An Update

So I am now a couple years out of school and I still have no idea what I want to do when I "grow up". I wish someone would just fund my hobbies or I could win the lottery, but since I never buy a ticket, that seems unlikely. So for now I will continue this whole work and job thing to fund my riding addiction.

Looking Spiffy

As for Notch, there have been some changes there recently. At the beginning of June Notch moved to a boarding facility near by, and although I miss seeing him out in the pasture at home, I truly believe this change is better for us. The problem with having him at home was the limited riding areas available to us. My neighbor has a small arena that they were kind enough to let us use, but the footing was less than ideal, and did I mention it was small? So now that he's moved we have access to two lovely outdoor areas, a round-pen, and and decent sized indoor arena as well. Additional perk is that there land runs along side a state forest with equestrian trails, so we can trail ride without having to trailer. So now we have no reason not to ride! And after last year we need that!

Working in the indoor arena

Also meet the newest member of the family. Nika joined the family in April of 2014, and she will be a 1.5 years in August.

A little History

I decided that my "About Me" section is a little lacking at the moment so I am going to add some more background here.

So I started riding when I was a sophomore in high school, latter than I would have liked but at least I got to start. I started riding my friends 20 year old Arab cross mare. She was overall a safe ride but was by no means a push button pony. Like most mares I have met she was very opinionated. She was pretty arena sour and was all go, go, go on the trail (I think she missed her calling as an endurance horse).

I rode her for the next 6 years, during this time we competed in one (VERY informal) show. We somehow managed a 2nd place in western pleasure (don't worry we didn't have one of those nasty pleasure lopes) we then had a 4th in western horsemanship and a 6th in the egg and spoon.

Proof that we actually got 2nd and I'm sporting my beautiful show attire lol

And then last summer I met Notch a 4yr old (lazy) quarter horse gelding. It was quite a change going from the mare to Notch, their personalities could not be further apart. The mare was very forward, especially on the trail but even in the arena it was work to slow her down. Mr. Lazypants (aka Notch) is very much the opposite he prefers to mosey around the arena and down the trail. I am trying to figure out what his "dream" occupation would be, other that professional eater of grass, and right now I am leaning towards competitive trail.

Another photo of Notch just because I feel like it :-)

First trail ride of the year

So last weekend I took advantage of the better weather and decided to go on a tail ride with the property owners of the place I board at. It got off to a great start...NOT.

Now keep in mind that Notch has had the winter pretty much free of work. After getting him tacked up I went in the arena to lunge him. Now the other two horses we were with headed out on a quick ride while I got Notch ready. Notch did not like this. The week before Notch had been great on the lunge line, this time he attempted to pull my arm off, and showed off his bronc moves! After a lengthy battle discussion lunging, his horse friends returned. I then mounted and Notch quickly returned to his lazy meandering self.

After a few laps around the arena we left the barn to go out on the trails. This resulted in another discussion over the direction we should travel. After several circles we were finally able to leave the driveway. Once on the trail Notch appeared happy enough, that was until we reached the end of the first loop. This is where Notch decided that we should be done with our ride and head home. We had another argument discussion over which direction to go. Notch finally gave up his efforts and trotted to catch up with the rest of the group.

After that challenge everything was going good, until a grouse tried to eat us. The horse eating grouse flew up out of the grass and Notch completed the fastest spin/rollback I think he is capable of. This resulted in me making an unplanned dismount. I some how managed to land on my feet thankfully! The look on Notch's face when he finally stopped trying to run me over with his rear end was priceless! He looked at me like "Mom why are you on the ground something is trying to eat us!!" I don't hold that one against him because those things scare the bejezus out of me as well!

Edit: I did forget one part. Not long after the spook Notch almost fell. He has developed a bad habit of trotting down hills. This particular hill was semi-slippery due to recent rain. When he hit the turn at the bottom is back end went out from under him, he thankfully caught himself. This would not have been the first time we went down. Last summer we went on a week long camping trip to Wildcat Mtn in southern WI. It is very hilly (hence the Mtn in the name) and can be slippery when wet. Well it was wet and slippery because it had been raining the week before we arrived and some of the trails had not dried out entirely. About half way up a slippery slop Mr. Notch decides to stop to wait for his friends. I told him this was a bad idea and if he continued to stand there he would fall. He didn't listen and went down on his knees. I got off before I could possibly be stuck under him. Well it was just as slippery for me as it was for him so I fell too. In his attempt to stand up he kicked me, thankfully he did not actually put any weight on it or I would have been stuck in the middle of no where with a broken leg. I walked him up the rest of the hill (off the trail where it was not as muddy) and he thankfully was also fine. I ended up with a nice bruise to document our adventures.  

Just thought I would throw in a picture of Notch hanging out at camp. I think this was either the day of the fall or the day after.

So by the end it was a good ride, but I hope the next one goes better. I am sad I am not home this weekend to ride him again; but I only have two more weeks until graduation and then I should have more time to ride!