1-2-3, as different as can be

Last Thursday morning, the farrier was out to trim the horses' feet. Stella has always been good for him; tense, but good. This time she was not just good, but relaxed for the first time. SmartCalm Ultra for the win! But lest I relax too much....

That afternoon I got home from work with cooperative weather and enough daylight left to ride. We did our usual warm-up walk, and (as near as I can recollect) I started messing with unfamiliar reins (I had swapped them out so that each pair stayed with the bridle they matched). Stella started or jigged or something, and my boot, wet and sandy, forcefully slipped out of the stirrup, which banged into Stella's side. Startled, Stella jumped, which made the stirrup bump her again, and off she went, bucking to the end of the arena. Thankfully I stayed on and got her stopped, because I think it would have really spooked her if I'd come off. Instead, I was able to stroke and calm her, and we finished our ride, including cantering, without incident.

Better yet, STAY on!

The next day I happened to read Anna Blake's newest blog post before heading to the barn to take advantage of the improving weather. After an energetic turn-out,

Turn-out started out calmly enough, but then . . .

I worked on positioning my feet in the stirrups as she suggested, and what do you know; we had an EXCELLENT schooling session. I was happier with my legs and seat, and Stella seemed to be as well. I resolved to read and re-read Anna's post as a reminder until I develop new muscle memory.

The third ride in this post was Sunday afternoon. Stella was back to being a 'go-go girl' (I'm dating myself with that reference!) with lots of nervous energy, jigging and fussiness. Where was my SmartCalm mare? Perhaps I could have found her again – if I'd had time. But Rick called me from town, needing an address, and a septic tank pumper texted me that he was on his way, so I had to find something relatively positive to end on and get back up to the house. Now that I'm typing it out, I realize that those other things – and their effect on my nerves – may have contributed to Stella's nerves.

Since then, we've had rides #4 and #5. Tuesday's ride started out similarly tense to #3. Since she wanted to GO, I let her move into canter work more quickly than usual after our warm-up, and we cantered until she was ready to trot. That seemed to help, although I didn't have long to evaluate the strategy's effect since I was called upon to pick up DS from work in Portland. (I have to wear too many hats....)

Today I said "yes" to Stella's pointed desire to leave the arena and head down the road. It was a beautiful, warm, dry day. She eyed the recycling bins along the road, worried they might flap and rustle like the trash bins did on that windy day, but they behaved themselves. Further down the road, we were greeted by a jarring chorus of barking from a place that has four dogs. Stella stopped. Then their newest one, an LGD, jumped the fence and made her way towards us barking, hackles raised. I dismounted and held the reins, reassuring Stella that I would defend her if necessary. The owner came out and eventually got the dog back onto their property, so I (took a photo of Stella and)

led her past that property before remounting. We continued to the end of the lane and back home, passing the property with barking dogs again without incident. I was so proud of her!

My local Oregon Dressage Society chapter has folded, but the winter schooling show we ran for ~20 years has been picked up by another chapter and I would love to enter Stella in the Bears Above the Ground show at the end of February. In my dressage 'career' I've always set fairly ambitious showing goals and then worked towards reaching them, and that has worked for me with a lot of different horses. But Stella? I know Suzan would tell me to give her more time to grow up, and I know she's right. TTT – things take time. It's only fair to give her that.

Defending horses

When Alanna recently asked her followers for bonnet recommendations, I realized I had totally forgotten about the bonnet I purchased last year for Lance! Since 'tis the season for those nasty wee beasties that feast on blood in the horses' ears, I went looking for it. Fortunately, I had stored it in the most logical spot, the cupboard in the tackroom.

Although he doesn't look thrilled about it in these photos, Lance is much quieter on the trail with it on. Even when I wipe the horses' ears with fly spray, they shake their heads nervously when they hear a winged insect flying near. Thanks for the reminder, Alanna!

While I think I remember which company I ordered this from, and like the bonnet, I'm not going to promote the company here.     I've decided to put my money where my mouth is.

#dontsupportabuse

Abuse – when do you speak up?

Anna Blake's horse blog gets my vote for MVB. Today's post is another prime example of why.

################################

Yesterday Lance and I sloshed our way through a good schooling session in the wet sand. Today it's blowing and raining; neither of us would enjoy riding in this weather. The last of the leaves are coming down, too; we'll have to do another sweep of the arena when it dries out so we don't grind them into the sand. But I'll take this over feet of snow any day!

How's the weather in your neck of the woods?

Mental health mustang

I'm back after a quick and stressful trip to see my dad. At first I thought the trip might have marked the end of our season of consistent rides, but after missing one day due to family commitments here at home, Lance and I were back to dancing together yesterday and today. While we're dancing, that's all my mind and body are focused on – not my duties, my concerns, the future, our finances. Just fine-tuning our connection to achieve those moments of perfect harmony.

Winston Churchill said, "There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man."

Amen.

The importance of being earnest

Definition of EARNEST

1

:  a serious and intent mental state

TBDancer commented on my last post about how hard it can be to stay focused while riding. Yes, it is, but you can't get far in dressage without it. In order to dance beautifully with my partner, Lance has to listen to me, to focus on my cues so we can move together with grace and power. But that only comes as I give my mind and body to the task as just as completely. Focus is challenging for both of us. Horses are prey animals, hard-wired to be watchful for any possible danger. I am a woman – wife and mother – hard-wired to juggle ten things at once while keeping dozens more in my mind to deal with later. And since I homeschool my son – who is a very social creature – I rarely get to ride without interruption. Lately, it's been even more challenging. My son has been taking fencing lessons this fall, and is doing some extra chores to help pay for his fencing equipment. One of the jobs I've given him is weeding the arena so my husband doesn't again resort to spraying it with toxic herbicide. (Sorry, I just don't think riding in the stuff can do Lance or me any good.) Brian doesn't work well alone, so he weeds when I ride . . . and every walk break I give Lance is a talk break for my son. You do what you gotta do. ;-)

Last week Lance didn't get out Wednesday or Thursday, so was full of pent-up energy on Friday. Rick had mentioned that Lance was probably healed up enough to get some turn-out, so I decided to let Lance loose in the arena before tacking him up. He tore off bucking to the other end, dropped and rolled, leaped up, ran around and bucked a couple more times, dropped and rolled again, then trotted right up to me. He was loose all of five minutes, but his expression clearly told me it was enough. Funny goober. We had a really good ride after that, too. I was thinking about the USDF directives of balance, willing, and quality, and felt like we had all three.

Today's ride wasn't feeling so hot. Lance's shoulder kept falling right, and I was getting a wee bit frustrated with him – before working through the problem and realizing it was my fault! It's hard for me to verbalize what I changed, but when I started riding him correctly, all of a sudden his shoulders stayed where they were supposed to. His canter departs immediately improved, too. I'm sure Lance was as relieved as I was. ;-)

Equine/equestrian equations

Alfalfa + atmosphere = "Arab"

It's been dry, but brisk and windy today. I got Lance out for a ride this afternoon, and as I was leading him to the arena I stopped to take some photos. He danced around at the end of the reins and continued into the arena on tippy-toes, so I decided to tie up his reins and turn him loose for a bit to work out the yeehaws. That didn't seem to help much; there were obviously horse-eating dragons in the neighborhood!

(It's amazing how much shorter his back looks when he's doing his Arab impression!)

Slow ≠ stupid

I decided we'd make faster progress under saddle, so I mounted. No, I wasn't wearing my helmet – that was me being slow. It didn't take me long to decide that if we were facing horse-eating dragons, I'd better be smart enough to don full armor!

While Lance never completely forgot about the dragons, he did give me some really nice work. I could have asked him for more, but decided to end on a good note and put him back in the safety of the barn with some hay to distract him.

Quality > quantity

Quote of the day

Absent a correct diagnosis,

medicine is poison, surgery is trauma,

and alternative therapy is witchcraft.

Dressage takes a detour, but is not derailed

What a whirlwind the last few weeks have been! Schooling, giving lessons, visiting Perrydale Trails, cleaning horse and tack, showing at the State Fair, horse-camping. Doesn't sound like the life of a dressage horse, but I think a well-rounded education makes a horse a better dressage mount – and  having a dressage education makes a horse a better mount for everything else!

The day we spent at the State Fair Mustang Show was long, warm, and HUMID; I don't think I've ever sweat so much! We were totally out of our element, but Lance was such a good boy and I had fun hanging out with the mustang exhibitors and Wanda, who came and supported me with her friendship and ready help for most of the day. Lance's Kiger sire Riddle Me Dino was there and Dino's owners were also incredibly supportive; I heard them say several times, while pointing in our direction, "That's a Dino baby!" I think they liked my Lance. ;-)  Some strangers in the stands really took a liking to my handsome horse, too, giving me thumbs-up and big smiles when I rode by, and clapping and cheering wildly for him in the line-ups.

So how did we do? The judge didn't favor us much; we came home with five pretty ribbons, but none of the blue or red variety. We placed third out of five in the halter class; Lance surprised me by standing pretty quietly instead of fidgeting. We also placed third out of five in the trail class, even though it had few of the elements I was expecting, other than backing through an L and then sidepassing back along the L which we didn't execute cleanly. I thought we'd do best in the three English Pleasure classes, but slipped to fourth and fifth places in those, thanks to making our only mistakes right in front of the judge. :-/  Oh well, it was good experience, and fun overall. I don't know that we'll do it again; I think I'll save my funds for dressage shows and keep the trail-riding on the trails from now on.

The show photographer got some really good shots – but charges really high prices for them which I just couldn't justify. (When he gets them on his website under exhibitor #, I'll post the link so you can see the online proofs.) Here are some photos Dino's owner took; at least they prove we were there!

Senior geldings halter class

Backing through the L in the Open Trail class

Standing out in our English tack, waiting for the trail class to be placed

Dino on the left, his son Lance on the right

A better photo of Dino, hanging out at the Fair

We had a good time horse-camping over the Labor Day weekend. We got to our destination in the Ochoco National Forest late Friday so threw up a high-line for the night; the next day we set up paddocks with electric fencing. I wasn't sure how well either would work for my "escape artist," but Lance was a model camper with both set-ups.

My friend Laura was there with her mare Tang, and our ride together Sunday was "the cherry on top" of the whole weekend. First we herded a range bull out of camp with our dressage mounts, who surprised us with their bravery. Then we rode through the meadow and up the hill, then down past the site of a small forest fire and back to camp.

As we returned, my husband snapped some photos on the sly with his long lens:

(A full report of the weekend is on my farm blog here.)

Since our return Lance and I have resumed our regular dressage schooling. I'm looking forward to taking some more lessons with Julie in the near future –and going to the beach with my boy!

When I am an old horsewoman

When I am an old horsewoman

My horse shall wear fine leather and turquoise,
And I a straw hat which doesn’t suit me.
And I shall spend my social security on oats and carrots,
And sit in my pasture watching my horse graze and roll
And ride him across the sunlit meadow
If my old bones will allow.
And when people come to call, I will smile and nod
As I walk past the gardens to the barn
To show the flower growing in a stall fresh-lined with straw.
And I will be an embarrassment to all
Who have not yet found the peace
In being free to have a horse as a best friend;
A friend who waits at midnight hour
With nuzzle and nicker and patient eyes
For the kind of woman I will be when I am old.
I will sneak out in the middle of a summer night,
I will shovel and sweat and wear hay in my hair
When I am an old horsewoman.

—inspired by Patty Barnhart's version; thanks to Jane Savoie for sharing

My funny Valentine

Isn't this some kind of ballet pose?

Or did Lance just want to hide behind his (rather skimpy) tail?

I started Valentine's Day out right with a ride in the sunshine on my pretty red boy. My attire was surprisingly – and unintentionally – coordinated; dusky purple breeches and jacket, lighter lavender sweatshirt. Once upon a time when I was a schoolgirl artist, a teacher told me "red and purple do not go together." Of course, I had just combined those colors in one of my creations, and immediately felt bad. I've come a long way, baby; I don't let others' opinions affect me that much anymore. So here's to bucking trends and not letting anyone else (except God) define for you what is good and right!

Goal-setting

Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land amongst the stars.    —Les Brown

One of the things I love about dressage is having goals. You start with basics, and by building strength upon strength, skill upon skill, all while constantly refining communication between horse and rider, you can eventually achieve a level of harmonious partnership and fluid performance that rivals the world's best competitive ballroom couples.

Of course with Horton, I had to start before the basics; he needed an attitude adjustment first! Now we are working on the basics, so it is time to start setting some goals.

From the beginning, my ultimate goal has been for Horton to be a safe, pleasant mount for his owner to enjoy for the rest of his life. Achieving some interim goals will help demonstrate – as much for the owner's trainer as for the owner – that Horton is making strides in reaching my ultimate goal for him. To that end I've entered him in a dressage schooling show just four short weeks from today! I figure we should be able to manage Intro Level, Tests B and C. As long as Horton goes into the ring and gives me an honest effort without any balkiness, he'll be a star in my eyes.

Right on, Ralph!

"Riding horses is not a gentle hobby, to be picked up and laid down like a game of solitaire. It is a grand passion. It seizes a person whole, and once it has done so, he will have to accept that his life will be radically changed."

—Ralph Waldo Emerson

Waiting

As soon as I hit "Publish Post" I'm headed out for a brisk walk in the cold fog and then I'll ride Breezy. I have to admit that seeing how big I looked on her in the New Year's Day photo uninspired me, but the desire to preserve riding-muscle memory overrides my lack of inspiration.

Today, I think my friend Laura found a dancing partner after a string of unsuitable horses. I am thrilled for her . . . and trying (not very successfully) to fight feeling sorry for myself. Patience is a virtue that I apparently need, because it is only developed by practicing it! I have spent some time perusing sales sites and exchanging emails on various horses, but am not at liberty to act on any interest I may have (for reasons I am not free to disclose). It's probably just as well. I have a very limited budget and cold feet about spending it. Things are tight enough right now that my "horse money" may need to be available as an emergency fund for something else.

BTW, I've added a link at right to an article I ran across that expresses many of my own thoughts on "Natural Horsemanship." Let's hear it for GOOD horsemanship!