FEBRUARY 2006

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February 27, 2006

Was gone for a week to Scottsdale, AZ so it's been a bit before I could write.  At this point, I can't remember which day I rode last weekend.  I only had one horse day so I packed it all into one day.  Bob had just come home from a week in Colorado Springs and we only had two days together, then I had to leave, so I spent one of the days doing stuff with him.  As always, we have such a good time together.

Ah!  It had to be Saturday that I had my horse day because I went to Middleburg Tack Exchange!  First, I had a lesson which was really awesome.  I had a great time and rode a horse named Latte who, although he just might be the ugliest horse I know, he was very cool to ride.  Had fun motoring him around, then, Janna met me and we went to Bob Evans together for breakfast.  Yummy!  Bob Evans is my official horse-related events eating place.  We went to let my doggies out and then headed to Middleburg.  She had to go to Journeymen to pick up some paddock boots and of course, I couldn't leave without checking out MTE.  I've been on the lookout for a new saddle and lo and behold, I found one.  Brand spanking new at that.  It's really beautiful and I can't wait to ride in it.  I've been working on getting it broken in.  The guy at Jourenymen gave me some of their oil and he mixed some dye into it.  It looks pretty snappy with its new caramel color.

From there, we went to Sabrina's and did more cobwebbing.  Yay!  Team Jana-Janna kicked butt and finished up the left side loft.  While we were there, the barn guys were power washing the indoor. I spoke with Sabrina while I was in AZ and she said the barn is all whipped into shape.  It's a lot of work, keeping up a barn.

On the way back, we stopped off to say hello to Justin.  I'm just dying to ride him but timing hasn't been working.  Really need spring to get here and for the days to be longer.  I'm going to be doing some serious riding this summer.  Can't wait!

Lori rode Justin for me while I was away and commented on how nice he was to ride which really made me feel good because I made him!  Granted, he was saddle broke by the time I'd gotten him but he had only raced.  And Sabrina hadn't had the time to put any work into him.  She commented on how nicely he framed up and how well he did leg yielding.  Made me feel great.  She said it was a shame he couldn't jump because he'd have made a nice medal horse.  It was nice to have someone who is as picky about rides as me sit up there and notice what a good ride feels like and to see it in him.  I do love riding him. 

I heard the temps will be in the 50's on Friday.  I've made arrangements to get off work early so I can ride.  Not sure if I'll start off with Justin or go have a lesson but we'll see.  All I know is, I'm going to be doing some serious riding this weekend and next.  Bob has reserves next weekend so those are always long horse days for me.  Then, we head to the Dominican Republic!  Yay!  Looking forward to some time off and together!

February 15, 2006

Completely did not get to updating the website on Sunday but here's how things went:  It snowed like crazy and with Bob gone, I had to go it alone with the shoveling.  I did the driveway, the sidewalk, the deck and a spot in the grass for the dogs to poop all by my little self.  My neighbor did come by to play with his new snow blower but he was a little late.  So, he had a space about the size of my Jetta all to himself to do.  I kind of liked the workout so I wasn't really hating the shoveling.

I went back to Sabrina's and went to town on the cobwebs in the hayloft.  I just needed to really make some headway on the project and doing the ones that hang over the aisle is really slow going.  I got half way down the hayloft and it was so clean up there, you could have a party.  Lo and behold, I told my friend Janna (I love that I have a friend with my name, just different spelling) about my quest to rid the barn of its evil webs and she wants to come out and help.  So, this weekend, unless she has to move a horse, she'll be out there with me.  I've decided she can do the loft because you don't have to stand on a ladder to do it and I kind of have the whole ladder thing down pat.  I don't wish the bruised shins on anyone anyway.

So, this was a non-riding weekend, but I got a lot done so that was good.  This coming weekend, I've got some plans cookin' so I'll be able to get my rides in.

Sam and I got to catch up yesterday.  I always get a kick out of her stories and enjoy hearing how she and her horse are doing.  She's having a blast showing him and is really starting to make some headway in their new partnership.

The vets came out yesterday to draw blood from Justin so they can try to figure out why his lymph node got infected.  Should be interesting to hear those results.  But he's all better now and I have a nice big thing of SMZs to keep on hand now, which of course will come in handy during hives/rain rot season. 

For some reason, Tivo did not pick up my new favorite show, Horse Power so I'm just killing time until the second showing of it at 11:00 p.m. happens.  Not like I need to stay up late (I really can't function well if I've stayed up much past 10:00 p.m.) but I really want to see the show so I have to stick it out. 

Off I go!

February 11, 2006

Thankfully, Justin's swollen lymph node was just an infected one.  There was a concern that it was Strangles but he tested negative for it.  Regardless, we all still want to know what is causing him to get the infected lymph node because this is the second time it happened.  The first time, I didn't own Justin.  I did have Dr. Johns at Dr. Allen's look at it when we had him there for imaging.  By the time she got to see it, the swelling had gone down considerably and she advised it was just a swollen lymph node and had no other concerns.  The swelling was only there for about a week.  Anyway, I did what I think will be the last warm compress on it today because it has nearly gone.  He'll be on SMZs until Tuesday.  I'll have my vet come back out to pull blood so we can do further testing.

Didn't get to ride because of the weather.  Won't get to ride him tomorrow either but will ride Scottie in a lesson with Sabrina.  Loved my lesson last week so I'm looking forward to it tomorrow as well.  Barn should be pretty quiet.  Don't think too many people will be out given the weather.  I am, of course, die hard so I'll be there. ;)

Justin's hips barely stick out anymore.  His rump has filled out nicely.  There's still some work to be done on those ribs and I'll need to get his topline built up again.  But he is really looking good.  One other interesting tidbit I learned when the vet visited -- I asked her what she thought the swelling over his eye was.  His eye was swollen when I picked him up to bring him back from Welbourne.  I'd noticed it before I put him on the trailer.  She things he broke his orbit.  Grr!  If you don't know him, you don't even notice it.  But it upsets me that I'd just seen him a week prior and he'd somehow managed to find something on 520 acres of land to crack his orbit on.  Anyway, he's still the gorgeous boy that he is and I love him to pieces.

The snow today started out quite harmless.  Really only seemed like it had rained.  Now, it is pretty significant and I'm not looking forward to seeing what it looks like tomorrow.  Bob has Reserves this weekend which means that I'll have shoveling to do on my own.  Not like he would expect me to do it on my own but what kind of a slacker would I be if I didn't do anything?  So, instead of jetting out to the barn tomorrow, I'll need to get cracking on the snow.  Bleh.  Oh well, it's a good ab workout.

Speaking of a workout, spent today helping Sabrina with a project.  Pulled a bunch of cobwebs from the rafters of one of the aisles of her barn.  The barn is quite large and it is amazing how long it took me to only get 1/3 of the aisle done.  I started around 1:30 and had to leave at 4:00.  It did look much nicer when I was done.  Just want to continue tomorrow -- would like to at least finish that aisle then start on one of the lofts.  We are getting rid of all of the loose hay up there.  We'll push it all into the indoor below and rake it up and remove it.  It's old stuff that just creates a place for dust and mold to hang out.

Was really getting into The Constant Gardener and the damn signal went out due to the snow.  So annoying.  So, here I am, messing with my webpage.  More news tomorrow.

February 5, 2006

The weekends are too short!  Just when I'm all geared up to ride more, it's almost Monday.  Can't wait for the time change so there's more daylight.  Saturday was a blast.  I went to see Justin in the morning and of course the weather decided I wasn't going to get to ride him that day.  I groomed him while Lori and I laughed and swapped stories and made fun of our goofy horses who have become a little too attached to each other.  We call them the Brokeback Cowboys now.  Afterwards, I went to ride at Sabrina's.  I rode Scottie and had a blast.  I was determined to ride like a decent rider so I paid close attention to everything I did.  During my warm up, Sabrina said he was cantering the best she'd ever seen him.  I did lots of collection and lengthening and bending.  He was very soft in the bit during my warm up as a result.  Jumping was fun.  I've been working out so that I have more control over my body in the air and on the landing and that has definitely paid off.  I felt so much more secure and was able to hold my position very well.  So, I walked away from that lesson feeling like the past 35 years hasn't gone down the tubes!

Today, Mother Nature relented and gave me a decent day.  I got to do my first real schooling on Justin since August when I had to stop riding him.  He's definitely feeling back to his old self.  Had a few bucks and to entertain Lori, I waved my arm in the air like a bronco rider while he did it.  He's such a goof!  But I was thrilled that he hadn't forgotten A THING!  He did all the bending, flexing and leg yields that I'd taught him months ago.  It was great.  And he felt very sound.  The good footing definitely helps.  We never had good footing when I rode him in Centreville.  We only had a sunbaked, grass clumped field and that caused a lot of stumbling and was too hard.  How he stayed as sound as he did is beyond me.  He continues to put weight on and his hips aren't sticking out like they used to.  He still has a way to go but he just looks SO much better.  Have the vet coming out next week to look at some weird lump under his chin.  He had the same lump before and when I had him at Dr. Allen's, they said it was a gland.  I'm not convinced so I'm getting another opinion.  It looks like an abscess to me.

After that, I went to meet my friend Janna (yes, we have the same name, just spelled differently) at her barn and got to meet her horsey.  Since I hadn't eaten lunch (and was starving), I could only stay for a bit.  But we plan on trying to get together next weekend.

After another fabulous meal from McDonald's, I strode into my nail salon, muddy paddock boots and all, to get my nails done.  I am all set to masquerade as 'office girl' tomorrow. 

Got a call from Sam today.  Always fun to hear how things are going for her and Jake at The Barracks.  She's really enjoying lessons with Claiborne and doing shows from time to time.  She's having a blast with Jake and always has the best attitude about his still being a little green.  They had just gotten back from a show at Lexington and she had a ball.  I told her about my moments of brilliance yesterday and how I hope to be able to be showing again very soon as well. 

That's my weekend!!