My mom, Dee passed away yesterday July 25th 2007 at 2:30 a.m.. My dad, Wayne was by her side.
Our immediate family - Colette, Larry, Lacy, Caitlyn, Tristan, Scott and myself, all met last Sunday, to say our private goodbyes to her. We each took turns talking to her while the rest of us waited in the 5th wheel trailer, so everyone had privacy and as much time as they needed to say whatever they needed to say to her. I feel pretty much like I was able to let her know how sorry, grateful, happy, indebted, sad, scared, excited, loved I felt, and all the other family members I spoke to felt the same.
I think she knew it was okay to go after that.
Scott and I decided to go up and see her again on Tuesday, Scott had the day off and I had no problem getting the time off, (because where I work, they realize we are human beings and we are treated accordingly). I had a premonition about ten or so days ago, that mom would die on the 25th, and had told Scott. But after seeing her on Sunday I was not so sure. Scott, however, was treating that day like she had an appointment or something and of course that is when she would go. Between him and my friend Margo, they convinced me that we really needed to go see her Tuesday.
She seemed very busy, there was alot going on inside her. The nurse came by and let us know how we could make her more comfortable, and assured us the things we were doing were right. She estimated mom had another couple of days - but I was not so sure. Scott and I stayed throughout the afternoon, sitting with her, talking to Dad, and reading. When we left, I kissed her and told her I would be back tomorrow.
Dad called us at 7:00 am Wednesday to let us know mom had passed away early in the morning.
When we got to mom and dad's house, Colette's family and Carmen and Larry were already there. It was great to have everyone there, we all got to cry together, and sit and talk. I went in to see mom's body, but it was amazing how she was so much not there. We all gravitated to the garden, because that is where she was.
We all sat and ate and talked all day, and it turned into every other family gathering, with us all joking, and the dogs running around and we all had a very nice time.
Bye, Mom, I love you.
17.7.07
Imax news
Imax is settling in nicely, and has a fan club with some of the little girls who take lessons at Pony Tail. On Sunday, one of them updated me on his every move, and informed me that he likes apples.
Since Saturday was a settling in day, I just worked with him on the ground, mostly leading him around the barn and in the arenas, learning to whoa and back up when I tell him. I think I need a stud chain, he will drag me around if he feels like it. Erin (former owner) said you just have to put one on him, and that makes him calm right down and listen attentively. I have been using the lead-rope around his nose like a stud chain and that works just as well, but having that clunky clasp over his nose looks so mean.
Sunday morning we went for our first ride at PTR, and he was a very good boy. I started him in the round pen, pushing and chasing him a bit, until he was "chewing" and then he followed me around for a while.
He was mostly patient when I was tacking him up, since my tack is new for him, everything needed adjusting, so it took a while - also periodically and randomly picking up his feet. He is getting the idea that I will ask him for a foot at the oddest times.
We had a nice little hack around the jumping arena, and trotted some poles, and he did that just fine. I rode him all around the barn, and down the street about a block; he did great and I decided to quit while ahead.
Then yesterday, after work I decided to take him on the Lake Young trail, and getting down there he was fine, but once on the trail, he started throwing his head around and refusing to go forward. I circled him and kept asking him to go, and he did have a number of flip-outs. No bucking or rearing, but throwing his head around and backing up. When I would get him going forward, just about the time I would think he had been going nicely and we could turn around, he would flip out again. So our little trail ride turned into a test of wills. I finally had a good stretch of going forward and got to turn around. Once back at the barn, I had dismounted thinking to walk him around the arena to cool off, and he did the "drag me around" thing again. So, I put him in the round pen and ran his butt off, and got him following me around like a little puppy. I walked him and brushed him - gave him some carrots and we ended on a good note.
Speculation on what caused the bad behavior - There were a TON of mosquitoes, and he didn't like them, and also I think he has a sore spot on the girth line on the right side. I noticed he would react by flipping his head and lipping when I brushed that area. So today will be a day off from riding, more ground work. Also, since his wither is so high, the saddle slides back quite a bit by the end of the ride - I need to put some more holes in the breastcollar to help keep it in place. Even before I noticed him reacting to being touched on the girthline, I have not been cinching him down super tight, just enough to keep the saddle on - maybe too loose and the saddle is joggling around on his back. All things to watch in the future.
All in all everything is going just fine. I have already cried twice and beaten myself up for not buying Monty the paint. And then I go and see Imax and start to feel better.
Since Saturday was a settling in day, I just worked with him on the ground, mostly leading him around the barn and in the arenas, learning to whoa and back up when I tell him. I think I need a stud chain, he will drag me around if he feels like it. Erin (former owner) said you just have to put one on him, and that makes him calm right down and listen attentively. I have been using the lead-rope around his nose like a stud chain and that works just as well, but having that clunky clasp over his nose looks so mean.
Sunday morning we went for our first ride at PTR, and he was a very good boy. I started him in the round pen, pushing and chasing him a bit, until he was "chewing" and then he followed me around for a while.
He was mostly patient when I was tacking him up, since my tack is new for him, everything needed adjusting, so it took a while - also periodically and randomly picking up his feet. He is getting the idea that I will ask him for a foot at the oddest times.
We had a nice little hack around the jumping arena, and trotted some poles, and he did that just fine. I rode him all around the barn, and down the street about a block; he did great and I decided to quit while ahead.
Then yesterday, after work I decided to take him on the Lake Young trail, and getting down there he was fine, but once on the trail, he started throwing his head around and refusing to go forward. I circled him and kept asking him to go, and he did have a number of flip-outs. No bucking or rearing, but throwing his head around and backing up. When I would get him going forward, just about the time I would think he had been going nicely and we could turn around, he would flip out again. So our little trail ride turned into a test of wills. I finally had a good stretch of going forward and got to turn around. Once back at the barn, I had dismounted thinking to walk him around the arena to cool off, and he did the "drag me around" thing again. So, I put him in the round pen and ran his butt off, and got him following me around like a little puppy. I walked him and brushed him - gave him some carrots and we ended on a good note.
Speculation on what caused the bad behavior - There were a TON of mosquitoes, and he didn't like them, and also I think he has a sore spot on the girth line on the right side. I noticed he would react by flipping his head and lipping when I brushed that area. So today will be a day off from riding, more ground work. Also, since his wither is so high, the saddle slides back quite a bit by the end of the ride - I need to put some more holes in the breastcollar to help keep it in place. Even before I noticed him reacting to being touched on the girthline, I have not been cinching him down super tight, just enough to keep the saddle on - maybe too loose and the saddle is joggling around on his back. All things to watch in the future.
All in all everything is going just fine. I have already cried twice and beaten myself up for not buying Monty the paint. And then I go and see Imax and start to feel better.
12.7.07
Oh dear.
I keep getting struck with bouts of panic. I will just be sitting here and suddenly my skin feels like it doesn't fit and I have to sit quietly with my hands over my eyes for a moment until I get it together enough to be able to not scream a little.
You see, I have bought a horse.
The very horse in this picture.
His name is Imax. He is five.
He was bred for the track, but was weeded out before he was ever started.
From there, he was bought by a woman who "cowboyed" him around a little too much, and he didn't like it. Started trying to buck her off. She got scared of him and basically put him in a stall for a year.
She finally got tired of feeding him so decided to sell him at auction. The owner of Woodenview stables offered to buy him instead. I am not sure what she planned on doing with him, but a girl working at her barn, Erin, bought him from her. Three weeks later, her boyfriend got accepted to a grad school in University in Southern California. She decided to go with - and Imax had to go back up for sale.
I saw his ad on Dreamhorse:
Has been jumped over a few things & shows interest. I am moving to San Diego Aug 1st and unfortunately not able to take my baby with me! He is registered but previous owner lost the papers supposedly(very annoying). He's never raced, green but has a few months of training under him and really is just a big baby. I have tried him on a few jumps and he will jump and with training would probably make a great jumper. He needs an advanced rider or an intermediate rider with proof of a trainer as I want him finished properly. I have a trainer I work with regularly and will continue until sale. I can ride him English walk, trot, canter -he has real smooth gates, a nice sitting trot all will just get better! He has been to a basic level walk trot show, he clips, loads, lunges, bathes and loves to be groomed. Has been on trails, dogs & traffic didn't seem to bother him. Great personality, good with other horses. A real lover!!
If he passes the Vet check tomorrow, I take delivery that afternoon.
Oh dear. I need to cover my eyes for just a moment. Excuse me.
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