Trails to Lead Old Cowboys Home Again

Hi all. Ashke has been moved to a farm in Kansas, due to the rising costs of horse boarding in my area, and his ongoing lameness issue with his right front. He is on 18 acres of pasture with three other horses. He seems happy and was not all that excited to see me the last time I visited him. I'm going to leave the blog published, but this will be my last entry.... [Read more]

So, five weeks ago, four days before our schooling show, at the end of my lesson as I was untacking, this happened: The bit fell apart at the cheek piece.   The end piece that fitted through the cheek piece rusted out completely. This is the end that was inside the cheek piece. I figure it must have been made of sweet iron and it rusted out on the end that he sucks against the side of his mouth.  I contacted the manufacture and was told it was normal wear and tear. I pushed back on that and the woman I was working with talked to the owner. They said they could fix it and would guarantee the repair to both sides of the bit. It cost me a little bit of money, but it shouldn't happen again. I was given a three week time frame for repair. In the meantime, Amanda loaned me her mom's bit to ride in and Ashke had definite opinions about it. He hated it. He would stick his tongue out of his mouth and just had no interest in relaxing and carrying himself properly. It has gotten worse and worse as time has gone on. I was supposed to get the bit a week ago, but it was sent to my old address and then sent back to the company. I finally received it late yesterday afternoon. Before that though, we got in a big fight during our ride yesterday. Today, I put the bit on his bridle and then eased it into his mouth. He moved the roller with his tongue, took a deep breath, and his whole body relaxed. The other thing I realized the day before is that he no longer needs spurs. So I lost those before our lesson today. He was so relaxed, on the bit, self-carriage, soft and receptive that both of those things were the right thing to do. Before the end of the lesson he had given me two relaxed and correct canter pirouettes and four or five steps of true piaffe in each direction. It might have been the best ride we have had ever. He was so happy.... [Read more]

The last time we showed in Working Equitation was June of 2019. It rained all weekend, so the show was inside. Ashke had just started getting injections for his hocks and although our dressage was okay, his behavior in the EOH was atrocious on the second day. I came away from that show having made the decision we were hanging up the effort for good. I stress too much about our performance and he really only wants to do speed all the time. It just wasn't fun. And since my last show was also on the same day that my divorce was final, I wasn't sure what my financial outlook was going to be long term. I made the decision that I would invest in our training with Amanda and put my show ambitions on the back burner. Some time between then and now, maybe both Ashke and I matured, developed additional skills and listened to our trainer. I completely changed my tack and attire, Ashke got injections, we've rehabbed a serious leg injury, and have consistently taken lessons with Amanda. Last Monday, Ashke and I had a huge fight in our lesson. After the lesson, I walked back out to her and said "he's for sale". She kind of laughed and said why? I answered "because I suck as a rider and I hate fighting with him". She said, "when are you going to learn that you will never win that fight? He is a 1000 lb animal with a mind of his own. The trick is to not fight. And you need to remember that he is Loki in horse form. You need to respond with humor not anger." Chris agreed when I talked to her later that he does have a bit of Loki in him, and that most Arabians do. I thought a lot about that conversation over the week. I also thought about the fact that Amanda has been chasing two scores on her FEI Grand Prix horse for the entire time I have been taking lessons. She doesn't get angry, she just keeps working on the things that need to be better. It's humbling. And recognizing that changed something for me this weekend. For the first time in a dressage test, when I knew I had made a mistake, instead of feeling frustrated or upset, I gave myself a nod and kept riding. No one in the history of dressage has ever scored a perfect 100%. We are going to make mistakes. And with Ashke, there is a likelihood that there are some movements we will never score better than a six on, so a six it is. I was still anxious, but it felt different this time. The gate during Speed   I also talked to Ashke on Friday when I went to bathe him. I told him we had two shows this weekend and I needed to wash both his face and his forelock, since he needs to be clean enough to glow. Damn if that horse didn't drop his head and let me wash his face. When I put him back in his stall I asked him to not lay in his poop so that he was still clean the next morning, which he complied with. He was amazing at the show. He stood calmly at the trailer when he needed to and was responsive under saddle. We were there from 8 am to almost 4 pm (the show was over about 1 pm, then we ate lunch together and then we had to reset the course for the following day. I was exhausted and humbled by my horse's attitude. He came back and did the same thing the following day without complaint. We did two solid dressage tests in two days. We scored 62.11 on Saturday and 61.36 on Sunday. The biggest differences were the walking pirouettes (2x score) and his changes across the center line were all early. The one thing I was able to correct was our entry down centerline (on Saturday I completely forgot to salute the judge and was saved by the fact that the test they had was the wrong one and so I got a do over). The other item I addressed was making sure our canter down the left side of the arena was straight rather than bigger. We were consistent. On Saturday I didn't have a score lower than 5.5, but on Sunday we had more 7's.  Bell Corridor during speed. We cantered in.   The EOH on Saturday was harder for Ashke. There was a jump (which I practiced at our home barn on Friday for the first time in two years) and the double slalom was seven poles. I knew that both of those would be difficult. We also had a back foot slip in the gravel around the figure 8 barrels. He wasn't the only one and the judge changed the location of one of the obstacles to avoid that slick area on Sunday. We scored a 61.11 on Saturday. We were the only ones in our division so it would have been easy to not race on Saturday, but even when I have the best of intentions of not racing, we end up going fast.  I was worried about Sunday's EOH ride. The last time allowed Ashke to race the Speed on the first day of a two show weekend, he was out of control in EOH the next day. When we were in the warm up arena, I talked to him and asked him to remember to go slow on the first course, that it was the EOH and he needed to listen and be with me. When we first got in the arena, I asked him to canter around the outside of the arena nice and collected. It told me he had listened and was willing to do the EOH course correctly. There were a couple of bobbles. I should have approached the single slalom differently and the change on the figure 8 was entirely my fault for cutting the back of the circle off and not getting him straight for the change. Other than that he did really awesome! We ended up with a 65.0 in the EOH. Then we got to run speed and run we did. But even when I let him out fully, all it took was a halt from my seat and he came right back down to me. It was so much fun. We be flying . . .  This was the first set of shows that I've had fun participating in. I let the small stuff slide off and enjoyed the partnership with my boy. It was pretty amazing. He was amazing.... [Read more]

Wow. it's been a long time since I posted and so much has happened that it might be a book to detail all of the things that have been going on . . . . that said, this is a story about Ashke. We started working on flying changes in December of 2018 and Ashke has shown moments of brilliance, but less of consistency. His issue has been from the change from his right lead to the left. From left to right, he is flawless and it takes just a slight shift and bump on the rein to execute, but in the other direction, he can be half a step off behind. We had reached a point where he was getting it clean 90% of the time, but the consistency wasn't there. I worked on making the warm up work we did consistent to see if that helped and although it does help overall (a warm horse is more consistent than a cold horse - who knew?) it didn't fix the real underlying issue. I began to suspect there might be something else going on, since otherwise he is well balanced and we have worked on getting him equally strong on both sides. We started with having the chiro come out. I felt like he was out in his SI area (chronic issue) which was the case, and also in his neck. He was better after that, but still kind of struggling. We brought in the vet and had his teeth done. They weren't horrible but there were a couple of points that needed to be addressed. It had been two years since his last teeth float, and as is usual with geldings, I had his sheath cleaned while he was drugged. He, of course, didn't drop and my vet, bless his soul, he had to go digging. At the end of that adventure, my vet pulled three beans the size of my thumb out. Ashke must have known that he was trying to help, since Ashke didn't kick or thrash, but also didn't drop. The vet said to me, going forward, we need to do his teeth once a year, specifically so we could clean his sheath. That poor boy. Guess what got 100% better? That's right, his change is now correct and balanced in both directions. Life is hard when you are a gelding.    Mother's Day ride with Amanda on the Drum mare, Portia.... [Read more]

I got to practice my dressage test this last weekend and although I went off course at the first walk pirouette, I thought we had made a marked improvement. Below you will find the last test I rode in a show and below that the test I rode on Saturday. The dressage test from the June show (Jill Barron, judge) February 6, 2021... [Read more]

OMG, this was the best move to date. I love this barn.  We moved in on 12/26. I needed to be able to ride without worrying about concrete footings, icy roads, and moving holiday blow up decorations (the new little gypsy cob Amanda is working with tried to destroy one of them - she be fierce). The move was fairly easy and we got the horses out to ride the day we moved in.   The stall is big - 16 x 16 - and kept very clean. They go into turn out from about 6 am until 1 pm. Ashke is in a single run turn out, since he plays way to hard with the boys. We are going to try and find a mare he can go out with, who won't be annoyed by him following her around.   He was a little distraught at not being able to see Kat across the aisle from him and all of the horses were in turn out when we moved into the barn, but he settled within a day or so. He loves being in turn out although he keeps trying to get the black mare next to him to snuggle.   This is the outdoor arena. We are about mid way in the arena. It is huge.  The footing is immaculate.   We were close to the north end of the arena. The horses all seemed relieved at seeing and recognizing each other. Laz and Ashke (who normally hate each other) seemed relieved to be riding together.   Ashke on the inside, Laz on the outside.   I got a pair of the BOT Royal Work Boots for protection and support of the right front (where he sliced himself open). They seem to be working just fine. He is also back in shoes, for support and stability. He came back into work a lot quicker than I did. My lower back has taken a couple of weeks to get the muscles strong again. It's been very painful. This is the indoor. With 8 jumps set up (right before a show) and still plenty of room to work in and around them. The footing is even better than outside, which is saying something. It is also quiet in the indoor (well, except for the horse noises on the other side of the left wall) even when the wind is blowing. He hasn't been real interested in running to the far end, however. Our lessons have been just challenging enough to not kill me while still tiring us out.     There is also trail access from the barn. We got out and rode about 4 miles last Saturday. He had . . . moments.      There is a lake that we will ride around next time (I wasn't sure it was allowed). He was pretty much an ass when we turned around so we spent our ride home at a collected trot, in shoulder-in, with a change of bend every ten strides.  I seem to be settling into a schedule. Trying to ride at least four days a week. In our lessons we are working on piaffe (getting him to really engage his hindquarters and come up in the wither as development work for his pirouette), changes and lateral work. And on me riding more like I know what I am doing than the sack of potatoes I feel like.... [Read more]

So, when we moved from Owen's we had two barns that we really looked at. One was a big facility, just having gone under new management, with two big outdoor arenas and a huge indoor. The stalling option was a run with a shed or inside in a box stall. That barn was big, with lots of horses and riders, very often busy with five trainers. The huge drawback was we were told that Amanda wouldn't be able to train us until one or two of the other trainers left. And there were only five spaces available. The second barn gave us the opportunity to have all of the horses in one barn, with a huge tack room, stalls with runs, two outdoor arenas and an indoor arena. We opted for the second barn, with the exception of the woman I was sharing lessons with (the other barn is within walking distance of her house) and Amanda decided to put Laz, her Grand Prix horse, at the other barn. We moved in the 18th of October. Our first time in the indoor in our new barn, Amanda walked us over to show us this: It's about a foot wide, 12 to 15 feet long. And concrete.   And about an inch down.   Our best bet is it is a footing for a building that used to be here and when the arena was built, they covered over it rather than digging it up. Amanda found it while lunging a horse that tripped and fell over it. It starts about two feet off the rail and runs almost to center line at about the K marker on a dressage court. Makes for some interesting mental notes while riding.   Additionally, the arena is not level at all. There are some spots that are high and hard, mixed with deep pockets of sand that kind of fall away under your horse's hooves. Plus, they neither water or drag it on a regular basis, which at least gives you an idea of where the holes are in the footing. Add in the five minute walk from our barn to any of the arenas (literally five minutes of meandering around buildings and cars and trees and bushes to get to the indoor) in the dark and I was beginning to regret my life choices.   November 1st, a Sunday, enroute to the barn, the owner called to tell me Ashke had hurt himself and probably needed to see a vet.       Sorry for the lousy angle on the pic. I was pretty distraught. He sliced himself pretty good on the bottom of the moving door between stall and run.     I got it cleaned up and called the vet. Dr S put eleven stitches in (five inside and six on the outside), told me the collateral ligament had been cut, and he thought the joint capsule had been injured. He cleaned it, stitched it, shot Ashke full of drugs to stave off a joint infection and suggested I pray.     We moved Ashke to an indoor stall and he was on strict stall rest for at least the first two weeks. Bandage changes happened every three days, he was on antibiotics for ten days and his only activity was a walk outside his stall, turn in a circle and walk back in.   The first bandage change. No signs of infection. No swelling. Barely off at the walk.   Two weeks in. I was finally starting to breathe again, since I figured no joint compromise or infection at that point.   The bandage change after the stitches had been removed. At this point, walking up and down the barn aisle was allowed.    This was at close to seven weeks. We were walking a lot, around the barn, and Ashke was almost uncontrollable. I ended up getting a nose chain because he was too difficult to try and lead. It kept his feet on the ground when we were outside.     Finally, after eight weeks we were cleared to start work again. He is staying in the stall for the foreseeable future.   Here's the deal. On the morning that Ashke hurt himself, five other horses in the barn were either hurt or scared by something unidentified. Ashke was injured, as was the horse next to him, but the other horses have lost their freaking minds. We went from horses that were settling into the new place and beginning to work again, to horses that are a struggle to handwalk any where on the property. They are definitely in fight or flight mode. I think there was a big cat. I don't think it came into the barn area, but I think it got close enough that the horses could smell it. At the back of the property (which is 50 acres) is a field filled with tall trees and deep grass and deer. The property runs along a ditch, that leads back to the St Vrain river. The deer and elk have been pushed out of the mountains from the massive loss of food due to the rampant fires that hit us in August and September. There have been reports of big cats on the east side of I-25 in the past month, following the deer that are feeding off the harvested fields. Single males can have a range of almost 400 square miles and they follow their food source. The horses know something is off and although it could be a bear, those should be hibernating and not stalking horses.   Amanda moved one of her horses to the other barn where Laz is living. She went from a wild, unsettled horse to calm and focused in a day. With the exception on one of our barn family, we are all moving on the 26th.   We have started back under saddle, with leg support until he is stronger and back in full time work.      This was a couple of weeks ago. I just can't even.   This is set up between the barn and the indoor, next to the ice covered path. It has been joined by three other inflatables. One of the horses walking to the indoor on Saturday, slipped and fell on the ice. Thankfully, no one was hurt.   Ashke got shoes put back on in support of his injury. The stability in the arena seems to be much better with shoes on. He is being ridden in front boots (BOT Royal Work boots) and that seems to be helping. We have limited our lessons to half an hour and I look forward to being able to wash him enough to be able to clip him at the new barn.   Happy holidays, everyone! May the returning light bless you in the year to come.... [Read more]

So, when shit hits the fan, all you can do is duck or move out of the way . . .  I have been taking lessons on Thursday night for several years now. Sometimes it moves to Tuesday or Wednesday, but we always gravitate back to Thursday. I have been riding with one of my barn mates and sharing lessons with her, because we are both working on the same things. It gives the horses a break between pirouettes and half-pass and sometimes you can figure things out by watching them in front of you. The barn we were boarding in had a huge indoor arena with decent footing and horrible lighting. We ride outside as much as possible, but late fall, winter and spring, we have to ride inside. Its a necessity. And its why we were willing to pay $600 a month for the privilege. Mind you, that's for the stall with run, cleaning the stall and run, water, hay, safe choice grain and use of the facilities. No blanketing. No turn out. An indoor arena that leaks badly. Snow sliding off the roof of the arena. Tree branches scrapping and banging on the walls in the wind. Flooded runs and a tack room with a wall that rains water like a waterfall during inclement weather. It was impossible to ride early in the morning because the barn owner uses the indoor for turn out. They watered and dragged the arena on her schedule, which meant that some nights the indoor was wet, muddy and slick. But, we made it work for us, the hay was premium quality, and the horses seemed happy. And no one ever really wants to move barns. On the last day of September, the barn owner gave us notice of the board increase (with no upgrade in facilities - every improvement made in the past two years we've paid for) of $100 a month. We were bound by contract to give a 30 days notice, which meant we needed to find a place within two days. Not a lot of time to work with, but we made it happen. Once we knew where we were going, we all gave notice. Thirteen horses were leaving. Eight of them went to my new barn, three of them went to a second barn and the other two went their own way. I'm not sure what the BO was expecting, but it doesn't seem like this is what she thought would happen. Instead of seeing her profit margin increase, she took a huge hit in potential income. It made her a bit surly. Two weeks ago on Thursday, we were taking our lesson with Amanda. All of a sudden, with no warning (door!) at all, the BO yanked open one of the doors on the show barn, which shrieked horribly and scared the bejesus out of both horses. She glared into the arena and then stomped off into her side of the barn. No greeting, no acknowledgement of her poor choices. She left the door open, which her husband shut about twenty minutes later. This last Thursday, my barn mate and I went into the indoor and started our warm up. We had walked around the arena a little bit and had just started a jog when once again the door was yanked open. (No warning). This time both horses spooked pretty hard and I'm not sure another rider wouldn't have hit the ground. The barn owner stomped across the arena while we turned to watch her. Two strides from the light switches she said "I'm turning off the lights. . . . you might want to get off." Then the lights in the arena went off. My barn mate had gotten off her horse but I was still swinging down off of Ashke when the arena was suddenly in pitch blackness. I pulled my phone out of my pocket and got it turned on which helped us get out of the arena safely.  I was beyond pissed. It was unprofessional. Reckless. Dangerous. Horrible horsemanship. And a breach of contract. Amanda had received a text from the BO about the time we were swinging into the saddle saying that if we wanted to use the indoor at night we had to pay her an extra $20 to ride. Everyone was pretty pissed as well. There were at least five of us riding in the indoor in the evening that this would effect. The BO expected it in her Venmo account prior to turning on the lights. We were already paying a premium price for board, it was flat out extortion to ask for more, a poor business decision on her part, and just petty. We texted the new barn owner and made arrangements to move the horses two weeks early. I took Friday off to move hay and then we moved everyone over the weekend. I will post the new barn photos next.... [Read more]

After the trip to Diamond Lake, I was bit by the backpacking bug. However, there was no way I was going to be carrying 40+ pounds on my back up big mountains any more. The pack I was using was purchased in 1997, had an external frame, was heavy and didn't really fit any more. The tent weighed almost nine pounds, the camp stove was white gas and weighed almost 4 lbs. Things just needed to change. So, for my birthday, I gave myself a new outfit.    This is the Osprey Rook 65. Empty, it weighs 3.52 lbs and the sales person at REI helped me get it fitted properly to my torso. I opted for an Osprey, since I have several hydration packs already, and the Rook would allow me to add the hydration pack inside. Having carried it up and down a mountain, I can say it is an exceedingly well balanced pack and balanced the weight very well. I never felt like it was pulling me forward or backward.     I ordered a tent off Amazon, which was on sale for 45% off. It weighs 4 lbs 2 ounces, so just about half of what the one I took last time weighed. It's a bit of a pain to set up, but once you figure that part out, the inside was very spacious.      This is the best little stove and uses compressed propane, which is super efficient. It weighs less than a lb, with the fuel weighing in at 230 grams. It was about a third of the weight of the stove I carried for my trip to Diamond Lake.     I also updated the water filter. The one I had needs a new filter and they don't make them any more. I really liked this one, especially since it came with a connector that will hook directly into my hydration bladder. It was quick and efficient.      I also decided that my hiking companion could carry her own stuff. The pack fit pretty good and she didn't seem to mind it at all. She carried a down blanket, her fleece lined Dover jacket and some freeze-dried dog food (and holy fuck is that expensive). The pack weighed 5 lbs fully filled. I also changed the inflatable sleeping pad I had, thinking that the lighter weight one would work just as well (bad choice), packed a single hammock instead of the double, and didn't bring any Dr Pepper. The pack with the hydration pack filled to one liter and carrying 24 ounces of gatorade, weighed 33 pounds. I brought a light weight winter jacket (down filled that could compress), a micro-fleece top, a long sleeved shirt, thermal leggings, one pair of socks and one pair of underwear. I don't think I could lose any more weight when doing three season camping (fall night time temps) but I could have left the hammock. Since I think one of the only real reasons to camp is to be able to lay in my hammock, I don't think I would be making that decision.   Tonya and I, with Bernie (her dog) and Skittle (my dog) headed out early on Saturday. We got on trail about 10 am, and I was feeling pretty strong. We had pre-hiked the trail the weekend before and knew where the trail markers were and what to expect. The mental preparedness helps a lot when backpacking.       Skittle's only issue with her pack was the sides sticking out more than she was expecting. She was pretty proud of herself for carrying her own stuff with her.   I was really much more excited that it appears. I felt strong and determined.    The first trail marker one mile in.   Most of the trail was about like this.     It is a beautiful hike, but parts can be very challenging.   This would be the more challenging part. One of them.     One of our many breaks. Skittle isn't about the selfie.     This is the second mile. Lots of ankle breakers. Not horribly steep.   Getting closer to the end of the hike. It's a nice overlook to take a break and rest.   Skittle was happy to rest against me.  Before we really started climbing, we got the dogs down to the creek and let them splash and drink.    My trusty companion just before licking the inside of my nose. She has the fastest tongue in the west.     Crested the top of the trail. 3.2 miles with 1000 feet of elevation gain.     My tent, which I am very happy with. It was more than enough for me and Skittle and is big enough to accommodate two adults, if that ever happens again.   Really gorgeous pair of lakes. 10,900 ft high. Took us 4.5 hours to get there. 3.5 hours of hiking and about an hour of rest breaks.     Just before sunset.   Definitely worth the hike.   Skittle loved her blankie and her jacket   Bernie snuggled into a down filled vest brought just for him.     She will lay anywhere I put her blanket.   So, I made a strategic mistake. I used T's inflatable pad instead of my hammock pad due to weight. What I didn't recognize was the hammock pad has "wings" and was insulated. The new pad was not. Both Skittle and I were cold, even with the fleece jacket on her. I finally had to pull her against my chest, then cover her with all of my extra clothes to get her warm. I won't make that mistake again.   Skittle suited up and ready to go. It was 37 degrees and we could feel the storm coming in, so we headed out.   Ready to head out.    Part of the trail I got a pic of going down. The last mile up is hard, but the last half mile is a son of a bitch.  We hiked straight through, without stopping for a break. There were a couple of times where Tonya had to wait for me due to my careful approach to anything that might break me (loose rocks, steep steps) and Skittle was patient too. It was just as well we made it in one long hike because it was spitting rain mixed with snow as we hit the parking lot.   Two hours down. It snowed pretty good on Sunday afternoon. I'm glad I didn't have to try the rocks wet.   My recovery was much better after this trip. I drank better and ate better both going up and in camp. And I just think my body had started to adapt to the work, even after just a couple of trips. we were hoping to do one more adventure, but between the weather and all of the other craziness happening this month, I think I will have to wait until next spring.... [Read more]

To make sense of this week, we need to go back in time and expand on some items. In June of 2018, due to a series of unfortunate decisions on the part of our "old" barn owner, I moved barns. I moved to a barn almost 40 minutes away for a couple of reasons: 1) Amanda moved herself and her students to the new barn, and 2) we were having feed quality issues with the old barn and Ashke was losing weight. There was the additional benefit of having the barn two minutes from where Amanda lived (for blanketing, night checks on sick horses, checking on them when there were fireworks) and at the time we moved in, the board was about the same. The physical benefits aside, there was also the benefit of boarding with women I feel like I had just begun to know. We moved into one wing of the barn and over the course of the past two years and four months, this group has become family. When we moved into the barn I already knew that my ex was having an affair. It was beyond obvious, and I suspected at that time the affair had started a couple of years prior. I didn't have definitive proof (harder to prove since lesbians have female friends that aren't lovers), however, my personal life was very solitary and lonely. The barn became my second home, and the women I boarded with were one of the reasons I was able to survive last year. One of my barn mates was my realtor, and she has become one of my very best friends. One of them is my vet and handled the spay of our three baby animals last year. One of them is a ray of light to everyone she is around, and has organized all of the get-togethers we've had as a group. Amanda is not just my trainer, but my dear friend. And one of them is the woman I ride with in lessons, since we both work on the same stuff and enjoy riding together (you can learn as much watching someone else figure out the canter pirouette as you can trying it yourself). I value and love all of them and have cherished the time spent at the barn, the moments of our lives that we share, the conversations and laughter. It's been a lifeline. Tuesday night we lost one of the horses at the barn. He had broken his leg, had it surgically repaired, and then developed laminitis during his recovery. His owner had tried everything, but once the rads showed coffin bone rotation in both front feet, she made the decision to put him down. I didn't go to the barn on Tuesday, because they were taking care of him that late afternoon (and because I wanted to watch the debacle of a debate). Weds just after noon I got a message from one of my friends that a letter had been distributed, which she took pics of and messaged them to me. The barn owner raised her rate for board by $100/month.  I felt like I had been punched in the gut. Just to be clear, I am on a shoestring budget and I have no more money for board. I am very limited in my options. I couldn't afford to pay any more than I was paying now. I needed to find another place to board or I needed to sell Ashke. On top of that, we had eleven horses that we needed to find a place for, if we were going to stay together, which I didn't think would happen. I burst into tears at both the thought of losing my horse and at the thought of losing my barn family. I sent a message to my coworkers and then headed home. I just couldn't cope.  In the two days since then, I have toured a couple of different barns, talked with a lot of my barn peeps, and just been amazed at the resilience of this group of women. We've found a place for eleven horses in stalls with runs, a huge tack room that doesn't pour rain during any storm, good lights and lots of outside space to ride and explore. And we will be paying less for the new place over the old one.   Most importantly, our core group will be staying together.... [Read more]

So, in a fit of confusion about my actual age and level of fitness, I strapped on a backpack, loaded it up with what I considered a minimum amount of "stuff", grabbed my trusty companion dog, and headed to the back country. The backpack was 24 years old. The sleeping bag was new. The water filter was 24 years old, as was the camp stove. The tent, while a "backpacking tent" was not really light weight. Loaded, I had 42 pounds on my back. The first backpacking trip was to Diamond Lake, above Eldora, Colorado, a 2.6 mile hike with almost 1000 feet of elevation gain. Yes, I am that stupid.   Skittle was very excited to get to go. Little did she know the hell that awaited her.   Mapquest said it was an hour and forty-two minutes to the trailhead. We wanted to meet at 8:30, so I left about 7. It was just a little after 8 when I reached Nederland High School, the staging area for the trailhead. The officer running the roadblock directed me to get into line and wait until it was my turn to go ahead. Since my hiking companions hadn't joined us yet, that seemed like a good plan. I pulled into line and waited. My friend, T, and her three kids (A, J, and G) showed up about 8:45. We managed to move my truck to a parking space, with my stuff loaded into the back of her truck since parking at the trail head was very limited. T's truck was bigger and much more able to manage the horrible road conditions It was just after ten when we finally headed to the 4th of July trailhead, parked and loaded up.     Start of the trail. Skittle had already figured out "her" people and was very stressed that they were leaving without us. (We stayed with them for a week last year when I was out of the condo but not in my house yet, and she remembered them.)   There is no real way to make a hike that gains almost a 1000 feet of elevation gain easy or fast. It was a long, slow slog and poor Skittle took to looking back over her shoulder and bracing to help me up some of the terrain.      I followed the pack for the hike. T and J were trading off handling Bernie (the Tiajuana dog they adopted a little more than a year ago). He was having issues with controlling his exuberance until we created the dog version of draw reins, with pressure between his front legs to keep him from pulling. We used parachute cord, but it worked. It was easiest to follow, since Skittle wanted to go faster than I could maintain when we were in front.   The trail was easy in some places and much harder in others.     This was the first waterfall we came to. By this time, J was carrying my sleeping bag, since I couldn't keep it on my bag.      First waterfall.    So we stopped at the waterfall to allow G to refill his water bottle, which meant unpacking a water filter and pumping. Mine was easily accessible (I expected to have to filter at some point) and I knew how to work it, since I had figured out how to use the filter before I had packed it, so doing it on the side of the mountain was pretty easy. That said, figuring out how to use the filter was pretty funny. I read the directions standing in my kitchen, then pulled out a pot and filled it with water from the sink. I dropped the filter end into the water and started trying to pump. Nothing. I reviewed the directions, then tried again. Still no water. Aware that the filter was two decades old, I decided that I needed to check the filter tube to see if it was clear. I pulled the tube off the filter, stuck it in my mouth and inhaled. The hot water I had (mistakenly) filed the pot with hit the back of my throat and I choked (our water comes from a boiler, so just under boiling). I was standing in the kitchen, trying to inhale enough air to cough out the water that I had mis-swallowed, wondering if this is how I was going to die. I finally got my breath back and finally figured out how to make the pump work (dunk it completely into the water until the pump is primed). The boys filled their water bottles, handed back the water filter, and we headed out.    This very cool tree was overhanging the trail, The wood was worn smooth from all of the hands that had touched it.    This was the big waterfall about 2/3rds of the way to Diamond Lake.  I was pretty busted by this point, and although I ate the "liquid" food I had brought, I really should have had lunch before starting the hike.      The final 1/3rd of the trail was brutal. It is the steepest part of the hike at the highest altitude, and I was pausing to catch my breath every ten minutes or so. The temps had fallen, so I was sweating heavily when moving and chilled to the touch when I wasn't. Skittle was a trouper, although we need to work on our selfie game.       The stream at the top.  I was pretty much staggering at this point.       First glimpse of the lake. We had been told that Site 2 was empty and the best camp spot at the lake. We were able to secure it and they were right. It was a very nice campsite.     When we got to the campsite we started setting up camp. It had sprinkled a bit off and on while hiking and both T and I were worried about getting shelter set up before it started raining for real. The tent was easy to set up and inflatable mats are simple now. I had also packed a super light weight down blanket for Skittle to sleep on. I used the new hammock straps to hang my hammock (and OMG, where have those been all my life?), then I got the stove set up and water heated.      My little tent and hammock. Nice little camp site.   I was feeling a bit of shock, stress from not eating enough and the altitude, plus just flat out exhaustion. The Mountain House Spaghetti with meat sauce was very good and I finished the double portion straight out of the bag. I fed Skittle her can of food (emptied out of the can into a quart sized freezer bag to save on trash and weight). Then I put on every piece of clothing I had brought and climbed into my sleeping bag. Skittle curled up beside me while I shivered for the next hour or so and dozed off and on.   During that time, T and her kids had gone to the lake. The boys were fishing and she and her daughter walked around the lake trail. When they got back I had gotten warm enough and rested enough that I realized how I wasn't making great choices. I stripped out of the clothes, removing the bottom layer that was still sweat soaked, and then dressed in the dry items I had. We then walked back down to the lake. Once I was dry and moving without exertion, I warmed up pretty quick.      All the campsites are set at least 100 feet from the water, so that the water isn't contaminated by us dickhead humans. Site 2, where we camped, was farther back than that, and this was the site that greeted us as we walked toward the lake.   So the youngest boy, G, figured out how to reach under the overhang of the bank and catch fish with his hand. One of the ones he brought out, flipped out of his hand and flopped around on the ground. Skittle was very interested in the fact that something food like was coming out of the water.  Everything was catch and release, plus not really big enough to keep.     Feeder stream into the lake.   Big rock I really wanted to climb on and sit in the lake, but didn't want to risk getting wet. Colorado is under an open fire ban, plus this lake is camp stove only, so no way to get dry and warm if one gets wet.   The far end of the lake.   After watching the fish tickler catch numerous fish with his hands, we headed back to camp. I cooked another freeze dried meal and ate about half, feed Skittle some cookies, and listened to the kids laugh and joke with each other in that way that only sibs can do. Once meals were eaten, we had to pack up the food and trash and put them in the bear safe.   What is a bear safe? It is a container designed to hold victuals and food contaminate trash that bears can't get into. There was a warning on the website saying that the bear in the area of Diamond Lake had learned how to get food that was hung up in the tree and that a bear safe was the only option. When T told me to get a bear safe, I ordered the cheapest one on Amazon that would be there before Friday.     This is what I got. Empty it weighs 3 lbs.It's made of super durable plastic without seams that bear could get his claws into.    Once dinner was eaten, all of the dishes, packaging, trash and wraps needed to be packed into it and the screws tightened. T's was a little shorter but bigger around and about the same weight. It's big enough it could hold a week's worth of food for one person, but it didn't fit as well as it might have in the pack that I currently have. We got everything sealed up and walked the containers across the meadow behind us to set them at the edge of the treeline more than 100 ft from our camp. I heard the bear roll T's container (she had a couple of metal spoons in hers) at about 4 am. We gathered the safe back up the next morning at least 100 feet from where we had set them out. They did their job though, since the bear didn't come into camp and didn't get into the food.  The night was rough. I have a real hard time sleeping on the ground and I couldn't get my head to shut up. I finally, toward dawn, started repeating the mantra from Teen Wolf  "What cannot long remain hidden? The sun, the moon, the truth." I think I slept for a while then. My sleeping bag was warm, but Skittle was cold. She spent the night curled against me and I made sure the down blanket was both under and over her. Otherwise, I could feel her shiver in long slow waves. If we are going to continue backpacking, I need to get her a pack so she can carry her own food and clothing. She didn't even bark when the bear was playing boce ball with the bear safe.     Diamond Lake early in the morning, getting water for breakfast.   First thing in the morning, the boys went fishing. J and I went to the lake to filter water and then back to cook breakfast. The breakfast meal wasn't as good as some of the other meals I tried, but it was food. Skittle ate her morning can of food, and I repacked my bag. T and I had spent a lot of time talking about the options I had available with the improvements made in light weight camping gear. I think I need to decide if Skittle will be a regular companion on these outings (I really loved having her with me) and if so, can she pack her own gear? Otherwise, I would try backpacking with the hammock, rain fly, insulating pad and new sleeping bag. Of course, I have to know ahead of time that there are trees appropriate for hanging a hammock. Much to be explored. We got camp broke down and packed up. We were ready to hit the trail by 10.       The seven of us ready to head back down the mountain.   I took it a little slower than the rest, although they were awesome about waiting on me. Skittle knew when we got to rough sections of trail to stop and watch my progress as we moved down one step at a time. She was sooooo good, didn't pull and made sure I was okay.   Prettiest waterfall of the trip. We ate snacks here and took a bit of a breather. The only uphill section of the trail came immediately following this spot.   Colorado aspen change overnight. Some great color on our trip home.   T's oldest took this pic.    Four hours hiking in and two hours hiking out including all stops and breathers. I hyper extended my knee slightly toward the end of the hike, otherwise came back in one piece. I have a good idea of what decisions I need to make and what I need to replace if I want to do this as a hobby. I was pretty proud of myself for not quitting, not crying, and still managing the 40+ lbs I carried. I do need to lighten the pack if this is going to be a regular thing.     Skittle spent the rest of the day and evening like this.     Almost at the bottom of the trail, completely wiped out and ready for a nap.   Overall, today I can feel the exertion in the back of my legs (hammies and achilles) with the biggest soreness in the lower leg just below the calf muscle. My shoulders are also bruised, especially where the strap of the pack pressed over the strap on my bra. I don't feel as bad as I expected to given the amount of effort it took, so I'm not as out of shape as I expected. I definitely use different muscle groups to hike vs riding, however.... [Read more]

Despite my best intentions, I have not made it back to blog town all month. Considering how busy I've been, I guess its not a surprise. So, here is an August update:     Here are some bits and pieces of a couple of different rides the past week. His changes are getting better, although when he gets tired or thinks I'm being an asshole, his hips start to swing. The pirouettes were during our lesson. Overall, I am so happy with his development and how he is progressing. I am hoping to buy a Pivo soon, since the Pixem doesn't really work well and it takes an hour to set up. This was the kitchen just after I moved in.   The finished (mostly) product   The other side of the kitchen.   The island thingy.    I added hardware to the upper cabinets.     Nice real wood cabinet I purchased off Craigslist for my canning.     Updated with new paint to match the cabinets and moved into place, then filled with the fruits of my labor.   I have three more things I want to do and then the kitchen will be complete. The first will be the ceiling: patch and paint a very light grey. The second and third things are going to be a surprise, because they will have a high visual impact. I will share when they are done.   I got a call from T early in August and the first words out of his mouth were "I've been in an accident. We are okay."   The car was totaled. He made out ok, however, and a couple of weeks later, after the dust had cleared, he drove home in this:     2020 Honda Civic Coupe     Last October I purchased a hybrid camper as a gift to myself.  It took her out on her maiden voyage early in August. The Tacoma pulled her just fine. I didn't try the shower, but having a bathroom with a toilet was amazing.      Vedauwoo is an amazing place.   Skittle got to be special dog since she listens the best and doesn't really like Maya. Lily got to stay home and play babysitter.   No fires here (yet). Camp in the far distance. We had climbed to the top of the rocks.   Maya is the newest addition to T's right arm sleeve Slightly different angle     Boo in the fruit dish being cute   Princess Leia and Boo on my computer bag just hanging out.     Maya and the malinois singing the song of their ancestors   I'll try not to let it go so long next time, but no promises.... [Read more]

I am planning an update on all the things at some point in the next, oh, four years, or this month, whichever comes first. I keep meaning too, but every time I might have a moment to do so, I'm exhausted, or the dogs need something, or I am cleaning diarrhea out of the bathtub (don't ask - just know that green tomatoes are not a puppy's friend). So, let me regale you with a couple of videos from last week's lesson: We always have issues with our first try, especially if we have been working on something else, because he tries SSSSOOOO hard to always have the right answer. This was after working on half-pass and homie was convinced that at any moment he would be asked to half-pass, so best to be ready. Much better the second time around.  Such a good boy. Maybe tonight I will try and get vids of the pirouette work we have been doing.... [Read more]

So, Ashke is now training canter half-pass, three tempis, canter pirouette and medium trot. He loves the "tricks" and even when we start out awkwardly, once he gets it he tries really hard to get better. Since we were getting pretty solid on the three tempis, I asked Amanda to start our lesson on Thursday night with an assessment of where he was. I wanted to know if he was close enough that we could start training two tempis or if we needed to continue working on polishing the three tempis. It was a marvel to watch Amanda ride him. She is so elegant and kind rider, but she knows what he can do, so he's not allowed to get away with a lot of the things he "talks" me out of or into. He figured it out pretty quick that he's not to throw his head up when he starts his canter transition and he's not allowed to bury his head in her hands on the downward transitions. I know, so mean to expect him to carry himself. Funny how much better he was with me afterwards, and more willing to abide by the expectations.   I didn't get a lot of video, but doesn't he look gorgeous   So, Amanda says his recovery between changes is a stride and a half, so not good enough for twos yet, but getting there. We spent the rest of the lesson working on transitions, half-pass at the canter while remaining on the bit (so mean) and our medium trot. My legs really hurt today. Slowing his medium trot to a collected trot using my seat and legs only almost killed me.... [Read more]

This weekend was the first time since March of last year that I rode five days in a week, and five days in a row. Wednesday was a short ride of only about ten minutes due to the sudden storm that blew in while I was riding with a friend in the outdoor arena. We went from pretty warm but overcast to so much dust we could barely see the barn in about 30 seconds. Ashke and I had just started our canter work and as we turned our circle toward the barn we were met with a chest high tumbleweed that hadn't been there two seconds before. Ashke did a bizarre movement that seemed to be a jump, shy, stop thing as it hit his chest, which was so awkwardly funny that I burst out laughing until I heard my friend say something behind me. I turned around and she was stock still on her 16.3h Friesian. I could tell she wasn't comfortable and starting to panic a little at the conditions. I swung down off Ashke and walked over to grab the horse, who in his defense did not move a single muscle despite the weather conditions, which had added lightning to the mix. He stood stock still until his rider was on the ground. I never worry about Ashke, since I know that I can ride anything he is going to do, because I also know he would never try to hurt me. I don't have that confidence in other horses, but this time, the big guy stepped up and took care of his mom. Sunday, we were practicing and when we got to the far end of the arena, he suddenly started throwing changes everywhere. I brought him to a halt and conversationally asked him WTF, dude? Amanda's mom, who had been watching us, started laughing and explained that Laz was coming around the corner toward us and Ashke was reacting to him. They really act like rival stallions in the barn and neither of them really like the other. Ashke is the only other gelding in the barn working on the kind of things that Laz routinely does (he is a FEI Grand Prix horse).... [Read more]

I took Thursday off to help T with his new motorcycle. He purchased it the end of May with my help and it was delivered a couple of days later. The first day it was dropped off, he drove it from the trailer to the front of the garage, over balanced and dropped it. This is pretty common for motorcycles and something that happens. He was pretty bummed because it bent the handlebar. Not enough to make it hard to ride, but enough to be annoying. Then he started riding it - mostly in the neighborhood and then further out just to get used to the bike. A couple of weeks ago, I threw the dogs in the truck and followed him to a rec center that had a big parking lot because he wanted to learn to rev-match when downshifting. We got to the parking lot and he waved me over. He said the handlebar felt "loose" and he was afraid it was going to break. He drove straight home, pulled the bike into the garage and two minutes later the handlebar broke. We think, in retrospect, that it had been damaged in an earlier fall, which is what caused it to bend when it tipped over in our driveway. They aren't supposed to do that from tipping over slowly from a stand still. The faring did have marks on it showing it had been dropped in the past. Saturday morning, I went to Circle Star Arena and helped with the schooling show they had. I was masked and socially distanced the entire time. I was the gate/paddock steward and there were only 11 rides for the day. The only bad thing was the temps. It was over 90 by 10 am and a high of 97. I kept dunking my mask and hat into the cooler of ice, which helped for the length of an EOH ride. The final EOH ride happened at about 1 pm. I said my goodbyes and headed for the barn where I said hi to Ashke, stuffed his face with carrots and then headed home. It was just too hot to ride. I spent the rest of the day making my world famous Sweet and Spicy Sauce and jarring 20 of them for the year. I did it a little different this time (third time is the charm) and ran everything through the blender prior to cooking. I like the flavor and texture of this most current batch. And I have 26 pints of it on my shelf.  I woke up thinking I would ride on Sunday, but when I got to the barn I remembered that the hay was being delivered. So, I emptied our hay area, raked all of the moldy and bad hay out from under the pallets, rearranged the pallets so that there was room for the new hay, and hauled out all of the nasty stuff. Then I went to lunch. By the time we had eaten lunch, the hay had arrived, so we got it unloaded and stacked in the area. All of that while wearing a mask. Mine had the added benefit of screening out the hay dust and mold, making the abuse my lungs were taking a bit less than it could have been. I would never have thought to put on a face covering, under normal circumstances.... [Read more]

My watch said it was 97 in the indoor arena today. Amanda looked like she was melting slowly into the sand and I had a river of sweat running down my sides. Ashke thought he would like to just stand and let us talk, instead of moving. We opted for a half lesson due to me being a wimp. And some random images from the past couple of days:   She is just flat out cool.... [Read more]

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <br /></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMvEVP0il3-dESRmpgE4Pk7CkMLqIjDNCx-RxLN3u9hdaSdBTh_1UXdXdU8qZGbXJ8ZV_EmBlODvXYF7ZmyWSWOsH7doU6HiyWnEntH7_8wkpTshwMbpNkzaFKvy-yTbwetoJ8KXJQn0p_/s1600/IMG-1035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMvEVP0il3-dESRmpgE4Pk7CkMLqIjDNCx-RxLN3u9hdaSdBTh_1UXdXdU8qZGbXJ8ZV_EmBlODvXYF7ZmyWSWOsH7doU6HiyWnEntH7_8wkpTshwMbpNkzaFKvy-yTbwetoJ8KXJQn0p_/s640/IMG-1035.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <div style="text-align: center;"> &nbsp; Just as a cautionary tale, twelve squash plants may be a few to many. That is a single day's harvest. I am going to have to find a food pantry that will take home produce.</div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <br /></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI3N-MEXdgugfBZCXjJrC8PvVi7wuh7AMqBoMq-RO_5VAqWjKwMXfeO2aIQfPvqwkx0GeuP7oF11a9v1ZT5hM0uojOeA2ELaghx2DmQc4XnJzBehkrwZ_FiuV-CXHBqgFU5nJUh0_3VH6U/s1600/IMG-1036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1329" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI3N-MEXdgugfBZCXjJrC8PvVi7wuh7AMqBoMq-RO_5VAqWjKwMXfeO2aIQfPvqwkx0GeuP7oF11a9v1ZT5hM0uojOeA2ELaghx2DmQc4XnJzBehkrwZ_FiuV-CXHBqgFU5nJUh0_3VH6U/s640/IMG-1036.JPG" width="530" />&nbsp;</a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> Pic from our ride on Saturday.</div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <br /></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> &nbsp;</div> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZpMPLt6sQ5T6chVA7aPI0mt6Syv7mS800In7RcfvoEQ9PoA3su_nLBUxBxTg-chk30N7KnOQbrT7macQUMBDHSogPsaTflK_Lg3ZW9NzB6H9q_DMOuRm_tekS1E-SRj3cLQUD6I_UIEXy/s1600/IMG-1037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZpMPLt6sQ5T6chVA7aPI0mt6Syv7mS800In7RcfvoEQ9PoA3su_nLBUxBxTg-chk30N7KnOQbrT7macQUMBDHSogPsaTflK_Lg3ZW9NzB6H9q_DMOuRm_tekS1E-SRj3cLQUD6I_UIEXy/s640/IMG-1037.JPG" width="480" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> &nbsp;So opinionated.</div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <br /></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhal2qm9W2twDBFVYd4vQ0J5TdgFJ3aCG6QCrfRTg6lPg0Uoj-eGwaVxgNwQfxhBMgcqBLeyHYmuh_dTWMIQTI0UWv1bzbTmf4Imx0fXNWMFfLiYq0rITY4p4zWnMVUXXyvlyHS4ZLfKJFy/s1600/IMG-1038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhal2qm9W2twDBFVYd4vQ0J5TdgFJ3aCG6QCrfRTg6lPg0Uoj-eGwaVxgNwQfxhBMgcqBLeyHYmuh_dTWMIQTI0UWv1bzbTmf4Imx0fXNWMFfLiYq0rITY4p4zWnMVUXXyvlyHS4ZLfKJFy/s640/IMG-1038.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> Part 2 of the facelift in my kitchen.</div> <div style="text-align: center;"> I am doing it in segments so as not to complete overwhelm myself.</div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <br /></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWzJcouDBo8RVqdD4rEbrPIbM_UQTeSN4QcsCa2cCeqMkZWWulygI64beacq91iOH6Q9uUs4llT53xsApSQwNRjWenkcEmZnxoUd3c7cTrBDY9YIh2pjiAp656IVroBlts1gddImPInTq7/s1600/IMG-1043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWzJcouDBo8RVqdD4rEbrPIbM_UQTeSN4QcsCa2cCeqMkZWWulygI64beacq91iOH6Q9uUs4llT53xsApSQwNRjWenkcEmZnxoUd3c7cTrBDY9YIh2pjiAp656IVroBlts1gddImPInTq7/s640/IMG-1043.jpg" width="480" />&nbsp;</a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> In the evening, once the shade has covered the patio, I let Boo out to explore.</div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> She really wants to play in the garden, but I really need Maya to protect her from the Cooper's Hawk living in the tree directly above the garden. </div> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisDEWbH7XDcDVUuI-z8fnOHJdrmBHgJ28LylMWV1OHJYhwvjvfINRp4WeLI8yTQqDLWAt-Nx_P-HmwdRp7Tbj91qW_eyzTbYRxO2Cb-rG6yR5PBuqt2laCYdBHkZasNRdg_VMqj87uTUAA/s1600/IMG-1045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisDEWbH7XDcDVUuI-z8fnOHJdrmBHgJ28LylMWV1OHJYhwvjvfINRp4WeLI8yTQqDLWAt-Nx_P-HmwdRp7Tbj91qW_eyzTbYRxO2Cb-rG6yR5PBuqt2laCYdBHkZasNRdg_VMqj87uTUAA/s640/IMG-1045.jpg" width="480" />&nbsp;</a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> She loves being outside. </div> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO1fn1NXOeTFQUGK_xBMkSD0RNBKZJuoCWLvjIqruklCHpIidefr2YfNDJxqpaSaVNFo_fCfR9SQDkEppvBiohqdRdbaE-Hj0GnYIzUjOZ6JXd7EJAU2g3RambdBhJN-FhVocNd_u0kf3z/s1600/IMG-1047.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO1fn1NXOeTFQUGK_xBMkSD0RNBKZJuoCWLvjIqruklCHpIidefr2YfNDJxqpaSaVNFo_fCfR9SQDkEppvBiohqdRdbaE-Hj0GnYIzUjOZ6JXd7EJAU2g3RambdBhJN-FhVocNd_u0kf3z/s640/IMG-1047.jpg" width="480" />&nbsp;</a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> She also loves Maya, but sometimes she doesn't want to put her head in Maya's mouth.</div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <br /></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAnSvxVZC9rGaDGo_gyJd0LZhHDq2LOBkxTm8Dm3ouWNx_-NC6L3-hKChb2B_CobKD2V9yD5qqbNwp6M1hYGnOy45owFf5A9EjxbLx1nMb92nW-mepqawb0_mioWjwfRaysDnXH_ZdRoC1/s1600/IMG-1048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAnSvxVZC9rGaDGo_gyJd0LZhHDq2LOBkxTm8Dm3ouWNx_-NC6L3-hKChb2B_CobKD2V9yD5qqbNwp6M1hYGnOy45owFf5A9EjxbLx1nMb92nW-mepqawb0_mioWjwfRaysDnXH_ZdRoC1/s640/IMG-1048.JPG" width="640" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> &nbsp;Drill Team practice</div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <br /></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJWe07JbyJ83fn_2wtJiLPKEglDL7YytDCFiViswZEPI0aLeill1RsqGO4vLzlyF9E2YTWUYvmZxPTWXM8be7bRA1SPT89laf1rYIP6PuW9uQPPYg7qXz2uq_28BOjYBTwHs1kfiRR8OMP/s1600/IMG-1049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJWe07JbyJ83fn_2wtJiLPKEglDL7YytDCFiViswZEPI0aLeill1RsqGO4vLzlyF9E2YTWUYvmZxPTWXM8be7bRA1SPT89laf1rYIP6PuW9uQPPYg7qXz2uq_28BOjYBTwHs1kfiRR8OMP/s640/IMG-1049.JPG" width="640" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> &nbsp;Noosh, the largest animal in the group, with the slowest walk, is in the middle.</div> <div style="text-align: center;"> Ernie wasn't as happy to be in the group or on the very outside.</div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <br /></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7J29z0B9DIW1pc9YRtUk6g5vObfGtIcKQoBS5g88TqoJXEyA_oKFaJyjzQYugRnMQRXpZW92MOTEeFNbDiCfIFFqCop0OMYIOCT9UIWN1jXtY3UgcVK8rUyvMaCUtsf_Ah4UDSihQ9l-a/s1600/IMG-1050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7J29z0B9DIW1pc9YRtUk6g5vObfGtIcKQoBS5g88TqoJXEyA_oKFaJyjzQYugRnMQRXpZW92MOTEeFNbDiCfIFFqCop0OMYIOCT9UIWN1jXtY3UgcVK8rUyvMaCUtsf_Ah4UDSihQ9l-a/s640/IMG-1050.JPG" width="640" /></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> &nbsp;Shuffled to put Ernie on the inside.</div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> Kat, on the outside, has a huge walk, so she was happy.</div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <br /></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <br /></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <br /></div> <br />... [Read more]

Thursday night I had a lesson. I had been warming up and practicing changes. Ashke has been very sticky in the change from right to left and so I asked Amanda for the dressage whip they had been using in the lesson prior to mine. She grinned, handed it to me and said, "keep it in your right hand and just give him a tap in time with the aid." I did it exactly as directed and Ashke tried to bolt, didn't change and threw his head straight up in the air.... [Read more]

The skyline and setting sun leaving the barn.... [Read more]

Because Lytha requested it:     I walked around for a couple of days in a complete depressive episode, crying my heart out on the inside. I was at the barn and feeling so sad. Ashke pinned his ears and snapped at me. He didn't come close, but it was enough to get my attention. He told me very clearly and concisely that I was not to grieve for him. The melanoma was a long way from his heart and he wasn't fucking dying. I needed to fucking stop. That was enough to snap me out of it. Hopefully, the growth will stop and nothing else will happen with it for a long time. We are working on riding all of the dressage things one handed. He still needs the support of two hands for some of the canter work, but we are getting closer every day. He is learning to figure out the canter pirouette and most of our work is off my seat and legs (this is helped by riding one handed since I stay out of his way better). Our flying changes are still a work in process. He is so good switching to the right, but I still struggle to get out of his way biomechanically going to the left.  One of these days we will haul out and ride. We both need it. The only thing keeping me stuck at the barn is the potential for mishap and what happens if either of us are injured. Some day it will be safe to take risks again, but for now we are making do. I am riding either three or four days a week right now. No competitions, since my budget no longer includes show fees. I figure by the time we find the ring again, we will be competing one handed at whatever level we decide to ride at. 2. If you need to be stuck in isolation during a pandemic, having a new-to-you house is always helpful.   I don't know if you remember my yard, but it was an empty dirt patch when I moved in. This was early April and some green was beginning to grow. I don't care what kind of green it is (dandelions, morning glory, scraggly weeds of indeterminate origin) I just wanted it to grow to cover the ground. It has been a delight to see it spread out to cover the dirt. It has gotten even thicker since I seeded it with white clover and added a bit of fertilizer. I am hopeful that by the fall it will be established solid enough that next year it won't need so much water. I plan to seed in the fall and do a fall fertilizer to help sustain the viability, while taking advantage of the snow and moisture we should get.  I covered the inside of the fence with ply, 4' x 8'. The fence needs to be replaced at some point in the future, but for now, this blocks Lily from being able to see through to the neighbors backyard and try and eat the dogs that live there. She still barks, but only about 1/8th as much, and she is no longer bouncing the fence with her front feet in a very effective method of trying to knock the pickets out.  There were two sheds on the property when I moved in. One is a wooden shed with tight walls and a locking door. The other was this rusted out heap shown above filled with objects and items that really should have been tossed before we moved in. My plan has been to remove this shed and clean up that area of the yard since we first saw the house. One Saturday in May we had a derecho come through. It was basically an earth bound squall line that lifted that shed up, twisted it around and dropped it back in my yard. (Our neighbor's shed ended up a couple of houses away). That was enough motivation to remove the shed. It took T and I five hours to tear it apart. Some of the screws came out, some had to be hammered apart and in some places the metal ripped like paper. We got it taken down and stacked for disposal without either of us being hurt. The dirt pile next to it, that looks like a compost pile, was actually grass clippings tossed over bags of garbage. Taking that hillock apart and getting the garbage out was a smelly mess and I am still picking pieces of plastic out of the yard as Maya continues to work her way through the spread out dirt. I did some research and ordered a Bagster from Amazon. It was big enough to hold all of the pieces and parts of the shed, including the rotted out wood from the floor, plus the last bags of straw from the spring raking of the yard. Then I scheduled a pick up, Waste management obliged and I am now debris free. Best time, energy and money spent on the house to date. The only drawback to removing the shed happened on this past Saturday. Our neighbor's dog was able to use a built in planter on the back side of the fence (directly behind where the shed sat) to scale the fence and come into our yard. Which I discovered at the same time my dogs did, moments after letting them out. That was a raging, snarling, crying mess of five minutes. Kudos to Tristan for hearing me scream his name (waking him from a deep sleep) because things could have been a lot worse without his help. We got Lily and Skittle in the garage, Maya wrangled into the house (she stood back and barked at the intruder and supported her sisters' murderous intent from afar) and the poor pup reassured. She is a border collie mix of some sort and much smaller than our dogs. Her owners came looking for her when they discovered she was out and reassured me they would fix the issue so she couldn't escape again, but I'm not sure she would try to get into the yard again, anyway. I don't think the experience was pleasant for her at all. 3. Meet Snips 4. Garden Space We put a fence in between the main yard and the garden area and started creating planting boxes. This has been somewhat of a struggle. What I discovered as I started to pry apart the mounds of dirt in this photo, was the piece of carpet (smaller mound) the dirt was piled on, and the larger mound is sitting on top of a huge tarp. The ground was incredibly hard as well so rather than fighting breaking it up and tilling it under, I decided to try a raised bed. The raised beds did not go as well as I had hoped. The bind weed growing up through the beds and around the multitude of plants is not easy or desired. I have one bed planted with tomatoes (20) and jalapenos (12) and one bed with yellow squash and cucumbers that are mostly thriving. Well, both the squash and tomatoes are taking over. The tomatoes and squash are loaded with fruit and I am just waiting for them to fully ripen before picking them. In the meantime, I really wanted to grow some green beans, so last weekend I converted one of the bind weeds beds into another raised bed, albeit a bit different. T and I have talked and our long term plan is to remove the large pile of dirt that's still there, get the large blue tarp out from under, and build a water feature of some type in the space surrounded by lilac trees. So, I also planted eight lilacs in the area, against the fence.      5. Inside the House   Canning is something my mom used to do every summer. I decided to do so as well. I have been teaching myself the art of food prep/storage and have been enjoying it. This is the primary reason I planted the tomatoes and green beans. I have put up my mom's world famous meat seasoning sauce, spaghetti sauce, raspberries (to put over ice cream) and some diced tomatoes. This process really fills some needs for me - cooking (which I love), food storage (kind of a left over desire from being raised Mormon) and prepping for the apocalypse. Regardless of what happens, I will have food. 6. New Animals         I spend a lot of time alone. I still do not want to date any one and the idea of being in a relationship is not something I am ready to deal with yet. This is not new to me and I am not struggling with it, but it can be lonely. I read a lot, play some Switch, cook, clean, mow and plant. The dogs have managed to train me to sleep on a sliver of my bed in order to make room for all three of them. I do struggle with finding the time and focus to blog. It just seems overwhelming sometimes. I try to minimize the stress and so it has fallen by the way side. It is also hard to keep blogging about riding circles in the arena.  Hope you all (the readers that might be left) are staying home, staying safe and wearing masks. Find some activities that you enjoy and settle in. I think this thing is here for the long run. We should have made better/different/informed decisions and actions in January if we wanted any hope of containing this virus. Or even February, although there is plenty of evidence that some of the people in our govt were aware early on. It is both criminal and heartbreaking to be where we are now.... [Read more]

Every once in a while it is good to have video proof of what is happening under saddle. I know what it feels like and I am still doing regular lessons (maintaining social distancing) so I have feed back from Amanda. However, it is good for me to SEE what he is doing.... [Read more]

The new saddle is now mine. The woman who had it for sale traded me straight across for the Alta (she was very happy with how her mare liked the saddle and found it very comfortable for herself). The new saddle is a Circle Y Park and Trail with a Flex 2 tree. The only issue has been the attachments for the cinch are dropped down on both sides, which makes most of my cinches way too long. My biggest issue is that the cinch that allows more than a couple of inches on either side between the D ring on the cinch and the D ring on the saddle is a 26". The draw back is the D ring on the cinch is too low and causing issues with his elbows. The 28" places the D ring on the cinch in a great spot, but only allows a couple of inches between the two D rings.  This is what he gave me after the cinch change.... [Read more]

So, in October of 2018, I decided to try and find a western saddle for showing. In my head I thought that I would ride in the Alta all of the time, except in the show. I knew I would need to practice some in the western saddle so that I wasn't going into the show cold, but what I wasn't expecting was for Ashke to like it better. The saddle I found was $350 dollars and weighs about six ton. The seat is really flat and not very comfortable for a long time spent in the saddle. Ashke loves it, but I am less of a fan. Since last October, I have been conducting a soft search for a new saddle. It needed to be used, since my budget is less than a thousand, and it needed to be lighter, especially for trail riding. I haven't found anything, although I wasn't really searching, mostly just waiting for something to fall into my lap.  A couple of weeks ago, one of the barn ladies saddled her horse in her western gear and the saddle made me do a double take. Small footprint, curved skirt, light weight (23 lbs). It's a Circle Y Flex 2 Trail Saddle. I mentioned it to my barn-wife ( I guess that is a thing) and two hours later she shared a FB marketplace ad for that exact saddle in dark brown and black. I reached out to the woman who was advertising and after several messages back and forth, I picked it up from her barn a week ago. It is an awesome fit. Like, perfect even. I rode in it briefly a week ago (before heading out for my newest tattoo), Wednesday night and then I rode in it in my lesson on Thursday. Half way through the lesson on Thursday, Amanda looked at me and said "buy the saddle".  We had agreed to meet this morning and I took over the Alta for the seller to try. It fit her mare better than it fit Ashke, if that is possible. The woman rode in it and it seemed to work for her. We agreed to wait a week for her to try the Alta, and if she likes it we will do a straight trade (best option on the table) and if she decides not to get it, I will buy the saddle and then sell the Alta. We have been struggling with the right to left lead change (hocks, my riding, hocks) but they are miraculously much better. I can't wait to try my first trail ride in it. Although, the muscle pain in my back is a thing right now. That tells me I am sitting differently in this saddle and moving differently. Hopefully, the muscles will adapt quickly and get strong.... [Read more]

I cried.... [Read more]