Valentines Day

[mistressofmuses]

Alex and I aren't super romancey or anything, but it was nice to get to spend the day together, since it's my day off anyway.

We bought each other plushies and chocolate. I got him a rosy maple moth plushie and some chocolate. He bought me a gazelle plushie and a tin of chocolates.

Last week the snowstorm forced him to cancel riding plans, and today was the very last day that his trainer will be here. In the hopes of beating our next round of snow (supposed to hit on Wednesday), they're now leaving for Portland tomorrow morning.

So Alex went on a ride with her today. Bittersweet - it was a nice day, and he said it was a good ride. But sad that it's the last time we'll see her or her horses. He's been really happy riding with her for the last couple years, and it's a shame she's leaving. (We may have to haul up to Oregon to visit her sometime. My grandmother isn't in Newport anymore, but I'd still like to show Alex the area.)

He rode Moon today, which was the horse he'd started with and rode the most. But... Moon was a little too neurotic for things at the level Alex was working on, so he switched to Lola for lessons and shows. Today they just went on a trail ride, so it was a chance for him to kinda say bye to Moon.


The most majestic picture of Moon ever.

Saw an eagle, heard some Stellar's jays, and saw a turkey.

After that, we hit a tack store down in the area just so Alex could look at all the fancy horse shit we can't afford, lol. And surprisingly, we ran into Jennifer, the lady who runs NaMoPaiMo! I had no idea she worked there, so that was a surprise! Small damn world, lol.

We got some takeout, and I took a nap, and now here we are.


This picture is from last week, but here's a weird cloud.

Comments

[olivermoss]

That's too bad that the horses are leaving. I'm sorry he has to say goodbye.

[mistressofmuses]

Yeah, it's definitely a bummer. He seems to be dealing well, but change is hard and sad.

[scarlipswolfwife]

Isn't the horse stuff part of Alex's therapy? Is he going to find another trainer and horses to work with?

[mistressofmuses]

Not formally - it is something that he had to seek out on his own. But functionally - absolutely. It's done a lot to help his mental health, for sure. Change is hard enough anyway, so this is a big one.

There is a facility that it sounds like he's tentatively visiting on Sunday to see if the trainer there has a horse he can lease and if he'd be able to work with her. It's supposed to be an "accessible" barn, as in reasonably affordable, which is one of my biggest concerns. We know someone else who leases a horse there, and the woman who owns it apparently has some mutual friends with Alex, and the trainer has been recommended by a few different people... so I'm hopeful!

[windowsmillennialed]

Sounds like a good, but bittersweet, Valentine's Day. I'm sorry Alex' trainer is moving abruptly like that (...why is this such a thing amongst trainers in the horse world?) and hope you're able to visit her soon in her new location! In the interim, if Alex is in the market, I hope he'll find another trainer/barn asap.

[mistressofmuses]

It was a good day. The abrupt move is a shame, though. I don't blame her - it sounds like she has a great opportunity to lease a facility that will let her do the things she most wants, and in an area that her family can afford more easily. But it still sucks!
And yes, seems like not an uncommon thing to have happen with horse people. :/

Hopefully we can roadtrip up there at some point!

It sounds like he's going to check out another facility on Sunday. A few different people have recommended this place, and we know someone who leases there, so I hope it works out.