2012 Elkridge Harford Point to Point Part 1

On Saturday April 7th, Elkridge Harford Hunt Club held the steeplechase race.  The race was held at Atlanta Hall Farm owned by Thomas Voss.  The day was a bit windy but the weather beautiful.  Usually with these races it's hit or miss on the nice weather and since we are having such a warm spring, it held out and made a large turnout for the event.  There was lots of tailgating and some beautiful spreads. Click here  for more information on Maryland Steeplechasing.

This year I had the pleasure of grooming for a good friend of mine, Kelli.  She entered both of her kids in the Leadine Pony Trot Race.  It is probably the most watched race of the day.  Kelli entered both of her kids.  Peyton who is 5 was riding Buster and Sadie who is 3 was on Mr. Mouse.

The kids were chowing down before their races

I didn't bring home a program so I can't list the races or who won but the following pics are from the beginning of the races.



When riders up was called, this jock did a good job of sticking with his mount



Out rider for the day is the Huntsman

 



I love these 2 pics.  What a jump that horse has!



Giving it his all!



Part 2 will be the cutest little ponies and kids you have ever seen!



Allie Cat

Allie is a three he old Norwegian Fjord. She is an in your pocket pony who loves attention. She will follow you around the field while you are trying to get the other horses in.  I watched some tutorials on how to properly maintain their manes.  Here are some pictures I got this morning when I was turning horses out 

Ponylocks Necklace

I ordered a necklace from Pony Locks at the Maryland Horse World Expo.  I got home today and it was in the mail!  I am please with how quick of a turn around it was and it looks so beautiful!  It was made with hair from my mare Squeaky. 

A lot of people do this in rememberance of a horse they have lost.  I decided I wanted to do it while she is still alive and kicking!  She is my heart horse and we have such an understanding of each other.  She will be with me until the day she dies. 

So if anyone is looking to get some jewlery made - check out pony locks - they did a great job!

Silver tube is engraved with her name

I copied this from over at Horse County Chic.  Great article written about Boyd Martin's horse return to Eventing after the horrible fire that killed 6 of his horses!  Usually articles written about horses are not that great, but this writer did a very good job!

NY Times Article

Getting Things Organized

This past weekend, I spent both days at the barn.  With both my Mom and I moving we had things just thrown in totes to go thru for another day.  I had wanted to get my tack trunk organized and moved into the tack room and other totes gone thru and sorted. 

On Saturday, Mom and I both rode.  Its been a while since I had been on Squeaky so we mainly just walked with a little trotting.  Plus its the first time we have rode at the place, so she was taking in all the sights.  After that we had a spa day.  Both horses got their manes pulled and I gave Squeaky a bath!  For it being January, Saturday was in the mid 60's!!!  So she got all cleaned up and mane braided over.  I want to try to train it.  I never have had much luck. 



Squeaky rockin a mohawk!



On Sunday I was glad to sleep in and made my way to the barn about 11 o'clock.  When I got there Mom was already working on a project.  The night before I went to Home Depot and bought casters to put on the bottom of my tack truck so I could move it with ease.  We got them on and moved into the tack room.  Finally time to start going thru totes!  Got what I needed placed into my truck and put all the rest of the stuff in labeled totes.  I never realized how many no-bows I have in all different sizes.  My shipping tote is huge!  There is still more to go thru.  All the blankets need to be put into my other trunk and odds and ends sorted.  I did come up with stuff to take to the consignment shop!  Hopefully make a little money off this stuff.



Finished!

 My goal this coming weekend is to clip Squeaky because I cannot stand furry horses and ride both days.  Now that the days are getting longer I hope to be able to start riding after work!

Who will be the Queen B?

Yesterday, we moved my horses to the new barn.  For the first time Squeaky and Butter were separated.  She was put into the mare field and him into the geldings field.  He was so upset.  Butter ran the fence line for a while as did she, but then she ventured off to meet the rest of the herd.  It was interesting to see the pecking order come to play.  I thought Squeaky would be very dominant, but instead she was low girl on the totem pole.  The one white mare would make sure that she didn't get near the rest of the horses and today when the other grey was turned out- she seemed like she made friends with her.  They stood next to each other at all times, but when I went to bring them two in - the grey would keep herself between me and Squeaky.  I usually have my horses turned out as much as possible, but I left her stay in tonight so she could rest.  She is 21 after all, and the look in her eye was like "Mom-- do I really need to deal with this shit".  I felt really bad for her but they must all learn to get along...


Butter settled in finally when Squeaky would no longer call back to him.  He met the rest of the boys with no problem. 

Today we brought them in to feed and they got to see the barn and their stalls.  They ate dinner and seemed happy in their stalls. 

So it will be interesting in to see how the girls will work out the pecking order and who will be Queen B.

Hope every ones new year has started off on a good note!

Goodbye 2011 - Hello 2012

My last blog post of 2011.  I know I haven't posted as much as I wanted, but time just catches up with me.  I do love reading everyone else's.

My 2011 is going out pretty shitty.  My boyfriend and I broke up right after Thanksgiving so Christmas and now New Years is going to suck.  I lost my best friend and person I did everything with.  So hopefully 2012, I will find someone who is awesome and loves me for who I am. 

So my life has been upside down for the last month of trying to find a place to live, my mother also moved from where she was living.  All in that we had to find a place for the horses to go too!  She found a great little apartment on a farm where the horses are going and the place is beautiful.  There is a huge ring and plenty of trails, plus people riding all the time.  The barn managers are a hoot also!  So my plan for 2012 is to ride much more often and get back to why I enjoyed riding.  I want to show again, just in local hunter stuff.  Get my confidence back up and go out hunting with the girls.  I used to be fearless - now I learned I don't bounce too well.

I am going to set some goals for 2012 - like everyone else I hope to succeed at some and will fail at others.  One good thing is I quit smoking over three weeks ago.  Now it was done with medical help, but it has worked, so I want to stay quit for 2012.

• Ride more often!
• Eat better
• Lose weight hopefully from being more active with the ponies and eating better.
• Do things I want to do!  (I have a problem with saying NO to people)
• Make sure I treat people the way I want to be treated all the time!
• Hopefully find love again (not really a goal but a wish)
• Work hard and try to save some money up.
• Make new friends!
• Oh and blog more!

So everyone hug your love ones a little closer tonight as we go into the new years with new hopes, dreams and wishes.

Happy New Year!