This past weekend was a productive one!
On Sunday we attended Larkin Hill’s Fall Horse Trials. As we lose events and venues we are so grateful for Margie offering her farm for not only a second recognized event, but she also orchestrated a full schooling show series AND offered fun friendly clinics all year long. It’s a blessing to have such a nice facility in our area that offers these educational experiences.
Suzie and Tiger rode in the beginner novice division and, despite a blunder in their dressage test managed to pull out a 4th place in a full division AND took home TIP reserve champion! This pair is phenomenal, and I could not be prouder that both my horse and my best friend have created such a strong bond.
While Tiger and Suzanne were busy with their own competition I was on the same property for different reasons. I was asked to help photograph the event…a personal dream of mine. Molly stood me at her selected jump spot and I clicked away. I am a self-taught photographer with helpful input and tips from many professionals along the way. I still have a LOOOOONG way to go, but in time I hope that I’ll be once again invited to come back and photograph. Clinics and Shows are by far my favorite.
I had the pleasure of working for Molly Czub Photography…who I have purchased from many times over the years. Feel free to see her work at: Molly Czub Photography.
Photos below are examples or work I purchased from Molly:
Monday would have been my father’s 63rd birthday. It’s his first since his passing and it was also Labor Day. It was emotional and I opted to stay home, and I simply kept myself busy.
I opted to wait until Tuesday to bring Stanley home because it allowed the Labor Day travelers to get back home and back to work. We left Tuesday morning around 6:45am after feeding the horses at the farm. Around 3 hours later we arrived at Cornell Horse Park in Ithaca NY. I was SO EXCITED!
As of Tuesday Stanley was diagnosed with the corneal ulcer 6 weeks prior. He was at Cornell for 32 days. We was in his very large stall (he was moved to an even larger stall after my last visit). Next door to him was his newest best friend, “V.”
Both boys were given the clear to travel home so I was there to pick them both up.
Stanley had his stitches removed over the weekend, a few days later he was healing up nicely and Dr, Knickelbein removed his SPL. He was so good she didn’t even need to sedate him. After the SPL was removed she reported he as holding his eye open comfortably.
The boys were loaded in a matter of minutes. Stanley did his normal look inside the trailer then get on for the second approach. V appreciated that he was riding with his friend. The boys traveled quietly and happily the whole way home.
Around 3pm we arrived at the farm, V’s mom arrived only 5 minutes later and we helped him load onto the new trailer to make his final journey back home.
Once V left Stanley and I made our walk to our barn (other side of the property). He knew where he was and he was so excited to be home. Feeling home turf under his feet made him float…literally. He jumped in the air for joy and tossed his head triumphantly.
He was exuberant but so was I. I laughed at his antics in between reminding him of his manners. We got back into the barn and he had a long reunion with Tiger at his stall door.
He got into his stall and promptly rubbed his face all over his hay net. Vigorously. Can someone please tell this horse that this is how it all started?!
Stanley was given the clear to be turned out. We gave him a smaller individual turnout to start since it has been so long since he has gotten free turnout time. He is supposed to wear his protective eye cup (underneath the fly mask) 24/7 for the next 2 weeks.
He was also given the clear to get put back into work SLOWLY…
Slow is great for me. We will begin with groundwork and hand walks. Right now I am incredibly busy with woodworking so the balance will be KEY until the end of October.
Being on turnout alone is going to help him, for sure. I am excited to put weight back on him and begin to rebuild all the muscle he has lost (he has a pencil neck and angular bum again!!).
We WILL get there and thanks to all of our amazing vets along the way he gets to keep his eye!
The Green Horseman 
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