The Repurposed Horse

My cat is missing. She's indoor only, but seems to have escaped from an open window. Please send good thoughts. I've had her for five years and I'm really worried.

Things that I should have done today instead of driving for 2 hours to go to the tack store(s): deep cleaned my house (my mom is coming to visit on Friday) cleaned my car (I'm giving the dressage trainer a ride home on Monday and it's a disaster in there) taken my dog for a hike spent time with my boyfriend slept before my overnight shift (I'm sure there are more things, but those are the big ones) Things that I did today:  drove 4 hours round-trip to go to the tack store My town doesn't have its own horsey store, so shopping in real life involves a lot of driving.  I found out yesterday that there is actually a closer tack shop - only like 40 minutes away - but as an extreme creature of habit I decided to make the trip to STL anyways, because it's familiar and I've been to the two there before and I was pretty sure I'd be able to find all of the things that I was hoping to obtain.  Shopping list: consignment tall boots, or at least ...

So. Cute.  Sherlock is a 2004 model TB something.  He's not tattooed and not papered, so I guess we can call him grade, but rumor has it he's some sort of cross. His earlier days were spent as a fox hunter.  He's approximately 16.2 hh, absolutely adorable, and owned by an equally adorable 9 year old girl.  He spends most of his time being a saintly 2 ft packer, but his little girl's mom is always wanting him to do more.  We've been working him up to potentially show at 2'6 in a couple of the late fall shows, and in April I took him cross country schooling. please don't judge my eq too much in the following photos, I am fully aware that it leaves much to be desired!!! Scope much? As far as we know, he's never evented.  He's a pretty steady eddie most of the time, but he definitely has a 'go' button!  I'm super excited to see how he does at his (and my) first jumper show next Sunday! He's a bit awkward and uncoord...

Leo has been doing really well with training so far.  After the first fateful trainer ride, he has been worked twice from the ground.  The first session was on Saturday, and Trainer K focused on flexion - getting him to accept contact and move underneath himself.  By the end, he was able to work quite well at the trot, but the directional inconsistencies that I've felt while riding were becoming very apparent.  Trainer K pointed this out - that tracking right he seemed almost physically incapable of bending and moving his hind end properly.  My first reaction - would he benefit from seeing the chiropractor? Much leaning. Strugglebus for the little dude. On Monday, Trainer K took him outside on the lunge to see how much (if anything) he had retained from Saturday's session.  She was extremely impressed.  Not only did Leo not need to spend time re-learning the exercise, but he actually seemed to show some improvement.  He was moving into the...

Leo has had his feet done once since arriving at the barn. I was out of town, but from what I've heard, he is NOT a farrier favorite.  Which honestly isn't too surprising, considering the fact that he may have legitimately tried to injure my vet when she was out to give him vaccinations.  So, because his feet are due for shoes in a couple weeks, we spent some quality time in the farrier shed today.  The unsuspecting victim The destination. Truly, a terrifying place. And it SMELLS funny.  Straight bribery.  Leo is obsessed with these things.    Slow entry - letting him smell ALL of the THINGS and take his time. Looking around.  ARE YOU SURE IT'S SAFE IN HERE?! - Leo Such Saddlebred.  Much Giraffe.  aka the wild beast caught in crossties. Note scraggly mane Treats, you say?  For me???? Giraffe at rest.  NOTICE his mane.   Not done by any means, but better! Overall, it was pretty succ...

Guys.  Guys.  The magic (hehe) boots fit my pony!!!! I was seriously worried that they wouldn't.  Horse size Eskadrons were a smidge too big, and cob size professional's choice were a smidge too small, and most manufacturers don't make cob size boots anyways, and pony size was TINY, but these boots totally actually work! and they look good with the bell boots Leo didn't seem to mind them at all, and actually stood still while I put them on - something that never happens when I try to strap him into the SMB's that I've been using. Don't worry, the lead rope was secure, this angle is just very, very strange. I absolutely LOVE them, and am probably going to use them on whatever horse I end up showing this month/next month.  If they fit.  Because I want to use them.  Because they are beautiful.  Also, I can't review them if I don't try them out. Speaking of showing, I (hopefully) will be going to my first jumpers show next Sunday!  ...

As I mentioned yesterday, today was the day that Trainer K was scheduled to ride Leo for the first time.  We were then supposed to have a private lesson.  One of those things happened. Once she started working with Leo, she didn't stop until the full hour was up.  They did walking and trotting, working on adding leg and counterbending and circling.  She explained every single aid in detail, and the logic behind why she was doing what she was doing.  Unfortunately, my phone was in the car charging, or there would be pictures and possibly video.  They did not jump.  They did not canter.  They worked on the basics, and eventually he 'got' just about everything she was asking him to do.  There was a moment of terror when a giant scary truck dropped off some round bales, and he became a spook-monster (unusual for him these days, but as she pointed out she was a new rider and he probably didn't have a whole lot of trust in her hay-bale-slaying ab...