I don't know what I ate for bed last night, but I had some CRAZY dreams.
I dreamed Reno and Vez escaped during a hurricane, ran out into the road and were both hit by oncoming cars. Reno stood up and seemed ok, but in my dream I ran over and literally picked Vez up in my arms and carried him to the trailer. I promptly woke up screaming...
Don't you hate when those dreams seem SO real?? I had to literally talk myself down off the ledge and tell myself they were both safe and sound in their pasture. Sigh. Not the way to start your day!
Had a fabulous ride on both horses yesterday. Vez was a bit of handful again, running around throwing out flying lead changes every few strides. Where was this 10+ years ago when I asked for it?? Barn manager checked him for any stiffness this morning and reported he was doing fine. The wonders of a good joint supplement and liniment!
Reno had some lovely moments of collected trot and actually managed to complete a few "real" 20m circles. We are getting to the point where we really need some professional help to get to the next level, so that is on my to-do list.
I am beyond sore today after riding both horses pretty hard. Once the days get longer and I can give them both full workouts, I should be in amazing shape (hopeful thinking!). Maybe then I can parade about in my breeches without feeling self-conscious. PS - what idiot invented breeches? Especially tan ones. They should be publicly flogged alongside the makers of spandex pants, belly-shirts and shoulder pads.
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Monday, February 13, 2012
5 is the new 3
I survived the weekend with the bf's family and managed to have a pretty good time despite the shopping agenda. Shopping presents two problems for me: a) 2 horses = no money and b) 2 horses = no money and lots of horse-related items on my wish list. A tack store is probably the only place I could spend hours window shopping. I did, however, manage to find a truck and trailer toy in Bass Pro Shops complete with 2 ponies and riding accessories. The bf's niece and I spent a large portion of our time camped out on the floor playing with said toy while I told her all about the science of trailering horses (did I mention she is 18 months? ahh well, never to early to start them..).
As I was pulling into my apartment yesterday afternoon, I got a call from my barn manager that Reno and his pasture mates had shredded his new blanket. The damage:
What to do with him? That blanket lasted all of 3 months. The 3 new horses in his pasture are all under the age of 5, so it is now a constant game of blanket tag. Reno is having a ball, running and playing and being a big baby horse. He seems to have reverted back to a 3 year old and has started getting really mouthy and being a general PIA. While I am happy he is having fun in the pasture, I think it is time for him to go back to work this week and remember that he IS almost 6. Also, it would be nice if he would remember that Mom does not, in fact, have a money tree stashed somewhere, so keeping blankets intact would be appreciated.
As I was pulling into my apartment yesterday afternoon, I got a call from my barn manager that Reno and his pasture mates had shredded his new blanket. The damage:
What to do with him? That blanket lasted all of 3 months. The 3 new horses in his pasture are all under the age of 5, so it is now a constant game of blanket tag. Reno is having a ball, running and playing and being a big baby horse. He seems to have reverted back to a 3 year old and has started getting really mouthy and being a general PIA. While I am happy he is having fun in the pasture, I think it is time for him to go back to work this week and remember that he IS almost 6. Also, it would be nice if he would remember that Mom does not, in fact, have a money tree stashed somewhere, so keeping blankets intact would be appreciated.
Friday, February 10, 2012
Thursday, February 9, 2012
early morning workout
What everyone else at my office looks like:
What I look like:
Win some, lose some I guess. I had to go out of town for work yesterday to Raleigh. Thankfully that is where the bf lives, so I got to kill two birds with one stone. I hauled my butt out of a perfectly warm bed at 4:50am and drove the 1.5 hours to the barn this morning to lunge Reno before work. Reno was less than thrilled when he realized it was me and not the "lady with the bucket" that he was hoping for. We did a lot of transitions, getting him used to quickly responding when asked to change pace. Not a bad session for first thing in the morning in the dark. If I can manage to convince myself to abandon sleep again tomorrow morning we might get another lunge session in, but I'm not making any promises.
I am praying I don't smell too much like horse at the office. I was never one of those uber polished girls to start with, but add only having 20 minutes to get ready to that and you get the above picture. Thankfully, you horse people understand :)
What I look like:
Win some, lose some I guess. I had to go out of town for work yesterday to Raleigh. Thankfully that is where the bf lives, so I got to kill two birds with one stone. I hauled my butt out of a perfectly warm bed at 4:50am and drove the 1.5 hours to the barn this morning to lunge Reno before work. Reno was less than thrilled when he realized it was me and not the "lady with the bucket" that he was hoping for. We did a lot of transitions, getting him used to quickly responding when asked to change pace. Not a bad session for first thing in the morning in the dark. If I can manage to convince myself to abandon sleep again tomorrow morning we might get another lunge session in, but I'm not making any promises.
I am praying I don't smell too much like horse at the office. I was never one of those uber polished girls to start with, but add only having 20 minutes to get ready to that and you get the above picture. Thankfully, you horse people understand :)
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Growth spurt?
Not much to report on the riding front. I basically am not getting to ride this week due to work schedules and a "family" vacation this weekend. Going on a weekend trip with the bf's fam... Should be fun but I find I can never fully enjoy such adventures because they infringe on my valuable pony time. Reason #1023034 why I am nowhere near ready for us to get married. I would make a rather crappy daughter-in-law for a family that REALLY loves to hang out together... all the time... :)
The barn manager and I were looking at Reno the other day and all of the sudden he has gotten super slim. He was basically obese this summer, and it seems like his weight has dropped pretty dramatically in the last few weeks. Thinking maybe I will get one more growths spurt out of him since he is only 5 (and Morgans are notorious for growing until 6 or 7). Must ask the vet when she comes to do spring shots. Bumped up his feed and hay a bit, so hopefully he will pack back on some weight.
I am not normally one for promoting products, but I got these boots for Christmas and I am not sure how I have gone without them! Absolutely obsessed. Snow, mud, cold? No problem! I sort of see myself dragging them out in the summer too, since they are so easy to put on and go. Much nicer than those icky leather ones ;)
Mountain Horse Ice Rider
The barn manager and I were looking at Reno the other day and all of the sudden he has gotten super slim. He was basically obese this summer, and it seems like his weight has dropped pretty dramatically in the last few weeks. Thinking maybe I will get one more growths spurt out of him since he is only 5 (and Morgans are notorious for growing until 6 or 7). Must ask the vet when she comes to do spring shots. Bumped up his feed and hay a bit, so hopefully he will pack back on some weight.
I am not normally one for promoting products, but I got these boots for Christmas and I am not sure how I have gone without them! Absolutely obsessed. Snow, mud, cold? No problem! I sort of see myself dragging them out in the summer too, since they are so easy to put on and go. Much nicer than those icky leather ones ;)
Mountain Horse Ice Rider
Monday, February 6, 2012
A little quiet time
After what seemed like the longest Monday in existence, I got out to the barn around 8:30 and did what I don't do enough: sat and listened. I groomed both ponies, patched up Reno's blanket and hauled my ass up on the side of Reno's stall where I closed my eyes and merely listened to the sound of my ponies happily munching on hay. Of course my peace and quiet didn't last long because I have a mouthy horse who quickly took the opportunity to taste-test every article of clothing I had on. But all in all it was a great way to end the day :)
Reno's first jump
I arrived at the barn on Friday in time to squeak in a good 30 minute ride per horse. I had the place all to myself (yay!) and it was Friday, so I decided to get a little spunky and break up the normal routine for both horses. I grabbed Vez out of the pasture and spent a few minutes scraping off the mud to reveal the horse beneath. Reno immediately noticed that he had been "ousted" of his normal position as "first horse ridden" and spent our entire ride sending me indignant glances over the fence.
I could tell Vez was feeling good (changed joint supplements and these seem to be working much better). Sometimes it is SO nice to hop on a horse that is light in the hands and that I can ride entirely with my leg. Near the end of our ride I decided to trot him over a ground pole a few times, just to add in some variety. What I was NOT prepared for was the sudden burst of energy and the "whoooo I get to go over something that resembles a jump so now I shall express myself by running around wildly and clicking my heels in joy". Ok, he may not have LITERALLY clicked his heels, but I bet he wanted to ;) A sidenote: Vez LOVES to jump. Lives and breathes for it. It takes all my effort to get him going on the flat but throw a jump in there and suddenly he is hot as can be. We did the ground pole a few more times since he was having such fun, but I decided against going over the baby crossrails. It has been a long time since I have felt that rush of enthusasim from him and it reminded me of all the great times we had and what an awesome competitor he made. Which got me thinking and where I could use some advice.....
Vez is ONLY 23 years young. He did bow a tendon about 4 years ago and has some scar tissue, but it doesn't seem to bother him. IF I got the "ok" from the vet and spent several months getting him back in jumping shape, would it be a bad idea to start jumping him again? We're talking 2" or less fences, nothing big. I wouldn't even really consider it, expcept his whole attitude changed during our ride and he really seemed to enjoy himself. Thoughts?
On to Reno's first jump. Well in the spirit of the day, I decided I would put Reno over the itty-bitty baby crossrail a few times. I haven't ever jumped him, so wanted to see what he would do. I got off of him to pull the ground poles out from either side of the jump (Reno is NOT that coordinated.. I have visions of us landing on said ground pole). I left Reno on one side of the jump, moved the ground poles, and walked over the jump to the opposite side to see if it was straight to the fence. I guess Reno was channeling our ground session from last week, becuase right after I hopped over the crossrail I hear a noise and turned around to see my big, silly baby following me and jumping over the crossrail sans rider. See why I love him?
P.s. He did very nicely clearing the crossrail WITH a rider.
I could tell Vez was feeling good (changed joint supplements and these seem to be working much better). Sometimes it is SO nice to hop on a horse that is light in the hands and that I can ride entirely with my leg. Near the end of our ride I decided to trot him over a ground pole a few times, just to add in some variety. What I was NOT prepared for was the sudden burst of energy and the "whoooo I get to go over something that resembles a jump so now I shall express myself by running around wildly and clicking my heels in joy". Ok, he may not have LITERALLY clicked his heels, but I bet he wanted to ;) A sidenote: Vez LOVES to jump. Lives and breathes for it. It takes all my effort to get him going on the flat but throw a jump in there and suddenly he is hot as can be. We did the ground pole a few more times since he was having such fun, but I decided against going over the baby crossrails. It has been a long time since I have felt that rush of enthusasim from him and it reminded me of all the great times we had and what an awesome competitor he made. Which got me thinking and where I could use some advice.....
Vez is ONLY 23 years young. He did bow a tendon about 4 years ago and has some scar tissue, but it doesn't seem to bother him. IF I got the "ok" from the vet and spent several months getting him back in jumping shape, would it be a bad idea to start jumping him again? We're talking 2" or less fences, nothing big. I wouldn't even really consider it, expcept his whole attitude changed during our ride and he really seemed to enjoy himself. Thoughts?
On to Reno's first jump. Well in the spirit of the day, I decided I would put Reno over the itty-bitty baby crossrail a few times. I haven't ever jumped him, so wanted to see what he would do. I got off of him to pull the ground poles out from either side of the jump (Reno is NOT that coordinated.. I have visions of us landing on said ground pole). I left Reno on one side of the jump, moved the ground poles, and walked over the jump to the opposite side to see if it was straight to the fence. I guess Reno was channeling our ground session from last week, becuase right after I hopped over the crossrail I hear a noise and turned around to see my big, silly baby following me and jumping over the crossrail sans rider. See why I love him?
P.s. He did very nicely clearing the crossrail WITH a rider.
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