Belated Blogging

I haven't done a proper blog update in ages!  Here's the highlight reel!

Tuesday: was a long time ago and I can't remember- haha!  But I do remember setting up for Stew's arrival and that it was a fairly low-key day.

Wednesday:  Stew arrived and settled in really well, he even got to go out in a paddock and stretch out after the long ride south.  Diem and Ari trucked over to Paradise for the Derby Cross which is a blend of show jumping and XC.  You start over a show jump course of about 7 obstacles, then continue directly on to a shortened XC round, and then finish back over some show jumps.  My plan was to run them both novice, but when I finally got there novice was just finishing up!  So my revised plan was to run the Training SJ and then do a sort of blend of novice/training XC depending on how they were feeling.  This essentially removed me from the competition but what a great schooling opportunity!  I was AMAZED with both of them, they both rocked around the training course and there were some serious questions!  They both took a look at a couple elements (the double bank up, the big drop into water to roll top out, the coffin) which was to be expected, but they both kept their composure and jumped around really well.  There was a woman there that was gushing over Diem, and even left me her business card with a note on the back suggesting that if he was ever for sale that I should give her a call!

Thursday: I was supposed to go to the Apple Tree farm 2phase with Beacon and Devin but it just didn't happen.  It was a crazy morning in the barn and I opted to scratch and take a little breather which suited the horses just fine.  The rides all went well, Diem and Ari had light stretchy rides after their jumping excursion, Beacon ran through his dressage test at home, and Devin did some flat and jumping, Stew had today off to recover from horse "jet lag".

Friday:  Doug and Michelle went to Pine Top so I took care of their horses at home.  I got Beacon and Diem done on the flat in the morning but the sky started turning very dark.  I had literally just stepped off Diem when the sky RIPPED open.  It was crazy insane weather!  Completely sideways rain and the wind was whipping everything around.  Wheelbarrows got picked up and tossed, trash cans went flipping into the paddocks, horse blankets were whipped all over the place, and absolutely EVERYTHING was soaked!  And the lightning and thunder was super intense!  I was stuck in the shed row barn with the horses, there was no way I could have even ran the 50 feet to the main barn!  As it turns out, a tornado actually touched down five miles from the barn!  A TORNADO!!!!  After the excitement I was able to do trot sets on the girls, Carino, and Stew on the track, but what a lot of excitement for one day!

SATURDAY:  Took care of Doug's horses again (man they eat a lot of feed!) and schooled everyone over fences in the ring.  Beacon is getting better every school, Devin jumped around like a pro, Diem put in some very workmanlike courses, Ari jumped the moon!!!, and Marissa and Carino had a good lesson where they worked over Training heights and really focused on keeping the balance uphill.  Good rides overall, and a nice day to dry things out after Friday's tsunami.  Oh and, yes Brittany, the shoe was yours, dang horse's keep pulling shoes!!!

SUNDAY:  Nice, sunny, relaxing day where everyone hacked out in pairs on the track.  Marissa and I after a very long search actually found Stew's shoe so it got tacked back on in the am and he also worked on the track in the afternoon.  The hill that loops around our back paddocks and along the road is absolutely perfect for conditioning.  The footing is great and the hill is enough of a grade to really get them to use their hind ends but not so steep that it's over taxing.  It's the perfect place to do dressage outside of a ring.  We were practicing leg yields, shoulder ins, collection/extension, you name it, all out on the open road!  Julie and Claire also moved in with their four horses so the barn is now full.  Quail Ridge is a busy place!


Well, that brings us up to date. It's a bit overcast with some passing showers this morning, but it's supposed to clear up by the afternoon.  Everyone will do the dressage thing today in the ring, and I need to finalize plans for the week.  I'm hosting a clinic with Eric tomorrow (and filled it!) and am debating going to Apple Tree on Wed with Beacon and Devin (do over!).  We also need to fit in a xc school this week for Marissa as she is running at Sporting Days this weekend, and Emily and her Mom are due in Sunday afternoon!  Busy week.

Thanks for reading; happy riding!