Aug. 10, 2009 - Horse Lover in Paradise

I knew when I first found out that I would moving to Kentucky that I would be right in horse country. That exciting horse happenings would take place very close to me, and that it would be way possible for me to start going to these things.

However the other day when I found out the World Equestrian Games would be held in Lexington next year I went crazy.

For those of you who need a little background info, The World Equestrian Games have always been held in England and England only. So it's not just any World Equestrian Games that are going on next year. It's the first World Equestrian Games being held out of England. The World Equestrian Games themselves are for those at the top of their game. The riders and horses who have gone beyond all else.

Events that take place during the games are Dressage, Eventing, Driving, Jumping, Vaulting, Reining, Endurance, and Para Dressage.

This horse lover was in heaven until she realized the price of tickets... maybe I could volunteer? The only problem with that is I'm old enough. *sigh* Oh well, I'll just have to start saving now.

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Jun. 7, 2009 - Lipizzaner Stallions

When I heard the World Famous Lipizzaner Stallions were coming through here I thought it would be really neat to go see them, but I stopped thinking about it then. At least, I tried to get myself to stop thinking about it then.

They had passed through last year as well and tickets had been far to expensive, and I was sure that would be the case this year as well. It would have been, but my dear Grammy bought my Mum, sister and I tickets to go see the stallions for a birthday gift. I was sad to find out that she had to work so was unable to accompany us.


I have always wanted to see these beautiful horses perform, and was so glad the show was wonderful. I took a few pictures, but my small cheap camera was not up to the task of getting anything good, so I put it down and decided to enjoy the show. Don't worry, Eyebright was on picture duty and she got some great shots!

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Apr. 10, 2009 - The Search Begins

Horse and riding. Subjects I could go on for hours about. Don't worry, you won't be reading for hours.

Just recently I've decided that I would like to try hunter/jumper. That sounds and looks like so much fun to me!

My dear sweet Angel however is just a little to old, and a little to arthritic to be jumping fences.

So my quest begins. Because money is not something we have a lot of right now I need somewhere close to home. I'm hoping I will be able to work in trade for lessons because if not, the whole things out of the question!

I've looked at several websites, and this morning I even took a trip out to visit a barn, but I've been unable to find a barn near me that teaches jumping! I've not even found one that teaches just English!

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Feb. 7, 2009 - I Feel a New Template Coming On

Today I had the chance to climb about the mountains, looking for wild mustangs for the forest service.

I was lucky enough to be one of the few people who did get to see mustangs, and I got tons of pictures!

This was before finding the mustangs.

 

 Then, what do you know? horses! I was so excited to see them!

I've kind of been thinking about making a new template with some of these pictures... I'm not sure though, I like the one I already have pretty well!

 On a side note. My friend Narniagirl and I have started a graphics blog! We call it BlueSky Graphics.

We would love for you to drop by and take a look. Make sure to let us know what you think!

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Dec. 13, 2008 - I'm Finding it Hard to Believe I Actually Took the Time to Upload Pictures.

Well, I've been asked once, or twice for pictures of me riding. As we now have a camera I will be happy to post some!

It was great to get out and ride after not being able to for so long. I could tell Angel really wanted to get moving as well. It didn't take long till we were both ready to run.

 

When Angel has not been ridden for awhile, she is like any horse. Lots of energy. When I pushed her into a canter if felt like she was a cannon ball coming out of a cannon. I could feel her frustration when I slowed her down again because she had gotten the wrong lead. She just wanted to go!

 

 

 

 

I normally have to wait till she has had her run before I can try to do anything with her in a canter, and lately we have been working on smaller circles at her break neck speed. She did great yesterday on those, although near the end she was starting to loose her temper over something. Still trying to figure out what.

 

 

 

 

 I think when I left though, both of us were happy with the day, I was at least.

 

 

For those of you who are still wondering what I mean when I say an Australian saddle, I got some pictures just for you!

 

 

This saddle has a horn, although I have seen some Australian saddles that don't. It is also rather big for me, but I find it much more comfortable then the Western. I would love to try one that actually fits someday to see if I like it as much as the larger one.

 

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In other news, it snowed for the second time of the year today. The first time was back in Oct. We were beginning to think we wouldn't be getting any more, but we were wrong. It snowed and snowed, as we valiantly drove to town to get a few things we needed to make some Christmas presents. I wouldn't be surprised if the little bit that stuck would be gone my tomorrow though.

I've been getting so excited for Christmas! I love this time of year. I can't wait to see all the family!

For those of you who read the first 50 facts about me, keep looking for the last 51, I was going to post them today before I realized that I still had to think of several more. It should be posted in the next few days.

Also if anyone happens to read this before midnight, today is your last day to enter in the giveaway The Backyard is holding. So hurry over! Remember you have to be signed in to your HSB account to view the posts.

Last, but not least. Be sure to go take a look at the contest Mara is holding at her blog Mutterings by Mara. The prize is a beautiful quilt, made by the lady herself.

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Oct. 16, 2008 - I'm A Dangerous Rider

After getting an incredible case of lack-of-saddle-sore, I finally got to ride yesterday for the first time in almost... I don't even know how long.

So I was very happy as I saddled up, chatting away to Angel, my riding partner, and anyone else who would listen.

The ride started out great, Angel was rearing to go, as was I and warm ups probably didn't last as long as they should have before we started cantering away.

Angel loves to run, and since she hadn't gotten to since the last time I was riding, it didn't take long to get her going, and when she did go, man she was flying!

After cantering about for several minutes, my cheeks most likely a wind burnt pink, my hair coming undone, I decided to try a circle at the canter. Something Angel and I have been working on. We do great going one way, but when we change directions something goes wrong and, well, I'll not finish that story.

For some crazed reason I decided to start on her hard side, the one we can hardly ever get right. A squeeze of the legs, a kiss, and we were off.

As always the first part of the circle went great, however as soon as we started closing it Angel lost her footing and it felt like she slipped.

I pulled her to stop and gave her a pat on the neck for trying, and we continued with our thing. A walk here, moving into a trot now, as we approached the area where Angel had lost her footing I was concentrating on what we were doing at that moment, and I almost didn't hear my riding partner say.

"You lost something."

I looked up at her and she pointed to the ground where I stared in disbelief at my saddle blanket. Yeah for all those unhorse people that's the thing that goes under the saddle. I looked down at the saddle, and sure enough, the blanket was gone.

That was when my riding partner and I burst out laughing. Commented on having never seen that before, and how we wished there had been a movie camera going at that point.

As I jumped off Angel the saddle came with me... it was so loose I was pretty much riding bare back.

It was only then that I realized that Angel had been acting kind of weird after we lost the saddle blanket, I just didn't know why. She was trying to tell me she was missing something. I just wasn't listening.

What a little Angel.

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Sep. 25, 2008 - Wow! Just Wow!

Some of you may have seen the link on my side bar that leads to the blog of Shelley Simmons and Samson. Competitors in the 2008 western states mustang challenge.

Shelley and Samson did not win, but I was amazed after watching the video of the winner. Even someone who does not know horses would see that this is incredible.

 

 

Just so you really know how WOW this is let me remind you this horse was trained in three months.

I would love to have a horse like this! 

 

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Aug. 23, 2008 - That's My Angel

No doubt I have mentioned Angel to you. You have probably realized by now that she is the horse I ride. I would love you to finally meet her.

 

Angel is a liver chestnut Morgan. At times she can be as sweet as pie while other times she is anything, but an angel.

As you may have guessed by now Angel is the same horse as in my header, and she is mighty proud to be there.

Angel likes to hang out with her best friend Hottie.

 

Since she's here I should probably introduce you.

Hottie is a young, who knows what with a lot of energy.
Just learning how to trailer about a year ago she has been enjoying the pleasure of lessons and participating in Dressage classes. Did I fail to mention her beautiful chestnut coat?

 

So that's my girl!

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Aug. 11, 2008 - Third Place!

I would like to say a huge congratulations to my riding partner!

Third place at her first show! This is the horse she was riding, She's a Hottie formally and just Hottie all the other times.

Both of them did a great job and I was glad I could be there to watch!

 

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Apr. 3, 2008 - Have You Ever Traveled at Light Speed?

Well I have, or at least it felt like it.

Let's start at the beginning. All the horses I have ridden in the past have been in thier older years.

My neighbor and I have been riding together for almost a year now. In an Australian saddle, I ride on the adorable perfect little Angel, who is a liver chestnut Morgan. My neighbor rides in her English saddle, on her beautiful green broke Hottie, who is a chestnut thoroughbred.
We make a great combination!  

The other day I had enough guts to ask if I could ride Hottie, I don't have a problem asking my neighbor if I could ride, it's the horse that I have to be brave enough for. Let me remind you green broke.

I got on and I was having a pretty good ride all in all. I found out that every one was right when they said Angel had a painful trot. I thought it was that way for every horse, and I had a hard time believing my neighbor when she said the trot was her favorite gate. Angel however, makes up for it in her canter, she has a beautiful canter that is so easy to ride. I liked the canter way better then the trot.

Anyway back to the story, everything was going just fine until my neighbor says, "See if you can ask her for a little bit of a faster trot. Be careful though."

However, me who had already asked for the faster trot did not hear the "be careful."

Hottie broke into a canter and at first I thought I should stop her, but then I heard my neighbor behind me say, "there you go that's the right lead."

So I did a silly thing and let the horse have her head, forgetting she was green broke and that she was not the same as perfect little Angel.

I'm telling you, I could feel the skin on my face pulled back, and I thought I was going to brake through the fence and go to the next county. Hottie had a different idea and swerved to avoid the fence, putting me completely off balance (I really don't think I on "on" balance to begin with) and I almost went flying, but maneged to grab onto something and keep myself on.

When Hottie stopped, I said, "that was scary," and my neighbor asked me, "as in scary fun, or scary scary."
"A little of both."   

She told me that at first she thought it looked like a really nice canter and then, it all just kinda fell apart from there.
"Now do you see why I like the trot better," she added?

I was glad to get back on Angel, and the experience on Hottie has made me appreciate her so much more!

I think if I rode Hottie on a regular bases I could get used to her canter, and eventually enjoy it, but for now, I'll stick with Angel.

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Nov. 30, 2007 - This is Nuts

In reading all of the horse magazines I get, I learned that the last slaughter house in America was closed down.

For one thing I have never been against slotter houses them selves. A lot of horses that are sent to those places really should be put out of there misery. They should not half to live any longer. It is true that a lot of horses that are sent to a slotter house are still in there prime, and are just sent there because the owner could not afford to feed it anymore, and they couldn't find someone to by it. This is true, but horses, or any animal are not humans.
God did not make Adam a horse.

As I continued to read the article I found out that even though the last slotter house in America was closed they are still shipping horses to slotter houses out of the country.
At first I thought great, but then I read that in slotter houses in most countries deal with the horses in a inhumane way. It's all to disgusting to describe to you, just believe me it's not good.

WHAT ARE THESE PEOPLE DOING! Why on earth did you have all the slotter houses here closed when the ones you SHOULD be worrying about are the ones that cause the horses pain!

Before I go any farther I think I should say most slotter houses in Amaerica killed the horse with a quick bullet in the head.

I was just blown away at these peoples stupidity. Animal rights are just getting ridiculous. The next thing you know you will have to have a heated barn with a T.V., a popoats machine, and a lounge chair.
Nobody, but millionaires will be able to afford a horse, and I would have to forever get rid of the idea of EVER getting a horse!

 

 

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Nov. 14, 2007 - My Life Dreaming About Horses

I'm sure most of you can tell just by looking at my template, I am a horse lover.

To tell you the truth I have been a horse lover from the moment I was born.
The birth announcements Mommy sent out for me said,

Riding into our lives...

right across it with a little picture of a rocking horse on it. This just goes to show that from the moment you lay eyes on me you can tell horses are my life.

When I was little I didn't even have to ask to ride the pony, people knew what I wanted and gave it to me, I went on a lot of pony rides when I was still little enough to have one.

Ever since I can remember I have always told my parents I wanted a horse for Christmas.

 

No I do not have a horse although I have begged and pleaded, it finally hit me, to take care of a horse; it takes a lot of money! Ever since, I try not to beg for a horse I just remind everyone now and then that I want one, just so they won't forget. (Another reason they call me blue, the reminders are usually out of the blue)

For several years I had great English lessons, I think I may have even become a snobby English rider eventually, but after a few years the lessons were brought to an end.

I got to ride just by going to horse camp once a year, one year I realized my riding skills where rapidly disappearing, I needed practice.

So I asked a great friend of mine for lessons, and I told my parents I would pay for them myself, and they just had to get me there.

The first few weeks I took my hard earned babysitting money to the lessons. One week though, my dear friend told me not to pay her anymore! If you are reading this "friend" thank you so much for the great lessons you gave me!

These lessons have ended now, but I am riding more now then I ever did in my life. I have an awesome neighbor who let's me ride with her whenever she goes riding, and she rides usually at least once, or twice a week.

The Lord has blessed me with so many great people that love horses almost as much as I do, that have given me so much. I am so thankful to all of them!

Bluejane

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Aug. 24, 2007 - Helping Those in Need

When I was at Seaworld we stopped and saw the Clydesdale horses.

Now to those of you who have never been to Seaworld, you might be wondering why on earth they have horses. Well sadly it's because the owner of Seaworld inherited these horses from a beer company, who used these poor horses to deliver there vile product, or something like that. I didn't really care why they were there, I was just glad they were.

Anyway back to the reson I'm writing this post. As I was waiting in line to go get my picture with one of these great horses, I noticed that there was a lady with special needs in front of me. I watched as she wheeled her little special wheel chair up to the horse five times bigger then she was, and I noticed the huge smile on her face as the handler told her about the horse and where to pet him. It looked like she was so proud as the snap shot was taken, and she wheeled away.

This scene really touched me. I have always thought that the programs such as this one were neat, and I always thought that the people who dedicate their life to helping these people were awsome! However I never thought about how I could do it. As I watched this lady that looked like she was about 20-25 years old I realized that I think it would be awesome to help people like that and to be able to show them my world of horses and what I love.

Just before I had left on my trip my Mom had told me about a collage that was a Bible and a horse college, she also told me that they taught you how to evangelize by using your horse, and how to help special needs children with your horse.

I have not had a chance to really look this up yet, but my Mom has a little bit, and she thinks it would be awesome for me. Now I am no where near the age for collage, but it's never to soon to start looking right?

Bluejane

Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
Isaiah 41:10

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May. 22, 2007 - A Tag for Horse Lovers

I have not been blogging very long, but I have been doing it long enough to have seen tags, been tagged, and to tag other bloggers, but not once have I seen a horse tag. So I'm going to start one.

1. What is you favorite breed of horse?

Thoroughbred

2. What would you name a horse?

Dancer

3. What style do you prefer to ride?

Western

4. What is your favorite riding activity?

Barrel Racing

5. What is your dream horse

A grey thoroughbred mare, with a sock on her left, hind leg.

3 people you will tag?

rjdjohn316

Emma92

Jocelyndixon

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