Saturday Moon and I had our first show of the season. We were on the road early and got to the show right on time. It was a little chilly, but at least it wasn't snowing!

After getting there pretty early we found out that our dressage ride time wasn't until 1:42. So, we had a little time to kill. I helped set up the jumping course and checked out the puppies someone had brought to the show to sell. (No, we didn't buy one, as cute as they were!)

We finally tacked up, and Moon was a little energetic after waiting around all morning, and stepped on my foot pretty hard. It took a couple of minutes of recovery after that before I could make myself put on my show boots. Anyway, we ended up with a score of 31 in dressage, it was our best test ever.
(My trainer told me I was allowed to gloat over the dressage test, so I guess in a way that's what I'm doing here!)

Jumping went pretty well, and despite having the best dressage score we dropped a few places and got fourth place overall. I was really proud of Moon, especially his dressage effort!

We had been in a dressage clinic the day before, and I think it really helped both of us.

Our next show is in June. I feel like we're off to a great start for the year!

Oh, and by the way, thank you richard, for buying the saddle. Happy riding!

We've been cleaning out the tack room and have decided to sell a few saddles that don't get use very often. (Aren't you happy dad?) If any of you buy this saddle I'm sure it will make my dad's day. He likes to tell people we have dozens of saddles. Not true. However, we just might, maybe, possibly, have one or two that we don't use as much as the others.

So, here's the first one.

It's a Circle Y Flex Tree Arabian Saddle. It has only been used a handful of times, and is in great condition. No discolorations, scratches or tears. It is a size 14 seat. It is really comfortable, and fits our arabian perfectly. It is dark brown with a black seat. Brand new this saddle sells for $1,450. We are asking $1,000.

In other news....Moon is great. Loving the new barn. My new trainer is wonderful, and Dennis, the barn owner, is the nicest guy in the world. He's a quarterhorse guy and has taken a special liking to Moon. I think he almost gives Moon more treats than me! Every time he sees Moon he whistles, and says, "Now that's a great looking horse."

Moon's never had so many compliments! Our first show this year is May 10th. We've been getting ready. Next week I have a dressage clinic right before the show.

Today is "Extra credit doggy day" in biology. For extra credit you can bring in a purebred dog. I'm bringing Jai, our Bouvier. Yesterday he got an extra long bath and he feels like a teddy bear. I'm pretty sure he'll be the cutest dog at school!

Lat week I turned 15. I had a great birthday and got several horse and non horse-type of gifts. On the horse side, I had a horse cake, got some new, heavy duty horse clippers, a winged horse charm for my bracelet and a horse nintendo ds game. What could be better?

Today we had a horse nutritionist from Purina visit our barn and talk to us about nutrition. It was really interesting.

After our meeting, she weighed and condition scored all of our horses. I'm very happy to tell you all that Moon scored a 5, (which, for those of you who might not know, is the optimum score.) He's not too light or too heavy, and is in good shape. Some of the heavier horses scored 6's and 7's. One little round pony was almost an 8. Each time a new horse was about to be weighed she asked us all to guess its weight. It was surprisingly hard. Some smaller horses weighed more than anyone would have guessed and some of the bigger ones weighed less. It was a lot of fun.

I'm going to switch his grain to Ultima, and so are most of the people at the barn. AND, we rode outside today, in the sun! There's no trace of the 8 inches of snow we got this last Monday.

Moon and I have our first show of the season in early May, so we plan to spend the next few weeks really preparing for that show. YAY SPRING!

Last week we actually rode in the outdoor arena. It was so nice. All weekend long, I've been hoping to do my Monday jumping lesson outside for the first time of this year.

Then, this morning, (Monday,) I woke up to 20 degrees and 7 inches of new snow. Will spring ever come?

Ok, I'll admit it. Moon has a few things that scare him. Bikes, foals, shiny rails, (teepees, which were a big problem for us on the high prairie cross country course,) the usual stuff, really.

My dad recorded a show for us about a group of riders in Africa that had an encounter with a lioness. Evidently the lioness was looking for a meal and watched them for a while before she sprang into action and actually started chasing one of the riders.

She was faster than the horse, and when she had caught up to it she lept onto its back. Somehow, (this seems impossible,) the horse and rider got away.

Now, I don't know about your horses, I can only speak for Moon, but I can assure you he wouldn't have reacted well to a lion chasing him.

In fact, I'm sure he would have been on edge just walking through the tall grass if there had been a bit of a breeze.

If I would've been in this same situation with Moon, I think he would have run for his life from the lioness. He'd of run away with or without me on his back!

I still have a couple of years to get ready for college, but it's on my mind a lot lately.

We had a counselor talk to us about applying for scholarships, and she mentioned that it's not too early for all of us to start applying. So, I thought I'd ask all of you for some information.

Do any of you know about eventing scholarships, or riding scholarships in general? Moon needs a scholarship too, because I'm not going to college without him!

On another note, the new barn is so great! We've both adjusted to all the new stuff and have a nice routine going. Moon is turned out for several hours a day, and seems really happy. This last weekend a barn just a couple of minutes away from my new barn was having a wild horse and burro auction. We went over, which was almost a mistake, because we wanted to take them all home. Everyone one of them was adorable. There was quite a crowd there, so hopefully they all found good homes.

Yesterday there was a barn meeting, and we learned about a few new changes coming up. The best thing is that they are going to build a x-country course on the property. YAY! I'm so excited. They are also going to build a cover over the outdoor arenas, so that we can ride in the shade, and ride outside when it's raining. The barn owner (Dennis) is the nicest guy in the world, and he seems to really love Moon.

Dennis breeds quarter horses, and right now there are two foals at the barn. (Five more are expected soon!) Of course, they are adorable. It's so fun to have babies around. Moon, though, would gladly get rid of the babies. He pins his ears back when one walks by. He doesn't seem to remember that he was once a baby too! (He'll always be my baby!)

The x-country training in California was great! Moon and I had such a fun time and I felt like it was really good for us. We were there for about a week.

Things have been really busy lately. Moon and I moved to a new barn about a week ago. The new barn is a great place for us. Moon seems really happy at his new home. Here's picture of some of the stalls and my tack room. (I share the tack room with three of my friends.)

Wow, Lynda Polk actually nominated me for this blogging award. When I first started blogging I was surprised that anyone visited my site. Now, I've come to know many of you and your horses! Thanks for reading this blog and happy riding!

I'm supposed to pass this award to other people with great blogs.

There are so many good horse blogs out there, but I'd like to nominate: Equine mine. I love reading her blog. Horse horse, Maddy and I share the same name!

Mustang diaries, I love reading about her mustangs and all the cool stuff she does with them.

Learning horses, who has great training advice.

Halt near x, who has great horse stories.

Just a quick update. Moon and I are going to California for the next week to school a few cross country courses. We spent this past week getting ready to go.

I clipped Moon, (he looks so cute!)and packed. I'll tell you all about it when I get home!

http://www.geocities.com/trinityapp/ wrote this lovely article, and I thought it was worth sharing. My parents are horse lovers, which lead to me being a horse lover, and as all of you know, Maddy loves horses more than words can probably express. We've spent countless hours riding and caring for the horses together. Starting from the age of two Maddy was and continues to be happiest on a horse.

Sweet sixteen and growing up with a horse

My daughter turned sixteen years old today; which is a milestone for most people. Besides looking at baby photos and childhood trinkets with her, I took time to reflect on the young woman my daughter had become and the choices she would face in the future. As I looked at her I could see the athlete she was, and determined woman she would soon be.
I started thinking about some the girls we knew in our town who were already pregnant, pierced in several places, hair every color under the sun, drop outs, drug addicts and on the fast track to no where, seeking surface identities because they had no inner self esteem. The parents of these same girls have asked me why I "waste" the money on horses so my daughter can ride. I'm told she will grow out of it, lose interest, discover boys and all kinds of things that try to pin the current generation's "slacker” label on my child. I don't think it will happen, I think she will love and have horses all her life.
Because my daughter grew up with horses she has compassion. She knows that we must take special care of the very young and the very old. We must make sure those without voices to speak of their pain are still cared for.
Because my daughter grew up with horses she learned responsibility for others than herself. She learned that regardless of the weather you must still care for those you have the stewardship of. There are no “days off” just because you don't feel like being a horse owner that day. She learned that for every hour of fun you have there are days of hard slogging work you must do first.
Because my daughter grew up with horses she learned not to be afraid of getting dirty and that appearances don't matter to most of the breathing things in the world we live in. Horses do not care about designer clothes, jewelry, pretty hairdos or anything else we put on our bodies to try to impress others. What a horse cares about are your abilities to work within his natural world, he doesn’t care if you're wearing $80.00 jeans while you do it.
Because my daughter grew up with horses she learned about sex and how it can both enrich and complicate lives. She learned that it only takes one time to produce a baby, and the only way to ensure babies aren't produced is not to breed. She learned how babies are planned, made, born and, sadly, sometimes die before reaching their potential. She learned how sleepless nights and trying to outsmart a crafty old broodmare could result in getting to see, as non-horse owning people rarely do, the birth of a true miracle.
Because my daughter grew up with horses she understands the value of money. Every dollar can be translated into bales of hay, bags of feed or farrier visits. Purchasing non-necessities during lean times can mean the difference between feed and good care, or neglect and starvation. She has learned to judge the level of her care against the care she sees provided by others and to make sure her standards never lower, and only increase as her knowledge grows.
Because my daughter grew up with horses she has learned to learn on her own. She has had teachers that cannot speak, nor write, nor communicate beyond body language and reactions. She has had to learn to “read” her surroundings for both safe and unsafe objects, to look for hazards where others might only see a pretty meadow. She has learned to judge people as she judges horses. She looks beyond appearances and trappings to see what is within.
Because my daughter grew up with horses she has learned sportsmanship to a high degree. Everyone that competes fairly is a winner. Trophies and ribbons may prove someone a winner, but they do not prove someone is a horseman. She has also learned that some people will do anything to win, regardless of who it hurts. She knows that those who will cheat in the show ring will also cheat in every other aspect of their life and are not to be trusted.
Because my daughter grew up with horses she has self-esteem and an engaging personality. She can talk to anyone she meets with confidence, because she has to express herself to her horse with more than words. She knows the satisfaction of controlling and teaching a 1000 pound animal that will yield willingly to her gentle touch and ignore the more forceful and inept handling of those stronger than she is. She holds herself with poise and professionalism in the company of those far older than herself.
Because my daughter grew up with horses she has learned to plan ahead. She knows that choices made today can effect what happens five years down the road. She knows that you cannot care for and protect you investments without savings to fall back on. She knows the value of land and buildings. And that caring for you vehicle can mean the difference between easy travel or being stranded on the side of the road with a four horse trailer on a hot day.
When I look at what she has learned and what it will help her become, I can honestly say that I haven't “wasted” a penny on providing her with horses. I only wish that all children had the same opportunities to learn these lessons from horses before setting out on the road to adulthood.