Kentucky!

After last year's girls trip to the Rolex, I convinced my Husband, Mom and Dad to go.

Plus, my Nephew is finishing his first year at UK (GO CATS)

Trying to pack for a fun little getaway....somehow, he also knows when we are set to leave

 This one? Not so much ;)

Our Waffle house stop on our way from MI to KY

Yes, I had their hashbrowns instead of waffles

We met up with my Nephew Thursday night did a bit of what we like to call "Gear up!"

My husband and I with my Parents, capping off the evening with cappuccinos and dessert (a fantastic place to visit!) at Shakespeare's in Lexington

Friday, we decided to go to Keeneland's closing day

Upon entering, we saw this glorious gelding

Ironic being this day was also Laz's 13th birthday!

 Our first race, the gates were right in front of us...lucky!

 My pick didn't win but I wanted him anyway :)

 Down in the paddock, viewing our picks for the next race

 Billy and my fam really enjoyed it

 There is something so amazing about horse racing, and somber. It's a conflicting, heart beating, emotional, exciting ride.

 Excuse the wind/rain blown hair (YIKES it looks like Laz's forelock) but that's my big winning chestnut in the background. I made $19 off my $1 bet. Boom.

Of course, like any overly compassionate better, I lost it all on the next race ;)

Our Nephew, looking so preppy and dapper. He fits quite well in KY now

Then, Saturday, our only day at the Rolex

Enjoy the XC photos

Such drama and skill and heart and athleticism and bravery!!!

 Found my 'friend' Caitlyn from OTTB Designs on the course which was FUN

Watching ponies fly by, sitting next to my love, while getting a tan?!
YES please

PS I also worked over a walking taco which was glorious in it's own right

 Billy loves a draft or draft x

 My fave shot below

 Now many of you that visit, probably think, ohhh I want to be an eventer!
Yes, I do too, but I'm too much of a chicken shit so I found myself thinking "Ohhh I want to be a volunteer here with Laz as my mount and just stand for 6 hours having people pet him!!"

What a fantastic trip it was!!!

Happy September!

I have been the worst blogger this summer! Although I don't feel like I'm alone with that. The weather is nice, plans get made, work is busy, days are long with sunlight...who wants to be behind their computer longer than they have to? 

I surely don't. While it may seem I'm not around, I've been busier than in years! All good things, but busy busy busy. Any/all free time goes to Laz, not blogging, as of late.

So, let's start with his RH. It's been cast for the longest ever. He usually wears through them at around 2 weeks. This one, as of today, has been on for 4 weeks! Laz gets trimmed on 9/14 so we'll see, but look at that growth. These casts really help him stay comfortable, move out SO much more and grow heel! 

Tra la la la!!

That black ooze is the Vettec glue and we did a double cast of Equicast followed by my casting cheap yet UBER strong cast

RH below from this past June

I'm excited to see the growth, heel and toe once cast is off. I may want to recast for another round..we'll see. He is just so comfortable in it!

***

A couple of weeks ago, I helped move my Nephew into his Dorm at...wait for it...wait for it...University of Kentucky!!

He got a full ride scholarship, and needless to say, I'll be a BIG WILDCAT fan now.

(Me, my Brother...no he's not Amish ;) and my Nephew)

When you grow up in Chicago suburbs, you crave being different. Being different is the normal. Isn't that the ironic play?!

Horses, Basketball, Blue grass and Bourbon. Uh, yes please.

 Below is an example of why Lexington is so fantastic

A sparkly TB? SOLD! (well, it wasn't for sale, but if it were....)

 Goofing around in the UK Library which design wise, was astoundingly beautiful

The entire campus is just beautiful!

"Oh, excuse me while I catch up on my Fifty Shades of ...I mean, The Odyssey"

In the library, this was a mosaic styled painting

"Oh Hi, Willy T. Young"

 Bed made, dorm room set up. He was excited. I do NOT know how I did the dorm life for 2 years in College. I loved it too...but now, the thought...oh vomit. Not that my off campus living was much better, but at least I had a private room...

UK did a fantastic job for K week move in. Very organized and held fantastic events for the starting Freshmen. I was impressed.

***
The very next morning, I took a red eye Greyhound from KY to MI (my first and LAST Greyhound adventure!!!) and woke up early to meet the girls for our planned trail ride.

The barnowner, and E and I had looked forward to it.

E trailer-ed Stella over from her barn where she is leasing her, about 30 minutes away.

Stella is the Roan/Flea Bitten Grey and is about 17 hh

Laz was BESIDES himself with excitement when a new, strange, pegasus looking mare arrived.

He was Lycius Two Racehorse for a good 30 minutes, jigging and snorting and arching his neck.

He kept squealing and shaking his neck/head. Finally, once we hit the trail, he found his brain.

All of us English riders agree, trail fun is the best

Here you can see Stella's cool coloring in her rump, she's like PINK! 

She turns totally white/grey in the winter.

One tuckered out pony. Yea, it takes energy to pretend that a 12 yr old OTTB is a 2 yr old Racing Pony doesn't it Laz?!

Pito and Laz rolling after the ride, right next to where Stella was grazing over the fence. They were enamored with her

"STELLLLLA!!!!!"

"STELLLLLAAAAAAAAA! Oh Hiiiii, youz bee oot tiff fullls"

We hope to plan another ride all together in a couple of weeks again.

***

Today I had time just for ground, field, lunge work.

Laz's coat is totally changing. He's back to his blood bay coloring and it's rich and gorgeous.

This is just after I brushed him for about 2 minutes. He's gleaming!

Snort! Riding this weekend and will be trying out a new bridle/bit combo for fun!

I would like to have a bit comfortable for him, as a good back up for some of our faster trail rides

He's been quite strong in the bitless and abusing the pressure in it, (aka leaning his fat body into it) so we need to work off of that