscious decision to focus on getting myself sorted and prioritize being in a better place mentally and physically. 

It took a while, but late in 2024, I finally got around to taking myself seriously and following up with a doctor until I got results.  I'm now finally back running (slowly and badly) and able to do almost all the things I used to do pain free. It's really nice to be able to confidently set fitness related goals again. I feel so much more like myself. 

The yellow pony got the memo about time off anyway. In 2025 we've done ulcer treatments, she had a muscle strain in her off hindquarter, and we needed a new saddle. Then, last weekend, she ran headfirst at full speed into a tree. The one tree in a 2 acre field. The only obstacle. She ended up with a banged up face and a several day nosebleed, which was worrying. A minor for a horse nosebleed is still a fair bit of blood - our vet jokes this is why she can't go back to cats and dogs, her tolerance for chaos and gore is is set far too high after years of horses.  Fingers crossed Sophie's on the mend now - still a bit quieter than normal but otherwise seeming herself.

Glad I saw it in real time because it would not have been on my radar as to how this resulted

The trunk of that big willow tree is what she ran into. No idea why that seemed like an idea with all the other space around.

I tentatively had hoped to be back in the saddle for a lesson bootcamp next weekend with my old coach EC, but with the Tree Incident that's not going to happen. We'll have a catch up anyway - it's almost to the point we can start making plans for the boys and I'm very excited to have her on board for that.

As for the boys, they're very much themselves. They feel Very Large all the sudden. People with normal sized horses will laugh at me, but the last vet visit they weighed in at about 900 pounds each and my mind was blown. I think between Sophie and Bridget my default normal sized horse is scaled something like 850-900lbs and 14 to 14.2hh, so the 'babies' being bigger than that already was a moment :D I'd be shocked if either of them got over 15hh at the end of the day, but at 2 and a half years old I'm sure they both still have a lot of filling out to do. I'll be scaling up for sure!

Identifies as a giraffe

Random picture where I was shocked at how low the overhang suddenly looks in relation to the pony (it is 7', so it's just a funky camera angle... but still)

Tolerates being groomed but his friend LOVES a good spa day and tries to barge in. We reached an agreement where Reggie is entertained by holding the dressage whip and Buck respects out personal space.

I've got another weekend clinic spot booked mid July with our visiting clinician and the plan is to trailer in each day with Reggie. I'm really looking forward to it, it's a great bunch of people and a lovely positive atmosphere.

Independent trailer loading practice

I best bring a Folgers coffee can to the clinic anyway ;)

Between then and now, I've been drafted to be the photographer for a regional working equitation show. Exciting, but giving me a bit of imposter syndrome anxiety. This is not something I even pretend to do professionally, but equally it's a smaller show, I'm doing them a favor by stepping in, and it should be a fun opportunity.