Guess what this weekend is????

If you guessed that it was six weeks from Lucky’s tendonitis flair up you would be correct!!!!!

That means that I get to start riding and rehabbing her! YAY! I am so excited. Lucky’s Owner generously offered to let me ride some of the other horses at the barn while she was hurt, but for some reason I could never get my act together enough to take her up on it (I went away for the holidays and stuff like that). That means that my pretty girl and I both have been out of the tack for 6 weeks so it should be interesting to see how she does.

She has been totally sound since the start of the month, but I had enough self control not to push it. If I don’t let this heal correctly that means that I am setting Lucky up for more flair-ups in the future which is not something I want to do.

So that means my first weekend back will be filled with the ever exciting ride goal of walking…for a whole 10 minutes. Exciting I know.

Honestly though, this might just be the perfect way to start the year out. Going back to basics and taking things slow might be just what Lucky needs right now.

I can’t wait to ride!!!!

Give Away Time!

So this year as a Christmas gift I made a calendar for my friends and family. It was a big hit. So much so that people kept telling me to bring a few to the local tack store to sell. I was very flattered every time people said that, but I had only ordered just enough so I had none to spare…or so I thought. When it snowed on Saturday I went to get a scarf and something fell on my head…a wrapped calendar! There was no tag on it and after several days of racking my brain to figure out who I had intended to give it to I decided to just do it as a blog giveaway! I know…I know…A calendar at the end of January is not as fun as one prior to the start of the year, but trust me when I tell you Gen is still plenty adorable for the next 11 months! How cute is the calendar? Below is the cover shot…

I know…you all want it now because it is hysterical and adorable all at the same time. So let me tell you how to win it for yourself!

The guidelines are simple. All entries must be in by noon EST on Thursday. To enter you just need to answer the questions below in the comment section. All of the answers can be found in my blog if you know where to look…long time readers might remember some of the answers. If you don’t know an answer to one of the questions you can just guess, it might be good for a laugh. The person with the most correct answers wins. If there are multiple people who are tied I will do a random draw. Oh, and I wouldn’t just trust that the people before me got it right because some of these questions have multiple answers. Good Luck!

Questions:

1) Name three things that Gen dislikes (this should be easy because I can name about 100 things )

2) Which leg did Gen hurt back in 2007 causing his retirement?

3) Name the brands of two dressage saddles that I currently own.

4) What place did X (Lexi) and I come in at Championships?

5) How old was Phoenix when I started riding him?

6) Name one horsey halloween costume that I have done (can be just horse or horse and rider)

7) How many ribbons have I earned since I started this blog (and no, not enough is not an answer…even though it is true )

8) Name a rider/trainer/horse person that I have said that I admire.

9) Which horse did I try to show at a hunter show?

10) What is Gen’s most favorite treat ever?

How had I never heard of this?

I know that I tend to live outside the loop of mainstream equestrianess, but I feel like this should have been big news. I was searching for updates on a big barn fire near me that happened over the weekend where 22 horses were lost and stumbled upon this article.

How did I not know that Boyd Martin and Phillip Dutton had a barn fire last year? Just reading about it sounds horrific. I really hope that Neville Bardos can stay sound and healthy for the rest of the year because it is truly an amazing story.

A barn fire is one of those scary things that can happen to anyone at any time no matter how safe and cautious you are. Am I the only one who didn’t know about this barn fire? I even went to a big time event this summer and I didn’t hear a peep about it!

Let me try to explain…

why I was so scared about loosing Gen when he fell on Friday.

Gen means so much to me. Not only is he my first and potentially only horse, but he is also my once in a lifetime horse. Some people ride their whole lives and never find the horse that is perfect for them. Gen is perfect in my eyes and he always will be. I love him so much.

As a horse crazy kid I always dreamed of having my own horse. I spent countless hours thinking about it and wishing and hoping. In all that time I never actually thought I would get a horse of my own. I had always leased as needed and figured that would be just how it was for the rest of my life. Sure, I would always close my eyes and dream of galloping my own horse through the field, but that was always just a fantasy.

I think every horse person dreams of having a bond with their horse that is like no other. I mean, movies like War Horse, Flicka, Black Beauty are all based on these amazing human horse connection. I tend to be a bit on the cynical side of that sort of thing. Or at least I used to be.

Then I found Gen.

Gen loved me long before I loved him. He chose me as his person. I was in grad school and couldn’t afford a horse. Gen thought otherwise. He worked hard to make me fall in love with him. He has always been better for me than he was for anyone else. Sometimes in very dramatic fashion. I think it would make anyone feel good to see a horse rearing and carrying on with someone else suddenly stop and stand like a statue as soon as they saw you. He always would always try to do what I asked of him, even when it was hard.

His personality is a perfect match for me. I like having a needy attention seeking horse who in the same breath is also very brave and never is afraid of anything. Gen trusts me implicitly and always has. Can you say the same about your horse? I know that Gen has gone against his better judgement on several occasions to do things because I want to do them.

I also know that no matter what Gen would never hurt me intentionally. Even when Gen was in a blind panic during a lesson and wanted to dump me just to get away, he wouldn’t do it. When he would be carrying on having a grand time bucking and leaping around and I would start to get unseated he would stop. I cannot tell you the number of times that he saved me from coming off, even going from being out of control to a dead stop because he wanted to take care of me. Sure, he can give me a hard time (especially when in a bad mood) but he always knows to stop before he hurts me. Even on the ground if I slip he will drop his head so I can grab his neck for support.

Gen might not care at all for himself (which is why I don’t trust him that he could just be ridden at the walk) but he has and hopefully always will care for me.

My horse loves me. In fact, I might even say that he adores me. I have been told many times that my horse is a much softer, kinder, and gentler horse when I around. That his eye changes along with his manner as soon as he hears my car.

Because he has put so much trust in me I feel like I have to make sure that he is okay. Like it is my duty.

Yes, I will admit that I panic about him more than I need too, but I can’t help it.

I almost lost him.

The thought of loosing him again is enough to bring tears to my eyes.

I love Gen.

He is perfect for me. Not only in mind, but everything about it. When I rode him it was amazing. His gaits matched me completely. We have the exact same walk. I could sit his trot like it was nothing because it fit my body so well.

I have made every big decision in my life since 2005 with him in mind. He means so much to me. It is almost like he carries my joy around with him. The only thing that I can guarantee will make my day better if it is not going right is a trip to the barn. I know that very few people will truly understand this post. Most people will think “but he is just a horse”. He might be just a horse to you, but he is not to me.

He is my proof that dreams do come true. My hope that there is a God because I have no other explanation as to how out of all the horses and people in the world we could find each other. Gen is my permission to still believe in miracles. Gen is my hope that some times things work out just the way that they are supposed to. Gen is, without a doubt, my once in a life time horse. Even retired I couldn’t imagine that there is any better horse in the world.

Mom!!!

Why did you tell everyone that I did something stupid! Haven’t you ever heard of a secret!!!

Breath…

So why on earth am I home alone on a Friday night at 9pm. Because I had a very scary moment with Gen today…

So I got to the barn today a little bit later than usual…so I knew I had to rush. It was after the normal bring in time, but not by a lot so I was not that surprised to find the ponies still out. The barn was being cleaned so Gen and I tried not to get in the way and slow things down. After he was all sparkly clean (or as sparkly clean as a white horse can get in the winter…although with the article Wendy sent me there might be hope for Gen yet…anyway) I figured I would just do Gen’s stall myself to help out and so that I could put him away in a clean stall.

At about that same time I had to move Gen from the cross ties. I looked at my sleepy pony and figured he would be okay to hang out in the barn aisle while I did his stall. At first I tried to ground tie him. It only took about 10 seconds and three “GENNYRAL!! ENOUGH. STAND!”‘s to realize that was not going to work tonight so I picked up the end of the lead rope and held him loosely while I did the stall. They use trash cans as muck buckets so I had one of those blocking his way in and he was relatively content to be tethered to his mommy and play with all of his things in the aisle.

I don’t know about you, but when I do the stall I clean the edges first and then slowly pile the clean shavings around the edge as I work my way towards the middle which is usually where all the pee is. I was almost done when it happened. I looked up to find Gen was looking at me. In a split second I knew what he was going to do. He took a quick step forward in to the stall and I yelled “NO” hoping to stop him since the entrance was mostly blocked by the manure filled trash can.

As soon as I yelled Gen panicked and tried to fly forward…only he couldn’t really fit so he bumped the trash and and the wall which freaked him out even more. As he was lunging forward in a panic his right hind leg hit the center of the stall mat that was slick with pee and had no shavings on it. His leg slipped out from under him with a dramatic sound and everything else happened in slow motion.

The barn owner came running over as Gen’s front legs gave out causing him to tilt more right and fall over on his side, butt first and then all the way over. I stepped back to the edge of the stall in shock and to get out of the way while Gen lifted his head. It felt like a year had gone by before Gen started to scrabble with all four legs. I was frozen. I couldn’t think. I was so sure that Gen had hurt himself. Even though it felt like it took forever, it was probably just a matter of a few seconds before Gen was able to get himself rolled over enough so that he could tuck his back legs under him and rock up.

He stood up and was shaking like leaf. I flew over to him (also shaking mind you) and jumped to hug my horse. The Barn Owner rushed in to the stall asking where I was hurt. I just turned to look and said that I wasn’t while I kept hugging Gen. They pointed out that while the stalls are a nice size they didn’t think that there was enough space for a horse to fall and panic without a person getting hurt. Apparently there is. I was much to concerned about Gen at that point to even think about a witty answer.

Gen still had panic in his eyes as I tried to be calm while I walked him back out of the stall. I tied him up very carefully this time in the aisle while I assed the damage. Luckly there was no heat or swelling in his legs. He butt muscles were warm and very, very tense and sensitive to the touch but that was about it. I even felt for heat or swelling on his knees and hips because I could not believe that he was okay after taking such a spill. Once I was sure he was okay I went to work on trying to calm him down. Poor scared pony. It took a few minutes for him to stop shaking and the oreo eyes to go away.

I made sure to make going back in to his now clean stall while a giant pile of shaving in it as slow and relaxing as possible since we were both still on edge. As soon as I took his halter off Gen went right to eating his hay clearly telling me he was okay.

I am trying to be calm about things because hey, he is okay. Man that was scary though! I was clearly frazzled as I drove away and had no fun while I was out and instead headed home early. I can’t help but be upset. I feel like my back is in knots. Of all the things I do trying to keep Gen safe and healthy he almost got hurt because I was rushing and not following my pony club safety rules.

I am sure in a few days I will look back and laugh at this, but for now I think both Gen and I are fully traumatized…

Jump free

So I have finally started to act as though I am going to ride this winter. How so you ask? Well, I just took down all the jumps and marked the places in the ring where there are things that could trip us if they were covered in snow. Not that we have gotten a lot of snow, but just in case.

I have not been in the ring for 5 weeks. It hit me today while I was at work that I can slowly start her back up next week. Though we are only predicted to get an inch of snow tomorrow I thought it was in my best interest to get the ring ready for ridding! I don’t think I have ever been so happy to move jumps before!

:)

This is what I find waiting for me when Gen hears my car. I love my horse.

Have you forgotten me ?

That was the look that I got when I got to the barn today. I have totally been slacking while Lucky is injured. Weekends and days off only. Not good. At least it is only a few weeks till she can be ridden again. Knowing my luck as soon as she is cleared to ride (Feb 1st) this unseasonably mild winter will suddenly turn harsh

NO WAY!!!!!!

So I have bitched and moaned for a while now about how unhappy I was with my 2011 show season. I was complaining that I didn’t even get a year end award…this is the first time that has happened since 2005 (I am very, very immature about showing and very, very obsessed with ribbons…please forgive me my faults). I was bummed because that was one of my long term goals, to get year end awards for many years consecutively (I think it was 5 years in a row??). I had come close with the fun show stuff, but you needed to go to two shows and I only went to one. I tired to go to another show but bad weather canceled it twice.

So being bored I was surfing the net and I went to the fun show’s website and guess what????

THEY STILL HAD YEAR END AWARDS!!! I was like, “what? I can’t imagine that many people were able to qualify” but then I saw this…

ALL PARTICIPANTS WILL BE COUNTED TOWARD THE YEAR END AWARDS

and I was like…what??? Really??? And then they said that because so many people were now eligible they would place through 10th.

So I took a deep breath and scrolled down the page to see if by some chance I had managed to get in the top 10.

And guess what? Lucky and I did!!!!!

I can’t believe that my pretty girl won a year end award! I know it is only because they dropped their standards, but I don’t care. We ended up with 4th place for the in hand division!!! How cool is that? And we only did one show so clearly we did something right (lots of people who placed lower and did both shows). I can’t believe it. I am so happy right now! I love ribbons