Things are getting interesting! If all goes well (and according to plan) Joy and I will be attending a Eventing Clinic on April 17th, I am alternately elated and freaked out. I'm also really wishing I had a instructor or coach to help me fill out the forms, I am stuck on the question "Horses Experience" I mean in general riding we have a really solid walk-trot and canter, working on submission to the bit (collection) and balance. We can put down a solid Training Level Dressage test. In the jumping in the woods over fallen trees and brush category I give us an A+. In trail riding we are really really great, and generally galloping in fields goes well. But I have never Evented and I am worried if I put down none for experience we will be stuck with the walk trot over poles ponies.

I have a vet coming out tomorrow to pull blood for the Coggins, I didn't plan on going to anything so soon in the spring so luckily found someone who can come out so soon since we will be spending four days in the UP leaving on Wednesday. Baby is eating her noms, so we won't have to eat her, she is gaining weight, I would still like to see more on her. I need to pull another fecal on her, so annoying having to worry about parasites. I guess I got spoiled with Joy being healthy but she has always gotten good care so it is not like it was an accident.

I rode Joy this evening, in the big back field. She was all go, but got some really nice canter transitions. She was impatient and is getting pully on the bit. Like wanting to stretch down into my hands, I have to work on not throwing her away but remaining consistent in my contact. Also have to keep my position consistent since she is a big tattletale, when I am balanced and soft so is she. She also makes this chomping at the bit that sounds like fap fap fap, which is hilarious.

hmmm bed time...

Dear Baby Horse,

While I understand that being selective about the food one eats can be an useful survival mechanism in the wild, please understand you are not in the wild. I am not planning on poisoning you however I may be tempted to hit you with a grain bucket if you don't eat your lovely dinner. Honestly there is a handful of new food mixed in with the old food, You are not that fond of old food which is why I bought you nice, expensive new food. You need more weight so please eat your fucking food, because I know you will like new food when you stop being suspicious about it, Because you do this with every food I introduce, It is a wonder you weren't suspicious of your Dam's milk and starved as a teensy and (probably) picky baby.
Standing by the gate and waiting for me to bring you different food won't help, Not giving you hay or dinner noms until you eat your fricken grain.

Love, The Food Lady.

So Dancer has been in the other half of the pasture since 8:20 and it is almost 10:23 and I still haven't done chores because someones stupid poneh is Highly Offended that I changed her grain, slightly. She did this when I started her on beet pulp, oats, alfalfa pellets and the Durmor Mare and Foal, Dani stopped eating the Mare and Foal for two days because I added some oats to it, true story. I was hoping she wouldn't notice the addition of Triple Crown Growth because (a) I fed her a little by hand and she seemed to like it and (b) I added a very small amount. She dosne't like the Mare and Foal much so I have been having to mix in a little Rice Bran oil, Growth is supposed to be highly palatable but isn't gonna help her put on weight if she doesn't eat the stupid stuff.

Joy is fat and funny shape, here is Joy in a western saddle which doesn't fit, doesn't she look pleased?


After I get her more fit I am going to have a saddle fitter come out and figure out what saddle will work on her, since my Collegiate Dressage is doing the sliding onto her shoulders thing that ever saddle known to mankind seems to do*sniffle*, I think her back is funny. But there has to be a saddle out there that will be comfy for her that doesn't cost $100,000,000,000,000,000.75 right? Thinking a dressage one since I won't be jumping anything over three or four feet, I think I can manage lower level eventing in a dressage saddle and two saddles are kinda out of the budget for this year anyhow.

Hmmm.... off to feed and get stuff ready for the tack sale this weekend.
xoxo