This past week was the 3rd anniversary since losing Traveler, and this past weekend was Iron Mountain Jubilee where we took our final ride together.

Each year has brought on different events, and while I still remember every detail, every emotion of that weekend, I am able to get through the days easier.

2015 – Tesla and I hung back at home due to saddle issues. I was really not ready emotionally to go back anyway.
2016 – I took Prophecy to learn about ride camp and volunteer at IMJ for the weekend. He did great and took his first time ever in stride, learning about flashlights/headlamps, the vet checks, and the river. It felt good to be there again, someday I will ride it again.
2017 – I saved up for the last several months to be able to attend a Simple Equine Teaching clinic with Prophecy at a beautiful location, The Big Lonely, about 3hrs away.  After auditing a clinic for a day in April, I knew I had to get us both there to work with her.  I have been doing her virtual classrooms and couldn’t wait to experience her in full force.

Such a pretty place – dusk arrival.

Morning hello

The view from his paddock spot looking out

All the questions I went into this past weekend with – are answered.  

Don’t get me wrong, I have a ton more questions for Dee. There is never enough time to “finish” and so much more to learn! I cannot even begin to explain the experience and the amount of information learned from our group of 5 horses who were at such different points in life and human/horse relationships.  Working from sun-up to sundown, and late into some nights, and totally immersed…mentally exhausted from taking it all in but wanting to do more.  

I knew I needed to go.  I was on the brink of deciding to keep him or not and I needed Dee’s honest assessment of us together to see if I was ‘outmatched’ or if there was a mental, emotional, or physical reason for the hindrance to our progress. I was afraid, and half expecting she was going to say he was all wrong for me, but little did I know how WRONG I was about that!

To sum it up – HE IS HERE TO STAY.  

He is my partner, my ‘once in a lifetime’ horse if I do right by him.  He is not lame. He has no physical issues in the hind end.
We found some things that needed addressing on him and me.  We found a saddle that doesn’t hurt. We fixed my issues with sending him to the right. We will replace the bit that he has now informed me he hates.  

And we will move forward, together.