Fairhill International Cross Country Adventure

Posted on October 22, 2015 by Ammo

Over the weekend I took my annual trip to the Fairhill International Event in Maryland. “Eventing” is the ultimate test of a horse and rider and has been referred to as the Triathlon of equestrian sport. Through tests in dressage, cross country, and show jumping the horse and rider work together to show that they can compete in the most demanding and highest levels of equestrian sports.

At Fairhill the highest level to watch is the CCI 3*. Horses and riders who do well in the 3* event may qualify to compete internationally or at the Olympics or World Championships. Pretty cool huh?

Well as much as I was excited to watch some of the top riders and horses in the world compete in the 3*, I was even more excited to see some of my old friends!

Fairhill International Cross Country Adventure with Ammo the Dachshund

My very special friends from the World Famous Chincoteague Pony Drill Team were visiting from Chincoteague to perform with their special ponies!

Fairhill International Cross Country Adventure with Ammo the Dachshund

Before I even made it out to watch the cross county course, I parked myself in the stands to cheer on my friends. Did you know that some the ponies are even descendants of Misty…and that pony second from the right…we’ll she’s my pal Blitz’s full sister, “Surf n’Turf”.

I had a blast watching their amazing choreographed drill.

Fairhill International Cross Country Adventure with Ammo the Dachshund

Then it was time to head over to the Cross Country Jump Course where the 3* riders were competing. Can you believe that I’ve never actually watched a horse do Cross Country before? Usually when I visit the Fairhill event I go on the Stadium Jumping day, which means all the jumps that the horses go over are contained inside an arena.

Fairhill International Cross Country Adventure with Ammo the Dachshund

Well on the Cross Country course the horses and riders race through miles of terrain over HUGE elaborate jumps like this one. Can you believe they jump stuff like this? Which by the way, this one was pretty tame compared to some of the other jumps.

Fairhill International Cross Country Adventure with Ammo the Dachshund

As you can imagine the horses that compete in these events are in peak physical condition. I was in awe of their athletic ability.

I really enjoyed Cross Country Day and I loved being able to hike around the course watching my favorite riders race over jumps!

Fairhill International Cross Country Adventure with Ammo the Dachshund

At the Fairhill Event there is lots to see and do (and shop for), including many food choices too….yum!

Fairhill International Cross Country Adventure with Ammo the Dachshund

I actually drew quite a spectacle at the event with my fancy coats, and my warm snood (it was a pretty chilly day). Not only did many people stop to take my picture, but even these Alpacas couldn’t quite figure out why I had so many layers on.

Well if I had fur like them maybe I wouldn’t have to wear all these layers!

Fairhill International Cross Country Adventure with Ammo the Dachshund

Before heading home I made sure to squeeze in as much fun as I could. I played in the straw…

Fairhill International Cross Country Adventure with Ammo the Dachshund

…I rode a pony (sort of)…

Fairhill International Cross Country Adventure with Ammo the Dachshund

…I rolled in the Fairhill grass (which by the way this Maryland grass isn’t much different from my Pennsylvania grass….just saying’)….

Fairhill International Cross Country Adventure with Ammo the Dachshund

….and I even dug a hole (shhh! don’t tell anyone!).

And don’t worry, I made sure not to dig it right smack in the middle of the Cross Country Course. (I’m not that evil).

Until next year Fairhill!

Happy Dog Loves the Beach

Posted on October 21, 2015 by Ammo

A few weekends ago my mom and dad decided to take me on a fun adventure to the Delaware Beaches. And you know what that means? There are going to be a bazillion photos of me running like a crazy dog on the beach in this post!

Happy Dog Visits the Beach

Now if you have followed my blog for a while, then you may already know that I LOVE the beach! While I’m not so much a fan of the ocean per-say, I am a fan of the sand. Digging, rolling, and running in it are my idea of a good time.

Happy Dog Visits the Beach

Despite the fact that it was a little bit chilly, you can tell by the smile on my face just how happy being at the beach made me!

Happy Dog Visits the Beach

I spent some time relaxing on the beach, and then set out on a late afternoon walk.

Happy Dog Visits the Beach

It wasn’t long before my parents finally unhooked the leash so I could run as much as my heart desired!

Happy Dog Visits the Beach

And run I did!

Happy Dog Visits the Beach

If you’ve ever wondered how I keep such a fit figure….this is how! I was built to run!

Happy Dog Visits the Beach

After some running I decided it might be nice to cool off in the water. Good thing I found it to be a bit too chilly for me, because you’ll never guess what I found in one of the tide pools!

Happy Dog Visits the Beach

Oh yes! That’s a small shark right there (with sadly a hook & bobber stuck on him) in one of the beach tide pools.

Happy Dog Visits the Beach

Dad and I desperately wanted to capture the shark and help remove that hook and send him back out to sea….but of course mom was worried one of us would get an arm or leg bit off! So needless to say we were left hoping that the tide would come in that night and take him back out to see for more shark adventures!

Happy Dog Visits the Beach

And then it was back to more running on the beach…baywatch style! Of course the daredevil in me ran a little bit close to the water, just enough to make mom worry that the shark was gonna get me!

(P.S. Don’t worry, that shark was safely in another tide pool and I was in no real danger, but it’s fun to pretend!)

Happy Dog Visits the Beach

After all that running I was pretty pooped! But when mom and dad said it was time to pack up and head back home, I was a little sad.

Happy Dog Visits the Beach

Don’t worry though, I made sure to bring a little of that beach smell home with me! Nothing quite like a nose full of sand.

Does your dog love the beach as much as I do? Do you ever let your dog run off leash? (P.S. I’m only allowed off leash when mom and dad are sure I’m in the listening mood, as you know sometimes us dachshunds decide we don’t feel like obeying!)

Autumn Adventures on the Lake

Posted on October 14, 2015 by Ammo

The leaves have changed, the weather is cooler, but that didn’t stop me from doing one last “summertime” activity that I love!

Autumn Adventures on the Lake - Ammo the Dachshund goes Paddleboarding

Just before my 7th Birthday I hit up my favorite lake one more time before I need to break out my winter wardrobe.

Autumn Adventures on the Lake - Ammo the Dachshund goes Paddleboarding

It may have been overcast, and much chillier than I’m used to on the lake, but it was still fun!

Autumn Adventures on the Lake - Ammo the Dachshund goes Paddleboarding

I just made sure to wear my tank top and life vest……and put my face in the wind a little more cautiously. Because goodness knows I DID NOT want to fall in that cold water!

Autumn Adventures on the Lake - Ammo the Dachshund goes Paddleboarding

And when the wind got a little strong, my dad was there to scoop me up for a ride in the kayak. Yay for dads!

Autumn Adventures on the Lake - Ammo the Dachshund goes Paddleboarding

Sadly, it’s time for me to say farewell to the lake until next year (well at least to paddleboarding on the lake). Until we meet again lake!

What things is your dog going to miss now that the weather is cooling down?

The Happiest Place on Earth

Posted on September 18, 2015 by Ammo

If you’re having a bad day, or you need a reason to smile, then you are in luck, because I’m going to share with you the happiest place on Earth! You can’t help but smile when you find out where I recently took a trip to.

The Happiest Place on Earth - Ammo the Dachshund visits a Sunflower field

See where I live in Chester County, Pennsylvania we have rolling farmland practically right out my backdoor. But it’s still not everyday that I get to see this type of crop pop up seemingly overnight….

The Happiest Place on Earth - Ammo the Dachshund visits a Sunflower field

So on a warm sunny afternoon I took a trip out to a very special place with my family, a place where you can’t help but smile.

The Happiest Place on Earth - Ammo the Dachshund visits a Sunflower field

Sunflower fields!

The Happiest Place on Earth - Ammo the Dachshund visits a Sunflower field

I got to meet the wonderful family that plants these fields every 4 years (which means I’ll have to wait until 2019 to see them again!), and happily welcomed visitors to their property so that everyone could enjoy the beautiful view. I even learned that they have two dachshunds too!

The Happiest Place on Earth - Ammo the Dachshund visits a Sunflower field

There were lots of people visiting the Sunflower Fields, and just like everyone else I couldn’t wait to get a picture among the beautiful flowers (while being respectful to the crops of course).

The Happiest Place on Earth - Ammo the Dachshund visits a Sunflower field

Even my mom and dad got in on the action, and then we broke out the selfie stick…

The Happiest Place on Earth - Ammo the Dachshund visits a Sunflower field

I think my selfie smile might need a little more work. 🙂

The Happiest Place on Earth - Ammo the Dachshund visits a Sunflower field

I learned that these sunflowers will soon be making their way into bird seed, so that the happiness will continue!

I’m already counting down the days until fall 2019 when I can visit the sunflowers again! What’s your happiest place to visit with your dog?

Labor Day Weekend Update

Posted on September 9, 2015 by Ammo

After spending nearly 2 months stuck at home helping mom and dad work on my new kitchen (which I promise I will share the finished project just as soon as the finishing touches are done), I was ready for some excitement. So mom and dad decided we needed a break over labor day weekend. Now most people would probably consider a break parking themselves on the couch all weekend, or soaking in some sun on the beach (which does sound nice), but instead, we do things a little wild around here.

I packed in as much excitement as I could over my 3-day weekend. From meeting the Budweiser Clydesdales in downtown West Chester (and their cool dalmatian sidekick Barley), antique shopping, dining out, stacking hay at the farm, hiking with my pal Shilah the Husky, and soaking in the last rays of summer – I did ALL THE THINGS!

Labor Day Weekend Fun with Ammo the Dachshund

Too bad every weekend is not a 3-day weekend! And also, can you believe that my mom baked cookies and I couldn’t even have any. Seriously? We’re gonna have a talk about that later.

What sort of activities did you pack in over labor day weekend?

Summer Lake Adventures

Posted on August 19, 2015 by Ammo

A couple weeks ago some of my out-of-town family came to visit. I had a blast going on adventures with them, and you may recall I even performed a daring water rescue of my Uncle Taylor.

Adventurous Lake Fun with Pets

See my uncle, he’s a bit of a daredevil. (or clumsy on the water, depending on how you look at it).

Adventurous Lake Fun with Pets

When I’m not busy saving him from drowning, I’m just as much a daredevil as he is!

See, I know how to have a good time on the lake…..and keep up with the best of them! (P.S. did you see my super model strut across the paddle board?)

Is your dog a daredevil too?

Summer Tubing with Ammo the Dachshund

Posted on August 7, 2015 by Ammo

A few weekends ago some of my family from out of town came for a visit. Since I’m always up for a fun adventure, I decided to show them a good time with a weekend excursion on the river!

River Tubing with Ammo the Dachshund

Just down the road from the family farm is the Brandywine River, which is the perfect place to do some river tubing on a hot day!

River Tubing with Ammo the Dachshund

Since this wasn’t my first tubing adventure I got pretty brave and performed some dare-devilish (I was Evel Knievel for Halloween after all) stunts on the tubes by balancing on the edge!

River Tubing with Ammo the Dachshund

I wasn’t the only one enjoying the river that day either, we even found this adorable turtle taking a dip!

River Tubing with Ammo the Dachshund

As the sun started to set over the river I decided to trade in my tube for a canoe since it was getting a little chilly in the water.

River Tubing with Ammo the Dachshund

I love to navigate the waters and I always have to stand at the very tip of the canoe (so I get to see everything first), even if it means that I might occasionally fall overboard. Not to worry though, I’m a pretty good swimmer!

River Tubing with Ammo the Dachshund

Eventually we decided to park the canoe so we could take a swim in the river, which is also where I got to perform my very first water rescue!

River Tubing with Ammo the Dachshund

Ok technically no one was ever really drowning, but how was I supposed to know that? I’m a Super Hero trained to save people, and when you’re a teeny tiny dog like me everything looks dangerous!

River Tubing with Ammo the Dachshund

Thankfully everyone survived the rope swing, and I made sure my entire family made it back into their rafts for the remainder of the trip home.

River Tubing with Ammo the Dachshund

Well, that is until we hit a river road block! “Everyone stay with your flotation device, keep your hands inside the raft, and do not drown!”

Phew! River Tubing is stressful for a Super Hero!

Do you think your dog would attempt to save you if you were drowning? (Don’t worry, I’m sure they probably would….unless there was an alluring groundhog hole nearby of course!)

You can grab a stylish life vest just like the one I’m wearing from my friends at Ruffwear*, or check out my Gear Page for a source guide of all my stylish gear!

*Affiliate

Beltzville State Park Lake with Ammo & Shilah

Posted on July 9, 2015 by Ammo

Yesterday I shared some of the adventures my pal Shilah and I had during our annual camping trip (once the rain cleared), and today I’ve got even more to share!

Beltzville Lake with Ammo the Dachshund & Shilah the Husky

One of the great things about camping is getting to explore the great outdoors! While I had many fun things planned for my weekend outside, the rain kept me from most of them, but the good news is I still got to visit the Beltzville State Park with Shilah.

Beltzville Lake with Ammo the Dachshund & Shilah the Husky

The fun thing about Beltzville is that they have a lake! I was super excited to visit the lake because they also have a pet friendly boat rental (similar to the local lake I visit in the summer), and I was secretly hoping it had some speed boats because Beltzville has a 45mph speed limit (my local lake is much lower).

Beltzville Lake with Ammo the Dachshund & Shilah the Husky

Sadly because of the overcast day the boat rental was closed for the day when I arrived! But I wasn’t going to let that ruin my fun.

Especially since there were so many things in the lake that needed saving! If you didn’t already know, when I’m around water I become Mr. Lifeguard, trying to save any and everything from drowning.

Beltzville Lake with Ammo the Dachshund & Shilah the Husky

I tried saving people.

Beltzville Lake with Ammo the Dachshund & Shilah the Husky

I tried saving lost shoes.

Beltzville Lake with Ammo the Dachshund & Shilah the Husky

(this particular rescue attempt was a success).

Beltzville Lake with Ammo the Dachshund & Shilah the Husky

And I even tried saving my pal Shilah!

Although truth be told, nothing I tried to save actually needed saving. But life guard skills need to be kept in tip top shape, so it’s always best to practice as much as possible. (although paws crossed no one ever ACTUALLY needs my life saving skills, because I’m not sure I could really pull anyone in from the water, but that won’t stop me from trying!)

Beltzville Lake with Ammo the Dachshund & Shilah the Husky

Visiting the Beltzville Lake was the perfect end to our camping adventure, and I can’t wait to go back again when the boat rental is open!

Don’t forget, this week I’m giving away an awesome life vest from my pals at Ruffwear (as seen on me in this post). It comes in a variety of sizes to fit any dog, and is the perfect accessory for water adventures. Don’t forget to enter!

Wondering where to get any of my great camping gear? Be sure to check out my gear page!

P.S. Special thanks to Shilah’s mom from Mrs. Dailey’s Classroom for sharing some of her camping photos with me (the ones not watermarked with my website)!

Camping in the Poconos with Dogs

Posted on July 8, 2015 by Ammo

Last week I started to recap my annual camping trip with my friend, Shilah the Husky, well now I’m back to share more about all the fun we had (despite the rain). It’s too much fun to fit into one blog post, so don’t worry, there’s even more fun than this to come ahead!

Ammo the Dachshund Goes Camping in the Woods

One of my favorite parts about camping is getting breakfast in bed. It’s one of those few occasion where I don’t even have to get up to enjoy a big bowl of my “cereals”.

Ammo the Dachshund Goes Camping in the Woods

Shilah and I were excited to see that the weather had begun to clear up some, and although the rain was on and off, it wasn’t down pouring all day like it had been. Yipee!

Ammo the Dachshund Goes Camping in the Woods

So we broke out the fishing poles again, and had a little contest with our dad’s to see who could catch the most fish. (spoiler alert, none of us caught any!)

Ammo the Dachshund Goes Camping in the Woods

That’s ok though, because there was still plenty to do on our camping trip, like hiking! We didn’t get to go to any of the great hiking spots we had staked out for our trip, but we did get to take some walks around our campsite.

Ammo the Dachshund Goes Camping in the Woods

We even stopped to take a few selfies along the way, it’s not often I get to spend 4 whole days with my pal!

Ammo the Dachshund Goes Camping in the Woods

There may have even been an awkward kiss at one moment. It’s still out for debate on who kissed who.

Ammo the Dachshund Goes Camping in the Woods

Do you blame me though, I mean how can you not sneak a kiss when you’re hanging out with a pretty girl like Shilah!

Ammo the Dachshund Goes Camping in the Woods

Back at camp things were starting to heat up since it was finally dry enough to start the campfire.

Ammo the Dachshund Goes Camping in the Woods

As our day started to come to an end Shilah and I broke out our Glowdoggies * so we could have our own personal “flashlights” in the dark. Although Shilah questioned, “won’t the bears just be able to spot us way easier with these things on?” I told her not to worry, I packed bear spray!

(*contains affiliate link)

Ammo the Dachshund Goes Camping in the Woods

As darkness really crept in the campfire started roaring!

Ammo the Dachshund Goes Camping in the Woods

That’s always my cue to hit the hay early, because campfires (or any fire for that matter) are not really my jam. That’s ok though, I much prefer snuggling up in the tent under my sleeping bag anyway.

Ammo the Dachshund Goes Camping in the Woods

I am a little sad I did miss out on the light writing fun everyone had with sparklers, but mom and dad made sure to include me in their own special way…

Ammo the Dachshund Goes Camping in the Woods

….it’s my name in lights! I’m famous!

Ammo the Dachshund Goes Camping in the Woods

Even celebrities like me can totally get down and dirty on a camping trip!

Stay tuned this week as I still have more fun to share about our adventures at a nearby lake!

Wondering where to get any of my great camping gear? Be sure to check out my gear page!

P.S. Special thanks to Shilah’s mom from Mrs. Dailey’s Classroom for sharing some of her camping photos with me (the ones not watermarked with my website)!

Dachshund Goes Camping in the Rain

Posted on July 2, 2015 by Ammo