Update. Again!

I really need to get back into the schedule of blogging... Second year is kicking my butt right now. I've got about 1-2 tests, at least 1 quiz, and anesthesia/surgery labs every week. The weather has been gross for the last week, so I have not been able to ride as much as I would like lately. So here's a giant update on the men/my life.

Candy

He's doing great! He just finished his 2 month UlcerGard regimen and I think his ulcers are finally under control. I've been hacking him once in a while on weekends, and let me tell you, he is thrilled to have some under saddle time. I took him on a trail ride two weeks ago, and, I guess it had been a bad week, but I sobbed for the first five minutes. Sitting on his back just feels so right. He trotted down the trail (sound!), and then promptly tried to take off with me in the back field. Lots of little happy bucks at being in the back field, then angry bucks because I wouldn't let him run. I finally got him settled, and he marched around the field like nobody's business. He's a character that's for sure. I still struggle a little bit at the barn when I don't have time to ride him because he will follow me along the fence line while I go catch him. I miss riding him a lot.

This horse is honest to God the love of my life.

Ended up swapping my Ogilvy with a friend for a Beval wither pad both the boys like. Candy has lost a ton of muscle tone in retirement, so he is no longer a wide tree.

Sawyer

Sawyer is coming along. The little (17h) punk put his leg through the fence today trying to defend his lady friend from the gelding next door, but luckily, isn't injured. About two weeks ago, we did a clinic with Jason Costick, a hunter/jumper trainer based out of Georgia. We worked mostly over low verticals working on turns directed by our hips and legs, giving with the hand at fences, and, for me personally, keeping my hands together. The defensive rider in me always wants to let one or both hands drift out to prevent a run out; I ride 99% of my fences like they're skinnies, and I try to make a "V" to channel my horse.

The clinic was a big boost in my confidence; Sawyer was very relaxed (almost too quiet), and we jumped a 2'9 vertical at the end! The vertical was ugly, but considering I haven't jumped over 2'6 in 2 years, I'm pretty proud of myself. Pretty proud of Sawyer too, because I think that's the highest he's jumped.

I did find out Sawyer does not trailer well AT ALL. He had a couple loading accidents previously with his first owner (not the woman I lease him from), and is very timid getting on the trailer. It took my trainer a good 2 hours to load him to get him to the trailer, and took me half an hour to get him on to go home. It's something to work on the days I'm too tired to ride. The longer I work with him, the less I understand Sawyer. He's very quirky; just when I think we're starting to mesh, he gets very stubborn and, for lack of a better term, "ignores" me. I just think we are still building trust with one another, so more positive experiences like the clinic will only continue to help us.

I am obsessed with my Black Olive TS Trophy Hunters. Need. More.

"None of these hand-me-downs fit, lady. Seriously."

On an exciting note, guess who scored some MDC Hunter Classic stirrups for TWENTY DOLLARS off eBay. I LOVE them. I've only ever ridden in Fillis irons before; I added anti-slip treads (the big chunky black wraps), but wanted something a little more streamlined for the hunter ring (I also noticed the black treads scratched my saddle). I've never felt so secure in the saddle; sometimes things are stupid expensive for a reason. Maybe that will be the push I need for a GPA Speed Air (obsessed), except I'm also in the market for a new saddle, and I found out my EquiFit T-Boots don't fit Sawyer (wah). #brokevetstudent for life, y'all.

For those of you who want to see lil vids of Sawyer & I failing at life (or pictures of guinea pigs...), feel free to add my Instagram: kate.plz!

- K & C & S

Update

I just finished my first week of second year. Whew.

I had a small amount of pony drama over Christmas break. Candy decided to colic due to impaction on New Year's Eve, and had to go to Auburn's (wonderful!) equine hospital over night. In true Candy fashion, he passed the impaction immediately on admittance. He was 5% dehydrated, and, on admittance, decided water with sweet feed was the most delicious beverage of all time. Needless to say, old man is home, happy, and, after 6 days of a strict feeding regimen, back out with his herd causing mayhem. He does seem a little more sore than usual, which I hope means his joints are continuing to fuse. Fingers crossed there is progress when he gets X-rayed in the spring. He is back on ranitidine because he has been girthy for his walks/trail rides, and I'm hoping to maybe go to Gastroguard and nip this ulcer once and for good. (Shout out to H & A for taking awesome care of Candy while I was gone!)

I did end up going out for NYE with some of my best friends from undergrad.

Sawyer is continuing to work towards becoming a superstar. I still have yet to find his "work ethic" button, but he ~*tolerates*~ me asking him to work hard, so I hope that as we continue to mesh, he will decide he wants to work hard for me. His right lead is still very sticky, so transition work, spirals, and possibly hock injections are in his future before show season hits. The woman I was training with just accepted a working position with a farm in Florida/Colorado, so I take a lesson this week with the other trainer at my barn (H). I'm super excited- I like her a lot as a person, and think she will have a lot to teach me.

The boys. Candy- always thrilled to see me. Sawyer- only thrilled if cookies are involved.

I adopted a new best friend for Wilbur. Lila Bear is a 2 year old brown and white short hair guinea pig. They absolutely adore each other.

Wilbur & Lila: A Love Story

My trainer (and dear friend) in Lxington, Kentucky let me ride her horse over break: Kashmir.

Ka$h Money doing what he does best: be a nuisance. An adorable nuisance.

That's all for now- hoping to get back into the swing of things and updating regularly as the dreaded second year continues!

K&C&S

Moving Forward

Finally made it home for the holidays! I had a lot to do at home (only got through about 75% of what I wanted to get done), and worked a little bit plus squeezed in my last few rides of the year on Candy and Sawyer.

Candy has become a huge cuddle bug recently- follows me around in the field when I come to visit (for cookies) and always excited to be groomed (because he gets cookies). He's been acting really girthy lately so we're starting up Ranitidine again- if it has an effect, his ulcers are definitely back. I think I'm going to cough up the cash to do Gastroguard this time around- much cheaper than doing Ranitidine for a year again. I am always impressed with his work ethic, even on bareback, loose-reined hacks, he will wander into the arena, we'll do a couple leg yields, shoulder-ins, and haunches-in, and then inevitably the poor, sweet man will walk over a cross-rail as if to say, "Excuse me- this is what we should be doing!"

Sawyer is really coming along! We finally did our first 2'3ish (maybe 2'6"?) mini-course. I've been working on finding/maintaining a good pace and staying light ("perched" ha!) in the saddle. Because Candy liked to stop at the first few jumps, I've developed a light seat in between jumps and sit deep 3 strides out, so I've been doing a lot of two-point and no-stirrup work to strengthen my leg so I can stay out of the saddle.

How gorgeous are the TS "dark olive" Trophy Hunters?!

However, now I'm finally back in Kentucky! Spending time with friends, family, and the perpetual puppy has been the break I need.

Capturing the beauty of the neon orange penny.

Just shooting a 20g shotgun. NBD.

"Yes- there are birds."

Poor Wilbur has been in a tiny ferret cage, so he gets 2 hours of floor time every day, and loves running around the dining room. He'll probably be getting a girlfriend in the near future. ;)

-K&C&S

That Finals Grind

Finals have been rough. Getting about 3 hours of sleep a night for the last week. Haven't been to the barn since last week.

My view when I'm not staring at my laptop.

Less than 24 hours and I'll be 1/3 a veterinarian!

-K&C&S

Oops!

Hello, hello!

Sorry for the hiatus in posting- I've been in the midst of one month (that's right 30 days!) of finals. Luckily I have 8 school days left, and 5 finals to go, then I'll be half way done with the dreaded second year!

Things have been going well for Sawyer and I. We hit a little bump in the road ironing out lease terms, but now that those terms have been smoothed out things have been sailing along swimmingly. We schooled 2'6" in our last lesson (I may have died over the oxer), and I'm actually really excited for the 2015 show season. Sawyer is really coming along, and aside from a sticky left lead, I think he'll be a fun hunter (if there is such a thing).

Candy has been moping around in retirement- his field is right next to Sawyer's so I always give him a pat and some lovings before I catch Sawyer. I've been hacking him bareback a couple times a week to keep some muscle on him. He'll get re-radiographed in the spring to see if there is any progress in hock fusion. I hope so; I miss my big guy!

So here is some Sawyer spam!

The sun sets at 4:30 pm in Alabama. Pretty sure I'm in hell.

"Stop with the hand-me-downs, lady. They're too small." He's a size 80. All my blankets are 78; I feel bad, but he can deal.

Still getting used to that grey horse view. 

Home for Thanksgiving means hanging out in my teenage bedroom (neon everywhere!) and puppy snuggles!

Ugh. Laced reins- RIP rubber reins. Hello, Hunter land.

- K&C&S

A Quick Update on Growing Pains

Good news! I am leasing a new horse to play with while Candy's hocks try to fuse. I've posted about Sawyer previously, and am excited to say I signed the paperwork Monday to officially lease him!

It's definitely weird having a horse who isn't Candy, and riding a horse where I can't do exactly what I want to do with him. While I'm leasing him, Sawyer will still be in training and being ridden by trainer a couple times a week- which is a totally foreign concept to me. I'm sure I'll get used to it in time (and even be grateful for it with my school schedule), but for now, it's strange.

His owner seemed pretty firm about showing him in hunters and equitation up to 3' so it looks like I'll be dropping my stirrups and sitting pretty for the next few months- a definite change from my "git 'er done" riding style I adopted when I showed Candy in combined tests and jumpers. It will be nice to focus on my form, though; being an effective rider doesn't mean I can't be pretty too.

Overall, I'm so excited! It will be a chance to try a new(ish) discipline on a new horse, and hopefully, re-build my confidence in the jump ring. I also never seem to flinch away from the opportunity to buy new horse tack- so far, I've hoarded a halter, a bridle, and a standing (!) martingale.

My saddle is a W and since I still ride Candy a couple times a week, I can't get the tree adjusted to fit Sawyer. Anyone have any recommendations for a good half pad for a shark fin TB who fits in a MW tree?

-K&C&S(!)

Bits & Bobs

Made a horrible (excellent?) decision last night to postpone studying (desperate cramming) for an exam and take a riding lesson instead. Should I have slept for 2 more hours? Probably. Should I have studied for 2 more hours? Definitely.

Was the lesson worth it? Absolutely.

I've been considering leasing Sawyer, the lesson horse I've been riding- he's a bit green and very out of shape, but up until last night, never put a toe out of line. Last night, the sassafras came out full force. Apparently, Sawyer had been up in a stall for 3 out of the last 4 days with a pulled shoe and lameness. Hadn't been ridden for 4 days- what could go wrong?

This is the horse I was expecting last night. Didn't happen.

Thoroughbred brain. The Thoroughbred brain was in full force last night.

We wouldn't stand still, or he would throw a fit (baby rears). We wanted to canter sideways. When jumping a grid, he insisted on jumping like a deer and taking off at the base of the jump shadow rather than the base of the jump. While I probably didn't need exciting Sawyer, it was nice to see that his stupid behavior is manageable- when he gets stupid, I can sit the bucks, bolts, and deer jumps (thank you, Candy, for being always being sassy).

Obviously, Sawyer and I both need work, but it is a confidence boost to be able to handle the good with the bad. He never fully settled last night, but I got a few steps of quality trot, managed to make him wait at the base, and stayed on through a less than perfect jump/landing (and avoided near collision with an equally naughty pony- fall fever was in the air last night).

And did I mention he just got switched from a corkscrew D to a snaffle? Yeesh- could have been a lot more fun last night if I hadn't had brakes. (Also- thank goodness he's out of that corkscrew- makes my mouth hurt to look at it...).

I'm getting my fitness back to where it was, slowly but surely. I've been doing pilates/core exercises in my spare time, and I may join the Two-Point-Tober effort unofficially.

In the meantime, trying not to drown in schoolwork/exams- only 1 week until Fall Break and my return to KY!

-K&C