Tributes, Passages and Challenges

May is traditionally a 'mini-contest' month for the Ride-A-Curly . In past years it has been obstacle month (one of my favorites). The founder and organizer of this super group of Curly riders announced the spring challenge would be something new and different. None of were made aware of any details, but we all had to choose our mounts and sign on ahead of time... making that big leap of faith so to speak. A few of us attempted to sneak in some questions hoping for some advance clue of expectations.... Denise's mouth was zipped up tight.

I originally signed on to 'perform' with my sweet Keri -- but as April progressed, I had second thoughts about using Keri. I knew at the very least this little contest was going to entail growth and bonding... (just a feeling I had) -- and I felt a bit as though going through the paces with Keri would be almost cheating in that department.

My sweet Keri lately has been struggling with the intense pace of most of our trips. We cover a lot of ground and only have certain time frames to complete our trips. Sometimes, this year, she's not fast enough. We are so much alike - Keri and I -- two post menopausal crones riding through life with foggy brain cells and sagging bodies :) She's carried me through imbalance and accompanied me through much healing. Photo of us above is quite an old one... I have not ridden in that grey saddle in a LONG time !

I have been saying and planning for years -- 2 years anyway -- I need to start her replacement ... EEEEKS. Every time, I would say -- OK tomorrow I am going to ride Luna (her daughter) or Fiona .. but I LOVE Keri. This challenge came at just the right time for me ... to kickstart me out of my comfortable Keri box.

at the very LAST minute I made the choice to use OYY Fiona as my contest mount and learn to bond with her as we ride and complete the many tasks on the challenge list. Fiona was expressly bred for a possible replacement for Keri. She is out of our Chip - and a wonderful very much loved mare Teena - who the entire family rode and had fun with. We all loved Teena, she was absolutely a member of the family... and Fiona is a curly replica. She will be a lesson horse someday also - but this year, she still seems a bit immature for the demands of therapeutic lessons. She's had some training (minimal as she was never for sale) and she has been out on the road a few times. I had myself pretty well worked up (YES... like all of us -- I have anxieties about my safety.. .) -- am I going to love her ? Is she going to be good to me ? How much am I going to miss Keri ? Is this going to be a chore or a delight ? BIG SIGH... I'm committed.. I already signed on for this.. it's going to be fine :)

First things first ~ the day the challenge begins... Keri and I and Zoe and Teasel take a trot up and over Mount Ephraim. My last big ride on a horse that is not green and is an extension of myself-- our main reason for trotting this particular trail is to check it out for suitability for a trot with Nimue -- Queen of Carts. The beginning section of trail is pretty well washed out with a cobblestone effect - so we may have to walk behind the cart for a mile or so.. but for the most part, the trail is passable by cart and pony.


And look at this !! Leafy trail ! :) It's changing... We descend down into Dutton District and get on paved road for a bit -- where the views are beautiful. On this side of town, the apple blossoms are in full bloom (they are not out yet on my side of the mountain)-- and I said to Zoe.. wouldn't it be great if we could get that wonderful apple blossom aroma on video ? Yummy.

This padlocked gate will pose a small problem.. we'll have to un-hitch Nimue and drag the cart through somehow -- then re-hitch and go :) But -- we are determined !

I love this barn. Great cupola !

Plenty of views

Look closely, you will see those windmills in Lempster, NH.

Keri and Teasel canter up Grover Road together. :) Am I going to miss this once I start riding Fiona ?

At the end of Grover Road - we get on the trail I am really anticipating with the cart -- this is going to be SO much FUN !! :)








A refreshing trot through the woods --- is it possible to ever replace this feeling created by me and Keri together with another horse ? eeeeeeks...

BUT - I arrive back at the farm and before I change out of my riding clothes- I grab Fiona to give her my first try... a deep breath for me ... camera for Zoe -- I am mounting my new horse of the month and going for it. My first goal is the big ring and the figure 8's. Fiona has never done a figure 8-- she's not particularly well schooled in ring work .. She serpentines down the driveway (you know how green horses won't travel in a straight line ? ) Enters the ring and I can feel her hesitation and I know a lot of it is coming from me as well. Looking at this photo - I think I am feeling too serious... this is supposed to be fun . Fiona looks beautiful here though --

I give myself a big girl scolding.... and as we warm up - I'm loving the way the saddle fits Fee.. and she's listening to my leg (pretty well) .. On the bottom half of the 8.. she does try to dash out the gate. :) Typically little girl green horse stuff.

As I canter up the driveway.. I am breathing normally and feeling well rooted into the saddle and the horse :) and although I am not completely immersed in this new mount as mine -- I am OK with it. I do love Fiona, and she's a great ride- it's my baggage of CHANGE and TRANSITION.

Sunday morning, Zoe and I ride the 6 mile loop - this will be Fiona's 5 miles (one of the tasks on the challenge list) . Poor thing- she gave it her all but the day woke up already hot and humid and she was tired for the last mile for sure. I don't know how to document a 5 mile ride on video (hey.. I love earning points ) The first mile she had to look around at everything -- trot, stop, trot, stop... I learned just how much I could push her and by mid-trip I was using the crop rather freely with a tappity tap. (wow is she her mother or what ? ) We had some nice canters.. I encouraged her to walk out without having to break into a trot. That was a bit tricky for her. Zoe was astride the "T" man .. and half way out - Fiona and he were trotting and walking aside each other -- that's great .. they'll make super trotting partners. Did I miss Keri -- surprisingly NO.. yikes I should feel guilty about that. Just abandon my wonderful mare because of her age and limitations.. what will I do when I have to experience that ? When I get left behind because I am too old ?

3/4 of the way into the journey, we try the brook. It's quite a steep incline from the road down to the brook and Fiona was a champ-- sitting right down on her butt and bracing carefully. She has never been on a brook walk before.

Here's where I begin to really feel Fiona as mine... what a good girl ! :)

I am feeling so proud of her, I don't have time to feel any nervousness. She hesitates but listens to my asking. And as we stroll down the opposite end -- eureka... we find deep water !! I intend to bring Fiona over to the river crossing that we just did with Keri and Elektra -- but that's a LONG trip for her -- so not sure she'll be in shape by the end of May for that. What a fortunate discovery.. a bit of deep water close to home :) We go back and forth through the deep water several times. Teasel takes a turn after his photo duty -- refreshing after a hot trot. :)

So all in all -- this has been quite a journey.. a swift 2 day break loose from habit.. establishing a new mount for me !! Would I have ever switched off... tried a new mount ? Stepped out of my comfortable Keri box ? without this little RAC challenge.. I'd like to think I am mature and brave enough ... but I so love Keri -- and do have insecurities about my safety .... in all honesty.. it would not have happened so quickly without the MAY contest. I feel so successful and accomplished... I am proud of Fiona and -- bashfully proud of myself. :) The real crux of the issue is .. habits and patterns - grabbing the easy first.. and the BIG emotional piece of riding someone other than Keri. With my beginning passage into the elderly years... I struggle with those issues as well... can you teach an old dog new tricks ??

Finally -- And like the Pointer Sisters -- " I'm so excited and I just can't hide it " Isn't it so great when we surprise ourselves with our capabilities and meet a new goal ? Thank you Denise -- and don't forget my gift of a daughter who is always supporting and encouraging me too.. who does not have a clue what it is like to reach 60 years of age (soon anyway) and still put aside your worries AND carries the camera and records my new baby steps. :)

here's "Fee" and me... you'll see more of us this month... challenge month, my birthday month -- wow .. still learning, still changing... passaging through life - now with a new friend :) Even at my age - I can still learn to fly :)

Enjoy ~