Shia Week #1

Shia has been at Calypso for six sleeps now and is doing alright I suppose. It’s so much different having a horse, I still don’t think it has sunk in, especially since it’s now all of my stuff and no one can fix it for me. It’s mine.

I’ve been lunging him mostly, as he gets used to everything, and I jumped on him for the first time at the new barn on Wednesday. I was trying not to push it because his feet were long, but he got them done on Thursday. Friday he did pretty well, and actually I lunged him after I was on him because I couldn’t find the lunge whip; so I walked and trotted him, he cantered a little… kind of, so I got off and cantered him in the round pen as a free lunge and he did OK. Today was an off day; he bucked everytime I asked him to move forward. When I got on him, he kicked out a little when I asked him to trot. So I walked and trotted until he was OK, then took the saddle and bridle off and walked and trotted him a few more times each way.

The round pen is next to his barn; a part of it is right near the opening where the food comes out at around 4:30 every day. So when he sees the hay cart he shuts off. Today, was just confusing. I went after he ate to work with him because of work, but about half way through he just kept stopping and turning towards the opening, looking for something. He was not responding to any of my commands as he did the day before, but I was just trying to remain consistent and not get mad at him. He was much better when I took the tack off, so I am wondering if the saddle in pinching him or if I just need his regular bit (he used a Dee, my trainer’s bridle I am using is a full-cheek snaffle)

Yesterday I worked a lot on our “walk” and “whoa” commands. He also started to understand my “trot” with a kiss command; I’m thinking I should’ve done more of that today, but he was just so distracted! He would stop at every noise, however, he was unfamiliar with the trailer that two girls went into, and the neighbor was running a truck engine or something. Plus the wind, which is uber scary obviously.

The farrier came Thursday at noon, or I was there at noon between classes, and squeezed in a trim. Because Florida is sandy and organic, I will be using Triodine on his hooves to prevent thrush during the dry season. I need to get a spray bottle, probably from Target, because I also need a new face powder. Top priority is getting my girth in the mail, finding a bridle and bit that work for him, and his feet. Working on building muscle, I wish we had hills, but no, Florida is flat. Saaad. Anyways, he had no bruises on his hooves and they looked good! I am getting Vitamin E to see if squirting that on his scar will help it a little bit.

I got his Roma Wither Relief pad yesterday and used it today… again, I think I need to check the saddle fit on him ): I don’t want him to be uncomfortable, but I think he’s just being silly/trying to annoy me. I am also hoping to catch K, the trainer, later this week for a lesson or something. Tomorrow I am going to try to walk and trot him in the big arena, which I did yesterday when he was more responsive to me, but didn’t today because he was a booger.

The HDR bridle I tried on him didn’t fit, so when I go to the saddlery tomorrow before the barn I’ll return that and see if there is anything else I can buy for cheaper, just to have a bridle right now, and search for a better one when I have more money and am more aware of what will work on him.

He’s so motivated by his stomach, it’s annoying. LOL, but he’s pretty so I guess nothing else matters, right?

Sometimes you just DO.

Just changed the header for this baby because it’s now just another wordpress weblog. Haha, get it? Anyways, is it as blurry to you as it is for me? Maybe the resolution on this computer just sucks but really? That bad? Not sure, I’ll end up checking it on the other computer.

So not much has been going on besides being extra tired lately. I’m working 20+ hours a week now since last week, plus my express class just started and now I’m up to 15 hours, which isn’t a lot, but it is. I work mornings Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday now; I have class M/W afternoon and T/TH all day/night. I was/am able to fit in a ride tomorrow with Lesley, and I am really excited because I haven’t ridden in two weeks now.

I am looking at horses and barns this weekend. Wish me luck (trying not to get my hopes up = fail).

Suck.

I decided I need my $60 than to renew my hosting. Wishling.org expired in August and the hosting in September, buuut they automatically renewed me for another year. So I’m pissed. And disputing it. I better get my money back. Argh.

In other news I’m on my tummy, typing, on the floor. This is my favorite position. I would lay out in my dorm room and study like this. I don’t have a lot of room around my bed here, so I just lay on my bed and do work this way. This is how I read at the beach and get burnt shoulders.

Last Thursday I got my hair cut! Not shorter, but the streamlined bob was chopped into layers and thinned again, which was very much needed. I love how it looks, but I wish I had more blonde. I haven’t been to the beach in about a week, maybe two now since it’s Friday officially. I work tomorrow morning but I may go if it’s nice in the PM. I have a double shift on Saturday, so yay for money. I’m going to ask if I can pick up another shift because I need it… I’m trying to go to Berry on the Halloween weekend to see everyone. But I also start my government class next Monday! I’m excited. I loved my government teacher in HS, she was so awesome! It was Spring 08, so election pre-season I suppose, and we watched stuff all the time and it was so fun! … I don’t think this class will be anything like that (dang, still need to order that book!!) but we’ll see.

Had my first college Chem test today. UGH. Maybe it’s because I’m used to 40 pointed or 50 pointed exams, but 25?! If I miss ONE problem, that’s a 95! I think my teacher is too lazy to grade otherwise, so I have a feeling they are 5 points each… I have a second math exam Thursday. Nothing for ethics yet, but I finished my assignment for this week! Another week to go!

Yesterday (Wednesday) morning I had a lesson! I rode Lady for the third time in a row and HOMG I freaking love this mare. I do not like mares. I just don’t, but I LOVE her. She’s brilliant and so much fun and has a lot of personality! I don’t remember what we did last week, but Sunday I flatted her by myself and really worked to get her to the rail and off my leg and into the corners with figures and serpintines at both the trot and a little at the canter. It worked! Normally the jumps are set across the center of the arena, because it’s not that big. But in preparation for the show this weekend they (four total) were set along the outside and then two were set on the diagonal. So, it was meant to be to the rail and into the corner in order to get the like, two strides, to the diagonal. She did so well! Our first round was like, perfect. OH.

So I got there at about 9:40 for a ten lesson and called trainer to ask who I was riding. She told me, well, I was late so she left and would be back in a few, ride Lady. I walked to the arena at 10 (checked my cell) and was on for about 20 minutes before she showed up. Then, about five minutes in as I was working on getting my lines, someone came to dispute this vet check on another horse that they gave back. Forever later she came back and that’s when I jumped some. I was on the horse until 11:15. LOL.

But she did ask me to ride both Aly and Lady on Sunday! I’m really excited! I want my mom to take photos, but her camera didn’t work to well last time (the Canon) I think because it was overcast and I was in a covered arena. We’ll see (:

Also, I’ve been working out, doing Pilate off of YouTube. IDK if it’s working. I also haven’t been eating many calories. About 800 per day. IDk, I don’t have a scale..

Uh, work tomorrow morning. Gotta jet!