Introductions

I haven't had a blog in forever! Seriously. I don't think I've had a blog since I was in high school.

Anyways. I created this blog for one purpose: to document my time with Gwen. So, it would probably be wise to introduce myself, and Gwen, just in case I have readers someday. So, without further ado...

My name is Jackie. I'm a recent College graduate with a passion for horses. I have always been horse crazy, and my parents have no idea where I got it from. I began riding when I was in fourth grade. At the time, my family and I were living in Germany, so I took lessons at a German riding stable. Naturally, I was taught English style, since no one over there rode Western (let alone taught it!) at this time. Suited me just fine! I wanted speed, and jumping. Well, I didn't really get either of those things, and thought I spent two years riding, I never progressed passed a trot. This was largely due to the fact that my riding instructor was European, and she had a much more fundamental approach to riding than my American instructors. Her philosophy was simple: master the basics and then you can move up. So, since I was still perfecting the trot, no canter.

It was a shock when, in sixth grade, we move to Texas and my riding instructor told me to canter my first day! And not on a lounge line???!!! I about went over the moon. Jumping began just a few weeks later (of course they were nothing more than cross rails) but it cemented my love of jumping and English riding in general.

I finally got my first horse when I was fifteen. Her name was Missy, and she was a pretty little sorrel Quarter Horse mare that had been a broodmare and a ranch horse until I got her. She thought I was absolutely out of my mind when I suggested we jump something. Her general response to anything, be it an 18" crossrail or even a pole on the ground was "Why don't you jump. I'll stand over here and watch, kay?"  But after two years, I had her (mostly) willing to jump over things, provided I was very insistent and there was the promise of a good rest afterwards. Knowing what I know now, I can confidently say that horse was LBI all the way. Way too smart for her own good, but she taught me a lot about being patient, and working with my horse rather than just expecting her to do what I say, when I say it.

When I turned 18, I sold Missy to my riding instructor and barn owner. It was the best decision at the time. I was going to be leaving for college, and I couldn't afford to bring her with me, and I couldn't expect my parents to pay for a horse that I wasn't going to be riding. She was later sold to another woman who rode at the same barn, and when I came back for breaks I was able to see her and even ride her a bit. Missy was not a young horse tho, and she developed arthritis that kept her from doing a lot.

Now, then history of my previous horse is very important when I get into Gwen. See, about a year ago, I graduated college and suddenly found myself with a lot more free time. So I started going back to the barn, and hanging around the horses. There, I met a pretty little sorrel mare named Gwen. She has four white feet, and a big ol' blaze down her face. And, darn it, if she isn't the spitting image of Missy just a little smaller and more compact! So, really, I wasn't at all surprised to learn she was one of Missy's daughters! I got to rubbing on her, and grooming her, and riding her a little bit, and sorta fell in love with her (Naturally!).

Well, life took me away from the barn for the past few months, but I headed back there this past week with an idea brewing in my head: I wonder if they'd let me lease Gwen? I figured there was no harm in asking, so I did. And they said: Yes!

And that's where I am today! Literally. Today was my first day at the barn with Gwen, as her new "leasee". I am so, so excited about getting to know Gwen better, getting a lot of play time and riding time in, and just getting to enjoy owning a horse without really owning a horse. And it's GWEN!! She's not quite as stubborn as Missy was, but she's definitely an LBI. Today I just showered her with lots of rubbing, and brought her out of the pasture to graze a bit (she lives full-time outside with a group of other horses). Tomorrow I think I'll work a bit in the round pen, try to build up a foundation for our relationship. One funny quirk tho: she doesn't eat treats! I've tried. She's turned down carrots, apples, and little horse cookies. Go figure!

J