An exercise in patience.

Recently, I have had the feeling that I am continually being taught patience and tolerance.  Just when I thought that I had really mastered this skill, (and yes, I am proud of it) I was given yet ANOTHER exercise in patience.  This is what happens when you get cocky.

As Aiken drew near, I was very excited to have my long time partner "Z" back to fighting form.  He had been jumping great, flatting great, and having fun teaching his "leasers" Ellen and Katherine the finer points of riding.  I decided to show him for sale before leaving to some people coming in from out of town on the off chance they might like him.  When he came in from the pasture, he had a kick on his leg that was swollen and definitely sore.  I showed him and he looked a bit off, so we gave him a bute and a few days rest, and he seemed to be a little better.  On Sunday, he looked a bit off again, so I thought it would be smart to pop an xray just to be sure that he was ok, and as luck would have it, he has a small stress fracture in his cannon bone.  Now, I know there are alot worse things, and he will be fine after 6 weeks of stall rest, but all I could say was "REALLY???"  Here is this horse that I couldn't wait to campaign down south and FINALLY run a preliminary at Sporting Days, and now he is not even making the trip.  My Mom says that means "someone is being protected", and I say its causing my hair to fall out, and that OBVIOUSLY this horse is never going to get sold.  The last time I thought about selling him he colicked for three days and had to have IV fluids.  So, "Z" stays home for the first time EVER.

Captain on the other hand, is going to make the trip south, and his condition has been interesting.  After an initial improvement, we had a tough setback last week, where his symptoms were so significant that I couldn't even ride him.  Dr. Miller came out and we did more acupuncture as well as some work on his facial nerves.  He showed immediate relief, and for the first time in months I have been able to do several training rides in a row!  This has been a huge ray of light in our journey!  Today I was able to work on suppleness and rode him for a half an hour with very little itching, nose blowing, and almost no head tossing. Its been so long since this horse felt like himself that it feels like a miracle.  We are also partnering with Dr. Mary Brennan D.V.M, a well known holistic vet, who sent us some new therapy that we started today.  It is my hope that this is a real light at the end of the tunnel, and that we are getting somewhere.

I am committed to not getting ahead of myself, and not excited at all about Captain's progress. Its not for lack of gratefulness, or optimism.  I refuse to have any emotion at all about it because I wouldn't want God to say, "hmpf... guess I need to send her another exercise in patience" and force an instant relapse.   Instead, I am being patient, and taking one day at a time. I think I am going to have the patience of Job by the time this is all said and done!