Too much of a good thing

I'm trying to recall when it happened.  When it went from, the right thing to do, to, the beginning of all your problems.  You hear it everywhere.  Every trainer says it.  Every book pens it.  Every blog waxes eloquent on the subject.  But is it all it's cracked up to be?  Is it the be all end all?  Of what am I speaking?  Outside rein.

I am dressage dummy.  Always have been. I can ride the shit out of a horse.  But that's because I came out of the womb riding. Rode every kind of horse you can imagine.  Not kidding.  You name it I've ridden it.  Any vice, trick or tactic a horse can pull I've been on that horse and most likely as a dumb kid who knew that the only thing that really matters in the end is that you stay on your horse long enough to get back home.  Because trust me that several mile walk back out of the woods after your horse has dumped you and took off like a blaze of glory, sucks.  I rode the fancy hunters and spent years showing them and spend equal time flying bareback through an open field racing a with a neighbor and her horse.  I can ride the shit out of a damn horse.

What I do lack is finesse, polish.  Where I struggle is the details.  That is where I seek professionals.  It does NOT come natural for me to be a poised, quiet and sensitive rider.  If you need someone to point a horse at a fence, a ditch, a steep ravine with no fear and ride a horse through it with complete confidence, I'm your girl.  But if you want to teach your horse the subtleties and tactfulness that belongs in a dressage ring and show jump arena, well you are barking up the wrong tree.  I think this is the reason I can watch my kids come flying off a horse and I don't even skip a beat barking orders to "hurry and get up before your horse steps on her reins."  Falling is something I figured out the science of very young.  THAT I am good at!  Leg yields, shoulder-ins, half-halts I am not!

In those cases I need very specific step by step instructions.  And more than likely I am going to do a really good job at making look it like I am doing it right but actually royally screwing it up.  Not on purpose of course.  I mean even I make myself  believe I am doing it right.  This is the reason that I need very observant and good instructors.  The run of the mill trainer and I just don't work.  I need someone who can see my bullshit riding style and call me out on it.  Many times over and over before I finally get whatever it is they are trying to get through my thick skull.

This royal screw up I must have been hiding for a very long time.  No one had picked up on it before.  I obliviously have no idea how to ride so I didn't get it.  But I knew the problem that it was causing.  I would tell trainer after trainer what was happening.  Good trainers but no one had spotted my mistake until just a few weeks ago in a lesson with M.  She has earned my loyalty for this and one other huge break through she facilitated but I will cover the other one(equally life changing yet as easy a fix) at a later date.  I have for years now struggled going right.  I had gone through every explanation I could think of.  Steady would bulge his inside shoulder tracking right, especially at the canter.  We could NEVER hold a right lead canter in a dressage test at a show because the added tension is all it took for our Band-Aid method of making it happen to fall apart.  At home we fumble and struggled.  Explanations I explored ranged from, my biomechanics (convinced I was crooked AF and ruining my horse), Steady's biomechanics, he's a career race horse they just don't do right, weakness, pain, soreness (because we all know if all fails blame it on lameness), and even resigning to the fact that my horse is just being a complete effing dick (which makes complete sense that he's 100% willing to do ANYTHING except canter to the right.  Yeah I never said I was smart).  I got pissed at him many times over this because I am really that crappy of a person and I do that sometimes.  You know, have a completely useless, uncalled for reaction toward someone, to a problem that I am causing myself. Yeah, I do that.   We could be having a lovely ride and then it come to cantering right and he pushes through my inside leg, falls in the circle and just pushing his inside shoulder against every aide I can muster up and the whole ride would change to frustration for both of us.

This has gone on for YEARS!  It got to the point that I just knew we would take the points in dressage tests for the lead swapping and lack of bend.  It was just what we do.  So imagine my surprise that when every one of those problems immediately disappeared with one sentence from M.  What was the sentence?  If the dressage police were standing around they surely would have arrested her for saying it and given her the max sentence for such an offense of all that is dressage queen. "Let go of your outside rein."  That's it.  I didn't believe her, being the skeptic that I am but she insisted "let it go".  She even said "I don't usually tell people this but you need to let your outside rein go."  So I did and it was immediate.  My horse unlocked his inside shoulder, stopped drifting, bent right and cantered around to the right BALANCED!  WTF! that goes against everything I've ever read, heard or been told.  Apparently it is very possible to have too much outside rein.  Who fricken knew?  Most likely everyone on earth but me.  Hey I told you I am not good at this shit.  Like really not good.  It is possible to completely block the outside shoulder by abusing the outside rein.  See my non natural riding abilities always told me well if it is inside leg to outside rein then when it isn't working then just do more inside leg and outside rein.  And more and more and more.  It's still not working?  Well my horse is broken. I mean he doesn't work the way the book tells me he must be broken.  It's really quite ridiculous how dumb and by the book I can be when it comes to riding and pretty much everything in life.

Look at the engagement, reach and bend you can get when you aren't ccompletely blocking the the outside shoulder.

I read this definition. "Correct lateral bend engages the inside hip,  causing the inside hind leg to step toward the center of mass."
Yas! Zoom in on that inside hind!

Not much in life is easy.  But fixing that chronic, ongoing, long term problem was really THAT easy.  On one had it's awesome that it was that simple and fast to fix but also equally annoying that it was that easy and took YEARS to figure it out.  If I ever needed any more proof I do not need to be left to my own devices this is it.  Lesson learned. Books are good but my horse is not text book horse and if it's not working listen to my horse.

Two-thirds

This will conclude our marathon show weekend.  The title.  You may wonder what it means.  This fraction represents the number of those of us who did NOT stay on their horse for the the entirety of our rides.  Two-thirds is the fraction of jumps that I remembered how to ride properly like I've learned in my lessons lately. And approximately the number of you who will make it through the entirety of this post.  But honestly I so look forward to coming on here and sharing with you all and reading your comments.  There is nothing more anti climactic then coming off a show high surrounded by all non horse people, who just don't get it.

We will start on a frigid, early Sunday morning in southern Indiana.  We eat our breakfast of what is made to look like breakfast food but tastes more like mushy cardboard that was on our hotel buffet.  Kelcie rode dressage at 8:30 am.  We get her to warm up and I've never seen Penny more naughty.  It even almost looked like she thought about attempting to buck.  Uh this pony does not buck or do anything else naughty.  She is fast as lightening but she isn't naughty.  She obviously opposed being drug from her stall at the Crack of dawn to do dressage.  The extent of my coaching at that point was,  "hold it together,  do the best you can and stay on". Yeah that's all I had.  There just isn't much else you can do when a pony decided to show her ass in dressage warm up.   Thankfully they did just that!  She held it together.  And actually had a decent test for those two.  If Kelcie had actually tried to halt when she was supposed to they would have had a really nice test.  I'm working with her on that but while Penny doesn't do halting Kelcie doesn't even try.  Eh, they'll figure it out one day.  I mean the kid is 9.

Excited anticipation, patiently waiting their turn.

 Show jump for her was next.  They went out and had an adorable to die for round.  It just makes your heart hurt it's so cute.  Up until the very last stride of the very last jump that was right next to the wide open gate.  On approach Penny drifted right and at the last second pulled a, no way pony stunt.  And the kid that has insane balance just couldn't stick it and hit the ground.  I can always immediately tell if my kids are truly hurt when they come off. And I could tell she wasn't hurt physically even though she did slam into the flower box and standard.  But that her pride and her perfectionist expectations were crushed.  after a hug from mom she got back on and went back out and schooled Penny and did it perfectly.  And she was so proud of herself she had a big grin on her tear stained face.  Horses are good for kids I don't care what people say!  Nothing else except a pony would teach a 9 year old those hard but necessary life lessons.  That sometimes you work hard do all the right things and life just kicks you in the ass.  But you know what you do when that happens?  Kick it right back!  That's what she did and she walked away happy and so did I.

K and Penny show jump
next was Elaina And Lilly. They were entered in their first Beginner Novice show. That alone is pretty awesome.  She was the only kid in her division.  I love that she is 12 years old and moving her way up.  Not on a made horse but on her back yard $250 pony that she trained her self.  Anyways,  like Penny, Lilly comes to dressage warm up acting squirrely. And Elaina did what she has been taught and put her to work.  After about 5 minutes of figure 8's she stopped bouncing and started listening.  They went on and knocked out the test.  Kids on ponies=not perfect dressage.  But right now I'm happy with obedient,  steady, accurate and dammit shapes! You can earn a lot of easy points with accuracy and shapes at these levels.   They did just that.  So now I think it's time to step up their dressage game.
E and Lilly Beginner Novice test B

The next hour was, well interesting.  Elaina's jump slot was 12-12:30. I rode dressage at 12:02. So by the time I was finished riding.  Got untacked and made it to warm up to coach her they were calling that there was five minutes left.  I sent her over the cross rail.  Then vertical,  then the oxer.  Lilly had a brain fart at the oxer and thought about stopping.  But she is so willing she still jumped it from a stand. still. Well if you guessed Elaina was the other 1/3 of us that did not stay on. You were right.  E fell. Kinda face planted actually.  I was like are you fine?  Yes. Then hurry up and get back on.  You have like 3 minutes and I can't send you in without getting over this oxer. She jumped back on reapproached and Lilly over jumped it.  They came around one more time and it was nice. So we headed over.  They were awesome but Lilly was obviously pooped out.  The first two jumps were sticky.  Crazy mom from the rail yelled,  "wake that pony up before you jump another jump!"  The second jump of the two stride combination was the dreaded flame jump.  I warned her that I have seen that jump take many victims over the years, by itself.   Let alone it being the second jump in a combo. And wouldn't you know the one rider she saw go had three refusals and DQ'ed on that very jump.  Let me tell you she rode the shit out of it and they did awesome.  I could tell Lilly second guessed it but E caught it quick rode her straight and they got double clear.  They completed their first Beginner Novice!  She was beaming.  I didn't video :( mom/coach/rider brain is my excuse. When we got back to the barn a guy a couple stalls down says,  'you've got some tough kids! " He apparently saw them both hit the ground and both proceed to climb back on and get shit done.  Yep that's just how we Grayson girls roll.  No time for pitty parties when you're bad ass.

Like I said I rode dressage just before all that.  In warm up Steady felt good.  Not his best ever but good.  We walked mostly.  That's our theory in dressage warm up from now on.  It just works for us.  I was watching our competition and they looked fancy.  Aw damn we don't do fancy.  We're just us.  I think I read through my dressage test once. Yeah with everything else going on I forgot that minor detail.  Thankfully these level tests aren't hard to remember for me and I did end up knowing it.  Not confidently but good enough.  The test went pretty good.  I was pleased with it.  Our best?  Nah but not embarrassing.  I was proud of my horse.  He starting to act like a real pro at shows.  Finally!  It's nice.
Amy and Steady Novice Test B
I did get dinged for rider on the right lead canter.  Said I was two point like. and that is quite fair since I was purposely trying to stay off of his back since he had a history of swapping behind in tests.  Hey it worked!  Or his stifle injections did either way I'll take it.

Show jump warm up went great.  He felt really good.  He was listening and jumping lovely.  Thankfully all the courses were the same besides adding in combinations and raising them.  So after coaching two kids I had that down pat. If you know my horse at all you know he has many faults but jumping like a fucking beast is not one of them.  Utilizing the skills my trainer has taught me lately that I need to blog about because they were instantly life changing for us.  We rode the first 2/3rds of the course and it felt amazing.  Best I've ever had.  We had a long spot to jump 1 but still good.  He came back to me in between.  He got a little rushed in between but not bad just something to work on over the winter.  He doesn't look at jumps he just jumps anything in his path.  Jump 6 felt so incredible.  I was relishing the beauty of it in my head.  And compltely blew my concentration.  At the last minute I realized I was about to canter right passed 7 and I made an ass move to save my own  space cadet ass and yanked him left.  Well that was the end of us being connected and fluid.  He was like,  "oh you want to play the old way?  I can do that. " so we pretty much blasted through the last 3 jumps.  Again lots of homework for next year.  But you know what?  Those jumps didn't look that big anymore at 3ft. Which pretty much means training isn't out of the question in our near future.
Amy and Steady Novice show jump

We packed up,  loaded up and went to check scores.  Elaina and Lilly ended up 3rd! I'm sorry not sorry but my kid is amazing.  Compltely surprised knowing who our competition was Steady and I ended 1st! I didn't see any of the final scores but I'm wishing I had because I like to see where we lined up. All I know is that we ended on our dressage score of 28.25%. Not bad I guess.   Haha just kidding I'm not a DQ  that says asholey things like that.  I mean if I'm outta the 40's I think I'm ballin!

Hunterland

Between blogger and YouTube it makes you want to just give up on adding media.  Geesh! I've had this typed up for a week now and have been trying to get videos on here since.  I added links which is the best I can do at this point.

There a going to be a few of you who know how this story ends from Facebook.  For the rest of you I'm going to be a jerk and let you read to the end.  What a whirlwind weekend.  I can tell you though I did live and it was actually completely amazing,  fun and exhausting.  Our family made quite the team.  Everyone chipping in to get the next person to the ring.  Watching, cheering each other on.  Even the hubs was a complete trooper for an entire weekend of eyeball deep horse stuff.  I was actually expecting for this to be stressful and exhausting but I came away feeling incredibly blessed to be privileged enough to not only own horses and get to ride and train but to do it along side my three beautiful children who fur what ever reason choose to love it as much as me.  To get to show myself and also be coach,  show mom and cheerleader for these three.  Getting to spend an entire weekend doing this passion with the loves of my life.  I couldn't have written a better story for my life if I tried.

Saturday at the hunter/jumper show,  the plan was 4 out of the 5 Grayson's(other 1/5 being Ryan of course) were going to show but when it came down to the last class for the girls, rushing to get Steady ready and hope it went well in the hunter ring sounded a lot like hell. So I opted to skip the show and have a nice CT prep ride. I really don't know how to break up this whole weekend into bite size pieces.  But here's my best shot.


Macy (middle child-10) this was her very first show.  She did ground pole hunter division.  It went well,  she had fun.  She is loving riding now which is crazy because 6 months ago she wanted nothing to do with it really.  She came out frustrated from her first class because she did her courtesy circle the wrong way and missed a pole.  Once I saw how serious she was taking it.  I reminded her this was supposed to be fun and no one gets it all right especially their first time.  It seemed to be all she needed to hear because the rest of the time she had a smile on her face.  She even placed in two out of three of her classes.  A 2nd and a 6th. She was finished first and was such a great helper for everyone the rest of the weekend. She had a great first show and now she's hooked.

Next was Kelcie who did the cross rail classes.  I thought Penny was being a little shit for her.  because Kelcie picked up the canter and flew through her rounds at mach 10. They were completely adorable either way.  Come to find out later she tells me,  "I wanted her to go fast so I made her".  Lol, ok. Whatever,  the kid is 9 and having fun jumping her pony.  Can't ask for more then that.  I may be a lot of things but a stage mom I am not.  If they are safe and having fun then that's aok with me.  There is video of the speed hunter round.

you can play in hunters without looking the part. So BOWS!  Ungodly expensive completely worth it. Cause bows!

Kelcie and Penny Pincher Hunter round

Elaina and Lilly finished up our full day on Saturday by looking like a couple of pros out there in the 2'6" division.  Their rounds were pretty much perfect. Not even kidding.  They got every lead had perfect striding.  It was a smooth as buttah.  I couldn't be more proud of these two and how far they've come.  Some of you may not know their whole story
But they have been through it together. When you are 10 years old and break your leg on a horse not too many come back after that much less with that same horse.  But this kid never missed a beat.  Never once wanted to give up on the pony and went and trained her to be the solid horse she is today.  Just watch the videos.  They make me want to do better, be better and get better.   She also ran over and did a 2'9" warm up jumper round for fun and experience.  We only did warm up because we have no interest in rushing Lilly through for time.  That is not a good choice for her training.  But the decorated jumps and jumper turns are great experience.  Not surprisingly they rocked it!  At 12 the kid is growing up to be a lovely,  poised, confident rider. It's a privilege to watch and be a part

Elaina and Lilly hunter round 1

https://plus.google.com/109682276430852369873/posts/U169wKxqWFj

Elaina and Lilly hunter round 2

https://plus.google.com/1096822764308td52369873/posts/1N4uxcJtH96

While the kids fed and cleaned up I went out to ride my beast.  I was displeased with his distracted hyperness.  I decided to get off and lunge and I'm so glad I did.  After I got him listening I got back on and he was a dream.  We popped over a couple jumps and he felt amazing. Now let's just hope this holds for tomorrow.

We tucked in the horses and went back and met Ryan back at the hotel where he retreated mid afternoon to watch the Michigan vs Michigan state game.  We made it back just in time for that tragic ending of that game.  We didn't emerge again until about 6 am Sunday morning.

to be continued...

Life with horses and kids

Also titled our summer in photos

You hear a knock at the door.  Is this what you expect to see?  It is not out of your reality with kids and horses.

Can you ask for more than being champion of your division at your first show?

You hold your breath and suppress your panic when you see your kid and horse have a moment of miscommunication.  Then help your kid up make sure nothing is broken and tell them to get back on.  It takes nerves of steel.

Then there is this moment.

You watch them figure out life together.

And conquer fear with their partner.

\

Accomplish things they didn't even believe they could do.

Experience the rush that is cantering a horse through water.

There is just nothing like it.

What is life like with a bunch of kids and a bunch of horses?  Well there isn't much extra money, time or energy but there are tons of smiles, memories and happiness.  That first time you get your diagonal right, or the first jump or the next height.
  It is happiness multiplied!

Regrets

I don't really regret much in my life.  I got married by most people's standards young, at 21.  Against my husband's parents strong opinion that I was not the right one for him.  Then didn't wait 3-5 years before having a baby.  I was pregnant 6 months into marriage.  I didn't space out my children to ensure they each got the deserved amount of attention and proceeded to have 3 children in 3 1/2 years.  I ignored a lot of thoughts and advice on all subjects and did my own thing.  And I regret nothing.  I have now been married for almost 14 years. With some tough spots here and there we are still happily married.  My girls are each others best friends and their age closeness has much to do with that.  I did many things "wrong" and regret none of them.  But you know what I am starting to regret?  Is getting my children a pony!  From the time my first daughter was 1 we have had ponies for them.  And now, you know what?  They all freaking love horses.  This I regret.

How can you regret anything that brought you to this moment of joy?

I am kidding of course, mostly.  But it is getting ridiculous.  Children taking over my horse, taking over my show monies.  What is a woman to do?  Most of you who read this blog don't have children and are probably thanking you lucky stars for that fact.  Next time you are at a clinic just having to make sure you bring tack for one horse.  Snacks and drinks for one person.  Money for meals for just you.  You can think of me and say a little prayer.  That maybe just one day I will get to clinic or show or even get my horse back.

Or this feeling of accomplishment?  3ft!

All kidding aside, mostly.  I took Steady for a lameness evaluation and while he tested positive on the right hind in his hock and more so in his stifle none of it was completely awful.  We started the hopefully short but expensive process of seeing if we can figure out why he is dead set on killing me.  We will see.  We can get back to full work Sunday.  We will go for a lesson on Tuesday and see what happens. Wish us luck!

What is there to regret?

I am sending in an entry to a show! Again wish us luck!  Not for placings or anything silly like that but entering a show after the last lesson we had and not being %100 sure this isn't going to continue has me a little unnerved. It is just a schooling CT so it isn't big deal I just want it to be fun.  I plan to head back to my old stomping grounds to Hoosier Horse Park for the Octoberfest charitiy show.  Saturday is a hunter show and Sunday is a CT.  We will be spending the weekend and playing with the Hunters and Jumpers on Saturday, doing CT on Sunday and XC schooling afterward.  I also plan to sign up ALL 4 of us!  I AM freaking crazy!  That is what you do when you have 3 children that all love to ride and so do you.  You just all do it!  I'll let you know if I live.

We will have entries in;
M 10 yr old - Ground pole
K 8 yr old - Cross rail
E 12 yr old - Beginner Novice
Me - Novice

Don't believe it if you see it.

I took a jump lesson yesterday.  I did a semi-private with E and Lilly.  I of course have no photos.  Too busy mom-ing and horse - ing. But I will explain what the photos would have looked like.  See it would start with a video that I strategically capture the most flattering images.  There would be pics of us flying easily over 3'3" and 3'6" jumps.  A whole course laid out of photo after photo of me in my best position over each jump.   Steady with tight knees and ears forward just swallowing those little jumps.  You would all look at all the pictures and be like "gawd these two are some serious bad asses. They must have killed it.  Look at them make those big ass jumps look like child's play."  I'm serious that's what you'd say if you looked at those photos.

But what the photos, that I surely would take extra time capturing those prefect moments,  won't tell you is that upon landing on several occasion badass horse just turned into Ass and took off flailing and bucking. The photos wouldn't let you hear me screaming curse words very loudly for all within a mile to hear.  Nope that'd be our little secret. Don't get me wrong I may throw a token photo in of us making a funny face or something just to show that we aren't perfect.  But not the ones where I climbed his neck,  got off balance and royally pissed him off that again he takes of bucking.  It doesn't show my trainer repeatedly telling me to stop pulling on him and keep him straight.  The photos don't always tell the whole story so as hard as it may be sometimes don't fall into the comparison trap.  And yes I am saying this to myself right now.  Things aren't always as they seem.  Actually most of the time they aren't at all.

On a good note E and Lilly did great.  Worked on moving lazy pony along. Jumped about 2'9"-2'11". They're adorable.  And E told me she really didn't think I was going to fall off when Steady ran off bucking and I lost my reins. I was like,  "oh good because I thought for sure I was joining the dirt club today." Thankfully I didn't but god damn I'm too old for these shenanigans.  Now I need to hit the drawing board and see if I can't figure out why my super willing horse will jump anything I point him at but if his take off or landing is anything but perfect he flips his shit.  Something seems wrong with this picture.  Effing horses!  I think I need to get into hamsters.

Losing and winning...it's kind of the same thing

Twice in a week.  It may be a miracle.

Now to pick a topic.  Since my riding and Steady is pretty much limited to walk/trotting/cantering around in circles, popping over a small jump here or there and going out on trails as much as possible I think I will steer from this topic for the most part.  Pretty much our entire season can be summed up in a few sentences.  The highlights: trails, XC schooling, a few lessons here and there, Pony club camp, XC schooling, him running us into a tree,  almost always steady as a rock, a few moments of ridiculousness like bucking and excitement after walking over a log and his over zealous self on a XC course.  Other than that the horse is as nice as they come.

 So much so that I am a bit jealous that my daughter gets to just happen into this super cool fancy horse that will take her as far as she could possibly want to go in the next few years.  I really do not think she knows how luck she is.  I mean she is grateful but how could she know.  She is a kid. She has no concept of fancy horses.  She just loves horses and that's the extent of it.  They are all amazing in her eyes.  Am I losing my horse or am I winning as a Mother?  Or maybe both?

She gets on my horse and they look like a matched pair.  I may have to start handing off teaching duty to someone else because my anxiety with those two going XC might just send me to my grave.  Though for as many antics as that pony has pulled on her I have no doubt she can handle Steady.  She is sad that all that work she is putting into that pony and she has to give her up.  I try explaining that it is exactly how I feel but it is just the facts of life right now.  While her ridiculous height will come in handy in many things in life, pony riding will never be realistic.


How is that pony and E doing?  Oh my they are the bomb diggity( I don't think that is still a thing people say but I did it anyways).  They have turned into a fabulous pair.  They just completed Pony Club D rally which is the equivalent of eventing in Pony Club.  They have different levels depending on the individuals tested level of riding.  Her division is right about Beginner Novice.

Their dressage is a work in progress but they put out a steady and obedient test.  There could be better bend and more connection in areas but still they are solid at the level they are at.  Dressaging is hard for the pony.  Jumping on the other hand comes easy for her.  You would never think the way she is built but really she is just a natural and always has been at going over all the things.

   Let me tell you walking the courses with her I was like, "aw hell this is fo realzy" but a coach can't let on that is actually going through their head.  They gave these kids a solid stadium and XC course. I knew there wasn't going to be very many "gimme fences".  And she'd need to ride every stride.  I have been kicking myself ever since that I did not video their stadium round because OH MY holy crap, it was beautiful.  Like the stuff of dreams.  That every rider wants to have.  The course is on a hill so there is terrain and the course involved.  That kid made every right decision on that course and it was executed perfectly.  I'm not joking.  Everyone stuck around to watch the Haflinger stumble through the course because she was the last to go and every single pair struggled.  Some with several refusals and even one retired on course.  When those two got done I think everyone simultaneously had to pick their jaw up off of the floor.  Everyone was in awe of how awesome they looked.  We got many complements and comments on them after that.  No one saw them coming.  It was pretty freaking cool.


Cross Country- again solid challenging course. 12 jumps and 4 1/2 minutes was optimum time.  I didn't know how pony would handle everything.  This was their first real Cross run.  Was she fit enough?  Brave enough?  Well Yes and Yes.  They SAILED through the course.

Not a great photo but this is them sailing...

 I was admittedly not completely confident.  Trust me when your child is out there you can think of every single thing that could possibly go wrong.  There was only on question that caught the pony off guard and they did end up with 1 refusal because of it.  It was an honest blip for the both of them and honestly I did NOT love the jump at all.  After they completed several jumps winding through a small open area they turn past the edge of corn field and just 30 feet or so there as a jump pushed right up against the corn.  You really could not see the jump until you were on top of it and horses don't love the idea of running right along the corn.  Then to top it off the jump was narrow. like maybe 8 ft across then add how close it was to the corn there was really only 6ft of jump.  Maybe.  It was a recipe for a run out.  And that is exactly what happened.  She re-approached and jumped it no problem it was just a non friendly jump all together.  The hilarious part is that Lilly screamed and hollered the entire course.  Something we must work on but she still was completely capable to do her job.  Jumping, barrels, logs, a bank, coops, rolltops, ,pheasant feeders all while screaming at the top of her lungs.  I think the biggest think with these Haffies are that they are too smart for their own good.  Most horses it is enough for their brain to deal with a cross country course and if they are distracted then it means they loose focus on their job and have a bad run.  Haffy?  Nope they can be completely focused on their rider, the jump in front of them AND wondering where all their friends went.  Seriously its crazy. 

But we love that pony to death.  My daughter has been to hell and back with that pony and she would rather cut off her right arm than  live without her.  They ended up winning their division!  While I think that is a pretty cool thing to walk away with the first place medal more than anything else those two both walked away with more confidence and pride than anyone can imagine.  They had nothing handed to them, ever.  They had every reason to give up and don't think the thought didn't cross my mind.  But it never crossed the kids mind.  They just went about it the good old fashioned way of a whole lot of hard work.  Many bumps along the way and just never giving up.  Now you haven't seen the last of these two, they still have goals and things to accomplish but this marks a big milestone in their journey and I just feel privileged to be able to watch it all unfold in front of me.

And to see your offspring on a XC course and know the adrenaline and excitement in their soul in those few moments, there is nothing on earth like it.  It is like you are out there with them and riding every jump.

Kelcie and Penny also did D Rally.  At their level they only do dressage and stadium.  She would have loved to do cross country but she also is perfectly happy not going for  higher certification just yet.  The did fabulous on their dressage test. She did go off pattern at the free walk but otherwise had a great test.  Then they too sailed through their stadium round.  They only did itty bitty cross rail and the course was super simple.  It was great confidence booster for her.  She also got first in her division of 5 little riders.   So proud.  She takes everything quite seriously and gives everything she does %100 though she does not have the unwavering confidence that her big sister has so I have learned to tread lightly and let her go at her own pace.  If I push too much it may just push her backwards.  It is a delicate balance.  But that was only one of her many accolades from the weekend...but that will be for another post.....

BTW If you have kids or if you are thinking of having any in the future just enroll them in Pony Club now.  You won't regret it!  Go Pony Club!

How do? and over philosophizing.

Man it's been a long time!  I don't even know where to begin or middle or end this.  Many things have transpired since my last time here.  Too many to cover.  One huge thing is, I am employed!  It's been a long road but finally I have gotten to where I was headed.  From a couple years ago toying around with the idea of getting into equine massage and through many twists and turns I am now working as a Licensed Massage Therapist at a high end day spa.  LOL Oh how life laughs at our ideas and plans and puts a whole new spin on them.  NEVER thought I'd work in a spa. Just never.  It's not me.  HAHAHA here I am and I am loving it.  Massage is not easy work by any means but it is an interesting and fun job.  I love to get my hands on a tired, painful or sore body and work my magic and have them get up feeling like they are lighter, less stressed and in less pain.  It's a cool thing.  And worth having to ice your hands and wrists at night and then soak in the hot tub to recover your own muscles.  What does any of this have to do with horses you might ask?  Well one of the biggest motivating factors pushing me through this process is I will have the financial ability to do all sorts of fun stuffs with horses.  And now that I make more money than I ever have in my life.  Like 4 x's more and have to work very part time I will not only still have time to ride I will have money to lesson, clinic and show.  I mean I could realistically be one of those people who are at like every local event!  I mean I won't be because kids but I could if I wanted to.

Goals like qualifying for a Novice 3 day are now realistic and I don't have to be afraid to speak them out loud because I know they will never happen.  Now they are within reach.  I'd hoped to be on that path much earlier in the season but I am just happy I finally am.  For the first time in my life I have the ability to do pretty much anything I want horsey wise.  Tack and cloths and shows, OH MY!  Realistically much of my income will go toward other things like hubby really wants to add on a garage and I plan to invest a certain amount back into continuing education.  But then I'd like to save for an outdoor arena to be put in (crossing my fingers next year.)

Having time to document any of these things is most likely not realistic but I will try to still check in as often as I can.   If you ever have your own farm,  three kids,  three horses and a career you will find out exactly why there is little time and/or energy to blog about it.  But I'd like to.

This summer has been so extremely fun!  We have spent most of our time,  riding,  boating, kayaking, hiking and hanging out with friends.  It's tough but I try not to complain.  It's not all prefect we had pretty much everything with an engine break down within a month besides my truck.  It sucks but it's hard to complain when you have such a privileged life.  We trail rode. Went to pony club camp with two of the kiddos.  Omg Kelcie and Penny xc schooling!   It's even cuter than it sounds.  Both my riding children have no fear btw.  I tried a mylar combo bit on Steady.  Consequent he tried to kill me.  I didn't come off but the dramatic effect of slamming us into a tree was enough for me to know that it was NOT the bit for us.

Eventing goals for me have taken us to new territory.  I'm still wading through trying to figure out exactly where I am headed.  It's strange.  Since starting out on this journey the path has been clear.  I had goals and I was come hell or high water I was on that path to accomplishing them.  While I still have that in me to an extent my drive is gone.  Other priorities have come into play and my once one and only dream is morphing into a collage of ideas, thoughts , hopes and aspirations that include not just me and my horse but my family, my kids, their horses, their dreams and much more.  I am trying to focus in on the "what's the next step" to make headway in any one direction but the harder I try it seems it all just gets bigger and slips out of grasp.  A little over philosophical? Yes but I am just trying to figure it all out.  I feel like it is the beginning of a new chapter when I didn't even realize the last chapter was coming to a close.

I call myself an eventer but now I am so far from it that I am unsure if that is still a defining factor of who I am.  I love riding my horse.  I know that.  But that is the extent of it.  Then there is this unspoken idea that my daughter will soon be moving from her Haflinger and start riding Steady.  (she has become a damned good rider)  I don't want to give up my horse but am I really giving him up?  I wonder if sharing is a realistic idea?  I think it can be.  I mean she gets busy with school and I get busy with work.  Between the two of us maybe we will just be able to keep him in consistent work.  We can trade off riding at events and while yes I know I will have to give up some riding experiences to allow her to experience them I still think it can be done.  If not?  Well I don't love the idea of adding a 4th horse to the mix but it may just have to happen. 

Once the oldest moves up from the Haflinger the middle has her own plans to take over that pony.  Yes my middle daughter.  The only female in this family that didn't have interest in riding now has been asking to go out and ride on the daily.  Poor, Poor husband.  Literally and figuratively.  She is determined to join Pony Club next year.  So 4 riders in the family.  It seems like an anomaly of nature for everyone in the family to enjoy riding horses. A sick anomaly. One in which we never have a retirement because all of our children love the most expensive sport/extra curricular activity on the planet.

That's all I have time for right now.  So I must apologize for no photos.  It just takes more time and I more than anything I just wanted to the this typed out.  Hopefully be back soon with some more exciting and photo filled posts.

The Low Down

There must be post dedicated to that dressage test if you ask me.  Not sure how many readers have been around for long enough to remember where we came from but believe me when I say that it has been a long long road with many bumps along the way.   It just goes to show that if you luck out and happen along a nice enough horse,  adamantly seek out the best of instructors, pour enough of yourself into training,  studying, learning and stick it out long enough that is just that easy.  Easy my eye.   I didn't know if this horse could ever truly chanel himself in a show the way he can at home.  A show in far from perfect conditions.  I really didn't know.  We have gotten a 55% before.  We have done a full on High ho silver rear upon entering at A. We have been "those" riders at the show more times then I care to admit. We've had good moments but we've had our fair share of bad ones. To me this dressage test marks more than just bragging rights.  It is a much different milestone for Steady and I.  It is more of a medal of honor.  That when the smoke clears and punches thrown we are still standing. It not a beautiful story with only  ease and comfort. It didn't start with an expensive, fancy horse with talent to spare. It definitely didn't start fantastic rider with ability to spare just waiting to develop their next prodigy.

It was a much lowlier beginning than that.  It started with a used up track horse on Craigslist in a muddy feild.  Underweight, distant,  mangy looking beast.  But under all of that and those 75 race starts you could still see in this horses eye the strength and honor he still possessed.   I admit to see it you had to look really closely but it was there.

Coming out the other end and achieving light years beyond what you could have even imagined doesn't feel like one might think.  It's not that feeling of standing at the top of the pedestal with flowers draped about your neck, crowds cheering and soaking in your glorious victory.  It is much more anticlimactic than that.   More like walking through a feild with land mines and bullets whizzing by.  Dust and smoke obscuring your view.  You fall down many times but at some point you stand up and the smoke has cleared.  You look around and realize that as ugly and endless it seemed you are still standing.  No one is there to cheer you on.  And no one really could because there is no way for one to truly grasp the passion,  the strength and pure fight it took to get there.

I saw a shirt the other day that said,  "great horses don't just happen". I think that is sometimes how we can judge another fellow rider.  "Well they just have a nice horse." But we never really know their story.  Yes there are those that buy that made horse but mostly I think we are all in the trenches together.  Knocking it out one schooling ride at a time for what can seem like an eternity. Walking away more days than not with bumps, bruises and scars, physically and figuratively.  Ask the greats and even they will say these horses aren't made in a day,  a month or even a year.  It is years upon years.  For us it's been 5 1/2 so far and we are just now starting to make headway but with so much more to go.  I write this as reminder to myself that we deserve a little bit of our moment in the sun because we sure as hell worked for it.  I also write this for those that have been working on that one thing,  whether it be  that transition or fear or  soundness for  forever and you can't see the light at the end of the tunnel.  There were days I felt like cutting my losses.  Days I felt I was just too old.  Many days that there wasn't enough money for the training we needed or saddle he had to have or time was slipping away and whats the point.  If There ever was an obstacle we have probably faced it.  Saddle fit,  trailering,  bucking,  rearing, soreness, soundness. If I have one word of advice for anyone bringing along a horse it would be to, put the clock away.  Better yet destroy it. Pretend time doesn't exist.  Just let it go.   And the other would be stop comparing.  Stop comparing your
horse,  yourself.  Don't compare your one year with another's 4 years.

When you've worked on that canter transition for 101 days just show up to day 102. THAT is all it takes. Just keep showing up.

Serenity Valley Show

I'd like to update everyone on how the show went. If you aren't a fan of overly happy braggy posts then this one may not be the one to read.  The weather was absolute crap though I think the poor souls that rode midsouth last week still take the cake on the crappiest show weather.  But yesterday was rainy and cold all day.   And with three of us riding 3 separate divisions pretty much meant we were going to open and close the place down.  Our rides were evenly spread so that was nice.  There needn't be any rushing.  I will break down all of our rides starting from youngest to oldest.  warning,  maybe longest post ever.

First off I must mention that though Monica's day didn't start out at all like she wanted she was still super awesome and came out to help and support me and my girls.  The weather was so shitty but she stayed nearly the entire day.  She is the sweetest girl on the planet and I just love her.   You have her to thank for almost all the videos that were taken.  Also you may be better off keeping the sound down on the videos.  One reason being the wind and second you can sometimes hear their crazy mom in the background.

K and Penny Pincher.  This was  K's first show.  She was entered in the cross rail CT.  First a bit of a background K is 8 years old.  Penny is an amazing and to die for jumper. Like jump offs would be her thing.  She would jump anything you point her at as fast as she can.  Dressage?   Not really her thing.  She is an adorable little mover when she is relaxed but that isn't all that often. I realize this every time I have seen my kids do a test on her.  If they got points for finishing it the fastest they would win for sure.   I was saying "slow down" under my breath the whole time.  But K had it under control (even in a snaffle,  I never let her go in a snaffle. Pony needs brakes, but rules. ) and still so freaking adorable.

They got a 48% dressage score.  Honestly I thought that was pretty harsh but then again I may be biased. But you can judge yourself. If you ask me they should get extra points for cuteness. But K memorized her test perfectly and I was so proud of her.  Penny is not the easiest ride but they have so much fun together.


We walked her course which was quite long, 12 jumps,  and winding. This was the first full course she has ever ridden.  She warmed up in the drizzly cold.  She watched a rider go and she said she was ready.  My bladder nearly failed me as I told her,  "have a great ride".  It's like a family right of passage for my kiddos to be sent off into the jump ring with those words.  They did awesome.  She remembered her course and she came out and proclaimed,  "I went double clear! ".  I didn't think it was worth mentioning it isn't timed on cross rails. It was just adorable.  She rode in a division with mostly adults and ended 5th out of 8. She loved her pink ribbon.  It matches her "colors".


Get ready for some more proud sap. E and Lily were in the Starter division and rode BN test a and jump height of 2'3". These two have come so far this year.  They were solid as rock.  I was very happy how they rode their test.  E said her biggest goal was to not jump out of the arena.  Good goal considering Lily very much has done that to her.   E rode it accuratly and Lily was obedient. They got their leads and E quickly felt and corrected her when she started to pick up the wrong lead going left.  It was a positive experience for both.  Now I feel we can work on some more complex dressage.  Involving things like connection and bend.  They are already working on gait regularity and rhythm and are making great progress. They got a 57%. She was SO happy when she saw four 7's on her test!

Show jump again is the true test of a mother's bladder.  Why when I'm anxious I feel like I am going to pee myself I have no idea but it is a real problem.  I may resort to Depends one day. Warm up was a sloppy mess. Every where was just a sloppy mess actually.  They warmed up well and we went over to get her name in.  Thankfully hubby was there to video because I can't do so.  I have to watch IRL. I just do.  They did amazing.  The footing was questionable by this point.  E rode it like she owned it and Lily was super brave and game.  Decorations and such are not things she has really jumped before.  And the only thing she peeked at was a straw bale and my guess would be she thought it might be food. I'll let the video speak for itself.  If the footing was solid we would have cantered the whole course but there was no reason to push it in those conditions. In a division of all adults but one she ended 6th out of 10.

As for Steady and I the day was pretty much set up for him to fall to pieces.  Top on the list of the things Steady hates cold, windy, wet weather. And close behind is sloppy, slippery footing.  Oh goody. But the day continued like I mentioned in my last post I was just happy with the kids having a great day.  I really was not all that concerned about how we would do.  Just do my best to keep him relaxed as I could get it done and get home.  They had made the decision to not continue jumping classes after starter. Which I am glad they did.  That grass arena was getting messy fast and I really was not all that excited about jumping 3 ft. With tight turns and roll backs in a sloppy grass arena. So we only got to ride our dressage test.  As soon as I got out to the warm up area I immediately made the decision to not warm up.  It was fetlock deep mud everywhere.  I knew Steady would just get more anxious slipping around in that.  I figured we were better off with no warm up.  He just paced  walked in the slop until it was our go.  I did trot a few circles in the end of the arena before the bell rang. So I guess you could call that a warm up?  So we had 2 minute warm up.  Steady felt really good.  I will tell you what I felt simply because what I felt and what that judge thought she saw don't quite match up in my mind.  He was listening and he went to work when we got in there.  I rode mediocre. Not complete crap but could have ridden better.  I was hesitant to use my leg.  I don't know why because he was listening to it.  Old habits die hard.  Leg on a cold windy day in times past meant explosives. But I wasn't getting explosives.  I told E she needs to ride the horse she is on.  I think I need to take my own advice. I was also hesitant to correct him getting behind the vertical.  I do that in the ring.  Concerned to get marked for the correction. Instead I get marks for not.  Meh, it's just what happens in my brain in the show ring.  The only real blub was switching his right canter lead 3 times in one 20 meter circle. Hey that takes talent we should get extra points!  If only it was on cue we could call it tempi changes but nope not on cue and not clean. It's like pick up right lead canter 3 strides. Change behind,  2 strides change front,  3 sides switch back to correct lead.  He wasn't the most obedient in his canter to trot transitions. I don't know exactly what the judge saw but not what I felt.  over all I was very pleased.  He did way more right than wrong and more than anything he was not a hot,  tense ball of nerves.  His free walk was the bomb. His trot work was solid.  All transitions were excellent except canter to trot.  I think it's time to start adding big kid dressage into our life.  Could it be?  Are we becoming the real deal?


What the judge saw I don't know but what ever it was she sure did like it.  I'm going to tell you my score but precede it with that I cannot tell you about dressage judging because I an no expert.  Far from it but it seems like quite a generous score.  Judges typically like Steady but this much?  Yikes.  On Novice test a we brought home a 23.1%!  Ridiculous right!?! We got 14! 8's. 14. It would take less time to tell you what movements we didn't get 8's on than what we did.  A 23% even with that right canter that brought us a 4. I don't care I'm claiming it.  I may never have this moment again so I am going to take it while I can. I don't care if she was actually a bum they picked up that morning to judge I am still owning that 23.1%.  Even though I giggle every time I think of it.  This beat our previous best score of 29% by 6 points.  Sadly because of my offspring I only have half of the test on video.  She can train a a shit pony from scratch but hell if she can figure out how to video something.  Well you at least get to see all our trot work.  We enter A at minute marker 1:55 if you don't want to see our minute and a half warm up.

All the Happs

We've been doing a bit of this and that.   I kind of gave up on schooling dressage rides.  As per a previous post.   Just not in the mood.  Feel free to judge away.  See how much I care.  We will see how it works for us Saturday at or first show in a year and a half!   Can that be right?   So let's get this straight.   I am making the move to Novice after not showing for a year and a half. Having very little ride time in over a year and we pretty much gave up dressaging.  At least it's only a schooling CT.  Show jump is also in a grass arena.  I really dislike grass arenas to jump in.  We'll see how this goes.

Last Saturday we went and jump schooled in trainers arena.  Steady was almost damn near perfect.

Angling wide oxers on a 2 stride line, no bigs.

Maybe slightly lazy.  I'll take that any day if you know my horse.  just jumped every single thing calm cool and collected.  There was this one grid he didn't bother picking up his feet but that only happened once and it just made me laugh.   His perfection made me want to just start cranking up the height.  We need to jump higher 2'11"-3' just isn't enough any more. He doesn't have to try.

This is him not having to try.
Here is a link to a short video of you're interested.
And another of Steady thinking it was a snooze fest.

Tuesday we went out and trailered to the location of the show and the girls schooled their dressage tests.  Kelcie had never ridden in a dressage arena so it was all new to her.   I basically coached while on Steady bareback because some how my girth never made it in the trailer.

In all reality my CT with Steady is not really a concern.  Interesting feeling.   I am really just trying to make sure my kids are prepared.   I don't forsee anything being an issue for Steady. Man! That horse has grown up.  I don't feel any pressure to expect anything at this show for myself. If we get first place great.  If we get eliminated fine.  At least then I know where we stand and how to move forward.  It has been so long it almost feels like our first show again.   And for first shows there should be no pressure and that's where we are and it's ok. Because as much as I love horses,  riding and competing it just isn't my whole life.  Not even close.  I went from introducing one child into riding and the show world to now a second.  There just seems to be much more important things to me right now then being #1 or even simply  advancing anywhere.  I mean I started out on this journey with Steady just wanting to ride again and occasionally jump and now going Novice in Eventing seems no big deal.  It's fun, I love it but I just can't explain to you the pure elation watching your child's passion and excitement grow.  Then to see them achieve and succeed from square one to bad ass independent rider. It's better than any ribbon from any event ever.

So I get on my horse.  We have fun rides.   I put no pressure on either of us.  There are plenty of days we don't even ride and it's ok.  It's fun having fun and for now it's enough.

Don't want to

We've all seen the "I don't want to adult" memes.  Today I need one that says "I don't want to people.  Don't make me people. "  Am I the only one out there that had days that they don't want to even be a part of the human race?   I pretty much just hate all man kind right now.  Except you guys of course!  Sorry I'm just coming on here to vent really.  But people just suck sometimes.  And sometimes it seems to just all hit you at once how much they really do.

On a less depressing note.  Monica, B, Steady , another friend, her horse and I along with our bribed little jump crew are going to jump school in trainers indoor tomorrow.   Win! Send us all the happs trailering vibes for B please!

Moving on.

Moving on from my last self deprecating post.  And on to the next self deprecating post about something new.   This happens to actually have some thing to do with riding. Well at least attempting to ride. That brings us to my lesson on Wednesday.  E and I took a group lesson together.   How rad is that, that my daughter is at a place that we can feasibly share a lesson?  It's kind of a cool place to be.  Anyways.   Something happened in my brain at some point.  Or should I say some thing failed to happen in my brain.  We were told to go through a simple grid. We have done this a Milian and one times. And it all fell to crap.  Over and over just running, plowing through this grid.  So ground poles were placed and at some point my horse just jumped the ground poles set 9 feet after the jump with the jump. That is some spread.  I was at a loss.

My instructor said "can I get on so I can figure out what he is doing?"  I think I was off before she finished her sentence.   She got on and fixed what I was doing and then let me back on. I rarely see some one else ride my horse and while I'm probably very strange I stand there watching thinking,  "is my horse really that sexy?" He really is a sight to watch. I got back on and she reminded me how one is to ride through a grid and whaddaya know it was lovely. Though it was frustrating when I screwed it up she helped me figure out how to fix it and reminded me how to ride.   Man I'm out of practice.

E and Lily had a great lesson too.   They are doing great and having a blast.  They put together a full course.   And though she wouldn't admit it I'm sure it felt good to watch mom screw things up and get told what to do.

All three of us are going to a combined test next Saturday.  I was thinking it may have been 2013 the last time I have shown.   Holy crap!  I told you I was out of practice. I think I am most excited and terrified to see my youngest and the cutest little gray pony ever do their green as grass CT.  If I am not vomiting or peeing on myself with nerves I will video it for all to see. I don't really get show nerves when I show other that the excited butterfly ones.   But when my kids are showing I have uncontrollable nervous break downs.  I have never been able to even hold a video camera during their ride.   It is all I can do to not pass out.   It is really bad.   Maybe one of these days I will figure out how to deal with it better. Cause it is bad.

Feeling like an ass

So my career path has been on hold for months now waiting on the State Medical Board of Ohio to issue me my license to massage.  I don't do waiting, well.  This means lack of income which means lack of bank to support any competitions to advance ridiculous adult, childlike dreams.  I mean today my husband unknowingly and non-purposefully made me feel like a complete ass.  I have been writing checks left and right for my silly little obsession lately.  There is 150 bales of hay, an early farrier visit because Steady's feet were disintegrating, Rolex purchases, feed, lessons, kids Pony Club camp and let's not even mention that trailer.  The amount of money is mind boggling.  Since when did mine and my children's hobby become the black hole for my families finances.  I have had this thought in the back of my mind lately.  And while I was thinking silently how I needed to send in my 2 daughters final camp payment (totally $700) and our show entries of at least $150 if we only each did a CT.  My husband tells me of his disappointment that he was out bid on ebay on the golf driver he has been wanting.  And that he refuses to pay more than $100.  At that moment I felt about an inch tall.  I didn't say a word and he had no idea what was on my mind.  This man provides us with every single thing we have ever asked for yet he cannot bring himself to buy a new driver for a whopping $300 and opts to search for a good deal on an older used driver.  Golf is really the only thing he has any interest in doing as far as a hobby that could cost money goes.  Yet he rarely actually does get out on a course and uses 15 year old clubs and a driver he absolutely hates.  I have not a whole lot else to say other than I feel like a selfish asshole right now yet I don't know how to change it. 

Product reviews and beach broncs

These are actually two non horse items that I am reviewing but they are both items that are handy and any horse or outdoorsy person would/could use.  First the FlipBelt.

I first saw this on my facebook feed.  I have been trying to figure out a way to conveniently carry my phone without it being obviously noticeable, annoying or chance of dropping it forever.  I've tried, putting it in my boot.  Which actually stretched my one boot out.  Fail.  Tried holders but always too noticeably annoying.  I've tried pockets and though some of my breeches have pockets most don't and if they are where normal pockets it always slips out. Fail.  This product was not designed for riding but other athletic activities such as running.  I have trail ridden many hours.  Ridden dressage, jumped, XC schooled in it.  All without so much as even noticing it.  It is definitely piece of equipment I use every ride.  I am able to have my phone on me at all times.  Which most importantly is safety.  I have been caught once with an injured rider and no phone.  Never again.  And for the less important but still a perk is that you can have quick access for photos and videos.  While yes it is probably just a new age fanny pack it is definitely an upgrade on the 80's trend.  Your important items are at hand yet kept snug to your body so they are virtually unnoticeable.  And we all know how eventers love their colors they have a ton of color options.

Next item I love is the Eno Hammock.

Again COLORS.  Not the reason I love it but options are never terrible.  I picked this bad boy up at Rolex a couple years back for the Husband for Father's Day.  The thing is rad.  It has been pretty much everywhere.  Horseshows, the beach, the back yard.  The weight limit is for ours is for 2 most reasonably sized adults.  You can hang it from literally anything!  I've hung it in my horse trailer, from trees, from my truck bed.  It is super light so easy to transport with you everywhere but super durable and made out of parachute material.  With the suspension straps and carabineer hooks you can take this ANYWHERE to sleep or just take a nap.  We love this thing and I see a second one in our future to take to the beach for our late night fishing trips across the street.  One for my husband and I and one the girls can sleep in. So much easier to strap your ENO to a couple trees then carry and set up a tent.  They make it wide enough that with the excess material you can wrap it around yourself and make a little bug proof cocoon.  It may come across as pricey but the number of uses the thing has I don't regret paying the price for it.  A cot or any other type of hammock is going to cost that or more and be way less functional.


From the queen of functionality(self appointed obviously) you don't get more functional than these two items.

In horse news.  It's been hot as shit here.  I've been riding a moderate amount.  E and I went on a long trail ride yesterday.  A make your ass so sore, it is more comfortable to ride home in two point trail ride.  We explored another new trail and it was really nice.  Some spots seemed like you were in the deep jungle and others open prairies and then you are on the beach.  So we found a really open sandy beach and had the bright idea of cantering on the beach.  We took like two strides, the haflinger started broncing and Steady felt like he thought that looked like loads of fun.  So our picturesque cantering down the beach was a big fail.  It would be a good meme.  Like those that go around about- this is how I think I look riding, how my mom thinks I look, how my trainer thinks I look etc.  I want to imagine the on lookers on their boats were all, "wow look at those beautiful horses and amazing riders running down the beach"  It was probably more like, "OH my gawd look at those two nut balls...do you think they are going to die?  Should we just call careflight now?"  In my head I am going to believe we looked like this.

This is exactly what we looked like. (In my head)

Livin' on Love

Horses. They don't need much.  Just a little love. That's it. Well, and an endless bank account. But that's it.   Oh yeah and hundred and hundreds of hours of your life.  Ok maybe a little more than just love but that's a cute sentiment. 



First off EF you blogger.  Why you delete my post?  I wrote a bunch of crap about how I am a low maintenance horse keeper and blah blah but now it's gone and I am not writing it again.  Basically I am writing about how our last place was crappy but we made do and my horses were happy and healthy and that is all that matters to me.  But that moving to our new place was a huge upgrade that I am not hating.  This is what happens when knowledgeable, experienced horse people build a barn.  They think of EVERYTHING.

They think of power.



Safely conduit covered plugs install above each stall.



They think of storage.

For all the things we need to hang.  Because horse people love hangy things.

For all the food and such.

For all the saddles. 3 horses 9 saddles?  Seems about right.  We do have portable racks just in case though.

Shelves for all the things. Because if you own horses you WILL accumulate a bunch of useful and useless things that you will need to put on a shelf.

For all the hay.  Enough storage for 400 bales of hay.  Oh how happy the Haflinger would be if we filled the barn with 400 bales of hay.

Tool storage.  A place to hang the many tools it take to keep a farm in ship shape.



They think of LIGHTS

And they didn't hold back with the lights.  There are florescent lights in the isle.  There are regular light bulb lights in the aisle

Lights outside the barn.  One of these on either end of the barn.  You can probably see us glowing from the space station.  Protected by a metal cover.  You can see an example of them in the picture of the feed room.

Lights in the round pen.
It's safe to say you will never be short on light around this place.  Though most of the lighting in the house is crap but who cares about that anyways.  They had their priorities in order.



They thought about the Aisle way

It only makes sense if you own horses to have an aisle big enough to pull truck fully loaded down with hay in it comfortably or even a hay wagon. 

Rubber mats down the entire aisle


They thought of Warmth

Completely insulated ceiling.  The barn is easily 15 degrees warmer than outside in the winter.

All the stalls are floor to ceiling solid wood.  There will be NO draft for you my spoiled ponies.

They thought of ventilation

Two huge doors on each end facing the direction that the wind blows 90% of the time.  In the summer the barn is 15 degrees cooler than outside.

They thought about Fat ponies

 Electrical outlets and a water spigot.

They have this fabulous dry lot for those of us that don't have the self control we need.  It's ok chubby ponies I can relate.

They have this amazing shelter because even chubby ponies need shelter.  A Nelson automatic waterer(love that thing), Lights(of course).   A gate big enough to fit the tractor for easy clean up.  If they can't be pigs they may as well be comfortable.

Rando photo of the coolest cat around.  Garfield.



They thought of comfort

The stalls are all roughly 12x12  Rubber matted, lighted, insulated, plugs.  What more could you want.

Walls and gates they can put their heads over.  Does wonders for bordom

They thought of beauty. Stained wooden stalls.  It's just perty 

They thought of putting kids on ponies in stalls...oh wait, no, that wasn't them.