Spotlight On: Olivia

I originally posted this on my old blog, and since I've been riding Olivia lately (more on that later), I decided it was a good idea to reintroduce her.

When I asked for ideas on things I could feature on my blog, Natalie suggested I write about the horses at the farm. I have already posted about the stallions (here and here), and (keep your eyes open) I've decided to write about a few others... mainly ones of whom I can find ample photos for you guys.

So without further ado, I present to you... Olivia.

Photo "stolen" from Candice Crosby.

Olivia is a light bay mare, as pretty as they come - as if you couldn't tell from the photo. Her dam was Classical Jazz, fondly known as Grey Mare, a premium Canadian Warmblood (CWHBA). She was a very successful broodmare for Crosby Stables, with prominent offspring including McGiver (pictured - grey, Danique Rowsell photo), Enigma (pictured - bay, Candice Crosby photo), Stage Fright, Winda, Fox Mulder, and many, many more.

Olivia's sire is Oxford, a well known Dutch Warmblood Stallion. Oxford (Burggraaf / Voltaire) has been a very successful stallion to date, with extensive wins in both the hunter and jumper rings, up to Grand Prixs. He was even shown in the Maritimes by a local rider for a period of time, but now resides on the west coast of Canada.

 Oxford

 

In addition to being so darn cute, Olivia has a wonderful lovey personality and is just plain enjoyable to work with. It doesn't hurt that she's incredibly fancy and will make one hell of a show horse, either. She hasn't been shown much yet (too many horses!), but hopefully I can manage my time well and be at the farm more this year to help get her going.

She's one of Kevin's favourites, understandably so.

Danique Rowsell Photography

 I hate to say it, but the white stuff is coming here, *sigh*. Candice Crosby photo.

 CC photo.

 With Fraser! CC photo.

CC photo.

 This is more like it! CC photo.

I LOVE this! CC photo.

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Sport vs. Hobby

“There are riders who make it happen, riders who watch it happen,
and riders who wonder what happened.”

—

Jim Wofford

I think that there is a bit of a distinction between people who are involved with horses as a sport, and people who are involved with horses as a hobby. I know many people who fall into both categories, but probably more who fall into the hobby category.

Currently, I fall into the hobby category. I think I always really have, but over the past few years it's been a now and then hobby instead of a serious one. Sometimes, things get in the way of me devoting more time. Life - working, school, spending the odd day with loved ones. But sometimes I just don't make enough of an effort.

Now, there's nothing wrong with this. Except for that fact that it's not exactly what I want.

You see, I want to be the person who falls into both categories. I will always be involved with horses to some extent, because I genuinely enjoy them, as animals. That's the hobby part. But I also strive to be competitive, and get a thrill out of nailing a good course. When I daydream, I daydream about executing a perfect jump off, and I can get myself pretty worked up about said daydream (especially if there's a good jam playing, haha). That's the sport part.

The thing is, I haven't applied myself in a way that would enable me to enter this sport domain that I am so fond of imagining. Which is without a doubt, 100% on me. My actions do not match my desires.

I've been a bit bummed about summer lately, because I've discovered that there is no way around me working 6 days a week. I'm trying to get a Mon-Fri work term within industry for experience, and I have to work at my current job on Saturdays so... well, so I can keep it, 'cause I kinda need it. Given my grandoise plans of riding all the horses (ALL THE HORSES!) over the summer, this kinda puts a kink in it.

But last night, I decided that it's not a big deal. More than that, I decided that working Saturdays justifies me going to the barn 4-6 times a week. Since my barn is an hour away, I have to factor in gas money... and as a broke student, it's not always possible for me to go out as frequently as I'd like. However, I did the math, and working every Saturday will pay for my barn gas money. Now instead of dreading working Saturdays, I have effectively convinced myself that it is a good thing, because it is paving my way to the barn (almost literally).

Time to kick it into sport gear.*



*when I'm done being lambasted by school work in two months

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Not So Comfortably Numb

Best laid plans, right?

When I posted on Monday, I had all these plans to go ride this week. I had been suffering from some jaw/tooth pain the week prior, but over the weekend it seemed to lessen... or at least be well controlled by a rotation of ibuprofen and acetaminophen. Monday night, however, took a turn for the worse.

Long story short, I have seen a few doctors and a few dentists, and I've been diagnosed with TMJ (the jaw issue) and an infection in a molar (the tooth issue). I have some suggestions to relieve the TMJ pain, and I had a root canal on Friday to take care of the infection.

Thankfully, I am feeling a lot better now. While I will require several follow up visits, the root canal seems to have alleviated the pain I was suffering. This pleases me immensely as there isn't a real "fix" for TMJ, had it been causing the bulk of the pain.

There are a surprising number of tooth pain memes out there...

I'm feeling almost normal now, and eager ready hesitant to head back into a hella busy school week (for which I feel super unprepared and behind because of my time off).

All that to say that I haven't been riding since I was there last week, and it doesn't look promising for this week. Boo urns!

Please send me good vibes that I get through this week alive... and hopefully have time to ride next weekend!

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