Cob Jockey

Emma asked about Connor in the comments of the last post, and since I just sold his Patrick Dressage saddle this week (to a blogger!) it seems like a good time to talk about what he's up to.

Being loved on by children

I had a lot of emotions wrapped up in that Dressage saddle. My first, and probably only, custom saddle purchase. It was well over 2 years of research, searching and waiting before I finally got it, and we were going to get our bronze medal in it. It's just the way of the universe that after all that I never even showed in it, or even really took regular lessons in it.

Truth is, not a lot has changed since this post. Connor is sound, healthy and happy, but he was getting to a point in Dressage where it just wasn't fun for either one of us. That happened around the time the most tumultuous 24 month period of my life began, and I stopped riding, even though it took me until basically now to start calling him "retired."

That Dad Bod is a far cry from his Second Level bod, and he's earned this bod just as much

Connor, at 19 this year and sound as can be, owes me nothing. He gave me everything - the opportunity to try sports I had only dreamed about, the chance to go further up the levels than I thought I ever could in both Dressage and eventing. He put up with me riding him quite poorly for long periods of time before I learned better and yet he never tossed me (I've still never come off of him one single time in 13 years) and he still nickers at me every single time he sees me. And I will cheerfully pay his room and board for the rest of his life if that's all he ever gives me.

Annie and momma riding next to each other because Annie is finally ready to be off the leadline

But he IS still giving. He's got a part-leaser who rides him about once a week, a former co-op member who lost her heart horse a couple years ago and decided to take a break from horse ownership. He's got two little girls that, when it's not miserably cold out, come take pony rides on him. He's quiet enough for me to put anyone on him, but educated enough to still be a blast for a more advanced rider. 

Let's also not forget the fact that babysitting Disco is a very important job too - without Connor, Disco wouldn't have a turnout buddy. Connor would definitely prefer a less boisterous turnout buddy at his age, and I'm grateful to him for putting up with him.

Sorry, buddy.

In a perfect world, either I or the part-leaser would be riding him more than we are just to keep him moving, but I'm not beating myself up about the fact that I don't have the bandwidth to keep two horses going, work my full-time job and still handle farm chores and maintenance. I still hop on him occasionally, but he's not in any kind of steady work, and he probably never will be again unless the right on-farm lease situation pops up.

He's my heart horse, forever and always, and it's such a privilege to be able to give him a sound, happy retirement after all he's done for me.