I might be a work-aholic... maybe.
Anyone who has seen my car can guess that I spend most of my time in it... water bottles and Carmel-Bugle bags litter the passenger floor bored along with chaps, my helmet, boots, various styles of shoes, ThinLine material scraps and somewhere in there, my purse. I do try to keep it clean, but that proves difficult with as much driving as I do.
Well, last week, I was at it again. ThinLine shut down for a week, giving all of us a 'vacation', which I promptly turned into more work by driving to Lexington, Ky for the NAYRC. I got to work alongside my good friend, Tina Butler, as she "rubbed a**es" all week (she's a physio person, keeping all the FEI horses feeling their best). I had a blast, got to meet some really neat people, and got to watch horses all week - sounds like vacation to me!
The thing I always find interesting about long drives is the stuff that pops into my head... and this time was no different. Lots of thought about the book I was to author, P-man's fall schedule, the fact that I've grown up way more then I ever wanted to, etc... I still get the same feeling of freedom I once felt just driving to the end of the driveway when I was 15 -- the feeling that I was in control and could go anywhere I want (and that I had the authority to change the god-awful Lady Gaga song blaring from my speakers).
Anyway... I like driving (most of the time).
Now it's back to the real world. Happy to get home to see John and the kids. Happy because Prophet is much more sound then he was a week ago (although he is still just a bit tight in his right hip). Happy that I still have a full-load of students who want to take lessons from me even though I left them for a week. AND happy that I got P into a couple of the First Level tests at this weekend's dressage show.
August is going to be a bit crazy with legging Prophet back up. Dressage Show this weekend, CT next weekend, trip to Philly for the trade show, jumper show when I get back, and then a couple of weeks to school cross country before 5-Points at the beginning of September. Crazy busy, eh?
Monday, July 27, 2009
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Cross your fingers.
Of course it hasn't rained (except one day) since the last time the farrier was out and guess what? It's scheduled to rain tomorrow morning. AND I got into the Fenridge Dressage show on Saturday, which means the P-man and I were going to run thru the Prelim dressage test and along with a cross country school, but now, if he doesn't get reset/shoe replaced, none of that will happen -- boo!
But on a happier note, is this thing not the cutest thing ever to be born in a zoo?
But on a happier note, is this thing not the cutest thing ever to be born in a zoo?
Monday, July 13, 2009
Blast from the Past...
Nothing like spending the weekend with the people that made you to make you in a good mood. Unfortunately these weekends are way too few and far between seeing as my parents are located 13 hours away from our home in North Carolina.
First let me say (as I have before) how astonishing it is to watch my mom work a horse. It frustrates me to ride in front of her because I feel like I rely on her too much, but to watch her work a horse is amazing in itself. She gives the horses these buttons - like "hey pay attention, this is how you do it" kind of buttons. Amazing, that's all I can say.
Other then that, can I mention how P has the worst/best timing in the whole world? He somehow sensed my mom's arrival and kindly pulled off half his shoe (actually, broke off the nails) on Friday as she arrived. Lovely, eh? I did get to ride him for a moment with his foot all wrapped up securely, just so she could see him go round. He'll get a whole new set of Nike's Friday so it looks like a week of stretching and ground work for the P-man. Oh, and he got cracked back into alignment this morning by the magic woman, Dr. Engle after a quick massage done my Grandma Sitton (aka my mom). He loves all the attention for sure!
Completely off topic, but we are FINALLY getting some rain here in North Carolina. If I weren't currently smack-dab in the Hood of Durham, I'd break out in a raindance for sure!
First let me say (as I have before) how astonishing it is to watch my mom work a horse. It frustrates me to ride in front of her because I feel like I rely on her too much, but to watch her work a horse is amazing in itself. She gives the horses these buttons - like "hey pay attention, this is how you do it" kind of buttons. Amazing, that's all I can say.
Other then that, can I mention how P has the worst/best timing in the whole world? He somehow sensed my mom's arrival and kindly pulled off half his shoe (actually, broke off the nails) on Friday as she arrived. Lovely, eh? I did get to ride him for a moment with his foot all wrapped up securely, just so she could see him go round. He'll get a whole new set of Nike's Friday so it looks like a week of stretching and ground work for the P-man. Oh, and he got cracked back into alignment this morning by the magic woman, Dr. Engle after a quick massage done my Grandma Sitton (aka my mom). He loves all the attention for sure!
Completely off topic, but we are FINALLY getting some rain here in North Carolina. If I weren't currently smack-dab in the Hood of Durham, I'd break out in a raindance for sure!
Friday, July 10, 2009
At least we have a plan...
This week I did the dreaded "where to I want to compete this fall, and what my goals are..." deed. Schedule made and a fairly good plan now in place, feel a bit more like there is light at the end of the tunnel, and that even if Plan B has to be implemented, everything will be fine.
P has had a fairly easy week (which of course means that my week has been crazy!). First off, on a slightly unfortunate note, one of my students took a spill that resulted in breaking both bones in her wrist... surgery Monday. BUT I couldn't have been more proud of her. I was not there for the class that it happened in (4H State Show), but I had coached her at 7:30 that morning over the exact course and she rode SSOO well. Her careful, usually VERY safe QH has a rule that every scary jump he has to stop at once before jumping it (nice, easy, slow stops - nothing dangerous). Well let me tell you, EVERY jump in that coliseum was scary, and she got over several of them on the first time, thanks to some seriously good riding. The last thing I said to her before heading to work was how proud I was of how she had done, and that I didn't care how the class went, as long as she had fun. WELL as you can guess, I was quite surprised to get a phone call a few hours later hearing about the fall and the broken wrist. AND he didn't even stop! Just one of those weird, hidden eject button kind of falls. Ah, horses...
On an happy note, my parents are on their way here as I type this- been since Christmas since we've seen both of them (my mom was a Rolex). My mom is teaching a clinic at Kim's barn, which I'm greatly looking forward to riding in on a clients' little Arab. And I'm excited to get some lessons on P from her, *hopefully* including a XC school on Sunday morning.
Dressage Show and XC school next week at Fenridge Farm, and then I'm off to Young Riders for a week for my 'vacation' (which I'm actually working thru!). Then Dressage show on the 1st, a couple jumper shows and then Full Gallop at the end of August. If all goes well, I hope that P will be Waradaca T3DE bound by October!
Heels down, eyes up!
P has had a fairly easy week (which of course means that my week has been crazy!). First off, on a slightly unfortunate note, one of my students took a spill that resulted in breaking both bones in her wrist... surgery Monday. BUT I couldn't have been more proud of her. I was not there for the class that it happened in (4H State Show), but I had coached her at 7:30 that morning over the exact course and she rode SSOO well. Her careful, usually VERY safe QH has a rule that every scary jump he has to stop at once before jumping it (nice, easy, slow stops - nothing dangerous). Well let me tell you, EVERY jump in that coliseum was scary, and she got over several of them on the first time, thanks to some seriously good riding. The last thing I said to her before heading to work was how proud I was of how she had done, and that I didn't care how the class went, as long as she had fun. WELL as you can guess, I was quite surprised to get a phone call a few hours later hearing about the fall and the broken wrist. AND he didn't even stop! Just one of those weird, hidden eject button kind of falls. Ah, horses...
On an happy note, my parents are on their way here as I type this- been since Christmas since we've seen both of them (my mom was a Rolex). My mom is teaching a clinic at Kim's barn, which I'm greatly looking forward to riding in on a clients' little Arab. And I'm excited to get some lessons on P from her, *hopefully* including a XC school on Sunday morning.
Dressage Show and XC school next week at Fenridge Farm, and then I'm off to Young Riders for a week for my 'vacation' (which I'm actually working thru!). Then Dressage show on the 1st, a couple jumper shows and then Full Gallop at the end of August. If all goes well, I hope that P will be Waradaca T3DE bound by October!
Heels down, eyes up!
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Down to the root of the matter...
Now why I was so proud of P-man, on so many levels...
We all think our horses are special, and they ARE. They are each an individual, which is why we love them. Kind of like why we love our Significant Others. I love John but some people wouldn't beable to stand him, just like I can't stand many of my friends SOs (hence why there is a TV show called "Is she really going out with him?" -- maybe we need a show called "Is she really still owning him?").
Ok, back on track.
I love P-man. He is my man (along with John, Peter Pan, and Ted, but that's besides the point), and I think his the coolest thing since fine-tipped pens. Not many people do like him though, but I think he is hard to get sometimes.
He's been really good lately, even though he's technically still on vacation. He's been doing light riding in the new saddle, and I was hoping and praying it would break in and not be pinching him - hoping and praying, praying and hoping. Seriously, how many saddles have a gone through in the last year? But I rode him Saturday and he still acted a bit like it was bothering him (that, and probably the 'playground' I set up and was making him jump around).
Needless to say, I was not happy. Then there were some unfortunate 4th of July events that took place on Saturday afternoon, which left me in an even further state of bewilderment. Luckily, several glasses of wine and some backyard fireworks watching greeted me Saturday night and Sunday morning was spent staying in bed late (other then to run out and feed). I was fully ready to teach that afternoon, and take Prophet along with me for a jump school.
My first lesson of the afternoon went great -- good start to it all. Then I hopped on P, with the new saddle for one last go at it (it had been looking better, but I was still not going to make him sore waiting on the saddle to break in). He jumped like a super star, straight, no rushing, no pulling, and very willing.
I stopped, and really didn't have time to tack up the school horse and properly cool out P so I asked Syd if she wanted to ride him in her lesson (this would only be the only other horse-sized horse she'd ridden other then our school horse Whiley). She smiled from ear-to-ear, got a leg up, and they were perfect together. Even when she grabbed the part of P's mane that usually makes him rear (sore spot from his fly sheet that is now in the trash), all he did was walk until she moved her hand and then he would trot again. I think I may have been smiling more then she was, and that was alot too! She steared thru cones, walked over poles, and trotted posting and two-point on the lunge!
And the best part, NO dry spots when I took off the saddle! YAY!
The night was finished off perfectly by hanging out in front of the barn, enjoying the company of good friends. Gotta love days like that!
Looking forward to the 'rents coming to town on Friday and my mom's clinic on Saturday. Should be a fun weekend!
Ciao,ciao!
We all think our horses are special, and they ARE. They are each an individual, which is why we love them. Kind of like why we love our Significant Others. I love John but some people wouldn't beable to stand him, just like I can't stand many of my friends SOs (hence why there is a TV show called "Is she really going out with him?" -- maybe we need a show called "Is she really still owning him?").
Ok, back on track.
I love P-man. He is my man (along with John, Peter Pan, and Ted, but that's besides the point), and I think his the coolest thing since fine-tipped pens. Not many people do like him though, but I think he is hard to get sometimes.
He's been really good lately, even though he's technically still on vacation. He's been doing light riding in the new saddle, and I was hoping and praying it would break in and not be pinching him - hoping and praying, praying and hoping. Seriously, how many saddles have a gone through in the last year? But I rode him Saturday and he still acted a bit like it was bothering him (that, and probably the 'playground' I set up and was making him jump around).
Needless to say, I was not happy. Then there were some unfortunate 4th of July events that took place on Saturday afternoon, which left me in an even further state of bewilderment. Luckily, several glasses of wine and some backyard fireworks watching greeted me Saturday night and Sunday morning was spent staying in bed late (other then to run out and feed). I was fully ready to teach that afternoon, and take Prophet along with me for a jump school.
My first lesson of the afternoon went great -- good start to it all. Then I hopped on P, with the new saddle for one last go at it (it had been looking better, but I was still not going to make him sore waiting on the saddle to break in). He jumped like a super star, straight, no rushing, no pulling, and very willing.
I stopped, and really didn't have time to tack up the school horse and properly cool out P so I asked Syd if she wanted to ride him in her lesson (this would only be the only other horse-sized horse she'd ridden other then our school horse Whiley). She smiled from ear-to-ear, got a leg up, and they were perfect together. Even when she grabbed the part of P's mane that usually makes him rear (sore spot from his fly sheet that is now in the trash), all he did was walk until she moved her hand and then he would trot again. I think I may have been smiling more then she was, and that was alot too! She steared thru cones, walked over poles, and trotted posting and two-point on the lunge!
And the best part, NO dry spots when I took off the saddle! YAY!
The night was finished off perfectly by hanging out in front of the barn, enjoying the company of good friends. Gotta love days like that!
Looking forward to the 'rents coming to town on Friday and my mom's clinic on Saturday. Should be a fun weekend!
Ciao,ciao!
Monday, July 6, 2009
A quick post
Will update on how it all came about, but here is the picture of P and my youngest student, Sydney. I took P to Kim's on Sunday for a bit of a jump school where he was quite good (hopped over the prelim height like it was nothing - not bad for a horse of vacation). I then jumped outa the tack, gave Sydney a leg up, and proceeded to teach a walk/trot lesson on him -- how many horses can you do that with?
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Happy 4th of July
It's been a rather steady week of teaching, riding, work - here, there and everywhere! Things get a bit crazy over the next couple of weeks, so I'm super excited to have tomorrow and Saturday off from teaching. Although P has been ridden everyday, I'm excited to have tomorrow afternoon for just him and I time!
I try to avoid the feeling the P is just here to perform for me. For a long time when I was a working student, he had to bear the burden of being there for me when I needed him to be my friend, but having to be a machine when I needed him to be also. Now I'm trying to set aside play time - where things are as structured and he can kick up his heals. So that's what tomorrow is! Kickin' up heals time!
Happy 4th of July everyone! Be safe and enjoy!
I try to avoid the feeling the P is just here to perform for me. For a long time when I was a working student, he had to bear the burden of being there for me when I needed him to be my friend, but having to be a machine when I needed him to be also. Now I'm trying to set aside play time - where things are as structured and he can kick up his heals. So that's what tomorrow is! Kickin' up heals time!
Happy 4th of July everyone! Be safe and enjoy!
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