Sideways

Hi! Happy Spring? Well, it was Spring on Saturday. I haven't written in quite some time. The wet, icy weather has kept my workload light. Not to worry though, Sweepit and I have had plenty of hay to eat and we've worn our blankets to keep warm.

In my last post, way back in October, I mentioned that my K had tried a sport called sidesaddle and predicted that she'd have me try it too.

Well, can I call it, or what? This past Sunday K and I participated in a sidesaddle riding clinic, presented by the Southern Ohio Ladies Aside at our home base, Paddle Stone Equestrian Center.

 Maggie, the clinician, fitted me with an Elan sidesaddle and declared it a perfect fit! Apparently the Elan "Thoroughbred Wide" tree is built for horses just like Sweepit and me. Once secured, K was soon aboard and we were off! Sort of... I admit I had a bit of difficulty reading K's cues with both of her legs off to my left.

Sporting an Elan saddle.

It was a fun day! I love meeting new people and horses (and sneaking mini carrots from the buffet)! I know K enjoyed it too, and I predict that we are going to practice sidesaddle frequently - once K finds a saddle that fits both of us.

A good group!

K tells me that our next event is a dressage clinic in May. Until then, stay warm and think of green grass and mini carrots.

~Polo

Fall Funnies

Dear Friends,
I have to share a funny story. Recently, my human mom has taken to riding me bareback on the weekends. We just go for walks and bond. My mom is only 15 hands tall so she has to use the tallest mounting block on the farm in order to reach on my back. She's forever saying her method of hop-drape-sit up isn't very graceful, but  it works for her and I don't mind. Well, this Sunday, mom sent herself sliding straight off my right side!
Don't worry, she isn't hurt. She landed on her feet, looked around for witnesses and then she laughed! It was pretty silly.
She said her legs were a little stiff from a tweaked muscle during a sport called bowling on Friday and then she tried out sidesaddle riding at something called a "clinic" on Saturday. Have you heard of sidesaddle? If I know my mom, I'll be trying it out soon. Stay tuned for a report. In the meantime, try to find something to laugh about at least once a day!
~Polo

Workin' for the Weekend...or for Grain!

HELLO!

Oh my goodness. It's been way too long since I've said hello and I simply must do so and fill you in on the news from the "Polo Paddock"!
First things first. I am doing MUCH better physically. A change in feed, the spring and summer grass and an exercise partner have worked wonders. I am fit and looking as I should. Mom says my canter departures are much better too! Of course, now I'll have to learn something new and improve on something else. This horse's work is never done!
Speaking of work, Mom has worked super hard to be able to take care of Sweepit and me following a lay-off in 2011. All of the jobs she has been able to find have been seasonal and have come to an end. The good news is that she has found a new job! The bad news is that supporting herself and us for 19 months have put her in a very tight spot. So Sweepit and I are trying to help our mom out by trying to earn our grain.
Our first helpful endeavor: Modeling! Mom decided that we have way too much stuff and has offered for sale everything that we aren't wearing or using. Mom's a very visual human and firmly believes that stuff sells better if she takes a photo of us wearing it. According to her, it works. But I gotta tell ya, sometimes, I feel silly.

One of my outtakes. I don't think it's my color.

Sweepit. She's a serious type.

Our second helpful endeavor: Spokes-horse-ship! (Get it? Spokesmanship? Okay, okay. Shameless commercial plug!)
If you wish to help us help Mom, (to help us!), please visit Mom's website: kcorneliusimagesandmarketing.com. Mom is available for contract projects and can help you with marketing, photo shoots and more! On the site you'll see the Tack Sale page, from which you can purchase our gently, now unused tack directly via link to Paypal. You'll also see Off The Track Designs, the bridle rack and craft business that helped get me back on my feet (literally!) when Mom and R and my friends at Shepherd's Gate Farm first took me in. THANK YOU!

Hugs and slobber kisses!
~Polo

In search of a new exercise partner!

Hi Friends!

I hope I find you well. The last time we talked I told you all about my therapy session to help heal my insides so that I could improve on my work and look better outside and that K and I were set to start a re-conditioning regimen. Well, plans hit a bit of a snag, although for a good reason.
My K has finally found employment! But, she's working two jobs right now to support herself, Sweepit and me. And while she is enjoying her work, she hasn't had much time to spend with us on the farm. Oh, she feed me and gives me my daily hug and Sweepit her peppermints. (I love hugs! And scritches! And peppermints!) But my physique is a bit less than fabulous right now. So I'm in search of an exercise partner to help me get into shape.
Did you know walking is an excellent form of exercise? Our exercise regime starts and ends with a walk to and from my paddock. I live outside year-round, so lots of fresh air and vitamin D!
Then I help you target your arms and shoulders through grooming and tacking up. Finally it's legs and core exercise for you, and back, butt and balance for me in addition to cardio for both of us!
I've been enjoying dressage and cavelletti. So I'm looking for someone who really enjoys flat work and body conditioning and the progression that leads up to jumping.
If you live in or near Lexington, KY and wish to be my partner, please contact my mom (see below). Please note: I do have a "gym membership" (lease) fee of $150 for a full lease, which means you'll be my only partner. K and I are willing to consider a shared lease.
I live at Paddle Stone Equestrian Center (kyhorseboarding.com) in Lexington, conveniently located to downtown Lexington, Paris, KY, Georgetown, KY and Midway, KY. I'll live on my home farm, but I am allowed to go to off-site horse shows, clinics and lessons. I went to my first horse show last fall. It was fun! And, if I can find a partner very soon and re-gain some shape by the end of March, K says we can go to a TB-only show at the KY Horse Park!

To contact K and learn more about me, please visit my page here: www.kcorneliusimagesandmarketing.com/polo and press the Contact Kimberly button at the top.

Won't you help me with my work outs?

~ Polo

It's a new year and I'm on pins and needles!

Happy New Year!

I know, I am a bit late. I hope everyone had a fantastic holiday. I know I did! I got some extra time off and mom, (you remember K?) added special peppermint candy canes, to my feed. Dinner and dessert, yum!

K and I have been working quite a bit on dressage. My goals have been to improve my balance and flexibility in addition to my overall strength. I've also been working on my canter and am happy to report that I have found my left lead!

While I have made lots of progress, K has been concerned that I'm still not quite as far along as I should be, especially because I don't like to flex through my neck and poll. And so today I had a visit from Dr. Torres, who is a Chiropractor and a practitioner of acupuncture for horses.

Dr. Torres started out by touching my chest, shoulders and hips first with his hands and then he poked me with a needle! He explained that I was super sensitive and experiencing pain in certain areas. Well, he did poke me with a needle! Then he asked me to stretch my neck to each side. It was much harder for me to do this to the right. Of course, K wasn't offering me treats from the saddle, which meant I didn't have the incentive to flex. But I digress. Next, Dr. Torres placed my head on his shoulder and pressed down on my poll. It didn't really hurt, but it was a trifle awkward. I mean, I just met the guy and now I'm getting hugs?! But, dear friends, that wasn't even the strangest part.

After the adjustments, Dr. Torres then stuck me with acupuncture needles. I had them in my neck, wither, hock, cannon, fetlock and across the top of my rump. Some of them were huge! But, oh my goodness, once they were in, I sure felt better. Did you know that the point for helping relieve any headaches I might have is actually in my leg, near a foot? Anyway, first needles and then, shock therapy!

Okay, okay I exaggerate. Dr. Torres did hook me up to an electrical stimulus machine via the needles in my rump. The current wasn't bad, although by the end of the twenty minute session I was getting a little anxious. I was quite relieved when the electricity was cut and the needles came out. I also feel much better! Better is good. Especially as K has plans for us.

Cheers!

~Polo

K and me and my left lead!

Bucking Tradition

Good Morning Friends!

I think K may be having some sort of a crisis. When she came to visit me yesterday she changed out the irons on our saddle for new ones with sparkly stones running up the sides. She seems strangely excited about having "bling" as she called it.

If you know K as I do, you'll know she generally favors tradition when it comes to Sweepit's and my care and equipment. We have brown tack, standard grooming supplies (no fads) and simple, workmanlike saddle pads. Okay, okay Sweepit does have the cheetah-print boots, but she's a girl so she get's to be fashion-forward.

I'm at a loss! Has your human ever added something crazy to your wardrobe?

~Polo

Here's to New Partnerships!

Good Morning Friends!

I have much to tell! I have a new partner! Her name is C and she and I met last week and hit it off right away.

Shocking news this! Am I right? Never fear dear readers. I still live at Paddle Stone Equestrian Center in Lexington, Kentucky and K is still my mom. C and I have formed a lease partnership so that K can focus harder on finding work and growing Off The Track Designs without having to worry that she's neglecting me and my training progress.

I am so happy that C came to meet me as my being able to stay on the home farm was in doubt. Last Wednesday I had a meeting with someone who was looking to buy a new horse. I was surprised and very unhappy that K was letting strange people ride me. I was also upset by the Very Scary Event!

As K was tacking me up, the mobile home that anchored the end of the riding arena disappeared! K tells me it had been sold and hauled off the property to its new site. To think that I would be sold and hauled away like the mobile home! I shudder.

K assures me that I would have been placed in good home and reminds me that I'm very well traveled as it is. But she also tells me how happy she is that C and I found each other. She says she didn't feel that a partnership between myself and the prospective buyer would have been a productive one, whereas she could see right away how happy C and I are together. She also says that this way she still gets to hug me whenever she wants. I hope she doesn't do so in front of Molly and Dominique. How embarrassing!

So here's to new partnerships, new adventures and more hugs!

Green slobber kisses to all!
~Polo