Off the 20m circle!

This post won't involve horses.  Another show is coming up in a few days, so we are busy getting ready!  It is right down the road (10 min away) so that will be a nice change.  Everyone is doing well and the horses and humans are enjoying the "balmy" weather!

For those who read this and don't know me well, I love being outdoors and taking photos.  It is a treat that it stays light until 10:30pm, so I have time after work to relax and get in better shape.  I have been walking and jogging close to the farm, but I couldn't resist going a little bit farther in my exploration.  So... I bought a bike!  Sarah helped me check local classifieds and then we headed into town to look around.  The first bike we saw rode like a champion and was the right price.  That was easy!  We brought it home and I immediately went out on my first adventure.  What started as a flower picking, music listening, photo taking ride ended at 11:00 pm with me calling home for a rescue!  I am still laughing because getting lost is not something I do often, as I have a keen sense of direction.   However, it is not so keen when street signs mean nothing and miles accumulate because I can't resist seeing what is over the next crest.  When the sun went down and I had been riding for almost 2 hours, I decided to call Sarah.  After the slow process of figuring out where I was, she came to the rescue with her car.  Thank goodness for a boss with a sense of humor.  The new rule is that I can bike in a circle attached to a lunge line so I don't go too far.  

After work on a particularly "hot" day, Hannah decided she wanted to go to the beach.  We opted for a local lake instead of driving a few hours to see the ocean.  It had several docks to lounge on and even a sand beach.  We had a lot of fun and will be revisiting soon, or at least as soon as the temperature soars over 75 degrees again!

My second bike ride was equally as intriguing, but ended with me finding my own way home.  There were a few side streets I wanted to explore and it paid off.  I found a field full of sheep and lambs.  At first I scared them, but when I hopped the fence and sat down they quickly resumed their business and even came to investigate me.  There are some beautiful farms very close by and numerous fields with corn, hay and barley.  Morten suggested a short cut back from town and I went to investigate.  I was glad I wasn't in a rush and had my camera, because it was not shorter at all and challenged my "ladies cruising bike" with obstacles like rocks, sand, hills and mud.  It was a gorgeous day and the scenery was equally as noteworthy.  So, I took my time and enjoyed having nowhere else to be.  I have since completed several more bike rides without incident.  Kathryn joined me yesterday and we bought a cake en route. The cake did not fare so well in the bike basket because the road was bumpy, so we just cut our losses and ate it on the side of the road.  Oh well, if that is our worst problem...  :) 

 Tyson relaxing 

 Artistic.

 My new bike! First ride on hay day. 

 Checking out the local hayfields.

 Lost.  But I picked some nice wild flowers!

 Kathryn and Hannah at the lake.

 Hannah, Kathryn and I at the lake.

 Feet in the water.  

 Not bad for a lake! 

 Second bike adventure, climbing into a sheep pasture. 

 Friendly sheep.

 Just passing by...

Should have bought a mountain bike :)

 More curious farm animals. 

 Had to turn around, never found out where this road lead!

Curiosity. 

Second Show

I am happy (and late) to report that the second show was a success!  All the young horses were great again.  I still can't believe the maturity and confidence these 4 year olds have away from the farm!  In the 4 year old class, there are 2 horses in the arena and the judge calls out what to do.  This can get a little confusing because I don't speak Danish, so I do a lot of following and looking around.  I understand some words, like the gaits, but it is safe to say I have a lot to learn.  I placed in a huge classes with solid scores (7.6 and 8.1).  In the FEI 5 year old class I placed 5th with a 7.9.  Dino and I were more in sync than at the last show and the test was much improved.  He is also such a confident horse who likes to show off, so once I trusted him and didn't hold him back it was a lot of fun! The show was about an hour away at a riding club.  We took 6 horses all together so it was a busy day.  Kathryn and Sarah rode as well.  Our next show is in a few weeks so we are busy preparing for that already.  I am so excited and appreciative I have the opportunity to show here!  

Bogdan went home to Romania for a month, so us 3 girls have been doing all the work around the farm.  I learned to drive both tractors (one for dragging the arenas and the other for lifting hay and straw) which was very entertaining!  They are quite different from the Kubota I drove in America.  I am finally getting the hang of it but at first it was a little scary!  We also use the tractors to move and stack the dirty straw and bring water to the horses who live outside.  I worked my first weekend alone and survived.  I was tired, but it wasn't so bad.  I cleaned all the stalls and turned out the horses.  Needless to say, I will be a little relieved when he is back to help us in the barn! 

I was really excited when my old friend Kaja (who I met while working at Hilltop Farm in 2009) contacted me and said she would be 40 min away in Denmark!  She drove up to the farm and I gave her a tour before we went into Silkeborg and had dinner.  It was so nice see her again and to catch up.  I miss home a lot but I am very happy here.  Time continues to fly by... I can't believe it is the middle of the summer already.  As the lone American, I celebrated the 4th of July by watching a video of fireworks my Dad sent me.  Hope everybody is surviving the heat (guess I should specify I am talking about New England!)... it is a comfortable 70 and sunny here :) 

 Awards for 4 year old class (I am on the far right)

 10th place out of 43 with a score of 8.1! 

 Kathryn and Zap Zap (5 year old)

 Dino and I (5 year old) 

 Home cooked lunch 

 Home cooked dinner

 Tyson (the barn dog) eating pizza

 Relaxing 

 Artsy shot of the new footing in the outdoor

 My new buddy Tyson 

 Meet my new friend...

 ...And his big brother!

I can't resist art

Kaja and I at dinner.  American/ Hilltop reunion!!

Showing!

Well, I survived my first show in Europe!  In fact, all the horses were great considering they are so young.  On Saturday I rode in the FEI 5 year old class, and on Sunday I showed two 4 year olds.  I was so impressed with the quality of the horses at the show... so I took a lot of short clips with my phone and put them together.  All the horses in this video are 4, 5 or 6 year olds (and none of them are me riding).  Hope it works!  I was blown away with how many young horses were at the show.  There were 39 horses in my FEI 5 year old class and almost that many in the other young horse classes.  I was also surprised when I got my ride time and it was 8:54pm!  Luckily, it stays light so late here so it didn't feel like night time (until the 2 hour drive home).  I am actually showing again tomorrow, so I am off to bed early.  Very exciting!  I will post in more detail about the shows soon.  

Young horses from show.  Including Andreas Helgstrand, Sune Hansen, and many from Blue Hors.

 Artsy shot, pretty browband! 

 Downtown Silkeborg 

 American 50's Diner... 

 Horse show!

 Horse show lunch.  Note the salt. 

 I rode at 8:54 pm!  

 Dino checking out the show grounds. 

 On our way! 

First European show. 

Lot's of Photos!

When I look at all the photos I've taken, I realize I haven't blogged in a while!  I guess that is a good thing, as time is flying by and I'm still having a lot of fun!  Everything continues to go smoothly.  Last week was very busy as both Kathryn and Morten were away.  I rode more than I've ever ridden in my life... no better way to spend a working day.  After riding 12 horses, my abs and thighs were very tired and I crashed after work on more than one occasion!  I must admit, I am enjoying riding the young horses more than I anticipated.  I don't have a lot of experience riding 3 and 4 year olds, but that is changing!  I am currently riding two 4 year old geldings who are good natured and eager to learn.  I also ride two five year olds who both feel trained beyond their years.  Riding these youngsters is a change for me, but I am learning a lot and they have turned out to be fun and rewarding.  

Within the last week, two foals were born on the farm.  It was very exciting because I got to see my first birth!  My room is closest to the foaling stalls, so I got to be in charge of the birth alarm.  I have never seen anything like it.  It is a surcingle that detects when the mare lies down flat on her side.  There are different settings, so the alarm either goes off after the first or third time she goes down.  Both births went smoothly and quickly.  I remember how great it is to have babies around!  Thankfully the weather has been warm and beautiful, and they are already going outside for half a day.  I will post more pictures with the next blog entry.  

My other newfound enjoyment is cooking.  I have been experimenting in the kitchen, and I was going to include a photo of last night's dinner but decided it was too embarrassing.  The taste was decent, however the color and texture were questionable.  of course, I couldn't start with easy things I know how to make like pasta, potatoes or chicken... I had to jump straight into the curries and meat sauces.  Luckily, as with riding, practice makes perfect... and I have been practicing!  

 First trail ride in Denmark

 Driving into Silkeborg 

 Spring is here... I think. 

 New discovery/ addiction! 

 Driving back to the farm.

 Just a small and random hail storm in early June! 

 Night check.

 Artistic, my favorite :) 

 Just stopping by a bakery...

 ...overwhelmed by all the choices.

 My dream house, just down the road from the farm. 

 Silkeborg.

Statue in Silkeborg. 

One of the new foals!