A Year In Review

I got this idea from my friend Erin

From what I can remember I will try to go month by month of major things that happened this year.

January: I started dating a guy that I was introduced to by my best friend. I was also on crutches since December 5th on my (counts...) 5th surgery. I believe it was in January where I was finally partial weight bearing on my foot, but rebroke it from jumping off my Pep's garage roof after I finished shoveling it off.

February: I had to say good bye to Max, an alpaca that was too young to die (only 8 years old or so). He was my best friend and I cried a lot over the upcoming of putting him down. Needless to say, I didn't have any more tears to cry when we finally put him down. I had the best group of friends around me to help keep me occupied that day. Around this time I was also contemplating taking on a student working position over the summer, which ultimately never worked out.

March: I was finally off of crutches and got back into riding. I also believe this is when my boyfriend broke up with me (it might have been in April)

April: In April Mom and I went to UMN to visit the campus.

May: I had to say goodbye to a relationship. I kind of saw it coming but it was hard none-the-less. But also this month I got accepted into UMN! It was a dream come true.

June: The start to an amazing summer! Well first in the beginning of the month I had my last surgery. I also started my new job where I  met some fantastic people!

July: My summer was still going awesome! I was hanging out with J, a guy I had one class in with in the fall and spring semesters. We always had a ton of fun just hanging out and doing absolutely nothing!

August: At the end of the month I had to say good bye to the people I met at camp and who I worked with. It was time to go to UMN! This was also the last time I saw J, long story, so it was bitter sweet leaving Maine but I was so excited to go to Minnesota!

September-December: I started classes at the U and I loved every minute of it! In November I decided that it was best to apply to the University in Maine. Many reasons behind this decision.

I'll admit, it's been a very interesting and boring year at the same time hahaha! I hope none of you have gotten too bored with my blog, hope more interesting things are to come!

Good News!

Jasmine is eating, and even playing! We started syringe feeding her, and the vet gave her some appetite enhancers, and after a few days of doing that, she is now eating on her own and playing with us. It is so awesome to have my kitty back to normal.

This is why I want to become a vet. To help and save animals that may seem like a loss case, I can't believe we were even considering putting her down. The vet's office was amazing and so caring to her! When I walked in to return some of the cat food we no longer needed everyone was asking about her.

My Mom came home and also gave me some more good news. She said that when she called the vets office to update them on Jasmine's condition they commented on how nice my sister and I was and that Mom did an awesome job raising us.

A nice end to the week and to the new year.

Happy New Years everyone!

Not again...

I can't believe I might have to say good bye to another loved pet...in less than a year. I have mentioned my dogs before, but I haven't mentioned my cat, Jasmine, often.

We got Jasmine when she was a kitten, at least 9 years ago. She's a black cat with her own "pet me when I want to be pet" attitude. And even though she is the family pet, she has always been called "my cat" or "Stasha's cat"

When I came home for vacation, I got home and received the news that Jasmine wasn't doing so well. She had gotten tongue ulcers and wasn't eating or drinking. Mom told me that she had been this way for a few days but didn't want to say anything to me because I had finals.

Over the past week or so she has been going to the vet almost every day to get hydrated. She also has her ups and downs.

I am happy to say that the ulcers are gone...but she still isn't eating, and we can't afford to keep bringing her to the vet. Also recently she has had some attitude changes and she seems to hide more and more. Mom brought it up to me tonight that we are going to have start thinking about putting her down. We are going back to the vet tomorrow, learn how to syringe feed her, and then see if we can entice her to eat by the weekend. I know it is normal for her to not want to eat, after an animal doesn't eat for so long, the urge to eat disappears and the urge to eat is hard to get back.

I LOVE my cat so much! I have vowed that after she dies (I said this before she got sick) that I would never get another cat after her. I just can't imagine having another cat after her.

I can't believe I even have to consider putting down another pet...my heart is broken.

A Song A Day: Day 7

Today's song...Just when I needed you the Most by Time McGraw.

This song does have a lot of meaning for me. It goes out to all those people who "left me just when I needed you most". Thanks for walking out on me, you made me a stronger woman and it made me realize that I can accomplish anything with just me, and my family of course.

People will always walk out on people, and most of the time it is just bad timing, but none the less it hurts.

Unfortunately you never forget those people, but it isn't always in bad light.

I promise tomorrow I more happy song :-D

P.S.
I GO HOME IN TWO MORE DAYS!!

A Song a day: Day 6

Back to country! Cowboy take me away by the Dixie Chicks.

Ask me what the perfect get away is, and this song explains it all!

Enjoy :)

A Song A Day: Day 5

A little turn away from country, this is "Open up your eyes" from Daughtry.
I'm not sure what this songs means to me, but for some reason it makes me smile and my heart break at the same time. I guess it helps me realize that no matter how bad my life may seem at times, it can always be worse. And that life can change so much...if you just open up your eyes. Enjoy!

New Slate

Recently I have had no time for riding, especially with finals. I feel like even if I did ride, I wouldn't be making much progress. I'll be the first one to admit, and not afraid to admit, that I don't think I am experienced enough to ride alone.

Now don't be jumping to conclusions. I AM a responsible rider, I know the basics, but I realize that I am not quite advanced enough to know what I'm doing wrong, when I'm doing it wrong. I know what my heels are up, can roughly tell if my position is correct, and if I have enough contact. But I don't know how to fix my riding problems.

Next semester I have a chance to get some riding lessons (depending on how expensive) from a girl at the barn that works there. I have only met her once but my boss says she is great, and I have seen her around horses, and I know she doesn't let them push her around.

What I am hoping from these lessons is to really just start from the basics (okay well maybe trotting basics) and work my way up. Kind of like having a new slate. I feel like I am rusty and I am hoping I can excel some. I am still allowed to ride the horses on my free time (I rode in front of my boss multiple times and she says I am a decent rider so I must not be all that bad?)

All in all I am excited! A girl I worked with this semester, S. and I are going to coordinate our schedules in hopes that we can ride together during lessons and just during our riding times. She is a very basic beginner so I know she might not be able to ride alone for a while, but she is an AWESOME girl and super nice.

We both kind of laugh at how most of the people that work at the horse barn are snotty girls. On Wednesday I asked S why couldn't all horse people be like us? Easy going and GROUNDED not our heads floating up in the sky...or up in our asses. I mean COME ON sure you might be better than me, actually you probably are, but I am still a human being and I am sure I am better than you in other aspects (personality wise to start with). Oh well S and I laugh at them together. I'm glad I found someone that I can really work with and actually enjoy working with!

A Song A Day: Day 4

This song is "No Reins" by Rascal Flatts. Overall I love Rascal Flatts, they are a great band. I love this song because it describes how live should be lived. Don't let anyone hold you back, and go big or go home.

Enjoy!

A Song a day: Day 3

How do I like spending my summers?

Explains it all :-)

Of course minus the dress, I'm not a dressy person haha!

Enjoy!

A Song A Day: Day 2

SheDaisy - Don't worry about a thing

This is how I approach life. I am very relaxed and it takes a lot to make me upset. I guess my reason is because I realize that you always (well..unless you die obviously) get a new day, a new start to start over and do something new.

8 Days and a New Idea

First off, EIGHT MORE DAYS UNTIL I GO HOME!!! I am super excited!

I'm going home on the 20th, planes takes off at 10:30 and if all goes well I'll be back in Maine at 7PM! I swear to God if there is any snow storms or delays I will start walking home. I miss my family insanely and I cannot wait to see my twin, my older sister, Mom, Mem, Pep, Uncle, Aunty, Jasmine (my cat), Louie (dog), Sissy (other dog), Lilly (my niece dog I have yet to meet), and the alpacas!

Just thought I would share my excitement *throws excitement at readers* EXCITEMENT!!!!

Okay I'm cool and collected now..I think. LOL!

So this week is finals week here at school. I am lucky enough to have only 1 true final (curse you genetics class!), and the rest are just tests that cover over the last section we cover in the course.
Tomorrow: American Sign Language final
Wednesday: Animal Nutrition and Issues in the Environment
Thursday: Horse Management
Firday: NO CLASSES
I plan on spending my three day weekend emersed in my genetics book.
Monday: Genetics final.
Tuesday: GO HOME!!!

Today I got this idea since I don't have a camera and haven't been riding much do to just being pure busy, that I would share some music videos that I love and believe I can relate to. Let's see how many days in a row I can post a music video.

*Beware* If you don't like country you are in a world full of torture.

Video #1 "Fight Like a Girl" By Bombshell

I love this song because I believe it explains me so nicely. I was kind of picked on as a kid in elementary school, and some days I let it get to me, and other days I fought like a girl (I punched a girl in the face and knocked our one of her teeth..2nd grade) Don't.mess.with.my.twin.

Also I believe that I have been through so much in life and I have conquered it all. Maybe not with all the grace that I should have, but I lived through it. I've lived through death of loved ones (family and pets), heartbreak, disappointments, 6 surgeries. I feel like I can do anything and I'm prepared for so much.

I have always been set in my ways and I'll fight till my last dying breath for something or someone I believe in. It's just in my nature.

Enjoy :)

And since I am feeling generous I'm going to share a video I made yesterday for my family, kind of a "thank you gift". The song is Wait for Me by Theory of a Deadman.

YES this country girl listens to ROCK!!!

Thanks for reading!

I've got the fever...

No not a literal fever

No not the horse fever (just a mild one)

The camping fever!

I usually love winter and the cold (as long as there is snow) but I am now always having the urge to go camping. I blame it on sleeping in a tent all summer. I cannot wait for camping season, even though I doubt I'll be able to do it as much but next summer I'm doing everything I did this summer, 10 fold!

13 Days!

13 days until I go home. I cannot express how excited I am!!

Next week is finals week and I'm going to be very busy, actually I take that back, I already am hahaha!

I haven't been riding much nor have I been working with Desi a lot this week, and it has shown. Desi has been acting as if she has never been haltered before. Running away from me when I go to catch her, refuse to stand still for grooming, and just being obnoxious. I would like to blame it just on the cold but I it is partially my fault too for not working with her as often, but next semester that is going to change and hopefully I will be able to ride more also.

Over the past week or so I have realized that some of my dreams may not come true:

 I probably won't become the amazing horse person I once dreamed about. I never dreamed of going to the olympics but I dreamed of jumping and possibly some eventing or hunter shows (okay that's really dreaming I know) but I just realize that probably isn't going to happen, at least not at this point in my life. Interestingly, I am okay with that at this point. I am so busy with school and I feel like that does come first.

Dream 2, my blog won't get as popular as I once hoped it would. But you know what? That is okay too!! At first when I started this blog, I will admit it was for popularity, but now I realize that I just like being able to tell my story, in my own way, and just have it to read back upon later down the road.

Moral of the story? I'm content with my life. I'm okay if my dreams don't come true right away, one day they might, but as of right now, I'm one content girl :)

Thanks for reading!

Vote for Denali

For all my readers out there, I would like you to do me a very quick favor!

Vote for Denali

Tis very easy, you just click and you are done! Also please spread the word!
It is for a friend of mine, I read her blog all the time!

Green n Green = Black n Blue

Thank you!!

Loving Life

I get in this kind of mood every once in a while (actually it has been more often now a days).

I have this week, and then next week of classes. Then the week after I have my "finals", which really aren't classified as finals because they are just over the last portion of information covered in the classes. My only REAL final is on Dec 19th, and is genetics. So, on top of studying I also have 7 papers due on different dates over the next two weeks (the first one due tomorrow). But, while I'm reading my genetics book, because my genetics professor has succeeded in confusing the heck out of me, I am saying BRING IT ON! I also have realized that I am so content with my life. I have a great job working with horses, I'm doing reasonably well in school, I have some amazing friends, a wonderful family, I'm healthy, and so many other things that are so perfect, even if they are imperfect.

I have succeeded in being 2000 miles away from home for over 100 days and I have done it very well if I do say so myself. Sure I probably should have been more social and made a lot more friends then I have, but I'm fine with the way I have been living my life. I like to think I have made my family proud doing what I am doing. I have talked with my Mom and she is still fully supporting my idea to transfer to University of Maine next fall. I am so glad that I can say that I attended UMN and I proved a lot to myself. I haven't admitted this out loud, but I doubted weather I could do this, and I have proved to myself that I can, and I did. That is the best feeling in the world. Of course I couldn't have done it without my family and friends support, and I give all my love out to them.

20 days until I go home, can you believe it readers? Because I can't!

Thought I'd just share my amazing mood.

Big Decision

I have made a big decision in the past two days, and one I haven't 100% committed on though.

I have been in MN since August and I have loved it. I love going to school here, but there are a few things I feel like I would like different.
1) My room mate is a senior, and she isn't going to be around next year, and I really do feel like the chances of me getting a good room mate again are slim.
2) I am paying about 23K to go to school.
3) I don't have my car with me, I miss my car and I am getting tired of buses.
4) I'm so far away from family. I'm not saying I am homesick but I'm beginning to realize that if heaven for bid something happens to one of my family members, it isn't very easy to just hop on a plane.

I have been doing some research and I have decided I am going to try to get into a University in Maine that offers a pre vet program. By doing this I would be paying 13K instead of 23K (including dorms and meal plan), I'd have my car, I can get a good solid job, and have vet experience all year round and instead of during the summer.

Tonight I talked to my mom and she is supporting me what ever I plan to do (have I mentioned she is AMAZING?!)

Again, I do not regret coming here! I have emersed myself into this experience and I have loved every minute of it and I am so glad that I came here, but I think being closer to home would be a better decision.

Giving Thanks

Since I won't be around for Thanksgiving I decided I want to list 10 things I am most thankful for.
1) For my amazing room mate! I couldn't have gotten a better room mate for my first year away from home. She has also invited me to go to WI with her to have Thanksgiving with her family, since I cannot fly home. Miranda you are the best!
2) My Family! Just this category could actually equal 100 thanks. My family is my pride and joy. I couldn't be here doing what I am doing without them. My Mom is the strongest woman I know! She was able to raise three GIRLS on her own, but my Grandparents and Aunt and Uncle helped my Mom so much so i cannot thank them enough either!
3) My pets. I love animals and because of them I was able to grow my love for animals. They are also there when I need an ear, which is often haha.
4) My health. Besides my many surgeries I have been in amazing health.
5) Education. I am in the best place possible for school. I love it here.
6) My job. I have a nice job that gives me enough support for me to buy my own groceries, and I have been able to pay for my own rent up to this point.
7) My twin is my best friend and my older sister is amazing even though we have not always been best buds.
8) My friends. I don't have many but the few close friends I have I love them so much and would do anything for them!
9) All my heartbreaks, this is surprising to be thankful for, but it has made me a stronger person.
10) Easy enough, I am just thankful enough for being alive! Life is so amazing and I am glad that I am able to see something good in almost every situation

29 Days

29 days until I go home.

I really like being here, but some days I just wish I could be near some woods to just get away. I miss my family and I cannot wait to see them. I really wish I had a camera just so I can show everyone what I see day to day.

I believe that when I go back to Maine I won't spend any time around a computer, which I am okay with. I'm only on the computer so much now because there isn't much to do. If i had my own car here I'm sure I'd find something to do and go exploring.

29 days...

Desi Week 1

This week (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday) on top of going to work I have been working with Desi. She has made some FANTASTIC process I am beyond proud of her!!

Monday: Was not the best day for us. I worked Desi in the outdoor arena away from the herd. I started with the basic walk/halt at her side and made sure that she stayed halted while I walked away from her. She didn't seem like she was paying much attention to me, she seemed more focus on the other horses and tractors across the road. I believe I expected her to remember too much from Friday, and we ended it early, both of us frustrated, but on a good note.

Tuesday: I decided that it was probably best that we worked in the paddock with the other horses, that way she might pay more attention to me. The footing is decent and I figure it doesn't have to be prime footing if we are just doing very light work on the ground. I did a LOT more walk/halt next to Desi and she did amazing. I decided that we should try some trotting, and she did fantastic also! I finally asked her to halt and I backed away from her and stood about at her shoulder. I asked her to walk on and she walked on around me. I was ecstatic! I was only using a lead line so I didn't ask her to trot around me, but when I asked her to halt she stopped immdiately! So very happy! 

Wednesday: About the same type of thing. "Warmed up" by halt/walk/trot next to her using my voice, worked on also backing up, and then asked her to walk around me with just the lead rope. I decided it might be time to use the lunge line and lunge whip. I got what I needed and asked her to walk, suprisingly she went right out on the circle. I asked her to trot and it didn't take much coaxing and she started a nice trot! She walked and halted right on command also!! When I asked her to go the other way I ran into a problem. Desi would stop, look at me, and try to go the other direction. It was difficult to get her to go back the other way with the lunge line and whip it seemed like a lot to handle. I asked a few friends about it and they said that if she wants to go the other direction, let her, but make her work more. 

Friday: I put that idea to practice. Also I used the lunge line and just a regular whip. It was nice because Desi responds very well to my voice, and if needed I just lightly twirl the whip and she moves forward! Have I mentioned I am so proud of this horse?? She did decide to change the direction twice, when she did I had to trot, but not her lazy trot, I really had her move forward. Accidently when she was trotting I meant to say walk, but I said halt, and guess what? She halted!! I walked up to her and scratched her and told her what a good girl she was! She only tried changing directions twice and didn't do it again after that. I couldn't believe the progess we have made in a week!

Mind you, she wasn't an untrained horse when we started, but she wasn't as well into her training as some people had said and to see her catch on so quickly and like working like she does makes me so happy! 

I am hoping to have her canter maybe not this week but next week. This week I only work three days due to Thanksgiving. Have I mentioned I'm going to WI over break with my room mate?! I am very excited.

The indoor arena was just filled with new footing from a show ($35,000 worth of footed donated!) I think I should have her canter on good footing. 

Anyone have advice about training a horse to canter on the lunge? How can I tell that she is ready?

Thanks for reading!

Starting from the ground.

Yesterday I was very excited, I talked to my boss and she said that I could ride Desi (a green broke mare that some of the workers have been training). They all were telling my boss that she was doing very well, except for a few bucking incidences (which we traced back to the fact that when someone last cleaned her bridle, before I cleaned it, he/she had put the bit on backwards OUCH!). I fixed the bit after I cleaned the bridle. I told my boss that I just wanted to do some walk and trot work with Desi, which she agreeded to and boss said she would watch me.

Yesterday was the first snow fall in the area that I live, so it was cold. When I got to the barn, I tried tacking up Desi and she was just being AWFUL! She was pacing in her stall and acting like a total wreck. I linked it to that she wanted to be outside with the other horses. It got to the point where I didn't feel comfortable tacking her by myself. So I went and got my boss for her to assist. Desi was acting very naughty, but my boss told me it was because yesterday was the first cold spell of fall/winter, and she told me that most horses get a little more energetic when the first cold spell comes. We finally got her saddle on, but boss lady (and I agreed) that it wasn't worth the risk trying to ride Desi, so she told me to walk her into the indoor, take off her tack, and then free lunge her. 

Needless to say, I got more of a work out then Desi did. She was so confused about what I was trying to ask her to do, and I'm not even going into the ground manners (ground manners? when did I learn those?!). Desi had no idea what she was suppose to do and just wanted to stay at one corner of the arena, by the garage door. My boss said that I should work on walking/halting/trotting on command with her, since we weren't getting anywhere with lunging. So, apparently, Desi wasn't as far along as the other students were saying. 

I firmly believe that you if you can't get a horse to do something on the ground, you cannot expect the horse to know what to do under saddle. So we went back to square one. 

I finally have someone working with me. S is a AWESOME person! I am teaching her some things and she is learning so fast! So this extra hand gave me some time to work with Desi. In the outdoor arena we first worked with just walking/halting on command. I used a whip to reinforce the halt and backing up, she really didn't need it much to walk-on. Then we went into having her halt and stay halted while I walk around her. This took a while for her to understand but she got it. I realized that she really likes to stay by you when you are walking, almost to the point of being TOO close to you. In a way I guess this is good, but I believe this must be the root problem to the lunging issue. A) she doesn't know she is suppose to move around you. B) She doesn't want to go far enough away from you to do so.

The first step to fix this was to have her halt, I would walk to her butt, walk back up to her head, and then take a step away from her, walk to her butt, walk to her head, etc, until I was at the length of the lead rope away. She caught on faster on her left side then she did her right, but I predicted that would happen. I eventually got to the point where I could be a lead rope's length away from her and she would stay in one spot. I also had S work on this with Desi (A: it's good learning for S, and B: it's good for Desi to know she has to do this with everyone, not just me). Then while I was a good distance away from Desi, I would ask her to walk while I stood still. She was decent at this, but the halting was the issue. Before we called it a day, I was able to get Desi to halt on command about 4 feet away from me. 

Great job Desi!!

Thanks for reading :)

Productive Day

I'm tired so this is going to be a quick post.

This weekend at the equine center, a rescue called Refuge Farms is holding their annual auction fundraiser. I had the pleasure of working with 8 horses today. All but two were either blind in one eye or both. One that wasn't blind, Buddy, had no teach, then Miss April had really bad feet (it looked painful to watch her walk, even though she had special shoes). A huge belgian named Lanna was fully blind and it was very interesting mucking out her stall while she was in the stall. Constantly by my shoulder while I talked to her. Handsome (which I think is the PERFECT name for a male horse because that is what I usually end up calling every male horse anyways haha) looked more like a clydesdale then a belgian, but he was blind in his left eye. There was also a white gielding named Pony, and a grey appaloosa mare that I adored SO MUCH, she was also fully blind. I was amazed at how well these horses behaved and how mellow they were even though they were blind.

I spent most of today cleaning bridles today (which I actually LOVED). I cleaned 7 complete dressage bridles, and 1 complete western bridle. I also (with some help from a coworker) assembled 3 bridles with some spare parts that was donated. They weren't complete, we didn't have enough nose bands.

Also today we might have found out the reason why Mr P had been bucking while being ridden. We found some swelling in his suspensory (or suspension) tendon (or is it a ligament?) in his left back leg. Boss lady gave him some bute to see if that would bring down his swelling. We don't have any stalls available (because of the rescue horses here until Monday) but if it is not better by then, then he will be put on stall rest. Mr P is also in a huge need of some ground manner schooling *le sigh* I work with him almost every time I am working, sure he has been getting obnoxious but today he was just bezerc...horse why do you like to make me look bad?

Haha it was a nice day overall!

Thanks for reading.

Possibly No Riding

Dang, it's possible that I won't be riding this week =/

My boss e mailed me and told me that no one is allowed to ride Mr P until further notice. He ended up rearing while a girl (a more experienced rider) was trying to mount, and then did it again while they were riding around the arena. According to my boss Mr P is a horse who wouldn't even think about kicking or rearing, let alone under saddle (but I know from first experience that even though you say that it doesn't mean it won't happen)

When Boss gets back into town she is going to look at Mr P. He has been acting funny (with the whole bucking in the stall situation). Hope everything is okay with him, he can be such a sweet hear.

Mr P: Day 1

So today was my first day working with Mr P.
What are my goals?
1) Get him trained to ground tie
2) Have him being comfortable in his stall while the other horses are outside
3) Being able to turn on the forehand and haunches on the ground with minimal aids (maybe just by having my hand close to the designated area and clucking)

It is nice when I have goals I like to think it keeps me on track.

So day 1, how did it go?

It went decent actually I don't expect miracles and I have to say Mr P made me proud.

My plan was to go to the barn and bring hay outside, then put a flake of hay in two stalls, bring Mr P in, and then go fetch Legend who I feed inside. So after all of that I went outside to go fetch Mr P, but my plan got skewed by Legend. He walked right up to the gate this morning for me to bring him inside. I was so in awe this is the first time he actually came to the gate and stayed there. I was ecstatic (see doesn't take much to make me happy!) So I brought him in and then got Mr P.

I groomed Legend while he ate and just left Mr P in his stall to munch on his hay. I noticed that he is always fine as long as one of his buds are in the barn with him, but as soon as we walk out he starts his pacing and hollering.

I groomed Legend and Desi (OH random side note, I can't believe how shiny Desi is! My grooming is finally paying off she is GORGEOUS!)

After grooming those two I had half an hour left before I had to leave to go to class, so I decided that when Mr P stopped pacing and hollering I would bring him outside and groom him next to the paddock. By this time I think he had have enough of my sillyness, because even though he had a very nice flake of hay outside while he was tied up, he wanted to play with my grooming bag and be Mr Nosy.

After grooming him I really wanted to work on his flexing and see if I can get him to turn on the forehand and haunches. Flexing went pretty good I didn't make him do to much, just a few times on each side. Turning on the haunches went pretty good, even though he moved forward when he crossed in the back, he still crossed in the back and that is what I was looking for. Turning on the haunches was very difficult for him to accomplish (he can do it he was just more worried about the horse in the next pen). I could also tell that he really didn't have his brain on because he was just too nosy in everything else. I ended up asking D (a guy that is training another horse in the herd) to see if he could get Mr P to cross over in the front, he was able to do it by having him cross over by changing directions, and then Mr P seemed to turn on the haunches better. Again, I only asked him to do it 2 or 3 times to each side.

Overall it was a productive day. Tomorrow I have off which bums me out a little, but I'll be able to work with P on Friday.

Thanks for reading.

Oh horses

So this morning was an interesting morning. I decided to change up my routine and instead of grooming the horses outside I would groom them inside their stalls. I fed Legend like normal and then groomed him while he was eating. Overall he was a good boy. Next I did Desi and she was fantastic. I think back to when I started working here in September and she is a totally different horse. The girls are doing great work with her!

After Desi I was going to groom Mr P next. Lately Mr P has been acting like a herd bound pony and every time I bring him inside to groom him he gets antsy and starts hollaring for his friends (who actually never holler back), which makes him more antsy. Usually he calms down and will start munching on his hay, but today was different. Instead of calming down he tried to get out of his stall (I usually keep the door open just a smidge so I have a semi easy access to get out if I need to). I repeatedly had to get him away from his door and every time I did he would get more agitated. He then starting flinging his head around. This made me nervous so I backed to the door just to see what was going to happen. He then walked over to his window to look outside and went bezerc and actually ended up kicking. It wasn't a full extend kick (would have reached me easily) but it still got my attention. Not sure what to do I decided that it was probably best that I tie him outside so he could see his buds.

Tomorrow I am just going to put him in his stall with some hay and let him throw his temper tantrum for five min or so. I won't allow him to act like that, especially since he hasn't done it in the past.

I also want to start training him to ground tie and do some more ground work with him in the mornings. I think this will be fun.

Thanks for reading!

10/20 Ride

It has been such a crazy week and weekend that I wasn't able to even post about my ride until now.

I have been riding Mr Perfect (aka Mr P or P when I'm feeling lazy). I feel like we have had more productive rides in our short time together. I am still getting use to riding alone and not having someone telling me what I should be doing for exercises.

So I tacked up Mr P, which in iteslf took longer then it should have (I grabbed the wrong saddle) and I just felt that for some reason it was going much slower then need be. So finally after he got a nice groom and tacked up we headed out to the outdoor arena. It was a little windy but I figure there are only so many nice days left and I might as well enjoy the outdoors.

We started by doing the warm up routine that I usually do with any horse. Which consists of walking around the arena on the ground in both directions, and at random times having Mr P halt/walk/trot at random times besides me. Some people may not consider this an important thing to do but I like to use it as a judge of where the horses mind is. From the start I could tell that Mr P was in la-la-land. He was hollaring for his friends in the paddock and didn't like the idea of being out by himself with the mean girl (that's me haha).

After a few rounds I hopped on and, this seems to be a very common occurrence, my stirrups weren't the right length. Believe it or not this is something I usually have troubles with. Getting my stirrups to the right length but also feels right. After a little bit I got my stirrups to what felt like to the correct spot.

Next we walked around while I tried to get Mr P to move his toosh into a decent walk and to get his nose out of outer space and get some bend. Mr P has a tendency to bend to the inside instead of the outside and it's tricky (well for at least to me, I'm sure that any experienced rider could fix this easily) for me to get the inside bend. I usually think *okay give with the outside rein a little, shorten the inside rein a little, now press lightly with inside leg to give him something to bend around* This process, at best, gets Mr P into no bend (better than an outside bend right?). Oh but dangit his nose is still in outer space, okay maybe it's in this atmosphere now but still not in the right spot.

Now that we are some what collected off to the trot. A nice slow trot to begin with (Mr P has a very bouncy trot but when he slows down and engages his buttocks his trot is actually decent). After a few rounds of the arena his trot gets worse and just speedy with his nose in the air. I realize he is probably anticipating for me to ask for canter (I try to avoid asking for the canter if he is speedy).

We really worked a lot at the trot, since I have been having trouble at the canter (mostly with transitioning down and having complete control) and I wanted to work on our foundation before the canter. Thanks Dom for the advice!

I like to believe I am good at not doing the same boring thing. I mixed things up by instead of following the wall, going down the middle line, and then maybe turning in the middle of the long side instead of going fully across, oh and lets throw some circles in there too! I am sure I could be better at this, but it's a start.

So fast foward to the cantering. I have noticed a few rider errors when we canter.
1) My inside (it's always the inside leg in either direction) comes out of the stirrup or the stirrup ends up in the middle of my foot, 90% of the time. I think this is because I am not putting enough weight in my stirrups and I really tried focusing on that when cantering.
2) For some reason I just COMPLETELY forgot the second thing...good going Stasha! haha.

I know I have a LONG ways to go in my riding but I like to think I am making some progress.

Thanks for reading :)

Long Week

I've had a long week and I have an even longer week next week, so my cure for it? BLOG! haha, I must have no life (which I am totally fine with).

I am really not a complainer, I hate to complain and I don't like to listen to people complain..but I'm going to have some complaints anyways.

First off, I have this HUGE project due next week. I really want to do well in it so I can get my Issues in the Environment class grade up (it's at a B right now). The project is that you and a partner (partner complaint coming after) pick a common object, and you have to type a paper, powerpoint slide, and give a 3-5 min speech about how the project was made, and the environmental impacts that the Earth goes through based on the process of this object (due to say factory emissions). This project would be very fun if I didn't have to have a partner. I dislike school partner projects, I can work with a person in the real world all day and not worry about it but school projects with partners just throw me over the edge. So not only did I have to pick a partner (after I tried to ask the professor if I can do it by myself), I got a partner that I can't understand (he is Chinese and let me make this loud and clear I AM NOT SAYING HE IS A BAD PERSON AND I HAVE NOTHING AGAINST FOREIGN PEOPLE) but it really makes it harder to work together, so I thought e mailing...well come to find out he doesn't check his e mail regularly so it's pushed back the project a bit. So I have to get that project done this weekend.

On top of...

Studying for two big tests next week (genetics on Wednesday and animal nutrition on Friday).

I know school is suppose to be like this and I don't mind it's just becoming over whelming but I will get through it.

Some good news?

I am going riding after my horse management class today!
I have given one sucessful tour by myself to..yup you guess it, a group of international students (who were fantastic!!)
I have 60 mores days until I go home over Christmas break!
My room mate invited me to go back to WI with her over Thanksgiving break, so I won't be all alone!!

I hope to post about my ride later :)

Thanks for reading!

My Own Blog Award

Hey everyone, so I have been looking around at some blogs (three in particular) that I usually read and I decided that I wanted to make my own award for these blogs.

This award is for the three blogs that not only do I follow the most, but I have found them the most helpful and most inspiring.

And the blog award goes to...

Now THATS a trot - My friend Erin who I was introduced to many years ago. She has helped me in my quest to become the best rider that I can and I always enjoy hearing about her horses Willie and Jabby.

A Collection of Madcap and Escapades - I was introduced to Dom through Erin and I really enjoy reading about her wild adventures with her horse Ozzy!

and last but not least

Green n' Green = Black n' Blue - I mostly enjoy reading this blog because of the miracle story of Denali and her Mom! I started reading about Denali around the time that Max had to be put down and it helped me so much knowing that miracles can happen.

There you go ladies! Thank you for having such awesome blogs!!!

Mmm Saturday's

It is days like this that makes me love the fact that I am single and have no kids.

I went to bed around 10:30 last night, got up at 8:20 (because someone texted me), did the daily bathroom things, cooked bacon, made french toast, and I have been lounging on the couch, watching NCIS, and drinking coffee since then. I do plan on getting some work done today but I just love this. I have no one I have to meet or entertain and just be blahh all I want.

People always ask me why I am single, or if I am looking for a guy while I'm at school, and my reply is always "No I'm not looking for a guy at school". My reasons are, I'm not paying thousands of dollars to get a boyfriend or to party, and I need to focus on school. I have always been super independant and I'll admit I don't always do well in relationships because I don't NEED a guy and I really don't like it when I settle into a routine with another person other than family.

But from the few people I have dated, I have made a "list" of qualities I would like in a guy and since I don't feel the need to have a guy, I think I am going to stick with these qualities.

• Somone I can play games with and laugh, poke fun at, and just have the best time
• Has to like camping and the outdoors
• Would rather hang out with people and do things that doesn't involve TV, internet, or video games
• Sense of adventure
• Doesn't smoke
• Someone who can fight with me, but not hold grudges
• Accept my falts and flaws
• Can have fun by doing nothing
• Willing to try new things
• Respects people and myself
• Can give me my space when needed
• Stand beside me
• Willing to defend me (even if I am wrong)
• Can express his feelings when needed
• Can apologize when needed (but not apologize over every little thing)
• Doesn't do drugs
• Doesn't nag
• Doesn't constantly feel the need to compliment me
• Has dreams, goals, ambitions that go beyond a career and school
• Has a crazy side that I can adore
• Sense of humor (BIG BIG)
• Knows when to be serious
• Mature but can still have fun
• Not insecure, but not full of himself
• Won't freak out over little things
• Can stay calm in situations and emergencies
• Allows me to have a different opinion and won't hold it against me or think less of me
• Can disagree but still respect me and others
• Has to be able to handle and like my family
• Family has to like him
• Willing to pitch in and help with work
• Competitive side, won't let me push him around
• Can laugh at nonserious set backs
• Trusts me and is open when there is a trust issue
• Does not ignore me when issues, problems, or concerns arrive
• Understanding
• Won't just to conclusions all the time
• Can sit back and just let me complain
• Can tell me when I need to toughen up
• Doesn't start unnecessary drama
• Can come to me to vent
• Doesn't feel the need to constantly be in contact
• Likes the simple things in life
• Doesn't mind having every day routines, but likes to be spontaneous
• Won't shy away at the thought of commitment

So there's my list! I know it may seem long and some parts repetitive but it's my list and I'm sticking too it.

Frankly, I am just happy being with just myself, family, and the horses I work with. I'm not afraid of a commitment but I'm not about to jump into one.

Thanks for reading and happy Saturday!

I love those horses!

Unfortunetly it doesn't take much to please me when it comes to horses. I don't expect them to be able to jump 2 feet, do fancy dressage moves, or be a trick horse. All I really expect is good ground manners, nice disposition, and to pretend to like that I am there with them.

To my delight today I got just that from the horses, well mostly from Rollo and Desi. I was having trouble with grooming the horses and picking their feet out. I know they were just testing me but it was starting to get to me, so I talked with my boss and asked her if I was doing anything wrong, she showed me what she does and it was pretty identical to what I do, and she says it's not me, they are just testing me. I know that Desi had two abcesses on her front feet so that could be one reason why she detests getting her feet picked so much, but as for the other horses I couldn't think of a real reason.

Today I changed my approach to grooming. I did my daily things (spread out hay, feed Legend, sweep) and then I went to groom. Usually I just groom in the paddock, away from the other horses, but the horse I was grooming always seemed distracted (even with hay). So today I had the BRILLIANT idea (mostly because it has been raining and the paddock was yucky) that I would just groom outside of the paddock, but still tie the horse the fence. Outside of the paddock is a nice stone mixture (not sure of exacts) and it was very nice looking and welcoming compared to the mucky and wet pasture.

I couldn't wait to try out my new plan. I first decided I would groom Rollo. She is looking better, her coat is slightly more shiny and I saw that some of her scars had tiny hairs growing, YAY! I have started apply aloe heal to her scrapes daily. I lightly curried her, the scars don't seem to bug her but I didn't want to disrupt any hair growth (that is just my simple mind thinking) and brushed her. She was perfect, stood there munching on hay enjoying life. I read her binder that we have in the barn and I read that she doesn't like her feet being picked (story of my life haha) but she has showed some progress. Today I just worked on getting the mud off her hoof itself and didn't pick up her feet or pick them out. She didn't mind me getting the mud off and I think on Monday I will try picking up her feet. I also brushed her mane and tail and she looked so awesome after I was done. Of course she got many treats for being such a delightful horse, and she does need to put some weight on. I am really hoping I will be able to ride her one day.

Desi was next, I like to groom her as often as I can because we are working on her ground manners. She did a fantastic job also! Again, I tied her outside of the paddock and she munched on hay very contently while I groomed her and only moved to shift her weight. Desi has been one of the horses that has given me some of the hardest time with picking feet. But today, she was almost perfect! There was only one time where she took her hoof out of my hand, it was her back one and I believe it was because I was trying to get a rock out. Other then that she didn't resist to me picking up her feet at all and stood perfectly still!

I was so ecstatic after this! It seemed like my hard work, along with some of the other employees, was paying off! I consider myself very lucky to be working where I am working. Sure there are some things that could make it better, but I walk to work every morning with a grin on my face, loving the fact that I get to go see the horses I enjoy so much!

I need to get a camera so I can take some pictures so you guys can see these wonderful horses.

Thanks for reading, have a great weekend!


Oh my gosh almost forgot! I found out that Rollo is Mr P's mother!! *squeel*

Rollo

Okay I decided to share about Rollo, the new horse in the herd.

The main herd consists of Maddie (boss mare with an attitude), Mr P ('boss' gelding), Legend (gelding), Jealousy, and Desi (a green broke mare).

Today I walked to work like I usually do, unlocked the fence, and walked to the paddock where the horses are kept. I said my daily hellos to Mr P who always has his head sticking through the fence and looking at me like he is starving, and then went to go get some hay. As I came back and started spreading the hay I finally saw a new white horse in the far back corner of the paddock. I was shocked. I could see that the horse (who I soon found out was a mare) was skinnier then she should be, and as I got closer I saw that she had lots of scars on her back , neck, and withers. I put the wheel barrow by the hay feeder (that I actually rarely put hay in ironically) and calmy walked up to this new horse. My voice stayed nice and low and calm and I said hello and started talking to her. She pricked her ears as if she was interested in me, but didn't seem frightened. I walked up beside her and stuck my hand out and she sniffed it eagerly and moved her lips along my hand. I slowly petted her neck and she stood there very calmly. So, I got some hay and made a few nice big piles for her.

Legend goes inside the barn in the morning to get grain and his vitamin E supplement, so I made up his grain, brought him inside, swept the barn as he munched away, and brought him back out. By the time I went back outside (which wasn't any more then 10 min) I saw that Mr P or Maddie had pushed Rollo away from her pile of hay and she was just standing there. I felt so bad, so I took some of the hay from the front of the paddock and walked it over to her. As she was eating I ran my hands along her body, looking at her scars and wondering how she got them. She just has patches and patches of missing hair, it is so sad and made my heart break. But I knew that no matter what her story I was going to give her some much needed TLC. While I was running my hands over her, I realized that she had a lot of heat in her shoulders, and that one of her scars had opened up and was oozing, and made a mental note to tell my boss. It was hard to leave her because I wanted to just pat her and love her, but I had to get to class.

Walking to class I texted my boss asking her who the mare was, her story, and told her about the heat in the shoulders and the oozing. Boss said that she would buite her and check out the wound, and also said that her name was Rollo and she needed some extra TLC until she was looking healthy again (I told my boss I was all over the TLC part, I plan on spoiling Rollo).

I went back this afternoon to check on her before I rode, and maybe attempt grooming her (which was hard because of the patches of missing hair). As I called out her name when I got to the gate she lifted her head and pricked her ears and walked right up to me and started investigating the bucket I use to carry the grooming items, she eventually noticed that I was there and started sniffing me all over. This mare is such a sweet heart and I already adore her! She ended up walking away from me because Mr P was interested in the bucket also (which he should know by now there are no treats but still he likes to believe I am going to change my ways). I left the bucket for Mr P to investigate while I went over to Rollo and continued stroking her and lightly brushing the brush across her body (I'm not sure how much "grooming" I did but I wanted her to realize she could trust me). After a few moments I walked back to the fence and was just looking at the other paddock of horses and talking to this mare who was looking at Desi very intently. Next thing I notice, a big white head is by my shoulder, and Rollo is standing right beside me. I was so touched that she just stood there next to me. I talked to her and stroked her some more. The heat in her shoulders was reduced a little by the afternoon but not fully gone.

I can already tell I'm going to adore this horse for a long time and hopefully forever. My Boss says that once she gets healthy enough she wants to get her under saddle, and I'm hoping that if she is well broken that I will be able to ride her.

Can't wait to see her tomorrow and give her some more lovings!

Back in the Saddle

YES it has finally happened, I am back into riding and I am L.O.V.I.N.G. it!

I officially started last Thursday with my first ride on a very nice horse named Mr. Perfect (aka Mr P. or P). I was nervous at first, since I haven't been riding in a while and I was a little nervous about how my boss would react to my riding. Turns out she was understanding that I hadn't been riding since the middle of summer and a handful of times since my surgery in December.

We tacked up and then went out to the outside arena. Mr P wasn't spooky at all and acted like this was just a walk in the park. We walked around the arena and then I got my stirrups where I thought they needed to be, tightended the girth, and looked over my tack again. We walked around to warm up and, oops need to tighten the girth again. My boss gladly did this for me, I guess Mr P as learned how to bloat before riding, which I'm use to haha.

After some walking and trotting my boss asked if I was ever going to canter. I told her that I hadn't cantered much except for on a lunge line. She told me that it was the same thing off a lunge line. I was already really comfortable with Mr P and we seemed to be in tune with each other for a first ride. Before cantering I asked my boss what the cues were for canter again and she said that once I get him into a really nice trot he will automatically pick up the canter around a corner. I was a little wary about this, but I was glad that I had less to think about. So I got Mr P's lazy buttock into a nice trot and just as my boss said, he picked up the canter at a corner. Surprisingly I not only stayed on, I stayed on even after loosing a stirrup and didn't panic! Granted, I needed to work on my control but I was ecstatic that I cantered off the lung line, kept my balance, and stayed on! The ride after that was pretty uneventful. I ended up having to carry a whip because once Mr P decides that he is done working, he stops and won't budge no matter how much you squeeze or kick, but after I got the whip he did much better even though I had to tap him a few times. My coordination with a whip is not the best, I'm not use to having to use one, but I am sure I will get use to it.

TODAY I rode Mr P again and again he was a super good boy! I couldn't wait to work on my canter and today my canter was much more organized and controlled.

Note to self: Finish writing about ride and talk about new horse in the herd!

Thanks for reading!

Summer Catch-Up

Its almost fall, school has started, but WAIT! I barley posted at all this summer, WHAT GIVES?!

Well this summer was like no other summer I have had in my life. Did it involve horses? No unfortunetly not, but none the less it was one of the best summers I have ever had.

What made it so special?
1) I got a job 77 miles away from my home. I was home only 2-3 days out of the week and sometimes I was home every other week. I decided to take a job up at a campground in the mountains. My job was to give out quarters to kids at the rec-hall (aka arcade), keep the two playgrounds clean, and also make sure kids follow the rules. If I never say "NO BIKES ON THE RAMP!" or "I'm sorry Sir/Ma'am, but there are no dogs allowed on the playground" again I will die a happy lady. The job had it's ups and downs like any other job, but I met some fantastic people and made some even greater friends. To begin with my "boss" Jennifer became like my second mother (I have never called any one my second mother before, it is big shoes to fill). Her daughter Jordan, became like the little sister I never had (Tia, your my twin you count as a different kind of little sister) ;-)

During my last week at camp and working I became friends with a great group of people, and I have never played so many consecutive games of pool in my life (haha thanks Austin)!

My job was a fantastic job, and even though there were times where I thought I should have stayed home instead to prepare to leave for college, I'd do it all again in a heartbeat.

Pictures of my summer:

My hammock, I spent many lunch breaks taking a nap in this hammock.

Oh did I mention I slept in a tent all summer?! YES! When I was at camp I only spent 1 week and 1 day actually sleeping in the camper.

The great group of friends I met during my last week!

Also I stayed with my Grandfather all summer (he owns a seasonal campsite at the campgrounds) and we do a moose/deer count every summer. When I left I was up to 16 moose and 3 deer...Pep was up to 40 something moose and only 5 deer.

It was a fantastic summer and it has been so different then any other summer I've had.

College and Spreading My Wings

Wow I can't believe it has been this long since I have written anything! There is so much that I want to type but I am sure that I am going to forget somethings.

First and most importantly, this country girl is now in a big city! I have moved half way across the country and a time zone away from my friends, family, town, and everything I have grown accustomed to. Instead of a home where I spent my nights with my Mom in the living room, I am living in a 2 bedroom and 2 bathroom apartment. I am currently enrolled in a animal science/pre vet degree program (is that really a big surprise? haha). But before I give the impression that I hate it here I have to say that I actually really like it here. Like it enough to see me living here? No way haha. I love Maine and will always love Maine and I want to live there. The apartment I am staying at is  beautiful, my room mate is awesome (she is a 4th year biology major and has a vehicle and lets me tag along on grocery trips and little errand runs). I really couldn't ask for a better room mate. School hasn't started yet, it starts next Wednesday (September 6th). I am taking genetics, horse management, introduction to animal science, issues in the environment, and a class about POULTRY! (Hey it was a 2 credit class and it seems like it would be fun!) It seems like a full load but I am very excited to start.

I can't say it has been easy adjusting to being here. I have to take two public buses to get to school, and not counting a school bus, I have never ridden a public bus before. Also around night time is when I start to miss home the most, because I know that is when I would usually be in the living room with at least my mom in the room with me. I know I will see them in December so that makes it much easier.

So before the horsey people who read my post start freaking out I DO have some horse news actually! I have applied and got a job at the equestrian center on campus! It seems like it will be a morning job (which I am totally gun-ho about) mucking stalls, grooming the horses, giving hay and grain, you know the basic stuff. But I will also be getting lessons! There is also a green horse at the barn who is super friendly that the center is in the process of getting her (her name is Desi) saddlebroke, and my boss said it's possible that I would be able to help with her training!

I figure when I am on campus and if I start feeling down I can just walk to the horses and I know I will start to feel better!

Well this is a quick snip of what is going on in my life :) I hope I start blogging more.

Good News

I know it has been a while since I have posted anything, but since I didn't have anything horse related to really post about I decided to have a little break. Well get ready ladies and gentlemen because this girl has gotten the OKAY from her doctor last Friday to start back up riding!!

I believe I will ride on Thursday, I have a test three days in a row this week and need to really focus on that.

Also this weekend coming up is the first alpaca show of the year! The North American Alpaca Show in Massachusetts, and we have some very special alpacas going this year and I plan on taking many pictures.

Thanks for reading :)

Goodbye my friend

Later down the road when I can type without breaking down I will do more of a memorial post, but for now this will have to do.

Tomorrow at 8 AM, Max is being put down. We moved him to the birthing barn with the expecting mothers and since then he has gone really down hill. He can barley get up just to go to the bathroom and without us bringing over the water bucket to him, he wouldn't drink or eat. The vet says he has a neurological issue in his lumbar spine which is causing his butt to roll underneath him and for him to walk on his toe nails. Alpacas have feet like deer. When the vet came also, he grabbed Max's back leg while he was lying down and moved it around to make sure it wasn't a hip problem. Max didn't fight the vet one bit, good right? No, bad. Alpacas would either bounce right off the ground or at least try to resist the vet, but Max did neither. Also he has no muscle mass in his back legs and seems like he would prefer to crawl on his front legs rather then walk on all four legs, its so heart breaking to watch.

More to come at another time.

Maxy, I will love you forever. It breaks my heart to have to say goodbye, but it breaks my heart more to see you suffer the way you have.

Exciting Summer

Wait...but its winter, yes yes I know I am not going insane ^.^ but if all goes right I am going to have one of the best summers of my life, and thats a lot to mount up to.

So what is going to make it so exciting you ask?

Well this Saturday I have an interview with Ever After Mustang Rescue, a rescue that is in southern Maine. I came across this rescue when I was looking for a rescue to volunteer at this summer since I was having no luck finding a student worker position, and guess what? That is what the interview is for! I have been e mailing back and forth with a very kind lady that informed me of their student worker program, I won't get paid but the service is eight weeks long and I will be working 6-8 hour days, five days a week.

I won't be able to do much if any riding at all, but I will be able to assist trainers and do the basic farm chores that I am insane for loving to do so much :)

Ever After Mustang Rescue

That is the link for the rescue. Super excited shall keep everyone posted =D

Thanks for reading!

Guessing Game

Guess who...

Went back to the doctors on Tuesday...
Had yet ANOTHER X-Ray taken...
Found out that she has a chipped bone by the screw in her foot...
Who has a new fancy cam walker...

Who is pretty much able to do little to nothing for 4-6 more weeks...

Yup you've guess it Yours Truly! <.<
Doc says that she thinks she gave me the go ahead too soon, but also sliding and all that stuff probably didn't help. Stupid stupid feet.

Oh a good note thinking about going to the barn tonight to see Ranger :)

Thanks for reading!

The Simple Life

I have made a new years resolution that I think I can actually accomplish, sure it's February but better late then never. My New Years resolution is to try and live a simple life. In the past I have tried to push myself and do as much as I possibly can and the most difficult tasks in order for me to feel accomplished, well I want to change that and also enjoy the little things in life. My surgery has really helped this idea along.

So far my simple life plan has been as follows:
Sledding in a grave yard with my best friend
Saw a great view from the said grave yard
Shovel my Grandfathers roof with my twin and sit and enjoy the view
Lay in a snowbank at night during a snow storm
Shovel off my Grandfather's camper roof, after said snow storm, and then enjoy the view and drink my coffee and listen to the birds.

After my last simple "adventure" I was climbing down the ladder to get to the snow bank below me, and I was three or four rungs off from the ground and I looked at my mom, then looked at the snowbank, then back at my mom, and let go of the ladder, spread my arms, and fell on my back into the snow bank and just laid there.

My foot seems to be taking a turn for the worse, I can't seem to do any activities without barley being able to get my foot out of my boot in the end, thus why I have decided I need to start doing simple things and just taking time to enjoy life and the view from my backyard.

Thanks for reading :)

Back to Reality

Today was the first day that I have walked, without crutches, in 44 days! Yesterday my foot felt great with just walking with one crutch, it was my right shoulder that was hurting due to the one crutch, so I decided today to try walking without it and see how I feel *shhh don't tell my doctor!*  My foot felt great. It was awkward of course, teaching yourself to use a foot you  haven't used in weeks is very weird feeling. At first it was quick shuffles, step with the right foot and quickly bring the left foot next to it, just in case it was a bad idea. After some shuffeling around the house I took bigger steps and it still felt good!

Later this morning I even decided to be useful for once since the past 44 days and I snow blew the deck from the 14 inches of snow we got Friday, yes I snow blew and it was good. I used my body to push the blower instead of my right foot. Towards the end I was a little sore so I came in and stayed off my foot for a while. I am so happy that I can walk! I plan on being able to drive by the end of the week, and should be back into riding in two weeks!

Thanks for reading :)

Finally!

Yesterday I had my Doctor K appointment and I am partially walking!!

I went in and she got talking and she asked if I had been putting weight on it, I said no because people told me not to until I saw her, since I had the infection. She said I could have started partial weight bearing on Tuesday *head desk* Oh well better safe than sorry.

Here was the Doctor's plan for weight bearing:
Week 1 of just partial weight bearing, using both crutches
Week 2 Use on crutch and start wearing a shoe based on how I feel
Week 3 or once I feel comfortable with a shoe all the time I can drive and start horse back riding again.

Well let's just say so far my plan has been different then the Doctor's
Hours 1-3: Partial weight bearing with two crutches
Hours 4-present: Partial weight bearing with one crutch
Monday: Drive bare-footed (depending on the weather)
Friday: Be in a shoe
Week 2 or 3: Horse back riding!!

Yes it's a little different than the doctor's but my feelings are the less I 'baby' my foot, the faster I'll heal and be able to do what I've been longing to do for five weeks.

My last surgery I was walking with no crutches the same day I got the okay to put weight on it, because I had school the next day, the first day of my senior year, and I refused to be on crutches during my senior year of high school.

Now I'm going to look back on my surgeries while I was in high school.

First off I would never wish any person to go through what I did, espically when they are in high school. High school kids are so mean and immature and they were convinced that I was "faking" all of my surgeries and some of my teachers would refuse to let me leave class early to get to my next class, when we had two minutes to get to each class.

One funny part was that when people would joke around and be all "don't trip me!" or "don't run over my feet!" (because my freshman year, my first surgery, I was in a wheel chair for the first few weeks, and when a person said that I would either run them over with the wheel or step on their foot with my crutch xD I know I'm mean that's okay it's what got me through high school.

I am so glad that this whole ordeal is almost over. I just have one more surgery in May to take the screw and left over wire in my right foot and I am all done!!!

I want to thank everyone reading for putting up with my rants and raves and some what depressing posts over these past five weeks :)

Thank you for reading!

Little snow isn't going to stop me.

Tomorrow, oh tomorrow oh I wish you would get here faster. At 3 tomorrow I am going to the doctor's to see if I can finally start walking. I am 99.99% sure that she will say I can start weight bearing. There is one problem, we are suppose to get snow, sleet, and freezing rain, and it is suppose to start at 11, so there is a chance I won't even get to my appointment. But have no fear! I plan on calling the office if I cannot make it to the appointment and just asking Dr K if I can start partial weight bearing. I was there last Tuesday, so you would think that she would be able to tell but it probably isn't that easy.

This weekend should be a blast! Hopefully on Sunday we are going to have a sliding party at my Aunts and I hope to invite some friends along. We had a sliding party last year and it was a blast.

Friday, I am traveling to the great state of New Jersey (yes Dom and Erin thinking of you guys haha!), well my Aunt is driving and I am tagging along. The plan is to drop off a handful of girls that came to the farm to get bred, and bring some more girls back to breed also. I love trips like this especially when it is all girls.

Let's get this week a rolling!

Thanks for reading.

Best week and Best Friends

Yet again I have had a great week! No, I am still non-weight bearing but I hope next Tuesday I will get the "okay".

Monday: First day of classes for the spring semester. My first class was A&P at 9, which I love because I can sleep in until 7 and just take my time waking up and take a shower and just not have to rush. Next I was suppose to have math at 1 or 1:30, but when I went online to print off which rooms I was going to be in, I realized that I had signed up for a class on another campus <.< The college I go to has two campuses and I just assumed the math class I signed up for was on the main campus, but I was wrong. Let's just say I was in panic mode, because in order to financial aid to pay for my classes I need to be carrying 12 credits, and without that math class I was carrying 11. Tia was already going to admissions so I decided to go and explain my mistake and to see if there was anyway I could be squeezed into an online math or a live math class. Thank god they had a few openings in the math that I wanted to take. It wasn't the professor I wanted originally but beggars can't be choosers and I heard all of the beginner math teachers were very good. The admissions lady said that I had to send an e-mail to my advisor to tell him that I had signed up for another class and he would finalize it for me, apparently all freshman have to have their schedules approved my the advisors. So I swung him an e mail and I got a reply saying he was out of the office <.< At this time I was freaking out, I wasn't going to get approved in time, but I guess he just forgot to take off his instant reply thing-a-ma-jig and we got it sorted out. I missed the first day of the math class but that's okay. At 11:30 I had a Dr K appointment because my foot had developed a nasty infection. I went and she believes it was the internal stitches aggravating my foot but I was to stay on the antibiotics. I go back Tuesday to see if I can start walking *crosses fingers*

My foot as of today. It is looking very good!

Tuesday: My first Microbiology class at 9:30, I believe this is going to be a difficult class for me but it will be a fun challenge. 

Wednesday: SNOW DAY! Maine got at least a foot of snow so all classes were cancelled, great time for me to get ahead in my accounting class, I am in week two for my work and it is only week one.

Thursday: Now, this was one amazing day/night! My friend Chris, who my friend Kady introduced me to two years ago, Tia, Stephanie (Tia's friend), and I were planning to go to the movies to go see Season of the Witch. Chris lives an hour away and the plan was that his mom would drive him and go see the movie with us, which I was totally fine with his mom seemed cool in my book. Then on Wednesday she said that it would depend on the roads and she would go grocery shopping instead. This seemed reasonable to me, the roads were pretty nasty on Wednesday due to the storm and I wouldn't want myself, or anyone driving in those conditions if they didn't have to. Then last minute on Thursday, his mom decided that "It was a school night" and she didn't want to bring him. This really made me mad, why say this NOW when we had been planning this for a week? I was scrambling for ideas to make this work, Chris even tried bribing his sisters and she didn't take it, was pretty much thinking it was all lost and I was going to give up trying to plan anything every again. Then, I came up with an idea that I was sure could never happen. I asked Tia if she didn't mind going to pick Chris up, Chris was more than willing to pay for gas for the trip. The plan was a good one, but I wanted to ask my mom. Yes, I am 19, but I still make sure to at least ask my mom for permission on things I am not sure of. I asked her and she said that I could do want I wanted, I was 19, and it was my car, she wasn't keen on the idea but she said she couldn't really say no. I was baffled, and was thinking "No way, there has to be a catch somewhere" but I just left it and told Chris to be ready for 5. I also told my mom that I would check in a ton of times, which I did. So we got Chris, after seeing a horrible accident on the interstate that had Tia and I pretty rattled, and almost going off the road once and me screaming "FUCK!" as we started to slide ^.^ but it was all good we weren't going fast at all. 

We finally got the movies at 6:30ish, the movies started at 7:10. Through the day we had been joking about how we were going to get kicked out of the theaters...I didn't think it would actually come true! Haha just kidding we didn't get kicked out, but we almost did. Hey we are teenagers, having fun, give us a break. We were just laughing at each other's commentary, wait I lied, Chris's commentary he did most of the talking haha. 

Overall it was a fantastic night and it couldn't have worked out better. Granted, I didn't get home until 11, but I'm starting to realize that I'm only young once, and soon I'm going to be in a full time student out of state, and full time job one day, and I won't be able to do all these spontaneous ideas!  

Tia

Stephanie and Tia

Chris

So the night was amazing and I can't ever ask for better friends...EVER!!! 

Oh before I forget! Chris wore that hat above to the theaters and took it off the whole time he was inside, I mean what guy does that these days?! =D

Thanks for reading everyone!

Top 10 weeks.

This has been a week for the books, well it might make the top 10. I really need to start writing down stuff for my blog day to day, because I can remember that it was an interesting week, but what made it interesting is drawing a blank.

So for the things I can remember:

1. I had a first this week. The first time I ever gave a work notice. With school coming up and me wanting to become a vet, I decided that it was best to give my "two weeks notice" (it wasn't really a two week notice since I'm out on leave but you get the picture) so I could explore the vet world and try some other jobs, because of course that is what being young is all about, being able to explore new things. It was very hard for me to do this and the whole time I was talking to my boss my nerves were going 100 miles a second and I was waiting for some kind of blow up, because I generally think of the worse possible scenario. But I told my boss that I loved working for her and I loved my job, which is the 110% truth! I think everyone needs to either be a waitress or work banquets and weddings. With the outcome being no where near my imagined outcome, my boss told me that I could use her as a reference and that I need to keep in touch. In return I told her that she knows where to reach me if she ever needs a last minute worker.

2. Classes start tomorrow! I picked up all of my books and it cost me, well FAFSA, close to $900. I am taking the follow courses and the number of text books per class.

A&P: 4 text books

College Algebra: 1 text book

Accounting (online): 2 text books

Microbiology: 1 text book

I am super excited to start these classes, I realize this semester will require a lot more effort on my part than last semester but I am ready and prepared to give it my all!

3. I have been counting down the days until my next Dr. K appointment in hopes that I can start partial weight bearing, which was going to be this Friday. But today I realized that I had an infection in my incision, so I am going tomorrow between classes to see Dr. K and my mom picked me up antibiotics, thanks Mom you are my savior! I got an infection during my last surgery on my other foot, but this surgery is different from all the other ones because Dr K. stitched me up internally instead of externally and my incision was a little "gappy" but even though I did all of the procedures recommended by Dr K. I still got an infection, but things happen and I'm sure I will be okay, it's just discouraging. 

4. I have a "date" on Thursday xD

Thanks for reading!

Could have been a great day.

Today was going to be an epic day. I got the idea from my friend Erin's blog Skijoring but since I don't have a horse...and I'm nonweight bearing on one of my feet...I had to be creative! So replace a horse with a four wheeler and the skis with a snowboard and *poof* you have got yourself a fun filled day! The only problem was that my sister, Tia, and I had to wait for my Grandmother to wake up from her nap, she works nights. So I figured around 2 she would be up. Well around that time the phone rang, Tia answered then hung up, then called my mom to ask if she could go hang out with a friend <.< So much for a fun filled day!!!!!

Workout:
Last night I was only able to do 100 sit-ups and this morning my stomach was burning, WOO!
Did 5 reps of my leg exercise

Also I have been trying to stick to just a bowl of oatmeal for breakfast instead of my 2 eggs over easy, home fries, oat toast on the grill, and sometimes sausage patties, and a donut sometimes also. Hoping this might help lower that itty bit of fat I'd like to loose. It's nothing HUGE just a little bit :)

Thanks for reading

Getting back into shape

Last night I made kind of a new years resolution, but more of a "while I'm gimpy" resolution, to get back into shape. I did mention when I went through my depression spurt that I did 30 sit-ups and some leg exercises. Well from that point on I did 0 sit-ups and just stuck to my leg exercises, and even then it wasn't consistent. So, last night my got my lazy arse into my room, but my body pillow on the floor for me to use as a mat and decided that I was going to do 100 sit-ups. I did those 100, talked to my friend Chris, then decided I could go for some more, so I did 150. I stopped there because I didn't want to do too many then not be able to function this morning. Next I did 5 sets of my leg exercises, where I lift both feet/legs 6 inches off the floor, keep them together then spread them apart, put them back together, lift one leg, bring it down, lift my other leg and bring it down. That is one rep. Its a great lower ab and leg exercise, one I learned from young marines. I so miss the days I could do 200 sit-ups in 2 minutes. I'm hoping I can stick to this until I'm back in the saddle, and even after then because I know being fit helps my riding so much.

Just a little post tonight.

Thanks for reading :)

Snow pictures!

Yesterday was the first day since the snow storm that I have been able to really get outside and enjoy the weather. It was in the high 30s or low 40s so I took the oppertunity to go outside and play with my dogs Louie and Sissy. Well, I should say I played with Louie. Sissy is too much of a prissy dog, and will NOT get her paws dirty or wet over a snowball, or better yet over anything that isn't food. She knows she is the queen of the house and it is so funny to watch her act like she is royalty. Louie, on the other hand loves to play with anything that can be thrown and caught. The problem with Louie is that he can go and fetch something, but instead of bringing it back to you he runs the other way and makes you go get it. You can refuse to go after him but he will just look at you, sit down, drop the toy, and will wait forever for you to go get the toy, that is why I prefer to throw snowballs, I can just pick up another bunch of snow and throw it for him without having to go anywhere, which is really good since I am on crutches now.

The Miss Pris herself! 

Louie. It was funny to see him climb up those huge snowbanks.

My cat Jasmine..who meowed and thought she wanted to go out but after 2 seconds it was to cold for her.

Louie about to catch a snowball

I see you, but do you see me?

He waits there with one front paw up until you throw the toy or object :)

On news about today, well first off Happy New Years! Next, I was super bored so decided to clean and polish my show boots!

See? SHINY! I am very proud of myself. Even though I probably won't be showing next summer if everything goes according to plan :)

Happy New Year everyone and thank you for reading!