Monday, October 12, 2015

in a class of our own (literally)

Phew what a busy weekend! Thank you everyone for your kind words about Milagro. He is dearly missed, tho there is some relief in knowing it was the right decision.

There's no rest for the weary tho, and this weekend was jam packed with all sorts of stuff - most of it actually very fun. Per usual I have some media catch-up to do before I can provide the full details... but here are some fun spoiler pics.

i had to drag Bali away from his lunch for this pic. he was not amused!
Our farm hosted a schooling CT this weekend and I entered Bali for the hell of it. Isabel has been otherwise occupied for every single home event so far this year (for one reason or another, and this weekend was no exception - details to follow later).

seriously haha - just bc we are CONSTANTLY feeding this beast doesn't make him any less intent on his meals!
But they are fun events and I've kinda missed participating. Plus it seemed like a great schooling opportunity for Bali, since he's previously had some fairly negative experiences at these events.

blue is a good color for him :)
Don't take this ribbon too seriously tho - we were the only riders in the BN division (our farm lesson program is very beginner friendly and offers divisions from 12" through to Novice... but most students top out around 2'3") so it was a de facto placing provided I kept the horse between me and the ground.

bali enjoys the sweet smell of success
Plus, had there been other actual competitors I would have just been riding HC for a variety of reasons (not limited to the fact that I set the jump course myself). But whatever. Bali doesn't need to know that - homeboy could maybe use a little bit of that 'winning feeling' considering he really was quite quite good. I have tons of media tho so stay tuned for the details!

And because there's so much media to catch up on, I'm just gonna plop these pics of the *angriest* mare evar right here. 
Dressage trainer C came through with a recommendation for an equine dentist, since Izzy was a bit over due. Her owner continues to be quite overbooked with work so I offered to get it done - and was especially motivated in hopes that we'd see improvement in Isabel's acceptance of the bridle. 
The dentist had a nice touch with the mare - whistled and sang to her, and was quite gentle but also, ya know, got it done. He said Izzy's mouth wasn't as bad as he had expected - tho there were quite a few sharp points. 
He said arabs notoriously have very soft, fleshy mouths - something like the consistency of jello (ew) - so it's really easy for them to get pinched in there. I'm not sure I totally understand what that means.... but have to say that her mouth HAS felt incredibly soft (I would say pudding, not jello, lol) since then and she's less resistant. Still resistant tho - bc obvi she's a red arab mare - but there's a degree of softness there that wasn't around before.
So I was pretty happy to get that checked off the list. But I gotta admit - I had serious flashbacks to the jawbreaker from Saw while he was working on her. Am I the only one that sees this?!? Lol.... Poor Isabel... no wonder she hates me ;)
Just kidding - she doesn't really hate me (at least I don't think so!). We kept busy this weekend tho - with lessons at OF (stadium) and TM (dressage), plus a saddle fitting that I will write more extensively about bc I'm not quite sure what the outcome will be yet...

Ooh and we will also have a cross country schooling tomorrow before spending the last couple days of the week trail riding and conditioning and lightly schooling in anticipation of the Maryland Horse Trials at Loch Moy Fall Starter. Exciting stuff!!

37 comments:

  1. Yay Bali! As long as he had a great experience who cares how many people were in the class!

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    1. thanks! i'm so proud of this (not so) little horse! he really did his best for the show and i couldn't be happier

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  2. Replies
    1. super busy, but lots of fun all around!!!

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  3. How can so much angry fit in that little mare? Daaang

    Congrats tho! Bali bonaza!

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    1. haha she has zero qualms expressing her opinion about things. fortunately, aside from shooting daggers at me with her eyes (and potentially plotting her revenge haha) she was very well behaved. you can see in the pics he mostly just held her still with his hands on her nose - no chain or anything needed. good mare!

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  4. How can so much angry fit in that little mare? Daaang

    Congrats tho! Bali bonaza!

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  5. Oh yay saddle fitting!! I should write mine up too.

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    1. oooh please do! perhaps it'll help me figure my shit out haha... and at worst at least we can commiserate together?

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  6. Quite the busy weekend! I am sure you crashed pretty hard last night!

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    1. haha i totally planned to at least catch the late game after getting home and showering.... and yeeaaaaahhhh that definitely did not happen haha

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  7. Replies
    1. me too - it was a lot of fun! just a two-phase tho, no xc yet. maybe soon tho?

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  8. Holy whoa, how do you keep up with all the things? I am impressed on all kinds of levels (as in, nice blue ribbon and good job not letting Izzy's angry face steal your soul)!

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    1. oh man, this weekend was actually a bit *too* busy for my liking (and that's saying something as i do best when i'm very very busy)... but we had a blast anyway. and izzy can't steal my soul bc i'm a redhead right along with her - no souls there to steal, right? lol

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  9. So grumpy! Love that face! And congrats to Mr Bali

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  10. I totally want to come do one of these next year (they're open, right?). Of course that would require my hunter self to take some dressage lessons :)

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    1. yes they're totally open!!! our jumper shows are open too, if you'd rather just do that instead of trying to make a test happen :D

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  11. Go Bali!! What a great experience for him. And poor mare, life is rough for pampered ponies.

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    1. Lol right? Her life is soooooo tuff haha. And I really am so thrilled w Bali. :)

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  12. Bali is so cute! And such a good boy! Way to go!

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  13. Bali is adorable, can't wait for a full recap! You're totally not alone on the jawbreaker thing...that was the first thing my husband blurted out when he saw P getting his teeth done for the first time.

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    1. haha isn't it just the creepiest device ever?!?

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  14. You are the busiest person ever!
    Glad Bali did well at the event.

    And yessss, it does remind me of Saw! HAHA.

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    1. so busy omg... this weekend was a little TOO much honestly. but all's well that ends well, right?

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  15. Yay Bali!!! And LOL Izzy - that face!

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    1. haha she certainly knows how to get her point across

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  16. Replies
    1. meeeeee tooooo!!! (nvm that this actual particular ribbon is actually older, from who knows when, that i fished out of my car's trunk just for the photo op. lol)

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  17. Oh god that movie screenshot sent me into a small panic...I'd forgotten that horrible movie...until now. lol

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  18. Yay Bali!
    That movie screenshot is terrifying! I couldn't get through those movies.

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    Replies
    1. haha me neither - i am definitely NOT a horror movie fan!

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