Eh.

I am way behind on my 30 Day Horse Challenge questions. I just don’t feel like answering right now.

 

Last night I did exactly nothing productive. All I did was watch mindless tv and all that. That’s it. I got my hair cut at lunch today. It looks nice and way healthier. I’m happy with it and got a stellar deal.

Tonight I am going up to the barn to ride Roxy. She’s my favorite. I will provide pics later on.  

 

Hello?

I suppose everyone is wondering what’s been happening with Vinny since I haven’t posted about him since Monday D:

Tuesday was his day off. I usually go up to the barn anyway and play with him, but I decided to save gas and stay home.

Yesterday, I was supposed to have my lesson. I had my clothes/boots in the car ready to go when I received a text from S saying that Vinny broke out in hives. L poor guy. And of course they are huge since he is an equine and all. S went over to the vet’s office and picked up some powder to treat this. He should be fine by tonight but – as it would be – Thursday and Friday are not ‘my’ days with him. That means my next day is Saturday. That’s a long time for me to go without riding. I’m thinking I need to find someone to ride tonight before I have a meltdown (see previous post haha).

I hope everyone’s ponies are doing well and that you are enjoying every moment with them. Can I just say I am so thankful to have horses in my life. What’s a better pick-me-up than our beautiful beasts?

 

want this painting.

 

Changes

Some big changes seem to be occurring in my life. I’m not sure what the future holds and I have to say I’m very nervous about that. My anxiety is through the roof and I have not been sleeping well. I am so glad I have my parents to talk to. I know that I probably seem like a very independent person but the truth is I am aching to have people in my life (that live here) I can trust and lean on and be supported by.

By nature I am a worrier/stressor to the point of sickness. Little things add up in my life and in turn I feel weighted down with a load I cannot carry. I feel overwhelmed.

The only thing I can really do at this point is throw my hands up and give it all to God. I need to trust Him and know that He will lead me in the right direction. Every time I feel that fear creeping in I need to keep my eyes focused on Him and talk to Him.

Support, love and prayers would be greatly appreciated right now. And of course I send those out to my readers. J  (((HUGS)))

30 Day Horse Challenge - Day Six

All the tack and riding clothes you have (color/ brand/ details)

Hahahahah

As far as tack I don’t have much. But here we go

Bridle + reins – don’t know the brand

Snaffle

Saddle – Performer CC

Stirrup leathers – courbette

Irons – I don’t know. They are regular weighted fillis type.

Girth – don’t know the brand

Smart pak saddle pad – navy,royal blue

Tuffrider saddle pad- navy

Dover saddle pad (2) -black and marroon

ECP half pad -white

Set of black polos

Halter + lead –navy

If you’re wondering how I get by with so little – please remember that I lease Vinny so he has loads of his own tack.

 

IRH Helmet      

Ariat Performer side zips

Tuffrider ribbed breeches

Tuffrider wide waist band breeches

Tuffrider fleece lined breeches

Beany’s Breeches - khaki

Beany’s Breeches – dark grey

Multiple polo shirts

RJ Classics Prestige Hunt coat – navy w/ wide window pane

Essex show shirt

Leather show gloves

Regular black schooling gloves

Ralph Lauren leather belt – so pretty!

Lots of knee-high socks

Ariat Challenge II field boots – love!

Ariat paddock boots

Ariat half chaps

 

BTW- the seat of my saddle is developing a huge crack. I think I need to start looking around for a ‘new’ one. Let me know if you have any good ideas. I’d like to be $1000 or under, close contact, medium tree, regular flap, flattish to medium deep seat.

 

Not-So-Tough Guy

Even though my lesson was cancelled due to extreme heat and humidity I decided to go up to the barn anyway.

I slowly got Vinny tacked up and ready to go and headed up the hill to the outdoor ring. I thought it might be fun to ride outside before the storm was supposed to hit. There was a nice breeze and it wasn’t as hot as I thought it was going to be, but the bugs. Oh my goodness, the bugs were horrendous. I need one of those fly masks for people. I tried trotting to see if the bugs would stay back, but no, they kept up with my head. Lovely.

We went back down to the indoor and had a nice ride on the flat. He was much more responsive to my aids. I immediately got the trot I wanted and amazingly he kept it up through a few nice circles. Next we worked on changes. I attempted them through the center line and through the diagonal. Our simple changes are actually quite quick and look nice, but I cannot get anything that resembles a flying change out of this horse. Not even half-way. He is more than happy to continue counter cantering around the ring. Any suggestions here? I think I’ve mentioned before that I am not confident enough to school a flying change, but this horse doesn’t even give it a second thought. Also - he got his hocks done a few weeks ago...He just carries on his merry way flopping around the ring. Arrgghhh.

I’m not really sure why, but there wasn’t anyone at the barn last night. Only the BM and one employee. Seems kind of weird to me since there are 30+ horses boarded there…

I thought hey, while no one is here, I shall turn my pony out in the indoor ring. Pretty normal thought, right? Pumpkin head might like to walk himself around, look out the scary door, roll…maybe be a horse?

Here is what happened in a series of pictures. This is the result I got upon 'shooing' him away with a crop:

...mommy...?

is there food here?

momma?

mom..?

MOM!



 

This is what happened when I tried to get him to go over to the 'scary' door he loves to look out:

 

wait for me!

wait up, mom!

caught up! I shall stand here until you move again.

I love my horsey. He is so cute. He tries to act tough but just look at him.

I hosed him off and put him back in his stall. Then a barn mom and I turned all of the fans off since we  could hear thunder/see lightning.

 

Eventually I went home and...wait for ittt...did my nails!

 

Here was the first try. I thought this would be cute but on second thought it kind of looked like an advertisement for a fast food restaurant:

I realize this is dark. The colors were a salmon-y/orange and yellow.

 

This is what I ended up with:

 

 

again, sorry for the darkness. this is purple-y metallic-y

 

 

 

 

 

 

30 Day Horse Challenge - Day Five

Your First Fall

Unfortunately I do not remember my first fall, so I will tell you about my most recent fall.

Vinny and I were trotting around the indoor ring (he was a little fresh) when all of a sudden he spooked at something that wasn't there (we all know how this is) and he went one way and I went the other way and I somehow came off. I landed on my side and was not hurt. It was actually quite embarrassing. I was glad no one was there except S.

Wah-Bam!

Yes, I realize this is my fourth post of the day. But I had to share this. I think I fixed my blog and finally sort of understand how it works. So now you have the option to "join this site" and my blog is no longer linked to Google+ (whatever the heck that is).

Now, please follow my blog if you wish, haha. And feel free to tell me next time something is up with it as I am clearly new to this. Thanks L.

500+

I would like to point out that on Friday, June 21 I hit 500 views. That’s in just three weeks of posting.

 

So, a huge Thank You!!! To all of my ‘followers’ err 'readers' whomever you are! ((HUGE HUGS))

Okay, okay, I know that mommy and daddy follow my blog, thanks guys! And a few friends (including my ever-special bestie), thanks friends! And my dear friend and (ex) riding instructor, Karen, thanks Karen! As far as fellow bloggers, Karley over at All In and I believe L Williams over at Viva Carlos both read my ramblings, so thanks to you both!

 

Anyone else who reads my blog, please make yourselves known! (add me to your circle or whatever you have to do) I would love to hear from you and follow your blogs if I don’t already. Also, I would like to hold a giveaway in the next couple months, and uhhh I need to know at least your names in order to host one. :P

Onto the horsey-stuff.

Question one:

Do you think this quarter sheet would complement or clash with Vinny’s coat?

 

 

 

Question two:

I really want to use this silhouette in my auto-sig at work. Would you be confused and think that I work from some equine-related operation? Or would you think I’m just obsessed with horses?

 

 

 

 

 

And finally.

Tonight was originally supposed to be lesson night. But, this is weather I'm currently dealing with:

 

 

Now you might be thinking this temp isn't so bad, which it isn't really. But please add at least 50% humidity and then tell me you want to do an hour long lesson. I think you may say, nay. haha. Do you think I would slump off my mount into a pool of sweat? I’m thinking ,definitely, yes.

 

Relaxation

I woke up at about 0900 yesterday. Not too bad, right? Yeah not too bad at all, unless you decided you should lay in bed until 1200 watching YouTube videos. Really, Kaysee? Yep I did it.

 

Eventually I slowly got up and dressed to head out to the barn. There was a ton of people and horses and trailers etc because my barn was hosting a show. Also, both arenas were closed to boarders. The average Jane might be a little upset about this but not me! It was just an excuse to head out onto the trails. I was hoping that there might be a fellow boarder/friend to go out with but there was not a single familiar soul on the grounds! It was super weird to see a bunch of strangers walking through the barn and sitting in the viewing room. I was kind of worried about these people sitting in there with all of our tack just out in the open…

 

Anyway. I got Vinny ready, sprayed him down with fly spray, mounted up and headed around the barn to the entrance to the trails. He wouldn’t continue past the shavings shed due to some vehicles parked there. I got off and led him through the vehicles and into the ‘orchard’. I don’t really know why this grassy area is called ‘the orchard’. I mean there’s a few trees and some natural jumps. That’s it. But anywho I led him over to a log and hopped back up. We tooled around the orchard for a little bit and then headed over the bridge and around the potato fields. Instead of doing our usual route through the trees, I decided to take him up to the right, into a grouping of lots for houses that are being built. We saw the cutest deer jumping through the tall grass.

 

We walked through the grass and down the street (yes in a suburban neighborhood) and eventually turned around to head back home. I know it sounds short but we were out there for probably 45 min. just walking around looking at stuff.

 

I swear I have the best horse ever. He doesn’t spook at anything; all he does is look around at things we pass. I was able to ride him on the buckle pretty much the entire time. What a good boy.

 

I hosed him off when we got back and put him back in his stall with a flake of hay, fan on, and freshly filled water buckets. Love my horsey!

 

As for me, I went grocery shopping. Then home where I ate my weight in pasta. I could not move from the couch for hours. Okay maybe not hours but you get the idea.

 

Anndddd. Did my nails and toe nails, as per my usual. 

 

30 Day Horse Challenge - Day Four

Yeah I kinda forgot I was doing this thing. Whoops.

A Ride that Impacted Your Life

Uh, every ride? No but seriously, anytime I reach a goal, complete a daunting task in the saddle, 'feel' what I've been trying to feel -- those rides all impact my life greatly. :)

Down

Today was kind of a disappointment. I'm feeling down. 

I did go up to the barn today. I groomed my boy reaaalllyyyy well. I mean really well. He was shining. 

Then I hopped up on him bare back and tooled around the indoor again. Dang sore feet. I really wish I had been able to take him on a trail ride today. I wanted to relax with him and listen to music etc. But life is. 

Hopped back off him and put him in his stall with fan on. 

Why are you so down, Kaysee? 

Well. This might be childish but... Everyone at the barn was invited to an event today, but me. Yes I was left out. I mean it's not that huge of a deal, but I do feel kinda weird about it. I'll live. 

Anywho. Here's some pics. 

This is Hope. Isn't she adorable? 

Anndddd my precious boy. 

Picked this guy up for $9 today at a gas station. Booyah! 

Painted my nails last night, huge surprise I know. 

Lone Ride

MI rode alone tonight. In fact, I was the only one at the barn for most of the time. No worries though. The neighbors were out and about while I was in the saddle. 

My original goal was to work on flat work only, but upon seeing all the jumps set up outside, I had to take him over some. 

We did our usual warm up. I made a point of insisting that he jump immediately into a working trot rather than plugging along on the rail. 

After a quick canter in either direction I decided to pop him over a six stride line on the rail. It was an X to a small vertical. 

Here's a pic, sort of. 

Can you see the baby line? 

After doing this twice I took him over the long approach red vertical. We did this one twice as well as we chipped in a stride the first time around. 

We walked for a little bit allowing me to grab a drink and Vinny to rest and then I headed him into the line on the diagonal (dark green to white standards) I didn't use my corner well enough so he saw the fence at the last second and jumped it huge. I also didn't see the distance well enough to the next fence as well as was looking down (c'mon Kaysee) so he ran out. I stayed on thankfully and let him chill for a sec then took him over that fence alone. We got a great distance and left it at that. 

The only thing about jumping without instruction is that I don't know if my position is good over the fence or not. I would hate to develop a bad habit over fences. My leg slipping back is kind of a fear. Whenever I see an other wise nice photo sans leg position, I cringe. I do not want a sliding, slipping, pivoting leg. I want perfection. Simple right? 

We finished the ride with a lap of extended trot and cooled out. I hosed my boy off and washed/conditioned his tail. 

Here're some tail glamour shots: 

Ohhhh yeah. It's like an Herbal Essences commercial. 

After I put horse-charming away I decided this would be the tack cleaning night. I put some music on in the tack room (slightly stoopid) and cleaned every piece of my tack (not much) and used some Ledersoft. Everything looks so pretty. His bridle looks brand-spankin'-new. 

I just got home a little bit ago. Long night at barn..I love it. 

Looky my pretty boy: 

 I should cowboy magic the heck outta his legs soon, eh? 

Okay so it totally slipped my mind that Vinny is getting his feetsies done tomorrow early AM :( this means no ride because he has sensitive feet. I miiiiight jump on bareback. Other than that... Maybe Hope will be available? We shall see.

30 Day Horse Challenge - Day Three

Your Best Riding

My best riding occurs when I am only focused on riding. Sometimes I get so upset that I ‘feel’ sloppy that I’ll start repeating to myself “Perfect practice makes perfect” over and over until my body is accepting the pain and exhaustion and pushing through it. I will often imagine that I am riding in front of a judge or the famed GM to make sure I am putting forth my best effort.

If I am supposed to list a specific time when I rode my best, well that’s a little more difficult. I don’t feel that I’ve ever reached my ‘best’ riding. Not yet at least.

I feel like there are two Kaysees to pick from. There’s 16 year old Kaysee and there’s rerider 25 year old Kaysee. As 16 year old Kaysee I would say my lessons on Homey were my best. Not even jumping necessarily, but getting the horse to come back to me and really clicking with him. As older Kaysee. Well. Anytime I can make it through an hour long lesson without taking a walk break on my own accord is my best riding.

Something Horsey?

I didn’t go up to the barn last night. I’m sure you can tell since the last thing I posted about was my nails for heaven’s sake.

How about something horsey for this afternoon, shall we?

This was stolen from pretty much everyone I follow – haha. Enjoy!

Splurge or save: 

1) saddle: save. Believe it or not. Got my off-brand saddle for $500 about 10 years ago. It happens to fit most horses nicely J
2) board: save. Sort of. I happen to board at a nice place for a very decent rate.
3) halter: save. I got mine on sale at Smartpak. It’s still pretty nice though. Nylon with leather crown.
4) bit: n/a as S buys those
5) bridle:same as above. Though I am considering buying V a show bridle
6) saddle pad: save. Anything under $20 is awesome!
7) trailer: n/a 

First thing that comes to mind: 
1) Haflinger: adorbs chubby pony
2) Quarter Horse: Roxy
3) Thoroughbred: Homey
4) Warmblood: My friend’s horse Grinsen
5) Welsh Cob: popular

This or That:
1) english or western
2) tall or short
3) trail ride or beach ride
4) long mane or short mane 
5) hunters or jumpers 
6) XC or barrel racing
7) outdoor arena or indoor arena - really depends on the weather!
8) trot or canter 
9) canter or gallop
10) paddock boots, tall boots, or cowboy boots
11) horse shoes or barefoot – Vin gets some fancy fronts
12) saddle or bareback

About you: 
1) How long have you been riding? 18 years off and on
2) Do you own or lease a horse? lease
3) Breed? Age? Height? Name? (if you don’t own or lease, you could talk about your lesson horse) Canadian Warmblood, 10ish?, 16.2hh, Vinny

4) Do you have any other pets? Wish I had a dog
5) If your horse was a person, what kind of voice would they have (you can use a celebrity for an example) some young boy’s voice.
6) Does your horse have a “color”? If so, what is it, and what do you have in that color? Well I have colors for him, not so much K. they are navy, royal blue and grey. I have saddle pads and I did have a matching ear bonnet but the stitches started coming undone after like 3 rides in it... wth?
7) Does your horse do any tricks? Not anything nice. haha
8) Have you ever dressed your horse up for Halloween?  Not yet! 

Favorites: 
1) Breed? TB
2) Discipline? Hunters, Jumpers, XC, Foxhunting – have never done the last three but enjoy watching and hope to someday DO.  

3) Coat color? Bay.
4) Famous horse? Don’t have one.
5) Horse race/competition? World Cup
6) Brand of tack? Don’t have one.
7) Thing to do with your horse? Trail ride

always looked like fun to me..