A Field Trip for Baby Doll

 

By now she’s already tucked into her cozy stall at Cedar Hill Farm in Estancia, New Mexico, about 20 minutes south of Laughing Orca Ranch. This is the same horse farm where I volunteered as an Assistant Judge for the Ghost Riders to the Rescue Competitive Trail Ride (ACTHA) hosted by the Walkin' N Circles Ranch Horse Rescue (WNCR) where I’m a volunteer. (By the way, you can see photos of the ACTHA event as well as a lots of photos of Cedar Hills Farms by clicking on the previous Ghost Riders ACTHA link)

And I must admit I got a little teary-eyed seeing her go. I’ve had Baby Doll over 2 years now. And I’ve had my stubborn, grouchy old mare for sale several times after she hurt me twice last year. We’ve been through a lot together. And not all of it good.

But seeing her driven down the road away from me, listening to her whinny and neigh as loud as she could, made me realize how much I’d miss the old girl if she weren’t around. It already feels weird knowing she’s not up at the barn or in her paddock.

We must have some kind of bond, her and I, and even if she isn’t my future trustworthy trail horse, Baby Doll will be my *heart* horse forever because she has taught me so much.

You’d never know that I groomed my mare this morning, picked out and cleaned her feet, and even trimmed her tail. She was a filthy mess when we brought her down from the barn. I wasn’t planning on trimming her tail, but it was dragging the ground and I think she must have stepped on it and pulled out a small section as she had a handful of loose hair just hanging out at the bottom.

I don’t have any photos of her loading because she did it so quickly. I could have blinked and missed it! I was so proud of my mare. Anna asked her to step up and she just jumped right up there, easey peasey. One day I’d love to trade in my little 2-horse bumper pull with a ramp and get a stock trailer or a trailer like Anna, my friend and riding instructor, has below. 

 

So, why is Baby Doll going on this field trip? Well, because I’m signed up for a two day Fear Make-over and Natural Horsemanship Riding Clinic held at Cedar Hills Farm this weekend. And I think that Baby Doll has been stuck at home for far too long and it’ll be good for her to get out, experience new things and places, and get ridden. I think it’ll be good for her and for me.

I’m not planning on doing much riding on her this weekend, but Colleen, one of my instructor friends from WNCR, will be. And I’ll be riding one of her trustworthy, kid safe, steady eddies for the clinic.

I’m a nervous wreck, but excited too. This is just another step forward for me and I want to do it. I easily talk myself out of doing so many things due to fear or inconvenience or just being lazy. I almost talked myself out of this clinic several times, too. We had the Arctic Blast come through and sprinkle some more snow and freeze my hiney…..and I thought I might say, “Sorry I can’t go….I’m too cold…or snowed in…..or whatever”  But the weather is warmer today, in the 30’s and the snow is melting. But the ground is muddy and slippery. I considered saying, “Oh the ground is too muddy, I can’t go”

And today my tummy was all out of whack from nerves and I almost said, “Sorry I can’t go…I’m sick”

But my friends Anna and Colleen wouldn’t let me get too far in talking myself out of this clinic. And my friend, Renee who boards her mare at WNCR, and was the Judge I was the assistant for at the ACTHA event last October, was the gal who encouraged me to sign up with her for this clinic. We are both hoping to possibly ride in the Spring ACTHA CTR together in April as Buddy Riders. Renee’s been going through many of the same fear and self confidence issues that I have, but she has goals and determination just like I do, too. We’re going to be there to support each other and see us reach our goals and move forward this year.

I’ll see you tomorrow, Baby Doll!

So, tomorrow would y’all think of me and send positive thoughts of safety and say a few prayers for confidence, peace and calm? I sure could use it. Wish me luck, too!