Nosedive

WELL. I had a huge awesome wonderful well thought out post typed up and blogger deleted it like a little bish so now you all get to read a slightly irritated, not as wonderful post.

Firs thing. I tried to change my header, it didn't fit, changed it back, fit worse. HOW AND WHERE do you guys get all these cute edited banners for ye blogs? I need your secretssss

I passed my exam, so say hi to an Ohio licensed insurance person. Wassup? Need help with Medicare? Life Insurance? HMO? I gotchu.

I also had surgery, non-leg related, so I am recovering and woefully unable to do anything for a few days. Including ride.

Yankee gets shoes today and I am bracing for the insanity that is "special" fancy pants shoes. Dear God, I am now one of those owners.

That aside, I really came here to brag about how fat and shiny and wonderful Yankee is, and my slight problem with B's training. I will just start off with the happy things, like Levi's and Yankee's being adorable...

Beautiful boys

Fancy feets

Yankee had really grown up, always so steady

Seriously one of my favorite pics ever taken ever. MY FEELS.

So there's Yankee. I haven't been able to do much since he has no front shoes and long toes, but riding on the dirt doesn't seem to bother him. Its like once we got B, he took on the role of "steady 'old man'" and has just been Mr. Reliable. I love this horse! He is truly my heart!

That being said, I don't not love Bacardi. But our relationship has just started. And like any new relationship, it can be a rocky road. We started off  awkward with each other, unsure. Then we began to bond, relax and communicate effectively. But lately, there have been a few minor disagreements.

That being, carrying oneself a little on the forehand, sluggish and not forward like the fresh new Bacardi I once knew a few weeks ago. What changed, dearest B?

Ugh, forehand much? Trailing much? Diving into my hands much?

Well for one, I got injured and lost some strength. That eq tho...lets ignore for the sake of pictures and document that yes, I DO need to work on it again (FOREVER STRUGGS).

For two, he is a bebe. I know he will backslide. I just don't want him to okay. I live in a fantasy world. Let me ride my unicorns.

Three, I think riding him in the 3 ring for added security (weakness from injury, hot little OTTB....) was a bad move. Took me a few rides to realize the 3 ring is not for him. Classic evasion by curling under. Sadly now, he learned he can do that instead of doing the hard stuff, like pushing form behind and carrying ones massive body correctly, so he does it on the reg now.

An easy solution, but not an easy fix. Change tack back, leg into bridle, etc etc.

And he will come forward and pick himself up....for a few steps...and not as brilliantly as he was before....

1 month ago

Yesterday

 You can really see a difference aye? All I see is fail fail fail fail fail but I'm trying to stay positive.

 So. Do you think I am correct in my assumption that is is a mixture of my terrible posture (I would like to point out that B's stride is MASSIVE) , the fact he is a baby, and the bitting issue? A few more for your consideration.

A great example of a canter VERY on the forehand (front foot hits before hind foot)

 Which also brings up a whole 'nother  can of worms...which bit should I use for jumping once we actually DO start? Considering 3 ring is a bit leveragey for him. See future posts for discussion on this topic.

Procrastination Level EXPERT

I typed about 5 different sentences before I decided that nothing could lead into this post. Considering that I wrote half an entry 4 days ago highlighting last week and never posted it, I just gave up.

I am doing an excellent job of not doing all the things I need to do. Avoidance is my specialty and I tend to be a productive procrastinator. I usually clean things. Or organize. Or read. Or research. or workout. Basically do everything but that one thing I need to do.

This week, its a lot of things. But not as many things as last week.

Last week was rough for me. I decided to go strict paleo 2 weeks ago since my parents do it-which means no dairy. Just fruits, plants, animals and nuts (not even ALL nuts or plants or fruits or animals). Its really confusing and difficult and my body hated it. I got to the point where I couldn't even put food in my body without throwing up. So strict paleo, not for me. 3/4 normal paleo is what I will stick with considering it doesn't make me violently ill and is still relatively healthy.

I am also having surgery (unrelated to my leg) this week and scheduling that/dealing with idiot receptionists has been a total ass pain. Seriously WHY.

In addition, I had a mind numbing class to attend for my new real person job and it really cramped my style. I also spent about 20 hours outside that class studying for the exam I have in 2 days to get my insurance license. Let me tell you. medicare is a BITCH. How do you work 8-5 and STILL have time to workout and ride AND sleep. The fuckery is unreal! (Speaking of, I have really done a great job NOT studying today....)

The chickens have re-deemed themselves. Almost. They started laying this week and I get about 5 eggs a day from them. In typical bird hate fashion though they refuse to use their coop, so its and easter egg hunt EVERYDAY and sometimes I even find them in the horse stalls. How fun!

My horses also seem to know when my bank account is reaching crucially low levels of funds. Think almost $0.

Oh yes that would be 2 pulled front shoes/destroyed feet in the same week and a thrashed hind leg injury.

Did I mention last week B came in with a slash across his face, nearly sending me into cardiac arrest,  and Yankee had JUST got one of those shoes re-shod last monday because he threw it 2 weeks ago?? Because of the damage done by literally ripping nails out of a hoof wall, its damn near impossible to re show now without that ass pain expense of fancy pants shoes and adhesive.

He hasn't thrown a shoe in what seems like years, so I'm beginning it think its my farrier. So if anyone has any farrier recommendations in the dayton area....

BUT besides all that the boys have been brilliant.

Took them on a trail ride last week and B really surprised me with his non baffled-ness when encountering big bad tings like trucks, and mud and river crossings! He actually LOVED the water, just like Yankee.

ADORABLE

Been doing a TON of hacking, lunging and flatwork since I know I shouldn't be doing much else. It is REALLY hard though. I haven't jumped Yankee since forever. Almost 10 weeks I think. DEAR GOD.

I need it.