Busy weekend!

What a busy weekend this was!

On Saturday the lady who tried out Rosa previously came back for a second ride, so Rosa has a new owner! She will be leaving to her new home next weekend. I think it is a good match; this women has experience with arabs and will be moving her to an arab barn. She is planning to train dressage with her and was busy buying her new tack already!

Then it was the wedding. We did take pictures, but those will have to wait until I have more energy! Rob's idea to have a car take us to and from the wedding was great and felt decadent.

The wedding went smoothly and quickly....well, other than the justice of the peace who. spoke. very. de. lib. er. ate. ly. It was a nice ceremony...well the part I listened too before I started to day dream....oops!

The speeches and slide show were particularly well put together and entertaining.

Rob and I were sat with two people from my past; Gillian who used to clean stalls with me at Sunrise, and Rodney who was a trainer there, and who is now a very successful hunter/jumper trainer in Calgary. It was great catching up on their lives, as well as recalling people from our mutual pasts. Gillian and Rodney are both very down to earth and entertaining people, and it was nice to see them again. Hopefully I convinced Gillian to come riding as she hasn't ridden since her younger days!

Then today, after morning chores, I went to Colchester to judge their lesson horse show. The show ran smoothly and was lots of fun. The most common mistake was riders using too much inside rein, and the horse circling out of the next jump. It was nice to see the good sportsmanship exhibited by all the participants, regardless of how they did. The lack of indoor plumbing was a bit of an issue for me...no outhouses for me in the winter!

Karen

I am not a phone person.

Obviously my life requires me to talk on the phone; to family, to existing and potential customers, and to make inquiries, but in general I much prefer person to person chats.

On the phone you can't see where the other person's attention is focused; are they surfing the web? Driving? Peeing? Do they sound abrupt because they are in the middle of something or because they don't want to talk to me?

I used to do some telephone tech support for a software company, and it was so much harder to know if someone actually understood what you were saying if you couldn't see them....typically they would say they understood so they didn't feel stupid, but if I could see them, I felt that I would see the glazed look of lack of comprehension (kind of the look Joan gives me when I tell her to jump something....see Joan, I told you I would fit you into the blog!).

It also can also be easier to take something the wrong way over the phone, or to not realize how important/upsetting a topic is to someone, whereas in person you would read those signals. And then it turns into an argument over the phone and that is perhaps the most frustrating form of argument!

And then with a cell phone, I feel more pressure to be 100% accessible by phone...which is dumb. I hate calling someone and having them answer only to say they can't talk right then! (I could have left a message easier on your vmail if you hadn't answered!) But then I am worried it might be something urgent, or with Rob away, that he may worry if I don't answer, so I answer at inappropriate times such as when bringing horses in, or riding...but then I feel rude telling the person that I can't really talk then.

I remember "back when I was young", and not only did we not have cell phones, but we also didn't have answering machines! Nor email! And yet we survived! I think I drove my parents crazy talking to my friends on the phone for hours! And it was a little frustrating to be calling home for a ride (from a pay phone) only to reach a busy signal over and over and over.

Ah yes, the "good old days".

Do you think that video phones will be a "thing" in my lifetime? Gosh, that would be scary! I would have to do my hair and be careful what I did and where I went while talking on the phone... Yikes!

Karen

Well I took the advice

I took part of Amanda's advice and part of Paige's and got an empire waisted dress at Le Chateau.

Normally that is not my style of dress, but apparently that is the "in" style right now unless I want to go super formal!

The dress is also not a colour a normally wear, with the skirt part being "Hermes" browns/golds and white. The top part is black. I tried on some shrugs to help me stay warm, but they were all the sweater kind and made me look frumpy! So I settled for a coordinating wrap/scarf.

So...now to decide on shoes. I am NOT buying new dress shoes, as those are even hard to find than runners (which I am still looking for!), so I have to select from what I have: Stiletto heel boots that make me 6'2", high heel but slightly frumpy black shoes that put me a little over 6' (they are part patent leather, and part cloth), or metallic sandal type heels (they are kind of between pewter and gold colour if that makes any sense).

The boots are the most comfy, but I will be insanely tall, and the dress is kind of knee length (it isn't an even length at the bottom, so some hangs above my knees and some to my knees...I think extra smalls are supposed to be much shorter so not sure it hangs in the right spot!), so I am thinking the boots and the dress will just highlight my knobby knees...

Anyway, thanks in advance to Paige and Amanda for helping out on Saturday so I can enjoy the evening out with Rob, and to ClareP for helping on Sunday so I can judge a show! (She will be cleaning stalls in the afternoon and then doing afternoon chores, so don't be alarmed that the barn isn't clean if you come out to ride on Sunday!)

On a "I think" good note, they are sending dad home for a few days. He will be back home either tomorrow or Friday, so mom is understandably in a tizzy trying to get the house ready for him, as he still isn't all that mobile and the house has lots of stairs! My sister and her family are sticking around to help which is great too, so maybe i will have time to see them again. I think they are going to try to have him at home part of the week, and then in the hospital for a few days when he gets transfusions. I think my mom is overwhelmed a little with him coming home as he isn't very mobile, but I am sure it will all be ok!

Karen

Today was vet day part 1, with 6 of the horses getting their teeth done, and sheaths cleaned (if applicable, Carma did not get hers done :) ). The vet is back out next Tuesday to do the remaining horses as well as anything else that comes up in the meantime.

Clare P was around to help with the visit today, which helped a lot as Meagan had an assistant to do the sheath cleaning, so it went quickly!

After the vet visit I had to clean out the stalls we used, and then made the mad dash into town to my mom's house; my sister who I haven't seen for a few years was in town with her family to see our dad. It was the first time I got to see her twins! They are almost two years old now, and once they warmed up to me, where quite entertaining. It seemed that bringing me toys was their way of accepting me or something and I ended up behind a wall of ancient toys my mom keeps around. Those toys brought back memories! My sisters oldest child reminds me so much of me when I was young (this sister looks a lot like me, but she has the better nose).

Towards the end of the rather rushed visit my sister allowed Ginger to come visit the kids. They had never met a "real" dog before, only a toy poodle, so mom and kids were unsure of meeting Ginger, but as usual Ginger did not disappoint:

The three kids were all very gentle and quiet with her, and thought her fluffy tail and curious tongue were the best! Poor Ginger was unsure of what was expected of her, and just laid low/quiet. I think she was disappointed that there was no Turkey smells as usually when she goes over there is SOMETHING cooking that she gets to sample!

I wish I could have taken Mike too, as he is great with kids, but he is too heavy for me to lift in and out of the truck now days, so I just took Ginger. I think Mike was happy enough to nap after a busy morning sniffing the vet!

Karen

Snack crisis resolved!

I have found new snacks to satisfy my hunger! Slightly healthier...but definately not as cheap.

1) Arrowroot cookies! How could I forget them? Dipped in tea, or layered with cheese...
2) Cheese! I bought this little probiotic cheese things, and they are yummy. I also like Baby Bell...but not cheap!
3) Milk to Gos. On sale!
4) Soup at hand...as long as I ignor the sodium content I am fine.
5) Precut/washed Mango spears! So yummy!
6) Tuna snack packs
7) Pizza bred

And so my weaning off corn syrup begins...

And thanks for the brownies Laura!

Karen

Christine T sent this to me:

The new "tough" sport.

I like it!

Karen

Looking ones age...

I often get comments about how young I am to be training/running a barn, or how I have so much knowledge for someone so young. It makes me wonder if sometimes my young look might make people take me less seriously. So what is it about me that makes me seem younger? Is it that I dress like a grubby barn kid? That could be it...but how else should I dress in the barn? perhaps I actually should be paying for hair cuts? Make up? Grey Hair? Take up smoking to get more wrinkles?

How should someone in their mid to upper 30's look to look their age? How should I dress?

I also need some outfit advice for this weekend...I have a wedding to go to, and I have no idea what to wear! My casual/funnish dresses are too summery and I would likely be cold. I have considered trying to find a jacket to go with one, but that is tricky and beyond my limited fashion skills. I do like the idea of a dress/skirt with a jacket though... (oddly when I went to type "dress", my fingers automatically typed "age" at the end....horses and riding is always on my subconscious!)

Relating to that, anyone want to help in the barn next weekend? Afternoon and evening chores on Saturday, and possibly afternoon chores on Sunday?

Oh, there is also a lists of horses on the white board in the barn; this is all the horses eligible for the winter free deworming with Exodus. If you want to deworm your own horse, that is fine, just let me know...but all the long term boarded horses HAVE to be dewormed in Feb with the same dewormer OR something else that our vet approves of. I plan on getting them all dewormed over the next 2 weeks.

Karen

Horse show name:

What do you think would be a good name for the shows we are thinking of holding this summer? It is going to be a jumper show, with clear round and stake classes. We are also using it as a fund raiser/awareness campaign for Canadian Blood Services. Possibly have a mobile blood unit come to the show to get spectators out to watch and donate blood?

So when thinking of a name, consider the type of show and the ease of remembering the name!

Names suggested:
- Jump Start Classic
- Just Jump It Classic
- Clear Round Classic
- Up and Over Classic
- Ride for Red
- Jump Quest

What do you think?

Karen

Cute mare month

So it seems like the theme for training horses this winter is cute little mares! The latest one is a mini version of my old TB gelding Ross....she is also a TB, but is only 14.2 hands! She is here to see what all she knows and to jump.

Karen

Brrrr....cold wind tonight. And what is with all the humidity and frost this winter? Ok, I vastly prefer this to 20 below or colder, but I miss the "but its a dry cold" thing!

Rob and I went to get running shoes today at the running room. It was my first time at Millenium Place, and what I mad house! I forget it was Teacher's convention and kids were everywhere! I saw a bit of myself in the sales lady...she admitted she was not a multitasker and fact that there were more than 3 customers in the store had her clearly overwhelmed. Still, she took the time to "assess" Rob and I. This assessment involved seeing how we stood, and then watching us walk across the wet/dirty floor in our socks and later in trial shoes. Walking is something I don't often really put thought into, but as soon as someone is watching it is suddenly the most complicated thing!

Apparently I put a lot of weight down on my heels and rock to the outside of my foot a bit which I guess is why running gives me shin splints and sore knees. Unfortunately they didn't have anything nearly narrow enough for my oddly shaped feet, so I couldn't buy any runners today. (I tried on one pair that would have droven Ginger crazy as it had craze shiney stripes that she would have bit at...it is good those didn't fit!).

Rob got a nice pair of runners though, and the sales lady gave me a shoe model number and size to try to find at Sports Check or similar, so next week I can start calling around for the magic running shoe.

Dexter's new Merino Wool saddle pad came today too. It is a full dressage pad with the the sheepskin sewn right in on either side of the spine. I love the way it fits off his withers and spine! Not the most attractive dressage pad though, so if Dexter seems to go well in it, I will have to see if they make a nicer looking pad for showing. You can kind of feel how the saddle can move a bit on the pad without moving his hair. Hard to explain, but I have to think that would feel better for the horse?

Karen

Life Lessons from the barn

Sometimes someone comes to you with a problem, and the solution seems so obvious to you, but to them it was a daunting issue, with no easy remedy. And then you wonder why you can fix someone else's problem so easily, but not your own?

This is so true in riding, where even "amateurs" can watch the professionals ride, and see problems with their position, training, or style...even though you couldn't ride as well as them, you can still "ring side coach", yet can't solve their own very basic problems.

Similarly, how often do we see someone (or ourselves!) jump from one similar problem to another? Whether it is poor boyfriend choices, poor eating choices, or poor horse purchases, people tend to recreate the same problem over and over and over, and can't seem to permanently break the cycle; only give themselves a brief respite by trying again at the same thing!

There is an Italian proverb that goes something like "There is joy in a new set of problems". How true!

I find this is very true with training and coaching. Getting a horse in for 5 weeks training is a very satisfying experience (for the most part!) as it is a new set of problems, and typically I can gain considerable progress in that time, or over come an existing issue that has plagued the owner for years. Same with getting a new student from another barn; often I can see that student in a new light and come up with new solutions that make me look brilliant!

When I have a long term training prospect, that I work with for years such as my own horses or boarded horses, or with long term students, usually I will hit a wall at some point, where I realize we aren't progressing, or the student has an issue I just cannot pinpoint or resolve. With the students it is usually easier to overcome this stumbling block as I can discuss it with them, but with the horses it is more complicated.

I think this is why some barns (and some owners!) have a high turn over rate of horses...they are looking for joy in a new problem!

The odd thing I am realizing is, is if a totally new horse (or rider) came in with that same set of issues I am stonewalled on, I would be able to address it and deal with it.

So why is that? I think it is because I get too close to the issue. My subconscious doesn't want me to let go of what I have been doing, as to do so would mean I failed in the first place with my original technique...so stubbornly my subconscious sets up a wall that doesn't let me look at the problem with the same fresh eyes as I would a new client.

But is my subconscious being fair? Did I really fail if I am no longer seeing progress? The whole hindsight is 20/20 thing? Well, maybe not. Maybe I used the best techniques at the time, for the horse/rider at the time. The fact that they no longer work might not be due to a faulty technique, but rather than the horse/rider outgrew that technique!

Back to "life" examples; it is how the methods you used to choose a boyfriend in highschool/university, may have been great for then, but once you wanted to search out husband material, those same search methods would likely fail. That does not mean those date finding methods were bad, just not appropriate for your current/new goals.

Or perhaps a better example would be learning to ride a bike; most people learn with training wheels on their little bike. This helps you gain confidence and skills while riding, but if you keep those training wheels on forever you are never going to able to go on trails, turn well, or look cool, so at a certain point, in order to progress, you need to give up the training wheels. Something parents might have a hard time doing as it may mean watching their kids fall a few times, but it is the only way to progress. This doesn't mean the training wheels were a bad technique; they were suitable for starting out, but at some point need to be taken off and thrown away!

So I have found myself hitting a wall of progress with a couple of horses; but I have decided that instead of considering that wall to illustrate mistakes on my part, instead I am going to look at it as a stepping stone to the next level requiring me to take a fresh look at those horses....just like I would if they just came in for training and to move on.

And so far, it seems to be working....so take that subconscious!

Karen

Ground Hogs Day

February is here. Isn't today ground hogs day? February tends to mean increased interest in horse training and sure enough the calls have been coming in. My newest training project is a very pretty bay arab mare named Concept. She is here for some finishing work/jumping training. Her owner is the person we got Triton from.

I have a little TB mare supposed to be coming this weekend for similar training too. Actually...most of the horses booked for training are mares this year!

I am not sure if it is the start of training season, the good visit I had with my mom and dad on Sunday, or that Rob is home for a few days after being gone far too long, but I feel like I am over what ever has been weighing me down lately. Yesterday was the first time in a while where I didn't feel the overwhelming need to nap!

So time to get back to writing, to organize the theory clinics and to get ready for show season!

I had good news about dad today too...he will be allowed home a few days at a time (with a nurse coming by to check on him). It is too bad my parents have a split level, but maybe the stairs will do him good. He is sticking to the theory that "there is always hope", so I will go by that too.

Karen

I want to thank everyone for all the support. Those sharing personal experiences, helping me understand the treatments and care my dad is getting, and for letting me talk.

They have had to stop treatment. The MDS was too far along. They estimate 1-3 months. My mom wasn't sure if all that time would be spent in the hospital, or if he could go home at all. I know he feels he has left so much undone. I think he has known his time left was short; as ill and weak as he was he still made the trip to the jewelery store to make sure my mom had something to remember their last Christmas together.

I will go see him tomorrow.

Karen

SNACK EMERGENCY!

I need a replacement snack! For years now, I have depended on Quaker Chewy Chocolate Chip Granola bars as the cornerstone of my snacking needs....but I am fickle, and it seems they are no longer doing the trick! Perhaps I reached my lifetime Corn Syrup quota? Yikes, I hope not!

I tried alternating with other granola bars, crunchy, chewing, yogurt covered, chocolate covered....but none of them have the attention of my taste buds.

So many other snacks are salty and make me worry about too much salt. And remember I can't eat potato products.

Yes, I know, I could just pack a healthy lunch/dinner, or I could use the kitchen in the barn, but I like to have a selection of edibles that can be safely stored in my pocket.

I was enjoying Yops for a while, but it didn't take me long to tire of them. Same with Crispy Minis.

The little Clementine oranges have become my staple snack, but I fear those are seasonal...so then what?

I need ideas people! You don't want me cranky and undernourished when I teach you!

Karen

New years Resolution 2010

The Canadian Horse Journal recently had an article/interview with a couple of up and coming dressage riders, and in it they touched on cross training (for the riders, not the horses). I have always been a little lazy about exercise, using the theory that a) I am thin, and b) I ride/look after a barn full of horses and c) I am lazy.

But, I have decided to change my ways! Starting last week, I have started to run, with the goal being to run at least 5 days per week. I am taking it slowly, for now just trying to run long enough to really get my heart pumping...which sadly only takes a couple laps around the indoor arena, or a run from the hay shed to the end of the drive and back! But I figure taking it slowly will still help improve my cardio, while being less likely to cause weight loss. I usually run in the indoor arena at night while Dexter has his rolling time...having him trotting behind me is a good motivator to keep up the pace!

Ginger is less of a motivator; when I run outside she gets confused and tries to herd me by snapping at my mittens. It is sad that my dog thinks that my running is cause for alarm.

My next step is the purchase of actual running shoes, as those would probably be better to run in than my winter paddock boots or walking shoes. I have silly narrow heels, so it is tricky to find shoes that fit (excuse number 4 for not exercising!)

Once I have decent running shoes I can also use the treadmill that sits unused beside me as I surf the internet...

Health wise I am also trying to improve my sleeping habits as I have been a light sleeper for far too long, and I spend too many days trying to fit a nap into my schedule. One suggestion I received is to learn meditation. I think that is a great idea, not only for sleeping, but also for controlling show nerves. Clare2 apparently is a meditation supported so she has offered me some CDs to try, but if anyone knows a good book or course to take, it would be appreciated!

Karen

Show Schedule 2010.

I am trying to work on our show/clinic schedule for 2010, but the shows dates aren't all posted yet. I think we will try to hold two schooling Jumper shows this summer, but not sure of the dates. Likely June and August. They would be held at the Strathcona arena.

I will post the tentative schedule in the barn on Saturday, including theory dates. I think we will have theory classes on Feb 7, 28, March 21, and April 10.

If any riders want to go to the Gold Level jumping shows, please let me know and I can arrange a coach to help you at those shows! (Gold Level shows means your horse needs a passport and the owner/rider needs a Gold Level Equine Canada membership). Same with if you want to go to a jumping show that is in conflict with the dressage shows.

As usual, most of the shows are at Amberlea, but we also may go to Still Meadows, Hastings Lake and Eyeford for some more affordable/casual shows. The shows we may hold will also be casual/affordable and will be perfect for lesson horses and students as the levels will go from simple poles to 3'3". If anyone hears of local area hunter/jumper schooling shows, please pass that information along to me!

We will also try to have an "at home" fun show/barbecue again, as those are fun/entertaining.

Karen

Pictures from today

I took the dogs for their noon walk to check on the horses...and what did I see? Magnus and his best bud Kokanee hanging out in the sun shine. If you look closely at the first photo, you will notice that Kokanee's blanket is firmly in Magnus's mouth...and his eyes are closed! As far as I could tell he was asleep like that.

Then I called Kokanee's name, and his head popped up and he came trotting over to see me. Magnus did not look impressed that his security blanket had left him!

I went around to the other side of the arena....and there was Coregel, dead to the world, napping in the sunshine. When I approached she quickly got up as if to say "who me? I wasn't sleeping!"

A few moments later she got up, and all the fillies decided to prance around in the snow. The photo on the right shows (from right to left), Piper, Carma, Coregel, and Tia. Bliss did not want to hang around the chestnuts apparently and she remained sunbathing in the shelter!

Karen

Dad update

Thank you for keeping me and my family in your thoughts.

Dad is doing much better and I think that is making it easier for my mom to regain some semblance of normalcy.

On Saturday they said Dad could leave ICU, but there are no beds available in hematology, so he is still there, just without a dedicated nurse.

Today I was there in time to see him out of bed and walking which was great! I was allowed to guide the IV thingy along with him. This is not a small pole like I see on TV...this is a fairly large wheelie thing, with a row of monitors and a steering wheel to maneuver. As we started to walk, I was suddenly hit with the responsibility involved! Not only did I have to keep it close enough so as to not pull the IV out of his arm, I also had to make sure I didn't clip his heels as we squeezed by the desks.

This made me realize it is a good thing for all concerned that I am not a nurse. I could not have a job where mistakes have so much of a potential ramification. So here is to the nurses!

Karen

Over Zealous Advertising

Have you seen the television ad for the fabric sheet bar you stick in your machine? Apparently it changed the life of the lady in the ad! Apparently adding a fabric sheet was costing her time, effort and stress! Cleaning products and home products seem to get the most over the top advertising, with women dancing joyously, unable to contain themselves once they were given the wonder of this new product!

Horse advertising is not immune to the over the top verbiage. Amanda, who is apparently addicted to horse advertisement reading, pointed out a recent Kijiji ad for a :"Once in a Lifetime horse!". To me a once in a lifetime horse is a Big Ben, or a Monopoly. Maybe even a Pax (now deceased Palomino lesson horse at Whitemud that was the best horse EVER!) or a Rocket...one of a kind as they are so great to learn on.

What this ad showed, was a barely started 9 year old mare. They didn't list any outstanding or rare bloodlines, any show record, nor any unique traits. The photos were poor quality and didn't show anything special in either build or colour. The ad did say she has "strait" legs. She may indeed be a very nice mare, and worth the amount they are asking, but the ad does nothing to show what makes her so special. Is the hope that the viewer of the ad won't go beyond the heading?

Amanda missed another ad though; this one starts with "The Sporthorse that will take you to Nationals!" How? Can he drive? No mention on breed or height...no pictures to show anything other than a big headed fluffy paint...but he is a dressage super star because he trots pretty in the field! Maybe he is a good horse, but again, the ad gives no evidence that the horse is anything more than a flashy coloured paint. Not even so much as a conformation shot to back up their claim as to his future stardom.

There is also a Horsetopia ad, for an FEI dressage Prospect. ALL horses are "prospects" I suppose, so they aren't lying, but if you watch the video, you will see a slightly above average TB gelding. Not a bad horse, but nothing to say "wow, that is a fancy dressage horse", so after the heading the horse comes as a dissappointment...when he is actually a decent looking horse...just not something that screams FEI dressage to me.

Do these types of ads actually work?

Maybe I need to work on my verbiage for the horses we have for sale...

From now on, they are all Olympic contenders!

Karen

The rules of the road

Well, actually the rules of the hallway...

I am not the most patient walker. I like to walk at a brisk pace. I have long legs, wear sensible shoes and am usually on a tight schedule. Ambling through crowds is not my thing. If I were a horse, I would have a free walk of "10".

When I visit the hospital, I have to go down a fairly narrow hallway to get from the parkade to the ICU. It is a boring walk, past offices and the dentistry area. There are no horses to look at, so why walk slowly. Plus, once there, I am eager to see my dad, so not interested in dawdling.

Sometimes there are stressed families walking with a typically elderly loved one who hog the width of the hall. I am ok with that. I can see that they are a unit who walk together for strength, and understanding that gives me patience. But there there are people like today: on the way in, there was a lady who managed to take up the entire hall...not because she was overly large, but because she was walking dead center in the hallway with elbows jutted out. And she walked slow...like she was on her way back to a job she hated and wanted every moment of her walk to last. I think she was a nurse. I really wanted a horn to honk or to yell out "slower traffic keep right!"

Then on the way back, there were two people who were obviously together as they were talking loudly to each other about the person they had come to visit...yet the man was about 5 meters in front of the woman. Not only did I want to pass them so I could walk a normal speed, but I also did not want to listen to what I considered to be a private conversation. Only they were walking so far apart from each other, that passing one of them, and then yielding to oncoming traffic, would have meant I would be between them. That would have been odd. So I waddled along while they discussed why Tim wasn't awake yet.

Walking in Malls, particularly around Christmas are enough to send me over the edge. Particularly if I go when the "Age Challenged" are there....walking shoulder to shoulder in a group of chums hogging the entire hallway as they chit chat about who likes who like no one else in the mall matters. I vastly prefer shopping during school hours! Malls are also famous for people who just stand around in the middle of the hall, chatting or gazing about lost. Pull off to the side if you have stalled!

It just makes sense to me to pass left to left, that slower traffic stay to the right, and that teenagers be banned from public places. These few simple rules would make walking in public so much nicer for those of us who have places to go and people to see.

Karen

A sense of self

We all define ourselves in one way or the other. We likely have one definition we share with others, and then many definitions we keep to ourselves; too insecure or embarrassed to share.

For example, I define myself in part by my weight. Less so now than as a kid, but if I was to describe how I think of myself, my weight would come into it. If I woke up tomorrow and was even a pound over the ideal weight for my height, I am not sure I would be able to reconcile myself with my body. Yet at the same time I don't judge others for being chubby...this is part of who I am, it doesn't need to be part of who everyone is.

(and it is not like I don't eat...so please don't read into this that I diet to keep my weight! I just know that if I did start to pack on the pounds I would have great emotional difficulting with it even though I realize I would look better with another 20 pounds or so!)

I could just have easily come to identify myself as being tall, or having a big nose, but it was my weight people made a big deal about when I was a kid, and it was my weight that led to attention and nicknames, so it is my weight that has stuck with me as something that is "special" about me.

I do not think this is a good thing, and consciously I know that gaining weight would be a good thing...but it would be hard to loose something that I feel has defined me for my life.

I also like to think of myself as clever. I think this is a more positive trait, and one likely instilled in me mostly by my parents who encouraged thinking and logic. When I am out of my element, outclassed, or shut down by someone and I feel I am not able to be clever, I feel empty and frustrated. It is easy for me to become addicted to computer games that allow me to feel clever, like Sudoku or Scrabble (I am good at scrabble!). On the dark side of clever comes sarcasm though...I have tried to loose that side of it.

Growing up I also defined myself as someone who had to have a horse. Throughout school I worked hard to be able to have a horse, and I have not been horseless since I was 14 or 15 years old. For some reason this became an important thread in my life. In hindsight, not having a horse while in University may have been beneficial overall, but I could not do it. Having a horse gave me purpose, drive, and it was part of who I was.

So three different sides of how I define myself. One that I think is unhealthy, one that I think can be positive, and one that helps me focus.

All things that were somehow set when I was younger. I am adding new definitions to myself as I grow up, but I think the self I created as a child will remain with me for the most part.

Parents have a large responsibility in helping a child create a good sense of self, but we all contribute to someones sense of self whenever we make a big deal about something regarding someone else. The big deal can be positive or negative, it doesn't matter...if someone feels that is something that is unique or key about them, they will integrate it into their identity.

So when we make a big deal about a child not eating enough, they may decide that is part of their persona. Or if we laugh about how bad their math skills are, then they may relish the attention, and continue to be bad at math so that they can look for a repeat of that attention. Give them the label of bully without working to help them create a new, better label, then they will be the bully. It is important to find good identifiers and to stress those; hobbies, kindnesses, skills. Allow those things to define them.

One of the hardest things about growing old, has to be that you can start to loose the things that define you; your appearance changes, your mind slows, you retire.

No wonder men struggle against balding despite the fact that most women think bald can be sexy...men have to redefine what they think of how they should look.

Some medications that can save your life, can also change your image; make you gain or loose weight, slow your brain, or silence the voices. I can totally see how this would be hard to take. Do doctors help their patients redefine and adjust their sense of self?

If you take honest stock of how you define yourself, how much of that definition is healthy? Is it holding you back or causing you to make the same bad decisions over and over? Is it the same definition someone on the outside looking in would give you? Is there someone in your life you pick on about something? Can you see that maybe you are causing them to define themselves by that same trait?

I am working to redefine myself. I am taking stock and trying to do away with the unhealthy images that are holding me back, and to create a new sense of self that will impower me to get where I want to go. I need to loose my fear of failure that makes me reluctant to give the things that are important to me my best shot. I need to find peace with who I am and what I look like. I am not sure what the steps are to give yourself a core makeover, but life is good and it is time I gave myself a sense of self to go with who I am now, and who I could be if I just put myself out there that little bit more.

Karen

It looks like Buddy (and Pilgrim) won't be leaving today after all; it seems Buddy needs a coggins before he can leave so Meagan is coming out today to pull blood and get it done. His new owner is eager to get him home, so it is too bad she wasn't sure about the coggins earlier, but oh well.

Karen

How to get a job 101

I have a job posting up for someone to come work part time as a groom/barn assistant. The ad is fairly specific as to the hours and requirements, and also specifies how to apply.

So...

Hint 1: make sure you more or less work the schedule specified As much as I appreciate the keenness of a 14 year old, I would rather not encourage dropping out of junior high.

Hint 2: Have relevant skills and outline them. Sending me your resume with absolutely no mention of horses is unlikely to get you a job.

Hint 3: Use a keyboard with all the letters. "R U still hiring?" isn't going to get you the job. How hard is it to type those 4 extra letters? "4 me 2 call" was another interesting abbreviation.

Hint 4: Don't tell me you have your own business training horses, and then get pissy when I tell you I think it may present a possible conflict of interest to have you assisting me with my training horses. Getting pissy won't win you any friends, and it certainly won't help change my mind!

Hint 5: Have you heard of spell check? Or research? Don't tell me how you have worked with Stalions, and Shetlons and then be shocked when you don't hear back from me!

The fun of hiring.

On the same note, later this week there will be an info sheet posted in the barn: we are looking for boarders and students who are interested/able to assist on a casual basis should the need arise, such as during horse shows, or in case of an emergency.

Karen

Update

My dad is doing much better! Still in ICU, but no longer wearing a breathing mask, so he can now talk and see. I was there while he got a blood transfusion...I admit to being a little squeamish at the sight of the big bag of blood.

His main nurses are great; quiet and efficient, which is a relief after hearing Amanda's horror stories.

I was able to have a nice lunch with my mom in the cafeteria too, and she was able to show me how to get back to the parking lot without taking the convoluted route I had been taking! Apparently I just had to go down some stairs and through a short corridor, rather than that giant horse shoe shaped path I had been taking. That place is confusing!

Thanks for your well wishes.

Karen

Bye Bye Buddy!

Buddy is set to leave on Monday for his new home.

Buddy has been here since pretty much the start of Hillside. Laureen bought him soon after, as his owner was looking to sell him, and has since learned a lot from Mr. Grumpy, as have many other riders who had to opportunity to work with him.

My favourite Buddy moment was when Nicole was putting him down after buying Shawn....and Buddy bit her :) Laureen in her Peter Pan costume was pretty special too; Buddy looked cute dressed as Tinkerbell!

Buddy picked up jumping well, but his forte was dressage. He was like two horses in one: he could be the lazy trail horse who would hardly go...until you picked up a crop and then he set off like the show horse he could be.

Buddy is the only lesson horse here that I have never ridden.

I will miss Buddy, but I know that as he ages he will be better off in a home that isn't interested in jumping and that will work him regularly as his body allows. He is far too young to retire, but he deserves to slow down a bit.

His new owners seem to be the perfect match; knowledgeable, kind, and patient. Buddy seemed to appreciate all their attention last night, and I hope he does well in his new home.

He will be leaving on Monday afternoon if the weather cooperates.

Karen

Life

I admit that in many ways I have lived a fairly sheltered life. I have not lost a loved one (human), nor have I had to spend much time as a visitor in the hospital. In part this may be because I don't get close to many people, but I think also it is in part that we didn't have any relatives close by growing up, so I was never that close to my grandparents or uncles who passed away when I was a child. I didn't attend the funerals, and I never saw my parents grieve openly for their losses. Losses that I had no way of understanding at the time.

But then maybe nothing can prepare someone for seeing their parents age, and their health give out. My dad has been sick for a while. Being kept functional with regular blood transfusions, but still able to be at home until this week. It seemed to happen so fast; one week he and my mom were traveling the world attending conferences and meetings, and then he started to get tired. Seemingly out of the blue he went from a very active man who made being in their 70's seem young....to being old. Not his mind though. As tired as his body seems, his mind is still my dad. Maybe you never feel old in your mind though. I know as I kid I thought 36 would feel old...but it doesn't. Maybe it is just the body that fails and the mind that struggles to comprehend.

Dad was admitted to the hospital this week. Today I felt my cough was under control enough to be allowed to visit, but by this time he was moved to the ICU, and wearing a mask that made talking almost impossible, and unable to wear his glasses to see. I still wanted to go, but to be honest, I wasn't sure what I would do, or how it would be when I got there. I thought the time would drag carrying on a one-sided conversation. I was wrong. Time flew, and leaving there was the hardest thing I have ever done.

My dad wants to reminisce, and so do I, but I couldn't without crying, and I didn't want him to feel guilty that I was crying, so the conversation barely ventured beyond the mundane.

I want to tell him all the gifts he gave me that will be with me forever. Not the items, but the parts of me that I attribute to him and mom. The quest to learn and to question would be the biggest one. Dinner at our house was spent in the kitchen with no TV and we would talk about random events and curiosities. (So if you ever wonder why we get into strange conversations at the barn...it is my dad you have to thank!) Even as the youngest I never felt silly for voicing my opinion.

My mom and dad made sure we got to travel and I remember the trip to Mexico the most; we drove there in an unairconditioned station wagon in the heat of summer. We didn't stick to the tourist roads, and the sight of people living in make shift tin shacks and the dead dog on the side of the road left a lasting impression. Going to East Berlin and talking with one of their scientists about how he was stuck on that side of the wall, while his family was on the western side...seeing the still bomb damaged building he worked and understanding that his fear of being overheard saying the wrong thing was very real. These were trips that opened my eyes and helped me see and try to understand from another view point.

I want to tell my dad how proud I am of him taking up Karate as an adult, and then going on to teach it. For looking after his foreign university students during holidays. For setting a good example always. For being patient and reliable. For having a profession he enjoyed and sharing that with his kids. With dad, work didn't have to be work. Yes, it required effort, but that effort had its rewards.

These are things that I want to say before it is too late. Eulogies are wasted at the funeral.

My poor mom too; I can see she is tired. All the medical mumbo jumbo. All the tests and test results she is trying to understand. Being home alone while he is at the hospital and trying to distract herself from the inevitable so she can function. They have been together for about 47 years. 47 years. She is a very independent woman with a life of her own, but I still cannot imagine what she is going through.

It is hard too, to not turn it inward, and to imagine myself in his place. Who will be at my bedside while I gasp for breath and want my pillow fluffed? Will I have the same strength he has been showing in the last few months?

Dad is breathing well enough to be off the face mask now, I hopefully when I go back he will be able to talk and see. Maybe then I will have found the strength to say what I want to make sure I say. To both him and my mom.

Karen

Entitlement Rant

I belong to a few different horse forums, and one thing I see over and over again, is a sense of entitlement with respect to horses. People feel it is their right to have a horse, to ride that horse, and that the world should provide that for them.

One recent example, was someone complaining that their board was about to go up $70 per month if they didn't take part in the barn lesson program. They didn't want to move though, as the barn was well run, and even with the increase was more affordable than the other barns in the area. People responded to this complaint with comments such as "it is just a cash grab, you should move" and "I would be so pissed off...you should move". Huh? The barn is increasing rates and still cheaper than the other similar facilities? Why shouldn't they price their services competitively? Oh...because it means you have to skip your morning Latte, I see....

Another example is people wanting a well trained horse for free or cheap (but not too old or unsound!), because they love horsies and deserve one for going through the effort of typing the want ad, or replying to an ad. Who cares that someone has put time and effort into training and caring for that horse, and who likely paid good money for the horse...this person deserves the horsey, so you must sell your horse at a price they can afford...and deliver it to!

You wouldn't believe the number of requests I get for a free horse to ride, yet when I suggest they work off a part lease by helping with chores/grooming, I never hear back. Because I should pay to feed and care for a horse so they can ride when convenient rather than let my students have an extra horse to ride?

Or they think 1 hour of their time working in the barn should equal 1 hour of lesson time...um, I don't think so!

And then there are people that try to talk me down in board rates because they can't afford my rates. Again, they are unwilling to work to make up the difference, but they don't want to board somewhere cheaper as they like the heated barn/arena, so I should just give them cheap board because they deserve it.

The other side of the entitlement coin is the people that think because they have a horse, they should be able to ride it. Or if you have a horse, you should let them ride it. It doesn't matter if the horse is unfit, old, or that the rider is extremely overweight, they own the horse, so they should be able to ride it. And god forbid I turn down a student because I don't feel I have a horse able to adequately support their weight without undue risk of injury. If you want to ride and you are overweight, at least go to a gym and work on your fitness before climbing on a horse. The horse does not owe you a ride, and not all horses are suited to carrying extreme weight. Some people get this and limit their activities on the horse until they loose weight, and they join a gym to help them along...but then others just call themselves "fluffy" and say that riding is their exercise...and claim prejudice if they are not allowed to ride or are judged for it.

Horses are expensive, living beings. People who own them have to work to pay for them, (or be lucky enough to be born/marry rich!), work to maintain them, and owe the horse the best chance of long term health/soundness. Boarding stables do not owe it to you to be within your budget; they are a business like any other. Horses do not owe you a ride; they owe you nothing. It was your choice to buy them and to agree to care for them...they had no say in the bargain.

It is sad that not every horse crazy kid can have a horse, but many programs exist to at least allow kids the opportunity to ride without owning a horse, and opportunities are always there for those willing to actually work to achieve their dream....so take responsibility for achieving your dream and stop blaming your parents, the horse seller, the boarding stable, or prejudice against your weight. You are the only one who owes you anything!

Karen

It just had to wait until AFTER Rob went back up North...

Anyone who came out to the barn this afternoon would have seen the excitement that comes every winter on the first warm day...the snow sliding off the roof. It started slowly with the occasional "thump"....which was enough to make Carma almost sit down in the barn when it thumped right outside the door. Coregel and Piper were less concerned by the sound and more concerned with their proximity to a cookie. Later, as Laura was riding Zander and I was riding Bliss, the thumps progressed to loud thundering swooshes as snow cascaded past the windows. Zander was not impressed. Bliss did not seem so concerned with the snow as with the crazy saddlebred who kept careening her way.

Most of the other horses that were ridden tonight were good about the snow falling, with just a few startled looks, but no serious issues.

When the snow started falling off over the barn in huge sheets, the horses in there would call to each other like a roll call to make sure each horse has survived the moment.

I can only imagine how loud the sound of snow falling would be if our arena/barn wasn't so well insulated!

Of course all that falling snow isn't just falling nicely out of the way...so this is what I had the joy to discover when I openned the North door:



Larry was not impressed with the wall of snow as it prevented his escape to the great outdoors! He pecked at Milo as he managed to crawl out.

I was not impressed with all the shovelling required to get the door to open easily and to clear a path to drive the Mule into the barn...if any parents/spectators get bored tomorrow, I am sure there will still be snow to shovel!

Karen

If you ask a parent if they would pay $1000.00 to keep their kid from likely harm, most would say yes. If you ask a parent if they would pay $5000.00 to keep their kids from permanent scarring, they would likely say yes. So why is it I see so many want ads posted by kids for horses under a $1000.00? Or for horses they can train themselves? I loved the want ad for the pony for a 9 year old to train themselves. Because that seems like a good idea....

Of course the kids wants the horse to be old enough to ride, but not too old (apparently 9 is old for a horse when you are a kid). Big enough to feel cool on, and able to jump/barrel race or whatever. What sort of horse do the parents think their child is going to get for this price? You may get someone responding to the ad who just wants to make some kids dream come true...but far more likely is you are going to find someone who is going to read SUCKER all over the ad, who is going to lie about their horse's age and/or soundness and perhaps even drug the horse to make it seem safe to unload their mistake on this hopeful child.

The parents likely don't know enough to know better, and the child sees beauty and potential in every horse...until that horse plows them into the ground time and time again shattering the illusion.

And of course the parents will chalk it up to a learning experience and move on, never thinking to go back to the seller and expose them as the lying cheat they are...because horse people seem to be the "bend over and take it" kind for whatever reason...loath to pursue the liars and the cheats...which in turn just encourages them to put the next hopeful child in danger.

And the horse they bought? It is unlikely it will meet a fair and just end.

Sometimes I feel people should have to have a license to buy a horse. Something that forces them to be aware of the scammers out there, the risks, and what to look for. Advice as to what they should expect to pay and what level of training the horse should have for their child's experience.

Karen

I realize I have let my jumping skills slide in the last couple years, so poor Blissy is getting to be my jumping lesson horse to get me back up to skill! This oxer looked big to me...but apparently it looked even bigger to Bliss's hind end as she flipped it way up to clear it by extra!

Bliss has a tonne of heart when it comes to jumping and is never looking for a way out. Now I just need to work on adding some finess to the ride and doing actual courses and then she should be ready to take someone to the winner's circle in hunter/jumper or even equitation classes.

Karen

I am still keeping an eye on the horse ads for a new lesson horse, and wow are there ever some cute mini ponies for sale right now! If we were a mini pony barn, we could fit 4 times the horses in the barn, the trailer could become a double decker and fit like 12 ponies, and the hay in the hay shed right now would last all year!

Not too long ago there was a very cute appy coloured pony on Kijiji advertised as being bomb proof and simple to ride/jump...and then you click on the photo to enlarge to see that on either side of the jump the pony is jumping there is a person standing with arms outstretched to create a jumping chute so the pony can't run out. Hmmm....

I think I am going to hang on to Piper after all, and not sell her. I am still considering trying to find Diesel and Rocky new homes, although I haven't done much to advertise them. Laureen has also decided that it is time to find Buddy a new home that will give him more attention too. I have appreciated using him in lessons, but as he shouldn't jump much anymore, and I don't have many non-jumping students, so he isn't getting used enough to keep him in shape...and as a few of commented, he is fat!

Buddy needs a home that will keep shoes on him year round, and that will trail ride with him, and/or do basic dressage, so if anyone knows anyone that would offer this trustworthy gelding a great home, please let me know!

Karen

Why I don't ride two year olds....

I often get people trying to convince me to take their two year old into training and who try to argue with me about my policy about not riding them at that age. (Equally though I get people praising me for this policy.) I know that race horses are started that young, as are futurity horses, but that is not my market and I prefer to train for the long term, and follow the principles of classical training which have found that horses train better, and last longer if allowed to mature and develop unencumbered by a rider until 3 or 4 years of age.

My own horses are lightly started at 3 and a half, and then brought into regular work at age 4, but if a customer wants their horse started at 3 I am ok with that, but I do not find that those horses end up any more ahead than the ones started that little bit later by the time they are 4 or 5.

Recently I had someone email me wanting to come to Hillside for lessons to prepare her "mare" for dressage showing this year. Her goal was training level and perhaps some first level in 2010. The age of her horse? Not even 3 years old yet! When I replied that I didn't feel comfortable asking that much of a young horse she came back with "I understand if you don't feel qualified". Yes...that is what I said...

But I digress.

The common justifications are typically: "My vet ok'd its joints" or "race horses are started younger" or "he's big, he can handle my weight".

First off, vets don't take a "when to start young dressage/jumping horses 101 class". In fact, almost all the research North American vets study, and almost all the cases they follow are based on the racing industry! An industry where people are thrilled to have the horse last until 7 years of age!

Some owners just ask the vet if the knees are closed and use that as the test to see if the horse is physically ready to be ridden...but the horse matures from the bottom up, so the knees may be mature, but the upper joints and spine are not....and you sit on the spine/shoulders, so perhaps it makes sense to wait until they are closer to done growing to put weight on them. And if you think about it, the bigger the horse, the more the joints will be "open" so the more risk to them, so the more the taller horses should be held off training until older.

You can read more about how horses mature in this wonderful article:
Dr. Deb Bennett's Article

The excuse that race horses are started younger is another annoying argument. Race trainers need to start their horses young as the money is when the horse is 3 years old...by 4 they are past their prime, and not that many horses race past 5; usually they have either earned a spot in the breeding shed, or have gone on to other careers such as riding horses or dog food.

There was a study funded by the racing industry a little while ago to try to justify the early starts. They looked at a number of horses and looked at when they broke down vs when they started racing...and found that a high percentage of the horses that were racing past age 7 were racing at age 2. Some people took this to mean that racing at 2 was GOOD for them. The problem with this study was that they didn't take 100 random horses and start some of them for the track at 2, and some at 3, they just studied them after the fact, and didn't take into account when their training started, just when it was they first raced. Gee, isn't it possible that the reason most of those horses that didn't race at 2 where still trained to race at 2, but broke down mentally or physically and that is why they didn't race that year?

People can always find facts to justify their position, but I think it is important to question those facts if the position offers them financial gain.

So...why don't I ride 2 year olds, or ask 3 year olds to do 1rst level dressage? Because at that age they are physically not developed enough to support the weight of a rider without tensing their back (gee, maybe this is why I don't have horses buck when I first ride them...). At that age their joints are more prone to injuries and damage to the cartilage. Damage that people often turn a blind eye to as it tends to not affect the horse until its early teens, but it isn't it better to wait a year and have a sound horse an additional decade?

Maybe if people stopped training their riding horses so young, people wouldn't look at a teenage horse as old and we could save money on joint injections.

Karen

This week in lessons will be quiet I think....as I seem to be loosing my voice! I have had quite a cough for a few days, and now my voice is starting to give....so don't be insulted if you phone me and I don't answer either!

Karen

Amanda rode her new horse today; he is VERY sweet...in the arena. In the barn...perhaps not so much. NO FEEDING EDGAR in the barn at all. Not even a scrap of hay. He is fine in the barn when he is not thinking of food or attention from Amanda....he is a very smart fellow and already definitely knows she is his person and demands her complete attention and adoration!

I need to get a picture of her on him...after seeing her on Ri it is hard to recognize her on the big boy, but they do look good together and I can't wait to take them to shows. (in part because I want to see that mane tamed!)

We tried Rosa western today, and she seems to know a thing or two about it. I wish I had better western bits and an arab style western saddle, but we seemed to go ok.
http://s226.photobucket.com/albums/dd89/HillsideStable/Rosa/?action=view&current=Rosa_western.flv

Karen

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year everyone! Have you planned your goals for 2010?

Dexter and I are aiming for second level, and I am going to work to find more confidence at shows and over fences.

Some changes to start the year:

Jerry left for his new home today:

Jerry and his new "jockey!"

and Amanda's new horse "Edgar" arrived!

Edgar is a monster who eats small children and arms, so do not hand feed him or leave children unattended in the barn or near his paddock. Joan, there is a $5.00 fee if you want to brush is mane or tail.

Chance will also be coming today and will be here for the next few months.

Stay warm!

Karen

Moving time again

Grady left today, Jerry leaves Friday to his new home, Amanda's new horse comes Friday, and so does Chance weather permitting...so with all this coming and going I am moving some of my geldings around. Triton and Zander are going to play with the big boys in the hay field & Tommy and YJ are going to be on the south side. I am going to start working YJ again, and perhaps starting using him in lessons in February. I think he is happy to not be with S'Argent any more...for some reason S'Argent hated him. Perhaps he is jealous of how fuzzy and cute YJ is.

I introduced Bliss to a grid and an oxer today. She has so much more jump than the other horses I ride and really makes me realize how much I have let my jumping skills slide!

Here is the video: http://s226.photobucket.com/albums/dd89/HillsideStable/Bliss/?action=view&current=Bliss_Grid.flv

Karen

In case you were wondering

A few people have commented on my disturbingly rosy red cheeks...no it is not that I have taken up drinking whisky on my way to the barn, or have been experimenting with blush...I have frost nipped/bitten my cheeks looking after YOUR silly horses. It happened when it was really cold and snowy, and the snow/frost would build on my ski mask, but then melt when I popped into the barn to put a horse in or out, and then when I would go back out...the mask would freeze to my face. Now that the skin has started to heal, it is red and blotchy and quite painful when out in any sort of cold. I need some super moisturizer or something to help with the healing process!

I posted a want ad for horses yesterday, and as always it is entertaining to read some of the replies. Typically people try to talk me into something that is outside the parameters I set out, and they almost always ask what our budget is rather than just tell me their price! "What are you willing to pay for the horse I have told you pretty much nothing about?". "Gee, it so happens that amount is exactly what we were going to ask for our horse' (as they scramble to edit all their ads to up the price).

Jeepers.

Karen

Don't forget board is due this week!

Lessons are running on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday.

Karen

Bye Ri...

Ri went to his new home yesterday. We dropped him off in the afternoon at an acreage not too far away. His paddock mates are an Appaloosa mare and two tiny donkeys. Ri only seemed interested in the hay, so the mares advances towards him were met with indifference, or an angry swish of a tail when she threatened to disturb his eating...so she passively stayed back.

But then the mini Donkeys became inquisitive of the new horse; and Ri gave them an angry "don't disturb my eating you mutant rabbit horses" look and shook his head at them...well that brought out the mothering instincts in the mare...and she let Ri know that the Donkeys were her babies and that he best stay away from them! She put on quite a show....Ri just went back to eating.

Poor Amanda struggled to leave her "baby". They came so far together...from an unstarted half starved gelding desperately in need of baby oil, so the show champion he became. Ri did not share the sentimentality though...on his part he just kept eating.

Karen

Hillside Christmas Morning

Merry Christmas from Karen, Rob and all the critters at Hillside!

I bought some "Stud Muffins" for an equine Christmas snack...most of the horses were appreciative, but Triton looked at me like I was trying to feed him a ball of horse poo...until he saw Tommy eating one and could smell it! Coregel and Carma couldn't quite wrap their little mouths around the treat, but Piper was happy to clean up the treats they dropped!

Karen

Add another one to the list

We have officially added Rosa to the list of horses for sale at Hillside. She is definately a jumper, and we want a hunter type instead. In order to market her I rode her today for some video...silly me accidently deleted the last round where the yellow jump was 3'0", but I think Shinaya got it on her camera so I can post it later.
This oxer is about 2'9".




I have to say, I had a BLAST jumping her! I don't jump much, and it has been a while since I have booted around a jumper type course...and Rosa hasn't done much bigger than 2'0 for a while...but I seriously felt ready to enter a show on her!





Rosa's sales portfolio so far: http://s226.photobucket.com/albums/dd89/HillsideStable/Rosa/

Have a great Christmas Eve everyone!

Karen

Lesson schedule

I am still teaching over the holidays, but I am taking Christmas Eve and New Years Eve off. I am teaching Boxing day. Day time lessons may be possible, so let me know if you would rather ride during the day for the next two weeks.

We will also have a new schedule for lessons from January to March. The availability is pretty much the same, but let me know if you would like to switch days/times at all. I may consider adding lessons to Saturday if you would rather ride on the weekend. This new schedule will take effect January 4rth. I am considering adding western lessons too if anyone wants to try western.

I will post the theory clinic schedule soon.

Karen

Well this morning was...hmmm...well, it required too much thought. Too much going on in too many different ways. So after teaching I decided that the great outdoors was calling me, so i tacked up young Grady in my western saddle and Rocket's bitless bridle and we headed outside. What better to take my mind off things than to take a young horse out in the great outdoors for the first time?

I had planned just to tour the yard, but we ended up heading down the road to the hay field. The first time traffic approached, the pickup truck driver slowed right down and gave the car trying to pass him a rude gesture...did he know I was on a young horse? Did he watch The Horse Whisperer too many times? No idea, but it worked well to make sure the boy was ok with cars, and later on when cars passed at normal speeds, he didn't care. The only things that bothered him were the neighbours big red bows blowing in the wind, and when a tree branch would brush my jacket and snap back. I wasn't keen on the snow covered branches hitting me either, but I wanted to let him pick his path in the deep snow.

I got a little cold, but otherwise had a lot of fun, so i think I have to break free of the arena more often! Anyone want to join me :)

Karen

Ah, to be warm again! It is so nice to have a break from the cold, although I wish it could have been a more moderate switch. I hope it isn't going to be crazy like last year...cold - hot -frigid - hot .... spent way too much time swapping blankets. The horses seem to be relieved by the warmer weather; I rode 6 horses today and all of them were great!

Too bad the weather wasn't as nice on Sunday, but the Christmas Party was still fun, with Christine T winning the match the dirty stall to the horse contest, and the "team teenager" winning the name the training horse contest...and they could only name 10!

Still some goodies and pop left over in the barn, so help yourselves!

Karen

Online tack sale!

Terri-Leigh (Grady's owner) informed me that Greenhawk has 15% off online orders this weekend! http://www.greenhawk.com/

she bought a western bit from them that looked like it may be a good introductory curb bit for western showing...and the new horses do need new halters....hmm....

karen

All right, so here is the Christmas Party Contest advance notice;

Name as many of the training/sales horses that Hillside worked with in 2009. This only includes horses sent for full training and horses that were here specifically to be sold. There were 17 in total (I think). You get 2 points for each name you remember, and 1 point if you can only describe them!

There is a second contest too...but it will be unveiled at the party as advance notice won't help you. The winner of the first contest won't be eligible to win the second.

Ties will either be broken by a draw or by a tie breaking question...

It is supposed to be nice and sunny for tomorrow, so be brave and come on out!

Karen

It's not THAT cold...

So it looks like it will be chilly for a while now...so I think I am going to go ahead and cancel most lessons likely until Wednesday. Call or email to reschedule! If you are a boarder with an inside horse you can still have a lesson if you want during the cold snap...and if the Clares are too whimpy to come out there is also the possibility of borrowing a morgan if you really must ride...but otherwise I think lessons will be cancelled.

The inside boarded horses WILL still be turned out, but they may end up being brought in early if they need to be. I will be double blanketing as needed for those of you that have suitable blankets.

Speaking of blankets...I think the rain sheets can be put away now! I cleaned up all the extra blankets on the stalls and moved them to hooks along the entrance. Ideally all the horses should have a spare winter blanket easily accessible at the barn, so I can exchange blankets if one gets ripped or something.

It is supposed to be crazy hot this time next week....so if that holds true, I will be clipping horses starting on Wednesday. I need to get the lesson horses done first, with boarders to follow, so let me know if you want your horse done! Clipping costs: $25.00 "Set up" fee, plus $50.00 per hour. A simple clip like the lesson horses get takes about 30 minutes total....less if the horse is really quiet. You can save money by arranging to be there to bring your horse in and brushed.

Remember to check back tomorrow for the hint to one of the Christmas Party contests! There will be two contests; one for the loyal Hillsidenite, and one that anyone at the party could win...even non horse people! I hope the cold weather doesn't discourage too many people from coming...I am getting lonely out here with the cold weather keeping people home and no Rob around!

And if anyone wants to stay behind and help bring horses in I won't complain....

Karen

Winter Marketing

Why do fuzzy winter pyjamas tend to be decorated with winter scenes; snow flakes, snowmen and the such? Is this supposed to make the wearer feel warmer? Or is it to remind them why they need to purchase the fuzzy winter PJs in the first place?

Same with Calendars; in the summer when you are trying to beat the heat, the calendars show scenes of hot weather places...in the winter they show snowing landscapes. If I wanted to see snowy landscapes I could easily look out the window! Is it to remind city folks what unpolluted snow looks like? Is it for the benefit of those that live in places without snow?

I would rather have a calendar where the snowy scenes are in the months of summer; scenes to help you think cool thoughts...and to make you grateful for the summer sun. In the winter they could have the beach scenes to help you think warm thoughts, or to have something to look forward too...or they could have a photo of a sunbather being attacked by mosquitoes to remind us that there is some good that comes with winter...

So when you go out into the cold next time, think; hey, at least there are no mosquitoes!

Karen

As cold as it seems outside, this is nothing like last year, when we had all this snow, and closer to 35 below temperatures...followed by temperatures close to zero...I hope this year we have a more moderate winter, where the horses can just setting in to a comfy zone, and I don't have to be switching and adjusting blankets every week.

Apparently Pilgrim finally gave up, and realized he was not getting a blanket and that winter was in fact here and sprouted a winter coat in the last 3 days. He looks like a different horse!

Mike, Ginger and Milo all seem content to be in hibernation mode. Milo has already packed on some winter weight...yet he still tries to convince all who will listen that he is starving!

We are going to have two contests with prizes at the party on Sunday; one that even non-riders can possibly win. I hope the cold doesn't discourage too many people from coming...more fun with more people!

If anyone has a folding table they can bring out to use for Sunday, that would be great too. Something tall enough that Ginger cannot steal off of...

Karen

This week

It is supposed to be on the chilly side this week, but I am still planning to teach, we will just work on less physically demanding things (for the horse) like working without stirrups.

This weekend is supposed to be very chilly...why is it always cold for our Christmas Party/ Still, not an excuse to not show up! I am hoping the weather forecasters are wrong though, and the weather will be better than forecasted for the weekend.

Horses are still doing well...even tonight when the windchill froze my cheeks.

I hope you are all staying warm, and are safe on the roads.

Karen

Christine....quick! There is a horse on Kijiji listed as a "drisage" prospect for only $350.00! You were looking for a drisage horse weren't you? You have to look past the fact she is reining/cow horse bred, has a super sloped illium, and a low set neck...

I think people see their horse trot pretty and think "dressage!". Or a horse that trots slow and think "Western pleasure!". My favourite is the untrained horse that jumps out of its pen and so is then labeled "jumper prospect; has jumped 4 feet!")

It is funny sometimes to read what people list as their untrained horse's best future careers. Recently there was a 15 hand, unstarted 7 year old pinto/arabian listed primarily as a jumper prospect...yes it may be able to jump (as Tommy can), but I highly doubt that is the market you should be aiming for, and they are likely loosing out on potential buyers looking for an endurance/show prospect which is what this horse would better suite.

I wonder if western people look at my ad/videos of Tommy and see my breeches and helmet and think I am similarly crazy....

Karen

So no one took me up on my stall cleaning therapy this morning?!? I am shocked.

It was a BEAUTIFUL morning and you likely all missed it tucked safely in your stuffy houses.

I decided to air out the stalls and bleach the stall mattresses today, so the barn smells reminiscent of a swimming pool right now.

The horses are all silly today and are prancing in the snow. I should have had my camera with me, but I worried about its safety in the cold air.

Driveway and parking lot are rated "E" for everyone. Even Clare's wimpy car would be fine.

Karen

In case you were wondering...

Your horses are all doing great and seem to actually be enjoying the snow! I fed them a little extra today when the wind picked up and they seemed to enjoy the midday snack.

I've been too chicken to head out at all...so no idea how the roads are beyond my driveway, but the people that did make it out today said it was ok.

The driveway/parking lot condition is good to fair, with some slightly deep/soft spots right behind the blue truck, but otherwise it is good, so be brave and come on out!

I am finding this snow envigorating! Plowing through the snow pulling my hay sleigh is quite the thigh workout...I will sleep well tonight!

Karen

What an up and down day. Mostly down.

I need to shake this stupid sinus thing i have going on before my eyeballs pop out.

The horses really came through for me though, with Pilgrim, Dexter and Zander all deserving Kudos for how great they were today...they really saved today for me! Janines email today was also a pick me up...sometimes little things can salvage a day.

Buddy is now back in full work mode too...he seemed pretty happy to be back in lessons after just light duties the last two weeks.

Anyway, I just wanted to say that I appreciate and value all my customers, you all make my life better and I really appreciate the positive and supportive atmosphere that we have at the barn! Even when I am having a poopy day, someone manages to cheer me up, even perhaps without knowing I need cheering up. You are a great group of people.

I know a few of your are going through a tough time; my thoughts are with you, and please let me know if there is anything I can do to help....even if it is just to provide added diversion from "the real world!". (Cleaning stalls is very theraputic....honest....and I won't charge you for the privilege....)

Karen

Look at the pretty jumping horse: Bliss Free jumping

If you wanted to see exciting action, the barn was the place to be today! Not only did we jump Bliss, but we also got to see Larry fly!

It started with me in the tack room talking to Amanda...i could hear scratching overhead. I was worried that it was mice; Amanda figured it was Ginger. Ginger however was laying in the barn...then we thought it could be Milo...but he was being a pillow for Mike. So up the stairs I went fully expecting to see a herd of rabid mice...what I did not expect was to see Larry the duck up there!

How on earth he got up all those stairs I do not know! And what he was after on the floor baffles me too. I did not want him to stay up there though...so the next step was to get him down, so I herded him to the landing...where upon he start to flap and FLEW down the stairs! He flew well enough to clear all the steps but not enough to do a light landing though...belly flop!

Poor Larry...I hope he learned not to go up there anymore!

As an aside: If anyone wants to purchase a winter Blanket like the one Zander and Carma are wearing we are putting together a second order to save on shipping. A good quality winter blanket for under $120! Let me know if you are interested and I will place the order later this week!

Karen

People...

So I got this in my inbox today:

"As a previous client who still follows you professionally; I was wondering, after all your disappointment with dishonest/unscrupulous sellers; how you could advertise a horse whom you found personally unsuitable for jumping due to a medical condition as a horse who is trained and suitable for jumping?! I also wonder when/if you intend to reveal the medical condition that made him so unattractive to your program. After someone calls? After they drive out to see you? When they look at the vet check? As he is loaded in the trailer? I admit, I was a little disappointed to see your ethical standards in practice."

I am pretty sure they used a bogus email address so I can't even email them back.

If they were smart, then they would have signed up for a fake email account and made a fake enquiry. Then they would have known that anyone who emails about Tommy is told about his mild club foot and is offered both the xrays and the vet report via email in my initial response to them, so they can make their own informed decision. This is unlike the person who sold me the horse who lied about his height and didn't inform me about his hooves. It is not as though Tommy isn't a great horse, just higher maintenance than I wanted for a jumping lesson horse, and I bought him to be able to jump some bigger jumps.

Interestingly I recently also had someone on a forum I was on attack me for very odd reasons...basically putting words in my mouth making it sound like I jumped my lesson horses 3' high 7 days a week...and that I was horrible for doing so...anyone who knows my program, knows my horses don't work nearly that hard!

I guess that is the flip side of being outspoken...and of success. People are keen to attack those that appear to be succeeding.

So...I am going to take the email regarding my ad for Tommy as a compliment of some jealous unhappy git jumping to conclusions so they can feel better about themselves...so common@sense.ca.... thanks for the ego boost!

Karen