I Heart My Horses :D

I cannot gush anymore profusely! My boys did FANTASTIC last night. Just fantastic :D Kylie finally got to ride Bubby in her lesson. She has a brass set, lemme tell ya. I think the height unnerved her for a second.....literally, haha. He did get a little quick in the trot at first but the second time around he was very good and she exclaimed (as I'm running along side him) "I got it! I got the rhythm!". Music to my ears :D I think at first he didn't know what to do with a whole 40 lbs (maybe) on his back, haha.

Then Christina rode Darryl. He is VERY out of shape. Yet, very willing to work. My only hesitation was because back in the fall/winter, he was getting a little.....full of himself, let's just say. I was hoping to chalk it up to the cool air and he was still getting back into shape. Ever notice how a thoroughbred's response to work after time off is "happy butt's"??? lol. He was also fantastic for her. They rode in a 5 person lesson which is unusual for this barn but what he is used to and it seemed to have worked for them. My trainer and I both think with a few weeks of trot pole work, he'll be ready to add some canter and small X's to their lessons :D 'Ol man's still got it!

And, yes, I snuck a picture of Ali and Bubby JUMPING! I know it doesn't look like my much to the untrained eye, oh but it is priceless. Standardbreds CAN jump! :D

'Til next time! :D

Happy Happy Happy!!!

Today was the day a lot of hard work and patience paid off :D And a day I proved the naysayers wrong....if only for my benefit :) A friend came over to the barn today and asked if I wanted her to hop on Bubby. She's ridden him before and has been riding greenies and, in general, a lot longer than me. It's always nice to see your horse go with someone else, good or bad, to just SEE it AND keep them from being a one-rider horse. Oh, and she loves my jumping saddle, lol. I haven't had a ton of time lately (update on that in a sec) so it worked out for all :)
It started kind of rocky. He was back to dragging his hind feet and locking his neck. We were in the indoor and I seriously think that the felt footing actually encourages him to do so. Oy. He was strung out and bending a LITTLE. I figured it would be a bust but wanted him to go over some trot poles so we at least ended on a good note. And my friend is game for anything and understands dealing with greenies, so outside we went. Hello different horse! He was right where we left off last week :D (hence the felt theory, haha). He was round and flexing and holding himself UP! Oh, and tracking up too :) THAT is my horse.
Last time she had ridden him, a couple months ago, she had tried him over some cross rails which he went over but, eh not really. This first one was too small. Yes, he's going to be one of those. Too small, I crash it or trot ridiculously high over it. Up two more holes it went. And then I became absolutely elated. See, I never intended him to really jump. He's never really really liked the idea and recently he's been developing some bad habits (ie rushing) with the cavalettis and trot poles. Today. Today he looked like he had been jumping all his life :D :D He stretched over the jump with a great take off, little bascule and landing. I am such a proud mama! Then, he started like he was going to canter (we do get a tad excited when we get things right, haha). So the next time around, she encouraged him and my boy CANTERED!!!! It was a little short but he stayed collected and again like he'd been doing it forever. And then he got confused transitioning down and paced, lol. He'll get it, I'm sure.
SEE, classical training works! And Standardbreds CAN jump AND canter AND do them WELL with training. Just like any other horse. I was telling my boss the other day on the way to a dental appointment that I want another STB. I really do. Obviously when I have the means and the time, lol. But it has been such a rewarding experience and I fully believe that if I had had an instructor like I have now, I would have a fantastically trained 16yo horse now. I'll always have Bubby (well, until...) but when he's done being a late blooming show horse my next will be another off the track STB, for sure.
More good news *fingers crossed* There is someone starting the barn tomorrow. He'll be doing M-F, IF it all works out. I'm hoping! Now, to get ready for CAMP, dun dun dun. Hahaha. And then bring on the weddings and bridal showers :D
Til next time!

*yawn*

Oy. I am not a fan of 10 and 12 hour days. No. Thank. You. Ugh! So, the new guy kind of sort of worked out....for weekends *headdesk*. Yes, it could be worse except that I'm basically doing the job of two people >P I'm feeding, turning out, bringing in, cleaning AND helping my boss with her dental appointments. Makes for very long days. And I just can't seem to get enough sleep no matter what I do. I WANT to sleep. Honest. I haven't been able to convince myself to STAY asleep. I have had help from my "little" brother, haha. I would not have been able to do all the barn work and the dental help work AND lessons by myself. This coming week will be even worse. Is it bad I'm already counting the days down til Friday??? Dun dun dun ~ CAMP WEEK. On a good note, it is the LAST one!!! Oh Joy :)
In other news, the boys and a few others in the barn finally got their feet done. And EVERYONE is sore. They were done Wednesday no less. Yeah, they were a bit over due. But sometimes the farrier gets a little trim happy too. Don't get me wrong, he's a really good farrier both skill wise and business wise. Last time my guys were done, their feet looked good. Let's just say, ok. This time, they look fantastic BUT they are both ouchy. Thankfully, everybody is getting better so *knock on wood* nothing serious going on in the hoof department, haha.
OH, and one of the girls at the barn is going to try Darryl aka Ol' Man, in her lesson next week! I'm crossing my fingers he works out for her. I simply can't keep them both exercised right now. He gets groomed and fussed over a bit during the week but no work. I mentioned it in passing and her eyes lit up :) I think they would be good for one another. She rides well for her level, nice seat, nice hands, good balance. He needs someone to kick his butt a little, lol, and have FUN with him. And I know she would appreciate him too. I figure is she likes him, she can ride him whenever she would like, on sort of a free lease. I'm lucky to have two good boys, why not share them? Here's to hoping he doesn't buck in his lesson and scare her. I've told her he KNOWS it, he's simply on the rusty, old-and-cantankarous side, lol. It would be so good for him. I do feel a little bad that it would take away from my boss' business (she has been paying for extra rides on a lesson horse) but at the same time, I know this girl really really really wants to ride and doesn't have the resources to be able to as much as she'd like. Please work, please work, please work!

I'll let you all (hahaha) know how it all goes. Kylie may be riding Bubby this week too :D We shall see!!!
Til next time! :-D

Little Kids Crack Me Up!

Okay, how do people not like kids, in general??? I know some people should never breed yet they do and then we as a society must deal with the backlash of their spawn. But some kids are really cool! lol. For example, this one little girl (7) rides at the barn with her mom very Tuesday. They missed their regular lesson so they came Wednesday to ride. I've been helping with Kylie's lesson for about a year on and off. She's one of those students that will do anything, I mean ANYTHING related to horses. And bound and determined to event her lesson pony Dude....preferrably NOW, thank you. So I showed up Wednesday evening to feed and muck stalls and here comes Kylie running up to say hi.
She is too cute. Really. She is so animated and so little, haha. Being so small and only 7, there is only so much she can "help" with. She was sooooo excited to lead the "big" horses. As she led Bubby out someone commented just how freaking cute she is.....which got me thinking.... So Kylie may be riding Bubby in her lesson Tuesday hehehe :D I think it will good for the both of them. She can ride something that she may actually be able to post with (She posts too slow on Dude) and I've always had a feeling Bubby would make an excellent lesson horse.....so we shall see. I completely trust him. He tends to listen to the wee ones more so than me anyway! I think I mentioned in a previous post he LOVES little kids. He doesn't go blank when they work around him or ride him like a lot of lesson horses tend to. He is very attentive :) If I could just find a therapeutic program to try him in next.....
In sucky news, the barn helper quit. Here's the kicker: he wanted to do less work and be paid more.......Does that make sense to ANYONE??? Not to mention, I don't think this guy had any room to negotiate like that....this kinda job helps you to fly under the radar if ya know what I mean. Good news, my boss may have already found a replacement. Here's hoping! And this guy sounds like the real deal. Hoping, praying... I really don't think I can go back to the work schedule I was on pre-Juan. I like having a LIFE thank you. And it would be a step back instead of forward. Maybe others may think that in my position I should work myself to death to get anywhere but I'm simply not doing that. Health wise, no way. I would like to be doing this when I die an old, cantankarous, cat lady in her 90s, thanks. Seriously, the horse world can be so archaic.

I'll have to be sure to get pics of my boy and Kylie. Crossing fingers all goes well!!!
Til next time :-)

Not Sure I Have An Excuse This Time....

Well, I didn't promise to get this thing written regularly.....right??? This time, I blame the heat ;) Which, in all fairness, was horrible last week. I did ride last week, barely. Ugh, the heat and humidity was >P Summer can suck it. I had an overheated horse both days I rode. And for only 15, MAYBE 20 minutes. The only good thing about my last few rides is my horse is FINALLY picking up his feet! And by that I mean he is now flying through the cavalettis *headdesk*. Be careful what you wish for. But, as the saying goes, in some aspect, better to have too much horse than not enough. I have to say, it IS easier to bring them back from too much suspension, more forward, etc...then to kick and scream at them for more forward, more suspension, etc...
The Ol' Man got a bath yesterday when I was done cooling out Bubby. Bubby hadn't had breakfast yet and Darry was DONE, thank you. They get so cantankerous in old age, haha. He enjoyed the attention. I feel bad I don't do more with him but keeping one show fit is enough for me right now. And it's really hot. I know, broken record BUT he is 30 and out of shape because of the weight gain he needed last year. I don't want to puch my luck. He's happy being retired and groomed a couple times a week :) I figured a bath was in order yesterday. He is awesome to bathe. Anyone who has ever bathed a young and/or impatient horse, appreciates an old pro. He got his puff mints too, much to his enjoyment :D I discovered them a couple years ago when his teeth started going (at 28!) and he was ever determined but having a hell of a time eating star mints. He LOVES mints. Probably ranks up there with jumping and foxhunting on Darryl's favorite things in the whole wide world :D Next on the Darryl-to-do list - mane pulling! lol

Alrighty, in the middle of watching the Deadliest Catch finale :-) Did I mention I have tickets to see Captain Andy, Captain John and Captain Sig in September??? Dork I know, but soooo excited :-D
Til next time!

A Disappearing Act, haha

Well, its been longer than I had intended, haha. Camp Weeks do that to me. Oh, Camp Week, how I hate thee. Granted this time around we only had 5 girls compared to the 11 we had last camp week. And only 2 were overnighters. I think I would enjoy it more if it weren't so damn hot and HUMID. Ugh. I despise summer. Truly. I do not think I was destined to live in such a climate. How do people live in Florida, or Mississippi, or TEXAS for that matter. No thank you. I was jealous Maine had a 55 degree day a couple weeks ago. That's sad.
Other than weather, camp wasn't too bad. I had a leadline student who is about 5, I think? Very cute. And even though she was extremely quiet and I questioned a few times whether I was making any sense to her, by the end of the week she was doing marvelous :D She was posting by herself with me just leading Dude. She did camp last year and hasn't ridden since this past week. Wow. And she remembered all her horse and tack parts we had gone over all week. I kill for those students! lol. AND she may be taking lessons regularly too :)
I'm starting to REALLY realize the impact I potentially have on the next generation of riders. I try to remind myself what it was like when I first got an interest in horses. I think its true a=of any sport or discipline that you latch onto certain people. And you (and your parents) can only hope that it's someone who knows what they are doing and will be a positive influence. A couple times this week I had to step back and remind myself that its only the really good and the really bad that kids remember. I had to second guess myself a few times. I don't know but to me it's incentive to do a better job each time. Here's hoping.
I FINALLY got to ride as well. My horse, thankfully, who works BETTER with time off. But he was way better than I could have imagined. He has basically been ridden 3 or 4 times in 3 weeks between camp, heat and injury. And Friday he was moving great. Forward and finally picking up that right hind!. Now last week when we went through the cavalettis he was still rubbing them at the walk and trot. I was beginning to have my doubts to say the least. Friday he started collecting himself as he turned for them. YAY! And he hardly touched them. So happy. I rode Saturday with a friend and again, forward and picking his right hind up :D Good way to end a hectic (camp) week.
Random thought of the day: Despicable Me is AWESOME, lol. I never thought a PG film could be SO funny. My inner child loved it :D

Til next time :-)

UGH. I'm Moving NORTH

I HATE the heat. Hate hate HATE. And have I heard from the company in New England I sent my resume to??? No. Of course not. >P Oh well. I'm sure I'm not the only one who gets cranky in the heat. Kind of glad that......*knocks on wood*.... I haven't been called back to work, haha. I love going with my trainer when she does teeth but I've already been out feeding 20 some ungrateful horses this morning..... I'm happy being in the AC. Not to mention I got screwed into doing the PM feeding last night and doing the barn by myself. Did I mention the heat makes me cranky??? Oy.
So I have been a lazy bum and haven't ridden this week. One, its unGodly hot and my horse and I both agree that the heat sucks. Plus, if I don't have to wear long pants, I ain't gonna. Two, Bubbys' leg was still swollen Tuesday, our normal lesson time. Better safe than sorry. I think tomorrow I'm going to bite the bullet and ride >P We both need it and I'm just being a wuss, haha.
Not too much else going on which I'm not sure anymore whether its a good or bad thing. Could a full time position somewhere fall in my lap please??? lol. Yeah, right. I need a change but I just haven't figured out WHAT to change to. Oy. I don't like this feeling of suspension, like I'm just floating out there with no direction. Makes me nervous.
Maybe I'll just go make pizza for lunch and forget about it for now. Yes, Karly, thats the solution ;)
'Til next time.