The Sassy Grey is moving!

I told you all in a previous post that I had some new ideas in store…and here it is!  I’m moving to my own website!  Because all of a sudden what I have to say requires its own domain name! ;)  This will be my last official post on blogger.

Now you can find me here:

www.thesassygrey.com

So why the new site?  It’s actually because I want to change the focus of my blog slightly and concentrate specifically on horses.  Previous posts have included a variety of topics, but I’m hoping to narrow down that focus (if I can!).  So here it is – all horses, all the time…with a special look at the wonderful world of OTTBs (off-the-track Thoroughbreds).

So bear with me – this site is definitely going to be a work in progress for quite some time.  I’ll probably be rearranging the lay-out / menu options / everything, over the next few months until I really find my niche.

Questions / comments / thoughts / anything – send them my way.  I want to hear from my readers!  (Unless you’re mean – then I don’t!).  And as always, please pass along this site to any horse enthusiasts you think might enjoy it!

The Retired Racehorse Trainer Challenge – The Finale!

Today I ventured up to Harrisburg, PA for the Retired Racehorse Trainer Challenge Finale.  It took place at the Pennsylvania Horse World Expo, an expo that, surprisingly, I had never attended before.  But the lure of the Challenge and the idea of seeing my beloved Brazilian Wedding again enticed me to cross state lines for the day!

The Maryland Expo is always crowded, but I was totally overwhelmed by the turnout at PA.  We arrived around 11, browsed the vendors, hit Jim Wofford’s demonstration at noon, and then grabbed lunch.  It was about 1:30 by then, so my group thought we should make our way to the Equine Arena, where the Challenge would be held, find some seats and eat.

Well – that was impossible. 

We entered the arena with arms loaded with hot dogs, nachos, and sodas…to find standing room only.  So back out we went where we sat on a bench and downed our food in 10 minutes as we watched people just stream into the arena.  At that point, I started to panic, thinking there wouldn’t be enough room for me to see the Challenge.  I believe I said something like, “I’m going to throw some elbows if there’s not enough room in there for me.”  Because, yes, the Challenge meant that much to me.

So back inside we found some space standing along at the top rail.  The demonstration before the Challenge went over a little, so there weren’t too many people leaving.  At one point, a group of 4 or 5 people left their seats, and as I went to make my way over to them, someone pushed past me and said, “those are my seats – I’ve been waiting over an hour for this.”

I wanted to say – “good for you – I’ve been waiting for five weeks!”

But I let it go because moments later I scored front row seats – yes!!  Then out came Steuart Pittman with the horses and their trainers.  I was beside myself with happiness/excitement/you name it!

Steuart gave a brief overview of the program while the horses and riders warmed up.  Then each trainer was hooked up to a mic and talked a little about what the last five weeks had been like with their chosen horse.

I was blown away by each and every horse!  First, Tiffany Catledge rode High Level, the horse she originally picked but had abscessed at the beginning of the Challenge.  She had only started riding him about two weeks ago…and here he was, cantering over jumps as relaxed as could be.  My favorite part was when Tiffany completely dropped her reins, spread her arms out wide, and High Level continued to canter around the arena, smooth and steady, and without a care in the world.

Tiffany and High Level.  (I want to apologize in advance for the pictures...my point and shoot had a hard time adjusting to the lighting in the arena).

Next came Kerry Blackmer on Four X The Trouble, aka Tempyst.  At the Maryland Expo, Tempyst was a ball of nerves, very spooky, and incapable of going straight.  Now five weeks later, Tempyst was by far the most relaxed…moving (straightly) around the arena with a nonchalant, almost lazy air about him.  It’s almost like he knew how much I love lazy OTTBs, (like my Misty).  The best part was when Kerry walked Tempyst right up to us in the seats to let him say hi!!!  I could not get over what a puppy dog he was…and he certainly loved the attention!

Kerry and Tempyst.

After Kerry was my favorite, the grey mare, Brazilian Wedding.  Brazil’s trainer was Eric Dierks, who created the most amazing training videos to showcase Brazil’s progress and talent.  Brazil, with her adorable lower lip flapping, sauntered around the ring like, been there, done that.  Eric noted that Brazil was a horse who liked to have a job, liked to be challenged.  She popped over the crossrails like it was no big deal…but she totally shined when Eric raised the jumps and started cantering them.  She sailed over with perfect form, snapping her knees up, and pricking her ears, asking for more.

Brazilian Wedding with the winning trainer, Eric Dierks!

And finally we saw the big teddy bear, Solidify.  He had originally been chosen to be the alternate horse, but stepped up to the plate when High Level went lame.  Solidify – that horse is ALL try.  You could tell by just watching him go around under Tiffany’s tutelage that all he wanted to do was please her.  At first he struggled to pick up his left lead canter…but then rolled into it so beautifully, so clean and natural.  

The adorable Solidify.

In the end, Eric was announced the winner of the first ever Retired Racehorse Trainer Challenge!  While I was happy for the trainer of my beloved grey mare, I really do believe that each trainer deserved to win.  Each brought so much to the Challenge – brought SO much to the world of off-the-track Thoroughbreds.

I am so grateful that I was able to participate in this Challenge, even as just a spectator.  (And speaking of spectators…I was one of 3,000+ (my guess) today in PA!!!).

The sweet Tempyst again...but check out that crowd - standing room only up there!

I’m also totally bummed that this is over – how will I pass my time now?  I had my RRTP FB page stalking routine down pat!

I had the pleasure of speaking with Steuart after the Challenge and I, again, want to extend my sincere congratulations to him and everyone involved in this Project.  It was an absolute success, and I (and thousands of others) enjoyed every single minute of it. 

(Also – to the new owner of Brazil…call me.  I can’t take her now…but when I buy my farm (hopefully within the year), I’ll be ready!!  Keep in touch!).

I Wrap Hooves like a Champ

So Misty is recovering from a rather large abscess that burst with a vengeance out of her RH.  Well, after the vet dug it out, of course.

At first, I wasn’t sure Misty was actually abscessing as I’ve had her 3 ½ years and the only other time she’s abscessed was 6 weeks after I got her…and that was as a result of semi-throwing her racing shoes on her second day home and stepping on a nail.

I thought maybe she had twisted something on the frozen ground because, although her lower leg was swollen, she was still sound…and then she was just a little off…then a little more…then…you know?  I think she’s abscessing!  Enter diapers…and duct tape…and vetrap (pronounced like “vet wrap,” not “vet trap,” as I pronounced it as a stupid kid)…and Ichthammol…and hot water…and Epsom salts.

I wrapped Misty for a few days before I had the vet out, (but I was tired of watching her limp – figured the vet could speed up the process a little)…and since the hole was pretty big (about the size of a nickel and very deep), my vet suggested I keep it wrapped for another week so it would stay clean and could continue draining.

The foundation.

First, I have to give props to Misty – she’s the BEST patient ever!  She stood so perfectly still in her cross ties as I soaked her for 20 minutes and picked at/cleaned what must be an awfully painful little hole!  Then she continued to stand while I wrapped her hoof with a baby diaper.

Ichthammol - sticky, gooey, and dark brown...ick.

Second, I have to give props to myself…I’m a Master Wrapper.  After I’ve soaked her hoof in hot water and Epsom salts, I set it down on a clean towel and let it dry.  Then I smear the Ichthammol on her actual hoof and inside the diaper.  (Note – this is the ONLY time I ever want to see anything dark brown smeared inside a baby diaper – gag!).  Then I wrap her hoof in the diaper and use duct tape to secure the top.  Then around and around I go with the vetrap…then more duct tape…especially at the toe which is on the ground the most since the poor thing keeps it cocked up, almost dragging it.

Misty prefers vetrap in blue or pink.

How do you know if you’re a Master Wrapper?  Is the wrap still on in the morning?  Yes?!  Woo!

Unfortunately, I don’t have a picture of my magnificent creation since I am the last person on earth who does not have a smart phone…so no camera.  So just use your imagination.  Give me a diaper and a horse hoof, and I will give you art!

The main ingredient.

So all this happened about a week ago…and Misty is still on the mend, but not completely ride-able yet…which makes perfect sense because the weather has been amazing and unseasonably fantastic for this time of year.  Figures.  But at least my girl is improving. 

Happy Birthday Sassy Grey!

This is a special day for three reasons!  First, and in no particular order, today is the 1^st birthday of The Sassy Grey blog.  I began this blog a year ago to coincide with another birthday, that of THE Sassy Grey, Misty Mystique!  My Misty is 8 years old today; I can’t believe my Valentine’s baby is all grown up!

And finally, it’s Valentine’s Day – a great holiday devoted to love and chocolate.  What’s not to love?

Misty on her first day home - look at that sweet face!

But back to Misty…when she came off the track and into my life, she was a silly filly of 4.  Now she is a mature lady at 8 – all grown up, but still my baby doll.  I've owned her for 3 ½ years now – where has the time gone?  We have taught each other so much in what feels like so little time; I thank God every day that she’s a part of my life.

I look forward to celebrating many more birthdays, to growing together as horse and rider, and to having fun! 

I’m also excited for The Sassy Grey blog!  I have some great plans in store for it this year – stay tuned!!

Hopelessly devoted to ribbons – Part II

In one of my last posts, I encouraged my friend Kelsey to “hop to” and create her ribbon shadow box.  Well, she must have been inspired because look at what she produced over the weekend?  Isn’t it perfect?

And for those of you wondering, she did not cut the ribbons; she simply overlapped them or folded them back to make space.  Leaving the rosettes attached to the ribbons themselves provided some background / filler.

I think it turned out beautifully – nice job, Kels!

Pixie, the original Sassy Grey

I’m devoting this post to the best cat in the world, my Pixie cat.  Pixie has been my girl since the summer before my senior year of high school.  And even though she’s still mine, she lives with my mom, who couldn’t let her go after I got married and moved out.

It was a hot summer day in 1999 when my mom, sister, and I ventured into the PetSmart off of Route 40.  As usual, we stopped by the cat adoption center to look at all the cute kitties in their crates.  This day, a volunteer was cleaning the cages, letting each cat out one at a time to walk around.  I looked through the glass and sitting on a climbing tree and staring back at me was Pix, a half-grown, beautiful grey tabby.

Pixie getting her poker face on.

I knocked on the window and Pix saw me and started rubbing around the glass on the inside.  Immediately I knew I must meet that cat.

The volunteer came over; I pointed to Pix, and asked if I could see her.  The three of us came inside and before we knew it, Pix had weaseled her way into our hearts.  As we held her, she purred like crazy and gave us kitty hugs by wrapping her arms around our necks, and kissed our cheeks.  She was an excellent sales-kitty – we were hooked.

The adoption center had named her Cori, but that name sounded too human.  I was almost settled on Dixie when Pixie popped into my head – what a perfect name for such a sweetheart.

She's ALL IN!

Pix has always been the family favorite.  She’s our “Love Kitten,” our “Meow Meow,” and our “Schnookums.”  She’s more dog than cat, a very talkative cat who will sit and listen to you as you talk about your day, and then offer her thoughts.

However, she’s not always her Love Kitten self.  Like any true sassy grey, she can be quite the diva.  If you pet her the wrong way, she’ll smack you.  When we would go on vacation (and my grandmom would watch her), she’d run to greet us when we returned…then ignore us for a few hours as if to punish us for leaving her.

Regardless of her attitude, she’s been nothing but an absolute joy to own.  She even had a Lassie moment.  One night, years ago, my mom was getting ready for bed when Pix came bounding into her room and jumped on her chest.  Then she jumped off, stood there looking at my mom, and “yelled” at her.  Then she tore off out of the room.  My mom followed her thinking she wanted a bedtime snack or something like that.  Pix flew down the steps and raced into my sister’s room where my mom had left a space heater running.  It had just begun to smoke.  My mom quickly turned it off and thanked Pix, who must have known something was wrong!  Good Pixie!

Now, 13 years later, Pix is still doing well, still her diva self.  She is the Queen of the House; we let her do whatever she wants.  If my mom complains that she’s walking on the kitchen counters, we just reply, “but she’s Pixie cat!”  After all, the best cat in the world can do anything she pleases. 

Hopelessly devoted to ribbons

I have ribbons on the brain for a few reasons.  First, with this warm weather (Best. Winter. Ever.), I’m already looking ahead to spring.  And after spring comes the best of all seasons, my glorious summer.

And summer means horse shows!  I can’t wait to get back in the saddle on a regular basis and start pointing Misty towards some shows. 

Misty's like, where am I?

Oh sh*t, a horse show.

I’m also thinking of ribbons because I finally posted some pictures on Facebook of the show I was in last November.  It was Misty’s second of the year (third total) and it was her first dressage schooling show.  Please see the pictures below – she’s a sassy grey star!

My photographer husband comes in handy!

Saluting the judge before my test.

Yay!

Like most riders, I love displaying my ribbons around the house.  When I first brought home these blues, I hung them on my hutch, then they moved to my mantle, and then finally to my home office.  As I was hanging them up with my other ribbons (a variety of 1^st through 6^th places), I started wondering about the colors of the 7^th through 10^th place ribbons.  In your average sized, local horse show, ribbons are given out up to 6^th place, but in larger shows and events, the ribbons go to 10^th.

So I Googled and found this:

1^st – blue
2^nd – red
3^rd – yellow
4^th – white
5^th – pink
6^th – green
7^th – purple
8^th – brown
9^th – grey (must get this one sometime!)
10^th – light blue

Believe it or not, when I was in high school, I liked to shoot for the 6^th place ribbon because it was green and matched the décor of my room at the time.  Yes, that’s right.

yeah girl!!

But as I was doing my research, I found out that in Canada and Britain, the 1^st place ribbon is actually red and the 2^nd place ribbon is blue!  Can you imagine ‘going for the red’ instead of ‘going for the blue?’  What an odd concept to us blue-obsessed Americans! 

Now I just need to bring home some Canadians or Brits – with all the red ribbons I have, they’d think I’m a superstar!

The traditional 1st through 6th.

Some people are creative and put their ribbons and numbers in shadow boxes...I'm looking at you, Kelsey!  Let's hop to!

My New Addiction – The Retired Racehorse Trainer Challenge

So my latest and greatest horse addiction comes by the name of the Retired Racehorse Trainer Challenge.   This Challenge is the first ever of its kind, and is part of the Retired Racehorse Training Project (RRTP), a non-profit organization developed to increase the demand for recently retired racehorses.  (Basically – let’s turn these puppies into sport horses and give them the second careers they deserve)!

Of course, this is something that is near and dear to my heart since my own mare, Misty (the Sassy Grey), is an OTTB (off-the-track Thoroughbred).   I’ve owned Misty for 3 years now, and I can honestly say that they have been the most challenging, brilliant, turbulent, and utterly fulfilling years in my riding career thus far. 

Until Misty, I had never owned a Thoroughbred – never even ridden one!  But many years of riding my mom’s hot-headed Arabian led me to believe that I had what it took to take a racehorse off the track and make her my own.  And I did.

Though Misty and I have had our moments, (I call them her nightMARE moments), she’s my baby doll.  I’ve thoroughly enjoyed working with her and look forward to us continuing to learn and grow together. 

So would I do this again?  Would I take another horse straight off the track and start from scratch?  Absolutely.

That brings me to my addiction – this Trainers Challenge through the RRTP.  Steuart Pittman, owner of Dodon Farm in Davidsonville, Maryland, was the mastermind behind this organization.  He has done a tremendous job in building this Project and is doing a great service to OTTBs everywhere.  We in the horse community can’t thank him enough.

The Trainers Challenge is quite simple.  In an effort to show the general horse public how trainable OTTBs really are, Steuart began his search for four Thoroughbreds recently off the track.  After he found them, he chose three professional trainers who would, at the Maryland Horse Expo, pick their favorite horse, (with one serving as an alternate).  Each trainer would get to take their chosen horse home to their farm for five weeks of training.  After the five weeks, each trainer will bring their horse to the Pennsylvania Horse Expo in February and show the audience their stuff!

So yesterday the trainers picked their horses: Eric Dierks chose my favorite, Brazilian Wedding (why is she my favorite, you ask?  Oh just something about her grey mare-ness); Tiffany Catledge chose High Level (although he was lame this morning, so she had to ride the alternate); Kerry Blackmer chose Four X The Trouble; and Solidify (my second fave) was the alternate.

The horses and trainers of the first ever Retired Racehorse Trainer Challenge.  (Picture courtesy of the RRTP site).

Today was awesome!  Today the trainers rode their chosen horses for the first time in front of a very large, excited MD Horse Expo audience.  The three horses, Brazilian Wedding, Solidify, and Four X The Trouble were exceptional.  I honestly expected some fireworks, but was pleasantly surprised!  Each trainer walked, trotted, and cantered around the ring as if they had been on their chosen mount for years.  It was most impressive!

So what happens next?  Each trainer will take their horse home and work with him/her for five weeks, taking their training in any direction they’d like.  The trainers will keep everyone updated through FB posts and blogs and videos – I can’t wait to see the progress!

We’ll get to see these babies again in person on February 25^th at the Pennsylvania Horse Expo in Harrisburg where they’ll be evaluated by a panel of judges; a winner will be selected.  (Though we all know – they’re all winners)!

I. Can’t. Wait.

For more information about the Retired Racehorse Training Project, please visit their website here: http://www.retiredracehorsetraining.org/ or on Facebook here: http://www.facebook.com/RetiredRacehorseTrainingProject.

Follow Cupcakes by Clara

One of the best things about my job is working with my co-worker, Clara.  Not only is she a fantastic proposal writer, but she likes to talk books as much as I do.  She also loves to bake cupcakes…and I love to eat them!  It’s the perfect friendship.

Mmmmmmm.........

Clara started making cupcakes occasionally when it was someone’s birthday or work anniversary.  She then began researching fun recipes and bringing in her delicious treats for us, her delighted, greedy guinea pigs, to try.  Now she has just started her own blog where she’ll share some cupcake baking tips and post beautiful pictures of her creations.

Follow it here: http://www.cupcakesbyclara.com/blog/

Again I’ll reiterate, I have the best co-workers ever.  Be jealous!

Happy New Year’s

If you’re like me, you’re scratching your head wondering what happened to the summer…wasn’t it July 4^th just last week?   I can’t believe it’s the end of the year already, that the holidays are just about over and we have a long winter ahead of us.

So to keep myself from falling into a deep depression (because I seriously hate the cold weather…especially after we say goodbye to Christmas when there’s nothing else to look forward to), I’m going to make some New Year’s Resolutions.

I usually avoid making resolutions (minus one you’ll see below) because I can get a little obsessive about holding myself accountable…and quite honestly, I put enough pressure on myself as it is.  But this year I’ve decided to make some open-ended resolutions – no due dates!

1.  To have fun with Misty

Every year I say things like, I’m going to take Misty to at least five shows…take biweekly lessons…be at this level of competition by this date, etc. and these things NEVER happen.  With horses, the only thing you can count on is…that you can’t count on anything!!  I’m finally learning this lesson…nothing with those crazy equines ever goes according to plan.  If I say I want to do X number of shows, something will surely happen that with throw everything off.  Misty will start having back pain…she’ll throw a shoe and the farrier won’t be able to get out right away…I’ll have a bad day/confidence buster and talk myself out of doing whatever I had planned for the following week.

Misty Mystique lives to ruin my plans.

So instead of making concrete plans with a Misty Mystique who lives to break them, I’m just going to set this simple resolution.  This way I won’t (hopefully, anyway) beat myself up if I’m not bringing home the blue ribbons every weekend.  I have finally recognized that horses are unpredictable, and I can’t always control every aspect of our mommy-horsey relationship.  Therefore, I vow not to get down on myself if I’m not where I’d like to be at a specific point.  Overall, Misty and I have come SO far, further than I ever thought we’d get.  So as long as I’m having fun and enjoying her company…and she’s a happy and healthy horse, then I’m okay.

2. To streamline my house/life

As a child, I was an extreme packrat.  I would keep everything because I thought “I might need it someday.”  In recent years, I’ve gotten over this.  Instead, I think – if I haven’t thought of this/worn this in over a year, it’s gone.  James and I are constantly putting bags of clothes and household goods aside for Purple Heart. 

Because clutter is scary...

This year, I want to continue that trend and give my whole house, thus, life, a makeover.  I want to continue going through my closet and keep only nice pieces that I wear on a regular basis.  I want to go through my house, room by room, and streamline everything, keeping only the necessities.  Everything else will go to Purple Heart…or the trash.

By doing this, I will be clearing the clutter from my life (although I wouldn’t really classify my house as cluttered, for the most part), and feeling more comfortable in my surroundings.  Also, I will be readying myself in case I move in the next year or two, which is the goal.  When we finally do move, I don’t want to be packing up boxes of useless crap…so if I sort things beforehand, I’ll be ahead of the game!

3. To eat healthier

This is my resolution every single year.  I love sugar…love love sugar…but I really need to eat it in moderation.  Some days are better than others as I really try to be conscious of what’s going in my mouth, but each year I still find myself hitting the sweets hard.  So…again…I’ll make this resolution.  I’ll feel like I’m eating healthier when I cut back on the sugar and add more fruits and veggies to my diet.  Fingers crossed I actually stick to this one for once…but given my track record, I’m not very hopeful!

Misty lives by the apple a day rule...I need to as well...

So there you have it…my resolutions.  Each is designed to make me a better, healthier person.  I know that I put a ton of pressure on myself in almost every aspect of my life, so I’m really hoping to put an end to that pattern and learn to relax and live in the moment a little more.  What are your resolutions?

I hope you all have a wonderful New Year!  And thanks for sticking with my blog during its first year! 

  

Baltimore Horse Examiner

For those of you who don’t know, The Sassy Grey blog is not the only place I share my wit and wisdom.  I am also the Baltimore Horse Examiner and maintain a page through Examiner Online.

This is Rachel Alexandra - I write about her a lot!

This page is a little different than my blog in that it’s strictly about horses and horse-happenings in the Baltimore area.  I can post reviews (like book/event/movie reviews), but these articles are mostly how-to in nature.   My blog is a bit of a loose cannon compared to this page!

I don’t update my Examiner page as often as I’d like (maybe once or twice a month), but I invite you to follow it nonetheless!  The link is below!

http://www.examiner.com/horse-in-baltimore/laurie-berglie

Thanks and happy reading!

It's Not Too Late To Give

Tis the season to be generous!!  This time of year, James and I like to donate to our favorite charities, and I’m sure it will come as no surprise that animal-related rescues are always on the list. 

One rescue that’s on my list every year is Days End Farm Horse Rescue, Inc.  This year I donated $100 and got to pick a horse to sponsor.  While I follow all the horses’ stories and love them all, I ended up picking Buildmeup Buttercup Baby.  As soon as I get a farm of my own (fingers crossed that next year is the year), this sweet mare is mine!

I think I can speak on behalf of the entire Maryland horse community when I say Days End is a dream come true.  Words simply cannot describe the amazing gift they give neglected and abused horses.  “Days End Farm was established in 1989 to ensure quality care and treatment of horses through intervention, education, and outreach.”  If you visit their website at: www. defhr.org, you’ll see that they take on some of the absolute worst cases of horse abuse, cases that some might turn away from, and use their love and knowledge to rehab these animals into the brilliant stars they once were.

They do more than give second changes, they give life.

Please add Days End to your list of charitable donations – every little bit helps.  (A bale of hay is only $3 or $4!!).  Once on their website, just click the Donate Now button at the top right corner and help a horse in need.

Thanks to all and Merry Christmas!

Misty’s Christmas List

Misty’s a bit of a diva.  She likes the finer things in life and dreams big.  As I have had the privilege of being her mom for more than three years now, I was not surprised to receive her extravagant Christmas list.  Please see below.

Recently, Misty and I have gotten into dressage.  We have been taking lessons at Thornridge Manor and even showed in a small schooling show this past November.  I purchased a dressage saddle (well, my birthday present from Misty – she’s occasionally quite generous), but didn’t have the extra money for a bridle.  Misty wants one for Christmas so she can have matching tack.  She’s a very particular fashionista.

Misty has requested treats…but not just any kind of treats, organic treats from Withers & Withers.  She likes the fancy tin with the grey horse on it…figures.

A stall ball.  Misty lives outside 24/7 because she has a run-in…but she will occasionally come indoors to her stall during extreme weather.  Though she isn’t inside often, she wants to be entertained when she is.  She wants a stall ball in either purple or blue.

Since Misty and I are traveling a lot more (to lessons, shows, etc.), she wants a horse trailer.  We already have one…but she wants another one.  A newer one.  The bigger, the better.  Girlfriend wants to travel comfortably in style.  See the picture below…classic Misty.  She’ll have a grande white chocolate mocha with 2% milk and whip, please!

Misty really likes her current barn, but she’s asked for another…one on MY farm.  I haven’t had the heart to tell her that we haven’t bought the farm yet, but she’s not the best listener anyway so I probably won’t even mention it.  She wants a barn like the ones I saw in Kentucky.  She says she deserves it.

And finally, Misty has asked for some shoes.  And no, not horseshoes.  She wants two pairs of Manolo Bhalniks.  What can I say?  She’s sassy!

Christmas cards that didn't make it

Tis the season for Christmas cards!  James and I will randomly get all ambitious with our cards some years (don't expect much this year), and will do some family portraits with the pets.  My all-time favorite was the one we took in 2008 with Izzie and Misty.  While the final one that we sent out turned out really well, there were quite a few that didn't make it!  The ones below are the best.

At first, Izzie was so excited to be near Misty that James had to sit on her to keep her quiet.

Iz adores her sister; Misty is not amused by the photoshoot.

Apparently Misty doesn't like it when I cluck at her.

Okay - everyone's getting bored now.

Getting a little too close for comfort!!

Picture Perfect!!

Traveller – Another Sassy Grey

I’m late with this post too – this one is about my mom’s horse, Traveller, another very sassy grey.  I can remember life before Trav, but just barely.

My mom rides Traveller Western, but he is trained English as well.

Traveller is an Arabian and was born 23 years ago at Imperial Egyptian Stud, a beautiful farm in Parkton, Maryland.  I’m not sure of all the specifics since I was so young at the time, but apparently Traveller was born without Arabian show-quality features, and therefore his owners didn’t want him.  My mom had lost her first horse, Pepper, about nine months prior and was ready to bring another horse into the family…and this one was free!

I remember the day Traveller came home – he was only a yearling and was a funny roan color.  Basically, he looked pink with a black mane and tail.  We were told that he would “grey out,” which, of course, excited me, and my father, being a Civil War buff, suggested the name of Traveller (the name of General Robert E. Lee’s favorite horse who was also a grey). 

For my brother and I (Andy was 8 at the time, I was 6), Trav was like a big, fun dog.  We’d play with him in the field (Andy would flat out try to wrestle him), we’d chase him with our bikes (and then he’d turn around and chase us back!), and, of course, we helped my mother take care of him.  Sometimes I would drag a chair out to the barn, and sit by Traveller’s stall and read.  Trav would stick his head out the window and just watch me – he has always been super inquisitive.

I remember sitting outside the barn, hanging out with Trav while my parents were inside fighting (which was a regular occurrence).  I remember saying to Trav something like, “if mom and dad get divorced, don’t worry.  I’ll make sure we keep you.  If I have to get a job and pay for you, I will.”  I think I was about 7 at the time…always willing to work for my horses.

Sure enough, when I was 19, my parents divorced, but of course we kept our Traveller.  We moved him (and Komie) to the farm where we board now, but now our herd has grown from two to five!

Me and my "Crazy Man!"

One note about him though – Trav likes to bite.  He’s the one horse we have that we can’t turn our backs on.  But even though he can be a brat, you will not find a better trail horse.  Traveller has always been very reliable, a good, sturdy trail horse who loves to get out and see new things.  I showed him a handful of times as well; we always did great as he was very flashy! 

He turned 23 in July and is still going strong…just watch those teeth!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!  I hope all of you had a great day filled with lots of turkey and family time.  I'm feeling especially blessed this year, and I hope you are too!

F. Scott Fitzgerald

There’s not a time in my life when I can remember not reading, not loving books.  When I think about the two things I’m most passionate about in my life, I can say without skipping a beat, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that if it weren’t for horses and books, I’d be lost.

Trips to the library or a book store were almost on the same level as trips to the tack shop – sheer Heaven.  I can lose myself in Barnes & Noble for hours, sitting on the floor of the Fiction section, paging through the latest best-seller or one of the classics with a latte by my side.  Sometimes I like to think that I own the store (for, honestly, who appreciates books more than me?) and will get a little irritated if the place is crowded.  Who let all these people into my sanctuary?

I remember on Christmas Day how disappointed I’d be if I unwrapped a box full of clothing from Santa…but how beside myself with joy I’d be with new books and horse stuff!  Interestingly, several of my books would disappear after I unwrapped them and I only learned several years later that my mom would hide them because I’d read them too fast, flying through them all while on Christmas Break, only to turn up “so bored” the following week.  So my mom would hide a few…then they’d gradually reappear, giving me something to do during the long, cold, winter weeks spent indoors.

Like any avid reader, I have my favorite authors, my most hated books, and lists of that sort.  After reading The Great Gatsby in 11^th grade, a book that quite honestly, changed my life, F. Scott Fitzgerald sealed himself away in my heart and firmly holds that place of honor as my most favorite author.  Since then, the man who led a most turbulent life and died young at the age of 44, has been a large part of my literary life.

Since The Great Gatsby, I have read every single one of FSF’s novels and all of his short story collections.  I have poured over The Great Gatsby so many times that I’m surprised my copy is still intact.  I make references to the novel so often, but almost no one gets them!  When talking about someone new, I’ll say something like, “I heard he killed a man,” in that suspicious tone Gatsby’s party guests use when speaking about the host they’ve never met.  And at night, when I shut the curtains in my bedroom, I look across the way to my neighbor’s backyard to see the green light they have on their back porch.  Only I would see that and think of Gatsby standing on the edge of his dock late at night, arm outstretched towards the green light from the dock of Daisy’s mansion across the water on East Egg.

I spent the last year of graduate school completely surrounded by Fitzgerald as I decided to devote my Thesis to him, my favorite literary genius.  I focused strictly on his short stories, but of course, referenced his novels from time to time.  I immersed myself in his stories, his novels, and his many biographies.  I even wrote a short article that later appeared in the Fitzgerald Society’s newsletter (because, yes, like any good nerd, I am a member of the Society).

Finally I completed and successfully defended my thesis, which was entitled (starting with a quote from FSF himself):

“Show Me a Hero and I Will Write You a Tragedy”

F. Scott Fitzgerald and the Art of Chronic Failure

It was a few pages shy of 80 and capped off my graduate career, but to me it was a year’s worth of late nights, constant edits and revisions, and many, many, many tears.  But it was also a labor of love.

A Kentucky Poem

Even though I’ve only been to Kentucky once, I’m missing it…Lexington especially.  As some of you probably read in my earlier blogs, James and I went to Lexington last summer to celebrate our 5^th wedding anniversary.  Don’t I have the best husband in the world?  I mean, he definitely enjoyed himself (naturally), but maybe not quite as much as I did. ;)

Anyway, here’s an excerpt from a poem I really like by James Tandy Ellis:

Back in Old Kentucky

I want to get back

to the old time hills

Where the corn juice runs

from the old distills

I want to get back, yes,

the good Lord knows

I want to get back where

the Bluegrass grows

Back in old Kentucky.

A Horse of a Different Color

Obviously, I love grey horses.  Dapple grey horses have been my favorite for as long as I could remember.  There’s just something so beautiful, classic, and flashy about a dappled grey – so different from all the other brown, bay, and chestnut horses out there.

However, when I was in the market for a new horse in 2008, I didn’t rule out any color (and still wouldn’t).  But when I got a call from a friend of a friend about a dappled grey soon-to-be ex-racehorse, I knew I had to see her.  (Actually, I hesitated for a few days because I wasn’t sure I’d have the skills to retrain an OTTB – off-the-track-Thoroughbred).  Anyway, once I buoyed up my courage and went to see Misty, it was love at first sight.  She was (and still is) literally the horse right out of my dreams.

The only problem with dapple greys, however, is that they never stay that way!  Unless grey horses are kept in their stalls for most of the day (as racehorses and show horses are), their coats fade.  Below are some pictures of Misty through the three years I’ve had her…and yes, though I HATE to admit it, she’s turning white (though white, in terms of horse colors, is always considered grey).

Bah!  Misty – stop it!!!

Here's Misty on her first day home (summer 2008) - she's so dark!

My sweet little 4 year old, fresh off the track and ready for a new life as a Berglie.

Misty in a field of buttercups the following spring...you can see her face has already started to lighten up.

Misty in spring of 2010, one year after the previous picture.

And here's my girl this past spring...almost all of her dapples are gone...I'm devastated!