See Ya 2011!

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.

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!