It's either me or the horse...

Last night I was so excited to go to bed early. I usually go to bed around 11, and somehow was able to get into bed at 10. My husband said something about being thirsty, and I jumped out of bed to go get him a drink. (Understand that he does EVERYTHING for me, and I was very excited to be able to do something simple for him.)

I hit my foot against the wall. Needless to say I then screamed every swear word I knew and grabbed my foot. It hurt so bad. I got back into bed and took off my sock. I hit my second toe in and it looks like I cut it down under the nail. It hurts! Lol. I took a picture, but decided it was way to gross to put on here. I'm waiting for my doctor's appointment on my couch. It's the first time in 7 year I've missed work without knowing I'm going to miss work. My toe is disgusting and hurts like hell. I was screaming about how bad it hurts and how my husband just doesn't understand. My husband had a climbing accident 6 years ago that he broke his leg in half, and his back in 3 places. He smiled at me and then I remembered. Opps.

So it's either me that is hurt or Denali that is hurt. In High School I had a friend that every time one of us got hurt the same thing would happen to the other one of us. It was sort of spooky.

While I'm laying here waiting for my doctor's appointment I have time to post more random pictures and videos from this weekend.

Ms. Ophelia and her mom in their class. This is why I do dressage. The idea of doing flat classes with a bunch of other horses scares me!

More of my favorite show off pony. He was just so fun! I wish I could find his owner so I could give her some of these pictures.

The video isn't exciting at all. I was just so excited that you could see more than just her hot pink bell boots that I just kept filming little clips.

Weekend Update (In Photos)

Welcome to my life! This is a LONG one since I actually took photos! Aren't you proud of me!! We got the truck lined (Linex) and had to pick it up bright and early on Saturday morning. I had my camera with me on as my husband drove me over to pick up his truck. (It was early and I didn't want to drive.) So I took some photos as we went over Lake Washington.


This is what I LOVE about living in the PNW. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the mountains! I took these while the husband was driving, not bad I think!


Mt. Rainer is so majestic and amazing, I love it and it always takes my breath away! I have never seen Mt. McKinley, but I assume that it is just as amazing, and that is why my horse is named after a mountain. Actually, she's named after Mt. McKinley because I wanted to name her after a mountain (because she's huge) and I stood in the arena naming mountains with Ophie's mom and I suggested McKinley (because my husband was in Alaska at the time) and she reminded me of the other name for the mountain, I liked Denali much better! I'm going to go there someday.

Back to my weekend, I went to visit another friend's horse first. It was really early, and Ms. Denali is not a morning horse. Very much like her mother. I actually understand her much better when I think of her as the horse version of me.

I finally got to the barn around noon after spending a few hours with a friend and her horse. It's always nice to visit other barns. I love "barn hopping." I love this photo! It's hilarious only because she looks so tiny! She's between 16hh and 16.1hh. I need to actually stick her and figure that out. Here she looks like a tiny pony!

I got Ms. D out of her field and brought her into the barn. I haven't been out this week at all. I've been so busy with work, and this week isn't looking much better. I put her in the cross ties and could tell that she just needed to burn off steam. She perks her ears and is extra perceptive about what's going on around her. We had review who was the boss, but she quickly came to an understanding. I put her bell boots on her and took her out into the arena. Usually, once I take her halter off she stands there and kind of follows me around. Saturday she took off like a bat out of hell as soon as I had it in my hands. I actually took video of her in the daylight!! Aren't you proud of me!! No pretty, fancy movement on her part, I was a little bummed since it was light and I could actually see what I was doing!

Is that a camel?? How funny that she is able to be So pretty, and then again SO Ugly looking! I hope she never gets access to the Internet, she'd be so mad if she knew I posted this.

It was in the high 50s so I decided that today would be bath day. She LOVES BATHS!! She stands perfectly still and doesn't budge an inch. ALTHOUGH. We did have an interesting incident during the bath.... She's in heat, and did something...um...INTERESTING while I was washing her tail. Um...how do I say this without being gross?? Let's just say that she was VERY receptive to the warm water from the hose. Anyone else ever have something like this happen? I can go into details if you don't get what I'm trying to say.... My friend's boyfriend laughed his ass off when I told him of her shower time.

Sunday morning I woke up at the crack of dawn, Correction: It was still pitch black out. Ophelia and her mom were going to their first show, and so i went to be supportive. I woke up at 5 and was at the barn by 6. It's funny, I can happily hop out of bed to go to a horse show, but if it was a weekday and I had to go to work I'd be a very unhappy camper!

Gee. Who braided Ophie's tail? It looks pretty good! Lol, I have NEVER braided a horses tail before and asked Ophie's mom if I could give it a go since we had time to kill before their class. (Hurry up and wait!) I think it turned out pretty nice!! I've done braids before, but Ophie's mane is so long I couldn't get it to look nice, I did a rope braid but she shook it out and I didn't have time to go back and put bands in it as I went.

While waiting for Ophie's class I walked around the ranch. It's a HUGE facility! I met this guy while I was trying to take pictures of the mountains and as soon as he saw my camera he started to put on a show for me. Lol, I must have 20 of him just running and playing. I sent them via e-mail to the ranch in case the owner would like them. Some of them are really nice. I was proud of myself. Actually, it was perfect lighting and my camera didn't need any adjusting.

And more of a reason of why I love the PNW!

As for the horse show, guess who got first place in her first show?! Ms. Ophelia and her mom. She was a nervous bundle of energy and her mom did an amazing job of working with her. I was very proud. I was a nervous wreck, I couldn't imagine actually showing myself. I'm afraid they'd need to ACE me before I went into the ring, forget Denali!

Hope everyone had a good weekend! I'm sitting on the couch watching the Super Bowl commercials in between the game. I always LOVE the ones with the Clydesdales. I always tear up. Lol. Pretty ridiculous!!

And honey, if you're reading this because you're wondering what I've been typing so furiously on for the past 20 minutes, know how much I love you. :) Horse husbands are the best!! Thank you for all that you put up with!!! (And it's a lot!)

Kid overload

Wow! I have the best readers EVER! I love all of your comments, thanks a bunch! I love reading what everyone has to say.

I'm sure that I've mentioned before what I do for a living. I work with kids with severe emotional/behavioral disabilities. Go put that in perspective, I got called a f!@#ing b!@#h over 50 times yesterday (I stopped counting after 50) by a 6 year old. He was mad because he didn't want to do his math. An hour later he was back to loving me. I love my job!

I'm going out to see Ms. Denali after work tomorrow (I hope.) I haven't been out this week (so when you write about having your horse 5 minutes from you, you're SO lucky!!) I took a friend's daughter out on Monday. She is 7 and was IN LOVE with Denali. Apparently the little munchkin went home and was pretending to be a horse. I guess her conversation with her mom went something like this.

Mom: Hi Mary, did you have fun.

Kid: YES! I'm not Mary, I'm Denali. (At which point she started cantering around.)

(10 minutes passed)

Kid 2 (older sister): MOM!! Mary just kicked me!

Mom: Mary! Why did you kick your sister?

Kid: I'm not Mary! I'm Denali, and sometimes I'm a naughty horse!!


Opps! Maybe I shouldn't have kids of my own.

One Year

First, let me say that I LOVED reading your stories about picking your horse (or them picking you!!!) Keep them coming, I'll check back!! :)

It's been a year since Denali and I moved to our current barn. Before that she had been at 3 different barns in 4 months. During that time I was living overseas, and left her with a friend. She's my first horse, and there was a lot I didn't know about boarding when I got her. Needless to say, through those experiences I learned a lot about boarding, and what to expect.

I liked Denali's first barn, a friend of mine ran it, and without her (the friend) I wouldn't have Denali. She gave me the go-ahead to buy Denali and so to her I'm forever grateful. I didn't like some of the people who boarded there. They would steal my stuff, and feed Denali's grain to their horses and then act like nothing happened. Actually, Denali was moved from that barn to a pasture 5 days after I moved to Denmark, and during those 5 days I'll bet at least $300.00 of my stuff walked off. I didn't realize it until I got back from Copenhagen, and the friend of mine who had Denali didn't want to tell me her blanket was missing so she borrowed one. (She didn't want me to get upset.) I think I know who has it, she keeps adding me as a friend on facebook, and I keep hitting "ignore." You'd think after 6 times she'd get the hint.

I don't know much about the second place Denali went. It was a huge pasture, and I know that she LOVED to run around the pastures. It was really far from where I live, and even if she had stayed there I would have had to move her because 35 miles one way is just a little too far. Plus, in the spring the whole pasture floods, and I don't care how cheap it is! It's not worth the threat of her getting hurt.

The last place, OH the last place... My friend who had Denali got hired to train out of the barn. The owner was a complete and utter CRAZY CRAZY bitch!! One day she stood in the driveway throwing the mail at my friend because she (my friend) had forgotten to get it out of the mailbox. I mean SCREAMING!!! One night Denali broke out of her "pen" and got into 16 flakes of hay and 8 cups of grain(other horses breakfast) and the crazy bitch wanted me to pay for it. I laughed at her and walked away. I had asked her a million times to fix the lock on the gate. My horse could have coliced and you want me to pay you?

The arena that my Ninja horse took out in a rage. (Best part? After taking out the arena wall, she let herself into a paddock and was drinking water, without a mark on her!! Scariest DAY EVER!!)

I was back in the states for about three weeks when I realized that Denali was majorly depressed. She was also a HUGE nutball. She had NO room to run, and when she did (see picture above)it was a disaster. It's a horrible, horrible place and it makes me sad that they still run a boarding facility and pony parties out of it. They spray paint their horses and have "pony parties" the horses they use are 30 and blind. It's horrible.

My friend bawled when I told her I was leaving, mostly because she wanted out too but needed a barn to work out of. I found her one on craigslist (I can find almost anything on craigslist!) a few weeks after Ophie's mom and I left.

I love my current barn! It's amazing and I love how well Denali is being taken care of. It's so nice that I am able to leave her for days and not worry that she's not getting her supplements or meds. It's great to know that she gets simple things like water and food. I love that I don't get charged for extra things like blanket removal, holding fees, etc. I love that Denali has a huge stall that is level and cleaned daily. I love that my trainer is more anal with her care than I am.

I can't describe the HELL HOLE that she lived in!! Maybe someday I will be able to, but I just HATE IT!! Look at the pictures under the labels "hell hole" that will give you an idea!!

One thing about living in the Seattle area is the board is NOT cheap. I pay a super cheap price for board when you factor in what I get for my board. My board is $450.00 a month. That's for a huge stall, a large turn out, indoor arena, round pen, etc. It's AMAZING!! The normal price is $425.00, but Ms. Denali and Ophelia cost a little more since they get twice as much food. The trainer was super cute about it, she was all worried that I'd be upset at the price. Twice as much grain and hay for only $25.00 a month? That is fine with me!!

She gets the hay from the same guy, and it's AMAZING!! If it's not perfect she'll send it back in a heartbeat, and he knows it. Actually, Denali LOVES delivery day. One day she was in her stall when they were dropping it off and she spent 30 minutes nickering at everyone trying, JUST TRYING to get a small taste. She's super cute!!

Board in the Seattle area ranges from $350-$1,100 a month for full care. Cheaper board is a lot farther out! I have no problems with barns that have employees that don't speak a lot of English, but I must say that I really enjoy that I don't need to worry that someone will get something wrong. I love that Denali isn't fed some cookie cutter diet and she is fed what SHE needs.

Long story short. We're never leaving our barn. I love it, I love telling everyone that I love it, the problem is (well, not really a problem for me) is that there is a wait list so after babbling about how amazing it is I have to tell people that she's full.

Any horror stories of boarding? How did you pick your barn?

Buying horses

How did you get your horse?

I find the whole process of horse "shopping" intriguing. I never went horse shopping, and don't know when I will. That will probably be at least another 10 years or so.

A friend of mine just bought a horse. She went shopping around, and tried out several horses all over the PNW. The horse she ended up with is trained through 3rd level and is a 7 year old Trakaener. His price tag? $28,000. That price tag just floors me! I paid less than 500 for Ms. Denali, but of course there's a reason.

What did you do when picking out your horse? Did you have something specific in mind? Did you know what you wanted exactly and waited until you found it?

My "dreamhorse" was a light colored gelding, between 8 and 15 and 16.2 hands at least. I didn't care about the breed, but I wanted one trained at least through 2nd level with the ability to do more. I wanted a BEEN THERE, DONE THAT horse. Something I could compete with (just small local shows) and also trail ride. (I love that D's lessor is standing behind her, oh Megan! Where are you? I can almost see the top of your head!)

That is what I ended up with! Lol, I don't think that there is anything on my "list" that I got! Do I regret my decision? No. Sometimes I wish I knew more so I could teach her more myself.

I've explained a few times the feeling I got when I saw Denali for the first time. It is exactly the same feeling I got when I met my husband. I just KNEW that she was the one. She was the 32 horse I counted as I walked around the auction pens. I felt horrible for all of them, but knew I didn't need a horse. Then I saw her, I don't know how to explain it, but I swear she spoke to me. She gave me this look of desperation, "PLEASE, Please don't leave me here!" I promised her I wouldn't, my friends thought I was nuts, and in about an hour I was loading her into the trailer.

She is everything I didn't know that I wanted. She picked me, which I've heard friends say about their horses, but didn't quite understand what they meant until I met "Storm" (her name at the auction.)

Best money I ever spent!! (and if you add up all the vet bills and training, I can almost SAY that I own a $28,000 show horse.) I wouldn't trade her for the world!! I need to remember this when she pisses me off!!

Ms. D's video

Denali at play. The video is dark, BUT you might be able to see her movement. I don't think she's lame anymore. She's also in heat. I swear she's always in heat. At least if I ever want to breed her it will probably be easy :)

Ignore my babbling in the background. I took a friend's daughter with me to the barn and I was trying to explain why Ms. D was putting on such a show (new horse, and she's showing off.) There are a few seconds where I see my little natural dressage diva (again, seconds!)

(edit: I made a youtube account and uploaded the video there, it's private, but here is the link that you should be able to use)

http://www.youtube.com/watch_private?v=cRwzKmcKOJw&sharing_token=dyoNpnQTazKNq8tiLga6Kw

One positive thought! No one who reads this blog will EVER have to worry about trying to beat ME out in some big photography contest or video contest....EVER! Yikes! I have a good camera too....sigh.

Saddle Search!

I hate saddle shopping.

I hate saddle shopping for a TB with a high withers and broad shoulders.

I hate saddle shopping for a TB with high withers and broad shoulders and a tall rider.

I hate saddle shopping for a TB with high withers and broad shoulders and a tall rider with a 37 inch inseam.

I hate saddle shopping for a TB with high withers and broad shoulders and a tall rider witha 37 inch inseam, most of that being my femur.

Sigh.

I love my saddle, it's a Harry Dabbs and it feels wonderful! It does feel a bit to small since I have to REALLY REALLY work to keep my knees behind the knee roll, and when I get my knee behind the knee roll my butt goes on the uproll of the cantle. If that makes sense. It just doesn't feel very comfortable.

As for Denali, the saddle USE TO FIT HER until she decided to beef up like Arnold Schwarzenegger. Now the saddle doesn't fit her in the shoulders (it's a MW, but a W is to wide) so I use a pad to bump it up a little.

I sat in a 19 inch seat yesterday and it felt SO GOOD. The saddle was an extra wide, and no good. I'd love to have a saddle custom made, but I don't feel that I ride enough to justify spending the 3,500. I'll so that someday, but for now I keep saving. I also saw a 19 inch dressage saddle, but it had short flaps. Not sure who rode in that saddle!

The quest to find the perfect saddle is ongoing. Any suggestions?

Yesterday I rode in my trainers new Isabell Werth saddle (shh...dont' tell the doctor) for a few minutes. It is only a 17 inch seat, and the leathers, even on their longest point were WAY too short. I refused to remove my leathers (since it take a string of explatives and about 20 minutes to get them off) so I just rode without irons. My hips felt so good, it's been so long since I rode and my hips kept cramping while we were trotting, but it felt good! I think I can ride without irons and will be fine. My knee didn't hurt at all, even at the trot. I think the pressure put on it by being in the iron is what caused the major pain last time.