Why can't all rides be good? I mean really, isn't riding supposed to be fun? I know, I know, "its the journey not the destination," the "hard days that make the good days so good." If you think about it, riding is like any long-term relationship or family. We learn more about each other through disagreements and then understanding and compromise. But there are also times when you have to draw the line in the sand.
Poor Amigo, the rebellious teenager, has been neglected on the back burner for a few weeks now. I get him out for a ride on Tuesday and he proceeds to question me about everything: "why can't I yank you out of the saddle?" "why can't I buck in the corner?" "why do I have to respond when you ask?" "what if I don't want to canter?" So like a good mother I try and keep my cool, calmly redirect his energy, until I finally snap and tell him to "knock it the f-off!" And guess what? Sometimes that works. It worked on Tuesday. I know it won't always work. But I learned that just because I feel guilty about neglecting him I can't compromise on his behavior or work ethic.
So we had a bad ride, so what? He's only 4. Tonight is a new night and he'll get ridden for the next four days so hopefully by Monday I'll have my "yes mam" 1500 lb, 17hh kid back. And if I don't Ellen will be here next weekend to supervise.
Luckily I have the princess (Veritie) and the queen (MP) to ride. They are at least civilized when we argue.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Ellen's book website is up!!!
YAY! The day has finally come. Ellen has been working on a book for sometime now and you can finally buy it. Check out her website at: http://bringingittogetherdressage.com/
I have become a terrible blogger!
Okay, okay, I know I suck at blogging. But if you saw my schedule you'd understand why. I work on natural resources issues in the California State Senate and I happed to work for a wonderful Senator who is deeply passionate about CA water policy and the Delta. Soooo, long story short (I'm sure you've see the national press on CA water issues) we've been a little busy.
So my carrer life has taken over my horsey life for a little while, but I'm here to tell you that I'm still riding, still training and motivated more than ever to launch myself into the world of international para dressage.
First a few updates - Championships went well. I placed 5th overall at 4th level for both USDF Region 7 and CDS. Which means we won a little cash. Wohoo! Final was a champ and tried his heart out. Sometimes we weren't trying for the same things (I like clean flying changes, he likes to be early with his front feet to show off his pretty toes), but all in all I'm very happy with our show year. And I'm so grateful to my friend Eva for letting me ride him while she was busy baking Izzy. By the way - don't show 4th level, Eva, it stinks. PSG is way better.
Moneypenny is back in full training. We're working on building her stamina and top line so she won't be pulling out the tricks quite yet, but she is looking FAB! Better than ever. We are both prepping for our training session with Steffen Peters at the end of Nov, so while she is trotting for 30 mins in the Eurociser, I am running around the State Capitol. SEVEN MORE LBS, SEVEN MORE LBS!
Amigo is hanging out halfway on the back burner because of work and MP's schedule, but I'm still hoping to get 4 days a week on him through the winter so we can prep him for the FEI 5 year old classes next year. He's a total ham and now lives full time in the barn, so his life is pretty good.
Verite has also been half way on the back burner, but she too will go back to full time training as the plan is to show her 1st and 2nd level. I'd like to get both Amigo & MP qualified for State champs just incase we don't make the WEG. I always love a good back up plan
Horse show husband is also back in the saddle - or back in the wheelbarrow to be more accurate. He's been picking up a few of my chores to relieve some pressure.
Whats next? I'm going to start blogging again as if this is my horsey journal, so expect to see blogs every few days with photos of the farm, and our life happenings and of course updates on the horses.
So my carrer life has taken over my horsey life for a little while, but I'm here to tell you that I'm still riding, still training and motivated more than ever to launch myself into the world of international para dressage.
First a few updates - Championships went well. I placed 5th overall at 4th level for both USDF Region 7 and CDS. Which means we won a little cash. Wohoo! Final was a champ and tried his heart out. Sometimes we weren't trying for the same things (I like clean flying changes, he likes to be early with his front feet to show off his pretty toes), but all in all I'm very happy with our show year. And I'm so grateful to my friend Eva for letting me ride him while she was busy baking Izzy. By the way - don't show 4th level, Eva, it stinks. PSG is way better.
Moneypenny is back in full training. We're working on building her stamina and top line so she won't be pulling out the tricks quite yet, but she is looking FAB! Better than ever. We are both prepping for our training session with Steffen Peters at the end of Nov, so while she is trotting for 30 mins in the Eurociser, I am running around the State Capitol. SEVEN MORE LBS, SEVEN MORE LBS!
Amigo is hanging out halfway on the back burner because of work and MP's schedule, but I'm still hoping to get 4 days a week on him through the winter so we can prep him for the FEI 5 year old classes next year. He's a total ham and now lives full time in the barn, so his life is pretty good.
Verite has also been half way on the back burner, but she too will go back to full time training as the plan is to show her 1st and 2nd level. I'd like to get both Amigo & MP qualified for State champs just incase we don't make the WEG. I always love a good back up plan
Horse show husband is also back in the saddle - or back in the wheelbarrow to be more accurate. He's been picking up a few of my chores to relieve some pressure.
Whats next? I'm going to start blogging again as if this is my horsey journal, so expect to see blogs every few days with photos of the farm, and our life happenings and of course updates on the horses.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Custom Saddle, New Interview, Champs, and Pony Update
Custom Saddle
OMG! OMG! OMG! My new Custom saddle arrived and I LOVE it! Custom offered to sponsor me with all of my equipment needs and boy do they deliver. They sent me the new single flap Advantage. It is very close contact and very comfortable. I'm currently braking it in and I can't wait to show in it next year! Thank you Custom! And a special thanks to Cary, Julie & Tanya for their help and support. You guys rock!
New Interview
I was recently interviewed by the 2010 WEG Online Radio Show. They asked me about everything from training to Championships. You can listen here.
Championships
State & Regional Championships will be held this week at Rancho Murietta. I will be showing Final at 4th level. I'll provide updates throughout the week. My classes aren't until Saturday and Sunday so I will post my results at the end of each day.
MP, Amigo, Verite
MP is still doing well. A little better each day. She is cantering and I'm starting to add a little work to her routine. Just easy half passes and shoulder in's. She's still set to be back into full training come Nov 1.
Amigo got his first flying changes last week! One on each side. He's so easy, you just have to put him off balance and tap the whip. I could get used to his style!
Verite had her first outing to Eva's a few weeks ago. She's looking good and will be ready to show first level come Jan. I'm looking forward to Ellen coming at the end of the month so I can see whats next on the to do list! Here are some pics of her from Eva's.
Learning to canter like this hasn't been easy, but she's learning!
Learning to canter like this hasn't been easy, but she's learning!
Monday, September 7, 2009
Ellen Clinic & MP update
Ellen was just here and once again we had a great weekend! I rode Verite & Amigo. With Verite we were able to start the half passes and begin the preparation for flying changes. With Amigo we were able to start the changes! Yay! It was such a great weekend and it was great to see the horses progressing nicely. I'm hoping to show both horses in Jan a Rancho Murietta.
MP has also been progressing nicely. She's now trotting 15 min a day and will start cantering next week. If she continues to progress, she will be back to full work by the end of Oct.
I'll be interviewed on the WEG Online Radio Show next week, once the interview is up I will post a link. Very busy at work right now so sorry for the brief and delayed posts. I'll get better in a few weeks!
MP has also been progressing nicely. She's now trotting 15 min a day and will start cantering next week. If she continues to progress, she will be back to full work by the end of Oct.
I'll be interviewed on the WEG Online Radio Show next week, once the interview is up I will post a link. Very busy at work right now so sorry for the brief and delayed posts. I'll get better in a few weeks!
Friday, August 7, 2009
MP's back to work!
Well sort of. I took Miss Moneypenny into UC Davis on Wednesday for her recheck with Dr. Jack Snyder. I was thinking the news would be bad because she still hasn't been looking sound when we trot her out at home. But there's no swelling in the ligament and she hasn't been sore to the touch so it was unclear why she still wasn't quite sound.
After a trot out and lunging, it was apparent that the lameness had in fact improved but was still there. Dr. Snyder decided to reevaluate where the lameness might be coming from so he blocked her front feet and was planning to move up the legs from there.
For my non horsey friends, "blocking" means blocking the nerve receptors so the horse is essentially numb in a localized area. When you block an area and the horse then goes "sound" (is no longer expressing pain) you can centralize the area causing pain and identify the root of the problem. Very effective since horses can't tell us where it hurts.
With the feet blocked, MP went sound both on the straight and the lunge. Yippee! So the prescribed course of action was steroid injections into the coffin bones followed by two weeks of daily walking for 15 mins and trotting for 5. After two weeks if she is improving, we will bump up her trot work to ten minutes. If we stay on this course and she remains sound she should be back up to full training by November!!! Stay tuned!!
After a trot out and lunging, it was apparent that the lameness had in fact improved but was still there. Dr. Snyder decided to reevaluate where the lameness might be coming from so he blocked her front feet and was planning to move up the legs from there.
For my non horsey friends, "blocking" means blocking the nerve receptors so the horse is essentially numb in a localized area. When you block an area and the horse then goes "sound" (is no longer expressing pain) you can centralize the area causing pain and identify the root of the problem. Very effective since horses can't tell us where it hurts.
With the feet blocked, MP went sound both on the straight and the lunge. Yippee! So the prescribed course of action was steroid injections into the coffin bones followed by two weeks of daily walking for 15 mins and trotting for 5. After two weeks if she is improving, we will bump up her trot work to ten minutes. If we stay on this course and she remains sound she should be back up to full training by November!!! Stay tuned!!
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