Horse Girl

The other day while on a hack with my friend, Cindy, I blew my nose on a Maple leaf because I just had one of those feelings up my nose that I just knew was going to ruin my (life) ride if I didn't get it out.

Now, because I am a socialized human and hang out with those that are (gasp!) non-horse people, I realize that blowing your nose on a Maple leaf just. is. not. done.

However, this got us thinking.  We horse people are clearly cut from a... ahem... different cloth.  So what things do you do that prove, without an inch of doubt, that you are a horse girl? Below are 10 of my personal favorites:

1. Blows nose on Maple leaf because she can't be bothered to dismount from her horse to go to the restroom because it would interrupt her ride.
2. Husband refers to horse as "the love of her life."
3. Wishes breeches, half chaps and a "Hairy Trotter" T-shirt was acceptable corporate work attire.
4. Shares any of her food with her horse. Extremely anti-sharing food with people.
5. Hay may as well be a hair product.
6. F-250 Diesel 4x4 is her dream car.
7. Broke ankle, called the vet.
8. Gave horse her Birthday cupcakes
9. Monthly horse payment is equal to or greater than the payment for a 3 series BMW.
10. Spends more time shopping for blankets for her horse than clothes for herself. 

The Dog Days are Over

The blog hasn't gotten much action over the last few months and that is mainly because the pony hasn't gotten much action either so we haven't had too terribly much to talk about.  It's been so incredibly hot that we've been doing mostly hacking in the woods, pony spa days, more hacking and did I mention hacking?

So, rewind to June when it was still reasonably cool and one of my favorite horse people Cindy and I decided we would crash the party at a jumper show to practice our stadium rounds. I was nervous. Nova and I had been doing almost 100% cross rails at shows and I thought he might balk at the larger fences away from home. Especially if I was frozen with fear and completely unworthy as his pilot.

My loving awesome husband basically had to put me in the car along with all my gear and get me to the barn since I was having an anxiety attack, complete with total meltdown halfway to the barn.  (He's so understanding).  After that I was feeling more up to the task at hand.

Upon arrival at Barn HQ, Cindy wasn't completely feeling it either but we decided to head to the show anyway and if we decided not to do it when we got there, no harm, no foul.

But, when we pulled in we were both feeling much better, and I had resigned myself to the fact that I was going to at least try and see what we had. Then at least we would know what to work on.

That dang pony packed my rear end all over that course with clear rounds every time! What a little star!

Now we have that under our belt and I feel confident and ready to move up to Maiden level (2' - 2'3" jumps and...ahem... cantering in dressage test!). Now to find my big girl panties so I don't wuss out :\

JUST KIDDING. No wusses here...

Cindy and Charlie were also awesome and Charlie remembered his former eventing days and went right to work, even making an incredibly tight turn at canter to cut some time off the course. I was impressed, but not surprised since Charlie is always great as long as he doesn't have a Secretariat flashback.

Now, the dog days are over, and we are all getting back to work readying ourselves for the Fall 2012 Show Season coming to a farm near you this September...

TO BE CONTINUED...