It's that time of year again...

When show series start posting their dates for the upcoming season and I get my calendar out with a sharpie.

The local dressage schooling show series just posted all of their dates including their year end championship. I'm hoping they'll allow competitors to show out of trailers this year. Financially it is way better for me, when it's just 20 minutes away. Otherwise, my costs double with the requirement to get a stall for the weekend on top of class fees. I'd prefer a smaller, grounds fee if they need something else.


Since I'm now taking lessons I want to commit to the show series. It's once a month, technically two shows a weekend (Saturday and Sunday). I'm hoping to do once a month. I'm hopeful that with lessons our canter won't be embarrassing.

Other show dates I'm excitedly waiting to drop are the combined trials at Hunters Run and all the endurance rides. There's a lot to look forward to in 2018. I've even joined AERC for the first time as an incentive to get out and do the LDs enough to make the membership worthwhile. I've even joined the Green Bean team. I'm not sure I'm going to be doing the Distance Derby again this year. I haven't seen any mention of it being redone for 2018 as I think the organizer is too busy running the Midwest Mounted Archery group. And I haven't been able to get involved in that as much as I'd originally wanted.

What are you looking forward to in 2018?

And for my Northern Hemisphere friends, Happy Solstice to you and the return of lengthening days!

Day 30 - My Future with Horses

Day 30- Your future with horses

From Clover Ledge Farm

Husband willing (no seriously) I will be at least around horses forever. My plan is to keep Gwyn forever, finances willing, even through retirement. If we've got the means once she's retired, I'd like to get another Standardbred for riding. I don't know when that will be, hopefully not for at least another 10 years.  Gwyn is young, she's got lots of years ahead of her if she's treated right and I fully intend to be there for all of them and give her that quality of care. There's no reason (for now) that she can't be ridden for at least another 15 years.

My goal for Gwyn is to have her be that horse you look at in the pasture and go THAT horse is 30?!?!?!

I want that. I think we can do it. I want that mare to give pony rides to my grandkids.

Luff you, snozz face

For myself, I want to be like Jane, the woman who fostered my love for horses. She was in her 70s and dragging hay bales around. I want to have 40+ more years of horses in my life. Whether that's always going to be with having horses on my own property is up in the air, especially if we move back to Washington. But I want there to always be horses.