I love my horse!

So, after a day of the universe conspiring against me...I decided I needed a stiff drink, chocolate, and some time with my pony, not necessarily in that order. While there was still a half hour of daylight I headed off to the barn. After a near collision I made it there, to discover that I had left Libby's halter and leadrope at home (after an emergency car cleaning). Foryunately I had stocked a spare halter, but still no lead rope. No worries.
I trekked out the the back nine, evidently where the best dusk grazing is...to retrieve the mare. She's so good, she just follows me along like a puppy dog, without me urging her on. Well we get about 1/2 way back, at the top of a rise, when I notice a chorus of chirupping noises coming from a boggy area. Hoping that they may be frogs, I start leaping downhill in pursuit, trying to convince Libby that she should follow. Well, of course Libby realizes the fruitlessness of the situation, and plants herself facing me to watch events transpire. After indulging me a few minutes of squealling "here froggy, froggy" she finally decides I've spent enough time on such frivolities, and it's time to commence onto the barn, and her dinner. So she knickers to me!! Swear to god. It was the cutest thing EVER!! I melted...

Good ride yesterday...

So yesterday morning I went out and met Rebecca at the barn. The show on Saturday had inspired both of us. By the time I got to the barn Rebecca had a whole trail class set up! There were trot poles, ground poles to back through, ground poles in a square to do a 360 in, cones to weave through, and a faux mailbox and ground pole.

I can't say that Libby and I completed the whole course...but we did work on some backing skills as well as lateral movements. Then we did some trot poles to end the session. She wasn't totally convinced that the ground poles were a good idea. We made it through going right, then she gave up on me going left. Just stopped. About 10 feet in front of the poles. Nope, don't wanna she said. Like she was frustrated and giving up. Circled aound...broke into a walk, but picked the trot back up for me just in front of the poles. Then the moment of decision. Do I call that good since she trotted over, or force the situation and try to "make" her trot over it? Me "making" Libby do anything is a joke. She would win every time. I decide to go for it. She trotted straight on down the line and through the poles without a bobble!! I was so proud of us :D Poor girl was sweating and huffing by the time we were done! (Of course we were dealing with 100% humidity too).


I think this was just after we went through the trot poles, she stopped on a dime right in the middle of the square from a trot. So I was telling her what a good girl she is!



And this next one isn't from yesterday, it's actually from last summer but I just got the disc of photo's from Kyle's sister in law. The kids had come over to have "pony" rides on Libby, and I jumped on real quick. Look at that trot! Now that I know she can do it I'm going to be expecting that trot all the time!

It's the Little Things

Just had the best day! Highlights before I go to bed: barn, Libby, dog adoption event (unfortunately no new dog!), tack shop, horse show, food, horse show, tack shop (new $5 shirt), Kentucky Derby, barn, Libby, more food (DELICIOUS Japanese steakhouse THANK YOU REBECCA!) and whisky, then Kyle and bed. Best moment: driving to the barn (2nd time) and looking over onto lush green hills just before dusk, seeing a big black horse standing on the hill, her head up, looking off into the distance, me thinking "my god that horse is freakin' gorgeous," then realizing she was mine :D !!!
I'm a happy girl!

Lovely Day

It was finally nice out for my day off today! My Dad was driving through town on his way to Florida, so we went out to breakfast first thing in the morning. It was so nice to see him and chat for a while. He's stopping by for a bit longer on his way back next week.

I've been waiting to give Libby a bath forever, but I needed a couple supplies. There's a tack store that's only 1/2 mile from my house, it so nice. I picked up some alfalfa pellets and bathing supplies from The Dog and Pony Show. Then drove across town to our other tack shop, Balsam Quarter, and picked up some shampoo and Marigold Spray. Then off to the barn!

She got shampooed, with carefull attention paid to her mane and tail. It's so damn thick that it get's really dandruffy next to her skin and tail bone. Air just doesn't get to it. Then she got conditioned and rinsed again. Then on to the great tick hunt. I combed through and pulled off maybe half a dozen ticks today. I got some Frontline spray from work that I'm trying out on her mane and tail in an effort to deter ticks.

Then it was pedicure time! The farrier was out today too. Her hooves definitely need some help, and I'm determined to keep her barefoot if at all possible. She has a couple bad quarter cracks right now. Bryan worked his magic, but she's got a big chip out of the front left. I decided to switch her over to one supplement that my vet recommended that's pretty much everything in one, Platinum Performance. So hopefully this supplement helps, my vet said he likes it better than Farrier's Formula.

Then as I was wrapping up and Libby was finishing her pellets, Rebecca and her son pulled in! So I got to chat with her for a while and say hi to Tule, Pepper, and Dillon. A lovely end to a lovely day at the barn!

Bling Envy

I want this. In either candyfloss/fuschia or rose/rose.

Operation get Libby and myself into shape has commenced

After spending 3 hours of my life that I'm never getting back at the stupid DMV (where I got nothing accomplished...I still have to go back on my next day off with signed notarized papers...ARGH!) I finally made it out to the barn around late afternoon. It was a lovely day and unfortunately I forgot my camera, so no pics :( But I had a nice ride on Libby.
I told her we HAVE to get ourselves in shape. I really wish I was gutsier and felt comfortable going out on the trail by myself. Cause THAT is what I really need to do. But, since I'm a big wuss we did some arena work today. Can I just say that going from an OTTB to a full blooded Perch takes some getting used to? I'm used to Ice's huge over-striding loose forward walk, and big jostling running away with you trot. Libby just feels so stiff and short strided in comparison. However, her trot is SO comfy and smooth to sit and there's not that nagging worry that every leaf blowing across the arena is going to send her halfway across the county. It's a trade-off I'm willing to work with :)
Anyway, I really try to get her to stretch down and loosen up, then push her forward to get that big hind end up and under herself. Ohmygosh my poor little 5"2' legs just try their best, but there's no way they're wrapping around that big Perch belly. So I decided the legs were just going to need to get stronger. I worked on some posting without stirrups today. I can't tell you when the last time I did that was! The legs are going to be feeling that tomorrow. But I think I'll be doing some more of that in the future.
She had a few moments of really nice forward walk and trot today, but definitely not as consitent as I'd like it to be. And I definitely feel like I'm working way harder than she is! Hopefully we'll be able to find someone willing to put up with our slowness and hit the trails more this summer. Maybe find the canter again :)

Snow Day!!

We got the most gorgeous snow here. It started yesterday afternoon with HUGE wet flakes falling from the sky. We had a good inch or 2 by the time we went to bed last night, then woke up with upwards of 6 inches in some spots! Of course Asheville closed down. I was supposed to go into work this afternoon, but when I called to check in the vet had cancelled appointments...so I got a snow day! We live on the top of a small mountain...and this is the first time it's really snowed since we bought the house. Even though I have my all wheel drive Subie and I knew that Kyle had managed to make it down, I still wasn't thrilled at the prospect of having to brave the steep hill.

So I took the opportunity to take the dogs out and play in the snow! They had a blast! I can't tell you how much I love our property and the surrounding land. We have 3/4 acre, but are surrounding by 70 acres of hill, mountains, and farmland.

Here's Tela bounding through the snow.

Tehya, the graceful one, as always :)

Tela, asking why I'm not throwing the ball...

Tehya pausing for a photo op.

And Tela criticizing my snowperson!