…of my lack of posts.  Where do I start?!  Lets see.  May 11-14 I was farm sitting 2 hours away… May 16-20 I was at a wedding/visiting family… 6 hours away.  And then came home with a nasty infected spider bite.  Healed it.  And now.  Now I have another ESPECIALLY nasty spider bite, which I had to have outpatient surgery on today.  They essentially numbed the area as best as they could, then cut my leg open, one inch deep, 1-2 inches long to drain the abscess that had formed… then packed the thing.  I was leaving the Dr’s office and actually passed out because the pain was so intense.  A nurse caught me before I hit the ground.  Made me stay a while longer while my BP came back up (it had gone down to 72/48).  Needless to say, I’ve been stuck in bed all day.  AND IT WOULD’VE BEEN THE PERFECT RIDING DAY.  PERFECT WEATHER.  UGH.  And I’m not really allowed to do much of anything til Monday, when I find out if this thing is getting better, possibly get stitches, and all of that jazz.  So unless I decide to be rebellious, you won’t be getting much for another week. :(  I’m sorry guys. But know that Louie is doing well, he’s sweet as ever, and he loves you all!  <3  He’s grown SO MUCH in the past two months.  Sometime soon I’ll stand next to him and have someone take a photo for you to see and compare to some previous photos of me standing next to him.  :) 

One year ago today I met the boy who has gotten me through the past year. I honestly don’t know what I’d of done without his shoulder to cry on after my grandfather’s accident and death. He’s helping me find the confidence I lost. He shows me every day that I don’t need to be afraid… he’s healed my heart in ways that no human could.

[this photo is from a few days after he came home… late June 2011]

Farrier came yesterday and I wasn’t home… he tried to get Louie to stand still, but he just wouldn’t.  Called me… I came home (I was like 10 minutes away, running errands). I guess he just needed his mom on the other end of his rope there to give him some confidence, because he stopped being a butt face as soon as I got out there. :)  He stood there like a gentleman the whole time (well, aside from when a couple of horseflies came to bother him), and rested his forehead against my chest.  Sweet boy.  Makes me feel special.  <3

Louie is always anxious to come help me with chores. I generally hate it when horses are all up in my business when I’m working in the pasture… but Louie usually stays a yard or two away, watching, ready to jump in and lend a hoof if I need it… still respecting my personal bubble. I swear he can read my mind…

I need to add SO MANY! Thanks for reminding me! I usually get on from my phone and I can’t edit my layout from here… but I’ll be sure to get on and actual computer and update that today. :) Can’t wait to check out your blog!

iPhone = typo! 15.3 :) Thanks for catching that!!

Louie is a Clydesdale.  It’s actually quite common to start them that young.  When I first heard that I thought it was crazy, but I’ve checked with multiple trainers and breeders and they all agreed that 18 months is a good time to sit on them (provided you’re a small person… like myself…) and get them used to the idea of having someone on their back.   He’s 15.3 hands tall.  And I said I’m sitting on him, not riding him.  Big difference.  And it’s going to be bareback (though he is very accepting of a saddle).  We have an extremely strong relationship and me sitting on him should be a non-event.  I’ve put 75% of my weight on him multiple times before and he doesn’t care a bit.  :) If he were a standard breed we wouldn’t be even considering this until he was at least 3 years old… but it’s totally different in draft world.  

Hey new followers! I just wanted you guys to know how happy I am you’re here. :)  I’m 18 months old now, so sometime when mom finds me in a really good mood she’s probably going to sit on me!  :O  Hard to believe we’re already here!  

Seeing Louie so happy about being in a pasture filled with green grass and clover makes it totally worth all of the work. :)