Carus went to the State competition this weekend to compete in Horse Bowl - which is a trivia type competition where they answer questions about horses, how to take care of them, the equipment used with them, as well as riding and showing horses and other 4H rules. Our county competition was delayed by a month thanks to all the snow in January, which gave us one less month to prepare than the other counties had.
She was on the Intermediate team - and they got 4th place out of the 12 competing counties! Washington County's Senior team got 3rd place out of 10. The competition was fierce and each round quite intense. In one round, Carus buzzed in to answer the last question - the deciding point! It was quite a difficult question with multiple parts that had to be just right. The whole room focused on her hard while she answered, and as she said the last words, she froze in place. Her hands still held up mid gesture she was making while speaking using her fingers to list each part out. The whole team was leaning forward and perched on the edge of their seats. Everyone in the room, from the score keepers and timers, to the other team and all of the parents in the audience, seemed to collectively hold their breath. As soon as the judge nodded and said, "that's correct," Carus and her team collapsed into their chairs with relief and the room let out an audible, collective sigh. Carus's was the loudest.
Our last round was against Clackamas county (who came in 2nd) and we tied with them, then lost the tie breaking round by 1 point!
We watched the final round, and Carus and her friend were bouncing in their seats at each question because they knew the answers! It was quite comical to watch their dramatics of not being able to scream out the answers -- but you know, some of those answers came to them so easily because they weren't in the hot seats with a buzzer in their hands anymore.
I've never been to Redmond/central Oregon before. Goodness, Oregon is pretty all over!! The views coming over the mountain were gorgeous, and I kept getting awestruck at the view of the mountains from the fairgrounds. I'm so glad the weather was nice - kept the drive uneventful. And I'm glad I was able to take her to this event! We drove down early Saturday morning, and headed home Sunday afternoon; just over 400 miles round trip in one weekend! I'm still a bit knackered, but oh so proud of her.
How has it already been more than two months since Horse
Fair?! I'm woefully behind in sharing
updates, but I will be working to remedy that as well as attempting - yet again
- to get back into the habit of updating/journaling/etc on a regular basis. Maybe this time I will be successful. Only time will tell!
All the photos from fair can be found on my Facebook page in this album.
We missed Scout so much during fair. Or at least I did. Carus did have working with DJ to distract
her. She did break down during senior night where they were reading speeches written by the graduating seniors, who wouldn't be back the next year, and a couple of those kids thanked their first horses as being the reason they fell in love with horses. It hit her right in the feels and she said that she worries he won't make it to her senior night. I've reassured her that 4 years isn't that far off and he's still doing well so we can be hopeful. She's planned out how he will be the one that takes her into the arena for senior night - walking together or riding. I hope that she gets that.
If you missed it - Scout is now retired from shows (mostly). He was diagnosed, officially, June 1st with
sidebone (click here for Google search for sidebone where you can find all sorts of info if interested) in his left front foot.
He's on daily pain management as well as some joint supplements and he
got a whole month off. When his month
was up and I let Carus ride him at a slow walk around the arena for 10 minutes
I held my breath hoping so hard that it wouldn't cause him pain and make him
limp again.
It didn’t. They can walk
and trot and play together again, and he really tears it up around the pasture
with Dusty! Yay!
For Fair, Carus was able to borrow DJ, her 4H leader's horse, a
25-year-old Quarab (Quarter horse and Arabian horse cross) who was a drill
horse for many years. He likes to
go-go-go and can do so all day long and then some. Carus worked hard for the 2 months leading up
to Fair to get used to him, him used to her, and keep him calm and listening
for the slow work that would be required of them for fair.
We are so proud with how Carus handled herself during fair
in so many ways, but first I'll explain how so with DJ.
DJ is what one would call a hot horse. He likes to go and go fast because that is
what he was trained to do. Carus would
take him into the arena and ask him to stand still for a moment and he didn't
understand why because usually when he got into an arena he would be moving
until he left that arena. She still
stuck it out, kept her patience, and tried her best. She never left one of her classes defeated by
a less than perfect outcome. After her trail class where he did a bunch of
pawing at the ground, trying to run off course, and even a little crow-hop, she
left the arena laughing and said, "Well, that could've gone better." She didn’t get any blue ribbons this year,
but still was very happy with her efforts and so glad to have the opportunity
to work with this adorable little energizer bunny horse. DJ taught her quite a
bit in their 2 months together.
This was also our first year with the new 4H group as last
year's group disbanded. Carus was the
only member this year with prior 4H Horse experience. The other two members where younger than
Carus, in their first year of 4H, and in their first year of showing
horses. (There was a fourth member, but
she ended up dropping out mid year.)
Carus was supportive of them, a great leader to them, and helped them at
a drop of a hat without complaint (mostly) even though we got close to 100
degree temps (again) and the days were long and busy, occasionally feeling like
they were never-ending.
4H is about to start up again this year, and Carus has a few
goals to work towards. She hopes to show
Bailey the mini-donkey this year, show a horse (which is currently planned to be
Dusty if Dusty can handle it), become a better rider, maybe show in some
English classes, and she wants to earn the most points.
(Each horse 4H member is required to earn 100 points to be
allowed to participate in Horse Fair. They get those points by participating in
4H activities, other horse shows, educational clinics and competitions, and
community service/volunteer work. Last
year the winner got 470ish points and Carus wants to get 500 at least. Since we have a limited number of shows we can attend - which does limit her earning ability a smidge - this can be a bit of a
challenge, but we'll try.)
So, starting in March or so, about a month after his abscess blew, Scout started having this lameness. He would limp off and on and often only at a trot and sometimes if we walked him for a long time before trotting he would be fine and other times he wouldn't. We'd give him a week off, then ride, and then he'd limp 2 days later.
We thought maybe it was a residual abscess or another one. Or maybe it was arthritis - he is older.
His owner had his shoes removed and that seemed to help a little and then it didn't. We added MSM for joint support and that seemed to help a little and then it wasn't helping any more. There was still the occasional limp.
Meanwhile May crept up on us and the three scheduled shows for May and Scout was still limping. I went to cancel the first show and then Carus was lent a horse for shows for May so shows were back on but Scout was sitting them out.
It was weird not having Scout with us and people asked about him at the 4H show - Scout and Carus were famous. We missed him. I missed him more than I thought I would.
Then he was still limping so he couldn't do the other two shows in May, which we turned into just one more show and Carus still borrowed DJ and they did well, but they're not Scout and Carus so it wasn't the same.
Scout got a chiropractic appointment and that determined there might be something more going on so Scout got a vet appointment for x-rays and there was suspicion of ringbone.
The vet appointment finally came and I held out so much hope that it was just a little arthritis and the vet would have a program that would help him and he'd be better in no time.
It wasn't ringbone. It was ringbone's cousin - sidebone.
There's no cure.
Scout is now a retired show horse.
He is getting a rest while the meds and supplements the vet started him on get into his system and then he might be cleared for light riding. No trotting. No shows. Definitely no loping. He should be fine for trail rides or walks around the arena. Hopefully.
I'm devastated.
I feel weird for saying devastated, but it's the best way to describe it I think. I don't want him hurting so it's not like I want to just dose him up on painkillers and keep him moving until he completely breaks down. But I don't want it to be over for him already.
He's fine as a pasture pet. Carus and I still adore him and still love on him and take care of him and I don't want that to change.
Carus wanted to do 4H and OHSET (Oregon High School Equestrian Team) and while Scout wasn't an option for OHSET, they were really starting to hit their stride with 4H and I'm sad to see that end. Carus doesn't have the same connection with the other horses she's been working with (DJ and Dusty*) as she has with Scout. I knew there was a connection, but to see the contrast between horses is amazing and interesting. Ask my Grandma about the connection. She saw Carus ride DJ first and was all, 'that's a pretty little horse. I like him' and then saw Carus with Scout doing their follow the leader routine and apparently now has been telling everyone about the connection.
There are some options for her for next year and things are in the works for considerations and options. They're on hold while we prepare for Horse Fair at the end of this month though so my patience is being put to the test.
I'm a planner though, and this lack of concrete plans is driving me nuts. Figured putting this all down on the blog will be good for looking back on and for a venting of sorts. Now that it's out there maybe I can relax a little. We have all summer ahead of us. Who knows what next month will bring...
(DJ and Dusty are awesome horses in their own ways, not trying to say they suck or anything.)
Carus cut her hair! Like 6 weeks ago, but I'm lazy on this updating the blog thing lately. It's been shared on Facebook and Instagram though so if you follow me there this is old news. It is stinking adorable. It's also weird cause it hasn't been anywhere near this short since she was a baby. But she loves it and that's what matters.
We colored it this evening. And for a change my blog will get the news the same day as my Facebook did. Ha! Better photos to come later when we have sunlight (and hopefully those will make their way here too). It's a deep purple-ish red and how it colored based on where her natural hair was at the roots and the previously colored hair, it has a nice graduation of color from red to purple to a deep wine color.
In other Carus news: Scout and Carus attended their first show of the year - Shaggy Days. It was rainy and muddy because it has been raining for 5 years straight up here. No, that was not an exaggeration. We're soggy. Fields have flooded and the roads are littered with POT HOLES so much so that trying to avoid them when driving will make you look like a drunk driver. The show - it was good. A long day, of course, because now that she has a taste for showing she wants to do as many classes as possible and that means we're there until the end of the day. She's no longer a Novice; she has advanced to Intermediate level in 4H, which means a bit more difficulty and a bit more competition. The Showmanship pattern threw her (and others in the same competition group) for a loop by asking them to show their horse on the off-side (show from the right side of the horse when usually they show from the left). Several kids, including Carus, expressed their panic over it, but in the end they all stepped up and did their best. Carus placed 7th in Showmanship which was a little disappointing for her, but she felt she did her best and was happy with it. In her other classes, all riding classes, she didn't place and got really frustrated by the end of the day. It's hard for us watching too because we will think she did better than some of those placing. We're a bit biased I'm sure, but also, we're not the judge who is looking for certain things and at certain times in the class. Some of it is what is going on when the judge is looking or not looking. Either way, there is stuff for Carus to practice on before their next show near the end of March. After the show it seemed that Scout developed an abscess in his hoof, and I got another lesson in horses. Man, that was some fun stuff. *sarcasm*
Lastly on Carus, her new 4H group is doing a fundraiser. Since they are a new group this year, there are no funds from last year carrying over. We're starting fresh. If you're local, we're collecting soda cans and I'll come pick them up. If you're not local and would still like to donate, please let me know. We have a banner to pay for that we bought (using credit of one of the parents) for a Holiday Light Parade in December that we will also use as part of our decorations for Horse Fair in June. The kids would also like matching team shirts and sweatshirts, and we'll need more decorations besides the banner for Fair too.
Adam performed in a play at the high school. It was their annual Shakespeare play; this year they did Midsummer's Night Dream. And they were AMAZING! Adam played the Duke of Athens. He makes a great king. I didn't get any photos of him in the play, unfortunately. So enjoy a photo of Adam and Robert in light up glasses that Adam got from one of the basketball games. He enjoys the heck out of band and playing at school sporting events. He's also started a D&D club at the school and is having fun playing that after school once a week and online every weekend.
First semester grades have come out. Carus has As, meet expectations, and exceeds expectations (As are for her high school classes, the other weird grades are for her middle school classes). Adam has mostly As, a B, and an F. He has a problem with not turning in his work. He does it, just doesn't turn it in. Weirdo.
We have been lecturing him and grounding him for a couple years, and he still occasionally "forgets" to turn in work so this time we didn't lecture him. He was not expecting to get an F at all. He usually can just skate through his classes with very minimal effort so I think he was a bit surprised to find out otherwise. He was also so disappointed in himself. He knew he messed up and he asked what his punishment would be. We asked in return what we should do since we didn't feel what we have done has worked. He didn't know what it should be, but for about 2 weeks now he has not gotten on his computer, nor asked to get on his computer.
My teenager grounded himself from his computer. This cracks me up to no end. I think Robert and I will just see how long he feels he needs to be grounded. I'll take bets if you want to guess when he'll give out.
As for Robert and I - work is still work, his back issues are still there, and we're doing what we do. Nothing exciting here.
Grooming contest team (Kylie, Carus, Mitchell, Amelie)
But we already knew that, huh.
Horse Fair was June 28th through July 1st. I think I am able to finally get this up because I finally feel I've recuperated HAHA!
The week leading up to Fair was crazy busy and I stressed over remembering things and getting things done, and trying to anticipate everything we'd need when I didn't know what to expect because no one tells you anything except that it is hot and busy and crazy. I was so very confident that it wouldn't be hot because my birthday weekend is NEVER hot here in Oregon and most years we actually get rain often.
I probably jinxed it. Oops.
The 4 days of Horse Fair were crazy busy and HOT! and I stressed over things getting done.
It was really, really hot. It is never in the 90s the last week of June, let alone the low 100s, but all that week it was.
The barn with all the people and horses and little to no breeze kept it feeling much warmer...though it didn't have the sun beating down on you so it sometimes it was better.
After In-Hand Trail hug
There was lots of waiting and working in the barn (the kids have to keep their section clean for a Herdsmanship competition - we won one day but not the trophy overall), and waiting outside in the sun (very little shade and not where it was needed) and running back and forth to the campgrounds and the barn and the arenas and barn again.
I was fairly successful in keeping us hydrated and not sunburned - but I did get sick and sunburned the last day (Robert took over in the last chores as I went home "early" to rest).
The days were also very long. Carus had to get up at 5 am to feed Scout as when one horse in the group is fed, the others need to be fed too, and there were early events.
Events started at 7 am and go until the schedule for the day was completed - sometimes 8 or 9 pm. Then there were the evening fun activities and bed wasn't before 10 any of those nights, and at least one night it was near midnight.
I stuck a pedometer in my pocket halfway through the first day and got over 35,000 steps that (half) day, and kept that trend up the rest of the week.
Our friend, Scout's owner, was a GOD SEND! for lending us her RV. The AC and nice bed to sleep on and fridge for cold drinks and food were very helpful. It was very much appreciated.
Riding at sunset
Carus had a lot of fun too! She did great in all her events bringing home Red Ribbons in in-hand trail and riding trail, and Blue Ribbons in showmanship and western equitation. She did so well in her western equitation she got a special recognition ribbon that was presented to her at the final meeting with all the participants in attendance.
Game night riding
The grooming contest was the first day. Our group had two teams working in the contest. Each team gets a dirty horse to bathe and clip and present in a showmanship-type presentation (in hand walking, trotting, and set up presentation for the judge). Carus's team bathed Mitchell and they won that contest. They each got a free ice cream for that.
Each evening they had fun activities planned like Game Night where they had games they could play with their horses - like the apple bobbing race, which she got to do, and the team ribbon race where each team of two riders hold a string of yarn between them as they ride around the arena at different speeds and stops and turns and Carus and her teammate didn't win, but they had fun. Another evening there was a potluck and another was a movie under the stars.
One of the 4H groups had a member holding a raffle contest to raise money for her to go to Nationals and Carus entered all the money allotted to her (some she got Daddy to put up and some she got Gramma Barbara to put up) into the raffle for a bridle with heart-shaped conchos on it. She won that.
Waiting for their event.
We've enjoyed our first year of 4H though have been really stressed about things (they don't explain shit! and I need information and it drove me nuts) and there are changes being discussed with the 4H group we're with where there might not be a group next year or it will be extra small (we're already small) and I didn't want Carus to say she didn't want to do it again right after being exhausted by Horse Fair so I told her she can't decide until the first week of August at the earliest.
I'm thinking she will want to do it again; she really likes the competition and shows and the ribbons.
I'm also thinking next year would be better because now I know what's going on...well, at least I know more of what's going on. And I'm determined to create a manual for new 4H parents because we need one!
Carus and I were in heaven with all the GORGEOUS horses.
Carus and Scout had a good first show together. No ribbons were won this time, but loads of experience was gained and fun was had. They both did really well.
I was so nervous and wound up and worried for her safety. There were so many horses in the warm-up arena and some of the events were PACKED and I was so scared she or Scout would be hurt.
They did great. Carus watched out for his blind side. He didn't flip out at any of the new stuff he was experiencing, nor at not being able to see. He was a bit of a lookie-loo, turning his head and occasionally his body around trying to see what was going on. She kept her seat nicely and he had a slow jog when needed; both things that have been a bit elusive to Carus lately.
And he was so pretty! Karen (his owner) picked up Carus the day before the show and they had a little trail ride and then they scrubbed a winter's worth of mud and muck off of Scout and he was so bright and white! He had several people comment on how clean he was - often fellow white horse owners. They know the struggle!
It was a looooong day, but really good. Carus is happy with their performance and knows what she wants to work on for the next show. Geneva was a god-send! She hauled Scout, helped with last minute touch ups on Carus and Scout (white attracts dirt!), she helped Carus feel prepared, and me feel Carus was safe.
When we got back to the barn I took a few more photos (the one above) and Carus let Scout loose in the arena. He took off at full speed to the other end to see Luke and Texas who were being curious over the arena wall, then spun around and immediately laid down for a good roll.
We went to Shaggy Days yesterday just planning to watch each event, pick out the ones Carus would like to participate in in the future, and cheer on her 4H clubmates in their events.
And then a friend saw us and asked Carus if she wanted to show her horse J-Lo - just for fun. Carus jumped at the chance.
J-Lo is a beautiful, sweet, easygoing Azteca horse and this was her first show too. We are totally J-Lo fans, as well as fans of her person, Heather. Thank you again, Heather, for giving Carus this opportunity!
I am so proud of Carus for just rolling with it. She wasn't prepared to show, she didn't have a nice show outfit on and she had never worked with J-Lo before; but she stepped up to the challenge and tried and had fun. She didn't place - which she did find disappointing - but she had fun and is excited to participate in the next show, with Scout this time. She's determined to have a wall full of ribbons.
Carus's experience with the local middle school has been VASTLY different than Adam's* and all in the first half of the year (and a lot of the issues started in the first week of school) and we have been extremely disappointed with the administrations response to our questions and concerns.
She has been asking to return to online school since September - and we started really moving forward with that in November after trying all we could do to work with the district. All we've been able to accomplish is supporting her at home and encouraging her to give each day her all and hope for the best. It's not really fair to hope for the best.
Carus was sad that moving to online/home school would mean she would have to give up choir, but we thought there was a chance to have her continue with that if the district would allow. A fact the principal confirmed and then proceeded to promise Carus she would be able to do. We were looking at K12/ORVA (Oregon Virtual Academy), which we used when she did online school before and were fairly happy with, and online school through the school district. After further deciding we wanted to limit our interaction with the district and feeling most comfortable with the fact that we've used ORVA before and know what to expect, we went that direction.
When I called the principal to let him know our decision, the second the words "we've enrolled her in K12" left my mouth his demeanor and tone of voice towards me changed. And low and behold - that promise that she could continue with choir became a flat-out no. Carus was pissed. She trusted the principal's promise; and I'm mad that he even made that promise. It counteracted all of our, "they might say no" cautiousness.
Then 2 days later she calls me and tells me they have pulled her from class for a dress code violation. She was wearing an outfit that she had worn several times that year and was similar to an outfit she wore the day before. But 2 days after they're told she's being pulled from their school (i.e. the money they get for her (and she tests high so they get some extra money) is being pulled) and they have a problem with the outfit. Surprise surprise. I told the secretaries that they were to let her return to class and not to interrupt her education again. I then went down there to bring her a change of clothes and told them they could only give it to her during her break and it was up to her if she wanted to change. They had someone run the clothes to her in her class 15 minutes before the end of the day. Yeah, really important that she not disturb people with her clothing. *eye roll*
A benefit of that visit was that the office ladies looked genuinely intimidated by me, which is a nice change of my usual stammering nervousness around authority figures (they have no authority over me now, but they did at one point and my brain is slow on remembering that). Turns out that some of that alarm on their faces was because of the tone one of them used to say "mom is arguing" when passing the phone hoping that if someone else told me 'dress code violation' I would stop yelling at them for being arbitrary and interrupting my daughter's education. (I wasn't yelling yelling, I was being firm and using a tone that expressed just how annoyed I was.) They said this in front of Carus and she took that tone as, "this stupid lady is being a huge pain in the ass." I don't care if they think I'm a pain in the ass and if they tell each other that. I do care if they do that in front of a student, especially my student, because I think that sends the message that the parent's opinion/decisions shouldn't be respected.
Up until that incident we were going to let Carus finish the semester at public school and make the switch for the second semester thinking it would make it easiest all around. Post incident, we said we're done with them and made the switch - she wasn't returning from the winter break - she was going to start with ORVA first day after the break. That day was today.
I took the day off - one of the best decisions I've made in awhile - to help her get started and to go down to the school to turn in books and clean out lockers and speak with anyone we needed to speak to. And that trip down there VALIDATED the entire decision to switch in the first place - and switch NOW and not at the end of January in the second place.
When trying to figure out the date best to have her switch I spoke to one of the counselors at the school - or she might have just been the person to enroll and un-enroll students, I'm not entirely sure. Anyhoo, she had trouble figuring out how to make copies of paperwork in Carus's file to fax to ORVA and/or send home to me for me to fax, and talking with her had me questioning just how many middle schoolers does she have to communicate with on a daily basis? ("I was like oh my gosh, I can't find it and she was all maybe this is it and I was like um, maybe but I don't know and she was like, no I really think it is and I was like it looks like it will work so I thought I would call you to tell you I think we found it." <-- am="" exaggerating.="" from="" her="" i="" led="" line="" me="" much="" not="" of="" p="" pretty="" that="" thinking.="" to="" verbatim="">
Well, we saw that lady today. And she sounded PISSED that we would dare to un-enroll Carus without giving her advance notice. I apologized for changing the date and because I did tell her I would give her notice, but when she was pissy again I said, "Well, we decided during break that we have reached our limit with this school and made the switch to benefit Carus."
Don't really think she heard what I said, but whatever. Carus practically skipped out of the school with us. The relief she feels from not having to continue dealing with crap (from fellow students and not having administration be of actual assistance/protection) is palpable.
We came home and she logged into her online school and did math placement testing and history and orientation. Then we spoke with her teacher and got her math testing scores (above grade level) and got the math course assigned and signed her up for a foreign language - which in district she would have had to wait to start until high school. She's taking French - and I better try to learn along with her or her and Adam will be having all sorts of conversations about me behind my back. Ha! She then practiced playing the piano specifically because she wanted to set aside time so she could play more. She also plans on including reading and studying for 4H into her school time. So much accomplished today in less time than usual.
*Adam is a different person and that contributes to the majority of his ease of going through the schools. He figures out how to make things work for him and if he ignores a lot. And some of the other issues Carus was having (mild case of stalking) he doesn't have/hasn't had to deal with it. Also, every kid/person is different and what works for one person doesn't always work for another.
Carus has joined a 4H Horse Club. They are hoping to do only one fundraiser this year. The goal is to have each girl on the team to raise $100 by asking for 10 sponsors at $10 each.
The funds would go to helping the girls attend the County Fair next summer, practice arena fees, horse tack, traveling fees, and to replace some old trail equipment.
I have letters to send to those that would be interested in donating. It's a tax deductible donation and we'll send you an addressed envelope so all you have to do is add a stamp and stick in the mail.
Comment here or send me a private message or text or email if you'd like to be a sponsor.
Carus and Scout thank you!
Photos are semi-staged. Scout has been a bit of a mud ball lately because he likes to roll in the dirt and our rainy season has started so the dirt he likes to roll in is mud. And lots of it.
So much mud.
Carus wanted to be a mud ball with him.
She climbed on him and got all dirtied up (including some artfully applied mud to the face) and rode him bareback so she wouldn't have to spend an hour trying to remove enough mud to put a saddle on. Where her legs are were the cleanest spots on him by the end of the evening.
Scout blowing us a raspberry was not staged. He's a goober.
If you're in the area and you want to attend any of Carus's 4H shows, let me know and I'll keep you in the loop for the details of when and where and how many layers of warm clothes you should have (her first is coming up in November and rumor has it that you freeze).
