Chestnut mares have a reputation for being firey and difficult, opinionated and passionate. Apparently Piper didn't get that memo as she is super sweet and laid back. Coregel and Carma on the other hand seem to be determined to fill the stereotype!
I rode Carma for the first time yesterday....well "rode" may be an exaggeration, it was just walking at one end on a circle and one change of direction, while Clare2 held YJ in the ring for moral support. For a little mare, she sure feels powerful even at the walk! I think she is going to be a fantastic junior jumper when she grows up...in the meantime I think I need to go back to ground work to give her more confidence in the ring. She didn't feel nearly as small under me as I thought she would. She has a nice wide barrel.
After putting her out, I brought Coregel in (she was pressed against the gate waiting to see if Carma was going to come back alive). Coregel has settled down a lot, and stood quietly in the barn while I brushed her winter woollies and picked her feet. I then made the mistake of leading her out the other end of the barn and around the north side of the barn....apparently horses coming from that side of the barn are evil, as the other three chestnut fillies in her pen ran off in horror when she came around that side of the barn, and stood as far back as the could in wide eyed terror! (Bliss meanwhile just stared at them as she chewed her hay...she wants to make it very clear that she is NOT a chestnut mare in any way, shape or form!).
Poor Coregel thought that there was a monster behind her and started to practice her passage beside me....she did her best to hold it together though. Once in her pen she ran to the safety of her pals, only to have them run from her as she was apparently now a north side mutant. Only Piper was willing to get near her for a while!
Sometimes it is hard to remember that Carma is four, and Coregel and Piper are only two....Carma looks the youngest, and acts the silliest!
By the time they settled down, the fuzzy fillies were pretty warm. Fortunately it was a nice day for them to cool off.
Piper also got some attention and came in to be brushed. What a big girl she is getting to be. I am glad she is so mellow and I hope she stays that way.
I have also started riding Tango again; it is funny that I used to think her gaits were so big and hard to sit...but after a few years with her more athletic son, her gaits aren't nearly the work I remember them to be. I am enjoying being back on her....not sure if she feels the same though!
I think this will be the spring of the mares, as that seems to be mostly what I have booked for training and to ride this year!
Karen
Friday, February 26, 2010
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
I bought new breeches!
I finally made it over to Tudor Tack today. First time since Bert sold it. I apparently selected the wrong day to do it, as they had tack pulled off the racks and on the floor and were in the process of reorganizing, which made finding tack difficult...fortunately help was readily available.
I am sorry to see Burt go, but I think the new owner will do well, and it sounds like she has some exciting plans. Right now she is just trying to make it feel more like "hers" and reorganize it in a way that makes more sense to her. I do like the leather sofa and magazines for when non-horsey spouses/parents come along! She is also planning to have a website, and on-line shopping!
The Open House/reopening is in March; there is a poster with details in the barn. It sounds like it will be lots of fun with all sorts of prizes, discounts, and food! They also gave me a basket of horse treats to take back to the barn, so it is on the water cooler! They are actually horse and dog treats, and smell very gingerbready!
Speaking of food....I finally bought the Kashi granola bars that Courtney suggested....I bought Pumpkin Pie! Pumpkin Pie Kashi granola bars are extremely yummy, and they do not have corn syrup in them! (they have rice syrup instead...not sure if that is better or worse...) Rob has bought me some good snacks lately too, but not as healthy; Hobnobbs, and Pocky sticks. Pocky sticks are yummy....just don't look at the fat content!
Karen
I am sorry to see Burt go, but I think the new owner will do well, and it sounds like she has some exciting plans. Right now she is just trying to make it feel more like "hers" and reorganize it in a way that makes more sense to her. I do like the leather sofa and magazines for when non-horsey spouses/parents come along! She is also planning to have a website, and on-line shopping!
The Open House/reopening is in March; there is a poster with details in the barn. It sounds like it will be lots of fun with all sorts of prizes, discounts, and food! They also gave me a basket of horse treats to take back to the barn, so it is on the water cooler! They are actually horse and dog treats, and smell very gingerbready!
Speaking of food....I finally bought the Kashi granola bars that Courtney suggested....I bought Pumpkin Pie! Pumpkin Pie Kashi granola bars are extremely yummy, and they do not have corn syrup in them! (they have rice syrup instead...not sure if that is better or worse...) Rob has bought me some good snacks lately too, but not as healthy; Hobnobbs, and Pocky sticks. Pocky sticks are yummy....just don't look at the fat content!
Karen
Monday, February 22, 2010
The Mane Event!
They have all the clinicians posted for the Mane Event in Red Deer!
http://www.maneeventexpo.com/ab/default.asp
I am excited to go again, and plan to take a horse. I am open to riding someone else's horse there too to give it exposure.
The TTeam Touch and dressage are my main focus again this year, but I am also curious about the western dressage!
If you haven't been before, I highly recommend the Mane Event for the clinics, the breed demos, the discipline demos and the shopping!
Karen
http://www.maneeventexpo.com/ab/default.asp
I am excited to go again, and plan to take a horse. I am open to riding someone else's horse there too to give it exposure.
The TTeam Touch and dressage are my main focus again this year, but I am also curious about the western dressage!
If you haven't been before, I highly recommend the Mane Event for the clinics, the breed demos, the discipline demos and the shopping!
Karen
Friday, February 19, 2010
Rosa is at her new home...
Little Rosa left for her new home today. As it turns out, it isn't really a new home; I guess she spent 4 months at Spoons previously, so Shelley was already familiar with her. I think Rosa will be happier with other arabians and away from the warmbloods and Morgans she was forced to live with here!
Speaking of Arabians, Michelle has decided to sell Beamer, so if anyone is looking for a super easy to ride/train purebred sport horse type arabian (I think he is four this year), he is worth taking a look at! He was soooo easy to train and left here after the 5 weeks training being able to do training level dressage. He is flashy, very well balanced, and going to be a decent size I think....although not quite big enough for Michelle, hence her reason for selling him...and I think he comes with his fancy purple Arabian Costume! She is also selling her TB gelding, and will then be shopping for a bigger part arab so she can do the arab shows as well as the open shows.
Karen
Speaking of Arabians, Michelle has decided to sell Beamer, so if anyone is looking for a super easy to ride/train purebred sport horse type arabian (I think he is four this year), he is worth taking a look at! He was soooo easy to train and left here after the 5 weeks training being able to do training level dressage. He is flashy, very well balanced, and going to be a decent size I think....although not quite big enough for Michelle, hence her reason for selling him...and I think he comes with his fancy purple Arabian Costume! She is also selling her TB gelding, and will then be shopping for a bigger part arab so she can do the arab shows as well as the open shows.
Karen
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Deworming has been fun. Thanks Amanda for helping with it today!
I am using this new liquid version that is the same product as Exodus, and the label says you can feed it, or syringe it. I figured it would be easier to know they got it (and not waste it!) if we just syringe in down. The horses seem displeased enough, that it seemed unlikely they would eat it mixed in food anyway....but Bliss proved the exception; she LICKED the extra off her stall door and was looking for more!
We decided then that it may be easiest to deworm Edgar by feeding it to him....he ate it in a way that made it seem that he was only eating it as he felt sure that this was the last food he would ever receive as he is always on the edge of starvation.
So we are good for deworming for a bit. Next up is vaccinations! I will see if there are any new recommendations for this year, and then will put a sign up sheet in the barn for boarded horses. I plan to get them vaccinated in mid March just like last year. If you plan to vaccinate your own horse, that is fine, but the product will need to be approved.
Karen
I am using this new liquid version that is the same product as Exodus, and the label says you can feed it, or syringe it. I figured it would be easier to know they got it (and not waste it!) if we just syringe in down. The horses seem displeased enough, that it seemed unlikely they would eat it mixed in food anyway....but Bliss proved the exception; she LICKED the extra off her stall door and was looking for more!
We decided then that it may be easiest to deworm Edgar by feeding it to him....he ate it in a way that made it seem that he was only eating it as he felt sure that this was the last food he would ever receive as he is always on the edge of starvation.
So we are good for deworming for a bit. Next up is vaccinations! I will see if there are any new recommendations for this year, and then will put a sign up sheet in the barn for boarded horses. I plan to get them vaccinated in mid March just like last year. If you plan to vaccinate your own horse, that is fine, but the product will need to be approved.
Karen
Monday, February 15, 2010
Pictures of me in a dress!
The wedding was held at old timers cabin. It was a very suitable location and I loved the log walls! The table setting was nice but simple, with the center pieces being baby Spruce trees to take home and plant; attractive, non intrusive, and environmentally friendly! They also had these really neat battery opperated candles to add ambiance to the table.Hopefully you recognize Rob and I. I wish we had gotten photos earlier on as when we got there my hair was nicely curled... but that never manages to last....
I went with the frumpy but comfy shoes. I was glad I did as we did spend a fair bit of time standing. I was glad I brought the wrap/scarf too...not sure it is considered fashionable, but I dislike being cold, and I really dislike when the bare skin of my back comes into contact with the bare metal of a chair!
The people with me in the other photo are Rodney and Gillian. Riding friends from the past! Please note we choose to pose in front of the cupcakes to discourage others from taking any...I like being around people with similar sensibilities to me!
Then there is the photo with me and the groom and bride! Nicole and I first met when I was 15 or 16 and she was a year younger. And yes, that is the dress she made herself! Her first (and perhaps last!) attempt at being a seamstress, and she didn't stick to anything simple! I was impressed! (Rob was disappointed she did a good enough job that the dress stayed on the entire evening....)
Karen
Sunday, February 14, 2010
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
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
Thursday, February 11, 2010
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
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
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
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
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
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
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
Monday, February 8, 2010
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
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
Sunday, February 7, 2010
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
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
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
Saturday, February 6, 2010
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
Karen
Friday, February 5, 2010
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
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
Thursday, February 4, 2010
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
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
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
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 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
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