What to do with old blankets?

So, this is a random post, but I have a quandry.  I have this huge bag FULL of blankets.  Not a one of them fits Violet any more.  There are some really nice ones.  I have no desire to go through the hassle of posting them on a swap site or anything.  What I would really love to do it donate them to some program somewhere.  They are all around 69" to 72", I believe.  Over the years I have collected these as she has gone from the skinny baby horse she was to the fantastically fit, muscled horse that she is now.  I probably have three sheets and two medium weight blankets, as well as at least two cotton knit coolers?  And countless baby pads, because I don't use them anymore.  Some of these have embroidery from other horses on them.  Some have where the embroidery has been removed.  When I first got her, she was given a whole set of hand-me-down blankets that I painstakingly spent time removing the embroidery on those that I could.  Then when my trainer died, I was allowed to outfit her in what had been the "show" blankets.  All of them outgrown.

Example of old sheet that no longer fits (but not one I'm getting rid of)

This would be one she has since outgrown.  Or maybe it doesn't match the team colors.  Either way, I'm storing it in the garage and it needs a new home.

Don't get me wrong.  The pony is not hurting for blankets.  She has two Kool koats, a sheet, a medium weight stable blanket, and a medium weight turnout with a full neck.  She also has a felt cooler.  All of these are in team colors and monogrammed either with her name or the team name, of course.  And I have a wool cooler that I have never actually been able to use.  If it gets cold enough here to need such a thing, I'm generally not riding in it. And truthfully, it's a little small, but I refuse to get rid of it.

Pony in her stable blanket in Aiken

So I would love to get rid of these others that just do not fit.  I just have no idea how to go about doing it.

Weekend plans

It being the Christmas season, I actually have both horsey and non-horsey plans this weekend.

This week I pulled out all the Christmas boxes anticipating some big decorating.  Let me tell you, decorations for an 800 square foot house are not the same as decorations for an 1,800 square foot house with a yard. And I just happened to have whittled down my decorations last year when I put everything away, thinking that I would never need to keep all that stuff, because I would never have a house big enough to display it. Let's just say the two quilts, two pillows, 5 small table top things and one strand of lit garland just does not go very far.  And my manger, which is all of 8 inches tall.

I did manage to do this.  Then it fell down, but I got it back up.  The tree will go where the chair is currently.

We went out on a "shopping spree" knowing that we don't have money to spend on such this year.  Our big splurge for decorating will be the tree, because I always have a live tree.  I will use rolls of quarters if I have to, but I will have a tree.  Anyway, we went to all the Dollar stores and managed to find 5 battery powered candles for the windows (only had one left over from last year).  That would be our big outdoor display this year.  The man will have to wait until next year when he (Gods willing) has a job to do any lights outside. Apparently, that is a big deal in our new neighborhood.

2012 tree.  Apparently I haven't gotten pictures of the last couple.

We do have one big thing planned for the weekend to start the Christmas season.  I splurged (when the boy had a job) on tickets to Trans-Siberian Orchestra for both of us and my mother.  My older brother and his girlfriend have gone the last 4 years and Mom always says how she wants to go, so I bought us tickets.  So she arrives tonight for the show.  It will be her first time seeing the house, so the boy has spent this whole week cleaning the house, from dusting ceiling fans to scrubbing the floors (between looking for jobs, of course).  

Or an unemployed man.

So this weekend it will be going to the concert, a lesson Saturday (YAY!), getting the Christmas tree, maybe a trip to St. Augustine's Nights of Lights, and then Mom heads home Monday morning.   I'm not sure, but she may spend Sunday with my older brother.  I'm looking forward to it, and hope that all goes well having her at the house with us.

And of course, I'm really looking forward to actually being able to ride!  And have someone take pictures!  Of me actually on my horse!  Maybe I can get some video, but maybe that's pushing it a bit much, lol.  And we're just flatting.  We'll see if I can last more than 20 minutes.  And it's supposed to be in the 80's, so it will be warmer than I am used to right now.  I don't care.  Mom hasn't seen Violet in a couple of years now, so I'm excited to show her what all we've learned.  Last time she watched a lesson was probably one of the first times we actually got engagement at the trot, lol.  It'll be interesting to hear what she has to say after the lesson.

Rocking Horse Schooling Show: Part 3

After a fantastic stadium round, we headed back to the barn for a quick saddle change, and then Marcy and Violet headed right out to the cross country warm up.  Melissa, Collin and I followed on the golf-cart.  Melissa set up the warm up fences, because, again, Marcy was one of the first BN riders.  She hopped over two fences and headed to the start box.  We headed out on the golf cart to find a good vantage point to watch what we could and waited.

We were on the opposite side of fence three, and were thinking we could maybe see a few more down in the main area from where we were.  Marcy had explained to the person riding the Gator that I had had surgery and he allowed us to follow him in the golf cart while he followed Violet on the Gator.  Let me tell you how hard it is to take pictures while bouncing along on a golf cart as fast as the thing will go!

Violet heading to fence 3, the rolltop.

Violet came through the trees heading to 3 looking like she was ready for all this.  It is obvious she has spent some time jumping those fences and is getting more comfortable with it.

And over they go!

She had no problem with the rolltop, and headed down the hill.  I don't remember what all the fences are, but the course made a nice left handed loop from the upper field, down into the main field, through the water, than back up to the upper field and over the ditch in the woods.  Everything was very inviting and pretty straightforward.  

After the fourth fence, Violet let out a big cow kick.  When I asked Marcy about it later, she said that Violet just needed to remind her she is a red-head, lol.

Fence 6, the little mushroom.

Marcy came down to a trot through the water, then up and over a half roll after that, no issues.

Fence 10 after the water.

And over!

There is one fence that I was not able to get a picture of, because I wanted to actually watch the ride.  It is the one fence that I'm really kind of frightened of trying with the pony.  It's four chevrons together that they call the dragon's teeth.  I have no idea why, but to me, that fence looks huge, and I know it has caused problems for riders in the past.  I thought for sure Marcy would have to ride Violet to it pretty strongly, but she said no, she really didn't.  She thought she might, but didn't have to.  She did, however, see a long spot and decided to take it.  

Marcy came back down to a trot before the ditch, not really because Violet has an issue with ditches or water much anymore, but more because she had forgotten her watch and was worried she was fast.

Then it was over!  It looked to me like Violet started with an actual rhythm and stayed with it, and actually was looking for the fences.  I don't know that she's ever really done that before.  Marcy said she felt really good and soft through the whole course.  In the past she has gotten worried and a bit frantic on the cross country phase, but she seems to be working through that.  Hopefully soon I can say I have a confirmed BN eventing pony, lol.

In the end, Marcy received a 30 in the dressage, which put her in first.  She remained in first through her double clear in stadium.  Unfortunately, she accrued penalties on cross country for going too slow.  As I can attest, pony strides feel like you are going fast when sometimes maybe you aren't.  But it was a beautiful round, and it was one that we (me and the pony-girl) can build on, because she didn't get worried about it.  That is way more important to me than a blue ribbon.  Besides, we all know red-heads look good in green.

So, all in all, it was a fantastic day, with beautiful weather while Marcy was riding, and the pony was fantastic.  I can't wait to get back on her and start getting our groove together back.

Can I haz apple now?!

Rocking Horse Schooling Show: Part 2

I never did get my media straightened out, but didn't want to delay any more, so here is part 2.

After a bit of a break following the dressage, Violet was pulled out of her stall and headed to the jumper ring for the next phase.  For the jumping phases, Marcy put Violet into the 3 ring, knowing she can get just a tad...  Well, I'll call it pushy.  She just doesn't listen as well some times as she should when it comes to all the jumps. 

We headed over to the warm-up ring, where Marcy warmed up lightly, then came to get me to raise the fences.  She was going early in the BN group and the warm up fences had not been raised from tadpole height.  So I put up a vertical and the oxer.  I think she jumped the vertical once and the oxer twice and called it done.  I checked her in and went back to the golf cart to watch and take pictures.  Unfortunately, I am still trying to figure out my camera and do not have the timing right, so there weren't really any good ones. 

She went in for her round.  It was a very twisty course with lots of rollbacks and bending lines that actually looked like it would have been fun to ride.  The pony is very nimble and fun to ride those kinds of courses on.  The only issue Marcy had that I could tell was the right lead.  Violet just doesn't like it.  She doesn't do auto changes, and she rarely picks it up over the fence.  Marcy did a good job of calmly getting the change in the corners.   In the one related distance line, she had to check the pony from getting a little rushy, but she did so much more tactfully than I would have and only got a little bit of a head toss.

Pricked ears already looking to the next fence.

From beginning to end, Violet was jumping beautifully.  She's jumping in better form than she ever has on a consistent basis, and from the look on her face, you can tell she just loves it.  I am so lucky to be able to have her with someone who does such a good job with her, and is keeping her so happy.  Ultimately, they finished double clear, of course.

Fuzzy, but shows how eager the red-headed girl is.  Never mind cute!

My very own (future) horse husband

I will return to phases two and three of the show tomorrow.  I have to make some changes to my media for stadium before I post, so in the meantime, there's this.

So, when we got to the show grounds, the boy had only ever been to one other, and it was actually the area championships.  That atmosphere is a little different.  With only one phase a day, most people stable there. When doing a schooling show when everything runs in one day, there is a lot more going on all at one time, and many more people who simply drive in for the day and show off the side of their trailer.

So this was a new experience.  The place was PACKED.  There were horses and ponies and people everywhere.  I think the boy was a bit overwhelmed.  He couldn't quite get that Violet actually lives here.  After her dressage test, we power walked back to the barn, untacked, wiped down and put her away.

A different day, but you get the idea.

Of course, he had to point out every piece of "poopy" along the way.  After all, all men are really 12 year old boys forever.

Poop

So I have had him hold Violet before and that makes him noticeably uncomfortable.  So this time, he mostly just held a couple of things for me.  I had him get me a towel, or a treat.  He carried the camera or the camera bag, knowing that I would get carried away with something and leave it lay where ever I happened to be (notorious for this, I am).  He made runs to the truck for anything.

At one point, we came across the volunteer coordinator, who is a very nice woman, and appreciates my attempts to help, even when she doesn't need it.  She had been asking for months when I was going to be bringing him to the show grounds.  So she finally got to meet him, where she just gushed all over him.  She made comments about him becoming my "horse show husband".  I can say there was blushing all around.

So imagine my surprise when I asked him to get me the pitchfork to pick up Violet's droppings on the washrack and he not only got it, but he managed to get all the poop in one try and deposited it in the wheelbarrow without my even asking!

Because who doesn't like a dog that can scoop?

He has always asked me questions.  Trying to explain what a dressage test is, and what the history of it is, and why we do it (why do you do all the circle, circle, circles?) actually puts a smile on my face, as well as makes me think about it.  He started to open up a bit, asking Marcy some questions.  He apologized for all the questions, to which she replied, "No, you ask really good questions!  It's not like you are asking 'why is that horse brown?'!"  He does seem to just want to understand what and why we do what we do.

So, this man who knows that he is taking both me AND my pony on, and who still insists on pointing out every poop pile as we walk around, appears to be willing to learn and help.  And he still seems to love me even though he knows my level of crazy.  I think I'll keep him.

Rocking Horse Schooling Show: Part I

I managed to make it to the barn this weekend.  I put on my boots (woohoo!), packed up the boy in the truck, and away we went.  It was his first time to the new location, and only his second show, and it was a big one, with over 200 riders.  I have never seen the show grounds so busy for a schooling show.  I volunteered us both to assist if needed, but because of Violet's ride times, we weren't needed.

Of course, we were running a bit behind by the time we got up, showered, stopped at the Dunkin' for coffee and headed out.  I made good time, and managed to spy Marcy warming up Violet in the dressage area.  Of course, she would have to be in the dressage ring furthest from parking.  So I parked the truck, told the boy there was no time for a potty break, and started sprinting hop-walking out to the dressage area.  Fortunately for us, Ginny pulled up in the golf cart and gave us a ride.

Marcy was working Violet quietly, doing transitions, with the occasional pat.  I thought to myself that she looked like maybe today would be a short-necked day, but I should know better than that.  Once she hit the sand, it lengthened to a more normal length.

We used to have an issue with Violet disappearing as soon as you hit the sand. And you couldn't correct her, or else she would throw her head in the air and get hollow backed.  You just had to push what you had, without getting too pushy.  Marcy said the first time she rode her in a dressage test that it was very strange. Just all of a sudden she was not in front of her at all.  She would tuck and go through the motions, but you couldn't push for anything.  But since she has been schooling on the sand, that hasn't been as much of an issue.  Marcy says she still does it sometimes, just to remind everyone she's a red-headed girl, but she does work through it.

We have proper bend!

Saturday's test was very well ridden.  Ginny got it on video, but I haven't seen it yet.  She didn't bounce in contact much that I could see, and her canter transitions were really quite, which is nice.  I thought her free walk was really nice, with a few steps of her really reaching out and down, but Marcy says she's done better. That's a movement that I always struggle with.  I comments that she either isn't reaching down enough, or that she's slow and pokey.

Stretching at the walk.

The only movement that she scored an 8 on was the one that she traditionally does well with, the halt!  She's really good at that one.  But she did get mostly 7s and ended up scoring a 30, putting her first in her division. It was the second lowest score out of two divisions at BN, or 30 riders.

Nice halt!

Marcy had other riders to school, so I took Violet as she strutted walked back to the barns.  She seemed very pleased with herself and looks fantastic.  I untacked her, and she wasn't even sweaty.  As I tucked her back into her stall to relax before the jumping phases, she looked so happy!  I'm so glad I made the decision to move her back here.  I may not get to ride as much as I'd like, but her happiness is everything.

Weekend plans

So this is the big weekend.  Violet is competing for the first time since April, when I did a dressage test and two jumper classes on her.  Marcy has graciously agreed to show her for me, since I didn't think it best that I try to hop on for the first time in a month to show.  I know I am so out of shape that just getting through a dressage test for me right now would be tricky, never mind jumping.  Thank goodness for volunteer vouchers!

So Marcy is taking her out Beginner Novice.  I, of course, will be there taping and getting pictures.  When I first thought about doing the show, I thought it would be my last hurrah before moving back to the place in St Augustine, but I guess it's really just the beginning.  And although the show is huge, only one other team member is doing anything, and she's just going over some dressage tests.  I guess everyone who competed at AECs and then Rocking Horse Fall has rightly decided to give their horses a little break.  

My little red-head does not do good with breaks, but that is the topic of another post.

Anywho, back to the topic at hand.  So I will be heading down to watch very early in the morning, as Violet's dressage test is at 9:15, although this time will be a bit different, as I will have boy in tow.  Since he's not working, and wants to get out of the house, he asked if he could come with me.  Little did he know that he would be volunteered to assist at the show grounds.  Our lovely volunteer coordinator sent out the word that they were looking for help.  I'm not exactly sure what we will be doing, but I'm sure she'll find something. They traditionally don't do individual jump judges for schooling shows, just have someone running around behind on the gator with a radio, but I guess with over 200 entrants, they may do things a little differently.

No matter what we end up doing, it will be wonderful to be outside.  To smell my pony again, even if I'm not riding her.  To see my friends.  And all in glorious 75 degree weather!