Round Two, Part Three

As promised, I was able to finish clipping the beast last night. That makes it the second session for the second session of the year. Ha. 

First time I clipped a very low trace with chevrons (because chevrons)! 

I most likely did it too early since he grew it all back in 4 weeks, but it needed to be done. No one wants to be working in 80 degree weather with a winter coat.

If you're not caught up, I randomly decided to re clip him on Monday, but my blades were terribly dull and I'm currently nursing a shoulder injury and I only got one side finished. 

Yesterday I came into some cash and logically spent most of it on clipper blades. Because clipper blades are more imperative than gasoline or food, obviously. That can wait one more day. 

It was then that I discovered that I have a real problem, when I realized I now own four sets of clipper blades; 3 very old and very fucked up sets and one shiny new set. 

Halp. 

At $40/set, I should probably just find a blade sharpener guy...but no. Going to the store is easier and probably just as expensive as getting them sharpened, right?

There's nothing like new blades though. 

Something is very satisfying about smoothly cutting through horse hair like a hot knife through butter. 

Bacardi pleased me as well, by standing stock still for this session. A radical

improvement from last year with drugs and sedation and several sessions. The only thing he was skeptical about was trimming his muzzle. I'm pretty sure he though that the clippers were some sort of horse nose devouring machine and he wouldn't let me near his muzzle with them turned on. However, clipped his face just fine. Good man. 

I got a little squirrelly and kept making adjustments to the clip. 

He kinda of reminds me of a dragon with  bright red polos and chevrons all over, but I think it's....creative. Not exactly what I was going for, but that's what I get when I freehand with my left arm. 

Good news is he looks really dapper with tack on and I can't wait to get more pictures...when I can actually ride again. 

Didn't get great news from the specialist today, and we are rushing to get an MRI. Fingers crossed I don't need surgery, since I just visited the hospital less than 8 weeks ago and was FINALLY  getting back in the groove. 

So it looks like no lesson Monday and I'm being grounded for now. 

Why does this always happen :/

Pain and Serenity

Most adults who adult are very familiar with the notion that we must adult in order to have pony time. But to have pony time, sometimes we must shirk adulting duties. It's a rather unfortunate catch 22 I'm becoming more and more familiar with. 

Lately, life has been super overwhelming and coping is not my strong suit. Usually I'll sit down and make an attack plan and then really look at it and panic and go lay in bed and watch Netflix. 

Coping. 

I was unfortunate enough to have an entire 9 days to adult while Bacardi recovered from an uncharacteristically short trim. I played it on the safe side since we aren't competing, and gave him almost a full two weeks off. Why not right? 

Unfortunately because I am a terrible adult, I used most of my free time at night to go to bed early and left my to do list hidden away in my planner. CANT SEE IT DONT NEED IT. 

This left me with a million things to do  in the shirt span of a few days, and a personal injury to deal with and I almost imploded. 

A trip to the barn was needed. 

I'm finding if I don't have time or reason to ride, I fully skip out on visitation completely. My inner adult can't justify spending the gas to make a trip out just to pet and love horse, but sometimes it's really needed. 

If anyone is not yet aware, 7 years ago I fell off my horse and shattered my elbow. After surgery and PT it still is "stuck" and I can't fully extend it. For about 6 of those years it never really mattered. But then I started Crossfit and a lot of the work we do is overhead. Like a lot. And I can't extend my arm. Lifting is hard for me. To compensate, I keep my left arm bent in all overhead lifts as well, which really isn't conducive to gainz. And apparently, naturally, over the last 7 years my body has guarded my elbow and in turn my right shoulder is wearing down more and more. 

I finally addressed the issue with repeat therapy when I maxed out at 130# overhead for lifting and normal everyday things became painful. I rarely lifted overhead, and when I did I kept it well under 95# (which is cake). Essentially, I've been babying it for well over a year and extra babying it for the last 3 months and it's only getting worse due to the natural anatomy of the injury. Since crossfit is about 85% shoulder work, I've been doing a lot of nothing the last 5 weeks besides squatting and getting fat. It's depressing. 

Boiled down, my shoulder is fucked despite trying my best to strengthen it slowly, and I tweaked it putting my hair up (yes, putting my hair in a ponytail) 4 days ago and I've been unable to move my right arm at all. 

Problematic. And excruciating. 

My PT thinks I finally tore my rotator cuff (they had been thinking it was gradually tearing after 7 years) and recommended I go see a specialist. I finally agreed (I had been putting off because money) and I see them Thursday. 

Anyways, in the meantime,I can't really ride or do anything else. 

So logically I scheduled a XC schooling lesson for next Monday and decided clipping my horse was necessary. 

I originally had come on Monday to pay my visiting dues and stuff his face with carrots and apologize for being a terrible horse mom. Then I saw how fuzzy he got in the 9 days since I saw him last. 

Naturally, my clipper blades were really dull and my normal clipping arm was out of commission. 

Fuck it. 

I also was like yeah let's add another chevron for good measure, doing this freehand with my left arm is a great idea. 

Not. 

But I was justified with like 200+ on Instagram so I guess it's fine (lolamirite). Minus B standing like a complete moron, I suppose I can live with it. 

My blades completely shit out after I did the left side, so right side is still pending until further notice (hopefully tonight). We have professional (free!) pictures being taken Sunday and I kind of need him looking spiffy. 

Then, because I didn't want to go home yet, I threw him on the lunge to see what was what with his toes. 

Tacking up one handed is harder than you think, btw. 

He was REEALLY really lazy. Which I was okay with for once. Puttered about for 15 min and I called it a day. 

Later, because I still didn't want to go home, I just sat there, listening to the horses munch hay. 

I will say it forever, there is NOTHING like it. Nothing compares to the soft sounds of horses snuffling about in their stalls, munching their hay, being adorable and majestic. It cures what ails you, every time. And for that I'm thankful. 

Also, happy Veterans Day!! Thank you to all who serve this great country 

It's The Season

Some shameless self promotion here. 

I know there are several bloggers out there with unique and talented art skills. I do not claim to be one of those. But I'm not ashamed to beg so I'm putting myself out there again this year, offering up my skillz and time in exchange for things like American money, chipotle gift cards or other fun things, like paying my entry fees next year or my medical bills. 

I dabble in painting and actually taught drunk people how to make pictures for a few years (shout out to wine and paint bars everywhere) and I've carried the tradition of doing some commission work over Christmas. 

"Specializing" in pet portraits, I can also do landscapes or even sketches of pets or other misc things if your heart desires. 

Some examples. 

So if anyone is interested, shoot me an email (vollmermonica@gmail.com), text me if you have my digits, or even better-Facebook. 

Prices are roughly as follows (based on size and material cost)

Pet portraits $50-$60

Pet sketches $25

Landscapes $40

CHRISTMAS IS COMING

Change of Hand

Now that it is super official I suppose I can break the news about my first OTTB love, Mr. Yankee. Even though he is hundreds of miles from me, I still think about him everyday and minorly stress about him constantly. 

It's very difficult to trust others with your precious horsebeasts, and after being his sole rider for almost 10years, it was tough to adjust to not making every decision regarding his health and training. It was a little nerve wracking but after I adjusted, it was easier to watch from afar. That doesn't mean I still don't worry about him, but I had realized I could do all I could with him, as his talents outgrew my confidence. 

Almost one year ago I sent him off to Kansas to be with a family I had known for years. They were serious competitors with the means to get Yankee to places he was capable of going. They had successfully competed and qualified for the AECs many years in a row and I had no qualms sending him to live with them. Their goals with him were to try and bring him to prelim and beyond & have him as a solid mid level, if not upper level competitor. I was confident Yankee was the horse to take them there. 

Due to circumstances I'm choosing to keep off my blog (you may message me privately if you wish, and ask), the lease termed with them and my dearest friend Jackie, is taking over. There's no bad blood between anyone, things just didn't work out as planned. 

Do they ever with horses though, really?

Jackie has appeared on my blog often, and actually half leased Yankee years ago. That's how we met, and the rest is history. Since then, she's probably ridden Yankee hundreds of times and competed him in a few shows herself. There's no I trust more in this world, with my own life, so Yankee in her care is of no worry to me. Originally, over a year ago,I had wanted her to lease him but a new job and a new location & gradnschool had prevented that from happening, so I am pretty happy my plans have come full circle. She plans to pick up literally where he was left off in August, competitively striving for Prelim and beyond. Left suddenly with the prospect of paying for board for two horses and no way to cover that expense, Jackie is not only a beautiful and talented saint, but a fucking lifesaver. 

Although Jackie is relatively new to eventing, she is one of the most capable jumper riders I've ever met. She has more lady balls than I ever will have, and remains the only person to have jumped Yankee over 5ft. 

My issues with eventing stem from jumping, and Yankee is the type of horse that absolutely cannot be dropped or not ridden towards a fence. He must know you're just as devoted to getting over as he is. I swear that boy knew the second I had doubts about a fence. Our struggles with XC was no ones fault but mine. I've literally closed my eyes coming up to a fence before and news flash, you need your eyes open to ride. I'm pretty sure this horse would jump anything under 3'3 with anyone at any skill level, but 3'6 and above, he needs to know you're with him and not just a passenger. 

I am confident that with practice in dressage, Jackie will be that rider to pilot him through his first prelim and do it with more success than I ever would be able to. 

I had bought Yankee with the mindset that he would be my first FEI level horse, but teenager me didn't realize the training it took to retrain an OTTB and the money it takes to compete. Monetarily it was never possible for me as a teen or even in college, and now he's creeping up there in age. At 14, now I would just be happy to see him do one 1* and then be able to truck my kids around novice competitions until he tells me it's time. 

Until then though, and for an undetermined amount of time, BFF extraordinaire will be considered his sole caretaker, rider and leasee & I'm looking forward to their story unfolding. Stay tuned for a lot more coverage on this new-ish partnership as it unfolds!

Mic Drop

Prepare yourselves for an epic pic bomb post. For one, The Boy was fantastic and was not only my jump crew, but also my videographer, and for two, the Red Nugget was beyond good. Like super duper good. Like super duper what-horse-am-I-riding good. 

I'm getting ahead though. 

I was putting off posting because I was debating writing that WP post I had threatened, then Amanda's post about ML bitting choices literally blew up (coverage now on EN and people on COTH throwing themselves into shit fits) and we only need one scandalous blogpost a week...& then I had to capture screenshots from the videos and get them uploaded and then adulting happened. Per usual. I'm a terrible blogger.

Sunday though, was particularly wonderful. 'Twas a Sunny, crisp and brisk fall day. I had big plans to get some jump schooling in on The Bae and was super stoked I actually had someone to video (yay boyfriends!) . No pressure or anything. 

I tried to match everyone accordingly, not realizing my shirt and breech piping was a completely different shade of sea foam green than my belt, pad & polos, but it semi worked out. Because we all know outfits are just as important as the riding. 

Snazzy fresh

The warm-up felt amazing. He was loose, forward and alert. Since he was there, I demanded asked The Boy to make himself dizzy videoing our flatworm warmup. He obliged, and despite the weird lighting outside, nabbed some really great videos of Bacardi's HELLA improvement on the flat. I forsee many more schooling/showing cameraman duties for that boy. He does not know what he's gotten himself into *evil cackle*

Swoon

So much fall

Now if only my inside hand would stop floating downwards, these would be perfect. Despite mentally thinking "inside hand up up up" it still creeps back down. Damn muscle memory! Fuck you!

Despite my wayward and misbehaving inside hand, B still managed too look no less than stunning.

Can we please?

Like holy sexual

I'm a big fan of his tail flips for some reason, even though someone commented on it previously on Instagram all judgemental n' shit, positive he's in pain, of course- I think they're fun pictures. He's always done this, even in the field, and I find it makes for some wicked cool pictures. But that's just me. 

Tail flip to the haters

I digress. 

Overall, steady and monumental improvement from even a few short months ago. He's lengthened his frame, become more active behind and remained engaged through his topline. So much progress I can't even. 

After the wamr-up, he was feeling really ready to jump. Before we even started jumping, I knew he would be a little "UP". It was a cold day and it was slightly windy, not to mention he's really starting to learn how to use himself and love jumping. I figured I would have a little pistol on my hands, but B really wasn't awful or out of control like he can get sometimes. 

Nothing a half halt cant handle

That being said, Mr Zoomy Pants was very consistent. He jumped all the warm ups well and only bobbled when I did (still a little out of riding shape here). 

ATTACK!!

I practiced a few courses (keeping in mind that the zoomies were prevalent) while the jumps remained low and was thoroughly impressed with his progress on stringing things together. Even with the zoom zooms, he's making progress. 6 months ago it was impossible for him to even jump two jumps in a row. He was just too weak and inexperienced. Darting between fences, refusing, falling forward on landing and generally being a giant mess of legs was our life. I wondered if it would EVER get better.

6 months later, we still have minor bobbles after landing, but with a few half halts and steady & calm contact he comes right back. He can do lines without falling apart, and we don't lose "it" after 6 fences. Hashtag, proud. 

 He went from the extreme zoomies, to landing like this-nice and balanced and relaxed. Floored. Absolutely boggled by this horse sometimes, in a good way.

And here's some more pictorial evidence, because pics. 

After four run throughs of our little course, I asked The Boy to raise a few jumps and focused on jumping them cleanly (hehehe, YAS, be my slave assistant)

I hope I can get the videos to post soon, because it's REALLY cool to watch and even more cool to ride. B has this amazingly powerful and collected canter to single fences. I feel like I'm floating. And then he rockets over the jump while I struggle to stay with him haha. 

Fav

One day I will figure it out, but I've never ridden a horse with such a powerful jump as him. I truly think this guy can and would jump well over 5ft, easy. Those standards are about 9ft (unecessary IMO), for comparison purposes. 

There was one refusal and I felt it 5 strides out and did nothing. So that was my bad. 

aaaaand thats about to be a runout

Oopsie.

Otherwise though, when I'm mostly doing my job, this guy delivers. 

Lets not discuss my position, I'm aware it has fallen by the wayside *laughs nervously*. Maybe one day I will learn how to ride.

That aside, I'm totally and 100% in love with this horse. And I can say that I have been from the day I saw him on Facebook, many many months before he even went up for sale. It may not have seemed like it with all my frustrating posts and aggravated words in the past, but I truly have. We all have those horses that we have to work extra hard with, but once it clicks, it's worth every excruciating minute. Right?

My favorite is silencing the haters. So. Many. People. told me to give up on him. Sell him. Get rid of him. That he wasn't worth my time. That I wasn't good enough to deal with him. That I was a horrible person for speaking about him in a negative light. And it did hit me a little. I started to believe it, just a little bit. But I knew deep down this horse was something. I kept telling myself that it would be worth it, it would be, and to keep pushing. 

Happy pony doing happy things

Happy girl on a happy horse

And I think he's proved that. He's really grown up. He's going to be something someday, even if that something is just MY horse. He's mine. And want the haters to suck it. Because he's fucking fabulous. 

Tail flip....

......and kiss our beautiful asses

To the rest of you, thank you for reading this blog and following our story and never giving up on us. Thank you for all the kind words of encouragement along the way. I love all of you!