State

Not that we're counting, but State 4H Gymkhana is 6 weeks away. S is still a year too young to go, but N will be competing again this year with her friend A.

Saturday we were at a local open show and N and A both rode Catfish. Both girls were having difficulties getting him in the gate. N had the flu, so she didn't actually compete, but had A ride him once because she could see how stubborn he was being. We didn't want him to think it was okay to get stubborn and not actually get in the ring.

Once the run was through we talked and decided that she should take Dixie to state. Dixie, while not as fast as Catfish will willingly go in any gate. She will wait patiently inside for her cue to move forward.

At state they get a minimum amount of time to get in the gate or they are disqualified. When we bought Catfish the previous owners told us he was good for a ride or two but then he got unmanageable, so this isn't news to us.

N has been riding Dixie as a backup horse all summer. If she does well with Catfish she will scratch her entry with Dixie, but more often than not she has ridden both horses in poles and barrels.

In other news Gunner is doing well at the trainers. He has now been there just over 30 days. They have him to the point of loping between the barrels and trotting around them. Our hope is the get him to a show on labor day weekend. N doesn't like riding him as much as Catfish, but The Fish is old (20) and gets "hot" easily at shows so she needs to read the writing on the wall. Her main mount through the rest of high school will be Gunner. She said "Fine, but I get to ride catfish on the trails and you ride Gunner. You like him better anyways."

Classy is still pregnant, or at least has shown no signs of heat since returning from the breeding facility. She was ultra sounded once, but I chose to forgo the expense of another check, as it was too late to take her back for a re-breed. If she isn't pregnant we will try again next year. She is definitely putting on weight, but it's from lack of activity, not pregnancy. Or that's what I am assuming. I haven't ridden her in a weeks because of our busy schedules and because she limps the next day after I ride her. I think a light rider would be fine, but my weight is too much for her.

We are busy getting ready for our family vacation to Alaska. Yes, that's right Alaska. We are sailing the inside passage along with The Man's family. I can hardly wait. I even found a place that offers horseback riding on one of our shore excursions. The girls said "we can do that at home." They'd rather go kayaking or zip line or hike a glacier or sled dogging. Not me, I want to horseback ride. I think I can talk them into it.