I Think I Still Live in NC....

BUT IT'S HOT! It's like.... liiiike totally hot in March! Maybe I got my previous wish of global climate reorganization! That Genie had better come back- I've got 2 more wishes!!!!!!

It is actually quite nice to get all the horses sweating in March- it makes their coats so shiny and they love to not wear their rugs every day all day!  They think their negotiating tactics of ripping blankets have worked...clearly they are delusional- if it's 80 outside you don't have to wear a blanket ya ding bats! One day they will learn...one day....but, I am not holding my breath.

Africa!

It has been so nice the last few weeks having a bit of a quiet schedule- I needed a break, I have not stopped since the 2nd weekend in January and it was nice to be around the farm on the weekend.  My poor Mom also managed to break her ankle- so it is a good thing I have been home I suppose.  She has been cripple hobbling around, she went to the barn the other day and cold hosed Clif's knee that was the size of my face (The horse really should learn some more evasive defensive tactics by the age of 11!).  She somehow also managed to get him from the wash stall to his stall; I am not sure which I more terrified of, the fact that my mother will lead a horse on crutches with a freshly broken ankle or the fact that Clif could possibly be dying because he let someone on crutches lead him around.  Maybe 2012 really is the end of the world.
All the horses are really growing up. Aly and Africa are jumping real courses and doing real grid work; they are big kids now! They both love to jump- they were bred to jump, so it's all natural to them I suppose!  They will both be going out in May to really get their careers started, until then, it will be all about getting their education more well rounded.  I'm sure they are ecstatic about the opportunity. Who wouldn't be?!

Irish and Nic went to Pinetop this past weekend; they were both amazing.  I probably have never been so proud of both my horses- they could not have tried harder. Irish got a 29 in the Open Training, which I was so happy with! She jumped great in the SJ, even managed to save her mother once, leaving all the rails up in a very large SJ course (the TRAINING OLYMPICS :).  The most fun was that she was a total machine on XC- she did not put a foot wrong and I could not have asked for anything to be better.  She was just a blast to ride all weekend and finished 6th! Nic was also perfect, he doesn't know there is an option!  He got a 32 on the flat because he was adorable and tried so hard! He did have one fence down in the SJ, his body and half strides do not mix at the moment! He, like Irish, has already started to love getting all decked out in green and red to go blast around XC. Nic was great and finished 3rd at his first recognized show!  I have very high hopes for these two little monsters!



Shandy!

Unfortunately, I am now sporting an awesome blue cast.  I will be in it for next 2 to 3 weeks, and a brace will follow for a good while! Everyone will have to pardon the late/short blogs! It is painstaking to  "hunt and peck" type!

Hope all is well!
 H