Vet Bill Online Sale

Since Candy tried to amputate both left legs last Sunday, I'm selling a handful of things to help cover his bandage material costs.

Soft Shell Show Coat- $75 plus shipping.

https://www.tackhunter.com/listings/294062-ovation-performance-soft-shell

Kingsland Breeches- $80 plus shipping
https://www.tackhunter.com/listings/294052-kingsland-kelly-breeches

More to come as I dig through my tack trunk!

For people clothes: https://poshmark.com/closet/katerabbit

- K & C & L

October Questions

A fun little blog post- October Questions!

What do you consider “jumping high” for yourself? 

Right now, 3', but the 3' is starting to look "normal" to me. I hope the mare and I keep up the progress.



What are your short term goals for riding? Do you think you’ll reach them?
Short term goals... are really just to keep riding, and remember why I love the sport. Ideally, I'd say I'd love to try and make the Doug Payne clinic this year, but I'm not sure my schedule will allow. I'm still in the middle of a burnout, so I'm currently just trying to push through this funk and get to the other side.

Long term goals for riding? Do you think you’ll reach them?
I have modest goals- show 1.20m consistently and strongly. Tinker around on the AA/A circuit. I'm sure I'll reach them eventually, but I don't expect to do that before student loans are paid off, so at least 10-15 years in the future. 
Really, I just want to keep jumping, keep riding, and keep improving.

How many barns have you been at in your riding career? 
Two private barns. "Eight" barns in my riding career (technically, 6 actual properties, 7 different businesses). I started riding at a saddle seat barn, and have been at 7 H/J facilities.

How many different trainers have you been with in your riding career?
I've worked with 5 total, but only 1 for less than a year.

Ever worked at a barn? What did you do? 
I worked at the second barn I boarded at. I fed, blanketed, and turned out horses in the evenings in exchange for riding Candy (!) on weekends.

Scariest thing that has happened at your barn? 
We had a girl cut off the tails of horses, and write on the wall "All your horses will die" at one facility. Lately, it was Candy shoving his legs through a cattle trough.

Why are you the way you are?

Have you ever given a lesson? What level was the rider? 
Nope- I am nowhere near qualified to give lessons! I'd would love to teach one day, but I'm not qualified in any way shape or form.

What is your opinion on the accuracy of critiquing riders online?
I think it's fine; I've reached out to have myself critiqued. As long as it remains civil, I think it's a great learning tool.

What is the ideal height of a horse for you?
Ideally, I think something 17h or taller. I ride rotund 16.1-16.2h horses right now, and I've always looked a touch too small.

So close to the ground. I still want to steal her away. My mind is tellin' me no. Heart is tellin' me yes.

- K & C & L

Updates and Disappointment

For reasons I'm not going to disclose, I've had to leave my current barn. I'm back at my trainer's personal farm, with a hefty vet bill.

I was meant to spend that sum at a horse show this weekend, but mare decided to colic, so we stayed home. She did fine- just a mild impaction and gas colic. Then Candy put his legs through a cattle trough in the sand lot where he was resting after a collateral ligament injury.

So I'm hurting financially- being out a weekend's stay at a hotel, and a vet bill that is astronomical. I'm also hurting emotionally- this past weekend really burned out my love of the horse world. Candy is on stall rest for two weeks, with bandage changes every other day. Lexie is recovering from colic and some mishaps in her care.

Overall, I'm not sure if it's worth it, particularly as I look into low paying internships next year. It may be time for a break from riding, but I don't want that. I also want to be realistic.

I don't know where I stand with: taking Lexie with me, moving Candy with me, or even continuing to ride in general.

- K & C & L