Another Dreary Day.... but a good one!

Today was my day with Charles.... and it was good.
As you can see by his pictures... he was being exceptionally well at accepting the bit and leg aids.
I only worked on maintaining rythm... but he is a natural.

I worked on bending... no difficulties.

I worked on headset and forward motion.

He was accepting and wanted more.

We worked on half passes at the walk... and it was a good start.

Backing ... great.

Halting PERFECT ...

HELLO? Perfect headset... and he holds it until I release the reins!

Cantering... well we have to do a little more work there.... he is high at the rump right now... which pitches us forward and makes him heavy on the forhand... but on the lounge he is balanced. SO hmmm I guess that would be me?

GOSH... I want to just unload that 50 lb bag of grain I have been laboring around with me the last 10 years and just be done with it! THEN I can do all that I want to do and it will be easier on myself and my horses.....SO WHY WHY WHY cant I? Friggin american way... LAZY!

Anyhoooooooooo must be the weather... its getting to me. A great day to take some pics tho! Thank you Charity! An aspiring photographer herself! Greatly appreciate not haveing to tripod my cybershot this time... because I can never stay within the lens!

HEP VIDEO ROCKS!

Great Job GIRLS! Proud of all of you!

HEP SHOW

WOW ~ another busy weekend. After helping a fellow photographer organize and shoot little league teams ALL DAY on Saturday ... I was pooped before we even started our adventures on Sunday at the HEP Benefit Fun Show. But what a good time! I mean hats off to our B.O.D. of the HEP for coming up with class names like "Extreme Makeover" "Dr Phil" & "Desperate Housewives" class names! What couldnt be more fun that putting that on your winning ribbon? Well Misty got some recognition in "As The World Turns" ... Barrel Racing. We even got our Judge to hop on for a turn around the barrels!~

The girls had fun, Misty had fun... and all are happy and ready to rock and roll for the summer season events... fingers crossed! I hear MOUSAM show is this coming Sunday! Anyone up for it?

Kaitlyn did well to swaller her reservations about classes and just DO IT! Unlike some sallys :) But hey ... that sally did canter the WHOLE barrel pattern! WOOOT WOOOT! We have videos! STILL EDITING ~ sorry ... you will have to bite your fingers until then.

JUMPER NITE Wild Run Farm

I have been trying to go for weeks now but its either the weather or the nite or whatever... FINALLY I was able to go this afternoon and was happy to be taking Angel as he has been all but ignored since his back soreness came to a head. WELL... went and Haley wanted to come so I put her to work for me with my Canon 50D! Ya baby... see this big lens her darlin? Ya ... make it work for you... and she did! She got some cool shots... but not the best jumping ones... OH WELL! C'mon first time running a SLR camera what can you say right?

So her are Angel and I debuting again... he has finised 2 out of 3 sessions of acupucture ... and tonight wasnt really a good night and he was ansy and full of it... grinding the teeth and all. I didnt want to leave until he quieted down which only came to pass after I worked him some more in the indoor after 3 rounds of jumping :(.... oh well not our night.... but we got out there at least! He rides so gangly in comparison to Baby and Charlie. I wish I only had ONE horse... no really! ... then I would be back to my greatness in riding like the days of ol' TESS ... she was my one and only an I hers. Riding these green horses, and 3 different types and minds and all this doesnt make me much confident in my approach to training. Honestly some can argue it makes you a better rider... agreed. BUT ... I cannot get the job done at hand or realize my dreams with 3 avenues! So must simplify ... SOON!

Yet another busy day!

Starting with lessons at 8 a.m. One cancelled, and a new one showed up. He has a lot of catching up to do but I think he can do it in short order if he applies himself. Haley did her usual cantering around and posting is looking better too.

Then at 9 Haden showed up for her lesson on Baby. She was already tacked up and ready to go as soon as Ronnies lesson was over. She is going well for only her second lesson and is adorable and smiling all the time talking to Baby thru the lesson saying how much she loves her! OMG!

She trotted a little bit and then we had to show the parents how hard it really is to ride and they both got on and tried to do what I had instructed Hayden to do. Funny they had a new found appreciation for the whole "riding" thing :) I LUV THAT!

Then after all quieted down I rode Charlie at 10 and he was a Dink. Rearing bucking bronco AFTER I longed him ~ and got on and tried to canter around a few times.... JERK. You had to see it... sorry nobody had their cameras ready for that show!

I decided to work him more by asking the girls to head out on a trail ride for an hour or so. It was nice and the bugs werent bad. Made a big loop and accomplished PUDDLES... as it has been raining for 3 days! They all did well.... PROUD of Charlie as he walked a 40' trail of water and came thru a second one right after... up over his knees... he didnt know what to think but he did it. Again NO PICS ~ as my husband took it fishing with him for the weekend. :(

There is a fun show locally tomorrow that I hope they decide to wander over to. Should be fun to check out the grounds for the following weekends fun show to benefit the HEP.

Posting pictures of Babys first Schooling Clinic

UNH ~ photos by Flatlands Photography
Unfortunately I cannot afford her pictures at this time.
Maybe next time ~ sorry about the copyright logo.

Angels Second Session

Was able to save some money by sharing a farm call

with Joyce as King Elk needs chiro and acupuncture too.

After Elk was set to cook he scanned Angel. WOW! Stood tall and square with pressure on his back! AWESOME progress with first session! Thankful that the chi is flowing! Judith said she felt he was more grounded and balanced. I will take whatever I can get to get back on and move forward with his training. Too awesome an athlete to be stuck in neutral all summer.

WE have got to get out there! Only so many weekends in a season and we MUST get him onto a schedule. ME a plan. MUST do~go~see... jumper nite tomorrow with Candace at Wild Run Farm at 4pm. Lessons at 8 with Kaitlyn, Haley and Ronnie and Hayden starts hers at 9 a.m. What a good summer to be sharing knowledge with the youngsters and making them into future equestrians with good bases! :)

Hopefully post more pictures after tomorrow. Hoping to acquire some of me riding Angel and training Charlie too! That lug head! SEE BELOW!

Alot has happened since last we read....

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!

Angel By Day ~ Acupuncture Day

Well.... today was his big day. A big thank you goes to Claire & Judith Tusch for working with Angel to make him all that he can be. A few more of these sessions and we hope to unlock all the potential in this mighty stead. He also had some Reiki work done to confirm the energy blockages that the acupuncture was to release. As we all knew, his back is really tight. He looks good, he feels good, but its not good. I cannot compete him until he is better. I want him to be happy and comfortable when we are out there competing as the great team we will be. Until then, schooling cross country will have to be with Baby~which is Sunday May 24th in Lyman and 25th at UNH with Babette & Tom Davis. I know Baby will enjoy it and have a great time. Sadly I will miss my partner in crime Angel & hope that this time off will allow him to regenerate.

The video has all the pictures and video showing what he did when ONE particular blockage was released.... this acupuncture is all new to Angel and I hope that he will understand that this is what will make him feel better. He certainly liked his "feel good" shot to relax him as he immediately turned his nose up as if to say... ya baby... likin' the drugs doc :)

Schooling Angel Cross Country

Found time this a.m. to get over to HEP and work Angel in circles, bending, transitions and then of course over the cross country course. All the while he is calling for his partner in crime ~ which leads me yet again to the conclusion... he must be seperated from the heard. Misty doesnt call for anyone... actually none of the others do... just Angel ... and HE IS LOUD! I was unseated a few times with him and his whipping around to get an eye on his lady friend. Which I had to tune him in real quick like.... one rein wait for submission... like a child. Listen to me... listen to me ... listen to ME. Pay attention to ME... Angel my boy ... by the way... ITS ALL ABOUT ME!

Finally... he gave me a few good trips around the arena... at the canter, bent and on contact. I was proud of him. Then I pat him and oooooops... that gave him that second to look for her and call and get all unorganized again... UGH... back to the drawing board. It was a good thing though. Life is not peaches n cream... a matter of fact... this is exactly what he would act like if we were out at a show... so why not go thru the moves that he will come to expect this summer? Its a good thing for him... exhausting for me. I was junk after an hour of that crap. STILL NO LEFT LEAD though I tried as much as my legs would allow.... then had to give up or get off. I have faith that my MON May 19th Acupuncture / Chiro appt with Tusch will lend insight to what is going on and hopefully allieviate whatever is ailing him. Although today he was not off, but a dinkweed... to be expected... when was the last time I actually "WORKED" him? Before I left Rolex... I am quite sure. How he stays so muscular and sheen I dont know... chasing the girls probably while he airs out his junk.... always on the run that boy :)

Anyhooooooo rain rain rain. Was supposed to go to UNH to school what Sat with Candance.... but rain had its way with me... and I am a fair weathered rider FOR SURE... I have done enough rainy day rides, shows, camping and motorcycling... which is what has made me the fair weathered rider I am today :). So cancelled that with her last minute unfortunately, and then again this afternoon she was having a schooling nite at Wild Run and NOPE... rain again... but they were going inside if the rain was too bad... well too many riders inside a not so big arena is not my cup of tea... so I opted for next weeks schooling instead. PLUS ~ who was junk after riding Angel today? I would have looked like a sak of crap atop poor Baby Jane... so eeegh.... next week is another week!

Alrighty then.... thats all for now!

RODE 3 HOSS'S

Mosquitos are out in force. Baby was acting like she had turretz syndrome.... running away from the bugs... stopping and then looking crosseyed and shaking her head and taking off again. Black flies arent much of a bother with fly sheets and masks on... but mosquitos drive me NUTS too if one is in the bedroom at night! Totally understand Babe... which is why I shut up the barn tight tonight and put the fan on for white noise for them. Poor things. I know I spoil them, but if I dont who will? :)

Rode Angel first. MY GOD... is he something. YOWZAAH... mmmm MMM! He is tall n handsome, muscled up and lookin' goood! Sick thing is.... I must be getting old... he looks as good as the firemen calender boyz with the six packs! SEE? Sick egh? Well, anyway... he wasnt off tonight. He thinks he is all that n a bag of chips.... with his alternating girlfriends, and junk airing out every day. Charlie, was good, headset, canter work and excellent bending. Also worked on transitions and he gets it quick :) Baby, was good too, she is just lazzzzE ... compared to the boyz, who trot right out. I needed spurs and dressage whip with her, then she is all about what you want. Her headset is perfect, but she needs to give more push from the hind. I hate to babysit her with leg, so the whip is effective but I feel bad about it. Hope that in time she will GET IT!

Wish I had pictures, but I dont. No place to set up video all by myself. I rode 2 out of 3 before someone showed up. So I didnt bother.... but some time soon I will post new vid to see how well they are all coming along.

Now that its summer, who wants to be editing video footage in the back office? NOT ME!