Paper Crow

Derby 2009

Quest and I once again made the trip to Louisville for the Kentucky Derby Pegasus parade. We were riding sidesaddle with the American Sidesaddle Association (ASA). It was great to see friends, but the weather was less than desirable. I had rained (misted) the morning until 2 pm. At the staging area it was sunny so people and horses alike baked on the black top. When we headed out the sky was overcast and the wind blew relentlessly! Trash was flying everywhere. Most of the horses were unnerved and the ride down the parade route was a very long 16 blocks. Quest was not on his best behavior. He tossed his head and was dancing, spinning around a couple of times. I stayed on, but it was a white knuckle ride. As we turned off the parade route to the disbanding lot we were blown sideways by a huge gale force gust. It took my breathe, and moved us sideways. We survived, but it was not the usual fun.

On the way home the trailer got a flat tire so we spent some time in Indiana at Big O tires. The 2 guys that helped us- Dave and Dan were super friendly and nice. They were very considerate of the horses and did a great job getting us back on the road. Once we were headed back - we had to stop at a Russell Stover store, chocolate was just what we needed!

On another note- the house is starting to shape up. Move in will be Memorial Day weekend. I will still have lots of stuff to finish but it will be livable. :)

Funny...

 

This was taped to my computer at work today. It made my day! I promise to never throw my hedgehogs...EVER!

50 things Horse related

I found this on two of my favorite blogs A Good Horse and Glenshee Equestrian Center and thought I would take a turn.

1. How old were you when you first started riding? 11 years old for riding lessons, but pony rides before then

2. First horse ridden: a lesson horse at age 11 ???
3. First horse trotted on: don't remember but I was at Green Pastures Farm - possibly Tug

4. First horse cantered on: Tug?
5. First Horse fallen off of: Andy

6. Most recent horse fallen off of: my Quest
7. Most terrifying fall: Andy, a big chestnut, who took me down with him when trying to pick up a canter. It was a trip into a nose dive, and still to this day I am a little freaked about a horse stumbling. I hurt my knee and was real shaken up, I was probably 12.

8. First horse jumped with: Tug

9. First horse who ran away with you: The one I remember the most was an appaloosa named Rattler

10. First horse that scared the crap out of you: Rattler, he could spin and bolt and you were in the dirt

11. First horse shown: Tug
12. First horse to win a class with: I haven't won a class

13. Do you/have you taken lessons: yes, I did for years

14. First horse you ever rode bareback: don't remember

15. First horse trail ridden with: Rattler
16. Current Barn name: I board at View Hello Farm
17. Do you ride English or western?: English 
18. First Horse to place at a show with: Tug or Ashley
19. Ever been to horse camp?: No
20. Ever been to a riding clinic? Yes, a sidesaddle clinic
21. Ridden sidesaddle? YES, and I love it!!!
22. First horse leased: Never Leased

23. Last Horse Leased: see 22

24. Highest ribbon in a show: Red-2nd

25. Ever been to an 'A' rated show?: No
26. Ever competed in pony games/relay races?: No

27. Ever fallen off at a show: no
28. Do you ride Hunter/Jumpers?: no
29. Have you ever barrel raced? no
30. Ever done pole bending?: no
31. Favorite gait: Trot - yes I know I am weird

32. Ever cantered bareback?: Not yet
33. Have you ever done dressage?: Currently doing
34. Have you ever evented?: No, but I was a groom for an event rider, and I got to see it up close.

35. Have you ever mucked a stall?: Yup

36. Ever been bucked off?: Yes

37. Ever been on a horse that reared: Almost - it was close to a rear
38. Horses or ponies. Horses, always been too big.

39. Do you wear a helmet?: Yes, I made my mom a promise.  Though sometimes I don't wear one in parades
40. What's the highest you've jumped: not past 3 feet that's for sure
41. Have you ever ridden at night?: In an indoor arena with lights :)

42. Do you watch horsey television shows?: Whenever I can!

 43. Have you ever been seriously hurt/injured from a fall?: See 7 - I messed up my right knee, ligaments/cartilage?? no surgery need though

44. Most falls in one lesson: 2
45. Do you ride in an arena/ring?: Yes
46. Have you ever been trampled by a horse?: No

47. Have you ever been bitten?: Yes, as a kid at a birthday party. Pony hauled off and bit me in the meaty part of my shoulder.
48. Ever had your foot stepped on by a horse?: Lots of times
49: Favorite riding moment: Probably riding sidesaddle with the Southern Ohio Ladies Aside in the 2009 Inaugural Parade in Washington DC. Though I really enjoyed riding sidesaddle again with SOLA in the 2008 Chicago Thanksgiving Parade.

50. Most fun horse you've ridden: My very own first horse Quest!

Shedding season

So Quest is a huge hairy beast during the winter. Well as of January 31 he started shedding. This is a long process that is not over until May some time, and then he starts growing his winter coat inAugust. I don't mind too much, I love to groom him and he seems to enjoy it. He will just hang his head and stand there not moving. My saving grace for the shedding season..... 

Although it is around $3 each, the block works really well to remove hair. I go through a couple of these each spring. Couldn't live without them. I will spend an hour working on Quest. I am a bit of a fanatic about grooming and getting my pony ready for the spring. I also can't wait to wash his tail. Yeah, I know I'm weird.

So thank you Farnam for a great product that I always have in my brush box.

2 years today!

It was 2 years ago today that I bought my horse Quest. I drove 4 hours north to WI with my trainer to look a a couple of horses. He was on a small farm with a camel and other animals. I didn't even find the ad it was my trainer. She was wanting to look at a horse and thought that the draft cross they had might work. I had no idea what this horse was or looked like when I started the trek at 8:30 am on that Saturday morning. What I found was a big black and white dirty horse that I promptly wrote a check for.

I know, I was crazy, but the trainer liked him and he was in the price range. Now, I wasn't looking for a show prospect, just an all around English horse. What I got was my dream horse. He is very sane with wonderful gates. Sensible and has carried me through 3 parades as well as tolerated me learning sidesaddle. I think he almost prefers the sidesaddle over anything else. He loves apples, pears, carrots, watermelon, oatmeal raisin cookies, and sometimes bananas. Heis very willing and patient not to mention handsome!

It is very hard to believe that he is mine and that I have had him 2 whole years!

My fav blogs...

I have found these 2 blogs in the past month and I luv them! A Horse and A Half is humorous and full of good horse stories. And, A Good Horse is chronicling her search for a horse. Both of these blogs are amusing and fun.

Last week I had the flu and have not been out to see my pony. The last time I saw him he was muddy and stilll shedding. I missed not seeing him and it looks like this week will be busy as well. At least the weather is not so frigid and the snow has gone. I really wish it were spring.  

WoW!!!!

I am back, and boy was it an amazing trip. It was COLD but worth it.

Let's see we were supposed to leave IL Friday 1/16 in the early morning, only to find out that the diesel truck would not start - it was negative 30 at 6:00 am. The electric block warmer was plugged in overnight but the circuit breaker had blown. While shutting the drivers door the passenger window was blown out and shattered. It was so cold out that your nose froze shut. Needless to say it was a long morning and when we finally got the truck started it was 4 pm. All the glass places were closed so being the hardy types we put plastic on the window and left the barn at 6 pm, 12 hours later than we had planned. During the trip we had to replace the plastic with a blanket because the noise was unbearable. We pulled into Ohio at 5 am on 1/17 and promptly went to sleep.

We left Ohio at pm and headed to Maryland to stay overnight. We were fortunate enough to find a barn that put our horses up for the night. Thanks Saddleorts! Sunday morning, 1/18 we had to have a tractor pull the horse trailer up the slope. The truck didn't have 4WD and it had snowed and been plowed enough that there was no traction. We arrived at the Prince George's Equestrian Center in the afternoon and settled all the horses in. Then it was our turn. A hot show was definitely enjoyed. We had a great supper of homemade vegetable soup.

Monday 1/19 we were back at the barn for rehearsal and debriefing. I had a great time riding Quest around the facility. It was chilly but nice. I attended a meeting in the evening and then it was back to the hotel for dinner and sleep.

Inauguration day 1/20 was an early start. We woke up at 2:30 am to get started. On went the layers. We had to be at the barn at 4:45 am to feed the horses and get things ready. We loaded up the trailers at 7:00 am and then waited around to leave at 8:30 am. We were in the first motorcade and had a police escort into DC. It took forever. Once in DC we had to fight people traffic. Pedestrians were walking in the street in front of the trailers and in back of the trailers. They didn't care that we were only temporarily stopped and that we needed to stay together as a group. Insane! We unloaded and got tacked up on a side street in 45 min and then proceeded to be scanned for weapons. Then it was sitting around and waiting. I had hay available for Quest and that kept him happy for most of the time. The parade people provided breakfast- a muffing and orange juice and lunch - turkey sandwich, cookie, water, and an apple (for Quest of course). Which was very nice. We also had port-a-potties available, again very nice. Somewhere around 2 pm we were given 5 minutes to mount up. That was absurd. 20 women and one step stool, not a quick deal. Once mounted we stood around for a couple of hours before the parade started. It was cold and windy, I ended up getting stiff and putting a hand warmer package in my gloves. We had a great view while mounted of the National Mall- the Capitol on one side and the Washington monument on the other. We were able to take pictures and chat. Then we finally moved out, the sun was beginning to set and luckily we were at the beginning of the parade so we knew that it would still be light out when we saw President Obama. The streets were not as packed as I thought they would be. There were still people waving and cheering. I think that they probably got cold and had decided that after seeing the president they were ready to head inside to thaw out. I loved riding down Pennsylvania Avenue looking at all the buildings. And yes, on the top of most buildings there were snipers. Quest was welled behaved, he did his shaking of the head trick for the parade but that is usual. At a few points he was really looking at the street and the lines painted there as well as garbage passing though on the wind. Over all he was wonderful and I was comfortable knowing that he was not going to explode and bolt. He is very sensible and calm. :) When we got to the reviewing stand we were not allowed to wave. All the ladies turned and smiled. What a moment. There were lights above making sure that the area was well lit and the President was smiling. He was charming and made me feel that he was genuinely having a good time and enjoying the parade in his honor. I really remember the smile the most. After that I was on auto-pilot. We had a long trek back to the dispersal area and the trailers. By this point my toes were cold and I was sore and worn out. Quest took this time to slow his walk down to a crawl and mosey on down the streets. He was probably tired at this point too. The hard part was dismounting. It took a few minutes to get the body moving and it was pretty much dark out. The trailer ride back to the barn had the heat on full blast and all of us recounting our experience. We were all still on cloud nine. We finally got back to the hotel around 8 pm after a very long day. It was worth every hardship and difficulty.

Wednesday morning 1/21 we finally got the window fixed in the truck and took first a bus then the train into DC for some sightseeing. We went to the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. I got to see the Hope diamond and then we walked around. Then it was bed for an early (5:00 am) start on 1/22.

We stopped in Ohio on 1/22 and then headed to IL on 1/23.

I am still tired and worn out, but I managed to get laundry done. I still have some unpacking. It was a great trip and I would do it again in 4 years.

Forever and a day

Well, since I last wrote...Quest and I rode in the Chicago Thanksgiving Parade. It was a sunny day in the 40's and a lot of fun. I was riding sidesaddle of course and it was nice to see people waving and cheering. Quest behaved himself wonderfully!

On December 5, I found out that Quest and I will be riding, sidesaddle of course, in the Presidential Inaugural Parade! I have been super busy getting all my ducks in a row. It is a huge trip. My mother is WONDERFUL as usual and has been hard at work sewing my new outfit. It is navy with yellow trim and is similar to what a civil war soldier's wife might have worn.

On January 20 the parade is tentatively scheduled for 3 pm. We have to be at the barn at 4:45 am and leave for the parade at 8:30 am. The rest of the time will be spent waiting. The government is nice enough to provide boxed breakfast as well as a boxed lunch.

My unit: Southern Ohio Ladies Aside will be number 22, so look for us at the beginning of the parade. I will be waving at everyone!

I will post pictures!

A sad day....

I had to help my darling cross the rainbow bridge today. She was over 5 years old and her health had been deteriorating the last couple of weeks. She will be greatly missed. She was my first hedgehog and will always hold a special spot in my heart.

Nimue June 21, 2003 - November 4, 2008

   

My Little Fun

So as a kid, I had My Little Ponys. Infact, they are in my parent's attic. I could not get rid of them. Who cares about Barbies. Check this out. This artist uses those ponys and makes something way more fun and sinister? I really like this one.