About 11 a.m. this morning we got an e-mail at work saying that 2% of the company will be laid off TODAY. This means 5 people at our own local paper will be let go.
*gulp*
***
Update: I still have my job as of today. A good thing, but a small part of me knows that I won't be that upset if/when I get laid off or fired.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Monday, June 20, 2011
Birthday boy
Hampton it's your birthday; happy birthday Hampton! :)
(to the tune of "Happy Birthday Lisa" from the Simpsons)
The horse turns 4 years old today!
Lately he has started to look a lot more mature especially in his face. He has that relaxed, wise look in his eye instead of the insecure, I'm a baby look. But I know he still has a lot more growing up to do. Let's hope he doesn't grow too much taller tho. 17.1 is good enough for me!
Here he is at 2 years old when I first bought him:
(to the tune of "Happy Birthday Lisa" from the Simpsons)
The horse turns 4 years old today!
Lately he has started to look a lot more mature especially in his face. He has that relaxed, wise look in his eye instead of the insecure, I'm a baby look. But I know he still has a lot more growing up to do. Let's hope he doesn't grow too much taller tho. 17.1 is good enough for me!
Here he is at 2 years old when I first bought him:
Sunday, June 19, 2011
In which we show hunters at an open show
Our barn hosted an open show yesterday and of course we participated when I wasn't volunteering.
I think a show at your own barn has advantages and disadvantages. Hampton was wound up as his environment changed and 30+ rigs pulled in with new horses. I tied him to my trailer for the experience and he spent most of the time pawing, screaming and wiggling around. I was half temped to leave him stand there all day but decided maybe a 90 degree day was a little mean to do that. So after our halter class, I gave him a stall to chill in.
Halter
So I've never actually show in a halter class at an open show before so I sort of winged it. Hampton thought it was THE. DUMBEST. THING. EVER. and refused to stand still. He also kept trying to eat the reins, my coat and my boob. He was so bored. lol. But we did managed a 3rd place out of 5. Oh boy.
Hunter under saddle
Meh. The creature was still a bit wound and did ok until the second direction canter when OH MY GOD there is a tent on the side of the arena that was not there yesterday! We did a lovely canter side pass down the side of the rail. Really Hampton? 5th out of 5.
Hunter hack
This is where you jump 2 jumps and then do rail work. So we trotted the first jump and he popped over it like a little champ! (and um we haven't schooled any jumps in a month?) And SOMEONE (like the rider) did not ride the second jump and therefore Hampton got unsure and stopped. Doh! Circled back around and he jumped it. Totally my fault! Rail work went much better and I was proud of him for being so game about the whole thing.
And we did pretty well during egg and spoon, too. Coming in 2nd or 3rd (it was sort of unclear who dropped their egg first). :)
I think a show at your own barn has advantages and disadvantages. Hampton was wound up as his environment changed and 30+ rigs pulled in with new horses. I tied him to my trailer for the experience and he spent most of the time pawing, screaming and wiggling around. I was half temped to leave him stand there all day but decided maybe a 90 degree day was a little mean to do that. So after our halter class, I gave him a stall to chill in.
Halter
So I've never actually show in a halter class at an open show before so I sort of winged it. Hampton thought it was THE. DUMBEST. THING. EVER. and refused to stand still. He also kept trying to eat the reins, my coat and my boob. He was so bored. lol. But we did managed a 3rd place out of 5. Oh boy.
 |
| Trying to pull off the hunter look. |
Hunter under saddle
Meh. The creature was still a bit wound and did ok until the second direction canter when OH MY GOD there is a tent on the side of the arena that was not there yesterday! We did a lovely canter side pass down the side of the rail. Really Hampton? 5th out of 5.
Hunter hack
This is where you jump 2 jumps and then do rail work. So we trotted the first jump and he popped over it like a little champ! (and um we haven't schooled any jumps in a month?) And SOMEONE (like the rider) did not ride the second jump and therefore Hampton got unsure and stopped. Doh! Circled back around and he jumped it. Totally my fault! Rail work went much better and I was proud of him for being so game about the whole thing.
And we did pretty well during egg and spoon, too. Coming in 2nd or 3rd (it was sort of unclear who dropped their egg first). :)
Thursday, June 16, 2011
The skinny on the skinny
Well, here's Hampton. In all his skinny, ribs-sticking-out glory. *sigh* Not the best photo of him but you get the idea. Hopefully in about a month I will have a better picture to show you! :) In my gut, I am pretty certain that the quality of the hay at this barn is a big part of his weight problem. When we lived at The Barn From Hell last summer, he stayed in excellent weight and he wasn't even on free choice hay. I have battled weight issues at this current farm with both T-Bone and Hampton. So, I have two choices. 1) Move barns. Or 2) Find a way to compensate for the lack of nutrition in the hay (free choice grass roundbales).
In any case, I did cram wormer down his throat yesterday and today he gets lunged. Super easy week for him right before our barn's horse show. lol. As for me, I'm chopping off my long hair this morning. Yay for a fresh new summer look. (and cooler!!)
And thank you for everyone's feed suggestions! I am researching, making phone calls and coming up with a plan for Hampton for the long term.
Oh, and here's a butt shot. *whistle whistle*
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
The horseh needs more junk in the trunk
Hampton has been enjoying a few days off. He has certainly earned it. Plus, he is starting to get a little thin on me again (UGH!!) so I am reevaluating. I purchased wormer and will continue to keep him on U-Guard. I thought that he would plump up with all the time they have been getting on grass lately, but he hasn't. So I'm adding rice bran and alfalfa cubes back into his diet and see if that gets us anywhere. If not, I may have to give him a course of Gastoguard. I plan to have a fecal done to see if maybe worms are the issue. Orrrr ... he could be growing again and with his high metabolism, it's just tough to keep up with. Who knows. He's not skinny, but just getting that rangy thin look. He's also very fit and working pretty hard so he may just need more calories. We'll get it figured out.
Monday, June 13, 2011
Our Walk-trot debut. :)
I guess with all the horse show drama I forgot to mention how our actual classes went. :) Ooops.
So, I entered two walk-trot classes. Mostly because I did not feel comfortable cantering Hampton on straight lines when I knew he would be nervous and tense. I like to set myself up for success and not for disaster.
Anyway, the first class had 22 entries. The ring was large enough to fit that amount of horses, but it was still chaotic. I kept Hampton on the inside track most of the time. We were the only horse and rider of sport horse type there. Everyone else rode Wenglish ... or rather, they put English tack on their peanut-roller Western horses. And the judge rewarded those horses with low headsets, and slow trots. (and riders that ride with their fingers open. omg!! pet peeve) Hampton and I were far, far from what that judge wanted. lol. No ribbon for us. But I was pleased that nothing went wrong, and Hampton handled the traffic and crowds with much maturity.
The second class was about the same - 17 entries. Hampton was much more relaxed and I was able to let him have a bit more stride this time. His was more quiet with his mouth and again handled everything like a champ. No ribbon for us. Shucks! But I was not about to force myself or my horse into something we are not, just for a chance at a little ribbon. I was frankly loving the fact that he was keeping his poll up so nicely for me! Screw the judge. lol!
So this weekend we are going to another open show - only because our barn is hosting it! :) I think I am going to be silly and enter a halter class, and maybe egg and spoon. Poor Hampton, he certainly does not live the posh life of a typical dressage horse. lol.
So, I entered two walk-trot classes. Mostly because I did not feel comfortable cantering Hampton on straight lines when I knew he would be nervous and tense. I like to set myself up for success and not for disaster.
Anyway, the first class had 22 entries. The ring was large enough to fit that amount of horses, but it was still chaotic. I kept Hampton on the inside track most of the time. We were the only horse and rider of sport horse type there. Everyone else rode Wenglish ... or rather, they put English tack on their peanut-roller Western horses. And the judge rewarded those horses with low headsets, and slow trots. (and riders that ride with their fingers open. omg!! pet peeve) Hampton and I were far, far from what that judge wanted. lol. No ribbon for us. But I was pleased that nothing went wrong, and Hampton handled the traffic and crowds with much maturity.
The second class was about the same - 17 entries. Hampton was much more relaxed and I was able to let him have a bit more stride this time. His was more quiet with his mouth and again handled everything like a champ. No ribbon for us. Shucks! But I was not about to force myself or my horse into something we are not, just for a chance at a little ribbon. I was frankly loving the fact that he was keeping his poll up so nicely for me! Screw the judge. lol!
So this weekend we are going to another open show - only because our barn is hosting it! :) I think I am going to be silly and enter a halter class, and maybe egg and spoon. Poor Hampton, he certainly does not live the posh life of a typical dressage horse. lol.
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Ponies + the trailer
Yesterday's show was also the first time Hampton (and Lilly) have been asked to tie to the trailer. Yay for being good!
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