Hug A Horse

I was going to write a post about tails & my nice ride today but the combination of working from 7am-5pm (and going to the other job at 6) plus the news that one of my friends today lost a very dear ponyface to colic, made it difficult to summon the energy.

I never knew what it would feel like to lose a horse so close to me until Spirit The Wonder Pony died last spring. I didn't even own him anymore, but I still cried for days and broke down the instatn I heard the news. He was my first eventer and I loved him from the instant I saw his ad in the Dayton Daily News. I loved his scarred nose. I loved his white mane. I loved his speckles. I loved his ginormous head and tiny butt. I loved how he tucked his knees over fences. I loved training him to load into a trailer for hours at a time. I loved him. Funny how horses can touch your souls without you even knowing it.

And then a few weeks ago, with a terribly worded text message, I thought my Yankee was dying and I felt my world crashing down. I literally could not function. It was ridiculous and I never want to feel that way again.

It made me think of my friend. The heartbreak he and his girlfriend must be feeling over the loss of a beloved pony. I texted him condolences and he wrote back, "driving home with an empty trailer is the hardest thing I will ever have to do" and literally burst into tears right there against my pitchfork. I didn't even know what to say to that.

So please, everyone, go hug your horse and remember that even sometimes they duck a shoulder and refuse that coffin line, or have a sticky moment in the canter transition, or wont flex their ribcage to the right, or can't quite get their hind end to stay in line when half passing, or nail that lead change over fences, remember what it would feel like without them giving you hell.

Time for A Poll!

I've noticed that I have 93 followers now, which is awesome! Thank you guys!

It kind of blows my mind since I made this for myself as a journal I could look back on, but I've made so many great interwebz friends that it really is a special thing to me. I don't care how many people wish to read up on us, but its still pretty cool that you guys do, because apparently I have haters on the internet for no good reason.

So, as a little thank you, I thought I would do a contest of sorts when I hit 100 followers (who knows when that will be). I'm not near as crafty as Kate, and I don't have bitchin T-shirts like OTTB Tees but I CAN draw!

WAHOO!

So, my lovely bloggers of the equestrian relm...what would you like the futuristic prize to be? A portrait of your horse? Or is that lame? I have no idea.

Struggle Bus

 (if profanity offends you, you've been warned)

So of course, when I'm in a good place, happy and all that, the universe feels it necessary to pump the brakes and remind me that my life actually does indeed blow. I guess I shouldn't be surprised anymore.

I bet you're saying, "Oh this bitch over herr, she's just an overexaggerater complainer etc etc". But no. Truly, I swear to all that is holy, that I legitimately have the worst luck on the planet when it comes to accidents and unfortunate happenings. I don't really feel like highlighting "The Shitlist of 2012"  but at the top of the list in 2013 I can check off wrecking my car. This seems to be a thing for me. I wrecked my horse trailer in 2010 (brake line busted), totalled a car in 2011 (absolutely my fault), and I got hit by some dumbass in 2012.

This time I can blame it on black ice and a poorly placed cement berm. That motherfucker.

Let me spin a quick tale before we dive into the wonderland that was jumping the other day.

After my day at work & the barn, I headed over to help Jackie clip miss Isis mare at her barn. Afterwards, I decided to stay and hang out a bit, just because. A mere hour later though, there was an inch of snow on the ground and ice to boot. I figured staying the night would be safest and I would dig out my car, take my time driving and arrive safely at work and in one piece.

I took every precaution. Cellphone tucked in my purse. Creepin at 12 MPH. Eyes peeled. But god dammit, it just came out of nowhere. Felt the car starting to slip and I made a halfhearted attempt to fix the situation before I basically threw my hands up and said "This is happening right meow".

In slow motion, I saw the cement bastard coming towards us and I literally saw dollar bills flying out of my purse. Hit it with a crash, ramped, did a 180, and starting sliding backwards down the hill. I spun the wheel, hauled on the E-brake and managed to badassedly spin 180 again, righting myself. I looked around, feeling like a dejected badass, a little upset no one got to see that hot mess in action.

Of course I was only about a minute away from work (shit always happens at the END of the drive) and was able to crawl my sorry little car into the lot, clunking and sputtering. So. We will see how much that little adventure cost me. Pretty sure my axle is jacked and the front is completely out of whack. New tires will probably be in order. Awesome sauce.

Moving on from that little bump in the road (haha, punny), we arrive at how horrid my jumping position has gotten since 2010....

Ahead of the motion, lower leg slight slip

WAY ahead of the motion, leg slipped back

This is 2012, not too bad. But leg too forward

In 2010 I severed (yes, SEVERED) my achilles tendon and 6 months after that, I slipped on ice and broke the same leg. Do you see a trend here with unfortunate happenings? I gained 30 lb since I was on crutches for the better part of 8 months, Yankee stayed home in Ohio and he was leased to 2 of my eventing friends there. I healed, but I never jumped the same after that. Losing 25lbs helped a ton, but that leg is always a bugger and hurts A TON after a lot of jumping.

Struggle bus.

  

 My goal for this jump school was simple, work on my auto release, and keep my crotch in the saddle, lower leg position will follow usually. Shall we gaze upon the perfection that was my position in 2010 (In these pics I was teaching myself auto release-to do so, I have to REALLY exaggerate the movement) as a base line?

Ugh, to look like that again.

Ayla and I set up a simple 2 stride, a tough bending line-corner, 2 strides to skinny, 3 strides to vertical, and a wide oxer.

Yankee was QUITE grumpy, but did everything I asked of him in typical Yankee fashion. He made 3'6 seem boring and was actually kind of lazy. It was exceptionally warm (January's are weird in Missouri I guess. Last year around this time it was 80 deg for a few random days. I actually rode in a TANK TOP I was so hot), so that was nice at least.

Modeling the new pad and breeches!

Yankee looks fabulous here I think! Knees, topline, expression, all great. I thought my seat was still too far out of the saddle, lower leg slipped a little and I didnt get the 'perfect' auto release. No straight line from elbow to bit, though I'm totally using core strength to balance, my hand is just hovering-not using his neck at all.

 This is better for me (granted this was like try 14), but Yankee just looks hella bored, though still even and trying. I like my leg in this picture a lot, back is flat, and I don't feel I'm too behind or in front of the motion. I never did nail the auto release, but if I am counting not using his neck for balance or perching my hands like a hunter, I succeeded.

It takes a cray amount of concentration on my part, and I;m hoping after more practice sessions like this, it will just become muscle memory again.

Hopefully my birthday day goes without a hitch, ha.

Whore Party.

Tack whores that is!

Haha, you guys thought I was lude and crude and a lil bit rude.

Actually I might be. There was a bachelorette party thrown at my house tonight that I was not affiliated with, but somehoe still ended up with margaritas. So I apologize for spelling errors on my page and others. I may or may not have commented on a few blogposts posts or five.

Some of ya'll may know due to Facebook, and or longtime-ish online friendships (yay!) that my birthday is on tuesday. I will be a lackluster and ancient 22. Does anyone notice a trend? I have a warped sense of time. But thats besides the point.

The tack fairy came today and I almost peed my pants.

My mommy got me horsey stuff this year for the b-day, which I was not expecting, because 22 is rather old to get gifties. Nevertheless, I was giddy.

But before that, please, gaze upon the mud monster of shame...

 Don't worry, his other side looks just like that. His owner is going to have lots of fun cleaning that off before her lesson tomorrow.

Luckily? the temps are supposed to drop from 65 to 17 in less than a day and we are supposed to get snow. 2 inches of it. So there's that.

Anyways.

When I left the barn to go home for my lunchbreak (to eat ramen, by the way. Delicious, nutritious and the first choice of poor bitches!) I arrived to find a box!

ERMAHGHERD a box!

You all know what that means! Its like, a sign from god your day is about to be made!

It was full of goodies,

I don't know why its upside down, but it makes me a sad panda. BUT. Can we please look at it by turning our laptops upside down? Why yes, that IS a eurofit pad and kerrits breeches.

Ever since I saw Katherine ride in one I was OMG NEED DIS.

In addition, mum bought these suckers for me and they are on their way from Dover right meow

How fuckng sexual are those?! I'm a sucker for plaid and I've been in love with these since forever. I literally never buy new things though. Even when I HAD money. My current shipping boots are these ratty, sunbleached, disgusting, mice chewed nasties. Like, no exaggeration. And they're covered in mud too.Got them from Ebay for like $3. They need to be retired immediately.

I'm just envisioning my shiny steed stepping off the trailer at a show looking hot in these bad boys.

If we ever get to show.

Anyways.

I rode in the new breeches and pad today-we jumped (pics for the next post), and it was awesome.

I'm pretty sure these are the most flattering pics of Yankee ever taken. So you're welcome.

In addition, the boy might be getting me the meyler combination bit, with new reins (the whore inside me is literally exploding right now) for my birthday, since I've only dropped the hint a million times.

I tried the bit out in June and it was perrrrfect. Literally. the mystery of the illusive magical wonder bit has been solved! I just don't want to spend $155 on one :(

Apologies to those who might think I'm sounding liek a spoiled bitch, but really I'm just excited. I never, repeat, NEVER, get new things and I didn't have to pay for any of this! I have nice stuff, but that is because I worked my ass off, saved up and bought it myself years ago. And then took really good care of it. I'm just excited :D

Jumping pics and post tomorrow!

Death to Mud

Ahhh. Winter.

Full of snow, blowing winds, freezing rain, ice and unseasonably warm days that create abhorrent amounts of mud. Its literally everywhere. I can handle the ice, but the mud just sticks to everything and makes life especially complicated.  I'm getting really tired of scraping mud off beasts, picking chunks out of manes, hosing legs and reducing turnout because the fields are torn to shit, which the ponies loathe. And its only going to get worse. I have mud everywhere. Car. House. Boots. Clothes. Hair?

Wahhhhh.

Miss Isis, Jackie's mare

Mr. Pronto

Lovebirds Fancy and Yanks

I've had horses for over 11 years and not matter what we do, nothing stops the mud monster. Rock, limit turnout, drainage...nothing works. And OF COURSE the retards always stand by the gates and make it worse. You would think they'd use their brains, considering they are all princesses and hate their feet being nasty. Luckily I'm a good horse mommy/babysitter and I hose them off every night when I bring them in :) But it doesn't mean I enjoy it.

What I DO enjoy though is being at the barn every single day. I truly don't know what I would do without my barn time-even if I don't ride. I love making stalls fluffy and raking aisles. Rolling polos. Cleaning tack. Sweeping mats. And my favorite thing in the whole world is hearing happy horses munching hay when I turn out the lights and close the door. I think I would go crazy if I didn't get to hear that every night.

 On a different note, I've had some very good rides lately.

Ayla and I went for a hack earlier this week when it was still freezing outside, but the ponies were happy to get out on the trail and stretch their leggies. Mr. grumpy nose lived up to his name and was exceptionally mehhh about the whole thing but we still put some good work in.

Been lunging when I don't have time to ride. Working on long and low as well as voice transitions. He's nailing it like a boss. I wish I had pictures. He absolutely loves stretching out and trotting with his nose near the ground! I also lunged him over a 3' vertical the other day and he was perfect. I'm REALLY glad I took the time to teach him voice commands as a baby.

I rode Miss Isis yesterday in addition to Yankee and it was awesome! Only the second time I've hopped on her, and we actually tacked up this time. I'm not sure what Jackie had in mind for me to do, but I worked on getting her to soften her neck and not fight the bit. She was fantastic and accepted the exercise very quickly. That mare's trot is to die for and I see some solid 9's in her future. Since she's still gaining muscle back after her injury we only trotted and didn't ride long. Hopefully I can keep riding her :)

Yesterday Ayla and I were going to jump because it was 55 deg., but got lazy and decided dragging standards out was WAY too much work. Luckily the horses did phenomenal with our flat school and we got some pics for once on the flat. Been forever!! I worked with Yankee long and low, keeping his back relaxed and as well as moving forward through contact. 

 

Made me realize how HORRID my dressage position has slipped, yet again. 

I've always had issues with my inside aides as well as crouching, only exacerbated with Yankee's constant need of half halts (inside hand, inside leg through outside aides). I REALLY need to get back into riding shape and strengthen that core!

Ayla had Fancy pants working nicely as well!

They were not amused with our picture whoring.

 Tomorrow I plan on doing more flat work. Maybe later this week I will jump, but since the ground is either mud, soaked or frozen, in addition to freezing temps ( I HATE you people in the south who are all like merp merp merp jump errday no probs), jumping really is not fun or conducive.

 Gettin me some OTTB love

PS. I have decided Blogger is just bipolar with the whole picture thing. I had literally zero issue today.

SERIOUSLY?!

Why in the FLIP is blogger so god damn retarded?!

I have tried literally everything to upload these mother loving pictures and nothing I am doing is working.

Do you know how much of a bitch it is to go through 110 FB albums and pick out pictures you want....twice?!?

Really effing annoying.

All I want to do is blog about Yankees life.

Thats all I want.

That and some chinese food. And an equigold euro style pad. And some shipping boots.

Halp.

A whole decade.

 Hope everyone has a bitchin holiday. MIne was utterly exhausting. I'm actually GLAD to be back in the routine of horses, work, sleep, horses, sleep, work. Like, I can't even.

As you all might be aware, all wittle TBs turn a year older on the New Year and my sweet grumpy nose is officially old as dirt.

He turned ten this year and I almost cried. They grow up so fast. And I feel like he might die tomorrow. I had a panic attack basically thinking about how far we haven't come. We should be at Prelim at this point in his life, I mean come on, he's badass enough.

I WAS going to do this sweet epic blogpost, but after discovering I document my horses' life like a human mother might do with her spawn, I realized this is a large task best delegated to a series of posts, broken up into years.

I also drove over 1,900 miles in the last 6 days and I am thrashed. Going through FB and re-saving all the pics (all have been lost since...thank GOD for social networking) wore my eyes out too, so this post is lackluster and full of suspense at best.

Most of you probably haven't seen pics from 2007-2011 unless you facebook creeped me hard, which is acceptable of course and encouraged. Though for those who havent, don't worry....I have mas amounts of pictorial documentation of our shennanigans when he truly was a little buttface.

To launch this "mini series", I was going to leave you all with a sweet titillating pic tease but god damned blogger is being a little bitch and absolutely REFUSES to work.

Here is the link to my FB if you want to see our first ride in 2007 barely 2 months off the track. I'm also in a tank top and sweatpants. Its beautiful.

(p.s. if blogger doesn't upload the mass amounts of pics I found and resaved I might kill myself over the 2 hours I will have lost. And possibly throw my computer out the window first. Gah)