The past is the past

Calling it Old Times makes it seem so far away. A few months ago a long time friend of mine came to visit for a few days. It was nice finally getting to meet her in person and we had a good time relaxing, talking ponies and boozing' in the pool. She definitely needs to come back and we're planning for me to visit her place. I would post pics but I respect her privacy and knowing there is one person still stalks here and there online, well yeah... 

Only recently I found out one of the old gang from back in the days of Fugly had passed last year. While we had not been close, I had chatted via email a few times with Cathy, aka Charles City Cat. RIP sweet lady. I found out via another blogger Go Lightly who has also been posting recently and had only found out herself not too long ago. I seen GL's blog in the sideline on Sherry's blog Fern Valley. 

Otherwise a lot of the blogs have gone silent, not posting for months or even years. A few of them taking it private and shutting out anyone who doesn't pat their back (or ass) and tell them "Good job" even when it isn't well deserved.  A few of them also stated - this will be my last post and here's why. I can respect that.

While this blog still has the views, the comments have gone silent. Looking back there have been no comments on the past several posts. Talking to Sherry the other day I told her that I have also considered taking this blog down. Some days I struggle to find something to post about. Other days I just don't have time and then there's days I just don't feel like it. 

We also talked about different bloggers we knew and spoke to often and then out of the blue, they ghosted us for whatever reason and that was that. Neither of us understand why but agree it is childish and a cowards way out. At least own it and say why. 

I recently ended a long time relationship with someone I had considered a really good friend. Things were said that were waaaay out of line and totally uncalled for. Of course I promptly called them out on it and no, there was No attempt at an apology. None. That tells me where I stand and that was that. Their last comment was that I am a very classy lady. At least they got that right! I agreed that I have class, because I could have easily said some equally insulting and hurtful things in response- but I didn't. I hadn't even considered it, because I don't do things like that to my friends. It does not make their initial statement any less bullshit than it is to begin with and only brings me down to their level. 

So almost a month into the new year and here we are. I'm looking back one last time before closing that door and looking forward to what life has to offer. Lots of things in store and changes to be made. I haven't chosen my new 'Word of the Year' yet, but I have a few I'm leaning towards. 

Speaking Up!

The other morning on the news there was a story about a dog that was rescued. Not much about it would seem out of the ordinary, except the weather that has been wreaking havoc on so many states. Hurricane Ida has caused a lot of flooding, damage, death and destruction in her path. Power outages, evacuations and now shortages on clean water, fuel, food and shelter...

What was so special about the story of the dog? The owners left the dog chained up outside and then evacuated the area. Story here That's right. They left the dog behind, chained up outside and were gone before the storm hit. There was a shed that collapsed on the dog and she was trapped with no food or water for roughly 4 days. 

In all honesty, one of the newswomen speaking on the story annoys me. She's just too perky for me and 'way too excited to be here' so early in the morning. I'm not awake enough yet for that much energy so I don't care for her. But after this? Much respect! 

As her and the other news host were discussing the story and showing the pics and video of the rescue of Bubbles the dog, she turned to him and said, "This upsets me. I am bothered by this story. I mean Who leaves their dog behind, chained up outside and evacuates? WHO DOES THAT????"  The other host turned to her and flatly says, "You'd be surprised. It happens a lot. I don't agree with it either, but it happens. Not everyone treats their dog like part of the family."

When the story continued and there was mention that Bubbles would be getting a vet check up and care while they searched for the owners, she spoke up again. "They should not get the dog back. Bubbles deserves a new home with people who will take better care of her."  I agree 1 ,000%.  Bubbles deserves a family. 

Points to consider

Everyone in the equine community has been talking and squawking about the German rider in the Pentathalon event lately.  There has been posts on vlogs, video clips and comments galore pretty much everywhere online and likely in barns around the world. A lot of them post parts of the video footage although the IOC is citing copyrights to all video. Below is one I found posted on YouTube and shows a lot of the issues that happened during the jumping round. It was posted by someone in Europe so I'm not sure what the description says- I haven't googled it for translation yet. 

Let's discuss this. 

-A lot of people are calling for this portion of the event to be removed. Others state this event has military origins and if a soldier was down behind enemy lines- these are all things they may have to do to survive and/or escape- sword fighting, shooting, running, swimming and jump on a horse to flee the area, jumping whatever is in the way. 

-There is also the argument that these horses aren't suited for this level of jumps. Why are some horse and rider combos able to complete the course then? Others state these are school horses that are used to packing students around on courses while the riders figure things out. 

-Some of these riders admit to only riding twice a month between competitions. IMO this is on them and why their riding is what it is. While I may not have a horse to ride or compete at this level, if I plan on attending an event of any kind- I ride or drive and fine tune what needs to be fixed at least a few months leading up to said event. I work with the horse at least a few times a week, every week and fix any of their issues that may pop up and fix my own too. The Olympics is a pretty large scale event and everyone has a pretty good idea when it starts and what day they will be competing. These people/athletes have plenty of time to plan for this and work on their riding skills. No excuse.

-I have seen where people state she had the option of asking for another horse. This is where knowing the rules of your sport is crucial. There is video on YouTube below with this same rider competing in 2012. Surely between then and now, her and her coach have seen or known of another rider asking for a different horse.  Know your rules people! Know. Your. Rules!

-Apparently Saint Boy didn't have a good round with the previous rider and had 3 refusals. Sometimes another rider can take a horse and get more cooperation out of them. They can soothe the horse and calm them down, managing to get around the course. If the rules allow you to ask for another horse after the 20 minute warm up and you two just aren't getting along, by all means get another horse. If she had done this, it could have been a completely different outcome and there wouldn't be anything to discuss. 

-People are complaining that 20 minutes to warm up and get to know the horse is not enough. Others counter that with the fact- catch riders do this at shows all the time.  Trainers get on new/strange horses all the time to evaluate them for clients or to see what needs to be changed and where they're at, before purchasing.... any number of reasons. If you were a soldier behind enemy lines trying to escape- there's no knowledge of the horse you're getting on having a.n.y. jumping skills at all. If a gate or fence comes up- you're praying like hell and hoping that horse trusts you enough to try to go over it.  

-There's a photo posted online saying Saint Boy is back home relaxing and recovering from this event. Others saying its a pic of a different horse- if you look closely the trees behind him have no leaves and the horse has a full winter coat. Not what he would look like coming home from a summer event. 

-There was also comments stating Kaley Cuoco has offered to buy the horse at any cost. You might know her as Penny from The Big Bang Theory. If this is true? Props to her and Much Respect! 

Thoughts on all of this?