Monday, March 31, 2014

Letting others ride your horse...

I wanted to see what everyone thought about letting other people (not your trainer) ride your horse...



I've been doing this riding thing for a long time, taken a LOT of lessons from some great trainers and feel as though I am a pretty competent rider. I am by no means perfect or a pro- my confidence is something that has plagued me as I have aged.

I have put a lot into Henry (with my trainers help) and I tend to be weird about other people riding my horse- not because I think that he will be bad but because I feel like if he is going to have someone mess up or a bad experience- I would rather it be with me.

I joke that I don't share well- but really, I don't share well ha!



I am 100% for training rides as you know if you read this blog :)

Thoughts... do share your opinions!!

(I've had this post in the works and it's funny that I had mini convo's about this recently with Kat and Emily)

Saturday, March 29, 2014

It's raining, it's pooring...

And you tell us that we aren't hard core!!



Next year hopefully I can SHOW at this show, I am excited to be a mom again BUT i miss riding SOOOOO much!


Thanks everyone for the well wishes for Henry- trainer and I talked more in dept today and she thinks it might be an abscess coming through but I am still going to have the vet once over him so that we can get it put to bed.

Friday, March 28, 2014

2 shows in 2 weekend :)

Happy Friday!



Hopefully I will be headed to the show tomorrow with B to watch L and Ramon :) Love going to horse shows, wish I was riding BUT the time will come when I am not cooking this baby and can participate!






The vet is coming out Tuesday to look at Henry- he isn't off per-say but he doesn't feel quite right. I'd really like to stop playing the guessing game - also he was flexed and it didn't make it worse.. good news! He may still be sore from not having his hind shoes and that may take a bit to heal up but I'd rather just have the vet look and tell me that. :)

I've also got to schedule Graysons gelding- MUST REMEMBER to call vet again :)

Thursday, March 27, 2014

#tbt

Missing doing this... alot...







In current news...

Someone is so handsome! This angle makes him look all out of proportion lol



G on the far right munchin away... Rocky says PEOPLE!

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

March Horse Box



A horse box bag
Road apple muffin
Vetericyn wound and skin care
Hooflex spray dressing and conditioner
Cavalier Fiber Force
Ponytail sample of show pony shine

A Horse Box has changed their format a little.. the price for the monthly box went down to $17 so that they could server more people. It's coming with less items but thats ok- it's still fun to try out new things!

I have gotten the Road Apples before, they smell amazing like you could eat them! And I am already a lover of Vetericyn.. the rest of the items I am excited to try!

Don't forget to vote at She Moved To Texas!!

Monday, March 24, 2014

Help with a Shadbelly!!! Oh - 73 and beautiful!

I am thinking about buying this Shadbelly.. anyone have recommendations?! Thoughts? Help! :)

Um we had perfect weather this weekend, why did it have to end?!

Friday Henry was supposed to get a trainer ride but that didn't happen. I need someone to get on him before this prego climbs up there since I don't want to lunge him and let him blow off all the steam :)

Wish I could do this!

Saturday we headed up to the show to watch L and Ramon :)






Sunday B and I spend about 3.5 hours at the barn- it was glorious!

B lovin on Cali

Gave Henry a quick groom, waited and waited for the round pen- gave up and headed inside for our lots of walk and little trot session. Henry was great- only blew up twice b/c the person in the round pen was throwing rocks at the baby she was "lunging" and the baby was just tearing around so it was an excuse for Henry ha! Over all though- he was a model citizen for having so much time off!

Practicing out Western Pleasure lol!

Back in action!

I need to talk to my trainer about maybe having her get on him for a light hack or two so I can get back in the saddle- tho I am not sure how effective I will be with this baby bump (almost 22 weeks)! Ha.. so we will see how the week pans out!

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Blog Hop: Whats In Your Bucket/Smartpak?

Thanks to Viva Carlos for hosting another hop so I have something to write about other then pretty pictures of my shinny Henry :)

So, What supplements and other feeds does your horse vacuum down everyday? 






The barn feeds 4 flakes of hay a day so from them Henry gets:
AM- 1 flake Alf
Lunch- 1 flake Oat
Dinner- 2 flakes Alf

I then substitute with:
1 flake of Grass
3 Quarts of Strategy
Smart Combo Pellets
Smart Omega 3

I also do Electorlytes, Bug Off and bran mash when needed :)

For comparison... 

7-6-11

2-18-14

Henry's hind shoes got put back on today- woot!!


Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Winter isn't really winter this year...

Thanks everyone for the well wishes for Henry.. he looks good but I think the hind shoes (staying on and me not taking them off for the winter :) oops- lack of rain has made everything so hard) will help give him the support that is needed :)






Hubby walked Henry last night for an hour for me while I cleaned his stall, filled waters, got his grain and chatted :)

Searching for lady bugs :)

Lastly- if you have time, head over to She Moved to Texas and VOTE for us! (All In) :)

Tuesday, March 18, 2014

Fancy baby!!

We've been walking walking and walking :) And I have been sick sick sick...

Vet came out to look at him and says hind end but ever so slight- game plan is to give him some Previcox and I am also making the decision to put his hind shoes back on. I think that he might need the support since we don't have great footing at the barn and with pretty such little rain this year- everything is so hard.

During out walk Monday
Tuesday I took the day off to try and get better... and spend some time with hubby and B since we haven't had a day off together in a long time.


Fancy baby G!

Headed up to the barn to walk Henry now...

When he gets his hind shoes back on I will probably trot him again for my trainer. He looks almost 100% to me.

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

WW







New Blankie :) We'll I've had it for a while but decided to break it out.

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Ya know...

Stolen from Hillary :)

1) What discipline do you ride? Hunters! Hopefully I can dabble in the Eq and Derby world in the near future. 

2) If you had to switch your discipline which one would you choose? Reining... my bff does it and i'd love to do it for real one day!



3) Who is your equestrian idol? Right now Liza Boyd- she has a young daughter and is pregnant again and has been successful in her riding career :)

4) Who is your least favorite equestrian? I can't say I have one, I just really don't like people who disrespect the sport though.

5) Describe your dream horse (breed, color, markings…) Fancy, TB/WB, bay with appy blanket on it's bootie, top notch mover and jumper :)

6) Post a picture of the horse you ride 


 7) What would you do if you were forced to stop riding? Find a way to ride ha! Unless it was temp (like being prego).. then I suffer till I can do it again ha!

8) What was your best score at a show? Ive never gotten a score :(

9) What is your favorite horse blog? I can't say I have one, I like different ones at different times depending on what is going on with them or me and what resounds to me :)

10) Group lesson or private? One of each a week :)

11) How high do you jump? Regularly- 2'6-2'9.. once in a while trainer sneaks a 3' in ha! Right now, nothing boo

12) What level dressage do you do? I have no idea

13) What level eventing do you do? I don't event :)

14) Cross country colors? What are they? Don't ride CC BUT if I did I would be hunter and white :)



15) What colors look good on your horse? Which one? ;) Henry I like hunter and maroon. Grayson I am thinking Royal and Navy.

16) Opinions on Rolkur? Um no...

17) Last time you rode? Was it great? Being that I am prego, none of my rides are great ha!

18) If you could spend a day with any equestrian who would it be? I'd love to follow Liza Boyd or Jennifer Alfano around- their daily routine, how they prep for a Derby and at the Derby.

19) Helmet or no helmet? Opinions? Always a helmet

20) Who was/ is your first horse? The first horse I owned - Maddy. Sweetest, laid back, big hearted, none mare mare there is out there!


Make sure the check out A Gift Horse's contest :)

Going to trot Henry tonight- FINGERS CROSSED!

Sunday, March 9, 2014

Awesome Weather+ Free Time= WIN

Bayley and I "spelt in" (not really bc of the time change) and got breakfast on our way to the barn.

The weather was stellar today- a tad windy but I thought for sure there would be tons of people at the barn... nope we were all alone for the first hour! Around 11:15 people started trickling in...

I started out inside letting the whale roll... he got nice layered in dirt... I tried to take pictures but they turned out like this:

not cute!


Henry got a nice 40 min walk- he was FULL of himself! But he is respectful of me and never pushed or pulls on me. Prob going to trot him again Tuesday to see how he is :)



After walking, cleaning was on the agenda.. this boy and his surroundings got a once over!

Some man part washing, body rinse, tail cleaning and leg cleaning- check!

Stall cleaned, tried to fix his stall mats and filled his water- check!

Bran mash made and fed, loves given- check!

Love this face!

Friday, March 7, 2014

TGIF



It's been an exciting week of hand walking here in Henry's world.

I trotted him on the hard ground last night and he looks better but not 100% to me so my trainer is going to trot him and let me know what she thinks today.

No rush here, he can have more time if needed :)

Thank goodness it's Friday, the last two week of work have almost pushed me over the edge...

Hope you all have a great weekend!

Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Hopppppppp :)






Thanks Lfor this!

Pride

Seven great things/strengths in your riding life
1. I have the desire to ride- and not just as a hobby. 
2. I live close to the barn.
3. A kick ass trainer and years of riding experience with some great trainers to fall back on. 
4. A horse who has a great work ethic and deals with me.
5. A hubby who most of the time supports me.
6. I have everything I need- though there are always wants ha!
7. Decent shows and venues in a 2 hour radius :)


Envy

Seven things you lack or covet for you or your horse
1. Unlimited funds in all things horse related ... I wish!
2. More time
3. Ability to upgrade some of my tack and things.
4. BoT Sheet
5. Top notch Eq
6. Truck/Trailer
7. Property with a nice house, barn and all the amenities.

 

Wrath

Seven things that make you angry
1. People who don't have ring manners!
2. Crazy, loud or unattended children at the barn whos parents don't step in!
3. Stereotypes
4. Fear
5. Hurt horses
6. Lack of respect/professionalism
7. Lots and lots and lots of rain!

Sloth

Seven things you neglect to do or cut corners on

1. Mane pulling- hate hate hate doing it.
2. Washing my blankets, love having a clean blanket and hate cleaning them.
3. Cleaning my schooling boots.
4. Like L- I let my show clothes pile up till I have a good amount to take in.
5. Cleaning out my tack trunk, I just keep adding things to it.
6. Repairing things- If it's cheap I just buy another.
7. Henry's monthly expenses.



Greed

Seven most expensive things you own for your horse/riding
1. Frank Baines Saddle
2. Lots of show clothes- MANY outfit options ha!
5. Victor Western Saddle
6. Grayson!
7. Henry!

Gluttony

Seven guilty pleasures or favorite items
1. Going to the barn 6 days a week.
2. Owning 2 horses.
3. Riding with people that I like!
4. Having nice tack to use every day.
5. My Ride Light and Thin Line pads :)
6. When I am not prego- 1 to 2 lessons a week
7. Having been able to audit GM twice.

Lust

Seven things you love about horses and riding
1. I feel mostly competent when doing it... Its my happy place!
2. Going to horse shows and riding well.
3. When my trainer pushes me and I feel accomplished.
4. The physical refining/working out doing something I love.
5. Cleaning my horse and leaving the barn feeling accomplished.
6. The relationship/partnership I have with Henry.
7. The (mostly) unconditional love from your ponies.

Heading to the barn soon to love on my boy and get him out :)


Monday, March 3, 2014

Super Model .. ha!

Out for a walk with this dude

Posing haha!
Grubbin...

Henry is on a bit of a hiatus from riding to let this issue in his right front get the heck outta dodge! :)