Sunday, May 1, 2011

Life Changes

Hi folks. It has been a really long time since my last post. I just wanted to let everyone know that I'm alive and kicking - and so is Guinness.

First, I took a full-time job last summer which dramatically impacted my free time. Then, in January, my spouse and I decided to separate. About three weeks ago Guinness and Cody moved to a friend's boarding barn in town, and I was blessed to rehome Smokey to "horse heaven" (80 acres, a mare for company, and owners that don't want to ride him)! My son & I will be moving to a place in town - hopefully next weekend..

Guinness turned FOUR last week! It is hard to believe how time flies. It was just yesterday that I brought him home at 18 months of age. He is so smart and steady that I feel as though I could ride him anywhere. It was only a year ago I was just really starting to ride him at all.. I don't think that he will get much taller (now around 14.3), but I'm sure that he will fill out some more. (I'll post a photo of him in his new digs as soon as I take one.)

He is now in a pasture with 7 other horses, including 2 mares that he is fascinated with. Happily, he isn't herd bound and I can easily bring him out to play with. His pasture features a wooded grove with 2 large run-ins, plus a grassy hill with a view to several other stables, and a huge "back pasture" that runs down a steep slope and then 1/2 way up a mountain! Just by being there he is getting himself into riding condition, which is a blessing since my time is so short.

I console myself that I'll have Guinness for the next 26 years, so having him lounge out in the pasture most of the time right now is ok. He seems very happy (like a kid on a playground with his buddies). I miss seeing him every day. But, he is starting to really value it when I come to visit. He ran over to see me twice while I was with him today.

It is all good.



Guinness at four years old.