Overall I’ve been really lucky on the riding front. No broken bones, no significant time off, etc. I cracked a few ribs once and hurt my hip in the process, but after about two weeks I was back to normal. There is one fall that has scarred me forever and gave me what I like to affectionately call my ass tumor. See that kind of pointed part of my ass? I hope the cellulite doesn’t leave you blind, but I…
I ride at Bee Cave Riding Center in southwest Austin. I came there two years ago when I wanted to upgrade the boarding situation for Teaspoon from a trail barn to a place that has lessons and shows. Bee Cave is a no thrills, hard working facility. We don’t have fancy facilities, or rolling green pastures. We do have a really great group of people, including the most patient, sane, and encouraging trainer I’ve ever had the privilege of riding…
It took me a long, long time to get somewhat good at horse showing. Going to a show and getting no satin pretty ribbons (oh ribbons, how I love you… let me count the ways) these days isn’t a huge shocker, because there were many, many shows in my past where I would be happy to come home with one 6th place. Eventually, I did start doing better than 6th and then I won some. There are 3 ribbons in…
I should start off by saying that one of my goals in life is to be a hunter princess. It’s completely selfish and silly, but I want all the smancy tack and clothes and I want to look polished at all times. As of now, I have a bit of a ways to go. The good news is that after years of buying the cheapest stuff possible, I have learned that quality does last. Now I do tons of shopping…
My first fall was not super eventful, but I remember it very clearly. I was 10, maybe 11, and was riding Duchess. Duchess was a rich red buckskin grade mare, and was pretty much a honey. She was a well trained and gentle school horse though, and didn’t contribute to this fall at all. I was just learning to trot, and it was maybe my 6th or so lesson before I was allowed to move from walking, steering, and two…
After I graduated from college, I was riding at a nice barn with a great trainer. Most of the clients did A shows, and the ones who didn’t did C shows. Basically, not a whole lot were in the schooling show circuit I had been doing for years… and I wanted to move up. To make a long story (I’m sure I’ll blog about it later) short, I got a fancy project horse and semi-retired my trusty gelding. Beckett, a…
When I get down about my riding, I look back to some moments of time riding during college. Before Beckett ruining my confidence and before I gained a bunch of weight – I was a confident and fit rider. That person is slowly coming back! The best example of my riding oddly enough happened when my horse, Elvis, was off due to a freak eye injury (I’ll have to blog about that one later). A really nice family at the…
After short but nerve wracking (for me at least) show season, I’ve been laying low with Simon and not riding quite as often. So instead of yesterday, the last time I rode was Monday for my weekly jumping lesson. Kathy’s theme of the week was courses with technical challenges, so I was pretty excited. In the division that we show in, the most complicated thing that is ever asked is a roll back and at the November show I totally…