We went to see Tabasco on 5/6 and got to visit with his trainer, Christy.  Tabasco is doing great.  He hasn't been ridden yet because they are still working with flexing and Tabasco is pretty stiff.

He got ponied by her big gelding on a trail ride and Tabasco couldn't figure out why that gelding got to be the boss (yep, that's Tabasco all right!).  He did really good and even got to play in a lake or two.  Christy didn't have anything bad to say about him other then him being a stiff.

It was so great to see him and it lifted our hearts a bit.  Tabasco was really enjoying the attention (and eventually some cookies).  He would even stop eating his hay and come over to me when I was on the other side of his pen.  I love my boy.  :)

On April 30th my partner in crime, my inspiration, my best friend, my Grandma passed away.

Beautiful, amazing, silly and fun.  Loving, caring, feisty and strong.  These are just a few words to describe Grandma and her larger than life personality.

She grew up on a farm and helped her Dad plow the fields, milk the cows, and helped prepare dinner (ahem. They didn't have stores you could drive to to buy your dinner back then ya know...).  I've always loved hearing Grandma tell stories about growing up and different things that happened in her life.  My absolute favorite story is:

Grandma and her brother Jim used to go racing on their work horses Tony and Babe.  Jim always got Tony, the fast gelding and Grandma always got Babe, the slow mare so Jim always won.  One time, they were coming around the grove and Grandma slipped off of Babe's back.  She managed to hold on by grabbing her by the mane and around the neck and she hollered, "Whoa Babe!!!"  Her Dad would not have been happy if he knew that they were racing the horses.

And then there's the story of how she met Grandpa:

Grandpa was friends with Grandma's Uncle, and he used to come over to their house all the time to play cards.  Grandma would make a point of standing by the table or sitting next to Grandpa.  Then her Dad would yell, "Marilyn it's time for bed!" 

I have always adored both Grandma and Grandpa.  Once when I was a teenager, Grandma had her record player playing some older country song.  Grandpa and Grandma got up and were dancing in the living room and Ace was jumping around and barking at their feet.

I am very thankful to have so many wonderful memories and stories, both Grandma's and mine. 

Grandma was a wonderful Mom, Grandma, and friend.  We miss her every second of every day and we're so blessed she was ours.  I love you Grandma and am looking forward to the day when I can wrap my arms around you again and tell you how much I've missed you. <3

Memory is a lovely lane,
Where hearts are ever true,
A lane I so often travel down,
Because it leads to you.

To have a friend in your mother is to know the greatest friendship of all.  My Mom is a never ending song in my heart of comfort, happiness, and being.  To the best friend and Mom anyone could ever ask for, I love you and Happy Mother's Day! 

 

We ended up taking Tabasco to the trainer yesterday.  Tabasco did awesome and was haltered and loaded in about 5 minutes.  I love my boy :)

I was a nervous wreck until he was unloaded and settled but the trip was fine.


















When we got there Dad walked Tabasco around a little bit and he was checking out all his new neighbors.

Tabasco neighed at the other horses for a little while then settled in to eat some hay.  I called him over for a couple of cookies and he gladly took those off my hands. 

Saying goodbye to my boy.

It sure is weird being home and looking out at the horses and not seeing Tabasco.  At least it's only temporary and he'll come back a trained horse. :)

It's official, Tabasco will be headed for the trainer this Saturday! Eeeeeeek! I am so excited. Here's hoping he loads right up and we have a safe uneventful trip there. I'm sure I'll be posting an update after the weekend, then hopefully soon after that I'll be able to post some pictures of Tabasco under saddle. :D

Now I just need to find a helmet and we will be set. I want to try getting an English helmet because I think they look nicer then some of the Western helmets but unfortunately we don't have any English stores around here so I'll have to search online. I did get a couple of great suggestions for places to try online but it's hard to choose which one to go for since they only show the helmet but don't have any pictures of someone wearing it. Oh well, I'm sure we'll find something. In the mean time, I'll just keep running around with this big ol' smile. Can't wait to go riding!!

"Just when the caterpillar thought the world was over, she became a beautiful butterfly."

Gotta love spunky horses on windy and/or cold days. Ps- Looks like Tabasco is floating. I don't think any of his feet are touching the ground. Yee haw!