Trail Challenge Pictures

Remembering Simon

Shy As A Shadow 1996 Bay Quarter Horse Gelding

Simon was Randy's show horse that we bought in Kentucky in 2000. I was pregnant with Kara when we drove down to get him. Bo showed him halter and showmanship. Randy rode him in everything. I even did a little speed classes and won the BHSA versatility award one year. Kara rode him as a baby. Rhea Scherbert rode him one year and won all the Tiny Tot Year End High Points. Alex Harvey tried out a pleasure class or two on him. Karissa Chapman took him to the State 4-H Pleasure show.

I ran across some pictures. One of the few horse's that I miss and regret having sold. The last I knew he was well taken care of at a show barn near Stevens Point, so that makes me happy. I look at horse's for sale every week on dreamhorse and equine.com, in the chance that he might be listed (well that's one good reason to go on there isn't it?).

The only other horse that I really really miss, is my horse from my teenage years, Shadow, a grulla quarter horse mare. She was my horse that I did everything with. There are pictures of us in interesting places - tied to the gas pumps at the Mason Station in Briggsville, to an alley in Portage. Unless she's a grand age of 35, she's no longer with us, and I'm sad to say that I don't know where her "final resting" place is.

I have to honestly say at this point, that unless it meant not feeding my kids, that Gus has a permanent home with me. It's taken YEARS to find a horse that I have that "special" something with....as there was frankly a huge "childhood" spot to fill with Shadow's memory. My best friend, Shelley, likes to pick on me about this, as she's known how many I've bought and sold in the last 15 years or so. But horses are like husbands - you need a good fit....lol...

Trail Challenge

We had 10 riders for the 1st trail challenge event at the barn. Shannon Ryan is our "judge/clinician", and is setting up a trail pattern. Everyone has several hours to practice and get instruction on doing the different obstacles with Shannon. After that, then the "competition" started, with everyone going thru the set course. A refusal or not done obstacle was a 10 cent fine. A partially done obstacle and/or hitting logs was a 5 cent fine. This money is going into a kitty for a pizza party at the end.

Our first trail challenge course consisted of: rope gate, trot thru cones, small bridge, back thru cones, trot over poles, then walk over poles into a box, do a 360 to the right, and walk out of the box.

Feedback was very positive and everyone had alot of fun. MaryEllen was taking photos' so I'll get some from her and post.

Next challenge is set for February 24th.

Today we are having a teaser of warm, then going back to snowy cold b.s. for the rest of week... I'm SICK of winter.... sigh....

news

Ok - it's been 7 days since the last cigarette......I know eventually I will feel healthier instead of crabby, edgy, grumpy, ornery, fidgety. I'm taking prescription Chantex, which does help with all of that....problem is that I often forget to take in the mornings and often just dont want to, as it does NOT mix well with my morning coffee. So I feel that I should be able to "tuff" it out....

Hardest times that I'm trying to avoid:

1) When Randy and I are standing outside of the barn talking....I'm usually ALWAYS steal a smoke from him then. This has been hard, and our usual conversation ends with me being bitchy.... hopefully that goes away soon..

2) Driving the car.

3) Reading (I would often smoke the most then, especially if a good book).

4) First thing - with my 1st cup of coffee (this might be the hardest time).

The common things most people say are hardest about quitting smoking that have not been for me: after I eat and after sex (cuz well, I want to sleep), and it really doesn't bother me to not have a cigarette in my hand /mouth either.

I'm very concerned about weight gain at this point.... I've already packed on my "winter" weight, being only the 1st part of January, this is a concern... So I shopped on ebay, and bought tapes for Pilates and Yoga.... I do need to OPEN them however...lol... and make time to do them. The idea was to get up earlier in the morning..... yeah well, it was a thought...that needs to be acted upon. Randy of course says that I can do them at night, but I DON'T want him to watch.... Anyway, I'm not so much really overweight as I'm terribly un-fit.... I know I have stomach muscles, as everyone does, I just haven't been able to locate them for some years.... my arms are weak as 2 wagon loads of hay just about did me in.... that is a shame.... my saddle feels heavy to me...... YIKES! can't have that...... maybe that would be a good motivator.... I refuse to buy any clothes that are bigger.....hopefully don't end up wearing sweats to work... ha ha...

Side note on the smoking thing..... Damn Twinkle likes to go down and yap at my dad's dogs (yeah suicidal), and one of the dogs was loose Sunday AM, and all I heard was crying and crap, which I was in the barn, and ran as fast as I could to try to "save" her.... Twinkle met me at a dead run (well as fast as a dead run a dog that is barely 12" tall can do).... so that was good, and I honestly can say that I didn't keel over from lack of oxygen!! I'm thinking a shock collar might be in twinkle's future.... i have repeated nightmares of her being slaughtered by the german sheperd...it's not been fun.

All right, back to work.....

2008

Ok, holidays are done, over, gone! Bah humbug can go away and not return until mid-december....

Our New Year's Eve was more fun than last year (Kara had the flu), and this year's rotation was at our house. Paul & Denise Bandt, Shelley & Seth and us get together for new years. We often get together thru the year for dinner, campfires and trail riding. New years see's us playing Pictionary. We've all decided that we are getting old, cuz no-one really had anything to drink. I think I drank the most, which was 2 (two) mike's hard lemonades....and that was enough for me.

I decided to get serious about quitting smoking. I've been bouncing around it the last couple of months....and as of Jan 1st, Wisconsin increased the cig. tax by another dollar - raising a pack of cig to $4.48 each... I averaged a pack + a day - so even figuring at 1 a day - that is $31.36 per week, $125.44 per month and $1,505.28 per year... very scary numbers. R. smokes 1 to 2 packs per day - and even if we figure him at only 1 - that is a combined total of $62.72 per week, $250.88 per month, and $3,010.56 per year. Wow.....

Someone asked me what I was doing with the extra $$$...... my plan is to take $30 per week and put in a savings account.....for something for ME..... BUT I have to stay on course first....