Not just free stuff, BOMBDIGGITY stuff!

Blog land has a couple of SUPER RAD contests going on right now.

Remember this bombdiggity saddle pad I got for Hampton?

Well, Kate over at The Adventures of Lucy is hosting a contest where you can win one! (She has several choices of awesome designs that don't refer to my favorite counter-culture hippie jam band)

Check out her contest HERE!

This girl has found such a cool niche and even if you don't enter the contest, you should check them out. seriously neat!

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And popular blogger Stacy over at Behind the Bit is giving away a BLING BROWBAND. OMG, want want want! Watch her blog for details, but srsly ... what an amazing give-away!

Check out the browband contest preview post RIGHT HERE BABY.

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I'd love to host a contest but the only thing I have to give away at the moment is ... uh, Ramen noodles? Lame.

Sammy the stepchild

Sampson, the Percheron who belongs to a friend of mine, has made some pretty remarkable progress in the past week or so.

He went from super nervous and easily startled, so a laid back, easy going dude who I now have to ride with spurs and a whip. He has had zero meltdowns in the barn in more than a week. He now stands quietly to be groomed and tacked up. He is so easy to bridle now it's almost humorous. I'm telling you, sugar cubes cure that problem within 1 day. He used to draw his tongue back constantly and would have a very busy, agitated mouth. He now chews softly and his tongue stays put.

His steering has also improved. And while he doesn't yet steer off the legs, he has to steer off the reins first and that is coming along well. He's also learning that legs mean GO. He seemed to already know that 2 reins means stop - probably from his days as a driving horse. (We assume).

He's uncomplicated, never been naughty. I've cantered him a couple of times so far and I pretty much have to chase him into it. So that needs work. This week we'll also venture out of the arena if I can get someone to go with me. Or, I may pony him off Hampton.

I know he will make a great horse for her. Makes me happy to be able to help and send her back a safe, educated poneh. He is probably staying until the end of the year so I hope by then he will be easy walk, trot, canter and leg yield.

Here's a video:

Debbie Downer draws for you

Life isn't treating me so well right now. Thus, I try to make myself laugh. :) For the record, this was done 100% sober. Perhaps I will repeat this activity when drunk. Then we can compare and discuss.

Hampton and Sampson are both doing really, really well. I'll have video of Sampson within the next few days. He is under saddle now and is a good boy. Hampton and I are prepping for Octoberfest.

My job hunt isn't going anywhere and I otherwise keep making the same mistakes over and over. Part of me wants to pack up and move across the country. Sorry to sound so depressing and vague but I'm just bummed out.

It's all about your "assets"

Yes, a post about Carson Kressley

You may know him from Dancing with the Stars and Queer Eye for the Straight Guy:

But did you know he also rides and shows Saddlebreds? Neat!
Here's a video from Louisville (2009)

Update (sorry, it's a snoozer)

"Grandma" bought him this bonnet. :) (for my birthday)

Hampton and I are plugging along. I've been doing my homework, making sure to give him plenty of breaks and days off in between for any sore muscles to recover. While he is a wonderful 4 year old, I do have to be careful because 1) He has the mental capacity to try anything I ask, even if his body is not ready and 2) since he is my only horse to play with (basically), I might be tempted to try things he isn't ready for. I have been keeping those things in mind so that he doesn't become sour. He's so cheerful when I ride him and so happy to work for me, I do not want to ruin that by pushing too hard.

But hey yesterday we had a good ride and to change things up I tried forward and back at the canter. I haven't done this in a while - we've only been doing that at the trot - because at the canter he would lose his balance and break into the trot. Much to my delight, he has a canter half-halt now and can lengthen and come back to me without breaking. Woot woot!

Sniffin the camera lady

I'm debating giving him a month off this winter. Just to grow and be a horse. Still just throwing the idea around, since he really seems to enjoy the work and all the attention - such as when I call him handsome and studly. Seeing as how we live in Indiana, it is likely that he will end up taking time off this winter anyway since Mother Nature around here can be testy.

Other than that I am looking forward to Octoberfest!

Wild poneh at a horse show!

Zippy for sale

The young App/Arab/Belgian cross I worked with in the past, Zippy, is for sale.

He is just too sensitive to be a therapy horse at the moment, so the owners want to move him along.

Here is is Craigslist ad.

He is located in central Indiana.

I have walk, trot, cantered him (both leads) with no problems. He has never been naughty, but he does need someone who is calm, balanced and confident or he becomes insecure. I would say he would be fine for a solid 4-Her. Still green about the bridle, but does lunge in loose side reins. Steers fine. Started with leg aids. I have ridden him out of the arena (the ad doesn't say so) and he was great.

Zippy is a really good character, just needs miles and someone who doesn't man-handle him. Baths, picks up his feet. I never tried to clip him.

He isn't blessed in the beauty department but with a little time he's going to make a wonderful little horse. I just want to see him find a good home.

I've never had an issue with him, but he does like to dance around a bit when tied. Obviously a therapy horse needs to be more quiet.