Whew. It has been a busy, stressful, exciting and productive eight months. Jeez, eight months. Yes, yes, I know. That is quite bad in the "grand blogging scheme” but now here I am, updating you in all things Fat Bottom. Firstly, I have (as of a week or so ago) completed graduate school. I rode horses and taught lessons all day, then did schoolwork every evening. I did this for 18 months—in the full swing of show season—with upwards of eight horses a day to ride and five lesso

If The Saddle Fits… When I first moved to Gallifrey I knew I was unhappy with the saddle I had purchased (and fitted) for William. It fit his back well, yes, but it fit me very poorly. It put me in such an awkward position that I was actually rubbing holes through the crotch of my underwear it put me in such an awkward position. I dealt with the pain because it fit my horse better than the previous saddle (which was a brand name off the rack Dressage saddle with air panels an

William and I have had a break from showing since November. At first not having somewhere to be every weekend tends to be nerve wracking for me. The down time the holidays brings always throws me into a bit of a tizzy of over analyzation of business and self. To avoid an anxiety meltdown, I busy myself with helping out in the barn, taking on more daily chores and opening up more time for teaching. I also take this time to plan my 2016 show season as much as I can and focus on

There are days, like today, where I get a frustrated with how my horses are going. It felt easier last week, suddenly things that worked before aren't working now or that wonderful feeling I just had is gone and I cannot find it again. It's stressful and a blow to the confidence and something I let get under my skin, though I know I shouldn't. I tell my students tough rides happen, it cannot be perfect everyday and the frustration just means you're on to something. Wish I cou

Last month... Well, okay, really this past August. Or was it July? Either way, this summer I was on a mission. A horse hunting mission. It was time to start finding my next little star. A new horse to try to bring up the ranks behind William. Sure there have been others. An Oldenburg mare with a horrendous arena attitude that made it not fun to even think about eventually showing, a draft/holsteiner mare who had the gorgeous movement and a sane brain but no drive what so ever

Thursday, my trusted assistant and groom, Mikki and I hit the road with William in tow to the 20 I was greeted by our friends and stablemates from Beyond Dressage and shared our excitment for making it this far with our horses and clients. It was so much fun seeing them again! Mikki set off to get some massages in for her clients and I got on Will to take a walk around the facility and find our arenas. The walk was fairly uneventful, lots to look at but true to his form he st

Whew. It has been a busy, stressful, exciting and productive eight months. Jeez, eight months. Yes, yes, I know. That is quite bad in the "grand blogging scheme” but now here I am, updating you in all things Fat Bottom. Firstly, I have (as of a week or so ago) completed graduate school. I rode horses and taught lessons all day, then did schoolwork every evening. I did this for 18 months—in the full swing of show season—with upwards of eight horses a day to ride and five lesso

If The Saddle Fits… When I first moved to Gallifrey I knew I was unhappy with the saddle I had purchased (and fitted) for William. It fit his back well, yes, but it fit me very poorly. It put me in such an awkward position that I was actually rubbing holes through the crotch of my underwear it put me in such an awkward position. I dealt with the pain because it fit my horse better than the previous saddle (which was a brand name off the rack Dressage saddle with air panels an

William and I have had a break from showing since November. At first not having somewhere to be every weekend tends to be nerve wracking for me. The down time the holidays brings always throws me into a bit of a tizzy of over analyzation of business and self. To avoid an anxiety meltdown, I busy myself with helping out in the barn, taking on more daily chores and opening up more time for teaching. I also take this time to plan my 2016 show season as much as I can and focus on

There are days, like today, where I get a frustrated with how my horses are going. It felt easier last week, suddenly things that worked before aren't working now or that wonderful feeling I just had is gone and I cannot find it again. It's stressful and a blow to the confidence and something I let get under my skin, though I know I shouldn't. I tell my students tough rides happen, it cannot be perfect everyday and the frustration just means you're on to something. Wish I cou

Last month... Well, okay, really this past August. Or was it July? Either way, this summer I was on a mission. A horse hunting mission. It was time to start finding my next little star. A new horse to try to bring up the ranks behind William. Sure there have been others. An Oldenburg mare with a horrendous arena attitude that made it not fun to even think about eventually showing, a draft/holsteiner mare who had the gorgeous movement and a sane brain but no drive what so ever

Thursday, my trusted assistant and groom, Mikki and I hit the road with William in tow to the 20 I was greeted by our friends and stablemates from Beyond Dressage and shared our excitment for making it this far with our horses and clients. It was so much fun seeing them again! Mikki set off to get some massages in for her clients and I got on Will to take a walk around the facility and find our arenas. The walk was fairly uneventful, lots to look at but true to his form he st