The Best Way to Spread Christmas Cheer

Is singing loud for all to hear.  Right?

I admit it-I have been a total Grinch this year.  And not just because the radio stations play Christmas music so annoyingly early.  The reason I haven't been in the mood to be jolly is because I'm moving.  Due to family circumstances, I'm having to leave the beautiful cabin that I rent in Versailles by January 1st and move myself, Gemini, Wrigley, Romeo and Royal elsewhere.  Of course, renting is always a risk and although I knew this was not a permanent location, I didn't have any plans to leave just yet.  Don't fret-I already have a new place to live....but more about that later.

So, why am I so humbug?  Everyone loves Christmas, including myself.  I love decorating and lights and my little Dickens villages and the new tree I bought last year that is super tall and all of my cool Christopher Radko ornaments...and my obsession with wrapping paper.  But what's the point of putting everything up this year?

So, instead of stockings hung by the chimney with care, I have an empty mantel.

Instead of a tree, lights, ornaments, and gifts wrapped up with bows, I have everything I own in boxes piled everywhere.

And it STINKS.  HUMBUG!!!

So, I've been moping around all December with this anti-Christmas attitude.  I tried to listen to some Holiday music earlier this week.  Nope, nothing, and changed to 80's hits instead.  I haven't even thought of Christmas shopping, and really am in denial of the whole holiday.  Then, a couple things happened that started to melt this icy heart.  Last night, I attended our annual Love on a Leash Holiday party, hosted by a member  whose house was beautifully decorated for Christmas.  It was a great time!  Today, I decided to turn on some music while packing and give it another whirl.  Pandora's Today's Christmas Radio.  And that's when it hit me.  Wanna know what was going through my mind?  Honest...it was this exact scene:

Christmas is going to come, even though there are not stockings or presents or lights on a tree, and you don't need those things to feel in the holiday mood.  If the Hoo's can do it without decorations, darn it, so can I!!

There is one place, though, that I feel most rooted, even when other parts of my life are crumbling.  It's where I go to clear my head and be with some of the greatest people I have ever known doing what we love.  It's the barn, and my barn family, who are there every day taking care of our horses, chipping in to help each other out when we need it, venting when one of us needs to bitch about something, crying, laughing, and enjoying each other's company.  Each of us leads a very different life, but when we get to the barn, we are all unified horse crazy women.  Today, I thought "why not decorate my stall!!"  After all, I practically live at the barn...so, I drug out some decorations and spruced up the place a bit:

I even tortured the grey horse with a little holiday cheer.  I want to thank one of my BBFs (best barn friends), Erica Spradling, for taking these pictures of us.

Nope, not gonna happen....

Oh wait, this keeps my ear warm.  

Does she know what she's doing??

What is this???

Best picture ever...and I almost lost my finger in the process!

I am so lucky to have such a enormous group of horse friends, even beyond the barn where I board, that within 2 hours, I had practically secured a new, wonderful place to live.  Thanks to each and every one who called, emailed, and helped me.  I now start a new adventure on a farm with a wonderful family and I cannot wait!!  I'm sure there will be many mis-adventures in 2014, when you combine horses, goats, chickens, dogs, cats....insanity is sure to follow!!

The next week will be a blur of moving, and luckily Mom is coming to help, before the trip up to Chicago for the holidays.  So, if I don't see everyone and say it before then, Merry Christmas, my dear friends.

 And I do believe it is time to watch Elf-SAAANNNNTTTTAAA!!!  I know him!


**cue John Denver and the Muppets.....my favorite song on my favorite album.

Come On, Man!

Being in the field of equine nutrition, I try to diversify myself and attend many different breed and discipline shows to get out of my comfort zone.  Most cases, I find myself picking up some helpful tips that may help me with my own horse; sometimes, I’m cringing inside, wondering what in the world they are trying to accomplish!  Anywho, there’s always something that I appreciate about each one.  Case in point:  I’m in Ohio this weekend for an open horse show, predominated by Quarter Horses and Paints.  One thing I have always appreciated about the stock type horse is their chill demeanor, pleasant attitude, and as content in a Western saddle as they are in an English saddle.  I have always gravitated towards this type of horse.  As a young girl riding in both hunters and eventing, the first love of my life was a Quarter Horse gelding named Ozzie.  Later, I purchased a 4 year old solid Paint, and we did a little bit of everything:  hunters, eventing, and even barrel racing!  They are truly the “all-purpose equus caballis”.    

My Romeo, such a good boy.  At one of his last shows.

Even with all of their perks, the horse itself is not perfect.  After all, they are still a prey animal, and the flight instinct will still engage when threatened.  And just like us, they are entitled to have an off day.  And as you probably, guessed it, I’m about to drop the bomb on these 2 wonderful breeds….or shall I say, the rules that govern them.  Okay, here we go:

An Open Letter to AQHA and/or APHA:

Bravo!  You, AQHA/APHA have two of the world’s largest equine breed registries, and harbor the two largest youth organizations in the world.  With over 30,000 youth, you sing the praises of being the “leader in youth developmental programs, as evidenced by other breed associations which have taken these same concepts and made them available to young people in other organizations” (AQHYA website).  Well, I think it’s time that the tables are turned, and the teacher becomes the student.  

Let’s talk about helmets.  I mean, seriously, what gives?!?  I honestly didn’t know they even made the “hunt cap” anymore.  Last I saw one was as a mantel decoration!  For those of you who have never seen one before, they are decorative only, and serve no purpose other than to complete the hunt ensemble.  Without a harness to secure it to the riders head, you can guarantee that your outfit won’t be complete when your butt hits the dirt, not to mention your noggin.  

Not even the youngest of riders, those under 10 years of age, are not required to wear an ASTM/SEI approved helmet with harness secured in a majority of the classes, according to your rules.  The only time they are required for youth is anytime over fences (AQHA SHW320.2).  

Other breeds and disciplines have adopted strict helmet regulations for youth riders in the name of promoting safety to the future leaders of our industry.  In 2011, the USEF made it mandatory for all Dressage riders under 18 years of age to wear approved helmets at all times.  As of April 1^st of this year, riders competing in US Dressage shows, including youth, adults, professionals and amateurs, are required to wear an approved helmet at all levels of competition.  Canada was actually the first to institute this regulation for Dressage, and the US quickly followed suit.  

What’s that, you say?  Your horses are safe enough to be ridden without?  It doesn’t take a rotational fall on cross country or impact at a high rate of speed during racing for a serious injury to occur.  Check out this website:  www.riders4helmets.com   There are stories of injuries from even the simplest tasks, like mounting.  What made the officials at USEF decide to implement a mandatory helmet rule in Dressage?  Because of riders like Olympian Courtney King-Dye, who suffered a severe brain injury in 2010 when her horse tripped and fell, the Dressage community began to look closely at rider safety.  

Yes, enforcing approved ASTM/SEI helmets to all youth would include those riding Western.  So what?  Have we created judges so ignorant that they would place a helmet-donning Western rider with a well-ridden Horsemanship pattern under a poor rider with a Western hat?  Will the judges see the riders with helmets, chuck their notes in the dirt, and say “I’m outta here”?  Please.  If that’s the argument, show me in the rulebook where it states that attire is to be evaluated.  It’s not in there, trust me.  

Helmets!!!  AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!

As leaders of youth development and education, why openly ignore the most basic and important aspect of horsemanship?  Why not encourage youth, the future of your organization, to be safe riders from the get-go?  And honestly, what’s the harm?  What negative impact has ever come from decreasing the risk for seriously injury?  (ironically, as I’m sitting here typing this letter, I had to jump out of my seat to dodge a spooked horse, ridden by a youth).  

In January of 2013, the FEI instituted a mandatory helmet policy for all riders when mounted at FEI Events, with several exceptions that are certain to be removed by 2014 or later.  Trust me, it’s coming down the line and eventually every single person on horseback will be required to wear an approved helmet.  It’s time to think about being the leaders in this area of equine safety, and a good place to start is with your own youth.  

Seriously. 

Smokey's Blog Entry

Hay All!!  Since Kristen is too busy with whatever she does from sun up to sun down to share the stories about her most prized possession, I decided to pick up her slack and blog for her.  Smokey here reporting from Bittersweet Acres aka my kingdom.  Kristen told me that she hasn't blogged since the wintertime, and then, one lady at the barn this weekend with a big red horse told her that her blog sucks.  So, being the genius that I am, I told her "Stand back....I got this".

In February, Kristen took me and another dark horse (Patrick) to something called a bomb proofing clinic.  My favorite part was when I got to stand on top of this tall platform so I could look bigger.  My least favorite part included putting my feet in water (it was cold!) and walking through this thing called the "car wash".  I prefer not to have strange objects touching me at all times.  For a good time, check out all my awesomeness as I desensitize the humans in these pictures:  http://www.ericpeek.com/Events/KHP-training-clinic/28131705_VRHSzw#!i=2377523804&k=PkdMczb

Shortly afterward, Kristen was either hypnotized or under a witch's spell of the male variety.  Don't understand it....don't wanna know.  I met him.  Meh.  Let's get back to more important things. 

Like when I escaped the terrors of the ridiculous items called "blankets"-my plan was just to remove a layer, and somehow it didn't quite goes as planned.  The end result was the same-the blanket came off.  It just wasn't in one piece anymore and required the help of humans to remove/amputate it.

Let's just say I like to keep things interesting!!

Last but not least, I would like to say this.  Kristen has this notion that I have talent, and dreams about us sailing over fences and bringing home buckets of blue ribbons.  Now, I know that I am an excellent jumper, but until she can get her crap together, it's not gonna happen.  And I test her daily to prove a point.  I'll spook, jump, spin, buck, and bolt at the slightest breeze and then spook again just to keep her on her hooves...I mean toes.  I can do this all day and night, just try me.  Now, I admit that sometimes I take it a bit too far, but hay-she hasn't fallen off yet!!  ...err since last year.

Goal Updates-January 12th

Hey!  It's been about a little over a week since I announced my goals for 2013.  Here's a quick update to how things are progressing:

Weight Loss:

• Lost 1.2 pounds since starting on January 4th.  
• Motivation level = pretty high
• Keys to success = tracking diet on My Fitness Pal, eating before 7pm each night, no soda after 7pm each night (yikes!).  So far, so good.  
• Next week = keep tracking, drink more water.

Guitar:

• I'm saving up money to buy a used guitar so I can begin lessons.  Lots of people have given me recommendations for an instructor, so I'm pumped to get started as soon as I can!

Smokey Update:

• Of course, when I was ready to do some ground work, Smokey injured himself and was lame.  No problem, he got a few days off and is on the mend.
• We've lunged the last 2 days because the weather because the rain has made the rings a giant swamp.  He's been...distracted lately.  I don't know why, but I'm not too anxious to get on him until he gets more focused.  I'm not sure if this is just the weather, the construction stuff at the farm, or what his deal is.  Anyways, today's lunging was in the pouring rain, and you can see he was none to thrilled about that.

• We did enter a clinic for February 16th.  It's the Mounted Police Civilian Sensory Clinic, and I have wanted to do this for a long time with him.  They use training methods simillar to when working with their horses.  Pretty cool, huh?  Here is the website if you want to see what sort of things they do:  http://friendslexingtonmountedpolice.org/civilian_sensory_clinic.html
• I just heard today that my friend Rosemary and her horse, Patrick, will be going with us to the clinic.  Double YAY!!!  It's always good to do clinics with a friend, especially ones that have pretty calm horses.  I'm sure Patrick will be a star!  Lots of others will join us for spectating too.  I have a feeling there will be plenty of photographic moments.  

That's all for now!  I see everyone getting their 2013 show season schedules ready, and I'm getting excited to see what accomplishments all my friends will make this year.  Have a good week!!  Love, Kristen & Smokey