Loaded Dice
last updated fall 2002

These pictures were taken towards the end of summer 2002. My aunt asked me to get her a picture of Dice so she could use it for a Christmas gift, so I went and took a few pictures (the 3rd/bottom-left one is now blown-up and framed on my wall at home). Only one of the five didn't come out great, only because of the way the shadow looks on the ground. Here's a good look at Dice!

We look oddly mismatched, but this is I think the most recent picture of the two of us together. I was trying out her new arab costume (originally to be fixed up and used for the Christmas parade in 2000), but I don't have one myself. To this day I've not got around to completing the costume... I'm such a lazy bum. But oh well. This picture was taken back in fall of 2000.

Just a funny couple of pictures to show Dice's lovely mood swings. Hehe, no, really, I think her ears are back in the second picture because she was listening to me (behind her or on her, out of the picture).

Same day, same "outfit," different angle... how exciting.

Here she is chillin' in the pasture. Yeehaw. She's all fuzzy! Fuzzy Dice! Get it? Ohhhhhh I crack myself up. Or not. haha.

Here's my placing in a class in a schooling show, I believe in my last summer of showing (1999?). I think it was a pleasure class of some sort, and there were 7-9 riders in it. I remember being surprised to get the blue, because I had been pushing lazy Dice forward the whole time, and was holding her back a little at the end (when she was trying to catch up to a buddy). I suppose I made it subtle, eh? Yay me (and Dice)! Silly horse wouldn't stand still for me to put the ribbon on her bridle, however. Ah well.

Here are a couple pictures we took back at the (old) barn after giving Dice a bath and sticking her in her show halter. She is grazing in the first (I was letting her dry off), and stretched against the crossties (probably wanting a treat) in the second.

Here we are in a class at the annual 4-H qualifying show, in 1999. (This is a county show where you are trying to make it to the state show.) It was my first year trying to qualify (the other two years I did this show I did walk-trot classes, which don't count), and happily Dice and I took third place (the top 8, I believe, got to go to states). Nifty! It wasn't all riding, however. I had to take a knowledge test and do horse judging. But either way, Dice was a peach that day. Isn't this a pretty frame she's in? My hands are a little low, though. Ah well.

Back at our old barn a couple years ago, Dice and I used to jump. We got as high as 3'6". Dice had a funny "go fast for the big ones!" attitude that I was polishing... But when we moved barns, we started a new style and put aside jumping for a while. However, we found the early signs of navicular disease in her right front hoof, and so I will never jump her again for (warranted) fear that it could trigger something in her hooves. Too bad, Dice was a pretty little jumper (unlike me, I look like such a gimp)...

Dice doesn't mind if I sit on her like this, which was a surprise since she can be pretty flighty/antsy. I haven't done it in a while, but she's usually pretty calm (if I am not asking her to work) so I bet she'd still be a doll about it. This is a cute picture if you ask me.

Here we are at one of our first shows back in summer '97 (I think). The frame she has in this shot is pure luck--I remember her being rather uncooperative at this show. Oh well, she looks pretty. It's a good thing she's pretty.

The beginnings of our relationship... This picture was taken without my knowledge--I just happened to be standing with Dice after a ride, letting her look into the distance while I admired my newfound partner, and someone snapped this nice photo. Joy!

Here's 6 year-old Dice and 11 year old me (looking as dorkish as ever, this was probably my worst stage thus far), probably after one of our very first lessons in 1996 (I think? I can't add). This is probably the earliest picture I have of the two of us, or Dice at all for that matter, so I thought I'd put it up. Also, I rather enjoy making fun of myself... I have come so far, don't you think?