The Green Horseman

My oh my how time does fly.

One year ago I took a chance buying a horse sight unseen, driving 6 hours (350 miles) each way to do it. I was sent a few photos and videos of this horse. He had a large shoulder, an uphill build, kind eye.

The seller, Jazz Napravnik, was easy to work with and honest. She reached out after I posted that I was in search of a horse that was sound, sane, and started. There were tons of options close by but for some reason this horse stood out immediately. I had a gut feeling. Intuition. I knew this was the one for me on a deeper level than science can prove.

Mr Wrench It was his racing name. Suited him too since he wore a wrench on his face. We decided to make his barn name Stanley. Over the last year he’s heard me singing to him on the regular. “Mr Stanman, build me a dream, you are the cutest that I’ve ever seen.”

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How a year has gone by is crazy to me becuase it feels longer. Yet at the same time it feels like a blink of the eye. How does that happen?

What I find truly fascinating is how much Stanley and I have done together…..yet I’ve been laid up for the last 5 months recovering from an accident that occurred June 18th! In 7 months (AND through a NY Winter) we’ve really done a lot.

We went to a jumping clinic, we did a schooling dressage show, a schooling combined test, we rode with Boyd Martin. We went trail riding and swimming. We did (partially) a schooling horse trials.

The field trips were only starting to pick up in March since we don’t travel much in winter. In addition to the field trips Stanley and I were really getting the hang of nailing his left lead canter transitions. He was jumping 2’6.” He was finally learning contact and thanking me for quieting my darn hands for once.

After I got hurt in June I was trying to decide what to do with him. Let him sit? Have someone else ride him? I chose to let him rest and sit. He spent 13 months after the track in a field, a few more won’t hurt. My joy comes from the journey and Stanley and I are both sharing the journey together. The progress can wait until I’m back. Plus, we’ll both be suitably out of shape and have to do it together once again.

Last month Stanley got pretty ill. He dropped a good amount of weight and made us nervous. Since then he’s rebounded well and is fully back to his normal self.

Here we are at the end of November, 1 year ago I brought this special kid home. I feel like I’ve lost so much time being hurt but I also have a feeling that he really didn’t lose any of the knowledge. Getting back to it will be easier than I think. So far I’ve put him on the lunge line twice to get him moving. He looks stellar…and happy. I do believe thoroughbreds do best when they have a job. Any job. He just trotted some raised cavaletti but mentally he’s ready to start working again.

It’s ONLY been one year….but it’s ALREADY been one year. I am SO excited to get going again so I can show off what an amazing creature this horse is.