Year in Review: 2016

I fell off the proverbial blogging wagon for a multitude of reasons - being hospitalized and the onset of the Christmas season were large contributors to this. All is well here now, and I finally feel like I can take the time to sit down and bust out an eloquent and well-executed post.

I figured since the year is coming to a close, it would be best to do a quite recap of my year with the horses and my journey of personal development throughout the year. It has been an interesting year, and I feel like I had a lot of personal growth with all the cards life threw at me. With great challenges comes our ability to adapt and make the most of it!

Before I get started, I did notice a slight post decrease from last years, but I feel as though that was attributed to the fact that a lot of things went awry. Still, the content of my blog (I feel), has gotten much better and more interesting.

 January                          

Beginning in January, I could barely contain myself and immediately posted about my goals and aspirations for the year which I quite literally just reviewed and went over in a previous post. I also posted about receiving a beautiful Hamer and Clay ornament of Suzie from a close friend, which happily sits on the bookshelf year round and I revealed the hilarious name I would be showing Spud under.

January also saw some cold weather purchases, the FINAL trailer restoration post, and a post about discovering Suzie's arthritic "growth" on her knee. Weirdly enough, after a sudden onset of lameness wherein I found the bump on her knee, she was sound as a fiddle the following morning and subsequent days afterwards, which prompted the first maiden voyage in the new trailer.


February                       
February was a fun month; I recollected why I should avoid hacking Suzie in halters when she isn't in regular work, arranged a show and event schedule for the year, and  hauled into the middle of town just to ride on some grass while the riding arena was still thawing out.

Towards the end of Febraury, Suzie, Spud and I fell into a sink-hole during an evening hack which resulted in some seriously strained muscles. Thankfully, everyone recovered and after some time off all was well again.

March                         
The month of March brought a very unwelcome colic episode wherein I thought I was going to lose my mare. It really showed just how alone we are up here without a Veterinarian. Thankfully, Suzie recovered well and Spud enjoyed the fact I bought him a little saddle. After some time off from the colic, I started to ride Suzie again and did quite a few Dressage rides that were promising and Spud was ridden for the first time.

Since I had a trailer (and will travel!), I had a horsey-sleepover at a friend's place with my two pones and enjoyed a nice trail ride and Suzie enjoyed a therapeutic kinesiology taping session. This would be my first interaction with kinesio taping and it's affects on Suzie's knee.

End of March, I celebrated mine and Suzie's 3 year anniversary and that is where the good stuff ends. The rest of March was chock full of frustrations due to Suzie's on again off again lameness and my attempts to figure out what was wrong sans a Vet.


April                             
As far as shit months, April took the cake... except for a small highlight wherein Spud and I went to a gymkhana. Aside from that, I fought and fought to help my mare with some promising results, but nothing too revealing. I tried to not obsess, but that was pretty impossible.

Finally, at the end of April during a Vet visit from the Traveling Vets, it was determined Suzie had arthritis and caudal heel pain and would no longer be a riding horse. Re-reading the post I made about it, I can feel just how raw my emotion was and I can feel myself tearing up like I am back at that appointment all over again. My favorite post of the year, though, is the follow-up I made to Suzie's diagnosis and what it all means. I attempted to pull myself out of my self-induced pity party and made some goals for the month of May.

May                            
I posted the most in the month of May, which included: a rant after I was attacked via social-media re: Suzie, a hack with Spud, and an update on the property. Most importantly, however, was the celebration of Suzie's 23 birthday complete with photos of her wearing a floral crown.

Mid-May I blogged about riding a friend's... erm... expressive Arab and falling off of him during a jumping exercise. I continued to work with Spud and drove through a lot of puddles and introduced a new face to Blogland. Finnegan joined the herd to become a free-lease during the Summer since I couldn't ride Suzie much anymore.

Spud continued to just slayyyy every drive I put into him and I put my first few rides on Finnegan. And as things seemingly were going well... they started to fall apart. Finn's hooves were quite sensitive to the gravel roads and he ended up going lame at one of the Percentage Day events after I had ridden him the day before on the gravel road.

June                           
Pressing on into June, I attempted to remain positive, but the hits just kept coming. In addition to the hoof tenderness in Finn, Spud started head-shaking quite violently during our drives. Thankfully, Finn recovered well and I was able to start riding him again, but not before he succumbed to a mild cold. I kept my spirits up, though, and ended up cantering Suzie through a barrel pattern after working with Finn one day, and signed Spud up for a driving clinic in June.

Mid-June I went down the worm-hole and mused about my future in horses and what I wanted to do (spoiler alert: I still don't know). And by the end of the month, I partook in an enlightening 3 day clinic with Spud which really made me excited for his future and blogged about Suzie's Summer Vacation. And although I was late posting about it, I also took Finn to a Percentage Day and Clear Round Day where I really fell in love with his honesty.


July                            
July brought about Canada Day and in true Spud fashion, he showed up ready to own the entire thing. He was a hot-mess, but manageable and made me excited to take him again next year. I also blogged about the frustrations I was feeling after a pretty discouraging show with Finn, but also blogged about the things I am thankful for.

I blogged a bit about Spud and all the km's we had logged so far for the year (well, since I started tracking it) and about Finn's chiropractic appointment after an onset of unexplainable lameness.

The month finished off with a salute to three horses; two who were a large part of my foray into the wonderful world of horses and the other was a young foal who I had intentions of purchasing before he fell quite ill and subsequently was put to sleep.

August                         
August was one of the best months of the year, as Spud and I were part of a friend's wedding. In somewhat sad news, I returned Finn to his mom and ended up bringing Suzie home a few months earlier than planned. And just before the end of August, I blogged about Spud's BVX experience and the results.


September                      
September came and I went away for work. I blogged a lot about Spud and how he has changed, and my future plans for Spud and my driving career. I also talked candidly about making the decision to keep a pasture pet and what that means for Suzie and her future.

Mid-September I blogged about Spud's 7th birthday and Gotcha-versary which featured more photos than anything.


October                         
October brought about another interesting topic, and I candidly shared my thoughts with my readers. I also shared a rather vulgar painting I made, a photo of Spud and the flower girl from the wedding, and the amazing transformation from Suzie getting another kinesiology taping session.

November                         
November came and I made the decision to haul Suzie to a Vet to get a more concrete diagnosis. It brought me great relief to finally know what was going on and how I could manage my mare for the future.

I also posted my Christmas wish-list which alluded to something that may be arriving for me in June next year. I did a product review on Spud's harness and why I love it so much. I also did another blog hop of before and afters. And lastly, Spud and I partook in the annual Light Festival.


December                         
December brought my favorite hop of the year and my hilarious attempt at Christmas photos with the horses before I fell off the face of the Earth.

This year was pretty trying, in more ways than one, but I feel like I made it out the other side even stronger and more self-assured than before. I feel like I really floundered at first with Suzie and second-guessed myself more than was necessary, but in the end I really realized that I know my mare better than anyone else in this entire world, and I have to do what I think is right for her regardless of other people's thoughts.

I don't want to be one of those people who say "I can't wait for 2017, I am so over 2016", because this year really pushed me through a lot of emotional and physical barriers. It wasn't the year I had planned, but it was strangely thought-provoking and grounding at the same time.

Bring on 2017.

The Makings of a Christmas Photo

Step 1: Decide last-minute to do a Christmas-themed photo with the BF, dogs, and horses.

Step 2: Abandon the BF at home because it is -20 outside and he doesn't want to freeze for the sake of a festive photo. (Pretty sure he just didn't want to wear the reindeer antlers I bought him).

Step 3: Set up camera on tripod in back paddock and ground tie the horses so you can take some test photos.  Press the shutter and run for your life to get into the picture before the photos are taken.

End up with this precious memory:

 

Step 4: Go back to the camera. Take more test photos where they both look kinda cute, even though they are most certainly over it all by now.

 

Step 5: Set timer and run for your life to get into the picture and end up with this:

And this:

Step 6: Go back to camera and try again. Be excited because Suzie AND Spud's ears are up and you think it is going to be an amazing picture.

Step 11:  Almost cry, because whyyyyy. Fight down urge to throw camera across paddock. Sigh and go back and try one more time.

Step 12: Celebrate success.


Step 13: Realize the dogs weren't even included in the pictures, give up, and go home.

ASSFS Blog Hop: Location, Location, Location

Home Sweet Home.

When I saw this blog hop floating around, I grew immensely intrigued by everyone's answers and while most of it is based in the US, I figured I'd still participate and show the other side of the coin - the Canadian side 'eh (*cough cough* T @ Project Gingersnap  get on this!! For another Canadian submission, check out Alaina @ SpottedDressage! 

So thank you to Sarah from A Soft Spot for Stars for this neat hop - I vote Emma to compress the data and Tracey to make an infographic... just sayin'!

Any further West and we'd be in the ocean!
(Note: the star is our capital, Victoria).

Location

Born and raised in a small town located in northwest British Columbia. The town, despite it's size, is very industrious and has several large corporations and company's which support the entire world with various items, such as aluminum and wood (logging). The largest industrious company here is Rio Tinto Alcan, which is an aluminum smelter. And I am sure some from the States are aware of the proposed Northern Gateway Pipeline that has caused quite a stir amidst the public.

Our town, in addition to being industrious, is an active outdoors community. The fishing here is prime - some of the best in the entire world - and the ATV and hiking trails are just downright beautiful. To live here, you really have to love being outside no matter what the weather is doing.

 I apologize for the following photo spam (#sorrynotreallysorry):

Near the top of Claque mountain. The trail head is a short 5 minute drive
 from our house. This was the year the boy took me up there with his quad.

The local lake, during a hot spell.

An early morning down at the local boat marina.

A drive and hike up one of the abandoned logging roads.
Our town is to the left.

A soft-footed trail ride by the river.

There really is a truck under there.

That time I had to dig out my horses. #somuchfunnot

Hiking up to the clouds mid-Summer.

As far as small-town living, we have the following:

• 2 grocery stores
• 3 gas stations
• 3 sets of traffic lights 
• 3 primary schools
• 1 high school
• 0 movie theater 
• 0 boarding barns
• 1 community riding arena (which is an outdoor).
• 1 small animal vet
• 0 equine vets
• 3 farriers
• 1 main highway that leads out of town

There are no "real" farms or boarding barns in my immediate area - and by "real" I mean over 5 acres. Generally speaking, those who do own land have hobby farms that range from 1-5 acres in size. The only boarding barns that are anywhere near me, are in the next town and range from 1hr - 1hr 30 away.

Blue Dot = Our current home
Yellow Star = Our property
Red Heart = Horses Boarding Barn

Around here, the biggest plot of land I am aware of that is owned by someone is 10 acres, and that belongs to my old riding coach and her husband who runs a heavy equipment business. Ironically enough, the boyfriend and I own the second largest piece of land in that particular area in town (just under 5 acres).

Nearly 99% of people in this area have private barns and land. This particular situation poses a few frustrating issues for those who do not own land and need to board: 1) Those who own private land don't have enough room or acreage for more horses than their own and 2) Private barns = insurance increase with boarders and owners would just rather not have the headache.

Costs

Because I self-board and nothing is really included, I have a pretty good idea as to costs involved in horse ownership and care in this area:

• Farrier:
• Trim: $30
• Front Shoes: $60 - $100
• Full Set: $100 - $130 (I typically pay $100, including travel).
• Board: 
• Self: $150/month (My board breaks down into $100/horse and $50/wanna-be horses *cough Spud cough*)
• Pasture: $100 - 200/month
• Summer Board: $200 - 400/month
• Winter Board: $350 - 600
  (Note: I used the boarding barns in the next town as a price target since we do not have pasture or stall boarding options here...).
• Board + Full-Time Training: $700 -$1,200
  I'm actually not quite sure, to be honest and it depends on if it is during the Summer or Winter a lot of the times, too. There aren't really any trainers around here either, so it is difficult to pin-point.

I don't know if I ever mentioned it, but I designed a round bale hay box
this past summer for the horses and BF built it.
I don't know that I could ever go back to feeding
square bales in hay nets ever again!

• Hay:
• Small Squares: $4-$6 per bale of Timothy Grass Mix. $8 - $12 for more Alfalfa type hay.
• Round Bales: $60 - $120 (depending on weight of bale) of Timothy Grass Mix. I've found that 700lb rounds = $70, 800lb rounds = $80 and so on.

Veterinary:

• Float: $300 - $500
  (This is purely based on a routine float from the Traveling Vets).
• Vaccinations: $50

That time I did an AQHA show and somehow
earned points while Suzie reared and galloped
around the arena like a physco.

• Showing
• Schooling Shows: $5 - $7 per class (typically, Flat and Dressage are $5 and jumping is $7).
• Local Shows: $7 - $35 per class (this includes AQHA shows as well)

There isn't much variance in cost in this area, simply because we are limited in our choices. We are blessed in the sense that equine chiropractors and body workers make regular trips up this way to ensure our horses are feeling and performing the best they can, but we don't really have any permanent residents who offer those types of services.

Weather

 

Monsoon rain during a 5:30am feed in September 2014.

We live in a very wet oceanic climate, with significant temperature difference between winters and summers. In fact, we average approximately 190 days of rain and 41 days of snow per year. Our summers typically hover around 21-25°C (70°F+) but have been known to get heat waves once or twice a year. The same is typical of our Winters - we get a vicious cold snap that brings the temperatures down to a blustry -30°C (-22°F).

 

Swimming during a heat wave in 2014.

During the Winter, no one is able to appropriately school or even ride their horses. We get quite a bit of snow, so the communal fairgrounds outdoor arena is typically a no-go zone once the snow that has settled in it has generated a thick layer of ice on top. The only option that really remains is to haul to the next town's communal indoor, but the highway is often treacherous and many do not want to risk an accident. Most riders are limited to walk work around the streets and roadways, provided it is not too slippery.

 Typically, the season for riding starts up in March and goes until there is either snow on the ground or the temperature drops below what is humanely ethical (and by humanely ethical, I mean for ourselves!).

Does anyone Spud's first Winter with me?
Poor guy.

Riding Demographic

In my area, we have a vast variety of equestrians, and most are all-around riders who dabble in just about everything. About 1/3 are quite involved in Breed shows (AQHA, APHA, etc), and another 1/3 are all about rated shows (dressage, jumping, etc), and the last 1/3 are happy remaining on the local show circuits.

Riding Finn, sandwiched between an Andalusian
and a Warmblood (Trakehner).

The most popular type of horses in this area would have to be Warmbloods and Quarter Horses. You don't often see Thoroughbreds or Arabians around here much. Interestingly enough, the Andalusian has become a bit more popular in the area and we have a breeder who is attempting to promote the breed more and more.

There isn't much offered in sense of associations and groups other than Pony Club and 4-H and the closest tack shop is a 3 hour drive away.

Most Frustrating

 

The lack of equestrian-presence. My region is full of horsey-people, but my immediate community in particular is severely lacking.

I typically force  convince Show Buddy D with me to the
local circuits, even if we are competing
in different disciplines.

As of 2015, there were only two people from my town who competed in shows - myself and a young girl. In fact, I believe there are only a handful of people who even use our communal riding arena, which is sad.

It is also immensely frustrating that we have no proper riding facilities for when it is raining or snowing outside.

We have no access to instructors or clinicians unless we want to haul out.

Round trip haul of 16hrs for a
lameness exam and xrays?
Just a typical day.

We are limited to who we choose as a veterinarian and farrier, unless we decide to haul.

I have barely anyone to ride with (let alone show with!) since most of the girls I grew up riding with have moved away, so I often hack out alone or with a friend when she is home on the weekends.

#whinefest

Other Notes?

 

 In truth, I do love our community. I love it's small nature, and while we do not have some of the amenities larger communities do, I am somehow still able to make it all work out.

In an attempt to rectify my previous whining, here is a list of where it truly rocks to live here:

• "Traffic" is any line up of 4 cars.
• A "line up" is one person ahead of you in the Tim Hortons line-up.
• Driving out to the horses is a mere 10 minute trip.
• A 10 minute walk out my door and I am literally in the forest.
  
  

  

  That spec near the top of the trail is actually
  a coyote.

• The amount of exposure to nature we have. Things like eagles, bears, wolves, coyotes and wolverines are not uncommon to see.
• I do not have any barn rules and can do whatever the heck I want with my horses - even my dogs can come out to the barn with me!
• Using the outdoor arena is free, and I never have to worry about it being full of other riders.

This giant arena is typically empty. #score

• The trails!!! And the fact that most are wide enough to take Spud and his cart down.
• The horse community here is intensely close knit, especially due to the fact we have no vet in the area.
• I am known in my town as the "mini horse lady" because of Spud's continuous exposure out into the community and in community events. #notevenmad

For someone who is super competitive who is trying to get their way into some serious showing, you certainly will have a lot of things in your way if you were to try it here. It isn't impossible, but it certainly wouldn't be as easy elsewhere.

I must be doing something right tho, because I've had a few successful years with both of my horses.

Year End Review: 2016 Goals

With December here, I feel like it is safe to push this post out of my drafts folder finally. The horses are heavily blanketed right now and with -22C weather, I don't anticipate any critical changes to my goals.

Hindsight is 20/20 in some things, especially when it comes down to our four-hooved partners. Had things gone the way I intended this year, I would have had a pretty fantastic riding and show season, but as they say, "Everything happens for a reason". I feel as though I played the cards I had been dealt rather well and in a weird way, accomplished almost all of my goals - just not the way I had intended.

So while I had a pretty quiet/boring year, I am looking forward to making new plans for the coming year.

Suzie

• Continue to show and work towards a High Point in any discipline we choose. Finn, the lease horse I had for a few months, aided me in winning the English Senior High Point at a schooling show.
• Perform a Dressage Freestyle (Kur). I had planned on doing one with Suzie, then with Finn... but it just didn't happen. Maybe next year.
• Go in a Gymkhana. Completed without Suzie. Spud went out and threw down some pretty rad moves early in the year.

 Spud

• Put a rider on him and have him going walk, trot, and canter if possible. I didn't hit this goal as hard as I thought I wanted to - I realized I didn't care too much to have him particularly well-schooled since he's pretty much bomb-proof already. Need I mention the 3 year old birthday party he gave pony rides at?
• Show in harness; placings do not matter at this point. I'd say this was a home run!
• Have his "lay down" trick more refined, without me having to hold up his leg. I hadn't done too much with this during the summer months, but played with it more in the Spring and Fall.

Stay tuned for a 2017 Goals list - it is a bit more meatier and exciting than my 2016 goals!

Family Tree: Suzie

Since everyone has been hopping on this unintentional blog-wagon that was started by Emma, I have decided to play along since I don't have much to blog about (I actually do, but this is more interesting). So, thanks Emma!

With Suzanne being registered with the AQHA, finding out her history was exceptionally simple. I have actually stalked the AQHA website and have print-outs of Suzie's full brother (who remained a stallion) and his achievements but of course, I have no idea where they went.

Most of Suzie's pedigree doesn't have anything too exciting - there are a lot of amateur friendly horses in there and most are Halter-bred or Reining/Cow-bred stock.

As you can tell, the top half of her pedigree is largely halter-influenced. Some of the halter horses were mildly successful, while others were large imprints in the AQHA breeding world (ie Impressive). But let's not carried away.

I couldn't find much information on her sire, Exclusively Coosa, other than he was a mildly successful Halter horse who stood in Saskatchewan (that's Canada). From there, we get into the "bigger" names.

Coosa

A hugely influential sire in the AQHA world, Coosa was one of the fortunate Impressive offspring who did not carry HYPP. He excelled in the Halter ring - as a weanling, he won the 1982 World Halter Championships - and passed some of this success to his get. Only 9 made it as World Champions, 7 Reserve World Champions, and 20 Superior Halter Horses. He died at the ripe age of 27 in 2009. I couldn't find much about Coosa's temperament, but found a short excerpt which spoke to Coosa's intelligence: "He’s smart like his daddy, Coosa."

"(Coosa’s) sons and daughters had that halter look and were so well-balanced, people would show them in halter and then go ahead and show them in performance and make AQHA champions out of them. People were showing them in pleasure and working hunter and barrels."(Quotes from AQHA website).

Pretty Impressive

The The sire of many Champion offspring, Pretty Impressive was an unfortunate receiver of the HYPP gene (N/H). Aside from being full of chrome, there isn't much else I could find out about him aside from his get's achievements.

Impressive

Oh, Impressive.

One of the many foundation sires who was more or less a double-edged sword to the Halter breeding industry. He was an Appendix who is the #4 All-time Leading Sire (by sheer number of registered progeny) and has well over 2200 registered foals. Ironically enough, he changed hands a bunch of times and was excluded from having a performance career due to laminitis, which left the Halter ring his only option. It is said that at one point, due to his large popularity, his sale price reached $300,000 and his stud fee an outrageous $25,000.

As many are aware, the genetic disease known as HYPP (Hyperkalemic Periodic Paralysis) was traced back to Impressive, despite the stallion not having exhibited any symptoms of the condition.. The AQHA battled long and hard, and finally in 2007, a rule was implemented which required all Impressive descendants to be tested for HYPP and ban any horses born after 2007 with HYPP genetics (H/H). Unfortunately, this disease also exists in the Paint horse and Appaloosa associations.

As far as Impressive's temperament:

"Some say the Impressive bred horses can be hot and little more stubborn."

 "Many of them tend to be a little bit hotter in temperament and have a little more extra energy. But can be stuborn or is it set in there ways."


Moving on to the bottom of Suzie's pedigree, I didn't find many influential names, but did come to find that most of them were average working horses (race horses, reiners, etc).

Tardy Too

 One of my personal favorite sires and one of the most influential names in the AQHA world. He sired just about everything - halter horses, reiners, racers, and everything else in between. As far as his own show record, he was primarily a Halter and Performance horse. Comparatively, he was much shorter of a horse compared to the top half of Suzie's pedigree (a measly 14.3h).

This ugly guy is Leo.

And lastly, we have Leo. The picture doesn't do much for him, but believe it or not, he was inducted into the 1989 AQHA Hall of Fame. He was a sire of the ages - halter horses, performance horses, and race horses.

"I was the biggest chump in Oklahoma.  Leo was crippled. He had a bad knee and he had a big stifle injury. His owner had been trying to sell him and I didn’t know it. He hadn’t got anybody to stick his neck out and buy him, and I was just a big sucker. So I mailed the check."

Leo was purchased for a measly $750 and ended up winning quite a few races. He was kind of a come-back kid, in a way.


All in all, while most of these sires are Halter and Performance influenced, they are quite far back in her pedigree and don't really attribute to much (aside from the likes of Coosa and Tardy Too). Still, it is kind of fun to see the history and go down that wormhole.

Light Festival 2016

A few weeks back, I was contacted by a non-profit society that runs our town's annual light festival to see if I would consider donating my time to bring Spud down for photo opportunities like I had done last year. I took some time before I replied, as I instantly remembered how bitterly cold and miserable it was last year to stand around (-15C how about nooooo).

One of the reindeer.

In the end, I relented and agreed to bring my pony to the festivities, if for nothing else, a good chance at desensitization like in previous years. Can you tell I enjoy annoying my horses?

This year the organizational committee had contacted a family who had just added two miniature horses to their herd earlier this year to bring their mini's down for photo ops. Last year, the festival had two full-sized horses and with the darkness and poor segregation from people, it was put into question whether or not bringing in large horses would be safe. The committee opted to have the trio of minis (including Spud) to bring more safety to the entire event. I appreciated their concern in this, as the larger horses last year seemed more affected by the darkness than Spud.

Days leading up to the event, I did absolutely nothing to prepare. Between juggling work, schooling (and studying), chores, and braving the rain and snow we had had, I just couldn't find the time to get Spud out aside from a hand walk. And of course, the one day I had anticipated to work with him, the fucker refused to be caught and I didn't have it in me to chase a fat little pony all over the property.

But still, I needn't be worried, because as soon as that harness comes on, he is all business.

On the day of the light festival, I was relieved to see it had snowed for a better part of the day - this meant that the temperatures were cool but not bitterly cold and there would be no icey winds paired with it. The snow stopped a few hours before the actual event and being in true unprepared fashion, I showed up just half an hour before the event was supposed to be underway. Hooray for lack of planning.

Aside from my inability to actually be prepared, I managed to slap some decorations on Spud and his cart and call it a day. Thankfully the boyfriend was there to hold things like tape and scissors, because I kept losing track of where I set them down and daylight was fading fast which made it super frustrating to find the decorations in the trailer and see where I was taping down the battery-powered light strands.

During our "harness and chill" session after
fireworks scared the bejesus out of the horses.

After that was all said and done, it was time to stand in line with two other minis and attempt to get kids and adults to get their photos taken in a organized fashion.

I will say it was much better than last year, but we were still faced with an overflow of people. At some point, I think Spud had seven separate people petting him. He took it well though, save for one instance wherein someone nearby lit of several fire-crackers. He actually didn't even flinch until the other two minis lost their fucking minds. So we had to take a walk to cool off and get our brain back in it's shell.

The 2 hours flew by and it was a really good time. I didn't feel as though it was as disorganized as last year and the people seemed more respectful of the horses - except for the two people who asked me if Spud was a donkey (seriously!?).