A Fresh Start

A Fresh Start

Optimism is a funny thing, and I daresay I’m feeling optimistic. Last weekend I really just did not want my horse to die. It sounds dramatic, but that was the goal. This weekend I felt myself looking at the state of things and thinking “I wonder if I’m ok to bump his grain back up to normal” and “I bet schooling changes will come easier now that I know to maintain his hocks properly.”

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After I took the last poultice off Saturday, the vet said to watch for any new oozing or him favoring it. She said he’d be sore for a few days still, but to lunge 2-4 minutes each direction and send her videos on Monday. Saturday he was 80% and Sunday he was at least 90%.

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I was ecstatic, and we spent a lot of time hand grazing in the wild flowers to celebrate. It’s going to take a lot of work to get back to where we were, and we may not even show at all this year – but I feel like good things are coming. A fresh start if you will.

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With that in mind, I’d like to change Simon’s show name. Simple Simon sounds too much like he’s an idiot and reminds me of a pony name. His registered name, Williebered, is kind of awful for the hunters. Here are some I’ve been thinking of. They either have something to do with his pedigree or a literary/music reference.

  • Simply Said
  • Of The Earth
  • Love Song for Simon
  • Tower of Learning

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I’m open to suggestions for sure. The “Love Song for Simon” is a shout out to The Love Song for J. Alfred Prufrock by T.S. Eliot. If anyone can think of another show name derived from that poem, I’d definitely love to hear it.

32 thoughts on “A Fresh Start

  1. I do quite like Love Song for Simon. It’s very sophisticated.

    I agree with the fresh start. Showing or no showing, good times will still be had.

  2. In general, I’ve always been a fan of showing horses under their registered names. It is their name, after all. But, as I imagine the announcer butchering Williebered, perhaps it *is* better to select something else 🙂

    1. Amen to all of that! Took me a couple of times to figure it out — and I am normally all in favor of Namesthataresentences.

      Glad you’re feeling better, and I think Simply Said is very nice.

    2. I have done both really. I showed Lydia as “Lady Astaire” (her JC name) and Elvis as “Zip to the Star” (his AQHA name). I’m just so not in love with Simon’s name and it sounds hard to pronounce… I wouldn’t be surprised if people said Will He Be Bred hahaha. Which no, he won’t 🙂

  3. I like Simply Said and Love Song for Simon. Or what about “Life of Simon”, like the category you include Simon under?

    Here’s to new beginnings!

  4. Agree with above, I Love Simply Said & Love Song for Simon – would you consider combining the two and calling him Simply Simon – as that’d sum up your experiences with him as…that’s Simply Simon.

    Yay for a fresh start & optimisim, could use some myself when it comes to me riding my youngster at the moment…am feeling a little low after recent attempts – my fault not hers! I need to buck up!

  5. I like the Love Song of Simon. If you like the poem so much, you could always simply take a phrase or line from it. There’s some good ones in there about flickers of greatness (line 84) that would be show-worthy if you could find a way to swing it. I love a good poem, but I think “The Love Song of Simon” is a good name regardless.

      1. Registered names are the worst. My very first horse came with the registered AQHA name of “Skip’s Two-Eyed Dino.” (Like, dee-no- of course all the announcers said ‘dino’ as in dinosaur). Fabulous. And the barn name of ‘Dino’ (dee-no) – which I tried to change but to no avail. When I stopped going to AQHA and started doing hunters and jumpers, I renamed him to Renegade. I thought that was much more appropriate for jumpers 😉

        Good luck!

  6. I don’t know why, but I first thought, “The Most Interesting Man.” Too mainstream? 😉 I also like “Simply Said.” 😀

  7. I vote Love Song for Simon

    Oh show names how I hate choosing them! lol

    Awesome news about Simon and I am glad you are thinking about your future!

  8. So glad Simon is better! I like Love Song for Simon, though I agree with Natalie-there are phrases in that poem that would make good show names too. Ex: I like the line, “Do I dare/Disturb the Universe?” Actually, I like that entire stanza!

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