Happy Hills Acres

Made the final payment on yesterday. This big, lovable, do**us is officially ours again. If you’ve never met a horse that quite literally begs for your love and attention constantly he is the one. The definition of “in your pocket” if he could sit in your lap he definitely would! Just ask anyone who knows him!

I have decided that it is entirely appropriate for a fat girl to dive in buck nekked to the freshly scrubbed water trough when it is 85 degrees F and 88% humidity.

Most people who truly know me, know that I am obsessed with Dr. Pepper. I collect anything and everything with the DP logo. I’ve got socks, shirts, hats, hoodies, pants, candies, old soda cans, glass bottles, you name it, I’ve probably got it. Heck, even my horse trailer is in progress of becoming a DP trailer lol. I’m like the Little Mermaid over here with my whozits and whatzits galore!

Anyway!! Remember when I said broke my favorite bridle before the ride started the other day? She was scratching her face on the trailer and got her bit caught on the ramp clamp, she pulled back and snapped the cheek piece off right at the buckle (totally my fault, usually I close up the ramp after unloading and didn’t do it this time.) Well, it just so happened to be my leather Dr. Pepper bridle (which happens to match my stirrups, breast collar, and saddle pad 🤣.) So I did what any normal person would do in that situation. I cussed at myself a little for being stupid about the ramp, I asked my horse if she was done being weird, changed out the bridle, and went for a ride. When I got home I attempted to see if I could fix it myself. Being the absolute WORST at crafty things…I could not.

So, on a Sunday morning, I messaged the small business I purchased this set from and asked if there was ANY way I could send the cheek piece to them to fix or send me the matching buckle and I’d find a leather guy to fix it. I just knew they probably didn’t have any more of the DP leather print as this was a limited made item at the time. I also asked, on the off chance she is a pack rat like I am and keeps every inch of left over leather pieces, if she just happened to have any left over matching DP print leather to make a set of spur straps for me.

To my surprise, she messaged me back THAT day! A SUNDAY mind you! And let me know she would just replace the cheek piece for me, the amount of time it would take AND just so happened that she would be able to make some matching spur straps too! Y’all, I am so stoked. I bought this set probably a year or two ago. To not only reply to my message on a Sunday but to also go above and beyond my expectations was way more than I could’ve ever asked for. The absolute best customer service not to mention excellent quality products too! I mean, it lasted this long and probably would’ve lasted longer had she not ripped it off her face 🤣.

This is not a sponsored post or paid advertisement. I just wanted to let you all know that sometimes the best quality and service comes from the small business and not the big box stores. Go check out Hot Headstalls today right here: https://hotheadstalls.com

She owns the 4-wheeler now…

I cannot possibly tell you how terrified of spiders I am. Any and all spiders, even the harmless daddy long legs or the cute, fat, and fluffy jumping spiders, straight panic attack! 😱

Fun fact: did you know that North Carolina has about 700 different species of spiders?! First of all, who the hell counted?! Secondly, why did I look this up?! ☠️😬

This particular nasty creature was located under one of my obstacles! I haven’t seen a black widow in years so it was very surprising when I flipped the obstacle over to get the water off of it. MY UNGLOVED HANDS WERE IN HERE! Luckily on the far side of it though.

Just a reminder to everyone to be careful where you put your hands. A little knowledge drop for ya: A black widow spider bite is 10-20 times more potent than a rattle snake (although rarely fatal for healthy adults) but symptoms include immediate pain at the site, muscle cramping, ridged abdominal muscles, nausea, sweating, rapid heart rate, and high blood pressure.

Now a little nursing knowledge drop for ya: Generally, you don’t need to go to the hospital unless you’re experiencing more severe symptoms such as chest pain or uncontrolled vomiting. There are treatments available that include anti-venom but mostly it’s pain and nausea control with IV fluids. Should an infection develop antibiotics would be administered as well.

Here’s another fun fact: did you know that North Carolina only has TWO “medically significant” (meaning they can cause severe systemic reactions) venomous spiders? The Black Widow and the Brown Recluse.

Took a couple of the cookie fed trail nags out for an exploration ride today. We climbed a rocky mountainside, bushwhacked our way through some thorny bushes, fought off some creepy spiders with our amazing mixed martial arts trick riding skills, and even broke our favorite bridle before the ride even started (why we carry extras!) But the weather stayed nice and cool and we stayed dry for once.

really posed for a selfie 🤳 🤣

Don’t mind the food on his face! Like I said, he eats like a toddler.

Operation stage 2 complete! Now time for the logo…anyone local I know a good artist?