WW: Best Photo All Weekend

I'm BEYOND entertained by this photograph that Liz took while we were at the event. It definitely deserves its own post. 

The context is that we were trying to figure out where to go from there, so we were looking out at the rest of the course. Aaand then a horse came by and we totally missed it. 

None of us were paying any attention, I love how bizarre I look

especially, apparently this is how I look after a week or 

more of insomnia

I definitely think it's got to go up in my office at some point with some motivational saying about how you should live in the moment rather than always looking for something better. 

Shout out to Liz for the amazing photograph, her others are STUNNING as well, I'm so impressed with her. Follow her on IG to see more! 

WW: Just Like the Saddle Club

We didn't get any pictures of all of us this weekend but we still got some great pictures. I highly recommend having a pony sleepover with your amazing friends. 

Amazing sunset on our first night there

Peony conquering the wiggliest Flounder

L on Speedy taking a video of Nicole on Dante

Playing on the trail course!

Once again, if you horse knows how
to smile I will force them to and take
pictures of them

Trail ride!!

Peony braided my pony! Also look how good his
body is looking these days! He's downright slim
(note: pony's ribs are still very well covered)

Dante on the trail course

WW: Hiking the Hill

For Christmas, I got a new phone! It has a truly insane camera, so over the weekend, I decided to hike the trails at the back of the ranch. I need to do that more often, it's beautiful up there in the winter (too muddy to ride but not too bad for humans). 

From the very top

The hike is no joke, sorry ponies

Looking down at the ranch

The sky was amazing that day

Found some dead trees to look through

Heading up to the top

Almost there

Heading back down

Had to walk over to the bench

Nine Years Old

Last Friday was TC's birthday! He's NINE now, that's so crazy to me.

I was initially not going to do my normal routine of dressing him up for his birthday because it didn't seem worth the risk to go to Target or the dollar store just for the sake of dressing him up. But then Friday morning, I woke up and didn't feel good... not virus related, but I needed to go to the store, I'll just leave it like that, I feel better now.

I sat being all bad feeling and complained to the boyfriend, who said I could switch barn days and take Friday off. I then said "but it's TC's BIRTHDAY..." and then realized "... not that he knows that it's his birthday though" and he reminded me that if I had to go to the store anyway, I could get TC some birthday decorations. So that's how I ended up dressing TC up for his birthday!

I rode him in a sash that says "it's my birthday"
and I think he liked it

Target doesn't have as good of a selection as I was hoping, there were no birthday hats! I think what I picked out was fabulous though, even if TC wasn't a fan...

I think it's the best picture I've ever taken of him

I can't go on enough about this horse, he's just amazing. He's got such a great work ethic, he makes me laugh every day, he's turning into a super fun horse to ride, and he's showing me how much talent he really has in there. We're still plugging away during quarantine, with me hoping to figure out some way of beginning lessons again with my trainer, who is probably not going to be out for a clinic for a long time. We'll see if I can figure that out!

This Decade in Photos

I, of course, got this idea from May as Well Event and everyone who followed. I can't do just one picture a year though, that's just too difficult.

My horse life and my non-horse life can be separated in two this decade. The first half of the decade was about education. Coming up to 2010, I had been dropped out of college for a few years and was working hard running my business and was also an assistant trainer at an eventing barn. Rico was on rehab for a suspensory after getting me my bronze in 2009. I was riding 8+ horses every day and was generally enjoying life alright.

Rico in 2008! So young, so patient with me

2010

In 2010, I showed in both eventing and dressage. In dressage, I showed Leo and earned my USDF Silver Medal and in eventing, I showed a friesian stallion at the lower levels.

Earning my USDF Silver Medal

Walking out of the ring with Leo, knowing I just earned my Silver

Novice debut

He was super fun! I loved sitting on those hamstrings 

2011

In 2011, I snagged the first two scores to my USDF Gold Medal on Leo and made my first Grand Prix attempt before Leo was retired from the FEI levels. I began riding Rico again and headed back to school to finish my undergraduate education. I quit my job as an assistant trainer and just ran my business. It's also worth noting that TC was born this year!

Grand Prix on Leo

2012

In 2012, Rico came back to work fully and we showed 4-1 again at Greenville!

Oh young Megan and her terrible riding

2013

In 2013, I started riding with Tracey on Rico and we showed at 4-2 a couple of times before competing at PSG three times. I graduated from my undergraduate and headed straight into graduate school. At the end of the year, we went to an Alfredo Hernandez clinic and Rico learned the piaffe and passage.

Graduation

Rico and I at PSG

2014
In 2014, we showed I1 once, I2 once, and then earned my USDF Gold Medal at the end of the year in two shows at Grand Prix. Rico was retired and I began riding TC at the very end of the year.

Rico and my first Grand Prix 

Rico and my second Grand Prix and Gold Medal ride!

What we did after earning my Gold medal

The second half of the decade has been more about establishment. I've found a career I love and have been developing my wonderful horse despite a few setbacks.


2015
In 2015, I took TC to a bunch of schooling shows at Intro and also graduated from graduate school. I got my first job outside of horse training (and my teenage job at a tack store) and then bought TC. By the end of the year, TC hurt himself and left for rehab just after Christmas.

Good boy, baby horse

I look gigantic on him in comparison to now!

2016
In 2016, TC spent half the year in rehab while I hated my job. I quit that one and entered a new industry that I am still in now and adore. TC came home and we continued his rehab, dealing with some behavioral issues on the way.

Ultrasound, I don't miss my wizard vet (so please, TC, let's
not hang out with him any time soon)

Trotting out to see soundness

Swimming!

2017
In 2017, TC and I debuted at Training level and even won All Breeds! We also did some bombproofing clinics. I continued working in IR and loved it.

You win some, you lose some, sometimes
your phone falls out of your pocket in
the show ring

Best pony in the show ring

Bombproofing clinic!

All Breeds!

2018
In 2018, we spent the majority of our time in Sacramento, winning All Breeds at First level. I restarted my business at the end of the year when I moved back to the Bay Area.

Still love this picture of his stretch!

Also I bought my trailer!

2019
In 2019, we had a few setbacks early in the year (me getting mono, TC hating his boarding facility) that delayed our show ring entry until the end of the year. But we did make it into the Second level ring and he now has clean changes on him so we can play catch up in 2020.

Lots of trail riding in the beginning of the year

Then we started riding with Tracey

And it really paid off!

If you told me at the end of 2009 that in ten years, I'd have earned my USDF Gold Medal on the horse that was at the time sporting a career-ending injury or I'd have gone to graduate school and be working a job I adore... I probably wouldn't have believed you. But such is life. I can't wait to see where the next decade takes me.

WW: Rico in his Prime

It's been a hot minute since I looked at old pictures of Rico. The more TC relaxes and becomes a good boy, the more he reminds me of Rico. They're both so low key and sweet. I love them.