Renovations

Hi!

As you all can see, this blog is going through some renovations. Since Ollie's Book Of Life is used for the horses and this blog is now for the model horse side of my life, I  decided Bits and Spurs needed a fresh look. If you think I should add anything, feel free to let me know in the comments!!! 

~CBL

The Boyz Today

Hello everyone!

Just so you all know, I will be doing most of the real horse posts over at my other blog http://olliesbookoflife.blogspot.com/. I will be posting my model horse stuff here on this blog. If you would like to keep in touch with Ollie, Sherman, and Billie Jean, then please go visit my other blog! Thank you so very much!

~Alyssa

Wordless..Thursday???

Theodora

~CBL

Plushies!!!!!

Breyer has surprised me again.

Star

..Want a cute little stuffed animal horsey??? Well, you now have three choices to choose from on the Breyer Website.

Tilly

Magic

How cute!! 

As for an update on Ollie and Sherbert, they are all doing well. Because this weather has been fairly mild I have been riding a lot on him. We go do pet sitting jobs around my neighborhood together. :) 

Say "cheese!"

Mom and I have also been riding frequently!!! It is a dream come true!

~CBL

Countdown To Christmas (Day 2!!!) Plus 500 Comments!!

Hello Everyone!!
It seems as if CO will have a white Christmas. A cold, windy, white Christmas. It is actually quite exciting because it has been I while since we have had a white Christmas (at least in our area. If you go up to the mountains than that is a different story). Anyway, like I mentioned in my last post I talked about how I found one of my newest photo showing spots-my dads hot tub cover on his hot tub. While I didn't have time to go take better pictures with better lighting, I selected the best ones out of my last photo-shoot to show you. 

Kripton Kismet

Street Smart 

SnowFoxx 

Sheza Autumn Storm

Also, I have a special announcement-I have finally reached 500 comments from all posts on this blog!! What an achievement! I wold like to thank you all for commenting and following my blog. You have no idea how much it means to me. Thank you. :)

~CBL

Ballou/Encore Photo

I am so sorry that I haven't posted in the past few days. A lot has happened, and I will go into more detail soon. I have also been extremely busy, so my blogging time is limited. Bear with me, though!! Everything will be back to normal soon enough.

~CBL

Bleau Angel Headshot

~CBL

Theodora Headshot

It is 24 days till Christmas, and to celebrate I am going to get a picture of one of my models and post it here everyday until Christmas. I took this picture this afternoon. 

~CBL

Ollie's New Getup (and show getup for Western events)

Tomorrow I am going shopping for a smaller bridle for Ollie. Since I have about 150 dollars to spend on a really nice one (and split reins), I have been looking online for really pretty ones.

(I am going to get the chestnut one). I would take the browband off for shows.

These split reins:

Eventually I hope to get these for his first appearance in the show ring:
(Probably not the saddle though. It is extremely expensive).


Western Saddle Pad-$120.00 (I may not end up getting this pad, BUT I will want a Jewel tone blue of some sort).

Martin Versatility Saddle - 15" Finished Seat

$2,812.50 (same as the saddle pad, I may not end up getting this saddle, and while I would prefer something with more silver for the show ring, I will not be going to the big deal shows until 2016, most likely). 

Wow!!! I have got to start saving up for that saddle if I am going to get it by next June. I cannot wait until Ollie and I hit the show ring!!!

~CBL

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!!!

Rosie performing the Spanish Walk. I taught her that!! I am thankful for her

I am thankful for my goofy horse. 

~CBL 

November's 10 Questions

Hello all!
I found these ten questions over at this blog, http://rdxhorses.blogspot.com/. I thought I would do the ten questions also, so hang in with me! :)

1. Have you ever owned a horse? Yes. I own one horse (Ollie), and one mini (Rosie).

2. What is your favorite aspect of your discipline? I do many disciplines, riding in both an English and Western saddle, but I prefer Western disciplines because I have been riding in that style longer than I have English. Since I pretty much learned what I know now on a western saddle I seem to find it more comfortable. But I will be showing Ollie in English this next show season, and so I guess I will just have to learn to be comfortable with it!!  

3. What pet peeves do you have concerning your discipline? When people are so concerned about one particular set of riding and they bash the other. When I ride Western disciplines and I run into people riding English they tend to get a little "iffy" and "snobby" about my horses clothes. When I ride English discipline's Western people tend to get really snotty about you. That is my biggest pet peeve. 

4. Do you do barn chores?  Oh yes. All of them. I love it, too!!

5. What is your least favorite barn chore?  Cleaning the grooming tools and cleaning the saddle. I would rather be riding, personally. 

6. What do you consider the worst vice in a horse? Spooking and bucking. They can be hard to break, and you can really lose your confidence when you ride a horse who is a spring underneath you, ready to blow at any minute. Yikes. 

7. What saddle brand is your favorite? Don't have one. 

8. Do you ride with a quarter sheet in the winter? Not yet, but I probably will with all of the riding I will do on Ollie during the Winter. 

9. Does your horse wear boots? What kind? Ollie used to wear Easyboots with his former owner, but at this current moment he isn't using any. 

10. Full seat or knee patch breeches? Right now I am wearing knee patch, but full seat sounds nice too. I actually prefer to use jeans with a western saddle. I actually "stick" better. Do you?  

I hope you enjoyed my 10 questions! Kudos to all who have actually read all ten!! I applaud you!  

~CBL

Gusky Dog

I drew this German Shepherd/Husky dog yesterday. I am working on the colored version. What do you think??

~CBL

200 Posts!

Hello everybody!

This is my 200th post on this blog. It is also this blog's one year anniversary (It was actually a few days back, but I forgot to tell you). So, throughout the whole year we have.....

..Talked about collector models...

....my models....

..upcoming breyer models.....

...my real horse life...

.. and my model horse showing life. 

I would like to personally thank you all for reading my blog and commenting. Comments always make my day, and your comments are always very special. Thank you. 

Pageviews by Countries (In the last year.) These are the top ten countries to view this blog.  Entry Pageviews United States 16975 Canada 797 United Kingdom 498 France 257 Australia 235 Germany 207 Moldova 178 Russia 162 Poland 148 Turkey 138

~CBL

Happy Campers

Meet the two happy campers. It is 20 degrees and snowing.

Yep. Happy campers. 

~CBL

Blogger Recognition Award

Hello everybody!!! Clare over at her blog here nominated me for the Blogger Recognition Award!! Thank you so much, Clare! So, here goes:

Rules:

1. Thank the person who nominated me.
2. Put up a link of the person who nominated you: http://claredot.blogspot.com.au/
3. Give a brief story on how I started blogging, and one or two tips for other bloggers or people who want to learn to blog.
4. Choose 15 other bloggers to nominate.
5. Comment or email the nominee's that they are nominated.

Okay, so here goes!!!!
How I Started Blogging
I had wanted to blog way before I actually did it. I have always loved cyber friends, writing, and PICTURES!!! So, I went ahead and made one! However, my first one was for family and friends only, no public allowed. I wanted another one that showed my love for horses and my model horse side of me, so I asked my parents and made what you are viewing now-my public blog Bits and Spurs. It was a little discouraging at first when hardly any people clicked my blog, but when Jennifer Buxton over at Braymere Custom Saddlery  put me on her blog roll, things started going. I am 250- page views away from 20,000 with 18 followers and about 10 email followers. Thank you so much, Mrs. Buxton!!!

Tips For Other Bloggers 
Don't give up. Even though it may seem that NO ONE ever comes to your blog, they will eventually. You know the saying, Rome wasn't built in a day! Also, for visual people (like me) they won't bother reading a lot of text. Good, clear pictures always attract a crowd. :P That is why I use so many!!!

I Therefore Nominate:
1. Jennifer Buxton over at http://braymere.blogspot.com/
2. Dom over at http://harnessphoto.blogspot.com/
3. Shirley at http://rideagoodhorse.blogspot.com/
4. Kristian at http://fivepawsstudio.blogspot.com/
5. Horsie Mama at http://horsiemama.blogspot.com/
6. Misty Star Studio's at http://mistystarstudios.blogspot.com/
7. http://bbstudioo.blogspot.com/
8. Ashley over at: http://colorfulcreativecards.blogspot.com/
9. http://leftytack.blogspot.com/
..and I cannot think of any body else at the moment. my head is kind of going crazy right now. If you read this blog and post comments THEN YOU ARE NOMINATED!!!

~CBL

Yet Another One-Meet Sherman

..and next week I wouldn't be surprised if we bought a mule!!!

Let me boil it down. It all started October 15th....
Week 1-New Horse (Ollie)
Week 2-Two New Kittens (Snickers and Jimper)
Week 3-New Miniature Horse (Tucker)
Week 4-New Horse (Sherbet Sherman)

That is right. Meet my mom's new horse, Sherbet Sherman.

Sherbet  Sherman is a 10 year old QH gelding. He has cutting and racing bloodlines, and loves to trail ride-just what my mom wanted. While I am focusing on a showing and maybe endurance career with Ollie, my mom likes trail rides and just hanging out with her horse. When she met Sherbet  Sherman he just fit the bill perfectly. She saw him six times before she decided to buy him. She also got his tack-included in his price!!!!

He is a very sweet (and durably built) horse. He has got quite a bunch of muscle!!!!

I cannot wait to photograph the family Christmas picture-I have many ideas incorporating the 5 horses, 1 dog, and the 2 cats!!!

~CBL