Last day to send in entries for the Absorbine contest!!! Right now, I only have two entries, sadness, but happy for them, because Absorbine will send out up to five TryPaks for winner, so come on folks!!!
1 day ago
August 1, 2013
July 27, 2013
Blogging Pays Off -- Again!
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| Eating up the Five Points Novice course last September. |
Yesterday, I mused aloud on Encore's journey this fall (with a caveat of not breaking himself, laughingly, because plans ALWAYS need adjusting over and over and over and over). Just writing it down really helped clarify the variables, risks, and perspective of the question at hand. Perhaps it's just the way I think, but simply going through the mental exercise of making things coherent on paper forces my brain to draw more distinct lines than normally present in its usual spinning chaos. Some excellent comments further delineated the issues.
And conundrum resolved!
I KNOW CHP has tough, tough XC courses at Five Points. As in not only maxed out, but with technical questions to boot. It would be extremely poor horsemanship to throw both at Encore at once at this point in the game. Talking to a course designer further emphasized this point (hey, benefit of volunteering, you meet officials and you learn new ways of thinking about courses). I want him to always believe he is the confident bawss horse seen below.
I am adamant that the focus stays on Encore's development. It can not ever get waylaid into, as a friend so aptly put it, chasing NQR's for my beloved T3DE. No matter how badly I want it, I will never, ever sacrifice my horse's long term wellness, both mental and physical, for any numbers on paper. This journey is about the joy of the gallop and I want there to be as many of those as possible!
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| Dis de biggest thing you gotz? Let me rockz it for you! |
Will I enter Five Points at all? I would really like to run it at Novice, not least to try out the new courses! In the end, it will come down to careful budget choices. I have to make the farm a priority right now. While some competition, even a $15 jumper class, is important to keep Encore strong and sharp and keep his brain (and mine) from dying of boredom, we can't have it all. At least at CHP, we do not have to stable thanks to awesome and generous eventing buddies and I can either lodge with them or on my technical trailer tarp, ha. That is a HUGE money saver, as stabling alone at the Park for two nights is around $150-200 for a recognized event. That's my entire month's board!!!
Hmmmm, anyone need services they are willing to pay for in the Triangle area? Wait, something about that doesn't sound quite right...
July 26, 2013
The Conundrum Of A Sound Horse
Oh yes, they are a puzzle too, albeit an excellent one to have! You have to decide what to do with them!
Encore feels good. He's moving well, working well, and improving. I am sure he will be lame again (he is still a horse), but for the time being, I want to enjoy him while he is GOOD. Actually, I'm terrified to let Dr. Bob inspect him for fall shots, for fear of him finding a sore spot I didn't know about!!
But it means a lot of decisions.
He's perched on a brink, level-wise. We've been hard at work on the assignments from Becky and Eric, and always in the background are our exercises from David and Priscilla, and he just keeps getting better. He is working confidently in the long lines and I am encouraging him to increase the swing of his shoulder little by little.
What this all boils down to is that he is getting very close to being ready to move up to Training. How exciting is that?????!!! So, while he will probably break himself, I'll just pretend...
The jump is there. 3'3" is not an issue for either of us and we have schooled there quite a bit. My eye is accustomed to it, as is his. The gallop is there, naturally, heh. The basics of the dressage are there. He doesn't have an extended trot yet and we still need to work on crisper transitions within the gaits, but that doesn't worry me very much. I am completely of the view that the dressage is always a work in progress and even scorewise, you can still do very well even when one movement is not quite there yet. Heck, you know me, I get excited when I am not last!
Herein lies the puzzle.
I am aiming him at Five Points in September. I just love the events at Carolina Horse Park, I very much like the new organizer, Marc Donovan, and am intruiged to see what Hugh Lochore does with the XC courses. I always run into eventing buddies there and it's my own little vacation. It will be a little longer this year since it will be a three-day event over three actual days (although XC last, poo on FEI format), so I will have to be little more clever with my scheduling.
Do I enter at Novice? He hasn't run XC since this spring, but we need to do a school anyway since he needs to practice jumping into water. He is bold and honest and I am confident on course. Stadium and dressage will be very easy, even if I manage to hold my breath and crap up our dressage test, it's not like he can't do it.
Or do I go for the Training moveup at my home showground where I know the land and the facilities? CHP may be familiar, but it is rarely soft for the level, especially after Southern Pines I in March. The last thing I want is to overface us. Solo and I ended badly, but it didn't have much to do with the level, nothing to do with XC, just a horrible time snafu. And, as I did with Solo, Encore will do Training height during at least a jumper show and CT before we go.
All of this will require a financial investment as well. I need to be sure, via lessons and schooling shows, that we are prepared for anything so no officials or volunteers have to be horrified (I certainly don't appreciate it when riders make me gasp with fright when I volunteer, although I certainly know 'oh shit!' happens!). I also need to be very frugal and make sure we are getting the most bang for our buck. It's not like spare change is lying around here.
It's something I am going to have to feel out. I will be chatting with David about it after our lesson on Sunday to get his feedback and seeing how Encore does there and in our XC school, TBD. I will NOT get greedy and end up moving up prematurely simply because I want to run at T. Safety first!!!!
It's an exciting puzzle, even though I don't know the answer. Were I closer to NoVa and had lots of money, my options might be different, but I'm not and I don't, so I need to find a schedule and an approach that will work best for me and my horse as individuals. Hmmmmm..........
Encore feels good. He's moving well, working well, and improving. I am sure he will be lame again (he is still a horse), but for the time being, I want to enjoy him while he is GOOD. Actually, I'm terrified to let Dr. Bob inspect him for fall shots, for fear of him finding a sore spot I didn't know about!!
But it means a lot of decisions.
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| The flying Throughbred at Becky's in March. He's back! |
He's perched on a brink, level-wise. We've been hard at work on the assignments from Becky and Eric, and always in the background are our exercises from David and Priscilla, and he just keeps getting better. He is working confidently in the long lines and I am encouraging him to increase the swing of his shoulder little by little.
What this all boils down to is that he is getting very close to being ready to move up to Training. How exciting is that?????!!! So, while he will probably break himself, I'll just pretend...
The jump is there. 3'3" is not an issue for either of us and we have schooled there quite a bit. My eye is accustomed to it, as is his. The gallop is there, naturally, heh. The basics of the dressage are there. He doesn't have an extended trot yet and we still need to work on crisper transitions within the gaits, but that doesn't worry me very much. I am completely of the view that the dressage is always a work in progress and even scorewise, you can still do very well even when one movement is not quite there yet. Heck, you know me, I get excited when I am not last!
Herein lies the puzzle.
I am aiming him at Five Points in September. I just love the events at Carolina Horse Park, I very much like the new organizer, Marc Donovan, and am intruiged to see what Hugh Lochore does with the XC courses. I always run into eventing buddies there and it's my own little vacation. It will be a little longer this year since it will be a three-day event over three actual days (although XC last, poo on FEI format), so I will have to be little more clever with my scheduling.
.JPG) |
| Jumping into CHP water complex in Sept 2012. Looky but willing. |
Or do I go for the Training moveup at my home showground where I know the land and the facilities? CHP may be familiar, but it is rarely soft for the level, especially after Southern Pines I in March. The last thing I want is to overface us. Solo and I ended badly, but it didn't have much to do with the level, nothing to do with XC, just a horrible time snafu. And, as I did with Solo, Encore will do Training height during at least a jumper show and CT before we go.
All of this will require a financial investment as well. I need to be sure, via lessons and schooling shows, that we are prepared for anything so no officials or volunteers have to be horrified (I certainly don't appreciate it when riders make me gasp with fright when I volunteer, although I certainly know 'oh shit!' happens!). I also need to be very frugal and make sure we are getting the most bang for our buck. It's not like spare change is lying around here.
It's something I am going to have to feel out. I will be chatting with David about it after our lesson on Sunday to get his feedback and seeing how Encore does there and in our XC school, TBD. I will NOT get greedy and end up moving up prematurely simply because I want to run at T. Safety first!!!!
It's an exciting puzzle, even though I don't know the answer. Were I closer to NoVa and had lots of money, my options might be different, but I'm not and I don't, so I need to find a schedule and an approach that will work best for me and my horse as individuals. Hmmmmm..........
July 20, 2013
Lusting After Your Own Absorbine TryPak???
That title ought to get me some Google hits, ha! But you know you are.
Well, now you can win one. And I'm going to tell you how.
Get ugly.
That's right. And now I'm going to explain (apparently, I'm in the mood for announcing intent).
We all know us working class horse people are broke. Some of us more than others. As a result, I do not buy a replacement item until its predecessor has well and truly collapsed into a panting corpse at my feet and gasped its final effort.
Example. My VERY favourite gloves, a pair of mesh-backed Moxie gloves, never too slippery, never too sticky, always comfortable, inexpensive, and with a lifespan of TWO YEARS, as opposed to 6-10 months for my traditional SSG All-Weathers.
As an aside, I do now own a pair of SSG Digitals and another of SSG 10 Belows (sale on both) and they are worlds above the All-Weathers and so far excellent after their first year.
When I finally had to give up on my dear Moxies, my skin was getting peeled off because they looked like...well, just look left.
It was a real shame -- had it been any other finger but my rein finger, they would have lived on, because the top still looked like...yep, look down.
I happened to be in a tack shop and replaced them with a pair of leather and mesh Heritage pull-ons...which got the first hole in the finger (I apparently have devil monkey claw fingers and toes, you should see my socks!) in ONE WEEK. BooHiss. This is what I longed in today (below). The rest of the summer fall will be spent in a pair of sale SSG crochet-backs.
OMG, woman, this is the longest contest description ever! Yes, you're right. But here's what you do:
-Click the email link in my sidebar and send me an email titled "My Awesomest Gear."
-Attach a photo to that email of your most persistent piece of equipment (dang, I should have taken a picture of my half chaps that are legally old enough to drive!).
-If I don't get some photos of duct tape and hay string, I'm going to cry.
-Make sure all photos are submitted by Thursday, August 1st.
I want to see ugly, I want to see determined, I want to see creative! However, said piece of equipment must still be in regular use. I'm going to count on your honour for that! I will post the top ten photos and the FIVE most talented salvagers (that's right, say thank you to Absorbine generosity) will be chosen bymy mere whimsy careful scientific rankings to receive your very own Limited Edition TryPak Of Shiny Goodness to rock out in travel-size convenience at your next show or just to wave around the barn to the envy of everyone else.
Get out there and start collecting photos!! May the most desperate poverty-warrior win!!
That title ought to get me some Google hits, ha! But you know you are.Well, now you can win one. And I'm going to tell you how.
Get ugly.
That's right. And now I'm going to explain (apparently, I'm in the mood for announcing intent).
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| Snif. |
Example. My VERY favourite gloves, a pair of mesh-backed Moxie gloves, never too slippery, never too sticky, always comfortable, inexpensive, and with a lifespan of TWO YEARS, as opposed to 6-10 months for my traditional SSG All-Weathers.
As an aside, I do now own a pair of SSG Digitals and another of SSG 10 Belows (sale on both) and they are worlds above the All-Weathers and so far excellent after their first year.
When I finally had to give up on my dear Moxies, my skin was getting peeled off because they looked like...well, just look left.
It was a real shame -- had it been any other finger but my rein finger, they would have lived on, because the top still looked like...yep, look down.
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| 2 yrs, perfectly fine! |
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| What they look like today. I just cut off the fingers when they fell apart. |
-Click the email link in my sidebar and send me an email titled "My Awesomest Gear."
-Attach a photo to that email of your most persistent piece of equipment (dang, I should have taken a picture of my half chaps that are legally old enough to drive!).
-If I don't get some photos of duct tape and hay string, I'm going to cry.
-Make sure all photos are submitted by Thursday, August 1st.
I want to see ugly, I want to see determined, I want to see creative! However, said piece of equipment must still be in regular use. I'm going to count on your honour for that! I will post the top ten photos and the FIVE most talented salvagers (that's right, say thank you to Absorbine generosity) will be chosen by
Get out there and start collecting photos!! May the most desperate poverty-warrior win!!
July 19, 2013
In Which Apologetic Blogger Is Apologetic Again
Maybe I should rename the blog, ha. But I am sorry, I have not been able to write much for quite some time. The process of pulling the farm together has been a road of a million steps, although at least now, much of the legwork for the house construction is done. The job and the rest of life, along with trying to keep Encore strong through his back and hind end (success!) during busy season, just eats me alive!
I have so many posts floating around in my head, in draft form, on a list, but it's so hard to get them from that rather scary place to here. I know that those of you who spend a lot of time writing know what I mean: in order to write something meaningful, that I believe in and can read without cringing or falling asleep, the vibe has to be right, for lack of a better description. Energy, time, mojo, and heart have to come together for the creation.
It feels as if things are coming together on the farm front, although once construction starts, that just a whole new road with its own set of steps! But I remain hopeful that as we move into fall, I'll be able to get some more writing in and have less crises to deal with.
Up next though, hang tight for a contest! You can win your very own Absorbine TryPak to make your very own shiny steed -- I hope to have details up this weekend, so keep an eye out and be a winner!!
I have so many posts floating around in my head, in draft form, on a list, but it's so hard to get them from that rather scary place to here. I know that those of you who spend a lot of time writing know what I mean: in order to write something meaningful, that I believe in and can read without cringing or falling asleep, the vibe has to be right, for lack of a better description. Energy, time, mojo, and heart have to come together for the creation.
It feels as if things are coming together on the farm front, although once construction starts, that just a whole new road with its own set of steps! But I remain hopeful that as we move into fall, I'll be able to get some more writing in and have less crises to deal with.
Up next though, hang tight for a contest! You can win your very own Absorbine TryPak to make your very own shiny steed -- I hope to have details up this weekend, so keep an eye out and be a winner!!
July 16, 2013
Absorbine Shine!
I owe the good folks at Absorbine a massive apology, but the climate has just NOT been cooperative. I think we had something like 30+ straight days of rain, which is unreal for Carolina spring/summer.
But ages ago, Absorbine sent TFS a nifty new product called the TryPak. In this handy, dandy travel-sized kit is an equine body shampoo/conditioner, a green spot remover, and, naturally, their classic detangler/shine product, Showsheen.
So I set to work (once it finally took a rain break for about an hour) giving it a go with the ambassador of shine himself.
Solo was more than happy to be lavished with the attention as I soaked and scrubbed. Shampoo first, then the stain remover on his white socks, and I finished by brushing the showsheen over his body and through his tail.
How is that for a clean orange horse?! All three products worked really well and I was especially impressed with the stain remover, which got his legs amazingly white. I absolutely recommend you give it a try! We may even have a contest for you to win some of your own coming up shortly -- I just have to check with Absorbine, who may have disowned me by now for taking so long!
Hopefully, the sun is shining where you are today, we finally have a few moments respite from the clouds peeing on us here! So I'm heading out to enjoy the blue skies while I can --
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| Getting the horses in from the pasture. |
So I set to work (once it finally took a rain break for about an hour) giving it a go with the ambassador of shine himself.
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| Mr. Shiny is doing his best to impersonate Mr. Muddy. |
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| Maybe the world's shiniest horse isn't the best demo, but Encore is always clean! |
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| Here, mom, let me adopt my most awkward pose for you! |
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| Now he has serious shine and immaculate white legs!!! |
Hopefully, the sun is shining where you are today, we finally have a few moments respite from the clouds peeing on us here! So I'm heading out to enjoy the blue skies while I can --
July 7, 2013
Cross Country Indoors!
The first sound I heard upon waking for cross country day was the drip of rain on shingles. My heart sank as my fantasy of finally galloping my horse on Waredaca's turf evaporated. Much to my surprise, however, the sadness was misplaced. As we arrived to help set up new jumps in the indoor, I saw that Eric managed to create interesting, challenging questions that taught just as much, if not more due to the horses' lack of distraction, as being out in the field might have!! That man has some undeniable talent!
There was a different focus for each group. For ours, it was moving your horse forward in balance, both straight and through turns, and using your rhythm and pace to be competitive with accuracy and planning. Making it even more educational was our eclectic group of horses. Beth rode her experienced Prelim TB mare (a fantastic Silver Charm daughter with overflowing enthusiasm), another Adult Rider friend rode her green OTTB gelding, one of Kate Chadderton's young working students rode her spectacular jumper of a pony, and I had Encore, still rough around the edges, but making real strides in consistency and approaching readiness for Training level.
It was hard.
As we warmed up at the trot, we were instructed to look at all the possible lines, approaches and turns for each jump. Eventing is not about beating each other, it's about beating the course designer. So we trotted around, looking at everything.
Then we were told we were terrible at it, ha (learning isn't all roses, and I very much liked that, with each passing day, we were held to a higher standard, with no malice, but with a strong sense of accountability). That wandering around in warmup without riding the lines of the course (when this option is available) is a complete waste of time -- ride the turns, ride the approaches, know what every. single. option. is.
By take three, we finally got more aggressive as a group and attacked the arena much more critically, although the Stern Irishman was not exactly impressed. I could see by their faces that my lesson buddies were determined to kick some butt now too!
An important point about your first warmup jump for cross country: its purpose is to wake the horse up. Not to be pretty. Not to win an eq medal. Ride that horse forward to the jump and don't do a darn thing. If he crashes through it like a gorilla, he wasn't awake. He will be on the next one, unless he's as dumb as a post, in which case you probably should not leave the start box. And you sure don't want to find that out on the very solid first jump out on course!
We worked both ways through a simple bounce and then added a jump or two following it, keeping the emphasis on riding forward (don't you add that stride!!!) and being quick with your eye to guide your horse to the next jump.
Now it was time for the meat: turns. This is where many people lose time and when you are trying to be competitive at Training and above, time matters. It's also a good thing to practice at all levels. Truly good cross country riding isn't about who can run the fastest. We ride racehorses for goodness sake, they're plenty fast. Good cross country riding is about who has the most finely tuned technical skill, who has laid the best foundation on their horse to be sharp and accurate on course without sacrificing balance or rhythm. Watch Britain's Fox-Pitt or Germany's Jung and you will quickly see what that means. Skill, finesse, and a concrete plan A, B, C, D, and Z.
This is where it got ugly (for us!). Encore is very capable of sitting on his butt, stepping under himself, and turning beautifully. However, I had never schooled this skill on such a tight line (it was about a 12 m circle), so we both looked something like AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!! JUMP!!
After Eric got me to stop pulling on the inside rein, though (NOT ALLOWED), and really pushing with my outside leg, Encore quickly began to understand what I was asking of him. That big crash in the middle is actually not him hitting a rail -- that is me pulling the whole standard down with my toe! Go big or go home!
Before long we were able to put all this together and even add a constructed corner to finish off in style.
I cannot fully express my gratitude to Beth for not only setting this up, but making it possible for me to participate. She is amazing! Thank you too to Sunset Hill and Kate Chadderton for their hospitality and beautiful facility. Kate is great fun and a lovely, patient rider; look for her and her current *** mount, Collection Pass, as they gallop towards 2014's Rolex!
And of course, thank you to Eric Smiley -- a wealth of experience, knowledge, an incredibly deep and thorough understanding of horsemanship and correct riding and training, generous, hilarious, helpful, gifted, fun yet disciplined, and with that quick eye of an excellent teacher and equestrian. Thank you for sharing so much and for putting up with the weird girl, haha.
There was a different focus for each group. For ours, it was moving your horse forward in balance, both straight and through turns, and using your rhythm and pace to be competitive with accuracy and planning. Making it even more educational was our eclectic group of horses. Beth rode her experienced Prelim TB mare (a fantastic Silver Charm daughter with overflowing enthusiasm), another Adult Rider friend rode her green OTTB gelding, one of Kate Chadderton's young working students rode her spectacular jumper of a pony, and I had Encore, still rough around the edges, but making real strides in consistency and approaching readiness for Training level.
It was hard.
As we warmed up at the trot, we were instructed to look at all the possible lines, approaches and turns for each jump. Eventing is not about beating each other, it's about beating the course designer. So we trotted around, looking at everything.
By take three, we finally got more aggressive as a group and attacked the arena much more critically, although the Stern Irishman was not exactly impressed. I could see by their faces that my lesson buddies were determined to kick some butt now too!
An important point about your first warmup jump for cross country: its purpose is to wake the horse up. Not to be pretty. Not to win an eq medal. Ride that horse forward to the jump and don't do a darn thing. If he crashes through it like a gorilla, he wasn't awake. He will be on the next one, unless he's as dumb as a post, in which case you probably should not leave the start box. And you sure don't want to find that out on the very solid first jump out on course!
We worked both ways through a simple bounce and then added a jump or two following it, keeping the emphasis on riding forward (don't you add that stride!!!) and being quick with your eye to guide your horse to the next jump.
Now it was time for the meat: turns. This is where many people lose time and when you are trying to be competitive at Training and above, time matters. It's also a good thing to practice at all levels. Truly good cross country riding isn't about who can run the fastest. We ride racehorses for goodness sake, they're plenty fast. Good cross country riding is about who has the most finely tuned technical skill, who has laid the best foundation on their horse to be sharp and accurate on course without sacrificing balance or rhythm. Watch Britain's Fox-Pitt or Germany's Jung and you will quickly see what that means. Skill, finesse, and a concrete plan A, B, C, D, and Z.
This is where it got ugly (for us!). Encore is very capable of sitting on his butt, stepping under himself, and turning beautifully. However, I had never schooled this skill on such a tight line (it was about a 12 m circle), so we both looked something like AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!! JUMP!!
After Eric got me to stop pulling on the inside rein, though (NOT ALLOWED), and really pushing with my outside leg, Encore quickly began to understand what I was asking of him. That big crash in the middle is actually not him hitting a rail -- that is me pulling the whole standard down with my toe! Go big or go home!
Before long we were able to put all this together and even add a constructed corner to finish off in style.
I cannot fully express my gratitude to Beth for not only setting this up, but making it possible for me to participate. She is amazing! Thank you too to Sunset Hill and Kate Chadderton for their hospitality and beautiful facility. Kate is great fun and a lovely, patient rider; look for her and her current *** mount, Collection Pass, as they gallop towards 2014's Rolex!
And of course, thank you to Eric Smiley -- a wealth of experience, knowledge, an incredibly deep and thorough understanding of horsemanship and correct riding and training, generous, hilarious, helpful, gifted, fun yet disciplined, and with that quick eye of an excellent teacher and equestrian. Thank you for sharing so much and for putting up with the weird girl, haha.
July 6, 2013
Clinic Videos From Show Jumping Day
Yep, I'm taking the lazy way out for these. Highlights covering most of the types of exercises Eric used to get the horses rhythmic, straight, and balanced.
Warming the canter up over a pole. Circle good, corners bad. While Encore's trot needs to be much more forward at the beginning, I soooo excited about how much more steady he has become in the bridle.
Basic warmup line. Don't allow your horse to speed up (I did, several times, oops), don't make a bid for the fence, do relax and wait for it to happen in its own time.
A single vertical on the circle (notice a circle trend?). I'm super proud of Encore in this one, he is such a pro!!!
Of course, right after that triumph, I did this. But I think it illustrates an excellent point that Eric made often: YOU are in charge of finding the canter and the line. Then you pass the torch to your horse and he is in charge of jumping whatever it is you point him at.
And our last course.
Warming the canter up over a pole. Circle good, corners bad. While Encore's trot needs to be much more forward at the beginning, I soooo excited about how much more steady he has become in the bridle.
Basic warmup line. Don't allow your horse to speed up (I did, several times, oops), don't make a bid for the fence, do relax and wait for it to happen in its own time.
A single vertical on the circle (notice a circle trend?). I'm super proud of Encore in this one, he is such a pro!!!
Of course, right after that triumph, I did this. But I think it illustrates an excellent point that Eric made often: YOU are in charge of finding the canter and the line. Then you pass the torch to your horse and he is in charge of jumping whatever it is you point him at.
And our last course.
July 2, 2013
Learning With An Irish Smile
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| Quick vid capture from today's jumping warmup |
Every clinic is different. Infused with the personality and riding style of the technician, distilled over years of experience and mistakes and triumphs, and hopefully capped with the flourish of their unique teaching style. Eric Smiley is no different.
It's difficult to accurately convey the details of this one though. With a quiet humility and a ready smile, he says he's "not one of the big boys," but with accomplishments from 1982's Irish Field Event Rider of the Year to 2012's Belgian Olympic Team Coach, one could certainly insist that there is more than one definition of big.
A gifted instructor, he makes a quick connection with all of us, asking each rider (1) what they like most about their horse and (2) what is one thing they would like to fix THAT DAY. "People coming to clinics always have a long list of negative things about their horses, but I want to get you to think of what you enjoy about them." And this is only the first of many questions and insights that strip away all of the fuss and details and noise surrounding How To Ride Your Horse and reach down to the heart of what we are trying to accomplish and polish the gems of wisdom passed down through generations of horsemen.
I'm a visual, logical, process-oriented person; I like to understand why I am doing something and what end I am trying to achieve. This is probably why I enjoy listening to all of Eric's lessons. There is no "use outside rein, now more leg, now your left buttcheek, now inhale three times..." Instead, he challenges us to really think about and engage into each ride, using questions aimed at simplifying and streamlining how you approach riding and training. These are concepts which you then fill in with details and through this, deepen your understanding. For example...
What is forward? The horse should be taking you. Not you chasing him or tapping him or nudging him.
What is impulsion? Energy that you can then do something with. I thought of it this way: trying to ride without impulsion is like trying to wash a car with an empty bucket.
What does 'through' mean? There are NO blockages in the flow of energy from your leg to hind leg to hock to stifle to hip to back to neck to poll to jaw to hand. So, are there? Examine each of these areas.
How many ways is it possible to jump a fence? Four -- twice in each direction, one turning left and one turning right. Know them all for every fence you see.
How do we turn our horse after a fence? Using the outside aids. Then the eyes and the inside hand show him where to go.
and...
DON'T RIDE CORNERS! Yes, that's right. Why? Because they are hard. Try that one at your next lesson, ha! But in all seriousness, because almost no one rides them correctly. They lose impulsion and rhythm in the corner, so when schooling your jumps, keep your lines on a curve and your energy flowing forward, stay out of the corners and you won't get stuck in them. I heard this one alllllll day today, stadium day.
But I already know these things, you protest. Perhaps, but have you really, really thought about them, the biomechanics and the definitions and the reasons, and applied that directly to practice?
Encore has been, in short, a gem. On dressage day, I identified my one project as consistency -- in contact, in rhythm, in outline. I'll be damned if he wasn't solid as anything. Today, throughout the entire jump school, he remained attentive, balanced, steady as a metronome, and jumped as round and lovely as you could ever want.
Giant breakthroughs? For us, no (although several other riders have made amazing strides with their mounts, particularly the very green horses). Well, I was told my lower leg was completely wrong and got my stirrups jacked up two holes, details... However, the sessions have nonetheless been extremely valuable to me by offering not only a vastly simplified way to think about what and how I want to ask my horse, but perhaps even more noteworthy, how to think about what is NOT working. You can't fix a problem if you don't understand the cause!
What do you do when your horse is hanging on the bit? Push his hind leg farther beneath him with your leg. Why? Because if he is hanging, there is too much weight on his front legs. Placing his hind leg farther beneath his body shifts his balance back a bit, weighting his rear through the hocks and lightening his front end. He is, quite simply, a teeter totter. Understand this dynamic and you have the power to manipulate it into any variation of balance you desire.
Tomorrow is the best part, naturally, as we head over to Waredaca, just down the road, to school cross country both to ours and our horses' delight. We've been lucky so far and not really been rained on, as well as having the benefit of Sunset Hill's massive indoor arena. If the weather will hold until 3 pm, everyone will be home free!
Naturally, a wonderful part of it all, and one of the reasons I love this sport, is the people. Meeting (and perhaps re-meeting, hey, I have a terrible memory) fellow Adult Riders, spending time with the awesomeness that is friend Beth, soaking up my doggy fix, margaritas by the pool and the best sangria you've ever tasted (hey, these things are important) and basking in the exchange of knowledge and skill between teacher and rider and horse; all of these pieces just make me hungry for more.
June 30, 2013
Where I Remember Why I Live Where I Do
It's been a long day.
Running late as usual, I scurried up to the farm to pick up Encore so we could head north for our clinic (see previous post). The air was the classic Carolina "air you can wear" and I was wet as a fish after filling a few ziplocs with feed and opening the trailer doors. Ah, summer.
Gathering Encore and hugging Solo goodbye, something caught my eye as we began walking down the hill.
"Waaaait a minute," I told my horse. "Show me both of your front shoes!"
Alas, there was only one. I did a quick walk of their paddock while calling my friend in Maryland to see if she could line up a farrier before we rode on Monday. As per usual, the shoe was nowhere to be seen (I swear he picks them up and hurls them out of the field) but the farrier was successfully wrangled into meeting me Monday morning. Ah, horses.
Loaded up, we headed north, aimed at Richmond, Fredericksburg, DC, and then Maryland. Naturally, we made it allllmost to Fredericksburg before traffic slowed to a crawl. It's been several years since I've had to deal with any real traffic, I forgot that 47 gazillion people live up here. Ah, cities.
I found an alternate route and picked my way around the morass that is DC and its environs. It turned a 4.5-hour haul into a 6-hour one, but we arrived safely and Encore, the traveling pro that he is, hopped off the trailer, glanced over the premises for two seconds, and dropped his head to graze with a sigh. Ah, those crazy Thoroughbreds.
He is tucked in for the night and I have thoroughly enjoyed a shower and REAL FOOD!!! I'm again lodging with friend Beth, who lives not far from Waredaca, where I volunteer at the fall T3DE/N3DE. We'll be riding there during the clinic on XC day -- I will finally get to live part of my goal to ride that course! Beth is off picking Eric Smiley up from the airport, as he will be bunked with us as well. Meanwhile, I will sit enthralled in front of her enormogigantus saltwater aquarium watching the butterfly fish chase each other. Ah, pretend life.
Running late as usual, I scurried up to the farm to pick up Encore so we could head north for our clinic (see previous post). The air was the classic Carolina "air you can wear" and I was wet as a fish after filling a few ziplocs with feed and opening the trailer doors. Ah, summer.
Gathering Encore and hugging Solo goodbye, something caught my eye as we began walking down the hill.
"Waaaait a minute," I told my horse. "Show me both of your front shoes!"
Alas, there was only one. I did a quick walk of their paddock while calling my friend in Maryland to see if she could line up a farrier before we rode on Monday. As per usual, the shoe was nowhere to be seen (I swear he picks them up and hurls them out of the field) but the farrier was successfully wrangled into meeting me Monday morning. Ah, horses.
Loaded up, we headed north, aimed at Richmond, Fredericksburg, DC, and then Maryland. Naturally, we made it allllmost to Fredericksburg before traffic slowed to a crawl. It's been several years since I've had to deal with any real traffic, I forgot that 47 gazillion people live up here. Ah, cities.I found an alternate route and picked my way around the morass that is DC and its environs. It turned a 4.5-hour haul into a 6-hour one, but we arrived safely and Encore, the traveling pro that he is, hopped off the trailer, glanced over the premises for two seconds, and dropped his head to graze with a sigh. Ah, those crazy Thoroughbreds.
He is tucked in for the night and I have thoroughly enjoyed a shower and REAL FOOD!!! I'm again lodging with friend Beth, who lives not far from Waredaca, where I volunteer at the fall T3DE/N3DE. We'll be riding there during the clinic on XC day -- I will finally get to live part of my goal to ride that course! Beth is off picking Eric Smiley up from the airport, as he will be bunked with us as well. Meanwhile, I will sit enthralled in front of her enormogigantus saltwater aquarium watching the butterfly fish chase each other. Ah, pretend life.
June 23, 2013
Time, Energy, Money
All of these things have to line up AND coincide with having a sound horse if we want to ride and advance our training. I usually hit one out of three...
Encore feels fantastic. He is sound and solid and bright and shiny, having made real strides forward in the connection department once his rider figured out how to diminish her energy-blocking. And damn, he looks sexy. Which you'll just have to take my word for at the moment as I need a new picture. Oh, and energy to actually ride him.
My special Solo man, to my surprise and pleasure, also looks like a million bucks. He is in perfect weight, with a copper shimmer and his trademark Quarter Horse muscle, despite doing pretty much nothing as Amber and I both scramble to keep up with demanding summer schedules. And just a week ago...why yes, that IS a horse show ribbon he is wearing! Always one to do things his own way, he placed -- at a Walking Horse show.
Ehhhhh?
You heard me right. Our farm was hosting a local show with 500 classes (it felt like). I've enjoyed watching them and have volunteered as well, carrying score sheets, directing riders, announcing, what have you. That Saturday, I had brought Encore, and then Solo, down to watch the action for a change of pace. BO exerted his finest peer pressure and threw his Western saddle onto Mr. Shiny's back, so I gave in. I like to support people who treat and train their horses with respect and kindness anyway!
The English divisions and games had come and gone, so we had to find an appropriate category from what remained of the Western division. Thoughtfully attired in the pictured bridle with Solo's favourite bit, BO's massive Western saddle (honestly, I don't know how you people carry those things around, LOL!), a very old pair of slightly undersized tan breeches, suede half chaps that are officially old enough to drive, and a slobber-painted tank top (erm, thank goodness the show is casual), we marched in to the Trail Pleasure 2-gaited Go As You Please class with about 9 other horses. I am sure the judge enjoyed the picture of style and grace I presented. Where everyone else flat walked and running walked, we simply walked and jogged (oh yes, he can).
I think Solo enjoyed himself; I just wanted him to feel special again and do something for him. It was hardly taxing shuffling a few laps. I was not out there to achieve anything and spent most of the class with a relaxed smile, pondering the miracle of walking into a class at a show with no warmup after standing parked in the shade under a tree. Of course, this was not our discipline, we were just there to have fun and support the "home team." Our co-inhabitants work very hard at what they do!
This week will find me flailing about in our rivers in search of rare mussels, but after that, the young beast and I head up to Maryland for an eventing clinic, thanks to the generosity of a great friend, with Irish ex-Cavalry officer and Olympian, Eric Smiley. More on that one to come as soon as the schedule allows!
Encore feels fantastic. He is sound and solid and bright and shiny, having made real strides forward in the connection department once his rider figured out how to diminish her energy-blocking. And damn, he looks sexy. Which you'll just have to take my word for at the moment as I need a new picture. Oh, and energy to actually ride him.
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| I iz not gated horze. |
Ehhhhh?
You heard me right. Our farm was hosting a local show with 500 classes (it felt like). I've enjoyed watching them and have volunteered as well, carrying score sheets, directing riders, announcing, what have you. That Saturday, I had brought Encore, and then Solo, down to watch the action for a change of pace. BO exerted his finest peer pressure and threw his Western saddle onto Mr. Shiny's back, so I gave in. I like to support people who treat and train their horses with respect and kindness anyway!
The English divisions and games had come and gone, so we had to find an appropriate category from what remained of the Western division. Thoughtfully attired in the pictured bridle with Solo's favourite bit, BO's massive Western saddle (honestly, I don't know how you people carry those things around, LOL!), a very old pair of slightly undersized tan breeches, suede half chaps that are officially old enough to drive, and a slobber-painted tank top (erm, thank goodness the show is casual), we marched in to the Trail Pleasure 2-gaited Go As You Please class with about 9 other horses. I am sure the judge enjoyed the picture of style and grace I presented. Where everyone else flat walked and running walked, we simply walked and jogged (oh yes, he can).
I think Solo enjoyed himself; I just wanted him to feel special again and do something for him. It was hardly taxing shuffling a few laps. I was not out there to achieve anything and spent most of the class with a relaxed smile, pondering the miracle of walking into a class at a show with no warmup after standing parked in the shade under a tree. Of course, this was not our discipline, we were just there to have fun and support the "home team." Our co-inhabitants work very hard at what they do!
This week will find me flailing about in our rivers in search of rare mussels, but after that, the young beast and I head up to Maryland for an eventing clinic, thanks to the generosity of a great friend, with Irish ex-Cavalry officer and Olympian, Eric Smiley. More on that one to come as soon as the schedule allows!
June 17, 2013
How To Make A Lasting First Impression
Perhaps you have a job interview for that dream position or perhaps you are pitching a hot new idea at a big meeting. You want to blow their minds, right, and be certain that you are the hot topic for the rest of the day?
Do I have the solution for you!
This brilliant scheme was first practiced on a beautiful Saturday morning as BFF and I prepared to meet the group on our Mount Rogers trip last month. The horses were tacked up and I had longed Encore briefly, since he had demonstrated an abundance of energy and he was wearing some new saddlebags. Everything was purring along smoothly and our farrier came splashing across the creek to pick us up and lead us to the group rendezvous.
We mounted and followed him back through the trees to a small meadow where roughly eight other horses and riders awaited. Encore had been placid as a lamb on the longe and marched calmly along just in front of BFF's Pete. Entering the clearing, I smiled and waved at the group, as we did not know anyone except for farrier and his family.
"Hey, peoples!" I called gleefully. The greeting is key to the success of this approach, as it maximizes your chances of being seen.
No sooner had the words left my mouth, then Encore transformed from quiet trail horse to apocalyptic explosion.
As he leaped straight into the air like a gazelle, it felt exactly like sitting on a horse who is being stung by bees (been there, done that). Yet there had been hardly any flying insects and all the other horses were watching in frozen amazement.
The first leap hurtled me vertically and to one side, but I had a leg on and felt like things could still be saved. But then I received the memo that there was a second leap. All hope was lost.
Luckily, at this point in my life, when being catapulted from an equine, I have learned to relax everything and roll with it (the deathly Solo fall was sadly, not a catapult situation). While I landed hard, the impact was mostly to my head, shoulder and elbow, and I quickly rolled onto my back. No harm, no foul (although I will be taking advantage of Saturday's helmet sales!), thanks to the ever-present noggin protector. Without the latter, our weekend would have ended very messily right there.
Encore ran in a circle to his friend, Pete, and stopped, trembling. I jumped up and walked over to him -- hey, my instinct is to FIND MY HORSE, since a certain orange beast was always one to run off -- to inspect him and try and solve the mystery. We never were able to confirm much. He was unhurt, no signs of bites or stings. He did jump when I touched the saddlebags (I longed him in them and he has worn his own, very similar ones, heaps of times!!!) so I moved them from the cantle to the pommel of the saddle. I climbed back on and he was fine.
He was not being spooky or naughty or even excited. Something convinced him that he was being suddenly stung and it scared the life out of him. For a horse who spooks by standing still and getting very tall, I would never expect that kind of panic reaction, but he is still a horse and apparently believed that full-body rocket-launch was the only escape!
I am damn sure, however, that no one will EVER forget that entrance!!!
This post brought to you by WEAR YOUR FREAKIN' HELMET!, inc.
Do I have the solution for you!
This brilliant scheme was first practiced on a beautiful Saturday morning as BFF and I prepared to meet the group on our Mount Rogers trip last month. The horses were tacked up and I had longed Encore briefly, since he had demonstrated an abundance of energy and he was wearing some new saddlebags. Everything was purring along smoothly and our farrier came splashing across the creek to pick us up and lead us to the group rendezvous.
We mounted and followed him back through the trees to a small meadow where roughly eight other horses and riders awaited. Encore had been placid as a lamb on the longe and marched calmly along just in front of BFF's Pete. Entering the clearing, I smiled and waved at the group, as we did not know anyone except for farrier and his family.
"Hey, peoples!" I called gleefully. The greeting is key to the success of this approach, as it maximizes your chances of being seen.
 |
| I didn't mean to... |
As he leaped straight into the air like a gazelle, it felt exactly like sitting on a horse who is being stung by bees (been there, done that). Yet there had been hardly any flying insects and all the other horses were watching in frozen amazement.
The first leap hurtled me vertically and to one side, but I had a leg on and felt like things could still be saved. But then I received the memo that there was a second leap. All hope was lost.
Luckily, at this point in my life, when being catapulted from an equine, I have learned to relax everything and roll with it (the deathly Solo fall was sadly, not a catapult situation). While I landed hard, the impact was mostly to my head, shoulder and elbow, and I quickly rolled onto my back. No harm, no foul (although I will be taking advantage of Saturday's helmet sales!), thanks to the ever-present noggin protector. Without the latter, our weekend would have ended very messily right there.
Encore ran in a circle to his friend, Pete, and stopped, trembling. I jumped up and walked over to him -- hey, my instinct is to FIND MY HORSE, since a certain orange beast was always one to run off -- to inspect him and try and solve the mystery. We never were able to confirm much. He was unhurt, no signs of bites or stings. He did jump when I touched the saddlebags (I longed him in them and he has worn his own, very similar ones, heaps of times!!!) so I moved them from the cantle to the pommel of the saddle. I climbed back on and he was fine.
He was not being spooky or naughty or even excited. Something convinced him that he was being suddenly stung and it scared the life out of him. For a horse who spooks by standing still and getting very tall, I would never expect that kind of panic reaction, but he is still a horse and apparently believed that full-body rocket-launch was the only escape!
I am damn sure, however, that no one will EVER forget that entrance!!!
This post brought to you by WEAR YOUR FREAKIN' HELMET!, inc.
June 12, 2013
Never Say Never
Of course, they also say, "Never say die," but that latter is rather unavoidable.
Sorry, that's just how my wacked brain works!
For those of you who intently follow the sputterings of TFS on Teh Facebooks, I left you hanging with a teaser...and no one guessed the surprise. To be fair, there was really only one guess.
It has been a large secret that I have kept close, both for fear of jinxing it by pronunciation and to avoid publicly riding the roller coaster of hope and disappointment that is inevitably part of the process. At this point, however, there is ink on paper and machinations kicked into motion and numbers in blanks, so I will rip the sheet off and unveil...
...hay?
HEY! YES, IT IS -- the future home of Flying Solo Farm. That will be the view of the main field from my back door.
*interlude for gasping, choking, staring, inexplicable giggling, and head explosion*
Believe me, I have had every thought you are having right now. No way. WTF? That's is awesome! That is terrifying! So many things to plan. So many bills...
And so on. Although it's been a road thus far traveled with all the speed of a three-legged tortoise.
The idea popped up two years ago, taunting at the edge of vision. I do SO MUCH driving. Not even counting work travel, I drive up to the BO's farm almost every day after work and on weekends. If I take the horses somewhere, I often end up going north to pick them up, then turning around and driving south, PAST MY HOUSE, to get to our destination. That alone is almost two hours of wasted time by the end of a trip. At the farm, I provide all of my own feed, do a fair bit of my own pasture management, trick out my shed, and fix things that I can when they break. I have mowed, I have dragged, I have repaired arenas and moved jumps. Really, I am paying them to feed my horses in the mornings and keep an eye on them when I am out of town.
That's a lot of time and a lot of money. So I began watching the real estate market. Did I dare dream the impossible dream? Just idly at first, but as I began to crunch numbers, my intentions became more serious. Mom and I chatted and schemed and I discovered that, with planning and the right property, I could have a house on ten acres, eliminate a ton of driving, and still pay the same mortgage payment I am paying now, for 0.3 acres. That tipped the scales all the way to yes.
It still took a full two years of poking, looking, examining, offering, withdrawing offers, soil testing, and mapping before I stumbled upon a hidden gem about 15 miles from my current house. One of two plots being sold by a couple who no longer needed the extra pasture, unwanted by their kids, the gorgeous pieces of property, in established grass (over a year of work if I had to clear land, not to mention the cost of $3-4,000 per acre) and fenced (that's worth $7-10,000 right there), hid among giant oaks and sweet gums at the end of a two-track drive, about 0.3 miles off the road.
Perfect bliss. Even if the beautiful trees and old pond fished by herons and seranaded by chorus frogs weren't enough to convince me, the day of my first visit, as I stood in the main field with the landowner, listening to great stories, both of our eyes turned to a quick motion on the hillside. A grey fox trotted up to the top and paused, glancing over his shoulder at us. I'm quite the pragmatist, but I decided to indulge myself and took the glance from one of my favourite native species as a quiet welcome.
I have a house and a shelter to build, a well to drill and a winter's worth of hay to buy still, but my planning gears are whirling away at Mach 27. I have floor plans and a survey map and a contract, so by the end of the summer, I hope construction will be underway. I don't even use the barn I pay for now and I don't like to stall the horses, so once there is some shelter, all I have to do is throw out a water tub and the boys can move in!
Now, there's just the tiny matter of 10 acres of grass to mow. Tractor donations accepted! :D
It's a whole lot of empty right now, but we flagged the general house corners yesterday and I hope to bring in some bed material for the driveway in the next couple of weeks. One of the best (and most important!) parts is the community. The landowner and his wife are wonderful people and they, along with a trainer (ex-eventer who is a big client of my farrier!) and two other families, are a close-knit group of horse owners and lovers who keep an eye on each other's homes and critters. That, combined with the road set-back, gives me an immense feeling of privacy and safety, as I will have qualified folks to watch out for my boys when I must be hard at work in the rivers.
All of that certainly makes this land worth every single penny, but there is even more! It is connected to infinity miles of trails, winding through two counties for hours on end for conditioning and relaxation. The trainer next door has a large arena and jump field (oh, she will meet me soon, yes she will, LOL) of her own. And perhaps most valuable to me, the seller is a fencing contractor. Which means not only does he have farmer saavy, but he has several large tractors which have fenced in thousands of acres of land, and an implement that I may consider for my new best friend (sorry, BFF, I still love you!): a post pounder which can drive a telephone pole into baked-hard ground, complete with rock spike for splitting those Carolina roadblocks. No more driving t-posts for me!!!!
Ok, ok, I am stopping -- these is much work to be done. You would never guess it by looking at my fur-covered, laundry-piled house, but I relish each task. Despite years of sweat, I still never mind the hard work if it is to the benefit of the horses. Vacuuming floors? Meh, no one sees them but me and I can still walk. Putting up electric tape or enclosing sheds or moving hay or dropping feed? Let me at it! It will be a while yet before the red beasts and I co-habitate and it will be rather bittersweet to say goodbye to our barn family, but I still can't wait to no longer pay board...and water and sewer and city taxes on my home/truck and a bazillion gallons of diesel a month. If the horses are able to ever eat all that grass, I will need to purchase winter hay, but I am lucky to have two or three friends nearby who already have good suppliers, as well as a co-op by the office who gets phenomenal stuff all year-round if I'm in a bind.
This time next year, I hope that I will be able to drink a beer as the sun sets behind me, slipping its last rays across the backs of two very happy horses. Maybe by then I will be able to afford beer. Maybe...
Sorry, that's just how my wacked brain works!
For those of you who intently follow the sputterings of TFS on Teh Facebooks, I left you hanging with a teaser...and no one guessed the surprise. To be fair, there was really only one guess.
It has been a large secret that I have kept close, both for fear of jinxing it by pronunciation and to avoid publicly riding the roller coaster of hope and disappointment that is inevitably part of the process. At this point, however, there is ink on paper and machinations kicked into motion and numbers in blanks, so I will rip the sheet off and unveil...
HEY! YES, IT IS -- the future home of Flying Solo Farm. That will be the view of the main field from my back door.
*interlude for gasping, choking, staring, inexplicable giggling, and head explosion*
Believe me, I have had every thought you are having right now. No way. WTF? That's is awesome! That is terrifying! So many things to plan. So many bills...
And so on. Although it's been a road thus far traveled with all the speed of a three-legged tortoise.
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| North of the main field: lots of room for dressage and jumping! |
That's a lot of time and a lot of money. So I began watching the real estate market. Did I dare dream the impossible dream? Just idly at first, but as I began to crunch numbers, my intentions became more serious. Mom and I chatted and schemed and I discovered that, with planning and the right property, I could have a house on ten acres, eliminate a ton of driving, and still pay the same mortgage payment I am paying now, for 0.3 acres. That tipped the scales all the way to yes.
.jpg) |
| To the south, pasture goes downhill to creek. Too wet to bush-hog atm. |
Perfect bliss. Even if the beautiful trees and old pond fished by herons and seranaded by chorus frogs weren't enough to convince me, the day of my first visit, as I stood in the main field with the landowner, listening to great stories, both of our eyes turned to a quick motion on the hillside. A grey fox trotted up to the top and paused, glancing over his shoulder at us. I'm quite the pragmatist, but I decided to indulge myself and took the glance from one of my favourite native species as a quiet welcome.
I have a house and a shelter to build, a well to drill and a winter's worth of hay to buy still, but my planning gears are whirling away at Mach 27. I have floor plans and a survey map and a contract, so by the end of the summer, I hope construction will be underway. I don't even use the barn I pay for now and I don't like to stall the horses, so once there is some shelter, all I have to do is throw out a water tub and the boys can move in!
Now, there's just the tiny matter of 10 acres of grass to mow. Tractor donations accepted! :D
.jpg) |
| I'll look out front door to driveway (left of fenceline) and this paddock. |
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| Pines around the pond, at the west end of the jump field. |
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| The eastern edge of main field. |
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| Looking backwards over jump field, west to the pond, which lies over the hill, behind the trees. |
All of that certainly makes this land worth every single penny, but there is even more! It is connected to infinity miles of trails, winding through two counties for hours on end for conditioning and relaxation. The trainer next door has a large arena and jump field (oh, she will meet me soon, yes she will, LOL) of her own. And perhaps most valuable to me, the seller is a fencing contractor. Which means not only does he have farmer saavy, but he has several large tractors which have fenced in thousands of acres of land, and an implement that I may consider for my new best friend (sorry, BFF, I still love you!): a post pounder which can drive a telephone pole into baked-hard ground, complete with rock spike for splitting those Carolina roadblocks. No more driving t-posts for me!!!!
Ok, ok, I am stopping -- these is much work to be done. You would never guess it by looking at my fur-covered, laundry-piled house, but I relish each task. Despite years of sweat, I still never mind the hard work if it is to the benefit of the horses. Vacuuming floors? Meh, no one sees them but me and I can still walk. Putting up electric tape or enclosing sheds or moving hay or dropping feed? Let me at it! It will be a while yet before the red beasts and I co-habitate and it will be rather bittersweet to say goodbye to our barn family, but I still can't wait to no longer pay board...and water and sewer and city taxes on my home/truck and a bazillion gallons of diesel a month. If the horses are able to ever eat all that grass, I will need to purchase winter hay, but I am lucky to have two or three friends nearby who already have good suppliers, as well as a co-op by the office who gets phenomenal stuff all year-round if I'm in a bind.
This time next year, I hope that I will be able to drink a beer as the sun sets behind me, slipping its last rays across the backs of two very happy horses. Maybe by then I will be able to afford beer. Maybe...
.jpg) |
| Looking from the jump field south across main field to creek hillside pasture. |
June 10, 2013
The Overachiever Achieves Not
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I've been sucked into this trap. Where I get on Encore, we warm up, he is going well enough. Then, because I'm tired, because my brain checks out, because I'm hot, it's late, blah blah, I begin to pick. No, you've dropped your shoulder. No, you need to step under. No, you need to relax your jaw. No, you need to slow down.
Pick, pick, pick.
And we both end up annoyed after rides that are too long.
Because in this, there is too much no. When what we really need to get back to is yes.
After I get done being angry at myself for not thinking more clearly when I'm in the saddle, for making the wrong decisions, for focusing on the wrong things, for losing track of our forest path among the trees...
I reset our conversation to the affirmative. Yes, that is a lovely contact! Yes, that is how you move away from leg! Yes, that is the perfect rhythm! Yes, I would love for you to move forward!
I remember to choose a clear goal: ride the line is a soft rhythm. Pick up an uphill, balanced canter. Bend through your body on the circle. When we have achieved our ride goal, we are done. If we make a mistake, we simply ask again, seeking not so much to correct the mistake, but to reward a better attempt after creating an opportunity, a space for that attempt to exist.
Ohhhmmmm, grasshopper, feel the zen of yes.
June 8, 2013
Beauty Discovered: A Ride Through The Rogers Neighbourhood
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| This OTTB doubles as an ATV |
When you reach the wind-stripped grassy balds on the roof of this world, you can't help but catch your breath at the ancient beauty of weathered rock, once an ocean floor, and a patchwork of dark and light, evergreens scattered amid the paler greens of deciduous trees and wiry grass. It seems like there is never enough time to take it all in before you, like the crystalline streams rushing beneath the rhododendron, must tumble back down the boulder-strewn hillside to camp.
This is Mount Rogers National Recreation Area, a jewel we have chased for years and only now gotten to experience for ourselves, thanks to a generous invite from our farrier and his family. Alongside it, the equally majestic Grayson Highlands State Park, both in VA We stomped over about 18 miles of trails on Saturday and perhaps 8 or 9 on Sunday. When can we go back?
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| It's not easy being green...in the parking lot |
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| A handsome pondering of the climb. |
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| Pete sees an opening to fuel up... |
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| What happens when you point in front of a 5-year-old |
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| Hey, take my picture! |
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| Erm...that doesn't look like Encore... |
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| Ummm...over here... |
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| Are you drunk? Or hanging off the side of your horse? |
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| See, like this! Pete strikes a handsome pose at the top. |
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| The Scales. A historic livestock weigh station. |
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| All trails go up. |
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| Feral ponehs! |
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| The ponies check us out in Grayson Highlands State Park. |
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| Farrier and his boys get a closer look. |
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| Squeeeeee! |
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| It's a wee bit rocky... |
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| You got anything good for lunch??? |
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| Beautiful balds. |
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| The group reaches the summit in Grayson Highlands. |
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| Too...much...pretteh...must...stop...camera... |
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| But I wasn't the only one enjoying the view...THANK YOU, JOHNATHAN AND DONNA! |
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