I love my Goober

For Fun: Favorite Ooops Picture

I saw a facebook post about what happens when you try to take a panoramic of a horse and rider and the results were obviously hilarious and it sent me looking for my own example. Google photos helpfully tried to stitch together a series of photos I took while lunging Gwyn.

So here it is, from one of my favorite places I've boarded (25 acres, huge fields, trails, access to more trails, and access to the Snohomish River, just had to deal with occasional flooding, now it's an A level H/J place, I had to leave when it got sold to them)


Emma has a Brontosaurus with Charlie. I have Sleipnir minus two legs.

Picture ca. May 2013 

In which I may have had a heart attack...

I came home from Costco shopping on Sunday to a terrifying sight. Gwyn was flat out on the ground in the pasture, with Saffron standing nearby (you can kind of see her white nose against the pine trees). I slammed to a stop in the driveway, with Kaylee in the back asking me if everything was okay. I rolled down the window...

"Gwwwwyyyyyynnnnnn!"

She didn't respond. I told Kaylee we were going to go make sure Gwyn was okay. Then, as I watched, Gwyn's hind feet twitched, like that twitch you get as you're falling asleep? Then I watched closer and I could see her belly rise and fall. Then I noticed that all four feet were twitching.

Fucking mare was passed out dreaming about running somewhere. She didn't actually 'sit up' until Kaylee and I were out of the car and into the pasture walking toward her.

So we took pictures. And all the while I hear just this faaaaaint groaning under her breath before she just gets up because we've interrupted her beauty sleep.

Later, I convinced Kaylee to go out and ride and she was super adorable and was practicing everything she's been learning in her riding lessons. She even rode bareback for No Stirrup November with me! And then she fell off Gwyn for the first time ever (she's okay) while trying to two point with no stirrups at the trot. 

Birds Eye View of the Arena that Isn't Long Enough. It's barely a rectangle. I need good exercises to do that don't require length. Like legit there's not enough room for Gwyn to jump more than one jump at a canter without suddenly needing to turn. I really want to find a giant arena to ride in that I could trailer to.

I untacked Gwyn in the arena and she ground tied by the gate for no good reason while I pulled weeds because my arena is also the best nursery for baby trees and thistles.

Day 23 - LOL Me Critiquing a Pro

Day 23- Critique a famous/well known equestrian jumping round of your choosing



From Clover Ledge Farm




The rider clearly gets in the horses way judging by the ease with which the horses finishes the round once the rider has exited. We see quite a few rails down with the first few fences the pair takes, culminating in some impressive gymastics and a near circus act as the horse heroically tackles a decent vertical with significant weight around and impeding his front legs.

Once the circus act is complete, the horse shows himself to be quite handy, easily clearing the course without touching a rail. He's rather athletic too, collecting up nicely to take the large jumps from a trot. He looks to be a nice horse once his rider gets out of the way and lets him handle things. He knows his job well.