Better Late Than Never

Ok wow this is like 3 weeks late but better late than never, right? Right.

I might be getting over my second sickness quit well, thanks to the boy, who has been feeding me sickiness meds and making me food and letting me sleep all day while he takes care of my dog and horse. How sweet :D

In bad news, I haven't been able to ride, so thats a bummer. After Thanksgiving, I SWEAR, the pony will get shaved, and go back into at least 4 days a week work.

So here is some picture spam from liek 3 weeks ago. And yes, it is still like 70 dregrees here. Ok not 70, but its still t-shirt weather. I HATE.

He was enjoying our canter in the pasture

Nice reach bud

I love this one...wish it wasn't blurry

My position really blows. I think its because my leathers were too long and I didnt notice. Whatevs.

Also I jumped Yankee Sunday and he was VERY good. The saddle issues were fixed just by moving it back some, so thats a relief!

There are a few videos on my FB of the jumping I did Sunday, but for some reason my retarded phone and computer both fail at life, as usual and I can't link it. Sadface.

Until next time, fellow nerds.

Nerdy For Horses

It was recently brought to my attention that I am a nerd.

Definition-Nerd is a term that refers to an intelligent but single-minded person obsessed with a nonsocial hobby or pursuit. Nerds are generally considered to be awkward, shy and/or unattractive by most,  gains pleasure from amassing large quantities of knowledge about subjects often too detailed or complicated for most other people to be bothered with.  Thus, a nerd is often excluded from physical activity and considered a loner by others, or will tend to associate with a small group of like-minded people.

Impossible. Its not like I play World of Warcraft or anything. Oh wait...

I have like 1000 friends on FB. I do college people things like wear high heels and go out. My hair is always perfect and I never do it. I make random friends by putting my phone number on cars (enter new man interest). I might be awkward, but its hilarious. Maybe I study a bit...but I'm no nerd.

My new man interest though showed me that I am indeed, a nerd....

...nerdy for horses. Which apparently guys find sexy nowadays? Who frecking knew.

But he is right. I pondered about this for approx. 3 minutes and came up with a list (which only solidifies his claim further).

Specific Explanations for Why I am Indeed, a Nerd

-general extreme excitement about horse races on ESPN/ recall stats about racehorses like its common knowledge
-recall stats about major big time sporthorse stallions like its common knowledge
-watching every horse movie, wether or not it is excellent...Derby Stallion...Secretariat...

-owning every horsey movie pretty much ever made
-loudly voicing opinions to no one in particular about horsey Youtube videos (my voice may or may not get nasally and geeky)
-reciting book definitions of ailments, body parts, tack or sports when asked simple questions, like "what color is that horse?" or "What is a handicap race?" (in the same geeky voice)

-continue to spew word vomit till other person shifts nervously in seat and tries to make hasty exit
-57 horse books on my shelf
-trophies in my room, flaunting my semi-successes
-txt pictures of my horse making stupid faces to non horse friends *eye rolls*
-txt pictures of my horse making stupid faces to horse friends
-txt pictures of new tack to other tack whore friends
-Epic shrine dedicated to previous and current ponyfaces
-3 mag subscriptions..diligently poured over
-blogging
-Hating Fuglyblog and reading every. single. comment.
-researching throughout 4 different tack stores for the best value
-new tack is like christmas..no wait, better than.
-sport heroes include Karen O'Conner and Darren Chiacchia, not Babe Ruth or Tim Tebow
-immediately judging a rider/ voicing opinion to nearest person, wether or not I know them/they are a horse person or not

-ditto for horse, but insert words like, F-ing gorgeous, fugly, psycho or drugged up the ass
-drawing horses constantly...this is probably the most nerdy thing I do
-wearing riding clothes to school and finding it normal

-fantazing about trucks and trailers

Its true. I am a horse nerd. I didnt realize it until now.

But its ok.

Speaking of nerdy things like drawing horses so much it becomes weird. I drew this on a study break. Yay.

Go, my friends, be nerdy with me :D

I Didn't Die, I Promise

I've just been supremely busy/hella lazy about blogging. Also I've been waiting on my friend to upload pictures for me, but she hasnt yet....FAIL.

They were really good too, galloping and jumping.

So to catch you all up...

First say hello to fall...

Oh herro ponyface.

It was finally FALL weather (45degrees), for about 2 days. Then we got snow..WTF, then back up to 75. I hate.

I think I left off about 2 weeks ago (maybe longer) with saddle issues. Which I think I figured out, but I will get to that in a bit. 

I gave him a week off since I had midterms. I got raped. I fail at college.

I jumped Yankee last Sunday and it was...interesting. He was crabby as a mo' fo' but still jumped like a champ, just with some extreme bronc action and ear laying. Perplexing.

He refused once (which I got on camera, haha) but otherwise, jumped perfectly. I set up a small course, and one large oxer. I'd say it was about 3ft wide and 3'6 or 3'9, I really have no idea. I have pictures...but they're still on the camera.

After that I gave him a day off, and ever since then I've been riding him every other day, switching it up with Dressage school, hack/gallop and jump ride. I didn't ride over the weekend at though, because I am sick. That WOULD happen to me right as we were getting back in the swing of things and right before TWO massive exams. Excellent.

Here is a video of part of our hack. Its a link to FB, so I don't know if you can see it if you're not friends with me. Droid fails to upload to YouTube=pissing me off.

My ex left town and gave me Big Sexy back...

Winning.

As for the saddle/dressage issues. I MIGHT have figured it out. MAYBE. It might have been a fluke, but we will see come Thursday (when I can ride again).

I rode him once without adjustment and he was just ok, still had some stiff trot work, but I kept him busy with transitions and lateral work (which seemed to help a bit).

The big change I noticed was when I moved his saddle back. A LOT. Like, where you would think it shouldn't be. BUT it made a massive difference. No more stiff ponyface, glorious trot work and he held impulsion in his haunches in all the way down the long side.

Win?

Hopefully I can try my theory out more this week after Thursday, but I have GOT to study/get better. I'm trying to wrangle my friend Ben into lunging him for me so he isn't sitting around getting crabby and lazy. He seemed to enjoy the every other day attetion/rides.

And here are some pictures of his cookie face. He is adorable.

Ok, well thats a yawn, but still adorable.

Here is a video.

I'm becoming the crazy cat-horse lady. I literally have like 100 pics of him on my phone.

I am possibly the most boring person ever, unless its Friday.

2 Steps Forward, 1 Step Back

I know, thats not the saying. But, thats what happens when you own an OTTB.

He never fully regresses; he will be brilliant one day, and hardly remember anything the next time. He never goes full on tard, but he gets close.

I think I tried to teach him too many things at once (sidepassing, counter canter, flying changes, extensions, etc) and he got his lil' TB brain is a twist and regressed slightly to retarded 5 year old stage where he cricks his neck, stiffens up in the shoulders and refuses to move forward.

Silly pony.

For a while (May-present) he was progressing so quickly in everything I presented to him, I kept thinking to myself, "this is too good to be true." It was.

Taking lessons againhas really helped us, and Liz has given me a few tools to work with him on loosening his neck , jaw and shoulders. I tried them out Monday, after our Friday lesson and he was MAGNIFICENT. Absolutely wonderful! I was beyond elated and stoked that we *finally* worked through a major issue without falling back in our training.

Fast forward to Wednesday.

He barely remembered a thing, it seemed. Still stiff, still "stuck" in the front and just outrageously ridiculous. I was getting SO frustrated. How can he be this inconsistent? Even during the ride, he's have some great moments, but then start tripping everywhere, falling in or out, throwing his nose up, and disrespecting my aids. He just kept getting more and more tense and it took all of my willpower ( I literally was telling myself, relax, relax) to not get tense too and carry on.

Partially, I think it was the weather. It went from 80 to 40 in 6 hours, and the last two days have been rainy and gross, so he stayed in (no haircoat!) and the nights have been rainy/gross/33 degrees. Missouri weather blows.

So, here I am...confused and frustrated.

Wondering what could be causing this...I have ideas.

*TB brain

*cold weather

*saddle not fitting?

*bad riding

*lack of work (3 days a week)

*it was dinnertime

*grumpy in general

*......

At least he is still adorable.

Cold Weather; A Love Story...and Some Art

It is finally chilly here in good ole' Missouri at 41 degrees this morning! Forecast: fricken cold at night and not much warmer during the day....YAY!

I am super stoked because it has been 80+ since the beginning of October and its messing with my equilibrium. My body craves sweatshirts and long pants and HOT coffee and long hikes and trail rides in the woods and fuzzy horse necks...but in 80 fricken degrees that is impossible.

Everyone (who loves fall) is miserable. Sweaty, hot and disgusting is just not awesome when all you want is to bundle up and be cold :) I'm awkwardly weird, I know.

I am NOT a hot weather person. I LOVE fall, and am madly in like with winter. Save for February. February is the most pointless month of the year. Nothing fun happens in February, and by that time, even I am sick of wintery snow and icey grossness.

I can't remember a time when I didn't love the cold. There is just something wonderful about a deliciously chilly morning at the barn...watching the horses' breaths poof out of their fuzzy noses; appreciating the brilliance of the firey leaf colors, or the sharp blue quality of ice and snow; loving the sound of horses munching hay, all warm and toasty in their stalls or paddocks; hearing the crunch of leaves or snow underfoot; feeling absolutely cold, but ALIVE!

HOW IS THIS NOT AWESOME?!

I think thats why I love fall and winter so much...I feel SO alive! I can't describe how much I appreciate life in the winter. Maybe its because, for some wildlife, its a daily struggle to stay alive and I appreciate the fact that I can be warm and my horse is well fed and warm as well. Or maybe its just the absolute beauty that is fall and winter. To me, Summer is FUGLY...brown grass...thunderclouds in the sky...sweaty beasts and people. Gross.

Plus, I freaking love hot coffee, piles of blankets, soup, fireplaces, hoodies, winter boots, thick socks, bathrobes, dog sweaters, christmas trees, sleigh bells, snow, scarves, and fuzzy horse coats. None of that is possible in summer! What do I love in summer? Air conditioning. Thats about it.

Speaking of fuzzy horse coats, Yankee is slowly growing his in. And by slowly, I mean it basically just stands on end right now and got a titch thicker. No real length growth has been acheived. TB horse coat fail. Good thing his momma loves him and has blankets for him when temps drop below freezing this week.

In other news, been doing a bit of dressage work...bareback. I think I am just gonna go sans saddle for a while, I'm really liking it...its giving me some wicked abs. Been working on getting silly TB to relax at the trot and get some beautiful transitions. Sucks not being able to rid emore than 3 days a week, all in a row, so I am going to try to make time for him today and wednesday, as well as the weekend.

In other other news...I've been artsy!! I'm trying to get people's portraits done like I promised, but since I'm just doing sketches, for free, they are low on the priority list, lawl. However I did do one of Miss Gogo for Andrea, SprinnklerBandit and my friend Sela... also uploaded a pic of my first project for ya'll to see...finally.

My Project, finished

Gogo mare

Izzy, for SpinklerBandit

Chance, for a non-blogger friend, Sela

Kleinmare, for Stacey

Have a splediferous Monday and don't forget to hug your horses :)

Video Dump

Yeah, I bucked up and jumped this big guy.

Here's another video doing a simple line. Its muy interesanto.

He is terrifying!!

If this guy wants to refuse, he does, and there is no stopping that massive shoulder from ducking. I about fell off once, and I rarely fall. Unless your name is Yankeepants and you throw a dirty refusal mid XC round, then I doubt I am coming off you. I had to grab mane a good 4 times though on this guy. Really, all he needs is a stronger bit, because a snaffle is line twine in his mouth...useless. Pretty difficult finding a drafty-strong gag or elevator though.

Pronto is my friend Hannah's horse and if you're new to this blog, Pronto is half percheron/half TB and is a MONSTER. I'm pretty sure he is about 18hh, or over. I must stick him to find out. I look tiny on him and I'm 5'9.

Anyways, I also jumped my horse, bareback and it was a success (Droid upload to youtube FAIL). He jumps so well without a saddle. Its a travesty I can't compete bareback.

Fun fact, my sophomore year in High School, I didn't ride with a saddle at all. It was so much fun and my balance and core got wicked tight. You should try it sometime!!

In other news...I'm working on a MAJOR art ptoject for class, so I apologize profusely to thouse who haven't gotten a drawing yet...I am so tragically busy and then this whole Andrea/Gogo gifting thing and midterms....they're coming.

About the project...we have to draw a moment in our lives that impacted us the most but make it so no one knows what that is. DIFFICULTNESS.

I was debating between my car accident and them moment I knew I wanted to ride horses forever...of course I chose horses...DUH.

To do this without being obvious of intent, I am going to draw a child version of myself in a grassy field with all the horses that have impacted my life the most. So that would be, Dolly, Spirit, Yankee, a horse named Jack and my mini, Zephyr. 2 chesnuts, a bay, a grey and a palomino. perfect :) I will definetly keep you updated with pictures.

Saying Goodbye to Gogo

I never thought this day could possibly come.

I never thought I would be this emotional about someone else's horse...but I am.

Everytime I see a status from Andrea on FB, tears well in my eyes.

Tonight, she posted a picture riding Gogo bareback for the last time and I lost it.

Andrea's strength is courageous. I could never survive the heartbreak she is going through.

Know this girl, you did everything you could have, and Gogo couldnt have asked for a better mom. We ALL know your pain and we ALL sympathize. We love you, and want you to know we are here for you.

Losing a best friend and partner is inconceivable, and I can only watch from afar and cry with her.

Everyone, please, keep both of these amazing girls in your thoughts tomorrow and send Gogo a farewell. She was an amazing animal and she will be missed by an incredible amount of people.

Find peace, Miss Gogo...fly in heaven and enjoy bossing Pegasus around.