Sometimes, the ground is soft

Ive never been grateful for the sandy Jersey soil until today. Ever get on your hose and instantly know that somethings not right? Ever tell that feeling to #$(#*&$@ off and ride anyway? Me too.

Lizzy truly is the love of my life. Bless her heart, shes a doll. However Lizard and me know something about each other, if we don't work consistently, it doesn't work at all. I rode my very feisty mare into the woods, was having a great time... she zigged I zagged and the end result was her running back home. She loves me so much she obviously had to alert others haha.

Bottom line, Im not hurt. Second time in our partnership that I fell off of her. I take complete blame for the first, and now the second.

Do NOT ignore your gut. Its never wrong.

Hiatus

What I thought was going to be a welcome break is turning into its own special hell. Tomorrow I will be out working horses in the freezing rain. Bring it.

Sometimes remembering is hard

A lot has happened in my horse world lately. Early mornings and late nights just lead to absolute exhaustion eventually. Today its a decent enough day... And I just cannot force myself to the barn.

Don't get me wrong, there's nothing in this world I love more than working with the horses... But I'm drained. So here I am laying in bed in the middle of the afternoon (I promised I'd let myself relax for a few minutes today), but wishing I had the drive to ride. I know its going to rain all day tomorrow and I'm thrilled. I'm actually going to get 8 hours of sleep tonight.

All this thinking about not riding makes me miss it. But at least I'll be well rested for Thursday.

Did I win?

Wally: holy halibut that horse took me 35 on the clock minutes to catch.  I think I won after his lesson. Since he doesn't lunge I tried the round pen which actually went well. He apparently knows voice commands. Who knew? He went around lovely and eventually figured me out and started walking towards me. Join up? Sure why not. Licking and chewing to me only means their sweaty and licking it off... Eventually after leading him to cool him down he realized how to move his shoulders... When I kept popping him in the gut with the other end of my carrot stick ( hey I hate natural horsemanship gimmicks but a carrot stick is a beautiful thing). I now have a horse that at the very least leads well ...

Oops definitely forgot to publish this yesterday!

Happy Halloween!

I'm a smidge late!

Yesterday was a blur of running around... I had so many horses to work but I only rode Lizzy. I just didn't have it in me yesterday. She was really good .... Short cheap post, off to the tack shop!

Ps, I think its ridiculous that I was dressed ready and waiting for the kids an hour before our first trick or greater came! Back in my day we ran off the bus threw on out stuff and make up and off we went!

In stride... Sigh

So my mare and the love of my life Lizzy has been sore due to being barefoot and recently trimed.

Did a little trail ride, jumped a log and worked her in the grass field yesterday and she seemed ok. I just get so frustrated because we've been working so hard then it feels like we get pushed back so far again. Like we all the sudden can't give to the bit and turn right? Reallly mare? I don't know. She wasn't bad it just frustrates me.

Last time I checked the calendar it said October... That being said my horse has a winter blanket on. It's 33 degrees and raining out... In October. I want to go back to nags head and sit on the beach in the warm.  To bad I live in Jersey.

No barn today besides to check Liz's blanket. It's a hot mess out and I'm not interested in picking up pneumonia.

In Halloween news, my favorite is on tonight, Hocus Pocus. Shame I'm gonna miss it

Oh well! Have a warm day!

Cowgirl up

Well today I got the joy of biting a bullet.  Not literally.

After discussing at length my hospital preference and directions from the farm to said hospital, I strapped a helmet on my head and mounted Hershey

Little note on Hersh: I have absolutely no idea why she acts so cranky. She's a lovely mare. The last time a person rode her she flipped over. I hate rearers... Ive seen friends get flipped on and been reared with. It's not a good time. However today on my "pony ride" she felt quite the opposite, like a crow hop or buck was brewing. She did very well and we rinsed, lathered, repeated. Ok dismounted and got back on

Wally was good today. Didn't bother lunging... Just tacked up and tried to get him to move that shoulder. In the process I realized he does a turn on the forehand like a dream... Too bad I can't glue his rear in place til he learns he has another half of his body to worry about.

A little pat and a "that'll do pig" later I called it a day.  I'm really beat today

Basically basics

Wow sometimes I forget all the work that has to go into "basic" ground work

Butters: just really started playing with him yesterday. He was afraid of his own shadow but eventually I got him to stand tacked and lunge (Ps if auto correct corrects words I assume they're correct).  Today more of the same awesomeness although he never seems to calm. Did put a foot in his stirrup... Also twisted my ankle doing it. Life goes on

Wall-e: probably not the way they spell his name but I just so happen to love Disney. He's a request from my list (oh, the farm I'm employed by has probably 12 horses minimum that need some kind of work), or else I probably would have held off. He's small thank goodness but geez he's quick, turns on a dime, and is an ignorant pain in my butt. Never met a horse that would kick with his front leg... Ok he pawed big and hard and my thigh happened to be in the way. Tacked ok ish. Couldn't lunge and would not for the life of him move his shoulders when asked. Does however move his hind quarters like no body's business. But that doesn't help me move his shoulder haha. Maybe tomorrow.

Hershey: original problem child. I still don't trust her but I'm really getting there. Not much to report. W/t/c on line w tack and side reins... Still feels like a loaded gun when I mount but at least stands til I choose life and get off

Highly productive day. I did manage to pat my horse and give her some treats.

She appreciated the attention and time off.

She's spoiled rotten

Little nothing's

Chances are I'm basically running a journal, and my thoughts will only be read by me... But due to the slim chance that someone else might care about the rediculousness that is my daily life, I might as well spell out why I started this blog:

First and foremost I'm the opposite of an elephant... I forget everything. I ride and train horses and considering its what I live and breath you'd think I'd remember more about their appointments etc... But I don't (nor do I remember to pick up milk or take out trash).

Secondly I do have goals and someone else out there might as well. I have an OTTB, and she is my world. Her name is Lizzy and you'll be hearing a lot about her. We're going to event. Come hell or high water. Basically I have to bite the bullet and actually find time to ride and train my own horse! I don't get paid to ride my horse though haha.

I guess that's pretty much it. Me in a nutshell.