outtakes + blogger meet ups + a sad sad mare

This past weekend proved to be even more exciting than I had initially expected when signing up for another lesson with Stephen Birchall. Mostly bc fellow blogger Liz stopped by on her way through town to stay with Austen! And naturally I had to crash the party again haha.

Austen & Guinness, Liz & Teddy!
wait WAIT - got that backwards. That's Austen & Teddy, and Liz & Guinness

It worked out perfectly too, as my ride ended up scheduled for Saturday afternoon while Liz was still around (with her fancy camera - woot woot!!) so we got to spend some quality time hangin out together at the barn after my lesson.

Teddy does his best to look fancy. not hard to do with the picturesque gazebo lol

During which time, obvi Austen and Liz went out for a little ride of their own and I got to return the favor by playing photog. It was actually kinda awesome watching Liz get a mini lesson on Pig - esp as it reminded me very strongly of doing the same thing when I first met Austen last summer. And got to learn first had about Pig's go button. Hint: it WORKS lol.

Liz & Pig looking quite nicely matched in blue!

Liz was just as wonderful to meet in person as you might expect from following her blog - and it was particularly exciting timing as she and her spunky arab mare Q had just completed their first ever 100 mile race. Crazy. I can't even imagine riding for 100 miles - and yet they went out there and made it happen and the entire post about that journey is incredible and I highly recommend you settle in and read it all!

offended mare is offended

Anyway, between Liz and Austen there are approximately 18 thousand pics from my ride in the clinic haha. And lots and LOTS of outtakes. Mostly of Isabel making ridiculous faces at me when I unwittingly try to touch her face uninvited. Like the above - where she makes it perfectly clear that while she may rub her face on me, I am *not* to try and reach out for more pets. The nerve!

"NOOOoooooooo!!!" - saddest mare ever

Poor thing, the indignities didn't stop there... Perhaps I've mentioned it before, but Isabel HATES getting wet. It's so bad that I can't even get her into the fancy pants gorgeous wash stalls at Austen's barn (trust me, I've tried and it's basically humiliating bc mare just WILL NOT DO IT). So we settle for just sponging off at the trailer.

"not the face!! NOT THE FACE!!!!!"

And obviously Isabel got totally tag-teamed haha. Esp with Liz fresh off a 100 mile endurance ride where getting the horse cooled off and pulsed down is of critical importance, she wasted no time on pandering to Isabel's delicate sensibilities about the sponge. I love it haha

plus naturally we had to hit the district too

Anyway, there's plenty more to come from the clinic itself (I'm still digesting and working out the details in my mind) so stay tuned!!