Playing Catch-Up, Part 1

Hello everyone!

I meant to post this much sooner, but between my new job and recent events, it kind of got pushed down the priority list (okay, and I’ve been procrastinating too).

Anyhow, December (and therefore winter) may be upon us, but these pics from June should warm you right up. They’re from the barn’s end-of-the-year show, which was a ton of fun and featured some pretty awesome costumes:

More to come shortly…

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Vaulting into Summer

Three weeks ago was the barn’s annual end-of-the-year party/show. Because I had to work that day (working weekends can be incredibly inconvenient sometimes) I only caught the last 20 minutes or so of the show, but I did get some nice shots of the kids vaulting:

Waiting their turn…

Hi, Fred!

This kid was especially photogenic:

Afterwards, Laurelia and Lucie hopped on for a quick lap around the arena:

I’m still bummed I missed most of the show, but at least I got to see this little bit, and there was a dinner afterwards, which was a lot of fun. After a long day at work, getting to share a meal with my fellow equestrians (during which we mostly discussed horse-related stuff) was just what the doctor ordered. 🙂

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April Show Pics

Last month we had our annual unofficial, just-for-fun spring jumping show, and it was a rousing success, as usual. It was a great opportunity for me to get in some practice with Mountain Blue, who is apparently my new project horse. It turns out that despite her being nine years old she hadn’t been ridden all that much or learned anything beyond the absolute basics before coming here, so we’re in the process of getting her up to speed. She’s quite the handful, but quick to learn and generally eager to please, and she’s making pretty rapid progress. I think that with a bit more work, she and I will make a great team.

Here she is before the show:

And here we are warming up:

I also took advantage of the show to test my new lens (with a bigger zoom) and I’m quite pleased with the results:

 

 

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Wrapping Up 2013 in Pictures

I’m cutting it extremely close, I know (and my all-day sci-fi marathon didn’t help), but it’s not midnight in the States yet so it still counts, right? Right, thought so.

So, without further ado, a sampling of pics from the last few months:

October

Dressage show at home on the 6th:

Laurélia on Nénuphar, waiting their turn

Manon on Saho

Drill team

Justine on To Moon

Lucie on Voltaire

Me on Naika
“Hi Mom!”

Fred on Beauwaldie

Warming up

Océane on Naika

Eventing competition on the 13th:

Elise getting some last-minute tips

Caroline on Tosca

Manon and Saho, ready to go!

These kids were utterly cute 🙂

Halloween jumping show on the 27th:

TJ was going to be part of my costume, but with the massive puddles that was a muddy bear waiting to happen, so Sissi wound up hanging onto him for me all afternoon.

Pony in the mist

November

Jumping show on the 17th:

December

Jumping show on the 8th:

Christmas with the family:

I think she likes them 😉

He likes. Muchly.

This is called putting your gift to good use immediately

Lena, the newest addition to the family

“Here, this one’s for you!”

And just for giggles:

“Of course I’m not using your computer to post pictures of myself online; whatever gave you that idea?”

Happy New Year, everyone, and may 2014 be a very blessed year for all of you! 🙂

 

 

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June 2013 Pics, Part 2

At the end of June, we had the annual end-of-the-year party at the barn. This year, in the morning, we had a new (and rather fun) jumping relay game:

 

After lunch, it was time for the various students and classes to show off with dressage routines and drill teams.

First up was Candice with Fraile:

Then we had some clowns:

 

Next up were Philippe and Carole, with a Spanish-themed pas de deux:

 

The next two classes chose the same theme; I think you can guess what it is:

 

And then we had the Flinstones:

 

A double wedding:

 

The Smurfs!

Then we had the (mostly) adult class (no theme):

 

Beach babes:

 

And finally, the little kids treated us to a vaulting demonstration:

 

Afterwards, newly-certified Coach Lucie and Punky showed off a few tricks:

 

 

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June 2013 Pics, Part 1

I’m still working on editing my pics from last month, but hopefully that won’t take too long. In the meantime, here’s part 1.

First, the mandatory pic of Lucy:

A little flowery prettiness:

And now some horsey goodness from the June 2nd dressage show (I think I may have gone slightly overboard):

This horse had us all drooling (go on, tell me he’s not gorgeous, I dare you):

Our resident national champions (and hopefully again this year) Fleurine and Nénuphar:

This kid was just too cute:

I went to grab some shots of the final group warming up…

… at which point my battery died. 😛

Part 2 up soon (hopefully)…

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May 2013 Show Pics

I’m splitting the May pictures into two posts, simply because there are a lot of them. I had two shows that month, one on the 12th and the other on the 26th.

Pics from the 12th:

Flying pony!

Buddies 🙂

Pics from the 26th:

 

Part 2 will be up shortly…

 

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April 2013 Pics, Part 2

More horsey pics from the eventing competition on the 14th:

 

Some pretty “nature” shots (and one of Leslie for good measure):

 

May pics should be up tonight…

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March Pics, Part 2

First off, this is what happens when you give Lucy string to play with:

Om nom nom…

On the 31st, we held an unofficial jumping competition at the barn, just for fun.

We started with a relay race for the little kids:

Then we moved on to the actual jumping:

Despite the occasional mishap such as a lost stirrup…

… or a pony refusing to jump…

… a good time was had by all:

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January 2013 Pictures, Part 1

January was by far my most shutter-happy month so far this year: nearly 1,100 pictures!

Going to the barn nearly every day to ride provided me with tons of fodder:

 

Then there was the jumping show on the 13th:

 

 

“What are you looking at?”

 

Part 2 coming shortly!

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