Good hands, Carson.

Carson Kressley is an owner/rider of American Saddlebreds. He's been an excellent ambassador for the breed as well. I've spotted him here and there at some skadaddlebred shows. He, of course, walks around dressed to the nines like he owns the place. :)

He's a pretty good jockey, though. I love his quiet hands.

Panic in 3 ... 2... 1...

Lands End horse trials (Starter, the last jumping course we did)

It IS indeed possible that we have competent looking moments over fences. BUT ....

We also have a tendency to look like shit over really small fences.

So for the past two years, I am focused primarily on dressage. I used to jump Hampton here and there when he was younger because he should be a well-rounded invididual. But lately, we just haven't done much jumping. 

As a winter treat to myself, I signed up for a grid lesson with Lainey Ashker who is coming back for another clinic this week. I signed up for the BN grid group. How bad could that be? Hampton can figure out the grid and I can just stay out of his way. It will be fun!

But then the schedule came out, and the BN grid group was slated at 4:30 pm on a Saturday.

Um, I work at 3 pm on Saturdays. Womp womp.

(not a prayer at getting a weekend off during the holidays either)

Not wanting to miss out on the clinic, I asked if there were any other spots I could possibly switch to.

"Can you do the Novice course work group on Sunday?" my BO says .

um.

You do realize that neither me or my horse have jumped in 2 years?

And at best we have made it around only starter courses?

And I have a non existent, floppy, dressage lower leg?

I said sure.

Yesterday but good barn buddy helped give us a bit of a tune up so I am not going into the clinic totally cold. There is video. Remember, neither one of us has jumped in almost two years. I take no credit for this. This is ALL Hampton, who packed me around like some veteran show hunter.

So, on Sunday I will put on my sticky spray, and a grab strap and let Hampton do what he does best. He LOVES to jump and if I just stay out of his way, he has such a gift for this. He really is as easy as he appears. Lainey does have a tendency to make the jumps BIG ... so maybe I'll actually get a taste of Hampton's actual talent. Because as you can see in the video, he isn't really trying.

*GULP*

Cheer up, buttercup

Just please admire handsome Hampton, pay no attention to the fact that his
mane is full of mud clumps.

Working with and living with Susie on a large-scale breeding farm certainly taught me ALLLL about the cycle of life. 

I was there from the very beginnings of conception, to the very end. We helped many foals enter this world (Hampton included), and helped many horses leave. Some were tragic & some - it was just their time. That's the realities of living on a farm. Actually, that's just life.

So while I am obviously heartbroken over the huge loss of Susie's death, I went out to the farm today and did exactly what she has always told me to do. "Do what makes you happy." (and also, "Don't do stupid shit.")

Lady I am hungry. Stop with the photos.

I rode my horse. Amazingly, it warmed up to a lovely, sunny 52 degrees and we had a nice school. Ran into some problems in the right canter half pass, but I worked through some of it and ended on a good note. Hampton was wonderfully soft and supple, so I'll consider that a win. He has adjusted wonderfully to the barefoot life, altho I am in the market for some Easyboots for when the arena footing gets even more crappy. (Recommendations welcome!)

You go right ahead and roll with your new blanket on, Hampton.
10-year guarantee ya little shit. Have at it.

There's this thing about life that happens when someone dies, and when you die.

It goes on. 

It's ok to feel sad. And I'll certainly keep her memory alive. But I'm also doing what she has always shown me to do in situations like these. Carry on, keep going. Laugh. Make inappropriate jokes. Love your horse. 

Keep on livin. L-I-V-I-N.

Susie and Trija's Mr. Peppertime.
Peppertime is the sire of my old Morgan, T-Bone.
Picture at Triple Creek Farm ... I'm guessing 2000?
For those who are familiar with Come Again Farm, Susie ran her business
out of that property before Lee Ann took it over. 

I didn't make it

Sorry to keep posting seriously depressing shit.

I never made it to see my friend. She died before I could make the drive. I'm not sure if I need to beat myself up with regret or not. I was lucky to have been able to spend those hours with her a couple of weeks ago.

In the end, this isn't about me. It's about her and her family.

Still sucks losing such an important mentor and friend. Basically a second mother. I wouldn't have Hampton if it wasn't for her. He wouldn't even exist. He is part of her long-reaching legacy. So am I.

I hope I can make her proud!

This is Susie and 18+-hand Hayden at the farm in Indiana.

If there is a heaven (I don't know the answer to that) .... there are HUNDREDS of animals who are super happy right now.

Time

"Life and death. They are somehow sweetly and beautifully mixed, but I don't know how."

Gloria Swanson

Things are declining with my dear friend, S.

She is in a tremendous amount of pain, so they are having to keep her so medicated that she sleeps most of the time. I think we all know what this leads to.

I was going to visit early next week, but my gut tells me to go now. So tomorrow I will drive up and say my real goodbyes.

I need to tell her what a legacy she has left behind.

Review: Annie's breeches

*Full disclosure* My dear friend bought these for me as a birthday present. I was not asked to do a review by Annie's, just giving a thumbs up to a great product.

Product: Annie's breeches (in Green Tea)
Website: http://anniesusa.com/
Price: $105

My dear friend L bought me a pair of these breeches after I raved about the pretty Green Tea color. They arrived in the mail with a personal message from the president of the company! Wow!

Thumbs up for Annie's breeches. And Hampton doing 4-1.

My first impression was that these were gorgeous breeches. They are a soft, stretchy material. These have bling that line the pockets so naturally by inner DQ was squealing a bit. These will go great with Hampton's blingy browband and my OneK blingy helmet!

They also have the sock bottoms which I adore. I HATE the velcro. The full seat is a dark grey, which looks lovely with the green.

The real test ... I had to try them on. My body, while skinny, is notoriously difficult to find any kind of pants (breeches, jeans, etc) that fit because I am build like a stick. No curves to be found here. Also, I have zero butt. But these breeches are stretchy and hugged me just right! They also did not sag in the butt like every other pair of my pants/breeches/shorts/swimsuit/you name it, will do. WIN!

I have now ridden in them a handful of times and they are just as comfy in the saddle. They also held up well during barn chores. They stayed fitting and are easy to move around in.

They come in a variety of fun colors. I plan to purchase a white pair for next show season!

Grade: A+
May be my favorite pair of breeches at the moment. I love the feel and fit. I can't say how durable they are, as I have not really worn them through a whole season yet or anything, but they are worth the price. Plus, fun colors!

Winterized

Gosh I wish his neck was longer.

So the Pork Chop has officially been winterized. I decided to pull all 4 of his shoes for the winter. I know, I know. I'm making a few of you cringe. My instructor cringed. I thought she might kill me.

I feel like if this winter is going to be anything like last, then I need to pull his shoes now while the ground is still soft and squishy. That way his feet have time to adjust. I also did not pull his shoes last winter, and I feel like his feet need a break from shoes. I'd like to see his heel expand and the nail holes to grow out. He has great feet, but I still have been using karatex and Magic Cushion to help him out in the meantime. He is just a tad bit tender on rocks, and certainly more short strided in front at the trot. But the shoes have only been off a week, so I am going to give him a chance to be barefoot this winter. Of course this means trail riding is out for a little while (too many rocks), but we still have plenty of grassy fields to ride in!

I created a poll to get everyone else's opinions on the matter.




In addition to pulling shoes, Hampton also got his first clip of the year! He looks rather handsome and stood like a PERFECT ANGEL. No drugs, no nothing. It was almost as if he was enjoying it. I am sure am happy to have that nasty hair gone.

So sexy

Cute face shot because ... cute.

I bit the bullet and ordered him a SmartPak blanket with a 10-year guarantee. It was stupid expensive but I figured it's going to last me 10 years one way or another so ....

I just need to buy him a liner for when it gets really fucking cold more chilly, and he will be set.

In other news, I have been playing around with different bits for his double bridle. I have not worked him in the double since our show in August. I have been riding him in a fat, simple, single-jointed egg-butt and he has been fantastic in it. I have been able to work through those connection issues much easier. So I am going to try and find the two most gentle bits I can for his double and see if he might like those. If not, well, I can just ride him in the snaffle all the way through GP. It's not like we are going to go to a CDI ever! :)

Coming up: Reviews on Hampton's new DSB boots he is sporting in these photos, and Annie's breeches!