What's up Wednesday

This week was a little more social centric than horse centric, which isn't necessarily my favorite... But it was all fun things. Just not enough riding in my life! And/or hours... it might be a time crunch issue. Either way, it was still a fun week! Let's look back...
Pammon has been a good boy with his hand walks. We're going to start tack walks on the weekends and continue with hand walks during the week. We've had the ok for tack walking all along, but I prefer not to do that in the dark since we are aided by some ace tabs... I want to make sure he can see where he's putting his feet with me up there! But he's been a pretty good boy. I got him some toys for his stall to try and keep him entertained.

Rope giraffe!

I also got him an enormous dog rope that's loose in the stall, but last night he peed and pooed it to the point of no return, so I think that's getting tossed and not replaced. All of the kids got the boredom buster from Likit. I really thought it would provide days of entertainment for everyone. I was wrong. It holds two small likits and one big one, but they all had them mostly devoured after a single day. Pammon managed to break his too. Rio still has the small lickits left in his since he's not real clear on how to actually lick them... (He's so special that one.) So long story not very short, he just has the giraffe now. It's pretty dirty so I think he does enjoy it.

Shiny girl hasn't decided how much she likes being the sole riding horse in the barn. She thinks it might be way more work than she signed up for.

So in an effort to get out of all that work, yesterday she had The Slobbers. She was turned out in the back paddock yesterday and must have found some moldy clover back there. So gross. Definitely do not recommend letting your horse have the slobbers.

Seriously, there was just drool everywhere. I thought she had peed in the doorway it was that wet. I texted the vet, but he wasn't too worried. She seems better today, thankfully. I gave her the night off last night but hopefully we can ride tonight.

Rio seems to be much more comfortable barefoot, so that's pretty exciting. Also cheaper!

I still didn't get to have a lesson on Eros. I was thinking of doing one Saturday as Sunday I had to ride at dark thirty, but I totally forgot to sign up. So alas, we had two flat days. But he is feeling GREAT! Between the injections and the body work, he's like a brand new horse! And we're treating for ulcers too. I'm hopeful that will make him a little more willing to come forward on the flat... but not too much over fences! Time will tell I suppose.

Eros isn't super excited about 5 am rides.

In other non-horsey news, I got to do stuff outside of work and the barn this weekend! All kinds of stuff!
One of the boarders at Eros' barn is an author, and she hosted a really fun book launch party at a local gallery for her newest book "Drive". I've known her practically forever. She was a big kid when I was a little kid at the barn I learned to ride at. So yeah, we go waaaayyyy back. It was a really fun party, at which I took zero pictures because I'm a terrible blogger. But some of us did get a group selfie at the bar afterwards... Author not included. #fail

Anyway, that was super fun, but I got home way too late because I was headed back to Yankee Stadium on Sunday. I wanted to get my ride in on Eros since I don't get to see him everyday. So it was another EARLY morning. I was up at 4:30 to get done in time. Worth it though. I love that horse!
The game was great! Home run after home run for the home team and a win!

Plus I got nachos in a helmet.

And that's about it from here! How was your past week/weekend? Do anything fun? All horses or some social stuff too? Tell me all about it in the comments!

What's up Wednesday

Phew, time is flying! Wednesday already? Summertime is my favorite time of the year, but it sure is busy. Not that I'm complaining, I love having fun stuff to do and horses to ride. And I love the warm sunny weather.
I scheduled an extra lesson on Eros last week because there aren't any trainers at the barn the next two weekends. They're all up in VT at the show. So Thursday after work I headed over there for a lesson. It was probably one of the best I've had with him lately. Maybe things are starting to click?

We worked on some more hunter style courses instead of lots of bending lines and roll backs. While I do think all horses should be able to do those things, it's also nice to work on what we would actually be doing if and when we get to a horse show. Eros definitely needs to get stronger behind, I think I need to work harder smarter about getting him back on his hind end when we flat. He's fine when the jumps are 2'6" but he's really unloading himself when the fences are 3'. It's ugly and hard to stay with! I know he has enough scope for the 3' so I think it's likely a strength issue. That aside though, he was really good despite it being a little rainy and late.

Friday after work was back to my four legged kids at home. They both just flatted since they had the day off on Thursday. Nothing too exciting from those rides to share! (Never a bad thing!)

I had 4 manes and two tails to braid Friday night, but the customer asked to have one of them done in the morning before they left at 6:15. There was no way time-wise to do some and then go back if I wanted to sleep at all, so instead I just started late and braided through the night. I got done at 5:30 which was perfect, as they were just arriving to feed. Hopefully breakfast kept the horse occupied so he didn't rub.

It was a long night. I climbed into my bed at 6 am and slept until 9. You guys. I am WAY too old for these all nighters! Anyway, I dragged myself out of bed and went and ran some errands. My car's emissions were due, so that was my first stop. Then coffee. Then off to ride Eros. He was kind of funny Saturday. I had new reins I was using, and they were so slippery I felt like I couldn't get anything done properly. And he was oddly kind of forward and sassy. It was a weird ride, but not bad really. Needless to say, those reins are going in the trash.

Next I headed home to ride my other two and take care of Rio. I planned to start with Shiny, but when I pulled her out, she had a fat hind leg. I couldn't find any cuts or anything, and her tendons didn't palpate sore, so I'm guessing she just bumped her leg on something. I wanted to ice it, but when I was putting the ice boot on, she kicked out at me. I smacked her, which wasn't all that smart since I hadn't fastened all the straps yet... So she jumped forward and the boot slipped down. She proceeded to panic. stomp my wooden brush box to kindling, and break the cross ties. Fortunately, once the cross ties broke she gave up her antics and I stuck her in the wash stall. I figured she could stand there and calm down while I cleaned up the mess. And then I cold hosed instead of icing. We followed that up with a hand walk and some grazing. Finally I wrapped her up behind and tucked her back into her stall.

Next was Pammon! He was perfect for our ride and I was grateful given how tired I was! We just flatted and worked on things like my dreadful sitting trot.
Pammon enjoyed some grass after our ride too, and then it was Rio's turn for attention. He had a nice grooming and some grass.

I had a ton of stuff to do in the house (how does one person make such a mess?!) but I knew I likely wouldn't do any of it given my three hours of sleep. And I had really wanted to stop by the carnival in my hometown. So after I fed the horses and the pups, I headed over there for a few minutes. The carnival is a fundraiser for the fire department there in town which is all volunteer run. After the fire at my childhood barn when I was 14, I try to always come and support the carnival. It's the least I can do.
It was already dark when I arrived, which makes it look way more fun.

I wanted to play a couple games and eat some crappy food. So I did just that! I won a unicorn at the dart game and stuffed balloon dog at whack-a-mole. Then I ate some fried oreos and left. I don't think I was there even a  half hour. Ha! Efficient!

There were five... but I didn't snap a pic until after I stuffed some in my face.

And then I went home and fell asleep on the floor with the pups... I woke up at 4 am and went to bed. I really need to stop doing that!

Sunday morning I had another lesson with Eros. This one went great too, which is kind of mind blowing. I'm a little bummed I won't get to jump again for two weeks with him now that things are coming together. But that's pretty much the story of my life isn't it? Lol. It was pretty hot, and Eros was letting me know that while he was drying off from his after-lesson bath.

I skipped the farmer's market and just went straight home. I rode Pammon first. He was fantastic! I hadn't planned to jump, but decided to because I was feeling pretty good about things after my Eros lesson. Pammon was perfect! Everything was coming up out of stride, and he was landing softly and seemed like he was having fun. If I had more energy I would have gotten off and put the fences up some, but I didn't. Maybe this week!

Shiny's leg was still puffy, so I gave her another day off. We hand walked and cold hosed, and had some grass. Perhaps she did it on purpose to get out of working during the 95 degree weather?

Since it was so hot, I brushed Rio off quickly and then gave him a rinse before heading out for snacks. I think he was grateful!

I decided after taking care of all the horses that I had to skip the lake and do my adulting in the house. So I did some laundry and straightened up and that was the end of the weekend.

Monday was only half boring though! I worked in the morning, and then went to the Bronx in the afternoon to watch some baseball! I LOVE going to Yankee stadium, and Monday was a blast. It was hot when we got there, but by the time the game started the sun was low and it was the perfect temperature out.

And I got nachos in a helmet so that's pretty much all a girl needs right?

On top of a super fun evening at the ball park, mother nature treated us all to this view as the sun went down:

The Yankees were leading going into the last inning, but they managed to blow it and lose. So that was a bummer. But I still had a great time. It was another late night though. I got home after 1. Tucked in the ponies and then crashed for the night.

Kinda like this... but in my bed this time.

 Tuesday morning came FAST. But I made it to work more or less the same time as usual (which really isn't what you'd call "on time". I'm a terrible employee when it comes to punctuality in the morning...) I was hoping to ride both horses after work since Shiny's leg was looking better when I checked it Monday and also Tuesday at lunch time. But when I got home from work she had a big gash in it. I honestly don't know what's going on when I'm not home, but whatever it is, she keeps hurting the same leg! So I scrubbed the cut, cold hosed her, and wrapped it back up. It was very sore, so I didn't think riding was the right thing for it. What's another day or two off?
Pammon was perfect as always, though a bit lazy. It was still close to 90 when I rode him last night and humidity has been creeping up. Today the high is 91 with 70% humidity so I think it will be another easy ride. There are storms coming though, so it may be a day off... time will tell!
And that's about it for last week! How was your week? Do anything horsey? Lessons or horse shows? Tell me about it in the comments!

What's Up Wednesday

There is SO MUCH new and exciting over here! And it was a really fun long weekend too. Before I recap all my fun and games, I'll start with the most exciting news (other than the horse shopping I talked about yesterday). I said last week that I would get to ride my neighbor's horse Eddie once a week. Well, the other amateur that was helping to ride him is pregnant and doesn't want to ride any more until after she has the baby. So I get to ride him twice a week now! And not only that, I'm going to get to show him too!
Eddie's mom sent me a short clip of us cantering the other day, but it was sideways. I grabbed a couple screen shots though.

They're super blurry, but you can tell he's a cutie. And weird to see me on a chestnut, huh? I rode him again on Monday, and jumped a few small jumps. I really like him. He's super chill, and not easily offended. We're planning to take him to a show in a few weeks. Probably mostly do flat classes and maybe a hunter warm up. If that goes well, we might jump too. We'll see. He's not all that young, but was a dressage horse up until a few months ago. So he's pretty green over fences. Honest though! I get to ride him again tonight.

Ok, now we can go back and talk about all the fun and games that is a holiday weekend. Friday was surprisingly busy at work, and then I spent the evening with the tall kids.

View from our handwalk

Saturday I FINALLY got to go to my first Yankee game of the season.

 I know. Took me the whole season to get there. I always go with my co worker and his wife, and one of their friends. Unfortunately the friend couldn't go, but we brought along a flat version of him.

So I'm always excited to go to a game, partially for the game,

but also for the FOOD. And this time was no exception. I was most looking forward to the new milkshakes they had.

Clearly, I've found my  happy place.

I chose the smore's one (the one on the left with the marshmallows). While the accoutrements were lovely, the milkshake wasn't a milkshake at all. It was just soft serve ice cream. You really had to wait for it to melt before you could drink it. So it was kind of disappointing. Not to say I wouldn't get one again. I mean it is a glass full of sugar and fat. Yum!
Oh we found Waldo while we were there too!

Getting to the stadium, watching the game (and binging on artery clogging food), and getting home pretty much takes your whole day. So the boys didn't have walks that day. But they had their small paddock turnouts in the morning, so don't worry. They weren't neglected! Their horse sitter gave them groomies too before dinner.
Since Saturday was eaten up, Sunday was a day for getting things done. I got up at a reasonable hour and went to run a few errands. Then it was time to spoil the ponies (and do their laundry). We did mega groomies and had nice walks. Both boys are starting to put weight back on, so that's making me happy.

Rio <3

Jampy <3

It's still been way too hot to take the pups for a road walk. But we played out on the grass for a bit in the afternoon.

And of course I had to have dinner at the lake.

I spent the rest of the evening straightening up the house and doing laundry. I'm wild like that.
I was honestly really excited to have Monday off. I got up early to do the barn first thing. I'm the world's slowest stall cleaner so the boys had nice long turnouts. I figured I probably wouldn't walk them later because it was supposed to be sweltering hot out, so better to let them have outside time early while it was still bearable.

Originally, I had planned to go ride Eddie once I was done with the barn, but we decided to wait until the sun was lower. Worked out nicely because a friend stopped by and we went over to the lake for lunch. Nice to catch up!
After lunch, the pugs and I hung by the pool for a bit.

Then it was Eddie time! I rode him the first time in my Hermes saddle and this time in the Voltaire. And honestly, it slipped way back on him, and I wasn't all that comfortable. I'm not sure I love it as much as I did originally. I'm probably going to hold on to it until after I get my next horse, but if I don't love it on him, then I'll sell it. Anyway, Eddie was great, despite the heat! After Eddie, I ran home to feed the horses and shower, and then was off to family dinner. Which is where I got the go ahead to start horse shopping for my step mom.

And I guess you probably all want to know what I broke down and bought during the Labor Day sales. For the most part I was fairly well behaved. I did order a new pair of Regals from Riding Warehouse ($134! How could I not?). I was humming and hawing about possibly getting the rose gold One K, but they weren't actually allowed to discount it, and didn't have the size I needed in stock. So I passed.... But then (you knew that was coming didn't you?) I was on the Big Dee's site and they had the wide brim one marked down to $232. I've always been really against the wide brim helmets. I just think they look weird. But I'm also a sheep and everyone loves them. So I thought I'd give it a try. Plus they had it in stock! It arrived yesterday (so fast!).

I definitely think it looks like a UFO. But I like it! The rose gold is subtle, but very pretty. And as always the One K is very comfortable on my head.
So that's what's up this Wednesday! This little blog is finally getting horsey again! So glad you all stuck around while I floundered through not riding regularly.
How was your long weekend? Do anything fun? Go to a show? Tell me all about it in the comments!