ROLEX OMG: Let's Buy Tickets #1

It's a lifelong dream for me to go to Rolex and OMG ITS HAPPENING. ROLEX 2017 BABY.


I'm planning to be there for sure Thursday-Sunday. I want to do and see absolutely everything. I've never done this before, so I figured I'd make a blog about the hows of getting there.

1) TICKETS

As fellow blogger Pony Express pointed out, advance tickets to Rolex go on sale Tues, November 1, 2016 for the 2017 event. This year's Rolex runs April 28-May 1.

Early bird (11/1-12/8) prices are:

$75 for Ground Admission. My understanding is that this gets you in the KHP and access to XC, but does not get you seats for Dressage and Stadium. There is a price break for groups of 6 or more, but at present, I do not have a group.

I plan to be there for both days of dressage and stadium, so I also need to order those.

Now, I've never been to the Kentucky Horse Park nor have I paid that much attention to it. Here's a diagram and last year's price breakdown (I think). My prices are coming off the RK3DE site for 2017.

 My understanding is that the 200s seats are covered, which is fantastic if (when) it rains, but also the views is obscured by giant pillars, which is super dumb. I dunno. I go to lots of football games and I'd be super pissed if there was a pillar in front of me at one of them, so I dunno why it's supposed to be ok here.

Plus you can get up and move around during dressage and stadium doesn't take that long... I'm learning towards uncovered stadium seats on day 1 when it's not crowded, bleacher seats on day 2 when it is, and uncovered stadium seats for show jumping. That makes $11 Thursday, $12 Friday, and $35 Sunday, for a total of $58. Thoughts? Terrible idea? I just want to sit everywhere, ok?

There are hospitality tents and the Kentucky Patron club and all that, but let's be real: people in my income bracket do not drop $700 on tickets.

FIST BUMP

Another cool add on is commentary headsets. One day is $25, Two is $40, and three is $50. I like commentary on dressage to keep it from getting boring. I don't really see the point for show jumping--non horse people can figure that sport out. Add another $40 here.

You can pay to upgrade to premium parking, but general admission parking is included in your grounds pass. You can also pay for a tailgating package that includes 6 grounds passes, which is super cool, but since I'm not local and don't have six friends with a tent and a grill and prefer to be mobile, that will not be happening this year. There's also an option for "on site glamping", which means you and a friend pay $1800 for the weekend to sleep in a tent with no power. Sorta seems non-glamorous to me, but again, out of my price bracket.

There is a $10 service charge for placing the order, which brings my ticket total to:
$75 grounds fee
$58 individual events
$40 headset
$10 Convenience Fee
$183 in tickets

There are definitely more budget ways to do this. This would get me to all the same events but picking the cheapest options--here's what comes to mind:
$69 early bird grounds fee for group of 6 or more.
$45 individual events, always picking cheapest seats
$0 pass on headset
$10 Convenience fee
$124 in tickets

Or if you want to pass on Thursday entirely, there's the option to do this:
$57 three day grounds fee for group of 6 or more
$37 individual dressage friday and show jumping sunday
$10 convenience fee
$104 for three days of entertainment

Obviously, you can do a whole variety of these. I'm trying to make good choices. I don't want to spend money on things I won't use, but I also don't want to regret missing something on a trip like this. Weigh in, bloggy folks: what's to be done?

PS Show wrap up later!
PPS Apparently it's a holiday.

TL;DR sad face

Before Courage and I went to our last show, I said that if we didn't break 65%, I wasn't willing to try and do a recognized show immediately after. I realize that it would probably be good experience, but I'm not in a place in life where I can shell out hundreds of dollars when I don't have a reasonable expectation of accomplishing something tangible (bronze scores). I mean yeah, maybe Courage would be fine and love the facility.

not what 65% looks like

Or you know, maybe he'd be green and have a meltdown and with the substantially harder judging at a recognized shows, we'd beat down my confidence without helping him. 

We're not paying $400 to find out. I just can't. 

Instead of showing at the big shindig I'd been working towards for well over a year now, I went and volunteered. It's great to help out and see the scene and blah blah blah something about giving back and something about being supportive.

You know what sucks?

Busting your ass to work towards a big goal and failing.

I can try to be optimistic and say that it turns out there were a lot of good life-reasons that I'm glad I didn't just shell out $$$ to go to a show. Or I can say "there's always another year". Or a lot of things. I'm a pretty positive person and I'll get over it. I always do.

But right now, it sucks.

I'm not mad at Courage. I'm frustrated--why do I live in a region where our only recognized shows are early in the year? Why can't I afford to do all the things and go all the places to turn my horse into a seasoned campaigner overnight? Or even some of the things and some of the places and get some decent exposure? Why do all the shittiest things always happen to me in May, no matter how carefully I plan?

There's a lot of meta whys and no answers other than "you ought to get over yourself and be grateful for what you have, you whiny overgrown child".

I'm still doing the slow, consistent, simple work at home and Courage is progressing really well. I know life is bigger than horse shows and I know I'm luckier than a lot of people.

And tomorrow, I'll try to feel better about that.

Horsemanship, Relationships, and Success: A Closer Look

Alyssa came out and took some BEAUTIFUL pictures of Courage and I the other day.

right? how did she do this in an indoor??

Well let's back up.

First level is stressing me out. Mostly in a good way, but it's there. Even with an indoor, it's hard to ride in the winter. It's impossible to be consistent, and 85% of the time, I'm more concerned with relaxation than actually doing anything interesting (though when I word it that way, it actually seems like a good thing).

we've come a long ways in two years

I am a very driven, motivated person, especially with a big goal and a deadline staring me in the face. That makes it hard to accept that three days a week, I just toodle around the indoor on the buckle and chat with friends to give Courage a physical and mental break. I want to just WORK WORK WORK GIT 'ER DONE all day every day to super-extra-double guarantee that we don't embarrass ourselves at shows this year.

But I can't.

My horse would go nuts.

More importantly, I'd burn both of us out and change riding from a hobby that I enjoy to an all-consuming task that isn't fun for anyone.

And no one wants that, really.

So when Alyssa came out and took some beautiful pictures of us the other day, it was an amazing reminder of what I'm building with Courage. Not just pie-in-the-sky goals. Not just a vehicle to chase an arbitrary award from a bureaucratic organization that really is just in it for the money. That isn't what first attracted me to horses. If and when we achieve it, that won't be the pinnacle of why I'm here. I came to horses because I want more.

A relationship with a living being.

A partnership between predator and prey.

A subversion of the natural order of things in a way so simple and beautiful that it defies explanation.

Horses bring out that which is most in us--cruel people are made crueler and kind people are made kinder, all from the influence of the horse. They are a breathing thousand-pound microscope highlighting all that which is strongest in us.

And to me, the most and dearest and best thing is that relationship, that partnership. Not the awards. Not the satin. Not the glory.

It's going into his stall and breathing in the essential aura of horse. It's knowing that despite our disparate backgrounds--predator vs prey--centuries of blue blood vs middle class girl from nowhere--we can come together and be something more than just the sum of ourselves.

Something indefinably beautiful, even if only to ourselves.

I know everyone else sees a stiff old warhorse, a washed-up racehorse, a lower level dressage horse that's never going to "amount" to anything. He's a failed event horse. A creature too difficult for the average ammy and too old and plain to interest top talent.

That's not what I see. To me, Courage has become one of the most beautiful and amazing horses to ever grace the planet. I see the fanciest horse I've ever been lucky enough to call mine. I see soft brown eyes and a fighting spirit. A worthy partner. A fellow creature who challenges me to be the very best version of myself, every single day. He's someone who pushes me. Someone who makes me try. Someone who reminds me every day that success isn't counted in year-end points or national awards or public recognition.

Success is waking up every day and being proud of who I am. Proud of who I'm becoming. Success is doing all the hard work behind the scenes that no one will ever see or appreciate to create the groundwork of the person that I've always wanted to be. Success is going to bed at night satisfied with the life I lived that day.

Success is so much more than horse shows.

I still want my bronze medal. I'm still going to panic about not being ready and if I'm good enough and if I've trained Courage correctly and ALL the minutiae that's tied up in this silly sport of ours.

But if we never show again, never garner another ridiculously overpriced piece of $2 satin, I already know I've achieved everything I came here for.

everything.

HO BOY SHOW PLANS

Well. This is it. The year I've been planning for.

And yes, now that I've said that, I fully 100% realize that my life is from here out jinxed.

Last year, Courage and I hit the event derby series and garnered a GIANT year end award, which was a serious bucket list item for me. I'd love to repeat that at crossrails this year, BUT the whole goal of the last year was to get Courage going as a dressage horse and get him exposed to shows

SO THAT

we could show at first level this year.

Gulp.

And get our bronze medal scores.

Double gulp.

so much dressage

SO. Here's what my tentative schedule looks like for now (the local calendar is not yet complete, so some dates are invented.):

April 

(hopefully a schooling show in April--failing that, we will haul somewhere to do a lesson and get him out)

THEN

May 7-8 Spring dressage show at OUAH. First 1 and probably first 3. This is a non-recognized outing that will hopefully give us that first level feel. And also hopefully not completely freak us out. I want to do both days and really work on my test riding/show warm up to learn what I need to do for the best results possible.

We will then skip the AMAZING AND EXCITING sounding cool new derby the next weekend because A) I only have so much money and B) I need to not wear Courage out completely because then... KIDDING WE WILL DO IT CUZ I CANT DECIDE

May 21-22 Idaho Dressage Festival! Probably first 1 and 3 as well. This is our big hurrah--USDF recognized and all. Need all the $$$ memberships and I really don't want to know how much this will cost me. I plan to stable on the grounds and hopefully not completely lose my marbles.

Ok once that's over with...

June 11-12 League Dressage show at AEB. Again, probably first 1 and 3 unless we're failing a lot or I feel a burning urge to do 2. This is also run concurrently with an event derby that we could cross enter into. Crossrails? Maybe.

June 17-19 Boise River Dressage at OUAH. I need to do some research here. I'm tempted to do the opportunity classes because they count towards league show year end points, but I'll also have all my memberships and could show recognized. I really need to find out if I don't get my Bronze scores in May if I could try to get them here. I don't know and that would change how I approach this show.

this post needs satin

Looks like we'll decompress in July (which is good because the summer doldrums are real), then head on into August:

August 6-7 League dressage show in Filer. Again, this depends. It's a 2+ hour drive and if I haven't done the other league shows, it's probably not worth it. On the other hand, any chance at year-end swag sounds good to me. We'll see where I'm at and how broke I am.

September: There's a cheaper-but-crazy jumper show on the 10th or a spendier-but-nice jumper show on the 24th. If Courage is jumping well and I'm feeling up to it, we might hit one of these. I really like the timing here--we'll have had all summer to get going and see if jumping is something we can do well this year or not.

October 1-2 Fall league dressage show at AEB. First level tests. This is being run concurrently with the derby series we did last year, which makes me think about cross entering. We will see, but it's unlikely my budget will support chasing two different year end awards in two different sports. Maybe. Maybe. I do love swag.

and friends with satin

Haha the more I write, the more I want to try and do the derbies too. I really can't justify the one in May--it's right before our big big show and I don't want Courage to be tired headed in to that.

Or do I? I DON'T KNOW. Obviously, this whole thing is flexible. A lot of my scheduling is going to depend on getting more answers as to how the league shows work and how the bronze scores go and if I think I have a shot at a local year end award at first level recognized (lol a girl can dream) or if the league is really where it's at for us this year.

So. I will figure out memberships and awards and STUFF and try to get this firmed up. GAH NOW SO NERVOUS.

And just because I need to put this out there: Courage and I had incredible success at intro and training level last year. I realize that doesn't/isn't/won't translate straight across to kicking all the ass at first level this year, especially as we try to move up in terms of both level and quality of competition. All my talk about year end awards is just because winning one was SO MUCH FUN and I'd never done it before and it would be mind-blowingly-amazing to pull off a repeat.

Doesn't mean I think we're in contention. Not even close.

but it sure is inspiring

2016 Goals

Well here goes. Life is unpredictable and so I realize that all of these could be thrown out the window at any given time with absolutely no notice.

That said.

Goals are really important to me. I don't necessarily like them month to month, because so much of what I work on is... eh... non-linear? I don't know if I'll do something in a month, but I know that I can check to see if I'm generally trending up or down over the course of a year.

Without further preamble, here are my goals for 2016 that I think I can and want to accomplish on my less-green, still-OTTB somewhat-dressage horse who may or may not decide to play along on any given day.

1) Ride first level at a USDF recognized show.

This is a HUGE goal for us, and it's really hit or miss. There is only one local recognized show, which of course is at the beginning of the show year. I want to put a bunch of caveats on this, but it's the #1 thing driving me to work through the winter right now. Now it's out there.

I want it.

2) Get bronze-qualifying scores (60% or better) at first level at a GMO recognized show. 

I'd really, Really, REALLY like to do this at the USDF show, but it will be my first-ever USDF show and his first time ever at that big facility and GOD ONLY KNOWS what will happen there. Fingers crossed it's good.

So. Bronze scores. Want.

3) School second level moments at home in lessons/clinics. 

We want to keep moving up, obviously.

4) Jump a 2'3" - 2'6" course at home and have a good time. 

I like jumping. Courage likes jumping. Hopefully, all this dressage will make him a rideable and enjoyable horse to jump. If not, I can live with that, but let's at least give it another year.

5) Ride bareback in a halter.

Insane? Yes. But I've always wanted a horse who could do this and I want Courage to be this horse and if it's 105f in the middle of summer, maybe this isn't a terrible idea? In the round pen? Anyone?

6) Audit a BNT (dressage) clinic. 

This is two fold--I want to start developing a list of accessible(ish) (to me) BNTs to ride with and watch in case Courage and I reach a point where that would be useful and I want to get myself more exposed to high level dressage training. Different trainers have different systems and I want to start getting a feel for what might work for Courage if/when it ever comes up.

7) Attend two upper-level equestrian events. Grand Prix jumping or dressage, advanced eventing, International Hunter derby.

Again, this is to get ME out and exposed to high caliber competition. Plus it's fun. What's not to love?

8) GO ON A TRAIL RIDE

I just really want to do this.

10) Qualify to make a freestyle at first level. 

That's 60%+ on 1-3, correct? I don't know that I actually want to do a freestyle, but it's good incentive to ride all the tests.

And then...

REACH GOALS:

10) Do a 2nd level test at a schooling show at the end of the year. 

I can't get this one out of my brain. It's unlikely, but why not stick it here.

11) Ride at a jumping show intentionally and go over something more than a ground pole, intentionally.

I don't know about this one, but if Courage is rideable and fun at home, it might be worth a shot. Or maybe not. We'll find out.

Phew. I think 11 goals is enough. That's basically a goal for every month with one month off for unexpected crap that always happens. (I mean, obviously I won't just do one thing a month and most of those goals are multi-month endeavors. Just counting numbers here.)

Crazy? Achievable? The WORST IDEA EVER? I guess we'll find out. I'll make a tab to stick these in for reference all year long. I'm a little bit sick in the pit of my stomach, which I think means I'm excited.

Big Show Plans or "OMG WE'RE DOING THIS (maybe)"

Except Courage. Plz no bracing.

Brace yourselves. Omg.

I'm hoping to get my first level scores for my bronze medal at the big recognized show here in May 2016 at the Idaho Horse Park, which is all indoors. I've never ridden in it before (sad truth) and I want to do well, so here's the plan to set us up for success:

Dressage show 8.29 training 2 and 3

Dressage clinic 9.5-6 (wherein i will actually admit to the clinician that I want Bronze)

Dressage show 9.8 a training test and maaaaaaaybe first 1 if I feel brave. Or maybe not. That judge isn't our biggest fan. Super schooling show with not-a-real judge, so not a big deal either way.

this one time, we went to a show

THEN.

Super crazy local jumper show series in a spooky indoor this winter to prep for big dressage show in a different and much bigger spooky indoor.

THEN hopefully some schooling shows in the spring so we aren't going in cold.

and a clinic

I know it's all so far away right now that it's silly to plan, but I'm just really excited about this plan. Are we good enough to get 60%+ at a recognized show at first level in nine months? I don't know. I hope so. I want to find out.

Part of the reason I'm excited about this plan right now is that I literally do not have the skills to ride second level, never mind third. This isn't me going solo with a greenie and trying to make things happen. It isn't rehashing the same skills I already have and trying to do the same things on a different horse.

can he be my third level horse?

This is learning a whole new skill set. It's working with instructors. It's expanding my horizons. It's exciting and challenging and methodical, and yet possibly do-able, if we keep after it. It's not a pie in the sky. It's a tangible thing that we can attain and no one can take away from us.

Don't get me wrong--I still want to jump Courage. I'm having a harder time setting goals in a jump arena though. I've shown through 3'3" in highschool and 2'9" on Cuna and I realistically do not have the guts or finances or drive to just keep moving up for moving up's sake. Like a 3'6" course is a giant no to me. It doesn't even look fun. Or like something that I want to do, ever. And it never has.

On the other hand, I'm totally down for sweet third level moves. Like flying changes. And stuff. What's in third level anyways?

Domination. Belt buckles. Flowers.

on the other hand, this is adorable

Sometimes I think I have completely the wrong horse for me--Courage is a picture perfect event horse and well, I'm not an eventer.

But then I realize that if someone took Courage and stuck him in a program and drilled him every day, I think he'd flunk out. He abhors pressure, revolts against coercion, and is easily bored by repetition. He is perhaps the quintessential pro ride, in that he thrives on being ridden 2-3 days a week with lots of time to think and holds fitness easily, but no pro on earth wants a 10 year old OTTB with a stubborn streak.

one handed. oh yeah.

Which leaves me. Who is still not eventing.

I mean, we're chasing our dressage goals and planning some jumping domination less-suckiness and eventual lessons, right? A big obstacle I've identified to Courage progressing in dressage is that his overall balance is level and we need to shift it slightly uphill.

yeah he's dashing

So Friday was an intense (for us) dressage ride and Courage brought his A game. Which meant Saturday was a rest day and Sunday was (everyone's favorite!) western day!!

The whole point is just to walk on a loose rein, stretch out, and relax. While hacking around all the spooky spots on the property and over the mini ditches.

Oh, and conniving a way to win a belt buckle. That's another bucket list item for you. My latest plan involves joining the riding club about a half mile down the road that has gymkhana nights and trail competitions and most likely being kick ass at trail.

flowers? yes

I can justify it by saying that it's to get Courage more exposure and help build our trust/relationship, but let's be real: any excuse to dress this handsome blaze face up sounds like a good idea to me.

Frankly, I'm hoping he gets broke enough that I have an excuse to buy these sweet spurs I found...

1 Thing I Am the Worst At

actually not photography

If there's one thing I'm guaranteed to always be the worst at, it's keeping track of time.

For example, I always think I ride for about 20-30 minutes. Except now I ride before work (and have a pretty fixed commute time) and wouldn't you know, it's consistently a lot more like an hour. No wonder horsiekins is fit. 

For another example, I've been on this "twiddling my thumbs and SUMMAHTIME" kick in which Courage and I do nothing productive. Except literally Monday I realized I had a dressage show Wednesday (yesterday).

also possibly trunk organization

Hmmmm maybe instead of another go round with the water trough, I should try to figure out if we're back to turning right reliably. And oh, you know, look at my tests again. And figure out if I can use a martingale on the off chance we decide to try and jump the judge again.

One more example: I signed up for a dressage clinic later this month and was thinking I'd maybe also head up to the new show facility and watch an event clinic this month. And go spectate at Rebecca. Hit the rodeo. Go camping. See a Grand Prix. FUN FACT: there are not 6 weekends in July. Who knew?

I don't know why I thought there were. It wasn't so much that I believed that there were, but more than I had a bunch of things I wanted to do but didn't actually count on how much time any of them would take up. 

Sooooo. 

All that to say, we're taking our second shot at training level tonight next Wednesday (dammit thunderstorms). Wish us luck! 

Spring Show Schedule

he is super pumped

Plenty of exciting things happening that need to be typed up and shared, but I've been procrastinating on this long enough that I thought I might as well out it out there. Let's face it: some of you are showing in rated/recognized competitions already, and I haven't even plunked out a basic show schedule yet.

About that.

Every couple weeks, I get all ambitious and sit down with calendars from multiple show organizations and determine how much dressage and jumping I want to do and where I want to go and all that...

And then I realize that I really don't want to. The whole idea makes me anxious.

helps I ride better now

You have to understand--I was TERRIBLE at shows as a kid. I mean, I had "fun" I guess, but I was never actually successful. I remember being at yet another horrible jumper show and staring at the ribbons I'd never win and just wishing I could suck well enough to have a bottom placing.

And failing.

And as an adult, well... I had a lot of success with Cuna. I've had some really traumatic experiences with green horses at shows, and here I am with a green horse to show.

I know the only way to make him not green is to show him, but I just can't get excited about it. If I look at schedules too long, I just shut down. It sounds miserable and humiliating and awful to me.

can we do this at a show?

But I do believe in showing. If nothing else, it forces us to evaluate our progress in terms of an absolute standard, and I think that is a very important thing.

So here's my show schedule for Courage and I this year:

April 29-dressage schooling show at local barn. No prizes. No ribbons. No placings. Choose your own test. Get a score.

And if that's fun, we'll find something else to do. If not, eh, I'll make a new plan.

Ammy Life

bonus: horse is still cute

I want to write this post about how frustrated I am.

How my dressage riding isn't pretty.

My jump riding isn't effective enough.

My show budget is pathetic.

My lessons are infrequent.

My progress is stilted.

My goals are unreachable.

I'm calling a stirrup-length mulligan. Yay cute knees!

But you know what? I'm an adult ammy. I take lessons when I can afford it. I refuse to beat myself up for not looking like a jumper pro in my first jump lesson of the year. I looked like an adult ammy in my first lesson of the year on a green horse who'd only seen jumps about 4x in the last few months, AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE ARE.

Yeah, my dressage position isn't perfect. But you know what? It's effective for where we're at right now. I'm hardly a dressage pro, Courage is new to the whole idea, and the fact that he's progressing this quickly is a testament to the team he and I have become over the past year and a half.

I'm focusing on the positives--Courage is coming along great. We have homework to help fix the jumping. I'm excited about our dressage.

I'm not dwelling on the meta narratives here. I can't turn into one of those people who shows out of state year round and dumps buckets of money into nice made horses. I like those people, but I'm not one of them. I'm just me with my lil bay OTTB that I'm bringing along myself, and that's ok.

CAN I RETURN THIS SADDLE

black breeches, jump saddle

I failed to consider the bigger picture. I went all crazy go nuts and bought this dressage saddle that makes my ass sing. I mean, I picked out some actual dressage shows to attend. I'm taking dressage lessons on my horse and having fun. I was in DO ALL THE DRESSAGE mode.



And then JenJ was all "you need white breeches".

FULL STOP.

CUE PANIC.

I DID NOT SIGN UP FOR THIS.

NOPE

White breeches? White?? WHITE??? I vaguely remember this about dressage, but I thought they'd modernized in the past few years. I mean. I am just an average adult ammy. I am not a gym rat and I have neither time nor money nor inclination to become one. AND I AM OK WITH THAT ABOUT MYSELF.

What I am not ok with is arbitrarily stuffing myself into blinding, glaring white sausage casings and then jiggling my ass all around the sand box in front of eyes I am paying to be critical. I'm an office worker, not a goddamn stripper AND I HAVE THE THIGHS TO PROVE IT.

Hellooooo. What deranged psychotic lunatic thought that as a bumbling ammy rider ANYTHING about my ride would be improved by wearing the world's most unflattering color in ridiculous tight pants I have no business in anyways?

So uh.... is there a way out if Micaylah won't take her saddle back? How do y'all get through this? Or is it like I suspect and all the other bloggers just magical teeny pixies in 24 breeches with no ass?

Po' Folk

rocking the free halter

Welp.

A local trainer is hosting a seminar for riders that is sort of a holistic wellness/riding goals/financial planning thing/nutrition counselling thing. There's a cost to attend (obviously), which rules us out as attendees. Instead, Redheadlins and I made a list of things to say to the financial planner just to bring her joy:

• Um well, I try to pay my bills usually, but it's a mild panic if I have to take a sick day.
  
• If my bill is printed in red, I know I should pay it first.
  
• I pay board before my car payment because I have my priorities.
  
• The only thing I put on credit is vet bills and tack.
  
• If I have enough cash for coffee, creamer, butter, and popcorn, I feel my groceries are covered.
  
• My idea of a night out on the town is cooking dinner at a friend's house.
  
• Do English Tack Trader and Craigslist sales count as income?
  
• If I have more than half a tank of diesel, I feel financially secure.
  
• When I'm depressed about being poor, I eat cookies and ice cream. If I can afford ice cream.
  
• My biggest financial goal is to buy a saddle that costs almost as much as my car.
  
• Savings for a new car? My hay barn is full.
  
• I use sauve shampoo to save money so my horse can get the cool stuff.
  
• When things break around the house, I pretend it's Little House on the Prairie and go without. 

priorities

It was all a very hilarious gag until we got an offer to attend the seminar for free. 

Soooo I'll keep you posted if we actually say any of those things to said financial planner or (heaven forbid!) the nutritionist. In the mean time, anything to add to the po' folk list? 

New Faces

I ride Courage all the time. redheadlins rides him regularly, and Alyssa pops on now and then. I try (sometimes) to ride other horses and I think it's really good for Courage to learn to carry other riders of all skill levels. Part of training the little man this year has involved letting him toodle around with different riders.

In no particular order:

He is the best at making funny faces

A friend from the track who hasn't had much saddle time. She started on the lunge line, but was able to confidently steer and do some basic transitions on her own by the end of the session. Courage's first time with a beginner up and he did great.








One of those fearless jumper girls that we all wish we were. She's actually ridden Courage a couple of times now, most notably when it was something like zero degrees in January and he had to figure out how to deal with frozen footing and uneven ground.

Courage rose to her level and they started out a little rocky, but ended up popping around a little jump course. Can't fake those smiles.











And then Rinsie from Nanakorobi Yaoki came to play! I haven't gotten to hang out with her much since we now board on opposite ends of our little world (geographically), but she's moving away and leaving us west coasties here soon so we had to do something.

I was SUPER paranoid that he would do something insane and hurt her right before her big trip. I don't know why. I have made a cross country move with a broken arm and I can tell you I wouldn't recommend it. Regardless, she rode well, he behaved, and if calamity strikes, it won't be because of C-rage.

I think Courage is starting to get it. He's learning to communicate with each rider a little differently. He's got it in his head that this is his job and he isn't doing anything too silly. It's all a part of the plan. I want Courage to be a super fun all-around horse, and that includes being mentally flexible enough to accept all levels of riders.

I hope to start mixing it up and hauling out more in the near future. I'm even day dreaming about maybe a dressage lesson (in the heated indoor) this winter*. Plus team penning. I need to get him exposed to cows. Ha! We'll see how things go.

*It's really more about the heated indoor than the dressage. We'll see if he's trained enough to be able to see the fancy trainer without totally embarrassing ourselves.