Hiatus

Currently hardcore studying for veterinary boards (November 22nd!), working on job/internship applications, and all around figuring my life out.

Lexie is most likely on a 5 week vacation while I prep for boards and go home for my vacation block, so nothing exciting there.

Hopefully, I will be back on top of my blogging game come December with exciting news!

- K & C & L

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

Yes- I'm Alive

I've just been slacking on the blog front. Mental exhaustion will do that to ya.

But I am alive, both mentally, and physically, because... I rode fire breathing mare in a SNAFFLE. A RUBBER snaffle.

We've been "training" for the Hunter Derby at the year end show (which I don't get to go to thanks to my on call schedule- you rock, vet school, thanks for making my life *fantastic*). We needed a "hunter appropriate" bit for Lexie; my trainer recommended a pelham since Lexie will "go in it" and she "doesn't like anything anyway". Being the weenie adult amateur I am, two reins on a rogue freight train who kicks is just not what I want to deal with on 3-4 hours of sleep and in a ring with 3-4 other riders who don't understand my mare kicks, so I suggested, why not try the rubber snaffle. H snorted, and asked me if I was feeling brave, but we gave it a whirl.

A while back, I was reading on COTH forums about bit options, when I stumbled across a user who watched a clinic with a reputable BNT (I want to say Bernie Traurig). There was a girl who was riding a hot horse in an elevator, but the horse was blasting through her hands- he swapped her into a rubber Dee and the horse went much better. I went out and purchased a rubber dee off eBay... and let it sit in my trunk for 7 months until this Wednesday.

Well, mare loved it. It's a different feel with a much thicker mouthpiece, but I surprisingly had brakes despite a mild bit, and, when I half halted, mare wasn't angry. She's still not seeking contact 100%, but seemed like a much happier horse.

I guess it's a weird case of bitting down on a hot horse. She's a ball of fire 24/7, but she can get unresponsive/worse when she's uncomfortable. It's also a testament to my hard work as a rider (trying to focus on my positives)- I struggled to ride her over small fences in a loose ring snaffle in the Doug Payne clinic, but could *relatively* comfortable pilot her over 2'6" fences on straight lines. We're finally figuring each other out, I'm trusting her when she gets quick, and she's listening.

So if my eq could come back.... that would be fantastic.

- K & C & L

Out With the Old, In With the New

I already eluded to this a bit on Instagram and Facebook, but I felt like a full blown blog post was warranted because... well... nostalgia and a lot has changed in over 4 years.

I bought the boots on the left in early 2013. At the time, I was working at Hagyard Equine Medical Center as a technician during foaling season, and loving it. I was keeping Candy at a self-care facility, and working my way back to 3'3" after a scary fall in October of 2012.

I was driving home from the barn with these boots on my feet on a Friday morning when I found out I got into vet school. I scared the daylights out of my mom when I called sobbing to tell her I got into vet school; she, of course, thought I was hurt or Candy was dying, but no- just vet school.

These boots moved 8 hours south with me, down to Alabama.

I was wearing these boots when I walked away from what was undoubtedly one of the most confusing relationships I've ever been in.

I was wearing these boots when I was on the way home from my last time jumping Candy, again, crying to my mom about retiring him.

I was wearing these boots when I was on my phone at the barn, and happened to swipe right to some boy named Phillip. I was also wearing those boots when he met Candy for the first time and tried to feed him Doritos.

Those boots were on my feet when Candy colicked last year, and we thought it was a mass (just a firm fecal ball), when I hacked Lexie the first time, when I found out Sawyer was lame.

I wore them for my dream externship, 6 weeks of my equine block, and half of my food animal block.

And now, they're worn with holes and leaking water, cracked soles and ripped leather, but these boots have been on quite the adventure in 3 years. Many rides, different horses, countless miles walked.

I can't wait to see what adventures the next pair sees.

- K & C & L

Blessin's on Blessin's

So after a cancelled show, minimal riding, bumps/bruises, and just general grumps, I had a fantastic Labor Day weekend.

On Sunday, Lexie was phenomenal to flat- super forward and strong, but so fun. I could not stop grinning.

Then... for whatever reason, I got an itch to ride Candy. Candy has a reputation for being kind of a spaz, so I was a little nervous riding him on a blustery day. He was little cranky/confused by the saddle, and wouldn't stand still while I bridled him up, or when I got on. But we did w/t/c for about 15 minutes (1 lap at a trot and 1 lap at a canter in both directions), and he was so good. Obviously, not sound, but he was so excited, and wanted to frame up.

"My bridle is on. Where are we going?!"

Then I did a spur of the moment lesson Monday, and I brought my big girl panties out in full force. Lexie was being quick and strong, so we just worked on turns, which is the best way to make her collect and come back. She was doing so well... I may or may not have asked my trainer to put the jumps up a hole, which is unprecedented for me. My confidence is finally on its way back! Now... if I can stop slouching and stop breaking my wrists while I ride...

Overall, it was a fantastic weekend, and reminded me why I work so hard to do what I do!

- K & C & L