A shameless attempt at getting comments... :-)

Sorry for the lack of posts around here, but I've been outside alot enjoying the nice fall weather!

I wanted to make sure to post today though, as a way to shake out a few extra comments. 

Wanna guess why???

It's my birthday! 

(gotta love lolcats!)

I'm not usually the type to announce my birthday and make a big deal out of it all, (especially now that I am officially over 35!) but I don't have much else to write about, so I figured you guys wouldn't mind.  :-)

I tried to scrounge up some old pictures of me, but the only one I have here is a scan of a picture from my 1st birthday.  I also found an old picture of me on the mare I had as a kid - "Tar" was an appy/welsh pony cross.  I would have been 12 in this picture, almost 13.  I think we were riding in a parade for the local fair or something.

Well, that is it for me.  No big goals for upcoming year or anything - just trying to keep my head above water...  I hope to have a new horse-related post in the coming days.

Happy trails!

Back to school for me (...well, sort of!)

Fall is here in full swing - the leaves are just starting to change; the temperature dips in the mornings and evenings;  kids are back at school and  parents rejoice.  lol.  I always loved school - I was a bit of a nerd that way. 

My foray back into learning doesn't actually invovle a real school, luckily.  I have started taking lessons at my old barn!  I took the summer off to have fun and canter around like a hooligan and now it is time to start working on polishing my riding skills.  I have a good amount of confidence back, so I think the time is right to move forward and see where that takes me.

I had my first lesson this past Saturday and it was fun.  Alot of stuff to work on, but man it was fun. I was riding an adorable APHA pony (about 14.1hh, solid buckskin for those keeping score at home) named Charm.  She has the cutest little western jog that I can actually sit to!  Imagine that!  (this is Charm with another student riding her last year...)

I was getting so frustrated riding Rusty in Western lessons - he just isn't built to do a slow jog or a lope. He is bouncy and kind of rough to ride in a ring setting, so I wasn't really making any progress.  I think I've found the perfect job for Rusty - he is a super trail horse and a great baby-sitter.  He has been a good companion this summer...more on that in a later post.

I'm really hoping to make enough progress over the fall and winter so that I can try some shows next year!  This pony has been shown a couple of times and my instructor would love to take her out more, but didn't have many students riding western this summer.  So, that is an exciting goal for me! 

There is a great series of local shows that are really beginner friendly.  We also have a bunch of nice fall fairs to try my hand at.  I think this situation will be a great way for me to try showing without the expense of buying a show appropriate horse AND show tack, on top of trailering... (which costs an arm and a leg!!!)  I'm feeling really positive about all of this, so the fall/winter should be interesting!

A fun ride (with photos, for a change!)

Edited to add:  I was wondering why someone thought a picture was cut off... Turns out I was using x-large pictures in blogger and not all browsers can do that!

I hope everyone enjoyed their long weekend - I sure did!  We had a busy weekend with family and I managed to get two rides in as well.  I also convinced my hubby to come along and take some pictures. I think Rusty looks great, but I could use a bit of help. lol

I went out to this barn this morning as rain was forecasted for the afternoon (and it is raining right now!) so I'm glad I got my ride in before the weather changed.  We went down the long hay field (about 1km) and then over to the stable across the road to ride on the track.  I am not the most confident rider, but after riding on a track a few times, I can sort of get why people like to go fast.  It is really fun - and that is on a 20yr old Appy!  I'm sure riding a TB or something would be just incredible...if you had the nerves to do so.

Getting started - trying to pose for a photo. I don't like having my picture taken, but this one isn't bad, I guess...

The one shot of Rusty in this field where he didn't have his ears pinned. What a guy.

Nice Monarch butterfly shot - my photographer got distracted.  :-)

Cantering through the hay field - not sure why I brought the crop today - it just got in the way.

Trotting back to pick up the photographer.  

Having fun on the track...The track needs to be harrowed, but the footing is still decent.

Not bad for an old guy!  Not sure what I'm doing with my right arm here...trying to flap it and make us go faster???  lol

So there you have it - finally some pictures of me riding Rusty.