No time to create a title!

I knew what this was when I sent in an application to start on a Master's degree. I knew that between work and school, time was going to be pretty tight.

But then, a friend asked me if I could saddle break her horse, and of course, I said yes.

And I also decided I wanted Sienna to the point where she was working well enough to ask what I want when selling her.

So now, between a 40-hour a week job, 9-hour a week school, and who knows how many hours-a-week rides... there is no time. Literally. No time. Let's not forget that I also have a third horse, 2 dogs, and a cat that all compete for my attention. And family and friends that enjoy seeing me.

Yesterday was fabulous- I had the day off from work. All of my horses were ridden. I was caught up with school. I got to hang out with one of my best friends. Everything was kosher.

And then, today happened. I'm taking a break from my Legal Environment of Publishing class to write this, because I am not sure I can physically read anymore law cases at the moment. I have a paper due tomorrow (that is honestly not a big thing, but still), and more work due Friday.

Oh, and I found out today that I am going to Africa in March for work. So, you know. Better get my passport and vaccinations in order, on top of EVERYTHING ELSE.

I am not complaining, not a single bit. I enjoy staying busy, I enjoy working with the horses, and I am OH MY GOSH SO EXCITED about my upcoming, all expenses paid trip.

But I am so tired!! I told one of my siblings yesterday that I needed a vacation, even though yesterday was a vacation day. Really, all I need is a quiet room that I can sleep in for about 24 hours. Is that too much to ask?

AFRICA! (Seriously excited)

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Happy Anniversary!

Yesterday, January 9th, marked one year of togetherness for Sienna and I.

CRAZY.

I simply do not know where the time has gone. I can't believe that a year ago, I was picking up this free, little red horse and thinking a) "Did I just make a mistake?", b) "Will I be able to afford 2 horses, or will this end in miserable failure?" and c) "Oh my gosh another horse! A registered one! A paint! What will I call her?"

I called my mom to inform her of our anniversary, and her response was,

Mom: "A year?"
Me: "Yes! Can you believe it?"
Mom: "I can't believe it has only been a year."
Me: "I know! How has it already been... wait, what?"
Mom: "I would have thought that you've had her like, 2 or 3 years."

Hmm. Well, alright then.

I'd like to think that Sienna is better off from working with me this past year. I think she has made a lot of progress since last January. She is pretty good to handle on the ground and in the saddle, she walks, trots, canters, and whoas like a big girl both on the longe line and under saddle, she knows, if she steps on her lead rope (my bad), to give her face rather than fighting against it, and she has a new registered name that makes people laugh (with her, not at her).

I don't know that we will make our next anniversary, but I certainly appreciate the experience and the confidence that she has given me this last year.

My first glimpse of Sienna

Her first night home

First introduction to Chica

First haircut!

First show

First trail ride

First lesson with 2 kids who had never ridden a horse before

First time at Dr. Buff's

2012 was a good year with a lot of firsts. To more firsts (and seconds, thirds, etc) in 2013!

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Sienna's First Trail Ride

Last Saturday, one of the more ridiculously cold days of the year (I'm pretty sure), I was invited to go on a trail ride with some friends at 7IL. I have been trying to get Sienna out amongst the people, so I had the bright idea to take her. Put some miles on her, as it were.

After making the trek to Cat Springs with Teana and her gorgeous palomino, Sonny, along for the ride, we discovered that there was a competitive trail ride going on... meaning there were like a million horses and trailers already there. Fortunately everyone else in my party seemed to know where to go, so we headed to the "day rider" unloading area, parked, and unloaded. In addition to Sienna, Sonny, Teana and I, Jacqui and her paint, Outlaw, and Bevin and her paint, Nyala, came alogn. It was a colored breed fest, to say the least.

Sienna got out of the trailer looking a little too bright eyed and bushy tailed for my liking, so I longed her- during which she plodded along peacefully and only cantered because I got after her with the whip. It was literally freezing outside, which did not help matters. I ended up wearing a thick coat, thick gloves, ear muffs- if I had had a ski mask, I would have been totally prepared.

We all saddled up, mounted, and headed off through the chaos that was several hundred endurance people/Arabians milling around. I wasn't sure Sienna (or I) was going to make it. We finally got to the trail head, and I dropped a glove... so I scrambled down to get it. As I was third in our little caravan, Jacqui and Teana, who were leading, did not realize that I had dismounted... so when they saw me on the ground, they automatically assumed that I had been thrown already. Thanks for the vote of confidence, guys.

Everyone wanted me to lead because "if any kind of rodeo bucking happens, it's going to be Kristin, and we don't want to miss it", but I stuck Sienna with older, calm, golden-hearted Nyala in the back instead. I think her reassuring influence saved us more times than anyone else realized during the ride.

The ride had its ups and downs- most of the downs happened when a group of Arabians trotted past us and Sienna had an identity crisis and tried to follow them- but no one got bucked off, and no one *really* had their horse run away with them... in an uncontrolled fashion, at least. Circles were definitely our friend, and there were a couple of times our forward motion had to be suddenly thrown into a loop. But I was very proud of Sienna otherwise. We crossed streams, waded through rivers, climbed paths that seemed to go straight up, trotted (on purpose), cantered (semi- on purpose)- she accepted everything that was thrown at her. As Chica always liked to buck going up hills, I have a sincere fear of them, but Sienna handled all of them without trying to get rid of me- I just threw away the reins, hung on, and hoped for the best. Also, I would like to note, everyone would go out of their way to watch Sienna every time we had to cross a stream, hoping for a show- and she disappointed them (but not me) every single time.

The most exciting incident happened when we arrived at a large pond and decided to water the horses. Sonny, Outlaw, and Nyala all waded in about pastern deep and assumed the drinking position, but apparently no one told Sienna that the trail did NOT go all the way through the pond. Rather than stopping and taking a drink, she started hauling it out towards the deep end.

Remember, it was in the low 40s.

I started hauling back on her, screaming, "NO! NO! IF YOU GET ME WET I WILL KILL YOU!!" while all of my companions sat on their horses and laughed. I managed to turn her around, but now we were in the position of being in water over her knees and her suddenly thinking it might be a good idea to lay down. I have never kicked as fast and furiously as I did in that pond. It was only through sheer you will not get me wet determination that we made it back out of the pond in a dry state.

Three hours later, we arrived where we started. Sienna finally got back into her normal frame of mind at around the hour and a half mark, except when other riders passed us. I think with more experience, she could be a good trail horse. She did not balk at any obstacle, and she did not tire easily. She just needs to get over the "OTHER HORSES!" excitement, and she will be golden.

There is nothing like a cold, cold day, hundreds of horses, dogs, and people, and random trail obstacles to throw at your horse for her first trail ride. Maybe our next outing should be, like, team penning. Or goat tying.

Making a move on Outlaw

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