What's Up Wednesday: The one where you should read to the end...

Wednesday already... Where does the time go?! It's been pretty busy around here still, but it was a really fun week!
I got to ride after work Thursday and Friday which was nice after a rain day and a book club day. I'm already completely over having to ride in the dark however. How many days till spring? My town had a big Halloween celebration on Friday night. I really wanted to go, but since the horses had a few days off AND I was hoping to jump Jampy on Saturday, I decided to skip it and ride instead. My brother and sister-in-law took the kids though, and they had a great time. They stopped over on their way home, and my older niece got really brave and helped me groom Rio. In her princess costume!

He thought she was a tad over dressed. But he'll take any attention offered really.

Saturday morning arrived way too quickly. I was running the half marathon relay with my best friend, and the alarm went off at 5:30. The worst part was the terrible sore throat I awoke with. Fortunately it seemed to dissipate the longer I moved around, so I was hopeful it was just allergies or something. (Spoiler alert: Nope.) My bestie and I met up at the train station where the race started at 6:30. It was still pitch dark out and FREEZING. Well, not quite actually freezing, but pretty close. We donned our matching outfits (Team Magical Milers obviously dressed up as unicorns, complete with rainbow tutus.) I was running the second leg, so I would get to ride the steam train to the transition area. We second leggers boarded the train at 7:15 and the runners lined up for the 7:30 start.

My friend and I realized I could bring a bag with some extra layers and waters that we could switch off when we swapped places. I was SO glad we thought of that because I also brought a blanket to stay warm with. It was much appreciated on the chilly train ride! Anyway, bestie's leg was just about 8 miles, and she ran it FAST! I was pretty excited that she did because it meant we stood a chance at beating the train back to the station. If your team could beat the train back, you win a train whistle in addition to your medal. I didn't think we'd have much chance of beating the train given my current lack of fitness level. But since bestie was super fast, it was still possible! My leg was 5.2 miles. Since I haven't run more than 3.1 in quite a long awhile, I planned to walk up the hills and run everything else. Little did I know it was almost all hills!
Anyway, my leg started right up a good sized hill. Since I was just starting out and also was pretty cold, I ran right up that first hill rather easily. Surprised myself! I managed to keep up a steady running pace all the way up through mile 2 when I got to the base of a really long and fairly steep hill. I decided there to take my first walk break. It was a little longer of a break than I wanted, but the thing just kept climbing! I ran/walked the rest of that beast which turned out to be much of mile 3. After that it rolled along pretty nicely, and before I knew it, I was running along the street back to the train station!
You guys. JUST as I was crossing the tracks the train arrived! I beat the train!

Photo Credit: FlashFrame Photography

Mostly thanks to bestie of course, but still, I helped! It was especially exciting because I was the last one they let through before closing the train crossing. They actually stopped all the runners behind me to let the train through. The rule was if you meet the train it counts as beating it, so many people behind me got whistles too. But it was pretty cool to get through there without getting stopped.

Magical Milers! (Have I mentioned Bestie and I are complete opposites?)

The medals were really cool for this race, and I thought the train whistles were pretty neat too.

I have no idea how long it took each of us to run our legs. Bestie doesn't run with a watch and mine decided to stop recording at 1.4 miles. But collectively we ran the half in 2:14.

Anyway, after all that excitement it was only 10:00 am. We decided to get showers and meet back up for some lunch. It was a lovely morning!
I got back home after lunch and met up with another friend for a bit. My dad and step mom stopped by too, and they had this with them:

I know. I can't even. I wanted to smoosh it and steal it and call it mine. I didn't though, because they got that adorable puppy for my step mom's dad. He just retired and realized he needs a dog for all his new spare time. Meanwhile, she will be here for a few weeks getting some training. So I plan to get as much puppy time as I can before she moves to Wisconsin. And yes, she will likely get to meet Ducky! (Remember him? The stationary hony?)
So now it was around 4 pm and I still needed to ride. Also my "allergies" were letting me know they were actually a cold. I decided to just flat both horses because my body was a little grumpy with me. Apparently running 5.2 miles untrained along with being sick pisses off the old lady body. Such a wimp. So I have no fun pony media this week. You could just stop reading now I guess. But you made it this far, so why not keep going?
I was pretty thankful to not really have plans for Saturday night. We were getting a pretty bad storm on Sunday, so I took the free night to fill up a bunch of bins and what not with water in case we lost power, and otherwise just took it easy for the evening.
Sunday I was planning to be a total sloth and sleep in until 9, but all the lazing around Saturday night meant I was wide awake at 7. It was already raining, with no end in sight. The horses had a nice day off, and I spent the majority of the day doing laundry and resting my cold. I haven't had a full day of nothing like that in a really long time, and it was pretty fantastic despite the congestion.
Monday was a Monday. Nothing special of note. I rode Jampy and gave Rio a lunge. Tuesday was Halloween though, so that's fun!

Halloweening at work

I didn't plan any costumes for the horses, but decided to wear my unicorn hoody to ride. I mean, if ever there was an appropriate day for a unicorn hoody, right?

Twinning. Rio is an actual unicorn. I was just pretending.

I don't normally get trick or treaters, but I always get some candy just in case. Some friends did stop by and they had costumes on, so they count! I made them wait outside until I had Jamp put away (I had just gotten off) because I was CERTAIN he'd be petrified of my friend's costume.

I was wrong. Jamp loved it. I think maybe he thought it was a huge banana...

Once my friends went home and the ponies were tucked in, it was time for the annual Halloween torturing of the pups!

That's right! The twenty minutes we spend in costume trying to get a decent photo! We were bacon and eggs in case you can't tell. I have to say, the pugs hated these costumes the least of any of the others over the years. I wouldn't say they LIKED them. But they hated them less than most.
Which brings us to today! I did a thing last week and the thing arrived today... I'd like to introduce you all to Stutty the Stuttgart:

I've been casually stalking the used saddle sites, ebay, and Facebook (totally casually) looking for a Voltaire Stuttgart. They are a little tough to find used, especially in the configuration I wanted. I did find one awhile back but it was grain leather which I didn't want. Then I found another but it turned out to have the wrong size flap. Well low and behold, the exact size I wanted (17" with a 2A flap) was available with the right panels (pro) and in the leather I wanted (buffalo) on ebay! But it was an auction listing not a buy it now, so I really didn't think it was going to happen. I didn't want to spend more than $3200 for a used saddle (cause holy crap that's a lot of money and I still love my 17 year old Hermes, thank you very much). The bright side to it being an auction was when I found it, the price was really low for a used Voltaire. Like $1500 low.  I know. Crazy talk. I stalked the listing all week, just biding my time. I had no plans to bid until the very end. It always baffles me that people go about bidding when there's days and days left. Long story short, I got it for a few hundred less than my max and the seller threw in the matching stirrup leathers. It was a great deal, and I was SO EXCITED for it to arrive today!
It's in excellent condition and fits Jampy pretty well. He seemed to really like it. Miracle of all miracles, I was able to sit his right lead canter! Magic I'm telling you! Rio will test it out tomorrow. I haven't jumped in it yet, since it was dark out when I got on. But hopefully this weekend I can see how it is to jump.
And that's what's up this Wednesday! What's up with you? Get any fun new tack? Do anything for Halloween? Tell me about your week in the comments!

What's Up Wednesday!

Phew. Wednesdays are killer. It's been a busy week too, so there's lots to talk about! Let's see if I can get this thing published before Thursday...
Last week I mentioned that I was signed up for not one but TWO 5K's this weekend, and had pretty much zero training under my belt. Well, I'm happy to report that I survived both, and even ran almost all of them! I took a couple minute walk break just before mile 2 both days, but otherwise ran the rest. (Pats self on back).
Saturday was an early morning. The 5K I was running was just a small part of a much bigger event- the Hartford Marathon. It's not as big and important as something like New York or Boston's marathons, but it's a big deal here in my little state. Anyway, we had to be there by 7 to park and find the start lines. All went smoothly! My friends were running the half, and I was enjoying the much shorter distance. I lined up optimistically with the 10 minute milers. Spoiler alert, I was a little slower than that.

I plodded along for the three miles, and was super happy to see the arch that you run under to the finish line:

That arch, behind my friend and I! Isn't that an awesome way to end a race? So pretty. I finished in 34 minutes, 22 seconds, which is around an 11 minute mile. Not terrible all things considered. Though it is my slowest 5K to date.

didn't die, got a medal, and a fancy water bottle, I'd call that a win!

I had some time to kill before my friends finished their half, so I wandered around the park collecting random swag. McDonalds had a booth there with Ronald smiles, so obviously I needed to partake in that:

After everyone was refueled and rehydrated (maybe with some beer and wine... maybe not. But probably with) we parted ways. My friend that I drove up with asked if we could ride the carousel before we go home. If you know me at all, you know I agreed to that!

So much fun! The horses are really pretty on this one, but they all seem kind of tortured and angry. Some even had their tongues hanging out like they were being pulled on or had too much bit. Poor fake ponies. Despite their misery, we had a ton of fun reliving our youth. We were the oldest riders not accompanying kids, but whatever.
Then it was home to ride! My legs were a little tired, but I had decent rides on both horses. Jampy popped over some raised cavelletti, but I was saving jumping for Sunday.
Fortunately for my poor beat up body, Sunday's race started a lot later at 10:30. This one benefits a program in my area called The Cove. It's a support center for grieving children. I try to run this race every year because the program really holds a special place for me. My little brother is actually a half brother, and his mom passed away when he was 14 (I was 22.) He went through The Cove program, and I really think it helped him tremendously through that awful time in his life. My family business is a big sponsor of the event.

That little robot looking guy in the middle is our logo

Our company formed a team this year to really show our support. As a neat little bonus for forming teams, The Cove race actually personalized our free shirts!

The fronts were the same as the regular race shirts, but instead of all the sponsors on the back, it had our team name. I don't often wear race shirts, but this one might be a good one for the barn!
Anyway, back to the race. I was feeling a little sore for this race, and while it was cool out (around 60) the humidity was at 93%. That's a little rough when you're completely out of shape and asthmatic! But I managed to shuffle along. I finished a little slower than the day before, at 35:47 (about an 11 and a half minute mile). Still not terrible given my lack of training.

The face of a very tired, out of shape, 5K finisher

I headed straight home after my race to get the ponies worked. I really wanted to jump Jampy and maybe put the jumps back up a little. And of course, get some new media for this here blog. But you know... the best laid plans and all.
If you've been following along for awhile, you know Jampy LOVES to spook. So you can imagine how he might be on a windy day. And it was a bit windy out there! Unfortunately, so much so that my phone kept blowing off the fence and I have no media. Womp womp. I did get to jump around a little, but he was really edgy. I opted to keep the fence at the lower height and maybe this coming weekend we'll get to do more. I have no horse media, but here are some photos of my jumps!

I REALLY want to get my Halloween jumps built, but I have to move the course around to make them work. Fingers crossed I get that done this weekend! I think you guys will LOVE my new jump filler. I also think Jamp may not. Either way, should make for some fun video!
Rio felt great Sunday. He felt really even, the soundest he has in awhile! He was a little sassy and really forward. It was a great day for him!
After pony time, I had tickets to see Rags at the local theater.

The show as FANTASTIC! If it happens to run near you, I definitely recommend it. I got home from the play around 9:30 and headed into the barn to do night check. Rio seemed a little off to me. I did the old "let's see how he feels about a cookie" trick to see if he was interested (he'd eaten all his food, was pooping, peeing, drinking). He was definitely interested in the cookie, but I still thought he seemed not right. So I took his temp and it was 102. Crap.
So I know normally for a fever you give some banamine and hope it comes down and that's that. But it's Rio and he's not normal. Also, I think he's had a fever maybe once or twice ever since I've had him, so that's not normal. (Jampy spikes them more frequently than that, but I think with him it's from stress. He spiked a fever when he flew over from Hungary and had to spend extra time in quarantine even!) But back to Rio. He gets a half scoop of banamine in his grain twice a day, so having a fever despite already being on Banamine is not a good thing. So I called the vet. At 9:45 on a Sunday. Because horses. Fortunately, my vet is a nice guy.
Anyway, we talked about Rio's banamine consumption and how horses sometimes spike fevers at night and we don't even know about it. And how normally in this type of instance it's from a tick bite or something similar, but Rio's not out on the grass much so that's odd. We concluded that Rio is in fact odd, and that I should give him the other half dose of banamine and see what happens. So I gave him that, and then went in the house for a few hours to snuggle the pugs. Because pug snuggles are really effective in stress reduction.

After falling asleep on the floor for a few hours, I went back out to the barn to check on my best friend. He was a bit sweaty, which I was hoping meant his fever broke. I was relieved to see that his temp was down to 99. So I went to bed for a few hours, and checked him again at 6:30. It was still 99! Good pony. Poor dude had to deal with me monitoring his temp 4 times a day for the next couple of days, plus limited small paddock turnout. Worst mom ever, I know.

That Fergus sign right there was the best find ever. It says "I stay in today". For those times when you're up late checking on your horse and may or may not be up early enough to tell your helper to keep your horse in.

Anyway, he was allowed back out in the ring for turnout today and he was a wild stallion. I got on and tack walked him too, and he was very happy to be getting back to his normal routine. Crisis averted this time!
Probably irrationally, but any little thing like this really makes me worry about Rio. He's no youngster at 21, especially give his history. But he keeps plugging along! Love that boy so much. I'll probably have the vet out in a couple of weeks to pull a lyme titer just in case. I really have no idea how he would have gotten sick if not for a tick bite or something. He doesn't go anywhere, and no horses come to my place either. Whatever the cause though, I'm just glad he's feeling better.
Last night I had a braiding job a few towns over for a friend of mine heading up to New England Finals. Since I only had the one to do, I really took my time so he would look great for finals. It's probably not my best work ever, but I think he came out nice.

that's what 41 braids look like

And that's what's up this Wednesday! What's up with you? Has your horse ever had a fever for no discernible reason? Do anything fun this weekend? Horse show maybe? Lesson? Road race?

What's Up Wednesday

I honestly don't have a ton to report on this week. I had been thinking about going up to Vermont for the weekend to see Badger, but I never really found the motivation. He didn't end up showing, though last I heard he was back to work. Anyway, I felt like staying home and tending to things there was a better use of my time. I wanted to get Romey looking less homeless so he heads back to KY looking better than ever. Plus, Jampy is finding his groove again, and I didn't really want to give him a bunch of vacation days.
Saturday was supposed to be stormy but turned out to be pretty nice. I had a great school on Jamp though I did some horribly amateur things to him. Ugh... Should I even tell you guys? Ok, I will. To start off, Jampy was being a little ridiculous about the far end of the ring. It was a sunny day, but breezy, so the shadows were dancing all over. Jampy doesn't really do shadows.... Once we were jumping though, he was paying more attention to what he was doing and less to the shadows. Less, not none. Anyway, I went to jump the single going toward the scary end and I totally over rode and chased him at it. I expected him to land and take off to punish me (as he should have) but he didn't. He landed nicely and continued on like I hadn't been a dumb ass. Good boy Jampy.

My next bit of stupid came the first time I went to canter through the outside line. I tend to set things short in my ring because it's small. It's really tough to ride on a 12 foot stride in there. Especially on Sir-spooks-a-lot. Most of the time, I'll trot in and canter out the first time, but I had already jumped a bunch of singles and was feeling pretty good about our canter. So I decided to canter in. Except I totally missed. Like completely chocolatey chipped. Because it's set short, there's really not room to add in this scenario and I didn't want to run him down there to make the number either. He likes a good run down the line and I really don't want to encourage that. So I committed the worst of all adult ammy sins: I pulled him up. Ugh. Sorry Jampy. I then turned around, trotted in and cantered out nicely. Then continued to canter all the way around and canter through without issue. And that my friends, is the reason Jampy is such a good boy. He causes plenty of drama all on his own, but he NEVER holds a grudge. No matter what stupid ammy things I do to him, he comes back like it never happened. I think that's why he gets away with all of his bolting shenanigans. It's kind of a give and take relationship.

Rio was forced to work in a bridle for a few days this week/weekend. He's been a little difficult to steer lately, and while I don't mind him going long and low, I also don't want him leaning too much on his front end. He IS neurologically handicapped after all. Best to keep that weight in the middle, ya know? So I put his big mean rubber loose ring in his mouth and asked him to carry himself just a little bit. Of course he's perfect so he did exactly as asked. What a man!

Fact: there is nothing cuter than his low hanging ear

Saturday night I actually hung out with people at a party. Can you believe it? I actually know humans and can socialize with them. It was fun, they even had a band!

Sunday was a beautiful day, and I had promised all the boys they would get awhile out on the grass. Yes, even Romey. I took tons of photos with my real camera (especially of Romey since he's leaving soon). Unfortunately, I'm having a little trouble getting all my devices to sync, so I'll have to share those later. But enjoy this one of Jamp that I took with my phone:

Pampering and grazing ponies took up literally the entire day. I finished up right around six though which was just in time to get changed and walk over to the lake for some live music and my Sunday lobster roll.

There was a guy making these huge bubbles there. Just after this pic, like ten million kids rushed him. Pretty hilarious!

After lake time, the pups and I went for a short walk. They were excited to get out, but didn't actually want to walk. What is that? They were all YEAH! Leashes! We're going for a WALK! Then they were all, hang on I gotta smell this. And this. And that. Twenty minutes later, we'd only gone like a quarter mile. Sheesh. Kids!
The rest of the night was boring chores and laundry. This week has been pretty status quo so far. The tall kids had last night off, so I went for a run after work. I really thought I was picking up the pace. Hahaha! Nope.

But I felt a little better about it when I saw it was 90% humidity out. No wonder it was hard to breath!

Also of note, Monday was Artie's 4th Gotcha Day! I can't believe it's only been four years. I feel like he's been part of the family forever. He's such a great dog.

He may or may not be twice the width he was when he arrived... Me too buddy. Me too.

And that's really all that's up this Wednesday. What's up with you?

Just dropping this here cause it's pretty.

Thursday's Threads

Outfit Day!!!! You guys. Are you sitting down? I got up at 5:45 this morning and went running with a friend. No really! I did. I mean, we only ran one mile. But still. I did it! Which means I also have a running outfit to share today! Let's start there:

Obviously the best day to start running is when (according to the weatherman) it is oppressively humid outside. Dive right in!

Top: New Balance

I figured wearing my Outrun 38 tank would give me a little extra motivation this morning. It didn't... But it was a nice thought.

Tights: Fila

My favorite thing about running is that neon is totally acceptable. These have reflective spots on the yellow stripe as an added safety feature.

Shoes: Mizuno Wave Sayonara

I'm so glad I found Mizuno. They have been completely life changing for my running. It's really important to have sneakers that fit you well and provide the appropriate support for you. Everyone is different, so Mizuno might not be your magical shoe, but they definitely are mine! Plus they often come in bright colors. On a side note, can you believe that shade of white my legs are? #howtospotarider

Our first run was super short. We only went a mile. But it was a non stop running mile, and I'm gonna be honest, it felt great! I for sure could have squeaked out another, but it was nice to start easy, and have it end easy too. I didn't break any records. It was a SLOW and steady mile. But it got done and felt good, so that's all I wanted.

Ok, on to my work outfit:

So country summer isn't it?! I've loving anything checked lately. I found this tank last year, but this is the first time I've worn it this season.

Tank: One Clothing

I like the little criss cross thing that's going on in the front there. I also like that it's a roomy cut so I don't feel like I'm hanging out anywhere.

Belt: C4

This belt gets worn A LOT. I had no idea when I bought it just how many outfits it would match.

Jeans: True Religion

I like the whisker detailing these have at the top. I mean, I realize fake wrinkles are pretty ridiculous when you think about it... but they do look cute.

Shoes: Western Chief

Why yes, these do match the belt EXACTLY. The checks on here and the belt are a lot smaller than the top, but I think it's working ok. These shoes are made of rubber which I find kind of hilarious for some reason. They're a nice soft rubber though, and are super comfy. They'll be perfect when the storms roll through later.

Arm Party!
Lefty:

You had to know my inner five year old would show up somewhere today, right? Here she is! With this shiny Unicorn bracelet I bought on Nantucket. In a children's store. Shut up. It's adorable.

Righty:

This is like the Canadian Tuxedo of jewelry. Righty's bracelets are made by me, and consist of a horse clasp bangle and a wrap bracelet.

Speaking of horses... I almost didn't have a riding outfit for you today because we were supposed to get some severe weather during my riding time last night. Thankfully it held off long enough for me to hop on Rio so I do have something to share.

PINK! I actually have some pretty fab pink and black half chaps but I wasn't feeling motivated enough to wear brand new leg wear last night. All in good time. I'm sure you'll see them eventually.

Helmet: Charles Owen AYR8

I found this brand new fancy pants helmet on ebay last year from a British Seller for well under $100 shipped. I'm not one to pass up an awesome deal on something pink so I clicked buy it now pretty quickly.

Polo shirt: Horsewares

These are on sale pretty much everywhere, so if you like it, go snap one up! My favorite thing about this shirt (other than it being pink and covered in horses) are the pretty buttons. They're a mint green with gold on the edges. Such a nice touch!

Belt: Ralph Lauren

Another fun ebay find. I love poking around on there when I'm bored at work when I have free time. You never know what you'll find at a crazy good price. This pink stirrup belt was a steal!

Breeches: SmartPak Piper

These are an older model of the pipers with the regular knee patches (as opposed to the newer gel ones). I like the Pipers well enough. I don't think they're as comfy as some of my ariat or TS breeches, but they're definitely good enough for the price point. And the pink piping doesn't hurt either.

Boots: Caldene

Alright you caught me. You may remember that I had very similar looking boots but they were made by HKM. After wearing them a few times, I realized they were a bit too big so I sent them off to Used Horse Stuff. But then I really missed them, so I went looking (on Ebay obviously) to see if I could find them smaller. Instead, I found these beauties which I liked even more. The zipper placement makes them much more comfortable and easier to break in. And I love how the toes are capped too. And the wooded heels. There's a lot to love here.

Spurs: Professional Choice
Straps: Ovation

You can't have boots with croco detailing and not have matching spur straps. That's clearly some kind of fashion don't. These spurs are cute too with the little blingy horse shoes.

That's what I'm wearing today! How about you? Any favorites from today? What are you favorite running shoes and/or riding boots?