When Simon turned 7 and when he turned 8 I brought some party items to the barn for a photo opportunity. It was always something minor – little cupcakes or a cookie cake, and I never announced before hand. I just brought some sweets to share with anyone who happened to be at the barn, and asked someone to take a picture with me and my favorite nerd horse. Recently I’ve learned that anything can be a cause for celebration. What’s…
Time passes, people get older and the same applies to horses. I hate the cliche “it seems like yesterday” so I won’t quite go there, but it’s hard for me to believe my scraggly young nerd horse has now hit double digits. He’s a solid old man now, but in the best physical shape he’s ever been in. I think longtime readers of this blog know how much this horse has been a friend to me (especially in the last…
I have a lot of fires going right now, and had several minor panic attacks about them all yesterday. So naturally, the best decision this morning is to sit here at work and write a quick post about lead changes. Because we all know how much I adore lead changes. Now Simon has some physical characteristics that I knew have historically made changes hard for him. We’ve got the bum right hock, wonky stifles and a weak hind end. He’s…
The last time I went to Dover saddlery, I stocked up on some winter essentials. Horse treats, clipper blades and the obvious choices for January – fly spray and a fly sheet. It’s not that Texas is having any unusual bug outbreaks. No, things are pretty normal here weather and insect wise. Mostly, my horse is a freak. I’ve heard rumblings from fellow boarders that Simon has been running around the pasture a lot more than usual. “He should be…
Last Friday evening I had a rep from County Saddlery come out to fit myself and Simon for a new saddle. The previous company I had out was CWD, and I don’t think you can get two saddles that are more polar opposites than County & CWD. My high level overview of comparing the two sales pitches would be: CWD – It’s technology! It’s French! It’s super kewl! Did I mention it’s French? County – This is a saddle. It is made…
Zen and the Art of Baby Horse Management had the fabulous idea of writing horse haikus. I’m a big fan of this plan, because I am lazy and am good at 5/7/5. Last year I even wrote my show reviews in haiku form, so am going jump on the bandwagon she started by updating you on Simon’s life in haiku form. After his layoff, Suspensory is spiffy. Okay, back to work. El Nino say wha? Oh, that just means lots of…
I know it’s the time of the year to complain about body clipping and horse hair everywhere and how much of a colossal pain in the ass it is, but I have a confession. I like body clipping. Now that confession comes with some clarifications. I like body clipping my horse. I like body clipping my horse when he’s not over the experience and refuses to stand still for legs & face. But even with those two caveats, this is not a…
I have a little bug that I can’t kill. It’s not entirely unlike a virus. It doesn’t respond to antibiotics (or in my case, reason) and it has lived int he ecosystem of my brain for quite some time – dormant and waiting. I still want to do the hunters. I know, I know. My horse loves the jumpers, you say. We’ve done well in the jumpers, you add. Much progress has been made! All of this is true, but…