Jon Ensign is the MAN!

We hosted a clinic this weekend and it was wonderful. I chose not to participate in the clinic so everyone could have a chance to go. I did get a private lesson however with Jon after the clinic. Cypress learned the meaning of "Go!" today.

Now, Jon warned me. He said to get ready for what may happen. I've never pushed Cypress as much as I did today and that's probably why I never in a million years would of expected what he is capable of. My horse took to bucking so much I didn;t know what hit me! But I did not fall off. I held on with my legs, and of course did the very thing Jon told me not to do which was pull back on the reins. I had to though, I pulled myself half way back on with Cypress' poor mouth. But we got through it, a whole series of him bucking down the wall.

Jon taught me to be brave today... showed me how to "get 'er done" with out holding my hand or my horses' hand. He taught me about not giving up, keep at it... not just overall but all the little things. Cypress has counted on me giving up. He's so dang smart that way. Which is why he probably was so surprised today when I did what I did with Jon.

Jon is so great with not only beginners, but people who have a lot of skills and just need help because they are stuck. I can't recommend him higher. :) http://www.jonensign.com/ He is also the best colt starter I've met. :)

My Old Flame

It's hard watching your beautiful horse age. Especially one that has a neurological problem. Flame is what I think of as a perfect Arabian horse. He is the quintessential Polish Arabian. He looks like he could run 500 miles in the desert and still kick your ass at the end of the day. He is beautiful, big boned and heavily muscled.

In August of 2006, we took Flame to a western playday. He blew everyone away with his 13 second pole bending run ending in the most beautiful piaffe. He set a park record that day. He blew me away. I am not a gamer but he was for 13 years. No one knew he was 23 years old. On the way home he lost his balance and busted his front leg through the escape door of the trailer. He was ok but at every corner he would loose his footing and almost fall. A 15 minute drive took over an hour. That was our first sign.

In January of 2007, I was lungeing Flame and he fell. He was hurt, so I called the vet. My vet was not so concerned about his fall, but was very concerned about Flame's demeanor and the fact he was showing pretty severe signs of a neurological problem. Because of how stiff he was in the neck, he felt it was probably something pressing on his vertebrae. After several tests, and a regimen of potent steroid treatments, my vet said to just wait and see, but the prognosis was dim. I felt as if I was going to fall to my knees. My Flame was going to die.

Flame kept falling in his stall. He kept showing really bizarre behavior... there wasn't a day that went by where he didn't have a ding or big owie on him from falling in his stall. He would just stand in pasture when I would turn him out. His head hung low...looking as if he had the worse headache ever. I thought I may have to start making plans to put him down. Then, he seemed to get better. He was perked up, eyes brighter...he even claimed a mare. He stopped falling in his stall, and even started galloping in the pasture again, with tail high and neck arched.

He is still not at 100%. But I am hopeful that he will be with me for longer then we all thought. It was awful seeing him go through this. It is hard watching his body become more angular and less muscular. He is in retirement, because it is not safe for him or a rider if he looses his footing. But he is still here. Everyone kept saying I would know when it is time to put him down. I thought the time was close, but I seem to have been granted a little more good time with him.

I wish I could ride him one more time... gallop him, spin with him, sit that little prance he has. I am thankful though I can still watch him arch his neck, prance and passage around his new claimed mare, "Butterfly".

I cleaned him up today. Gave him his Arab hair cut, trimmed his whiskers, brushed him till he was shiny. Man, he's gorgeous. He will always be the most beautiful to me. Today, my daughter said with a far off look... "Mom, what if Flame could be a stallion for just one day? We could pass one his pretty face through all the mares here at Mecca.". I thought that was a good wish. :)