Friday, December 21, 2012

Crazy Holidays...

We're still alive (Rigsby and I).

The Christmas season is a busy time for an Olive Garden server/bartender/bitch. My horsey time has been limited to sneaking to the barn aound midnight to throw Rigsby some extra hay, grain and a few kisses.

Hopefully there will be more to talk about when 2013 rolls around!

Merry Christmas everyone! (even the Jews) ;)





Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Photo Puke!

Baby Rigsby....




Three weeks old...




Levitation. Criss Angel eat your heart out!




Criss Angel. **purrrrrrr**




Uphill and all Arab...




8 months old. Streeeeetchy trot!




2yr old. Doin' work!

Doesn't he look great in pink? :)


 
 This summer...


Monday, November 19, 2012

Reflections...

I haven't posted in a few days, because I haven't seen my pony for a few days. The holidays are upon us, and that means long, exhausting weekends for me. Luckily, I am a money-whore, so it doesn't bother me. I'll work until I drop.

Saturday night I made the huge mistake of consuming too much alcohol, and ended up in NO shape to work Sunday afternoon. I pride myself in having become a semi-responsible adult when it comes to drinking on school nights, but i thought since I didn't start work until 3pm, I'd be ok. No such luck. I was still puking at 1pm. Fucking Bacardi.

Unoccupied Area IV is an...interesting place, to say the least. It's like a disgusting version of Melrose Place, meaning everyone gets wasted and sleeps with each other but hardly anyone is good looking.



Me? I just sometimes get wasted.

It's like a freaky Hitchcock movie. You come to this town, having been from a 'normal' place and you're shocked at the way people act.



Here's an example of some of Unoccupied Area IV's finest parenting. Yes, that is a 3/4 gallon bottle of wine in that chiller, and that is a real infant baby in the car seat. And yes, they drank it all and then drove out of the parking lot. Did I mention this was 11:15am on a Tuesday?


Unoccupied Area IV tries to come off as god fearing Christian State, but from where I stand, nothing is farther from the truth. I've never seen a town with so many churches and so few Christians. From the cheating/swapping, to getting wasted around their kids. The classlessness is endless. Here, getting an M.I.P is a badge of honor and a measurable percentage of the senior class was pregnant. Here, several teens die every year in drunk driving accidents. Here, getting married at 17, to some Air Force guy you've been fucking since you were 15 is totally normal. Why? So they can live on base together and get free housing. And the parent(s) are ok with it. Like I said, Twilight Zone.

So, here's a toast to burying my head in the snow for the next 6 months until I can go home to where the people are somewhat sane. I'll even keep the wine classless, just for you; Minot.



Monday, November 12, 2012

Frozen Tundra...

5 degrees, sunny and no wind? No big deal. The Fancy-Schmancy Pony/Future Event Horse took it all in stride in his mid-weight blanket.

His HW blanket has been ordered, and is shockingly, back ordered.

OK, maybe not so shockingly.

We'll find a way to make do until it arrives. If we get some really nasty days with wind, I stuff him full of warm beet pulp mash and bring him in mid-day, for a break from the cold and a big flake of alfalfa.

OK, I confess. Mostly I wrote this post to share this awesome picture I took today. Hope your week goes well! Stay safe, warm and dry!



Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Two-A-Days...




Although this schedule is a bit tiresome, I really like it. This morning we struck out to the field under a cloudy sky, balmy 46 degrees and....NO wind! Nekkid pony time!




Fancy-Schmancy Pony/Future Event Horse was certainly feeling his oats today. We put in a hard trot set to the top of the hill, and on the way back down he was really wanting to move out. Sorry, pony. No Can Do. I didn't want a fight on my hands, so I did the next best thing; I distracted him by ignoring him and paying attention to the rocks in the path. Now, these are no ordinary rocks. They are about the size of tennis balls/softballs. No bueno for the two of us, once the deep snow settles in. So, I set to the task of going from side to side on our path, covering about a 10ft area and chucking whatever rocks I could find, far away from us. After a bit, Rigsby was as interested in the rocks as I was and I had a semi-calm pony for the rest of the trip home. This is going to be my 'on the way home' task over the next few days. I'm looking forward to hitting the drifts when they are up to our knees (hellooooo cardio!), and I don't want a twisted human ankle/pony leg, to ruin our winter workout plans.

Playdate #2: These are usually occurring between 11pm-12am.

Things I have learned: Rigsby isn't a big fan of stall confinement. He's taken to such charming vices as: right-brained behavior in his stall, and chewing on the wood walls.

This is where playdate #2 comes in handy. I've asked my BO to make sure Rigsby is the last horse brought in, to minimize his time inside. This also minimizes the time he's exposed to the commotion of people in the barn. Then I show up 4-6 hours later and bring him to the indoor to stretch his legs and most importantly; LEARN. After our sessions, which are usually no more than 45 minutes long (15 min of stretching/30 minutes of classroom), he walks back in his stall quite contently and hopefully, sleeps through the night.

His weight gain is coming along well. I'm hoping by December 1st, I'll be able to cut his grain intake by 1/3, and add another alfalfa flake to his evening feed program. More hay, less grain! I also ordered his new winter blanket. He'll be rockin' a HW 1200D Weatherbetta Freestyle for the days it gets below 10 degrees, and for the REALLY cold days, I got him the matching neck attachment. I'm working on a bad-ass warm beet pulp mash for his morning feed on those cold days, as well.

Another thing I learned this week: Rigsby LOVES carrots! And, if you throw a carrot into his water bucket, by morning the carrot and all the water are gone. We're talking about 30-40% increase in water intake. That's HUGE.

All in all, it's been a great week!

Monday, November 5, 2012

Dry Land Is A Myth...





How long does it have to be "winter" before I'm allowed to gripe about the weather?

It's been 5 days. That's long enough.






Now, although this may not look that bad, and yes I know it could be (and will get) 100x worse; but please allow me to read between the lines, and explain the weather you DON'T see.

Monday: Sun/Rain. Ummmm...bullshit. There has been no sun all day. It's dreary and raining. Oh, did I mention the wind? Yeah, it's blowing out of the south at a balmy 25+mph.

Tomorrow: Sunny/43 degrees. Ummmm...I'm already calling bullshit. Will it be sunny? Maybe. Will it hit 43 degrees? Maybe. Will the horses be able to frolik in their mud wrestling pit nekkid? Very unlikely. Why? Because that Sunny/43 degree day will very likely be accompanied by todays 25+mph winds, making it around 19 degrees with the windchill.

The wind here is what gets to me. I can handle the bitter cold, the snow, the rain and the heat; but the wind makes everything that is already a challenge, absolutely miserable. Now, I didn't mind it so much in the peak of summer when it was 90+degrees and it blew away the humidity; but now I'd like it to fuck right off and not come back until July.

Knowing I have zero chance of that happening, I will now end my gripe, and move onto the better news.

Today Rigsby and I braved the wind and rain and hit the muddy field for some trot sets. This is the part where I love having an Arab. Being bred for war and companionship, they are down for pretty much anything Life throws at them.
It really started to pour as soon as I pulled him from the field, so I kept his blanket on (mental note to self: order a lightweight rain coat for these days). The muck was very hard going for me, so he didn't have to work up much of a sweat. He was as forward and willing as ever. When we turned around at the top of the hill to return home, he was nowhere near feeling the workout (I'll probably never use the word 'tired', as it's nearly impossible to wear an Arabian out, especially on foot), so I thought we'd try doing a few trot sets on the way home.

Bad idea.

He took off LIKE A SHOT. Luckily, all those bending exercises I've done paid off, and I was able to slow him before I was walking home solo. Although, I think that might have had been better, because then I wouldn't have had to bear witness to his disdainful looks all the way home about having to WALK, and have to explain to him that I can't run 30mph. After a hundred feet or so of dancing and sidestepping, he settled back into his springy, relaxed walk. Not bad for a 2yr old. **insert heart icon here**

After our workout, I brought him into the barn for a chunk of alfalfa and gave his legs a good scrubbing, then returned him to his paddock. I'll go back tonight around 11pm, to put in the mental work of stretching and transitions in the indoor. And just let him mozy around nekkid, with solid footing under his feet. I'm sure he's dying for a good roll!

Chasing The Dream: Breeders' Cup Moments....

Everyone has a favorite cause. Some folks like feeding starving children, some are into civil rights, some like to save cats. Mine is the Horse. I could never own/run a rescue, because I'd probably end up like one of those hoarders that authorities take horses AWAY from, so instead I donate undescribable amounts of my money to reputable rescues like ReRun, Old Friends, Beyond The Roses and Pure Thoughts. This cause is what's inspiring me to write this post tonight.

I set my alarm for Midnight, to wake up and make a last minute bid on the Da Hoss "Moneigh" on Ebay; to raise money for ReRun Thoroughbred Adoption. After seeing that the bid has been considerably upped...


...I decided to watch his 1998 BC Mile race for the 1327th time, to remind myself again, why I want this so badly. In doing so, I set into motion, another 50 minutes of watching past BC highlights, and that inspired me to write this post tonight.

I think this is all related to my blog, because a huge percentage of our Event horses came from, or were bred for the race track. So, to pass the time until I can bid on my the Moneigh, I've compiled a list of my top BC moments. I hope you enjoy them, they come from my heart. Oh, and I'll let you know if I won the Moneigh.





Uncle Mo.
What a war face!!!





Unbridled
**insert huge heart icon here**






Tiznow
(If you had to ask...)




This one is especially close to my heart. Sadly, he was euthanized a couple years later, after an ill-fated race.
R.I.P. Champ.




Alysheba.
My first love.


]

Blame
I don't care what the haters say. In those final strides he dug in, ducked down and legitimately beat the greatest mare ever to race on American soil.






Da Hoss
(And inspiration for this post)
Awesome Tribute To Da Hoss  (grab your tissues)





Sunday Silence
You know you're a race fan when you have this race call memorized...



Can I get a drum roll please....

My top Breeders' Cup moment of all time is...



Tiznow
With my friend, the late Tim "Tiznow" Reynolds; his biggest fan.

The date was 10/26/01. Less than two months after 9/11, in the battleground of New York; Tiznow set out to defend his 2000 BC Classic championship. In the final furlong, as he battled the Saudi-owned colt Sakhee, Tiznow wasn't just running for his fans; he was running for his Country. Still have those tissues? 



My heart will forever belong, to the Thoroughbred race horse.

By the way, I won my Moneigh. :)

Friday, November 2, 2012

Trotting In A Winter Wonderland...

There is something special about horses and winter, is there not? The clean smelling air, the first snow crunching under your feet. There is a peace that surrounds a fuzzy pony contently munching his hay in a cozy warm stall, or blowing steam out of his velvety nose in the crisp night air...

The people change, too. Maybe it's the anticipation of the coming holidays, or that the weather brings everyone to the indoor arena. There is an unmistakable joy in the common bond that we all share, and for a very short time makes even the most hardened dressage diva, suddenly seem tolerable.

Happy Winters Eve, everyone!


(Stolen Pony Picture)

Sunday, October 28, 2012

Goodbye, Summer...

27 degrees and very breezy (15mph winds. Yep, that's "breezy" in North Dakota) was the forecast when I headed to the barn. 30% chance of snow today and snow all day tomorrow, but it hadn't started yet. I decided to brave the breeze, and try and get Rigsby one last basket of fresh, semi-green grass for the season.

1pm...




2pm.

Here we go. Goodbye, Summer...

How's Fancy-Schmancy Pony/Future Event Horse handling it?



Like a Boss.

Hi Mom!



Bring it on, Old Man Winter. We're ready for you.


Sunday, October 21, 2012

No Bueno

Thank you Steve Jobs, for the speak to text technology on my iPhone. Without it I could not be bringing this report to you all today. I was kicked in my right forearm by a horse today, it is now rendered almost completely useless. It wasn't Rigsby, it was a new horse that they had just put in the paddock. He was scared, the other horses were driving him around, I was trying to work a knot out of Rigsbys' mane. As I came around Rigsby, the other horses drove this new horse into the corner. I must  have made him feel trapped. He turned his butt toward me, I dove out of the way, but he still tagged me on the arm.



The x-rays in the ER showed it was not broken, just a bruised bone and severe tissue trauma. They wrapped it up, gave me a sling and a prescription for Vicodin and said I should be fine in 2 to 3 weeks.

Saturday, October 20, 2012

Finding Our Footing...

After the rain 2 days ago, I knew the fields would be soft. Perfect footing for a jog through the fields. It went far better than I expected. Rigsby was forward and not too tense. He had some great moments of lip licking and relaxation. He stumbled and slid in the mud a few times, like an awkward teenager does, but it helped keep his attention on his feet. We saw the neighbor mares across the field, and Rigsby took the opportunity to arch his neck and show off for the ladies. What a ham.  As we both grow stronger, our jogs will become longer. The low, gradual hills will help him build a fantastic topline and confidence in his footing. He should be quite a horse, come Spring.

Thursday, October 18, 2012

**Insert Smile Here**

Due to incremant weather (aka: pouring rain, 46 degrees and 50mph wind gusts), my BO thought it best to keep the indoor/turnout ponies, indoor today. She's one smart cookie.

Besides the morning turnout time they spent roaming about the indoor arena while she was cleaning stalls, I went in the early afternoon to make sure Rigsby had some additional excercise. It was a very successful endevor.

We worked on-line for about 1/2 hour, going over poles at a walk and trot, making turns around barrels and working on bending exercises. He was respectful of my space, forward and a very willing learner. There was tons of lip licking from him, and lots of terrible singing from me. He rewarded me at the end of our lesson by going for a grand roll, and I rewarded him for a job well done with a big basket of fresh picked grass, a 20 minute session with the curry comb and some deep leg massages.

We are definitely on The Golden Pathway!




Saturday, October 13, 2012

A Stones Throw Away...

I love being close to my barn...


I've lived many distances from my horses, from having them right in my backyard (probably never again), to 17 miles away (DEFINITELY never again).

This is perfect.

I can go every day, and do. Sometimes I'm there 3x a day.

With a plan in place to move back home to Occupied Area IV next year, finding a residence and barn within close proximity of each other, is at the top of my priority list.

I've narrowed it down to a few choices in the northern suburbs...

Davenport Stables
Foxwood Farm
Grace Farms Minnesota.

 All have access to the park reserve (for hacks/trot sets/gallops) and all are Event friendly.

Of course, the prices almost made me choke on my Cherrios.



I guess that's one of the (few) benefits of living in Unoccupied Area IV.

But, if you want to go from this...


To this...


It's going to cost a few...












Thursday, October 11, 2012

Taking A Chill Pill...

Today, my BO offered to take over feeding Rigsby.

This is where a perfectionist, control freak horse owner pretty much has a panic attack.



Rigsbys feed program is pretty meticulous. What if they don't add the aloe vera juice? What if they don't mix it properly and he separates his supplement from his feed into an expensive little pile? What if, what if, what if?

What if I take a deep breath, a chill pill; and calm the fuck down?

The Ultimate Chill Pill


The benefits of this soooooo outweigh my paranoid thoughts. 

Imagine my horse fed, and given ample time to digest his food by the time I arrive at the barn? This means we can go directly into training/playing! Why the hell didn't I think of this before? Oh yeah. Because I'm a perfectionist, control freak. 

Is this enlightenment/extra training time worth $100 more a month? 

It's absolutely Priceless. 



Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Hazy Shade of Winter....


Today I finally threw in the towel on keeping Rigsby on 24/7 turnout. The wind in North Dakota is just too much for him. Even with his blanket, if he was exposed to the wind he kept a slight hum of a shiver going. I know he was in no danger to the cold, but he's burning up all the hard fought calories I've put in him. After a few random late night visits, I noticed that he spends most of his nights in the lean-to, out of the wind and away from the hay. Well, if he's doing to sit in the shed all night, he might as well be in a warm comfortable stall where he can be nekkid, within sight of two of his other herdmates; with hay in front of him at all times. Sounds like a game plan to me!

Winter Feed Program: He's now getting a chunk of alfalfa, and I'm replacing his 1/2 lb Equine Jr ration, with Senior feed, for the extra calories.
Thanks for the grub. Is it time to go in yet?

Thursday, October 4, 2012

Spontanious Dentistry...

I arrived at the barn today, with a plan to bring Rigsby out in the open fields and play. Considering that the last 24 hours consisted of constant rain, leaving the chance of some pretty muddy going, I was sure to dress for the occasion. I wasn't too worried about my green plaid pajama pants tucked into my before mentioned muck boots, or even my drastically different colored flannel hooded jacket, after all; it was 1:30 in the afternoon on a weekday. I'd have the barn to myself.

This was not the case.

I opened the barn door and was greeted by the husband barn owner, and three strange men, including one who was going at some horses face with a power tool, resulting in white smoke everywhere.
Oh goodie. The dentist is here.

I was thrilled, and a bit embarrassed, all at the same time. Thrilled because my horses face while eating lately, looked like this...





And embarrassed because instead of looking like this...






I looked more like this...



But such is Life...

There were about 7 or 8 men and women standing behind the stall the dentist was working in, with their well groomed horses. Yes, when coming from off-site, people groom their horses like it's a show, or something. 7 or 8 is nothing. Last month there were probably 25 strange horses milling around the property.

The dentist visits my boarding facility once a month, with his sidekick The Chiropractor; so once a month our barn is filled/packed with people/horses that have come from as far as 100 miles away to have their horses worked on. This tells me they are very good at what they do. It also tells me that my boarding stable is the place to be in this area. But I already knew that. I told Dr. Dentist MD that I'd wished I'd known he was coming, because my horse was showing signs of needing his teeth done. DDMD cheerfully mentioned that he'd just had a cancellation, and he could fit my boy in next.







An hour later...


Two baby teeth and the wolf teeth. No filing down for this cat. We ain't fuckin around round here.



Drugged pony will thank me tomorrow.

The 411 on Rigsby...

Rigsby was puchased in May of 2012 from Lawrence Arabians, in Pomeroy, Ohio. He is a Straight Egyptian Arabian. That means...
...his ancestors saw a lot of this.

His sire is beyond impressive
Imperial Shehaab


And his dam was quite easy on the eyes. May she rest in peace...
Halima Delight MA

Interesting fact about Rigsbys' pedigree for all of you Arab gurus: His bloodline is free of The Minstril.

The wonderful story of Rigsbys' sire line: