Happy 18th Birthday Gwyn

 

As is custom, Gwyn's birthday must be accompanied by a photo shoot and accessories. The whole family came and helped, which was lovely on this hot spring day!

Gwyn was over my shit and was more upset that she had to stand and look pretty instead of getting to graze.

Even Leche got to practice being around balloons and wearing the birthday tiara. She's such a good baby. She didn't care either :D 

Happy Birthday Gwyn!/Happy Early Gotcha Day

I've got a ton of posts brewing that are waiting on video editing because go pro and I just haven't had time to sit down and pick out neat clips and put them together in a relevant way.

But I did a quick photo-shoot with Gwyn on Sunday so I could have some perfect birthday photos.

Happy 14 years old Gwyn! And her original arrival date in Washington, when she became mine is May 12. This time of year is ripe with anniversaries of arrivals!

I'm so pleased with her right now. Even if I don't ever compete at high levels with her, she's become such a solid citizen. She's a horse that loves to be out on the trails, is game to hop on the trailer and see where we go, and will work hard and give me everything I ask for in the ring. We have our moments, all horses do, but I can't imagine being here with a horse other than her right now.

She climbs mountains for me and I would move them for her.

And because I am extra, I ordered a rose gold sparkly birthday sash (it comes with a bejeweled safety pin!) and matching tiara for her birthday pictures.

Waaait wait wait, we can't pose in front of trailers when there's beautifuil forest to use as a backdrop!

And of course, a very happy princess eating her alfalfa soup after a climbing intensive 13 miles in our unseasonal heat.

She is beauty, she is grace, she has alfalfa mash on her face

Happy Thirteenth Birthday Gwyn!

 Hazel helped me groom Gwyn for her birthday photo shoot and then complained loudly when I wasn't finished quickly enough with the crown.

Happy Birthday and early Happy Gotcha Day!!

On May 4, 2011 Gwyn got on a big ol' air ride trailer in Florida. She was previously owned by my friend Cheri. She came to me after a house fire necessitated Cheri boarding her horses instead of keeping them at home. She arrived in Washington on May 12, 2011.

And then on April 27, 2015 she arrived in Michigan from Washington.

She's a nationwide traveler! And I'm so glad she's been at my side. I can't imagine what life would be like without her.

So since her birthday is the day before her Gotcha Day (May 11 2006 foaled) and May 12, 2011 Gotcha'd let's take a look at Gwyn through the years!

August 2007, yearling

November 2007 with a young fiance :D 

July 2010

October 2010 - At an SCA event

November  2010 - Right before I moved to Washington

May 4, 2011 - the day she left Florida

Getting onto the transport truck

May 12, 2011 - Checking out her new digs in a Seattle suburb

September 2011 - Mare had serious sun bleaching in her mane that has never returned. Blondie!

February 2012 - Pregnant with Kaylee! On the pipeline

June 2012 - Maternity photos

May 2013 - Being a very good big sister

May 2014 - At a groundwork clinic

April 2015 - the day after she arrived in Michigan

April 2016 - Just before my due date with Hazel. 

April 2016 - The day after I got out of the hospital. 

May 2017 - Our Memorial Day trail ride

May 2018

It's a chilly day today, but we're going to go to our friend's house and take a trail ride. Can't wait!