2015 Goals

Here were the goals that I made for this last year. Overall, I was really disappointed in this year horse-wise. It just didn't really come together for me very well.

• Compete in a recognized dressage show. Finally.

 If you had asked me which of these goals were one of the least attainable, I probably would have said this one. I've been wanting to ride in a recognized dressage show for at least the past three or four years but it was never in the cards financially or in level of preparedness. This year, our dressage team went as a group and I had a total blast. Never would have thought it would be on Misty either!

• Get a ribbon in a horse trial! Either from a schooling or recognized one. I don't care I just want that ribbon!

Success! I rode Misty in the spring at a one-day horse trial and she was absolutely fantastic. We placed 2nd out of 12 horses! 

• Ride at Inavale and/or one other recognized HT.  

Nope

• Compete at Second Level at least once and score in the 60's. 

 Nope

• Compete at Novice and just not get eliminated. 

Nope. Funny story. I actually did try to compete at Novice this year at a little derby. I didn't write about it because I was hugely disappointed in myself, but it was a major fail and I actually ended up scratching. 

• Show at 3'+ in a jumper show 

Nope

• Do at least one, but hopefully two LD endurance rides. 

Nope


Overall, I am actually surprised that I actually accomplished two of my goals. This year was just really tough juggling full time work, two horses, no money and my research.

Next years' goals? I'm not sure I want to think about where next year will go. I know I won't have enough money to do a recognized dressage show (I didn't have to pay for it personally last year) and I don't think I'll be able to afford a recognized HT either.

• Compete in the one-day HT with Jetta 
• Ride a second level dressage test at a show and not fail horribly
• Sell Misty
• Compete in an LD

TOA Blog Hop: History of the Horse

Blog hop from The Owls Approve! We're quite a bit behind the ball on this one, but I still wanted to participate anyways.

Before you met, where was your horse?  Who bred him/her?  What do you know about his sire and his dam?  What do you know about where (s)he came from?  Tell me about the time before (s)he had a trainer.

Before I met Jetta, she was living at a Thoroughbred breeding farm. I met her as an unraced two-year old.

She was bred by Dr. Rodney Orr. I did some stalking and found this article about one of his broodmares, which also talks a little about his farm and breeding program.

Her sire is Private Gold, whose sire line is Seeking the Gold, Mr. Prospector, Raise a Native and Native Dancer. He's a pretty popular stallion here in the NW as far as I understand and have seen in many pedigrees of local TB's as he stands in Washington.

One random thing that I think is interesting is that I heard fairly often about what a bad personality/unpredictable nature that Seeking the Gold had. I am a huge advocate of breeding to stallions with good personalities because I think it is somewhat of a heritable trait, so it's funny that I own one of his offspring now. I think some of Jetta's attitude must come from her grandsire! Even though she can also be a total sweetheart most of the time.

Her dam is Step Away. I remember that she was a gorgeous mare when I met her. I actually had a reader reach out to me when I posted about Jetta's family tree that she had bought Step Away and that was so awesome to hear!

What to say about the time before she had a trainer... Well she was a brat, but then again she still is. She was unnamed, but the Barn Manager called her "Punky" which totally fit. I think it was in reference to a TV character that was before my time, but to me, Jetta was definitely a punk. She knew how to lead adequately and lunge, had worn a bareback pad before, but other than that, she had mostly been handled with a stud chain, she kicked, didn't allow her feet to be handled and didn't trailer.

When I got her, we worked for the first year on ground manners. I can't tell you how many times she took me "mud skiing" in the pasture before she learned to respect pressure without a stud chain. And teaching her not to kick and let her feet be done was a nightmare. 

The day I met Jetta

But it turned out well for the most part, I absolutely adore my stubborn monster child now.

30 Day Challenge - Wish List

Year end posts are in the works, but of course they are quite a bit more labor intensive, so have some more 30 Day Challenge posts in the meantime!

Day 6| Make a wish-list of the top 10 tack/riding clothes/horsey items you would buy if you were given an unlimited budget.

Ohh boy, here we go. 

1. CWD Custom Saddle. 

2. Dream brown boots, originally I was going to go with La Mundial but since they seem to be failing at customer service lately I'll need to figure out somewhere else to get them made

3. MORE BREECHES! Like I don't have enough... But I'd love another pair of FITS for schooling (Mink colored, yes please), a pair of jean breeches from Ariat, a pair of berry colored Tailored Sportsman and some aqua blue Annie's breeches. 



4. New truck. I love my truck, but it's getting older and has a bit of trouble hauling my little two-horse up a hill with two horses inside. 



5. An Ogilvy pad because why not. Plus all the pretty color combinations



6. And because of course I need even MORE saddle pads, I've wanted this purple OTTB pad for a while. And now I have a pretty purple bonnet that needs a matching saddle pad!

7. Since this is far fetched enough, why not a trailer with living quarters. I really love my little two horse bumper pull, and really don't mind sleeping in the bed of the truck with the camper shell, but having living quarters would be quite the luxury. And I have always wanted a Trails West trailer...



8. I guess this kind of qualifies as a "horsey item"... but I'd love to breed Jetta. Top two stallion picks are Mirabeau and Diamond Hit, so with an unlimited budget I'd buy a breeding to one of them.



9. A Mark Todd anatomic bridle, or one with the similar design but perhaps not the price tag.



 
10. Ummm, this was actually harder than I thought it would be... Weirdly enough I can't come up with a tenth item that I want. Strange.

Internet!!

The internet is an amazing thing. I mean, just having it is awesome. We've been internet-less for about a week and a half so I haven't been able to post anything. Ahh, the joys of being a broke young adult and living with four others in the same situation...

Anywho, back to the ponies. As always, there hasn't been a ton going on. But, I did have a great trail ride last week. One of my roommates has been wanting to go riding for a while and I finally had a day off where I didn't have anything planned so I loaded the ponies up and hit the trails.

Both girls were good, at least once I got Jetta loaded. I dealt with a lot of trailer loading issues when I got her, but we worked everything out. Now, it still crops up occasionally where she throws a complete and total hissy fit about getting in the trailer for about 10 minutes and then will randomly decide that she's done and then proceeds to hop in the trailer like it's no big deal. Sigh.

Minus that incident, everything went great. I haven't hauled the trailer in forever so I was afraid my poor old truck wouldn't start, but it was fine. The weather ended up being perfect and it didn't even rain on us!

I LOVE BEING OUTSIDE

My roommate is one of those people that just picks up riding really quickly. I gave him the rundown of how to steer, stop and go and do an emergency stop and we were off. He told me he wanted to gallop and so after a discussion on how to trot (he picked up posting right off the bat) and then ask for the canter, we went for an easy lope on a flat stretch.

We walked the horses for a while and then came to this really steep hill. Much easier to canter up it than to walk right? I let Jetta out into a nice extended canter and Misty came quickly behind us as fast as her little legs could go. It was fun!

Both girls were puffing a little by the top, but luckily the trail loops nicely around so they got to walk the rest of the way and weren't even damp by the time we got back to the trailer. Overall, a lovely way to spend the day. I haven't been trail riding in forever it feels like and it was good to be back on my monster pony. I haven't ridden her in too long! Plus, it's always better to hit the trails with a friend.

And, almost as exciting (or maybe even more exciting? I can't decide), I got my blogger exchange gift! I love it. I was super vague on what I would like to receive, but it's absolutely perfect. Thanks Kristen and thank you Tracy for hosting it!

Rest assured, there will soon be better quality pictures on the pony!

30 Day Challenge - Your Show Team

Well this will be an easy answer... because my show team consists of me, myself and I.

I don't have a regular trainer, nor do I board at a barn that shows together, so I just end up going by myself. A lot of times I can coerce my mom into going with me, mainly as a camera person, but I've been showing horses alone since I was 16, so I've got it down to a science and oftentimes bringing someone along (especially a non-horse person) throws a wrench in my workings.

It is a bit of a struggle to show alone and sometimes I wish I had a better support network to help me out, but overall it's really not bad.

The one show I even had an actual groom at! But I still did a lot of it myself lol.

30 Day Challenge - Create a fun jump course

Hmm, I'm not the best at creating jump courses. Especially "fun" ones. The ones that I typically end up making when I'm setting a course for myself is two outside lines (one at two strides and one at three or four strides) and one fence set on a diagonal to make a bending line. Mostly just because it's an easy course to set. Then I can mix it up and do right outside line, bending line, left outside line or whatever else I feel like. I have no idea if this is "fun" or not, because I personally consider the circle of death exercise to be "fun" - while most others in my lesson group groan about it, I get excited, lol.

This looks SUPER fun, but I'm way too lazy to design something of my own. Image from Wikipedia

30 Day Challenge - Explain the division you show in and why.

This a bit of a tough question because I show in a lot of disciplines...

Dressage - I am showing at Training with Misty and First with Jetta, with hopes that I'll be showing comfortably at Second level by the end of this summer on Jetta.

Jumping - I can usually be found doing classes from 2'6" to 3' jumpers. I don't do hunters unless it's just to add in some classes for experience, since I have never been competitive in those divisions.

Eventing - I've only ever shown at Beginner Novice. I'm a bit of a chicken on cross country and while I've definitely schooled Novice on Jetta, Misty and my old horse, Jazz, I still haven't gotten up the courage to compete at that level. I'll probably be one of those people who stays at the lower level of eventing forever. But then again, I hope that one day I'll make it to Prelim.

And lastly, I made a small foray into endurance riding last year, and while I wasn't able to compete this year, I really hope to stick with it. I am currently perfectly fine with staying at the LD rides at 25 to 30 miles, but hopefully someday I'll do a 50 mile ride.

30 Day Challenge - Your Most Exciting/Intense Moment at a Show

Hmm, I'm not really sure I have a concrete "most exciting/intense moment". There are so many to choose from. The first time I won a belt buckle at a timed trail obstacle race? The first time I competed Jetta at 3'? My first recognized horse trial on Jazz? When I won not one, but two dressage classes at Tux's first show, a horse that I'd trained from the beginning?

I guess the most recent one that I would choose would be completing Jetta's first recognized horse trial. I was so nervous because we'd done two combined tests previously and had been eliminated at both of them for refusals on cross country.

When we actually came off xc with only one refusal, I was so incredibly elated and just pumped that we had completed. Now stadium was a whole 'nother disaster, but in that moment I couldn't have been more excited.

Such a great feeling

Review: Horze Venice Bridle

I have a thing about bridles. I want them all. I do not need them, but I want them. I have a ton of them... I think all counted I have 5 english bridles and 3 western bridles? For two horses. Shameful.

Anways. I decided that I "needed" a new bridle and I have been eyeing this bridle FOREVER. Seriously. I actually bought one last year but they sent me the wrong size (pony size which will decidedly not fit Jetta's monster head). Interestingly, I thought the quality was pretty bad on that bridle. You could definitely tell that it was an under $100 bridle because the leather just felt "cardboard-y".

Fast forward a year and I found this bridle at the feed store and fell in love again. The quality was much better than the previous bridle I had seen in person. I have very particular things I like in a bridle. Padded crowns have become mandatory for me. I absolutely adore rounded buckles. Wide noses look particularly nice on Jetta's long, narrow nose. I don't like stiff nosebands that take forever to break in, which seems pretty standard with dressage bridles and crank nosebands. This bridle fit all of those requirements.

Jetta will never be a bridle model. 90% of my pictures looked like this

Horze Venice Bridle

MSRP:$79.95

My price: $46.95 - I managed to snag this wonderful deal which made it all the more amazing!

Pros:

• Everything I previously stated - wide nose, rounded buckles and padded crown. 
• Plus lovely white stitching and super soft padding. 
• The leather quality isn't "amazing" but it's still quite good for the price. I think with some oiling it will be perfect. I also have a Smartpak Plymouth Elite Dressage Bridle and I think the quality is pretty similar. The leather is a little more supple and thick with the Smartpak bridle, but the price is also slightly higher. 
• While the noseband is a crank (I prefer French cavessons), it's not such a thick and stiff piece of leather like a lot of others I've seen. It's very soft and conforms nicely to Jetta's nose.

Cons:

• It's brown. And I don't do brown dressage tack. I do love brown dressage tack and would love to one day own a brown dressage saddle, but that's a pretty far off dream. I wish this bridle came in black with the same pretty white stitching. I probably would have paid full price for this bridle in black. 
• Also, the reins aren't my favorite. They're leather reins with handstops. I would have preferred webbed or rubberized web reins honestly. Hopefully they're break in well because as of now, the hand stops are sharp, but then again I rarely use the reins that come with bridles. 
• Lastly, it was a tad big on Jetta so I had to punch a few holes, but honestly that happens with all bridles. She's much too large to fit into a cob bridle, but is always on the last holes for horse size. The crank noseband had to have a couple more holes to keep it from flopping around and so did the flash.

Overall, I give this bridle an A. For the price, it's a fantastic bridle. All the small details make me happy and since I'm using it for Jetta's other bit (which is not dressage legal) the fact that it's brown doesn't actually matter except for my own sense of "MUST HAVE MATCHING TACK AT ALL TIMES".

30 Day Challenge - Your First Show

Since I have nothing better to do, a new (to me) 30 Day Challenge!

I did a post about this exact topic a while ago. I can't really remember this show all that well. All I remember is that I didn't really have a clue about what I was doing and I was super bummed when we didn't win, lol. I did win a second place ribbon in one of my classes though! Makes me miss Grady a whole lot...

And look at those lovely brown Wranglers! Lol

 
I think this was my first show. I was involved in 4-H and taking lessons, but I don't think I had competed in anything yet. I remember looking at my trainer standing against the wall and asking her what to do with my hands because everyone was in a curb bit with one hand and here I was showing western with a snaffle!

Best Laid Plans

Well, I meant to post more regularly this month. And I meant to ride Misty lots. And get Jetta back under saddle. Sigh... best laid plans.

It's been crunch time with my research project finishing up collecting data this month. The good news - I'll be done by Thanksgiving! YESSSSSS. The bad news - this past month I have had zero free time. I go to the lab after work to read slides, my days off I spend in the lab collecting samples and running tests. I go to the barn every day to snuggle with the ponies, occasionally lunge, stuff them with treats and clean stalls, but that's it.

I cannot wait to be done with the data collection portion. It kind of makes me want to pull my hair out. I'm sure the writing part won't be very much fun at all either, but maybe I'll have more free time?

In pony land... there's really nada. We had a huge cold snap so I felt bad about clipping the horses. After all, they're not being ridden at the moment. So I decided they could keep their fluff for the time being. Mist has gotten SO fluffy. She definitely didn't get this much hair last year. Both girls have their light-weight blankies on with a liner because I didn't have access to my medium weight blankets. Then I went to get the medium weights and was really confused as to why I could only find Jetta's blanket. Where was Misty's?

Oh. I found it. In a heap of shreds. Still waiting for my aunt (who runs a blanket repair business) to take if for spare pieces.

Remember this lovely event from last year? :

Yeah... That's where that went. So I guess Misty gets to stay with the combo of blankets. So that's about it. Jetta did get a new bridle, so that's something exciting. I couldn't resist it's cheapness and since I didn't want to keep swapping bits on her bridle... Yay new schooling bridle! I'll post more about it once I take pics and use it a few more times, but I'm pretty sure I'm in love with it, lol.

Back At It

Really trying hard to get back into the habit of riding. I always just feel so TIRED that I don't even want to ride by the time I finish cleaning stalls, but I just need to make it a habit!

So far, five rides. Yeah... there was no tack involved for three of those rides because I was too lazy to put a saddle on but I'll just pretend I'm actually participating in No Stirrup November. Hah.

Misty was super good for all five of those rides minus the fact that we are both completely out of shape. Me especially. My entire body aches. Geez. I didn't think that it would be this hard getting back to riding, but I guess when you ride sporadically and then stop riding altogether for three weeks... things are going to be sore.

Jetta is going to start getting back to work too. She's been getting lunged for the next week or two because after watching her buck and leap around on the lunge there's no way I'm getting back on her till that's sorted out! Unless of course we go for a trail ride, because she's almost always well behaved then.

Proof I've actually been on a horse

It's getting soooo cold out right now. Both girls have upgraded from sheets to lightweight blankets. Hopefully it doesn't snow, because I'm definitely not even close to ready for that nonsense!

Bullet Points

Well, it's been a while. The girls are doing well, if perhaps being a bit bored as I've barely been able to do anything with them unfortunately. Let's play some catch-up and see what we've been doing lately:

• Misty had a potential buyer and her trainer come try her (two separate occasions). I thought Misty would be perfect for this lady - she was looking for a first horse to jump on (hunters). Adequate rider, but very nervous over fences. I thought Misty was perfect for the trainer, especially since I hadn't ridden her in two weeks and hadn't jumped her in a month. She was a tad lazy for the actual buyer, but for a nervous beginner I thought she was great. 
• They decided not to buy Misty :( At this point, I'm ready to lease Misty, which wasn't something I originally wanted to do, but she's just not getting ridden and it sucks. So we'll see about that.

This horse will never been 100% clean...

• Jetta got her mane roached again which took several attempts because my clippers have decided they no longer want to work. Trying to decide whether it's worth getting them repaired or if I need to save for a new pair. 

Freshly done

• In the meantime, I'm preparing mentally to bodyclip the girls. Excited! I love body clipping and I have a friend whose clippers I can borrow. Haven't really decided what I want to do... Be boring and do the same blanket clip on Jetta and strip clip on Misty? Or try something new and fun?
• Blankets have been broken out for both girls which is SO NICE for keeping them clean. I mean, Misty still figures out how to get filthy even underneath it, but it at least helps a little bit. All I need is to buy some neck covers and we're golden!

And that's about it! I'm really hoping to get myself in gear and start posting more often this month. I can't promise that the posts'll be interesting... but I need to get back in the habit!

Just because

(Mostly) Wordless Wednesday

Finally bought myself a show picture of Misty-moo! I waffled back and forth on what picture I wanted for the longest time and finally settled on this one because I love how uphill she was.

Cool Weather Crazies

Ugh, it's been crazy lately. In more ways than one.

It has finally made the transition to fall seemingly. I LOVE fall, except for the whole "leads to winter" thing. Days are a lot cooler. Which is what I'm blaming for the recent spastic nature of a certain roany paint pony...

Since I've been short on time and motivation, I've really enjoyed just hopping on Misty bareback for a ride in the field. But for some reason, this particular field just makes her all excited. I can ride her outside anywhere else and have a perfectly behaved pony, but for some reason this one gets her all uppity.

I thought the first time it was a fluke. I took her out bareback and she was walking along, a little tense, head up and looking around, but nothing indicating a looming explosion. Suddenly she reared up and spun around for absolutely no reason. Okay... Weird. I stayed on at least. We go back to our walk. And she does it again. And then again. Not okay.

I am so glad that even being out of shape for riding I still have some strong thighs and a sticky seat because I needed it all to stay on that night! She got worked quite hard and I decided that next time a saddle would come in handy.

Bad pony, pretty sunset.

Next time rolls around and I saddle her up and take her out. This time I was prepared for her shenanigans. She certainly wasn't as bad, but there were a few times she tried to give a head toss and be naughty for no reason and even once almost tried to bolt after I had her jump the ditch out there. Geez mare. Lots and lots of figure 8's and serpentines to get her to loosen up and pay attention to me. By the end of our ride she was being absolutely perfect, but I'm still not sure what gets into her when we're out there.

On the flipside, she's been an absolute angel in the arena. I've been having some really good dressage rides and I had one of the best rides to date on her over fences the other day. I was over the moon. One goal this month was to jump her once a week to prepare for the show and just get her going better (more on the show later) and I mostly stuck to that plan, save for one week.

She looks dwarfed by 3'

Anyways, this particular ride I just set up the barrels and a vertical. Warmed up at 2'6", bumped it up to 2'9" and finally finished it off at 3'. She was a little looky and wiggly towards it the first time at 3', but every single time after that she jumped it like a champ. No chip-in's or long spots, no knocking the rail or rubs, just perfect jumps. We jumped it a handful of times in both directions and it gave me a lot more confidence for the upcoming debut at Novice... Which didn't last by the way.

Poor neglected Jetta

10 Questions

Because why not. Saw this over on L's blog Viva Carlos. 

1. Is your horse spooky or bombproof? Misty - definitely bombproof. Jetta... it depends on her mood. Based off all the work I've done with her she should be bombproof, but some days she decides that everything is scary and nothing is safe. Sigh.

2. Does your horse have a long or short stride? Misty has a short stride, Jetta has a loooong stride.

3. Describe your current barn in 3 words? Crazy, busy, cheap.

4. If you could switch barns, would you? Yep. If I could find something as cheap and closer that didn't have as many boarders/drama, more turnout, I would so be there.

5. Favorite brand of breeches? I don't have one favorite... I love my Irideon and Smartpak Piper's for schooling, TS and Ariat for H/J shows, Tropical Rider and FITS for dressage shows.

6. How many blue ribbons do you have? I have no idea. Lots from showing Jazz. Not so many new ones though.

7. How many saddle pads do you own? I'm afraid to count. 3 white dressage, 1 blue dressage, 6 AP pads, two western pads and 4 western saddle blankets? Scary.

8. Is your horse your phone background/lock screen? Nope

9. Do you go trail riding often? I try. I love trail riding and while it would be my ideal to go at least once a week, I probably go more like once or twice a month now.

10. Favorite horsey movie? The Black Stallion, Hildalgo, National Velvet, then Seabiscuit.

Pretty Mare and Sale Stuff

Nothing too interesting to update, as is the usual of course. I did enter the eventing derby that's next weekend and I'm super excited for it!

Misty got a "guest ride" today. She had the task of babysitting both a green rider and a green horse. I had to work all day and my friend AC (she owns the big warmblood William and used to board at the same barn but recently moved) asked if she could use her for a trail ride. Of course! Misty gets to have other people ride her, gets some good exercise - hill work! - and gets outside the arena. AC is a great rider and takes great care of her horse so I knew she was in good hands. And I got the report back that she was perfect on the trails!

So that was nice that I didn't have to worry about riding her this evening and instead focused a little more attention on poor Jetta who has been so neglected. Jetta got a nice grooming and then I lunged her in the round pen. While fat, she is still looking so nice right now. I really need to make the time to get her back under saddle consistently!

How'd I get so lucky to own such a gorgeous horse?!

And keeping with the randomness, I have this set of pink stuff for sale. Two TuffRider pads, light pink and dark pink. The dark one is virtually new, the light pink one has a black stain by the girth keeper. The SMB boots and bell boots (pink paisley pattern) are both average horse size. The SMB boots have a purple stain on them, but everything is in good, useable condition and looks really cute all together! $60 for the set, if you take it all I will include shipping. I will divide it up too, make an offer.

Blog Hop: Riding Socks

Ok, I know there's other blog hops going on right now, but I thought I'd try my hand at one. Just one for the time being, I'm not going to try and do a "series" of them. I don't *think* this one has been done before, but I can't quite remember... So it's possible this might be a redo. It feels like it's a redo, but I can't find any proof of that lol. 

I found the motherload of all sock stores. I've been in this store a few times but somehow managed to completely miss their ginormous awesome sock collection. Never have a seen so many socks that I wanted. I ended up buying some Starry Night socks (my FAV Van Gogh painting) but I was eyeballing some corgi, multicolored zebra, and some I ♥ oregon socks.

 

So, my blog hop topic is: What riding socks do you use and which ones are your favorite?

My sock collection

 The socks I use (as pictured above, left to right): Kerrits socks that I got for competing at Inavale HT. Do not like. They're a neat material that doesn't hold moisture but they are so. tight. My poor calves get suffocated in these. Then I have three pairs that my mom got me. We don't have similar styles... I don't like the patterns except the watermelon stripe one is okay. Then a cute horse-y pair I got as a gift, my most favorite SmartWool socks that I'm wearing to death. Two pairs of Zocks. These are ok. I usually wear another pair of short socks over them for the padding since these are so thin. But they don't make my legs sweat so that's nice. Then the new socks!

Love 'em

MOAR JUMPING

More jumping! I really want to try and jump Misty at least once a week to both try and get her endurance up and also smooth out our skills.

Also, I have the show bug. I'm going to sign up for an eventing derby on September 21st and we're going to go Novice! Or at least try.

Today's jump school was not as smooth as last week. I guess that's what I get for not riding her on the flat for two days beforehand. She was quite spunky and exuberant with the flying changes and head tossing "look how awesome I am!" moments.

But, we nailed every flying change and she was good. I set up a line with a vertical one stride to a swedish oxer. We'd never done a swedish oxer before and she thought it was quite suspicious looking at first. After a brief snorty introduction, she was over it and jumped it fairly willingly. The toughest issue we had was her sucking back in approaching the oxer meaning that she had to put in two strides in the one stride. Our last attempt was absolutely perfect though with just one stride, no chips or long spots and no brushing the jumps either!

My good pony

Canter adjustability is something that has been quite the focus lately since she has... barely any. Now the trot adjustability we've finally gotten down. (Shh, it took us a whole year) but now that we're doing First Level work, we need a lengthened canter and while she can do the lengthening ok, the transition back to a working canter sucks.

Anywho, it was still a great ride. She is just such a fun little horse. After jumping the line one last time, I asked for a flying change to the left lead, did a 20 meter circle and came across the center for another flying change and finished with one last circle. LOVE having flying changes.

Monogram All the Things

I've been pretty happy with the new barn I'm at. Well, "new" since I've been there 7 months now... Anyways.

Super attractive picture

Not so happy today. Little things just keep piling up and really bothering my. Sigh. First it was my treats disappearing. I had a large bag of treats that was divided up into small baggies. I went to grab one of the 10 different little bagfuls and found... 10 empty bags. That I had not opened. Not amused.

I still had a little plastic treat container that had a few crumbs in it sitting on my drawers which I always refilled. Then I came to the barn and found... all the crumbs dumped out onto the top of my drawers and the plastic container gone. Grr.

Then my dressage schooling whip went missing. Yes, it was bleached and frayed and grosss... but still. I need that thing.

Then I went to give the horses a bath and couldn't find my shampoo. Later I found it in someone else's bath bucket.

I've also had bags of bedding pellets go missing. And my sharpie that I've been using to obsessively label nearly everything is also gone. Sigh. I'm about ready to just lock everything in my trailer just to contain it all.

But something more happy - I am having an "attack of the horsey I-wants" so I decided I need to relieve some of my stress via a tiny bit of retail therapy, aka I bought a sticker for my helmet in order to join the ranks of all the cool people that have these.

Love

Personally Preppy Helmet Monogram

I really like it! I should have measured the gap in my helmet for the sticker because I probably would've gotten a 1.5" instead of a 2" but at least it fits (barely). I love it though. So classy looking. I really want to buy a decal for my show whip now (and maybe even my schooling helmet) to keep it from walking away since things of mine keep disappearing...

Informal Blog Hop: Transformation

I loved Niamh's (of Life of Riley) idea for a blog hop showing the transformation your horse has gone through. I wish I had better transformation pictures! I have a pretty good one of Jetta, but not that great at all of Misty.

Jetta's first show, Intro A just recently started under saddle

A couple months after bringing Misty home, still trying to put more weight/muscle on her