A new horse life

Horses had been a big part of my life while we lived in California. I have been wondering for quite some time if they would be part of my life here in Oregon. When we decided to retire and move, we knew we could not take the horses with us. On a retirement income we would not be able to afford it. Mr UAW and I both brought in an income and we could afford the horses board. I worked off some of the boarding costs by volunteering my time at the barn and got an enormous discount on veterinary costs by working at an equine hospital. Our family originally had three horses. We sold one, Sky-an Arab gelding, a few years before deciding to retire. So we had two horses when we knew retirement was coming soon, a mother/daughter pair, Skippy-a Quarter/Arab and Zoe-a Quarter/Arab/Fox Trotter.  Zoe was my personal horse. About two years before moving, we decided to place them with our boarding barn, Knicker Knob Stable. The owner took them on as lesson horses and they quickly settled into their new "jobs".  Giving up the horses was difficult but I knew they would be happiest staying together at the barn, the lesson program was easy, and the care they would receive would be good. And I thought I'd be able to visit them a few times a year once we had moved. Seven months after giving them up, Zoe died due to complications from Temporohyoid Osteoarthropathy with secondary vestibular disease. Because I still lived and worked close to the barn and still volunteered at the barn, I was involved with Zoe. I raised her up from birth and I made the decision to put her down. It was one of the hardest periods of my life and to this day it is difficult to speak of that time. Zoe was my partner, we were a team, and we learned to depend on each other as the years went on. I've never felt a connection to any animal as I did with Zoe. The relationship is difficult to explain. We depended on each other, especially out on the trail-she watched my back, took care of me many times and I paid attention to her needs and took care of her. We watched over each other. It's a relationship that I will always treasure and never forget. Zoe died 20 months before we actually moved. Since then, Skippy has found other horse friends at the barn and continues to give lessons to this day. I did not do much riding once Zoe died. It was difficult to ride, I needed time to grieve and move on,  and the pressures of setting up things for retirement and moving took up much of my spare time. But I always wondered...would I ride again?

Fast forward to September 2017, we have retired and moved...and I began thinking...I have a skill that I've worked on for many years and I'd like to use it again. All that "horse knowledge" just doesn't go away. It follows me everywhere I go and I still use it. Things like keeping your focus, keep your eyes on where you want to go, pay attention to the little things, acknowledge the little tries in life, so many things that I learned and that had become a part of me- are still with me today. I wanted to use my knowledge of horses again, but did not want to own a horse again. Mr UAW and I talked it over and agreed that volunteering at a horse facility would be a good thing. So I began to pray. After coming to this decision, I met a woman at our church who volunteers at Trillium Creek Training and Rehabilitation Coalition (TCTC), you can find them at www.tctchorsecare.org. It's a non-profit with 10 acres of woods, trails, barns and about 12 horses who have been healed from previous injuries or neglect. The horses have been retrained to safely have new jobs:  giving lessons, driving carriages, or just retiring as they age. I called the owner, we met and my riding skills are now used to exercise and help train horses at her place. The teaching/training philosophy at TCTC is very similar to what I've experienced at Knicker Knob Stable. We have gone on trail rides at one of the local equestrian parks and I ride in her arena. I feel like I'm at home at her place. I'm not sure where this journey will take me. We've talked about taking and giving lessons at her place and on the trails, me helping out with their summer camps for kids, she will teach me to drive horses with a carriage, there are so many opportunities there and I'm excited about it. Prayers have been answered and I guess there is more to come on this adventure. By the way, Zoe's name means life in Greek and even tho she is not physically with me anymore and because of my experiences with her I can grow and participate in the horse community and continue on my journey on this unexplored trail of a horse life.

Lucky-was an eventer, stadium jumper, cross country jumper until a suspensory injury changed  her "job" and now she has a new life at TCTC. A very nice horse to ride.

On the trail with Lucky 

               

Willow-an Argentine Thoroughbred. She was a polo pony and a school horse for eventers. Neglected and with a stifle injury her "job" changed to a new one at TCTC. She's a great horse to ride. 

On the trail with Willow 

                               

Katie was a Montana cow pony when she foundered. After recovering she was ridden English and did jumping, was a school horse and did 3-day eventing. Due to changing circumstances in the owners life, Katie came to live at TCTC. With her arthritis and swayed back she now takes on riders under 75 pounds-and my grandson, Zeke enjoyed his ride on this wonderful mare. 

Bobby is a nice miniature horse. He teaches people how to drive and loves to work. I'm told he can jump as high as he is tall when in good condition. Zeke is enjoying a horse that is his size.