six things

Things have been going basically the same. I'm riding lots of different horses, plus my own, plus trying to find a second job. Things are crazy. Anyway, I've been tagged by Erin over at Now That's a Trot! to do the whole "six things I'm proud of" meme, so I guess I'm going to do it now.

1. I am proud of how far my horses have come. This doesn't just include the horses I own, but the ones I've worked with. I feel like every time we accomplish anything, we are one step closer to winning the final battle. Though, I think I'm especially proud of each step my own horses take. I first got Captain when he was skinny and wormy, having not been ridden in a whole year. I knew he had all the talent in the world, though no one else seemed to think so. We kept going, though, and accomplished more than I could ever hope for. With Ace, he was just this horse out in pasture, who really didn't know anything besides how to go down the trail. Now he is quiet and calm, and so, so willing to learn.

2. I am proud of all my hard work. Three years ago, I was spoiled rotten, totally taking my horse for granted. I still resent my dad for pulling the plug and refusing to pay for my horse anymore, but without him I would never have learned how to work hard for the things I love and take responsibility. I'm now thinking about getting a second job, to pay for shows and gas and my car insurance. I feel like I have a lot more responsibility than the average 16 year old--I have all of this, and school. I'm a straight A, honors and AP course student, and have remained so despite working 3 days a week and taking care of my horses and other peoples' as well.

3. I am proud of my knowledge. I was reading at 3 (and really doing so), but I saved the Dr. Suess books for bedtime. Instead, I read as many horse books as I could possibly get my hands on. Veterinary encyclopedias became my 'thing' when I was 8, and my parents finally decided to buy me magazine subscriptions instead of $20+ encyclopedias and books. I'd been riding for a little over 5 years at that point, but I still had an unquenchable thirst to know more. I got my first horse at 9, a pregnant mustang mare named Lilly, and I was able to converse with the vet intelligably about her options. I want to keep myself as knowledgable as possible, just because it has been such a useful tool in my riding, showing, and horse owning. Without my knowledge, I don't think I would be anywhere.

4. I am proud to have a natural instinct. I've had people tell me that I have a "way" with horses, though I think that's because of hard work and experience. Some people have told me that I have a sort of instinct, though; I seem to know what's going to happen before it does. I can tell when a horse is going to buck someone off, or spook, or kick out, though sometimes they're obvious things. I know when to move out of the way, even if the horse is quiet, because I just know something is coming. I can look at a horse and know what they are, thinking, too, not in the "telepathic" sense, but by reading their body language and their eyes. I can tell what needs to happen when I'm riding, too. Oftentimes when I was in training, my trainer would call out something to fix only to stop short because I was already doing it. I can feel exactly what the horse is doing while I'm in the saddle, too, and can picture it in my head. I think most of these things are from years of being around horses, but sometimes I feel like I do things that're "right" even when I can't explain it, as if everything about horses has become second nature.

Can I be done now? Pleeease? Just this part has taken me two days to do, LOL.

I might edit it later, but for now I tag Crickett over at The Fluffly Files. Now go have some fun with your horses!