Friday, January 30, 2009
Things to be thankful for...
Today I found so many different things to be thankful for...and they were all due to people going above and beyond. Well, except for the first one...the weather. Even though it read 24 degrees in the barn it FELT warm enough to actually ride comfortably for the first time in a while. Anyway, this afternoon as I started getting ready to teach, one of my students had an attack of nerves. Now when you have three students and two are up and riding there's not much you can do when the third feels unable to get on. There's nothing worse as an instructor than not being able to help someone who's crippled by fright. As I finished up my lesson I turned around to see Nola helping Jennifer into the saddle and leading her into the arena. Needless to say, an hour of watching other folks ride had banished those nerves! Nola had noticed this and brought Sebastian back to the mounting block for her. She then worked with her and got her gaiting by herself for the first time. To see Jennifer come over that sounding board with a huge smile really made my day! Confidence is everything isn't it? Then on my way home a snowstorm blew up and I didn't want to drive through it to Over The Hill Farm to check on Monty. I called Trudy who manages the barn and she assured me that he was fine and not to attempt the trip as they had two inches of snow in an hour. She rides him once a week for me, so I asked if she'd had the chance to ride him, fully expecting to hear 'no' because it's been so cold. Well, not only had she ridden him but she'd had him ridden twice more under her supervision, complete with draw reins so he'd work properly! I can't tell you how nice it is to know he's so well taken care of when I can't get there. Plus, he's staying fit. Anyway, as Nola said, today was a good day and we feel we may see the light at the end of the tunnel which this winter has been!!
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Don't forget to sign up for our clinic on March 7/8th!
I'm really looking forward to our clinic on March 7/8th for several reasons.
First it will be nice to see folks and give them an opportunity to get out and about after this incredibly tough winter.
Second, as someone who has participated in lots of clinics, they really get you thinking 'outside the box' and help you get motivated. It's not just the time YOU spend with the clinician. It's watching other people and seeing how their issues and the clinician's response to them compare to yours. That's why we're also including a 'group' session later in the day and open schooling in the evening.
If you are going to participate in the clinic I have a couple of tips.
First, it's important to feel confident in yourself and to be open minded about what the clinician is telling you. That way you give her suggestions 100% and can incorporate the stuff that works into your riding.
Second, be prepared to tell us about you and your horse (problems AND goals) and to answer questions while you ride. Throughout my BHS training the instructor constantly 'put us on the spot' to answer questions WHILE we rode. It helps break tension and encourages the rider to look up. We would have to ride a new horse for five minutes and then tell the instructor EXACTLY what education the horse had and how we would improve him! Then we would go out for forty five minutes and do it.
Anyway, one final piece of advice. If you can get videoed while riding in the clinic, or at least take notes immediately afterwards, you can double the value of your lesson. See you there!
First it will be nice to see folks and give them an opportunity to get out and about after this incredibly tough winter.
Second, as someone who has participated in lots of clinics, they really get you thinking 'outside the box' and help you get motivated. It's not just the time YOU spend with the clinician. It's watching other people and seeing how their issues and the clinician's response to them compare to yours. That's why we're also including a 'group' session later in the day and open schooling in the evening.
If you are going to participate in the clinic I have a couple of tips.
First, it's important to feel confident in yourself and to be open minded about what the clinician is telling you. That way you give her suggestions 100% and can incorporate the stuff that works into your riding.
Second, be prepared to tell us about you and your horse (problems AND goals) and to answer questions while you ride. Throughout my BHS training the instructor constantly 'put us on the spot' to answer questions WHILE we rode. It helps break tension and encourages the rider to look up. We would have to ride a new horse for five minutes and then tell the instructor EXACTLY what education the horse had and how we would improve him! Then we would go out for forty five minutes and do it.
Anyway, one final piece of advice. If you can get videoed while riding in the clinic, or at least take notes immediately afterwards, you can double the value of your lesson. See you there!
Monday, January 19, 2009
Why don't horse sales photos ever look like they're supposed to!!!???
This is Tuffy triumphantly facing me down after twenty minutes of attempted video and photo shooting! I did manage to shoot video but naturally it won't load on the computer without crashing everything! Every time I tried to take a picture he would walk up and start licking the camera. This picture shows his 'horsehead' on his forehead perfectly but heaven forbid he stand with his front legs closer together. Also note the attractive road sign in the background. Next time someone sends me a dreadful sales picture with an apologetic note I will be a little less quick to judge!
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Backyard horsekeeping hints!
If you ever wondered what it would be like to keep your horses at home...read on! Doc and Tuffy (my two hay-burning Thoroughbreds) are currently residing in my backyard pasture. The obvious advantages are...
It's cheap (they eat the hay my husband makes).
It's handy (I only have to step outside to feed them)
It gives you that warm and fuzzy feeling (they're currently in their stall thirty yards away and I can check on them during the commercials with a flashlight from my front porch).
However, the first thing you learn by bringing your horses home is that their manners go down the toilet. They lived out all summer and are now completely inseperable. You can't take one out of the pasture without the other breaking through the electric tape. Also you can forget riding. I tried (once) to lunge Doc and three year old Tuffy trotted and cantered at his shoulder the whole time. Twice he got tangled in the lunge line and the two of them stood there bound up tight looking so comical I gave up 'lunging for exercise and manners' and chased them round the pasture kicking a football instead!
F.Y.I. I did take them back to RO-NO Ranch for a month or two in the Fall and they were perfect within five minutes of getting off the trailer and acted like they didn't even recognize each other!
My stall arrangements leave a lot to be desired too. I have a neat little 'run in' stall about 10' by 12' attached the the back of our garage with a small boarded corral area about 12' by 12'. I've noticed there's enough room for two horses to turn around, but NOT if I'm in there. Invariably I end up sandwiched between Tuffy's butt and the wall. Every time the weather gets bad I rush home to bring them in, imagining them warm and cozy munching hay. Instead they stand outide the shelter in the rain or snow, hanging their heads over the fence, thumbing their noses at my efforts to make them comfortable. (Nola is reading this and laughing at me right now!!!)
Because I work, I only really see my boys in daylight on Mondays (my day off). That's the day we backyard horsekeepers clean the stall (my boys only come in about once a week, although January/February may be more), burn the feed bags, buy MORE feed, attempt to pick out feet and give up when Tuffy walks off (because you can't tie him to the electric fence!). It's also the day I diligently empty and refill the water tank, check the tank heater and wonder why my horses would rather dig a hole and drink from the frozen creek in their pasture than lower themselves to dip their noses in my carefully maintained tank!
It's cheap (they eat the hay my husband makes).
It's handy (I only have to step outside to feed them)
It gives you that warm and fuzzy feeling (they're currently in their stall thirty yards away and I can check on them during the commercials with a flashlight from my front porch).
However, the first thing you learn by bringing your horses home is that their manners go down the toilet. They lived out all summer and are now completely inseperable. You can't take one out of the pasture without the other breaking through the electric tape. Also you can forget riding. I tried (once) to lunge Doc and three year old Tuffy trotted and cantered at his shoulder the whole time. Twice he got tangled in the lunge line and the two of them stood there bound up tight looking so comical I gave up 'lunging for exercise and manners' and chased them round the pasture kicking a football instead!
F.Y.I. I did take them back to RO-NO Ranch for a month or two in the Fall and they were perfect within five minutes of getting off the trailer and acted like they didn't even recognize each other!
My stall arrangements leave a lot to be desired too. I have a neat little 'run in' stall about 10' by 12' attached the the back of our garage with a small boarded corral area about 12' by 12'. I've noticed there's enough room for two horses to turn around, but NOT if I'm in there. Invariably I end up sandwiched between Tuffy's butt and the wall. Every time the weather gets bad I rush home to bring them in, imagining them warm and cozy munching hay. Instead they stand outide the shelter in the rain or snow, hanging their heads over the fence, thumbing their noses at my efforts to make them comfortable. (Nola is reading this and laughing at me right now!!!)
Because I work, I only really see my boys in daylight on Mondays (my day off). That's the day we backyard horsekeepers clean the stall (my boys only come in about once a week, although January/February may be more), burn the feed bags, buy MORE feed, attempt to pick out feet and give up when Tuffy walks off (because you can't tie him to the electric fence!). It's also the day I diligently empty and refill the water tank, check the tank heater and wonder why my horses would rather dig a hole and drink from the frozen creek in their pasture than lower themselves to dip their noses in my carefully maintained tank!
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Got the winter blues? Cheer up by remembering the best thing you did with your horse last year...!
At this time of year it's hard to muster the desire to ride...let alone WORK your horse. Sometimes the best medicine is to inspire ourselves. Feel free to post your best moments in the hope that they'll inspire someone else!
Mine...galloping across endless open fields in the Cook Forest on Rusty. Amy was on Ittybit and we left the group and galloped ahead. What made it so memorable was when we pulled up we realized we had company. There stood a grinning little older man in glasses on a puffing Morgan mare who had been hot on our heels the whole way without us knowing! It brought back memories of galloping on the beach in Cornwall when we were kids...
Mine...galloping across endless open fields in the Cook Forest on Rusty. Amy was on Ittybit and we left the group and galloped ahead. What made it so memorable was when we pulled up we realized we had company. There stood a grinning little older man in glasses on a puffing Morgan mare who had been hot on our heels the whole way without us knowing! It brought back memories of galloping on the beach in Cornwall when we were kids...
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