Ok I have to admit, I intentionally waited to post this on International Helmet Awareness Day. That probably gives you a clue that I am religious about wearing my helmet every time I ride. I have always been like that, but I really realized how important it was when I first started riding at the therapeutic center last year, and a horse I assumed was absolutely dead quiet (being a therapy horse, you know?) bolted on me. It was the first time I ever felt dizzy and not quite right after a fall, and although I kept riding after I caught up to my horse, in hindsight I think I had a very, very mild concussion.
You really never know what is going to happen, whether it's on a new horse or one you've known for years. Just think of Courtney King-Dye and her traumatic brain injury when her horse tripped. Yes, there are a million excuses not to wear a helmet, but why take that chance with your brain? You only get one, and it only takes one trip, or one spook. At least to me, the minor inconvenience of ugly helmet hair is worth knowing that my odds of dying/becoming a vegetable are slightly lessened.
Showing posts with label 30 day challenge. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 30 day challenge. Show all posts
Saturday, June 22, 2013
Friday, June 21, 2013
Day 26 – 30 Day Horse Challenge – Biggest riding pet peeve
I'm going to try to finish this challenge thing up.
I would say my biggest riding pet peeve is more of a people pet peeve. I hate when people think they know it all, or that their trainer knows it all, and they close themselves off to new things. In general it's always much better to look things up for yourself and decide what you think is right.
And as a more nitpicky thing, I hate when the keepers aren't properly fastened on a bridle. I don't really notice/care when other people do this, but if I notice something about my equipment isn't quite right I get really annoyed with myself.
Speaking of bridles and equipment, the clinician recommended that I start riding Midnight in a flash because he likes to almost poke his tongue out and she said it is a lot easier to prevent tongue issues than it is to fix them. I think that makes a lot of sense, but always feel kind of bad tightening the noseband and flash. There is still space for a finger between the bridle and his face, but it really made me realize how NOT anatomical a traditional bridle is. A horse's face is not a perfect circle like a noseband so there are inevitably pressure points.
I'm semi-toying with the idea of buying a Micklem (have you noticed my wish list is growing?) but I'm not really sure if it would make a difference. I still need to keep it fairly tight so he doesn't poke his tongue out, so I'm not sure if getting one would just make me feel better without really mattering one way or the other on Midnight's end.
Thoughts? To Micklem or not to Micklem when you have a horse with borderline tongue-sticky-outy-ness?
I would say my biggest riding pet peeve is more of a people pet peeve. I hate when people think they know it all, or that their trainer knows it all, and they close themselves off to new things. In general it's always much better to look things up for yourself and decide what you think is right.
And as a more nitpicky thing, I hate when the keepers aren't properly fastened on a bridle. I don't really notice/care when other people do this, but if I notice something about my equipment isn't quite right I get really annoyed with myself.
Speaking of bridles and equipment, the clinician recommended that I start riding Midnight in a flash because he likes to almost poke his tongue out and she said it is a lot easier to prevent tongue issues than it is to fix them. I think that makes a lot of sense, but always feel kind of bad tightening the noseband and flash. There is still space for a finger between the bridle and his face, but it really made me realize how NOT anatomical a traditional bridle is. A horse's face is not a perfect circle like a noseband so there are inevitably pressure points.
I'm semi-toying with the idea of buying a Micklem (have you noticed my wish list is growing?) but I'm not really sure if it would make a difference. I still need to keep it fairly tight so he doesn't poke his tongue out, so I'm not sure if getting one would just make me feel better without really mattering one way or the other on Midnight's end.
Thoughts? To Micklem or not to Micklem when you have a horse with borderline tongue-sticky-outy-ness?
Sunday, May 19, 2013
Day 24 – 30 Day Horse Challenge – Your best riding friend
Well this one comes at an opportune time...or I made it that way with my neglectful posting habits. My best riding friend is actually leaving this weekend to have an amazing horsey summer working as a wrangler at a dude ranch. So jealous! Uh, I mean happy for her, that's the one.
We actually became friends last summer while I was teaching at Gentle Giants. She and her mom are both horse-crazy, and they live not too far from me (but over an hour away from Gentle Giants--yikes!). I really feel like I found my horsey family with them since my family is not really very into animals, but I go over to their house and their three big dogs shower me with kisses while we all chat about what's going on with our riding, and until recently, our horse searches. She and her mom were leasing a Friesian for a few months, then decided to go out and buy a 4-year-old draft cross, much to the chagrin of their trainer out in VA.
They've had him since March, and he's green, but such a quiet, nice boy. They let me ride him a couple weeks ago, and he essentially has the mind of a draft but he moves like a warmblood. Not a bad combination! He's at a really nice private farm with fancy synthetic footing in an outdoor arena, plus trails and an XC course in one of the paddocks.
So I'm sure she'll be sad to leave him all summer but he'll still be around after she comes back from her wrangling adventures...which she is writing about on her new Tumblr, East Coast Wrangler.
I'll miss tack store runs and getting crepes in Georgetown with her this summer...I guess I will just have to make bad decisions at Saddlery Liquidators' Memorial Day sale by myself!
P.S. -- The Fix-a-Test today went great, and Midnight's owner took video for me. Super tired after 12 hours at the barn though so I'll save that writeup for tomorrow.
We actually became friends last summer while I was teaching at Gentle Giants. She and her mom are both horse-crazy, and they live not too far from me (but over an hour away from Gentle Giants--yikes!). I really feel like I found my horsey family with them since my family is not really very into animals, but I go over to their house and their three big dogs shower me with kisses while we all chat about what's going on with our riding, and until recently, our horse searches. She and her mom were leasing a Friesian for a few months, then decided to go out and buy a 4-year-old draft cross, much to the chagrin of their trainer out in VA.
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| His name is Champagne Wishes & Caviar Dreams, AKA Wish |
So I'm sure she'll be sad to leave him all summer but he'll still be around after she comes back from her wrangling adventures...which she is writing about on her new Tumblr, East Coast Wrangler.
I'll miss tack store runs and getting crepes in Georgetown with her this summer...I guess I will just have to make bad decisions at Saddlery Liquidators' Memorial Day sale by myself!
P.S. -- The Fix-a-Test today went great, and Midnight's owner took video for me. Super tired after 12 hours at the barn though so I'll save that writeup for tomorrow.
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Day 23 – 30 Day Horse Challenge – Critique a famous/well known equestrian’s jumping round of your choosing
Okay, okay, I know, I know. I'll get back on track with this blog challenge thing. As I mentioned though, I didn't really feel like doing this question so I got off track the night I intended to do it...blah blah blah. Anyway.
Rather than answering the prompt, I'll share a video I found of Intro Test A--considering that's practically all I'm thinking about in my horsey life right now.
I'm quickly learning that walking down the centerline...halting...turning...circling...are nowhere near as simple as I assumed they were. And Midnight has a lot of tricky little evasions he likes to do, like trying to sneak his way into a trot when I half-halt at the walk and getting all twisty and wiggly when I slow the walk down as I prepare to halt. Probably the trickiest parts of the test for us right now are getting the size of the circles right, and getting enough "forward" to stay straight on the centerline at the walk, but still keeping it slow enough that I don't have to take 5 steps to halt. In my lessons I've managed to put in some good tests, but also some pretty abysmal ones. So lets hope that there are no dogs running around, haunted bits of grass, or anything else to distract us on Sunday!
By the way, the schooling show never happened :( It got rescheduled for Mother's Day (for reasons I cannot determine; it made no sense) so I couldn't go. I spent my Sunday weeding and mulching for my mom!
Rather than answering the prompt, I'll share a video I found of Intro Test A--considering that's practically all I'm thinking about in my horsey life right now.
I'm quickly learning that walking down the centerline...halting...turning...circling...are nowhere near as simple as I assumed they were. And Midnight has a lot of tricky little evasions he likes to do, like trying to sneak his way into a trot when I half-halt at the walk and getting all twisty and wiggly when I slow the walk down as I prepare to halt. Probably the trickiest parts of the test for us right now are getting the size of the circles right, and getting enough "forward" to stay straight on the centerline at the walk, but still keeping it slow enough that I don't have to take 5 steps to halt. In my lessons I've managed to put in some good tests, but also some pretty abysmal ones. So lets hope that there are no dogs running around, haunted bits of grass, or anything else to distract us on Sunday!
By the way, the schooling show never happened :( It got rescheduled for Mother's Day (for reasons I cannot determine; it made no sense) so I couldn't go. I spent my Sunday weeding and mulching for my mom!
Sunday, May 5, 2013
Day 22 – 30 Day Horse Challenge – The importance of riding in your life
The importance of riding in my life...well, does it say something that when I got out of bed this morning, I nearly fell over because my ankles felt so weak and ouch-i-fied (the uneven ground of the trail race did not agree with them), but for some reason it still seemed like a good idea to get dressed, go on a 4-hour adventure driving around Virginia attempting to replace my Charles Owen, and then on to a riding lesson to prep for the clinic?
From where I stand currently (well, from where I'm laying down currently in bed begging the cats to come love me) all of that says horses are so important in my life that I abandon all parts of my common sense that don't relate to the barn.
I started riding when I was 11, at the beginning of middle school. That's a difficult time for anyone, and I was a very shy, awkward kid. But riding became especially important to me during my parents' divorce at around age 13. Their relationship was never good so I had always sensed they would get divorced, so in some ways it was a relief, but even after the divorce into my high school years, there was a lot of enmity between my parents and situations where I'd get caught in the middle as the older sibling.
When things were really bad I would count down the days until my weekly lesson and that would always make me feel better. It was the perfect combination of quiet comfort and challenging myself to improve. It was something constructive I could focus my energy on, rather than getting in my own head. And of course a good canter or jumping round can cure a lot of emotional ills...as can just spending time quietly grooming or enjoying the smell of the tack room. I grew to enjoy doing things slowly, correctly and fairly.
So my love of horses grew out of how intense my need for an escape was then, but it has blossomed into an area of my life where I feel accomplished and proud of myself, but still like I have a lot of room to keep improving. I really can't overemphasize how lucky I feel to have been around horses for half my life, and to have such a wonderful, talented horse right now that is (sort of) mine. It's an area of my life where I feel like I know what I'm doing, or at least I know where to look when I don't. It's really comforting to have something so comfortingly predictable when you are 23, and plopped into the "real world" of work, money and relationships without a roadmap.
Anyway, that was just an avalanche of cliches and sappiness...but I'm sure many of you feel the same way.
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| Giant Dover jump in front of the Chantilly, VA store |
I started riding when I was 11, at the beginning of middle school. That's a difficult time for anyone, and I was a very shy, awkward kid. But riding became especially important to me during my parents' divorce at around age 13. Their relationship was never good so I had always sensed they would get divorced, so in some ways it was a relief, but even after the divorce into my high school years, there was a lot of enmity between my parents and situations where I'd get caught in the middle as the older sibling.
When things were really bad I would count down the days until my weekly lesson and that would always make me feel better. It was the perfect combination of quiet comfort and challenging myself to improve. It was something constructive I could focus my energy on, rather than getting in my own head. And of course a good canter or jumping round can cure a lot of emotional ills...as can just spending time quietly grooming or enjoying the smell of the tack room. I grew to enjoy doing things slowly, correctly and fairly.
So my love of horses grew out of how intense my need for an escape was then, but it has blossomed into an area of my life where I feel accomplished and proud of myself, but still like I have a lot of room to keep improving. I really can't overemphasize how lucky I feel to have been around horses for half my life, and to have such a wonderful, talented horse right now that is (sort of) mine. It's an area of my life where I feel like I know what I'm doing, or at least I know where to look when I don't. It's really comforting to have something so comfortingly predictable when you are 23, and plopped into the "real world" of work, money and relationships without a roadmap.
Anyway, that was just an avalanche of cliches and sappiness...but I'm sure many of you feel the same way.
Saturday, May 4, 2013
Day 21 – 30 Day Horse Challenge – Your perfect schooling outfit
So in order to write this post I had to do laundry...hence the delay ;)
Obviously my new plaid breeches feature a starring role in my favorite schooling outfit.
And this is my second favorite--it's a technical shirt with a cool collar foldy thing. These breeches are kind of saggy and wrinkly though.
I'll have more to report for you tomorrow since I'll have a dressage lesson to prep for the clinic. Tonight I'll be memorizing Intro Test A!
Obviously my new plaid breeches feature a starring role in my favorite schooling outfit.
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Day 20 – 30 Day Horse Challenge – Your favorite horse show
This one is unexpectedly easy...I don't show enough to have a "favorite" show, but the barn manager at the therapeutic rescue just texted me today asking if I would ride Shadow in a local schooling show this month. Of course I said yes! Had to move some stuff around in order to make it (I consulted a horsey friend who confirmed that it was perfectly OK to fake sick so I could clean tack and bathe instead of going to a dinner party). I think it will be a really fun day. We'll be doing hunter pleasure classes since he doesn't jump.
May is shaping up to be a busy month but I am very excited to get us both all dressed up for a low-level show that doesn't really have much pressure.
May is shaping up to be a busy month but I am very excited to get us both all dressed up for a low-level show that doesn't really have much pressure.
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Day 19 – 30 Day Horse Challenge – A discipline you would like to do that you’ve never done before
Ok...was I wrong! Julie from the Little Bay Princess blog suggested that I try a different method of mane pulling (ie. not backbrush-twirl-yank-backbrush-twirl-yank) for Midnight. I skimmed the video (with no audio since I was at work) and promptly dismissed it because the horse in the video was like half asleep. Not at all like my ticklish boy who gets very, very offended if you rub him the wrong way.
So I tried to use his owner's Grooma Mane Master thing. Blech. I couldn't really figure out how to use it in a way that wasn't any less severe than pulling with a comb and Midnight was getting agitated just from anticipation while I backbrushed using that. So I decided to try this other method of backbrushing, twirling, and then pulling reeeeeeeeaaaaaallllllyyyy slowly with a regular metal comb (to the point where you hear each of the individual hairs pop out).
Before:
After:
I know the "after" is kind of dark and hard to see (I stayed at the barn waaay late), but hopefully you can see now his mane is legitimately slightly-more-than-half-done! Keep in mind that the mane from the "before" picture took a full week to achieve. Midnight stood stock still when I pulled super slowly so I think I should be fully done by this weekend, yay! I love pulling mane so I'm glad he is actually cooperating now.
Today was a dressage school since I have been prescribed straightness and leg yields (to help with the straightness, paradoxically). We had some wonderful transitions, but I could feel myself getting pulled forward and my arms getting too stiff at times. I don't think we really had any quality trot work that lasted more than a few strides. He got a little too happy in his first canter to the left but he was easy enough to bring back to a reasonable canter. If I was to grade myself, it was like a B-/C+ ride. Not completely awful but we do need some dressage lessons.
A fellow boarder is lending me her dressage saddle indefinitely since she doesn't use it. Tried it out today and I think it fits. No pressure points, plenty of clearance, etc. And veeerry comfy. But I'm definitely no saddle fit expert so I am going to see if the trainer can give a more knowledgeable eye.
Anyway, Midnight and I will get there...he is so good natured that I think we'll develop a great friendship as long as I keep from pestering him (easier said than done). Life is good.
As for the discipline I'd like to try--foxhunting, hands down. (I feel like I should say some Western discipline just to be equitable but I feel like I'm so far away from the horse in a Western saddle and I hate cows.) But anyway. Rita Mae Brown first introduced me to the idea of foxhunting and I haven't been able to shake it since, though if I'm being honest, I don't think I'd be brave enough to do more than hilltop at first. I just don't have a desire to jump super high crazy things, especially not en masse! But it just looks so badass I want to try one day when I have money to throw around.
Though if I'm at this barn for a while, I might just turn into an eventer by default...mental note to get some pics of the XC jumps on the farm for you guys.
So I tried to use his owner's Grooma Mane Master thing. Blech. I couldn't really figure out how to use it in a way that wasn't any less severe than pulling with a comb and Midnight was getting agitated just from anticipation while I backbrushed using that. So I decided to try this other method of backbrushing, twirling, and then pulling reeeeeeeeaaaaaallllllyyyy slowly with a regular metal comb (to the point where you hear each of the individual hairs pop out).
Before:
After:
Today was a dressage school since I have been prescribed straightness and leg yields (to help with the straightness, paradoxically). We had some wonderful transitions, but I could feel myself getting pulled forward and my arms getting too stiff at times. I don't think we really had any quality trot work that lasted more than a few strides. He got a little too happy in his first canter to the left but he was easy enough to bring back to a reasonable canter. If I was to grade myself, it was like a B-/C+ ride. Not completely awful but we do need some dressage lessons.
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| Midnight in his new duds! |
Anyway, Midnight and I will get there...he is so good natured that I think we'll develop a great friendship as long as I keep from pestering him (easier said than done). Life is good.
As for the discipline I'd like to try--foxhunting, hands down. (I feel like I should say some Western discipline just to be equitable but I feel like I'm so far away from the horse in a Western saddle and I hate cows.) But anyway. Rita Mae Brown first introduced me to the idea of foxhunting and I haven't been able to shake it since, though if I'm being honest, I don't think I'd be brave enough to do more than hilltop at first. I just don't have a desire to jump super high crazy things, especially not en masse! But it just looks so badass I want to try one day when I have money to throw around.
Though if I'm at this barn for a while, I might just turn into an eventer by default...mental note to get some pics of the XC jumps on the farm for you guys.
Monday, April 29, 2013
Day 18 – 30 Day Horse Challenge – Your grooming routine
Blech. I decided I didn't want to wear my old helmet (which I have also fallen in) to ride this week so I popped over to the tack store and got an inexpensive schooling helmet. Unfortunately they only had my size in a color I would NEVER choose to wear on my head voluntarily if I wasn't in this kind of "need a safe helmet by tomorrow" mindset.
And the worst thing is it does actually come in a nice dark gray color. Oh well...I think it will be good to have a helmet I would not mind replacing at all for schooling since I was very sad to say goodbye to the CO. I will be taking advantage of their return credit policy but I won't be able to get out to the cheap tack store in VA for another weekend or two.
And also...my SmartPak order arrived today too, yay! The saddle pad is nothing fancy, just something so we have a plain saddle pad for the clinic. I think the clinician will love Beckett's fur accenting it.
The boots are completely unnecessary. He already has a pair of the same Legacy boots already...but in neon green. Ick. Also the velcro is starting to wear out on the green ones. (That's the real reason I had to get new boots.)
And because I have NO self control, while I was at the tack store today, I also got a white Ariat polo to wear at the clinic. I figure it can double as a shirt to wear at work. I need more short sleeve shirts anyway.
At this point, I'm not sure if I'm justifying these purchases to convince myself or to convince you all.
But anyway, that is ENOUGH horsey purchases for this month!*
On to my grooming routine.
I feel like my routine is pretty standard--curry, hard brush, soft brush (which I omit if the hard brush does the job) and pick out feet. If the mane looks crazy I'll brush it out. After a ride I curry, or in Midnight's case I rub him with a towel since he hates being brushed. Or if it's hot, I give the horse a shower.
I have really been pestering him lately when it comes to grooming since I am attempting to pull his mane. Can you tell I want to make a good impression at this clinic? I've never gone to a clinic, and what's more, the clinician is coming to teach at the farm for the summer, so I'm hoping if it's not super expensive (and if I like her) I can take some lessons from her. Anyway, Midnight let me pull the first third of his mane (from the withers up), no problem, but now that I'm about halfway through, he starts pacing as soon as I back-brush the hair. And he doesn't cross-tie well. His owner said I could use her Grooma blade thing so hopefully he will tolerate that better. I certainly hope so because I got stomped on already with all his pacing. Still have all 10 toes, though some are a bit bruised. My protective gear certainly did its job this weekend!
Anyway...we shall see how he does with the mane pulling. I'll try to remember to take more pictures of him for you all.
*Good thing a new month is starting soon! Just kidding. I hope.
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| I still think it was the right choice but I am just not a shiny blue helmet kind of girl. Blech (again). |
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| Beckett is always in these pics because he likes to try to run out the door when I get stuff from the garage. |
The boots are completely unnecessary. He already has a pair of the same Legacy boots already...but in neon green. Ick. Also the velcro is starting to wear out on the green ones. (That's the real reason I had to get new boots.)
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| I wish the black part was white too, but oh well. Wanted to stay with a brand his owner approves of. |
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| Protecty thing on the inside (that is the technical term) |
At this point, I'm not sure if I'm justifying these purchases to convince myself or to convince you all.
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| But come on...look at the shiny buttons! And it wicks sweat! |
On to my grooming routine.
I feel like my routine is pretty standard--curry, hard brush, soft brush (which I omit if the hard brush does the job) and pick out feet. If the mane looks crazy I'll brush it out. After a ride I curry, or in Midnight's case I rub him with a towel since he hates being brushed. Or if it's hot, I give the horse a shower.
I have really been pestering him lately when it comes to grooming since I am attempting to pull his mane. Can you tell I want to make a good impression at this clinic? I've never gone to a clinic, and what's more, the clinician is coming to teach at the farm for the summer, so I'm hoping if it's not super expensive (and if I like her) I can take some lessons from her. Anyway, Midnight let me pull the first third of his mane (from the withers up), no problem, but now that I'm about halfway through, he starts pacing as soon as I back-brush the hair. And he doesn't cross-tie well. His owner said I could use her Grooma blade thing so hopefully he will tolerate that better. I certainly hope so because I got stomped on already with all his pacing. Still have all 10 toes, though some are a bit bruised. My protective gear certainly did its job this weekend!
Anyway...we shall see how he does with the mane pulling. I'll try to remember to take more pictures of him for you all.
*Good thing a new month is starting soon! Just kidding. I hope.
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Day 17 – 30 Day Horse Challenge – Your equestrian idol
Hey, so you know how in the last post I was talking about how my most recent fall was not that recent? Cause ha, my achy shoulder says otherwise today.
Yep...the gymnastics lesson was a bit more exciting than we thought it would be. Apparently there was a girl who had been jumping Midnight pretty regularly, and his owner had been doing trot poles with him, but never trot in/canter out gymnastics, so he is much more green to them than the instructor and I anticipated.
What happened was he trotted in very nicely to an X, but the next jump (a one-stride) had a flat plank kind of like this (only much smaller, and with just one plank):
We were supposed to trot in to the X and canter over the vertical, but in the middle Midnight got all crooked and then just sort of launched himself over weirdly. Obviously I didn't see it, but it was probably a situation of him going one way and me going the other. Thankfully the jump arena has soft footing. The instructor kept apologizing, saying she didn't realize he was still so green over these--and I totally know how she felt now, having taught lessons. But there really was no way we could have known how he was going to react; it definitely wasn't anyone's fault--possibly mine for not being more aggressive about keeping him perfectly straight.
All is fine though. I am pretty bummed that I will have to replace my Charles Owen Wellington since I freaking love that helmet. It's like a suction cup on my head. I definitely did fall on my the side of my head though so even though it doesn't look damaged and I didn't get a concussion or anything, I really do need to replace it. Lesson learned: wear a cheap helmet for jumping lessons!
My homework for the week is to work on straightness with chutes (trot poles or low Xes) and also to do a lot of leg yields on both sides.
My equestrian idol...this is one of those questions that I just feel kind of bleh about. I don't really have one. But I do remember having a total fit when I was starting my first day of my Practical Horseman internship, and I saw the contact info for McLain Ward and Beezie Madden in my Rolodex (yes, they still use Rolodexes there!). Actually, if anything, the people who work at PH are probably my role models. They have found a way to combine their passion for writing with their passion for horses, and they are very knowledgeable. I am happy with my job but I SO wish a position had opened up at Practical Horseman after my internship. Never say never, right?
Yep...the gymnastics lesson was a bit more exciting than we thought it would be. Apparently there was a girl who had been jumping Midnight pretty regularly, and his owner had been doing trot poles with him, but never trot in/canter out gymnastics, so he is much more green to them than the instructor and I anticipated.
What happened was he trotted in very nicely to an X, but the next jump (a one-stride) had a flat plank kind of like this (only much smaller, and with just one plank):
We were supposed to trot in to the X and canter over the vertical, but in the middle Midnight got all crooked and then just sort of launched himself over weirdly. Obviously I didn't see it, but it was probably a situation of him going one way and me going the other. Thankfully the jump arena has soft footing. The instructor kept apologizing, saying she didn't realize he was still so green over these--and I totally know how she felt now, having taught lessons. But there really was no way we could have known how he was going to react; it definitely wasn't anyone's fault--possibly mine for not being more aggressive about keeping him perfectly straight.
All is fine though. I am pretty bummed that I will have to replace my Charles Owen Wellington since I freaking love that helmet. It's like a suction cup on my head. I definitely did fall on my the side of my head though so even though it doesn't look damaged and I didn't get a concussion or anything, I really do need to replace it. Lesson learned: wear a cheap helmet for jumping lessons!
My homework for the week is to work on straightness with chutes (trot poles or low Xes) and also to do a lot of leg yields on both sides.
My equestrian idol...this is one of those questions that I just feel kind of bleh about. I don't really have one. But I do remember having a total fit when I was starting my first day of my Practical Horseman internship, and I saw the contact info for McLain Ward and Beezie Madden in my Rolodex (yes, they still use Rolodexes there!). Actually, if anything, the people who work at PH are probably my role models. They have found a way to combine their passion for writing with their passion for horses, and they are very knowledgeable. I am happy with my job but I SO wish a position had opened up at Practical Horseman after my internship. Never say never, right?
Saturday, April 27, 2013
Day 16 – 30 Day Horse Challenge – Your most recent fall
Considering that for the past year, I've been riding therapeutic and draft horses, my most recent fall was actually not that recent--almost exactly a year ago. Full story is here because it gives a better account than I would be able to do now since it was a while ago.
It basically stems from the fact that I have a bit of a complex about riding fancy horses that I don't feel worthy of or something--I think that is part of the issue with Midnight too. I need to treat him like any other horse, not some kind of fancy pants dressage prodigy that I can never live up to. I'll get there, with the help of some lessons...which by the way, begin tomorrow! It's a gymnastics jumping lesson so that should be really fun and give me a chance to work at letting my hip fold to meet the jump rather than flinging my upper body on his neck.
I'll be sure to let you all know how it goes. For now I'll leave you with a quote from Manchego's vet when I told her I also had another cat and a horse:
"Ah, so you're into the animals that you can have a mystical connection with."
Someone's been watching a little too much Saddle Club and for once it's NOT ME!
It basically stems from the fact that I have a bit of a complex about riding fancy horses that I don't feel worthy of or something--I think that is part of the issue with Midnight too. I need to treat him like any other horse, not some kind of fancy pants dressage prodigy that I can never live up to. I'll get there, with the help of some lessons...which by the way, begin tomorrow! It's a gymnastics jumping lesson so that should be really fun and give me a chance to work at letting my hip fold to meet the jump rather than flinging my upper body on his neck.
I'll be sure to let you all know how it goes. For now I'll leave you with a quote from Manchego's vet when I told her I also had another cat and a horse:
"Ah, so you're into the animals that you can have a mystical connection with."
Someone's been watching a little too much Saddle Club and for once it's NOT ME!
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| I will never be able to get the theme song unstuck from my head: "Hello world...this is me. Life should be fun for everyone!" |
Friday, April 26, 2013
Day 15 – 30 Day Horse Challenge – If you could speak to any horse, dead or alive, what would you say?
An interesting question. I have a feeling famous horses would have pretty predictable things to say--racehorses like Secretariat would be very jumpy and have very repetitive thoughts like "Gotta go, gotta go," and horses like Totilas probably have 10-track minds and would be putting all the pieces together brilliantly (unless they are being rollkured to death of course).
The horse I think would be most interesting to talk to is a rescue at Gentle Giants named Kanin. Not because I really like him...because I just don't get him at all. He is a Paint/draft cross that came to the rescue years ago with his brother (who I think has been adopted out), and despite continued efforts by the rescue staff and volunteers (who are much more patient than I!) he is still nutty as a fruitcake. Still a holy terror to be caught, still afraid of the feed bucket, still convinced that every day humans wake up with the sole purpose of finishing him off once and for all. And of course he has back problems. There are a select few people who have had some success with him, but it's been agonizingly slow. I just don't get how he doesn't learn. If I remember correctly, the theory when he and his brother arrived was that they had been hit in the head, so brain damage is a possibility.
I would love to know once and for all if there is some crazy backstory we don't know about, or if there just is not much going on in that little walnut of a brain. Maybe he has memory loss like in 50 First Dates, so every day everything is new and terrifying all over again.
What about you all? Do you know of a rescue horse with weird/mystery habits whose story you'd love to hear?
The horse I think would be most interesting to talk to is a rescue at Gentle Giants named Kanin. Not because I really like him...because I just don't get him at all. He is a Paint/draft cross that came to the rescue years ago with his brother (who I think has been adopted out), and despite continued efforts by the rescue staff and volunteers (who are much more patient than I!) he is still nutty as a fruitcake. Still a holy terror to be caught, still afraid of the feed bucket, still convinced that every day humans wake up with the sole purpose of finishing him off once and for all. And of course he has back problems. There are a select few people who have had some success with him, but it's been agonizingly slow. I just don't get how he doesn't learn. If I remember correctly, the theory when he and his brother arrived was that they had been hit in the head, so brain damage is a possibility.
I would love to know once and for all if there is some crazy backstory we don't know about, or if there just is not much going on in that little walnut of a brain. Maybe he has memory loss like in 50 First Dates, so every day everything is new and terrifying all over again.
What about you all? Do you know of a rescue horse with weird/mystery habits whose story you'd love to hear?
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Day 14 – 30 Day Horse Challenge – Your Dream Barn
Another bleh ride today :( I'm just having trouble getting Midnight as responsive and on the aids as he was when I tried him out. I'm sure his owner warming him up was a big part of that--in the video she is obviously more able to get his whole body working and round than I am. I haven't been able to coordinate a time for my old trainer to come out on the weekend yet so I may end up switching over to one of the trainers at the new place (the fact that they are cheaper doesn't hurt either!).
And aside from our not-very-connected ride, Midnight had quite the little snit fit on the ground today. I've been pulling his mane for the past week and he has been pretty good about it, but today he was all over the place--practically running me over in the cross ties and in the stall, and forget letting me even touch his mane while he was grazing. Hopefully he was just having a day because I've only gotten about a third of it done and that would be a very strange style for the dressage clinic.
In other news I picked this up from Great Falls Saddlery:
So Midnight and I better work it out because I like wearing it!
My dream barn would be:
Oh--and in other, other news--I bought a white dressage pad and white Legacy boots for Midnight. I figure plain things will give a better impression at the clinic than his neon green Legacy boots with a purple, pink plaid, or blue flamingo saddle pad.
And I think I'm putting the saddle search to rest, at least for now. I really like riding in his owner's Berney Brothers AP saddle, and another boarder has offered to let me use her dressage saddle. So why fix it if it ain't broke? I can just save that money for when I want to buy a horse (maybe Midnight, and then I'd see if I could buy his tack with him).
And aside from our not-very-connected ride, Midnight had quite the little snit fit on the ground today. I've been pulling his mane for the past week and he has been pretty good about it, but today he was all over the place--practically running me over in the cross ties and in the stall, and forget letting me even touch his mane while he was grazing. Hopefully he was just having a day because I've only gotten about a third of it done and that would be a very strange style for the dressage clinic.
In other news I picked this up from Great Falls Saddlery:
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| It's a little big on my bony wrist but I like the roller thing on the clasp. |
So Midnight and I better work it out because I like wearing it!
My dream barn would be:
- in the opposite direction of rush hour traffic
- owned and maintained by top-level eventers who could teach me everything about riding and horsemanship via osmosis
- magically free
Oh--and in other, other news--I bought a white dressage pad and white Legacy boots for Midnight. I figure plain things will give a better impression at the clinic than his neon green Legacy boots with a purple, pink plaid, or blue flamingo saddle pad.
And I think I'm putting the saddle search to rest, at least for now. I really like riding in his owner's Berney Brothers AP saddle, and another boarder has offered to let me use her dressage saddle. So why fix it if it ain't broke? I can just save that money for when I want to buy a horse (maybe Midnight, and then I'd see if I could buy his tack with him).
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Day 13 – 30 Day Horse Challenge – A Video of Your Worst Riding
Double post today to make up for yesterday.
I wish for this one I had this video of me riding my horse from high school. It would be interesting to compare then/now, but it's at my parents' house. So not that this is the best riding ever, but I don't have a video of my worst. I'll just give you a medley of recent-ish videos I've taken since I got a smartphone and it became really easy to get video.
I'll go chronologically. It appears that I transformed from my old hunter ways of doing nothing with the reins...to having a chair seat...to finding occasional success getting the horse to use his hind end and reach for the bit. Sounds about accurate.
April 2012
November 2012
Two weeks ago
I wish for this one I had this video of me riding my horse from high school. It would be interesting to compare then/now, but it's at my parents' house. So not that this is the best riding ever, but I don't have a video of my worst. I'll just give you a medley of recent-ish videos I've taken since I got a smartphone and it became really easy to get video.
I'll go chronologically. It appears that I transformed from my old hunter ways of doing nothing with the reins...to having a chair seat...to finding occasional success getting the horse to use his hind end and reach for the bit. Sounds about accurate.
April 2012
November 2012
Two weeks ago
Day 12 – 30 Day Horse Challenge – Favorite Horse Color
Apologies for not posting yesterday...had to work a bit late since we had a webinar. Oh webinars...how I hate thee with every fiber of my being. They are so stressful for no real reason--I'm just always convinced the audio won't work, or the recording will cut out or something. Anyway. So that meant I didn't leave the barn till 9:30pm as I was figuring out where all the light switches, muck buckets, water taps, etc. were and taking Midnight back to his faraway field. It takes some time to get used to the little things like that.
Didn't have a great ride--I think I was being too timid and not asserting exactly what I wanted. Honestly I feel like my best ride with him was when I tried him out! Specifically, he keeps getting fast and unbalanced with me at the trot if I don't give him a good transition. Me posting wildly to whatever trot he gives me probably doesn't help either--I should be slowing my posts down to what I want. However, he has been giving me nice, bright canters that are very easy to adjust.
I also jumped a little vertical a couple times and kept getting left behind, which was disappointing. I just haven't jumped much in the past year or so and I am definitely rusty. But that's why I'm doing a gymnastics lesson with him this weekend! That should be fun.
My favorite horse color is gray, as I've mentioned. I don't care that it never really stays gray, since most grays seem to love to roll, but there is just something so stunning about a dapple gray that I love.
My horse in high school was a fleabitten gray, though you can't see it very well. I loved the little "freckles" he would get in summertime!
Didn't have a great ride--I think I was being too timid and not asserting exactly what I wanted. Honestly I feel like my best ride with him was when I tried him out! Specifically, he keeps getting fast and unbalanced with me at the trot if I don't give him a good transition. Me posting wildly to whatever trot he gives me probably doesn't help either--I should be slowing my posts down to what I want. However, he has been giving me nice, bright canters that are very easy to adjust.
I also jumped a little vertical a couple times and kept getting left behind, which was disappointing. I just haven't jumped much in the past year or so and I am definitely rusty. But that's why I'm doing a gymnastics lesson with him this weekend! That should be fun.
My favorite horse color is gray, as I've mentioned. I don't care that it never really stays gray, since most grays seem to love to roll, but there is just something so stunning about a dapple gray that I love.
My horse in high school was a fleabitten gray, though you can't see it very well. I loved the little "freckles" he would get in summertime!
Monday, April 22, 2013
Day 11 – 30 Day Horse Challenge – Find a Horse For Sale Online That You Would Want to Buy
YAY! I came home to find Down to Earth Dressage in my mailbox. I'm already about a third of the way through.
Also my farm is doing a dressage "fix-a-test" clinic where you can ride a dressage test, get comments, and ride the test again to see if your score improves. It only costs as much as a lesson so I figure why not try Intro Test A? I know Midnight can do more than that, but I figure that is why dressage has levels--you move up, bit by bit. I'm going to make a day of it and volunteer to scribe and maybe set up or do rider check-in. I have never scribed before so I think I'm going to learn a lot. Maybe I will even report back with my Dressagin' Bingo card.
I called the woman who is organizing the event and even though it is a big barn, apparently the news of Midnight's spook has made the rounds on the grapevine already! I guess that's how it goes at any barn.
Perhaps I'm still in the honeymoon phase, but the only improvement I can see to Midnight is if he were gray. He is black so maybe we will get a little bit of gray as he ages :)
I found a very exciting looking Oldenburg in California:
Maxamillion--only $50k! Pocket change! Honestly I think he is way overpriced; I don't see 50k of horse in the video, but he looks like a sweet boy. The farm where I rode in high school had a bunch of sporthorses like this that I was always so envious of, and I have always been very partial to grays.
But honestly I am not in the frame of mind to horse shop. I am very happy with all my boys: my Bengal, my Siamese, and my OTTB. Oh yeah and Byron too.
Also my farm is doing a dressage "fix-a-test" clinic where you can ride a dressage test, get comments, and ride the test again to see if your score improves. It only costs as much as a lesson so I figure why not try Intro Test A? I know Midnight can do more than that, but I figure that is why dressage has levels--you move up, bit by bit. I'm going to make a day of it and volunteer to scribe and maybe set up or do rider check-in. I have never scribed before so I think I'm going to learn a lot. Maybe I will even report back with my Dressagin' Bingo card.
I called the woman who is organizing the event and even though it is a big barn, apparently the news of Midnight's spook has made the rounds on the grapevine already! I guess that's how it goes at any barn.
Perhaps I'm still in the honeymoon phase, but the only improvement I can see to Midnight is if he were gray. He is black so maybe we will get a little bit of gray as he ages :)
I found a very exciting looking Oldenburg in California:
Maxamillion--only $50k! Pocket change! Honestly I think he is way overpriced; I don't see 50k of horse in the video, but he looks like a sweet boy. The farm where I rode in high school had a bunch of sporthorses like this that I was always so envious of, and I have always been very partial to grays.
But honestly I am not in the frame of mind to horse shop. I am very happy with all my boys: my Bengal, my Siamese, and my OTTB. Oh yeah and Byron too.
Sunday, April 21, 2013
Day 10 – 30 Day Horse Challenge – How Your Family/Friends Feel About Your Riding
Ah this is a good topic, since I just told both my parents I am leasing a horse this week.
Both of my parents are supportive, more or less. My mom thinks that horses are beautiful, and pretty much leaves it at that. I was probably more nervous to tell her about Midnight because she's a very "my way or the highway" kind of person and I'm never quite sure if she approves of things. Her reaction was just to gush about how gorgeous he was and how he "really knows his technique," whatever that means, lol! I always think it's cute when she gives her analysis, but hey, she did "audit" my weekly lessons for years so maybe she has picked up a thing or two.
My dad on the other hand always seems a bit surprised that I haven't grown out of this horse phase yet. He has not been a huge fan of me horseback riding ever since he saw me fall, which I guess is understandable if you're a dad. He sees the whole thing as an overly dangerous waste of money, and I think he has always wanted me to follow in his footsteps as a triathlete, or at least a runner. His reaction to me leasing Midnight was, "Well, I guess there are more expensive hobbies."
Ahh...parents.
My long-suffering friends show no outward signs of disapproving of my horse habit, but they probably wish I could come up with other topics of conversation besides horses and cats.
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| Gotta fold at the hip more. |
My dad on the other hand always seems a bit surprised that I haven't grown out of this horse phase yet. He has not been a huge fan of me horseback riding ever since he saw me fall, which I guess is understandable if you're a dad. He sees the whole thing as an overly dangerous waste of money, and I think he has always wanted me to follow in his footsteps as a triathlete, or at least a runner. His reaction to me leasing Midnight was, "Well, I guess there are more expensive hobbies."
Ahh...parents.
My long-suffering friends show no outward signs of disapproving of my horse habit, but they probably wish I could come up with other topics of conversation besides horses and cats.
Day 09 – 30 Day Horse Challenge – Riding Injuries
Oh man. I just found out that The Saddle Club is on Netflix and I am having a ball watching it with Manchego while I fold laundry. It's like double adorableness, plus accents. Right now Lisa's safety whistle is saving the evil Veronica from wild dogs on the trail. Oh yeah, we've all been there, right?
It is way past my bedtime though so I'll get right to the challenge.
My most long-lasting riding injury came from my much-referenced horse-falling-on-me incident at a show--my hips were misaligned by a couple degrees and that made my hips creak with a disturbingly zipper-like sound when they were stiff. That's improved over the years though and I haven't heard it since my sophomore year of college when I was going to a lot of concerts and standing still for a long time would aggravate it.
And aside from miscellaneous cuts and bruises from falling, the only other serious injury I've had is a (possible?) mild concussion from when I fell off Joey on my first trail ride with him. Who said therapy horses were boring?
Ahhh I'm dying from how awesomely bitchy Veronica is. "A Saddle Club member who can't even canter? How beginnerish is that?" I love it.
It is way past my bedtime though so I'll get right to the challenge.
My most long-lasting riding injury came from my much-referenced horse-falling-on-me incident at a show--my hips were misaligned by a couple degrees and that made my hips creak with a disturbingly zipper-like sound when they were stiff. That's improved over the years though and I haven't heard it since my sophomore year of college when I was going to a lot of concerts and standing still for a long time would aggravate it.
And aside from miscellaneous cuts and bruises from falling, the only other serious injury I've had is a (possible?) mild concussion from when I fell off Joey on my first trail ride with him. Who said therapy horses were boring?
Ahhh I'm dying from how awesomely bitchy Veronica is. "A Saddle Club member who can't even canter? How beginnerish is that?" I love it.
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Day 07 – 30 Day Horse Challenge – Your Favorite Show Ribbon
Hehe. Today further confirmed that Midnight is NOT the horse to teach Byron to ride on (one of my original criteria in my horse search that was promptly abandoned when I tried Midnight). We had some "airs above the ground" because OMG THERE WERE POLES LEANING ON THE FENCE...which we had passed about 10 times...but the 11th time they were definitely out to eat him.
Gotta love Thoroughbreds. It wasn't a terribly bad spook/skitter/buck either which is nice--it wasn't hard to bring him back to sanity. I went into autopilot and circled, circled, circled him, then we had a sloppy, but not out-of-control canter for a little while, and then once I got to the opposite end of the arena I pushed him into an active trot. Then a walk not long after that so I could chill out and stop my stupid leg from shaking!
A couple people appeared out of nowhere as this was happening, which was a net positive. Good that they were there just in case, bad that their first introduction to me was my horse flipping out, good that they saw me riding it out like a BAMF.
On to today's challenge--my favorite show ribbon.
I have not shown that much, but I think my favorite ribbon was the Year-End Champion one I got at Swan Lake the day my horse fell on me when I was 14. I think it was Hopeful Hunters or Long Stirrup, something like that. I've already told the story here. To my parents' chagrin, this just solidified that all the hard work, all the expensive lessons where I never talked to anyone but my horse, all the giant flight animal spookiness...all of it was totally. worth it.
Gotta love Thoroughbreds. It wasn't a terribly bad spook/skitter/buck either which is nice--it wasn't hard to bring him back to sanity. I went into autopilot and circled, circled, circled him, then we had a sloppy, but not out-of-control canter for a little while, and then once I got to the opposite end of the arena I pushed him into an active trot. Then a walk not long after that so I could chill out and stop my stupid leg from shaking!
A couple people appeared out of nowhere as this was happening, which was a net positive. Good that they were there just in case, bad that their first introduction to me was my horse flipping out, good that they saw me riding it out like a BAMF.
On to today's challenge--my favorite show ribbon.
I have not shown that much, but I think my favorite ribbon was the Year-End Champion one I got at Swan Lake the day my horse fell on me when I was 14. I think it was Hopeful Hunters or Long Stirrup, something like that. I've already told the story here. To my parents' chagrin, this just solidified that all the hard work, all the expensive lessons where I never talked to anyone but my horse, all the giant flight animal spookiness...all of it was totally. worth it.
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Day 06 – 30 Day Horse Challenge – All Tack and Riding Clothes You Have (color/ brand/ details)
We introduced the kitties today since Beckett stopped hissing when he smelled a blanket with Manchego's scent on it.
And we were entertained by Kitty TV for a good long time. Beckett is really strong for his size, but Manchego knows he's more nimble.
On to the challenge...this one is a doozy. I photographed everything. Because I care about you and your desire to catalog every horse item I own.
Breeches, from left to right: the amazing plaid full-seat, really old ribbed On Course knee-patch breeches, blue Kerrits fuzzy winter tights, Equifit fullseat (that is more of a capri length because I was too lazy to exchange it) and summer tights. Plus a kitten entranced by a dangly thing.
I just got the duffel bag today at Target. I've been needing a barn bag for a long time and since the new barn doesn't have a lot of parking spots, I finally decided to get something to help carry my stuff from the car when I have to park a little farther away. This was a good exercise, since I realized that I really don't need to carry all this crap around every day:
Paddock boots, leather chaps, leather cleaning stuff, neon yellow crop (easier to find when I drop it), boot jack, small spurs, an Ariat fuzzy headband for winter, side reins, a cavesson, and a Charles Owen Wellington helmet.
Ariat tall boots, Ariat boot bag, a super comfy bareback pad, another helmet that doesn't fit my head as well (I think it is IRH or International?), and black rubber boots for mud. I mean, for Beckett.
Beckett approved of my flamingo saddle pad. I have another that is navy blue but I'm not sure where it is. From right to left--very beat-up leather gloves, awesome grippy SSG gloves, Tailored Sportsman crochet back gloves, and SSG fuzzy winter work gloves.
Of all of these things, the one I would wholeheartedly recommend to anyone (aside from plaid breeches and flamingo saddle pads, obviously) is the brown SSG gloves. I just got them this spring and they are amazing--warm when it's cold, but not too warm if it's hot, very grippy, and they work on a touch screen phone. They are so thin that I forget I am wearing them, which is perfect for maintaining more educated hands without freezing. Technology!
And we were entertained by Kitty TV for a good long time. Beckett is really strong for his size, but Manchego knows he's more nimble.
On to the challenge...this one is a doozy. I photographed everything. Because I care about you and your desire to catalog every horse item I own.
Paddock boots, leather chaps, leather cleaning stuff, neon yellow crop (easier to find when I drop it), boot jack, small spurs, an Ariat fuzzy headband for winter, side reins, a cavesson, and a Charles Owen Wellington helmet.
Of all of these things, the one I would wholeheartedly recommend to anyone (aside from plaid breeches and flamingo saddle pads, obviously) is the brown SSG gloves. I just got them this spring and they are amazing--warm when it's cold, but not too warm if it's hot, very grippy, and they work on a touch screen phone. They are so thin that I forget I am wearing them, which is perfect for maintaining more educated hands without freezing. Technology!
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