One clutch--175k on the original clutch is not so bad, is it?--and two wheel bearings later, the Hannahmobile is ready to be picked up!

I am so excited, you guys.  It is absurd.

For one, I love my mechanic.  They are hilarious, and not overpriced, and great about letting me know what needs to be done and what doesn't, and treat me like I have a brain in my head.  I do not wish to see them often, but they do ease the sting when something needs to be done.

And!  Newly refurbished Hannahmobile!  Now safe to drive and with a return of non-slipping-clutch-minimized pep!  I'm actually a little disappointed to not be doing my own driving this evening: what do you mean I have to wait until tomorrow to put my car back on the highway?

I am such a dork.

My old goal for the car was to get me to 200k, but having to sink $$$ into it at 175k has inspired me to raise my sights.  New goal: 300k.  Go, car, go.

Title: ‘What a match (I'm half doomed and you're semi sweet)’
Author: jen_jm
Beta: lisachanoando
Pairing: Ricardo Quaresma/Marko Arnautović (Quarnautović)
Rating: PG-13
Category: slash
Word count: circa 1,100
Warnings: non lo so nemmeno io, un po’ di angst, un po’ di fluff, un po’ di nonsense
Disclaimer: se mi appartenessero-- meglio che non finisca questa frase. Non sono miei.
Author’s Notes: Titolo preso in prestito dai Fall Out Boy.
Summary: “Tu a giugno non te ne vai.”

( Ormai sapete come funziona, giusto? )

Hi, kids, just a reminder about dim sum and roller derby on Saturday.  Please see previous post here, if you haven't already.

I will likely not have email access between 4pm today and the time of meeting up for dim sum tomorrow, so if anyone wants to join in or bail out between then and.  Um.  Then.  Calling me on my cell phone will be your best bet.

If you don't have my cell number, hit me up via email and I will provide.

Q: How many Cambervillians does it take to reunite a Beagle and his owner?

A: Four.

So now you know.

I'm looking for advice about a horse who acts up in a crowded arena.

I myself have plenty of experience riding with a lot of others doing different things with their horses and getting out of their way, but my mare does not. Generally the issue is that she wants to socialize/play with the other horses and therefore when I ask her to work she throws a fit, in the form of bucking or bolting or crow-hopping. She does not kick at other horses or anything, it's a reaction to me.

I'm not actually looking for advice on what to do about her, as I'm currently working on respect/listening to me in all aspects of our training, and this crowded arena issue is just one of them. But I'm worried about other horses.

( Here's what I mean. )
I don't want to be one of *those* people who disregards the safety of others, but at the same time, I need to work on this with my horse. Any advice?

Hello everyone! This past weekend was the adult in-house show at my barn. I rode Frosty (the pony I ride every week) and got a first in equitation and a first in command. I was so happy to be showing again (although I really only did schooling shows when I rode before) and I'm considering taking up my trainer's suggestion to do one of the up-coming schooling shows at the barn.

In my riding "career", I've shown Hunter/Jumper only. The barn will be hosting a Hunter/Jumper series and a dressage series (with "way beginner - introductory? levels offered). I'd be most comfortable showing Hunter/Jumper since that's what I've ridden. Here's where the problem lies: Frosty, my trusty mount of a year, is way green when it comes to jumping. He's actually stellar when it isn't a plain ol' course and we're in a lesson, but our jumping round at the in-house was disastrous and no-where near ready for a schooling show. My choice becomes: take Frosty in the baby-level dressage classes OR find another mount for the Hunter Jumper classes. Although I'd love to be able to take Frosty in the Hunter Jumper classes, he really isn't ready for the courses and I'd rather take it slow and work with him before just popping him in there.

Thoughts? :)

I have one spare set of event tickets for the Rolex this year.  My mom backed out at the last minute.

( Let's make a deal... )

HIGH OF SEVENTY-ONE

Greetings, all!

My name's Jamie, and I'm 20-somethin', living in western Massachusetts. This past month, I decided, for myself, to get back into riding after a long time spent off of it- *10 years*, to be exact...!

Why, you may question...? I suppose that a lot of it is personal, in that I've been in a really bad place in my life, for the last good long while now... I'd been searching and searching for something that I can love and look forward to, and now, at long last, I've found that horseback riding is what I have been missing. :) I'd loved it so, SO much, throughout my childhood and up until I was about 17 or so... But there came a time where my lessons were becoming too costly for my family, so I was told that I'd be "taking a break"- A break that lasted for years and years, unfortunately. ):

Until now...!

My very first lesson at a whole new barn was today, and I just... I cannot even begin to describe how amazing it was. I was certain that I looked ridiculous up there on poor 'ol Logan (Especially where, I swear, I was tearing up for a couple moments, there...), from the very first moment that I got on, but... you know what...? Even if I did (which I am sure of), that didn't even matter...! The happiness that I felt this afternoon had to have been the most genuine that I've known in a *long* time... I cannot even *believe* that I was even praised at the end of my lesson today, whereas I'd been worried all I'd accomplished was looking sloppy, silly, and VERY out of practice. But, in the end, even though I'm sore as hell as of current, I think this is one of the best decisions I've made- Possibly EVER. I'm already daydreaming about next Wednesday, here...! :)

So... Yeah..! I guess I just wanted to share my story with you all, and formally introduce myself. Nice to meet you, and thank you for reading...! < :3

Hey everyone. So, bit of a situation. I have this friend, her and her mother have one horse they are determined to begin training this year. Problem is, they have extremely little training experience. By which I mean, basically none. Neither of them even ride very much(the mother used to apparently). They only have the one horse, and while they are competent owners and the mare, Veruca(about 5 or 6 years old), is well taken care of, I feel them training her is a disastrous situation waiting to happen. She's well-mannered on the ground but never been backed or anything. I have begged and pleaded and tried every way I knew how to convince her to hire a professional trainer, but she just won't. However, they are friends with an experienced horse woman, she's actually a vet, and will be having her help. I don't really know anything else about the woman, her specific experience or anything, but better than nothing. I can't help or even be there because she lives in Texas, and I'm currently in Florida, so I've resigned myself to just giving her as much information and advice as I possibly can from afar.
Thus where your help comes in! While I have some stuff stored away I can send her, I need articles, videos, books, blogs, any and all useful information(preferably as much stuff online as possible) that could help her out, guide her(maybe help convince her she's crazy for taking this on with no experience..hah), on training, green horses, horse behavior, backing, groundwork, safety, all that stuff. Anything you guys think might help will be much appreciated!

( and a picture of the horsey in question )

Greetings! I want to post some photos of my horse here for you to critique, however let me give you some back story first.

George is a 9 year old warmblood-ish thing. His sire is an unimpressive (IMO) Oldenburg and his dam is a Thoroughbred. He's about 15.3, and in the past, I evented him beginner novice. That was back in high school when I still had my parents to help me afford all that, but since college I've been pretty broke, so he is currently being free leased to a lesson barn in New Hampshire. There are mostly little kids riding him, which I think is wicked cute. As far as I can tell, he's doing low level dressage ("walk trot canter" is what the girl told me, the woman who owns the facility wasn't home while I was there today) and jumping 2'3".

So, what do you think of him? I am going to take him back from the lease in June of 2011 when I graduate (UMass Amherst, animal science for those of you who are curious), and I'm not really sure what I want to do with him. What do you think he's suited for? Plodding about on trails? More evening? Hunters? No videos of him, unfortunately, but here's some pictures from our ride today! (Thanks for taking them, dear ol' Dad)

( Read more... )

Pony go zoom!

I am going for a second interview tomorrow at a farm that will include handling, lunging, teaching, and riding. This interview is merely to see what level I am at so that they can figure out what I am worth to pay. Obviously, I want to do well so that I can get paid more. Plus, if they do not accept what I ask, I cannot work there because my time is so limited I feel like I need to be compensated appropriately.

I am confident about everything except lunging. To be honest, I get a little nervous when I am lunging horses in front of new people. I have worked at many barns, and each barn has its own method of lunging and everyone swears that their method is the best and also the ONLY way to lunge, other ways torture the horse or will lead to death and destruction. Is this true? When I first learned to lunge, I snaked the whip behind the horse. The horses were used to this and it worked well with them. When I got to college, I was told NEVER to snake the whip behind the horse because it would scare them by sneaking up on them when you raised it to use it. OK so I changed my way of lunging. I returned to my initial trainer and he was still snaking the whip, but had a new trainer working with him who lunged the other way (raising the whip all the time).

And each trainer I have worked with has used a different way of attaching the lunge line. I originally learned by attaching the lunge directly to the halter or bit. I later was taught that you never attach the line directly to the bit. In the end, if something terrible happens, the bridle will break--but I thought this could be a good thing, rather than have the line permanently attached...

There are also various ways to hold the line itself while you are lunging--ie, drag it on the ground to have the horse stretch down--but some people are convinced that this is terrible practice and the line should always be connected directly to the horse w/o drag. Plus, how small/large a circle to lunge on.

What I have found is that all of the methods I have learned work well with the horses they were using them on, but I think that this is because those horses were used to those methods.

Basically, I don't want to go there and look stupid--so I'm not sure which lunge method to use when I try to lunge a strange horse with whom I have no knowledge about its training. If it were my horse, I would just start off by doing what was most comfortable with me and getting the horse used to that method, but because I will be under a microscope, I want to do everything their way. Is it appropriate to ask what method they use? Am I over analyzing this? Thanks!

Title: ‘If I lay here, would you lie with me (And just forget the world?)’
Author: jen_jm
Beta: janetmourfaaill
Pairing: Alberto Gilardino/Stevan Jovetić
Rating: PG-13
Word count: circa 800
Warnings: fluff
Disclaimer: se mi appartenessero-- meglio che non finisca questa frase. Non sono miei.
Author’s Notes: ambientata dopo Napoli-Fiorentina del 13-03-10. Titolo preso in prestito dagli Snow Patrol.
Summary: “Mi porti a vedere Napoli, domani?”

( Gilatic da questa parte, folks )

Am I difficult to be friends with?

Please feel free to comment Anonymously if you would like.

Bostonians and not!Bostionians, look alive!  Here is what I'm thinking for Saturday:

DIM SUM

Was originally going to be on Sunday, but if it was Sunday it would have to be late and apparently late is no good for avoiding ridiculously long lines.  So!  Saturday.

I would like to end up at the China Pearl.  I'm thinking we can meet up at the Porter Square T stop (up top, inside the doors but above all the escalators) at, say, 10:30 and ride into Chinatown as a group, if folks are into that.  Or if folks want to meet up at the restaurant, they can meet the T-riders there at 11.

Does that sound reasonable?  Anyone want to make a strong appeal for a slight modification re: time?  If anyone is driving in from not-in-the-immediate-area, I only have one Somerville visitor car pass and it's probably spoken for, but cars are probably safe stashed at the Beacon Street Star Market for a few hours while we travel/eat/travel.  If it's easier for those folks (or whoever else, I guess) to meet at my place and walk over to the T with me, that's fine, too.



ROLLER DERBY

Boston Derby Dames play in Wilmington Saturday night.  Doors at 4, local bout at 5, Boston Massacre* vs. North Carolina at 7, abyssinia4077 's roller-derby birthday the whole damn time.  Tickets were sold out at the door by the time I got there last month, so this time we've bought ahead.  If you're interested in coming, you would be well-advised to do the same.

It is a fabulous time and you would enjoy it very much.



CONTACT INFO

Email at hwbowen THE AT SIGN gmail.com for addresses and phone numbers, if and as needed.

* Is that not the best team name ever?  I loff it.

Sorry, Chelsea fans. This is our moment and we're not gonna let it go easily.

I follow Equestrian Collections on facebook, and they posted a link to a comic on the StableWoman Gazette, which had a link to the Stable Scoop Radio Show. Haven't listened to it yet, but looks fun and interesting! Thought some of you guys might enjoy it as well.

I have no idea what to tag this. Halp?