In the Cross-ties

And now for something completely different....

I realized that there aren't nearly enough photos on this site.  That is mostly due to the fact that I am not a very good photographer.  Most of my pictures come out a little blurry.  Nevertheless, as I continue to work on my photography skills, I'm going to try and include more photos in my blog posts.

I present to you my debut portrait series: In the Cross-ties.

This is Miss Izz, a former school horse that the team was allowed to ride.

Happy Face 

Angry Face grrrrrrrrrrr!

"Does this look like the face of a horse who tried to bite you? I don't think so!"

Yeah she definitely tried to bite me (or anyone grooming her) on more than one occasion, but she is at heart a lovely girl and I always enjoyed riding her.  The team has since moved to a new barn and left Miss Izz behind, and I know that I was not the only team member who was very disappointed by this.

Next up:

  Sir Buck,

the Noble

...and Cranky

If I had to describe him using only one word it would have to be, personality.  This horse has so much personality and it manifests in so many unexpected ways that I frequently find myself laughing while on course.  Again, thank heaven for all school horses and all horses in general who let us ride them and make us laugh!

Loss

A while back, I posted a photo of my favorite school horse, Eddie. This morning I found out that after 27 years he is on his way out of this world.  Since I have already written the best tribute to him that I could, I won't get sermon-y but I will say that he was a wonderful horse and it hurts me that I am not home to be with him, sit by him, and worry over him as I did when he colicked.

Eddie was a wonderful horse and though he has lived a long and I hope, happy life, it is still a hard loss to bear. As a longtime horse person and the daughter of a horse person, I am aware of the mortality of horses.  Eventually, they will all leave us, some shorter than others, and some not in a way that we would choose.  Still, at least in my years of experience, it doesn't get any easier.