Category: Trailering

Blue Truck Update

6/12/2018

We bought Blue Truck eighteen years ago this month. Blue truck has been around the block; a few times actually. Back in 2008, we said that if we got ten good years out of the truck, we'd be happy. We had no idea we'd get eighteen and counting.

2000 Ford Super Duty F250 4x4

Every year I question whether Blue Truck can still handle the job of towing my three horse trailer. Just recently I loaded both boys for a trip to Tehachapi which required crossing the Tehachapi Pass at around 3,771 feet. Bakersfield's elevation is about 400 feet. It's a steep climb, especially with two horses. Blue Truck handled the work load without complaint.

Blue Truck and trailer.

Since I am not really looking forward to making payments on a new truck, I do my best to keep Blue Truck happy and healthy. At least once a year Blue Truck gets a spa day. This year's treatments included an oil change with a check of all fluids, plus a tire rotation. I could almost hear BT sighing as the guys replaced the oil filter and checked the tire pressure.

Under new ownership and working hard to create a good customer experience.

Since pulling into the gas station with a trailer in tow requires a bit of luck (I need an entire row of gas pumps to be free of cars), I took advantage of being trailer-free to fill up the gas tank as well. Blue Truck needed one more thing that was closer to a dental checkup than a spa visit. BT needed a smog test.

Here in California, vehicles older than six years need to be tested to see if they have excess emissions. We have an air quality issue here in sunny California and poor-running vehicles contribute to the bad air. I am happy to report that Blue Truck passed with flying colors.

Summer is when Blue Truck works the hardest, so I feel better knowing that we're once again road worthy. Keep on truckin' Blue Truck!

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Dusting Off My Wheels

3/16/2018

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While it might be hard to believe, we actually do have winter here in California. Admittedly, it's not much of a winter where I live, but it's at least a winter-like period. That means that I don't trailer as frequently, nor as far, as I would in the months that are hotter than holy hell. We call those months summer.

Last show of 2017 - August

Other than a few trips to the vet, I haven't trailered either horse anywhere since our last show in August of 2017. Now that Chemaine Hurtado, owner and trainer at Symphony Dressage Stables, is coming here once or twice a month, I don't even need to haul out for lessons.

Over the winter, my truck battery went dead. Fortunately, the ranch owner has a big truck with good jumper cables and knows how to use them. We got my truck started, but I've had to be pretty vigilant about remembering to drive it once a week or so. The battery is relatively new, but no battery can sit for months on end and be expected to just fire right up.

Good as new!

The last time I drove to the vet, I noticed that my trailer's tires were looking a little low. I decided everything needed a wee bit of attention before Sunday's show, so I brought the truck home where we have an air compressor. I can air up my tires, and I have done it plenty of times at the gas station, but I have to admit, I call girl as often as I can.

Husband loves a reason to load up the dogs and do "manly" stuff.

I can do it, but I don't want to do it. I don't like doing it, and I'd rather it just be taken care of for me. I do plenty of other non-girl things. I haul a three-horse trailer with living quarters. I can, as BFF describes it, back that thing up a gnat's ass. I can drive it through LA without batting an eye. I can hook it up alone in the dark. However, I don't like lifting the hood, and I don't want to mess around with the tires.

I think he needs to re-evaluate the performance of his employees though!

So, I hooked up the trailer, pulled it around to the barn, found an extension cord, and let my husband have at it. In all honesty, he really doesn't want me messing around with his air compressor anyway. It's a Jack Sprat kind of relationship; it works out well for us both!

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Let There Be Light

7/5/2017

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As I loaded Speedy up for a show the other weekend, I realized that my trailer's running lights weren't working. I check them every single time I load up, so I know they were working on our last haul which was to Sacramento for the Western States Horse Expo. But there we were, horse loaded with a ride time coming and no trailer lights.

The plug is in the bed for a gooseneck hitch.

The truck lights were working and so were the trailer brake lights, but that was it. I gave the plug an extra little push, pulled it out and stuck it back in, pulled it out and blew on it, and then nothing. I suddenly remembered that I have a second plug socket down by my bumper, so I plugged the cord in down there and was relieved to see my lights pop on.

Truck lights work and yah for bumper plugs!

I had to use a twist tie thing to secure my cord as it was a little sketchy to have the cord hanging so far down over the tailgate, but it got us safely to Tehachapi and back. I let a week go by without dealing with it, but by this past Friday, I knew I had to get it taken care of.

Trailer plug

Since the lights worked when plugged into the bumper's socket, I figured I simply had a bad connection from the truck bed. The ranch owner suggested I use some sandpaper to clean off the plug's pins which might have some corrosion, inhibiting a connection. After consulting my pal Google, I grabbed some sandpaper and a flathead screwdriver.

Blue Truck's plug socket.

Both the trailer plug and the truck socket looked clean and corrosion free, but I wrapped the sandpaper around the screwdriver and carefully rubbed each pin in the plug anyway. I then pushed the sandpaper down into the trailer plug hoping to rub off any dust or corrosion that had built up in there.

Girl power!

When I plugged in the trailer lights, I gave a little woot! woot! when I saw a happy red glow coming from my running lights. And just because I am cautious, I unplugged them and gave them an even more rigorous sanding. A couple of my wheel well lights have had the covers knocked off (ahem, Speedy G, I wonder who was responsible for THAT?!), so in the name of thoroughness, I even went and bought replacement covers.

Naked ...

Covered!

I really hate fixing vehicle stuff, but since it's my trailer, and I am the one hauling all over the state of California, it's my responsibility to do it safely. While I detest doing repairs myself, it does make me feel empowered to walk away from a job well done.

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On the Road Again

6/7/2017

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I've been keeping this kind of close to the chest, but it has become official so I can share. Chemaine Hurtado, owner and trainer at Symphony Dressage Stables, has once again agreed to be the dressage clinician at the Western States Horse Expo in Sacramento this weekend.

The invite was very last minute as she was asked to fill in for Charles de Kunffy who had to cancel. Expo was lucky to get anyone on such short notice, especially someone as in demand as Chemaine. But like she always does, Chemaine rallied the troops and was able to get a few riders willing to make the trip to Sacramento for the weekend. And uh, one of those riders will be me! I rode as a demo rider for Chemaine when she was the dressage clinician at Expo in Pomona last year (part 1, part 2, part 3), but I am just as anxious, excited, and nervous for this go round.

Friday at 4:00 p.m. - Strong Arena

Saturday at 12:45 p.m. - Strong Arena

Sunday at 1:15 p.m. - Strong Arena

Fortunately, I don't have to make the nearly 300 mile trip alone. Stella, another student of Chemaine's, will be bringing her horse to Bakersfield on Thursday night, and then we'll drive up together on Friday morning.

I don't normally haul this far, so Blue Truck got some spa time yesterday. I got the oil changed, had my tire pressure checked, and then for good measure, I drove BT through the car wash and vacuumed. I was less worried about Stella sitting in dust than I was about the creepy spider webs that take over while BT waits for its next use!

After loading hay and shavings, I realized that I didn't want Speedy and Coco spending half a day breathing in old shavings and dust, so I raked out the inside of the trailer and gave it a good scrubbing.

The trailer will be dry this morning when I go out to ride, so I'll bed things down with a bag of shavings and add a freshly filled hay bag.

Sacramento or Bust!

If you live in Northern California and are planning to visit Cal Expo, I hope you'll catch one of Chemaine's clinics and stop by her booth to say hi. This year, she's doing seat evaluations with a customized prescription for success! The evaluation comes with her yoga ball dressage DVD (at no extra charge). The seat evaluation and video combo are $20 unless you let her know you're a blog reader. In that case, the evaluation and video are FREE!

Now, as long as nobody breaks a leg or tries to maim themselves (Speedy, I am looking at YOU!), Stella, Coco, Speedy G, and I will be on the road at Friday's crack of dawn!

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Clean It Up

7/22/2016

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Along with fixing what I break, I find that it's important to keep things tidy. Since it was only marginally hot this week, I decided to give the horse-mobile its annual once over. It's a job I love to hate, but I force myself to do it every summer.

It actually wasn't as dirty as it has been in the past.

If you've been following my blog for any length of time, you've seen tons of pictures of my horse trailer. I have a gooseneck, three-horse slant load that sports a rear tack and living quarters. It's a nice trailer, and I love it, but it is a bear to clean. I always start by emptying the tack compartment and sweeping out old manure and shavings.

The Poop Wall

Once the tack compartment is empty and the space is free of loose bits, I tackle the poop wall. Even though I have three stalls, I rarely use the front one. Instead, I've removed the rear divider which creates a double stall in the center of the trailer. If I do haul both horses at the same time, Speedy goes in the front stall. The horses like the jumbo stall, but it means that they both poop smack dab in the center of the trailer.

Scrubbing that wall is just gross. I use a high pressure hose nozzle, but it only helps to loosen the caked-on poop. The only way to really get it clean is to roll up my sleeves and dive in with a scrub brush.

The same wall after scrubbing.

Once the walls and the top of the mats are clean, I scrub the floor. That's the hardest part of the job. The mats are heavy and very unwieldy. I drag them outside onto pallets, scrub the undersides, and let them dry in the sun. As they dry, I tackle the aluminum floor, scrubbing away the gunk that seeps under the mats while also checking for any corrosion or floor damage.

Clean and ready to go.

Before I put everything back, I took a scrub brush and worked on the outside of the trailer too. Since I don't tie the horses to the trailer very often, it wasn't that dirty. I mostly just scrubbed away some road grime and plenty of dust.

It was only about 11:30 a.m. when I finished, so I decided to go for broke. I grabbed my purse from my car and drove the truck and trailer home so that I could clean out the camper area too.

Freshly laundered and remade.

I took all of the bedding into the house and washed the dust out of the comforter, shams, and sheets.

Dust free!

While the bedding washed and dried, I cleaned my "kitchen" and used Pledge on all of the cabinetry and trim.

Clean bathroom!

I also washed the towels and cleaned the bathroom. After sweeping up all of the hay and pebbles off the floor, I also vacuumed and mopped. I am not sure why I bother with the mop, but it always smells nice the first time I use it.

My bestie and I are going to Simi Valley on Saturday afternoon for a lesson with my trainer, and then we're staying the night so that Izzy and I can do a schooling show the next morning. I hope they both appreciate the clean digs!

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Too Close for Comfort

7/19/2016

10 Comments

It finally happened. After more than 16 years of hauling a horse trailer, I finally dented one. And then I punched a hole and ripped it open. Go big or go home. Right?

I was going for a leg ripper because I need more of that.

It happened as we were pulling into the show grounds at last week's show. Because really, don't we all need just a little bit more stress on show day?

For some scale.

I have a bit of a reputation amongst my friends as being a pretty damn good driver. My best friend jokes that I can back that trailer up a gnat's ass. Apparently, I just can't go forward.

The directions for parking asked that we enter through the facility's second gate. I should have known better. I always go through the first gate, but I am a rule follower so even though it felt wrong, I pulled down to the second entrance. It was locked of course.

I was able to make a u-turn, but it meant that I was now coming at the main gate from the wrong direction. I had to swing really wide to make the turn, but in doing so, the outside of my trailer hit a gate pole that was less than 3 feet high. I just couldn't see it.

Laurel felt terrible because it was on her side. She was actually more stressed about it than I was. I just shrugged my shoulders and said oh well. There was no point in getting mad about it, and how was it her fault anyway? She wasn't the one driving. I laughed and told her we were just going to park so that we didn't have to look at it while we were at the show. And that's what we did!

Fortunately, Laurel knows people. And by people, I mean Mike Combs, manager of DeLaney Manufacturing. Mike and his staff make stuff. Everything they do is a custom order. When I asked him exactly what they manufacture, he told me they can make anything out of metal.

I think this one was a metal press for folding and shaping metal sheets.

Mike gave me a spontaneous tour of the facility, explaining what some of the machines are used for.

This bad boy is like a giant cookie cutter.

These guys can make anything. They can work from a simple, hand-drawn sketch or from full blown technical blue prints designed by an engineer.

Not sure what this machine does, but have you ever seen such a clean metal shop?

For my repair job, Mike's guy worked free form which means that he basically eye-balled it. Okay, I don't know that for sure, but I do know he cut away the torn up part, laid a new piece of aluminum over the top, welded it in place, and then shaped it so that the edges were smooth.

Ready to be cleaned up.

I didn't stay to watch the work, although I wish I had. When I got back, the welder was smoothing out the patch.

When I said I needed it really smooth for the horses, he set to work re-polishing every surface.

While the guys did a great job, it doesn't look like it came off the lot. That's okay because the trailer already has all kinds of little dinks and knocks. My horses have chewed off lots of pieces and kicked others. This is just one more boo-boo in a string of many.

Good as new!

There's a lot I don't know about welding. More accurately said, I know almost nothing about welding. I did learn that welding aluminum, or any other metal besides steel, takes more specialized equipment than your typical backyard welder has in his garage. That's why I went to DeLaney's - they have all the right equipment.

If you live locally and need something made from metal, or need something repaired, check these guys out. DeLaney's can be found just off Rosedale Highway and Fruitvale at 2920 Wear Street. You can call Mike Combs at 661-587-6681.

We are once again ready to hit the road. Thanks, Mike!

10 Comments

Trailer Shopping?

4/13/2016

29 Comments

Kristin and Jennifer, two riders that I met at Horse Expo Pomona in February, recently asked me about my experiences hauling a trailer. They were interested in what I liked or disliked about my own trailer. I was flattered that they thought I had anything useful to share which got me thinking that others might be shopping or looking for their own new trailer.

While I am not an expert, I do have almost 16 years of trailer ownership under my belt. I’ve owned two trailers, both of which were gooseneck trailers with living quarters. The first was a two-horse, and my current trailer is a three-horse.

First Trailer

Current Trailer

If I were to buy another trailer, the most important thing I would consider is my next horse, not the horses I have today. I have had Arabs for so long that I never considered I'd ever own anything else. Arabs are smaller horses; they fit anywhere. Now that I've owned two non-Arabs, I've realized that I may end up with a mini or a Clydesdale next. Who knows? Not being able to buy a horse because he won't fit in your trailer would be kind of a bummer.

I also discovered that with my two-horse trailer, I could never bring both of my own horses and a friend. Having more stalls than you need allows you to develop new friendships.

With that, piece of advice #1 - Buy bigger than you think you need.

He fits, but it's close. (photo from last summer!)

The second thing I would consider is whether I wanted a gooseneck or a bumper pull. I really wouldn't have to consider it as I REALLY like a gooseneck. I am not switching to a bumper pull any time soon. A gooseneck is super easy to back up and much more stable on the road. I do a lot of highway driving and go over a steep pass at least monthly, so road stability is important to me. The downside is that I lose storage space in the bed of the truck while hauling. The ball does flip down into the bed, so when I disconnect, I still have full access to my trailer bed.

The size of your truck will probably dictate whether you get a gooseneck or a bumper pull. I am not sure I'd feel safe pulling a gooseneck if I only had a half ton truck. Piece of advice #2 - Only pull what you can pull safely, but keep in mind that goosenecks are easier to control.

Ford 4x4 F250 Super Duty with a Triton V-10 gas engine

I’ve always had a step up, so I don’t know how I feel about ramps. When I was hauling to endurance rides, we often parked in pastures and places with uneven footing so I worried about the stability of a ramp. If you’re always going to park in a level area, a ramp is probably easier for older horses and those with less experience.

I've also only had slant loads. In my first trailer, I took out the single divider, and in this trailer, I took out the rear divider, leaving the front one in place. I like to give my horses as much room to move around as possible. By leaving the front divider in place, I can can still keep two horses separated, but since I usually only haul one horse at a time, that horse can travel in the double stall created by removing the divider. As a bonus, Speedy, who is not a fan of backing out, can turn around with the extra room and walk out facing forward. Piece of advice #3 - Think about how easily your next horse will load and unload and how much room he is going to need.

3 Stalls or 1 Jumbo Stall and a Second Smaller Stall

Steel or aluminum construction is also something you should consider. My first trailer was steel while this one is aluminum. I thought it had some steel components, but after reviewing the specs, I discovered that it is all aluminum. Both have advantages and disadvantages. If you live somewhere much wetter than California, you probably have a preference.

The flooring in the steel trailer was wood while this one has a solid metal floor. I clean my floors throughly at least once each year, so I never had rotting boards nor have I found any corrosion. I think that if you take care of your floor, wood or metal, it should last a long time.

I actually got better fuel mileage with my slightly smaller but heavy steel trailer. The nose on the trailer was pointier and had more of a slope to the roof. This trailer, while only three feet longer, feels heavier and pushes a lot more wind with its blunter nose. I think my other trailer enjoyed a more aerodynamic construction.

Advice #4 - Choose your material based on your weather conditions and how much weight your truck can handle.

Blunt Nose - less MPGs

My old trailer had stock sides while this one has drop down windows with safety bars instead of screens. Screens scare me as a horse could get its head outside of the trailer.

Since I travel in all kinds of weather, I like that I can block some of the colder weather by snapping the windows closed. One thing I like about the drop down windows is that I can close one or two of them to block out some of the highway noise. I can slide the "bus window" open for ventilation, and I keep all of the trailer vents open. Speedy travels more quietly with his window up. The loud truck noise bothers him.

Piece of advice #5 - Ask yourself how much ventilation your horse needs.

I open the front and rear windows but leave Speedy's window locked closed.

Both of my trailers had/have a rear tack which makes the entry just like a straight load - narrow. The left door opens into the tack area while the right door opens into the horse compartment. Teaching a horse to load in my trailer is a bit tricky because the opening is not as inviting as it is when you can open both doors or a single large door.

Since length was more of an issue than a single door entry, I opted for a rear tack. Placing the tack room between the living quarters and the horse compartment can add several feet to the overall length of the trailer. At 27 feet long already, I wasn't interested in adding another 3 to 6 feet. If I wasn't going to add living quarters, I would definitely opt for a front tack room. And while I was doing that, I would make sure it had ample space. While my tack room isn't particularly large, the living quarters space more than makes up for it.

Whether you're simply trail riding or showing, having plenty of storage space for a cooler, chairs, and other comfort items is well worth it. A large tack room can also serve as shade on a hot day and an umbrella when it rains. Piece of advice #6 - Think long and hard about how much room you need for tack and human supplies. It's probably more than you think.

Tack room behind the left door, horse compartment behind the right door.

Overall? My advice when trailer shopping is to go for size. You just don't know what changes life will bring. If you're sure you only need a two horse, make it a jumbo two horse. Look for a trailer with a big tack room and roomy stalls. If you have more than one horse, get a three-horse trailer. You'll find more friends that way and have bigger adventures.

If you do get a new trailer, share pictures with me. If you already own a trailer, share what you like or dislike about it. And if you have a trailer for sale, share it! I know some riders who are looking.

29 Comments

More Trailer Repairs

3/28/2016

6 Comments

I love having my own trailer, but the thing is, it isn't your typical park it 'til you need it vehicle. Having a horse trailer with living quarters is a lot like having two vehicles. Just like any horse trailer, this one needs new tires now and then, its wiring looked at, and the mats removed so the interior can be scrubbed clean.

Unlike your average trailer though, this one has a people compartment that always seems to need something as well. Just a few weeks ago I replaced both RV batteries (not for the first time). I've also replaced the propane tank (numerous times), and the water pump. And not too long ago, I had the bathroom door rehung.

The latest repair involved the roof. Some time ago, like maybe 5 years, the latches on my wind up vent lids broke. I didn't want to get them fixed, so I zip-tied them closed. This has worked remarkably well for a number of years. Each time the zip-ties wore out, I just climbed back up there and added new ones.

That was going well until last week. I climbed up to replace the broken zip ties and noticed that the vent covers were actually cracked and broken. This was a problem that a zip tie could not fix, so I whipped out a roll of duct tape. It all held together well enough for the drive down to Simi Valley for a lesson, but I knew I had to actually get them fixed right. I don't know how I made it through this winter with three cracked and broken roof vents.

Neither zip ties nor duct tape were going to fix this one.

I called my local RV repair shop and got a quote that seemed ridiculous for the amount of work involved, $500. My husband insisted we could do the job ourselves for a lot less money. I went to YouTube and watched a how to video that really did make the job look fairly amateur friendly. I drove down to Pensingers RV Parts and Service where they sold me exactly what I needed and then gave me 10% off my purchase when I asked if they could do a little better on the pricing. My bill was $167.

Hard at work.

We dragged all of our supplies up to the roof of the trailer and started scraping off the old caulking. That was the only part of the job that was even remotely difficult.

Most of the caulking removed.

Once we had the first vent mostly free of caulking, my husband started removing the screws while I went to work scraping off the old caulking from the other two vents.

Each vent had at least 35 screws.

Once all of the caulking was scraped away and the screws removed, we lifted the vent out of the roof. I was really worried that we might see some water damage in the wood, but the frame was in excellent shape.

Demolition is actually a lot of fun!

When the vents were removed, we finished scraping away all of the left over caulking and putty. My husband then went inside and removed the interior flange that covers up the exposed wood.

It's kind of scary to see a hole in the roof!

While my husband was busy bringing up materials and opening boxes, I applied the putty tape to the underside of the new vent and slid it gently into place. It's great when things fit the first time.

Ready for the new vent.

Once we got the first vent more or less clean of old caulking and got it pulled out, the other two were quite easy to do. While my husband replaced screws in the first vent, I scraped away old caulking and pulled out the other vents. With both of us working together, the job took less than the three hours the RV company was going to charge me.

My husband had a tee time at one of our local golf courses so he ended up leaving once all of the vents were screwed in tightly. He helped me get the caulking gun working, but from there, I finished the job myself.

It was a little like frosting a cake!

While I could have technically done the job myself, I was really grateful that my husband came out to do it with me. I am a little afraid of heights so it was reassuring to have someone else up there with me. We work well together and recognize each other's strengths, so there's rarely any arguing. Now that this part of the job is done, I am going to try and get roof vent covers installed some time this summer.

The next job ...

I've already watched the installation video and think that I might be able to tackle this job on my own. I don't like using a drill though, so I may have to get my husband back up on the roof to help me. I'll definitely owe him a lunch for that one!

I am ready for a month free of repairing or replacing stuff though, so new vent covers are going to have to wait a few months!

6 Comments

Another Set of Tires?

3/22/2016

8 Comments

To say I go through tires quickly is an understatement. I'm worse than NASCAR teams Hendrick or Petty. Maybe I ought to give those guys a call and see if they've got some extras laying around.

My "easily" accessible records only go back to 2011, so I don't have data from earlier than that, but since 2012, I have bought a new set of tires annually for one vehicle or another.

July 2012 - tires for my truck
August 2013 - tires for my car
January 2014 - tires for my horse trailer
July 2015 - tires for my car (again?!?!)
March 2016 - tires for my truck (again)

I had my truck's tires rotated in December when I had new brakes installed. At the time, the tires looked great. I drove Speedy to Expo in February and everything felt fine. In Early March, I took both horses to the vet and noticed a worrisome roughness on the way home. It was a sensation I felt the last time my tires needed to be replaced. I checked all eight tires (including the trailer's) and couldn't find anything that looked suspicious.

Since we're heading to Simi Valley this morning for a lesson, a trek of about 125 miles over California's busiest highway, I gave my tires another visual inspection yesterday morning. Thank goodness I did. The problem finally showed up - blown out sidewall.

This looks like trouble.

I keep my vehicles a long time which means I do a lot of regular maintenance and replacement of parts. The one thing that I can't prevent is weather damage. The sunny side of the trailer and truck have wheel covers to protect the tires, but when you drive less than 5,000 miles a year, weathering happens as the truck and trailer sit.

Plenty of tread left ...

I called my trusty tire guy and asked him to get some tires ready for me as I was headed his way. The truck rode so roughly that I drove the entire ten or so miles at no more than 30 miles an hour. It was only slightly embarrassing to wave drivers past me as my hazards flashed on and off and on again. I didn't care though as I've driven behind slower drivers who didn't have the decency to move over like I did.

New tread and no holes in the sidewalls.

Once my new tires were installed, I took advantage of Blue Truck's freedom and zipped into the corner gas station and drive through car wash. These things are not easy to do with a trailer following wherever we go.

Blue Truck loves a good shower.

I hooked Blue Truck back up to the trailer, "fixed" another little thing that's busted on my trailer (I have got to get that fixed sooner rather than later), and loaded some hay and tack. We're leaving fairly early today as long as the weather holds. Here's to solid tires with no blowouts!

Spit-shined and once again road worthy.

See you all tomorrow!

8 Comments

Rough and Ready

12/23/2015

9 Comments

Mudgrips - white-tip
Cigar stickin' out of my face
Earnhardt racing sticker on the window
Banged up fender
4x4 - straight pipe roar
Primer and rust all over the door
Scarred up knuckles, Mack belt buckle
White t-shirt - Ain't afraid to work
Got a "what-are-you-looking-at-asshole" smirk

- Trace Adkins

Well, I don't have a cigar sticking out of my face, and my smirk probably isn't that obnoxious, but the rest of it probably describes Blue Truck pretty well.

It's been a while since I've done a Blue Truck update. BT's still going strong, but I'll admit that I still keep wishing and hoping for a newer version. Until I win the lottery, BT will have to do.

To keep Blue Truck in tip top shape, I do bi-annual "spa" visits, one in June and the other in December. This particular visit took two days and generated more of a bill than usual.

Day One included a visit to Big O Tires for wiper blades, a tire rotation, and new brake pads and rotors. I don't know how often you've had to replace your pads and rotors, but I've had BT so long that this is the second time I've had to have that particular job done. The last time was ten years ago. Total cost for wiper blades, brake pads, and rotors: $518.47

Not sure what I am looking at, but it's there somewhere.

I brought BT home for the night so that I could tackle the rest of the maintenance the next morning. Before it got dark though, I dragged out the shop vac and a hot bucket of water and gave the inside a thorough scrub and vacuum. The next morning, Day Two, we went through the car wash. Total cost for cleaning/vacuuming at home and exterior car wash: $6.00

The bed was filled with leaves so the car wash operator told me he couldn't give BT a blow dry. No matter, I told him, I'll just drive fast!

Filling up with gas is not only super expensive, it's a big tank and BT uses gas like nobody's business - a dismal 8 mpg, but most neighborhood stations aren't equipped to handle a truck and trailer combo. Since I leave the truck parked at the barn (usually already hooked up), I tend to get gas out on the highway at one of the larger stations when I leave for a show. This means that I always pay at least thirty cents more per gallon. Since I was trailer-free for the weekend, I squeezed BT into the corner station and filled up for only $2.30 a gallon! Total cost to fill up: $49.61

Cheapest gas we've had in a VERY long time!

After filling up BT's tank, I drove over to my favorite oil change place and got that taken care of as well. The guys at Branson Express Lube are always super fast, thorough, and very honest. They never sell me services that BT doesn't need, but I can trust them to tell me what does need to get done. for this trip, I got lucky. All BT needed was the oil change. Total cost: $46.61

That has to feel good!

I really love having my own truck and trailer, and frankly, I couldn't go back to depending on someone else to haul me around - mostly because there isn't a "someone else." So while maintenance on a vehicle that isn't my daily driver adds up, it's worth the price, especially since I don't have a car payment.

Ready and waiting for our next road trip!

So what did Blue Truck cost me this month? A tidy little $620.69. Less than a truck payment, but enough for a show. Good thing there aren't a lot of December shows!

How did you spend your December show budget?

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About the
Writer & Rider

I am a lifetime rider.
I began endurance riding in 1996 where I ultimately completed five, one-day 100 mile races, the 200-mile Death Valley Encounter, and numerous other 50, 65, and 75 mile races. I began showing dressage in 2010.
Welcome to my dressage journey.

Photo by Lori Ovanessian

Email Karen

About Speedy G

Speedy went from endurance horse to dressage horse and occasional trail horse. He is a 2004, 15'1 hand, purebred Arabian gelding. His Arabian Horse Registry name is G Ima Starr FA.

May 2018

About Izzy

Izzy was started as a four-year old and then spent the next 18 months in pasture growing up. I bought him as a six-year old, and together, we are schooling the dressage basics. He is a 2008, 16'3 hand Zweibrücker gelding. His Rheinland Pfalz-saar International (RPSI) name is Imperioso.

Second Show - July 2016

Bakersfield Dressage approved!

National Awards

USDF First Level Rider Performance Award - 2015
USDF Training Level Rider Performance Award - 2013

Stuff I'm Working On ...

Regional Adult Amateur Competition (RAAC) Qualifying Scores
Second Level Scores:
Score 1: 63.485%
Score 2: 61.282%
Score 3: 62.879%

CDS Championship Qualifying
Second Level Scores:
Score 1: 63.485%
Score 2: 61.282%
Score 3: 62.879%
Score 4:
Score 5:

CDS Ruby Rider Award
Training Level Scores:
Score 1: 70.179%
Score 2: 72.600%

First Level Scores:
Score 1: 66.093%
Score 2: 68.750%

Second Level Scores:
Score 1: 63.485%
Score 2: 62.879%

USDF Second Level Rider Performance Award
Score 1 - 62.879%
Score 2 -
Score 3 -
Score 4 -

2018 Show Season

Show Rating
(***) CDS/USDF/USE
(*) CDS
(s) Schooling
(c) Clinic
(t) Ride-a-Test Clinic
(Q) Must Qualify

2018 Pending …
6/16-17/18 El Sueno (***)
6/24/18 Tehachapi (*)
7/22/18 Tehachapi (*)
8/11-12/18 RAAC (Q ***)
8/26/18 Tehachapi (*)

2018 Completed …
1/14/18 Hurtado Clinic (c)
2/10/18 Hurtado Clinic (c)
2/24/18 Hurtado Clinic (c)
3/17/18 Hurtado Clinic (t)
3/18/18 GEAHS (*)
3/31/18 Hurtado Clinic (c)
4/14-15/18 El Sueno (***)
5/27/18 Tehachapi (*)

Blue Truck Update

Dusting Off My Wheels

Let There Be Light

On the Road Again

Clean It Up

Too Close for Comfort

Trailer Shopping?

More Trailer Repairs

Another Set of Tires?

Rough and Ready

About the
Writer & Rider

About Speedy G

About Izzy

National Awards

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About the Writer & Rider

About Speedy G

About Izzy

National Awards

Stuff I Read

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About the
Writer & Rider