Silent Sunday

It was only about a week ago that I found out that Clinton Anderson with Downunder Horsemanship was coming close to where I lived. No surprise but I flipped out with excitement! He has been my horse training idol forever! So yesterday I went to watch his amazing talent, got to meet him in person, and have him sign my book. Ahh, I feel like I'm floating on a cloud right now.

Early Fall Treats

With fall in the air it is time to start buying some new things. Like new clothing, wood for the fire place, and that oh so sweet deworming paste. School has been keeping me on edge about the money that I spend but there comes a time when a girl just has to get some new items in her life, you know? So, I waited until I saw some amazing deals and snatched up a couple things before they went back to their original prices. And might I say I was quite happy with what I got.

I got this $80 Kerrits sweater for 56% off!

You can never have too much dewormer!

And over at SmartPak I actually got some supplements!

At SmartPak I got some new supplements!

As for all of my new treats and not-so treats I have started clicker training Ava. Before I discovered clicker training our regular routine was going south, fast. We were getting no where, she was unhappy, I was unhappy, and that's no fun for anyone. So, I started looking around for some solutions rather than just the traditional way to work with horses. I was already vaguely familiar with clicker training but wasn't fully aware at how awesome it was. I began Ava's first session today and by golly that horse picked it up so quickly I was truly amazed! We will continue to work on it and hopefully it will progress us further. I also plan to make some vlogs on our progress as well.

Excitement

When we went into the clinic for our orientation there was this board. It made me all happy inside. I am so excited to start this new chapter in my life. As of right now I feel like this is what I'm supposed to be doing. I can't wait to see where this path takes me. 

Hawaiian Sunburns and Summer Reminisces

Good sweet freaking jesus! Everyone should scold me for my gargantuan absence. Okay, okay, no need to scold but I really wish I posted more throughout the summer. Shame Emmi, shame...

Ever since June I have been packed full of busyness. Work was mainly what kept me from doing what I love. I worked as a kids camp counselor the whole summer and although it was mentally and physically strenuous job I loved it over any other job I've ever had. Having gotten to know all of the children, their stories, and becoming close to them I feel as though my family enlarged a great deal. Along with the children I got to know a lot of other people such as the other counselors, parents, and new bosses. They were all a joy to work for. I am missing that job right now and hopefully when school is out next summer I'll work there again if things allow.

After work ended my cousin, her friend, and I all headed out to Hawaii for ten days. This was my first "big" trip that I've ever taken and boy was it the experience, a tiring, fun, stressful experience.

Sunrise hike out the Pillboxes, it was stunning!

About to jump into Maunawili Falls, so cold and scary!

One of my goals was to see a wild gecko and I saw one!

Baked my skin to a crisp, so so soooooo painful...

Now that I am home I have been quickly getting ready for vet tech school. Getting extra volunteer hours at the clinic, getting shots, a physical, and having my living situation situated. I am so excited to start this new chapter in my life and I feel it was a good path to take. If this works out I'm definitely becoming a full fledged equine veterinarian.

As for miss Ava, she had only been ridden three times the whole summer but I still kept up with her exercise and made sure she didn't get too flabby. To tell the truth, I am scared for my life to get back on with a saddle. After I fell and hurt my wrist really bad the last time I am terrified of using a saddle again. Bareback I am fine enough with but I don't want to go flying every time she makes a funny move. Ugh, the struggle of being a busy horse person.. As for right now though, I am loving just being on the ground and working on our relationship, she's basically like a big puppy dog now.

I also noticed on Ava and Poco that they had these enlarged lymph nodes under their jaw. I'm curious if they are allergies or not. Does anyone have an idea of what it could be? Ava is tender if I try and touch it, Poco is a little bit.

Anyways, I hope those are some good updates. I'll try really hard to post some vet tech stuff and Ava news when I see her but as for that that's about it!

Updates

Hey everyone,

As some of you may have noticed, I haven't been posting at all! I'm just going to say that it looks like I'll be taking a hiatus for a little while. I haven't ridden Ava for some time, I'm preparing for vet tech in the fall, preparing for Hawaii, work is kicking my butt, and the weekends are jammed with activities before the weekdays start again. I hope all of you been well, I'll do my best to post every now and then.

Wordless Wednesday

Future Vet Tech!

For a while I have pondered over becoming a veterinary technician. I actually ponder a lot about what I should be doing with my life but vet tech always kept reappearing. So, a little while back (like two months ago?) I contacted the vet tech program at my school and asked if they were accepting applications. They were accepting them but the priority deadline was ending within a couple weeks! I had to get three letters of recommendation, an essay written, and attain quite a few hours of clinic observation (I could do that in the summer though). I had my work cut out for me, the letters took a while to get and the essay had such a tricky question. But in the end I got everything in on time. When I turned it in I was lucky enough to meet with the veterinarian who'd be training us. We spoke for a while and she already sounded very enthusiastic about me getting in. So, we set a date for an interview with the acceptance committee and then all I had to do was anxiously wait.

About a month later I had the interview. I wish I had somewhat prepared but all in all I didn't know what to prepare for (they said I didn't really need too either). Some of the questions they asked me I had never really thought about before on an in depth level. I send a thankful prayer to the almighty Buddha who got me through that interview, I felt as though I totally failed. But in the end they told me that I was accepted. I was so thrilled and so relieved. After that things happened fast. I got all of my classes scheduled and they told me all of the things that I would be expecting towards the beginning of the program. Holy biscuit! I am totally going to have to be working my butt off!

I am so excited to start this new chapter of my life and I can't wait to see where it takes me.

One of the most exciting things I get to do is wear scrubs and workout shoes all day! What gets better than that? I am so exceedingly excited for this.

I can't wait to pick some out.

Stuck...

I have been having a lot of trouble with Ava lately, a lot.

We were doing fine until I started getting back into riding with her. Maybe I hadn't prepared her enough or what but all I know is that after I fell off everything fell apart. It could be because of the spring weather and it may just be hard for her to concentrate right now but she just feels so distant from me. She really wants nothing to do with me either unless I have food (even then she will just walk away after I give her something). I know that she is a horse and I must remember that she isn't a dog and will never think that way. I'm just really disappointed that for the last six years we are still not at a good point in our relationship, or anything for that matter. Maybe it is just too late to do anything about it, she's almost eight and maybe she's just too set in her ways.

Even catching her is building into a chore, she used to just walk right up to me. Then when I'd get her to the round pen I'd have to work her forever until she wasn't zoned out and focusing on me. I feel that it is always a fight with her and I almost feel that I always have to be rough to get her to do anything (or if not, she throws a fit)... She just... I don't know, I am so lost. I'm afraid to ride, I can't get hurt again (my wrist is still isn't healed from the last fall), and although I can't live without horses, I feel that I'm getting no enjoyment out of it anymore (at least with Ava). It is just becoming a chore and it is really depressing me.

I hate to be a downer about all of this but I truly don't know what to do. I feel if I sold her then I'd be selling apart of myself, she and I have been through everything together, I can't just give up on her now, right? We always hit huge rough patches when we get back to riding, maybe I should just stop. I wish this was easier.

Despite the Ava debacle I have some good news about school in the fall but I will leave that for a another post in the future.

Anyways, that's all.

Homemade Mane & Tail Detangler

It has been raining off and on for the past few days which always gets me in the mood to make some homemade goodies.

I was surfing around on YouTube at some horse videos when I came across a mane and tail detangler diy. It looked appealing so I clicked on it and discovered how awesome it was and so easy too!

Here's what mine ended up looking like. Rainy days always get me in a "I am totally going to make homemade stuff all day" kind of mood. The whole project cost me about $7 but if you had most of this at your house it would cost even less or even free, what a steal!

And So I Fell...

I finally have something to post!

We had a great little ride on Saturday and I told myself that we were going to do it again the next day. Well, that didn't really happen.

I was excited to go on a ride, I had waited so long for some good weather to get out and ride. But that day was a little windy and although Ava may have seemed calm she was really just on the verge about to blow... I looked passed the fact, tacked her up, and got on (without round penning her first). I thought it would be fine, all I wanted to do was walk around the arena a bit, she was great yesterday. Sadly she started to get really ansy and I did my best to calm her down and keep her feet moving but the BO suddenly walked around a blind corner and Ava had a spook attack. Then after that she spooked like three more times, the saddle slipped, and off I went. Luckily I was wearing my helmet (never ever riding without one!) but that didn't do much for my wrist. It took a while for me to notice the injury but after it kept being persistently painful I moved my sleeve and saw the damage. It looks like my watch smacked into something as I fell but I have no clue as to what it could have been and it left my wrist in a lot of pain. You can't tell from the photo but there is a massive bruise under the skin and some swelling. It has been agitating me off and on so I have been keeping it wrapped in a bandage or in a brace. I was a really bummed when it happened and of course it scared me (I couldn't help but cry a little bit). I just hope this doesn't set us too far back. I hope we still get to go out on lots of trail rides this summer. I guess we'll just have to see what happens.

Thanks for reading everyone, I hope to get some more posts up soon. I've almost hit 200!!

Silent Saturday (almost)

Lately I had nothing to write about. I hadn't been riding, the weather was cold, and Ava didn't have anything interesting happen to her (thank goodness!). But today was our first day back into riding so I hope we'll be having some new adventures to talk about soon.

The Start of Something New

It all started on Instagram. I was searching for new horse people to follow when I found this one girl. She trained her horses in liberty and it was amazing with what she could do with them. So, after researching I decided to try a little with Ava and just start having some fun. With all of the crazy weather going on lately and being sick off and on I don't really feel up to riding yet. Which makes practicing liberty perfect. Ava has a lot of fun (most of the time) and it is sweet to see her connection to me when we play together.

Poco

Coming when called

Donkey mare face

In other news Beju is doing really well and I absolutely love love love having him. I'm so happy that we will get to spend 15+ years together. And I'm crossing my fingers that in the near future I'll be getting another!

Pappy

I have been slightly missing in action. I had a good reason though. As I slightly mentioned in my last post I was having some tough family issues going on and I'd like to elaborate a bit. I'm not sure you guys remember but around a year ago my grandfather (mainly known as Pappy) was in the hospital for quite some time battling brain cancer. After months of treatment and therapy he was deemed to be in remission and eventually went on to lead his life fairly normally for the next year. It wasn't until about a month ago that we found out that the cancer came back. We knew there was nothing to be done but we (especially my mom and aunt) our best to keep him comfortable and happy. He passed away peacefully.

I really wish you all could have met my grandfather. He loved everyone and everyone loved him. He worked hard his whole life and even up to his last days he never stopped working. He lived a full life, I can't think of one thing he hasn't done. He was a great grandfather, friend, and such a wonderful father figure. He supported my family and I in so many ways and he never thought twice about it. Before he got sick he and I would frequently play golf and I was always amazed at how good he was even though he never thought he was good enough. I will miss our weekend coffee meetings and family dinners we used to have, it just won't be the same. Nothing will be the same. My heart, everyone's heart is left with an enormous hole. He was an amazing man and will never be forgotten. This post doesn't even come close to how great he really was. 

Pappy and me when I was little

Still Alive

Don't worry I am still alive, just eaten up with tons of school and some tough family stuff.

Ava has been good. I don't see her much at the moment but get down there when I can. The arena is finally melting and we will finally be able to start working again!

I also received (after almost 3-4 weeks of waiting) my leopard gecko, Beju! He is amazing and I already love him. They are also super easy to care for, it is amazing!

Ava nipping Poco

Our first day back to work

Beju was finally starting to explore his vivarium

What's in my Grooming Bag?

Happy Valentine's Day!!

I hope everyone has a Happy Valentine's Day and make sure to give lots of hugs and kisses to those you love (especially your horses!)

Sickness Brews and Beju Bear

For almost the past week I had been pretty sick. My head was throbbing, I had a fever (which I hadn't got in forever!), a cough that killed my throat, my eyes for some reason were in immense pain and looked like the eyes of the devil, I was almost too weak to stand, dizzy too, and nausea was always keeping me from eating. I literally spent days in bed barely getting up. But now I can finally get around again despite a foggy mind.

I haven't seen my pony girl for a while now and it is driving me crazy. We've been getting a lot of snow too... I hope I feel well enough to see her tomorrow.

In other news I have something to share with you all. I don't share many other aspects of my life besides horses and possibly some stuff about school but I am so excited about this and really wanted to share. For the past few months I have been obsessed with reptiles. Ever since I held an eight year old Ball/Royal python named Borris at my local Master Naturalist class I fell in love. I watched millions of videos and intently read all about their species. They were fascinating and I really wanted one but owning a snake wouldn't happen for a while due to having other animals in the house that could be eaten (chances of it even happening are slim but shouldn't take the chance)... But I still researched and learned a lot about them until I came across Leopard Geckos. My obsession grew into something more as I learned all about these little creatures. They sounded amazing and after realizing how cheap and easy they are to care for I decided to adopt one. I browsed through many breeders until I found this little guy at a great price. He is almost six months old (they can live from 15-28 years!) and is called a Jungle Morph. I named him Beju and am so excited to get him!

Beju! not my photo, geckoboa.com