20 Questions

  Hey!
Today, I was inspired to make a blog post. Of course, I had 0 inspiration, so I decided to answer a few horsey questions. Here we go!

• 1) What discipline do you ride right now?
• I ride hunter/jumper. More specifically show jumping.
• 2) If you had to switch your discipline, which one would you choose?
• There's so many disciplines I'd love to try. I'd have to go with eventing. I love dressage and feel like cross country would be very fun. That or barrel racing, because I'm an adrenaline junkie.
• 3) Who is your equestrian idol?
• My equestrian idol (s) would be Erich Lamaze,  because he defied a lot of odds to get where he is, and I truly look up to him and am inspired by that. Also, McLain Ward. Because have you seen him ride? #flawless 
• 4) Who is your least favorite equestrian?
• I don't have a specific least favorite equestrian. Horse abusers would be my least favorite people in the horse world.
• 5) Describe your dream horse... breed, color, markings, name.... (if you have yours, post a pic)
• I have my dream horse. She's a welsh/tb cross. She's cherry bay with one sock (that has spots in it) and a broken stripe down her face. She's the horse version of me, personality wise.
  
• 6) Explain or post a picture of the horse you ride
• Her name is Littles. She's a 13 year old welsh/tb. Her show name is Cllynncopa Dallas. She's 14.1 1/2. Will jump absolutely anything you put in front of her. She has some training issues, and isn't the easiest horse to ride. When she goes nicely, she's an insanely nice pony. I love her to pieces and wouldn't trade her for the world. 
  
• 7) What would you do if you were forced to stop riding?
• Give up on life.
• 8) What was your best score at a show?
• My best 'score' was when I came champion at one of my trillium shows last year. It was on the amazing Peppered N Bright (Appy) 
  
• 9) Who's your favorite horse blog?
• I really love the blog 'show ring ready'. It's amazing and so so helpful.
• 10) Group lessons or private? Why?
• It really depends on what you want to accomplish. Both can be really beneficial. I usually have semi private lessons with my friend Shane. 
• 11) How high do you jump?
• It really depends. Anywhere from crossrails to 3'9. Most regularly around 2'6, as we are trying to work on technical turns and broken lines and rollbacks, etc...
• 12) What level dressage do you do?
• Right now I'd probably say about training level?? By the end of winter I want to have her schooling 1st level.
• 13) What level eventing do you do?
• We don't event, though it sounds super fun.
• 14) Cross country colors? What are they?
• We don't do cross country, but our jumper color is pretty much basic colors with some added bling 😉. 
• 15) What colors look good on your horse?
• Pretty much every color looks good on her. 
• 16) Your opinions on Rolkur
• A great way to permanently mess up a good horse.
• 17) Last time you rode... was it great?
• Amazing!!!!
• 18) If you can spend a day with any Equestrian.... who would you spend it with... What would you do?
• George Morris. We would train all day. ☺
• 19) Helmet or no helmet... your opinions?
• Helmet always. It's better safe than sorry, no matter how broke your horse is. I pretty much only ride green horses, so safety is always priority.
• 20) Who was/ is your first horse? Pictures or description
• Littles is technically the first horse I truly leased (will own). But I was 'given' this amazing old guy named Gulliver when I was 8. Miss him so much.
  

Thank you all so much for reading. Don't forget to hug your horses.

Annie 

Maintaining an Athlete

   Hi all!
Hope you've been having a wonderfully horsey fall. Today I'd thought I'd write about how I take care of Littles, and some of the special things I do for her. Since she has come to hat trick (our new barn) and been in full work she has changed so much! She truly transformed from a pony who no one rode or really cared much about, into an amazing athlete and my best friend in the world.

  First of all, Littles is on indoor board. This means she goes outside in a paddock with other horses all day, and then comes in at night. For the winter, she will definitely stay on indoor board. She doesn't grow much of a coat and she isn't the biggest fan of the cold, as well as I feel safer having her in the barn at night where she can be checked on an monitored. I know I am a little paranoid, but things like water consumption, bowel movements, and behavior can tell you a lot about your horses health, and having her indoors helps me better monitor that.
    I also provide her with a mineral block. This is just my way of ensuring she gets all the right minerals in her diet. I put it in her food bucket so it's easily accessible. She has free choice, and consumes only as much as she needs.

   After I ride, I always make sure to stretch out her legs and rub down her cannons. As well, I always ride her with boots of some kind. I'm a bit of a boot fanatic, and may make a blog about that later on. It's just so important to take care of those legs! So much strain is put on their tiny legs and it's super important to take the necessary precautions to prevent injury.

    Now onto how much I ride her, and what we generally do in a week. Littles is ridden 6 or 7 days a week. She is a very hot horse so it's important to keep her working. She really isn't the kind of pony you can just throw in the field for a month, pull her out, and expect not to die. We generally have one jumping lesson a week. And sometimes we jump school an extra day. So probably about two days of jumping a week. We don't regularly jump her huge, more often we just do grids, rollbacks, tight turns, etc... We already know she can jump whatever we put in front of her, it's more about what's in between right now. 

    Out of the 7 days, we spend at least 2-4 seriously flatting. This includes transitions, leg yielding, shoulder in, haunches in, among other things. Getting her to use her body right is important for any jumping we do. Her flatwork is improving greatly, and it really impacts her jumping too. I've always been told a good jumping horse schools 2nd level dressage, so I'm really hoping to get Littles to that point someday.

    The other days that we aren't flatting or jumping, we're probably doing stupid things bareback. It's important to mix some fun into your routine. We've done bareback barrel racing, tackless riding/jumping, even pulling a sled!

   A couple extra things that are so so so important for any horse. Water! They need lots and lots of water, as it is the number 1 protector against colic. They also need free choice hay, especially during the winter. Horses diet mainly consists of forage, and when the grass dies, they need a LOT of hay.

   So there are my little tips, tricks, and routines for maintaining my equine athlete. Sorry that blog was a bit all over the place, but I hope you enjoyed! I've got a lot of good blog ideas, so I will probably start posting more in the coming week or two. Remember to hug your horses!

Annie and Littles

Updates

 Hey all!
Hope you are all having a wonderful fall, I know I am! I've been super busy with school and riding, and things are going great.  I've got a couple updates on Littles as well as some plans for this upcoming year.

  First of all, Littles back troubles turned out to be no big deal! It was actually just cramps because she was in heat. So yay! She doesn't have some severe back problem! ;) We've finally bought a saddle that fits her pretty well, and was a very reasonable price. I'm so happy we figured out all this pony back drama because I was getting really stressed and worried.
   I have accomplished one of my big goals! I jumped 3 ft tackless, with no hands the other day! I'm so happy Littles and I are at the point in our relationship where I trust her enough to do that. She's the best horse in the world, and I honestly don't know what I'd do without her. Now with high school stress and drama, I can't imagine not having her here. Our anniversary is coming up in three weeks! I couldn't be more excited. I can't believe it's been almost a year with this crazy little horse.
   I now have a little over half the money it will take to buy Littles. I've been trying to pick up odd jobs and such to get a bit of money to put towards the pony fund, and it's going well. I've been cleaning tack for a couple of people and am hoping I can continue doing that to make some extra cash. I'm not totally sure what's going on with payments right now, so we will wait and see how this plays out.
  Now onto some of the plans for next year. This winter we're planning on doing a clinic, and some off property schooling at my trainers farm and rcra (royal canadian riding academy). Then hopefully, by February or March,  we can go do a few trillium shows at .75 to warm up for our main season. Then finally, once the A shows start, we will begin our journey to qualify for the royal. It's going to be very busy and tiring, but I'm so ready to tackle all these goals and plans. We may also be buying a trailer to help offset some of the costs, so that's exciting!
  Sorry for such a short aand boring post, just thought I'd keep yall updated on what's going on with sassy pony and I. Remember to go and hug your horses!
Annie

School and Riding; The Fine Balance

 Hi all!
Hopefully you are all having a fabulous day. Today I'm going to write about something that truly scared me so much the beginning of this school year... balancing riding and schoolwork. Here are a couple of tips that have help me do well in school while riding daily.
   I am a full time student in grade 9 this year, and I also go to the barn every day. Making the transition into high school terrified me, I thought I would have no time whatsoever and would barely be able to spend any time at the barn. In reality, it's easy to be committed to both school and horses, as long as you are doing it right. So here are my pro tips on how I manage being a competitive equestrian while still maintaining good grades.

  The first tip is to make a schedule and stick to it. Either come up with one in your head or write one down. Plan how much time you intend to spend at the barn, and be sure to leave some time for homework.  I usually go the barn almost right after school. I'll stay for about 2 hours, then head home to have dinner. After dinner I have plenty of time to shower and study. It's all about planning ahead to ensure you have time to do everything that needs to get done.
  Secondly, remember that school does come first. Our horses mean so much to us that sometimes we forget about everything else. Everything including schoolwork. But keep in mind you need good grades to get into college or university, which will land you a better paying job. More money means more horses, so don't write off that math test! Another way to make schoolwork a bit less unbearable would be to bring it to the barn. If you have lots of boring reading to do, sit down in your horses stall or paddock and do it there. Even if you have to read a very dull 50 page science textbook, at least you'll be doing it in the company of your horse.
   Third, get your priorities straight. Do you want a social life, good grades, and sleep? Then you might not be able to go to the barn every day. We have to make sacrifices, because unfortunately there are only so many hours in a day. Don't spread yourself too thin. And remember, you are a human and humans need sleep. Accept that you are not a superhero and sometimes you will have to decide between that party and going to your lesson. You won't perform well in school or riding on 4 hours of sleep. Remember that you can't have it all, you've gotta decide where your true dedication lies.
   My last tip is not to isolate yourself. Too often people find themselves alone and miserable because they've pushed all their friends away to commit themselves to one thing. Don't be that person. Make good friends who understand your dedication to your sport. You don't have to be lonely to succeed,  because when you do succeed,  there will be no one there to cheer you on. So try not to push those good people away. I know we all wanna crawl into a cave with only horses and the last 7 seasons of heartland sometimes, but friends are important to have. They make the miserable parts of school less miserable and a good friend is worth a lot. Barn friends are the best kind, and if you make good barn friends, you two can just go live in that cave together and live happily ever after.

  So I hope you enjoyed my tips for being successful equestrian students. But always remember after a long day be sure to hug your horses. Thanks a ton for reading,
Annie

Perseverance and the Constant Struggle

Hi everyone!
I hope you are all having a great day.
 My day was difficult. If you've been reading this blog for a while, you know that I have JIA (Juvenile idiopathic arthritis) which affects my ankles, knees, wrists, hips, and possibly my jaw and elbow. This makes everyday activities a little bit harder, and makes riding a challenge sometimes. Everything was going great, but recently I've had a flare up. Well I've had this problem for about 5 years now, so I've learned how to deal. However dealing with the pain and not letting it get you down are two different things.
   There have been many times when I've thought about giving up riding. Last winter I almost quit hunter jumpers, because it was just too painful to keep my feet in the stirrups. This has always been a thing in my life that has kept me down. Even just the smallest things, it nags at me to stop. My body is fighting against itself. And that internal battle is exhausting. And even when it makes me want to give up riding forever because the pain just becomes too much to handle, horses are what keeps me alive. Riding sets me free. I may not be able to run, or even walk much on some days. But the second i'm on my horse, I am free. For a second I have an excuse to forget the pain and everything I'm thinking about, I can just live. Even if it means walking around bareback for 20 minutes, that 20 minutes is time that I can just forget for a bit.

  Today I'm going to forget for a little bit that this is going on in my life. Today I'm going to focus on the dreams and goals I have. Today I'm going to be thankful for every single chance I get, and for the pony who made it all happen. I have this incredible gift right now, a bond so strong and unbreakable with this beautiful horse who has come so far. And I have the chance to show that we can do this, and those four words just mean so much to me. We can do this. WE can do this. Not me, not the arthritis and negative thoughts that consume me, we. Littles and I. A team. When we are together that constant battle goes away for a little bit, because together I am not suffering. I am the most blessed kid in the whole world. And with no doubt in my mind, we can do this.
   Thank you for reading my ramblings, and remember to believe in yourself and your horse. Go hug your ponies!!!!
Annie

Bitless Bridles

Hi everyone!!!
 So today I got to try a bitless bridle on Littles. I tried the nurtural bitless bridle, and this is my opinion on it.
***DISCLAIMER***
THIS IS NOT BASHING BITLESS OR BITTER BRIDLES. THIS IS SIMPLY HOW I FELT
 BITLESS WORKED ON MY HORSE.
Okay, so now that we've gotten that out of the way. This is how the ride went.
So my first impressions were that the bridle is absolutely beautiful. It has the cutout on the crown piece so it would not pinch her ears, and is a lovely color.  I really like the look of it. I'll post a picture below so you can see how it looks

 The system in which it works is quiet simple. The reins attach to two rings hanging down which are attached to the noseband.  For more information check out the website.

  The bridle seems to fit relatively true to size. I was using a cob size on my large pony, and it fit pretty nicely. It is very adjustable, so quite hard to go wrong with sizing. So that's my basic review of the bridle, nice quality, true to size, overall a nice product.

  The ride was pretty much like any ride. I can't say I saw a huge difference. Littles, who can be quite a hot horse, was still able to stop, turn, and slow down just fine. For basic riding it went pretty well. She did get heavy on it after the canter, which was a problem for me. I think due to the lack of support, she ended up on the forehand and on my reins a lot. Bending was a lot harder for her, due to the lack of intricate rein aids. There wasn't much of a difference in her attitude. She wasn't more relaxed without a bit than she is with one. 

  So that is pretty much how my ride went. I don't mind the bridle, but I'm definitely not convinced on it. I don't totally hate it, but you won't see me going out to buy one any time soon. My pony wasn't any more relaxed or happy in the bitless bridle, and I much prefer the subtle aids you can give with a bit. I need much less contact with a regular snaffle than no snaffle, and when you are jumping or doing anything really, I'd rather have my pony off her forehand. 

  So that is my take on the bitless bridle and how it worked for Littles and I. Thanks a ton for reading, and go hug your horse!!

Annie

First Lesson in a While

    Hey all!
Hope you're having a lovely horsey day.
Finally, Littles and I are back in full training for the show season! When school started up again, everything was so hectic. Littles was having some back issues, I was going through my "I'm too big" stage, we didn't have a saddle. Needless to say, we weren't training too hard at that point. Finally we are back on schedule!
  Today we had our first lesson in a whole month! We've been working pretty hard on our dressage recently, so my coach was really happy with where we were at. We worked a bit on adjustability, not rocketing after jumps, it was great. I'm very happy with how Littles is coming. She was a dream today, she really tried her heart out. She listened to my seat, stayed nice and calm in canter trot transitions, really I could not have asked her to be any better. She was a super pony!

  I also have a new saddle to ride in! I don't own it, but a friend of ours is lending us their beautiful antares saddle. It is like a cloud to ride in, fits Littles perfectly, honestly it is heavenly. Hopefully it will help Littles out with some of the back issues we've been having. She's been sore in her lumbar region for the past little bit. Usually the soreness goes away after she's been worked, which I find quite strange. Originally I thought it may be me being too large, but we've ruled that out. Hopefully with consistent work and daily stretching it will improve. She's definitely not lame because of it, and it is slowly getting better. We shall wait and see.
  It seems like our dreams of pony jumpers are actually coming true. With a winter of work, my coach thinks we can give it a shot. This is so overwhelming for me, it's only ever been a dream of mine to show at that level. It's going to take a lot of work and money and time, but getting to the royal would be such a great experience. It's going to be hard, considering I don't have the nicest stuff, or pony (no offense Littles,  you are priceless to me), and I'm not the richest, I'm ready to work my but of to get there,  and I have the best pony I could ask for. I know we can do it. And I'm determined to show everyone else that we can make it. I believe in us. And I want to show that it doesn't take tons of money to be successful,  it takes hard work, good riding, a strong bond, and partnership to get there. And I'm ready to commit all of myself to this. And I know Littles is too.

  So today I feel like the luckiest girl alive. I have the pony of my dreams, who I love so much. A lovely saddle to use. Regular lessons. And the possibility of having one of my biggest dreams come true. Thank you for reading,  and make sure you go hug your horses!!
 Annie

My Goals

  Hi everyone!
Show season has come to a close for many of us,  and even though I didn't do a full season this year it has got me thinking about my goals for Littles and I next year. So after chatting with my coach and thinking, here are my goals for next year.
   First of all, over the winter I would like to bring Littles up in her dressage training. Right now we are schooling very basic dressage, and beginning on working on turning stretching into some form of collection. By the end of this winter and before show season, I'd like to be schooling solid first level. It's going to be a lot of work, but I know we can do it. She is already improving so much and is so eager to learn, so I know we'll get there. Having higher dressage training will help us so much in our jumping as well as improving her body condition and longevity. Eventually, I'd like to have her schooling 2nd level. I believe every good jumping horse should be up to 2nd level, so I'd like to get Littles to that point.
  One of my other goals is to work on our tackless riding and liberty training.  I'd like to canter no tack or neck rope by the end of this winter. As well as just have some fun with Littles in general. Winter gets so boring and doing fun stuff like this will not only strengthen our bond, but also keep us from getting too bored.

     Now for my show season goals next year. I think I may tackle one of my biggest dreams next year, pony jumpers!!! I never thought this would be a possibility for me, considering this means I would be competing against some of the best riders and ponies in the province, and even the country! But my coach thinks we might give it a shot. This would be my first year on the A circuit, my first full season in jumpers, and Littles first season ever. The thought of it terrifies and excites me. The goal would be to qualify for the ROYAL WINTER FAIR!!! Yes you read that right, I've only dreamed of having this opportunity, and it just might become a reality. I don't know how well we will fare, considering my 13$ show coat cost less than some people's hair nets,  but this might just be the chance I've been waiting for. I'm on my dream, once in a lifetime pony. And I don't care if some people's saddles cost more than her, this sport isn't about money to me. And I hope I'll get the chance to prove that, and show that it doesn't take a 50 000+ dollar horse and a GPA helmet to succeed.  It's about partnership, and hard work, and proving those who doubt you wrong.

   These goals are huge to me. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little bit scared for the future. But this is mine and Littles chance at making it to the big leagues, and I believe in us. Thank you for reading!!!! Go hug your horse!
Annie

Not Giving up on You

  I am not giving up Littles. As much as I've tried to convince myself that what those who doubt us say is right, I can't give her up. This horse is my partner, she has stood beside me through everything. Both of us came from nothing, people doubted us. They still do.  We've gone through he'll and back. We've gone through some of the hardest moments of my life, but also some of the best. She has challenged me, frustrated me, and made me question my belonging in this sport. But she never gave up on me, and I'm sure as heck not giving up on her.
    It was time for me to stop listening to other people who think they know my situation,  and time to listen to my horse. This is not the end, this is only the beginning. This is not the kind of horse I will ride for a year then move on, this is my horse. I'm so sure of this. I don't know what the future will hold, but my heart tells me it will have Littles and I together. I truly believe with every bit of my being that this is meant to be.
   I can't and won't give up on the beautiful bay pony I fell in love with just a year ago.  The pony who nickers when she sees me. Who jumps her heart out and does whatever I ask. Who I know truly believes in me. And I'm not giving up on her.
   Thank you for reading, make sure you go hug your horse!!
Annie

 

So It's Been Awhile

 Hello to anyone who may be reading this. It has been months since I've last written, and a lot has changed in that time. First of all, I am not at my old farm anymore. That barn sold, and I moved to one only a couple minutes from my house. So I didn't get to finish my show season on Appy. I stopped leasing him in June, because he moved to a farm very very far away. Which kind of sucked.  Saying goodbye to the horses, people, and barn that had become my salvation and my first real taste of hunter/jumpers was really hard. And I can't honestly say I don't wish I could go back to that time. It was so much simpler. Luckily I have seen and ridden Appy since then, and he even moved to a barn closer to me! He's doing great, and I'm so happy he's still part of my life.
   Littles came with me to my new barn! Which has truly been great. She has improved so so so much and so have I. She is now a calm, honest, amazing pony. The pony I always believed she was. I love her with all of my heart, and am so proud of how far she's come. She took me from the 2 ft hunter to schooling 1m jumper courses! The horse she is now is the horse I always knew she was on the inside, and it just took a little bit of work to get her to the point where she is now.
   But life hasn't been all rainbows and unicorns. I grew. I grew a lot. I'm too big for my wonderful little pony. As much as I try to deny it, I'm simply too big. It's not fair to her, and as much as I'd love to keep her as a pasture pet, she's too good of a pony for that. And even though this is tearing me up so so much on the inside, she needs a new rider. It hurts me so much to say that, but I have to stop being selfish and do what's right for her. Though I would love to keep her forever and ever, it's not the right thing to do anymore. I love this horse so much, and that's why I have to do this.
  So right now my goal is to find her a good home, with a little girl who will love her. With this summer of training, she has become quite the hunter/jumper/dressage pony, and I think there is a little girl out there who is going to love her and enjoy her. I hope I will still be able to visit her, and maybe even ride her every now and then. This is what makes this business so hard. Saying goodbye is going to be the hardest thing I've ever done, and it already is. I feel so broken right now, but I know this is the best choice for her. I just hope I've done this amazing little pony proud, and I hope she continues to make her next rider as happy as she's made me. This is just so hard.
   It's so hard to think of the future right now. Every goal and dream I had was with Littles,  and now all those dreams are gone. I feel like I've hit a dead end. I don't know what my next move is, because it hurts so much to think of loving another horse. Even though I know there's another horse out there who needs me, who needs someone to give them a chance, to believe in them, it's so hard to move on. I just really don't know what is happening in my life right now. I guess we will just wait and see what happens.
   Well wish me luck. Go out and huxg your horse because you never know when the circumstances will change. Thank you for reading,
Annie

Littles

   Hey guys! I have not written in forever! I am sososo sorry. Anyways today's blog will be a bit different, it's just something I wrote today about Littles. I thought some of you might be able to relate, or if not you might enjoy it. I know the spelling and grammar isn't great, but as I said, I just wrote it today in like 30 mintues because I'm feelin all emotional and stuff... :P  So here you go.

    It all started with a sassy bay pony. A beautiful little pony, but the kind of beauty you have to know to see.  She is too thin, her legs too long. She is too little to be useful, they tell me. She is too fast to fit the definition of the perfect little hunter pony everyone wants. She is used up and thrown out. Maybe that’s why I like her so much, because I relate to her. The less than perfectness, the unwantedness, the rough edges, maybe that’s why I love her. 

   Her eyes though, they go further than that outer shell. They still have that fire, and that cannot be snuffed out by some brats who don’t want her. I want her. Even though the dreams I’ve been taught to have may not have her in the picture, I want her. I need her. I couldn’t stand if she sells to another brat who uses her up and then sells her on. Maybe that’s how this world is supposed to work, but in this pony I see hope that I haven’t seen in a long time. And I know why she is like this.

   The constant goodbyes.  The falling in love, and almost feeling safe, almost being happy, then the goodbye. We are not the spoiled, we do not control this. Goodbye has become just about inevitable when it comes to falling in love. And it makes giving up that much easier.  You can fall so hard, love them so so so much, but you have no control when it comes to their departure. And no matter how many tears you shed, and how many nights you cry yourself to sleep and wonder why it is even worth it anymore, those won’t bring them back. This world is cruel, and that is just how it goes.

   But this pony, this pony is different. Even though the inevitable goodbye may be looming in the future, I can’t protect myself. No matter how much I will myself not to care, how much I tell myself not to fall. I’ve learned that, over the years. You can pretend not to love something, bubble wrap yourself from the pain you get from the goodbye. You can tell yourself countless times that it is “just another horse”. But the pain is still there, it is just masked under a pile of lies. But not this pony.

   People come and try her out. They see whether she is the pony they want. She almost never is. For that I am thankful. Even it prolongs the time I get to spend with her by a couple of months, that time is worth it. But someday someone will come, as they always do, and they will buy her. I will not know this person. I won’t know if they will give her candy hearts, I don’t know if they will carefully groom her, I don’t know if they will hug her tight and promise to never forget her as long as they live. I don’t know if they will have soft hands, or what they will do with her, or if they will ever sell her. But one thing I know for sure is that they could never possibly love her as much as I do.

   But that day will come, like it always does for kids like me.  I am not the lucky one, who’s parents will surprise me with a pony on my birthday. I will not get a ribbon around her neck one morning saying she’s mine. Instead, some other kid will load her onto their trailer and take her home. That’s all. I probably won’t get to visit, and even they let me, I probably won’t. I couldn’t, really. I wouldn’t want to see the perfectly imperfect pony who I love with all my heart in someone else’s barn. With some other kid, who may pretend to love her but I know that they could never love her so much as I do. That’s just the way it works though.

   I will go home and cry into my pillow and wonder why I even do this anymore. And other ponies will come, yes, but they will never be the same. Instead, I will just cry and pray silently that that beautiful, beautiful, sassy bay pony mare would come back. But she won’t. They never do. No miracles will happen, they never do. I’ll always wonder what happened to her, where she is now. And no matter what great scenario I am assured she went to, I will never know. And she will never be replaced to me. Instead, that loss just adds to the others that make me the broken person I am. Maybe I should learn not to love so strongly. I don’t feel very often, but when I do, I feel strongly and love with all my existence. I wonder why I still do it, but I guess even the short time I get to spend with these amazing creatures, these perfect horses, is still worth it. 

My Fears

  Hey guys!
         Sorry I haven't written in a couple of days, I have had no inspiration whatsoever. Only this morning after doing night check at the barn and spending some time with horses do I have an idea what to write about. As you guys have seen in my other blog posts, I ride a pony named Littles.

   Littles isn't her real name, her real name is Dallas, but that name does not suit her at all. Instead she goes by a bunch of different names, including Pony, Little, Littles, Apples, and Ponygirl. :P She is 14.1 and very petite. But she has so much sass and the heart of a horse twice her size. She is 12 years old, so you'd expect she would've mellowed out years ago and would be quite well broke. Well her story goes a bit differently. From what I have been told, she was pulled out of a field when she was older (7,8,9) and broke by my trainer. She is a lovely pony with good bloodlines and she has a really good work ethic. She was a great pony, then she was sold/taken back (I dont know if my trainer owned her or if she was just training her) by a kid to have as a project. I don't really know what happened to her at that barn, but she came back untrained.

    This upsets me so much, first they ruin her then they just send her back? There were times when she was almost sent to auction, but because my trainer is a lovely human being, she didn't end up going. There were a few different riders at my barn riding her and it was all good. She was being worked and slowly taught to be the pony she used to be. She really is a good pony, just very fast. One day I got to ride her in a lesson, it was amazing. I love harder horses and had so much fun riding her. After that, my coach said I could ride her a couple times a week!

  So I started riding her, and grooming her, and then as it always does, started loving her. We started off riding in full tack, not really sure what to make of each other, then slowly the walls came down.

\

    I love this pony. I trust her. And now I will tell you my fears. So the barn I ride at with the amazing trainer and amazing horses is for sale. My trainer also leases another barn and hour and a half away from us. There are only 7 horses and few clients at the barn I am at. And it is for sale. Why my trainer still drives out here and teaches us and runs our barn, I don't know. But I am so thankful she does. It can't go on forever though, and the barn is only (hopefully) going to stay open until end of show season. I also ride the lovely Appy and will show him this year. But my biggest fear is what will happen to Littles when the barn closes? Where will she go? Will I ever see this pony who I love so much after September? 

   I don't know the answer to these questions. I've promised her I would never let her go somewhere bad. The problem is no one will lease her and the people who would buy her are not the kind of people who could give her the life she deserves. And I know every kid says this, but no one could ever love her as much I do. I know that's probably wrong, but I need her. I don't know what the future has in store, but I can only hope it is my and her together.

    Sorry for the semi depressing blog post, and thank you all for reading. Have a fabulous day!

Annie

How I Make Money For Horses as a 13 Year Old

   Hello!
Yay! I'm finally writing blog posts every day. Finally the ball of blogging is rolling! Today I'm going to be talked about the ways I make money for horses as an underage worker. It's always a struggle to make enough money to support our very expensive passion. Thankfully, my mom also loves horses so I get lots of support from her. But horses are very expensive and so is everything that comes with them. It's even harder to make enough money when you are under 16 and can't get a true part time job. I myself am under 16 so I have a few tricks up my sleeve for finding jobs and making money. Here are my tips for making some money for horses!
1. Baby sitting. I know, I know, this is the most stereotypical job ever for underage workers, but it makes money and it isn't too physically demanding. I did this when I was ten as a 'mothers helper'. It was kind of horrible, but in the end I had more money than I did before and more money to save/spend on horses. If you really like kids, this is a great choice for you. The best ways to get babysitting jobs are by taking the course, putting signs up, and straight up asking your neighbors, family friends, etc...

2. Working at a barn! This is probably the best choice for the kind of people reading this blog. Working at a barn is a good way to work off lessons, board, or just making a few bucks. There could be a few problems with this kind of job though. First off it is a very physically strenuous job. If you like that kind of work (I do) this could be a great job for you. Also, working at the same barn you ride at could cause problems. From my experience this sometimes causes problems with owing money, drama, and some other problems as well. Of course, I don't know what your situation is, but be careful when working for people who are also you trainer, barn owner, etc.

3. Pet sitting. This is one of my personal favorite jobs to do. You get to work with animals, and you get paid! This job is generally pretty fun if you don't mind cleaning up after animals. I really like working with animals whether it is horses, dogs, or cats. They don't talk back, they are cute, how could it get any better? This job is good for people who are responsible, because there is truly a life in your hands. You can't just forget to feed them one day, like you could another job. There are no sick days and no days off. But that is also good practice for owning a horse, so I really like it!

4. The last tip I have is not a job suggestion, but a tip about money. Save it! I know it's tempting to blow your money on useless things, or things you want, but especially if you are saving for something important, do not give in to the urges! I know it's hard, I want to buy that beautiful piece of tack, or tailored sportsman breeches too, but there are other things I need more than that.

   Also remember, if a job doesn't work out, if you get nothing else out of it, you get experience. You get another thing to write on your resume. And never let someone take advantage of you at a job. No matter how much you need the money, it is not worth it to suffer through a bad situation. Other jobs will come, and it never pays off to stick around in a bad situation. Thank you guys for reading and good luck saving up! Hope you guys learned some good tips for saving for our expensive sport. Thank you sosososossoso much again for reading, and have an amazing day!
Annie

Jumping 2'7 For The First Time!

    Hey guys!
       I just got back from an amazing lesson. It's the first real lesson we've had in over a month due to the horrible weather. So that is one thing making it amazing. You never realize how much you love jumping until you can't do it for extended periods of time. Also, we got to jump the highest we ever have before!!! This was in the form of a 2'7 red coop jump. My friend and I had been eyeing it since we first started on our hunter/jumper journey 9 months ago. I know to most of you 2'7 sounds like a ground pole, but to us it is huge. Of course our jumps weren't anywhere close to perfect, but the feeling of soaring through the air at a height we have never experienced before was perfect regardless.
    So the first time had the most buildup. We cantered to the fence and I could not take my eyes off of it. For a second I thought I was gonna bail, but the great Appy took over and got us over the fence. It felt huge, even though it is only a couple of inches more than what we usually jump. I, of course, failed miserably. But that's okay, the next time was tons better. I am so proud of the rider I have become, and even though there is still a lot to work on, I've achieved so much. I'm so grateful for the amazing horses and people that have helped me and taught me how not to look like a flopping fish over jumps. It takes a village to raise a kid. It also takes a village to raise a good rider. And I can't thank my own little village enough for the support and wealth of knowledge they have shared with me.
   Sorry for the short blog post, school and horses have been keeping me very busy! Thank you all so much for reading and I'll talk to you soon! To pacify you until the next blog post, here is a picture of Appy jumping an invisible jump. He swore it was there though. :P

 Have a fierce day and remember to hug your horses!

Annie

Why I Ride

    Hey!
 Sorry I missed posting yesterday, I was too busy riding! I had such a great day today, I didn't even ride! I went up to the barn to go ride Zack and Boo but it didn't end up working out. Instead, I just spent hours grooming them, playing with them, and talking to them. Sometimes you get so caught up in riding, equitation, showing, and you forget why you are really in this sport. I know I didn't start riding to show, and jump, and win pretty ribbons. I started because I was a little girl who truly loved the animal and wanted them to be a part of my life.
  If you never spend time with your horse on the ground, you never truly know them. You could ride a horse for 10 years but if you never took a moment to groom them, to be with them, to just love them, you would never truly know them and they would never truly know you. You learn so much from just being around horses that no amount of hours in the saddle could ever make up for. If you want success in equestrianism, you really have to love horses. There is no substitute for raw love and appreciation for the animal.

   It's moments like that that make you realize that even if you never win a class, or go to the olympics, or show in the big eqs, it doesn't matter. Yeah, those dreams are great, but if you have nothing else, you have a horse you love and a horse that loves you back. Even if I never show past novices, I will always have the love and connection with my horses. Even on those days that my arthritis is so bad it hurts to stand, I still have my horses. Sometimes I start to feel so hopeless, like I should just give up on my goals. I will never be the girl with the 100 000 dollar horse or the groom grooming my horse for me. I will never have the top trainers, or the best barn, and some days I start to feel like I don't even have a chance because of this. But that's not why I ride.

   I'm happy I have to work for what I get and I'm happy I don't just hand my horse off to a groom at the end of my ride. If I did that, I wouldn't have the one thing I truly love, which is the connection you get with a horse. And that, of course, also helps you to have a better connection when riding the horse. You can't expect them to work their hardest for you when you don't do the same in turn. Groom them, talk to them, love them, and they will give you the world.

   I thought since this post was inspired by my time with the wonderful Zack, I would tell you a bit more about him. He is a 14.2-15 hand ( I'm not totally sure his height, he's pretty short though to give you an idea) quarter horse. He was a really good reiner back in the day. He is so well trained when it comes to that. It;s insane to ride a horse trained to voice commands and neck reining. He is at a private hunter jumper barn owned by a family. He is the dad of the family's horse, but he doesn't ride him too often. So that's where I come in! I am helping to get him back into shape and helping to teach him the english discipline and how to jump. It's been a really fun process so far and I can't wait to see what the future brings with him.

  We are aiming to show him by March 1st, which is coming up so quickly! I can't wait to bring him out to a show, he is such a good horse. He always tries to please, and he's learning so quickly. It's gonna be very fun to bring the reiner out for a spin in the hunter ring. If you guys wanna see a video of him being a hunter horse, 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPIEXS4xMKo.

   So thank you all sosososososo much for reading! Go out and hug your horses and tell them you love them. :) Have a wonderful day!

Eqspiration And Sassy Ponies

  Hey guys!
        So as you guys know from my last blog, I was having some joint issues yesterday and couldn't really do anything. I spent all day just lying in bed watching YouTube videos. It was a pretty cruddy day. I found out that our show division was cancelled (for very stupid reasons I might add), I couldn't ride or see the ponies, it was overall a useless day of nothing. Except of course hitting 250 page views!!! Thank you all for brightening up an otherwise horrible day. So what do I do when I have nothing to do? I watch equitation videos! If you can't ride, you can always watch and learn from other people riding.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4lw9MBcu0I
   This video I have watched probably a million times. It's like I think that watching amazing riders will make me become an amazing rider! I thought I should post a link to that video in case anyone else is having a cruddy day of doing nothing at all. And for your viewing pleasure, I must post this video too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUaP0t5IUnM
   That video should pretty much make your life complete. I find it so adorable how the little boy never even seems fazed by the fact that he's falling off, getting bucked off, being taken off with, etc.. I think every little rider needs to ride a bratty little pony. Usually you grow out of the bratty pony stage when you are about 8. Me on the other hand, I never did.

   So if you are having a bad day, just come back to this blog post and watch little children being bucked off sassy ponies. That sounds a bit odd, doesn't it? We horse people are a strange breed. Anyways sorry for the short blog post, it's a bit all over the place and I'm quite busy. But regardless I hope you guys enjoyed and thank you so much for reading! Remember to hug your horses and have a lovely day!

Annie

Coping With Arthritis in the Equestrian Sports

   Hello everyone!
         So today was a really bad day. You guys probably don't know that I have juvenile arthritis. I have this in my wrists, my knees, my ankles, and it seems to be developing in my jaw and maybe my hips as well. The problem with this is that these are all joints you have to use when riding! Today it was very bad, and I had to leave school early. This of course means I have to miss my lesson. It's so frustrating, wanting to be able to do something so badly but not being able to physically. It sucks. A lot. But pitying myself never helps, and the only way to make it through this is to just push through it and keep smiling. Sometimes I feel like quitting everything, I feel like I can't do it. But as I'm sure all of you know, quitting horses is not that easy. You'll be having your worst day, and you feel like giving up on life, but then you get to the barn. All that changes. Horses make life worth it for me. If I didn't have horses, I would have nothing. They are my everything, and whether I can ride them or not, I could never give up on horses. As you guys know, I have dreams of being a top equitation rider, which of course seems next to impossible considering the circumstances. Maybe that's why I do it, because it seems so outrageous that if I can do it, I could prove something to everyone. But some days that seems to be an impossible task. I want this so bad. When you want something this bad, you can't let anything get in your way, even your own body!
     I wanted to write a blog on how I cope with my JIA. Maybe some other people here suffer from the same kind of problems, and I would love to help. I have had arthritis since I was 8 years old, so I know a few tricks for getting through the bad times. Here is Annie M's guide to surviving joint problems while riding!
1. Ride stirrupless! The best way to avoid pain caused by stirrups is not to use them! This is also great for building leg muscles, which will improve your equitation. It's killing two bird with one stone. In the beginning it seems so hard to do, but once your leg muscles build up it's a piece of cake and kind of fun too! Even if you don't have arthritis, I highly recommend trying some stirrupless riding here and there.

2. Ride in special stirrups designed to absorb shock and prevent joint pain. There are so many different types of stirrups out there on the market, there is definitely a pair that will work for you. Some attributes in a stirrup  that will relieve joint pain that you should look for are

            - Jointed stirrups

            -Twist top stirrups

            -Wide tread

  I won't get into the function of each of these attributes, but I may write another blog about stirrups only. Personally, I ride in tekna stirrups (knockoff Royal Riders :P). 

These are black composite stirrups with wide tread and a little bit of flex. I recommend trying out several different types of stirrups before choosing, because different stirrups work for different people.

 3. Wrap the problem joints and keep them warm/cold. For me, warmth helps my joints, but this will differ between people. Wrapping your problem joints will offer some support. You can use tensor bandages, specially made wraps/braces, or anything that provides support and isn't too bulky for riding. Since where I live it is very cold, this causes major problems in the winter. So sometimes I get a bit creative in finding solutions. First I took some hot packs and applied them to my knees. This solved my warmth problem. Then I took polo wraps and wrapped them around the hot packs and my knees, holding the hot packs on and supporting my joints! 

 Here you can see my slight ghetto solution in action. I'm so classy with my white polos. Do what works for you, and don't let anyone make fun of you if it works! My coach thought I was crazy, but hey! I rode well and not in pain that lesson!

   I'm sorry if I just bored all of those who don't suffer from joint problems (lucky!) but I hope I helped out a few who do. Also sorry for the rant at the top, it feels good to let it all out though. So thankyouthankyouthankyou everyone who has read this far! You are amazing and remember to never let anything stop you in achieving your dreams. Thank you all for reading, and have a fantabulous day!

Annie

100 Page Views!!!! And Some Announcements

  OMG!!!OMG!!!!OMG!!!OMG!!! So I just got 100 page views!!!! I know this probably isn't that big a deal, but I am so happy! It's so crazy seeing that people from different countries have seen my blog! Thank you so much for looking at and reading my blog! Sorry I'm really really excited about this. :) I hope whoever is reading this knows truly how much it means just knowing people are reading what I'm writing. Seeing the number 100 just makes it feel real. Anyways enough of my rambling. I had a few things I wanted to tell you guys. First was that I just found out my show division was cancelled. :( That was pretty sad, but it's okay there's always next time. As well, I wanted to tell you guys what I plan to do with this blog. I plan on writing a new blog post everyday! This is a big commitment but I'm going to try to keep up a very regular routine of posting something every day! I can't guarantee I'll be able to do every day, but you can bet I will try! So thank you all for reading, and I hope you guys have a lovely day!! :)

Haha had to post that.

Annie

Dressage vs. Hunter/Jumper

 Hey!
    I feel like there is this never ending war between different disciplines. The hunters think dressage is evil. Dressage think hunters is the worst. Every single discipline in equestrianism has stereotypes and every discipline thinks theirs is the best. So since I have ridden dressage and hunter/jumper, I thought I would share some of the stories and myths I've heard about hunter/jumper and dressage. It's pretty funny to hear what these disciplines have to say about each other. Please know these are not my personal opinions and I don't think any of them are true to the whole discipline. There are always bad people in every kind of riding, and as long as we all love and treat our horses right, you are good as gold! As well I don't blame the people who said these things or think they are bad people/riders. I'm sure they have reasons to think as they do.
    First I'll talk about what I've heard some dressage people say about hunter/jumpers.

MYTH 1- Hunter/jumpers can't really ride. They just parade around an area on push button horses.
TRUTH- Of course hunter/jumpers and ride! Some of the best riders I've ever met ride H/J. So many amazing riders ride H/J and can get on any horse and look amazing! As well, hunter horses are not as easy as they look. It takes a ton of work to get the horse looking flawless around a course of 8-12 jumps!
MYTH 2- They cover their horses in tack to make them work better.
TRUTH- If that was true, how do so many H/J riders ride tackless, bridleless, bareback? There are some riders who do this, I know, but so many ride amazingly without the use of overbitting, spurs, whips, martingales, draw reins, etc... Artificial aids are not the spawn of the devil, and when used correctly can be very useful for training purposes.
MYTH 3- All hunter kids are spoiled brats.
TRUTH- Yes, there are many spoiled hunter kids. There are also many spoiled dressage kids. No need to say more.
MYTH 4- Hunter/jumpers ruin horses.
TRUTH- I've seen so many dressage horses ruined by bad dressage riding. Yes, in every discipline there are horses being untrained by inexperienced riders, but it is really not fair to pin it on hunters and jumpers. Many wonderful horses are trained really well by hunter/jumpers. And many hunter and jumper horses can do dressage too!

 Now for the dressage myths I've heard from hunter/jumpers-

MYTH 1- Dressage riders saw on their horses mouths to make them appear round.

TRUTH- Okay, there are some dressage riders who resort to using this method, but many others don't. When a rider rides proper classical dressage, the power to be round comes from the hind end, not seesawing on the horses mouths. 

MYTH 2- Dressage riders are prissy and scared to jump.

TRUTH- Any rider who has ridden dressage knows this is not true. In fact any rider would know that to be in the equestrian sport you can't really be prissy. Dressage has it's own kind of thrill, the power and connection you have with your horse is unbelievable. It's such an amazing feeling when you and your horse are working in perfect harmony to perform a movement.

MYTH 3- Dressage riders rely to heavily on their hands to control a horse.

TRUTH- This is kind of the same idea as truth 1. When riding proper dressage, you shouldn't even need hands. You rely on your seat and legs to control the horse.

MYTH 4- Dressage people ruin horses.

TRUTH- Notice this is the same thing dressage riders think about hunters. Both disciplines produce wonderful amazing horses. Some dressage riders do ruin horses, but so do some hunter/jumpers! And as said before, many dressage horses excel at hunter/jumpers!

   So as you guys can see, these two disciplines really aren't that different when it comes down to it. Both are extremely difficult and require a different set of skills. I'm so happy I got to experience both hunter/jumper and dressage because it has truly made me a better rider. I strongly recommend trying different disciplines because there is so much to learn in horses! The more you know the better you will be. Remember we are all part of the same sport. We do this because we all love horses. It doesn't matter what saddle you ride in or the class you show in, we all love horses. This love should unite us not divide us! So remember next time you diss the hunters or call out the dressage riders or say anything about any other rider, that we all love horses and we are all in this together. Okay this blog got really cheesy really fast. Oh well! Hope you guys enjoyed!

Annie

Mother Nature Sucks! And Cleaning White Horses in the Winter

  Hello guys!

      So in case you didn't know, I'm from Canada. And since it's winter, it is super snowy. Now snow is not bad at all when you are galloping through it, or building snow ponies with your friends. And snow days are also a great perk of snowy weather. So today it was a snow day, and also my last lesson day before my first show of the season. It's all good though, we were still going to go up to the barn. Up until we figured out that we couldn't get the car out of the driveway. It hasn't stopped snowing since last night! As you guys can see from the picture, it is pretty bad. Mother nature is not in my favour of placing at this show!

  Anyways, so now that I've ranted about the (horrible) weather, I'll write a real blog post. I ride a beautiful primarily white appaloosa. He looked gorgeous in the show ring and is very noticeable, you can't take your eye off him! He also likes to sleep in his pee. Yes, he has a permanent yellow stain on his right hip that never goes away. It's so nasty, and has marinated into him all summer. And since we still can't bath due to the crummy weather, you have to get a bit creative in finding ways to make him look okay. I really don't want to be strutting around the arena with Mr Sleepsinhisownpee. Don't believe me when I say it's bad? Here's some proof-

 This picture shows that lovely yellow-orange pee stain in all it's glory. Did I mention this picture was taken during a clinic?
    I'm sure lots of other people riding appys, greys, bays with socks, or any other horse colors prone to being totally nasty looking have the same struggle as me. So I'm gonna share all the tips I've learned from riding and showing and grooming an Appaloosa. The first tip is hot toweling. Get a nice clean towel, fill a bucket with super hot water, and scrub away. Be sure the water isn't too hot for the horse to handle, test it on yourself first. The trick to doing this is dipping the towel in the water and scrubbing until the towel becomes dirty. Once it's dirty, dip a clean section in and continue scrubbing. Be sure the towel and the water are always clean or else you are juts scrubbing dirt on dirt.
   The next trick is using Ivory dish soap. Since it is too cold to wash the whole horse, just spot clean using ivory dish soap. This stuff works really well, and is generally cheaper than horse whitening shampoo. Just wet the area of trouble, apply the soap, scrub, leave it for five minutes, rinse, and voila! A slightly less dirty horse! This tip works really well for dirty white socks, but be sure not to use too much product and don't scrub too hard on sensitive skin.
   Another tip is just using the commercial horse whitening shampoos. Theses often come in colors like purple or green. I'm always scared it's gonna die Appy's socks purple, and I don't think the judges would be too impressed. It never does though, so don't worry. This tip is pretty straightforward, just follow the directions on the bottle and hope for the best. One brand of whitening shampoo I found particularly helpful is cowboy magic greenspot remover. Also there is this natural one that smells like lemons that is great, but I can remember the name. :P
    After you've done washed the stains off, showsheen the living daylights out of that area! That way no dirt (or pee) can touch all your hard work. Put a light sheet on if possible. Honestly, when it comes to keeping white horses white, you can never have too much showsheen. When you pet your horse, your hand should slide right off and be covered in showsheen, that's how I know I put enough on (I'm just kidding.... sort of).

 Here's a picture of the after effects of my whitening and brightening routine for nasty pee covered horses. It's still a little bit yellow, but Lord knows I tried. Hopefully this blog will help some other people with disgusting but adorable horses. And remember, it's just a show. Unless you are showing at Spruce meadows or something fancy, a little bit of yellow won't be the end of the world. If you go up to the barn the morning of the show and you're horse looks like he rolled in the muck pile, breath. Don't sweat it. Stay calm, cool , and collected. Don't let a little stain ruin your game. So until next time guys, keep scrubbing!

Annie

Never Be Afraid to Ask

    Hello,
       I just got back from the barn and wanted to write the story of how I got the amazing opportunity to ride Zack and Boo. It all started last summer. There was this beautiful barn just down the street from me, and I always wondered what it was and who owned it. It was even in a magazine I read, I was in awe of it. I decided to send them a letter. This honestly sounds so stupid looking back on it, but I did it anyways. So in this letter I wrote that I just wanted to be around horses, mucking, grooming, doing anything really. You could imagine my surprise when they sent me an email back asking me if I wanted to come visit! So of course, my mom and I went. We drove into the driveway and were so starstruck, this barn is amazing. We walked in, and it's even more gorgeous inside. We talked to the (wonderful) family who owns it, and they are some of the nicest people I've met. They are A circuit hunter/jumpers. I was never exposed to so many amazing horses and amazing riders until I walked through those doors. They were who I wish I could be/become. Then they asked me if I would like to ride their medium pony (Boo), who was coming back from a lease. I was so surprised, I sent a letter knowing I probably wouldn't get a response, and here I was riding their pony! I guess I did something right, because ever since then I have been riding there several times a week. I am honestly the luckiest kid ever. Now I am riding Boo, and attempting to bring him back into more consistent work. I have also started riding Zack, a quarter horse champion reiner who I get to help train to jump and get to show hunters and eqs on. I have never been riding more in my life, having multiple horses to ride at two different barns. I have never been learning and growing and getting better as fast in my riding career as I am now. My story just goes to show that asking is the best thing you can do. The worst someone can say is no, and even then you are no worse than you started. If you have big dreams in the horse world (like me), put yourself out there! Ride as many horses you can! The worst possible scenario of taking an opportunity is that you get experience if nothing else. In twenty years, it won't be the ribbons you won that make you a good rider. It will be the experiences, the tries and the fails, the good rides and the bad. Thanks for reading, and go out there and ASK!!!
   Annie