Cob Jockey

I'd apologize for my lengthiest time away from this blog in a while, but nah.

It's the second time in my life that I've made a massive job change and taken a house down to the studs in the same year, and y'all? Do not recommend. 

And I do mean "down to the studs"

Both have been immensely positive changes, but both hitting at the same time has me feeling like a hamster running a treadmill that's just a little too fast. The quiet pause that I need to draft a blog post never happens. Neither does eating or showering some days.

But all that said - I have so much to be grateful for and to blog about, even though I haven't been writing.

The original gangsta of this blog turned TWENTY in May. Aside from some grey hairs around his eyes and losing a little topline last winter, he's showing no signs whatsoever of aging.

Our newest boarder's 8 year old started leasing him a couple of months ago, with her lease fee being cleaning his stall for me, and I don't think I've ever seen Connor so happy. 

It's the happiest I've ever seen him with a job, and he's making all of her dreams come true, including showing for the first time at a local backyard saddle club show. She's very sweet and grateful and isn't taking this for granted, which makes it all extra wonderful.

PC: LIZ!!!! Who came all that way just to hang out and take some of the most incredible photos I've ever gotten of myself on a horse.

PC: Liz. No exaggeration about barely making it to this show - I accidentally brought full sheepskin-lined winter boots to a show with a heat index in the 110s and didn't realize I forgot white breeches until I was standing there in my underwear in the tack stall 10 minutes before I needed to be on.

Kate moving back to the Midwest last fall has been nothing short of divine intervention for me and for Disco. All the usual concerns about sending a horse to an outside trainer were moot, because she cared for him like I would. Just like when he lived with Maude, I never had to micromanage or ask for updates or worry that he was mentally or physically stressed. He was just...happy.

I mean. Come on you guys.

Each video I saw of Kate riding him, I saw not only his training progressing, but her bond with him deepening, to the point that it pains me a bit to bring him home. She has truly enjoyed bringing him along and bonding with him, and has told me several times that I have a horse for the future in him.

He's also continued to enjoy playing with his brother-from-another-mother, Castleberrys Opportunity Knox

Truthfully, I'm not ready to bring him home right now, even though 'now' has always been the plan. Originally, the house was scheduled to be done by now, and my partner and his kids would be moved in with me by now, and I wouldn't be living in a camper with no running water on the farm by now, and I wouldn't be driving across town to shower and eat every night by now, but...

Current status

We ended up getting started 3 months late because our first contractor had a true psychotic break with reality (long story), and so we're currently months away from the house being done. But the weather (and a local Welsh show I'd like to support) is forcing my hand - the snow is about to start flying in northern Michigan, and if I don't get him now, I might not have a good chance again for a while.

Kate's BTE photo from a summer northern Michigan trail ride

But first - working from Kate's house all next week while I take lessons and learn how to ride my "new" horse before I bring him home on Saturday!

See you soon little buddy. PC: Leah??? I think!