Normally this only applies to those of us that remain in the great northeast for the winter, but thanks to Mother Nature finally learning about equality, the entire country is in a deep freeze. They're predicting "snow" in Ocala tonight and northern Florida has missed a white Christmas by about 2 weeks. We're going to be laughing about this up in New York until orange juice prices go up.
In the AP, where people are prepared with actual winter clothes, winter is just starting to kick into full swing. Kate and Chase have icicles hanging off their whiskers in the AM (and in Kate's case, one HUGE icicle hanging off of her side. I didn't ask. She seemed embarrassed), buckets are starting to freeze overnight and riders are praying for their god of choice to bring them fleece-lined breeches/shirt/helmets. Doors are sticking, dumping the wheelbarrow requires a running start and the heated viewing room becomes harder and harder to leave.
Buuut... as tough as snow makes it, the horses love it. Oliver positively tippeetoes out the door with glee when he realizes there's a new dusting of snow on the ground. Kate's feet aren't sore and she comes down into the run in shed to eat. It seems like everytime I look out the viewing room window her and Chase are either rolling in the snow or lying down having an afternoon nap. Otis thinks he's fancy in his winter jacket, Pick and Jack play ALL day... There isn't a single horse that isn't enjoying the weather.
It's hard to be frustrated too long at the weather up here. The horses are healthy and mentally happy. We (me) may be getting a little squishy from lack of riding but that'll pick up again once god of choice has Dover ship that fleecelined bodysuit.
So for now, until it warms up a bit, I advise you of this. Everytime you start to crab about the weather, think of Oliver. Picture the expression on his face as the back door slides open and he sees fresh snow. Think of him doing his little happy dance all the way to the round pen gate, anticipating the moment when his lead rope is unsnapped and he's free to roll, roll, ROLLLLL til his heart is content or Charley bites him. I assure you, this mental image never goes stale and it will never cease to make you smile. I'm not saying it's going to carry us through the winter but every little bit helps...
...obviously this little mental exercise only works for those of us here up north. For those of you experiencing winter in Florida I'm not sure anything is going to make you feel better except for the thermometer hitting 70. Ha!
Sorry. Heh.
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Friday, January 1, 2010
Happy New Year! We have a blog!
No seriously, we do. And I'm going to keep it updated. That's my resolution!
This is meant to serve in conjunction with the new TWF website as a public space where we can update the awesomeness that is us at horse shows for the people that aren't there, the goings on at TWF North for those that have traveled south for the winter and to post those random funny things that happen to save for posterity. While the website is being built I figured that today was the perfect day to hit the ground running.
2009 was an interesting year for us. Billy's babies, Tess and Annie, did a lot of growing up in and out of the show ring. Both horses pinned at HITS Ocala and Vermont and Annie was the CDH/JC Low Jumper Year End Champion. Fortunately for those of us that have stayed behind in NY, Tess is in Florida now and none of us have to be horrified by her stall until she comes home in May. From what I've been told, Annie marked her return to Florida with the athleticism and spirit that she is known for... I look forward to the stories of her rediscovering the joy of fireants and will post them when they get passed along to me.
Stacey and Jack had another great year spending part of the winter at HITs and competing in the Adult Olympics in Vermont jumping the equivalent of small buildings. Umm, yeah.. the adult highs are HIGH!
Jaime had a good time at Vermont, both in and out of the ring. Highlights for her, if I may put words in her mouth, were 1) not vomiting in the ring 2) not vomiting anywhere else and 3) that feeling, however fleeting, that everything at that particular moment is going right. Other personal horsey highlights include working at home with Charleyhorse, future local hunter star.
Ahh Glory-Anne and Jen... the bright stars in the puddle jumper ring at the annual horse show. Even with the insane thunderstorm, mutant wasps, and fist sized horse flies, this ranks as one of the best away shows all year because you guys were there. Ollie being all proud and spiffed up, Otis being the little engine that could, and Smushie remembering she can step up to the plate and knock it out of the park... love it. If there isn't more of this in 2010 you're both out of the will.
Then there was Roz and I. Who would have thought this would have worked? Who would have thought I'd ever jump a real 3'6 course?? I have so many great moments from 2009 that I could put down: my first classic, that first ride when it was "official", High Jump 2.0... It all still blows my mind. Three cheers for big, red, itchy, idiosyncratic humpbacks. Also- vodkapops. Three cheers for them. Not really related to Roz, but yeah. Go vodkapops.
2009 wasn't all wine and roses, though. We lost Channy B, Racoon kitty and Johnny Cat. Fuzzy Lumpies was lost, found and is currently chugging away on 3 engines and it appears Rafter kitty has gone on to the big sleep as well. We'll all miss his deaf howls and how he used to poop solely on Jaime from the rafters.
My predictions for 2010 are pretty, well... predictable. We'll continue to be awesome, funny and a generally attractive bunch. The horses that end up coming home from Florida will look like rockstars, Mudseason (aka Spring in the Northeast) will make us wish for the days when the ground was frozen, and the trend towards little dogs at the barn will culminate with Betsy purchasing a miniGolden she names Lola (Jimmy will call her #*%$!!!!).
So here's to us in 2010! Follow along, comment and enjoy.
This is meant to serve in conjunction with the new TWF website as a public space where we can update the awesomeness that is us at horse shows for the people that aren't there, the goings on at TWF North for those that have traveled south for the winter and to post those random funny things that happen to save for posterity. While the website is being built I figured that today was the perfect day to hit the ground running.
2009 was an interesting year for us. Billy's babies, Tess and Annie, did a lot of growing up in and out of the show ring. Both horses pinned at HITS Ocala and Vermont and Annie was the CDH/JC Low Jumper Year End Champion. Fortunately for those of us that have stayed behind in NY, Tess is in Florida now and none of us have to be horrified by her stall until she comes home in May. From what I've been told, Annie marked her return to Florida with the athleticism and spirit that she is known for... I look forward to the stories of her rediscovering the joy of fireants and will post them when they get passed along to me.
Stacey and Jack had another great year spending part of the winter at HITs and competing in the Adult Olympics in Vermont jumping the equivalent of small buildings. Umm, yeah.. the adult highs are HIGH!
Jaime had a good time at Vermont, both in and out of the ring. Highlights for her, if I may put words in her mouth, were 1) not vomiting in the ring 2) not vomiting anywhere else and 3) that feeling, however fleeting, that everything at that particular moment is going right. Other personal horsey highlights include working at home with Charleyhorse, future local hunter star.
Ahh Glory-Anne and Jen... the bright stars in the puddle jumper ring at the annual horse show. Even with the insane thunderstorm, mutant wasps, and fist sized horse flies, this ranks as one of the best away shows all year because you guys were there. Ollie being all proud and spiffed up, Otis being the little engine that could, and Smushie remembering she can step up to the plate and knock it out of the park... love it. If there isn't more of this in 2010 you're both out of the will.
Then there was Roz and I. Who would have thought this would have worked? Who would have thought I'd ever jump a real 3'6 course?? I have so many great moments from 2009 that I could put down: my first classic, that first ride when it was "official", High Jump 2.0... It all still blows my mind. Three cheers for big, red, itchy, idiosyncratic humpbacks. Also- vodkapops. Three cheers for them. Not really related to Roz, but yeah. Go vodkapops.
2009 wasn't all wine and roses, though. We lost Channy B, Racoon kitty and Johnny Cat. Fuzzy Lumpies was lost, found and is currently chugging away on 3 engines and it appears Rafter kitty has gone on to the big sleep as well. We'll all miss his deaf howls and how he used to poop solely on Jaime from the rafters.
My predictions for 2010 are pretty, well... predictable. We'll continue to be awesome, funny and a generally attractive bunch. The horses that end up coming home from Florida will look like rockstars, Mudseason (aka Spring in the Northeast) will make us wish for the days when the ground was frozen, and the trend towards little dogs at the barn will culminate with Betsy purchasing a miniGolden she names Lola (Jimmy will call her #*%$!!!!).
So here's to us in 2010! Follow along, comment and enjoy.
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