Boo Hoo.

Boo hoo hoo!! Waaa waaaa! I want to go to Moab! No fair! Sniff.

Ok. I got that out of my system. Maybe. I have been planning to go to the Moab Canyons ride all summer with Jetta. She's ready. But life gets in the way sometimes.

Other than questioning my saddle fit, Jetta is ready to do 25 miles, I think. She's had two weeks off because I went to San Diego to the Equissage course, which I'm happy to report, I PASSED! (It was an intense, study filled, brain stretching week, but it was truly wonderful, and I am ready to launch a new business--more about that later.) Saddle fit issues are huge in this sport obviously since riding long distances in an ill-fitting saddle would certainly be damaging. But I think the new saddle is a good match, and I'd be willing to give it a shot since we'd be doing a "slow" 25-miler if that was the only thing conspiring against me.  But I had truck trouble this week (think $$$) and in addition, today I had the distressing news that my beloved English pointer, Duke, likely has lymphoma. The vet is running some tests (also $$$) and I'll have the results by Monday. If it is cancer, I'm going to be really devastated. I've had this dog 11 years and he's a good friend. Apparently, this is just not my week. I think financially as well as for Duke's sake, I'd better stay close to home. I will miss the fun of riding Jetta in Moab, and she will have to have her debut into endurance in the spring. I'll miss seeing my endurance friends, but they've probably forgotten all about me by now anyway. Oh, well. There will be other rides.

The new business will be called Equine Solutions: Sports Massage Therapy and Natural Barefoot Hoof Care. Solutions will hopefully become my full time job within the next six months. I am putting my plan into place and taking the steps to make that happen. Jetta was my first paying client (OK, fine---she paid me by nuzzling me on the chin....not every client will get away with that!) I gave her a full massage last night and I'm happy to note her back issues seem much better since Kylie worked on her three weeks ago. Sports massage therapy is amazingly effective. I am very excited to know that I have the knowledge and ability to help horses heal in a very concrete way.

I have a lesson to teach tomorrow morning, then I am going to take Jetta for a long ride somewhere. I will mope about missing all the fun in Moab, but I'm sure she'll cheer me up within the first few miles!