WooHoo!

I can't believe I won!  I thought for sure someone would grind it out longer than me.  Thanks to Hillary and L for a fun contest and a great month of twopointober!  I can't wait to check out the prize:)

:)

Day one

Random practice

Almost final

Final final

While I'm not taking the stirrups off my saddle for the next month I do think I will remember to do a little no stirrup work here and there.  That is something I always 'put off til later' so I'm committing to doing it once a week.  I ride too many wacky horses on wacky terrain to do more than that!  Congrats to all the people that stuck it out and made their friends wonder about the self infliction.

??????

I have some seriously exciting news.  It isn't all hammered out yet, so I'm keeping it vague.  I'm comparing it to finally getting a splinter out while eating strawberry rhubarb pie.   I had had some nagging stomach pain due to indescision, and as soon as I commited to my plan my heart started racing in a good way.  I'm talking 12 cups of coffee combined with morning of cross country way.  I was trying to study for a test when my descision making went down (terrible timing brain) and needless to say not sure how the exam went.  School aside, lets do a happy dance.  Were you wanting some clues?
1. Pertains to some info from my husband (who is training racehorses in California).
2. May have something to do with this guy:

Hmmm

3. Nope no more hints.

I will give you some fall photos though

Getting blankets ready for winter

Desert clouds

It felt like you could reach right out and grab a handful of cloud

 

My ponies with the setting sun.

Prepping for the Clinic

So I'm going through the last week and writing posts. This one encompasses the day diva and her buddy c-rage jumped jumps in the fields.  She was lovely.  We cantered all around the bigger field with a 'hill' and she had no qualms about the footing or terrain.  Then I added in some poles and then some jumps.  It was all very chill and the biggest thing we need to work on is her hind legs not wiping the jump out.  This will be solved by pushing her to canter on landing so that she starts to jump with more impulsion.

As my mom said, 'Divas.'

rocking the cross rail

Video of our course:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBYD7BYFzZ4&feature=youtu.be

When the excitement was over we hacked around and I love the pictures!

OTTB's on the buckle

still on the buckle

Later that day I went and rode a client's horse.  She is a massive Hanoverian and we had to go up to the outdoor as the indoor was being worked up.  She isn't really one for change, but she held it together and we got some great work as evidenced by mom.

Love the view

Incase you were thinking that life was going by uneventfully, no worries.  Diva decided to mix it up, literally.  Friday, the day after our jumps in the field and the day before the baby xc clinic in the next town over she got bored in her turnout and decided to join c-rage.  How?  By jumping the wood fence.  She didn't take the fence out, but she did scrape up her stifles and legs, dufus.  She isn't lame and we continued on with the planned weekend....Horses.

Miss Legs

*not me*  Diva on the other hand seems to have suddenly figured out where all her legs go.  Yesterday while riding around with sprinklerbandit she caught a few pics of Diva looking great.  While on her back I was thinking that things were better than passable.  You know, improvement, but nothing to write home about.  Then I saw the pictures, wow, Diva may in fact do very nice dressage down the road when her butt is more muscley.

Tadah!

It was rather windy and made for the awkward tail

Her canter is feeling pretty good too, but can get downhill.  I'm not stressed about this currently as she is only 4, keeps growing, is low on muscle, etc.  I think as she get more strong and mature the canter will right itself, she is a thoroughbred after all and they are bred to have a balanced canter/gallop.

The most uphill shot we got.

Pretty frame lets just tip it up

So no complaints here, probably some jumps tomorrow, lots of school, rides on Mojito and Bridger...and Mom comes to town.  Be ready for tales of more adventures!

Soon soon soon

So totally almost done getting everything out of my mom's!  The boys should move tomorrow and I have a home for Suzie the pony.  I have a friend that may buy Diva which would be awesome.  She has just grown way too big for me and I don't have time (or money) for more than two horses.  My friend has ridden many OTTB's and loves a big horse and Diva will be beyond spoiled in a fancy barn.  It is hard to let go, she is so beautiful, but it is the right thing.  I just don't have time for them all, and I much prefer a smaller horse, I'm only 5' 3."  Cool news, I will probably get to show a new horse for Gunner's owners, her name is Gigi.

Stretching

Fancy

Like a ballerina

This will be her first show, I love doing the babies and helping them to be successful and confident.

On I final note, it is killing me not to share some news, but I will leave that to the sprinklerbandit;)