It has been a few days since I have updated....not much has happened thankfully.
I rode Sat, had a really good ride with everyone at the barn. The arena was full, 6 horse total. Charmer couldn't decide who to look at. Finally got it together and started paying attention to me. We joined the lesson that was going on. Exercise of the day was a figure 8, walk it then trot it. I liked it so much that I have been adding it to our work. I got forward movement, there was still cranky paint but it was better. Today's ride was wonderful. More forward than cranky today. Worked on the sitting trot, I always transition down in a sitting position and hadn't worked on him continuing through until today. He kept asking now stop, what about now, now, now? Did really well, getting so much more connected. I was even so comfortable that at the end I was leaning on him with my arms crossed over his withers. At one point I reached up and was scratching his ears.
I TRUST MY HORSE. And I love him so very much.
The 4H Horse Club is an experience, it is fun. I am enjoying learning how the organization works in Carroll County, horses are a distant second to the cows. That is something that will never change so we are going to have to work around it rather than try to take it head on. I am having a problem with one of the parents, her and her daughter are unsociable and rude. They are just there because in order to show at the state show they kids have to participate in the club activities. This is a new rule this year, they do not like it at all. Too bad so sad, only problem is they are making it difficult to do anything productive in the meetings because they want to protest and drag out everything. Oh well, we will deal with them as best we can and do our thing.
Richard A. G Watson will be back at the end of Feb. I wasn't going to be able to ride since I do not have a job. I told Penny (the organizer/supporter) this and she said that was not acceptable. I am now going to have to work for her to earn it. I do not mind one bit, I am just so excited about being able to ride with him again. I hope to show him how much we have improved and am hoping he can help get me over the cantering roadblock. It is totally my block but I am not sure the best way to crush it.
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
2 Jan. 2013
There is a post going around facebook about putting one good thing in a jar and looking at it at the end of the year, I am going to write a blog post everyday instead. Or at least a couple times a week. My good thing for today is that I got to ride.
I got to ride today, it was cold and cloudy but not windy. I let Charmer zip around the arena for a few minutes to let off some steam. I took a dressage whip with me but figured that I wouldn't need it since it was cold and he would be forward. It turns out I should have taken it. He was a lug, ears perked at everything but what I wanted him to do, the dogs were going to eat him. We walked for about 10 minutes to get good and warmed up then started trotting. He was such a jerk, wouldn't keep trotting, would stop mid-stride which puts me off balance. Need to get stronger abs. I couldn't seem to get balanced with him, I just felt off. Once I got warmed up I felt better. Not sure if it is due to not wearing my tall boots or what. My saddle is pitching me forward, going to have to figure out how to fix it. There is no way that I can afford to buy a County, as much as I want one it is just not going to happen.
I got a response about the archives certificate program at East TN college, I am going to apply for it. Hopefully will be able to start in the summer. That would only be a few months of no learning. I think that I could do that, I can always read.
I got to ride today, it was cold and cloudy but not windy. I let Charmer zip around the arena for a few minutes to let off some steam. I took a dressage whip with me but figured that I wouldn't need it since it was cold and he would be forward. It turns out I should have taken it. He was a lug, ears perked at everything but what I wanted him to do, the dogs were going to eat him. We walked for about 10 minutes to get good and warmed up then started trotting. He was such a jerk, wouldn't keep trotting, would stop mid-stride which puts me off balance. Need to get stronger abs. I couldn't seem to get balanced with him, I just felt off. Once I got warmed up I felt better. Not sure if it is due to not wearing my tall boots or what. My saddle is pitching me forward, going to have to figure out how to fix it. There is no way that I can afford to buy a County, as much as I want one it is just not going to happen.
I got a response about the archives certificate program at East TN college, I am going to apply for it. Hopefully will be able to start in the summer. That would only be a few months of no learning. I think that I could do that, I can always read.
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
A New Year, A New Me....
hopefully anyway. I am going to do my best to make some changes for the better. I wish to make changes that reflect the kind of person I am and who I want to become. Living in my parents house at almost 40 was not what I had in mind as a child. It can't be helped at the moment due to circumstances. It isn't terrible, just an adjustment on all our parts.
My first wish is to become fitter so that I am a better partner for my Charmer. By changing how I eat, eating smaller portions and better types of food I will become healthier. Starting small is going to be the only way to manage it. I have to be able to sustain the changes alone, changes to how and what I eat are going to be easiest at first. I have no one to workout with which is going to be my biggest problem. I downloaded a couple of aps to my cell phone to help keep track, will see how they work. I wish that I could afford to join a gym so that I would have a place to go to work out, makes it more of a concrete item on the schedule if I have to go somewhere. I could also possibly find someone to work out with, to keep me accountable in person. Sparkpeople is really good but having someone within touching distance would be so much more helpful to keeping me on track.
My second wish is to show Charmer this year, several schooling shows and then a rated show in September. There is a rated show at Poplar the weekend of my birthday. I will not show there unless we are going at least training level, preferably first level. I also wish to go to a couple of lessons/clinics with Richard. I really want to improve and he is so wonderful.
Those are my only goals for the year, I think that is plenty. I will write it all down and post it near the door so that I can see it every time I come and go. I have to break it down into smaller workable goals, a plan so that I leave little to chance. A plan so that I have a road to follow.
My first wish is to become fitter so that I am a better partner for my Charmer. By changing how I eat, eating smaller portions and better types of food I will become healthier. Starting small is going to be the only way to manage it. I have to be able to sustain the changes alone, changes to how and what I eat are going to be easiest at first. I have no one to workout with which is going to be my biggest problem. I downloaded a couple of aps to my cell phone to help keep track, will see how they work. I wish that I could afford to join a gym so that I would have a place to go to work out, makes it more of a concrete item on the schedule if I have to go somewhere. I could also possibly find someone to work out with, to keep me accountable in person. Sparkpeople is really good but having someone within touching distance would be so much more helpful to keeping me on track.
My second wish is to show Charmer this year, several schooling shows and then a rated show in September. There is a rated show at Poplar the weekend of my birthday. I will not show there unless we are going at least training level, preferably first level. I also wish to go to a couple of lessons/clinics with Richard. I really want to improve and he is so wonderful.
Those are my only goals for the year, I think that is plenty. I will write it all down and post it near the door so that I can see it every time I come and go. I have to break it down into smaller workable goals, a plan so that I leave little to chance. A plan so that I have a road to follow.
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Oh the changes that have been made over the last few weeks. Some good and some better.
I have moved back home with my parents, not exactly where I wanted to be when I was almost 40 yrs old but it can't be helped at this point. I have been living at the barn for a year and a half, it was good the first few months but as they started being more dependent on me to do all the chores it got stressful. What with trying to graduate with my BS in anthropology and work in addition to all the barn stuff and lessons I was a stressed out crabby bitch. I never got to ride, which is tragic. My horse had most of the last 2 years off. He has enjoyed it, I did not.
I decided that I had to start riding again, it makes me happy. Well, my horse has other ideas about being put back to work. In fact he was told me in no uncertain terms that working sucks. I started taking lessons with my previous trainer. Things were going pretty well. I decided to go to a clinic with a fancy trainer at a local barn. Not sure what possessed me to do it though, had no real business going at the level we are currently at. We went anyway, he was a LUNATIC on the Friday night before my first lesson. Running, bucking and rearing, so big and high that I had never seen him do. Didn't realize that he could get that bulk up off the ground like that.
My goal for the first lesson was to just get on and walk around the arena without throwing up on my horse or the trainer. It was close there for a bit but the trainer, Richard A. G. Watson, was great, put me at ease as best he could given my nerves/fears. He even had us trotting by the end of it. I was thrilled, we did not learn anything new but by getting on and walking around and then trotting I won the lotto. Every time I went around the corner at one end of the arena I could hear all the railbirds telling me to breathe. They all had my back and were pulling for me. I had not felt that much support in a very long time, it never occurred at the old barn.
I am happy with the move, Charmer has a girlfriend in a little Welsh pony mare named Maggie. She is a fine little mare. I have "free" time, with only feeding one horse I have time to get school work done, hopefully this will allow me to be able to pass this semester. As a provisional student I have to make B's in all my classes. I think that it will take a miracle of epic proportions to pass my Civil War class. I am going to attempt it but I may have to research other opportunities in getting a higher education.
I have moved back home with my parents, not exactly where I wanted to be when I was almost 40 yrs old but it can't be helped at this point. I have been living at the barn for a year and a half, it was good the first few months but as they started being more dependent on me to do all the chores it got stressful. What with trying to graduate with my BS in anthropology and work in addition to all the barn stuff and lessons I was a stressed out crabby bitch. I never got to ride, which is tragic. My horse had most of the last 2 years off. He has enjoyed it, I did not.
I decided that I had to start riding again, it makes me happy. Well, my horse has other ideas about being put back to work. In fact he was told me in no uncertain terms that working sucks. I started taking lessons with my previous trainer. Things were going pretty well. I decided to go to a clinic with a fancy trainer at a local barn. Not sure what possessed me to do it though, had no real business going at the level we are currently at. We went anyway, he was a LUNATIC on the Friday night before my first lesson. Running, bucking and rearing, so big and high that I had never seen him do. Didn't realize that he could get that bulk up off the ground like that.
My goal for the first lesson was to just get on and walk around the arena without throwing up on my horse or the trainer. It was close there for a bit but the trainer, Richard A. G. Watson, was great, put me at ease as best he could given my nerves/fears. He even had us trotting by the end of it. I was thrilled, we did not learn anything new but by getting on and walking around and then trotting I won the lotto. Every time I went around the corner at one end of the arena I could hear all the railbirds telling me to breathe. They all had my back and were pulling for me. I had not felt that much support in a very long time, it never occurred at the old barn.
I am happy with the move, Charmer has a girlfriend in a little Welsh pony mare named Maggie. She is a fine little mare. I have "free" time, with only feeding one horse I have time to get school work done, hopefully this will allow me to be able to pass this semester. As a provisional student I have to make B's in all my classes. I think that it will take a miracle of epic proportions to pass my Civil War class. I am going to attempt it but I may have to research other opportunities in getting a higher education.
Friday, April 6, 2012
7 April 2012
It is amazing how time flies, hadn't realized how long it had been since I last posted anything here. Too sleepy to post much right now but will at least get a start on the adventures over the last year.
I lost Buggs in Jan this year, the second worst day of my life. He coliced so badly, was in so much pain that he couldn't walk. Finally got the vet to come out (had to call a new vet, my regular vet would not call back), he gave him a little sedative and put a tube down his nose for fluids. Buggs walked about 10 feet and collapsed. I could not let him suffer any more, I made the only choice that was possible. I had to take the best care of my love and that meant I had to let him go. I cried for several days, it has gotten better, only cry when I have to verbally tell someone what happened. If I think about it too hard then I want to cry.
Charmer is huge, grown to 17.2, turned 8 in March. Has had most of the last 2 years off, with me back in school it has just been too hard to find time to ride. I started him back in Jan, got him ready to show and we went to Poplar in Jan. Never even got into the arena, he spooked in the warm up and tossed me to the ground. Ended up with a slight concussion, was not feeling up to getting back on. Which was a bad thing, because now I am a little nervous about riding him. I have started him back with lunging and riding when I can. He is not retired darn it, he is a young horse and is going to be my grand prix horse if I can just get back to riding and get over the canter depart issues.
The end is near for school, got 2 weeks left. I am ready to get done but also not ready, feels weird to not be registering for classes. I hope to go to grad school next semester, need to get all the required paperwork into the school. Dr. McCleary told Andy to tell me that I needed to get my application in.
Ok, thats it for now, off to bed, have to feed in the morning (actually it is morning already but need to sleep).
I lost Buggs in Jan this year, the second worst day of my life. He coliced so badly, was in so much pain that he couldn't walk. Finally got the vet to come out (had to call a new vet, my regular vet would not call back), he gave him a little sedative and put a tube down his nose for fluids. Buggs walked about 10 feet and collapsed. I could not let him suffer any more, I made the only choice that was possible. I had to take the best care of my love and that meant I had to let him go. I cried for several days, it has gotten better, only cry when I have to verbally tell someone what happened. If I think about it too hard then I want to cry.
Charmer is huge, grown to 17.2, turned 8 in March. Has had most of the last 2 years off, with me back in school it has just been too hard to find time to ride. I started him back in Jan, got him ready to show and we went to Poplar in Jan. Never even got into the arena, he spooked in the warm up and tossed me to the ground. Ended up with a slight concussion, was not feeling up to getting back on. Which was a bad thing, because now I am a little nervous about riding him. I have started him back with lunging and riding when I can. He is not retired darn it, he is a young horse and is going to be my grand prix horse if I can just get back to riding and get over the canter depart issues.
The end is near for school, got 2 weeks left. I am ready to get done but also not ready, feels weird to not be registering for classes. I hope to go to grad school next semester, need to get all the required paperwork into the school. Dr. McCleary told Andy to tell me that I needed to get my application in.
Ok, thats it for now, off to bed, have to feed in the morning (actually it is morning already but need to sleep).
Monday, November 29, 2010
Saddle searching and other stuff
I had our saddle fitter out recently, she came for a couple of other riders but I needed her services too as it turned out. Charmer went fro being a mild mannered easy going fellow to one that told me to ##$#@!$ off, refused to trot, dropped his back, flipped his head up and swished his tail. All of which told me that there was a problem, checked everything that I could.
Turns out that while the last couple of months off were good for him mentally, it wasn't so good for him physically. He dropped some muscle tone in his back, which caused my saddle to drop down onto the muscles below his withers. That hurts.
Saddle fitter helped me to get it fixed, just need to add a little bit of cushion there for a few weeks/month, just until the muscles build back up. Thank goodness it was an easy fix. But I did talk to her about looking for another saddle, as a traditionalist, I would prefer a leather saddle. I like the Wintec Isabelle but it doesn't fit me very well and I hope that he isn't going to be spreading out in the back too much more.
Saddle fitter suggested a couple of brands, and I went looking. And boy did I find one that I liked. Black Country Eloquence is the name of it. Built for those widebacked warmbloods, which I don't have but I do have widebacked paint. My only problem is the saddle sells for $3000, which given how nice the saddle is, is not such a bad price. Now to figure out if I really like it enough to buy one. Need to find one to sit in and get my hands on so that I can see if I like it as much in person as I do in the photos.
Buggs is doing really well, we had to put him on his winter rations. Had lost a little too much weight over the last month or so, added rice bran to his senior smush. He might be 29 but he looks great, good warm fuzzy coat and bright eyes. Bossy as usual too. His left hock is so swollen though, not sure what else I can do about. Vet said that there really wasn't much to do, just to keep him comfy. The bute helps with the pain but hasn't done much to bring the swelling out of it. Was thinking about maybe getting some IcyHot, and rubbing that on it to see if it would help. Maybe will call the vet before I start slathering stuff on it. I was using DMSO but it is frozen and will stay that way until spring, it freezes at 65 degrees.
School is almost over for the semester, got 2 classes left. Finals are the week after next, got to get to studying. Or should I say studying more. Spring semester should be about the same as this one, one hard class, 1 sort of hard and then 1 not so much. With the end of this semester I have 2 left before I graduate with my BA in Anthropology. Then on to grad school for another 2 years. Oh joy, but if I want to be able to get into the field that I want then I need that upper degree. It should be fun and hard at the same time.
Turns out that while the last couple of months off were good for him mentally, it wasn't so good for him physically. He dropped some muscle tone in his back, which caused my saddle to drop down onto the muscles below his withers. That hurts.
Saddle fitter helped me to get it fixed, just need to add a little bit of cushion there for a few weeks/month, just until the muscles build back up. Thank goodness it was an easy fix. But I did talk to her about looking for another saddle, as a traditionalist, I would prefer a leather saddle. I like the Wintec Isabelle but it doesn't fit me very well and I hope that he isn't going to be spreading out in the back too much more.
Saddle fitter suggested a couple of brands, and I went looking. And boy did I find one that I liked. Black Country Eloquence is the name of it. Built for those widebacked warmbloods, which I don't have but I do have widebacked paint. My only problem is the saddle sells for $3000, which given how nice the saddle is, is not such a bad price. Now to figure out if I really like it enough to buy one. Need to find one to sit in and get my hands on so that I can see if I like it as much in person as I do in the photos.
Buggs is doing really well, we had to put him on his winter rations. Had lost a little too much weight over the last month or so, added rice bran to his senior smush. He might be 29 but he looks great, good warm fuzzy coat and bright eyes. Bossy as usual too. His left hock is so swollen though, not sure what else I can do about. Vet said that there really wasn't much to do, just to keep him comfy. The bute helps with the pain but hasn't done much to bring the swelling out of it. Was thinking about maybe getting some IcyHot, and rubbing that on it to see if it would help. Maybe will call the vet before I start slathering stuff on it. I was using DMSO but it is frozen and will stay that way until spring, it freezes at 65 degrees.
School is almost over for the semester, got 2 classes left. Finals are the week after next, got to get to studying. Or should I say studying more. Spring semester should be about the same as this one, one hard class, 1 sort of hard and then 1 not so much. With the end of this semester I have 2 left before I graduate with my BA in Anthropology. Then on to grad school for another 2 years. Oh joy, but if I want to be able to get into the field that I want then I need that upper degree. It should be fun and hard at the same time.
Friday, November 5, 2010
5 November 2010
Going to a clinic tomorrow with friends from the barn, am so excited about it too. We are going to be spending the day listening to a dressage God, Walter Zettl. He is so wonderfully talented and quiet with the horses, it is going to be an amazing experience. Hopefully we will get some photos.
Charmer lunged really well on Wednesday, my lesson canceled on me so I put that time to good use. We have been working on the canter up transition. I want to make it more comfortble for him to pick up the canter. He did so well, the transitions were so smooth and fluid. I am very proud of my young man, I hope to get back into riding him next week. The weather is supposed to be really nice and I really need to get back in the saddle. The butterflies are still made of iron but they don't seem to be quite as fluttery. They are still there but I hope that I can manage them better and learn to ride Charmer's canter. It is so nice and uphill and the few times that I was able to get him cantering was very easy to ride.
Buggs is going to give me the guilt trip tomorrow for sure. I didn't realize it was going to be quite as cold as it is supposed to get tonight so all he has on his sheet. Mom called a little bit ago and said that it was lightly snowing at home. I am so going to get it tomorrow when I see Buggs. I will see if I can't make it better by getting him an apple or a bag of carrots. Yes, I know it is bribery but if it works then I am for it.
Charmer lunged really well on Wednesday, my lesson canceled on me so I put that time to good use. We have been working on the canter up transition. I want to make it more comfortble for him to pick up the canter. He did so well, the transitions were so smooth and fluid. I am very proud of my young man, I hope to get back into riding him next week. The weather is supposed to be really nice and I really need to get back in the saddle. The butterflies are still made of iron but they don't seem to be quite as fluttery. They are still there but I hope that I can manage them better and learn to ride Charmer's canter. It is so nice and uphill and the few times that I was able to get him cantering was very easy to ride.
Buggs is going to give me the guilt trip tomorrow for sure. I didn't realize it was going to be quite as cold as it is supposed to get tonight so all he has on his sheet. Mom called a little bit ago and said that it was lightly snowing at home. I am so going to get it tomorrow when I see Buggs. I will see if I can't make it better by getting him an apple or a bag of carrots. Yes, I know it is bribery but if it works then I am for it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)