Resolution Check-In

Posted on March 31, 2014 by Britt

Since we’re about to end the first quarter of 2014, it seems a good time to see how we’re doing ~~(or not doing)~~ on our resolutions for the year. Let’s take a look 🙂

The Horse

Resolution 1: Move up to Novice with final score below 35 (or >67% in dressage)
We have gotten so close to this… or rather, the dressage score. Our score at the only Horse Trials this year is not worth noting, since I goofed so badly at the end of the XC course. If I hadn’t, we would have finished on that 35. At the Combined Training a couple weeks ago, we got a 66% in dressage… So this one is definitely doable, but not accomplished yet!

Resolution 2: Nail canter transitions
Well, this one we haven’t worked on pretty much at all. I’ve been babying him because of his fitness/condition and so avoided anything tough, like making him use his hind end to transition rather than his neck. With that said, he has actually gotten 7’s on them at the two shows this year! Sure surprised me!

Resolution 3: Not be embarrassed by lack of trot lengthenings
Nope, haven’t even touched this. Soon, hopefully!

I should have added ‘not do shit braids’ to my resolution list…

The House

Resolution 1: Landscape front and backyard
We’ve made lots of progress in the backyard, taking out the big mamajama pine tree and lots and lots of scruffy small stuff. Now what we’re looking at is 6″+ of leaf mold/debris in most areas, that will have to be hauled away before we can seed. We’re trying to get this done soon before the summer hits and nothing grows, else we’ll be waiting till fall!

Resolution 2: Kitchen Transformation
Oh, this one I am *so* excited about! Right now we are collecting quotes for all the different projects, and hopefully we will have either wood floors or granite countertops by the summer! Squee!!

Resolution 3: Replace grody couch
Done!! The cats kind of pushed this one along, as *somebody* (cough, Elliot), decided to let us know he had a UTI by peeing on the couch, thus grodying said grody couch to the point that we didn’t want to even sit on it. We have now replaced it with a pretty new leather couch! Yay!

Hardwoods in the kitchen? Yes please!

The Rest

Resolution 1: Take calcium supplements
So far so good! I found these caramel flavored ones that are like a little treat for me! Easy peezy!

Resolution 2: Not be a Red Bull zombie
Hahahahaha. Nope!

Resolution 3: Be more positive
Making some progress! Headed in the right direction, at the very least 🙂

A surprise outing for the husband’s birthday, in which I proved I cannot bowl worth a crap, but did not embarrass myself otherwise!

A Non-Horsey, Non-Housey post about a cat named Elliot

Posted on March 20, 2014 by Britt

I want to tell you a story, about the other four legged love of my life. He’s not particularly photogenic, so you haven’t seen many photos of him on this blog, but he has a personality that dominates my life. He’s my cat, Elliot.

Bah humbug says Elliot!

I got Elliot when he was about 6 weeks old, and I had been looking for a Manx cat to adopt after wanting one for years. Manx are a breed of cat that is born without a full tail, and tend toward a personality that is more canine than feline. As well as being intrigued by their personalities, I also had a particular soft spot for an amazing type of cat that potential adopters might aviod thanks to their unorthadox appearance. After locating a tailless cat rescue not too far away, Tyler and I made the journey to see who might become the newest member of our little family.

A purebred Manx

As soon as I saw Elliot, I knew he was the one. As he was let out of his cage (he was in solitary confinement at the time because he was so newly rescued) he proceeded to climb all over me, purring as loudly as possible. Throw in the fact that he was grey (and I love all things grey), it was clear he was mine.

Baby Elliot!

Elliot’s story was that he had been thrown out of a car head first, which we quickly realized was probably true, since as a kitten he experienced facial swelling and sinus issues that indicate that he probably had experience some sort of facial fracture as a baby. But true to the typical Manx personality, Elliot’s temperament was his greatest asset. He is shockingly friendly, obsessed with water, and as we discovered once we got Drake, he really is a dog in a cat’s body.

Another adorable baby Elliot shot, with his little scar face

But poor Elliot, for all his wonderfulness, has had issues. Cats have baby teeth just like people do, but after one of Elliot’s top canines came out, he ended up having an extra adult canine to replace it, which decided to grow in horizontally. As a result, Elliot had to have his normal canine and the extra canine removed. His bottom canine then decided to fill the gap and stick out of his mouth, like a bull dog, complimenting the scar on his nose from his pre-adoption adventures. He has since had another two tooth removal surgeries, unrelated to the canine. I’m afraid he will be all gums later in life.

Enjoy those chompers while you can, buddy

Elliot also developed anxiety extreme enough to be medicated, which I think may be in part to some separation anxiety. He will demand to be picked up, yell outside the door when it’s time to get up, and in general make himself a nuisance when not given due attention. He chases Drake around the house, he steals his toys, and practically runs the place.

Grooming time with Drake

After Elliot, we adopted Jackson, another tailless feline who we think is more of a Bobtail than a Manx. I am so glad we did, as undoubtedly if he had not ended up in an adoption situation he would have ended up on the streets. But as another tailless cat we found he also can be very canine in nature, and used to enjoy fetching as his favorite pastime.

Elliot demands his pills

In any case, friends, I just want to tell you how special it is to adopt, and spread the word about these unique tailless cats, that while missing their tails, and not lacking for anything when it comes to love.

Vote for us, Y’all!

Posted on March 19, 2014 by Britt

We are participating in the Equestrian March Madness over at She Moved to Texas, and we would love your vote!

I’m blogging from Pittsburgh while Foster enjoys a few days R & R following the show last weekend. I’ll be back in the -test ride- saddle on Thursday, yay! That’s right- trying out 2 new (to us) dressage saddles for ponykins to see which one we like! So excited!

So until then, not much to report… enjoy this pic of Foster in his Novice debut by Brant Gamma!

Big [Horse-related] news

Posted on March 7, 2014 by Britt

… I have decided to move Foster. It was a long-thought out, emotional decision, but one I had to make if I wanted any kind of life outside of work and horses. Since I started my new job, the commute to the barn has been much longer (50 minutes long), and has been taking a toll on me- mentally and physically.

The beautiful backdrop driveway for our current barn

Since I am also working later hours than I used to, it means I have been getting out to the barn close to 7 pm every night. Add in an hour and a half of ride time, basic grooming, and a 35 minute drive home and any kind of ‘down time’ doesn’t start until 9 pm. I know I should think of riding as down time, because it’s certainly not a chore, but let’s face it- everybody needs to veg out just a little bit. Not to mention my poor husband is already thinking about bed time at 9 pm, and frankly, so am I. All these reasons, plus the costs of gas meant the whole situation was less than ideal.

Another photo from our engagement shoot at the barn… oldest wood barn in NC!

So I found a place that is closer to work – a whopping 15 minutes away, to be exact! Added bonus that it has an indoor arena, so I can ride even if it’s nasty outside. There are of course a couple compromises to be made, but I am hoping it will be a good fit for us.

Indoor arena at the new facility

I think the hardest thing about making this decision was the thought of leaving a wonderful group of fellow boarders that I have had for the past 3 years. These ladies are fun, fun, fun, and a nice down-to-earth type that I know I can rely on in a pinch. Luckily, they have all been super supportive of my decision and I desperately hope we all stay in touch after the move. It will be sad not to see their faces around the barn, but I hope I can make more barn friends at the new facility.

Fingers crossed that our big move [tomorrow] goes well!

In which Britt returns from Florida, and goes to Pittsburgh

Posted on March 6, 2014 by Britt

That’s right, I arrived home yesterday from the land of sunshine and richly costumed theme park employees, and am currently blogging from a slightly more dismal, dank office in Pittsburgh. *sigh*

But let me regale you with my tales from Florida! Warning- there are LOTS of photos in this post!

My best buddy (also a fellow equestrian, who used to join me in terrorizing the hunt country on our Haflinger steeds) and I did Orlando on a budget- which means we took the train down to Florida instead of flying. If you’re curious, it’s 13 hrs by train from NC to FL.

On our way!

We got there, then napped (sleeping is somewhat difficult on the train) and decided to save all our energy for the next day- Disney! Now, I haven’t been to Disney since I was little, and really didn’t remember a thing about it, so I was pretty surprised by the level of detail that went into the atmosphere, and many of the special effects were pretty jaw dropping. For instance, I always thought fireworks set to music were nice, but the music would be atmospheric rather than aligned with the visual pyrotechnic display- Disney’s firework show was brilliant- I don’t think I have ever seen timing done so well!

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The next day we went to Universal- the highlight of my trip because I am oh-so-into Harry Potter. Obviously. We arrived as they were getting ready to open the gates, and of course headed straight to Potter land before all the other obsessed Muggles got there and spoiled the fun.

Let me just say, if Disney world was jaw dropping, the effects inside the Castle ride were heart stopping. I still have no idea how they acheived some of the 3D effects they did. It was very well done, so much so that we went for a second trip later in the afternoon.

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Monday we caught some rays (can you believe it was 80 degrees there? paradise!) and then went indoor skydiving! This was possible with a giant wind tunnel, and an instructor will stand on the net and help you get in the correct position so you actually float in the air! The wind is obviously incredibly strong, so you have to wear ear plugs, helmet, and a badass looking flight suit. And, if you walked 2 miles in the blazing sun to get there and you can’t get your rings off because your fingers are like sausages, you also get to wear a glove a la Michael Jackson.

Anyways, the whole floating thing is actually a lot harder than it looks. In order to stay up, you have to relax your spine, drop your waist, bend your legs to a specific degree and hold your arms in a certain way in front of your face (or like me, go for the Thriller pose, embracing the Michael Jackson theme). It sounds easy until you add all the wind and the fact that there is nothing that compares to trying to float in space, so your body has zero idea what is right or wrong! I started to get the hang of it my second time around (we got 2 turns each, 1 minute each turn), but I have a new found respect for the people who do acrobatics doing the real thing! Wow!

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We toasted our new found skills with a glass of wine at Maggiano’s that resulted in a free meal plus dessert (winning!) and hopped the train back to Raleighwood. I got to spend one night with my guy, quickly see Foster, and here I am again in Pittsburgh the next morning! Phew! Lots of traveling, but I am so glad I got to go on such an adventure-packed vacation! Mischief managed!

Florida Bound!

Posted on February 27, 2014 by Britt

Trip with my BFF!

Farewell, friends! Tonight I am headed to sunny Florida!

No, I’m not headed to Welly World, as much as I’d like to after seeing all of the fun photography opportunities on She Moved to Texas. Nope- I’m headed to the world of adrenaline and geekiness- Orlando! There to finally make my way to the mecca of PG related wizarding fun – Harry Potter world. And you can bet I am excited.

Just as excited as we were for the opening night!

Ready to go with my HP themed manicure!

So expect me to be away for the next few days, and back on Tuesday with lots of geeky fun photos to share with you guys! Have a great weekend, y’all!

Henry River Mobile Veterinary Services

Posted on February 19, 2014 by Britt

I just wanted to take a moment to gush about my best friend, Dr. Nikki Schweizer, who has made taken the first steps toward starting her own veterinary practice this summer! I was flattered that she asked me to design … Continue reading →

Meanwhile, in Pittsburgh…

Posted on February 14, 2014 by Britt

If you’ve turned on the news at any point (or facebook), you’ve probably seen that Raleigh is being destroyed by the snowpocalypse. (PS, this picture is of somewhere about 5 minutes from my house).

Best possible use of my photoshop skills and time? Yes, I think so.

So, of course, I’m stuck in Pittsburgh for a couple extra days. It is futile to be upset about it, since you can’t control the weather, but I admit I am very disappointed to be missing the pre-nuptial activities and wedding ceremony of our good friends who are tying the knot this weekend. I’ll be hopping off the plane, dashing back home to change and then trek on down to Raleigh to celebrate with them.

Of course all of this snow also interferes with horses. I’m sure the cross country schooling we meant to do on Sunday is closed, and that makes us just that much less prepared to go to the show next weekend. Still planning on attempting to compete though, just without any goals in mind. We’ll call it a judged schooling experience.

Foster greets strangers by begging

Anyways, for those of you in the south you have my sympathies, and I hope you are all safe and sound and inside somewhere! I hope to be back online next week and give you guys another update on our pre-show scrambling madness!

Finally jumping again

Posted on February 10, 2014 by Britt

This weekend was unusually beautiful (aside: do you like how every post these days starts out by describing the weather?), so of course I spent as much time as possible out at the barn. On the flat we are still mostly stretching, and working up to a training level frame to get his conditioning back. Once we is warmed up we have had some really nice trot work, and I’m hoping this will carry through to the canter once he gains more fitness. I’m also working on getting his weight up a bit to help with the muscle building process, so he is getting alfalfa mush and just started on a Cocosoya supplement as well. This is the first time I have tried the latter (previously I have gone with Cool Calories, but I liked that description for the Cocosoya), so if anyone has feedback I’d love to hear it!

Rabid green foamy pony monster wants more alfalfa cubes!

Yesterday we jumped for the first time in ages, and had oh so much fun. He was a little behind my leg (understandably), especially over the cross rails and smaller fences. There were a couple fences set up at 2’9″ and 2’11”-3′ and once he went over those he pepped up quite a bit. After doing a small course, we were talked into trying our hand at the gymnastic that was set up – a crossrail/crossrail bounce, one stride to a vertical, one stride to a 2’9″ish oxer. At first we took out the vertical, as Foster (and maybe even myself) has never done a bounce before and didn’t want to over complicate it. I had visions of him stumbling through (especially after our raised pole confusion a while back), but I was shocked to see how easily he picked up it up, even the first time. We ended up added the vertical back in, and he popped through the whole thing easy-breezy.

Doing this really reminded me how helpful gymnastics can be- I tend to be intimidated by them because I haven’t been really exposed to them, and I worry about not setting them up right and creating a disaster. Luckily, this one was set up by a fellow boarder for her coming-Prelim horse, so I knew she would have the distances right. Going through this exercise really helped us find our spots (the couple single fences I jumped afterwards were so much nicer as a result!), and I could really work on my position over the fence. Will have to start setting up more of these in the future!

Anyways, outside of the barn, life continues to be a little bit of a struggle. My poor father-in-law is still in the hospital, although moved out of the ICU there is no news of his leaving anytime soon. Elliot has a UTI, which is probably caused by stress/separation anxiety and we are now plugging in a Feliway and he is sporting a fancy purple pheromone collar to help him be chill kitty instead of clingy kitty. Here’s hoping that works!

Elliot aka Snaggletooth and his new pretty purple collar

This week looks to be a crazy-fest, with more snow/slush/wintry mix crap coming, traveling to Pittsburgh, a wedding, and a cross country schooling lesson this weekend! More updates to come!

Ups and Downs

Posted on February 3, 2014 by Britt

Life has ups and downs, that is for sure. This weekend in particular, a concentration of both wonderful ups, and horrific downs, demonstrates the more ephemeral qualities of life and only proves that we should enjoy take great joy in whatever ups we have. The downs are not far behind.

To get less metaphorical, and more literal, I enjoyed lots of ups and downs on Friday in the form of bouncing at a local trampoline park with my two barn buddies. If you have ever wanted to have a fun workout, go try one of these. I have to say that my heart was pounding faster after 5 minutes of this than it has on cross country in a long time! And that is saying something! For your viewing hilarity, watch me attempt to do a flip for the first time in ages:

Saturday was a bit less joyful. Tyler and I received a scary phone call regarding his father, and spent the day in the hospital. Unfortunately, things remain in a pretty scary state and I ask you all to pray for him and the family.

In our thoughts and prayers

Beyond this, I got some much needed equine therapy, and we both tried to watch the Super Bowl, but found we could not really enjoy ourselves with so much weighing on our hearts.

Without sounding like too much like Negative Nancy, the coming week looks gray. Again, literally with a forecast of 4 days of rain, and metaphorically in the questions regarding our loved ones.

I’ll leave you with a verse that brings me some peace at the moment, and hope it does the same for you.

Matthew 6:34
Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.