JUNE 2007
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June 24, 2007
Let's see...just got back from my busy day just a bit ago. First off, last night, I let Pippen out to go potty and that gorgeous buck we see cruising thru our neighborhood was grazing in my back yard with this girlfriend!!! I saw him just as he leapt over our fence and over the neighbors'. Pippen about lost his mind. What was cool was while I was out front this morning, eating my cereal and frowning at my lawn, my neighbor across the other way, whose lawn is kicking mine's ass looked up when he heard my sprinklers go on and said he saw them too. Nifty. I dig them. I like how they live in our neighborhood, somehow and still haven't gotten plowed over. I don't know how they do it. There used to be three -- not sure if that means the third got hit or not. This buck is about 8 points, which is pretty big for suburbia. I hope he makes it for awhile.
The deck guys came back to haul El Grande away. That would be the huge rock they unearthed during the paver process. They also sealed the deck. Glad to have that whole process complete. If I get around to it, I'll post some pictures.
Oh, all my friends were out having a blast horse showing this weekend. Was good to hear from everyone what they were up to. I always enjoy hearing. Today, I rode at my friend Dave's place. Rode a cute large pony. He wanted me to Janacize it, which I love to do. Jumped it a little and worked on having it land on the right lead. Which it did every time except once. Actually a very nice pony who came from Peter Leone but ponies can be very different with a wee-one on their back. When I rode it how a kid would (basically didn't touch the reins), it definitely took advantage. Anyway, I'll enjoy going out there from time to time. Hadn't been there since winter.
After that, headed out to Haymarket to show my boy to a young woman who was interested in him. Justin was OK to be walked. The swelling has gone down considerably on his leg, so I'm pleased about that. I could tell Justin was a little sore on it, though, not so much in his step but more so in his attitude. He was a bit cranky. I had her cross the creek at the back of the property so she could see how willing he was to do so. Then, we walked to the neighboring farm and she got to see how he handles strange situations. The doors to a storage shed that sits close to the trail were open and he's never seen them open. He was very surprised but handled it well. Just like he normally does with new things. I'm glad she got to see that.
I cold hosed his leg and cleaned up his boo-boo, sponged him off and gave him a little bute, just in case and tucked him back in his bed.
Off I go to get cleaned up -- my sweetie's on his way home.
June 23, 2007
Justin got shod on Tuesday and I managed to get a ride in afterwards. It was really overcast and I could hear thunder rumbling off in the distance but it seemed to pass. We took a stroll around the neighborhood given the time. We walked up to the farm next to Compass Rose and then back. It was nice. I love being with my boy just tootling along.
The rest of the
week was a busy one so I didn't get out the rest of the time. Bob has
reserves this weekend so I made plans to catch up with some friends in Maryland.
Had met Terry at the Katie Monahan Prudent clinic, then bumped into her again at
Upperville and she offered to let me come out to her place and ride. Have
never been to that part of Maryland and I always enjoy checking out new places.
Only had time to ride two because I was going to pick up my niece and take her
shopping for her birthday. I was in Leesburg near the Greenway when my
niece called saying she wasn't feeling well. So, we'd have to do it
another time. Which wasn't a bad thing for me because that meant I could
go ride Justin. So, I'm all excited to see my boy and I get out there and
he has this
nasty
cut. Needless to say, I was not amused. I mean, look how freaking
swollen his hock is!!! The gooey stuff is the Furacin the barnsitter put
on it. I don't know if it was as swollen as this when she brought him in
but of course, once a horse has to stand in, he's going to have filling.
While the cut really isn't bad -- it's more like an abrasion, the swelling was
so bad that I decided it'd be best to call my vet in case something was actually
broken. Plus, we were out of SMZs. I cold-hosed for over a
half-hour, which Justin did not like. That water is really cold and he
moved around a lot. Vet only took about 40 mins to get there.
Anyway, everything checked out and he's on two antibiotics. I just want
that nasty swelling to go down and am hoping it does so after he goes out
tonight.
Anyway, had a great time at Terry's. Rode a baby who was the sweetest and another young horse who was very quiet and had one of the nicest trots and canters I've sat on in a long time. Got to jump them both around so that was fun. Met Amelia, who helps Terry out. Such a nice girl. Recent grad from Skidmore College. Really enjoyed riding with her and hope to have time to go out again soon.
Tomorrow, I'm probably going to go out and ride at Dave's barn in the a.m., then head out to mine to get Justin all pretty because he is going to meet someone who is interested in giving him a new home where he will be a companion/trail horse. Yes, yes, it breaks my heart because I love him so, but I have no business having two horses and I need another horse that I can jump so I can start hitting my goals. I will cry like a baby when he goes but I am going to carefully select his new home.
June 18, 2007
If I didn't have to go back to work, I swear, I'd never know what day it is. Thank God for Outlook.
So, let's see, got to chat with Sam and have her give me her hilarious account of her ride at Keswick. Ahhh, show-biz. Then, got an even funnier email from Kerry on her ride that she almost missed at Keswick -- one part entailed having to pick her mom up in the median strip. Everything ended on a good note, though. She was 3rd in her Eq class. Yay!
Me, yesterday was so pretty and I was still trying to figure out how to keep myself busy, not having lined any rides up while Justin was off (so stupid!). So, after twiddling around the house for a bit, I headed out to groom the J-Man. He loooooooooooooooves when mommy fawns over him and kisses on him. And he did his little thing where he takes the very tiniest edge of the hem of my shirt sleeve and holds it in his teeth. It is the cutest mannerism and my research tells me that's his way of showing affection to me. Just one of the many things he does that just tickle me.
I was bored so I switched on the ShopVac (Justin has only heard it one other time) and Justin cocked his head at it but didn't flinch when I started vacuuming him. How cool is he? Such a good boy. I had a dandy time vacuuming dust and loose hair out of his coat. Made him look all pretty and finished it off with a good polishing with a rag. Ah, the wonders of a good rubbin'.
Lori was in the pool. Now, now, before you think to yourself -- "Wow -- her barn has a pool at it?" Well, not exactly. See, Lori has just enough space to put a float in the pool with maybe 4 inches of room on either side of the pool. But whenever I call over there and sense that she is in the pool, I let on like it is really big and ask her when the pool volleyball tournament is going to start, etc. I sat w/her (couldn't exactly put a foot in the pool, unfortunately) and ate my McDonald's Asian Salad and savored my sweet tea. Augh! LOVE their sweet tea. They need to start selling that stuff by the jug like Chik-fil-A does.
Anyway, after that, I moseyed on home. Of course not without stopping at Dover's.
Oh, a new picture addition from Debbie from my adventures at Upperville of Alyssa, me (in overly large hat) Tracy and Karin.
June 16, 2007
At least I think it is the 16th. I'm too lazy to look at the calendar. Well, yesterday, Lori and I took Justin up to Charlestown to get injected. Augh! I love that horse. He's such a prince. Just stepped on to the trailer like a good boy and didn't fuss at all as we had to whip thru all those S curves going up hill and down. God bless 'im. When we got to the clinic, he stepped off onto the asphalt ever so softly and walked quietly into the clinic. He looked around and spotted some hay and did his best to get me to go with him but I made him wait nicely for the doctor. The doctor talked me out of injecting his hocks. Said he didn't flex that badly at all and it was too soon to do them again, but he did feel the ankle needed some lube so we did do that again.
When we were done, we walked back thru the parking lot and two HUGE construction trucks rattled by. Justin never batted an eye and stepped quietly into the trailer. Such a precious boy. I've never had a horse that polite and unfettered. Why did he have to have the permanent boo-boo? :( So, back at home, we put him to bed and he'll be on stall rest for six days. He can actually go out in the little quarantine paddock, which I think Lori let him out into today. He just has to have restricted activity. Thankfully, we have that little paddock. Da babies love to go out.
Since I couldn't ride and didn't line up a ride elsewhere early enough, I decided to head out to Frying Pan Park to see if any of my buds were there showing. I'd talked to Alyssa earlier and she thought Terri might be there. Terri was -- it was great to see her again, meet some of her clients and chat with some old friends I hadn't see in eons, since I'd quit doing the shows. Got to see Karin and her lovely Gracie mare. By the time she showed up, though, my battery was nearly dead so I didn't get any pictures of her. Below are the shots I did get.
Just click arrow to right until it clicks no more.
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June 12, 2007
PIX FROM UPPERVILLE
Thirty-five images in all. Just click arrow to right until it clicks no more. Feel free to right-click/save as if you want a pic.
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June 11, 2007
Took in a quick ride on Justin yesterday around the hayfields. These are no ordinary fields and that's why I like them. There are lots of hills, as well as flat areas, where you can get a good workout in. Nifty nature sighting: I saw a doe trying to nap along the fence line. I'd never been that close to a deer without it running off (got even closer to her than to the one the other day). I'd also never seen an adult deer lying down during the day like that. I know many of them take their naps during the day in the woods because Justin and I spring several deer up from thickets out on our trail rides, but I'd never seen one out in the open like that. She was so cute and flattened her ears down just like how the fawns do in an effort to be as out of sight as possible. I had a clear view of her and she was quite big and quite fat. I loved her pretty eyes.
After my ride, I met with Tracy and Debbie for lunch in Aldie before Tracy was off again to Atlanta.
After lunch, we stopped in to Dover Saddlery, which was once Dominion Saddlery. The place is much larger, updated and has a much larger selection than it used to. Who doesn't love that?
Rode at Sabrina's the day before on a cute young OTTB named Peyton. Very sweet and very cute.
June 8, 2007
Who would have thought that an innocent little trail ride could be so challenging? So, after not getting to ride Justin for a stretch of days, I needed my fix and went out last night after work. He was his adorable self when I found him standing under his one fan with the other blasting in his face. Lori can’t bear for the horses to break so much as a sign of sweat.
We got all tacked up and headed out for a mellow little trail ride. No sooner do I get into the woods, we are dive bombed by every flying insect the Lord never intended to make. Or maybe he did. Regardless, we weren’t too thrilled. I was trying to navigate across a creek and one flew right up to my mouth. I had another try to fly up my nose. These things meant business. Luckily, I had my horsetail fly swisher and let me tell you, Justin and I were both going at it full time. I really got my swishing technique down. I’d swish around my head, around his butt, each side of his belly, over his head, around his neck then do the whole process all over again. At one point, I had to forget about swishing all the flies except those swarming over my head. It was just brutal.
Nature sightings were: I saw a bunny, a turkey feather, and two deer. One deer, I got so close to and I think I was able to because it thought I was an animal, since I had a tail swishing about my head. It was standing in the same area were Jessie and I smelled the dead animal smell where all the vultures were lurking.
Just when I thought the ride was done, we headed up the drive to see a neighbor getting his mail with his three dogs. The dogs listened to him when he called them but when I tried to talk with the man (whose daughter I lessoned with at Stonegate), the dogs took that as an invitation to socialize and ran towards Justin. Justin isn’t normally opposed to dogs but he knows when he’s about to be lunch when he sees it. There I was with a long rein and he took off – launched into a few bucks and I felt him kick out at one of the dogs. I was praying he wouldn’t connect with one of them and praying that I wouldn’t end up on the ground. Thankfully, we survived. Such fun!
The day before, Wednesday, I took the day off and headed up to Upperville to watch some friends ride and say hello to others. What a great day! Got to hang out with Dave for a bit, and Kate, who he was helping. Haven’t seen Kate in quite some time. Ran into Terry, who I’d met at the Katie Monahan Prudent clinic and got to chat. Have an open invitation to ride at her place which I intend on taking her up. Got to hang out with Alyssa. We did a little shopping, a little icecream and some picture taking. Got to see Terri ride naughty Buster. Buster man was in Buster-mode and wanted to treat the course as a flat race. Got some good pix of him, though. Got to catch up with Maggie and Kerry. That was awesome because we haven’t seen each other in quite some time. Really enjoyed that and loved hanging out with Maggie ringside while we watched Kerry on course – just like old times. Kerry’s having a blast riding w/the Barracks and is doing great. So nice to see! The day was capped off by getting to see my friend Tracy, who I went to both Averett and Virginia Intermont with. We both rode on the IHSA team for both of those schools so we have some history together! She came with Karin and Debbie. Hadn’t gotten to meet Debbie yet but communicated quite a bit with her by email – was great to put a face to a name. After the show, we went out to dinner in Chantilly and had a great time. Such a treat!!
The day was just perfect and I so enjoyed the charm of Upperville. I’m always sad when the show ends, even though I can only usually handle being there for one day! It’s hard to be a spectator. I don’t see how the professional photographers do it. I always say, I can only handle watching so many horses go by in a day.
My Upperville experience ended on a good note and I decided to leave it at that and get my riding in on Sat and Sun. Might hook up with Tracy and the girls before she leaves to go back to Atlanta. Hope we can make that happen….
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June 5, 2007
Time has flown and as usual, I haven’t found enough of it to sit down and keep my blog updated.
Highlights are, Leah came to visit over Memorial Day weekend. We took a little drive into Maryland to visit her old pony, Shamrock. Shammy man is about 19 or 20 now and is going strong in his very important job as a equine physical therapist. At Circle of Hope Therapeutic Riding, Shammy has helped many children. We were thrilled to see him in such great shape and took a bunch of pictures. He hasn’t changed at all. He’s not as golden as he used to be and has lost some muscle but was in great weight and health. And his appetite for treats has clearly not waned.
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We took the ferry across from VA to MD. I didn’t realize Leah had never been on it. In all of our horse adventures, it’s hard to believe that didn’t make it on our list. After visiting Shammy, we drove down a ways to the farm where my ex-husband used to ride out of. I got a kick out of the fact that the horse portion of the place is now called Nothing Fancy Farm, considering how I recall how much money was put into the place by its owners at the time I visited there.
The indoor arena was a warehouse that had been disassembled and moved there. It’s huge and I know that was a big expense to put it in. In the main barn, I remember there was a big controversy on the paddle fans that had been put in there. The owners really wanted them and thought it lent a nice touch but the trainer at the time was worried they might clock one of the horses in the head if they ever went up. When it was all said and done, the paddle fans went in and amazingly, after close to 20 years, those fans are still in there, some clearly still operating.
I’d forgotten where the wash stall was located and my memory was jogged when I did see it. It was in an old milk house – the barn was once a dairy. So, the long, narrow drain that was used to carry the wasted milk and cow manure out of the building remains the drain for the wash rack. Anyway, not too many great memories of the place or the time I spent there but amusing to see how things change – how things turned out.
The next day, Leah and I took Justin out for a ride. Now that I know he doesn’t mind being ridden double, I’m enjoying taking friends (with small butts of course) out to see our pretty ride through the woods. We had a great time. This time, we rode him completely bareback unlike last time when my niece, Jessie and I rode him with a bareback pad. The bareback pad was just too much of a hassle. So, we wore jeans and for the first time in over 20 years, the butt of my jeans and the legs had that telltale sign of a girl who'd been riding bareback. Dirt, horse hair -- the works. We brought extra jeans to change into after the ride.
It was great to see Leah and to catch up. I'm always glad to hear that she's back riding again. She'd taken a little hiatus during school.
The rest of the weekend was great -- Bob and I had breakfast out every day (I gained a good 5 lbs) and worked on some projects around the house. AND our deck was finished! It looks fabulous. Actually, they are working on the pavers around the deck now, but everything is going well with that. Will be glad when it is done.
Went to Bob's IRA (Intercollegiate Rowing Association) races in Camden, NJ this past weekend to watch him and the Syracuse masters crew do their thing. GOLD again! In the 12 years Bob has been doing that race, the Syracuse boat has won it 7 times. Really impressive. Other boats are Navy, Cornell, Brown and so on. Definitely in good company and just about every boat has a few former Olympians in them. It's always fun to see the young guys come up to talk to the older guys who represented the US in the Olympics. The Syracuse boat had its share of Olympians too. All great guys and having gone to the race every year for the past 8 years, I look forward to seeing them every year.
Justin is his usual gorgeous self. He's been off for a few days. I think it is because he is due to get injected and he and Topper have been messing around a little too much so I'm hoping he is just a little sore from that too. He'll get injected on June 15. Hoping that makes a difference. Otherwise, not sure what else the problem could be. I'll go out and see how he jogs tomorrow and I'll probably give him time off until the weekend.
I feel like I have tons more news and I'm probably forgetting something monumental but such is my memory. I will say that I have tomorrow off and am headed to go hang out at Upperville to see some friends ride. Will take some pictures, etc. Have no clue where the video camera is. Am meeting Alyssa and the twins there. Alyssa's braiding for one of Terri's clients. Will be looking for Dave and Afshin, who have also said they'll be there. Oh, and most exciting, am meeting my friend Karin and an old friend from college, Tracy, who also happens to be a good friend of Karin's. Tracy and I have only seen each other once since college and that time was also at Upperville. So, I'm excited to see her again. Will probably do dinner afterwards or something. We'll see how long I can hang. Ever since my days of having my own barn, I can only watch so many horses go by in a day and then I'm pretty much done. I'll try to shop to break it up. Shouldn't be hard.
