tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6474068625926755562024-03-17T23:42:37.305-06:00SprinklerBanditsAn adult amateur rider and a draft cross mare explore the sport horse world.SprinklerBandithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02948487857418394022noreply@blogger.comBlogger1711125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647406862592675556.post-17302887769882541622022-04-21T06:00:00.004-06:002022-04-21T06:00:00.236-06:00A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Barn<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>I found myself off my usual path the other day. And 3 minutes from a cowboy tack store I'd never been to. I thought I'd pop in and see if they had the teal boots I so desperately need to complete ZB's western outfit game.<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp2BAPzQXCq9b63cjtqYEShfkD8-6IC4sQeSPgWbTUvxfqHyGezzmUjOUS8PG0jjXvazfFturqTzXUrvfXeq434QA-meDGHmBAIgdrXDA1IQqw1kbM8czDrLqvzmNZfggPscNOLN7xSpaZuCX8O6Wr2m4tqTqw-zEgroWAVGvq2C8BOZNxwgIrIgdz/s832/74E88B3B-CBD6-4110-A8C9-0C90911029A4.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="712" data-original-width="832" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp2BAPzQXCq9b63cjtqYEShfkD8-6IC4sQeSPgWbTUvxfqHyGezzmUjOUS8PG0jjXvazfFturqTzXUrvfXeq434QA-meDGHmBAIgdrXDA1IQqw1kbM8czDrLqvzmNZfggPscNOLN7xSpaZuCX8O6Wr2m4tqTqw-zEgroWAVGvq2C8BOZNxwgIrIgdz/s320/74E88B3B-CBD6-4110-A8C9-0C90911029A4.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">i really love this picture<br />sure could use teal boots</td></tr></tbody></table><p>They did not. Which is fine. But since I was already so far off the beaten path, it made sense to go just a little farther to see if the next tack store had said dream boots. </p><p>And. </p><p>They did not. </p><p>But what they did have was the purple version of my beloved teal reins. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXQwe-Jp26PljPw6-QfZFmfdeFxYEYzQSiHULC0HtY2F2axZ392d_baci5reRKSnVqnAkHVRwryaJneh0mgD9V_iLg6SDkt9jDBbmTm_JEBUSJaHu7rUG4sBQ-y_N1XmESJljaXPI5wg8KOV-FeXTcjDchLY9y1fpdxfU5VFfirewhIOTULisGTVi1/s3193/E906904D-3EC2-4004-A7D9-7C19BA829698.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2525" data-original-width="3193" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXQwe-Jp26PljPw6-QfZFmfdeFxYEYzQSiHULC0HtY2F2axZ392d_baci5reRKSnVqnAkHVRwryaJneh0mgD9V_iLg6SDkt9jDBbmTm_JEBUSJaHu7rUG4sBQ-y_N1XmESJljaXPI5wg8KOV-FeXTcjDchLY9y1fpdxfU5VFfirewhIOTULisGTVi1/s320/E906904D-3EC2-4004-A7D9-7C19BA829698.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>You see these reins? They are the shit. Soft and sturdy with little hand stoppers to hang on to. Nice weight, happy colors. If I'm being picky, I'm a purple person, not a teal person, but teal is a really lovely color and ZB looks amazing in literally everything but snooze-fest-navy. <div><br /></div><div>And yeah, I was looking at them in purple. </div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuBZTiz-xuj7L5v0-q1-hP23yC4i-vGjg-coKw_L2VYQn9Ciy75W3ityQwWIrbBT1yO5_piIL1kiNzfI6f-Rko51PsEO2e3nQvdGUlSMuIMLOnUZVpppUaNaIms9TplARo6SBBLTtc_94sOIznc6WvjnSjFDn4psxsLJ9yy7lBL5L4iqkpCYydbnYq/s4032/IMG_5429.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuBZTiz-xuj7L5v0-q1-hP23yC4i-vGjg-coKw_L2VYQn9Ciy75W3ityQwWIrbBT1yO5_piIL1kiNzfI6f-Rko51PsEO2e3nQvdGUlSMuIMLOnUZVpppUaNaIms9TplARo6SBBLTtc_94sOIznc6WvjnSjFDn4psxsLJ9yy7lBL5L4iqkpCYydbnYq/s320/IMG_5429.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>Now I know buying purple reins is the opposite of solving the teal boots problem but here's the thing: when has a little detail like that even slowed me down when I decide to go full tack ho? </p><p>Fact: it has not. </p><p>So then I had purple reins and I was headed back in a more usual direction when I drove past A THIRD TACK STORE that does like fancy custom cowboy shit and that I have never been to because A) it's far away from me and B) while I love playing cowboys, I'm not going to drop $$$$ on a legit set up to toodle around in. </p><p>But on a day like that, why wouldn't I stop? </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhod6GuBqvb7tUo0UikiNe7TMLd_KU_Nf2wy5ROaXL9YCmzrHMzvN_FW6pn0vJyF2jEFMpWHCD_04uB9voHeiaBeoO23qw5gkBHJbUZ0m6bDK6k37XSfsqElvRdabo2ZD_cElbko_55hFNzn3Fr1M4mvXpu2OeH-CXHrFfyu4gX0XK881cj1kSuBRLj/s3583/C53AF4CC-515A-425F-9E99-3DCEDC43AF5F.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3583" data-original-width="2798" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhod6GuBqvb7tUo0UikiNe7TMLd_KU_Nf2wy5ROaXL9YCmzrHMzvN_FW6pn0vJyF2jEFMpWHCD_04uB9voHeiaBeoO23qw5gkBHJbUZ0m6bDK6k37XSfsqElvRdabo2ZD_cElbko_55hFNzn3Fr1M4mvXpu2OeH-CXHrFfyu4gX0XK881cj1kSuBRLj/s320/C53AF4CC-515A-425F-9E99-3DCEDC43AF5F.jpeg" width="250" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">she's in as long as there's snacks</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Even with the purple reins, I was trying to stay on message. I got a little bogged down debating what local friends I might be able to talk into producing a couple babies so I could justify the ADORABLE child's western saddle I found but even with that, TEAL BOOTS GODAMMIT. Teal. I already have the fancy matching pad. Let's go. </p><p>Do you know what I saw on the shelf at store #3?</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGR4wrti7EXUVAVUsqYZ8tpS-jwY0Vlp_95_nPSnidti5johYAt2HnQ8MqQa8aVkCq_9PDOXz6AtJr9BpoRUvcHmktg8-u_RLNgggTY8Mi-4NcviGuACmBFml1YZYIaGXGxCGCW2ZkoGfmQqSVeG_v3p64h8UgWfD3ErXLY6q_dU48qz0mG62Mk15t/s4032/IMG_5431.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGR4wrti7EXUVAVUsqYZ8tpS-jwY0Vlp_95_nPSnidti5johYAt2HnQ8MqQa8aVkCq_9PDOXz6AtJr9BpoRUvcHmktg8-u_RLNgggTY8Mi-4NcviGuACmBFml1YZYIaGXGxCGCW2ZkoGfmQqSVeG_v3p64h8UgWfD3ErXLY6q_dU48qz0mG62Mk15t/s320/IMG_5431.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">o hi</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Funny story. </p><p>Purple boots. </p><p>And hey! Guess who just happened to have two thumbs and matching reins? </p><p>I did browse the whole display but there was simply no teal to be found. None at all. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaP1fmw1D_AGH-prL-lyB_pIZMnukk1N1TXBVI5TMn-pYiDE7Yhas8pGWk25ZvUw8aLcwj5FOThMo2xUWk_ZYtEpOT6Y-7gKZe9_UUXaf_lwyzHfv5AIa_kb7ghBP0GyGfUnWdiEJygAnXqKeMJJ9ZwUaWt17cRO8YEZP-GWAyAhzLmJ4oYHd7XOGq/s3249/73107929-E15F-4CAF-8B8E-949315F24FE8.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2338" data-original-width="3249" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaP1fmw1D_AGH-prL-lyB_pIZMnukk1N1TXBVI5TMn-pYiDE7Yhas8pGWk25ZvUw8aLcwj5FOThMo2xUWk_ZYtEpOT6Y-7gKZe9_UUXaf_lwyzHfv5AIa_kb7ghBP0GyGfUnWdiEJygAnXqKeMJJ9ZwUaWt17cRO8YEZP-GWAyAhzLmJ4oYHd7XOGq/s320/73107929-E15F-4CAF-8B8E-949315F24FE8.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">i mean everything is her color but HELLO</td></tr></tbody></table>So uh. </div><div><br /></div><div>TL;DR I still don't have teal boots but now I need a purple saddle blanket. </div><div><br /></div><div>Oh and in a strange twist that I wasn't going to include but here we are, apparently these conchos are a thing that exist and that can be added to any headstall you own. And can be made in any color you want. </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBXQkaHvj5minVBUYzzRrijNioou2xGLBr99h7WcG03tyQEKBBWfDJ8XFrnZKwwgKSQBFbDb5tk4milUktNON0Y0J5d3OY-z45eJDfF7VeSoJa4EsVfZLlBGGRx_LxrzDXPS30Kp39wwDuQSJ01vE1NPgf2Gi5gjfPb98Zk46upQsc-f9D9CoSO7JX/s4032/IMG_5427.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBXQkaHvj5minVBUYzzRrijNioou2xGLBr99h7WcG03tyQEKBBWfDJ8XFrnZKwwgKSQBFbDb5tk4milUktNON0Y0J5d3OY-z45eJDfF7VeSoJa4EsVfZLlBGGRx_LxrzDXPS30Kp39wwDuQSJ01vE1NPgf2Gi5gjfPb98Zk46upQsc-f9D9CoSO7JX/s320/IMG_5427.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I mean.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>So stick that in your pipe and smoke it.</div>SprinklerBandithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02948487857418394022noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647406862592675556.post-56926655286768889952022-03-29T06:00:00.001-06:002022-03-29T06:00:00.255-06:00Breathe, Ride, Repeat<p>I don't have a lot of cool things to say right now. Some parts of life are very good and some parts are very stressful. The ZB parts are very good. My little lady is probably mumbleover16handsmumble, is like sitting on my favorite couch, and is constantly getting compliments from other boarders for her gung-ho attitude and general perfection. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh80SjV4QtCgaMTJ0g9lRHziJIOqpmgJ7viKG91TKPfOBeR4kJPfOt4HxsI-CgQbjqwGdrzJA8KA9z1aTHBpPb3u_Mh3V0u8AI6zd6Twq-PF6_KgTZO-cIpOud8wYs2MFVAR8-6PCn4qZ3pZja5X-sk0gmhHaNXXg7vGqV8pMgPrSJotEf4bFJTZH_t/s3084/9E8CAFDA-BC8D-4EA5-B785-1A2C64B7B0BF.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2395" data-original-width="3084" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh80SjV4QtCgaMTJ0g9lRHziJIOqpmgJ7viKG91TKPfOBeR4kJPfOt4HxsI-CgQbjqwGdrzJA8KA9z1aTHBpPb3u_Mh3V0u8AI6zd6Twq-PF6_KgTZO-cIpOud8wYs2MFVAR8-6PCn4qZ3pZja5X-sk0gmhHaNXXg7vGqV8pMgPrSJotEf4bFJTZH_t/s320/9E8CAFDA-BC8D-4EA5-B785-1A2C64B7B0BF.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">when you hit the sunset light just right</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>My current focus is trying to break in my western saddle properly. Kinda. I can't really claim to be super focused. Due to not-ZB things, I'm trying to keep hobby stress low right now so messing around playing cow pony is about where my brain is at.<br /><p></p><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYQfIDe0hHS-LcuOo8cgUg45F-G2AQ_QhpJq-3j9x0LS9U2AA16m3CJGuBlna_iFESNQ5--J02AQlkORsMkEAGc2Y5r1eklV8-9r68ymtdTsznIBy_XpJi44e01WdTSf2rwd_Ej1E3XQwNpvJRajr2ZRNZYGOWFvPYRy8obT7JsUW2z0aPppUZg6VX/s654/6A32F0E5-F03E-475F-BC81-F2C231A449F8.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="479" data-original-width="654" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYQfIDe0hHS-LcuOo8cgUg45F-G2AQ_QhpJq-3j9x0LS9U2AA16m3CJGuBlna_iFESNQ5--J02AQlkORsMkEAGc2Y5r1eklV8-9r68ymtdTsznIBy_XpJi44e01WdTSf2rwd_Ej1E3XQwNpvJRajr2ZRNZYGOWFvPYRy8obT7JsUW2z0aPppUZg6VX/s320/6A32F0E5-F03E-475F-BC81-F2C231A449F8.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a nicely cherry picked moment</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Did you know she's turning 9 this year?! <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipqJdsUsIkZTK_kSiPzhdTgVMwprgi63LZf7VpHKPCsZoivrbaUDCv8W679S0z9m0wS84SzPUElaeTES4YwO-p7gMYHTYmJeq1VwfhdV8PAKn2VzTyXJNfWcLB5EYbYgyR-iW-NIJQr6mZzp6O1EMhg8AJsIOW_iN1AFMS8kaAwY49aolZcowvZhFb/s3547/301C6730-FD96-40FE-9EA8-D281CD80B5CE.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3547" data-original-width="2660" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipqJdsUsIkZTK_kSiPzhdTgVMwprgi63LZf7VpHKPCsZoivrbaUDCv8W679S0z9m0wS84SzPUElaeTES4YwO-p7gMYHTYmJeq1VwfhdV8PAKn2VzTyXJNfWcLB5EYbYgyR-iW-NIJQr6mZzp6O1EMhg8AJsIOW_iN1AFMS8kaAwY49aolZcowvZhFb/s320/301C6730-FD96-40FE-9EA8-D281CD80B5CE.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">where does the time go?</td></tr></tbody></table><br />I really wanted to splurge and treat myself on fun teal western boots that were new and off the rack. Isn't that the whole point of having an adult job? You pay board and can afford to buy nice things at stores, LOL. </div><div><br /></div><div>But. </div><div><br /></div><div>Then every other animal I own decided that they'd like a pricey vet visit in the month of March so I guess I'm doing that instead. <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd9E-YgGHN3KjC6aU_FUK23r0ArwkP3_HsrjbuJbBptWlvw6Zq2uS2D-qwmEMEZVbRndGRXcL5GFYl4pVXKRoroPfazt3f4Wr7eRDLZZzAaxy6e0xTEk4ey3PAkg6bo6u8hUSO1maZI4HW6ebFgRS5OoNLZdutoRtJlSwBufTQuMz0ytO0fj-p_DEi/s3796/BF7F15D0-3F73-4D17-9DAB-A681004EE488.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3796" data-original-width="2847" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd9E-YgGHN3KjC6aU_FUK23r0ArwkP3_HsrjbuJbBptWlvw6Zq2uS2D-qwmEMEZVbRndGRXcL5GFYl4pVXKRoroPfazt3f4Wr7eRDLZZzAaxy6e0xTEk4ey3PAkg6bo6u8hUSO1maZI4HW6ebFgRS5OoNLZdutoRtJlSwBufTQuMz0ytO0fj-p_DEi/s320/BF7F15D0-3F73-4D17-9DAB-A681004EE488.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I actually don't think she cares at all.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />I'm having a hell of a time figuring out how to transfer dressage training in a snaffle on the contact over to western pony on a loose rein in a curb. </div><div><br /></div><div>Or at least. I thought I was. <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdN-NSFm3vm8FYbF1ZiQjaIKT8wkwA8aqBZCbaatwak-h8hF3fTh6rrouFlZuRaxYTQhH8pkIr9V1A5x3Oo0vc51d8OnFe4Q4uKaNTN-Mg_UxVTDgIz-QLrMYKaG7haYzzuvd0Jy_wO_d1ZQE5Fu2nLKIAJ18ga62hx8gLpElt7BiatbKa0McE9fUw/s684/IMG_4063.PNG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="554" data-original-width="684" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdN-NSFm3vm8FYbF1ZiQjaIKT8wkwA8aqBZCbaatwak-h8hF3fTh6rrouFlZuRaxYTQhH8pkIr9V1A5x3Oo0vc51d8OnFe4Q4uKaNTN-Mg_UxVTDgIz-QLrMYKaG7haYzzuvd0Jy_wO_d1ZQE5Fu2nLKIAJ18ga62hx8gLpElt7BiatbKa0McE9fUw/s320/IMG_4063.PNG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">LOOK HOW CUTE</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>We "work" 1-2 times a week and all other rides are 30 minutes flat footed walk to build baseline fitness. It's been unseasonably warm and she's still A YAK so we're easing in. It's really fun right now. She is trying SO HARD and keeps experimenting with her balance and frame and trying to find the right answer. I feel like we had a good breakthrough last week so now I'm just working on my timing for rewarding her try. </div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhohK6GPJlPk9nAfOlZkGa87xCBEz_-78RhoPGwxP1FsQWLUIZk_UwMcn9bNhcUrkeDJ8adOwMKwiAJIeFUI7IuDkv2M6n1pmb9qfDXKhRLsT2z5Nus7hm_WHdkv8BrTeJfDMEFzQmfm8X3whLnLANndtXL3vpOxm-VjmYf0SHZ2S8Q77Ehb1AqBOvK/s600/IMG_4060.PNG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="508" data-original-width="600" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhohK6GPJlPk9nAfOlZkGa87xCBEz_-78RhoPGwxP1FsQWLUIZk_UwMcn9bNhcUrkeDJ8adOwMKwiAJIeFUI7IuDkv2M6n1pmb9qfDXKhRLsT2z5Nus7hm_WHdkv8BrTeJfDMEFzQmfm8X3whLnLANndtXL3vpOxm-VjmYf0SHZ2S8Q77Ehb1AqBOvK/s320/IMG_4060.PNG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">we actually have these really nice balanced moments in a slow jog on a loose rein<br />they aren't long, but they're so good</td></tr></tbody></table><br />I've spent a lot of time on walking days just breathing and letting time slow down--the feel of her back swinging underneath me, the spring grass starting to come in. I'm so lucky to have a horse like this and she matters more to me than anything other goals right now.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicchr4bRHvpYLMjKjjR7X4fvULkSllfTHxH_44c54xsysXppM4HETZJr4iLOuuTU2if60LvjE-2nVU8OcX_QjUyRpdgwx821vtumETVxfxxOAcVZ9fLhuOS5-r9PKVW9XdmLHcMQnhTjizoguWRjXP2GmZ4BkNw9IZ22THYyiH7GwQUgkeKZ5aJ-jy/s3843/0F067530-AC24-43E6-8C47-701281DA4357.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2882" data-original-width="3843" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicchr4bRHvpYLMjKjjR7X4fvULkSllfTHxH_44c54xsysXppM4HETZJr4iLOuuTU2if60LvjE-2nVU8OcX_QjUyRpdgwx821vtumETVxfxxOAcVZ9fLhuOS5-r9PKVW9XdmLHcMQnhTjizoguWRjXP2GmZ4BkNw9IZ22THYyiH7GwQUgkeKZ5aJ-jy/s320/0F067530-AC24-43E6-8C47-701281DA4357.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ever unconventional</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>It doesn't matter what tack she's wearing or how it looks to anyone else. I'm just enjoying the ride.</div></div>SprinklerBandithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02948487857418394022noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647406862592675556.post-51562431539454695262022-03-16T07:00:00.001-06:002022-03-16T07:00:00.273-06:00On Employment<p>When new people at the barn meet Zoebird, they tend to ask the same question:</p><p>What does she do? </p><p>Really not sure why "wear cute outfits and have lots of fun" isn't considered a polite answer. </p><p>We have this stupidly cute pink outfit for dressage that we put together. LACE ACCENTS. Yes. I need a shirt to match I think. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgtxF5Ga-MhoiqK-zzsEBFw4MPMDji7wU5yIfiuDJt523dRyUkXdH_g_KO1bvYq_RAlIokQrEQg7JYuavrPznjPrlHr_vARQ-GKZRZs-F_Gb60S7ZCPtoqD5y0aRZmOYAlavw1CLhyt2ujhPp6vG369yzNxwX4BW3Njn5TWVX33HmbX8AnySzOJg4b0=s655" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="491" data-original-width="655" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgtxF5Ga-MhoiqK-zzsEBFw4MPMDji7wU5yIfiuDJt523dRyUkXdH_g_KO1bvYq_RAlIokQrEQg7JYuavrPznjPrlHr_vARQ-GKZRZs-F_Gb60S7ZCPtoqD5y0aRZmOYAlavw1CLhyt2ujhPp6vG369yzNxwX4BW3Njn5TWVX33HmbX8AnySzOJg4b0=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">it's ok i'd be jealous of me too</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Then we took another ride on the western train and are building this awesome teal outfit.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiQHudlICn8v1-5fjptgngfkkMxsH_YTelYxhOGCxD7tQ3_bwh_eZstf3C90Z5Okgx2_e2OSIdze423XerJ3tAr1-IstWmPQtyNK4bQaLmP1YstXxho7sQMJUVeFFjBG1YaZYvwnzmSUObARY-CfY8Cjky5EHEgMsFGuasBYW5IG6m1JyIgmvTC7dZN=s3690" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3690" data-original-width="2909" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiQHudlICn8v1-5fjptgngfkkMxsH_YTelYxhOGCxD7tQ3_bwh_eZstf3C90Z5Okgx2_e2OSIdze423XerJ3tAr1-IstWmPQtyNK4bQaLmP1YstXxho7sQMJUVeFFjBG1YaZYvwnzmSUObARY-CfY8Cjky5EHEgMsFGuasBYW5IG6m1JyIgmvTC7dZN=s320" width="252" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I KNOW SHE NEEDS BOOTS</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Plus there's this I-need-to-decide-if-i'm-going-purple-or-teal bareback outfit<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhN_eh57yoG6qunr8j0uwDxV1INPVUWoqTjQkWwICtSnF3V6tXlr3U-QCCQ_QVBUlLPkhjlnxiBM9cjL_6QwvG8PaIWP3m3mS2OGLxFyq7FgI3VOWlhApnL7EezeSotgDtw6-sHegMmvLk82mqgKPaG4F4GeZMCJ9Op3v-eLOSZ8gLzZwSZXGRkD9XU=s3479" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2778" data-original-width="3479" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhN_eh57yoG6qunr8j0uwDxV1INPVUWoqTjQkWwICtSnF3V6tXlr3U-QCCQ_QVBUlLPkhjlnxiBM9cjL_6QwvG8PaIWP3m3mS2OGLxFyq7FgI3VOWlhApnL7EezeSotgDtw6-sHegMmvLk82mqgKPaG4F4GeZMCJ9Op3v-eLOSZ8gLzZwSZXGRkD9XU=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">can you even with her cute level? <br />you cannot.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /><div><br />Oh and the things she does in these outfits are like:</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg8wIYINrEMS76NwQSO4V3leMISo-WJghM080pT-wjlPLaSdHVNMXk0axDbVpnCy0izB8ZIl7LeZuCxdyaZSOLa4-EGWqgoGY8oXpCAeBuGbMoB4pMdThfMLzULsYej-uAWdWgPE9HrQHrDu4YiYIySmf_eXuHmSMFhfBKHsW18AYZlbhC3BEOGbbyZ=s683" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="549" data-original-width="683" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg8wIYINrEMS76NwQSO4V3leMISo-WJghM080pT-wjlPLaSdHVNMXk0axDbVpnCy0izB8ZIl7LeZuCxdyaZSOLa4-EGWqgoGY8oXpCAeBuGbMoB4pMdThfMLzULsYej-uAWdWgPE9HrQHrDu4YiYIySmf_eXuHmSMFhfBKHsW18AYZlbhC3BEOGbbyZ=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">fun</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgebpkK4jMD2UzO1HX9pP3ehlNli4osRGHj99_pTROAX_DpHndBhk8cIywWWej7txew0pUNHy6dpH2Jx55l6x8M32qu7YTgKCfeyugVAZXaAKZBOECwmXrt897Hlq9ZbkiiWMl-UVbtSZhC1wooBLzprNYkOGl5jqmGtt4ADl2m2qrm9NKCF--QkJEN=s779" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="779" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgebpkK4jMD2UzO1HX9pP3ehlNli4osRGHj99_pTROAX_DpHndBhk8cIywWWej7txew0pUNHy6dpH2Jx55l6x8M32qu7YTgKCfeyugVAZXaAKZBOECwmXrt897Hlq9ZbkiiWMl-UVbtSZhC1wooBLzprNYkOGl5jqmGtt4ADl2m2qrm9NKCF--QkJEN=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">fun</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgmWDlWkAgvm_DQf0iHhjz40CChBbugbC0roHe3SLvKlzHsXdMqYPwjpqa58UyDvyhrZfrqVDfVNdR4Jn2eevXSA-kxZdaTMroNl70ft4-rM5MgQZCMwUC16jgsTSxOli3RUMLkqhFjJ7XsSUovYy1IPhk8AGWRecswzYVOfoAOzAeNkG8XeKWWV6U4=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgmWDlWkAgvm_DQf0iHhjz40CChBbugbC0roHe3SLvKlzHsXdMqYPwjpqa58UyDvyhrZfrqVDfVNdR4Jn2eevXSA-kxZdaTMroNl70ft4-rM5MgQZCMwUC16jgsTSxOli3RUMLkqhFjJ7XsSUovYy1IPhk8AGWRecswzYVOfoAOzAeNkG8XeKWWV6U4=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Also hella fun.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div></div>It just cracks me up to classify "what we do". <div><br /></div><div>Like. </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgaGD6Qmdxlqk-NnN9wjPADaTVpcFYo5ZSNH-kAJim5joXc_3QB1gSpc99RoopIg5LA2qewzzz9_VBIQeRybL_wpFwf4AKIKGYPU9NIkCS39hHY_OVenNoIPnMLgUFSGuky4sAMDEJY0QaUlWrfIWnzYacBvqxsiF1fjzSAt7ivKl8LBFJinx-e4CbC=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgaGD6Qmdxlqk-NnN9wjPADaTVpcFYo5ZSNH-kAJim5joXc_3QB1gSpc99RoopIg5LA2qewzzz9_VBIQeRybL_wpFwf4AKIKGYPU9NIkCS39hHY_OVenNoIPnMLgUFSGuky4sAMDEJY0QaUlWrfIWnzYacBvqxsiF1fjzSAt7ivKl8LBFJinx-e4CbC=s320" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">today we're jumpers because it's a figure 8!</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgE2k5ImJtA7BbHkwdEWLH5oIXF4I9vmKh9p3RrzUCRc8PXUHqFLRjV5HZQ-5AzjrnK8d3jKbYh4m9uDigs5-9D2wm5tZHcgA8ued3Q5BjTtur7Z2MfA9I4F7EptrJOkqdO7KboouHvQ_Uley1j8ZLsnizifQDzd5WNzKaPkwlN5R-8WgIdMOzlStzJ=s3069" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3069" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgE2k5ImJtA7BbHkwdEWLH5oIXF4I9vmKh9p3RrzUCRc8PXUHqFLRjV5HZQ-5AzjrnK8d3jKbYh4m9uDigs5-9D2wm5tZHcgA8ued3Q5BjTtur7Z2MfA9I4F7EptrJOkqdO7KboouHvQ_Uley1j8ZLsnizifQDzd5WNzKaPkwlN5R-8WgIdMOzlStzJ=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">today we're dressage because sparkle browband!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhfy64VK1gREkjRZKBNjA1ppvVb89tIzlc42_lWD_fK-UESZKBZWQUKH0BH6qtf2rPPnRXKTvM2VMxe3s8lo7vST1pwXUe-3QRSIXPKE4mwKzpg8TzK-pl9IbovT_JFcfp3GsPGkGcRgek9PmWjYlZD8p4_LE5FNEolnfr9VSPC0Yf5qZ15ZAb9-ECV=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhfy64VK1gREkjRZKBNjA1ppvVb89tIzlc42_lWD_fK-UESZKBZWQUKH0BH6qtf2rPPnRXKTvM2VMxe3s8lo7vST1pwXUe-3QRSIXPKE4mwKzpg8TzK-pl9IbovT_JFcfp3GsPGkGcRgek9PmWjYlZD8p4_LE5FNEolnfr9VSPC0Yf5qZ15ZAb9-ECV=s320" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">now ruggedly western ranch horse maybe even wearing a saddle!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj1bkh60LcGPCBc00XdvN2WhaK7Yrm272dzDujWKl96sNXDl8oZHAh2yJvsf6FjT2At0U4VWoEzDRFqQIQaGgS0qaG4J7A1Gu0rtotTUk2K7UojiO72SQKm4cpmGY7QI-JYc0r75CTYwU-i8eCS0ZOSmPBCaZ1_gZkawSmnz3LELEbl9qTGhEHfTTiS=s734" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="529" data-original-width="734" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj1bkh60LcGPCBc00XdvN2WhaK7Yrm272dzDujWKl96sNXDl8oZHAh2yJvsf6FjT2At0U4VWoEzDRFqQIQaGgS0qaG4J7A1Gu0rtotTUk2K7UojiO72SQKm4cpmGY7QI-JYc0r75CTYwU-i8eCS0ZOSmPBCaZ1_gZkawSmnz3LELEbl9qTGhEHfTTiS=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">dramatic sunset pictures are always in style</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiBFoutoaEV3FkzeFYw0Ls4mBu4xu9C1LR9PfbFgfccOv1oVX8nLXZ6UVMmJy_51C_Q8p7cIdxoJrvM8Du2-epl8drwniaP4frZf08qjP494U1rOxQlXyRnSTcujpmGfvOfzWnNikyFg2cOamoaNVe1qnfzrhIatAnC2IvvdUo5cnXxC0iUe3mJ8NxZ=s3416" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2703" data-original-width="3416" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiBFoutoaEV3FkzeFYw0Ls4mBu4xu9C1LR9PfbFgfccOv1oVX8nLXZ6UVMmJy_51C_Q8p7cIdxoJrvM8Du2-epl8drwniaP4frZf08qjP494U1rOxQlXyRnSTcujpmGfvOfzWnNikyFg2cOamoaNVe1qnfzrhIatAnC2IvvdUo5cnXxC0iUe3mJ8NxZ=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">wow let's take another moment with this great outfit</td></tr></tbody></table> </div><div>ZB is such a smart lady. She doesn't need endless repetition. She needs fitness appropriate to the job I am asking her to do. She needs clarity and direction on what her job is. No matter what tack she's sporting or what we're "doing", I expect her to be calm, soft, and willing to move her balance forward and back when I request it. </div><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhSLOB-4PMFLaNjaCzLkMYMsxLFrTS76TZFXXis78jFpHWZjIxd4lYLIMtaxPHhaSyvPTl_8pPzB-Yjd7owgLYZzK3ost8zL2WCe3gvpRNaiDHOAoaVkXktzkRn7FbKMzLifW2DcHuvT7W13pWXEZ0NQYTy7oZXxMlN71zIXH5zb2Q1Df8w5RZEXUZF=s583" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="488" data-original-width="583" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhSLOB-4PMFLaNjaCzLkMYMsxLFrTS76TZFXXis78jFpHWZjIxd4lYLIMtaxPHhaSyvPTl_8pPzB-Yjd7owgLYZzK3ost8zL2WCe3gvpRNaiDHOAoaVkXktzkRn7FbKMzLifW2DcHuvT7W13pWXEZ0NQYTy7oZXxMlN71zIXH5zb2Q1Df8w5RZEXUZF=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">lol what a cute horse!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgyNS9xQfAP8qrOe6zJKMzDC1GJyPLliN4F6WdyqEljfkt_vmzt4MRePIKOnVEHep-iFPnp1Fa3MqksUIWT_1ppLee53FvC9HjpvgejvhiSC4jqQ3FpGQDXw90WD0r21oMIz6r5HSwJkdUW2QyO-dhv_I9wXVZVO3AQVzCYcupI4JTgkrQuvIMioJIt=s791" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="578" data-original-width="791" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgyNS9xQfAP8qrOe6zJKMzDC1GJyPLliN4F6WdyqEljfkt_vmzt4MRePIKOnVEHep-iFPnp1Fa3MqksUIWT_1ppLee53FvC9HjpvgejvhiSC4jqQ3FpGQDXw90WD0r21oMIz6r5HSwJkdUW2QyO-dhv_I9wXVZVO3AQVzCYcupI4JTgkrQuvIMioJIt=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I really love this outfit</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div>I would love to get some lessons in this year. I really want to go on some field trips with ZB. We'll see if I make it happen (cross your fingers for SB gets to live in town for the first summer in a couple years). </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg45zM8I_oQXzzhLxEkDfSPSJ0cl3FlaX8i2vzGA_QhCqHEiT1JXqiVoVzNjNEDVh-mtc8UoaXjp1sJ7agpEPosLVT_pb-U2Bx8TMDdPRH3tCFQ5ePXzaKCskKF2hE1mZOnJrslFTKXCaKWeP462m3GC0_SMeC1OklMxHGOW6RowqonR2UaqTUz-M_s=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg45zM8I_oQXzzhLxEkDfSPSJ0cl3FlaX8i2vzGA_QhCqHEiT1JXqiVoVzNjNEDVh-mtc8UoaXjp1sJ7agpEPosLVT_pb-U2Bx8TMDdPRH3tCFQ5ePXzaKCskKF2hE1mZOnJrslFTKXCaKWeP462m3GC0_SMeC1OklMxHGOW6RowqonR2UaqTUz-M_s=s320" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">yup loving this color on her</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>With where we're at right now, I'm working on keeping a slightly open throatlatch with her nose poked out while moving forward in a level balance. I'm really enjoying using my pivo to keep me accountable here--she can't learn to go forward in a balance on a loose rein if I'm hanging on her face. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiYZwu-bjUYmzd_uS2VwDY9elr1195ZBQMvd5AfNhMhcTLZqANJ_8a74HPcBGrMSOAmthvKXsQyT_7N0lf1hqazLMztwDmb8NUkZb7edK9qSZnxLa5_tfR6_4JSrJuqcQDKkfGMBU5WOw86ZO_zM_WqPj8AV6D6ICpP3IB7pJBZ6StTje6lEplQVMBT=s741" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="579" data-original-width="741" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiYZwu-bjUYmzd_uS2VwDY9elr1195ZBQMvd5AfNhMhcTLZqANJ_8a74HPcBGrMSOAmthvKXsQyT_7N0lf1hqazLMztwDmb8NUkZb7edK9qSZnxLa5_tfR6_4JSrJuqcQDKkfGMBU5WOw86ZO_zM_WqPj8AV6D6ICpP3IB7pJBZ6StTje6lEplQVMBT=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">is my horse</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>I find small things we can be successful at. Like. Eventually, I'd like to have a walk/lope transition on a loose rein in a level balance maintaining a steady rhythm. I don't have that today, so I focus on the balance and rhythm I want doing transitions from walk to trot (/jog, calm down).</div><div><br /></div><div>So what does she do? </div><div><br /></div><div>IDK wear cute outfits and have fun, I guess.</div><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjHyR5JDRnnzHiiZut1fkidPfilu0BJVbwWKlvUpxRRwOMJTZiLwkt8znLNsyhRwRTMdp10k_Yc51-2o-1ypbPImL2D6P-wIe50QdFNeScTwG38dUyPPG528pVMtbsDwT8aEy1BoJm7OsIybFHwqs6pvV3jrZC-UwMvZ2Ky5DPK2huhfOUjAt0qTXdd=s4032" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjHyR5JDRnnzHiiZut1fkidPfilu0BJVbwWKlvUpxRRwOMJTZiLwkt8znLNsyhRwRTMdp10k_Yc51-2o-1ypbPImL2D6P-wIe50QdFNeScTwG38dUyPPG528pVMtbsDwT8aEy1BoJm7OsIybFHwqs6pvV3jrZC-UwMvZ2Ky5DPK2huhfOUjAt0qTXdd=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">pictured: tiny dog not having fun<br /></td></tr></tbody></table></div>SprinklerBandithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02948487857418394022noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647406862592675556.post-19598756246911100862021-12-30T15:07:00.000-07:002021-12-30T15:07:58.143-07:00Cantering Out of 2021<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEilgPnQzzzXgjBjLbou29UHHL9W94KEC-Y8aryDWkjLnalx7fbQaJYgCN156UqR9fTkpUScM10JecYF4ClAUlyvWD68wHhFKUmR4D3STdcCVpTms2_UyInj0MIpuAUO5bhmJ8iq-BB-GewRXmaRExku3X501wPZn0AwKuaOeJNg1lIACOq1bKUghr9s=s3377" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3377" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEilgPnQzzzXgjBjLbou29UHHL9W94KEC-Y8aryDWkjLnalx7fbQaJYgCN156UqR9fTkpUScM10JecYF4ClAUlyvWD68wHhFKUmR4D3STdcCVpTms2_UyInj0MIpuAUO5bhmJ8iq-BB-GewRXmaRExku3X501wPZn0AwKuaOeJNg1lIACOq1bKUghr9s=s320" width="320" /></a></div>I love to do an orderly, month-by-month year end wrap up post highlighting our big adventures for each year. <p></p><p>Buuuuuuut this is probably the least orderly year I've ever had. </p><p>We kinda did everything. But also nothing. </p><p>I didn't take a single lesson, haul off site once, go trail riding in a substantive way, or make it to a clinic of any kind. </p><p>We did, however, cross off a bucket list item for me:</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhnfkX4VYsKyJUY6kgvBM6On_1E-2mgzbNNI1_c07Tk6BgvsG1RNTMhwAbhqO9T35dakj3_xq6OPUsWfovUnYkfKKrcRBB1_V-ysymPmy3at5VExuAdwYyRpyUlQB5JGTHzaukNgO1bFiu5SUYmbVPszksZBSS7gTpNVc-ZFj5xsAo9MsOd66oO02ij=s2528" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1915" data-original-width="2528" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhnfkX4VYsKyJUY6kgvBM6On_1E-2mgzbNNI1_c07Tk6BgvsG1RNTMhwAbhqO9T35dakj3_xq6OPUsWfovUnYkfKKrcRBB1_V-ysymPmy3at5VExuAdwYyRpyUlQB5JGTHzaukNgO1bFiu5SUYmbVPszksZBSS7gTpNVc-ZFj5xsAo9MsOd66oO02ij=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">canter my horse bareback through a field</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>We also did the didn't-know-it-was-a-bucketlist-item:</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEifZuCORiSQ-rg67oPcXaxaX8dHhHUrVd3UHJMhcNY2T584V0D64vbpLn_N2QZG41PHbH7yKOSHSNJxpjeyOchIt5aDkqlzIjfJUmxWROgGOnHfbEEFgWPxmg_8l3E23_vUlAKKXk089_xrAs-sAI6idlMV7evxbPoH1ohMsXZKTmomIkxNLcyhg94w=s1128" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="812" data-original-width="1128" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEifZuCORiSQ-rg67oPcXaxaX8dHhHUrVd3UHJMhcNY2T584V0D64vbpLn_N2QZG41PHbH7yKOSHSNJxpjeyOchIt5aDkqlzIjfJUmxWROgGOnHfbEEFgWPxmg_8l3E23_vUlAKKXk089_xrAs-sAI6idlMV7evxbPoH1ohMsXZKTmomIkxNLcyhg94w=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">jump bareback in a halter</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /><p>We ticked off 2021 goals:<br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjPJ74aqcvTnjevnEy680tiUh8DhyEYP6-j_mOofdHrh7ztcE1QfD7RoVGP463iUopwHp8Wbnp8goQ60LZbyYyw6c2CBiE8K6eNKg6iU6ZYC-eixhh1GM8INUVHhnBlVz6usfSWocMSISRkGUQqMC1kNzPxnP_i1VfakJUxy8hR7d7tVF3a5GemHNDn=s787" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="652" data-original-width="787" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjPJ74aqcvTnjevnEy680tiUh8DhyEYP6-j_mOofdHrh7ztcE1QfD7RoVGP463iUopwHp8Wbnp8goQ60LZbyYyw6c2CBiE8K6eNKg6iU6ZYC-eixhh1GM8INUVHhnBlVz6usfSWocMSISRkGUQqMC1kNzPxnP_i1VfakJUxy8hR7d7tVF3a5GemHNDn=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">lope in snaffle<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjuzeGiYJ-9iNO8WvGqrjAgLGUX3xGAeosR05nVUpZCXokIIMkrotpHVEXBiOyVuhGHaSQ3bSnn9bj7IFeixwnM5WYFGiorjpsa2sdRIzpKmsy_KNq9Dgo2zl0bKxmZ98nn5ZvmltiW-pE9ujQ23j-JkgSFATIL1bcio-PdWHD013TbYNurwhMG25Ca=s834" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="603" data-original-width="834" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjuzeGiYJ-9iNO8WvGqrjAgLGUX3xGAeosR05nVUpZCXokIIMkrotpHVEXBiOyVuhGHaSQ3bSnn9bj7IFeixwnM5WYFGiorjpsa2sdRIzpKmsy_KNq9Dgo2zl0bKxmZ98nn5ZvmltiW-pE9ujQ23j-JkgSFATIL1bcio-PdWHD013TbYNurwhMG25Ca=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">walk/job in curb<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>You can always count on us for great hair:</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiarDZaDN4ZkyloLS05TigNHhmuoEBstggViYL7Iz5zzFfAK0Lq2CvetUG6Ce_8B7rm0gMnA-9oWKCrsEtEaPUb3nF4b389GRkMkpENNHqWM3O3hNNycCyXW94XGXEIPRL_TTUFsi1y4Wvc4EKZK5NpU2HNjRmWQAI4edpWurWGSfKxQitQwE2avRWL=s3624" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2718" data-original-width="3624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiarDZaDN4ZkyloLS05TigNHhmuoEBstggViYL7Iz5zzFfAK0Lq2CvetUG6Ce_8B7rm0gMnA-9oWKCrsEtEaPUb3nF4b389GRkMkpENNHqWM3O3hNNycCyXW94XGXEIPRL_TTUFsi1y4Wvc4EKZK5NpU2HNjRmWQAI4edpWurWGSfKxQitQwE2avRWL=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">yup</td></tr></tbody></table>Great outfits:<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgKZ32v5928THk6imLownVXQr4MKgp53VarY787gJtWNlMCRJjiU4prqqO5aAA_7pmSLIZffgQIi_tGPoQIEgEMjGqrgbOElTmXJGehNYy3aueQ1ydA12MvEmGmVgAScXVYyBKG4L3QULUo-YMxiNKE21VW721cXsL7bXUiAaOayhEmAeEE1S6y4gNe=s3190" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3190" data-original-width="2428" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgKZ32v5928THk6imLownVXQr4MKgp53VarY787gJtWNlMCRJjiU4prqqO5aAA_7pmSLIZffgQIi_tGPoQIEgEMjGqrgbOElTmXJGehNYy3aueQ1ydA12MvEmGmVgAScXVYyBKG4L3QULUo-YMxiNKE21VW721cXsL7bXUiAaOayhEmAeEE1S6y4gNe=s320" width="244" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">dressage</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhayuitLatNbz8mbCRJZuZgvg2SU7uptGxYMCnhVzGKN0HVc85UeN7TZDwFkotiGRAttFQShWw-JFrjT3ILUXmojb4cETbDinjRwK12Htx8_mORbWFxMvehvJ2cXv7uVGOSL_QsyR48LFftbRjo16LzA7J7Xt_zm1q8rSi_w1m_FnOirgMULjeUybaN=s3142" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="3142" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhayuitLatNbz8mbCRJZuZgvg2SU7uptGxYMCnhVzGKN0HVc85UeN7TZDwFkotiGRAttFQShWw-JFrjT3ILUXmojb4cETbDinjRwK12Htx8_mORbWFxMvehvJ2cXv7uVGOSL_QsyR48LFftbRjo16LzA7J7Xt_zm1q8rSi_w1m_FnOirgMULjeUybaN=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">western too!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>And great photo ops:</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgJTwU1sysfJa3UuIXNqWCJd6tjpELr6qMI8R5dF23_NKv0va0Vw-3eYGSvvVvfoQdnPpnhwPDot57y_Ym6XBAUvUz1h659RLNFoKgDI53UIIvf_OPUi0Lxg_H9C0_BMKF1i_NuceE1OGgpSfzeGFSLr6G36rI7UK4VfXkP-Mm4RWwLaOTWedkUmuk2=s828" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="626" data-original-width="828" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgJTwU1sysfJa3UuIXNqWCJd6tjpELr6qMI8R5dF23_NKv0va0Vw-3eYGSvvVvfoQdnPpnhwPDot57y_Ym6XBAUvUz1h659RLNFoKgDI53UIIvf_OPUi0Lxg_H9C0_BMKF1i_NuceE1OGgpSfzeGFSLr6G36rI7UK4VfXkP-Mm4RWwLaOTWedkUmuk2=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">always be a unicorn</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgYdF2j05kjpr35pZE2e65n0Ovpjpt_HwnRDQc8-1QcBVQxB1YZM8Nr__YmSWJEHa4o0mlEmt3oEWwWtE3c4b7exE1t7MBZc1WHaB3qn7sSdF1ozGVEIpSpdFmm93IiakV6skZCpDrIcPObpt_Djdu_7CA9onTtJENCHTB1rEg-3pme46cA86GlWQUv=s926" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="608" data-original-width="926" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgYdF2j05kjpr35pZE2e65n0Ovpjpt_HwnRDQc8-1QcBVQxB1YZM8Nr__YmSWJEHa4o0mlEmt3oEWwWtE3c4b7exE1t7MBZc1WHaB3qn7sSdF1ozGVEIpSpdFmm93IiakV6skZCpDrIcPObpt_Djdu_7CA9onTtJENCHTB1rEg-3pme46cA86GlWQUv=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">who is this fancy lady!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>We definitely plunked away at traditional training:</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEga4Ags_qA8dortSxYj_vXXQZdJNtp8P6BCWy0Uj3QbRV1TCXYc5DCvz1RAxosSqTzS1tKubuLzVMYWtknTGm3hhpx6o7p2_mZV4IyWPDRy2dTayYQayXbP6inCwjvFCF9ixE45KH6Zeu_4d_N-6dB1R18M3FCdMDAaAUeNEYH70e9BoQwDcBUZEYlS=s718" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="515" data-original-width="718" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEga4Ags_qA8dortSxYj_vXXQZdJNtp8P6BCWy0Uj3QbRV1TCXYc5DCvz1RAxosSqTzS1tKubuLzVMYWtknTGm3hhpx6o7p2_mZV4IyWPDRy2dTayYQayXbP6inCwjvFCF9ixE45KH6Zeu_4d_N-6dB1R18M3FCdMDAaAUeNEYH70e9BoQwDcBUZEYlS=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">peep new saddle pad</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjKUkj_6xdBJZcyxAn5Z_4DbVcPgyUi7-PGmfU5ic1z8Nnm17k2hpGCv6zlUtFi-jjK_0EIz_2Z_KKLhsWJmRGxP1c2GBrQ09g9uTH4INhe4pjoNZhVKI9uIck6KhQMAhqoTmJt74y7aAYVi0nChwzGLBpOTIe9m1bbGw2wyx0Wl1BL_AM8GFqt9fdG=s732" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="546" data-original-width="732" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjKUkj_6xdBJZcyxAn5Z_4DbVcPgyUi7-PGmfU5ic1z8Nnm17k2hpGCv6zlUtFi-jjK_0EIz_2Z_KKLhsWJmRGxP1c2GBrQ09g9uTH4INhe4pjoNZhVKI9uIck6KhQMAhqoTmJt74y7aAYVi0nChwzGLBpOTIe9m1bbGw2wyx0Wl1BL_AM8GFqt9fdG=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">stay posted for more on this</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />And sometimes we did it in non-traditional ways:<div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiYD0nTrDoG5fVIKJ1Yd10PqR-heFh29yb_sZp0--oeE7j7XRIE7zbXM90sv3GBVpggWGcKk304lK9RFqhZy0lreG62aATdp5vHU12CMActwKpdzV8ytvI3gui0dVCuq1Khht-VRdwtrmZXx7QeOLwdIngteOTbo4D3b1wsCFDIfmsoxPUyoT-Qgg9Z=s746" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="553" data-original-width="746" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiYD0nTrDoG5fVIKJ1Yd10PqR-heFh29yb_sZp0--oeE7j7XRIE7zbXM90sv3GBVpggWGcKk304lK9RFqhZy0lreG62aATdp5vHU12CMActwKpdzV8ytvI3gui0dVCuq1Khht-VRdwtrmZXx7QeOLwdIngteOTbo4D3b1wsCFDIfmsoxPUyoT-Qgg9Z=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">barebacksies!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjWks6Q6SkGDCJRHK4SnhcusRZnivlxIURl00wshesyrkAxSFgcB5jX0ML2Tbr8O-KbGgbva62boa9MHk61EqS-YfcrKvAXXYpB13wuD4C-SIAbe_7JprKbHH-noSSXjDNgWJx16GsW3oTDubzd_8j7wAXhTmhpsaTQXr_DTfXaRMhL1MpwM94zXLve=s988" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="681" data-original-width="988" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjWks6Q6SkGDCJRHK4SnhcusRZnivlxIURl00wshesyrkAxSFgcB5jX0ML2Tbr8O-KbGgbva62boa9MHk61EqS-YfcrKvAXXYpB13wuD4C-SIAbe_7JprKbHH-noSSXjDNgWJx16GsW3oTDubzd_8j7wAXhTmhpsaTQXr_DTfXaRMhL1MpwM94zXLve=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">remember when she thought halters were optional?</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Sometimes we just plain did non-traditional things:<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjc6UIoTPrtui8OBsbI-8q1fYEvGr5TWr8lZgE2d8wOTbtZhKQcX4kEkfd0mUPl4gbeKsG5Py7eqs2sJr9Llp5xH6JqRJJ0dB1dEfop108dpKHXJaSGHlQjxBthoeiNpJOMO09kUdxKMx4ffD6Cq5StxK-xacf16--RneNXYb6tQVlbn5AWbaBLjSTd=s888" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="773" data-original-width="888" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjc6UIoTPrtui8OBsbI-8q1fYEvGr5TWr8lZgE2d8wOTbtZhKQcX4kEkfd0mUPl4gbeKsG5Py7eqs2sJr9Llp5xH6JqRJJ0dB1dEfop108dpKHXJaSGHlQjxBthoeiNpJOMO09kUdxKMx4ffD6Cq5StxK-xacf16--RneNXYb6tQVlbn5AWbaBLjSTd=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">tiny dog was NOT THRILLED about this</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhkpWzJSJHjwtE_wv5Fs886PtDMF8dEkDYeKhT2LLFanMhiZhYuYGWhfwL-1jMYgZ3PICSC29gvki1ydOfCGIOIQopHsXPyqWdKt5S8-SW06RqKnx0E1LLN2BRF92WsJM1LasCKXTiysMIANkCDpcB4bg75skRap1P8dFNxPe5H1Q8K8kfvnbgJFTdP=s2732" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2732" data-original-width="2435" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhkpWzJSJHjwtE_wv5Fs886PtDMF8dEkDYeKhT2LLFanMhiZhYuYGWhfwL-1jMYgZ3PICSC29gvki1ydOfCGIOIQopHsXPyqWdKt5S8-SW06RqKnx0E1LLN2BRF92WsJM1LasCKXTiysMIANkCDpcB4bg75skRap1P8dFNxPe5H1Q8K8kfvnbgJFTdP=s320" width="285" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">queue 70 lbs puppy exiting stage left</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhbTO_atYE4rmzgwbacIgsXCeCQ8ffryYhHE81f21KD80nWKBDgx5e5VVrlM6MPmdKP6CZfNMMFMMN6DxL_2Fo3I-SasdCRkwVbFGLJpWHJFcmrH97nTCWoFgmFfPUUUISJj-1sy6NX77jKHppBBRpVQ6whD-ICCtq2k5HO7UORh9Fxt1McRQW4SXq6=s3441" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2952" data-original-width="3441" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhbTO_atYE4rmzgwbacIgsXCeCQ8ffryYhHE81f21KD80nWKBDgx5e5VVrlM6MPmdKP6CZfNMMFMMN6DxL_2Fo3I-SasdCRkwVbFGLJpWHJFcmrH97nTCWoFgmFfPUUUISJj-1sy6NX77jKHppBBRpVQ6whD-ICCtq2k5HO7UORh9Fxt1McRQW4SXq6=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can your dressage horse do this?</td></tr></tbody></table><br />We trained a new barn dog:<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhGNneZqJv27q2jzmNO1o5ffaONuJqZXGpqgHcfTYj6YMvkeRr1FsoGOyEaIyqqpiWGVxzbBpJKP-BCgwDHa7VK9gImkoiNHFU42lETC6TL-yVlkUpGeqNg81-p-Ty98I72k08w2V5LBI626o1MZoXnYdbEhU6yrBwUoeC6lW0vjhLk65uGUDwZA-rn=s3406" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3406" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhGNneZqJv27q2jzmNO1o5ffaONuJqZXGpqgHcfTYj6YMvkeRr1FsoGOyEaIyqqpiWGVxzbBpJKP-BCgwDHa7VK9gImkoiNHFU42lETC6TL-yVlkUpGeqNg81-p-Ty98I72k08w2V5LBI626o1MZoXnYdbEhU6yrBwUoeC6lW0vjhLk65uGUDwZA-rn=s320" width="284" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the darling of all the barn ladies</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>And ZB continued to be the most stand up lady for any adventure:</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjR7o334ATILnYCIBwAd8-0efJQsogbcCezqHphgCHVESWNXTT8prJQ_lc-0xDbrXbb-aEmAyjbATUW9UPgSQEUxRKs_jDhbIYP5tyZh-3HeL6OZmhPoy4MINW9nMfLnn76LRKj4-775UDw7enc38QdNbUeCJkEC0yY0GVGv0tN9VuaIsCfdmV2hRe7=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjR7o334ATILnYCIBwAd8-0efJQsogbcCezqHphgCHVESWNXTT8prJQ_lc-0xDbrXbb-aEmAyjbATUW9UPgSQEUxRKs_jDhbIYP5tyZh-3HeL6OZmhPoy4MINW9nMfLnn76LRKj4-775UDw7enc38QdNbUeCJkEC0yY0GVGv0tN9VuaIsCfdmV2hRe7=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">family photo!</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br />The only time I made it to a horse show was when I accidentally ended up showing a mule at the state fair:</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiPtDmAk39bzAR7aU7qrCAkvihPDuU-wNIjy35jMB2qsPBSxPcuzdkSTTHWM4xhN-9WKkkhlQAJVllUI0lKGT5r0VALahBnkd7NW1Ribaj2q909LBk6WS7VEfMrQpBOnZyCsSB3wUyKie33o0IFtAWD_OpZp53pINOFFnhVXGUARhpXuZhifbSDFrpb=s2592" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiPtDmAk39bzAR7aU7qrCAkvihPDuU-wNIjy35jMB2qsPBSxPcuzdkSTTHWM4xhN-9WKkkhlQAJVllUI0lKGT5r0VALahBnkd7NW1Ribaj2q909LBk6WS7VEfMrQpBOnZyCsSB3wUyKie33o0IFtAWD_OpZp53pINOFFnhVXGUARhpXuZhifbSDFrpb=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">NGL made me want ZB to have a mule baby</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /><div>But ZB looked fabulous no matter what we were doing:</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgoeok3uhGFUIlc4zSqMLg_bX2KA4JzidKg4ZkdrJSUj3Yjedy8bNfD4FGd7uIlM68tCyIY1s6S1krBNzkSyefY8eSEkIImz_zMgRq3MOMeCPQdAwyZzcj15rS7L-Vv5w8dmZfbGgq0lRl1y36meCyLVfpFeWLJpTimSNYKDXSggTaZOZBlK03W0gzt=s3640" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2730" data-original-width="3640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgoeok3uhGFUIlc4zSqMLg_bX2KA4JzidKg4ZkdrJSUj3Yjedy8bNfD4FGd7uIlM68tCyIY1s6S1krBNzkSyefY8eSEkIImz_zMgRq3MOMeCPQdAwyZzcj15rS7L-Vv5w8dmZfbGgq0lRl1y36meCyLVfpFeWLJpTimSNYKDXSggTaZOZBlK03W0gzt=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">that shine <3</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br />Whether we played cowgirls:</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjViwfxp0rqjH0PfzcdAi5MiZYtGJQs_rqtu8TLctsxE8I_2ZvWppbj2Cve-tE8t0nhZhC4d3UY8cLyDShYwjCl2QrHs1IEr5Z9L3IODKKSUT_0sm_WeD0zYizfoWYQ_YAiZJnOIg4hcxMT1tMyBVkYGgOu7-YdJLXaTYYTv_WobNWF1-ChJo-atJiy=s3269" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2639" data-original-width="3269" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjViwfxp0rqjH0PfzcdAi5MiZYtGJQs_rqtu8TLctsxE8I_2ZvWppbj2Cve-tE8t0nhZhC4d3UY8cLyDShYwjCl2QrHs1IEr5Z9L3IODKKSUT_0sm_WeD0zYizfoWYQ_YAiZJnOIg4hcxMT1tMyBVkYGgOu7-YdJLXaTYYTv_WobNWF1-ChJo-atJiy=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">shiny</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Or dressage pony:</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiTA00H4rR9e139sn8t0ad2fG3_pQi-1Ug9uz_pQGfTg_8U7kIYYvN-cxSxrU8l0nLRFpNFGpwepy-vuV-4ZRS9JuCjG9tQjcp2eKFj-EPjJrpDXOg1enow7mhtI9hkMEeSxu_qDmSeWKTw3m281588nqDeqfUzcFRRA3Tk8akYaaJGiz_xbCsQ6RNZ=s763" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="606" data-original-width="763" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiTA00H4rR9e139sn8t0ad2fG3_pQi-1Ug9uz_pQGfTg_8U7kIYYvN-cxSxrU8l0nLRFpNFGpwepy-vuV-4ZRS9JuCjG9tQjcp2eKFj-EPjJrpDXOg1enow7mhtI9hkMEeSxu_qDmSeWKTw3m281588nqDeqfUzcFRRA3Tk8akYaaJGiz_xbCsQ6RNZ=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">you're welcome for the outfit</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Or late night bareback adventure:</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi5K167AIRylw9HA0V0nwhOqkozjgpCjFRu0_RkB_0-Rn5xtaEOsUCXEuLvC6S-INhoUr18n8BTy17QZ3P6v3bNn2PC8O9nEdXLcXK6mQYON3E7fjn8CXrvIOWMj3Ck9pjIb32wzJBA6s6sfo7NlXVM84EG1xMwPfyaQBpFVLFwJsS6BGCvcyKJIdSV=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi5K167AIRylw9HA0V0nwhOqkozjgpCjFRu0_RkB_0-Rn5xtaEOsUCXEuLvC6S-INhoUr18n8BTy17QZ3P6v3bNn2PC8O9nEdXLcXK6mQYON3E7fjn8CXrvIOWMj3Ck9pjIb32wzJBA6s6sfo7NlXVM84EG1xMwPfyaQBpFVLFwJsS6BGCvcyKJIdSV=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">sometimes you don't knock the mud off</td></tr></tbody></table><br />I can always count on her to be my very best lady horse.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhcMfuVpZD4cXVzH7nWV0JezOhngx0xi3J6WTWkvm4JvsGbakedwa4u1pHC2ovJV0HoMCksrNcVUTxJESF5cn1oNezX6hoQB7CRBQTyhntI-h744Hmqr8sMYG8QjXqlO08K56yiYw2vqvqAtc5x25DMPfLbTPTBYP6ytl16Us8yAq1LV-Hj99HRuK0-=s1156" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="828" data-original-width="1156" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhcMfuVpZD4cXVzH7nWV0JezOhngx0xi3J6WTWkvm4JvsGbakedwa4u1pHC2ovJV0HoMCksrNcVUTxJESF5cn1oNezX6hoQB7CRBQTyhntI-h744Hmqr8sMYG8QjXqlO08K56yiYw2vqvqAtc5x25DMPfLbTPTBYP6ytl16Us8yAq1LV-Hj99HRuK0-=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><3</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /><div>I had her in training for the greater part of the year and for the first time ever, canter is just effortless and if I got my shit together, I actually think we'd lay down a really nice 1st level test. I'm really missing jumping right now so we're messing around with poles and fitness and seeing where that takes us. I don't know what next year will bring (other than another list of fun goals!) but I'm looking forward to spending it with very-much-grown-up baby mare. </div></div>SprinklerBandithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02948487857418394022noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647406862592675556.post-62984233758567606652021-11-17T07:00:00.001-07:002021-11-17T07:00:00.247-07:00Full Circle<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiMNTf5hp6BLt0EAD8BgsKzPiJYiKQs_cTAkwuMKRxzkC_H9t7qgM4AOmU9m3uSesU962irWMLSPXr3APD9hMOGLrrEZc9drQj34EdVUm64IQzVekZqiiXlB4jKK0G4LN2crwGegZjl20/s2353/image000000.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2353" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiMNTf5hp6BLt0EAD8BgsKzPiJYiKQs_cTAkwuMKRxzkC_H9t7qgM4AOmU9m3uSesU962irWMLSPXr3APD9hMOGLrrEZc9drQj34EdVUm64IQzVekZqiiXlB4jKK0G4LN2crwGegZjl20/s320/image000000.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">this lady <3</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div> A little over four years ago, I was in a bad place. I'd never met Roxie's mom, but we chatted online occasionally. She invited me up to trail ride her big, gorgeous Roxie horse. <div><br /></div><div>(If you don't remember Roxiecorn the Horse Princess and her awesome mom, well, read <a href="https://iamthesprinklerbandit.blogspot.com/2018/12/2018-year-in-review-aka-ode-to-zb.html">this </a>and follow their adventures <a href="http://rockinroxie.blogspot.com/">here</a>.)<br /><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj93EUonsosET80bwPzZqL2-mYu8vj8wOoyMawD42CCMuAJT7YEXKMD1owWqkep9fgO5ii-9Y4B2IRUEQanrEqo6Ut_-tjAYgCi2qaTrtp6FmbEyyHXjsZRLKiQVjEKd9QDB8jhegnIFI/s2347/IMG_7563.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2347" data-original-width="2107" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj93EUonsosET80bwPzZqL2-mYu8vj8wOoyMawD42CCMuAJT7YEXKMD1owWqkep9fgO5ii-9Y4B2IRUEQanrEqo6Ut_-tjAYgCi2qaTrtp6FmbEyyHXjsZRLKiQVjEKd9QDB8jhegnIFI/s320/IMG_7563.HEIC" width="287" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ROXIECORN <3<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>I remember cantering through the mountains, giggling like a kid on a pony. Safe. Happy. <p>I came home and made changes. </p><p>I lost a lot, but I gained far more. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJtSc58TvhHqcFIBzRZu0X5cjbG9rH7_VAlQPb4pZACdeIZ3sxC9EOTB2GSEk0maLffuwSqSuUtrFYKNa7lc8F2c_eL0Qix5iZsKTtHcZmvDAMaF9Ef_jpQzCaTlo9pNdv4n5vNUrIn5g/s2732/IMG_7192.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2732" data-original-width="2435" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJtSc58TvhHqcFIBzRZu0X5cjbG9rH7_VAlQPb4pZACdeIZ3sxC9EOTB2GSEk0maLffuwSqSuUtrFYKNa7lc8F2c_eL0Qix5iZsKTtHcZmvDAMaF9Ef_jpQzCaTlo9pNdv4n5vNUrIn5g/s320/IMG_7192.HEIC" width="285" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">horse pirates!</td></tr></tbody></table><p>I made plans to meet Halo Horsebaby the month she was born, but instead I nuked my entire life and had to deal with the fallout. </p><p>My path was northern last week and when I messaged Roxie's mom about meeting up, she hooked up the trailer and took me trail riding again. Halo is three now. I squealed when I saw her round little nose. Roxie's mom and I hit the trails again, and again, I was seated on the inimitable Roxie. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcW5QxhzE-pwMtN8V0Q1dl0KqJHyfLRqHlgewKJjL2-px7fqnzVz9Av8R3wGA9MGJ-LJ3ArUG13a85qeLbPX4VA6gPAbYzaHZ1By8UcbG0yTopIg8pKd-Ij5IpVKU96mIAg1H4xmGrBgg/s4032/IMG_7619.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcW5QxhzE-pwMtN8V0Q1dl0KqJHyfLRqHlgewKJjL2-px7fqnzVz9Av8R3wGA9MGJ-LJ3ArUG13a85qeLbPX4VA6gPAbYzaHZ1By8UcbG0yTopIg8pKd-Ij5IpVKU96mIAg1H4xmGrBgg/s320/IMG_7619.HEIC" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">group picture!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I'll always love that Roxiecorn for showing me another life. </p><p>My whole world is different than it used to be.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsWywer2feVeufrBrtsibvVeT0gC2utxVzoL8MMw5M49nquHCjCHQQ1IvnAM6B8Mp_9LY0dBPtRiGNaGLlXAXMAUnj85pW_MmlKWtbvBoyk_sXfnyV9_WXvfgQhSw-izvp_b1nr_PMSeY/s4032/IMG_7582.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsWywer2feVeufrBrtsibvVeT0gC2utxVzoL8MMw5M49nquHCjCHQQ1IvnAM6B8Mp_9LY0dBPtRiGNaGLlXAXMAUnj85pW_MmlKWtbvBoyk_sXfnyV9_WXvfgQhSw-izvp_b1nr_PMSeY/s320/IMG_7582.HEIC" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the best<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>There is something so strangely transcendent about riding through a golden sunset on a brisk fall day, looking through the same set of ears that rocked my world. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP5VHAzv8al5ofXsJZNVt1-wi3yt6xrwGsfRDHvPKOs3JAm4wS22qXbSUwusNhVQnYcLbVWEHLdUboMEnxPhk_6FMeLzwpGQbTzE27LjcJsoSscLZ4_0J6vu0SS0f1OqcKdm5XDozysJM/s768/IMG_7717.PNG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="560" data-original-width="768" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP5VHAzv8al5ofXsJZNVt1-wi3yt6xrwGsfRDHvPKOs3JAm4wS22qXbSUwusNhVQnYcLbVWEHLdUboMEnxPhk_6FMeLzwpGQbTzE27LjcJsoSscLZ4_0J6vu0SS0f1OqcKdm5XDozysJM/s320/IMG_7717.PNG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">barebacksies<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Something about having the kind of friends that hook up the trailer and say "come ride my Roxiecorn". </p><p>Something about sharing a driving passion for life and horses. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFcGLUSINdoeknriDgsWL32T839w3gfdRSlzSpRyxTCT33I3rxlRX0MtEjH4zeTQ8DNqoHWA-fxNXE3CEvXFVGKuIWS4DDGZw6Jooxnq7CqkkfpalzZCsrIX5bCsjus8SQwo1D3NInG8A/s4032/IMG_7518.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFcGLUSINdoeknriDgsWL32T839w3gfdRSlzSpRyxTCT33I3rxlRX0MtEjH4zeTQ8DNqoHWA-fxNXE3CEvXFVGKuIWS4DDGZw6Jooxnq7CqkkfpalzZCsrIX5bCsjus8SQwo1D3NInG8A/s320/IMG_7518.HEIC" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">and the horses that carry us</td></tr></tbody></table><div><p>Whether those rides are in the show ring or bareback alone at night, they're shaped me. </p><p>My expectations. My goals. My life. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVsaedBo9AfDG6SPOHe85MwrQ5WvY-gYxXeu3dHLhGGJeLuQb8gWfmSGxcJCwzB66zCYnB1xUPQhuJgurfhIJXzDbzGFR3NusfTXUdq_fMEuIOnF7bLc2bp2Xk4SvHlCTSk27NiLNYWLw/s718/IMG_7820.PNG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="515" data-original-width="718" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVsaedBo9AfDG6SPOHe85MwrQ5WvY-gYxXeu3dHLhGGJeLuQb8gWfmSGxcJCwzB66zCYnB1xUPQhuJgurfhIJXzDbzGFR3NusfTXUdq_fMEuIOnF7bLc2bp2Xk4SvHlCTSk27NiLNYWLw/s320/IMG_7820.PNG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">that saddle pad tho</td></tr></tbody></table><p>It's little things like choosing a career that affords horses and a job that gives you some free time. </p><p>It's big things, like learning to hear what your horse says about you. </p><p>It's setting the standard for the people in your life. For who they are to you, and for who you want to be to them. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXIFlJVcQ8dMF089jeilN_xTAIJSZeQIxno91i2oKjqNIDFPtTJLh4euc6g1w_k32qEpQ1V_lkQmPv1O1_VE9ZDGJwoQei8P_a4EDP8J_SCyskchxRFNzS7vm-qkqR1ko6YOkzNwF0bsg/s800/IMG_7624.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXIFlJVcQ8dMF089jeilN_xTAIJSZeQIxno91i2oKjqNIDFPtTJLh4euc6g1w_k32qEpQ1V_lkQmPv1O1_VE9ZDGJwoQei8P_a4EDP8J_SCyskchxRFNzS7vm-qkqR1ko6YOkzNwF0bsg/s320/IMG_7624.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">and trail rides in the forest</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I'm in a whole different place now than when I first met Roxie and her mom four years ago. It's a good place, full of opportunities and challenges. </p><p>I have my own horse princess now--if you're here, you know the inestimable ZB.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVHzlAW4HiFTYFGkEQ7jJmgayU1puJQT1pwjRUxum5fH0Pb_9_FN3TsbZkT4AI6M3K0xSHtfztjdUKyKtwRBtPDhuNydbAr4m-Zpx-5kVEju_PiawSzQSMZXgGBcLEpMas_RJNxKE8CqY/s2582/image000000.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2582" data-original-width="1944" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVHzlAW4HiFTYFGkEQ7jJmgayU1puJQT1pwjRUxum5fH0Pb_9_FN3TsbZkT4AI6M3K0xSHtfztjdUKyKtwRBtPDhuNydbAr4m-Zpx-5kVEju_PiawSzQSMZXgGBcLEpMas_RJNxKE8CqY/s320/image000000.jpg" width="241" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">and yes, she looks good in sparkles</td></tr></tbody></table><p>And yeah, it really can be all it's cracked up to be. </p><p>Stay hopeful, my friends. </p></div></div>SprinklerBandithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02948487857418394022noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647406862592675556.post-88773231113188190822021-10-15T10:12:00.005-06:002021-10-15T10:12:34.927-06:00Accomplishing Goals<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQMysVoz4yWLu1iBan4y2nYtY7GPdoE6VVEmt8iG8LbEFC9OV9p3uaB99gCYs9BO3quoruB1dE8HMz0rWh3vtXvVxe3P-HgJhKHJ8ssXA7SM3YzbG8AdhijTSbw5asfBLETtnPxExd8CI/s3531/IMG_6383.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3531" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQMysVoz4yWLu1iBan4y2nYtY7GPdoE6VVEmt8iG8LbEFC9OV9p3uaB99gCYs9BO3quoruB1dE8HMz0rWh3vtXvVxe3P-HgJhKHJ8ssXA7SM3YzbG8AdhijTSbw5asfBLETtnPxExd8CI/s320/IMG_6383.HEIC" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">aim high</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>One of my goals from when I first brought ZB home was to canter bareback through the pasture with flowers braided in her mane. <br /><p></p><p>Which probably doesn't sound that hard. </p><p>But. </p><p>To make that happen, these things had to come together:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Let baby zb grow up with enough proprioception to move across uneven ground safely</li><li>Develop her canter to something balanced enough to do on uneven ground safely</li><li>Learn to feel confident and relaxed enough riding bareback that I don't just slide off</li><li>Show up to the barn when the sun is up</li></ul>And maybe to most people, those things aren't insurmountable. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd5vyndBylCEmL25duNRLmvoTok6QDl-conRRBq3Ge3fIsQXvYYTM3u_Fxf-7ofPzAO9jsdEsR4pazN-qHy3Gy0YyP16tpPRLevrzNcRq-6QTpFROWIRnvNccfzewU11s13IvaOFVr7Ro/s837/IMG_6415.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="717" data-original-width="837" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd5vyndBylCEmL25duNRLmvoTok6QDl-conRRBq3Ge3fIsQXvYYTM3u_Fxf-7ofPzAO9jsdEsR4pazN-qHy3Gy0YyP16tpPRLevrzNcRq-6QTpFROWIRnvNccfzewU11s13IvaOFVr7Ro/s320/IMG_6415.PNG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">tiny barn dog not stoked</td></tr></tbody></table><div><p>Ms. Zoebird is a lovely trotting horse. It wasn't until she spent the better part of this year in pro training and can comfortably do a first level test that I actually felt confident enough with her canter that I wanted to take it out in the field regularly. Prior to this year, she required such a high level of fitness to do it that yeah I didn't make it happen. </p><p>It still never felt like something I wanted to do tho. I'm not about forcing my hobbies anymore. I can have goals, but if I don't get on and immediately think "this is a good idea", I just don't do it. Let's just say that when I sat on my very round horse in exercise tights, cantering never seemed like a super great plan.</p><p>I'm a long ways out of the trendy horse world right now, but I have a fabulous group of friends who kept saying "<a href="https://www.brockamp-pads-usa.com/">brockamp pad</a>" like it was some sort of voodoo that would help me. </p><p>I'm all in favor of voodoo, but 0/10 do long lead times on non-custom items. </p><p>And then I found this:</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_D3B0WI-kPGfe770iyy0d2WxsWRDfEa9lqH_sKYfaKeKQoR7kpgW-UOY_O_gKYUdk2u5F4TSI4hhiuVB-ZB6Pw6OWnvtirWgcj4pYHkAgu1OZoZ4uP61JwN6NGiJ8oca9SE7StTLKpUM/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="617" data-original-width="789" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_D3B0WI-kPGfe770iyy0d2WxsWRDfEa9lqH_sKYfaKeKQoR7kpgW-UOY_O_gKYUdk2u5F4TSI4hhiuVB-ZB6Pw6OWnvtirWgcj4pYHkAgu1OZoZ4uP61JwN6NGiJ8oca9SE7StTLKpUM/" width="307" /></a></div>Relevant points: PURPLE, less than half the price of name brand, can be at my house in 3 days. Sure, it's not the "THE PAD" but let's be real. I've never seen a real one so I won't know the difference. Worst case scenario, I end up with a pretty purple bareback pad. <p></p><p>So that happened.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizRIbPlekB-rNR38G2znc4RrzBd5jIBDy_b3Lhk1YTvf5cj4NSimSpT8tn7eot1849Yu87a4qW1cJF5BjVnY8C_aBzvoaXeoEJkZ0uBRie865eMWHNwIlcla3MK5Bjjn8ADH_-N3ReThs/s3335/IMG_6355.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2624" data-original-width="3335" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizRIbPlekB-rNR38G2znc4RrzBd5jIBDy_b3Lhk1YTvf5cj4NSimSpT8tn7eot1849Yu87a4qW1cJF5BjVnY8C_aBzvoaXeoEJkZ0uBRie865eMWHNwIlcla3MK5Bjjn8ADH_-N3ReThs/s320/IMG_6355.HEIC" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">O HAI MUM</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Naturally, I dragged Alyssa out to the barn with me immediately. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6BmpmhyAavUULOddoeYrPuKiHReu-_70i9Ye40Nc0J7e7z4xueHNezVuJOAg9ujsQuDVX5yaNyioN7TtxPZO93SunFWPUxyjhKrq4IDlmS3Ljc5tBvsXKiN_-DscJTbpATV_8bpKXuUs/s2921/IMG_5880.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2233" data-original-width="2921" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6BmpmhyAavUULOddoeYrPuKiHReu-_70i9Ye40Nc0J7e7z4xueHNezVuJOAg9ujsQuDVX5yaNyioN7TtxPZO93SunFWPUxyjhKrq4IDlmS3Ljc5tBvsXKiN_-DscJTbpATV_8bpKXuUs/s320/IMG_5880.HEIC" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">warm weather</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Hopped on with zero prep and went straight to the field.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1B7I75BeYggy3VD6cz5FCiZNBbVggPNMRj5-QP8Az9mbW68RMYJWQORydPj-8bzngHHq5wjD7EXGl9ZuPFaFr8d8GcnMs8wZGqVXolYAtjQfAmOyNa4VlEOTXyVDlN8vpzgBxI2QYQ2U/s3267/IMG_5970.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2722" data-original-width="3267" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1B7I75BeYggy3VD6cz5FCiZNBbVggPNMRj5-QP8Az9mbW68RMYJWQORydPj-8bzngHHq5wjD7EXGl9ZuPFaFr8d8GcnMs8wZGqVXolYAtjQfAmOyNa4VlEOTXyVDlN8vpzgBxI2QYQ2U/s320/IMG_5970.HEIC" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">don't mind if we do</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /><p>And rolled straight into the canter</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU7sNbOsRPP9AODnZY2Ti0wRsMmWnOHZafZC4xMYc4I96GOKr59Qpx3p5g4bX5zsSfmQw7JAtd_rngW2pe9qWPYsHq3C658doX4CzkkhIC02Vhb2Tz_2SU2neLr_9flR8BacMYFVZCR7w/s2528/IMG_5940.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1915" data-original-width="2528" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU7sNbOsRPP9AODnZY2Ti0wRsMmWnOHZafZC4xMYc4I96GOKr59Qpx3p5g4bX5zsSfmQw7JAtd_rngW2pe9qWPYsHq3C658doX4CzkkhIC02Vhb2Tz_2SU2neLr_9flR8BacMYFVZCR7w/s320/IMG_5940.HEIC" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><3</td></tr></tbody></table><p>It was the most natural thing in the world. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCDZFddbuRcEUn6jbrIrRTc-f4a8v3RIowx30mtRIuAjFE4XoGXWKAQRYW21rvzW8TZ20s6BqhEV4nhM10iOCd5Wa7xW2ahngitCYzTmaMg3xQmJC_W2iZlKNtvwCmxBhNSF7OTPwtwCU/s777/IMG_6411.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="575" data-original-width="777" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCDZFddbuRcEUn6jbrIrRTc-f4a8v3RIowx30mtRIuAjFE4XoGXWKAQRYW21rvzW8TZ20s6BqhEV4nhM10iOCd5Wa7xW2ahngitCYzTmaMg3xQmJC_W2iZlKNtvwCmxBhNSF7OTPwtwCU/s320/IMG_6411.PNG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">cold weather too</td></tr></tbody></table><p>It's my new favorite thing. We have a long, dark, cold winter ahead with a cheery purple bareback pad and a whole new toolbox unlocked. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEG3qF0AQUWHmv3Cv1BU51S7pa0R3RJzyQPZkryqu9wzs5al5vyeN-TvXctgtMYJ2M5cjgqSE86nS06Q6QO75K3lB5Pq7bCJOPrsSFYojcNArcyEdnxGcWpgblZ0Egd6Cf91MMy6INAHQ/s585/IMG_6403.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="413" data-original-width="585" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEG3qF0AQUWHmv3Cv1BU51S7pa0R3RJzyQPZkryqu9wzs5al5vyeN-TvXctgtMYJ2M5cjgqSE86nS06Q6QO75K3lB5Pq7bCJOPrsSFYojcNArcyEdnxGcWpgblZ0Egd6Cf91MMy6INAHQ/s320/IMG_6403.PNG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">i am a leaf on the wind<br />watch how i soar</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div></div>SprinklerBandithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02948487857418394022noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647406862592675556.post-31452653245673721242021-08-05T07:00:00.001-06:002021-08-05T07:00:00.342-06:00Always Be a Unicorn<p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdf0-GAfMaukhVB57tozG4GG9lQZ_rPsFcgkZ5tSos8f_nq-WxHJOCDFomPil4eFyKuIMDviQFX_s6ruGJQSXhgB5QCqJJdjd_lRCVblPTsUp8wiTguQgshFwMlb0P1bO1n3I58ZynWSY/s3888/IMG_1892.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="3888" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdf0-GAfMaukhVB57tozG4GG9lQZ_rPsFcgkZ5tSos8f_nq-WxHJOCDFomPil4eFyKuIMDviQFX_s6ruGJQSXhgB5QCqJJdjd_lRCVblPTsUp8wiTguQgshFwMlb0P1bO1n3I58ZynWSY/s320/IMG_1892.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo edit by <a href="https://theowlsapprove.blogspot.com/">Beka</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br />When you have a Zoebird, there are certain things you can do that normal horses really can't. </p><p>One of those things is throw a little girl a unicorn birthday party. </p><p>(Note: none of the children are mine to share so I'm not showing faces/action shots, EVEN IF THEY HAVE REALLY CUTE SMILES.) </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnhQo5BZ0TyiVaV5-qBUOQCa_0hOv13C3RVAk9a14XlTzfapzjoxM-RPxMOBvNgFVGV9LqSvXyE-ko8alrQtWJwsGbTo9iBfaSdx3Lj9MMZVQ-fjOMo9WWaVsYC9in3NjDUY_WCLUaHAM/s3495/IMG_1631.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3495" data-original-width="2568" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnhQo5BZ0TyiVaV5-qBUOQCa_0hOv13C3RVAk9a14XlTzfapzjoxM-RPxMOBvNgFVGV9LqSvXyE-ko8alrQtWJwsGbTo9iBfaSdx3Lj9MMZVQ-fjOMo9WWaVsYC9in3NjDUY_WCLUaHAM/s320/IMG_1631.HEIC" width="235" /></a></div><br /><p>We started mid-week with a quick dress rehearsal. </p><p>Well no. It started with me saying "I'm throwing a unicorn birthday party" in front of a friend and she immediately volunteered to bring her sister and help. </p><p>Then we did a quick dress rehearsal. Turns out the $20 etsy horn needed a little reinforcement to prevent a rather unfortunate flopping situation. And we picked correct sparkles. And made a plan. </p><p>When party day arrived, #teamunicorn was on site early to get all decked out.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil0jgu27ruywuaw3yxAFtBuF8SKwf_PndYVM5CK2JGkS4mQRYhKMUmvuAurUHz8T2bs8GUVVA29Y5U0scsOznUHpzEnzJun004MLDRx34X7p5P0JqAUpkdL3gAUx_Xzms7bDAj47qy9ec/s4032/IMG_1779.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil0jgu27ruywuaw3yxAFtBuF8SKwf_PndYVM5CK2JGkS4mQRYhKMUmvuAurUHz8T2bs8GUVVA29Y5U0scsOznUHpzEnzJun004MLDRx34X7p5P0JqAUpkdL3gAUx_Xzms7bDAj47qy9ec/s320/IMG_1779.HEIC" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the ideal horse model</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>We (they--let's be real my only contribution was a tail braid) got everything ready, then took the world's most adorable unicorn out to walk around and do a final fit. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6q4kGBogMTlWGEiziBCwGdgao2__3d0ElNNRWyHTdG8Lhy0oHSjntZ2X21AhW1uXpRJHq02lf6ltWz86hdec1I5_Q1UMhGxRW80jXTeqtqtNguKdMeBziqa2IwokAsN0I35Ypht8dmbc/s3760/IMG_1784.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3760" data-original-width="2737" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6q4kGBogMTlWGEiziBCwGdgao2__3d0ElNNRWyHTdG8Lhy0oHSjntZ2X21AhW1uXpRJHq02lf6ltWz86hdec1I5_Q1UMhGxRW80jXTeqtqtNguKdMeBziqa2IwokAsN0I35Ypht8dmbc/s320/IMG_1784.HEIC" width="233" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>We did a couple quick tweaks to dial the outfit in and it was go time with <a href="http://fourmaresnomoney.blogspot.com/">Alyssa </a>was on hand to document!<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRTlFj1ExyUb-zmsymjH7pUEYWtmmAPy0EM380t6e3rgM39ogRHouqMZhxVK32rn-vWIkB8GbgYohh3xF-bZaJINX-yIEa5Eq8bdnuTzQnmqyxarhP4-t9bQJOphFHV-tUKhnD1q8wSGc/s3888/IMG_4505.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="3888" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRTlFj1ExyUb-zmsymjH7pUEYWtmmAPy0EM380t6e3rgM39ogRHouqMZhxVK32rn-vWIkB8GbgYohh3xF-bZaJINX-yIEa5Eq8bdnuTzQnmqyxarhP4-t9bQJOphFHV-tUKhnD1q8wSGc/s320/IMG_4505.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">O HAI CHILDS</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I mean. ZB is a really damn cool horse and her love of the littles is possibly the most adorable thing I have ever seen. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe7gz7_YPeuoGshOYliA_gpsFfh-M-LyrEQn0quGFrd2GhQhIlR7R2AeDyNZD0At1o8ISZ2sx13bU7rV3KzdVbwVWHs-I800yxRumDbGs4YD7T63lrVkWYN7xPmDX-XQ0CpbKGiUlM0to/s3888/IMG_4555.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="3888" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe7gz7_YPeuoGshOYliA_gpsFfh-M-LyrEQn0quGFrd2GhQhIlR7R2AeDyNZD0At1o8ISZ2sx13bU7rV3KzdVbwVWHs-I800yxRumDbGs4YD7T63lrVkWYN7xPmDX-XQ0CpbKGiUlM0to/s320/IMG_4555.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>They petted her and learned how to feed her treats (and brought BAGS of carrots and apples so it was 100% the best horse day ever). </p><p>And then we did pony rides! </p><p>Pro tips:<br />1) BO suggested the indoor to contain the party participants. This was an excellent idea.<br />2) A 3 step mounting block is not tall enough to get the littles on your percheron cross (but helpful parents are great for this!)<br />3) Remember to ask the parents to bring helmets, because your adult size helmets will be WAY too big (glad I thought of that one in time!)<br />4) Should definitely ask everyone to wear closed toe shoes. Again. Did not think of that. </p><p>It was a really fun time! The kids were so excited and the parents helped manage the chaos (as did Alyssa and co--it's definitely a lot to throw 10+ kids and their non-horsey parents into a barn situation). </p><p>And ZB. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz7e4i1KOuRuqt_kRLWBgz2M5fBKyd-I11AFXa1bHkWl6d9WknRePgLF9JJcFpsDTa56uUOovQ2DhWqN7Jp8CNICAoyYhjX7ovArxKkPFMpHmp3YFRLy6rRZ5tebjmY3TZO-xHp5-_7fY/s3888/IMG_4501.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="3888" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz7e4i1KOuRuqt_kRLWBgz2M5fBKyd-I11AFXa1bHkWl6d9WknRePgLF9JJcFpsDTa56uUOovQ2DhWqN7Jp8CNICAoyYhjX7ovArxKkPFMpHmp3YFRLy6rRZ5tebjmY3TZO-xHp5-_7fY/s320/IMG_4501.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">not pictured--actual children</td></tr></tbody></table><p>By now, you know she is the best horse ever. </p><p>But like. </p><p>Not a foot wrong. The whole time. My proudest moment was having a little girl up who simultaneously LOVED Zoe and was COMPLETELY TERRIFIED. We were in the farthest, darkest corner of the arena and every child not-on-Zoe took off running straight at her AT FULL SPEED. </p><p>I stopped dead. ZB didn't even flick an ear. </p><p>Nada. </p><p>Just taking care of the scared little girl on her back. </p><p>You guys that is the cutest thing I have seen IN MY LIFE.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp-igTp3aLVjbpcl0hO7WLnfZPUy_ANBmk8P7xhKRjl9f7Rar8ulBNKbohyGhBK0WsCxMsnReHd8nddjepQf7uCe50qLuwMIay7B25l996fGdErEcl82HTOXQxihtIoch40lqDDOkGFVk/s828/51356D0D-D6F8-45EC-BE01-B7264D9E517F.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="633" data-original-width="828" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp-igTp3aLVjbpcl0hO7WLnfZPUy_ANBmk8P7xhKRjl9f7Rar8ulBNKbohyGhBK0WsCxMsnReHd8nddjepQf7uCe50qLuwMIay7B25l996fGdErEcl82HTOXQxihtIoch40lqDDOkGFVk/s320/51356D0D-D6F8-45EC-BE01-B7264D9E517F.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm living for these photo edits</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I'm certainly not planning to get into the unicorn party business*, but it was so much fun to make a little girl's day memorable. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifYAaqINbcnw-5luDU2JbNMPnvKJHgGmpMItyhwXx9PEs51mRKV0jBzkZ9oBrgrQ8vg4w3iE5K1i714k9dhmujJEZ9UAqZALMEyzlMTkun3r1oQuiEt9sTOo4t_W5AQZsF_EDhABgPDP8/s3888/IMG_4486.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="3888" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifYAaqINbcnw-5luDU2JbNMPnvKJHgGmpMItyhwXx9PEs51mRKV0jBzkZ9oBrgrQ8vg4w3iE5K1i714k9dhmujJEZ9UAqZALMEyzlMTkun3r1oQuiEt9sTOo4t_W5AQZsF_EDhABgPDP8/s320/IMG_4486.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Local unicorn team. Should have made Alyssa get in the picture instead of take it.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>*No one tell ZB I said this. She is living to be a party unicorn.</p>SprinklerBandithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02948487857418394022noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647406862592675556.post-44118883248864248602021-07-02T11:31:00.000-06:002021-07-02T11:31:10.690-06:00Faithful Friends<p>There are some animals that you look at. </p><p>There are others that look back at you. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUXNVcpv40ULS9m7T1N6MfU-E19QQCeZdz5KUncsCGWq2Q7SeNleEM5oZ3TFHy4BljUW0HncelRmVDY8t0udaDbwCiGwKfMnAyAKCBl6SlKVQe8N-a8y5RXXNH4oxIJCjTqQ6zKLTvTik/s2399/IMG_3500.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2399" data-original-width="1957" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUXNVcpv40ULS9m7T1N6MfU-E19QQCeZdz5KUncsCGWq2Q7SeNleEM5oZ3TFHy4BljUW0HncelRmVDY8t0udaDbwCiGwKfMnAyAKCBl6SlKVQe8N-a8y5RXXNH4oxIJCjTqQ6zKLTvTik/s320/IMG_3500.HEIC" /></a></div><p></p><p>Lewis was one of those. From the time he came home at 11 weeks old, he was a force to be reckoned with. Intelligent. In charge. Determined. </p><p>When men sat down on the couch, Lewis would walk up and stick his nose directly in their crotch.</p><p>To see who backed up. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLAJBXlio4vRBsR09RB70MyRcXlRRxfSswPW5l_nQehUxE1YPzI2BxfQBSOo68W6FFmsg7-a1YXjdpTG2zdp_5QhyphenhyphenORMUdrOVqsCZZ6paQcpzqJ1DQ6UynMB0J6Fot118pNiaJqL_indA/s4032/IMG_5359.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLAJBXlio4vRBsR09RB70MyRcXlRRxfSswPW5l_nQehUxE1YPzI2BxfQBSOo68W6FFmsg7-a1YXjdpTG2zdp_5QhyphenhyphenORMUdrOVqsCZZ6paQcpzqJ1DQ6UynMB0J6Fot118pNiaJqL_indA/s320/IMG_5359.HEIC" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">wasn't usually him</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">When I wouldn't let him outside, he'd bark at an imaginary squirrel to rile up the other dogs, then casually stroll out the now-open door while they lost their minds on a wild goose chase through the back yard. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipiAXz16vg_fj-yMTa5KJEBCOqtBVO6kr_EWQytWEjR6YnkRR0mjZphUd7_-lFR2rlSiGS2zfzDqH9bD7_Hrzfkxt-ADw4zeaZV939d8ppk94HFbFlhvDIG4NS41LJJlGZbKoKxK1PF2A/s1080/IMG_1503.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="988" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipiAXz16vg_fj-yMTa5KJEBCOqtBVO6kr_EWQytWEjR6YnkRR0mjZphUd7_-lFR2rlSiGS2zfzDqH9bD7_Hrzfkxt-ADw4zeaZV939d8ppk94HFbFlhvDIG4NS41LJJlGZbKoKxK1PF2A/s320/IMG_1503.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Less accomplices, more pawns</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After a very serious CTJ moment about "we don't chase horses" on one of his first visits, Lewis became my faithful barn buddy. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoxpY8UGgXYr4h_Uosvdz70DEjsKotGAF8aIzVSaznogAJw4ytos25yWIA30ZKPn4fjQodRqLpqhfpYSPR5377pe-Blf7FV639J51XxyFg8wnKOi1gyV3mNdLXMyrurO8NpfuR8uNq1i0/s2048/2A0FB441-7CF8-4118-8AC4-8FE277068EE9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoxpY8UGgXYr4h_Uosvdz70DEjsKotGAF8aIzVSaznogAJw4ytos25yWIA30ZKPn4fjQodRqLpqhfpYSPR5377pe-Blf7FV639J51XxyFg8wnKOi1gyV3mNdLXMyrurO8NpfuR8uNq1i0/s320/2A0FB441-7CF8-4118-8AC4-8FE277068EE9.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He never was a fan of posing with ZB</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>The barn was our time. Well. Sort of. He had more friends at the barn then I did. To this day, he knows more people at my barn than I do. And they know him. When my life started falling apart, late nights at the barn were me, ZB, and Lewis. Always the boss of us. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG-rSKmSO7JL86epoXFsz62_YY59fuD4w1q1pIcniSecqbSU5CTvrCLpingBFAuKlQme4VPusiKLjik71hF43KGamcPJTAicRUHvtEXc3RLct4MBtJaBGsYkKSPBN6BkBc0EWu4jWVTjc/s2582/IMG_4199.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2582" data-original-width="2248" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG-rSKmSO7JL86epoXFsz62_YY59fuD4w1q1pIcniSecqbSU5CTvrCLpingBFAuKlQme4VPusiKLjik71hF43KGamcPJTAicRUHvtEXc3RLct4MBtJaBGsYkKSPBN6BkBc0EWu4jWVTjc/s320/IMG_4199.JPG" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>He never suffered from a lack of personality--one of my favorite moments was when he strolled past me in the barn parking lot with the entire bin of Mrs. Pastures horse cookies in him mouth. </div><div><br /></div><div>And went and set them by my car to take home. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo1WHrmbTVZZh5-eurFiw7EzGINOLVcbqMgiZiaKBgPtzzjqFyWVxRJwpDgzMGYeKvsi6ZLCj0GlVlKwEOdRinSi31-ETPwbgOw5yDV0TYFB2DTgucvCW4-vtgobQVPO7ALy57FJYGVRg/s2847/IMG_1737.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2847" data-original-width="2273" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo1WHrmbTVZZh5-eurFiw7EzGINOLVcbqMgiZiaKBgPtzzjqFyWVxRJwpDgzMGYeKvsi6ZLCj0GlVlKwEOdRinSi31-ETPwbgOw5yDV0TYFB2DTgucvCW4-vtgobQVPO7ALy57FJYGVRg/s320/IMG_1737.JPG" /></a></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div>He wasn't a dog. He was my dog. My dude. The one who got me. The one who showed up, cheered me up, and kept my world moving, even while everything was crashing down around me. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmy_f9xl5POqn-eRzHqcpJQHxkt8TthAyEbq5HSrBHZmbI1mNJ0pRhWVbliKM7NBpJfuAABYc0fo-N1lOx3daQZ-En87ntdc444q59BnIsA3-H6784y5htaIB-YFi5r1dJwpbD7biV6_4/s1334/IMG_2432.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1181" data-original-width="1334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmy_f9xl5POqn-eRzHqcpJQHxkt8TthAyEbq5HSrBHZmbI1mNJ0pRhWVbliKM7NBpJfuAABYc0fo-N1lOx3daQZ-En87ntdc444q59BnIsA3-H6784y5htaIB-YFi5r1dJwpbD7biV6_4/s320/IMG_2432.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div>He was always thinking, always judging, always bossing. He knew what he wanted and he knew how to get it. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia3OoPkURB33ZthhOzS6a1x75P0DjDi16_Ta8lgLC6lSzmDMsa3m_TZ2b5YQIekfkRMV4qHy96iMDGVyNZx_0zJlDGAa07ffp_b0_T8k1PvKcpU_zM5JWMotHbyV_h3BfTFDBX7xXKKfQ/s793/IMG_5604.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="556" data-original-width="793" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia3OoPkURB33ZthhOzS6a1x75P0DjDi16_Ta8lgLC6lSzmDMsa3m_TZ2b5YQIekfkRMV4qHy96iMDGVyNZx_0zJlDGAa07ffp_b0_T8k1PvKcpU_zM5JWMotHbyV_h3BfTFDBX7xXKKfQ/s320/IMG_5604.PNG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>He was turning 13 this year but he was strong and sassy and just took a few more naps than he used to. This spring, I even said I wanted to get a puppy while Lewis was still young enough to raise him. </div><div><br /></div><div>Because I wanted any dog coming in to my life to learn from Lewis about how things were and how things needed to be. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvR2NbggopC6uxF_1CwqYtw6cLbVkv7zhWYPEQ2zW1E8b3UdJoU8qSXCDJCw8QJ0Pz6D6RNu3lYmFWwRLxWD6pyc4PKQCHLctZ-JvrMu_wXYbK68XAHLcw25TTc58mnhPj5HaY2lUT1Hw/s3960/IMG_4851.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2957" data-original-width="3960" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvR2NbggopC6uxF_1CwqYtw6cLbVkv7zhWYPEQ2zW1E8b3UdJoU8qSXCDJCw8QJ0Pz6D6RNu3lYmFWwRLxWD6pyc4PKQCHLctZ-JvrMu_wXYbK68XAHLcw25TTc58mnhPj5HaY2lUT1Hw/s320/IMG_4851.HEIC" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">there appears to be a shortage of bowls</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoDZku41PO2yr_Nr6U_wMrAthLkw00ckHORHFdU0EVOmAdyjbU-WzYQcctb_iW7rDSzzvjrKc3C5rjV-cSTGrHYztZ1D6FS9HyrEO7TAHiqzcOckA_SMCT0nLpO9gNzPd2xnVeanFE8Lo/s2809/IMG_6232.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2088" data-original-width="2809" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoDZku41PO2yr_Nr6U_wMrAthLkw00ckHORHFdU0EVOmAdyjbU-WzYQcctb_iW7rDSzzvjrKc3C5rjV-cSTGrHYztZ1D6FS9HyrEO7TAHiqzcOckA_SMCT0nLpO9gNzPd2xnVeanFE8Lo/s320/IMG_6232.HEIC" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">puppy must learn to remove ALL SQUEAKERS</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>This summer, he slowed down a little more. He didn't go on long walks. I was more careful about not taking him to the barn when it was hot. </div><div><br /></div><div>But it was ok. </div><div><br /></div><div>It had to be ok. </div><div><br /></div><div>I needed him to be ok. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHPSx1_EL8SStil3730YHDLN5TTnu5RqjrwMkspb1TBn_HnfqYPWgWytYrJCKABiBSgLjjXHHN-wMJathGRpjnluPZFb4bYzYpbNCG-JTbuNdwccW66pQ9_9ugeHKQ6464BYBdj05zLdQ/s4032/IMG_9604.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHPSx1_EL8SStil3730YHDLN5TTnu5RqjrwMkspb1TBn_HnfqYPWgWytYrJCKABiBSgLjjXHHN-wMJathGRpjnluPZFb4bYzYpbNCG-JTbuNdwccW66pQ9_9ugeHKQ6464BYBdj05zLdQ/s320/IMG_9604.HEIC" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the way corgs use couches</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>Except when my SO called as I was headed out of town to say that Lewis didn't eat breakfast. </div><div><br /></div><div>I turned my ass around and took him straight to the vet for bloodwork. </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih-7gOVHjHuiU1hapDI4h0CV4yCI5h_jtTxe3a9Dw5h1bGJyZoBUyzzSWe9HsHfTW-9EzVM4IT0BI81psH1jsrjg7Zufkroq38oo5uu5W5gOsqYXzjeJYQdBzEB-OlFPqtG2KzuPfJzoM/s2444/IMG_5791.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2444" data-original-width="2051" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih-7gOVHjHuiU1hapDI4h0CV4yCI5h_jtTxe3a9Dw5h1bGJyZoBUyzzSWe9HsHfTW-9EzVM4IT0BI81psH1jsrjg7Zufkroq38oo5uu5W5gOsqYXzjeJYQdBzEB-OlFPqtG2KzuPfJzoM/s320/IMG_5791.HEIC" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">no buddy. mum's not ready.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>Bloodwork. Then imaging. Waiting for specialists. Hearing bad news. Hearing worse news. </div><div><br /></div><div>"We can treat it, maybe", followed by the quality of life talk. </div><div><br /></div><div>Drugs. So many drugs. Buying fancy treats and canned food and god fucking dammit we can fight this. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpnzku45Y6b6O3R3R8ib7_Bc3yv3McoUMDxGX2l2xjqw5aWhi1q-kDKXW33vboGILi73ghJyFdh1uofwon1A73FXLr38n2dft8fx4CjVLgeBIIBkCv05zpTdeTdzTLptEBwWXAWWzsuEs/s4032/IMG_5443.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpnzku45Y6b6O3R3R8ib7_Bc3yv3McoUMDxGX2l2xjqw5aWhi1q-kDKXW33vboGILi73ghJyFdh1uofwon1A73FXLr38n2dft8fx4CjVLgeBIIBkCv05zpTdeTdzTLptEBwWXAWWzsuEs/s320/IMG_5443.HEIC" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">until we can't</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>A few short days later, he told me it was time. <br /><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Farewell, my friend.</i></div><p></p></div>SprinklerBandithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02948487857418394022noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647406862592675556.post-9493728906843070752021-04-14T07:00:00.001-06:002021-04-14T07:00:00.319-06:00A Little Bit Rock and RollI'm re-teaching myself how to train right now, and it is so much fun. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcBNaFigF65LZyTZfhtUvHLrny5hiIhb05XaRp8WI-1NIPaXhyaBFZ2aa_HrNS4RUrJrFSnFY5mhVjtxCG3D4h2VHRnYwM_dbwU9s-dHzrCXY0X-Dac4sfnn4-wTzA1CSWYUemMCsbQ3Y/s3142/2ABCC82E-F375-4BC0-889D-3C98F5B3B4F0.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="3142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcBNaFigF65LZyTZfhtUvHLrny5hiIhb05XaRp8WI-1NIPaXhyaBFZ2aa_HrNS4RUrJrFSnFY5mhVjtxCG3D4h2VHRnYwM_dbwU9s-dHzrCXY0X-Dac4sfnn4-wTzA1CSWYUemMCsbQ3Y/s320/2ABCC82E-F375-4BC0-889D-3C98F5B3B4F0.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>I've spent a long time in the same rut. The english sport horse world is cool and challenging and diverse and allllllll my bad habits are formed around a couple decades of experience doing the same thing. </div><div><br /></div><div>Meaning. </div><div><br /></div><div>If say, I'm trying to bend around a turn and I'm not quite getting the response I want, I have this muscle memory that goes INDIRECT INSIDE REIN (terrible idea, 0/10 recommend) that makes the shape of the horse look the way I want it to look while the horse goes crooked and I continue my bad habit of relying on my hands. </div><div><br /></div><div>I know enough to know how to pull it together and fake it on a ride. I don't even have to think about it.</div><div><br /></div><div>Faking it does not make us better. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik-j4Wd5qexZ3NGJ7Ldo4KuxMmZtFXQ1QYLUYOR4XKOIZK1cLfwW0hmh1jcmSzx1FbAM_OrLp8hqYVMo1oaed1KRF14iYcK5tPOnfBSUIpZur28ltZHTXj1ceQb2fRbV4o09Pds9u-sl0/s1114/IMG_6155.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="828" data-original-width="1114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik-j4Wd5qexZ3NGJ7Ldo4KuxMmZtFXQ1QYLUYOR4XKOIZK1cLfwW0hmh1jcmSzx1FbAM_OrLp8hqYVMo1oaed1KRF14iYcK5tPOnfBSUIpZur28ltZHTXj1ceQb2fRbV4o09Pds9u-sl0/s320/IMG_6155.PNG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>And see. I'm spending a lot of time in my life breaking out of ruts and changing behavior patterns. Learning to recognize dysfunction in it's expression and adapt my approach to do better. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz52jv9AYcof8m_-oj-reiQwjgwBZjz1wtxQDqhhRZPCvATK-romWRPFil5pxfWBxji08W1Am4gkmR6A-pIsw1HvGNiynCtMqWffjy95H5wFBvm3KUKzyNLQjfiX83xtLCWGNPP_hMqik/s1412/9F9AA837-2D38-44AF-BA34-7AFD918E4D57.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="827" data-original-width="1412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz52jv9AYcof8m_-oj-reiQwjgwBZjz1wtxQDqhhRZPCvATK-romWRPFil5pxfWBxji08W1Am4gkmR6A-pIsw1HvGNiynCtMqWffjy95H5wFBvm3KUKzyNLQjfiX83xtLCWGNPP_hMqik/s320/9F9AA837-2D38-44AF-BA34-7AFD918E4D57.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">not related but this horse is cute AF</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div>For me, it starts with changing my surroundings--if I physically remove myself from a rut, I can be more aware of when my behavior is sliding back that direction. In life, that means taking myself out of situations that I know are problematic for me. On horseback, that means dropping the trappings I'm comfortable with and learning to ride a different way. </div><div><br /></div><div>Next I set goals--what does success look like today? Tomorrow? Next week? Next month? Next year? If my long term goal is "canter bareback through the fields with flowers braided in her mane", what steps do I need to accomplish to arrive there? (Might start with "rideable canter idk").</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinKYn8uFnsy7Zahusq2yWGBUOvdGiGWJIdOJHSdGoPlnMCnh55mRqZ58YqRUcy4UVcuV7YFRar9aYb9qbIH53QP0nZ525EhQeDletlobDnwFMr8-JRxXTUkA7R0XMFLl-N2UlwPHn0Vbw/s4032/C7F87AC3-9E1E-494B-AB6C-098BE8C436D6.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinKYn8uFnsy7Zahusq2yWGBUOvdGiGWJIdOJHSdGoPlnMCnh55mRqZ58YqRUcy4UVcuV7YFRar9aYb9qbIH53QP0nZ525EhQeDletlobDnwFMr8-JRxXTUkA7R0XMFLl-N2UlwPHn0Vbw/s320/C7F87AC3-9E1E-494B-AB6C-098BE8C436D6.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>As I move towards the goals, I start watching for patterns. Which behaviors move me closer to my goal and which move me farther away? Which behaviors that I exhibit make my life better and which are just learned dysfunctional coping mechanisms? If I ride 6 days a week, but every ride is exhausting and draining and non-productive, am I gaining anything? Am I better served by riding less often and keeping a fresher mind?</div><div><br /></div><div>The thing that can drive me insane about western riding is the total lack of hundreds of years of theory and a "one true way" sort of approach that comes along with the more classical disciplines.</div><div><br /></div><div>But. </div><div><br /></div><div>That means I have to feel it out as I go. Find my own way. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2XK5Zm6LLPiJPaZVNSAz7A_TPs0qRRdCe-Kn1MMVN7zaCsk0xTKqOMqFVSot0f4UN1MMZnmC0ESS9CL1f4pVeRYwDscdIsCYUfWucS4MHV7a5Sq4SCRmtC66qcUvRHwbYWlIfUw8EqLc/s4032/IMG_6012.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2XK5Zm6LLPiJPaZVNSAz7A_TPs0qRRdCe-Kn1MMVN7zaCsk0xTKqOMqFVSot0f4UN1MMZnmC0ESS9CL1f4pVeRYwDscdIsCYUfWucS4MHV7a5Sq4SCRmtC66qcUvRHwbYWlIfUw8EqLc/s320/IMG_6012.HEIC" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Lead, but softly. </div><div><br /></div><div>Strength tempered with understanding. </div><div><br /></div><div>Progress in balance. </div><div><br /></div><div>There are things I can respect and take away from the sporthorse masters. There is plenty to learn from newer schools of thought. </div><div><br /></div><div>At the end of the day, I need to find the things that work for me. I need to be the leader that my horse wants to follow. </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOhMayBceo9x1vLsqAaHyvzWVuce_NzWRDakoV0qceiLq-FwZ4wm6YmCa5V_AyrgOaW4iTQioHmGJG3tvS6QJWuNB8hfijhwBbvjPPKLXiMSZYWPaqKBCWKkjAlIz6qXUo5grAuunJIkA/s3372/IMG_6001.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3372" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOhMayBceo9x1vLsqAaHyvzWVuce_NzWRDakoV0qceiLq-FwZ4wm6YmCa5V_AyrgOaW4iTQioHmGJG3tvS6QJWuNB8hfijhwBbvjPPKLXiMSZYWPaqKBCWKkjAlIz6qXUo5grAuunJIkA/s320/IMG_6001.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><div>There's no trail to glitz and satin and recognition. It's a step by step process of creating the horse I want to ride, the person I want to be, and the partnership I want to be party to. </div>SprinklerBandithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02948487857418394022noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647406862592675556.post-6594711940556150982021-01-08T07:00:00.001-07:002021-01-08T07:00:08.105-07:00Looking for ReleaseI see horses as a mirror that allows me to see into my subconscious in ways that very few other things do. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7ZGtU_JZbEbepRpc8w2NHy7wG1X6Kso9I-UUabYrp61DW53wmRGaPb6QobKMcxmiVA_JBw6-s11fkQukrCTkMBxVpbCsPUpnkOo_hmMH1_Ik_3M4jcCY9gT8w6CQZmMT3W2gkFp0E8Ls/s4032/44EA3859-5C9A-48FB-89F5-2EDD75370DE7.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7ZGtU_JZbEbepRpc8w2NHy7wG1X6Kso9I-UUabYrp61DW53wmRGaPb6QobKMcxmiVA_JBw6-s11fkQukrCTkMBxVpbCsPUpnkOo_hmMH1_Ik_3M4jcCY9gT8w6CQZmMT3W2gkFp0E8Ls/s320/44EA3859-5C9A-48FB-89F5-2EDD75370DE7.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>What drives me. What motivates me. How do I talk to myself about it. How do I think about myself because of it. What am I trying to gain.</div><div><br /></div><div>What am I willing to give up to get what I think I need. </div><div><br /></div><div>We can psychoanalyze that all day (and it's fascinating on a certain level), but the practical ramifications are interesting. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAv3_2yAcJ57fxb-31jvd4acQTlVKTXf9_Ovp1GEfmlfsi-xiTE1mU0KTWv8tHZ0Q79TGxFWv0l0JVEiDANAJf4nhIwpQv6E4PmqXrKfh5ng5RURyz-6d4qAsMTtmF4xQ8MmpKEd7APJc/s4032/77EE2D59-C3AD-4530-9FDD-D292A7921E42.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAv3_2yAcJ57fxb-31jvd4acQTlVKTXf9_Ovp1GEfmlfsi-xiTE1mU0KTWv8tHZ0Q79TGxFWv0l0JVEiDANAJf4nhIwpQv6E4PmqXrKfh5ng5RURyz-6d4qAsMTtmF4xQ8MmpKEd7APJc/s320/77EE2D59-C3AD-4530-9FDD-D292A7921E42.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>I took Zoe down the ditchbank the other day. She was predictably slow away from home, then a little scooty wanting to go back to it. She can be mildly herd bound if she's not getting out regularly and she definitely does better if we do a couple rides with a buddy before I just launch into a long solo ride as we lose daylight. </div><div><br /></div><div>And like. </div><div><br /></div><div>She wasn't bad. She was a little jiggy. She stopped when I asked her. She wanted to be pushy, so I pushed her into a shoulder fore down the trail and she was like MUM UR SO MEAN THIS IZ HARD BOO but she did it. </div><div><br /></div><div>I knew that I didn't handle it well. I didn't really establish myself. I didn't train my horse. I just totally abdicated all responsibility, had a crummy ride back, didn't school it, didn't reassure her. I felt irritated, then untacked and went home. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw6JyhWVJjLE1JK_j6_vSHnKx5rCNeuwz423AUmfNI8e1mTax_UneI6PQKT_fhZ36wiXXdLC5rG7c-NPunaziEvMcCVtw7x4FBYrpkWc0wsIlk_JkppRaN_Mr80CpUMOlUCDWWMKLpw1I/s985/IMG_0427.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="639" data-original-width="985" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw6JyhWVJjLE1JK_j6_vSHnKx5rCNeuwz423AUmfNI8e1mTax_UneI6PQKT_fhZ36wiXXdLC5rG7c-NPunaziEvMcCVtw7x4FBYrpkWc0wsIlk_JkppRaN_Mr80CpUMOlUCDWWMKLpw1I/s320/IMG_0427.PNG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>And when you have an actual disney horse, you can do that and she's still great the next time you see her. But maybe you don't take her down the ditch bank again because your coping skills are just not that good right now and you're having a hard time. You know that SOMEONE needs to school her, but you need it to not be you. </div><div><br /></div><div>So you play in the arena but GODDAMN you want her dialed and soft and ON IT right TF now and since you ride like ass (a conservative assessment), she's kind of stiff and heavy and not super engaged. It's ok. It's not terrible. She's not flipping you the bird, but like. Things aren't right. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglRMllQ5vOnGe4odqtvOp51V2oQX9n53h9rgFn8oj7UOtf3vJYQC-wfGXemedHPxhNPR32HkM5pIr9cHHlOVgiK9NY2uyMyM-DnUUZoeO6MJGPSVck79YMa6lC1ggmjqj5IgKLL54a57I/s666/710026E3-CF56-4C5E-BEE3-334F5D72979E.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="555" data-original-width="666" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglRMllQ5vOnGe4odqtvOp51V2oQX9n53h9rgFn8oj7UOtf3vJYQC-wfGXemedHPxhNPR32HkM5pIr9cHHlOVgiK9NY2uyMyM-DnUUZoeO6MJGPSVck79YMa6lC1ggmjqj5IgKLL54a57I/s320/710026E3-CF56-4C5E-BEE3-334F5D72979E.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>I went home. It's cold. I'm tired. The SO says "how was Zoe" and I have to explain to him how actually, she was pretty good. It's just that I expected a lot. And demanded a lot. And didn't give her any release. </div><div><br /></div><div>And actually what I interpreted as "her being heavy" was really "me refusing to give". </div><div><br /></div><div>And "her being stiff" was more accurately "me being rigid". </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFRpfI4AegyKxU7kF8dtYX5t7ljAle1YYhDNocsB7NjOCRfnegeV70_PUdDrDiPCRXTvJRHE-Hbl_nHBuXOta6MQv-W-sWSrLablSvWB7UbpwV-tIN_Splv46JuAVqUB1L9CrHifWasD8/s653/4BE7EF29-ABFF-4B2A-98CC-2BBE5208DD76.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="469" data-original-width="653" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFRpfI4AegyKxU7kF8dtYX5t7ljAle1YYhDNocsB7NjOCRfnegeV70_PUdDrDiPCRXTvJRHE-Hbl_nHBuXOta6MQv-W-sWSrLablSvWB7UbpwV-tIN_Splv46JuAVqUB1L9CrHifWasD8/s320/4BE7EF29-ABFF-4B2A-98CC-2BBE5208DD76.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>As I explained all that, I realized that stupid mirror thing was happening again. She's fine. She's just being a horse. But when I don't have the emotional capacity to provide good training, she's going to be a bit lackluster. </div><div><br /></div><div>When I respond to her responding to me with an unyielding YOU WILL GIVE, all I'm doing to her is what I do to myself. </div><div><br /></div><div>Which is never give myself room to fail. I demand more, push harder, get through it, and when I do that, I penalize myself for my very humanity that is begging for a little mercy. </div><div><br /></div><div>I'm hard. I'm strong. It's a weakness. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAcf_2hm2oUl7CXsdt3mMYk36n_4kbp3OmWuvqF3hXrRX_vJSbmf7S684rY0WaZiorMi_zKl1HahI1Y0WJJp6mjH0TfAZzpeDAIGtUkzp9Dlsu2ioZAWU_pdR7I4HYEyeMi6KhWMa1DmM/s4032/IMG_0794.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAcf_2hm2oUl7CXsdt3mMYk36n_4kbp3OmWuvqF3hXrRX_vJSbmf7S684rY0WaZiorMi_zKl1HahI1Y0WJJp6mjH0TfAZzpeDAIGtUkzp9Dlsu2ioZAWU_pdR7I4HYEyeMi6KhWMa1DmM/s320/IMG_0794.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>She's better than that. She's so just... I dunno. Inherently kind and pure. She brings her whole self every day and does her very best. She deserves someone who says "you can have an off day and it's ok and you're still my #1". She has earned that a thousand times over. And it's true--she can have those things. She just needs me to recognize it. </div><div><br /></div><div>She needs me to release.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghFjeOTzvn9Cf-yI_rj5e1tuAAIOXhsRll6z7ESD11Edsm2tHVina4W5C8ORERnIz3CtGcx4GWE4O8_a7redjmslRyUfeOOMxqjvN1IM510QLyPbiXbo8zWP0HYYL3X1GYwCXYSAY8IT4/s4032/IMG_0624.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghFjeOTzvn9Cf-yI_rj5e1tuAAIOXhsRll6z7ESD11Edsm2tHVina4W5C8ORERnIz3CtGcx4GWE4O8_a7redjmslRyUfeOOMxqjvN1IM510QLyPbiXbo8zWP0HYYL3X1GYwCXYSAY8IT4/s320/IMG_0624.HEIC" /></a></div><br /></div><div>Now switch the pronouns in that statement. Like the mirror does. Show me how I talk about myself. </div><div><br /></div><div>What am I willing to give up to get what I think I need.</div><div><br /></div><div>I can have an off day and it's ok. That's a really hard concept for my overly-driven, very-intense self. </div><div><br /></div><div>I can tell my trainer that I need her to put a few rides on zb and then we'll take a couple lessons. </div><div><br /></div><div>And then I can go to the barn after work and ride my beautiful disney horse in a halter. Feed her cookies and say I'm sorry. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc_TbjCw3kkcfSO1jd-0jpM82nKfK3jcZe-uzWUUzgw8LfZRtnKa24wstcVHkG9raE1HxnFhfMY5soKjizAMa8mJ-hVJtFuW9sCXsTnOymNCI6lWcCm4lJXMd8FN09g8I2msu3sMnejDc/s4032/IMG_1243.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc_TbjCw3kkcfSO1jd-0jpM82nKfK3jcZe-uzWUUzgw8LfZRtnKa24wstcVHkG9raE1HxnFhfMY5soKjizAMa8mJ-hVJtFuW9sCXsTnOymNCI6lWcCm4lJXMd8FN09g8I2msu3sMnejDc/s320/IMG_1243.HEIC" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I'll do better for both of us. </div>SprinklerBandithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02948487857418394022noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647406862592675556.post-53078804621086133592021-01-06T07:00:00.001-07:002021-01-06T07:00:01.985-07:002020: A Year in (Unusual) Review<p>My favorite part of blogging is the perspective I get from looking forward and looking back, especially at the end of the year. Usually I go through month by month and link to my favorite posts and put the best pictures of the year together and come out like "wow, you really did something" and "look what you need to do to move forward". </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmPzEO3_0m7CVCCUEEV2cWEAlGFanZKYV8SVz-CjCS8PODQxGSjAOKOB1SCpLNBJnJ7DmgdZJ4TCodBecdkGBp_ZvoeR3HAOEYsRrbj3l4Ba3ycOxHEjxLRtx8wS7p00pjOd0aW50lx8A/s3259/D8E63681-3989-4790-BF74-78A78EC1EE78.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3259" data-original-width="2693" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmPzEO3_0m7CVCCUEEV2cWEAlGFanZKYV8SVz-CjCS8PODQxGSjAOKOB1SCpLNBJnJ7DmgdZJ4TCodBecdkGBp_ZvoeR3HAOEYsRrbj3l4Ba3ycOxHEjxLRtx8wS7p00pjOd0aW50lx8A/s320/D8E63681-3989-4790-BF74-78A78EC1EE78.jpeg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look who goes barebacksies in a halter!</td></tr></tbody></table><p>But. </p><p>I think we've all been living in the same 2020. I didn't even blog every month. Barely every quarter. </p><p>Rather than doing a monthly summary, I'm going to roll with the 2020 summary post I've seen making the rounds, that I believe is credited to <a href="http://albertaequest.blogspot.com/">Alberta Equest</a>. </p><p><b>2020 Summary</b></p><p><b>What's the best thing that happened to you in 2020? </b></p><div><b>Personal:</b> HAHAHAHA OH MY GOD. Um. I'm an extrovert. I'm REAL BAD at shutdowns. I have a VERY HARD TIME with like. Not leaving my house. My life being out of control. It has been really hard for me to work through isolation (/living with my own idiosyncrasies) and seeing how those issues impact the BF (we live together) and how my own character weaknesses create my biggest problems. </div><div><br /></div><div>So like. I have a whole new appreciation for my own flaws and a roadmap forward to working on them. </div><div><br /></div><div>Also some great new coping mechanisms. </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQnlCQ7pfZZZZdiUI5aMeI45_fKfvN-d6yB3iFjYVlwzPLafO1dyruaKye41w_9Hbf6AX31Eii_rOPBjCtsZc_seHIbsCfzMjwMsDnnOrpn74_zEg39LQfw6r9J888QrZqpxZ8-qAaxKE/s3882/IMG_1133.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3882" data-original-width="2790" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQnlCQ7pfZZZZdiUI5aMeI45_fKfvN-d6yB3iFjYVlwzPLafO1dyruaKye41w_9Hbf6AX31Eii_rOPBjCtsZc_seHIbsCfzMjwMsDnnOrpn74_zEg39LQfw6r9J888QrZqpxZ8-qAaxKE/s320/IMG_1133.HEIC" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">is truck collecting a mechanism?<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><b>Equestrian</b>: I spent a lot of time away from the barn this year. That solidified for me why it is I go there, which has been really good. I didn't have an amazing achievement, didn't go to a show, barely took lessons, but I really am starting to feel settled/comfortable with the way my horse fits around my life right now. It's not what it used to be but it's still very much something that matters to me. </div><div><br /></div><div>I was really struggling with the lack of proficiency I feel when I'm riding at a lower level than I remember being able to, but it's letting me take the pressure off and just enjoy my personal horse. It's a new thing for me, and damn, I like it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlGSVGa1B_i-9AhLaWWh0ffI6eToNInOpwZRvLKMjY9xais1FkZ8bNGU-3g69fAxjhZyNmXBYmeAJZAUlWm-WyUuRlEcU2IS10oSXN0D2XtUYsehuRfQf9Dm_cSLMd2wBQYXRBvaOB1mI/s4032/IMG_0762.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlGSVGa1B_i-9AhLaWWh0ffI6eToNInOpwZRvLKMjY9xais1FkZ8bNGU-3g69fAxjhZyNmXBYmeAJZAUlWm-WyUuRlEcU2IS10oSXN0D2XtUYsehuRfQf9Dm_cSLMd2wBQYXRBvaOB1mI/s320/IMG_0762.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b>What's the worst thing that happened to you in 2020? </b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Personal</b>: I really dislike the passivity of saying things "happened to me" when I am an agent of my own life and I like to think I have some influence on the things I put myself in the position to have happen to me. Obviously, the whole pandemic didn't "happen to me", it happened to the entire world and I'm just a very small, very privileged part of that. </div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCFH-LXIdGsH2zzF1g8rntkr6SLR-4xfgUdWDXdhah7w5DS7WWQnQD0-CsGpT3fmuVKepD9ajJ-9FV20-7HsSZ7d_HBWqu7Du1iB2SgAXyThd-x0flckgUrXEvjKnDzhcsH5jS7kBDpG4/s960/IMG_0449.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="908" data-original-width="960" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCFH-LXIdGsH2zzF1g8rntkr6SLR-4xfgUdWDXdhah7w5DS7WWQnQD0-CsGpT3fmuVKepD9ajJ-9FV20-7HsSZ7d_HBWqu7Du1iB2SgAXyThd-x0flckgUrXEvjKnDzhcsH5jS7kBDpG4/s320/IMG_0449.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div></div><div>But a lot of things kind of just happened this year. </div><div><br /></div><div>I guess for me it was having people I care very much about be isolated in a way I can't overcome and know that they have to be alone for reasons out of both of our control.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Equestrian</b>: I watched a couple of friends go through really challenging situations with their horses and wasn't able to be there with them/for them in the way I would like to. </div><div><br /></div><div><div><b>What was your biggest purchase in 2020?</b> </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Personal:</b> Ummmmmm we'll go ahead and call my beloved Truck Truck a personal item. I was the sort of kid who had a dream truck and gave zero fucks about fancy dress parties and now I can officially say I have the truck of my actual dreams. It's a strangely lucid thing that I am really excited about. Almost offsets how expensive trucks are. </div><div><br /></div><div>Almost. </div><div><br /></div><div>Ha. </div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcrof_eNKQumfyq1zcoOy_WhJ0Coc3sozfPn34nWPN9qvYilPbi0uW_6R0Q99eDo4yCggc9RAdI1zChNai5JUytV-iwF79r9uLR9lX1CoHx-J1uzs2rxfFnqaw-ATXZMHYWbNF-kZIvMY/s4032/IMG_9712.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcrof_eNKQumfyq1zcoOy_WhJ0Coc3sozfPn34nWPN9qvYilPbi0uW_6R0Q99eDo4yCggc9RAdI1zChNai5JUytV-iwF79r9uLR9lX1CoHx-J1uzs2rxfFnqaw-ATXZMHYWbNF-kZIvMY/s320/IMG_9712.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><b>Equestrian</b>: I keep saying I dialed back the horse spending this year, but a quick review shows that I bought bought a jump saddle and a western saddle. So there's that. I made it official with a loaner jump saddle from the ever-intrepid <a href="http://rockinroxie.blogspot.com/">Roxie's mom</a> and then when we decided to get a little ranchy, she pointed me in the direction of a saddle that actually fits ZB really well. In an odd twist for me, I didn't sell any other saddles to accommodate the purchase either so I should probably clear some inventory... soon. Maybe. Iunno what else am I going to put in my garage... </div><div><br /></div><div>*giggle*</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5QqfMv6_vV0T6I2PjGzvJEq6N78XV2FT6nTB3Rw_sqSS_tSWqyI0it30Z58aWvVEHS_GvN6o8QGmIzu0QzPmIiscw16pkvS2gY-8cT6Df5-qMXZ4dlVoBg9S-fsfPE3-_wnoY1WLJq8k/s3377/7F04B5CD-1E4A-455D-A95E-52783BF59EE0.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2452" data-original-width="3377" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5QqfMv6_vV0T6I2PjGzvJEq6N78XV2FT6nTB3Rw_sqSS_tSWqyI0it30Z58aWvVEHS_GvN6o8QGmIzu0QzPmIiscw16pkvS2gY-8cT6Df5-qMXZ4dlVoBg9S-fsfPE3-_wnoY1WLJq8k/s320/7F04B5CD-1E4A-455D-A95E-52783BF59EE0.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><div><b>What was your biggest accomplishment in 2020? </b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Personal</b>: I'm on a challenging career track in a male-dominated field and I had some huge professional achievements this year. I could give you some work highlights and things I am proud of, but at the end of the day, the thing that matters most to me is having the respect of my crews and leadership. I feel like I'm in a really good place with that. </div></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi99CGq_BkZb4aXG2TSLepoup00-TO1JHQNgbg-3S9yOL-rHGglBcSaMEuMtZBSJmZuR-oSMlfSmq-i3NWOEhmc8GNdCeAMXSX2_HyqTmbv6ydHBMuacLkeXbbJZ6NR5AbVQnBMXBwDqLo/s3097/0CDCDC9A-7638-47B9-A0F4-B601BF265BED.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3019" data-original-width="3097" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi99CGq_BkZb4aXG2TSLepoup00-TO1JHQNgbg-3S9yOL-rHGglBcSaMEuMtZBSJmZuR-oSMlfSmq-i3NWOEhmc8GNdCeAMXSX2_HyqTmbv6ydHBMuacLkeXbbJZ6NR5AbVQnBMXBwDqLo/s320/0CDCDC9A-7638-47B9-A0F4-B601BF265BED.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">putting that horse girl carhartt coat to work</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><b>Equestrian</b>: Ummmmmm. Well. My goal with Zoe is always just to have a pleasant, well-rounded horse that I can bomb around on and she came through in a major way this year. I've been on the road a lot, my barn time is limited, and every time I see her, it's just solid, consistent fun things. </div><div><br /></div><div>So. It's not a show highlight. It's a life highlight.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG4q2JII4jrF9JEY97h58QsI7IuS74si-Kd96WBoVSrkEB-3LiVtyYIeOBdrG4ywPsatC0uPjo4lVbm813p4McnW6boQgBtbGnlCZW8FUW8HcIEQb0UOe22V0NBJFS2BJRg6wJD05bCUE/s2943/EEFE2B34-593D-4B09-96F5-93CAF329165D.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2779" data-original-width="2943" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG4q2JII4jrF9JEY97h58QsI7IuS74si-Kd96WBoVSrkEB-3LiVtyYIeOBdrG4ywPsatC0uPjo4lVbm813p4McnW6boQgBtbGnlCZW8FUW8HcIEQb0UOe22V0NBJFS2BJRg6wJD05bCUE/s320/EEFE2B34-593D-4B09-96F5-93CAF329165D.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">LEGOS</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><div><b>What do you feel COVID robbed you of in 2020?</b> </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Personal</b>: Friendships. Oh my god. It's not that you can't have friends in the time of covid, but the little get togethers and spontaneous hangouts and the quick weekend road trip to see people I care about are all just gone. I care about my friends and I hate that in order to protect each other, we're forced into an all-encompassing isolation. </div></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigbYgrgR8W6QL3GG5MAAj-mL1IK92IlQFXB4Do-4D95eX_QEnODQk3A5k3ljNdYREMdMHdQYy9TCzTullmNa0Q9ogDYrxJrEU-wvaHNCrao1802Skc54ivpJ2EEHwedwrZ8l_nxdzkCIk/s4032/IMG_0981.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigbYgrgR8W6QL3GG5MAAj-mL1IK92IlQFXB4Do-4D95eX_QEnODQk3A5k3ljNdYREMdMHdQYy9TCzTullmNa0Q9ogDYrxJrEU-wvaHNCrao1802Skc54ivpJ2EEHwedwrZ8l_nxdzkCIk/s320/IMG_0981.HEIC" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">gonna eat this sad pizza by my sad self</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><b>Equestrian:</b> I could say I was kind of dabbling with the idea of going to a show, but realistically, that wouldn't have happened this year with how other pieces of my life played out. In a lot of ways, I am singularly lucky that my horse life was minimally impacted by the larger tragedies swirling around us this year. </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq5IxOqo9d44Vv7g__MzUUFmkR_PZ8AJQ45jFn2iQnWi7I1W8JuU990Y-AC3KjCGrcAwoz6Og2A3_tBgEF7OByQ2E60_mOjsy4uXRLA84JGbkVSj6KEDfcqEHN9HWc5vlIgSn-WMWNdYQ/s4032/IMG_0067.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq5IxOqo9d44Vv7g__MzUUFmkR_PZ8AJQ45jFn2iQnWi7I1W8JuU990Y-AC3KjCGrcAwoz6Og2A3_tBgEF7OByQ2E60_mOjsy4uXRLA84JGbkVSj6KEDfcqEHN9HWc5vlIgSn-WMWNdYQ/s320/IMG_0067.HEIC" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">HAI CHRIMMIS TREE</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><div><b>Were you subject to any COVID impulse buys in 2020? </b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Personal</b>: HAHAHA see also my entire amazon account. </div></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Equestrian</b>: I can actually pretty much justify both the saddles I bought as things that would have happened anyways. I got a really pretty pad that I definitely didn't need but #yolo. Ummmmm oh yeah there was also a COVID sale for hufglocken and I got a super nice Mattes pad too. A draft size western bridle. At least 3 girths. </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhReXI0B1Hxk_GKsNo4lVmYQVgEpCknjyKaAlo6rpwIV90NUyXe22RC9AFWnJ8EuQY-HcQHb5bsmfkAnyEpqSwC6CmkrrFRyyE7SjBVczAoffwOJzeXZN5oKZMaVtWHTldRDTgPSTzngRo/s3413/IMG_0961.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2635" data-original-width="3413" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhReXI0B1Hxk_GKsNo4lVmYQVgEpCknjyKaAlo6rpwIV90NUyXe22RC9AFWnJ8EuQY-HcQHb5bsmfkAnyEpqSwC6CmkrrFRyyE7SjBVczAoffwOJzeXZN5oKZMaVtWHTldRDTgPSTzngRo/s320/IMG_0961.HEIC" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">it just occurred to me how funny it would be to put all the impulse buys on her at once<br />but who has the time?</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>It a little bit bothers me that I'm publishing this in 2021 but that's one of those things I'll just have to let go. We're moving forward. Things are good. I have a few more low key goals. Maybe next I'll write a post for that! </div>SprinklerBandithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02948487857418394022noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647406862592675556.post-70257290304358993472020-12-22T07:00:00.001-07:002020-12-22T07:00:10.832-07:00I Pivoed Myself<p> Y'all have probably heard of this nifty little robot camera gadget called a <a href="https://getpivo.com/?utm_source=Google&utm_medium=SA&utm_campaign=en&gclid=CjwKCAiArIH_BRB2EiwALfbH1DR1ukFFP4RlW0tWQK_KjfwGd2s5xMhi658OVmz6vjQeJ3UVjJaqURoC6bkQAvD_BwE">Pivo</a>. I thought it sounded cool and I bought one. I read half of one how-to on using it and figured if I needed help once I got going, I could google it. It works exactly as advertised--tracks the horse, struggles with multiple horses, and if it loses you, just ride in front of it again. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoyBAtSZhNsWWxgu5dWvb3ItQckOIbTr6iNBfbEp_Mi24U5WHt5s1rPXa-x9Ji75LgwlBcryht1mldpUKRbsIrje3ZtR7EW1nadJgAJf_z3x85C1vy28IW3Ywg60T1A_V6QEBiDlG4WJc/s821/IMG_8930.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="555" data-original-width="821" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoyBAtSZhNsWWxgu5dWvb3ItQckOIbTr6iNBfbEp_Mi24U5WHt5s1rPXa-x9Ji75LgwlBcryht1mldpUKRbsIrje3ZtR7EW1nadJgAJf_z3x85C1vy28IW3Ywg60T1A_V6QEBiDlG4WJc/s320/IMG_8930.PNG" width="320" /></a></div><p>Cool. Whatever. Pretty much everyone on the internet has one now and there's an entire facebook group devoted to people who are too stupid to read the instructions. You don't need me for that. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir_MKy-eKglJrkMYCFAqFGoc2V-BtG7DE-KKJPj_8CgPpOyqTfvL7XxhCkYDkZTggnJNgHOvvbuxq3MfgBw0zi8lT0r5MasBhzogy1K1SPxi8eCfrao9II13B_XuAsfuidlO4kTppP0aQ/s3359/965553C7-7D22-4B12-9FEB-218926F68D9B.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2703" data-original-width="3359" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir_MKy-eKglJrkMYCFAqFGoc2V-BtG7DE-KKJPj_8CgPpOyqTfvL7XxhCkYDkZTggnJNgHOvvbuxq3MfgBw0zi8lT0r5MasBhzogy1K1SPxi8eCfrao9II13B_XuAsfuidlO4kTppP0aQ/s320/965553C7-7D22-4B12-9FEB-218926F68D9B.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You definitely needed this level of cuteness tho</td></tr></tbody></table><br />The Pivo comes with a handy dandy remote that I think most people carry with them and use to turn the tracking features on/off as needed. Right? Like you maybe don't want a 30 minutes walk warmup of you talking to your buddy but you probably do want the 5.5 minutes you trotted around in the good light trying to get a decent screenshot. (Just me? Whatever.)<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj13WLHb6rEw14jB5WrRNjjhoIvui_35nY6NPbwEa98K_bPD125g3fcxZiGv9JsNFTK1RU6suVXNu1zOiPUwjbGV7Wf8CTTVoHDdUMp3iyLbtaw22Ukttr6eV-AEKr43uXnOa0amoJjgBM/s912/975EAD7B-96E6-4A94-8368-AEADB76B37F9.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="648" data-original-width="912" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj13WLHb6rEw14jB5WrRNjjhoIvui_35nY6NPbwEa98K_bPD125g3fcxZiGv9JsNFTK1RU6suVXNu1zOiPUwjbGV7Wf8CTTVoHDdUMp3iyLbtaw22Ukttr6eV-AEKr43uXnOa0amoJjgBM/s320/975EAD7B-96E6-4A94-8368-AEADB76B37F9.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>But since I'm lazy level pro right now, I don't use the remote for the simple reason of I didn't bother to bring it. Ever. It's somewhere. Maybe at home. I literally plop the pivo on the mounting block, try not to kick it over when I get on, and go for a ride. I trot around for a bit (and yeah by the time I'm WIPED OUT, apparently it's been like 5.5 minutes), and then I pop off to stop the pivo while we take a quick break. </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3-KZFfQl2lw_kqC4nxaFzBNm9oBjp53zsp7TYyrsSH_2VCvd5mDU5xO5F-M_8SHyEQZtj2ELaulA-GzshVqE1dxXxlGOu7W7Z7I5t_ZN9NwJo-UPtL6DXxaVZDRef6_m3B3povmqj1UI/s828/D6A79AE6-1E11-4C24-830D-BBA95368EFAE.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="828" data-original-width="804" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3-KZFfQl2lw_kqC4nxaFzBNm9oBjp53zsp7TYyrsSH_2VCvd5mDU5xO5F-M_8SHyEQZtj2ELaulA-GzshVqE1dxXxlGOu7W7Z7I5t_ZN9NwJo-UPtL6DXxaVZDRef6_m3B3povmqj1UI/s320/D6A79AE6-1E11-4C24-830D-BBA95368EFAE.jpeg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nobody wants to screenshot long videos</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>That means two things:</div><div>1) I get adorable photos like the one above. </div><div>2) I have a chance to review the footage MID RIDE.</div><div><br /></div><div>This has turned out to be BY FAR my favorite feature. (Even more than screenshots, because the light in the indoor is crummy so even a really good screenshot on a pretty decent phone camera is still not good.)</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwxRftsM2Kb3s8xKO5L9hCKUKBCZ_Qf0Uj6Hyok-1d7NQq-POmF-v8dU_1cU4R8H06yC5Wp5HnUImadtNu0pL1feYX2oa0ezpIqP5hyBAW1hI5wd-b8o2j4lNzUi8wOPKAemEDtSpRVcw/s796/79C9A76D-7B2E-4B55-AF71-E304C675E751.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="580" data-original-width="796" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwxRftsM2Kb3s8xKO5L9hCKUKBCZ_Qf0Uj6Hyok-1d7NQq-POmF-v8dU_1cU4R8H06yC5Wp5HnUImadtNu0pL1feYX2oa0ezpIqP5hyBAW1hI5wd-b8o2j4lNzUi8wOPKAemEDtSpRVcw/s320/79C9A76D-7B2E-4B55-AF71-E304C675E751.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See?</td></tr></tbody></table>Real talk tho: I'm a working ammy. I think I took 1 lesson this year. I ride 1-4 times a week, depending on my work travel schedule/the weather/my mental state. I have ok feel, middlin' reflexes, and bad riding fitness. ZB is the perfect ammy horse in that my schedule is A OK with her (and if I'm there more than 4 days she's like OMG MUM GO ON A TRIP I TIRED HOKAY). </div><div><br /></div><div>That means I get on and bomb around for 5 minutes working on whatever THE THING I think I need to do is. Last night, I thought "we will work on forward!"</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPA5WEl56nolWwq-A8V_UKABC1N_78ZxwyyVBT18Qpy4Ewm4Sf7tS8qkz6qpy2GitkvjQdGTnuPGa-0xMX8c_7PRMWdW4J41Faxw8-Enz4yWiYpWXU2znvKyp7I2hn-osmnE8Cof-3atI/s862/IMG_0512.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="589" data-original-width="862" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPA5WEl56nolWwq-A8V_UKABC1N_78ZxwyyVBT18Qpy4Ewm4Sf7tS8qkz6qpy2GitkvjQdGTnuPGa-0xMX8c_7PRMWdW4J41Faxw8-Enz4yWiYpWXU2znvKyp7I2hn-osmnE8Cof-3atI/s320/IMG_0512.PNG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">um</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>It was hard. I was huffing and puffing and contorting myself and nagging with my legs and god only knows what the reins were doing. </div><div><br /></div><div>Then we took our mid-ride break and I watched the video.</div><div><br /></div><div>And I thought. </div><div><br /></div><div>"Well gee whiz. Sure is hard for my perfectly nice horse to try to figure out what I want when my reins are two miles long, my hands are bouncing all over the stratosphere, my legs never really come on or off her sides, and my body is oddly contorted."</div><div><br /></div><div>In fact, you might even think that if I was clear with the FORWARD aids, then I could be long in my legs, strong in my core, following with my elbows, and soft with my hands. </div><div><br /></div><div>What a concept. </div><div><br /></div><div>Reset Pivo. Round 2. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjViUuIt1Jko7UnY3i8RybGMvroHbyWJPrufpoG0IHBbCy5o54YKUxlZf2BUpNk03fwY7FscaN1COffbbSwG5mCWw3nnpE7Jw-m_kfWH4CdPPbSCCRaEWAopKth9GY-4HFcUAovSE8LJdY/s616/7F4713ED-CF88-4076-A702-AF6E70B7AEBA.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="510" data-original-width="616" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjViUuIt1Jko7UnY3i8RybGMvroHbyWJPrufpoG0IHBbCy5o54YKUxlZf2BUpNk03fwY7FscaN1COffbbSwG5mCWw3nnpE7Jw-m_kfWH4CdPPbSCCRaEWAopKth9GY-4HFcUAovSE8LJdY/s320/7F4713ED-CF88-4076-A702-AF6E70B7AEBA.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>It's not that I'm magically a better and fitter rider with the video review. It just shows me what my issues look like. That helps me pick a couple things to correct on that night based on how I'm riding in the moment. I have to be real honest about whether the things I'm doing are actually making a difference to my horse. </div><div><br /></div><div>Or if they are dumb things and the difference they are making is bad. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqXPDk1pu_U8YEpjxibgS3UdpweDkBMaw2NHwEP1a18EnBaP23rMo90K04dsCdO8MoFmz0n9s6rarOhHXVoA6-V7SwhpT_ioUM42dd0Gf0m_qOfS-7M3FZo1iRB3FK9shnA9yNdPEYCxo/s735/C811161B-AB2D-408D-A15C-0D4A7EB932FB.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="599" data-original-width="735" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqXPDk1pu_U8YEpjxibgS3UdpweDkBMaw2NHwEP1a18EnBaP23rMo90K04dsCdO8MoFmz0n9s6rarOhHXVoA6-V7SwhpT_ioUM42dd0Gf0m_qOfS-7M3FZo1iRB3FK9shnA9yNdPEYCxo/s320/C811161B-AB2D-408D-A15C-0D4A7EB932FB.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">oh that's a bit better</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>I'm not a great rider. I'm not going to become one on my current schedule. </div><div><br /></div><div>I'm ok with that about myself. </div><div><br /></div><div>It is my ongoing goal to be the best I am able with the resources I have on hand, and to do that, I need to be very clear and fair with my horse. She can be her best self when I set her up to succeed. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1VZpyZvF4R4Ybz-32b3_r8WeOtfKG-KznLKqdhAs7j7_rtdziaZwVy7XPf3AePvHnMWjZYOkg3ZwTVZW0Q8soECstbqDsTtjDANR7_T6Sq0uooiZLnLJNrX2ZJmJsHp47GK6ZoGeJ88w/s793/6D9D9CE9-18EF-496C-8516-41F92600B6F1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="793" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1VZpyZvF4R4Ybz-32b3_r8WeOtfKG-KznLKqdhAs7j7_rtdziaZwVy7XPf3AePvHnMWjZYOkg3ZwTVZW0Q8soECstbqDsTtjDANR7_T6Sq0uooiZLnLJNrX2ZJmJsHp47GK6ZoGeJ88w/s320/6D9D9CE9-18EF-496C-8516-41F92600B6F1.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">now that's almost something</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div>After watching the videos and reviewing the stills I pulled out of them, I can make some informed choices about our next ride. I can say that the best work we had all night was when we did lateral work and compression and then pushed forward and asked for stretchy trot. <div><br /></div><div>I definitely think the things I'm asking for right now are hard and require schooling, more for strength than for repetition itself. <br /><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNLkl-T2aKPp5edHL4zYogHBO6RWRrYmNBOJ9ZFs2AW6AOIDTGaOZRqrpZbc1hbTpw4QFewSkNQPH2iSu8bf4AfGd91YbjAMW-i3FrejRjnEwAdfXKFKpwkgiVCuj3ATZYRxCyhd9TGGA/s2943/EEFE2B34-593D-4B09-96F5-93CAF329165D.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2779" data-original-width="2943" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNLkl-T2aKPp5edHL4zYogHBO6RWRrYmNBOJ9ZFs2AW6AOIDTGaOZRqrpZbc1hbTpw4QFewSkNQPH2iSu8bf4AfGd91YbjAMW-i3FrejRjnEwAdfXKFKpwkgiVCuj3ATZYRxCyhd9TGGA/s320/EEFE2B34-593D-4B09-96F5-93CAF329165D.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">LEGOS</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /><div>I also know we both get bored of doing the same thing over and over. Will there be indoor jump video in the near future? </div><div><br /></div><div>MAYBE.</div></div></div>SprinklerBandithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02948487857418394022noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647406862592675556.post-10594260681449191232020-12-03T07:00:00.001-07:002020-12-03T07:00:01.088-07:00Everything Slides Faster on Ice<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">I could write about how I finally decided ZB's western saddle actually didn't fit, and then how I maniacally shopped for one that would, then somewhat unintentionally bought one, then was pleasantly surprised that it included fittings and a cute teal pad and now I want cute teal boots to match and figured out I need a shorter girth. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh89pgaLvJzDAu6gEBKVrtwodfOMUuXqU9WkFfenRBReXdaZZ2c-FGAuu5ojd2aweoklmqNb-5MHID9zyzqTQf2D_6XBzMrNyKK4dVVDLj-tzrId29i3XNBZXIgjJZtW6k7tXwiBgCgyyE/s2953/CCC71C85-63A4-4005-B4AC-D7C99339C4A4.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2953" data-original-width="2358" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh89pgaLvJzDAu6gEBKVrtwodfOMUuXqU9WkFfenRBReXdaZZ2c-FGAuu5ojd2aweoklmqNb-5MHID9zyzqTQf2D_6XBzMrNyKK4dVVDLj-tzrId29i3XNBZXIgjJZtW6k7tXwiBgCgyyE/s320/CCC71C85-63A4-4005-B4AC-D7C99339C4A4.jpeg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">that back end <3</td></tr></tbody></table><div>But like. </div><div><br /></div><div>What's more important is that then I went on the ultimate horse girl spending spiral and ended up with a horse-hauling truck so WHOOPS THAT HAPPENED. </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYTcG8dm-VlVzUc_8PQG0FRkUeH0CnYEusXQk36_ziRYJR_pNZvvtFBdnvnDTu77Qeu0bKw86yDp3CYN_M4LVG7OYRyKE5_95Cg9pV6Nf7UFebSxxnC_Zy4UJ80e8pUjnsAeh-7ko5HFQ/s4032/IMG_9712.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYTcG8dm-VlVzUc_8PQG0FRkUeH0CnYEusXQk36_ziRYJR_pNZvvtFBdnvnDTu77Qeu0bKw86yDp3CYN_M4LVG7OYRyKE5_95Cg9pV6Nf7UFebSxxnC_Zy4UJ80e8pUjnsAeh-7ko5HFQ/s320/IMG_9712.HEIC" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">when all your wildest dreams come true<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>I'm still processing that particular event (and uh paying for it) and this blog is about the cutest horse in all the land, so let's look at her. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIwresLbyGXmn-_uY7FqdAN5hSMp2LsiNaVH0tKkA1yZdSqFHQzcIgp-1Hb3xHPMGbUbMl3xox834fB-_0z4S3IHJisS6LqHuGMtDm1BYFmGRW5IBr-L1Z6xZk19aYgknBxB1EQSHTqr4/s837/D05ECC2A-BD24-41A6-964A-CE659FF7E0EF.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="837" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIwresLbyGXmn-_uY7FqdAN5hSMp2LsiNaVH0tKkA1yZdSqFHQzcIgp-1Hb3xHPMGbUbMl3xox834fB-_0z4S3IHJisS6LqHuGMtDm1BYFmGRW5IBr-L1Z6xZk19aYgknBxB1EQSHTqr4/s320/D05ECC2A-BD24-41A6-964A-CE659FF7E0EF.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">so cute<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>We're on a western kick right now and a large part of it is that I don't have to be super prepared about outfits when I can just wear cowboy boots and jeans from work to the barn. </div><div><br /></div><div>Another part is that I am really enjoying the process of tackling something new. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE6uZEw5G45HmcsqZaGiazEjEuI5FFLVJ4sQVOzQwJA4erf6K87Pm9TXy7GHnYe0Rf2ET-HVJun8V7lc-K1QUNn8nZ7tQj7avNjy_9sBWZ9oKedBPO1Kh1gUJPQBiIvT88EaOP9qQlMj0/s4032/IMG_9371.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE6uZEw5G45HmcsqZaGiazEjEuI5FFLVJ4sQVOzQwJA4erf6K87Pm9TXy7GHnYe0Rf2ET-HVJun8V7lc-K1QUNn8nZ7tQj7avNjy_9sBWZ9oKedBPO1Kh1gUJPQBiIvT88EaOP9qQlMj0/s320/IMG_9371.HEIC" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">also soccer<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>I have to think through every ask and every give. I have to know what I want and work with ZB to figure out how to show it to her. I have to know when to push and know when to release. If the goal is "polite, balanced western jog", what are the steps I need to take to get from here to there? <div><br /></div><div>It's also really cool because it ends up being the same skills--I'm looking for her to be balanced back to front and move forward softly. I want the cadence slower and I want her to self regulate a bit. She can't stick her nose out like a pony and run on the forehand if I want her to go on a loose rein and be accountable for herself, so I have to be very clear about the steps I need her to take. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTaJgKteDSXvaKlaqb_w83Vh46EBx_PtXTXOrhKBF5T1Ic4f6WakdBZrCwkTfZCqndw8gWDSSgL7qLUC_Ck0-FNGIo-puMz-OyW_9qrqIz7L6gPW6JkhdLlqmbyTumokR_CCT0AFNS3AY/s3091/2A46758C-2AF1-4E6F-9CA5-7DEE2FB6874C.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2528" data-original-width="3091" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTaJgKteDSXvaKlaqb_w83Vh46EBx_PtXTXOrhKBF5T1Ic4f6WakdBZrCwkTfZCqndw8gWDSSgL7qLUC_Ck0-FNGIo-puMz-OyW_9qrqIz7L6gPW6JkhdLlqmbyTumokR_CCT0AFNS3AY/s320/2A46758C-2AF1-4E6F-9CA5-7DEE2FB6874C.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ground tying is fun<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>That means I have to step up as a horseman. I have to be accountable for my movements and expectations. I have to be clear, calm, and consistent. If I want a particular response, am I asking with a particular aid? How am I setting her up to succeed? </div><div><br /></div><div>This is ZB and I we're talking about, so that training has to be interesting with a lot of variety. She struggles with the canter (especially transitions), so we school those on the ground with a quick lunge warm up. Or in english tack so I can influence her balance and stay off her back. Or ignore it completely and go for a hack under the stars during a full moon.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL6ULc6eSrLWA-459Umeo_VLCLAhflfmUNspW6d8HeC1zwSb2eH23bS2hs1U1PupdpTfUah_Eoofodp3SIxSWXkXBvSqq8Dfug1_pSJnIRQu_QGj9OcGxUKLQ3NtLO_J3Ozg9GL32adps/s3164/IMG_9735.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2494" data-original-width="3164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL6ULc6eSrLWA-459Umeo_VLCLAhflfmUNspW6d8HeC1zwSb2eH23bS2hs1U1PupdpTfUah_Eoofodp3SIxSWXkXBvSqq8Dfug1_pSJnIRQu_QGj9OcGxUKLQ3NtLO_J3Ozg9GL32adps/s320/IMG_9735.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>I think we're about ready for prime time in the canter (aka actually schooling the lope vs just bombing around from time to time), but first I'm definitely going to resolve the cinch situation. </div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkCVtzP6hOPPqMSxU83_BHsJKcZncQE1EYsbCS99oYwX1ckiMX9sD-JjGaldiDpASpjVI07juNGYtCKthAOpCvvrVfrr7v1dJxu-fEwx7RLJhAL_VNZL2_j54Bop4CVItGymSNs9lwHpI/s2332/IMG_9663.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1805" data-original-width="2332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkCVtzP6hOPPqMSxU83_BHsJKcZncQE1EYsbCS99oYwX1ckiMX9sD-JjGaldiDpASpjVI07juNGYtCKthAOpCvvrVfrr7v1dJxu-fEwx7RLJhAL_VNZL2_j54Bop4CVItGymSNs9lwHpI/s320/IMG_9663.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Or maybe we'll just do it bareback.</div><div><p></p></div></div>SprinklerBandithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02948487857418394022noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647406862592675556.post-258671174495972162020-11-03T07:00:00.004-07:002020-11-03T07:00:00.732-07:00A Progression in ZB<p>You know what we haven't done in a while? </p><p>dun dun dun</p><p>A progression post! </p><p>When I met ZB, she was a loveable 4 year old with an impossibly smooshy nose that seemed almost too large for her rather-slender body. She was 15.2 on a tall day and had the best lil attitude about absolutely everything. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6qKKDhd_y5eBi30IgHI1Z_vGCbj8oLSpGjk6-PF-NSTKYW1aAszWd-WIw-mZmXNQDBMH6b1hotXAC-jueE39f215DF1WyHkFBbHE0MoAB4xpO_nJBAIq50KM-5Jv-BBzzawA7yKohSV4/s1123/july+2017.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="912" data-original-width="1123" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6qKKDhd_y5eBi30IgHI1Z_vGCbj8oLSpGjk6-PF-NSTKYW1aAszWd-WIw-mZmXNQDBMH6b1hotXAC-jueE39f215DF1WyHkFBbHE0MoAB4xpO_nJBAIq50KM-5Jv-BBzzawA7yKohSV4/s320/july+2017.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Summer 2017 - 4 years old<br />(layover at her Auntie's house)</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Everyone warned me that drafties grow until they're 8 so it worked out that my whole life fell apart shortly thereafter. I mean it didn't work out for me for a long time (tho it did eventually), but this is a REALLY NICE PHOTO that ZB's other auntie took the next summer annnnnnd yeah you can see that her dimensions have changed a lot. <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifSUzfmD0zeJejRGvjp9HcLimzR6vIuL-csAGRJDfRm3fVTo23lePj1AC3lh_fQa7mZ23VL64DRNGY6SUHPjUkhmrT54UFMSEQ-8lDPhLPN4Pg0vYBaYjF4s-EKfkWdbI9FwesoYR6NSk/s1174/july+2018.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="912" data-original-width="1174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifSUzfmD0zeJejRGvjp9HcLimzR6vIuL-csAGRJDfRm3fVTo23lePj1AC3lh_fQa7mZ23VL64DRNGY6SUHPjUkhmrT54UFMSEQ-8lDPhLPN4Pg0vYBaYjF4s-EKfkWdbI9FwesoYR6NSk/s320/july+2018.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Summer 2018 - 5 years old<br />(it's two zbs!)<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>I was going to post a summer vs winter picture for each year but 1) apparently I don't take a lot of winter conformation shots without tack on and 2) uhhhhhh let's just agree that some of those winter growth phases DO NOT need to be more documented haha. Instead, let's look at summer 2019 when the pieces actually started to come together for my little lady. <div><br /></div><div>You'll have to use some imagination on this one--I have a habit of not living in state in the summer (or at all SOB) so this was my best conformation shot in like 4 months. Whoops.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2qfoIFQWbRBDRmylX7SVcRJHCekePxKm4DE4u_gXWzowBnqtZdMUtv9uwkWGcssewAp01E8pItM_q9R7CTKuUDjGImh0nHOKxC7NIhswEpirQpw3i_1duDYb0buZaRxMRTeGDS8tfCXA/s1216/july+2019.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="912" data-original-width="1216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2qfoIFQWbRBDRmylX7SVcRJHCekePxKm4DE4u_gXWzowBnqtZdMUtv9uwkWGcssewAp01E8pItM_q9R7CTKuUDjGImh0nHOKxC7NIhswEpirQpw3i_1duDYb0buZaRxMRTeGDS8tfCXA/s320/july+2019.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Summer 2019 - 6 years old<br />Looking like a little powerhouse</td></tr></tbody></table><br />I now realize I probably should have been more diligent about documenting her growth--I think she's about 15.3 in front and 16.0 behind now. My logic is that I can get on her from the ground so she can't be that big. SOME PEOPLE are fond of pointing out that if your horse is roughly the same diameter as your couch, it keeps your hips more mobile. Whatever her height, she's the right size for me. </div><div><br /></div><div>She does seem to have leveled out the exponential growth at least--her balance is more consistent and hey, she looks like this:<br /><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidrjmBmgMJImfRvlP86AGyimsCydhaL1936VO7Iz4Y4uI88BJpNnKH2cTQe1XYY6Y-uB4ZhSPr2w7toPbbuTuLhfI_hRyWknDr0fn09BlKuBeE32nrROYwZsvTIvNppdfnXRGkrqJtbv0/s1129/june+2020.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="912" data-original-width="1129" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidrjmBmgMJImfRvlP86AGyimsCydhaL1936VO7Iz4Y4uI88BJpNnKH2cTQe1XYY6Y-uB4ZhSPr2w7toPbbuTuLhfI_hRyWknDr0fn09BlKuBeE32nrROYwZsvTIvNppdfnXRGkrqJtbv0/s320/june+2020.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Summer 2020 - 7 years old<br />All sport-horsey and cute</td></tr></tbody></table><br />We're going into her 7 year old winter now feeling fit and sassy. We both like variety and adventures, so we're spending time learning to neck rein and do a western jog but also working hard on the canter (and omg transitions) in her english tack with plenty of trail rides and jump days thrown in. She is coming together SO nicely and I can never emphasize enough just how lovely she's been to work with for the entire process. </div><div><br /></div><div>She has a fantastic back end, a natural over track at the walk, solid bone, and an amazing brain. I could talk about how her conformation impacts her athleticism or how her breeding informs her dimensions, but you know what's most important? </div><div><br /></div><div>She's just so much fun. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeMZxgFIrFNp02YR6HT1qj8JIcb5mQgPvYtZ18-adSsZGq_zH93YWffclcscxqvZwQ1NSc7jtjEO_IDOHJ7QS9wgXG1vMlEx2E-plxpBlxBLhFtLfnOZC7CKJp7QI-9wjZZMPjmQWo7j8/s3249/IMG_8431.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeMZxgFIrFNp02YR6HT1qj8JIcb5mQgPvYtZ18-adSsZGq_zH93YWffclcscxqvZwQ1NSc7jtjEO_IDOHJ7QS9wgXG1vMlEx2E-plxpBlxBLhFtLfnOZC7CKJp7QI-9wjZZMPjmQWo7j8/s320/IMG_8431.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><div></div>SprinklerBandithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02948487857418394022noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647406862592675556.post-67350720965018971012020-10-13T07:00:00.028-06:002020-10-13T07:00:00.498-06:00Pressure and Release<p> An interesting thing has started happening lately. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSrvlrWbpnQtZRvQ8jLDmaFO9rWqVyXGtPc7LG1wMPITkA0wFs6HjCuFKf0O9dIDcm5m_5xjorpn0N7LaZPkdfc-3pyK6bctRCS7V8N_jBnqxyVZoLiAP_QsUQQG_0XgPdjyfdnADXHwE/s2592/IMG_7259.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="1944" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSrvlrWbpnQtZRvQ8jLDmaFO9rWqVyXGtPc7LG1wMPITkA0wFs6HjCuFKf0O9dIDcm5m_5xjorpn0N7LaZPkdfc-3pyK6bctRCS7V8N_jBnqxyVZoLiAP_QsUQQG_0XgPdjyfdnADXHwE/s320/IMG_7259.JPG" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Right now (I've been in town for almost a month omfg!), Zoe is in the most consistent work with me that she has been in a long time. She's worked harder before, but that was with weekly training rides by a competent professional. I am not a competent professional, nor have I played one on tv in a long time. (Or ever, let's be real.)</p><p>Point is. ZB is working harder and more often than she has in a minute. </p><p>As much as I go on and on about her lovely, can-do attitude, I have definitely been wondering lately about what horse I'd have when the pressure went up a little. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy_BbbxViJ0UcQhNLA6Vytn4BdGwdAdQq1Eoath8Tb7JyItdNUxxtkfC5rKkCD-agOG64WPBv71qzy00zLbiZnhXIIL090E0yTAZw_T_x2ICU1cTQN0i_ogyxAq2nDz7-Cq5u73dYGrhI/s742/IMG_7251.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="586" data-original-width="742" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy_BbbxViJ0UcQhNLA6Vytn4BdGwdAdQq1Eoath8Tb7JyItdNUxxtkfC5rKkCD-agOG64WPBv71qzy00zLbiZnhXIIL090E0yTAZw_T_x2ICU1cTQN0i_ogyxAq2nDz7-Cq5u73dYGrhI/s320/IMG_7251.PNG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>And another thing--the first summer I had ZB, a lovely trainer we did a clinic with pointed out that to move her along in dressage, I'd need to sensitize her to stimuli. </p><p>Make her hotter, if you will. </p><p>I was a few months off a hotter-than-hell horse and that sounded like the worst idea on the planet to me. </p><p>So I didn't do it. (And then my whole life fell apart and I basically quit riding, but who's counting?) </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhgJlxmGyBClCDh0_wZryLAMFQ3zy97nMxFRAl0hY9xA37I7grPuoJNHFXafkSF9IahP1dvoI89kySZWaeI1Ocm7xxyh9wWTNdaiwnH8leRduIhveHsR5kofQ6MApG4MmT4iVVa-LMsAk/s2706/IMG_7338.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2706" data-original-width="2410" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhgJlxmGyBClCDh0_wZryLAMFQ3zy97nMxFRAl0hY9xA37I7grPuoJNHFXafkSF9IahP1dvoI89kySZWaeI1Ocm7xxyh9wWTNdaiwnH8leRduIhveHsR5kofQ6MApG4MmT4iVVa-LMsAk/s320/IMG_7338.HEIC" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">NO RAGERTS</td></tr></tbody></table><br />That creates a twofold issue now--we're adding pressure and I'm dialing up her sensitivity. I'm saying REACT QUICKER and MORE REACTIONS and both of those things are new.<p>Her response is a mixed bag--she definitely handles pressure better than any horse I've had before. She's willing to step up and try hard and give me good work, day in and day out. </p><p>She also (very fairly) has some of her own ideas about how that should go down. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx2jFfbhyIMbeBUOJbJ26A-W8-Y43V54eNtMjNDIoi_nsKQInDHixlXk54QqHDGdo3gkSxfRSDa5MXbH7Xo4Kg_eXZOYZJbMW1yLHhbN6WHnVuPYzB0BUMnWozcYwdXgbzgR5Xep_aPvc/s4032/IMG_7217.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx2jFfbhyIMbeBUOJbJ26A-W8-Y43V54eNtMjNDIoi_nsKQInDHixlXk54QqHDGdo3gkSxfRSDa5MXbH7Xo4Kg_eXZOYZJbMW1yLHhbN6WHnVuPYzB0BUMnWozcYwdXgbzgR5Xep_aPvc/s320/IMG_7217.HEIC" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">O HAI</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I'm having a fabulous time problem solving our way through it. I dialed up her reactions (great!) but then when I tried to do a bareback-in-a-dress photoshoot after work one day, she was like OMG LIONZ, which was kind of funny because I'm pretty sure she'd just SMOOSH LION if she actually met one. </p><p>It's not a bad thing per se, it's just a different item to address.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeuI8Cc2WgqFl2Adkt5_FBxk_ykbya_iCgVJjtGyTw5r44yXQC_-F3l1-VDclH3m_zs2DJ_6SyYmhKp1P7MLKcq8PaKFnc4onI9ETTS_EmhoGJmv_I-4QMPuoxEuNHiEb3X3Kkvz1_E3Q/s4032/IMG_7402.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeuI8Cc2WgqFl2Adkt5_FBxk_ykbya_iCgVJjtGyTw5r44yXQC_-F3l1-VDclH3m_zs2DJ_6SyYmhKp1P7MLKcq8PaKFnc4onI9ETTS_EmhoGJmv_I-4QMPuoxEuNHiEb3X3Kkvz1_E3Q/s320/IMG_7402.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">WE REACTIN HOKAY MUM</div><br /><p>I also have no interest in mindlessly drilling her like YOU WILL DO 5000 TRANSITIONS because fuck that noise. I'm not that person and I don't want to be. Like if you are that person, maybe get an RC car or something because you will break a living being. #shade</p><p>Which brings us back to our usual training path. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg91mbUuiwx0Umhy_7ewqS4OfcJttdlio4B5gQTAtOV55awGTEYz4mb7ctZhZuEWCC0ujdYTgwh3sY9o4tM0-vTC_EQO1Agc_Pc5gerH3NwjoFhEtmqpDY471_tTBd5dLuIGcsPd6HVicY/s3508/397CABE3-FDFD-4E8A-B248-CF9BF6AF46D3.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2700" data-original-width="3508" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg91mbUuiwx0Umhy_7ewqS4OfcJttdlio4B5gQTAtOV55awGTEYz4mb7ctZhZuEWCC0ujdYTgwh3sY9o4tM0-vTC_EQO1Agc_Pc5gerH3NwjoFhEtmqpDY471_tTBd5dLuIGcsPd6HVicY/s320/397CABE3-FDFD-4E8A-B248-CF9BF6AF46D3.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">do we have a usual path</div><p>My biggest thing about not wanting to "sensitize" my non-reactive horse was that I did not want to create a dragon-monster-horse that lost it's shit over stupid things like a stereotypical dressage arena princess. Zero interest. Got ZB to not have that horse. </p><p>But we're fooling around western and you know what a good western horse is? </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGRo5WP0IC7PgLzPMzt-P0krslgPeBXXq63uTaHF0DQc7Mv4UriyMYoPAo5uzrGm5w4pHZLIAH8ctoah-zImv5Lh0zVcjIx1ei79niKKH5q5K-oNeRBfXI3jklMRV386DSvU0yr3tiv1A/s4032/8F48E80B-A9ED-49DB-83BD-3A0E791E8E92.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGRo5WP0IC7PgLzPMzt-P0krslgPeBXXq63uTaHF0DQc7Mv4UriyMYoPAo5uzrGm5w4pHZLIAH8ctoah-zImv5Lh0zVcjIx1ei79niKKH5q5K-oNeRBfXI3jklMRV386DSvU0yr3tiv1A/s320/8F48E80B-A9ED-49DB-83BD-3A0E791E8E92.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">dramatic in photos? wait no</div><br /><p>Sensitized. </p><p>Dialed in to their rider on a low wavelength energy. It's not about being hot and reactive--it's about being keyed in and responsive. </p><p>It's about the rider being clear and consistent, providing the same subtle aids. </p><p>It's about the horse being soft with it's mind and body, carrying itself forward. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOnFmnWYkZ33LkSRFeBLLHL9qM4xhp9Z9r8qT8WoGomrC0U0tc-5NlccuY2xqDMj3rNZB8KQ3ccLuXlOGRqqTIWawA1OGFwR-Sa-CsqtLZ6J_uCfyWAd9yvLzYDmDxDLzpRlhKYgQCJ14/s2783/IMG_7377.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2783" data-original-width="2696" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOnFmnWYkZ33LkSRFeBLLHL9qM4xhp9Z9r8qT8WoGomrC0U0tc-5NlccuY2xqDMj3rNZB8KQ3ccLuXlOGRqqTIWawA1OGFwR-Sa-CsqtLZ6J_uCfyWAd9yvLzYDmDxDLzpRlhKYgQCJ14/s320/IMG_7377.HEIC" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">got kickass pictures too. cake=had and eaten.</div><br /><p>OH MY GOD WE JUST WENT FULL CIRCLE DID ANYONE ELSE SEE THAT.</p><p>Ahem. </p><p>Please tell me you saw that. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ZtLtGO-Dl_rVDBIhd0eZjC3jXS9PoAVg6Sdbvzh-bQrcS_ko553BzKaYjkBGYk2IojuiZhC08Rl4eIHvDAa5hyphenhyphenK_KaW2Mz0BYz-T3OX0gZQYaJu-Mrn84bSkNp85IRxV_4ZX6eG2h4Y/s4032/IMG_7257.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ZtLtGO-Dl_rVDBIhd0eZjC3jXS9PoAVg6Sdbvzh-bQrcS_ko553BzKaYjkBGYk2IojuiZhC08Rl4eIHvDAa5hyphenhyphenK_KaW2Mz0BYz-T3OX0gZQYaJu-Mrn84bSkNp85IRxV_4ZX6eG2h4Y/s320/IMG_7257.HEIC" /></a></div><br /><p>I'm working on becoming the best version of myself. Say after me:</p><p>Clear, consistent aids.<br />Clear, consistent aids.<br />Clear, consistent aids.</p><p>It's a lot harder than you'd think. Remember how we had a jump lesson like a week ago and my position was totally bangin' and I was totally mentally like "GOOD JOB SELF YOU ARE SUCH A SUPER RIDER WELL DONE"? </p><p>Well then we had an impromptu jump night and all the things I did right in the lesson, I managed to do wrong. See also: run at fence, pick to the base, fling entire upper body at miniscule X. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhautEaXJ2LxJ9esytrdG1tzW0W0vfuspuP91Vicemx-2eiIZZAAGhMTvXvI6GvWgn8ALFGF1bgJRCCiKF3RsbxAngpIgKfpnMdFuihyphenhyphenblxUJCSne3K6DJP-WYYYo_HOn7TVBJfEHx4bT8/s755/97B84A95-BC7A-4F52-BF2A-77F0FAB5317E.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="551" data-original-width="755" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhautEaXJ2LxJ9esytrdG1tzW0W0vfuspuP91Vicemx-2eiIZZAAGhMTvXvI6GvWgn8ALFGF1bgJRCCiKF3RsbxAngpIgKfpnMdFuihyphenhyphenblxUJCSne3K6DJP-WYYYo_HOn7TVBJfEHx4bT8/s320/97B84A95-BC7A-4F52-BF2A-77F0FAB5317E.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And definitely always go for the long one<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Strangely, our performance was <a href="https://youtu.be/EwXIBAk3stM">less brilliant that day</a>. Even my gung-ho, jump-loving baby horse was like NO MUM IS NOT SAFE 4 JUMPIN and slammed on the brakes. Whoops. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv_SJgOMq-M9UNTlBlkMxl8GvbllqvvO_Tr1ao-lUr7Me3Vwohv9_3EuZy9Lg0LUMakRkbmdTkoO3QK3blpZ9HKtcSYzkmheePELfmk3PlEqPAwqwkUViYC_iCXlYgixbxvUctv2RGouA/s846/9987D2CC-04EA-4EBC-8B54-F67D18374EB2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="623" data-original-width="846" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv_SJgOMq-M9UNTlBlkMxl8GvbllqvvO_Tr1ao-lUr7Me3Vwohv9_3EuZy9Lg0LUMakRkbmdTkoO3QK3blpZ9HKtcSYzkmheePELfmk3PlEqPAwqwkUViYC_iCXlYgixbxvUctv2RGouA/s320/9987D2CC-04EA-4EBC-8B54-F67D18374EB2.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>The cool thing with horses is that they don't really hold grudges, tho. I cleaned up my ride, and she gave me different results. Clear, consistent responses to clear, consistent aids. </p><p>It's almost like. </p><p>Who is training who?</p><p>Welcome to uncharted territory. </p>SprinklerBandithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02948487857418394022noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647406862592675556.post-22152348021608454802020-10-05T07:00:00.001-06:002020-10-05T07:00:00.467-06:00We Take a Lesson! <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">I've been able to ride consistently enough lately that I actually felt ok scheduling a lesson last week. </span></div><p></p><p>And then I thought. </p><p>Let's make it a jumping lesson! </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMceQhfjucdiIl-U9OIUdEBVJo9Oeb8UkfwwUqC1NJFEv9XcQJu9jdTZykfbv_7fCpuL5hKl6ZOvzHYvygc5buVt8okuXRWonUlWPlPyPMmQ-z-lE7NFP4aQ-GqiCLaT315akNb3uwWuM/s1382/0527E216-946C-4749-96B4-80DEC8C2E051.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="828" data-original-width="1382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMceQhfjucdiIl-U9OIUdEBVJo9Oeb8UkfwwUqC1NJFEv9XcQJu9jdTZykfbv_7fCpuL5hKl6ZOvzHYvygc5buVt8okuXRWonUlWPlPyPMmQ-z-lE7NFP4aQ-GqiCLaT315akNb3uwWuM/s320/0527E216-946C-4749-96B4-80DEC8C2E051.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">literally the cutest</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Here's the entire history of Zoe jumping: </div><div><br /></div><div>1) we spent a lot of days on the ground/lunge line learning how to go through poles and not fall down one winter </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNx0CA51qV6vVrSmwX_x6QLpyTt3wlxNe3afVWw0q50DwyrPWTS0iDsE8_T5RwSv569F8NDmF7un_cHkpsAXP7xi-JYDYmZt8cPvML7yXthEiNsGeJQkCCysMCCpsXeB9vhdDhnBPIzps/s1334/IMG_4169.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNx0CA51qV6vVrSmwX_x6QLpyTt3wlxNe3afVWw0q50DwyrPWTS0iDsE8_T5RwSv569F8NDmF7un_cHkpsAXP7xi-JYDYmZt8cPvML7yXthEiNsGeJQkCCysMCCpsXeB9vhdDhnBPIzps/s320/IMG_4169.PNG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>2) One day, my barnmate was like "does she jump" and I was like "iunno let's find out" and apparently she does. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7BkRppILP6zebMNDFchFehThVVfh3MDRaT4vd_X2noA14fTMy24DY8L5hbJGGehqRAaFIK1yQAJdwP7osEwgkD3uSKfsQKUF6jn1NPyRM8d20Sh_wNxoTVCBkc3CKyTFy7qdKuIjJMfg/s1033/IMG_5084.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="731" data-original-width="1033" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7BkRppILP6zebMNDFchFehThVVfh3MDRaT4vd_X2noA14fTMy24DY8L5hbJGGehqRAaFIK1yQAJdwP7osEwgkD3uSKfsQKUF6jn1NPyRM8d20Sh_wNxoTVCBkc3CKyTFy7qdKuIjJMfg/s320/IMG_5084.PNG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>3) Since that day, we've had about 4 random days where we popped over wee single cross rails to the tune of less than 10 jumps each time. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix8YK7PTio5P1Z19bjYXK3jOuRP5tZc6jPsPt6AOZVNRbzy8wW-pqUhVrBrAe0WJfDn71rartl2YC1pO5HGuZFT6C-3US1ti_Fn3T4gCnD15p7026-llMSw8DIMjFHxgB6sPgqARl-IWo/s2071/792D12BD-90C2-4388-A1FE-BE64FFAD6A15.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1595" data-original-width="2071" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix8YK7PTio5P1Z19bjYXK3jOuRP5tZc6jPsPt6AOZVNRbzy8wW-pqUhVrBrAe0WJfDn71rartl2YC1pO5HGuZFT6C-3US1ti_Fn3T4gCnD15p7026-llMSw8DIMjFHxgB6sPgqARl-IWo/s320/792D12BD-90C2-4388-A1FE-BE64FFAD6A15.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>4) and then we were signed up for our first ever jump lesson </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcmftHVhyphenhyphen2nUGZZ1naYshx686xKGbJhL0ljZWwtBFoxV6PsSwy975yRXvZWzgCcEiHT-j8m5iuzMeG41MPoPigYI7Fpm5XTAjAV8vmZM-3u1EzU0_1AcJKlihvCJwONjJD51E65rNl2yY/s1440/B88F0F04-638E-42E8-AA16-6F35D370A38A.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="828" data-original-width="1440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcmftHVhyphenhyphen2nUGZZ1naYshx686xKGbJhL0ljZWwtBFoxV6PsSwy975yRXvZWzgCcEiHT-j8m5iuzMeG41MPoPigYI7Fpm5XTAjAV8vmZM-3u1EzU0_1AcJKlihvCJwONjJD51E65rNl2yY/s320/B88F0F04-638E-42E8-AA16-6F35D370A38A.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">outfit on point, as always<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Not gonna lie, when I saw my trainer setting up an entire course of jumps, I was like "uh yeah so do you realize this horse has never jumped more than one fence in a row IN HER ENTIRE LIFE and yeah I was thinking some trot poles and a crossrail or something?" </div><div><br /></div><div>Trainer was like "oh yeah totes this is for the lesson after you no worries". </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1in26A-k7XZ3Pigl8210MLi-OMoc-glwSngYC_sotnX1IHaEe8Y70a-zo1_RXch-yRALzl5DyZwjgGuHZmshENI-2BgXryxnvNDvzbSbL_2PwWNByR5oxKyaOZ2-z5gmHxvMTSjiH4jk/s993/9654B2EE-70AE-4265-9016-EFE28A37CDD9.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="762" data-original-width="993" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1in26A-k7XZ3Pigl8210MLi-OMoc-glwSngYC_sotnX1IHaEe8Y70a-zo1_RXch-yRALzl5DyZwjgGuHZmshENI-2BgXryxnvNDvzbSbL_2PwWNByR5oxKyaOZ2-z5gmHxvMTSjiH4jk/s320/9654B2EE-70AE-4265-9016-EFE28A37CDD9.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>And that's the story of how whether or not it was intended for the lesson after us, ZB and I jumped AN ENTIRE COURSE for the FIRST TIME IN OUR COMBINED LIVES. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/B9bIAZtXlmE" width="320" youtube-src-id="B9bIAZtXlmE"></iframe></div><br /><div>Also that's my first course since uh............. </div><div><br /></div><div>Wow like 2015? I don't even know. Been a minute. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim5CJ_YVaa5pH52-BiEUhEAoGWmZdbpUi-2jCZD4fdgnOixSf51MdfGxTxqO2xzjb1s12VwSpvNumRmkd1TzyG1drwsfEj84YKZ9kVFKkZ0XsjHdpSjRXkydmhlz7xP0mMy8kmcwuodng/s1126/756BF184-66F5-4CC5-AE4D-CE177B69FE3D.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="746" data-original-width="1126" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim5CJ_YVaa5pH52-BiEUhEAoGWmZdbpUi-2jCZD4fdgnOixSf51MdfGxTxqO2xzjb1s12VwSpvNumRmkd1TzyG1drwsfEj84YKZ9kVFKkZ0XsjHdpSjRXkydmhlz7xP0mMy8kmcwuodng/s320/756BF184-66F5-4CC5-AE4D-CE177B69FE3D.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div>And it was the cutest thing ever. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaCbTUFBmICt2sPDcLNo5G07rM7esxYfn61JcpbOEt064ukcwKaE3l8v-LaJvK_oOq4WRtMA-s7giWSHRbQIRMIQmAZitjH0Fy-lvZhSKaLEtvhjmMdbNc9p0-65CZOIyuQNfiSmqG8YY/s1232/36C03A29-9C7A-47A3-A153-AFE1FBEDC508.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="828" data-original-width="1232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaCbTUFBmICt2sPDcLNo5G07rM7esxYfn61JcpbOEt064ukcwKaE3l8v-LaJvK_oOq4WRtMA-s7giWSHRbQIRMIQmAZitjH0Fy-lvZhSKaLEtvhjmMdbNc9p0-65CZOIyuQNfiSmqG8YY/s320/36C03A29-9C7A-47A3-A153-AFE1FBEDC508.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>I could go on and on about how she's the most fun to ride and how cool it is to have a horse that lets me sit in the middle and steer because she thinks jumping is THE FUNNEST OMG MUM and how cool it is to like, "work on my position" because I'm not just desperately clinging on and trying to avoid death. <div><br /></div><div>But you probably guessed those things anyways from how it's ZB. </div>SprinklerBandithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02948487857418394022noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647406862592675556.post-53201932635136561982020-09-30T07:00:00.001-06:002020-09-30T07:00:09.437-06:00The Long and ShortWhen I typed out "I've literally never had a bad ride on zb" the other day, it made me think. <div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihfssklcW9CNNMT9r_eP9NQzKNKorYHifyq1OF8Urjpv6AlTS502Z8wAtw1FtgBIwHmeJm_k1UyExiqOUdRYnihEG0OrG9oCEKhGjQGQdjKTQDSC781-v8MV9d9IU5BCwNoMboR9iAPY8/s4032/C9562EE8-60B6-44C3-A6A6-C00FAAD82206.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihfssklcW9CNNMT9r_eP9NQzKNKorYHifyq1OF8Urjpv6AlTS502Z8wAtw1FtgBIwHmeJm_k1UyExiqOUdRYnihEG0OrG9oCEKhGjQGQdjKTQDSC781-v8MV9d9IU5BCwNoMboR9iAPY8/s320/C9562EE8-60B6-44C3-A6A6-C00FAAD82206.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>What is a bad ride? What causes a ride to become a bad ride? </div><div><br /></div><div>For me, a bad ride is emotionally turbulent, accomplishes no clear goal, leaves horse and/or rider more frustrated than when they started, or ends in injury for horse or rider. </div><div><br /></div><div>That's not to say that every ride has to be all-positive, all-the-time, 100% training focused. I mean, if you've been around here at all, you definitely know that I spend more time toodling than working my horse and I am 100% more focused on playing horse soccer than I am on going to horse shows. And while I certainly gush about ZB's (many) (many) excellent qualities, she's also a bit of a moose on the ground and not always the most motivated under saddle. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4bkN48XvPaqheqsDzQZBdShaXuEFcPppz2E8fShnA5JpTOI54yRGfbBMOziJ0nFh5e0PI1KHrZyrXOU28g_ZFpazqv6x46hdpZo4n3UX8P85cwObRijUdG77guaA-vcTlhpZxVmQRnyA/s3285/1E9077B1-ADC5-4FF2-9AEA-B48B5897B1DC.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3285" data-original-width="2715" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4bkN48XvPaqheqsDzQZBdShaXuEFcPppz2E8fShnA5JpTOI54yRGfbBMOziJ0nFh5e0PI1KHrZyrXOU28g_ZFpazqv6x46hdpZo4n3UX8P85cwObRijUdG77guaA-vcTlhpZxVmQRnyA/s320/1E9077B1-ADC5-4FF2-9AEA-B48B5897B1DC.jpeg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Albeit a very cute moose<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>A bad ride is more than an "eh not feeling it, let's redirect and trail ride today" where not much is accomplished. I would actually call that a pretty decent ride as long as you identify the issue and make intentional choices to address it. </div><div><br /></div><div>One of those moments of clarity I found in between Courage and Zoe was this understanding that a partnership depends on being the person your horse wants to be with and finding the horse that you want to be with. It sounds oddly simple phrased that way. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvS4-_dFysYgu5zAZRCD0Lg9ZMaj0yvMSejgD1g1-LdPUuKXNCtQDYRkOur9tYp5jnthjaw0-69k5uBUFApa3waCqGde12b2_gdYcuC-Z8NW_W9XJ7ecgIp99smXUEd-8VBhj00NhkUc8/s3152/IMG_6484.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvS4-_dFysYgu5zAZRCD0Lg9ZMaj0yvMSejgD1g1-LdPUuKXNCtQDYRkOur9tYp5jnthjaw0-69k5uBUFApa3waCqGde12b2_gdYcuC-Z8NW_W9XJ7ecgIp99smXUEd-8VBhj00NhkUc8/s320/IMG_6484.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>But like. </div><div><br /></div><div>It's not that every day is butterflies and rainbows. </div><div><br /></div><div>It's that when I'm toodling around bareback in the pasture on a loose rein on the first cold fall day of the year and my horse goes COMPLETELY TENSE OMFG WTAF IS HAPPENING, I choose to slide off, do some ground work, address where our attention goes and when, and then choose a successful note to end on. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkipAZUCRrlRXUh8fPznpaboXNvLDR3URIrY02K5dN4uPBbZpeR3-SHg67stRJZNj1BMpCtPMvaxQUoJZ_6kEg1lChjT9Fa2yH2LXndCF0UPkR7_sk40I9pNlmMnHuv-pfVbZvFErSNBo/s1105/IMG_6899.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="828" data-original-width="1105" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkipAZUCRrlRXUh8fPznpaboXNvLDR3URIrY02K5dN4uPBbZpeR3-SHg67stRJZNj1BMpCtPMvaxQUoJZ_6kEg1lChjT9Fa2yH2LXndCF0UPkR7_sk40I9pNlmMnHuv-pfVbZvFErSNBo/s320/IMG_6899.PNG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Could have been a bad ride. Might have gone ok. I addressed it in a different way. </div><div><br /></div><div>That not to say one shouldn't ride through resistance because you 100% should, some of the time. It's important to set yourself up to win the little battles so you never really have the big battles. The other day I hopped on and ZB was definitely "eh not feeling it" on the going to work issue. </div><div><br /></div><div>We started with halt/back/halt/walk transitions to confirm "you must comply in a soft manner", then added trot into the mix, which got the whole Going Forward/Stepping Under pieces engaged. Then lateral work for straightness, then figure eights with bend/counterbend for direction changes with consistent balance. </div><div><br /></div><div>And all of a sudden, I had this lovely, soft, balanced horse who was on the aids and I asked her to stay soft and step up into canter (vs hollow and run), and wouldn't you know, she did it. And we could repeat the transitions. She wasn't strong/consistent enough yet to hold it for more than a few strides, but for the first time, she totally got it. </div><div><br /></div><div>Lightbulb. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLEhqea12F92UTDt_dYJZsZIoM72qBGDsvhJp0qiUwaS9o-MvbWAOaaf4KhfpWF9A3H6uj4tgZPvUIl30CmjEqn0te47Fp3hyphenhyphenXeNVvlNlyEfStXvLQFiKjw6nxLrfoQdMN6pC5IN8gCXo/s553/C244572E-B120-4B48-BD63-DD7FC8A782B1.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="414" data-original-width="553" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLEhqea12F92UTDt_dYJZsZIoM72qBGDsvhJp0qiUwaS9o-MvbWAOaaf4KhfpWF9A3H6uj4tgZPvUIl30CmjEqn0te47Fp3hyphenhyphenXeNVvlNlyEfStXvLQFiKjw6nxLrfoQdMN6pC5IN8gCXo/s320/C244572E-B120-4B48-BD63-DD7FC8A782B1.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>That wasn't the most promising start, but it became a good ride. </div><div><br /></div><div>I'll admit I'm 100% spoiled here. Ms. Zoebird has this ridiculous Disney horse attitude and shows up for work 99.99% of the time. She's good natured, hard working, and lovely to be around. She makes it easy. Even if she really just needs to OMG MUM G2G BUCK AND DO RUNNIN, she lets me know that's on the table and tries so hard to make sure I get off first. </div><div><br /></div><div>She's never going to be your international eventer and I dunno if she wants to dressage once the dressaging gets hard, but she's the horse that made riding fun again for me. </div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdL3PolHv2voA3E2UQoauRpV_RFw3MB5tUu0vaTp-NxHUQJwL6tXIdx9qNGzzWjBmMtM_pC8RtHxQdjAsENz-Ruyoso77siiuic_99Zy3okW8np8u0y7N0qFPdkIvXP-TRcy82_YQG8FE/s756/5D9027E4-1CDD-4F54-ADC8-41640801D46F.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="566" data-original-width="756" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdL3PolHv2voA3E2UQoauRpV_RFw3MB5tUu0vaTp-NxHUQJwL6tXIdx9qNGzzWjBmMtM_pC8RtHxQdjAsENz-Ruyoso77siiuic_99Zy3okW8np8u0y7N0qFPdkIvXP-TRcy82_YQG8FE/s320/5D9027E4-1CDD-4F54-ADC8-41640801D46F.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>People have bad days. Horses have bad days. </div><div><br /></div><div>If you're both having a bad day, it's maybe not the best day in the history of ever to get on. </div><div><br /></div><div>More than that tho--good rides are about good fit. Good goals. Good camaraderie. </div><div><br /></div><div>On a personal level, it has mattered a lot to me to take showing off the table. Instead of sort of patching together an uncertain partnership in pursuit of indifferent public approbation of my skills, I've gotten to zero in on the things I want out of riding and what I enjoy. </div><div><br /></div><div>It's not that showing is bad, because it isn't. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc2LzURgT7aOPfOHofUosRB_Biwj3GtkxM_t6JMDutP5x69m94BT7XOGzaqZB8dSnZfy899AEqJP3DFs3mZ2mxdgMURjFD8e0FKpIjnX55xZ-EQmQJu6Hu2Z3uKAJAi3upYYDtlwHO5_8/s4032/2BB602DA-8F45-4334-96F2-9D03C2F84B2F.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc2LzURgT7aOPfOHofUosRB_Biwj3GtkxM_t6JMDutP5x69m94BT7XOGzaqZB8dSnZfy899AEqJP3DFs3mZ2mxdgMURjFD8e0FKpIjnX55xZ-EQmQJu6Hu2Z3uKAJAi3upYYDtlwHO5_8/s320/2BB602DA-8F45-4334-96F2-9D03C2F84B2F.jpeg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>It's that having a good ride is so much more natural when "good" is a finite term that I can see and feel and touch. It's that moment of appreciating my horse and knowing that I'm in the right place at the right time. It's the ability to take a day or a month or a season to teach her goofy things that make me laugh.</div><div><br /></div><div>The other day, I wanted to win a shiny satin ribbon. I'm spending a little more time polishing show ring skills than I did before. I have a goal of taking a couple lessons to advance our skills that I think I can finally accomplish. </div><div><br /></div><div>Maybe we'll give showing a go next season. </div><div><br /></div><div>Maybe we won't. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWhdL2Vrfo_vMZx_oJzl09vnaxyMTFFVZvGBG0Lz4ruQS6vQBtD61qH0RP1V09C23I1m7u9UzBcg1vx4jxM6kkPywP3yJTqqrNK2sJASb1Po-Y-dgaMNX9Ajs1ckIB2mrbEVhtGNwSW8c/s3257/ADE6314F-4161-4F1F-B304-15232DBB8849.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWhdL2Vrfo_vMZx_oJzl09vnaxyMTFFVZvGBG0Lz4ruQS6vQBtD61qH0RP1V09C23I1m7u9UzBcg1vx4jxM6kkPywP3yJTqqrNK2sJASb1Po-Y-dgaMNX9Ajs1ckIB2mrbEVhtGNwSW8c/s320/ADE6314F-4161-4F1F-B304-15232DBB8849.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Either way, we have many more good rides to look forward to. </div>SprinklerBandithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02948487857418394022noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647406862592675556.post-3071986857904181532020-09-28T07:00:00.001-06:002020-09-28T07:00:10.986-06:00That New Leather Smell<p>It's weird how our foray into learning western stuff re-energized me for all things horsey, but here we are. And like. I know I never stop going on and on about how great ZB is, but seriously she is the actual greatest and I love her so much. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi22PAOQLPzA5e-S9RuuQaotE9P4py-4XEiVp-DwWCv6a0VJe37Gu7wFMDt5-i7w0DiWAudYEMOjDWQEerQYe_oxcIb8jEnDV75ly6kYVP8xc1cS6hYi-A0449Tmv85UHSrx5g0bWHgOWg/s3802/A944A01C-EAC8-4962-8140-BED68A54B018.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2819" data-original-width="3802" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi22PAOQLPzA5e-S9RuuQaotE9P4py-4XEiVp-DwWCv6a0VJe37Gu7wFMDt5-i7w0DiWAudYEMOjDWQEerQYe_oxcIb8jEnDV75ly6kYVP8xc1cS6hYi-A0449Tmv85UHSrx5g0bWHgOWg/s320/A944A01C-EAC8-4962-8140-BED68A54B018.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>So anyways. We've been westerning. I dragged my moose sized western saddle out and I can't really tell if it fits or not. To trot around for 20 minutes, it's fine I guess, so we started playing with a little more complexity in our neck reining adventure. <p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5tnTbyqsh4IjAbtaTnYzK8wOg9LXEqyQPpLkCisNM1LAf2gsPgdAuLPOcbOXekEcj5jvYx7nvrQildGNfYrZJ6vYI1MmGUQx755lwxeyPEYPs34RT0jJTeMA-Ye1ipG86Lx3oeDnywOQ/s4032/6DB61C03-A3BA-4692-9E98-1FD277CEC925.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5tnTbyqsh4IjAbtaTnYzK8wOg9LXEqyQPpLkCisNM1LAf2gsPgdAuLPOcbOXekEcj5jvYx7nvrQildGNfYrZJ6vYI1MmGUQx755lwxeyPEYPs34RT0jJTeMA-Ye1ipG86Lx3oeDnywOQ/s320/6DB61C03-A3BA-4692-9E98-1FD277CEC925.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SMOOSH SUNSET<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>I decided to clean up my tack explosion area at the barn and realized that since I'm not riding often or hard enough to justify juggling two saddles and ten pads on one saddle rack and the top of my trunk, that I ought to just take the dressage saddle and to-die-for otto bridle home where they're safe. <div><br /></div><div>And then I tried riding in my jump saddle. </div><div><br /></div><div>I realized these things:</div><div><br /></div><div>1) I hate my stirrup leathers more than life itself</div><div>2) Neither of my girths fit my horse</div><div>3) The girths are so bad I literally can't use my $$$ custom mattes pad that I impulse bought in a 'rona sale this spring</div><div><br /></div><div>And see, despite my total moderation in tack purchases lately, I have (un?)fortunately cultivated a lovely group of very tack savvy friends. </div><div><br /></div><div>In less time that it takes to talk about it, I have:</div><div><br /></div><div>1) Custom-made Gary Mundy stirrup leathers with my initials stamped in them on the way</div><div>2) 3 (count 'em) girths to try out</div><div>3) A bonus anatomic noseband that is oddly sized to mess with</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicBFn7EoYhI6rRcdEMKV8x-mh1DS4V9G07CbmHPhBfTAlwqmeTRSbVPN88V9JJ1LZ1XVpWQ0WOHV1xpwuRyKCjVyaUqg0RvByHWLiCVnRJhlzsC6P_C1Pye5qMiTCYwE0iKXpCGOOXZfQ/s4032/IMG_6859.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicBFn7EoYhI6rRcdEMKV8x-mh1DS4V9G07CbmHPhBfTAlwqmeTRSbVPN88V9JJ1LZ1XVpWQ0WOHV1xpwuRyKCjVyaUqg0RvByHWLiCVnRJhlzsC6P_C1Pye5qMiTCYwE0iKXpCGOOXZfQ/w240-h320/IMG_6859.HEIC" title="Stay posted" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stay posted for the prolite vs county logic throw down<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJRlti0MzWdaU0x_MNnxGLB-OrgQ7HFuXtJtQly6OuaIwFgADCNhAplaMtUXWwP0kT7xTtOtAxuihdCFh3pU5ATWC87Qo17Zv7wjfBl8h_a83hos-2JpuTvsQOKkYC-XhcsTKXU9sLmJ0/s2776/IMG_6849.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2776" data-original-width="2036" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJRlti0MzWdaU0x_MNnxGLB-OrgQ7HFuXtJtQly6OuaIwFgADCNhAplaMtUXWwP0kT7xTtOtAxuihdCFh3pU5ATWC87Qo17Zv7wjfBl8h_a83hos-2JpuTvsQOKkYC-XhcsTKXU9sLmJ0/s320/IMG_6849.HEIC" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Well that is surprisingly perfect</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_GaRoZeVxnh__zpbe0WCFmMm02ICu9Tw5nsJMpksBPnCQAjCF6FPGmDqEofx2rlA-kyYNgxl_cBHPAcY9Coez9mCX4x_1v77808lNiu4de90gd72EBZQ-kYQ2rJgkXVKa-panXzA7A6g/s4032/IMG_6860.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_GaRoZeVxnh__zpbe0WCFmMm02ICu9Tw5nsJMpksBPnCQAjCF6FPGmDqEofx2rlA-kyYNgxl_cBHPAcY9Coez9mCX4x_1v77808lNiu4de90gd72EBZQ-kYQ2rJgkXVKa-panXzA7A6g/s320/IMG_6860.HEIC" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh look it's the indoor time of year</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>I'm one of those weird people that like CANNOT EVEN if things aren't working. I didn't realize how much it bugged me that my tack wasn't quite right. </div><div><br /></div><div>Which is dumb. </div><div><br /></div><div>Because after playing musical girths and messing around, I got on with a saddle and rode like an adult and ZB was super champion of the world. Seriously. I don't know why she's like ROCK SOLID HOKAY MOM I BE GOOD GIRL literally every time I have EVER sat on her, but it's insane and amazing. Still. </div><div><br /></div><div>Seriously horse it's been over three years now and WE HAVE LITERALLY NEVER HAD A BAD RIDE. </div><div><br /></div><div>And I don't even feel like I'm jinxing it by saying that out loud. </div><div><br /></div><div>And then because I am a dumbass, I pulled her saddle off and walked away to put it on the rack with her loose wearing the fancy new bridle in the middle of the arena. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2RvCFADuyeMWEWncp5dWDoZWozJ9WHzWg9glGiLr6hrZdFluTG6IlP0Tj-6p0DGrBcI7hNWgJWJ6gyn_WctPYNgv200lAF-Sp8Dlbx-z8tPlDy4p76iLop3TjGiwYOZ2Y3Rn0QWItAfA/s4032/IMG_6864.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2RvCFADuyeMWEWncp5dWDoZWozJ9WHzWg9glGiLr6hrZdFluTG6IlP0Tj-6p0DGrBcI7hNWgJWJ6gyn_WctPYNgv200lAF-Sp8Dlbx-z8tPlDy4p76iLop3TjGiwYOZ2Y3Rn0QWItAfA/s320/IMG_6864.HEIC" /></a></div><br /><div>And yeah it was totally fine she just stood there and watched me. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHrAhrG2GpMj86pW_q16lRGKwsK6DMBMrZyGRq30a6fS5rtO9DUUJkSZ2avrG7_1wkH_Hh7l9xgZTXs6QDBOej8UgrLC5kgbhBHpMANTFVk7YsZeqhr9asARt3KRkybNHEvRPPNOnrISA/s4032/IMG_6865.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHrAhrG2GpMj86pW_q16lRGKwsK6DMBMrZyGRq30a6fS5rtO9DUUJkSZ2avrG7_1wkH_Hh7l9xgZTXs6QDBOej8UgrLC5kgbhBHpMANTFVk7YsZeqhr9asARt3KRkybNHEvRPPNOnrISA/s320/IMG_6865.HEIC" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">when ur mum is a dum dum but u still love her<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>SprinklerBandithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02948487857418394022noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647406862592675556.post-81185026755632412222020-09-02T07:00:00.001-06:002020-09-02T07:00:08.846-06:00Summer Fun<p>In the vein of "what sounds fun today", I spent a lot of time this summer in a distinctly old west style locale. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKXf3Nn2OoDkoDUsgtJPutpfK8Rkw7yve9juufRla7KuyWbHBhhW-em_MXYsAY5xPpR9El84M918w1ow5acRo6JND6KFbfNP-puGS1hiuHC8ilZxupD6d_ihRsMQMetvBY3e7Au_tQWkg/s4032/IMG_4083.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKXf3Nn2OoDkoDUsgtJPutpfK8Rkw7yve9juufRla7KuyWbHBhhW-em_MXYsAY5xPpR9El84M918w1ow5acRo6JND6KFbfNP-puGS1hiuHC8ilZxupD6d_ihRsMQMetvBY3e7Au_tQWkg/w410-h307/IMG_4083.HEIC" width="410" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Is that a buffalo walking down the street?<br />Yes that's a buffalo walking down the street.<br />His name is Jackson.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>And I thought. </p><p>Ms ZB is literally a purpose-bred ranch horse. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSvO4Ra2xt0CawuWK5A1fzvt2nziD-flHrxIuFQXWvOxa0MjWhww-jyYE-oeykNgDo4B_kIjFC5Vvh4XCRdxJFVUAIv5yA_ouKqcXP4PWv7Mqwy0DYL3bUHb7x89x8r7Hn6K5gYYLOMIg/s3604/4A013FB8-98EC-414D-A137-2C760A59F1D0.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2568" data-original-width="3604" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSvO4Ra2xt0CawuWK5A1fzvt2nziD-flHrxIuFQXWvOxa0MjWhww-jyYE-oeykNgDo4B_kIjFC5Vvh4XCRdxJFVUAIv5yA_ouKqcXP4PWv7Mqwy0DYL3bUHb7x89x8r7Hn6K5gYYLOMIg/w410-h292/4A013FB8-98EC-414D-A137-2C760A59F1D0.jpeg" width="410" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh and she's looking completely fabulous<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>Why not teach her to western?</div><div><br /></div><div>So one night, I googled "how to teach a horse to neck rein", read one of those horrible how-to articles on some random site, and decided to go for it.</div><div><br /></div><div>Worst case scenario, we can't figure it out, I feed her cookies, and all is well. </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc742PFRenpXg554uJYpXpG-xcVFu0VGaU6P7l-pc75DIWj2vivBc1B8VV1RWmcHgrADGWblKl65kE6AIes5PtXjPJQis1zo3S6XWiaXuXjKfUOYNLcFl8_OyuiVM39F5fdqK0BNcppas/s1282/AC71B830-1D11-4FBE-AFD4-6502A905C6E4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="828" data-original-width="1282" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc742PFRenpXg554uJYpXpG-xcVFu0VGaU6P7l-pc75DIWj2vivBc1B8VV1RWmcHgrADGWblKl65kE6AIes5PtXjPJQis1zo3S6XWiaXuXjKfUOYNLcFl8_OyuiVM39F5fdqK0BNcppas/w410-h264/AC71B830-1D11-4FBE-AFD4-6502A905C6E4.png" width="410" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Did I mention she's looking fantastic? She totally is.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />I mean, I don't have a western saddle that's moose shaped and given my status as a tack snob, I can't make do with the cheapest thing on ebay.<div><br /></div><div>But also ZB is a literal couch and we have plenty of easy, slow work we can do before we need to, I don't know, zoom around and sort cows and rope a calf while practicing mounted shooting. </div><div><br /></div><div>Bareback it is! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizXvmR32H74CjLjy_NsDiZopGR10BflDqvfxXDD-aANrPa3dvM3z9lSLmG2xV-v1PfA1EXdhJTa2v3VNA-lsj_3ZISqErYLUluBc033ruasolilSudUzHp3yZxd-EnpqzdYub9sk3PRgM/s4032/5F142E23-DEA0-4ADC-AEB6-6ED4784B1207.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizXvmR32H74CjLjy_NsDiZopGR10BflDqvfxXDD-aANrPa3dvM3z9lSLmG2xV-v1PfA1EXdhJTa2v3VNA-lsj_3ZISqErYLUluBc033ruasolilSudUzHp3yZxd-EnpqzdYub9sk3PRgM/w308-h410/5F142E23-DEA0-4ADC-AEB6-6ED4784B1207.jpeg" width="308" /></a></div><br /><div>My preliminary research indicated if your horse was already reasonably broke and had a good idea of direct reining, the neck reining wasn't terribly different and horses usually picked it up pretty quickly. </div><div><br /></div><div>I'd call that summation accurate--ZB is one smart lady and as long as she stays focused on what I'm asking, she's quite lovely about the whole thing. It honestly wasn't much of a transition for her in terms of steering. (Now, in terms of how we pretty it up, I dunno. Might take some lessons lol.) </div><div><br /></div><div>BUT. </div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEcMGPN9Euiys_Yuuw0Mcgg5XB4ZYtlqtRU44PhfRRfn3go0DABEaY_QJ5ZiqKb9KuMJlrvIP_E5kvDEV33ci451Ch7rz0LSw_rpnF6JVVFRcboGTw6JKgvmhIBYU2gdEjK3zD-mXMGV4/s4032/IMG_4734.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEcMGPN9Euiys_Yuuw0Mcgg5XB4ZYtlqtRU44PhfRRfn3go0DABEaY_QJ5ZiqKb9KuMJlrvIP_E5kvDEV33ci451Ch7rz0LSw_rpnF6JVVFRcboGTw6JKgvmhIBYU2gdEjK3zD-mXMGV4/w307-h410/IMG_4734.HEIC" width="307" /></a></div><br /><div>Did you know that riding a horse is kind of like riding a horse and any imbalances, weaknesses, or flaws that you mask with your usual equipment might show up in a whole different way if, say, you dropped most of your tack and tried to provide clear, simple aids? </div></div><div><br /></div><div>Cough. </div><div><br /></div><div>I know that. </div><div><br /></div><div>Now. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNRp0Qed1eY-yrP0WEnsgtql-YtNuS03f8GrFCXJdaCW2ZJkf5Q3RA7iCZtHQIPO2aH0dU4-YKoaH-NBhBDisEc1hyphenhyphen7c-uSPj0PpJ_pZBavTm6lLfLDWnhNKn_pZhv_LSg2wKyH3FkuyA/s4032/IMG_4494.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNRp0Qed1eY-yrP0WEnsgtql-YtNuS03f8GrFCXJdaCW2ZJkf5Q3RA7iCZtHQIPO2aH0dU4-YKoaH-NBhBDisEc1hyphenhyphen7c-uSPj0PpJ_pZBavTm6lLfLDWnhNKn_pZhv_LSg2wKyH3FkuyA/w410-h307/IMG_4494.HEIC" width="410" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>I mean it's literally what I talk about when I transfer the skills learned kicking her ball into letting me pop on in a different setup and start muttering a different language and asking ZB to cooperate. </div><div><br /></div><div>But it's funny how much the whole bareback-on-a-round horse tells on my tendency to evaporate my right seat bone and curl up my right side when I'm trying to stay balanced and in the middle and strong with my core and consistent with my legs so I can let the reins mean something. (Pro tip: you honestly don't do a whole lot with the reins. It's really more how you ride OH WEIRD WHERE HAVE I HEARD THAT BEFORE). </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8CkHvVjWh8uJ2oYu89IvSOoeraBVLJIQw_qwpyJICjdeBRWALxgAVMS1ZZlJ3oYKPAfUk8mr9b6RbmFIWUCaJGFM01vVouz4Gfhp_eoF26i3rj09zXx2QmS23V99tlqdzqwpMp4fhMyE/s1928/IMG_4820.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1617" data-original-width="1928" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8CkHvVjWh8uJ2oYu89IvSOoeraBVLJIQw_qwpyJICjdeBRWALxgAVMS1ZZlJ3oYKPAfUk8mr9b6RbmFIWUCaJGFM01vVouz4Gfhp_eoF26i3rj09zXx2QmS23V99tlqdzqwpMp4fhMyE/w410-h344/IMG_4820.JPG" width="410" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">gonna be cowboys<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />TL; DR <div><br /></div><div>Riding is fun, ZB is fantastic, hope your summer is great. </div>SprinklerBandithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02948487857418394022noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647406862592675556.post-19385388368794133592020-08-25T07:00:00.001-06:002020-08-25T07:00:06.709-06:00The Magical Thing About a ZB<p> I've been working out of town, which severely limits barn time. </p><p>But I have a ZB. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCSUws2_wmmHRzrQJRLDk9hj99phf5RyRP3NtOzsWldiapRfYGeaT7SGhQNf27Jlp-umIbqJyelV-rYFi7DQC6PQ5m3wb_abRibGNaxMyB1X78H2apdhgwVaKBJS6Pl55kAzGk3x_-sFY/s3128/DEB3B986-93A6-4D7C-89E7-0C27BB1EC308.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2877" data-original-width="3128" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCSUws2_wmmHRzrQJRLDk9hj99phf5RyRP3NtOzsWldiapRfYGeaT7SGhQNf27Jlp-umIbqJyelV-rYFi7DQC6PQ5m3wb_abRibGNaxMyB1X78H2apdhgwVaKBJS6Pl55kAzGk3x_-sFY/s640/DEB3B986-93A6-4D7C-89E7-0C27BB1EC308.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>#winning</p><p>So when I had 48 hours in town a few weeks back, Nadia asked if I wanted to haul out to go trail riding and the obvious answer was YES. </p><p>ZB has never hauled a ton and definitely not in the last year. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFTcVzS3tlN4b84CZ1d-Ea81EDnyjBUz-ac4GIbH6KnKj6MwICg84ovQWmkmhHhxgZVnasnqxWHSc-dbl7WjUlhD4zw1CFdbS68XKdnph0XeF44K51FZ6bcDu4vyJt5qsBNe9YlSe_hOA/s4032/E12E13E3-4D3A-42A2-AF92-A70213E8689B.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFTcVzS3tlN4b84CZ1d-Ea81EDnyjBUz-ac4GIbH6KnKj6MwICg84ovQWmkmhHhxgZVnasnqxWHSc-dbl7WjUlhD4zw1CFdbS68XKdnph0XeF44K51FZ6bcDu4vyJt5qsBNe9YlSe_hOA/w480-h640/E12E13E3-4D3A-42A2-AF92-A70213E8689B.jpeg" title="O HAI" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">O HAI</td></tr></tbody></table><p>And it is so freaking cool to have a horse that I just loaded onto a trailer she'd never seen, took to a place she hasn't been in a long time, hop on, and go. (Ok hop on=train her how to back off a straight load, which took a minute, but then she got it.) </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8WNX-CjQGHg8nmlkur8yuHfXZTEoezTNQorzb1Bziltw5RAdN2feKOCwzdhYlvXXDTT6sSBxH8GFSC6yz42uFOQnlRUV9cn3DLz_NscB5tgAp5FLpUpn8JNOoobfuZwiC0r0z9JDhZ6w/s4032/IMG_3132.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8WNX-CjQGHg8nmlkur8yuHfXZTEoezTNQorzb1Bziltw5RAdN2feKOCwzdhYlvXXDTT6sSBxH8GFSC6yz42uFOQnlRUV9cn3DLz_NscB5tgAp5FLpUpn8JNOoobfuZwiC0r0z9JDhZ6w/s640/IMG_3132.HEIC" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">JOONBUG R WALKIN VERY FAST<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>She led. She followed. She crossed boggy ground, walked by scary things, and never batted an eye. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2950" data-original-width="3365" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX83AJsp-AB_Lojcfsqd-VN6AhBRR6eypiUhUsSjstZhV_4D8gwFsuZy134GhAq9Rr9DSm7zRM8FPEdLY6OJHtjwtc4tldYnJAuZ5QH6rI_qRqYqbmdIg6dw6UHfkLSx3k6Kl7Lt8n54s/s640/2E4792A7-CCB2-4202-A977-A814DA730D1D.jpeg" width="640" /><br />ZB R DYIN</td></tr></tbody></table><p>By the end, she was SO TIRED, but gamely hopped back in the trailer and headed home like a total champ. </p><p>And then used her new-found "backing off the trailer" skills. </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidbvXhRVIArOcgqQZ1X0owiElC_O0WcGq8FG6eAP-ytbi99HLPqxwHguak-8WoLpe88Rs-j77dAZgH_7kaR7P3JmRy4yjroUuwXAh0-O-rYwaiv4oOzQpdDqR0cWSkx0mOtQuYeBXhX8s/s739/21C5B9C4-BE28-4405-8D28-79FE5BB155B1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="573" data-original-width="739" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidbvXhRVIArOcgqQZ1X0owiElC_O0WcGq8FG6eAP-ytbi99HLPqxwHguak-8WoLpe88Rs-j77dAZgH_7kaR7P3JmRy4yjroUuwXAh0-O-rYwaiv4oOzQpdDqR0cWSkx0mOtQuYeBXhX8s/s640/21C5B9C4-BE28-4405-8D28-79FE5BB155B1.png" width="640" /></a></p><p>TL; DR she is the absolute best and hopefully next I will write about some of our exciting continuing adventures.</p>SprinklerBandithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02948487857418394022noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647406862592675556.post-39872672046740019362020-07-08T07:00:00.001-06:002020-07-08T07:00:00.297-06:00Taking Ownership<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div></div><div>I drafted a blog the other day, but it bored me to write. I can't imagine trying to read it. The gist of it was that ZB and I aren't really doing much because blah blah blah excuses. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUvANzNd7criGw5_3OC7IiCocefLcVAnxVaVQYj5nL4zfQUDzSu7Nd91trA-FQPDicQF9TbtcUWDvYd1Ww9TKuUqO0SHMXlLSfW_Ffd_fEEYD-vvLluOZ7nPaklywgyqmtSkZMjOTgQoo/s4032/913063EB-1039-4BCC-B1F0-DAF1FA391450.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUvANzNd7criGw5_3OC7IiCocefLcVAnxVaVQYj5nL4zfQUDzSu7Nd91trA-FQPDicQF9TbtcUWDvYd1Ww9TKuUqO0SHMXlLSfW_Ffd_fEEYD-vvLluOZ7nPaklywgyqmtSkZMjOTgQoo/s320/913063EB-1039-4BCC-B1F0-DAF1FA391450.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div></div><div>And I thought. </div><div><br /></div><div>I hate excuses. </div><div><br /></div><div>What's the real issue here?</div><div><br /></div><div>It's not that "waaaaah it's hot and I'm tired and I'm not a pro and my legs aren't strong enough to make my horse go forward and I'm tired of kicking" because you know what. </div><div><br /></div><div>She goes just fine when I ask her to. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGzdbEdQOfVNQY3qZVxshqsoxhE9rH18II0kFDtaX10f7jrAWyJy7I0DA515nEOWqZYUKykTSnB3ZtKuqVjGeWEIelkByGYeygAoGtkCOxhOGrw_dxBCy6mB04wHckjsLGkCGbZouQQ-A/s664/IMG_0563.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="479" data-original-width="664" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGzdbEdQOfVNQY3qZVxshqsoxhE9rH18II0kFDtaX10f7jrAWyJy7I0DA515nEOWqZYUKykTSnB3ZtKuqVjGeWEIelkByGYeygAoGtkCOxhOGrw_dxBCy6mB04wHckjsLGkCGbZouQQ-A/s320/IMG_0563.PNG" width="320" /></a></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div>It's definitely that I'm bored to tears of going in circles and soldiering away in the summer dust for some abstract goal of impressing a judge at a show I literally don't want to go to, even if there wasn't a pandemic, which there is. </div><div><br /></div><div>So if I don't want to go to a show and I don't want to do mindless circles in the dust, what do I want to do? </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjccDuw67QZyqd5heehuWPTvp0z_277_SwPcQYo4WvG3gpM10_kpTmLekO9KF2pkkr0fLmzCk5HmqFXgwupqdP-gdXzoa-N7ziVJPMu8ecnnM1pIzIIBgHoTi25lgouGNRy2JDnpuZTpqg/s4032/IMG_0555.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjccDuw67QZyqd5heehuWPTvp0z_277_SwPcQYo4WvG3gpM10_kpTmLekO9KF2pkkr0fLmzCk5HmqFXgwupqdP-gdXzoa-N7ziVJPMu8ecnnM1pIzIIBgHoTi25lgouGNRy2JDnpuZTpqg/s320/IMG_0555.HEIC" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Go on hacks<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyiD8GKy5DezXPOZM0NPzakvBNwHAWkZdwbJovQ8IuGAsN7Z0QsdIetY6ZKLi_-TUUlh4_3VUKmqBW81IG06J4usUrBPT24Ee44GKzExHth56LY80kJ6lya0uch9HsQs-iWsx9mYcirFg/s4032/544826D5-DCC5-4926-A658-28FDA6DD11DB.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyiD8GKy5DezXPOZM0NPzakvBNwHAWkZdwbJovQ8IuGAsN7Z0QsdIetY6ZKLi_-TUUlh4_3VUKmqBW81IG06J4usUrBPT24Ee44GKzExHth56LY80kJ6lya0uch9HsQs-iWsx9mYcirFg/s320/544826D5-DCC5-4926-A658-28FDA6DD11DB.jpeg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">PLAY LEGOS<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJGPpplt7Xm-T8pCZHJQEjR5B_qAXfKW8cvAAKScD9FqMYzglhnU3yM4Zoh1i_63Pw9MFuODx5BFfk_PTJ9BqdnGrPqLyBlKVuXkmjaHY4H-rhlBplp3bHuB2-hRfPhqK1jjvq6cfmrgE/s3434/818933F5-26D5-433F-82F7-F75622E32A40.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2648" data-original-width="3434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJGPpplt7Xm-T8pCZHJQEjR5B_qAXfKW8cvAAKScD9FqMYzglhnU3yM4Zoh1i_63Pw9MFuODx5BFfk_PTJ9BqdnGrPqLyBlKVuXkmjaHY4H-rhlBplp3bHuB2-hRfPhqK1jjvq6cfmrgE/s320/818933F5-26D5-433F-82F7-F75622E32A40.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Get dressed up in jump tack</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><br /></div><div>Instead of doing arena exercises, what do I want to address today? What sparks my interest and engages my horse? </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGlVWyhLUvJz4JJEStf_Tc8y8n6FSg4l4dMdrs3WHPfSEswDjKj2uLQV-sgeYEs7Bn8tqfY8u-1DOJd-oJqJnwgUtLDJBSZEu7-a8PYS6Qb_0oGf9LZ6mTnw39-D_adtO93QNZ64UehjY/s728/IMG_1364.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="584" data-original-width="728" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGlVWyhLUvJz4JJEStf_Tc8y8n6FSg4l4dMdrs3WHPfSEswDjKj2uLQV-sgeYEs7Bn8tqfY8u-1DOJd-oJqJnwgUtLDJBSZEu7-a8PYS6Qb_0oGf9LZ6mTnw39-D_adtO93QNZ64UehjY/s320/IMG_1364.PNG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">O HAI FANCY LADY HORSE<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>All of a sudden, I have a willing partner going forward and I'm happy in the work too. </div><div><br /></div><div>My low-key goals for the year are to take a couple of jump lessons and get ZB to a cross country facility to get exposed to ditches, banks, and water. New barn buddy <a href="https://3dayadventureswithhorses.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Nadia </a>is all on board for that, so hopefully there will be epic media when it happens. </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9sfFfM7TZrWczTCtgtlK3nvhTyKJMPkF3taIPIhBdFsB96zUbnbp_5JShyphenhyphen35FU2lmqLdzNDA7wI4le76wQkNh6HDrsXAQ-WZ_2zfj-xDj9ulXgzDWo6HuyOTElSCAhpMPZ_aQ18E_AAM/s582/IMG_1358.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="411" data-original-width="582" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9sfFfM7TZrWczTCtgtlK3nvhTyKJMPkF3taIPIhBdFsB96zUbnbp_5JShyphenhyphen35FU2lmqLdzNDA7wI4le76wQkNh6HDrsXAQ-WZ_2zfj-xDj9ulXgzDWo6HuyOTElSCAhpMPZ_aQ18E_AAM/s320/IMG_1358.PNG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">R BEEBEH EVENT HORSE HA<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>My other low key goal for the year is to dress ZB up for some over the top photo shoot with long flowing locks and I dunno, flowers in her mane or something. If the hair is giving you a twitch, well, get used to it because I love it. </div><div><br /></div><div>I mean. Who isn't excited for fancy new ZB media? She's literally the world's cutest full size horse.</div>SprinklerBandithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02948487857418394022noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647406862592675556.post-74947723902171586992020-05-08T13:17:00.000-06:002020-05-08T13:17:46.138-06:00Transitions<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Late last year, I took a couple big career steps and jumped out of my comfort zone. If things have seemed quieter around here, well, they are. As spring came along, I started up on more regular riding and was even quasi thinking about maybe taking ZB on a couple field trips (schooling show? xc? i think yes!) and then oh yeah apparently the entire world shut down.</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKpEGT_MrU0j68O3jxvfB5jexWe7QXcBmNpVkAugkgiQ2slaPdYp_ma4BtREHTvjVLqsaUVFRgY2NLOQwNbFPS1a1_l48ik_ubjZ19oG_4Er3pLvCzsa5eXps6BkVn8ElzZbW9V1CbMWc/s1600/IMG_6841.PNG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="751" data-original-width="861" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKpEGT_MrU0j68O3jxvfB5jexWe7QXcBmNpVkAugkgiQ2slaPdYp_ma4BtREHTvjVLqsaUVFRgY2NLOQwNbFPS1a1_l48ik_ubjZ19oG_4Er3pLvCzsa5eXps6BkVn8ElzZbW9V1CbMWc/s320/IMG_6841.PNG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">let's learn about water!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Well, most of the world. My state and industry have been minimally impacted, which is good and bad. (How does it feel to drive by all those "stay home, save lives" signs when you're an essential worker providing essential services? uhhhhh kinda like shitty cannon fodder tbh). </div><div><br /></div><div>My barn never shut down (though they did implement additional safety precautions) and I've been able to ride pretty steadily. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ApDSsu3eC5kVq_Ptvk7kMXHcV4dipRlMb7-GbuttHcjV1rsWI3HG16y8X_JbDqgGeYWXiWyxvUtNu_TAouWSZ_f51Pet8McXymRTCelKyD1M0WcwoGwtIs2EZZc_HNMp49gsUJ2pyq8/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1095" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ApDSsu3eC5kVq_Ptvk7kMXHcV4dipRlMb7-GbuttHcjV1rsWI3HG16y8X_JbDqgGeYWXiWyxvUtNu_TAouWSZ_f51Pet8McXymRTCelKyD1M0WcwoGwtIs2EZZc_HNMp49gsUJ2pyq8/s320/7DF504A9-CD31-4427-80D8-FE76F5BE31D3.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">how can any horse be this cute<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>I've definitely made some more conservative choices even for my super safe baby horse (I guess she's 7 now buuuut baby mare for life <3.) The last couple years have been a marked transition for me--moving from a "rider" mindset to a "trainer" mindset, so even with careful choices and choosing to keep my feet on the ground some days or limit barn time other days, I find that our progress and training really didn't slow down. </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbJoqYjBSzscBWqQnW4IBe-6-Or4ILbQ_aM2mB31DdwpGBaONmL5Inwc_BbV94cbqvqicMXZwNtVbE95k18VQYbaQXu2GGDwSAZCGaixp21raqer_ecgznqUvQyYbL-Am_m8nTx-yoMA8/s1600/905E032F-8F68-49F3-BADC-C8E5F7B80770.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1144" data-original-width="749" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbJoqYjBSzscBWqQnW4IBe-6-Or4ILbQ_aM2mB31DdwpGBaONmL5Inwc_BbV94cbqvqicMXZwNtVbE95k18VQYbaQXu2GGDwSAZCGaixp21raqer_ecgznqUvQyYbL-Am_m8nTx-yoMA8/s320/905E032F-8F68-49F3-BADC-C8E5F7B80770.jpeg" width="209" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">operation: look where your feet are going you adorable moose<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>\<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWnCAFVh8WIhiCHvS0na5VzvCs_6Wr7Lb3Ho-958k6DKd3yjQ7yXFza2bELg8SBpXe3NnhTi-ggfZCXAYNGsznwixJoJ5RDua6gyvCFFeQmZxYQwml7tqW12hdiJGtxDqufpopxKFqUjE/s1600/IMG_6797.PNG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="571" data-original-width="702" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWnCAFVh8WIhiCHvS0na5VzvCs_6Wr7Lb3Ho-958k6DKd3yjQ7yXFza2bELg8SBpXe3NnhTi-ggfZCXAYNGsznwixJoJ5RDua6gyvCFFeQmZxYQwml7tqW12hdiJGtxDqufpopxKFqUjE/s320/IMG_6797.PNG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">one of her favorite things<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>I'm fascinated by the sheer amount of ideas and concepts we can work through even without a full time program or a more "conventional" approach. It's driving home again and again that riding every day and drilling concepts is 100% for humans, not for horses.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiReoGIw_6-m84dMOsCX4kxTkHnIbg9Fd1mpGzlHh3uKUKVhq7WUOVXWzUduhFzTeg9G4sf_m7fJBkbF4TmIJWLWQQCClrgd9M8n6hAecXZiCML19L17pY5aTKe9iP-KHlsKrq-nOj_ITs/s1600/IMG_7162.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiReoGIw_6-m84dMOsCX4kxTkHnIbg9Fd1mpGzlHh3uKUKVhq7WUOVXWzUduhFzTeg9G4sf_m7fJBkbF4TmIJWLWQQCClrgd9M8n6hAecXZiCML19L17pY5aTKe9iP-KHlsKrq-nOj_ITs/s320/IMG_7162.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">all smiles<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>It helps that ZB is the actual best horse of all time but it's so freaking cool to watch her learn and attack new concepts with aplomb because every outing, every topic is light and positive and thoughtful. She believes she can. She wants to try. No one has ever shut her down or fried her or told her she's not good enough. </div><div><br /></div><div>I've spent so many years trying to train the horse first and build trust second. I built some useful mechanical skills for myself in terms of learning how to ride through behaviors but I think long term, I missed out on a lot more. </div><div><br /></div><div>Going forward isn't the answer.</div><div><br /></div><div>Pushing through isn't the answer. </div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiLBLxvOrALfs9QCx7_qezaBS4QkQhPmC1pqOP4WMReeYaXkmzGjGfv74TwSc-gNqDgjEs1U7o9_wieKx0ws_0XRVc92vokzGqaJfq1eKbk06xf7rgbg4j3mxrlktqoWg7z47Bve24zdw/s1600/IMG_6609.PNG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="773" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiLBLxvOrALfs9QCx7_qezaBS4QkQhPmC1pqOP4WMReeYaXkmzGjGfv74TwSc-gNqDgjEs1U7o9_wieKx0ws_0XRVc92vokzGqaJfq1eKbk06xf7rgbg4j3mxrlktqoWg7z47Bve24zdw/s320/IMG_6609.PNG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">hello<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>It has so little to do with teaching the horse, either. The horse is there. It can already horse pretty damn well. It's going to continue horsing with or without you for the rest of it's life. </div></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEislkycDHT0Li7aXWjpWd8Or2oRkZwuqLw8DrqUxYcwYS1wicMHs1WAyrv2SoWvY3jV_kjDMCghpZfC8AraFbIh4BIYVQvgAQE7QMIBJWaJmZEI4f8sk72GxREmlV6-t9y_RcTZ5hcuYJU/s1600/IMG_7228.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEislkycDHT0Li7aXWjpWd8Or2oRkZwuqLw8DrqUxYcwYS1wicMHs1WAyrv2SoWvY3jV_kjDMCghpZfC8AraFbIh4BIYVQvgAQE7QMIBJWaJmZEI4f8sk72GxREmlV6-t9y_RcTZ5hcuYJU/s320/IMG_7228.HEIC" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div>It's not the feeling you get when you put your foot in the stirrup. </div><div><br /></div><div>It's the feeling you bring when you set foot in the barn. </div><br /><div>It's never asking them "why won't you do this?" and always asking yourself "how can I be calm, clear, and fair about this?"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNBIamLLr6SJxAADnIhOFPDrenm7GKC6oDa-aPaA1Ha6iQxJvdxLKa55UjQNHYT40YXFb7o5G4G4bZavEOk8EYMfYcJk-wFpqGAHtJJvlyarjQvKMZZVK5sRxLcN3R7mavG312LUDOqcA/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="728" data-original-width="1052" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNBIamLLr6SJxAADnIhOFPDrenm7GKC6oDa-aPaA1Ha6iQxJvdxLKa55UjQNHYT40YXFb7o5G4G4bZavEOk8EYMfYcJk-wFpqGAHtJJvlyarjQvKMZZVK5sRxLcN3R7mavG312LUDOqcA/s320/IMG_6840.PNG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>It's being the kind of person that a horse wants to canter up to in a field. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1XPprwWx5873HW-EOO3spxkHQmnHPiCIPBVdrLB3ZeWwdrUjQtWCtJhCu737XjNSA_-TH7WrQoIWgJsor_FIbIwNavymkgn95GqzxnFs543U9R48dPn-NvWtHCuRm7mcTMUzmZHtXwjE/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1XPprwWx5873HW-EOO3spxkHQmnHPiCIPBVdrLB3ZeWwdrUjQtWCtJhCu737XjNSA_-TH7WrQoIWgJsor_FIbIwNavymkgn95GqzxnFs543U9R48dPn-NvWtHCuRm7mcTMUzmZHtXwjE/s320/3C00F292-F6AA-47E9-9F92-E81894BEB4DB.jpeg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>It's building trust, day in and day out. </div><div><br /></div><div>I always thought the lessons we learned form horses were about self discipline and training and understanding what it looked like to chase a passion and have a vivid interest in life.</div><div><br /></div><div>Those things are good, I think. </div><div><br /></div><div>They're a shadow of what we can learn though. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihVywSohz0dExSNNauVJAcalqApIqY6Pt1Qaw1Ccq0xW_ez7qpnVqtk4pyPSHhxzudUufXjlgOv8bTxxpM47gnFLHbG4afb4QmTfcELVUUddEY80pGNmbhe6Q9k3_j6lQ7bLLTluaUwM0/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="811" data-original-width="749" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihVywSohz0dExSNNauVJAcalqApIqY6Pt1Qaw1Ccq0xW_ez7qpnVqtk4pyPSHhxzudUufXjlgOv8bTxxpM47gnFLHbG4afb4QmTfcELVUUddEY80pGNmbhe6Q9k3_j6lQ7bLLTluaUwM0/s320/IMG_5838.PNG" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The real lesson is who we become when we learn to hear what they say.</div>SprinklerBandithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02948487857418394022noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647406862592675556.post-76454534549304762542020-02-12T07:00:00.000-07:002020-02-12T07:00:04.551-07:00ElementalI wore jeans and cowboy boots to ride the other night.<br />
<br />
In my dressage saddle.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
ZB wasn't wearing the latest matching outfit. She didn't even have front boots on. Her mane hangs below her neck now.<br />
<br />
She's not blanketed.<br />
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She's not clipped.<br />
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<br />
I'm focused on developing the horse I have in front of me. She's not fit, but she's smart and she's fun and she learns things very quickly.<br />
<br />
All kinds of things.<br />
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<br />
What's the practical application of teaching her to kick a giant ball? Literally nothing.<br />
<br />
What's the practical application of encouraging her to use her naturally inquisitive personality and food motivation to solve problems and think independently?<br />
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Hmmmm a lot.<br />
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I'm not trying to build a show horse right now, though that might come. It is so fun to put in the time to build the horse I want to ride. It's not about teaching her to mindlessly zip through a list of tasks. It's not about skipping steps to get to the "fun part".<br />
<br />
I want her to be engaged with me.<br />
<br />
I want her to think.<br />
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I want her to be brave.<br />
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I want her to trust that she can achieve what I'm asking her to do.<br />
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I want her to try.<br />
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<br />
Today the "try" is follow the soccer ball and kick it herself.<br />
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Tomorrow it might be to find her way through a tricky part of the trail.<br />
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The day after, maybe a challenging arena gymnastic.<br />
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What fascinates me is how little repetition a horse really needs to understand a concept. All those transitions and hours in the tack help us develop the muscle memory we need and it definitely builds the fitness a horse needs to feel strong and confident in a long, challenging test.<br />
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The horse doesn't need them to learn.<br />
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If Zoe does something well and I drop the reins and say "good girl", she doesn't need to do it again.<br />
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I can leave it alone for 6 months, come back, and it's still there.<br />
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It's not about cowboy boots and jeans or breeches and a hairnet.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH1Sqqo0QIMivqxSYPAi-Tjk1aWzZ6SiPHMORIkoUUr95E6B-9RJdBk11IXutCxswj48f0qu80fIZhhyphenhyphenjEavLByBPB0a_aAJwW_Q9DblmUjnNjzvWkZP7cZQpL8mXUYlEtD59Rl0ao_dQ/s1600/IMG_2821.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH1Sqqo0QIMivqxSYPAi-Tjk1aWzZ6SiPHMORIkoUUr95E6B-9RJdBk11IXutCxswj48f0qu80fIZhhyphenhyphenjEavLByBPB0a_aAJwW_Q9DblmUjnNjzvWkZP7cZQpL8mXUYlEtD59Rl0ao_dQ/s320/IMG_2821.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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It's about learning together.SprinklerBandithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02948487857418394022noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647406862592675556.post-86617737932340284502020-01-30T07:00:00.000-07:002020-01-30T07:00:09.340-07:00Recent ZB-Related PurchasesAlternate title: "You Buy It Best When You Buy Nothing At All "<br />
<br />
The best thing about ZB is literally everything.<br />
<br />
But if I had to pick one thing that isn't 100% her most winning feature, it's that she doesn't fit in tack.<br />
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Her bridles are custom. You know why?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWICqhYNVk7iqTzCfsyRKfFVQcyLlA5L-BCPArzgqR-AR55KMHwndtnwPj-WE1OmKXPS4E8r2BMCdTePo7jPmc1ZzkcJKnN1BzPFEDadNBZ1qI24RunkZULIN3V5HWRi18940waPELDbE/s1600/Doc1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1520" data-original-width="1155" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWICqhYNVk7iqTzCfsyRKfFVQcyLlA5L-BCPArzgqR-AR55KMHwndtnwPj-WE1OmKXPS4E8r2BMCdTePo7jPmc1ZzkcJKnN1BzPFEDadNBZ1qI24RunkZULIN3V5HWRi18940waPELDbE/s400/Doc1.jpg" width="303" /></a></div>
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You literally can't buy that off the shelf. When I sent her measurements to Otto, they replied, "this horse does not exist".<br />
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Well ok no problem, right? Just get boots instead. Boots are so fun.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvU1NmBMJ9lizXW3HkVLa_evQjJbqJxX-RHR8wMnjYaPmY9O22H9wzjmneb-y1j9u_YICMKC6aHIOgl7pi3lLsAR7_yCsJ0TppgYYiRDOfDtT2Z7ZYuloN3617rW5EHv5Y4t6SOoWS_jE/s1600/0A5E922C-00EB-41FB-913C-8B83B0355094.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1297" data-original-width="1600" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvU1NmBMJ9lizXW3HkVLa_evQjJbqJxX-RHR8wMnjYaPmY9O22H9wzjmneb-y1j9u_YICMKC6aHIOgl7pi3lLsAR7_yCsJ0TppgYYiRDOfDtT2Z7ZYuloN3617rW5EHv5Y4t6SOoWS_jE/s320/0A5E922C-00EB-41FB-913C-8B83B0355094.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">you see the gap?</td></tr>
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Relevant problem: percheron x paint. Think thick, drafty cannons that are stock horse length. She can't wear taller than M fronts and L hinds in most brands and 0% of her boots actually close around her leg. (And yeah polos fit better but there is not time in my life for polos right now.)<br />
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So saddles then? Saddles are fun.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVRx-jO50FIT-caJau7-hiLSAE056sp8Bu1_smP0bvRm6YxxbSHBgl852O5pP66dJMA8Ar5N-wg1zjK9KTsjMKn1BGUmqFTJllgGxZFjdfOai2l-xaNRhtkm2gIV9vEzg7OKdltEa5iuk/s1600/C7019C2C-B277-4586-8DA5-D1C8B9AF8425.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVRx-jO50FIT-caJau7-hiLSAE056sp8Bu1_smP0bvRm6YxxbSHBgl852O5pP66dJMA8Ar5N-wg1zjK9KTsjMKn1BGUmqFTJllgGxZFjdfOai2l-xaNRhtkm2gIV9vEzg7OKdltEa5iuk/s320/C7019C2C-B277-4586-8DA5-D1C8B9AF8425.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">this saddle is too wide</td></tr>
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Saddles are also expensive. And like. Hoop tree. And also. There are a lot of "draft" products out there, but most of them are some combination of heinous, made of horrid plastic leather, totally not optimized for anything athletic (the balance point is... where?), and just plain hard to find.<br />
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I basically call dibs on anything Roxie's mom sells and otherwise don't saddle shop.<br />
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But hey, there's always half pads!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRLq1WPPthymg0DAveBwtaZvY2OHqbQhr9REvxeDnDPtE5RikB1_5WPDVHwcmbTy6fZufDKyIPNgOZCW6mPGtgzeT6rTJ8hxFDN6n_j5tGyCGkOwNN3VayfZbeSREk8mknruBtIctXsHc/s1600/9504D70B-DF54-4BA7-A746-4B0AC1783C7F.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1101" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRLq1WPPthymg0DAveBwtaZvY2OHqbQhr9REvxeDnDPtE5RikB1_5WPDVHwcmbTy6fZufDKyIPNgOZCW6mPGtgzeT6rTJ8hxFDN6n_j5tGyCGkOwNN3VayfZbeSREk8mknruBtIctXsHc/s320/9504D70B-DF54-4BA7-A746-4B0AC1783C7F.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Try again. My entire horse is a half pad. </td></tr>
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I typically think half pads are primarily fashion based anyways, but when your horse is a literal couch and now has 350 lbs of hair on top of couch status, like no. Do not pass go, do not spend $200, do not collect half pads.<br />
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That brings us to the obvious choice of saddle pads.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXjJkatXKTgBj6miG8i5SVO8bWl3R_FUgK8QqQ9WGIfKmNJqonpFgdHKBjEOotRph7cmF8X_291ZvntzzNLwVO9Daan0EjFH2Pym8Y5mzV2345pt_3YsuJ0s6pI30rF3g8GFOHI4-mPiY/s1600/IMG_0452.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXjJkatXKTgBj6miG8i5SVO8bWl3R_FUgK8QqQ9WGIfKmNJqonpFgdHKBjEOotRph7cmF8X_291ZvntzzNLwVO9Daan0EjFH2Pym8Y5mzV2345pt_3YsuJ0s6pI30rF3g8GFOHI4-mPiY/s320/IMG_0452.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">i miss fall and free time<br />Not pictured: any saddle pad</td></tr>
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That sort of presupposes that I use a saddle, which I'm trying to be better about. Here's the rub: I have saddle pads. I sold a few I didn't like on her and bought a few in nicer colors, but like. There's a stack at the barn. I have an entire bin at home. Nice, clean, barely used pads.<br />
<br />
I'm not opposed to buying an occasional high end saddle pad, but I have so many colors and models and since I can't use boots, don't have time for polos, and OH YEAH THE BONNET ISSUE.<br />
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You'll notice there aren't a lot of pictures of zb in bonnets.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgClwVPdX5feN1mxsbdlKf4vwwH84czy7NSDEaF9Zfv4wXLvJ0Hcu5v_ZGTXc8E1dr1292BJyE5IIgeNCBQxQ2vn_-auY72y1RWYhRYJo3_9QJdIJ50JYPlywcyFPhlJDzoPn9FxCo3wPQ/s1600/IMG_5047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1064" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgClwVPdX5feN1mxsbdlKf4vwwH84czy7NSDEaF9Zfv4wXLvJ0Hcu5v_ZGTXc8E1dr1292BJyE5IIgeNCBQxQ2vn_-auY72y1RWYhRYJo3_9QJdIJ50JYPlywcyFPhlJDzoPn9FxCo3wPQ/s320/IMG_5047.JPG" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">this excluded. this is her winter hat.</td></tr>
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There is literally one thing on this planet the little lady has voiced a strenuous objection to, and it is bonnets. THEY MAKE HER EARS ITCHY OK. She'll tolerate them in the fall before her winter coat comes in. They're OMFG MUM TOO HOT in summer and winter and shedding in them is unconscionable.<div>
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Plus given moose dimensions, she's an all-custom, all-the-time sort of lady so. </div>
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In terms of fun things to purchase</div>
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That leaves </div>
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(drumroll) </div>
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6" bits</div>
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If you can find them. </div>
SprinklerBandithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02948487857418394022noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647406862592675556.post-65542146287519978602020-01-21T07:00:00.000-07:002020-01-21T07:00:03.083-07:00Horse Show Numbers are (gasp!) DecliningThere are a couple articles swirling around "the socials" right now about the decline in participation at USEF horse shows.<br />
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The mind, she is boggled!<br />
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Or like.<br />
<br />
Not.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimwPdwvVaP6WRkhDIfJeM8nliXRDaF9a7SlSh2RdY0FampNQlmO0nBlpnzYdm5Avu5Kt-5aj3NbdvmX1s575g2L_FKooRB4tVvZVnH57c_V5GajvIqJTC6mss_wKWbnviqOmleuSzDO2w/s1600/IMG_2477.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1272" data-original-width="1334" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimwPdwvVaP6WRkhDIfJeM8nliXRDaF9a7SlSh2RdY0FampNQlmO0nBlpnzYdm5Avu5Kt-5aj3NbdvmX1s575g2L_FKooRB4tVvZVnH57c_V5GajvIqJTC6mss_wKWbnviqOmleuSzDO2w/s320/IMG_2477.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#baller</td></tr>
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One of the posts I saw was written by a thoughtful local pro who I have a lot of respect for, so I wrote the following:<br />
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"It’s been years since I’ve taken a horse in the show ring and if I get back to it, I don’t see myself joining organizations and showing rated. The cost is so high and the competitor experience is not great. Why would I spend hundreds of dollars to wear white spandex for a couple minutes and sweat my ass off only to be told that my safe, appropriate horse isn’t as fancy as a much fancier horse?<br />
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I find my competitive outlets other places and while I enjoy my horse, I have no interest in getting back to showing."<br />
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There was a lot of discussion, but another person came back with two things:<br />
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<ol>
<li>Amateurs are too fixated on winning</li>
<li>Amateurs who aren't winning blame their non-fancy horse instead of their own poor riding</li>
</ol>
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I'd like to discuss these responses just a little. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPTv0Vz6cYS-Qu64pssIDP9xRNMP75UiC3J4tHwNPEubd76aABXfZQPTndAu7SthYIzcAlX0NszHa8RBXgKxBaTVZftBhrTbr0rQFUzoT_sLTm_8hIMvRr2kZk6Z0-IdCKu_iGv0JKZ48/s1600/13613657_10100432996274314_7816013182977110669_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1080" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPTv0Vz6cYS-Qu64pssIDP9xRNMP75UiC3J4tHwNPEubd76aABXfZQPTndAu7SthYIzcAlX0NszHa8RBXgKxBaTVZftBhrTbr0rQFUzoT_sLTm_8hIMvRr2kZk6Z0-IdCKu_iGv0JKZ48/s320/13613657_10100432996274314_7816013182977110669_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div>
1. Winning fixation-as the other poster illustrated, people run 5ks with no expectation of ever winning. Why should they expect to win at dressage? </div>
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Let's talk about this a little. </div>
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<div>
Running is a sport with a very low barrier of entry financially. You can do it with things you already have around the house. You can spend a lot or you can spend a little. For the sake of discussion, let's focus on the full-time worker who runs nights and weekends for fun and does 5-10 5ks a year. </div>
<div>
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<div>
They pay $30-100 to run a race. At that race, they can wear anything they feel like running in (barefoot in shorts and a sports bra? fine. designer shoes, olympic branded gear, heart rate monitor? equally fine.) They get a tech fabric shirt, a finisher medal, post-race snacks, and frequently a meal or beverage. There's a start time and every participant can set objective time goals and work towards them. </div>
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If their friends or family want to come watch, there is a start time and a published route. Cheering and participation is encouraged. If they have plans after, the whole day is typically ahead of them. If the family wants to participate, hey, they can.</div>
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<ul>
<li>This person will literally never win a 5k unless they are over 70 years old. </li>
<li>This person will never appear on the "national running scene".</li>
<li>This person will have the full running experience, probably including a couple of irritating injuries that will result in a few days away from work over their career</li>
</ul>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggnK7toyYke9leacEl6broxw2a3v5c1z4uVabSVjlAKK5L4z58ClaKaBvU8bjaB3EdlrPAt9HjpVtjFnS5tiEZQvIXHDRL-SFD8F6Bw1IlWXJdYEmnjFeoAWop9_E36OZHenjtZ8OQPeU/s1600/IMG_9521.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggnK7toyYke9leacEl6broxw2a3v5c1z4uVabSVjlAKK5L4z58ClaKaBvU8bjaB3EdlrPAt9HjpVtjFnS5tiEZQvIXHDRL-SFD8F6Bw1IlWXJdYEmnjFeoAWop9_E36OZHenjtZ8OQPeU/s320/IMG_9521.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">they may get a wild hair and run a half marathon too</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
And how does horse showing stack up? </div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Riding is a sport with a very high barrier of entry. Whether you own or lease, you need a horse. The horse needs to live somewhere. You need appropriate tack and gear for the horse, a way to get the horse to and from competitions, and a bevy of memberships to be allowed at the competitions.</div>
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<div>
And this is for the nights and weekends rider who wants to do 5-10 shows a year. </div>
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<div>
We're going to talk about recognized/rated horse shows since these are the ones squealing about diminished participation. Participants pay $150-500/day in show fees just to the show (not including coaching/stabling/hauling/grooming/schooling/etc). The participant (and the horse) have to wear approved outfits and the person in charge can literally wave around a color wheel and kick a rider out out for being a shade off. If the person wins the horse show, they get a $2-$5 ribbon with no cash value. Maybe a wine glass. If they don't win, hopefully there was a peppermint in the competitor pack that they can suck on. They can try to set individual score goals, but since judging is ultimately subjective and influenced by trends and the class around them, they may or may not meet the goals. (You ride Backyard Betty after Hopfenschnerflgard the Import? -5 for looking worse in comparison. Whoops. Too bad your ride had to be scheduled around multiple trips in the ring for the ammy with 3 imports who's competing in multiple divisions and worth way more money to the show organization than you ever will be!) </div>
<div>
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<div>
If your friends or family want to come watch, they will have to show up to a multi-hour event that is nearly always behind schedule. They will be subjected to a complicated set of expectations for the horse show spectator and ignored at best, or (likely) mocked, hushed, and glared at for not following the intricate social mores of a rarefied upper class club. If they have plans after, too bad. The event will go all day. If they still want to participate after all that, the barrier of entry is just as high as it was for the first person.</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>This person might win a class here and there because hey, participation is declining and sometimes your competition gets the flu!</li>
<li>This person will never appear on the "national riding scene".</li>
<li>This person will always know that they aren't a "true equestrian" because their middle class life requires they have a real job and health insurance, which precludes long hours at the barn. </li>
<li>This person runs the chance of a catastrophic injury from being around horses which could result in weeks or months away from that all-important job. </li>
</ul>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3WKoHVKlr9a1VTpIrwHAHT_UMqCjzbRsyzeiHY7qWy1YBL_P3HZex57qeF_kq50Tb3ry91imghuJVH3kFUvutRCJcvNAHqpouoACBORV12X6f7Jx6EgGCWF-XZEdPUpIG3vpU6vcK25Y/s1600/IMG_7830.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="967" data-original-width="725" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3WKoHVKlr9a1VTpIrwHAHT_UMqCjzbRsyzeiHY7qWy1YBL_P3HZex57qeF_kq50Tb3ry91imghuJVH3kFUvutRCJcvNAHqpouoACBORV12X6f7Jx6EgGCWF-XZEdPUpIG3vpU6vcK25Y/s320/IMG_7830.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">oh hai decently fancy ribbon</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
TL:DR USEF shows come with very high costs and little to no reward. Running 5ks is much more competitor and spectator friendly. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
2. Non-winning amateurs on affordable horses who ride on nights and weekends and take a weekly lesson should blame their own riding instead of the fact that they got beat by a purpose-bred sport horse that cost more than their house ridden by an-equally motivated amateur who trains 5-7 days a week with the best trainer money can pay for in a sport that literally takes a lifetime to understand.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
If you say there isn't a divide here, I don't know what to tell you. It's a money sport. The people who can afford top of the line horses, get more show ring experience, and ride with better pros are not less motivated than you are and yup, they're going to beat you every out. </div>
<div>
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<div>
And they should. They literally paid for the privilege.</div>
<div>
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<div>
They're better than you (at this sport). A lot of them are great humans and they work hard at it and that's nothing to be ashamed of. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHBTFJ6v44J25Ki2qV7leCXZ-fYnOCWMHHxuOh0AExtSDeMx-_MwsL3UcSWVWT11MIeeEgA2JLUC7zCwZU59YSKC1yHo5OyDEyOepgU6DKefa_UyQ7FR4wpW984SwwZwoxrCS_Tg-zrt4/s1600/IMG_0260.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="380" data-original-width="550" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHBTFJ6v44J25Ki2qV7leCXZ-fYnOCWMHHxuOh0AExtSDeMx-_MwsL3UcSWVWT11MIeeEgA2JLUC7zCwZU59YSKC1yHo5OyDEyOepgU6DKefa_UyQ7FR4wpW984SwwZwoxrCS_Tg-zrt4/s320/IMG_0260.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">i'm being a dik dik again</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
There's not a whoooooole lot of point in paying money to go get your subjectively-judged ass handed to you to the tune of your mortgage payment per weekend when you literally don't have a chance. (Unless you're short on wine glasses? Even then I feel like amazon prime might be a better shot if you want a matched set.) </div>
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<div>
So yeah. If you want to be blamed for not having enough money to compete in a moneysport that's literally populated by the Eve Jobs, Jennifer Gates, and Georgina Bloombergs of the world, I mean, there's always USEF shows! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-N8M8GBYW1wN_6AbxCLmrnCTUuBzQhyphenhyphenYV4-ykTBl7FdKW1ZSWcIoPV0FwSXVHp5bQYGn_DNDnc5w8yJVGqLiL9WDxzBX3qU9hHULGJNV1dzwapsfb0CkCzcw_CmJgCE60qdLrEjMhvUI/s1600/meme.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="558" data-original-width="750" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-N8M8GBYW1wN_6AbxCLmrnCTUuBzQhyphenhyphenYV4-ykTBl7FdKW1ZSWcIoPV0FwSXVHp5bQYGn_DNDnc5w8yJVGqLiL9WDxzBX3qU9hHULGJNV1dzwapsfb0CkCzcw_CmJgCE60qdLrEjMhvUI/s320/meme.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
Sound off, internet. Why am I wrong?</div>
SprinklerBandithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02948487857418394022noreply@blogger.com36