The barn where I board is full of wise old eyes: half of the horses are over 20. My old girl, Prize, is 28 and still teaches people (myself included) about riding and jumping. She’s a bright bay Arabian mare with three white socks, a snip, and a blaze. She’s not typey for an Arabian (most people think she’s part Quarter Horse), but she is fearless and enthusiastic. The riding instructor at the...
Continue reading...2013
Trail ride report
On Sunday morning, Tara invited me to come with her on a trail ride around the farm. The trail ride was fun and enlightening. Kasane was pulled out of the stall, saddled, and away we went (instead of working her in the ring first). Tara rode Rooster (Friesian/Paint cross), Carmen lead Geronimo (standardbred/QH cross), and I was on Kasane. We headed out down the road and past the pastures, and then along the...
Continue reading...Saddle fitting in the morning
Tomorrow morning we’re taking Kasane to have her saddles fitted. It’s been over a year since I purchased the Prestige Venus K monoflap saddle. It was fitted to her when she was butt high and she is now level (even slightly up hill). Because the saddles aren’t quite adjusted properly for her new physique, my lower back hurts when I ride in the saddles. The all purpose is especially hard for me, so...
Continue reading...Saddle fitting
Kasane had her saddle fitting yesterday and there were some pretty big surprises. First off, instead of being butt high, she’s leveled out. When the saddle fitter saw her, he said “Oh my!” at how much she has changed since the last time he saw her. At the saddle fitting last summer, her right side was a saddle width narrower than her left and her rump was considerably higher. This time Kasane turned...
Continue reading...Playlist for stories
I tend to create playlists for stories I’m working on. I have a playlist on Rdio that I created for Lady in the Tree (novel) and also use for Ride Softly (short story). I was helping a friend with her writing project yesterday and we started discussing play lists we make for our characters. Here is my play list for what I’m currently working on. Related Images:
Continue reading...Helping a horse find joy
When Rajiyyah first came to my barn in March, she felt odd to ride. Instead of having her legs underneath her, she felt like her legs were scattered. This feeling was very similar to riding a green horse who feels braced and ready to flee. Her back was dropped and her head was up. She was defensive. With some contact and encouragement with seat and hands, she would eventually come down and ride...
Continue reading...And Kasane said WHEE!
I spent this evening at the barn after an intensely stressful week of deadlines and conflicting priorities. So I went out and played with my girl. She was still in the barn when I got there. She yelled when she saw me. It’s been in the mid-70s, so beautiful weather and 20 degrees cooler than last week. She was up when I lead her out to the arena. I let her go when...
Continue reading...Dealing with a horse who trips
One of Isis’ scariest symptoms was her near-constant tripping. I tried various methods to help her: chiropractic treatment, acupuncture, massage, riding techniques, and other things. Before she was diagnosed with EPM, I spent years trying to figure out what was causing the tripping. Where there consistent factors in where or how we rode that contributed? Was the tripping more prevalent on one side or the other? Was there a connection with time of...
Continue reading...We Are Equestrians
Found this posted on Facebook. The video is amazing. I did some searching and found the original artist, sophianinam on YouTube, who created this video: Related Images:
Continue reading...Trim time
It had only been eight weeks since the mares had been trimmed. Last week their feet looked okay. Friday their feet in serious need of a trim. The farrier took off almost half an inch from both girls’ feet during the trim. Very impressive. Rajiyyah’s feet had grown so much that the hoof wall had overgrown the shoe. Here you can see Rajiyyah’s right foot nearly trimmed compared to her left foot which...
Continue reading...Horsebackwriter on Tumblr
A friend of mine from work sent me a link to a Tumblr blog written by Horsebackwriter. Like me, she has a bay Arabian. Her mare, Khyssie, reminds me a lot of Isis in her antics and markings. I saw the pictures of Khyssie and immediately had flashbacks to Isis Bint Sirdar. And then I read a post from August 5th that said this: The groundwork was coming along as scheduled. Everything was...
Continue reading...Stupid head cold is stupid
I went to the barn with plans for riding. It felt like it had been so long and I just wanted to ride my girls. I had been dreaming about riding them, about the way they move at the canter and how I have to sit at the trot. Breeches and paddock boots are great riding equipment, but can’t overcome a fever. I had felt okay earlier in the day. I felt light...
Continue reading...Which class and alignment are you?
Took the test and was either a 6th level Wizard or a 6th level druid. I’ll take the druid. I Am A: Neutral Good Human Druid (6th Level) Ability Scores: Strength-14 Dexterity-16 Constitution-12 Intelligence-16 Wisdom-17 Charisma-17 Alignment:Neutral Good A neutral good character does the best that a good person can do. He is devoted to helping others. He works with kings and magistrates but does not feel beholden to them. Neutral good is...
Continue reading...Nerdy Love Song and kitty
Kotaku had an article today featuring the video below showing a lady singing Nerdy Love Song with the help of an enthusiastic kitten. So much cuteness in one video. Related Images:
Continue reading...Gaming theory and stuff
A friend of mine and I were talking about gaming theory before lunch today. These are the sites we talked about. I’m posting these so I can go back and read them later. Bundle of Holding — like a software bundle except with RPGs. Role-playing game theory GNS Theory (gamist, narrativist, simulation). Provides common terms for gamers to discuss what they want in a game. A Dark Room, online rpg Related Images:
Continue reading...