Where Does Time Go?

Last time I looked it was the end of October and JC was being let down for the winter. We had just finished the last show of the season. Now, we are planning shows for this upcoming season, JC is back to work and everyone is discussing how they will fit into their riding suits. As for me, I have ridden JC once and I have to learn to ride him in order to show him.

Riding him was wonderful. He is the most honest horse I have ever ridden. He tries to please every step of the way. You tell him what you want and he does it. He floored me when I told him to back and, with me never touching the bridle or having him step forward, he backed exactly three steps and walked forward again. We had a few issues on the canter, but he tried to do it right. more

Horsey Aerobics

I have been pretty much laid up since September of 2007 when I got beat up in a fight at work. By the end of January, I had had two shoulder surgeries. I rode after my surgeries if you could call it that. When I got to the point that my shoulders were as healed as they could get, I broke my leg. That left me with another 10 weeks of not riding.

My arms will never improve; they are what they are. My leg has almost healed. I do have to get on and off with a 3 step stool. I am trying to ride as much as possible to get myself in shape to show JC this summer. Today, I learned something new-horsey aerobics. My trainer had me ride with free weights. OMG I never thought I would get through it. My arms hadn't really been used in well over a year. Now I was riding with free weights in each hand and posting at the same time. She was worse than any personal trainer I ever had. I didn't realize how weak I really was. more

Horse in the Snow

My husband was able to come to the barn today to see his "boy". JC has been on vacation since the middle of October and gets to spend his mornings running outside. I never get to see him do it as, by the time I get to the barn, he is inside. Today, we got to the barn and JC was still outside--as beautiful as ever. We went outside and called him. He came running. The first thing Brian said was, "where is the camera?" Well, it was at home. What a wonderful picture watching this beautiful liver chestnut with a flaxen mane and tail playing in the white snow and then standing perfectly still like a statue.

It amazes me that we take these gorgeous animals who the trainers work so hard to make into show horses and give them their time to be just horses again, and they are more beautiful than when they are showing. The tail and mane flowing and them running free as they were meant to be. I missed the perfect moment which I don't know that I'll ever get again. Then I wonder what will happen when his vacation is over and it is time to get ready for show season next year. What if he doesn't want to do that again? What if he just wants to run and play and be a horse? more

Thanks to the trainers and grooms

It is the time of the year where we need to remember and thank all of the people who help our horses look and be the best they can. For some of us, it is our trainers who spend countless hours and a lot of patience to help our horses become the best they can. Not to mention the hours they spend on us as riders and probably more patience to make us the best we can be. It is no wonder we have so many trainers who are either grey or bald. These trainers also care for our horses when they are sick by giving them their medicine or staying up all night worrying about them. Our trainers also get the wonderful job of teaching young babies how to be show horses. They get dragged around the ring, thrown and tossed out of carts on occasion. We won't even mention the demand that customers put on their trainers to make the next Imperator or Sky Watch. read more

New York's Best Retires

One of our babies, who is obviously no longer a baby, was retired at the age of 14 after her last class at the Mane Event charity horse show. New York's Best a/k/a Jet retired after a great career and will join Lady Skybuck in the broodmare ranks.

Jet was out of our first mare Best Loved and by New York Times. My mother had always wanted a black horse. Best Loved was by Status Symbol so we knew she had a chance of producing a black baby. My sister and I bred lady (Best Loved) as a present to my mother. After much research, we went to the stallion that we figured would produce a black horse. Hence, Jet was born. more

Wow, time does fly

It was one year ago that we were watching JC drive. That's all he did for months was drive. There was never any thought of showing him. He was a lanky 2 year old who could barely lift his legs and was really good at tripping over them. In February, I finally said it would be interesting to see him under saddle once again.

Terri Anne (my trainer) said fine and rode him. Jimmy (who had been training him) said there would be no more thought of him showing in harness as he was much prettier under saddle. Showing??? Huh??? a three year old under saddle. This would be a first. We talked about it and decided we would aim for the middle of show season. Then April came, and I was told he was going to show in May and then go to Midwest etc.. He did better than I ever could have hoped. Thank you--Jimmy and Terri Anne.

Well now it is November and show season is behind us. more

Christmas Shopping

We are getting close to the holiday season. Check out our companion store All Things Horsey for all your stocking stuffers and gift needs. Almost all the merchants are having sales right now. We have gifts and items for everybody and every room in your house. Remember, each merchant does carry non-horsey items also. The carousel at the top of each shop are from Amazon. If you buy from Amazon, and click through the carousel, whatever you order will be credited back to me.

Most of these merchants are offering free shipping right now. The merchandise is updated regularly. If there is something in a shop which is unavailable, please notify me so I can replace it. If there is something you would like to see, I would be happy to try and locate it for you.

Happy Shopping!