Challenge!

Our animal friends love to spend time with us. Ry-who-hosts-this-blog will follow me around the house meowing until I pick him up or fuss over him, or generally help him feel seen and heard (sound familiar? Humans are like that, too). This blog isn’t about him, though (much to his chagrin), but about another family member - Fell Pony Willa.

Willa came to us about a little over a year ago, and when she first arrived, we entered a Fell Pony Society (FPS) sponsored challenge - ride, drive or lead for 25 miles and also take pictures of you and your pony with something that was a letter in a phrase (which I can’t remember off the top of my head). Willa and I barely knew one another, but she was game. She stood in the garage for “G”, with our Subaru Forester for “S”, with dog Amy and me for “A”. She allowed a Raven (fake) on her head, and hung out with an Umbrella. We had fun. Well, I had fun. She pretty much went along with the program.

“Owl“ for the O

We completely fell down on the riding portion, though. Riding hasn’t been in my wheel house for a while. I used to ride somewhat difficult horses (because that’s all I could afford), and while not brave, I’d get on. But the older I’ve gotten the less inclined I am to put myself in a situation where I could end up dead. So the last horse I rode with any regularity was my beloved Wilma. I trusted her. A horse has a mind of its own, so there is no such thing as a bombproof horse (unless IT is dead), but she was a thinker, so before she’d react she’d think about it, and then check in with me, and we were always okay. She was pretty special in that she wouldn’t push me any further than I thought I could safely go. When I first started riding her, she plodded around like she was 195 years old. As my confidence grew, she allowed herself to show me that she was more than just an old plug. She didn’t like cantering, though, being Friesian and of a line that was mostly used to pull carriages. She had a great trot. We could go almost as fast at a trot as other people who had stepped it up a gear. Fine with me. I got totally spoiled with her. The day she passed away was devastating.

The beautiful, talented, wonderful Wilma.

Enter Willa. I’m pretty sure Wilma sent her to me, hence the play on Wilma’s name. Willa’s registered name is Willowtrail Liberty (born on the 4th of July - no kidding), and her barn name for years was “Libby”. Apparently she was ready for a change. Once we came up with Willa (after a couple of false starts), she responded to it like she’d been hearing that as her name her entire life. 

She is calm, opinionated, and so much like Wilma it makes my heart soar. I didn’t know what I was getting when I agreed to buy her, but it was a match made, if not in heaven, by someone pretty close to there, Wilma. Although I know Wilma is in heaven - probably being opinionated all over the place.

Back to spending time together. I’m terrible about going down to the barn. So when Willa’s breeder, Jenifer, said she and some Fell Pony friends were going to sponsor a challenge (the FPS deciding not to do it this year), AND riding was optional, I was in! There are no winners - you’re competing with yourself. The people who complete the challenge get a Rosette. I’ll post a picture of the three of us (me, Willa, Rosette), when it arrives.

There were over 30 challenges to choose from, and then there was riding. 25 was the magic number. 25 miles, 25 challenges completed, or a combination. 

Bottom line - we DID IT!! I borrowed a horse trailer for a couple of the challenges, and that’s what put us over the top. Willa hopped in and out of the trailer like she was born to it, and even went in without a lead rope. She jumped a little jump, she wore sleigh bells, she lowered her head, and the best part of all - when she sees me come outside, she comes over. When we started the challenge, she was suspicious and skeptical, and I had to go to her. But now? In my pocket, follows me around. Treats are NOT involved, she just wants to be together. That is the most satisfying thing I can think of, and it inspires me to go to the barn more often. 

Totally unconcerned about the rustley weird thing on her back.

She’s little, but big enough that I can ride her. I may actually get on my pony’s back. But even if I don’t, having this sweet being as a friend makes every day better. 

Love on your animals. They need it. And so do you.