Zee

Here is the picture I promised. Isn't she beautiful? I didn't ride at all this weekend, although I am going out tomorrow (Monday). Tara should be back to work this week and hopefully I'll be showing her and Lantana sometime soon.

Talk to you soon,
EDV

Back in Gear

Hi all,

Lantana is going very well. She's "back in gear," as we say, after her lay-up. Tara is still off because of her abcsess. I also rode Fitz, Happy Feet and Mike this week - they were all good. Hopefully, I'll be showing soon before winter comes. I do have a picture for you (of my love, Zee) but I am at class and the picture is at my apartment (sorry to disappoint). I will post it sometime this weekend, promise.

The news everyone is talking about now: will there be the National Horse Show this year? From what I've heard, it's very up in the air but there should be a definate answer by next week. I wish the NHS was still at the Garden in NYC like in the good ol' days.

EDV

Columbus Day Weekend

Well, you'll be happy to know that I finally took some pictures at SMC. I'm going to pace myself though and give you one with every blog. Today's picture is of Zipi and Lantana. Aren't they sooooo cute?So, from my previous blogs you know that I was supposed to be at a show today (Columbus Day) in Clinton, CT. Unfortunately, Tara has an abscess (an infection in her hoof) and cannot be ridden for several days. I could have still gone to the show but decided to use the day to recuperate and catch up on homework and laundry. In the next couple of week, I will show both Tara and Lantana - I'm not sure where but I will keep you updated.

The two young horses, Zipi and Zee, each have someone interested in buying them. Zee had a woman come out and look at her twice and seems very interested in her. Zipi has someone from N.C. interested in him and wants to buy him sight unseen. Good news for both of them - I will keep you updated.

The trainer just got in a new Quarter Horse pony, Happy Feet, from Texas. Very cute, just needs some more muscle on him. I rode him Sunday and he was very well-behaved. I'm not sure exactly what the plan for him is, maybe keep him through the spring and then sell him... but I really have no idea. I'll let you know as soon as I do.

This coming week I'm heading out to the barn on Tuesday and Thursday.

Talk to you later,
EDV

Catch Up

Here's you: Bored reader. Here's me: S.T.R.E.S.S.E.D. I've been a horrible blogger but I'm re-organizing my life this weekend so I promise I WILL start being better. I've spread myself too thin but that's all about to change. In the meantime, I'll catch you up with my horse-y life.

Everything at SMC is going well, although I do feel a bit overwhelmed. Yesterday I went out, hoping to be home by 7 p.m. which gave me a little of three hours of riding time. Unfortunately, although I'm not totally complaining, I had six horses to ride. I managed to get to five of them before I absolutely had to get home. I love riding and I love helping SMC out but when I have that many horses to work in that short a time I feel stressed and rushed and do only a mediocre job (which totally annoys me). I got home around 8:30 p.m. and had tons of other work that needed to get down before I could relax.

Anyways, back to the horses... my mom and I made a joint decision to not go ahead with Zee. She is a wonderful horse but we both felt it wasn't the right thing to do. I have to admit, I was a bit heartbroken, but I'll get over it and as my mom always says: "There is ALWAYS a better one down the road." Zee is doing well though and people are lining up to come out and see her and the other 3-year-old, Zipi.

Tara has been good. I jumped her bigger this week, about 3'3", in preparation for the show on Monday, Oct. 8, in Clinton, CT. The jumps are no problem for her but she has been a little sticky on her right-to-left lead change. I don't think it is a physical problem though, just bad habit.

I didn't take any pics yesterday because I was s.t.r.e.s.s.e.d and rushed (see above apology) but I will try to take some on Sunday.

Off to Editing class now,

EDV

It's worth it

Whether you're interested in show jumping, dressage or just the horse-world in general you should subscribe to Phelps Sports. You pay an annual fee but it's well worth it.

Busy, Busy

Sorry, I haven't written in a while. I've been super busy with two part-time jobs and school (plus I've been sick...ugh), but I will try to be better about posting. And I still have not gotten any photos of the horses at SMC (I know... sorry again). For this post, I will try to give you an update on all the horses and a random photo (just to keep it a little interesting).

Zee- She's still my favorite. Michelle (SMC trainer/rider) will ride her two or three days per week and I'll ride her one. As of now, my mom is planning to come up the second week of October to look at her again and we'll take it from there. Remember when my mom was up a couple weekends ago? Well, she videotaped Zee and then watched it on the tv when she got home. She told me that the more she watched the video, the more she liked Zee. Good news for me...

Zipi- He is doing well. Melanie (a SMC rider/trainer) is working with him one-on-one now. I know that a woman was coming out to SMC today to look at both him and Zee. I'll let you know how that went as soon as I know.

Fitz- Melanie is also working with him and he's been going well. She jumped him over little cross-rails and flower-boxes yesterday.

Tara- She is doing super. After winning five out of six classes at the CMHSS show she got a couple days off. I jumped her 3' today which is a little bigger than we've been jumping. She was super and I plan to show her at a show in CT on October 8. She'll do the Adult Hunters, which is a solid 3'.

Lindy- Michelle has been working with her since she got back from her honeymoon. She's been super and might also go to the Oct. 8th show.

This week, I'll be at the barn on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. I PROMISE to get some pictures but, in the meantime, here is a random picture. Can you guess who it is? Hint: she also has a blog and was on an Animal Planet tv show. I took this picture at the 2007 Monmouth County Horse Show in Freehold, NJ.


Talk to you soon,
EDV

Huge Success

My alarm went off at 4am but it was worth it because the CMHSS show was a huge success. Tara showed in the schooling hunters and adult hunters, winning five out of six classes. She was super and I plan to show her again on October 8 a a show in Clinton, CT. Lindy was also a superstar. She's only 4 years old but you would have never known it. I schooled her in the morning and then showed her in four classes in the afternoon. She was so well behaved - even the judge asked if she was for sale. We got back to SMC around 3:30pm and my parents were waiting for me when I got there.

My mom watched me ride Zee (or as my dad likes to call her: Allison, Jr) and agreed that she is special. She videotaped, so I got to see what she looked like (up till now I've only ridden her and haven't actually seen her go). She looked even better than I thought she would. Needless to say, I was thrilled that my mom liked her.

I'm heading out to the barn this afternoon and will ride Zee, Tara and a new project, Lantana. As of now, I also plan to show Lantana at that October 8th show in CT. She is for sale as a prospective Jr/AO jumper. I've never ridden her before so I'll let you know how today goes.

And, as always, I'll keep you updated on Zee.

Talk to you soon,
Elise