Happy New Year!

The holidays are OVER!  Great times were had back in Illinois, and my mom got to come out for the next week to play with the P-man while I took some time off of the real-job to absorb what she had to say.

Looking back at 2008, realize it was a great year for me. It provided the opportunity to take a step back, analyze where I was struggling with my horses and to get the rest in my life in order. I hated not competing pretty much all year, but I definitely think that Prophet benefited from slowing things down and concentrating on where our holes were, not just that he was talented and could run and jump stuff.

I guess my parents know me too well, and read my desire to get back into the game.  Originally, my spring plan had the P-man moving up to Preliminary, since I am already qualified.  I really wanted to run him around the 1/2* in Ocala, but thought there'd be no way I could afford to get him qualified and make the trip in such a short period of time. 

BUT my parents are amazing and got me an entry for Ocala (and my trip down there) for Christmas.  Immediately I jumped to action and was searching out the events I needed to qualify while in my Christmas morning pajamas.  

So the week training session with the momma proved to be a great jumping off point for our season (in addition to the Becky Holder clinic).  I always get a bit cranky right before she leaves because my worst fear is not being able to uphold the standards she has instilled in my horse so I'm already making plans for her to come back. 

And, as if my new year couldn't get off to a better start, my mom and I spent New Year's Day teaching at one of my client's barns, Wynnscott Farm.  All of the horses were great and Kim (the owner) got some one-on-one time with my mom and now SHE wants to host a Linda Sitton clinic just to bring mom back from Illinois.  Such a trend here!  Maybe I need to build a wing for my mom and dad's 'second home.'

Kim also invited the three of us (John included) to stay for a great New Year's dinner - hopefully brining all of us great riches and luck in the new year.  The food was great, the company was great, and it proved to be a great kick-off for 2009.  

I would like to add a special 'thank-you' to Kim and all my clients at Wynnscott.  They are great group of people who seem to support all of my crazy/wacky ideas to the fullest.  I can't express how much it means to have a support group like you guys!!!

Happy Holidays!

Hope everyone's Christmas shopping complete, this being the eve of Christmas Eve, but for those who procrastinate (like me) look at it as having a whole day to complete that last minute shopping (and I will see you in the stores tomorrow!).

My early Christmas present to myself - the Becky Holder clinic - went SO well. Every since I moved my horses away from the barn with the ring, I'm always surprised at the progress P-man has made when I get the chance to to ride in one. Saturday was no different. He warmed up great and I tried to take it easy since I was a little unsure how he would handle the 2 hour lesson, condition wise. Although I was very tempted to just keep going and going since he felt so cool - but opted to wait on Becky to finish the previous lesson instead.

And the lesson went awesome. I would highly riding under Becky when given the chance. We worked a lot on adjustability and straightness, and P-man was a star! She diagnosed my issue where I allow him to get crooked in our half halts, and it's amazing how when I ride correctly, he actually responds! We also did a million transitions within a gait, throwing in some leg yields to help P get up through his shoulders and working from behind.

The clinic, hosted by FenRidge Farm, had the advantage of having a HUGE ring so we could do three loop serpentines over three sets of poles (1. Collected trot 2. Medium trot 3. Extended-ish trot THEN 1. Collected canter 2. Medium canter 3. Extended-ish canter THEN adding fences in them). It was a great exercise with all the horses showing increased balance, rhythm, and ridability.

He was also a blast on the XC portion, where we didn't jump a lot of fences, but worked on elements (banks, ditches, water, etc...), after all, there's only so much you can accomplish in one lesson. Looking back at the video of our ride, I'm very pleased with his expression and how he progressed each time a new question was asked. He's just using his brain so much better then he did two years ago.

I will try and get the video posted on here soon (when I figure out how to!).

Right now, we are driving back to my hometown to celebrate Christmas. I'm definitely looking forward to next week with my mom comes back to North Carolina to put Prophet and I through Dressage boot camp. We are going to culminate the week with a schooling dressage show down in Southern Pines where I'll get to see Prophet show under my mom!

Merry Christmas, and stay warm!

Sad Day / Happy Day

You know those horses that may not have even been your own, but still had a profound impact in your riding life?  Well, a 16 hand grey TB mare was mine.  Pearl was the most fun ride I've ever sat on.  Little to no dressage training, you could hold her into a frame and run and jump the moon.  She hated for you to let go of her mouth, could turn on a dime and LOVED her job.  She was owned by my 'second mom' and I would hop on a some random jumper shows and let Pearl show me how it was done.  In warm-up one night when I was about 12 or 13, I ended up jumping around 4'6 because they just kept putting up the jumps and she kept on jumping!  I watched her bounce through a 6 bar (6 one-strides in a row) class and win the high-bar at a fun show, because the 5 and a half foot standards wouldn't go up any higher.  She helped teach Barb's daughter to ride, and went on to be a wonderful broodmare.

She was AMAZING!  

And I just found out that she passed away in her sleep last night at the ripe old age of 26.  

Rest in Peace old girl...

But in slightly happier news... the Becky Holder clinic is tomorrow, and Prophet has finally decided to put his big boy pants on and step up to the plate!  Although I am having a bit of an internal struggle about some equipment (bit vs. hackmore) I can't wait for tomorrow to come!

Major! Exciting! News!

I'm pretty sure that hell musta had a cold snap on Saturday morning because John swallowed all the pride he owns and rode Ted (in an English saddle, even!).  For anyone that knows John and I, well, you know how big of deal this is.  And granted Ted didn't really listen to John, and simply followed me around the yard looking for the treats in my pockets while John tried to make him steer away, and I MAY have put the hackamore on Ted for the first time, just so I can laugh at Johns feeble attempts at control - but IT happened, and basically, Christmas came early for me this year!

In Prophet news - he and I had a couple of disagreeing days, where I have been adamant about getting down to business, and he has been firm in telling me that in no way is our vacation over.  Saturday - Flat; Sunday - jump.  Both ended great, with a way more rideable horse then what I started with and we're still friends (so I think).  I think that starting bad has a lot to do with me feeling added pressure about the Becky Holder clinic this weekend.  

BUT things are looking WAY up.  My mom, the magic horse fixer, both physically and mentally, has agreed to come stay with us for a week!  After a whole week of grandma-bootcamp, Prophet's gonna be a whole new sort of beast!

Rain, Rain Go Away

EXCITING NEWS!

I have made the decision to treat myself to an early Christmas present and sign up to take a lesson with Becky Holder next Saturday.  Prophet it slowly coming back into work, so we may not be in top form, but I figure a little help from an Olympian never hurt anybody!

Which brings me to my problem... Mega rain, and no indoor!  Prophet got worked one day this week, so I was one for five.  NOT good.  He's a good boy and will be fine, but I get very frustrated with myself when I let him down.  But I've backed him up the hill a couple of times - building those bum muscles - so this is me being ok with the rain, and letting go of my frustrations :)

After all, I have the Becky Holder lesson to look forward to!

And if someone could tell the rain to stop, that would be awesome...

This is P-diddy in Virginia in '06...

And here he is from the November '08 FenRidge jumper show - wooly winter coat and all!

New Blog, New Cross Country Jumps!

I figure it's fitting that my first blog post comes on a day that I'm basking in the glow of my 4 1/2 brand-spankin' new cross country jumps.  New blog... New jumps... It's like I have a whole new outlook on life.

Several months ago, I moved my horses to the house we rent which equalled many steps forward about how I can manage them and several steps back (I thought) about the facilities.  I basically downgraded from having a cold/hot wash stall; indoor arena; outdoor arena; jumps; miles of trails; etc... to just having a field and a pasture and a trailer for my tack room.  It was actually a blessing in disguise, as my P-diddy horse is gaining muscles he never knew he had through flatwork on a hill, and I'm getting to know my neighbors by begging them to let me do conditioning on their farm's dirt roads!

But now, I have real jumps!  No more stacking what ever I can find in the garage (which was actually really good for P-diddy, cause he learned to not be scared of anything).  My muck tubs and fence poles and deer targets can now be stored in their proper locations, while I cruise around, putting more distance between me and my looming amateur-ism.

John and I spent all day Sunday with chain saws, a skid steer, and a measuring tape (that was my job), and the jumps are beautiful.  There are 4 total with a little 'walk' log in the woods (hence 4.5 jumps).  My engineering-inclined Significant Other has made it so we can make them bigger or smaller quite easily - perfect for the next baby horses that I'm now convinced that I need to bring along!

Of course P-diddy had to make an inaugural pass around them, and did so with flying colors.  His jumping style has improved so much with the flatwork he's been forced (against his better wishes) to perform the last couple of months, and I am continually amazed at how much he matured over his year and a half vacation.  I guess some horses just need some time to grow up a bit before their ready for the big-time.

I'll get the picture of the jumps up when I figure out this blog thing a bit more... till then, I'm sure you'll be on pins and needles.  These are when they are set small - ranging from 2'3 up to 2'11.  Baby for sure, but hey, I'll take what I can get!