Birthday Girl

The most sincere appreciation of seat heaters in a vehicle happen shortly after riding in wind gusts at temps in the 20's when your rear needs thawing. I hate being grown-up, I remember being a kid and having frost bitten toes riding through anything without a care. At least it was another ride with success coming easily making it completely worth it yesterday. We did canter a few laps extra after I began asking for a trot, but the wind was blowing every leaf in the county through the arena and jacking her up a little more than usual. Is this "normal" horseback riding a lasting trend for us?!

Today in lieu of riding, Whisper will have brushing, warm blankets, warm mash, and some homemade oatmeal butterscotch cookies... it's her birthday!

Whisper's enjoying her cookie while her buddy, Rena, cleans up any pieces she misses

While all racehorses gain a year each January 1st, Whisper's actual birthday is very close to that, January 3rd. Obviously this is an advantage than say a racehorse born in July who is actually 5 months old when the racing industry considers him a one-year-old and breeders plan breedings with this in mind. But I digress... The kids had a great time making Whisper a stall sign complete with birthday cards of well wishes. My favorite is Hunter's card where he drew me riding Whisper and him taking pictures with Lone Star barn behind us. The back of his card says, "To : Wisper From : Hunter"

Whisper's birthday gift this year came a little early, a brand new stall sign. 

Happy Birthday Whisper, what a crazy ride it's been. From rearing and tossing me around, abscesses, injuries, mule colts, and moves. Bolting under saddle, tears, laughs, and moments of brilliance, we've earned the good stuff that has just starting to come our way... here's to another year!