P.S. World Equestrian Games start in less than a week!

CANNOT BELIEVE THIS MONUMENTAL EVENT IS ABOUT TO REALLY HAPPEN!!! TOO EXCITED TO EVEN THINK ABOUT IT!!!

Catching up

Just wanted to post a few pics from the last couple of weeks. Last weekend, Bruce completed his first triathalon and was AWESOME! He came in second overall behind an experienced Ironman guy (and collegiate swimmer) and said it was the most fun he's had in a race ever - so, a new addiction is born! It's really no surprise, though - marathons in his 20s, century bike rides and crit racing in his 30s, and I'm predicting Ironman Hawaii by 40! For better or worse, his friend Jared, who finished a superb fourth, has been bitten by the same bug, so he has a co-conspirator/training partner now! Our friends Melissa and Wendy also competed in the relay with a friend doing the swimming leg - I love this pic of Melissa on the run!

Everything else on the farm is good, although we lost our first chicken two nights ago - but honestly, any chicken that jumps into a dog pen with four large dogs really is asking for it. I know that sounds mean, but come on - 280 acres and that's where you choose to go? Hopefully the other seven watched and learned! Rowdy's ducks, on the other hand, are doing great and getting huge. Henry is all about the love - he'll let you just hold and pet him forever. Little Missy gets jealous and pecks at your hands as you pet Henry, but she's coming around.

So I guess that's about it - it's a GORGEOUS day - football this afternoon - ponies have the day off! Have a great one, everybody!

Fun Stuff!

We had a fantastic Labor Day weekend - tons of fun with family and friends as we celebrated Sharon's big birthday - a little cool for the pool (blue lips for all the kiddos) and had to throw some sheets on horses - crazy - but sunny and gorgeous otherwise! The kids rode awesome yesterday - Syd's canter work was super, and Rowdy can now post and steer at the trot all the way around the arena - big stuff! Trail rode with my father-in-law yesterday afternoon - love those little Quarter Horses for that - and rode Barney all over the farm today, and he was as quiet as the Quarter Horses - even by himself - REALLY loving that! Only small glitch in all of this is my trip to the Dr. this morning for a steroid shot - remember all that yard work I mentioned? Got some good poison oak on the side of my face that spread to my eyes last night - not so much fun, but small price to pay for such a great weekend! Hope everyone made it home safe - enjoy the short work/school week!!

Horseshow progress

Yesterday was a fun day with lots of good accomplishments. In our first two horseshows, Barney and I have qualified for the BLM and Region 1 Championships at second level - not bad. Yesterday's rides were at 3:00 in the afternoon and the temp was in the mid-90s, so I was thrilled to have any horse at all at that point! We definitely improved over our last show, with no major errors, and even had some 8's for our medium trot work!! Yesterday also marked the day when I conquered the last of my four worries as a horsewoman that I had mentally listed almost two years ago when our trainer/barn manager, Chelsea, left. I won't bore you with my crazy list of "could I handle that situation?" situations, but I'm pretty happy to have dealt with all of them now and made it to the other side smiling.

Of course after watching the videos of my rides, I see so many things I need to really improve as a rider, and I'm dying to get back on and get to work, but I promised Barney he could have the day off - he certainly has earned it (and my house and yard really need the attention)!

We're excited to have a long weekend with the kiddos and to be celebrating Bruce's sister's 40th Birthday! Happy Birthday, Sharon, and Happy Labor Day, everyone! We hope you have a great weekend!

Hay! Hay! Hay!

If you hear a huge nicker/sigh of relief, it's the horses and me! We are finally square baling hay today - hallelujah! July was rough - very hot, very dry - we had to graze cattle in the hay fields and even feed some round bales - in JULY!!! We really didn't think we would get a second cutting of grass hay, but August pulled thru for us with lots of rain and wonderful grass! Whew!!

Party at the Lake!

Here are a few snaps from the birthday weekend at the lake. I love the before and after of Rowdy, his buddy Tessa, and cousin Zach! They went for a couple of serious swims as they bounced right off the new tube! The other picture is of 7 of the 8 cousins. Good times!!