Two years…and what feels like a lifetime.

Two years since a whirlwind day trip of leaving my house before dawn, driving up to Kingman, hanging out and chatting with my boss for several hours, and then relieving her of one marshmallow-fluffy, dreadlocked, out-of-shape mare who hadn’t been ridden in a year…who took a few minutes to be persuaded to hop in a strange trailer, but once was in, traveled without even a peep…then making the drive back down to the east valley and unloading said mare while there was still enough daylight for her to explore her new surroundings, then settling her in a stall for probably one of the first times in her life.

That was only two years ago, but it feels like it’s been forever. I mean, technically I’ve known Liberty for almost a decade — we did our first ride together in 2013. But having her actually be mine? The connection we’ve forged just in the last two years wasn’t something I thought was possible in that relatively short amount of time.

I brought her home with low expectations when it came to endurance. I really just wanted something I could ride, and be able to retire Mimi with dignity and not make her keep schlepping my bum around. Maybe we could dabble in a few LDs again — I suspected that in most of our previous attempts, she hadn’t really been solidly conditioned as well as she could have been, and was too self-preserving to overrun her conditioning — so I was curious to see what she might be able to do given a chance. What she’s done has blown me away. And furthermore, we’ve been having fun. To me, this is everything that I have wanted endurance to be for me…the chance to see some beautiful trails, to challenge myself and my horse, to be able to craft a conditioning plan to be able to meet goals, to have fun with rides, and ultimately, the deep connection and bond that forms when you and a horse have spent so many hours together.

As with all of life, I have no idea what the future will bring…if I’ve learned anything over the years, it’s that plans have a way of changing, and nothing is predictable…but to enjoy things as they happen, and to focus on the now, versus getting too hung up on what may come. And the enjoy every ride.

Happy birthday to my big, beautiful mare! One day shy of being an Independence Day baby…but close enough. Born on one of the hottest days of the 2006 summer, in Lake Havasu City, she got an early introduction to water/hoses, getting frequently sprayed down to help keep her cool. She also didn’t get enough antibodies from her dam’s colostrum, so within the first couple days of her life, was experiencing a rush trip in the trailer to the vet…and during said trip, her dam stepped on one of her hind pasterns. (To date, it’s never seemed to have affected her, other than that hind hoof grows slightly wonky.)

Needless to say, she didn’t have the smoothest start to life…but if anything, it’s made a tough, strong war mare out of her. I’ve never seen her quit…she might slow down, or need to regroup at times…but she never quits. She may be tough, and she may live up to her name and love her freedom…but she’s also the kind of horse that seeks to connect with her people…she’s not just looking to get the job done; she wants to do it together.

I’ve been fortunate enough to know her for almost a decade now, and have watched her grow from a sometimes-silly, still-green, coming-7-year-old (who still had an amazing brain despite her lack of exposure to much of life)…to a solid, mature mare who still has an amazing brain, and who seems to get better every single year.

It’s hard for me to believe she’s 16 — physically, she doesn’t have a lot of miles and wear and tear on her, and Shagyas are notoriously slower-maturing (both physically and mentally), so I feel like being in her teens just might be her prime. I certainly hope that’s the case, because I’m looking forward to many more miles and years left with this special girl.

(Such an amazing brain. When I pulled out the garland and headbands, she looked like a little kid who just got their favorite “dress-up box” handed to them. She loves these photoshoots, and getting festooned with ridiculous get-ups. Also, I’m pretty sure that’s only the second time in her life she’s been ridden bareback. I hopped on her once last summer, and then again this morning to get these pics. She just sidled right up to the fence and let me do my awkward “slither aboard” thing, and didn’t even blink while I got myself all situated. SO out of practice for riding bareback.)