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We Got Some Good Karma In Our Lives

Horses and boats. I’m not sure why this is a common combination, but it seems to be rampant.  No less in our household than in any other, it seems. It’s like we have an addiction to really fun hobbies into which you pour money or something.  I don’t talk about my love of horses much and I’ve never shared my horse journeys here, but this one is special. Both the horse and the journey, and one worth telling.

My trainer, Jess, texted this summer from a horse auction while we were on an island for our lobster bake. When she texted, Jon and I were walking in the middle of a pine stand surrounded by granite, the sound of the ocean touching the beach, and the light casting late afternoon shadows through a fern stand up the path a bit. When shore side life inserts itself into boat life, even though we’ve been doing it for years, there’s this moment of focus required to bring attention to a part of our life we aren’t living at the moment. Our life on the boat is so rhythmic, tied to the weather, and the now that thoughts of winter and planning are sometimes surreal. Such was the case with our conversation.

Let me be clear, I was not in the market for a horse after having sold an older rescue horse last year.  While I ride all winter long and often more than one horse per day, I was perfectly happy riding other people’s horses. I’d been saying out loud that I wouldn’t be buying my own horse again until both girls were out of school. Sure.

Then Jess texted. A horse had just been bought by a “kill buyer”, so her future was as either meat or glue. She had a soft eye, a nice way of moving, wasn’t lame, and was super skinny. One, of course I’m a sucker, so saving a good horse from death, well, please. Two, the idea of training my own horse with only Jess or me to ride and work with her was undeniably enticing.

So in the middle of lobster bake island, surrounded by pines and granite and ocean, (and with Jon’s blessing I must add) I bought my next horse! She’s 5 years old, an off the track Thoroughbred. She was in a sketchy lesson program where she developed a “bucking problem”. Which to me means something hurt or she was really done with being treated poorly and had some things to say, i.e. bucked.

These are the first photos I got of her before we met.  Her nickname was Skinny Legs or Annie’s Mare until I was able to spend some time with her and get to know her.  I’ll be posting once a month about my journey with her. Oh, and her name is Good Karma, her show name is Gilkey’s Harbor, and she is a super sweet soul.

Annie
Winter projects!

Calm and settled on one of her first days at the barn.

A couple of days after she arrived in a paddock by herself to begin with. She needs about 300 pounds on her. That round belly is actually not great = worms, sand, and/or malnourished.

There’s that soft eye and head low even though she’s in a new home.

Those shoulder bones, though!

Eating was hard for her in the beginning until we could get her teeth power floated.

The dentist power floating Karma’s teeth. The horse needs to be sedated for this process, and you can see why. If this isn’t done, they develop burrs or horns on their teeth which make eating very painful.

Head in a grain bucket shortly after the dentist was done!

Getting plump! Photo by Amy Miller.

 

14 Comments

  • yonallylynn
    November 7, 2017 at 12:01 pm

    OMG….I didn’t know about the tooth problem. Poor dear. Love the story and so pleased we get to share a happy one with you.

    Reply
    • athomeatsea
      November 7, 2017 at 4:13 pm

      Thanks, Lynn. Yup, she was needing more than a little TLC when she arrived. But she’s made great progress in such a short time.

      Reply
  • Cynthia Fullerton
    November 7, 2017 at 1:12 pm

    So happy for you Annie. Best wishes to you all

    Reply
  • Shelly Alex
    November 7, 2017 at 2:15 pm

    She is a sweet girl! So glad I get to watch your journey with her!

    Reply
    • athomeatsea
      November 7, 2017 at 4:11 pm

      Shelly, I think I got a video of our two girls meeting in the field. Bree was chasing Karma and then Karma ran like a crazy person all the way down the field back to me. What fun to observe them meet for the first time. When I left, Raceme was shepherding Karma and the other ladies were minding their own business.

      Reply
  • Cynthia A. Frederick
    November 7, 2017 at 2:56 pm

    Looking forward to your story…..

    Reply
    • athomeatsea
      November 7, 2017 at 4:12 pm

      Thanks, Cindy! What a fun journey this is!

      Reply
  • Barbara Jochheim
    November 7, 2017 at 8:04 pm

    Hooray! You were telling us about her on the cruise with Maggie. I am so happy to hear that things are off to a reasonably good start, she is a beauty, happy she found you and hope she continues to do well…bless you for saving her.

    Reply
  • Susan McBean
    November 7, 2017 at 9:00 pm

    I didn’t know about the horse connection….I am a former horse person….if one can ever be a former that…but i do not have a horse now…and probably wont ever again…since I no longer have a barn, etc. But she has beautiful eyes…and am sure she will make you happy. Plus….the girls will have a horse. And that is the BEST thing that can ever happen to a girl growing up !!!! And that is a lucky horse !!!!

    Reply
    • athomeatsea
      November 8, 2017 at 9:33 am

      Thanks, Susan. A horse for the teenagers AND the mamas is a good thing! Happy ladies all around.

      Reply
  • Lois Anne
    November 7, 2017 at 9:56 pm

    Hi Annie –
    Thanks for sharing and for giving her kindness and caring – all animals [humans included] need more of that in this world. I’ll look forward to your future adventures with Good Karma.
    Lois Anne

    Reply
    • athomeatsea
      November 8, 2017 at 9:31 am

      Thanks, Lois Anne. You are so right!

      Reply
  • Kristin
    November 9, 2017 at 6:44 am

    Thank you for saving her and showing her kindness! She’s beautiful, and as she gets healthier she’s going to be stunning!

    Reply
  • Linda Goodwin
    November 17, 2017 at 1:33 pm

    Annie,
    I am so happy for you. Pepper and I have been having a wonderful fall together, riding at least weekly with good grooming in between. Horses bring such serenity into our lives.
    Have fun and be safe.

    Reply

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