Update

Here comes one much-needed update!

So, Eddie and I have been doing a lot of things lately. Riding a lot, working on our lead changes, going for walks... you name it. It's been pretty nice out (not considering the wind) so I've been outside for about 4 hours every day working with the horses, doing chores and trimming.
I trimmed Eddie yesterday, I'll do Jigs tomorrow, and then Scout on Sunday. Because..... *drum roll please* Mom and I leave for Florida in less than a week! AAAACCCCKKKKK!!!!!
That's kinda crazy, but it will be super fun!
We're going from this...
Chilly & windy Illinois prairie

 To this...
Hot & humid Florida!

It's going to be a blast! And then the next course I go to will be for my final! WOWZA! I can't wait!

Happy 5 Year Anniversary, Eddie!

Yesterday, it was Eddie's five year anniversary since he came here. I am so blessed to have him in my life and I am so happy that we could give him a forever home here on our farm.

Happy Birthday, Eddie!

I'm forcing myself not to be hard on myself by saying I've been a bad blogger. Because there are so many other things to do with my day and if anything, I'm actually glad that the computer has taken a back seat for the past few months. It has been so nice out and instead of talking about Eddie on here, I'm out there playing with him!! For the past few days I've been cracking down on my final exam. I've been memorizing the things I'm going to be graded on so that I don't miss anything - mainly with treatment recommendations and exercise schedules. But it's going really well. I have 9 things memorized out of 13. Four more and I'll be all set!

Well, I posted a video about Eddie's birthday yesterday and we had one fabulous birthday! All the video clips were taken from yesterday and we had so much fun. We did our lead changed out in the pasture, rode in the outdoor for a long time, went for a trail walk and were doing stuff for 2+ hours. I love good weather and I love being out in the barn!

So yes, Eddie's Birthday was yesterday. He is ten years old! Time has gone by so fast. We bought him when he was 4! Wow. I am beyond blessed to have him in my life and no words can describe how much I love him and care for him. He has completely changed my life and has turned into the most beloved horse I could possibly wish for. Happy Birthday to most incredible horse that I have ever known!!!

Hope that you all are having a great April,

Romans 10:9-10
“If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.”

New Video to Fill Ya'll In!

Windy, Windy

We should have named our farm "Stinking Windy Farm."
It was windy, chilly, and sunny today.
Therefore, I didn't do too much playing with the horses, just lots of hanging out with them. Eddie and I played with our canter lead changes in the pasture, I let him graze for a nice long time while I moved the t-post insulators for the track. Diesel has figured out how to get under the electric fence and graze Eddie's long grass that is in the pasture, so we have to lower the bottom line.
Anyway, Ed and I played, went for walks, and then Diesel and I went for a nice long walk around the property. They are such good boys! :-)
Then I trimmed Scout - his feet are looking GREAT! After a laminitis episode in January... they look amazing!

Well, gotta go, time to do the horse's final check.
Hope that you all had a great day!

2 Corinthians 5:14-15
For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.

Busy Times

I'm sitting here with a purring cat on my lap who is also sitting on my sister's laptop keyboard. Ah well, at least I can still type! ;-) Just forgive any misspellings!

The grass is lush, and the horses are crazy for it. Eddie and I have been playing in the outdoor and riding in there because there's just so much grass in the pasture. We do our cantering out there, but still. It's nuts! Almost time to mow!

So, every day I play with Eddie for about an hour, groom him up, take Scout for a walk, take Diesel for a walk, and then 'flush' Diesel's mouth because he gets grass wadded up in there.

Yeah! There's grass everywhere!! haha!

This is what Eddie and I have been doing when it comes to riding. HQ pivots, FQ pivots, 'roll backs,' shoulder in, haunches in. I love it. And Eddie does too. It gives us something small to do while we wait for it to dry up (I hate mud) and the wind to settle down. (He hates wind)

Hope that ya'll are doing well, and I'll be posting more often. I miss it!

Psalms 62:5-7
My soul, wait silently for God alone,
For my expectation is from Him.He only is my rock and my salvation;
He is my defense;
I shall not be moved. In God is my salvation and my glory;
The rock of my strength,
And my refuge, is in God.

Golly Jeepers

Only 5 blog posts all last month.
Sorry bout that.
It's just been so nice out - warm, mild, everything is blooming and spring is in full swing.
Been playing with Eddie every day, riding every day, working some more on lightness & softness - basically refining everything and building up a strong foundation to start some new things. We'll be doing lots of cantering this spring/summer, just waiting for it to dry out, and we've been working on our flying lead changes over a pole (groundwork). He's getting better and better, because he picks up the right lead now and changes within a few strides if he doesn't.
Well, I'm sorry for the lack of posts, but it seems the more I move away from the computer, facebook, blogger, forums, pinterest, the more I actually get done. Hey, whattaya know?! :-) I started a book that I've been writing in and researching. I finished my final and passed for Applied Equine Podiatry. Next month mom and I go to Florida again and then in August I graduate! Then for a graduation present, mom and I are going to see Buck Brannaman up in Bristol, WI. Stoked for that.
Well, maybe I'll post more this month, but if I don't - at least you will know what I've been doing. :-) I haven't disappeared, I promise!

Is it Summer? Or Spring? It just can't seem to make up its mind.

Well, there has been a lot going on lately and it seems like spring only lasted for a couple of days before the 80 degree weather kicked in.
Ah well, can't complain. It's been nice to be outside barefoot and hosing the horses off. It was almost warm enough to go swimming today too - if only the pool was open. ;-) hehe!
So, let's see... Eddie and I have been working on lead changes on the ground. His right side is weak, so I am helping him build that up and get equal. So we'll start on the left lead going on a right circle and then I'll have him go over a high cavaletti. So he changes leads and is on the right one! Yesterday he was on his right lead for a whole circle, so that was great! He didn't switch back to his left.
While riding, we've been doing sort of the same thing. Shoulder in going to the left while he leads with his right fore. I know, it's kinda confusing, but it's so much easier when riding him. We did that a lot today and he was getting a lot better with it. "As we leave the rail (coming off a circle), come down the rail." I remember learning that years and years ago and it has stuck like glue. And let me tell ya, it works!
We've also been working on our cutting game while I ride. We'll ride along the fence line and then turn it into a sidepass while he disengages his HQ. So that turns into a turn and then we ride along the fence back the way we came. He's really getting it and yesterday we did it without the fence. Very fun! Now we just need some cows! :-)

Jeremiah 17:7-8
“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,
And whose hope is the Lord.
For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters,
Which spreads out its roots by the river,
And will not fear when heat comes;
But its leaf will be green,
And will not be anxious in the year of drought,
Nor will cease from yielding fruit.

Spr-ummer

Spring and Summer put together = Sprummer! And that is what we have been having this past week. The weather finally broke today and it looks like it's going to be cooler and cooler with every day that goes by.
Let's see... A lot of things have been goin on lately. Hence, my lack of postage. :-)
I'm starting to drive more and more after putting it off and forgetting about it for the past year. lol! But yeah, time to get it done and get my license when I'm eighteen. Good gravy, do I really turn eighteen in two months? Yikes! And that means we leave for Florida again in two months! Wowza! I don't know if I talked about it in my last post, but mom and I are headed to the sunshine state again instead of going to Pennsylvania for my next Equine Podiatry course. It will be fun - especially since we've been there before and we will know what to do and where to go.
Besides that, I've been reading, riding, playing, studying, biking, walking, riding some more, sweating, shopping, and last but not least working. Working = doing chores and trimming. Oh yeah, that's my kinda work! :-)
Anyways, I've been reading the latest issue of Eclectic Horseman and as usual, it is packed chock full of golden quotes, sayings, and ideas. Here is just one that stood out to me:

"Discipline happens before, punishment is after. A horse doesn't need punishment." -Buck Brannaman

I don't think I've ever run across a Buck quote that wasn't thought-provoking and utterly true.
Here are some pictures of Eddie and I when I rode yesterday and the day before:

Weee! Jumping!

Too hot for cowboy boots

Me & Eddie

 

Galatians 5:22-23
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”