Fall has been absolutely beautiful so far this year, but we need rain desperately. It's been so dry lately and the grass everywhere has been disgusting.

The game show last Sunday on the 30th was fantastic. Stakes race was the first event and we had a nice little run with a 22. It was slower than I wanted, but I'm just happy it was clean. We got DQ'd in grove keyhole because I reached down to grab the barrel going around it and they thought I touched it. Our time would have been rediciously slow anyway since I rated him hard after he charged into the hole like a runaway train. I had two runs on doubles baton - the first was with Sam and we did really nice. We had a 12 and change and ended up placing third. The second time out was with Shayna and it was just bad all over. She didn't run up to me as I brought the baton to her, so we blew through both the barrels without even passing it off. Oh, well. Poles was hilarious; we got yet another clean run, thank God, but our time was insanely slow - 29 - and we still managed to get sixth. Everyone was knocking over poles that day, so we just got lucky. Our barrel time was a 23, so nothing special, but not bad either. He went into the first a little rough, but we left it up and I was just happy about that.

Hopefully, I can go to the game show next week on the 14th with Felicia. She said she could probably haul me to Piney Hollow because Dolly's going to Congress and Danny broke his ankle, so we'll see.

My life has been so chaotic lately that I feel like I'm on some endless roller coaster of busyness and work. My courseload is insane this year - three APs, two honors, Latin III, accounting, and religion, but I'm getting used to it. Field hockey is going pretty well; I can hardly believe the season is halfway over already. I love my sisters to death and I don't want it to end. Rita's turned out to be a fun job and I like it there a lot. I'm working about two days a week there and it's going well so far. Plus, I have my other job at the newspaper on Friday nights, so that three days work. Yuck. Adam and I are doing fine too. I haven't really talked to him much this week because of hockey, homework, and work, but I'm sure he's doing good. Hahaha.

Brooks! I had a game show with my boy on Sunday and it went okay for the most part. Delaware combination stunk so bad; we blew a barrel, lost time on the turn around the poles, and ended with a nice little series of bucks. But, it was his first time gaming in over a month, so I wasn't expecting anything. Texas barrels went better, but we needed more whip in our turn to get a faster time. We got fifth in double baton and had a 13 and change! Our poles run was actually really nice for us. We made it through clean and easy a 28 [which is normally slow], but it had to be our best run all year. Poles just isn't our thing too much. Barrels was atrocious. He was tired and mentally shut down on me, even though I used spurs on him which I never need to do. Coming to the first, he hesitated and we knocked it, did okay at the second, went wide coming into the third and didn't haul butt home. I didn't care really because I knew he was done after two weeks of laziness and pasture. Dolly taped it for me, but I don't think I'll post it because it's just that horrible.

Hopefully, we'll go to the game show again this weekend and do better. I hate that feeling of being rusty and off.

At the barn, we have two new babies. Danny's got a big ole 2yo roan colt and Dolly bought a 2yo grey filly that she's calling Daisy. The girl has a a nice body and butt to her already and Dolly even said she can be my project for halter at the qualifying shows this year. The ponies, Rocky and Gilbert, are supposed to be leaving soon because Brenda is giving them to Janean and they're still trying to get rid of the crazy old Appy mare, but no one wants her. Jason's buddy is supposed to be bringing in a roping horse for the winter and Jasper is coming back with another pony horse. So, between Easy, Jesse, Clay, Diablo, Wyatt, Doc, Brooks, Lacey, the App mare, Daisy, the roan colt, Jasper, the roper, and the ponyhorse, we'll have 14 horses at the barn. I think that's the most we've had there in a long time.

 

Well, summer is just about over. I go back to school in two days and I'm sort of bummed in a way, but I'm looking forward to seeing all my friends again and getting back into a routine.

Brooks had his fun on Sunday when I took him in the field across the street and breezed him. He got so excited and hoppity as soon as we crossed the street and I was literally pulling his mouth off half of the ride just to keep him under control. Then finally, we hit the open stretch and I just let him go. We flew around twice and by the end he was doing snort/gasp for air thing. Yes, he is in shape...he's round all over.

After we were done breezing, we did some speed work and regular flat work for about a half hour and then called it quits. His rain rot is just about gone and now it's a matter of time waiting for the hair to grow back.

The game show is in less than two weeks! If there's anything I'm looking forward to, it's definitely that.  The weather down there is always gorgeous in fall and it's a nice escape from the world for a while.  Only 11 more days...

Brooksy boy got his rain rot all treated on the 28th and he was such a GIRL about it. He would not stand still for the life of him while I scraped all the scabs off, but I can't say I blame him. I'm just glad it's all off of him and now all he needs is the Listerine to fight the infection.

We went team penning at the last minute at Chico's on Tuesday and had an absolute ball. Our first run stunk. I let the cow go because I didn't pick up on the wing. Danny and Dolly already had their cows ready to go in and we ended up with no time. Our four other runs went surprisingly well, however, with 32 seconds, 35 seconds, 50-something seconds, and some other one I can't remember. Brooks was so nice and really kicked in for me when I asked him to. I think he was pretty happy to be back chasing cows again if you ask me.

We've had rain here all week and it's given poor Brooks rain rot all over his back. After our ride today, I was giving him a bath and it was literally pink skin showing through his coat. Poor baby boy.

He gave me a really nice ride today. =) We didn't work on anything in particular, just some speed work and then lots of slow trotting to build up that butt muscle. Our next game show isn't until September 16th, so we have a lot of time to kill between now and then. I would love to take him team penning, but with field hockey six days a week and school starting right around the corner, I'm lucky I know what time it is.

I saw Rascal Flatts and Jason Aldean in concert on Thursday with Adam and it was so much fun. They were both amazing, but Rascal Flatts was definitely the better of the two.