Good morning, guys.
I was just editing my blog template and I realized that as of the ninth of this month, I have had this blog for exactly one year!
I thought it would be a cool idea to revisit a post from this time last year and think about just how far we've come. I bought Ladybug on May 12th, 2008 and at the time of this post, we were still figuring out respect and exactly what it meant for the both of us.
(WARNING: Super sentimental stuff ahead!)
Here we go! :


Success!
06/14/08
I have had a very interesting morning! I went out to spend some Undemanding Time [UDT] with Lady before her breakfast and she was just totally all in my space, nosing me around or paying no attention to me whatsoever. Just total LBI snottiness! So we were out in the pasture and I felt like it was time for some good ole' Hide your Hiney. When she decided I wasn't interesting enough and mosied off, I made my way around towards her zone 5 with my carrot stick in hand and my best Schwiegermutter look.. I slowly crept up and started making noise with the stick, soft at first which she ignored [of course] then progressively harder.. and then came phase four.. *SWISH, SMACK!* Right in her zone 5 and off she went, tossing that head like you wouldn't believe! She trotted in a circle and then came back to me, ears forward, blinking and licking her lips. I walked backwards with my stick held out in front of me, she followed, gave the tip of the stick a nice sniff and that's when I stopped walking, gave her rubs and scratches. I think I did it twice more and by the third time, all I had to do was change my look and move towards her rump and she'd whip right around and look at me, ears forward like.. " I know what you're up to, missy!" The best part is neither of us lost our confidence. Not ONCE. I was assertive and she understood me. Afterward when she approached me and started getting pushy with her head, I'd lift my stick just a bit, wiggle it and give her that look and off she went, head tossing all the way. She is such a SNOT. I love her so much! Ha ha. Today was a perfect example of: "Do as I say, but don't be afraid."


Wow... What a post! It really brings back memories of sitting out there in the pasture full of dandelions with my horse, trying my best not to pay attention to her and looking back now, I know she was trying her hardest to ignore me as well, haha! We're both innately curious so this stage was excruciating but necessary for the two of us.. My horse really was my mirror and I don't think I could have picked a better partner. She's taught me so much about respect.. about myself. We were drawn together and we've come a really long way. I'm so proud of her and I'm so proud of myself for being the person who chose to take this journey with 'Bug. It's certainly not always easy but it's always worth it.. Even when I have my doubts and my bad days.. weeks.. months! I will always be able to say that it's worth it.

Right now I'm gonna go out and feed, snuggle my horse and enjoy the day.. We're probably going to be going swimming, too. What's not to love about swimming?! Thanks for sticking with me for a whole year, guys! (:

Love,
Katieanne & co.