Merry Christmas!! I'm Alive!!

Well well. I AM still alive believe it or not! 

Part of the reason I've been out is that a dog chewed up the power cord to my laptop, my preferred blogging platform. I don't like typing on my phone or my iPad, and haven't gone to replace the cord yet. I'm actually on Future Hubs' laptop right now. And he's part of the other reason I've been too busy to blog - instead of Future Hubs, he is now actual Hubs! Our wedding was in November and it's been a complete whirlwind before and after, with wedding prep, work, and horse shows taking up every second of every day. I just haven't had time to blog... I've barely had time to sleep!

I hope to make this coming year different. I hope to make sure I have enough time for myself. Enough time for play, enough time for blogging, enough time for riding and enough time to pretend like I have something resembling a social life. It's not going to be completely possible of course, but I am going to try. I did not do a good job of balancing that out this year. In fact I would say I did a decidedly bad job of it.

Despite that I have a LOT of updates! What I'm going to try and do is put up a brief catch-up synopsis for each horse. I have a lot of show updates from Dylan, and I have a new horse! Quite on accident actually... that's a whole story in and of itself. Wow there is a lot to tell. I'll never get it all out but I'm going to make sure I at least get the highlights, and I want to go over my 2018 goals too. I may not do a 2017 Yearly Review, seeing as a whole quarter of the year is missing from the blog, but we will see. I have a week off starting on the 28th, so I *should* in theory have some time to write!!

2017 was a year of highs and lows. It was better in a lot of ways than 2016 was, but there were some decidedly bad parts to counter the decidedly good parts. I have a feeling though that 2018 is really going to be a good one. I feel much better about the coming year than I did coming into 2017. And 2017 really did play out like I expected... I made a point to make the best of it that I could, and all of the things that I worked hard for all came true, but inbetween those things it was about as rough as I expected.

More soon! And MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

New Years Day Shenanigans

As is now a New Year's tradition, B2 came over yesterday to play ponies and enjoy the weather. R came too, and somehow we convinced him that he should go with us on our trail ride. All of my adult horses are great on the trail, so we had three available (and if we ever need a fourth, O is also great on the trail!). B2 rode Pmare, I rode Dylan, and R rode Big Frank, who has now solidly earned his husband-safe status. Future Hubs has been nervous about getting on him, because Frank was a little big of a goober when I rode him out alone for the first time, but in company he's completely perfect. He literally did nothing wrong the entire ride, even when the two horses spooked at something in the woods. 

R is not wearing a helmet in these pictures, because we tried to jam one of my helmets onto his giant noggin and couldn't manage it. We will have to get him one of his own. 

Pmare looks pretty good for almost 21!

Wild Stallion!

Pmare looks good but that neck.... we'll never get a decent topline on her again. Ohhhh well!

Come on Big Frank! Frank's favorite speed is plod. 

Dylan says, I would really like a piece of that booty

We had a great ride - we went about 4-5 miles or so, but not further seeing as the oldies aren't in great shape and neither are all that sound. They're plenty sound for easy trail rides, but not for anything beyond that. If we are going to be riding them more than on periodic easy trails, they'll both need to go on a more intensive joint supplement. I think that easy trails are good for these arthritic guys though - movement really helps their stiffness. P in particular really seems to enjoy going out on the trail - she walks along with her ears pricked the whole time. Dylan thought this was very sexy, and spent the entire trail ride waiting for me to stop paying attention so he could sidle closer and talk to her. Naughty boy...

Big Frank won the gold star of the day, just plodding along with R (who does not know how to ride). He must have been a quarter of a mile behind us at one point, and showed no concern whatever. We had R turn around long before we ever turned around, to give him a head start, and Frank had no problem leaving us behind. He stopped once or twice and stood there, but R told him to walk on and he did. Slow and easy and he didn't put a foot wrong. What a good egg he is. I bet he was really special when he was younger. 

When we got back to the house, I put B2 up on Dylan to go for a quick spin. He was super for her, doing everything she asked and doing it quietly. She raved about how much fun he is, and how super cool he is. Can't say that I disagree - how many upper level stallions can go you on a trail ride with, and then ride in the pasture with a loose mare?

He doesn't care. Or well, he does care, but he's too well behaved to act on it

Today I worked all day, but had enough time at the end of it to pull O out and give her a trim and a good grooming. She also got her final Prodigy shot, as she is now 9 months pregnant. She is HUGENORMOUS and she still has two months to go! As a maiden, I have no idea what she will trend towards, so basically from now on out I'll be keeping a eagle eye on her. She gets her final set of shots in early February, and then the countdown begins. As long as she holds on until February 14th, we'll have passed the coveted 320 day mark. She is already building a bag as of two days ago - she better cross her legs and hold on.

Merry Christmas, Dylan Style

Dylan says... 

Merry Christmas!!

He's a very good sport!

Jingle All The Way

It's still crappy, dreary, gross weather here in Texas... but I still got in a quick drive today. About a week ago, I decided to splurge and buy myself a cheap pair of sleigh bells to add some jingle to our workouts this winter. We did a brisk four miles in the 35 degree weather, thankfully avoiding the rain squalls. O was hot and forward, took a nice contact, and had just the right amount of jingle for the season:

If you want to go the full cheesemo, you can also watch our Christmassy drive from last year:




What's not to love about this season? It's CHRISTMASTIME!

Giving Thanks 2015

I have a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving, as I do every year. It's a general repeat post, with add-ins... but the bases are all the same, as they are all the same things I am thankful for year after year.

I am thankful for my family, who still puts up with me even after all these years. The older I get, the more I appreciate them, even though they are just as certifiably nuts as I am.

I am thankful for all my friends and contacts worldwide, who have always been there for me throughout the good times and the tough times alike.
I'm thankful for my wonderful Future Hubs, who puts up with me, laughs with me, gets into tickle wars with me, dances like an idiot with me, sings out of tune with me, snuggles me, and looks into the future with me, always right there by my side no matter what.

I am thankful for my menagerie of pets... the make me smile and laugh every day. Without them, life would be empty and colorless.  

I am thankful that I am still excited for the future, as I always am every year. This year has brought me further than I could have possibly imagined, and I hope next year continues the trend.

I am thankful for Texas, because even though it's STILL one of the most ridiculous and random decisions I've ever made, it led me right to Future Hubs, my herd of cats and dogs, my kooky mares, my career, and new friends and adventures... and that's exactly where I want and need to be.

I am thankful for Metro and Quincy, my two long gone but never forgotten boys. I honor their lives by naming my business after them, and not a day goes by without missing and remembering them.

I'm thankful for five beautiful, crazy, intense, amazing, eventful, and memorable years with my Gogo. She made me a far better horsewoman and rider, she made me laugh and cry, she molded who I am now as a young adult, she got me started on my career path of choice.... and so much more. 

I'm thankful for my crazy, nutty, wonderful mares. I am thankful for P for being her father's child, and for helping me perpetuate her cherished bloodline. I am thankful for Pax, who came out with the exact personality I was hoping for, and is flashy and fun to boot. I am thankful for Darby, because she has reminded me to enjoy every single day for what it is, and that life is precious. I am thankful for Uma, because she reminds me to laugh, and to stand up to things even if they are ten times bigger than me. I am thankful for the opportunity to have and ride Dylan, because he is exactly what my body needs in my search to try and ride again. I am thankful for O for being exactly who she is, every day, without fail - because it reminds me to do the same. She wasn't supposed to be a keeper, but she barged her way into my heart, and she has a place here with me for life. I am grateful for every single day together, and am looking forward to our adventures in the coming years.
I am thankful especially this year for eight wonderful years with my old lady greyhound Ti, and for four with my old lady corgi Twiggy. Losing Twiggy this year was very hard, especially since it came just one year and one day after we lost Ti, but her memory lives on in all of us. We hope to all be reunited at the Rainbow Bridge one day, along with the rest of the critters I've loved over the years. 

From Saba, Pike, Tonka, Monster Dog, Luda, Jasper, Snidget, Mimi, Pickles, Shitner, Snoop, Pangea, O-Ren, Uma, Pax, Darby, Dylan, Future Hubs, and myself, Happy Thanksgiving, and I hope you all have plenty to be thankful for too.

Dylan End of October Analysis; November Goals!

Happy Halloween!!!!

Is it the end of October already? What happened?
I feel as though my goals for October were mostly on. I didn't get everything done quite to the massive extent that I was really hoping, but I did take a pretty good stab at everything on the list. I realize that basically all of my problems stem from my inherit laziness.... I am LAZY. I love sitting around, lounging, napping, and generally taking my time doing everything. My current workload is heavy but still allows for a bit of leisure time most every day, if I plan it well, as well as a few days a week off (not every week, but most of the time it works out this way). As I never used to have any time for anything when I was a bit younger and more ambitious, I have taken full advantage of this - but am feeling like maybe I take it too far. I am very, very active first time in the morning, and then don't have any interest in doing anything in the afternoon. I need to remember this when scheduling my days - scheduling ride time first thing in the morning is always a good thing. Alternatively, I don't do very well when pressed for time - so scheduling work in the late morning or afternoon doesn't always mean I get a good ride in during the morning, as sometimes I feel too pushed for time to get it done. My best bets are usually to pile my workdays full of work and not ride or drive on those days (or just hack at the end of the day), and then use my days off to take my sweet time about everything. I do great with a structured schedule, less so with optional things, and just terrible with many things crammed into one go. As long as I know these things about myself, I can optimize the way I schedule and operate.

Rare moment of holding still long enough to take a picture

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Dylan October Goals:

1) Continue gaining weight and muscle and be a happy healthy feral beast outside!
Success! This month, a few weeks ago, Dylan went through another fencewalking period, shortly after he got his teeth done. I suspected that his guts weren't totally in order, and made some alterations to his diet. I saw immediate improvement - in fact, he is even better now than he was before. He has not been walking at all, and he has not been getting worried or upset when the mares go away up the hill like he was before. It helps that we are now entering that time of the year when hormones quiet down (although, don't tell O, because she is still in flaming heat right now...). I think Dylan quite enjoys being a feral outdoor beast - he lounges under the trees, struts about his kingdom, goes for a good gallop when he feels like it, rolls a million times in the dirt every day, takes his daily naps in his sandpile, and munches hay at his leisure all day. It's a pretty fair life!

2) Get his teeth checked/done
Success! His incisors were super long and he was slightly overfloated in the back - typical stuff. My dentist is great and did a good job with everyone, just like she did last year. Dylan feels quite the same under saddle after his dental work, but given all of his funny little quirks with his head/ears/mouth/bit/etc, I think it's important to keep on top of all these issues.

3) Start trailering to WD - 2x a week if possible!
I did quite well with this - while I didn't get to go this week, I did get to at least go once every week, and one week I went three times. I hope to be more consistent this month - i.e. not go three times one week and only once the next - but it will depend on many things. I have a friend coming into town for a week, and will also be out of town for the No Lamintis conference for several days, which will alter this schedule significantly, but I will do my best. I am shooting for the end of January for our first show!

4) In addition to working at home, hacking out - 1x a week in gradually increasing amounts
Success! I've been out at least once a week every week. I've been doing the same two mile loop every time, but in varying ways, and sometimes loop back on the route a few times to change things up. Dylan is a good boy to hack out, but he does tend to get a bit jiggy and rushy on the way home, so I have taken to putting his usual bridle on instead of his nice bitless one - if he gets rushed and jiggy, he has to work.

5) Start looking over the show schedule and making tentative plans
Success! I need to continue fine tuning this and making a schedule according to it, not to mention figure out which organizations I need to renew memberships on, but I do know our first tentative show will be in January. It's not that far away when I think about it....!

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Dylan October Goals:

1) Continue hacking out 1-2x a week!

2) Continue trailering to WD, 2-3x a week if possible

3) Continue working on my own strength in the saddle!

4) Contact the local trainer of my choice - ask about upcoming lessons! 

5) Continue working on the show schedule, which memberships I need to renew, get a calendar together, and plan which things I will need to replace

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Oh man.... the crust.... oh the crust! He looks quite pleased with himself...

Lucky Braids shampoo gets the horrible red mud out at least!

I have another post with the mare goals up shortly.... and the big news for O! I am going to make an effort to write a blogpost at least every other day in November. I may not succeed, but I have not been great with blogging anything in great detail lately. I want to make sure things get documented properly!

Mare-y Christmas!

It's a day late - forgive us, we were in Florida with family! - but our little herd wanted to wish you all....

Mare-y Christmas and Happy Holidays!!

We had a fun little dressage-y workout earlier in the week and I dressed it up with some holiday gear. O has had the past week off to enjoy a little holiday vacation, just like us! We'll be back to it in no time!

A Hypothetical Christmas Wishlist!

She Moved to Texas just did a hilarious post about what Simon would put on his Christmas list. I think if O and P could create one of their own, there would be only one thing on there: alfalfa. 

Alfalfa is horsey crack. I just bought a few bales for Pmare - she's about to enter her final stretch of pregnancy, and the jump in calories and protein needed calls for some feed changes, which include the addition of some alfalfa to her free choice grass hay. O is getting some too - it's perfect for a hay meal right before a workout. Our climate makes for crappy grass hay - we can only grow coastal around here, which is why we pay out the nose to have timothy shipped in. The lack of grass hay is somewhat made up by the legume hay - they grow some AMAZING alfalfa here. AMAZING. The horses smell it, and their eyes start rolling around. They see me walking by with a flake, and they go NUTS. The stuff I got is all leaf, green and soft and sweet smelling and gorgeous. They're only currently getting 1/2 flake each once a day in addition to their grass hay, but that's the stuff they make a BEELINE for in the morning.

Yes. If the mares had a Christmas list, I'm pretty sure the only thing listed would be alfalfa, in huge capital letters. ALFALFA FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, WE WANT MORE ALFALFA, ALL THE ALFALFA ALL THE TIME FOREVER MOAR ALFALFA.

As for me, I have a few other things that I'd like Santa to bring me.... stuff I don't really feel like I should spend money on, and stuff that definitely won't actually be under my tree, but these might be on the list of purchases over the next year or so!

1) Freedom collar (and new traces)

 I love these collars. Love them! My current breastcollar probably used to be pretty nice back in the day, but age and wear has left the backside of it somewhat rough - it's just a flat piece of leather with no padding. Fine for schooling with a harness pad, but not really a show quality piece of equipment. My saddle is really nice with beautiful patent leather on it, and my bridle has patent leather blinders as well, so a gorgeous brass and patent leather breastcollar would be awesome. I'd also need new traces, since my traces are sewn in.

2) Brown show reins

 Driving reins are always brown. There's some tradition behind this - in the old days, black dye was not very fast, and in a rainstorm (or with a sweaty horse), the black dye would run all over your clothes if your reins were dyed black. (And your horse too.) So the reins were left undyed and brown - and so were leather driving gloves. My current reins are half brown and half black - that's kind of a cheaper way of making reins that still don't stain your hands, since it takes a higher quality leather to make brown reins (black dye hides imperfections). The leather on the black part is definitely not as nice as the brown leather, and I don't love them. They're fine for schooling, but I definitely would like a nice pair to save for shows.

3) Show clothes

If I'm going to be showing this year, I need a wardrobe for it! I have EVERY piece of riding show clothing I could ever want in my life, but I have no show clothes for driving whatsoever, save two hats that I got at the driving club's holiday party. Nice brown leather gloves, a show apron, and an appropriate coat/shirt/scarf are all things I'm going to need. Luckily most of these things I can score for relatively cheap or secondhand!

4) A Money Tree

Because you need one for this sport... and for horses in general!

O drove like a little sports car yesterday.... I put her back in her usual Happy Mouth and she was SUPER happy about it. She was incredibly responsive, light, easy, and listening, which was a nice change from the last few drives! She was filthy and muddy (and the mud was fresh and wet black gumbo, so there was no getting it off!), so pardon the lovely grooming job in the pictures... at least you can see her nice goobers.

She had a day off today, gets back to it tomorrow and Sunday, and then will have the week off for Christmas while we are away on vacation. Yes, I know we were just off on vacation... but we get another one, because we are lucky m-fers!

Giving Thanks 2014

I have a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving, as I do every year. It's a general repeat post, with add-ins... but the bases are all the same, as they are all the same things I am thankful for year after year.

I am thankful for my family, who still puts up with me even after all these years. The older I get, the more I appreciate them, even though they are just as certifiably nuts as I am.

I am thankful for all my friends and contacts worldwide, who have always been there for me throughout the good times and the tough times alike.
I'm thankful for my wonderful Future Hubs, who puts up with me, laughs with me, gets into tickle wars with me, dances like an idiot with me, sings out of tune with me, snuggles me, and looks into the future with me, always right there by my side no matter what.

I am thankful for my menagerie of pets... the make me smile and laugh every day. Without them, life would be empty and colorless.  

I am thankful that I am still excited for the future, because it's only just beginning. This year has brought me further than I could have possibly imagined, and if I accomplished this many things this year, I can't wait to see what next year holds.

I am thankful for Texas, because even though it's STILL one of the most ridiculous and random decisions I've ever made, it led me right to Future Hubs, my herd of cats and dogs, my kooky mares, my career, and new friends and adventures... and that's exactly where I want and need to be.

I am thankful for Metro and Quincy, my two long gone but never forgotten boys. I honor their lives by naming my business after them, and not a day goes by without missing and remembering them.

I'm thankful for five beautiful, crazy, intense, amazing, eventful, and memorable years with my Gogo. She made me a far better horsewoman and rider, she made me laugh and cry, she molded who I am now as a young adult, she got me started on my career path of choice.... and so much more. 

I'm thankful for my two crazy, nutty, wonderful mares. P and O are polar opposites and both ridiculously awesome in their own ways. I can't believe that this time next year, I'll have another little baby horse to celebrate with too! I am thankful for P for being her father's child, and for helping me perpetuate her cherished bloodline. I am thankful for O for being exactly who she is, every day, without fail - because it reminds me to do the same. She wasn't supposed to be a keeper, but she barged her way into my heart, and she has a place here with me for life. I am grateful for every single day together, and am looking forward to our adventures in the coming years, especially with our newfound sport.
I am thankful especially this year for eight wonderful years with my old lady greyhound Ti. Losing her this year was very hard, but her memory lives on in all of us. We hope to all be reunited at the Rainbow Bridge one day, along with the rest of the critters I've loved over the years. I am also thankful that we were able to adopt a shelter dog last month (his name is Pike, and he's a wonderful holy terror!) - there is nothing like giving a second chance to an animal at death's doorstep.

From Pike, Tonka, Twiggy, Jasper, Snidget, Mimi, Saba, Pickles, Monster, Shitner, Pangea, O-Ren, Future Hubs, and myself, Happy Thanksgiving, and I hope you all have plenty to be thankful for too.

Mare-y Christmas!

The mares and I want to wish everyone Happy Holidays and a very Merry Christmas!

I took all my holiday stuff to the barn to get some cute pictures of the mares in their garb, but alas, it never happened before I left for Florida (which is where I am now)... so we'll either have to get some belated pics or you'll just have to deal with some adorable photos of my gone-but-not-forgotten Christmas ponies!


Gogo and I in 2008:

Metro and I in 2005:

Quincy and I in 2002:

Happy and safe holidays to everyone. Thank you all for riding along on this wild and crazy journey with us, and may all your 2014 hopes, goals and dreams come true - and keep writing and riding! 

Opening the Pipes

With all the stress and chaos of the holidays, I haven't really had much time to ride this week. I am leaving for Florida tomorrow for the holiday, so today I made sure to make some time to get on the red beast. 

Today's Workout!
(Minus 15 minutes of me milling around down by the barn after the ride before I realized the GPS was still on....) 

Sometimes, you just got get on and open up the pipes. It felt good to Haul Ass down the side of the road and forget about all of the stress of the season for a few minutes. My GPS clocked her at 30mph and she was in no way maxed out. 

Not looking forward to a whole week without saddle time... not looking forward to it at all. 

(The candy cane did in fact pass inspection. Once she had taken a bite, she decided that she LOVED them.)

Last but not least: if you haven't already, go help Stacey out by donating to Wes' fund!!

Giving Thanks 2013

I have a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving, as I do every year. 

I am thankful for my family, who still puts up with me even after all these years. The older I get, the more I appreciate them, even though they are just as certifiably nuts as I am.

I am thankful for all my friends and contacts worldwide, who have always been there for me throughout the good times and the tough times alike.
I'm thankful for my wonderful Future Hubs, who puts up with me, laughs with me, gets into tickle wars with me, dances like an idiot with me, sings out of tune with me, snuggles me, and looks into the future with me, always right there by my side no matter what.

I am thankful for my menagerie of pets... the make me smile and laugh every day. Without them, life would be empty and colorless.  

I am thankful that I am still excited for the future, because it's only just beginning.

I am thankful for Texas, because even though it's one of the most ridiculous and random decisions I've ever made, it led me right to Future Hubs, Tonka, Twiggy, Monster, Pickles, Jasper, Mimi, Shitner, Pangea, Imogen, O, and Tre... and that's exactly where I want and need to be.

I am thankful for Metro and Quincy, my two long gone but never forgotten boys. I honor their lives by naming my business after them, and not a day goes by without missing and remembering them.

I'm thankful for five beautiful, crazy, intense, amazing, eventful, and memorable years with my Gogo. She made me a far better horsewoman and rider, she made me laugh and cry, she molded who I am now as a young adult, she got me started on my career path of choice.... and so much more. 

I'm thankful for my two crazy, kooky, wonderful Craigslist finds, Tre and O. They are polar opposites and both ridiculously awesome in their own ways. Finding these 'cheapies' and fixing them up has really been an incredible and rewarding experience, and I can't wait to see what the next year brings for them. 

From Ti, Tonka, Twiggy, Jasper, Snidget, Mimi, Saba, Pickles, Monster, Shitner, Pangea, Imogen, Tre, O, and myself, Happy Thanksgiving, and I hope you all have plenty to be thankful for too.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Happy Halloween!!

Gogo as, well, herself!:

Metro as DINO!:

And Gogo, playing the part of sweet angel:

Enjoy your holiday everyone! Give your horses and dogs some pumpkin cookies and EAT CANDY!

Mare-y Christmas!

I know I've been super busy and totally AWOL for the past week - Christmas has been severely hectic this year - but we still want to wish all of you Happy Holidays and a very Merry Christmas!

Top is of Gogo, middle is Metro, bottom is Quincy. No new pics of my babies simply due to lack of time, and I'm out of state at the moment!

 
 

I know I post something similar every year, but my oh my how time flies, and how we change. That picture of Quincy and I is a decade old.

We'll be back to the grind come Wednesday, so stay tuned! Happy and safe holidays everyone!

Giving Thanks, 2012 Style

I have a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.

I am thankful for my family, who still puts up with me even after all these years. The older I get, the more I appreciate them and I can't wait to see them at Christmas.

I am thankful for all my friends and contacts worldwide, who have always been there for me throughout the good times and the tough times alike.
I'm thankful for my wonderful Future Hubs, who puts up with me, laughs with me, gets into tickle wars with me, dances like an idiot with me, sings out of tune with me, snuggles me, and looks into the future with me, always right there by my side no matter what.

I am thankful for my menagerie of pets... the make me smile and laugh every day. Without them, life would be empty and colorless.  

I am thankful that I am still excited for the future, because it's only just beginning.

I am thankful for Texas, because even though it's one of the most ridiculous and random decisions I've ever made, it led me right to Future Hubs, Tonka, Twiggy, Monster, Pickles, Jasper, Mimi, Pangea, and Imogen... and that's exactly where I want and need to be.

I am thankful for Metro and Quincy, my two long gone but never forgotten boys. I honor their lives by naming my business after them, and not a day goes by without missing and remembering them.

I'm thankful for five beautiful, crazy, intense, amazing, eventful, and memorable years with my Gogo. She made me a far better horsewoman and rider, she made me laugh and cry, she molded who I am now as a young adult, she got me started on my career path of choice.... and so much more. 

I'm thankful for the chance to right my karma by bring Metro's daughter Pangea into my life. She is so much like her father in so many ways, and even when we bicker like an old married couple, she still makes me laugh and smile and thank my lucky stars for her presence.

I'm thankful for Imogen, and our beautiful new story together. If ever there was a story of fate, this is it, and I can't wait to see what the coming year brings for us. She is the true joy in my everyday life, and words can't describe how much I love her.

From Ti, Tonka, Twiggy, Jasper, Snidget, Mimi, Saba, Pickles, Monster, Pangea, Imogen, and myself, Happy Thanksgiving, and I hope you all have plenty to be thankful for too.