My Oh My, How Time Flies

Well here we are! A few months ago I was so frustrated with having to move the horses and getting Henry back. Now I'm at a new barn that has a lovely indoor and miles of trails! Board is extremely reasonable and the farm owner is very friendly! Riding Henry was a chore at first but after switching tack and adopting a new attitude he's become fun to ride again. Holly is still exhibiting some weirdness in her hind end but I plan to strengthen her with trail riding and light ring work. Hopefully by Spring she'll be fit and strong!

I've listed Henry for sale but have not had any replies yet. I'm going to start jumping him and hope to foxhunt him once or twice this season on a slow day (during the week).

So that's the recap but I have saved the best news for last. I am now the proud owner of a Robert Currie sidesaddle! Korne & Currie was a leading harness shop in New York established in 1866, so the saddle is pretty old even if it was made towards the end of the shop's existence. My mother purchased the saddle for me as a gift, and I am so grateful to her. She has made a dream come true for me. It is currently being worked on my side saddle expert Smokey Everhart. The flocking needed to be re-done, D-rings for the sandwich case needed to be added, a new proper balance strap, and a doeskin overlay on the seat to make it more grippy. I can't wait to try it on Holly after the work is complete. (I tried it on her before buying it and I think it will work after the flocking is re-done)

Well that's all my news for now! I'm heading to Florida to visit Kathy for the week of New Years so I'm sure I'll have stuff to whine about when I get back.

Cheers!

Henry Comes Home

I am sad to report that Henry is coming home from being leased. The girl found another horse she thinks will be more suitable for her and so she doesn't want to buy Henry. I had really hoped she would buy him because she gets along with him so well. I know I would be able to see him whenever I want and she would take wonderful care of him. But he's too green over fences and she wants to start eventing sooner than he will be ready.

More sad news is that I cannot board him where Holly is boarded so I have to find a new barn. I thought I could keep them at separate barns but that just isn't going to work financially. I may have to bring them home which I am definitely dreading. Our stalls need a lot of work to be suitable, we can't store hay and I would have no place or time to ride. This could definitely ruin plans to show Holly next year. Well, we'll see how it goes.

Recap

Well I had hopes I would be regular in my writing but alas, it has not been so. I did finally take Holly to a show so I can keep my blog title. The show I took her to wasn't a schooling show after all. I just decided to take her to Warrenton in the Pleasure division. Does that sound like s stupid idea? Well it turns out is was a stupid idea. It did not go nearly as well as I hoped. Shocking, I know. It was our first show in four years. That being said, I didn't fall off and we didn't leave any of the classes early! We did all three flat classes and I honestly think my fatal mistake was riding her much too long before the classes started. I rode her off an on for at least two hours. I think it was just too much since she was still very out of shape. By the time we got into the ring she was completely done in and ready to go home. Oh well, we live and learn I guess. At least we went to a show! I'll plan better for 2012, I promise.

Update!

Oh my, oh my, it has been far too long since I last posted! SO much has happened and I'll have to gloss over a bunch of it to catch up. The big news is that the heard has been reduced to two, Holly and Henry. Mojo was given away to a sale barn and Maybe was put to much deserved rest. Henry is being leased to a JMU college student whose mother rides at the new barn I am boarding Holly at. So, no more horses at home, YAY! Holly is doing fantastic at the new barn and I am riding her as much as possible. We are planning on doing a little schooling show next week if I can afford to go. Woohoo!!

For a while there I couldn't believe how wonderful Holly was doing. She was actually lazy for the first time since I rode her down in Florida. In the two months she been at the new farm she has gone back to her old ways briefly but I'm learning how to deal with it. Out trainer is really great at helping me not get frustrated. She remind me that horses are "like little retarded children. We have to keep reminding them over and over again what we want." LOL!

The plan for the remainder of the summer is to do little local shows and then show in the Pleasure Division at Warrenton Horse Show on September 4th. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that all will continue to go well. If I don't get to a show this year I'm going to have to remove the word "showing" from my blog title!

Cheers!