Der Weekend

[dancinghorse]

No lesson neep; because of Easter, no Teacher. But Things did Ensue. We had guests for the weekend: old Equine-L buddies from 'way back, as in, they remember when keed was born (in 1995) and they've known da Pook in virtual form since he was a lump in his mommy's tummy. They needed to Escape from L.A., so they braved gale-force winds and dust storms and Phoenix traffic to arrive on Friday afternoon.

Mostly the weekend was about beautiful days (Chamber of Commerce weather, we call it) and food. Much, much food. I missed casacorona's waffles because I stayed home to work, and likewise didn't make the Tombstone expedition, but there was zucchini and fresh basil lasagna with salad and chocolate chip-pecan brownies with the best zinfandel I've ever had on Friday, salsa-and-cheese omelets Saturday morning courtesy of the guest who had a choice between being a chef or a lawyer (he opted for supporting the family and cooking as a sideline), and on Saturday evening, the Schlemmer Topf made roasted pork loin with thyme and fresh rosemary and potatoes and carrots, and good bread and Caesar salad and a lovely Merlot and the ultimate dessert, Sfogliata di Ricotta, a sublime interpretation of the Sicilian Easter pie as developed by an old friend in New Haven. And Sunday was poached eggs and toast and fresh fruit salad and ruby-red grapefruit off the tree, and then playing with ponies--eventer lady rode Capria beautifully, and casacorona and I did Teacher homework that involved teaching Pandora to focus on me when working on the ground. Pandora likes to lead the dance, you know. But she's learning. I longe this way actually, so it was just a matter of learning a specific variation while she was at liberty. Very cool stuff.

Then our guests discovered a flat tire. On Easter Sunday. But they found a tire and were able to make it home, and that was good. And I went off to the parentals' for roast beast and many fixings, topped off with creme brulee. By that time I was well and truly Overfed. Today is all about the green salad.

Capria managed overnight to get caught under a fence and gouge her back--no blood, some bruising, sigh. Longeing and ground-driving and no riding for her for a few days. Must fix fence. She had to really work to get stuck there, but this is Capria. Capria is dedicated to the cause of hurting herself as often and as weirdly as possible.

Now I am having Crash Day. I.e., work, horses, and more work. Pandora will get a ride. I think Camilla will get some work. And maybe da Pook.

He is btw doing much better in the feet. No longer flinching on the gravel, walking normally. He needs a trim--his toes are getting long--and he needs the worse foot smoothed out a bit around the dremeled-out crack, but the new growth continues to be excellent and he's much happier with his feet in general. I don't think he's going to need boots except for riding on rough ground, though while he still has the big crack, once it's grown out an inch I'm to start riding him with boots on to help maintain the shape of the foot (since the vet doesn't want any shoes on him). The vote seems to be leaning toward Boa Boots with gaiters. I'll confer with the Wonder Shoer to make sure he agrees.

I can't wait to ride my Pook again. Lord, I miss my Custom Pony. Not that the mares aren't wonderful and perfect, too, but he's my Perfect Match.

In other news, the Dobie is not doing well. Her meds have helped a bit, but despite an excellent appetite she continues to lose weight, and she has great difficulty coordinating herself to get up once she lies down. She had a very bad weekend, down and crying every few minutes all day long, every day. I'm afraid it's getting toward time for the last vet visit. She's had a long life, she's 15, and hasn't been doing very well for the past few months, so it's not unexpected, but still. End of an era and all that.

At least Spot seems to be fairly well recovered from her back injury. I'm being careful with her and not letting her hoo-ha around as much as she would like, but she's more or less back to normal.

Comments

[maryosmanski.livejournal.com]

Criminy, I need to diet just reading about that food served over the weekend!

I'm so sorry to hear the Dobie isn't improving any. I remember her as a very sweet and gentle dog from my visit out there.

[casacorona.livejournal.com]

The waffles, anyway, were healthier than one might think. I adapted the recipe to reduce the fat content by half, and used whole wheat flour. Splenda substituted for all sugar. With fruit instead of butter and syrup, they were quite reasonable.

[dancinghorse.livejournal.com]

The lasagna was also a low-calorie, low-carb version: fat-free cottage cheese and Lots of fresh basil, minimal mozzarella, minimal noodles, and most of the bulk was chopped zucchini in the red sauce. It tasted incredibly rich and filling but was only 230 calories for a large chunk.

The sfogliata on the other hand had No Redeeming Social Value.

[raithen.livejournal.com]

Oh Capria! Munchausen's syndrome is just NOT attractive, even in a horse as purty as you! there ARE other ways to get attention.

And poor Dobie. A peaceful end of life is wished for you, and comfort for your mom.

Go Pook with the re-finding of the feet of iron.

And apparently twas the Easter for Car Trouble - our company was delayed a day with a Dead. Battery that needed to be replaced on Good Friday. So I got to pretend like I know about riding as I stood in the center of the arena in the pouring rain, while Shaughns trotted around strung out and inverted and Beau paced. *sigh*

Be interested to hear what the Wonder Shoer thinks about the Boa Boots.

And now, I really should accomplish some work - I've been horse babbly girl this morning!

[dancinghorse.livejournal.com]

We all forget how to ride on occasion. I'm sure it will come back.

I found 6" eggbutt bits! (http://www.clarkessaddlery.co.nz/bitsandpieces_general.shtml) That should work if the 6" loose ring just misses being big enough. The mullen probably is effectively larger than the French, based on Camilla's (she's a 5.25 French and the 5 mullen is a little big, even).

In New Zealand. But even with shipping, they're cheaper than anything else I can find.

[raithen.livejournal.com]

excellent! And the NZ dollar makes it particularly advantageous!.

also, for info sake this cheapy korsteel oval mouthM is avail in a 6" from Apple Saddlery.... though I imagine it is Too. Small. and it sounds like you have the 6" anyway. (Do you know the difference between the KK and the oval mouth?). They also have the 18mm KK loose ring in a 150mm - which should be about 6", if my conversion is close to accurate.

[raithen.livejournal.com]

oh my! I am FAIRLY certain that it was Clarkes "Siddlry" where mom bought breeches when she was in NZ. *hee*

world is getting smaller everyday!

[casacorona.livejournal.com]

Hey, that's NZ dollars! It'll be even cheapers.

[sfmarty.livejournal.com]

If it fits Pandora, it is cheap.

Have you explained to Capria that you love her and adore her and really wish she would knock off the hurty stuff?

[xianghua.livejournal.com]

May have a US link for that bridle. Need to get to bookmarks on other computer.

[xianghua.livejournal.com]

bit, not bridle. This is what I get for typing while on the phone with a customer.

[xianghua.livejournal.com]

Okay, link I have is http://www.drafttack.com/draftbits.html

There's a bunch of them but all of them come in 6". :)

Cait

[dancinghorse.livejournal.com]

Thanks very much! I had found that site. I need either a French link eggbutt without mixed metal, which they don't have, or an eggbutt mullen, ditto. My quandary is that I need dressage bits in draft sizes, and draft bits are either not dressage-legal or they're too strong.

Luckily it seems the NZ site has dressage bits in Extra Large. I hope their measurements are accurate.

[xianghua.livejournal.com]

Oops, okay. :P I'm clueless about dressage rules. All the looseirng things look the same to me as long as they're made out of the same metal. :)

(Hey, I'm proud of myself for finally learning the difference between a curb and a snaffle- I never rode in anything but a hackamore or a curb on my own horses till Quincy.:) )

[dancinghorse.livejournal.com]

You did very well. We are proud. :)

[xianghua.livejournal.com]

My friend Alex said she was going to buy me one of these:



Only "I finally learnt the difference between a curb and a snaffle Yay For Me" has too many letters.

I think she was kidding.

I HOPE she was kidding. :P