Bridles and Saddles

Change Is a Constant

2016-01-10T14:10:00.000-05:00

If there were a more truer statement I couldn't find one to replace it.
Yes I am still riding and yes its still Brandon. We have been progressing fantastically over the last 5 months. He is a great horse and my love muffin. We have a great connection and a very strong bond.

This was from a fun photo shoot last month. We looked so great. Cant wait for more pics when we start showing. However that will be closer to 2017 than this year. We are so not ready for that. I also have another horse to play with .

His name is Boo. He comes from the same farm and he is handsome too.

Change seems to plague all of us but I think I am its target. We are moving yet again. We will be staying in this town. We love Camden. We will be settling again about 6 miles from where are now. Nice neighborhood. Brick house with a gas stove and 3 bedrooms. We can have a garden if we want one. So we are happy about this. We have been told we can stay as long as we want. I will be about 5 minutes further from Brandon but its ok.

This past December was my 14th wedding anniversary and this coming year we will be renewing our wedding vows at the farm Brandon is at. Should be a lot of fun. Our 2nd honeymoon is in the works with a cruise to the Eastern and Western Caribbean. 14 days is planned.

I will try to keep up with this better but please don't count on it. I seem to say that and it never works out.

Something Big is Happening

2015-09-27T18:42:00.001-04:00

Meet Brandon. He is an Old English Shire and my new love. No I do not own him but the lady that does has given me the go ahead to play, train, and show with him. I will be changing disciplines again as I am going back to my first love Dressage.

I have been learning alot about myself and him. We started the end of August with just getting to know him. A couple dates a week, Wednesdays after work and on Saturday evenings. Grooming was the main event for 3 weeks and one day his mom said she wanted me to sit on him and see how he handled it. Brandon hasn't been ridden in 4-5 yrs. I climbed up on a Saturday night and that was it. We started in the round pen that following Wednesday.

I have never done ground work before so it was interesting to do "Join Up". For those of you who don't know what Join Up is...when your in the round pen and you have the horse walk, trot, and canter for a time and then stop and turn your back on them. If they trust you and want to be your partner, they will walk up behind you and stand. If not they will stay on the ring wall. Monty Roberts explains this way of connection and bond very well in his books. Yes I have read some of them. I have never actually gotten the chance to actually try it.

Brandon and I bonded over grooming but I didn't realize how much until the join up. Now when I get to the farm, he is in the pasture and comes quickly into his stall and waits for me. He even calls to me with a few different ways, including kicking the stall door. He puts his head down for me to put his halter on and follows me to the grooming area.

In the round pen we get out there and I take off his halter. The minute I do this he now walks out to the ring wall and starts to trot without being asked and then goes into his canter. Its quite an amazing thing for a 17.1h, 2000lb beast to just do what you would like him to do without being asked. He then stops, comes to the center for a kiss on the nose and then I send him out to go the other direction. He comes back to center and we get ready to ride.

We are still working on the riding part as to he will stand and be saddled but bridle time is another thing. We are working very hard on being a good boy about this, His mother calls him The Red Headed Step Child for a reason. Riding him is a project at this point. He wants to be a pasture pet. We do reverse very well. We do Whoa very well. We even move close to the mounting block without direction perfectly. What we dont do well is go forward. We are working on that.

Brandon and I on our first ride.

I am really haveing a great time learning from him and with him. Small steps are better that 2 steps forward and 6 steps back. I will take small steps all day. I am hoping small steps will lead to Dressage steps by next fall, maybe some walk, trot, canter classes too. Whatever happens, we will do it together no matter how long it takes and we will be great as a team. We have the connection to go anywhere.

2015 A Whole New World

2015-03-07T17:41:00.000-05:00

I am glad 2014 is over. Nothing good came from that year for me.

On to 2015!!

We have moved!!1 Yes we are in beautiful Camden. We now live on the farm that I ride at. We love it here. It is so peaceful and quiet. Every window I look out has a horse in it at some point during the day.

This town is great too. We have Revolutionary War history here which makes me feel at home and a farmers market that I cant wait for it to open. The Springdale Race track is here and so is the Camden Hunt Club. Maybe in the fall I can go to Try It day.

The best part of living here other than we are back in the country, is that I don't have to drive to go to lessons or see the horses and the South Carolina Equine Park is a 1/4 mile down the road and starting this weekend, there is pretty much a show of some sort every weekend. AWESOMENESS!!!

I am HAPPY, HAPPY, HAPPY!!!

2014..May You Rot..

2015-01-01T17:24:00.000-05:00

2014 has not been a good year. It started with a lie and ended with a show. The lie came with people we thought were friends. The lie started before we left Florida and ended when we moved out. I will not go into detail as that is not right to bash people here nor in public. The truth will come out one day.

My riding went in to a tail spin after leaving TR in May. I only left due to finances and his time being unavailable due to his show schedule. I have been to a few barns and after my BF found the one she did, I have finally landed at a good place. My discipline's have changed. I am no longer riding Dressage due to unable to ride a sitting trot without causing pain in my back. I am able to ride Hunt seat and to Jump without an issue.

I lost over 15 lbs over the summer only to gain it back before the holidays. I am determined that this year will see that 15, plus, come off.

In August we lost our beloved fur baby Nakota. I will tell you that this had an extreme affect on me and I have not gotten over it. I miss him so much and I cry for him when I think of him. He was plagued by seizures from 6 months old and they finally took him at 6 yrs old. He was a puppy at heart and mind and my love.

We moved into a place I would not wish on any one. I cant wait to move out of here. There is one place I would love to live but we may not be able to do so until 2016.

We have a new fur baby. His name is Winston and he is a Jack Russel cross. He is 6 months old and had been used as bait dog in the dog fighting ring. How he survived is beyond me. He is a love bug who just wants to play and be Daddy's shadow.

2014 has been miserable to say the least with a couple of bright spots. I'm glad its over.

Great Weekend For A Show

2014-12-29T18:45:00.000-05:00

This past weekend was my first Hunter/Jumper show. I had a blast with a great guy (not just my hubs). Beau was awesome to say the least. We had a great day and he had alot of fun. He spent time at the fence line after we were done looking at the ring and making all sorts of noise. We did very well for our first time. 1st place in Adult W/T HUS, 2nd place in Adult W/T Pleasure and 3rd place in Adult W/T Equitation. We also got a 1st place for Hunter Hack. Of course we were the only on in that class but we didn't break canter so we earned it and we jumped 2 cross rails. What an awesome show!!! Next show I hope to move up in classes.

Happy Again

2014-11-19T19:04:00.001-05:00

I wont apologize for slacking off this time. I have a lot happen in the last few months and finally I am settling down. I have found a new farm to ride at and I love it there. Great instructor and great ring to ride in. Unfortunately Im back out in the weather but I got to do what I got to do.

Oh, the handsome man in the pic? Who is he you ask? Well that Is Bo. He is a handsome devil isnt he. No he doesnt belong to me. Is my ride and soon to be show partner. Yes I will be showing starting with my first English show in December in beautiful Camden SC. I will post more pics after the show. In the mean time I am enjoying this incredibly wonderful boy.

Again...

2014-08-03T07:35:00.002-04:00

I am getting really bad at posting here. I have been working and dealing with some personal issues at home so I apologize.
Ok on to some good news and bad news. Lets start with the bad and as we all know you always "end on a good note".

I have not been riding with TR since end of May. He and his wife (Christine ranks, last I knew, 3rd in the nation in English Equitation), are on the road alot showing. They spend quite a bit of time out of state so I have had to find a barn that is closer to home. I have, in fact, tried 2 places and looked into 2 more. I can tell you beware of backyard trainers. Not all are bad but some should not be allowed to instruct. One place we looked at , the woman was actually sitting at a table outside of the barn door smoking and drinking. For those horses sakes, I hope the FD will get there before they parish. One place was just run down and too many horses in a small pasture. I had one lady who called my and informed me that she could teach me but that from the hoof to the tacking up, it was going to be her way or the highway. On this point I agree with some of that statement but at least let me step into the barn and see what I know before you slam me with your rules. She had an attitude immediately on the phone before I got "Hello" out of my mouth. I tried another place and they were awesome people but again they are a show barn and would be gone a lot and they weren't really a lesson barn. They made an exception because I was riding with TR and they know him. I am grateful for that, Thank you Angie and Kory Merril!

I began to worry that my riding was over. It cost alot of money to drive 2 hrs one way, take a lesson and drive back. In there is also at least 2 meals for 2 people( my husband is like an American Express card, I don't leave home with out him). So I was spending close to $800.00 a month. I really had no choice but to cut it down to once a month after I had to replace my Jeep. Car payments suck when you haven't had one in 8 yrs.

I did get a lead 2 weeks ago and I will not be looking back. I have found the perfect place for me. The name of the equestrian facility is White Haven Plantation ( http://www.whitehavenplantation.com/. Its 45 min from where we live. Lessons are priced well and the trainers are certified instructors. Ashly instructs all disciplines and specializes in hunter/jumpers. Tay is an all around kind of guy, that has his heart( like mine) in Dressage and is certified to teach up to second level and that will change this fall when he goes for his Third level. I have been informed that I am no longer an advance beginner but that I am an intermediate rider. Yeah for me! They have a couple of outdoor rings including a dressage ring and an indoor that I love. I take 2 lessons a week right now and maybe when money gets better it will go to 3 lessons a week. We shall see. All I know is I am doing what I want (Dressage) and will be learning the correct way to jump by some pretty awesome people.
Oh and on another good note...I have dropped 13 lbs so far and it continues to come off.

This first pic is of Ashly and I with Scooter

This one is of Dixie and I last night. She tested me the entire lesson.

Practice Makes ....

2014-03-08T09:26:00.000-05:00

I know I have been slacking. I have been on the busy side and have lots to share.

First and foremost..my lessons with TR have been amazing to say the least. I have only gotten better. No more 2 steps forward, 6 steps back. I am real happy about the posting though. It has been a challenge that accepted fully and have over come. My heels are so far down that now I understand why other riders don't lose their stirrups, where I was coming out of mine all the time. My calves are quiet, in other words, they don't move when I post. I have learned how to do the 2 point position. Not easy when you are top heavy. Balance is getting better with that. Steering was also an issue. I wanted to go one way and Copy or Tennessee went where they wanted. Now its where I want to go only. Here is a video of Copy and I, per TR we were perfect in every way ...except I was on the wrong diagonal. He didn't stop my lap to tell me because he didn't want to discourage me. This is the first video of my posting and by the way it has gotten better since this. : )

I spent some money recently and purchased my first English saddle. It is a Marcel Toulouse, Dennise, DL, Genesis. It is Chocolate Brown colored and I love it! At least I will love it when I get to actually ride in it. I have had it since 2/26 but haven't been able to get to the barn due to my trainer being away for shows and the weather. So hopefully it will come soon. This is what it looks like...

It is the most comfortable saddle I have ever sat it. My dressage saddle will be sold if this one works out the way I think it will.

I haven't gotten rid of my Western show stuff yet due to I may try my hand at Trail class. At least I wont have to buy anything.

I am not happy about buying English show clothes. I am not a small person by any means. I have dropped 10lbs since riding with TR, and it continues to fluctuate up and down. The holidays killed me. However I have a goal. I have bought my show breeches and they are 2 sizes to small. I also paid nothing for them. I had a credit at Smartpak and the shipping was free. I will get into them! I have done that before and I wear that pair all the time. Show coats on the other hand are going to be a PIA. I have shoulders like a line backer and top heavy. Unfortunately there is nothing I can do with out having surgery and well that means 12wks out of the saddle. Not an option. I have a lead though on a lady that makes clothes and I work with her daughter. I will go see her when I can. She might be able to make the shirt for me too. Show coats in my size are super expensive.

Here is a pic of Copy and I when I first started riding him. He looks like a wooley mammoth but is starting to shed out now. You wouldn't believe he is 23 yrs old! He has the forwardness of a 15yr old. He is a great ride. Very smooth and lots of suspension.

Hopefully show season will start sometime this summer. When TR thinks I am ready he will let me know. He wants me to be able to go into the ring and own it. No nervousness, no wanting to puke. Ride into that ring and make the Blue ribbon mine. Until then, its practice, practice, practice.

2013-11-17T10:18:00.001-05:00

Happiness is...

I haven't posted due to having nothing to post really. Things are going well. Almost done with my 60 days at work which means I will have insurance again and I will be a real employee. All seems to be well with the living arrangements at this time. Had some kinks to straighten out but all in all its good. Eventually we want to find a bigger house and closer to where I am riding.

My new home barn is fantastic! I go every Saturday for my lesson and Mike and I have decided this will also be date day with breakfast at Cracker Barrel being our first stop. We just have to remember that we cant eat like we did yesterday. Let me tell you that yawning and nausea do not go well together on the back of a trotting horse. All that bouncing is not good on the stomach.

My lessons have only been for 4 weeks now and the difference between where I was 2 yrs ago and now is immense. I am gaining ground in leaps and bounds. I have "felt" what counter canter is, and when I am posting correctly I don't have to work so hard. I have a great horse to learn on right now and Tennessee is so patient. On the other hand he likes the way we ride together and never fights me. I have more confidence now than I have ever had. In 4 weeks I am cantering a horse that I have only ridden 8 times. I am not afraid of him. I still have reservations about how fast the canter feels and I am still learning how to regulate speed. Next week I will be learning how to steer during a canter since we end up going where Tennessee wants instead of staying on the rail.

I love my lessons. No matter how much of a 'Drill Sargent" TR becomes, I ask for more and go home with satisfaction instead of frustration. Yes my weight is changing. I am down 8 lbs since staring lessons and have toned up my legs. My abs hurt after riding every time along with my back. I can zip my tall boots without asking for help now too and that is a great feeling. I am eating less that I used to. I am gaining ground there too.

Tennessee and I during a rest stop yesterday.

2013-10-20T09:51:00.004-04:00

Welcome To South Carolina....

I haven't written here since July due to all sorts of upheavals. Our little family decided that Florida was not for us and moving out of state was a better option. There are quite a few reasons that I wont get into but lets say that this was a good decision.
We left Florida on Sept. 28th and arrived late in the evening to Sumter South Carolina. We weren't here an hour and my hubs ended up in the ER with a severe asthma attack. By Sunday night he was admitted and spent a week there. He is doing better and hopefully this wont happen again.
I had a interview set up for when I got here and I was hired so that obstacle is complete and its a great job. I have weekends off and paid holidays. I cant beat this job. There is also room to grow there.

Now onto better things to talk about... I have a home barn now with Potts Performance Horses, LLC. TR is a top instructor in the horse world. I am thrilled to be training under him. I have ridden with him in 2 clinics and have a had a lesson with him in Connecticut when I had Reggi.

My lesson was to evaluate where I am in my skills and he was pleased with how far I have gotten since our first lesson 2 yrs ago. We talked a lot about where I want to go and where I have been, my finances, and what I'm looking for. Reggi came up quite a few times in conversation as did Beau. TR knows what type of horse "personality" I'm looking for. It was a great hour. The only thing that is going to be a pain in the butt is the 2hr 15min ride from home to the barn 2 times a week. Yes that's 1 way. On the other hand it will be worth it just to train with him. I am on the road to happiness. Hopefully next fall I will be purchasing a mushy face to love again. Until then back to my financial goals and my weight goals. I know I have said it before multiple times. I have a lot more ease now to get to my goals. Now things will start to change.

Here are some pics of yesterday...

Chatting about everything...

Discussing dropping the head and rounding up...

my Ah Ha moment and riding on a loose rein...

AWESOMENESS!!!!!

Here We Go Again...

2013-07-30T11:50:00.001-04:00

Lots has been happening here in Florida. In 8 weeks we will no longer be Florida residents. Yes! We are moving again. This time to South Carolina. Our original plan was to stay in Florida and buy another home. Circumstances changed in March and we started thinking about leaving here. We have friends and family in South Carolina and would rather be there than alone. So on Sept. 30 2013 we will be arriving.

Beau... I have stopped leasing him and have brought all my tack home. Finances at this time have stopped me and it sucks but I have to do what I have to to move. Besides the fact that the owner had no intention of selling him. That's ok. I am all right with this.

You might not here from me for a bit but I will be back as soon as we are settled and I find a new barn close to home.

Shoes...

2013-05-19T22:19:00.003-04:00

So I am a big believer in barefoot horses. I am not a fan of shoes at all unless required for healing or as a temporary fix for a problem. With that said, Beau now has shoes (temporary) on his front hooves. In order for his frog to heal and to level him out until he can have a trim that again will be correct. I'm hoping it will only be a few months. In the mean time if you have never read about barefoot horses, there is a great book by Joe Camp called " Soul of a Horse". I highly recommend this book and also his sequel, " Soul of a Horse Blogged". The books are extremely informative and entertaining. To prove what he is saying about shoes vs barefoot look at this pic:

The blue leg has the shoe on it. He states that the frog is like a mini pump. When the horse steps down the frog pushes the blood back up the leg.

I think I want to see Beau's legs like the other three...

Love....

2013-05-11T20:40:00.002-04:00

In the last few months I have had the pleasure of riding a new horse that I have become bonded with. Beau is one of those horses that you wish you could have and yet never quite find. I have found him. The relationship I had with Reggi was very special. Reggi was my first horse/love. I had never owned before. It was a great year we had. I miss him alot but the pain has subsided. Every once in a while I get a twinge when I talk about him and believe me I talk about him alot but not as much as I use to. Reggi will always have a big part of my heart with him but Beau has filled the void and has brought me great happiness. I love just spending time with him and he always wants my attention. There is something different this time. Its not the child dream come true like when I bought Reggi. This time its a love that has been built during rides and spending the time grooming. He trust me and I trust him not because it was thrust upon us to trust but because it has grown. He is not mine but you wouldn't know that looking at us together.
I went to the farm today to spend time with him and to put up my new saddle rack. I cant wont ride him right now due to an issue with his front hooves but once the farrier is out to see him we will make a decision as to shoes or no shoes for a while. In the mean time he got a good grooming and his hooves got an application of a nutrient specifically for hoof growth. He also got 2 rather large bags of carrots that he couldn't get enough of.

My mothers day gift from Cody...LOVE IT!!

Beau with one of the kids from spring camp... he is such a love!

Mike...

2013-04-28T20:37:00.000-04:00

As I have posted in the past, my dreams a goals most of my life have been stomped on or pushed to the side and forgotten. As a child, I had parents with a vision for themselves not for me. As and adult I had to change my dreams for my son. Its not easy being a single parent in a marriage. When I met Mike that changed and he became the father Cody needed. He also became the husband I wanted. He walks beside me and not in front of me, he holds my hand and is not afraid to kiss me in public. He also supports me know matter what it is I want to do. I have had a lot of failures trying to better myself for our life. I tried to be a Paramedic. Passed the class by the skin of my teeth. Then blew my back out at work and couldn't lift anymore. thanks to my partners before I left, I managed to hold on for another 6 months. $5000.00 down the drain and a piece of paper that states I passed the class. I tried real estate. Again, passed the class by the skin of my teeth. Little did I know until mid way thru class was that you have no life, you have to pay for a desk at a brokers office, you don't get paid by the hour when you start so you have no income coming in, and if you don't sell you make no money. Mike stood by me thru all of this.
While working at the hospital, I made friends with a nurse who had horses and she told me about Equine Affaire in Massachusetts. I asked him if we could go and it has been a whirl wind for me since. Mike only says no if I get to extravagant. He had been really great about this horse business. He was afraid of them at first but with Brio, Belle, and Reggi, he had grown to love them. He now gets to play foster Papa for Beau.

I told you he likes the idea...

With his girl Belle..she loved her Mike...

Reggi loved his Papa...Papa always brought treats for him....

So now Beau will be spoiled by Papa too. I just don't have a pic yet of them together. Soon...

Thank you my love for letting me have my dream.

Good New All Around..

2013-04-23T22:18:00.000-04:00

Its been over a month now since I posted but all is well. When we left Connecticut there were some issues we had to deal with. Fortunately the problems have started resolving themselves slowly.
Our house was going into foreclosure and it has alot of issues. We received a letter in the mail from a company that said they would buy the house, flip it, and rent it out. It sits on a major road and its 1/2 hour to Hartford and 1 hour to Providence RI. So that is appealing to people who are in major businesses. Jump on Rt. 6 and you don't have to get off anywhere. Well it happened and its no longer over our heads. No more bad credit reporting from the mortgage company.

Then we did your taxes. We have owed for the last 5 years and some was paid. We did our taxes this year and we don't owe! In fact we are getting money back, all though it is a small amount. We are almost done with wheat we owed too!

Now for the great news....

Beau is no longer being leased ...that means I can start leasing him!

So excited!!!

Better...

2013-03-18T10:55:00.001-04:00

I have been having a great time at my new barn. Love the people, love my new trainer, love the Chestnut boy here in the pic. I had been having issues getting over Reggi but now things are starting to get better. Yes I miss him terribly but Beau is a great horse and such a love. He really likes attention which Reggi only wanted when he wanted it. Beau likes his face touched and kisses on the nose. He is not as built as Reggi but that will come with time and more work. I ride him twice a week and my trainer will be lunging him the rest of the week to build up him topline and muscle tone. He has a small hay belly right now.

What a face .... He is too dam cute!!

I have recently purchased a new saddle. I am learning to ride English again and loving it. I purchased a saddle that I have wanted for a long time and I had tried once before. I felt very comfortable in it and the one I bought has padding for Beau too.

This is my new saddle. Its a Wintec Dressage 500 with Cair panels. It is one of the most comfortable saddles I have ever ridden in. I had tried one at Equine Affair back in 2011 and loved it. Then I got to try one on a horse and I rode so well in it. I had to purchase it. So I now have a saddle for Dressage and my saddle for Western for how ever I want to ride. I also jumped for the first time with Beau. It was fantastic. I think I may have an all around horse to ride.

A Dawning of A New Life....

2013-02-07T17:23:00.002-05:00

I have had a great couple of lessons this week with the high-lite being the ride after. There is a chestnut colored boy that has caught my eye. He is 15.3-16.0 hh. I want to buy him and I'm looking at September if his owner decides to sell him to me. Keep your fingers crossed!

Lessons, Lessons, Lessons....

2013-02-03T09:50:00.000-05:00

As promised, I am posting about my lessons. I started last Monday and not only did I impress myself but I showed my new trainer what I could do. What I thought I could do and what I did are 2 different things. I have been told in the past, you will go through trainers until you find the one that makes you get it. I have found her. In no way am I stating the other were not good. I am stating that this one makes it easier for me to understand as an adult. I didn't start lessons as a child and it makes a big difference. I grew up learning how to keep from falling off but no official lessons that I wanted.
Anyway, I was completely pleased with myself on the first day and have been continuing to please myself since. I have had no frustrating days. If I don't get it my trainer goes over it again until I get it. She shows me the moves from the ground. I think she has figured out that I am a hands on rather than brainiac.
My trainer is Patricia Woodrow. She is a "L" judge and USDF Bronze medalist in Dressage. She has been there and done that and is not a snooty person. She is down to earth and believes that all people who want to learn to ride can be taught and it doesn't matter the size or age. I have some older women who ride at the farm and who also show.
Lessons are 2x a week. She is 45 min. north of me in Mims Florida. Great little place with lots of trees. The ring she uses is regulation size. Its very quiet there. The noisiest thing there is the geese and ducks that she has as pets. They only make noise if she is near or there is a stranger around. I honestly think they could be more vicious than a dog. They are cute though. Here are some pics that my hubs took.

The horse I'm riding is Legs. She is a beauty. She has 1 eye due to something that happened a while ago. The first set of pics is from last night. I am doing so much better than I thought I would. I can post in the saddle with no hands on the reins. I can sit the trot without my feet in the stirrups and not feel like I'm going to fall. My balance is getting better every lesson. I am happier than before but not quite where I want to be yet. I know it will be a while before I am. I will on the other had, work for it.

Hard Days..

2013-01-23T20:34:00.000-05:00

Its been a rough couple of days for me. I went to the new barn, mind you that is not my problem. I miss Reggi so much. I looked at all those horses there and there was 1 out of the bunch that had Reggis eyes. Big, soft, gentle and warm. His name is Luke and he is a Grey Andalusian. He loves kisses and attention in general.
I hate that Reggi had to leave and it rips my heart out when I talk about him or think about him. I have had dreams about him lately and I cant find him. I wake up crying. I thought this was going to get easier but it seems to be getting worse. I want to buy another but I keep measuring everything I see to Reg. This is why its so hard for me....

Worlds Have Changed..

2013-01-21T10:54:00.000-05:00

I have been away again for a long time. Its been almost a year and there have been some rather major changes to my world. Some have been good, some have been bad.
Connecticut....
As you all know I purchased my dream in September of 2011. A handsome Palomino named Reggi. He was everything I was looking for and then some. We had a great year together. We went to a couple clinics together and did 4 shows. One of which was the Governors Horseman's Guard Annual Horse Show. We took all Blues in that one but we were the only participant in my classes, so as long as I didn't fall off, we were good. We did the Tri State Horse mans Association shows. We were Reserve Champion the first show and didn't do as well for the next 2 but we came out with 3rd place end of year in Beginner Walk/Trot/Canter and 5th in Vintage (that would be over 40yr old riders). After that show things changed drastically.
A decision had to be made that would be drastic but warranted. Our little family decided to stop fighting for the home that was making us sick and we could afford to stay in anymore. Our mortgage had gone from 1100.00 a month when we bought it to 1500.00 in 6 years. We knew with the taxes in our town going up we were going to be in trouble. Things wer3e hard as it was with my hubs not working. We packed everything and made transportation arrangement for my golden boy. We left New England on September 30th and arrived in Melbourne Florida on October 1st. Long damn drive let me tell you.
My hubs and I had been promised interviews with in 2 weeks of arriving. In the mean time we did what we had to to make our new home ours and looked for other jobs. It took a month and a half for me to find a job , one by the way that I love. My husband had no such luck. Our promised interviews never happened and for one month we were on food stamps. I had to sell my golden boy and he went back to Connecticut. I was devastated. I cried for 2 days. He left the beginning of November. I knew at that I wouldn't be able to pay his board or the farrier. I did what was best for him. He arrived in Ct the 2nd week of November to the loving arms of the girl that had him for 5yrs. At least I know where he is and that he is loved unconditionally.
Things have been depressing since. I was not happy about anything since he left. I miss him terribly. My hubs is now on disability for numerous reasons and he now gets a check once a month that is very good. I am working 40hrs a week and the cost of living here is much lower than Ct. I don't have to drive a half our to work one way any more. Now 20.00 in fuel lasts me a week. It takes me 7 min to get there. Today things are going to change. I am leaving soon to go meet a woman who is going to train me in English dressage. I hope anyway. We will see and I will keep you posted.

A Few Months Late

2012-04-20T17:06:00.000-04:00

I am alive..... sort of.

I have been on a quest to survive. Things here are better but not really. Hubs still out of work, I'm still working myself to death. Its been an interesting few months into the New Year. This month has been the worst in my eyes, especially this last week. On Monday the 9th of April, my 20yo son left for boot camp. United States Army. He is in Fort Sill OK right now. He is my only child and I miss him terribly. I watched my baby leave and when I see him in 9 weeks he will be changed into a man I don't know. The tears are still falling and my heart aches. The tornado's missed Lawton OK but still scared the day lights out of me.

On Friday the 13th it was the day from hell. I went to the barn to ride Reggi and found out that his ribs are out and I cant ride him till the chiropractor comes on the 30th. We were supposed to be at our first show on the 15th and we had to scratch. I didn't think it was a good idea to ride if he was in pain.

When I got home, the hubs and I were talking on the front lawn and didn't notice that the dog chased a bird out into the street. The dog was hit and he is ok. He has scratches and a muscle pull but that's all, thank God.

While trying to catch the dog, I wrenched my foot and ankle, ending up on crutches. So the dog and I are limping around together.

Western Dressage has taken off up here in New England. The club I started is slowly getting members but with the economy the way it is, I'm surprised and happy with who ever we get.

I'm hoping May will be better. I have had enough of crap.

Big Things Coming My Way

2011-12-23T11:30:00.000-05:00

I have been a busy girl lately. I have another trainer, who is teaching me all about my golden boy. It is working out fabulously. He still tests me but not to the point where I get flustered and get off of him. I now know how to make him do what I want. Yesterday for example, he didn't want to jog nicely so after a few minutes of fighting him, my brain clicked into gear and I made him jog 5 times around one of the jumps in the ring. That straightened him out for a while. Nice consistent jog around the ring. It was much easier to go into a lope when I asked for it too.

So I have been busy like I said. If you remember, I started out with a dressage saddle back last year at this time. We didn't get along and I fell off of Louis twice. Needles to say the dressage saddle and I parted ways and I bought a western saddle. Well all this time I have been heartbroken over the fact that I will never learn classical dressage with my (or any) horse. I also wrote about Western Dressage here and how I would have my cake and eat it too. I took it one step further. I contacted Western Dressage Association of America and at present time, I have sent in the Article of Incorporation, started looking for board members, and sent out the application for an EIN number from the IRS. With help from another, I am starting the Connecticut affiliation of Western Dressage. I cant wait till all the paperwork comes back and we can officially become a club. Cant wait to post our logo and start membership drives, clinics and such.

2011

2011-12-05T19:28:00.001-05:00

I want to take this opportunity to say a few things about this year. I have had an incredible year and that doesn't mean that its been all good. I started with a mortgage company trying to screw me over, my husband losing his job, working 50+ hrs per week for months. We then get help (so called) with the mortgage and then Reggi come into my life (good thing). In the mean time my son joins the army and he leaves next April for Fort Sill OK. I have cried 3 times in the past 2 months due to the death of some pretty special animals. 2 of which I have never met. Whinnie, a beautiful warmblood mare who was a sweet as can be, was left neglected and abuse at a farm near by. Her owner moved her to the farm with Melissa and Whinnie was getting better mentally and physically. Then she choliced. Her owner had the nerve to not bother to send this horse to the vet. Melissa took it upon herself to take this poor horse to the vet where 24hrs later she was gone. What a waste! Some people have no business having animals. I would sell my soul to the devil for Reggi or my other 2 pets. I have read about a recent horse thru my friend at 50+horses. So sad. and now today (I was late reading her post) I found out that her horse Poco was put down due to an injury from her Belgian. I just want this year to end. I have enough of bad news. When will it get better? So to the 3 beautiful souls in the following pictures RIP. You will be missed terribly and remembered with much love...

Whinnie, the brown mare to the right.

Poco

Poncho

Things are looking up

2011-11-26T11:18:00.001-05:00

I have been awfully busy lately. Between working over 48hrs a week to going to the farm when it isnt raining. Reggi and I have had our ups and downs with riding. He is a character. He has been testing me to no end. I have another trainer besides Melissa now. Her name is Dawne and she is the coach for Sacred Heart and Post University. She knows Reggi inside and out and he knows her. She walks into the ring and he straightens out and flies right. Yesterday was my 2nd lesson with her and it went very well. No crap from him. It was a fantastic lesson. So pleased with him and myself, so today we will practice our new skills. I cant wait for show season to start. I am already looking for a new show saddle.

Life is half way good.....

2011-10-07T11:27:00.000-04:00

I haven't been this happy since I married my other half. I have fallen for a golden haired boy with long legs, a fuzzy nose, and blond mane. Reggi is everything I have wanted in a horse and then some. He is a love muffin. He loves attention and treats, in fact he now walks up my Jeep and knows exactly where in the blue plastic tote that his treats are. He is completely western broke. A total dream to ride when he is behaving. I have to learn that in the ring is work time and when out of the ring its kissy face time. I did something yesterday that was quite interesting. I walked away from Reg to see what he would do. he followed and stopped where I did. So I did it again, and again he followed. Melissa had me continue this stating that this is where he has to learn manners. No bumping into me when he stops at my shoulder, no walking in front of me. He did well but could do better. Practice will come each day I am with him.
The blacksmith came this week too. No the greatest news but could have been worse. The blacksmith that was doing his shoes for the past 2yrs is an idiot. I will show you why.....

This is before. His hoof is too long in the toe.

This is after and with a new shoe on

Comparison view....
He feels much better with his new trim and shoe. His walk, jog, and lope are now with out a funny feel. He will be in these new shoes for a year. He has dropped souls too. So inside the shoe is a piece of leather that protects his hoof from stones.
New blanket this week too. I ordered a Orcan Freestyle Weatherbeeta for him. It looks fantastic on him and being the ham that he is....

He stuck his tongue out at me while taking his pic..He is so cute!!