Catching Up

Finally a catch up post! I will try to not bore you all too extensively and I do have some media to break up the wordy words.

We are all aware I haven't been riding. I miss it terribly actually and I have contemplated screwing vets orders and riding Yankee 15 days early but I've been good, I swear it.

Mostly besides work and school, I've been doing laundry, working out, cleaning stalls and mildly obsessing about The OG. Super fun stuff.

Me when I adult for 3 weeks straight

First off; the blog name change and revamp. Its bit drastic, but I had been thinking on it for a while. I started this blog WAY back in the day about 7 years ago when my dreams were bigger than my wallet and talent. I really thought I was going to go to Rolex someday and thus "chasing the dream". Many things got in the way, mainly money, injuries (so. many. injuries. ) and losing my confidence. I literally never want to jump those jumps, to even in my dreams, and I am 100% OK admitting that. If I can just ride my horses and stuff them with cookies I am good. Competing is cool but no the end all be all (still trying to convince myself of this).

The new name actually came about from EME friends. They call Bacardi the Red Dragon because of how he acts in certain situations. For one, his tail in incredibly expressive if you haven't noticed and one of the girls commented that along with his chevron clip, he looked like a dragon. For two, he has a tendency to...explode. Not as badly anymore, but he still throws tantrums. Thus, "training my dragon". I have always been obsessed with OTTBs and retraining them is a massive passion of mine. There is nothing better than taking a psycho OTTB and turning them into a lovely creature.

So thats that.

Secondly; I've finally sat down and looked at the shows for the year offered in the area, but can't decide on a one of em'.

Kinda miss this; Circa 2009

Speaking of shows; Penny Oaks cancelled XC and my barn contemplated not even going, which had me slightly freaking out for a few days....but LUCKILY the organizers moved the remaining phases to one day so most of EME decided they would make the trip and save a hotel cost and still get some sort of first outing at a venue less than 3 hours away. Hell, we hauled 3 hours to XC school last week, so hauling for a one day CT won't be terrible. I feel bad I can't assist at all, but I won't lie saying I'm relieved they're going. I was gonna be LIT if my entry went to waste. I don't have  play money like some people do and I really wanted to get him in a dressage ring. There is still a slight possibility he may get eliminated in SJ, but I just want a good dressage ride to be honest.

Me?? Get eliminated. Noooo

Speaking of shows again though...I not 100% certain I am even going to event this year.

I know. I can't believe it either *eye roll*

Will I ever do this again? We may never know 

Considering I havent legit showed one of my own horses in an event in over 3 years, you could say I'm mildly terrified and don't know where my lady balls rolled off to. Putzing around Show jumping shows WITH payback up to 8th place seems much more fun and less stressful right now.

So that might be a little thing.

Sick skills, will def win ribbons
 (2nd time jumping; 2015)

Despite all that, my trainer adores B and thinks he has incredible potential. Obviously I do too, or I wouldn't have bought his crazy ass. So thats a plus.

Majestic potential minus hunchback potato sack on board

On the negative side, Yankee surprised me last night with a fat leg that seemed almost like a non injury at first. I almost wrote it off as stocking up because he was in a full 24hrs due to weather and that happens, but his other leg looked fine. Upon examination I found the root issue; a puncture wound.

It was pretty disgusting. Pus, ooze, grossness. Luckily, I don't think it will need stitches and I will reevaluate after I get home tonight. I cleaned, wrapped it and turned him out for the night anyways, in which he promptly ran around like an asshole in the dark and muddy field.

He has the tendency to freak me out, and has been pushing my patience this week with airs above the ground and running around like crazy in the pasture and now this. He is so fucking bored.

I've been crossing my fingers he keeps his shoes, doesn't upset his tummy and now that he doesn't lose his wrap in the night. Dammit Yanks!!!

On the plus side, Yankee looks incredible. So fat, shiny and dappling out. He honestly looks better than he ever has IMO with me or anyone else. So freaking proud.

SWOON.

March 1 to May 1

Which brings me to my next point; Yankee lease. We will call her V for now, but she's part of the EME family and I am super excited for her! Her goals are training level and Yankee can easily take her there. He basically the master of TL right now haha. That starts May 15th and he moves to The Palace then. I am so stoked. Beyond.

He will be back at this soon!

LASTLY, if you made it this far, stay tuned for a contest post coming up Monday!! By then, we will have Penny Oaks results too and  hopefully I will not have died from the Tough Mudder.

Have a great weekend ya'll!

What Do Wednesday: Rolex

Wow I fail per usual at blogging... though I can say not much happened since I'm not riding Bacardi and Yankee is just getting fat (yay). Super trainer did say that she ADORES B, and I was like oh really now? Winning. Oh also, the blog has some changes, as you can see. More on that later along with a contest AND info on Yankee's new lease, as well as the clusterfuck that is Penny oaks this weekend...

This week was eventful for me though; I switched jobs and spent the weekend in KY doing horsey things...

Keeneland!!

 Yes those are my parents (far right), myself and a very dapper Bangor and my cousin who loves racehorses (far left). We spent the day drinking and betting on the ponies. It was frivolous and fun as shit. Nothing better than feeling fancy and getting wasted.

Sometimes I wear things other than workout gear and breeches

Then...ROLEX!!! Myself, and my two incredibly long time friends came along. C was actually the owner of Lilly for a brief time (if ya'll remember Lilly) and L leased Yankee from me a few years ago as well as grew up with me in 4H and evented a little with her pony back in the day as well.

We skipped out on Dressage and stadium despite being less than 2 hours from Lexington (SWOON/winning) and only went for XC day because its the best anyways. Even when its raining. Which is always.

I prefer to only go to Rolex one day since I hate crowds and people and walking 9 miles a day. There's only so much "away from home" I can take. I like my bed. I like my netflix. I hate packing suitcases and I love my Levi. Though, he did come with me again this year & got so many cookies from strangers, he was in heaven.

Of course, yet again the forecast was for rain, but this year  we were much more prepared with layers (5 of them), hats, rain gear (boots and big umbrellas) & a full change of clothes just in case. They were needed.

Last year 2015, L also came along then too!

Last year I wore a light longsleeve, leggings and tennis shoes. I brought no hat, no boots and no rain coat. Even though the forecast was calling for 40% rain. DUMB. I wore a borrowed thin raincoat. I used a tiny umbrella. I carried my chair everywhere. I got soaked. It was miserable and I wanted to die. All that made up for it was the swag I scored last year.

This year was just as bad. It LITERALLY rained from 10:01 AM until 2:45PM, the exact time XC was running. Of course. I shit you not, we got to Rolex 2 hours early and meandered around, no rain. The minute horse one leaves the box, an almighty downpour began and did.not.stop.

 But we were ready and stayed mostly dry actually! It helped this year we had a tailgate with my barn, and I spent the majority of the day hunkered under the tent eating, drinking and gawking at horses and riders clearing fence 9.

My view for most of the day

Chillen

How the actual fuck do people jump this

So I had a total game plan that day to scout out sales outside, to meet up with bloggers and friends from TX, & watch every fence a little bit and then scour the shopping sales inside, then of course take pics.

I did approximately 25% of that.

For one, the rain made me want to never leave our tent, but we did catch a few fences. Specifically Head of The Lake because its the best and this giant table...

...I literally don't understand how horses can physically jump this and make it look so easy, but they do. So after about an hour and a half of walking and standing and watching a few fences, in the pouring rain, we sat at the tailgate and drank bloody mary's & watched about 11 horses get after fence 9 (see above giant fucking weldons wall).

The rain never let up AND there was zero cell phone service. None. absolutely nothing. No texts, no calls, zilch. Hopeless. My phone was essentially a camera most of the day, and I didn't even take that many pics because of the rain.

So I never got to see anyone, and I was cranky about it. Really cranky.

Then, the shopping was insanely crowded and I wanted to kill everyone. The best part was watching Marilyn Little fall off on the big screen, hahaha. I'm the worst.

I was majorly disappointed in the trade fair this year, simply because I am a cheap bastard and there were no great-oh-my-god-must-buy sales like there were last year. maybe the novelty wore off for me, or maybe I really just didn't need anything, but it was so MEH.  I really was wanting open fronts for under $100 and most of the newfangled boots on display were like $250. BOO. Thats all I wanted and hoped for a sale and none.

Last year BOT had such a good sale I couldn't pass it up, and now I have like 4 things of theirs. Same with the Equiflex leg bandages- I was hoping they would be around this year too, but if they were, I couldn't find them. Stubben too, let me down unlike last year. Everything on "sale" I either still couldn't afford or literally didn't need. I wish I had the expendable income to get things I don't need on sale, but alas, I can't. The one cool thing I saw was these weird round stirrups for like $350. I tried them out and OMG, drool, they feel AMAZING on my ouch knees. That might actually be a major splurge item someday when I'm less broke. Shiiiiiiiny.

What are this

Before we knew it, XC was over and we were like oh wow, we barely did anything today. Luckily, we were walking by the sign that said "Boyd Martin meet and greet 4:30 and it was 3:30. We hopped in line and ended up about 15th in line of about 400 people. SCORE.

I got his signature AND he touched me. I literally mumbled like a schoolgirl when it came our turn and shoved the paper in his face like an idiot. Whomp whomp.

Boyd. Fucking. Martin guys. He is even handsomer in real life and so nice. Not even mad I missed out on THE Rolex champ meet and greet with Michael Jung on Sunday.

Ok maybe a lil mad.

I also got some other signatures as well for good measure. Wish  could've seen Laine walking around like a lot of people did. My problem is that I don't know what they look like without helmets and not on a horse!

Autographs!

After all that, we walked around and looked at the monster jumps everyone tackled throughout the day. It was crazy to see how big they are! I'm 5'9 for reference

So while I enjoyed Rolex and always am awe inspired at the talent right there in front of my eyes...I honestly want to spend next year in my underwear on my couch eating bacon and not killing my feet , spending gas money and getting soaked to the bone to see 1/16 of the rides total. Would have seen more at home watching the live stream for sure.  The deals were not amazing, my game plan totally blew up in my face and it was soaking wet. Might make it an "every other year" kind of thing from this point onward, especially because I want to go to the Dreby next year!

So what I wanted to ask you all is if you went, WHAT DO? How did you stay dry/prepare? Did you tailgate? hunker down inside? What did you buy/see?! And if you DIDNT go, what would your plan of attack be?