Chrome Ride 115 - 100 Ride Challenge Ride 1 - Life Update

 I have missed the view between these incredibly cute, fuzzy ears!

There is so much I want to say... so much I have on my mind... but I don't want to turn this into a long, boring, rambling post, so I'm going to try to keep it short and to the point.

I started reading blogs again yesterday, trying to get caught up.  I am months, almost a year, behind on a lot of my favorite blogs.  I feel so bad for getting that far behind, but life happens I guess.  I hate to say it, but I did use the mark all as read button in my blog reader.  :(  I am still going to try to catch up on a bunch of blogs, but it might have to be one a week or something like that.

I've been feeling really sorry for myself lately.  I was really happy and optimistic back in December because I was leaving a job I absolutely hated that was killing me emotionally and destroying my back physically, but then the horses got sick, then I got sick (took three weeks and antibiotics to get over a sinus/ear infection and then the side effects from the antibiotics, finally feeling normal again!), then they started working me nights at the new job (which I was told I wouldn't have to do) so my sleeping schedule is screwed up and my insomnia is kicking in big time (I'm very dependent on a predictable eating and sleeping schedule to keep myself happy, sane and healthy)... so a lot has been going on and I have been getting really depressed (vitamin D deficiency doesn't help... I have started taking my supplements again though).  I was even starting to wonder why I have horses because I never do anything with them and thinking maybe I should just sell them, but I realized what I was doing and sternly told myself to knock it off.  It was just the stress and lack of sleep talking.  I would regret it if I got rid of my boys.

In the midst of my huge pity party I read Nicku's blog Polka Dot Periodical about her having to euthanize her best friend and I realized how big of an ungrateful idiot I was being (go hug your horses guys).  So I decided to get over my funk (easier said than done, but a wake up call helps and having a weekend off to spend with hubby for the first time in six weeks helps).  Then I read about the 100 Day Horse Challenge (I shortened it to 100 Ride Challenge in my title) over at Gray Horse Matters (post here) and was considering trying the challenge to find my elusive motivation.  She told me to just do it, because I had nothing to lose and everything to gain (she also asked me to come back to blogging which was so sweet and helped inspire me to want to write again), so I'm going to do it!

The 100-Day Horse Challenge originated with Linda at Beautiful Mustang (post here) and the goal is to improve your horse skills through riding and/or training horses, at least 100 days out of the year.  A day in the saddle always counts towards the challenge, but anything else has to demonstrate that you're working toward an objective, rather than just hanging out.  Considering I hadn't ridden Chrome since October 4th which is FIVE months this is definitely something I need to do (if not he will always be green!  He needs experience!)!  So our first ride was today.

There is a TON of rain coming (like days on end, maybe up to 6 or 7 inches!) so I knew I needed to hurry and ride this morning, so I just threw his bridle on and got on bareback.  I will be completely honest.... I was kind of scared... I haven't ridden bareback much since I fell off (he spooked and spun while I was riding bareback over a year ago... how has it been a YEAR????) so I was very tense.  Every time he looked at something, tensed, the dog came around a corner, the squirrels ran through the leaves, a neighbor horse neighed, the donkey brayed, etc. everything made me tense up and/or flinch!  It was crazy.

I only rode 17 minutes at a walk with a couple of short trots.  Then when I saw the mail lady drive by I used it as an excuse to get off and get the mail (I can't open the gate from his back very well, so I got off, then couldn't get back on because he's too tall).  He was a little tense and stiff (he's very out of shape and was just trimmed), but he was fine.  He's a saint to put up with a ball of nerves hanging on his back.  I was consciously forcing myself to relax my muscles from the waist down, but I was definitely carrying some tension in my shoulders and neck (good thing we don't work on a contact yet lol).

After walking up the driveway and back (he was very eager going up because he could smell the neighbor horses and hasn't seen them in a long time) I stopped him in front of the house and asked him to flex laterally and then worked on backing up some.  Then I spotted my mom standing on her porch and laughed because I didn't know I was being watched.  Talking and laughing with her calmed me down and that's when I was able to chill, stop being hyper aware of the environment and trotted some.  She also said he was very pretty and getting so light.  I love when she compliments him because she's not a horse person (she likes them, will pet them and thinks they are pretty, but she doesn't want to handle them) and doesn't see him very much because she doesn't go out to the pasture.  I love my mom, but I definitely didn't inherit the horse gene from her hehehe.

Anyway, it was a nice, short, uncomplicated, get back into the groove kind of ride.  Challenge accepted!  :D

Sorry for all the chattering that I said I wasn't going to do lol.  Here are the pictures.

He melts my heart!

I forgot to mention I rode Chrome over to the pasture fence to see Rocky.  They sniffed noses and Chrome nibbled on Rocky's face.  Then Yankee came running up and started harassing Rocky, jumping on him, climbing his back legs, doing his stupid goat noise thing, etc.  It pissed Rocky off!  He pinned his ears and Chrome thought it was something he did, so he spun away.  I squealed in fright because spinning while riding bareback is how I came off a year ago!  I stayed on though lol.  He wasn't cantering sideways this time so that helps haha.  Then I was able to snap the above picture of Rocky going after Yankee.  I hate to admit it, but I laughed!!  I have no sympathy for the goats.  They bring it on themselves.

Which reminds me of a story my mom told me.  One evening when I was at work mom was in her front yard looking up at the pasture and Chrome was laying down.  Rebel was being obnoxious and torturing Chrome, not letting him nap.  She felt sorry for Chrome because the goat was relentless.  Chrome finally stood up, grabbed the goat (by the neck? back? not sure), picked him up clear off the ground and THREW him!! She was shocked!  I wish I had seen it!!!  I'm so glad to hear that Chrome stood up for himself because the goats are total pests and it's like they get away with it 99% of the time.   I wish I had that on video because I have never in my life seen a horse throw a goat!  It's kind of intimidating when you realize how powerful their jaws and necks are!

 When I put Chrome back in the pasture he turned back to the fence and immediately started offering smiles.  He is so cute!!

 Here is what he offered.  I wasn't really ready with the phone so I missed the better efforts.

Then I picked some grass and clover as a reward for his efforts and asked him one more time and got this (I was ready that time hehe).  I love him!  He is so cute!

So if anyone else is interested in the challenge please join us!!  I know we're getting a late start, but it's still possible and even if we don't finish it in 2016 we can still do it in 365 days.  :)  I'm looking forward to giving it a shot.  I really want to improve Chrome's fitness (for his benefit) and get him more experienced about the world and riding in general (for both of our benefit).  I obviously know that things can happen such as getting sick (heck he's already had the staggers and I've had a sinus/ear infection this year so it's fresh on my mind that this is a possibility) or injured, so if it doesn't happen I'm not going to beat myself up or consider myself a failure.  It's a challenge, a goal, nothing more.  No pressure, deadlines, perfectionism (hard one for me to fight), etc.  We are going to have fun and work on improving our relationship and training.  That's the whole point of the challenge after all.  Wish us luck!! :D

DIY Horse Ownership Giveaway

Olivia over at Do It Yourself Horse Ownership is celebrating 200 posts with a giveaway so make sure to check it out!! LINK

Escape Down Under Giveaway

I have to make this quick or I'm going to be late for work, but I wanted to share about this giveaway. There's only eleven and a half hours left so don't wait to enter!  The author is HY Hanna, better known as Hsin-Yi from the Big Honey Dog blog where she wrote about her Great Dane Honey.  I've been following her blog since 2008 or 2009.  She's an awesome blogger, dog owner and trainer and now author!  I've loved every single one of her books that I've read so far.  I'll be doing a review on this book when I finish it in a couple of days on my other blog.  To enter go here (http://www.hyhanna.com/giveaways/escape-down-under-gift-hamper/?lucky=22).

Kenai Needs Surgery!

One of my favorite blogs is In Omnia Paratus and I just found out her beautiful Siberian Husky needs surgery on his stifle (knee).  She has the money for most of the surgery, but she doesn't have enough for all of it or the PT he will need.  If you can help, please do.  Here is the link (http://www.gofundme.com/ra67q48) to the GoFundMe page where you can donate.   Thanks everyone!

DIY Horse Ownership Contest

This is just a quick post to let you know that Chrome is fine.  We've been having lots of rain and I'm working extra hours so I haven't been riding, but the mudball doesn't really mind lol.  Anyway check out this great contest that Olivia is doing for her 100th post (LINK).  Below are pictures of the signs she carves.  She's making one as the prize!  :D

Secret Santa Gift!

Tracy from Fly On Over did her second annual Blogger Gift Exchange.  This was my first time joining and I really enjoyed it!  My Secret Santa is Miss Em from A Blonde, Brunette and a Redhead.  

Miss Em drew Chrome!!!!!  It is so awesome!!  Every time I see bloggers getting art of their horses as gifts I always think it would be really cool to have something of Chrome.  I love drawing, but for some reason I can't draw Chrome.  I can draw horses, but I can't get him right.  I've been working on a charcoal drawing of him and I'm so OCD I can't finish it LOL!!  So I'm beyond thrilled with my gift.  I LOVE it!  Thank you Miss Em!!

It's perfect!! 

December 10 Questions

I have to tell a story before I get to L.'s questions for December.  The other day I was walking out to the pasture to feed Chrome or something.  I knew he was standing facing the gate because I saw him out my window.  I went outside, closed the door and proceeded to sneeze six times as I walked noisily through all of the fallen leaves (our property is covered in oak trees) toward the pasture.  Halfway there when I'd finally stopped sneezing I noticed that Chrome was asleep.  The donkey was staring at me, but Chrome had his ears back and eyes closed.  I kept walking, not particularly being quiet, but not saying anything either.  I got within six feet of him when he finally heard me, opened his eyed, startled in place and then started nickering this long never ending nicker.  It was sooooo cute!  It scared him, but he recognized me immediately and nickered a greeting that went on and on.  :)

Now on to the questions.

1. What size horse do you prefer to ride? I can comfortably ride horses smaller than Chrome for trail rides, but they would be hard to do dressage on since my legs would hang away from their sides.  Chrome is 15.2hh and he is about the shortest I think I could go for dressage, unless the horse was really broad.  He's kind of narrow, but fat, so my calves touch his sides and that's the most important thing.  If my stirrups are short enough my heels will touch his sides.  When I ride bareback my feet hang way below his belly hehe.  The horse I took lessons on that I was most comfortable on was 16.1hh, but I've ridden a 17hh horse that was nice too.  I'm 5'10" with long legs, so I like a bigger horse, but not too big.  I think 16hh was my favorite, but I can't complain about Chrome's height either, especially as I get older and think about how far it is to the ground.  If I was shorter all I would ride is ponies though.  I love small horses and ponies.  So fast, agile and fun.  :)  I think that long, rambling answer was about as clear as mud... we'll just say anywhere from 15.2hh to 16.2hh is my favorite depending on how wide the horse is.  :)

2. Do you school in tall boots or half chaps and paddock boots? Half chaps and paddock boots.  I've never even tried on tall boots.

3. What do you do with your ribbons after shows? I've never competed, so no ribbons.

4. Do you ride/board at a large show barn or a small private barn? I keep my horse at home, but the barn where I'll be taking lessons is a small private barn.  The owner and some of the boarders compete in dressage, but there are a lot of casual horse owners that board there.  There's usually around twenty horses or so living there.  

5. Have you ever seen a horse give birth? Not in person, no.  As a kid the pregnant mare we bought delivered during the day, but we totally missed it.  I haven't had the opportunity to be around any other pregnant mares though.

6. What is your favorite breed? No way anyone will guess the answer to this one!  Friesians!  :D

7. Favorite tack brand? Dunno.

8. Would you ever buy used tack? Yep!  A lot of my stuff (or most) is used.

9. Ever been on a carriage ride? Yep once!  It was one of my Thirty Before Thirty bucket list items and I finally got to do it this year at the polo match.  There was a guy giving rides with his adorable pony and I got to go.  It was awesome because we went down roads, up and down some steep hills, over a covered bridge.  I went with his relatives so I got a wild fifteen minute ride instead of the one or two minute circle rides that everyone else (mostly kids) were getting.  :)  You can see the post along with pictures here.

10. How often do you go to the tack store? Every weekday.  I work at a feed/tack store.  :)

R.I.P. Steele

I don't know how many of you follow Teresa's blog Journey with a Dancing Horse, but it has always been one of my favorite blogs.  She has just suffered a devastating loss.  Her sweet, beautiful young Andalusian Steele broke his leg because of some stupid dogs that got after him.  He's gone and my heart is broken.  I never met him, but I loved him anyway.  Goodbye sweet Steele.  I am so very sorry for your loss Teresa.  I don't even know what to say.  I wish there was something I could do to ease your pain.

November's 10 Questions

These are all pictures from last winter simply because I'm sick of not having pictures lol.

 

It's time for another one of the Viva Carlos 10 questions posts!

1. Have you ever owned a horse? Yes.  My parents bought my first horse when I was only five years old.  :D

2. What is your favorite aspect of your discipline? I don't really have a discipline.  I've always just been a trail rider.  I took dressage lessons, but never competed.  I want to do dressage and competitive trail riding with Chrome.  My favorite aspect of dressage is teaching the horse to use himself better so he can be healthy longer (no plans to do upper level ever).  My favorite aspect of CTR (even though I haven't tried it) is exploring new places, it's like trail riding and obstacles are just fun hehe.

3. What pet peeves do you have concerning your discipline? I don't really have any pet peeves.  With dressage I find it kind of annoying when people NEVER ride their horse outside of an arena.  That just seems so unhealthy for them mentally.  Not all dressage riders do that though.  I don't know enough about CTR to have any pet peeves.  :)  I'm a fairly laid back person who doesn't get annoyed easily (except at myself).

4. Do you do barn chores? I keep my horse at home so I do ALL the chores.  :)

5. What is your least favorite barn chore? The sad truth is hay shopping!  I hate trying to find hay, finding it and then finding out they quit selling it, etc.  Or dishonest people who sell you amazing hay and then try to push crap hay over on you saying it's the same stuff when it so obviously isn't.  The whole thing is just so stressful.  Besides that I think cleaning out the run in shed.  It's nice having a tractor, but I still have to do a lot of shoveling and I almost always hurt my back.  I wish they would stop pooping in there!!!  I guess I could clean it every day and then I wouldn't have that problem....

6. What do you consider the worst vice in a horse? All of them!  Haha! I like a well behaved horse.  Bucking and rearing are dangerous.  Biting and kicking are painful and can be dangerous.  Cribbing is bad for their health.  Chewing on things is expensive and not good for their teeth.  Pawing is super annoying, bad for their hooves and destroys fences.  Lucky for me (knock on wood) Chrome doesn't do any of those things.  Well he crow hops, but I don't think it's out of meanness.  He's just green and confused.

7. What saddle brand is your favorite? Um.... I don't know.  I honestly could not tell you the brand of any saddle I've ever owned.... I probably knew some of them, but I never remember them.  I rode in Wintec dressage saddles for my lessons and they were super comfortable, but other than that I have no idea.  I guess I could say Wintec is my favorite, but it seems weird to say that when I've never tried anything else!

8. Do you ride with a quarter sheet in the winter? Never have, but they sure are cute!  Chrome totally needs one on cuteness factor alone if I ever win the lottery (which I won't because I don't play).  ;)  I don't normally ride when it's cold... that's a new thing I'm trying this year... lol.  We'll see how it goes.

9. Does your horse wear boots? What kind? Nope he never has.... that would probably be funny though.  I wonder what he would do?

10. Full seat or knee patch breeches? I've only ever worn knee patch.  I'm curious about full seat.  I never even knew their purpose until I read the comment's on L's blog lol.  I could go for some extra stickiness though hehe.  Are they comfortable though?  They don't look comfortable...  I don't see me spending the money on them anyway since I ride in jeans and sweat pants more than my breeches.  :)

Thanks for the questions L.  They were fun!

October's Ten Questions

L. at Viva Carlos asks some great questions!

1. How many pairs of breeches/jods do you own? Two... seriously.  I ride in jeans and sweat pants a lot lol.  Shorts sometimes too!

2. How many horses have you ridden? This one was hard!!!  I thought of as many as I can, but I probably missed some.  Beware lots of pictures and info!

I don't remember anything before I was five, but I might have ridden fair ponies or something.... not sure.  Here are the ones I do remember...

Horses I've owned and ridden include: Tony, a pinto pony gelding (sorry no pics, before I owned a camera).  Whopper Stopper, a big (like 17hh+) bay OTTB gelding (sorry no pics, before I owned a camera).  Lady, my Appaloosa mare that I've mentioned on here before.  Lightning, a chestnut Quarter horse mare that belonged to my sister during the same time frame that I had Lady.  Cloud, a weird colored (I don't even know what it's called) Quarab filly that Lightning was pregnant with when we bought her, so she was also the first baby we raised.  Finn, a 15.2hh bay OTTB gelding.  And Chrome obviously.  Oh and Rory (short for Aurora) a piebald mare that I actually didn't ride for the first time until after we had given her to a friend because she was too young when we had her.  It was really neat going back to ride her.  :)

Cloud

What color is she?? She was born this color from day one.

 Four years old in 2002.

Three years old in 2001.  Loved her roman nose!

 Thirteen years old back in 2011 when I went back out to visit her at her new home.  

I gave her to a friend in 2003.  She's gotten lighter, but did not gray out.

Aurora (Rory)

Around two or three in 2004 when I had her.  

I only had her a year, she was a project horse that I basically 

bought because a neighbor was sending her to the auction house.

 Around nine years old in 2011 when I went to visit her in her new home.

Finn

I only had him two years and he sadly died of twisted gut.  :(

 Finn with my Appy mare Lady.

 I sucked at conformation shots back then!!  This was in 2004.

 Love this picture of me galloping him down the road.  

Wish I hadn't had that expression on my face.

 Dressed up in the jousting knight outfit my mom and I made.

Lady

This mare means the world to me.  I love her with all my heart. I had her for thirteen years before I gave her to a friend because I was moving to a place where I couldn't keep a horse.  

 2004.

 2004

2004.  See Finn in the background?

I don't know why I only got pics from 2004... must have been because the others sucked.

2011 at 21 years old at her new home.

 I miss her so much!  I really need to go visit her again!

Lightning

My sister's Quarter horse mare.
Mother to Cloud.

 

 

I went on one guided trail ride in 1996 where I rode an appy gelding named Moe.... I have no idea how I remember that considering I haven't thought of it in years.  It was short for Molasses and yes he was that slow!!

Horses I exercise rode or started under saddle:  Tory, a bay Paint mare.  A big, stocky gray mare (I think Appendix) that I can't remember the name of... she was trained for roping and was amazing!  You could steer her and stop her with your pinky finger.  Grizz, a big bay gelding that was severely hand shy on his right side which I found out about when I reached up to brush my hair back and got dumped under his feet.  An evil bay Quarter horse gelding that I can't remember the name of (actually I'm 99% sure it was Jack) who had a hideous bucking problem that I wasn't told about until I was bucked off  (he immediately went back home).  There was one more that I started under saddle that was an absolute dream... I gave his owner lessons too but I can't remember any details... dang!  The bay and Grizz are two of the reasons I have fear issues now...

Tory

Horses from the dressage stable where I worked:  Timmy, a chestnut Appendix gelding lesson horse.  Baby, a bay Anglo-Arab mare lesson horse.  Boomer, a black Thoroughbred/Appaloosa cross gelding that I've mentioned on here.  I was in love with him and it was a dream come true to get to take lessons on him.  Dolly, a chestnut Missouri Foxtrotter that I exercise rode.  Mel, a buckskin Quarter horse gelding that belonged to a friend.  Mac, a really tall bay Thoroughbred gelding that I exercise rode.  Ruler a chestnut American Saddlebred gelding that I trail rode.

 Baby, 20 something Anglo Arab mare.

 Boomer, approx. 11 year old Thoroughbred/Appaloosa gelding.

 Dolly, four year old Missouri Foxtrotter.

 Mac, Thoroughbred gelding.

 Mel, approx. ten year old Quarter horse gelding.

Timmy, Appendix gelding.

Ruler, approx. 14 year old American Saddlebred gelding.

My twin sister loved him like I loved Boomer.  :)  That's her hosing him off.

All of those pictures and ages above were around 2004.

There was a Paso (don't remember if it was Peruvian or Fino) that I rode once.  I rode him/her up and down the road a couple of times.  It was the first time I had ridden a gaited horse and good grief that horse was volatile!  It was like riding dynamite!

When I was a kid I had a couple of friends who had two horses.  A palomino and something else.  I don't remember anything else about them but I know I rode them a few times.

I rode a little gray pony on the same day we were trying out horses when we bought Whopper.  I don't remember anything else about the pony...

I rode a bay Thoroughbred gelding at the therapeutic riding center where I used to volunteer.  I can't remember his name though!  I think it was actually Finnegan because I thought it was weird he had the same name as the OTTB I had that died.

I also rode a huge bay Selle Francais gelding that I was thinking about buying.  He was incredible, but his owner was too clingy and creepy so we passed on him.  The whole situation just felt weird.

My best friend's horses Sexy, bay Paint stallion (first stallion I ever rode!), Tony, bay Quarter horse, Pretty, bay Paint mare, Rocky, Paint gelding (he's actually solid black with white legs though) and Z her Friesian mare that I've posted pictures of me riding on the blog.

 Z

Best friend's Friesian mare.

Dream come true right there folks!

Sexy

Best friend's Paint stallion.

 

Pretty

Best friend's Paint mare.

 Pretty, with Tony in the background.

She is not sway backed... not sure why she looks it here.

Rocky

Best friend's Paint gelding.

 The mule foal belonged to the lady who owned the land.

 Rocky ridden by me and Tony in the background.

Tony

Best friend's Quarter horse gelding.

And the best ride of them all... ;)

 

 Love him this much!  Hehe.

There are probably others that I took a quick spin on, but I don't remember for sure so I'm not including them.  So that's 32 horses that I actually remember.  The ones I don't remember I guess are lost to history.  :)

3. How many trainers have you had? Only one.  The owner of the dressage stable where I worked for over three years and took dressage lessons for a year.  She will be my trainer again when I have the money to start taking lessons on Chrome.

4. How many barns have you ridden at? Only one (see above answer).

5. What is the name of the horse you consider yourself to have the greatest bond with? Chrome

6. What is your favorite show name you've ever encountered? Uhh.... I'm sure I've seen some great ones, but trying to remember would probably give me a migraine lol.  I have a horrible memory.

7. What do you consider your greatest weakness or flaw in riding? Inconsistency!  I don't ride on a consistent schedule (yeah just call me a fair weather rider with no covered arena) and that really impedes progress.  Lack of lessons/trainer does too!

8. What do you consider to be your greatest strength? Um...  I'm kind to the horses.  Is that considered a strength?

9. Have you ever leased a horse? Nope.

10. What is the name of the first horse you rode? If I rode before I was five I don't remember.  My first pony was an adorable pinto gelding named Tony.  I think he was a buckskin pinto if I remember right.  He was sweet, but stubborn and he did buck me off once lol.  Sadly he died of colic after only a year with him.  He was very old though!  The vet said he was a lot older than the guy that we bought him from said he was.

Thanks for the great questions L!  Especially the one about the horses we've ridden. That was a lot of fun!