We're Back, Hello Hello

Proof that he's alive

Huh well then that was a bit longer absence than expected.

Contrary to what may be popular opinion, the Creature is still here and quite alive and we found a splendid part-board place for him that I am quite tickled with. He's maintaining weight beautifully, his feet are much better (even though our new farrier is not so good as our old one), and I am even getting back into riding lessons periodically. Some dressage work is doing us both good, and he's popping over baby cross-rails like no big deal. We've been on a few little trail rides and we even gave my best friend her first unofficial riding lesson.

I'm having a tough semester for reasons that shall be elaborated on later perhaps. For right now I'll just say I'm not currently teaching and that was not my first choice. But it gives me more time for Monster. I don't know how long we'll be here, but it is a good place for him and I'm trying to enjoy it while we've got it.

As part of trying to hold my mental and emotional game together (lack of outside structure + incredibly unstable future plans = highly stressed me), I'm throwing some more jumping and dressage practice in. Much as I do enjoy dressage, I'm no good at doing it independently yet, and jumping will always be my first love. I know enough dressage to mostly hold us together at the moment, so I think it's time to diversify and experiment. And as part of trying to remain accountable to myself (ha ha), I'm going to try to post on our rides, even just a little blurb. So here's to returning to blogging (maybe)!

Happy One Year! (& photo dump)

One year ago today, I drove down to Georgia to pick up a certain big bay gelding! Happy Anniversary River! 

We've come a long way, and we have a long way yet to go, but it's been a wild and crazy and wonderful ride...I'll let the pictures tell the rest of the story. :)

He led (or didn't lead) like he needed a stud chain!

Distracted distracted distracted

So stiff and ouchy

Started coming to me in the pasture

Loves his trail rides :)

His ground manners are perfect now!

Just because he's adorable

Long way to go, but better!

He even gives pony rides to grandmas :)

And very-stiff-and-nervous younger brothers ;) 

I don't have pictures, but when he gets in the mood he's also a huge snuggle buddy. :) Where from here? Who knows! But we're going to have fun no matter where or what it is! 

2013: Year In Review

Wellll everyone else is doing it so I will too :)

River is starting his hill-work-on-the-lunge regime as of today. He was agreeable but decided that hill work is tiring, thank you very much!

Also, I found that our local Ace Hardware store just started carrying Tribute feed! YEAH!! Finally something decent quality with low NSC and high(er) fat (right now I'm transitioning him to their Kalm-N-Ez, so it's not super high fat, but still about twice as much as he was getting), and it's no more expensive than plain whole oats! Thanks Saiph and Jen for your positive comments on this feed so I can be excited! :) 

ANYWAY on to the Year-In-Review!

Started off 2013 at my second barn in Tennessee, riding with Coach. I had Rhapsody and Brandi as unofficial project horses. Brandi struggled with working in the arena (I later decided it was probably a saddle fit issue), and Rhapsody learned to be catchable (at least by me). Fringe (my 2012 project horse) regressed and I fell off during a lesson on her.

Adorable baby face

I didn't post about this on the blog, but in late February Coach moved out of the barn and stopped giving lessons there. I was on my own--a little nervous, a little excited!

In March I "inherited" Coach's project, Surge, as my own third project horse. I learned to listen to horses, especially Rhapsody, who wouldn't take anything else! Rhapsody really started bonding to me, and we figured out the stretchy trot! I rode her bareback in a halter, and though she didn't like the halter idea, she did very well.

In April, I started having issues with Surge (still not sure what was at the root of those, wish I'd been able to figure them out). Fringe sold to a new home. I experienced a rearing horse for the first time, and decided I'd rather not experience it again! 

May, things started changing. I left that barn and started looking for my own horse, all in one fell swoop! I looked at horses...and more horses...and...

In June I finally found a horse I thought might work!
Coach liked him!
And River came home! 

First full day back: Needs to learn manners, anyone?!

The shot that sold me on him...

I debated whether to take him barefoot or not (and got many good opinions). Decided to try it, got a very sore pony, and went on vacation for two weeks while he healed and toughened up. Came back and he was overall better!


July and August: River got an abscess, but it blew out eventually and he felt much better. So did I, when he could go out on pasture again and I didn't have to feed him twice a day! River started putting weight on and feeling better yet. We tried a new trimmer (who I "fired" later because he couldn't come out often enough). I rode at last! We went on our first trail ride and River rocked it. 

Need to see this view more often!

September and October were more trail rides, and I tried riding bareback. I started working with some Arab babies at a boarding school. Sadly the colts have not been gelded yet so I haven't been back...the agreement was that they would geld the studs in return for my work with them. Came up with some goals for River and I.

November and December we struggled with Daylight Savings Time, and I started auditing lessons at a nearby dressage barn. River had his first big spook, and I almost fell off, but didn't quite. Then there were finals, and now it is break! And here we are!

In all our derpy donkey greatness...

A lot of ways, I feel like I'm starting all over again. I feel like I got to June, bought River, and stalled in my riding. I don't know what to do for goals for this spring; I don't even know where to head River (post in the works about why). But I know I'm one blessed girl to have this Beastie and I'm going to enjoy every minute of it! :)

Late to the Party: 5 Day Challenge - Day 1

Bit late to this, but not much to write about, besides that River continues to eat massive amounts of food, so I need to write about something, and Tracy's questionnaire looked fun!
 

1. Most influential person on your riding

That would be a tie between my first trainer, D., and my current Coach (who I haven't seen since August-ish, got to fix that soon!). D gave me my start, taking me from a rank 10-year-old who "knew" everything and couldn't do a thing, and coaching me up to riding the more reliable babies (at about 12-13), riding other people's horses, and hopping over little cavaletti. Coach took me from a scared and tense early college student who hadn't ridden in two years, was afraid of any jump over a 12" crossrail, and got popped off when my horse kicked out, to a quite "sticky" rider jumping 2'6 confidently, and riding almost-completely-green off-track babies. Though I don't agree with everything either of them did or do, I love them both!

Chompy chompy mouth (ignore my staring at the ground!)

2. Piece of tack you’d love to splurge on

Custom saddle would of course be awesome! In fact I'd like two--one jump saddle and one dressage saddle! But barring that, I'd like to find a bit that River actually likes. I don't know if such a thing exists, and I'm sure a lot of it is just him being anxious and figuring out his mouth and the idea of contact or the lack thereof, but it would be awesome to find one he didn't feel the need to gape his mouth with.

3. Top 5 riding playlist

I hardly listen to music at all, which is weird because I used to listen, play, and practice a ton, like an hour a day (okay, whatever, it's a lot for me!) before I was in high school, and I performed quite a lot for churches and Christmas programs and whatnot in the area. High school killed my music, which I regret, but I haven't found the time to pick it up again. I enjoy music, sometimes I listen to it when I'm studying and often when I'm driving, but not when I'm riding or hiking. I get distracted too easily...sometime I'd like to try it though, see if it could help me relax and not over-think everything! 

Happy horse is happy.

4. Most important aspect of your barn?

The pasture is really pretty good for this area, we have good pastures and they're actually rotated frequently (unlike most places in the area that just throw two dozen horses on a dozen acres and expect to have it be okay...). But I think the thing I like the most is the people. We're a small barn, about ten families and seventeen horses, and everybody kind of looks out for everybody else. Nobody has an entitlement complex and it's just a really nice, down-to-earth group of people that love horses. This is so huge for me because at my previous barn it ended up being so much just about the money--not so much the folks who were boarding there, but the management. Horses suffer when that happens. Here, River may still struggle with his weight when there's not foot-high grass 24/7, and it's a drive over and back every day, but I know he's happy and that everyone will be super accommodating if he's sick or injured, and that's what matters.

5. Three winter riding goals

1. Gentle, regular hill work with River, starting as soon as I finish finals and get onto Christmas break, to get him back into shape.
2. Start River over baby jumps to see how he likes it and how he does
3. Lots of no-stirrup and two-point to strengthen my position and get my legs where they're supposed to be

Happy U.S. Thanksgiving!

 And today I am especially thankful for the critters in my life!

Thankful for the Beastie!

Also thankful for the other ponies that have taught me so much...these two in particular:

Rhapsody: Never forget you

Lassie

And the other animals...

Keesa, the Great Cat of the house

 

 

 

And Tobie, the family Collie

River's taking a bit of a break till my Christmas holiday (two more weeks!)--he's been off for a while  already so I figured I'd make it about 6 weeks so he could have an official "vacation." Not that he particularly needs one, but y'know...it's not like I'm riding a great deal anyways! Might as well make it sound good! ;)

Still scheming things to write for your entertainment (more like my entertainment), so we'll try not to make it too quiet till then!

Blogging Is Great, and Rhapsody Is Too

So first I just want to say y'all are awesome. :) I have really been thrown into the deep end with this exercise riding/basic training; Coach has had to leave (did I say that already?) so I don't get her on-site expertise, and while Instructor D is happy to have me ride, neither she nor anyone else wants to ride or really even touch (lol) the babies. So I am very very much on my own with not a great deal of training in how to train--about six months with the Coach.

I'm not complaining; if you'll tell me how to swim, or if I can figure it out myself, I learn best just getting thrown in over my head. I love the challenge, and it's a fantastic way to build saddle time for free! But sometimes a bit of commiseration, even in the virtual world, is very nice. :) When people have more ideas and/or experience than I do, so much the merrier!

(Everyone at the barn just seems to think I have more guts than brains. Which is most likely true...teehee...)

Yesterday I rode Rhapsody. She was really very good for having had about a week and a half off--even let me get on bareback off the fence! I groomed her a little at the car, rode her bareback up to the barn, gave her another quick once-over, put the tack on, did a walk/trot ride in the arena, and then rode her back out to the pasture again. Brought the tack back up in my car. Yay cars! Haha. It worked well and gave me nearly an hour of ride time instead of the 20 minutes I might have had otherwise. We worked a little over poles. She went nicely over a ground pole, but when we raised one end she thought very hard about running out. Second time was better though she was not what I'd call calm over it. We'll just have to rinse and repeat a lot, get her used to it, and move up the levels very slowly so she doesn't ever feel like she has to run out. She's an honest horse, not one to refuse just on basis of being naughty, so I think she'll end up going well. It'll just take a bit. She has come so so far though! Used to be she went crazy with just a couple days off.

Her pasture is next to a subdivision, and the horses have conned an older couple who live in a neighboring house into coming over to the fence and giving them alfalfa cubes every night before supper! Lol I happened in on it when I went to get her. Lovely couple, and I don't complain--they're helping put weight back on my ponies! :)

Goodbye 2012, Welcome 2013!

I really can't believe we're here already, at the last day of the year!

Today I am going out for some time with Rhapsody trying to persuade her that catching is good and doesn't always lead to getting your hiney worked off; then I'm going to have a lesson with Coach.  Plus I have pretty much knocked the cold I got on Friday night; I lost my voice pretty much, but otherwise I'm doing quite well!  A fine way to start the new year if you ask me! :)

A year ago I was just starting lessons with Coach after nearly 2 1/2 years off from riding.  Did I ever mention that on that first lesson with Coach, I fell off and got a mild concussion?  Well yes, I did; and it was the Thursday before a full weekend of work and a week of finals, too.  Poor Coach, I think she thought she'd scared me off horses for life.  Couldn't be farther from the truth, fortunately!  

The rest of the winter and spring we spent working out exactly where I was on the riding scale, improving my confidence, and fixing a bunch of little bad habits I had acquired and/or been taught.  In May I finished school, stopped working at the school cafeteria (therefore no more weekend work) and started a new job that I still love!  Also we took a family vacation to Alaska. 

Alaska!

The last week of June, I started working with Fringe--my first project horse and the easiest so far.  ;)  In July, I started this blog!  This wasn't my first time blogging, but it was my first time blogging about horses.  I continued working with Fringe, cantered her for the first time, and started getting my confidence back. 

Groundwork with Fringe

In August, Fringe started moving to the beginner riders, so I put less time on her.  At the same time, Rhapsody arrived, however, giving me a whole new level of challenge!  I had a fantastic jump lesson on Lass that showed me how I can ride if I'll just relax.  Shortly after that, I developed plantar fascitis in my foot, but in my true style, continued riding, jumping Fringe for the first time. 

September was not too eventful.  We did go to the polo match, though, which was fun!

October I spent continuing to try to catch Rhapsody, enjoying jump lessons, and finally getting to go up to the local equestrian showgrounds for an "away" lesson.  I started exercising Lass to help her get over her sore leg, and had a bit of a step backward in my riding, which I now suspect was caused by my putting too much pressure on myself to "improve."

In November I caught Rhapsody for the first time!  I hit my goal for this fall of jumping 2' verticals, came up with some goals for training Rhapsody, and continued exercising Lass.  My jump lesson skills might have been off-and-on for November, but overall it was a very successful month!

December has really followed November's lead as far as success is concerned.  Yes, it took me almost the whole month to catch Rhapsody again, but I did, and got a halter on her this time!  In addition, Lass came back into regular work.  I pinned down (I think) what's holding me back as far as jumping is concerned, came up with some goals for winter training, and got Brandi as a second project horse. 

It's been a great year, and I feel blessed! :)  Can't wait to see what 2013 has in store!

On Sitting

I have always hated bareback riding.

In the same breath, I've always been insanely jealous of the folks who hardly ride, but delight in riding bareback and somehow manage to stay on.

My bareback episodes have generally consisted of trail rides, grabbing mane, and trying (with more or less success) to post the trot so I don't get bounced to kingdom come.  And trying to ride in a saddle whenever humanly possible.

WHY CAN'T I DO IT?!?!?!

A few weeks ago, I discovered.  I am not sitting gaits correctly on my horses.  Likely never have been.  Why nobody ever figured this out and told me how to do it right, I don't know.  I guess I faked it well.  But I'm not even sitting walk correctly, for goodness' sake.  No wonder I can't handle bareback!

So everybody knows (except me, apparently) that when you're riding, your pelvis is supposed to be relaxed and move alternate sides forward and back with the horse's shoulders, same as when you're walking.  Goes faster when you're sitting the trot, but same idea.  That's the whole basis behind equestrian therapy for handicapped people and what have you.  Well actually I did know that.  I just didn't apply it.  My pelvis, I discovered upon some self-examination a few weeks ago, is stiff and locked up and generally doesn't move at all unless it's in canter. 

I did discover, however, that with a bit of thought I can relax the muscles in my seat so that unless it's a very slow walk or very fast trot, I can sit both of those gaits properly.  I haven't thought out canter yet, but canter is really my best gait to ride for some strange reason--I think because it's fast enough I don't over-think what I'm doing.  Ha.  Now I just need to get so that I can relax my seat without thinking about it, because I don't have much time for deep thinking when I'm riding any more!

One of these days, when I find a good project horse that isn't too spooky, I shall teach myself to ride bareback.  All gaits.  Maybe some jumping too.  And I will enjoy it!   

happy

Sooo Monday we had a jump lesson.  And

MY CONFIDENCE CAME BACK!!!!

I can't precisely say just how exciting that is.  I have never been that confident in English saddle but have improved a lot since starting with the Coach.  However Monday was just something else.  Riding a big, hot, big-strided Thoroughbred who belongs to my trainer, and who was being somewhat strong and pushy, and jumping baby 12" courses at trot and canter, and I. didn't. care.  I have gotten my Invincible attitude back!  Wooo!  I think I may get back to being thoroughly in love with jumping yet. 

And, since that and training are the two main things I really really am absolutely fascinated with when it comes to horses, it's good I've come around and not let my silly little fears get in the way.  :) 

I am...I am delighted.  Actually something past delighted.  I have been in love with jumping ever since my unknowing parents innocently took me to a Richland Park event ever so many years ago.  We went for the cross-country day and that was just the end of that.  No matter it took me something like a year and a half (or more) of asking and working and trying, plus an interstate move, before I finally got to hop over anything more than a ground pole (my dear trainer D. wanted me to stick with Western and training and not leave her barn, if I don't miss my guess!).  No matter that speed freezes every brain cell in my mind.  No matter that I'd only been on two horses in my life that could ever remotely qualify as "hot" or possibly be jumping (let alone cross-country) candidates.  No matter anything!  I was going to learn to jump!

Well now I think I'm back on the road again.  Seven months, it's not too bad, not for having to erase two years' worth of confidence destruction.  Sure feels good at least. :)