Sound of Silence

What trouble looks like.

Yes, my house is definitely full of silence once again. My mom and grandma came for a visit, which thankfully kept me distracted after saying goodbye to my beautiful Vegas. I was pretty darn tore up about watching her leave my house on a foreign trailer, and it didn't help watching others ride in the Karen O'Conner clinic and ride in my favorite event derby while I sat on the sidelines with a broken Bacon. I so look forward to every visit with all family members. My mom and grandma really make things fun around here and I needed some fun in my life.

PUT THE FOOD HERE

They had the same hair.

The very freindly zorse

First things first was a visit to a local zoo/farm. It was our first trip there, so I wasn't sure what to expect. I certainly wasn't expecting to want to take home a camel. It was a clean and nice place, only having opened last year and still expanding and working on things. They had more goaties, ponies, a zonkey (who's special admirer was a mini donk named Lord Farquad) a zorse, zebra, several smaller large cat species, a bear cat, kangaroos and wallabies, plus CAMELS.

Kisses! 

GODDAMNIT CURLY. BACK OFF YOU ASSHOLE. He says.

Curly and Mo were bickering brothers looking for attention. Larry was sectioned off because he has been having some "emotional issues". Curly would bite a chunk of hair off of Mo, mode would scream like a dinosaur, and Curly would eat it. I gave the boys some attention, and Mo wanted all of it.

DIS MY HOOMAN

I would like a camel. Please.

I also got to go in the roo and wallaby pen, and held hands with them, as well as fed them. It was pretty awesome, but at 100 degrees out, it was time to go back home. After a stop at Sonic for a frozen mango limeade.

Sexy pose

Feed a roo

And holding hands! With what looks like a giant suspicious rabbit.

The next day, we drove up to my favorite Sawtooth Mountains for a hike. We picked a new trail, the Alpine Creek Trail, and headed out. Right from the get go, a tiny wasp shimmied up my pants and stung me on the knee three times. He died. Shortly in, my mom had to turn around due to her poor health (emphysema, A1ATD, COPD, etc). She took the keys and slept in the car the whole time we were out :( It was good she turned in so early though, as the trail toughened up a bit as we continued. At first, I wasn't too sure on our trail choice. We had to climb over downed trees, and up steep paths, which was hard for me and my grandma. After about 1.5 miles in, we reached a valley and opening in the forest, and were surrounded by incredible views. Ok, maybe it was worth it.

Over the river and through the woods.

Into the unknown we go! 

Stupid smudge on my lens. But look at that fancy grandma.

The boys climbed up a steep hill next to us as grandma and I oogled at the views. We could hear the creek, and the boys got a good view of it from on top of the hill. They said it was all white water. For some reason, that excited us, and continued the hike to find that damn creek. It teased as you walked closer, then away, then closer, and finally, the end of the trail met with the creek. It was high water, flowing fast from all of the melting snow in the mountains. There were waterfalls falling down the mountain side, and we ate our lunch totally thrilled. On our way back, grandma fell off of a downed tree onto a rock, and cut her hand open. I had a first aid kit (with no neosporin, what the hell), tried to wrap it up, and continued back. My legs and lungs were pretty tired at this point, even with some hydrocodone and my inhaler on board. And I pulled a tick off of my neck. Goddamn ticks. We made it back and completed the 6 miles, and headed towards Redfish Lake to take a couple of pictures with mom and show her some fun scenery. Oh, and I caught a snake!

Damnit boys, get back here!

Snow fight

So awesome.

We found it!

Mountain runoff

Grandma with a wounded hand. She is a warrior.

Wild flowers were popping up everywhere.

And we spotted sasquatch. Best part? He didn't even pose. That was his walk.

My snake, Gladys!

Redfish Lake

We also went to our old Idaho Penitentiary for some prison fun. It is quite historical, with lots of fun learning and lots of hope that you never end up at a place like that. Well, at least not ending up back into a prison (I'm looking at you, mother).

Going in

No thanks.

Still no

A bucket of fun

The gallows.

Too happy for prison life.

Fly pie

Seems fitting.

Of course, we also had to ride the ponies. After mom fell off of Pandora attempting to jump her over the world's tiniest xr the last time (2014), she was determined to try again. Pandora was wild on the lunge as I saddled up Bacon for the first time since our last ride right after her injection. When I hopped on Bacon, I was so happy. No hint of ouch anywhere. She wasn't on her forehand like the last ride, and comfortably wtc both directions. I hopped off and saddled up Pandora and tried to coach mom as I rode Bacon next to her. Pandora decided that she didn't really want to work and gave my mom a really hard time. I hopped on the little ho and made her GO FORWARD and over the little jump. She was quite sticky, but going. I handed her back to mom, she turned back into a ho, and I went and grabbed Mr. Tappy Sparkles. Pandora had a come to Jesus with the tapper, and did all the forward. She hated it. But listened.

Come on Pandora. We got this.

Sexy Bacon.

Can you tell she is a reiner?

Still arguing with the brat.

My brother was begging to get on Bacon. I can't remember the last time he was on a horse, but it was probably 12 years ago. Or more. Bacon was being so good, so I allowed it. Normally I don't let anyone ride her, especially a novice, but she was a very good girl for him. He had fun, which made me happy too, and they cruised around the tiny arena. My mom was super bummed that she didn't get to jump Pandora, but I told her she could hop on Bacon and walk over it. My mom was tickled pink to be sitting up on her, and terrified, aimed her at the jump. The first time, she looked down and squiggled to it, so Bacon stepped a little awkward and got the pole stuck between her back legs. It tripped her up, but she just continued on after, and they re approached after a little more coaching. The next time around, mom looked where she wanted to go and steered her straight. Over they went! Mom was super happy. She did it a couple more times, then got off and gave Bacon some love.

Um, mom. Who is this?

A humbled Pandora.

Tee hee

Go mom and Bacon!

Grandma couldn't leave the Goose alone. 

They got to play too!

We had a wonderful visit. I just wish they lived closer. I am always so sad to see them go, because I never know when I will get to see them again. It has been like that since 1998, and I can't seem to grow up and hold my tears every time they leave. Especially with my mom's health and her current vices, I worry about her time with us. She cannot get a lung transplant, and that is really sad. Grandma is now 67, but doing pretty dang well so far. She is all alone in her house now, though, and I worry about her getting lonely. If she moved up here, she wouldn't have to be. Plus, they could escape that 112 degree weather in Arizona. Whatever happens, at least I have another memory to add to all of the others.

A pretty spiffy family

Scratching Things and Possible Goodbyes

How life feels.

I am sure you are all wondering how Bacon is doing after her injections. The answer is better, but not great. I keep kicking myself over and over for not getting the left coffin joint injected while I was there at the hospital. She may be better on the right, but the left seems to still be giving her issues. We just now were able to get her shoes back on today. I thought maybe she might like a break from shoes, but I was very wrong. I don't think that helped with her lameness I am seeing, Her feet quickly fell apart around the walls, which is not what I was suspecting would happen.

Bacon keeps things more interesting than they should be.

With our main and only real mode of transportation currently out of service, we are a bit stuck. I want to take her back in to inject the left and pick the vet's brain a little more. But all of this mess with no great retreat of lameness led me to scratch the event we had been hoping to go to for over a year now. Dang it.

This is boring.

Even if she gets back to normal with shoes, it is not fair to ask her to go out and perform more than she ever has, and risk a different injury. I love her too much. There will be other horse trials, if not Aspen (area championships are being held at Aspen in September this year, otherwise I would shoot for that one). Perhaps Stanton Farms in August? That one is in Idaho, even. Our only recognized horse trial!

Not only did I have to scratch from Aspen, I am scratching from the Karen O'Conner clinic and my favorite event derby as well. Those were supposed to be this weekend. I am not going to lie. I am very sad. I rode and lunged Bacon 4 days after her injection as told, and looked at my husband as tears filled my eyes. I knew we wouldn't be going anywhere. It is hard to see her still uncomfortable, and I am not sure what will happen beyond getting the left coffin joint injected. Maybe our whole year is out the window. Who knows.

Look at this cuteness.

I had also told myself that I was going to be listing Vegas before all of this happened. With more tears, I typed out her add, cleaned her up for pictures and posted her. I quickly gained SO MUCH interest in her. The first person to contact me came out the following day to try her out. She has only been riding for a few months and was looking for a horse to learn on and gain some confidence. She brought her more experienced friend along, who has been helping her learn to ride a friend's ex endurance Arabian they are leasing. Vegas was nice to be caught in the pasture, they picked up her feet while out there, and I brought her in.

Pretty unicorn.

She stood quietly to be groomed and tacked, as I talked with them about her past and her training I had done with her. The lady had mentioned on the phone that she had a three piece shanked bit, so I pulled mine out and showed them the ropes. Though she was a bit green (she has been mostly sitting around for 2 years, after all) she was very very good. Then the lady mentioned that she would rather ride bitless, so I took the bridle off and slipped our bosal on her. Again, I went around, showed them her gaits and fancy buttons. The potential buyer then got on, tried to hold the reins one handed (but with two hands?) and steer her, which doesn't work like that in a bosal, but Vegas still tried to figure out what she was asking. They walked and jogged around, Vegas already a bit tired from being unfit. Her friend then got on and absolutely loved her. She thought she was so fun to side pass and spin around. PB whined that she wasn't very fast or spirited, and friend told her that she really didn't need, or want, that. That Vegas would be great to learn on because she has the buttons, you just need to practice finding them.

It was hard to watch others riding her. I kept thinking "no, no, no, that is not how you ask her to do that. She is confused. You have to do x,y,z..." I have been her main rider always. Her and I have our communication down. But she was so good having all of these random people on her. They thought she was drugged because she was so quiet. I assured them that she wasn't. She was also concerned because I brought up the fact that she can tie up if she is worked too hard and isn't fit enough for the amount of work being asked. It isn't a problem at all once she is fit, but you have to keep that in mind once she begins to be ridden after winter. They loved her, but had two more horses to see that day that were half the price, so I figured I wold be meeting with the next set of people.

I got a text later that night saying that she wanted to schedule a pre-purchase exam, and pending results, she would be taking her home. That was fast. Her exam is scheduled for Friday, so I get to hang out with her for a few more days. I cry off and on when I think about her leaving and not knowing what her life and ending will be like. I feel like the worst horse mom. Selling this horse that has only known me and spoiling for more than 8 of her 9 years. But if she ends up at this new home, she will have a nice pasture, lady and kids to love on her, and perhaps some drill team to participate in. If they don't take her, there are about twenty more people lined up to snag her. I guess I priced her too low? All I know is, I am going to miss that familiarity that is sitting on her back and hugging her grumpy face.

I started crying right after this.

It feels like I am losing a lot these past couple of weeks. I am feeling pretty lonely and with the heat coming, I am slowly losing my appetite. So that means no pie to comfort me. And when I tried to buy Aztec Diamonds to fill the gaping hole in my senses, I couldn't because they don't take paypal and my credit card holds the funds for Bacon's hospital visit. Stop the madness, damnit. But, that is where I am at. I am a little cloudy right now, but hopefully some light will start to shine through, and things will start to feel normal-ish again.

Even Blaker hopped on for one more ride.