Wrapping is up

Merry Christmas!!

I hope everyone had a fab Christmas! On the horse front I got the BoT exercise sheet from my bff and hubby got me a new wool western pad and the Antares Classic Hunter Girth :) He got me some great big ticket items, so thankful!!

Henry has had some days out hand walking/grazing and some hacks.

I took him down to the lower really big round arena to blow some steam off and then ride yesterday. It's been a while since anything outside has been dry enough to ride in. 

He was LATHERED when we were done. Ended up working on counter canter to keep his brain on me because it was so windy and he was high.

This morning was a lesson. The arena was packed but I flatted myself around everyone and then we jumped.

Warmed up over and X with polls on either side. Then added a line.. 5 slow strides or 4 forward strides. Did that back and forth in both 4 and 5.. it was really good for us both.

Did lots of cleaning and gave Henry some bran mash.

Blogger Exchange 2014

I got my present from She Moved to Texas- woot!!

I love getting mail and she got us some great stuff :) My 3 year old is stoked for the egg nog chocolate most lol!

Thanks Lauren and Happy Birthday!

Ten

1. What size horse do you prefer to ride?
I like something over 16 hands honestly, but have been a little more open to smaller since dabbling a little in western stuff.

2. Do you school in tall boots or half chaps/paddock boots?
I used to ALWAYS do half chaps/paddock boots but I have been sucked over to the tall boot world. I feel so much more secure and prefer it was more now that I am used to it :)

3. What do you do with your ribbons after shows?
I make sure to write the class and horse on the back and then my daughter either snatches them or I put them up on the wall :)

4. Do you ride/board at a large show barn or small private barn.
I'd say we have a pretty big boarding facility - there are 4 trainers in the main barn and then 1 race trainer in the upper barn. I feel like there are a ton of horses but it defiantly isn't a show barn sadly. My trainer has a handful of us that show so like L said, we are a small show barn in and of ourselves :)

5. Have you ever seen a horse give birth?
Almost!! The barn I primarily rode at as a kid a baby was born and we got there like 15 min after it happened and so I got to see a very fresh baby.

6. What is your favorite breed?
I would have to say that it depends on the horse, there are some CRAZY TB's and there are some that are way chill and great to be around, there are some roided QH's and some awesome ones, some beautiful Warmbloods and some wonky ones.. you get my drift. But I am NOT a fan of Arabians lol.

I love that Henry is thicker like a WB, athletic like a TB and chill (more of the time) like a QH :)

7. Favorite tack brand?
Well since I just ordered an Antares I am pretty in love with them but I also really like my smartpak tack for a more reasonable price.

8. Would you ever buy used tack?
Yep, that is how I have gotten all of my saddles before this custom one :) 

9. Ever been on a carriage ride?
When I was a kid my grandma took me.


10. How often do you go to the tack store?
Once a month unless I need something sooner.

Henry has had a light week- some lunging and two trainer rides since mom was sick... I got on today thinking I was better which isn't true. I am back to feeling super crappy :( Hoping I will be back at it next week and will give Henry some lunges and maybe light hacks over the holiday/weekend.

How Henry feels about mom being sick :)

As L pointed out today, 6 more weeks till hopefully my saddle is on it's way!!!!

Down for the count

I hacked Monday even though i wasn't feeling quite right... Henry was fresh but after getting past that, he was great to hack :)

Then all hell broke loose and i've been super sick since Mon night :( Sore body, fever, head ache, cough... it sucks and I have been down for the count. Yet still have to be mom cause life can't go on without mom, dads just don't step in when needed haha!

So I haven't done any riding this week after Monday :(

Henry got a trainer ride Wed and I thought I was feeling better so I lunged Thur but this morning proves other as I am down for the count again .. blah!

Hopefully Henry will get a trainer ride Saturday and then I will be able to get back on him Monday when Hubby is off work :)

Naked Horse!

Monday I hacked and was eagary anticipated Henry getting clipped!

Tuesday my grandma arrived so I lessoned early with the kids... pretty much flatted on my own but them she put  the jumps up and jumped me first. We are inside so not many jumps to work with... we did:

Warmed up over #1 as an X.

Then I did on up, left turn to 2, right tight roll back to 3, right to 1 the other way, left to 2, right roll back to 3 down. It wasn't anything crazy, just really made me sit up and ride since our inside isn't large and there were lots of turns!

Wednesday someone got a hair cut and a lunge :)

Thursday we had some crazy wind and rain... there wasn't a soul at the barn so I am glad hubby came with me!

the mirrors really need to be cleaned!

He's so handsome!

 I hacked around.. nothing crazy just wanted to get him out and move around. Despite the chaos outside, he was awesome. Only spooked once or twice and nothing I couldn't handle :)

Ended the ride hacking around on the buckle.. love this horse!

Friday was his day off.

Saturday he had a trainer ride and they said he was good :)

10 10 10

1. Have you ever owned a horse? Yep a few

2. What is your favorite aspect of your discipline? I love the strive for perfection or the best you can possibly do. 

3. What pet peeves do you have concerning your discipline? How expensive rated shows are... crazy expensive!
4. Do you do barn chores? Well not really for Henry BUT I do them because I like his stall to be extra clean, his water to be filled and well to clean up after myself.

5. What is your least favorite barn chore? Like other have said, cleaning up after others- not cool.

6. What do you consider the worst vice in a horse? I think a dirty bucker or dirty stopper... 

7. What saddle brand is your favorite? I just ordered an Antares soooo yeah that!

8. Do you ride with a quarter sheet in the winter? I have when Henry is clipped, more for looks tho since we aren't in crazy low temps in CA

9. Does your horse wear boots? What kind? I have full set of Eskadrons and leather open front Bevels.. as well as a good amount of others.

10. Full seat or knee patch breeches? Knee patch is preferred, I have ridden in full seats and don't prefer them. 

Movin on Up

Henry has officially moved inside the barn... it has been SO nice not to have to walk down in the mud/rain/dark to get my horse or take him home.

Monday I hacked and he spent his first day in a box stall while the paddock was being finished, he was a bit of a handful for the hack but I will chalk that up to him being caged up in the box stall.

Tuesday I headed up to ride and was hoping to catch a lesson... thankfully L was there too so we convinced trainer to give us a lesson. L brought K from Stampy and the Brain so it was fun meeting her! She got to watch our lesson- hopefully we didn't make to much of a fool of ourselves. :)

We did flatted around and then did a single jump in the inside arena (we have gotten TONS of rain and are going to need a boat soon). Warmed up over and X, then veritcal and then did the vertical on a continuous figure 8. I felt like it went well over all, a little lead change issue from right to left but that is normal and we fixed it with holding the counter canter and not changing a few times then going for the change- wha la it worked.

Still in the box stall but behaving much better :)

Wednesday was hubby's birthday so I had about an hour and a half at the barn, I used it to lunge ...

And set up his new stall with the paddock :) I think he is very very happy to have the outside space.

Thursday I headed out for a hack. Flatted around, worked on frame, some no stirrup work, turning on the honches...

Henry was great, we had an awesome ride and I have been working on him really moving around off my leg at the end of my rides. It's so fun to be able to wander around the arena and use only my legs to tell him where to go. I asked hubby how he thought I was steering since I wasn't using my reins and he couldn't tell but then guessed my legs sooooo looks like we are doing a good job with our stupid human/horse trick :)

Love this horse!!

He will get Friday off and a trainer ride Saturday hopefully.