Long Strange Trip: 10 years of blogging

You guys.

This blog turns 10 years old this year.

WHAT.

I started out as a random blog. Horses, concerts, photography, random personal thoughts. It evolved into a horse-only blog around 2009 when Hampton came into my life.

I really just wanted a way to document progress, keep photos in order and write down my thoughts, training tips, videos, etc. But really it has turned into a fun little project that has given me numerous amazing friends - some I have met, some I have not (yet).

I want to thank you all for reading, commenting, supporting me, offering advice and in some cases even giving me a place to crash, feeding me (ahem Jen and Nick!), making me a drink, taking photos and in general sharing your journeys as well.

"What a long, strange trip it's been."

I want to do something to celebrate. Maybe a contest or give away or something? Stay tuned.

But for now, here are some stats and most popular blogs.

Most popular posts
1) The horse gets a bib (Feb. 2011): Hampton gets his first trace clip. (I think this might be so popular because I had the word "strip" in the post? lol)
2) In which Hampton channels his inner Black stallion (Aprl 2011): I ride Hampton bareback in a halter for the first time. It was a non-event. Man imagine how popular the post would have been if something wild had happened. ha!
3) Blame it on the rein, rein, reining (Nov. 2011): I watch a reining clinic and ... like it.

Followers: 176

All-time page views: 184,239

First post: Introduction (Aug. 28, 2007)

Number of posts: 860

And some of my favorite photos:
(sorry, there are so many!)

That time I bought a 2 year old unbroken draft cross ...

Hampton's first ride!

Adventures in pony-ing. (RIP Pamela, sweet girl)

Visiting Hampton's half brothers

Learning to steer.

Hamps is 3 and we move to what I now call "crazy batshit lady's farm"

We move back to original farm, and Hamps goes to his first show!

We even try out some combined tests.

Hamps starts to learn half steps

I get a new horse trailer!! And have Bruise, my Chevy truck, Ahh I miss her.
But not the spending $100 a week on gas.

On a trail ride, Hampton slips in some mud and falls down on me. We are both fine.

Stepson Sampson spends a few months with me learning how to horse.

Hampton learns to pull a sled.

We move to a lovely barn where I have a job cleaning stalls in the morning.

we attend a clinic and learn how to HERD BUFFALO.

We make the move to Kentucky!

We clinic a couple of times with James Houston.

We participate in a handful in mini trials and do pretty well

We lesson with Dorothy Crowell a couple of times fall 2012.

... but then my focus shifts to dressage and we debut at Second Level in Feb. 2013.

In 2013 we earn all of our 1st and 2nd level scores for our bronze.

Stepson REX comes to stay with me for a few months, to learn how to horse.
He went from awkward, gangling and green to ....

Quite handsome and lovely to ride!

I fullfill a dream of showing at the Kentucky Horse Park.

My first niece is born. Making me Aunt Karen officially!
(yes I said first, a second one is on the way!)

I get a taste of the KY state fair.
(that's not me, btw)

We work hard all winter hoping to debut at 3rd level in the spring.

I also ride some OTTBs for Second Stride and love it.

We clinic with Courtney King-Dye

I earn my USDF Bronze medal in May 2014. But our 3rd level debut left much to be desired.
I start looking for more competent, and more professional instruction.

We take a few trips back home to Indiana for inspiration from my long-time instructor.

Someone gets cellulitis.

We survive our first (AND LAST) Hunter Pace in which I almost die when
Hampton reared like a goddamn black stallion.

We move barns and start to get more serious about Third level

We clinic with JJ Tate. Still to this day my favorite clinic ever.

I take a liking to rescued Saddlebred mare, Lady. RIP.

In the spring we are back at it at Third Level.
But we are having problems communicating, I am down 20 pounds, weak and emotionally unstable.

Over summer we keep working at it, and our partnership starts to heal.

My long-time friend Grover develops cancer and I euthanize him.
I was devastated and never really talked about it

We explore around the neighborhood

Our scores improve a little in the fall, and I try a freestyle.

Buckley comes into my life

One of the most important people in my life dies.
Miss you Susie!

We clinic with Lainey Ashker a couple of times

baby Royale enters the picture!

Spring 2016 we debut at Fourth level and it goes rather well!

We clinic with Liz Austin

And now here we are!

Whew - it was fun to go through all those photos.

Cheers to a great 2017!

Love,

Karen & Hampton 

(and Royale and Buckley)