Abby's on the Way!

Hey!

Abby left her temporary home at Legacy Farm late last night (around 10). She is being hauled to my barn by Tapp's Horse Transportation and should be here very early Sunday morning. I'm so excited that she's on the way! For anyone looking to adopt a horse, I would DEFINITELY recommend New Vocations, Maker's Mark Secretariat Center, Tapp's Horse Transportation and several other private parties. They were awesome through the whole experience!

Miss Abby

Hey!

As I said in my last post, this was seriously the best Christmas ever. And a large part way was due to getting the best gift ever. That I got for myself :)) I paid for it and am currently in the process of paying my mother back for the rather large shipping fee. But it's perfectly fine with me. Because it is actually a she. And she, is a 10 year old, 16hh off the track thoroughbred. Her history post 5 months ago isn't known because she was being starved in a field with another horse. After that lovelyyy ordeal, she ended up with the best owner a horse in that situation could wish for. She's now happy and healthy with over 200 lbs gained since being rescued.



I've yet to meet her but she apparently has a sweet temperament and no vices. Except disliking cross ties. But since we don't have cross ties in my barn it shouldn't be a problem. Plus, Jazz use to dislike them too. She vets pretty clean too. No health problems with the rescue and no lameness.

I'm hoping she'll be my next jumper with some work. She's got a big jump and a stride that I loveeee. Hopefully some dressage, grid work and more schooling will get her to slow down, balance up and snap those knees up! This is her video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUx8hdmZrok

She should be hear in the first week or so of January and I'll have TONS more pictures and video of her. I can't wait!

<3 Katie

p.s. We decided her show name would be Never Say Never. I think it fits.

Christmas!

Hey!

I had an absolute awesome Christmas this year! My family is awesome and I love them to pieces! We had an awesome dinner at my grandmothers that was absolutely hilarious. My grandmother gave each of my brothers $25 and practically duct taped the boxes shut. They were wrestling to open them for nearly 5 minutes.



My full brother, Matt, and I went to my dads house to open gifts on Christmas day and I got the best horse stuff! A Micklem bridle, 2 bits (one a Fulmer!), a horse cooler, 3 training books (101 Dressage Exercises, 101 Jumping Exercises and a book of using grid work), new breeches, shorter round spurs, white polo wraps and 2 new schooling pads (one light blue and one black) ! And my favorite thing, a college text book of equine anatomy! I found all of it on sale(expect the bridle and anatomy book... but I reallyreally wanted them).

I can't wait to get everything out to the barn and use it all! Except the white polo wraps... those are not getting any where near a horse until I do something important that involves dressage... like a rating or anywhere I probably shouldn't wear my rather used and abused brushing boots. They might be old and too small but they serve their purpose and I like them. :))

Anyway, Jazz is doing awesome. Getting fat and kind of hot since the rain makes consistent, hard riding impossible. We're playing with his grain and supplements to create a diet that holds the weight but less hyper. The old boys Largo and Duce/Dunkin are doing well also. They're both on a supplement to try to keep them feeling good. The cold slows 'em up a bit but the supplements seem to help. And new news about horses coming and going! Can't wait to write about it but got to go for now!

Merry Christmas!

Weird Weather

So the weather has been beyond crazy here. On Saturday there was a high of 50 and it was miserable out. Rain and wet mostly. But I caught a break in the rain and went out to the barn for a bit. I ride Togiferd (Togey) barebark with a surcingle for the first time. He was HIGHLY confused at first, especially when I vaulted on, but he lived and we ended up having a pretty nice ride. There was a little bit of fast cantering aka IDONTWANNASTOP! from him but that was no doubt to to me trying to hold on and say stop with my seat (not hands!) at the same time. After we just chilled out in the barn for a really long time. He probably munched through 2 scoops of alfalfa cubes and 2 lbs of the apple treats.

On Sunday it was 70 degrees! I rode Jazz in just a tank top and jeans. He was beyond amazing! The improvement in his gaits is incredible!! We've been doing a lot of exercises that trainers have suggested and it seems to be paying off. He's got much better lateral flexibility as well as swing/the beginnings of impulsion in his gaits. Its so much fun to ride him on the flat now because he feels sooo good. At this point I like doing dressage with him more than jumping! crazy! We still have a lot of work to do, especially on our transitions but that will come eventually.

We ended up not going to Clemson for a variety of reasons but its all good. Jazzy and I have a clinic with one of the best show jumping course designers in the country, who is also an AMAZING coach next weekend so I'm really excited. We are signed up for the 3'3"-3'6" ground. Hoping that goes well!

<3 Katie