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| Trail rides can be the best rides |
The short story? Overall we're doing pretty well. We are still at the same barn from June 2023 and are so very happy here. I am exceptionally busy with the job, which prevents me from having time to blog anymore. I am lucky to find time to ride, let alone write. The job is amazing and I love it, but it sure takes a ton of time.
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| We are still riding in all kinds of weather |
Mia is doing quite well. We had lameness issues last year which ended up leading to hock and SI injections. The timeframe to diagnose/treat that did a pretty good job of wiping out my 2024 show season though. This year, the show season was looking optimistic in May, but then we forced to change farriers and the new one trimmed Mia out of balance which caused her to be lame on both front feet after 4 cycles.
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| Our girl's very first set of shoes |
We finally got that identified as the problem and fixed with x-rays, a new farrier, and, at 18yrs old, Mia's very first set of shoes. We also had some stifle injections done and she is moving soooo well now. I feel a little guilty for how she was moving, obviously she has been uncomfortable for quite a while since there is such a big difference. But I worked to fix issues as soon as I could identify them, so I am trying to not let the guilt build up. Even the trainer was saying that she was just being lazy, and I was saying it was more.
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| Mia looking good in all of the satin |
Mia's been super comfortable for just over a week now, perfect timing for me to leave on a week long work trip after having almost 3 weeks off. I have my eyes set on a derby on Oct 12th, and maybe again on Oct 26th but we'll see how it goes. I had a pretty disasterous dressage show at the beginning of the summer - the judge actually stopped me after doing USDF Training 3 to say that Mia's canter was pretty terrible and I shouldn't consider moving up the levels with this horse because it would be held against us. I got to say "Well, that's great because you are about to see us ride First 1!".
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| We have indeed won at some shows this year! |
That judge did an amazing job of destroying my self-esteem and the joy in showing, and I actually ended up crying a bit on the way home. Something I never, ever have done before, even after the other show that destroyed my confidence. It made me feel better to later learn that she also told the barn trainer that they needed lunge line lessons before touching reins again after watching them ride a 4 yr old at its first show. For a first of the season schooling show, those kind of remarks are exceptionally uncalled for and I now have a second judge whom I will never ride under again.
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| All carrots must be handed over for inspection |
After time has passed, I have found the joy in riding again and, with how Mia now feels, I am willing to entertain showing again. There is a decent winter show series for both dressage and also hunter/jumpers that we can aim for if we (I) aren't ready for ones in October.
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| Grazing time is the best time |
I am so beyond touched that multiple people reached out to me after 2 years. I do take weekly lessons, and have for almost 2 years now. Maybe I'll try to find time to document them and blog again.
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| We do still look good in blue |
How are YOU doing? It was certainly a blast logging into Blogger and seeing so many people are still blogging. Whose blogs do I need to start checking out?
