Monday Lunch

This is the best way to spend my lunch break!

First Few Rides on Henry

Here are some pictures (thanks to Kat and Andy) of two of my rides on Henry... Love having someone taking pictures!

7-5-11

7-5-11

7-19-11

7-19-11

7-19-11

7-19-11

Bayley at the Barn

Thanks the Andy and Kat for the pics!

Day 30- Your Future With Horses

Horses will always be apart of my life... I hope that they will be a love of Bayleys as well - most little girls love hroses- she will just be lucky enough to have a mom who's life revolved around horses too ... I am embarking on a new adventure with Henry and I can't wait to look back in 1, 2 or 5 years and see how far we have come together!

I hope to be showing next year and also be able to do the yearly surrendering of sturrups with Lyssette.  I know that is vague but just getting back in shape and training Henry are really my big things right now :)

This was a super fun 30 days and I hope that I won't forgot all I have explored, re visited and committed to...

Cheers from Karley and Henry

Thanks to Andy for the pic!

Day 29- A style/trend in tack/riding apparel that you don’t like

Rust breeches ... YUCK!

Day 28- Helmet or no helmet?

Helmet... especially since i am riding a new young horse. Although even if you know your horse really well you never know what can happen and better safe then sorry.

I just got a new one too and I LOVE it .. can't wait to show and wear my fancy helmet :)

Day 27- You know your an equestrian when….. (Give 5 original ones)

1. you look forward to the weekends so that you can ride and bathe your horse.
2. you would rather go to the tack store then the mall.
3. your horse has nicer clothes then you.
4. your show outfit cost about as much as a months rent.
5. you talk about your horse like they are apart of your family.

Day 26- Biggest riding pet peeve

People who talk a big game and think they are "know it alls" ... humility is the thing to have in my eyes! Unless you have the years, record and experience to back it up ... shush!

Day 25- Your dream trailer

Two? Ok ... good cause I can't pick one :)

http://www.horsetrailerworld.com/home/trailerdetail.asp?ID=333208

http://www.horsetrailerworld.com/home/trailerdetail.asp?ID=332662
(http://www.horsetrailerworld.com/home/trailerdetail.asp?ID=331855 crazy color on the outside but super nice on the inside)

I'd like a smaller trailer too but that would be reality .. this is fantasy! :)

Day 24- Your best riding friend

I'd say I have two ...

Rachel- even though we don't ride much together anymore I owe a big part of me being able to have a horse and getting on my feet with riding here in Livermore to her and her family. Can't thanks them enough for everything! She is one of the best friends I could ever ask for- on and off horses :)

 Rocky and Maddy- Best Friends

 Axel and Brodie

 Halloween

Livermore Rodeo 2009

Lyssette- my "new" best riding friend. If it wasn't for her I don't know if I would have found Irene and Windmill Ranch. I'm grateful that I have her up at the barn and there to encourage and push me to keep in the saddle :) (i realized that we don't have any pictures together so that needs to be remedied asap!)

Day 23- Picture of your favorite jump/combo

I think that I would want something like this:

http://getjumps.com/jump-packages/classic-hunter-course.html

I would add to it but I think it would be a good starting point :)

Day 22- The importance of riding in your life

My friend Lyssette and I were just talking about how in our lives, horses are a need not a want.. where most people would think that they are a want- I don't know where I would be without my horse.

Rather the shopping in my free time I am at the barn...
Rather then sleeping in on Sat I am at the barn...
Rather then relaxing at home after work I am at the barn...
Rather then buying new clothes for myself I buy things for my horse...
Rather then going to the gym I ride...
When I'm stressed and need a break I go up to my horse...
When I don't feel like I can control anything in life I go ride and feel like I have a grasp on life...

You get the point.

Riding is something that had grown apart of my DAILY life over the last almost 20 years... When getting married my husband knew that horse would now be apart of his life and I am thankful- so thankful for his willingness to jump in and embrace my love/hobby/4 legged children.

From my first lessons on Foxy and Adam to my post pregnancy lessons/rides on Henry I have LOVED and enjoyed every minute of riding and hope for 50+ more years of riding!

Day 21- Your perfect schooling outfit

I love to match when riding- even have my horse match... we may  not always match each other BUT our individual outfits match :)

For Summer:
     - Tan/Khaki/Black breeches, black/white tank, black helmet, black boots and half chaps, gloves
or
     - Tan/Khaki breeches, brown top, black helmet, brown boots and half chaps, gloves

For Winter:
     - Tan/Khaki/Black breeches, long sleeve shirt, barn jacket, black helmet, black boots and half chaps, gloves
or
     - Tan/Khaki breeches, long sleeve shirt, barn jacket, black helmet, brown boots and half chaps, gloves

July 10th- Fair, Food and Zoe

We went to the fair today with some friends and had a blast- ate lots of food, watched the horse races and got some sun..

Bayley had some carrots- she LOVES all food...

Zoe had found all of Roxy's bone stashes in the back yard ...

Day 20- Your favorite horse show

Growing up I loves to show at the Watsonville fair grounds.... It was familiar and comfortable. We always got the stationary stalls (not the temp ones)... I knew were thing were and almost felt at home in the arenas.

One day I will have money to show at some other places and rated shows and I am sure I will find one that I love there too- Watsonville was some great memories that I will never lose :)

Day 19- A discipline you would like to do that you’ve never done before

Reining .. and I mean the real deal- on a really expensive horse that knows it's job.

I'd love to feel a slide stop- how amazing would that be!?!?


Or maybe id like to do Jumpers ...

Day 18- Your grooming routine

Get my horse (haha)
Cross tie him
Curry
Brush
Fly spray
Pick out Hooves
Put on polos or splint boots
Tack Up
Lunge
Get on
Ride
Get Off
Untack
Hose off/Bathe

Day 17- Your equestrian idol

As I was thinking over this post- I realized that I don't have and equestrian idol. I plan to answer this is two ways and I hope thats ok :)

Someone who I look up to through out my riding has been my grandma. She has been my biggest supporter through all of my riding... she would help pay for things, bought me my first saddle(among many other things) and most importantly she would get up at 4 or 5 am with me and take me to horse shows (yes that included hanging out all day as well while I rode). I am not sure I would have shown at all if it wasn't for her. She is also one of the most important people in my life- love her so much and am SO thankful for her, in my riding and in life!

Also there is the rider that i would like to be ... 

• Confident
• Good Eq
• Competent
• Effective
• Competitive 

The END

Happy 4th of July!

Day 16- Your most recent fall

The last time I prematurely dismounted wasn't really a fall... I was riding Captain- a really fat Fjord- and my saddle went a sliding and it got to a point where I couldn't fix it so I jumped off ... we were all laughing our booties off.

The last time I actually fell off not on purpose was off Brodie- he bucked me off hard. Not sure what got into him but he bucked and bucked and bucked - as he was bucking I was thinking hmmm I don't have a helmet on- I don't wnat to get hurt- so I jumped/fell off. I was fine- got back on and worked him till he was really pooped. Such a pretty and fun horse to ride but mad did we hate eachother!

Day 15- If you could speak to any horse, dead or alive, what would you say?

I think I would talk to Maddy and tell her thank you...

Thank you for giving me 2.5 fun years of riding, building my confidence, giving me unconditional love, letting Sean learn so many things about horses, letting Sean ride her, teaching me so many things, letting me ride her at so many different venues and not minding a bit and just being a great horse. I want her to know that she was the best horse I've ever had and that I wish/ed that we have money to keep her forever and ever!

Love you Maddy!

Day 14- Your dream barn/farm

Oh man this could take a while because I have two scenarios... a personal barn (reality) and a commercial barn (fantasy).

Personal Barn:

I'd like a 10 Stall Barn
1 Tack Room
1 Groom Stall
8 Stalls
A hay barn
4 Pastures (the horses will share)
Round Pen
Hot Walker
Wash Rack
Outdoor Arena
Indoor Arena (if there is room)
Trailer Covered Parking Area
     *My plan is to have 8 horses- 2 "projects", 2 show horses for me, 1 show pony for the kids, 1 show horse for the kids, 1 trail/well schooled horse for Sean and Maddy to come back and live with us for ever!

Commercial Barn:

40 horse Barn (with a covered arena attached)
20 horse "mare motel"
20 Pastures with shelters that can house 4 horses
20 Turn Outs
Hot Walker
3 Round Pens

3 Flat Arenas
2 Jumping Arenas
1 Said Covered Arena (with lights)

Hay Barn
Trailer storage
EuroXciser

Jumping Field
Hot and Cold Wash Racks
Trainers Office and Lounge
Boarders Lounge/Bathroom/Kitchen
Tack Rooms for Each Trainer
Blanket Storage
Grain Rooms
Laundry Room
Bridal Path

I am sure I forgot stuff but as they come to me i'll add them :)

Day 13- Most Embarrassing moment

This was yesterday ...

My trainer wanted me to get on my new horse... my friend/fellow rider Lysette got on him first and hacked him a little and then it was my turn- I was ALL nerves which didn't bode well to help him chill. I was freaked out and I had no reason to be! I def have my tail between my legs and now have to buck up and stop being a chicken! I chose to get another young horse that needs training so I need to "gather my reins" and ride ;)

Day 12- Favorite horse color

So if you asked most people they would say gray ... I have this fascination with them. I owned one but man was he hard to keep clean!
Tucker:

My heart horse was Maddy who was a chestnut:

My new horse Henry is a chestnut so id say my ratio is chestnut .. haha!

Other horses i've had...
Brodie- Buckskin

Taylor- Chestnut

Speedy- Chestnut