T minus 3 days and counting ...

As if I needed to add to my anxiety level ... went to the barn to ride Monday and guess who's other rear shoe was hanging on my a single nail ... wow. Sucks for me! Groomed him really well, cut his mane (he HATES to have it pulled), and hoped that night he'd go ahead and pull it off. I looked at it, but that one stinking litle nail was TIGHT, ha ha. Tuesday am, the shoe was gone and fortunately his foot is in pretty decent shape. Figured now was as good a time as any, and proceeded to pour Sore no More on his lower back, rub it in really well, and put the heating pad on. I almost had figured that since he's so sensitive and touchy, he would shake the pad right off but surprisingly he stands quietly. I guess it does feel pretty good to him; he likes warm things. His bath water is borderline as warm as mine ... litte prince.:) Took that opportunity to go ahead and get him clipped up ... muzzle, goat hairs, bridle path ... ears. Got them about half way done, and I realized that despite frequent applications of Kool Lube, the clippers were getting a little warm. Put them up, gave him lunch, and went to work. Yesterday was a bit of a "rinse and repeat". Sore no More, heating pad, then JUST ears. Tried a twitch ... the first time it fell off. Tightened it up, and that allowed enough distraction for me to QUICKLY finish the ears off. They look pretty decent! I will clip up his fetlocks today as a finishing touch while the heating pad rests on his back, and then practice the quarter marks I've been trying to learn. Tried them a bit yesterday, but he was a little dirty. Plus, I really had no idea what I was doing! I've since watched a video, so I am a little bit better prepared.

Wore my boots around the house. I've been slowly packing things up; show pads are clean, black polos are clean (for the jumper class), bridle is not yet clean because I am planning to give him a nice hack tomorrow after the farrier visits.:) Won't worry about the jumps because he's proven that he WILL go over them. I'll just rely on our Saturday schooling. May set up a little bending line with poles to work on a short, direct distance. Need to go today for a new polo shirt (HOPING jackets are waived ... PLEASE!;)) and a belt. I have several belts because glory be, I've lost about 25 lbs recently, so all my jeans literally fall off me once they're all sweaty and stretched out (such a nice visual, huh), but the belts are all like 3 inches wide so they don't fit in the belt loop of my breeches. I have washed my gloves and my helmet. Yes, you read that right ... my helmet. It is REALLY getting time to replace it since it's out of that 5 year window now, so it has a large layer of dirt, dust, and grime on it. I filled the sink with hot water, added a little laundry detergent, and scrubbed thoroughly with a sponge. Soaked the helmet pretty well, just didn't dunk it all the way. Rinsed with the spray, then laid it out on a towel to try. Pulled out my old trusty Troxel schooling helmet and put on my helmet cover with the jumping horses ... might as well have fun with it, right?? I'll have to post a pic of that for your laughing pleasure at a later date; the helmet's at the barn right now;) Riding Reley, Audrey, and Mick today. Giving Tiki man another spa day, then holding horses for the farrier tomorrow. Sunday ... today is Thursday ... ok butterflies, you can settle down now!:)