Mud, Showoff, Forward, Rolex, Shopping!

How's that for a title? So now that all the snow has finally melted and it's not a muddy mess everywhere, I can actually work with my horse! Fancy that. Though... I did have to deal with this first:

Lovely, ain't it?

Yesterday I lunged and rode, we were sharing the arena initially with another rider who was on this super sweet little QH mare named Ladybug.  Well, everytime Cash would pass Lady while on the lunge he would puff himself up, arch his neck, and start prancing about.  He was being such a goof!! What a ham.

It did help in that it got him going a bit more forward.  Under saddle he was just very very stuck.  I think part of it is that he needs shoes for the summer, when the ground gets hard you can tell he is just a bit uncomfortable. But man, he just needs to learn to go forward!! I've started riding him in spurs which has helped, but wow he takes a lot of leg and core strength to ride. I also tried a new noseband/bit combo, I pulled out my figure 8 and tried a Herm Sprenger Klaus Balkenhol brigdoon that used to be Pie's bit (a bit I've always been fond of, I like the shape of it, nice n simple and most horses seem to really like it). He seemed to do a little better in, he wasn't biting at the bit so much, we'll keep on it for a bit and see how it goes.

Mom, taking pictures is boring!

Otherwise, I spent several hours yesterday glued to my computer watching the live feed from Rolex.  Buck's ride on Reggie just gave me goosebumps, and it was just a thrill to see him so excited, fist pumping, after crossing the finish line!

The baby helped me watch too, though she was
more interested in banging on the keyboard!

A new farrier is coming out a week from tomorrow to put shoes on Cash, nothing against my old farrier at all, I really liked him, but I didn't feel he was quite clicking with my horse.  I'm also hoping to secure some regular riding lessons this summer and get to some shows!  Then, I've got a decent bit of extra $$ burning a hole in my pocket so I think I'm going to go on a spending spree and pick up some things from my Wish List, such as the helmet, XC vest, and maybe a dressage bridle (if I can decide on one I like).

In short, my horsie life is looking up right now :)

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Getting to be Derby time!! (and ROLEX!!)

Well, it's that time of year again!! Rolex starts in just a few days (AND I'M GOING TO BE OUT OF THE HOUSE ALL DAY SATURDAY AND UNABLE TO WATCH THE LIVE CROSS COUNTRY FEED!!!! D:) and the Kentucky Derby is just around the corner.

Aside from my minor crisis about this saturday and cross country (maybe I can stream it on my phone.... hmmmmm), I decided to post some thoughts about some of the Derby contenders coming up here soon. I've listed the favorites, because, well they are all I've had time to analyze, I'll take a peep at some of the other entries (they are mostly GII and GIII winners) maybe later this week or next.  So far, my pick is Dullahan, depending on how he works I can see him being a big threat out there. I also like Union Rags and Gemologist.

Union Rags - BIG strong horse, with a powerful running style. Got boxed in during the Florida Derby but once he was clear he made an impressive late run to finish 3rd, if the race had been 1/8th of a mile longer (aka derby length) he would've won.

 

Dullahan - Another big, impressive horse with a lot of power. Absolutely aced an impresive field in the Blue Grass Stakes this past weekend. I bet he will be a strong challenger in the closing rush. Additionally, he ran the 1 1/8 mile race in 1:47.94 which is a new track record for the polytrack at Kneeland. How will he fare on the dirt? We shall see!

 

Bodemeister - Got to the front early on in the Arkansas Derby and never looked back, plowing away to win by 9 lengths in a time of 1:48.71 for 1 1/8 mile. Impressive, yes--initially, but looking at the competition? The rest were just not the same quality.

 

Take Charge Indy - Gutsy little runner, led wire to wire in the Florida Derby with a time of 1:48.79, if Calvin Borel keeps the ride for the Derby he would be a wirey contestant in the end.

 

I'll Have Another & Creative Cause - Two good horses who ended up neck and neck in the Santa Anita Derby with I'll Have Another just eeking out the win by a nose with a time of 1:47.88 for 1 1/8 mile (granted, on a polytrack). I suspect both to be up there in the heat of things in the stretch run to the wire.

 

Gemologist - undefeated, he ran 1:50.96 in the 1 1/8th Wood Memorial to hold off a charging Alpha, the time wasn't very impressive, but he was easily able to hit another gear in the stretch when challenged. It'll be interesting to see how many more gears he can hit when the pressure is on.

 

Hansen - Impressive sprinter, not so sure he has what it takes to go the distance, he definitely seemed to flounder as Dullahan rode him down in the Blue Grass. 

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For once, I want an iPhone

I'm an avid Android user, I've shunned all things Apple for years, just didn't care to get caught up in it, besides... I think they are WAY too much $$ for what they can do. I think iPhones are over-prices, over-hyped phones, and I'm perfectly happy with my Droid. I also much prefer my Sansa mp3 player, it can play video, listen to radio, play music, all the same things an iPod can do, but at half the cost... and a longer battery life!!

BUT.

The Badminton iPhone App has me reeeaaaally wishing, for the first time in my life, that I had an iPhone. I want that app so bad! But unfortunately it's only for iPhones, boooooo. It has live scores, rider profiles, virtual course walks, podcasts, the whole shebang. But... I can't have it!! Grrr.

I think there is a Rolex app I can get on my phone, want to say I got it last year, or... no, maybe that was for the WEG. I forget now. Life is too crazy to remember those little things. But... ROLEX! Coming up fast, weee! Sure wish I could be there, one day, I will!

I will be going down here in a few months to the Colorado Horse Park for the CCI* and CCI** to hang out and volunteer, I love jump judging. It gets me out, lets me enjoy the horse show atmosphere, the energy of the vent. I've been reading blogs about The Fork right now, and jogs, and horse show prep, and training sessions, and lessons. I miss that all so much!!! Can't help but day dreaming about when I'll get to do that again in like 5 years... lordy that is so far away! Maybe I can find a catch ride in the meantime *schemes*

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