Tim Time

I had my first real ride on Timmy today - we had a dressage lesson with E. He was such a star and is so much fun to ride! I'm still trying to figure out the leg/contact ratio, but E said that when we get it, we're going to make a killing in the dressage ring ;) He is so rideable, has tons of suspension in his trot, and has the loveliest floaty canter... swoon. Unfortunately, I couldn't coerce anyone to watch and get proof of his awesomeness, but I have another lesson on Thursday and XC schooling on Saturday, so it will happen soon - promise!

In the meantime, enjoy how ridiculously adorable he was during his first bath in KY, as well as some pictures from his first couple of days here :)

Fresh off of the trailer! 

First Ride!

To serve as the Before - stay tuned for an After. Check out the boniness :(

I'm apparently a pro at choosing horses with huge cannon bones... Limerick's XL dressage boots fit Timmy perfectly

I think he likes the beautiful KY bluegrass :)

Itch

HAI

Good, Better, Bestest

I've had three awesome rides in a row and today was the best yet! You know how I raved yesterday about how good Limerick was on the trail (even though he tried to kill me)? Well he was 10x better today and did not try to dump me in an earth-shattering spook, so the big baby got almost a full bag of carrots after our ride. He was that good.

Hillary and I couldn't resist heading back out on the trail today, and this time we went with two younger girls from the barn. We started out working a little bit in the ring, since yesterday revealed Limerick's inner fire-breathing dragon. Just some light work, a cross rail, and some canter poles to get him thinking and burn off some energy. Then we headed out towards the woods.. the actual trail part was uneventful, other than Limerick getting a little bit pissy when the other horses got to jump the fallen trees and he didn't (cry me a river). We even went on a little adventure on a new part of the trail that went down towards a large creek. We went and stood by the edge for some pictures and then headed back up to the field where we cantered yesterday. Limerick insisted on trying to jig uphill towards the field, tossing his head and being a big dummy. I made him stop and then gave him permission to trot the rest of the way.

We finally made it up to the big field, which Hillary and I promptly raced across. I can't believe I'm saying this, but Limerick was actually lazy!!! He wanted to stop and had no problem letting Houston charge ahead of us. We had a few strides of real gallop mixed in when I could actually get him to go, but it took a lot of urging. Not what I was expecting given the prancing and head tossing up the hill. I thought he would literally explode when I let him go, but I guess I learned that I need to carry a crop.. Go figure! Hill and I laughed and cheered the whole way, getting to the end and turning back a couple of times to run again :)

I can't even believe how far Limerick and I have come since I got him in August, timid as ever and terrified to canter in a ring.. outside in the open was unthinkable for me at that point! Yet here we are, pushing each other every day to go outside our comfort zones and having so much fun doing it :)!

New Pessoa Open Fronts <3 I've oiled them twice since these pictures :)

My poor ripped FITS :(

Home for the Weekend!

This weekend, Kimmie, Jazz, Limerick and I went home for a weekend of fun with Hillary and Houston! It involved a lesson with my home trainer, lots of yummy food, a reunion with my dogs, two sleepovers in a row, and a mini trial at a local farm :) Needless to say, it was a total blast.

Kimmie and Hill with the flat trailer tire

Limmers and his BFFL, Levi

The adorable Mr. Leviticus 

LIMS

LIMS' NOSE

Drying in the sun after his bath

Friday, Kimmie and I got to HB (my home barn) around 7:00, unloaded the horses, and went out for sushi with Hill. Then we went back to the farm, Kimmie quickly hacked around, and Hill and I tag-teamed the Limmers in a joint effort to make him a naked pony, sans hair (except for his legs).

My best friend is supaaaa cute

yummy buche de noel 

Saturday was crazyyyy busy, and we pretty much ran around all day accomplishing the many things we needed to do. First, we got up early so Kimmie could school XC and Jazz was a total rock star! It was their first time schooling a real cross-country course, and it really could not have gone smoother. They are obviously eventers in the making :) We started packing up after schooling when Hill just happened to notice that one of Kimmie's trailer tires was flat... the same trailer that drove 80+ miles the night before! That was an eventful discovery, but we got it sorted out shortly, and luckily Kimmie was able to go buy a new tire and change it herself. After that excitement, we headed back to the home barn, unloaded Jazz, and started setting up for the tack sale. As Hillary said on her blog, is was a major flop in terms of turnout, but I did manage to sell an unused Stubben bridle for $100 and a cheap nylon halter for $10! I also gave away some old baby pads, just to free up some space in my rather large tack collection.. Shortly after the failed tack sale, I had a lesson with E, my home trainer. Limerick was a star, but E was unfortunately distracted and only dedicated 50% of her attention to me, which was really frustrating since I only get to lesson with her on breaks :( Later that night, my parents took us out for a yummy dinner at a new French restaurant in town. It was delicious and really the only time I got to sit down with them and just talk.

Finally, Sunday morning we got up even earlier (BOO) and went to HB to braid, feed, and ride. Limerick was even better than Saturday, and I don't want to jinx anything, but I think that the chiropractor really took care of all of our problems! We started out WTC in the indoor (I miss it so much) and then went out in a field by ourselves, with no protestations from the Limmers in terms of leaving his friends. For some reason, when his back was really ouchy he became sort of barn sour... it wasn't really bad and he would mainly throw a little tantrum, but it certainly was not fun. We had none of that, even though he hadn't been to HB since August. I was such a proud mommy! Also, on Friday I started riding in an eggbutt french link snaffle that I happened to find in the depths of my tack trunk, and I LOVE it. It offers much more consistent contact than we were getting from the loose ring, and Lims is also much more willing to accept the bit :) Shortly after my ride, we left for the show and got everyone where they needed to be. It was the tiniest bit hectic, but overall a really good day! Jazz had some minor meltdowns involving a few refusals, which is relatively unheard of for him, and Kimmie even had a minor fall during her jumper course. She was fine, but was really pissed at him for forgetting his brain, especially after how well schooling went the previous day. Hillary and Hue had an AMAZING day and I am so proud of them!! I don't want to steal her thunder, so you can read about it on her blog, but I will say that they left with a ribbon!

Kimmie and I got back late last night, quickly turned the ponies out and upacked, and then went back to school and promptly crashed. I'm still exhausted, but it was so worth it :) I have a lesson on Wednesday with S and I should get to ride most days this week. I'll post soon with more updates!

Hillary and Huey after an amazing XC round :)

I'm proud of this picture of Houston's braids! It's also Hill's new banner photo

Kimmie falling... 

Kimmie falling... 

Kimmie falling... 

Before the fall, looking awesome/B.A.