Calm, Forward, Straight
Showing posts with label happy birthday Val. Show all posts
Showing posts with label happy birthday Val. Show all posts
Saturday, January 26, 2019
Thursday, January 26, 2017
💟 1.26.02 💟
Youth is the gift of nature,
but age is a work of art.
Stanislaw Jerzy Lec
To celebrate his 15th birthday today, Val enjoyed an afternoon of pampering - massive currying + scratches, conditioning mane and tail for continued lushness, and a sweet pedicure, followed by his favorite treat - gingersnaps. I can confirm we are now officially into shedding season. Can't believe this will be our eighth year together. :D
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| Love this guy |
Sunday, January 26, 2014
Many Happy Returns!
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| (edited to add Val didn't get this cake - it's an internet creation - but he would love it!) |
Saturday, January 26, 2013
At the Barn #62 - Tomorrow never knows...
The day began by letting Val go naked - for first time in several days - giving his blanket and underoos (shoulder guard) time to air out.
A shoulder massage and major grooming session followed this afternoon. He who has been Mr. Antsy Pants since the weather changed, rested in the cross ties, periodically yawning and snorting contentedly. A full tail comb-out, mane + forelock brush (sighs for this) and a tidy up of the bridle path (mmmmm, clippers) finished out the afternoon's pampering.
After getting dressed again, a small friend stopped by to share carrots. This is the first time that little G (three year old son of my photographer friend A) has been brave enough to feed the beast. We'll get him hooked on horses yet!
G kept a steady stream of carrots coming, giggling delightedly. I kept the piranha mouth busy between bites with pieces of soft peppermint stick. The small friend didn't lose any of his digits, though I worried about Val grabbing the tiny mitten along with a carrot - after what I went through with him the previous evening...
(Cue dreadful music)
Last night while layering Val up with his blankies, out of the corner of my eye, I could see him flipping the mitten he snitched from my pocket while I fumbled around with the icy buckles. Did I mention it was dark, and sleeting? I went to put my mittens back on, but could only find one in my pocket, and nothing on the ground. (!)
Let's just say I jammed my forearm into his mouth, frightened he had already swallowed. Frantic visions of hooking up the trailer, and driving through sleet and snow to an after hours vet emergency filled my head. What a relief to find a soggy mitten plastered to the roof of Val's mouth, though I was prepared to send the search party further if necessary.
Despite your best efforts, we made it through another year. Happy Birthday my sweet Valentino - 11 years young today. Love you buddy!
A shoulder massage and major grooming session followed this afternoon. He who has been Mr. Antsy Pants since the weather changed, rested in the cross ties, periodically yawning and snorting contentedly. A full tail comb-out, mane + forelock brush (sighs for this) and a tidy up of the bridle path (mmmmm, clippers) finished out the afternoon's pampering.
After getting dressed again, a small friend stopped by to share carrots. This is the first time that little G (three year old son of my photographer friend A) has been brave enough to feed the beast. We'll get him hooked on horses yet!
G kept a steady stream of carrots coming, giggling delightedly. I kept the piranha mouth busy between bites with pieces of soft peppermint stick. The small friend didn't lose any of his digits, though I worried about Val grabbing the tiny mitten along with a carrot - after what I went through with him the previous evening...
(Cue dreadful music)
Last night while layering Val up with his blankies, out of the corner of my eye, I could see him flipping the mitten he snitched from my pocket while I fumbled around with the icy buckles. Did I mention it was dark, and sleeting? I went to put my mittens back on, but could only find one in my pocket, and nothing on the ground. (!)
Let's just say I jammed my forearm into his mouth, frightened he had already swallowed. Frantic visions of hooking up the trailer, and driving through sleet and snow to an after hours vet emergency filled my head. What a relief to find a soggy mitten plastered to the roof of Val's mouth, though I was prepared to send the search party further if necessary.
Despite your best efforts, we made it through another year. Happy Birthday my sweet Valentino - 11 years young today. Love you buddy!
Thursday, January 26, 2012
In the Arena # 102 - No pain, no gain + awards!
I love when awards roll around the blogosphere. It's a great opportunity to discover new blogs, and share your favorites. (And prizes make me happy!)
We've been given the Liebster award by Amy at Slow and Steady Wins the Race, and Annette from News From Aspen Meadows. Amy's blog shares how she manages to train her ottb Steady to be an eventer - her passion, as well as run a farm and be a full time mother. She tells it like it is, with a great sense of humor. Annette rides dressage, cooks good looking food, and has a most beautiful ranch with many lovely residents, featuring her horses Jackson and Winston.
Liebster means “dearest” in German, and the award is intended to help up-and-coming blogs get the attention they deserve. Here are the rules:
1. Copy and paste the award on our blog.
2. Link back to the blogger who gave you the award.
3. Pick your five favorite blogs with less than 200 followers, and leave a comment on their blog to let them know they have received the award.
4. Hope that the five blogs chosen will keep spreading the love and pass it on to five more blogs!
Here are my choices - spreading the love. :)
Paradigm Farms Horse Retirement - Melissa and her husband Jason run an absolutely perfect equine retirement farm in Tennessee. Besides providing loving, conscientious care to the residents, somehow Melissa and Jason find time to (frequently) document their goings on with photos, video and stories. What a bonus for the horses' people!
Collecting Thoroughbreds - Sarah's blog documents she and her ottb Derby's dressage journey seriously, but always with humor. I relate to her so much - and am very jealous of her awesome trainer.... see next award recipient.
TB at X - Christy is a sensitive, thoughtful dressage trainer who uses patient classical methods to train her two ottbs and a number of students (see previous award recipient). She is also blessed with the ability to put her knowledge and experience into words, clearly and concisely. Her blog posts always resonate.
Of horses and boys... and everything in between - horsemom balances motherhood and her dressage journey with humor and passion. We're on the same page about putting our horses first as we navigate the realm of classical dressage.
TB Friends - Joe Shelton runs a super successful thoroughbred rescue and re-homing operation in California. He saves injured horses right off the track. He deals with the kill buyers. He helps folks who are losing their farms. He has a loyal group of volunteers as well as a huge online following. A more humble, dedicated man you may never meet. Beautiful things happen because of this blog. Visit - you'll be inspired.
Anti-saddle bareback campaign ride #2... an effective ride with tons of trotting. Forward is coming back. I believe I'm getting the hang of the posting without stirrups thing. Iron thighs and a core of steel when this is all said and done... and tomorrow I expect to hurt. Badly.
Terry from Moondance Ranch left me a great comment on my past post, with a link to the series of 9 Schleese videos about proper saddle fitting. Great resource. I wish I had seen these before I bought my saddle. I feel like I can make an informed choice about saddle fit now - and be a proper advocate for my horse. The videos absolutely confirmed that because of his shoulders, Val needs a wider tree. Even though he has sufficient wither clearance with a medium, he doesn't have room to move his shoulders. I hope we haven't done too much damage.
Speaking of Val - happy 10th birthday my mane man!!! The new saddle is coming, but until then....
We've been given the Liebster award by Amy at Slow and Steady Wins the Race, and Annette from News From Aspen Meadows. Amy's blog shares how she manages to train her ottb Steady to be an eventer - her passion, as well as run a farm and be a full time mother. She tells it like it is, with a great sense of humor. Annette rides dressage, cooks good looking food, and has a most beautiful ranch with many lovely residents, featuring her horses Jackson and Winston.
Liebster means “dearest” in German, and the award is intended to help up-and-coming blogs get the attention they deserve. Here are the rules:
1. Copy and paste the award on our blog.
2. Link back to the blogger who gave you the award.
3. Pick your five favorite blogs with less than 200 followers, and leave a comment on their blog to let them know they have received the award.
4. Hope that the five blogs chosen will keep spreading the love and pass it on to five more blogs!
Here are my choices - spreading the love. :)
Paradigm Farms Horse Retirement - Melissa and her husband Jason run an absolutely perfect equine retirement farm in Tennessee. Besides providing loving, conscientious care to the residents, somehow Melissa and Jason find time to (frequently) document their goings on with photos, video and stories. What a bonus for the horses' people!
Collecting Thoroughbreds - Sarah's blog documents she and her ottb Derby's dressage journey seriously, but always with humor. I relate to her so much - and am very jealous of her awesome trainer.... see next award recipient.
TB at X - Christy is a sensitive, thoughtful dressage trainer who uses patient classical methods to train her two ottbs and a number of students (see previous award recipient). She is also blessed with the ability to put her knowledge and experience into words, clearly and concisely. Her blog posts always resonate.
Of horses and boys... and everything in between - horsemom balances motherhood and her dressage journey with humor and passion. We're on the same page about putting our horses first as we navigate the realm of classical dressage.
TB Friends - Joe Shelton runs a super successful thoroughbred rescue and re-homing operation in California. He saves injured horses right off the track. He deals with the kill buyers. He helps folks who are losing their farms. He has a loyal group of volunteers as well as a huge online following. A more humble, dedicated man you may never meet. Beautiful things happen because of this blog. Visit - you'll be inspired.
❆❆❆❆❆❆❆❆❆❆❆❆❆❆❆❆❆❆❆❆❆❆
Anti-saddle bareback campaign ride #2... an effective ride with tons of trotting. Forward is coming back. I believe I'm getting the hang of the posting without stirrups thing. Iron thighs and a core of steel when this is all said and done... and tomorrow I expect to hurt. Badly.
Terry from Moondance Ranch left me a great comment on my past post, with a link to the series of 9 Schleese videos about proper saddle fitting. Great resource. I wish I had seen these before I bought my saddle. I feel like I can make an informed choice about saddle fit now - and be a proper advocate for my horse. The videos absolutely confirmed that because of his shoulders, Val needs a wider tree. Even though he has sufficient wither clearance with a medium, he doesn't have room to move his shoulders. I hope we haven't done too much damage.
Speaking of Val - happy 10th birthday my mane man!!! The new saddle is coming, but until then....
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