28Dec 2013 by myexracer

The year in the rear view

Barn tales, Life with Circe, Life with Jezebel, OTTB
It's been a hard year in so many ways but also exciting and as always I did learn a little something. The beginning of the year started out great, Jez was learning to canter and not turn like a motorcycle and in mid March we started going out on the trails. It was going smashingly (even if she wouldn't cross water) and then on April 1st disaster, my worst fall to date. One ambulance ride later and I was to be laid up for months. Jezebel didn't fair any better seems I was bucked into the fence not because she was a bad girl but because she was herself injured. Right hind suspensory Poor pony! Seven long months of rehab were in order. It was a real tough 7 months.…
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23Dec 2013 by myexracer

Mud Honey and the Princess

Barn tales, Life with Circe, Life with Jezebel
[caption id="attachment_619" align="alignleft" width="300"] Oh hai![/caption] It was pouring so the training session got canceled.  I hate the unpredictable nature of the weather out here. The only thing I really miss about Los Angeles is the weather. It was always sunny and warm even in winter. Here in MD, not so much. Sunday is the day my better half takes his riding lesson. He had never been on a horse before knowing me and after about a year of "suggesting" he take lessons he jumped in last summer to see if he liked it. It's been only a few months and he just started his "beginning to canter class" Hes got great natural balance and is coming along nicely and actually seems to enjoy the lessons. He takes his lessons…
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14Dec 2013 by myexracer

On such a winters day

Barn tales, Life with Jezebel, OTTB
[caption id="attachment_547" align="alignleft" width="300"] Round Bale Naps[/caption] It was cold, I know most of my postings have been starting out that way. Winter in Maryland, go figure. I headed down to see the girls thinking maybe, just maybe I could get in a ride if the footing in the ring wasn't frozen. When I went down to the field, Jezebel was napping in the round bale. Not by the round bale but in the round bale. Jes who lives in the stall across from her was standing guard. I love how they do that. I approached thinking Jezebel would get up. Nope. She opened her eyes saw me and decided that maybe she should have a hay snack while she was laying down. Okay then. I walked up to her…
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12Dec 2013 by myexracer

Coffee Klatch

Barn tales, Life with Jezebel
[caption id="attachment_536" align="alignleft" width="300"] The Coffee Klatch[/caption] I had to cancel our training session for the day because of weather. Even though it was sunny and beautiful, I thought the ground would be frozen. The snow stopped but its been bitter cold and hasn't be above 35 degrees. In the afternoon I headed down to the barn to see my horses and to check the ring see if maybe it would be in shape to ride in tomorrow. The ground is still pretty snow covered and when I drove in Jez was snoozing on her side in the snow. Of course she was. I parked and walked down to get Jez. I whistled for her but she and Circe were not interested in coming to me, I had to go…
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10Dec 2013 by myexracer

Snow Ponies

Barn tales, Life with Circe, Life with Jezebel
[caption id="attachment_527" align="alignleft" width="225"] Jezebel and Michelle In the snow![/caption] It doesn't snow a lot out here but it does snow. Certainly more then my Southern California born and raised self is used to. This is also the first winter I've had horses out here when I don't have an indoor ring to ride in. Lets just say I've invested in some better cold weather horse gear and clothes. Blizzard boots, under armor, a awesome cold weather jack from REI (on sale.. score!) and for the ponies, quarter sheets and warmer blankets. We are as prepared as we can be this year. For the last few days we've had some on and off again snow. Sunday is our regular day with our trainer she usually rides both girls and teaches…
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06Dec 2013 by myexracer

All In A Days Work

Barn tales, Life with Circe, Life with Jezebel
[caption id="attachment_517" align="alignleft" width="225"] Always happy to see me![/caption] My two girls are opposites. Though both are fun and beautiful they are very different. Jez likes to throw her shoulder out, Circe throws it in. Circe runs away from me in the field (new fun habit) Jezebel comes running to me when i whistle for her. When ones good the other is bad, when one is calm the other is wild. They are night and day, ying and yang Kate and Bianca at the same time. Its hilarious and it keeps me entertained. A friend and i decided to take my two girls out on the trail, together. Tina tacked up Jezebel in her full on dressage gear and she looked amazing. Tina has a OTTB of her own who…
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16Oct 2013 by myexracer

Unsafe at any speed

Barn tales, Life with Jezebel, OTTB
[caption id="attachment_489" align="alignleft" width="281"] Away we go![/caption] It was the day, Jezebel's first turnout with the full herd. It's been 7 months and i needed to get her out and being a horse. Her little hospital paddock time was coming to an end. I had tried this once before a week or so back just getting her out into a field and basically she lost her mind and was charging fences and being an idiot. The plan was to Ace her which we did with 3.5 mils IM. Then to put her out with the ladies who are field boarded in that field, one of which is Lilly who she shared a paddock with at my last farm. Then once she got her Aced ya ya's out the other mares…
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15Oct 2013 by myexracer

Appreciated

Barn tales
Customer service matters and it's something that is lacking in the horse world. Not just a little lacking, I mean wholly non existent in some cases. So when I come across someone who gets it right i'm always giddy and happy. Also I have a pretty deep and heavy advertising background having been on the client side of that coin for more years then I want to remember. When someone gets their marketing right that too brings a wide grin to my face. Put those two elements together and you get SmartPak. Not only are they the go to place for supplements for your horses but they assign you reps and those reps either remember all their clients and clients horses details month to month or they take really amazing…
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30Sep 2013 by myexracer

Enter Circe

Barn tales, Life with Circe, OTTB
It happened so fast it kinda made my head spin. I saw the posting the Racehorse rehab farm I got miss Jezebel from was getting a couple horses back though no fault of their own and didn't have room for them on the farm. They were looking for sponsors, or fosters or some way to accommodate for them. One of the things that i love about After The Races is how dedicated they are to they horses that go thought their farm on the way to new homes. I got in touch with the program director and we discussed the options, one of the horses coming back to them one a horse I had followed closely when I was laid up with a broken hand. A striking chestnut super fancy…
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06Sep 2013 by myexracer

McTavish

Barn tales, Injury
It has been 5 months since Ive been on a horse. Thats a long time. I haven't had a horse to ride since i broke my hand and got taken away in an ambulance. Ive been frustrated and missing riding. Jez has another month of rest then I have to get someone to restart her (my vet is helping me with some names) shes lost most of her manners and well i feel so guilty keeping her on rest the I let her get away with all kinds of things. Come October though times will be a changing for her. In any event i've been sad not having a horse to ride. Enter McTavish! McTavish is a Halflinger, McTavish is a ex Mennonite cart horse, McTavish is a love bug.…
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