Conversation Between PaintedRocket and katydid

Big news haha ...

http://www.horsegroomingsupplies.com...ml#post4240388

I am such a horse show mom.

Help!

http://www.horsegroomingsupplies.com...ml#post4202310

I'm sure once they are both going better to where I'm more confident, he'll trail ride with me. Un-horse SO's are FUNNY in the saddle! HAHAHA

I'm glad she did so great! When I took Molly (11yr old very green Arab mare) to her first show, she did pretty well. Gert went with her and was entered into two halter classes. Molly did HUS stuff and we attempted to do low o/f stuff.. which she refused EVERY attempt to get her butt over (but she did perfectly fine the day before during warm-up?) and would NOT canter in our HUS classes It was a great experience though. Molls did a LOT better the next show; she actually cantered when asked. Not very prettily, but she did it and that was all that mattered. Gert will do in-hand stuff again next year, but hopefully at every open show. Panda will be entered in, maybe, one or two classes, but we will mostly just hang out and ride around in the indoor and outdoor arena to get used to the environment. She has NEVER left the mountains and been around so many horses. I *might* do an in-hand class for Panda, but we'll see.

My degree.. Uuuhmm.. I'm pretty much taking my time with it. I am NOT a school person and will kill myself if I try to load up on too many classes at once. Its pretty much 2-3 classes a semester. I'll probably graduate in 2011 at the rate I'm going, lol. I think next summer I'll try to take 3 or 4 classes so it'll move a bit faster.

I think it's so sweet how much Casey likes her ... maybe Pandora will be his "gateway drug" into horses. haha. But it would be really awesome if you guys could trail ride together. I've gotten Chris up on Gemma once, and it was totally hilarious. ha. It makes me laugh just thinking of it. He was so proud because he got her to turn via direct rein.

Actually it turns out she did well! I guess the trainer schooled her in the ring and even ended up jumping a course on her (this still counts as A Big Deal for Gemma). I don't have a trailer either, it makes it tough to get them out sometimes. Gemma does not trailer well yet, at all (that's what happens when you buy a virtually untrained 4-year-old -- no one taught her to trailer as a youngster! does P trailer?), and I guess was quite a pill about getting on to go to the show but then coming home was much much better ... I'm hoping she gets on board with the trailering soon, though. Am thinking I'll send her to the Oct schooling show (same place she was at this weekend) to actually do a cross-rails course or walk/trot or something. When you take your girls, do you take them to hang out or do you do classes? I guess they are both just starting to ride so it would be in-hand stuff?

So how long until you are done with your degree?

She is really turning into a good mount. Its taking time and just going out there and getting her the experience, but even now she hardly tosses her head when I ride her away from Gert. I get her in the "work" mindset now and she has been AWESOME on our last two, short rides. I rode her today and Casey got a few pics.. not too bad! But my position is much to be desired, as usual, LOL. Even so, I've gotten better for not riding consistantly. Casey loves Pandora and I really want to get her broke for him to ride. On the trails, she is really really good to where I would trust her with him. He has no riding experience. The same day I first got on her, he got on her. I think they make a great pair.

How did Gemma like the show environment?! There is a show this coming weekend that I really wanted to take the girls to, but I have no trailer, grr! Its one of the last open shows of the season. Gert went to one earlier this year and did pretty darn well. Molly went to two and improved during the 2nd one. Hopefully next year we can do more. I hope Gemma likes it!

Oh gosh, tell me about it. The attorney I was working for, I did all his work; meeting with the clients, laying out the process, getting all the required and necessary paperwork together, inserting it into EZ-File, printing and having them sign the documents, filing it with the court, going with them to the 341 meeting, etc.. on top of going to Metro court and doing everything else, lol. I had to teach the attorney how to do all the bankruptcy stuff. He frustrated the crud out of me, I told him to just leave me to it. The only time he involved himself is if a client was giving me fits or I needed him to sign certain pages. He was a piece of work and I think he was doing drugs.

Um, I know right? I was thinking o-kaaaay ... that is an experiment I will not be trying ...

That's awesome you're keeping her! Nice to have two horses for trail riding, too. You know, when they are both broke. It seems like they are really good together. Gemma actually went to her first (small, local) schooling show yesterday, but just to hang out -- with the trainer -- and hack around in the ring. I was busy but I wanted her to get the experience.

Sounds like you are more experienced than some attorneys I know ... lol.

I just may have to start that list, LOL! I can't believe someone just commented saying they picked up their 6lb malteese and threw it.. like it was an experiment. My jaw literally dropped when I read that.

I posted a thread where I clipped my double-coated dog. It didn't hurt him at all or make the heat worse for him (as people said it would), he was quite happy and has been a lot more playful. Basically, made a lot of false assuptions. The biggest PITA is the people who just don't read the thread or read too much into it. I just roll my eyes, tell them to learn how to read before commenting. Biggest pet peeve! I don't put up with ppl's BS on here, and they know it.

I thought to possibly sell Panda, but I've decided not to. Maybe when she gets older in years, I'll find her a retirement home. Until then, she is staying. If I can save enough to buy a trailer, I'm hoping to take both of them to some open shows next year.

I don't know why, but I love bankruptcy. I was actually thrown into it and had to learn FAST. I took a class on how to file using the CM-ECF (federal court's website) and played around with EZ-File software, then started using it to file clients' cases. I went to Court and really learned the process. It was hard and is/can be very confusing, but I loved it and loved knowing that I knew what I was doing, for once, LOL. I don't know much about contract law, but it's something I think I'd like to learn.

Hmm, yes, actually a list would be helpful ... or at least would stop me from worrying about some of these comments! Although I will probably stick to "look how cute my dogs are" in future threads. Except that I remember you posted a cute thread once recently and still got slammed for it ... craziness.

I do think everyone feels that way. I also think that occasionally feeling that way about training your horses means that you thinking, questioning, and re-evaluating your own methods -- which shows an open mind and a willingness to adjust techniques to do what is best for the horse. So, I wouldn't worry too much if I were you.

I'm not sure I've read anywhere -- is your plan to keep Pandora or to re-home her at some point?

Man, I don't think it's settling at all, I think it's trying to find a career that is the best match for your lifestyle preferences. What is best is different for everyone ... and I do think you'll enjoy it. Your area choices are intriguing, but I agree they are both interesting areas (although I don't know a ton about bankruptcy -- wish I knew more). I like what I am doing right now -- complex commercial litigation, basically -- but I don't know if I'll do it forever. It can be pretty intense.

haha, thanks, I have no idea why she is so shiny. I think it's kinda natural for her, I look at it as nature's gift to me, since I happened to fall in love with a plain, plain chestnut ... so sad about that. I'm happy with how she's going, but I can't take a lot of credit for it ... she's a good girl.

LOL I can give a few other names of those who are usually "off" or consistantly mean, especially in dog-related threads. I don't go on the dog forum anymore because many of them are the same way, and it's sad.

Thank you so much! It means very much to me that you think highly of how I am doing so far with the girls. Many times, I feel like I am falling apart. But, I think everyone goes through that every so often. I haven't had an instructor in so long, half the time I feel like I don't know what I'm doing! LOL. I'm glad that my hard work is showing. There is a lot to be worked on still, but I have time and feel no need to rush them.

I love HGS because the majority can see eye-to-eye on many subjects, even if they do not agree. They at least understand where the other is coming from. We seem to have had an influx of members who are of the "my way or the highway" mentality. They just do not seem to "get" it.. or how untactful they are or come across to others. It may be "just the internet" but I would rather display myself in a more respectful manner here, as I do in my daily life, than not. I do actively meet people, when I can, and I do not want to portray a negative image.

I had always wanted to be a lawyer growing up. I think I would make a fantastic one, but there is so much school, money, and time that goes into just getting the education.. I don't want all that stress. I have enough as it is! I respect those who have the time to dedicate to such a profession. It takes a LOT and its admirable. You have to really have a passion for it to through all of it. My family feels that I am just settling for less, but I am most definately not. I loved working in the field (I was an office manager/legal assistant for a small office here) and loved learning what I did and I wanted to pursue it further. I'm going to specialize in Bankruptcy law (which I already know very well, it is all that I did when working for the office), contract law and I'm thinking animal law. I absolutely loved doing Bankrupty. Weird, lol, but I enjoy it.

Geeze, Gemma is SO SHINEY! Holy smokes, lol! I love her movement too. Very fluid, graceful, and strong. What a big looking stride too! I wish I could've gotten Molly to move and use herself better, like you have Gemma going. I subscribed to you on youtube btw

Oh gosh, you are too sweet. I swear, sometimes when people react very strongly -- it makes me think, am I the crazy one here? Maybe I am! lol. So it's good to know when someone else is consistently rude or consistently a bit off ... then I stop worrying about being crazy.

Anyway, that is exactly how I feel about you -- even when we don't agree, I feel like you are very reasonable and I can always see where you are coming from -- and it makes sense to me. I think that is the point of boards like this, the exchange of different perspectives in a mature, reasonable way. And I am so impressed by the work you have done/are doing with Gertie and Panda. It isn't easy to start a horse later in life like that!

Also, I think it's awesome you are doing the paralegal degree! I bet you will be really happy with that decision. Honestly, sometimes I wish I'd done that -- it's interesting work and good $$, but without the PITA admin stuff/responsibility of lawyering. And I have so much debt from law school! lol. Feel free to PM me if you ever want to chat or talk about legal career options.

And, here is a recent video of Gemma: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwWwPALeeqE

I didn't start a thread because I had posted two similar videos (very similar) but I just want to share it with a few people whose opinions I respect .

Thanks again for your support.