All Grown Up

Wow. Almost 2 months since my birthday post. There were stories to tell but I've forgotten most of them because I am a bad blogger. I do remember this one though:

Matilda earned the code name "Nonplussed" a while back simply because nothing seems to bother her. Not even her foot getting stuck in a bucket. Towards the end of the summer, the guy who works at the barn came into the office with a bemused look on his face and told us that Matilda's foot was stuck in her water bucket... her water bucket that was affixed to the wall at her shoulder height. (We're still not 100% sure how she could get her foot all the way up there) Kim and Rachel raced around to her stall, concerned that she might panic, begin to thrash or go into shock if left in that position to long. We reached her stall to find her standing calmly, her leg extended nearly straight out in front of her with her foot in her water bucket. The three of us moved around her cautiously, attempting to lift her leg up, attempting to lift the bucket off of its hook, attempting to unscrew the hook from the wall, one of us occasionally muttering "Be careful" or "Look out for your toes" as we waited for panic to set in. All the while she stood there, breathing quietly, her leg extended nearly straight out in front of her with her foot in her water bucket, looking at us as if to say, "ummm, guys, my foot is stuck in this here bucket." Rachel finally grabbed a lead rope and we were able to wrap it under her leg enabling us to lift it up just enough to get the bucket off the hook. Her foot and the bucket came down to the ground together while we moved quickly back telling each other "move out of the way" "look out!", in case she freaked out as the bucket clattered to the ground or if her foot was asleep or whatever. She simply stepped out of the bucket, turned around and looked out the window, "I don't know what you guys were worried about. My foot was in a bucket. I knew you'd get it out."

Such is life with Matilda. She remains quiet, grounded and largely unflappable. Yeah, she can be quick and she might give a head toss and try to run away, if you aren't paying attention, but even in that she is manageable and listens to instruction.

With the beginning of fall, I wanted to focus more on her personal care. Up until now, I have kept it simple just doing some basic grooming whenever I rode but it is time to dig a little deeper and take more responsibility for other aspects of her well being. To this end, I am adding small things to our routine like putting on a hoof strengthener once a week and attempting to keep an abscess clean (she's got one under her chin that's been there for years, never getting better or worse.) On a more irregular basis it involves keeping her mane pulled and her tail cleaned and conditioned. I attempted to train her mane to lie on one side of her neck by braiding it but within a couple of days it had flopped back. I will try again later but do not have high hopes of success.

Over the fall and winter, I hope to get her more comfortable with clippers so that she is better prepared for trimming in the spring. It took Rachel and I over an hour to do her face last spring. I think it tickles.

And so we continue on. I love riding Matilda, love spending time with her. I work on my jumping position, her straightness, softening my seat and slowing/strengthening her canter... but the fact of it is that Matilda is all grown up. She is fully involved in the life of the barn and I have come to the realization that she doesn't need me to ride her anymore. She is a well-loved school horse now, being used in one to three lessons each day. Her riders range from pre-teens to adults; beginners have had their very first ride on her and more advanced students are working with her consistently in weekly lessons. I see her throughout the week working through all kinds of softening, extending or jumping lessons under Kim or Rachel. Her riders seem to adore her and she takes care of them.

A bittersweet realization. I sort of want to think that she will fall apart and go crazy if I'm not her constant, if I'm not holding her together. That's just not the case. She'll be quick some days, lazy on others, like all the other horses but my gut is telling me she's solid. She's certainly got more to learn; they are things that she can learn in her lessons with other riders, not necessarily me. She's not my horse, but truly a Bramblewood Horse.

                                        Bittersweet indeed, but I am so very proud of her.