Wow has it been a long time since I have blogged. Sometimes inspiration escapes me. Joe sprung a shoe a little over a month ago so I wasn't able to ride him since the show. I had the opportunity to ride both of my trainer's horses during that time and I had a BLAST but it wasn't my pony- I just wanted to have him back. I also got the opportunity to go to Flagstaff with Camille and Hillary to see Camille and Domino compete in the Coconino Horse Trials which was an absolute treat- especially since they came back victorious!
 |
The "gang" up in Flagstaff after a long weekend of showing.
From L-R Hillary Whitt, DOMINO!, Camille Gagliardo, and Me! |
I have begun a journey once again struggling with another health issue. I spent a lot of the week crying not being able to understand why I was 19 with a defective body and not able to do everything I wanted to do. I just wanted to be "perfect." Thanks to kind words and wisdom from many friends, I was able to make it through the week to Saturday when I finally got to see my pony and ride again. I have never been so excited to do so in such a time. For my birthday, Renee had given me a photo shoot gift certificate which I finally cashed in this weekend!! I have only seen a few of the pictures- a "sneak peak" so to speak- but they are all so wonderful. Each one captured everything I could have ever hoped. I will share some of the "sneak peak" photos here, along with the photos from our ride that she captured.
 |
| ©Elegant Strides Photography |
 |
| ©Elegant Strides Photography |
 |
| ©Elegant Strides Photography |
 |
| ©Elegant Strides Photography |
 |
| ©Elegant Strides Photography |
 |
| ©Elegant Strides Photography |
Renee also dedicated a blog to us on her photography page (which you should all check out btw!) which legitimately brought me to tears. I had a realization- a coming to jesus, if you will- this week about how lucky I am. I have such amazing friends and such an amazing support group behind me that I know I will never be stuck on my own. I have so many friends always right there to pick me up when I fall. I know how incredibly blessed I am. I hope each and every person out there knows how blessed they are too. Underneath all the crap in our lives, all of us have that small support group of people undoubtedly there to be our shoulder to lean on. I have been so fortunate too with so many animals in my life to be my friends as well; especially the horse of the moment, Joe. Joe has helped me through so much in the last two years. Bringing me back from my shoulder surgery for one. He was the last horse I rode before going in to surgery and the first one after. He was the horse who shattered my confidence, and then made it come back ten times stronger. He is my shoulder to lean on and my best friend to hug when times get hard. He is the first person I want to tell my exciting news and the thing I want to start my day off. Horses are such an amazing gift. I wish every single person could be touched by the horses the same way those of us who are so privileged to have them in our lives currently are. I have never doubted how lucky I am to have them in my life, but recently it has truly become more obvious how important they really are to me.
I know this blog is "short but sweet" but I don't think I have anything else to say. I am so thankful for everything in my life- especially this dear sweet pony.
To read Renee's blog go to this link!:
http://www.elegantstrides.com/1/post/2012/07/alana-and-josephine.html
