The was a little girl…

Life with Circe, Life with Jezebel
[caption id="attachment_554" align="alignleft" width="300"] My lovely Mare Mercy and I a lifetime ago[/caption] You ask a stallion, you tell a gelding but you have a conversation with a mare. That's the saying and its true. Mares have opinions and they like to express them. Some more then others. I've only had mares, its what i know and i enjoy the conversation. My first horse Merciful Heavens AKA Mercy never gave me the ugly mare face, never had issues with going into heat and being un-ridable but she did have her own opinions. I always let her express herself, we formed a bond, a trust that was unshakable. I rode that horse in the LA river with water up to her chest in raging rainstorms (okay now i know how dangerous…
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On such a winters day

Barn tales, Life with Jezebel, OTTB
[caption id="attachment_547" align="alignleft" width="300"] Round Bale Naps[/caption] It was cold, I know most of my postings have been starting out that way. Winter in Maryland, go figure. I headed down to see the girls thinking maybe, just maybe I could get in a ride if the footing in the ring wasn't frozen. When I went down to the field, Jezebel was napping in the round bale. Not by the round bale but in the round bale. Jes who lives in the stall across from her was standing guard. I love how they do that. I approached thinking Jezebel would get up. Nope. She opened her eyes saw me and decided that maybe she should have a hay snack while she was laying down. Okay then. I walked up to her…
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Coffee Klatch

Barn tales, Life with Jezebel
[caption id="attachment_536" align="alignleft" width="300"] The Coffee Klatch[/caption] I had to cancel our training session for the day because of weather. Even though it was sunny and beautiful, I thought the ground would be frozen. The snow stopped but its been bitter cold and hasn't be above 35 degrees. In the afternoon I headed down to the barn to see my horses and to check the ring see if maybe it would be in shape to ride in tomorrow. The ground is still pretty snow covered and when I drove in Jez was snoozing on her side in the snow. Of course she was. I parked and walked down to get Jez. I whistled for her but she and Circe were not interested in coming to me, I had to go…
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Snow Ponies

Barn tales, Life with Circe, Life with Jezebel
[caption id="attachment_527" align="alignleft" width="225"] Jezebel and Michelle In the snow![/caption] It doesn't snow a lot out here but it does snow. Certainly more then my Southern California born and raised self is used to. This is also the first winter I've had horses out here when I don't have an indoor ring to ride in. Lets just say I've invested in some better cold weather horse gear and clothes. Blizzard boots, under armor, a awesome cold weather jack from REI (on sale.. score!) and for the ponies, quarter sheets and warmer blankets. We are as prepared as we can be this year. For the last few days we've had some on and off again snow. Sunday is our regular day with our trainer she usually rides both girls and teaches…
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All In A Days Work

Barn tales, Life with Circe, Life with Jezebel
[caption id="attachment_517" align="alignleft" width="225"] Always happy to see me![/caption] My two girls are opposites. Though both are fun and beautiful they are very different. Jez likes to throw her shoulder out, Circe throws it in. Circe runs away from me in the field (new fun habit) Jezebel comes running to me when i whistle for her. When ones good the other is bad, when one is calm the other is wild. They are night and day, ying and yang Kate and Bianca at the same time. Its hilarious and it keeps me entertained. A friend and i decided to take my two girls out on the trail, together. Tina tacked up Jezebel in her full on dressage gear and she looked amazing. Tina has a OTTB of her own who…
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The Girls

Life with Circe, Life with Jezebel, OTTB, Training
Things are going well. Having two horses two ride is a big adjustment from having one, then two broken horses to rehab and not ride. My trainer Michelle comes out twice a week, Sundays and Wednesdays. On Wednesdays its just Jezebel. On Sunday she works with both horses. Jezebel is improving a lot and my trainer (who is just about the best thing since slice bread) does great with her. We have my 7 month stall rested horse working like a champ. She's happy enough to work. She likes to throw her shoulder out and had trouble with the left lead canter. Both are improving with each session. Last session Jezebel picked up the left leap canter first try... Twice! Shes totally getting it. When I ride her she is…
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Plans are meant to be broken

Life with Jezebel, OTTB
[caption id="attachment_502" align="alignleft" width="225"] Ready![/caption] It was windy and cold, not crazy windy and not super cold but windy and cold enough. I decided since i had ridden Circe the day before that it was Jezebels turn under saddle. Her trainer is on vacation so its just us for a couple weeks. Both girls came over to me in the field and they both got their field treats, I should have known i was in for a day when Jez decide that she wasn't putting her head in the halter. I told her in Spanish "mirar" (pronounced Me-da) and pointed to the halter. I've taken to talking to her in Spanish some, she knows commands in it and she's really good for my stable manager Rolando who talks to her…
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The view atop Jezebel

Life with Jezebel, OTTB
[caption id="attachment_498" align="alignleft" width="300"] I'm on top of the world[/caption] My horse is back. My lazy, half asleep "Are you sure we have to work?" horse has returned. When my trainer takes her out to work with her she always comments how Jez is half asleep. Yup, thats my girl. I really thought id never get her back and that she'd always be the wild one mare. Thats not to say she doesn't have her moments but in general shes calm and happy. Turnout with the herd has made all the difference. My trainer who is great is walk, trotting and cantering her and she's doing really well. Jez is having issues with the left lead canter. She doesn't want to pick it up. She's also cross cantering on that…
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Unsafe at any speed

Barn tales, Life with Jezebel, OTTB
[caption id="attachment_489" align="alignleft" width="281"] Away we go![/caption] It was the day, Jezebel's first turnout with the full herd. It's been 7 months and i needed to get her out and being a horse. Her little hospital paddock time was coming to an end. I had tried this once before a week or so back just getting her out into a field and basically she lost her mind and was charging fences and being an idiot. The plan was to Ace her which we did with 3.5 mils IM. Then to put her out with the ladies who are field boarded in that field, one of which is Lilly who she shared a paddock with at my last farm. Then once she got her Aced ya ya's out the other mares…
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Cleared

Life with Jezebel, OTTB, Vet
[caption id="attachment_451" align="alignleft" width="300"] Trotted at the vet check[/caption] Its been 6 long months. Six very long months since i was tossed off Jez and taken to the ER, Six very long months since Jez was diagnosed with a suspensory injury. Stall rest, limited turnout restricted movement, ultra sounds and shock waves but finally my beautiful wonderful girl has been cleared by the vet. What that means is shes healed, and can go back into work and back with the herd for regular turn out. Back into work thats easy, all it costs is money. I hired a trainer to work with her and restart her. Remind her shes a riding horse and be the first on on the wild beasts back. The turn out, thats more of a challenge.…
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