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!