Days 4&5

Finals are a wrap. Thursday I knocked 1st. Disappointing but I'm ok with it. He ran good we were just a bit too tight coming out. On the plus side we had *awesome* 2nd and 3rd barrels!
Kimfer knocked, Julie knocked with one horse & ran just a bit too fast with the other.
Our friend Brenda made it back to the short go. Unfortunately she didn't know she had until, by chance, she took a look at the draw and saw her name!
Good thing she and Holly had stuck around to watch! They were all packed and ready to go. Just had to load their horses after watching. Sadly she was a bit rushed to get ready and her horse wasn't warmed up right and B wasn't in the right frame of mind.
After it was all over our district had to tear down the arena - take down timers, signs, score clock, remove barrel covers, pull markers. A lot of work but it went fast.
Hopefully things work out better next year but it's a shame it wasn't this year. The saddles (10!) And the buckles were gorgeous! Oh well guess I'll have to try to win a buckle at our district finals! :)

Day 3

Or the good the bad & the ugly.
Things started out ok. Until the actual barrel racing began!
Youth was to go from 9am to 11:30. It started at almost 10. So it pushes things back a bit. No big deal except a) I'm already running in the last 60 or so of the 287-some open and b)I'm supposed to work the PA system that calls riders to the holding pen.
I don't even want to get into the whole PA system. Suffice to say it was a joke.
Then there were ground issues at the gate so they fixed it between youth & open. Better safe than sorry I know.
Open was to start at noon but ended up starting at not quite 10 to 2.
Applejack ran in well but I wasn't expecting him to NOT be bothered by the crowd. As a result I didn't set him up right for 1st and we hit it. Could'nt get ourselves together and also hit 2nd. Those metal barrels hurt!
On the plus side we had the nicest 3rd we've probably ever had. And I won't have to worry about the crowd today, its obviously not an issue! Lol

Wordless Wednesday

Day 2

It was a pretty mellow day today. There wasn't a whole lot going on.
Our district is responsible for setting up the arena so we marked the pattern and hung up signs. There were quite a few so whichever district did the sponsorship did a good job!
We had toonie runs today. Kinda like a time only but without the timers. You were allowed to buy a max of 3 minutes to work your horse ithe arena. I bought 2 minutes. I'm hoping to avoid a repeat of last year when Applejack ran in and saw the crowd at 1st and wondered who the heck all those people were!
He was a bit alert, not spooky just a bit tense. It ended up ok though so we'll see how it goes tomorrow.
I also got my office/stall/camping fees paid. And checked out the trade show - some very nice stuff!
Time for bed. Early day tomorrow. There's a mandatory meeting for all competitors at 8 and the barrel racing starts at 9. Youth go first. Open is to start at noon. Things usually run late the first day though. Add that I'm number 227 and it'll be a long day.

Day 1

Kimfer picked me up with the loaded trailer this morning (or is that yesterday now?). We met Julie & her mom for breakfast at 6 and then we were on our way!
The trip to Moose Jaw wasn't too bad. Not quite 2 1/2 hours.
Got to the grounds & found our pens. We're stabled outside this year and the horses seem very happy. I am too, unless it rains. Then I'll wish I'd picked a stall! Lo
Kimfer & Julie are on the board of directors so they've been busy.
We do have our camp set-up. Julie's camper trailer is right next door to our trailer. Hopefully Holly & Brenda can get the spot across from us.
Should get to sleep. Tomorrow is a busy day and will start early!
Oh and for those of you that Twitter I am tweeting.

Countdown begins

Today I was up bright and early... make that cloudy and way too darn early, for a jackpot. We got caught in the rain and man was it muddy. Applejack and I placed 2nd in the 3D. We were quite close to winning the 3D, BK's time was a 22.307 and ours was 22.336 (it was a huge pattern!) Oh well maybe next time.
Kimfer and I got the horses home, hosed down and turned out.
Then we started the trailer packing. Its now all loaded (other than my recently cleaned horse boots and buckets which are at my house) Now I'm doing laundry and some housework, spending time with Pie and the dogs & cats and getting ready to pack.
Kimfer will pick me up with the truck and trailer tomorrow at 5:30 to load up my stuff from the house. Then we meet Julie and her mom for breakfast at 6 and head for Moose Jaw!
I do plan on reading and posting from my cell but I won't be able to put pics up. Don't worry though, my camera is charging as we speak!

Ouch dangit!!

Okay so this I could have added to my "10 things" post... I'm a klutz, accident prone, trip over my own shadow. Its actually a very special gift. Not a useful one, just a gift. lol
Here is an example of the latest:

If you look really closely you can see a little trickle of fluid oozing from the flap of skin towards my fingers. I won't hazard a guess as to what exactly it is.

Here is another view:

I did this Thursday last week. While riding. On my saddle.

Remember... I said I'm clumsy.

I have done something slightly similar, although way less painful and damaging, in the past. Last time it just resulted in a blister across my palm. One that I managed to keep from getting all puffy and fluid filled.

This time, well MUCH more painful. (oh yeah, and I'm left handed!)

This is how it happened, so you all know what NOT to do! lol

I was riding along and had my hand resting lightly on my horn. Forgetting that I've switched Applejack back to the Billy Cook because the Frontier fits Voodoo better, and therefore was not riding in my Frontier. This is important because the BC has an engraved horn cap.

Ah-ha... friction! Not my friend. This is what caused the weird blister last time. This time I suspect a blister was forming. And that probably would have been the extent of the damage except as I was cruising along at a high lope Applejack, ever so gracefully, took a bad step. And my hand, right on that tender blister forming spot, jabbed down into the horn.

"Ouch dangit!!!" was my first thought.

Then I looked at it and thought, "Darn it! Is there anyone at the house to help me clean this sucker and cut that flap of skin off?"

I headed home at a good clip and walked out Applejack the last 10-15 minutes. Put him in the barn and went to the house. Thankfully Kimfer's mom was just getting home. She helped me clean it up with peroxide, put some Polysporin on it and bandaged it.

Work that night was NOT fun. I wrote as little as possible and when I did the cashout I wrote with my right hand.

Cashout looked like a 5 year old did it. lol

It was hard to tell at first how deep it was. Two days later I trimmed more of that flap off and this is what it looked like:

Those dark red areas in the middle are the deepest parts.
Yup, it takes special skill to hurt yourself in such asinine ways! lol

Oh... My... Gosh

Where the heck has the time gone?!? I have SO much to do in the next few days because

dramatic pause

early Monday morning Kimfer and I leave for Moose Jaw for our barrel racing finals!!! (the provincial ones, districts are in about a month)

So today I took the Ford for an oil change and flushed the engine. Gotta clean her out tonight/tomorrow and wash her. Clean horse boots, clean feed buckets, clean tack. Raincloud got a haircut yesterday (and he was sooo much better than last time)

Sunday we have a jackpot AND need to pack the trailer.

There are grocieries to get, laundry to do. Stuff around the house that HAS to be done before I leave (umm, yeah pay bills!! lol)

Gather the supplies I need to take for the horse and for myself.

Plus work and take care of my critters at home, write a note for Pie to take to the doctor about his seizure. Make sure Pie is on track with his insulin.

It doesn't sound like all that much (and for Mikey or BECG it probably isn't lol) but there is a LOT of little stuff not listed there.

The good news is I can post AND read blogs on my new phone so I'll be able to keep in touch somewhat. Sadly I can't figure out how to post pics with it.

testing

Just testing whether I can post on this new phone.

(almost) Wordless Wednesday

Applejack is a rollin' fool

Voodoo thought it looked like a good idea

Cessa felt too dignified (and old) to join in

Don't forget to enter the giveaway! See details here. Cutoff is midnight (Saskatchewan time) tonight.

Honest!

I've been tagged by Laura and Paint Girl to play the Honest Scrap game. And to be honest I've been a bit delinquent in getting this post up (but as you all know I've had good reason!) So here you go... 10 things you don't know about me!
1) I do not have a green thumb, but I do have several flower beds. This year they are a bit on the neglected side. The flowers in this post are all from my gardens.
2) I used to be a very negative person. I still have my moments where it seems easier to dwell on the dark stuff but I try to nip that in the bud. Life is too short to exhaust yourself by always being a Negative Nancy.

3) I always think of Cessa as my first horse but to be absolutely technical that is not correct. My first equine (technically pony height) would be Moon (and I do plan on 'introducing' everyone to him sometime in the future.

4) I really want to try to learn to ride English, but I'm kinda scared!

5) I watch entirely too much TV! I'm very glad I have a DVR, then I can pick and choose what to watch when and skip through commercials and such. It helps that I have my weird schedule and mostly watch TV late at night when I wouldn't be out being productive anyway.

6) That said I also read quite a bit, although not as much as I used to or I'd like to. I read a lot of different stuff, it really depends on my mood. Its not unusual for me to have a couple different books going at once.

7) I'm a packrat. I have a VERY hard time getting rid of stuff. I'm always worried that it'll be gone and THEN I'll need it! lol I also get 'attached' to things and have a hard time parting with them.

8) I have NEVER tried any kind of illegal drug. The worst I've done in that way was drink underage.

9) I don't tan. I burn and then peel and turn white again. My "tan" still looks super pale next to most people.

10) I'm running out of ideas so I'll share something very personal here... something I'm also very self conscious about. I'm one of those unfortunate women that tend to have a bit more hair on their arms than is 'ladylike'. I've always been very bothered by it. Its not like 'Robin Williams ape man' hairy but being that I have very dark hair (and usually pale skin) it is noticeable. As a teen I was teased alot and insisted on wearing long sleeves most of the time. Now, although still self conscious, I am much more of the 'screw you if you don't like me because of something so stupid!' attitude.

Now I'm supposed to pass this along however it has been making the rounds for awhile and I'm not too sure who has and hasn't done it. Also some people really don't like to do these. However IF you decide to play along leave me a comment so I can come over and check out your "10 Things"! :)

PS - Don't forget you have until midnight Wednesday to enter the give away!! (see details in post below)





*the "Honest Scrap" image is not mine*

Let's Celebrate

Woo-hoo Pie is home!! After 15 days in the hospital, and three weeks home sick before that, he is finally feeling MUCH better. I can't put it into words well enough how much all of your thoughts, prayers and words meant to me and to Pie but Thank You all one more time :)
Pie is now on oral antibiotics until the 27th when he goes for more x-rays to make sure that both abcesses healed and are completely gone. Even so he is feeling better than he has in a loooong time.
So there is my #1 reason to celebrate.
Here's the 2nd... this is my 200th blog post! :o
I could have posted a few times this week but I wanted to load this pic -
This little book caught my eye at a sidewalk sale (umm, last weekend oops!) and I grabbed it up. As soon as I saw it I knew that I wanted it for a blog give away. Its got some neat tips, although to be totally honest I don't think all of them would hold up under more experienced or current advice. (I got a few giggles from some of the horse advice) Then I noticed that I had 199 posts. Perfect, I'd use it for a 200th post giveaway!
And then life got in the way and I didn't have time to grab a pic or upload one. To be honest I've barely had time to pop on and check out blogs for the last few days. Getting back into a more normal rhythm has been challenging.
I haven't forgotten my tag from Paint Girl & Laura, I'm going to be getting scrappy in the next few days.
So there we go, Pie is home and my 200th post. Oh! Add a bit of rain (thank goodness) and I'm in a celebratin' mood!

Now to enter the give away and win this neat book you just need to leave a comment and let me know if you ride and what kind of riding you do. If you don't ride then let me know what kind of riding you would like to do if you did ride. Easy enough right??

**edit to add** entries will be accepted until midnite Wednesday (Saskatchewan time)

Wordless Wednesday

Horses, hospital etc

The last 2 weeks or so are kinda a blur. I'm having trouble remembering what happened and on what day. The basic routine is to get up in the morning (much earlier than I normally do), go to the hospital and visit Pie for awhile. Then I'm off to try to squeeze in some horse time (not enough though), run errands (ewww, had to get mouse traps) or do some housework and/or laundry. Let the dogs out, feed the dogs, grab a shower and lunch for myself. Then off to visit at the hospital again, work, home to sleep a few hours. Next day repeat.
I have managed to accomplish one thing though, I got VooDoo qualified for our district finals! Of course it greatly helped that if you are going to run more than one horse you only need four jackpots on each instead of the eight you need for one horse. But still, I've only had him for just over two weeks and he's qualified! That relieves a bit of pressure.
I also rode him off the yard for the first time yesterday. Well technically he's been off the yard, but always at an arena, this was out in the open. Kimfer and I snuck in a ride out in the ditch while the farrier was working on the other horses. VooDoo was so good that I even loped him for a stretch. Normally I'd wait a couple rides before asking a new horse for any speed but nothing seemed to phase him.
I've been trying to get a decent pic of my three horses but so far this is the best one:
On Wednesday we had a Canada Day jackpot/fundraiser. Both horses ran consistent but didn't place. Applejack & I are sorting out our issues with second though, it was much better especially on our second run. VooDoo, well I think we need to do some slow work. He knows the pattern we just need to refine our communication.
There was the option to dress up with small prizes as incentive. I do believe that CS won. She used to be a trick rider, I think she last wore this outfit then:

Pie is doing much better. It turns out he had a large and a small abscess in his lungs. Thanks so much for all your prayers. We're hoping he'll be out of the hospital by mid-week.

The name game

I've been trying to think of a name for the new guy... there have been a few contenders. It wasn't really a big deal except we'd been to two jackpots and a sorting. Of course everyone was asking about the new guy.

what do you mean 'hey buddy' isn't my name?!

There were names I liked that sounded too girly. Names I liked that didn't fit my horse life (for example some sounded too 'Englishy' for a little barrel/cow/trail horse).

hmmm... let's see if I can think of something

Then yesterday, at the Canada Day jackpot/fundraiser, I did it. I gave him a name!

I have a name now? What is it!?

To be honest its one that I had scribbled down on a scrap quite awhile ago. One of those 'maybe one day I'll own a horse I could name...' things. (I have quite a list actually) So when I entered I said "I have both horses here today, Raincloud and the new guy, Voodoo."

I'm hoping that he and I can work some magic to regain my confidence!

142

Happy Canada Day!

Today its the 142 anniversary of confederation... Happy Birthday Canada