Happy New Year! I feel obligated to do one of those year in review posts, although January 1st seems kind of late. In any case, here's a brief look at 2011. Click photos for a larger view.
January
I decided to buy a real pair of dressage boots, although it was several months before I actually wore them. I turned 40. Speedy saw the chiropractor, and I worried about a random lameness for several weeks.
Ariat Maestros ... ooh la la!
February
Taz's Mom and I made our annual trek to the Equine Affaire in Pomona. Future Pomona events have been cancelled, but a different organization is taking over the date and will put on a similar event. I launched the blog. We did our first stretchy trot, and I started viewing Speedy G as an official dressage horse and no longer considered him my endurance horse.
Lookin' Good Speedy G!
March
It rained a lot. The first show of the season was cancelled due to the heavy rains. Speedy G got lots of turn out time, and I started riding him bareback.
 Pony Pop to beat the rainy day blues ... |  Muddy arena, windy rainy weather, lots of quick bareback rides behind my tack room. |
April
We finally made it to a show. It was only a schooling show, but we earned the show high point as well as the third highest score of the day. Both scores were over 70%. I took two lessons with Leslie Webb which was the first time I rode for a name brand trainer. I squeezed in three other lessons with my then Coach. Speedy turned seven.
 This is one of my favorite photos - even Speedy looks proud! |  Leslie Webb giving me some basics. |
May
I spent the entire month worrying that Speedy was lame. It started out with me being worried about the Arab Club's triple-rated dressage show ... which we ultimately BOMBED! There's a great video here. I simply worried at him enough that in the days before the show he WAS lame. During some stretching exercises, I lifted and stretched a foreleg and heard a very audible and startling POP! I inadvertently gave my pony a chiropractic adjustment, but he was sound afterward. ... Until he violently pulled a shoe one week later. He pulled it so hard that he was very lame for three or four days. A week or two later he was back to normal.
... Just in time for EHV-1 to hit. Another show was cancelled and virtually every barn in California was on lockdown for more than a month.
... Just in time for EHV-1 to hit. Another show was cancelled and virtually every barn in California was on lockdown for more than a month.
Passing in front of the judge.
June
Busy, busy month! Our trip to the United Kingdom came at a good time since EHV-1 had everyone's horses stuck at home. As soon as we got back, Speedy G and I hit the first of the Tehachapi shows (both scores above 60%). I also bought Sydney and a few days later, my new saddle.
 That's Loch Ness and the ruins of the castle.  Sydney joins my little family. |  Speedy was not being very cooperative!  Love it! |
July
This month was all about showing Speedy G and getting to know Sydney. During turnout, Speedy G whacked himself (haven't forgotten bell boots since!) and was pretty sore for a couple of days. I also started lessons with JL.
 Tehachapi Show |  Ouch! |
August
I crammed in as many rides as possible in August because school started back up partway through the month. My lessons with JL became weekly when I moved to RM's barn. We also showed at the third Tehachapi show.
 Speedy's new stall. |  Sydney's new stall. |
September
Back to work, hot weather, and just riding ponies ... that just about sums up this month. I showed Speedy at the fourth Tehachapi show, rode each week with JL, and got to know Bounder and RM.
RM and Bounder
October
October was just as jammed-packed as every other month. I took Sydney to the Kern River CDS Ride-a-Test where he performed brilliantly. Speedy got the flu and had to spend a few days at the vet hospital, but he bounced back quickly and did an absolutely fantastic job at a triple-rated show in Clovis (72.5%).
 Good boy!  Listening to Judge Mary |  Sick pony ...  Clovis Show - He looks quite proud of himself! |
November
Fall was quite warm in Bakersfield so our riding season continued. We enjoyed continued weekly lessons. Sydney pulled a shoe at the beginning of Thanksgiving vacation, and Speedy G made it to one more show, this time here in Bakersfield. And to top the month off, we rode for Peggy Klump after the show. That was a serious morale booster!
 Fall at the barn. |  Holy heck he can be naughty! |
December
No shows this month, but we did lots of riding. We continued riding every Wednesday with JL and then schooled throughout the week on our own. Speedy G and I were crowned Ventura County Chapter Champions for Introductory Level and were given some nice prizes for the honor. RM and I did a moonlight ride to see the lights at CALM, and I got to see what being the main pooper scooper felt like!
 Holiday Lights at CALM |  My first tri-color! |
2011 Is Officially Over
When you put it that way, I had a fantastic year! I live a very blessed life and savor each and every day. I can't wait to see what 2012 has in store for us!
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