Amazing Journey

Well, this is my last blog post.

This has been such an amazing journey.

From September 2007 to August 2012 - it has all comes to this - 5 amazing years of journaling progress with my horse Eddie and our ponies Scout and Diesel. I have learned so much, changed so much and done so much. We've had our falls, we've had amazing moments... I can't even begin to number them, but I will always remember the wonderful days with my horses, my family, and my friends.

For all the Parelli people that I have come to know, I want to thank you. A huge part of this journey has been immersed in Parelli Natural Horsemanship. I wanted to thank you guys, for your friendship meant a lot to me. Parelli got me down the natural path and I will never regret a moment of it.

And as we moved on to great heights in the natural horsemanship I learned so much. It catapulted me into my current job... An Equine Hoof Care Provider. In two months I hope to graduate and start taking on more and more clients.

Again, this has been such an amazing horsemanship journey. As I finish college in October, and between my work hours, I will definitely continue in my horsemanship journey. There is still so much to learn and so many people to learn from. Eddie has come a thousand miles since we first got him and I can't even begin to describe how much he has changed. From a little 4 year old that reared in fear to a handsome 10 year old who canters and jumps and is the love of my life, we have gone through so much. I have changed too. When we first got Eddie I was 12 and just beyond excited to own a horse, now I'm 18 and starting my career. I can't imagine my life without our horses - they are everything to me and I am so blessed to have them in my life. God has utterly blessed me and I will forever continue to walk down the path He has laid out for me.

As a farewell, I thought I would post this video that I made this month. :-) Beneath it, I will post the very first video that I made of Eddie so that you all can see the progress.

God bless, guys... there's a trail out there that's meant to be blazed...

May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

Update

Here comes one much-needed update!

So, Eddie and I have been doing a lot of things lately. Riding a lot, working on our lead changes, going for walks... you name it. It's been pretty nice out (not considering the wind) so I've been outside for about 4 hours every day working with the horses, doing chores and trimming.
I trimmed Eddie yesterday, I'll do Jigs tomorrow, and then Scout on Sunday. Because..... *drum roll please* Mom and I leave for Florida in less than a week! AAAACCCCKKKKK!!!!!
That's kinda crazy, but it will be super fun!
We're going from this...
Chilly & windy Illinois prairie

 To this...
Hot & humid Florida!

It's going to be a blast! And then the next course I go to will be for my final! WOWZA! I can't wait!

Happy 5 Year Anniversary, Eddie!

Yesterday, it was Eddie's five year anniversary since he came here. I am so blessed to have him in my life and I am so happy that we could give him a forever home here on our farm.

Happy Birthday, Eddie!

I'm forcing myself not to be hard on myself by saying I've been a bad blogger. Because there are so many other things to do with my day and if anything, I'm actually glad that the computer has taken a back seat for the past few months. It has been so nice out and instead of talking about Eddie on here, I'm out there playing with him!! For the past few days I've been cracking down on my final exam. I've been memorizing the things I'm going to be graded on so that I don't miss anything - mainly with treatment recommendations and exercise schedules. But it's going really well. I have 9 things memorized out of 13. Four more and I'll be all set!

Well, I posted a video about Eddie's birthday yesterday and we had one fabulous birthday! All the video clips were taken from yesterday and we had so much fun. We did our lead changed out in the pasture, rode in the outdoor for a long time, went for a trail walk and were doing stuff for 2+ hours. I love good weather and I love being out in the barn!

So yes, Eddie's Birthday was yesterday. He is ten years old! Time has gone by so fast. We bought him when he was 4! Wow. I am beyond blessed to have him in my life and no words can describe how much I love him and care for him. He has completely changed my life and has turned into the most beloved horse I could possibly wish for. Happy Birthday to most incredible horse that I have ever known!!!

Hope that you all are having a great April,

Romans 10:9-10
“If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.”

New Video to Fill Ya'll In!

Windy, Windy

We should have named our farm "Stinking Windy Farm."
It was windy, chilly, and sunny today.
Therefore, I didn't do too much playing with the horses, just lots of hanging out with them. Eddie and I played with our canter lead changes in the pasture, I let him graze for a nice long time while I moved the t-post insulators for the track. Diesel has figured out how to get under the electric fence and graze Eddie's long grass that is in the pasture, so we have to lower the bottom line.
Anyway, Ed and I played, went for walks, and then Diesel and I went for a nice long walk around the property. They are such good boys! :-)
Then I trimmed Scout - his feet are looking GREAT! After a laminitis episode in January... they look amazing!

Well, gotta go, time to do the horse's final check.
Hope that you all had a great day!

2 Corinthians 5:14-15
For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.

Busy Times

I'm sitting here with a purring cat on my lap who is also sitting on my sister's laptop keyboard. Ah well, at least I can still type! ;-) Just forgive any misspellings!

The grass is lush, and the horses are crazy for it. Eddie and I have been playing in the outdoor and riding in there because there's just so much grass in the pasture. We do our cantering out there, but still. It's nuts! Almost time to mow!

So, every day I play with Eddie for about an hour, groom him up, take Scout for a walk, take Diesel for a walk, and then 'flush' Diesel's mouth because he gets grass wadded up in there.

Yeah! There's grass everywhere!! haha!

This is what Eddie and I have been doing when it comes to riding. HQ pivots, FQ pivots, 'roll backs,' shoulder in, haunches in. I love it. And Eddie does too. It gives us something small to do while we wait for it to dry up (I hate mud) and the wind to settle down. (He hates wind)

Hope that ya'll are doing well, and I'll be posting more often. I miss it!

Psalms 62:5-7
My soul, wait silently for God alone,
For my expectation is from Him.He only is my rock and my salvation;
He is my defense;
I shall not be moved. In God is my salvation and my glory;
The rock of my strength,
And my refuge, is in God.

Golly Jeepers

Only 5 blog posts all last month.
Sorry bout that.
It's just been so nice out - warm, mild, everything is blooming and spring is in full swing.
Been playing with Eddie every day, riding every day, working some more on lightness & softness - basically refining everything and building up a strong foundation to start some new things. We'll be doing lots of cantering this spring/summer, just waiting for it to dry out, and we've been working on our flying lead changes over a pole (groundwork). He's getting better and better, because he picks up the right lead now and changes within a few strides if he doesn't.
Well, I'm sorry for the lack of posts, but it seems the more I move away from the computer, facebook, blogger, forums, pinterest, the more I actually get done. Hey, whattaya know?! :-) I started a book that I've been writing in and researching. I finished my final and passed for Applied Equine Podiatry. Next month mom and I go to Florida again and then in August I graduate! Then for a graduation present, mom and I are going to see Buck Brannaman up in Bristol, WI. Stoked for that.
Well, maybe I'll post more this month, but if I don't - at least you will know what I've been doing. :-) I haven't disappeared, I promise!

Is it Summer? Or Spring? It just can't seem to make up its mind.

Well, there has been a lot going on lately and it seems like spring only lasted for a couple of days before the 80 degree weather kicked in.
Ah well, can't complain. It's been nice to be outside barefoot and hosing the horses off. It was almost warm enough to go swimming today too - if only the pool was open. ;-) hehe!
So, let's see... Eddie and I have been working on lead changes on the ground. His right side is weak, so I am helping him build that up and get equal. So we'll start on the left lead going on a right circle and then I'll have him go over a high cavaletti. So he changes leads and is on the right one! Yesterday he was on his right lead for a whole circle, so that was great! He didn't switch back to his left.
While riding, we've been doing sort of the same thing. Shoulder in going to the left while he leads with his right fore. I know, it's kinda confusing, but it's so much easier when riding him. We did that a lot today and he was getting a lot better with it. "As we leave the rail (coming off a circle), come down the rail." I remember learning that years and years ago and it has stuck like glue. And let me tell ya, it works!
We've also been working on our cutting game while I ride. We'll ride along the fence line and then turn it into a sidepass while he disengages his HQ. So that turns into a turn and then we ride along the fence back the way we came. He's really getting it and yesterday we did it without the fence. Very fun! Now we just need some cows! :-)

Jeremiah 17:7-8
“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,
And whose hope is the Lord.
For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters,
Which spreads out its roots by the river,
And will not fear when heat comes;
But its leaf will be green,
And will not be anxious in the year of drought,
Nor will cease from yielding fruit.