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!)
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| That time I bought a 2 year old unbroken draft cross ... |
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| Hampton's first ride! |
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| Adventures in pony-ing. (RIP Pamela, sweet girl) |
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| Visiting Hampton's half brothers |
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| Learning to steer. |
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| Hamps is 3 and we move to what I now call "crazy batshit lady's farm" |
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| We move back to original farm, and Hamps goes to his first show! |
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| We even try out some combined tests. |
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| Hamps starts to learn half steps |
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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. |
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| On a trail ride, Hampton slips in some mud and falls down on me. We are both fine. |
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| Stepson Sampson spends a few months with me learning how to horse. |
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| Hampton learns to pull a sled. |
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| We move to a lovely barn where I have a job cleaning stalls in the morning. |
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| we attend a clinic and learn how to HERD BUFFALO. |
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| We make the move to Kentucky! |
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| We clinic a couple of times with James Houston. |
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| We participate in a handful in mini trials and do pretty well |
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| We lesson with Dorothy Crowell a couple of times fall 2012. |
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| ... but then my focus shifts to dressage and we debut at Second Level in Feb. 2013. |
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| In 2013 we earn all of our 1st and 2nd level scores for our bronze. |
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Stepson REX comes to stay with me for a few months, to learn how to horse.
He went from awkward, gangling and green to .... |
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| Quite handsome and lovely to ride! |
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| I fullfill a dream of showing at the Kentucky Horse Park. |
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My first niece is born. Making me Aunt Karen officially!
(yes I said first, a second one is on the way!) |
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I get a taste of the KY state fair.
(that's not me, btw) |
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| We work hard all winter hoping to debut at 3rd level in the spring. |
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| I also ride some OTTBs for Second Stride and love it. |
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| We clinic with Courtney King-Dye |
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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. |
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| We take a few trips back home to Indiana for inspiration from my long-time instructor. |
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| Someone gets cellulitis. |
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We survive our first (AND LAST) Hunter Pace in which I almost die when
Hampton reared like a goddamn black stallion.
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| We move barns and start to get more serious about Third level |
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| We clinic with JJ Tate. Still to this day my favorite clinic ever. |
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| I take a liking to rescued Saddlebred mare, Lady. RIP. |
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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. |
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| Over summer we keep working at it, and our partnership starts to heal. |
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My long-time friend Grover develops cancer and I euthanize him.
I was devastated and never really talked about it |
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| We explore around the neighborhood |
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| Our scores improve a little in the fall, and I try a freestyle. |
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| Buckley comes into my life |
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One of the most important people in my life dies.
Miss you Susie! |
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| We clinic with Lainey Ashker a couple of times |
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| baby Royale enters the picture! |
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| Spring 2016 we debut at Fourth level and it goes rather well! |
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| 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)
