Sew the Seeds of Success

"Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal."

~Henry Ford

 

Wow. So here we are end of day Thursday and I am blogging about Tuesday's gym. Work to say the least has been hellish and this weeks rides have been a mixed bag. We have had some 'aww' inspiring moments and some let us say 'dull-esque' moments.
I think these moments tend to inter-mingle because my height of gleefull-ness has been reached so anything remotely offsetting leaves me up for hours, scouring my training materials for 'what went wrong' and how I must fix it right now!

Annnnd we all know, as horse teachers/learners, that with horses everything and I mean everything is a slow process. Well.. other than how quickly they burn through your pocket book each month but let's not talk about that, it is too depressing.

My personality to sum up is.... impatient-perfectionist. Yes, that is good!
When I discover a 'problem', whether it just be the strain in the gradual transitioning of the training scale or albeit an actual hole in our training which is no longer skimming the surface but rather rearing it's ugly head, I must fix it now, not tomorrow. Now! But that just does not work with horses. So let me repeat the overdone words of a dear friend, "You are being too hard on yourself. Relax, enjoy."


I relaxed.... a whole 7 hours while I slept! Ah-hah. It does work, thanks friend! I figured out where my 'schwung' was going. Pally-wally is getting bored again. I just cannot keep up with new ideas. Smarty pants.

This week I have been very fortunate. I have had a few epiphanies lets call them.
I have discovered a new way to really 'feel' for straightness and I have learned why Dear Mare can go from one moment carrying herself/me softly to a head raised in my face, (not really, but it feels that way), choppy mess.
Her muscles are tired! She can't hold it anymore.

Enough of the dressage complexities for today, it is reminding me too much of calculus right now. My poor brain...



This weeks grid work was revolutionary. It has been a long time since I have had this sensation of sorts. (Don't go there Terri, I can see your virtual giggles while reading this).
Here is a visual for you. Saves explaining.

Why I chose this...

Pal is stronger on her right hind than left so it ends up making her drift a little. So this is the reason for steep X's on the in and out.
The 18ft in between the x - vertical - x allows her one stride between jumps, which doesn't allow her to get too long and flat, which she loves to do.
The medium sized, 2'9, vertical makes her rock back on her haunches and lift her shoulder up and around the jump. Tightening up that loose-ness below the knees. Another thing Pal is known for, tidy square knees, dangling below.

Why this is my new favourite exercise...
*insert shocked face*. I just cannot say enough great things about this. I loved it. We started off without the vertical, just with the steep X's and a pile of poles in place of vertical, trot in. This gave her a good amount of time to figure out what is expected of her today and wake her up a bit. (Poor gal is getting pretty stuffy being stuck indoors.)
Trotting in and lack of middle jump made for a little longer canter stride so she got a little flat and careless, but important thing was she made a change the next time through and fixed it all by herself. My little thinker!
We went through both directions in canter too before popping up the vertical. This is where it would be lovely to have a jump crew. Eckham DH...just kidding.
I quickly popped up the vertical, did a couple halt-back-canter transitions to make sure our heiney was intact and listening. Then proceeded through the exercise fully set up.
Instant greatness!!

Oh, wow. The feeling was incredible. We entered in a collected canter, stayed straight and then it happened... Pal rocked back, I felt her haunches sink down and her shoulder lifted up and through! It felt like the jump power was flowing through me. I didn't even have to think jump position which is HUGE on a horse with a flatter EQ type jump. We landed, one stride and again straight!

I didn't push it, we went through a couple times in both directions and I called it a night with a large grin and gritty teeth from too much smiling. (A little dusty on this frigid night).
Pal was clearly happy with herself. She was all snorty-sighs and donkey ears.

*sigh*

These are the moments where you WANT someone with a camera phone around.

Note! I did order a little tripod for my phone. So I should be able to start blogging some vids! Saweet.

Coming soon.

Steady On!

“The simple things are also the most extraordinary things, and only the wise can see them.”

-Paulo Coelho

 

'So you want to ride today eh?...'


Here we are, another Monday. Most Monday's find me in pretty well the same mood as last week. I truly believe we should all take a note from the PC game The Sim's and have little mood 'thermometers' above our heads. It truly would make things much simpler...

Fortunately, today I am not grumpy! Big plus! Clear to approach without caution...
I have officially started my Christmas countdown on my desk calender. To be honest, I am not sure why Christmas is so exciting to me these last couple years. I don't care about the presents, (...and I am not just saying that so Santa brings me the new or new to me CWD saddle I have been eyeing. I understand Santa isn't THAT rich). But something about the buying/giving presents, the baking, the family time and the holiday music just puts a smile on my face.
I also have a mini countdown for decoration and tree time. I flat out refuse to be one of those people who put up their tree and lights in November. That is just wrong. (Sorry November decorators but Christmas should not take up 1/6th of the year, it must be reserved for it's special month).


On to more diversely interesting topics. My last couple rides have found us struggling with getting a bit more uphill connection. We get it, we lose it, she tries to stretch down, we regroup... rinse, repeat. Chronicles of the ever so slightly longer horse and the obsessive co-pilot.

*insert sound of rusty seesaw*.

I completely understand the principals of why we want to now start bringing the poll up and increase activity in the haunches but my thoughts are clashing with the necessity of doing so at this point in Dear Mare's training and job.
We are hunter's after everything is said and done. Despite our dabbling, which is merely to have fun and expand OUR mental capabilities. And the fact of it is, her warmblood side has blessed her with the physical attributes that help her do what I am asking for now without any real need for more carriage, though more carriage is lovely! (May I thank Thunder for introducing me to this. Damn thing is like a Lays chip. Can't just have one!)
So my question for myself is, do I accept that she physically does not need to be as 'up' as some horses to get the same things done? Accept that she likes to stretch out into the bit? Or do I keep pushing for a little more because I know she is capable...


Having a night to sleep on it, or stew and google more like, I think I know the answer but sharing my inner turmoil always seems to work out the kinks for me so I see things a little more clearly.
I have resolved to the age old mare decorum...        'Ask and you may receive."
So I will stop telling and I will steady my hand and leg. I will merely whisper my request. What I get? Eh, I am sure it will depend on the day.


Saturday was a lovely sunny day, before the freezing rain...
I went off to the barn with my new asking 'tude, had the ride all planned out. I was going to set this awesome pole work exercise that I have recently discovered and work on my 'ask', I was so pumped!
Thennn... I saw the outdoor ring. The snow was mostly melted. No more ice and the wind was no longer slapping me in the face but just a gentle lick.
Plan . Outside play time!
I groomed in record time, thank you blanket, tacked up and headed out. Realized half way out that the mounting block is now inside. Meh, too lazy, time to improvise. I stationed Pal on the ditch side of the culvert and awkwardly clambered on as she decided that this was an opportune position to reach out and graze with minimal bending. Ugh.

Once on, we went out to the grass ring and got attacked by a plastic grocery bag trapped in a slight wind gust. That was fun... These are the moments I am glad I don't have people around. People have camera-phones. One picture. A million years of taunting.
After the bag incident, everything was ferocious and terrifying. The jump fillers ... still outside, oops, the dog ball in the middle of the ring, the snow patch on the long side, and not mentioning the devilish pony deciding this was all great fun and a good time to participate.
What happened to my chill app?

The ride continued and we actually got in some GREAT work. Pal was very forward and uphill. Soft to my aids and my 'ask and relax' was very well received.

Steady on!

 

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Remembering the Little Things...

Time flys...
Wow, as of yesterday, it has officially been two whole years since DH and I were hitched on the sandy shores of Sandals Whitehouse in Jamaica.
I swear it feels like it was only a couple months ago.

I still remember having a *** fit about the humidity affecting my hair. I had had it all planned for months! I grew my hair to an uncontrollable length through show season, got it all streaked and ready for beach waves, all to have it come crashing down when the weather decided to be 35 degrees with 90% humidity.
I have to commend Josh on going through with it after seeing that dramatic flare-up. Ha.


I took the day off work and had a lovely morning ride while the snow fluffed to the ground in heaps and later we took the long drive to the now tradition, Keg restaurant. We had the most succulent filet's, oh man. Seriously, how do they out-do themselves every time! Oh! And we tried bacon wrapped scallops. (Yum- and I don't do seafood until recently).
Ugh. Why did I have to write this right before lunch. I am starving now...


A bit more on my ride....

I decided since I actually had the sun on my side for once, that I would take a little extra time at the barn and come up with a good gymnastic. I wanted one where I could work on my riding and Pal could also work on figuring things out for herself.
I came up with this.... (it is a little hard to see).

It was a pole in the arena center along the wall, four regular or a shortened five stride curved line from pole to each jump. Left side being a small 2'6 vertical and right being a 2'6 wide, square oxer.

Object of the day was to warm-up the exercise trotting large over the pole and over the vertical. Getting in some trot fence work. Reverse. Tracking right, trot over vertical, pole on long side and canter large, over the vertical again, pole, back to trot.
Then same thing but canter large tracking right, canter pole, curve to oxer.

When cantering from pole to jump - I decided to keep a soft three point position and aim for the five strides. A- because we are inside and B- because the line was steeper curve.

Afterwards, I pushed for the four, it wasn't the tidiest jump over the oxer, though vertical seemed just fine since it didn't require much effort.
Finally, I combined the whole exercise. Starting with the oxer, tracking left. It seemed to give her a bit more room and time to stretch over the jump. (We are still working on the compacting/power of her jump, we still rely a bit too much on the canter to keep things together, but it is coming!).
Then over the canter pole and curving over the vertical. I didn't worry about striding this time through. My goal at that point was to shorten my release a bit, sit up a little sooner after fences, remember to keep riding and allow Pal to figure herself out.
We did go through tracking right, but it was a bit tougher. Pal likes to flatten out in the canter, I had to sit up and give a little half-halt a stride out from the oxer to remind Pal to sit up and not get too deep. This worked like a charm. 
Looking at the photo now, I wonder if she saw a vertical from far out and was realizing too late that it was an oxer. Maybe we need to use Swedish oxer next time.

Overall, it was a pretty good but tough exercise which I think I will use again. I want to tweak it a bit somehow... the curve was pretty tight but I am limited with space. Maybe a slightly less curved three strides?
This exercise really pointed out how I float the reins on landing and how slow I am to sit back down/up. Bad hunter habits... tisk tisk. But hey, I didn't have time to micro manage!

Tonight, I plan to set poles in places of the jumps and work on striding and bending around my leg and through our corner without me dropping mine and Pal's inside shoulder. Amazing how easily little things are forgotten and how much of a difference they make.


P.S. Please visit fellow blogger's silent auction page to help fundraise for the Weenie Eventers! https://www.facebook.com/groups/1503496206603295/

Wicked Winds of the West...

Let me start off by saying sorry to Buffalo, NY.... we get crazy winds Tuesday, they get truly INSANE snow! I know I shouldn't complain...

Needless to say DH and I have anxiety about torrential rain and extreme winds ever since we built the house last year. But where mine is manageable by a simple hop, skip and a jump next door to engross myself in horsey-time, DH's becomes an anxiety filled obsession. Poor guy.

Last time we had winds like that some of our brand new, August 'sealed' shingles blew off in a huge hunk. Of course, being the OCD-ist's that we are we had to fix them right that second, mean while the 70-90km gusts threaten to flatten me right then and there. Let's not talk about my ladder holding experience and the dislocated finger...
We fix it enough to hold... get everything away, and WHAM more fly off. Oh brother...
End all, be all, everything turned out o.k when our roofer immediately came over, climbed up and patched everything for the day and returned the next day with a slew of guys to replace and repair their error.
Nevertheless, the experience leaves one a little scarred. So when those winds surged to the 70-80km gusts we were 'eckhaming' our pants a bit.

What do I do? Barn time! I go to the basement to dig out my quarter sheet and winter gear since it was freezing, all to find my quarter sheet in tatters. What the heck!
I figure mice must have gotten into my 'horse stuff' bins when we had them stored in the storage locker before moving into the house. Crap on toast! Ah well, no gusting on my parade today, hehe.
I tootle off to the barn looking like an abominable snow-woman hoping I don't terrify the horses.

I arrive to the barn to find all the horses snugly tucked into their beds for the night. I peer over the stall door and Pal gives me a look that could be interpreted as nothing else but, "You cannot be serious right now.. are you deaf!".
Drag the pony out and decide this is probably a good time to start blanketing now. I toss her rug on to make sure it still fits... well.... either the mice ate part of the strap and then sewed it back on with Martha Stewart finesse or dear pony has gotten a 6-8 inches more fleshy from the beginning of this year to now. I swear, I do ride. I know I don't have many witnesses to my 6AM mornings these past few months but honestly they happened, every day!

Moving on, we tacked up and headed out. I had a second thought that I should probably text someone to let them know I am currently alive and now venturing into the vehement sounding unknown and to come check on me if you don't hear from me in an hour.
Be brave woman! Thou, must make horsey bomb proof! You are holding your future niecy's life in your hands by means of a three-quarter inch leather strap wrapped about a now... much larger than 5 minutes ago, 1000lb animal.



It is not too late to
turn back you know....

I hopped on and despite one butt-tucking, flight induced slam of the garage arena door rolling down the last 6inches, Pal was a pro.
I did however get a few of these fuzzy-faced looks from her.... I am quite glad horses cannot speak English.




Most people at the barn think I am nutty for riding in these kind of conditions, (or riding with the arena sprinkler going hehe), but I think it is a great experience for both rider and horse. You get to find out what spooks your horse and how to ride it through in a controlled setting. And your horse gets that much more know-how and trust in their rider. It makes many of those other, 'Omigosh', life flashing moments seem much less dramatic. Not to mention I swear I get more of a , 'We-got-this!' attitude for the future.

Fuzzy nemesis..

Oh and might I add my nemesis, (yes, I admit we recently had Star Wars marathon), for the evening was this new Weaver Fleece tush warmer. I am really not pleased with it's performance. My entire ride this thing slipped and slid, sideways and backwards.
No matter how much I enforced the thought of, 'holding the $50 bill to the saddle via butt-cheeks' method, it still slipped back enough to pull off one side of the cantle or another.
I did have a slight yearning for those, super annoying, trailer strap downs.
You know, the crank ones that you strap around lumber to keep it from moving....? Yeah, those!
I quickly discarded the concept when I pictured my very fashion forward riding bud's face upon first sight of me sporting a bright red flapping tie-down wrapped around my saddle. Hey it is DIY! Why you hatin'?

OH! And the shingles survived to live another day! Success! *knock on wood*.

Motivation Monday's..

Please?  Today I have a case of the Grumpy Cat's. I really have nothing to be grumpy about in the first place but it just crept up on me. And no, it isn't what you are thinking. The weather is a dreary snow-slush mix, the wind is chillingly damp and the days are short.                                                                                               Where art thou Sun? I am in serious need of some vitamin K here.                                                                                                        

 

First off I have to give a shout out to my DH who is offically another year closer to thirty today. Yay! Better you than me... (Sorry hunny but atleast I didn't post your real age.)

Yesterday, I made a pretty killer, if I do say so myself, Walnut Praline yellow cake with Maple Cream Cheese Icing.

I had made big goals this weekend for my horsey life. I planned to bring in all, or nearly all, of the standards and fillers that my I...er my DH made this year for me. (Who knew pallets could be so versatile- and Free! I see a DIY jump post coming in near future). I was also planning on riding with my long-lost-but-recently-found riding budday, Mitchell (Name has been altered to protect the innocent), annndd finally I was hoping to have a fantabulous last 2014 riding school in the outdoor grass arena.

I should give myself a 'PASS' since I did manage a, however measly, 66.6% sucess rate.. right?

EHH! My inner visual dialogue just gave me three red X's on that one.

Why brain, why must you have continuously inner turmoil for missing ONE, just ONE equine session!

I am not sure about anyone else but I take my riding/horse very seriously, maybe obessively. Missing even one, occassional, scheduled day seems comparible to calling in sick to work because you want to have a day chock full of Gain scented jammies and Vampire Diaries. (Yes.... I love that show and please note that I've only called in twice in 5.5 years).

 

Continuing on, Sunday was chock full of DH birthday fun while my inner voice took the backseat throwing snarky comments at me about not getting to the barn today. We opened presents, yes, we... I get presents on his birthday too since our wedding anniversay is two days after! Woo I planned that well didn't I?!

We completely overstuffed on junk before dinner, lazily stuffed down pizza followed by tea and cake with more visitors and presents!

Eight o-clock rolled around, now empty house (even puppy went to Grandma's for a few days to play with her canine niece and nephew), and my, still naggging, inner voice plopped down in the passenger seat and started spouting goals for the rest of this month.

 

Hmm... what to choose.

I force myself to pick goals and exercises otherwise my motivation wanes something serious...

 

I am leaning towards jumping back on the bandwagon and doing stirrupless Thursdays again. It is great for the winter since I sweat my butt off and pony stays warm but sweatless which is great because I don't clip.

 

What goal for my weekly gym? I am thinking of continuing last week's gym and turning the poles into some bounces... decisions. More on that later...

 

I also need to figure out why I am having a periodic left hip muscle ache. It seems to flare up after riding and originally began this spring when I devoted myself to figuring out how to sit the trot without faking it.

I am thinking it has something to do with my bracing through my lower back/hip not to mention I do tend to twist left when I ride.

What is weird is that I have finally developed my feel enough that I CAN sit the trot. You would think the dull ache would disapeer...

I wonder if it has anything to do with Pal too. With all the work bringing up her balance and poll she does tend to lean on my hands as a fifth leg now and then. (I know, I know. I have to nip this completely too- we are working on it).

 

 

I flat out REFUSE to admit it is aging!

Feature Feedback Friday

Diversity...

 

Those who know me know that I can be a little unconventional or let us say diverse with my ideas on things. I am very sensitive to detail and application so when I am passionate about something it seems to dominate my thoughts. Most call this OCD but I like to say that I am devoted. (A crazy person would know they are crazy no?)

My biggest passions are DIY... or well DIY directing as hubby does the 'do-it-yourselfing', (I must save my precious energy for my riding you know), cooking and of course horses. But you really are not here to read about my fav meal plan or my latest DIY's... yes, I make meal plans...but it is not OCD!

This last year I have been really digging deep into my riding and not just focusing on my hunt seat training thanks to a friend who thinks I am 'too hunter'. At first it was a struggle but I cannot believe where my riding and horse are now compared to winter of 2013.
I am a DIY-er with my riding in respect to both dictating and doing. I take lessons and clinics periodically yes, but mostly I read, listen and observe.
Reading articles within many different disciplines anywhere from hunter, jumper, eventing, reining, western pleasure, dressage and natural horsemanship you get to experience all sorts views and opinions and some times flat out different thinking. But incorporating the ideas that resonated with me into my riding has been the most enjoyable part.
I am not a rider who believes that there is one way to do, train or explain something to your horse or yourself for that matter. I believe in doing what works for you and your horse. Along with classical equitation of course.

Using what I have learned in the past year I have uncovered a new leaf sort of speak. My horse understands me better and I understand her MUCH better. We are both happier. What more could you ask for right?

Now, you are probably wondering what my biggest revelations have been. For sake of keeping this blog post within the restraints of a 15-20 minute work break I will share one per week on Friday's. Let's call it.... Feature Feedback Friday?

- Treading the canter; or otherwise posting the canter. I remember watching some HITS footage and seeing Kelly Farmer, (I believe it was), posting in the canter. I immediately turned up my nose and said to a fellow hunter friend. "What the freak is that? It is hideous!". I don't honestly remember what she said but I recall researching it shortly after, like I do with many of my new found riding materials, and quickly discarding the thought of ever using it.
Well. I realized if I am to say I educate my horse, how can I do it without knowing all material. How/if it works and why? How are we to say what is right and wrong if we don't understand it?
Anyways, I tried it these last couple weeks and I have to report great things. Needless to say I am going to be incorporating this into my training. I admit it is ugly but this is a great training tool for my mare and I feel it would be for both slow or quick horses.
This is a fabulous warm up tool for regulating and balancing the stride whilst staying off the horse's back.

Lately, with all the work we have been doing on compacting my mare's long body to really get that impulsion from the haunches and bringing up the poll to a good working 'box', as I like to call it, her canter has gone from *insert music*, 'home on the range smooth' to quite rocking horse like.
I am happy with the progress don't get me wrong but she just isn't strong enough to keep herself together on her own. And as I help her I have to maintain my own position, balance etc thus, I was on the lookout for little tricks to help us both.

Note; I have only tried 'treading' on Pal but what I found was that it enabled me to warm her up in the canter, stay off her back, meanwhile, working on helping her balance, regulate the stride/tempo AND give me a little strengthening exercise for my core and legs.
I have to mention that getting the hang of this exercise was hard. The canter just didn't seem to have the impulsion that the trot has to get out of the saddle. Well, it does! It is just different. It is more of a onnneee-twoo-onnnnee-twoo, compared to the trot's onne-Two-onne-Two.
End result of this, I found Pal was almost instantly softer on the bit, her back was really lifting creating a supple but supporting 'drawbridge' from haunches to shoulder and she was leading me forward! Not pulling. What! This effect normally takes me 30-40 minutes and by then my ride is ending.

Overall, I cannot say enough about this exercise. However ugly and unconventional it looks, it is note worthy.
Apparently those Pros with with six figure horses really do know their... manure. Cool!

Channeling Our Inner Beckham...

Pal and ball pre game pep talk.
'You will go where I kick you, got that?...'

Yesterday's weather was a total tease, 17 degrees and sunny!  Hmm...call in for a mental health day anyone? I wish!

I got to the barn at about 6:30, set up this weeks gym, finally having the revelation that my course walk steps are about 4 feet, not 3 as I had originally thought. Duh!

One would think I would have had a thought to re-evaluate my set up before immediately jumping on the 'we have a serious problem' bandwagon, followed by the ensuring days of I can't ride depression? Poor Pallie.

Geeze. That is almost as bad as Googling a healthy symptom.

Symptoms; headache, itchy eyes, sleep, snotty.....*wait for page to load... GASP*

"You should contact your local physician immediately!"

 

Skillzzz!

Anyways... after fixing my set-up and showing off our new, completely Olympic worthy, horse soccer skills to my hubby we started the warm-up routine.

 Every time I ride I try to switch things up to keep Pal's brain awake but it can be tough. Some days she is just not 'in the zone'. Our warm up was one of these days.

I used a 2 then 6 and then 9 leg, nothing.... stick... nothing and then spur, which only got me an angry tail swish for attention. Warmblood brain, how I despise thee!

This happens now and then, always when we are inside and she is bored...

Ok, that is it. We are going to wake up now! So we did a few halt, back-up, canter transitions. Finally! We are going somewhere!

Lastly, I dropped my stirrups and wrapped my legs around her barrel and did a full bear hug with my legs. HI-HO Nelly! Now, she knows I mean it ... today.

I do have to admit... maybe I should make this small print, no one ever reads the small print... some mornings I just didn't have the energy to outsmart her and she knows on those days if she gives me some semblance of effort, I accept it. I am bound to fix my slacker induced riding!

 

 

Moving forward now, quite literally, yay! We continued our warm up and turned down the quarter line for the grid. I immediately thought, ok, sit up, weight down, LEG!

Normally, trot in grids or fences result in a very lack luster performance. Usually starring me as I do my best impression of a bobble head with the jarring trot jump popping. But, I was determined to keep the impulsion in the trot, make Pal rock back and PUSH up and over the fence rather than relying on expert leg lifting and Newton's Law of Gravity.

Ok, this is it! *enters and exits grid, landing with a lovely balanced canter on the right lead* Wee Hoo! Good pony!. (note: I have been scrunching my left side all summer suddenly wondering why we are always executing flying changes, however lovely, but why did we not land? We always land...).

 

Thinking it a fluke we went through again. Even better this time. Changed direction, uh oh, going right, this might be tough. Nope! Very relaxed and hullo impulsion!

I decided to pick up the canter and go through one last time as a reward, canter is always easier for her to jump but canter poles... not so easy. We came out the other side, me with a grin giving her lots of thanks and Pal giving a couple victory snorts of pleasure.

Cool out time! That was way... too good of an effort today. No issues finding our feet over canter poles AND we rocked the trot jump. Get it rocked? Haha I know, funny right?  Ok. I am done.

 

We did try to get a video but apparently I forgot that my cam was full of niecey photos. Darnit! Oops. Sorry Dez but this was a monumental moment of collaboration.

 

 

 

 

*Post Ride Celebrity Interview*
'Yes Jim, I am very pleased with today's performance - Do I hear an encore?'

 

Rise and shine! ... No?

So I am happy to announce that my summer schedule of riding Monday through Friday at 6am before work has ended!
Gone are the lovely sunny and revitalizing 5am sunrises...
Hello to the seemingly endless dark and dismal nights. Sunshine? What? When?


All mid-spring through summer everyone thought I was ready for the looney bin. I would wake up every morning at 5am, ( ...aaanndd I don't do mornings), drag my cozy butt out of bed, pour myself into riding tights, t-shirt and sweater, brush hair/teeth and pretty near waltz to the enticing aroma of caffeine beckoning me to its side.
The first five minutes were the worst! But with the days first cup of wonderful nectar in my hands and the beautiful serene sunrise just peaking over the misted horizon I thought.... "Wow! I think I get it.". At that moment I swear I remember thinking what a peaceful start to the day this was. I can do this! What could be better than spending the first couple hours of daylight with your horse. Lofting through the dewy grass ring, hearing only hoof falls and the contented snorts.....

Day after day this was my ritual. Until this seemingly endless season of darkness reared it's ugly head!

This last month has been... rough, to say the least. I still managed it! Most days....
And now rather than the usual morning greetings when arriving to the already hustling barn I have found myself squeaking out a barely audible... '...morning', or on worse days, expect a nod.

The rest of the work day went on just as it did before but to my wonder my coffee cup recycling stack has become the Leaning Tower of Pisa, then I notice as 2:00pm rolls around I find myself praying to not conch out on my desk.
Finally, to my bewilderment, I am not seeing 9:00PM anymore and 10:00PM .... wait.... You mean 10:00am don't you? Yeah.... I don't think I have seen 10:00PM in weeks.
I start panicking... it sort of reminded me of when I found my first gray hair, which is gone, thank you! I am not old yet....Am I?



Needless to say, seeing as the attempt at waking up yesterday and today in a timely manner clearly failed. I have decided to admit defeat and swap onto winter schedule early *cries*.


Well, I guess if I am admitting it is winter, I should probably ditch the stirrups and call it gymnastics time!

HA! Funny... let us start with gymnastics shall we? Ok. My goal is to have a new gymnastic to work through every week , focusing on weaknesses that I have been noticing as of late.
Mind you they will short gyms or multi element since space inside is an issue but I feel this forces accuracy and doesn't give my brain a whole lot of time to over think.

For Paloma, straightness, impulsion and balance seem to be our biggest short comings.
For me, staying centered and not micro managing often flare up.


This weeks gymnastic. Poles placed entering and exiting and along sides to create lanes. I like about 10ft between personally. Basic vertical with placing poles each side.
This exercise isn't about height, it is about accuracy and balance. Allowing the horse to work through it. You set the rhythm, trot or canter in, leg on, up off the back and let it happen.

I personally am going to use this as a trot in to a 2.6/2.9 fence, later letting my mare finish off with a canter in as reward since canter in will be easier for her.
With Pal/me, I made this exercise because she relies too much on the canter to take the fence and doesn't use her haunches to rock and push, she tends to get a bit drifty because I have a bad habit of scrunching my left side and we needs to work on balance. (Being a little long she likes to stretch out but then falls on the forehand.)

Expected, (or should I say hopeful?), outcome would be to use the trot in to increase strength and encourage rocking back and tunnel poles to help me/her stay straight and finally the last pole to re balance.

To make this a little trickier, if all goes well, I will move through the grid, ride deep in the corner and along the other long side, transition from canter to halt. Turn on the forehand off my outside leg and trot or canter off.  (The dressage coach I take lessons from now and then gave me this last TOF exercise to really encourage the haunches to work in the transition.)


Cross fingers. Let's hope it goes well. I am an avid planner but tend to deviate...

 

Lest we not forget.

And so it began...

Let us start out this blog with a bang shall we?

Well. I am not much of a 'bang' person, so I am just going to dive in, get my blogging suit on and start with the current times...

Show season has officially ended here, though, I really didn't get to any shows this year. A combination of 'life happens' got in the way but hey, that is okay! No pressure, just more time to prep our 'sparkle' for next year. (I read an article, Jane Savoie maybe? She described what cannot be described when you and your horse have an 'it' moment as 'sparkle', it stuck!).

This year comprised of playing with my fabulous mare Pal, and taking on another mount, Thunder, while his mommy decided to take time to bring his little sister into the world. I know rude right? Just kidding Mitchell ;).

Thunder, sporting our bling!

Thunder is a great guy. Challenging yes, but the talented ones usually are aren't they. He has some serious 'sparkle' and a back cracking jump that leaves the best chiropractor wanting! Seriously... don't try to keep your pretty on and give a lovely pose at the apex of the jump, he is supposed to shine here not you!
I often have a inner commentary when I ride Thunder. It seems to consist of the song, "I'm sexy and I know it..." *insert background music*. He knows he is pretty and he isn't afraid to show it.... when someone is watching. When you are alone though, rides consist of Thunder teaching me how to ride properly. How not to ask for transitions so heavily.. you want canter? You got CANTER! And how to hold your position through your core or otherwise you better get your Raggedy Anne doll on.

I have learned more about position and proper application of aids riding this horse these last few months than I ever have in my 20 years of riding. I have been too focused on 'hunter pretty' my entire life that I have bi-passed the fact that I do have a job other than being a jazzy, smiling accessory.

My attempt to sit this man's impulsion,
chair seat anyone?

Not forgetting to mention that Thunder and his mom are eventers. Now THIS was completely horrifying and alien to me.
Until... his mom convinced me to give eventing a chance. Don't knock it until you try it, am I right? Well, I tried it! And it totally rocked!
I highly recommend to anyone trying something intimidating to try it on a master. We went to two events this year. One schooling and one a short course and it was a blast.
I was pretty stressed about the dressage test. This is SO out of my element. But we rocked it with a 66.8, (not sure what the 'eventing' score is), and this was with two late transitions. (I was getting lost in the sparkle, forgot to focus, sorry sarg).
The stadium went off without a hitch despite the muddy and wet conditions and the cross left me grinning. Boy this horse eats up the dirt and lives to jump!

Ok. Ok. Onto Paloma, she is my star and would be very upset that I am stealing her thunder here... hehe. Oh I crack myself up! Anyways, onward....

 

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Stretchy trot-
winding down from a great o/f class

Paloma used to despise Thunder, often chasing him around the field, imitating a fiery dragon, now, he may get a 'look' if he is in 'the spot' at the hay bale but I think secretly she is whispering sweet nothings in his ear for teaching her 'pet' how to hold her own up there and stop nagging.
Paloma is the polar opposite of Thunder which was tough for me. Where Thunder is uber-sensitive and receptive to the teensiest aid, Pal prefers to live in a land of carrots and sweet snacks while she tolerates her 'pet' playing pony ride again. Insert quarter carrot please?

Paloma is truly the best of both breeds, being 50% appaloosa and 50% dutch warmblood. She is patient, gives you the world, (though only after she trusts you), she makes everything a joke, smart as a whip, powerful and talented to boot. Buuuttt... there is a ... less 'sparkley' side.
She is not lazy, don't ever say that! Or call her fat! Do not offend the apple bottom....  She is just too smart. She doesn't like repetition or 'boring' things. Her brain needs stimulation, otherwise she is back in the land of carrots and sweet treats happily ignoring your every whim. This took me a couple years to realize. Poor horse. If only she could talk, it would make things much faster.

My struggles... well I shouldn't say struggles but my learning curve with her is how to keep her interested in her job, and keep her answering my questions promptly and with effort.
I have discovered with the help of a fantastic dressage coach whom I dabble with now and then, that it is all about keeping her mind awake. Frequent transitions, always something new to make her think and not doing everything for her. Make her figure it out.
Not being a 'backseat driver' is hard for me. I micro manage and over think. Overall, I end up giving her too many messages and she doesn't have time to think for herself.

But as of late with my new found position, things have started to really turn around. Pal is moving forward into connection almost right off the get go. (Big thanks to someone telling me to pick up the 'receiver', ie reins, as soon as I get on. None of this droopy rein thing, give her somewhere to go so she doesn't spend all warm up on the forehand and then immediately asked to drive herself into the bit when work starts. The questions start from the moment the foot hits stirrup).

My new favourite exercise is playing with the relationship between outside rein and inside leg.
Inside leg creates energy and pushes diagonally to the outside rein. Where does the energy go? If the rein is closed, haunches push forward, if rein is slightly open, haunches push laterally. Everything is about creating a door or window for the energy to flow through.
I know... I talk about it like it is a revelation! It is!

Most of my training with Paloma has been all about making her a great 3' ammy or later child's hunter. Dressage was incorporated, yes, but never truly understood.
Earlier this year, we finally settled into a spot where we could start increasing the fence height. I don't jump often, once a week typically, I am big on flat work/poles etc but now that I knew height wasn't the issue, I began to notice fragmented pieces lingering. Not holes in training per say but holes in understanding the training on my part.
I began searching for answers on how horses learn and interpret what we ask. What I have found has been astounding. I look at training in a whole new light now. Grasping the entire exercise. Not just applying the aid and waiting for the hopefully correct outcome but applying and reciprocating the 'energy'.

All in all, I highly recommend the book Rider & Horse; Back to Back by Susanne Von Dietze. Brilliant!

Toto, I have a feeling we are not in Kansas anymore...

Blogging.... *uses Ron Burgundy inspired accent*, Blawwhhhgging...

So, needless to say, blogging is a completely foreign language to me but I can tell you that I look forward to reading blogs of others who have embarked on similar journeys as me. The up's, the downs and the how-I-survived-it's, that follow.
I often find myself using a lot of the insight I have gained through other blogs in my own riding and life, so I thought it time to give back.
(The 'How-I-Survived It's' more or less referencing to my recent dabble in eventing and the addiction that has seemed to permeate my brain as of late. Ha.. I think I can hear my hubby changing the pin's to our bank account already).


Carrying on...a little tidbit about me. I am a 20-something adult ammy, happily married to a wonderful and tolerant man who, everyday, deals with my constant horse-yabbering and the more often than I would like to admit, 'I want that's'.
I often think he refers to a pocketsize 'DIY Parenting handbook' with what I put him through sometimes. What can I say? I am still the little girl who hoards her Breyer horses and refuses to allow her neice near them.. they are mine, and they are precious! Especially my Pay-N-Go model.

I like to say he handles my antics much like I handle my horse, Paloma (more on her shortly)....
Refocusing, redirection, delicate prompting and most importantly... praise and treats. (Don't go there Terri...little insider between a friend and I).


 I have ridden more or less since I have been able to hold my head up straight.
We all know of the most fantastic baby invention Bumbo chairs right? Well the barn was my chair. (No, I don't have children, *shiver*, no offence neicey).
Fast forward through the lack luster years... I took lessons, leased and showed ponies for many years before my mom bought my sister and I a horse to share. Not to mention my years as resident guinea pig for my coach's new horses fresh off the auction rig. Fun!

After several blind 'dates' with several very different horses, I never quite found "The IT" horse for me until later in life. Better late than never right?

I am now owned and trained by a 'Too-smart-for-her-own-good', 6 y/o Dutch Warmblood/Appaloosa mare, sired by Pacific Star STV. I would tell you her colour but I am not honestly sure... Her papers state 'Dun w/ Leopard markings', so let's go with that shall we?

Pacific Paloma, if we are to be formal here, came into my life September of 2010, as a.... enthusiastic, (yes, that is fitting), 2.5 y/o filly.
We more of less stumbled into each others lives after my short couple year hiatus from the horse world. I all of decided to get back into horses when I felt something was not quite.... there.
Fellow horse-ian's, you know that feeling am I talking about.
A month later my sister suggested I look at this cute, colourful young filly. After a short PPE, two weeks later she came home with me.

Now, fours years later, I tell people that 'Pal' started me. Every step of our journey has been together, from first backing to now training for adult ammy's. Yes, we are both hunter's at heart and will continue to be, but recently I have been infected by the eventing virus. And when I say virus, I mean virus! It is very potent and spreads like wildfire.
Overall, she is my heart horse. Though, I have to say it took a couple years to realize it.
Terrifyingly, if this horse were a person she would be me. Yeah... scary. Everyone calls her 'Diva".
Is there something you all are not telling me? I am so not a diva, I just want what I want. Is that so wrong?
Well, I guess that sums 'us' up. I am a ... maturing Diva, where Pal... Just hasn't realized that the world does not revolve around her stall door despite, however much she demands it by standing on her haunches just to make sure you see her first when you walk in the barn.
I should admit, this mare does take a joke much better than I can and she is patient. Stubborn but patient and accepting of my less dazzling moments. What else can a gal ask for?


Ending this long winded commentary... I am beginning this blog to keep a journal of sorts and to give my friends some entertainment since I am otherwise quite averse to Social Media.

Honestly, I am not a hermit, I just have a horse!