Getting my sea legs

My final for my last summer class is tomorrow! Wohoo! Anywho, something neat I've been up to is taking jumping lessons again!

Back in May I won a three lesson package as part of a silent auction. Finally this month I was able to put them to use! Because I haven't jumped in so long I wanted to ride some lesson ponies to get started. 

I fail at media but I've had two lessons thus far and have ridden a super kick-ride appy lesson pony. The first lesson was with a rider and her 9 month of the track, 4 year old tb. 

Now I'm obviously a rising olympic show jumping star and jumping a whopping 2' in these lessons. But I seriously have no lady balls and as I need more confidence this is the height that works for me. 

First lesson went really well and the thing I need to work on most is keeping a flat back and engaging my core. 

The second lesson I had just a few days ago and I was in a group lesson with some kids. The flatting was rough as we were trotting at the two-point. My thighs were burning so quick. We worked on jumping S curves and I was doing mostly ok at this. 

However, in the 100+ degree heat and some mild humidity; I was so tired toward the end of the lesson I was getting sloppy. My last course I couldn't stay straight and keep my lesson pony forward enough. We were getting burried to the fence and throwing in some super ugly chips. 

I was pushing myself super hard trying to keep going. After the last fence my trainer told me to keep going and do it again. Now I should have asked for a quick walk break to catch my breath, but bucked up instead. We made it over the first crossrail fine (because crossrail) but were so underpowered. At the next 18" cavaletti poor pony had to deerhop over the fence because I sucked at riding and I totally leaned. I was popped out of the tack and because I was leaning managed to fall off on the landing side of the fence.

Ouch, bruised ego. I got back on and saintly lesson pony managed to carry me over the line and it was called a day. I have a lot more stamina to improve upon but it was overall a good learning experience. 

One more lesson left, then I have to figure out how to scrape together my pennies so I can stay in the program! 

Baby's First Vet Bill

Now upon first glance the picture looks like baby Z is just resting his hind fetlock. But as soon as he started walking he dragged it behind him rather alarmingly. 

I had never seen or heard of it, and neither had CJ. She was afraid he broke his pelvis. Luckily this was not the case. While waiting for the vet I posted on one of my fb groups and quite a few people said it was locked stifle. I spent a few monutes googling and it seemed like that to me too.

The vet confirmed the diagnosis and told

Me its common in young horses. The medial tendon that supports the patella was loose and slipping. The vet gave him some IV bute and told me to bute him over the next few days then start exercising him to build up muscle and tighten the tendon. 

He immediately went back to normal! So I guess baby horse has to start "working" a little earlier than I wanted. We will just be handwalking hills, he has a lot more growing up to do before I get too crazy with his work.

Changes

This is the crazy but awesome life change that flipped my world around and has been occupying my time this past month.

We've (bf and I) moved! CJ owned my last house I rented, the 100+ year old farm house. She mentioned to me last year that she wanted to acquire a bigger and better farm that she would love bf and I to manage. 

She mentioned to me back in April that it looks like it might be happening. We both comtained our excitement until the day the new house closed. The house closed on June 15th and its been a whirlwind leading up to that day and still after. 

We officially moved about 3 weeks ago, but we are definitely still unpacking. Naturally a new barn tour is coming but until then, this the specs on the new diggs. 

10 acres, double the square footage (but our last house was a 750 sqft closet), 11 stall barn (9 of which have attached runs), lighted outdoor roping sized arena. Wohoo! Of course our rent substantially increased as well as the workload, but I couldnt be more excited for the possibilities. 

Oh and one summer class is down, three less credits until I get my degree! 

Cheating

I've been having some really negative thoughts lately. Although Riesling wasn't a dressage horse when I first started with the discipline a few years back, he was taught some basics before I bought him. However, Merlot is truely the greenest horse I've owned that I want to develop with my new knowledge of riding.

And hes so fun and so sweet. But I can't help but feeling disappointed and pondering short cuts. I don't take them, because I've ridden a handful of horses that were trained innocrectly and with gadgets and its incredibly frustrating. 

I keep trying to think of the positive and how lucky I am to have a horse with a nearly clean slate. He doesn't have baggage or really any training that I need to "undo". But its incredibly hard. I know what I want and how I want it to feel, and getting there seems impossible. 

Rome wasn't built in a day. Nor has any horses' proper education. I keep reminding myself the more I chip away slowly and diligently towards the right direction, the better horse he is going to be. Eventually, I hope to look back and laugh that my current struggle of getting him connected into the bridle seems so impossible. I know my trainers and know myself as a rider and just need to trust the process. 

Riesy Update 7/2017

 

Who is that handsome grey beast?

 

Running in the breeze! 

 

 My life has been a good kind of crazy lately that I'll get to catching up to eventually. But last month there was nearly two weeks where I thought I was going to have to put Riesling down. Not exactly sure what happened but he suddenly became dead lame. Couldn't walk, foundering status. I had the vet out ASAP and he wasn't foundering and we ran a bunch of expensive blood tests that didn't determine anything. Cool thanks Ries. 

It was painful to watch and I couldn't stand to see him in so much pain. I honestly spent most of my free time in his stall crying and petting him while he sucked down some bran mash with his bute. I really felt like I was going to have to say goodbye soon. But fortunately all the bute (and hopefully not the death of his GI tract or liver) made him more comfortable and I am beyond beaming to see him so active. 

But future good crazy shenanigans to follow!