So, this summer in Phoenix, AZ has been the hottest, nastiest one we've had in a while. It's not been easy to get out to the stable and do the work that really needed to get done with Fiona. I mean I am from AZ, born and raised, and this summer almost did me in. We were over 110 for 30+ days. Not good!
Despite the weather, Fiona and I have taken HUGE strides forward. I was hoping to have a lot more pictures and video to share at this point, but we are were we are with that. I have a few videos to share of our lesson this morning. These videos are not very exciting to watch, but the represent a year of some of the hardest work I have ever had to do in my life.
Getting my confidence to a level that I felt comfortable taking Fiona out in a WIDE open space, has taken WORK. I don't mean running my horse sick or running myself sick, or fighting with her everyday, or "making" her listen to me. I mean working on myself. I had to believe in myself on a whole new level. I was so scare of this horse when we started this journey, that I would literally worry myself out of doing anything with her. "She's going to get scared", "She's going to get hurt", "She's going to run away"...the excuses were limitless. I had to get to a place where I believed she could do this and that I could handle the worst even if she didn't make it through. I am still not sure I would have held it together if things really did go wrong, but I was brave enough to try and we reaped the rewards. Fiona and I now have the whole world to explore (granted we will be exploring very slowly at first).
Thank God Samantha Lynch was there with us. Sam is our shining light in this whole process. I know that sounds corny, but Fiona and I were in a very dark place when we met Sam. She has been like our trustworthy and steady guide from that dark place to this sunny park across the street.
Earlier this year, we were trying to get Fiona to do an obstacle course clinic Sam put together. Sam was working her on an obstacle and Fiona spooked and ran Sam down. This was no fault of Sam's, Fiona is fast and strong and just caught her off-guard. Sam dusted herself off, we caught Fiona and got Fiona calmed down. I told the stable owner later that day, "Sam and I are a good combination because we are both too stubborn to stop working with this horse" Boy, was I right! We've just gone slow and steady and Fiona's doing great! I told Sam early on, that I knew Fiona and I were long shot but I asked her to stick with us and we'd make her proud. I hope we have, but if we haven't...it's ok..we are not done yet. We will still make her proud. :)
Here are the videos. Enjoy! Oh and a special thanks to Sprinkles, our escort/guard horse.
