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…
It seems like we can’t get through a winter without some people having really extreme opinions on blanketing. Don’t blanket your horses! It’s better for them to be all natural! Clipping them is basically the same as BREAKING THEIR LEGS!!!!!!! Only a foolish over protective person would blanket their horse! Don’t leave your horse out to the cold! Horses have no natural defenses to the cold and the wind! I would never let my horse out without a blanket if it…
I haven’t written about my rides much lately for several reasons. At first, they were super bad. Simon was protesting the inconsistent riding and lack of jumping in the best ways he knows how – being super anxious and rushing through everything. No listening to my seat. No softening at the bit. The wonderful flatwork we had worked so hard to get last fall disappeared, so I got super down about it. Obviously he has ulcers. Needs a chiro visit….
It’s been a quiet weekend here. Suffice to say, I much prefer quiet to running myself over with my car. In fact I’m oh so happy to report that I have driven myself some independently this week and have managed to keep all 4 car doors on my husband’s car. Hopefully I will continue to have as much success with my car when I get it back early this week. The worst thing to happen to me all weekend was…
While you wouldn’t expect a Texan to complain about the weather, winter riding and winter survival in general is a bit different here. See, up north where it’s truly cold, there are institutions set up to deal with the cold. These institutions include things like snow plows, covered riding rings and winter jackets. A cold day in Texas means “put on a sweater”. Cold + any type of precipitation? Forget it. If it’s below 40 and raining, we’re going to…
As of today, I’m back in my normal schedule of work plus barn plus life. Even though I’ve enjoyed my time off, I mostly like my job and am okay getting back in the routine. See, since December 23rd I’ve been very much out of any routine. My company closes every year between Christmas and New Years and the way the dates fell this year, I didn’t have to go back in the office until today. Usually all of this extra…
Sunday for my lesson, aka the last weekend lesson before the show, it was a balmy 45 degrees, gray and drizzly. Also, I rode like a potato. Hence the title of this post. I was a cold, leg swinging can’t find a distance plopping around all of the place potato. My horse however, was awesome. Also awesome was my trooper of a mother, who took pictures of us in the cold drizzly lesson. You know, nothing like treating your mother…