Sometimes things don't go according to plan...

Sometimes with horses, things just don't go according to plan.

It seems like with my horse Bandida, nothing goes according to plan. 

On our honeymoon, Zeb bought a breeding to Martha's Mega Jac on a stallion auction for me. My hopes were to raise and train the foal as my next reining horse. I AI'd his mare, and 11 months later Bandida was born (she was even born on my Birthday!) 

She was exactly what I wanted-a filly with chrome!

And that was the last time anything went according to plan for Bandida.

A few weeks later, she cut her hind leg. It healed up, but she still has a bump and scar on that leg.

Bandida turned two right after Colin was born. Having two kids under age two, a full time job,  cattle and other horses to ride meant that she was put to the back burner.  

Today, she is four. She is un-started, and basically just a pasture pet. 

And you know what? That's ok. 

Sure, sometimes I am disappointed that she isn't the reining futurity horse that I wanted her to be.  And honestly, I didn't have the confidence to start her under saddle as a two or three year old anyway. I have been enjoying riding Breezy and regaining my confidence and horsemanship skills, and getting focusing on getting back into the show pen with Breezy this year. 

So while she isn't where a lot of horse people think she should be for her age, it doesn't matter. Because she is right where she needs to be for ME and MY horsemanship journey-and that is waiting for me for unwrap the potential hidden inside that pretty package. Maybe she will be another ranch horse for our family, or maybe a brood mare. Who knows? All I do know is that I need to trust myself, and my own journey. And at the end of the day, the voices of others don't matter. Our horsemanship journeys are twisted roads, with lots of unexpected and unanticipated turns. 

As long as you and your horse are happy, that is what matters!

Get Gritty,

​Chevy