Kristen Hassen

V-Day Weekend 2010

2010-02-13T16:20:00.005-05:00

family 09

2009-12-12T09:18:00.000-05:00

We're getting married!!!

2009-09-25T18:52:00.001-05:00

No date set yet, but super excited - we got engaged in San Diego last week. Yay!!! Need a wedding venue asap!

Holy Crap

2009-01-29T11:53:00.000-05:00

Yep, that's my Spyder!

before horses.....

2009-01-25T16:57:00.002-05:00

Came the parrots. My whole entire world was parrots. Magia, Coco, and Nevin. they had their own room, their own outdoor aviary, their own section of the refrigerator. Most people who read this blog never met the parrots. They are all happily living in the best homes in the world. I spent many months making sure they would be in a sanctuary like environment with plenty of room to fly and other avian companions. But after they ate all the woodwork (door frames included) in my apartment and chewed the walls down, and bit my toes one too many times, I knew that I just couldn't have parrots while renting. Horses are much easier, you know.

Next exotic pet: mink

and still down memory lane....

2009-01-25T16:52:00.000-05:00

winter procrastination

2009-01-25T16:43:00.002-05:00

1. Winter is not so great for riding. Yes, it's beautiful - I would love to be riding in the snow. But there is a layer of ice underneath the snow and I just imagine my horse freaking out and falling on top of me, breaking his leg and mine. So stuck in the indoor, which has gotten to be really really boring.

2. I haven't taken pictures lately because my camera is broken and even though I have a three year warranty, target won't take it back. They are jerks. So, I am going to take marc's camera to the barn this week.

3. So I am going to post some pictures that make me laugh...old, pre-blog pictures.....here goes:parrots, baraka, good times

I'm just gonna ask...

2009-01-17T08:14:00.002-05:00

Who do we know in Eaton, Ohio? We like you Eaton< just don't know who ya are.....

pictures i just found on my mom's computer!

2009-01-10T21:01:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas!!!

2008-12-26T13:25:00.002-05:00

Overall, a lovely, laid-back Christmas. Best gift: Rodgers and Hammerstein's complete DVD collection from Marc. Also best gift: fancy watch and Northface boots from the mom. Also best gift: lovely sweaters (2 of 'em) from my sweetest Molly. Now that the holidays are almost over, I am ready to go back to Florida so I can be warm for the next three months.

May is huge. HUGE! Haven't seen the horse in a few days because it is dreadful and raining here. Blech.

Back from San Diego...

2008-12-17T17:57:00.004-05:00

Below are some pics from our wild trip to San Diego to visit Marc's family. We are finally home after an overnight delay in a Chicago snow storm. The people in the pics are Grand-Mere (Marc's grandma), Claude (his father), and Zac, Montana, and Dan (nephew, niece, and brother). We had the best time. My favorite part was that we went on a whale-watching sea-kayak adventure. While we didn't actually see any whales close-up, we had sea lions swimming around our kayaks and we saw seals that weren't in a zoo. It was, I think, even better than Disney World.

We spent lots of time with the family - the hosted a lovely brunch for us and fed us the best food and wine in San Diego. I got to eat fresh mussels, which taste nothing like Ohio imported mussels and had an overall practically perfect time. Okay, so the trip home was absolute hell...but it's in the balance that we find meaning.

I guess I haven't blogged since returning to Ohio. I've returned to Ohio. I miss all of my friends in Florida SO SO SO much and I can't wait to go back and watch Spyder at HITS! (He won reserve champion in Tampa this weekend).

Hope you are all well!

Thanksgiving in Orlando....

2008-11-28T20:00:00.000-05:00

more pictures from Florida

2008-11-28T19:49:00.003-05:00

Eduardo and Julio and I

Bea and I being silly at Thanksgiving

My dressage instructor, Matt

Jumping Valentino

2008-11-27T21:33:00.002-05:00

Bridget, Valentino's previous owner

worm friend

Jeremias - my favorite groom

Bea - our working student and my little sis here in Orlando

Spyder is awesome....

2008-11-27T21:30:00.000-05:00

Couple of new pics of Spyder with Julio riding him. Good boy

Pictures of Nostradamus and Valentino

2008-11-03T21:33:00.000-05:00

and more florida pictures

2008-10-21T21:21:00.002-05:00

My friend Beatrix on Spyder

src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dDC8uVxY6Mc/SP6OuuDFe4I/AAAAAAAAKbg/Zzdig8FjLyU/s400/IMG_2373.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259798348101417858" />

my pool

2 of my students

more horse pics

2008-10-21T21:13:00.002-05:00

three pictures from a recent show - blurry, but still an actual show picture~

Liza, one of my favorite florida people, and her horse Peekaboo

The truck I drive every day. No accidents yet. knock on wood.

Pictures of Nostrodamus

2008-10-20T18:18:00.001-05:00

This is one of my favorite horses here in Florida. He is so sweet and is a confidence builder for me when I am having a bad riding day.

I miss you guys! More pics coming....

Pictures from Ledesma

2008-09-28T20:33:00.004-05:00

So these are, in some order:

Spyder chillin' in the field
Me jumping Uva
Susan jumping Spyder
Our very cool welcome cookout
I can't remember the last one

all the pics are on picasa, so check them out. We are having a blast and learning a lot. I am so sunburned!

OMG

2008-09-26T20:06:00.002-05:00

so so so so so so so busy! Will post as soon as I have a second. Holy Crap. 12 hour days. 6 days a week. But I love it!

We're on our way!

2008-09-24T06:17:00.002-05:00

Two pictures I like...FIrst, my brother and sister holding up our baby tree in the wind storm.

Getting to hang out with my Shawnna yesterday.

Spyder made it to Orlando last night and Susan and I are hoping to make it most of the way through today.

Now I'm nervous.

Two days left!

2008-09-22T07:45:00.004-05:00

Below is a picture of Julio Ledesma, owner of the barn where Susan and I will be working. We can't wait to get started!

Spyder is on this trailer headed down to Florida. He should arrive on Tuesday morning.

I am totally packed and Susan and I will be leaving Wednesday morning and we are going to try to drive most of it on Wednesday. Have any of you driven 75 all the way down? There seem to be two routes - I75 and another route that takes you down the coast. We haven't made a final decision.

I am going to be taking tons of pictures along the way - so I will keep posting daily!

Florida

2008-09-14T14:10:00.002-05:00

Hi everybody,

It's been awhile since I posted here - everything has been crazy! As I wrote on my other blog, Susan and I will be going to train and work in Orlando, Florida in a couple of weeks. We traveled there last week for three days to try out at the Ledesma Equestrian Center (www.lequestriancenter.com). We had such a great time - I have never ridden such amazing, athletic horses in my entire life.

I am going to spend most of the next couple of weeks getting ready and getting Spyder shipped down there (Oh yeah, he's coming too!). I know that the shows and horse-related activities will soon be dying down in Ohio for the year, so this seems like the right time to go. I will be blogging regularly and posting lots of pictures as I travel, ride, and teach in Florida. People have asked what I will be doing there and the answer is a little bit of everything. I will be teaching hunter and equitation, running some aspects of the business, and of course riding and showing. Mostly I will be working my butt off to avoid missing the people and animals that I love. Marc has been completely supportive and I feel bad leaving all of this responsibility with him, but he really wants me to go and make the most of this opportunity. Plus, Susan will be there, so in any case, we will have loads of fun.

I am trying to shop for summer clothes now, but having a hard time finding a bathing suit - does anyone have any suggestions about where I could get one this time of year?

I am so nervous, but the people in Florida have been so welcoming and nice.

More updates soon!

kh

okay

2008-09-05T15:16:00.003-05:00

We moved. Have to go to coffee shop to check email. it isn't that bad. Target is 2 minutes away. So that's nice. And there is great coffee and believe it or not, life here is so much more quiet than on the highway in Marysville. The drive to the barn is a bit much, but it gives me time to return calls and get work done.

And Susan is back and helping me with Spyder. Okay, so call me if you need me for the next few days until our wireless gets hooked up again.

Kristen

No more packing

2008-08-20T20:09:00.003-05:00

I am so tired of packing. I freaked out about having to move all of our crap so I hired a mover today. Two men and a big truck and 5 hours later it's done and I don't even have to be there.

I no longer have any desire to go back to Columbus. I am full of dread about this whole thing. I am meant to be far away in the country teaching lessons and training horses and catching frogs and picking wildflowers and eating apples off forgotten trees by the side of the road.

I am so nervous. I don't like this kind of circular change.

Lots of good reasons to move; lots of good reasons to run away before it happens.

ugh.

Canoe!

2008-08-13T21:27:00.002-05:00

Unrelated to canoe trip, but made me think that I am the luckiest girl in the world...

Best friends for 18 years!

Paddling - trip b is longer than trip a. We should have chosen trip a.

After watching the canoe safety video.

this week in pictures...

2008-08-05T20:51:00.003-05:00

Besides horse stuff, some other pics from last week...

Marc and I met my mom and grandma in W. Liberty for the world's best ice cream.

My additional tack storage area (for Alexis)

Poor Gracie...May is so rude.

Sunset at the barn.

Oh, and I finally got facebook. I actually kind of like it. writing on the walls of friends, etc. It's fun.

FOUND!

2008-08-04T22:31:00.003-05:00

I found my sisters. And got to talk to one of them for almost two hours tonight.

And she is so cool and funny and likes all the same tv shows and music that I do. I was so scared for this moment and now I am just too happy for words.

The best part of all of this is that she is someone I would want to be friends with even if she wasn't my sister.

Thanks to all of my friends and family who have been so nice and supportive as I have been looking. Yay!

grrrr2....

2008-08-02T19:19:00.002-05:00

My central air broke today. Just in time for August. And we just told the landlord that we are moving so I am sure he will be in no hurry to repair it. And some small animal has died in some wall in or near the kitchen.

And I bought a helmet. A cheap helmet, but I like it quite a lot. It is the new low-rise IRH with a velvet cover. Less bulky, no obvious IRH so people know that I do not have a GPA and it doesn't give me a head-ache. And I love my horse. My one horse. Mary Jane is sold and I like her new family a lot. They picked her up on Thursday.

too hot to ride until late in the day or early - these are just not my best times.

hmf.

grrrr...

2008-07-30T14:57:00.003-05:00

I left my good helmet in the arena and the mastiffs ate it.

an excuse to buy a navy blue Charles Owens, perhaps?

hot

2008-07-29T17:10:00.003-05:00

Well, I spent the morning with a great new client in Raymond Ohio and then Marc and I took off to West Liberty to meet my family for ice cream and chocolate - the best ice cream place I have ever been is there and Marie's Candies - probably the best chocolate place I have ever been. West Liberty is a fun town to visit when it is too hot to play with horses. Then to the Marysville pool - my happiest discovery is that they allow floats in the public pool. I love floating and most public pools forbid this practice.

I just stole my hose back from the neighbors in a not-so-undercover mission. How often do houseplants need to be re-potted? I am thinking I should re-pot them before I move. It has been over a year. The soil in the pots looks kind of crispy and grey.

My plants all almost died this winter because my house was 50 degrees and they were infested with horrid little bugs. I poured bleach over them thinking that I might end their suffering more quickly, but somehow I think it saved them. Now I feel rather attached.

We tried to de-spook Spyder today using a big scarecrow, balloons, gigantic fake flowers, and billowing yellow fabrics. He ignored all but the scarecrow, which he tried to eat. I need Temple Grandin to come explain to me why Marc's hands on his head make Spyder spook when nothing else seems too.

What are you reading? I am currently reading the following:

"Coming Up For Air" by George Orwell, "The Book of Illusions" by Paul Austere, "Be the Pack Leader" by Cesar Milan, and "The Mother Daughter Book Club," which was suggested to me by Emily Chapman.

Any other must-reads for the summer?

Pictures from the wedding

2008-07-27T14:06:00.001-05:00

We finally got the professional photos that were taken at Marc's mom's wedding. Just had to share...

pics from today

2008-07-24T20:05:00.002-05:00

May being cute.

Spyder whispering in my ear, "you tell that piece of @#$) boyfriend of yours to keep his flashy box away from me."

May and her best friend Digger.

My mom riding Harley

2008-07-23T20:06:00.002-05:00

Here are a couple of pictures of my mom riding Harley the other night. She used to be a champ on the quarter horse circuit, so she loved riding Harley....

Some beautiful pictures from my drive home tonight. I will so miss the country...

Truck and Trailer

2008-07-21T20:49:00.002-05:00

Yes, everyone who has a truck and trailer, I am jealous of you.

I want to take my pony everywhere and get thrown at dressage shows, hunter paces, on a trail ride, in a lake, on the beach, and on a road. I am going trail riding to Alum Creek with my client Scott on Wednesday and I am very excited. I have heard how scary and dangerous the AC trails are, but I bet they are nothing compared to Hocking Hills.

Then on Thursday, after our lesson, Rebecca and the kids and I are going swimming. I haven't been swimming once this summer, so I can't wait. I want to eat something from the snack bar at the pool. Has anyone been to the new water park at the zoo? Is is better than Wyandot Lake?

Marc has two more days left in his seven day exam. I have had to be in charge of everything while he is working and I am so tired! I go to the store, cook the meals (or we just don't eat), feed the dogs, do the laundry, the dishes, get the mail. He is done Thursday and we are going to go to Hocking Hills in the next couple of weeks to celebrate his birthday, which is actually today. I bought him ten zillion presents but some of them, like the new coffee maker and blanket were really for me, so I feel kind of bad.

I love summer.

Poor Gracie!!!

2008-07-15T19:23:00.003-05:00

Gracie got attacked by a grumpy old giant schauzer at the barn today. We had to rush to the vet to have staples put into the worst wound. She will be styling an E-collar for the next couple of weeks, but should recover okay.

In other news:
1. Spyder bucked me off again. Road rash and a boyfriend who has made me swear to wear my protective vest every time I ride him. Such a jerky horse with an admirably strong buck to him.

2. We finally found the perfect house. On Harrison Street in Victorian Village, our new rental property features a chef's kitches, four lovely bedrooms, a privacy-fenced yard, a huge front porch - it is probably the fanciest place I have ever lived. I am excited to:

a. take walks on streets with actually sidewalks.
b. to eat food that is not from Wal-Mart, McDonalds, or Applebees.
c. NO MORE PROPANE!
d. to move away from our motorcycle maniac neighbors.
e. to wear something other than breeches and boots.

I will miss:

a. the country (even though we live in the ghetto-on-the-highway version of country)
b. living so close to my dear friend Shawnna and having to drive farther for Fajita night.
c. naming crops out loud to Marc everywhere we go.
d. being totally isolated with the boy and our little family - I am not looking forward to his grad. school social life picking up again.
e. having some healthy distance from a sometimes emotionally wrought lifetime spent in Columbus.

I have no plans to move Spyder at this point mostly because I don't think I will be nearly as happy at any other barn anywhere but I might have to over the winter. We are moving September 1, so lots to do before then. People keep asking me how I am going to do all the driving from Columbus, but what they don't realize is how much driving I do from Marysville. I work everywhere in the area from Grove City, to Powell, to Johnstown, so Columbus might not be much more difficult than Marysville.

The business is going better than ever and I think I am finding my niche in this crazy horse world. I have been going to so many different barns and meeting wonderful people and awesome horses everywhere I go, and I can't wait to see what this next year brings! My only goals are to hire a marketing guru and to become a tougher businesswoman.

I am going to the auction at LaRue the last Saturday of this month if anyone would like to join me! Looking for a good Western training saddle. I was there today working with Kristi and Mondavi, who are doing great together!

Hocking Hills Trip

2008-07-13T17:52:00.001-05:00

Lots of pictures of our trip on my khhorsetraining blog. We had such a fantastic time!

Finally!!!

2008-07-07T17:04:00.001-05:00

Spyder's recovery is over and we are back to work and he is better than ever! Yay!

Updates

2008-07-02T18:15:00.003-05:00

Well, we are still in the midst of a house search in Clintonville - I think we have found a house to buy, but still working out the details on that. Buying a house in Kristen's world means that the stair will break in the first week, the basement will flood in the second, and the roof will cave in during the third week.

Spyder is great and we'll be riding lots next week. I love Woodland Run - best vets in the world. Mary Jane is for sale since I never ever have time to ride her. I have had a great deal of interest, but the horse market is terrible and she is priced too high for most people. Marc rides her, but I am trying to get him into quarter horses. Slow, lovely quarter horses.

We are getting ready for a trip to California in early August and a trail ride in a week and a half. I am in the process of submitting several articles for publication in Horse Illustrated and Practical Horseman, so I have been busy writing and editing.

More pictures coming soon. Three cameras. One year. All broken. I hate digital cameras. People like me need manual. Sturdy, un-sensitive manual cameras.

All of my riders are doing great and we will be doing a couple more shows in August. Megan's horse, Secret, and Emily's horse, Lilly are progressing particularly well.

If anyone likes to edit horse articles, please let me know because I could use the help!

KEH

NYC PHOTOS

2008-06-26T06:02:00.001-05:00

Especially for family and friends who were at the wedding -

All of the wedding and NYC pictures are online at this site:

http://picasaweb.google.com/Kristenhassen/NYCJune2008

NYC 08

2008-06-25T18:12:00.004-05:00

We're home! Got back from Marc's mom's wedding in Manhattan this afternoon. Thanks Shawnna and Brian SO much for watching the terror puppy and gracie. We had a great time - I have been with Marc to NYC twice in the winter but it is so much more beautiful in the summer. We walked and shopped and ate and walked and walked and it was terribly romantic and I am glad I don't live there because I would be very poor. The worst part of the trip was the Museum of Natural History, a place that I always kind of hate, but they had a special history of the horse exhibit that was boring. The gift shop for the exhibit was larger than the exhibit itself and stuffed animals really don't do it for me. I mean taxidermy stuffed. and skeletons lots and lots of skeletons. The best part was outside and free - big painted horses that you weren't allowed to ride on. What fun is that?

Spyder is much better and has a clean prognosis and should be able to do anything I want to do. He hates me right now because he has been left in a stall for two weeks for recovery, but we will soon be hacking again! Back to work tomorrow. Oh, and we are moving. Back to Clintonville, I think, because we can't find anywhere decent around here and aren't rich enough to rent in Dublin. Plus, landlords in Dublin do not like Great Danes!

Updates coming soon.

Le Pain - still my favorite NYC food.

Marc, me, Esther, Bill, Dora (Marc's grandma) and Marc's new step-sister, Angela.

gross

NYC pictures

2008-06-25T18:07:00.002-05:00

Me and the boy at the wedding.

The bride and groom mid-ceremony.

My someday neice, Montana.

A little-person Michael Jackson impersonator in the train station.

Should be on Oprah...or at least Jerry Springer

2008-06-15T20:17:00.002-05:00

Most people don't know this, but I have two biological half-sisters that don't know I even exist. My bio father has never been a part of my life and he never told his daughters about me.

So I have decided that it is finally time to find the girls - one of them is a snowboard instructor so apparently balance runs in my genes. They are, I believe, 21 and 23 years old and live in the east (New Hampshire/Vermont/Pennsylvania).

I was hoping for a televised meeting with tears and cake, but it seems that this will eventually be much less dramatic and will involve e-mails and possibly but hopefully not a bio father who is not too happy with me.

But I kept thinking, if it were me, I would want to know. I have thought about finding them for years but now they are grown-up so I think it is time.

Their names are Beth and Kim Quill. Crossing my fingers and doing internet research. I have learned that it is frightening how much someone can find out about you for $59.95. $19.95 mostly gets you previous addresses and I need phone numbers or e-mail.

Wish me luck!

If you are trying to sell a horse...

2008-06-15T16:37:00.002-05:00

Don't advertise with a picture like this. Yes, true, the horse exhibits a lot of spirit and a healthy mouth, but the angle of the shot isn't quite right....

A day of badness

2008-06-10T19:45:00.002-05:00

Not going to go into all the details, BUT...

horse had surgery and is fine. Once again, if you don't have health insurance for you equine...GET IT NOW! Trust me, it is saving my tail for this surgery. The good news, he will be just fine in a couple of weeks. Fine. and fat.

found a baby starling and brought it in the house and then read nutritional requirements online for said starling and promptly put it back outside. every thirty minutes for 12 hours a day?! The recipe includes tums, eggs, dog food, cat food, avian vitamins, applesauce, etc etc etc

House is disgusting. Orange water, stinky drains, blue and teal carpet. Gross. We have to move ASAP! Anyone know of rentals near Dublin, Marysville, Hiliard, AnywhereButHere. I moved here, as some of you remember, to be close to area barns, but now I travel to so many barns that it doesn't really matter.

Gas is expensive. I want a truck and trailer. But I will only drive it up and down the driveway as to save on gas.

We are going to Hocking Hills the first weekend in July, so get ready group! We are going to have such a blast and I am cooking. Three years at Camp Willson taught me a lot about campfire cooking on a YMCA budget. Grown-ups only for this trip, please. We have a trailer spot in someone's trailer open, so Rebecca, you better clear your schedule!

Car is disgusting. Marc told me it smells like I live in it and don't take a shower. It is very embarrassing when your boyfriend says that.

As to my online schedule: Yes, I still work. But I work so much that I haven't been able to keep up with doing the schedule. Will return to responsible computer logging time soon.

I train miniature horses now too! my resume and list of training talents continue to grow every day. Mules, gaited horses, minis, driving, western, endurance - it is incredible how interconnected all of the disciplines are. Bob says that all horses should be trained well in basic skills, regardless of their future discipline. It is so neat to see a mule, a mini, and a trakehner learning the same things! I love my job, I really do.

As readers know, I very rarely post about my personal life (except in the case of funerals and vacations), but I just felt like venting a bit tonight.

Really. We are seriously trying to move. Any advice/phone numbers/addresses/shanties/garages/boxes would be appreciated. Sorry Mr. Landlord....but the squirrels are now climbing through the poorly insulated walls into the bathroom.

blech.

So cute it deserves its own post

2008-06-08T20:53:00.001-05:00

Summer is so great

2008-06-08T20:46:00.002-05:00

A new training project - someone please give this horse a name! She is registered TWH but only has a show name, not a barn name...suggestions?

Chubs goes in for OCD surgery at Woodland Run tomorrow...Thank God for horse health insurance! If you don't have it, get it!

Too hot to play.

The boy and his horse.

2008-05-24T18:28:00.000-05:00

Pictures from Bob's House

2008-05-24T18:23:00.000-05:00

Look what mommy brought home....

2008-05-20T20:20:00.001-05:00

May is a ten-week-old English Mastiff that my grandma and I bought today. She's just a little bit cute...

Favorite pictures from today

2008-05-18T17:40:00.002-05:00

I am so lucky. What a challenging, interesting day full of happy surprises (my mom and step-dad came!) and enlightening but disappointing moments (ribbons ribbons)...my two favorite pictures of Jay and me:

Help!

2008-04-28T17:08:00.002-05:00

Hi everybody! Since this is my personal blog, and mostly friends, colleagues and family, I thought I would ask for your help. I am redoing some of my website and I need to put up some new pictures.

If you go to

www.picasaweb.google.com/kristenhassen

you will see ALL of my pictures. There are a ton of horse pictures but there are also family pics you can just ignore. Please select your favorites or ones that you would like to see on the website and email copies to me or give me the roll and number of the photos. I would love to put client pictures up, so if you see ones of yourself that you like, I will use them.

Also, if you haven't given a testimonial for the site and would like to, I would be grateful for anything you have to say. I am also taking suggestions and constructive criticism about the website, so please share your input!

Thanks so much for taking the time to help!

One more thing: We have another show on May 18 at Redtail Ridge in Johnstown. This is a combined event and I will say more about it on the kh blog. Please see www.redtailridge.com for more information.

Happy Riding!

quick update

2008-04-25T20:03:00.002-05:00

Hi Everyone,

Busy season has certainly started, and Bob and I are working really long days. Please try to schedule lessons at least a week in advance or even two.

I bought a new horse today! Her name is Lady and she is a gaited mare of Bob's. Pictures coming soon! Not sure where she is going to live yet, but I can't wait to get started working with her.

Congrats Rebecca and the Chapman family on their new horse. She is a chocolate Rocky Mountain horse named Coco and watching Rebecca ride her makes me smile.

I will be working in Johnstown tomorrow and going to Athens to see a horse for a client on Sunday, so have a great weekend everyone if I don't happen to see you.

ps. time for fly masks and fly spray everyone....

My Baraka

2008-04-20T19:56:00.003-05:00

was euthanized this afternoon. She got much much worse last night and I knew that it was time.

She was truly my best and one of my oldest friends and I will miss her more than I can say.

Thank you Shawnna, for being there, like always, when I really needed my friend.

Poor Baraka....

2008-04-19T15:18:00.002-05:00

Is super blind. I think she can still see light, but she bumps into everything and can't find her way outdoors or back inside. I just don't know how you tell when it is time. She seems relatively happy and okay, and she is healthy with the insulin, but I am sad for her. She isn't even eleven. Have any of you had a dog with diabetes? I don't know why the blindness came on so quickly. The vet says as long as we don't move the furniture she will be fine. I guess that means that moving again might be a problem. Dear old baraka. She has been with me longer than anyone except my family.

Foxtail Farm Show...

2008-04-19T15:16:00.002-05:00

.....was awesome! Pictures galore at www.khhorsetraining.blogspot.com

Thank you Bob!

2008-04-15T19:13:00.002-05:00

I rode Spyder today. Outdoors. With a rope halter. trotting. I still can't believe it and I just want to go back and ride him some more.

The picture in the woods is of Harley and Spyder grazing in the sun. But then Cursive came back today. She and Spyder ran away together. Literally. Around the farm, the neighbor's farm, across the street. Thanks to the help and daring of a brave young rider on her horse Simmy, we were able to catch them before anyone got hurt.

Now Spyder has a girlfriend and says his days of being ridden are over and that Harley better not try to move in on his lady friend. That mustache of Harley's does tend to draw the women...

Equine Affair

2008-04-13T19:44:00.002-05:00

Picture is all of us at Equine Affair on Sunday. We got to see Clinton Anderson, do lots of shopping, and eat awful fair food!

We had a blast at Equine Affair and we are all so excited for the show at Foxtail Farms this coming weekend. Please be sure to stop by if you get a chance! Foxtail is on 36 East of Blues Creek.

2008-04-04T08:11:00.000-05:00

Spyder and Kristen's First Ride

2008-03-29T17:50:00.001-05:00

Back in January! Spyder got branded today so more pics coming soon...

Miss Elizabeth

2008-03-17T08:48:00.002-05:00

My dear old friend Miss Elizabeth passed away yesterday. She will be missed very much by all of us who loved her, including her many beloved kitties. Elizabeth was a gospel singer, a caretaker, a businesswoman, an animal lover, and was one of the funniest, most kindly people I have ever known.

these pictures made me smile....

2008-03-13T17:33:00.003-05:00

okay, okay, so spyder doesn't like me as much as....

2008-03-09T21:34:00.002-05:00

narcissist

2008-03-09T18:31:00.008-05:00

Okay, so several people have been teasing me about how many pictures on my blog include me. Since it is my blog, I feel justified in this, and I like to add visual images to the stories I am always telling.

The following pictures, for example, are to prove that I am a super badass horse trainer who is so dedicated that I work even on the tail end of the historical March 2008 Ohio Blizzard.

Okay, maybe not badass exactly. Maybe more like girl in snow with way too many ropes and a spunky warmblood on either side.

These are of Mondavi and Spyder...the new BFFs at BC. And me. Of course.

Rest in Peace, Uncle Doc

2008-03-01T09:01:00.003-05:00

My great uncle Doc died last night at midnight. His real name was Romaine, but we all called him Doc. He was blind and dipped constantly and loved animals as much as I do. He was the only uncle I knew and he will be missed so much by me, my mom, and my grandma.

Funeral is Monday and Tuesday, so I will be in Maumee those days.

Harley and Spirit

2008-02-23T17:47:00.001-05:00

Thank you Zupko, for not minding me riding your pony. I promise to never let anyone else ride him and if I do, he said he will strike or call Caroline.

If only winter could only always be just like today!

winter nights

2008-02-22T21:06:00.005-05:00

It is cold, we're snowed in. the dogs are bored. the boy is working and cuddling with his new cat and we live in our bedroom. why? but we are cooking french toast and watching old movies and the snow out here could be in a calendar. and the neighbors aren't riding motorcycles because of the snow, so I'm happy.

the whole story

2008-02-19T20:40:00.003-05:00

is really long. but when Shawnna and I went to pick up Harley from Kenyon yesterday, we found this puppy on the highway. I was going to keep him because he was lovely and sweet, but then the puppy saw the grandpa and it was true love. So now the puppy is clean and warm and has been named Jack and sometimes things just happen the way they're supposed to.

And zillions of pics of Shawnna's pony coming soon. We are already fighting over him.

grrrr....zupko....me want nice slow trotting pony.....

Incidentally....

2008-02-17T20:18:00.001-05:00

I should mention that Marc, Spyder and I all fractured back teeth and in the same week, we all had to have them removed.

Oh yes, and I got Marc a cat for Valentine's Day. Her name is Valentine.

And Shawnna's new horse comes tomorrow! And I think that Alexis is buying Spirit!

Spring is coming, I can tell.

more happy things...

2008-02-17T20:15:00.004-05:00

Examining Spyder's wound...

Exploring old barns that might just be haunted...

Sunsets....I get to see so many beautiful sunsets...

Happy things

2008-02-16T17:55:00.005-05:00

X-Ray gross faces

Seeing the world from the back of a horse with really good music playing on the i-pod

Trying to take pictures of horses who like to cuddle

Watching newborn baby horses ice-skate

Oh, Spyder...

2008-02-13T21:55:00.003-05:00

Well, today was the big day. Of drop-off at least. We went to Woodland Run in Grove City, where Spyder will be staying for the next couple of days while he recovers from his fancy tooth extraction (scheduled for tomorrow).

His travelling coat got a bit dusty, but other than that, I thought he looked quite nice. He was not happy about going until he learned that Woodland Run give free choice hay - a three-day, all-you-can-eat buffet for horses.

Crossing my fingers that he comes out of GA okay.

Other than that, just trying to stay warm and getting ready for a fun weekend!

Happy Valentine's to my Valentine

2008-02-12T22:19:00.002-05:00

Not only is Marc the cutest student at PS30 in Queens, he is also completely amazing for other reasons.

1. He went to the High School of the Performing Arts in Manhattan, right after FAME, which was based on his school.
2. He drove electric trolley buses as a bus driver in Seattle for TEN years!
3. He organized labor - lots of it.
4. He worked the graveyard shift at Kinkos a long time ago, and stole copies, something for which he still feels guilty.
5. He has a Brooklyn accent, but only when we go to NYC or he talks on the phone to his mom.
6. He is a geographer who doesn't know anything about maps. Not even that Greenland is the same size as Texas!

Oh, this is fun. Marc has been converted to a horse/dog/parrot/goat/pig country person thanks to ME!

Happy V-Day everybody!

My grandma's 85th

2008-02-01T17:50:00.000-05:00

If I ever had a daughter she would constantly be compared to Maddie, who is probably the coolest person in the world...

All of us

My two favorite ladies...

2008-01-25T21:37:00.001-05:00

WInter makes me blue

2008-01-25T19:17:00.000-05:00

Sometimes I have a really sad day and think of a million reasons to feel sorry for myself....but even when things aren't so great, I am grateful for lots of things too....

A friend that comes to admire my horse and make videos of me even when she is very sick....

A horse that might love me as much as I am starting to love him...

My baraka still barks and chases cats and drive me crazy - sweater and all...

our own channel!

2008-01-25T10:59:00.000-05:00

Thank you, Ms. Zupko for creating our YouTube channel!

Just a video of me riding X-Ray so far, but more are coming as soon as Ms. Zupko gets out to the barn to do some filming - coming next - X-Ray Jumping Video!!!

http://www.youtube.com/user/McZandHassen

SPYDER!!!

2008-01-18T21:01:00.001-05:00

We had a successful first ride tonight!!!

pics

2008-01-17T18:59:00.001-05:00

of spyder on my kh blog...

updates

2008-01-14T12:51:00.000-05:00

I bought Rock Legend ("Spyder")! He arrives on Wednesday from Indiana. I have a bunch of barn related updates posted at

www.khhorsetraining.blogspot.com

but I wanted to tell friends and family here. He is a five-year-old Trakehner gelding from Missouri. I will be posting way too many pictures as soon as I get them.

Other news:

Baraka is growing weaker...I am just giving her time and attention in these last couple of weeks/months.

For those of you who were at the barn when I hopped off the horse, jumped in the care, and flew to Columbus because my mom was sick, thanks for all of your help and the nice notes and phone calls. She is home and feeling much better.

Lots more coming in the next couple of days......

Merry Christmas!!!

2007-12-25T19:51:00.000-05:00

My lovely sisters....

My brother Luke and his girlfriend Rosie....

My mom, Jerry, Marc and me

Molly and me....

I hope all of you had a Merry Christmas. My best gift was the most expensive protective riding vest on the market. Thank you Marc! No broken back for this horse trainer!

james taylor

2007-12-23T15:53:00.000-05:00

I have a strong antipathy towards James Taylor because I used to work at a hotel as a buffet waitress from 4:30 am until 1 or 2 pm and James Taylor's greatest hits was the hotel soundtrack. The ONLY hotel soundtrack. Which I always thought was strange because it was a long-term stay hotel so wouldn't the guests also get tired of listening to James Taylor too? I hated that job. I used to cry in the bathroom as 'you've got a friend' played for the 13th time that morning.

Anyway, he said something that I thought was nice. So even though I kind of hate him, I am going to repeat it here.

He said, "Unconditional love on a daily basis can melt a stone."

I had a terrible day yesterday. That made me feel a lot better.

Merry Christmas!

I am finally home!!!!

2007-12-17T18:25:00.000-05:00

We finally made it home - below are a few pictures from the trip that I wanted to share.

Why is it so cold here?

This is my mom, my sister, and me.

and why do we not have this food in Columbus??????

trip pictures....

2007-12-17T18:18:00.000-05:00

So, I quit smoking (It has been 8 days, I think), went to Disneyland (which was SO much fun), met Marc's entire family, and went from San Diego to NYC in 10 days. I am so happy that my mom and Maddie were able to meet us there and that Esther and my mother got along so well. I am glad to be home, though. Ohio is very home to me.....

Le Pain Quotidien - still my favorite place in NYC....

Marc's french grandma, Andree

trip pictures....

2007-12-17T18:11:00.000-05:00

Marc and I at dinner in San Diego...

Chanukkah celebration at Marc's brother's house. My second real chanukkah celebration was very exciting....

Marc, my mom, my sister, me and our bagel-making friend, Uncle Bill

My mom is really happy here because she is eating gluten-free ravioli...

trip pictures....

2007-12-17T17:54:00.000-05:00

Marc and my sister Maddie....

beautiful San Diego......

some of it is very burned.....

lovely flowers....

Your dogs and kitty miss you!

2007-12-11T13:44:00.000-05:00

As you can see, their lives are hard here. Nothing but sleeping and eating. Poor things.

Life is like a barrel of monkeys at the Zupko house. Come home soon!!

Love,
Shawnna

12 hours to go!

2007-12-06T21:42:00.000-05:00

In 12 hours I will be on a plane to San Diego. Enjoying windy storms on the west coast for five days and then heading straight to NYC for another few days. I am most excited that my mom and sister are meeting Marc and I in New York for a couple of days.

Shawnna and Brian are watching all the animals (THANK YOU GUYS!) and I am quite nervous to leave behind my diabetic dog and my sweet Luke. But excited to see two oceans in one week!

Lessons and training resume as soon as I get back on December 16. Please call me anytime on my cell phone while I am gone.

Happy Holidays!

Kristen

Happy post-Thanksgiving!

2007-11-25T17:08:00.000-05:00

I always get to cut the turkey...closest thing to a tradition that my family has. We saw 'Enchanted' after dinner. It is my perfect movie - happy, not disturbing, perfect.

A couple pics up marc and I. Is it inappropriate for us to make photo christmas cards if we aren't married? I have never had a photo Christmas card, but I like the idea.

My grandma visited Luke!

2007-11-12T16:56:00.000-05:00

Poor Luke!

2007-11-12T11:19:00.000-05:00

So, yesterday Luke started to colic and the vet came out and treated him but he didn't get any better. So at 6 pm, the vet came again and said that he needed to go to OSU main campus because he had a terrible impaction. So, with the help of Vickie, Steve, and Dr. Welker, we got him in the trailer and took him to OSU, where the colic team met us. They were awesome but last night the outlook was not good. So this morning I called and they said that he had gotten much better and had pooped. I just returned from the hospital and he looks SO much better! I am going back in a little while to hang out with my boy and if all goes well, he will be coming home tomorrow. I feel so so lucky and I love Luke so much. He really is a keeper. Just wanted to update everyone who knows about this situation.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KRISTEN!!

2007-10-30T21:51:00.001-05:00

I thought I would hack into your blog and wish you the happiest of happy birthdays!

HAPPY HAPPY 30th!!!!

To the best of the best friends, and to many more adventures...

I love you my friend!!

Shawnna

SUsan and Shannon are SO cute!

2007-10-25T20:39:00.000-05:00

Today...

2007-10-24T21:10:00.000-05:00

Ian and Majic, and a strange, beautiful sky...

What a fun day - lessons with Lia and Megan and the Tanners.....

Lia wins the purple heart award! I want my cookies!

Thank you Shawnna and Brian!

2007-10-23T20:55:00.000-05:00

I got an early birthday surprise tonight from the Vision Family (Shawnna, Brian, and X-Ray).

It's an artist's proof - I don't know what that means exactly, but it sure seems fancy! And it's gorgeous! And Shawnna gave me an awesome keychain shaped like a bit! Thanks you guys!

2007-10-22T18:40:00.001-05:00

Luke and I had our first gallop yesterday! He is lazy! But what a gorgeous day. Getting ready for the hunt on Sunday. My friend Susan is taking me for my birthday. I am so nervous!

Great Week!

2007-10-18T12:45:00.000-05:00

It has already been such a busy week!

I took my first lesson with Andrea and I feel so much better about my horse and our progress. I also had lessons last night with Xander Tanner, Alexis, and Lia, all who rode beautifully. Shawnna, Andrea, Shannon and I went to Equus Now and it is WAY expensive! If you don't want to spend tons of money, just don't bother going. They do sell top-of-the-line stuff and it was cool to see so much english riding gear in one place.

The barn is packed and Steve has been busy building HUGE stalls for Jasper and Reuben, who start training this week. I don't know where we are going to find tack to fit them!

Tonight is Megan's first official lesson and tomorrow I will be working with all of the training horses, so I should be at the barn most of the day.

What a good day!

2007-10-13T17:42:00.000-05:00

I love days when everyone is happy and the sun is shining and I have a good ride. My horse is SUCH a drama queen, but he loves the trails. Marc got to ride Little King and we had a lovely trail ride. The best part of the day was Dublin Tack Shop. I can't wait to see Shannon in her new outfit!

more pictures of Blues Creek

2007-10-10T19:46:00.001-05:00

More great pictures of Blues Creek - the indoor arena is HUGE! I am so excited to see Craig's new horse, Sassy, who arrives tomorrow. I wonder if Luke will remember her?

Overall, things are busy and exciting. The people who own and run the barn are so nice and accomodating - I think we overwhelmed them a bit last weekend! Looking forward to a winter full and warming up in the saloon after every ride!