Life and Horses

Testing Testing...?

2011-06-11T23:02:00.000-07:00

Testing out mobile blogging!

Saddle Update

2010-12-15T07:13:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone ( if i have any readers left!) sorry for the silence, I don't have Internet access at home anymore, and haven't found a mobile blogging app I like yet. Anyhow, I got my new saddle, and it fits!! I only had time to do a quick lap around the property before deciding I needed to take advantage of the warm weather and gave Honey a bath the day it arrived. I have since taken it out a

The Never Ending Tack Story

2010-12-09T07:54:00.000-08:00

No, I'm not talking about the the movies. I'm talking about my saddle quest and that it may be over (I hope hope hope so).Since ordering my new saddle I haven't been able to stop checking the status through the UPS website. After no updates to it's status yesterday, I looked at it today and it says that it is "Out for delivery". Yaaaay!!!! It should be waiting for me when I get home. It's going

Proud To Be Bitless

2010-12-07T09:51:00.001-08:00

As I mentioned in my last post about the gymkhana there were some (actually quite a few) moments that just made me cringe. Most abundant was the rampant yanking on mouths with shank bits. The greater majority of riders (young and older) used little to no leg or seat aids and relied soley on the reins.I've cropped out some of the pictures that were emailed to me by the show's photographer to give

More Gymkhana Pictures

2010-12-07T06:48:00.000-08:00

I was sent a few more pictures from the gymkhana and thought I would share some of my favorites. Images are at full resolution so you should be able to click on them to view larger. One of the young riders. This is one you have to click on to get the total image. Look at how calm this girls face is as her horse starts his run.Nice to see a smile!This is one of those story book kind of shots...

For Denali...

2010-12-06T14:13:00.000-08:00

As most (if not all) of you know a dear fellow blogger and horse mom is enduring a tremendous amount of hardship this holiday season. She has been on one heck of a roller coaster ride both physical as well as emotional battling for the well being of her mare Denali. I, like many of you I'm sure, wish there were more I could do to help.What I want to do is this; 25% of the sale price for each

Run Run RUN!

2010-12-06T07:10:00.000-08:00

We had the last gymkhana for the year last weekend. I entered three events ad rode my aunt's new mare Sissy, just to see how she would do, and had a lot of fun. We ran barrels, poles 2 and single stake. We didn't do great, but we ran clean (less one pole knocked down in poles 2) and had a good time. I have a feeling she's done poles before because on our approach I had to keep her from weaving on

Saddle Fitting

2010-12-02T14:15:00.000-08:00

I came across these videos today and just HAD to share them with you. I'm very new to the world of english riding, so this was very informative for me. I hope it is helpful or at least interesting to you!Here are the 9 Steps to Saddle Fitting (all of the videos are pretty short, all are worth watching!).:Balance:..:Wither Clearence:..:Channel Width:..:Full Panel Contact:..:Billet Allignment:..:

Mmm... Pony Slurpee

2010-12-01T13:10:00.000-08:00

I know that I've mentioned here what I feed Bun (aka Honey, Honey Bun, Hun Bun...) in the way of supplements, but I thought I'd take the time to actually show you too.It's a pretty basic supplement routine, nothing fancy but it keeps her looking good and she LOVES it.I start with about 12oz regular alfa-mo (alfalfa-molasses blend).I add to that 1 cup of Natural Glow stabilized rice bran pellets.

Action Shots

2010-11-29T16:16:00.000-08:00

Here are some action shots of Honey from Saturday before I hauled her over to my aunt's to babysit her mule Dusty so we could ride the pony girls.It was such a nice day and she was feeling good, so I had her move out a bit and tried to get some action shots with my cell. This first series was me just free lunging her around her pasture. Not spectacular, but I do love the half shot I got with her

The Ponies Hit the Trail

2010-11-29T09:48:00.000-08:00

I FINALLY got my aunt and both of her ponies out on trail. We have been working a lot with both of these girls (the ponies that is) for a couple of months now and finally had the chance to hit the trails. This ride was my Aunt's first trail ride in oh, I don't know, 15+ years? She rode Sweet Pea and I was on her newest herd member Sissy. Both ponies did great. We took turns leading and following

Saddle Update

2010-11-29T09:40:00.001-08:00

Well it looks like luck is finally on my side! The saddle I had my eye on didn't sell via eBay and the seller has agreed to the terms I suggested (pay some now to hold it and pay the rest by a set date)! Here is a picture, and I just can't say how exited I am to be getting this! Thank you so much to Janet M for introducing (and dare I say converting me) to English riding (or at least saddles)!!

Deviled Ham

2010-11-29T03:49:00.000-08:00

It is Fall. One of my favorite times of the year, mainly because the holidays revolve around food, and in particular Ham, and to be very specific Deviled Ham. It is my favorite recipe for left-over ham, hands down. I was making it this year and decided to share it with you, my wonderful readers. I hope you try it, and if you do let me know what you think!I begin with the extra ham I have left

Vent

2010-11-23T11:45:00.001-08:00

So my dream saddle is up in eBay again. I don't dare post the link, because the last time I did that it sold in less than an hour. It is set at a buy it now price of $350 less than anywhere I have ever seen it listed (shipping included) and I hate that I can't snatch it up. I seldom see it for sale in both my seat size and Honey's tree size. Oh the frustrations of saddles!!!I asked the seller if

Brrrr!

2010-11-23T08:53:00.000-08:00

As I was driving into work this morning I glanced down at the thermometer in my truck, this is what it said: Last time I checked I live in San Diego! It is not supposed to be this cold, especially in fall!! I wonder if we will get some snow this year... I'm so thankful that Honey is in a pasture with a nice warm shelter this winter.

Rain Rain Go Away

2010-11-22T07:17:00.000-08:00

Continued thoughts go out to one of the bravest, kindest and strongest horse-mom's and her baby Denali. You both are in our hearts, thoughts and prayers every day.Rainy weekends make for a productive weekend. At least it did for me last weekend. I managed to shampoo my carpets, sew new curtains for the living room, kitchen and bedroom, do a mountain of laundry, re-organize my pantry, bake

#7 and #8...

2010-11-15T15:29:00.000-08:00

... Can be scratched off my bucket list! I took Honey down to the local fun gymkhana and was talked into entering in two events; the obstacle course and the keyhole.I was SO nervous it was ridiculous, quite literally shaking. My aunt came down for support and I had another group of friends there as well. The obstacle course wasn't very difficult looking, but considering that neither Honey nor I

What is on Your Horsey Bucket List?

2010-11-11T11:50:00.000-08:00

As I was looking over my blog today I noticed I have a label titled "Bucket List" and thought to myself, "self, I wonder what I can cross of that list?" I clicked the link only to discover that I haven't actually put that list together! Now is as good a time as any, so I'll get it started.In no particular order:1. Ride Honey on the beach (Done!)2. Go Horse Camping with Honey (Done!)3. Trail ride

Big Ride Report

2010-11-08T07:30:00.000-08:00

I had a great ride on Sunday and just have to share. It was my second bitless trail ride on Honey and out first solo trail ride. We went to Hollenbeck Canyon, and took the short loop (12 miles I think?) which she is familiar with. She did great, taking the abandoned farm equipment, army tank things and mountain bikers all in stride. I took quite a bit of video this time too, all below and on my

Lets Talk About Shoes Baby! Plus 100th Post!

2010-11-04T15:13:00.000-07:00

A friend posted a neat slow motion video of horses feet/legs in slow-motion and in trying (unsuccessfully) to track it down on youtube so I could share it with all of you, I came across some other very interesting videos that got me thinking of things I had never thought of prior; just how much what we put on our horses hooves changes their way of going, and how much it can really add or detract

MOvember

2010-11-04T07:06:00.000-07:00

If you have some extra time, please head over to a dear friend of mine's blog and read this post. It's not horsie related, but it's fun and for a really great cause. Comment, spread the word and tell her I sent you :)Thanks!

Naughty Naughty Pony!!!

2010-11-01T13:19:00.000-07:00

So my aunt was talked into buying a new pony (Sissy), and I was talked into helping her teach it some manners.Oh boy does she need them! I started to teach her to respect my space and to allow me to catch her over the weekend. I had her going well on line (lunging both directions, yeilding her hind quarters and backing up) the last time I had worked her.Well, On Friday she did not want to be

Website Fun

2010-10-27T10:52:00.000-07:00

So I've been working on a website for my bridles for a few hours now (over the course fo a few days) and I think it's starting to come together. It still has a little way to go, ok, a long way to go but it's started!www.rydembitless.webs.com (also linked in the Left hand column)

Sweet Pea's Training Log #1

2010-10-25T14:12:00.000-07:00

So Sharen came out to help with Miss Sweet Pea a couple of weeks back and I promised to write about it. I started a few times but never finished, so here we go, three weeks late.Sharen worked Sweet pea in the round pen at Honey's barn (I hauled the pony over there with Mike the B/O's permission) since the facility is much bigger and has better footing than our round pen at home. Her transitions

Rydem Bitless Combo Bridle... Part 2

2010-10-25T08:41:00.000-07:00

I made it out to the barn this weekend and got some better pictures of my bridle on Honey. I trailered Kathy's mare Sweet Pea over and spent some time with her in the round pen. She sure has made a lot of progress since we brought her home, but she still has a way to go. I'll get into the details on another post.Back to the bridle... Here are the newest pictures. The reins came out much too long.

More Info on Mr. Studly

2010-10-21T14:51:00.000-07:00

Just came across this ad on Craigslist for our neighbor's stallion featured here earlier."Feudal VIII son. Adelante is 16.3hh and has scored high in numerous shows. Both halter and dressage. He was awarded excellent head and neck in the 2007 IALHA breed show, and won first place at the Fiesta of the Spanish Horse in 2008. Adelante has four tests in the training levels of dressage under his belt

Rydem Bitless Combo Bridle

2010-10-21T07:25:00.000-07:00

Cross posting this :)Original blog here.Here are some pictures of a more refined prototype, done using a triple braided poly rope. This version comes with attached loop reins that have added training knots for added texture to aid in teaching neck reining. I apologize for the quality of the pictures (as well as the model, lol) but I wanted to get something more up and the weather here is still

Open for Business

2010-10-20T08:50:00.000-07:00

As of today I'm officially open for business. I'm happy with my bitless bridle design and have finally got a name for it. I've decided to call it the Rydem Bitless Combo Bridle.I've started a separate blog for it. It's still under construction, but please feel free to pass the link around! I have them priced pretty low ($28 if you order through my blog, $29.99 via eBay), I really want to make

New Herd Member

2010-10-18T13:27:00.000-07:00

We went and took a look at a new pony yesterday. I brought my helmet and did a little test ride and went over a few basics just to see what she knew... wasn't much, but she was quiet and willing and seemed to catch on pretty fast. Kathy (my aunt, the one considering buying her) decided to get her and I will be going to pick her up next Saturday.I'm a little concerned just because she made a

Round Two Winners

2010-10-18T13:22:00.000-07:00

Yes winners... I chose two for round two, I couldn't choose just one and wish I could afford to choose you all, you all deserve one! It was very hard for me to decide, so I literally had to put the top 4 in a hat and choose.So without further ado, the winners for round two are Rowzy and Charis from the Horse Forum.Congratulations you two, I really hope you and your horses like the bridle (which I

The Winners and Round Two

2010-10-14T06:30:00.000-07:00

I have the three winners from yesterday, but I'll get to that in a moment. First of all I want to thank you all so much for participating! I was very surprised with the number of replies I received from people eager to give this a try. So many in fact, that I am going to add a second round to the contest and open it up for one more winner.For round two simply tell me why you would like to try

Contest! Win a Free Bitless Bridle!

2010-10-13T15:21:00.000-07:00

Okay here's the deal, I think that I finally have the bitless rope bridle I've been working on right where I want it, now I want some feedback. I figure who better than my readers to try it out and give me feedback?What I want to do is tie up a few free samples and send them out for you to try out. What I ask in return: Write me up a review, good or bad I would like your feedback.So how about it?

I Want!

2010-10-13T08:31:00.000-07:00

So browsing Ebay this morning look what happened to be newly listed! It's the saddle that I fell in love with over the weekend and it just so happens to be the right size for Honey and I and it's only $800, that is more than $1,000 off the price of a new one. Too bad I'm waiting on my tax return next year before I buy a real grown up saddle (or maybe a nice Christmas bonus???) I did notice that

Camping Report

2010-10-12T07:51:00.000-07:00

Honey and I made it out to Green Valley Horse Camp in the Cuyamaca Rancho State Park over the weekend and had the best time! We arrived on Saturday and I unloaded her and led her around the campground (which is solely for people camping with their horses) to get acquainted with her new surroundings and set up her corral with her bucket of water and hay bag. The corrals were pretty small, but had

DIY: Bitless Bridle Part 3

2010-10-06T10:34:00.000-07:00

I finally had the chance to try my homemade rope riding halter & bridle on Ms. Honey last weekend. First up was the rope riding halter. All it is is a standard rope halter, with added nose knots and added rein loops. I didn't take any measurements before tying it, I just used one of her existing halters for reference, and I think it came out pretty darn close to fitting. I want to adjust the knot

We're Going Camping!

2010-10-01T10:34:00.000-07:00

It's official! Honey and I will be headed to a weekend camping trip in the local Cuyamaca mountains this weekend! I am beyond excited. I grew up camping with my family, as well as riding horses, both of which are at the top of my 'Favorite Things To Do' list but the two have never intermingled, so this will be a first and I expect (hope) it will be a great experience.I've made my list and have

Wild Weather

2010-10-01T09:12:00.000-07:00

Just had to mention the crazy weather we've had this week. Sunday through Wednesday we had temperatures in the triple digits, as high as 114 degrees! Then yesterday (Thursday) I woke up to an amazing electrical storm. I leave the house around 4:30am, so it's still dark. I walked out to mostly clear sky and lots of stars and lightning. I didn't hear any thunder, but saw at least 5 flashes by the

Hey Neighbor!

2010-09-29T06:19:00.000-07:00

Not sure if I mentioned this or not, but the neighbors (to Honey's boarding facility) are the very proud owners of a beautiful dapple grey Andalusian stallion. He took grand champion for best movement at the Festival of the Spanish horse a couple of years ago (I think he said 08?). He told me his name and it is something that I couldn't even repeat correctly, let alone remember and spell here,

New Farrier

2010-09-28T07:32:00.000-07:00

I finally met with Honey's new farrier, Dave last week. I had such a hard time finding a replacement after my previous farrier "bowed out" with no notice (I didn't find out he wouldn't be servicing Honey until I called to confirm our next appointment). Anyway, Honey was about three weeks overdue (leaving me a stressed mess). Luckily she is turned out 24/7 on a 5 acre pasture with lots of varied

Filler Videos...

2010-09-20T15:27:00.000-07:00

I'm not really in the mood to write, sorry. Here are the remaining video's I've uploaded recently. They are all from last month. My goal is to get the nice realized jog she offers on the ground when I'm riding her, consistently! Still haven't taken any new videos... will work on getting some of better (cough) quality.

Sweet Dreams Splash

2010-09-20T07:39:00.000-07:00

I've been dreading weriting this post for two days now, so I will try my best to keep it short.Sweet Pea foaled on Saturday evening, and a little red colt with knee high socks on all four legs was born. He had a white cresent across his withers and a white patch on his right hip. The timing couldn't have been better, the sun was just begining to set and we were all there to witness and welcom the

Liberty

2010-09-15T15:53:00.001-07:00

Here is a little (very sloppy) clip I took while working with Honey a few weeks ago. I uploaded it to my face book and then I forgot I had it, hence the delayed post! Anyway, sorry it's so choppy, the sand was deep and I was filming on my iPhone, lol. But it gives a little bit of an Idea of where we are with our liberty work. I'll try to remember to film some more next time I'm at the barn now

Honey's First Show

2010-09-13T10:46:00.001-07:00

Well Honey and I made it to the show last Saturday! Too bad for us I forgot to grab her bridle!!! We (I for sure) ended up having a great day anyway. As most of you know I'm fairly new to hauling my own horse in my own rig and still consider myself to be pretty green. Since the first half of the show were the English classes I opted to head down after lunch, thinking that the parking lot would be

Huston, we have milk!

2010-09-08T16:07:00.000-07:00

Sweet Pea is officially bagging up! It was first noticeable yesterday, and is even more pronounced today, though still only slight. I have a feeling she'll be foaling by the weekend! Foaling kit ready, lanterns waiting and cameras charged! Wide Load! Taken 9/7/2010She really loves her stall and all of the fresh straw. Kathy says that every morning Sweet Pea is covered in straw and thinks she

Show Time

2010-09-08T08:47:00.000-07:00

So this weekend there is a local show going on in my small town and I'm strongly considering attending- with Honey. I've never taken her to a show, let alone shown her. I used to show as a kid, but that was many moons ago on a very well trained show horse. I really think it would be fun to try entering in a couple of the classes.They are offering an open walk jog class, an amateur western

Drying Corn

2010-09-07T07:49:00.000-07:00

On a whim I decided to buy another (much smaller) batch of corn to try & can. I didn't get to it in time and to save it from being a total loss, decided to try and dry it instead. First I husked it and threaded it through some old ribbon to hang in batches, though the first batch I left the husks on, just to see if there would be any difference. Here you can see the kernels starting to dry and

Foal Watch Continues

2010-09-07T06:44:00.000-07:00

I was really hoping to report on the birth of Sweet Pea's foal, but she continues to hold out. The vet said it isn't uncommon for a mare to carry up to a full 12 months. I sure hope she doesn't! I think (hope hope hope) she'll go by this weekend. She is starting to show signs of bagging up, slight as it may be and is really loving attention and massages, even seeking us out for scritches-

Past Due

2010-08-30T06:57:00.000-07:00

No, Sweet Pea hasn't had her foal yet... she is now three days past due.That isn't what today's post is about though. Today I'm going to catch up on horse talk, including some over due riding pictures.I managed to get in two great rides this weekend, and a few more firsts for Honey and I.On Friday I finally got to ride with a very nice girl I met through a mutual friend via facebook. We had been

Canning Fail

2010-08-25T07:11:00.000-07:00

We have a wonderful local fruit stand with great fresh produce. They regularly run specials and now that I'm canning I thought I'd take advantage of their great deals. Right now sweet white corn is on sale for 5 ears for $1.00, I bought $10 worth; 50 ears of corn. So Preston and I shucked and cleaned the corn. Well, I shucked and cleaned- he helped put the husks into the box for compost. A

Lucy

2010-08-24T09:52:00.000-07:00

I had a great ride yesterday on Honey around the big pasture. Lucy seemed to enjoy it as well. Here is a very short clip of Lucy's craziness during yesterday's ride. This was a fairly mellow go in comparison to some of her others, but it was tricky to time it just right. I need a helmet cam, lol. Honey took it all in stride, as you can see in the clip the only thing she moved as Lucy charged was

My New Obsession

2010-08-19T12:31:00.000-07:00

Ok well not really an obsession per-say, I'm not really one to obsess about things. Let's call it a hobby. Yeah, that sounds better, I have a new hobby, canning. Don't worry Miss Honey, it won't take away any time from you. Below are the results of my first few batches (Kiwi Jam, whole Cherries, Plum jam, Peach Jam, and Sweet Cherry Jam). Since finishing up those, I've added Nectarine wedges,

Down to the Wire

2010-08-19T08:55:00.000-07:00

My aunt's mare Sweet Pea (blogged about here here and the Chicoteague stud here) is closing in on her due date (August 25) rapidly. Kathy has the corral all set and ready to go, mesh wire is up and straw is down in the stall. Dusty (follow up post) has been moved to a separate corral (still within view and they can touch noses over the fence) and has adjusted surprisingly well. The foaling kit,

Movin' On Up

2010-08-19T08:27:00.000-07:00

There have been some changes to the boarding facility where I keep Honey in the last couple of weeks. Her handsom gelding neighbors have moved (time for the three year old to start training and his geriatric buddy went with to keep him company), much to Honey's dismay. So the two girls were moved from their 1.5 acre pasture to the 5 acre lot that shares a fence line with Honey's pasture. Once the

All's Well That Ends Well

2010-08-18T08:33:00.000-07:00

So The truck fire was just the tip of the iceberg. Shortly after I was invited out to meet a friend of a friend for a ride. I'm always looking to expand my horse friend network and was anxious to head out and finally meet. We've scheduled several times to try and get together for a ride, but for one reason or another things always fell through. Last Monday was no different. I left work early as

I'm Back... again

2010-08-18T07:50:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone (that is if there is if I have any readers left)! I apologise for the long gap between posts, it's has been due in majority to technical problems. I've has a few notable events worth posting about. In the intrest of all of our sanity I'll break them up into a few posts.First, One saturday a few weeks back (July 24) while my son was napping I had the (out of charactor) urge to tidy up

Prevention

2010-07-22T10:39:00.000-07:00

My sand test post and subsequent comments has got me thinking about prevention. As good horse owners we should aspire to do the best we can by our horses, and I believe most of us honestly do want and try to do just that. Part of being a good owner is being a proactive owner. Taking preventative measures will usually far outweigh the time and energy (and in many cases cost) expended than waiting

A Moment of Silence

2010-07-21T06:27:00.000-07:00

Today is opening day at our local racetrack (Del Mar) and I think a moment of silence for the fallen athletes is in order including Mi Rey, Sovine, Madame Kiawah, Mad For Plaid, Peanut Ridge, I Want My Money, Maggie And Hopie, Insider, Pocosin's Game Boy, Mr. Napper Tandy, Pauper's Prize, Zetta's Corridor and Endless Moon who were lost locally during last years season.I know there are a lot of

Sand Test (Update)

2010-07-20T12:31:00.000-07:00

After being inspired by another blog (and all of the ill horses I keep hearing about) I did the "sand test" to see if honey was passing sand and I'm very happy to report that she is not! I'm going to continue to give her psyllium on the same schedule I've had her on just to be safe. I took pictures of the whole process and will be happy to post them and the specifics if anyone is interested,

Finally!

2010-07-15T08:15:00.000-07:00

I finally got the chance to ride in my new gear last night. I think it's going to work out pretty well once I get it tuned in. The saddle is pretty comfy and feels like it puts me in a good position, but I'm used to a deeper seat, I'm hoping the (very padded) seat will be better once it's broken in a bit more, and if not I can always remove the top layer, so really no worries either way there. I

Aww... Thanks Honey

2010-07-13T07:14:00.000-07:00

Had a pretty cool moment at the barn last night. Honey has had a few days off so last night I wanted to be sure I worked with her. Well, having errands to run after work delayed me a bit and I didn't make it out to see her until 7pm. So glad it's summer and I still had plenty of daylight! She was feeling great and we had a lot of fun. I didn't ride, just ground work at liberty. After we went

Sigh

2010-07-12T08:13:00.000-07:00

Not much new to report here. I'm still trying to sift through my personal issues without much success. I know what needs to happen here, but that doesn't make it any easier. I also know what I want to happen here, but that doesn't mean it will. I really wish I could flip a switch and make all the changes that need to be made, and end up where I want to be. I wish I had more faith in, and less

Bad Blogger!

2010-07-06T15:15:00.000-07:00

What a bad blogger I've been! This past weekend was quite the weekend. There is a lot on my plate right now (more than usual) and it's honestly been exhausting. Once your eyes have been opened to something it's very hard to un-see it. To forget about it and let it go. I've come to some realizations this weekend that I was honestly already aware of, but trying (to no avail) to fix, or just accept.

The Impossible Quest Part 2

2010-06-29T07:48:00.000-07:00

The treeless saddle I ordered (yes, yet another saddle) for Miss Bun (Honey, aka Honey Bun, aka Bun) came today and I think it just might be the winner. I posted some pictures of it on her without a pad and would love to hear what you all think. I did sit in it on her (very briefly as I don't have a girth for it yet) and it's pretty comfy. It is all leather so it will need some breaking in time,

Going For It

2010-06-24T10:23:00.001-07:00

Yesterday was a lot of fun. I took off a bit early from work to run an errand for the husband and got home earlier than I had expected. My son was napping so I was able to head to the barn early. Honey was feeling good and was very "with it" when I got there, not hot, just on point & more responsive to cues than usual. I noticed she was getting a bit dull, so I really concentrated on MY follow

Every Horse Deserves a Little Girl

2010-06-22T06:01:00.000-07:00

I've heard the phrase that every horse deserves to be loved by a little girl. Well, most days I'm that girl for Honey, but this weekend we had some family from out of town up for a visit and since Honey was visiting our house as well, she got lots of love, brushing and carrots from 6 year old little Gage. Honey instantly liked her. Honey says: "It's about time you brought me my own little girl".

Sleepover

2010-06-21T10:21:00.001-07:00

This weekend I took Honey down to a close by trail to check it out. My husband and son came with and led the way on foot. Glad we have an all terrain stroller! We didn't go far as we were short on time (had a roast in the oven at home to get back to) but it was great. My husband kept a steady pace and I would trot to and away from them to give Honey a bit more of a work out. On one of our jaunts

Whitless Designs

2010-06-15T15:57:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to give a life long friend a warm welcome to the world of blogging! Whitney is one of the most artistically gifted people I know and she has officially joined the land of the bloggers!Check out her blog and work here: Whitless DesignsHere is a picture of the awesome bracelet she made for me.She does ALL KINDS of beautiful stuff, custom purses, bags, bike bags and fabric jewelry (which

The Impossible Quest

2010-06-15T12:50:00.000-07:00

Apologies up front for this post. I need to vent.Or so it seems. I'm talking about finding the right saddle. I had to learn about saddle fit the hard way. Trial and error. Mostly error thus far. I thought I had it finally figured out when I placed my bid for my 5th saddle.Yes that's right, I currently have 5 saddles that don't fit my horse, looking for one? I'll make it a great deal for any of my

The Lesson Horse?

2010-06-14T09:22:00.000-07:00

Have I mentioned how much I love my horse yet? That is, POST training, lol. Don't get me wrong, I've always loved her, always will. The difference now I suppose is that I love working with her, I love that it's no longer a battle of wills as it had begun to feel like not so long ago. I trust her now, more than ever and it feels great. I know what to expect and so does she.For the first time when

Bitless?

2010-06-10T10:10:00.000-07:00

You know, when I first got Honey I had decided that I wanted to ride bitless. I could tell she was happier with out the bit. However, after a fall raising my fear issues and lowering my confidence I was advised to use a bit, because I needed more 'control'. Well, it worked to some extent, but I knew it was only a band-aid

Time Warp

2010-06-10T06:49:00.001-07:00

In 2nd grade my teacher, Ms. Anderson, had us write a daily journal. At the end of the year she packaged up those journals and sent them home to our parents with instructions to give them to us on our 25th birthday. Well my Mom followed through and I'm so glad she did. I of course had no recollection of even writing those journals; that is until I began reading them. Anyway I thought I would

Inspired

2010-06-08T13:39:00.000-07:00

I've been inspired to post some journal entries I wrote when I was in 2nd grade. Should prove to be entertaining reading... Stay tuned.Oh, and CONGRATULATIONS to Kristen and her boy Laz! I know it's been a long and at times grueling battle but kudos to you for doing right by your boy! I'm so Happy for you both!!! When I read your latest post it literally brought tears to my eyes.

Beach Ride!

2010-06-07T06:53:00.001-07:00

Honey and I made it to the beach last Friday! It was our first time together. I believe she had been once with her previous owner, but that was over three years ago so I treated the situation as if it were both of our first time. Getting there was quite the adventure, but it went very well! It was my first time hauling her or any horse for that matter and it was an hour and a half drive (would've

New Followers!

2010-06-03T16:13:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to say hello and thank you to my new followers! Would love to know how you found me!Thanks for reading!

Feeling Better

2010-06-03T06:03:00.001-07:00

I went to check on Honey yesterday after work; well, after nearly being stranded at the grocery store because my break light fuse kept blowing. That in turn prevented me from taking my car out of park (?), it also killed the power windows (?) and the door dinging when the keys were in the ignition (?). Note to anyone driving a ford expedition: If the above happens to you replace fuse #15 (size 5)

Video!

2010-06-02T09:41:00.000-07:00

This was taken while Honey was still up at Sharen's- I think a couple of weeks into training. Haven't been able to figure out how to post it until now. =)

Dang It!

2010-06-02T06:45:00.000-07:00

Well, that new (old) saddle I got doesn't fit Honey. It fits the angle of her shoulders but does not clear her huge withers. So I'll be trying to sell it- along with the other two western saddles I've been trying to sell for months. Hopefully I'll have better luck with this one since it's a 'name brand' saddle. I did have people bidding against me on eBay for it-maybe I'll list it there.Also,

Hitting the Beach!

2010-06-01T16:20:00.000-07:00

I have my first beach ride (with Honey) planned for this Friday! I will be meeting a group from the Arizona Back Country Riders that will be out here all week camping. I have an open invitation to come and share a site with them, and of course bring Honey but I'm not so sure I'll be able to talk my husband into letting me go! If so I'll be able to cross 2 items off my horsey bucket list. I'll be

How Far We've Come

2010-06-01T07:45:00.000-07:00

My last post got me thinking about just how far Honey and I have come. The biggest I think is that I actually ride my horse now. The biggest fear issue that I've overcome is handling her on the ground. As I touched on in my last post that was where we were weakest. I used to have a lot of anxiety about taking her out and working her- weather it was in the round pen or on a lunge line in the field

Trailer Loading EDIT

2010-05-30T06:05:00.000-07:00

EDIT: Ugh- My Internet went all crazy when posting and cut off the first and last part of this post, so here it is- days later!I finally got to bring my new (old) trailer to Mike the BO's house to practice loading Honey. As far as I know she's never been loaded into a 2h straight load or a trailer with a ramp. I will say that she loads quite well into stock and slant load trailers.We started by

The Trouble That They Get Into!

2010-05-27T09:55:00.000-07:00

Horses never cease to amaze me. Just look at the trouble one of the old brood mares got herself into over the weekend! In order for her to get in there she had to squeeze through the only open gate, and snake her way up one of the open runs, through the tiny door in the shed (the only large door is the one directly behind her, the one she used to enter the shed was the size of the smaller doors)

Saddle and Trailer

2010-05-26T16:56:00.000-07:00

Here is the saddle and Trailer I mentioned in the last post. They both need some TLC, but I'm game! If I end up doing any of the trailer repairs I'll try and chronicle it here.

I'm still here!

2010-05-26T06:14:00.000-07:00

I just haven't been able to log into my blogger account for who knows why... Anyway, MUCH has happened since my last post, some of it great and some of it terrible. I suppose I'll start with the great part.Honey is finished with her training and is now being boarded in a large pasture about 7 mins away from my house. The facility is large and humble and is just perfect for us. There is a huge

Time for Something New

2010-03-31T10:02:00.000-07:00

A new vehicle that is. Well ok, not brand new, but new to me! It's a 2001 Ford Expedition Eddie Bauer 4x4. It's in good shape and already has a tow hitch! It needs a bath in the pic, but you get the idea =) I've also been looking for a new Saddle and like the look of this one: http://cgi.ebay.com/16-

Extra Extra!

2010-03-30T08:12:00.000-07:00

I was lucky enough to get in two trips to the barn this weekend, Friday and Sunday. Sharen has started under saddle work and Honey is doing well. Sharen has been kind enough to film some of her training sessions and make DVDs for me. I love being able to go home and review the lesson again, it really helps it to sink into my thick skull, lol. It is also nice to really be able to see progress.Also

Happy Thursday

2010-03-25T09:28:00.000-07:00

I have begun to love Thursdays. Wanna know why? Because it means that tomorrow is Friday and I get to go to Sharen's and work with Honey & Norman! I'm not sure what tomorrow's agenda is yet, but Sharen said she had saddled Honey in her last update earlier this week. I'm really hoping I get a little saddle time tomorrow.I plan to bring up the three saddles I currently have and get a fit opinion

Honey's First Boo-Boo

2010-03-24T07:21:00.000-07:00

Honey got her first official injury (minor) in four years yesterday. This is the first one I've seen since owning her. I have to say a great big thank you to Karen V for her unintended role in preventing me from having a heart attack. Karen recently had a mishap with one of her horses and posted about it on her blog. When I saw Honey's leg I instantly thought of her incident and calmed down.

I found Honey's Sire!

2010-03-23T08:19:00.000-07:00

Here are some links to pictures:http://times-standard.mycapture.com/mycapture/enlarge.asp?image=15635628&event=302882&CategoryID=0http://times-standard.mycapture.com/mycapture/enlarge.asp?image=15635627&event=302882&CategoryID=0http://www.crownperformancehorses.com/stallions.htmlStill looking for information on her Dam, but I am having no luck. All I know is she was a grade Mare called Contessa-

Honey's Training Day #10 Update

2010-03-23T06:21:00.000-07:00

I received another update from Honey's trainer, Sharen. Here is a bit of her email (in blue):"Your horse is great! She learns fast, and retains it. Once she knows you mean what you're saying, she just says "ok boss". I saddled and bridled her today. From the ground I was having her give to the bit, (lower her head to the pressure of both reins) and flex, etc. I stood in the stirrup and bounced

The First Pony Party

2010-03-23T06:02:00.001-07:00

Was a learning process, but we pulled it of and made a lot of little kids very happy. Sweet Pea was an angel as we knew she would be, and trailering was a non issue (yay)!!We made sure to show up 2 hours before the party guests arrived to allow Sweet Pea time to adjust. I spent about 30mins hand walking her around the yard and getting her used to the new sights and sounds. The only scary part of

Supplements??

2010-03-22T09:12:00.000-07:00

Honey's trainer suggested adding Accel to Honey's diet. She isn't on any kind of supplement as of now other than her once a week dose of psyllium. It only makes sense since she is in training. Do you think it will help improve her overall condition? She was on the light side when going into training and seems to have lost a bit of weight; not enough to cause real concern, but I'm keeping my eye

Friday was great!

2010-03-22T07:44:00.000-07:00

I should have posted this on Friday, but life happens and I haven't had time until now, so here we go!I went to see Honey and have my first lesson with Sharen last Friday. It was great! I intended to take more pictures, but I was just too involved.Honey was happy to see me and was very glad to see her. She greeted me with a nicker and a new "haircut". Sharen had clipped her ears and muzzle :)Here

Competitive Trail Ridding

2010-03-18T07:14:00.000-07:00

Most of you know that I used to show WP as a kid. I never made it very far (Reserve high point 11 and under W-T-C on our local circuit is about as far as I went). Lately I've found myself missing the world of showing/competing. It was so much fun for me as a kid. I never took it as high pressure, in fact it was more of a treat. I didn't care too much about winning (though bringing home a nice

Honey

2010-03-16T12:27:00.001-07:00

So I just got this email from my trainer and breathed a big sigh of relief. Thought I would share it with you all."Hi Karla!I was actually going to e-mail you last night, but I just ran out of steam. Honey is doing great. You can't be a squeaky wheel. It is wonderful that you care. I worked with Honey quite a bit yesterday. She is going to be fine. I saw exactly how you got kicked in the arm. I

Ouchie

2010-03-16T11:28:00.000-07:00

That's what my arm looks like today (3/16/10) after getting kicked on (3/12/10) and below is my right calve. Honey spooked and stepped into me, just grazed my leg and it didn't hurt at the time, but it's sore today (not to mention ugly). I apologize for the blinding white of the non-bruised portion of my leg- it has not seen any sun since last summer!I had written a big long venting post about

What a Weekend

2010-03-15T07:13:00.000-07:00

Well, I had quite a weekend! Since Honey was leaving for training on Saturday I decided to give her a bath on Friday. Easier said than done. On our way up to the driveway from her corral she wanted to do nothing but eat. I wasn't having it so I tried to put her to work each time her head dropped to try & take a bite. She moved off decently (not great) for a bit, until a truck startled her and she

How Fun!

2010-03-10T08:40:00.000-08:00

I have a new goal to add to my list:Horse Agility!Some day I'll post a video of Honey and I doing this... Mark my words.

Bad News and Big News!!

2010-03-08T12:18:00.000-08:00

Well Since I haven't posted in a while I suppose it's time for an update.I'll start where I left off, The Bunnies: The morning after my post about the bunnies I went out to feed Honey and check on them, only to find all but one had left the nest. I decided to move him/her up to a safer spot, where I know there are other baby bunnies close to its age. In the week since I've spotted the bunny

New Neighbors

2010-03-03T11:06:00.000-08:00

Well, sort of. While feeding Honey the other morning I made a discovery, of the small, warm and fuzzy kind.It was a cottontail nest with at least 4 (maybe more?) healthy baby bunnies burrowed into the pile of old hay I had raked up just a couple of weeks prior with the intent of discarding (I guess that won't be happening any time soon)! Initially I thought they might have been abandoned as two

Happy Birthday Grandma JoJo!

2010-03-01T14:04:00.001-08:00

Just a quick shout out to my Grandma JoJo to wish her a happy 80th birthday and many more to come. The whole family went out to dinner at her favorite restaurant to celebrate. It was a great night. She is such an amazing woman and I am so lucky to have her in my life. She played a huge role in making me the person I am today. I hope I am doing as good as she is when I'm 80. She and her sister

Life and Horses

Testing Testing...?

Saddle Update

The Never Ending Tack Story

Proud To Be Bitless

More Gymkhana Pictures

For Denali...

Run Run RUN!

Saddle Fitting

Mmm... Pony Slurpee

Action Shots

The Ponies Hit the Trail

Saddle Update

Deviled Ham

Vent

Brrrr!

Rain Rain Go Away

#7 and #8...

What is on Your Horsey Bucket List?

Big Ride Report

Lets Talk About Shoes Baby! Plus 100th Post!

MOvember

Naughty Naughty Pony!!!

Website Fun

Sweet Pea's Training Log #1

Rydem Bitless Combo Bridle... Part 2

More Info on Mr. Studly

Rydem Bitless Combo Bridle

Open for Business

New Herd Member

Round Two Winners

The Winners and Round Two

Contest! Win a Free Bitless Bridle!

I Want!

Camping Report

DIY: Bitless Bridle Part 3

We're Going Camping!

Wild Weather

Hey Neighbor!

New Farrier

Filler Videos...

Sweet Dreams Splash

Liberty

Honey's First Show

Huston, we have milk!

Show Time

Drying Corn

Foal Watch Continues

Past Due

Canning Fail

Lucy

My New Obsession

Down to the Wire

Movin' On Up

All's Well That Ends Well

I'm Back... again

Prevention

A Moment of Silence

Sand Test (Update)

Finally!

Aww... Thanks Honey

*Sigh*

Bad Blogger!

The Impossible Quest Part 2

Going For It

Every Horse Deserves a Little Girl

Sleepover

Whitless Designs

The Impossible Quest

The Lesson Horse?

Bitless?

Time Warp

Inspired

Beach Ride!

New Followers!

Feeling Better

Video!

Dang It!

Hitting the Beach!

How Far We've Come

Sigh