Busy!

I've been really busy attempting to make some money before this summer. I work at Walgreen's in Ashburn, and I've been working over 30 hours a week!


Until I can cut down my hours, I won't be able to do much riding- but if I'm not on the schedule this weekend, I'll be going for a trail ride. :)

2/27 Trail Ride

Joy and I went out to the house to ride yesterday. Abner was great, as usual. He was a little bit Fresh from not being ridden, but he behaved himself okay.

We were walking in the field by my house, and we went through what I thought was just a couple inches of snow- nope, it was a big snowdrift. Abner totally saved my butt. I panicked a little bit, but he turned himself around and jumped out of it- I just gave him his head.

We kept our ride to a walk and trot, but Abner kept thinking that he was a racehorse and wanted to speed away. We rode for about an hour and a half, and we went all over the place- Abner loved looking around at all the new stuff, especially the houses.

Here are some pictures of us inside the barn, he's looking pretty good! We're going to start working a lot more once the snow is GONE. (Can you tell I'm done with the snow...)

Aby's bow is getting so much better. It's so fun to have a trick pony!

Quick update..

Abner is doing great- I haven't been able to see him much because of the snow, but I went to the house with my friends Joy and Sean to grab my key, and we stopped by the barn.

Abner is being fed special Alfalfa hay that's Just For Him, which makes me laugh. He is getting his beautiful coat back, and Joy gave me some stuff to pour on his feed that will make his coat better too. He gets groomed every night, and seems to be loving living with us.

My friends think he is just the coolest horse, especially when I showed them his bowing trick! We also did some stretches, which we really need to work on to get him more supple and flexible.

My favorite pictures of Abner

I figured I would set them all into one post, that way everyone can see how beautiful my horse is. :)


I have been using a new hosting site to hold my pictures, so let me know if you guys have any problems with it!

Abner frequently puts his head on my chest like this and lets me hug his head. I'm not sure if he does it to comfort himself, or to comfort me, but I like it. I don't put a stop to the behavior because he is very polite and gentle, and he never pushes me.



This one makes me laugh because of the fact that my horse doesn't need a lead rope, but my dog does. Garbo is the best dog I've ever met, but she is terrified of Abner. She's fine to be in the barn with him, but if I try to make her get close...no way!




This picture also just kind of sums up our relationship together.



Abner looks like a big teddy bear here- see that spot on his nose? That's where he likes to be kissed the most!

Wow, first post in a while. I feel like a bad horse mom- especially because I haven't seen Abner because I have been really busy with exams at school.

I have been looking online at the Morven Park website, and there are a couple schooling shows in April that I'd like to plan on going to- if Aby and I are in shape.


I don't have any pictures for today's post, but I'll try to get some this weekend!

1/16/09

I went riding yesterday, I didn't have a lot of time so we didn't do too much. I hopped on him in his field with a lead around his neck, and we did a little bit of trotting and playing around. After I cleaned stalls, I put on his bridle and we went for a walk up the road.


Abner is so funny when we cross on pavement- he HATES any lines or discoloration on the road, especially cracks. When walking around them is not an option, he walks as if he expects the world to fall in at any moment. He ALWAYS steps over the white lines on roads.

New Years Resolutions

I know it's a little late, but I figure late is better than never.

Here's my list of resolutions:

1.) Get Abner back in shape!
2.) Get myself back in real riding shape, and take some more lessons.
3.) Work with Aby on jumping smaller jumps!
4.) Go to a show! Do our best, and make sure both Abner and I have fun.
5.) Take Abner swimming at the river!


Most of these are fun goals, because Abner had a life full of showing before he came to live with me. I know he loved showing, but now I think that he appreciates having a new life of fun. If we DO show, I'm going to make sure that both of us have fun and try our hardest. That's all that matters- I don't care if we win a ribbon, I don't care about trophies- I care that my horse and I are happy.

Abner=Champion. :)

I've been taking Abner out on trail rides, and he just keeps getting better and better. He always stands perfectly still for mounting even if it takes me a few minutes.


Caitlin and I decided to switch horses, and it took me FOREVER to get on Medias (he's only 14.2HH!!!) because he kept moving. Finally, I had Caitlin give me a leg up, and she just climbed right on Aby by lowering her stirrup. He stood perfectly still- and he's pretty hard to climb up on, he's so big!

Abner loves to hang out in the barn with me while I do stalls. I let him walk around loose as long as he behaves himself. He usually likes to explore the barn, and then he stands and eats some hay or looks out the door.


I'm trying to find some exercises that I can do in hand with Aby to help us both with our fitness- we already do stretches and take short walks, but I'm working on finding some other stuff to do.

Another trail ride!

Caitlin and I went riding today- she rode Medias, and I rode Abner. We had so much fun!

We pretended to be Lewis and Clark (I was Clark), and we went adventuring to find "a new America". We played around, and Abner forgot that he wasn't a racehorse. We did a little bit of cantering, and a lot of trotting around. Abner behaved himself, as always!


I didn't get many pictures of me on Abner today, except the one where I am hugging him. He is always good for snuggles, and tries to turn his head around to see what's going on.

Abner saved my butt today- more than he usually does! We were walking along the grass, and I was talking to Caitlin and distracted. All of a sudden, Abner took off in this slow, weird canter. It turned up that he had walked into some REALLY thick mud- and he got himself out! My reins were on the buckle the entire time, and as soon as we were clear from the mud Abner stopped, as if to make sure I was okay.


I am thankful to have such an amazing horse, and fun friends to ride with!









(In this picture, Abner had just finished throwing a fit because we were brushing the other horse. He threw everything off of his stall- all the brushes, his halter, leadrope, everything. He had been sticking his tongue out like crazy trying to get our attention! He has so much personality- what a cool dude. See his tongue out, trying to lick Caitlin?)

How to Save Money...And Still be Fabulous.

Okay, so I have been wanting some TwinkleToes for a while now for Abner. For those of you who don't know, TwinkleToes is a sort of glitter that I can use on Abner's hooves and anywhere else I want to sparkle.


Well, TwinkleToes cost about $20 for a small bottle. But I had a better idea- I'm going to buy plain glitter in the color of my choice (probably silver, because we're trying to be Classy, not Trashy), and sprinkle it on top of plain hoof oil- which I use quite a bit for Aby.


Now, how cool is that?! I can make my horse prance around glittering like a fairy without spending all of my money.

Regular Glitter- about $3
Hoof Oil- Free, because I've had it.
Making my horse a glitter princess- Priceless.



I'll have to grab some pictures next time I do it!

Awesome trail ride today!

I went on an amazing trail ride today with Christina, who rode Medias. We didn't bring the camera because I was scared of dropping it, but I wish we had brought it!

Christina loves Medias, and Abner was great. Well...except when he forgot he had brakes once while we were cantering...


He is such a steady trail horse- he's so fun!


Abner also had a visit from his old owner, Cindy. She came out and fed him an apple, which I'm sure he loved. :) I'm disappointed I couldn't be there, but definitely next time!

Here are a couple pictures from around the barn today:

Christmas With Abner

I got a whole bunch of stuff for Abner this Christmas. I got a new saddle pad, some show sheen, and some white spray for his legs. (I'm sure he's going to love my new assortment of sprays...)


I rode him around and made my dad take some pictures, too. I figured I needed some record of our first Christmas together!


Abner loves the snow- once I got on him, he wanted to trot around and play a little bit. I just let the reins go loose, in case he slipped, and just hung on. I was in my PJs and boots, so the pictures aren't very "professional", but I like them.


I gave my dad a framed picture of Abner and I for his desk for Christmas.


Here are a couple pictures that I took!





Okay, and I totally have to give props to my dad, the best hay feeder/caretaker in the world. He's wearing the hat I made him for his birthday! He loves Abner as much as I do. :)

Just a quick update..

I haven't been riding because of the snow, I hate the snow. :) I'm probably going to suck it up and go riding this week, just to get some fun pictures.


Last week, Aby bonked his head (or got kicked, we have no idea), and pretty much had a black eye. We cleaned it up, and it's completely better now.

My friend Caitlin came out to the house the other day and she rode Abner around a little bit before he ate dinner. He was a little bit grumpy, and reminded me NOT to mess around with dinner time!


I'll try to get some pictures of Aby this week!

So much fun today!

I took Abner on a huge trail ride today!

There's a big field next to our property and leads to the C&O Canal. My dad went with us, and he had Jack in the backpack. I could tell that Abner had been a foxhunter! We didn't do any "real" work, but it was a great break from the usual work in the pasture. Abner's ears were pricked forward the entire time, and he didn't spook once!

We jumped a small creek, and he took it all in stride like he does this stuff everyday. There was a small creek, which made me a little nervous at first, but Abner jumped it like a champion. This summer, once we're both in shape, I'm going to look into joining a foxhunting club- we're still going to do dressage, but it'll be fun to do all sorts of things.


When we were in the field, we took the opportunity to canter a little bit on the paths. Abner sometimes get excited and canters like a madman, but we were cantering on a loose rein on the buckle, and he was so calm and relaxed!

When Abner gets really excited or spooky, sometimes he'll "roar"- that's always my heads up that he's going to do something! During our ride, he was roaring a LOT! He never did anything bad afterwards, so I think he was just really excited.


I decided today that Abner's color is purple. He's wearing a purple blanket right now, and I want to get some purple polos and saddle pads- I like the dark purple the best, because it's the color of royalty. :)


I also decided that I wouldn't sell Abner for a million dollars. Well, I wouldn't even sell him for four million! He's worth his weight in gold, at least! I feel so safe when I go riding on him, even if I'm just riding in a halter and lead rope. I think he's definitely my "forever horse", and he's totally irreplaceable.



We're going back on the trail tomorrow, and I will definitely take some pictures!

Fun Winter Pictures!

No, no pictures of us cantering in the snow. Yet. :)

It's been way too muddy to do much outside, I'll ride him around bareback, but otherwise we've been taking it easy. He loves to hang out in the barn with me, and Christina was with me today and took a lot of great pictures.







I love having the same color hair as Abner. :)

Christina got a picture of Aby bowing today- that horse is FLEXIBLE for being the age he is! I know it looks like his belly is big in the picture, but it's really just the angle! And it's winter, he's hibernating, you know?




In this picture, I am giving Abner a stern talking to about how he needs to put his head down and POSE like all the famous-ribbon-winning horses do, because otherwise, how will we know what to do when we win those ribbons?



In most of the pictures of me sitting on Abner, he is wearing nothing but his halter. I had unclipped the lead rope because it was annoying me, and it amazes me how he still listens even when he KNOWS I have no control over him.


Today, while I was lunging Lady, she was bucking/rearing/striking out like a maniac, and Abner was trotting around on the lunge line like he was in his own little world. I love when he does that, and it's especially funny when he'll look at her as if to say, "Um, what are you doing?!" We like to show Lady how to be a good equine citizen by using Abner as an example.




I love when Christina comes over, because I always end up with great pictures. :) She ate dinner with us today, and we had a lot of fun! (Well, except when Albert started trying to constantly hump her arm/leg/whatever body part was closest...) Good thing Christina has a sense of humor!

And here is the leg humper himself. Shame. (Okay, I wasn't much help! I was laughing too much to do anything!)

Mental Images

When I woke this morning and looked out of my window at all this snow, one mental image popped into my mind immediately: riding in the snow.

Here's how it was in my mind:

I'm riding my (spotless) horse in the snow bareback, his mane is flowing, he's prancing like a parade horse. We canter through the snow, I'm of course helmetless, so my hair is streaming back behind me, as well as his tail.


Here's how it really would have gone:

I'll be riding my horse, who is covered with mud and snow around. I'm slipping and sliding on his wet, muddy back, desperately grabbing for his mane (that needs to be pulled). All of a sudden, I feel his legs moving higher. We're prancing! No...we're falling. Abner would have stepped on a slippery spot, pulling me down with him. I'd stand up, victorious that I managed to fall onto my feet, without getting myself muddy. I raise my arms in victory, but I pull myself off balance, falling into the mud.


I'll leave the snow riding to the reindeer, thanks. :)





I think Abner resembles Rudolph a little bit.





And yes, we do have Christmas Spirit.

Routines

Abner gets really mouthy when I give him too many treats. I have made it a habit to give him a treat when I take him out of his stall, after he works, and before I turn him out. It's become quite routine for him, but sometimes he gets extra treats when friends come over.

He doesn't really "bite" at all, he just seems to think that every time I move, I'm giving him a treat. :) He does this thing where he'll mouth my arm or jacket, and he seems to understand that teeth=BAD. I've had to give him a quick smack when he forgets, though. Especially when I have the good stuff, like apples and carrots.

I also have started a routine where his bridle=work. He knows that when he gets his bridle put on we're going to actually do something. (Lunging, riding, etc). When I ride him around bareback in a halter and leadrope, he seems to know that we're just playing- we play this game where we trot around as fast as possible, and he loves it!

He's also gotten quite used to not being allowed to eat with the bridle on- it's not good for him and it also makes his bridle really messy! It's been a while since he's tried to put his head down to eat with it on.

When he gets cuts on his legs, I spray it with this purple stuff (totally forget what it's called, Cindy gave it to me), and Abner hates it. Absolutely HATES it. We had a couple discussions about this medicine, and we finally came to an agreement. He's allowed to step in place, but the second he starts to try to run over me or get away, that's when I correct him. It's gotten to the point where I can go spray his cuts in the field with just a leadrope over his neck.


I love my horse and all of his funny quirks. It's so much fun to learn what his buttons are!




(This is his "treat?!?!" face!)

Mini-Photoshoot!

My friend Christina came out today to hang out with me and Abner, but he had a small cut on his leg and was a little sore, so we decided not to ride. I put some stuff on his cut after I washed it out (I forget what it's called, but it's the purple stuff that got on his lip (and my arm!) because SOMEONE (*cough* ABNER *cough*) decided to sniff the medicine.

Christina got some amazing pictures! I am glad to have someone to take pictures of Abner and I, because we haven't had any "real" non-riding pictures taken yet.

Thanksgiving Ride

I rode Abner on Thanksgiving, a little while before we ate. He was really speedy, but overall he was great. I lunged him after I rode because he kept trying to take off into the canter (although, I admit that I wasn't feeling good and wasn't riding my best), and he was great on the lunge line as always.

I taught Julia, Debra's niece, to lunge Aby. He was a very good guy, and incredibly gentle. I stood in the center with her and held the lunge whip.

Abner is starting to get back in shape, and I think he's going to look great when winter is over. We have been working on getting a nice extended trot, and we've had to work especially hard at getting a working walk. Abner prefers to walk like he's taking a Sunday morning stroll after church, so if I let him pick the pace we don't get anywhere at all.

A Funny Fact

Yesterday, I found out that Abner would rather jump a small puddle (seriously, I can jump across it!) than step in it.

He also pretty much refuses to step outside when it is extra muddy, or raining. I don't mind, and he is used to being loose in the aisle while I do stalls. If I put up a stall guard, he attempts to crawl under it.


I love the looks he gives me when I ask him to do something he doesn't want to do- he's such a princess. (For Christmas, I'm asking for a bling browband and hoof glitter. I'm pretty much turning him into a my little pony- he loves it!)