My Christmas List

Dear Santa:

I've only got a few things on my Christmas list... They're nothing *too* crazy.

1. Thinline Ultra Sheepskin Half Pad or Thinline Shims

In my never-ending quest to get my saddle to fit Lexie- the Ogilvy is too puffy and pinches her withers. It's this or new shims for my cotton one to try to lift my saddle *just* enough for some wither relief. 

2. Back on Track Mesh Sheet

Lexie has been a little tight through her back, and with her 15th birthday on the horizon, she needs some love.

3. Asmar Shirt in Merlot

I have been in love with this forever, and it comes in burgundy- one of my favorite colors!

4. Grooming Tote

My plastic grooming tote is a nuisance to fit in my trunk, so I'd love something mildly smooshable.

5. New sneakers- with internships on the horizon, I've got my eye on a new pair of comfy sneakers for clinics. Maybe a pair of New Balances or Nike Theas?

6. AN INTERNSHIP- I really just want a plan for next yet, let's be real.

7. New joints for Candy

Two new hocks would be fantastic, Santa. Candy is tired of Lexie having all the fun.

But really, all jokes aside- what is on your Christmas list?

- K & C & L

BOARDS ARE OVER! Blog Catch-Up!

I finished my National Veterinary Board Exam yesterday- I also may have laughed and/or cried in the testing center (so many pig and chicken questions... why?). In other happy news, a little over a week ago... I went to a horse show! That's right- I finally went to the year end AHJA show, after an entire year of trying to show, and by God, Lexie kept it together so we could both go.

We vet students escape Auburn sometimes!

I *did* have a small breakdown (exhaustion, stress? Who knows...) in a lesson pre-show, so my trainer put me in the 0.75m and 0.85m jumpers. We went clear both rounds in the 0.75m and got two 5ths. We were clear our speed round in the 0.85m, and placed 5th. She got a little strung out so I had a rail in the 0.85m qualifying round, so we didn't make the jump off and didn't place in our 4th course.

Our course was the same for all 4 courses (sans the jump off) and was not quite my style. It was basically inside straight-diagonal-outside-diagonal-outside with a few singles thrown in. Courses with a lot of straight lines backfire with Lexie because she builds as the course goes, and we use the turns to collect and sit her on her butt. By the end of the course, we end up a little strung out. I still had a BLAST though in all of my classes- she was perfect in warm-up, and, while a little mad about being ridden in her gag bit, so fun over fences. I can't wait for the fences to go up so I can use fence height to my advantage with her.

On Sunday, we did the equitation challenge. We got cut our first round- a horse ran up Lexie's butt, she tried to kick, and.... well... we both had a small meltdown and just made small circles in the center until the round was over. Crowded rings will never be my thing, and a freshly clipped freight train in a snaffle in 40 degree weather probably didn't help things either. I did get to meet Hillary of Equestrian at Hart briefly, and meet Bear and Sonny, who are the absolute cutest.

Overall, while I wish fences had been bigger, I managed to stay out of my head and have fun. Overall, I'm proud of my little powerhouse- she may have been mad at staying in a stall for 4 days (Hillary can totally vouch), but she was totally on her A game in the show ring.

- K & C & L

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