Angel's session determined I would be taking Baby to the schooling clinics. Sunday was her first clinc at Rest And Be Thankful Farm in Lyman Maine. What a gem of a spot... I mean a real find! I happened across the website while scrolling through the MeCTA omnibus and happened upon Babette and the clinic that she was giving there. Perfect segway was my thought, into the following day at UNH with Babette and Tom Davis clinic.
Hmmmmmm well not so much. Although I have been making great strides maintaining rythm in my arena and at HEP ~ it was hard to do that while being coached to do several new techniques and then jump. It just was. It was informative for sure and will certainly give us a new direction of training to work on. I look forward to the next clinic with Babette at RABT July 18th & 19th.
At UNH on Memorial Day I was less than impressed. Babe wasnt in a positive mind set either, as many things werent in black & white and organizers ASSume that partakers know the ropes and/or have been to UNH before. Of course they all had, or most of them, because they are followers of Tom Davis' clinics or students of his. Some were new or had new mounts. I didnt bring my own water, so borrowed some from a fellow rider. I believe I was the only one that didnt have a stall for the day at $25 and BYOBedding and strip before leaving. I am lucky to be able to go to a clinic let alone spend additional fees to have a stall let alone a $13 lunch. It wasnt as organized as I would have liked to see. Then again I am the one that goes above and beyond to make sure everyone is at home, comfortable, part of any conversation, or goings on. That is just me. Thinking about things before they happen and trying to sort out all the what ifs. But anyhooo, it could have been better worth my while had I requested for "FIRST RIDE GROUP" instead of the getting what I got which was second ride group after lunch. So check in at 8:30 and ride at 2pm. OMG! Sun was hot. We were lucky to have the HUGE breeze that allowed everyone to be comfortable in the blazing sun. I tied her to the trailer on the shady side until noon and then opened up the 3 slants inside and gave her the whole trailer with bucket and dropped all three windows. She wasnt happy even though Chloe and I sat outside the her window and gave her an occassional treat and even grass clippings! Spoiled finally settled down with her pawing and tried to nap just before the riders reappeared for lunch.
The noon speaker stood us up, and therefore the second group would be ready to ride sooner than later. I tacked up while talking to a new found friend about our horses, only to find I had no helmet just moments before mounting up. Walking around frantically to anyone at a trailer asking, "have an extra helmet I can borrow?" with the most pitiful look I can imagine. One similar comes to mind when you throw up in front of people you dont know very well... you know that feeling and that look of pitiful. FUN!
All went well until Baby wouldnt take the LOG jump. 5 times they instructed me to try, NOPE NOPE NOPE>.... finally the 5th time I said in my most stern aids... YES YOU ARE! .... low and behold I found myself dangling between her ears.... and she lowered her head to eat grass in front of the log jump ... but also in front of two instructors, 6 other students on horses and endless autitors looking on to learn "what not to do" :) again FUN!
I was stuck in my stirrups because my leg aids were so firm and my legs were so tight on her but most of my weight was up over her shoulder and it was hard for me to get back into the saddle in that most awkward position. SOOOOOOOOO I had to do the most ungraceful dismount and walk her away from the jump and my heart was pounding, my face was red and my throat was aching so hard I almost started to cry ... but I swallowed them back and laughed it off as they tried to tell me all that I had done to make it work that time. WELL! If I could have just cantered to the jump and flew over it in my BRENDA fashion NONE of that would have happened. Then they could have said "well not the most pretty way to do it but it got the job done"... that was of course the vision I had over and over after the fact. SAD but TRUE. Next time ... another day... another way... a different log!
DONT think I wont be going over to school every single freeking day at HEP cross country... OH YEAH... and it will be over the table top, the coupe and rock walls Baby!.... well after my shins heal from the beating they took... and then the rain that we will have through the week..... BUT then we will master that course and will be able to jump ANYTHING!
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT! HAG!
