Horse n Weenie Adventures

The stoic Kodiak

The sun continues to rise in the East and set in the West each day, regardless of life changes or heartbreaks. We decide every morning what sort of attitude we will face the day with and thanks to my mini Doxie pups, horses, and good friends and family, I am mostly choosing to stick with a positive, forward-moving outlook. It simply isn't productive or good for one's mental health to wallow or run mental circles, and so I am keeping busy and running actual, physical circles. Or loops, anyway. ;-) With the help of an experienced friend I am upping my usual workout/running game and finally reaching for my goal of running a marathon. My plan is to start with a 10K at the end of next month, then a half marathon, and hopefully by the time fall (and cooler weather!) return I will be ready for a full marathon. I know I have the will and determination to train and follow through, I just hope my metal ankle holds up! 

My weenie pups are now 4ish months old (Kodiak is 2 weeks younger than Rip) and this past weekend I them out on their first leash/harness excursions. Rip is very distractable but picked up the leash walking thing in about 1/4 mile, while little Kodiak took to it with no trouble but is a bit shy on interacting with strangers. While Rip winds himself around anyone's ankles to say hello, Kodiak runs and sits between my feet and pretends most strangers don't exist. They are such intelligent and hilarious little dogs already, they will really be stellar canines by the time they are grown.

Adventuring in Bidwell Park

Rip in the park

My pups were my Valentines this week and they didn't let me down :-)

 I've been riding the 10 mile loop from the house about once a week at this point, I've got a lot of irons in the fire and fuel for hauling out is suddenly much more dear now that I'm maintaining and feeding my critters on a single income. Still it's a beautiful loop, and Blaze, mini Napoleon, and my filly are doing well here in our new home.

Out on Blazer boy

I'm now riding Dippi, a nice young Arab mare once or twice a week for a friend that is helping me out with boarding my other 2 horses until they find homes. She had about 18 rides on her when I started working with her and is an amiable mare, one of those "born broke" types. Very smooth trot and a great build on her, she will make someone a very nice endurance pony some day.

Dippi and I

 fitting Dippi for Renegades

 Dippi moving out first time in my gear & Renegades

 So for the most part I am busy, happy enough--am certainly surrounded by friends and animals and really what is better than that!

Brave New World

A new year, a new life. I've been trying to start this blog post for a few weeks now, but it's incredibly hard to wrap my brain around the changes in my life, let alone put "pen to paper" as it were, and share it with my blogging audience, such as it is. Still, I am far from the only one going through a serious upheaval of some kind and I knew I couldn't stay away from the blog forever. I quite enjoy writing it and hearing that other's enjoy it; it's something normal and routine for me, and there aren't many things like that left at the moment, so here I am.

Synopsis: My husband and I split in January and I have now moved myself and my animals to a new home. I'm in the same area, in fact within 20 miles of my old house; it's endurance heaven around here and I've established a life and friends, so I was not interested in leaving entirely. I am fortunate to have a wonderful support system in my friends and family, a thousand Thank Yous to them, and a thousand more after that. I bought an '80s travel trailer and moved onto a good friend's property, along with my gelding Blaze, Sheza filly, and mini horse Napoleon.

New home, same dorky face :-)

The friends I moved in with are the breeders of my amazing long haired mini Dachshund puppy, Rip, and he has finally joined me full time.

Rippie star

As has a little chocolate Doxie darling girl I named The Kodiak, from the litter two weeks younger than Rip. They keep each other busy and are sources of great joy and light and laughter in a time that it is seriously needed. Even old crotchety Georgia, my trusty Chihuahua, has come around to them quite quickly and indulges them in a few minutes of play every day.

the Kodiak

the gang playing

  I am looking for a home for Joey--see his dreamhorse advert here--and am working on getting my mare back to her original owners in Utah. It kills me to lose her but she will have a safe forever home and finances are different as a single person with critters!

SO. Major life adjustments all around. Did I ever think I would be getting a divorce at 25 years old? Certainly not. Part of me doesn't even believe it all happened, yet. It *is* for the better, and that is what's important at the end of the day. The rest will fall into place and heal in time.

Here are some photos from my ride out from new home the other day. There is a nice 10 mile loop right out the front gate that includes a pretty serious training hill. Luxury!

up the hill

 home in sight