Last week we actually rode in the outdoor arena. It was so nice. All weekend long, I've been hoping to do my Monday jumping lesson outside for the first time of this year.

Then, this morning, (Monday,) I woke up to 20 degrees and 7 inches of new snow. Will spring ever come?

The other day we were just finishing up at the barn when we noticed a pattern that made us laugh.

There are several rows of stalls in our barn, and the stable hand often uses the four wheeler to get hay bales to the horses in each row. He loads the four wheeler with about 3 bales, and then starts down the aisle with his load.

We noticed that each time he took the same route, which meant he kept passing by the same horses. The horse in the corner stall was well aware of this, and waited for the loaded four wheeler to pass by. Each time the four wheeler drove past his stall he quickly grabbed a big bite of hay from the top bale.

The four wheeler passed by him at least 4 or five times, and each time he was ready. All in all he really only got about 5 bites of hay, but he certainly was happy to get his few stolen bites!

Many of the horses at our barn are from all around the country. Girls have traveled to both coasts and brought home amazing horses.

More recently girls have traveled around the world and brought home amazing horses. One of my friends bought a horse in Germany last summer. He is such a nice horse. Another friend of mine is headed to New Zealand soon to look for her next horse.

It's always exciting when someone gets a new horse. So, for any of you who live in New Zealand, be on the lookout for the girl from Utah!

Somehow winter snuck up on us this year. We were all riding in t-shirts and hoodies a few days ago, and now, it's freezing. When we aren't riding we are usually huddled up by this heater in the tackroom. I've filled my barn locker with soup and hot chocolate. I've been riding in my ski socks and my feet are still freezing. We haven't bought hand warmers yet but they are on the list of things to get soon! Moon is wearing his new plaid blanket, and we're all hoping spring comes very soon this year. This is a picture of some of my friends keeping warm, (or at least trying too.)

Today we had a halloween party at the barn. Everyone dressed up and most of us dressed up our horses too.

Moon and I were pirates. Here he is with his pirate saddle pad. Afterward we had four jumper rounds. Moon was into his character and feeling a little feisty, but we had a good day.

Normally, our horses are ok with most wildlife that runs around our barn. We get lots of visitors. Moose. Fox. Skunks. You get the idea. Today a deer wandered into the jumping arena. I guess this deer, tiny as she was, was just too scary for the horses today.

There were five of us down in the jumping arena and, we were all doing a course. I went first and right after I jumped the last jump the little deer poked its head right out of the bush by the gait we were riding past. Moon jumped to the side a little but was not terrible.

The next horse that did the course was my friends horse named Gatsby. Their whole course was great and then at the end, the deer poked his head out again and dashed out from the bush. This caused Gatsby to spook and take off toward all of the other horses. Gatsby ran right at Moon's butt and spooked him. Now Gatsby and Moon were both running for their lives.

About half the way around the ring we got Moon and Gatsby stopped. Once they were stopped, we all made loud sounds so that the deer would stop causing trouble and go and find some other place to mess around.

Our horses see deer fairly often so I was suprised by the reaction they had. I guess this deer must of had some killer fangs under that innocent face invbisble to the human eye.

Then again, deer are pretty good jumpers. Maybe they just want to show those horses how it's done.

We had our annual Camp and Rally about a week ago. We had a blast. We camped out at the barn for a few days and rode a lot and competed in teams. We also learned a lot about horse management. The funny award I received is shown to the right. Anyone care to guess what this award was for?

Yet another horse t-shirt with an all too true message. Here I am sweeping cross ties, (that's me with the broom, with the Lippizzan t-shirt on.) But doesn't a clean barn at the end of the day feel great?

Here's a video my friend Abby made of some of us in a jumping lesson. Thanks Abby! In the video you'll see Abby and Jeffrey, Olivia and Gowan, Erin and Zane, Maddy and Moon, and Kestas, our new trainer.

I have a new trainer at my barn. He's from Lithuania and was an Olympic rider.

My friends and I are excited to have a new trainer. He came to the barn a couple of weeks ago to check things out and teach some jumping lessons. My lesson was early on a Saturday. I was nervous, because Moon hadn't jumped in a while, and the trainer was having the others girls jump really high. He also had us lengthen out our stirrups a lot.

My lesson time came and Moon and I were ready. Our first few jumps were fine, but then Moon got excited and bucked a few times after one of the jumps. I flew off the side of him and hit the ground. I landed on my back and my helmet cover came off. Of course right after I fell off Moon took off out of the arena and down to the muddy pasture.

All of the girls at the barn are quite used to running after horses so they caught my naughty little pony. While they were catching him I stood up and got dusted off. My usual trainer asked me if I was ok and said that it was ok for me to cry. I told her I didn't need to cry. Right after that, Kestas, my new trainer said, "She's an eventer. Eventer's don't cry."

Once Moon was caught and back in the arena everyone laughed at how muddy Moon's legs and boots were. (I had fun cleaning all that off.)

I got right back on, and Moon didn't try anything else. Maybe he's saving it for the show next weekend.

I had a dressage lesson today. It was about 4 degrees. Here are a couple of suggestions that may help you survive the cold temps during your winter training:

1: Toe Warmers. We used to ride in winter boots, (very warm) but my trainer doesn't like us to ride in those because they're so bulky. So I rode in my regular paddock boots, but put a toe warmer in each toe.

2: Cup of Noodles Soup. Steaming hot. I ate it right after my lesson.

3: Charles Owen's Helmet. Ok, I always wear my helmet, but in the winter it not only helps keep me safe, it also helps keep me warm.

4: Thermals: I wear warm thermals under my riding pants, although my legs almost never really get cold.

Here we are in a jumping lesson. This was filmed about a year ago, after I got Moon. I felt really good on Moon from the first ride on. I think we make a good pair. A lot has happened in a year. Our jumping and dressage has come a long way. I can't wait to see what 2007 brings!