I have been blogging with my personal blog Nikki's Noodles for about two years. I decided to start up an Equestrian blog. Hope you enjoy! Feel free to subscribe, and to check out my other blog.
Let me introduce myself and my equines:
I am Nikki. I am a college grad and a wife to a great guy named Tony. He just finished his 4 years of active duty in the Marine Corps and will soon go off to the State Police Academy. I have been riding horses for 16 years. I was hooked after my first lesson. My instructor was a wonderful person and became a great friend to myself and my family. He passed away suddenly in 2006, it was tragic and really hard. I still miss him greatly and always will.
I got Dale for my 9th birthday in August 1994. He was a surprise gift and everyone at the barn chipped in to make my surprise party special. Its always going to be one of my favorite memories! Dale was standing in a stall with a little pony door. He had glitter all over his coat, glitter hoof polish, and a giant pink bow hanging around his neck. He has always been a stubborn little guy and he taught me everything I know.
Dale isn't a purebred, as far as we know. I've been trying to figure out what could be in his bloodlines. Its really a guessing game. He has typical 'pony-like' personality. I think he is some sort of a Welsh mix. Since we don't know what he is, we also don't really know how old he is. The farrier examined his teeth and we had an idea on his age. Today that makes him about 28 years old. He sure doesn't act like it though!
I have never shown Dale. It used to be a miracle if I got him around the ring at the canter once. So collection and head sets were not in the agenda. However, this spring I have decided to try conditioning the little guy and see what sort of showing he could do. He has fabulous conformation, so perhaps some halter classes? Since he is only 13 hands, maybe a tad taller, he is just a little too small for me, so not sure about riding classes. But we'll see how it goes!
Fanny is my purebred Arabian show horse. She is a 1981 grand-daughter of Khemosabi. I got Fanny in March 1998. She was 17 at the time we bought her, the only downside she had was her older age. But her disposition and personality made up for it. She is gentle and wants to please. Fanny and I bonded immediately. It was on Fanny that I won my first blue ribbon in a 1999 Purebred Arabian Hunter Pleasure Junior to Ride class. We had some great summers together. She is my friend and equestrian partner. I unofficially retired Fanny in 2006. This March, Fanny turned 28.
I brought Fanny home to my barn to live with Dale this past autumn. And in just a few months she has had a complete turn-around. Her energy levels have risen and she has this look on her face saying "come on buddy! lets show at least once this summer, just for fun, just a few classes." So I have decided to condition her at a slow pace and see how she does. She might just make a brief return to the show ring out of retirement this summer!
Stay tuned for more about the 20-something pair and their training schedules!
