Hacking

So, Dee's neighbor Patrone is owned, I found out, by a fellow law student!  Today, we went on a lovely hack, and found out that there are some seriously nice hilly grass paths that go on for ages that will be great for conditioning.  Dee started out as the follower, but then decided that she wanted to forge ahead when we were walking together down the grass path, so she very bravely led us through some low branches and fallen trees.  She then, at the very end, had two weird little melt downs where she arbitrarily decided something was terrifying and tried to blow backwards, but she couldn't have been very serious about how scary they were (not surprised) because a swift kick set her ambling on and she didn't look twice at whatever was "scary."
Day 16- Your most recent fall
 I point you here.

Jump the Jumps!

When there are no jumps around, I don't mind just doing dressage, but when there are jumps around, I remember how much I miss jumping.  There are some very cute little logs in the outdoor arena, and the other day, Dee and I got a little improper and popped over the tiniest one in our dressage gear.  Today I opted to go all out, set a little vertical to a cross-rail, and hopped on.  We trotted and cantered the line, and trotted a few logs.  She was thrilled, I was thrilled.  I think we'll start doing a weekly baby-jump school just to keep our lives fun and interesting.  The best part?  She didn't jump everything like it was 6' tall, so my back didn't get sore at all.

Day 15- All the tack and riding clothes you have (brand/color/other details)
I honestly have no idea what most of my "brands" are.  I can tell you I have  Henri de Rivel dressage saddle and a Collegiate jump saddle.

Love Bites, Day 14

Dee has been incredibly sweet lately.  Too sweet, some might say.  As if she is just being nice because she knows she will just murder everyone soon.  I doubt that's the case, but at any rate, she reminded me yesterday that deep down, she is not sweet.  Deep down, she is mischievous and a little bit of an unintentional jerk, despite the fact that she does love certain people and horses, and does try to do right by them most of the time.  This, of course, is why we get along so well.  How did she remind me of the fact that she's not sweet, you ask?  Well, after a very good, but very easy ride, I untacked her and let her stand in the aisle while I brushed her back off.  She's been very good about grooming lately, and I didn't even really pay attention to her while I was doing this, until I felt the very distinct feeling of teeth on my shirt.  As soon as that happened, I then gave her the very distinct impression that her life was about to end.  Right as I swung around, though, I caught the look on her face, where she was just looking at me like "crap!  I did that!  Why did I do that!?"  She wasn't going for blood or anything, because she didn't connect with my skin at all, so I just imagine her standing there and thinking "I'm kind of bored, I feel like I should bite mom a little bit because she's not paying attention to me enough."  Silly mare.  

Today, when I got to the barn it started pouring down rain.  So, I decided that we would have a rainy play day instead of riding.  I took her out to the covered arena, and lunged her for a bit, just to let her stretch her legs.  After that, we had some fun.  First, we worked on in-hand leg yields, which she was a very good girl for, and then I unhooked the lunge line to see what would happen.  She stayed right at my side, stopping when I stopped, turning when I turned.  We even wandered over cavaletti together.  She was so good that at one point I made a sharp left turn, and sort of went backwards, and to mirror me, she did a lovely turn on the haunches.  I then started jogging around the arena, and she jogged right along with me at my side, very much like a dog.  Sometimes it's fun to just play with your horse with no real purpose in mind.  When we finished, I stood her in the middle of the ring, told her to "stay" and grabbed my camera (phone).  While she did stay where I put her, she insisted upon making ridiculous faces or "blah" faces the whole time.  Oh well, at least I got two cute photos of her "smiling" for the camera (one is a yawn... in the other I think she was just laughing at me).

Day 14- Your dream barn/farm

I am torn about what I want eventually, but it is one of these two things:

1. Boarding at a barn with a covered arena, lots of places to hack, a big outdoor, big pastures that get taken care of, and an in-house instructor that I really enjoy riding with.

2. Owning a farm.  If I owned a place, I probably wouldn't have a covered arena, because I'd probably only have Dee and [eventually] her baby.  Well, maybe also another retired TB that is quiet but maybe not suitable for a hard job.  I would, however, want a nice big arena, to be able to fit a large dressage arena in.  The barn could be quite small - 4 stalls and a tack/feed room would suit me just fine.  I would also love to have several pastures, with either lots of trees or a run in, so that I could rotate the horses AND so that they could be happy and cool outside during the day.  I would also like to be able to afford to have someone come and feed/do stalls a few times a week like I used to do for Bettina, since I'm sure sometimes I would be working too late to be able to do evening feeding.  

The good old days: Day 13

Dee was being a cuddle-bunny yesterday

Day 13- Your worst ride ever

I think it would have to be when I was maybe 11 or 12, with Sierra.  It was winter, and although there was no snow on the ground, everything was still frozen.  We went out on a hack with our instructor and a few other people.  Sierra was never well-behaved on hacks.  When he would hit the road after leaving the driveway, he would usually rear.  If the other horses got too far ahead of him, he would freak out and start flying backwards, refusing to go forward.  
On that particular hack, he did his usual road-rear.  We then went for awhile without incident.  While we were crossing a field, however, he suddenly decided to completely lose his marbles.  I don't remember exactly how it happened, but he ended up tossing me, and when I landed on the frozen ground, I got the wind properly knocked out of me.  At this point in our [short] relationship, I think I was pretty terrified of him [on hacks].  He had never done anything good on a hack, and that was the last straw for my 11 or 12-year-old self.  I was sobbing, trying to catch my breath and my horse.  Then, when I finally climbed back on and got back in line, my instructor turned to me (no, she never asked if I was ok) and said: "If you don't stop crying right now I'm going to tell your parents to sell him."
I immediately stopped crying, and got on with the rest of the ride.  

Baby It's Cold Outside - Day 12

We had a downright cold-front yesterday!  That is... if you consider 80 degrees a cold front, we had that.  It has been pretty oppressively hot and humid lately, and yesterday we finally got a break from the humidity, with temperatures only climbing to 80 throughout the day.  To celebrate, Dee and I worked in the big outdoor (I've been staying in the covered arena because it is SO much cooler).  Dee was really hell bent on celebrating, too.  She was pretty good, but high as a kite (think tail sticking straight up for the whole ride) and unwilling to relax in the trot work for most of the ride.  The canter work was a whole different story, and despite a squealing head toss during the first upward transition, she was relaxed and rideable, and after a walk break, she remained semi-relaxed for a few minutes to give me some not-so-great-but-i'll-accept-it stretchy trot.  
She is starting to really pick up some weight, too, I think.  Her flank area looks like it has filled out quite a bit, and I feel like she looks plumper in general, which I like.  I don't want her to be porky, but I do want her to be pleasantly plump.

Day 12- Favorite horse book

Wow, I've read so many that it's hard to choose.  The book that has stayed with me over the years since reading it, though, is probably Man o' War by Walter Farley.  It is a fictionalized biography of Big Red, and made me fall in love with him.  I remember being young when I read it, maybe 11 or so, and curling up in bed to read about how Big Red trounced the field this time.  Sometimes books just give you a great feeling deep down inside, and this one did that.

What Dreams Are Made Of (Day 11)

Day 11- Describe your dream horse

I used to think that I knew what kind of horse I wanted.  I used to think that I wanted a big, black, thoroughbred that could jump the moon and was at least proficient on the flat.  I also used to think that I wanted to be a dolphin trainer.  Dreams are fluid, and as such, the idea of my dream horse has changed over the years.  Right now, I have a beautiful, sound, opinionated bay mare with a funny face marking and more personality than she knows what to do with.  I love her more than I can explain and I think that she came into my life for a reason - I think that we are ultimately perfect for one another.  In a lot of ways, she reminds me of a bigger, more outspoken version of Dusty.  She's not easy, but she always makes me smile, and in her own way, she has fulfilled a lot of my dreams.  Do I sometimes wish I had a big, fancy horse that could teach me upper-level dressage stuff while also being something I could go on hacks with?  Yeah, that would be nice.  But I also sometimes wish I could fly.  

What I do want eventually - and most people would probably think I'm crazy for wanting it - is a foal from Dee.  Obviously, I will not be breeding her until I am making enough money to guarantee that a) I can breed to the right stallion, b) I could support Dee through the pregnancy vet expenses, c) I can then afford to support two horses, and d) I can afford the support of a trainer to help with the little bundle when the time comes to start it.  I made a promise to Dee that I would not sell her, and I plan to keep that promise.  I will only be breeding her when I can extend that same promise to the baby.  Yes, Dee has her issues, but even if I DID end up with a baby that inherits all of her issues, that would be 110% ok with me.

The Diva and Day 10

Mid-Session

Dee got her first massage today.  I was actually a little worried about how she would handle it, but she was a rock star.  In true rock star fashion, she ate up every minute of it.  As I suspected, she was pretty tight behind on the right side, and on the left side of her neck.  After squealing and cow-kicking once when the massage therapist hit a particularly sensitive knot in her butt, she then proceeded to completely relax into it, and as the therapist kneaded, Dee kind of just leaned against her and rubbed her butt against her hands to "help."  For the most part, she really seemed to enjoy the experience, and afterwards I took her out for a short ride, as suggested by the massage therapist.  She was lovely.  Still a little against the right hand and leg, but not stuck.  Today it just felt like she was trying, but not entirely sure what was right, and she picked up the left lead without issue.  She really is getting quite rideable in her canter, which is exciting, and today her upward and downward transitions were borderline nice.  I say borderline because they are still not quite there, but the fact that she is improving is encouraging!

"I'm ready for my spa day now, mother."

Day 10- How your family/friends feel about your riding

They are all very supportive of my riding.  I think at this point, everyone around me realizes that riding isn't just something I do, it's part of who I am.  As my best friend in law school put it, "I feel like to completely know you, I need to meet Dee."  And it's true.  And anyone who doesn't accept that is not someone who truly cares about me.