Micro Pigs!

Hey Everyone!

Well nothing really new and exciting has happened to me latley! Well, I did have a IEA horse show! I rode in 2 classes (thats the max), a jumping one which I placed 2nd in and a flat which I placed 4th in! Storybook HighSchool team won the overall show! The Middle school team won reserved out of all the other middle school teams!

So have any of ya'll heard about micro pigs? Well supposedly they are really big in UK! I have been looking at them latley and they only get to be between 13-16 inches! Google their pictures! They are sooooo cute!!!

IEA

Hello! Lots have been going on latley. First of all, the last show we went to was at Mullet Hall. While we were there my madre (mom) picked up a flier. It was pretty much saying if you're a High School student and love to ride and so on and so on, join our team. IEA! International Equestrian Association. I went out to meet the coach Alicia Story at Storybook. I've already been out there once last year with my dad to talk to the coach of CofC Equestrian Team. So she evaluated me and just loved the way I rode! So I am now on the IEA team! I am on the team with about 8 other High School students and I am the only Freshman. She is very selective because she doesnt want her team to get too big which I like. I have 2 lessons a month and ride one of her horses and use her tack (which is amazing! She has about 30 Bate saddles!). It is also very formal! I ride with my show helmet and my hair in a net. Collar shirt tucked in with a belt and pants with either tall boots or leather half chaps. When we show I go to the farm and ride one of there horses. Pretty much luck of the draw! Then I'll be lucky if I get a warm up on the horse. I'll go right on in my class. Its all based on Eq.

I had my first lesson last wednesday. If was fantastic! It was very different from my jumper seat but I can switch on to either jumper seat or Eq. seat. I learned so much in just that one lesson! If she wasnt working with me (group lesson) and talking to another rider I could get info out of what she was telling the other rider to work on. It was a hard workout though! It was truly a 1 hour lesson with no breaks. I cant wait till my next lesson! We have our first show the 22nd at Storybook. Alicia is great! She finished Pony Club and she keeps a very low profile which is also good. She is sooo nice too! Well thats all for now!

Fell Through

Hey everyone,

Everything has been going great. Badger is once again mine!! He was never officially not mine but now he's not being sold. He is back to work and he's doing great! We gave him the adequan and he's back to his old self! He will be put back up on the market in December. For now I am refreshing him in what we left off with. Even though he's had a month or so without serious work he's performing those 1st level dressage moves fluently and still has those auto changes! Huck is still up for sale and he's doing great!!! We had to put him on a less sweet feed because he was getting fast. But now he's back to his old self!!! Steady......... he's well...STEADY!!! He's doing fantastic.... nothing new!! Sydney, Carly, Linda, and Barry are coming back from NY today!!! Cant wait to see you guys!! We've missed you!!

PARTY

Hey! I havent uploaded in a week or so. So here it goes! We celebrated Carly's birthday probably a week in a half ago! She is now 13!! We also celebrated my moms birthday yesterday, it was the 10th but she was out of town with my brother for hockey so we celebrated yesterday. I took my friend Sully and Taylor out yesterday on a trail ride for sully's birthday! They loved it! Sully rode Jack and Taylor rode JP and I rode Steady! It was a great ride! They always wonder why i'm always at the barn and teasing me about it but yesterday they couldnt stop saying how much they loved it!!! Its also getting COLDER!!!! I've been putting Badgers sheet on for now. I washed his heavy blanket two days ago and its been drying since then! I love riding in the cooler weather because its more fun to me, less sticky and sweaty! Except for the fact that my nose always seems to run! Anyway, thats all for now!

Hey!

Hey Again!
Well, I have to upload something because people have been begging me to latley. Nothing really is going on. I am on the Wando Equestrian club though with Haley, Bailey, and Paula. Its pretty fun! This Thursday were going to a tailgate before homecoming and were gonna have some awesome games! The t-shirts and hoodies are pretty cool too! I'm going to start giving Brandy (Bodies owner) lessons on Wednesdays with Stacy! My horse hunt has not yet been started, i have been looking but not seriously. Were going to start to look around December or January. I've been saving up though so that when I do get my excellent jumper, he or she will have amazing jumping boots! The ones I have in mind are called Veredus Gel jumping boots. If you google them they will pop up! They are pretty awesome! I would also like a new saddle sometime before next school year. I'm so excited though because I just love change, and I cant wait to start to show seriously. Thats all for now!

Shows!

Hey Everyone!

So this past weekend we went to the Sea Island schooling show at Mullet Hall. Carly started the day off with a GRAND CHAMPION! We are all so proud of you Carly! Last time we were at Mullet Hall, Sydney was the one who had the Grand Champion! So its great that they both do now! Sydney moved up to the 2 foot classes this show and it really challenged her and JP together. They learned what they need work on more, which is great for Sydney because she needs a challenge! Sydney did get a second place and 2 thirds! She has tough competition but really earned that second place! Danielle did great also! Personally, she should have gotten a first place in one of her classes, but I guess the judge didnt see the other rider's mount get the wrong lead and break. Haley brought Jodie and they didnt do so well but it was an experience for both Haley and Jodie! Overall it was a great day!! Were so proud of everyone of you girls!! And there are more videos of Steady and Huck on my youtube page.

Moving On

Hello Everybody,

I havent written about Badger lately in much detail. This is what's been going on with him and I. About a month and a half ago we were consistantly jumping 3ft-3'3 courses. Then on the flat he started to buck at the canter. We thought it was his back because he's so long. Its not his back though. Its his hocks. We talked to the vet and we purchased some Adequan which is NOT a hock injection. It is a shot that goes in the muscle and helps inflammation in the muscles which for Badger is his hocks. We came to the conclusion that he would not be able to jump over 2'9 now without getting sore. We're not going to push him. My time with Badger has lasted 2 years come December. It is time to move on and get a horse that suits my level of riding. Badger is now being leased by a great lady named Stacy! She just adores him and it seems like he really likes her! He lets her do things that he wouldnt let anybody else do. She is leasing to buy!! Were so excited for her and Badger. She is going to keep boarding him at J&B too! I'm going to start giving her lessons to teach her his little quirks and all that fun stuff! So that's whats been going on with me and Badger! We couldnt of asked for a better horse or a better person to buy him! <3 Sara

Wow!

Hey everyone! Yesterday Syd had her lesson while Carly was at a sleepover! So we really concentrated on jumping since she's a pro at the flat, who wouldnt be when thats what you practice pretty much everyday? So she was doing excellent. She had her stridings down and she was able to lengthen and shorten his stride to fit the lines. Her two point was perfect as always, but we did have to work on staying up in two point longer since she was jumping higher! I set up a little oxard probably 2'ft. She jumped that amazingly so when she wasnt looking I raised it a hole to 2'3. She came around and jumped it again and I was blown away at how great she did! I told her after she was done and she was sooooo happy! I'm so proud of how great she is doing. I got on Bodie afterward and he's been on a calmer for the past few weeks and he was amazing! He did everything I asked. I rode him in side reins and he's been lunged in them before so it wasnt new to him. He did excellent. The barn is red now!!!! It absolutley looks amazing and pretty much brand new! Today Barry, my mom, and linda are gonna roll the inside. I'm planning on riding Bodie, Badger, and Steady today so lots of horses to ride! ***Sara***

Brand New Barn!

Hey everyone! Well I have some great news! A few days ago the inside and the outside of the barn was powerwashed! It looks great! Today they painted the outside of it a beautiful red!! They also re-painted the gurders because the paint was oil based so when it got hot out it would stick to you! So they also painted them so that we wouldnt have that problem. We also have one baby duck! Its a few weeks old. We did have 3 but sadley mother nature got the best of them. We have all been doing really well. Thats all for now! I'll post pics of the barn soon!

Clemson Results!!!

Hey Everybody! Clemson was a huge hit! sydney was first in the morning and Carly was supposed to be after her. But the Halter classes got done early and we had to rush from arena to arena!! Sydney did get reserved champion in the whole Amoeba Division!!! Carly did excellent and placed in the top 4 in every class. Haley won the jumper Divison too! I did fall off due to a girth mal function!!!! But I totally made it up on Steady the following day getting 1 second away from haley and placing 2nd. I then got a 4th due to a pole knocked down and a sixth because I slightly forgot which course i was riding so I picked up alot of speed to make up time! I didnt do that bad! pictures coming soon!

J&B Vs. Clemson!!!

Hey everyone!! Over the past few weeks we have been getting ready for Clemson and training real hard. I on the other hand hasnt been so prepared! Our plan was for us to take Badger, but then Huck came and I was gonna show him in hunters. Now the plan has taken a U turn for a different horse! I feel more prepared than ever with this horse! The girls (Carly and Syd) are showing Saturday morning. Haley is doing a few Hunter classes Saturday but she has more classes Sunday. I will be showing in the Jumpers. Were leaving tomorrow around 3-4 o'clock. We are all excited because we get to bring our tack boxes! Usually we'd have to stuff our stuff all in one or 2 because of limited room in truck beds. But we are taking the 3 horse trailer which has a HUGE tack room!! All for now! ***Sara***

Expecting!

Hey Everyone! I think its time to announce some fantastic news. Denise is pregnant!!!She's just about 10 weeks along now! she's also starting to show! Were so excited for you Denise!! Congratulations! ***Sara!***

Fresh Meat!!!!

Lol I love my heading!! What I mean by that is that we have new people!!! Two girls, one in 7th and the other in 8th. They are sooooooooooo nice and down to earth!!! They fit right in with our group! They might even be going to Clemson to watch. If we have another spot on our trailer were gonna bring there horse home while were up at Clemson. They just moved down here and the horse is still up there. Were so excited that we have new additions to the family!!! I see lots of pre-show sleepovers with the whole group!

YouTube!

Hey everyone! I still cant post pictures or videos on my blog for some reason. I am posting videos of Me and Huck on my youtube page. for the first video you can type in Flat with flying changes. That will then lead you to the video and my channel. ***Sara***

Horses

Hey! We've got Steady and Huck at the barn now! me and Jenn rode yesterday. she is in LOVE with steady her horse! He is so cute! He has a great headset and he looks so fancy! I rode Huck and he has an awesome jump! I've also been riding Bodie too. Badgers doing great. Everyone is getting ready for Clemson. I'm going to San Diego with my dad on the 31st. I'm so excited! I havent been on a plane since I was like 6! Anyway, we've been cleaning up around the barn and new jumps are being built! Not really anything new. Post more later. ***Sara***

Pictures!!

Okay well I just got my camera hooked up and everything. Then I go to post a picture and the link comes up and not the picture. So I cant post any pictures!!! Ugggg! So if youre friends with me on facebook you can see a few pictures of Bodie, Francesca, and Badger in his new fly sheet thats infused with sunscreen so that his coat doesnt bleach out!

Bodie!

Hey everyone!

Well I just got a new laptop for graduation so I havent hooked up the camera to the computer so I dont have any pics of francesca or Bodie. I've been working Bodie in side reins to build up his neck, butt, and topline. He has been doing excellent. I'll work him for 30 min in the round pen doing that then i'll hop on him in the round pen and work on him learning how to stop and half halt and pretty much learn to understand what I want. The cat has not run away!!! She is so friendly.... we couldnt of gotten a better kitten. This week i've been working soccer camp so i've been really busy! I'm giving the girls a lesson tomorrow and were gonna work on what there gonna do at the show. I'm doing the 3 jumper classes. The 2'6-2'9 then 2'9-3' then after that the 3'-3'3. I might even do some dressage classes. Were going up Friday since the girls classes are in the morning. Everyone is so excited!!! Pictures are coming soon! ***Sara***

So Much News!

Hey! Well I have more great news!!! I havent posted it yet but it happened last Sunday. Jenn and Jimmy finally got engaged!!! Jenn also just got herself this AMAZING horse! Its gonna be shipped down from Kentucky next week! Thats all for now!!

Congratulations

I wanted to say congrats to Jenny and Whit for their second son Grayson Clay weighing 8lbs and 10 ounces! She had him today around 2 o'clock!!!

New Kitten!

Well we got the new kitten!! She is sooooo adorable! Me, Carly, and Sydney were thinking of names and first it was boots because she has what looks like white boots on but then we decided she looked like a francesca!! So thats her name!!!

Clemson

Hey!

Well lots has been going on at J&B! First of all we have been training really hard for the end of summer Clemson show. Sydney and Carly will be riding JP and I Badger. Haley might go with either Lena or Jodie. She's not quite sure yet. We might even be bringing the 3 horse trailer now that Jenn has a truck that can pull it. Bodie has been progressing really well! Since he is only 5 I am waiting til January when he turns 6 to start him over fences. He is doing excellent though! Badger has been jumping like he has springs latley since I ride him at night and its much cooler. Today we are getting a barn kitten!!! One of Weezies friends has a stray thats (i think) a few weeks old. Thanks to Brandy for saving me $115 for a pair of Danskoes. She had a new pair that were too big for her so she gave them to me! Thats all for now! ***Sara***

People & Life

The thing about life is, is that you meet people and become friends, enemies, lovers,or just meet someone and never see them again. But its life and people will gain friends and lose friends. Everything happens for a reason and I have lost a friend. I believe I have lost that friend for a good reason. I have no regrets within our friendship.... but I do agree that its been over for awhile. I'm ready to move on and make new friends in High School. I have learned alot about myself within the past 2 years that I have moved here to SC. I learned that people can betray you and befriend you. I've learned that I am a beautiful, strong, independent, young woman. I can move on from rejection and absorb loving people that have always been there for me. I have learned (my favorite) to kill others with kindness. I stand up for myself now. I dont let people walk all over me or anyone I care for. I have learned all these lessons from my mother. She, also, a strong, beautiful, independent woman. And for those lessons I thank her. She has made me who I am today. And I am proud of that. I'm sure as life goes on she will still have lessons for me. I was recently told that this certain person didnt have a problem with me, but with my mom. I told her that if you have a problem with my mom, you have a huge problem with me. My life is beginning and taking the path that I want. I'm ready for the challenges, hardship, and broken hearts, that is in the future. I am ready to overcome this because of my mom. Thank You to my mom & Goodbye to my old friend.

<3 Sara Jane Winch

Staying Busy!

Hey again!

Well things have been great at the barn latley! I had a jumping lesson on Badge yesterday and as always blew jenns socks off! Then a flat lesson today! Its been sooo hot so we've been keeping Badger inside during the day and out at night, his coat is also bleaching so keeping him inside is helping. I rode Bodie today too. He is progressing slowly but he's only 5 and hasnt been ridden in sooooo long. Denise has been teaching me lessons on how to drive a stick shift! We've been having lessons for about 3 to 4 months! I'm getting the hange of it! Thats all for now! <3 Sara

Bummer!

Well the schooling show was canceled this weekend because of hot weather. Sydney and Carly are upset. We are looking to go to the Clemson show in August. On a good note Paula is going to stay at J&B through July! She's gonna help us clean up the barn (powerwash.etc.) and build jumps!! I've been riding Bodie and he's progressing well. I rode him in the round pen to get him used to what I want and bending and relaxing at the poll and neck. Tonight I'm giving Syd's and Carly a lesson at 6:30 since its sooooo hot. Badger is doing great! Learning more dressage moves and excelling in the challenges Jenn gives us in jumping! ***Sara***

Somethings Wrong

Ok so I just tried to post pictures and the link came on but the pictures didnt. So I'll give the Blogging website a few days to fix "itself". Its happened to me before I just have to wait a few days. Anyway, Paula has brought Amador to J&B for 3 or 4 days for his feet to recover from all the rain. I am gonna give Carly and Sydney a lesson today for the upcoming schooling show at Mullet Hall. I'll bring Badger so I can ride and condition him on the trails when the girls arent riding! ***Sara

What the Heck?

OK so my slideshow would not show up everytime I logged in so thats why I took it off. I'll just post the pictures individually.

Shows!

Hey Everyone!

I've been to 2 shows in the past two weeks! The first show was the seaisland schooling show. I wasnt going to show but this lady asked if I wanted to do jumpers so that there would be more than 2. I got 2 thirds which is good though because I was only 3,4, or 5 seconds from the others. We also took my student ( Its so weird to say that!) Sydney. She made up JP's show name "Paint me Proud!" which is such a great name! She won her whole division! Jenn talked to the judge and asked what she thought and the judge said that she was perfect and she didnt have anything to fix!!! Then I went to a PSJ show this past weekend and I went into the 2'6-2'9 and got 3rd out of 6 riders and I also got 28$ off the show bill! Then I went into the 3ft class and got 2nd out of 3 people! We were gonna go into the 3'3 class but nobody entered. Badger did sooooooo good!! We've been practicing out speed and me letting him go a bit more. June 20th i'm going to Mullet Hall again for the schooling show with Sydney and Carly and maybe Bailey. Syd's is gonna go in Walk, Trot, Canter and so is Bailey. Carly is gonna go in walk trot. I'm taking Bodie in the non-restricted walk trot canter u/s, eq, and 18 in. Thats all for now! Pictures will come very soon! ***Sara***

Oh and Jenn got a new Toyota Tundra so we get to pull the 3 horse trailer now!!

Change of Plans!

Hey everyone! I've got good news! Jenn is gonna still be my trainer! We have talked and have decided that Badger needs more training and wont be able to do the things I do if I go to another trainer, since i'm progressing rapidly. So she's gonna train me through the Summer and Fall and we'll see where we are in the Winter. I'm not sure if i'm supposed to tell anyone yet so i'll wait for a few more days to tell you guys some great news! Anyway! I do have news that I can share. I've been riding Bodie to get him back into shape and maybe even get to show him in the Fall. He is a really really fast learner. Badger has been doing really well with his Dressage and Gymnastics. Were practicing for the upcoming PSJ show this weekend. Were only going Sunday because Jenn has to work Saturday. Thats all for now! ***Sara***

Branching Out

Hey Everyone.

Well, nothing has been going on latley with me and Badger. We've been practicing for the PSJ Show at Mullet Hall next weekend. I've been giving Sydney and Carly lessons. Sydney might be going to the Sea Island show this weekend in a few walk trot classes. Jenn has been teaching me for about a year and 6 months. Throughout that time I have learned sooooo much and have had the best experience. We were talking in the car one day and I promised her she would have a "backstage ticket" when I make it to the Olympics and she would have dibs on anyone of the imported horses I get and train to sell. We have made a bond like no other friendship and we will keep that bond throughout our lives! She is my first real trainer who I look up to and admire as a role model. She told me and my mom a few months ago that I will soon "outgrow" her. We have decided that that time has come. I am now looking for a new Jumper trainer who could also do more Dressage. We have had Buzzy give us someone from Indigo, so we have to call her and check her out. Jenn is still looking for a horse and is gonna start training everyone else at the barn again. All for now! ***Sara Winch***

Counter Canter & Dances

Hey everyone! Well lately Jenn has decided that I have earned the right to learn the counter canter since I've been practiced and perfected what she has asked. So Thursday night we started the counter canter! Badger was kinda confused at first and kept switching to the correct lead! Eventually we got it and now I have something new and challenging to practice on the flat. As for the jumping I have been working on making my 2-point better and Its coming along really well. Last night (Saturday) me and Bailey went to the 8th grade graduation dance. It was really fun! Here are some pictures of us!

Aiken Show

Hey Everyone! Well I got back from the Aiken show last Sunday and it was 10 times better than the last Aiken show! My first class was hopeful jumper 2'9 and I was first to go! He or shall I say we because I have to admit he would have jumped it if I pushed him a bit more refused the first jump so we didnt place in that first class. Then my 2nd class I got a 3rd place with 49.8 seconds and 40$ off of the show bill!!!! My 3rd class was good but at the second to last jump he knocked a pole down so we got faults on that. I was going to do a 3 foot class but I got him a new bridle and i've never used a figure 8 before and instead of putting the loop around below the bit I put it above which rubbed him so we scratched that. It was really bothering him so I didnt want it getting any worse. Overall we got amazing pictures! Here are some for yall to see! ***Floating on cloud 9***

Sunday

Hey Everyone!

I probably wont write in probably a week or so because I'm sooooooooooo busy with school now that its the last quarter and have Exams and PASS and reports and good stuff like that! So this coming Sunday I am going to the Aiken show! I have worked sooooooo hard these past 2 months. I am 100% sure we'll do so much more better this show than the last. Maybe we'll even place! Were not exacly sure on what day we are leaving. Its a 31/2 hour drive and my classes start at 9 so we might leave saturday. Thats all for now! Wish me luck!!!!

Jenn the Wonderful!

Hey everyone! Well I had a lesson on Wednesday and Jimmy got Jenn the Nikkon Cannon camera for their anniversary! So she took amazing pictures of me and Badger! Here are some of them.

Getting Ready!

Hey everyone!

Well, today we had Buzzy from Hunters Green come out and body clip Badger for us! Last year when we had it done he had a full coat so she had to use the huge clippers on him and give him some sedative. This time since I kept a heavy blanket on him she only needed to use the small clippers and he was amazingly well behaved! We did have to twitch him though when it came to his left back leg. Thats the one that he injured before I got him and he's always been really picky on who can touch it and who cant. I'm the only one he allows to mess with it! I'll post pictures of him soon. For awhile we were practicing Hunters but me and Jenn found it very boring and so did Badger! We have knocked that idea out of our head and are back into Jumper and Dressage! We did find this Dressage trainer who travels, so were gonna give her a call and see if I can take some lessons from her. We will be going to the first PSJ show in Aiken but only attending Sunday because Jenn will be out of town Friday and Saturday. Then we'll be heading up to Tryon. Well that all for right now! ***Sara***

First Post

Hello!

This is my first post for this blog! I had to make a whole new blog because this morning I couldn't log in and I've been trying and trying but its like the old J&B blog where we never figured out why we couldn't log in. That's why we had to make a new one.

So for those of you who are new to my blog this is a blog about me and my horse Badger and all the crazy adventures we have! Currently Badger can perform 1st level Dressage moves and we have jumped 3'6. I have had Badger a year and 5 months. We show in the Jumpers and we currently have 3 shows coming up in May.

A little about myself! I am 14 and have been riding for 3 years. I took a year off to play soccer and didn't like it as much as I used to. I loved horseback riding so much more. My plan for myself is to major in Equine management and anything else I can major in that involves equine. Eventually I want to ride in the Olympics and own a show barn, travel the world riding and training pristine horses.

My mom manages the barn I am currently at called J&B Stables. I have a trainer named Jenn and she is the best! We have a barn family who all get along great! Thats all for my first post.

Sara Winch