o.O
Friday, November 25, 2011
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Stuff and Things
I'm dealing with my back. It hates me and for the first time in a long long long time it actually hurts to ride. It also hurts to bend over or lift anything or get in or out of my car... but the fact that it actually hurts to ride is really awful. It also makes me worried about my own fitness and if I can't ride I'm not able to keep myself in riding shape and then it's going to take longer to get back into riding shape and... anxiety anxiety anxiety....deep breath...sigh.
I rode last on Tuesday even though I shouldn't have. I can't toss my western saddle on his back so I had to use the English and we only walked and jogged around and worked on some turns on the forehand and horsemanship pivots. It hurt to post so we just jogged. We also did some bridleless steering and jogged over a few poles scattered around the arena, but the poles hurt. I can't tell you how aggravating it is that I can't just jump on and get into working on conditioning him. I can lunge him, yes, but he's never been great at lunging and he gets SOOOO bored that he starts to ignore me because that's more fun. Then I get annoyed and I do things like whip myself in the face and he laughs at me like that was his goal.... so that's not a golden solution. I could have someone ride him but that takes $$$ and is not in the budget right now. Besides by all accounts he and Bruin are getting a good deal of exercise together.
Today I gave him a good grooming which he desperately needed after being left since Tuesday. Never buy a horse with white legs. Just don't do it. He tends to hate grooming but there was a lot of activity today and he stood relaxed in the cross ties while I squatted to attack his filthy legs and he let me scrub and scrub until they resembled white. I even gave his tail a coating of Vetrolin Shine and a good brushing out and was pleased to see how thick it's getting.
He continues to love his life there. We moved him to a new stall today. His old stall was fine, but now I'm right across from the tackroom and since the barn is busy enough that the cross-ties are usually full, I can groom in the stall more easily. The new stall is also right by the door of the arena so he can watch the lesson traffic and when the doors are open he can watch the lessons in the arena. It's also got a window overlooking the outdoor arena so he has plenty of stimulation around him. He's between Zip and an appy so he should be just as happy there. Besides, the 1/2 Friesian girl he used to flirt with is gone to training for the winter so he has two friends now instead of one.
I don't remember if I ever thanked all of you for voting on my photos in that EquusNow contest a while back. We had two pictures selected and one can be seen on their used saddle page HERE. So thanks for that!
Well, because I have no shame, they are having another contest and we've entered... of course. So ENTER!!! And also it'd be neat if you voted for me. :) Again, I have no shame. :) I'll vote for you, too!
EquusNow on Facebook
I THINK this takes you right to my entry...
I rode last on Tuesday even though I shouldn't have. I can't toss my western saddle on his back so I had to use the English and we only walked and jogged around and worked on some turns on the forehand and horsemanship pivots. It hurt to post so we just jogged. We also did some bridleless steering and jogged over a few poles scattered around the arena, but the poles hurt. I can't tell you how aggravating it is that I can't just jump on and get into working on conditioning him. I can lunge him, yes, but he's never been great at lunging and he gets SOOOO bored that he starts to ignore me because that's more fun. Then I get annoyed and I do things like whip myself in the face and he laughs at me like that was his goal.... so that's not a golden solution. I could have someone ride him but that takes $$$ and is not in the budget right now. Besides by all accounts he and Bruin are getting a good deal of exercise together.
Today I gave him a good grooming which he desperately needed after being left since Tuesday. Never buy a horse with white legs. Just don't do it. He tends to hate grooming but there was a lot of activity today and he stood relaxed in the cross ties while I squatted to attack his filthy legs and he let me scrub and scrub until they resembled white. I even gave his tail a coating of Vetrolin Shine and a good brushing out and was pleased to see how thick it's getting.
He continues to love his life there. We moved him to a new stall today. His old stall was fine, but now I'm right across from the tackroom and since the barn is busy enough that the cross-ties are usually full, I can groom in the stall more easily. The new stall is also right by the door of the arena so he can watch the lesson traffic and when the doors are open he can watch the lessons in the arena. It's also got a window overlooking the outdoor arena so he has plenty of stimulation around him. He's between Zip and an appy so he should be just as happy there. Besides, the 1/2 Friesian girl he used to flirt with is gone to training for the winter so he has two friends now instead of one.
I don't remember if I ever thanked all of you for voting on my photos in that EquusNow contest a while back. We had two pictures selected and one can be seen on their used saddle page HERE. So thanks for that!
Well, because I have no shame, they are having another contest and we've entered... of course. So ENTER!!! And also it'd be neat if you voted for me. :) Again, I have no shame. :) I'll vote for you, too!
EquusNow on Facebook
I THINK this takes you right to my entry...
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Settling In
I'm sorry to say that there isn't much exciting to report. Junior seems to have settled in really well. He's been able to keep Bruin as his turnout buddy and they seem to get along great.
I've worked two Sunday afternoon feeding shifts at the barn so I'm getting to know the horses pretty well. Of the 30 horses, about half are the new owner's lesson horses, and about half horses that were already boarding at the barn, and then there's 4 of us who came together. So there are new faces for everyone.
I'm still trying to sell my tack box but I've only had one bite and we negotiated on the price and I'm waiting to hear from her to see if she will accept my lowest amount or if I have to keep it a while. I'd rather store it somewhere than let it go for less than it's worth. Too much time and materials went into that thing for me to just give it away.
I'm still dealing with back issues but I'm trying to ride as much as I can because we both really need it. I'm trying to work him back into condition and it's much harder when riding hurts. :( But we'll manage. We don't have another show until spring. Today after my chores I lunged him and had a pole out so he had to trot/canter over it each lap. He was SOOOO lazy and it was very windy and in all my cleverness and coordination I managed to whip myself across the face, but luckily there's just one inch pink line on my cheekbone and not any worse. Nothing quite like feeling pain and embarrassment at the same time to humble a soul.
I've worked two Sunday afternoon feeding shifts at the barn so I'm getting to know the horses pretty well. Of the 30 horses, about half are the new owner's lesson horses, and about half horses that were already boarding at the barn, and then there's 4 of us who came together. So there are new faces for everyone.
I'm still trying to sell my tack box but I've only had one bite and we negotiated on the price and I'm waiting to hear from her to see if she will accept my lowest amount or if I have to keep it a while. I'd rather store it somewhere than let it go for less than it's worth. Too much time and materials went into that thing for me to just give it away.
I'm still dealing with back issues but I'm trying to ride as much as I can because we both really need it. I'm trying to work him back into condition and it's much harder when riding hurts. :( But we'll manage. We don't have another show until spring. Today after my chores I lunged him and had a pole out so he had to trot/canter over it each lap. He was SOOOO lazy and it was very windy and in all my cleverness and coordination I managed to whip myself across the face, but luckily there's just one inch pink line on my cheekbone and not any worse. Nothing quite like feeling pain and embarrassment at the same time to humble a soul.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Time for a Change!! (Part I)
I remember reading (or not reading because I didn't find them interesting) articles in horsey magazines that dealt with boarding and the foreign term "barn drama" of which I had no frame of reference because I was a kid. Now as an adult and after three years of boarding I get it. And I know why it's frustrating and why it's the subject of many articles and forums. I'm not sure if this is normal or not, but I've just moved to facility #3 in just over 3 years.
The facility is only 4 years old so it's all pretty shiny still. The new BO just moved her horses in on Sunday so there is still a lot of unpacking and re-organizing to do but I really like her and her husband and their dogs and everyone else I've met there so far.
There are 30 12x12 matted stalls and Junior has a window he can look outside and the doors have yokes so he can stick his head out into the wide aisles. He seems really content so far and he got his feet trimmed this morning.
The tackroom has 30x30 closet sized lockers with two saddle racks in them for each boarder, So that's why I'm selling my tack box. And I don't have a garage to put it in and I'm not sure I want to keep it in my apartment. And considering the fact that I would build it differently if I did it again, I think it's okay to let it go.... IF I can find a buyer...
I'm not fully moved in yet, but the essentials are there.
The barn has a pretty good sized lesson program going on but she will only have 4 riders per lesson and she really has everything organized and streamlined. I am quite impressed with her attention to detail and professionalism. They compete on IEA team and do some nearby show circuits so I will still be able to get to the shows I want to go to, but will probably still be the only adult. Oh well.
The arena is a nice 90x200 size and is insulated. We had our first ride yesterday and we were able to ride during a jumping lesson so there seems to be plenty of room in there. The outdoor is 125x250! There's a heated lounge/viewing area with vending machines and a kitchenette.
She likes to have clinics and is willing to work with me on resurrecting our monthly dressage lesson clinics. I'm able to continue a working-boarder situation so that is helpful for me financially as well as physically and mentally.
Junior went out today with a new turnout buddy and it seemed like a good match. Junior was his bubbly annoying self and ran right over to Bruin, but Bruin seemed to be enjoying himself and not getting too annoyed. There was lots of running around and some bucking and sniffing and some play biting, but by the time I left they were nibbling grass (though there isn't much) and stray hay bits next to each other and looked pretty chill.
That's right: We've Moved!!!!
The facility is only 4 years old so it's all pretty shiny still. The new BO just moved her horses in on Sunday so there is still a lot of unpacking and re-organizing to do but I really like her and her husband and their dogs and everyone else I've met there so far.
There are 30 12x12 matted stalls and Junior has a window he can look outside and the doors have yokes so he can stick his head out into the wide aisles. He seems really content so far and he got his feet trimmed this morning.
The tackroom has 30x30 closet sized lockers with two saddle racks in them for each boarder, So that's why I'm selling my tack box. And I don't have a garage to put it in and I'm not sure I want to keep it in my apartment. And considering the fact that I would build it differently if I did it again, I think it's okay to let it go.... IF I can find a buyer...
I'm not fully moved in yet, but the essentials are there.
 |
| Junior at the far end of the arena looking back towards the stall area. |
The barn has a pretty good sized lesson program going on but she will only have 4 riders per lesson and she really has everything organized and streamlined. I am quite impressed with her attention to detail and professionalism. They compete on IEA team and do some nearby show circuits so I will still be able to get to the shows I want to go to, but will probably still be the only adult. Oh well.
The arena is a nice 90x200 size and is insulated. We had our first ride yesterday and we were able to ride during a jumping lesson so there seems to be plenty of room in there. The outdoor is 125x250! There's a heated lounge/viewing area with vending machines and a kitchenette.
She likes to have clinics and is willing to work with me on resurrecting our monthly dressage lesson clinics. I'm able to continue a working-boarder situation so that is helpful for me financially as well as physically and mentally.
Junior went out today with a new turnout buddy and it seemed like a good match. Junior was his bubbly annoying self and ran right over to Bruin, but Bruin seemed to be enjoying himself and not getting too annoyed. There was lots of running around and some bucking and sniffing and some play biting, but by the time I left they were nibbling grass (though there isn't much) and stray hay bits next to each other and looked pretty chill.
Life is good. :)
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