The Boring Stuff: Getting to Know Me

Hello internet world. 

     I have never written a blog before, and honestly probably don’t read enough of them myself to justify writing one.  However, I have a cute horse (don’t we all?) and I think this will be a great way to document his training over time (to look back someday and hopefully see how far we've come).  Hopefully whoever is reading this will find some education, entertainment, enjoyment looking at pictures of ponies.  Maybe it will just make you feel better about yourself and your riding because I am a mess sometimes. 

     I guess first I will introduce you to me.  I am a gal in my mid-twenties.  I have been riding for about 15 years.  I started off with hunt lessons every week and after a year and a half of that I got my first horse!!! (the emotions of a 12-year-old girl who got her first horse)

A hunt rider in a western saddle—because it was all that I had

     Sheeza was a wonderful 17-year old Appaloosa/TB cross.  She led me on many bareback adventures and put up with all of my crap with almost no mare faces.  

     My next horse was an OTTB named Private Coin (who I creatively called Coin).  We never really got along well and parted ways after only about 18 months. 

At least I upgraded to a dressage saddle and breeches!

     My next horse was Fred.  Fred was absolutely wonderful and he will definitely get his own post one day.  I got him when he was 12 and had been standing in a field for the last couple years of his life.  I decided that saddling him up and jumping on for a walk around the yard would be ok (smart and safe, right?).  Love at first realization of how amazingly sweet and patient this boy was.  

Fred and his heart-shaped snip (and heart melting face)

     When I was about 16 James Lucas (aka Luke--I'm the most creative) was added to the herd of one.  He was a 6-year old OTSB (Off-track Standardbred) and he taught me a lot about training a horse to go under saddle without having to deal with an actual baby horse (win-win).  We tinkered around with eventing-type activities and he'll get a full post someday as well.  

Luke and I the summer before I left for college

     I went to college to study Accounting (major) and Equestrian Science (minor) with a focus in dressage.  This gave me the wonderful opportunity to ride many different horses who taught me so much.  Because of this program I got to show Training level through 4th on lots of amazing horses.  I can definitely say that I understand dressage much more after than I did before; it's amazing what working with lots of horses can teach you.   

     After I graduated I adopted yet another ex-racehorse (are we sensing a trend?).  He raced from age two to five and earned over $330,000.  During his last year of racing he fractured both of his front sesamoids and earned eight months off.  After that he was sent to New Vocations (in April 2015) and the SO and I trekked out to Kentucky to look at him on July 4th.  He came to Missouri the following Thursday.  He is going to be the main subject of this blog, and he is Burn the Mortgage (aka Mort--because I'm nothing if not predictable with names).  

Mort and I about a two weeks after I got him

     I am now an accountant working for an agriculture business in mid-Missouri.  I haven't been here for too long, but there are wonderful perks so far.  I get to work 7am-3pm which is awesome for riding.  I get to take my wonderful pup, Emma, with me to work every day.  I also get to wear jeans/shorts/t-shirts (read: whatever is comfortable) to work.  

This is what she spends her time doing while I work

     I am engaged to a wonderful man (2 weeks and 1 day until I say husband, but who's counting?).  We both spend a lot of time outdoors camping, hiking, backpacking, fishing, etc.  He is a personal trainer and construction worker which makes being in shape sort of a necessity (sometimes this is great while other times I just want to eat all of the things and nap).  

It was cold that morning

     I feel like that is a good over-all feel of my horse life and a little bit of the other parts of my life.  I hope you feel interested enough to come back again and learn more about my ponies (or at least get some cute pictures of them).  I also hope my laziness doesn't take over and stop me from posting another....it might though.