The Po' Po' Chev....

My poor 97 1/2 ton Chev with 260K on her... I tell you.... she really gives me 200%. I dont look forward to the day I have to let her rest, because you know they just dont make them like that anymore. She was loaded to the gills today. 5 passengers, and 3 horses with all our gear. Leaving is not a problem as its all downhill ... but its YIKES on the way up the 800' drive as 4 wheel drive may not make it up snowy road loaded... but honestly and who wants to jack knife back 1/2 way up? NOT ME! So thank you MISS BLUE and MY OL' CHEV another day & we made it.

ANYWAY A PRODUCTIVE day it was. Charlie Baby and Misty all ridden and ridden by a couple different people. Misty got her cantering in by both her riders which is a huge plus. Charlie got his side passing in and release worked on. Even some cantering! YAY! I am so proud of him as he will be 3... March 27th. Baby will be 4 April 27th.... exactly a month apart? Wow I didnt realize that.... guess I wont forget it now! Baby worked on her head set in rythm and cadence. Hard for her with her naturally extended gait in the forehand, its almost like her ass cant keep up.... hey babe... mamma knows what you mean :)

Even Taylor worked on the "feel" through the reins with me double up behind her on Baby. Then trotted a little on her Misty girl. Well enjoy the video.... just showing you what we all worked on today.... hoping to hit the beach on Thursday and maybe next weekend.... weather permitting.

Any day that we ride is never a day wasted :)

Its time to look in the mirror....

First OFF ... thank you mom for freezing your bubushka off waiting for me to "get it"

Well I was quite tickled at what I accomplished today.... admittedly not so much at first.

I will admit right here and now that it is tougher than I expected, training 3 horses, with all the time I NOW have, but still it doesnt seem to amount to much when you figure it around weather or daily events. I want to ride more, but the fact is, I AM putting forth the effort & it doesnt seem to be getting better than this unless I board ONE of my horses at an indoor.

On a seperate note, spending what I do on gas and arena times for 3 horses, I dont have the funds for lessons. We all need them, really we do. The knowledgeable eyes to tell you what to do & when is great but at $40-$50 hour, I just cant right now. I'm saving for"clinics" or "jumping events" for this spring and summer.

With that said, I can now move on to ....

THANK YOU VI!

Inside rein, inside leg and his head dropped nicely with the correct leg and hand position. Once he got his grove on ... it was like I was riding a trained horse! It was only for a few moments that we were in unison and it felt great... my job will be maintaining that feel throughout our sessions over time. I cant believe it was my postioning that was holding back our progress! Amazing!

Although it seems like I was not absorbing at the time with my fussing screaming stead, I was subconciously and can honestly say it was the most productive time I have spent with Angel since I have had him! Someone to give me their 2 cents on what they think is going on with me and him and why we arent jiving at times is priceless! I cannot wait to work on that with him again. Hopefully it will take half the time to get to where we were at the end of our freezing cold session.

You think you know what you need to do to get the job done, but then someone comes in and shows you a more efficient way to communicate with your horse ...WAM! It hits you, you knew that... why werent you doing it? What is the excuse for poor posture and hands anyway? You have mirrors in the indoor and you havent utilized them? LOOK AT YOU... FIX IT!

Well, I feel like the clouds have lifted and blue skies are coming through! The sun should be shining in a few more sessions and we will be making great progress!

WE thank you... again and again. Hopefully when you come next time... it will be warmer (for MOM!) and we can move on to greener pastures!

JANUARY.... I cannd feeeel m' finnahs!

We all can agree that winter riding in New England is a challenge to say the least.
Its more than that to me ... its exhausting! No really. By the time you shovel your trailer out, hook it up, load it up with everything (still knowing in the back of your mind ... I am forgetting something), then fetching the horses, loading them up, driving 15 minutes to the indoor, unloading your gear and horses, tacking up, warming up - you then realize either you (A) Have to pee or (B) cant feel your fingers or toes.
The horses dont like the cold either. You can tell by how choppy their strides are or by how long it takes you to actually get a correct head set or rythm. It seems like it takes the whole time your there or limbs start freezing (which ever comes first) to feel like you are in unison with your horse. Some days are worse than others. Like for example when the snow is coming off the metal roofing while your riding... that would be considered = "shit hitting the fan"
I have told myself to just realize that I am not going to get as much done as I had hoped due to the fact that this year I have 3 horses I am training and with weather and the cold I am alternating who goes to the indoor for riding - so they all get riden equally. I am constantly feeling guilty for one or two.
Angel needs to be worked the most as he is the furthest behind in language. Baby is an old standby at only 3 (yes three folks) Charlie will be 3 this Spring - as long as I just stay consistant with him and work him he is good - but really should be worked more. Its like trying to roll three barrels at the same time across the arena - one is going to lag in momentum. Almost getting to your destination and you just say screw it and roll one at a time the remainder of the way. We will see what Spring brings.
A compilation of last winter and this winters indoor activity is good to watch to see what we were working on last year at this time.
Angels jumping progress will be available to see this week in another post.
We are hoping that next weekend will bring temps back up to 30 so we can ride indoors more comfortably.

GOALS This Week.

Left fri & drove 3 hrs to visit my dad this weekend. Didnt get back until Sat nite. Sun it snowed so couldnt go to the indoor. Its still spitting today. Fingers crossed TUES with Angel in Lyman. Wed ride Baby on trails. Thurs take Charlie to Indoor with Misty in Buxton. This weekend would like to trail at beach with 3 horses, but first hit indoor to make sure all the buttons are working :)

Until then.... its curry at 5pm and after brings Hot Bran Mash & Oats on this evening menu specials.

NOT spoiled would you say?

At Last.....

Me & Angel Darling....
working on our goals & having fun.

A good start to a new year of opportunities!

Cant wait to have them come to fruition this year!

FINALLY...back in the saddle

AFTER HOW LONG?!!!!!
Well I just dont want to admit it so I am not going to even say.
BUT - Charlie went to the indoor on Sunday with Misty and they got worked. Charlie did great... better than expected after what 2 months. Wow nice WAP extension there Charles!



Baby went trail riding on Monday afternoon and didnt toss me off, but tried a couple of times. She thought it would be easy since she was only tacked in a bareback pad and I was bundled in insulated Carharts. What could I say? She needs to unleash burst of energy and I must hold on or walk home. The latter just "aint happenin' ".... & dont even give me that "who me?" look!
Then it was me and Angel today at the indoor. It had been since Dec 2nd I believe and I was wondering what he had in store for me this fine cold day. He needed to get warmed up before he was cooperative with headset and extension but given his time off, I had to cut him some slack. He was his typical charmer self. Wishing I could ride him every day. I took some video of us jumping I will post tomorrow but for now its picture time, because I have to post something for all to see its been awhile!

The jumping pics are clips pulled from video I took. Not super clear but it does show me way too far forward and its nice to see what I will be working on next time.

He has decent form & Im sure it will get better once I get my ars correct and balanced !

SICK .... SICK... SICK

...ya thats me! I am Sick! Sick and tired of being sick. I got the Christmas gift that keeps on giving. I thought maybe a dry throat from the woodstove cranking. Not so lucky... lost my voice and that has turned into the achy, stuffy head, sinus clogged, headachy, body hurts all over, cant get out of my own way.... sickness. UGH... I barely have the energy to get out of bed and make it to the couch without getting disoriented and dizzy. I have been drinking a ton and had to invest in the puffs tissues as my nose is now raw. Cant blow anything but hey if I move it takes off running like the Kentucky Derby and I better have a tissue in reach!

Husband has had to do a.m. horse feeding and Bless Mindy as she is coming to take care of evening clean out and feed. Thank you LORD JESUS.

If I could just find some poor soul to give this shit to ....the demon would leave me!

KIDDING! ~ I am not that mean.... yet :)

So a day of 50 friggin degrees and melting and I am stuck on the couch! Enjoy that you snotpickers out there to pasture... because a new year is upon us and I am sure that my resolutions will have something to do with all of you!
Whatever ....Enjoy the down time!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!

You look Sorry Charlie...

your lighted dingle berries are hanging low today!Ready for your smackarooo Missy Boo!

Pucker up Baby Cakes !!!!!!
You too Angel.... mmmmmmmmmmmua!
AWWWWWWWWWWWW.... thats not very nice!

Look at these poor poor pitiful pups! I am sure they are not spoiled at all hugh?

ALL WISHING YOU & YOUR FAMILY A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!

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?