One year Spencer-versary!

This post is way over-due, but better late than never, right?  I wrote it back in September, but haven't been great about posting lately!!!!  :-S

**************

I can’t believe one year has blown by with my little bay horse.  He and I didn’t have the greatest start – I was worried that I had over-horsed myself yet again.  He was a bit dominant and had a hefty dose of attitude.  I was unsure about how to deal with that, as I don’t like yelling and getting tough with horses…it just doesn’t work.  Luckily I found a trainer that came to my house and 3 visits from her had us working well together.   Now we totally get each other and he is really great to work with. I still get a bit of attitude now and again, but it just a protest as opposed to anything unruly or difficult to deal with

Spencer on his first day at my place...

 We successfully showed this year – 4 shows in total – and I have plans to at least double that number next year. I’m still unsure about showing him at QH shows, but we’ll see how things go - more due to my riding skills than his ability!   I may not be showing at those QH shows, but I'm now on the board of directors for that club, so I'll be at the shows helping, if not showing.


I was also able to turn him out with another horse, even though his previous owner told me he was a terrible bully and had to be turned out alone.  He seems to have settled in well with me and I’m happy that he now has a friend!  If my boarder ever goes, I’ll have to find a suitable replacement.

Spencer (on the left) and Bailey

 I also found a friend in his old owner - we get along really well and have stayed in touch via email over the past 15 months. She is battling breast cancer and I hope she is well enough to show her  horse next summer.  We will be at a lot of the same shows and  I will be happy to cheer her on.

 

Spencer's old owner and her new horse last May

I’ve been told by many of my friends and acquaintances that Spencer and I are a great pair. We are both spunky and have a bit of an attitude!  That makes me smile when I hear that, since he has many more good years of showing and riding ahead of him.  He is 13 and in excellent condition.  As we all know, sometimes horses that have been shown a lot and in intense training often don’t stay sound.  So far, he is sound as can be and I hope to keep him that way.  The only thing I am monitoring is a bit of pre-arthritis in his left hock.  He gets a joint supplement and chiro when needed, so hopefully we can manage that long-term. 

I’m so happy to have found a great match for me and I hope to have many more years with him.  Down the road I’ll be looking for a bit fancier show horse, but that won’t be for a while yet. I still have a lot to do with and learn from Spencer.

He loves to be filthy!