Aiken 2025: The start

 *Sheepishly opens up Blogger and realizes I have not updated it DESPITE promising to. *COUGH* looking at you RACHAEL *

My dad kept his car so beautifully clean and neat.
And then he gave the car to me and ....

On Wednesday, February 19, we were packed and ready escape the arctic tundra of Kentucky and flee to Aiken.

It snowed. And snowed.

We watched the radar. We plotted our own demise. We monitored routes. 

In true insane horsewomen fashion, we decided to hit the road anyway although smartly we waited until about 8:30 a.m. By the time we were on the road, the snow was melted and we honestly had a very smooth trip down through Atlanta and over to Aiken. 

Hampton had the penthouse for the first couple of days

The first few days in Aiken consisted of supporting friends at Pine Top eventing. That place is .. a curious environment ...and the cross country was SHIT YOUR PANTS level. I don't think people tell eventers how much of a badass they are often enough. I walked the Prelim course and was like what in the actual. 

We also did the following:

• Body clipped/manscaped Hampton
• Let a friend take a ride on Hampton - loved watching this!
• Hacked around in the fields at Jumping Branch
• Shopped (didn't do too much damage thankfully)
• Ate delicious food

The "We Made It Here" Selfie haha

It was really nice to have 2-3 days to let Hampton just loosen up without any pressure of a show or lesson. He came out of winter pretty tight, and a bit thin. So we took it really easy. It's really cool to feel your horse relax and loosen up after just a couple of days in warmer weather, and soft ground.

But on Sunday it was time to go to work!

Winter Review: 0 stars

 

I think I speak for all Midwest horse people when I say this winter is one of the hardest we have had in years. Not only is it cold, but we had a short warm spell which melted a lot of snow but now all that is left is sheets of ice.

I fall and go boom at least once daily during morning barn chores. At least I have gotten better at knowing I am going to fall so I just sort of collapse down before I really eat shit.

Hampton is doing ok. He is a rugged dude, but since his field is covered in ice and snow the horses just stand at the roundbale and eat all day. And lounge a bit. Not much movement going on, so he has been stocking up on all four legs quite a bit. I have been riding when I can but that's only been 3-4 days a week if I am lucky. I might get another day when I am able to lunge him a bit. This helps, but it's simply not enough movement.

Just some jog time on the lunge when its 12 degrees
and I don't want to take off my coveralls.

This is my message to my fellow badass horsewomen (and men) to just keep on going. It has to end at some point? Right?

RIGHT?????

Winter jacket

There's not a lot to report except 

It snowed in Louisville.

Kind of a lot of snow.

Kentucky freaked out.

Cool orb!

Hampton is unbothered and has been enjoying unlimited roundbales and some jogging in the indoor which has held up really well footing-wise. We have also done some marching through the snow which is probably keeping him plenty fit for me.

I will go back to real riding as soon as my extremities do not freeze without my carharts. 

Displeased. A Portrait.

That's all.

2025 Life's beautiful when every impulse you have is quite doable

 Wishing all my blogger friends a Happy New Year!

Photo: Three Redheads and a Moose

Love -

Karen, Hampton, Sylvester and Obi

Don't stop goin', goin' south

Was chilly, but not Cold AF like KY was.

I think this was our third December trip to Aiken and we made the best of five days of course. Hampton hauled great and after a settling hack on Monday after our arrival, we hauled about 15 min away on Tuesday to an equestrian neighborhood where we had a lesson with Alex Gerding in the neighborhood community ring.

Can I have a neighborhood dressage arena please?

Anyhoo, we lessoned with Alex and then on Thursday with KE who was also new to me and I REALLY enjoyed her lesson of really digging into the basics.

Lesson time

We hit up the Stable View schooling show on Wednesday where I ran through my new 4th level freestyle basically for the first time in an arena. *cringe* I couldn't hear the music but even so it went really well and scored a 69%.

Tack cleaning haha

Friday we spent time just floating around Jumping Branch where we did some poles, a little bounce, some "galloping" and played in the water complex. I love Aiken because I can let Hampton really open up out in the fields as the footing is such nice sand instead of muddy ruts and holes like Kentucky fields.

Bad video grab of Hamp jumping out of water haha.

Saturday we did the recognized Stable View show and Hampton was FRESH and TIGHT. He hasn't been like that in years. I was a little unprepared but the freestyle went fine and scored a 67%. When I went to do 4-1, he had gotten even tighter and basically drug me around. I could barely touch his sides. In fact he kicked down a board during a flying change.

Usually Hampton is naughty maybe once a year and I think that was the day. hahaha. 

Stable View: Photo by Meghan Benge
Not pictured: Me absolutely fighting for my life lol

We of course hit up the good food spots and shopping. Hitchcock Woods is still closed from hurricane damage so that was a bummer.

It is really a pleasure to show Hampton at 4th level which is not easy but it does not put pressure on him anymore. He feels happy and possibly a little too fit. I just have one more 4th level freestyle score to get for my silver freestyle bar.

For now, we keep working. The hardest part is staying motivated.

You come away with a great little story

 

There's a hair on your Porkchop

Hampton has been doing great - still in full work although he is furry and feral. He is loving being naked and as dirty as possible. Naturally, I have plans to clip him next week and of course the temps immediately drop and he will need a blanket. 

But we have a trip to Aiken planned in December which I am very excited about. Although, we will need to take a different route to get there as the main roads through the mountains ... don't exist anymore. Always an hot mess adventure.

**

I guess the "big" update I have is that after Regionals I decided to retire Hampton from the "Big Tour." I had planned this before Regionals. He has earned me two Gold medals and a trip to Regionals so frankly he doesn't need to do the I2 and Grand Prix levels anymore. 

From Regionals after our solid I2.
Photographer L. Dean captured me paying the Porkchop toll haha.

I have always said I would stop pushing when Hampton said No. Well, over the years I have realized Hampton isn't really going to tell me No. He would do it anyway, because I asked. But he has ALWAYS struggled at the top of the sport. We have had good tests, yes. But the majority have been a struggle. He was out of his scope, and so was I. Perhaps a better rider could have helped him more, made him better. But that's not the situation.

There's just no reason to keep pushing him at that level. He has done more than most horses will ever do, and more than I ever EVER dreamed possible when I bought him as a 2 year old.

He will be 18 next year and he still feels really great. I know in the back of my mind it is time to start looking for the next horse. I waffle between getting a baby, or possibly an OTTB and try my hand at RRP. I struggle with how I would afford two horses. 

Photo by Three Redheads and a Moose

I struggle more with how I am ever going to find another horse that lives up to the standard Hampton has set.

But for now, I am going to enjoy Hampton at the levels he feels comfortable at. 

Plus, I still have a couple more freestyle medals to grab up if I can.

Regionals wrap up

 

We survived the USDF Region 2 Regional Championships! It was very nice having it so close to home and therefore I only ended up having to stay over two nights.

On Thursday we went for a light school where I checked in on the buttons. The theme this year was Wizard of Oz and everyone's decorations were really cute.

I also have to give a shout out to the LOVELY LOVELY blog reader who recognized me at the food stand! This is the first time I have been "recognized in the wild" and it was so sweet. It really made my day. *hugs*

Friday morning was the I2 AA championship and we were the very first ride down centerline at 8 a.m. During warmup a rainbow even made an appearance for a few minutes. Hamp warmed up great and felt fresh and energetic.

Overall, I think it was probably the BEST I2 we have EVER done, even though when I went to start the line of ones, he stole a change from me at the start and I lost the rhythm. We recovered though, but it was an expensive mistake. We finished with a 58% and third place in the class. It rained on our awards but it was still really fun and the other ladies in the class were all really lovely and had lovely horses so I was pretty proud of Hampton to hold his own in such company.

Saturday morning I took Hampton out on a light walk and 5-min jog just to stretch his back and legs after standing in a stall all night. The horse park is absolutely gorgeous at 7:30 a.m. It's during these rides is where I find the true reason why I do this. It has nothing to do with scores or ribbons.

Our Grand Prix freestyle wasn't until 4:30 p.m. and by that time it was rather toasty out. And that afternoon Hampton actually LIED DOWN in his stall. In the 15 years I have been showing this horse, I have NOT ONCE seen him lie down in the stall at a show, much less during the day where he has "things to supervise." He was quite sleepy.

Our warm up was ... ok. He was behind the leg and we ended up having great moments in the warmup but once I entered the show arena and dropped my whip, I knew I was in trouble.

I broke my own damn rule and begged him the entire way. I was growling, pony club kicking in discreet spots. But he ended up missing in the twos and the ones, and in general just being more downhill than usual. I could tell he was tired. By the end, he was huffing and puffing as well. We did our best. It was not our best freestyle, but not the worst either. The judges gave us a 58%. Which, I felt was fair. 

I unfortunately did not meet my goal of getting a 60% at regionals. A bummer, but thems the brakes. Even still, Hampton held his own and the cheering of people during our awards gallop yelling "Go Porkchop" was THE BEST. 

Got myself a big ol' bobcat

More adventures await!