Catch Up

Quick catch up post! Limerick is doing fabulously and we've had a lot of fun lately, going on long hacks with Kimmie and Kristen. Kristen's horse finally came back from his extended vacay and Kimmie's horse is FINALLY sound, so we were all reunited shortly after spring break and thrilled to ride together again :) Last weekend after the show, Hillary stayed to help organize all of my tack/crap, and let me just say that she did a beautiful job. She also recorded our short little jump school, which was our first time trying the wonder bit and running martingale.

Since then, I made it out to the barn every day but Tuesday and Thursday, and on Thursday I had an awesome dressage rider/friend work Limmers for me. She's a first year at my school and a total badass (third level whaaaaat?!). She told me that she loves him and he was good, but she and I both noticed that he felt a lot more downhill than usual in the canter. Ideas anyone?? He almost felt off, but only in canter, which felt like his butt kind of popped up underneath me more than normal :(. Basically we worked on cantering single jumps this week, a little bit of dressage, and as much no-stirrup work as I can handle.

I also have some picture previews from Hillary and Houston's rated-event-debut!!!!

And from some of the gorgeous days this week :) 

CRAY/Photo Dump

Unfortunately, due to a perpetually frozen outdoor arena and no indoor, Limerick has had a less than ideal work schedule of late (BOO). We've had snow and ice on the ground since Thursday and the temperatures have been frigid with unbearable wind. This sucky weather has not kept me from the barn, but it has kept us from doing more than walking, until Sunday... enter batshit crazy pony. Sunday, the ground was starting to thaw and was rather soppy, but the ring was still a frozen rock, so Kimmie and I opted to work in the front field, hoping to work off some of our horses' energy.

It's been so long since then that I don't remember all of the details, but the gist of it is that Limerick was seriously insane (for him... keep in mind that even his insanity is rather tame). He tossed his head and chomped on the bit, jigged, pranced, etc. Even though we were out there with Jazz, he was still insecure and kept looking around for him/going towards him when possible. He also threw himself into upward transitions and kind of exploded, trying to get his head down and run with me... super fun! That was about the time that I realized how precarious I felt and how potentially slippery the ground could be, so I asked Kimmie to hop on and see if she could get him to listen better and stop running around like an idiot. He tried the same crap with her, but she kept him together and let him run around in a controlled manner for a few minutes, which did wonders for his brain! Then I hopped back on and asked for one more canter transition, which he was good for, so I called it a day.

Meeting Jack for the first time!! 

Snow :)

Snuggles (real name Jack)

Kimmie and Snuggles

He loves me

Me and Limmers. I'm wearing my weirdly awesome face mask

Jazz and Limerick meet Jack

SNUGGLES

I'm seriously considering a trade...

My sorority's bid day :)

Weird-awesome face mask

SO Many Pictures!!! (and lots to tell, but that'll have to wait)

I would love to do a full update now about the two lessons in two days that I've had, but I have a term paper hanging over my head. I was supposed to work on it today and instead decided to spend 5 hours at the farm... BAD KATHERINE! Therefore, the rest of this update will have to wait until tomorrow, but as the title suggests, I have a gazillion new and awesome pictures. I spent so much time at the barn because my B.O. wanted to take pictures of us with our horses... she is so sweet and wonderful :) Then Kimmie and I kind of messed around setting jumps, and then came the lessons. I jumped the highest that I've ever jumped (at least intentionally...) and Limmers was fab! The whole lesson was great and S keeps telling me how happy she is that things are finally starting to go right for us, which is so good to hear.

More to come, but here are the pictures!

Kimmie and Jazz looking perfect as always! 

Liz

Kimmie and Jazz over Liz's ghetto jump

The most round I've ever gotten him at the canter :)

Cool action shot, even if I don't appreciate my heel being even with my toe...

My favorite of the day :) Cute festive jump! 

My leg is too far back, but this is the biggest jump I've ever (intentionally) jumped! S said 2' 3"
The best part was that I didn't even think twice about it or get scared :)

The sunset after my lesson

decidedly not feeling the spirit of Christmas... my horse is a grinch! 

It's ok, he actually loves his life and is trying to hide his enthusiasm for the santa hat

My horse might actually be a reindeer... he certainly knows how to jump like one! 

Boyfriends 

Lims and Jazzers

Limmers wishes you all a happy holiday/merry christmas! 

I am in love with this picture of us... new favorite of all time!