Moving Time!

I drive to Michigan this afternoon after I'm off work at 3. Long few days ahead but I cannot wait. 

No real pony news other than last night, as I go to clean Dakota's stall I see one entire wall is covered in a light blue mold. Que a bucket of soap, bleach and a stiff bucket brush. It was absolutely disgusting. Pretty sure it's because the person that had that stall before me 1) fed her horse in a water bucket 2) fed him a mash almost daily 3) never cleaned up after her horse. When I had sanitized the stall before Dakota & Echo arrived to Lexington the hardened mash on the wall was going nowhere. I can now say, its clean. Last thing I wanted to do last night, especially with my extreme intolerance for mold, yay allergies.

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.

Four Day Weekend

No Monday video today because not much exciting has happened other than lots of down-pouring rain. 

I started my four day weekend not how I REALLY wanted to. I really just wanted to curl up on the couch and sleep. I was bound and determined to prove people wrong though and decided to groom and bathe both horses. They didn't see it coming, no one did, not even me, but in an attempt to gain control of Echo's wild mane... I roached it. Then I bathed her, and repeated on Dakota. I thought I'd regret it, but it turned out pretty decent and as Echo's mane grows back I'll hopefully be able to tame it better. 

Roached maned mare.

Itchy Mare

The Best Duo

Then in the evening I tagged along with George and Colleen to pick up a horse that was coming to the barn to be boarded. She previously kept her horse Lifey (a 21yr old Holsteiner) here before but moved sometime after I had left for Michigan. She took her to the most expensive and prettiest boarding farm in Lexington area - however it's apparently also the worse for horse care. Pictures of the place from the pickup:

Saturday was my birthday which also didn't go fully as planned. Mother Nature prevented us from going to Churchill Downs as planned, but we went out to dinner and I had a great night hanging out with my friends who also got me a yummy ice cream cake from Dairy Queen. Huge thank you everyone who sent me well wishes on my birthday :)

Yesterday... well I was pretty much useless. I helped clean some stalls but sleeping was my main priority which has carried over into today. I did get grain this morning to feed my beast, good accomplishment for the day. Tomorrow is my final day off on my extended weekend. I'm determined to ride at least one of my horses but at the same time it's felt great to relax before a stressful week to come. 6 Days until Michigan to move :)

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!

Liebster Lieb!

I'm a little delayed and behind the times but a HUGE thank you to L @ Viva Carlos for the Liebster nomination.

HOW TO ACCEPT THE AWARD: The Liebster Blog Award is a way to recognize blogs who have less than 200 followers.  Liebster is a German word that means beloved and valued.  Here are the rules for accepting the award:

1. Thank the person who nominated you and include a link back to their blog.
2. List 11 random facts about yourself.
3. Answer the 11 questions given to you.
4. Create 11 questions for the bloggers you nominate.
5. Choose 11 bloggers with 200 or fewer followers to nominate and include links to their blogs.
6. Go to each blogger's page and let them know you have nominated them.

11 Random Facts about Me:

1. I'm terrified of clowns and things in mask, but mostly clowns.

2. I have a younger sister that's 15 years younger than me. Until then I was an only child.

3. I love water. Drinking it, swimming in it, looking at it, etc. I was in the lake at my grandparents when I was only 6 days old.

4. I call my car the titanic because it's a boat and always falling apart.

5. I'm only OCD about a few things. 1) My horse stuff being organized 2) HTML formatting and the order of which things are opened on my computer.

6. My pop culture knowledge barely exist.

7. I love fruit snacks. Welch's fruit snacks to be exact.

8. Oranges / Orange juice makes my throat swell, then I break out in hives.

9. My parents divorced when I was 12. My Mom remarried when I was 16 and my Dad has been with his partner for over 10 years. I lived with both parents all through high school.

10. I have no problem staying in bed all morning. I'm more of a night person.

11. Procrastination should be my middle name. It runs in my family.

11 Questions from Lysette

1. Favorite type of Jump

Well since I'm no longer big on jumping? Cross rail!

2. Favorite Professional Rider/Horse Team

David O' Conner

3. Favorite Riding Exercise

Love ground pole grids or cavalletti

4. Lease favorite Riding exercise 

Anything that I have to do with no stirrups.

5. Where do you see yourself next years (horse/career/life)

Bachelors degree / no loner renting an apartment / showing Echo / hopefully no longer boarding.

6. Advice you would give yourself 5 years ago

Don't spend so much money, don't leave KY EVER, and be yourself - always.

7. If you could change your name, what would you change it to?

My middle name - Renee

8. If you could train with anyone who would it be and why?

Steffan Peters because IMO he's the best US dressage rider

9. I'm giving you $5k what would you buy?

New riding apparel. Show bridles for both my horses. Pay bills.

10. Give me the recipe for your favorite dish you can make 

Chicken + 1/2 Lemon juiced on top + Parsley + Thyme + Pepper + Rosemary + Lots of Garlic. Bake it then before serving put rest of lemon on chicken. Yum.

11. Dream vacation destination?

Australia in November. Must go to Melbourne Cup one day!

11 Questions for you

1. Favorite racehorse and why?

2. First racetrack you ever went to or wish to visit if never been?

3. Favorite horse real or fictional?

4. What color of horse do you prefer and which markings on it?

5. Who is your riding idol?

6. Best place you've ever visited that isn't considered a major tourist attraction or is 'off the beaten path'?

7. Favorite breakfast cereal?

8. Favorite non horse animal? Can't be cat or dog either...

9. What are you most afraid of? 

10. Could you ever see yourself training or competing in dressage?

11. Three people, dead or alive, real or fictional you'd have dinner with?

Choose 11 bloggers (no particular order)

1. Pampered Ponies

2. Collegial Equestrian

3. A Horse is a Horse...

4. BAREFOOT HORSE BLOG

5. Change of Pace

6. Equestrian At Hart

7. Polka Dot Periodical

8. Dressage Pony

9. Spotty Horse News

10. CHAMFRON STUD

11. SprinklerBandit