Preparing for madness

Posted on November 26, 2013 by Britt

I had a great lesson Sunday, which I am hoping to post about when I get video from a friend, but until then, I have been running around ~~like a chicken with its head cut off~~ trying to get ready for the ~~invasion~~ guests that will be arriving tomorrow.

These guys, plus 1 more human, plus 1 dog

Don’t get me wrong, I love my family. But no one who has ever met my family would say they were boring. I suppose no one thinks their family actually is boring, but sometimes I feel that the individuals that make up my closest relatives have rather a knack for the unusual. Driving London taxis, hiking the Appalachian Trail, and randomly acquiring new species of animals as pets are just three of the most recent activities I can attribute to them.

My sister used to breed hedgehogs. No joke- this was her ‘stud’ hog

In any case, I am doing my best to prepare the house for the inevitable chaos that is to ensue once our house gains 8 more inhabitants. Luckily this means that I have extra incentive to finish the guest rooms, which look like this to date:

The State Room

The Carolina Room

The Carolina room is lacking a mattress (coming soon) and the State room is lacking paint (what oh what do I paint it??). Our study will also be acting as a guest room, since where else can you put 7 people (and a dog).

Study AKA Man Cave AKA Temporary Guest Room

Otherwise, the turkey is ready in the fridge and soon enough the people will be here. Expect a few days away from the computer while we stuff ourselves silly with Thanksgiving goodness. Until then, have a happy Thanksgiving! and God bless!

Winter Goals for Horse and Home

Posted on November 14, 2013 by Britt

I know, I know, it’s not quite winter yet. But it my mind, when the temperature dips below freezing and the fleece jods come out, it’s winter. So sue me! Here’s what I hope to achieve and have planned around the homestead and in the saddle this season:

The Horse: At Home

Help Foster understand that transitions happen in the bum and not in the neck
Incorporate conditioning day into weekly routine (Jimmy Wofford reference here)
Master Trakehner fences
School coffin combinations
Work on lengthenings (trot and canter)
Possibly introduce flying changes advice here would be welcome!!!

Trakehner, you are mine!

The Horse: Competitions & Schoolings

The Fork (11/17)
Running Start Schooling
Why Not an American Ark Novice CT (12/14 or 1/11)
Why Not an American Ark Novice Horse Trials (2/22)

Running Start schooling over the summer

The House

Take out mini forest and big-mama-jama pine tree in back yard
Hang curtains and ~~for goodness sake~~ paint feet of dresser in Carolina Room
Paint over wallpaper in half bath
Install new light fixtures in master bath
Fix fireplace

I will finally finish those feet, I swear!

The Rest

Read books 6 & 7 of Outlander Series
Cook best Thanksgiving dinner ever
Watch Saving Mr. Banks movie
Find opportunity to play Harry Potter trivia
Design final Invitation Suite for BFF

Get excited!

As you can see, that’s a lot of goals! I am hoping that most of them are small enough so as to be realistic, but it will be interesting to see where we stand next March. Similarly, at the end of the year I intend to go through my previous goals and see what we have accomplished. Most of the time we are so focused on where we can improve, I want to make sure there is time to celebrate what we have done! That’s all for now!

Photography Friday

Posted on November 1, 2013 by Britt

In lieu of a real post, here are the final photos from the engagement photo shoot I did last week. Ang is an old friend that I met through the NC State Dressage team, and it turns out I actually went to High School with her now fiance Andrew! Such a small world! I loved getting to see them again, and meeting their newest addition to the family- Maya! Look at that puppy fur! So cute!

A Show Recap: Portofino Horse Trials

Posted on October 29, 2013 by Britt

Hey there.

At this point in time, I will admit that I am a little too brain-dead to go into a full blown diagnosis of our show on Sunday. After an exhausting weekend filled with Michael Buble:

Buble, Box Seats, and Big finales- oh my!

and an engagement shoot for a friend:

A preview from the engagement shoot

by the time Sunday rolled around I was straight up exhausted. So I decided we were just going to have fun and see what happened, with our fingers and hooves crossed that things went well.

Well, we had truck issues getting to the show and a very kind friend ended up bringing the ponies out to Portofino for us. So I went way out of order, but luckily the show management was willing to be flexible and let things happen as they may. Thank goodness. Foster felt super relaxed in our warmup, so I rode around for 20 or so minutes before going in the arena.

I have watched the video plenty of times and hashed it all over in my head, but here’s the short version: In hind sight maybe I should have focused on getting him more in front of my leg, but whatev’s. I see plenty of things to work on (I smacked myself in the head when I saw my reins getting long again, what is WRONG WITH ME?!) and some bracing stuff, so all in all, not our best test, but not our worst. So frustrating that again our walk wasn’t up to par until the last couple strides, but good enough to get a 7.5. I think I was being a bit conservative because of the last show when he broke. Anyways, here’s the video, which speaks for itself.

Show jumping was catching a lot of riders out with refusals and what not, so I just decided to go in relatively aggressively (again, Foster was completely blase’ through our warmup but just in case) and get er’ done. He got in a bit deep in some spots and cross cantered a ton (where did that come from?) but because the footing was a bit deep I knew if we stopped we’d never get going again, so we persevered. Clean and clear, but not pretty. Oh well.

I had a tired, hot horse by the time we got around to cross country (PS what is up with the temperature going up 10 degrees on show days?!?) but felt pretty good about the course. Trotted over fence 1 as per our game plan and attempted to rock and roll, but unfortunately never got up to speed because Foster wanted to look at all the funny terrain questions (oh-mah-gerd what is the patch of sand doing there?! and Oh snap! there’s a pile of junk beside fence 3! ahh!) but was a good boy all in all. He hopped over the Novice sized (oh yes, 2’11” fences on a BN course!) fences easily. Not that he shouldn’t have, but still. Here’s the video of our cross country, in which I yell about a certain ‘outrider’ who was wandering around my fences as I was trying to go go go! So I (IMHO) politely was trying to tell people that she was being a distraction and needed to get out of my way! Sheesh!

We ended up 3rd out of 8th, on a 34-point-something dressage score and 5 time faults. I’m pleased and think we are very close! Entry is sent in for another horse trial at CHP on the 10th of November, where we will do our damnedest to make time on both SJ and XC!

Until next time.. keep kicking!

Back to business and the NC State Fair

Posted on October 24, 2013 by Britt

Now that the party is over and the husband and I are over our post-party-hosting hangover (not necessarily the alcoholic sort, more of the oh-thank-god-the-house-doesn’t-need-to-be-clean-anymore variation) it’s back to work at the barn with Foster. He really wasn’t worked much the two weeks between our last show and this past weekend, and I can definitely tell he has lost a little muscle tone.

Sorry Drake, we can’t throw your ball because we are tired

I did forget to mention that we went cross country schooling on Sunday at the lovely course just up the road from us. While Foster started out a little silly, more than likely due to the fact that I was amped up on a giant Red Bull and sitting stiff on his back), he settled down and we tackled some new things. Foster did his first trakehner, jump into water, serious jump downhill, and we worked on moving in between jumps and not just dilly dallying. All a success!

OK, so not this big… it may have been less than 2′ tall…but still…

On the flat, he feels like he has more impulsion and self carriage since I got his hock injected, and we had a great school Tuesday night in which we worked on lots of transitions (and my sitting), and some basic canter work. I hope to repeat that lesson tonight and add in some more lateral work that we haven’t schooled in a while. Tomorrow we jump, and will be focusing on getting our confidence back and tackling bigger fences again, in the 3’3″ ish department.

Besides all that, the fair is in town! We went last night with our fabulous neighbors, and had a great time. Nothing beats eating ridiculous fried food (fried mac-n-cheese not your thing? what about the fried brownie sundae?) for one night a year and not feeling guilty about it. My one requirement each year is fried oreos (yum!) and the husband demands everything be covered in chili. Our neighbors were even braver, and sampled (and finished!) the Krispy Kreme burger, a delightful sandwich of questionable meat product served with a slice of cheese and pickles between two glazed doughnuts. I’m told it was shamefully good.

We smile extra hard when we think it may be the last picture we ever take

We also rode the most terrifyingly fast ferris wheel (seriously, scared to death!), marveled at the livestock (the one place I get to use my Animal Science knowledge, naming all the cows and explaining to people that some goats are meant for meat), and gazed upon the biggest pumpkins I have ever seen. I don’t know about you guys, but those things start to look gross to me after they reach 200 lbs! The biggest pumpkin there could be carved into a playhouse for small children and was 799 lbs. Wow!

$11,000 for a pig? Think of how many horses you could buy with that!

All in all a great week, and we are looking forward to our next Horse Trial this weekend. Ali is making the bold move up to Novice, and my goal is to get around the Beginner Novice course ~~without getting lost~~ clean and clear. Then in a few weeks I would like to move up to Novice at a Combined Training show not too far away. Fingers crossed!

Witches, Wizards, and Weddings Oh My! The Harry Potter Engagement Party

Posted on October 21, 2013 by Britt

The bride-to-be and myself, because the only thing better than a nerd with a wand is a nerd with a wand who also has PHOTOSHOP!

As far as engagement parties go, they don’t get much better than this. Hours and hours of preparation ~~and voluntarily researching by watching more hours and hours of Harry Potter movies~~ culminated in a well attended party with 40 enthusiastic muggles who ate ourselves silly and the proceeded to prod each other with homemade wands.

While the house-on-the-hill that I call home is no Hogwarts, we did our best to transform it into a wizarding wonderland. After you went through Platform 9 3/4…

Platform 9 3/4 this way!

And avoided the flock of flying keys…

Flock of flying keys

You were sorted into your house via the Sorting Hat and received your wand and house scarf…

Getting sorted!

Watch out for the spiders trying to make a hasty exit out the window…

Spiders!

Before sampling various potions and treats from Honeyduke’s Sweet Shoppe…

Some of the food served! Ron Weasley, eat your heart out!

Then enjoy the festivities and play some quidditch outside…

A “Quidditch” Set, our wedding present to the happy couple

But be care not to break any of Umbridge’s Proclamations…

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Or else you will lose points from your house!

I’m missing some photos of details that were going up as people were arriving (and thanks to Megan for sharing her photos with me that I didn’t get to take), but you probably don’t need to see the Employee Entrance to the Ministry of Magic (aka the toilet), among other things 🙂

The party went on well into the little hours of the morning, and it was great getting to visit with friends I haven’t seen in a while, as well as make new friends and of course get super excited for the impending nuptials of my best friend Nikki!

The Bridesmaids (sans a couple who live far far away) with the Bride-to-be! Swish and flick!

Former roommates and great friends! And look, we’re all in different houses!

My Hufflepuff man!

I have to shout out to the other bridesmaids and MOH for everyone’s hard work and dedication, and for owning your nerdiness and making this party a success! Until next time (like October of next year 😉 )…

Mischief Managed!

Photography Friday

Posted on October 18, 2013 by Britt

I have a few things to give an update on, but unfortunately not the time to spend on any of them. So, have fun looking at some portraits of Drake I took in the yard before the leaves are gone! I definitely love taking portraits of animals, hopefully these give you a sense of his goofy personality 🙂

A stroke of luck and a wedding

Posted on September 30, 2013 by Britt

Well, that was another whirlwind week!

We did indeed jump the barrel/chevron love child fence, and even though I thought it was scary, Foster could have cared less. Just another moment that proves that I tend to over think things and let my nerves get the better of me. We’ve also had a couple lovely dressage schoolings, and I feel prepared to dominate our dressage test this weekend. Add that to a great pep talk from a new boarder and fellow eventer, and I’m starting to look forward to the show in earnest. Bring it, Beginner Novice A!

In an unusual stroke of luck, I won not one, but two giveaways I entered last week! I will soon be receiving a b-e-a-utiful purse made from saddle leather scraps (how cool is that!) made by Field & Field, via the oh-so-stylish equestrian blog, DappledGrey. I love the idea of using scraps to make a product that is unique, practical, and so beautifully made! And seriously, what equestrian doesn’t have an obsession with all things leather, particularly tack!

Photo by Sarah Renee Photography, via Field & Field

The second giveaway comes from She Moved to Texas, a very entertaining blog written by a fellow NC State Equestrian Club alum. Equine Aid is a product that encourages horses to drink, and something I would dearly like to test on Foster, who has been reluctant to drink at our last two outings! Even minor heat added to the stresses of running around cross country, makes me want to ensure my horse is properly hydrated. But alas, as they say, you can lead a horse to water... I can’t wait to test this product out- review to come!

Thanks, SheMoved and Equine Aid!

We rounded out the weekend by visiting family in Winston-Salem and attending a fabulous wedding of some great friends of ours! It was a lovely wedding filled with lots of laughs and happy faces, and the bride even arrived in a horse drawn carriage- what’s not to love?! Congrats to Somer and Steve and may you have many, many years of joy and happiness!

Lots of fun and a gorgeous setting!
[photo on right stolen from instagram!]

You mean I do something besides horses?

Posted on September 20, 2013 by Britt

In the world of horses…
Our show this weekend has sneaked up on us but I feel relatively confident. Foster has jumped almost all of the fences on the XC course, and it will be my job to give him a confident ride and hopefully come home double clean. While it would be nice to bring home a ribbon, our division is one of the biggest I’ve seen at a schooling show (two classes of ~12 each in Beginner Novice!) so I’m going to try not to worry about that.

Otherwise I have been preoccupying myself with several design projects for friends. I’ve been working hard after hours to build my portfolio and experiment a bit in the design department. Here’s what I’ve been working on:

Cori Spade Designs
I met Cori via her boyfriend, one of my good college buddies from State. It turns out she is a sweetheart, and a wonderfully talented fashion designer that even showed a collection on the runway at New York Fashion Week! This project was really fun as fashion is an industry I have never designed for and I got to practice some new techniques for her site. Design and coding from top to bottom by me! Go check it out at corispadedesigns.com !

Cori Spade Designs homepage

Wedding Invitations
This has been a project for a sweet coworker of mine who is going to have a b-e-a-utiful wedding in a few weeks. I can’t wait to see how her elegant gold theme is going to work out. I’m also working on several other elements for this wedding so there will be more photos to come!

Invitation and RSVP card

Harry Potter Engagement Invitations
My best friend is getting married next fall and to celebrate, we are going to have the most amazing Harry Potter themed party you will have ever seen! I can’t share any of the details yet except for the invitations I designed, which were delivered -by owl- this past week, but hold on to your sorting hats, it’s going to be a doozy!

Harry Potter Invite

That’s it for now! Like I said I will have more updates on these designs (and party) but that will come next month. In the meantime, we have our fingers crossed for this weekend and will be sure to do a recap next week! Wish us luck! 🙂

Bachelorette Weekend and XC Schooling

Posted on September 3, 2013 by Britt

Wow, what a whirlwind weekend. A friend of mine celebrated her bachelorette weekend by staying in town, and a huge group of girls participated in all sorts of Disney princess themed fun and frolic. We bounced on trampolines, pampered ourselves with mani/pedis, and completed the most intense scavenger hunt ever! Even rode in my first rickshaw! And I am proud to say that I took the individual scavenger hunt challenge uber seriously and won myself a brand new fairy-princess-wand (because who doesn’t need one of those!) and was on the winning team! Go team Ariel! Can’t wait to attend what will surely be a beautiful wedding in a few weeks! PS follow me on instagram!

Bachelorette Weekend Fun!

Unfortunately I was not able to stay for the last couple activities, as I had to get up bright and early ( a 5:35 am alarm is not so easy after a day of running around! ) to go XC Schooling in Southern Pines. The farm we went to has one of my favorite cross country courses, simply because the number of combinations and vast array of fences to jump is incredible!

Getting up with the sun!

This was the first time in a long while that Foster and I schooled with a group lesson, which consisted of two rock star high schoolers on the brink of Novice/Training, and Ali and I with our boys at Beginner Novice/Novice. There were many questions thrown at us that we had never done before, such as jumping downhill, jumping out of water, and plenty of combinations. One such combination was an upbank, three strides to a hanging log which we went over and then came back to the other way (jump to a down bank). Foster handled this, the water questions, and the ditches with great confidence and enthusiasm. We did have a couple tricky moments at two jumps at the beginning of the venture, where he decided to take advantage of my open left rein instead of the fence, but after I focused on riding him straight everything went more smoothly than I could have hoped for.

Our group getting their feet wet.. and me desperately trying to not let Foster roll! He LOVES the water!

Overall the main lesson was to continue to ride him straight through his shoulders, and once again, to allow him to open up his stride and not hold him together so much. Once I gained confidence in him it was so much fun to let him go a bit! While we didn’t get to tackle any serious Novice questions, we accomplished so much and it was a great learning experience. I am excited to take him back in a couple weeks for a horse trials!