Happy Thanksgiving! We missed you at the lake! :)
Miles' foot is a little thrushy but I am treating it with coppertox... the ferrier said that he would cut the thrush out (is that even possible??) I'm worried that since I haven't been jumping Miles high enough, he may be out of practice... should I be worried?? We are working a lot on the bit and he looks really good!
Please come visit soon!
love
EmmaGrace

Miles unfortenatly lost a shoe and is going to be shod tomorrow... so I will go out on Friday and ride him. I have a goal for this year~ By the start of 8th grade I would like to be able to canter 2'4 - 3 foot jumps in the front arena!!
Wish us luck :)

The show was pretty good...
The jumping wasn't that great... He refused at least once in every round of jumping except for one round. We still (normally) placed above a lot of other competitors who had no refusals! We ended up getting Reserve Champion.
I just gave Miles a bath. I am trying to "train" the top of his tail to stick together instead of sticking wildly in all directions. I am also trying to get his mane to stay flatter...
Nothing else has been going on...

Hey~
I can't wait to see you!!! We have a few things though I need to talk to you about!!! (nothing that bad... except for Miles getting hurt) :(
Number One~ YOU NEED TO BLOG MORE!! I know that right now you are around the world, but the last post I posted was March 22!! I am VERY disappointed in you!
Number Two~ Miles has been getting bumps from mosquitoes. My trainer said not to worry, but should I be worried?? We bought Mosquito Halt, and it seems to have helped.
Number Three~ It is alright if I use little spurs with Miles, right?? I think you said that would be OK. I know that I shouldn't use a crop.
Number Four~ As you know, Miles has hurt both of his front legs! The first was swelling on more of his leg. The one that is still there, is the swelling in his knee. Are there any exercises I can do without straining him? He can barely trot righ now, and his walk has a pretty significant limp. I am very worried about him...
Number Five~ Will you take me wrapping ("TPing") when you are here? It is a lot of fun. If you are neutral on this subject, just call me and I will convince you!
Number Six~ I can't wait to see you!!!
Love From Your Favorite (and most excited) Cousin!!! (me)

I am doing private lessons in the front with Cathy, so we can get used to the front arena. He is a lot better, but we still have not jumped up there. We have been riding bareback in our spare time. There is a competition at the shows that you ride bareback in, and I would like to compete in it.
I have spent my spring break at the barn except for the last few days during which we drove up to the lake and hung out. I am going out to ride Miles tomorrow.
I painted my locker, and it looks awesome!! I will post a picture soon. The two colors I painted it are the two colors that look the best on Miles.
My friend is taking pictures and videos of Miles and I and she is going to put together a video. She makes the best videos. It will take awhile, but I will post it when she completes it.
I will call you about the flying lead changes. I am going to ask Cathy about the bridge. I keep forgetting!
I hope everything is going well. I would really like to come visit you. How was your spring break???

Hi!!!!

Love the Picture!!!!!!! I wish I was with you and Miles! How is he doing? How are you doing? I hope you are having a great spring break. Thank you so much for the cupcakes, I loved them and so did my friends.

I remembered your mom mentioning that you were having trouble with flying lead changes, give me a call and I can give you some helpful tips and practice exercises. Hope you are having a great day!

Hey,

I just wanted to check in and see how you and Mr. Miles are doing. I have been missing him a lot lately. Did you end up putting the Dr. Bristol bit on him? I think that it is a much better idea to use when you are jumping. I used it for at least a year when I got him and I know that his old owners used it all the time. How has he been in the big arena? The more you ride him there the better he will be.

I just got back from a school trip to Santa Fe, New Mexico. The trip was fun but I don’t like that city very much. We looked at a lot of South Western and Indian art. Woven Indian baskets are very popular there. Many of them sold for around 150,000 thousand dollars! I had no idea there was such a demand for an old basket ha ha.

I’m back in NY this week. It is good to be home. Matt is out here this week for my birthday. That is about all I know. How are you doing? How is school? Remember you can call me any time with questions about Miles. Have a good day!
PS tell your mom that you want to come visit me

I won't have to trailer him because this time the show is at our barn. There is this one line I will have to jump in the show and since Miles's stride is so long he can only fit three strides in the line. He always refuses it and since the jump comes up so fast I am having trouble closing my leg in time. He always does it when I take that jump the second time(just that jump) and when I go the other direction he does the line. Do you have any suggestions?
Miles and I cantered in pairs with this other rider and horse. At first he thought it was a race but then he was good. He was so much fun.
After this show, I will move up to novice, and then after novice I will go to jumper's. Up in tell jumper's I won't be timed. To move up though Miles is going to have to get more comfortable in the front arena. He spooks at all the cars that rush by it.
That's it for this time!!

2’6! Good Job! I’m so excited that you and Miles are going to your first show!!!!!!! He does tend to get a little excited, especially when you take him out of the trailer. I would lunge him right away. Then I would tie him up to the trailer and get ready. He is the most excited the first ten minutes or so, then he will calm back down. I have never had him refuse a jump at a show and he always makes good times, especially in the jump off. I bet you are going to do great. Tea and my mom are here this weekend, we are having a great time. I love that towel wrap you gave me. It is so cute!!! Good luck and let me know how you do. Also, call me if you have any questions tomorrow. Oh are you showing hunters or jumpers?

Love you!
L

Hi...
Miles and I are jumping 2'6 now. I am competing in a show this Sunday. I am really nervous. Any tips?? I know that you said he gets really excited so I have already told my trainer I will have to do extra schooling and a little bit of lunging.
I really want to come visit. I want to see the famous New York!!
YOU should come visit soon so you can ride Miles!! I'm positive he misses you!!
See you!!

I’m so sorry I have been the worst blogger ever! I promise, I will be really good about it. How is Mr. Miles? I miss him so much, it was really weird being home over Christmas and not going to the barn. I hope you still love riding him. How high are you jumping now? New York is so cold right now!!! It is supposed to snow the next couple of days, I’m excited but I’m sure ill be sick of it soon. This weekend I went to the NYC ballet, it was beautiful. I also saw Wicked, I think it might be my new favorite show. Hopefully your mom will let you come visit me, I think we will have a great time.
Love you!
L