Update

Yes, yes, this thing is still on.  :)   I have just been -- all together now -- really busy lately.   Plus, for some reason I don't feel like I have a lot of interesting things to say.

Still, here goes.  I really, really miss my horse today!  It's been a week since I was able to get out to the barn, due to having company for the weekend and needing to make it look like I don't actually live in a hovel before said company arrived, plus some health issues.  (Again, as usual.)   So I am super-excited to get out to the barn today!   My poor abandoned pony!   I can't wait to get up into the saddle, pet my pony, brush him, feed him carrots ... all that good stuff.

I'm also excited to give my new helmet a try.  I decided that I needed a nice, light helmet for the summer.  I adore my Charles Owen skully, don't get me wrong!  However, it's definitely heavy and not really well vented, and "low-profile" doesn't describe it well.   I don't really mind looking like a blockhead, since sometimes I can ACT like one, but ... the last lesson I had, I sweated through my ponytail.  All of it, down to the tip, was wet.   Ick.   Yeah, sweat is good, means you're working, but ... ick.

So I picked up a nice little schooling helmet, the Ovation Deluxe Schooler.  I think it'll be just the thing!  I'll wear my skully and cover for cross-country, of course -- all those cross-rails are dangerous, right?  ;)

Cross-country, yes.  Despite not having done much jumping this year, I went ahead and entered the May derby at cross-rails.   I think I ought to schedule some jumping lessons between now and then ... heh.  Honestly, I'm not in the least concerned.  We can totally handle cross-rails.   And Intro B.  Totally, completely, 100% handle that.   The only question is how Apollo will be out in the field, but I'm not even very concerned about that, either.  We'll have a couple clinic days in advance of the derby, and I'll drag him out there when I can between now and then too.   He's competed out there already, even.  So yeah.   We'll have a fine time.  :)

Lessee ... oh!  Reveille is still happy as a clam with her new kid!   Hee.  She's officially a rodeo-queening horse now; her kid is Mini Queen for a rodeo here.   The pictures are so awesome.  I won't share here, just because they're not my pictures and because they feature a kid, but trust me: she's adorable.  Utterly adorable.  Reveille is sleek and shiny, and she transitioned into a shank curb bit and Western saddle in a right hurry.  I'm so pleased!!  

Anyway, again as usual, I'll try to keep up with things.  I do want to mention how well Apollo is going and how amazing he is to ride these days, since he's been getting pro rides, but ... I have to have material for another day, yeah?  :)