Although Nahe was transitioning into retirement our busy year didn’t stop rolling.
For Labor Day weekend a few of us went to Otter Creek. I left Nahe behind and borrowed back Tiger for the weekend while my friend brought her Tennessee Walker. We enjoyed some peaceful rides and Becky and I split off one day to get in a gallop. I’ve galloped Tiger before but not for extended periods of time. We were able to get in a good gallop for at least a mile or so on the wide open sandy trails. It had been a long time since I’d ridden Tiger and it was really nice to reconnect with him again.
On September 11th GMHA hosted the Area I championships. I brought a friend for our roundtrip and we went to watch and cheer on the amazing competitors. It was another opportunity for me to practice my photography. I can’t emphasize enough the enormous amount of respect I have for the riders at these events. Being a sissy I have dreams of possibly going to Beginner Novice…maybe Novice level someday. Then I sit on one of the beginner novice jumps and think…maybe that’s a long way off. Watching the competitors I’m simply in awe and I watch their form, admire their technique, and I’m thrilled to hear they are just as encouraging to their horses as I was with Nahe during our XC phase.
The following Saturday I attended the Show Off Equine Event season’s final show of the year. As a jump builder, I sponsored this series with free rentals. I brought my camera and took some photos of the jumping rounds.
The following week two of my friends competed in the Larkin Hill starter Horse Trials! I was sad to not compete but so proud and excited for my friends, one of whom has been leasing and showing Tiger and kicking butt all year!
The horses performed very well. Becky And Cassian earned. Tiger and Suzanne earned 1st and also the TIP (Thoroughbred Incentive Program) award! It was a beautiful day!
The next day Suzanne and I went back to Larkin Hill as spectators to watch the rest of the horse trials levels. I brought my camera for practice. During cross country we looked at the flier and admired the different competing breeds and how they moved/jumped differently. We watched the different rider techniques and strategies. We also fangirled hard at one of our favorites, Booli Selmayr!
Since we’ve been getting into the eventing scene and with my entering the jump-building world I’ve gotten to know a few people. We had the pleasure of cheering on some friends/acquaintances as they cruised around their course
Larkin Hill Horse Trials was our big finale for a busy year. Tiger and Suzanne accomplished so much as did Nahe and I. We had a lot of fun and great experiences.
As we entered the fall I was facing some difficult decisions. I no longer had a horse to ride regularly. I could have taken Tiger back from his lease but I couldn’t afford board for 2 horses. I couldn’t exactly afford a third horse. I didn’t want to bring Nahe home to be there alone but it didn’t make sense to board him and not utilize the riding facility. Getting a third horse would give him a companion at home but I would then be back to having to ride at home. Riding at home is possible but it’s been proven to be extremely difficult and after sustaining several injuries at home I wanted to have a trainer and arena handy.
I decided to start looking for a new horse. Causally perusing ads and I applied for adoption agencies Re-Run and New Vocations, both of which are local and highly recognized organizations that rehome retired racehorses.
While I was searching for a new partner Nahe enjoyed a comfortable retirement with some bareback riding once or twice a week. I borrowed Tiger for a lesson so I could continue to ride. I decided against splitting Suzanne up with Tiger because they make such wonderful pair. I love watching them grow together; they have brought out the very best in one another in the past year. Suzanne is one of my best friends and one of the most generous and thoughtful people I’ve ever known deserves to have a great horse like Tiger to bring along. Although he’s still mine in ownership they belong together. Tiger and I get along very well still and we enjoyed our lessons together. He loves having two mommas!
As fall settled in I had another friend who was looking for a comfortable place for her beloved retired mare and pony. I had just the place. We met up and decided that the girls can come live with aunt Stephanie for a while with the knowledge that Nahe might come home someday if I found the right new partner. I picked the girls up and brought them home. They settled in nicely and loved the lush grass our fields had to offer! This was excellent news because if I found the right new horse Nahe now had friends to come home to.
I won’t elaborate today but the right horse came along later in the fall. Stay tuned next week for the whole story!
The Green Horseman 
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