Winning By a Nose--A Whole New Meaning!

This is the nose of Dew East, who turned one year old on the 14th! This photo was to assist in drawing accurate markings for his registration. He's a sweet gray colt soon to be a wonderful gelding.

In Search of the Elusive Arena

I have an arena, I know I left it somewhere around here . . . . The last time I saw it was just before my husband made some substantial investments in large beams and several lots of windows, along with 3 steel truck beds, 4 cotton trailers, several hundred gravity operated chicken waterers, enough ribbed aluminum roofing to roof two football fields, an antique manure spreader, some shop cabinets, 40 3'x9' mirrors (with minor flaws), and some used plywood.

I know it's here somewhere, and I hope to find it this summer so that I can practice my dressage and be a better rider for my ponies. If anyone sees my arena, will you tell it to come home? I miss it.

Still Going to Wild West.....as Crew

I've decided to adjust my goals with reality in order to avoid frustration. This is my passion, yes, but it is also my hobby and, as such, is supposed to increase joy and decrease stress. Hear that, my 4-legged guys and gals?

Had a wonderful relaxing weekend walking and trotting along in the great outdoors. Didn't see too much wildlife--a bird that my knowledgable niece told me was an Oriole, a coyote she saw but I didn't, squirrels that she saw but I didn't, and one freshly deceased cow, which we all saw. It, unlike the other wildlife, was still. I guess they all have to die sometime, and they aren't going to walk out on the ice to do so.

My daughter's horse ran over the top of her while she was trying to lead him over a very challenging stream obstacle, but he avoided her vital parts. Fortunate for him because she is the one who makes sure he gets a yummy bucket.

I wish I had a photo of the ride to post, maybe my niece will have one she can send me???

Good Things About Rain

Okay, here I am again. The rain has cancelled out everything except the stuff that costs--feeding, trimming, etc. Daughter has 2 horses that need feed all year round! In spite of a multitude of great pasture on which the other 10 get nice and plump. Well, it does give me some leverage.....

So, she and I are headed for the Wild West Ride! My wonderful niece has provided motivation by telling me what a great time it is. If I can just get some riding in before hand . . . I really, really miss the rides--It's been two years, I think, since a completion.

Going, going, going---Gone!

That's what it felt like Sunday just before I landed face-first in the arena dirt. I should have known better--Beau was just looking for an excuse to run. I hadn't ridden him in a good 6 weeks--and the lovely spring weather--he was just too full of himself and forgot that he was supposed to "respect" me. All was well relatively speaking, except that my shin came down on one of those lovely concrete blocks that folks use to hold up the PVC pipes when they make dressage rings. I hung on around his neck until I saw a clear spot for my face. (ha ha). My instructor leaped on and he wouldn't give her the respect she deserved so they had a friendly roundpen discussion and my Beau had a very nice attitude adjustment. I just have to stay on top of it--mentally I know all this, and if I'd just treat my horses with the same attitude as my kids, it would be okay. Until next Friday......

Back in the Saddle!

I'm just heading out this Sunday late morning for a dressage lesson on Beau--finally it stopped raining and this glorious weekend is indeed the first of Spring!!!

Oldest daughter picked up a brand new pair of jodhs that fit PERFECTLY and hubby helped change my changeable gullet to a wider one--the black one--for Beau--and he's waiting in the roundpen for me to get him. Wish me luck!