I went to log into my blog this morning and was totally lost and confused. Everything had changed. So I thought the blogs just got a new interface. Ok, cool. Then I couldn't find my old posts or photos or friends. Then I was angry. I finally managed to get into my old blogs by doing a serach for one of my old topics. Anyone else having the same problems???

It's been so long since I've had a mare, I've almost forgotten what it was like to deal with the mood swings that comes with being female. That being said, it makes me wonder just how bad I am during my special time of the month. Does my poor boyfriend really put up with a lot more than he claims? Of course he tells me I don't 'PMS' bad, but I'd probably say that too if a monster came snarling at me with the same question. Let's face it ladies, most of us do suffer from some form of PMS or another, and it's the same with mares.

I came across the horse's registration papers the other day and realized Spring turns 3 this month. She had her first heat cycle back around September-October of 2007. I haven't noticed any other cycles since, but I've definately noticed an attitude change in my "little girl" the past few months. She went from being an energetic, curious, fuzzy little 2 year-old to a "I'm-all-grown-up-and-mean-business" 3 year-old. The other thing I noticed is her sudden possesiveness around me. I'll admit her and Dakota never quite bonded. He never did grow out of his 2 year-old phase (and he's 10 now), and she doesn't tolerate his nonsense well. She often pins her ears and flicks her tail at him. And when I'm in the pasture, she's attached to my hip, whereas she used to care less where I went and if she went with me. Now she nickers when she sees me and screams when I leave.

She's hardley curious about her surroundings anymore, and has adopted a "I really just don't care" attitude. I'm not saying this is a bad thing, either. I like that fact she's not as reactive to certain things anymore. I'm just hoping it's not a sign for bad PMS later on. She's had a few mood swings while training, but I've really got my fingers crossed that I never have to deal with the snarling monster of PMS. Time will tell, I suppose...

Murphy's Law is "whatever can go wrong, will go wrong". You know how you brag about how good your horse is only for him to make a complete liar out of you? Yeah, I hate that. Last weekend I invited a friend of mine to come ride with me since I now have both horses together in the same place. I figured it would be good for everyone. My friend, Ann, is just 18, and even though she doesn't have a horse and doesn't get to ride often, she's a naturally gifted rider.

Ann's rode Dakota before, but it had probably been at least 6-8 months. I had explained to her that the last time I rode him he was acting really sluggish and was not wanting to pick up the pace much, so she probably didnt have to worry much about him acting up. Ann loves to go-go-go so I was hoping she might put a little fire back into him.

And she did...

And it got her bucked off.

She was fine. She actually landed on her feet but because she had some momentum built-up, she still ended up on her butt. I hardley had time to react, but before I even reached her on my little mare, she was on her feet and preparing to mount back up. When I finally reached her I asked her if she was alright.

"Yeah, I'm fine. " She said, "Why?"

At that point I started laughing. "Why?" I asked, shocked.  " 'Cause I just watched you get bucked off! That's why! Jeez!"

Dakota was fine for the rest of the ride, but I could tell by his attitude that if I was going to be serious about getting back into gymkhana, we had a lot of work to do.

It's not easy being a horse owner is it?

I've been riding since I was 7, got my first pony at age 9, and won my first saddle at 16. I even managed to hang on to my beloved gelding during college. At 20 years old, I weighed almost 20 pounds less then when I graduated high school two years prior. But my horse, the one in the picture, was well-fed and healthy. There's a reason they call it 'horse fever'. Its a virus. You were born with, and it will never go away.

I worked 2 jobs in college. I was up and at the barn by 5:30 every morning cleaning stalls and exercising horses for $8 an hour. Between 9am and noon, depending on the day of the week, I worked at a mixed-practice veterinary clinic until 5:30. I then would rush off to night-class either for my veterinary technology courses, or to my equine science courses. I often got home around 10 pm, only to eat a handful of popcorn or leftover hamburger helper from last week, and crash on the bed. Half the time I would only manage to kick off my jeans and would sleep in the rest of my clothes. I'm not sure when I had time to shower...

But it was all worth it.

As a kid, my grandpa (who lived next door) was my main source of horsemanship. Looking back now, his "cowboy way" of handling horses probably wouldn't be well accepted today. We lived on 10 acres in the middle of no where, and my horses were in my back yard. I could ride whenever I wanted. But I wanted lessons. English lessons. I wanted to jump. But Grandpa HATED anything to do with English style riding. So I was never allowed.

Once I turned 18, I moved out of the house. I enrolled in my Vet tech courses but also minored in Equine Science. I remember picking up the course catalog and flipping through the pages until I found the Equine department. I was so excited when I learned we actually got to ride in class! And it was for both Western and English styles! Oh, if Grandpa saw me now...  

But to finally get a chance to work with some amazing horse people, and learn so much. I'd do it again. And again, and again....and again.....