Red and Green is just sooo popular this time of year!

I hope everyone had a great Christmas and is going to have a wonderful New Year!
Everything is going well here- all the horses had a few weeks of very hard work so that they could have an easy holiday week! Such skillful planning on my part, I know. 
All of the babies are little jumping machines; they have all cantered their first little course and are ready to be four year olds so they can learn some fancy new tricks. Africa and Aly are great- Africa really wants to learn and Aly is such a little freak to jump, it could not be much easier (Don't forget to check out Wits End Eventing if you would like to learn more about them!) Nic is just so wonderful- he is starting to stretch and he LOVES to jump.  He made his first visit to Sharon's a few weeks ago- he was a superstar! He jumped the baby logs and the baby ditch, and thennnnnn the big ditch- he thought that was pretty awesome and nearly bucked me off with his emotional outburst!  Little Doby is getting ridden now too, he is pretty cute and is going to be very fun soon.
Clif is now going out all day with his friends, Nic and Doby, and the love of his life.... Sammy- he and Sam stand with their noses touching, it is a bit odd to be completely honest.
Irish is coming back into work well.  She has now jumped a few times and is most excited that she finally feels a bit less neglected!  Her time off did her good, she feels much stronger in her body in her flatwork and, the best part, I can catch her again! The little brat!
Ramble is going quite well.  His flatwork is really getting stronger and I am starting to ride him a bit better when jumping.  He says FINALLY!  Little Rambles is the best behaved horse I have ever had, how he is a stallion I do not know.  He is a lot of fun just to have around the farm.
Tess is also getting back into the full swing of things- she had a lesson with Linda Zang and then a jump lesson with Sharon the next day. She still hasn't completely forgiven me for that one.  Linda helped Tess quite a bit- Tess thinks Linda should be locked in a tower far far away.  The next day Tess had a super jump lesson with Sharon.  Sharon loves Tess and Tess loves Sharon--she always has such good insight into what I need to do to make the princess happier and more cooperative!
So this holiday season I am thankful for my awesome horses- my great family- my wonderful friends- my crazy dogs and everything else I have in my life. Clif wanted to remind everyone just how lucky I am to have him, even if he is just sitting in the field being demanding and unreasonable. 
Also a quick Happy Birthday to Nic, Africa, Aly, Doby, Clif, Tess, Irish, Ramble and Sam--I will now have 3 four year olds, 2 five year olds, a nine year old, a ten year old, an elven year old and Sam will be 23! That seems like a pretty full house to me!
Enjoy your New Year and eat some good luck food!
xo
Hillary

Special Treats.

So, as a horse person, I know I am weird.  It is a fact, I have come to accept it, I no longer try to fight it.  I would rather be at the barn than out at a party, most of my best friends have 4 legs and weigh more than 1,000 pounds (for the ones that don't- thank god because you wouldn't fit in my little Saab if you did!), and I can tell you the weather 5 days out because I have already planned out everyone's blankets for the week.  It's a bit insane, kind of strange, very unique and makes people wonder exactly how hard you were dropped on your head as a child- apparently I was dropped repeatedly or else I fell off one too many times.  Over the years you tend to get all kinds of comments about horses- I think these are some of my favorites:

---"Is there someone there" ? No, that would just be me...by myself.... talking to the horses.  I didn't forget to take my meds and no, I do not expect them to answer.  I just like to pretend they understand me, it makes me feel better.  And being alone for 10 hours a day can get kind of lonely, so I try to not lose my ability to speak by talking to them.  I usually am yelling at someone, dog or horse...or cat, and telling someone else that I'm not yelling at them just because I am closest to them.  I'm sure they understand.  They know all my secrets by this point.  So if they could talk, I would paying them not to.


You need special treats to be so cute!



--In the 8th grade I got made fun of constantly for riding horses- most of the details can be left out because they are just too ridiculous to write- but, it somehow ended up that I was going to have "Hillary's Horses" when I grew up and ride in the Kentucky Derby.  Sadly, no one realized that by the 8th grade I was already too big to be a jockey- and I was not insane, 6 to 14 horses going 35 miles per hour 4 inches from each other- No Thank You I will not have another. However, they did seem to have get the Hillary's Horses right- I like it better as Hillary Irwin Eventing, but you take what you can get I suppose. 

--"You missed Homecoming for a horse thing?".  Yes.  I mean really? It's a gym that smells like sweaty feet with a few decorations to make it magical, filled with boys who still haven't figured out they need more deodorant if they are going to attempt to dance for that long and girls crying because their boyfriend broke up with them for the girl in the shorter dress.  So yes, I passed up that magnificent opportunity to take my 4 year old to his first show (Clif at the time) and my horse to a training (Monty--which he won on a 24!).  I did go to prom twice though, so that was all good fun. I went to my senior prom by driving back and forth to The Fork- my poor mother actually did the driving, surprise!-I was late for the pictures and complaining by midnight that I had to be up in 4 hours. I was a charming date I'm sure.



Monty, my homecoming date! ( I was the senior attendant and.....yeah...I have no

other excuses for this picture existing)

---"You do that thing with the hurdles?" I will be so happy the day a random person calls them jumps, but I have, for the most part, given up all hope of that.  So, usually about every month I end up explaining to someone that I do jump those hurdles and the horses do enjoy it (because as much as I like to think I'm big and tough, I am far too small to make a horse do much of anything they don't actually want to do--but I will win any battle- just ask them :) ).



--"Were you in a car wreck?".  No, I got stepped on because I fell off.  A car wreck would have been far less pathetic and more dramatic, instead I apparently just land like a dead body rather than rolling away from the 1200 pound animal throwing feet around like he is doing a line dance.  So, I graduated high school with a cast covering my entire right arm arm and bandages covering my left hand that had been split open due to a nice hoof stepping on it.  My dress was black and white- I like to think the white matched my pale white appearance and black matched the bruises. I coordinate so well.



Clif- 5 Points Int.

--"Here are your special treats." This would be the UPS man every month when he delivers the horse's Smartpaks.  He hands me to huge boxes and says " here are your special treats for those horses- they sure are lucky."  Special treats? Seriously? Do I look like the kind of person who order gourmet treats for my horses? Don't answer that- because you will probably say yes, and let's not add insult to injury.  I laugh and say Thanks, because I am not about to explain that they get electrolytes, some get omega, some get calming aids, some get joint supplements, some get tendon supplements and some get none because they are just not that special at 3 years old to warrant a monthly bill...... yet. 



Clif- 5 Points, XC Int.

 Everything is going well here.  All the babies had their very first outing.  They were all surprisingly well behaved. Africa, Aly, Nic and another horse in training all went- they all came back happy and with a good experience.  Poor Nic could not figure out why there were so many horses and no race track--he's so sweet.  He wanted to absolutely explode so badly, but he held it together- it's so nice when they trust you completely and you've only been riding them for 2 months...
Ramble and Tess went as well to get off the farm and do some flat work. (Tess also got her first set of back shoes in a year and a half, so she was pretty excited about her new Steven Maddens). They were very good as well.  Most all my horses are now going the Micklem Bridle- I think it's about as great as nerds (which I eat religiously).  Everyone who goes in it LOVES it. So for now we are the freaks in the strange looking bridle, but we are happy about it!
On the exciting news front Clif is all healed.  He is starting to go out with his friends next week, he is just so excited he is actually being nice on occasion!
I hope everyone is keeping warm and getting that Holiday shopping done!
Hillary



And So It Begins...

And so it begins... that long winter- where all you do is try to fix things that are just slightly off....it is that process that makes us lose our hair, get premature wrinkles, and does not let our competition season ulcers heal.  It is that little bit more of a tilt in your pelvis, bringing your left shoulder back half an inch, putting your right hand down a inch, keeping your outside rein in your lateral work, or keeping your outside leg just slightly behind your inside-- instead of looking like a human gumby. It is putting a bit more step in your horse's stride, pushing their inside legs further underneath them, asking for more use in their backs, making their hocks bend, jumping a bit straighter, keeping a better rhythm, or keeping them a bit steadier in your hand. It is figuring out who might like a different bit, a different noseband, a different back pad...or, to my horror, no back pad, who needs a bit more attention, who really wants me to go take a hike, and who might like a different schedule than the rest of the horses...most likely Tess. Or in my case, you do all of these things with all seven of your horses on a daily basis. 



Baby Irish at her first Training- she's my little pogo stick!



Despite all my complaining, I am quite excited about this winter.  It will be the first winter I can take the time to really focus on what my horses need and want; I can process and apply all my knowledge from working with Jimmy, Linda and Sharon.  I will also be able to take some trips to Sharon's for some valuable, much needed advice.  Also, I am lucky enough to have been riding with Bonnie Mosser the past few months and this winter will surely bring out more of her helpful comments that the horses seem to love.  Bonnie has been such an asset to have since moving back home- it is a bit of a no man's event land around here, so having her so close has been wonderful.  We had a clinic with Bonnie at my farm last week, it was a great opportunity to ride a bunch with her and watch her teach as well.  All my horses were great. 



Ramble at VA H.T.



Poor little Ramble had an 8am flat lesson and 2pm Jump lesson so he was exhausted at the end of the day, but as they say "no pain, no gain" (and let me tell you, the next day I was having some pain!)- he had a great flat lesson and a very helpful jump lesson.  It helps me to see what I am doing wrong or need to change, so Bonnie got on him and popped him around, after that we seemed to click a bit better- he is very different ride than all my other horses, so we are both still learning!  Tess had a mini flat lesson then a mini jump-it was her first proper jump back.  There is a video up on the youtube channel!  She was a bit opinionated on the flat, as any successful women should be (she has read far too many quotes), but it carried over to her jumping as happy and forward.  She had a good time jumping for real, she seemed a bit appreciative after the lesson- and that happens rarely unless treats are involved!!!!  Little Aly had his first lesson, and Hillary had her first 3 year old stallion rodeo.  It was a great experience for him to have new horses on the farm and lots of commotion, he settled in after a bit and had a very productive lesson- he did 3 bounces in a row to a one stride! Big kid stuff.  Wits End has a video up of his lesson on their youtube channel, check it out if you want to see a very fun, natural jumper- that horse is going places.   Baby Nic also had his first lesson- it was good experience for him as well- he is so territorial it good for him to have to share- as my friend Tim says, carings sharing....and I don't care!  That is Nic to a T.  He was actually very well behaved for a baby race horse- he even jumped and landed on both leads, what a champ!



Ramble the XC Machine!

Irish is just coming back from her little vaca so she escaped the lessons, but she is happy to be back, she was getting a bit grumpy!  Doby is having fun and getting quite the little red head attitude!  Everyone else is doing well and starting to get busy and down to the winter work- time to share my premature wrinkles and hair loss!

Almost everyone is off to TTC for a dressage show/hunter show/xc schooling next weekend- the babies will be attending to see how fast they can make me a lawn dart.  It will be good for everyone to get out and see what they are in for as big kids!

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and was able to get some rest!

 Hillary

Here are the links!

Ramble Jumping: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iaii4s5bv3g&feature=related

Tess Jumping: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-f0nRo0LyKQ

Aly: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3eM1w7GsmQ

Going Crazy? Can't go where you already are!

I probably have completely lost it; but my barn is full, my horses are happy and I am in need of sleep so all is well in the universe. 

In the barn there are now 4 geldings, 4 mares and 2 stallions- yes 2 you read it correctly the first time. And that is ten horses! (I find if I type ten is looks like far less a number than 10!)  There are 3 off the track TB's (One Irish, one Kentucky, one Florida), 1 unraced TB (also FL bred), 1 New Zealand Sport Horse, 1 German warmblood, 3 Irish Sport horses, and 1 Oldenburg. It's like the United Nations in my barn! I'm glad they can't talk- there would be a serious amount of accents and foul language going on with those nationalities- probably the most coming from the Kentucky boy...who am I kidding, it would totally be the Irish.



Schooling at home!



Everyone here is doing pretty well.

Clif is healing very, very well. He has a little routine of going outside and when he's ready to come in he starts screaming, and by god you had better get there within the time he has allotted or he is going to make you regret it!  He is still enjoying all the hay, being inside and getting some extra treats (especially peppermints, I have turned the horse into a monster- the damage appears to irreversible). 



Clif after his 5 Points run- looking for cookies already!

Doby is going back to work as of this week; news I am sure he was thrilled to hear!

Nic is becoming a big kid- he did his first little jump and he loves it!  He's thinks he is a pretty cool kid- unfortunately, he seems to be right so I have done nothing to decrease his ever expanding ego.  He is a bit possessive- I find him staring at me while I'm riding other horses.  It has gotten to the point that if he were human I would have gotten a restraining order- he's like an over enthusiastic boyfriend that beats up any potential competition. 

The horses in training are all well and they are all three!  Everyone is getting big kid manners, some big kid dressage moves and some big kid jumping boots- they are all just so excited. It's like they are having their first day of high school- the attitude and egos are out of control, they almost don't fit through the barn door!  In all serious- they are all quite good looking horses and look like they will all have a very big future in front of them.

Ramble is my new little dirt bike!  He is a little XC machine, he has been quite fun at the two shows he went to.  He goes, he jumps, he passes flat out in his stall.  That's his motto and he is most definitely sticking to it! He had a good final go at River Glenn- he won the flat by almost 5 points on a 29, so that was exciting, know there is much more there for the taking!  His SJ was lacking a little, no thanks to his rider!  We will spend the Winter fine tuning our communication and muscles!  XC, as usual, was a great time- he really is like a little dirt bike- just pick a gear, point, and go.  He loves it, it's nice to know your horse is having just as much fun as you out there!

Baby Tess gets some sleep!



Tess is loving life, she is jumping now so don't be too shocked by that loving life statement.  She is going quite well on the flat, I finally feel like she can go hold her own in the dressage- key word there being can!  Hopefully, she will WANT to show off; because, we all know if Tess doesn't want it, it ain't gonna happen!
She has been so, so much fun to jump!  I am so glad she seems like the same horse-actually a bit more of a horse- I'm getting a little pull at the end of those reins towards the jumps, which did not used to be her style, so that is fun.  She will keep on keepin' on and hopefully all is well and she will be competing again this Spring to the best of her ability!


Irish is the little star of farm. I'm sure no one saw that sentence coming =).  She was a machine at Virginia HT- she was great in the dressage-the judge and I will agree to disagree (at some point this sport went from obedience to fancy as the key point of dressage).  In both XC and SJ she completely took over and jumped two wonderful clean rounds- I did get drug around the XC, she is on a mission out there, it's a bit intimidating!  The following weekend she went to River Glenn to do her first training (EK!).  She had a very good and educational weekend. She was quite good in the dressage- she got several 8's, mostly in the canter work- which put her in 3rd out of about 11- so exciting for her first one!  Her SJ and XC rounds were very good- she jumped like a freak all weekend, I was grabbing some serious mane!  She ended both rounds as a better horse and really, that is all that we can ever ask of ourselves and our horses.  My goal was to ride her to the best of ability- I am not sure I totally lived up to that, but I did bring back a better horse than I left the box with; so that, to me, is a success.  She seemed to love it- she was a bit backed off at the first few XC fences (the hardest fences were in the first 6 fences, which were all quite large!), but seemed to settled into a great and confident rhythm by mid course and maintained that the rest of the way.  So she ended up 7th at her first training, she a huge purple ribbon!, and I couldn't be more proud of her!



Irish the Tangerine Machine! No I didn't change my colors, I was just
a Tangerine!)

Now it's time to spend the Holiday's with the family, work on the dressage movements, set up some gymnastics and come out better horses in the Spring than I ended with in the Fall!

Enjoy your Thanksgiving!

Hillary

Smile Like You Mean It!

I think I have finally realized that I must be terribly obnoxious to listen to in the warm up of show.  The only thing I say is good girl, good girl, good girl-----I think you get the idea!  Irish is so great, she does everything you ask- a bit more leg a bit rounder, a bit more inside rein a bit lower in her frame, she's too funny.  She had a great time at the Carolina Horse Park the other weekend. She had a super dressage test, the judge didn't seem to like her too much-we'll agree to disagree!  She was also very good in the show jump, she loves to go show off.  Most fun is that she is a little cross country machine!  I was just kind of along for the ride, which is so fun because how often do you get that on a 4 year old novice horse that is doing their first event in 6 months? Oh right, almost never!

Africa, my little 3 year old in training (notice the my...hehe) is coming into her own.  She won her first big blue at Morven Park!  She won the best 3 year old filly, go Africa- she shakes what her daddy gave her (because she's bigger than her mama!).  She also has found her groove jumping- she loves it, she jumped her first oxer, vertical and cross rail all at both the trot and canter- so fun!  There are great expectations for this little mare!

Now for the little children...Doby is doing ok- he seems to have activated his self destruct button.  He ripped out a tooth the other day, got kicked by a horse the day before in the shoulder, and just keeps trying to find ways for more attention. He hasn't figured out that if he stops hurting himself he will get ridden, which provides much more attention!  Nic is awesome- he got ridden for the first time a few days ago- wow.  He is so fun- he walks, trots and canters (on both leads, mind you!) on a loose rein, I think he just loves to do anything but race!!!=)

I just arrived home from a few days of S. White training sessions!  I am so lucky to be able to go up there.  Sharon has this great way of giving you insight into your horse- and insight into you!  I love my lessons so much because I always get at least 2 or 3 things that change the way I am training my horse- poor Irish is now a counter cantering machine!  While, I was there I tried a horse for lease, and wouldn't you know it, it is now in my barn next to Clif.  Clif is loving life next to him, he is a stallion and as we know, Clif would loveeeeee to be a stallion- there is a serious idol situation going on.  Ramble, the stallion, is adorableeeeeeeeeeeeeee, he is like teddy bear- Completely  adorable when your riding him or just on the ground.  I really enjoy riding him and think we both have a lot to offer the other- he is so small that he will teach me to stay still or else I will probably tip him over!

So I now have two 3 year olds, two 4 year olds, an 8 year old and a 9 year old in work--but I few weeks it look as though I will have 2 more 3 year olds! Starting to get busy! 
I hope everyone has been able to ride in the great weather!

Hillary

I have no need for the gym. I ride Tess.

Hope all is well with everyone!

Everything is going here....yep, just going.

Irish on one of her little adventures!

The little horses are both well- getting chunky and getting WI-L-D (think Animal House).  They will both start work sometime soon, I'm sure they are both ecstatic for the opportunity to work- who wouldn't be?! Especially for me!? HA!  They are both the sweetest horses I have ever met (except for maybe Irish..) and I am sure they will get me off at some point, but it is going to be fun teaching them and to have them teaching me something--you never stop learning from the babies!! Whether you learn to hold on tighter or fall off a little more gracefully, your bound to learn something! I am going to get some fun pictures of them doing ridiculous things (hopefully without me on them!!!) and I will be sure to put them up! So cute, so excited!

The horses in training are so going super too!  Forest is doing great- he has finally been tracked down! He is a 14 year old OTTB-he is very loving and wants to make you happy.  He is starting to jump and has decided he might just like it...he has also decided he might actually like putting his little head down to do circles!  He is going to make someone a fun, fancy project pony and all around horse.  Africa is also loving life. She has decided she quite likes doing big kid things.  She is starting to play around with big kid circles and transitions and even jumped for the first time! She is adorable, and couldn't be easier or more fun to jump!  She is going to be a great little eventer--she jumped her very first ditch (it was natural people-don't have a stroke!)  with her little ears up. She has been quite proud of herself over the last few weeks, her ego continues to get even bigger! EK!  To learn even more about either of these two visit http://www.witsendeventing.com/. 

Clif is tolerating his stall time..and by tolerating I mean scaring everyone.  He is doing quite well for him, though.  He is turning into a chunk! I am quite happy about that.  He is getting better and better and enjoying his vet visits and daily attention-such a playboy! Also, he is greatly enjoying the amount of mints he gets on a regular basis!  Anytime he hears the wrapper he goes nuts--knocking things off the sink and being rude until he gets one....he looks like a small child in search of a lollipop!

Clif is still going out a bit each day-mostly for my safety!

Irish is doing quite well as usual!  She did her first show since July---her dressage show..she was great! She got a 29 on her Novice test and a 31 on her very first training level test!  I am so proud of her-she never stops trying and learning.  It's neat to have a horse that wants to always do the right thing no matter how hard it is.  She is also jumping like a little freak, she is doing so well that she is going to go to an unrecognized Novice next weekend, a Novice at Virginia HT, and then hopefully training at River Glenn or an unrecognized training at TTC in November!  So exciting!!

Did I mention that he also terrorizes the dog's water bowl?

Tess is also doing well.  She is starting to be a very fancy...when she gets the fancy trot she can still only hold it for a few steps, but in those few steps I wonder what happened to my little monster and who is this horse!?  Even more exciting, she is starting to be able to really canter....without totally falling on her front end.  Riding her everyday is like a full body workout, and we still are not past the point of smaller than 20m circles and one gait transitions (like walk/trot, canter/trot, walk/halt, no trot/halts).  I am honestly in pain by the end of my ride and cannot feel my abs for a few minutes, then when I feel them, I wish I didn't!  She's such a fun horse though, I am sincerely hoping she can have a good comeback and go show off for herself (yes she would have a gigantic mirror placed in her stall to brush her hair and paint her nails if she had thumbs!)!

Well, I just read Jimmy Wofford's Practical Horseman article and I was quoted. My life is complete.  I highly suggest you read it ;-).  Enjoy this great weather and great footing-go have a gallop! (even though the rain is annoying!)-

Hillary

And When You Least Expect It. . .. .

I am soooooooooooooooo glad the weather is finally cooling down! It's like Christmas come early!  The horses are all excited too, they now are wearing their sheets (hehe :) ).  At the moment everyone is happy, except for Clif and I.

It has taken me several days to actually sit down and write this because every time I do, I can't quite bring myself to type the words.  After Clif's amazing run at 5 points (more on that later...), he was not feeling so great-not horribly wrong, just a bit off and not happy.  He had a vet over on Thursday and what do you know, looks like your right front luck has returned.  This time it is a totally new injury to his suspensory, but while new and different, it is serious.  We are doing everything we can for him, helping him get back to normal as best possible.  While he could come back to do some upper level things, it does not seem fair to ask him for something that he would never ask of me.  My hope for him is for him to be happy, fat, sound and a novice/training level champion for my mom! (I already told him that I expect a serious amount of blue ribbons over the next 10 years).  It was like getting a good punch in the stomach when I saw the scans and like a getting another one just for good measure after talking to the vet.  I never actually cried until I talked to my grandmother...ever so wise...and she said "well Hillary, all you can do is thank him" and I completely lost it.  It is true-he has given me so so much and taught me so much, not only about riding, but about life in general.  He always was a class act; he was fun to ride, a monster for cookies and a beautiful horse even to just look at in the field. I did my first and probably last, long format CCI* with him- and for his performance there I will be forever grateful to him.  Clif won 5 of the 6 prelims he did in the Spring of 2010 (he was 4th in the other).  He (along with Tess-who would so furious to be left out of this, like seriously...I would get bucked off) gave me a 2nd amueter ranking in the country for 2010 as well.  It's funny that a horse can teach you about people, but he did. He showed me that a person has many different sides, you can choose to see them in any light you see fit; but if you try to be objective you tend to see the real deal--just like a horse, take a step back and you usually figure it out!  He has been my best friend for past 7 years and he will continue to be, now he will just be that best friend that you don't get to be around as much as you like and you can't ever seem to catch on the phone.  The good news there is that at least I can steal him from my mom and go hop around some jumps from time to time!  It would not be possible to ever put into words how much I appreciate him, adore him and will always try to do what is right for him. 
So for now, he is hanging out in the stall--- being completely unreasonable, rude and demanding....but hey I wouldn't have it any other way, where is the fun in being appreciated and adored?!

So back to 5 Points HT which I seemed to somehow deviated so very far from.  Clif had a pretty good dressage (Had I known it might be our last one I probably would have dared him a bit more...), I was very happy with how hard he tried.  His XC was awesome-if you had told me I would have that good of a ride I would have laughed.  He was truly perfect absolutely everywhere, totally game for anything.  Every fence was great, everything big felt easy, everything technical felt like gymnastics in a show jump ring--it was the best feeling, the most confident feeling I've ever felt, so I am sad I probably won't have that again for a while, but it's definitely something to work towards-it's honestly heavenly. His show jumping on Sunday was super as well- he had one of the few double clean rounds in his division, no thanks to his rider!  He is very special.

Everyone else is great. Irish is wonderful- she is going to a little dressage show this weekend...she doesn't know that, I'm just telling her it's a show so she'll think she gets to go show off in the jump ring, she will have a great big frown on Saturday going down that centerline....TWICE! HA!  Tess is going so well, I'm so surprised at how well she has come out of her lay up, she is doing light flat work now and will start real flat work in a few short weeks (that too will probably result in a very large frown, possibly even tears on her part).  Nic is getting fat and wild!!!! Doby is doing the same thing as well, fat fat fat, not wild.  So all our little small children our great.  My two horses in training from Wits End Eventing, http://www.witsendeventing.com/, Africa and Forest are doing well.  Africa is the 3 year old Formula One baby, she is named for a continent, so you can imagine her ego!   She is super though, she loves her job and she just lovessssss to push the boundaries, but in a nice way--she's a pretty fun little horse!  Forest, who is for sale, is getting better every day, I think he is going to make a super little event horse, hunter and dressage horse for somebody who wants to have some good all around fun!  He is incredibly gentle on the ground and only wants to please--and of course, I have turned him into a cookie lover :). 

Hope everyone is doing well!  I have included some pics since I have  been so bad about it lately!  Some are from now and some are from when I was at LFF!
Enjoy being able to tolerate being outside for more than 10 minutes!
Hillary

Dolly (aka Biggy Smalls! My little XC dirt bike!)

Tess's old habits die hard....but I can't bare to make her stop when she's so cute! ....I know my kids will be awful.



Kinley seriously wanted to go to the show!



Danehill Sunset (or as I call him, dobs)



Stompin' In My Air Force Ones

If Nelly said that I'm pretty sure it would be "Er Force Onessss", Clif is far too grammatically correct to be hip-hop fly, so he pronounces it right! He probably studies Webster's while he hides in the run-in shed if he happens to left out in the sunlight (maybe his last name should be Cullen). Clif has been battling a little bit of a heel soreness...and losing. That was until he got his fancy new kicks! I'm fairly sure they are like Patagonia trail running shoes (Now I have no idea what those look like, but I imagine them to be highly expensive, highly functional, and highly unfashionable) meets Gucci dress shoes (he is slightly metro). Needless to say, if they cost more than his usual shoes, make him stand out in a crowd and make his big ol' feet not hurt, I'm pretty sure he's enjoying them..until he can find something better on the market. He had a little outing at the Fork Saturday and had a good confidence building school, if I could do a mini XC school once a week, my life would be complete!

Tess is great. Very sound and very full of herself- so basically back to normal. If she were human I'm pretty sure she would be a CIA operative who attended Juilliard and then went on to get a PHD from Harvard or something- she's just a classy horse all around. She feels better than ever even though we are only trotting around gigantic fields at the moment! I actually just found myself laughing because I was thinking about Tess and when we dropped her off at the "cowboy" for her unwillingness to be broke. His words were "we go down drops you 3-day event people ain't even wanna see, umm k?" (think Sling Blade with that accent) and "she's not got much more attitude than most, she's just got a bit more will and talent". I'm sorry is there any worse combination for a bucker than will and talent? I'm fairly sure that's all they need! Maybe even just 1 of the above!

Irish is still a little super star, I'm lucky no one has caught on to how great she is or else should be gone! She loves her job; whether it is dressage or jumping, she is always excited to try something new. She went to The Fork on Saturday for a little XC school- she thought that was great fun and it would only be more fun if the fences were bigger! I think they were plenty big for a four year old!! I rode her for a bit and then my mom hopped on her and jumped over the ditches and all through the water; she loves ditches and water which is a must for an event horse! My goal with her all the time is to inflate that already gigantic ego of hers, the better she thinks she is, the more she likes what she is doing...and right now, she loves it so I must be doing my job!

On the business side of things. I have two new horses in training, so I am starting to get busy! YAY! One is for sale, so as I get to know him I will let everyone who just how much they need to buy him I'm sure! The other is a 3 year old Formula One baby who is just starting so she is a little wanna-be eventer right now, but she has the look of a very fun little horse! They have both been lovely since I have them for just over a week.

And my fun story.....My dad and I were visiting my grandmother in the way western portion of NC and he always gets those little classified papers. I was looking at the horses...you never know what you might find for $200! While I found nothing I wanted....I did find a 14.5 hand mare. Now that is seriously something! My Dad's thought was to start my business based on having the only 14.5 hand horse in the world, I think he words were "find a niche market Hillary, it will make you stand out". Stand out? Probably. For the right reasons? Probably not. It was a source of a few good laughs; I might have to start a circus instead of training horses...oh wait, that's my life already minus the exotic animals!

Oh geez! I almost forgot Nic and Doby, they would be so angry to be left out of something! They are both great too. I am completely wrapped around Nic's finger...or hoof. He's AFREAKINGDORALE. Doby is also beyond cute all the time, but he is my Mom's horse so it's hands of Hillary!

Clif will head to 5 Points next in a few weeks. Until then, I am off for a little 3 day vaca to Saratoga Springs with the family! YAY! Think good thoughts...it's almost September!

Hillary

Bad News Bears...then Good News Goldfish?

The week has been great!

Tess is now doing a whopping 10 minutes of trotting; I know some of the weight is starting to come off because I have to fear for my life the first 2 minutes, after that its pretty much back to me kicking constantly! It's like I'm on a thelwell pony! She does feel absolutely amazing though, she's moving big and fancy, very exciting! I am eagerly awaiting her first few real rides and jumps, I'm like a little kid waiting to open presents.

Irish is always the same-perfect. She continues to improve on a daily basis, she never stops trying and she never stops trying to please. She is just a fun horse to have a round, she adores people and having a job, what more can you ask for?!? She will be having an easy summer and fall. She might go to 5 Points in September, but she will most likely wait until Morvan in October, and then head out to a few more novices to end her season...that is if no one snatches her up before then!

Clif is doing well. He is moving super, improving daily and feeling very confident. He did Fairhill this past weekend, I am incredibly proud of him. His dressage was decent, not his best, but not his worst; it was by far his most obedient and forward thinking test yet, his lengthenings were finally there for the taking. His show jumping was very productive, it was quite a large course with many many rails coming down all day. Clif did have two rails, one was my fault for rushing him a bit, the other was a result of a lack of a half halt! Oops! We will have to work on that... His XC was super- I had a glance off at the second of a skinny wide angled bench, I was off my line--oh well, you live you learn. Clif was very bold, very forward and I couldn't have asked for him to be much better, he was incredibly straight which was very exciting!!! I am looking forward to Five Points in a few weeks!


I also got a new horse this weekend, yay! Nic is about the sweetest horse I have ever come across- he does not try to run you over, he always asks to be played with (he doesn't just give you a good whack so your paying attention!), and he is great about everything I have asked of him so far- and he raced 5 days ago!!! I don't think they get much better than him. He is stunning as well, he seems like the whole package! Nic's real name is Pray for You, which I think is the funniest thing ever and it will most definitely stay his name!

I hope everyone is enjoying the last bit of summer!

Hillary

One Year Later. . . .

Well, I am officially back home after my year of working for Sharon White! It is so strange to be back, I haven't been back since Thanksgiving, long time! It's funny now that I am home I am noticing all the differences in my riding and routine. I am more in tune to everything my horses are doing, especially the things they are not allowed to do (i.e. Clif's new leap/buck and spin to try to get back to the barn), but most importantly I am now so much better at fixing those problems because they no longer seem like a big deal to me. I think I might actually be a bit less OCD about everything as well, all my shampoo's are in a basket mixed with the conditioner...my breathing rate did increase while typing that, but it has quickly returned to normal.



I am so, so, so grateful for the opportunity to be at Last Frontier Farm for over a year. I met the most wonderful people you could ever hope to meet and I hope to keep them in my life even though I am far away, they were like my extended family for so long!!! And to all those people, Thank you for being so welcoming when I was new and never changing that through out the year. It is not only the people I became close to, but the opportunities I was given. Sharon is amazing. She allowed me to ride with Jimmy Wofford, Gerd Reuter and Linda Zang- opportunities I probably would not get if I was not here, these are the opportunities that changed my riding career. She also allowed me ride clients horses and her horses, even her good horses when she was hurt- it was probably one of the biggest benefits I have ever had. So to Sharon (who did not kill me when I'm sure she wanted to, and taught me so much about horsemanship), Millie (who I took to her first shows, and will have to go watch at her first Advanced!), Shu (who I also broke into the competition seen and completely adore and might steal one night, and who I will also watch at his Rolex debut!), Bounce (the only horse I fell off of while I was there...twice!), Patch (who jumps like a freak and taught me hang on while staying relaxed...or at least started that learning process!), Skip (who goes like Tess so it was great practice while she was on R and R), Jazzy (the old pro who was my main man when my horses were out), Keys (who I took to her first prelim, she has a huge heart and is a really lovely mare..that requires a seat belt for that jump!), Fuzzy (Giving me back some XC confidence!), Resume (teaching me about going forward ;) ), Whip (helping me learn about the hind end), and Dolly (the most adorable 15.1 hand eventer that has ever been, who is my little XC machine!!!), a huge thanks for exponentially increasing my learning curve.




I have been home for almost two weeks and yes, miraculously, I have unpacked/put away/organized everything (believe me, it was kind of embarrassing the amount of stuff I seem to accumulate!). Clif is doing well, loving his new pasture mate. Irish is great, she is also loving her own stall--she is still for sale, sadly I must sell her, I cannot keep developing a collection, as much as I'd like too! I have ridden Tess since the first day I arrived (I couldn't help myself!), she just started trotting and feels amazing, she is 100% healed--but she is so fat she might suddenly combust...so that could create a problem. We also got a new little OTTB for my mom-Doby (yes like the elf...and yes he has small ears....and further yes I feel like he would have a high pitched voice...with an Irish accent). He is from Herringswell Stable and Graham Motion, a classy place so no doubt he will be a classy little horse! Doby was imported earlier this year to race in the states, that didn't go quite as well as the owners hoped unfortunately for them...fortunately for us. He is very cute, very very sweet and gentle, and is super scrawny (much like the elf!)--he is loving this whole unlimited grass experience and his exorbitant about of food!



I do hope to be better about keeping everyone updated!

Until next time!


Hillary

Fancy Dresses, More Events and How I Really Feel about Temp's over 105 degrees..

I do not even know where to start, so many things to tell! The beginning of May started off well with me heading to the Kentucky Derby, my grandparents horse (Toby's Corner) had to withdraw on Tuesday, but everything was paid for and there is no getting your money back with those people (!!!) so off we headed. It was a good time, I hadn't seen most of my family since Christmas, so it was nice to see everyone. We got hang out on the backside some, which is very cool. Some of those horses look far to young to be doing anything, much less zooming around; but others just seem belong no where else, they are doing what they were meant to do. The experience was still great because Toby's trainer, Graham Motion, still won the Derby with Animal Kingdom who proved himself to be one hell of a horse.

(My Grandfather and Clif, possible the best picture ever)

After I got back from the Derby, the whirlwind of life resumed. The following weekend was the Loch Moy unrecognized event. Most exciting was Clif's return to shows! He did the prelim combined test and the training XC to get a good school in...or to get some of the wildness out....there was a bit more than I expected to get out!! (so much so that I'm still trying to get rid of it!) He was very good for the most part, his dressage was a bit fresh, but I'd rather that than dull. His show jumping was lovely and his XC was simple and relaxed, a good way to start his season off. Irish also did her 2nd novice (YAY!), and how adorable she is!! She was 2nd after dressage with a 31, not to shabby for a 4 year old in her 4th outing ever. She was super in SJ, we had a bit of an unbalanced turn which gave her an unlucky rail. Overall, I have nothing bad to say. She has the best attitude about everything and loves showing. I also rode the very cute Stylish Talker aka Dolly. Dolly did her 2nd training level event where she had a solid dressage test and her first double clear SJ round, and as usual she was super on the XC--she absolutely loves XC, it's fun to have a horse that just takes you around whether you want to go or not! A new show ride for me was Winston, Winston is quite a large individual, but it just makes me love him more! He had a good dressage test, good SJ and a fun XC, he is a blast XC, I enjoy it every time.

(Irish spent most of her time @ Virginia HT with her head in my laundry bag)

The following weekend was Virginia HT--Dolly, Clif, Keys and Irish went along. Dolly did her first overnight show doing the training, Keys was doing her first preliminary, Irish doing her first overnight as well in the novice and Clif decided to hang out and do the training since he was not too fit! Dolly and I had an educational weekend, she was good for her dressage, great XC and very nervous for SJ in the indoor--educational for both of us...we need to breathe! Keys was awesome for her first prelim! She scored a 33 on the flat-a best for us thus far; had a fabulous first prelim XC, just missing the optimum time and had a good SJ with an unfortunate two rails, for some reason it was jumping very spooky! Irish was perfect as usual- she got a bit nervous for her dressage, but was obedient none the less. Her show jumping was super, she loved the indoor and the crowd, she found it interesting and challenging, which she loves. She was also great XC, she was very green to start but grew up around the entire course, I was very proud of her. Clif was an absolute wild man the entire weekend. I nearly came off in the dressage warm up due a few antics and squealing, but he settled to be quite lovely- my reins got a bit long and my upper body a bit forward, otherwise he probably would have scored a bit better. His SJ was again, wild- it was good to get some of the rust off. Xc was the same way, he had a great time pulling me around the training! Overall, it was a productive weekend for every horse and for me, I am lucky to ride so many good horses.

(She is so simple and straight forward to ride,

she gives Clif a run for his money as to who is the favorite!)

June has also been very busy. Rubicon horse trials proved itself to be quite interesting! Clif had a silly stop on the XC, but had his best dressage test to date...so good in fact that I forgot to halt because I was so excited about his trot! Irish was great, she did get a stop that she did not actually really have so that was annoying, but she was great. Winston was a champ, as always, I think I probably smile the most when I ride that horse! Dolly went last on Sunday. She had a very good dressage, she relaxed for the first time ever really in a test...monumental day! She had a fabulous SJ round as well, being double clean. On XC I was not feeling to great...I just cannot deal the heat properly..so annoying! She went around pretty well, but I was having a hard time getting her head up...not a problem until you come to a ditch! She had a spook at the ditch and flinging of the head that resulted in a very nice smashing of my face, I decided not to continue because I was a bit nervous about the fact that I was having trouble focusing and that there was a good bit of blood....nice!

After Rubicon it was on to Seneca Horse Trials. Clif and I had a glance off at angled ramps, which was just a bit ridiculous; but if you don't make mistakes you can't know not to make them again! I was actually happy with him in hindsight, he was much better on XC than Rubicon and that really is all that you can ask of them. Dolly also went that day, and she was awesome. She had a great dressage test, a very good SJ that was totally lacking in the leg department on my behalf, and she returned to her little XC machine self! Very fun to ride! Winston went in the Novice on Sunday, where he as usual was awesome...if you can't tell I really enjoy riding this horse, it's fun to be able to relax one every now and then. I also got to ride Shoe again, as Sharon decided to take the day for some recovery from the heat. He was great, he's so much more grown up than the last time I rode him---and he's gathering himself quite the fan club.

Well, I think that catches everyone up! Enjoy the last bit of June!!

Hillary

The Almosts And The Good.

Once again it would appear I have let my life get in way of my blogging! So many things to report this time!


The fun story should probably go first. My grandparents have always bred racehorses, only one or two in the past few years with the economy being what it is. Three years ago, Tess's mom, Brandon, had a very lively chestnut colt out of Clif's half brother Bellamy Road (who was the KY Derby favorite in 2005, won the Wood Memorial by 18 lengths and was 2nd in the Traver's Stakes in Saratoga Springs, NY that same year before retiring due to injuries). He was named after my first pony, Toby. Toby's Corner went to Graham Motion nearly a year ago, he started racing a few months after that and has never looked back. Most recently he won the Wood Memorial, like his father, putting him on the map for the Derby. As the Derby approached Toby arose the outright favorite, he had beaten the horse who was thought to be the best horse in the country already and was improving with every race. As horses seem to show us at all the wrong times, they are very fragile. Toby did his last gallop before the Derby and seemed fine until the next day, instead of shipping to Louisville he shipped to New Bolton where he underwent many tests, none conclusive. So at it stands now, he is looking good and should be back racing for the last part of the Triple Crown. The good news from the Derby was that his stablemate, and first time dirt runner, Animal Kingdom won, which no one saw coming, that just makes it all the better! Everything happens for a reason, but sometimes it's just annoying, and other times it is just flat out heartbreaking.





As for my horses, they are well. I saw a picture of Miss Tess and he is very fat, very dappled, and looking very happy; hopefully she will get a saddle back on her in June (which I am sure she will have some mixed feelings about!). Tuc, being a 3/4 sibling to Toby's Corner, was quickly taken back to Florida and bred so she could have a foal on the ground next year. Irish is super, she has now done 3 little shows. Her fist was a combined test, she was a superstar for! She finished on her dressage score of 33, what a perfect pony. She then did her fist unrecognized event at Beginner Novice where she also finished on her dressage score!! She is a little jumping machine! She will do her second novice at an unrecognized show next weekend, then she will do a novice at Virginia Horse Trials, which I am very excited about, as it is my favorite show! Clif is back as well! He is officially going to start competing now, his dressage is getting better everyday, he is building back his muscle slowly, but surely. He has done his first jump schools well and jumped big for the first time last week, he was a freak, it is good to see him so enthusiastic and happy. You always worry after an injury that they will not be interested in doing their job anymore, but he seems to come back with a better attitude every time!

I will try to keep everyone up to date more often!
Hillary

Good Times And Great Oldies!

I hope this post finds everyone well, with their Spring plans coming together.

I am doing well, working hard, staying busy---which means I get to eat a lot, which for me equals happiness!

I have had several Jimmy Wofford lessons since my last post, they have gone very well. I was lucky enough to get a private lesson on one of Sharon's horses early one morning. Jimmy was really able to take the time and experiment with what helped me ride better, it was amazing. That lesson changed the way I jump horses, quite a productive 30 minutes I'd say! So, I got to have my private lesson on a Tuesday and have 3 group lessons during one of his LFF Clinic's on Saturday. It was nice to be able to learn something, then practice it on my own, then practice it again with the original teacher! I got to ride one of Sharon's homebreds in the novice division, the lovely Shoe in the training division (have I mentioned that I ADORE this horse!?), and Sharon's other big kid homebred, Skip, in the preliminary group where he was a champ!

Irish's First Water Experience!

Irish is doing well, but why should that surprise you!? She is a fantastic little horse and I am sincerely sad about the thought of selling her! She is incredibly smart, very athletic and completely adorable....can't get much better than that! She is starting to be really balance herself at the canter and not think jumping is a time for being wild. She LOVES to jump, she's a little jumping bean. She jumped with two prelim horses last week, where she continued to show off just how clever she is. She just gives you a really great feeling, that feeling that you will be fine no matter what happens. Her number one goal is make you happy, if your happy she's happy.....at least when you are riding her, if you involve cookies in this process, you have another story! I have posted the link to my YouTube videos on the "About" section, there are two videos of Irish up!

Irish Loves To Jump!

On a very exciting note, CLIF IS BACK! I have real problem with attachment, there is no way this horse is ever leaving me, to me he is instant happiness. He is so grown up now (his birthday was the 10th and is now 10 years old! AHH double digits!); he wants a routine and a job, and massive amounts of carrots. He loves going to work everyday...actually it is probably that he loves the process because at the end he knows there are apples, carrots, and cookies waiting (all the ingredients of a well balanced diet). He is coming along well with his rehab, he is now doing light flat work. In the next few weeks he should be back to normal work, with any luck he will head out to Virginia Horse Trials to do his first event back, hopefully Irish will tag along for her first real novice (the jumps will probably be too small for her, but she should probably do some novices before she goes training!)

Clif and His Best Friend Twix!

Enjoy the nice weather for the weekend!

Hillary

No Stirrups, No Reins, No Problem.

It is cold, it is snowy, and it is busy here in West Virginia! We currently have a total of 35 horses at the farm and things are staying very busy, I thought winter was for rest and recovery. Rest, who needs it!? When it is busy you know you are learning a lot, jumping horses on a daily basis and riding anywhere from seven to ten horses per day will give you some muscle density! I am trying to keep a running tab of all the great courses we do here, we usually change the jumps about once each week, once again great for all that muscle density, not so great for that back of mine! I find it very interesting to watch each exercise and see how it effects the horses; strengthening their hind ends or their focus, both valuable and something I hope to able to pass on when I move on from here.

Two weeks ago three of us headed just north of Baltimore, MD to the World Horse Expo. It was an interesting experience! There was a good amount of western gear and people, culture shock! We were lucky enough to be asked to be Jimmy Wofford's demo riders for the two demonstrations he was giving at the expo (this made even more fun by the fact he is applying to be the new U.S. team coach!). I was riding Sharon's lovely homebred mare Bounce; talk about pressure, try riding your coach's favorite horse that they have incredibly high hopes for! Bounce found the whole thing rather fun, a hundred or more people to watch her jump around in a ring the size of the trailer she rode in on! The ring so small it was literally like being trapped, it only took about 10 strides to get from one end to the other, you try jumping in that! It was fun to do, great for the horses to be exposed to that atmosphere at such a young age, and it fun to do something different for a couple days. The theme of the demo for me was to keep my body still......I think that might just be the theme for the rest of my life, lets face it.

The next week Jimmy came to Sharon's farm and I was lucky enough to get two more lessons. I received another lesson on Miss Bounce (also known as Katy Perry), we jumped with two advanced horses so the needless to say I felt a bit too much pressure and we didn't have the best school we ever had, but hey it's nice not to be perfect all the time right? :). Still it was a good learning curve, dealing with a nervous horse and trying to keep my head still.....or as Jimmy says, "your head is attached to an elaborate system to wires, right?". My second lesson was on one of my favorite horses ever, Shoe. He is a lovely Dutch warmblood that I also had my Linda Zang lesson on. He is an incredibly nervous horse, and reminds quite a bit of Clif, just a bit more dramatic at his young age! He jumped quite well and really learned throughout the whole lesson which was fun to ride.

Last, but not least Gerd Reuter was here Wednesday to give us all some dressage guidance! He is so nice, but that though German accent will intimidate you! I had a lesson on Dolly, the mare I took novice last fall, and will hopefully continue to ride this spring! She was very good and Gerd seemed quite pleased with how far she has come in last two months since he last saw her. She is much, much stronger and more able to carry herself and use her hind end. Gerd has a real focus on making them deep and flexible, which I love and have been using all the horses since my lesson! Lots of learning!

Irish is doing well! She's great as usual, I really can't say anything bad about this little horse. She has the most fantastic attitude about absolutely everything, and she loves her cookies! She has done a few real dressage rides and is always learning and trying harder. She's the kind of horse I would love to keep if I could. I am hoping to find her a great home in the near future, of course ideally I would love for something to buy her and want me to keep riding her......but the reality is that problem won't happen, but maybe one day!

It's almost spring, it's almost spring, it's almost spring! (Just keep saying that to yourself!)
Hillary

Winter Bootcamp!

The weather, oh the weather! While we have had two nice days (by nice I mean above freezing), the majority of days have been absolutely freezing! I have developed a nasty case of chillblanes, yes they are real, I promise. I have even read some articles about them! They are absolutely yucky; painful, itchy, ugly, you name it, they are it! Luckly I have found out how to deal with them: Lanolin from New Zealand, don't worry, they sell it cheap on Amazon :)!

Last Monday I had my very first Linda Zang lesson! Linda did a clinic all day at Sharon's farm. Most of the horses had the day off, so we were able to watch quite a bit of the lessons. I learned the most about position from watching a beginner rider, it was interesting to see how much small changes entirely changed his position. I was able to watch a horse with quite a few Clif like habits, so I am excited to try those little exercises out on him in a few months when he is able. I had a lesson later in the day, so I was trying to change everything I felt like she would have a field day with.....the list is large. My lesson was on a super fancy young horse that will hopefully be one of Sharon's next big horses. He is a very lovely Dutch Warmblood, and is the sweetest horse you will ever meet, but also the most worried and sensitive horse you will come across....and if you touch his face, he will run away with you. Linda loved the horse and was helpful with how to ride him. She had me constantly shift my weight at the canter to get him to relax, had me sit a bit further back to encourage his step and sit more to the inside in order to better keep his balance. All in all it was a very interesting experience, and I would love to get some help with Clif at some point. Tess benfits tons from the Gerd lessons, so when she is back in action I think we will stick to what was working for her.

Irish is continuing on her perfect pony path. I cannot say enough good things about this little horse, she is my favorite horse to ride everyday, as your horse should be. She is so smart, you never have to teach her something more than once. She also had her first big horse jump school, aka jumping more than one jump in a row! She jumped though an entire grid, did related distances and jumped the very scary liverpool without blinking! She's going to be a little superstar! I do need to be the responsible rider and sell her, but I really do not want too!!! I am trying to find her the perfect home, the ideal home would be, of course, for her to stay with me and have someone else own her. Dreams come true, right?

This weekend I am off to ride in one of Jimmy Wofford's symposiums. I am riding Sharon's lovelly mare Bounce, so the weekend should be interesting and entertaining, as Bounce truly hates to jump a liverpool on the first try! I will update you all next week. I am also working on getting the video of my Linda lesson, hopefully I can get my technilogically changed brain to figure out putting it up on here or at least You Tube and I will put the link on here!

Enjoy the heatwave of 40 degrees!

Hillary

New Year, New Leaf!

I hope that everyone had a good holiday season and got to spend lots of time with friends and family! I was lucky enough to go home for some time over Thanksgiving and Christmas. My time over Thanksgiving got extended some thanks to a nice little back problem, yuck! In hindsight, I do not do enough for me; I do a lot to make sure my horses are strong and healthy, but not enough to make sure I'm strong enough for the task I ask of myself.....yoga starts next week. Over Thanksgiving I got to see my most missed amigos! Clif and Tess are in North Carolina, so seeing them was just what I needed. They looked super fuzzy and as happy as can be expected when not in work; they have definitely grown accustomed to lots of attention and a workload, they actually appear to really miss both!

Christmas came rather quickly and I was able to go down to Florida for four days to see the whole family! My mom had taken Clif and Tuc down; so I got to ride them both! Tuc was super cute and very quiet, which was not expected because she had over a month off due to both my injury and a nasty little battle some very determined cellulitis. Clif was absolutely w-i-l-d, he was trotting for 10 minutes and that was not enough for that attitude. He felt great though, which was exciting.


Just before Christmas my other 3 year old, Irish, came to Last Frontier Farm. I must admit, I was not exactly thrilled about her being there, she was not my favorite and I really did not think we would get along well. Fortunately I was wrong---surprise, surprise. She is absolutely adorable, her face suckers everyone in, everyone who walks by her stall has to stop and pet her (she actually more demands a pet rather than asks for one). She is coming along really nicely on the flat, she is starting to get a bigger stride and so responsive it is amazing she is so young.... "four and one week" since she is a TB! Her biggest love is jumping, she thinks its great fun and would like to do it every day, all day.


Work is going well. I am riding tons and tons, learning a lot. I ride anywhere from four to nine horses a day, some green and some experienced. Jumping days are very busy, I have jumped as many as 8. I stay busy! Yesterday I trotted and cantered 9 horses.......can you say ouch!? My legs are still in revolt.
I promise to be better about updating :-/, sorry!
Hillary