Welp, my husband is at 37,000 feet and heading towards Iowa, leaving me to single mom it for a week with a baby shark, a mare with a heel bulb injury and a 10 year old who needs to get to soccer camp every day. I’ve informed said husband that’s he’s not allowed to do anything other than enjoy his overdue vacation, lectured the child about responsibility and pre apologized for any sleep deprived bad decisions I may make in the next week. That said, Benny did make it five hours last night (2am to 7am) in the kennel without needing a potty break, so things are looking up in that realm. In good news, Benny met a horse for the first time, and it went as well as could be expected. I held him up to the chillest horse I know, my friend’s Quarter Horse gelding Pen. Pen barely noticed and Ben wasn’t sure about this giant hairy beast, but he didn’t tremble or show any aggression so I count it as a win.

Once again, this post is light on words and heavy on photos. Thanks to the puppy, I’ve reached out to my trainer to have her ride Tarma a few times over the next month, once my new girth finally reaches me (the one my friend gave me is 20 years old and no longer works for Tarma). I’m hoping my trainer can help her with balance and collection, things I’ve never learned to teach a horse, aside from my current questionable fitness levels. I also believe it’s in the horse’s best interest to be ridden by a professional occasionally, so they get clearer signals and less frustration than my fumblings. Plus, my trainer’s barn is a fun, relaxing place to be, where both the puppy and my son are welcome.

With the husband gone, I’m giving myself grace for only the bare minimum this week. Care for the mare, tell her to enjoy her mini vacation, keep the puppy from chewing on things he shouldn’t, his first visit with my vet on Friday, and keep the child’s sugar intake to “please go to sleep before 1am” levels. Strap in, it’s gonna be a wild week in the Morse household!