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| Used with permission www.connecticutphotos.com |
Town Hill Horse Trials 2014 was the year Sug and I were on fire and showed up for all three phases. In essence, we finished our career together with a fourth place. And, we finished in style - fast and furious with the promise of being back at Novice after 3.5 years struggling with nerves.
I was filled with the feeling of that victory over my fear this weekend. It was mostly exhilarating with those moments of sadness.
Time... Damn, it takes time to build a relationship and the trust I need to feel confident. Time... it owns me and teases me. I am like a three year old who hasn't had a nap... "I want it and I want it now!"
Maisy is turning out to be kind of special (no quotes intended). Under saddle she is a rock star... not a spook in her and she LOVES to jump, wants to go to the jump and looks for more jumps. And, I can ride her in the dark out in a field and she is ok with that... even at the canter.
And, she whinnies when I come into the barn and looks for me when I'm there. If I get unseated or rattled when she over jumps, she quietly waits until I reclaim my space. There is not a mean bone in her body. She wants to please and I love her more each day.
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| Truly a good girl! |
Maybe the sadness is tinged with a little guilt. Maisy is not Sugar in so many ways. Sometimes I miss riding the Wild Thing but mostly, I know how much of my confidence issues were and are a result of riding the Wild Thing. Maisy has the wonderful gaits, the beauty and the talent that Sug had without the drama. And, it feels just a little guilty saying that.
I'm doing the time and we're getting to be a team and maybe soon, jumping will be just another fun thing to do rather than the event to prepare for it is now. Maisy is like that... And, I am glad that she came into my life.
2 comments:
Sugar doesn't know that you are more comfortable, more confident and bonding with your new mare. If the essence that was Sugar is still aware, then all she knows is she was loved. Maisy doesn't know about Sugar; she just knows that she is building a relationship with you that includes things she loves to do. You are the only one that can be affected by your guilt.
Let it go. You kept a difficult mare when other people might not have. You gave her a good life and when she was injured in a way that would have given her a great deal of difficulty and pain to heal from, you set her free. That is the most pure definition of love I can imagine. Honor Sugar in using the things you learned from riding her when riding Maisy, allow yourself to grieve for the one you lost, but let go of the guilt. It has no place here.
i'm so glad to hear that Maisy is turning into such a special mare, and that the relationship you're building with her will be completely unique and different from your bond with Sugar
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