Back to the Blog

So obviously it has been quite awhile since my last post. I kept saying that I was going to start again, but got busy with work, the child and life in general. Struggling to finish my book it occurred to me that the blog has always helped with that. Yet I still did not pick it up again. Over the last few months I have had several people tell me via messenger, emails, Twitter or FaceBook posts, how Suki’s story inspired them during a time of need. Yesterday, while speaking with Liz, a rider at my barn, I was the one inspired. So here I am. Liz was telling me that she had initially been overwhelmed by Suki’s size when Jen introduced her, but her hesitation quickly evaporated due to Suki’s gentle nature. And to me, this video says it all.

So many thanks, Liz, for reminding me.


I had also suddenly began to have confidence issues with my riding. This is not easy for me to admit, but likely others suffer from this as well. There was not a specific incident that led to this. Maybe just suddenly facing my own mortality? So last year I began taking lesson on some very nice school horses and I am getting my mojo back! With my limited time I was struggling with time to work the girls regularly so Jen had been hopping on Nikki to keep her going. I would work Suki and Nikki in the round pen or lunge them or do in hand work with them.

Unfortunately, this winter extended well into April and the weather put a huge kabash on everything. So as I try to get things motoring in spite of my crazy schedule, I have asked Karen (my instructor) to help. She is going to work Nikki a few times a week (lunge, RP, etc) as we get her in shape and in a working mind set. Nikki wants to work and needs a job to keep her mind and body occupied (don’t we all!). Then the riding can begin again!

So obviously Suki has not been working so regularly either. She is pretty sound, and when she works is very light and forward. I can tell that she is thinking and focused, enjoying the work.

Most of the summer has been quite hot and at times very humid. Suki’s breathing becomes a bit labored when she works in the humid air so that has also caused a bit of a hurdle. The girls get turned out over night which they love, and that overnight turnout is evident in Nikki’s work as she seeme to be able to focus better. Last year we kept them on over night turnout well into late autumn, all bundled up on the colder nights. But they do love it! The girls seem much happier when they are able to have longer turnout time.

Due to concerns regarding the skin on Suki’s back she is always turned out in some type of clothing. But with the hot, humid conditions she was going out naked. Of course, last week she did a big roll and has a large abrasion across the top of her back (surcingle and saddle will not be worn in the near future!) Back to bandaging as we have done in the past. It seems to be healing well and the bandage protects it from further damage. The girls had to stay in for a few nights, but last night they were put out very late enabling Suki to wear her fly sheet. Success! When I went out today it was evident that she had rolled but the bandage was intact. I will leave it in place for a few days and moisturize around the bandage for now. Always something.....but I can’t imagine my life without them!