Where does the time go?!  Just 3 short weeks until the competition.  ShoGun is ready.  Sort of.

There is nothing more frustrating than an impossible temptation and mine is visualizing ShoGun as a finished horse. 

ShoGun is the kind of horse that everyone likes.  One youngster we met this week out riding said it best when he blurted to his Mamma, “He has kind eyes!”.  Yes, he does.  And he has athleticism, stamina and a kind soul.  He is going to be a hell of a horse when he’s finished.

It’s rewarding to finish out a horse.  There’s no question about how the horse is going to adjust or what they will do with a new owner.  And its fun to show off the well trained horse.  It inspires people.

ShoGun is already doing this.  People can’t believe he was wild just weeks ago.  They can’t believe he’s so quiet.  So good.  So well mannered.

“Wait until he’s finished,” I always say.  That’s temptation rearing its ugly head.

I remember then that  ShoGun is only 3 and oh, yeah!  He’s to be adopted September 21st!

And then I am tempted to make a noise somewhere between a splat and a barf.  This isn’t what I want to think about.

If there is one thing  that every trainer has in common in this competition, it’s that none of us like to see our horses go.  These mustangs grab your heart, soul and wallet and still leave you standing with a silly grin on your face!  In any other circumstance, we’d be angry, robbed and unhappily poor.

But this is different.

Lucy did it to me and now ShoGun is too.  They’ve pushed me to reach new heights.  To struggle to understand the complexities of life.

Why oh why can’t this just be simple?!

The other day Kirk and I rode the eight miles or so from Newport, Maine to Corinna, Maine.  We unwittingly did this is 80+ degree heat (95% humidity) and somehow managed to leave our water bottles behind.  No matter.  We trudged on anyway, but as our thirst grew, so did our horses.  We stopped several times but neither one was willing to drink from the lake or the creek.  We figured they definitely knew more than we did so we didn’t force the issue, but as the day wore on, it was clear from ShoGun’s repeated attempts to sip muddy puddles that we needed to do something fast to quench their thirst.

Enter a friendly, animal loving vacationer.

We stopped so ShoGun and Mickey could give a toddler a ride and a pet and during the process, this good samaritan offered the horses water.  ShoGun slurped mightely and it was clear he was grateful.  He pushed his beautiful head into her chest (something he reserves as sign of affection), and drooled all over her (something every horse does to show their appreciation).

She giggled like a school girl and took photo after photo, promising to paint ShoGun’s portrait.  I’ve commissioned a copy. 

I hope it won’t be a lonely reminder of the horse I once knew and trained.

I don’t ever choose to dwell on the gloomy.  Instead, I want to celebrate the good.  Like the fact I have the skill and health to enjoy a horse like Shogun.  That I get to ride him and where ever we go people are in awe of him.  That Shogun really likes our work together.  That he’s such a happy, content horse.

Like ShoGun’s gratitude for the taste of cool water on a hot day, I am grateful for all of the sacrifices Kirk has made to help me get this far in my dream. 

I am grateful to others too.

Joe Creighton of Equissentials Fine Equestrian Apparel for supplying my breeches and making the best, most comfortable, ’stick in the saddle no matter what’ breeches that were ever made.

And Jane and Bill Verry for providing  thier truck for me to pick up ShoGun and convincing her trainer he needed a mustang too, so that we could bring home a full load to keep ShoGun company.

To Michael Gerald for allowing me to haul he and his horse Dakota across the country and for paying me to do so.

To my Mom who made our trip to NC and Washington D.C. possible!

To John and Annette Veelenturf for the beautiful farm we call home.

And to many others who have wished us well.

I carry a stone in my pocket as a tribute and as a reminder of all that I am grateful for.  I’ll carry it with me on our victory ride when ShoGun and I win this competition, but first, I must get to the competition!

When I think about all of the hard work ShoGun has endured, I know it is his time.  I owe it to him to find the best possible home for him.  I know he needs to be one of 30,000 unwanted mustangs to find a forever home.  It is this that has kept me driven to succeed with ShoGun.   He trusts me.

I didn’t want to do it, but on the advice of a dear friend, I have been encouraged to share the need for money that ShoGun and I have.  It is all that is standing in our way of competing.

To raise the money, I’ve decided to sell stones.  Gratitude Stones.  So, like Shogun and I, you can be reminded of all that you are grateful for.

These stones are hand picked, organic and 100% authentic.  They also come direct from the trails we’ve been riding.  They are guaranteed not to break and are 100% genuine and natural.

If you would like a stone, please send $5.00 to:

Karina L. Lewis and ShoGun, 315 South Road, Harmony, Maine 04942 or send payment via paypal to: karina@themirroreffect.com.

Our goal is to raise the $6,000 we need to make this trip.  Anything additional will be donated to The Mustang Heritage Foundation to continue this wonderful program!

And please, if you think of it, forward a copy of this to all of your friends!  Let them know that 30,000 mustangs need their help!  They can begin by sponsoring one.  ShoGun.  The grateful horse with a future.

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