Originally posted at www.equinefotography.com/blog

Yes, the sun has barely risen on Sunday morning, and I'm writing an entry on my weekend.  That's because it's back to work today...many preparations need to be done for the upcoming PPHC show in Camden...and Thursday through Saturday were filled with many fun mini-adventures (and some work LOL!!).

On Thursday I headed south toward Charlotte.  My friend Jodie Strait and I went to a sports photography seminar put on by Osborne Photography near her home.  The class was mainly geared toward soccer moms but it was still nice to see how other things are done and a few tidbits of information here and there were filed away for future use.  The boys at O.P. are very friendly and knowledgeable about Nikon equipment, so it's nearly worth the price of admission just for that!  Like small children, Jodie and I took pictures of each other taking pictures of each other.  Admittedly, we are dumb. 

On Friday morning I got up in time to see Jodie's son off to school and then headed west to my mom's in Shelby.  As I drove, I mentally prepared myself for the onslaught of cuteness I knew was headed my way: my mom had a 5 week old litter of Aussie pups.  When I first got there, I postponed the inevitable by playing with Spot's babies first. All three babies on the ground were balanced, pretty, and correct but let's face it folks, month old foals can NOT compete with month old puppies!  Then I headed into the barn where the puppies had their own stall. I sat down inside the stall and let the puppies overtake me. I don't think I left for over an hour!

Shortly after lunch the farrier came, and I was able to escape without a puppy.  Luckily for me I had Camden coming up and the puppies were pretty young so I was able to logically convince myself that a puppy right now would be quite silly, in spite of their puppy magic!  So then I headed back east to visit D. John. 

There's always so much going on at D. John's!  And all a girl has to do to learn something is just pay attention.  I love it!  We worked with my fillies and he showed me some tidbits to take home with me.  Brittany and I began the process of body clipping Lacey at D. John's suggestion (I never thought of clipping one THIS late!) but I have to admit she looked much better afterward.  I began the long drive home hairy and itchy.

Saturday I had agreed to help my friend Lesa Hocutt with the mini clinics at the local tack store she worked at, Triangle Horse Sports.  Dr. Jim Meyer needed a "victim" for his acupuncture and chiropractic clinic.  Kadence was just the girl for the job!  It was a great clinic, with Dr. Jim teaching us about ancient Chinese history (the short version, as it pertains to equine chiro LOL) and showing us all the spots on the horse to be tested for acupuncture and chiro.  Of the twenty-six points he tests for accupuncture, Kadence obliged us with one positive response low on her right shoulder.  He showed us how to release the chi low in her right leg by pinpricking her coronet band to make her bleed a drop of blood.  Kadence immediately failed to test positive at that point.  It was like magic!  (but not puppy magic LOL)  I could hardly believe my eyes and if I hadn't been there, I would have called BS on anyone else telling this story.

When Dr. Jim was done, I got to see my boyfriend Jody for lunch and picked up the full grown Aussies that serve as our children.  Then I headed home to drop Kadence off and drive northwest toward Oxford to the first CCWHA show of the year to watch Sandy Black, Jackie Morey, and Rachel run some of their first speed patterns for the year.  I took the camera with me as I hadn't taken a barrel racing picture in several years and thought maybe the practice would do me good before the upcoming show season and my regularly scheduled shows.  As always, Jackie and Sandy immediately treated me like an old friend instead of a new one, introducing me to others and pointing out who was who in the pen. Jackie and I are even thinking of how I can get a few shots at Pocomoke here and there over the upcoming show season, which I'm really excited about! I got a couple shots of them running their horses and was pleased with the shots other than the extremely backlit situation of the pen (which I could do nothing about anyway).  By 6pm I was thinking about Tarak who needed to come inside before dark, so I came on home to feed and clean stalls.  Exhausted from my exciting mini-adventures, I only managed to share a few fotos on Facebook before falling into bed way too early on a Saturday night!

I feel blessed to have so many good horse friends!  Even though I now have over 500 more miles on my truck, I do believe it was a good "weekend" all the way around!