Tuesday, December 22, 2015

Snow and Sun and Such

Apparently I can only deal with so many media things at once, but the video is now submitted so I have enough brain power to blog again.
Majestic snow
Also, started reading the Outlander books again, I read the first one and a half while in Canada back in August and then forced myself to take a break.  You guys it was bad, I was reading until my eyes were in pain, AND I STILL COULDN'T PUT THE BOOK DOWN.  So, I'm back down the rabbit hole.  It is ok though this time since my arena is soup.
Charlie judging me, while using my pillow
 These books though, oh my goodness.  Can't even.
Dancer says he can't even either
 I went to Phoenix for a week and had a blast.  So good to see the hubby!  Also we won a race!  But, one of our favorite horses got claimed, it was nice to get a last win picture with him, but sad to say goodbye.
No more funny pictures of Blackie
The racehorses are doing good though, hubby has some new promising projects.  One project though is less promising and he is convinced that he should be an eventer.  Darnit hubby you should not be enabling me!  But really, the horse is already wicked good at snuggling.
Proof of the snuggles
 He is three and cute and super calm.  He will probably run for while yet, then I can't wait to play with him and keep or sell either way he will be great!  Hubby is also surprisingly good at picking out horses that will excel at their second carrer, soooo we will see.
Back home wishing it would snow instead of rain
 In case you had forgotten, Prisoner thought you should all know he still has the best mustache though!  I was so pleased with him when I got home and after more than a week off he was foot perfect for videoing in the snow.
 
Champion and he knows it
 Notice that cute bridle he is wearing???   Well, Alyssa ordered a bridle for miss Bacon and it was too small.  I had been lusting over it on the website as I'm convinced I can pretend Prisoner is my mini Blueberry (Valegro's barn name) if he is wearing a black and white patent bridle.  Anyways I mentioned to my husband that if he was wanting to get me something really neat that he could pretend Alyssa was his personal shopper and buy the too small bridle from her.   He went for it!  Happy 4 year anniversary to me!
Much shine, such sparkle
 I haven't even gotten to really ride him in it yet except on the snow adventure.  Can't wait to dress up with the dressage saddle and look fancy.
That face though
Well I'm afraid I can't concentrate here anymore, the swirling mists of the Scottish highlands are calling.  Not kidding, time to read.
When riding can't happen selfies do

Monday, December 7, 2015

Mind Blown!

So Friday morning I got a phone call.


From Practical Horseman (yes the magazine).


Do y'all remember the win a clinic with Boyd and Silva Martin for you and your friends contest?


I'm a top ten finalist.


EEEEEEEEEKKK!


Now I have to make a 5 minute video.


Let the insanity commence!


Prisoner, 'Oh goodness, does this mean more sparkles?'

Monday, November 30, 2015

Dressage stuff

In what feels like a lifetime ago Aimee came over and took some pictures of Prisoner and I, then I went and took pictures of her...and we thought we were cold.  HAHAHAHAHA!  Whatever the temp was then would feel balmy now.  Oh Idaho.  My phone informed me that the high tomorrow would be significantly warmer than today, 28 degrees, actually phone I don't appreciate hearing about how 28 degrees is warm.
This is what we do when it is less than 20 degrees
In all reality I would ride in these temps, except it rained while the temps dropped and the arena resembles concrete currently.  Fingers crossed the forecast doesn't change for the worse as right now it is saying that riding could happen on Wednesday.
How was this a week ago???
So back to our great dressage ride!
Black bridle, brown reins, I need to remedy this
 We played with wrap liners and decided that Prisoner is too much of a pony for them to look good.  He seriously has the shortest front cannons.
Yeah, I've got all the colors
 I warmed him up with lots of changes of direction in a stretchy trot, he really loves powering around.
Vroom vroom
 After he was feeling loosened up I added in some leg yield and shoulder in.  He is slowly starting to understand this concept, but I am working to get him more supple about it.  I would like him to move looser and freer in the side to side stuff.
Solid three tracks
 I hope that as we gain more suppleness all around that he will track up easier.  That is definitely currently his most weak dressage thing.  I almost think it is a bit confirmational, like his legs are too short to reach each other in the trot.  Tudor has long legs for days and tracks up with out even trying and even has a somewhat weak hind end.
But who care, he has the cutest face
 It ended up being probably one of our best flat schools.  Short, sweet, and to the point, Prisoner just seemed to understand the job.
Love the bend from nose to tail
 One thing that has seen significant improvement over the last few months have been our trot to walk transitions.  He used to just throw his head in the air, right at that last moment as the trot turns into walk.  The solution has been keeping him thinking forward and straight through the transition.  Now when we have a bad trot to walk transition we can blame it all on me.
Pretty horse, fugly riding
 All of his other transitions are pretty spot on.  We get the correct canter lead 99% of the time and his is willing for upward and downward between gaits and within the gaits.
Point those toes
 He actually has a very powerful trot that throws me around if I'm not careful, possibly I need to do some planking or something.  Maybe that would fix what ever the heck it is that I'm doing here:
Just no
 Seriously though, how cute is my horse??
Notice the silver tail
 Side note from the dressaging, his tail is not dirty in these pictures, those are white hairs you see.  I swear he is trying to grow a trendy silver tail.
Short fat pony legs...and human legs
 He still leans in a bit at the canter, but not bad for being 15 months off the track.
Please come back thawed arena
 He has a very fun canter to ride, he is willing to collect for small circles or to go big around the arena.  After we canter his trot always gets better.
BAM!
 I like my position in half of these pictures and in the other half I can hear my dressage trainer's Swiss accented voice telling me to sit on my back pockets.  My plan is to actually get in for some dressage lessons towards the end of December or in January.
There we go
 I look forward to those sore dressage lesson muscles, they are so satisfying.
Swooning at how his neck is developing
 I have been working to push my hands towards him so that he reaches for the bridle and builds a better topline, but I need to watch that I don't drop the contact.
Sitting up better
 I also need to spend more time in the canter.  I am bad about a few good circles each way and calling it a day.  I need to make use of all those coolers I have from race wins!
Work that boot P-Diddy
 He stands up a bit better to the right, but he struggles more to turn.
Wild mane!
 Our goals for next year are to break into the 20's at our events and if the budget permits maybe hit up some dressage shows.

Should have worn my spurs
 I love his willingness to try new things.  This summer he struggled with body soreness, but in the last month or two it hasn't flared up at all!
Whoops, too bent
 Can I just say that I love how curvy he is!?  He really isn't fat at all, he is just building up some great muscles.
Reasons they need joint support
 In case you are wondering why I am sporting nearly rust colored breeches?  They are warm and fleecy and wind proof, that's why.
Favorite canter shot from the day
 Check out that hind leg reach!
Favorite trot shot
There you have it, dressage stuff.

Saturday, November 28, 2015

Babies!

The four legged variety.  Most years we have one or two beautiful Thoroughbred babies.  It is so fun to watch them grow and then train and race them, and then finally get them all set up for a second career.  This year we have a chestnut filly (Mckenna Warrior) and a bay colt (Baby Blakers).  Mckenna is out of a plain bay mare who has produced two plain bay colts and a plain bay stallion.  She looks like this:

One month old
 Swoon!  So here are a bunch pictures of this year's babies.


Baby Blakers already being sassy

About a week old here, born the end of March

The day Mckenna was born, mid April

Fluffy baby

Laughing our way through July

Getting rid of that baby coat

Typical siblings

The whole herd in September

Cover of Bloodhorse anyone?

Can I haves her?

She is giant!

Blakers just wants cookies

Big babies (the hubs is 6')
Pretending to be a Quarter Horse

Snuggle time

Winter coat is THICK!

Apparently her new favorite pose

Nap time for Blakers
So there you have it, babies babies babies!  I have more pictures I need to find and organize.  Seriously though we are going to have to figure out some sort of epic battle to decide who gets Mckenna when she is done racing, because hello gorgeous!