FML...Again

So 2 days after my "happy post" I get in a pretty god-awful car accident.

Awesome!

Now my life is back to its f***dom and I am yet again freaking out.

The worst part is that the wreck was my fault and I wasnt driving my car, it was Brandon's and its totally wrecked. The entire front end is gone up to the engine...completly shaved off as easy as a hot knife through butter. FML FML FML FML!

Not only did I total my boyfriends car, his mom is pissed, both our insurance rates will go sky-high now and I have to go to court and pay some hefty fines. AWESOME.

I was minimally hurt, burns on my left arm and severely sprained fingers and wrist from the airbag but other than that, just a massacred conscience. I feel like a total asshat. "Look mom, look what I can do! Stop traffic on a major highway for over an  hour!"

However, I feel lucky to be alive. If the other car had been a fraction of a second slower (she hit me at 75 MPH) I would have been smashed by her car, not the front end of the car I was driving. The other driver was totally fine, just scared since I spun her car off the road into a ditch. Her car was barely damaged too, just the windsheild and a rather large dent in her passenger side door.

So this means no riding for another week, and after that slow walking, no fast work or even trotting since I can't grip anything with my hand.

FML FML FML

Moving Time and Big Updates

In September that is.

I started working at Liz's barn yesterday and HO-boy is it a TON of work compared to Cheryl's. I will gladly take the hours, but wow, lotsa things to do. Her horses are out at pasture almost 24/7 so you have to bring them in to feed and turn back out when they are done, and there are a bajillion stalls, buckets and aisles to clean, and we have to water and drag the arena everyday but I LOVE the place :) The horses are very well mannered (with one exception and he is year old, but not that bad) and there is the oldest mare and she is just too cute :)

I'm excited about moving Yanks there...he will have a FREAKING PASTURE to romp and be a horsey in 12 hours of the day and OTHER HORSES to play with!!!! He's been by his lonesome since October of 2010 and I can tell its getting to him. He loves playing with buddies! Pasture is SO good for horsies :)

He will be in the lower barn the self care barn, and it is so quaint! He has a nice roomy stall, a small, gravel paddock, fan, bar stalls and a lookout at  his aisle door as well as a hay rack (yay for not wasting hay!). Only downside is he is at the opposite side of the barn away from the other self care horses, but when he goes out, he will be able to play. Because of that, when he is in during the day, I don't want to shut the back door to his stall because it is solid and has no lookout...soooo I broke down and bought a stall guard. One of those huge, solid looking ones so at least he can look out and see other horses. 

I'm excited! Hannah is even trying to move out to Liz's because Cheryl is craaaaaysay and fired her too AND raised board on her. I miss riding with her, so I hope she can.

I rode Yanks for the first time in 3 weeks yesterday...he was excited to be out but good. I didn't do much since he is WAY due for shoes (Friday!)  and wanted to take it easy after 3 weeks off. He looks brilliant! Wish I took pics...fat and shiny :)

As for my life, it's better. I knew it'd get better but I can't help but worry and feel down. My wonderful mom stepped up and made me a deal. She help me pay off my debt and electric bill, and I will be re-homing my big dog.

I thought about it and its prolly for the best. She is a herding dog, and is way too fat and bored stuck in my apartment. She sleeps all day, but she began a bad habit of chewing pens and trash. She is bored and I feel bad for her. If anyone wants a free, sweet doggie who is truly good, just bored in my house, you can have her. She comes with all her things, like bed and crate and bowls and stuff. I'm pretty sad, but I think it will improve her quality of life.

Who couldn't love that face!

Classes start Monday and I'm actually looking forward to it, but my schedule really bites. M/W I have class from 10-11 then not again till 3:30 and that lasts till 5 (ack!). T/ThH suck worse though, 11-5 straight, no breaks. Friday is cool, I have one class and thats my 10-11...I feel like come winter I will be skipping that one big time...I graduate in MAY!!!!!!!! I'm trying to get into grad school though and I need to take that grad school test thing...I hear its difficult. HA.

I've been on a "diet" for about a week now and I've noticed a difference along with working out, riding and barn work. I also have not been eating fastfood all month. I eat a breakfast replacer milkshake or bar which keeps me full for about 4 hours, I eat a light snack of a bar or fruit or a slice of meat with creamcheese spread at 11, a cob salad with light dressing for lunch  at 2 and usually chipotle (when I work) or some other light dinner consisting of protein and some sort of carb at 6 or 9. Itssss working! I bought size 12 jeans today!!! I was a 14 a few months ago..my normal size is a 10 so only one more size to go! YAY me! 

As for YOU guys...I love you all! you are SO supportive! I feel like some of you are some of my best friends and I love having you all to ask advice, share experiences and get support from. And of course, I love reading all your blogs!

Horsey Jobs

Or internships really....

Anyone have any wicked cool places they work or would like to work?

I can only think of practical horseman the magazine and Newvocations Horse adoption...I'm drawing a blank on some of the big name companies...

Maybe Devon-Aire or something. Hmmm.

I need an internship, or a job after I graduate and I honestly just don't know of how to get with said companies...can't even find email addresses or anything for stuff like that.

Suggestion s oh dear readers? You've always had lovely advice :)

As for the pony? He is fat and happy after his 3 weeks off. I will start light riding him in tomorrow!

Greg Best Clinic

My friends Ayla and Nancy rode with Greg Best yesterday. He is doing a 3 day Showjumping clinic here this weekend. I almost did it since its Greg-freaking-Best, but since it was $250 a lesson I sat it out. TWO FIFTY A LESSON? Are you high? Also,  he was a big meanie jerk-face anyways so I am glad I ended up just watching. Not that I learned much...

I was really excited to watch, since it is the famous Greg! He rode Gem Twist in the Olympics and won 2 silver medals in Showjumping. I thought I would learn a ton from this guy, since he has done it all SJ wise.

Alas, I learned only that "horses need to be straight after a fence". A-duh. Everyone knows that. He did not focus on any of the riders ACTUAL goals or problems, but merely chose his favorite "pretty" pair and worked with them the most while the others either stood there or trotted meekly around. I was pissed for them.

In 2 1/2 hours, they jumped all of 2 jumps and he spent the majority of the time yelling at them telling them how much they suck. Literally. I was in awe just at his mean-ness, not his brilliant teaching skills, like I was expecting. 

They spent over and hour on canterwork and by the time they came around to jumping, the horses seemed pretty tired, espechially the pony and the little girl. This was a BN group with young horses (well the pony was old and fat, but very safe for a little girl) and they were getting anxious/exhousted about being out there so long. Overall, I was dissapointed with his teaching and how rude he was, even to the little girl, she had to be but 7. I felt bad for my friends, who basically overpaid a guy to yell at them and not constructively give them anything to work on.

Greg did have one good peice of advice....oh wait, no he didn't.

In other news, I have been laying in my bed/couch for 2 days, too depressed to ride or do anything. I've had the days off from work, so literally, I have done nothing except go to meetings with my advisors at school. I either sleep, or lay in bed watching netflix. Its a fun pity party. Hopefully it passes soon.

Speaking of Gem twist....Who do you think is better? Click their names for video.

Gem Twist (Gem Twist 2) or

Milton? Milton 2

The 2nd video of each is at the same show in Stockholm 1990.

I vote Milton actually. He was so much lighter, quicker and nimbler then good ole Gemmy. Both amazing horses, but I prefer Milton.

Sometimes I feel like I should become a SJ, they can make SOOOO much $$. You never see an Eventer get rich from the sport, but damn, SJ bring in some bank!

My Horse Is Rich...I Am Just His Shitty Accountant

Bad news comes in droves instead of 3's for me apparently.

Long story short (long story can be viewed down the page if you are really that curious),due to some unexpected bad news and expenses I am broke and asked my mom for $ and now she wants me to "cut costs"...meaning get rid of all my animals...and possibly my horse.

No. Way.

Thats like asking a mother to put her children up for adoption, right now.

I can't possibly imagine losing my wonderful animals that give me so much joy and love in my house let alone fathom losing my courageous, beautiful, sweet, strong ponyface.

I feel like it can't get any worse right now. But I know it can, still though.

I love my mom and appreciate her help...but man, I just can't :(

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Ok for the LONG STORY if anyone wants to know.

Bad news #1

I am in college, most know this. I pay for college with financial aid through the VA, benefits from my mother serving in Iraq. She gives me the benefits graciously, since she has no need for the money. Thank you mom!

Anyways, the benefits expired in June. We were not aware of this and I continued living like normal. Now, 2 weeks from Fall semester, I find out that I have a hold on my account due and no stipend to past due tuition. WHAT?

I owe over $12, 000...tuition the VA usually pays. Since it is automatic payments, I never think anything of it. Usually, there is a delay in payments, since there are so many cases to handle, but my University withdraws holds from VA students automatically since they know the payments from the VA take longer. I saw the hold, and assumed it would go away in 3 days, per usual, since this always happens. However, EXPIRED benefits are different from WAITING on benefits. I had to re-apply for another year, and that can take months....

The biggest, worst part of that is I depend on is my living stipend, whihc is substantial. I did not come through August 1st like it should have. I know I could not have pets, or my  horse, but they are my life. Always have been. Since I am in college, when class is in session, I cannot work full time like I do in summer (and even then, I make minimum wage), so I depend on that stipend.

I budgeted my $ for that (the stipend to come through) to happen....I am now FLAT broke. Like, $90 in my account.

Bad news #2

Since I overdrafted, I now owe over $400 to my bank...

Bad news #3

Cheryl kicking me out...that took care of $400 worth of expenses, me being able to work that off...now that adds $400 worth of expenses a month.

Bad news#4-6

We got raped on our electric bill, no thanks to my management here at my appartments. I have been telling them, SOMETHING IS FREAKING WRONG with my AC unit and is running my electric bill up to massive amounts. Last month it was $193. We turned the AC up to 75 deg instead of 65 deg and keep all our lights off (my apartment is like a cave, haha). Apparently, this did not help since our bill this month was...$298!!!!!! WTF!!!! For a 600sq/ft apartment. My mom has a 3 story, 14 bedroom house and keeps her house at 60 and she doesn't even top $150. FML.

Also, our manangement is redoing the parking lots. They gave us diagrams and dates of work, so that we could move our vehicles accordingly. I stuck strictly to it, since I could not afford a tow. WELLLLL, they did an area early, and didn't tell anyone and lo-and-behold my truck got towed. Awesome, guys. Real excellent.

ON TOP OF ALLLL THAT, our lease expires in October and we have to renew it. Our apartment complex got bought out by a different company. This company is a bunch of bigot racist money whores and I am quite upset with the whole business. They are in the process of kicking out all the people they don't like, even if they are approved (aka families on welfare) and only accepting young, white college aged students. OUR ISSUE arises with the lease renewal. They are making us RE_effing_APPLY and charging us $520 in expenses, app fees and whatnot...thats not even counting the new lease price or the new parking fee...what the fuuuuh!? We've lived here a YEAR and never once been late on rent...some months we even paid extra so the next month we would have a step up...

Bad news #7

Schoolbooks are expensive.

FML.

Vaca Sucks...Sometimes

I hate vaca sometimes. 

Only sometimes though. Cuz there are cute little goats to pet at the fair. Check out the awkward tan ( super brown arms and face...white, pasty legs)

My sweet pups in the car. Zoey likes to lay on Tonka sometimes...

....he obviously does not care.

But mostly I hate vaca...I gain like 7 lbs because I have 2 families stuffing food in my face and I am a poor college girl so free food is like, GOLD.

But I miss my horse, tons.

But I also get a break from work and school...which is much needed

But I also have to deal with two families shoving food in my mouth all day :P....

Anyways, I am back and ready to ride. I was going to give Yanks 2 weeks off, but I can't not ride my horse...what was I thinking. I won't be doing competition conditioning or work, just hacks and a few dressage schools here and then. And some jumping, of course.

On the boarding front, I found a place. Pro's-she will let me work off board and lessons, indoor, outdoor, XC, amazing dressage instructor. Con's- haven't seen it yet, SELF CARE-own hay, grain, sawdust ($$$) (am I crazy??) and a bit of a drive (25 minutes is a lot for a full time college student/full time worker).

I am a bad horse mom. I am literally saying I don't want to see my horse everday. Well, scratch that, I CAN'T see my horse everyday. I am too busy, simple as that. I cannot make it out TWICE a day with above said full-time things. I really took for granted having someone feed him twice a day for me if I couldn't make it out. I fed my own horses for 9 years (I don't mind it, in fact I prefer it, just my barn was right outside my front door then), but in my situation and time limit, full-care is the best option. I am on the wait-list for a full-care stall, but for now, I might move him into a self-care stall for the arenas. Plus I can't imagine the gas bills I will rack up on top of board fee and grain and hay and farrier and vet and supps and sadface. I am going to see it Tuesday...

As for the bit update and retraining decision...I haven't QUITE figured out what to do yet re-training wise since he is simply just too erratic and hyper to formulate a simple retraining program. I will think of something though that will work out. I need to talk to that OTTB girl on Youtube...

I am going to try THIS bit in the meantime, since I can't afford a $140 Myler combo bit, even though that is the one I want. If it doesn't work the way I want and need it to, it goes in the trunk.

Here are some fun pics for you from when I was younger and WAAAAY younger.

Yankee and I when we first started competing together. WOW was I skinny. Sometimes I think we were better as a team back then...when I was taking lessons. I mean, look at that frame! Don't worry folks, I am starting lessons here in a bit! I need them!

And how cute is this! I was ten here, even though I don't look it! I was pretty tiny for my age, but Dolly was only 14 hands. She was my pretty girl and I could've asked for a better first horse, even if she was a brat and bucked me off everyday, I still love her. I got her when she was 18, and she had just come off the breeding farm after having been an pureblood Arabian broodmare for 10 years. She is 28 now, and I worry she will be leaving this earth soon :(She lost most her teeth, and she is not keeping weight and laying down more and more. Prayers for my sweet baby girl in South Carolina, stay happy girl.

Pondering

OMG I have 50 followers! You guys rock :)

So, to ask my fellow eventers (or anyone else!) out there, I have a teensy problem. I could delve into the whole ginormous story, but I will spare you 7 minutes and just say I am having issues with bitting on XC.

Yankee, as most know, is an OTTB, and is rather retarded in open spaces and jumping outside.

Over the past 6 years, I've tried him in several bits. All french link: 3 ring elevator with and without a curb chain, full cheek snaffle, waterford, D-ring, twisted D-ring and a kimberwick. Most work for a couple weeks, then he gets used to it and does what he always does...

...grabs the bit, leans into it and RUNS. Sticks his nose in the air or tucks it in so far I have no leverage. I don't think this is him misbehaving in an evil way...he just wants to run! Like he was born to do!

The most success I've had is with the 3 ring without the curb chain, but after 4 years he really started just using it to lean on and it didnt work.

I want something with a little bite, but not enough to be harsh. A little leverage, but not as much as a 3 ring, maybe some gag...I just dont know!! I was thinking maybe a gag with a waterford mouth, or a 2-ring with a waterford mouth?

OTTB owners...or any with horses like mine...what works for you!?

Yankee is well trained in that he is very rateable, but when he grabs that bit and holds on, nothing will stop him. I don't know if he really just needs retraining, but HONESTLY, i truly think it is just his breed. He NEVER just settles into his gallop...he fights the entire way and I am EXHAUSTED after a XC run.

Help?