When you can't figure it out yourself ask for help...I did.

So my last few rides have not gone as well as I like. Grace is in love with the exit gate. She makes googly eyes and always wants to be as close as possible. I am trying to break off this love affair as it is seriously interfering with our training sessions...The gate seems indifferent but Gracie doesn't seem to mind being ignored by it. I think she looks at it as a challenge. Always want what you can't have.

Anyway I've been having some issues with sitting her trot and her weaving towards the middle of the arena or just being a wiggly worm when we are trying to go straight. I could not figure out what the hell I was doing that was confusing her.

Well THANK YOU! to the BBFF. We went to lunch and talked about our issues so she kindly agreed to watch me ride and to see if she could help. She gave me some great advise about Centered Riding (I must get this book) and watched us ride and low and behold I am leaning, and that lean is pushing Grace to the center of the arena. Here I thought I was putting more pressure on my inside leg when in reality I was leaning to the right and pushing her over.

So after we figured out that issue she did great!! We went on a nice stroll outside and really enjoyed out time today!!

BBFF you are a rock star! I owe you a drink or two.

What Gracie does while I'm working for her rent.

Note...JP1 took these pics today while she was out toodling around while I was slaving at work, you can see more of there adventures at For the love of a horse

So today was another beautiful spring day in the PNW...and while I was stuck in an office going over spreadsheets earning Grace her rent and grub, Grace was out with JP1 and the BO getting some trail miles on her. Would you believe that the horse in the pic is the same Crazy skeerdy horse from 6 mths ago. Training with R has been the best thing that could ever happen to her.

She is turning into a steady Eddie! WHO KNEW...I can't wait to get some of my own miles on her. Summer cannot get here fast enough. This is going to be the year for Grace and I.
Look at Gracie while R is being silly pretending to fall off. R if you are reading this...THANK YOU for the time and effort you have put into my horse!

P.S. I am not Jealous at ALL..............................................;-P

Posting Trot = My legs HURT!!

So yesterday I went out to ride Grace..it was quite the event. Let me preface this by saying I am NOT a trained rider. Never have been. I've ridden a bit and can follow instruction when I have a trainer but otherwise I have always ridden and stayed on by the Grace of God or whatever luck I seem to have surrounding me on that particular day.

I have never been taught how to do a posting trot until recently and to be honest it was hard to get. Now Grace was bred to be a English Pleasure/Saddleseat horse. The pony pic below's sire is Gracie's Grandsire.

She didn't cut the breeders mustard so she came to live with me. She really should be a Hunter because her trot is insane she can MOVE, and to be honest I have been a little chicken to ride it out.

Until yesterday. She is getting fit since she has been in training with R and she was feeling GREAT. So I decided to find some courage and let it ride. It was awesome. She moved out and my posting felt natural and it was a fantastic ride. She was collected and giving to the bit (most of the time).

I can sure feel the workout in my legs, I worked way harder than Gracie did yesterday.

I hope I can get her pace down for the western jog...she does it but you can tell she really loves to move out into the extended trot!

Exilerating is all I can say. Now if I can just find my cantering cahonas we'll be doing great!!

Confessions of a chronic Dieter..Friday wgt in

Well I have good news and I have bad news. I have lots of excuses for not being on plan this week. That's the bad news. Dieters who slip always have excuses so here are mine...

1. My husband has been gone, so I don't want to make a mess in the kitchen that I have to clean up.

2. Taking care of a two year old alone makes me hungry

3. I have been pretty sick with a cold so if you can't taste the food it doesn't have as many calories.

4. Superbowl...need I say more

5. There is always tomorrow

As you can see all of the excuses are BS but Chronic dieters need to blame something.

Part of the confession is that I have to be accountable for what I ate. I ate A LOT. Period.

So I got on the dreaded scale which I had been avoiding all week....ready to take the blow. I closed my eyes and stepped up....Peeked and saw NO wgt gain. WHAT? But no wgt loss either.

Now I have to say that next week we have a co-workers Sugar Crack cookies coming in on Monday to work.

And a pot luck for FAT Tuesday. It seems the universe is against me. I know it's all mental, don't forget I'm a chronic dieter I know this stuff.

Anyway Stats for the week

2nd week -0 total -20 lbs

Feeling Sappy...so bear with me

I am missing something right now...my better half, my best friend and my partner. The person that makes me laugh when I really just don't want too. The person that makes me feel beautiful when the mirror is trying to convince me that I am not.

I know I'm sounding kinda co-dependent but you know I guess I am. I depend on him to keep me warm on chilly nights (tangling my feet up in his) and to keep me sane when insanity creeps in.

He has made me believe that there really are good men out there...when I had pretty much decided that there was no such thing.

He makes me better, He makes me believe, and He makes my heart beat....

This is my Valentines present to you babe...I love you.

Friday weigh in....not so great

So this week has been a tough one on plan about 90% of the time, but that 10% I was sure threw my body chemistry into chaos.

I have been trying to figure out what threw me of coarse this week but I think I figured it out. Nature is a cruel beast.

Oh and to top it off my sweet brother in-law sent us these ubber fantastic brownies from a bakery in Brooklyn. Now I know that I should have said no but I really wanted one of those sweet and salty goodies that had been flown across the US just for us. I would love to say it wasn't worth it but I can't, it was fabulous. If you are ever looking for the best brownies ever I recommend BakedNYC !

Anyway I'm back on track and hope to have better luck next week...

So here we go...don't judge.

-0 lbs total -20 lbs

Shocking...but true

Have you ever seen a NSH wrangle cows? Don't let anyone tell you they can't! Well let me tell you I have a cow horse. I went to the barn the other night and by the time I had Grace tacked up the BO and her husband had 4 cows in the arena.

Now if you have been following my blog you know that Grace is afraid of her own shadow..well at least she used to be. At first she was just very interested in what the BO was doing...she was working one of her cutting horses, Gracie's ears had a bead on the cow.

Well the cow started to come towards us and BO said "Hey can you turn him around" I looked around to see who she was talking too..."Who me?" "Yeah, she'll be fine" "Okay" I said with little conviction. So with some direction from BO Gracie did great! So then we chased one cow around the area for a bit and let me tell you Gracie got worked up SHE LOVED it. She wanted to chase those cows right back out in the pasture when they were getting put away and wanted those moo cows to come on back in to play.

I didn't know that her breed could be cow'y. It was a lot of fun and I definitely will do it again!

Amazing Grace, what can't she do? We will just have to wait and see!