Sorry it has been so long since I have posted to my blog! I have been trying to ride at 0' dark-thirty in the mornings... and that, along with motherhood has definitely left me with little time and energy for posting updates! :)
Let me see... where to begin? Well, Miss Tokaj has had the dust groomed off her saddle patch and has been an absolute ANGEL for having been off work for many months. We are mainly working on both of our fitness levels. I have ventured into the jumping saddle too. Wow, that used to be my home! Now it feels so foreign. Did I really ride with that short of stirrup? I am definitely more comfortable in my dressage saddle. So, basically since eventing is 2/3 jumping, I will be doing far more time in the jumping saddle this winter. I am still hoping to attend some of the Fort Leavenworth Hunt Club outings this year, but need to get in much better condition for that. It is definitely not for the unfit or faint of spirit!
The arena is riding really well. The footing may be a tad deep in places, but I recently acquired a springtooth rake to redistribute some of the depth. It is holding up just great with the rainfall we have had. Now I am envisioning a course of really beautiful fences out there this Spring... of course "someone" (me and perhaps my husband with some bribes) needs to paint and build jumps first.
I have ridden Savannah some more. She is very unimpressed with the whole riding thing. She turns her head to the side, cocks an ear at me like, "What? Like this is a big deal? Sit there all you want!". She is looking more and more like she is going to make a great all around horse, and a future schoolmaster for my son! She is now learning to go forward, stop, turn, and back up. She is a lot of fun.
The bad news is that winter is rolling back in. Wasn't it just here a few weeks ago? I have had one morning of riding in the twenties. And this is only NOVEMBER. We will see how it goes. The time has changed and I am riding in the darkness... well, I have lights on the arena, but there are lots of shadows. It is not like stadium lighting by any means. It is somewhat disorienting to ride in the semi-darkness too. I am not complaining though. When I force myself out into the cold for a morning training session... the rest of the day goes much better. It is rather like exercise in that you hate to get up and do it, but when you do you feel a million bucks all day.
Happy Riding!
P~
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
My Office
They say a picture is worth a thousand words... so here are some photos:
The sand is finally here and the arena will be ready in a day or so! Is it Christmas already?
P~
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Stutter Steps
Well, I did not get the start that I had anticipated in my last blog posting. The rain came in, and boy did it ever rain. I was out in the downpour with the tractor digging out the drains off of our driveway to the barn, and laying railroad ties with my super-patient husband to divert the rainwater from the arena. It sure was stressful trying to save the forward progress that we were making on the arena. Sand is due to arrive on Monday (although we have more reports of impending rain!!!!).
Needless to say, I did not get the start with Tokaj that I had hoped either. The grass became wet and slick, and with no sand on the arena... I had to quit working with her. So she is back to burning hay, and rolling in the mud. She's quite happy with that.
You will notice a new photo on my blog. The photo is of Savannah. She is my three year old half Thoroughbred Paint. I caught her up last weekend to trim her feet and groom her. I realized that the horses are growing their winter coats, and I decided to get photos before they do. I did not get Tokaj that day though. I hope to start Savannah under saddle this Fall.
One sad piece of news. I made the very difficult decision to have Bailey put to sleep. Bailey developed cataracts a year or so ago, and also had that lump which was strongly suspected to be bone cancer which was growing larger and in an inoperable location. Bailey started behaving strangely and I don't know whether it was his eyesight or other physical issues, but he was becoming so fearful that he would shy and bolt at anything, even people like me who he has known for years. The last deciding factor was my attempt to get Bailey into the barn before the storm hit. He shied while being haltered, as he has been a million times before, and he reared up and came down hitting me on the head and knocking me down. I thought he had broken my neck or at least compressed my vetrebra after I heard my neck pop. Thankfully, I only suffered some whiplash-like effects. If it had not been wet and slick out, and my feet had not come out from under me immediately... I think worse would have happened. It seemed in the best interest of everyone to make the decision. I felt sorry for Bailey having to live in such fear all the time. I have said it before; Horse ownership can be so heartbreaking.
P~
Needless to say, I did not get the start with Tokaj that I had hoped either. The grass became wet and slick, and with no sand on the arena... I had to quit working with her. So she is back to burning hay, and rolling in the mud. She's quite happy with that.
You will notice a new photo on my blog. The photo is of Savannah. She is my three year old half Thoroughbred Paint. I caught her up last weekend to trim her feet and groom her. I realized that the horses are growing their winter coats, and I decided to get photos before they do. I did not get Tokaj that day though. I hope to start Savannah under saddle this Fall.
One sad piece of news. I made the very difficult decision to have Bailey put to sleep. Bailey developed cataracts a year or so ago, and also had that lump which was strongly suspected to be bone cancer which was growing larger and in an inoperable location. Bailey started behaving strangely and I don't know whether it was his eyesight or other physical issues, but he was becoming so fearful that he would shy and bolt at anything, even people like me who he has known for years. The last deciding factor was my attempt to get Bailey into the barn before the storm hit. He shied while being haltered, as he has been a million times before, and he reared up and came down hitting me on the head and knocking me down. I thought he had broken my neck or at least compressed my vetrebra after I heard my neck pop. Thankfully, I only suffered some whiplash-like effects. If it had not been wet and slick out, and my feet had not come out from under me immediately... I think worse would have happened. It seemed in the best interest of everyone to make the decision. I felt sorry for Bailey having to live in such fear all the time. I have said it before; Horse ownership can be so heartbreaking.
P~
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
The Starting Line
Finally, I am starting the horses back into work. Tokaj has just finished her second day of Lunging for Fitness... which basically means that I am working her from the ground on a long line to get her muscles and cardio system more fit before I heft myself onto her unsuspecting back. :)
Tokaj came back into work with gusto. She bucked and played on the lunge and made me afraid that she would slip and fall on the dewy grass... but she is very agile and didn't have a mishap. She got herself all worked into a sweat before we really even got down to business and worked on communication, obedience, and transitions. By the time we were finished, she was ready for a treat and a bath.
This morning was Tokaj's second morning back, and it was rather like watching a weekend athlete get out for the second day after a day of playing weekend warrior. This morning Tokaj did exactly what was asked of her and no more! I think she was a bit stiff and sore. Kind of like me starting to work out. Tokaj looks pregnant. It is all the good food she gets, and no competition for it. I envisioned going to a clinic and having the clinician say..."Ummm...YOU recently had a baby... and Tokaj is GOING to have a baby right?" Sigh.
So, for those of you wondering... here is how the schedule is playing out: 5am... I get out of bed to feed the baby. 5:30am... out to the barn to work Tokaj and then feed horses since my husband can watch the baby until he has to go to work. 7:00am... back to being a mommy. 6pm or 7pm... out to the barn to work either Bailey or Savannah and feed for the evening. Dedication you say? Absolutely.
And no, the arena is not finished. I am guesstimating that it is about three weeks out, and so I am lunging the horses on the grass until then, so that by the time the arena is ready, the horses and I will be ready for under saddle work... in other words: RIDING!! YEAH!!
So the other area of work is my fitness level. If you've ever had to put on a pair of english riding breeches... you understand my pain. They are little better than spandex tights. They don't look so good on pregnant ladies or post partum ladies either (or really ANYONE except 12 year old girls... but I am trying to minimize the shock impact). So... during the afternoon when baby is napping, I get in a workout in our small gym. I have never been so sore. I used to be the Ab Queen (yes that is a self-designation!), but after the baby... I was apalled to find that I could not even do ONE full sit up. It was as if someone removed my abdominal muscle. Yikes. Dressage (the first phase of the Three Day Event competition) necessitates the use of your core muscles. I definitely need to find mine again. So I am embarking on a fitness regime that I used during my law enforcement days. It will kick my considerable assets into shape in no time. If you are curious you can check it out at http://www.crossfit.com/. However, if you embark on the challenge of completing the "Workout of the Day"... don't blame me if you are very sore or get injured. The workout is very hardcore, and although I love the results, you have to leave your ego at the door and go very VERY slowly at first.
Another great thing has happened that I have to share. I have been asked a few times lately about being a riding instructor again. (For those of you who don't know, a long long time ago, I used to teach riding and really liked it... but I wasn't making enough $ to support my other habits like horse collecting). So, rather than hang out a shingle here where no one knows me, I got in touch with the United States Eventing Association to discuss their Instructor Certification Program, and it turns out, that despite my long absence from teaching and competing, they still would welcome me into their workshops and later the assessments for certification. I am very excited to get back into teaching and to get closer to the USEA.
So I am busy. Happy busy. Hope you are too.
P~
Tokaj came back into work with gusto. She bucked and played on the lunge and made me afraid that she would slip and fall on the dewy grass... but she is very agile and didn't have a mishap. She got herself all worked into a sweat before we really even got down to business and worked on communication, obedience, and transitions. By the time we were finished, she was ready for a treat and a bath.
This morning was Tokaj's second morning back, and it was rather like watching a weekend athlete get out for the second day after a day of playing weekend warrior. This morning Tokaj did exactly what was asked of her and no more! I think she was a bit stiff and sore. Kind of like me starting to work out. Tokaj looks pregnant. It is all the good food she gets, and no competition for it. I envisioned going to a clinic and having the clinician say..."Ummm...YOU recently had a baby... and Tokaj is GOING to have a baby right?" Sigh.
So, for those of you wondering... here is how the schedule is playing out: 5am... I get out of bed to feed the baby. 5:30am... out to the barn to work Tokaj and then feed horses since my husband can watch the baby until he has to go to work. 7:00am... back to being a mommy. 6pm or 7pm... out to the barn to work either Bailey or Savannah and feed for the evening. Dedication you say? Absolutely.
And no, the arena is not finished. I am guesstimating that it is about three weeks out, and so I am lunging the horses on the grass until then, so that by the time the arena is ready, the horses and I will be ready for under saddle work... in other words: RIDING!! YEAH!!
So the other area of work is my fitness level. If you've ever had to put on a pair of english riding breeches... you understand my pain. They are little better than spandex tights. They don't look so good on pregnant ladies or post partum ladies either (or really ANYONE except 12 year old girls... but I am trying to minimize the shock impact). So... during the afternoon when baby is napping, I get in a workout in our small gym. I have never been so sore. I used to be the Ab Queen (yes that is a self-designation!), but after the baby... I was apalled to find that I could not even do ONE full sit up. It was as if someone removed my abdominal muscle. Yikes. Dressage (the first phase of the Three Day Event competition) necessitates the use of your core muscles. I definitely need to find mine again. So I am embarking on a fitness regime that I used during my law enforcement days. It will kick my considerable assets into shape in no time. If you are curious you can check it out at http://www.crossfit.com/. However, if you embark on the challenge of completing the "Workout of the Day"... don't blame me if you are very sore or get injured. The workout is very hardcore, and although I love the results, you have to leave your ego at the door and go very VERY slowly at first.
Another great thing has happened that I have to share. I have been asked a few times lately about being a riding instructor again. (For those of you who don't know, a long long time ago, I used to teach riding and really liked it... but I wasn't making enough $ to support my other habits like horse collecting). So, rather than hang out a shingle here where no one knows me, I got in touch with the United States Eventing Association to discuss their Instructor Certification Program, and it turns out, that despite my long absence from teaching and competing, they still would welcome me into their workshops and later the assessments for certification. I am very excited to get back into teaching and to get closer to the USEA.
So I am busy. Happy busy. Hope you are too.
P~
Monday, August 18, 2008
The Long Walk
Suddenly progress is being made on the arena! The base is fully in, and there is a mountain of railroad ties wating to be installed as a border to keep the base and sand from migrating down the hill during Missouri rainstorms.. otherwise known as "gullywashers" to the local folk. The base looks really good and I am in the process of speeding along it's curing time. The base is made of crushed lime and when wet and then dried it compacts to the hardness of concrete... which is what you want in an arena base. So I am sprinkling it and planning on driving the tractor over it many times to speed compaction, and then let it dry in the heat we are suddenly having... hey, I'm not complaining after all of that rain. Summer is finally here... although I bet Fall is like two weeks away!
We are busy intalling the railroad tie border and once that is in... then I get the icing on the cake which is the sand that makes an arena so cushy to horse hoofs during exercises like jumping!!
The title of this blog entry is "The Long Walk" because I thought I would share my experience this weekend. My husband and I decided to get out of the house with the baby. We went to a local walking trail that is around a pretty lake. I had not really thought about how exactly out of shape I am until we attempted what would have been a short walk in my former life.... 2 miles or so. Well, I am sore, blistered, and tired from a short walk! Sigh. Guess I better get to working out. My arena sand will be here and I won't have the core strength to ride my wild beasts on it! Wish me luck.
P~
We are busy intalling the railroad tie border and once that is in... then I get the icing on the cake which is the sand that makes an arena so cushy to horse hoofs during exercises like jumping!!
The title of this blog entry is "The Long Walk" because I thought I would share my experience this weekend. My husband and I decided to get out of the house with the baby. We went to a local walking trail that is around a pretty lake. I had not really thought about how exactly out of shape I am until we attempted what would have been a short walk in my former life.... 2 miles or so. Well, I am sore, blistered, and tired from a short walk! Sigh. Guess I better get to working out. My arena sand will be here and I won't have the core strength to ride my wild beasts on it! Wish me luck.
P~
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Slow Beginnings....
Just a short update.... I have finally gotten my hands on the horses for a significant amount of time (defined as: longer than the couple of seconds needed to push past them to put feed in their bins!). I had the horses' feet trimmed exactly 8 weeks prior to my son's due date. So, obviously I could not have the shoer out due to my inability to help him. Unfortunately I cannot boast about having horses that will stand tied while being trimmed or shod. They have been off work and not exercised since February and so they don't act as if they have manners anymore! I couldn't have my wonderful farrier, Russell getting hurt and refusing to come shoe for me. So I decided that after I had the baby, I would be in a better position to help Russell keep the horses in line.
Well, turns out that Russell is either very busy, or he is hiding from me and my unruly menagerie of horses. Hmmm. So, I decided to trim Savannah and Bailey myself. A lot of my horsey friends wonder why any horse lady would actually do farrier work (it is back breaking and somewhat dangerous if you are working on horses that are prone to naughtiness), but I have always felt that hoof care is such an essential part of horsemanship, that I wanted to know how to do it myself if I needed to for financial or other reasons such as if the farrier is in hiding until I can train my mob. Sigh. Special thanks to Danny, Jack, and David who mentored me. One of whom said, "Hey, that's a pretty good job... for a girl!"
Savannah was the first victim. She stood quietly in the crossties while being groomed, and then I trimmed her feet. It was painless and she was a very good girl...hmmm could they have missed me and now are on their best behavior?
Then came Bailey who I expected the most trouble from. Bailey decided that he too could be a good boy. Despite being a little snorty and spooky, he let me trim his overgrown hooves in record time. :) Now I REALLY want to start riding. I forgot what nice horses I have.
Tokaj is next, but I am hoping to coax Russell out to shoe her so that I can get going on some under saddle training and jumping with her.
Arena update: The arena is going to get some work done on it on Monday. Hopefully this will be the last week and all will be complete until the base cures and we need sand for riding!
Happy trails!
P~
Well, turns out that Russell is either very busy, or he is hiding from me and my unruly menagerie of horses. Hmmm. So, I decided to trim Savannah and Bailey myself. A lot of my horsey friends wonder why any horse lady would actually do farrier work (it is back breaking and somewhat dangerous if you are working on horses that are prone to naughtiness), but I have always felt that hoof care is such an essential part of horsemanship, that I wanted to know how to do it myself if I needed to for financial or other reasons such as if the farrier is in hiding until I can train my mob. Sigh. Special thanks to Danny, Jack, and David who mentored me. One of whom said, "Hey, that's a pretty good job... for a girl!"
Savannah was the first victim. She stood quietly in the crossties while being groomed, and then I trimmed her feet. It was painless and she was a very good girl...hmmm could they have missed me and now are on their best behavior?
Then came Bailey who I expected the most trouble from. Bailey decided that he too could be a good boy. Despite being a little snorty and spooky, he let me trim his overgrown hooves in record time. :) Now I REALLY want to start riding. I forgot what nice horses I have.
Tokaj is next, but I am hoping to coax Russell out to shoe her so that I can get going on some under saddle training and jumping with her.
Arena update: The arena is going to get some work done on it on Monday. Hopefully this will be the last week and all will be complete until the base cures and we need sand for riding!
Happy trails!
P~
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Rain Rain Go Away!!!
Rain Rain go away, come again some other far far away day! So there is some WONDERFUL BIG news, and there is some bad news.
First, the WONDERFUL BIG news: I delivered a healthy, beautiful baby boy on July 5th (hence the absence from posting on this site). I am a mom, and still getting used to the title. I love love love my baby boy and am the happiest (and tiredest!) that I have been EVER. Life just keeps on getting better. My life as it is right now is what I have been waiting and hoping for, even during times when I wasn't sure I ever wanted to be married, or have a family. Now I can't imagine continuing down the path I was on prior to meeting my husband and my life changing for the better.
The bad news is on the horse front. The blasted RAIN just keeps on coming. The horses are sad looking drippy things that are probably growing fungus under their fly sheets (since I don't get out enough to check!!). The arena construction has been at a halt for over a month since the ground is unworkable when wet. I am now a month post-partum and ready to start a training program with my horses (lunging for fitness at the very least!)... and there is nowhere with safe, firm footing on which to get started! AHHHH! I did not realize when we moved to Missouri that we would be facing rain similar to Seattle's... after the long winter, now we are in the extended wet spring or something. Someone give me dry and arid for a few months... HELLO....global warming anyone??? Just kidding. Last year, after the 4th of July, it was so dry that the grass started turning brown... not so this year. I hope we don't go from constant rain all spring, summer, and fall and then right back into frozen winter!
The arena builder will be here on Monday to try and finish this project. I am hoping and praying for some dry weather for at least an entire week. It is supposed to be terribly hot and humid outside, which is bad for the contractors to work out in, but hopefully there will not be any more rain. I will just have to keep lots of ice cold water on hand to keep away any heat related illness for the poor guys working outside.
Well, the next focus for me, besides of course mommyhood, is to get back some physical fitness. The horses are likely to be quite wild when I start them back under saddle, and I can't be jiggling like a bowl full of jelly! So, when I get the Doctor's blessing, I am going to get into a fitness routine again. I will let you know how that goes. I am interested in seeing if pregnancy has changed my body enough for me to notice when I am riding. Right now though, I need to focus on losing some significant weight and riding is on hold until after the rain.
P~
First, the WONDERFUL BIG news: I delivered a healthy, beautiful baby boy on July 5th (hence the absence from posting on this site). I am a mom, and still getting used to the title. I love love love my baby boy and am the happiest (and tiredest!) that I have been EVER. Life just keeps on getting better. My life as it is right now is what I have been waiting and hoping for, even during times when I wasn't sure I ever wanted to be married, or have a family. Now I can't imagine continuing down the path I was on prior to meeting my husband and my life changing for the better.
The bad news is on the horse front. The blasted RAIN just keeps on coming. The horses are sad looking drippy things that are probably growing fungus under their fly sheets (since I don't get out enough to check!!). The arena construction has been at a halt for over a month since the ground is unworkable when wet. I am now a month post-partum and ready to start a training program with my horses (lunging for fitness at the very least!)... and there is nowhere with safe, firm footing on which to get started! AHHHH! I did not realize when we moved to Missouri that we would be facing rain similar to Seattle's... after the long winter, now we are in the extended wet spring or something. Someone give me dry and arid for a few months... HELLO....global warming anyone??? Just kidding. Last year, after the 4th of July, it was so dry that the grass started turning brown... not so this year. I hope we don't go from constant rain all spring, summer, and fall and then right back into frozen winter!
The arena builder will be here on Monday to try and finish this project. I am hoping and praying for some dry weather for at least an entire week. It is supposed to be terribly hot and humid outside, which is bad for the contractors to work out in, but hopefully there will not be any more rain. I will just have to keep lots of ice cold water on hand to keep away any heat related illness for the poor guys working outside.
Well, the next focus for me, besides of course mommyhood, is to get back some physical fitness. The horses are likely to be quite wild when I start them back under saddle, and I can't be jiggling like a bowl full of jelly! So, when I get the Doctor's blessing, I am going to get into a fitness routine again. I will let you know how that goes. I am interested in seeing if pregnancy has changed my body enough for me to notice when I am riding. Right now though, I need to focus on losing some significant weight and riding is on hold until after the rain.
P~
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