Gone So Long I Miss Him

New phone, who dis?
I haven't written much here about Bast in the last few weeks. I'd apologize, but I'm honestly not sorry. The situation with the mare ended up only degrading further, leaving me with one older horse getting beaten on and one younger one who was legitimately dangerous to handle. Oh, and one unmanageable mare I didn't own but wanted to throttle all the same. On top of a lot of personal stresses, it was getting to be a lot to handle. The barn manager decided Bast would move back where he came from, and I stopped going to the barn for awhile.
Did hang out with this lady after we both worked a weekend at Waredaca!
My boys are fine and well cared for without me, a reason I love this barn dearly. The transition of Bast back to his old field went well. And I got to the gym and vacuumed regularly for the first time in months. The break was so needed, but unfortunately it's been very long.

Back to the old WFB tack room. New tackroom layout. Still loving the trones. Still hating that dirty refrigerator.
I dodged back out to the barn to move and arrange my tack room (for the 3rd time this year, not that I'm counting or anything), and snap some conformation photos of the boys. I wanted to try to get photos of them with the small amount of autumn colors that had popped out before I left... for a week.
My gloriously fat and sassy old man. I feel like his expression here is right out of a stud painting from the 1800s.
As we speak, I've been in California for almost a week. I haven't ridden Bast in over 3 weeks. I've only ridden Pig once. Until this "vacation" (I'm here for family stuff, a wedding, work, and to visit with Megan and Kate for, like, 6 hours. In fact, they should be here any minute, so I should go...), I hadn't had a day off in weeks. Life has been hectic and overwhelming to say the least.
Editing a photo job while waiting for the rain to clear so we can drug test. Nothing like working two jobs at once.
It's been lovely to get away and not think about Bast. I made the decision to put his training on hold, and I have no regrets. I think we both needed the mental break. While I threatened multiple times to sell the little bay bastard, I think I'll give him another go when I get back.
For now... I'm off being in a 1920's wedding in Los Angeles.
Apparently distance can make the heart feel fonder. Or maybe just make the brain forget the never ending screaming. Who knows. Either way, I'm beginning to look forward to getting to work with Bast again. He was working in such a lovely place before things fell apart in October. I'd give anything to get that lovely feeling of his back lifting under my seat again, and know he's understanding how to move into the bridle.
Absence makes me miss these two weirdos like crazy. A week is too long without puppy cuddles and paw slaps.
I won't start him directly under saddle in the ring. My plan is to work in him on the line in the round pen for a bit. I want to see if I can teach him to connect with the bridle better with me out of the picture. Teaching on the lunge is not my strong suit, but he hasn't come along as quickly under saddle with that piece as I would have liked. I've done some preliminary work with him, so I am pretty confident I won't be messing him up. If anything, I might help address some of his chronic hind end crookedness and weakness. It's worth a shot.
He's still pretty enough to make a go of it.
Who knows, maybe the 3rd restart is the charm?

Comments

  1. Hope the move back to the other field nips that oBNOXIOUS problem in the ass. It is so strange how some of them turn into Stage 5 clingers with certain horses, but not others. I wish they could talk. Or maybe not. ha.

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    1. I wish they'd stop talking... 🤦‍♀️ Well. Pig could talk. A little. 😂 Only a little or he'll start telling others my secrets.

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  2. ugh i feel you (Remus is so attached to the horses next door he lost his mind last night cause he could not see them). I hope you figure it out. Glad you are off having fun and at a wedding no less ;) Poor Bast. Hard life :) Both look great though this year I can't believe how fantastic Pig looks!!

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    1. Pig is a goddamn miracle horse. Every year I'm impressed by him.

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  3. That wedding attire and hair and makeup.... gaaahhh. Totally rocked it.

    Also, Bast's red highlights in his forelock in that last photo are amazinggggg.

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    1. Aren't they just?? I love that photo. He looks like a beachy kid.

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  4. At first I thought that you had sold Bast. I’m sorry about the mare situation. It sounds frustrating. Restarting him on the ground sounds like a good idea. Teaching him to deal with stuff will really help.

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    1. I haven't sold him, but that doesn't mean I haven't thought about it! He's a super boy, I just think he'd succeed better in a different environment than I can keep him.

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  5. Breaks are SO helpful. Sometimes you just have to take a step back, shrug, and walk away for a bit for your own personal sanity. I hope Bast comes back relatively easy for you and you guys can pick up where you left off.

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  6. Here’s hoping the time off did him some good too??

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