Around 24 Inches Of Snow

Well its here... the dreaded day of days....
It arrived just in time for Christmas.... I am so happy I am gushing sarcasm!
I shoveled, shoveled and shoveled some more... and still I have much more cleaning around and out and under to do. I brought the horses in yesterday around lunch when the snow was coming down hard I started to feel bad they were out there standing in it. But only after the plow to arrive to cut a path to the manure pile so that I could unload yesterdays tidings and get to cleaning stalls. So that happened around noon and I shoulda woulda coulda pushed the last wheel barrow to the pile but I said eh tomorrow is another day. That it is... and I would have been able to clean todays stalls if I didnt put off tomorrow what I could have done yesterday!

DONT WE LEARN ANYTHING!

Nothing more overwhelming that having 4 stalls to clean lingering over you while the wind is whipping outside and snow is piled up everwhere around you - you have now where to go.... I am tired just thinking about it.

Thank GOD both 100 gal water troughs are filled and hay is thrown down.... oh wait ... crap! I do have to go pick up grain today .... as I was two bags short at last delivery.... UGH!

OH how blessed I am to have time for the LIST OF TO DO's !!!!! :)
HAPPY MONDAY!

I Too Own Two Kinds Of Hosses .....

Bikes, Camera Action! Contest Winner: "Her Need For Speed"
by hdmoto

LIFE IS GOOD!
See you on the Road or on the Rail!

Time to Hook On ~ Load Up ~ & Get Going!

Well I have been off since the Cutter show... I was riding often and doing my best to prepare for the deadline. I guess that is the problem here.... I dont have a goal? Spring is my goal... but as far as riding, clinics, shows etc.... I dont currently have an ajenda. Usually New England has alot going on this time of year with Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years which is probably why nothing is posted for dates at facilities offering Schooling Shows or Clinics?

The Cutter Farm was good for what it was. My expectations again were too high and all my anxieties were for not. It was for the experience, and it was a positive one for Angel. No wrecks, falls, injuries or hurt prides that day. On the other hand, coming from a Photographic background I was terribly dissappointed in the photography. After waiting over a week to just view my pics online - every one was blurry and or at the wrong angle. WHY? I am guessing it was due to an amateur photographer. If it were my business I wouldnt POST the blurry pictures of jumpers! BUT - if that were the case then it looks like she may have not had many to post? Regardless I HAD to buy ONE - because it documents from whence Angel and I have dredged from.

I can handle the critisms.... so please critique away!

There is NO WAY I can photoshop my legs to the proper position or give his front legs a nice tight tuck OR I WOULD!

But hey these are our meek beginnings that we will look fondly back on many years from now right?

Snow Is Falling....

Is there anything else to say?

HIGH HOPES FOR WED....

Well... its been C~O~L~D!

I am not into freezing my ars off just to say I rode. When the weather is like this your horse cant even get warmed up right to benefit from training for an hour. I can say that we will just set our sites on days that are above 40 and that will be WED. 45 fingers crossed.

So that is what I have been reduced to now that the ground is frozen and the air has become artic.

WOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOO - I am wishing Christmas & New Years away because lets just get onto having the days longer shall we! Once I get beyond the longest day of the season I have hope for Spring! Until then ... I just want to stoke the stove and sleep!

So nothing going on - check back WED I hope to have a positive report then.

Waiting to make progress on Angel - more suptle, consistancy, quiet - hands seat and leg.

YESA - I can and will.... in time!

AMEN

Trail Rode At Dusk...

At least I got a trail ride in today! Well WE - Mindy Misty Charlie and I. It was mild all day. After delivering a horse this morning we were off to a nice trail ride. He has been cranky this week... which means... He needs one on one time with his momma.

He was good on the trail... a few one rein circles and we were good... off we go... thru the back 40 - around the Bears Den and behind Dolbecs and to the power lines.

Do tee do dee do.... oh... mud hole... c'mon... nobody wants to get their hooves muddy - R U shitting me? What is that pasture you hold up in all day... dry as a bone? I think not! MOVE IT!

Well they did travel through... up and over the high knolls... views are amazing ... down and across another mud spot... the ATV club have done well to make a high road. ....

Ugh Oh... spoke too soon.... another wet spot... too wet to argue over... I know they wont go... the wheelers love it... but not the whinners.... so turn around... :(

Photo OP! Smile Mindy!

I was sooooo thinking that with crossing the running water to get to Mills place was eventfull enough..... argue poke prod thump.... NOPE... got off and walked thru... GOSH it wasnt deep you SALLY Charles! Yes Misty follow but dont lead you veteran of this water crossing... thank you very much!

Across we go... wait for the blood pressure to get back to normal then return across. Argue poke prod thum.... UGH... C'mon you liars! Geez - got off and led them both through again... Misery does enjoy company hugh?

Well... they always say that if your going to get in an accident its going to be 500 feet from your house... so true!....

Charles feet went out from under quicker dan shit.... and we went down... he was trying to get up with me still on him... poor little bugger... I did my most graceful rodeo dismount and he was fine... I was fine... all was well... then a gun was heard off in the distance and he gained traction on my big toe! WTF! Anyway... no worse for the wear...

What ever happened to those quiet therapeutic trail rides? Oh where oh where have they gone?

Another Day....

Its cold again - found time to get out Christmas stuff, decorate and put up a tree. Now that is all done its time to get back out there and ride.... Now that hunting season is over - I can go trail riding if I so choose without chancing the bullet!
Angel will certainly have separation anxiety with that. I have tried him 1/2 way down the driveway alone and he is a pistol. Add that to the list of corrections to make. All will be fine in time.... can we just remind ourselves at this juncture that its only been two months he is here!
I know!
I know... that is amazing when you think about it.... I should not be so harsh on us and our goals.
Tomorrow is another day ... like today. An opportunity to ride if the sun is out, and 4:30 is our indoor riding time - I may bring Baby also? - But Simplify is the key here. Angel seems to get more accomplished is alone and away from home.
Until then. Stay warm!

I SEE NO EVIL....

I can tell you that I am so depressed after watching those videos over and over....
STOP THE MADNESS!
GOD please help me get my seat and leg and hands in order sooner than later! AMEN!

Poor horse - I know he was cantering around faster and faster and faster - BUT how are you getting to the rolex if you cant do those itsy bitsy jumps darling?
Nose straight out,
hollow backed,
peppy le pewwing around the arena -
HOLY MOLY you have your winter work cut out for you .... better get to it there spanky -
2010 will be here before you know it!

OH and BTW - on days you dont ride -
get out your turbo jam and skip the snacks deary!

FINALLY THE JUMPER SHOW

OK>>>>>> we made it and I am still alive!

Angel was an Angel - he is so good when he is away from here. He likes the "goings on" and is always looking around. The standing around waiting for our number to be called after the sun went away was not fun. It was chilly - and he was already warmed up... you can only do so much of that in one setting. .... I mean for me! My thighs will feel that tomorrow.

It was a good day overall... HECK... what can you expect for a "first show" situation! I have mental notes on all the crap I need to work on... notice I said "I" because "I" get in HIS way, and I need to have a better seat, and I need to have better hands, and I need to maintain my balance for longer than a minute or two....

His strides are so big and tall and he can cover an indoor with 11 jumps set up in 2 seconds flat - I knew the pattern but all of a sudden ... I am at the other end of the arena and holy crap... what number am I on again? Shit ... #5 ... oh... where is that one now? UGH... over there.... did I miss #4? NO... I did one ... two... three... right? Crap...

At the end I said thank you to the judge ... but he said... "you have one more" and pointed at #11.... Oh? I do? Hugh ... thought I did that one ... :)

>>>>insert - sheepish smile and shrugged shoulders with OH MY FRIGGIN WORD - under my breath... then crawl under rock >>>>>>quickly!

BUT all in the scheme of DOING & LEARNING - which we BOTH are and having fun... because lets not forget THAT my friends is why we are doing this... because its fun.... but before we get to that.... lets look at the embarrassing part shall we?????>>>>>>>>

A big THANK YOU - goes out to Candace Frank - for having to deal with me all day - in so many ways!

Schooling Over Jumps

I can tell you I have been busy trying to get ready for this schooling show tomorrow.
I have been tossed off Angel twice 2 days ago in my arena. Thinking that my arena is cheaper to utilize while I can, well, as long as its not frozen. It WAS nice and mild out so wanted to make sure I got my riding time in while mother nature was napping. Problem was ... being tired after riding the other horses before working Angel. Since he usually is an "angel" I thought I would work Charles, as he requires me to be on my toes. Charlie was having a good day, so then my guard was down later when I worked Angel. My calves were tired, my thighs... actually I was already toast, but I had to get on and ride. Thinking I would school us over all the jumps I have in the arena, which I did, but hadnt lounged him first.
HELLO - NOTE TO SELF !!!!
I only realized the next morning I pulled all the muscles in my neck when I had to manually lift my head off the pillow with my hands!!!!! I didnt think I fell that hard, I got right back on both times... thank GOD the arena wasnt frozen!
Oh ... the other problem is ... I AM GETTING OLD - birthday coming in 3 days! UGH... I have so much to do before I am all crippled up you know SELF! GET WITH IT - stay with it and GET FIT TO RIDE your almost 40! CRIPES! Hey how bout that turkey day pie - was it good? GREAT! You just set yourself back another 2 weeks... good going!

ANYWAY........ I couldnt ride yesterday - and thought maybe Angel was having a bad spell - or his back hurt as he was bucking like a bronc - regardless I planned to take him anyway. I called Candace to see if I could go over to her nice indoor with jumps already set up and see if he was better or I was worse -

Well video below shows that I guess neither one of us are great but HELL! WE ARE GOING ANYWAY!

Candace has reminded me to hike my stirrups 2 holes - so my leg will look better than the video shows but I feel like I am 2 feet above the saddle with his tall strides - my heels down would help - in time though .... in time!

Hope ya'll like it... was feeling creative in my movie making - !!!!

6 DAYS & COUNTING.....

Going to The Cutter Farm Jumper Show in Dracut MA on Sat. I was fortunate enough to have hooked up with Candace today so that we could school our horses over jumps. Once Angel is warmed up he is a peach. A new indoor today over in Lyman - nice & new with lots of natural light and flush walls with mirrors at one end. Just big enough to have 3 jumps set up inside. A little tight with two 17h horses striding around but we we made it work. I was very appreciative that she jumped off to reset the jump I knocked down.... twice :( - Probably all me, looking down and or something else. He is so easy going after he gets soft in the bridle - and he likes to jump ... I give him that! Its not pretty right now - its not like he is a natural llofty jumper but he clears them and he wants to figure this game out. So its fun for him, for now :)

VERY bitter out. Windy as a mutha' and I hate having so many layers on, that I am hot, then I am cold ... then I am chilled because I was sweating. UGH.... those Mountain Horse Rimfrost Riders are the BEST! My feet never get cold and I only had a thin sock on! I do need a new helmet though... maybe santa will be nice to me for xmas?

Hopefully Charlie will be ridden tomorrow. Rain I think? Poor guy... he watched from the paddock as Baby and Misty got to get out with the girls hacking them around - I watched him from my office window... sulking like a boy kicking stones down the road with his hands deep in his pockets. :(

Even though I have been fortunate enough to enjoy my horses, almost daily if I so choose, I dont actually feel like I am doing anything with them still. Like a show is the only thing that can affirm my hard work? Why is that? Just saying that I am going "somewhere" solidifies / proves that I have actually done what I say I have been doing. It is the wierdest thing. Something I have to change - I need to feel like I have accomplished "things" just by having them home - not by showing by someone elses standards.

I will work on that. Dogs barking - gotta run!