The School of Life with Horses

Patrick is Growing Up

inclined2ride — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 17:44:00 GMT

Good Morning All,

My rides last night went great - but because of my cold (that is now moving into my muscles) I got zero sleep last night and am just now starting to wake up.

I started out on Stretch, with me and Joe tinkering with his english headstall - finding a place for the reins and chain that wouldn't bother him or cause him to hide from the bit. Then we did some trotting and serpentines, I loosened him up until he was nice a supple on both sides then did some worked on our western lope each way for a little bit. He was great for me as usually.

Next I rode Patrick and I felt in him for the first time a level of brokeness. It was so nice, I felt safe on him. I could serpentine, I could spur a little if he needed it, and I could lope, without him being a Spaz. I could put him on a track that he would maintain, and I could extend or collect him at the trot. I was so happy! We trotted at ton, and then loped both ways. His lope take-off still need improving as he still feels like he need to gallop into the lope but its didn't feel like anything that couldn't be fixed in 3 weeks. We also worked on our lope to trot and lope to walk transitions, both of which he was mastering easliy enough. Next time I would like to work on our walk to lope transitions along with our trot to lope transisitons.

When I was done I tied him to a post in the arena to start picking up all my equipment and he just stood there like a nice broke gelding, he didn' wiggle around, paw, or do any of the other things I have watched him do in the past. It was just so nice to see him behaving more like an adult. When i was riding him I notices that corners are still not his favorite thing but found out that if I push him through them he does alot better.

Both me and Joe noticed some swelling starting towards is lower right jaw so he was scheduled for a vet - teeth appointment this morning. I only hope that its cheap - and the problem is resolved quickly. It didn't appear to bother him much at all so I wasn't too concerned - just figured it was a tooth, afterall he is just the right age for tooth stuff to be going on.

Here is some pics I took yesturday of Stretch and Pat - Please Note: Patrick is not really that down hill , he is standing with his front feet in a hole some other horse dug his back feet are on the pile of excessed dirt from the digging and he is about as strung out as he can get standing. He kinda unkept looking right now too so I thought this picture could be a "before" picture and at the show in Moses Lake i will do an "after" picture with him all cleaned up. Also incase you were wondering its very common for even Hunt Seat Quarter horses to be worked with a western saddle (even within the QH community there is much debate on why this is). I will bring down my english saddle and try it out on him just before the show.

The Spotted Ones

inclined2ride — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 18:07:00 GMT

TUESDAY, AUGUST 19, 2008

Tired Appy waiting for kid

Getting ready to show...

If you look closely you can see this is a buckskin Appy...

(I sound like the Discovery Channel Huh? "If you look closely you'll see this is a rare Buckskin Appaloosa in its natural environment, watch as it scans the horizon for food...")

Tired Stretch that wishes his owner would get the heck out of stall...

Stretch hiding behind the fan...

Wet Appy

Western Appy

English Youth Appy

Baby Appy

My humble abode after my westside neighbors went home and took away my shade...

Ok - recap.

I did well, better in the morning than the afternoon. I wussed out and only stayed for Saturday after I got in my truck at 3:00 PM to move it and the temp read (after being given enough time to give me an accurate reading)108 degrees F / 42 degrees C. So I called myself a "sissy la-la girl" and entered as many classes as I possible could (perhaps not the best move when tittering in heat exhaustion) then when my last class was over I loaded the trailer the heck up, taking many breaks to rest, and headed back to Lewiston. I knew 2 things, I did not want to get up in the morning and haul Stretch to Lewiston and I did not want to stay and show the next day. The official recorded temperature in Spokane Saturday was a 10 year record breaking high and the next day Sunday was hotter so I don't feel bad about leaving at all. When I left at 7:30 PM the temperature was still 98 degrees F / 37 degrees C !

The thing is that it was so hot - near 100F / 39C by noon - that I didn't care about alot things, pre-class grooming, warming-up, final touches, eating, and basically how I did - so it kinda robbed the fun out the whole the thing.

I treated Stretch with electrolytes and all the water he could want and it seemed that he dealt with the heat much better than I did. Stretch who had never had a fan hung right in front of his stall was scared of it at first and then fell in love with it later in the day and his new favorite hang-out was right in front of the fan. He look a little concerned when I shut it off and took it down right before we left for Lewiston. "Hey! Where are you going with my fan!"

My niece arrived - although I didn't get any pictures of her, my Mom did though and I should be able to get photos from her later. And added an freak load of stress to my day. Evidently I was the only one able to listen to the classes and make a guess at when to get her ready an on the horse as I was doing everything else and trying to get myself ready. But she got in there and did well with her little pink helmet so it all turned out fine.

Because of the heat I believe - everyone bailed out of Hunter Hack and they cancelled the class. But I got plenty of other pictures...

The show was nice - the people seemed nice. I saw lots of girls I used to show with and liked, never knew what happened to them, they just stopped going to the Quarter Horse Shows and started going to the Open Zoned Shows. So it was nice to see them again, same horses, glad they are still showing. The main difference I saw in the Open part of the show attendance was the lack of "groups" "barns" kinda like "clicks" probably from the lack of Trainers there I would guess. Most people were on there own. There may have been some Open Show nastiness going on but - nothing that I could see. People were nice and friendly - but also I think it was because most everyone was just trying to make it through the day.

I was chronically exhausted and sleep deprived by the time I made it home - had to stop and sleep once -got in at around 1:30 AM - then slept the next day till 11:30 AM, which i haven't done since I was like 16 and partying habitually. I laid low and out of the heat all day on Sunday - but I had no headache and was not dehydrated thanks to the water and electrolytes I took.

Update with a Smile!

inclined2ride — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 18:06:00 GMT

FRIDAY, AUGUST 15, 2008

Ok, so I have had more coffee and have woken up a little bit, not much but a little more to type up a post, of at least a short one and then offer a joke.

I am all packed up and ready to head out and pick up Stretch but I am a little concerned about the heat predicted for this weekend. 97 Today - 100 Tomorrow - 105 on Sunday.

Two things I am worried about: Stretch and my truck. I am going to talk to my trainer on the phone here real quick about my concerns - I have alway been told it was unsafe to haul a horse in that kind of heat whether you load them up with electrolytes or not. Also my truck runs very poorly in the heat and I am worried that I will blow it the heck up trying to haul Stretch up the Lewiston grade (the longest steepest hill in the Inland NW).

So before I go charging down there I am going to call Joe and talk to hubby about my truck - I don't want to bail on the show but don't want to kill my horse trying to do it or my truck neither of which I could afford to replace so I guess I will have my answers shortly.

There's the good stuff - I just have to share it - made me blow pop out my nose when I first read it-I know some of my blog buddies will enjoy more than others (wink):

The Truth in Print

Once upon a time, a guy asked a girl 'Will you marry me?'
The girl said:'NO!'

And the girl lived happily ever-after and went shopping, dancing, camping, drank martinis, always had a clean house, never had to cook, did whatever the hell she wanted, never argued, didn't gain any weight, traveled more, she went to a horse show whenever she wanted, never had to call anyone while she was there and had a blast drinking wine with her girlfriends, she didn't save money, and had all the hot water to herself. She went to the theater, never watched sports, never wore friggin' lacy lingerie that went up her ass, had high self esteem, never cried or yelled, felt and looked fabulous in sweat pants and was pleasant all the time..........THE END.....

Pre-Show Work

inclined2ride — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 18:05:00 GMT

MONDAY, AUGUST 11, 2008

Gosh, as usual - before a show - things have been going nuts. So please excuse my lack of posting to my blog and others as well.

Went camping with hubby this weekend and the weather is confirming my predictions that it would be crappy for camping and then triple digit weather while I am trying to horse show (NOTE TO SELF - pack short sleeved English shirt encase they call for no jackets...dickies won't cut it without a jacket). I enjoyed spending some quality time with him, without the groups of friends and family who usually are hanging out with us (they mean well but gosh dang it - sometimes we need some time to ourselves), even though the weather was rotten for camping and boating.

I hit home on Sunday with plenty of time to get ready for the show this weekend...and what you think I did? Slept on the couch!? I was shot and needed the rest granted but I was a complete lazy ass. My back hurt on Saturday and I really don't think I slept any longer than 40 minutes at a given time that night.

So now I have to make up for it.

I am going down to ride tomorrow and will have to retrieve a some tack that my trainer usually keeps for me so that I can use it at the show.

-Stretch Sheet
-Nylon Sheet
-Winter Blanket (yeah I know it still summer, but it was 42 degrees when I woke up this morning, that's something that happens in the Pacific NW, the temp can vary 50 degrees or more in a day)
-Tail Extention
-Show bit

That should just about be a majority of the show stuff of mine I have down there. I will also bring down that bit and horsemanship spurs to try out. Hope my back gets to feeling better by then...

Tonight I am going to put my trailer back together again - put everything that I have taken out of it back in - make the bed - double check supplies and what not. I will also be putting my new English tack in there. I will also be adding my big box fan and will see if I can't tie that to the front of Stretch's stall to help him stay cool. And I will be packing electrolytes for both horse and rider for the first time in about 3 years. Tell ya what those are a life saver, if you don't want to be left exhausted with a headache for several days after a show in the heat - take the electrolyte tablets. My doc tells me when I feel like this it means I have suffered "heat exhaustion" which is BAD! But I do drink water I tell her - she said you can get it even if you do drink lots of water and directed me to the electrolyte tabs. Have tried them twice - they work wonders!

I think Friday on my lunch break I will head over to the feed store and pick up some hay for Stretch and drop it off at his stall, and then maybe if I have time & if they have the stalls marked I will bed down his stall.

Hopefully tomorrow before I leave Lewiston Joe will also give me a lesson in braiding a tail extension in...I should know how to do this anyway, I have just been lazy in not fully learning until now...I know how to do the switch kind but not the "hide-on" kind (I know, ICKY! but it was the only tail we could find with the right color combination for Stretch). Those things are a freakin pain in the butt anyways I will jump for joy the day they are no longer fashionable. Mine is nice and thick, but not real heavy so it doesn't hurt when its braided in, and there are a ton of connection points on the "hide-on" kind so its not just two little braids holding the whole thing in - and actually I think Stretch likes it. He swishes it around and kind of tries to look at it when I first put it in and will sometimes move it from side to side in a rhythmic manner as he is standing waiting for the in-gate. And he really go nuts swatting at flies with it in, watch out! I've gotten a face full of tail more than once being in the wrong place when he decides to fling that thing around - almost always with my mouth open. Just minding my own bizness walking around his rump when all of the sudden WACK! Face full of tail. Thanks Stretch, thanks alot.

So there you have it my plan for the week - if I don't have time to post again I apologize but I will catch-up with everyone the following Monday with picture of spotted horses.
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Something just occurred to me - its an anniversay!

I finished my post before lunch but needed to come back and add this.
This past week marks an anniversary for me. Approximately 4 years ago I was bucked off my old show gelding while was at an almost dead run. I was pitched into the air, flipped over and landed on my back/shoulder with my feet pointed the opposite direction. My shoulder blade shattered in to many pieces.

After a failed attempt I realized I couldn't get up and was lifted, crying like a little girl, into a pick-up truck by my trainer.

(I was mad enough that had I been able to stand, my gelding would've had the worst day of his life before making the trip to the ER - so in a way he was lucky - he didn't spook, he wasn't in pain, and there was no malfunctioning tack, he bucked because he didn't want to work and wanted to get rid of his rider, he was rotten)

After X-Rays, more X-Rays and then a high res MRI - it was decided that no surgery could be performed, there wasn't even a piece of bone big enough to hold a screw to use a plate. The doctors said that my smashed, swollen, and blood filled muscles would hold my shoulder blade bones in place long enough to fuse back together. Thus started a 2 week period in which Stephanie was trapped in a recliner, in a sling and arm strap that held it still, watching the you guessed it.....2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. Strangely when I sit down to watch the sporting events now that's what I think of, is that time of complete boredom and depression. It was not a good time for me.

But I worked really hard to recover from it and show the last couple of shows during that season - much to the protest of .....well......just about everyone. But I lived and I think I was better for it. I didn't let that horse get the best of me not then or any of other time he pulled that crap with me. I refused to be scared of him and rode him clear up to the time when I transfered ownership of him to my trainer. But I am also glad he is gone now...

Happy Anniversary to Me!

Deep into Planning Today

inclined2ride — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 17:41:00 GMT

TUESDAY, AUGUST 5, 2008

The pics are some additional ones a photographer took of me and baby Kat at the Monroe spring show...and one of me slouching in my new blouse!

Today:

Headed down to ride tonight - by myself so I am hoping it won't take too long. I am just going to focus on some western stuff with Stretch - some Horsemanship maneuvers and a little bit of pleasure. I am going to do a little bit today - and if we don't get it I am going to move on to something else and not get all frustrated.

I will ask if Joe will ride Pat - but he doesn't have to. I am going to take the opportunity to sit with him and talk about Pat's future. If he is not going to be ready for me to show this year I am going to see if I can bring him home for a break and take him back in like November. Give him some more "grow-up" time and give our budget a break. Also I have no intention on hauling him to the next show unless is able to be shown. Fuel costs are just too much and the last time I had both horses at a show together my budget was smarting for a month...

Another issue I want to address is Stretch. I just can't be a two horse person and as nice as Stretch is, in order for me to give Patty a chance I need to sell Stretch. My parents decided they didn't want to keep him for my niece so gave me the clearance to sell him. Which will be sad that my trusty partner in dorkyness will have to go to someone else, there just isn't anything else I can do. :( I barely afford to keep them both in training let alone show them both.

Okay that being said I am moving forward with plans for my little Open Show with the appy folk in two weeks.

Here is my plan thus far:

I am entering Quarter Horse Halter (because it has been so long since I have done so and I want to), Leadline for Kat, and a string of english classes that will be held on Sat. Green Horse, English Pleasure Adult Exhibitor, English Pleasure Jr. Horse, and English Pleasure Other Breeds (because there is no Quarter Horse English Pleasure). That should qualify me for High Point Open English Horse - if we are doing well and the judges are liking us - if not, then we can school and I can scratch a few classes and save myself some bucks. I am also going to try my hand atEnglish Equitation depending on how the show is moving and if I have any legs left at the end of the day.

I am thinking about Trail on Sat night - but its just going to depend on how many english classes I did during the day, as I am still trying to make this an affordable show.

On Sunday I have signed up for Western Equitation and Green Horse Western Pleasure. If we do well in Green Horse I may turn around and do the other Open WP classes, but it just depends I am not going to stress myself out trying to do it. If Stretch is naughty I can always use the chance to school him a bit. If the old standard still applies at Open shows you can turn your number upside down to let everyone know you are schooling, and stay out of everyone's way while you are doing so and be just fine. I also wanted to try the Western Riding Pattern but they are not offering it as an Open class - only an appy class. And no jumping classes either I wanted to get some pictures of them jumping for Sidetracked.....but i will get some pics for my blog buddies of the spotted horses and the show in general - they just won't be jumping. Maybe I will find a relative of Possum or Squirrelgirl's mare!

I am going to pick Stretch up on Friday night run him up to the Fairgrounds, lunge him if I need to that night and band him. Then all I will have to do on Saturday morning is lunge him again, bath him and clean him up for Halter. Then there should be good chunk of time to warm him up and tack him up for Leadline and then for english.

With only a couple of classes Sunday should be a cinch and should go fast, leaving me with plenty of time to take Stretch back to Lewiston. Also I am not going to be staying at the fairgrounds in my trailer - they are charging a camping fee even if you are not plugged in so I will be taking the 45 min trip home each night. I will not burn 40 bucks in gas driving back and forth to sleep - I would and then some if I were hauling Stretch to my old barn and back so the stall is worth the money, just not the camping fee. I can power my fans and a radio with my generator so I won't have to go without those during the day. It is supposed to be up into the 90's that weekend so I am also gather all my hot weather towels, antisweat sheets, water buckets, and things.

It should be fun I am just itching to go!

Sad Headline....

inclined2ride — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 17:40:00 GMT

MONDAY, AUGUST 4, 2008

I know this has little to do with my horsey self - and please note that I don't do this every often. But I just caught this headline on CNN.com

If there ever was an actor who's talent AND behavior was deserving of your prayers and thoughts it would be him. I mean - just look at what kind of car he was driving! I drive a newer car than that and my grandma has a more expensive car than his.

I consider him to be truly a good man. I hope that he pulls through this okay...

Sitting in school he taught me about the highs and lows of American history in Glory, made me laugh until I cried the day after my Wedding when we watched him in Bruce Almighty, he had me in tears at the unfairness of life while watching Million Dollar Baby and he taught me about forgiveness in An Unfinished Life. He had us all on the edge of our seats with his voice during War of the Worlds, and in March of the Penguins, we all caught our breaths during Outbreak (and vowed to wash our hands more often), we all wanted him to be our President after Deep Impact, and many of us still have nightmares after watching him in SE7EN.

And maybe we all saw the closet thing to the real Morgan Freeman in the Shawshank Redemption - a quiet, thoughtful, modest genius.

Thank you Mr. Freeman...

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Actor Morgan Freeman hospitalized at The MED after serious car accident

MEMPHIS, TN (WMC-TV) - Academy Award winning actor Morgan Freeman was involved in a serious car accident Sunday night in north Mississippi.

Mississippi Highway Patrol spokesperson Ben Williams said Freeman and a female passenger were traveling eastbound on Mississippi Highway 32 in Tallahatchie County when his vehicle went off the edge of the road. Freeman overcorrected, flipping his 1997 Nissan Maxima several times before coming to a rest.

Emergency crews extracted Freeman and his passenger from their vehicle using the jaws of life. According to Williams, they were both airlifted to the Regional Medical Center in Memphis, where Freeman was listed in serious condition Monday morning.

The condition of Freeman's passenger has not been released.

Freeman, who won an Academy Award for his performance in 2004's Million Dollar Baby, is a co-owner of the Ground Zero Blues Club in Memphis. He currently stars in the Batman sequel The Dark Night.

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AND guess what?? He's a horse guy folks! - Really! Read below...I've heard things about him donating money to keep trails maintained and what not, but didn't know he owned horses till this morning - makes sense though doesn't it?

Wikipedia: Freeman was married to Jeanette Adair Bradshaw fromOctober 22, 1967, until 1979. He has been married to Myrna Colley-Lee since. He has two sons, Alfonso and Saifoulaye, from previous relationships. He adopted his first wife's daughter, Deena, and the couple also had a fourth child, Morgana. Freeman lives in Charleston, Mississippi, and New York City. He has a private pilot's license, which he gained at age 65, and co-owns and operates Madidi, a fine dining restaurant, and Ground Zero, a blues club, both located in Clarksdale,Mississippi. He officially opened his second club Ground Zero in Memphis, TN on April 24, 2008. His pilot’s license was suspended in 2004 for 45 days for failing to maintain altitude on approach.

Freeman has publicly criticized the celebration of Black History Month and does not participate in any related events, saying, "I don't want a black history month. Black history is American history." He says the only way to end racism is to stop talking about it, and he notes that there is no "white history month". Freeman once said on an interview with 60 Minutes' Mike Wallace: "I am going to stop calling you a white man and I'm going to ask you to stop calling me a black man." Freeman supported the defeated proposal to change the Mississippi state flag, which echoes theConfederate "Stars and Bars" flag.

Morgan Freeman also has worked on narrating small clips for global organizations, such as One Earth (www.oneearth.org), whose goal includes making the public aware of environmental issues, and raising interest in the Earth. He has narrated the clip 'Why Are We Here', which can be viewed for free under One Earth's website mentioned above.

Freeman has donated money to the Mississippi Horse Park in Starkville, Mississippi. The Horse park is part of Mississippi State University. Freeman has several horses that he takes there.

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PS - If you haven't seen it yet I highly recommend everyone watching theBucket List.

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UPDATE: CNN now reports although in serious condition he has suffered no life threatening injuries and although he is in pain, suffering from some fractures, he is expected to recover.

Just wanted to introduce ya'll

inclined2ride — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 17:36:00 GMT

Its been a busy week for me at home and at work. I have bunch of western stuff up for sale on the internet so I have been fielding questions and trying to sell that stuff all week. Also i have completed my entry into open classes at the Appy show.

Purchased a small pink helmet for my niece so she can do a leadline class at the appy show.
Ordered a new hunt coat (one that fits!) from RJ Classics I believe the one I purchased is either 100% wool or like an 80% wool blend - it's not the basic line but the one up from that. Needed a long and try as I might, I have not been able to find a used coat in my size, found some nice regular ones but they are always too short. Grrr...this one should fix me up pretty good.

Leaving only my boots to be updated and since they fit and are comfortable I'm not going to stress about those, but if I come across a good deal I may pick a used pair up. Currently I have a nice pair of dress boots - apparently those are not what is in style at QH shows. Who knew? Personally I don't really care, unless I need field boots for jumping some day? I'll just throw that question out there to our hunter/jumper expert Sidetracked..... Whats in style and out of style gets soooooo silly with QH shows.

My trainer just returned from the AQHA Region One show which I was not able to attend this year as I had no vacation to draw on. Good news though! As of today I have one week of vacation! Today is my one year anniversary at my company! I went to the show last year but was MIA for the group picture they took - Darn It! My feeling would've been hurt had we not already done several "barn" pictures that year. 2007 was "the year of group pictures" I will have to scan some of the others in and post them.

Below you will see Ida-Lee and her older gelding, trainer Joe with an unpictured client's horse, Cheyanne, my young friend and her horse Sam - trainer Todd - subject to much crap from me, friends Sue and her husband and her horse Radar who is on the injured list this year due to a freak trailering accident, and last but not least super good friend Kelly and mother of Cheyanne.

Here is another picture of trainer Todd - crawling around on top of the bathroom stalls in the girls bathroom at the fairgrounds trying to retrieve a wayward shampoo bottle from in between the stall wall.

This all happened at the Moses Lake show in June:
While sharing the shampoo the girls (Cheyenne and friends) threw it from one stall to the other. Well....one throw from little Miss Cheyenne was short and that folks was the end of the shampoo bottle. When even I failed to reach it I reported back to the group that it was gone for good as no one could reach it, so unless someone wanted to take apart the girls bathroom it was best to just buy another bottle of $3 shampoo. Well since we had been to dinner, ridden AGAIN, and had been sitting around sharing some wine we were all quite rummy and Todd had to one-up me and announced that it couldn't be that hard to get a shampoo bottle and that he would get the job done.

Ha!

Well "okay" I said and followed him to the bathroom...I wanted to be there to mock him when he failed of course! (yeah, I know what you were thinking...)The girls all found this very funny and went along too. Party in the girls bathroom! Good thing there was no one in there cause Todd just waltzed right in. Then a thought occurred to me - an evil thought. So powered by wine I acted on it and paid off my little friend to run to my trailer and get my digital camera. BUT not only did I get pics I also shot video, which is for sale to Todd for $5o if he'd like it to go away. I would post it to the blog but not only would I suck as a friend but also it would be worth nothing :)

Todd is technically not my trainer so I can harass him without fear of retaliation in the form of endless hours of riding circles during the hottest part of the dang day. Anyway, Mr. Todd did not in fact reach the shampoo bottle and fled from bathroom as quickly as he could when he figured out that I was taping him. To a bunch of chronically fatigued, sunburned, half drunk cowgirls this was funny enough to double over most us for 10 minutes - of course I had show them the video to prove I had it.

Hi Todd! (nice spur straps cowboy!)
You know we harass you cause we love you!

Ah HA! Again!

inclined2ride — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 17:34:00 GMT

Short Update - gotta run!

Got my other English Saddle sold. Got what I wanted for it so I declare the entire experience a success! Have also posted a majority of Western Pleasure Blouses online to sell - if they don't after a while I will consign them to the clotheshorseconnection.com store. I get some of my stuff there and I really like the gal who runs it - Maggie.

Spent the weekend taking some Senior pictures for a friend - they turned out great!

Got the Appy show info - I was right, its a cheaper show. I have most of it filled out and have clearance to go from the boss. I am excited to go and have started making .....LISTS for the show. As a bonus my niece will be there for a leadline class! How cool. I am getting her a helmet for this one - as AQHA doesn't require helmets on any western riders, but the USEF sure does - so she gets a cute pink helmet, and since she has one that what she'll wear when she rides from now on till she has a good seat and all that good stuff.

Sorry for not being online this week folks! Just super busy at work and at home will try to get caught up tomorrow if I can.

6 Things You Don't Know About Me

inclined2ride — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 17:33:00 GMT

Or maybe you do or have guessed - but maybe not all of you know...

I have been tagged and apologize to others as I know I have been tagged before and have not posted anything, it just so happens that I have time to respond this time (honestly I am not playing favorites). So in no particular order here we go...

1) I love a good argument. I love a good fight - I can get kinda aggressive on certain topics on certain online forums and I will not back down. Sometimes I can even get kinda mean - its not something I am proud of and do I work on it (on not being that way). If I give myself some time I can usually cool down and think clearly and attack the issue or thinking process instead of the person - but if someone attacks me or one of my friends then all bets are off.

2) I am a writer - I write articles that I sell freelance when I have time, and a monthly horse column for a local newspaper. I also write and enjoy reading poetry, not the abstract weird kind but the kind that takes you to another place with words. I dream someday of writing a book I just can't decide what to write about - strange huh? Maybe someday I will post some of my poetry...

3) I enjoy photography and sell some of my prints, and donate some of the them to charity auctions but very very few of them. Mostly its just a hobby for myself but I get increasingly more requests for prints from friends and family so I may have to do something more formal one day to protect myself financially. I also used to draw and oil paint and did so fairly well. I took a lot of fine art classes in junior college. I wish I still could. Maybe someday I will post some of my stuff.

4) I love to travel - one of the main reasons why I horse show is so I can get around and see new places and get the heck out of dodge. I have traveled to Canada and Mexico but have never been off the North American Continent. I have love Arizona, have spent alot of time there at my parent's place there, and fancy myself a desert dweller. I have been all over Washington, Idaho, Oregon and Montana - but have also visited Ohio, Las Vegas NV, California, Hawaii, and coming soon - Nashville, TN & Tampa, FL.

5) I am a Lutheran - I don't share in every single one of their beliefs, but I was raised Lutheran, I believe in Jesus and try to go to church when i can. I also believe that God is not in a church but all around us. When we enjoy God's creations, like horses, we are praising Him. On the other hand I believe in evolution, and the more modern theories on how the universe and solar system came to be. I believe we will find life (or that life once existed) on another planet in my lifetime - I believe the universe is one big educational toy created by God. Okay I am done on that subject.

6) I am an amateur geologist - I love rocks, minerals and gems. I love volcanoes, plate tectonics, and geography. I maps up in my office at home instead of family pictures. Almost nothing gets me buzzed up more than planning a rock hunting trip - much to my husbands dismay I have a large rock collection at home that I love attacking guests with.

Runners up...

I used to Golf - I golfed through High School, went to state, placed well at state then golfed in college where we won the regional NW championship. I eventually ditched this hobby because of a string of bad coaches.
I think most (but not all) High School Coaches are really dumb and are harmful mentally and physically to the students they teach and train.
I am secretly afriad that everything I get too close to will die, or go away.
I like to be a alone although I socialize rather well, I prefer being a loner most times.

People I would like to tag:

Sidetracked
Squirrel girl
Juli Thorson

Break is Over

inclined2ride — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 17:32:00 GMT

New Saddle is A-W-E-S-O-M-E!

I went down to ride this weekend and will go again this week. We had a pretty fun time. I must say that I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE my new English saddle. It fits both ponies like a dream. Since my old saddle didn't have knee pads or rolls I have been just using my strength and balance to ride properly, I can not believe and/or have forgotten how nice knee pads are. This saddle also has the blocks that keep my knees from going too far forward. The amount of grip I can get with my thighs and knees now is amazing!!

When I first took off at a posting trot I just about catapulted myself right out of the saddle and over Stretch's neck! It took a couple of times around the arena but I settled in adjusted the way I rode and allowed the saddle to help me as it was designed. I would've got some pictures - but it was soooo dang hot I couldn't hardly think straight. It was like riding on a couch instead of a wooden church pew...

New Bit is also Cool!

I also tried out a new bit that I received in the mail from a friend as a graduation present - Stretch loved it! The problem with my old bit is that it was a little too much for Stretch and he would hide behind it - as a result I would ride too little contact and he would lope around get bored and them start playing with his darn tongue in the middle of the class! Wagging it around like a dog! I'd be zipping along and I could actually see it flopping around. I was starting to think perhaps this is a personality trait that I will just have to accept - I had noticed some judges docked us for it others have not cared. But what do you? Stretch is just Stretch - if he plays with tongue there very little that I do about. Same with his tail - he thinks with it (like a darn cat) and although its not very fashion able I WILL NOT NERVE IT nor add weights to his tail extensions. I do not believe in those practices.

Well.......as it turns out my friend and trainer put way more thought into the issue than I had and came up with the solution of a less aggressive bit - a three piece D ring instead of a Kimberwick - with no chain PLUS on the two side pieces it has rollers. Stretch can now play with the bit instead of his tongue! He seemed to really like it - he stuck his neck out there and when I used the bit he didn't hide from it - he even pushed his face into my hands, which he's never done before in my old bit. Everyone watching said he looked so relaxed and happy. We didn't do any western work or pattern work, I wanted to get things settled with the new tack first. I refuse to do that stuff at shows when we are rushing an stressed.

Patrick

So both pieces of new tack worked out really well. Patrick is slowly maturing - like his brother I have noticed his legs getting slower and prettier as he is growing up. His body is getting stronger and his coordination is getter better making the overall picture look much nicer. On his break he added about 100 lbs to his body and it looks rather nice on him. He also grew an inch since the last time I've seen him. Amazing - I need to stick him and see how tall he is, but I would bet he is somewhere in the 16.1 range of height. He's just so big its almost silly when he has a baby moment - you got this big leggy thing scrambling around acting like a foal cause he doesn't want a bath.

I didn't get a chance to ride him because I spent so much time switching tack and tearing apart bridles - but Joe rode him all around during the time we were there. I did lung him and he did well aside from one spazstic moment at the start. Then there was the bath - every time I ride he's gonna get a bath I think until he's done pitching a fit about it. Its not like he gets beaten or anything - its just water! I don't see what the problem is - why it concerns him so. Once he's all wet its better but he is still all worried looking and scared until its over.

It was a fun time riding and a fun time with horse friends. Break is over, I will down riding again once a week till my open show (still undecided at this point). I repo-ed my bosal that I spent a ton of money on last fall, thinking I was gonna have 2 western horses, and never used and will be selling that this summer too.

Hope everyone else had a good weekend too!

Found a couple of open shows!

inclined2ride — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 17:29:00 GMT

Ha!

I found a couple of open shows - don't know which I will try to go to - will have to coordinate with hubby and make sure I am not recking any camping plans.

One is an Appy show that also offers All-Breed classes - the other is a Buckskin show that also offers All-Breed classes as well.

I am learning so much about these shows - considered "B" shows. "A" show being the ones that are USEF approved - but these "B" shows are still connected in some way...maybe rules? I am still figuring things out.

Anyway I can do a class for $14 at the Buckskin show - which is more than I had thought it would cost - but considerable less than the $19 a judge I have been spending for AQHA classes (and that's always doubled of course for 2 judges - single judged Qrt Hrs shows are few and far between now in our area). And the stall will run me $50 for the weekend - but if I grab Stretch and run him up myself I won't have any trainer fees to belly-up either - I will still put some miles on my truck picking up and dropping off my horse - but still not to bad considering the money I am saving and the fact I don't have to take any time off work to do the whole show!

They have Hunt Seat and Western Classes - so maybe we'll do both and see how Stretchers does in the Open scene in WP.

Still waiting on the Appy show entry form - maybe the Open Classes in it will be cheaper? One is 9&10 of Aug and the other is the weekend after. Regardless of which one I will go to it will be HOT! I will have to re-outfit my trailer back to all the stuff I need for warm weather....how exciting, I just got myself all buzzed up even thinking about it.

I am tempted to try to rope one of my friends into going, but I kinda just want to try this out by myself first and see what its like. I was even considering trying a Halter Class (gasp-I know!) I normally would never even dream of doing one in AQHA - it would be just like throwing my money away to try to compete against real Halter Horses, as I don't fatten my horse as if its a pig going to slaughter, so not knowing much about the Open Halter maybe we'll try it once.

Stretch has awesome conformation for a pleasure horse but he needs 10 performance pts to compete in AQHA's performance halter classes, which it doesn't look like we'll be winning those anytime soon - so if I wanted to do Halter in Qrt Hrs class it would have to be against the big boys.

Patty will have to stay at home until he's broke enough that I could trust him to be safe with me without Joe riding him first.

This could be really fun - I am excited - I could just use my trailer as a "tack stall" and not need one of those either. I can grab Stretch on Friday night after work and have him ready to go by Saturday morning! Just like the good old days....Roper might have to stay home if its as hot as I think its gonna be (don't want to cook the poor doggie) but that would be fine.

I will keep you all posted...

That's about all that is floating around in my mind right now (I know I have a sickness - its called horses)...Happy Friday!!

4th of July = Fun Times

inclined2ride — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 15:24:00 GMT

I had a blast over my horse free 4th of July camping weekend! We hit the river, I got a ton of sun, ate well, drank well, and relaxed. Me and hubby had a fun time. The Doggies came with us and for the most part they had fun too. I came back with a nice tan. We sat back and watch people lite off fireworks all up and down the river - it was nice.

The 4th was cloudy and cold and windy so they spent most of the time tied up or on a leash in camp and were not happy about it. Just killed Roper being tied up in sight of the River - I thought I was gonna go nuts listening to him whine non-stop. But other than that they had a blast riding out on the boat with us swiming and swiming and swiming some more.

The only bad thing that happened all weekend was in the morning on the 4th - since it was cold - I took a trip back to the house to check on things and stopped to fuel up at a local gas station. While I was there I noticed a dog running around, at first glance I thought it was a grey houng becasue it was so lean. But then when I took a closer look I noticed that it wasn't a grey hound at all - and the dog was so skinny that I couldn't identify the breed. I think it was a collie from the markings. I was horrified! It looked like a skeleton with fur draped over it. It was kinda running around from person to person looking at people, maybe for hand outs? Maybe still trying to find its owner?

I asked the gas station personal if they knew who it belonged to - they said no, said they hadn't called it in - and kinda was acting like it was not their problem. I was appalled, how long does it take to pick up the phone? I told them that they dog was starving to death and if something didn't happend it wouldn't make it through the night. No response. Chicken &%$#s. So I used my cell and phoned the Sheriff's office (Stevens County is so poor and rural that they have no animal control, absolutely no where to put abused and abandoned animals, even the sheriffs rarely do anything about animal complaints). Then I went in the store and bought two big cans of dog food with the pull tab tops - I promply marched outside and fed the dog who was scared but so hungrey that when I was opening the food he was drowling, his need for food quickly over came his fear of me and he ate like the starving animal he was.

I waited for the Sheriff - and noticed the dog had a collar - of course no tags. He was either a dump off or a run away. I also called Dog Patch (the only thing Stevens County has close to a Dog Pound - Adoption Agency) and left them a message while crying. I am such a baby about animal cruelty - I just knew that if I hadn't taken Roper in I could've saved this dog's life, but there is no way we can have another dog. Food, Vet, and other costs on 3 dogs and 2 horses is all our budget can take - absoletly all. The Sheriff finally showed up looking annoyed and telling me there wasn't much he could do - I signed some papers and left telling him that even if he took the dog out back and shot it it would be better than letting it starve to death.

I took off and drove all the way back to camp just balling... I was so sad and mad at the same time people are so stupid - don't people know that dumping a dog is a far worse fate than giving it away or putting it down? I was so mad at everyone in our county , everyone who ever passed that dog up as someone else's problem. Everyone who decided and continues to decide not to spend the money on an animal shelter. I'd like to throw them out on the road with no food for weeks and see if they still feel the same way.

I know things like that happen every day - I guess this was just right up in my face and my hands were tied as what to do with the poor thing. Later I thought maybe I could have grabbed him and taken him to my folks (after an emergency trip to the vet to see if he'd even still live), but that thought didn't even cross my mind at the time. I try not to dump my problems on others...

I was really bummed out about the dog but still managed to have fun the rest of the weekend.

Now its back to work week, and I have a whole list of things I need to jump on like:

Selling my saddles
Putting some Western Pleasure Blouses up for sale
Purchasing new leathers and irons for my new saddle
Need to go down and ride
Repo my show bosal and headstall and sell that
Repo my Western Show headstall
Fix trailer roof vent (yeah I haven't done that yet either)
Get a new hunt coat

And since I am a one horse person, thoughts of selling Stretch and starting to creep in my mind, I still love him I just need to get down to one horse soon. I need to work out my budgets and see how long I can afford to keep him as my training credit is just about up. I also need to see how far along Patrick is and when I will be able to start showing him.

"Cowboy" Songs

inclined2ride — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 21:04:00 GMT

Song lyrics have been facinating me lately - I find that I can relate to many cowboy songs even though I know they were meant for guys doing the rodeo thing - or moving cattle (but not so much that anymore). It doesn't bother me "cowboy" has always been a fairly generic term to me referring to anyone who is involvled or works with livestock whether for competition or recreation. Its more of a lifestyle than what you do, where you live or what sex you are that makes you a cowboy.

Rather than cowgirl I hear country girl alot, used in a way that makes it seem tougher. Like redneck woman - a term from the song - which I hate, both the song and term. There are somethings that just do not need to be glorified ya know? I may consider myself a some what expert on rednecks from this part of the country but I do not consider myself one.

You can glorify the "County - Farm - Ranch - Cowboy Lifestyle" without glorifing the Trailer Trash lifestyle, ya know? And I am not saying that everyone who lives in a trailer is Trailer Trash - its how you act, and how live your life that disignates you as such.

Anyway here are some lyrics that caught my ear that I thought "Hey I know how that feels!":

"....the urge to roam, the restlessness, the sence of pride that's never satisfied..."

"...we ride and never worry about the fall, I guess that's the cowboy in us all..."

"...ya know some cowboys go out like that..."

" I take off time to time
With those crazy friends of mine
Head out on steel horses
With wheels and we ride"

From the same George Straight song...

...."Cowboys like us sure do have fun
Racin’ the wind, chasin’ the sun
Take the long way around back to square one
Today we’re just outlaws out on the run
There’ll be no regrets, no worries and such
For cowboys like us"....

That second one got me - how often do we think about the possible consquences of our actions? Even me, after a bad injury- I don't think twice about jumping on. I guess deep down I think if I come off and die, then at least I would die doing what I love you know? I take all reasonable percautions but maybe it was meant to be. That would be of very little condolence to my family I realize that but...the point is - whether you rodeo, work cattle, or show horses you take the same risk. You hop on and off we go, focused on having fun or winning or whatever the case may be - most "cowboys" don't think "Oh God, I could die..." they just do it.

The first one I was all over too - I also get restless, I love being on the road its addicting. That urge to "lets go see what's over there..." is always there. Drives conservative, plan happy, hubby plain nuts.

I just love that "Cowboys Like Us" song - sounds like me and horse show pals, taking off work and heading out for a show. Riding all day till the sun goes down then hanging out drinking some then waking up the next day and doing it all over again. Don't know if its my favorite song - I got alot that are my "favorite" at the time some that I am really super fond of like Garth Brooks "The Red Strokes" but to pin a most favorite is impossible - music is so enjoyable.

Do you have any favorite songs you can relate to? Doesn't have to Country Music...

Outta Here!!

inclined2ride — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 20:44:00 GMT

Well the week is almost at a close and I am just so excited to get the heck out of the office and up to the river I can't hardly stand it!! Sunshine, BBQ and wine here I come!

I am also excited about my new saddle! I have some leathers - irons - and a new bit picked out, I will place an order next week and then I should be good to go. I am working really hard to get my old ones sold and have had a couple of bites but not luck yet - I worry if I consign them i will have to mark them up too much to get what I need to get out of them for them to sell. I already have them pretty low...

I was thinking I would give good old eBay a try next week. Run the autcion over a weekend but have it begin and end during the week.

Am also going to add a bunch of my Western Pleasure blouses to my list of things for sale. I really don't thing I'll need them for a while and when I do of course they will most likely be out-of-style. As I like to say - cash in my pocket is better than show clothes in the closet.

While I was alone this week and organizing things I took some shots of my trailer as pictured below - complete with my little tiny half-ton truck that huals it around all over the Northwest.

Sometimes my family or friends feel sorry for me staying in my horse trailer over the show and will invite me to stay in a hotel with them or in their house. But what most people don't realize is that most serious horse show exhibitors with a LQ Horse Trailer have exceedingly comfortable beds. Mine is more comfy than my bed in the house by far - because if they weren't we'd make them that way in a hurry, a good nights' sleep is important when you're on the road and competing. I always sleep better in my trailer than any hotel or friend's house. I added it up one day and I spent 36 nights in my trailer last year - that's a month! It had better be comfortable.

Found some pretty interesting things in there too, since I noticed them I made a list of interesting things. I know I have some of that stuff from when we used to hold real horse shows - where we had no pluggins and actually had horse shows in the summer when it was hot and where we used to have no tack stalls and tied our horses to the trailer for tacking and untacking. So here it is:

Plastic Martini Shaker
4 plastic coffee cups
Small thermos
4 nice plastic wine glasses
Small stack of coke cups (stollen from a fair vendor when I was a kid to use as practice pattern cups)
Napkins from my wedding
Mini cutting board
1 small knife
Folding sicisors
Small collection of various tools
2 rolls of duct tape - 1 roll of electrical tape
Boot Jack
Shower flip flops
Various electrical cords, outlet splitters and adapters
Bug Spray
Battery powered fan/light combo
Battery powered stereo
Sun Screen
Sunburn Cream
Rubber Gloves
2 First Aid Kits
Propane Stove - single burner
Hand held can opener
Spray greese for ball and hitch
Velcro
Homemade screen door (with the velcro)
Collaspable clothes basket
Rain gear
Cold weather gloves
Hydrogen Prioxide
Various nails and screws
One small pot and one small pan
Paper plates, bowls
Plastic cups
Bottle of reserve Tequilla
Boot Polish
Small sample lotions
Box of Nylon hose
Box of hair nets
Box of bobby pin
Perfume (shower in a bottle!)

Some of my food - the stuff that is non-perishable includes:

Easy Mac
Soup at Hand - Cambells, Tomatoe & Clam Chowder
Mini bags of Popcorn
Bags of Cocoa Mix
Cup O Noodles - Beef & Spicey Thai
Old Granola Bars (horse snacks)
Protein Bars
100 Calorie Cookie Snacks
Stash of water bottles, Diet Pepsi, Squirt & Propell fitness water
Mini warm desserts - Fudge and Carmel (just add water & microwave)
Some random box of instant pasta
Small bottle of Tabasco sauce

Weekend Adventures

inclined2ride — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 15:56:00 GMT

Our Youth, The Future is in Their Hands...

So while we were out having fun this weekend - we arrive at one of our favorite fishing spots on the river. I worked on my tan while hubby put a line in the water. We were sharing some adult beverages, having fun - and getting a little friendly. The stereo was cracked up and sun was dialed up. We had jumped in the water to cool off a few times the only thing that could've made it better would've been to have actually caught some fish.

Well to liven things up a bit while we were there a group of kids showed up. A group of high schooler it looked like. I am not sure what they were there for, I think they were bored and had no one been at the beach it may have been the sight of a party that night. They had no food - no swimsuits - for matter no drugs either at least that I could see. They had a bottle of lighter fluid and a lighter with which they greatly entertained themselves for about an hour before they left. They showed a mild liking to the rock music we had going but obvisiously it wasn't enough to keep them around too long - as they left shortly actually saying good bye.

Check out the picture below - I am just so glad these kids were of no relation to me (although they were from the town I grew up in so I should be careful there, as they may have been distant relatives...alot of people in smaller towner are often loosely related). Lighting the water on fire must be pretty fun cause they did it like 3 or 4 times....

Also Saddle Update - I found one that I think I will like, a Beval - Gladstone (so I know its not their top-of-the-line), its been ridden in once, new as of last year, and I picked it up for $650 (includes shipping). So my hope is that is fits and everything is okay - its still far nicer than current saddle and while it may not be a Jaguar - like Sidetracked has said - the Beval will most likely be more suitable to my needs than a Jaguar. But some day I am going to own one of those.... Its a Close Contact with slightly longer flaps, knee pads and knee rolls. This was a trail saddle that the lady used once so its not even broken in yet. Is there a special way to do that?

I am excited - I think I am going to use my old leathers which are nice ones, and buy some cheaper ones to put on my old saddle (as I said I would sell the saddle with leathers) and pick up some new irons as my trainer hates the hinged ones I have now he says they make my toes tip down slightly every single time I post. I was looking at getting the weighted ones - they seem pretty nice? With black pads on them? (seems like black would be less noticeable in the show ring..) I am also keeping the girth off of my old saddle as it is a pertty nice girth - and I have a cover for it so other than the saddle my initail investment will be fairly small.