East Meets West

On Friday afternoon, I picked up Kate and we arranged a kidnapping. I drove us up to the airport, grabbed our victim (who came willingly, muahaha), nearly killed us leaving the airport, stuffed everyone full of tacos and froyo, dumped our victim at a hotel nearby to sleep and run (???), then kidnapped her again and made her ride five horses.

That person was Austen! And now the running makes sense.

I was super excited when Austen said she was coming into town for work. She came in a day early so that we could have a day full of ponies before she started working. 

Including this pony!!

And this pony! (though that's me on her)

Friday was one of those days where you're made painfully aware that cars are dangerous machines that we let idiots (me) operate on a daily basis. I really struggle with driving in the city these days, given that most of my driving is country driving to the barn(s) and back. So poor Austen was probably wondering if I had a death wish or wanted to kill her. I did not.

After struggling to find a taco place (since the one that got great reviews was in a terrifying part of town, woops), Kate, Austen, and I ate tacos and talked ponies. It was really fun to hear about how Pig was doing, since Austen doesn't overshare on her blog on a daily basis like I do. We also chatted about Emma's new horse (so that conversation plus the blogger fitbit group meant that I got the inside scoop before she posted about him!) and life in DC!

We found a froyo place that was rampant with children, then sat outside and enjoyed dessert while talking about the blogosphere. And after that, we found our way to Austen's hotel to drop her off, since it was basically midnight her time.

Lucy is the best dog

Ginger is adorable

The next morning, I picked her up at 8am, and she had already run and had some coffee! I forgot that 8am was really 11am, so I was sort of barely awake. After getting even more coffee and forcing Austen to get socks at Target, we headed down to TC.

There was a tack sale going on in the field that TC was SUPER good about. We wandered out there in hand and he just watched curiously. No spooking, though I didn't tempt fate and walk him near anyone, lest he run into someone's car or take down a tent.

We headed to the round pen, where I warmed TC up and then Austen hopped on! TC was a sport for yet another new rider, I think I'm well on my way to having a super amateur's horse that I can then sell for millions of dollars, right?. He just buckled down and did his best. I love that brain! I love it most when he is using it though, yesterday's ride was completely devoid of brains.

He handled all the people walking by, a tractor dragging the nearby arena, and the whole tack sale thing like a pro. We didn't have him out for that long, because were due up at Kate's barn fairly soon.

I don't look sooooo big on her

After grabbing us lunch, Austen and I joined Kate at her barn for a picnic. Kate has the best group of students who readied a couple of horses for us while we were eating.

Austen hopped on Tango and I rode my favorite little pony, Ginger, to start. Then I hopped off the pony and put Kate on to play with passage! Unfortunately with very little notice, we hadn't prepped the pony quite as well as she should have been prepped, so we found a few holes to fill in before the next passage session. Like I've said before, the higher level the horse, the faster passage comes on, and poor Ginger is a fairly solid First level horse, so not green, but certainly had no idea wtf was expected of her. Sorry pony! We're still bffs, right? I'll be keeping my heels way down if I jump her again, lest she remember the passage training and chuck me into a fence.

We played musical horses and I hopped on Tango, while Austen rode the pony! Kate told me about her recent lesson with Tracey on him, which I tried my best to think about while riding him- I feel like I'm learning a lot from Kate's lessons with Tracey even just in our conversations. Tango is super fun! His canter is dreamy and I played with his trot a bit too. Definitely one of my favorite thoroughbreds I think!

Tango!

We had horses awaiting us when we got back up to the barn. This time Elrond, who I'm fairly certain will fit in my car, just saying, and Junior, a dutch horse who is basically Rico's double. I played with Elrond first, while Austen piloted Junior around. Elrond felt SUPER in comparison to the last time I rode him (which is saying something because he felt amazing then). He was incredibly steady on the contact, light, and just a dream to ride. I told Kate that I was going to employ her to find me my next horse. I want a horse exactly like him.

Junior was SO FUN! Fairly nice to sit, although after four horses, my abs were complaining loudly so when Kate told me that she could sit his trot all day, I was like omg no. His canter was comfy too. He's basically just a large couch, which made him remind me of Rico. Looking down at that little brown neck, black mane, and brown ears made me a bit nostalgic.

The day went by in a blur and I dropped Austen off at her hotel for her conference, but with the promise of dinner on Tuesday!

I'm getting a pony like this next time!

Basically Rico

Tuesday night Austen had the night off before her flight home on Wednesday, so we arranged a mini blogger meetup at a pizza place nearby. She had already met Kate and I, so may as well add others to the mix! Olivia and Figure (and Kate's boyfriend too, who I hadn't met yet and who is awesome!) joined us for dinner and we had a great time talking blogs and ponies.

It was all over way too soon and Austen flew back yesterday. I contemplated kidnapping her but I've been trying to do that less often. Hopefully she comes back soon and hopefully I can get myself out to DC one of these days and meet those adorable huskies and both Pig and now Charlie!! Definitely envious of Austen who I think is meeting Charlie very soon.

Austen, Me, Figure, Olivia, Kate, Robin the honorary blogger