Little Victories

I woke up this morning feeling absolutely wonderful. I slept soundly and woke feeling completely relaxed, refreshed, and rejuvenated. I didn't have to get up early or hurry to get anything done, so I just laid in bed a while thinking about how thankful I am (I'm aware that Thanksgiving was a couple months ago - deal with it). There was a time only a few years ago where I felt alone with nothing and no one. Now I am so happy. My dreams have come true. That reality never really will sink it.

Gambler, one of my own dreams-come-true, was amazing today. I am so proud of how far he has come. Looking back over our (almost) nine months together to write the overview post really put it all in perspective. It was cold and windy, so Gambler was spooky. But when I asked him to stand still, he did. When I asked him to circle, he did. When I told him to move away from me, he did. When I asked him to stop kicking up his heels and stand still a few feet away from me so I could take pictures, he did. 

Not bad for a phone pic huh?

Ever curious.

Even with the scary trees and the scary wind and the scary invisible monster in the empty field, he listened and licked and chewed. Every now and then he would get very, very still and then something would happen and he'd jump a little, but he never truly spooked.

I didn't do much outside. I longed him walk/trot/canter in the snow. It was soft fluffy stuff that wasn't too deep and his gaits didn't seem affected. I didn't do any mounting prep because I didn't have anyone to hold him if I did get on. So after he goofed around in the snow for a while I brought him into the barn. I had put the bareback pad on him before I took him to the arena and I just left it on when he and Kezi were in the barn.

Still phone pictures, I'm pretty impressed. 

After feeding him his grain and Sand Clear by hand (little stinker!) I switched halters and put him in the cross-ties. He stood calmly, even when the wind howled and I wandered all over the barn to get things. A far cry from April, when he wouldn't even stand still in the cross-ties to be groomed. I picked out all four feet and picked them up multiple times, making sure that I set them down. He kicked a little with both the front right and the right hind, but only a little. 

Now, I've been reading Liz's blog In Omnia Paratus and one thing I find intriguing is that she trims her own horses' hooves. I don't plan on trimming Gambler's hooves myself, but I find it all fascinating. She takes pictures of her horses' hooves now and then to show how they grow and change and improve. As I read those posts I found myself thinking, I wish my horse would let me do that . . . Since he was being so good today, I thought I'd try. He let me pick up all his feet with one hand and hold them to take a photo! It seems so silly, but Gambler has been a pain with his feet since before I even got him and I've worked so hard to get to this point. It may be a little victory, but it means a lot to me!

Back to a legitimate camera now.

Left front

Left hind.

Right front

Right hind

Gambler continues to improve everyday. I am so proud of my little buddy. My favorite part is still the fact that he is mine. He is a horse, but in some strange way, he is a friend. We understand one another. That means more to me than picking up feet or even riding.

Dem Dapples!

Thanksgiving

Yesterday I went out to the barn just to do chores. I meant to get a lot done with Gambler over Thanksgiving break, but yesterday I was just in too much of a funk. I did spend some time with him, grooming him and thinking about how happy I am that he is alive. It is too easy to take the things in our lives for granted. But I'm getting ahead of myself.

I guess they aren't used to the hunters yet. If you look closely, they are watching an orange-clad figure near the treeline.

I love taking pictures of them through the windows.

Still watching the hunter. You can see him a little better here. I can see why they wear orange, it's very visible.

Chowing on the hay as Mom and I were leaving.

Today it snowed. Big fluffy puffballs of frozen water floated down from the sky to cover the ground in a untainted white carpet. I've been saying that if it only snows on Thanksgiving and Christmas I'll be happy, so far that's how it is. We just have to see how long this snow is going to stick around. Today was the first time I drove in snow. I'm not fond of it. Driving in the snow makes driving in the rain look easy. I don't like driving at all - it freaks me out - and driving in winter weather is not fun. The things I will do for this crazy horse.

They were pretty worked up today. I'm not sure if it was because of the snow, the hunters, or the hunger . . .or all of the above.

They would not hold still. 

That face.

Gambler walked into his stall and then right back out of it before I could shut the door. The barn door was shut, so he just wandered around in the barn getting into trouble. He went into an empty stall (I say empty, but it was full of random stuff) and scared himself, but in the end was no worse for wear. It's a good thing the little stinker is easy to catch.

It was so beautiful. I have discovered that I love taking pictures in the winter. The snow adds an artistic element to even the most mundane objects. The trees look so magical with snow clinging to their branches. Since the light was fading, I'll probably try to get pictures with better lighting sometime.

Looking at these pictures I realized that I have pictures of the barn in every season now. It's been a long (and still very short) eight months since I got Gambler. He has challenged and changed me in ways that I never even imagined. I've learned so much about life and hard work and determination. God has used this little horse to teach me to be thankful for every moment and never take things for granted. Even on days that seem pointless, when I am in a rut or Gambler doesn't understand or the weather isn't cooperating, I am learning to look on the bright side. The next moment could be the last. I have to press on so when it's all over I can look back and say, "I made the most of every moment." I am so blessed. Somedays it doesn't seem fair how much God has given me when I see what people around me are going through. Of course most of the time I selfishly wish I had more. I encourage everyone reading this to take a moment to realize how precious life is. Its too easy to forget.