Horse life

A new era , a new me ?

2011-10-17T10:47:00.000-05:00

I wonder sometimes what it is that drives me.
Pushes me, and I can only say that I want this, have always wanted this and am now in a position to have it.
I want to be a rider.
Not the average back yard rider, but an accomplished rider.
My path to my goal was well under way , then Austin got hurt and we were side lined.
We are back to work, but the going is slow.
And truth be told my schooling rides suck.
My trainer has us on the back burner .
I have moved to a new barn, easier for her to get to, better footing , better arena, dressage people everywhere and still I have had only 2 lessons in over 2 months.
So whats a girl to do ?
First , make my schooling rides count, and to do that I need more skills.
So I have an appointment for an assessment ride today with another trainer.
I will keep the trainer I have , I love her , nothing can touch the knowledge she has.
Regardless of her knowledge base, it does me no good if she isn't available for me.
So I will also ride with , another high level trainer.
She is over an hour away but she has school horses.
So I can work on me, bring the skills home and use them on Austin.
I am a tad anxious, I feel like the new kid in school.
But am very excited to get on with it already.
I am to have a lesson with my regular trainer tomorrow and maybe Wednesday as well.
I am keeping my new plan under my hat until I see how I get on with New trainer.
And most of all I am going to work my ass off , the responsibility to improve is mine alone.

Enlightenment

2011-08-29T06:14:00.000-05:00

Reading the old masters.. on a perfect summers afternoon.

And the idea that came to mind is that the rider is much like a conductor of an orchestra.

The conductor can't go out and grab an instrument from the Musician, and play it for them, they try to take the talent of the musician and direct it , expand and enhance it, , teaching the individual musician to put the notes of the music together into a beautiful symphony.

So a rider is not there to take the horses body and move it for the horse, they are there to teach and enhance the natural talent of the horse and make it come together into beautiful seamless movements.

And the riding instructor has the even harder job of trying to teach the rider to be a conductor.

First lesson at new barn

2011-08-08T06:52:00.000-05:00

Always remember: The horse we get off is not the same as the horse we got on; it is our job as riders to ensure that as often as possible the change is for the better...

Friday of this last week, we had our first lesson at our new barn.
The barn was the busiest I had seen it since I had been there.
But by the time we were ready to ride the arena cleared out.
And all that was left in there was my vet, doing a lameness exam on another horse, and the barn owner riding one of her horses.
We had a great lesson for our first one.
I was tense at first , as there is a lot of room for him to get going.
But let me just say that he really felt relaxed, so then I relaxed.
Backasswards, I know.. but thats how it worked on Friday.
It was like he was telling me , hey mom thanks for moving me to a nice place were I can use my body.
Lots of swing in his body and for some reason his fast trot just feels more regular in tempo.
Maybe its because we are not always in a corner , lots of long side to repair the tempo and hold it.
I came home and emailed my trainer right away with my schedule for this week.
I am very excited to train under this new conditions.
And in response to that I got an email with my lesson day for this week and NEXT already.
I think my trainer likes this new barn too : )

Also have to remember my video camera...!!!

Up date from our big move.

2011-08-02T11:05:00.000-05:00

Moved Austin Friday.
Big booger walked right on the trailer .. all that " dumb" stuff that I do , that no one understands paid off.
He hauled great, walked off nice and calm.. then started yelling for Red and Black..LOL
He was inside on Friday , in a nicely bedded stall, with a hay pile as tall as my grand daughter.
That kept him busy while he watched the goings on of his new home.
I hand walked him in the indoor twice that day and introduced him to the horse in the mirror.

Saturday , he was in a dry lot with one other horse.
He had his fly mask on and I could tell he was out of sorts.
I removed the mask , sprayed him with fly spray and all better.. he trotted off to bug his pasture mate.
As I walked away, Katie was still looking at him, she said he trotted to the fence and " called " to me.. wanting me to bring him in.
But I had to leave him there he needed to sort it out on his own.
Went back later and hand walked him on Saturday afternoon he was fine.

Sunday, I had a family function so no barn and I worried about him all day.
I didn't think I had met the Sunday staff and I was worried that he would get over grained.

Monday, he was out in a super big pasture with 12 geldings.
He seems to be about mid pack.
De and I went to lunch, I wanted him to stay out with them ,so I could come back later and watch the staff do bring in.
He was respectful at the gate, and the staff handled him professionally.
I did get a report that the Sunday staffer said he came out of his stall fast with her.. the staffer I was talking to asked if they allowed that at the old barn,,
I said NO and he is not rush , and he needs to have his ground manners.
So hoping that gets resolved, as he settles into the routine.
Come to find out I had met the Sunday staffer, she was there on Saturday helping Ricco.. so I felt better about not being able to be there Sunday.

The barn schedule is feed at 6 out by 7
in at 1:30 if its really hot ( or cold )
2 if its not..
Fed at 2:30
Busy ride times are 11am to 2pm because ( and this is a quote from staff ) all the ladies that don't have jobs come up from Chicago ride midday and leave before the traffic gets bad.
PERFECT, that means my ride times will not be over crowed.

I worked him in the heat, during fed time, on the lunge, then rode as his cool down.
He was awesome..
Got a shower afterward , and tucked into his cool stall..
I just love this horse, and I really think this barn will work for us.

Teacher wants to lesson on FRIDAY , time to get this party started !!!!!!!!!!1

Get your motor running

2011-07-30T22:02:00.001-05:00

Get your motor running
Head out on the highway
Looking for adventure
In whatever comes our way
Steppenwolf

I made a huge decision , to move Austin to a dressage barn.
I am not a barn hopper. I have been at this barn for 4 + years.
I was their first boarder, I think of them as friends, they have taken great care of Austin.
But when its time , its time.
I am the type that when I get " that" feeling.. that a decision is right I act.
I am very much a follow my gut person.
I have goals for myself and Austin as far as our riding, and I really feel I needed to move to get down that road and find adventure.

So we moved.
The barn I chose is Paris Farms
Our new home away from home : Paris Farms
I really hope this is a good fit for us.
First and foremost is care for Austin.
I don't care how nice it is for the people if the horse care sucks.
What I see so far , the care is up to my par.

Austin is a little rattled, he misses his pasture mates, his schedule, his staff.
However today, the day after the big move and he is already more settled.
This is a horse that looks to me for support , he watches me all the time, and gages my reaction to things.
I am there as much as I can be and acting as nonchalant as I can.
I love that he needs my reassurance.
Austin was paired with a horse friend and will be out with him for a day or two ,then they will both go out with the herd.
My friend Katie was out today and as I walked away from the paddock he was in , she said he called to me.. I heard him but didn't realize it was me he was " talking" to because my back was to him. She said that he was looking right at me and wanted to come with me vs staying in the paddock with his "new" friend.
That made me sad and happy all at the same time. It was like when you have to put your kindergarten on the school bus, you know you have to leave them to figure it out and you have to trust the people around them, but its hard non the less.
I will be popping in at odd times, I will monitor things , I always do .
I have a good feeling about this barn, and am looking foreword to many happy rides here for Austin and I.

Once more

2011-06-13T11:19:00.000-05:00

For a long time it had seemed to me that life was about to begin-real life. But there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, a debt to be paid. Then life would begin. At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life.
Alfred D’Souza

Last week sucked for barn time

I had meetings, graduations, and cabin trips..

So here I am again ..

A new week, and time to get myself and the horse back on schedule.

He is a pistol lately.. and needs to work.

He looks awesome, healthy , fit and feisty..

Boss said he is to be worked 5 days a week now.. lunging first , in side reins.

Some days just lunge, some days lunge and ride.

Tonight is for sure a just lunge, but if he gets settled , I may pop on for some bending ..

The rest of the week, lunge and ride.. : )

Weather holding up nicely so maybe even out side , and around the property for some adventure.

Fate stop testing me.. Yes I really do want to be a dressage rider.

2011-06-09T10:01:00.000-05:00

If time flies when you're having fun, it hits the afterburners when you don't think you're having enough.
Jef Mallett

I have discovered that in this hobby it seems you take 2 steps forward and 3 back.
My horse gets hurt, I wait .
I get hurt , he waits.
On and on like this.
I feel like time is slipping away from me.
This sport takes so much time to learn to do correctly , that set backs really piss me off.
I wonder if fate is teaching me patiecne or testing my resolve ?

Now the back is bothered again , from this Boot camp that I am doing in the mornings.
I do the boot camp , so that I can be a stronger more effective rider.
And now here I sit with a pissed off sicatic.
Last time I annoyed this nerve, I still rode, thinking , its not that bad.
I awoke in the middle of the night , in the worst pain of my life and that includes childbirth.
I will NOT risk it again.. that lesson has been learned.
So , I will lunge him ,and then he gets a long weekend, as I am going north for 3 days.
Come Monday , we should all be better and ready to rumble.
Knock on wood, fingers crossed.

Decide

2011-06-02T06:41:00.000-05:00

"You are now at a crossroads. Forget your past. Who are you now? Who have you decided you really are now? Don't think about who you have been. Who are you now? Who have you decided to become? Make this decision consciously. Make it carefully. Make it powerfully. Then act upon it. "
Tony Robbins.

I wanted to talk about this line of thinking and couldn't decide it it belonged in this blog or http://maremom-bootcampjournal.blogspot.com/
So I put it on both.
Because it applies to every thing in my life.
Who have I decided I want to be ?
A fit , active women & A dressage rider
I have to keep these goals in mind with EVERY decision I make, every day.
Is the decision I am making at this moment moving me toward my goal, or away ?
I think , this line of thinking will keep me in the moment, will open my eyes to the unconscious decisions I make, so I can stop living with my head in the sand, saying one thing and doing the other.
So no more, now I will live life with my eyes wide open.

Austin POWERS for real

2011-05-27T07:53:00.000-05:00

Wisconsins weather has been odd, to say the least.
Rain, hot, cold, wind, hail, you name it.
So yesterday after 3 weeks of no lessons, due to my crash, we get a lesson time .
Can't wait tell the trainer , I will have to lunge first, Austin hasn't been ridden since Sunday due to work and meetings.. OK.
40 MPH wind gusts , baning doors on the indoor and a high horse..
Had Austin on pins and needles and turned my riding lesson , into a lunging lesson.
I got great tips on how to let a horse burn off the HIGH with out wearning them out .
Really it was chaning the mental energy of the horse, from all big eyed and flighty , to relaxed and focused.
Then my trainer wouldn't let me pay her.. : ) Love her..

And the beat goes on.

2011-05-16T10:41:00.000-05:00

My boy is now in with the rough and tumble group.
Which consists of Red, yup the same Red I ride and write about.. he is a tough dude.
Blackjack the main man in the group of 2 , now 3.. and Austin
See they have tried to put other horses with Red and Black.. but they always got their asses kicked and the owners frowned on that.
Well Austin is a big boy , and he scares a lot of folks, so no one wanted him in with their horses.. so I said put him with R/B and see what happens.
Keli ( BO ) called me when they did it , I got a play by play over the phone.
Austin charged Black n Red, .. they cantered off a few strides, then regrouped and stood their ground.
Austin went to eat grass.
Austin then decided to charge just Red ( Red is #2 in the pecking order )
Black got between Red and Austin and said nope not happening dude.
Austin went to eat grass.
And that was the end of it.
I did see them turned out fresh the next morning.. nothing.. everyone to their corners eating grass.
I rode him Saturday , no new war injuries.. so I have high hopes that this will do a few things.
One, get Austin head mates to hang with
Two, knock him down a peg or two in the attitude department
Three, help him to move around a bit more during the day on his own..playing with the boys.
Seems to be working.. fingers crossed..

Ribs, and not the kind you BBQ

2011-05-08T19:50:00.000-05:00

My rib(s) on my right side are cracked..
But feel much better than they did yesterday.
I have a old neoprene wrap around brace that I used when I broke my back..
I use that just for sleeping as rolling around in the bed is painful.
May wear it when I lunge, then get on the big boy tomorrow.

I hear from the barn owner that Austin is quite full of himself lately..
Thing that has changed is they put the mares next to him.
So I told them to put him in with the rough boys.
Austin is all healed now, he was only alone so he wouldn't stress his stifle.
I think its time for him to have some boys to play with.

Welllllll

2011-05-07T05:26:00.000-05:00

Still haven't been back to the barn post fall.
Fell Wednesday, Thursday was sore, Friday even more sore.
Wanted to at least groom and lunge, but my right side rib cage keeps having spasms.
And by the end of the day , which is when I would go to the barn I just need to let it rest.
And truth be told, I am a little worried about Austin pulling when I lunge him, not sure I should be doing that to my side just yet.
So we shall see, may be try a lunge if its too much I can stop him..
Tack sale today at our barn , so I will be there early setting up and such.
So may have time today, to give it a go.

I wanna talk about the psychology of a fall .
I don't feel afraid of Austin, or of riding like I did after my fall in 2003 off my mare.
Maybe its because this is the first time he has ever acted like this under saddle ?
Or maybe its because I am more experienced..
But what ever the case, I can say I will be more " tuned in " to him and his moods, but not afraid.
Thank goodness, as it took me forever to get over the fall of 2003.. well I broke my back then , so I guess it was kinda a big deal.
This time I may have crack a rib or two.. not going to DR to find out.. nothing they can do about it anyway

All was going great and then SPLAT

2011-05-04T18:12:00.000-05:00

Had today off , its vet day , Austin needed his teeth floated and his sheath cleaned.
So I took the day off, figured I would ride him before the vet got there..
And I did.. we were having a really good ride..
I was on for about 1/2 hour, came around the corner by the back door on the left rein and next thing I know Austin is doing his buck and twist.
Buck n twist one,, I stayed on.
Buck n twist 2 my right knee is now on the saddle.
Buck and twist 3 I am flying off..
Splat onto my right hip and ribs..head bounced off the ground hard enough to ring my bell.
( yes helmet ON ALWAYS )
I yelled for help barn mate came running , caught Austin , and then checked on me.
I couldn't breath at first..did a full body scan and got up.
Hip and ribs very sore.
I am sure tomorrow will be even more so..
This is the first time, I have come off of Austin, and the first time he has ever bucked with me under saddle.
I think it was a combination of a spook, and feeling frisky.

I AM going to boot camp tomorrow morning.. even if all I can do is walk around the gym.

You have the tools , so open the tool box and use them

2011-04-30T16:32:00.002-05:00

I was having an issue with Austin and my rides as of late.
He wasn't coming together, at the trot, come to find out I forgot all about inside leg, to outside rein.
WTF..
Also , when he would get out of balance because I am not helping him at all, then I get out of balance and it snowballs..
Darcy is so patient with me, and reminded me.. you have the tools,
so we went over them and over them . And I kept talking it through..inside leg outside rein, push him over, leg long , shoulders back and down, never ever compromise YOUR position , regardless of what is happening under you.
You adjust , but you don't throw your entire position in the shit can.
If you have to walk through it several times , do it. then pick up the trot again and work through it.
Start farther back before you get to the problem area.. inside leg, out side rein... inside leg, outside rein.

A quote I found for my boot camp journal works here as well.
Good, Better , Best, never stop until your good is better and your better is best..

Not my best effort.

2011-04-26T08:31:00.000-05:00

Blah blah blah,
That is how I felt and so that is how I rode.
I usually won't even get on if I feel like I am not going to at least maintain our level of work.
And I really thought I would, but I think the biggest issue was time.
I felt rushed, didn't give him a long enough warm up and just didn't put all I had into our ride.
Therefore I had a horse that didn't want to give me a foreword trot, and going to the right rein, his head up and to the outside.
This has happened once before in a lesson and Darcy had me push him and he came together.
I did push we had a few rounds of OK , and I left it at that.
I have to get on and make sure he understands this is not how we go around the ring.
So that means I have to have TIME , not sandwich my riding in between everything else in my life.
Today , will be rushed, as G-daughter has a lesson at 4..
And I have to work.. so ,, tomorrow.. it is.
If I get to the barn today at all it will be to lunge and groom..
I hate so so rides.. makes me feel blah...

What a nice horse day.

2011-04-22T21:19:00.000-05:00

Got up at the ass crack of dawn to go to boot camp.. only to find out that there was no camp.. schools closed , for Good Friday..
Had taken the day off, for the farrier, so asked if grand daughter Mackenzie wanted to spend the day with me and the horses.. Yup she does.

So arranged for her to have a lesson , with her trainer on Red.
Our day started with , just hanging out and clipping the boys..

The farrier wasn't due until 11,, so I rode Austin while we waited for them
Got a few things work out between him and I.

MK ( Mackenzie ) and I went picked up some lunch and brought it back to the barn.
I love the chats we have, she is after all 12, and soon it won't be cool to hang with grandma.

We got Red ready.. MK did most the work herself.. I got on and warmed him up.. she got on and rocked her lesson. I was very pleased with her riding, and Reds response to her.

They are connecting.. bonding.
Every little girl needs to love and care for something and every horse deserves to have their very own little girl to love them, Red has never had that.
I happy to be able to give this to the both of them.

We are not in Kansas any more.

2011-04-20T10:11:00.000-05:00

Holy shit weather day.
Yesterday in Wisconsin, in my little corner of the world , we had.. drizzle, rain, sleet, hail, high winds, and thunder storms..
I decided it was another lunging day.. Austin was in all day and a bit concerned about the doors at the back of the arena,, that kept opening and closing like a giant mouth ready to eat him.

This morning.. I rode right after boot camp.
I have to say , I ride better after boot camp, I am tired physically but I am jazzed mentally.
And I need that , I need to push me ,and him out of the comfort zone.. I need to see steady improvement in our rides..
No more slipping backward.. once we move past an issue , I will not allow it to come back .
I feel like I have re-started this horse and myself a million times.. lets get our shit together and make some head way.

Lunging this morning

2011-04-18T12:33:00.000-05:00

I had boot camp , this AM..
And just about talked myself out of coming right to the barn before work.
Really wanted to go home, shower, drink some coffee and get to work..
But I did come to the barn , and I am glad I did.
I haven't seen Austin since Thursday.. and I missed him.
Gave him a good grooming then a nice lunging work out..
He is getting better with the side reins, so will shorten one more hole for our next session.
He then got his beet pulp and his blanket on, because it is freakin snowing on April 18th.
I am so done with this shit weather.
I need to get him outside, I need to ride out, I need to get him trailered, I need to do a lot before we are ready to show.. lets get going spring you are holding up progress...

Vet day..

2011-04-13T10:45:00.000-05:00

Spring herd healthy day.
Austins weight looks good, Kevin ( vet ) said, but would like to see more muscle on his back.
Other wise he is muscling up nicely in the neck and hips.
Shots done.. couple of small points on the teeth that he will have to come back and do.. along with the sheath cleaning..they got an emergency call so couldn't do it today..

Lunged A, after his shots.. lightly.. in side reins.. he did great.. out in the sun shine eating grass enjoying the rest of his day..

Riding lesson post boot camp.. oh yea !!

2011-04-12T13:02:00.000-05:00

Sally Swift:
Increased body awareness gives you a greater awareness of your inner self as well as your surroundings. Changing your habits will cultivate an ability to make clearer choices: A balanced body permits a balanced state of mind.

As I said yesterday , my plan is to ride after boot camp ( BC from here on out ), because lets face it..
After sitting at my desk all day , and my muscles seizing up , I would not want to go to the barn and ride.
And the whole reason behind this burst of physical exertion is to be a better rider..
My plan seems to be working.

Lesson this morning..at 07:15 am.. ( BC was from 05:15 to 06:15 )
Darcy knows I am on day 2 of BC.. she knows how hard it is because she is also in a BC.
But did that mean we did less posting trot NO.. and really I wouldn't want her to baby me..
We did some really good work ..
He is a very willing boy, tries hard , is honest, and just seems to like the work.
And by the end of the lesson we were both a sweaty , happy mess.
And boy howdy my legs are killing me now..
It will be worth it in the end.. at least that is what I keep telling myself as I down another ibuprofen.

Ride after boot camp

2011-04-11T10:54:00.000-05:00

Boot camp day one.
I thought riding kept me in fairly good shape for as large as I am .
I was WRONG.. I am very out of shape..
The work out was an hour of good old fashion gym class..
To read more about my boot camp journey head on over to my Boot camp journal
After BC, I went and rode.
The " high" you get from working out stayed with me through my ride.
This is what I was hoping for.. we were able to get a good schooling session in .
I stayed on task and we were done in 30 mins.

Tomorrow will be a challenge, boot camp for an hour ,then an hour dressage lesson.

I will make the changes I need to make, to be the rider I want to be.

A new idea..

2011-04-10T21:03:00.000-05:00

Any one that knows me knows I have been fighting with my weight on and off all of my adult life.
So in an effort to be a better rider, and to be able to ride past midlife and into old age, I have joined a boot camp for women.
Starts tomorrow.. you can go 3-4 or 5 days per week .
I signed up for the 5 days per week.. they are only once per day and that is at 05:15 am..
Each session lasts for 4 weeks.. then there is a week break and you can either rejoin and continue or not.
I also have changed my schooling rides to mornings after boot camp.. no point in getting hot , sweating and icky twice in one day..

OH and my trainer asked me to lesson on Tuesday at 07:15 am .. so I know that will be a true test of if I can survive doing both ..

wish me luck..

Content..

2011-02-28T14:33:00.000-06:00

I am content.
My horse is (knock on wood ) happy , sound and back to work.
I am back in lessons on him.. something I just love..
I have no distractions this week, which means a week of real riding..
Not hurrying though between appointments.
Time , real saddle time.. something I am envious of , of the people that don't have Monday - Friday time stealing jobs.
I know, and yes I am happy to have a job.
But I think this might be the season , that we get to go down the center line.
After 2 yrs off with his stifle, we have a lot of work to do, but he is with me on this I can feel it.
So the time in the saddle is becoming more important to me.. and I really appreciate the weeks that I am not pulled in a million directions.
I think I might start a training / riding blog.
Only so that I can monitor my progress..
I was whining to my instructor that it seems we take 2 steps forward and one back.. always something in the way.
Stone bruise, GI bugs, vacations, work, she said its the same for everyone .. its what you do with the time you have in the saddle that matters.
So no more meandering around.. ride with a plan, ride to perfect yourself , ride with meaning.
OK,,, and ride.. don't make excuses , its too hot,,, really then ride in the morning ..
Its too cold.. really ? then ride when the barn is all shut up and warmer.. not at bring in time when all the doors are open, silly
I don't feel like it , well then no bitching when you don't improve..
Just freakin shut up and ride.. and I am , and its working.

Newbies Woes

2010-09-21T08:25:00.000-05:00

I have notice something in the horse world that has me wondering what to do.

New inexperienced horse people, come into our world looking for advice, help, direction, and yet often times the stories I hear are disheartening.

Think back to your early encounters in the horse world.
Ask around to you horse buddies about their early experiences.
I bet you will hear all kinds of things that will make you shake your head in disbelief.
These newbie’s, these, less experienced wanna be horse people have no way of knowing who to avoid and who is reliable.
They are not in our world, our inner circle.
The one where should some one ask YOU about THAT trainer you would say,
Nope stay away.
OR that horse trader, you would say, nope stay away
OR that boarding barn, again the answer is nope stay away.
But because they are new and know no one in this area, they don’t know where to start.
They do the best they can and look in the local paper or phone book; or they see a “horse for sale “sign on the side of the road and they stop.
They go look at the pretty horse, and are told by the seller,
“OH yea he is safe for kids, been on the trail a million times, never put a foot wrong.”
No PPE is even mentioned because they don’t know to ask for one.
Hell they don’t even know what that is.
Half the time they don’t ride the horse, nor does the owner.
And if the owner does, it’s that old halter and lead rope riding trick.
See how calm and quiet he is, safe enough for your grandma to ride.
The newbie thinks, pretty horse and it let me pet him, and HEY looky here he has papers too.
And all for the low, low price of XYZ.

So they buy Zippy and now they need a place to keep this awesome piece of horse flesh.
How do you find a place to board?
Well we, those of us in the horse world go by word of mouth, do we not?
They do not have that advantage, so again to the local paper or phone book.
Not knowing what good care consists of the newbie is mostly driven by COST.
With a list of the lowest board quotes and a map, off they go to find a boarding barn.
Looking for all the world like a tourist in their flip flops and shorts.
One look at them and a smile crosses the face of the less than honest boarding barn owner.
OH he will talk a good game, after all how hard can it be, they know nothing.
They do not know what questions to ask.
What do you feed, how often do you feed, who is the house vet, farrier.
What is the feeding schedule, do the horses get out every day, and so on.
So they end up at the lowest priced barn they can find.
Because well he seemed like such a nice guy and he said he would take great care of Zippy.
Funny how there are not many boarders at this barn; heck looks like they will have the place to themselves most the time.

There is a reason for this low, low bargain price...and sooner or later they will figure this out.

They get Zippy all moved in and its time to ride.
At first all is going well but it doesn’t take long, oh a week, 2 at most, and Zippy has their number.
The newbie discovers the horse they were told was a kid friendly, trail safe companion, and is really a head case with four flying legs and a bad attitude.

They need help... a trainer.

They land in the hands of a trainer that sees their fears and rather than help them gain confidence and independence they use that fear as a way to exploit the client.
The trainer keeps them scared & dependent on them.
For the trainer, this is a good source of long term income.
Hey easy mark, easy money, right.

This scenario plays out more than we would like to think.
And I would love to say this is just a story but its not.
I just heard all this from a new boarder at my barn.
A horse he has been dealing with for months now, reared and flipped over on him last week, he is lucky to be alive.
Oh they did discover not long after they bought her that she was NOT a beginner horse.
They asked the seller to buy her back; after all she said she would.
But instead the seller asked them to take the horse to a trainer.
One was recommended by the horse seller, no less.
The trainer made no head way in making this horse more newbie friendly , and in fact called the owners stupid , ignorant , and totally destroyed their confidence.
Still the seller will not buy her back; you know cuz of the economy and all.

Worst cases like this end up with the newbie getting out of the horse world, lucky to be alive with less money, and a bad taste for the horse industry.
And of course now Zippy is in need of another home.

Best case, they finally somehow, somewhere find a knowledgeable, kind horseperson that helps them with Zippy the wonder horse, gets them into a decent program and a nice healthy well kept barn.

The latter has finally happened for my new co-boarders.
I know there are books out there for new horse owners.
There are most likely books on how to find a trainer.
But what can we do, in our local areas that will make this easier on a new person?
This is an awesome, fulfilling sport. Full of wonderful people, lovely horses, awesome caring trainers, and boarding barns that really do treat the boarders horses as if they are their own?
How do we get the information out there?
Is there or should there be a listing, the good, the bad and the ugly of the horse world?
I don’t know the answer in a global sense.
But I can tell you, I will make sure to help these new co-boarders as best I can.

And maybe that is part of the answer, rather than sitting back and watching if we see someone struggling, we should step forward as ambassadors to the horse world and lend a hand.

“The key to change... is to let go of fear.” Rosanne Cash

2010-09-13T06:52:00.000-05:00

“The key to change... is to let go of fear.” Rosanne Cash

This is the new theme of my life.
I never thought of myself as a fearful person.
I have a strong personality , I get on well with people, and most times am the leader of the group.
So what am I afraid of ?
Failure, humiliation.
I am finding a common theme in the things that make me uncomfortable.
I can't even watch people being humiliated on TV.
But by being large I set myself up daily to fail and to humilate myself.
So am daily in conflict with myself. I worry about looking like a fool .
And this stops me from trying new things.. I don't tell people that of course..
I find another reason to not , go here or there or do this or that.
Its a great excuse for not being able to do things as well as others, as well.
When I have my weight to blame , its not really me then is it.
I can always say to myself , if I weren't fat I bet I would be great at this.
But what if I were not fat ?
And still not very good at something.. then what do I blame ? ME can I take that.
Can I say hey you just are not good at this , just because.. you can't be good at everything.
Last time I lost weight I changed jobs and went to nursing school.
I had no coping mechanisms in place and the stress of RN school found me eating to deal with the demands, but that is NOT the point.
See I think of food as an addiction and I hide in my fat, just as a junkie hides in there drug.
People that need a crutch are weak.. as mentioned above its an excuse for not trying something or not being
What will happen if I don't play that game anymore.
Well we are about to find out.
So come on this journey with me..
Let see who is under these layers of fat..

Never give up. And never, under any circumstances, face the facts

2010-08-24T21:25:00.000-05:00

Austin is sound.. I have to say that again.. Austin is sound.
I feel like I have been holding my breath for two years..
At first it wasn't any more worrisome than any other lameness horses come in with every day of the week.
But it lingered.. and the vets couldn't find what was wrong..
We went blindly forward, with pasture rest and lunging .. we thought we were seeing improvement .
Then fate smacked us back down.. and he was worse.. how the hell, what happened , we were so careful.
Now what and I waited , and waited for the best healer of all , time, to do its work.
Then it got to the point that waiting made no sense..what is wrong with him,, this big , strong , stoic, horse.
What is wrong.. ultra sound showed us.. and it wasn't pretty , and I was scared that I would lose my horse.
Debating, debating, told not much we can do, surgery , a long shot.. I have to try.
And off we go.. a year ago now.. told by the surgeon , don't know if anything I did will help.. not much I could do.
And we waited , and walked , and rested and worried..
I was told I baby him.. fuckin right I do.. I am scared shitless to let him move.
I watch him endlessly, and I wait.. more vet visits, more rechecks.. tell me he looks good, tell me he is better.. but I can see , I know what I see.. small improvements here and there.
Not much to brag about.
And I wait, and I watch.. and I baby him..we move to active rehab and I work him , and I ride him. I ride him like he is made of glass, and I worry some more.. but he is getting stronger I can feel that.. not so flat , can it be , how does he look, I can't tell from the saddle.. he feels different, he feels better.
And today, today.I asked a friend who has been with me all along in this.
Who has seen him at the worst.. and she said he looks good he looks SOUND.. She gets on , I want to see , I want to see, and he looks SOUND.. really for really sound.
I taped it , I have it to look at so I know I am not dreaming ..and now I can breath.

Thankful for Buttons

2010-08-12T06:40:00.000-05:00

Heat, ma'am! it was so dreadful here, that I found there was nothing left for it but to take off my flesh and sit in my bones. ~Sydney Smith, Lady Holland's Memoir

The poor horses, are hot, covered in skeeters, and just miserable.
I rode in a lesson yesterday morning on Red. ( buttons, get it.. ? )
And even with a 07:30 start time it was a challenge for us both.
But he was a trooper and never offered a complaint and did all we asked of him.
I love the boys in my life.. Red my rent a horse, the one I leased between selling my mare and buying Austin
has been the rock of my horse life since he came into the picture.

Back story on Red.
Reds full name is Super Red Top.. but I call him Buttons , for Red Buttons a comedian of old.
Because I think he is hilarious with his grumpy old man attitude. When in fact its an act , he really is just a sweet boy that is a bit stand offish until he gets to know you.

      I have to say , my first ride on him long ago , even before I leased him.. I HATED HIM.
I got off of him mid lesson.. he was a tank, he pulled, he cut to the middle he would not respond to my cues.
The trainer at the time told me if I tried him in a lesson one more time she would lesson me for free.
So I gave him another go.. he was better but still not very cooperative.
Why I ever decided to lease the stubborn paint I will never know.
Maybe I felt sorry for him as he has an absentee owner.. maybe I saw something in him.
Maybe my own ego said I will make him like me.. who knows, I just know he has changed my riding life forever and for the better.
The deal with Red is , he has to respect you or he will not cooperate.
You do not gain his respect with a harsh hand or voice .. this was my old trainers ways and all it did was make Red shut down.
I felt so bad for Red after every lesson I took with her..
NOW keep in mind this was never out and out abuse.. but she had no finesse, no asking, lots of yelling at me to KICK him, ( I had those god awful western spurs on too )

     Last lesson on Red with her was the last straw..
She yelled, and yelled KICK HIM, KICK HIM..get off , I will show you how to kick a horse.
She got on , borrowing my spurs and proceeded to kick him over and over..
Why all this , because he wasn't turning his head fast enough to suit her.
It felt like this lasted forever but really only a few seconds, when I yelled.
GET OFF OF HIM NOW.
It ended with her getting off of him and me firing her on the spot.

     I had already taken one dressage lesson on him with another trainer.
She was kind, quiet and seemed to get more out of Red and I in one lesson that the other trainer had in months.
I started regular lessons with her and have stayed with her to this day.
After I got Austin , Red got retired.. oh I would pull him out now and again and groom him but I didn't ride him my focus was on learning about my new horse.

     Then Austin got hurt.
During all of this on and off I would ride Red, and many other horses.
Then I told my trainer I wanted back in regular lessons to keep my skills up for when Austin comes back to work.. And Red was put back to full time work.. and he LOVES IT.

Its been about a year now that I have been riding Red on a regular bases again.
And because this horse has given me so much , and seems to love to be useful, I promised him that even when Austin comes back to work full time I will always have time for him.

Red will never get kicked to the curb again.
What an awesome soul he is..I am so lucky to have him in my life.

Is that a light I see ?

2010-07-29T05:55:00.000-05:00

It isn't sufficient just to want - you've got to ask yourself what you are going to do to get the things you want. - Franklin D. Roosevelt

I can answer that.. when it comes to wanting my horse back sound and rideable.
What I did is well documented in this blog.
What I am continuing to do is push.
Push myself to get to the barn at 6am , during this overly hot and humid summer.
Push to get the dirty work of rehab done, the endless lunging, handwalking, hill walking, cavalettis, vet rechecks.
Pushing my horse , past the hesitation , past the stiffness, so that he can find a place of fitness and comfort again.
Pushing myself to ride, him FOWARD, without hesitation and worry over every stumble and bobble.
I am pushing us both.
I think I see improvement.
I think I feel more confident in his recovery.
And I think I see a light.

Oh, it's too hot , too hot , too hot lady

2010-07-15T16:18:00.000-05:00

I live in the Midwest for a reason . I do not like hot , humid summers.
This summer has been exceptionally hot.
This of course interferes with my riding.
I do have the privilege of being able to lesson very early in the morning before work once a week.
But I can not do that every day before work.. meetings and the job just won't allow for that.
So I have been getting a lesson in and one practice day a week if I am lucky.
This is also not helping me get Austin built back up ..
Because by the time I get done with work the rest of the week its the hottest part of the day.
My boys ( Red and Austin ) are hot & sweaty just from being outside so I do not have the heart to ride and or lunge them in this heat.
Now if I were getting ready to compete well that would be different.. but I am not..
I told my theory to my trainer last week and she agreed , why push the horses or yourself in this heat if you don't have to..
AND This not riding and not really having any barn time leaves me crabby.
And feeling guilty.. like I skipped work or something.. what is with that ?
I have to remind myself this is my hobby, my thing I do to relax , not another job
I am not trying to rush the year by , but I sure hope we get a break in this heat soon .

I miss my horse

2010-06-07T06:48:00.001-05:00

I know that is silly since I still have my horse.
But I miss riding him.
I miss the feel of him and the cooperation we had under saddle.
I miss the potential I felt with in him.. and the potential I glimpsed in me because of him.
I miss the dreams of our future.
My heart hurts at the thought of what may never be.
But there is a part of me , the eternal optimist that will not allow me to give up on him or myself.

Are the Gods against me ?

2010-05-14T16:25:00.001-05:00

Austins under saddle rehab was coming along smoothly.
This last week was the week I was to start trotting him under saddle..
So why haven't I , whats the hold up , lets get this show on the road you say...
Well let me tell you.. I think the Gods are against me..
Last week Sunday.. I was minding my own business , pulling weeds out of my flower bed.. all was great in the world.
Monday morning I could barely stand up .. pulled hamstring, back pain and very stiff.
I had planned to trot Austin but hay I am flexible ( well I guess I am not really )
I will put it off , as I don't think I will be able to tolerate riding the way I feel..
OK Tuesday is a bit better lets give it one more day.. Wednesday I decide to ride Red my steady Eddy at the walk only .. did that for 40 mins,.no issues getting on or off and no real pain while I rode..
But HOLY MOTHER OF GOD.. at 12:30 am I awoke with back spasms from hell.. I have NEVER had such pain.. not even when I broke my back..
By 3am I was ready to dial 911..I could not sit, stand or lay with out excruciating pain.
I manged to find ONE position I could get into that allowed me to doze off..
Called my doc and she says inflamed sciatica..
Well here we are Friday a week later and I still have a numb right leg to the knee, pain in my back and hip.
And orders of no pushing , no pulling , no twisting , no lifting.
So once again my riding plans have been derailed.
I am getting tired of this.. but what can I do about .. well I will tell ya.
I am going to lose this fat if it kills me.
I think the reason my back " went out " is because when I was doing the weeds I was bent over at the waist with all this freakin extra baggage hanging down pulling on my back.
I start PT next Thursday and once I get the green light its back the the gym with a vengeance.
OH and the food issues.. well that starts NOW .. not waiting another day.

A monumental day

2010-03-20T21:00:00.000-05:00

Today was monumental for me.
I was able to get on Austin and walk him undersaddle.
Its been a long year and a 1/2 for my horse & I.

In that time there has been a lot of worry , many vet visits, surgery and more money spent than I care to recall.
Miles and miles of handwalking, some of which all 4 of his feet were not on the ground.
Lunging even when I was afraid of the horse my horse had become.. his outbursts, were frighting to me..the power , the frustration.

And then his first outings to the layup paddock..where I had to drug him.
And then I would sit and read to him.
It seemed the sound of my voice kept him calmer than the ACE.

He is my horse, this I know for sure . For this time has brought us closer.
I breath his air , I feel his moods, his thoughts it seems.

We, my lovely horse and I , are not out of the woods yet.
He may not be able to hold up to regular riding , or the rigors of dressage training.
These are the things we are about to discover. But where ever the road leads we will take it together.

I am glad I waited for him , today was a good day , for I was on my horse again

Austins continued quest for soundness and my fear of the scale.

2010-02-26T17:26:00.000-06:00

Couple things going on right now.
1) as always is the horse..
Had Dr Kevin out today to look at Austin again.
We are 7 months post op and a year and half into this lameness dilemma.
I have been lunging Austin once a week to monitor his progress.
The last 4-5 sessions he has looked SOUND.. keep in mind I am very good at detecting even the slightest short step in this horse . I have been watching his legs move for a very long time now.. so I was confident that Kevin would say.. YUP all better back to work with you Mr Austin.
But nope.. Austin wanted Dr Kevin to notice that he is still ever so slightly still off. OK fine big fella, now we do a bute test and recheck on 3/10. If the bute takes away that little bit of left over lameness
( 0.5 on the 1-5 lameness scale )
Then we know there is still a touch of inflammation.
And can rest him longer OR try increasing his work load with bute on board and see if he just need strengthen.
If the bute does not help, well that tells us something too.
Austin may well have a little hitch in that leg forever.. and if that's the case so be it.
Either way we are getting to the point where we will have to see if increased work will make him or break him.

The other thing.
As always is my battle of the bulge.
I now have a fear of the scale.
The biggest loser contest , is going well.
I am trying new things, monitoring my intake.
BUT I do not want to weigh myself.
If I get on the scale and my weight has not changed much or horror of horrors at all, I will be pissed and will be hard pressed to keep up this level of commitment with my work outs.
On the other hand if I get on the scale and it has moved, I may get over confident and not try as hard as I have been.
So I am not getting on the scale until the end of the program.
Then I will at least have stayed true to my commitment of seeing this through.. what a nut job I can be..

Oh and one more thing.
I had a dream last night..
That I ( not sure if it was me ) but someone gave birth to this baby girl..with a headful of dark hair.. and I held this baby and said to her, I have been waiting for you for 50 yrs.
Someone tried to take her from me, and I said no she is mine.
I have read that dreams where their is a birth are about change.
I am hoping this means my subconscious is finally on board with the changes I am making in my life.

Biggest loser week one done

2010-02-02T18:15:00.000-06:00

I signed up for the biggest loser contest at my gym.
Had the eval a couple weeks back..
The program started on 1/25 Monday.
We just finished the first week. 7 weeks to go.
It started last Monday and I worked out everyday except Sunday.
So that's 6 work outs.. I am sore but not to bad.
I have noticed an increase in energy.
BUT I have not lost one ounce.
Admittedly I need to really crack down on the food.
I did super all week until we went snowmobiling over the weekend.
Eating in bars is never very healthy.. but I made the best choices I could.
So am thinking this week will be better.

I am here, where are you ?

2010-01-16T08:25:00.000-06:00

The flight on Airtran from Milwaukee to Ft Lauderdale went perfect.
I love direct flights... lets hope the return flight goes as well..
My brother picked my up in is blue mustang convertible, top down baby..
Felt good.
Twisted my ankle walking into his house.. what a dolt I am , half on and half off the sidewalk.. now my ankle is swollen and a lovely shade of purple.
Hooked up with my Mom and Aunt Ade for lunch.
I had been up since 3:30 am and hadn't eaten a thing except for coffee.
My stomach tends to " get nervous" so I keep it empty when traveling.
Had muztaball (sp) soup at 2pm.. inhaled that..
Then off to the stores to stock the fridge at Bros house so I can have somewhat healthy things to eat.. and of course COFFEE.
We went to a rib house for dinner, excellent .
Collard greens ( first time I had had them )
Corn bread, full rack, and beer !!
Does it get any better ?
Today.. cloudy windy , and a memorial service for our dearly departed Bonnie.

Off to Sunny Florida...

2010-01-14T19:48:00.002-06:00

I am heading to Florida tomorrow..
The reason is my brothers wife passed away on Dec 6th.
She wanted cremated and a memorial service.
This may sound gross, but in Fla, the wait to get a person back is 10-14 days.
That would have put her back around Christmas.
My brother decided to wait until after the holidays so those of us from out of state would not be hard pressed to get there, and would not have to interrupt our holidays with our families.
I thought that was sweet ,and yet a little sad. To think that now we have to schedule life's most important family situations.
But it also affords me the chance to stay in Fl longer.
History.
My family lived in FL when I was a kid, from the age of about 7 to 10
I am the oldest of 4, and the only girl.
My brother next in line, its his wife that died.. moved back to south FL when oh about almost 20 yrs ago I would say.
My 2 other brothers both moved down, the middle one came back to WI and the youngest one stayed .
He is now in northern FL.
My dad died in 96 , in 2000 my mom sick of snow and high taxes moved to southern FL
So of the 4 kids, 2 live in FL along with my Mom.
My middle brother , has MS and is disabled.
He has started spending the winter months in FL too.
So currently in they are all there...and I will be to tomorrow.
One would think as a horseperson I would want to move to the sunshine state too.
But nope not me, I hate hot weather..
Here is an odd bit for you to ponder.
While I am in FL, my husband will be at the northern most part of WI at our cabin..
Hows that for worlds apart.

The Evaluation

2010-01-10T14:45:00.000-06:00

Well I am glad I know this personal trainer on a personal level.
Because they measure EVERYTHING.. Arm pit fat, back fat, leg fat, belly fat, hip fat.. then get on the scale, and it tells you, your weight, but how much of you is fat.
The bad news:
The scale number is BAD, and it says I am over 50 % fat.
I suck at push ups and crunches.
The good news:
I am pretty strong.. well of course I am , I am a horse woman.. We fetch, lift, tote and out maneuver large animals every day.
My vitals return to normal pretty fast after aerobic activity.
And there is not a damn thing wrong with me.. so no modified program for me.
The Plan:
Weekly group meetings.
Where you will work out together and learn about nutrition etc.
The first meeting is 1/25 so that works well, as I have to go to FL.
Leaving this Friday and back the following Friday.
And it includes meetings with your team leader to keep you on track.
I signed up for an additional 8 personal training sessions and will set up our personal training schedule when I get back .
These will be one on one and an hour long.
In the mean time:
To get a jump start on this and since I have no physical limitations other than being out of shape and fat.. Sheila said start now, push your self and push hard.
CARDIO push , push push.
Crunches and push ups every day.
Then when I get back we will hook up and go over my plan.

OK I am going to put this out there for all the world to see.
Starting weight 245
Body fat 52 % on the scale
32 % caliper
Sheila says the difference in the percentages is the scale measures all fat, including that INSIDE you.. and of course there is a margin of error.. but any way.. sounds like I am half fat.
No where to go from here except DOWN... : )

A weighty issue.

2010-01-07T20:42:00.002-06:00

Talked to my personal trainer today.
She is a friend and as a bonus , a dressage rider.
I was lamenting about how I can plan the best work out program and diet known to man, but can only stay motivated long enough to stay with it for a week or two then I burn out. When I know I have to meet her or a friend at the gym, I am there.
But if its just little ol' me headed to the gym at the ass crack of dawn, it is so much easier to just roll over and pull the blanket over my head.
Her suggestion: They are starting a biggest loser contest and I should think about joining. It gets you one on one time with a trainer. Nutritional counseling, goals that kind of thing.
So I did, I went in today , paid my 80 bucks and signed up.
I have my eval with her on Sunday at noon, and will find out what is expected of me then.. You know really this is enough.. I am 50-- FIFTY , time to shit or get off the pot.

That time again

2010-01-04T19:20:00.003-06:00

This time of year makes me look at my past , and to my future.
I always try to make resolutions.
Not because everyone else does, but because I like to take stock.
Change what I can , keep what I like, and move forward in my life.
However , there are a few items that seem to never get resolved.
My weight..
What is it with losing weight that is so hard ?
Is it that we make it harder than it needs to be ?
Read the latest research on what you should and should not eat and you come away feeling like you can't eat a thing.
So my dear friends whats a fat chick to do ?
I think I am going to ignore all the hoopla, and eat what fits into my life.
I will decrease my portion size from truck driver to princess and see if that helps.
How does this relate to a horse life.. well , we horse people work our asses off to get our horses in shape, so that they can do the job we ask them to do.
Shouldn't they expect us to be fit enough to have a quite steady seat.. and a light load for them to carry.. is that really to much for them to expect ?

The next step

2009-12-26T18:42:00.002-06:00

The next step in my plan to get my horse back to full recovery is that we are now hand walking.
He has graduated from his small flat turn out to a large turn out on a bit of a hill.
This gives him good exercise all day while out side. And allows the muscles and supporting ligaments, tendons in the stifle to get stronger with out undue stress.
And now that he has become accustom to that , I have added purposeful hand walking.
You know what I mean.. we MARCH along... allowing him to get long , long , reach under with his stride and get his brain back to at least thinking about working.
I have been lunging him once every other week or so , just to see how we are progressing.
And he looked really good the last 2 times.
I am going to increase my look see to weekly , and as soon as I get 3 weeks that are consistently sound looking I will have his vet out to have a look see , and get the green light to start to bring him back.
He has not been under saddle since October of '08..
I really miss riding my horse.

2009-11-02T16:12:00.003-06:00

Austins stifle is healing .. I had lunged Austin last week .. twice..just to verify that what I think I saw I really did see.. Vet out today and he said yup , you are correct.. he is much improved..
Austin isn't at 100 % sound but I would say 80 vet said no not 80 so maybe 70.. I tend to be hyper critical, being in the medical field I think I have seen to many things go bad.. So we are playing it safe.
He can move to a larger pasture with hills, but still to be by himself or with a very mellow pasture mate.
Well there is no such thing at my barn.. so he is alone..
I will recheck him again in a month.
Hell its been a year... a YEAR since I have ridden my horse.. why rush him now.

Riding.. back into lessons, on Red my old friend.
I do believe he is happy to be back to work.
although you wouldn't have thought so at our last lesson.
He wanted to misbehave a bit and have his way and well , it didn't work.
He got over it.
He really is a good horse and the more you work with him the better he gets.
Even when Austin is back under saddle I will still make time for Red .. he loves the attention and he deserves it.

And so life goes.

2009-09-17T21:20:00.003-05:00

Long time no write.

So much has happened and yet nothing much has changed.

Austin had surgery on his stifle on 7/21/09 .

The surgeon said Austin had crushed his meniscus but he did see scaring and healing.

He found some " goobers" under the patella, and he did a fenastration on the medial patella ligament.

At his 30 day re-check he still was not looking good, very sore.

The vet, also a friend could not hide his disapointment, but then he said that he had the same surgery on his knee and it took more than 30 days for him to feel better to..

This coming Thursday 9/24 will be another re-check and quite frankly I am scared shitless.

If he is still not sound we are pretty much out of options.

There were grumbles about IRAP as a last resort ..

And there were grumbles about just turning him out and keep checking on him every 3 months .

So fingers crossed for a good outcome next Thursday.

And if it crosses your mind , think of my boy and send him some jingles next Thursday.

So its been awhile.

2009-05-30T20:25:00.003-05:00

My dear horse Austin is still lame.
As of this week it has been 8 months since I have ridden him for anything other than Vet exams..
I am worried about him, not getting better.
I am bored with out riding and just in a bit of a funk now and again.
So I have started riding the horse I used to lease Red..

He has not been ridden since I got Austin so about a year and a half.
He is a bit resentful of coming out of retirement, but I assured him , nothing dramatic, just some easy trails on the property and some ring work..
I promise.
I have decided to work out also.
Riding was my exercise , then it was hand walking Austin , we no longer do that so I needed something.
So now I walk the trails at our state park, just me or me and the dogs.
I like it and it helps with the stress.
I am also trying to control my food intake and lose weight.
On that note I would like to share an email I sent to some of my friends on Thursday night describing a battle I had with my self in Wal Mart.
Here it is enjoy.

Considering everyone lately has discussed how hard it is to lose weight I thought I would share with you a battle I had today.
This afternoon I decided that instead of going to the barn I would go to the Wal-Mart and pick up a few things I have been needing.
Trouser socks, underwear, fun shit like that.
While there I remembered I needed oil for the horse , and might as well get some rolls for dinner.
As I was cruising the freezer section I happened by the ice cream cooler , and stopped dead in my tracks there it was my kryptonite, Haagan-Daz Vanilla Swiss Almond ice cream. 300 calories a serving , 20 grams of fat , 4 servings per container for a grand total of 1200 luscious calories......ohhh baby...
I stood there rooted to the floor unable to walk away.. arguing with myself..yes , no , yes , no
FatMe said, " What if I buy it and only eat one serving a day, that's not so bad.. I can do that . " I assured myself.
WannabeskinnyME said " No way you will eat the whole damn thing I have seen you do it , so step away from the freezer case Fatass "
FatMe turned and sulked away.
But before I could even get out of the isle FatMe spun the cart around and trotted back to the ice cream case.
Telling WannabeskinnyMe, " BS I can have ice cream if I want to , just cuz I am trying to lose a few pounds does that mean I can never have my very favorite ice cream again.. I am buying it "
And with that FatMe opened the freezer door, reached in and touched the container.
It felt so cool, so smooth , so comforting.
Thats when I heard a scream come from WannabeskinnyMe, " NOOOO shut the Fucking door. Let it go, for god sake FatMe, let it go !"
FatMe slammed the door shut.
I felt bit ill, and a little dizzy , I was jonesing for ice cream.. I felt like a junky must feel looking at a line of coke and knowing they shouldn't take it.
As I kind of just stood there in a daze, a bit disorientated thinking well if I can't have ice cream what can I have, WHAT CAN I HAVE ?
I had to get away from the freezer section , I couldn't think there.
I nearly ran from the isle, over to the baked goods, I needed to get something for Marks lunch.
And thats when I happened to see individual donuts for sale Oh christ here we go again...." what about that " FatMe whinned... " I can buy just one , then I can only eat one, can I have that ? "
"NO" insisted that bitch WannbeskinnyMe.. " You know what will happen if you eat that , then you will get on a roll and nothing in the house will be safe "
" FINE " FatMe yelled "What the hell can I have you anorexic twit ? "
Then FatMe heard a whisper, " Sugar snap peas "
" What ? "
"You heard me, sugar snap peas, your daughters just told you this weekend they are really good to snack on."
"Are you freakin kidding me, I am to give up HAAGAN DAZ and DONUTS for sugar snap peas ? "
" Yup just give it a try, just this once for me " cohorsed WannabeskinnyMe
So I share my story of the battle between FatMe and WannabeskinnyMe with you my friends so you will take heart that once in awhile the Wannabeskinnys can win.
And I am munching on sugar snap peas, and I have to say they are tasty,, but there is that little part of me that wonders, wouldn't they be just a little better with some Haagan Daz Vanilla Swiss Almond on the side ?

SPLAT

2008-10-29T21:02:00.000-05:00

That's the sound my fat ass made when I hit the ground today in my lunge line lesson.
We were doing no stirrup , no rein work on the lunge line, and the horse spooked..and went right and I went left.
Landed on my left side, mostly my hip. Am sure I will have a huge bruise...
Just so happens that today I wore my brand spanking new winter riding breeches.
That only have knee patches and are very slippy..so I am blaming the pants.
The instructor laughed at that , said it had nothing to do with it , it was the no irons & no reins that did me in.
Still you can bet I won't wear them again on a horse..dang things are JINXED now...
So one beer.. 2 tylenol and an ice pack have been my treatment so far..
I bet tomorrows gona suck...:-(

Still off and my first Karl Mikolka clinic..

2008-10-23T21:31:00.005-05:00

So since we last visited Austin lameness issue..
The test ride was a bust on that weekend,,he was for sure off on the left hip.
So Kevin came out on Thursday 10/16 and blocked his hocks..figured lets start with what is usually sore..nope no change..we ran out of time, so decided that we would let Austin rest over the weekend.

While Austin was resting I went to the Karl clinic. Very impressed with his teaching style.. It doesn't hurt that my trainer has been his student for a long time.. So a lot of what he was saying I have heard..But fair warning ,,if you lesson with him you best know what your horses feet are doing at any given time and be able to say it.

The vet and I agreed to meet right away that Monday..lets see what a few more days off has done for the hip. And low and behold its better .. I think 99%.
Kevin ( the vet ) thinks 95%..He block the lower 4 nerves just to see if he could get him to be 100%. Nope he saw no change.
So now what ..we decided I would test ride him on Tuesday and see whats , what under saddle.
I get there on Tuesday and decided to lunge him to see how he looks on a circle.
Since I think he looked pretty darn good on the straight.
During the lameness exam we only ran him in straight lines because it was evident that way..so why stress him any more.
But on the lunge line he is short steppin on the left hind still.
Switched sides he looked better , back to the left and hey he is a bit better on that side now too. Seems to be working out of it.
Got on and only walked..figured a little weight bearing exercise would help .
Skipped Wednesday..let him rest.
Today ( my b-day..I am 49 ) I went and again lunged..seems better ..got on ..feels better..not 100 % but 99% on a lunge circle and under saddle . Fingers crossed ..we are just about mended..
So now I consider us in rehab..we will take it slow .
I will ride him a bit tomorrow..give him the weekend off and see how he is on Monday.
If he looks good I will leave Darcy a message that we may be able to do a 30 " lesson next week. If not lessons can wait..

So we wait

2008-10-06T20:53:00.005-05:00

Vet came out today.
And I have to say that I am very lucky to have the vet I have.
He has a lot of common sense, and it helps that we think the same way when it comes to the health of my horse.
Austin was off on the left front most of last week, that is why I called.
Well since making the appointment on Thursday and giving him bute 2 times a day since then , when Kevin came out his left front was fine...HOWEVER , Kev thought he may have seen a little bit of a hitch in his giddy up on the left hip.
So , was he off on the front left or just landing funny to compensate for a sore hip ??? Know way to know. To that end Austin will stay on bute through Thursday, with no work. Then Friday no bute no work. Saturday, no bute light ride , walking and straight lines..If he feels good..Sunday work a bit heavier.
Give Kevin a report on Monday. And of course if anything hits the fan before then we call Kevin..ASAP...LOL..
Called Darcy , and let her know we will not be taking a lesson this week.
If all goes well we will have a lesson next week,
I was going to go to Darcys barn the week of 10/20 for daily lessons..but I think we need to move this to a week in November..
I think just coming off an injury and then into riding hard every day for a week will be to much to soon.
And Darcy is the type of person to think so to.
Nice when the owner, vet and trainer all have the horses best interest at heart..
Lucky Austin..

All good things and some not so good must come to an end.

2008-10-02T17:37:00.003-05:00

The not so good thing that came to an end :

I let my trailer partner buy me out.
It had to be...never..ever..go in on anything with a friend.
I am so angry at her , at this point , that I do not even want to talk to her.
Of course she will have a different point of view as to why this did not work out.
But here's my story.
We went in on a trailer together one year ago.
A big one, as I have a big horse..she rides a pony .
She moved to the same barn I was at , so looked like all would work out well.
She used the trailer all summer for shows and what not..always seemed to have it at her house , cleaning and primping it.
We stored it last winter, as she wasn't going to use it and I was not going to do trailer training with Austin just yet.
And just this last month she moved to a barn 40 mins away.
So I have not laid eyes on the trailer in weeks..
I decided that rather than try and get use of the trailer over the summer , just to trailer train that I would keep it at the barn over the winter.
After all she used it ALL SUMMER...So I emailed her and gave her my reasons for wanting the trailer at my barn over the winter.
She emailed me back that she was OK with this ,,then I get an email titled " On second thought.." She changed her mind.
And she was just sure ( I heard from another person ) that I was going to just leave the trailer sit in the cold and snow and was only wanting it at my barn to be a pain in the ass..
So rather than get really pissy with her , which is what I wanted to do.
Because after all who the F is she to tell me when I can or can not use something I also paid for ?????
So needless to say we didn't not come to an understanding and she offered to buy me out.
Stating that she really needs this trailer as her pony is just so used to it..
And after all Austin won't know the difference..what a head case...LOL
Whatever..little pony in a big trailer..fine with me...pay the extra it costs to haul that huge trailer around...I told her what I wanted for my 1/2 she paid me done deal..And while I was counting the money..I told her that NO I wasn't trying to be a pain in the ass..I am going to be taking my horse to my trainers barn on and off over the winter...and since I had thought she was fine with that , I had gone a step further and made arrangements to go to my trainers barn every day for a week for lessons...BUT now I have to pay for transportation...so what..I say..who wants to share with someone that is so insensitive to others..BYE you pain in the ass, don't let the door hit ya.

The good thing that came to an end.
Austin has not been lame a day since I bought him , until this week..poor baby
He is off on his left fore..its been a week today..so called the vet.
He will be out on Monday , in the mean time bute 2 X's per day.
Fingers crossed this is only a minor set back.
We are to go to my trainers barn the week of 10/20 but if we have to push it off we will. And even if we push it off till spring..not a big deal either..
Just don't like it when the big boy hurts.. :-(

Been a long time..

2008-09-07T19:00:00.004-05:00

Austin all dressed up in his dressage gear.
Handsome boy.

Time for an update ..

When we last spoke I said I was going to do my best to get a good start on my dressage education .
To that end here is what I have done.

Lessons :
Every week , I lesson with Darcy.
And because of this the relationship Austin and I are building is based on the principles that Darcy was taught.
High regard for the welfare of the horse
Teaching done with out force
And so much more that I can't even name all that she has taught me about learning to ride.
And more importantly learning to work with my horse.
She is very good about letting me get something at my own rate of learning.
There for I feel less stressed , and in turn Austin feels less stress.
The relationship that has evolved between Austin and I is one of trust and genuine respect .

In addition Darcy had recommended that I take lunge line lessons.
Austin is not a lunge line horse & Darcy has no such horse either, so we went on a search and found Polly Hall.
She has a suitable horse and was willing to take me on.
Polly gives the lesson but is willing to allow Darcy to have some say in what I need to learn.
Polly is highly thought of by my friends that know her, and I have found her to be a very entertaining and skilled instructor.

I love my lunge lessons with her..and look forward to all she has to teach me.

Clinics :
Adrienne Pot clinic in August.
I really liked her style of teaching.
I found the theme of her instruction right away..hands low and do not move them.
I also found she tailored the lesson to each horse and rider..not cookie cutter lessons.

Karl Mikolka clinic in October..can not wait for that.
Ordered his newsletter, the first year , and am reading them and forcing myself to finish the first year before ordering the next.
Basically using it as a text book.,,but a lot remains over my head, so will bring my questions to Darcy.

Pam Goodrich clinic in November.
I have heard good things about her teaching style to.

Outings:
Lamplight to watch my friend Deanna and her young horse Boo.
She did a great job with that horse..he is good mover and I love his coloring.

Silverwood to watch Darcy ride San Remos
Lovely rider...lovely horse.
The people around me didn't know that I was one of Darcys students so
heard some buzz in the crowd when she came out.
Nice to know that your instructor is well thought of by their peers.

Austin and I have had our own little adventures around the farm .
We ride all over now , and he trusts me and that is the best gift I could ask for.
We had fun day at the barn yesterday and I rode him in one game.
He only shied a little, during our warm up , at the feed bags that were on the ground in the outdoor for the musical feed bag game..
But before the game started I had him standing on them weaving through them and sniffing them.
We may it through the first 3 rounds, of the musical bags game.
He was doing his I am scared noise( sounds like a purr , Leslie said ) a lot , but I just rubbed his withers and reminded him that he is a brave horse.
We hung out in the arena for a while after that game and watch some others.
But then the bugs got pretty bad,,and I figured his brain had enough stimulation for one day.
Took him in and cleaned him up and tucked him into his stall.
I get chocked up just looking at that horse..love him to bits.

Books
In addition to Mr Mikolka newsletter
I am reading
Common sense dressage by Sally O'Conner
The USDF guide to dressage

So there you have it my home study course in learning dressage.
Hope it works for me , as going to the SRS is not an option..LOL

Feeling like crap...and wishing I could go to dressage school

2008-05-30T17:50:00.004-05:00

Had to reschedule my Wednesday lesson to tonight , due to a meeting.
BUT wouldn't you know it , now I have a bug and feel like crap.
So just canceled the lesson..I HATE to miss my lessons...
Got to thinking today that I wish ( I know there is, but not in my world ) a dressage school that I could enroll in.
One lesson per week for a greenie , just seems like not enough .
There are so many things I don't know,,,My instructor asked me if I know what on the bit means, and I said that I had heard about it but did not understand what it meant.
My instructor is REALLY good about explaining all these things to me.
But I feel a real need to learn more.
So to get a better understanding of the dressage world I have decided to go to a clinic every month. And I am going to check out some books on the old masters.
I also want to learn to scribe, and see if I can do that this season.
And of course haunt the shows, with my more knowledgeable friends.
So theres my plan , now lets see how that works out.

Lessons, Lessons and More Lessons.

2008-05-14T20:38:00.004-05:00

I love my Wednesday , before work lessons.
We have not had to cancel or move one lesson, since we started this new time slot.
This will end the week after next , though I have an early morning meeting that can not be avoided, and do have them quarterly ..
But have already given trainer the heads up and we will work around it and then back to the morning lessons.
Our progress:
The mounting issue , is now a none issue.
Austin had turned into Mr Reliable.
Examples of this would be:
I have lost weight, there for my breeches go all MC Hammer pants on me , and when I tried to get on Austin last week I got stuck.
How you ask did I get stuck ?
Well the material of my breeches at the crotch, now hangs to low, so when I went to get on it got stuck on the cantel of my saddle, stopping me from being able to get my leg over the horse.
This is NOT the first time this has happened to me . But this time I was really stuck.
Couldn't get on, leg stuck or off.
So I am scrambling around up there and all the while Austin stood perfectly still.
I have made sure now to hike my pants up before I go to get on ...but guess what happened today...!!! I got stuck again..what the hell.
I know my legs are short , I know my pants are loose,,,but all of a sudden I can't seem to get on my horse without looking like the lost member of the 3 stooges..
What a dork..
But on to the lessons.
We are working on ME mostly..Me keeping my hands down. Me keeping my feet forward , ME keeping my elbows at my sides and not out like chicken wings.
Me keeping him moving.
Do we see a trend here ...LOL
But regardless, I love it , all of it.

Another hurdle done

2008-04-21T19:49:00.002-05:00

This weekend in S.E. Wisconsin was awesome, warm sunny , light breeze.
The perfect time to take my maiden voyage in to the outdoor with Austin.
Last week Monday I lunged Austin in the out door , planning on riding him outside the next day. But that was the day we had 40 mph wind gusts.
This Sunday turned out to be the day.
There were plenty of people around. I ride alone a lot but wanted someone around on our first out door ride.
Cathy had a lesson & while she was putting Fay away , I got Austin ready.
Took him to the outdoor , lunged him lightly W/T both ways and really didn't need to do that at all, he was pretty laid back.
Cathy and another friend Renee came over & formed a human wall for my off side. Austin is much better at mounting but I didn't want to take any chances. So we get Austin to the block and I get him set up I step up on the block and CRASH, I went right through the second step up to my right knee.
So much for making this a low key affair for Austin... LOL. I wasn't hurt and A, seemed OK with all the racket , so I just went to the other side and got on. That block has been in that out door since before the barn owners got this place, its old and not made of treated wood .
And last year we had told them that one of the lower steps had rotten through.
Now the second steps is gone.
We had a nice ride in the big old outdoor. Only one little hop, when I went to put my off sided iron on I bumped him a little and he was just a little more on high alert so gave just the smallest of jumps. I think really it wasn't a spook he was just being hyper sensitive. So now I get to tell my trainer that I rode out side.
Next step I walk him around the outdoor on the outside of it in the grass.
First step in getting down the trail.

Lesson in the morning...LOVED IT.

2008-04-16T09:34:00.002-05:00

We lessoned this morning..and I LOVE LOVE LOVED it.
I was done and at my desk by 9 am.
When I got there at 6:15 am the horses were all fed , this is good because Austin is fixated on his food , aren't we all.
The BO was doing turn out , and had the fore thought to have taken all the horses that I would have had to move , to let by , out before I got there.
So we had no interruptions, and were able to groom and be warmed up by the time my instructor got there.
No distractions in the indoor either.
No other riders, no fed cart going by. It was great.
Now keep in mind we do ride during very busy times, and he is used to that .
But it was a nice change of pace to be able to focus on listening to my instructor with out having to worry about where the other riders in the arena are.
We are shooting for the same time next week.
It was a bit difficult , when I went home to shower and hubby was there ( he is off in the winter , soon to be back to work ) sitting on the deck.
But I showered and left the house , business as usual...
So the lesson.
Well now I kept losing my left iron.
Instructor says I am toeing out and bringing my heal up to que.
She suggests I toe in for a few strides and relax ..this did help.
She also wants me to find a pair of tall boots...
I told her they do not make tall boots, for people with short fat legs.
She insisits they do..and said she has a number of students built like me.
So let the hunt begin.

Let it shine

2008-04-15T19:36:00.003-05:00

The sun is out , it was out yesterday to.
I introduced Austin to the outdoor yesterday.
I had let him roam around in there a time or two last fall, but yesterday I lunged him. His focus was not on work but on the cars going by , the kids, the bikes you name it.
I let him be..I kept his work relaxed and let him get used to the increased number of distractions.
Made it a really positive experience for him.
Today I went to ride, wanted to take the next step and ride him outside.
BUT we have wind gust over 40 mph..so we worked in the indoor.
I worked on me , getting my timing with posting and queing.
This is the hardest part of the switch from western to dressage.
I have a little chant now, up/que/up/que..of course I only que if need be , but saying it every time helps keep my rhythm.
I am pretty happy with our progress so far, since I have had him.
I have high hopes for this riding season.
Not so much for showing, but for getting a really good base of education under our belts.
In addition to riding , I want to attend as many clinics as an auditor as I can.
I am also working on my fitness and weight.
I don't want to be the weak link in this riding relationship.
I am just so jazzed , that the weather will not get in our way now.
For various reasons my lessons have been hit or miss, so do to some unforeseen issues at my trainers barn we have decided to try lessons in the morning before work.
So starting tomorrow, I lesson at 7am , then will go home shower and go to work.
The beauty of being salaried is , it matters not what time I get there as long as I put in the required number of hours per week.
So fingers crossed that this works, I think it will be great , especially when its 90 degrees out this summer.. and I LOVE riding on summer mornings.

New saddle new position. 3/24

2008-03-26T19:27:00.005-05:00

First lesson in new DQ ( dressage queen ) saddle.
One would think that position would be the same regardless of the saddle you ride in but that is not the case. Look at a Hunt rider vs a Dressage rider vs a Western rider.
My western saddle, is a reiner, so your feet are more forward and out a bit.
First thing Darcy did in lesson tonight was turn my feet forward..I bet she has been dieing to do that all year... LOL.
Then hands..now with the western saddle the pommel and horn got in the way of where she wanted my hands to be..in front of me & low , at the withers.
Now anyone that has watched western riding knows that hands go up and out when training. She broke me of that habit for the most part , but the horn in the way , well now I have no excuses.. LOL.
At every letter , check hands and feet...she says then your position will become habit.
Okie Dokie..
That's a lot to remember and try to ride to.
OH and I found out I can't post and Que at the same time..
Butt in saddle, Que horse..butt out of saddle.... butt in saddle , Que horse..and so on.
Had to really think about that..so of course as I am thinking about that my hands went all western on me..Hey hands down...shit..Hands down, butt in saddle, Que horse, ...butt out of saddle..hands down, butt in saddle, Que horse.
Gee this is harder than it looks.

Saddle fitting 3/17/08

2008-03-26T19:03:00.003-05:00

Kate the saddle fitter came out and brought 4 dressage saddles to try.
While I was gathering leathers and a girth she put the saddles on Austin and told me we had a winner.
But still wanted me to see all of them on Austin and to ride in as many as I like.
My instructor was there to..
Kate put each one on Austin for us and explained what was right and wrong with each of them. Then the last one she put on was the one she said fit him best . And it did.
It looked perfect on him.
Then she asked me which saddles I wanted to try.
Now I know some folks would have ridden in each and every saddle..but not me.
The saddle that fit him best also had shorter flaps, which is what I need. So I told her lets just cut to the chase and try the best fitting saddle first.
I got on and it fit perfect. My instructor liked my position and the way it fit me as did Kate..Then I had my instructor try it out .
I wanted to see if she could feel if the saddle hindered Austin in anyway.
I mean really Darcy has sat on hundreds of horses in hundreds of saddle..I trust that she would be able to tell if there were a problem.
Where with me I have only really ridden in Western..so what would I know about dressage saddles. NOTHING. She loved the saddle and said Austin felt great under her.
Kate asked if I wanted to try any of the other saddles just to compare them and I said NO..lets just makes this a done deal..
So I now have me a fancy dressage queen saddle...

HalaFREAKInluya & some crabbing

2008-03-16T10:21:00.009-05:00

The snow is GONE, the sun is shinging the birds are returning and we should be in the outdoor in about a week.
I got Austin at the end of fall so have been riding inside the entire winter.
I know at least we got to ride,,some folks have to wait for the melt off to ride at all.

Back to lessons with gusto and diggin it.
I can sit the trot pretty good.
As a matter of fact I have noticed that compaired to my buddy, Red the rent a horse, Austins faster trot is easier to sit than Reds.
Austin is 16.3 1/2 Red is 15.3 is that the difference ?
The shorter strides from Red seem to come fast a frious , where there seems to be lag time in Austins trot.
Austin does a great impression of the western jog to, that is like riding a couch. LOL.
He is doing really well with laterial work, someone spent time on him with that.
OH and the standing still at the block is way better.
NOT perfect, but so much better that most of the time I do not need any one to block him.

I dig this horse , he has personality.
He seems to be adjusting well even in somewhat adverse conditions.
The horses were in for about 2 1/2 - 3 weeks due to pastures being icy.
I bought him a jolly ball and bring my empty milk jugs for him to play with.
But he entertained himself by pulling his wool cooler through the bars and ripping it to shereds..I can't be mad at him for that .
He lived outside 24/7 until I bought him.
So in my mind I think he must feel like he has died and gone to hell when he is stuck inside.
I am just happy it was his blanket and he did not learn to crib or weave out of boredome.
But now they are out and hoping the weather cooperates and they stay out.

Saddler coming out tomorrow ( weather permitting ) we will be trying out dressage saddles for Austin and I.

This is a picute of Cathy and her pretty mare Fay at last summers poker ride.

Cathy is one of my best barn buds, and has offered to let me borrow her leathers & irons.
And there is a girth or 2 floating around that I can use.
See this is a problem.
When you go from western ONLY to dressage, you do not have this stuff and the saddler that I am dealing with has just started out on her own and has nothing but new stuff with her.
I didn't know this the first time she brought out saddles, so we scrambled around the barn to get me the needed equipment.
I don't want to buy new stuff to TRY out saddles, what if it doesn't work with the saddle I end up with ?

I was hoping to get to the barn this weekend.
But doens't seem like I will , to many errands to do.
I put everything off to the weekend, so as not to mess up my ride time during the week, so I guess I really can't bitch as that was the plan and I did it to myself.
Just I want to be there EVERY day...a horsecrazy 48 year old.. how silly..

The mystery bump , and other stuff

2008-02-24T07:04:00.005-06:00

OK, so I am a bit behind in posting.
But on Thursday , Kevin, Austin's primary care vet, came out and poked a 22 gage needle into the swelled area on Austins R-hind fetlock.
It was getting smaller on its own, but we wanted to make sure it wasn't an infection, or any think weird.
What came out was clear fluid, no smell , not cloudy at all.
So we are thinking cyst. Kevin said it may come back and guess what the next day it was back and as big as it was in the beginning.
Dang it..
We had a lesson on Friday,but the horses have been in FOREVER it seems,with the cold and ice.
So we lunged him , and that ended up being the lesson as he hadn't been ridden either in over a week and was quite full of his little self.
I got some great ideas for working him on the lunge line.
This will be helpful, as I only knew the boring going around in circles crap, that bores him and I to death.
Its funny I have a very good friend that is showing me some NH and my trainer uses some of the very same methods that Cathy has shown me..
Makes life easy when everything meshes.
Also having a ton of fun figuring this horse out.
I put him in the indoor to see what he would do with all the noise of the ice and snow coming off the roof.
To help make is not so scary I put things out for him to play with, like treats in old feed bags..etc.when the ice did let go , he only flinced a little..
He is calm most of the time anyway , so I work hard to introduce him to things in a manner that will support his calm attitude.
However I did find out you can rattle his cage if you raise your voice at him or " get after " him.
He gets high headed and will flinch at your touch.
He also is not really happy with me using any "things" on him.
If I pet with just my hands all is well put something in you hand and he gets worried.
What went on in my boys young life.. ?? I will never know, but he will learn that nothing bad ever comes from my hand.

Just freakin stand still will ya

2008-02-03T15:55:00.000-06:00

Good god, I spent an HOUR working with Austin to get him to stand still long enough for me to get on.
OH the treats, yea they work for a minute, now he has that figured out.
The second I get a foot in the stirrup he backed away .
OK then I put him in a 3 sided box, wall on the right , and behind , block on the left.
I get on the block give him the treat, get leg up , and off he goes forward.
So around and around I went for an hour.
Finally I asked Keli to just F'ing hold him.
I didn't lose my patience with him, but I was getting pretty frustrated.
Thing is I wasn't making any progress and now he moves around looking for the damn treat.
So when I did have Keli hold him I did not use a treat., and during the hour I varied when I used a treat or not hoping to get him to stand until he got one.
I am gona call Darcy and tell her to put her thinking cap on we need a plan that I can work on.
And she was so proud of us when I showed her how well we were doing with mounting..damn it.

How to stop a freight train

2008-01-31T21:25:00.000-06:00

The weather in this neck of the woods this winter has been a bit on the raw side.
So the horses have spent more time indoors than out this last week.
Along with that it has been far to cold to ride or work the horses until today.
So we lessoned.
I decided to lunge Austin first after all as nice as he is it has been 2 weeks since we have had a proper ride.
BOY am I glad we did, he was full of piss and vinegar.. bucking , pulling trying to turn and go the other way.
He goes about 1400 pounds so its a bit like having a freight train on the lunge line.
I did however out maneuver him , even got an At A girl from my trainer..glad he got that out of his system b4 I got on..
Had a great ride after all the hoopla.
The swelling is still there , vet was to come out and drain it tonight, but got side tracked with emergences.
No rush he isn't in any pain . And as wound up as Austin was tonight it may not have been a good day to ask him to stand still while we put needles in his leg...OUCH.

Austins mystery swelling

2008-01-13T19:38:00.000-06:00

So last weeks lesson got cancelled because Mr Austin, has some swelling on the front , medial aspect of his right hind fetlock. It is not painful to touch, it is not warm, he is not lame and we don't know what the hell he did.
But we didn't lesson , at least lets give it a rest , call the vet and see what to do.
Well told my vet, trust his judgement , so splained it all to him and he thinks its a bit odd to.
Let wrap and see what the fluid does.
Wrapped at night unwrapped in the morning and it was mostly back to normal.
Turned him out and came back to the barn that night to check , swelling back.
Wrapped again..
Will unwrap b4 work tomorrow, let him go out , check him tomorrow.
If the swelling is back , I will leave it alone, and update the vet.
Geeze..I wish they could tell you what they do to themselfs...

Lessons contiune

2007-12-31T12:27:00.000-06:00

I love my dressage lessons.
I love my horse.
He is such a big goober, just as nice as can be.
I just hope that as he gets fit and more confident in himself that he keeps the sweetness that is him.
We lunged him this lesson, as he had not worked in a week due to the holidays.
HUGE spook , by a new hole in the wall in the indoor, got the lunge line wrapped around his leg. But he stopped let me untangle him and continued on as if nothing had happended.
Trainer was very happy with that , he recovers from his spook fast,,I guess that is a good quality..at least we think it is.
Had friends out yesterday to see Austin and to watch me ride him
They are impressed with our progress, I now get the correct diaganol most of the time and and switch my diagonals with no problem..
All this and still in my western saddle.
Have the fitter coming out again tomorrow and bring more dressage saddles to try on him.
Fingers crossed. I am sick of getting my shirt stuck on the horn of the western when I post...LOL.
My pictures seem to have disappeared on this site...??? Maybe its my work computer not letting them through..

Lesson

2007-12-12T21:47:00.000-06:00

Damn I look good as a Reindeer !!

Had a dressage lesson today.

My instructor had me lunge Austin first , just so she could see that I know how to lunge.

Nice of her to check on some of the fundamentals of horsemanship.

We did all walk trot , she will not canter him just yet.

He is young and unbalanced yet.

He is so different to ride from Red, much bigger strides , takes my back a while to warm up and loosen up.

Still have the not standing at the mounting block issue, trainer says he has to do something wrong or he would be perfect...LOL..we will work on this later she says and I say we will work on this every time I am at the barn.

Took pixs of the booger in his antlers , how very handsome he is.

Back in the saddle

2007-12-06T19:52:00.000-06:00

After 2 weeks off of riding, because of vacation then the boo boo knee, we finally got back to work in lesson on Monday.
My dressage instructor had to ride in my western saddle..she said the strupps make her feet feel trapped compared to dressage irons.
Still no dressage saddle , fitter is working on finding me one to fit the big fella.
Austin was great in lesson, never missed a beat, even with 2 weeks off.
Looks like he is the type of horse that can have time off and come right back to work.
This will fit great into my life style.
With going to the cabin to snowmobile, ATV or whatever the reason he will at times have a week off.
I told my instructor I keep waiting for the honeymoon to be over and for him to do something naughty.
After all my other horses did.
She said he is young yet and never learned the bad habits my older horse had.
So we have a blank slate to work with..cool !!!

Crap !!!

2007-11-26T21:00:00.000-06:00

Ok so the new boy has a scrapped knee, took the hair and skin off messing with another horse through the fence.
So NO lesson..
Had the saddle fitter out again , she brought a different dressage saddle and it didn't fit either, ugh.
Looks like it will have to be the EXPENSIVE one.
She is going to look and see if she has any used ones that will work for Austin.
Horses, not a hobby , a financial black hole...LOL

Vacations Suck

2007-11-24T23:02:00.000-06:00

Why, do vacations suck ?
Because I had to leave my brand spankin new horse..thats why.
I have only had Austin for 3 weeks, and before I bought him I had planned a weeks vacation with my hubby in our cabin the north woods of wisconsin.
Now not that I don't like my Hubbys company mind you , but this is my NEW HORSE, we are at bonding time & I have had my hubby for 33 yrs now , so we are bonded..LOL
Well I couldn't cancel on something we had planned on for almost a year, but I sure thought about it..LOL...
Back to the routine now this week and I am happy for that.
I missed my horse and my time at the barn.
I am sure I have heard it said b4 , that to a horse lover the barn and horses are the best therapy, so who the hell needs a freakin vacation any way...LOL.

Lessons start

2007-11-15T20:11:00.000-06:00

Lets get started big fella

So my trainer finally met my new horse, and had absolutely nothing but good things to say about him.
What a freakin relief.
Its not the usual mode of operation for a student to buy a horse with out their trainer at least seeing a tape of the horse.
I had showed her his add , and then went to do the test ride.
I taped the owner riding him that day, but made my offer then and there without my trainer even seeing the tape...LOL...
So big sigh of relief that he passed her test.
She rode him, and said he is a bit green yet so we will go slow.
But that he is a blank slate, and we can start at the begining, without having to undo any poor training.
She will ride him the first 1/2 of each lesson for now to school him and then I get on and we work on the package, of Austin and I becoming a team.
Everyone that has met him so far loves him, and the more I am with him the more I love him.
Ah the honeymoon phase of horse ownership , is there anything better?
What a trusting soul.
I ran the shop vac over him last night while he stood with out crossties and let me.
He seems to be of the mind that if I say its ok , then it must be ok.
Gotta love that..

A new year a new horse

2007-11-09T13:06:00.002-06:00

Austin and I on our test ride.

I liked what I was learning, in dressage,
and decided that I no longer wanted to show western pleasure.
So my search criteria for my next horse changed.
Now I need to find a horse more compatible to dressage.
All horse can do dressage at least at the lower levels.
I know this, but some are just better suited to it.
It took me awhile to adjust to the new type of horse I was looking for, and the barn buddies that were helping in my search were getting a little frustrated, at all the " western " horse adds I was sending their way, via email to review.
Finally I asked my trainer to just give me the basics of what I should look for, she did.
Gelding
( no mares she said,,but I had a mare and I liked her...NO she said )
No younger than 6 yrs old,
No older than 12 (that was my rule not hers)
16 to no bigger than 17 hh
Has an easy laid back manner.
Have had some schooling.
and some outdoor trail riding.
3 good gaits,
Good conformation.
No TBs , Arabians or any other " hot" breeds.
I guess with me being a beginner she didn't want me to end up over horsed and scared shitless to ride them....LOL
So I went online to one of the horse shopping sites, plugged in the parameters and low and behold up popped a few horses that fit into that narrow category.
I reviewed the ads and one struck me more than the others.
It was for a Belgian/Paint cross, 16.3hh, 6 yrs old, has been schooled in dressage and a good trail horse…glory be, can this be the one ??
He fits all the wants from my trainer and I..I held my breath and sent an email to his owner.
Felt like forever , but really she responded right away,
A collage girl, needing to sell her horse, no time to ride.
And from talking with her, he sounded perfect.but don’t they all?
I wasn't going to get to excited about this horse, not yet.
It seems to me, looking for the " right " horse is like personal adds, they all sound like Mr. Right until you meet them then YUCK.
But I made an appointment to meet him, anyway and a friend of mine and I drove 3 hours one-way to check him out.
I had mixed emotions after all I had been looking for a year now, what would the chances be that he would be the one.
When we got there and the owner brought him into the barn, I fell in love.
They say in horse shopping you will know the one when you see them and I did.
But me being me, I kept my ICU nurse face on and revealed no emotion.
My heart was pounding, and my mind was racing, but I kept to business as usual.
I groomed him, we all tacked him and the owner got on to ride him.
He went great for her.

Aunt Cathy test riding Austin .

Next my friend Cathy got on;
I have to say here that she rode next for a couple of reasons.
1) I wanted to see him go with someone that doesn’t know all his buttons
2) The owner is a small collage girl that rides in a small English saddle.
I am a big (overweight) middle-aged woman that rides in a western saddle.
So Cathy, my friend got on and rode, & I might add that she rode on the banana peel.(tiny english saddle )
Austin looked good for her to.
Then I pulled out my big ol’ western saddle we retacked him up and I tried to get on him.
Now I am taller than my friend Cathy, but I guess her legs are longer, because the 2 step-mounting block didn’t get me to the height I needed to get on.
How embarrassing, well the owner found a lawn chair, that was a bit taller than the mounting block and I stood on that and hauled my fat ass up into the nose bleed section of horse land.
I rode him and he was great for me to.
Yes he is bigger than any horse I have ever ridden, but I felt relaxed on him, and most of all safe.
At this point I knew for sure he was to be my next horse, and to make the story even better, the day I went and test rode Austin ( my new horse ) was one year to the day that I sold my Mare.
So starts the new year of my horse life

Here is a link of his home coming pixs.

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AbsWrFq2bOGLl4&emid=sharview&linkid=link4

The interim brings Red the Rent A Horse.

2007-11-09T13:00:00.000-06:00

Red and I on a poker ride summer of 2007

At the time of my mare’s sale, I was into learning to ride Western Pleasure, so that is the type of horse I was looking for. Something that I could learn to show on. I looked at lot of horses, the trainer I had at the time vetoed all of them for one reason or another, so the process was going slow.
During this time, it was brought to my attention that there was a horse at the barn that was in need of a little attention. I knew who he was and it just worked out that I was lucky enough to be able to lease him. His owner didn’t have time for him and I needed a horse to ride.
Any one that rides can tell you that when you don’t ride for a while you get a little cranky.
We in the horse world call riding therapy, our spouses call it obsession.
The horse I leased was a good old boy, a paint named Red, 13 yrs old and 15.3 HH.
The first time I rode Red I hated him, he was opinionated and stubborn.
Would toss his head, go to the inside and just tank off with you.
Come to find out, he had only been ridden by the barn kids and was used to getting his way.
But my trainer at the time told me if I would try him again she wouldn't charge me for my next lesson.
So I did, I ended up leasing Red for nearly the entire time I looked for my next horse.
He became a reliable trail horse and did OK in lessons.
He would always revert back to his old habits when he was sick of the lesson, and off to the middle he would try to go. But he was never uncontrollable
Life being what it is, as in constant change.
I left the barn that I was at, and the owner of the horse I was leasing gave me permission to move him to the new barn.We moved to the new barn in March of '07.
At this new barn I saw a different trainer give a lesson, in dressage and I liked what I saw. I asked her if she would take me on, with my rent a horse and in my western tack and she did.
So I parted company with my old trainer and in April, Red and I began to learn dressage.
Now Red is a good ol’ boy and he didn’t really like the sissy dressage stuff, but he tried and I had a lot of fun with Red and we learned a lot together.
I asked his owner several times to sell him to me, but he loves him to, so couldn’t do it.
I had to hardened my heart, try not to get attached to Red and just enjoy the time with him, while I continued to search for my new horse.

My first horse " Obviously Not " Shotzie

2007-11-09T11:01:00.000-06:00

This is Shotzie my first horse, & my dog Brandy.

As I said in 2000 I got my first horse, a Breeding stock paint mare, she was 7 yrs old at the time.
A very sweet mare, who stood for hours in the cross ties as I tried to take the leap from dreams to reality, and I did I bought her.
She was a great first horse, and I learned a lot from her.
We had many ups and downs, she was stubborn and I was green.
So she was able to buffalo me a lot.
But I was never afraid of her , she wasn't a mean horse.
Just would rather not work, and thanks for asking.
I fell off of her at the canter and broke my back in May of '03.
I healed fast and was back in the saddle in 16 weeks, but when ever I asked her to canter I would freeze up.
So had to deal with the confidence issues that came with that.
That is when I started with a new trainer .
She worked on that issue, with me from summer of 03 to spring of 07.
Come to find out that she wasn't the type of trainer that made me believe in myself, to the contra she made me feel like the only horse I was skilled enough to ride , is the one in front of K-Mart that you put the quarter in.
The trainer never liked my mare and tried to convince me to sell her.
Well I did end up selling her , but more for my mares sake than mine.
I need to say that I am a humane society person, worked at one in my younger days as a vet teck. My way of thinking is you get a pet you keep the pet until it dies . Well that is not the way in the horse world.
At least not for those of us that need to board a horse.
Boarding is expensive , and I can not afford to board a horse that I can not ride, as often as I ride and the way I want to ride.
So after 6 yrs of having my mare, I decided to sell her.
She had conformation issues , she is halter bred , and riding her as often as I ride did nothing but make her sore and come to find out stubborn and crabby..gee go figure.
I spent much money and time trying to " fix " her , but she is who she is .
So I sold her to a family that loves her and rides her lightly and she is comfortable and they are perfect for each other.
It was the hardest thing I have ever done.
The stress of it caused me to brake out in shingles the day I put her on the trailer to go to her new home.
That was a year ago in October.

So it starts

2007-11-08T21:34:00.000-06:00

So a little about me, and my horse life.
I am a 48 yr old, who got her first horse at the ripe old age of 41.
I rode as a kid, my friends leftovers , never my own.
I learned to ride ,in the get on hang on school of riding.
Always loved riding, and spending time with horses.
Then in high school, I got married.
We had two girls, over the years , they grew up and moved on, got their own lives.
I went to collage and became a nurse.
Once that was done, I found I began to think about getting riding again.
I looked in the yellow pages, found a place that gave lessons and went there and took 2 whole lessons.
Now I decided I wanted my own horse, so began my shopping.
It was very hard to find horses for sale,
At the time I had Web TV, and looked on classifieds2000, and low and behold I found a horse on line ,that was in my town and described as bomb proof.
I called the owner and went and looked at the horse in November of 2000.
I bought her then and there.
Well since I didn't have a place to keep a horse, I asked the barn owner if I could just keep her there, where the old owners boarded her. They were fine with that.
So began my horse life and what I found was this is like an all girls club..it was awesome.
I also found out I didn't know how to ride properly , so began to take lesson.
I had no idea this world exsisted..so different from when I was a teenager just riding my friends leftovers.
I loved ( still do ) the whole thing.
The grooming of the horse, the riding , the having a beer and talking about your lessons , accomplishments and woes, with your barn buddies.
We don't really talk about the guys in our lifes, but speaking of.
Husband...now he didn't love it so much.
I am leaving the house at 6am and getting home 8pm.
He was very used to me just coming home from work, making dinner and that was pretty much it.
Now don't get me wrong here..
He is a good guy, and I am in no way a suppressed wife.
Just a change in routine and he is a bit like a TB in that he likes routine.
We have a few "discussions" about the hours I was keeping and worked it out.
I try to get home now by 6:30 and he bitches less...LOL
He over the last 7 yrs has learned to become more independent.
It is still a work in process...

So thats how I got back into horses 7 yrs ago.
And how my guy is dealing with it.

Happy trails, and I will get this up to date , and get writting about my new guy ( my horse ).