Recently I purchased and installed Horse 1.0. I soon noticed that this program appears to have numerous glitches. For instance, every time my computer boots up, I have to run Feed 5.3 and Water 7.1. Many times I've been in the middle of writing an important document, and a window will flash telling me to run Clean Stall 2.0. This program also contained applications I did not wish to install, such as Manure 8.5, however they auto-installed with Horse 1.0. Applications such as Vacation 2.7 and Free Time 10.1 can no longer run, crashing whenever selected. Possibly the worst is that Horse 1.0 has attached itself to programs like Finance Manager and MS Money, with folders added such as "Monthly Shoeing" and "Winter Blanket". Periodically, I'll get a reminder telling me to send a check to the manufacturer of Horse 1.0 for the aforementioned items. I have tried to uninstall Horse 1.0 numerous times, but when I try to run the uninstall program, I get warning messages telling me that a deadly virus known as "Withdrawal" will infect my system. Please Help!!!!!

THE REPLY:

Dear User,

Your complaint is not unusual. A common misconception among users is that Horse 1.0 is a mere "utilities and entertainment program." It is not - it is an OPERATING SYSTEM and is designed by its' creator to run everything! A warning will soon be imprinted on the box. Since you have already installed Horse 1.0, here are a few tips on how to make it run better. If you are annoyed by the applications Feed 5.3 and Water 7.1, you may run C: \HIRE HELP, however this will cause another folder to be added to financial applications, labeled "Staff". Failure to send payment to "Staff" will result in Feed 5.3 and Water 7.1 being run again on startup. A note of caution: NOT booting up your computer for several days isn't the solution to avoiding Feed 5.3 and Water 7.1. You will find that, when you boot up your computer again, a nasty virus called "Colic 4.2" will have attached itself to important documents and the only way to rid your computer of Colic 4.2 is by purchasing and installing "Vet 10.1", which we admit is extremely expensive, but crucial. Otherwise, Colic 4.2 will cause irreversible damage to the operating system. Finally, it is important that you run C:\Carrots and C:\Scratch Ears on a fairly regular basis to keep the application running smoothly. If you have any more questions, please call our toll free number.

Sincerely, Tech Support

This is Julie's blog.

Julie is an Assistant here at Smartipony, and just started formal riding in May, 2011. We thought you might like to read about her adventures, struggles, and triumphs.

Trotting Along                                                                                                          9/14/11

Stories of a New Rider - 2

A few weeks after my first riding experience, it was time for my 2nd lesson.  I was a bit nervous as we arrived at the stables, wondering how long the soreness would last this time.  It took almost a week after my first time on Candy before I could finally get out of bed without groaning and could finally walk again without a bow-legged stride (much to the enjoyment and mirth of my friends and family). I felt like I had gotten in a fight with a herd of angsty children carrying 2x4 boards or run over by a fleet of Tonka Trucks, and lost miserably.  I wasn't looking forward to rolling myself out of bed and down the hallway just to get around again, but knew that my muscles would eventually stop screaming at me after every ride.

We got Candy ready and walked down to the arena, I watched as Sara mounted with ease and then seemed to fly around the arena on Candy's back, perfectly at ease, perfectly in sync with Candy, riding as though Candy was just an extension of her body.  As she rode she called out questions, "Did you see how I did this?"  "Did you see how I did that?"  Try as I might, I just couldn't see any of her ques, and came to the conclusion, that Candy must be psychic. I told her as much when she finally came over to rest near the shady corner where I was sitting.  She laughed, and assured me that no, she was in fact using ques, jumped of Candy and told me to get on up.

I climbed up, and adjusted myself in the saddle, worrying for a moment that we would have a repeat of last time.  To my immense pleasure, when I nudged Candy with my leg, she actually started moving!  We walked around for a bit, and Sara taught me a series of exercises to do while walking.  They are designed to not only help stretch out the rider, but also to build confidence and show how far you can lean in the saddle.  They are done by stretching one arm over the head leaning  first to one side, then to the other, and then reaching down and touching the toe. Next you lean back as far as you can, still with your arm above your head.  Finally, you lean forward, stretching the same arm forward as far as you can reaching towards the horses ears.  Repeat these steps with the other arm. After doing my stretches and walking around for a while feeling the rhythm of the horses movement, Sara told me to pick up the trot, and after only a few minutes of struggling was actually able to get Candy to trot! We trotted around the arena, feeling completely ridiculous and uncoordinated, completely, off balance and not even a fraction as graceful as Sara looked while she was riding.  As my frustration grew, the more uncoordinated I felt until Candy tripped minutely, my bottom bounced twice in the saddle and then all of a sudden everything clicked, the light bulb came on and the rhythm of the trot fell into place.  I couldn't help but grin as Sara said, "Wow! Now THAT looks good!" I continued trotting around the arena and after a few minutes Sara asked, "Where are you going, why aren't you on the rail?"  I answered "I have no idea, where ever Candy wants to go, but I look good!!!"  Sara laughed, as my stamina ran out and Candy and I came to a stop directly in front of her, me aching  and gasping for air, but smiling, quite pleased with myself!

*********************************************************

Horse Tails
Stories of a New Rider - 1                    8/5/11

I have learned that seeing and experiencing things through a new person's eyes may make things that seem ordinary, everyday, and possibly mundane that much more exciting.  Taking a guest that has never been to Pike's Fish Market in Seattle all of a sudden becomes an adventure, visiting China Town and Pier 39 for what seems like the one hundredth time is now exciting, and even riding a horse, something you might have done since you were a child, now is a new experience, a challenge even, as you find ways to explain and demonstrate skills that are second nature and answer dozens upon dozens of questions.

My name is Julie and I am that new rider.  Chances are as an experienced rider you have talked to countless people who could "ride" but once you got them on a horse it became painfully apparent that was not the case.  I hate to say it, but I was also that rider. I am 28 years old now and had my first experience on a horse while in girl scouts "riding" for a merit badge, but in all honesty it was really just sitting on an old and tired retired horse being led around on a lunge line.  When I was older I had the opportunity to go trail riding in Upper Bidwell Park in Chico, CA, this time on a horse that was trained to be a perfect trail horse, spooked at absolutely nothing, and followed the horse in front of her at all times.

When my friend Sara asked if I wanted to go ride with her in early April of 2011, of course I jumped at the chance and was excited to show her all of my skills!  We got out to the barn, got her mare, Candy ready, stepped on the mounting block, mounted with ease, gave Candy a small nudge, and then.... nothing.  I nudged her again; she turned her head and looked at me.  "Kick her!" Sara said, "Go!" "I'm trying!" I replied through gritted teeth, and finally to my excitement Candy took a step and then another, and then to my horror walked straight to Sara and stopped, as if to say, "Come on, I brought her back, get this newbie off me!"  Sara laughed, gave Candy's rump a slap and sent us on our way.

In my defense, a fact I didn't understand or appreciate at that time, Candy is an almost 10 year old half Percheron/Thoroughbred (some people refer to that as a Warmblood).  And if you are familiar with the differences in horses (Coldblood vs. Hotblood vs. Warmblood) then you will know and appreciate that I tell you that while Candy can get up and go if she feels like it, the operative phrase is "if she feels like it."  Candy tends to follow more of her Draft side than the antics of the high strung Thoroughbreds.  She will not do anything unless she believes you and more importantly trusts you.  That first day riding, I lacked the skill to convince her that I actually meant anything, and because she can lean on the lazy side if she is not in the mood, I exerted a lot of energy going nowhere fast.

All of my excitement at being able to show off a bit left with a rush and was replaced with frustration and determination as I realized that the "skills" I thought I had, did not exist.  I am not sure how long I rode that first day, but my stubborn determination did not let me stop until I had more or less got her to walk where I wanted to go and even got her trotting after I was told "If YOU can't get her to trot you don't get to trot. I can't do it for you!"  Sheer exhaustion made me stop finally, but I was more or less happy and realized I had my work cut out for me.  I also learned my first and one of the most valuable lessons that day, "When in doubt, the answer is always, use more leg!"  I have come along way in the three months since I first rode Candy, and I still have a long way to go, but I hope you will enjoy sharing with me my triumphs, my struggles, what I have learned, and hopefully you will be able to glean a little bit of knowledge as well, or at least get a good chuckle as you remember your own experiences with learning to ride.

You can see a picture of Candy on our About Us page.