Finally getting it!

Pip had great schools all this week. On Friday he was so good he and Morgan went out to the track and motored around. He probably opened his step another 2 feet while they "galloped" the track. He probably has a 15 foot stride or there abouts. At the shows with the lower fences he needs to figure out the 12 foot step to make the lines work and not look awkward and no leaving out a step either.

That is what they have been working on and he is waiting to the jumps, jumping out of the deep one instead of the long one. Although he still protests at times, it is vocally not physically. He really is coming along.

He is getting bigger too. I need to buy him a new blanket in a 76 or 78. His 72 isn't going to fit this year. He is going to be wearing one of Scooter's old Stoney Ridge blankets for awhile since it fits. I thought I had a navy one but I must have given it away. I can't find it. Of course, I haven't really looked for it either. Scooter's big Rambos are at the barn for turn outs and an old cooler is there too, along with one of my old Irish knits. Pip is using Scooter's old Stoney Ridge Irish knit and I will take his dress sheet down today. It is covered in Pippi hair.

He gets body clipped today. Poor punkin'.

The boxes of The Plaid Horse magazine have arrived and been taken to the farm. Pip saw the cover and was very impressed with himself. He loves paper with writing on it. He must touch it. Maybe he can read and we don't know. He is always putting his nose and sometimes teeth on the course diagrams at the shows.

Off to make the beet pulp.

Pip says

HI!!!!!!

This horse is a nut...

Training continues - Pip walks so slow out to the ring one thinks he is an old man... he marched around on the flat like a good boy and then Morgan added some jumps. Little cross rail bounce with placement rails on either end. Now he is awake! Tries to canter the exercise, won't stop when he canters away, doesn't go any faster just won't stop.

He FINALLY decides to listen, jumps through correctly so Morgan got off and decided to turn him loose in the indoor ring. Pip and Morgan were chasing each other around, Morgan would kick dirt at him and Pip would swing his butt to him and kick dirt back at Morgan. Oy. Pip wasn't that interested in running around but did airs above the ground and carried on a bit.

Then Morgan ties the lead rope to the other side of the halter, gets on him bareback and rides him back to the groom stall. Pip goes like an old man again.

Pip is a nut and so is Morgan.

A Star is Born

Pip and Morgan will be featured on the cover of The Plaid Horse October issue! What a surprise!! Thank you Cindy Taylor and Bill Rube, also Becca Brebner for taking the picture. We have always loved The Plaid Horse and The Paisley Pony, now we love them even more.

This is from Thunderbird in August, it poured on Wednesday and Thursday, he had never shown in the rain!

Oh and my web site for events is One Horse Productions, LLC

Tia and Morgan are working hard to drum up business. If I make money Morgan gets most of it via Pip showing. They are smart cookies!

I need to take pictures of Pip enjoying his beet pulp. I've added flax seed to it. What a greasy mess! He usually has it all over his muzzle. Looks like a little kid who has been eating chocolate cake!

Allergy Shots

We are now on the second vial - which is a little stronger, and the shots are scheduled further apart. Next one is on Sunday the 28th. He really does get tired of me staring at him and if he tries to nap I go get alfalfa cubes to make sure he is ok. Oy. Poor guy.

I can't believe he is going to be 5 years old soon. Well another few months. Closer to 5 than 4.

He looks great except he is getting fuzzy, but it is that time of year.

I've been busy putting together a Rob Gage clinic for December of this year. So far so good.

Progress

Pip has been schooling - lightly for the past couple of weeks. He has been a very good boy, except on walkabout the other day. The infield of the track has been set up for a horse show this weekend, it will be the jumper ring. Flags flapping. He was supposed to be "babysitting" a dressage horse who has been converted to a jumper, the horse is a year older than he is. Well that horse got a little worried so Pip took off! Like breaking the starting gate race horse took off! Morgan had the rubber D in his mouth, they were headed for the track rail. Oh MY!! I've never seen him move that fast. It didn't last - precisely the reason WHY he is not a race horse. Morgan was pulling on his face, and Pip just said "Never mind, just kidding." Brat.

The allergy shots are going well. So far. Wish us luck. We are still on the most diluted set of injections. I am also considering trying acupuncture for him and his allergies.

Pippi is still not home. They told me that it would be 2-4 weeks before they would have her ashes back. I just want my girl home.