The Surrey Saddlery

Third time's the.....charm????

2012-02-29T15:33:00.002-08:00

So whoever made up the superstitious saying "things always happen in threes" is now my worse enemy. A couple weeks ago I flipped off Toga while running my mouth and not paying attention in a jump school. My fault for sure. Less than a week later I got bucked off and dragged - has anyone else ever gotten their foot stuck in the REINS?? I did and got pulled across the ring until I kicked my foot loose. Not ENTIRELY my fault... a few circumstances led to a snowball effect with the bucking. OK now I'm really sore, but even worse really nervous about when fall #3 was going to happen.

I've been hunting with Potomac Hunt this season. It's been about 27 years since I hunted regularly - I actually hunted for a living with Greenspring Valley Hounds. I was a groom for a few years and got to go out almost every time on members' horses. Good memories. This year I've been out with Potomac, and even though I've forgotten a few of the specific protocols (my "good afternoon" was met with "technically it's good morning" oops oh yeah) (you're not supposed to wear black gloves oops oh yeah) it's been a really fun time. There have been a few runs through really deep going that have made me cringe, but that's one of the hazards of hunting. Along with rocky going, cows (very scary), trappy jumps, holes, and wire. Yes, wire underground, on the ground, between trees - almost always nearly invisible. I don't think in my hunting past I ever had an encounter with wire. But yesterday I sure did. On one of the great runs we had, we crossed a stream and climbed up a pretty steep hill. I was behind probably 15 or 20 other horses, in the back of the first field. All of a sudden I saw a "branch" coming at my face and I put my hand up. The next thing I knew, I was being ripped (literally) off the back of my horse! This one definitely NOT my fault!! It happened so fast I really had no idea what was going on until I felt the barbed wire cutting my hand and tearing my britches. I let go of the mare (thank goodness) and she ran off, not far. When I stood up there was wire all around me, I had to pull it off. SOOOOOOOO scary, and the worse part was the mental image I had of this lovely mare with cuts all over her, as I imagined she would have. But once again I was lucky in that she had nothing but a scratch under her eye. NOTHING else. My clothes took the beating - shredded gloves, britches, tights, and my good hacking jacket (thanks, Candace, for reminding me it was ratcatcher and saving me from additional embarassment) was torn in a number of places. My hand is pretty cut up, a few scratches on my leg, and a bruised thigh I guess I hit a rock or something when I hit the ground. BUT all things considered I am one LUCKY person, it could have been so, so much worse. Off we went for another hour of running :)

The "charm"? Let's hope that was fall #3 and I'm DONE. All three falls were bad enough, but at least nothing broke, or was cut too badly. Now I'm not as nervous looking forward to my trip to NC next week, and the competitions I'll be doing there. Very very excited, actually - both my horses are ready, and they have been very very good in all the schools. Ari hasn't jumped xc in a while, but I don't think he'll have an issue. He's so eager to jump anything in front of him it's so cute. And Toga's flatwork is so much better than we left off I'm really psyched. I had his teeth done last week and he has ramps...not just regular ramps, but stees (I think that's what they're called) ramps, which are less common and a pain in the ass to deal with. PLUS he's parrot mouthed and this time he needed his front teeth filed down. But what a difference in his work afterward - very happy to flex, and very straight instead of the head tilt he's famous for. Can't wait!!!

I'll try to get on here and let everyone know how it's going in Southern Pines... in the meantime, ride your line and 'ware wire!

It's almost time...

2012-02-22T15:57:00.000-08:00

To say this winter had been busy would be a huge understatement. Sometimes I wonder if it's because I'm getting older that time seems to fly by so fast. I had a lot of plans for this winter, but for a variety of reasons they seem to have blown past me. I've been riding regularly...Toga started back at the end of December, very sound and VERY ready to move forward. He seems to have picked up just where we left off which is really helpful and really fun. My young horse Ari is ready to go...his epiphany I out on a trail ride one day has left him a jumping machine just like his "brother". A year ago I couldn't get him near a pole on the ground, and now he drags me down to anything I point him at. What fun!!! Except that he is nearly 17 hands tall and moves like the Titanic....very very big. A huge change from the quick, instant reaction of a thoroughbred. When I ask Toga to move, he says, "when, where, how fast?" when I ask Ari, he says, "huh? what? Oh OK what was it you wanted me to do?" That time lapse is very disconcerting and very hard to switch back and forth from. But he's one of the sweetest horses I've ever ridden, so even though it's hard to ride, it's a pleasure. I'm looking forward to winning the novice AECs on Ari - which he is more than capable of. One thing will be very different for me is that I just may start with a good dressage score instead of having to jump up! Ari is 1/2 Holsteiner and ALL warmblood in his movement. Not as much work for him as it is for Toga.

In two weeks we leave for Southern Pines, NC. I can't say Toga is very fit, but he'll make it around at Preliminary the first time just fine. Ari will be surprised at a five minute canter, but he will also be fine. We've done a lot of trotting this winter, which gets them pretty fit pretty fast. The temperatures have been very pleasant, but the ground has been very wet which makes just getting to our galloping places a challenge. So trotting and cantering indoors and in the big outdoor arena has been our answer. We've done it before, and it always works out. Once you get the gallops in at your first couple events, they seem to keep it up very easily. I've had a few lessons now, and I'm really excited about how Toga has taken to the dressage this winter. He seems to be happy to be in the higher frame, and WOW he moves great!! Very exciting.

Toga will do the Preliminary at SP I and Ari will go BN. Then Toga moves back to Intermediate at SPII and Ari gets to play in the big sandbox for a couple weeks since they don't have lower levels at the second one. He'll have to wait to catch something at home. We'll be working with Bobby Costello, and staying with my friend Dana who has been living down there for about a year now. I'm pretty jealous :) Just hoping I can get in a xc school and a couple more jump schools in before we leave; we'll have a lesson with Bobby when we get there. SOOO excited to get this new season going! Big plans for the big horses :)

Anyone who runs a boarding stable these days knows that it's becoming a cost prohibitive business. It's been really rough this winter trying to keep up with the rising hay, feed, fuel, etc bills, but thank goodness it's been mild weather. It sure helped with heating costs. Anyway, I wasn't able to take lessons for a while so I worked on my position and Toga's straightness issues. The time off was just what he needed, because he was ready to go and ready to move on. My hopes to get to jumper shows crumbled as the days flew by. Turns out there are very few shows for an Intermediate jumper in our area. Plenty of stuff for Junior, but not for T. Thanks to the weather, though, we got a lot of schools in at home.

Happy Holidays and Many Thanks

2011-12-20T16:03:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays and a happy New Year to all my friends who have supported me and Toga this year! Special thanks to The Surrey for their continuing sponsorship in 2012 as we continue to learn and advance through the levels. This past year was an amazing journey and I couldn't have accomplished it without the help of my sponsors, friends, trainers, and Toga's MANY fans. We have an exciting future to look forward to that includes (God willing) Bromont, the AECs, and FHI. With any luck we'll try our first Advanced horse trials in the fall! I'm so lucky to have an equine partner like Toga, and now my youngster Ari is right on his heels. Watch out for that boy in the spring! (you'll have to look UP, he's quite tall...) After the next couple months working with Packy fine tuning our flatwork and hopefully catching some jumper shows, we'll (Ari gets to go too!) spend a couple weeks with Bobby Costello in Southern Pines and begin our horse trials season there.

Thank you to everyone (thank you Allie Conrad for this great pic) - have a great holiday and I'll talk to you soon!

A lot to be thankful for

2011-11-25T03:54:00.000-08:00

It's been over a month since Fair Hill, but I can remember each fence on the cross country course like I rode it yesterday. It was a miserable week in the rain - mud up to our ankles, making keeping the horses clean for jogs and dressage just about impossible. I got there before it really poured on us, so I was lucky to get my trailer parked in a spot close to my barn and park the truck where I could get in and out. Spike the puppy and I stayed in my trailer all week... I am almost all set up now including a generator to keep me warm and entertained. But it's pretty amazing how little free time you have even with only one horse at an event. There's hacking, cleaning the stall, cleaning tack, feeding, carrying this and that around - really no spare time to waste. And walking cross country. Holy cow it takes a long time to walk a CCI** course!! It's an almost nine minute course to ride, and over an hour and a half to walk. I walked it three times - once alone in the rain with Spike along for a run (half the course I had to carry him four pounds gets heavy FAST), once in the rain with Packy, and again in the rain I ran around checking out a few particulars. Very busy week.

The first jog was uneventful with the rain holding off on our group, thank goodness. It was chilly but not cold, actually almost too warm in the evenings to cover them up. Dressage was also good to me as far as the weather, even though the footing was very deep and pretty much one big puddle in the arena. Toga was very well behaved, and in the big picture did one of his best tests yet. We blew the first turn on the haunches, and he jigged once in the walk, but he gave me real medium trots and canters. I was very pleased with it. We got our usual mediocre score, but at least it was not at the bottom.

Only one jump was taken off course for cross country. The footing at Fair Hill is pretty amazing, and the fact that it isn't ridden on at all except for the show helps. They also asked that spectators not walk on the course, and for the first time I realized how much that is to the competitor's benefit to make that request. After hundreds of course walks, just the human footsteps can tear the ground up at take off and landing points. At the top of a bank, for example, it was obvious where people had been walking, and a lot of the grass had been worn away. I will pay more attention when I'm walking someone else's course in the future. There were some very deep spots, but I felt Toga could manage it.

On the long walk to warmup Toga lit up. He was keen to jump and I had to keep him moving. Knowing that this would be his longest run ever, I tried to keep it calm but it wasn't easy. I did get into the box on my own, and he instantly settled into a great gallop. The first quarter of the course seemed to be the deepest, and I tried to stay as close to the rope as I could get and stay out of everyone else's tracks. He jumped easily through the bank to corner ABC where I watched a lot of people have trouble earlier that morning. I was pretty indecisive at the double brush, which translated to Toga saying "WHERE do you want me to jump from???" and he twisted in the air over both. But straight through good boy.

Again I was thankful for having such an honest and eager horse at the ABCD mushrooms across the road. Packy told me to be careful jumping down the bank, and I found out what he was talking about when we got in a little too close to the out and T almost tripped up the bank on the other side. But instead of running out at the skinny coming right at us, Toga took charge and went right to it. I took out the flag with my toe because we got to it a bit on an angle, but he got over it instantly and jumped perfectly through the duck pond water which had taken its toll on a lot of other riders that day. And he skipped around the rest of the course. He galloped steady and strong the whole trip, and we finished only one second over the time. SO cool. The fact that there was so much time between fences helped us both I think to organize our thoughts, chill out, and ride a plan. Had some nice chats with T on our ride. And we had time to listen to the cheers of his fans without getting distracted and screwing up :) He acted like he wanted to go again when we pulled up gotta love an OTTB. But we were missing a front shoe and I had no idea where, so no idea how long he'd been running on a bare foot. At that point I was happy for the sloppy footing to some degree.

Toga jogged sound Saturday evening, and fine on the grass Sunday morning, but as soon as we hit the pavement I heard him limp. The vet would have let me re-present him, but there was no way I was going to jump him no matter what. We really were not sure what was bothering him at the time, but I wouldn't take a chance. So we walked back to the barns and I have to say it was difficult to keep back the tears. This had been my goal for the last couple years, and to have it cut short was hard. Worse still was that Toga could be seriously hurt, I still didn't really know what was wrong.

Turns out it was a bruised heel (which wasn't obvious for a couple days) and within the week he was sound. So even though I didn't get to finish the two-star, I ran around cross country better than most, had a BLAST doing it, and have a sound horse to move on with.

One step away

2011-09-19T14:42:00.001-07:00

Well I haven't made any really stupid mistakes lately, but my luck has been a little sketchy. I'd never been to Loudon before - need I say more?? Have you ever walked that course?? Wow it's beautiful BUT if you don't know where you're going, you are in trouble. With Hurrican Irene ready to hit at any moment (see Brian O'Connor's video on Eventing Nation it's a hoot) I zoomed into Oatlands with the hope that I'd get all three phases in before the rain came. They were awesome to move my cross country to Saturday, but it meant a bit of a rush and changing start times. I couldn't decide when to walk my cross country course, so decided on the spur of the moment to do it right after I walked stadium. Off I went with a map I begged of a passerby, all by myself. After the second fence I was LOST. It is such a big property, that you really can't see fence to fence or really even guess where it might be. So I wandered around looking for my jumps (the map was NO help) until someone came behind me and directed me along. I ended up following this person around the course, which I guess WAS my stupid mistake of the weekend since I focused on where she was going and didn't pay attention to everything around me. Being in a bit of a rush to make my show jumping time, and then on to XC, I realized as I put my pinney on that I really did not know my way around the course. I hoped I would figure it out as I rode along, but seriously doubted it. I couldn't remember what things looked like all the way around. Show jumping was great, with a tipped rail at the last fence - why you don't get long to a downhill vertical - but really nice.

I left the start box on a very spooky and strong horse. The third fence was an A - B then over a stream crossing which left a couple riders quite wet and made Toga jump sideways over it. He then scrambled over the big oxer right after that, and really didn't want to settle. The one fence I had a question about was next - a double bank where we jumped a trakhener over the middle of it. Never had seen that before. So Toga ran up the bank, I think assuming it was a hop over the log at the top down to a skinny. At the last second he took a look into the bottomless ditch under that log, and stopped dead. That was our first stop XC in a very long time, and he was really upset about it, so after we turned and jumped it he continued on quite frazzled. I couldn't get him calmed down and a couple jumps later I rode past the B element of a combination. Sigh. The mistakes you can make are more than I had anticipated! The REALLY good thing about walking home from there was that we'd lost a shoe by then, and had we continued on the (at that time before the rain) really hard ground, we would be dealing with a bruise right now.

Next was the AECs. A 12 hour drive where we drove through the bands of rain from yet another hurricane. We got down there perfect timing - had we been any earlier our stalls would have been flooded. You could see where the water had run through the stalls just hours before. I could write a ton about the facility and the show, and how to be better prepared next time, but this is about the riding. More bad luck followed me there, as I got my packet and my bridle number 1. Yuk. Nobody wants to be first I got it this time. It only made a difference in my dressage score in that I really think I was judged more harshly than the last in my division, but I was really happy with the big picture. Toga's poll was up, he was soft and flexible, and very obedient. Listened too well a couple times, but I was really pleased with the test. VERY pleased. He was a really good boy. BUT we started near the bottom of the heap at the end of the day. That was pretty discouraging.

THIS cross country course I walked three times. Very flat and totally different from Loudon in that you could see every fence from the one before. A very very spectator friendly facility. Nothing new this time, but a very long ABCD through the water with big jumps in the water. With a little bit stronger bit this time out, we left the start box unassisted for the first time all season. Was a bit dodgy getting in, but once on course it was all business. Toga picked a pace and just skipped around the course. We were very fast, but he was totally rideable and rateable and EASY to ride. What a rush!! We were second on course at 8:30 in the morning, so there was a definite sun factor happening and I couldn't see my line to the corner at #9, so that was the one fence that didn't go as planned. It wasn't awful, just not the plan. I almost couldn't see the right hand flag the sun was shining so brightly off the corner. The rest was beautiful . Double clear moved up to 15th.

http://youtu.be/LZUjYLx6cks

Show jumping started out a little discombobulated..... a great warmup, but he didn't want to pick up the left lead turning to the first jump. Once we got there, Toga was jumping well, and it seemed to be going smoothly. At fence #7 he stopped, and I flipped off, landing on my feet totally surprised and confused. I have looked at the video and can't figure out what happened. I remember that the distance I saw three strides out was not there at the base of the fence, and my best guess at this point is that Toga lengthened his stride three steps out and I didn't feel it. So when we got to the jump, the spot I saw was gone, and I must've dropped him. Or he just quit. Not like him, and it appears in the video he could've jumped the jump, but for whatever reason he didn't and we walked home again. Big disappointment again, but I know my horse can do this job, and he likes it, and he keeps getting better. I think I'm a bit spoiled always expecting to go clean when we really are quite green at this level. Middleburg is next, and our last out before Fair Hill CCI** which I am really excited about. I think we are ready :)

Fair Hill and Ari sees the light

2011-08-23T04:04:00.000-07:00

It's been almost three weeks since Fair Hill but it seems like yesterday. The days are flying by and summer is almost over. We finally have temperatures below 100 so it feels like fall. The heat is the one thing that I do notice takes a toll on Toga - no surprise but once again I feel like I get a little behind the rest of the eventing world when I try to give him a break. Remember the old days when Seneca was the end of the spring season and it didn't start back up until Difficult Run? No more - there are shows all summer regardless of heat and hard ground. We have to pick and choose and hope that the organizers take the weather and footing into account. We risk losing a LOT of money by deciding not to run somewhere when we get there and find out the conditions are less than adequate. At any rate, it is hard to take a break any more at any time. So we've been out once a month this summer and it's been brutal. Fair Hill was no exception - it was HOT but at least it wasn't AS hot as it had been the days before. Thank goodness for aerators to make our cross country tracks ride-able.

After my brain spaz at Stuart, I was determined not to do anything stupid at this show. I rode my dressage test over and over in my head and practiced at home (by myself that being my first mistake) on every horse I ride. Toga seemed pretty relaxed and forward and I was happy with warmup. As I rode the beginning of the test there was a bell ring that was very frantic. Not the little "start your test" ring, but a HEY STOP kind of ring. Forgetting that my signal was a whistle, I stopped and looked confusingly at the judge. It wasn't her, it was the judge at the next ring over. She waved me on and was kind enough not to give me an error there. But not to disappoint - I rode my canter loop from the long side to quarter line, not quarter line to quarter line. Rode it exactly as I'd memorized it so when the judge blew the whistle I was pretty confused again. She told me what I'd done and off I went once more. As I came to the same move in the other direction, my brain said to do what she'd said this way as well, but for some reason I rode past it again. This time I knew the whistle was coming so I just fixed it and finally finished the test. All that and I still got a fair score but started out 13th.

Toga was super in warm up for stadium. I was there alone, so had no one to set fences for me. This is often a problem for me since I go to most of my events by myself. I try to follow behind someone that warms up starting over smaller jumps, but so many people just go jump big right from the start. It was hard that day to get behind anyone starting small, but finally the jumps went down and I got to pop over a few. Very few. But Toga was feeling really soft and was jumping great. He got a little impatient waiting for his turn, but once we got in the ring he put in one of his best rounds this year. It was steady and he was so easy to ride. Double clear there put us in 8th.

The cross country was a great gallop. Not as many combinations as we've seen but enough to keep T on his toes. He cruised around, taking a bit more control than he usually does, but probably because there was so much time to run. We made it in one second under the time, to be one of only two Intermediate rides that made the time. We finished second, our first time in primary colors at this level. So in spite of yet another stupid mistake, we redeemed ourselves a bit from Stuart. Next time at Loudon we will school, though, as a reminder to Toga that he has to listen to me. It's been hard to train on the hard ground but we got in a good gallop yesterday.

In the meantime, the light bulb went on for Ari, my baby. He's four now, and really should be doing more, but he's kind of at the bottom of the list because of how busy I've been at the farm. One day out hacking he decided jumping is fun. We were at a log in the way, and at first I thought I would turn around rather than fight with him about it. But all of a sudden he took a deep breath and just stepped over it. From then on, every time he saw a log he went to it. And jumped! For real jumping too. So just to see if what I was feeling was a real epiphany, I followed Addie and her pony over some jumps in the ring, and he did everything. This is the baby that wouldn't go near a pole on the ground last winter.... now he just lopes around whatever you point him at. Sometimes there is a big look first, but he'll do it. What fun :)

Loudon is this weekend and I'm hoping we get cross country done before the hurricane gets here... ten days from that we are headed south to the AECs. This was a last minute add, but I'm excited to get the practice at a big show before Fair Hill, and I really think we can be competitive. Wonder what my next dumb mistake will be...hope I get it out of the way before I get to Georgia...

At least I don't toodle any more....

2011-07-18T11:09:00.000-07:00

I have a new Most Memorable Moment in Eventing....nobody said it had to be a good moment, but it's one that I will never forget. It followed a brief moment when I was actually proud of myself and was listening to someone else tell quite a crowd all about it.

This past weekend I went north to the Stuart Horse Trials in Victor, NY. I'd never been there before but lots of people told me it was a great event. It was a long trip for me to drive alone - seven hours - but what a beautiful drive. Along the rivers and through the mountains, across some open highway and through some lovely little towns. The view varied enough to make the drive not a bad one at all. My poor GPS lady had a meltdown near the NY/PA border on Route 15 in both directions. She started yelling at me to make a U turn as soon as possible and to TURN NOW for about ten miles. All I can figure is that the road has changed since the GPS was loaded because there was nowhere to turn and I certainly didn't want to turn around! Having not paid attention to her once before and totally missing an exit on the way to Kentucky made me a bit nervous about ignoring her. It all turned out well though and I made it to Stuart faster than I had expected. I love my new trailer too I truly believe it is a much smoother ride for the horses than my old one. Both directions Toga came off fresh and relaxed - not wide-eyed and frazzled like he has so many times in the past.

Thinking it would be a lot cooler up there was wishful thinking. The nights were cooler for sure, but the days were hot and humid. I got there midday on Wednesday since it usually takes a while for Toga to settle in when we go away. But he was asleep in the stall within an hour and never acted nervous or upset at all. Go figure. Since my dressage time was 4:33 on Friday, I could easily have gone up Thursday and had plenty of time for him to chill. The people were all over me when I arrived, helping carry all my stuff to my stall, and bringing water over. The volunteers at Stuart are so proud of their show. Many of them have been doing the same job there since the event started over 20 years ago. It was fun talking to them. I am pretty well set up to stay in my trailer except for a generator - which would have made the last two nights more bearable if I'd had a fan. My sun shower was awesome now I just have to figure out how to get it up higher.

So there was a lot of down time. Too much for me, and too much for T I think. I rode him twice on Thursday and Friday morning. By the time it was our turn for dressage, it was past his dinner time, he was bored, and the flies were TEARING him up. I got off twice to spray him - used four different brands throughout the weekend to no avail - but he was so focused on the biters that he just wouldn't let me ride. Had some rearing, some flying changes, some striking at bugs, but the nice part was that the judge did give me credit on the nice parts. So along with my 3 and a few 5s, I got a couple 8s and 7s. Still, a 39.6 put me almost at the bottom. Again. Sigh. I was pretty angry about it because it was a lack of focus on his part that I think was the problem and he's a big boy now, needs to pay attention.

I walked the cross country course twice - the first time I was concerned about how hard the ground was, but they worked on it for three days with the aerator and by Saturday I thought it was fine for Toga. I watched quite a few of the CCI** horses go and it wasn't pretty. A lot of runouts and a few falls later I decided to not look at it any more and just worry about myself. After riding it, I think the two downhill- turning- to- skinnies early in the course were just early in the course... and at least my horse wasn't really focused on his lines yet so it was easy to be distracted. He was very quiet warming up and Liza and I both didn't want to bother him as he dozed in the shade. Quite a change from the usual breathing fire into the start box scene. He was very spooky at the start - there was a pond with a canoe before the first jump, and the second jump was alongside all the vendor tents. A lot to look at. He was hard to turn at the first two combinations, that were fences 4 and 6. But once we got over the ditch and wall, we both took a deep breath and I just let him gallop. I had pressed my watch twice, so it was off. Toga cruised around pretty much at one steady pace the whole time. I didn't press him, just balanced him up in front of the jumps when I saw our spot. He jumped way to early at the bank but just bounced up it like that was how it was supposed to be. Everything jumped well, and as I walked back from the finish I heard I'd only been five seconds over the time. I let him lope to the last jump so I know if I'd pressed him even a little we could have made it. Gotta love a Thoroughbred!!! Fastest time in our division and we moved up from 25th to 3rd. I was much happier Saturday night.

Now to the Most Memorable Moment. Sunday morning I knew I had another long wait to go. My division was last of the day, so I got to watch a LOT of show jumping. I walked my course which was a "lot of unrelated distances to remember" but really just two big loops. Toga felt amazingly loose and happy, and our warm up was quiet and smooth. I was READY. Not nervous, just excited to maybe finish towards the top of the class. I went in the ring feeling like it was going to be perfect. As I went to the first jump, I heard Brian O'Connor telling the crowd how I'd had a fast XC the day before and moved up from 25th to 3rd. Wow, I thought, pretty good. Jumped the first jump perfectly and went in a perfect six strides to the one stride in and out, jumped that perfectly too. Only that wasn't fence two, it was fence ten and in the OTHER DIRECTION. A few horrible seconds later I was walking out of the ring wondering why the heck I'd done that. So my moment was one of extreme embarrassment. Will I ever do that again?? Who knows. I don't know why I did it in the first place so it's hard to fix. But I DO know that I will never focus on anything but exactly what's in front of me again!! I feel like I let Toga down but what can you do. It was a beautifully run show and in the big picture I had my best ride ever along with one of the most frustrating. So it was worth it and I'll keep learning something new every time. On to the next one and new mistakes to be made I'm sure :)

Another step forward ...

2011-06-27T18:30:00.000-07:00

Anyone who is in the horse business like I am knows it's an understatement to say that making money in this industry is difficult. Paying for your life - hopefully - supporting your hobby.... the real reason we do it. And as everyone else faces in this economy, it's become a daunting challenge just to make a living. I started working here years ago to pay my board, and bought the farm to continue to support my passion. It's been hard work - physically and mentally - and every once in a while I think that I would like to be doing something else.

BUT then I have a ride like I did ths weekend. The CCI* at Virginia Horse Trials was great for sure. We finished fourth on our dressage score, with one of a VERY few double clear show jumping rounds and a great gallop around XC. But this past Friday I competed at Surefire HT and I think I had the most fun cross country that I have ever had. The Intermediate division went all on Friday, with I think 34 starters. It had been almost a month since we competed at VHT, and I was feeling a bit out of the "groove". Great lessons and schools in the meantime, but was missing the atmosphere of competition. I'd never been to Surefire before so had no idea what to expect. What a nice facility not to mention a huge money prize for the division! It was kind of nice to have the place to ourselves since there were no other divisions riding that day. Toga warmed up for dressage a bit up, and he kept breaking to canter every time I put my leg on him to ask for haunches in. Then when we went into the ring, he was obedient, quiet, and did exactly what I asked him to do. I was a step early on my halt and one of the transitions, but I was REALLY happy with the test and I'm sure the judge could tell by my big smile and hugs for T as we left the ring. Well I guess she saw things completely differently because I was almost last after dressage on a 44 and there wasn't a positive comment on my whole test. Wow she hated him! Sigh. Oh well. It was really hard to think to myself "well at least I was pleased with it " being that far down the list after thinking I would be at least in the upper third.

Show jumping was great - two unfortunate rails for no apparent reason added 8 points to our score. Another hard one to take especially when Toga was jumping great and I really can't say why he tipped the rails.

THEN WE WENT CROSS COUNTRY and I am still smiling :) Toga was so easy to ride, so adjustable, so brave, focused, and smart that it rode like a baby novice course the way he cruised around. Every jump (OK Packy except for the skinny off the bank) was in stride and just as I'd planned. He galloped easily and I made the time!! At Intermediate that was a first for us, and it happened easily. 1-2-3 jump.....1-2-3 jump....just like that. I was the 17th ride and the second double clear at that point. SO exciting. At the end of the day we had jumped up to 14th place - very respectable I think. I can't tell you how many times I've ridden the course again in my head just to try to feel that rush again. It's why we go eventing.

And it's why, even when I think I can't keep doing this any more and don't see a light at the end of the dark economic tunnel, I'll find a way to keep riding this amazing horse and hopefully take him as far as we think he can go. We all need something to dream about, and if the dream has even a small chance of coming true, I think we owe it to ourselves to make sure we try as hard as possible. I feel I owe it to Toga for giving me the opportunity to do more and better with him than I ever thought I'd do with any horse. We'll keep on track for Fair Hill this fall, with Stuart next in July. Can't wait!!

Next stop - Virginia

2011-05-17T04:22:00.000-07:00

After a great run at Fair Hill, I guess I assumed my horse and I would bounce back quickly and be ready to go again the next weekend. Lesson learned..... not so much. Trying to figure out a good show schedule - a DOable show schedule - has been a challenge this spring to say the least. I entered Loudon to set us up for Jersey, etc. which I ended up not being able to do anyway. But we went, we stumbled around, and went home. Dressage was in the indoor, and I appreciate everyone that said it was the indoor that affected our test, but it was choppy and erratic at best for whatever reason. In stadium I was not thinking fast, and trusted Toga to fix his lead (which he's been doing more and more often FINALLY) and by the time I realized it wasn't going to happen with me hanging on his face, we ate the first of an in and out. Nothing flowed after that, so we decided not to go on to cross country. No point in it and the course looked hard to me. Especially the bank down to the corner - which I've jumped a few times no problem, but this time the point of the corner was pointed almost straight to the bank. Walked out and watched a few horses run out there and was really relieved I didn't put my horse in another bad spot after the show jumping.

I have a great outdoor jumping ring at my farm, but there is only so much good that practicing at your own place will do. Without a certain amount of pressure and competitiveness, you just can't prepare for the big courses that well. It's really not fair to Toga for me to pop around at home and then face him with a big course at the show, and only once every few weeks. So the following weekend we drove up to Swan Lake in PA and did some jumper classes. JUST what we needed! It was a rated show, but hardly any jumpers were there. So it was relaxed and friendly, and the courses were awesome. Each round got better, smoother, bolder. Back to normal thank goodness. I wish we had more shows around that had classes over 3' it would be really helpful.

We're leaving tomorrow for Virginia Horse Trials. I'm entered in the CCI* as a qualifier for Fair Hill in the fall. I'm not letting the fact that it's at Preliminary go to my head because I know VHT is very hilly and I haven't ridden there much in the past few years. And the dressage test is one transition after another after another... so good old Toga - the King of Anticipation - will be trying to out think me every step of the way. We'll see. I just want to be clean and confident. And I hope I don't forget how a CCI works and do something dumb............ :)

WOW

2011-04-25T17:26:00.001-07:00

Morven Park was amazing - Had a good dressage score, clean jumping, and not only did I make the PreliminaryXC time, I was WAY under! Finally figured out the feel of really galloping between jumps and keeping the energy all the way to them. Finished 7th there.

Fair Hill International was cold and wet on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday and hot and muggy on Sunday. Toga settled in way faster and easier than I expected, being on the back side of the race stabling where he couldn't see anyone. But he fell asleep right away and even slept through braiding which never happens... I even did his tail it was stunning. Then HOLY COW did Toga trot like a big horse this weekend!! We got the best dressage score I've EVER gotten on any horse I think, and it was a no fuss, very relaxed test. Less than one point off the lead in a division of 34 starters. So proud of him! Cross country was deep, but he only slipped once and it was minor. Kind of got sucked into the ground - I could actually feel him pushing off - this was a real effort for a change. But T powered through and jumped around clean. I didn't push for time, but really should have come in a little faster... I misjudged my distance from the finish and kind of took my time at the end. Got a bunch of time penalties, but still was at 8th at that point. Glad I didn't push it though, because I have a sound horse and he recovered right away. Was tired for show jumping, but did at least three lead changes - that doesn't happen often!! He landed cross-cantering in the last turn and I thought he would switch, but he changed the wrong way and in my indecision about whether or not to try to fix it, I got him to the last in and out badly and he had to scramble over the first, knocking a rail. Totally my fault. STILL finished 5th in the end!! So much is coming together now I can't wait to see where this year ends :)

So at my age who would think Prom would dictate my show schedule?? Well Addie's first Prom is the weekend of Jersey Fresh, so my plan to do a CIC** there has changed. After Loudon this coming weekend, we'll do the CCI* at Virginia Horse Trials as a qualifier for the fall. After that, maybe Seneca and then I think we'll take some time off this summer. I think I caught up with everyone that got to go south this winter!

Southern Pines a great start

2011-03-30T08:53:00.001-07:00

What a great week led up to our first go at Southern Pines II. Toga stayed at Bobby Costello's Tanglewood Farm and thoroughly enjoyed rolling around in the giant sand box. We went hacking in the Foundation on Monday for about three hours with our friends Dana and Bucky, who just moved down there. We jumped around a hunter trials course, and galloped around sandy fields. Great footing and GREAT weather. I got to go on a tour of the horsey neighborhoods on a two-pony carriage, and spend time sightseeing in the area. Three days in a row of great lessons with Bobby really put Toga and me on focus for the weekend. Having only ridden around in the indoor all winter, it was really difficult to get a big stride going. The outdoor stadium school was first and even though I felt like we were going fast, we really weren't covering any ground. Made for an awkward school at first, but by the time we finished we were getting it back together. The cross country school was a little easier to push the stride up to since we'd worked on it some the day before. T stopped at a ditch just like he did last year.....pretty odd because he doesn't have ditch issues. SOOOO guess that means my eyes were down and I was ahead of him. Yup, once we made that adjustment it was back on track.

Thursday's flat school was a lesson in humility. No matter what I did, how I sat, where my body, legs, or hands were, Toga was just not going to cooperate. Totally frustrating to get yelled at for stuff you know is true but can't seem to do anything about - worse yet stuff that usually isn't a problem. Yes I really CAN ride a 20 meter circle...but who'd of thought that on that day. I really did NOT want to school changes. Sigh. I remember thinking out loud that I hoped the old "bad school good ride" saying would work for me.

I moved Toga to the horse park that afternoon, and he very uncharacteristically settled right in. Rolled in his stall (hadn't rolled or slept laying down in two days) right away, took a big breath and went to sleep in the corner. I think he likes being in the middle of busy - if he's one of only a few horses he notices when one or some of them leave. When there's a lot going on and he can see it all, he just seems to zone out. Good to know. The Carolina Horse Park has great permanent stabling it's very user friendly and the horses seem to like it.

Fully expecting to be bronc riding on Friday morning, I got on T and found I was sitting on a quiet, round, supple, and obedient horse. I could actually PUT my leg on him without changes or explosions. It was great and we had one of our best tests ever. Definitely the best first-of-the-year test. A 32 put me 11th out of 32 in my division - biggest division I think I've ever ridden in.

Very quickly we had to get ready for cross country. Toga warmed up well and didn't seem too fussed until we started toward the box. He gets pretty wild when he hears the starter count, so I need to be led in. We didn't hear him say "30 seconds", so we were quite far from the box when he said "go". Would have been stupid and counterproductive to run over to the box just to catch up the time, so we just walked and got a bit of a late start. It was a great start - he settled in right away and just clocked around like we'd been schooling all winter like everyone else. Wonderful course with great footing. I made a few mistakes - which will keep me to my plan of doing at least one more at Preliminary before moving back up - but I recognized them right away and there's no reason I can't fix them. We finished clean still galloping with just a few time penalties...13th at this point.

Saturday morning my division jumped first. I'm happy we went early and beat the weather. Again Toga warmed up well, although quite heavy I'm sure because he was tired. The day before was our first real gallop since last November. I wish I had a video of the stadium - everyone says it was awesome; I was pretty nervous and don't remember it fence by fence like I do XC. It felt kind of fast (still in indoor mode) but turned out to be right on. The kind of long distances were easy for us, we jumped clean and made the time. Finished 7th!! A lot of rails that morning... GREAT weekend GREAT week GREAT start of the season :)

Toga's had a couple days off for his back...which I THOUGHT was killing him but when the vet checked him out Monday he seemed quite fine....Packy was right Toga is a big fat drama queen. Very cranky and snooty when you're on the ground with him, but WOW when you get on his back :) Morven Park this weekend - it's also Star's debut for the year. The cutest Chincoteague pony ever. Little guy with a big jump. Can't wait for both.

2011-03-12T11:16:00.000-08:00

Last weekend was great.... we had a Fix-A-Test with Lisa Cox judging and coaching us on our debut dressage tests. Real sign of spring! The Surrey had their mobile tack shop at the farm, which was great for everyone. I think we all got to improve our tests, and will be a little better prepared for the upcoming event and dressage season. Best of all, Lisa donated the entry fees to CANTER MidAtlantic. We usually have at least one CANTER horse here for rehab/re-training, and there are a number of adopted CANTER horses boarding here as well. Great benefit!

This week didn't pan out for my planned fitness work, since we got a monsoon followed by many inches of mud - but the winds are helping a lot to dry things out and I THINK this week the footing will be good enough to gallop somewhere other than around in circles in the indoor. Hope so since my first show is less than two weeks away. One week till leaving for Southern Pines to work with Bobby Costello. Packy has been very sick, so his other students and I have been working as best as possible to keep moving forward in our training. We all help each other out watching our riding, setting jumps, etc. I got to jump on Wednesday before the rain and Toga was amazing as usual. Even jumping only once a week this winter has kept our eyes up much better than if I'd stopped for my usual month or so. I feel pretty comfortable about the show jumping and hope that I can get some XC schooling in at Bobby's.

It's really time to get my baby boy started. Ari is four, he's broke, but I haven't had time to really get on his case. Necessity says there are a bunch of other horses that need to come first to be able to afford to get him going - so he's been the low man. But hopefully soon. I do need to find some help at the barn so I can keep riding this many horses. I love doing it, and I love to see it help the horses and riders, but wow I get tired faster than I used to! I rode five on Thursday that seems to be my limit. I really need to ride three of my own every day - Toga, Ari, and Jack, my ADHD bi-polar but so very sweet sales horse. Oh yeah, and there's Moe, yet another sales horse. Then four or five to school on the side... Anybody want a part-time job in exchange for a stall?? Will have to start looking for someone.

Toga got clipped again this week he looks SLICK :) He was shedding a lot but just wasn't losing enough winter coat to make me think he'd be done by next week. It will be much warmer in Southern Pines, and heat is the only thing that tends to wear on T. We never seem to have time to get used to it around here - it's freezing one day, hot the next, and vice versa. What a pain. He seems quite fit on the flat, but I know the first time around XC will be slow. Looking forward to it, though, and am excited to spend some time there ahead of the show schooling.

There is a Plan...

2011-02-25T14:40:00.001-08:00

All things considered, this winter has kind of gone by fast. I've already entered two events and will have to enter another very soon. Toga seems pretty fit - today we did trots and canters in the indoor and after a ten minute trot, he went right to an eight minute canter and really didn't blink. I thought with the heat (yes HEAT for a few minutes this morning before the hurricane winds came and blew the temp down 20 degrees...) he'd get a little more stressed. But he cooled down with another ten minute trot and that was that. Followed by the first bath of the year and a tweaking by Dr. Lewis. I constantly worry that he is back sore - he's always pinning his ears and acting very cranky when I tack up and pull the saddle off. But we seem to feel now that it's all a bunch of b.s. so to speak - he NEVER feels off when I'm on his back, and he never pins his ears, swishes his tail, or any of the other tell-tale signs of soreness. So he's a prima dona I'm afraid and I'll just have to pay close attention to any differences in his behavior while he's working.

He's been awesome. Compared to this time last year, he looks like a different horse on the flat. It's really exciting to look in the mirror and see the change. It's easier and easier for him all the time and he's getting lighter and lighter in my hands. We haven't jumped a lot, but when we do he just blips over a 4'9" rail like he was stepping over it. SO fun.

The plan IS...... Southern Pines II, Morven Park, and the CCI* at Fair Hill. All at Preliminary - one regular, one hardish, one really hard then back up to Intermediate and it will only be May. I won't be so far behind everyone else after all. I'll go down to Southern Pines the Sunday before the show, and Toga will stay at Bobby Costello's barn. I'll get some XC schools and some lessons there to finish up the prep. I rode with Bobby last year right before the same show and it was very helpful. He's a great teacher and good fun. I'm looking forward to it.

Two observations today...... I ride a mare for one of my boarders on a fairly regular basis. She's very "mare-ish" all the time - lots of crying, angry faces at other horses, tail in the air, etc. But today she was amazingly quiet and good. I could tell the second I put her halter on that she was in a good mood, and sure enough she was the best I think she's ever been for me. Today was CRAZY windy, and if there ever was an excuse for spooking or acting stupid, today was it. But she was great. Anyway...there are two other mares in her field that are on Regumate. They are probably the most mare-ish mares I know when they are not on it. So I'm wondering, if their cycles are stopped by the drugs, do the mares around them stop as well, or at least change their cycles?? They all come in season together otherwise, so...???? Because the mare I rode today showed absolutely no signs of being in season, and most of the time she does at least a little. Maybe this is a fact but I thought of it first today :)

The other thing is that all my rides this week were SO SO good! Seven different horses that I rode a few times each and every time was great. How often does that happen?? I use my saddles on them all (their bridles) as usual, but this week used my new ThinLine pad. Don't know if that was it, just saying : )

Next weekend is our annual Fix A Test which benefits CANTER MidAtlantic and is judged by Lisa Cox. It's a great practice for the beginning of the season and Lisa always has great suggestions. The Surrey will be there with the traveling tack shop and there will be food for sale if anyone wants to come by to watch : )

2011-01-30T07:21:00.000-08:00

Toga got his hocks injected and some acupuncture on Friday. He'll get this weekend off then ease back into the work he's been doing...a lot of collection which has been very frustrating for him. He's too smart, and when we change or add things (like new aids for new moves) he tries very hard to figure out what he's supposed to do. But if it's new for him and he doesn't get it right, he gets pretty wound up. It's better every day, though, and he's finally relaxing about it. The weather continues to be my nemesis - digging out the farm and broken machinery putting a strain on my riding time. The deep snow is great exercise (for the horses, it's murder on me...) so at least we're getting some help staying fit. It's so fun to watch them out playing in the snow : ) Need to jump this week I think.

p.s.

2011-01-20T15:38:00.001-08:00

The key is good hay, and enough of it, really.

Toga steps it up

2011-01-20T04:17:00.000-08:00

Awesome lesson yesterday....we are starting to really work on collection. T's poll must have lifted six inches from the time I started asking him until we were doing medium trots like a big horse. What a feeling to have that lift and suspension! It took him a bit to understand what we were doing - at first he did flying changes all over the place and a lot of jumping up and down, but not naughty stuff, just confusion. Like I've said before, he tries SO hard to do what (he thinks) I want him to do. Sometimes what I really want and what he thinks I want are different, and he gets a bit wound up. But it ended with some beautiful trot and canter work, with the lateral stuff coming easier and easier. Can't wait to see what's next.

I have to vent about feed companies. My barn is pretty big, so one of my major costs is feed. I have always tried to find the best, least expensive feed available.... feed that will take care of the majority of the 60+ horses we have on the farm. The prices have skyrocketed in the past five years - like everything else. And now that all the companies are marketing their designer feeds, you'd think that every horse needs a special blend just for them. So yesterday I was visited by one of the local feed companies that sells a few different brands, and the rep from one of them was with the owner. There are about six brands that are marketed locally, and someone comes around every once in a while to tell me why they are better. Anyway, what made me think to write this today is the comment the rep made when I told him that my Intermediate event horse was doing great on the feed I have. He said "Don't you want the expensive feed? Most eventers want to feed this expensive feed." Did he expect me to say yes??? I told him to look around and see if it looked like I had anyone else paying my bills. Then I challenged him - as I do EVERY feed company that claims they have a better feed that I will "feed less of" because it's so great - to feed my horse his feed for a month or two and show me the difference. And as they all do, he backed off and said yes we do that sort of thing but then changed the subject to avoid setting up our little test .... I've heard that a lot and they never follow through. So my thoughts on feed are the same. I have high fiber, 12% protein feed that every horse in the barn seems to do well on, and unless I'm convinced otherwise, that's what I'm sticking with. I would love to have a comparison test, but not on my dime, especially when we're talking almost $10 a BAG difference in price! I feed 100+ bags a month...you don't have to do any math to see my point! Like they say....if it ain't broke, don't fix it. :) vent over

2011-01-11T04:31:00.001-08:00

I thought I'd be out for six weeks, but two will do! Really can't undo anything the surgeon did so what I risk is pulling the muscles that are trying to get used to my new conformation. I can almost look over my shoulder, so looking for the next fence won't be a problem :) Toga thinks his vacation was a bit short.....he did get the time off - it went by so quickly I didn't organize anyone to ride him. Addie got on him once and he was great, so really I just have to catch up on his fitness. I've been on him twice, and what a great feeling! He's my happy place for sure, what a good man. Will try to ride every day this week and take a lesson on Friday. Right now I'm looking ahead to February, which is usually the month I get started for the spring. But since we really haven't totally let down this winter, I want to try to go south for a week or two and do some intense schooling. Not sure where or when or how yet, but that's in the plan if possible.

2010-12-28T15:54:00.001-08:00

Got my neck fused last Wednesday.... still sore and tired but I think I'll be back in the saddle faster than anticipated :) Rode until the day of surgery, so I think by the beginning of next week I'll be able to put Toga on long lines so he doesn't lose any fitness. I've been riding a few horses on the side and I sure do miss the exercise. Funny how rest can make you feel bad - when I'm lethargic I actually feel ill. But the walking I've done in the past few days has WIPED me out and it just goes to show that your body tells you when it needs to slow down. Very hard to do but worth the relatively little bit of time off to get going at 100% in a few weeks. I'm really excited that a rescue horse I've had for a little over a year is going to a new owner - gets to stay here and have a stall!! Super sweet horse I would have kept him around forever just because of his attitude. He's only four but has had it rough - messed up knee surgery has left him with little to no flexion in both knees, but he goes along as best he can, no spook, no 'tude, no worries. What a lucky horse. And Ari (my coming four year old) is just dying to get to work I can tell. Hope everyone has a great New Year - I'm looking forward to getting started on it ASAP :)

2010-12-15T04:04:00.000-08:00

I think taking a lesson in wind chills of 8 degrees qualifies as getting over my cold issues......kind of....holy cow it's COLD! The horses seem to be taking it all in stride so far, but will for sure be happy to see a steaming mash for dinner tonight. We put fresh water in the outside tubs each morning when it's this cold, but on a day like today it's impossible to keep it from freezing up. So we'll get some water in them tonight. One of my favorite things is listening to the horses sucking up a sloppy mash (we call it "sopa" in our barn) and seeing it all over their faces.

This weather is a challenge not only to stay warm myself, but to properly warm up my horse and keep him at a temperature that keeps his muscles relaxed, but not overheated to the point he'll catch a chill when I try to cool off. Toga was clipped late fall just before Waredaca, and his coat is a little long but not full winter length. I think I'll keep him this way the rest of the winter as long as he doesn't suddenly get really furry. He doesn't seem to overheat much even after a hard lesson (he's still pretty fit yay, even though I don't ride as often as I've intended), but he's not naked. It's the wind that is the issue - they surprise me with how warm they can stay in the sun even when it's cold.

2010 Season Ends

2010-12-13T11:33:00.000-08:00

The season ended for Toga and me at Waredaca with a good run at Preliminary. Morven Park Intermediate was a blast - all three phases went well, finished in the ribbons at 6th, and it was good fun. Loch Moy, however, was one of those maybe-I-shouldn't-have-even-gotten-up days....we finished 8th, but a lot of the division didn't finish at all!! Strange mojo for Intermediate that day I think. The only stops cross country I've had in years, AND in show jumping. I knew as soon as I got on for dressage that I was not with my horse, and he was not with me. But we pushed through and finished. That's why the Prelim go at Waredaca....finish on a good note :)

So now how to keep up with the horses that are going south and will be competing through the winter???? In the past, I've pretty much just started as soon as the weather lets up - usually at least by February 1 - to get my fitness training in. Going around in circles in the indoor makes me a little crazy and I hate being cold. At least I have an indoor....it does give me that much of an advantage over not being able to get on at all. Starting at Preliminary in Southern Pines has been my goal to start in the past couple years, and it probably will be the earliest I can get out next spring. You can at least take bad footing out of the equation down there, and get in a good school.

Toga is clipped and still in work. Not having ridden at this level before, I know he needs to stay in more work than ever before to keep his muscles fit for the flat work. It's hard for him - he has a really short neck and back which is great for jumping, but the "big horse" dressage frame is a struggle. He has a great work ethic though, and I'm proud of him for it . Get on him and it's all business. He tries his best to do exactly what you are asking him to do, right or wrong......he'll do whatever I ask him. So if I am schooling countercanter and move even a little....you know how it goes. Lead changes are now a new trick. So it's all new stuff for us both, and we both have to be a little more fit this winter. I'm going to have to get over my fair weather rider issues...grrr.

I discovered one way to stay fit....ride GAMES! This past weekend I rode in the MGAA (Mounted Games Across America) competition at the PG Equestrian Center. WHAT FUN!!! I rode our old faithful games pony For Pete's Sake....Pete has been to many many Pony Club rallies, championships, and even MGAA World Games I think. He's not so fast any more, but he knows the games and thinks he's pretty fast. MGAA has a division for us old folks called Fossils, and we had a full heat of five teams that was pretty competitive. We were the Ring Crew, and in the last heat on Sunday really made a comeback. Had a great time, now need a week of "regular" riding to heal.

So instead of ending my season and letting my horse down, I'm ending my eventing competition season and starting on the road to spring already. Right now I'm trying to get in a flat lesson every week (OK a BIG issue for me is how am I going to afford this trek??) or will jump once a week. Lots of hacks, trots, and even just walks will keep Toga pretty fit. I love a TB for that - they get and keep fit quite easily. Hopefully will get in some jumper shows before the weather gets bad, and maybe a combined test or two. Toga already had two weeks off (wow it went fast) after Waredaca, and will get more time for sure in the dead of winter. He needs some time to unwind, but he does like to work and gets a little cranky when he's bored or when I'm riding other horses. I'll keep myself fit riding sales horses and starting Ari up into real work. He's my coming four year old Holsteiner/TB that I bred and broke. He's pretty special...we'll see if pretty is as pretty does!!