Goals for 2014

Ok and here comes the annual tradition of setting goals for the new year!  So goals from last year can be found here.  For a breakdown, here is what I wanted to focus on for this year -

1) Ride different horses.  Even if its just the kids horses, more saddle time on different horses will make me more confidant.







Kind of done, I rode Oscar and Lucy this year and Chilly most recently, and I did get one ride in on Hottie but this is a goal that I am going to try again on this year. 

2) Try to continue to ride Oscar at least twice a week.









Done!  I ride Oscar twice a week on the minimum, and got to riding 4-5 times this summer.  Hopefully once the weather gets a bit better we can get back to that, or at least riding Chilly and Oscar both on the nights that I do get to the barn.

3) Take more pictures of the horses and try to get someone to take photos of me on the horses.














Done!  Thanks to some friends with cameras I actually got some good pictures this summer (including the one at the top of the page)

4) Try to get to 2 horse shows this summer and show!

Done!  I got to 4 shows this summer and rode at all of them!  And even showed for 3 days in a row at our last show.

5) To loose 20 pounds before show season. (May)





Done!  Total loss was about 40lbs in total for the year.  (some gained some lost this fall)  I hope to lose even more but its a very good start.

6) To have more "wow look what we just did" moments weather at home or at shows.


Done!  Being top two in a tough showmanship class at our first show, winning our first jacket, NAILING a tough trail pattern, and best of all riding Lucy with no bridle (or halter) our last ride together this fall.



7) To keep on top of my finances, If I want to seriously start looking for a new horse in 2014 I need to have a decent size budget to do that with.  Most of Lucas' money went to fixing my car, and paying off loans not so much saving for a new horse.


Yeah, as much as I want a new horse I NEED to move out of my parents place.  Student loans will be done next year.. and besides, with the time off work and out of the saddle that my ankle replacement will need, money / time will be tight.

So goals for 2014!!

I am going to reuse some of my goals from last year to continue on this year ...(is that cheating?  I really like them?!?)

1) Ride different horses.  Even if its just the kids horses, more saddle time on different horses will make me more confidant.

2) Try to continue to ride at least twice a week.

3) To have more "wow look what we just did" moments weather at home or at shows.

4) To have some serious plans to be out of my parents house and be closer to work by this time next year.  Its going to mean moving away from the barn but part of the plan is going to be finding a way to ride.

5) To show this summer.  Doesn't matter what horse or where but I want to show.  I'd really love it to be with Chilly.  (And maybe Lucy at the exhibition lol)

6) To make myself go out and interact with people who might not necessarily be horse related.

 7) To try to get out to a clinic or two this year and ride in them!

3rd ride on Chilly

I managed to get my 3rd ride in today on Chilly.  We kept her and her pasture buddy in while we did stalls, and then I took her out, got her brushed and put her to work.  I lunged her in the sidepull again today, left the bit off.to keep her happy.  Shes really starting to grow and develop and now that she's level again its making 'slow' and correct so much easier for her.

As much as I don't like her pushing and slightly stressing about the bit in her mouth she carries her head very low, and keeps her back up when she does it.  Its also helping her develop her back muscles.  We just have to find one she doesn't fuss with as much.  As for bits, we've tried a plain medium mouthed snaffle, a french link, and a ported barrel bit (no chains or shanks or anything, just hooked to the bridle, but I wanted to see if the port with more room for her tongue would make her happier, it didn't)  Anyone have any ideas of what else to try?  We're going to try a mullen mouth next as well. 

So after she got lunged I got my mounting block out, D held her for me (although its not really needed, we want to make each situation easy, and to avoid issues when every possible.  I need the block, having someone make sure she doesn't move away, means that we never give the opening for an issue to arise).  We walked for about 5 minutes, doing small and large circles each direction, stopping, backing and turning her sharply into the wall.  We then jogged about a circle each direction before going on a walk in figure 8's all around the arena. 

Shes such a good little mare.  We just need time, and I need to stop eating Christmas chocolate!

Crazy Christmas, crazy weather

I haven't been out to the barn much at all over my week's vacation.  Either I had family stuff going on, or it was storming (freezing rain and another 20 cm of snow (total over the past 3 days)).  The one day I did get to go out it was -20, too cold to work the ponies in that.

I got out this afternoon for a quick break in between boxing day shopping with my mom and visiting with friends in the afternoon.  Chilly was not excited to work and even bucked on the lunge line!  She never bucks so it was quite unusual for her.  So we went from having goals of lunging and driving with the bit, to lunging only with the bit, to me having to take the bit off her and put her back into the side pull to lunge her, and no driving of any sort got done.  Oh well that is how it goes with babies I guess!

Oscar is good, but managed to break his halter somehow over the past two days... sigh... I guess I should be happy that it was leather, and it did break.  But now it needs to be fixed.

And for an intresting photo comparison, her are 2 pictures of Chilly, (the first two, please excuse the messy floor, and the round spot on Chilly's hip is a bite mark) and a picture of Lucy from last spring.  They are really starting to look alike!  

Another great ride on Chilly

And it was better than the first ride, and I have video proof!  Please excuse the puffy sweater we're still in weird temps for our area, and layering is the only way to survive.  Shes still fussy about stopping and backing in the side-pull, but shes not fully comfortable in a bit yet. 

Did it.

It's -15C, I have RA, I have an ankle that needs replacing, wrists that no longer function, and I need to loose more weight.

But tonight I tacked Chilly up, lunged her for 10 minutes, got the mounting block out (C held her just in case) and I got on Chilly.  Alone with no one else in the arena with us, I walked her around, stopped her, turned her both directions, and backed her up.  

She was so solid underneath me.  Even grown up, broke horses can be 'funny' with a new rider for a circle or two until they figure out the new person.  Not with her, she wanted to follow C, but once I encouraged her to walk away she listened to me.  

What a great ride.

Helmet is here!

And I love it!  Fits great.  I have a bit of a cone head so I have to get the extra padding lined up in the right spots but I did a temporary 'stick' job and it felt much better.  Best part is that it fits my long oval head perfectly,  and there are so many air vents!  I can't wait to ride in it this summer.  Now the countdown is on to ride chilly!

Too cold to ride

It sucks, it went from -2C on Tuesday to -25 on Saturday.  The general rule of thumb in the barn is that we don't work the horses hard when the temps are -15, and we don't do much at all at -20.  We have been known to saddle up and walk/play over trail stuff when we haven't been able to ride for over a week, but the temp change was so quick this week I haven't ridden since Tuesday.

Its just as well, my new helmet won't be in until Monday, and we are supposed to get a major storm on Sunday so it will most likely be Tuesday before I get to ride again.

Its days like this though I am very thankful for my office job!  I can go to the barn and do my weekend work then head home to get warmed up!  I don't have to stay in the cold all day and try to work horses that don't want to work!

P.S - to all my southern readers, today was the first day all the horses poop froze.  I know its colder out west, but it still sucks to be breaking ice out of buckets in January!

New Helmet!

Well its been ordered and its on the way.  I ended up getting an IRH Elite Xtreme.  Its the same as the helmet I tried on the weekend but black.  (Sorry the picture is so big!)

As far as showing western in the helmet goes, I really didn't notice that much of a problem with it this year.  Granted for the most part I only showed reasonably small local shows, but I could never really look at a class and go "yup I lost that class because of my helmet".  Around here 99% of the shows require everyone under the age of 18 to wear a helmet in all classes.  I was one of the kids that the rule first effected.  For the most part we always wore our helmet when we showed.  And as the kids now begin to age out more and more just keep their helmets on. 

There are a few kids who don't ride at home without them (which I think is just plain silly.  No one is even going to see you at home!) but I hope that them seeing me wear one every ride will make them think its more normal. 

In search of a new helmet

No worries I haven't fallen or anything like that *knock on wood*!  My current helmet getting older (bought in early 2011) and I wear it often and sweat a lot!  Its also starting to feel a bit loose on my head, which is a sure sign that the padding is going south.

I currently have a Lami-cell competitor.  I love the harness and the general 'fit' of this helmet... However its not very cool in the summer, and it doesn't have a removable liner which makes washing it a PITA.  (Did I already mention that I sweat a lot?)
 

So I took some time on the weekend when I was Christmas shopping and looked at some helmets.  What really sucks is that in the Maritimes there are very few tack store options. So I was only able to try on some IRH's, Charles Owens, and Tipperary.

I did like the IRH Xtreme, but they only had it in gray.  And personally wearing a helmet and riding western can look funny enough, I'd rather have a black helmet (and black will go with all of my show clothes that I already own).






Yup too light.

The Tipperary helmets didn't fit right at all (or at least didn't feel comfortable).  Troxel helmets all have those stupid adjustable clips on the back that I don't like.

I did like the Charles Owen Gr8, but at 340 dollars I just couldn't commit.  The Jr8 only has a different harness but I really didn't like the fit of the harness. 

So that's where I'm at.  Does anyone have any tips or recommendations?  I'm leaning more towards the IRH because I think it will be cooler, but I know that CO has a 'return' policy of sorts if you fall off with one of their helmets....

Chilly pictures

So I tried a French link snaffle today and Chilly was much happier.  Had a great time driving her around the arena.  I have to say I love training babies.  Somedays they make me feel like I actually know what I'm doing.  (Other days not so much but we didn't have that type of day today)

Final day of the 5 day challange

21) Favorite classes to watch

Usually either the equation classes or the lunge line (yearling or 2 year old)  I must have a short attention span both usually last under 2 minutes per exhibitor!

22) What's in your cooler at a horse show

Sports drinks and lots of water.  I have a weird system in that I have to maintain a strict salt/water ratio.  If I drink too much water I get a migraine  Too much salty food, same thing.  (And yes my blood pressure stays good during all of this)  Chiro has related it to my muscles and how they function but keeping on track of my salt and water intake is very important when showing in the heat.  Other than that usually snacks like fruit, cheese and dry cereal.

23) One thing about showing (or riding in general) you wish you could change

Expense.  To go to shows with good judges, it costs money.  I wish I had more money.  Also as much as I love the stock horses and the western pleasure, I dont like how the horses are moving right now.

24) Your ringside crew

D and C are wonderful but because I show on my own, all of the barn parents, and significant others are a big help to me when I need a hand.  They help with everything from carrying things from my car to giving me a hand with my chaps.  We all cheer each other on and BBQ when everything is done for the day.

25) Best prizes

I love the cooler I won with Lucas, but I especially love the jacket Lucy and I won this summer.  And can I just say I love trophys?!?  I love having that memory of the show that I can display in my house.  If I get something practical it gets used and abused in the barn! (And by this I mean brushes, buckets ect)

Lucas and his cooler

Jacket and trophy

haul from Lucy's last show

Ta Da!  The end, big thanks to Lauren for sharing Tracey's idea.  Their blogs are She Moved To Texas and Fly on Over. 

Chilly video (and pictures)

Well Chilly was a very good girl last night but she was a little tired and frustrated last night by the time I put her away.  Its not a bad thing, I threw out some tougher stuff at her while we were driving and although she 'got it' shes a bit like her mother, her brain got too full too fast.  So she'll have tonight off and we'll try again on the weekend.  She is now just 15.1 in the front and 15.2 in the hind and is bigger than her mother!  Her father maxes out at 15.2-15.3 (he is deathly afraid of the measuring stick).  Shes also gained a bunch of body condition and muscle.  So onto the video:

First one is her 2nd time driving with the bit, and first time jogging with one in.  She's still fussy with the bit, but she doesn't give up just tries to figure it out.



This is her lunging a bit earlier with the bit in.  Still fussy, even though there is no pressure, but working on figuring it out.  (And yes her teeth have been checked, shes loosing some front baby teeth but nothing that the bit would effect).  Personally I'm leaning to going to a mullen mouth with some tongue relief, or a french link.  Her mother is the same with single jointed snaffles.

Day 4!

16)  One thing you'd like to change about your horse.

I'd love for Oscar to have new hocks.  They are both fused, and mostly painless for him, but it makes his lope so rough neither of us enjoy it.

I'd love Chilly to have a tiny smidgen more energy *I might take this back later as she gets fitter* Shes a bit like her mother that once her gas tank is empty you might as well get off her and put her away! 

17) Your horse's future

A tough one.  Oscar will continue to be ridden by me for the winter.  His mom is done school next December and things are still up in the air for the summer.  She's got practicals and I'd love to be showing Chilly.  We'd like to find a nice child for Oscar to show walk/trot with next summer but we'll see.

I'd love to have Chilly for my very own.  However hopefully I'll show her this summer, and we'll find her a nice person to love her next year.

18) My worst show ever...

I had some bad shows as a kid but my worst one was my first show with Lucas.  We had a major melt down on both of our parts.  We got though it but it was not a fun weekend.

19) Favorite horse show venue.

I have to say that I loved grooming at the old Collingwood show.  Weather was great, good tents, nice rings.  Our local facilities leave something to be desired.  The Sussex NB facility is good but the stalls are only like 9x9.  Makes it hard if you have anything bigger than 15 hands.

20) Show day routine

Usually I get up, hay and water and then clean stalls while the horse has a chance to eat some hay.  We then go for a little lunge (if we have showmanship and halter) and practice the showmanship pattern or pieces that were having issues with before going back to the barn.  Then if the horse gets grain they get it then while I finish painting feet, putting the fake tail in and tidy up the rest of the horse (and me!) Once that is done I get dressed in show clothes, do my make up, get the horse haltered, do their make up and get ready to go in the ring.  Days I ride first are a little more laid back but I try to be ready about 20 min before my class so that I can have that ride time if I need it.  Getting me into my chaps takes at least one other person so that is a team activity, just about everything else I do on my own.

The 5 day challenge day 3

11) Critique your horse's conformation

Doing Oscar because he's easy.  His hind end is very weak, and his hocks are set out behind him.  His neck is tied in a bit high, and he is very narrowly built.  He's also slab sided (mostly a result of him being so narrow)  He does have a good slope to his shoulder and a kind eye which makes up for some of his faults :)

12) Horses favorite riding excercise

Oscar likes long trotting.  And showmanship (I think that should count)  Chilly likes being ridden lol she doesnt know much about it yet!

13) Favorite spa day products

I love vetrolin products, small (SHARP) rubber curry's.  (I go though 2-3 a year)  and I love natural bristled brushes.

14) Three best things about your horse

Oscar is completely trustworthy (but he hates cows), I know that no matter what kind of a day I am having health wise, Oscar will do his best to do what I'm asking him to do, and to be as easy on me as possible when I'm having a bad day.  I can also put anyone on him that visits me or the barn.  He'll pack them around and make them feel like real 'riders', I think thats what he does with me too!

15) Favorite picture of your horse

One of each of the horses that I've loved over the past couple of years

Lucas

Chilly

Oscar

Lucy

Day 2 of the 5 day challenge

6) Favorite equestrian book and movie

Ummm Jilly Cooper's Riders for sure.  I re-reading it for like the 7th time right now.  Movie, most likely International Velvet.  The horsey stuff is correct, which drives me crazy in most horse movies.

7) Most common riding misconception

That I suck.  No really, most days I wonder how I stay on!  I think my lack of confidence gets me in more trouble than anything else. 

8) 2 riding strengths and 1 riding weakness.

Belive it or not my lack of riding confidence is also a big help to me, I'm never afraid to ask for someone elses opinion on my riding or on what my horse is doing. 

My legs are good, solid basis of support.  Even with my bum ankle my legs are always able to tell the horses what I want when I want it.

My biggest riding weakness is my inability to "let go" with my hands.  Lucas made it worse, but Lucy helped me figure it out, its still something that I struggle with somedays.

9) Least favorite thing about horses and/or riding.

How absolutely heartbreaking it can be some days.  There have been lots of times that I wish I could have loved a non animal sport.  Hockey sticks usually don't break your heart by turning up lame before the big show, or by being starved by the person you sold them too. 

10)  What do you feed your horse?

Well for "my" horse (either Chilly or Oscar) both get a scoop and 1/2 of whole oats, and Oscar gets MSM.  They only get grain at night right now.  They have free choice hay or haylage outside and more when they go in their stalls at night (about 2 large flakes worth). 

The 5 day Challenge Day 1

Copied from She Moved to Texas!

1) Most Influential Person on Your Riding. 

I think this is a multi part answer, my best friend has been a huge influence on me for the past 9 years that I've known her.  From dragging me to horse shows when all I wanted to do was sit at home and mope, to being a sounding board for riding problems, and concerns.

My other one would be my first riding instructor ever.  From teaching me to tack up when I was 7 to having training discussions with me last fall when I'm 31 she has been a great sounding board when I need an outside perspective.

2) Piece of tack you'd love to splurge on.

I think my new to me Wenger show saddle counts (since I'm still paying for it!).  But I'd love some good show bridles, and I'd love a brand new pair of custom field boots.

3) Top 5 riding playlist.

Anything country really, as long as it has a good beat.

4) Most important aspect of your barn

The people.  And the fact they let me play with all of the horses and do just about anything with them.  The stuff we do as a barn family is always a blast even if we don't have horses involved.  I also love the fact that although we can get lessons at any time from either C or D, the indoor is almost always open to ride in every night/day.  Even when someone is having a lesson, everyone tries to accommodate everyone else and work together so that we can all ride and be home at a decent hour.

5) Three winter riding goals

1-to ride on a regular basis (Both horses!)
2-to take Chilly to a clinic (either in barn or off property)
3-to work on showmanship at least once a week with Chilly

Chilly is a super star

Again another whole post on Chilly!  I love her I really do.  I only with that my life was able to accommodate another horse in it at this point. 

Today D drove her in a bit for the first time, she still doesn't like it but she's dealing with it.  We did open her mouth to have a look and she's loosing her front baby teeth, so that explains some of her mouthiness. 

And she was so good!  Walking and jogging under saddle like a pro, changing directions, and even 2 tracking a little at the walk and working on turns on the haunch.  D said and I quote "This is the smartest horse I've ever ridden".  And I believe it, she has the desire to please of her mother, but the ambition and curiosity of her father.

Winter is here, well kind of

Being the maritimes we are getting a major windstorm with 100km/hour winds.  It could be worse, it could be snow like Quebec and Ontario are getting!

Chilly is now jogging under saddle!  So cool and relaxed, and apparently very smooth. We're aiming for me to be riding her in another month!  She's very much like her mother, introduce something quietly and calmly, get her thinking and doing it (even if its not completely correct but in the right direction) give her a break and try again the next day with even better results and a more confident horse. 

I cant wait to be riding her.

Oscar is good, but still rough.  Next couple of weeks I'm going to have to ramp up our rides so were both ready for Christmas, me for Chilly and him for his mom to come home from university. 

Chilly got her tail washed and braided up last weekend and I took a couple of pics, she also got her first set of front shoes and was a very good girl.

Chilly

Well chilly got put back into work last night nothing too hard just showmanship.  We even did some trotting with the chain under her chin.  She was a very good girl.  Hopefully more pics on the weekend.

Boring is good

Nothing new or exciting to report, which can be a good thing.  I've managed to ride Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday nights. 

Monday was an interesting ride.  Either Oscar doesn't like my english saddle (and it seems to fit him very well) or he just doesn't like ME riding in my english saddle!  He wouldn't go faster than a slow jog, at all.  I'm thinking that he didn't like how unstable I was.  I'm a little weak because I'm now 2 weeks over due for my IV drugs so I listened to Oscar and put him away a bit early.  I'll try it again in another month or two when I'm up to snuff and I have a half pad for him.

Other than that things are fine.  I would really like my IV drugs now but I have to wait until next Friday.  Big meeting in town tomorrow for the local AQHA club, which should be entertaining... *sigh* why can't all horse people just get along?

Things are moving faster... at least for Canada

So with the health care system in Canada things can move slowly or quickly, but either way its free!

So we went from a possible 5 year wait time, to less than 2 years in the past week.  I have referrals in to 3 surgeons but the one who will actually do the surgery will most likely see me after another surgeon has passed me on again.  Good news is that my family doctor went to school with the ankle surgeon, and thinks that with my history it should be 2 years or less. (And will be sending an email to the surgeon personal email)

So I still have a long process in front of me, but its a much shorter wait that I thought it was.

The weight loss is going good, down the 3 pounds I gained in September and October, and back on track again.  (Tonight was treat night and I got a burger from Wendy's!)

I did end up doing showmanship with Chilly last weekend, she was very smart and remembered her 'lessons' from when she was a yearling on setting up and standing still.  Also got her to trot in hand and we tried a pivot or two just to ease her into it.

Monday I lunged Oscar and did showmanship and on Tuesday I rode for about 20 min, just to get back into it.  On Monday we got a new sale horse into the barn and I got to ride him on Thursday night!  Hes so much smoother than Oscar!  But was a little 'lookie' and I am glad that Oscar is so solid and non spooky. 

It was fun to get on a new horse and learn and adapt to him quickly.  I'm hoping to start riding Rusty soon, to get more horsey experience under my bum before it comes time to ride Chilly.

Oh and I tried to get pictures of me in my chaps, by myself, but that didn't work.  I need practice with my selfies!  

Another lung infection

Sometimes this autoimmune illness sucks.  My cold from Tuesday turned nasty overnight (maybe I shouldn't have gone for a ride, but I needed a pick me up).  Thankfully my family Dr has a prescription for antibiotics on file for me at all times so I called that in and started them on Wednesday.  Good news is I'm starting to feel better and will get to go out to the barn this weekend.  I hope to see D ride Chilly even if I don't get to ride Oscar.  I think Chilly needs to start working on showmanship as well.

In absolute amazement, last week my parents agreed to buy me chaps from Hobby Horse for Christmas!  Normally they don't like buying me anything 'horsey' so I was super happy and excited for them to agree to purchase them for me.  A friend tried to pick some up for me at Congress but the online price was better, so on Monday night I ordered them and they arrived today!  I ended up getting the elastic inserts to help with zipping, and with getting on and off the horse.  They would have fit without them but I love the extra bit of stretch when I lift my legs!  This is the first pair of new chaps I have ever owned, and I cant wait to show in them this summer. 

Sometimes being right isn't all its cracked up to be

 My bad thoughts about my right ankle (that I originally broke in 2003) were proven correct in my MRI last week. 

There is little to no cartilage left, and significant damage done to the bones due to the lack of cartilage. This means that we start the process of either fusing or replacing the joint. There are very few doctors that will replace ankles (or fuse them) in the maritimes, so its good that we are starting the process now while I am still able to function *almost* normally on a day to day basis. 

The good news is that the new ankle 'joints' are lasting up to 15 years and the technology can only improve while I wait. 

For now nothing changes, any surgery will be at least a year away (rough estimate from Dr. O) as I can function reasonably well on a daily basis at this point. And although the above is bad, all my other joints have significantly decreased swelling, and all my lab results continue to improve. I'll use the time until the future surgery to loose more weight so that I'll be ready when the time comes.

In horse related news Oscar and I went on a 'trail ride' in the outdoor last night.  I was down in the dumps a bit because of the bad news from the doctor, but I still have a bad cold, so I lunged him outside then we walked around the outdoor and over and around the trail obsticles that were still set up just to get us both moving.  We even saw a fox (Oscar wasn't spooking from it but way too interested for me to try and reach for my camera to try and take a picture!) and some Canadian Geese.  

D rode Chilly on Monday and was going to wait for me to come out tonight and he would ride her again so I could see, but I'm sick with a cold.  However he is very happy with her behaviour and eagerness to learn.

Chilly update

Well D rode chilly today!  He also drove her around and told me I had done a great job on her ground work and getting her going.  He got on her without any one else in the ring, which left Chilly slightly confused (You could see her brain working " but Sam normally leads me around with someone on my back?" ) but she stayed calm and thought about what he wanted before she moved.  D said he could feel her thinking about what he was asking her, processing it, and then doing what he asked.  There was no fear, just her wanting to please him. 

He only stayed on for 5 minutes while they sorted each other out and got used to each other.  He'll take her over for the most part now so they can bond a bit more and he can feel her out before riding her.  He was very happy with her and excited for her future.  Chilly also got her feet done on Friday, and is much more balanced in her current growth spurt.

Lucy also came in today to go out with the other pregnant mares, it was raining today so it didn't happen but she got to stay in the barn for the day, and get brushed and pampered a little bit.  She liked the attention but I don't think she liked us commenting on how big her baby bump is!  Shes the biggest (around) in the barn and they are all due about 2 days apart.

Oscar got outside in the morning before it started raining too hard and managed to roll and get completely covered in mud...for a horse that doesn't like getting brushed he sure likes getting dirty!

I love Oscar, but

I hate his lope.  Its so stiff and bouncy that both of us end up stiff and sore from doing too much of it.  I know he is ride able at the lope, I have seen his owner do it.  And I'm sure that I might not be doing too bad, but it feels awful.  The best thing lately has been to almost be willing to go to a hunter half seat when he gets really bouncy and use my legs to balance on him instead of my seat.  Its working, and shortening my stirrups a hole helped too.  Anyone else have any ideas?

I had my MRI on Monday for my ankle, and my appointment with Dr O is on Tuesday of next week.  Please cross your fingers that they can hopefully figure out why it hurts all the time.  Its starting to drive me nuts.  I feel good, I want to do stuff, but it hurts.

Chilly is fine :) shes growing up in the front end again and is almost level again.  We are hoping to have D start riding her a couple of times a week starting next week, shes ready for a job.

Congress update

So far for 2013 the maritime exhibitors have 2 congress champion titles, and 4 top 15 placings.  (oh and the Novice WP champion from the East Region) Not bad for a region that only attracts under 60 horses to it shows...

Update Oct 22, 2 more reserve titles a top fifteen and 2 more finalists!

Update Oct 26 another finalist, a reserve and another congress champion!  

Placings have been in everything from performance halter, Hus, pleasure, showmanship, equatation, barrels and poles!

Clinics and learning

So I went to that clinic on the weekend.  I did only go for one day, and I learned from watching the clinic with my former (and first) coach, but it really disappointed me.  A lot of the riders were suppose to be riding at a very high level, but I watched him fix proper bend though the horses body though a serpentine.  A girl in a double bridle couldn't get a canter to walk transition.  He was also very judgmental of anyone not doing dressage.  He wondered what western people did once they got their horse broke, " I mean you ride them when they are two then they are trained by the time they are three, then what?".  I didn't feel like telling him that we still do a lot of the stuff they do, just with a loose rein!

They did A LOT of pushing the horses hips out, which is different from us western people who push the hips in.  And despite how 'intimidating' we are to our western horses he admitted to putting horses in their stalls or arena loose bitted up in side reins for them to "figure it out" when he cant get them to do it under saddle.  How can you complain about some trainers when you do the same on your own.  I don't know.  Using side reins, or tying your reins to a saddle (in my case often with more slack then I use with side reins) is ok when used properly and for short periods of time.  However I still think that it helps build resistance when used too often or for two long.

In my pony news, Oscars mom had a great vacation and got to ride every day.  Chilly is doing well, and doing awesome with the driving.  I rode Oscar on Tuesday and Thursday and on Thursday I even got to ride Hottie.  Hottie is a 16.2 hh 4 year old that they have been really taking their time with.  My friend Melissa rides her most of the time and shes really really quiet, but very green.  It was fun to get on a new horse though and figure her out.  And my no stirrup work is paying off and I fell more secure on Oscar and on Hottie as well.

A little set back

After my glowing post last week things went a little down hill. 

Chilly is now an entire hand (4 inches) shorter in her front end than her hind.  And it happened in about 2 weeks. For that reason I've backed off a little bit with her.  She'll go back to driving some on the weekend but its not fair to her to push the riding when she is so growthy at this point.  We did cut her mane off though, and she now looks like a real grown up horse.

I took Oscar out to ride on the weekend and he was dead lame.  Turns out the Barbie horse he was turned out with kicked him really hard on the inside of his stifle.  It was really sore for a couple of days, and his leg swelled up a bit, but by Tuesday he was sound at all 3 gaits and we went for a little ride on Wednesday.  He was back to 110% on Thursday night which was good as his owner comes home today for the weekend!  He still has a bit of a cut, but it will heal with time. 

I've decided to kick up the intensity of our rides, for me.  Lots more rising trot with 2 point and sitting mixed in to strengthen my legs and improve my balance (and rising trot is much harder than sitting so it will help my fitness as well).  Last night was the first night, and the legs are a little tender tonight!  I'll appreciate the hard work when it comes time to ride Chilly this winter though.  I'd ridden Lucy without striupps but it will be harder on Oscar, hes is extremely rough to ride. 

I'm off to watch a dressage clinic on the weekend at my old coaches place.  Should be a fun learning experence, I'll bring back a report!

So many things to say!

Here we go!

Chilly is amazing.  We've be lunging and driving her, and C has been on her while still on the lungline.  Teaching her to go in a circle, stop, back up, and go.  Monday night after her 'ride' (we lunge for 10 min, and C gets on her for 5) C looked at me and said "do you want to get on?".  I'm a big believer in not putting too much weight on babies but I couldn't resist.  I grabbed my helmet, boots and moved the mounting block up to her.  Thankfully all of my mounting block prep work paid off and I was able to step off the mounting block and swing my leg over her without her even blinking.  It was so cool!  I haven't ridden a young green horse since before I even got diagnosed.  Shes a big baby though.  Already she's taller than Lucy, and is using the same girth set up as Oscar.  She was very unconcerned that I was now on her back, and C was leading her around and she let me rub her all over as we took a couple of trips around the ring.  C led her the entire time and our indoor isn't very big, but I was so happy to be on her back.

Last night I took advantage of the warm (er) weather and took her out for the first trip to the outdoor.  Lucy, as you'll remember, took several times outside to get used to that ring.  Chilly stuck like glue for the first trip around, then slowly relaxed and moved more and more back to her normal leading position.  (I like them to follow slightly behind and on a loose rein)  We walked over the trail obstacles set up, and even sniffed the bridge all over and put her front feet up on it.  She wasn't ready to walk across it, but she wasn't afraid to touch it or put her feet on it, just not all feet at the same time.  We then had a light lunge, where she acted like she got worked in this pen each and every day for the entire summer.  She has all of the best parts of both sides of her family tree.

Oscar is doing good,  he even whinnied at me last night when I was at the barn.  I think he just wanted his supper, but it was nice to hear him trying to get my attention.  Our ride on Tuesday was good we're finally figuring each other out again.  I've been working him in more of a dressage frame, trying to get him to lift his back and strengthen his back and hips, and hes really getting into it.  I was asking him to extend and come back to a regular trot and he was really getting into it!  We also did some shoulder in, and hip in, all stuff to keep both of our bodies and minds working together.

I got my IV tonight so I had time to write this all down, were also getting some pro photos done on the weekend of our family so hopefully I'll have some of them to share next week.

I think I broke my a$$

Loping on Oscar last night was a work out.  I did not appreciate Lucy's lope enough!  Oscar is just so rough, and if he gets into his 'hopping' it is just plain impossible to sit to.  (He literally bounces up and down like Pepe Le Pew)  However I did it, 5 or 6 times around the ring each way.  Even sat though him kicking out at my spur when I was trying to collect him a little bit.  He's really acting like a spoiled lesson horse that's been allowed to get away with murder, he's hauling on my hands, kicking out at the spur, and just generally making me work for each and every step of good work I get out of him.

Chilly is going very well.  C got on her on Sunday and Monday and walked her around under saddle.  I also drove her both days.  Our days of working with her are a little sporadic, but its keeping us slow, and keeps us from putting too much pressure on her.  She is so quiet and easy going it would have been easy to rush this braking in process.  Monday was the first times she's bucked on the lungline, but it was 15 degrees colder than the day before and she had been stuck inside.  She let out one good buck and then settled down and went to work.  That's how I like my babies.

Good news

I have good news, I am typing this sitting at work in my new size 18 jeans.  I haven't fit into a size 18 since 2008!  I still have a pair of jeans from that year that just won't meet up to button but I'm on my way.  Considering that I was a size 24 in some pants in February of this year I am really happy.  

Chilly is doing fantastic.  I drove her for the first time on Wednesday night and she was awesome.  She's very willing to work and learn although she gets frustrated if you throw too much at her at once.  So using that to our advantage we only did walking and changing directions on a circle last night. (She has been turned in hand using the side-pull bridle but this is the first time with two lines).  This is very much like her mother!  As Lucy got fitter her ability to 'handle' more got better, but she still had moments when we added something new that she didn't understand (such as leg yielding at the lope) that blew her mind the first time we did it.  Oscar and I are doing fine, still figuring each other out again but I'm already loping all the way around the ring which I didn't do without D in the ring with me last year.





AND....  I did purchase the Wenger (which came with its own embroidered bag).   Get this.... for LESS that what I paid for my Huber training saddle!  Sterling silver.  I was told it was a 16" (my Huber is a 17 but measures 16.5 to the padding) BUT it measures just over 16" to the paddling and 16 and a 1/2 to the leather.  So it ended up being only 1/2 an inch smaller than my training saddle.  Which is nice when you are a big girl like me.

I'm really pleased with the saddle.  It rides SO nice!  The lady that owned it sold her horses 3 years ago and was just looking to sell it.  Perfect place perfect time.  Its an older Wenger, it doesn't have the seat embroidered but it doesn't matter to me.  There is one choncho missing on the back silver but we're going to send an email to see if I can get a replacement either mailed to me, or that someone can pick up at Congress.  There is very little wear, in fact it could uses some riding time to break it in more.  I don't think the pictures show it, but it has silver stirrups too.  Its a little silly but I've always wanted a show saddle with a silver horn :)  and now my first ever show saddle has one!

Catching up

So things have been going well here.  I've been riding Lucy for a little bit here and there just keeping us both happy and moving.  I've been bringing in Oscar and brushing him, but his feet are a mess and this coming Monday is the soonest that the farrier could come out, so hopefully I'll be riding him tomorrow or Tuesday.

Chilly is doing awesome!  I've lunged her a bunch, sacked her out, climbed up on the mounting block and rubbed her all over.  C got on her on Thursday and we went for a bit of a pony ride with me leading her and C riding.  Chilly thought it was great that TWO people were patting her and making a fuss of her, she didn't even care about the fact that C was on her back.

I tried out a new (to me) show saddle today.  Its a Wenger and only weird and perfect circumstances have allowed me to be in the possible position to purchase it.  Cross your fingers that the deal goes though.  I'll post pictures as soon as its really mine!

Lucy Bridle Less!

Final show

So the final show of the year has come and gone.  It's taken this long to recover and I apologize for the delay.

We had a fantastic show.  Lucy was amazing and the best horse that I've ever taken to a show.  We showed hard for 3 days and she only pushed back once, and it consisted of throwing her head up in the air at the lope when she was getting tired and pissed off.  I pushed her though it, and she was better the next class.  She has spoiled me, I'll never be able to take another horse to a show without thinking about her.

We did everything from showmanship, reining, trail, western pleasure, horsemanship, equitation, english pleasure and western pleasure.   

We took home A LOT of third place ribbons!  We ended up 3rd over all in the western pleasure stake, and won halter mares!  We also hit a goal I've had for a long time.  A local embroidery company sponsors the Jr and Sr horsemanship's and gives out GREAT prizes.  There is usually a trophy and Jacket for the winner, sweatshirts, and t-shirts for the lower ribbons.  The jackets come with big bragging rights and I've always wanted to win one.

And this year I did.  Lucy and I won the Sr (over 18) western horsemanship.  I was so excited!  And thanks to my weight loss this past year the jacket even fits!  I had been having a hard day and was really feeling sore and tired by the time the class came around but Lucy pulled though and listened to me the best she could and figured out what I wanted and nailed down a solid pattern.  This was my first ever 'trophy jacket' and I'm still excited about it a week later!

The next day after a long day of showing, all of the top two equitation or horsemanship riders from all age divisions met up for the grand champion equitation class.  I was happy just to make the finals.  After a tough rail portion (but no pattern which was weird) I got called out in reserve!!  The girl that won is the kid I had riding Lucas for me in the videos when we were trying to sell him.  A very talented rider, 1/2 my age and has fully functioning joints :)

Lucy was amazing, I'm very sad that this year with her is over.  I got her broke to show one handed, and shes honestly one of the most broke horses I've had a part in transitioning to a curb.  I feel good in knowing that I was able to do that this summer, and that we were able to meet so many goals together.  I am thankful however that she's staying around and I will get to ride her a bit this fall, it just won't be the same.

Walking around the show grounds

Western pleasure class

Our show group and the ribbons, Lucy is the chestnut on the left.

Trophy and Jacket

Winnings!

Day one down

And 5 more to go!  I got to the show barns at 6:30 got Lucy and the other horses that weren't showing that day fed (the 4-H horses showed today and their kids fed them at 6).  Then I cleaned a couple of stalls before I brushed Lucy off and tacked up to go for a ride.  Lucy was full of it yesterday, she even bucked on the lunge line but today I walked her over to the indoor then jumped right on.  We had a 30-40 minute ride with a mix of different horses coming and going but usually about 5 in the ring at the same time.  Shes going really nicely.  The next couple of days will be busier as the rest of the horses came in this afternoon, 

So by 8am I had ridden, cleaned Lucy and my self and was done!  Tomorrow will be much of the same and I don't show until Wednesday am.  Our biggest challenge will be to keep on top of our energy levels so that we both don't get to tired out.

Oh and I think I'll be able to take Lucy to another show in 2 weeks just waiting to hear back on if we got stalls!

Final show prep with Lucy,

So I managed to get a quick ride in on Saturday with Lucy, not a whole lot done but working around the poles set outside.  On Tuesday when I went out after work she had thrown a shoe and was dead lame.  *sigh*.  Thankfully the farrier was only a couple of hours away, and was able to come the next day on his way home.

We had a little ride last night more just to get us both back in the saddle then we had a real workout tonight.  I also got to the chiropractor on Wednesday and my hip was out of place.  Suddenly I can sit square in the saddle again!  So Lucy and I are both ready for the show now.  Our ride tonight was awesome, I'm so happy with where she is at right now.

Although I'm really sad that next week is our last show together (for now) I am excited to start riding Oscar again and pushing my limits a little more.  And D and I will start Chilly with me to *hopefully* have me riding her by January.  I'm also hopeful that I'll get to ride Rusty maybe a couple of times this winter as well.  Good things to focus on and to keep me from being too sad about Lucy.  I mean its not like she's sold or moving away!  Shes just having a baby :)

I'm not dead I promise!

C and D left last Sunday for a week long horse show, and I've been doing most of the chores for the 13 horses left at the barn.  I do have someone doing the AM feeding and turnout but it still leaves me 8 stalls, and 4 horses to rotate though the smaller turnouts (Both studs and the babies (2) can't be left outside).  Its been taking 2 hours exactly to do chores but it means that I leave my house at 6:30 get home for 10 minutes at 5, then gone to the barn until 7:45. 

Since they've been gone, Chevy took the gate to the indoor off its hinges (thankfully I was only steps away when he did this and I was able to catch him before he got anywhere).  I didn't realize it at the time but he was itching on the gate because he was in the beginnings of an allergy outbreak.  By the time I got back to the barn 24 hours later he was an absolute mess, covered in hives.  (Don't get me started on why it wasn't noticed by the AM person...).  So he's on drugs, finally tonight he was *almost* back to normal.

One of the broodmares is getting picked on by the other mare she is out with but I can't separate them because then they cry for each other.  And with no one in the barn full time I don't dare try another turn out buddies.  It wasn't too bad (occasional bite mark) but then the smaller mare got kicked on Wednesday (upper shoulder) and had a huge swelling and hole (other mares feet are a mess, can't get a farrier near her and she will only let C and D work on her feet for 5 minutes at a time).  Thankfully the cut was clean, I got it flushed out and doctored and today it's looking a lot better.  Shes been sound on it the entire time thankfully. 

Oh and then the Jack Russels....one is 12 the other is 7, the younger dog body checked the older dog (by accident!)  and I thought she killed the old dog!  Poor little S cried and cried, but when I found her a hot dog she cheered up enough to come running up the steps for it.  Those dog's make me happy, they listen so well to me, and god knows if a Jack doesn't want to listen nothing can make them!  But they've been very obedient for me all week.

Hopefully I'll get to ride this weekend and we'll be back on track for the show next weekend.  Lucy actually came to the gate tonight when I was there, I think she's looking for my brushes ;)   (Lucy lives outside most of the time, so shes' been having an extended vacation)

August long weekend show part 2

I'm a looser and have no more photos.  I seriously need a photographer to follow me around and record these moments at horseshows.

So we did halter and got 6th, it was ok but I'm not sure why none of the judges like her in halter.  Heck her legs are amazing compared to Lucas' and he won a lot!  Our showmanship was a write off after I forgot I was supposed to walk after our 180 instead of trot *sigh*

Our next class was english equitation, our pattern was good, our transitions were very accurate and we won the class!  Lucy's first red ribbon in an english class.  We also did the hunter under saddle class and Road Hack where we got second in both.

The afternoon classes started with trail which Lucy would have won but we destroyed the first cone, and got knocked down to 3rd. We got 3rd in our horsemanship class, and then a disappointing 5th in our pleasure class.  Lucy was tired by this point and so was I and I didn't keep my legs on her enough and she broke at the jog.  However at least at this show I was able to adjust her stride at the lope one handed and keep her going so things are improving.

The high light of the show was that we had earned enough points to win Reserve High Point Senior!  This was my first all around reserve since I was diagnosed so it was a really happy moment for me, and I was so pleased with how far Lucy has come in 4 months.

C and D are away this week with some of the kids at a week long show, so I'm doing night chores this week.  Next week will consist of riding every night, then 2 weeks from tomorrow we're off for mine and Lucy's last show a whole week at the local fair with 3 days of showing.  It will be the first time I've gone since I was 17 so it should be fun!

August long weekend horse show part 1

Ok I'm not sure if I can fit this in one post, but we'll see.

On Friday we loaded up the trailer (and my new car!) and took off to the next provinces capital city, about a 3 hour drive away.  It was a long slow drive but we ended up arriving around 11:30.  Once we got our stalls set up, and tack out of the trailers/trucks it was time to go eat!  Our show team takes eating seriously!  So we went out for lunch and then visited the local tack store.  I picked up an english show pad an a new solid black western show pad.

After lunch and shopping we went back to the show grounds.  They are located right downtown, and are part of the local standard-breed track which always makes it interesting when trying to show a light horse who has never seen a trotter or pacer!

By this point there were more horses there so we tacked up and rode for about an hour and let the horses get used to the ring.  Its an indoor much like the local skating rinks that are used for the county fairs and much like the first show's arena that I showed Lucy in.

The first day was to be the Appaloosa day, with classes held from halter to games being held all day.  I rode in the morning and for a bit at lunch just to get her out of her stall.  There was a plan for a battle of the breeds competition that night but no one had entered up until that point.  Silly me said yes when pressured, and then spent the next 3 hours getting Lucy ready to show.

The classes were halter, english pleasure, western pleasure and 'mail route', a timed trail class.

So I don't know our placings for each class yet but I'll tell you how they went.  Halter went good, Lucy stood square and well with her ears up lol.  I had a team of people show up to help me do a tack change to english, boost me onto her back and send me into the ring.  Sounds great right? NOPE! 

Got Lucy into the arena and every time I tried to do more then sitting trot I had a brat of a pony underneath me! I knew my saddle was in the right place but she was NOT happy.  I finally got her to canter one direction but the other direction only resulted in bucking!  And me in the english saddle.  Thank god for full seat breaches and the new balance I have!  D was standing by the in-gate and as I went by him I cried 'I broke my pony!'.  Well apparently it was loud enough for most everyone around to hear it, and those who didn't passed the word on. 

However everyone there knew me and everything that has happened in the past 7 years, so when the class started, and Lucy magically began to behave herself they all cheered when she loped the bad direction without even a head toss!

We did figure out that we might have gotten the saddle too tight right before I got on, so when we did the tack change for western my friend walked her for a couple of minutes once she tightened the saddle while I got my chaps on.

Our western class was very good and Lucy was awesomely consistent. Then came our trail class, it was complicated, and everything was set at the minimum. We had to pick up 'mail' jog into a box 1 and 1/4 turn, jog out and over 6 poles, lope a pinwheel of 5 poles, weave though cones at a jog, over a raised pole, over the bridge jog to the gate, do the gate and then drop off the mail.

It was a difficult course for our first trail class but Lucy was a super star!  I only wish someone had videoed it.  I was so happy with her  She even loped the pinwheel!

I don't know yet what our placings were in each class but we ended up 3rd over all.  That's me and Lucy second from the left.

A great Lucas update, and thoughts on things that have happend in the past.

So I went to the local show today and got a chance to talk to Lucas' owners mom.  They are such nice people.  They recently had to leave their original trainer due to some personal issues on the trainers end and had been bouncing around for the past 4 months trying out different boarding barns trying to find the right fit for them and Lucas.  Right after the show at our barn (I had thought he was a touch thin, but no ribs showing or anything) they ended up moving him a final time.  So Lucas now lives at the barn in NG that I took lessons at in 2009 when I was trying to start riding again see this post to get back to my posts at that time. 

Anyways the trainer is a very good trainer and is exactly what Lucas and his owners need.  He's changed the feeding program (and put Lucas back on haylage like he was with me), and is giving his owner lessons.  Herb has also agreed that Lucas can go to the September AQHA show.  (And like I posted before, if you are good enough to meet his approval then you are GOOD).  I'm so happy that they have decided to be part of his program.  Lucas looked great at the show and placed top 3 in every class they did in english and even placed in the western stuff.

So thats the update on Lucas. I had to smile to myself though as I read though some of my old posts from 2009.  I was so happy getting to finally ride once a week again, and to be learning to ride effectively again and not just be on for a pony ride.  And I had a Luck post, of the things I was lucky for and grateful for. 

The past couple of months have been very good for me.  My health has been very good, I can ride multiple times a week, and its FUN again!  I have a great horse to ride and show, and great horse lined up to start riding in September when Lucy goes on maternity leave.  And the plan for next year is for me and D to work on Chilly all winter so I can show her next summer!  Which will be so fun to take a baby around and show her how fun showing can be.

The Maritimes

34 reasons the maritimes is the best place on the planet

Via buzzfeed, however please not that Newfoundland is not part of the martimes, but is part of the Atlantic provinces. 

Although the pictures are great, these are of the 'tourist' areas.  There are even more beautiful locations around the maritimes that unless you get off the highways you will never see.

In related news, about a block from my downtown office is a tidal river.  Because it is attached to the Bay of Fundy there is what is called a tidal bore when the tide comes in.  Some surfers saw some video posted a while ago during a full moon and this week Moncton became surf city.  A couple of surfers each day surf the bore, accompanied by support crew.  Thousands show up each day downtown to cheer them on. Here is a story CBC did with an attached video.

Its late I'm tired but

I did go and have my lesson tonight.  On D's suggestion we swapped out her western bit.  The ported barrel was working but when I was one handed it didn't give me much adjust ability.  It does work great with 2 hands and so that mouth piece will be making the transition to our english bridle.

I ended up riding her in a medium ported bit that was hinged at both sides of the port.  It has VERY swept back shanks.  I actually should have made the switch a while ago.  Within 30 minutes I was riding her one handed with WAY more control, but Lucy was still her happy go lucky 'nose out' self.  I think I was settling for 'good' and not looking for the best.

That said our lesson was good we worked on speed and body control and more work on our loping transitions.  Poor Lucy is starting to get noticeably in foal.  Shes not large by any means but its getting harder for her to carry herself as well as she did a month ago.  I can't get mad or upset about it, we knew it would happen we just have to work with it.

English night

And we're still working on finding a bit that Lucy likes.I've tried a couple of different plain snaffles, and one twisted (I thought that it might be the thickness of the bit, and this one was thinner) but she doesn't like any of them.  Its not really that surprising, she didn't like any of the snaffles a whole bunch this spring either.  I have been riding her in this bit western which she likes, and I do have the English version, but I want to keep this mouth piece 'western' to keep things separate.

So anyone have any ideas?  My next plan is to put a french link in her mouth to see if she likes a 3 piece bit, or a Mullen mouth...

SO HAPPY!

I GOT ON LUCY FROM THE GROUND!  No mounting block for the first time in YEARS!!!  This required lots of caps!

We had a good ride other than that.  Just working on our transitions at the lope from the walk and jog.  English tomorrow and then a lesson on Thursday.  A local show is on Saturday (the one I elected to skip due to heat, so glad I did that now!) and I have family flying in from Ontario so this weekend from Friday to Sunday will be busy.  Hope everyone has a good week!

Recovering

I didn't get to ride this weekend, trying to let my body recover so I'll be good to ride this week.  On Saturday I went out and had some 'barn time' and watered the horses for C and D and got caught up on the barn news.

On Sunday I went to the Miramichi (New Brunswick) to visit with my Mom's side of the family.  My Grandfather came from a family of 10, and each of his brothers and sisters each had 4-10 kids each.  Needless to say family reunions are complicated! It was good to see my grandmother see everyone she remembers and my mom had a great time catching up with her cousins.  My Grandmother is loosing some of her memories, mostly her short term memory is slowly getting lost, however she did remember everyone at the lunch.  Shes 85, so occasional forgetting that she already asked a question is not the end of the world.

In horsy news, Oscar will go back to being my part time pony at the end of August.  I'm looking foreword to riding him again and to see if I can handle his lope better now that I have more saddle time under my belt.

Just when everything is going good...

My car breaks... the only good thing is that I had taken it into the shop to have it checked out because it was 'vibrating' somewhat.  You know us riders, we can feel when something is off.  Anyways they thought an alignment and tire rotation would take care of the issue but promised to check it over just as a precaution.  Turns out a part was wearing out in the hind end of my car :(  Thankfully they were able to slip the part into my warranty (got to love Kia's 100,000 km warranty!)  However that was Wednesday and the garage still hasn't received the part (now Friday).  They gave me an SUV the first day, but it was a demo and got sold from out from underneath me and I now have a Rio.  Its a cute little car, and if my car keeps breaking I might end up in one sooner rather than later.

Second part, Wednesday I was fine, had a decent ride on Lucy with Oscars' owners riding him.  My neck was a little sore but I thought I had twisted funny at work and ignored it.  By 2 am the glands in my neck were rock hard and hot and I was running a temp.  I couldn't sleep because they hurt so bad so off to the ER I went.  Fastest I have ever been seen (in and out in under 30 minutes) but got sent home with just some antibiotics.  I did have a no related appointment with my doctors wife (who is a nurse practitioner) that afternoon and she took one feel of my neck and got me an appointment with my family doctor for Friday.

By the time I saw him today the glands had started to go down but he was still concerned about them, and my ears.  So antibiotics for a week, rest over the weekend, and if that doesn't make me better by Monday I get stronger drugs :{

In horsey news Oscars' owners have asked me if I would like to lease him again for the winter.  I think I am going to do that.  Hes a fun horse to ride and it will keep me in the saddle all winter.  I'll have to keep my eyes open for something to show again next year but that is nothing new.  I think I'm going to try and do some low level dressage with him, something different for both of us.  I think this year though I'm going to insist that he stays in a box stall all winter (we got bumped to a straight stall because I wanted him in the main barn) and I'm going to look into getting some mats for him.  His stifles get sticky if he's confined and I think that a box would be better than a straight for the days they are stuck inside due to the weather.  So we'll see how it goes!

I will never complain about riding in -15 again.

Well I most likely will complain, but I will try to remember how stinking hot this past couple of weeks have been and how nice it would be for a couple of days in the 20 to 25 range.

It was 31 degrees by the time Lucy and I were ready to ride this morning at 9:30!  Our lunging consisted of 5 laps at the lope each direction, then I hoped on.  D had talked to me this morning about how my canter transitions needed to be my focus for the next week or so as that is where we have a hole.  So I worked on some walk/trot transitions for a bit than D came up and worked us though some lope/trot transitions.  The sad part is both of us (Lucy and I) know what needs to be done to get a good transition, but I rush her, then she gets flustered and runs into the lope.  We just need to slow it down.

We did work on counter cantering today in an attempt for me to keep my 'inside' leg (the one not asking for the canter lead) OFF of Lucy so that she picks up the lead I'm asking for and not just trying to pick one depending on the direction we are going.  This is a big thing for our pattern classes as we don't have the rail to help me get her on the right lead.  This is RA related, the pressure that I can apply with either leg isn't the same, and can change from day to day.  Thankfully Lucy doesn't get upset when this happens but just kind of deals with it.

We also worked on some loping half passes. Again to get her responding to the leg I was asking her to step away from into my 'open' inside leg.  After that we were done!  Too hot to do much more than that, so Lucy got a hose down and liniment applied and got to relax in the shade of the main barn for the day.  I'm doing chores later tonight so I'll put her out for the night.

Watching Spruce Meadows this afternoon, I love Mac Cone being a commentator!