Skippy!

OK, I couldn't resist. Not my horse, this is goddessfarmer's new guy ... and I want everyone to see the good pony :) I will admit to being a vicarious horse owner through the generosity of goddessfarmer, who's taken me in as a student/riding friend/horse-crazy admirer.**

These are from UNH Horse Trials last weekend, where he placed second in Training level. And you know, it's not just that weird leg marking that gets peoples' attention; it's that cute Connemara pony face (even though he's 16.3 hands, which is definitely bigger than pony-sized.)



( rest of the sequence back here )

** We talked ponies quite a bit at the party, and came to the conclusion that while I could probably swing a boarding situation for Minnie closer to where I live so I could ride her more, it is better for everyone to keep her at goddessfarmer's house, so she can live with Trumpie and goddessfarmer and I can ride on the roads and trails over the winter. We will be shooting for twice a week... Minnie gets her hock treatment next week and I should be able to start riding her again the week after that. I am expecting a certain amount of shenanigans on her part the first time I ride her, because she's been standing around bored for a while now. OTOH, the very first time I rode her, late last year, she was mostly good, even though she'd *really* been standing around bored for a long time.

ouch!

Just made my reservations for my usual holiday trip to San Diego to help my dad celebrate his Xmas Day birthday (#81 this year!). Over $500 for the plane ticket and nearly $200 for the car rental for a week. Not too many years ago, Ben and I *both* flew for about $500, but this time it's just me, because Ben will be busy being Mr. Arisia. Car rental is from Fox, the really cheapie car rental place in San Diego. The next lowest price was about $275 for the same kind of car.

Ouch. Yes, dad will subsidize the cost of the plane ticket -- it's really a present to himself -- but yes. Ouch.

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The mother of a possible Unauthorized Raspberry Picker came by today with a nice container of tasty raspberries. I can't tell you how much I appreciate this, as opposed to the "My Child Wouldn't" or "What Do You Expect; The Berries Were There for the Picking" school of parenting.

Also, I heard from Tina and she wants me to stay with Bearito and the Monday lesson, but not push to do the bigger jumps until my balance is better. This is fine with me; I may need to look for another lesson barn sometime next year though, if I want to go a lot further with the jumping. But in the meantime, getting to ride the Cute Pony is just fine...