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Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Tia and Skyla


A little over a year ago, I finally found a place to go to, here in the middle of horse country, where I can ride western at a small barn, on someone's private property, without being crowded into a lesson with four other riders. Susan is a horse person I can relate to! She is tiny, practical (another farmer's daughter) and keeps her two horses more out of love than for the sake of dollar signs. I respect her as a horsewoman and like her as a person. We've quickly become good friends.



And I adore her two mares.





Tia is a ten year old 14.3hh Quarter Horse mare. She's the one who took me to a horse show last month. After Champ's death, I was afraid I wouldn't be able to face this shining red horse. The opposite happened. I'd run a brush over Tia's coat and feel soothed that I still had a chestnut horse in my life.



Tia is gorgeous. She's so nicely put together, and pleasing to the eye. She's gentle and easy going, but she does not let you get away with anything. You can't be lazy with her. If you don't give her very clear directions, she'll just do her own thing. I love that about her, because it makes her an excellent teacher! You must ask correctly if you want the result!



We're not actually doing lessons at this time, because Susan's got her hands full with her new baby son. I'm riding them to keep them somewhat in shape for her when she's ready to teach again.

I miss the lessons but I'm loving the freedom to just get on and ride. I'm making up little lesson plans for myself, so that I don't slack off and ride around aimlessly. I've spent much of my life riding around aimlessly, and there's nothing wrong with that, except that I have an aim now! I'm working towards a goal and this kind of independent learning has been good for me.

These pictures were taken about a month ago, before all the leaves turned yellow. It was such a soft warm day. The light filtered through the trees and it all felt peaceful. Then I saddled them up and made them work. Mwahahaha.



Skyla is a five year old Pinto pony mare. I'm not sure of her height...13.2hh? She's awesome. I love ponies, despite being kicked in the face by one a few years back- not a story for today! They are different from their full size relatives; more stubborn, spunkier, stockier, tougher, and more gluttonous! Most ponies will do anything for food! (They're like Pugs!) Ponies are a blast to ride too. That short back makes for a choppy ride like a train chugging over the tracks, instead of the rolling waves on a bigger horse.

This particular little mare is just pure fun. She's a little bit goofy, and likes to pretend that she's not really totally 100% absolutely sure what it is that you want her to do. But...she'll do it. She's a good little soul. And she loooooves attention! Brush her, rub her ears, scratch her rump, she loves it all. She'll lean right in to get the full treatment. How gratifying! The pony likes me!!!



I love her face.

Here's the "Nice Pony" side of Skyla...




...and here's the "Crazy Pony" side of Skyla!




But you know what? There is nothing split about her personality. She's solid as a rock. She'll always come up for a pet, always dance around in the crossties if she thinks there's an apple anywhere near, and she'll always make you work when you're on her back!

It's rare to see blue eyes on a horse, but more common in pintos and paints.



Having one blue eye and one brown eye runs in Skyla's family!





They're great horses. Working with these two is a privilege and an honour!

And that, dear readers, is where I go when I have to escape the maze of subdivision streets, and the craziness of typed words. This is where I clear my head and find the other side of myself. Next week I'll show you pictures of a little lesson my Girl and I did a few days ago!

(Now go see how many entries Mr Bransford has in his first paragraph contest!)

20 comments:

Heidi the Hick said...

Hey peoples!

Out of the nine agents I submitted my work to, one has rejected and one has notified me that she has received it and is taking the time to consider it.

Things are moving along...

must go walk dog and ride horse, and come home to keep on writing!!

Coffeypot said...

The horses are beautiful, as is the scenery. It looks like you have found a place to relax and unwind. Me, I go to a whore house.

Heidi the Hick said...

hahaha! You do not! You go to Walmart and ride the "quarter horse"!

Biddie said...

That us great news! Well, that one is considering your work. I am SOO excited for you.
The horses are gorgeous. I see why you love them so. They are so much more than beasts of burden, or even pets. They are something else entirely. I'm so glad that you have your little slice of Utopia right there in the subdivision hell. :)

Heidi the Hick said...

Oh Biddie, you know it. They are more than beasts of burden, or pets. So well said.

And yes, I feel good that someone is saying something other than NO. Every little step counts, right?

Anita said...

The horses are beautiful.. I love your "nice pony""Crazy pony" pics...lol... I used to have a dog with eyes identical to that... She was 1/2 blue heeler and 1/2 austrailia sheppard.
Sounds like a wonderful place!

CindyDianne said...

They are nice looking examples of equine fabulousness.

The color of Tia? Chestnut? I always thought that color was sorrel? Regional differences? Blah! I get so confused...

katy said...

great photos, i can see why you enjoy riding, i love the pony, such a cutie.
fingers crossed for you with the agent.

dilling said...

I love a painted pony, I do I do...and if was not dead set on stealing my dear and treasured big black friend with me when I escape Nanaimo, I would definitely want a paint...I love spots.

dilling said...

stealing? I guess it rustling, isn't it? mwuhahahahahahaha

Distant Timbers Echo said...

I love horses. They always look so bored!

Heidi the Hick said...

Jas- hahaha! It's true! Cuz swishing flies is, like, so last month.

Dilling you hoss thief! I still think you should plot to ask if he's for sale. Never know. Man, we could have sold Champ about twenty times!

Katy, thank you!

Cindy, I'm still confused about the Chestnut Sorrel issue too! Not many people around here say sorrel. I dunno...! Alls I know is, I will always have a soft spot for a shiny red horse!

Anita, I'd love a dog like that. Heelers are cool. That pony really does crack me up- she's so unique!

emily said...

I love that blue eye!

FOUR DINNERS said...

Love the pics babe.

I once conned a horse into letting me sit on it......

actually it bolted. As I'm still alive it was hilarious. Might blog it sometime...

raine said...

My Katie desperately wants to take riding lessons..but I'm scared of the whole horse thing. If I had a horse, tho' I would want one with a blue eye! Pretty pretty pictures.

I'm going to go put my paragraph up now. Go look and DON'T LAUGH!!

millhousethecat said...

Congrats on sending out your work.

And just so you know, we are in direct competition over at Mr. Bransford's blog. :)

I entered two of my own.

Heidi the Hick said...

Millhousethecat! Thanks! I saw your entries in the Crazy Bransford Contest...I'm so glad you took some time away from school weirdness to go enter!

Rain, it's tough to know what to do, because horses are large and potentially dangerous, BUT they can also be the most gentle and sensitive creatures you'll ever meet. I think the best thing you can do is visit a lot of stables and ask if you can observe lessons. Get an idea of how the instructors treat the students and horses. And you can always get her to wait until she's just a little bit bigger! (I would put you on a horse and get you comfy first, then start your kid!) And no I did not laugh at your contest entry! Good to see you there!

4D, I think you told me about that once! The horse farted at you, didn't he???

Emily, I know! Isn't she charming!!

ValleyGirl said...

Hey nice place, nice horses... I'd love to live there... hey, wait a minute - I do!!! You make the place sound like a perfect dream! lol!

Hey cindydianne... ur right about the regional colour lingo... on Tia's papers she's registered as a Sorrel... but every one calls her a Chestnut... so I dunno??? I think Heidi has it right "shiny red horse" sums it up!

.:.KC.:. the brown eyed girl said...

That's excellent news!
Congrats!

Heidi the Hick said...

Valleygirl! See ya later today!!!!

KC-fingers crossed...