Holiday Shopping fun- the internet way!

My update about Illinois will have to be postponed until I can sit down and process it, but for now, some Holiday Shopping FUN! Because... after hearing all weekend long about the shopping dramas, I'm sure that you all want to hear about more shopping.

But that's why they created the internet -- so people like me don't ever have to set foot in an actual store, where there are actual people and actual lines to wait in. The internet hold all these cool little sites where you can get awesome stuff, that, without the World Wide Web, you would never discover! Usually these sites have the coolest people working for them, the best customer service and again, REALLY COOL STUFF!

Such as.... Horse Lover's Gifts and Wild Home Decor. (http://www.horseandwildlifegifts.com/)

You know those horse enthusiasts that have everything? No ordinary horse gift will do, but you want to get them something a bit classy... That's what Horse and Wildlife Gifts is for. They also have other stuff that doesn't have a horse theme, but the owners have years of experience in the horse world, so they 'get' us horse people. :) No crazy horse sculptures where the supposed "Arabian" look like a cross between a Llama and a Golden Retriever.

They have great stuff including the Painted Pony line, which I absolutely adore! Check them out for your Christmas shopping needs! I promise, no waiting in lines!

I'd like to thank the academy...

So, J-bomb and I have hit the ground running, rolling our way the 12 hours or so up to the Illini state. I love going home for Thanksgiving. I get to see all my family, old friends, hang out at my 'ol' stompin grounds'... you know the drill.

Anyway, figured it would be an appropriate time to offer some thanks to those that have made this past year a great one for me. I've truly been blessed with some very exciting relationships that I hope will continue to grow! I really can't name everyone, so I'm not going to try... but you know who you are.

I've been lucky enough to have people let me use their barns as teaching bases, sponsors who have donated products for me and my horses, awesome instructors who have been instrumental in my education, general good friends who always have a kind word or shoulder to cry on, and just the best clients, friends and supporters anyone could ever ask for. I am one lucky person for sure!

I really like to think of my C-Horse crew as family... we all work together to make eachother better, both around the horses and just in general. And I have the best family in the world. :)

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!! Hope everyone has safe travels and eat lots of stuffing!

Pittman Clinic Photos

Photos taken by Sneaky Dog Photography
http://www.photoreflect.com/pr3/store.aspx?p=223032

Ah, the sun...

After a long week of Ida - induced clouds, we thankfully saw the sun this weekend. With no shows are clinics on the schedule, I found myself spending a lot of time in the sandbox.

On Saturday I had a much need light day with one lesson and one horse to ride. We all celebrated in the arena when, after a very long, dark week, the clouds parted and the sun shown down on us! That night Kristin, Sarah and I enjoyed the Grand Prix jumping at the fairgrounds. Too bad that Kristin was so sick that her glassy eyes made her look like she was crying the whole night! No more crying though cause she got a job! Yay!

Sunday morning, J-bomb took me to a nice breakfast (Biscuitville, anyone?) before I had to start my long day of teaching.

First off, I had to make the hard decision to let a client know that maybe we needed to seek other avenues of help for her horse, as I wasn't making the progress he needs. Things like that are always tough to admit, but it was definitely right for everyone.

Then my little girls at Kims had a fun day of doing emergency dismounts! Poor Wiley pulled a shoe AND rolled in fire ants, so little Buddy stepped up and taught he very first lessons! Everyone had fun launching off him at the walk and even the trot, and I'm sore this morning from giving 1000 leg-ups. :) Good time was had by all.

Prophet is still taking it easy, although he's frustrating me a bit at the moment. I think there is a combination of about 10 things that have made him quite body sore, and I'm trying to knock them out one at a time. It's tough though! I just want him to feel better. :(

On a happier note, here's some images from the C-Horse team, taken over the last couple of weeks (thanks to all the parents/students who let me steal their pics!).


Prophet and the Gasias



Carlie loving on Wiley after a job well done



Finished with First Dressage Test EVER!



Last minute instructions



Maggie riding our one-eyed monster, Brewer. :)



Yes, I took off my half chaps so have on crazy white socks...
This is Sydney on Buddy working on emergency dismounts.



More emergency dismounts... I wasn't kidding when I said there were 100's of leg-ups! We also worked on led-ups from the 'off' side. You never realize how tricky this is until you try it!

No pics or video yet, but...

Everyone did fantastic at the dressage show last weekend. I survived the weekend of running around like a chicken with minimal sleep lost, and all was wonderful!

Saturday morning rolled around with morning lessons to teach and horses to ride. A quick rush back to my farm to throw the P-monster on the trailer and head to Amanda Miller's Falcon Park for the Stueart Pittman clinic. P's still a bit foot sore, but he was a champ none-the-less... actually too much so.

This is the problem I run into with P. He's not brilliant, but you really can't find a place to fault him. He does what's in front of him. "Preliminary table, ok. In the water, out of water, banks, pimples, corners... whatever, it's cool." Here in-lies the problem -I end up getting barely anything out of some lessons. I literally was not told anything other than, "he's nice." HELLO! I want to make him MORE nice! Help me out! Stuart was a lovely instructor and I saw much improvements around me, but I like it when people tell me what I'm doing wrong, whether it be with my position, my approach to the fences or my horse - I want to know - I just didn't get that...

But I was very happy with my horse.

I had to quickly load him back up and shoot him off into the pasture at home to go teach a couple of more lessons and head to the grand prix with friends... great fun!!

Sunday morning came early with P-man back in the trailer and heading to Whinstone Farm for his walk-test debut with my student Sydney. I promise to post pics and the video cause it was so cute -- and NO drugs. :) After the girls were done showing, P served as a mighty fine babysitter to the entourage, letting them graze, lead, groom, pick-feet, and just about everything else... who knew my big-bad event horse was a softy at heart?

My perfect lesson horse, Wiley stole the judges hearts by doing a wide variety of walk-trot and Training level tests throughout the morning. All of my girls were fantastic, putting in stellar tests on a less-then-enthusiastic Wiley. I'd much rather him be like that then crazy though! Great first dressage show for all the girls, for sure!

I didn't get left out of the fun for the day, with Buddy being entered in his debut dressage test also. He tried really hard for a pony whose life was all about western until a few months ago. He's turned it around and for his 3rd ride of being asked to go in the bridle, he was VERY good! Only one minor spaz moment in the ring which came from me warming him up way too long.

From the show, I went on to do more lessons and finally got home to rest and enjoy a nice dinner out with John (who had videoed at the show ALL morning and then went and pick up 50 bales of hay for me! He deserved a dinner out!).

Fairly light weekend this weekend. It's going to be even lighter if Ida keeps pouring on us like she's done for the last couple of days... my client's rings are gonna be ponds!

P's best friend, Tina (physiotherapist, Equine Edge) is staying with us this week, so hopefully we'll have a chance to work on his back this evening. Promise to post pics and video of the show when I get them!

Think Forward! Ciao, ciao!

On the upswing...

Just a quick note to say that the P-monster is making a comeback. He was quite full of himself today on his hack, which means he must be feeling better. He's entered in the preliminary level lesson tomorrow for the Stuart Pittman clinic, so here's to hoping that he holds his own! And then it's on to his walk test on Sunday with Sydney!

Drying out and unthawing - and ramping back up

I guess that would be thawing... not unthawing -- Talk good, I do. :)

Anyway... I couldn't be more proud! Although I have clients in several different disciplines, and I take each of their victories very personally, it's nice whenever someone does what I do - it feels like someone is following in my footsteps. :)

SO..... Sarah and Arnie completed their first 3-phase event at Five County! AND she finished on her dressage score!!!! The eventing gods wanted to break her in the right way with a gloomy morning, that gave way to pouring rains and gusty winds. Her dressage test was lovely (although I truly wonder if the judge saw the same test as I did), albiet the arena was 1/2 under water, and Arnie nearly turned his butt to the wind during her first halt. Cross country was AWESOME. At this event, they allowed the WHJB competitors to have a coach on Cross Country, so I literally got to run around with her -- but in all reality, she didn't need me. Her and Arnie were fantastic! Who knew that little halter-bred quarter horse would love to trot logs so much? Show jumping was also fantastic with beautifully painted jumps and tough turns, but they pulled thru with a clean round and a lovely yellow ribbon!

We tested out the trucks 4-wheel drive in order to get out of the field (and it passed!), and went home to dry out, thaw and sleep!

This week, Prophet has started back undersaddle, although he's still a bit short. I love the early sunrise in the mornings because I can get out and ride, give P a nice massage and get to work. P thinks that we need to focus WAY more time on the massaging and less time on the riding. :)

This weekend will be a busy one again with P and I riding in the Stuart Pittman Clinic on Saturday at Falcon Park and three of my girls attending their first dressage show on Sunday! P will be making his walk-test debut with Sydney and I will be riding the paint pony, Buddy, in his first dressage test ever!

More updates to come!