Mare Camp
| July 1, 2015 | Posted by Melinda under Uncategorized |
Last weekend I resolved to make a difficult, yet best-for-the-horses decision.
Farley went away to Mare Camp.
More widely known as Aurora’s place, from Redheaded Endurance.
Here’s my problem. I have really good intentions.
I go out to the stable ready to do a ML session, but then once I’m there I’m not in the mood to do groundwork and then walking around the arena……and there’s my apparently sound, fun, 16 year old who could use a short tune up ride right? And surely that rock bruise is fine since there’s no clinical signs to the contrary. So I ride Farley, and then before I know it I don’t want to ride ML because it’s been like 2 weeks since she was last ridden……vicious cycle.
Farley could use 4-6 weeks off without me messing with her.
MerryLegs could use 4-6 weeks of focused attention without playing second fiddle to Farley.
Apparently I need a little help turning intentions into action.
Thus removing Farley to a location one hour away from my house.
She’s in a pasture where she can get plenty of movement, and maybe help school some younger horses in an attitude adjustment, much like she did with ML (except that part isn’t going so much to plan, since she is being rather passive and not engaging and bleating like a little lamb……sigh).
The grand master plan is to switch the horses ***at the end of July near the end of my pregnancy (August-ish?) so I just have my safe and sane 16 yo to get into trouble on, and only have to focus on one horse in the first couple of months after my little girl is born.
I don’t know why the thought of sending ML away for a couple of months is SO MUCH harder then the thought of giving Farley a vacation, but I know that moving around in pasture for a couple of months with some pasture-mates will be so much better for her body then hanging out in a paddock watching me come and go with very little attention. Plus, in addition to being forced have pony time = ML time, a deadline is the magic formula to get things done! Never mind it’s only Wednesday into the first week, AND we are in the middle of a heat wave. Hoof trims, vaccines, worming, random grooming sessions, dremmel introductions, AND roundpen work? Oh my!
How is ML handling the new-found attention? After doing a trimming session in the round pen, complete with a luxury grooming, in no-shade 100+ degree weather, I practically had to drag her back to her paddock.
ML: but we could do MORE.
Mel: but you are only THREE.
[ML unhappily accepts mash in her paddock as a consolation prize]
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***My original plan was to pull her out of pasture and get one more chance at a 50 miler at Hat Creek Hustle, which takes place end July. However, my husband nixed that idea so hard that my head is still spinning.
Hard to describe how NOT a fan he was of me doing a 50 miler at 30 weeks, and apparently, the one I attempted to do at 25 weeks also wasn’t on his list of “good ideas”, so my argument that medically there isn’t that much difference in risk between 25 and 30 weeks got me exactly nowhere….and let’s be honest – my husband regularly saves me from poor decision-making so perhaps it is best I am officially grounded from further AERC rides until post-October.
Being the eternal optimist, I’m going to see if I can get to the end of the season Thanksgiving local AERC ride. And quietly go on running 1/2 marathons for as long as I can without anyone (including the baby) noticing. :).
Life is SO GOOD right now that I have trouble feeling THAT disappointed about missing the Hat Creek ride, or if the Thanksgiving ride doesn’t work out. I had planned on *just* Wild West this year and if it had gone to plan, I wouldn’t even tried to make another ride until next spring. So, I live with the result of the Wild West ride and move on. And if I don’t get Decade team because of my stupid rock bruise mistake, it doesn’t make Farley any less special to me, or less deserving of the best life/eventual retirement I can offer her.
Oh wow, what a great plan! I so need to work my young more too… but so hard to resist my old faithful pony! 😉
Sounds like a very good plan. ML will be very happy with your undivided attention! Though if we don’t get any pictures of her I’ll be very sad… And just give Farley some time, she’ll hopefully be bossing them around in no time.
As for decade team, there is still time. I know you are more goal driven, but for me, if I personally can still ride my horse and do the things I want, I’m OK that no organization has given me a title. He still wins the title of best horse ever.
I dont know why I’m so convinced that she will be done by age 20, but it’s just thing that I have in my mind. Maybe because her sire died at 20 from colic? I talked to Lydon at Wild West and it was his opinion that she was going to continue to go strong into her 20’s and be packing around a little junior at that point so we will see who is right! :). Have to admit that once I stopped being so goal driven I’ve been a lot happier in endurance. I do the rides I can, even if it’s one a year, and I stop obssessing over the missed opportunities. I’ll be sad if decade team doesn’t happen but I won’t have any regrets which seems like a very healthy spot to be in.
[…] I swear..last Saturday, Mel of Boots and Saddles brought her endurance mare, Farley, up to Mare Camp. I struggle to even remember when we first met at this point (blogging/Renegades/Tevis?), but Mel […]