tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13542907456108765462024-03-12T21:42:29.416-07:00The Fabled Christmas PonyThe chronicles of a girl, a horse, and a whole lot of trainingColbyJazzmushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555076374298205933noreply@blogger.comBlogger76125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1354290745610876546.post-87239788163045478542016-02-19T09:49:00.000-08:002016-02-19T20:14:00.445-08:00Catching up at long last<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The time has come again for real updates. The hardest part of not blogging is that it gets much harder because when you haven't written, it feels like you have so much backstory to catch up on you can't just update on what's new. No more. I am going to update on now, or I'm never going to start again. <br />
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Jazz has been doing awesome. I've been riding with an eventing coach since the summer, learning pretty much only dressage so far. I took almost the entire fall off of riding lessons when classes started up. My first semester schedule was a horrible drudgery which left me with basically only time to ride on weekends. I was really struggling through September and most of October, because I couldn't ride enough to keep Jazz fit, so it was conditioning work constantly, and I felt like I never got to do anything actually fun or productive, just fitness and more fitness. I ended up half leasing her out to a girl I rode in my group lesson with in Pony Club. It was perfect because I had seen her ride, I knew her to be at a similar level to me, and her lease horse had gone lame in late August. She also took lessons with my trainer, so I knew Jazz would be being worked in a way I'm comfortable with. It was awesome, Jazz was in the best shape of her life, and I got to just play on the weekends. I even taught my lessee to barrel race on Jazz and I's fourth anniversary (it was a terrible decision in a way since I hadn't been cantering much and my back was killing me for three days after, but it was fun). It worked out perfectly, because just as my schedule opened back up, her lease horse was coming back into work so I got to take Jazz back full time.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIRwqE_pPRMi60SCwSXkpvwVRR5xL_dRkjPTRBdxnUsa0ieyROWwtdjd2s01zy9rTRGS_OuskV4tT1nokiJ3snW_Qhs_4vu2OXb9O4h5ZVHu2Nz_-FGzSIFbKlvgd8NlREYCBNgQPPaRk/s1600/frost+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIRwqE_pPRMi60SCwSXkpvwVRR5xL_dRkjPTRBdxnUsa0ieyROWwtdjd2s01zy9rTRGS_OuskV4tT1nokiJ3snW_Qhs_4vu2OXb9O4h5ZVHu2Nz_-FGzSIFbKlvgd8NlREYCBNgQPPaRk/s320/frost+5.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jazz was covered in frost the other day, so after I laughed at how hilarious she looked for about a minute and a half, I had to take about a million photos.</td></tr>
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Back to the present, I've been working on dressage and I am RUINED. FOR. LIFE. Oh my god did you know how much crap you have to do to get correct work? And more importantly, HAVE YOU EVER FELT HOW MUCH BETTER CORRECT FEELS? I can sit the trot! Bareback! No stirrups! I was not sitting in the middle of my horse. Ever. Now I can go through a month of lessons without once being corrected to sit in the middle. My legs stay in place! I'm barely losing stirrups once a week when it used to be ten times per ride on a good day. I'm figuring out what previously mysterious phrases like "inside leg to outside hand" and "leg to hand" and "connection" mean. Jazz moves FORWARD. The prancy annoying moving nowhere canter of our past is (almost) completely gone (with occasional reappearance when she's getting tired). Strung out gross crazy trot is also only found when Jazz is tired and frustrated. She's overtracking at the walk and trot! Dressage is the worst kind of drug. I will probably never get to the point where I'm up there at perfect, but I know what's out there. I know better and more precise is attainable. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQIcZ7Pn1ryt3jXykqRdrsRi5iqHaZ7I8bSU7TbpddgY9FM9m9sYNv_WXrtB5MvW3qYsk1SP8-WQNggB9zuSWlAxZqwmEG94aOThTZLjbSdvFN_kTCuFNoH6UtlILUQTbCBBR_UZGIKDg/s1600/frost+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQIcZ7Pn1ryt3jXykqRdrsRi5iqHaZ7I8bSU7TbpddgY9FM9m9sYNv_WXrtB5MvW3qYsk1SP8-WQNggB9zuSWlAxZqwmEG94aOThTZLjbSdvFN_kTCuFNoH6UtlILUQTbCBBR_UZGIKDg/s320/frost+4.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Frostbeard the pony pirate</td></tr>
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Lately, our W/T has been going like gangbusters. Jazz is getting lighter and rounder, and we're learning about connection, there's a lot more forward in our trot, and my hands are getting better. Most lessons I've been taking lately have been a short walk warmup and then an exercise at trot, and a bit of canter at the end. Our work at the trot has really felt like it's progressed almost every single week, and I'm really happy with how it's come along.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAyH5Zbd0TfniORgMe_IW2lTQNxS9lZAIpK4c1oT8hDWaxuLtaYGiY2_ulkd2JujzyWahPVVLEet9RX9EHTHwmtzCcCdAKskdACcfpI5qiGXRRnWUiYST4C2f73Ex83dR9G_hoTn-nQE8/s1600/frost+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAyH5Zbd0TfniORgMe_IW2lTQNxS9lZAIpK4c1oT8hDWaxuLtaYGiY2_ulkd2JujzyWahPVVLEet9RX9EHTHwmtzCcCdAKskdACcfpI5qiGXRRnWUiYST4C2f73Ex83dR9G_hoTn-nQE8/s320/frost+3.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What's that? Oh no, I couldn't possibly listen today. My ears are frozen.</td></tr>
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The canter is another story. It's really been deteriorating lately. It started with Jazz not being able to pick up the right lead. She was having so much difficulty that my instructor suggested something was probably out so I should get her looked at by a chiropractor. I had her adjusted a few days later. I can't remember if I've mentioned it here before, but Jazz had really uneven shoulders that were causing some difficulty with saddle fit. We figured it was mostly incorrect muscling, and worked on getting her more balanced and even, and I bought a saddle pad with adjustable memory foam shims to help compensate. Since she's been adjusted (and he did work on something near her withers), I found my saddle felt really high on the side with the extra padding. I started taking more and more layers out until it ended up level, and I'm back into regular saddle pads again.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvD-IHcb03jWigOy9m-myqc-3M0OIaf0MXvmAWM1RldSQoJoCBu81sm5jqbPz-CIUFDLXEB69bDbvkTx3gyaYRMTpnNBr1ej_PsEYOytv5ZsFe5MN6yaEPOqRLj3bj8UBdNMIpOSVVKAg/s1600/cranberry+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvD-IHcb03jWigOy9m-myqc-3M0OIaf0MXvmAWM1RldSQoJoCBu81sm5jqbPz-CIUFDLXEB69bDbvkTx3gyaYRMTpnNBr1ej_PsEYOytv5ZsFe5MN6yaEPOqRLj3bj8UBdNMIpOSVVKAg/s320/cranberry+4.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I get to use my cranberry pad again, which is one of my absolute favourites!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ-3-Oq5_ZZs4BetDumt9X4J9k2D6GQQhjUg5qOD5Pg-8k13kQwaOY8CflXWmcBZXgcEwkFy2LZlaCTyEN7-edkYHYZiPqpPeNRHo-xet9xZFpUA58PEky3rxGsMzamH3C_uG48MGIBI8/s1600/cranberry+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ-3-Oq5_ZZs4BetDumt9X4J9k2D6GQQhjUg5qOD5Pg-8k13kQwaOY8CflXWmcBZXgcEwkFy2LZlaCTyEN7-edkYHYZiPqpPeNRHo-xet9xZFpUA58PEky3rxGsMzamH3C_uG48MGIBI8/s320/cranberry+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I also managed to perfectly capture Jazz's three modes: 1. Perfect statue look how proud and pretty I am</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB6F0KecjlE43EbKpGg-DcGd8E8-K_85lnu678RzF8GR4NfgA3eMiio1snOu5qdSaRTD8HF7NegCRaLWnoc7frCap0oOvTjOzbsCajIGP7SHKvm9IRa0a_I1MenumQUcUI_DPR2W9RFLk/s1600/cranberry+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB6F0KecjlE43EbKpGg-DcGd8E8-K_85lnu678RzF8GR4NfgA3eMiio1snOu5qdSaRTD8HF7NegCRaLWnoc7frCap0oOvTjOzbsCajIGP7SHKvm9IRa0a_I1MenumQUcUI_DPR2W9RFLk/s320/cranberry+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2. Nap time</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb_QS_ulg9wbFy2C1XHhouZh62kj3BWxPImyNP_RxyBIIomdx970shvNi76zVEsMJBKJEWVWf187FsRPQZLFLSuuoHtdzCnUlxwwyXCzcJhgI8td0JTz2ZHtqXqy-Pgud_IdzIBUY68n4/s1600/cranberry+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb_QS_ulg9wbFy2C1XHhouZh62kj3BWxPImyNP_RxyBIIomdx970shvNi76zVEsMJBKJEWVWf187FsRPQZLFLSuuoHtdzCnUlxwwyXCzcJhgI8td0JTz2ZHtqXqy-Pgud_IdzIBUY68n4/s320/cranberry+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And my personal favourite, 3. Adorable doof</td></tr>
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After her adjustment, the right lead has come much more easily, but now it's the left that's causing issue. Easy come, easy go I guess. In addition to the transitions being harder and harder to get, she's been totally running away with me, and refusing to turn on circles correctly. It's been hard because I essentially can't canter in an acceptable manner at all right now. I actually had a lesson yesterday, and it was going swimmingly, and then I was holding back tears by the end of the canter. It's been hard to put up with, but I'm counting my blessings because Jazz has been a thousand times better behaved in general (canter notwithstanding) than any of the past winters I've owned her. <br />
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I also got instagram so now I can make artsy photos and collages like these:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKLdcjFscrVub2_t4qvLPxQET0u_62MZcEQNDCkK8ojhKzpUDr8YO2z6k4KP9I7K5sm_7dP4gZcnqZBhiAD-ze7Z5_JRuVVkGXOfQFlz-66Zndc4gq9gMQp0AU0c60siT5_UDCTrEuC50/s1600/cranbery+collag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKLdcjFscrVub2_t4qvLPxQET0u_62MZcEQNDCkK8ojhKzpUDr8YO2z6k4KP9I7K5sm_7dP4gZcnqZBhiAD-ze7Z5_JRuVVkGXOfQFlz-66Zndc4gq9gMQp0AU0c60siT5_UDCTrEuC50/s320/cranbery+collag.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX1nK8VaFqWjbWmcGvlPHJYizyvG14jvdlbqwn9B3XhKXweaRf_XKMJPvGBx1WcnthmnLBzyBuxhPdwveKdxfuobktLvFECtiFnP5SmtH43hCalRi5zBFATy1xvZsJE2V5eOj5nI0ud28/s1600/frost+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX1nK8VaFqWjbWmcGvlPHJYizyvG14jvdlbqwn9B3XhKXweaRf_XKMJPvGBx1WcnthmnLBzyBuxhPdwveKdxfuobktLvFECtiFnP5SmtH43hCalRi5zBFATy1xvZsJE2V5eOj5nI0ud28/s320/frost+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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So here we are! Back again! I've missed updates! I can't wait to stay more current on this blog again. ColbyJazzmushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555076374298205933noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1354290745610876546.post-10794905554437925932016-01-18T22:00:00.001-08:002016-01-18T22:00:44.976-08:00Micro Update from a bad bloggerI can blame a lot of circumstances for my lack of blogging in the last little while, but I'm tired of doing so. Instead I wanted to share a teeny tiny little update rather than the mondo update I really should write that I've been putting off for months now. <br />
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For years I've toyed around with the idea of a show name for Jazz. For a long time I toyed with the idea of ColbyJazzmus (which I still have as my blog URL and blogger username), which I have explained previously <a href="http://colbyjazzmus.blogspot.ca/2014/03/blog-hop-whats-in-your-name.html" target="_blank">here</a>. I always liked it in theory, but there were two big problems with actually using it. Firstly, Colby Rasthmus, the inspiration for the name, was traded from the Blue Jays some years ago, so it's no longer a Blue Jays reference. Secondly, it just didn't sound much like a show name to me. I've always liked show names that are short phrases, which Colby Jazzmus didn't really fit. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSo5S1PmYqBYngPU4s16ouSuImSe4NPA_2mjxvSaMezZC3twzvrCI8iu7hvkTr1WEyOOYSYNLNLtGy68Or5o-_dGiD_M3416EmJqdYJb4Q5KMD5n96_1nT7G8ERZXFEQu2lV5mp00q5Vg/s1600/tumblr_nfkyx1zXxA1s6uqsco1_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSo5S1PmYqBYngPU4s16ouSuImSe4NPA_2mjxvSaMezZC3twzvrCI8iu7hvkTr1WEyOOYSYNLNLtGy68Or5o-_dGiD_M3416EmJqdYJb4Q5KMD5n96_1nT7G8ERZXFEQu2lV5mp00q5Vg/s320/tumblr_nfkyx1zXxA1s6uqsco1_1280.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All the photos in this post are going to be reposts to break up the text on account of how lazy blogger is lazy and doesn't want to locate and upload new pictures onto my laptop right now</td></tr>
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One of my all time favourite horse nicknames is AareneX's mare Fiddle, commonly referred to as the <a href="http://haikufarm.blogspot.ca/p/equine-spay.html" target="_blank">dragon</a>. Over the years, Jazz has acquired many nicknames:<br />
-Jazzy<br />
-Lovey<br />
-Lovey Bear<br />
-Monkey<br />
-Munchkin<br />
-Jazz-ma-tazz<br />
-Turkey<br />
-Dork<br />
-Jerk<br />
-The Red Beast<br />
-Horse<br />
-Pony<br />
-Freight Train<br />
-Train Wreck<br />
-Bag of Snakes<br />
-Conspicuously Coiled Spring<br />
-Rocket Waiting for Blast Off<br />
-World's Greatest Pony<br />
-My Hero<br />
-Saint<br />
-The Lord is Testing Me With This One<br />
etc., etc., etc.<br />
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Really the nickname depends on the ride we are having (bag of snakes was actually coined today when we were riding in some beautiful weather rendered irritating by the snow suddenly and loudly falling off of the tin roof of our arena. Jazz was a really good girl considering, but she was just positively roiling under the surface), and how patient I am feeling. The Red Beast has usually been used in good humor, when I'm offering to trade horses with other boarders at my barn on Jazz's very best days. It has always been one of my favourite nicknames because it's accurate on the bad days, and brings a smile to my face on the good days. However, it wouldn't make for a show name. Then, as fate would have it, dragon happened to be floating around in my brain when Jazz had her teeth done a couple of weeks back. It was a cold day of about -8 degrees celcius, and Jazz was as midly uncooporative as she usually is for the dentist. She requires a minimum of a double dose of sedative, and if the appointment takes too long, she needs a booster. She learned at a young age that the big giant gag bit thing they put in to do her front teeth is easily moved sideways if she chews on it just so until she gets to the elastic on the side, which is much less cumbersome to have in her mouth. She also likes to move sideways as much as she has room to (we usually float at home in a stall, as opposed to in the stocks at the vet clinic), and occasionally try to barge directly through the front of the stall, which is funny since her head is tied way up in the stratosphere. My barn manager was around for the first part of the appointment, and I forget how it came up, but I mentioned I'd been toying with the idea of putting Dragon in her show name when Jazz snorted loudly, and I had to laugh at her with steam coming out of her nostrils and her teeth (sort of) bared. I think dragon will be perfect. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggUGudNdFeDcRsF89i6bmPNrPKDHeTc7u7JXkUNdKOPaUzfl7Oh84a5I4mVBEMt66wfIHN9cq-UFw8pTxK4_RDDv7LjULtfcfQlXUsVfJL64k3D5kJuvLQEp9sirKhV9Xahk7mEe400yQ/s1600/tumblr_n7alf1KdRr1s6uqsco4_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggUGudNdFeDcRsF89i6bmPNrPKDHeTc7u7JXkUNdKOPaUzfl7Oh84a5I4mVBEMt66wfIHN9cq-UFw8pTxK4_RDDv7LjULtfcfQlXUsVfJL64k3D5kJuvLQEp9sirKhV9Xahk7mEe400yQ/s320/tumblr_n7alf1KdRr1s6uqsco4_1280.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not from the most recent float, but also one of my top 5 favourite pictures of Jazz</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn1Ed_IxOmobLqoHJ4-O3Ox8VhO97-GfSiAShqRL0pCC78pR426XJs1ajfgethhCyDrLEPJYtK_xc_blHDFccZrPeZz4RqlsIt_O04j3Gn1fwLjwQTXwhdf8Wa9_jZlpXz7nFzd2OF2uk/s1600/tumblr_ni1r3dJjK91s6uqsco5_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn1Ed_IxOmobLqoHJ4-O3Ox8VhO97-GfSiAShqRL0pCC78pR426XJs1ajfgethhCyDrLEPJYtK_xc_blHDFccZrPeZz4RqlsIt_O04j3Gn1fwLjwQTXwhdf8Wa9_jZlpXz7nFzd2OF2uk/s320/tumblr_ni1r3dJjK91s6uqsco5_1280.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dragons would eat cats if the cats would stop squirming around for two seconds probably</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAYf7AnEKl_of6yyEOHvUOIsRnPf6F-egMfg4mIaprmZ0J8EoL46gPts4fyWRCvKf7Cl4JhPlkoU3W1UHQl-L6oEKlZkTcm5yQZiFrMI9T3Qf6ilver4S3H_MsoTA2itgyCT3MMWWWIn0/s1600/tumblr_nkvrmjDpGh1s6uqsco2_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAYf7AnEKl_of6yyEOHvUOIsRnPf6F-egMfg4mIaprmZ0J8EoL46gPts4fyWRCvKf7Cl4JhPlkoU3W1UHQl-L6oEKlZkTcm5yQZiFrMI9T3Qf6ilver4S3H_MsoTA2itgyCT3MMWWWIn0/s320/tumblr_nkvrmjDpGh1s6uqsco2_1280.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scary Dragon Breath</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgizYCWvUYGYGy7aAoVj3w0lemla9eKWEPvFTiqSDVbctH0gpNNaAe6zs4VTSjJJglWQvYPnLYPD2qKPCHYs4n-A4ehN0ZsllxFRw3KSemDFdEiZ21DTabQIKMs5L4zC87DCiFtla_4Y5g/s1600/tumblr_n8u3wncg5F1s6uqsco9_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgizYCWvUYGYGy7aAoVj3w0lemla9eKWEPvFTiqSDVbctH0gpNNaAe6zs4VTSjJJglWQvYPnLYPD2qKPCHYs4n-A4ehN0ZsllxFRw3KSemDFdEiZ21DTabQIKMs5L4zC87DCiFtla_4Y5g/s320/tumblr_n8u3wncg5F1s6uqsco9_1280.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beware of Fire Breath</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeXkoRoo8kjA0jOMHkfe_XgmZLR6r9YVgk-u4Av0mF9pLKCtWn9xmnFNxmgp8lCXCcZFg7SPIOZhUtiR8v6Q5I7D3O86uZer3hMs1BtABdgjtij6_Zj5wwX6XTKECwq2A2PvSfLmGSssw/s1600/tumblr_nfkyirlovt1s6uqsco1_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeXkoRoo8kjA0jOMHkfe_XgmZLR6r9YVgk-u4Av0mF9pLKCtWn9xmnFNxmgp8lCXCcZFg7SPIOZhUtiR8v6Q5I7D3O86uZer3hMs1BtABdgjtij6_Zj5wwX6XTKECwq2A2PvSfLmGSssw/s320/tumblr_nfkyirlovt1s6uqsco1_1280.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm also assuming dragons can look into your soul with those eyes</td></tr>
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<br />
So far my ideas are:<br />
<br />
Rey's Red Dragon (my personal favourite right at this moment)<br />
Red Dragon Jasmine<br />
Dragon me down<br />
Regency Red Dragon<br />
Rio Red Dragon<br />
<br />
mostly they're R words followed by Red Dragon. Any thoughts? Anything that stands out to anyone? Any more ideas? I'd love to hear some feedback!ColbyJazzmushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555076374298205933noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1354290745610876546.post-13708748681054408182015-12-07T09:41:00.000-08:002015-12-07T09:47:43.847-08:00Seventh HeavenI've mentioned previously my affiliation with Pony Club. For anyone not aware, Pony club exists as a way for young people to get involved with horses, learning to ride and trying out different events. It provides affordable lessons and the structure and opportunity to advance to anyone who's interested. There's also a competition called Quiz, which is basically a trivia event on all things horse with three parts. The first is a written exam (aka the sucky part), the second is tack id (aka i know what this is called but the name isn't on here what the ****?), and the third is an assortment of games (aka how am I supposed to act out splint bone in charades? They just keep guessing leg???). There is a regional quiz held early in the year, and the top individual scores qualify for the national team. <br />
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Anyhow, my regional quiz was back in April, and two friends from my club asked if I would be interested in being on a team with them. It sounded like fun, so they had me talked into it before I knew it. Completely unexpectedly, I found myself finishing fourth in individual in my division and third in team. Unfortunately, my other team members didn't make the cut, but I quickly found myself whisked off and the senior team were telling me what to expect if I decided I wanted to come to nationals in the fall.<br />
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My summer was a lot of riding and otherwise getting ready. My <a href="http://colbyjazzmus.blogspot.ca/2015/09/fear-itself.html" target="_blank">semi-disastrous testing</a> from back in August was the last piece of the puzzle I needed to attend to to solidify my eligibility. I bought a bunch of the required reading books off amazon and spent the latter half of the summer and any extra time I had around classes to study. <br />
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All that lead up to the big event thanksgiving weekend (Canadian thanksgiving weekend, in case my American friends are confused). Since my region was hosting, the travel wasn't far, and we got to have 2 teams of 4 members each at the C level instead of just 1.<br />
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I arrived at the hotel just before dinner was starting on Friday night, and dropped my bags in my room. I met one of my roommates, and we headed downstairs to dinner together. Conversations were a bit stunted amongst the whole group at first, but everyone began to settle in, and I was re-introduced to some of the members I had met once or twice at regional events. After dinner was line dancing and then everyone headed back to their rooms to regroup, where I met the other two members of my team. All the members from my region headed upstairs to the senior team's room to cram for the written exam, and there were a lot of flashcards I didn't know the answer to and the official designation of our team's anthem.<br />
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/%3Ciframe%20width=%22560%22%20height=%22315%22%20src=%22https://www.youtube.com/embed/JGhoLcsr8GA%22%20frameborder=%220%22%20allowfullscreen%3E%3C/iframe%3E" target="_blank"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JGhoLcsr8GA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></a><br />
<br />
This one. Trust me, it grows on you.<br />
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We stayed up hanging out (and some studying) until curfew, and then headed off to bed for the night. Breakfast began bright and early and then more cramming before the written exam started at 9:00 sharp. As expected, it was super hard. If you manage to get a passing grade on written at quiz, you're usually one of few. There were 'local color questions' about Spruce Meadows, the Calgary Stampede, and the Pan Am games medalists which had very few survivors, but other than that most of the test went okay. I had basically no idea on the questions about the pony club rules of competition, but I did well on conformation terms and came out of written markings 19th overall out of 68 competitors. My teammates were ranked 1st, 2nd, and 4th.<br />
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Lunch and more cramming, this time for tack id. Tack ID is either a blessing or a curse depending on your experience, and what you have for study materials. Basically, there is a table of fifteen numbered items and a sheet with twenty object names. At the C level (mine), you have to match ten objects with the appropriate blanks. At the senior (A/B) level, you have to name all 15. This category is deceptively difficult because pony club doesn't use the descriptive names (ex. instead of identifying a noseband as a figure-8, you're likely to have to know it as a grackle). I personally love tack ID, because I have a slight obsession with weird tack. By far the worst table was types of carriages. I managed to get the sulky and the trolley, which put me ahead of most people. To say it was the unanimous least favourite table would be an understatement. You're given ten minutes at each table, and I think there were a total of 15 tables, so everyone was starving and exhausted by the time it was all over. <br />
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<br />
So, we all carted off to Saturday evening's entertainment. about 150 people all crammed into an arena for beef on a bun dinner and a working cow horse demonstration. First was reining, and then working a cow. It's always interesting to see different disciplines, and it was a pretty fun evening. The night ended more or less the same, with everyone in the region cramming into one hotel room and studying for games. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC6_dgsoxEiEXyZFVlheFxLxlj0DHXiRCmFqM-kGVkWrZBxHkTkanj-V51SveNtR0Mr6Koc13N1CjhplLcuTmtkv7aPa7bINW_lP0g1z8Pr7-t24T8GpC4hGVM_k7ewHuy-_v0bR_ScHs/s1600/12074976_10153594217508563_2733283593138079332_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC6_dgsoxEiEXyZFVlheFxLxlj0DHXiRCmFqM-kGVkWrZBxHkTkanj-V51SveNtR0Mr6Koc13N1CjhplLcuTmtkv7aPa7bINW_lP0g1z8Pr7-t24T8GpC4hGVM_k7ewHuy-_v0bR_ScHs/s320/12074976_10153594217508563_2733283593138079332_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Bright and early Sunday was breakfast and then waiting for games to start. As we waited, they posted the initial rankings for team, which are based on the combined individual scores for each team member. Our team was doing well, so going into the games we got to focus on just having fun. My favourite game was called sculpt it, which was basically pictionary but you had to sculpt the answer out of kinetic sand. Collectively, our team did really well, and we were feeling really good about our chances by the end of the day.<br />
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After lunch was our other outing, this time to the world famous Spruce Meadows. I've been there before, but it was still fun to have our run of the international ring. Most of the team, myself included, rolled down the derby bank. It's even steeper than it looks. I couldn't imagine riding a horse down it!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKWvTIx2AEH-aWiwZFWCiAU4n7OMjjWAFvBdp4A5yYHd6dMkER1BMkZJJMJXSXJ0vzWDwT1J8-MXGBq1lpSrxlBjXSSRMlIHj29ii-hUGMsnZJhye_GVI-OpeeJP9L_bEZv5fLEy-A2Ws/s1600/12096197_10153594217788563_2146283169977833729_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKWvTIx2AEH-aWiwZFWCiAU4n7OMjjWAFvBdp4A5yYHd6dMkER1BMkZJJMJXSXJ0vzWDwT1J8-MXGBq1lpSrxlBjXSSRMlIHj29ii-hUGMsnZJhye_GVI-OpeeJP9L_bEZv5fLEy-A2Ws/s320/12096197_10153594217788563_2146283169977833729_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The infamous devil's dike</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFZokvQppjwskz94MviE9mcTjg4sKc_cUcg2lWnDbc-Oic94dvdQTA7aIgypyxu9iOT9IMAdiBl4paPzmhwcITD3B3Ai-9nI0hBR4t8OHaI-Oz46fHAVordKTkjw8xnrBumJOTHt57isU/s1600/12118666_10153594217643563_7326798137967106064_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFZokvQppjwskz94MviE9mcTjg4sKc_cUcg2lWnDbc-Oic94dvdQTA7aIgypyxu9iOT9IMAdiBl4paPzmhwcITD3B3Ai-9nI0hBR4t8OHaI-Oz46fHAVordKTkjw8xnrBumJOTHt57isU/s320/12118666_10153594217643563_7326798137967106064_n.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxwjOQX2k6a2YZiV5XorkasK7QP4w_FIIX0_BclLGmoZ7tFowiMHnxSrvta74DwudPbEraCC-BBCrSiT9S1S_LVBxXR_04DR-d9NcywpUw_EhXIDtNU2_bDqb0Yq2KBVBJ3lO5hwv1PSA/s1600/12079517_10153594217683563_7440259131626993571_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxwjOQX2k6a2YZiV5XorkasK7QP4w_FIIX0_BclLGmoZ7tFowiMHnxSrvta74DwudPbEraCC-BBCrSiT9S1S_LVBxXR_04DR-d9NcywpUw_EhXIDtNU2_bDqb0Yq2KBVBJ3lO5hwv1PSA/s320/12079517_10153594217683563_7440259131626993571_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">AB South in the Water Jump</td></tr>
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Finally, it was time for everyone to get ready for the big awards banquet. Our region coordinated, so we all had red and black on. The dinner was the best one yet, and before I knew it, the awards were starting.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM-ak4IVVKCS1PDIC2t-arZa9NgxJ0BP_2cTbE8ywAQTsxaZrK4nAiidKKhi3CrD96mhwquaYc1FWmLxrKbr08g2WUpAaYdgHxT9mKAvx2TJX0yMMYbmmRwXQJ6oLpkqGaTazmBZvxI6g/s1600/12108757_10153594217823563_2040012198684295086_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM-ak4IVVKCS1PDIC2t-arZa9NgxJ0BP_2cTbE8ywAQTsxaZrK4nAiidKKhi3CrD96mhwquaYc1FWmLxrKbr08g2WUpAaYdgHxT9mKAvx2TJX0yMMYbmmRwXQJ6oLpkqGaTazmBZvxI6g/s320/12108757_10153594217823563_2040012198684295086_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The placings were announced, starting with the A/B division individual. Our region did really well, with a few placing in the ribbons! Then it was time for the individual C placings. The ribbons started at tenth, and it wasn't a long wait before I found myself accepting the rosette for seventh place in individual. I was thrilled (but not technically surprised, since I had found out when they posted the placings earlier, but I would have totally ruined the suspense of the blog post if I'd said so earlier)!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKeuY434bMXoR7UhV3PeEFFHGj36T1d0C_lExhyz-CG7vJYyXPD8BZMzBX7gFA7oqvBfUflFxfFhu-byDXmWNY0AkCYTK4ugKssQU01iL4G97Xkd0WjLIE3Ve_YmePY_hjKwLTVx5r-X0/s1600/12074757_10153594217988563_5148687235001830809_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKeuY434bMXoR7UhV3PeEFFHGj36T1d0C_lExhyz-CG7vJYyXPD8BZMzBX7gFA7oqvBfUflFxfFhu-byDXmWNY0AkCYTK4ugKssQU01iL4G97Xkd0WjLIE3Ve_YmePY_hjKwLTVx5r-X0/s320/12074757_10153594217988563_5148687235001830809_n.jpg" width="194" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And I'm modest, too</td></tr>
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My team also fared well, with my teammates placing fourth, second, and first! It was awesome to work with such brilliant team members! Plus, the other Alberta south C team placed sixth. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSiE0QBEXmdouTvm67NlapunWOlyU34OuJUsTJZIO_CNY6xW-DqS4FXfpsZy8WlgWcIFtO9HjeLLoqwDkSmiT8gMb_nLp0BgcF0-8pv0iz6c8Je9Y4Jx-Byq_114A4MZ6TFH10vtapFxM/s1600/12107051_10153594218033563_2238232040577090040_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSiE0QBEXmdouTvm67NlapunWOlyU34OuJUsTJZIO_CNY6xW-DqS4FXfpsZy8WlgWcIFtO9HjeLLoqwDkSmiT8gMb_nLp0BgcF0-8pv0iz6c8Je9Y4Jx-Byq_114A4MZ6TFH10vtapFxM/s320/12107051_10153594218033563_2238232040577090040_n.jpg" width="194" /></a></div>
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Finally, the announcements came for team, and my team came first! We all got keeper plaques, grooming bags, and of course, red ribbons.<br />
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They posted initial team rankings before games started, and since our team was all in the top ten individually, we were ahead of the second place by 25 points, which is not insignificant at quiz. Most of the differences in individual rankings were by tenths or hundredths of points. Individual points contributes to the team score, but games don't count towards individual. By the end of games, our team came out ahead of the second place team by 27 points. It was an amazing experience, especially for my first trip to national Quiz. <br />
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After my whirlwind first national quiz experience, I have all you wonderful bloggers to thank. The big benefit of following and reading the blogs of so many of you wonderful people is that I hear all kinds of tidbits specific to the various disciplines you all represent. I was one of the people who recognized the Tevis Cup as an endurance race rather than a flat race on the written thanks to people like <a href="http://waitingforthejump.blogspot.ca/" target="_blank">Saiph</a>, and I knew a liverpool bit, and a driving apron thanks to <a href="http://uncatchablenumber257.blogspot.ca/" target="_blank">Andrea</a>, and countless other little facts thanks to my continued obsession with reading everything y'all have to say. But probably bigger than any other specific influence, I want to acknowledge the pure awesome that is the <a href="http://braymere.blogspot.ca/" target="_blank">Braymere Custom Saddlery Blog</a> and its insane amount of reference material. A weird obsession with tiny plastic horses is a huge asset for any national quiz hopefuls reading this.<br />
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<br />ColbyJazzmushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555076374298205933noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1354290745610876546.post-54792174703256623892015-10-08T10:14:00.001-07:002015-10-08T10:14:44.445-07:00Horse Rescue<br />
Apparently my blog is now only for me sharing adorable videos I find on facebook. I do have an event from September I'm still hoping I will get to write about soon, and something else exciting this weekend, so I'll have to ask you all to just bear with me as I attempt to survive classes. Cheers!<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KKmNvP3Ip1s" width="480"></iframe>ColbyJazzmushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555076374298205933noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1354290745610876546.post-83298958505350599802015-10-01T07:03:00.000-07:002015-10-01T07:03:28.705-07:00EXCLUSIVE: Controversy in the Rambo Factory.Just thought I would share this breaking news story. Unbelievable, hiring these new employees of such unknown backgrounds. <br />
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Haha, just kidding. Just wanted to share a video that made me smile this morning :)ColbyJazzmushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555076374298205933noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1354290745610876546.post-10945349132981021032015-09-06T23:28:00.001-07:002015-09-06T23:28:47.621-07:00Why I Don't RideI am looking, as is becoming a familiar feeling to me, at a ridiculously busy next few months. It feels like the last year and a half has been either me dreading the start of a busy time, or impatiently awaiting whatever time I think I'll next be able to finally catch my breath. It feels right now like this might be my life from now on. Just running from one thing to another. One period of insanity to another too-short interim break. I really understand why this is one of the most common times in their lives when people sell their horses. <br />
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I should pause a moment to say this, I AM NOT SELLING MY HORSE. I got her when she was 3 and I'm planning (and hoping) to have her the rest of her life. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWMqk12gxIXy60MCmExO2BIyNYqarsxnR331h2ZYI4QjfYWz8n2p0Q3UkmztUIj-e8NPtj4Me_hPIsDEYat82KSuka-ovWuKefvbhn7hiusLFET9zcoR4Lrz0m1ae_HswUR2hle2NumRQ/s1600/Jazz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWMqk12gxIXy60MCmExO2BIyNYqarsxnR331h2ZYI4QjfYWz8n2p0Q3UkmztUIj-e8NPtj4Me_hPIsDEYat82KSuka-ovWuKefvbhn7hiusLFET9zcoR4Lrz0m1ae_HswUR2hle2NumRQ/s320/Jazz.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Speaking of, look at adorable baby Jazz from her sale photo!</td></tr>
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So classes begin next week. And I am looking at excruciatingly long days for months. I'll be lucky if I see the sun, much less the little red horse. At this point, it also looks like I might not be taking any lessons until the New Year. Hello, life of a weekend warrior (goodbye, sleek, fit summer Jazz). <br />
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In addition to my schedule restraints, I have a serious motivation problem. At no point am I at the farm with my horse, wishing I were at home watching Netflix, and yet it's disproportionately hard to get myself changed and out the door to go see my horse. If I'm seeing my friends during the day with plans to ride later in the evening, the odds are about 50/50 that I'll make it to the barn instead of going out for food with friends (where I'm sure to bore and confuse my city-dwelling friends by talking constantly about horses anyway). There's also a semi-regular shuffle of which vehicle is the farm vehicle. The idea of moving around the many boxes and bins and bags that are all somehow necessary to my equestrian pursuits is enough to delay my drive to get out of the house by at least half an hour. <br />
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Is it just me? I hate how I can't just get out and do the things I know I'll enjoy. I hate it. But it's hard to change. Lately by the time I made it out, the weather's been turning bad, and the visit gets cut short because the horse is miserable (and so am I, what month is this, November? It's ridiculous). <br />
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And just to twist the knife a little, this summer I finally got to see firsthand how Jazz improves under regular work. I was taking two lessons a week, and riding (ideally) two to three times outside of that, and preparing for my (semi-disastrous) PC testing. It was so great to see how Jazz was getting stronger and suppler, and I was improving and making a real difference. And then I got a bad cold, complete with a cough so bad I couldn't be at the dusty barn for longer than fifteen minutes. My summer with Jazz ended with me hardly even able to see her as I tried desperately to get better. And now? I'm not even out until after 5PM on the days when my schedule is<i> good. </i>I'm driving twice as far as I'm used to almost every day, and I'm having a total pity party for myself over all of it. It's enough to keep me from being excited about any of it right now. Here's to keeping my head down till 2016, and counting my blessings in the meantime. <br />
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<br />ColbyJazzmushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555076374298205933noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1354290745610876546.post-77818619501038635172015-09-01T19:15:00.002-07:002015-09-01T19:15:15.923-07:00Bonus post: New Helmet! My most exciting birthday present (from nearly a month ago, oops) by far was a gift certificate to go and buy myself a new helmet. Here's a couple of photos of it in action (aka me holding Jazz's reins since I never seem to remember to request photos while I'm actually doing anything).<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mmm Charles Owen. I'd better start wearing pearls... (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fn1voM_WXXo&feature=player_embedded" target="_blank">X</a>) </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This picture turned out really awkward of me, but pony is extra cute. </td></tr>
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<br />ColbyJazzmushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555076374298205933noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1354290745610876546.post-72598278432355958832015-09-01T19:00:00.003-07:002015-09-01T19:00:53.209-07:00Fear itself<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>"...the </b><b>only thing we have to fear is fear itself." </b><b>-FDR</b></div>
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I have a fear. A paralyzing fear. And I have a fear of that fear. I very rationally should either not be afraid, or I should not do the thing that scares me. This is apparently not my way. I also know the fear is my biggest problem, I tend to throw up my hands (figuratively... most of the time) and kind of try flailingly to somehow make it through.<br />
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This is the cause of significant issue due to the fact jumping scares the bajeezes out of me. And right now I'm doing it maybe three times a week (sometimes less). Last week I was in a private lesson where the flat was perfect and literally all of my wheels fell off the second the standards and poles got lugged out. I understand a lot of things in principle. I know you just keep your eyes up, heels down, toes forward, squeeze tight with your lower legs, keep your back straight, follow with your arms, trot in canter out, downward transitions by stopping in your body not with the reins, breathe, blink, etc, etc, etc. I also know I can know these things all I want as I make a decent line at a good forward trot, and proceed to do few (or none) of the above on the actual jumping part. The jumps where I manage to do things kind of right are not based on any actual skill, or timing, or learning. More or less fluke outliers, not worth considering in the scheme of my riding ability.<br />
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I had a riding exam about a week and a half ago where I went over maybe six jumps of the smallest possible introductory size. I proceeded to fall off on my first attempt and be jumped way, way out of the tack on every single other. On top of this, I was told what has come to be my all time least favourite (non-life threatening) type of news. Have you guessed it? If you thought, "Your saddle doesn't fit", then DING DING DING, you win! I just got this new saddle. I don't think I've owned it a month. It seems to be <i>twisting. </i>The prospect of saddle shopping is kind of strange in a way, because if I were doing it voluntarily I think it would probably be super rad (I think it would be comparable in excitement to if I were able to buy suuuper nice tall boots). But though saddle shopping means new saddle, it also means trying saddles (literally worse than scrubbing really scummy water troughs). I'm going to talk to some people, see if there's something I can do, maybe get it reflocked or something. That on top of the disaster that was most of the rest of the test, made it not the best day.<br />
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Fortunately, I did manage to pass my riding test! (Which qualifies me for a rather exciting event in the fall that I'm hoping to blog about!!!) Each movement of the required elements is scored out of 10, with 10 being excellent, 0 being you literally didn't even try, and 6.5 being sufficient (with a 65% required in order to pass the riding element). My jumping recieved a 5.5. 5 is insufficient, and 6 is almost sufficient, so my jumping overall is almost <i>almost</i> sufficient. I had a good laugh over that. A 3 is rated as bad, so I'd definitely hate to see what a jumping score of 3 is. <br />
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I also had another pony club lesson two days later. The exercise set up was two jumps perpendicular to the rail and set off the track at E and B respectively, with one fence set up in the center of the ring on the diagonal. There were three of us riding, and one part of our warmup was a spiral in at the trot until we all ended up in a small circle nose to tail. It was interesting the different challenge of doing the exercise with other people. Then, one at a time we worked over the jumps, starting at E, then the diagonal, then around to B. We started at a trot, and the goal was to get a canter transition over the poles and canter out, transitioning back to the trot between fences. The first couple attempts I only managed to get the canter about a stride after the fence. Then the other girls in my lesson both took a turn and I tried again with more success. I was worrying too much about the fence when all I really needed to do was worry about timing my transition. Really it's no different than working on the flat, trying to get a transition in a particular place like in a dressage test. Tell that to the fear. I also ended up doing the exercise the same, except only trotting to the first fence and cantering the rest. It was a hot mess the first time, but the second I pulled myself together we actually accomplished it quite capably. To go and show what a well behaved, excellent horse I have, she even did a flying change when she picked up the wrong lead after the second pole. Fancy mare. <br />
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I also, fortunately, know how to laugh at myself. I was at a charity casino for my local equestrian park recently, and one of the ladies there showed us a video of her daughter's stadium round at a recent event. She's a really great rider, and it sounds like she did really well. I, naturally, responded by pulling up the video of myself at the first jump and showing it around.<br />
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<span id="goog_1639282505"></span>(Here, enjoy a terrible quality cell phone video and take a moment to remember it's okay to laugh at yourself... that, and my horse is basically a saint for not completely turfing me).</div>
ColbyJazzmushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555076374298205933noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1354290745610876546.post-20533541506892076732015-08-11T17:28:00.003-07:002015-08-11T17:28:54.468-07:00Here's What you Missed Jazz got a new saddle! Her old one wasn't fitting right, so I finally found something that works! Unfortunately it's not exactly what I would have wanted, since it's a black synthetic, but the important thing is that it fits, so I can stand black tack for a while (can you say new bridle?).<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I mean, more awkward pictures of horses probably exist.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFlyHTww05jpThVpAliqMY-hTG3tDDcoPD7eMXNqmGptFa_-dlZ0Hx49ioRppsz-8FGL3C9UHeWOh4E7XVsujClimkimUSuSPkzWcnPip0PychBU7h02AnFKuhzZtx8ENUEG67LG0FIjg/s1600/1434395914571.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFlyHTww05jpThVpAliqMY-hTG3tDDcoPD7eMXNqmGptFa_-dlZ0Hx49ioRppsz-8FGL3C9UHeWOh4E7XVsujClimkimUSuSPkzWcnPip0PychBU7h02AnFKuhzZtx8ENUEG67LG0FIjg/s320/1434395914571.jpg" width="194" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snapchats feat. one of the failed trial saddles.</td></tr>
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I worked at an undisclosed location for a couple of weeks. It was a lot of long days, and a lot of missing my horse, but the paycheck sure didn't hurt. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mmm. Sideways spoilers.</td></tr>
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I also celebrated my birthday the best way I could think of, by trying to give Jazz a beverage I am now able to legally consume (but wouldn't). I poured Jazz a Keystone light that was kicking around in the fridge, and she promptly swished it all over the place (and all over me) and then refused to go back near it (sadly, no photographic evidence).<br />
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I also got bucked off a couple weeks back in a Pony Club lesson. The worst part was no one got video.<br />
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Plus another event that I think warrants its own post. Stay tuned!<br />
<br />ColbyJazzmushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555076374298205933noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1354290745610876546.post-55418165222036547512015-07-26T16:37:00.000-07:002015-07-26T16:37:12.811-07:00Doubling upAfter six weeks off, I had not one but two lessons last week, and two more this week! (and then I left this post behind in the drafts and so this was written some weeks ago in Mid-June. I decided to post it and then work on a more concise wrap up of my last couple months during my blogging hiatus.)<br />
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My usual trainer was riding Jazz for me while I was busy in May, working on w/t/c, a bit of contact and leg yielding to build up the muscles in her back. She said it was probably good for her to have ridden Jazz herself, because she got a lot better sense of how Jazz feels and reacts to things. We spent the entire lesson at the walk, working mostly on contact and some leg yields. It's been really interesting seeing how Jazz is just starting to get the idea of contact. She's taking baby steps with little tiny neck curls. It's super weird to think this is the same horse who would lose her entire mind if there was even a teeny tiny little pull on the opposite rein when I tried to turn back when I was very first riding her. Now she's doing cute little tiny neck curls. It was a tough lesson for me, using a lot of riding muscles that were <i style="font-weight: bold;">not </i>impressed with me on their sudden work request. I had a very looong hot bath with epsom salts (10/10 would recommend, epsom salts help draw lactic acid from your muscles).<br />
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Then, I drug my still sore self to my first Pony Club lesson on Jazz. I've taken other Pony Club lessons, but back before I rode Jazz English, on another horse. Now that we have our trailer, I finally got to go. We also hauled for another girl from my barn who I hadn't met yet, and both her and her horse are really nice. The instructor we have is a local eventing coach who has a great reputation. It was really interesting to work with her, especially learning some more dressage-y approaches to doing things. I personally blame <a href="http://pieceofheaven1951.blogspot.ca/" target="_blank">Jen at Wyvern Oaks</a>, and <a href="http://www.bakersfielddressage.com/home" target="_blank">Karen at Bakersfield Dressage</a> for my obsession with the idea of dressage. I learned a lot, and we worked on a bit of w/t/c, and turns on the forehand. I ended up getting a really nice couple of turns on the forehand once the new trainer explained how I needed to adjust to be clearer. Jazz tends to throw her shoulders around a lot, so once she tried moving her shoulder, and then backing up, and then a perfect step. The trainer also had a lot of nice things to say about my horse, such as "nice little mare", and "pretty", and "well balanced", and "she really thinks about things". I always like to hear compliments about my horse. Unfortunately, she also told me my saddle doesn't seem to fit correctly. Sigh. It's been lots of trips to the local consignment shop since then. <br />
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The following week I had another lesson with my usual trainer at home, where the main order of the day was spiraling in and out of circles, doing lots of the same work on contact and strengthening her back.<br />
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Pony club alternates lesson weeks between flatwork and jumping, so my second Pony Club lesson was jumping week. After a good warmup and some refreshers on my position, we started with work on a trot fence. Jazz has a really short stride, so we did a lot of work on getting her to really engage and get moving forward. Her canter runs at about 8 feet on average, so we also worked on extending her canter to something closer to the 12 feet I will be dealing with at shows someday. Then it got raised to a little baby cross rail, and we went over it a few times, before working our way up to a small grid. It involved trotting over a ground pole, then trotting in and cantering out to a small cross rail, and finally cantering a third fence. I had never actually cantered a fence before, so it was really awesome to get to try it! Jazz was awesome, but my two point is just slightly shy of abysmal, so the instructor gave me some exercises to work on at home to strengthen my muscles and develop more correct muscle memory. The big one was rising canter, working on staying up for multiple strides, and then standing and sitting alternate strides. It's also good for developing better rhythm. I felt much more in control working from a rising canter, and as a nice side note, Jazz picked up the correct lead after the fence every single time, and in all the rides I've had since. What a smart mare!<br />
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<br />ColbyJazzmushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555076374298205933noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1354290745610876546.post-69156217065663424802015-06-02T20:12:00.001-07:002015-06-02T20:12:36.374-07:00A little mid-week pick-me-upSmartpak has an awesome youtube channel with tons of funny videos, but this one in particular is too good not to share!<br /><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JwF1dEktCkA?list=PLfYc1fRT-ZniigKgr0rkCh7xcFL7K7U9S" width="480"></iframe><br /><br />
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p.s. I'm not dead and neither is the Christmas pony, and we hope to return very soon to regular blogging!ColbyJazzmushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555076374298205933noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1354290745610876546.post-70248661234451709022015-04-21T18:47:00.001-07:002015-04-21T18:58:59.040-07:00Quarterly goals recap Jan-March/Second Quarter GoalsThe first three months of this year have gone by faster than I could possibly have imagined. I think I may have found the time to grab the occasional breath a handful of times in the first quarter of 2015, but I can't be sure. Without further ado, the overdue analysis of my goals:<br />
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<strike><b>Make more horse time. </b>Too many excuses and not enough pony have been happening recently, and I intend to put a stop to it. </strike> Success! The lengthening daylight hours especially have been a huge help in completing this goal!</div>
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<strike><b>Play with the Horse Ball. </b>Jazz's absolute favourite thing and I'm not even sure I've brought it out more than twice in the last year. Plus a fun thing both on the ground and under saddle.</strike> I brought out the ball one day, only to remember why it had been put away in the first place after an immense half-hour struggle to get it inflated enough to be safe. </div>
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<strike><b>Put the Western saddle back on occasionally. </b>I kind of miss it. </strike> Done and done! I had it on at least twice, one of which was pony sharing with two awesome kids at my barn, and Jazz was an angel for them. </div>
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<strike><b>Do something about my tall boots.</b> I need to bathe them in boot stretch or get room put in at the shoe repair place because they are much too tight on my calves. </strike> Yes! I bought the most wonderful, most beautiful, bestest imaginable brand spanking new paddock boots and half chaps a few weeks back. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikNV0gmOfzTg0BeCtjgcq2Gn4E5LRnNDvXK4IoNYWOHdTsjRmtNHPMjNiCLbCjzJrZ8kC_DBmvjJk3Qnruhp0DDvI1v6OPBI7YQ7qAShQlu1WQ17klsxHfILan264LZnZj2CISWLxlh9s/s1600/tumblr_nmf5zc5TNs1s6uqsco1_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikNV0gmOfzTg0BeCtjgcq2Gn4E5LRnNDvXK4IoNYWOHdTsjRmtNHPMjNiCLbCjzJrZ8kC_DBmvjJk3Qnruhp0DDvI1v6OPBI7YQ7qAShQlu1WQ17klsxHfILan264LZnZj2CISWLxlh9s/s1600/tumblr_nmf5zc5TNs1s6uqsco1_1280.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tack store haul! I also got a new saddle pad and cookies!</td></tr>
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<b>Write a product review post or two. </b>Product reviews are the kind of post I will read 100% of the time I see them on my blogger dashboard, but I have yet to write one. <i>This one was a failure. I attempted to write a review of leather care products and was starting to assemble the pieces and then pre-spring break crazy schedule and spring break happened. </i></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxQtJqgmSqaWUjUkWLZPbPYdxXKuSZzZeJW7z6AKbjE621X81bkmHGYyo0MngPi_ErUBAgkieIUSlb3ZOYtH1JCdIn5D-jKE62XSuAiLbvxOKfIGSrHe7UohizweC8KC6a10qd9iAIPug/s1600/caddle1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxQtJqgmSqaWUjUkWLZPbPYdxXKuSZzZeJW7z6AKbjE621X81bkmHGYyo0MngPi_ErUBAgkieIUSlb3ZOYtH1JCdIn5D-jKE62XSuAiLbvxOKfIGSrHe7UohizweC8KC6a10qd9iAIPug/s1600/caddle1.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My personal favourite picture from leather care product review day. </td></tr>
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<b>Think about a bitless bridle option.</b> Since my horse needs her teeth done every 6 months at this point, it might be nice to have an alternative when her mouth hurts. I do own a bitless bridle, but I don't love it and I'm considering a different type of bridle. <i>At no point did I even think about this at all. There were too many other things on both the horsey horizon and the personal one. </i></div>
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<strike><b>Try to talk less in lessons. </b>Pretty self explanatory but a definite bad habit of mine.</strike> I definitely made progress, but this is ongoing, so I'll probably repeat it in another quarter. </div>
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<strike><b>Show off the horse. </b>I have been telling many, many friends for a long time they can come meet my horse, but I have taken very few people out to the farm. I may end up moving this goal to a different quarter depending on how our winter goes (I probably shouldn't introduce my non-horsey friends who have never ridden a horse to the crazy winter Jazz I know and love).</strike> I had a relative come to visit just last week and we went for a farm visit. Plus I shared her with the two kids at my barn mentioned earlier. I like the idea of sharing her, so this will be another repeat goal. <br />
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<b>Get better at leg protection. </b>I will divide this one into two parts<br />
a) use the brushing boots and/or open front boots I own much more often<br />
b) polos! I have one set and I am honestly pitiful at wrapping them <i>Truth be told, I didn't do this, but in hindsight the last three months were not a good time for this goal, as we're lucky to be able to do a good flatwork session most days, so it doesn't seem that necessary to do boots. This one will probably be back in the summer. </i><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF87Xh0PN68kd-NTAAKXFX2QOAH58ngZwtXCQTAtpKxSsyhgLml7ClvuyGQ3WsYpESjWTDFEJogCBRp-Tjp3KfXsFLWJEKnFVHV0uiG57D-wnQkMBYVEHk7yja_smyC6oxjFejxRtGMPM/s1600/cat1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF87Xh0PN68kd-NTAAKXFX2QOAH58ngZwtXCQTAtpKxSsyhgLml7ClvuyGQ3WsYpESjWTDFEJogCBRp-Tjp3KfXsFLWJEKnFVHV0uiG57D-wnQkMBYVEHk7yja_smyC6oxjFejxRtGMPM/s1600/cat1.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And because I love sharing him, here's my cat, continuing to be deluded into thinking he's a person. </td></tr>
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<u>Goals for the Second Quarter (April-June)</u></div>
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<b>Survive the next month and a half. </b>There are huge time commitments coming up on the personal horizon. May especially will be no doubt roaring along at 1000 miles an hour, and I think it's only fair to myself to acknowledge that fact and try to do my best. <br />
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<b>See to it the horse is fed.</b> I think I've mentioned here before that Jazz is prone to bouts of diarrhea that can cause a sore, rubbed bum. I had the vet out on her last episode, and one of the new management protocols we're trying out is more regular doses of her probiotic. At very least every 2-3 days she needs to be fed a dose of it, and luckily C will be able to help on some of the aforementioned crazy weeks.<br />
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<b>Get the horse photo ready. </b>Some important photos are being taken with the horse very late May. Make the necessary arrangements (trailer loading practise, thorough grooming the days leading up to photos, cleaning tack, etc.)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL9Gv30B8Rfm-lrjqJP0p7Kv8jaHk04s0GJrXD-CyOgg7vrGszqaVv-P-IS5rT87qsfDf0hTuL9sODlChzekqKZid9ZaWdcUObfhpPGt4JzPEBeaz_8VnNy-NKfp6so73ZaCF9Q8dteFg/s1600/cat6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL9Gv30B8Rfm-lrjqJP0p7Kv8jaHk04s0GJrXD-CyOgg7vrGszqaVv-P-IS5rT87qsfDf0hTuL9sODlChzekqKZid9ZaWdcUObfhpPGt4JzPEBeaz_8VnNy-NKfp6so73ZaCF9Q8dteFg/s1600/cat6.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Casey is always photo ready. </td></tr>
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<b>Try to get pony exercised. </b>I'm actually taking May off of lessons since I physically do not have the time. I have someone in mind who I want to ask if they'd be willing, so if possible, she'll be getting a little training and exercise. <br />
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<b>June: Advance. </b>Make some progress with riding. More work in non-lesson rides, less messing around. Get some momentum going heading into our busier riding time in the summer. <br />
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Edit: <b>Keep it positive. </b>It's come to my recent attention that I am often not good enough at talking up my pony successes with my real life horsey friends, and I tend to overemphasize our difficulties. Work on that.<br />
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ColbyJazzmushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555076374298205933noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1354290745610876546.post-74507219171145398122015-04-02T21:40:00.002-07:002015-04-04T22:32:00.935-07:00Apparently I accidentally published this with no title and didn't notice for a couple days. Whoops. In our last installment, Jazz was fresh off a great lesson. I promised a story about a lesson which was now almost a month ago. Oops. I'm going to go ahead and make this the last time for now that I make excuses and cite my insane schedule, blah blah blah. From now on, I'm just gonna write about what I want to write about and get back to basics.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGGrHQdKcitKIfObDRlFj9SBgjyRPA3mDN__1349Sq1gzJ1l51mNvVOjhO8CwKU9HvKZ6II2x95zk9MrsrTFIFg92UlWthdxiBw1dcqpwOnX-EaAZiKGsN6XZjGYzq50S8A8oxRhaWgBk/s1600/IMG_2206.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGGrHQdKcitKIfObDRlFj9SBgjyRPA3mDN__1349Sq1gzJ1l51mNvVOjhO8CwKU9HvKZ6II2x95zk9MrsrTFIFg92UlWthdxiBw1dcqpwOnX-EaAZiKGsN6XZjGYzq50S8A8oxRhaWgBk/s1600/IMG_2206.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No farm visit pictures, so here's my cat, Casey!</td></tr>
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I had a lesson waaaaaaay back on March 8 I want to talk about. I arrived a little late, and didn't end up having time to lunge beforehand, the first time I had not lunged before riding since I started doing so a couple of weeks before. Started with all the standard exercises, but the real showpiece was the canter. Right lead was business as usual, but left lead quickly became World War III. Jazz was having absolutely none of it, pulling on her martingale, popping mini-rears, the works. I had so much trouble, my instructor popped a lungeline on her. After she got a canter on the lungeline, I got back on and tried to get a canter on the line. Jazz had a couple fits and ultimately ended up bucking me off. She threw a couple crow hops and I ended up with my left foot out of the stirrup and over Jazz's right hip, and Jazz pretty much stopped there, so I just slid off the right side. Luckily for me, Jazz really doesn't have much of a buck, I just consider it a side effect of the martingale (she'd rather be rearing), and she doesn't appear to want to throw me, just teeter me off balance enough that I stop pestering her. After that episode, my trainer got on and had just as much trouble with her attitude as I was having, but eventually she did coax a left lead canter out of her. I have to admit that I felt a little better seeing my trainer having as much trouble with my horse as I was having. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2VvQ1ImYC-ZEmc7cYt6Ih6gYSLvfKHZS6zdhMUCbctYodIY826HpoKnIoV8BKU0r03Rv_yb7I3PWiPefUsaaSk7scLNIyS4SOjtNHSw2zKaMUtTs_qpNCGv8G3xYEJLL0QW3sd32Uwtc/s1600/IMG_2190.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2VvQ1ImYC-ZEmc7cYt6Ih6gYSLvfKHZS6zdhMUCbctYodIY826HpoKnIoV8BKU0r03Rv_yb7I3PWiPefUsaaSk7scLNIyS4SOjtNHSw2zKaMUtTs_qpNCGv8G3xYEJLL0QW3sd32Uwtc/s1600/IMG_2190.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He's a very talented cat, capable of being a lump and coveting your dinner at the same time.</td></tr>
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I had one other lesson before I went away for spring break on the 18th which went different than I expected. I had another commitment that ran long, so I was running very late to my lesson. Luckily my trainer is awesome, so she had my horse caught and in the barn for me when I got there. We got her groomed and tacked quickly between the both of us, and I got to do the majority of my lesson. We spent the bulk of my shortened lesson working on leg yields off the quarter line at the walk and trot. It was mostly okay, but Jazz was getting lazy, especially towards the end. Jazz likes to shut down and turn everything into a fight as soon as she decides that she's done. I ended up getting the crop out to encourage the forward a little, and Jazz started doing little rears. I brought her into a tight circle every time, and we eventually got a little co-operation out of her (luckily right at the time my lesson was supposed to end). As a really great bonus to a successful lesson, my trainer even said it was the best she's seen me ride yet.</div>
ColbyJazzmushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555076374298205933noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1354290745610876546.post-74765397624567113042015-03-08T20:52:00.001-07:002015-03-08T20:52:04.431-07:00The Bestest or, Forever Catching Up <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I returned from my trip to New York about two weeks ago. Since then I have had 2845939572943 things that I have fallen behind on, and blogging was honestly not high on my list of things I needed to do. Better late than never I figure, so prepare for a somewhat out-of-date update. I came home to a beautiful pony that I missed very much who was also at least 98% covered with mud. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2WeXsCNMaJryXeYO8MJV4XcpcD9PfkBfhO0yAPxD-YGNfSNrW00KHdjICwQ5LGwM2BdkF1naFU5G7GcZ7swXCenZ0H6nVWkhAXuZjg4KliNWS19uTcRu_Prn32fk2aFp57EJBEQlC6sw/s1600/Feb+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2WeXsCNMaJryXeYO8MJV4XcpcD9PfkBfhO0yAPxD-YGNfSNrW00KHdjICwQ5LGwM2BdkF1naFU5G7GcZ7swXCenZ0H6nVWkhAXuZjg4KliNWS19uTcRu_Prn32fk2aFp57EJBEQlC6sw/s1600/Feb+1.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Naturally I took many pictures. </td></tr>
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I have had a few blog-worthy farm visits since then, but since the best one ended with my phone dying, I was unable to take pictures except for that first visit, so please enjoy the remainder of my photos from that day, only usually slightly out of context. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuTWIfKjNmBzTMvTLGSXR2oVmgKIQnKOfSYP9j6ivHhiBxYmtUqaxuH8hE4mUKXrzNMjFnr0ll6-0Ypo7CK67fDNineatkI63XFLk3Iy6BEOxQeEtWgBqTbfRrg7NhLmXULrgwPPyD6qw/s1600/Feb+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuTWIfKjNmBzTMvTLGSXR2oVmgKIQnKOfSYP9j6ivHhiBxYmtUqaxuH8hE4mUKXrzNMjFnr0ll6-0Ypo7CK67fDNineatkI63XFLk3Iy6BEOxQeEtWgBqTbfRrg7NhLmXULrgwPPyD6qw/s1600/Feb+2.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mmm, fuzzy photos</td></tr>
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I got out Sunday after I got back (Feb 22) and lunged, wherein Jazz was a whole week of icy pasture and no exercise worth of crazy. She got super sweaty and worked up, and soaked through both of my coolers. On the bright side, I got to try on my new cooler (scroll down if you don't want to wait to see adorable horse jammies!), and it is smaller than my old cooler, which would not work for a turnout blanket but kinda works for a cooler. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTUZt0ZKtdyYDIGDY-hng4kUyLJPYR-t7b0b40Qt8mLxVK9d6iZ2AThgp1Bo3UPKp-9Do0RpCV9LO5oazyq82jWNVaw6Q_y-BKDjBAx8tJOeJ_uOoi7i6kSh9vRsnojcPKePiaG__ppBo/s1600/Feb+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTUZt0ZKtdyYDIGDY-hng4kUyLJPYR-t7b0b40Qt8mLxVK9d6iZ2AThgp1Bo3UPKp-9Do0RpCV9LO5oazyq82jWNVaw6Q_y-BKDjBAx8tJOeJ_uOoi7i6kSh9vRsnojcPKePiaG__ppBo/s1600/Feb+3.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Return of the demon pony eyes</td></tr>
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Then, I had a lesson scheduled for Wednesday the 25th, and my trainer asked if I was still up for it due to the cold weather. I debated just skipping it, but decided to go. I got there early, and lunged before my lesson. Jazz was super well behaved on the lunge, so I hopped on to warm up. Once my lesson started, I did the usual kind of warm up, bending and counterbending on the circle at the walk and then the trot. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUJBImnrXWDLURM6zdUIhwYotFZo4l0G0tYt5JnR0_BVN786Z1HW-Wc0C2Qv2FK1_o8Oc3lTc69f9kiVe6aurlNqSLejSW7Pf2eAkXC9i3j32OCuRn95yvKZrUQ2vPZBvfMb3-KtOQ2Ks/s1600/Feb+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUJBImnrXWDLURM6zdUIhwYotFZo4l0G0tYt5JnR0_BVN786Z1HW-Wc0C2Qv2FK1_o8Oc3lTc69f9kiVe6aurlNqSLejSW7Pf2eAkXC9i3j32OCuRn95yvKZrUQ2vPZBvfMb3-KtOQ2Ks/s1600/Feb+4.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heavenly pony sunshine halo</td></tr>
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Next order of business was moving to leg yields on the quarter line at walk and trot, and I was super pleased with how well she's starting to listen to the leg. Next she was doing well enough to get to canter! Because she was both out of shape and a tad bit stiff, we ended up cantering whole arena. She was still not super comfortable, so my instructor suggested I try a half seat, and that made a huge improvement. Overall, it was great fun, and there were several moments when we were cantering where we felt really in balance and together, almost like we were one body. I found myself thinking of <a href="http://waitingforthejump.blogspot.ca/" target="_blank"> Saiph</a> and a post she made a few weeks ago about the Centaur principle, basically feeling totally one with the horse. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHwCN0zGdtfq0-sI9bFh27jDascptpe45BVdB4Rhln-pgyWyM5u7-63Ws_eRGyNCznCJOgU4NdqaxfDnoshMSmKJl0VgiscwfVhLNENs5G7Ig7GlpMTlzdtVSA6xQ4gdQwUMxWQGYQBwY/s1600/Feb+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHwCN0zGdtfq0-sI9bFh27jDascptpe45BVdB4Rhln-pgyWyM5u7-63Ws_eRGyNCznCJOgU4NdqaxfDnoshMSmKJl0VgiscwfVhLNENs5G7Ig7GlpMTlzdtVSA6xQ4gdQwUMxWQGYQBwY/s1600/Feb+5.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sooooooooo muddy</td></tr>
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Jazz was so good in fact, that my instructor suggested we try leg yielding off the quarter line at the canter. Jazz was reasonably co-operative, but tends not to make as much progress at the end of the lesson. She is much more easily flustered when she's starting to be done with riding. We decided to turf the canter leg yields for the day, and I hopped off not too long after. Jazz got a nice mineral and probiotic dinner for being the best pony evar, and since it was just us, I closed up the barn doors and let her wander loose around the aisle. It was sweet to watch her chasing the kitties and trying to open a tin of what she believed to be treats (it was stale chocolate chip cookies that I think have been there since Christmas). <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPsxWCaRdyBHeGJlnT4J5JULcYvVgCifbneTAuPob0nlQXJmn3gLSXvshHjSBi_PLo1Y7KCKDJ9y-H_kZ4jpBG6XQ1-NTLTPS86sVaxWhQjh270iuyMbUS7f3rm1S-BbzuxDGLHnMMoQE/s1600/Feb+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPsxWCaRdyBHeGJlnT4J5JULcYvVgCifbneTAuPob0nlQXJmn3gLSXvshHjSBi_PLo1Y7KCKDJ9y-H_kZ4jpBG6XQ1-NTLTPS86sVaxWhQjh270iuyMbUS7f3rm1S-BbzuxDGLHnMMoQE/s1600/Feb+6.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This picture weirds me out. Jazz has an infinite neck. </td></tr>
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Overall a pretty great ride, especially since I was considering just skipping it. I had another lesson today (March 8), but I'll save that story for another post. Enjoy the following spam of a) mudbeard the pony pirate and b) pyjama Jazz!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Indoor arena lighting + phone flash = ghost horse</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spooky</td></tr>
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Happy time change everyone! Enjoy your extra hour of daylight pony time (if you can manage to stay awake, that is)!</div>
ColbyJazzmushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555076374298205933noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1354290745610876546.post-50869004569292722112015-02-21T20:05:00.002-08:002015-02-21T20:05:34.379-08:00Adventures in London- Part 4- Wednesday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Precursor: An unbelievably busy few weeks in my non-horsey life has seriously eaten away my barn time, leaving me with no posts or pictures of interest to share. In addition to that, I spent the first half of this week on a trip to New York City with a very full schedule. I very nearly wrote a post about what I saw at the Met, but decided to instead resurrect another nearly-finished-but-never-published museum post from my drafts. Enjoy! </div>
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I really need to write these London posts already before I lose what little momentum I have left on them, so be prepared for less detail than my previous posts. Also, almost all of these pictures were taken at the British museum, where I was apparently not very good at taking pictures of descriptions of artifacts, so excuse the occasionally vague descriptions.</div>
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First up is a group of some sort of stone slabs depicting horses. I thought these were the plaster castings of carvings from the parthenon, but I'm almost positive the parthenon ones are below. Your guess is as good as mine. I'm about 90% sure these are Greek. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Apparently they didn't teach convoys of horses to leave a horse-length between their horse and the carriage in front of them in ancient Greece.</td></tr>
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There were also many beautiful examples of Greek pottery. This type of pottery was known as red figure pottery, because the figures were the reddish-brown color of the clay. The pots were painted everywhere except where they wanted the people (and horses) to go. This was a newer style that became popular after the black figure style, which was just the opposite. The figures were painted in black paint, leaving details such as the eyes in the natural color, as well as the rest of the pot.<br />
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Okay THESE are the plaster castings of carvings from the Parthenon. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The concept of naked riding just seems wrong somehow. This carving depicts the lesser known Lord Godiva.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As much as any horse is cute, this horse is not cute. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj99Z1BaB8gQguA7vHS2IqH9-NjY9yFTGTBCQfPsSHCTEhZmlYQsXChp70bhKdtBQ9WWK-WUgvwP7EWHIaWToEbcSVH1Lgo-_LxAu_OvMgAB04O4m8LHhyphenhyphenoTzl0t7YneeurVFmYzGeG8sw/s1600/20140820_105831.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj99Z1BaB8gQguA7vHS2IqH9-NjY9yFTGTBCQfPsSHCTEhZmlYQsXChp70bhKdtBQ9WWK-WUgvwP7EWHIaWToEbcSVH1Lgo-_LxAu_OvMgAB04O4m8LHhyphenhyphenoTzl0t7YneeurVFmYzGeG8sw/s1600/20140820_105831.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Whenever my horse stops to scratch like this while I'm riding, my trainer calls it an emergency itch.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheArUvPooQLSV2meLv3k8XWgsHg5QSp2EW6shk34TJf1QONR8yi7CQdHJiH0vgREgx_xFNZHX9svwrdLpAAIOqdpVpLF-My61wxFqUo7qEnnZa2SB7T1p0k-7cqPY2ofMgNGpRxVVxjNg/s1600/20140820_105854.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheArUvPooQLSV2meLv3k8XWgsHg5QSp2EW6shk34TJf1QONR8yi7CQdHJiH0vgREgx_xFNZHX9svwrdLpAAIOqdpVpLF-My61wxFqUo7qEnnZa2SB7T1p0k-7cqPY2ofMgNGpRxVVxjNg/s1600/20140820_105854.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maybe your horse wouldn't be acting up so much if you had your heels down.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This next one was from some other temple that escapes me. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR6kGYSvro2s1vJJBVSrT6RBUFXwxtMkfSaPIJ25lPr3T9-iJFY-VECoT5-l_DDHHW4ptsYNMXL0gwz8bC_q5eQj-TzXy44-EmdmJF1C60_UtAKPgAXS_zYPolQ7zBrkqPYk-9t7dswR8/s1600/20140820_110219.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR6kGYSvro2s1vJJBVSrT6RBUFXwxtMkfSaPIJ25lPr3T9-iJFY-VECoT5-l_DDHHW4ptsYNMXL0gwz8bC_q5eQj-TzXy44-EmdmJF1C60_UtAKPgAXS_zYPolQ7zBrkqPYk-9t7dswR8/s1600/20140820_110219.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This was one of the top ten pieces the map recommends you see. It's map approved. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-w_Jsrb7U3n7_7laNwJFKgVbRm0yq3P-tX74PhC4SIi8LeppJ3atAT_qakIBfoTXQyGdqs8tGBXxOmpk7JotIw9v8xaGq8rYFIwfdETv-mVgX80NhuPspUfVSPDitprr6rAZ8-Mo-XpY/s1600/20140820_110256.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-w_Jsrb7U3n7_7laNwJFKgVbRm0yq3P-tX74PhC4SIi8LeppJ3atAT_qakIBfoTXQyGdqs8tGBXxOmpk7JotIw9v8xaGq8rYFIwfdETv-mVgX80NhuPspUfVSPDitprr6rAZ8-Mo-XpY/s1600/20140820_110256.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If I remember correctly, it's the head of a chariot horse from the moon goddess' chariot (I think)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg2tIwZ3OZnrHoWGXfLg9kLCnmBKUWr_rZy51imWMR8iQ_hGybqPT3fLkIhJgvM8m1yNWvtV_vIXxH0cOyeKUWyY9mhrBh_97ICT_X6SrgCcpgVSpfCfk3lNX47JxE0gJhElZ5QVylkYU/s1600/20140820_110432.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg2tIwZ3OZnrHoWGXfLg9kLCnmBKUWr_rZy51imWMR8iQ_hGybqPT3fLkIhJgvM8m1yNWvtV_vIXxH0cOyeKUWyY9mhrBh_97ICT_X6SrgCcpgVSpfCfk3lNX47JxE0gJhElZ5QVylkYU/s1600/20140820_110432.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scary parrot mouth</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Technically these next statues aren't horses, but my blog has a place for the awesome and hooved. The section on Assyria had lots of great horses in some of the better preserved stone in the museum. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA8iwhyphenhyphenXPTMZr1JeWqt2LeV42m-wnR5y4Y1k9dJyCKoGstYDYgmiyvxMDqnKuusBM05zU9ELLF0nVANd2fm8uy8YwBy9BJq6nl5aeBZ-ZOt0UBM8Oz14jgSEmdXS9f04g7BzyRI75Ai2M/s1600/20140820_110638.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA8iwhyphenhyphenXPTMZr1JeWqt2LeV42m-wnR5y4Y1k9dJyCKoGstYDYgmiyvxMDqnKuusBM05zU9ELLF0nVANd2fm8uy8YwBy9BJq6nl5aeBZ-ZOt0UBM8Oz14jgSEmdXS9f04g7BzyRI75Ai2M/s1600/20140820_110638.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<i>"Khorsabad The Palace of Sargon</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>This area Mainly contains sculptures from the city and palace of Khorsabad, built for the Assyrian King Sargon II (721-705 BC). The pair of human-headed winged bulls stood originally at one of the gates of the citadel, as magic guardians against misfortune."</i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWdM01DqckwMk4A_F6p9KQKlKZ_qu1T7NPQfb_NE6YfeIBE7xtd2AflM-iHqXF_rlV70lXn_KjCMwMeWdH3iBx3yZKAYyk6hTxIXUQD4upDYt7Ts_MqWXQCRzQvOSTgtDnD5TvhLiZqRc/s1600/20140820_110651.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWdM01DqckwMk4A_F6p9KQKlKZ_qu1T7NPQfb_NE6YfeIBE7xtd2AflM-iHqXF_rlV70lXn_KjCMwMeWdH3iBx3yZKAYyk6hTxIXUQD4upDYt7Ts_MqWXQCRzQvOSTgtDnD5TvhLiZqRc/s1600/20140820_110651.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPbOBpXAuA4ptZTSvyT01bk_Qd3oL8W-RiyZjRDOLA4zK4DCvihhAArAvoiMU7akXMXlJbkdKzjl7TZPc2tImnWInNAi0C8fatcGyFtqIDS2AJnpKfoSENmgYWX3plsyySrp6hOpADfoo/s1600/20140820_110823.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPbOBpXAuA4ptZTSvyT01bk_Qd3oL8W-RiyZjRDOLA4zK4DCvihhAArAvoiMU7akXMXlJbkdKzjl7TZPc2tImnWInNAi0C8fatcGyFtqIDS2AJnpKfoSENmgYWX3plsyySrp6hOpADfoo/s1600/20140820_110823.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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<i>"Attack on an enemy town</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Assyrian, about 865-860 BC</i><br />
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<i>A high official, wearing an ankle-length coat of scale armour, shoots towards an enemy town. A chariot waits behind, while a vulture plucks at the body of a dead enemy."</i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY9CIXJKGCsLp9k517m9DdS9HVhuscVLRoykWfru84gyET1pRxc_C1VMLkKCx_2KnjyNyeEMmdfqfR2FRxS3i4nIs5vuxnHX0A2tVdpv9y7Ly-CKI0G5Q9zj0nNBcHAzzOOuEQMWFAu6o/s1600/20140820_110938.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY9CIXJKGCsLp9k517m9DdS9HVhuscVLRoykWfru84gyET1pRxc_C1VMLkKCx_2KnjyNyeEMmdfqfR2FRxS3i4nIs5vuxnHX0A2tVdpv9y7Ly-CKI0G5Q9zj0nNBcHAzzOOuEQMWFAu6o/s1600/20140820_110938.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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"<i>Crossing a river</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Assyrian, about 865-860 BC</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Ashurnasirpal's boat is rowed across the river and hauled ashore. The royal chariot is beside him and his horses swim behind. An attendant draws the king's attention to the captured town that appears on the next panel to the right."</i><br />
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There were also many panels depicting the lion hunt, which I apparently did not document the descriptions of. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM8k_h6jTEcjAOPjhAmsLcaLl6mybKGnwXnPaShQgNeNMRHoWt_okK8x8wSQSdH99I0QArO_I1YJKPYKVDETVUC_sO4YWeBbb6aKAMqPcHdjloyuMlyNue4itvwtLLR8WRSz7NGKbT_wc/s1600/20140820_111105.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM8k_h6jTEcjAOPjhAmsLcaLl6mybKGnwXnPaShQgNeNMRHoWt_okK8x8wSQSdH99I0QArO_I1YJKPYKVDETVUC_sO4YWeBbb6aKAMqPcHdjloyuMlyNue4itvwtLLR8WRSz7NGKbT_wc/s1600/20140820_111105.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuLQNaIQGatYikQXo-uj2ta9zSsuA44GpkQosIPb3xqvGPE6noIYtFL2Cnrhqon348o-9EJSF4goifkOSV2QeAGFDXcOarZB8qXX_TYZkKpwC-DwJbDmV10PM2GlG5BnbFZZq0V1kJdTE/s1600/20140820_111120.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuLQNaIQGatYikQXo-uj2ta9zSsuA44GpkQosIPb3xqvGPE6noIYtFL2Cnrhqon348o-9EJSF4goifkOSV2QeAGFDXcOarZB8qXX_TYZkKpwC-DwJbDmV10PM2GlG5BnbFZZq0V1kJdTE/s1600/20140820_111120.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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The african art also featured horse-shaped objects.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjnxKmclTQ0Lrr3ubxJsEv6QttabNt3TtrgkkFEe1ydqnkOyqUCAx1NVWCVevN8CxPFJIo8Kwvun8DLM-Ew50OeQUFCsRa2gJwGco6ZlSNAySjswdLTH1qr9p3mY6_uHvd7vtyX_LWHt4/s1600/20140820_114843.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjnxKmclTQ0Lrr3ubxJsEv6QttabNt3TtrgkkFEe1ydqnkOyqUCAx1NVWCVevN8CxPFJIo8Kwvun8DLM-Ew50OeQUFCsRa2gJwGco6ZlSNAySjswdLTH1qr9p3mY6_uHvd7vtyX_LWHt4/s1600/20140820_114843.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2qmiA603cF-LyvDWjIzBEqMtr0PzLE5JI-QURp4VTD_9w14cR1pzQLP4k0D2dRwGFVBCMN9XK_Fh-ukG0yLYjQQm2OJ9OC30sjpHD2EAYq4ZLQYwA01ADJ1K4ILTlsKBUGNbS4HHtIJQ/s1600/20140820_114846.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2qmiA603cF-LyvDWjIzBEqMtr0PzLE5JI-QURp4VTD_9w14cR1pzQLP4k0D2dRwGFVBCMN9XK_Fh-ukG0yLYjQQm2OJ9OC30sjpHD2EAYq4ZLQYwA01ADJ1K4ILTlsKBUGNbS4HHtIJQ/s1600/20140820_114846.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZPgOX1N734ZInmhxgbNnrQxh3s725_ht9TWzBVi4XbvRe_DPzX9NtVPFVDQI9PVaxF9wIs0Qoe6DWVwtF6kVNboWTq2SAocma9QVsdB7i3IUuE1jI7PbssnIkswi6u9cqBe0fi7Opipo/s1600/20140820_124305.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZPgOX1N734ZInmhxgbNnrQxh3s725_ht9TWzBVi4XbvRe_DPzX9NtVPFVDQI9PVaxF9wIs0Qoe6DWVwtF6kVNboWTq2SAocma9QVsdB7i3IUuE1jI7PbssnIkswi6u9cqBe0fi7Opipo/s1600/20140820_124305.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-a84bth1McsNfgB2QSery7_iRqxBb5MQxLSKSxuC9yRPKnwrBNVsvgf0fdk_0LzLoeMoNViMZMgtzDjywgjgrJOBYMclqAK2p22pRji5tmtOyPeh9EauY-32FlUDxkLwl0ZX34rqTogE/s1600/20140820_124309.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-a84bth1McsNfgB2QSery7_iRqxBb5MQxLSKSxuC9yRPKnwrBNVsvgf0fdk_0LzLoeMoNViMZMgtzDjywgjgrJOBYMclqAK2p22pRji5tmtOyPeh9EauY-32FlUDxkLwl0ZX34rqTogE/s1600/20140820_124309.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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As did the Asian art</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4UHKXIgXIQYaXLjKwCzng5ZkdR1-Z4RqmpzvvPVg_j8Jxfm4k8VVWMxVpOOXrTTvTAvp9xTvFaCaNd3i0sFge3kc2_qbzBJauDk8WowBTA9GDsZaIh1F4_yx4E1nzN6sV006NhbS8WP8/s1600/20140820_124552.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4UHKXIgXIQYaXLjKwCzng5ZkdR1-Z4RqmpzvvPVg_j8Jxfm4k8VVWMxVpOOXrTTvTAvp9xTvFaCaNd3i0sFge3kc2_qbzBJauDk8WowBTA9GDsZaIh1F4_yx4E1nzN6sV006NhbS8WP8/s1600/20140820_124552.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzda8qehIM3NMrZmRGZAUg-FNtsPPb71FQpQEXkL8ensU3-wrGJCCpqDNoSLIj4hRg_-r0_9SFWiwFxKyNxbeaayXtb-1NjFV2NOhfYy11eNoJWh7MVqFKg-OYmib4Z896HMBRw0_XwZU/s1600/20140820_125323.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzda8qehIM3NMrZmRGZAUg-FNtsPPb71FQpQEXkL8ensU3-wrGJCCpqDNoSLIj4hRg_-r0_9SFWiwFxKyNxbeaayXtb-1NjFV2NOhfYy11eNoJWh7MVqFKg-OYmib4Z896HMBRw0_XwZU/s1600/20140820_125323.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See the horses?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieGZEjKKoGPlVtjktGr5s8as-y0BnTBe9KBO8ir_6sTlLkMZDe8yXE9FOnhA7wy8XKNjXQ_AfiTMybEmzOQjbdiHKIwOXW7kLe13h1TGxZ5oVA6Y1YWFiymZKpPKqv9A-w3dYjicXvNbI/s1600/20140820_125331.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieGZEjKKoGPlVtjktGr5s8as-y0BnTBe9KBO8ir_6sTlLkMZDe8yXE9FOnhA7wy8XKNjXQ_AfiTMybEmzOQjbdiHKIwOXW7kLe13h1TGxZ5oVA6Y1YWFiymZKpPKqv9A-w3dYjicXvNbI/s1600/20140820_125331.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguqbqSRwKJpZL4qZ-_kv9w7yLPfa_E4BJsOoRlZHa2fWc7UZW0fn64HKC-Qr_B5zGOu1tVbHz99WSMKmZnJXmgkUaP_ZINsYBb3Xn5BkUBUtElOM9xPkLH0SeNFt4dAitRJaPLIDl7Ors/s1600/20140820_125718.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguqbqSRwKJpZL4qZ-_kv9w7yLPfa_E4BJsOoRlZHa2fWc7UZW0fn64HKC-Qr_B5zGOu1tVbHz99WSMKmZnJXmgkUaP_ZINsYBb3Xn5BkUBUtElOM9xPkLH0SeNFt4dAitRJaPLIDl7Ors/s1600/20140820_125718.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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This next piece is technically not horse related, but it's incredibly beautiful and so delicate it shook whenever someone walked nearby. </div>
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<i>"Gilt silver openwork and filigree crown inlaid with kingfisher feathers and hardstones (some missing)</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Late Ming-early Qing dynasty, 17th century AD</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>The decoration of this ornate crown of 'cage' construction includes flower heads, flaming pearls, dragons and phoenixes. It would have been worn by a lady of high birth. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Not all the horses I saw were exactly what one might call conventional...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjymp3aSmlu375Xat8Rza9_OL9yX6r_LnECzklJwaz17Kdrd_oOp9HipLj0zUnBjnJLjH1Ju5Ud8V78uOMX9WsuAbM6ON-l-L3D-00kpXtWDndUCs__Yz35hkgW_ouWPMVn-mhtT09sI_8/s1600/20140820_130557.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjymp3aSmlu375Xat8Rza9_OL9yX6r_LnECzklJwaz17Kdrd_oOp9HipLj0zUnBjnJLjH1Ju5Ud8V78uOMX9WsuAbM6ON-l-L3D-00kpXtWDndUCs__Yz35hkgW_ouWPMVn-mhtT09sI_8/s1600/20140820_130557.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">exhibit A</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Exhibit B</td></tr>
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I also spied this bit in the exhibit on ancient Syria.<br />
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<i>"Horse Riding</i></div>
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<i>This horse bit has large bar cheek-pieces for attaching the bridle and holes for the straps. The knobbed snaffle must have been uncomfortable for the horse but enabled the rider to control it with the slightest movement of the reins. There are considerable signs of wear at the junction of the two rings in the centre, indigating that this object had been extensively used before it was buried."</i></div>
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I was not good at documenting signs to remind myself of which exhibit was what on the latter half of my museum trip. So I'm fairly sure all these photos came from the area devoted to the areas around ancient Syria and Iran. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbetMH_lffehLU9Mi1I8B27TqbbmEsdBCcAnJMHWHRp8A36pJEaosrCvUVGOcxTr7VPp67681tO_bhLinDXxRnBxHOWcbKjS7n5EsaMswsQDWRkCgUAUat61T3iphlsReQrEcYznlWk_o/s1600/20140820_133645.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbetMH_lffehLU9Mi1I8B27TqbbmEsdBCcAnJMHWHRp8A36pJEaosrCvUVGOcxTr7VPp67681tO_bhLinDXxRnBxHOWcbKjS7n5EsaMswsQDWRkCgUAUat61T3iphlsReQrEcYznlWk_o/s1600/20140820_133645.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
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<i>"Stone relief showing horses</i><br />
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<i>This fragment was originally part of a larger Assyrian relief showing a team of horses drawing a chariot. The Assyrians campaigned regularly in western Iran during the 9th and 8th centuries BC, and horses were among the items of booty that they particularly valued for their chariots and cavalry."</i><br />
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"<i>The Cordoba treasure</i><br />
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<i>Important hoards of silver artefacts were deposited in the Iron Age, and hte example displayed here was found by chance in 1915 at the Molino de Marrubial, on the outskirts of Cordoba. The objects had been buried in a pit, the coins and two lumps of silver were in the bowl with the rest of the hoard outside. The treasure includes a torc, eight armlets,the head of a brooch (in the form of a pair of horse's heads), rough lumps of silver and other fragments. The coins, 82 native and 222 Roman, show that the hoard was buried about 100 BC. Some of the objects are damaged and distorted, and the hoard might well have been the stock of a silversmith."</i><br />
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Last but not least of the artifacts was the Lewis Chessman, another of the museum's top ten. <br />
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<i>"The Lewis Chessmen</i><br />
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<i>In 1831 a remarkable hoard of carved walrus ivory was discovered on the Isle of Lewis in the Western Isles, Scotland. It consisted of 93 pieces and included 78 chessmen, 14 large gaming counters and an elaborately carved belt buckle. Eleven of the chessmen are at the National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh and the rest of the hoard is at the British Museum. When found, some of the chessmen were stained red. The earliest medieval chess sets appear to have combined red with plain ivory rather than black and white pieces familiar to the game today."</i><br />
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The day ended off really rather well with a tour of Buckingham palace! No pictures were allowed inside, but suffice it to say it was amazing. We were allowed to snap a few pictures in the garden out back. <br />
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<br />ColbyJazzmushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555076374298205933noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1354290745610876546.post-31138049889713187672015-01-27T17:12:00.003-08:002015-01-27T17:12:53.448-08:00Catchin' on upQuick preface: I wrote this post on Saturday and it got delayed when my computer utterly <i>refused</i> to acknowledge my phone so no photos. I had an adorable video of Jazz eating her minerals (she loves her noms), but it seems that it will NOT be possible to share.<br />
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Three noteworthy rides within the last four days and not a single blog post! Bad blogger! Here's a quick overview and update of all three rides:<br />
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<b>Wednesday Lesson</b><br />
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Wednesday Jazz came in feeling a little squirrelly. It's always hard in the winter when she's alone in the arena and it's already dark out. We started work on our trouble spot in the arena. Tracking left, whenever we do 20 meter circles, she bulges way out towards the door on the open end of the circle. In the final quarter of the circle (approaching K), she dives out with her right shoulder, and when I try to push her back in with my leg, she shoots her bum out right, sidepassing quickly until she finally stops completely. And there is nothing that I can really do when she sets her mind to doing it. No amount of leg helps on its own (and I am not afraid to kick her when I need to), and I tried a crop at my last lesson. It did seem to help last time. But, Jazz is definitely not very comfortable with the crop, and honestly neither am I. Not because I have any sort of issue with it, it's just a lot harder to adjust my reins when I'm holding it, and Jazz thinks it means <i>faster, </i>so I need to use more rein... which is harder when I'm holding the crop. It's kind of a vicious cycle. But, nonetheless, she dove out and sidepassed, and I tapped her with the crop. She had an absolute meltdown. She reeled her head up and bumped her nose on the martingale, and threw in a couple little bucks for good measure. Lucky for me (*knock on wood*), Jazz doesn't have much of a buck in her. We slowed things down, and started working on trotting the half of the circle that was against the wall, and then walking the open half, pushing her in to a small circle if she tried to dive out. It worked pretty well, and we worked up from trotting half the circle to two steps into the open side before walking, and got up to three quarters trotting, even trotting through once or twice. It was a mostly successful lesson. It sounds actually quite non-stressful when I write it out. Bear in mind this whole ordeal took about 45 minutes, and it was literally the only thing we did. Jazz was definitely mentally done by the time we were finished. She had been working on a contact for essentially the entire lesson, and was having a hard time even walking the circle quietly by the end, she kept trying to head toss and bumping herself on the martingale. Finally she settled and I immediately hopped off. She was totally done mentally, but I was actually super impressed she had worked that long on a contact. This was my horse! Jazz! She worked on a contact for forty minutes before getting tired of it! That's huge! This is the same horse who I wasn't sure would ever learn to accept a contact she was so sensitive to rein pressure. This is the horse who I had learned the habit of waaaaaay too permissive hands from because too much rein confused and agitated her! Score!<br />
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Anyhow, it was ultimately a lesson that was both good and necessary, but I ended the night a little bummed. It was just hard to spend that long on just the one thing. Even though I knew it was important progress, it wasn't 100% an easy pill to swallow. <br />
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<b>Thursday Ride</b><br />
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I came back the next day and brought Jazz in for a ride. It was super busy in the barn because someone's farrier was there, and two or three horses were waiting to have their feet done. I ended up heading into the arena to groom, and it was empty. Jazz was a little off just because she was alone, but right when I was ready to get on, another boarder came in with her horse to ride. I immediately tested her on the circle we'd done in the lesson (with no crop), and she did well. I worked up from a walking circle to a half walk/half trot circle to a full trot circle, and then didn't touch it again. Jazz, like all horses, does really well when given a little time to hang out in the pasture with her friends and be a horse between rides to let things sink in. She did totally awesome trotting her trouble circle, and I immediately moved to tracking right and doing other exercises that didn't involve her sticky spot. I had her canter for the second time since she's been wearing the martingale, and it was AMAZING. She just stepped right up into it when I asked for her transition, and did several circles well balanced, not too fast, and listening to my leg. It was awesome! I couldn't stop smiling. She was doing so well, I even pulled out some trot poles and did some trotting around over them, working on turns and pace. Just before I was done riding, the other horse left, and she started to get wound up a little. I decided best to end as well as possible, so I put the poles away and did a nice cool down before untacking and heading to the barn to feed her her minerals and probiotic. <br />
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<b>Saturday</b><br />
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I headed to the barn to meet up with a friend to do some groundwork with her horse. I showed up an hour early to ride, and it turned out she had the same idea. Her and her two daughters came early to ride another boarder's horse who they ride in lessons. I ended up tacking Jazz up in the western saddle, and returned to my truck to discover that somehow I had taken both my english and western bridles out and left them at home. Oops. I dug out my rope halter and lead and figured that if she wouldn't co-operate to be ridden I could always do groundwork. Granted, she wasn't as responsive as with the bit, but she almost never works in the halter anymore, so expecting her to be would be ridiculous. I did a little walking and trotting, mostly reveling in how weird it felt to be back in the western saddle. I like the seat and how it feels to sit in it, but it weirds me out how the stirrups don't move. Since I wasn't looking to accomplish much with that ride, I decided to hop off and offer to share. Both of my friend's daughters rode Jazz, and all three looked happy as clams. I think Jazz likes being a kid's horse because kids don't make her work as hard as I do. I ended the day with a little barebacking and a demo of some groundwork with Jazz. We never ended up getting the other horse to work with because we were having too much fun riding. I was very proud of how quiet and awesome Jazz was for her young riders!<br />
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<br />ColbyJazzmushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555076374298205933noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1354290745610876546.post-14190047321401506092015-01-19T11:37:00.001-08:002015-01-19T11:39:23.718-08:00TOABH: Sugar Momma<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Ancient blogger proverb: "That content which is lost during a week of uninteresting rides is made up for easily with blog hops."</div>
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So during a particularly dull week (walk rides woo! showing someone groundwork with Jazz for five minutes woo!), I am happy to participate in the latest installment of The Owls Approve's latest blog hop.<br />
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<b>Sugar Momma.</b></div>
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<b>Let's continue pretending that horse poop magically transforms into money instead of the other way. So money doesn't matter. If you could buy anything <i>for your horse</i>, what would you buy? </b></div>
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I started seeing this hop popping up and started thinking about what I would buy for my horse. I know exactly what I would buy for me (coughtallbootscough), and there's lots of pretty luxury tack items floating around the blogosphere that I wouldn't mind owning (fancy expensive helmets, ovlivy pats, etc.), but I was stumped by this question at first. Most of the posts I've read listed comfier or fancier saddles/bridles/bits and treats. Not that I have anything against any of those, but none of those answers excited me. </div>
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And then I got to thinking about what really makes Jazz happy, and I had a eureka moment when I glanced about 45 degrees to my left to see the snow outside the window. Jazz HATES winter. Not even just winter, bad weather in general really. Summer Jazz is a horse that I ride a lot, try new things with, and have a lot of fun with. Winter Jazz is still the ponykins I know and love, but she does not like to approach the same tasks. The past two winters I haven't even been able to ride for extended periods of time based largely on attitude. So, with unlimited money the answer is simple: No more winter for Jazz.</div>
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Now, this is not as simple of an undertaking as moving somewhere warm. Jazz and I have a large support system of family and friends that I consider necessary to my horse life, so what really makes the most sense is buying a huge private island with trails, state of the art facilities, vets, etc. where I can take Jazz and all her best horse buddies and their people. No more winter Jazz, nothing but sunny skies and galloping on the beach. There has to be amazing facilities so I can watch high level jumping, hunters, vaulting, cutting, etc. at a convenient location, and lots of other horses for me to ride from time to time. Cows, of course, to learn to herd, trainers to teach us how to get better at everything, e3quine and human masseurs to keep the muscles from getting tight, magical arena dirt that is neither sticky nor dusty nor stinky, the list could go on forever. Do horse jacuzzis exist? If so, there would definitely be a jacuzzi area. </div>
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If I was being just a smidgen more realistic, I would say I wanted to build a boarding stable. But not just any boarding stable, I would want one with an appropriately huge arena (our current arena is maybe 20 x 60 or so), and trails, and all my horsey friends, and no more than a ten minute drive. Of course that would require moving to somewhere that this kind of drive/open space is possible. </div>
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Maybe I should just buy her another halter...</div>
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<!-- end InLinkz script -->ColbyJazzmushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555076374298205933noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1354290745610876546.post-70956196220523669922015-01-13T14:26:00.002-08:002015-01-13T14:26:23.020-08:00Mr. PostmanToday the mail brought me something I have been waiting for for a long time now. For a long time now, I have been admiring the model horse hobby from afar. For anyone not familiar, <a href="http://braymere.blogspot.ca/2013/12/performance-showing.html" target="_blank">here </a>is a post explaining performance model horse showing (technically it's from She Moved to Texas, but I had an easier time finding the link to her guest post on Braymere Custom Saddlery). Basically model horses get dressed up in awesome scaled down versions of real life tack and do a still frame of real life horse events. I'm slightly obsessed, and if anyone else is interested, I cannot recommend <a href="http://braymere.blogspot.ca/" target="_blank">Braymere Custom Saddlery</a> enough as a resource to learn a little more. <div>
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However, I say admiring because I did not even own one Breyer. I say did because this arrived in the mail today! </div>
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After a very long wait (as in, I first inquired about whether the set was still available back in August, and finally paid a few weeks ago), it's finally here! One of the hobby blogs I follow is <a href="http://leftytack.blogspot.ca/" target="_blank">Stage Left Studios</a>, with fabulous stablemate (1:32) scale tack by Grace Ledoux. She made a portrait set of Secretariat's race tack, and I fell in love, but couldn't quite justify buying it when I had no horse to put it on. Luckily for me, Grace threw in a horse with it, and I couldn't resist! </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVnBrFzyGhx7jFJmTIWxpGfr8Fq2FUILNKq_PLSzbG2INGZYeNuUQGB9E35NKisZvHbxxJrSXy-iyzlJbnugWSX4H_pNB6pEKVvaHQQZusA_GZcni3soTVsGMehuhPFHjCyDaYyu7PFNo/s1600/secretariat+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVnBrFzyGhx7jFJmTIWxpGfr8Fq2FUILNKq_PLSzbG2INGZYeNuUQGB9E35NKisZvHbxxJrSXy-iyzlJbnugWSX4H_pNB6pEKVvaHQQZusA_GZcni3soTVsGMehuhPFHjCyDaYyu7PFNo/s1600/secretariat+2.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There may or may not have been squealing when I saw how little it was.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx9tboZAdCSwETbaTxI5ZTk7o5ESVD7plHyE3oxbf86HIQfo72um7UiZYgUrBNYb6qQLhuAv49wcN7-djtTcCAJvkNBtwZ6_cBLYJmuG8_RaOCrbSPTG922ZOntr1l0hN88NfXtC8wzr8/s1600/secretariat+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx9tboZAdCSwETbaTxI5ZTk7o5ESVD7plHyE3oxbf86HIQfo72um7UiZYgUrBNYb6qQLhuAv49wcN7-djtTcCAJvkNBtwZ6_cBLYJmuG8_RaOCrbSPTG922ZOntr1l0hN88NfXtC8wzr8/s1600/secretariat+3.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I gathered my supplies</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And then proceeded to squeal a little more about just how teeny tiny it was.</td></tr>
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Naturally, I had to tack up and play with it right away! It was a lot harder than I had thought it would be, but it was also 8000 times smaller and cuter than I'd expected! It's hard to get an exact scale in mind until you're physically holding something. I spent maybe 45 minutes fiddling and fussing with wax and tweezers and tiny paper-thin straps before it was on and satisfactory for the time being. Grace at one point had offered to permanently attach the tack for me, but I said no because I wanted to be able to play with it. I had a little teeeensy bit of regret over that decision when I spent about twenty minutes trying to get the wax on the undergirth to stay while also threading a 1:32 scale buckle for the overgirth and keep the saddle and pad in place. I realized AFTER all of this fuss of course that the girth goes OVER the pad (duh, have I never tacked up a horse before?) so the wax would probably stick a lot better where it's actually supposed to go. But for now, I'm not going to fuss with it, I'm just going to ooh and ahh and keep it as far as possible away from my very curious cat. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mmm blobby bridle sticky wax (just behind the ear)</td></tr>
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Overall, I am incredibly impressed with the set. I am floored by how <i>small</i> it all is. The leather straps are all literally paper thin and maybe as wide as a toothpick. I'm particularly impressed with the reins and the blinker hood (surprisingly, my favourite parts are the ones I didn't spend forever fiddling with trying to get to stick). I would buy from Stage Left again in a heartbeat. (Say, anyone know where I could get a good simple custom paint job on a stablemate? I might be able to be persuaded into commissioning a portrait tack set for a certain red pony that was once given as a gift to a certain someone at a certain time of year...) If I had one and only one thing to say that wasn't absolutely gushing, it would be that I can't find the buckle hole on the overgirth, but a) this strap is the width of a toothpick, and b) it's clearly buckled in the sale photos, so I know it's on there, I just haven't found it yet. Sometime soon i'll have to work up the nerve to untack and fix the sticky wax blobs and the girth. I don't think I could possibly have bought a first model that would have made me any happier! Thank you Grace! </div>
ColbyJazzmushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555076374298205933noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1354290745610876546.post-19419942783763986152015-01-11T21:59:00.001-08:002015-01-13T20:44:37.339-08:00Win-ter<br />
It's a day exactly like this one where I understand how people like winter. It is far from my own favourite season, and Jazz seems to feel the same way more often than not. But today, when it's not too cold at -5, sunny with not a cloud in the sky, and not a breath of wind, I get it. It was a truly gorgeous day, and a wonderful reminder of how lucky I am to have the horse I have and so many other little things. <br />
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Jazz was fairly easy to catch today. I had her new halter from my recent tack shop stop (review coming soon I just need some pictures), and I noticed the tag on it said full. I thought that was odd, because I could have sworn I'd bought a cob halter. It was the same brand as my pastel purple halter (which is cob sized), so I knew it would fit, and I specifically remembered the girl at the tack shop asking to make sure we knew it was cob sized. So, when I got to the fence, I yelled over to C (who had been with me when I bought it) to see if I was crazy or if the halter was actually supposed to be cob sized. She recalled that the tag that had said cob had been the sale tag, so it must have been mislabled. As we were talking over the fence, Jazz started nuzzling my shoulder and giving me little kisses. It was so sweet, and she's only done that maybe twice before. I tried to get C to take a picture, but Jazz stopped by the time she got her phone out. She did get a few cute shots, though.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMckilYwIaohg8WSdaxPRhOtZc_I5qyLVHUcGrm_aMv35ybTe4CW_9I3KnSMG39ys0ODeq4CfiON1gZrmOli_SC3WYRqSZzI-eseY2zJC2_Kd9XNdq8LX4jya4XMDpMVXqCQxkKZ_RWOc/s1600/pasture+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMckilYwIaohg8WSdaxPRhOtZc_I5qyLVHUcGrm_aMv35ybTe4CW_9I3KnSMG39ys0ODeq4CfiON1gZrmOli_SC3WYRqSZzI-eseY2zJC2_Kd9XNdq8LX4jya4XMDpMVXqCQxkKZ_RWOc/s1600/pasture+1.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love this one. She almost looks like she's smiling.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhky4yJVcePtxtRnNCRlWuIjGFb76tRWVlcEvZ7wSc12zGu37IiN5ITITZJDePdke9FF4Qq7frQt4D23NE1jX1UaSi_cRB6JdQfL6tpafufm6Eq7RpXWjj5k5dlnZS5tz2jvPrxc9cBgHg/s1600/pasture+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhky4yJVcePtxtRnNCRlWuIjGFb76tRWVlcEvZ7wSc12zGu37IiN5ITITZJDePdke9FF4Qq7frQt4D23NE1jX1UaSi_cRB6JdQfL6tpafufm6Eq7RpXWjj5k5dlnZS5tz2jvPrxc9cBgHg/s1600/pasture+5.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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As I was walking back from the pasture, I noticed how gorgeous of a day it was, and asked C to take some more pictures. Two of the barn cats even came out to greet us. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-TwMqbRzHaaobmeZSf0LPeRXmQNZuKRqLX4zDg3xPB9KxD6MujSN92FKJ4tAKs6ojFLY_5ditiIlPoYkymyxM9pG9Y1ZQKr9aldrl43ezdhMv7XWln5aB4tA_9KwBrvAr8p2hanG0utc/s1600/pasture+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-TwMqbRzHaaobmeZSf0LPeRXmQNZuKRqLX4zDg3xPB9KxD6MujSN92FKJ4tAKs6ojFLY_5ditiIlPoYkymyxM9pG9Y1ZQKr9aldrl43ezdhMv7XWln5aB4tA_9KwBrvAr8p2hanG0utc/s1600/pasture+2.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just look at that sky! It was really perfect</td></tr>
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I picked up one of the cats and put her in my coat, and Jazz happily snuffled her. She loves the cats, but usually she scares them off. Today she was just sniffing and snuffling the kitten so gently she didn't even squirm.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhie5KFDfSIvIqrUd46Etm4dLZVIk2Pm0XHPWQ7S6BchwzhC-ripU_h_3qRhqxu672tTcYGG40wYow5Chnr8TDJXquqg-3RI1vm3ykZVBcYM18hlHLC5pRT3NeHUatES6ePG4vqp0kcXwU/s1600/cats+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhie5KFDfSIvIqrUd46Etm4dLZVIk2Pm0XHPWQ7S6BchwzhC-ripU_h_3qRhqxu672tTcYGG40wYow5Chnr8TDJXquqg-3RI1vm3ykZVBcYM18hlHLC5pRT3NeHUatES6ePG4vqp0kcXwU/s1600/cats+1.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We got this adorable but sadly fuzzy picture of it</td></tr>
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Soon the other cat caught her attention, and we captured a couple photos of Jazz's fascination with the cats.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMQKKWteQcgn0i2mLg899ZDa8hP-xjWycVaxA4cmO4T8u7I03k42RyUVBfK1_DN0TQbhHgZbzuwEOVtDs4jCIOiJ_T_RcvT0iACO0j_Ezk2u0khTNzIuAl2RYr8Elrk3UaLLrh3k5g7yc/s1600/cats.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMQKKWteQcgn0i2mLg899ZDa8hP-xjWycVaxA4cmO4T8u7I03k42RyUVBfK1_DN0TQbhHgZbzuwEOVtDs4jCIOiJ_T_RcvT0iACO0j_Ezk2u0khTNzIuAl2RYr8Elrk3UaLLrh3k5g7yc/s1600/cats.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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I got a few nice pictures in the sun near the back paddocks (the ones in the far background of the above photos)</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqJ3CklMhf6pGaNtdPDwbl_8Q-YtRF8c9WnSOJ-rpHQDDydCVt_W9bhlnxToTWRoN2Oo2qp9ofkkPEWOHBKF5uSqsYZT7FuCPHt6LoD2OKixZPtWSBNPfyLHrUjpaHEi464tcPDzCpKRo/s1600/pony.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqJ3CklMhf6pGaNtdPDwbl_8Q-YtRF8c9WnSOJ-rpHQDDydCVt_W9bhlnxToTWRoN2Oo2qp9ofkkPEWOHBKF5uSqsYZT7FuCPHt6LoD2OKixZPtWSBNPfyLHrUjpaHEi464tcPDzCpKRo/s1600/pony.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of my absolute favourites</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihNo0393AWbOQfaxcEhhxvIV9TjaXbuzrVHJI4XN3xGw0FZoKNKAabqax-PYHoygKYpKqknONk2RPCrvjjGIltTCtWmtjDbHACwdqtvhaISQFInwHnqtklMtJIO_JVdTEEkkiHFbdzHRs/s1600/crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihNo0393AWbOQfaxcEhhxvIV9TjaXbuzrVHJI4XN3xGw0FZoKNKAabqax-PYHoygKYpKqknONk2RPCrvjjGIltTCtWmtjDbHACwdqtvhaISQFInwHnqtklMtJIO_JVdTEEkkiHFbdzHRs/s1600/crop.jpg" height="320" width="211" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This one turned out really nice of me and the cat</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoo4nIG67WktaQlrMiAoXtOPeEoA4iiBGx4OKg7uLPonwdzG4SYc8wRjw3MBU7m-SFOKDDq7okKWd670-WFamsj2wEtYipwICLE8S_Q7mot9WAHhxPYNYXq19Ak1NHzajtuKLQfA5i01s/s1600/uncropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoo4nIG67WktaQlrMiAoXtOPeEoA4iiBGx4OKg7uLPonwdzG4SYc8wRjw3MBU7m-SFOKDDq7okKWd670-WFamsj2wEtYipwICLE8S_Q7mot9WAHhxPYNYXq19Ak1NHzajtuKLQfA5i01s/s1600/uncropped.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See? Cat and I are cute, pony looks like she's plotting something.</td></tr>
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A brief interlude from today's events to summarize our lesson from this past Wednesday that I neglected to blog about. Something I don't appreciate often enough about my trainer is the confidence I feel when I ride with her. My last ride before my lesson I didn't ride above a walk because I didn't feel safe. I cantered on Wednesday, because I am confident my trainer knows enough to tell me how best to keep my occasionally frazzled horse (and self) under control, and I also know she will listen when something just isn't working. In December, a lesson I didn't blog about didn't happen because I got onto a horse I wasn't sure about, and when Jazz felt much closer to rearing than I wanted to touch with a ten foot pole, I told my instructor I wasn't comfortable and hopped off (and she also didn't let me pay her for the lesson I didn't take). So on Wednesday, I got on to a fussed sort of Jazz that I probably wouldn't have even trotted if I was alone at the barn. I had bought a standing martingale at the tack shop the previous weekend, but hadn't actually had time to put it on yet. I asked my trainer if she wanted me to try it, and she helped me put it on and adjust it correctly. We went quickly back into some trot work, and Jazz bumped herself in the nose a few times. The difference was immediately obvious to me. She's head tossed a bit for some time now, but it finally felt like I could ride it out safely again. We did a lovely canter on her better right lead, and tried her left, but with little success. She's much duller to the right leg, and she will run sideways on the circle when tracking left sometimes, even stopping sometimes. It's very difficult for me to try to control, and has been a source of most of my frustration with riding over the last three or four months. When I had been having no success for a few minutes of working on it, and as I was starting to get frustrated, I did something I'd been meaning to do every time we'd had this problem for the last few months. I asked my trainer if there was some other way (any other way) we could possibly work this out. She said a crop was an option, and retrieved one from the whip bucket. She explained how to use it, and we worked on small circles where she wasn't squirreling off sideways on me. It took about two sharp pops with the crop behind my leg, and four or five gentle taps before she was much improved (and a million miles an hour, but I wasn't going to pull on her after giving her such a strong foward cue, that would just be confusing). <br />
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Coming back to today, we even squeezed in some work after the photoshoot, . I taught C a little basic groundwork, and Jazz was a rockstar. I groomed her and tacked up with our other purchase from last week's tack shopping, a standing martingale. I walked her for a bit, and she was listening the best right off the bat she has in months. She's always been very eager to go when I get on, and I sometimes have issue getting her to stand at the mounting block for me to get my reins and stirrups organized. Today she stood well, and started off at a good walk, but listening nicely to halts and half halts (another thing that she usually has to warm up to in the winter). We trotted early on, and I worked on doing ovals tracking left at the trot. She was actually getting off my outside leg on the open (non-walled) end of our oval, and I didn't need to fetch the crop to get her to listen. We even cantered a bit on her good right lead. There were two other horses in the arena trotting and cantering, which made Jazz want to speed up, so we had a fairly zippy but controlled canter. I just focused on her being quiet and listening, and did a bit of leg yielding on the quarter line intermittently throughout the ride. I even worked a bit at two pointing at the trot, which made Jazz happily zip around in a fast trot. I pulled out two ground poles to trot over, and even commented to C that if she did well over the poles, I might pop over a cavaletti. That goes to show how confident I was feeling in her, because I would never jump outside of a lesson unless I knew Jazz was doing well.<br />
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Unfortunately, just as I was getting ready to start work over the poles, Jazz had a big spook. She reeled up her head and bumped herself on the martingale, and took off, nearly tripping herself over the pole, and doing a little dolphin buck over it. I yelled at C to move because I wasn't feeling confident about my steering, and veered right. She came back to reality quickly, with the whole spook maybe lasting four seconds. I'm not sure exactly what set her off, but the other people in the arena had dismounted and were doing a little de-spooking with the flag (aka Jazz's number one fear) on the far end of the arena, so that may have factored in. I've found Jazz isn't usually a horse that will spook at something that startles her unless two or more things happen at once. For example, she'll sometimes startle at the sound of people rattling the chains on gates just outside the arena walls, or snow falling off the roof, or a car door slamming, but she'll rarely spook at these types of things unless at least two of them are happening at once, or one happens while I'm cueing for an upward transition. I put the poles away and basically worked on getting her calmed and releasing her tension. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU4jqp3rr9h2FKifllz1wBqnsQaNF49ShhiNLCHkgjqNxOP2emE_lDwQ6khS16Dk2zLNhZKTSs60nO-TJsbDUpv7NijGbyA5GlVRqNVLHUjgS5zYn6bqz-i6dto_FZgDN3qjgip31c8a4/s1600/riding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU4jqp3rr9h2FKifllz1wBqnsQaNF49ShhiNLCHkgjqNxOP2emE_lDwQ6khS16Dk2zLNhZKTSs60nO-TJsbDUpv7NijGbyA5GlVRqNVLHUjgS5zYn6bqz-i6dto_FZgDN3qjgip31c8a4/s1600/riding.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I especially love her dragon breath in this picture</td></tr>
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Once I was off, I took off her bridle and looped the martingale strap through the neck loop so it wouldn't drag. Just then, two scary sounds at the same time = another spook. Jazz startled and reeled away from the viewing area (where the halter had been sitting, and I was standing next to the rail) and away about five steps. She stopped quickly, and I had to laugh at her a little bit. She couldn't have picked a better time to spook, with her bridle off and no worrying about her catching her bit. Her girth was still tightened, so her saddle didn't move an inch, and she had respectfully not so much as grazed me. I did two fast groundwork moves to get her brain back, and untacked for good. </div>
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I've really learned something this week, and I hope it's something I remember next time I'm in a similar situation. I have had a very natural horsemanship kind of 'upbringing', and I've been committed to a gadgets are bad kind of mentality. I was first told by my trainer that I should consider a martingale/tie-down in <a href="http://colbyjazzmus.blogspot.ca/2014/06/toss-up.html" target="_blank">June</a>, and I bought one last Saturday. The result was an immediate feeling that I had returned to safety upon first use, and a horse who didn't catch herself on the martingale once (with the exception of a spook, of course) the second time she had ever had a martingale. My trainer commented to me when I asked about another method to deal with Jazz running sideways at the trot, that a crop or spurs would help, though she knew I didn't usually like that kind of thing. I've actually had the thought cross my mind a few times that a crop might have been the answer to my outside leg problem when she really isn't listening the way she was. I've actually used a crop before. It helped take us from here: </div>
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"Pleeeeeeease trot? Pretty please?"<br />
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to here:<br />
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You can actually see the crop in the video too. <br />
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So the moral of the story is a piece of advice I've heard from one of my horsey mentors (paraphrased) "You are going to hear a million opinions from horse people. You can't ever do that, horses should never do this, etc. The important thing is for you to figure out what feels right to you, and to do that."</div>
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So, readers, remember that no matter what, what matters is that you have a horse you can be proud of, and a method that you can feel good about. </div>
ColbyJazzmushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555076374298205933noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1354290745610876546.post-54956194824599765882015-01-04T17:13:00.002-08:002015-01-04T17:13:21.250-08:00New DirectionsI have spent the past two winters not riding my horse. This is the main reason that none of my <a href="http://colbyjazzmus.blogspot.ca/2015/01/new-year-new-endeavors.html" target="_blank">new quarterly goals</a> specifically require riding (well, with the possible exception of talking less in riding lessons, but last year I was still taking lessons, just on the ground. I'm not sure if that would be an option with this new trainer though...). That said, I have high hopes for this year. Jazz is truly a different horse than she ever has been before. <br />
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On Friday I went to see the horse. It was a cold,snowy day, but was only threatening to get colder and snowier, so I figured I would work in a visit before it got too bad. Jazz and her buddies were huddled in the shelter against the freezing wind. I can't say I blame Jazz if she doesn't want to be caught on days like that where a long walk directly into the wind is promised on the way to the warm arena. It was cold enough I decided to start with a warmup in the arena instead of a quick groom in the barn. A good friend of mine, R, was inside riding, and it was nice to catch up a bit. I did a little basic work, mostly leading to get the muscles warm and the pony brain paying attention. Jazz then proceeded to be a superstar letting herself be ground tied within five steps of the door (which is really incredible considering her former love affair with gates when I started working with her) while I picked her feet and gave her a quick currying. Just when we had finished, another horse came into the arena. The other boarder was still riding in the far end of the arena, finishing up some work she'd been doing with ground poles, and I was hanging out in the close end of the arena. <br />
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The horse who had just come in was clearly not having the best day. The girl with her said that she was on rest for an injury and she didn't think she'd been handwalked in a day or two. I recognized the sort of jitteriness Jazz gets when I take her inside and it's been icy outside, where she's finally on good footing and has a few days of ice-prevented energy to get out. Jazz was pretty distracted by this at first, but a couple of quick exercises brought her right back to me. R offered to move into the middle to let her handwalk around the outside track, but the horse was not a fan of the back half of the arena. There were even a few kicks, and strikes, and rears. It was exactly what Jazz would have been like if she'd been confined last winter. Then R offered to put the poles away if she thought that would help, and I helped drag them back. Jazz is so funny whenever I put poles away. She absolutely has to sniff them once I'm holding one end and they're slanted. It's much harder to get her to back away from them than anything else. <br />
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Eventually I did saddle up, and I tested her with the bit a little. I hadn't ridden since her teeth were done, just to give her a little time for her mouth to heal up. Having spent most of Christmas with the worst imaginable canker sore, I had plenty of sympathy for mouth lacerations. I decided the best way to test her would just be to get on, so I hopped up. By the time I was riding, both R and the other boarder had left, and another friend came in to warm up and blanket her horse. Jazz was very forward, and was in the kind of mood where fussing too much with the bit (especially asking for too many halts) will set her off, so I did what I call a "bareback protocol" ride. I let her go forward until her energy levels off, which usually doesn't take too long. I just walked her and tried to sit as quietly as possible until she finally relaxed and I could feel her quiet and come up through her back a little. She had one spook in the scary K corner with all the jumps, where she took off in a weird crazy trot, so I pretty much just walked. I did ask for the trot at one point, but when I got the same sort of spooky weird explosion, I decided walking was lots (again with bareback protocol. I'm not that great of a bareback rider, so generally my bareback rides consist of not irritating her so she doesn't throw me off when I'm working on my balance). I hopped off shortly after, unbridled, and lunged her a bit so she could get out some of that energy I didn't want to ride out under saddle. <br />
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Lucky horse even got some cookies. The barn management always gives out a nice card and horse treats to all the boarders for Christmas, so I made an exception to my no cookies rule. Jazz did a little carrot stretching and bow stretching, and I was reminded of why I have the rule in the first place. Such a little cookie monster! Her brain was all but gone once she knew there were cookies. <br />
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I was very glad to have arrived when I did, because it got just as snowy and cold as promised while I was there. The light dusting of snow I had brushed off Jazz at the beginning of our ride was replaced by one twice as thick in the twenty yard walk from the barn to her pasture. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maybe it's just a winter thing where I take no pictures until the horse is put away and I'm about to leave.</td></tr>
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I also had a productive Saturday when it got too cold to do much at the barn and made a pilgrimage to the tack shop to pick up a product that might just help me cross off that product review goal... stay tuned for that! </div>
ColbyJazzmushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555076374298205933noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1354290745610876546.post-60127933277373744542015-01-01T13:02:00.002-08:002015-01-01T13:02:19.683-08:00New Year, New EndeavorsLast year, my New Year's resolution was to keep up this blog with at least one post per week. Though I did get less consistent with my timing, and I did fall behind occasionally, I would say I kept my resolution. This year, I decided to try to stick to the same resolution, because I have really come to love blogging. However, I feel like I've been missing out on a big part of what seems a common aspect of the blogging experience: GOALS. <br />
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I never made goals before because I have an extremely busy schedule outside of my horsey life, and it just didn't seem realistic for me to be making progress in that way. Sometimes life gets crazy and its a week or more between barn visits, and sometimes (coughwintercough) Jazz is not feeling this whole 'moving forward' nonsense and, not entirely by choice, we have a groundwork foundation day. </div>
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However, I've been thinking about what I want to write, and I consider what I like to read. Probably some of my favourite posts to read on other's blogs are goals. So, I'm going to try it. I don't think monthly will probably be ideal for me or my horse, so I'm going to make some quarterly goals.</div>
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<u>Goals for the First Quarter (Jan-March)</u></div>
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<b>Make more horse time. </b>Too many excuses and not enough pony have been happening recently, and I intend to put a stop to it. </div>
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<b>Play with the Horse Ball. </b>Jazz's absolute favourite thing and I'm not even sure I've brought it out more than twice in the last year. Plus a fun thing both on the ground and under saddle.</div>
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<b>Put the Western saddle back on occasionally. </b>I kind of miss it. </div>
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<b>Do something about my tall boots.</b> I need to bathe them in boot stretch or get room put in at the shoe repair place because they are much too tight on my calves. </div>
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<b>Write a product review post or two. </b>Product reviews are the kind of post I will read 100% of the time I see them on my blogger dashboard, but I have yet to write one. </div>
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<b>Think about a bitless bridle option.</b> Since my horse needs her teeth done every 6 months at this point, it might be nice to have an alternative when her mouth hurts. I do own a bitless bridle, but I don't love it and I'm considering a different type of bridle. </div>
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<b>Try to talk less in lessons. </b>Pretty self explanatory but a definite bad habit of mine.</div>
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<b>Show off the horse. </b>I have been telling many, many friends for a long time they can come meet my horse, but I have taken very few people out to the farm. I may end up moving this goal to a different quarter depending on how our winter goes (I probably shouldn't introduce my non-horsey friends who have never ridden a horse to the crazy winter Jazz I know and love).<br />
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<b>Get better at leg protection. </b>I will divide this one into two parts<br />
a) use the brushing boots and/or open front boots I own much more often<br />
b) polos! I have one set and I am honestly pitiful at wrapping them<br />
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ColbyJazzmushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555076374298205933noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1354290745610876546.post-53241943743461650362014-12-18T16:48:00.001-08:002014-12-18T16:48:27.545-08:002014- a first year of blogging in review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I can't believe that it's already been over a year since I started this blog! I did mean to acknowledge the actual anniversary of my first post, buuuuuuut I thought it was later in the month and didn't even bother to check until I'd missed it by about two days. Oops. Either way, the actual anniversary was <a href="http://colbyjazzmus.blogspot.ca/2013/12/the-horse-under-tree.html" target="_blank">December 7th </a>, after which I promptly didn't write for almost an entire month. Luckily for me, I decided to make posting at least once a week my New Year's Resolution (which I kept for the most part), and as a result, I got to keep blogging and meet so many great people (metaphorically speaking of course)!<br />
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<b><u>January</u></b><br />
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I give a little basic background on<a href="http://colbyjazzmus.blogspot.ca/2014/01/jazz-time-before-me.html" target="_blank"> my horse </a>and where she came from. I <a href="http://colbyjazzmus.blogspot.ca/2014/01/trim-day.html" target="_blank">recollect </a>on some progress I've made with not freaking out when someone comments my horse might not be at 100%, and I have my usual <a href="http://colbyjazzmus.blogspot.ca/2014/01/progress-is-progress-no-matter-how-small.html" target="_blank">crazy winter Jazz</a>. It seems so weird to think that I didn't know almost any of my now go-to groundwork exercises back then. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZpPfER24wMzVV_F6UfPQThjN72O_NxRZlsqmhOYC5_CpRGHv4pt0VySQ0rQTAdOZMWBGVYy5ndKnoloZYE1IyezosMu0qsBwJjfsr0inQlOJBsLP700XBOG6UAXOjiLnTVGO9-XGlcdE/s1600/Jazz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZpPfER24wMzVV_F6UfPQThjN72O_NxRZlsqmhOYC5_CpRGHv4pt0VySQ0rQTAdOZMWBGVYy5ndKnoloZYE1IyezosMu0qsBwJjfsr0inQlOJBsLP700XBOG6UAXOjiLnTVGO9-XGlcdE/s1600/Jazz.jpg" height="288" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jazz's original sale photo</td></tr>
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<b><u>February</u></b><br />
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February was definitely my best month for posting, and I learned a lot of things. The most notable, to me at least, was a<a href="http://colbyjazzmus.blogspot.ca/2014/02/catch-up.html" target="_blank"> new way to lunge</a> which ranks as probably the most useful tool in my groundwork arsenal as of today. We continue to make good progress with groundwork and respect, and I recount my<a href="http://colbyjazzmus.blogspot.ca/2014_02_01_archive.html" target="_blank"> years at horse camp </a>(read: essentially my entire riding experience pre-Jazz) complete with a slightly cringe-worthy picture from my youth (well, my younger youth). I also promise an explanation of when I started at the rescue that it now occurs to me I never wrote. Oops. Note to self: rescue that story from the drafts. I unexpectedly attend the <a href="http://colbyjazzmus.blogspot.ca/2014/02/surprise.html" target="_blank">Saskatchewan Horse Expo</a> where I got to watch a few clinics and shop at the trade show. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivxFfY3Q6CmiTG9VBrW37yt43xRqRHFq983zPtcygIh71kBfDWuH_I1nghK6-XYn3ex-hIHhINAyuFmJhzugjUMiF600aBcsus1f0-fxpr-SVWkeVQWnXk5OpOOhbtP15nQWlTfzEVbqU/s1600/slim.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivxFfY3Q6CmiTG9VBrW37yt43xRqRHFq983zPtcygIh71kBfDWuH_I1nghK6-XYn3ex-hIHhINAyuFmJhzugjUMiF600aBcsus1f0-fxpr-SVWkeVQWnXk5OpOOhbtP15nQWlTfzEVbqU/s1600/slim.PNG" height="320" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cutest, sweetest gelding ever</td></tr>
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<b><u>March</u></b><br />
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I hit a <a href="http://colbyjazzmus.blogspot.ca/2014/02/surprise.html" target="_blank">tough spot</a> in our groundwork re-start, though it doesn't last long. I also participate in my very first <a href="http://colbyjazzmus.blogspot.ca/2014/03/blog-hop-whats-in-your-name.html" target="_blank">blog hop</a> (which explains my URL if anyone missed it and is curious). I wrote what is still one of my favourite posts <a href="http://colbyjazzmus.blogspot.ca/2014/03/i-have-confidence-that-spring-will-come.html" target="_blank">to date</a> (you can't go wrong with Julie Andrews, plus it's a nice flashback to being in a production of the Sound of Music).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdq_vdj2zPXbPa_Oul-H_oyAHqwyVSQfQlupNrVUbNoBZwEyt9m8ajm7sRzw9UlsZ6AksMfuwSEmLrPVFN967PRjr8Gb1eznzNYI1hFT90pPNPcdw346E0oed4QUqHjIAcr4LtrAXV51I/s1600/20140312_171121.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdq_vdj2zPXbPa_Oul-H_oyAHqwyVSQfQlupNrVUbNoBZwEyt9m8ajm7sRzw9UlsZ6AksMfuwSEmLrPVFN967PRjr8Gb1eznzNYI1hFT90pPNPcdw346E0oed4QUqHjIAcr4LtrAXV51I/s1600/20140312_171121.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mmmm professional quality photography.</td></tr>
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<b><u>April</u></b><br />
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After my return to basics and groundwork, April is when I started riding again in earnest. For anyone who read my last post about Jazz's teeth, <a href="http://colbyjazzmus.blogspot.ca/2014/04/back-in-saddle-again-plus-more-history.html" target="_blank">here</a> is the post where I explain what her teeth were like around this time last year. Jazz starts shedding, though molting seems a more accurate term.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEHyxjzr_6jwdouWri1mi7uQvq6GKYAc84h6AqS3LbQght3Ok785FOTiw-MYnKJINnupBRbw-DMVAvrFMI2iJtlnWBt4wqj425nSEQIZq3s6RT1mlmznCYtWaIX_OUyI1rk-qjg_m7wEQ/s1600/Molting+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEHyxjzr_6jwdouWri1mi7uQvq6GKYAc84h6AqS3LbQght3Ok785FOTiw-MYnKJINnupBRbw-DMVAvrFMI2iJtlnWBt4wqj425nSEQIZq3s6RT1mlmznCYtWaIX_OUyI1rk-qjg_m7wEQ/s1600/Molting+1.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><u>May</u></b></div>
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I promise another post I never wrote (about the Mane Event)... oops. There is also a <a href="http://colbyjazzmus.blogspot.ca/2014/05/april-showers-bring-may.html" target="_blank">completely unreasonable</a> snow storm which leaves Jazz very cold, stiff, and shivering (and one of my favourite post titles of the year). Of course the gross weather means I get to break out the blanket I bought almost two years ago and never even took out of the package (I am hardcore on team naked horse, but I draw the line at May snow on my shedding horse), and Jazz looks very cute. I participate in one of my all time favourite <a href="http://colbyjazzmus.blogspot.ca/2014/05/bit-it-up-blog-hop.html" target="_blank">blog hops</a>. Side note: there is nothing I love more than hearing about bits. If anyone ever wants to entice me into reading a post on their blog, make it about your bit. <a href="http://colbyjazzmus.blogspot.ca/2014/05/better-late-than-never.html" target="_blank">Jazz turns six!</a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPJPAji9sf2rMFBYj6UfJ9KCUJloR5qxWwoUrY5qdLPfTrjginGp6J2X3XchjU-94pGIX0ucXxLxu3i4Sqbj2KlYSLG-uRunI6IGndv71WbEtNxoJGkWxg0d5izA3bfNcu1x9IBKTNFaM/s1600/IMG-20140502-WA0000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPJPAji9sf2rMFBYj6UfJ9KCUJloR5qxWwoUrY5qdLPfTrjginGp6J2X3XchjU-94pGIX0ucXxLxu3i4Sqbj2KlYSLG-uRunI6IGndv71WbEtNxoJGkWxg0d5izA3bfNcu1x9IBKTNFaM/s1600/IMG-20140502-WA0000.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There's a reason everything I bought her for our first two years together was blue. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAYAY2Feyj_3ueyUN0_PLLopcvuVoAKVGaK0nQ7Ocp6qNLScSouMBRKYRAlssBV5sCFge9PpgZyjGky7UcZFX80qEdIuGjpwNpRDeKLDv0nAULttVvErp2ppPHXtHHt7gBL__gJiff8qM/s1600/birthday+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAYAY2Feyj_3ueyUN0_PLLopcvuVoAKVGaK0nQ7Ocp6qNLScSouMBRKYRAlssBV5sCFge9PpgZyjGky7UcZFX80qEdIuGjpwNpRDeKLDv0nAULttVvErp2ppPHXtHHt7gBL__gJiff8qM/s1600/birthday+2.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I pretend I know how to run barrels (Jazz's favourite) for her birthday, but I fail to stare them into submission.</td></tr>
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<b><u>June</u></b><br />
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I get a new trainer, and Jazz gets fussier and fussier, until I remember she's due for her <a href="http://colbyjazzmus.blogspot.ca/2014/06/riding-yes-ill-hold.html" target="_blank">teeth</a> (another personal favourite post title). While I wait on Jazz's mouth to heal up, I take a lesson on my new Trainer's <a href="http://awesome%20lesson%20horse/" target="_blank">awesome lesson horse</a>. I buy an<a href="http://colbyjazzmus.blogspot.ca/2014/06/identity-crisis.html" target="_blank"> English </a>saddle!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI25dHwBejmbUmug2mwWBVlQcKRs_OyL2437gM_R3aoqFyy4ChAVq59DWOScubxG-pLLDx-5HqVSM2Y5bK3CPzuTOawLXLD4D8Gzq-IKJxwLbgitebZ-xPv9L2Oul567J2OoNDPvXnScI/s1600/new+english+saddle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI25dHwBejmbUmug2mwWBVlQcKRs_OyL2437gM_R3aoqFyy4ChAVq59DWOScubxG-pLLDx-5HqVSM2Y5bK3CPzuTOawLXLD4D8Gzq-IKJxwLbgitebZ-xPv9L2Oul567J2OoNDPvXnScI/s1600/new+english+saddle.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mmmm shiny summer Jazz</td></tr>
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<b><u>July</u></b></div>
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I hit 1000 pageviews! Jazz continues her random naughtiness, which has been going on since before her teeth were done at this point. I compare her, not inaccurately, to a <a href="http://colbyjazzmus.blogspot.ca/2014/07/blastoff.html" target="_blank">rubik's cube</a>, and get in a few bareback rides with the halter on a horse I hadn't ridden properly in the saddle for about two weeks. I somehow manage to get away without serious injury. I own up to some of the blogs I <strike>check obsessively </strike> <a href="http://colbyjazzmus.blogspot.ca/2014/07/blog-hop-stalker.html" target="_blank">follow</a>, and we buy a<a href="http://colbyjazzmus.blogspot.ca/2014/07/excitement.html" target="_blank"> trailer</a>. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfqQOrdM5g6RxsF8ypTM7JGSiWQ_NxnE4brIXc2Y-6KUjJMMj60L1kpHWli1ma4QvpW23C8YZnsYuTy1lXeAddlilyHg16kd4F1cIp1WtfbQ5yxzf5I6xdFpvyq81kVd17UyEKcxlbyQ0/s1600/bareback+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfqQOrdM5g6RxsF8ypTM7JGSiWQ_NxnE4brIXc2Y-6KUjJMMj60L1kpHWli1ma4QvpW23C8YZnsYuTy1lXeAddlilyHg16kd4F1cIp1WtfbQ5yxzf5I6xdFpvyq81kVd17UyEKcxlbyQ0/s1600/bareback+3.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of my favourite pictures of us. </td></tr>
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<b><u>August</u></b></div>
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I <a href="http://colbyjazzmus.blogspot.ca/2014/08/long-overdue-post-feat-purple.html" target="_blank">update a little</a> about my horse, and discover that purple is her color. I attempt to sell a couple of things in a tack swap with no success (which I still have and can be viewed <a href="http://colbyjazzmus.blogspot.ca/2014/08/blog-swap-tack-hop.html" target="_blank">here</a>). I take a trip to <a href="http://colbyjazzmus.blogspot.ca/2014/08/adventures-in-london-part-1-sunday.html" target="_blank">London, England</a>, and document everything horsey in sight (which reminds me, I ought to finish up that post since I still have some exciting pictures I never shared).</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQg-EMpfordGs6x-5XpodgvrMVgocSlzo6iaaKa81c-jeC8xE24GBMq771qURKfrq-PUkWBUDSUL0nPkLF9LSVkigFFMbFLipxpRiVA-cfD0BZuhHXaSaExJjVzuu7Db9yibpPQ9BhG-o/s1600/20140817_150905.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQg-EMpfordGs6x-5XpodgvrMVgocSlzo6iaaKa81c-jeC8xE24GBMq771qURKfrq-PUkWBUDSUL0nPkLF9LSVkigFFMbFLipxpRiVA-cfD0BZuhHXaSaExJjVzuu7Db9yibpPQ9BhG-o/s1600/20140817_150905.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<b><u>September</u></b></div>
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Jazz goes on the <a href="http://colbyjazzmus.blogspot.ca/2014/09/quick-update.html" target="_blank">only trail rid</a>e we've managed this year. I avoid actual updates via blog hops and <a href="http://colbyjazzmus.blogspot.ca/2014/09/real-post-procrastination.html" target="_blank">questions</a>. I write the longest post <a href="http://colbyjazzmus.blogspot.ca/2014/09/adventures-in-london-part-3-tuesday.html" target="_blank">EVER</a> about the Household Cavalry Museum in London. I make a<a href="http://colbyjazzmus.blogspot.ca/2014/09/window-shopping-blog-hop.html" target="_blank"> first attempt</a> at starting a blog hop with sadly, no takers.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9g-OCu03z0og05KPBBZSBSZcL_vflnwlt78UOxv4cIKYU_OEdqrfUJBZFrBFJMxqzNCiqvyWLDzTNwjrXtguF9kvDZHO3Ftzoh2_sslwp4P-Thf9ErrEqKNnkxxLgFe5Pm_Mk7gOlyNc/s1600/20140819_111544.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9g-OCu03z0og05KPBBZSBSZcL_vflnwlt78UOxv4cIKYU_OEdqrfUJBZFrBFJMxqzNCiqvyWLDzTNwjrXtguF9kvDZHO3Ftzoh2_sslwp4P-Thf9ErrEqKNnkxxLgFe5Pm_Mk7gOlyNc/s1600/20140819_111544.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<b><u>October</u></b></div>
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Definitely the worst month for posting with a dismal 2 posts. I fess up to how I've been<a href="http://colbyjazzmus.blogspot.ca/2014/10/long-overdue.html" target="_blank"> jumping</a> behind everyone's backs. I also attend my first show, but the post for that isn't until November, so I'll include it there. </div>
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<b><u>November</u></b></div>
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I attend my<a href="http://colbyjazzmus.blogspot.ca/2014/11/measuring-up.html" target="_blank"> first show</a> and Jazz is awesome! We manage a 1st, 2nd, and a 5th, despite a rocky start to the morning. Basically all else that happens in November is I <a href="http://colbyjazzmus.blogspot.ca/2014/11/no-vember.html" target="_blank">don't ride</a> my horse. I talk about <a href="http://colbyjazzmus.blogspot.ca/2014/11/double-no-vember.html" target="_blank">hypothetical</a> future disciplines and take some of my favourite pictures of Jazz ever. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik1tGF29GAOQfGhOD07ucx0si8vqF7iR3LOBkXPxzVmDEzwhlRofONU4CrFca0yDqSUvh9RGi4ta_RKW1Ym0PpQF-sw1Tfi6IqUd74qgHdsOXg4NYz1KlGxyVzLSdfpFluzsi3VTRqIEQ/s1600/IMG-20141025-WA0000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik1tGF29GAOQfGhOD07ucx0si8vqF7iR3LOBkXPxzVmDEzwhlRofONU4CrFca0yDqSUvh9RGi4ta_RKW1Ym0PpQF-sw1Tfi6IqUd74qgHdsOXg4NYz1KlGxyVzLSdfpFluzsi3VTRqIEQ/s1600/IMG-20141025-WA0000.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></div>
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And I'm not going to bother wrapping up December, as it's barely half over. It seems so weird looking back at all I didn't know then and all I do know now. I also learned I promised a few posts that I did not deliver on, but will be sure to revisit (such as when I met Jazz, the times she's bucked me off, the posts left over from London I still wanted to share). It's pretty unlikely I'll write about the Mane Event from way back in May now, unless I have a reader particularly dying to read about me struggling to remember details from months ago, in which case let me know in the comments.</div>
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Another mostly unrelated note: at some point in the last couple of months I hit 2000 pageviews and failed to note it on my blog then. As of now, I have 2462. Yay!</div>
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ColbyJazzmushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555076374298205933noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1354290745610876546.post-67524019079927913982014-12-14T21:34:00.002-08:002014-12-14T21:34:05.304-08:00Blog Thankfulness <div dir="ltr">
Sometimes I'm very happy to have my blog. Sometimes it feels like yet another thing in my overly busy schedule that i feel guilty when I'm not keeping up with it the way I'd like. I'm always very happy to read everyone else's blogs and be a part of the community, but there are times when it feels like a chore to be keeping up with photos and videos (ha, like I bother with videos) and putting it all into words. But this is the first time I've really been so grateful to have it. </div>
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I've ridden Jazz a couple times in the last couple weeks. She's been okay but not great. There was a lot of head tossing, and much bigger than her normal. Her had was basically in my lap half the time. </div>
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I started vaguely thinking about it and remembered this time last year when her had tossing was getting out of control. </div>
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Just before I really started blogging, around last November/December, Jazz started head tossing more than what I would consider within normal range of naughtiness for her. It occurred to me she hadn't had her teeth seen to in a while, and I asked my trainer (at the time, not my current trainer) if that could be why she was acting this way. I had her checked out the following week, and there were big hooks on her teeth and some lacerations on her cheeks, which were much worse on the side where she had been refusing to turn lately. </div>
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I had them floated, and was told she'd need a re-check in six months, since they could only do so much in one day. When she was acting up again, I had her teeth redone <a href="http://colbyjazzmus.blogspot.ca/2014/06/riding-yes-ill-hold.html" target="_blank">in June</a>. </div>
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It was so unbelievably nice to just have my blog to look at and be able to say, "Oh right, she got her teeth done six months ago, and the vet said they needed to be done again in six months", and suddenly everything made sense. </div>
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And really, that's the biggest point of my blog for me right now. Records. I am notedly terrible at keeping records and dates straight, and worse at taking photos, but my blog gives me a way to work on that while preserving the memories of my time with my excellent red pony (though she sometimes tries to convince me she's forgotten how to be excellent). </div>
ColbyJazzmushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555076374298205933noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1354290745610876546.post-2765139971509798612014-12-05T15:34:00.002-08:002014-12-05T15:38:45.476-08:00Na na na na na na na na<div dir="ltr">
Na na na na </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJgdxCclYHK7gRgJdFdIW9k8QHfeHFy8YkkCtkEdOnmwLJCQIehSTcFGUTVsE1C75KtviZ2VaU8cJBtwrcTLwzmLHkCBpbreT1g3e99ECjQChjOK1wif4GDhp5CwRlg80W-RIxrN-FV9g/s1600/cooler+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJgdxCclYHK7gRgJdFdIW9k8QHfeHFy8YkkCtkEdOnmwLJCQIehSTcFGUTVsE1C75KtviZ2VaU8cJBtwrcTLwzmLHkCBpbreT1g3e99ECjQChjOK1wif4GDhp5CwRlg80W-RIxrN-FV9g/s1600/cooler+2.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BAT HORSE</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglKr0Aj8i8JKWoNdoYXW4RcDbt6693fxzmP_Fz-ExtABJ3L7jZLsMKBypF0ObPKhtH4GtWM3lNFPjzmbIoUfC_LoXwW14oPijTbpnjNKaf_bT0cdrDzSNSJ1AuoXWDvOp9npXZYHVYPRQ/s1600/Cooler+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglKr0Aj8i8JKWoNdoYXW4RcDbt6693fxzmP_Fz-ExtABJ3L7jZLsMKBypF0ObPKhtH4GtWM3lNFPjzmbIoUfC_LoXwW14oPijTbpnjNKaf_bT0cdrDzSNSJ1AuoXWDvOp9npXZYHVYPRQ/s1600/Cooler+1.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"I even perked my ears for this one" </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnzDsJKBQwRrdYhha1rx_ciEQLArjczL6q_DDawdVnXKgquo_O-AJTg_hOWfaxiBGI3UQuk-WKyBGlixsQ0JSObwaMr4dZvRfMM-Bsm1Sj1tCIgz-WmGTpwqSLGmvn7BlwfK_RRnLX218/s1600/cooler+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnzDsJKBQwRrdYhha1rx_ciEQLArjczL6q_DDawdVnXKgquo_O-AJTg_hOWfaxiBGI3UQuk-WKyBGlixsQ0JSObwaMr4dZvRfMM-Bsm1Sj1tCIgz-WmGTpwqSLGmvn7BlwfK_RRnLX218/s1600/cooler+3.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Between my lack of photography skills and her disinterest in looking at the camera, it's a miracle I have as many decent photos of her as I do.</td></tr>
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As the fleece cooler suggests, I got to ride my horse yesterday. After my truly pitiful November where I managed to ride a grand total of one time, it was nice to be back in the saddle again.<br />
The hardest part by far is always convincing myself to get my stuff together and get to the farm at the end of the day. With 4:30 sunsets and a schedule that picked up a lot in other areas of my life over the last three weeks, it's easy to make excuses for my November slipping away from me. All I can really say is that I have no intention of letting my December be the same. <br />
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Jazz came in quietly, and we did a tiny groundwork warmup before grooming and tacking up in the arena (the barn isn't heated, and it was too cold to do it in there). I got on and was pleased with how she felt right off the bat. She was really forward, and obviously had a lot of energy, which was totally fine considering the icy ground and her long, semi-unintentional vacation. <br />
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And now, a semi-interruption to just be grateful for the bloggers out there. I find that I really look forward to catching up on many different equines all across the continent (and a few international horses) and their pursuits of their many disciplines. For one thing, it's nice to know that I'm not the only one having the annual winter hardships (or being jealous of all the Texan and other Southern U.S. bloggers). More specifically though, I'm particularly grateful to Karen of Bakersfield Dressage for <a href="http://www.bakersfielddressage.com/home---karens-blog/more-of-everything" target="_blank">this post </a>, which contained a little hint that made leg yields 9084589720 times easier (you know, when Jazz decides to remember that legs mean she has to move), and Jen of Wyvern Oaks for<a href="http://pieceofheaven1951.blogspot.ca/2014/12/i-got-my-butt-kicked-in-dressage-lesson.html" target="_blank"> this post</a>, which motivated me to start trying to rely less on pulling and a possible solution for Jazz's strung-out gross trotting (Jazz, was not in fact rescued from an auction, she was found near the train yard, and it's suspected she was a runaway train). <br />
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I started with a dressage kind of mindset and a month's vacation type of fresh patience. Jazz was actually incredibly good considering how she hasn't been properly ridden in forever. That means, of course that she was the usual kind of naughty instead of some unpredicted naughtiness. The back corner of the arena at K is still a cause of random sidepassing, stopping, and dropping shoulders so low I consider it miraculous they don't drag when circling 20m tracking left. There are two reasons for this that don't include the horse getting away with things I can't correct 100% of the time yet, one being that this is the corner containing all the jump standards and other assorted scaries, and the other reason being that the light was burnt out for about six months in that corner under the old management, and it took forever even once it wasn't dark over there to get her to stay on the track in that corner. There were also plenty of crazy strung-out gross trots, and indignant insistence that we canter NOW, including fancy tiny collected canter and head tossing, often simultaneously (which looks hilarious and feels ridiculous). That said, I found a chill place and with one four second exception (curse you, K corner), I didn't get frustrated at the same problems we have every ride lately. Jazz also tried a sassy little canter transition buck at one point, which accomplished two things, making me laugh, and making me grateful for my improved seat. All in all, a decent ride which included a couple of canter departures onto the correct lead on her hard side before she wound herself up too much to canter. Jazz is a slow burn kind of horse. If I ever bring friends to the barn to ride her, I always do a very short walk/trot check in and then let them get on, because so long as she starts okay, she usually will behave for the bulk of the middle part of the ride. It's always when we do too much fast work, especially cantering, that she gets all gooey and won't get off my leg or transition down or half halt. Oh well, she's not a fancy dressage horse... yet (despite her fancy canter skillz). <br />
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Another random note: I saw moose for the very first time this week! I was out at a friend's farm and we saw a cow, two young moose, and two bulls. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlaPmI8c03l7C7WsEuZXAVvsrquy6CNIg7na4SFFYjNnZEUrgzekvmh7AcmZWzGXC0hzozpfMaMwnG5UZ3JnG_NM6-wbY_pxvvrB9SWYnQ7Alu8wH1mrS9F1kCMfgEFQldFLZuegQ9awc/s1600/moose+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlaPmI8c03l7C7WsEuZXAVvsrquy6CNIg7na4SFFYjNnZEUrgzekvmh7AcmZWzGXC0hzozpfMaMwnG5UZ3JnG_NM6-wbY_pxvvrB9SWYnQ7Alu8wH1mrS9F1kCMfgEFQldFLZuegQ9awc/s1600/moose+3.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's the cow! After watching her jump this fence I can confirm that Jazz does, in fact, jump like a moose.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLBVNuUva6VFjb4gMMOw34Gd1MrcJ9cPOEYIKk38dXgILKYXhhfJCh6vPphGP4JdcH7eQpHe1GyB70Ybmz3QJHxLt7Fbk-Yw6rj_tT6_uF6dH85iGKRPVtuPx-u2JUG3pjwSrshWnkJVw/s1600/moose+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLBVNuUva6VFjb4gMMOw34Gd1MrcJ9cPOEYIKk38dXgILKYXhhfJCh6vPphGP4JdcH7eQpHe1GyB70Ybmz3QJHxLt7Fbk-Yw6rj_tT6_uF6dH85iGKRPVtuPx-u2JUG3pjwSrshWnkJVw/s1600/moose+2.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here she is reunited with the two little ones.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You know you're Canadian when you stop on the highway to watch five moose. </td></tr>
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ColbyJazzmushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555076374298205933noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1354290745610876546.post-19152312580300726652014-11-24T22:08:00.000-08:002014-11-24T22:08:00.540-08:00Double No-vemberSuccessfully have not ridden with stirrups yet this November.<br />
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Spoilers: it's not because I have great discipline or muscle tone. It's because I still haven't ridden my horse except <a href="http://colbyjazzmus.blogspot.ca/2014/11/no-vember.html" target="_blank">one bareback ride</a> this month. </div>
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And honestly, that's okay. It's not really about the riding for me. It's about the horse. I mean, it's nice to ride, and<a href="http://colbyjazzmus.blogspot.ca/2014/11/measuring-up.html" target="_blank"> to do well riding</a>, but I am not a competitive person at heart. I'm a curious person at heart, and I haven't settled into that thing that I really want to do deep in my bones just yet, partly because there's so much I know I haven't tried. I'm loving the English riding, and I'm really happy with how it's helped me improve and get better feel for what my horse is doing, but there's not that feeling that I'm on that track I really want to run with. I've been having a blast jumping little baby trot fences (and learning what being jumped out of the tack means the hard way. Jazz jumps like a moose). And there's a big possibility of it just being me projecting, but I don't think Jazz loves it. She loves barrels, something I'm happy to mess around on in my summer Gymkhanas (which I sadly couldn't make this year), but have almose zero interest in pursuing. She likes having things to do like obstacles, so I've considered trying cowboy challenge (which is also put on by the gymkhana club I'm a part of, and which I also was unable to attend this summer). That said, she hates being micromanaged, and I know there would be a lot of tiny steps back and forth and micromanaging to get me lined up for obstacles like gates. You can't argue with a good trail ride, but Jazz is not a trail horse, and would need an experienced horse with her, which can be surprisingly hard to come by. That and her feet weren't the best this summer, so I wouldn't have really considered much trail riding without boots, and I haven't found boots that work for her yet. Jumping is fun, but I'm not sure yet if Jazz really likes it, and I'm not so sure I want to learn to jump on the greenest of the green jumper ponies (not that that's stopped me from learning basically everything else I know about riding from Jazz). I also have two things I really, really want to try still that I think Jazz may like. Of course, I have no real idea, and I don't even know if I like them.</div>
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One is polocrosse. I have a few friends who play in the local club, which is close by and has great programs in place for new riders and horses to the sport. For anyone not aware, polocrosse is basically a mix between polo and lacrosse. </div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/8jhoNQ5SsX0" width="420"></iframe><br />
Here, have a longish Australian promotional video for the sport. Many will say Australians are the best polocrosse players. <br />
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I have basically no hand-eye co-ordination, and at no point before have been good at a sport involving throwing or catching, but polocrosse looks <i>fun. </i><br />
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The other is cattle work. Jazz is a quarter horse, so I figure it's in her blood somewhere. It also looks fun. The other day I was messing around on the ground getting Jazz to trot after me and channeling my inner calf. I learned I am not as in shape as my horse and get tired quickly when running around like a cow, but it was an absolute blast. <br />
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Well that certainly got off track. What I really wanted to say in this post was that in addition to this being the busiest week in my second life (the non-horse one), Jazz has been a little sore, so I hesitate to ride. I've been visiting a lot to clean her up, and lots of groundwork, but no riding. Poor horse tends to get upset tummy when hay changes or the phases of the moon don't agree with her or a tree falls in the forest (not really, it's not like it's all the time, it just seems that random occasionally). And when she gets upset tummy, she gets diarrhea and gets her bum all rubbed raw. It makes her generally uncomfortable and cranky (no wonder), so I clean her up gradually. She really hates the cleaning; it must sting something awful. I consider myself lucky Jazz has decided not to hate me often, because in addition to her incredible rearing capability and head-tossing accumen, she can <i>kick.</i> When we were having our hour-and-a-half trailering nightmare en route to our show last month, I handed Jazz over to someone else to try to get her in and she reared up at least twice as high as she'd been popping for me, and K said, "Yeah, she only doesn't rear on you because she likes you." <br />
Of course, it's bad enough I'm telling the internet about the poor horse's tummy troubles, so no photos. <br />
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Luckily, I have a few other photos from recent visits and groundwork sessions to catch up. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjHnuWX6V7aT4PHjVoQ7pM8GrjQwqne5-vmMy5QS9NkS7y-AyMaeTb_J_JQMwHAoyIjQTMGeHuYaJairhp0no9xxlzSDuUOffhjL1lkXppsYY4Od-WdqJuI_QA63tk2rtarrwtKPoom3k/s1600/gate+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjHnuWX6V7aT4PHjVoQ7pM8GrjQwqne5-vmMy5QS9NkS7y-AyMaeTb_J_JQMwHAoyIjQTMGeHuYaJairhp0no9xxlzSDuUOffhjL1lkXppsYY4Od-WdqJuI_QA63tk2rtarrwtKPoom3k/s1600/gate+3.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She was standing at the gate when I drove up yesterday <3</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk6_nnzK3ASwTgsSHRUlFpn8zP3A-lfotNQ7gGmZYU3FtT8EsxbJw4Hy8COGAlZJxh8WFxeH_kfStRCErXGtzCZIob_yLvvWOkzo2axTgn07qj9CB6foRNvbTsFO0erovkyFc3hW3ThsI/s1600/gate+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk6_nnzK3ASwTgsSHRUlFpn8zP3A-lfotNQ7gGmZYU3FtT8EsxbJw4Hy8COGAlZJxh8WFxeH_kfStRCErXGtzCZIob_yLvvWOkzo2axTgn07qj9CB6foRNvbTsFO0erovkyFc3hW3ThsI/s1600/gate+4.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So pretty</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0M_9TPFCLgV3G3Ds4DOmjJ01uT27iBFgFDetqg3oO88EB2sxmSXb45kFP1SDcBswdYJG7jZ6M678chHU-Wvqio5chUgBY8_0AZ3dGlZ1ZHJFo7npK3VU9j5de3_C3vP043ALwuwX9Hwk/s1600/gate+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0M_9TPFCLgV3G3Ds4DOmjJ01uT27iBFgFDetqg3oO88EB2sxmSXb45kFP1SDcBswdYJG7jZ6M678chHU-Wvqio5chUgBY8_0AZ3dGlZ1ZHJFo7npK3VU9j5de3_C3vP043ALwuwX9Hwk/s1600/gate+5.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She was not waiting at the gate because the bobcat was running and she thought she was getting hay. Nope. It was definitely that she knew I was coming. </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimbgqEcc_zXWpqB533DMzhr6lb0ZrqaqaXrf-rXdGhyphenhyphenFc-TjzCdj1MbaqP4lS-44Ztz4jrEq6yn0JFabclB1I5RV1wE0Ul4TuqzbKLDdXCU6FpNXakr_dL3CFfGP9c5oQsS8ImLVk65IQ/s1600/gate+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimbgqEcc_zXWpqB533DMzhr6lb0ZrqaqaXrf-rXdGhyphenhyphenFc-TjzCdj1MbaqP4lS-44Ztz4jrEq6yn0JFabclB1I5RV1wE0Ul4TuqzbKLDdXCU6FpNXakr_dL3CFfGP9c5oQsS8ImLVk65IQ/s1600/gate+1.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can really see her dished face here, hence the strong belief in her Arab-ness</td></tr>
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<br />Needless to say, I was totally in love with how adorable she looked at the gate. I scurried out to get her and she was still there when I got back with the halter. She was a big sweetheart giving me kisses (literally. It was adorable) and nuzzling me with her itchy head. Yesterday was actually a really nice day at the barn. Jazz was in a good mood (with the exception of trying to clean her up. She is very clear she is NOT a fan), and I saw several good barn friends I rarely run into. One of my good friends even offered to let me try a probiotic she uses to help with Jazz's tummy to see if I like it before buying a whole bucket. <br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5BbwFp65IQDrw2U3wlT50zueX4UQbLBwHImDilkQRyvA1Zyi4FTtXGa1gfK-jAPbEIZ9025JIo7escntAmE3aASGP47ehYHPOwIv54aJGEVIkPkv86WiPzxRTKEWlKtYeatdLWHyqdkE/s1600/barn+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5BbwFp65IQDrw2U3wlT50zueX4UQbLBwHImDilkQRyvA1Zyi4FTtXGa1gfK-jAPbEIZ9025JIo7escntAmE3aASGP47ehYHPOwIv54aJGEVIkPkv86WiPzxRTKEWlKtYeatdLWHyqdkE/s1600/barn+1.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Indoor pony is also cute.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO_F3yq5bUp5OmDXDddnDQLYz9GJYLJCoJMXgTLatzboZ9ZV17rL0z6Zt5-KEBIoa03nvgfwJOGMlQsjxj8_eiX6PKX5PuNcjAiZCEiv3gMlpAJ23OxXpfPVjqQuqhJIsHpVIRSPE1csM/s1600/barn+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO_F3yq5bUp5OmDXDddnDQLYz9GJYLJCoJMXgTLatzboZ9ZV17rL0z6Zt5-KEBIoa03nvgfwJOGMlQsjxj8_eiX6PKX5PuNcjAiZCEiv3gMlpAJ23OxXpfPVjqQuqhJIsHpVIRSPE1csM/s1600/barn+2.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Definitely more awkward though. I prefer liberty photos for a reason.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzLpskjIYK14LlGjDYV8kdJ4AR7yOpuhN9ALeFFouRn4pzPqZ9HpZOkZhdMtofUlZRMd-6AjW4dhiEHqGCIekk6vJIWxXiD5L1koKM3QX-CCgpnU7Lll3tYcd10FS-ZhnmNsffEsxXX_U/s1600/barn+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzLpskjIYK14LlGjDYV8kdJ4AR7yOpuhN9ALeFFouRn4pzPqZ9HpZOkZhdMtofUlZRMd-6AjW4dhiEHqGCIekk6vJIWxXiD5L1koKM3QX-CCgpnU7Lll3tYcd10FS-ZhnmNsffEsxXX_U/s1600/barn+3.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Are you going to just stand there or are you gonna be useful? I have itchy spots for you to scratch."</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjraOFkKnhGYow8yx8THQqtkX93FtmENRAsECFiDJNNIU_5Or8SQhOIXj72omYZD83q9f9fqBwxQZnKZ6ZCbeR5aRiaMEulopJ1u-mBD3YaImBOGoZiHgpe5nyLTHN2l0aL-z_zlPfppLQ/s1600/barn+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjraOFkKnhGYow8yx8THQqtkX93FtmENRAsECFiDJNNIU_5Or8SQhOIXj72omYZD83q9f9fqBwxQZnKZ6ZCbeR5aRiaMEulopJ1u-mBD3YaImBOGoZiHgpe5nyLTHN2l0aL-z_zlPfppLQ/s1600/barn+4.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stoically ignoring me not petting her. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxqrptFmmG_f6K-pbSYE0bs3MO58BZ4Oc0wPZZGoXg_byiJwCJzS6vphlBz-GB9btOPPemqC0D_3wVTjzTooDdP2pT8quCufC5x0FAYJ32Tb4pQDUeU_Kv_cpVfwvx6IHmwswzBN6MwIw/s1600/barn+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxqrptFmmG_f6K-pbSYE0bs3MO58BZ4Oc0wPZZGoXg_byiJwCJzS6vphlBz-GB9btOPPemqC0D_3wVTjzTooDdP2pT8quCufC5x0FAYJ32Tb4pQDUeU_Kv_cpVfwvx6IHmwswzBN6MwIw/s1600/barn+5.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"What's over there?"</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt7IZe-tPwbgNzHl9apNjS3p2VT4PY_gPsp8slyppUFD-F8ovsolvFZSuyzb807oFlKZPRNio1_EwoYzdXpQEK9H2T9F9boHnIi7RiusPhQc6GCrNTsaH10S4zNc7wNGkpicHRNrmgV-U/s1600/barn+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt7IZe-tPwbgNzHl9apNjS3p2VT4PY_gPsp8slyppUFD-F8ovsolvFZSuyzb807oFlKZPRNio1_EwoYzdXpQEK9H2T9F9boHnIi7RiusPhQc6GCrNTsaH10S4zNc7wNGkpicHRNrmgV-U/s1600/barn+6.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Oh no it's gonna eat me!" (Spoilers: it was the barn owner who did not, in fact, eat her)</td></tr>
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I also found some pictures from our groundwork session the other day<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3YZC5tooMoQtkI2KKtzXnsrhyf2t3yKD436a5WhxLVbt-H5w6oZtVizRDwS7SnvoXXJxKjQzODvmKLlxxmJJO-TZr0HFWaDQty2daPTkGkNG_tcIaxtHTLbD2NrUnwuCqNbiZxN8JyQ8/s1600/arena+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3YZC5tooMoQtkI2KKtzXnsrhyf2t3yKD436a5WhxLVbt-H5w6oZtVizRDwS7SnvoXXJxKjQzODvmKLlxxmJJO-TZr0HFWaDQty2daPTkGkNG_tcIaxtHTLbD2NrUnwuCqNbiZxN8JyQ8/s1600/arena+1.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Add caption</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSU4pMLHWsQ_g4jZZFBVXdv0csIZGb9jPrW8hGfUY_tEhIjLu8UfX93m-RyJVxiLEVFYM4EoPjTwF0APgm1GutYfYbEvtbXCHHqz2yl2bNUkFgGvRCCqO-jC9rrWzImpgHlcSzWyK1K9c/s1600/arena+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSU4pMLHWsQ_g4jZZFBVXdv0csIZGb9jPrW8hGfUY_tEhIjLu8UfX93m-RyJVxiLEVFYM4EoPjTwF0APgm1GutYfYbEvtbXCHHqz2yl2bNUkFgGvRCCqO-jC9rrWzImpgHlcSzWyK1K9c/s1600/arena+2.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Radar ears. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-q7GzLJZwXvZ_4XDxZAS678gdGWR3eIJsqxa70a4a1bGNd23ke8WADGXqh2q3fsxC7Arai4fCAmzJbWe-3DHrwqLHnAUg44T3ll7Eq09n-2t-4fe9Dr_gXZ2lNQI9dqBEW8bzrIm63oQ/s1600/arena+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-q7GzLJZwXvZ_4XDxZAS678gdGWR3eIJsqxa70a4a1bGNd23ke8WADGXqh2q3fsxC7Arai4fCAmzJbWe-3DHrwqLHnAUg44T3ll7Eq09n-2t-4fe9Dr_gXZ2lNQI9dqBEW8bzrIm63oQ/s1600/arena+3.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cutie! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxuhpAP5MW0FuuIO_gQboBKO5W_f5JBImb3stQRhhBRfsAqaawRr6vv_zerizJxhFrvFSEklLniduCgb7YPWuCZsZMYJJLJ3YXmIrLEtwsny4jlQP7mbfU3rQ68DNG1kw3E4lHp3njoxo/s1600/arena+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxuhpAP5MW0FuuIO_gQboBKO5W_f5JBImb3stQRhhBRfsAqaawRr6vv_zerizJxhFrvFSEklLniduCgb7YPWuCZsZMYJJLJ3YXmIrLEtwsny4jlQP7mbfU3rQ68DNG1kw3E4lHp3njoxo/s1600/arena+4.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
And so, to wrap up this incredibly unfocused post, I hope everyone has a good week. Have fun with your ponies no matter what you're trying to do (or not do)!<br />
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<br />ColbyJazzmushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555076374298205933noreply@blogger.com3