tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41849043488799600592025-02-11T03:20:22.946-04:00Big Head, Little Arms, Still Not Thinking It ThroughT-Rex Eventerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07394757188915750993noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4184904348879960059.post-8124055983943398322017-06-29T14:32:00.000-03:002017-06-29T14:32:14.878-03:00

Its been a few days since finishing the George Morris Clinic in Windsor Nova Scotia. I'm STILL exhausted.  Bone deep, dragging, exhausted in mind and body. Every rider had two choices: improve (within his framework) or leave. I listened to him preach and bark orders. He rode rough-shod over people up one side and down the other, and today I realize the miraculous. George Morris is an

T-Rex Eventerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07394757188915750993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4184904348879960059.post-8050748458956132582017-05-29T16:22:00.001-03:002017-05-29T16:22:14.078-03:00

So, its been a while. The Hippo and I are still here, but there were plans in the works that required serious attention. (Pause for dramatic effect)  End result?  We just bought and moved onto our own farm. Yes, you read that correctly.  We bought a farm for the horse that was SUPPOSED to have been a resale project.  Well played, big mare, well played indeed. This, of

T-Rex Eventerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07394757188915750993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4184904348879960059.post-34273077481557096032016-10-14T09:18:00.003-03:002016-10-14T09:19:19.375-03:00

Well, color me shocked!  We finished the year with some jumper classes! Back in the spring, I half jokingly declared a year-end goal of hitting the 0.9m (3') and 1.0m (3'3") jumpers at the season finale indoor show.  It didn't seem too likely (or frightening) at that point since (a) it had been cancelled last year and (b) we'd never jumped higher than 3' so odds of being ready enough

T-Rex Eventerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07394757188915750993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4184904348879960059.post-65342056824565092722016-09-26T08:44:00.003-03:002016-09-26T08:46:41.767-03:00

(Note, this isn't in my usual light tone, feel free to skip if you're looking for self-deprecating humor) I know the Hippo and I have been MIA this summer but it has been BUSY.  That and I haven't been able to nail down something brewing internally. The Hippo has transformed over the past year.  She's sleek, fit and generally happy with life and her job.  I've even had people I

T-Rex Eventerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07394757188915750993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4184904348879960059.post-87607549250752088092016-06-14T15:44:00.001-03:002016-06-14T17:11:22.855-03:00

When I'm not riding, I'm usually on a computer.  It makes sense considering I provide tech support in my 'real life'.  You know what a couple decades of technical support has taught me about horses? Life is SO much easier if the problem is me. I can fix me, or at least improve. I can change my approach, learn something new, RTFM (read the 'fine' manual aka a book) take a lesson/clinic

T-Rex Eventerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07394757188915750993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4184904348879960059.post-15860244384851914602016-06-02T17:47:00.002-03:002016-06-02T18:05:17.354-03:00

Its almost here! Its almost here!  The first horse trial of the year!  Not that I'm excited or anything, but OH MY GOD its like Christmas in June. Ready everyone? Tack has been cleaned and boots polished. Laundry is ... ongoing.  Sweet merciful god, the laundry, its unreal how much gear is required for one person and one horse to go off property for 2 days. Then again it

T-Rex Eventerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07394757188915750993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4184904348879960059.post-58944412824284011752016-04-22T10:43:00.000-03:002016-04-22T10:43:04.136-03:00

So, yeah, its been muddy and the hippo is back on 24/7 turnout and been loving it. We're ramping up for competition season. like everyone else in the eventing world.  For us, this means adding lots of marching up/down hills and into the nearby lake. I love the lake. Water practice + clean legs + not getting frostbitten fingers from leg washing is fantastic.  I haven't seen clean legs

T-Rex Eventerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07394757188915750993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4184904348879960059.post-70651361516302240952016-04-19T13:32:00.003-03:002016-04-19T13:32:47.964-03:00

Ah, spring on the East Coast.  Land of mud, rain, mud, snow, more mud, rain, snow, and did I mention mud? In case I was too subtle, there's a lot of mud. Until a few days ago, I only owned a pair of half calf rain boots which has made it exciting to retrieve the hippo from her wallow. A daily occurrence, both sides I gave up on the short rain boots once I realized mud was consistently

T-Rex Eventerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07394757188915750993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4184904348879960059.post-49385147980537688312016-04-15T11:07:00.000-03:002016-04-15T11:07:03.734-03:00

The night before the saddle arrives I notice something as I'm taking off the Hippo's saddle. She's displeased, that's unusual. Not the displeased part, just the timing.  She's not usually displeased after a ride, normal is calmly pleased to be done.  I start poking/prodding to discover she's sore behind her shoulders, the current jumping saddle is causing sore spots.  Hmmm, how

T-Rex Eventerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07394757188915750993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4184904348879960059.post-63844065713855055962016-04-06T13:39:00.003-03:002016-04-06T13:39:37.021-03:00

Guess who picked up a new saddle?  Well, new to me but damned if I care. Yeah, yeah, I know.  You all saw it coming a mile away after sitting in that Voltaire at HITS Ocala. I came back with saddle fever.  After trolling through almost every 2nd hand Voltaire monoflap with similar measurement listed online in North America, I had pretty much made my peace with waiting a looong

T-Rex Eventerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07394757188915750993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4184904348879960059.post-87379788131172802562016-03-28T16:49:00.004-03:002016-04-06T13:40:01.738-03:00

The apocolypse is nigh.  I've started jogging.  I'm not designed for jogging.  I have a (pre)history of tripping and falling on flat ground, at a walk. (Scuff, SPLAT, "She's down again...")  I've even managed to sprain an ankle while standing still.  And yet, here I am ... trying to jog ... again.    Last time I tried jogging was with my sister.  1

T-Rex Eventerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07394757188915750993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4184904348879960059.post-39448439960635126142016-03-15T17:33:00.002-03:002016-04-06T13:40:17.306-03:00

Well, this year I finally gave in and ran away to Florida.  Not for long, just a week, but long enough to fill the old bones with a little more warmth and sunshine until spring truly begins.  So I spent some time baking my tail in the sun. But seriously, how could I go to Florida without a tiny horse show detour?  What's a couple (ok, closer to three) hour drive to HITS?  

T-Rex Eventerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07394757188915750993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4184904348879960059.post-9642848727518494402016-03-02T12:34:00.004-04:002016-04-06T13:40:54.612-03:00

So, its been awhile since I shared some stories of the Hippo's progress.  At last update, she was making the difficult transition to acting like an adult.  I'm pleased to say this is almost complete.   Spooking is almost non-existant except for the occasional "Hey, I'm super bored/this is hard.  Can I distract you a little? No? Ok, never mind" We've been luckier this winter,

T-Rex Eventerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07394757188915750993noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4184904348879960059.post-76178125324113244612015-12-07T15:26:00.002-04:002015-12-07T15:27:31.559-04:00

Psalm 23Aging Eventer Version (AEV) My coach is my shepherd; I shall not rest She maketh me thrice walk cross country; she leadeth me twice around stadium She restoreth my balls; she leadeth me to the path of the bar for my horse's sake Yea, though I walk in the valley of the shadow of coffins, I will fear no drop fences; for thou art near me; thy lessons and light mockery they comfort me

T-Rex Eventerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07394757188915750993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4184904348879960059.post-88611000019685463622015-11-09T16:11:00.000-04:002015-11-09T16:11:43.470-04:00

August marked a full year with the Hippo, the first consistent year she's ever had.  With the end of her first year comes the transition to being asked to behave like an adult who has to work for a living. The tone of our rides lately: Yes, adulting is hard No, adulting isn't optional Yes, you may have an apple afterward I hear you, dear horse I mean, I get it.  Adulting is highly

T-Rex Eventerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07394757188915750993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4184904348879960059.post-73011909600295367212015-11-02T15:46:00.000-04:002015-11-02T15:46:25.349-04:00

A great horse passed today. Not a famous horse, or a fancy horse, a big plain bay with just a little white. A big goof who happily came out of a field to show his new person the wonders of eventing; who gave a returning rider wings and heart. He'd gallop madly down a beach but always keep his person safe. Rampaging over ditches, locking merrily onto jumps with a spring and a tail swish. &nbsp

T-Rex Eventerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07394757188915750993noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4184904348879960059.post-68135900835456148822015-09-30T15:44:00.000-03:002015-09-30T15:51:26.486-03:00

Did I mention this yet?  I don't think I mentioned this yet.  In a fit of lunacy, I told my coach one of my winter goals.  Specifically the "holy crap, what am I doing, what's come over me?" goal of getting comfortable jumping low wide oxers. Did someone say oxer? AIEEEEEE! Seriously.  Back in, what was it ... April?  I'm pretty sure it was April. I took the

T-Rex Eventerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07394757188915750993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4184904348879960059.post-36320024985379823842015-09-29T11:13:00.001-03:002015-09-29T11:13:51.983-03:00

Well, the Hippo has been continuing her campaign to jump instead of the push/lift/concentrate tedium of flatwork. Flatwork: Hey look over there!  Did you see that out the door? *spook*  OMG, I heard something dangerous outside the door! *scoot* Jumping: Hang on lady!  I got this.  Why you look at the door?  Seems fine to me! We did have one legitimate day of terror

T-Rex Eventerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07394757188915750993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4184904348879960059.post-68259551380537076132015-09-10T10:44:00.002-03:002015-09-10T10:44:31.074-03:00

Sweet mother of god, there's not enough coffee in the world. Screw TBT, I don't have the energy to mine the archives. Ditto the coffee... You know know you're in trouble, post-riding lesson, when you start with a quadruple espresso yet still want to stab your eye out with a spork to distract from the fatigue.  Never mind the unfortunate side effects that come with that much caffeine

T-Rex Eventerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07394757188915750993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4184904348879960059.post-68718222545116089982015-09-09T17:32:00.003-03:002015-09-09T17:32:50.460-03:00

I disappeared for a couple weeks to prep for our (likely) last show of the season. But hey, new material right? Choices, choices.  With the choice of a dressage show or a jumper show, I decided to take the lessons of the horse trial into consideration.  Jumps = more to keep the hippo's mind busy. No jumps = mental space to obsess over the invisible gremlins (with purple spots) she

T-Rex Eventerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07394757188915750993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4184904348879960059.post-11696794609695725052015-08-25T14:11:00.002-03:002015-08-25T14:12:03.941-03:00

Well, its been a little over a week since we returned from the Horse Trial and the weather has been awful for riding.  Its been HOT and HUMID.  When I say humid, I don't mean 60%-70%, "Wow its muggy" humidity.  I mean 90%-100%, "It feels like I'm breathing hot soup" humidity. I don't remember this moss and algae on my house yesterday... So, there's been a lot of very quiet rides

T-Rex Eventerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07394757188915750993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4184904348879960059.post-47680311109306685722015-08-20T13:44:00.000-03:002015-08-20T13:44:15.898-03:00

So, I've told you guys a bit about my old pony and my old hunter/eventer/13 years of trying ro squash a square peg in a round hole.  I haven't told much about my old event/dressage horse. What a mare. Three quarters thoroughbred and one quarter percheron, built like a rugby fullback and thought she was a race horse.  She wasn't that far wrong either.  That mare could GO! Which

T-Rex Eventerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07394757188915750993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4184904348879960059.post-81760545471849010462015-08-18T09:44:00.001-03:002015-08-18T09:44:30.550-03:00

Well, the Hippo and I completed our first Horse Trial this weekend.  Happily, this old T-Rex managed to keep the Hippo between herself and the ground at all times, which is always a cause for celebration! Luck wasn't really with us for the dressage phase.  It ran in an indoor arena the Hippo hadn't seen yet. Open doors, hidden sounds sources, strange environment and an inexperienced

T-Rex Eventerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07394757188915750993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4184904348879960059.post-64322020322337512462015-08-13T15:28:00.000-03:002015-08-13T15:28:22.502-03:00

Oh look, its thursday!  Time to dive back into prehistory again. One of my favorite sayings is "What I said and what you heard weren't the same thing".  This proves true repeatedly when you start learning to ride ... scratch that ... during your entire riding education. Its understandable when you think about it. A rider is trying to coordinate their limbs (all 4 of them) and balance

T-Rex Eventerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07394757188915750993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4184904348879960059.post-40704152125599986582015-08-11T15:54:00.000-03:002015-08-11T15:54:01.269-03:00

which brings me to... 5 days and counting before the Hippo's eventing debut and the packing prep has started in earnest.  I just unearthed my old pair of white full-seat riding breeches. Oh boy, those suckers have seen better days. Son of a bitch, this means I need to buy a pair of light beige or white breeches without which one may not compete in the dressage or eventing stadium rings. &

T-Rex Eventerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07394757188915750993noreply@blogger.com0