#imsolucky

I really wanted to do a Christmas List post, but #imsolucky seems like a better post title for the beginning of this week. This horse... I just, can't deal sometimes with how awesome he is even when he's a jerk.

He's got this new thing where he decides that he politely wants to trip into the canter from the trot and it feels like a huuuugge lame step, but then he'll decide, "Fine... I'll trot" and feel perfect. We have been a little stuck and sucked back in the arena but he definitely needs a trim to get balanced anyway so I'm not too worried. Plus, I'm sure he misses his consistent pony adventures with friends.

Sunday was a work free day and I couldn't have been more excited to go out on an adventure. Unfortunately, Wendy had Sunday Christmas plans to go tree-hunting and obviously, that's super important this time of year. So that left Brantley and I fend for ourselves, or so I thought.

Brantley and I had that one "beach" experience and it went... Okay... But we needed to go to an actual beach, which we did. Grasa showed up, B jumped on her trailer, and away we went! I wasn't as nervous as I thought I would be and got right in the saddle. We had an amazing time and walked the whole beach. Her mare unfortunately was missing a shoe so she took another mare who also had never been so we took it slow.

We came upon what we originally thought was a giant piece of driftwood from afar... But wow were we wrong. It was sad to see him there with the propeller marks in his back, but absolutely incredible to see the size. Could you imagine how old he was?

B was definitely more interested in the Wrangler wheeling down the beach... As was I...

And the drivers graciously took our picture. Classic Brantley face.

We cruised the rest of the beach on a loose rein and he finally was okay with me reaching in and pulling my phone out of my bra to take a "between the ears" shot and a few others as we headed down to the body of water on the other side which was quieter and a bit warmer.

Great chance for some photo-ops!

We're so cute!

I planned on posting yesterday and try to keep up with Sunday being TWD and Blogger day - but that didn't happen. Luckily not because we had just as much of an amazing ride today. It was supposed to snow and then rain all day so I had my mind set that riding wasn't an option, until the sun peeped out from behind the clouds. GAME ON! I grabbed my English tack and my horse and said, "We're going for a gallop." He seemed totally game so we walked out to the back field where we mount up and head out but my brain got in the way.

I stood up on the mounting block and my whole body started to shake and I felt the anxious sweat start. And then my heart... I could feel it pulsing through my hands and my legs got weak. Why? Why does this happen? In my heart I knew that we were fine and I just needed to get on, but my body screamed danger. PTSD... The longer I took to get on, the quieter B got. He moved closer to the mounting block as if to say, "Just get on Mom, we're okay." So I did... And we were... And my heart slowed down to a normal pace as soon as my butt hit the saddle.

What followed was an absolutely incredible ride ... My favorite place with my favorite horse.

We galloped through the field, ran into nervous loose dogs, and a mountain biker that had no clue. Not once did he flinch or get worried, just kept going. He listened to my half-halts and kept an amazing pace through the power lines even after powering up the rocky hill... I won't lie to you, I cried... Because that's what I do when we get that connection.

I hopped off and walked him home in the dark just completely content with life.

Way to take on a Monday right?