The hunt continues... and a nasty rant.

Got a new show jacket today- it's brown herringbone.

Anyways, picked up a pelham today- just a low port short shank. The ladies at the barn were mortified that I actually bought it, and I was subjected to an endless stream of unsolicited advice and how pelhams are only for Gran Prix riders and how the port (which was little more than a mullen mouth, TBH) was so harsh because it wasn't jointed. Ack, that sort of thing pisses me off.

Not to be rude, but I spent a long, long time investigating bits for my horse, posting questions on forums, and getting second opinions, in addition to Denna's. The conclusion drawn was that this was the best choice for my situation. I wish people would accept that.

The same thing happened when I switched farriers after Roy lamed Berky. The BM was saying how he was lame to begin with and it's normal for horses to be sore after a trim and how I shouldn't have him barefoot in the first place (despite the vet reccommending it) and how it's ok for Roy to trim him down to the white line because he had the beginnings of a crack and and and. So much shit went around after I switched to Jason.

But what was I supposed to do? Roy made him lame FOR A MONTH... twice! It would have been irresponsible to do otherwise. He wasn't lame before the trim, either: I could ride him on gravel without any problem, take him on trail rides, etc. etc. I was careful about using conditioner and sealant. Blah blah blah. And she still talked about me like I was a little girl making a stupid decision. I read. I research. I get opinions. I'm not always right, but GOD give me some respect! I wish they would quit talking down to me. The worst part was, they didn't take me aside- they chewed me out in front of everyone for making a decision that was none of their business to begin with.

That said, sweet Michelle offered to help me out with our flatwork. She does second level dressage with her big goofy Hanoverian, Wendig ("Digs") and used to train. She let me use her copper mouth bit she brought back from England (where she was taught). Berky really liked it, so now it looks like I'm going to buy one similar to it. My bit collection is ever-expanding.... She wasn't worried about the pelham for jumping, but we both like to ride in the mildest thing possible, and since that copper bit is about as mild as it gets, I was willing to give it a shot.

We took my running martingale and ghetto rigged it to shorten it just enough that he couldn't bonk me and went into the jumping ring. It's been so long since I'd ridden with someone dressage-y... all my little nasty hunter flaws were painfully obvious. The stereotypical "perch", stiffness, hands in the lap lol. Also, I tend to turn my leg out and dig in with my heel when I try to give him leg. So many habits haha.

It was amazing how well he responded to her tactics- he had never been so round and supple!

Pictures to prove it:



Berky can haz psuedo-engaged canter!




He was not impressed.


My straps were driving me crazy today, but I couldn't let go of the reins to fix them.


Berky sneezed.(Oh hai Paige)




Yeah, jumping in flatwork-length stirrups was a bad idea, but my dad wanted a picture. Bye, lower leg!

Eh

We've been working on our courses again, in addition to our flatwork. He got over his Bat-Outta-Hell phase, so it looks like we are still on for the show.

Did our first skeery 2'6 haybale oxer- it wasn't pretty the first time around.


He got a looong spot and propped before he took off, so I was super defensive. The next time around was better, although I jumped way ahead. I love how he just cantered over it, no big deal. His form improves over the bigger stuff, at least when he's free-jumping, so I'm not to worried about the scissor legs.




That's about it. He's in a kimberwick with two reins, which I'm holding a la Fillis, and he goes so nicely in it. His Tom Thumb pelham is coming in soon, so we'll be show legal before too long.

Berky gets another new bit.

My horse is such a dumbass sometimes, but geez I love him.

Anyways, he went from steady Eddy to bouncing off the walls OTTB in about three days flat, so the general consensus is that my eggbutt snaffle isn't going to cut it for the time being. I hate resorting to bigger bits to solve issues like this, but when you consider I can either yank his teeth out with a snaffle or take up the slack on the curb portion of a pelham, the choice is obvious. I don't "do" twisted bits, and a Kimberwick doesn't phase him, so it looks like we are going to get a short-shanked rubber mouth pelham and another set of reins. If I am going to use a big bit, I am going to take the time to do it right, even if it means slowing things down and learning to ride with another set of reins.

UGH. I have a show in two weeks. Hopefully we'll be able to smooth over the bumps before then.

Post-Denna practice.

I usually limit jumping to twice a week, so I took today to practice while everything from yesterday was fresh in my mind. I set up a low course and cantered through it a few times- it's amazing the difference a new, milder bit can make. Then we put up the fun stuff: the traffic cones a few of the girls pinched from the construction site, the roadblocks, a stopsign, a tarp, a few diamond shaped wood things, and all sorts of stuff to make for spooks and refusals. One of the other girls had dragged it out to the arena, apparently, so we seized the opportunity.

When Berky is good, he's very good, but when he's bad, he's horrid. Today he was amazing. We did our full course, jumped over the three foot wide "open water," jumped the stopsign, made an oxer with the cones, and got every single lead. No refusals today!! AND FIVE BEAUTIFUL CHANGES! Holy crap, my little jumper must be remembering his training. We had a two other not-so-hot ones, but he got them so reliably when I didn't get in his way. I was a proud parent. Too bad Denna missed it.

Anyways, it makes me feel a lot better knowing we'll be able to jump a nice course for our shows. He is such a doll when he wants to be. I'll be spending a week at Denna's place for Christmas (you know you love your trainer when your present every year is a trip to her barn)with him, so we'll have plenty of things to work on.

Denna!

So yesterday Denna gave her monthly clinic at the barn. It was tough, as usual, and Berky was in a new bit, so he was kind of feeling everything out. Denna disliked the bit as much as Berky and I did, so we're back to a kimberwick. (Last Tuesday, he had been a complete pig for my lesson and Allanah gave me a double twisted wire snaffle to ride him in for a few days so at least I would have some brakes, even if they were harsh. I hate hate hate twisted bits, but it was a safety thing.) Denna wants him in a rubber-mouthed pelham with two reins next time she sees me, so we'll be off to the tack shop soon. I really prefer pelhams to other curbs, so I'm kind of ok with this, especially since I'll be able to regulate the amount of curb I engage.

Anyways, that played a large part in his behavior yesterday. He is so sensitive to my hand, and that bit did not do us any favors. He would try to carry himself, and then he'd pop his nose up. Poor boy :/ he's usually so willing.

Denna was having us do just an outside to outside crossrail line (we were riding with a couple of beginners because it was the last slot available) and I was thinking, "Ok, we got this. We've been doing 2'6, getting our changes. Piece of cake."

Uh, no. He ran out. Twice. At a crossrail. Denna said he was just being a jerk the first time, but the second time I was waiting for him to goof and so he kind of seized the opportunity. It was thrilling. On the other hand, it was a learning experience. Denna reinforced my suspicion that he likes a light seat in the canter (when he was running around like a maniac), and gave me a nice way to visualize the seat to hand connection when we half-halt: push your seat forward like a swing and contain with your hand. It's amazing what ideas you pick up when you teach for thirty years and hang out with George Morris.

Here are my pictures from yesterday:

HE'S BENDING! A MIRACLE!


Denna likes to make us do two-point until we nearly die, but look how happy he looks!


No stirrups is miserable. Good thing I have an arab pony to practice on.


Good boy!


And the HOLY CRAP canter.

Doings.

So Berky had a month off when the stupid farrier took his toe ALMOST ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE WHITE LINE, and he was consequently lame. Needless to say, he got fired.

He just came back into work- he's shod by a new farrier, is on a million supplements, and is blessed with quick-growing feet- so here we have a few lovely pictures of our schooling, pre and post screwup. We are doing 2'3 and 2'6, but these are pretty low because he's out of shape :/ We have been focusing on flatwork and adjusting his stride- just the typical extend-collect-extend, etc. to get him listening. A few weeks into his soreness, he was feeling good enough for some in hand work and light walking, so we spent a lot of time on engaging his hind, shoulder fore, some pathetic haunches in, and no stirrups. He has really taken to lateral movements- they just clicked for him. In hand, we got some shoulder-in voltes, desensitization, and voice commands. I now own the only horse in the world who can stand, back, lower his head, AND make both his smiley face and offended face on command.

Offended face. Tyler made it into an icon for me a while back.


Right now, flying changes are slowly but surely being incorporated as well. We do two a ride, right to left, left to right- and are doing our best to stay collected. We have to use a pole sometimes, but it's better than nothing.

Anyways, pictures for your enjoyment.

Gotta love the gameface here. I wish his head didn't get cut off, but this is a still, as usual.

He's over enthuisiastic.

First time over the teeny oxer.

Cantering. (No, really?)

He is breaking out in Birdcatcher spots. He has five new ones, in addition to his booty spot [pictured].

Hands in muh lap.

LOOK HOW FAT HE GOT! My hard keeper is FAT.

Yay updating.

Anyways, my prolonged hiatus has been due to a computer grounding. Ah, the joys of teenager-dom. Anyways, I'm updating from Claire's laptop because I was overwhelmed with the urge to blog.

So anyhow, I don't remember where I left off, but here's a recap:
Berky had a respiratory infection and two weeks off.
We had two weeks of good, solid training.
Berky managed to lose all four shoes one night (thoroughbred feet -.-) and got stone bruises. We booted him until...
The farrier came. He was still sore, of course.
So Berky had a little over three MORE weeks off while his feet recovered.

Now, we're back in business and trying to prepare for next weekend's hunter show at Wickham Park. YAY SHOW! We actually started getting ready last week, but then we were having so much fun being idiotic bareback that we kind of got sidetracked.

Oh, and I JUMPED 2'6" and LIVED!! We actually DID WELL!!! YAY! My confidence has improved so much, and I'm really amazed at what me'n Berky can do once I get up the guts. Claire has been helping me so much- she's such a good rider.

BTW,Claire rode him for me in a clinic with Denna Johnson of Full Partners Farm.
Denna has ridden with Beezie Madden and knows George Morris, and she is close with the barn manager. And guess what? Denna LOVED Berky and said he was "like a cat off the ground." She thinks she may know him, too, and if she does, he has training out the arse but will always have trouble keeping weight on. I can't wait to get the results from my research with Jockey Club- if his name's Springsteen, we're in business.

So that's basically what we've been up to. Claire's horse, Kay, has a haematoma on her side and is going in for an ultrasound, so she's been riding Berk for me when I can't come out. She really likes him, although it took a while for her to figure him out, and if Kay isn't ready for the show Friday, she's going to enter him in a few classes and I'm going to cut back on mine. Which is awesome, because Claire's an amazing rider and everyone benefits when we swap around.

Lastly, Berky's putting on weight, hallelujah! You can't see his ribs anymore and his butt kind of jiggles. I guess senior feed was the key- glad we found something that works. He's finally feeling good enough to carry himself nicely, too, and we had some KILLER long and low yesterday. Ok, that's it, I promise :)

Trail ride o' doom.

Ok, so it really wasn't that bad. I thought it would be good to get out of the arena and do some trot sets up some hills. Went a mile down the dirt road and came to the old trail the hardcore eventing girls use.

Of course, there was a slope and then a stream you had to cross before you hit the actual trail. I got off and waded in first to be sure the footing was still safe after all the rain.... it came up to my hips ahahahaha. Berky kind of looked at me like, "You have to be kidding, right?" and followed me in (like a good boy, of course.)

He was a butt and wouldn't hold still for me to get back on, so I had to climb up the side of the ditch and kind of fling myself into the stirrup. The first time, he clambered up after me, mowing down a bunch of saplings in the process. Argh. So this is obviously a hole in our training- Standing. Still. We'll have to work on this.

The actual trail itself wa a little over two miles long and GORGEOUS. It wended up through the scrub to a little ridge next to a stream. There were some little logs and stumps to stear around, but considering its primary use, it was very nice going. There were a lot of dips in the path- closest thing to varied terrain we have in Florida.

We got off by some power lines and galloped a little ways down the road (shoulder, that is. It's very low traffic and wide.) It was amazing being able to open up like that- he seemed to enjoy it, too, and came right back to me even though we were in the snaffle.

Trotted a quarter mile or so and then had a nice long walk before we picked up the pace again. Just a nice canter- maybe a minute and a half's worth, followed by a walk-trot set. We walked the rest of the way home.

He seemed bright, albeit tired, after we got home. I was really pleased with how willing and bold he was- my spooky 17hh (Yep, We measured him- 17 on the nose... holy cow!) Thoroughbred out on the trail all by his lonesome. Tomorrow, Claire and I am going to have to go back out again and poke around some more.

Berky's day as a lesson horse.

For financial reasons, we may need to partially lease Berky out, and I have a horse-crazy advanced beginner cousin who volunteered to put him through his paces (under my supervision, naturally.) So I gave her a lesson. Walk-trot- ok, now posting walk. Back up. Stand up in your stirrups. Change directions. Just little stuff like that, done in a less-than-graceful beginner way, to see how he'd do.

He was saintly.

I mean, the floppy posting walk threw him off a little and he trotted, but he was very tolerant of her bouncy sitting trot and little fumbles. I walked with them on a trail ride- everyone behelmeted, of course, and a lead rope clipped to his bridle- to see how he'd do. Very well behaved. We've gone out a mile or so from the barn and he's always been good, but it's kind of different with a new rider.

So I guess I don't have to worry about him killing anyone anytime soon.

Hopefully, I can find an intermediate rider for him. He's so good, but he is a Thoroughbred and can be a little goofy. He's a thinking rider's horse. (Ahahaha i'm just being silly now.)

Anyways, having nothing else better to do, we decided to research his lip tattoo. He was less than amused by our poking and prodding (he hates having his lips touched), and I imagine things looked a little wacky (ahahaha) when I was on my tiptoes and Hannah was poised with the camera.

So we think the first letter is an A or a C. Which means he is either a LOT older than we thought (1971? Uh, Berky?) Or 12. if it's a C, he'd be ten. Which is pretty close to what we'd figured. Haven't gotten the results back yet, but I can't wait to learn all about his racin' days and whatnot.

Video

As promised.







I get so annoyed when my shirt rides up like that. Grr.

Back to work.

Working over our jumping course while the arena's dry. We attempted the rolltop, which ended in me falling on my butt. We came through the corner (it's on the diagonal) and he broke to a trot. Had to get the transition, and then two strides out, he started to run out, so I sat deep and gave him outside leg. He chipped, I got left behind, and so on. It was great. But it was his first time over it, and my first time with him, so I figure things could have been worse.

Today, we set up a slightly different course, but basically, diagonal 2ft-ish crossrail to vertical, outside vertical( 2ft), outside line (2ft), and, if we were up to it, rolltop (2'3). We warmed up over the crossrail, just working on trotting it slowly because he had been rushing yesterday. We got over that bump, then did the course a few times without taking a single rail!!! YAY! Yesterday, we knocked over the outside line almost every time we tried it. Today, I bumped it up a hole and really made him listen. Surprise, surprise! Success.

Had another first: we cantered through the WHOLE THING without any mishaps or having to fix a wrong lead. I wish I had it on camera- the battery died. I have some stills and video coming as soon as it's charged. He was nearly perfect, and my form's really coming along- I guess from riding bareback so much the past week. My release is still faulty- I put my hands along his crest instead of on the sides of his neck. Eh.

ETA:
Pictures.

More bareback fun.

With the approaching storms, all the horses were bent upon killing their riders. Kay ran off with Claire four or five times, and Berky bucked with me bareback at every canter depart. I thought it was his saddle pad annoying him, but I took it off and he persisted. Argh. I know he wasn't sore, nor was I doing anything differently. Horses ahahaha.

Well, I am pleased I stayed on. He threw some really big ones, too- once I ended up on his withers, but other than that, it wasn't too bad. I smacked his butt and made him canter on, and he'd eventually settle down, but eventually it got bad enough that I got off and longed him. We were in the dressage arena and I wasn't really thinking it would be fun to go over the fence.

Fudging it.

Ok, so I was initially planning on riding Ranger bareback again today, but I forgot to ask Karen to unlock the schooling room so I could get his bridle. Berky has been looking his usual self all week, and he was supposed to go back into work tomorrow anyways, so I walked him around bareback for fifteen or twenty minutes- nothing too strenuous. I'm sure it wasn't the smartest thing in the world to do, but he was no worse for wear.

We kind of compromised. I'm going to ride bareback again tomorrow too and incorporate some trotting and maybe a canter if things go well rather than bringing him back into full-on training. It has been too long since I rode without a saddle, and I had forgotten how much fun it was! He's actually very comfy- I put a saddle pad on him so his bony butt'd be a little more comfortable, and because he's so narrow (typical Thoroughbred ahahaha), I felt more secure on him than I do on Ranger the horsey lounge chair. Worst comes to worst, I eat dirt and come home with a new bruise.

I was so pleased with how good he was. I had him back in the eggbutt snaffle because I hate hate hate the corkscrew fullcheek and felt like he could go back to a softer bit. He spooked when a snake slithered under his feet while we were riding around in the grass, but he came right back to me- I think that answers our question for the moment.

Oh, and we got some sort of new cross-country jump, I think. It must be for the higher level girls because it's at least 3'3 through it's diameter. (It's a big black rolltop-like thing. Not a conventional XC jump- I think it's homemade.) Maybe they'll sink it into the ground or something? I really don't know.

Anyways, I'm looking forward to riding again.

Professional photos.

I found the photographer's website.



He was so relaxed between our, albeit tiny, fences. I was very proud.




I can't wait to get back to riding again. I was really aggravated when we had to scratch our bigger classes, but oh well. I'm just glad he's healthy.

Show photos.

Warming up.


Berkshire meditating on his rage toward the horse behind him. (My brother came up with that one.)


Looking like a show hunter. (Sort of.)




Claire placed in most of her classes. Hooray!


And lastly, the obligatory hopping-over-the-crossrail picture.

Showing Das Berky

Yeah, so we trailered down Friday afternoon with Claire. There were a million other horses there- mostly Quarters and Thoroughbreds. It was almost a game picking out the "Westlish" riders. For example, there was a Western Pleasure queen on her 16.2hh tricolor Paint, blingy belt, and bright blue eyeshadow. She was definitely interesting to watch. But I digress.

We schooled Friday night over a course of verticals, which resulted in a "Come to Jesus" moment between me, Berkshire, and Alanah when Berky kept rushing the fences so badly we nearly scratched our morning classes. Of course, this resulted in me "growing a pair" (Tyler- Alanah uses that phrase too. Felt you should know.) and keeping after him. We ended up having a very, very good round and then called it quits.

Saturday wasn't so hot. My dad and I showed up at 7:00 AM to get him ready to school, and he was his typical Berky self- vaguely curious, laid back, and soaking up attention. Schooled a mixed course (outside, diagonal, outside, diagonal- nice and easy), after which he was in a lather, gave him a liniment bath, and fed him breakfast. We hung out until noon- I was entering the crossrails division, schooling 18", and novice hunters, which didn't come until later in the day.

We rode our flat classes in the crossrails division and did very well, although we didn't place (not to be bitter, but the ribbons went to the peanut rollers and one rider who consistently sawed, kicked, and jabbed her horse into submission. It hurt to watch. :/). I was proud of him for bein such a good boy. Went to the over fences class and absolutely nailed our course- he didn't rush a single fence, we rode some really nice lines, etc. I didn't expect a ribbon for it and didn't get one, but I still could have squeezed Berky to death I was so proud.


There was a big gap between the crossrails class and the next division I was entered in, so I hosed him down and took off his bridle so I could hand-graze him. After a while, I untacked completely (there was some fiasco with registration or something), put him in his stall, and got some lunch. When I came back, he was lying down, puffing, and hadn't had any water. NOT GOOD. We thought he had colicked or was overheated, so we brought him out and hosed him while Alanah got some electrolyte paste for him.

Nothing made him more comfortable. He tried to snatch grass when I walked him, but he still hadn't passed manure or had anything to drink. We called the vet and brought him back to be hosed. When Dr. Merrick arrived, his temperature had spiked to 104.6 degrees. UGH....... She diagnosed it as a respiratory infection and prescribed antibiotics and paste Banamine, although we couldn't run a blood test because something had happened at the lab.

So back to the hose we went. He got a shot of Banamine and we tried to cool him down for another hour until the trailer was ready to take him home. Thus ended our show.


At home, he had dropped back to 99.1- right where he belonged. He is now in quarantine until Monday at least, when he gets tested, and out of commission for two weeks.

I went out this morning and he had eaten his breakfast and still had a normal temperature, thank God. We are going out again in a few hours to give him another dose of antibiotic. In the meantime, I'm baking him horse cookies and trying to come up with an applesauce-molasses concoction to dissolve his pills in.

Delivering the goods.

As promised, video of the lesson.

Lesson.

Just worked a teeny course, as most of the jumps were in the pasture underwater and none of us wanted to trudge out there to retrieve them. I have some video coming.

Anyways, flatting is going well, so I'm going to be interested to see how the classes go. Our sitting trot is excellent, but he's still having trouble with his right lead. Alanah thinks it is his hocks, which wouldn't surprise me. He just got his most recent dose of Adequan Monday, so it may not have kicked in yet. I am going to put on his Surpass tomorrow morning before I ride and see if it helps any. If not, I guess I'll call the vet and see what she thinks. I'm borrowing a gel pad too, so one way or another, he should feel a little better. He isn't off or visibly sore; just a tad stiff.

Group lesson tomorrow morning. All the other girls pulled out last minute, so it's down to Claire, Katie and me. How-D's hocks are bothering him too much to be ridden, Tara hasn't been riding lately, and Paige and Maddie are out of town. Oh well, c'est la vie.

Show prep.

There is more mane pulling, bathing, and clipping going on around the barn than there has been in a long time. Claire even went so far as to dye her horse's sunbleached mane and tail with foils. (Yeah, it was a sight.) Allannah is stressing over rendezvous points for the riders, Sabrina is having polo shirts embroidered, and I am just trying to keep up.

Berky got the bath to end all baths today, down to using whitening shampoo on the teeny patches on his heels. I pulled his mane to a mohawkish 3" to facilitate braiding and trimmed the scraggled hair on his tail, and then practiced braiding. I'm using more of a button braid type thing than the typical hunter style, instructions courtesy of Brittany and Anky van Grunsven.

Lesson tomorrow, finally. Our new 2' rolltop was just delivered,and I think it's probably going to be incorporated. Just a feeling. It's all wood, so Sabrina and Karen had to load it into a truck and drive it into the arena, which was pretty amusing.

Ugh I'm stressing out. Berky was sore through his back yesterday, which is why he got today off complete with a once-over from the massage therapist. I think I figured out the problem, though: I usually ride with two pads or just my fleece pad and a wither pad, but the past two rides I rode with a plain quilted pad while the others were being cleaned. Let's hope that was the problem.

Minor doings.

Been out to the barn the past few days. Spent Friday trail riding because some of the older girls had set up another makeshift XC course, which included a shallow but wide ditch for a sunken road, some banks, and trashcans turned on their sides. It was right next to the arena, so rather than worry about distracting them or vise versa, Berky and I went out exploring. He did shockingly well, considering he's a spooky horse; we only had one fidget when some dogs caught us by surprise.

It was so pretty out. We just went down the dirt road maybe a mile both ways, but there were a lot of blooming wildflowers and the wild grapes were ripe. We walked up and down the sides of a ditch just for fun and did some lazy serpentines around the scraggly pines. In all, it was just a chance to sit back and appreciate how lucky I am to be able to have a companion like Berkshire.

Anyways, yesterday and today were work days. We did flatwork yesterday and worked on our leads- he's been having trouble getting his right lead, which makes me wonder if I'm collapsing a hip or something. Aside from that, he's been his typical, laid back self, so I don't think it's a pain issue. I think I'm going to talk to the equine massage therapist at the barn and see if she can work on him, just to be safe.

Today, we set up the gymnastic again. He was a good boy for the most part, but my dad said he kicked out when I gave him a pop for lugging on my reins. I didn't even notice.

Anyways, more pictures. These are grainy, but you can see the basics. My shoulders were slightly better and my leg's the same, but my release is more proportionate.

Here you have them.

Slippy leg.


I'm liking my leg a lot in this one.



This was one of our better jumps.

I got an award!

From wolfandterriers down at Ponies in Med School and Rachel at Bad Ways to Sell Your Horse. Thank you so much!

Now I get to tell ten things about myself.

1. Hm. Well, I have a nasty guilty pleasure for anything cat print. Scarves, fabric, jewelry. Creepy, but true. I had a pair of cat pajama pants that I wore periodically for about 5 years. It really freaked Tyler out.

2. I love breakfast food... I eat it all day. As a matter of fact, I just had an egg and toast a few minutes ago.

3. I sew. Like a maniac. I have knitting needles in every size- even some obnoxious hot pink ones that I use only for purple scarves. Many of my creations are pretty ill-advised and never see the light of day- case in point, this skirt I made a few weeks ago from fabric scraps. It's skeery, and proof that floof aficionados have no business near sewing machines.



4. I don't like babies. It probably makes me some sort of freak of nature, but they're so *floppy* and dirty.

5. My first horse was an obese Paint pony who used to roll over on people when she didn't want to be ridden.



6. I have three dogs: Moe, an American bulldog, Ella, a pitbull mix, and Sammy (no relation to the horse I used to lease), a psychotic miniature schnauzer who only wags his tail when you say "Deedle deedle." I love drooly, bully breeds- can you tell?

7. I do not have a cell phone. My parents canceled my plan when the economy went down the toilet, and I haven't had one since then.

8. I can read four languages, and kinda-sorta speak three: English (obviously), Spanish (because it's mandatory), Koine Greek (my school is classical and bizarre), and Latin, which I can only read because I only took it for a year.

9. My best friend Tyler lives 500 miles away. I am going to visit her in a few weeks! And we will look weird together, because she is a rivethead and I enjoy oldschool, classical goth. (I never look it when I'm at the barn, though, for obvious reasons.)

10. My favorite book thus far is "Crime and Punishment" by Dostoevsky. Raskolnikov and I are soul buddies.

And now, the blogs I nominate.

I pray contagion of the feeble mind.
Tyler's spewings.


Bad Ways to Sell Your Horse
A hilarious blog showcasing terrible sale ads.


Behind the Bit
Riley and his mom updating on dressage training, the sporthorse world, and just general, horse-related news.


Maybe Mae
She isn't really active any more, but she had a very heartfelt blog about riding.


Jumping Percheron
An adorable, talented Percheron mare training for jumpers. Stacey, her owner, is currently stationed in Korea, but she updates occasionally and will be returning to Hawaii soon.


I is Roxie!
Roxie is a cute little Percheron mare who blogs all by herself.


I am an Imperial horse who NEEDS sugars!
Max, the five year old Lippizanner.

Improvement. We have it. (Picture overload)

First off, he put on weight.


Compare with how he looked when I found him:


And jumping is a TON better.

When I first started jumping with him (sorry for the quality-it's off a still.)



Two weeks ago, complete with nasty lower leg:


Today:
My release was bad here, but it's a similar jump to the previous pictures:


A little better over a vertical, but now it's the shoulders *sigh*


We took a close distance here- my fault- and my butt could be out of the tack a little more.


And just for the hell of it, todays REALLY fugly jump- we were jumping it kind of as a rollback, I totally flubbed the distance and we ended up launching over it from a really bizarre spot:





Anyways, yes. It was dry enough to jump today, and my lesson got canceled, so we practiced over some gymnastics and stuff. I wish I had pictures or video of the whole thing, but oh well. We are improving a ton, and a lot of the mistakes are form me. I have to really work on not roaching my back and my release, but I feel like my timing and confidence is improving.

We had our first attempted lead change today down the diagonal. I have that on video, but it's crammed between 20 minutes of warming up, fixing jumps, etc. He got it- I was really excited, because I have that to fall back on if I need it. I prefer a simple change right now, just because of my inexperience, but anyways.

Looking forward to my next lesson, whenever that is. Allannah had to rush her boyfriend to the hospital this morning, so it might be a while.