We are preparing for landing!
Lumber River is just four short days away! Momma Sitton arrives today to spend some time with all of us in North Carolina, and Friday we leave for Southern Pines. I've been so crazy-busy, I haven't really had time to think about the fact that my baby is running his first Prelim this weekend! AH!
In preparation, we traveled over to the beautiful Fenridge Farm to run the Combined Test on Sunday. P was stellar for warm-up, but just got a bit clostiphobic in the ring. I was disappointed enough to take him back to warm-up for some reminding on what it means to stay in front of my leg. Apparently the judge forgot her glasses, as P was awarded a 33.2 to win the dressage against all levels of the CT. We warmed up for show jumping and he was feeling really good, until they started running late and we took a 20 minute siesta. Then, with no 5 minute warning or anything, they blew the whistle for me to begin! Needless to say, we started off with no rhythm, and pulled rail on the #2. He was pretty stellar for everything else and finished in 2nd place. Not too shabby!
This week is filled full with teaching/riding/and getting the Diddy his last canter sets/dressage schools/and a final jump lesson. I'm sure next Monday will be here before I know it... Cross your fingers for us (especially around 11:08 on Saturday)!
Friday, May 28, 2010
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
And now a word from our sponsors....
I've said it before, and I'll say it again -- I have some of the best sponsors in the world! I'm very picky about the things that get used in my program, and strive to find companies that I can whole heartedly promote. I encourage everyone to visit the Sponsor's Page on my site, and considering using these great companies next time you need something!
I would like to give special shout-outs to two of these supporters. First off, BonVivant Equine (C-Horse's newest sponsor), just sent their box of wonderful products for P and I. BEAUTIFUL stuff. If you ever thought about blinging up your look, they are definitely the people to go to!
I would like to give special shout-outs to two of these supporters. First off, BonVivant Equine (C-Horse's newest sponsor), just sent their box of wonderful products for P and I. BEAUTIFUL stuff. If you ever thought about blinging up your look, they are definitely the people to go to!
They also did a lovely page for C-Horse on their site. Be sure to stop by their site and check it out!
The other company I'd love to encourage you to check out is Pony Potions. This rain/humid/dry thing that NC has going on right now makes me cringe a little bit when thinking about Prophet's feet. The farrier noticed a slight patch of what looked to be some bateria/fungus under an area of his shoe. We went through the products I had on hand, and it was decided the Hoof Spray by Pony Potions was the best. I used this spray the last time I had a minor issue with some foot fungus and it works great! I've started to use it again, and even with all the wet, gross weather, the bottom's of Prophet's feet are looking better then ever! I'll have to post pictures later because you really wouldn't believe it!
PP also makes some other killer products including an AWESOME helmet spray that's sure to come in handy now that the weather is getting warmer. I've pretty much fell in love with every single product I've tried of theirs.
Prophet is gearing up for the CT this weekend at Fenridge Farm. We have a lesson with Melissa scheduled tonight and then a make-over day for Saturday (poor P's mane is in much need of some TLC). Then the really exciting week starts, as my mom arrives Tuesday!!!! (just in time for Tuesday night Wine and Ride at the Bobbit Road Farm). Very exciting stuff!
Friday, May 21, 2010
Ever feel like you're jumping off a cliff?
... and not just jumping, but leaping with all your belongings in tow?
Ok, so I'm being a bit dramatic, but I kind of feel like although I'm diving head first into a new chapter, I'm at least doing it with a neat little row of ducks lined up to watch.
There's a lot of exciting things going on with C-Horse, and just in general in the world of Cassidy Sitton. I've got a LOT of new clients coming on board, which is awesome! I have some freelance work picking up with the marketing/design stuff, and what I've found is I actually am running out of hours in the day! Which leads me to my big announcement -- I am making more hours in the week by cutting back on my time at ThinLine!!! This is a big jump for me, albeit not even as big as I want it to be, but still a jump. Or maybe more of a repell then a jump, but you get the picture.
So, although I have these grand thoughts that I will have loads of free time, in all reality, it just means that I will probably find more stuff to fill the hours, but it's a start!
Prophet is cruising full-steam ahead towards Lumber River. He's so funny in that the more fit he gets, the more calm his is to handle. He did the Prelim Test B test at Fenridge last weekend, and was a star! (even though he only had a 5 minute warm-up). He also rocked the XC school, minus a bit of a miscommunication over an 18" log and the Novice ditch. :)
He doesn't compete this weekend, and will be running the CT at Fendridge next weekend before the big move-up!
Ok, so I'm being a bit dramatic, but I kind of feel like although I'm diving head first into a new chapter, I'm at least doing it with a neat little row of ducks lined up to watch.
There's a lot of exciting things going on with C-Horse, and just in general in the world of Cassidy Sitton. I've got a LOT of new clients coming on board, which is awesome! I have some freelance work picking up with the marketing/design stuff, and what I've found is I actually am running out of hours in the day! Which leads me to my big announcement -- I am making more hours in the week by cutting back on my time at ThinLine!!! This is a big jump for me, albeit not even as big as I want it to be, but still a jump. Or maybe more of a repell then a jump, but you get the picture.
So, although I have these grand thoughts that I will have loads of free time, in all reality, it just means that I will probably find more stuff to fill the hours, but it's a start!
Prophet is cruising full-steam ahead towards Lumber River. He's so funny in that the more fit he gets, the more calm his is to handle. He did the Prelim Test B test at Fenridge last weekend, and was a star! (even though he only had a 5 minute warm-up). He also rocked the XC school, minus a bit of a miscommunication over an 18" log and the Novice ditch. :)
He doesn't compete this weekend, and will be running the CT at Fendridge next weekend before the big move-up!
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Grandpa's girl
So, I've taken some time to give props to my maternal side of my family -- actually, I'm pretty sure I mention my mom in nearly every post. I've also given my dad a shout out for all he's done.
Yesterday morning, as I smelled the sent of bacon drifting into my bedroom, I was reminded I really haven't mentioned anything about the man who quite possibly is my biggest supporter and largest influence in what kind of rider I've become... my grandpa Tom.
Now first of all I'll clear a couple things up... Yes, John was making breakfast for us to eat together -- and I helped (said in the way of the shake-and-bake girl from the 90's). And secondly, yes, I know that it's Mother's Day week, but I figured since I talk about her so much that she'd be ok with a shout out to my grandpa.
Anyway... Grandpa Tom is actually my step-grandfather, but you'd never in a million years guess that. Him and my dad actually even look alike, even though they're not blood-related. When I was very young, I spent a lot of time at my grandparents house due to my mom's back surgery, and as the first grandchild, grandpa spoiled me right! He loves to tell the story about how I had to sit on every horse in the barn, every time we went to feed. I also had to lead the horses around (even though I was probably on 2 or 3 at the time) and was quite adamant (i.e. a brat) about doing it "by. my. self."
As I grew up, and more grandchildren were born, my grandpa still tended to spoil me pretty much rotten. I bought my very first pony from him with my bag full of pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters -- savvy horse buyer, even at the ripe old age of 4.
I also 'took' my second horse from him. At the time, I was 8 years old and leasing a lovely young quarter horse mare. I was on my way home from a horse show in Springfield, IL and we stopped in to Grandma's and Grandpa's for the night and I sat on about 3 horses, riding them up and down the dirt road with horses running on one side and 6 foot corn blowing on the other. I thought 'Robbie' was the prettiest horse I'd ever seen and even though he was only half my age (4), I HAD to have him -- so in the trailer he went, with the agreement that I would ride him and then we'd sell him and split the profit. I really can't understand what my parents were thinking letting their 8 year old daughter get an unbroke 4 year old but I learned a lot, and two years later I got his papers in the mail, with the owner signed over to my name. The note simply said something like "I don't believe this is my horse anymore." I rode that pony for 8 years before selling him to another young rider.
I wasn't just equine spoiled by grandpa. As a teenager, I could be staying with them and sleep until 10, waking up to the smell of pancakes and bacon (even though everyone else had eaten several hours earlier). He'd make some comment about a growing girl needing to eat, and I'd happily take my pancakes.
One of the problems was that my grandpa has always thought I could ride anything (hence letting his 8 year old grand daughter get on an unbroke 4 year old in the first place). I clearly remember landing on my rear on at least one occasion due to this (random horse he pulled out of the barn turned out to be the wrong one of the pair - I think I've failed to mention up until now that my grandfather was involved with driving horses). I admit though, it's always nice to have someone have that much faith in me!!
My grandpa has since sold all his horses to live the retired life, and I definitely don't get to visit him as much as I'd like to. When I call him, he still has such faith that I can do anything I put my mind to (probably because I was such a brat when I was younger). I guess there's just something about that unconditional positivity that makes me hope that I continue to make him proud!
Love you grandpa Tom!
Clockwise from top left: Me sitting on my parents Morgan, who I'm sure was connected to my grandpa somehow; Me and Dusty, my nickel and dime pony; my friend Meghan on her Arab Dragon, and me on my Morgan, Robbie, the 'unbroke 4 year old', doing a costume class as vaulters; Robbie and I warming up at the 'Cookie Classic'; me sitting on 'Cassidy's Lad'. My mom is holding me and my grandpa' arm is on the left hand side of the picture -- see he even named horses after me!
Yesterday morning, as I smelled the sent of bacon drifting into my bedroom, I was reminded I really haven't mentioned anything about the man who quite possibly is my biggest supporter and largest influence in what kind of rider I've become... my grandpa Tom.
Now first of all I'll clear a couple things up... Yes, John was making breakfast for us to eat together -- and I helped (said in the way of the shake-and-bake girl from the 90's). And secondly, yes, I know that it's Mother's Day week, but I figured since I talk about her so much that she'd be ok with a shout out to my grandpa.
Anyway... Grandpa Tom is actually my step-grandfather, but you'd never in a million years guess that. Him and my dad actually even look alike, even though they're not blood-related. When I was very young, I spent a lot of time at my grandparents house due to my mom's back surgery, and as the first grandchild, grandpa spoiled me right! He loves to tell the story about how I had to sit on every horse in the barn, every time we went to feed. I also had to lead the horses around (even though I was probably on 2 or 3 at the time) and was quite adamant (i.e. a brat) about doing it "by. my. self."
As I grew up, and more grandchildren were born, my grandpa still tended to spoil me pretty much rotten. I bought my very first pony from him with my bag full of pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters -- savvy horse buyer, even at the ripe old age of 4.
I also 'took' my second horse from him. At the time, I was 8 years old and leasing a lovely young quarter horse mare. I was on my way home from a horse show in Springfield, IL and we stopped in to Grandma's and Grandpa's for the night and I sat on about 3 horses, riding them up and down the dirt road with horses running on one side and 6 foot corn blowing on the other. I thought 'Robbie' was the prettiest horse I'd ever seen and even though he was only half my age (4), I HAD to have him -- so in the trailer he went, with the agreement that I would ride him and then we'd sell him and split the profit. I really can't understand what my parents were thinking letting their 8 year old daughter get an unbroke 4 year old but I learned a lot, and two years later I got his papers in the mail, with the owner signed over to my name. The note simply said something like "I don't believe this is my horse anymore." I rode that pony for 8 years before selling him to another young rider.
I wasn't just equine spoiled by grandpa. As a teenager, I could be staying with them and sleep until 10, waking up to the smell of pancakes and bacon (even though everyone else had eaten several hours earlier). He'd make some comment about a growing girl needing to eat, and I'd happily take my pancakes.
One of the problems was that my grandpa has always thought I could ride anything (hence letting his 8 year old grand daughter get on an unbroke 4 year old in the first place). I clearly remember landing on my rear on at least one occasion due to this (random horse he pulled out of the barn turned out to be the wrong one of the pair - I think I've failed to mention up until now that my grandfather was involved with driving horses). I admit though, it's always nice to have someone have that much faith in me!!
My grandpa has since sold all his horses to live the retired life, and I definitely don't get to visit him as much as I'd like to. When I call him, he still has such faith that I can do anything I put my mind to (probably because I was such a brat when I was younger). I guess there's just something about that unconditional positivity that makes me hope that I continue to make him proud!
Love you grandpa Tom!
Clockwise from top left: Me sitting on my parents Morgan, who I'm sure was connected to my grandpa somehow; Me and Dusty, my nickel and dime pony; my friend Meghan on her Arab Dragon, and me on my Morgan, Robbie, the 'unbroke 4 year old', doing a costume class as vaulters; Robbie and I warming up at the 'Cookie Classic'; me sitting on 'Cassidy's Lad'. My mom is holding me and my grandpa' arm is on the left hand side of the picture -- see he even named horses after me!
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Lightening the Load
From the time we begin schooling dressage, there's this thing called "self carriage" that is preached almost as much as 'inside leg to outside rein'. I preach it to all of my clients, and we have long, tedious discussions about the proper connection for their horse's level of work. I was my horses to be light and through and all that good stuff that comes with proper self carriage.
Therefore, for the life of me, I can't figure out why I let my own horse lean on me as if his head has been somehow removed from his neck, and I am the last hope for him keeping everything held together in one piece.
Ok, so maybe that's being slightly dramatic, but really... why is it that we end up letting those everyday issues slide on the horses that we ride consistently? It's really not that hard to make P soft again. A good half halt from leg to seat to hand, and suddenly his head becomes re-attached to his neck and we can continue on with our working trot as if the slight dismemberment never happened.
I've also decided this also stems from a control issue. I have this idea that I need a heavy feel with him in order to feel and ward off those spooks, spins, glances, and sideways heaves he likes to throw into most perfectly good rides.
So my goal now is to go ahead and let myself feel a bit vulnerable on a lighter contact, and gosh-darn-it, I'm GOING to expect my own horse to have the same qualities that I demand of my clients and my horses in training.
Therefore, for the life of me, I can't figure out why I let my own horse lean on me as if his head has been somehow removed from his neck, and I am the last hope for him keeping everything held together in one piece.
Ok, so maybe that's being slightly dramatic, but really... why is it that we end up letting those everyday issues slide on the horses that we ride consistently? It's really not that hard to make P soft again. A good half halt from leg to seat to hand, and suddenly his head becomes re-attached to his neck and we can continue on with our working trot as if the slight dismemberment never happened.
I've also decided this also stems from a control issue. I have this idea that I need a heavy feel with him in order to feel and ward off those spooks, spins, glances, and sideways heaves he likes to throw into most perfectly good rides.
So my goal now is to go ahead and let myself feel a bit vulnerable on a lighter contact, and gosh-darn-it, I'm GOING to expect my own horse to have the same qualities that I demand of my clients and my horses in training.
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