http://mashable.com/2013/12/09/what-does-the-spleen-do-harvard/
Lol!
Monday, December 16, 2013
Holiday Schedule
Over the Holidays (December 23 - January 4) there will be some changes to the regular lesson schedule.
I will not be teaching the evening of the 24th or the 25th. I am willing to teach during the day on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and of course on Saturdays, so if you want to reschedule your lesson time please let me know! There will be no lessons at all on the 25th, but I am happy to teach the 31st and the 1st.
Also remember the Christmas party is this Saturday! For once we may have decent weather!
And I know I was planning to post Part 2 on bending last week, but I swear this cold weather froze my brain and sucked out all my energy, but I hope to have it done soon!
Karen
I will not be teaching the evening of the 24th or the 25th. I am willing to teach during the day on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and of course on Saturdays, so if you want to reschedule your lesson time please let me know! There will be no lessons at all on the 25th, but I am happy to teach the 31st and the 1st.
Also remember the Christmas party is this Saturday! For once we may have decent weather!
And I know I was planning to post Part 2 on bending last week, but I swear this cold weather froze my brain and sucked out all my energy, but I hope to have it done soon!
Karen
Monday, December 9, 2013
A Christmas get together!
A Hillside Christmas get together!
December 21, 2013, 1-3pm at the barn
It is a potluck, so bring a food item/snack for sharing! Hillside will provide cutlery, plates, napkins and some beverages.
A Random Gift exchange with gifts valued at around $22 for anyone who wants to participate. Like past years, it is one of those things where you pick a random gift or take from someone's already unwrapped gift. Gifts do not have to be horse related, and family members can participate.
I will also try to have some other activities arranged, but overall it will be low key.
I hope people can make it!
Karen & Rob
December 21, 2013, 1-3pm at the barn
It is a potluck, so bring a food item/snack for sharing! Hillside will provide cutlery, plates, napkins and some beverages.
A Random Gift exchange with gifts valued at around $22 for anyone who wants to participate. Like past years, it is one of those things where you pick a random gift or take from someone's already unwrapped gift. Gifts do not have to be horse related, and family members can participate.
I will also try to have some other activities arranged, but overall it will be low key.
I hope people can make it!
Karen & Rob
Lessons this week
I had been looking forward to a warmer day today, but that wind is no fun! It sounds like it is back to the deep freeze tomorrow, but then more mild...although still cold! If anyone wants to switch from Tuesday to a milder day, just let me know, but I will teach on Tuesday if people want to come out
Last week the brave few that made it out played with jumper turns: Kelsey and Zander won the challenge with 7 strides for each turn! This week we will do a 4 jump course of jumper turns. The idea is to use outside leg and outside rein to send them around the turn, then allow the momentum of the turn to carry them to the jump. The rider has to avoid sitting too hard to send them around the turn, thereby being left behind the motion. You also have to make sure you don't accelerate to the jump out of the turn: keep the power in the turn, get the horse straight, then leave it alone!
Tomorrow I will write part 2 of the lesson on bend!
Karen
Last week the brave few that made it out played with jumper turns: Kelsey and Zander won the challenge with 7 strides for each turn! This week we will do a 4 jump course of jumper turns. The idea is to use outside leg and outside rein to send them around the turn, then allow the momentum of the turn to carry them to the jump. The rider has to avoid sitting too hard to send them around the turn, thereby being left behind the motion. You also have to make sure you don't accelerate to the jump out of the turn: keep the power in the turn, get the horse straight, then leave it alone!
Tomorrow I will write part 2 of the lesson on bend!
Karen
Thursday, December 5, 2013
Dressage Motivational song
Finally dressage has a theme song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Yo6onmKDys&noredirect=1#t=307
I love the horse in the video...reminds me a bit of Rocket.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Yo6onmKDys&noredirect=1#t=307
I love the horse in the video...reminds me a bit of Rocket.
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
You know the roads are bad...
You know the roads are bad when it takes students 24hrs to make it to their lessons!
I am impressed by the dedication of the few select individuals who actually came for lessons the last few days...better late than never! I am also respectful of those who decided 2 hours in traffic was plenty for one day! Stay safe!
Meanwhile I am sick of the cold and moving to New Zealand...I found this house Check out photos 9 and 10 of the living room...that is so awesome! I am not sure about the tin hut bathtub thinger, but I could totally put up with the tiny kitchen to have my horses in the living room!
And in case you are bored, for your viewing pleasure....Izzy the western horse: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLGcN51i0vU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQ8VpvQivOA
(the first video was taken a day after the second video, using a different bit....I am trying to ride one handed for a while in that first video...we did ok and only ran into a wall once!)
Karen
I am impressed by the dedication of the few select individuals who actually came for lessons the last few days...better late than never! I am also respectful of those who decided 2 hours in traffic was plenty for one day! Stay safe!
Meanwhile I am sick of the cold and moving to New Zealand...I found this house Check out photos 9 and 10 of the living room...that is so awesome! I am not sure about the tin hut bathtub thinger, but I could totally put up with the tiny kitchen to have my horses in the living room!
And in case you are bored, for your viewing pleasure....Izzy the western horse: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLGcN51i0vU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQ8VpvQivOA
(the first video was taken a day after the second video, using a different bit....I am trying to ride one handed for a while in that first video...we did ok and only ran into a wall once!)
Karen
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
This week in lessons
This week in lessons we will be curling up with cats and drinking tea...
Seems like that sort of week. The horses are happy enough with their extra servings of hay and lots of snow to frolic in. The geldings are annoying me by preferring the very furthest shelter over the two near the barn door.
I am ok to teach this week, but please use your common sense regarding roads and the cold. Apparently the roads out this way are mostly cleared, but are icy. I will try to accommodate make up lessons for those who elect to just stay home...just please let me know either way!
Karen
Seems like that sort of week. The horses are happy enough with their extra servings of hay and lots of snow to frolic in. The geldings are annoying me by preferring the very furthest shelter over the two near the barn door.
I am ok to teach this week, but please use your common sense regarding roads and the cold. Apparently the roads out this way are mostly cleared, but are icy. I will try to accommodate make up lessons for those who elect to just stay home...just please let me know either way!
Karen
Monday, November 25, 2013
Part 1 on bend: introduction to concepts.
Over the next few months, I really want to work on proper bending.
All our work on leg yielding focused on flexion, but to do proper corners, shoulder fores, and lead changes, you have to have a proper bend.
What is the difference between bend and flexion? Bend refers to the arc of the horse's entire body, while flexion is just focused on the horse's neck and jaw. A horse can be straight through the body, but flexed through the neck such as during a leg yield and still be correct and balanced. A horse that is flexed left, however, but bend right in the body, is crooked.
Different horses have different degrees of bendability. A longer necked horse will usually have more ability to flex its neck laterally, and a longer backed horse will usually have more ability to arc its body. Unless injured though, all horses will be more bendable in front of the withers (neck and jaw) than behind the withers (rib cage and pelvis). A proper bend will have the horse bent fluidly from ears to tail, which means the rider often has to limit the arc in the neck, to the amount the body can be flexed.
Most of you will notice your horse flexes and bends more easily one way that the other. This is because, just like people, more horses have a dominant side. Again, just like people, the typical horse is right side dominant. A right sided horse will typically favour their left lead (because they push off from their right hind when cantering to the left), but will prefer trotting to the right, and will bend better to the right. Why? Because the right side is stronger, and so tighter, and the horse will want to bring that right hind up and under more to its midline, which will tighten that right side.
Humans and horses are thought to have dominant sides to increase reaction times: when you have one side clearly favoured by the brain, your reaction will be to use that side without a second though...if both sides were equal there may be a moment of indecision while deciding which hand/leg to move with first, resulting in precious loss of time.
You will hear me refer to "soft side" and "stiff side". As per above, the horse will typically be soft (more bendable) to the right, and stiffer to the left...even though it is actually kind of reversed.
This of it this way:
All our work on leg yielding focused on flexion, but to do proper corners, shoulder fores, and lead changes, you have to have a proper bend.
What is the difference between bend and flexion? Bend refers to the arc of the horse's entire body, while flexion is just focused on the horse's neck and jaw. A horse can be straight through the body, but flexed through the neck such as during a leg yield and still be correct and balanced. A horse that is flexed left, however, but bend right in the body, is crooked.
Different horses have different degrees of bendability. A longer necked horse will usually have more ability to flex its neck laterally, and a longer backed horse will usually have more ability to arc its body. Unless injured though, all horses will be more bendable in front of the withers (neck and jaw) than behind the withers (rib cage and pelvis). A proper bend will have the horse bent fluidly from ears to tail, which means the rider often has to limit the arc in the neck, to the amount the body can be flexed.
Most of you will notice your horse flexes and bends more easily one way that the other. This is because, just like people, more horses have a dominant side. Again, just like people, the typical horse is right side dominant. A right sided horse will typically favour their left lead (because they push off from their right hind when cantering to the left), but will prefer trotting to the right, and will bend better to the right. Why? Because the right side is stronger, and so tighter, and the horse will want to bring that right hind up and under more to its midline, which will tighten that right side.
Humans and horses are thought to have dominant sides to increase reaction times: when you have one side clearly favoured by the brain, your reaction will be to use that side without a second though...if both sides were equal there may be a moment of indecision while deciding which hand/leg to move with first, resulting in precious loss of time.
You will hear me refer to "soft side" and "stiff side". As per above, the horse will typically be soft (more bendable) to the right, and stiffer to the left...even though it is actually kind of reversed.
This of it this way:
Think of the muscles on the left being like a soft stretched out spring: not very strong and so easy to stretch. The muscles on the right are like a tightly coiled and strong spring. For the horse, this would mean that they are always wanting to be tipped a little to the right to feel even muscle wise. Similarly for the rider to feel they have even tension/contact on both sides of the mouth, they will want to have a shorter rein on the right side, which will just perpetuate the issue.
For the horse this will feel normal and straight as this is how they would carry themselves when left to their own devices, the problem is that for arena work, in particular dressage and jumping, we need the horse to be more even on both sides, so that they jump evenly, corner equally well, and can change leads both ways fluidly.
It is up to the rider to help the horse stretch out that tight/strong right side, and be more bendable to the left. How to do this, will be covered in Part 2 and beyond!
Karen
This week in lessons
The weather made last week pretty quiet, but I thought the grid was a good plan to really help rider's focus on their position, and further work on staying out of the horse's way. A grid helps in two ways: as we are trotting in there is no concern about a good distance, and secondly, because the jumps come up fairly quickly, any rider's mistakes build and are easier to see, while still allowing time to be corrected before the end of the grid.
This week we will again to a grid, but it will flow into a simple course. We are going to be focusing mostly on leg position, and proper angles. A common issue is for rider's to open their leg position too much, allowing their seat to come too far out of the saddle, resulting in being ahead of the motion. This puts additional weight on the horse's front end, and can lead to the horse landing too quickly, or even hitting rails with the front end. The upper body jumping ahead is usually coupled with the lower leg sliding back, so often the jumping ahead can be addressed by keeping the lower leg forward. Shortening the stirrups for jumping can also be a help.
A rider should just maintain a two point, and then allow the horse's jump to close their hip angle...but easier said than done!
I will have neck straps available for anybody who is having trouble grabbing mane, as having a stable hand will really help keep the entire upper body, and as a result leg, more stable.
Anybody who wants me to video them through the grid should bring their camera/phone and remind me to video: watching what you are doing, so you can match what you feel with reality, is a great way to make improvements.
Karen
This week we will again to a grid, but it will flow into a simple course. We are going to be focusing mostly on leg position, and proper angles. A common issue is for rider's to open their leg position too much, allowing their seat to come too far out of the saddle, resulting in being ahead of the motion. This puts additional weight on the horse's front end, and can lead to the horse landing too quickly, or even hitting rails with the front end. The upper body jumping ahead is usually coupled with the lower leg sliding back, so often the jumping ahead can be addressed by keeping the lower leg forward. Shortening the stirrups for jumping can also be a help.
A rider should just maintain a two point, and then allow the horse's jump to close their hip angle...but easier said than done!
I will have neck straps available for anybody who is having trouble grabbing mane, as having a stable hand will really help keep the entire upper body, and as a result leg, more stable.
Anybody who wants me to video them through the grid should bring their camera/phone and remind me to video: watching what you are doing, so you can match what you feel with reality, is a great way to make improvements.
Karen
Thursday, November 21, 2013
A morning suprise
I am a morning person. Even on cold mornings like this week, it is my favourite time of day: peaceful and full of promise. That does not mean however, that I am fully awake by the time I get out to do morning chores.
Take for example the day Phelps showed up: my sleep deprived brain tried to process if he could be ginger, Amarillo, or even a Coyote...but even that tired my brain could process that none of the above would be nearly that rough looking., and so I called Rob to inform him we had a guest...or that I was hallucinating.
Rob got a similar call this morning.
My routine in the morning is to leave the house before 7am with the dogs, then go to the hay shed, and take hay to the geldings (even though they have a round bale, I like to put out some flakes for them). As I was spacing out the hay, the three geldings that overnight in that paddock, wandered over, but I could see a dark shape laying in the snow my the horse shelter closest to the barn.
At first I thought it could be a horse, but then realized all were accounted for, then I thought maybe some poor beggar lost his blanket, but no, they were all clothed...which is when I called Rob "either I am hallucinating, or there is a deer sleeping in the horse shelter".
So I walked around the shelter and got closer (remember it is still dark at 7am), and saw Phelps snorfling in the snow just outside the fence, and sure enough, there was a critter laying in the snow by the horse shelter closest to the barn. My brain was then wondering if it was perhaps a 4H Jersey calf, but obviously to an awake brain that would make no sense...how would a calf get in there? But then I started to worry it was hurt and would need to be put down, so got even closer...I was only about 2 meters away when the doe decided to vacate her warm nest and loped over to the fence, crawled through the fence into Dexter's pen, then through that pen, then opted to go through the fence in the worst place possible (where the cross bracing is), got stuck causing Dexter, Percy, and now Phelps to get really excited, but fortunately got free of the fence uninjured, and before any of them got to it.
I kind of wonder what the horses would have done had they got to the trapped deer? It seems Shawn, Rocket and Zander had make their peace with it hanging out with them, as they had all been around that shelter when I first went out.
It was interesting once I got the inside horses all turned out: Riley & Wolfgang spent a lot of time sniffing the deer nest and then prancing around like fools.
The poor dear likely thought it had found Utopia until I disturbed it: hay, water and shelter all so convenient! I wonder if it will come back? It should move in with Dani and Missy though, as I think it was a doe. I wonder if this means Shawn will no longer go on deer alert when ridden outside in the summer?
Karen
Take for example the day Phelps showed up: my sleep deprived brain tried to process if he could be ginger, Amarillo, or even a Coyote...but even that tired my brain could process that none of the above would be nearly that rough looking., and so I called Rob to inform him we had a guest...or that I was hallucinating.
Rob got a similar call this morning.
My routine in the morning is to leave the house before 7am with the dogs, then go to the hay shed, and take hay to the geldings (even though they have a round bale, I like to put out some flakes for them). As I was spacing out the hay, the three geldings that overnight in that paddock, wandered over, but I could see a dark shape laying in the snow my the horse shelter closest to the barn.
At first I thought it could be a horse, but then realized all were accounted for, then I thought maybe some poor beggar lost his blanket, but no, they were all clothed...which is when I called Rob "either I am hallucinating, or there is a deer sleeping in the horse shelter".
So I walked around the shelter and got closer (remember it is still dark at 7am), and saw Phelps snorfling in the snow just outside the fence, and sure enough, there was a critter laying in the snow by the horse shelter closest to the barn. My brain was then wondering if it was perhaps a 4H Jersey calf, but obviously to an awake brain that would make no sense...how would a calf get in there? But then I started to worry it was hurt and would need to be put down, so got even closer...I was only about 2 meters away when the doe decided to vacate her warm nest and loped over to the fence, crawled through the fence into Dexter's pen, then through that pen, then opted to go through the fence in the worst place possible (where the cross bracing is), got stuck causing Dexter, Percy, and now Phelps to get really excited, but fortunately got free of the fence uninjured, and before any of them got to it.
I kind of wonder what the horses would have done had they got to the trapped deer? It seems Shawn, Rocket and Zander had make their peace with it hanging out with them, as they had all been around that shelter when I first went out.
It was interesting once I got the inside horses all turned out: Riley & Wolfgang spent a lot of time sniffing the deer nest and then prancing around like fools.
The poor dear likely thought it had found Utopia until I disturbed it: hay, water and shelter all so convenient! I wonder if it will come back? It should move in with Dani and Missy though, as I think it was a doe. I wonder if this means Shawn will no longer go on deer alert when ridden outside in the summer?
Karen
Monday, November 18, 2013
Snow
I will admit to having some concern when I woke up on Saturday to see that much snow! It seemed like particularly bad timing for the tack sale...but as it turns out it wasn't so bad after all. Having people cancel from the first lesson of the morning allowed me more time to set up all the tack Hillside & customers had for sale as there was LOTS of stuff. It did keep the other consigners from coming, which likely disappointed some shoppers, and there were a fair number of shoppers! No saddles sold, but $500 worth of other stuff did, so I know my tack room will be cleaner for it!
I will take time this week to take pictures of much of the remaining items to sell either on Kijiji or perhaps even ebay.
This week is supposed to be nasty cold, so the lesson plan will be such that the horse's won't work too hard and get overly sweaty. It may involve no stirrup work... it may also involve working on shoulder fore at the walk. Shoulder fore is a moderate shoulder in: the horse is bent in off the track, its haunches stay on the track, but its shoulder is brought in slightly...more or less like the first step off the track to start a circle, but instead of circling, you keep the horse moving down the track.
The rider must keep their outside leg back, but passive, the inside leg active at the girth both for bend, and for forward momentum. The rider must keep their belly button looking down the track, but their shoulders looking in (just like the horse!). The inside hand should come off the neck to ask for the bend with an active hand, while the outside hand blocks the horse from turning.
For jumping, we may do a grid and further work on position and good hand position.
Karen
I will take time this week to take pictures of much of the remaining items to sell either on Kijiji or perhaps even ebay.
This week is supposed to be nasty cold, so the lesson plan will be such that the horse's won't work too hard and get overly sweaty. It may involve no stirrup work... it may also involve working on shoulder fore at the walk. Shoulder fore is a moderate shoulder in: the horse is bent in off the track, its haunches stay on the track, but its shoulder is brought in slightly...more or less like the first step off the track to start a circle, but instead of circling, you keep the horse moving down the track.
The rider must keep their outside leg back, but passive, the inside leg active at the girth both for bend, and for forward momentum. The rider must keep their belly button looking down the track, but their shoulders looking in (just like the horse!). The inside hand should come off the neck to ask for the bend with an active hand, while the outside hand blocks the horse from turning.
For jumping, we may do a grid and further work on position and good hand position.
Karen
Thursday, November 14, 2013
And another one gone..
I took Rocky over to his new home today: he went to his breeder's daughter, which is kind of a nice bookend to his life. Hard to think that we had him for 10 years! We got him as a green broke 9 year old, and then taught him to jump. He was never the best for a lesson horse, as he was a tad opinionated and let people know they annoyed him by kicking out...and wasn't keen on standing to be mounted...but boy does he like to jump. He was also my go to fun trail horse and I used him to pony young horses when I was doing more training.
To get him to his new home I decided to ride him over as it seemed silly to hook up the trailer for a mere mile. As per my usual style on Rocky I rode him over bareback and it was so much fun...I can't imagine Izzy ever getting to the point where I will trust her down a busy rode bareback! Of course also can't imagine her with Rocky's copious hair which is pretty much guaranteed to keep me on...so a little sad to leave him at his new home, but I think it is the perfect next home for him as he is nowhere near ready to retire!
With Rocky and Gody both gone though, that paddock seemed far to empty, and Zander seemed unimpressed to be stuck with Dexter all on his own, so I moved Dexter over to be with Percy and Magnus, and opened the gate so Zander could be in with Shawn and friends. Hopefully the horses hang out near the barn side at night so that they aren't hard to find, but it will for sure make turnout easier, as they are all just outside the barn!
I have started organizing for the tack sale, and it reminds me a bit of being a little kid and playing store...lots of good stuff for sale, and I have colour coded tags for different price points to make it easier for people to look for things in their budget.
Now of course I worry about having enough shoppers come out! Not sure if the bad weather forecast will keep them away...but I hope not!
Karen
To get him to his new home I decided to ride him over as it seemed silly to hook up the trailer for a mere mile. As per my usual style on Rocky I rode him over bareback and it was so much fun...I can't imagine Izzy ever getting to the point where I will trust her down a busy rode bareback! Of course also can't imagine her with Rocky's copious hair which is pretty much guaranteed to keep me on...so a little sad to leave him at his new home, but I think it is the perfect next home for him as he is nowhere near ready to retire!
With Rocky and Gody both gone though, that paddock seemed far to empty, and Zander seemed unimpressed to be stuck with Dexter all on his own, so I moved Dexter over to be with Percy and Magnus, and opened the gate so Zander could be in with Shawn and friends. Hopefully the horses hang out near the barn side at night so that they aren't hard to find, but it will for sure make turnout easier, as they are all just outside the barn!
I have started organizing for the tack sale, and it reminds me a bit of being a little kid and playing store...lots of good stuff for sale, and I have colour coded tags for different price points to make it easier for people to look for things in their budget.
Now of course I worry about having enough shoppers come out! Not sure if the bad weather forecast will keep them away...but I hope not!
Karen
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
This week...
As most of you know, Gody left last Friday to his new home in Crowsnest pass. He is now owned by a giggly 12 year old and I am happy for him. Rocky will likely leave on Thursday or Friday depending on the weather...it is going to seem strange without them both!
The tack sale is this Saturday from 11-3! Lots of good deals on riding clothes and tack. Hillside clients are welcome to shop early as I will have our stuff displayed first thing. If anyone is available to help with the sale from 11-11:30 that would be great too, as I will be teaching until 11:30. I am hoping to sell enough of the stuff we don't use to update some of the tack for the lesson horses. I already bought a new bridle for Zander that I am hoping will fit him better. Rocket would like a new light weight winter blanket and new halter, so lets hope we sell enough to cover his wish list.
Lessons this week will be short courses working on leaving the horse alone at the jump, while still controlling them for inside turns or lead changes over the fence. Turns will be trickier, and jumps will come up sooner...but I still want you to do less, and let the horse look after the jumps!
For flat work, we are doing a zig-zag leg yield: coming off the track, changing their flexion, and leg yielding back to the track. Really important you keep control of their shoulder for this to work, or the change of direction will be difficult! If posting, remain on the "normal" diagonal to come off the wall, then switch to the opposite diagonal to go back to the wall.
Karen
The tack sale is this Saturday from 11-3! Lots of good deals on riding clothes and tack. Hillside clients are welcome to shop early as I will have our stuff displayed first thing. If anyone is available to help with the sale from 11-11:30 that would be great too, as I will be teaching until 11:30. I am hoping to sell enough of the stuff we don't use to update some of the tack for the lesson horses. I already bought a new bridle for Zander that I am hoping will fit him better. Rocket would like a new light weight winter blanket and new halter, so lets hope we sell enough to cover his wish list.
Lessons this week will be short courses working on leaving the horse alone at the jump, while still controlling them for inside turns or lead changes over the fence. Turns will be trickier, and jumps will come up sooner...but I still want you to do less, and let the horse look after the jumps!
For flat work, we are doing a zig-zag leg yield: coming off the track, changing their flexion, and leg yielding back to the track. Really important you keep control of their shoulder for this to work, or the change of direction will be difficult! If posting, remain on the "normal" diagonal to come off the wall, then switch to the opposite diagonal to go back to the wall.
Karen
Monday, November 4, 2013
And the only one who was scared was Izzy...
So much for my spooky Halloween jumps! The only horse that gave them more than a passing glance was nutty Izzy. Kitten appreciated them at least.
This week I am going to try harder to create a jump that will cause some reactions from the horses! The plan is to create a jump so rider's can work on feeling when they CAN leave their horse alone to the jump, and when they should support the ride a little more. We are still going to follow the idea of setting them up for success and then leaving them alone, and then correcting the issue if one comes up, but in the case of a spooky jump, that correction may have to come in front of the jump in the form of correcting a rushing horse by taking with the reins, correcting a backed off horse with a cluck, kick or tap with the crop, or correcting a wiggly horse with leg and hand. Regardless though, we want to make sure we leave the horse mostly alone at the jump so they do not feel punished for jumping, or interfered with at the jump.
Flat work will involve leg yielding again, but leg yielding OFF the track. This is harder in some ways as the horse has less of an idea of the plan, and is more likely to get stuck to the wall, but easier in some ways as you are more likely to be straight prior to starting the leg yield, and the horse is less likely to get crooked as it doesn't have a wall to get crooked towards! We are going to be leg yielding towards a target and it is SO important that you actually LOOK towards the target and time your leg yield to get to the target at the right time, no sooner or later. This helps prevent the horse from feeling overly pressured and getting stuck or crooked as a result.
Stay warm and watch out for the ice!
Karen
This week I am going to try harder to create a jump that will cause some reactions from the horses! The plan is to create a jump so rider's can work on feeling when they CAN leave their horse alone to the jump, and when they should support the ride a little more. We are still going to follow the idea of setting them up for success and then leaving them alone, and then correcting the issue if one comes up, but in the case of a spooky jump, that correction may have to come in front of the jump in the form of correcting a rushing horse by taking with the reins, correcting a backed off horse with a cluck, kick or tap with the crop, or correcting a wiggly horse with leg and hand. Regardless though, we want to make sure we leave the horse mostly alone at the jump so they do not feel punished for jumping, or interfered with at the jump.
Flat work will involve leg yielding again, but leg yielding OFF the track. This is harder in some ways as the horse has less of an idea of the plan, and is more likely to get stuck to the wall, but easier in some ways as you are more likely to be straight prior to starting the leg yield, and the horse is less likely to get crooked as it doesn't have a wall to get crooked towards! We are going to be leg yielding towards a target and it is SO important that you actually LOOK towards the target and time your leg yield to get to the target at the right time, no sooner or later. This helps prevent the horse from feeling overly pressured and getting stuck or crooked as a result.
Stay warm and watch out for the ice!
Karen
Friday, November 1, 2013
For Joan
Hey Joan! If your current career path doesn't pan out, you can always try costume design:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1O6ZjF-Kkl4&feature=youtu.be
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1O6ZjF-Kkl4&feature=youtu.be
Monday, October 28, 2013
This week in Jumping lessons
So last week in jumping lessons we worked on setting our horses up for success and then leaving them alone and staying out of there way. This meant getting a good pace in the corners, making a straight approach, and then settling into your jumping position well ahead of the jump, and trying to give them complete freedom with their head and neck so they felt they could use their neck for balance, and that they could decide to stretch out, or compress, to find the best distance, without worrying about interference from their rider.
Some of the horse's took advantage, and some riders just couldn't trust their horse enough, but for the most part, we saw that the horse's made the right decision and they improved once they were no longer worried about the rider shifting their balance right at the jump, or not giving them enough freedom with their head and neck to be able to make the best decision.
Being to able to get into the jumping position earlier helped keep rider's from being left being, and also helped discourage them from jumping ahead. Horses hate having their rider suddenly jumping onto their shoulders just as they are trying to lift off over the fence.
Previously we worked on counting to the jumps. Counting either 3-2-1, OR counting 1-2-1-2 helps rider's feel the horse's rhythm and be aware of their proximity to the jump. We also saw how being crooked really made it hard to see that distance...for both the horse and the rider, which helped highlight WHY we need to both approach the jump straight AND have the horse physically straight to help set up the best chances for a good distance.
So, this week we are going to combine the two. We are going to work on getting the horse straight, and having a good canter, and then leaving them alone to work out the jump for themselves...BUT, we are going to count 1-2-1-2 to the jump so you can tell when the horse is making a mistake and changing their rhythm, which requires intervention/correction from the rider as the horse should maintain a tick-tock rhythm to the jumps, and just lengthen and shorten from within that rhythm.
We will work on when and how to correct a change in rhythm, but first you need to know how to pick up on the change, to that end, there will be a bit of a surprise awaiting riders that may present some challenges for some horses...it should be fun!
Some of the horse's took advantage, and some riders just couldn't trust their horse enough, but for the most part, we saw that the horse's made the right decision and they improved once they were no longer worried about the rider shifting their balance right at the jump, or not giving them enough freedom with their head and neck to be able to make the best decision.
Being to able to get into the jumping position earlier helped keep rider's from being left being, and also helped discourage them from jumping ahead. Horses hate having their rider suddenly jumping onto their shoulders just as they are trying to lift off over the fence.
Previously we worked on counting to the jumps. Counting either 3-2-1, OR counting 1-2-1-2 helps rider's feel the horse's rhythm and be aware of their proximity to the jump. We also saw how being crooked really made it hard to see that distance...for both the horse and the rider, which helped highlight WHY we need to both approach the jump straight AND have the horse physically straight to help set up the best chances for a good distance.
So, this week we are going to combine the two. We are going to work on getting the horse straight, and having a good canter, and then leaving them alone to work out the jump for themselves...BUT, we are going to count 1-2-1-2 to the jump so you can tell when the horse is making a mistake and changing their rhythm, which requires intervention/correction from the rider as the horse should maintain a tick-tock rhythm to the jumps, and just lengthen and shorten from within that rhythm.
We will work on when and how to correct a change in rhythm, but first you need to know how to pick up on the change, to that end, there will be a bit of a surprise awaiting riders that may present some challenges for some horses...it should be fun!
Tuesday, October 22, 2013
A tack sale?
I know a few boarders have some extra tack taking up space, and was wondering if it may make sense to have a small, somewhat informal tack sale at the barn one Saturday afternoon in mid November.
Let me know if you would be interested. It would be pretty basic with tables set up in stalls or the barn.
Karen
Let me know if you would be interested. It would be pretty basic with tables set up in stalls or the barn.
Karen
and 28 hours later...
Last weekend was Rob's and my annual get-away.
Like last year, we left a lovely Edmonton weekend in exchange for cold/wet despite forecasts to the opposite. We seem to be cursed that way.
This year had an added twist to the curse...
As you may imagine, there is a lot of preparation that goes into planning a vacation when you have oodles of animals and a farm. This year it was great as Kyla was able to farm sit, and Laureen was able to cover the one morning Kyla had to go to her "real" job. Still, we needed to make sure all contingencies were covered, everything was ready to make things easy here, and the animals were considered.
This meant an early morning getting the barns done, organizing the house and pets, and then dropping off the doggies and Rob's parents. It all went well, and we arrived at the airport in plenty of time, which was good as the flight was listed as "on time". As the time to board approached though, they kept pushing the flight back further and further and further... (Rob and I had sat fairly far from the departure date as they had loud music near the gate that we didn't enjoy so we missed out in the free food vouchers they handed out). Finally 2.5 hours or so later, they let us board.
We sat down in our cramped little plane seat, and listened to the story from the guy beside us who told us this was day two for him to try to get to Comox due to the fog. The day before they had taken off, got to Comox, and come back. Surely they would not do that again?
Meanwhile in the seat behind Rob, was an obnoxious man who had spent the extra weight in the airport bar and divided his time between talking to the grade 3 child in his row, swearing with his buddies, and trying to convince the girl in the row across to come home with him. It was lovely.
But, we got to Comox turbulence free...and then spend 10 minutes doing circles. When you get motion sickness easily, this is not fun. Even less fun when the circles ended with the announcement that they couldn't land, so back to Edmonton we go! WTF?!? I get that if they can't land, they can't land, what I don't get is why we even took off in the first place!
So back to Edmonton. Then to get our bags. Then to stand in the slowest moving line ever to sort out what we would do instead. And by slow, I mean 2 and a half hours. Why? Because the customer service people couldn't just rebook us, they had to call in to the same booking line we could have called! (Rob tried to call in while we were in line, but got forgotten once and lost the call once, and didn't get called back through their call back system).
Eventually we were booked for 8 am to Victoria instead of Comox as it sounded like it was more likely the fog was going to clear from Victoria than Comox. We got a free hotel for the night and a taxi ride, as well as a dinner voucher...but as it was 11pm by the time we actually GOT to the hotel, it wasn't really possible to use the voucher. And of course the hotel was beside the train tracks...
Back at the airport for 6:30 am...flight shows as on time...until we go to get our boarding pass and find out it is cancelled! Fortunately there was a later morning flight that actually did manage to get us to BC. As Rob pointed out, it would have taken less time to just drive there!
Once we got there though, the smell of the ocean and the forest made the trip worth it. I do enjoy the air there. And the lack of garbage blown everywhere. Rob had rebooked us a hotel in Parksville, on the ocean after having to cancel our original plans. It was a decent drive and ferry ride: lovely scenery even with the fog. When we pulled up though, the hotel sign was right in front of an old style two story motel, that looked a little frightening and not all that "ocean front", but fortunately the sign was just placed awkwardly, and the hotel we actually stayed in was lovely and right on the ocean, and we had a nice room at the end overlooking the water at a very good rate.
Having missed an entire day of our vacation really cut short our plans, but we did manage to tour some Marinas, Rob took me on a Catamaran (as I think he wants us to vacation on one some day), and we made it up to Comox as I wanted to see how much it had changed since I was last there. We also ate some great sea food!
Of course the flight back was uneventful...we couldn't be stranded in Victoria just Edmonton. May have to make up that lost time with another trip later this year!
Karen
Like last year, we left a lovely Edmonton weekend in exchange for cold/wet despite forecasts to the opposite. We seem to be cursed that way.
This year had an added twist to the curse...
As you may imagine, there is a lot of preparation that goes into planning a vacation when you have oodles of animals and a farm. This year it was great as Kyla was able to farm sit, and Laureen was able to cover the one morning Kyla had to go to her "real" job. Still, we needed to make sure all contingencies were covered, everything was ready to make things easy here, and the animals were considered.
This meant an early morning getting the barns done, organizing the house and pets, and then dropping off the doggies and Rob's parents. It all went well, and we arrived at the airport in plenty of time, which was good as the flight was listed as "on time". As the time to board approached though, they kept pushing the flight back further and further and further... (Rob and I had sat fairly far from the departure date as they had loud music near the gate that we didn't enjoy so we missed out in the free food vouchers they handed out). Finally 2.5 hours or so later, they let us board.
We sat down in our cramped little plane seat, and listened to the story from the guy beside us who told us this was day two for him to try to get to Comox due to the fog. The day before they had taken off, got to Comox, and come back. Surely they would not do that again?
Meanwhile in the seat behind Rob, was an obnoxious man who had spent the extra weight in the airport bar and divided his time between talking to the grade 3 child in his row, swearing with his buddies, and trying to convince the girl in the row across to come home with him. It was lovely.
But, we got to Comox turbulence free...and then spend 10 minutes doing circles. When you get motion sickness easily, this is not fun. Even less fun when the circles ended with the announcement that they couldn't land, so back to Edmonton we go! WTF?!? I get that if they can't land, they can't land, what I don't get is why we even took off in the first place!
So back to Edmonton. Then to get our bags. Then to stand in the slowest moving line ever to sort out what we would do instead. And by slow, I mean 2 and a half hours. Why? Because the customer service people couldn't just rebook us, they had to call in to the same booking line we could have called! (Rob tried to call in while we were in line, but got forgotten once and lost the call once, and didn't get called back through their call back system).
Eventually we were booked for 8 am to Victoria instead of Comox as it sounded like it was more likely the fog was going to clear from Victoria than Comox. We got a free hotel for the night and a taxi ride, as well as a dinner voucher...but as it was 11pm by the time we actually GOT to the hotel, it wasn't really possible to use the voucher. And of course the hotel was beside the train tracks...
Back at the airport for 6:30 am...flight shows as on time...until we go to get our boarding pass and find out it is cancelled! Fortunately there was a later morning flight that actually did manage to get us to BC. As Rob pointed out, it would have taken less time to just drive there!
Once we got there though, the smell of the ocean and the forest made the trip worth it. I do enjoy the air there. And the lack of garbage blown everywhere. Rob had rebooked us a hotel in Parksville, on the ocean after having to cancel our original plans. It was a decent drive and ferry ride: lovely scenery even with the fog. When we pulled up though, the hotel sign was right in front of an old style two story motel, that looked a little frightening and not all that "ocean front", but fortunately the sign was just placed awkwardly, and the hotel we actually stayed in was lovely and right on the ocean, and we had a nice room at the end overlooking the water at a very good rate.
Having missed an entire day of our vacation really cut short our plans, but we did manage to tour some Marinas, Rob took me on a Catamaran (as I think he wants us to vacation on one some day), and we made it up to Comox as I wanted to see how much it had changed since I was last there. We also ate some great sea food!
Of course the flight back was uneventful...we couldn't be stranded in Victoria just Edmonton. May have to make up that lost time with another trip later this year!
Karen
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
Yes, its pink.
It wasn't supposed to be pink. It was supposed to be tannish grey. Hoping that once finished it will look less pink, or that pink will end up being pretty. If not, it will be de-pinked.
Also shocked that Save-On seems to have sold out of frightening Halloween stuffed cats. I should have bought a couple when I had a chance! (Rob is reading this and thanking that I didn't). Perhaps a trip to the Dollar Store next week.
Karen
Also shocked that Save-On seems to have sold out of frightening Halloween stuffed cats. I should have bought a couple when I had a chance! (Rob is reading this and thanking that I didn't). Perhaps a trip to the Dollar Store next week.
Karen
Monday, October 14, 2013
This week in lessons
This week in lessons we are going to continue on with riding in a controlled manner, getting in corners, and counting 3-2-1 to the jumps. Our course will be longer this week, and it will be interesting to see if rider's can maintain their count as the course progresses.
Things that may help:
1) Make sure you sit up in corners, and keep your eyes up to the jumps. If you start tipping more and more forward it will throw off your eye, and will also change your horse's balance which will change their stride and how the chose to take the jumps.
2) You need to make sure that the horse is approaching the jumps along the path you are visualizing, and that their shoulders are following their nose. If your eye is visualizing an early turn and the horse ends up falling out its shoulder and going wide on the turn, the distance you see is not going to be able to be actualized. This is also the case in a straight line if the horse is allowed to travel crooked as their eye, and your eye will be looking at the jump along a different line than their body is following.
3) For better balanced and less rushed corners leaving the jumps, make sure you prepare your horse for the turn by LOOKING into the turn. You don't have to steer for it, and can actually hold the horse straight with the outside rein while still looking. Why does this help? Think of it this way. Your horse is landing off the jump with forward momentum. It is landing shoulder/front end first and it sees the end of the arena right there, requiring a turn. If you don't help set the horse up for the turn, the horse will remain on its forehand, dropping its shoulder and either cutting the end off, or going around the end with its head tipped outwards. This will result in a rushed and unbalanced turn with the horse thinking you are blind and don't see the turn so it better act asap or risk crashing into the end of the ring.
Now if you look for the turn while holding the horse out with the outside rein, the horse will feel your position change and understand you are seeing and ready for the turn, while you are still keeping them from turning too early. This will give you time to get the horse balanced and off its shoulders so that together you can negotiate the turn in a balanced and controlled way.
Karen
Things that may help:
1) Make sure you sit up in corners, and keep your eyes up to the jumps. If you start tipping more and more forward it will throw off your eye, and will also change your horse's balance which will change their stride and how the chose to take the jumps.
2) You need to make sure that the horse is approaching the jumps along the path you are visualizing, and that their shoulders are following their nose. If your eye is visualizing an early turn and the horse ends up falling out its shoulder and going wide on the turn, the distance you see is not going to be able to be actualized. This is also the case in a straight line if the horse is allowed to travel crooked as their eye, and your eye will be looking at the jump along a different line than their body is following.
3) For better balanced and less rushed corners leaving the jumps, make sure you prepare your horse for the turn by LOOKING into the turn. You don't have to steer for it, and can actually hold the horse straight with the outside rein while still looking. Why does this help? Think of it this way. Your horse is landing off the jump with forward momentum. It is landing shoulder/front end first and it sees the end of the arena right there, requiring a turn. If you don't help set the horse up for the turn, the horse will remain on its forehand, dropping its shoulder and either cutting the end off, or going around the end with its head tipped outwards. This will result in a rushed and unbalanced turn with the horse thinking you are blind and don't see the turn so it better act asap or risk crashing into the end of the ring.
Now if you look for the turn while holding the horse out with the outside rein, the horse will feel your position change and understand you are seeing and ready for the turn, while you are still keeping them from turning too early. This will give you time to get the horse balanced and off its shoulders so that together you can negotiate the turn in a balanced and controlled way.
Karen
Cookies
Does anyone who bakes cookies either from scratch or from one of those packages, ever get the number of cookies you are supposed to?
I made some peanut butter cookies from a package...supposed to get 36 cookies, or 24 larger cookies. I made tiny cookie balls, to make tiny cookies...and still only got 24 cookies.
We need an inquiry into the validity of cookie count estimation.
I made some peanut butter cookies from a package...supposed to get 36 cookies, or 24 larger cookies. I made tiny cookie balls, to make tiny cookies...and still only got 24 cookies.
We need an inquiry into the validity of cookie count estimation.
Monday, October 7, 2013
This week
It was interesting last week, how much it caused an issue to have jumps (albeit small ones) so near the corner. This shows how much the corner is destroying the canter quality, and also how much room riders want to prepare for a jump. Having jumps close to the ends will continue this week so we can work on this. A key is to not be lazy! Keep the horse active in the corners: this doesn't mean fast as you actually do need to compress the horse so it can balance in the short ends of the indoor, but it means using leg into hand to create contained energy that keeps the horse ready for the jumps.
We are also going to try counting 3-2-1 to jumps to help work on that idea of rhythm and power to the jumps.
And because last week was so fun, we are going to do MORE work without stirrups! Yay! This week it will be working on a serpentine over poles. For riders on horses that can handle the stirrups being left down, we will leave the stirrups hanging so you can get the idea of your LEG holding the leathers and stirrups, and also the idea of picking up and dropping the stirrups while trotting.
Karen
We are also going to try counting 3-2-1 to jumps to help work on that idea of rhythm and power to the jumps.
And because last week was so fun, we are going to do MORE work without stirrups! Yay! This week it will be working on a serpentine over poles. For riders on horses that can handle the stirrups being left down, we will leave the stirrups hanging so you can get the idea of your LEG holding the leathers and stirrups, and also the idea of picking up and dropping the stirrups while trotting.
Karen
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
Chocolate
My name is Karen and I am a chocolate addict. I have not had chocolate for over 7 weeks now.
For those of you who know me, you know that this is an accomplishment! Once I was told to give up chocolate, I gave Rob the M&Ms and just weaned myself off with the remaining chocolate chip granola bars. Chocolate is everywhere though...it is rare to have a commercial break that doesn't have at least one ad for chocolate, whether it be candy, cookies or cakes! In the grocery store, there is chocolate on every single aisle... even the fruit section has chocolate dips! And if there isn't anything to go in the aisle with chocolate, then they put it in a display at one end or the other as a promotional angle. And then again at the check out! I think October and the beginning of November (price dropped Halloween candy!) is the hardest time for a recovering chocolate addict.
But you know what I did? I just didn't buy it. If you don't buy it, you can't have it, and then the habit is kicked. Sure I had moments where I REALLY wanted some chocolate and I would wander the kitchen for a replacement...but there is NO replacement for the smooth goodness and pick me up of chocolate... although Activia prune yogurt actually comes close.
I kind of wondered if I would ever have the will power to be a dieter or kick a bad habit...and now I know I do and I can. So now I have no pity for smokers. Seriously, it is just this simple...stop buying the cigarettes. Crack may be harder to quit as I assume crack dealers will find you and deliver to your door which would be hard to resist, but smokers have no excuse. At some point they decide to go all the way to the store to buy some cigarettes and keep on smoking. Which may be where being a little lazy is actually a good thing...
Rob actually ate chocolate in front of me in the truck the other day and I didn't feel the urge to smack him and steal it. This was my sign that my love affair with chocolate was over.
Now if someone can find me a snacking indulgence alternative....
Karen
For those of you who know me, you know that this is an accomplishment! Once I was told to give up chocolate, I gave Rob the M&Ms and just weaned myself off with the remaining chocolate chip granola bars. Chocolate is everywhere though...it is rare to have a commercial break that doesn't have at least one ad for chocolate, whether it be candy, cookies or cakes! In the grocery store, there is chocolate on every single aisle... even the fruit section has chocolate dips! And if there isn't anything to go in the aisle with chocolate, then they put it in a display at one end or the other as a promotional angle. And then again at the check out! I think October and the beginning of November (price dropped Halloween candy!) is the hardest time for a recovering chocolate addict.
But you know what I did? I just didn't buy it. If you don't buy it, you can't have it, and then the habit is kicked. Sure I had moments where I REALLY wanted some chocolate and I would wander the kitchen for a replacement...but there is NO replacement for the smooth goodness and pick me up of chocolate... although Activia prune yogurt actually comes close.
I kind of wondered if I would ever have the will power to be a dieter or kick a bad habit...and now I know I do and I can. So now I have no pity for smokers. Seriously, it is just this simple...stop buying the cigarettes. Crack may be harder to quit as I assume crack dealers will find you and deliver to your door which would be hard to resist, but smokers have no excuse. At some point they decide to go all the way to the store to buy some cigarettes and keep on smoking. Which may be where being a little lazy is actually a good thing...
Rob actually ate chocolate in front of me in the truck the other day and I didn't feel the urge to smack him and steal it. This was my sign that my love affair with chocolate was over.
Now if someone can find me a snacking indulgence alternative....
Karen
Monday, September 30, 2013
This week in lessons
This week in lessons we are going to continue to work on getting good corners. Combined with getting the good corners will be trying to get the flying changes in the corners using raised poles and small jumps in the corners to assist.
Getting lead changes in this way should be pretty simple: keep the horse straight, look in the new direction, and outside leg back on tack off over the pole/jump. You need to have some contact so that the horse doesn't just get quick as that will just result in the horse swapping the front lead and not behind. This is the same reason you have to hold the outside rein and keep the horse straight through the body. To do a good flying change the horse needs to have some bounce in its step as well, so the leg into the hand is needed for this reason as well.
We are also going to be doing some work without stirrups at the walk and trot to work on developing a more stable leg and better seat. For jumping, the lower leg needs to be quite stable, and needs to stay in the same spot regardless of what the hands or body is doing.
Karen
Getting lead changes in this way should be pretty simple: keep the horse straight, look in the new direction, and outside leg back on tack off over the pole/jump. You need to have some contact so that the horse doesn't just get quick as that will just result in the horse swapping the front lead and not behind. This is the same reason you have to hold the outside rein and keep the horse straight through the body. To do a good flying change the horse needs to have some bounce in its step as well, so the leg into the hand is needed for this reason as well.
We are also going to be doing some work without stirrups at the walk and trot to work on developing a more stable leg and better seat. For jumping, the lower leg needs to be quite stable, and needs to stay in the same spot regardless of what the hands or body is doing.
Karen
Harvest show update
This years Harvest horse show at Amberlea was perhaps the best attended I have been to: the show barn was pretty much full, and the rings were going all day long. Thankfully the weather was decent, with the show not getting the rain we got at the barn on Sunday.
With all those horses, the parking lot was FULL of trailers, with people finding other places to park...yet people still decided to stop and unload their horses and tack at the barn entrance (keeping in mind there is no other way to get to the parking lot). If everyone did that, it would have taken over 6 hours to get everyone in and unloaded! I noticed that the rider's that unloaded at the entrance were all dressage riders...perhaps used to less populous shows? Or just a false feeling of self importance?
We managed to be lucky and our arrivals and departures were not blocked by these annoying people (Shawn stayed at the show, but I hauled Izzy back and forth).
Shawn and Laureen did awesome. Shawn seems to finally have learned to relax at shows, and Laureen has learned to keep riding under the eyes of the judge ;) Laureen was first in her first level test, and second and third at Training level, ending 1 percent away from being reserve champion of that division! Next step is to improve the leg yielding so that Shawn can get to First Level test two. It was useful I think that Laureen was able to watch some of those tests to see how other riders accomplish that leg yield...often by starting early, but the best ones were done by just preparing the horse correctly, and staying focused on the target.
Izzy and I had a less stellar show. Poor Izzy just does not like indoor arenas! For schooling she was quite concerned about the decorations in front of the judges box (hedge, red wagon, hedgehog, logs and dog), and of the poop bucket. By the time we showed she had accepted the red wagon, and the poop bucket was gone, but the open concession was more than she could handle...in particular the scraping of chairs! She did try, but I just could not get her to relax and use her back, so impossible to perform at that level. Although my scores were 10% worse than the last show despite moving forward in her training, I have to concede that she was much better in the arena than she was in the spring, so hopefully we can continue to see improvement.
(Shawn on the other hoof didn't bat an ear when there was a dog fight in the stands while she was showing...interestingly the person with the dogs was also someone that blocks the entrance unloading...)
So this winter I will be working on getting her more obedient and focused on ME rather than everything else. I have some ideas...and of course I am sure these ideas will carry over to lessons, so be prepared!
Karen
With all those horses, the parking lot was FULL of trailers, with people finding other places to park...yet people still decided to stop and unload their horses and tack at the barn entrance (keeping in mind there is no other way to get to the parking lot). If everyone did that, it would have taken over 6 hours to get everyone in and unloaded! I noticed that the rider's that unloaded at the entrance were all dressage riders...perhaps used to less populous shows? Or just a false feeling of self importance?
We managed to be lucky and our arrivals and departures were not blocked by these annoying people (Shawn stayed at the show, but I hauled Izzy back and forth).
Shawn and Laureen did awesome. Shawn seems to finally have learned to relax at shows, and Laureen has learned to keep riding under the eyes of the judge ;) Laureen was first in her first level test, and second and third at Training level, ending 1 percent away from being reserve champion of that division! Next step is to improve the leg yielding so that Shawn can get to First Level test two. It was useful I think that Laureen was able to watch some of those tests to see how other riders accomplish that leg yield...often by starting early, but the best ones were done by just preparing the horse correctly, and staying focused on the target.
Izzy and I had a less stellar show. Poor Izzy just does not like indoor arenas! For schooling she was quite concerned about the decorations in front of the judges box (hedge, red wagon, hedgehog, logs and dog), and of the poop bucket. By the time we showed she had accepted the red wagon, and the poop bucket was gone, but the open concession was more than she could handle...in particular the scraping of chairs! She did try, but I just could not get her to relax and use her back, so impossible to perform at that level. Although my scores were 10% worse than the last show despite moving forward in her training, I have to concede that she was much better in the arena than she was in the spring, so hopefully we can continue to see improvement.
(Shawn on the other hoof didn't bat an ear when there was a dog fight in the stands while she was showing...interestingly the person with the dogs was also someone that blocks the entrance unloading...)
So this winter I will be working on getting her more obedient and focused on ME rather than everything else. I have some ideas...and of course I am sure these ideas will carry over to lessons, so be prepared!
Karen
Monday, September 23, 2013
Fall!
Last Saturday was our last jumping show of the season, with Java, Riley and Gody competing in the hunters. It was great weather and all the horses & riders did very well, for a nice finish to the year! Next weekend Laureen and I will be showing dressage to finish up the show year.
This week in lessons, we will have to resign ourselves to riding inside for jumping...just getting too dark and cool at night. Being indoors again means getting used to a smaller space again, so we will be working on riding correct and deep corners, while maintaining a nice, even rhythm.
Now that fall is here, fly sheets and fly masks can be put away for the winter, and rain sheets & winter blankets can come out of storage...maybe if we are ready for winter it will stay away longer!
Karen
This week in lessons, we will have to resign ourselves to riding inside for jumping...just getting too dark and cool at night. Being indoors again means getting used to a smaller space again, so we will be working on riding correct and deep corners, while maintaining a nice, even rhythm.
Now that fall is here, fly sheets and fly masks can be put away for the winter, and rain sheets & winter blankets can come out of storage...maybe if we are ready for winter it will stay away longer!
Karen
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
Blasts from the past
I found these pictures on our network...recognize anyone? The first photo is Dexter when he was just under a year old. We used to have a couple stalls set up in the barn I now use to park the Mule. Warmblood babies aren't typically cute...and Dexter was no exception!
This is Rocket soon after we first bought him! He is three years old in this photo. He actually has a semblance of mane! This photo and the next were taken at a barn I used to teach out of...but poor Rocket got so badly eaten by mosquitos we brought him home soon after.
And here is a blurry photo of me teaching Rocky to jump! This would have been a few months after we bought him, so he would have been 9 or 10. He was/is a naturally at jumping.
These are the three horses Rob and I have had the longest and who were here when we build the barn! The others have come to us more recently.
Monday, September 9, 2013
The Sun Sets at 8pm
I managed to still teach all the lessons outside last week...thanks to the misfortune of others and some slightly more crowded than usual earlier lessons, but I think those days are done...
5:30 & 6:30 lessons can be outside for one more week and then I am putting the jumps away for the winter. 7:30 lessons could hack outside, but then will have to go in for jumping.
What will we do this week? More canter poles. I am really liking the canter poles. It has really helped steady some of the horses (and riders...) who want to let their horse go too much before and after jumps, and it has also helped open up the canters of the more laid back horses such as Rocket and Shawn. This will be built on with the addition of a small grid, as well as using canter poles to help riders line up correctly to diagonal jumps!
Remember that this Saturday is the Delaney Vet services open house. I have posted the schedule of talks on the bulletin board in the barn for anyone who wishes to attend.
Karen
5:30 & 6:30 lessons can be outside for one more week and then I am putting the jumps away for the winter. 7:30 lessons could hack outside, but then will have to go in for jumping.
What will we do this week? More canter poles. I am really liking the canter poles. It has really helped steady some of the horses (and riders...) who want to let their horse go too much before and after jumps, and it has also helped open up the canters of the more laid back horses such as Rocket and Shawn. This will be built on with the addition of a small grid, as well as using canter poles to help riders line up correctly to diagonal jumps!
Remember that this Saturday is the Delaney Vet services open house. I have posted the schedule of talks on the bulletin board in the barn for anyone who wishes to attend.
Karen
Money Making idea!
So I had it in my head I wanted to try showing Izzy Western Pleasure as well as dressage next year...and then I looked up how much Arabian show bridles and romal reins cost....THEN Michelle put the idea of not just doing western pleasure, but SIDESADDLE western pleasure with the logical theory that my uneven strength wouldn't matter as much. Made sense to me...but not so much to Rob (buying a headache rack for the blue truck made sense...but not a sidesaddle...he has the silliest priorities). Of course western sidesaddles aren't exactly common, and I am not exactly a common size, so I need to start saving some money...so I came up with an idea!
A HILLSIDE STABLE SWEAR JAR! But instead of swears, it will be tailored to better money making "fines".
This is my idea for fines:
- Everyone will be fined for the improper use of "did good". "Did good" can be used to applaud charitable activities but not for remembering their course or getting the right number of strides. This on its own may pay off a saddle...
- Fines for dirty tack...it still counts if you are riding a lesson horse, which will also encourage people to show up earlier for lessons and clean the lesson tack!
- People under age 21 will be fined for extraneous uses of the word "like".
- People over the age of 21 will be fined for going off course...double fines for those who are going after others who did the correct course.
- Beth will be fined for apologizing. She may need a raise at work to cover this.
-Joan can pay her way out of jumping oxers. As an aside, courses will start being made of only oxers.
- Anyone else who gets pregnant will be fined. Seriously. It's like an epidemic around here!
So bring your loonies & toonies...oh heck, most of you should likely bring a cheque book....
Karen
A HILLSIDE STABLE SWEAR JAR! But instead of swears, it will be tailored to better money making "fines".
This is my idea for fines:
- Everyone will be fined for the improper use of "did good". "Did good" can be used to applaud charitable activities but not for remembering their course or getting the right number of strides. This on its own may pay off a saddle...
- Fines for dirty tack...it still counts if you are riding a lesson horse, which will also encourage people to show up earlier for lessons and clean the lesson tack!
- People under age 21 will be fined for extraneous uses of the word "like".
- People over the age of 21 will be fined for going off course...double fines for those who are going after others who did the correct course.
- Beth will be fined for apologizing. She may need a raise at work to cover this.
-Joan can pay her way out of jumping oxers. As an aside, courses will start being made of only oxers.
- Anyone else who gets pregnant will be fined. Seriously. It's like an epidemic around here!
So bring your loonies & toonies...oh heck, most of you should likely bring a cheque book....
Karen
Sunday, September 1, 2013
This week in lessons
The first week back into Fall lessons! I would like to spend this week going over who wants to ride then as I have some new students waiting to start, and want to see where best to fit them in.
I think it is too dark now to teach 7:30 lessons outside, but we might still be able to do the flat part of lessons outside and then come in to jump if people are interested in doing that.
I would like to continue to work on trot and canter rhythm on the flat and jumping, as well as using placement poles to help encourage horses to take off and land in an even arc with forward momentum for jumping.
Karen
I think it is too dark now to teach 7:30 lessons outside, but we might still be able to do the flat part of lessons outside and then come in to jump if people are interested in doing that.
I would like to continue to work on trot and canter rhythm on the flat and jumping, as well as using placement poles to help encourage horses to take off and land in an even arc with forward momentum for jumping.
Karen
Soccer game success!
Saturday was perfect weather for our first ever soccer game! I have no idea who won...team bay scored against themselves in the first round, and then pushed the ball out of bounds in the second. Team Black seemed afraid to get into a scrimmage. I am thinking it may have been Team Blue with Stephanie and Amelia! Team Chestnut won the runner up game...Gody really liked getting in the way of the ball, and Shawn surprised me my being willing to get right into the crowd.
Next we did an individual challenge...Wolfgang won with Michelle, Percy was second with Laureen, Shawn was third with Roberta, and Izzy was forth with Margie.
Neither Izzy nor Riley were thrilled with the crowds, so events like this is a good preparation for showing...although perhaps Margie would have liked some warning about Izzy's fear of noises...
Beth rode Flicka who it turns out matches Percy perfectly...I think the first 10 minutes was the geldings all eyeing her! Flicka seemed confused by the game and wanted to herd and cut the ball rather than push it...she is a cow horse at heart!
Thanks to everyone who came and to Rob who bar-b-q'ed!
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
Horse Racing at its finest.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdmsRcsl_xA&feature=player_embedded
This is clips from a horse racing video game in Japan.
I am sure Saki was involved.
I am not sure the point of the game, but I think the inventors should be held for psychiatric evaluation...
This is clips from a horse racing video game in Japan.
I am sure Saki was involved.
I am not sure the point of the game, but I think the inventors should be held for psychiatric evaluation...
Lessons this week
I am really hoping I can finish out the week teaching outside, so rain, STAY AWAY.
This might be the last week we can really do evening lessons outside as the sun is setting so much earlier.
We are working on two things this week: the halt, rein-back & trot transition, and keeping an even rhythm at the jumps
For the halt rein-back & trot, we are first going to make sure all the horses CAN rein-back reasonably well. To ask for the rein-back, first make sure you come to a complete halt. Then tip slightly forward onto the front edge of your seat bones, put your leg back to create energy, but then block that energy with the hands so the horse backs. If you need to, use your voice. To then move forward into a walk or trot, you sit up and give a bit with the hands. When you get it right, it will be that the horse lifts its leg as if to continue back, but you then transfer the motion to forward, and that leg steps forward instead of back.
For finding rhythm at the jumps, we will be doing canter poles, and then cantering jumps with placement poles both in front of and after the jumps. This will help with horses that tend to rush or stall at the jumps.
Karen
This might be the last week we can really do evening lessons outside as the sun is setting so much earlier.
We are working on two things this week: the halt, rein-back & trot transition, and keeping an even rhythm at the jumps
For the halt rein-back & trot, we are first going to make sure all the horses CAN rein-back reasonably well. To ask for the rein-back, first make sure you come to a complete halt. Then tip slightly forward onto the front edge of your seat bones, put your leg back to create energy, but then block that energy with the hands so the horse backs. If you need to, use your voice. To then move forward into a walk or trot, you sit up and give a bit with the hands. When you get it right, it will be that the horse lifts its leg as if to continue back, but you then transfer the motion to forward, and that leg steps forward instead of back.
For finding rhythm at the jumps, we will be doing canter poles, and then cantering jumps with placement poles both in front of and after the jumps. This will help with horses that tend to rush or stall at the jumps.
Karen
Busy times!
This has been a busy few days!
Saturday was the last of the year's Rookie horse shows at Maple Leaf Meadows. I really enjoy their shows, but it would be nice if more "intro to showing" barns came out to play so the classes could be more competitive! We had some lovely rounds on Saturday (even Zander almost looked like a hunter) and the ribbons would mean more if there was more competition. Hopefully I can post some of the pictures Laureen took of she show when I get some time/energy to go through them all!
MLM has another show this year: it is on the 21st of September, and features Dressage, Hunter and Jumper classes. As always, students are welcome to take lesson horses. This is a great warm up for anyone thinking of going to the Amberlea Harvest horse show at the end of the September.
Yesterday (Monday) was Clare Patershuk's memorial. It was held at the Artery in a kind of scary part of town, but a pretty cool venue that we found out meant a lot to Clare. The memorial was very emotional, and I learnt a lot about the other facets of Clare's life outside of horses. I hadn't planned to say anything at the Memorial, but after Clare's mom got up to talk, and I saw the rawness of her pain, it occurred to me that it didn't really matter what I had to say, but just that I say something...her parents need to know she mattered and still matters, and that hopefully the good memories and positive experiences can eventually shine brighter than the tragedy of her death.
Rob and I had to head home to feed the horses, but we both wish we could have stayed for the music. They had played one song about a Sway Backed Mule which was awesome, so I would have liked to hear more.
Remember this Saturday is going to be a barn get together/bar-b-q and soccer game! Hoping people can make it!
Karen
Saturday was the last of the year's Rookie horse shows at Maple Leaf Meadows. I really enjoy their shows, but it would be nice if more "intro to showing" barns came out to play so the classes could be more competitive! We had some lovely rounds on Saturday (even Zander almost looked like a hunter) and the ribbons would mean more if there was more competition. Hopefully I can post some of the pictures Laureen took of she show when I get some time/energy to go through them all!
MLM has another show this year: it is on the 21st of September, and features Dressage, Hunter and Jumper classes. As always, students are welcome to take lesson horses. This is a great warm up for anyone thinking of going to the Amberlea Harvest horse show at the end of the September.
Yesterday (Monday) was Clare Patershuk's memorial. It was held at the Artery in a kind of scary part of town, but a pretty cool venue that we found out meant a lot to Clare. The memorial was very emotional, and I learnt a lot about the other facets of Clare's life outside of horses. I hadn't planned to say anything at the Memorial, but after Clare's mom got up to talk, and I saw the rawness of her pain, it occurred to me that it didn't really matter what I had to say, but just that I say something...her parents need to know she mattered and still matters, and that hopefully the good memories and positive experiences can eventually shine brighter than the tragedy of her death.
Rob and I had to head home to feed the horses, but we both wish we could have stayed for the music. They had played one song about a Sway Backed Mule which was awesome, so I would have liked to hear more.
Remember this Saturday is going to be a barn get together/bar-b-q and soccer game! Hoping people can make it!
Karen
Friday, August 23, 2013
Next Saturday...
Mark the 31st on you Calendar! We are hoping for good weather so we can have a Hillside Bar-B-Q, photo day and soccer game! Bring your own cameras, and we will use the best to make a Hillside Year Book! Family is welcome to attend!
Normally Hillside provides the beverages, but if we are doing a Bar-B-Q, perhaps this year we will provide burgers instead? Although be forewarned they may be weird non-beef burgers...
We would appreciate some idea of how many guests to expect, so let me know if you are able to attend!
Also let me know if you want to ride in the soccer game :) I am thinking teams of 2 or 3, so we will see how many teams we can get together. I am thinking we may draw for teams to make it more fair.
Planning on starting around noon. Lessons will go as scheduled from 9:30-11:30. Help taking jumps down would be appreciated.
Karen
Normally Hillside provides the beverages, but if we are doing a Bar-B-Q, perhaps this year we will provide burgers instead? Although be forewarned they may be weird non-beef burgers...
We would appreciate some idea of how many guests to expect, so let me know if you are able to attend!
Also let me know if you want to ride in the soccer game :) I am thinking teams of 2 or 3, so we will see how many teams we can get together. I am thinking we may draw for teams to make it more fair.
Planning on starting around noon. Lessons will go as scheduled from 9:30-11:30. Help taking jumps down would be appreciated.
Karen
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
What if...
Lindsay was texting me about yet another show name she thought of for Java...and I had a thought...what if our horses also got to pick show names for us?
I am sure Izzy, Dani and Rocket would name me "Cookie Dispenser" or "Piñata"
Other names I could see horses wanting to name their riders:
- Lay off the Cheesecake (I think this is what Wolf would want to be calling Michelle right about now)
- Princess Pulls a Lot
- Lean and Chip
- Squeaks (you know who you are...)
- MissDirection
- Chatterbox
- GrabMane
I am sure Izzy, Dani and Rocket would name me "Cookie Dispenser" or "Piñata"
Other names I could see horses wanting to name their riders:
- Lay off the Cheesecake (I think this is what Wolf would want to be calling Michelle right about now)
- Princess Pulls a Lot
- Lean and Chip
- Squeaks (you know who you are...)
- MissDirection
- Chatterbox
- GrabMane
This week in lessons...
I am hoping I will be able to teach outside by later in the week, but it seems determined to just keep raining a little bit more each time I get hopeful. For now plan on being inside where we will be working on learning and riding patterns. For the flat portion there will be a pattern that combines trot and canter poles, with leg yielding and a small jump. For jumping we will be doing a hunter course in order to prepare for the show this weekend. Hopefully riders will remember to LOOK where they are going in the air to prompt landing the lead!
Sunday, August 18, 2013
Important Dates
Important upcoming dates:
August 24: Maple Leaf Meadows horse show
August 26: 7pm, The Artery. Memorial/function to remember Clare Patershuk.
September 14: 10am-2pm Delaney Vet Services Open House
August 24: Maple Leaf Meadows horse show
August 26: 7pm, The Artery. Memorial/function to remember Clare Patershuk.
September 14: 10am-2pm Delaney Vet Services Open House
And I was stung by a bee
Spent a long weekend judging horse shows.
Saturday sent me to Westlock where I found more than a horse show...there was a complete carnival, chuck wagon races, chariot races, physic fair and cow show! Quite the event indeed.
Some nice horses attended the horse show, and it was fun to judge, albeit a little warm standing in the middle of a sand ring for 8 hours! With prize money in all the classes (except bareback), some of the competitors had a pretty good pay day that would put dressage and some jumping shows to shame.
I was a little disappointed that there were no foals in the foal class, and only one yearling, but it was a very nice welsh yearling. In a later halter class there was a miniature horse braided up like a big draft...it was very cute!
We had some excitement in some of the classes with horses spooking at a sponsor banner blowing in the breeze and the excitement of the cows nearby. These open shows really test a horse's character!
There was one horse who really didn't want to be in the ring, to the point I actually had to ask them to leave a class...the horse would throw its head straight in the air and just head to the outgate regardless of any horses standing in the way. Later the owner was talking to me...turns out the horse was in some other classes and placing well but with a more experienced rider. The moral of this, is that naughty/nervous horses are just as often an issue with the rider rather than with the horse. Something I wish the riders that punished their horses for being fearful would learn and understand. It really bothers me to see someone (usually kids) yanking on their horse or spurring it when it is nervous. This is simply fear and lack of knowledge equally violence, and the adults in these kids lives need to teach them to take a moment and think with empathy before reacting with aggression. Good life lesson.
Sunday was judging trail in Darwell. Darwell is also a fair with cows and such. I judged the open show last year and was invited to do Trail this year. At these open shows, competitors who want to try for High Point have to do the trail element. Because trail takes so much time, it is held in a separate ring, and people go compete as they have time. We had set the class time to be from 10 to 2, so Rob and I got there for 9:30 to make sure the course was set up properly, and to post the courses.
Rob then took the dogs to Lac St. Anne for some boating adventures, and I waited for my first competitor. And waited. Then I got stung by a bee. I have never been stung by a bee before. It was gross...they leave behind bee gunk and a stinger. A stinger that needed tweezers to remove before my hand (the right one of course) swelled like a balloon. The trail course wasn't really that far from the main show ring, but the path between the two was fenced with field fence (not climbable), so it was a bit of a walk to the show office...and then to the concession to find a set of tweezers...meanwhile my hand swelled up to completely suck in the stinger. So that was fun.
Then back to the show ring...to continue waiting. I don't think my first rider showed up until noon. 2 entire hours I could have been elsewhere. I should have brought a book! At least it was nice out. The actual class itself was fun to judge! I was a little worried by course was too hard, but enough riders did it well, and only a couple couldn't do some semblance of each obstacle, so hopefully the competitors thought it was fair. The hardest advanced elements were a counter canter/lope over 2 poles, the side pass over a short pole, and having to back between two barrels, then around a barrel, then back between the first two barrels. For the novices it was more just remembering where to go!
An interesting observation was that when doing elements involving backing between obstacles, most horses (or was it their rider's) ended up being aimed right at the element they were avoiding! A couple horses almost sat on a barrel, and more than a few stepped on a pole in the novice backing challenge.
Overall though, it was not a bad weekend's work. Thanks to Beth and Stephanie for looking after the barn on Saturday so I could be in Westlock!
Karen
....I would suggest next year we should go compete at some of these shows...but our horses would have to be able to function in sight of a cow, and I am not sure ours would!
Saturday sent me to Westlock where I found more than a horse show...there was a complete carnival, chuck wagon races, chariot races, physic fair and cow show! Quite the event indeed.
Some nice horses attended the horse show, and it was fun to judge, albeit a little warm standing in the middle of a sand ring for 8 hours! With prize money in all the classes (except bareback), some of the competitors had a pretty good pay day that would put dressage and some jumping shows to shame.
I was a little disappointed that there were no foals in the foal class, and only one yearling, but it was a very nice welsh yearling. In a later halter class there was a miniature horse braided up like a big draft...it was very cute!
We had some excitement in some of the classes with horses spooking at a sponsor banner blowing in the breeze and the excitement of the cows nearby. These open shows really test a horse's character!
There was one horse who really didn't want to be in the ring, to the point I actually had to ask them to leave a class...the horse would throw its head straight in the air and just head to the outgate regardless of any horses standing in the way. Later the owner was talking to me...turns out the horse was in some other classes and placing well but with a more experienced rider. The moral of this, is that naughty/nervous horses are just as often an issue with the rider rather than with the horse. Something I wish the riders that punished their horses for being fearful would learn and understand. It really bothers me to see someone (usually kids) yanking on their horse or spurring it when it is nervous. This is simply fear and lack of knowledge equally violence, and the adults in these kids lives need to teach them to take a moment and think with empathy before reacting with aggression. Good life lesson.
Sunday was judging trail in Darwell. Darwell is also a fair with cows and such. I judged the open show last year and was invited to do Trail this year. At these open shows, competitors who want to try for High Point have to do the trail element. Because trail takes so much time, it is held in a separate ring, and people go compete as they have time. We had set the class time to be from 10 to 2, so Rob and I got there for 9:30 to make sure the course was set up properly, and to post the courses.
Rob then took the dogs to Lac St. Anne for some boating adventures, and I waited for my first competitor. And waited. Then I got stung by a bee. I have never been stung by a bee before. It was gross...they leave behind bee gunk and a stinger. A stinger that needed tweezers to remove before my hand (the right one of course) swelled like a balloon. The trail course wasn't really that far from the main show ring, but the path between the two was fenced with field fence (not climbable), so it was a bit of a walk to the show office...and then to the concession to find a set of tweezers...meanwhile my hand swelled up to completely suck in the stinger. So that was fun.
Then back to the show ring...to continue waiting. I don't think my first rider showed up until noon. 2 entire hours I could have been elsewhere. I should have brought a book! At least it was nice out. The actual class itself was fun to judge! I was a little worried by course was too hard, but enough riders did it well, and only a couple couldn't do some semblance of each obstacle, so hopefully the competitors thought it was fair. The hardest advanced elements were a counter canter/lope over 2 poles, the side pass over a short pole, and having to back between two barrels, then around a barrel, then back between the first two barrels. For the novices it was more just remembering where to go!
An interesting observation was that when doing elements involving backing between obstacles, most horses (or was it their rider's) ended up being aimed right at the element they were avoiding! A couple horses almost sat on a barrel, and more than a few stepped on a pole in the novice backing challenge.
Overall though, it was not a bad weekend's work. Thanks to Beth and Stephanie for looking after the barn on Saturday so I could be in Westlock!
Karen
....I would suggest next year we should go compete at some of these shows...but our horses would have to be able to function in sight of a cow, and I am not sure ours would!
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
New horses and other news.
I have been slow updating, but we have two new horses at the barn!
Horse #1 is Flicka, She is a lovely Quarter Horse pony that is in training to learn to be ridden English for a young girl. Flicka was a well trained western horse, but has been sitting for a few years, so needs a complete refresher. Hopefully her training progresses well, and then she will be available for students who want extra riding to ride to give her as much experience as possible. So far I have longed her to get used to the English tack, and been on her briefly. She has an AWESOME jog, so almost seems a waste to make her an English horse, but maybe she can be an all rounder.
Horse #2 is Duncan...Janine's new horse! He is also a Quarter Horse, but at the complete opposite end of the gene pool as he is tall and stream lined! Harder to imagine him chasing cows as he resembles the race horse side of the Quarter horse world...but same kind eye and sweet personality.
Not sure what it is about the influx of Quarter horses...but, at least one of them is a chestnut, so chestnuts still rule Hillside!
Karen
Horse #1 is Flicka, She is a lovely Quarter Horse pony that is in training to learn to be ridden English for a young girl. Flicka was a well trained western horse, but has been sitting for a few years, so needs a complete refresher. Hopefully her training progresses well, and then she will be available for students who want extra riding to ride to give her as much experience as possible. So far I have longed her to get used to the English tack, and been on her briefly. She has an AWESOME jog, so almost seems a waste to make her an English horse, but maybe she can be an all rounder.
Horse #2 is Duncan...Janine's new horse! He is also a Quarter Horse, but at the complete opposite end of the gene pool as he is tall and stream lined! Harder to imagine him chasing cows as he resembles the race horse side of the Quarter horse world...but same kind eye and sweet personality.
Not sure what it is about the influx of Quarter horses...but, at least one of them is a chestnut, so chestnuts still rule Hillside!
Karen
Friday, August 9, 2013
Adventures in Oven Cleaning
When I was growing up, we were led to believe that we would have hover cars, eat pills for nutrients, and have our own personal robot servants. Ensure has come close to the pills for nutrients, but as for the rest, the future has been pretty much a let down.
So in light of the above, who can blame me for not paying attention to the task of cleaning an oven?
When I lived alone I didn't use the oven enough to ever clean it, but a few weeks ago, it occurred to me that perhaps ovens shouldn't have a layer of dinner remains scarred to the bottom, and that perhaps the window at the front should be able to be seen through.
This was my first mistake. I should have realized the door opens so who needs the window, and the burnt food particles at the bottom of the oven just add flavour to whatever I am cooking...mesquite!
Next mistake was believing the "Odour Free" label on the can of oven cleaner. They don't really mean Odour Free. It stinks...a lot...what they mean is it will get you high so quickly that you will soon not notice the horrid smell you are spraying into the thing that you make dinner in.
But I read the label, and sprayed the spray, and shut the door as it said to. Then I needed fresh air. Badly. So I went to the barn, chatted, rode Izzy, fed the horses....and forgot about the oven.
Until 2 weeks later when I went to pre-heat the oven to make dinner (yummy Salmon!).
Do you know what happens when you turn the oven on without rinsing off the Oven Cleaner?
I will tell you what happens.
Visible vapours start to pour out of the stove top elements and out the door. Your throat will close and you will feel faint. Your husband will say "something smells funny" but not bother to get up from the sofa where he is watching TV while you lie spasming on the floor. Fortunately stoves have range fans, unfortunately the cloud of killer fumes will continue to find their way out of the oven for the next hour even though the oven wasn't allowed to get that hot.
Then the dilemma becomes what to do next. The "Easy Off" spray is now BAKED on to the inside of the stove like a sticky greasy layer that was way worse than the former layer of fat, grease and fallen food particles, and the element in the oven will have a sickly grey tinge.
My choice was to just use the toaster oven for the next while.
It then occurred to me that maybe I just needed to Easy Off it again, but this time actually rinse it after the suggested two hours. So I did that. And now my oven has moderately less burnt on gunk on the bottom and the window can now be seen through more or less. But I am afraid to turn the oven on ever again in case I missed a spot of cleaner and infuse our next dinner with toxic fumes that will render me blind and leave me saying "like" five times a sentence. It was not worth it. I think they should just sell disposable oven doors, and I will get one of those tin trays to put at the bottom of my oven, and cleaning the thing be damned. Or take out. That is the worst part of country living...no dinner delivery!
Of maybe you damn kids should get off the computer and get around to inventing that Robot servant like I was promised when I was 8 years old!
Karen
So in light of the above, who can blame me for not paying attention to the task of cleaning an oven?
When I lived alone I didn't use the oven enough to ever clean it, but a few weeks ago, it occurred to me that perhaps ovens shouldn't have a layer of dinner remains scarred to the bottom, and that perhaps the window at the front should be able to be seen through.
This was my first mistake. I should have realized the door opens so who needs the window, and the burnt food particles at the bottom of the oven just add flavour to whatever I am cooking...mesquite!
Next mistake was believing the "Odour Free" label on the can of oven cleaner. They don't really mean Odour Free. It stinks...a lot...what they mean is it will get you high so quickly that you will soon not notice the horrid smell you are spraying into the thing that you make dinner in.
But I read the label, and sprayed the spray, and shut the door as it said to. Then I needed fresh air. Badly. So I went to the barn, chatted, rode Izzy, fed the horses....and forgot about the oven.
Until 2 weeks later when I went to pre-heat the oven to make dinner (yummy Salmon!).
Do you know what happens when you turn the oven on without rinsing off the Oven Cleaner?
I will tell you what happens.
Visible vapours start to pour out of the stove top elements and out the door. Your throat will close and you will feel faint. Your husband will say "something smells funny" but not bother to get up from the sofa where he is watching TV while you lie spasming on the floor. Fortunately stoves have range fans, unfortunately the cloud of killer fumes will continue to find their way out of the oven for the next hour even though the oven wasn't allowed to get that hot.
Then the dilemma becomes what to do next. The "Easy Off" spray is now BAKED on to the inside of the stove like a sticky greasy layer that was way worse than the former layer of fat, grease and fallen food particles, and the element in the oven will have a sickly grey tinge.
My choice was to just use the toaster oven for the next while.
It then occurred to me that maybe I just needed to Easy Off it again, but this time actually rinse it after the suggested two hours. So I did that. And now my oven has moderately less burnt on gunk on the bottom and the window can now be seen through more or less. But I am afraid to turn the oven on ever again in case I missed a spot of cleaner and infuse our next dinner with toxic fumes that will render me blind and leave me saying "like" five times a sentence. It was not worth it. I think they should just sell disposable oven doors, and I will get one of those tin trays to put at the bottom of my oven, and cleaning the thing be damned. Or take out. That is the worst part of country living...no dinner delivery!
Of maybe you damn kids should get off the computer and get around to inventing that Robot servant like I was promised when I was 8 years old!
Karen
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
Things you should not let your horse over hear....
You just got work benefits....because your horse will make sure you NEED that chiropractor
You ran out of horse cookies...see above result.
You have put the horse up for sale...because it will put its leg through the fence requiring a long recovery.
You have entered a show that requires braids....because it will ensure it rubs out the center part of the mane.
Your farrier is away for a week....it will be sure to pull a shoe.
It is the first day of a long holiday weekend...as it will do something requiring at least one emergency vet call.
You have someone coming to take photos of you riding...it will be sure to wipe green slime across your boobs...even if you made sure not to let it grab any grass on the way to the ring.
Your mom who is terrified of horses is watching you ride...as your normally lovely horse will step on your toe in the barn, and buck you off in the ring and take off galloping.
You got a bonus/raise at work...your horse will suddenly change shape and need a new saddle, or rip its blanket needing a new one or need a major vet appointment.
"He never spooks"....no horse wants to feel taken for granted...he will find something to spook at...particularly if this comment was in a sales ad and you are in the process of showing the horse to someone...
Karen
You ran out of horse cookies...see above result.
You have put the horse up for sale...because it will put its leg through the fence requiring a long recovery.
You have entered a show that requires braids....because it will ensure it rubs out the center part of the mane.
Your farrier is away for a week....it will be sure to pull a shoe.
It is the first day of a long holiday weekend...as it will do something requiring at least one emergency vet call.
You have someone coming to take photos of you riding...it will be sure to wipe green slime across your boobs...even if you made sure not to let it grab any grass on the way to the ring.
Your mom who is terrified of horses is watching you ride...as your normally lovely horse will step on your toe in the barn, and buck you off in the ring and take off galloping.
You got a bonus/raise at work...your horse will suddenly change shape and need a new saddle, or rip its blanket needing a new one or need a major vet appointment.
"He never spooks"....no horse wants to feel taken for granted...he will find something to spook at...particularly if this comment was in a sales ad and you are in the process of showing the horse to someone...
Karen
Sunday, August 4, 2013
Izzy Show update
As many of you know, Izzy and I were showing this weekend at the first annual Sparkles and Spurs dressage show at Maple Leaf Meadows. It was a Gold rated show, meaning horses needed passports, owners needed to feel the need to spend $$$ to dress in silly outfits and be told what they are doing wrong, and the judges were rated to judge at a National/International level.
This was Izzy's first "real" show, having done two schooling shows (one last year, and one this spring), and one 3" hunter show...the 3" hunter show went well, but at her previous dressage shows we had some pretty big issues with nerves and Izzy's fear of people coughing or dropping pencils...
I chose this show as it allowed us to haul back and forth...something unheard of at other Gold rated dressage shows. I figured as we live at the same location, easier to just haul her back and forth than to worry about her dinner and breakfast feedings.
Schooling was Friday, and I had planned to leave early to give us lots of time to see the rings and such, but blue truck was not cooperating, and Rob had to take me later with white truck. Got there to see a few trailers there already, and one horse being ridden one of the dressage rings. Took Izzy for a walk to find her stall (day stall) and was relieved to find we weren't in one of the portable stalls in the (scary) coverall, but rather we were in the Princess Extra Large stall right beside the porta potty and warm up ring! Score!
Got on to hack, and stuck to the plan of walking until she relaxed, and then schooled her in both show rings (set up side by side in the sand ring). They had it decorated with flowers, and Izzy was being good. They didn't have the judges booths set up yet though, so I was a little worried about that causing some grief, but as it was the only things she really spooked at was the garbage bag covered speakers...particularly when the suddenly boomed noise as we walked by!
I was on her for about an hour...long enough for both of us to be sweaty and feeling prepared and done for the day...meanwhile the bay horse that was schooling in the ring when we first pulled up was STILL SCHOOLING. Pretty sure if you can't get it done in an hour and a half the day before a show, it isn't going to happen. But who knows, maybe they kicked my butt all weekend...
Hauled home, Rob got Blue truck working. Headed back to show after teaching on Saturday. Notice that the parking lot is crammed full. Fortunately the first person I see is Diana the steward and we discuss my parking behind the indoor arena...super close to my stall, the warm up and to shade! Score!
Also notice that the judges booths are trucks. They just aimed trucks at C. I had not thought to school riding straight at trucks. Fortunately it seems that horses in genera, and Izzy included, are not afraid of trucks and these were non-traumatizing a compared to the fancy booths at most shows! Not sure how they would be to judge/scribe in though...I would assume hot?
Went to the nice indoor to school for first class. Izzy is terrified of that ring. I think it is the windows to the kitchen area that bother her the most. They are positioned such that the people behind them are just bodies...neither legs nor heads are visible...just torsos. Not really the most attractive part of most humans when missing the context of limbs and head....
I figured I needed to work past this silliness and work on her submission so we did lots of shapes, transitions and laterals. She continued to eye the one person in the stands with great suspicion. I think he had been yelled at enough by his dressage girl friend that he did NOT MOVE A MUSCLE the entire time...which possibly made Izzy even more suspicious. My big worry is that we would crash into one of the many fancy warmbloods, however that embarrassment was avoided.
Time for our class (first level test 2) so we head over to the ring. It is a bit of a walk, and I can feel her relaxing the further we get from the indoor arena. This seems like a good thing. Until we get into the show ring. And suddenly Izzy is completely deflated and in need of a nap. And so am I. We are supposed to halt, salute, then go across the diagonal in lengthened trot but I have nothing...all the forward I had was left in the warm up ring running from disembodied torsos. Her leg yields were good though, and her walk on a long rein, and we managed a 60 point something which was good enough for third. (I debated checking my score before my second class just in case it disheartened me, but in the end curiosity won out and I did. I did not get my test though until after I was done my second test...but only because I had to go up stairs to do so)
Two hours before my next test. (Second level test 2). Our first attempt at Second Level. Really, I shouldn't be showing second as I am still schooling it, but I wanted judge's feedback to know I was on the right track. The $50 entry per class is less than the $100 lesson fee it seems local dressage coaches charge, so it made sense to me...we will see if Rob agrees after he reads this....anyway... this time I thought I would warm up less as she was tired, so we just did some jogging around the ring to try to relax her. This was ok until I was left alone in the ring and poor Izzy was very aware that if the devil at the end of the ring was going to eat something it was likely her and she really wanted out.
So we headed to the ring...and halt salute...and whinny. And Whinny. Poor Izzy was not happy. Horses in the parking lot and coverall arena shared her sorrow by calling back. I just could not get her to relax. I think she was at the point of being over tired to the point of silliness. Anyone who has been at, or around a tween girl sleepover knows how that goes. Score for that test: 51%. The odd thing was that our movements scored low, but our collective marks (overall impressions) were ok. Normally it is the opposite. So I figure the judge saw some rays of hope. Done for the day so I put her in her giant stall to cool off while I got ready to take us home...and she proceeded to prance laps in her stall.
Sunday I rode earlier: 10:30 ride time, so I left for the show right after chores, then made up a new style of braid as the buttons I had done for Saturday were apparently the most itchy things EVER, and I hate how running braids pucker...so I evented an ugly but functional running scallop braid combo. Izzy approved. She apparently has as little fashion sense as I do.
First test was again the First Level test 2. I tried a new tactic in warm up by avoiding the scary end, and I think this really helped her be able to not get tense as she felt more relaxed in the bridle. She was however about as tired as I was for the class, so there were a few requests that required a second ask with the help of spurs. Ended up with a very slightly higher score, under a slightly harsher judge, and so placed second! She also got a 7 for her gaits which made me pretty happy.
Two and a half hour wait until our Second level test. Time felt like it was standing still. I watched some upper level rides, had lunch, mooched watermelon, had a discussion on AQHA's recent court case regarding cloning, discussed when whips were allowed in classes, argued if there was breed prejudice in dressage, had a nap, cleaned all my tack...and still had over an hour to go. Short warm up, with the goal for this class to be less rushed as that had been a recurring theme in the comments from the day before. We definitely were less rushed, but also tired and our first canter/walk transition ended up being a canter/halt transition, and our second walk/canter transition ended up being a go sideways and then LEAP into the canter. Still, I felt it was better, and the score reflected improvement with a 56+% percent and a fourth. We also got a 7 for our first Renvers.
Apparently our turn on the haunches need a lot of work though, as do our transitions down from the Medium or lengthened gaits. It is just taking too many strides. I also really need to work on making her back round (When I told her I wanted her to be rounder she thought I meant in the belly which she has been working on as much as possible...). It also seems that when tired I get crooked without knowing it. I had no comments on being crooked on Saturday, but today both judges commented on it. I need to work on that!
Overall pretty happy with Izzy and thought the show itself was really well run, with fabulous volunteers which of course are who makes the show a success or failure! Best part? Prize money! Ok, not a lot of prize money, but the $35 Izzy won at this show means my total life time winnings in dressage are $40 and a saddle pad...dressage shows just aren't known for prize money. And it gives me something to put in her passport!
Previously I have show warmbloods in dressage, and there is some benefit to having a lofty moving warmblood. The way movements are scored, you get a 5 if the judge can recognise what you are trying to do, and you score more for doing it well. On a good moving horse, the judge kind of starts you off as a 7 or 8, and if can go up or down from there based on how well you do the movement. On a poor moving horse you are starting at a 5 or 6 and moving up or down from there. This is fair and not breed prejudice, as dressage was made for the warmblood type horse...if it was made for Arabians it would include a lot of hand galloping and hollow backed movements.... My reason for having a little Arabian is that I find her gaits easier to manage and she makes me feel safer even when I can't feel my legs. And she doesn't pull. And her neck is shorter so less braiding needed. Overall, Izzy scored three 6s and one 7 for movement, so I think we are on our way to being able to get decent scores and moving up the levels if I can stay on the right track with her.
Next show for her? I am hoping Harvest in September if I can get her less fearful of sounds!
Karen
This was Izzy's first "real" show, having done two schooling shows (one last year, and one this spring), and one 3" hunter show...the 3" hunter show went well, but at her previous dressage shows we had some pretty big issues with nerves and Izzy's fear of people coughing or dropping pencils...
I chose this show as it allowed us to haul back and forth...something unheard of at other Gold rated dressage shows. I figured as we live at the same location, easier to just haul her back and forth than to worry about her dinner and breakfast feedings.
Schooling was Friday, and I had planned to leave early to give us lots of time to see the rings and such, but blue truck was not cooperating, and Rob had to take me later with white truck. Got there to see a few trailers there already, and one horse being ridden one of the dressage rings. Took Izzy for a walk to find her stall (day stall) and was relieved to find we weren't in one of the portable stalls in the (scary) coverall, but rather we were in the Princess Extra Large stall right beside the porta potty and warm up ring! Score!
Got on to hack, and stuck to the plan of walking until she relaxed, and then schooled her in both show rings (set up side by side in the sand ring). They had it decorated with flowers, and Izzy was being good. They didn't have the judges booths set up yet though, so I was a little worried about that causing some grief, but as it was the only things she really spooked at was the garbage bag covered speakers...particularly when the suddenly boomed noise as we walked by!
I was on her for about an hour...long enough for both of us to be sweaty and feeling prepared and done for the day...meanwhile the bay horse that was schooling in the ring when we first pulled up was STILL SCHOOLING. Pretty sure if you can't get it done in an hour and a half the day before a show, it isn't going to happen. But who knows, maybe they kicked my butt all weekend...
Hauled home, Rob got Blue truck working. Headed back to show after teaching on Saturday. Notice that the parking lot is crammed full. Fortunately the first person I see is Diana the steward and we discuss my parking behind the indoor arena...super close to my stall, the warm up and to shade! Score!
Also notice that the judges booths are trucks. They just aimed trucks at C. I had not thought to school riding straight at trucks. Fortunately it seems that horses in genera, and Izzy included, are not afraid of trucks and these were non-traumatizing a compared to the fancy booths at most shows! Not sure how they would be to judge/scribe in though...I would assume hot?
Went to the nice indoor to school for first class. Izzy is terrified of that ring. I think it is the windows to the kitchen area that bother her the most. They are positioned such that the people behind them are just bodies...neither legs nor heads are visible...just torsos. Not really the most attractive part of most humans when missing the context of limbs and head....
I figured I needed to work past this silliness and work on her submission so we did lots of shapes, transitions and laterals. She continued to eye the one person in the stands with great suspicion. I think he had been yelled at enough by his dressage girl friend that he did NOT MOVE A MUSCLE the entire time...which possibly made Izzy even more suspicious. My big worry is that we would crash into one of the many fancy warmbloods, however that embarrassment was avoided.
Time for our class (first level test 2) so we head over to the ring. It is a bit of a walk, and I can feel her relaxing the further we get from the indoor arena. This seems like a good thing. Until we get into the show ring. And suddenly Izzy is completely deflated and in need of a nap. And so am I. We are supposed to halt, salute, then go across the diagonal in lengthened trot but I have nothing...all the forward I had was left in the warm up ring running from disembodied torsos. Her leg yields were good though, and her walk on a long rein, and we managed a 60 point something which was good enough for third. (I debated checking my score before my second class just in case it disheartened me, but in the end curiosity won out and I did. I did not get my test though until after I was done my second test...but only because I had to go up stairs to do so)
Two hours before my next test. (Second level test 2). Our first attempt at Second Level. Really, I shouldn't be showing second as I am still schooling it, but I wanted judge's feedback to know I was on the right track. The $50 entry per class is less than the $100 lesson fee it seems local dressage coaches charge, so it made sense to me...we will see if Rob agrees after he reads this....anyway... this time I thought I would warm up less as she was tired, so we just did some jogging around the ring to try to relax her. This was ok until I was left alone in the ring and poor Izzy was very aware that if the devil at the end of the ring was going to eat something it was likely her and she really wanted out.
So we headed to the ring...and halt salute...and whinny. And Whinny. Poor Izzy was not happy. Horses in the parking lot and coverall arena shared her sorrow by calling back. I just could not get her to relax. I think she was at the point of being over tired to the point of silliness. Anyone who has been at, or around a tween girl sleepover knows how that goes. Score for that test: 51%. The odd thing was that our movements scored low, but our collective marks (overall impressions) were ok. Normally it is the opposite. So I figure the judge saw some rays of hope. Done for the day so I put her in her giant stall to cool off while I got ready to take us home...and she proceeded to prance laps in her stall.
Sunday I rode earlier: 10:30 ride time, so I left for the show right after chores, then made up a new style of braid as the buttons I had done for Saturday were apparently the most itchy things EVER, and I hate how running braids pucker...so I evented an ugly but functional running scallop braid combo. Izzy approved. She apparently has as little fashion sense as I do.
First test was again the First Level test 2. I tried a new tactic in warm up by avoiding the scary end, and I think this really helped her be able to not get tense as she felt more relaxed in the bridle. She was however about as tired as I was for the class, so there were a few requests that required a second ask with the help of spurs. Ended up with a very slightly higher score, under a slightly harsher judge, and so placed second! She also got a 7 for her gaits which made me pretty happy.
Two and a half hour wait until our Second level test. Time felt like it was standing still. I watched some upper level rides, had lunch, mooched watermelon, had a discussion on AQHA's recent court case regarding cloning, discussed when whips were allowed in classes, argued if there was breed prejudice in dressage, had a nap, cleaned all my tack...and still had over an hour to go. Short warm up, with the goal for this class to be less rushed as that had been a recurring theme in the comments from the day before. We definitely were less rushed, but also tired and our first canter/walk transition ended up being a canter/halt transition, and our second walk/canter transition ended up being a go sideways and then LEAP into the canter. Still, I felt it was better, and the score reflected improvement with a 56+% percent and a fourth. We also got a 7 for our first Renvers.
Apparently our turn on the haunches need a lot of work though, as do our transitions down from the Medium or lengthened gaits. It is just taking too many strides. I also really need to work on making her back round (When I told her I wanted her to be rounder she thought I meant in the belly which she has been working on as much as possible...). It also seems that when tired I get crooked without knowing it. I had no comments on being crooked on Saturday, but today both judges commented on it. I need to work on that!
Overall pretty happy with Izzy and thought the show itself was really well run, with fabulous volunteers which of course are who makes the show a success or failure! Best part? Prize money! Ok, not a lot of prize money, but the $35 Izzy won at this show means my total life time winnings in dressage are $40 and a saddle pad...dressage shows just aren't known for prize money. And it gives me something to put in her passport!
Previously I have show warmbloods in dressage, and there is some benefit to having a lofty moving warmblood. The way movements are scored, you get a 5 if the judge can recognise what you are trying to do, and you score more for doing it well. On a good moving horse, the judge kind of starts you off as a 7 or 8, and if can go up or down from there based on how well you do the movement. On a poor moving horse you are starting at a 5 or 6 and moving up or down from there. This is fair and not breed prejudice, as dressage was made for the warmblood type horse...if it was made for Arabians it would include a lot of hand galloping and hollow backed movements.... My reason for having a little Arabian is that I find her gaits easier to manage and she makes me feel safer even when I can't feel my legs. And she doesn't pull. And her neck is shorter so less braiding needed. Overall, Izzy scored three 6s and one 7 for movement, so I think we are on our way to being able to get decent scores and moving up the levels if I can stay on the right track with her.
Next show for her? I am hoping Harvest in September if I can get her less fearful of sounds!
Karen
Friday, August 2, 2013
Adventures in horse shopping...& texting
A text conversation Friday evening. Person texting in orange, I am in black.
"You guys coming?"
"?I am not sure who this is? do you have the right person?"
"Ill take an offer"
"Still confused"
"Ya. I am selling horse (name removed to protect the likely drunk). You should buy her"
"Oh that mare. we looked at her weeks ago. She was lame"
"No, She's good. Come get her and ill give you a deal that you can't resist"
"Ok, I am busy this weekend, but will see if I have a student interested. What are you asking for her now?"
"2300 (aka same price as before) but to a good home ill take a good offer if you promise to take care of her. She's a great horse"
"Is she at the same location?"
"Yup. For 5 more days"
"What happens in 5 days?"
"Sausage"
"Just kidding"
"Giving her to a friend that wants her. And she don't want to sell her after that"
"Ok, I will keep that in mind"
So...anybody want to buy a seemingly quiet middle aged mare that is fairly pretty, decent sized, but doesn't seem to have more than basic training? I actually did really like her...she was just trimmed really short after being neglected.
And just when I thought it was over...
"come grab her ill give you a deal"
Anyone feel that maybe all cell phones should have breathalyzers?
Karen
"You guys coming?"
"?I am not sure who this is? do you have the right person?"
"Ill take an offer"
"Still confused"
"Ya. I am selling horse (name removed to protect the likely drunk). You should buy her"
"Oh that mare. we looked at her weeks ago. She was lame"
"No, She's good. Come get her and ill give you a deal that you can't resist"
"Ok, I am busy this weekend, but will see if I have a student interested. What are you asking for her now?"
"2300 (aka same price as before) but to a good home ill take a good offer if you promise to take care of her. She's a great horse"
"Is she at the same location?"
"Yup. For 5 more days"
"What happens in 5 days?"
"Sausage"
"Just kidding"
"Giving her to a friend that wants her. And she don't want to sell her after that"
"Ok, I will keep that in mind"
So...anybody want to buy a seemingly quiet middle aged mare that is fairly pretty, decent sized, but doesn't seem to have more than basic training? I actually did really like her...she was just trimmed really short after being neglected.
And just when I thought it was over...
"come grab her ill give you a deal"
Anyone feel that maybe all cell phones should have breathalyzers?
Karen
Sunday, July 28, 2013
This week in lessons...
First off, fingers cross we can be outside this week! Hopefully it doesn't rain too much early in the week...jumping outside it just so much more fun and has more options course wise.
This week in lessons we are returning to lead changes, either flying, simple or in the air. Those of you who have horses with good lead changes can sit by and gloat...
This lesson plan is a direct result of the horse show: we had some lovely jumping, but the lack of any type of lead change really made it hard to shine in the hunters!
Step one is to know if you are on the wrong lead in the first place, to know if you need to ask. If in doubt though, ride the end of the ring as deep as you can to give you time to sort yourself out, and give your horse a chance to do the lead change in case one is needed.
Lead Change type #1: Simple Change through trot. At the show, our riders seemed to know they needed to trot the change, but didn't actually get the trot, so it was just kind of a slow down then go again with no real purpose. To work on this type of change we are going to just trot at each first corner...so don't let them turn until the trot has been achieved! This will help in two ways: one, it will help you think of using the ends, and two it will help you learn to balance in the corners.
Lead Change type #2: Flying change. Some horses just don't have them...maybe they are sore, or just don't have the training, but most horses can get a change over a pole, or if really set up for them with a forward and straight canter. To get the flying change, keep the horse straight, push the horse into the corner with the inside leg back like a leg yield into the corner, then catch the horse with the outside rein and leg and ask for the change more or less like you ask for the canter from a trot/walk. Important to maintain the forward, and to ask for the haunches first so they don't drop their shoulder into the turn and loose their hind end.
Lead Change type #3: Change over the fence. This is easiest when the jump is high enough to require them to actually have all four legs off the ground and a good moment of suspension in the air. The rider needs to put their weight in the outside stirrup (but NOT lean) to encourage the horse to land with the outside front leg first, and open the inside rein off the neck. Looking in the direction of landing can also help, but if you don't want the horse to turn on the land, you have to be careful with this. Looking means turning the shoulders as well as the head! Here is a good video to illustrate this.
Likely this week we will working on lead change type #1 (Simple) and #3 (in the air) and that will likely be enough, but in some lessons we may also work on the flying changes.
Advanced flat/dressage riders will work on haunches in this week. Haunches in (Travers) requires the horse to look down the track with the haunches travelling to the inside and crossing over. The best way to set up for a haunches in is coming out of a small volte/circle. Just before the horse's front end reaches the track, the rider asks the horse to maintain the bend and step laterally along the wall rather than straighten out along the wall. Aids for the haunches in: rider looks down the track with their head/shoulders. Inside leg active at the girth to maintain bend and activity, outside leg behind the girth to hold the haunch off the track and encourage the lateral crossing. Belly button looks to the outside so that the inside seat bone is forward. Inside hand supples and keeps the horse bent and soft to the inside, outside rein against the neck to keep the shoulder from dropping to the wall.
I really like haunches in as a strengthening exercise, but you need to pair it with lengthening and straightening so that your horse doesn't end up crooked and on its forehand as a result of getting overly tired as this exercise really works their hind end!
What else may be fun this week if riders took the time to clean tack before or after riding!
Karen
This week in lessons we are returning to lead changes, either flying, simple or in the air. Those of you who have horses with good lead changes can sit by and gloat...
This lesson plan is a direct result of the horse show: we had some lovely jumping, but the lack of any type of lead change really made it hard to shine in the hunters!
Step one is to know if you are on the wrong lead in the first place, to know if you need to ask. If in doubt though, ride the end of the ring as deep as you can to give you time to sort yourself out, and give your horse a chance to do the lead change in case one is needed.
Lead Change type #1: Simple Change through trot. At the show, our riders seemed to know they needed to trot the change, but didn't actually get the trot, so it was just kind of a slow down then go again with no real purpose. To work on this type of change we are going to just trot at each first corner...so don't let them turn until the trot has been achieved! This will help in two ways: one, it will help you think of using the ends, and two it will help you learn to balance in the corners.
Lead Change type #2: Flying change. Some horses just don't have them...maybe they are sore, or just don't have the training, but most horses can get a change over a pole, or if really set up for them with a forward and straight canter. To get the flying change, keep the horse straight, push the horse into the corner with the inside leg back like a leg yield into the corner, then catch the horse with the outside rein and leg and ask for the change more or less like you ask for the canter from a trot/walk. Important to maintain the forward, and to ask for the haunches first so they don't drop their shoulder into the turn and loose their hind end.
Lead Change type #3: Change over the fence. This is easiest when the jump is high enough to require them to actually have all four legs off the ground and a good moment of suspension in the air. The rider needs to put their weight in the outside stirrup (but NOT lean) to encourage the horse to land with the outside front leg first, and open the inside rein off the neck. Looking in the direction of landing can also help, but if you don't want the horse to turn on the land, you have to be careful with this. Looking means turning the shoulders as well as the head! Here is a good video to illustrate this.
Likely this week we will working on lead change type #1 (Simple) and #3 (in the air) and that will likely be enough, but in some lessons we may also work on the flying changes.
Advanced flat/dressage riders will work on haunches in this week. Haunches in (Travers) requires the horse to look down the track with the haunches travelling to the inside and crossing over. The best way to set up for a haunches in is coming out of a small volte/circle. Just before the horse's front end reaches the track, the rider asks the horse to maintain the bend and step laterally along the wall rather than straighten out along the wall. Aids for the haunches in: rider looks down the track with their head/shoulders. Inside leg active at the girth to maintain bend and activity, outside leg behind the girth to hold the haunch off the track and encourage the lateral crossing. Belly button looks to the outside so that the inside seat bone is forward. Inside hand supples and keeps the horse bent and soft to the inside, outside rein against the neck to keep the shoulder from dropping to the wall.
I really like haunches in as a strengthening exercise, but you need to pair it with lengthening and straightening so that your horse doesn't end up crooked and on its forehand as a result of getting overly tired as this exercise really works their hind end!
What else may be fun this week if riders took the time to clean tack before or after riding!
Karen
Monday, July 22, 2013
Lessons for this week
Jumping lessons will work on a simple hunter course: starting small, then actual jumps.
We will then convert the horse to a basic jumper course if time allows. Again starting small, then actual jumps. Trying to incorporate roll backs before and after the jumps like we worked on last week.
This is in preparation for the MLM show next Saturday...let me know if you want to go! There are 2 trailer spots available.
Flat/Dressage lessons this week will work developing a hand that is independent from the seat and from the eye. A few of you have a silly/unproductive habit of looking down when doing transitions and such! It is important that you can adjust your seat forward or back, without your hand moving as well. Or move your hand without your seat moving.
Neck straps or hooking a finger in the mane may be useful for this lesson/skill set.
Karen
We will then convert the horse to a basic jumper course if time allows. Again starting small, then actual jumps. Trying to incorporate roll backs before and after the jumps like we worked on last week.
This is in preparation for the MLM show next Saturday...let me know if you want to go! There are 2 trailer spots available.
Flat/Dressage lessons this week will work developing a hand that is independent from the seat and from the eye. A few of you have a silly/unproductive habit of looking down when doing transitions and such! It is important that you can adjust your seat forward or back, without your hand moving as well. Or move your hand without your seat moving.
Neck straps or hooking a finger in the mane may be useful for this lesson/skill set.
Karen
A wasted Sunday
Margie and I got up early, and hit the road under the cloudy skies of yesterday. Headed south to Olds to look at a 15.3 hand QH mare, with a pretty colour. We had seen pictures, and a blurry video, so she seemed worthwhile to take the drive for, as apparently pretty colours sell quickly around Edmonton!
The owner wasn't to be there, but the property owners were ok helping us. Apparently helping us just meant showing us which horse it was, but never mind. We pull up...and notice we just missed watching them collecting semen for AI in their yard...because apparently it was breeding day. Who doesn't want to hang around on breeding day? Soon trailers started arriving with more mares and foals for breeding day...lots of cute babies|!
But who wants to approach a man carrying a fake horse vagina to ask about the horse you are there to see?
So we waited a little, then the wife came over and told use where to find the mare. So we go to the barn, scrounge for a halter and lead rope....and pull out what looked to be a pony. Obviously the same colour and markings, but nowhere close to 15.3! Maybe 14.3? And not a bulky 14.3 either. So we took her out of the stall...and she was also a tad obnoxious with a weird hoof crack that was NOT just a surface crack as we had been told...so we put her back, and asked if the farm owners had anything for sale.
They did, and pointed is in the direction of a field to look for a Buckskin (Margie heard Mexican, and was curious what a Mexican horse look like). So we go looking for horses in mud, grass and trees. And find a short palomino (why are the cute ones so short?), and a couple nice chestnuts, including one with lots of white and a grey mane...we liked that one. Further into the forest we found the buckskin, who was the unfortunate friend of a giant beast of a Quarter Horse who was a bully and a little worrisome to be around.
The buckskin was ok, but saddle scars on his shoulders, and a very small/common head.
We went back to ask about the chestnut we liked...and found out he was a well trained roping horse, so worth pretty good money...of course.
So we left and headed back to Red Deer to have lunch as we couldn't go see the next horse until 1:30ish. I was very excited about this one as it was advertised as QUIET and jumping well to 2'6". It has evented and done 4H. Good colour, and I thought pretty.
And she was pretty with a decent build. Kind of weird hooves, but nothing horrid.
Now the owner had told me when I made the appointment she had been hurt/bucked off her young horse, so couldn't ride. Something about soft tissue damage and a crushed hand... When we got there she said she could hack her for us, but I saw little point...after all, this was an ALL CAPS QUIET horse. And for hacking she was. She felt oddly short strided on the grass, but listened well, and I felt comfortable enough to drop the reins to the buckle and wave my arms (one at a time of course) at the canter. I kind of liked her.
The I started jumping. Went to trot into a cross pole...but mare wouldn't trot, and burst to a canter two strides out. Seemed odd for a QUIET horse, but maybe she hates trotting jumps, or just doesn't do it much. So I thought I would canter it the other way, giving her the reins to lope over it. She did stay decent to it...but flung herself over knees down...and then jammed her fronts into the ground on the land and crop hopped/bucked. I lawn darted into the lawn. Ouch!
So then the owner mentions she hasn't jumped for 2 and a half weeks...other the hay bales she jumped her over the night before "to cool her out" This made zero sense to me, but then I just did smoke my head into the ground face first.
So I looked at her and Margie and said: "So if you jumped her last night, why can't you jump her today".
"Oh, it was just little hay bales. I don't want to get hurt again."
"well, if you could jump hay bales, why can't you jump a little today? Am I making sense here?"
So yes, the owner got on the mare...which is what I should have done in the first place...and I could have seen the issue that lead to me injury..
First, the owner has taught the horse to canter two strides out from trot jumps. I have no idea why. Second, she sits up in the air and gives no release. Exactly how someone rides a horse that is either very powerful (think Justice) or wants to buck on the land. Third...there is something wrong with the horse...she jumped knees pointed down AKA is a leg hanger...a bad one. Over a bigger jump (which I didn't ask the owner to do) she swung her legs to the side.
So I asked if that is normally how she jumps, and got a wishy washy answer that she felt odd over the one jump.
So we left. And I struggled to bend my right leg enough to get my half chap off!
lesson learned...give sellers the 3rd degree before driving more than 30 mins and ALWAYS have them ride first!
Karen
The owner wasn't to be there, but the property owners were ok helping us. Apparently helping us just meant showing us which horse it was, but never mind. We pull up...and notice we just missed watching them collecting semen for AI in their yard...because apparently it was breeding day. Who doesn't want to hang around on breeding day? Soon trailers started arriving with more mares and foals for breeding day...lots of cute babies|!
But who wants to approach a man carrying a fake horse vagina to ask about the horse you are there to see?
So we waited a little, then the wife came over and told use where to find the mare. So we go to the barn, scrounge for a halter and lead rope....and pull out what looked to be a pony. Obviously the same colour and markings, but nowhere close to 15.3! Maybe 14.3? And not a bulky 14.3 either. So we took her out of the stall...and she was also a tad obnoxious with a weird hoof crack that was NOT just a surface crack as we had been told...so we put her back, and asked if the farm owners had anything for sale.
They did, and pointed is in the direction of a field to look for a Buckskin (Margie heard Mexican, and was curious what a Mexican horse look like). So we go looking for horses in mud, grass and trees. And find a short palomino (why are the cute ones so short?), and a couple nice chestnuts, including one with lots of white and a grey mane...we liked that one. Further into the forest we found the buckskin, who was the unfortunate friend of a giant beast of a Quarter Horse who was a bully and a little worrisome to be around.
The buckskin was ok, but saddle scars on his shoulders, and a very small/common head.
We went back to ask about the chestnut we liked...and found out he was a well trained roping horse, so worth pretty good money...of course.
So we left and headed back to Red Deer to have lunch as we couldn't go see the next horse until 1:30ish. I was very excited about this one as it was advertised as QUIET and jumping well to 2'6". It has evented and done 4H. Good colour, and I thought pretty.
And she was pretty with a decent build. Kind of weird hooves, but nothing horrid.
Now the owner had told me when I made the appointment she had been hurt/bucked off her young horse, so couldn't ride. Something about soft tissue damage and a crushed hand... When we got there she said she could hack her for us, but I saw little point...after all, this was an ALL CAPS QUIET horse. And for hacking she was. She felt oddly short strided on the grass, but listened well, and I felt comfortable enough to drop the reins to the buckle and wave my arms (one at a time of course) at the canter. I kind of liked her.
The I started jumping. Went to trot into a cross pole...but mare wouldn't trot, and burst to a canter two strides out. Seemed odd for a QUIET horse, but maybe she hates trotting jumps, or just doesn't do it much. So I thought I would canter it the other way, giving her the reins to lope over it. She did stay decent to it...but flung herself over knees down...and then jammed her fronts into the ground on the land and crop hopped/bucked. I lawn darted into the lawn. Ouch!
So then the owner mentions she hasn't jumped for 2 and a half weeks...other the hay bales she jumped her over the night before "to cool her out" This made zero sense to me, but then I just did smoke my head into the ground face first.
So I looked at her and Margie and said: "So if you jumped her last night, why can't you jump her today".
"Oh, it was just little hay bales. I don't want to get hurt again."
"well, if you could jump hay bales, why can't you jump a little today? Am I making sense here?"
So yes, the owner got on the mare...which is what I should have done in the first place...and I could have seen the issue that lead to me injury..
First, the owner has taught the horse to canter two strides out from trot jumps. I have no idea why. Second, she sits up in the air and gives no release. Exactly how someone rides a horse that is either very powerful (think Justice) or wants to buck on the land. Third...there is something wrong with the horse...she jumped knees pointed down AKA is a leg hanger...a bad one. Over a bigger jump (which I didn't ask the owner to do) she swung her legs to the side.
So I asked if that is normally how she jumps, and got a wishy washy answer that she felt odd over the one jump.
So we left. And I struggled to bend my right leg enough to get my half chap off!
lesson learned...give sellers the 3rd degree before driving more than 30 mins and ALWAYS have them ride first!
Karen
Monday, July 15, 2013
The week in lessons
Well, it looks like we will be indoors for at least the first part of the week as the outdoor arena is once again under a layer of water. Seriously...has it ever been this wet and humid in Edmonton?
I think we may cover the different (basic) ways of changing direction and why/when you would use them: Across the diagonal, through the middle, half circle reverse, reverse half circle, and the roll back. In keeping with that, for jumping, we might do jumping and turns/changes of direction, which may also lead to some work on lead changes, changing in the air.
We may also work on feeling for the lead both on the flat, and when jumping, so be prepared for lots of canter transitions as part of the flat work.
Karen
I think we may cover the different (basic) ways of changing direction and why/when you would use them: Across the diagonal, through the middle, half circle reverse, reverse half circle, and the roll back. In keeping with that, for jumping, we might do jumping and turns/changes of direction, which may also lead to some work on lead changes, changing in the air.
We may also work on feeling for the lead both on the flat, and when jumping, so be prepared for lots of canter transitions as part of the flat work.
Karen
No, a family of bunnies did not explode...
The plethora of hair is actually from Phelps.
What or who is Phelps you ask?
Phelps is the matted smelly beast that was laying in front of the barn door Saturday morning as I went out to feed. I am not always fully awake when I feed hay, so my brain was really trying to figure out what exactly was staring at me...did Ginger get fluffy or was it Amarillo the neighbourhood husky? Or did the neighbours get another fluffy creature that decided our place looked more awesome?
But it was none of the above...it was a neglected looking dog, with mats the size of dinner plates layered like scales on its back, and hanging fur balls looking like really sad Christmas décor. I immediately named him Phelps and called Rob. Between the two of us, I think we spend 4 to 5 hours brushing the poor guy over the weekend! So far, we haven't found any lost dog ads matching his description, and none of the nearby vets have been contacted, so we aren't sure if he was dumped or?
He appears to be an Australian Sheppard crossed with an ottoman. He seems old...teeth have bad tartar build up, and he has trouble getting going in the morning. He also seems partially deaf...or as Janine says, just has the typical male selective hearing! It doesn't seem like he has ever been trained or even worn a collar, and the collar we have put on him for containment purposes isn't to his liking. He also seems to think cats are edible...something I am really trying to discourage, but I wish a cat would help by clawing his nose rather than running away (which just makes it that much more exciting).
If you come out, feel free to take him out of the stall using the rope or lunge line to lead him or tie him up. He is really good with the horses, but I just don't want to risk a kitty catastrophe., and he doesn't know he isn't allowed upstairs or in the arena yet.
karen
What or who is Phelps you ask?
Phelps is the matted smelly beast that was laying in front of the barn door Saturday morning as I went out to feed. I am not always fully awake when I feed hay, so my brain was really trying to figure out what exactly was staring at me...did Ginger get fluffy or was it Amarillo the neighbourhood husky? Or did the neighbours get another fluffy creature that decided our place looked more awesome?
But it was none of the above...it was a neglected looking dog, with mats the size of dinner plates layered like scales on its back, and hanging fur balls looking like really sad Christmas décor. I immediately named him Phelps and called Rob. Between the two of us, I think we spend 4 to 5 hours brushing the poor guy over the weekend! So far, we haven't found any lost dog ads matching his description, and none of the nearby vets have been contacted, so we aren't sure if he was dumped or?
He appears to be an Australian Sheppard crossed with an ottoman. He seems old...teeth have bad tartar build up, and he has trouble getting going in the morning. He also seems partially deaf...or as Janine says, just has the typical male selective hearing! It doesn't seem like he has ever been trained or even worn a collar, and the collar we have put on him for containment purposes isn't to his liking. He also seems to think cats are edible...something I am really trying to discourage, but I wish a cat would help by clawing his nose rather than running away (which just makes it that much more exciting).
If you come out, feel free to take him out of the stall using the rope or lunge line to lead him or tie him up. He is really good with the horses, but I just don't want to risk a kitty catastrophe., and he doesn't know he isn't allowed upstairs or in the arena yet.
karen
Thursday, July 4, 2013
News Article
http://www.edmontonsun.com/2013/07/04/manitoba-man-charged-with-impaired-driving-causing-death-in-head-on-crash-that-killed-young-edmonton-woman?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=recommend-button&utm_campaign=Manitoba+man+charged+with+impaired+driving+causing+death+in+head-on+crash+that+killed+young+Edmonton+woman
I didn't even know she was a painter.
I hope her boyfriend pulls through. I met him at the barn, and he seemed like a nice guy. I hope he is still able to go away to get his Masters and pursue his dreams.
I didn't even know she was a painter.
I hope her boyfriend pulls through. I met him at the barn, and he seemed like a nice guy. I hope he is still able to go away to get his Masters and pursue his dreams.
Wednesday, July 3, 2013
Very Sad
(Percy) Clare died on the weekend after being hit head on by a drunk driver.
What a senseless way for anyone to die, much less someone who gave so much back to the community in working for the Sexual Assault hotline and through her chosen career as a psychologist.
Her brother called to inform me this afternoon. It feels surreal and so unfair. She had so much to look forward to in her near future, with her upcoming move to Montreal and her recent completion of her Masters Degree. So many moments unlived. So many memories unbuilt.
My heart goes out to her family and her boyfriend, as well as to everyone at Hillside that will miss her.
If anyone is able to attend, her funeral is this Saturday (the 6th) at 2pm, at Hainstocks Funeral Home, 9810-34 ave. Instead of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Sexual Assult Centre of Edmonton. https://www.sace.ab.ca/index.php/support-sace
I have a prior commitment that weekend, but Rob and I do plan on making a donation in Clare's honour.
Of course I would normally turn TO Clare for help in dealing with grief and emotions, and somehow that is just making it extra hard for me right now.
I will miss you Clare.
Karen
What a senseless way for anyone to die, much less someone who gave so much back to the community in working for the Sexual Assault hotline and through her chosen career as a psychologist.
Her brother called to inform me this afternoon. It feels surreal and so unfair. She had so much to look forward to in her near future, with her upcoming move to Montreal and her recent completion of her Masters Degree. So many moments unlived. So many memories unbuilt.
My heart goes out to her family and her boyfriend, as well as to everyone at Hillside that will miss her.
If anyone is able to attend, her funeral is this Saturday (the 6th) at 2pm, at Hainstocks Funeral Home, 9810-34 ave. Instead of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Sexual Assult Centre of Edmonton. https://www.sace.ab.ca/index.php/support-sace
I have a prior commitment that weekend, but Rob and I do plan on making a donation in Clare's honour.
Of course I would normally turn TO Clare for help in dealing with grief and emotions, and somehow that is just making it extra hard for me right now.
I will miss you Clare.
Karen
Monday, July 1, 2013
This week in lessons
This week is looking to be HOT.
I would kind of like to teach out there, but we will see. It was definitely cooler inside today!
Bring water bottles or something to drink, and dress sensibly just in case we do head outside.
Not sure what the lesson plan will be as my brain melted today.
Also, now that summer is here, lessons can be taught during the day, so let me know if you are available day times for July and August!
Karen
I would kind of like to teach out there, but we will see. It was definitely cooler inside today!
Bring water bottles or something to drink, and dress sensibly just in case we do head outside.
Not sure what the lesson plan will be as my brain melted today.
Also, now that summer is here, lessons can be taught during the day, so let me know if you are available day times for July and August!
Karen
Sunday, June 30, 2013
The catnip may have been a mistake...
Rob and I decided to take advantage of the still somewhat cool morning to take Ginger for a walk at Greenlands Garden Center. Because a farm dog with 37 acres totally needs to go places to go for walks. The real reason we go though, is to visit their cats. Bob and the smaller one whose name I always forget (her fault, she mumbles). And to see the carp. The carp/giant gold fish are highly entertaining. On one hand I would love to have a giant fish pond, but on the other hand, I wonder if I would ever be too lazy to go to the store to buy fresh sea food and would start to see them as edible.
Ginger loves going to Greenlands as everyone there loves her, because she is awesome. And there are so many smells. And water features she can drink from. Not that I would let her drink from their display water features...that would be wrong. The staff sometimes have milk bones in their pockets, which seems odd to me, but maybe Milk Bones are some kind of magic plant food the greenhouses don't want you to know about.
When Rob worked nearby we would sometimes meet there for coffee because they have the only restaurant I know of where you can take your dog. It is what every dog person wants. (If the Health department is reading this, I am totally making this part up, of course dogs aren't allowed in the café, that would be bad). Ginger also approved of the café, and showed her approval by cleaning up crumbs from the floor, which seems like something that the health department would approve of, so I am not sure why they are so anti dog in restaurant.
Some other people apparently didn't know dogs were allowed in, so went to the trouble of dressing their dog up like a Service dog just to sneak it in...because neurotic dog owners (like Rob) totally want to take their dogs everywhere, and see no reason why small children should be allowed places dogs are not allowed. We do not have children.
If I was in charge of marketing for Greenlands, my marketing would be: "Here at Greenlands we have awesome cats that don't run away from strangers and you can totally bring your dog in the store and to the café! Oh, and we have plants and stuff you can buy."
So while we were looking for the cats (and by we, I mean me...and maybe Ginger, although I think she was more looking for café related crumbs...but the cat search really could be another marketing direction...find a cat and get 10% off! I found both cats), we decided to buy some plants. Part of me feels sorry for the plants I select as they aren't likely to fair nearly as well as they would in the store, but I try to console myself with the idea they can't feel pain, even though I really think they can. Sorry plants. Along the way I saw catnip plants. This seemed like a fun purchase. Rob even agreed to the catnip plant. Do you know what likes catnip plants? Cats. Apparently not mosquitos though.
Along with a smattering of flowers and such, we bought the catnip plant home...and I introduced to Rolo. Who wanted to lick and lay down in it (sorry plant). So now my thought is, where to I plant this thing so it will a) survive and b) not attract the neglected cats of the Hunter Hill subdivision? I foresee we are soon to be overrun with cats, and it will be all Rob's fault as anyone who knows me knows I have NO judgement when it comes to cats and cat related items.
So I planted it in a pot on a pedestal, hopefully out of cat reach...and have no idea where to put it. Rolo meanwhile is complaining bitterly that he can't find the plant, and that he is now hungry. If too many cats show up in our yard, my back up plan is to turn it into a really belated housewarming gift for our neighbours....I will tell them it is Sage or something...
Karen
Ginger loves going to Greenlands as everyone there loves her, because she is awesome. And there are so many smells. And water features she can drink from. Not that I would let her drink from their display water features...that would be wrong. The staff sometimes have milk bones in their pockets, which seems odd to me, but maybe Milk Bones are some kind of magic plant food the greenhouses don't want you to know about.
When Rob worked nearby we would sometimes meet there for coffee because they have the only restaurant I know of where you can take your dog. It is what every dog person wants. (If the Health department is reading this, I am totally making this part up, of course dogs aren't allowed in the café, that would be bad). Ginger also approved of the café, and showed her approval by cleaning up crumbs from the floor, which seems like something that the health department would approve of, so I am not sure why they are so anti dog in restaurant.
Some other people apparently didn't know dogs were allowed in, so went to the trouble of dressing their dog up like a Service dog just to sneak it in...because neurotic dog owners (like Rob) totally want to take their dogs everywhere, and see no reason why small children should be allowed places dogs are not allowed. We do not have children.
If I was in charge of marketing for Greenlands, my marketing would be: "Here at Greenlands we have awesome cats that don't run away from strangers and you can totally bring your dog in the store and to the café! Oh, and we have plants and stuff you can buy."
So while we were looking for the cats (and by we, I mean me...and maybe Ginger, although I think she was more looking for café related crumbs...but the cat search really could be another marketing direction...find a cat and get 10% off! I found both cats), we decided to buy some plants. Part of me feels sorry for the plants I select as they aren't likely to fair nearly as well as they would in the store, but I try to console myself with the idea they can't feel pain, even though I really think they can. Sorry plants. Along the way I saw catnip plants. This seemed like a fun purchase. Rob even agreed to the catnip plant. Do you know what likes catnip plants? Cats. Apparently not mosquitos though.
Along with a smattering of flowers and such, we bought the catnip plant home...and I introduced to Rolo. Who wanted to lick and lay down in it (sorry plant). So now my thought is, where to I plant this thing so it will a) survive and b) not attract the neglected cats of the Hunter Hill subdivision? I foresee we are soon to be overrun with cats, and it will be all Rob's fault as anyone who knows me knows I have NO judgement when it comes to cats and cat related items.
So I planted it in a pot on a pedestal, hopefully out of cat reach...and have no idea where to put it. Rolo meanwhile is complaining bitterly that he can't find the plant, and that he is now hungry. If too many cats show up in our yard, my back up plan is to turn it into a really belated housewarming gift for our neighbours....I will tell them it is Sage or something...
Karen
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