Libby and I

I see where it has been awhile since I wrote, and I have a very good reason for this.

Libby and I 

have been getting to know each other!

I do not get a chance to take many pictures

because I am not adept yet, at riding and photographing.

But I will get there!

Libby and I have been taking lessons once a week.

Libby was use to turning around in the trailer and walking out.

It was getting dangerous because

She would do a 180 and about knock me over.

So I asked my instructor to help me teach her to BACK OUT!

This was accomplished in about 10 minutes!

Yeah!

Now Libby BACKS out.

So well in fact that two weeks ago, she started to back out as soon as I opened the divider!

Scared me to death!

So next lesson:

Work on Patience.

We did and it is going great now.

Since my goal is to trail ride,

and not knowing much about Libby,

my instructor had incorporated some of my lessons as a trail ride.

My first lesson/trail ride

was around a lima bean circle that was not totally round. 

Almost kidney bean shaped.

All the way down the gravel drive

Libby plodded along.

Ever so slowly!

Berry and her passenger kept in front.

Once we left the gravel drive and started walking around the circle

Libby stepped out in front and lead the way!

She was having as much fun as I was!

My second trail ride was this past Tuesday.

We rode a gravel trail along the Columbia River.

We rode 1 hr up and then turned around and rode back.

On the way up, Libby was so pokey!

At one point she planted her feet and would not move.

no matter how hard I kicked her she would not budge!

I got tired of kicking her, and slapping her with the reins,

and finally I just put the heel of my boots against her tummy

and just dug them into her.

SHE MOVED!

I think she was ridden with spurs.

45 minutes into the ride, Libby finally picked up the pace and led the way.

Then we turned around.

Libby poked along.

Libby kept walking almost sideways and wanting to walk along in the sagebrush.

I was getting pretty tired by this time, 

and so I just let her have her lead.

When I let her walk along the edge of the trail she 

picked up the pace and was happy.

She wanted to walk amongst all that sagebrush!

We get almost back and take a small trail that sort of winds around the park.

UH-OH!

Libby knew it was a different direction.

After a bit of 'stoppage'

she decided to keep walking.

We came around a slight bend and there was a roll of fencing someone left along side the trail.

Well Berry knew it was not suppose to be there!

She had a fit!

Instructor would walk her towards it 2 paces, and

Berry would back up 5! LOL

Libby was in the way at first and I thought 'she' was freaking out too,

but once I got Libby off to the side, and let Berry work through her issues,

Libby walked right by it without a care!

Libby was watching Berry the whole time as if she could not figure out what the big deal was.

We get back to the house, and I am wringing wet!

Libby is SOAKING wet!

We got our work out that day!

After I got home, and thought about the ride.

I always replay my rides in my mind.

Simply because I need to improve my riding, and

also learning my horse.

It dawned on me, 

I better put Shoes on Libby.

I had not wanted to.

Her feet are quite hard.

But her reluctance to move forward and her eagerness to walk in the sagebrush

was loud and clear to me!

So today Libby got new shoes!

She was awesome for the farrier!

He even likes her a lot.

My horsewhisper friend brought her horse Lilly down to get her trimmed.

So afterward, we let Lilly in the pasture with Libby.

Libby was so happy!

She danced around, reared up, kicked out, and squealed with delight!

Since Libby has come to live here,

she spends 80% of her time in the lean to.

I call her, and she will peak out but never move from there.

She is always somber, and shows no emotion.

Kind of like she is just going through the motions.

I don't want two horses!

But I felt so bad for Libby.

So I am borrowing Lilly for awhile.

Libby has already picked up her mood.

After a bit of squealing and set down the rules,

She is even allowing Lilly to share her lean to.

If Libby gets a bad attitude though Lilly will have to go home!

I have been out to watch them a lot this afternoon and every

time I go out there,

Lilly and Libby run up to the fence to great me!

I believe I have a 

HAPPY HORSE 

now.

Libby on the left: Lilly on the right.

Lilly is so pretty!

Libby doing what she always does, Rubbing!

Libby eating.

Libby sharing her Lean-to with Lilly.

Update on IZZY aka SISSY:

Sissy is going very well.

She loves her new home!

I get to see her every week,

and she lets me get in my special little scratches.

I still miss Sissy, and always probably will.

But I know it is for the best and she is very happy where she is.

Libby and I are a good match for each other and I love her more and more every day.

Libby is not nosy like Sissy, and could care less if you are out in the pasture working.

She would just as soon let you.
Sissy on the other hand always had to help out,

weather it be with sawing up lumber, fixing sprinklers or unloading hay.

I miss that so much!

I hope in time Libby's personality will shine and maybe Lilly will bring that out.

I get the feeling that Libby is still waiting to go home.

I hope she accepts this as her home.