Lucy & Life

I sure fell off the face of the planet, huh? Life is crazy, but for a good reason: I got a new job and I am now working full time again. I love my job and I am treated very well there. I am a graphic designer for a local marketing agency. The work is fast-paced and never-ending, just the way I like it! The day flies by. My coworkers are all incredibly smart people and I am learning a lot from them.

With the addition of a 40-hr work week, my trips to visit Lucy have been limited, but I did go see her last weekend at King Oak's horse trial. I drove 250 miles round trip in one day by myself with a dog and a baby in 93 degree weather. It was a LONG day. Lucy decided to pick a fight with the water complex in XC and was sadly eliminated, but other than that the event was a great experience. She put in her best dressage test to date and looked tense as usual, but very workmanlike, and had some really lovely moments at the canter. I was a proud mom.

Here are some photos:

It was extremely hot and humid that day. We were all sweating!

going through the water....finally

We are down to crunch time with getting her sold, unfortunately. If she doesn't sell by Oct 1, she's coming home to me. I feel both elated and terrified that this may happen. I have been functioning well without the responsibility of a horse, and telling myself it's for the best, but you all know that I adore her and miss her terribly. It was hard enough to send her away the first time; I don't know how I would do it a second time.

Several people are going to see her in the next two weeks, so maybe the perfect home will present itself.

Here is her equine.com ad. Please share it if you know of someone looking for a horse like Lucy. She is priced extremely reasonably.

I have had the opportunity to go riding with Maddy a few times. There is a Haflinger mare at her barn who is hanging around getting fat (as Haffies tend to do) so her owner has allowed Maddy to ride her, and was kind enough to extend the offer to me. We have been out on the trails twice; yesterday was the second time. This mare is a TANK. She can't be more than 14hh and I'll admit it's really weird to be able to see over a horse's back when I'm standing next to it! I had the most fun yesterday. I actually laughed for half the ride. She was a blast to ride.

Hannah is doing so well. She continues to be the best part of my day, every day. I look forward to getting out of bed to see her smiling up at me in the morning, and I rock her to sleep every night. She is almost six months old and is still tiny, but is getting bigger!

Here are a few photos:

With Mini Lucy, made by Alicia from The Redheaded Mare

With my sister-in-law...I love this photo

New digs, and life update

First, the big news is that I got a new full time job, so I am back in the workforce and once again running around like a crazy person.

Kenny was able to cut his work schedule back to working just his normal full time hours, which are basically weekend nights, so he can be home with Hannah while I'm out at work during the weekdays. He is loving this new arrangement and I am so happy that Hannah is getting to spend more time with him. I am very grateful that we don't have to put her in day care.

I started my new job this past Monday, but this week and next I am on a 20 hour/wk schedule to ease into it a bit, to make leaving Hannah easier. I very much appreciate the compassion my boss showed when she suggested this, because leaving my baby is hard!!

I had Tuesday off, so I went to see Lucy at her new barn. Morgan moved the horses on Friday, two days before Orchard Hill, and the new barn is absolutely beautiful. Best of all, Morgan is the only trainer, so there are no issues figuring out who can teach at what times. This is a great opportunity for her and I'm so happy and excited to see where she goes from here.

Lucy loves her new living arrangement, especially because she's turned out on grass for the whole day now. At the old barn, she was only out for a few hours a day because turnout was very limited. I know she loves her turnout and I am happy she's not standing in a stall for so long.

Morgan rode her when I was there and she had some very fancy moments!

The First Visit

On Tuesday, Kenny, Hannah and I went to MA to see Lucy. I felt like I was going to visit my kid at boarding school, which I guess is essentially what I did. Morgan was already riding her in the outdoor and we watched her school Lu. Lucy seemed so happy and looked fantastic. Her dapples are outrageous!! That horse sure got some great hair genes.

Morgan has been focusing on getting Lucy to relax over her back. I already see a lot of improvement! Lucy needs to build a lot of strength before she can carry herself for an extended amount of time, but there were many glimmers of greatness in this ride, and it had only been about a week. Morgan is so pleased with the progress so far. She is taking Lucy to a little schooling event this coming Sunday, then they're going to do Apple Knoll jumpers next Wednesday, then another event the following Saturday, and then another trip to Apple Knoll the following Wednesday! I don't think I did that much stuff with Lucy in a whole year! Haha. This is such a GREAT opportunity for Lu. I am so pleased. I can't watch her this Sunday because we will be at a wedding, but I am going to do my best to make it to the jumper shows and the Orchard Hill event.

doesn't she look wonderful?

dapples!

It was sooo hot and lucky Hannah got to hang out nakie (with a diaper) in the barn