Straight from Emma's mouth!

Like I promised, here's Emma's blog entry about Wondermare!
(disclaimer, for whatever reason the formatting is a bit off, plus some of the pictures are sideways and even when I fix them on my computer and load them, THEYRE STILL SIDEWAYS. I HATE YOU BLOGGER)

"Well, today marks five weeks with Miss Isis. Jackie asked me a few weeks ago if I could whip up a blog post about our adventures thus far so here it is, fellow Wondermare groupies!

Let me start out by saying how much I miss my beloved Isabelle. As Jackie mentioned, Izzy sustained some tendon and ligament injuries a few months back and is currently rehabbing on a friend’s pasture. Once she’s recovered she should be sound for 2’6 – 2’9 and below. I know she’ll make someone a super fun low-level jumper! But anyways, when the vet told me Miss Izzy needed a good chunk of time off, I was devastated and feared I’d be without a rideable horse for the foreseeable future. That’s when the horsey gods smiled down and presented me with Jackie and Miss Isis.

I had noticed Isis’ sale ad and was very interested in her while searching for my first horse last spring. For whatever reason, Izzy caught my eye and won my heart, but I could tell that Isis was a special mare. So when I stumbled upon her ad again a couple months ago while perusing various horse sale websites (because c’mon, MUST BUY ALL THE PONIES), I was super excited. That’s when I friended Jackie on Facebook and asked if she was still interested in leasing Isis while she recovered from her ankle surgery (PS YAY Jackie’s out of the boot now woot woot!).

It sounds cliché and uber cheesy, but when I test drove Isis I felt like we clicked really well right off the bat, even better than Izzy and I did on our first ride. It took us a little while to get an idea of how each other operated, but after some moody mare moments, some frustration on my part, and some wise words of encouragement from Jackie, everything started to come together and it was quite magical.  Isis even jumped 3’+ at the end of our test ride after virtually having five months off – ummm yeah, she’s awesome. Aside from her mad ups, she had the sweetest in-your-pocket personality that I immediately fell in love with. Needless to say, I was sold.

Talk about dem verticals!

Our first few weeks together were spent getting to know each other. Hell, we’re still getting to know each other, but we make great strides on the daily (no pun intended… Okay, maybe intended). I learned that she responds the best to a deep seat. Miss Izzy rides so well with me up off of her in a constant half-seat, so the deep seat has taken some getting used to. I’ve also learned that her bottom lip hangs down and droops when she’s sleepy – hehe, so adorable and fun to play with (been meaning to snap a pic). Isis also found herself a boyfriend her very first night at the new barn. So proud! She settled in incredibly well.

 Isis and the new beau, Tundra. So adorbs, right?!

Two weeks ago on the 13^th, I took Isis to a local schooling show. We competed in the 2’6, 2’9, and 3’ jumpers and she snatched up the blue in each class! I couldn’t have been more proud. Not only was she a superstar in the show ring, but she was calm and collected on the ground at a place she had never been before in her life. Lots of ponies galloping around, tons of small children running here and there, yet maremare remained supa chill amongst the craziness and even fell asleep tied to the trailer. She loaded and unloaded like a dream. Props maremare (and momma Jackie for training her to be so perfect!!!), props.

 

Someone cleans up nicely ;)

When I looked at the remainder of this season’s show schedule and noticed the Queeny Park mini event in early September, I decided we would shoot to run Novice and make it a goal to go to the event. But as you all know, the crazy dressage higher ups frown upon hackamores, so this meant we had to get Isis in some form of bit in the next few months. So the Thursday before last, we took the plunge and decided to stick a Happy Mouth straight bar in her mouth. I didn’t know what to expect, so I strapped on my XC vest (just incase ;)) and hopped aboard.

                            First time in the bit – obviously totally thrilled.

We walked for a little while, inserting circles here and there to make sure we could turn before trotting. Then we trotted. Then we cantered. Then we asked for collection and frame. Isis was a rock solid citizen and accepted the bit like a champ. I asked a lot of her that day and she delivered. Things were looking up!

Success in the bit on the flat and on the trails (Isis is quite the trail blazer, btw)

After a few days of flatting with the Happy Mouth, we had our weekly jumping lesson. I tossed the hackamore back on her since she’s always been so soft in it over fences. Not that night. She protested and fussed when even the slightest amount of leverage was applied. Not gonna lie, I had a mini mental panic attack. Had I totally effed up Jackie’s horse by putting the bit back in her mouth? Unable to think of a better option, I dismounted and ran up to the barn to grab the bit. I hadn’t planned on jumping her in it for a while, but figured it was worth a shot. It was like her whole demeanor changed! No more head tossing, no more pissy mare moments. We finished out the lesson in the bit and haven’t gone back to the hackamore since.

While Jackie was in town for her doctor’s appointment today, she made a trip out to the barn to see miss mare and give us a little dressage lesson. Jackie’s instruction was incredibly helpful as I know little to nothing about dressage (flying over random objects is just so much more fun, sorry not sorry). Isis leg yielded and side passed like the straight up dressage queen Jackie has trained her to be.  She so fancy!

After five weeks with the Wondermare, I couldn’t be any more pleased with our progress together. Isis is a special mare, ladies and gents. Jackie has obviously spent the better part of the past two years working her ass off to make this horse the horse she is today, and it shows. Sure, we’re working on some fine-tuning and getting her back in shape, but the groundwork is all already there. Jackie has already so skillfully installed all the right buttons, making my job a whole lot easier. I just love this mare, and I’m super stoked to see what the future holds for us. Until next time!"

I promise i'm not a bitch..

I've had a grumpy week in regards to my horse and I will get into that and make you all hate me, BUT FIRST, I wanna say just how appreciative I am of Emma. It was one of the luckiest thing to ever happen to me, honestly. To find someone as driven and gentle as her was phenomenal for Isis, it was all I wanted for her. I didn't want to sell Isis, not a single bit, but I had come to the conclusion that I needed to and here comes Emma, ready to lease. She's still learning, but she hasn't been riding for 20 years. She is one of the most dedicated riders I have ever met and I really couldn't be happier with Isis being in her hands. That mare is something special and she deserves someone who will understand that until I can ride her again.

And now I rant.

Now lovely bloggers, I have been working with Isis for 2 years. She was an absolute wreck when I got her, rearing, crow hopping, bucking, grumpy, rushing, angry, literally everything you don't want. Don't ask me for a real reason why I bought her, because I don't know. I looked into her big brown eyes and saw an absolutely terrified horse and I bought her. I don't regret it, one bit, but I used to.

Isis was almost dangerous. I said it, I mean it. She was ALMOST dangerous (in reality she probably was considered dangerous, when a horse rears and falls over on you I think they get that tag). She would go from calm collected canter to a huge rear in one stride with on warning. I didn't know what I was in for and for the first 2 months I worked with her I didn't listen to her and I kicked and pushed my way into an even more terrified horse. If you read her back story you know she reared and fell over on me, that's when everything changed, blah, blah, blah.

ANYWAY, I worked my ASS off with that horse. I dealt with her crow hops, her running to fences and her horrible grumpy dressage. I lunged and I went to basics and I stopped jumping and I did everything a good trainer would do. I didn't push her, I didn't push anything, we went slow and steady and we took our time. Finally she became this beautiful creature, she still had her issues but she wasn't afraid, she was brave! She jumped and did flying changes and took everything in stride. She schooled huge cross country fences and went to shows and jumped 3'9 at home!

Now, like I said, I love Emma and I love how well she is working with Isis but everyone (who hasn't seen Isis before or hasn't seen her recently) is talking about how great Emma is with this mare and how great she looks and blah, blah. Yes, she does look great with Emma, but Emma didn't train this horse from nothing.
Even one of my friends is talking about how great Isis is with Emma and I'm like, you know why? Because I TRAINED HER THAT WAY. UGHHHHHH
I literally might strangle the next person who talks about how happy Isis looks. Was she not happy with me? Is that what you're trying to say lovely assholes? She is so awesome! I never knew that mare was so awesome! SHE'S BEEN THAT AWESOME FOR A YEAR, I JUST DON'T HAVE MONEY TO SHOW AND NONE OF YOU BOARD AT MY BARN OR WATCH ME RIDE.
GRRRRRRRR.

Okay, I'm done with that rant.
Emma is home this weekend and said she might have time to write up a blog about miss marebutt, so hopefully you will have that to look forward to. I have my doctors appointment on tuesday and will be giving Emma and Isis a 'dressage' lesson. WOOPPPP. DRESSAGE SKILLZ.

Sorry my computer is acting up like crazy and I have zero pictures, zero. murder blogger, murder.

Blue ribbon badass.

Sorry it took me so long blogging loves! I've been doing absolutely nothing and I have negative things to talk about. Before I get into the awesome juice that is this post I want to complain a bit.

I HATE PHYSICAL THERAPY.
I hate it. It hurts, everything hurts. I've been doing it at home, at the physical therapy office, going to the freaking gym and everything is still hard. I can't even imagine how it's going to feel to ride again and I'm absolutely freaking terrified. I know I will be fine, I know it WILL be fine, but it's terrifying. I had a $60,000 surgery on my freaking ankle. WUT.

Anyway, mostly everything here is fine. I'm laying around waiting to start my new job, watching tv, working out and reading. I just finished Gone Girl, it was very entertaining, I recommend it if anyone doesn't want to read a horse book!

So Miss Isis and Miss Emma had been working nicely from everything I had heard. I only heard positive things. The show they were supposed to go to 2 Sundays ago got cancelled and rescheduled to Sunday the 13th! I was so incredibly excited for Emma to take Miss Isis to the small schooling show, a great experience for them. My wonderful mare is a ROCKSTAR in the arena. The first show I took her to she was so stressed out in the warm up with horses everywhere but when I got her into that jumper ring she was so focused. I was ecstatic!

Anyway, enough about boring old me, Emma and Isis KILLED it. They did 2'6, 2'9 and 3'0 and got blue ribbons in every class! Who else is excited for them! Emma said Isis was a dream! Falling asleep tied to the trailer, cool and collected. She even said one of the barn moms thought Isis was drugged she was so calm! ( Little back story here, this barn mom hauled Isis from her fancy barn to the barn she was at and this was back when Isis was on 3 days a week of turnout and little to no riding from her hind end cut- basically Isis was a psycho wreck)

I even got texts from an instructor who helped Isis and I out a bit back in Columbia telling me how great Isis and Emma looked! It was really amazing. I will say I'm incredibly jealous that it couldn't be me riding my mare, but I am absolutely so happy with Emma. She is taking great care of my wonderful mare and they are even going to a mini event as long as the bit situation works out (Emma and her trainer are going to try to work Isis into a bit again for dressage!).
Here's a million pictures of their show!

Can my mare jump or what?!

This mare isn't even trying, her facial expression looks bored over these fences haha. There are videos but I would have to link Emma's facebook and I'm not doing that in case there's a cray cray stalker out there. NOPE. Sorry non stalker bloggers, you'll just have to imagine my majestic mare hardly trying covering ground at a hunter canter. :) 

Til next time bloggers. 

Things I want...

Let me start off by saying I am NOT a rich kid. Nothing against it, I wish I was fortunate enough for my family to help pay for riding. They made me work for it and I appreciate it SO much now.
I am, like all equestrians, a tack whore. I WANT EVERYTHING. Here is a boring list of some things I want, not all inclusive, not even close.

BIT BUTTER. I tried this once on Isis and I don't know if it was coincidence or MAGIC but Isis accepted the bit so much better than she had been. So I'd love to get some to try out on her!

Mini clippers! Just for shaping up and because they are cute. 

A wrap bag, for shipping stuff. ORGANIZE ALL THE THINGS.

A nice saddle cover, seriously. I ACTUALLY NEED THIS. Emma is borrowing the baby jesus saddle right now and she has a big beautiful cover that I think she's using on it. I need to get one, seriously. Fleece lined preferably.

KERRITS BREECHES. My favorite riding tight like in the entire universe. LOVE LOVE LOVE. I like these two most, I might buy them anyway, even though negative money. 

Freaking GPA helmet, duh. 

But I would settle for one of these. I have the jockey skull and I just love it. I think I want one of these because they are fun. I would love to do pink but I know I would be smart and do silver or gold. 

A new eventing vest. I love the Charles Owen ones, I have a tipperary I bought off craigslist, it's okay. It's blue, which means my cross country colors are blue forever.

A FREAKING SHADBELLY BECAUSE OKAY. 

These I love, the cool blast shirts. I'm pretty sure there are tons of brands but I love the mesh underside. You look fancy in your long sleeve shirt but it's super cool and comfy! Win, win. 

Ogilvy half pad please. I don't know gummy or memory foam but I would ABSOLUTELY love one of these. I've heard the most amazing reviews and I think Isis would greatly appreciate it. 

All three of these, Gloocker boots and wraps, fit for my princess. 

Dublin winter boots, I just want them okay. 

Joined stirrups! Miss Monica (tbeventer) has a different set of these on her cross country/jumping saddle and I would love to have a pair for cross country. LOVE. Of course I have the herm sprenger stirrup system so I need to shut up. 

A pessoa lunging kit, or knock off for that matter. I would love to be able to use this on Isis when I'm having lazy days. She lunges like an old quarter horse, so lazy, so low. I think this would help get her top line in shape.

A MICKLEM! I think this might help with our bit problem. Expensive for a hunch, but in a perfect world I could just have one. KTHNX WORLD. 

EcoGold cross country pad because awesome.

A white set of Eskadrons, because name brands are fancy. Mostly because I love white boots, it's a sickness, they always look terrible. While I'm at it I would love the air easy boots too. 

An all leather hackamore for shows! 

And last but not least a waterford loose ring, I think she might like it since it doesn't hinge in her mouth in one bridge. Who knows.

Like I said, not all inclusive. I want a dressage saddle since I don't own one, every polo wrap ever invented ( I have an addiction), a beautiful leather halter (with a plate), a saddle plate, new stirrup leathers, some new saddle pads, 100 million bell boots so I'm never out, a figure eight bridle with the cotton/leather braided reins, an eventing watch and just about every horse gadget ever invented. Don't judge me, or do, but I'm bored and crippled and I have nothing to do but dream of riding.

On a happy side note I went and visited my friend Nancy (jumpingsaddlebred) and she let me ride her lovely boy Coco. I just walked around (jigged actually) but it was so nice to be back in a saddle, to feel at home again. 

Anyway, here's a beautiful picture of Isis, Emma is planning on showing her on Sunday (the last show got rescheduled) so hopefully I'll have pictures!