Model Horses to Go With Model Trains, Guest Photos

Awareness of the outside world. Speaking of model horses, BreyerFest is this weekend, IRL & virtual. Breyer: What is BreyerFest 2023? It always amazes me that KHP can hold a major horse show, see yesterday, at the same time as the biggest event in the model horse world.

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TrainTastic
Gulfport MS

Photos & Video by Michelle Duplichen. Watermark & border added to photos. Video edited for sound. Thank you, Michelle! [Archives].

TrainTastic logo from website.

Onwards!
Katherine

Watching and Wondering, Saddlebreds at Lexington

Awareness of the outside world. The Chronicle of the Horse: Opinion: Pride Belongs In Equestrian Spaces, Clawson 2021. QueerBio.com: LGBTQ Presence in the Equestrian World, 2022. Hat tip to C for a conversation that prompted me to search ‘trans in the horse world’.

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Watching the livestream of the Lexington Junior League Charity Horse Show and wondering how I would do if I were to show there. I see three options.

More Nerves

Riding at KHP!

I have mentioned this before.

Once or twice.

HE COMPETED AT KENTUCKY HORSE PARK BEFORE I DID?!?! [Nostalgia] 2017

Clearly, I am not as over this as I claim. [Dream Rides] 2019 [That Noise] 2022

“You’ll notice that KY continues to be missing from this list. Good thing I don’t let it bother me.” [50 State Checklist] 2022

Plus! Riding in the big ring!

While the arena has changed since I used to hang out there, it is still the Rolex arena. [Peregrinatio in Stabilitate]

Less Nerves

In this alternate universe, I would be riding my own horse. Or, I would have leased a horse and ridden said horse often enough to consider the horse mine for the season.

I seem to do better with my own horse. However, I don’t know if that is because I know the horse or because I am not showing with a barn, which means I have to do more of the work, which means I have activity to keep my brain occupied. In the fantasy case, I would be standing about in my pretty show clothes while my trainer got my horse ready. No idea where that would fall on the nerve scale.

No Nerves

So far out of my league that I would circle back to blasé. Much like when I showed George at Washington. I was there for giggles. [What’s In A Name]

Onwards!
Katherine

Thoughts, Virtual Tevis 2023

Awareness of the outside world. UNESCO designates 11 new biosphere reserves, press release, 15 June 2023. “Biosphere reserves promote solutions reconciling the conservation of biodiversity with its sustainable use … There are currently 738 biosphere reserves in 134 countries.” UNESCO: Biosphere Reserves. Hat tip to J.

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Virtual Tevis Cup 2023
100 Miles in 100 Days
19 April to 30 July

Rodney & Milton
100 Miles in 60/62 Days
Tues 20 June to Mon 26 June

Past

Finishing wasn’t a given this year, even more so than anything ever is with horses. Milton was coming off of surgery and stall rest.

“After their extended time off, the horses top out at a mile. That leaves us almost no wiggle room. Consistency is going to be a key factor this year.” [Team Snail Hits The Trail]

“Due to current fitness levels, going on multiple short walks each day … Rodney continued to pull ahead on several walks, doing my daily mile while Milton took breaks.” [Counting Every Inch]

Horses stayed sound. We stayed on it.

Present

Rodney and I are still doing a one-mile hand walk each morning, weekends included. Sometimes it is all we do. Sometimes it is warm-up for work. I get my daily mile in. Mathilda did well with regular walking in her old age. [My Two Horses]

Sometimes Milton & co join us. Sometimes they peel off early and start a session of long-lining.

Future

Each year, I hope that we will walk and trot and canter and go places and take cute pictures for our Virtual Tevis. Each year, we end up doing less than we did the previous year.

So.

Next year, I hope that we will walk and trot and canter and go places and take cute pictures for our Virtual Tevis. Next year, I hope we have the chance to finish our 100 miles, however we choose to do it.

Virtual Tevis Posts [Archives]

Onwards!
Katherine

Lessons from Last Year, Annual Vet Visit

Awareness of the outside world. Single. Nature: Amelogenin peptide analyses reveal female leadership in Copper Age Iberia (c. 2900–2650 BC), by Marta Cintas-Peña et al. 06 July 2023. Story from other outlets, CNN: Ivory Lady by Hunt, Phys.org: Ivory Lady. Multiple. PHYS.org: Shattering the myth of men as hunters and women as gatherers, by Public Library of Science, June 28, 2023. Hat tips to G & G.

“The authors note that these stereotypes have influenced previous archaeological studies, with, for instance, some researchers reluctant to interpret objects buried with women as hunting tools.” PHYS.org: Shattering.

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Annual check-up time: shots, Coggins, teeth, and so on. Various poking and prodding. All good.

Rodney & I waited on the patio while Milton finished up.

We still find it more convenient to go to the clinic rather than have the vet come to us. [Rodney & Milton Visit the Vet, Annual Check-up Version, 2021]

We try to accommodate equine preferences. “Note to self. Next year, have the exam on the porch, for Milton, and let them stand tied to the trailer, for Rodney.” [At The Horses’ Annual Check-Up, The Check-Up Is The Easiest Part 2022]

No stalls. We turned down the offer and went for a graze while we waited. Horses definitely approved of this.

Outside. When Rodney started to fuss, I suggested moving to the patio, photo above. While not sedate, he was better. Vet tech called him dramatic. Yup.

One benefit of the clinic over a farm call is facilities. For example, a scale for accurate weighing.

Rodney 1250 pounds. Would like a bit more.

Milton 1080. Not as tubby as we thought.

Onwards!
Katherine

Plotter Pantser Y Not Both

Art Happenings. American Saddlebred Museum: Address Change Announced to Honor Wing Commander, May 15, 2023. Wishing good rides to everyone gathering at the Kentucky Horse Park for the Lexington Junior League Charity Horse Show.

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“When it comes to outlining vs. improvising, I’ve found that we all do the same steps in a different order.” Tor.com: The “Plotter vs. Pantser” Writing Divide Has Been Exaggerated, Palmer 2022.

Onwards!
Katherine