Merry Christmas 2016

Merry Christmas from our family!! 

Hello Wet ...

The weather has been crappy... now that I don't have a covered arena it makes riding hard :(

I keep asking for a covered arena for every present! LOL!!! One day!

The horses have been stuck in stalls for most of the days right now- when it dries a bit I give them all stern talking to and tell them to chill and I will let them out on the grass lol!

We have had one or two days like this.. but don't let the sun fool you- its still super super super wet.

We are living in blankets, different weights have come out but mostly they are covered all the time. Jet and Grayson are nasty muddy messes :( Thankfully Holly and Henry have kept their manners and not gotten to nasty!!

Hopefully we get some dry soon so that my ring can dry out and I can ride!

Susie Hutchison Clinic 2016

First off I will start with saying how fun of a clinic this was... I was nervous as heck and Susie is such a kind and straight forward teacher. She was black and white and explained things really well- but at the same time expected you to pay attention and follow through with what she was saying. Which I think should be a given when clinicing with ANYONE, or even lessoning- you respect the person you are riding with.

Day 1 was focused on pace and knowing your pace- she had us going WAY more forward then I am used to but thankfully Henry and I were able to step up. Henry was really well behaved and game for whatever I asked of him... so thankful for having a broke horse whos fun to ride!

After we all mastered the pace on the flat she added in warming up over the X- it was in a really weird show so Henry bobbled  a bit the first time but went over it and we had no other issues after that.

Then she had us doing the 4 stride- this was a big hurdle for everyone. It was a FORWARD 4 and the indoor arena is small and they had part of the end marked off for spectators so you had to really really really get hauling to make the 4 lol.

Day 2 was even better then day 1. We did some flat to warm up and then we did some course work... started with the X and 4 stride then she made a full course.

Here are two videos of our courses.. I will let them speak for themselves...

Course 1 Day 2 Susie Clinic

Course 2 Day 2 Susie Clinic

Again Henry was awesome, I felt like I rode well... I am so happy that our first clinic went well and I feel like I represented my trainer well (which I really wanted to do).

I am ready for another one!!

T-3 Days

Went out for a lesson yesterday to get ready for the clinic.

Trainer has painted a bunch of jumps so we had new stuff to jump and we were inside... oh and the rope jiggler was taking up 40% of the arena with her student and they were on the ground 90% of the time ugh!

Despite all that Henry was AWESOME and I did my part well. Woot!

Oh he did think the giant latter was scarrrrrrry but hey I'll take that over the new jumps lol

It rained almost all of last week and through the weekend so we haven't been doing much of this...

But have been doing as much as we can to get ready for the clinic.

Henry has been doing lots of this too...

It looks like Ireland here- the rain made the grass pop up hella fast!

Stay tuned for my outfit post and then clinic posts!!

No I don't run a petting zoo...

It's crazy to me how now that we have our horses at home, random people I meet (not old friends, they know I don't share well lol) ask if they can come over and pet/feed my horses... or even RIDE. WTF?!?!?!?!

I had a girl I just met as if her sons preschool could all come over and get pony rides... seriously?!?!

Another girl I met asked if her 2 year old could come over and feed and groom- meanwhile the kid was scaling the couches and tables at the persons house we were at and mom didn't say a WORD to the kid. Um no!

Does anyone else have people say these things to them?!?!

I don't run a petting zoo folks! I have performance horses!

And yes I have two young kinds but they have been raised around horses and know the rules.. and i am VERY strict with them!!

OK glad I got that off my chest lol!

Where has his tail gone ...

Since moving to our own place, Henry's tail has gone from decent and well cared for to thin and well cared for (well the best I can do).

So today I come to you asking for help...

He is constantly swatting flies (despite me having him covered head to toe with fly stuff) and his tail is SO dry.

I have been on the hunt for something that is SUPER moisturizing ...

I have tried:
Infusium 23 (had the most luck)
Equus (no luck)
Cowboy Magic (no luck)
Equifuse (no luck)

"Leave ins"
Laser Sheen (eh)
Equifuse Serum (had the most luck)
Show Sheen (eh)
Vetrolyn Shine (some luck)

Also tried tail bags and that was a big no no... his tail turns into three dread locks bc it gets so dry. I FREAKED out when I found that!

He is on Biotin and Biomane in his feed.. a friend suggested adding fish oil to his feed too, going to try that.

But NOTHING leaves his tail happy and soft for more then 10 min.

Any suggestions?! I need your help and tips! I have never had this problem ever with a horse- I am like a crazy clean freak!

Whats not to LOVE?!

Seriously how handsome is this guy?!

It's been exciting around here... we are riding like 4 times a week, trying to keep both our stamina up and polished for the clinic.

I have my breeches and belts picked out for the clinic.. still undecided for my top since I need to see what the weather is going to be like :)

It's been two weeks since I took a lesson.. hubbys work has been crazy and not allowing me to sneak a lesson in. Only a few weeks till the clinic so I need to squeeze in a few  before then.

I even snuck in on hack in the western saddle one night... It's so weird riding him in it ha!

It's been cooling off too... sheets have been needed at night for Henry and Jet. I plan to clip Henry but the longer I can wait the better.

Contest Time... Names, I need Names!

Our Farm/Ranch needs a name!! My Grandpa suggested I hold a contest to see if anyone comes up with a name we like...

I need this!!! LOVE!

So far the ones we have are:

All In Farm

Fuller Ranch

Neither of them I am in love with so what do you suggest?!

Yep this is on the dream list too... 

The prize will be a $20 gift card OR you can let me chose a product I love :)

Ready.. set.. go ...

Sacramento International Horse Show

This weekend a group of us from the barn went to watch the Grand Prix up at the SIHS.

Its a yearly event that I love to attend. Big name riders/trainers means some great riding ... awesome atmosphere ... shopping... and this year they had food trucks!

I went up early - hubby had the girls... i wandered around, watched the rings that had stuff going on in them and was reminded how much i love multi day shows and how I need to try and get to one or two next year.

The rest of the barn people showed up around 4 - GP was scheduled to start at 7. We ate, shopped, watched horses go and then snagged a couple rows of seats and took turns saving them. That place fills up super super super fast. Side note: it's crazy how people come late and expect you to accommodate them when you have been sitting for hours saving the seats!!! Um no...

Such a fun night, Rich Fellers and Flexible put on a heck of a show. 28 great riders!!

Confidence

Henry and I have been plugging along..

It has been hot hot hot so early morning rides have been our jam.

3' is no big deal :)

Still getting ready for the clinic. Thinking confidence, confidence, confidence lol

Who needs to be straight lol

Working towards longer rides and trying to keep them busy so neither of us get bored. Henry's always been a "harder" mouthed horse so I have been really working on softening him up. We are at the point where he's broke so it's just fine tuning and little stuff here and there to keep life interesting.

Random cool nights call for a sheet

New Pony Alert!

It's a bit overdue and if you follow me on instagram (narleykarley) you already know the exciting news...

Meet Jet!

He's a 5 yr old OTTB, a bit under 16.2 and I am sure growing. Clean xrays and passed the vet check with flying colors.

He ran a day before I got him... So he was a bit body sore but took everything in stride! Was such a good boy and didn't try to much with me!

After three rides with trainers help at the old barn I brought him home to have a few weeks off, chill and eat. He has taken it all in stride and is so laid back now!

One week of owning him shot

He's LOVING the daily turn out and all you can eat buffet.

He LOOOOVES the mineral block lol

I can't wait to get more weight on him and get back on him to see how he does!

This guys living the dream!! He has died and gone to heaven in his mind!! lol

WW- Horse Show Love

Probably my fav pic from the show... 

Our First Clinic Woot!

Eeeeeek I am spilling the beans. 

My first clinic will be with Susie Hutchison in November. Trainer is hosting her for a clinic and I am so lucky to get to partake!

I am excited, nervous and not really sure what to expect honestly ha! I signed up for the 2'6- 2'9 group. I want to go in doing something that I feel overly confident with and don't want to embarrass trainer.

Now to keep Henry and I in shape and healthy so we can put our best feet forward!

Oh and to pick out two perfect outfits for both Henry and myself!! Lets be honest, that is a big deal! What would you wear for a clinic in November in CA? :)

Fall is that you?!

It's been super chilly the last few nights!!

Low 50's and wind call for sheets in my world :) I know my horses are super spoiled... Sonny gets put in a stall but Henry and Grayson prefer to be out so sheets it is.

Such a handsome boy!!

Henry has been fun to ride lately... I am starting to try and plan for winter because well I don't have a covered arena. I have a super sandy back pasture that I have plans to turn into an arena and possibly cover one day. I am working on getting someone to pull out the dry weeds/grass so that I can start working it and have it ready for winter.

Henry is he BEST!

Spoiler... Henry was pretty awesome, I rode well and we had fun!!

I packed as much of the trailer as I could the day/night before - basically everything but the cooler and myself with part of my show clothes on.

Also hubby rigged my boots so I was armed with my old and new boots.. the new ones were getting broke in BUT 3 days isn't quite enough to make them my old favs lol. Thankfully the old boots held up and I have more time to make the new boots my fav old boots :)

That face lol!!

We started with a pleasure class to get in the ring and march around some before the over fence classes started. Henry was great and we got a second. Trainer said it was pretty dead even for the lady who won and me. 

Warm up went well... and they opened the cards for the 2'6 classes. The plan was to do the three 2'6 classes, 2 under saddle classes and then see how things were going to decide if I wanted to stay for the 2'9/3'...

There were quite a lot of riders in the 2'6, thankfully we got in the early bunch and were able to do all three rounds pretty close together. I actually was the first person to go over fence- we all know I don't like waiting lol!!

I ended up 2nd in the warm up round, 1st in the low open hunters and 4th in the low child/adult hunters.

Then I did two under saddle classes and got 1st in the open and 4th in the child/adult.

Henry and I both were pooped, he was great and I decided to end on that. I told trainer that next time i want to go for the whole weekend so we can school Friday and then show the bigger stuff Saturday and Sunday.. hopefully she agrees next time!

Big thanks to Erica for being my road dog and groom.. also to Kat for the pictures!

Once A Month Updates?

Myabe this will be the new norm?

Hahaha... not good so sorry!

Henry and I are headed to a show Sunday- woot!

Two jump lessons since Henry has been A-ok from his foot and we are off to a show lol. Totally a good idea right?

I am hoping we can both keep it together and not make fools of ourselves ha!

My tall boots zipper broke and three times to the cobbler with no help (and over $100 later) still no luck. I ended up ordering a pair of Ariats and I have 3 days to break them in- ugh!

Henry and Sonny begging for treats

Mane pulled and pre pre show bath done... gotta finish clipping him and get another hack or two in. Oh and pick out me coolest outfit because it's going to be hoooooot!

Grayson is doing great as well. Took him to an little western event and he did great, took everything in stride!

He still feels so green but he's three.. I have to keep telling myself that.

I gave him a super detailed bath.. he didn't love me in the process but put up with it and looked so cute after!! Of course he rolled once I put him back in his pasture boo! Thankfully I waited till he was dry to put him back and I got a picture lol!

Wooooooops

This ranch and my girls are taking all of my time!!! Not that I don't sit at a desk all day, I don't have time to blog ha!!

Updates...

The biggest is that we got a pony- B is SO excited and LOVES Sonny SO much! He's an old (like 28 ish) hunter pony. We are working on steering and even trotting a bit... he knows where the out gate is and where I am lol!!

Addi loves Sonny too and he is perfect for her as well :)

Henry and I are plugging along... his foot finally seems a ok where he stepped on the clip and no infection happened- yahoooooo!

We tried a pad with the frog cut out and he got a bruise on the back of his frog/heal so shoer came out today and put a full pad back on- hoping he feel back to 100% tonight - Please Henry I am ready to go take a lesson and maybe get to a show this season!!!

We both like to have a job and are ready to get back to the regular scheduled program :-P

Grayson is doing well. I've put a few more rides on him... he just needs lot of horse just loping around and I hope to have my chill western pony I dreamed of!