It’s like a pressure cooker in here.

So show season 2019 is just around the corner folks and you know what that means?  New year = new challenges.  This year China and I will really and truly be loping for the first time.  Oh I know, we loped as a two year old at SEMSCA.  But we were the only ones in the class.  And we loped at a couple of open shows last year.  But this year, no more walk trot.  And boy- I’m starting to feel the pressure. We’ve been working but sometimes- when you don’t know what you’re doing, all the practice in the world isn’t gonna make you great.  If there is one thing having horses has taught me is that practice doesn’t make perfect- practice makes permanent.  (And sometimes that means cementing the wrong damn thing in everyone’s mind.)

I’ve had several people private message me or ask about training their horses because I’ve "done so well with China".  Ummm.  Walk. Trot. We can walk and trot and even then I manage to screw it up lots of times.  And for the record- it isn’t the training.  She’s just that good.  I didn’t train her to go fast or to go slow or to do this or do that.  I just rode a lot and with time she just decided to do this or do that and when she did I said "holy crap, I don’t know why you did that, but (pet pet pet) you’re such a good girl!"  So she did it again and again.  If that’s training- I can train a naturally good horse any day of the week I guess!



I always send those folks on to actual trainers with a thank you for their vote of confidence and then my anxiety rises, because people are going to expect big things out of us this year and I fear they are in for an epic disappointment.  I once had a judge ask me if she was as pretty of a loper as she was a trotter- this was her as a 2 year old.  My response then was the same thing as it is now, "she’s got a big lope."  And now that she’s learning there is another way to lope besides the one speed God gifted her with from birth, we have a new problem.  Consistency.

I attended a clinic with her hoping to gain confidence.  Instead I gained more doubt.  Tim asks how riding went every time I come in the door after practicing.  I tell him the same thing, "We did stuff. I don’t know if it is the right stuff, but we did some stuff."  Only time and shows will tell I guess.
Here’s what I do know.  China and I won’t be winning any belt buckles or saddles this year.  I’m not being a pessimist or getting down on us.  Anyone who rides and shows horses knows that figuring out the lope is a big old job.  This is a learning year for us (much like her two year old year was a learning year for her).  I’m 100% okay with that. She’s going to be showing against seasoned horses with her novice trainer aboard and giving her as much help as I can (which isn’t nearly enough for a green 4 year old).  I just hope everyone isn’t disappointed in us.  Because there is something I do know, we are only going to get better.

I know we will keep learning and working and we won’t settle.  I know China is going to give her all every second of every ride and THAT is what I’m going to love about 2019, that mare’s big old heart and her big old try.  I know that even if we don’t have the prettiest lope, it’s my job to "sit nice" (as I used to tell my girls) and ride.  Because even horses that aren’t the prettiest movers, can still place in horsemanship, equitation and showmanship if their riders don’t screw it up for them.

So goals for 2019:
1.  Keep working on that lope.
2. Make it to another clinic to at least audit.
3. Get better at showmanship!  I can do this!  Place in the top 3 at some point this year.
4. Qualify for Champ Show in two classes.
5. Find my diagonals- without looking- IN A CLASS. I can do this at home every time.  Get in a class and I lose my mind.
6.  Share lots of laughs with my family and friends at every show.

My biggest goal is to always remember- it isn’t about winning classes or this or that judge’s opinion.  It’s about enjoying my horse and getting better with each ride.  It’s about being the best that China and I can be on that day and never forgetting how lucky I am to have such an amazing creature as my partner in crime. She’s my heart horse, my forever pony and the stuff little girl’s dreams are made of.

At least its not scabies

So a couple of my good friends and my family know that I’ve been fighting a brand new rash for over a month now.  I have had psoriasis for all but about 8 years of my life and nothing I’ve dealt with to this point compares to the helol that is this current rash.  It began on my arms and now has spread from everywhere from my neck to my ankles.  It literally is everywhere but my face, hands and feet.  And it itches.  A lot. 

I know how to deal with rashes.  I’ve had them before.  But after exhausting all my tricks and when it got to the point that I was bruising myself from scratching, I called the doctor.  I got in to see a nurse practitioner.  I was not impressed.  I left with five things; 

1. The reassurance that it was NOT scabies.  Which was reassuring and alarming at the same time.  I had literally never even contemplated SCABIES.  Like I didn’t even know people still GOT scabies.  For the record, don’t google scabies or you will have nightmares. So thank goodness it is not scabies, or at least she was pretty sure it didn’t "look like" scabies. 

2. A suggestion to apply cool washcloths to the rash.  Apparently she missed the part about it covering me from neck to ankle.  I still giggle picturing myself laying out on my bed in wet towels in the middle of winter suffering from hypothermia.  But hey- not itching! 

3. A prescription for prednisone for a week.  Holy crap how do you people take that?  It made my somewhat mild anxiety run rampant.  I literally had the shakes around 10:30 every day.  Not good and I was super relieved when that ran out. 

4. A prescription for some cream that did nothing. And a suggestion for lotions until I explained how I make my own and what goes in it and she admitted that mine was better. 

5. A referral to dermatology. 

None of those things did anything.  I was still waking up three- four times itching so badly and not able to sleep.  I called dermatology. I have an appointment that’s just a little ways down the road.  June 1st. (At least I won’t have to miss any school?). 

So a couple of weeks later I went back to the doctor.  I was reassured, again, that it isn’t scabies.  We actually had a pretty good laugh about that.  He agreed not to put me on prednisone again, thank goodness.  He told me to take my allergy med twice a day instead of once.  But admitted he had no idea what was going on.  He didn’t even have a fancy name for it, I officially have... wait for it...

A rash. With no hope. It’s awful.  It itches and I really miss sleeping at night.  But hey- at least it isn’t scabies.  

Christmas Letter 2019

Happy holidays everyone!  The annual Christmas letter is written and the holiday cards are ordered.  I say holiday cards because I ran a little behind this year.   I had a great idea to dress up the ponies and due to lack of time and not the right picture taking weather (and a little of my own laziness to be honest), we didn't get the pictures taken until last weekend.  Libby was kind enough to quickly turn our photo session into a holiday card and I promise they are ordered!  But those receiving a card won't get them until after Christmas.  They are scheduled to arrive on the 20th at the earliest.  Think of it as extending the holiday.

I apologize if this doesn't copy and paste well.  But the following is the Christmas letter.  I had a little fun with the letter this year and wrote it from the point of view of the ponies.  There are times where I wish they could talk, but there are just as many times where I am sure glad they can't tell me what they are thinking.  Enjoy!

Twas the night before Christmas and all through the barn, the horses were snuggled and cozy and warm.  It was snowing after all and the ponies were kind of a bunch of pansies about the cold, especially those two new ones from Oklahoma.  Soft nickers were heard as they settled down to sleep and wait for Christmas morning. Let's listen in..

Mercy, "This weather here in Minnesota is for the birds!  Actually not even birds should have to live this horrible cold!  I miss Oklahoma." She shook her sassy sorrel head and her forelock flew in her eyes.  Cher chuckled at her. 

"Oh Mercy, you'll get used to it.  My winters in OK were nice, but it's great to be back with my family and sister again here in MN."  Cher had recently returned home to join her sister, Cutie.  "I know that Melissa, Libby and Sophie were so happy to have us both together again.  It's like a dream come true having both of us back in their pasture.  Right, Sis?"

Cutie, who was still chowing down her hay as she seldom missed a meal, snorted. "Yep.  Love that kid, Sophie.  She was a little timid getting back in the saddle this year after a 5 year break, but I was glad to help her out. She's a great kid.  And not only does she work hard at riding and training her ponies, she also plays like a million sports.  I heard that she's playing volleyball and basketball on the JV as a 9th grader.  And she's on a JO volleyball team too.  Which makes it hard for us to see much of her, but I'm not complaining about a winter off."

"Winter off!  I'm not getting the winter off!  Sophie says she's showing me next year so we have a lot of work to do.  I admit I don't know much, but I'm trying."  Mercy stomped her foot in impatience.

Sully nodded his head in agreement, "Me too.  Melissa says it is time for me to begin this training thing too.  Which mostly now consists of her trying to scare me with stuff and me looking at her like she's an idiot and not nearly as scary as she thinks she is." All the ponies in the barn chuckled except China, who pinned her ears, snaking her head at Sully.

"You watch it little man.  You can learn a lot from Melissa.  She's not perfect, and dang does she think that loping thing is completely necessary, but she does know some stuff.  If you ever want to be a show pony, you've got to start from the ground up.   Look at what we accomplished this year, high point overall judged horse for the MEC circuit.  We even won a saddle!" she exclaimed, but then mumbled, "although I wish she didn't feel the need to use it quite so often."

Sully slunk back in the stall and looked ashamed, "Yes, mam.  I'll be a good listener.  But what about the other girls that showed this year, how did they do?"

Cutie flung her head up and down in joy.  "Sophie and I were class winners and almost made it into the top ten, even though we only did half of the shows.  I had kind of forgotten a lot of this show stuff, but she really helped me remember.  And I know Peach got to move back to OK, but she and Libby were 5th overall judged horse and she and Joker were 7th.  Joker didn't even do the first show either.  Melissa was pretty proud of all of us ponies." 

Sully chimed in sadly, "I miss Joker, he was my buddy.  And I know that the family misses Libby too.  It's hard with her being away doing college stuff and learning to be a master digital media person (whatever that means).  It sucks growing up.  But!" he exclaimed in joy - perking up, "I love our new home!  It's so beautiful here with all the fruit trees and bushes, the grass, the trees, the grain and hay..."  All the ponies nodded and nickered in agreement.  "Melissa exclaims how happy they are all here too.  They even named it Berry Sweet Acres because of all the fruit that they never share.  And I love pears and apples too!"

China shook her head, "I don't know, it sure seems like we aren't getting much of a winter off with this new indoor riding arena that's so convenient.  But I guess a girl has to keep her girlish figure up over the long cold months ahead," turning to scratch at her slightly over round bay belly.  "But the family has been working really hard making this a nice place for all of us with clearing trees, putting in pasture and fences and Tim built us these amazing stalls so we can be warm and dry during the cruddy weather.   Although I heard he got a little help from some of the kids too."

Cutie retorted, "Not me!  I'm loving this break.  But Melissa said next year that I'm going to be Carter and Tim's new trail pony.  I'm hoping they are both too busy working on the family dairy farm, running track and Tim reffing basketball and coaching track so I can extend this vacation a little longer.  I kind of like my belly just as round as it is.  Although I hope to see some of Taylin this summer.  I'm awfully proud of her playing JV volleyball as an 8th grader and her track accomplishments.  She's a great kid and a good student too."  The ponies nodded as they knew they were lucky to have such a great group of kids to love up on them.

"You know what I don't love?" asked Cher, "Those darn noisy chickens and guineas!  They are everywhere and every color of the rainbow.  But they seem to bring the family great joy and they sure seem to love to keep the place bug free.  Hopefully the family doesn't add any more new animals to take care of.  I need all the attention I can get.  Chickens and cats and dogs and ponies should be enough!  Especially that Jinx, the aussie pup, she's an energetic one for sure."  They all nodded their heads in agreement at that one.  The pup had been a fun addition to the family and they knew she was much loved by the whole family.

Sully yawned wide and flopped down in the sawdust.  "I don't know about you guys, but I'm tired.  Time for this guy to get some sleep."  The barn was a flurry of ponies settling down to their sides and curling their heads in to rest.  China's motherly tone helped them all drift off to sleep as she reminded them of the true meaning of Christmas and told them all the story of Mary, Joseph and the birth of Jesus on a night much like the chilly one they slumbered through in a stable not so different from theirs.  As the ponies drifted off to sleep one by one, they slept knowing that their family loved them, loved each other and loved all the friends and family who shared in the spirit of giving and gathering that Christmas brings each year. 

Merry Christmas from all of us at Berry Sweet Acres ~
The Andrings: Tim, Melissa, Libby, Carter, Sophie and Taylin (and the ponies, chickens, dogs, and cats too)