Life... Why Me?

All I want is to have nothing exciting happen. It's too much to ask for though, I know.

My last post was that it was my birthday and I was going to Michigan so lets start there. My time home was great. Seeing my friends and family was the highlight but not far behind was all the time I spent swimming and enjoying the outdoors. Sadly the last two days of being home I got a stomach flu which I had to drive home with (not fun!) so my time seeing my grandparents was cut short - not happy about that.

Hanging out in South Haven with my Dad on my birthday. Lunch at my favorite restaurant. Fun fact - if anyone has read the book Time Traveler's Wife it's one of the places in the book.

 

Hanging out on the lake at my grandparents. 

Sunset at Lake Michigan on 4th of July aka my favorite holiday. 

Also while I was home my best friend Erin who lives in Michigan welcomed home the horse she grew up with. She's a 21 year old standardbred. The mare, Silver (yes she's bay and named Silver) was owned by Erin's aunt who passed away earlier this summer. Erin had her shipped to Michigan from Kentucky so she could stay in the family, Erin could have her childhood horse and give her a home to have rest of her life. Me being me... I had a scale to use on hay and grain in my car so I helped Erin figure out a good diet plan for her since she needs to gain a few pounds but not as much as expected. Silver also had a hoof injury right before Echo so it's been 'fun' to watch their hooves progress. Erin is 6' 2" so Silver really isn't that tiny of a standardbred - her owner is just that tall (sorry Erin).

Echo got over her withdraw problems with me fairly well while I was in Michigan. She went to a jump lesson with Lauren while I was gone and has had a flat lesson since. This past Sunday we planned to take the horses to Masterson Station again for more cross country schooling but we realized the park was full of carnival rides for the fair going. Instead Lauren jumped her outside on the grass. The ground was super hard due to lack of rain but she handled it like a pro, jumping her first oxer, barrel jump and lots of first time questions. After her jumping I gave her a much needed and deserved bath, head to toe. I rubbed her legs down in liniment and after some hand grazing to dry her off, let her take her afternoon nap in her stall. 

Off to her flat lesson.

Shiny after her Sunday bath.

Dakota's version of working hard. 

Monday Lauren texted me that her leg was swollen with lots of heat. Thankfully she was completely sound on it. So I cold hosed her, we poulticed the leg, wrapped it and turned her out for the night. Good news is the leg was tight with no heat the next day. The bad news was she had a reaction to the poultice. 

And then she had an allergic reaction to poultice. 

She's been lightly ridden with her weird rash / burn / whatever from the poultice and is sound so we are still planning on taking her to the jumping schooling show Sunday. 

In other life news, I might be moving. I will know more in 2 1/2 weeks when I meet with people and and figure out logistics. I can't say too much but hopefully it would be a good opportunity for myself and the situation would be something fitting for my four creatures. 

Cross Country School - Round 1

Monday = no work day for me and Lauren got out of work fairly early so we decided to take Echo and Dakota to Masterson Station. Masterson = free access to hundreds of acres to ride on. They hold events so there are jumps everywhere, arenas to use, etc. Neither horse had gone before and it was my first time riding there so I had no clue what to expect. 

I beat Lauren to the barn by maybe 20 minutes so I was able to get both horses groomed. Lauren got there as I was ready to tack up so she took over Echo and I got Dakota ready. We decided to tack up and trailer over instead of tacking at the park because we didn't know what kind of traffic would be at the park and how the horses would behave. Both horses loaded like pros and we were on the road by 5pm. 

20 minutes later we were parked, and unloaded. After Lauren made me go hug a tree when I made a rather stupid comment about falling off, we bridled the horses and off we went. Both horses stood to be mounted - no catastrophes.

We rode around one of the fields letting the horses settle in and Dakota and I trotted and did our own thing while Echo and Lauren warmed up. We regrouped and Lauren took Echo over the tiny fences to get her use to the idea of the jumps not being just standards and poles. Second time around they tried some additional fences and jumped the mid height ones. Echo seemed to love it, and had zero stop to her. If Lauren pointed her to a fence, no questions asked, Echo went over. 

Next we wandered our way to a different field where there were ditch jumps. We encountered a bike group and both horses minds were blown by all the bicycles but remained calm in their confusion. Echo jumped the ditch the first couple of times without hesitation but then began to question it and had a few moments of hell no, but got over it and jumped the ditches again without problem. While trying to film ditch jumping, Dakota decided a full body shake was necessary and my crop and phone went flying. I had to dismount, recollect my items and find a place to get back on. The unsteady pile of mulch didn't work so I led him into a covered pavilion and lined him up to the picnic tables.

Onto the next field. This required going through a creek. Dakota had conquered a creek once before but it was sandy on both sides and he leaped over it mostly. Echo had never been through it. Lauren ended up dismounting and leading her through. Once she realized it was water though, she didn't bat another eye at going through water. Dakota took some encouragement, but got through without leaping like a special horse. 

Echo's initial reaction to going through water and the creek. 

In the field were mostly training and prelim options for jumping but the water jump still was great to school both horses on. Echo walk, trot and cantered through the water like a pro. I held my breath the first couple of times because she started wanting to play in the water and knowing how much she loves to swim in water tanks I was afraid of her laying down in it. After watching Echo play, I decided to try Dakota in it, he actually went in! Proof is below!

Finally Lauren took Echo for a gallop and I decided to try cantering Dakota - something that doesn't happen often. After one more jump round, we headed back to the trailer, riding over a Dakota eating bridge that Echo had be his security blanket for. 

Tired ponies, ready to go home. 

I'll have more video of Echo on cross country by the end of the week. It's just taking me longer than I planned to get it uploaded. Dakota pulled a shoe yesterday after going to Masterson so he bought himself a few days off until I can get it back on. 

Pony Grow Up

Getting off work for a half day could have easily turned out to be the best part of my day. Echo could have been a complete nightmare refusing to load on trailer, been a mess to tack up, spooked at unknown horses, and lost her mind over a new arena. However she did none of these things, instead she was perfect, maybe too perfect.

I got to barn about 12:35 and headed over to find Lauren after a quick hello to both horses. Plan was to be loaded and ready to leave at 1:15 so I took Echo to the arena to groom since our wash stalls were both in use. She was a little confused by her early afternoon attention but wasn't about to refuse it. Lauren went off to hook the trailer up, I finished grooming MareFace and took her out toward the trailer in perfect timing since Lauren had just finished hooking everything up. 

Now I half expected Echo to not load in her normal well behaved fashion. Her last trailer experience was rather horrifying. After having her front hooves on the ramp and taking approximately 30 seconds to sniff the trailer divider, she walked right on and munched on hay while we secured her for the short trip. On the road, no problems so far, and on time. 

Snacking before loading.

Arrived to Team CEO, unloaded just as uneventfully as loading, took her into the grass and after letting her look around for a minute or two, tacked her up. We walked her over to the arena, the 'scariest' thing was a bush by a creaking gate. I say scary because Echo's nostrils flared once... She definitely was looking around, taking in all the new sights and sounds but was far from reacting to anything she saw. Got to the arena, which is huge with all weather footing, giant windows, and fans I was in heaven to get out of the sun and be able to watch the lesson. On a 90+ degree day I was worried about the heat but it was much cooler in the arena. Lauren got on and started introducing MareFace to the arena. Other than a quick WTF moment at the coiled up hose, which lasted about 90 seconds, she didn't blink twice at a thing. 

Lesson started - some more warm up so the instructor could see what she was like on the ground and get a feel for her since this was their first introduction. She w/t/c both directions with doing trot transitions at the canter to switch leads. Lauren got some pointers on exercises to do with Echo at home and then it was time for jumping. After all the circles and new exercises, Echo was tired but still willing. 

Considering this was her third time going over any jumps, the general consensus was she was great. Just before the first cross rail, someone came through the arena with their dog. Echo's mind was completely elsewhere going 'over' the first jump, and it shows in the video below. The second time, she was more focused but the dog was over by me and she still seemed to be concerned that the dog was around or that I was giving something other than her attention. Regardless, she knocked a rail pretty hard the second time over which seemed to refocus her because the third time she was perfect going over. Next jump to try was the pink/purple straight rail, Echo's first time going over anything not a cross rail. She got lazy going up to it and knocked it by not picking her feet up high enough. Definitely getting more tired. Tried it again - knocked it with her hind. Third time was the charm and she went over without problem. Finally was time to try the green/yellow rail which she went over without touching a rail and it was followed up by one last successful hop over the cross rail. 

Finally to finish off the day the instructor had her do a series of three jumps in a row which by that time Echo was officially tired and lazy. Still, she jumped all three without touching a rail.

After all was said and done, I fully understand now why Lauren takes 30 minute lessons. They both looked exhausted. We walked back to the trailer, untacked and gave MareFace a well deserved cold hose off. We walked her around a few more minutes and then loaded back up just as effortlessly as when we came and drove back to our barn after a quick Diet Coke pit stop. The confusion on Echo's face when she got off the trailer and was back home was priceless. I've never seen her more confused. The concept of leaving and getting to come back home may take a while to set in but with her now weekly off-farm lessons and her first show coming up in July I'm sure she'll get use to it!

Tired mare...

The Tongue

I've shown the videos before of Echo and her tongue obsession. She just wants people to grab it and when she gets bored it's her go-to vice. It never carried over into riding when I first started her but now it's become a problem.

I know her teeth are good, and this is the bit she's been in since day 1.  It's a French-Link D-Ring.

Ideas to help stop her? 

We very briefly tried a different bit to a rubber snaffle but she was such a nightmare L dismounted and switched bridles after 5 minutes. I also finally found my flash attachment, very loose on what hole it's on right now because she got pretty angry over it. However the amount of time the tongue was out was reduced by maybe 20%. 

Cross Rails, Lessons and Showing

Echo... is a beast. I've said it before I know but I just have to reinstate her beastlyness. It's good and bad. When she's being a naughty mare... she's a beast, when she's in heat it's the most embarrassing thing possible. However, the rest of the time, she continues her beast ways. Healing fast, taking stall rest like a pro, and now under saddle, she remembers her previous day's lessons and is making huge strides so fast in her under saddle training. I keep assuming I'm just partial to the MareFace, mostly to keep myself from getting too high on a kite of her potential.

Last Friday, I set up the tiniest cross rail possible for L and Echo to tackle. Echo was... almost insulted by the tiny challenge. After trotting over it a few times, L asked us to raise it two holes. Echo still barely flinched at the difference but at least made an effort to pick her hooves up and jump it. Of course in typical Allison fashion, I didn't get my iPhone out until the very end and missed all the jumping. 

Busy with dinner, but MareFace has filled out finally. 

In 2 weeks, she is going to an off farm lesson at Team CEO Eventing, which is who L trains with. Her horse is going to a jumper show that evening so Echo is taking his lesson spot. 

She has lead changes down to switching within two strides and is picking up both leads 98% of the time correctly both directions. On occasion she jumps into a turbo canter or just trots really fast but once L brings her back to Earth and ask again she gets it right. 

After cooling out post ride. She also got her mane pulled. No more mustang mane.  

L is already talking shows, which just is blowing my mind because I'm still in the 'her hoof was gone 3 months ago' phase. The first of the Kentucky Horse Park shows options would be Kentucky Classique on August 29th. From there, Jump Start September 26th, Hagyard Midsouth October 16 and Oktoberfest Horse Trials October 25th. In addition there will hopefully be a Thoroughbred show again this fall and maybe some schooling shows out at Masterson Station. 

Shiny copper penny pony. 

Ride Time

Must. Start. Writing. More. 

So this past Sunday L and I went out for a Dakota / White Prince trail ride and then the plan was for me to ride Echo and her to ride her other horse Gio for some arena time. I knew getting ready for the ride Echo was in a squirrely mood. Finally got her tacked up and L jumped on her first to see how she was going to behave overall. Walked and trotted around and she was handed over to me. For me, I just knew I needed to get back on her and remind myself I'm able to ride her, so I planned on just working on some circles and lots of stopping > walk and walk > stop transitions. 

Tuesday was time for a L ride and going into it I could tell Echo was in a much better mood. Looking back all the horses were a little wiggy and off on Sunday so not worried much about riding Echo again. I usually stand on the rail to watch L ride, but decided to stand in the middle - which caused a great distraction for MareFace, but she got over it and realized she had to listen to Lauren. I set up two single ground poles just to get her walking over them again under saddle. Finally L got her to canter both directions on the correct lead, though picking up her left was more difficult. She went over the poles I had set up without blinking an eye. After L cooled her out we started pulling her mane. It's super long since it hasn't been touched since I roached it last summer. I'm never doing that again on her!

Hopefully going to do another ride on her tomorrow, whether it's myself or L that will ride her I'm not sure but someone will be!

I have dubbed this the "Did I do well mom?" Look

Shes Back!

I've failed to get pictures, but Echo has officially been ridden twice now! L took her out on Friday and again Monday evening. 

Friday they stuck to the arena, doing walk/trot, some circles and stopping and starting. It was mostly a ride to see how she would handle it. Her hoof placement looked normal, other than her usual annoyance with the bell boot that's still over the hoof for extra protection. 

Monday L was eager to push Echo to see what she'd mentally handle, so after a few rounds of the arena, I just heard the words "this is boring" so she took her outside to ride around the grass 'track' area. I had told her about my outside riding attempt with her back in Michigan so I think she was secretly hoping for some bucking action. Echo however was her normal rock-star self and only had a few moments of not wanting to go forward. 

She got trimmed / reset today so I'm anxious to see how she progresses from here. I promise pictures of her next outing. 

Free Lunge Freedom!

Why is the mounting block the safe spot in the arena? No matter if a horse has a rider on their back or not that always seems to be the hoover point! Now that Echo has a clean bill of health, her blood work came back normal, I have no hesitations starting up her training again. 

As always, plans change, this time thankfully its just slight. The person I first planned on doing 30 days with her is being kind of flaky on working with the horses she has in training right now and I want consistency with Echo. Instead, a different person at the barn is going to be working with us. In long run it's a better fit and she's the one who was going to help us out after the initial 30 days anyways. Biggest difference, she is an eventer! 

Anyways, the other night I put Echo in the indoor to free lunge her. 1) I wanted her to get a chance to become familiar with the arena again. 2) I wanted L to see her move. 3) I wanted her to move around because of the muddy fields and her paddock is on the smaller side. We let her loose and she gave her normal show of trotting and cantering around. Of course she sought out refuge from the mounting block to only quickly learn the mounting block can't save her when she has 2 girls wanting to make her move pretty! I decided to put a few ground poles up just to throw her off and make her think while she got her arena freedom. This only led to us setting up a small rail for her to free jump over. L was super impressed with how bold she was at a jump. Even if it wasn't pretty, Echo was super proud of herself for going over and would stop and look at us as if saying 'did you see that!'

Already have our first goal of the year. May 4th is the Thoroughbred show at Kentucky Horse Park. They have lots of beginner classes in just about everything so it should be a good time. Even if she goes and does an in-hand class I'll be thrilled!

Coming Clean

First! Happy 13 Years to Dakota! You've survived me owning you this long!

The last two days haven't been the greatest for Echo getting to move out of post trailer stiffness with being stuck in a stall all day but today she finally got turned back out and from sounds of it was very pleased. 

Exploring the arena yesterday to stretch her legs for a few minutes.

Monday she has a general vet exam to make sure there is nothing medically wrong with her to cause some of the antics she was displaying in Texas. I want to rule out uterus problems again as well. From there she will also get a clean bill from a dentist and chiropractor. No excuses. She was just done by the farrier but when Dakota gets done in the next week I'll make sure he doesn't see the need to even her out in any way. 

I saw her stretching oddly in her stall last night. Whether it's being stiff from being boxed up in a trailer and now a stall or if she's sore somewhere I'm not 100%. I do know I got a bit of a reaction from her when I ran my hand over her back - so I think there could be something there. My vet will point me the right direction for sure.

Her diet is very basic for now. No grain. Just my own blend of this and that. I'll post my insane blend once I have it the way I want it and am keeping it. It's going to be tricky because while I'm trying to do everything to stay away from things that could make her hot, she needs to gain weight (again). She was supposedly eating 8lb a day of Triple Crown complete in Texas. I can easily see her ribs from the side, not even at an angle. 

Once temperatures are stable again and she has clean bill from vet, dentist and chiropractor one of the girls at the barn is going to put 30 days on her of just basic riding. Just to ride out any initial bucks or quirks she may put out. The things that should of been done in Texas.

Cold and ready to go back inside to have her other blankets put back on.

Surprise!

Ummm so guess who is back in Kentucky? Yep that's right... Echo!

As I hinted at in my last Echo update (linked here) things with her haven't been going fully as planned. She's gotten herself into a fair bit of trouble since that update and there was a spot open on a trailer heading north and basically had no choice but to put her on it to come back.

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To save myself the pain of writing a lengthy blog and the pain of my readers for when I write a novel I'm going to attempt to summarize here. 

Grain has been switched - twice. MareFace is has had a hard time with retaining any training and looses focus. You 'lunge' her - which is more like a wild horse show - for 20 minutes and then her brain clicks and she's back to a sweet loving horse. You put her away after your session and you return 30 minutes later and she forgets who you are.

The video below just... makes me semi worried that maybe the idiot ways of her sire are maybe genetic - he died in a paddock accident in which he basically impaled himself on something. In that case who knows what I'm up against. This was taken last week:

She's also taken out two stalls, kicking and destroying them overnight. Well built stalls I'd like to add - not something flimsy like a temporary show stall. She empties 300 gallons of water at a time - going tank to tank dumping them. Basically making lots of enemies. 

Anyone have thoughts or advice on improving focus? Other than routine and consistency? I've ordered her an ulcer supplement and put her back on raspberry leaves and have another calming supplement on hand if it's needed. The only thing I can connect is that maybe the trailer ride from Michigan to Kentucky, that took 20 hours, stressed her enough to start ulcers - causing the behavior changes. She's not really the laid back puppy dog mare I knew then. Not that this makes me love her less, just stumps me somewhat. I know Michigan was not as stimulating as an environment and the hay quality etc are better now so that may have part to do with it. 

Now that she's back with me I plan on letting her settle a few days and let the ulcer supplements get a good week in her before I start messing with her brain. Then it's to the drawing board for her. 

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So despite things not going as planned, I'm determined to look at the positives.

• It's now known that she's terrified of pigs, especially in potbelly form. Any subconscious desire to ever own a pig is gone. 
• She no longer spooks at a donkey bray.
• Trailer rides are no big deal. She's a pro.

The S List

Well Echo is finally on a Shit List. She's been pretty well behaved for my friend A that has her rode her today for the first time since her arrival. Instead of summarizing everything I'll copy / paste some of what she said to me in our Facebook conversation for everyone.

I did ride her today. She is very powerful and super green. An exciting combination. We did walk trot while on a lunge line. One very near explosion but we survived and worked until relaxed and trotting on a loose rein. Oddly gate bound. Her buddies were in their stalls eating hay though so can't blame the chick for a bitty fit. I just kept making it hard to be at the gate and easy to be away. Lazy bones made a choice to not go to the gate after some newly presented information about the gate surfaced. Funny.

When talking about a plan of how long to have her in Texas and what to do once she's back with me:

That sounds like a good plan. I honestly think she could be a professionals horse and really would thrive in an ambitious but careful program. I would like you to succeed with her and ride her not just breed. She has guts. The videos are the first two but I have more. I ask for trot the first time and she heard canter. Must be a lot of winter fuzz in her ears. She is probably a 1 star event horse or more.

I made the mistake of asking if she needed anything! Her

Mare face is on smart calm as of tonight and is on my shit list and boot camp list for the unforeseeable future. She showed me some pretty cute moves tonight. Athletic but not exactly what was reasonable lol. She would win if it came to a battle under saddle. These are the times I almost want them to be gangly and unbalanced. Easier to train than the power house she is now.

On ground driving:

First days are never pretty. I will get you video once she is figuring it out. She just doesn't relax on the bit and she leans and pulls on pressure and the popping shoulder and trying to go to gate. Rather educate her on the ground so I have brakes and bending in the saddle too later. I really enjoy ground driving over obstacles and safely being able to work out issues. Speaking of bit... Your mare face tried to suck the bit back into her molars and run away with me! She arched her neck an came behind the vertical then I hear a sucking noise! I tugged the bit with my hand and got it away from her. It just made me annoyed and aware turning away from the gate was a very touchy situation. Her brain turned on momentarily for evil doing I guess.

I laughed when I read this because it's Echo 10000% The rearing is new so I'm not too worried it's going to be a lasting habit.

My sister was most impressed with her up down up down rampage. She bucked then reared then bucked then reared. She was bobbing up and down. Why you ask? Because I dare suggest she enlarge her circle to the better footing. Oh heavens. She didn't progress forward or back just up and down. I laughed so hard I was bent down and Echo came on over to me and stood quietly in front of me. Hey brain came back on.. I am teaching her to stop if a person is bent over. Me no like horse drag me away if I'm caught in the lunge line. I fall...

The videos A sent me:

Operation Texas Bootcamp

Well...

Echo is heading to Texas for boot-camp  My lovely friend Amanda has agreed to take her for awhile while I'm concentrating on school and settling into Kentucky life better. 

Since she will have an open trailer next weekend. She is also taking Lovely Surprise to keep for herself :) I'm excited to be able to keep updates on Echo's filly.

It will be strange not having her around but I know she will be in great hands and getting to be worked with more consistently. 

I will keep the blog going with any and all updates I get from Texas and of course Dakota and I here at home.

Best picture I got yesterday of Echo's Mohawk.

No You're Not Houdini

Sigh. Mares. I'm learning they really are more brilliant than the dead head geldings and I'm trying to decide if this is a good thing or not. 

Last night, grooming Echo, in the cross ties with the non velcro safety release. Same cross ties Mareface has broken out of twice before. I figure I'm a step ahead of her and keep a leadrope on her in case she start's to pull her escape routine.

Well Mareface has learned to slightly turn her head one direction and lower her head. This equals freedom. 

I caught her by her field being an idiot there, brought her back to the barn where we had a discussion about not threatening to rear while being lead. I decided she had way too much energy and threw her rear in round pen and did some join-up work with her and can say she honestly stopped for the first time when I turned my back to her. Big progress!

Focus

So as you know from my last post, the time I spend at the barn is 1) Going to be more limited 2) Needs to be productive. 

For the last two months, I've been more focused on Dakota except for the last few weeks when he was in dire need of a trim and his shoes reset. Now he's all trimmed up and has shiny hooves again and I had to face a major self dilemma. Dakota frustrates me. If I have high expectations for a ride he's a nightmare. If I get on and expect to do nothing but sit on him we have a great ride. Faced with the fact I can easily work with him again without worrying about his hooves, I began questioning why I'm stressing and working myself up over working with him. Yes he's my first horse, I want him to be successful, I want others to see what I see in him but at the same time I know Echo has more potential and is the one I should be focused on.

So next month, Mareface is getting rode by a trainer 1-2x a week. Not a lot, but it well help me be more comfortable 1) riding her 2) start taking lessons on her.

Muzzle Musings

Oh Echo... What am I going to do with you?

I love my mare, I really do, but sometimes I just look at her, shake my head and see one disaster of a horse. We got her hind end female issues clear, now I have a clover induced drooling mess of a horse with a messed up muzzle. 

Drool and some of the spotting on her muzzle. Such a glorious sight.

When I got Echo last fall, she arrived with what I assumed to be spots of sunburn from being left outside 24/7. The first week I had her, I applied Corona Ointment daily and it cleared up. No more problems.

Pre Michigan Photo - you can see slightly the muzzle spots.

My thoughts:

• If it was an allergy to grass, clover or a weed wouldn't it be on more of her body?
• If it was Vitiligo would she loose hair or have changes to her hair?
• I've given her mineral blocks in both stall and her field, as well at adding a little extra mineral top dressing to her grain to try and rule out either a copper or iron deficiency. 
• Not summer / sweet itch. It'd be all over her body for sure.

Regardless of whatever it is, it clearly isn't bothering her, just me. I'll update on what vet says whenever I have him take a look at it. Not in a HUGE rush to figure it out, just would like to know.

More delish drool.

Side note - I lunged her this morning before work. She was a mess. Acted like she's never lunged in her life. Time to figure out how to get consistent with her again. 

Who Needs a Routine

Moving into the apartment has thrown me completely off in any sort of routine I had while staying on the couch at the farm. Living on south end of Lexington + Barn on north side of Lexington = double the drive time in my day.

Work... I don't know what days of the week I'm even going to be working. I need a set schedule and soon. I don't care (yet) so much about what hours of the day I'll be working, I just need to know if I'm M-F, Tues-Sat or really anything at this point.

Riding / training Echo and Dakota are taking the biggest hit right now. I need an extra 10 hours in my days!

Thankfully this weekend I get to work 9-5 both Saturday and Sunday. Tomorrow / Saturday I'm off to watch the fancy pant ponies at The Junior League Horse Show at The Red Mile. Not a saddlebred fan, should be interesting. Also in much need of a night of margaritas and Mexican food with my lovely friends ASAP. Hopefully that will happen this weekend.

Monday no work so... Fasig Tipton July Yearling Sale... YAY. I love sales. LOVE. I have a pretty lengthy list of the yearlings I want to check out so it should be a great day.

4 Sleeps To Go

I rode Dakota yesterday. Or tried to. Basically the conclusion was never riding him in something other than my Courbette dressage saddle and never without a flash band to hold his mouth shut. Will try riding him again this week - not much else to add after such a frustrating ride.

Echo is well... Echo. She's developed a hatred of being fly sprayed. Which I just see as a challenge because I won't let her get away with it. Bringing her in this morning she had to stop every 5 feet to itch. *sigh*

Only 4 sleep's to go until I get to sleep in my own bed!!! Yay. My back and every other joint in my body won't know how to act. Cannot wait. Hopefully this will mean better rest = more energy to ride and train.

Back to the Grind

YAY it's Friday!

Last night I got back to the barn around 8pm. Me being me decides its a good time to work Echo, who of course is CAKED in dirt. After a 1/2 groom job and still residual dirt on her I gave up and figured it was as good as it was going to get for the night. The round pen was... a nightmare after Wednesday night's downpour so I put her bridle on and figured I'd give the dreaded lunge line a go.

One of the newer girls at the barn went with to watch, ended up helping a ton in correcting Echo's love to throw herself into a corner even when there's not a defined corner to do so.

After a good walk / trot both directions C went and got her saddle since she was being so well behaved. She was a little unsure of the saddle / girth at first 1) because it's been how long?? 2) C has a crazy ability to get a girth tighter than I've ever seen as I discovered after I untacked her. g

Once she started moving again she had zero hesitation toward the saddle or really anything. She worked up a a heavy sweat and C wanted to sit in my dressage saddle to see if it was as comfortable as it looks so she grabbed her helmet and sat on Echo while I cooled her out on the lunge line. Again, typical Echo fashion - she just didn't care.

As for me... Well this is me today >>

6 hours of work today and I'm off for 4 days! Then next weekend is D day for moving and I have 3 1/2 days off. Fingers crossed the rain holds off more so we can go to Churchill Downs tomorrow night for more night racing!

Video Monday - June 24

Trying something new - instead of Wordless Wednesday's or the other trends, I'm creating my own Video Monday. It'll be of the horses, either Echo or Dakota. Not the greatest footage but next time I promise it will be 1) Longer 2) Better Quality.

Video from last Monday's lunging with Echo

Twinkle Toes

Dakota finally has shoes on again!!! Lets all take a moment to cross our fingers and send threatening thoughts to him if he pulls them off in less than 6 weeks. I cannot wait to ride him more now.

Echo's getting few more days off. Where Dr Friend did caslisk stitches she's really swollen still and I don't want to force her into moving and risk tearing something. So last night she got a good grooming and I braided her mane in big braids hoping to tame the stray hairs to the correct side of her neck. Hopefully she heals well under the tail and we can move on from nasty uterine infections.

I see nails!!!

Ready to go outside.

Tonight - Working until 9pm so no pony time tonight.

Sunday - Off work, lunge and ride Dakota - maybe outside riding.

Monday - Who knows...

Tuesday - Work late - probably not much pony time.

Wednesday - Work late - hopefully lunge Echo in the morning before work.

Thursday - Hopefully work with Echo if she's healed, if not maybe ride D.

Friday - Hopefully work with Echo if she's healed, if not maybe ride D.

Countdowns

1 Week until my birthday

1 Week until more Churchill Downs night racing

2 Weeks + 1 Day until Michigan / Kitties / Moving