O.M.G.
I realized that switching disciplines would be difficult. But not this difficult. Last week, couldn't canter to save my life. This week, couldn't walk in a straight line, get out of corners or the middle of the arena.
I've never ridden a horse that is completely push button. Sounds easy right? So wrong. It'll be easy once I've found those buttons, but until then, I'm a terrible rider. I keep doing something with my body that tells Gillian (my horse) that I want something that I don't want. So it's not her fault, it's mine.
My new mantra:
I am a good rider. I am a good rider. I am a good rider.
Right?
xoxo
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Monday, September 27, 2010
Another Kind of Reunion
Well. It's been awhile and I have soo much that's new!
1. I'm riding again!! /B and I have started up dressage, at Equestrian Dreams riding facility and are absolutely loving it. I had a rough lesson last week as I have come to realize that I'm not going to bounce back as quick as I thought. I could not for the life of me get my horse to lope My bad, canter). I love the horse that I'm riding, it's this big Clyde/TB cross and he's gorgeous. BAY! My kinda pony. He's a little younger than general lesson horses, and I'm so not used to the crazy amount of leg I need to use. Granted I have been off for a year, but I'm not used to it. Very frustrating moment when my body wouldn't do what my mind was telling it to do. GRAH is all that went through my mind. I was beating myself up in my mind. All I can do is hope for a better lesson next week. *fingers crossed*
2. My mom and I went out for dinner with a couple ladies that I haven't seen in what seems like ages (possibly a year or more now) and got to catch up with them. It was wonderful! I didn't realize how much I had missed them until I saw them again. It was another mother/daughter combo and the daughter is a year younger than me and going through university to become a large animal vet. Kudos to her, I say. I could never do that length of schooling and still be sane. She always was the brains in our operation though. Her mom always makes me want to become a librarian. She is one, and it just seems so cool. It's always been a back up of mine. Books, and stern looks? I've got those down to an art! Maybe if I need a change when I'm a little bit older and more mature? There are always options and doors!
But now I need to go to bed, so
xoxo
1. I'm riding again!! /B and I have started up dressage, at Equestrian Dreams riding facility and are absolutely loving it. I had a rough lesson last week as I have come to realize that I'm not going to bounce back as quick as I thought. I could not for the life of me get my horse to lope My bad, canter). I love the horse that I'm riding, it's this big Clyde/TB cross and he's gorgeous. BAY! My kinda pony. He's a little younger than general lesson horses, and I'm so not used to the crazy amount of leg I need to use. Granted I have been off for a year, but I'm not used to it. Very frustrating moment when my body wouldn't do what my mind was telling it to do. GRAH is all that went through my mind. I was beating myself up in my mind. All I can do is hope for a better lesson next week. *fingers crossed*
2. My mom and I went out for dinner with a couple ladies that I haven't seen in what seems like ages (possibly a year or more now) and got to catch up with them. It was wonderful! I didn't realize how much I had missed them until I saw them again. It was another mother/daughter combo and the daughter is a year younger than me and going through university to become a large animal vet. Kudos to her, I say. I could never do that length of schooling and still be sane. She always was the brains in our operation though. Her mom always makes me want to become a librarian. She is one, and it just seems so cool. It's always been a back up of mine. Books, and stern looks? I've got those down to an art! Maybe if I need a change when I'm a little bit older and more mature? There are always options and doors!
But now I need to go to bed, so
xoxo
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Horse Sense Training Reunion
Since Barbara has retired, they've been having "reunion" dinners once every couple months. I missed the first one, because I had already made plans to go out that night. But last week they had another one (which I made it too). It was held at the Montana's, and it was so much fun. :)
A lot more people showed up to this one than the previous one. It was a night of good times and good food. Can't wait for the next one!
xoxo
The whole gang
A lot more people showed up to this one than the previous one. It was a night of good times and good food. Can't wait for the next one!
xoxo
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Barns, Barns and More Barns!
Ok so this is a little behind, it's tough to keep up when this weekend was crazy-hectic!
It's so much fun just hitting the road with a fellow horse junkie who is also looking for a new place to ride and just seeing what barns are in the neighbourhood. I have missed that since I've either had a barn the entire time, or just wasn't ready to commit to actual lessons yet. I haven't had an actual structured lesson since I came home from college, so about 2 years. That's a really long time in this industry. I've probably picked up some bad habits along the way. Something that a new coach will have to deal with. Poor them :)
Anyways, Bridget had planned the whole trip and the communications with some barns, and only 2 replied to us, so we went to those too. First on the list was Cricket Lane Farms. Owned by a couple who is in the Jousting circle, Bridget is super interested in that. It'd be pretty cool to try out. The only thing is that it's out past Hamilton, so it's quite the drive for us (no weekly lessons there) and they are a new facility who haven't worked out all the kinks yet. Amazing ideas for their barns/boarders. It's a converted chicken barn, which is amazing. It's a 300 ft barn and half is being made into an arena (which is perfect for the jousting lists, because it's long and narrow), the rest is going to be stalls, standing stalls, tack areas and run-in sheds. Oh, and the area for the chickens and the pheasants. Of course. We left early in the morning to arrive there early (before we were expected. Good thing horse people are early risers.) Nicest couple to let us tour their place. Still under construction, it'll be amazing once done. They even let us ride! We got on their beast of a horse, Gloucestre. He's a serious beast. He's a Trakhener/Thoroughbred/Breton Cross and just has weight to him. I'm so used to Peter and his nothing-ness (woooot he's maybe 700lbs) and just the aweome power of Gloucestre was exhilarating. 3 strides and I was at the end of the arena. I didn't throw the spear at the haybale, (Bridget did) I just have terrible eye-hand coordination. I helped Stephanie get out of her light armour (yes ARMOUR!). That was pretty cool in itself. So, they had to get ready for company coming over after lunch and they were leaving the next day for a tournament in Pennsylvania. So we hustled out of there as politely as possible, we didn't want to impose to much upon their courtesy. We left them with a lot of food for thought, we suggested maybe if we could come up once every month or two months for the day and help out, ride, etc. Now, we'll just have to see what happens when they come back from Pennsylvania in 3 weeks.
So we left their place at lunch time, and we were starving so we finally hit something that was decently big and ate at McDonalds, which is something for me because I had it twice that week. Makes my arteries cry just thinking about it.
Anyways, we decided what to do from there. We decided to visit the only other place that responded to us, Equestrian Dreams, and see how it goes from there. We were supposed to arrive after 3.30 but since our timing was off, )even though we got a little lost...) we arrived early. At first glance it doesn't seem like much, but once you pull into the driveway, it's a gorgeous facility. The arena is huge, competition sized and so nicely ventilated and so light! So much natural light, it's amazing. The barn is so nicely done, with nice big tack areas and huge stalls. The horses are gorgeous and obviously well trained. Debbie, the coach had a lesson that she was about to go teach but she talked to us for a couple of minutes, before taking them into the arena. We talked with her husband Jim, for almost 2 hours. It was really nice. Another super nice couple, and very funny. It was nice to see that it wasn't pretentious even though she has many qualifications that could make it so. I thoroughly enjoyed meeting them and can't wait to start riding there. Bridget can't start lessons until September anyways, because work is so hectic for her right now, so I won't be starting until then anyways. I can't wait! I'm so pumped because I've been wanting to ride dressage for so long, and I'll actually be able to soon!
I will keep up the posting when I find out more information!
xoxo
It's so much fun just hitting the road with a fellow horse junkie who is also looking for a new place to ride and just seeing what barns are in the neighbourhood. I have missed that since I've either had a barn the entire time, or just wasn't ready to commit to actual lessons yet. I haven't had an actual structured lesson since I came home from college, so about 2 years. That's a really long time in this industry. I've probably picked up some bad habits along the way. Something that a new coach will have to deal with. Poor them :)
Anyways, Bridget had planned the whole trip and the communications with some barns, and only 2 replied to us, so we went to those too. First on the list was Cricket Lane Farms. Owned by a couple who is in the Jousting circle, Bridget is super interested in that. It'd be pretty cool to try out. The only thing is that it's out past Hamilton, so it's quite the drive for us (no weekly lessons there) and they are a new facility who haven't worked out all the kinks yet. Amazing ideas for their barns/boarders. It's a converted chicken barn, which is amazing. It's a 300 ft barn and half is being made into an arena (which is perfect for the jousting lists, because it's long and narrow), the rest is going to be stalls, standing stalls, tack areas and run-in sheds. Oh, and the area for the chickens and the pheasants. Of course. We left early in the morning to arrive there early (before we were expected. Good thing horse people are early risers.) Nicest couple to let us tour their place. Still under construction, it'll be amazing once done. They even let us ride! We got on their beast of a horse, Gloucestre. He's a serious beast. He's a Trakhener/Thoroughbred/Breton Cross and just has weight to him. I'm so used to Peter and his nothing-ness (woooot he's maybe 700lbs) and just the aweome power of Gloucestre was exhilarating. 3 strides and I was at the end of the arena. I didn't throw the spear at the haybale, (Bridget did) I just have terrible eye-hand coordination. I helped Stephanie get out of her light armour (yes ARMOUR!). That was pretty cool in itself. So, they had to get ready for company coming over after lunch and they were leaving the next day for a tournament in Pennsylvania. So we hustled out of there as politely as possible, we didn't want to impose to much upon their courtesy. We left them with a lot of food for thought, we suggested maybe if we could come up once every month or two months for the day and help out, ride, etc. Now, we'll just have to see what happens when they come back from Pennsylvania in 3 weeks.
Gloucestre and Stephanie
So we left their place at lunch time, and we were starving so we finally hit something that was decently big and ate at McDonalds, which is something for me because I had it twice that week. Makes my arteries cry just thinking about it.
Anyways, we decided what to do from there. We decided to visit the only other place that responded to us, Equestrian Dreams, and see how it goes from there. We were supposed to arrive after 3.30 but since our timing was off, )even though we got a little lost...) we arrived early. At first glance it doesn't seem like much, but once you pull into the driveway, it's a gorgeous facility. The arena is huge, competition sized and so nicely ventilated and so light! So much natural light, it's amazing. The barn is so nicely done, with nice big tack areas and huge stalls. The horses are gorgeous and obviously well trained. Debbie, the coach had a lesson that she was about to go teach but she talked to us for a couple of minutes, before taking them into the arena. We talked with her husband Jim, for almost 2 hours. It was really nice. Another super nice couple, and very funny. It was nice to see that it wasn't pretentious even though she has many qualifications that could make it so. I thoroughly enjoyed meeting them and can't wait to start riding there. Bridget can't start lessons until September anyways, because work is so hectic for her right now, so I won't be starting until then anyways. I can't wait! I'm so pumped because I've been wanting to ride dressage for so long, and I'll actually be able to soon!
I will keep up the posting when I find out more information!
xoxo
Monday, August 2, 2010
Working On It!
I'm currently working on an upcoming blog for this one!!! So much has happened this weekend it's insane!! Will have this one up *fingers crossed* by tomorrow!!!
xoxo!
xoxo!
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
A New Beginning..?
BUT that's all about to change now, because I finalllly got to meet a potential part-board of a horse. An English jumper. VERY English. I haven't been in any lessons for a long time, but it's funny how different Western and jumper is.
Jumper lesson: Canter canter canter. Jump jump jump.
Western: Railwork. Transitions. Obstacles. Patterns.
I guess that's where the old Western vs. English battle rears its' ugly head. For me, I don't see why you can't do all the Western ground work AND still jump. I'm not saying that some people don't do that. But the majority don't. I remember doing a lot of on the rail fast work, then jumping. But I digress...
The funny story about this part-board hookup is that I found out about this girl through my doctor. She worked for her at the time, and my doctor gave me her phone number. When she wrote down the name, in my head I couldn't help but think that the name sounded SO familiar. I asked Rider (from BC) whether or not we knew someone from college named that. She said, nope. Maybe high school? What are the chances that we DID go to high school together! She's a year younger than me, but we knew each other, just not the closest of buddies. Seriously, six degrees of separation is truly freaky and scarily true. So, all summer we've been talking about getting together to watch her ride, meet her horse, see the place etc. Every time though, something came up. Lessons cancelled, parents working - you name it, it probably happened. Such was our luck. I was starting to feel bad about not showing up and wasting away the summer. Not that it's been the greatest weather. So HUMID out that you can't really do much riding anyways.
So we finally make a date, and I get up there to watch her lesson and give her a try. She's a tough cookie, this mare. She's an ex-Thoroughbred racehorse. Generally not my favourite kind of horse, but she's very sweet. She has a stubborn streak though. And she's a fighter. I rode her for less than 10 minutes (and granted I'm out of shape) but I was K/O'd for the next 2 days. My shoulders were just two huge knots of pain. She fought me the entire time I was riding her. I didn't do anything super strenuous. I walked her around, asked for a trot, did some serpentines, a couple lope circles. Her face was in my hands the entire time. Her owner is super sweet and we worked out that I'll try, for the month of August, a couple of lessons on her to see how it goes. You can't get a true reading from anything in 5 minutes. And it's nice because at the end of the month there's no pressure to not commit. Takes a lot of pressure off of my shoulders too, because I hate having to say no to anyone. Once I hear back from her about lessons, I shall keep updating about it.
But this Saturday, I'm going with a friend to check out some new riding barns. :) Hopefully that proves fruitful!! I need a new barn. Stat.
xoxo
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Seeing the Wee Beastie
I finally went and visited my wee lil beastie, Petey. I had the most awful dream about him the other night, I dreamt that he had died! And then my friends were all being really unsupportive of me, I woke up crying. Fell back asleep, and went back into pretty much the same 'Pete dead' dream, but this time I could see him, and it was like he had come to say good bye. Again, woke up crying. Not gonna lie, pretty darn traumatic.
So I made a decision to go see him (make sure he's still alive) and he is. Alive and well. Almost too well. He has too much spunk! But that's why he's mine. I had a little love fest with him, took too many pictures, but they look so good! But the creepy thing is, even though he's not dead or dying, he's still leaving!! He's being shipped off to London, Ontario for a trade horse thing with another coach (One of my old coaches, to be exact). Premonition, or what! It's cool because I haven't seen this coach in ages and it'd be awesome to go visit her. And an hour and a bit east or west doesn't really make a huge difference.
Tiz came up with me, and he was riding Lake Skimmer, and I'm so happy that he loves it! Makes it so much easier because he's always like, 'Let's get a farm, Jazzy'. Me: We don't have money. And I thought we were going for apartment first? (Oops, did I just spill a secret ;)?) It was such a nice day out, all sunny and warrrm. Woot for the first nice weekend in spring, spent with the ponies! I went total drill sergeant on his ass, coaching him. It was pretty fun, and I was totally into it, and he and I could both see/feel results. Go me! Haha.
It's been a long day, but it's been fun. Gotta hit the hay, as they say!
xoxo
So I made a decision to go see him (make sure he's still alive) and he is. Alive and well. Almost too well. He has too much spunk! But that's why he's mine. I had a little love fest with him, took too many pictures, but they look so good! But the creepy thing is, even though he's not dead or dying, he's still leaving!! He's being shipped off to London, Ontario for a trade horse thing with another coach (One of my old coaches, to be exact). Premonition, or what! It's cool because I haven't seen this coach in ages and it'd be awesome to go visit her. And an hour and a bit east or west doesn't really make a huge difference.
Tiz came up with me, and he was riding Lake Skimmer, and I'm so happy that he loves it! Makes it so much easier because he's always like, 'Let's get a farm, Jazzy'. Me: We don't have money. And I thought we were going for apartment first? (Oops, did I just spill a secret ;)?) It was such a nice day out, all sunny and warrrm. Woot for the first nice weekend in spring, spent with the ponies! I went total drill sergeant on his ass, coaching him. It was pretty fun, and I was totally into it, and he and I could both see/feel results. Go me! Haha.
It's been a long day, but it's been fun. Gotta hit the hay, as they say!
xoxo
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