Thursday, February 28, 2013

Snow. Too Much.

 I'm very used to the hazards of snow since I grew up in Ohio and we got snow on the reg there. Since moving farther West though I've been spoiled with little to no snow. Minus snowpocalypse 2011 that dropped 3ft. of snow on Missouri and froze the town for 12 days, nothing of real consequence has occured until this month. February is a bear. All winter we've had pretty mild temps, with a few days of bitter cold. I thought we were through it and I wasn't ever going to get to play in snow.

But I'm over it. I used to love snow. Fun to play in, ride in, and it got us snow days. Now, no one cares if you're stuck in the snow and you're not allowed to ride in it or turn the horses out. Its only fun to sled in if you're hammered and it gets you sick. It also makes cleaning stalls a royal bitch and sometimes knocks the power out for days on end.

All of this.

Getting sick was just the icing on the cake that made me realize that I no longer enjoy snow and I want to move somewhere where it doesn't exist. GASP. I've turned into an old bitty.

But really. We aren't allowed to ride outside in it (per BO rules for horses with shoes on) or turnout in it...sooo my  horse has been inside since Monday and is currently going insane. We can't ride in the indoor because there is no power and its hella dark in there and I do not want to be on a supercharged OTTB in the pitch dark.

I sincerely hope we can start TO tomorrow or else my horse might literally explode. Luckily we can put them in paddocks while we clean stalls...but all he does is rear and twirl and show me his contempt for the situation.

Mr. Pronto is over it too

Yankee says, "Please mom, can we go out in pasture? PLEEEEASSSUUHHH??"



Monday, February 25, 2013

And The Winners Are...

 You guys are a bunch of cheaters :P Though I do appreciate your belief in my ponys' abilities, so I won't punish any of you.

I wanted to apologize for the delay in announcement ( I was even going to make a sweet video with the names I drew, etc, but I've had zero time). Remember that snowstorm I was telling you about? Yeah it threw a major curve ball in my life... I just got un-stuck yesterday- thats four days stuck. I'm pretty sure I had several panic attacks, worrying about 3 jobs and how the horses would get fed. GAH GAH GAH. The most frustrating part is that NO ONE believed that I could still be stuck days later after a giant winter dump. I got shit from everyone, and a few people even told me I was being lazy and inconveniencing people on purpose- which blew my mind. Apparently there is no sympathy for people who have zero 4wd vehicles, that live at the bottoms of hills and are helpless in snowstorms.

GUESS WHAT ELSE. We have ANOTHER 6-9 inches coming our way tonight. Fucking awesome. Winter, I HATE YOU.

Anyways.

Drrrrrrrrumroll please...the winners arrrre...

SprinklerBandit and Cuna won for False!

Lindsay and Apollo won for True!

And the correct answer is....TRUE! He can actually free jump to 5'3! A few people mentioned they remembered reading it somewhere, which is impressive since the last time I free jumped him over 4ft was in 2010. Long time followers with great memories :)  I've never tried anything over 4'9 with anyone mounted, but I really don't think he is capable.

This was at 5ft!

This was the 5'3 jump. Worst. Video. Still. Ever.
 Another sad story about the snow. You know the WWU Jumper Show I've been practicing for for weeks now? Yeah. I can't go. My trailer is snowed in and there's no way my truck will get it out with the additional snow we are getting tonight.  I'm beyond upset about this. Not only are we READY but its one of my favorite shows and all my friends were actually going to come and watch. Ugh. Suck.

Hopefully I can get out and ride this week..I haven't ridden in what seems like ages.

Sorry to anyone who entered and didn't win, but I appreciate the following and excitement in the contest! The winners can email me at mavg24@mail.missouri.edu and we can work out deets. I will do portraits for anyone and have been slowly getting an etsy together, so feel free to shoot me an email until I get my shit together