March 11th, 2013
Journal Entry Number 1
Woke up to a text at 4:24 AM this morning, my daughter was enroute to St. Georges stable to help load horses for the three day trip to Tucson, Arizona. I was at a good friends just shy of the foot of the Rockies and while I didn’t get out of bed I was still conscious of the text that then followed two hours later to inform me that the journey had begun!
Three hours later the text came that they had crossed the border and were now south bound through Montana.
I am journaling to support Kelsey from afar on this amazing experience! Kelsey is now seventeen, if you look a little lower in this blog you can find a summary of Kelsey’s journey and storey! I sorta wish now that I had done this over the past two years as many things of significance have happened however due to my foggy brain they are now obscured in memory banks I seldom access specifically.
Kelsey has set out on a life changing adventure. A few months ago two professional show jumpers, JJ Atkinson and Taylor Boyd invited the girls (Kelsey and Rebecca) to come to Arizona for two months to ride and work with them at a spring Horse Show for two months. The girls had briefly helped in the past at Spruce Meadows so this was an extension of that experience and will be a really big deal in helping the girls determine that their future is to advance their careers as professional show jumpers and everything that goes with this. Both Kelsey and Rebecca have looked up too and admired JJ and Taylor since their own bums first hit a saddle so the privilege and opportunity that now presents itself is the thing dreams are made of!
I spent a bit of time visiting a jobsite south of town today and likely this was a good thing as the drive allowed me to think about my kid and the adventure that awaits! Also I was tracking her progress all day on the map on my phone!
I loved one of her texts in response to my question was she still smiling and did she sleep? She responded, “I was sleeping and smiling!” I really liked that!
For the first time I got home changed and went to the barn on my own to walk Leo! Leo was Kelsey’s first horse and due to an injury she has been unable to jump him for over a year. This is a little heart rending as prior to this they had been often training over 3’9” and even 4’ jumps on occasion. That being said however the experiences that have unfolded as a result and Kelsey’s attitude that I will ride whatever I can whenever I can has helped her riding advance and develop even though she hasn’t had her “Own Jumper” to ride. I definitely take my hat off to her coach and her continued work and support!
Well for today that’s gotten long enough. I will journal some more tomorrow. Kelsey just texted they are in Idaho Falls tonight some pretty tired girls all of them! (Kelseys story is http://timmbits-justme.blogspot.ca/2011/04/kelseys-storey.html)
I think it is quite appropriate for Mummum to comment on here. My thoughts have been traveling along with Kels as well, not just on this particular "journey" but on the bigger "Journey"as well.
ReplyDeleteIt might be of interest to mention here, that my first awareness of Kelsey's beloved "Leo," was to notice in the barn,a very large horse, with this sign on his stall...."...I BITE!" When I questioned it, I was assured that he had a mind of his own, & "Yes!" he would, & did, on occasion...bite!!! Needless to say, my uninitiated heart did a full-stop, when I heard that he had become "Kelsey's horse!" "My" little girl in the stall with that huge,disagreeable, biting, horse!!!??? Maybe NOT?? It has been most interesting to hear about & occasionally watch, Kelsey & Leo's closeness & mutual love, grow.
Also, while my "Grandmother-heart" has reservations at times, it has been a thrill to see what Kelsey's relationship with horses, & perhaps with Leo in particular, has done for her self confidence & self esteem & general attitude. It really is quite amazing. I have yet to hear Kelsey speak angrily about Leo, even following some of their more frustrating episodes together. She has often taken the blame for an incident, because of some signal that she didn't make clear to her horse, or perhaps because of some contributing situation that she knew could affect her horse. I have thought how good it would be if I had this attitude more often in my human relationships!!! I am afraid that I am more likely to use the spurs, or whip, or at the very least, get impatient &/or justify myself!!
Enough comment for now! if you read this, Kels, enjoy your journey south...& the continued "Journey!" I'll chat on here again. If it gets long-winded....people can skip it!!!! Love You, Sunshine!