Lately life has brought me to Tennessee; the land of Dollywood, Pigeon Forge and men with bad pickup lines. But also, it has unfolded as a world of Fox hunting. Me and my crazy roommate work for TVH - walking hounds with the kennel huntsmen and riding loads of horses and jumping coops and learning to whip-in. Thus, life is good. Also, the 'ickey fatty' horse [one i previously posted pictures of] is at our barn fox hunting 1st flight with us! He is only six years old and born on the buckle, trots to the base of the jumps and stands well with the group at check points. And he can be yours! Yes, he is for sale.
So here is a tale from the newest TVH Honorary Whipper-in:
It was a bright, cold day and we were out hunting on the Knob's farm. Finally we emerged from the knee-knocker woods, a few bruises later, and came to an open field. YES, I thought to myself. But then the hounds race off into the distance, through a fence-line with snouts down and in full cry. Kick ON! Away we galloped, over a hill and down the other side...which was slipperier than expected. And my borrowed ex-prelim eventer mare begins to buck. Downhill. Buck. Canter. Buck. Canter. Bouncing me back and forth, I look up to see a coop. Crap. Well we bounced down the hill, popped over the coop and made it [to my own relief]. On the other side she threw her head to the ground and began to squeal like a piglet being squeezed. And she bucked all the way up the next hill. At that moment, my roommate looks over at me and laughs. Whoops. Guess we forgot her Regumate today.
I have not forgotten it since then.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Monday, October 18, 2010
Dallas - it's not just a city
Another tall tale from the ranch out west...
We had this absolutely stunning golden palamino gelding named Dallas. Beauty is as beauty does, or so they say. Well, Dallas was special, that was for sure.
I had never met a horse that did not tie. If they don't tie, how do you get them to stay put? Well one day, the cowboys decided he needed to learn to do so. We brought him in after morning roundup, and tied him to a four foot wide post inside a small corral. That way, in case he broke his halter and got loose he would be in an enclosed area.
Clever, right?
Well... we left him there during morning ride [about 3 hours] and when I returned I did not see him. With about 10-15 guests riding behind me, I said nothing to make sure I did not alarm them. Looking over, I did note the fence he had been tied to was GONE.
After finishing my wrangling responsibilities [taking care of guests and horses] I went over to the corral where we left D-man. And there he was: still tied to the post. He had snapped it like a twig off from out of the ground, and pulled back. So he was standing, head down, still tied to a post that had four rails nailed into each side. Well, he definitely learned the 'head down' cue that day.
We had this absolutely stunning golden palamino gelding named Dallas. Beauty is as beauty does, or so they say. Well, Dallas was special, that was for sure.
I had never met a horse that did not tie. If they don't tie, how do you get them to stay put? Well one day, the cowboys decided he needed to learn to do so. We brought him in after morning roundup, and tied him to a four foot wide post inside a small corral. That way, in case he broke his halter and got loose he would be in an enclosed area.
Clever, right?
Well... we left him there during morning ride [about 3 hours] and when I returned I did not see him. With about 10-15 guests riding behind me, I said nothing to make sure I did not alarm them. Looking over, I did note the fence he had been tied to was GONE.
After finishing my wrangling responsibilities [taking care of guests and horses] I went over to the corral where we left D-man. And there he was: still tied to the post. He had snapped it like a twig off from out of the ground, and pulled back. So he was standing, head down, still tied to a post that had four rails nailed into each side. Well, he definitely learned the 'head down' cue that day.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
My spurs go jingle-jangle...
Howdy ya'll! Upon my return from the wild, wild west I have been caught up in traveling! First off, I headed to the WEG's [World Equestrian Games] in Lexington, Kentucky for the eventing and freestyle reining. Followed by some good ole Hokie Football to re-live my collegiate life [even if only for a few days] and also spent some time riding some fantastic horses for some foxhunting & eventing friends.
But now, I have a tale from the ranch. =)
On my first real day of work, after a week of unloading hay, worming 57 horses and scooping loads after loads of poop, I was pretty relieved to get on a horse again. Domino, a 16 hh bay with a big bald face and giant white splotch on his belly, was my mount for my first ride taking guests out. Woo-hoo!
"Dominator" was what I eventually re-named him.
After heaving my saddle up onto his back, which I was convinced weighed somewhere near 1,000 lbs, and finished putting on all his tack, some starvin' wranglers made their way up for a hearty country cooked breakfast at the lodge. Upon returning to the barn, I was shocked: my horse was gone. Not tied to the post where I left him.
OHMYGOODNESS.
The other female wrangler, for whom it was her third year back at the ranch says, "Where'd your horse go?!" as she shot me a glare. Frantically, I ran to the road. No Domino. Turning, I looked up the ranch's dirt road. No Domino. Defeated, I moseyed back towards the barn, over the bridge and then, a falsh of that big bald white face popped out from the high grass. There he was. Thankfully he was down in the tall grass on the river bank just chomping away. Turd.
That was the day I learned that the Dominator liked to untie himself...and he was darn good at it.
But now, I have a tale from the ranch. =)
On my first real day of work, after a week of unloading hay, worming 57 horses and scooping loads after loads of poop, I was pretty relieved to get on a horse again. Domino, a 16 hh bay with a big bald face and giant white splotch on his belly, was my mount for my first ride taking guests out. Woo-hoo!
"Dominator" was what I eventually re-named him.
After heaving my saddle up onto his back, which I was convinced weighed somewhere near 1,000 lbs, and finished putting on all his tack, some starvin' wranglers made their way up for a hearty country cooked breakfast at the lodge. Upon returning to the barn, I was shocked: my horse was gone. Not tied to the post where I left him.
OHMYGOODNESS.
The other female wrangler, for whom it was her third year back at the ranch says, "Where'd your horse go?!" as she shot me a glare. Frantically, I ran to the road. No Domino. Turning, I looked up the ranch's dirt road. No Domino. Defeated, I moseyed back towards the barn, over the bridge and then, a falsh of that big bald white face popped out from the high grass. There he was. Thankfully he was down in the tall grass on the river bank just chomping away. Turd.
That was the day I learned that the Dominator liked to untie himself...and he was darn good at it.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Everyday is a winding road
Graduation.
I bought the cap, gown and tassel.
Invited my family and friends
And walked that very short walk to
Receive what you worked so hard
To earn the past four years.
A Diploma.
Very expensive piece of paper,
At least according to my loan statement.
Is now sitting in an expensive frame
On the floor of my bedroom. But I do
Not feel much different.
I thought I would feel
wiser,
accomplished,
older,
more mature,
but now I just feel...pretty much poor.
Virginia Tech has made my life richer, yes. Yet I will miss those four years dearly. Most of all, I will miss the security found with-in daily, weekly routines of class and work and roommates and weekends. But I will move on, in attempts to create a more vivid tomorrow. A brighter future for myself. I'll let ya know how it goes ;-)
I bought the cap, gown and tassel.
Invited my family and friends
And walked that very short walk to
Receive what you worked so hard
To earn the past four years.
A Diploma.
Very expensive piece of paper,
At least according to my loan statement.
Is now sitting in an expensive frame
On the floor of my bedroom. But I do
Not feel much different.
I thought I would feel
wiser,
accomplished,
older,
more mature,
but now I just feel...pretty much poor.
Virginia Tech has made my life richer, yes. Yet I will miss those four years dearly. Most of all, I will miss the security found with-in daily, weekly routines of class and work and roommates and weekends. But I will move on, in attempts to create a more vivid tomorrow. A brighter future for myself. I'll let ya know how it goes ;-)
Monday, May 3, 2010
Colby - "Icky Fatty"
My friend's horse who I have fallen in love with. He is a young draft cross and can certianly do dressage, or at least has the prospect to do so! Hopefully the weather will be clear and we can ride him this week - I have not ridden in about 6 months and I have to ride out west 2x a day starting May 22nd! BAH. I am going to be a sore cowgirl...
Cute little farm house on the barn property
And as promised, the Horse Judging "Dream Team" - go
hokies!
Life.
"Your life is an occasion. Rise to it."
A great movie quote that I heard on a very cute children's movie I enjoyed, cuddled up on the couch with my roommate. I sure will miss these last four years of college dearly, nights downtown, football games, crew regattas, VT Dressage Team shows, working at the farm, anatomy lab dissections, procrastinating with text twist online game with Holly, amazing Earth Sustainability Class experiences, everything about Block and Bridle, studying abroad, flipping horses for local friends...and all the wonderful people, professors and neighbors I have had the pleasure to meet.
Virginia Tech - it sure has been amazing. Take care of your kids, so that everyone can love college as much as I have. <3
A great movie quote that I heard on a very cute children's movie I enjoyed, cuddled up on the couch with my roommate. I sure will miss these last four years of college dearly, nights downtown, football games, crew regattas, VT Dressage Team shows, working at the farm, anatomy lab dissections, procrastinating with text twist online game with Holly, amazing Earth Sustainability Class experiences, everything about Block and Bridle, studying abroad, flipping horses for local friends...and all the wonderful people, professors and neighbors I have had the pleasure to meet.
Virginia Tech - it sure has been amazing. Take care of your kids, so that everyone can love college as much as I have. <3
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Wild, Wild West
Today I took a job offer way out west, in the Colorado Rockies working as a wrangler on a guest ranch. I am happy, scared, nervous, excited and all other emotions in between. Not to mention I had a dream I was mauled by a Grizzly Bear and bitten by a wolf recently. Eeek! It should be loads of fun, working and living with about 10+ other kids who will be on the ranch all summer long. I am super excited to get to spend time out west, I have never been to see the Rockies! My mom is a little, okay a lot, mad/sad/upset that I will not be coming home to work and live after vacation. And I will certianly miss the beach - for sure! But I went on that cruise in March when it snowed and was like freezing in Blacksburg. That should serve as my beach fix for now! Maybe I can get to Mexico to pay my uncle a visit this winter when the weather outside is frightful. Thankfully, two fo my best friends from VT are going out to Nebraska and Montana. Which I did not realize were so far away! I guess it is a summer for exploring! Worries aside, i am looking forward to experience the west and all of the wide open spaces.....
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
