Har dee har!

Weight results are in.

Here's an update on the beast's weight.

He's a buckskin now.

Other than being pathetically sun-bleached and somewhat marked up with battle scars from his herd mates, he looks pretty good. And for some reason, he has managed to avoid the gross rain-rot, summer-itch crud that numerous other horses seem to have acquired.

Tomorrow I ride, weather be damned, and then I go on vacation. This is the first vacation in almost 10 years for me that is not 1) horse related or 2) Phish related. I'm not sure what I'm going to do with myself. Probably drink.

I have a few posts scheduled for when I am gone. I'm sure you are thrilled. :)

Have a good week. I'm off to San Francisco! (well, not yet, on Wednesday morning).

How Hampton got his name

How Hampton got his name

(part of my "it's too damn hot to ride so I'm posting on whatever random subject I feel like" series) 


In March 2009, my favorite band played in Hampton, Va., for their reunion tour after a 5-year hiatus.

It was a 3-night tour, but of course everyone wanted to get in the show on Friday - the first night. The Hampton colesium doesn't hold many people - maybe 13,000. So tickets were very, very hard to come by.

Hampton - at night.

I ended up spending a SHIT LOAD of money on 2 tickets for Friday. I spent more on those tickets than I spent on Hampton. Or my saddle. And a lot of other things. This should tell you just how unhealthy my love for this particular band is.

At the last minute, another friend decided to join us for the ride over and hoped to score a ticket when we got there. For some reason, I had an unselfish moment and decided that we couldn't just go in the show and leave him out in the lot alone.

So, we ended up trading my 2 Friday tickets for 3 Saturday tickets. The women who traded with us seemed oddly normal for a Phish fan. She ended up having to call her husband to bring us the 3 Saturday tickets. We waited with her for about 45 minutes. Finally, her hubs shows up with the tickets and we make the trade. My friend, a very jaded veteran of these shows, examines the tickets and determines they are not fake.

So here I am, Friday night - NO TICKETS - but 3 for Saturday. I really, really, wanted to be in there when the lights went off and the boys took the stage for the first time in 5 years. I started to get mopey about it. The 3 of us decided to mosey up to the venue to "see what happens." I wasn't optimistic and continued to sulk while sitting on a sidewalk.

Meanwhile, my veteran friend is chatting with a very large security guard. Great, now he's going to get us in some sort of trouble. Am I going to have to bail him out of jail? I don't even know where the jail is in Hampton, Va!

At one point, Friend comes over - grinning - and says "We're going to get in. Be patient."

Yeah, right. There is no way to sneak into this venue. There are guards everywhere. Security is tight. I go back to sulking.

Within 20 minutes, he comes over and says "I need $100." My other friend coughs it up. Now I'm half concerned, half shaking from excitement. We wait another 5-10 minutes and the big security guard waves at us.

He walks us in through the back gate. All 3 of us were doing all we could to contain ourselves. The security guard didn't sneak us in - he escorted us in like we were royalty! We strolled right in to the venue and out onto the floor of the Hampton Colesium. Once we were in there, we could no longer remain composed. All 3 of us are now in - not one ticket - and we still had 3 tickets for tomorrow! I felt like the luckiest person on earth. This kind of stuff never happens to me. Ever.

The show was of course amazing.


Phish "Fluffhead" Hampton MultiCam 3-6-09 from Paul Unger on Vimeo.


Um, so on Saturday we walk right up to the venue with our tickets - quite proud of ourselves for scoring this deal. I got in. Check. Friend #1 gets in, check. Friend #2 ... bunk ticket. WTF?! It said the ticket had already been used. I watched him walk off to try and sneak in ... but I knew it wouldn't happen. And the security guard we had bribed the night before? He was no where to be found. And the others weren't going to take the bait. The two of us stayed in the show (hey I'm not THAT selfless to leave once in) ... Friend #2 was no worse for wear.  He hung out in the lot and got drunk.


In addition, here's what else happened during my Hampton experience:

• 2 random hippies ended up coming back and sleeping in our hotel room. Nice enough guys, but they smelled like sweaty feet. And by smell, I mean the entire room stunk like their feet.

• On Friday, a couple asked if they could set up their vending business off the back of my car since they did not have a vehicle. What were they vending? Burritos. We could get as many free burritos as we wanted in exchange for them using our space. As luck would have it, they made THE. MOST. MOUTHWATERING. awesome veggie burritos I have ever tasted to this day. I also drank too much and ended up shamelessly shoveling a burrito into my mouth while sitting on the back of the car.

On the right, the makers of the heavenly burritos.

• A drunk girl nearly pukes on my feet (this would become a theme all summer)

Sooooo when I was looking for a name for Hampton, I thought 1) The name actually fits him (his original name was Smitty, ew) and 2) The weekend was that awesome to me. Why not name my new horse after the city?

And so there is the really long story about how I named my horse.

Beer and bareback

Newsflash: It's still hot.

But 3 of us were getting a little stir crazy last night and decided to ride. We jumped on bareback and within minutes decided beer was in order. Drinking and riding. Shame. My friends wanted to trot (not fair as S had Lilly, her Walker) .. but I didn't trot with my beer because I didn't want to spill it. Priorities! Hampton was calm and cooperative, although a bit cranky toward the two mares. I gave him some sips of beer after our ride and he LOVED IT. He was then starting to get pushy trying to take the can from me. Lush!

I'm going on a real vacation next week (to San Francisco!) so Hampton will have another easy week, although a few of my barn friends are going to hack him for me. Then it's back to work. I am aiming for the Sept. 10 CAF show - where we will attempt out first combined test. :)

Here's evidence of our wild and crazy evening of drinking and riding (derrr, not so crazy really). I know I KNOW about my helmet. SHAME ON ME.

Hampton: "It's hot lady, you can get off my back anytime!"

Sad news: Dough Boy dead.

Please join me in remembering YET ANOTHER great icon of the entertainment community. 


The Pillsbury Dough Boy died yesterday of a yeast infection and traumatic complications from repeated pokes to the belly. 


He was 71. 


Dough Boy is survived by his wife Play Dough, three children, John Dough, Jane Dough, and Dill Dough, plus they had one in the Oven. 


Services were held at 3:50 for about 20 - 28 minutes

So You Want to be An Eventer Part 2 [Equipment]

Here's the first post in my So You Want to Be An Eventer series:

[Fear]

If there's one thing I've learned in my limited time hanging around the eventing crowd, it is that they are 1) scrappy and 2) willing to share and help each other out.

I know in order to start our wild leap of faith journey into eventing, I won't need to buy thousands of dollars of new stuff from Dover. (I'd like too, however, so sponsors welcome. haha).

Here's what I have:

• Dressage bridle and saddle (plus saddle pad and show clothes for me)
   Dressage phase: CHECK!!

• Close contact hunter saddle ( I do need a better saddle pad)
• Figure 8 nose band bridle
• Running martingale
• Hunter show clothes for me
• Helmet (duh)
  Show jumping phase: CHECK!

Here's what I think I "need" to be able to compete cross country.

• A vest. Taking recommendations, but my mother has promised me one for my birthday at the end of August. Yay!! I am going to the local tack store to try some on and see what I like.

• A medical arm band

• Better boots for the horse. All I have are foo-foo fuzzy white dressage velcro boots as well as white polo wraps. Uh .. probably not going to hold up on cross country. Although we would look fancy prancing around in our white gear. Again, any recommendations on good solid boots? I do have the awesome sheep skin open front jumping boots for stadium jumping. But again, probably not going to cut it on CC.

• My own "colors." I've picked my CC colors. Which was incredibly fun to do and now I am able to let loose my inner child and tell the DQ in me to shut the hell up. I didn't pick anything obnoxious, but I'm amped now to be able to color coordinate when shopping for stuff. Oh it's the little things in life, eh?

• A watch. Is this needed at the very starter levels? Or can I put this off until we reach Novice?

$300+ ... *cough cough*

• A breastplate? I have a fancy hunter-ring one, but it's more for show and not really function. Is this needed at the lower levels? I see a lot of folks with the 5-point breastplate but lordy is that thing expensive. We may have to put that on a Christmas list.

oops, wrong kind of gut.

• Guts. (I was going to put BALLS but I wanted to include an art element and ... uh ... well this is mostly a family-friendly blog. Ok not really. But I didn't want testicles on my blog. Unless there is a really good reason!)

Your horse's vitals

It's friggin hot.

I have not ridden Hampton since Friday (I did ride another horse on Saturday) ... and don't plan to ride him until it cools down. We aren't training for a major event. There's no reason to make both of us suffer through that.

I did hose him off today and blasted a fan on him while he had his grain. He seems to be handling the heat well - hydrated, bright eyed and hungry (even though very sweaty out in the field). I am in good shape, too. Hydrated, bright eyed and hungry. (and sweaty ... does "swamp boobs" ring a bell?)

I made a trip to the local 4H fair today and enjoyed a lemon shake up and corn on the cob.

***

In light of the heat, here's an important reminder on how to check your horse's vitals.

This information is from this website.

1. TEMPERATURE 

Normal body temperature is 99 - 101 F. A temperature higher than that, may indicate an infection. A healthy horse's temperature can vary by 3 degrees depending on environmental factors. Horses tend to have higher temperatures in warm weather and during/after exercise, stress or excitement. A high fever doesn't always indicate a severe condition, but it is a good idea to take your horse's temperature often and if you his temperature is over 102 F, you should call your veterinarian. 

How To Take a Horse's Temperature: 

The most accurate way to take a horse's temperature is rectally. Always secure a string to the end of the thermometer, so that it doesn't get lost (some of you know what I'm talking about, or have experienced it...it's not very fun). Tack shops and pharmacies sell all types of thermometers. Plastic digital thermometers work very well and are generally easier to use, and most of them beep when they are done. Be sure that if you use an older mercury-type thermometer, that you shake down the mercury before taking the horse's temperature. 

The horse should be tied or held still by an assistant. Lubricate the tip of the thermometer with petroleum jelly, vaseline or saliva. Move the horse's tail to the side and out of the way and insert the thermometer into the horse's rectum, angled slightly towards the ground. Do not stand directly behind the horse, because some horses don't like this - but most don't mind. For the most accurate reading, leave the thermometer in position for at least 3 minutes. Many digital thermometers work well in less than 1 minute. 

Always clean the thermometer well before returning it to its case...and especially if used on an ill horse, to prevent the spreading of an illness. 

---

2. PULSE 

The pulse rate of an adult horse at rest averages 30-40 beats per minute (bpm). A pulse rate of 50 or higher in an adult horse at rest may mean the horse is in physical distress. The average pulse rates for young horses are as follows: 
Foals (70-120 bpm), Yearlings (45-60 bpm), 2yr. olds (40-50 bpm). 

The horse's pulse rate will increase if he is excited or nervous, in pain, during/after exercise, or has a disease. The higher the heart rate, the more severe the condition. 

How To Check a Horse's Pulse: 

The horse's pulse can be found near the front of the left jawbone. Under the jawbone, there is a major artery that sticks out slightly. Using your forefinger (never your thumb - because you may feel your own pulse), press against the artery firmly. Use a clock or counter to time a 15 second period. Multiply the number of beats you counted by 4. 

You may also place your hand or a stethescope behind the horse's left elbow to take his pulse. Be sure to count each lub-dub as 1 beat. 

---

3. RESPIRATION 

The average respiration rate of an adult horse at rest is 8-15 breaths per minute. A horse's respiration rate increases with hot or humid weather, exercise, fever or pain. Rapid breathing at rest should recieve veterinary attention, and keep in mind that the respiration rate should NEVER exceed the pulse rate. A horse should also spend equal time inhaling and exhaling. 

How To The Respiration Rate: 

Watch or feel your horse's ribcage/belly for one minute. Be sure to count 1 inhale and 1 exhale as one breath (not as two). Each breath is fairly slow. If you are having difficulty seeing the ribcage move, try watching the horse's nostrils or place your hand in front of the nostrils to feel the horse exhale. 

An even better method is to place a stethoscope to the horse's windpipe to listen to his breathing. This will also give you strange sounds if the horse's windpipe is blocked by mucous or if the he has allergies or heaves. 

---

4. GUT SOUNDS 

The gut sounds that come from your horse's stomach and intestines can be very important information for your vet to diagnose an illness. Gut sounds should always be present. The absence of gut sounds is more indicative of a problem than excessive gut sounds. Usually, an absence of gut sounds indicates colic. If you don't hear any sounds, contact your veterinarian. 

How To Check for Gut Sounds: 

Press your ear up againts your horse's barrel just behind his last rib. If you hear gurgling noises, he's fine. Be sure to check gut sounds from both sides. 

If you do not hear any sounds, try using a stethoscope in the same area. 

---

5. DEHYDRATION 

Healthy horses drink a minimum of 5 gallons of water per day. If your horse is dehydrated, it is very important that you urge him to drink. If he refuses to drink water, try adding flavor to it (gatorade or apple juice is ideal), and contact your veterinarian if he still won't drink. 

How To Perform a Pinch Test: 

Pinch the skin on your horse's neck. If the skin flattens back into place when you let go in less than 1 second, the horse is fine. If it doesn't, it means he isn't drinking enough water, he is dehydrated. 

The longer the skin stays pinched up before flattening, the more dehydrated he is. 

---

6. CAPILLARY REFILL TIME (CRT) 

Capillary Refill Time (CRT) is the time it takes for blood to return to blanched tissues in the gums. This is an indicator of blood circulation. Normal refill time is 1 to 2 seconds. 

How To Check CRT: 

Lift your horse's upper lip up and firmly press your thumb against his gums for 2 seconds to create a white mark. This white mark should return to the normal pink color within 1-2 seconds after releasing the pressure. 

If the CRT takes longer than 2 seconds, the horse may have shock. 

---

7. MUCOUS MEMBRANES 

The mucous membranes are the lining of a horse's eyelids, his gums and the inside of his nostrils. The color of the mucous membranes are another indicator of blood circulation. A healthy horse's gums are slightly more pale than a humans. If a horse's gums are very pale, bright red, grayish blue or bright yellow, call a veterinarian immediately. 

Color of Mucous Membranes: 

Moist Pink: Healthy normal circulation. 
Very Pale Pink: Capillaries contracted, indicates fever, blood loss or anemia. 
Bright Red: Capillaries enlarged, indicates toxicity or mild shock. 
Gray or Blue: Severe shock, depression and illness. 
Bright Yellow: Associated with liver problems.