A few years ago I met a young woman in a friend's back yard riding ring. She had moved to the area with her spouse, both in the military, and they'd just bought their first home. She'd ridden through her teens and wanted to get back into it, and would take a ride on anything she could tack up. She was friendly, coachable and always showed up. It didn't take long for her riding skills to exceed the capabilities of the horses she had access to, and she came for a few lessons on Ehren and Ludi when the weather was bad, but she really wanted and needed something more permanent. When one of our boarders was looking for a leasor, someone to help share riding time and costs, Ali came to mind immediately and the fit was perfect. Everyone was happy! When our boarder had her job posted to Alberta this year, Ali started looking for a horse of her own and we all had our eyes opened wide to how much the equine industry has changed over the last few years. Fewer horses were bred after the financial crisis of 2008 and fewer stables to produce them had led to a real shortage of supply, therefore wildly increasing prices for animals that had very little on their resumes. We looked and looked together and nothing out there was matching the vision I had for my friend.
The idea started out small in the back of my mind, "What if I offered Ludi to Ali?". I tried the thought on, took it off and put it away, took it out again and casually mentioned it to my husband so we could discuss it a little more and see how it felt.
The idea started out small in the back of my mind, "What if I offered Ludi to Ali?". I tried the thought on, took it off and put it away, took it out again and casually mentioned it to my husband so we could discuss it a little more and see how it felt.
I knew Ali loved riding him. I knew that two horses of my own were about as much as I could comfortably ride and care for, particularly with horses-in-training consistently on my plate. Super Dandy needs to be started in the spring, and John and I were looking forward to doing some travelling. The idea sat comfortably in my mind; having Ludi stay in the yard for the near-term and having Ali around more felt like everyone was winning again. We chatted after this jumping lesson and I let Ali think it over, but I don't think she had to deliberate much!
The very next day I took a nasty fall (trust in the cosmic source, but tighten your own girth) and needed Ali to help keep him fit so that I could heal up in time to ride in the Jen Hamilton Clinic at Westar October 16-17. I didn't touch a horse for 2 weeks and tentatively climbed aboard the day before. I'd badly bruised the back side of my pelvis and transitioning in and out of 2-point position was still very painful. I wanted to show all that Ludi could do, and there is nothing like a lesson with Jen to produce that. I gritted my teeth and tried.
The very next day I took a nasty fall (trust in the cosmic source, but tighten your own girth) and needed Ali to help keep him fit so that I could heal up in time to ride in the Jen Hamilton Clinic at Westar October 16-17. I didn't touch a horse for 2 weeks and tentatively climbed aboard the day before. I'd badly bruised the back side of my pelvis and transitioning in and out of 2-point position was still very painful. I wanted to show all that Ludi could do, and there is nothing like a lesson with Jen to produce that. I gritted my teeth and tried.
My riding was most definitely not the best part of the experience, it was feeling my horse do his best despite that. It was the perfect note to end our decade together on, to hand his reins to someone else who safely enjoys him, learns from him, and will love him forever.
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