Cute racehorses and vivid sunsets

I'm on mobile bigger still, so that means random posts. Posts that don't need picture captions.  I have been adventuring around Arizona and my what a beautiful state.  I have also been finding all sorts of cute racehorses, but no I'm not bringing one home. 

Time Flys

How on earth is it already Monday night?  I've been meaning to post here and I kept falling asleep.  Getting home after 9 pm each night hasn't helped any.  Last week was spring break and on top of being crazy busy there was a death in the family (very old great uncle) which turned the rest of the week into an impromptu family reunion.  With a somber start, yet full of full with my crazy family the rest of the week flew by and suddenly I'm confronted with school again.  I had more awesome riding through Wednesday and then the rain started and didn't really stop until yesterday.  Today I rode Gigi and she was phenomenal!  Seriously!  She finally understands self carriage and we even threw in some canter half pass.  I'm really excited to continue to watch this mare develop I think she has a lot of untapped talent that we are just scratching the surface of.

So much power!
Thanks again to Ellie Cook for the great photos

Wednesday morning I had a couple of great gallops and it wasn't even too cold!

The most kissable white nose ever!

I wish I could gallop her without blinkers cause her face is just too cute to cover up

But that would be like taking the railing of stairs because the building looks nice

Check out dat a$$ (the horse's)

So. Much. Fun!
Thanks to Alyssa for the racehorse pictures!

Ok Ok I'm off to bed, lots to gallop and ride tomorrow and a lab practical for anatomy and physiology.

Sparkles and Sadness

Ok, bad news first.  One of our Thoroughbred broodmares foaled out two months early on Tuesday afternoon.  She had twins, they both died.  She lives at the farm about an hour away with the Hubby's brother and dad.  She hadn't started to bag up or anything, no warning.  Back early in the pregnancy the vet that checked her said that she had twins, but in a way that he couldn't pinch one off (common practice with horses) and if we were lucky she would absorb one.  We weren't lucky, but the outcome is unsurprising as twins with horses nearly never works out.  While I am sad, the Hubby is devastated.  This is one of his favorite mares and he was really looking forward to another baby from her.  The silver lining is that Holly (the mare) seems to be doing ok, eating and drinking, maybe she can have a baby next year.

Here are some shots from her first baby's first win:

Handsome guys

Fan club

Flew our jockey friend in for the day

Race trainers get a bad rap for 'not caring,' and while those I know might kill me for writing this, I've seen nearly as many of them cry over heart breaking horse news as people in the adult amateur ranks.

Doing a 180, Mojito was awesome last night.  I had been headed out to the farm to see if I could help with the one foal that was still alive, but hadn't gone five miles when they called to say it was too late.  So I headed out to snuggle my alive and well ponies.  Mojito soaked up a few tears and even made laugh worthy faces.

Hey there

I also tried on the bridle and it fit him great!  I know the noseband is way  loose here, but I need to shave him and I didn't want to catch his hairs.  Mojito is cute, but a total priss.

So much hair!

I also rode him in a full cheek french link for the first time...magic in his mouth.  I had been riding him in a happy mouth loose ring when his teeth were bothering him, but he didn't seem to be liking it anymore.  I had actually put the full cheek on thinking I would put this bridle on Diva, then I thought what the heck lets see if Mojito fits in it.  He was soft and responsive without being overly sensitive.  Also we trotted several circles and he was forward and reliable.  Best of all, his trot, swoon.  I had forgotten how nice it feels under saddle, but seriously it feels like you are going over caveletti with every step.  Float, float, float.  I'm hoping to get some actual pics and or video of me on him in the next few days, keep your fingers crossed.

*Thank you Mojito for being great at snuggling.

Finally, you probably wanted a picture of Tanner actually racing.  Oops, I got busy looking at the red head.

Here he comes

Rawr!

 Thanks to Alyssa over at fourmaresnomoney for the racing and paddock pics!

Also don't forget about the contest for soap over at Equestrian at Hart!

Yes you can bend

Diva was thinking maybe she didn't need to.  I rode her yesterday after several days off and she was pretty good.  She started out just a tad bit tense, I took a few trot steps on our circle to make sure there were no bucks or scoots and then off we went for a ride around the property.  She seemed like maybe she had something up her sleeve, but I think it was actually just a bit of pissy mareness (I guess sometimes she just can't help it, hey neither can I).  *note: spell check wants to change mareness to maleness...yup that works too, I know many many pissy males.  After our cruise around (during which I was noticing a lack of willing bend to the right) we headed back to the circle for some actual work.  She is so fun it is easy to just keep cruising, but I want her to be the best.  So work it is.  She is kinda funny, as in the trot she bends both ways and feels great, but in the walk if I try to bend right she just braces and falls in.  So around and around we went and I just kept methodically asking for some give, finally she licked and chewed and gave.  Then we were able to do figure eights with soft even bend both ways.  After that we took a break and cruised on the buckle then it was back to work with some of her best trot yet, then more on the buckle.  I was super pleased with her.

Kittens helping with the blog  

Sorry, I didn't even get an ear shot.  I also got to ride Courage yesterday which is always a treat, sprinklerbandit has really been working hard with him and he felt great!

So uphill!

He is going to be so fancy!

And finally a throwback to my first year on racehorses

Also, I changed the blog header.

If only I liked chicken dinner

We won we won! A race on Sunday and another on Wednesday.  Saro's Secret won up in Union, Oregon (BTW seriously the cutest town).  Union was a tiny town where half the roads were still gravel, the downtown was all brick complete with a soda fountain shop, and the houses were all gingerbread style, I loved it.

Race track and Rodeo grounds combo

The Union races ran at the same time as a rodeo, so yes horses would be warming up (getting ponied) next to an arena with broncs, bulls, and barrel racers!

Wednesday Tudor Blue won here in Boise, it was a very tense photo finish.  He is such a handsome horse,  with a big yet attractive head and a body to match.

Here he is reading the program with Eugene.

Life is chugging along...and I have finally set into motion the process of getting a job at the hospital so that I can eventually get into PA school!

House sat up at my favorite place again, I just love the peace and quiet out there.

No words

Coming up for air

Not much time as finals are next week and next weekend is the Idaho Dressage Festival (which I'm riding two horses at).  Whew, leaving the house by 5am and getting home around 9pm has not been conducive to getting this blog written on, sorry guys.  After finals are over I will have more time and plan to return to sharing about my escapades.  My husband is home, FINALLY!!!! It has been great great great!  I'm going to share some pics here as a time saving way to catch up with you.

We have been having some big rolling thunder storms, and the leaves are unfurling from the grape vines

Sadie (the back biter) and I go for a gallop

Star, one of two Halflingers I will take to the show

Idaho TB assoc award for 3yo filly of the year, Eugene was training her at golden gate.  Note: she just won here at Les Bois yesterday!

whispers *totally me*

Bridger is back from the cowboy, still rude, but willing to learn

Sprinklerbandits came over for a ride and Mojito and Suzie thought it would be a good time to race!

Ok that's all for now, but I promise more sooner than later.  Racing has started and we have already ran two seconds and won one!!!!

Setting the alarm

Wind.  That's what was up today.  I worked the last two days at the big spring sale at Flynn's Saddle Shop (my side job), it has been a couple of great days for business and it is always fun to catch up with friends.  Bigger news than the sale: 1. Bridger and Sadie finally left with the cowboy today. 2. Horses arrive at the track tonight so chores in the morning.  You may be wondering what this signifies?  No more sleeping until 6 am, nope I will be staring 4:30 am in the face sooner than later.  John and I are taking it easy to start with (6:45 am start at the barn tomorrow).
Here are a few shots of what fun things come with early mornings (thanks to Alyssa, Carrie, and my mom for great shots all from 2012).

Three red heads

Rail birds

Need a shoe?

Zoom Zoom (John in the white helmet)

Me and Tanner's Event, wheeeee!

Well I had better head to bed...early morning (don't forget daylight savings)!

Bling, blather, and new boy

Thanks to a sweet trade Diva now has a Nunn Finer brass/havana clincher browband!  This may hold me off from spending money (that I don't have) on a superfluous new bridle.  It looks great.

A girl needs bling

It matches her cliff barnsby bridle that I used to use on my big mare Genevieve.  She was a PMU foal, a Thoroughbred/Percheron and super athletic for her size.  We ran a few novice and schooled training.  She is now doing small jumps and extensive trail riding with her new mom:)

Different bridle here (Fall 2005)

I have to laugh, 8 years later and I have the upgraded model of shiny black princess (Diva).  I am contemplating giving Mr. Mojito a shave as soon as the weather is a bit more consistently warm, he is so freakin' hairy this winter.  It would be his first shave ever, a very grown up thing for him.  School is keeping on, I had two more tests this week and a group presentation.  No grades back yet, but I feel like I rocked them all!  This is the first time is years that I enjoyed a group project, we all fit into the 'overachiever'  category and it was an enjoyable experience.  I know my last post mentioned that the project was ridiculous and it was, but the group turned out good:).

'Chapy'

An owner claimed a new horse for the barn down at Golden Gate yesterday.  His name is Bluegrass Chap and he is 4 years old.  Eugene says he is sound and really likes his looks.  He has shown some potential but his last trainer couldn't seem to figure him out, step in Eugene.  He is great figuring out horses, we both seem to take on 'problem' horses in our respective areas of the horse world.  Chapy's looks remind me of a certain 'pollo pony that I used to have and is now living the best life with Rinsie.

A Sunday in the Sun

Thank the Lord, the sun shone today.  It got to a balmy 32 degrees and I got horse dirt under my fingernails, yes that means I did some grooming without gloves, joy of joys!  The day started off with some tasty coffee at a local joint that seems to channel my own personal music choices,

 then it was off to do some ground work and grooming with a client's halflingers,

 I moved some hay and finally finished off the evening with dinner and friends (including sprinklerbandit).  While turning my eyes towards the glorious golden orb in the sky I waxed a bit poetic: as the sun touched her cheeks with a rosy paintbrush her woes and worries drifted away and dreams again rose to the surface.
While it was still cold I was able to capture one more great frost shot.

Winner winner chicken dinner (blue and red blinkers)

And finally for a wonderful finish for the day my husband won a race at Golden Gate Fields with Lookn Wild!
So the sun came out and life rocked.