pack.unpack.repack.

I have spent most of my life flying under the radar, most people don't know this, but deep down I am pretty shy. So

this whole process of starting out on my own, has been eye opening, to say the least. I have been very lucky to have the support that I do, and people that have helped me spread the word, so far, so good!!!

Where to start, I have been to Jersey and the VA CCI* grooming (congrats to Laura Vello on her 3rd place finish at VA!!) , It was a blast! I feel as though all I have done is dump the clothes in the wash and put them directly back in the suitcase. (people might be starting to think I only own 5 shirts... ) The spring season is winding down, and I have 2 more trips planned, before a small much need vacation to cali! (heres to hoping the snow melts...) and then the planning for the fall...

Class is in full swing, depending on how you look at it I am either 1/3 or 1/2 way done! I will be glad to finish up with school this fall. While it has taken me seemingly forever, (trust me I agree!!!) school has not been my main focus for a while (silly horses), and taking a year and a half off just added to the seemingly never happening graduation, but no fear it is in my sights, and I am crossing the t's and dotting the i's on my last classes, with the hopes of continuing on after Dec... The back up plan is a Masters in Econ. (and it never hurts to get a head start!) plus. hands down I can cook better than you. (not to brag or anything). so maybe that degree has a few perks too!

The ponies have been settling in, and we have been figuring each other out. alot. Mara has been very helpful with North, he is becoming quite the little DQ, and will be doing some local shows this summer, and some HT's this fall. Lena and I are learning. It has been a while since I have had a horse that was started by someone else, so I ask things she says WHAT YOU SAY?!??!?! but those moments are getting smaller and fewer and further between. She is aimed at Surefire and then possibly MD I. and dare I say the training three day at Waredaca this fall. (there I said it). The ponies and I are looking forward to more lessons! I'm thinking circles, they are thinking jumping. (so we shall have to see who wins that one. )

The days are getting busier, longer, and increasingly more humid, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

someone pinch me...

The past few weeks have been crazy. If you asked me 3 weeks ago, where I would be now, It would be moved in, unpacked and settled, with a few more purchases.. to name a few. Life has a way of not being exactly how you plan it, but sometimes thats almost sweeter. Instead I have been looking at too many places to live, most of which were rejected upon walking through the door... sometimes just opening it... getting moved to the awesome apt I did finally find! trying horses, buying a horse (more on that later), driving to raleigh, driving back, taking finals, enrolling in and testing into summer classes(apparently they don't like my culinary school credits...), truck shopping, spending lots of time with great friends, and running into a million and one different people...

At the end of the day while I wish the list was finished, it isn't, but it will be. I have been very lucky, North is in a week of boot camp with Mara, (I felt like a parent sending her kid to school... so nervous!) I have never put a horse in training before, but I felt that with the move and everything that this would be the perfect time to send him. I wanted to make sure I was heading down the right path with him, as he is not my type of horse so to speak. I adore him to pieces but sometimes feel like we are on the opposite pages when it comes to work. He tries his heart out for me, but sometimes I don't think I am asking the right questions! Mara has been amazing, I ask a million questions, and attempt to watch her ride everyday, she is such an amazing rider (I feel inspired just watching her), and totally willing to answer all of my million questions. I am very excited to have him back in a few days and I can't wait to have her continued help in the future!

and Lady in Red aka Lena arrived sometime in the middle of the night wed. She is awesome!!! I think it was love at first sight for me.. something about the red with the white face. She has been settling in and I am busy trying to pencil in some shows this spring... and a HUGE thank you to everyone that helped me find her, and get her here!!!

I have my last final tomorrow, one truck to look at, horses to ride, a barn to finish organizing, and the rest of my stuff to move down from annapolis....

then the list looks just about finished. <3.

Back to the Burg.

So everyone has been asking what I am doing, when I got back to the burg, etc etc etc... mostly shocked and surprised. I feel after having some time to get it all straight it is time to share the big news!!!

I am moving back to Middleburg, VA. (one of my favorite places, with some of my favorite people!) I will be starting my own free lance grooming business, focusing on North, and hopefully one other horse. (still haven't met the perfect one yet!), and finishing up school. This has been something that I have tossed around for a long time, and I felt as though this would be the best time to dive in and give it a go!

I have just put the finishing touches on my website. Feel free to check it out and let me know what you think, and if you know of anyone that needs help at an event, send them my way!

I will keep everyone updated as I venture out on this new journey!

Aiken recap...

After being home in Maryland for a day, and attempting to catch up on laundry, school, and the like. I guess it is time to fill everyone in on the last two months of life in the south. I will try to keep it short!

Most of you may wonder how many blondes you can have in a barn... i think 4 might be the max. thankfully between all of us, we did not fall victim to too many blonde moments....

North has grown up leaps and bounds. I am very excited about his future! My dad had the opportunity to come see him and informed me that 'I was not allowed to sell a horse that jumped like that.' sadly that doesn't mean he is paying the bills. I did try though! North will hopefully be making his competition debut soon. I need to get him out xc schooling before I make plans for that. He did hang out at the fork, and took it all in like a seasoned pro! I was able to get the same rideability in the ring as I could back in Aiken.

All the other ponies were stars, Morris made his big advanced debut in the states, and smarty has been out and about. (and body clipped.. much to his dismay.) Smarty and Morris are headed to Fair hill in 2 weeks, after some circle practice at Morven Park this weekend. The young horses all made a big splash at Full Gallop with Buttons and Splash having stellar rounds!!! Splash even came home with a pretty blue ribbon, not bad for her first event...

The other ponies went on a ton of field trips. and are all looking forward to starting their spring season shortly!

On the other hand I had some interesting experiences as I learned more about how to fix cars... and that doxy is by far the harshest antibiotic around. I now have a healthy amount of respect for my horses when they are on it! It was all I could do to be at work and function (difficult things I know!)... and finally that pro thing at the fork.. all I am willing to say is that a shred of dignity may have been lost there...

The exciting news is that I am almost done with school.. Finally. 7 more classes. and that I will hopefully be adding to the string soon. (not that it is to hard because I only have 1! )

I swear that I will get better at updating and possibly find a hobby... (besides horses? I am open to suggestions here)

Lara

North goes South....

and so does the whole BCE team..

North and I are happy to report that the days are much warmer now!

I would like to start this post out by saying thank you!!!!!! to many of you. I certainly had a whirlwind preAiken week and so many people showed up to help me move trunks grain hay and ponies... in a few inches of snow no less! Team BCE pulled out of Kaleidescape in Maryland at 430 on the 31 and arrived in Aiken a few hrs later... ie 3 pm. BCE south is beautiful!!! all of our ponies settled in beautifully. The afternoon (as with every migration) was filled with unpacking and arranging.

This winter is my first winter with BCE and we are sharing a barn with Holly Payne and her crew! and let me be the first to say.. WOW!!! love it. we have an amazing group of people, that make coming to work every day fun. (seriously just ask the ponies they love our morning karaoke practice! )

For the past almost 2 weeks, the ponies have been enjoying the warm temps. 50's during the day! and a few less blankets. The dressage arena and jumps have been set up, and all the ponies have been hard at work getting ready for where their springs are heading. Morris has been practicing his dressage skills, and even a xc school at the GIBBS (love that place!) getting ready for his spring debut at pine top this weekend! Morris certainly makes my days. over the past few months morris and I have formed a pretty awesome relationship. He likes to tell me that it is perfectly okay that he is covered from head to toe with mud and the like, while I feel the need to constantly bathe him. He goes along with only minimal winning and the promise to repeat the ritual tomorrow. Morris is also a HAM! he loves getting his ears rubbed which happens more often then I would care to admit. (he might have conned me into it :). ) Cocoa is enjoying the warm sun, her new friend, and learning to be an event pony! she is adorable. and a pretty fancy mover and jumper! North is very excited to be out of the indoor. He has been enjoying doing some trot sets and hacking, as well flat work. I am trying to mix it up as we have been in the indoor for so long. He will start jumping again in the next few days, I have just been trying to enjoy not being in an indoor and just have some fun with the nice weather!!! I am very excited to see what he can do this winter.

Besides horses I have been lucky to catch up with some of my really good friends! (one of the may things I love about Aiken!!)

More soon. (after pine top of course!)

mud season...

This winter has been a strange one as far as mother nature is concerned. I have come to expect slipping and sliding into my drive way at night. On certain nights not being able to even make it up the road I live on. All of these things plus a below average temperature have made me realize that I love under armour, neck warmers, and toboggans... (proper clothing is essential for survival). so imagine my surprise when I checked the not always so smart, smart phone this morning and saw a high of 45*... Steamy I know. I was so excited to hear about something above 30. that I didn't think about all the rain/snow/sleet we have had around here. Needless to say I looked like a swamp creature post barn today, but I only had to wear a fleece!!! (so while I will not complain to much about the mud.. my apt would appreciate it if it weren't so muddy out!) so on to those ponies!

Mr. North just gets better every day! The left lead is not just something I dream about these days! Due to the non frozen ground situation. the horses even got to leave the indoor! (positively earth shattering.) Morris is looking FANTASTIC post holiday, and is so excited to get to run XC soon. He even started counting down the days until Pine Top. (Check out Mr. M's spring plan, we hope to see you there!)The ponies are all in the process of being primped for their trips down south. I think they are tired of seeing me with a pulling comb, or clippers in hand. (alas this is not something that they will stop seeing anytime soon!)

As with all thing migratory. The making of lists. packing. organizing. moving. shopping. lists. have all began at BCE and for me. I am getting almost freakishly good at packing my stuff, and all the horses. plus there stuff... during my last few free days here I have been exploring DC. enjoy the pics of something not horse related!

New year. new you? maybe.

I have been telling everyone. It's a new yr. you get to be a new you! I actually had very few resolutions this year. Come December I will share, for now I am going to make them a part of my everyday life, I even stuck to a few small things... well enough with new years resolutions.. on to exciting things.. like AIKEN!!! (and no I have not been counting down days or anything. it's 15 in case you were wondering)

With every winter comes many hours in the indoor, and then the packing, and then the migration. This year we have spent a large amount of time inside thanks to the snow, I am excited to get to Aiken and start up the spring show season. We have Morris entered at Pine Top II in Feb at Intermediate for his first run back. We are bringing 7 horses down with us. I for one am very excited to get to show North around down there. (and get him out of the indoor!) Which reminds me Mr. North is learning how to jump! I am extremely excited about the progress he has made in the 2 months I have had him. He is getting consitenet on the flat, he has even decided that he remembered how to canter on the left lead. Now he is trotting jumps. Baby horses are rewarding, now he can even trot 2 in a row. He will get to start going out schooling in Aiken and I hope to take him to some derbys and small shows.

While we have been stuck in the indoor we have been doing lots of jumping exercises to keep all the horses sharp! Baby Fred has been very entertaining in the snow. he loves eating it almost as much as he loves rolling in it. Mr. M even got to start jumping again. He wanted me to tell everyone that he would really just like to jump EVERY DAY! I told him that the circles were necessary. poor morris...

We have gotten a few new horses in for sale at Blue Clover Eventing. one is a young OTTB that I totally adore! If I had time for 2 I would grab him in a second. so check him out. We also have an adorable pony named giggles. She gets all the cute points and I even threatened North that he would be traded in (but then he magically remembered about that left lead!)

One thing I do promise to do this year is update more frequently and include pictures. and sometimes video.

Hopefully I will be seeing you down south. with a few less jackets on.