Film Friday

Does ANYONE remember when I said over the summer I'd have video footage of me riding/training that pushy little paint gelding?  Here it is. (Please excuse my pale redheaded complexion despite the middle-of-summerness.)  Better late than never, and I absolutely love it.  Thanks, Matt.

**No, flip flops and no helmet on my head aren't proper or smart, but oh well.  It was hot as STINK that day with humidity being just as high and awful (blech), honestly, I'd have been naked were it permissible!

Training Details

I’ve always loved Monty Roberts and his methods since I was a kid.  I really appreciate the way he goes about things and his efforts as a youngster to observe and better understand horse communication.  The things he discovered about body language are always in the back of my mind when I’m around horses.  I notice that that language is a foundation to every training program I tend to like.  Different people have their own take on it, different terminology, slightly different order of things, different ways of incrementing lessons, but when it comes down to it, its all the same.  We (humans) are using our bodies to speak their (horses) language in the beginning, and with time we teach them (and ourselves) a shared language of trust and understanding.

The book and methods that D and Jeanna use that I am now going to follow as well is The Modern Horseman’s Countdown to Broke by Sean Patrick.  I haven’t read too deeply into it yet, but I have had the opportunity to view the methods in person and spend time with horses that have gone through the program.  I’m impressed with what is accomplished and eager to try it.  And I do know that the author points out in the first few pages that learning all sorts of methods of training will benefit everyone in some way and give them a new way to look at their own discipline - whatever it may be.

I can’t say with certainty that this is the way I will train all future horses yet, but I’m eager to add another skill to my quiver.  My biggest concern with starting any horse is that it be done without violence.  A big push that has led me to the decision to pursue all training this way is the harsh, impatient actions of others I know toward their horses.  Seeing this happen has really made me want to be the direct opposite.  I want to form trust between Griffin (and all other horses) and I and let him (and them) know that I can be a good leader.  Violence won’t achieve this.

Starting a horse from the ground up is really new to me.  It’s a valuable thing to know, and I really believe it helps to create better trust and a better horse due to that.  Oh, and another perk?  Being able to show up in layered tights/sweatpants/what-have-you-comfort-clothes to train in. No concerns about having to wear proper “riding” clothes for the winter.  I just toss on some sturdy, waterproof boots with whatever warm outfit of comfort I conjure.  Pretty flippin’ sweet!

Wordless Wednesday: A girl and her pony

Leave No Trace Master Educator Course

I’m in!  For three glorious weeks in June I will be camping (with Kenai!!) in the Great Smoky Mountain Nat’l Park for a Master Educator Leave No Trace stock course.  The first week will be spent in the northeastern part of the park at Big Creek and the following two weeks will be in the park near the Appalachian Trail.

I’m super pumped.  I’ve always dreamed of big camping trips that involved horses, but when I finally tried to put one together last summer realized there are a TON of logistics that go into it that I 150% do not understand.  Now I’m going to gain the opportunity and experience to do something I’ve dreamed of since I was a kid!  Whoop, whoop!

My meals will be provided in the fee for the course, as will any horse or mule I may need.  All I need to bring is camping equipment and enthusiasm.  Eeee!  By far, one of the most exciting things for me is being able to bring Kenai.  It thrills me and scares me to take him.  More thrill than scare.  The only reason I’m frightened is because it’s a really, really big, wild area far away from home and I hope he won’t run off.  He’s been A LOT better as of late.  He did run off for 10 minutes during his *FIRST* real trail ride this past weekend (causing me to freak out like the spastic mother I would be if I ever had kids), but seriously, he does really well.  I’m just going to have to really work on his recall and obedience between now and June.  Make him bomber and ready for it.

The drive down there is gonna be 7 hours (ew) so I will definitely need to square away some audiobooks for the drive.  I have all the Harry Potter ones, but hearing something I’ve read multiple times doesn’t keep me quite so riveted.  I’ll need to find something new.  Suggestions?  Anyone?

NSP training

Phase II patrol training went a lot better this weekend - finally.  Bureaucracy and idiocy has been overshadowing the positive side of things, so I went into it this weekend determined to be positive and do my part the best I can and not worry about anyone else.  (These issues are a large reason why I have been avoiding discussing training on here.)

We had some biggish-wigs from higher up in the patrol visit and give us a clinic.  Seriously, the greatest part about all this training is the high level of ski lessons I've been receiving from some of the greatest people and teachers ever.  While its frustrating to constantly be told, "No, you're doing it wrong, it needs to be more like..."  I have to remind myself that I'm in some of the most advanced skiing lessons around.  This weekend FINALLY cleared up some vague concepts behind technique I hadn't been able to master yet.

Additionally, I received very high compliments from multiple patrollers on the skills I will be getting tested on.  Excellent news.  Even more excellent because our test weekend has been moved up by 1 week.  Oi vey.  So this places it as the weekend AFTER the weekend I'm headed to NYC, you know, the weekend I will be missing training?  Lovely.  So after a weekend off I will come back to test.  *Gulp!*  But current patrollers assured me I will be more than fine and will have to royally screw up to fail.  Good, I guess, but I'm still gonna worry about it!

By March I should will be a basic Nat'l Ski Patrol member.  Basic is the lower of 3(?) levels.  Senior is the next up that requires more intense first aid and ski skills, and Certified is the highest level that takes three years to complete!  I'm pretty happy with the idea of being a basic for now.  Senior maybe one day.  Certified maybe if I turn into a crazy person and discover that there is an extra day in every week!

Hopeful photos of me in that spiffy red jacket here in a couple weeks!

The much awaited photo of the new guy...

Whose name will be Griffin.

I'm Published...sort of

I am BEYOND thrilled with how this came out!  They shipped me the catalog and I had NOT seen it prior.  I'd given them access to my Flickr account and all my photos and wrote the blurb, but had NO idea it would be so beautiful.    The graphic design artist who pulled this together from three of my photos meshed them in such a perfect way.  I wonder if they realized they'd chosen two of my favorite shots of myself and probably my favorite landscape shot I got from 2011? 

I've been an ambassador for Mountain Khakis since 2009.  I LOVE their stuff and will stand by it to the end.  Its gotten me through some really amazing experiences.  I encourage all of you to look at their catalog HERE and see what you think!  I'm may to try to pull together a GIVEAWAY on my blog if you all are interested?

Training & Yoga

Training the little man:
I gave him last night off because we had a phenomenal Wednesday night session.  He was turned out for the first time with all the big guys that day so I had my first "catching" experience with him.  Once I got past the group of 3 others and in his field of vision he started walking toward me.  I looped the lead around his neck and  popped on the halter successfully.  Good boy!  Walking back across the little high-water creek (only pops up when it rains a lot like yesterday) he was hesitant to get his little footsies dirty but walked across the first one and hopped after I hopped across the second.

We went in and I brushed him for a couple moments then we went into the round pen.  I worked him in both directions at W/T/C and he responded beautifully to me for the first time.  I see Jeanna and D do this with him and others but I hadn't perfected my body position well enough until last night.  I'd say "whoa" and turn away from him into a passive stance, he'd stop and turn his butt to the panels and his face to me and then stand their licking and chewing.  I'd re-position myself and raise my hand in the direction for him to go, cluck or smooch and he'd set off again in the opposite direction.  And repeat again and again.  Good horse!

We then did a little bit of work with the tarp, some flexing of his neck (which he's really getting good at!), and I handled all four of his feet, then went back through each foot and stretched him some.  He really licked and chewed after that!

It was barely even 30 minutes of work, but he was very focused and attuned to what I wanted.  Good boy!

Yoga:
So, I don't think I mentioned on here...or maybe I did, but I give into peer pressure too easily sometimes.  And being the brilliant person I am decided when challenged, Oh, yes, racing down the long bunny slope to see who can shoot the furthest up a merging slope with beer for the winner sounds like a GREAT idea when visibility is only ~20 feet due to fog.   No worries, the mountain wasn't open yet so I couldn't kill -other- people.  So, of course, we raced.  And while I had scoped out where I would likely make a mistake and warned myself to take that turn wide so I didn't drop into that ditch, hit death cookies, and launch myself out of it, I made the mistake anyway.  I was going at quite a high rate of speed at that point as all I had to do was make the turn and I would begin my uphill ascent to see how far I could go.  And then, "Eeeeeaaaaaaauuuuuuuuggggghhhhhhhhhh!" I squalled as I got launched.

Of course, I landed on my esophagus/throat region.  Bounced once and then slide a ways.  Do my ski patrol buddies come check on me? Nope.  I'm left to lie. But that's okay, 'cause I couldn't have gotten up anyway at first.  I lay there a bit getting my breath back.  The next day and preceding week after sucked though.  Neck sore beyond sore, left shoulder screwed up somehow so I couldn't proper put on or take off clothes without intense pain, cartilage in right ribs bruised to the point where I feared I'd fractured them because I couldn't take deep breaths without pain for 2 days.  I know, I'm brilliant.

NEEDLESS TO SAY, I haven't done any yoga lately.  I tried.  I ended up hurting myself worse when I popped into downward dog.  Lovely.

BUT, I've made enough progress with my yoga-ing that I'm very aware of my posture, my breathing, and how to calm myself.  I know which stretches can help certain things and will practice them throughout the day.  I'm hoping to ease back into things soon.  I gotta get bakasana down SOLID!  Its my short-term goal.

Updates and Naming

Having a new project horse has made the work day a million more times difficult.  All I can think about is getting to the barn and playing with him.  Its absurd.  But then again, horses do always seem to become a bit of an obsession for folks like me.

We’ve been working on picking up feet for extended periods of time.  I’ve even run a rasp over them some.  He’s real good about letting me hold them for 30+ seconds or so and really seems to like them getting cleaned.  That rasp tickles a little too much for him right now though so he really tries to get the foot under scrutiny out of my hand.  I’m optimistic though, that in two weeks we will be able to have a mostly-successful trimming.  We’ll see.

He seems to look better by the day.  Really seems to be gaining weight and perking up.  The longer he’s at the barn the more we’re all falling in love with him.  Such a sweetheart. 

I wasn’t crazy about the name he came with.  It really just didn’t match up with the little horse he seems to be – though we’re still getting to know each other.  Saying the name in my head seemed okay, but as soon as I said it aloud I cringed.  It sounded harsher than I expected and really didn’t match his calm, easy-going, inquisitive nature.  As a result, I’ve been playing around with other names.  And we’ve all been joking a lot about what he should be called.  The 3-year old like the name Oswald.  But we have an Oliver.  Oswald and Oliver.  Ozzy and Olly.  Ummm, no.  Henry and Gomer were also laughed at for a bit.  Gomer in particular.  Andrea suggested several names that I really liked, Flint being my favorite.  Now its coming down to Flint and the name that came to me out of the blue, Griffin.  I’m going to see which flows out of my mind and mouth the most in the coming days and settle with one of them. 

A local trainer has an unhandled 4-year old at the barn right now, too.  I am going to try to get a photo of him soon to post because he’s gorgeous.  Dun complete with black tipped ears, a little striping on his legs, and the most beautiful mane/forelock ever.  He’s VERY refined in his build and the way he moves just screams Spanish mustang – though I believe he’s a QH.  But because he looks like he’s Spanish we have been joking around with Spanish names.  Taco, Gato, Café, Guillermo, Burrito, El Diablo, Angel, Jesus, Caballo, Mestengo, Rodrigo, Pedro, Domingo…the list goes on.  And of course, as we came up with these names we said them in the thickest Spanish accent possible.  Duh.

Hopefully both of these guys will have a solid name in the upcoming weeks!  Naming is so hard to do right.

Wordless Wed.: Tiny tot gets to ride big horse

Our Barn

Barn front in center is the one we use.  The one in the back is D's son's project, its still under construction on the inside.

The round pen.

Training = fun

Because I won’t be riding this horse till July at the earliest I really need a direction to work towards with him.  Obviously as he gets bigger and stronger I will begin introducing him to tack and that he can be comfortable with it and give to pressure while wearing it.  But in the mean time, I dunno. 

D, the lady who owns the land/facility where I keep him has a 2½ year old KY Mtn. horse she’s been working with since he was a youngster, too.  Their relationship is phenomenal.  It has come about with a lot of baby steps, a ton of patience and repetition.  I’d really like to try to develop a language and understanding and trust with my little guy the way she has.  –and then if I get my dream-Arab in the fall/winter of this year I will be well rehearsed in how to go about things with him, too.

I’d really like to get my little guy responding to my body language and gestures on a big level.  The whole sans lead line walk when I walk, turn when I turn, back when I back, jog when I jog, dodge when I dodge, stop when I stop, and hopefully a come when I whistle portion.   It sounds fun and it sounds like a huge challenge, but I really want to see if I can accomplish it.  He is such a brilliant, quick learner.  I’m certain he can pick it up.  I just hope I can be enough of a leader to get him to that point.  I am the weakest link in this equation!

Time will tell.   And while I’m being a snot about not wanting to post photos for awhile of him, I will try to post photos of the barn/fields/etc. and some of the other horses there.  Maybe some videos of D and Jeanna playing with their horses.  They have such fun tricks – like yawning on command! – they’ve taught them.  Such a close bond.  Both horses are also extremely sensitive to the slightest pressure since their two-legged counterparts have been kind enough to be so gentle with them.  I hope I can manage this!  What great teachers I have.

What ground exercises do you suggest?  Anything fun and a little out of the ordinary?

He can...

• give to pressure
• respect your space
• lead
• walk on top of a noisy tarp, even if you're flapping it while he's standing on it
• pick up his feet - but not consistently
• get into and off a trailer like a gentleman
• lunge
• stop when you say "whoa"
• not balk when a fuzzy blanket is flapped near him or tossed on his back (even from a slight distance)
• speed up when you cluck or smooch

Can you say quick learner?  Its amazing what consistency and an immediate praise (release of pressure in most cases) will do for a horse.  Oh, and he nickers when you arrive.  He's trying to weasel into my heart, little devil.

Ideas for this week:

• more work on getting those feet to be picked up, he'll need a trim and I'm hoping it can come in the next two weeks if I'm consistent and persistent
• more lunging
• more exercises giving to pressure
• obstacle courses to walk around, over, through, spin a circle within, back around, etc.
• more silly random things to desensitize 
• a bath from the knees down to get some of the perma-mud off his legs and so I can get some decent photos
• a walk or two outside instead of just work in the barn

Just Do It

...I realize the title of this post could be construed in a very crude way, but that realization made me chuckle a little so I decided to leave it.

I realized the other day that the reason I’ve been able to do so many things though is because I’m willing to wake up and get out and do them.  I’m willing to toss myself in for better or worse and experience things. 

People tell me often that they wish they “had my job” or “could go band a hawk” or “could be a ski patroller” or “could ride a horse that well” or “experience wildlife one-on-one” as I have done.  I’m a doer.  I’m not content to sit still and have free time.  And because of this I’ve had some pretty phenomenal experiences! 

Example: My flex-day (day off) was last Friday (and every other Friday).  I could have slept in, but instead I woke up around 6a, had a semi-relaxed morning of getting ready, and then rolled onto the ski slope by 8:45a or so.  The conditions were some of the best I’ve skied this year!  And I got to meet and ski with telemark ski legend/god Dickie Hall.  He actually volunteered to take a run with me to see where he could help me.  And from this opportunity I scored the chance to ski with his clinic for the next two days - for free because I’m a patroller.  Seriously, too cool.  (For all non-ski, non-telemark folks, imagine your favorite discipline/hobby/etc.; now who is the expert in that?  Who helped to found it, create key terms and practices for it?  THAT is the caliber of person Dickie is.  Oh, and he’s quite the comedian, too.)

Are you a doer?  A go-getter in search of new experiences?  What experiences has getting-out-and-just-doing-it led you into? 

New Horse

Well, I'm not rescuing as I'd first intended, but taking on a horse all the same.  He's cute and quick to learn.  The three of us [me and two ladies I ride and train with lately] are really excited to see where he goes and what he blossoms into.  We think he has a lot of potential.

While I worry about money a little as far as things are concerned with him, I realize that in the larger scheme of things its not very much at all.  Its not like I'm truly hurting, I'm just overly careful.  The ability to learn from this experience is much more important to me than the monthly board and other small costs I will incur in between.  He is healthy currently, just a little underweight.  He'll need his feet trimmed, but that expense is minimal.  Its not as if I need to run around buying products and tack for him, I don't need them since he's only 18 months old.  I just need to invest time into him - and some hay obviously.

I don't know that I will post pictures right away, as I'd like to get him settled in and responsive.  Then one day when its nice and I can get all the mud off I will post photos and some video of us training perhaps.  He's a pretty little thing; we'll see where this goes!

: : :

Oh, and I reckon my resolution/goal of "100 riding days" shall be amended to "100 days training/working with horse".  Works for me!  I've got a quiver of arrows, each a different skill, but all to do with riding in some way, shape or form.  Now I'm looking to add a new arrow or two, this time to do with groundwork methods.  Time to expand my skill set.

And so I can get these in writing for my own records...
My goals [and now his] for the next month (he does most of these in some minor form already):
- be comfortable with all parts of his body being touched and handled
- comfort with having his feet picked up and handled for a far amount of time (need to get his feet trimmed soon - yes, we will be barefoot and natural!!)
- learn to lead and give respectable space to me while leading
- giving to pressure and flexing
- lunging and listening to requests, body language requests, as I don't expect voice commands to click yet
- practice loading happily and quietly
- ground tying and standing politely and quietly to any and all acceptable objects

Change

Change.  You either love it, hate it, or deal with it because you have no other choice.  And honestly, I think we all experience each of those  as we progress through life, perhaps starting at one and ending up at the other. 

I used to hate change.  I hated it because it scared me and I would try to avoid it and prevent it at all costs.  But, of course, change is inevitable when it comes to many things.  So, then I became the kind of person who dealt with it because I had no other choice.  And, for some things, I still take this approach.  But in the past year I have begun to embrace it, love it, and take it as it comes – sometimes with enthusiasm.

This time last year I was in my almost-freak-out mode.  The deadlines for graduate school opportunities were approaching within a week and then I would find out whether or not I was going or if I was going to have to come up with something else.  I was scared to death what would happen if I didn’t go to grad school.  And then, obviously, I didn’t get in.  And with that turn of events I really began to grow into this person I’ve wanted to be for awhile.

I’m calmer.  I recognize that no matter what happens, I WILL be okay and things WILL work out.  I’m incredibly lucky and I truly do have a lot going for me.  I’m a hard worker and it shows.  I’m okay with change now, I really sort of like it.  It stretches me and lets me grow more.  Actually, in the past 7 months I’ve really thrown myself into experiences that have the potential to change me a lot.

My job – Its been a huge learning experience.  Far better than going to grad school.  I’ve realized this is the agency I want to pursue a career with; I don’t necessarily want to do THIS job within it, but I like what the agency stands for and what they do for wildlife.  I’m doing my best to pursue a permanent position – I’ve got my foot in the door, now I just need to get the rest of me in there.  Hopefully the phenomenal contacts I’ve made will give me that push I need.

My ski patrol & OEC training – It aggravates me more than I like quite often, but I have learned SO much from it.  It has been extremely challenging at times.  I’ve become a better person for it.  I’m so much more prepared for the world I live in and the activities I choose to partake in.

Applying for jobs all over the country – I do tend to look for places with ample outdoors activities when I’ve applied for these jobs (in NC, TN, CA, WA, AZ, ME, and MN).  I know I can find horseback riding almost anywhere, but I try to find something else that would be fun to do in the area as well.  Willingness to uproot myself and leave everything I’ve ever known is a strange feeling for me.  But I’m comfortable with this because I know I can always come back home. 

All of this, and I’m not even 25 yet.  Not too shabby. 

Change is something to be loved and embraced for what it does.  Not all change seems good from the get-go (and I’m likely to have a super down day immediately after having a super positive one), but change helps us to grow.  Growing is good.  You learn more about yourself that way.

I’m going to end with a story.  The story pertains to change, growing, and what you make yourself because of it.  It is definitely something to think about.

One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people.  He said, “My son, the battle is between two wolves inside us all.  One is Evil – It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.  The other is Good – It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith.”

The grandson though about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, “Which wolf wins?”

The old Cherokee simply replied, “The one you feed.”

Having what you want

Beginning in November I decided I would try to go 3 – if not more – months without buying myself new clothes.  I’m such a stickler for sales that I often “give-in” and will buy stuff even if I don’t need it.  I realized today that my 3 months is nearly up!  There were a couple times when I thought I would just get something, but I resisted, and I’m glad I did.

With the possibility of moving hours and states away for a potential job opportunity in the next year, I’ve been on a quest to organize and downsize a lot of my stuff where I could.  I loathe moving.  It causes disorganization which irks my liver on a whole different level.  My quest to not buy clothes for 3 months has led to the pursuit of consuming any and all consumable products I possess, finding the most efficient and inexpensive ways to organize my closet, desk, bathroom, LIFE. 

I love to clean and organize, if that makes me weird, then so be it!

I’m tempted to see if I can go another month without more clothes.  I’ve enjoyed this experience and I have started to teach myself how to accessorize a lot more than I once did.  I make jewelry and do a lot of knitting, so I’ve crafted myself bunches of little accessories in the past few months.  My collection of earrings that was once only 5 or 6 pairs has grown to probably 36.  (I might have a problem, but I’m okay with that.)  I have bought a pair of boots (riding) in this time, but other than that, nada.  (Wait, wait, I forgot that whole Christmas thing, I got a jacket, a shirt and a pair of socks.  But, I feel that gifts shouldn’t count as often you don’t have control over that sort of thing.)

I’ve really learned that I have all I need, though I’m sure I’ll end up getting something more “in style” with the upcoming spring fashions and sales on winter items.  All the same, its nice to always be able to find something appropriate and not have to spend more money in the process!!

I challenge you to try this out, too.  You never know what fun things you’ll end up pulling together – or what else you’ll be able to do with saved money!

Wordless Wed.: Penning photos [finally]

Award

.
Andrea at Andrea's Animal Adventures gave me this award, and shared some kind words that I simply must return.  Because really, it made me chuckle a little when she noted how this cyber friendship would be one to test in the real world.  Its a thought I've had numerous times as we've bantered back and forth in comments and emails, drooling over horses, wondering the best ways to train our dogs, or just sharing little life anecdotes here and there.  We've got a lot in common and at the same time a lot different - but those differences lie in a realm of interest for both of us, I think.  I love hearing about her pursuits with her animals, and I love passing my vote towards getting another when she ponders it.  ;-)  And lets face it, with this coming election year I'm making my threat to move to Canada as I always do, and she's sorta there and all, so maybe I wouldn't be homeless?  Either way, thanks again, Andrea!


Now, the rules that go along with this award:1. Copy and paste the award on your blog.
2. Link back to the blogger who gave the award (see above).
3. Pick five favorite blogs with less than 200 followers, and leave a comment on their blog to let them know they have received the award.
4. Hope that the five blogs chosen will keep spreading the love and pass it on to 
five more blogs.


Here are my five picks:


Ashley at The Tales of Two Taylors and their Tots - Ashley and I have been internet/blog friends since we were teenagers.  A mutual friend (who I SWEAR I've actually met in person) brought us together and we've stayed friends since.  I love reading about her daily adventures as a full-time mom to her two boys (who look too freaking old in recent pictures - FREAKING ME OUT). She corrupted me into joining Pinterest and my life hasn't been the same since.  Hurrah crafting!


Kristen & Laz at Sweet Horse's Breath - I love the way  Kristen writes, I love the way she creates a dialogue for Laz, and I love that she's pursuing the most natural life possible for her bestest equine friend - and then sharing it with everyone!  Natural horse care is something I intend to pursue once I get my boy, and I love having a reference to go off and learn from.  You always hear about how hard or easy things are to do, so being able to learn from someone who is actually out there gettin' 'er done is much better than listening to banter from internet "sources".  Thanks for what you've done and are doing, you two!


Mel at Boots and Saddles is a person I greatly admire as she's pursuing a life I'm trying to gain for myself.  She has an accomplished endurance riding career and on top of that, she's pursuing vet school!  I really don't know how she does it.  I wanted to go to vet school once upon a time, but have since nixed that idea as I didn't want to be unduly stressed for a number of years.  Not Mel!  She's doing it all and still writes some really entertaining posts in her free time educating me on canine and equine health, as well as entertaining and educational stories about endurance.  I love hearing about her Farley and the antics she pulls.  It makes me both excited and scared to get my own, haha!


Jordan at A Little Slice of My Life - Someone I knew in person pre-blogger world.  She's Orion's new mom, and honestly, I think she was meant to be his mom from the beginning - they're such a better fit that he and I were!  While we grew up in the same town and have mutual friends, we never knew each other well.  She writes beautifully and through her writing I've discovered how similar we are.  Its been fun to become better friends through horses and blogging as of late...even if she has been swallowed by the great Organic II monster this semester.  But I understand, when I took that course I was swallowed up, too.


Kate at The Adventures of Lucy - Her horse is beautiful yet bonkers (making for great photos of  a rodeo in English version), her saddle pad artwork is to be envied (seriously, its beautiful), and she's got one of the coolest dogs ever (Rhodesian Ridgebacks are a closet-obsession of mine) - oh, and as of late she made a hard decision that many of us would have struggled with and despite the results, she found a silver-lining to it all.  Quite the lady!  I haven't been following her blog for more than a month or so, but I really look forward to her posts.  She's got the best of both worlds it seems, trails and ring work to keep herself and Lucy well-rounded.  I'm absolutely amazed at her balance and riding skill as Lucy throws shenanigan after shenanigan her way!


...I'm noticing a trend here.  Men don't blog.  Hmmmmm.  

To have a horse

Well, I don't think I'm going to adopt one of those Arabs after all.  I do plan to donate some money to the rescue who is doing all they can to get them out of there.  Thinking into and talking more about the logistics of it all with horse friends led me to the decision that I'm not ready to take this step quite yet.  In fact, I've received multiple emails about my job applications I've sent out in the past two months.  (Most saying while I'm eligible I'm not the BEST candidate so my name hasn't been referred to a hiring official, SIGH.)  But these got me thinking and realizing that to commit whole-heartedly to a horse that needs that much help may not be wise.  I worry I wouldn't be able to provide enough for him as my own life may be uprooted soon.

However, I have potentially put some wheels in motion to take on another Arab X and train him for several months either until I leave, until he finds a better home, or until I fall so deeply in love with him I take him with me, haha.  We'll see where this goes, but I like the option better as the horse is local and healthy and I don't run the risk of introducing any pathogen or pest to my friend's healthy horses.

More wheels turning: I'm nearly certain I will be getting future-super-star at the end of the year.  Friends agree that the price for one of these weanlings is more than fair for the caliber of horse these folks breed.  I hope to line up a trip to Idaho mid-late summer to see the 2012 foals.  I intend to get a colt if the right one arrives.  This means that by the time he's ready to leave his momma I'm BOUND to be settled somewhere in some sort of job.  ...and if not then I don't know yet.  But here's to hoping I have something of permanence with stability.  I am very excited about the prospect of having  my horse by next year.  Training others in the in-between time will help prepare me and give me ideas for all the different ground work exercises I want to do with him one day.

Crazy Video!

Marissa posted this last week and I just wanted to re-share for anyone who hadn't seen!  ITS AMAZING.

Help!

Tell me about experiences adopting horses!  I am in dire need of a project horse while I'm still here - honestly don't know if/when I'm leaving as my job situation is different depending on who is asked.  At any rate, there was a herd a 50+ arabians that was taken over by a rescue group after the owner died in WV.  If they have a mostly healthy one, I'm going to take it and work with it.  Project! 

Suggestions?  Opinions?  Comments? 

Wordless Wednesday: Not-quite Team Penning Videos

Firsts

And a glorious weekend it was.  Updates on the team penning, which was more along the lines of chase-the-cattle-as-you-please penning, will come when I pull together some of the video footage (since videos make everything more fun).  Yesterday, though, I skied.

Day two on my telemark skis.  A very talented friend held a free tele clinic.  I picked up some more tips and things started to click a little better.  My turns to the left are pretty solid, my turns to the right tend to fail semi-epicly.  But I’m getting there!  Definitely not bad for only two days!!

My butt was seriously kicked again yesterday.  My quads were absolutely killing me at the end of it all. Kill-ing me.  But such is the price of being ripped – I kid, I kid.  But really, my legs better be shredded at the end of the season!  I enjoy the pain to some extent.

Yesterday I had two firsts: My first accident and my first climb up a mountain on my tele skis.

-          The accident: After 6 months of training and “We’ll practice this, but you’re never going to see it on the mountain,” I’m presented with ‘what I’ll never see’.  Lovely.  Nothing gory or gruesome, no worries, but interesting all the same.  Training paid off as I kicked into gear, a rhythm of getting ‘er done that only comes about from hours of practice.  Working the accident with two others from my candidate class led for smooth operations, as well.  Oh, and in case you were worried, the patient ended up being just fine in the end.

-          My first climb: Slogging through sun melted heavy snow is not something I have too large a desire to do again soon, at least not in as many layers as I was wearing!  But oh, it was enjoyable.  I love the woods up there, thick with red spruce and birch.  The wind whistling softly through the snow and ice covered branches.  The view on top was brilliant to both sides of the pipeline tree cut.  Out one, Bald Knob and the valley, the other, Dolly Sods wilderness and the foothills and farms at it’s base.  Curtis was a great guide, even if I did miss some of his story telling due to my huffing and puffing. The draw of more potential adventures reached with skis encourages me to keep it up and work hard.  I lamented not having a camera for our little adventure.  The skies were blue, with low hanging grey clouds moving in with the weather front.  Snow clung to the spruce and hardwood trees and to the ground, creating a white carpet rolled out between the tree cover.  Early dusk lighting cast beautifully over the mountains in the distance.  I just love what trees bare of leaves look like in that light.  My two companions, far ahead of me at the peak of the hill looking into the distance really would have made for quite the photo, but some things, I reckon, are meant to be held only in the mind and described only with words.  Such was this experience.

While my legs are grieving my pursuits yesterday, I’m eager for some more adventures.  Perhaps with some moving and still pictures to tell more of the story next time.  We will see.

Skiing Video

This is a video from a couple weeks back, but finally here for your viewing pleasure.  I'm out on the slopes today workin' on my tele skills!  Have a great holiday, y'all.

Snow Riding Video

I'm currently participating in my first team penning today.  Its a fun event and other activities will likely occur other than the herding/chasing of cows.  I hope to have more video and photos of it to post in upcoming days.

For now, here is a video from a week or so back of a snow ride.  It was SUPER chilly [finally].  Please excuse the dirty horses.  Numb fingers and lack of a barn (24/7 turnout - they have a shed to run in and that we keep tack and hay in, but no place out of the elements to tack up etc.) led to little want to groom areas that didn't need it (i.e. everywhere a saddle/bareback pad wasn't touching).  This is my first [successful] video with the GoPro chest harness while riding.  I've succeeded with it skiing (obviously) already, but I'm still trying to figure the best way to use it riding.  So, needless to say, the footage is a little rough, especially for our little gallop jaunt uphill.  I promise footage will be better as time rolls on!  =)  Enjoy.

Breyer Model

Does anyone recognize this little guy?  I'm not sure how I acquired him.  From the best of my reckoning he's model #816 Shah, Arabian foal.  Maybe he's the reason I'm lusting hard after an Arab?  I would die happy if I could find future-super-star with markings like this fella, too!  I love bays, and I love bays with chrome.

Yoga Update: In Which I Critique Myself...

The yoga-ing goes well.  I gettin’ ‘er done a little or a lot each day.  Other than general flexibility progression, my core is getting stronger, I’m more aware of my breathing and can use it to calm myself, and I’m feeling more balanced.  I’ve begun to accomplish some poses that I had made a goal to reach.  The more intense arm-balancing poses will take more time, obviously, but I did hold a balanced handstand for a few seconds.  I’ll take it!  (By the way, most awkward thing ever to set the camera timer then rush into position!)

Weeeeeaaakkk ankles.  My back could be a little straighter and a little less hunched.

Little better with both back and ankles.  Left arm looks turned inward a bit.

Could probably bring my body up a little, need to get those shoulder blades on my back more.

Lazy back arm.  I guess 'cause I can't see it I forgot about it?

Bakasana!!  I'm getting there.  I can hold it for a second or two now.  Sometimes three or four!

Would like to see myself up on my shoulders a bit more.

Better flexibility will come with time...and not being rushed into the pose w/in 10 seconds.

Probably need to roll my shoulders back.

Piking

Piking

Handstand attempt

Losing it, evident by my L hand...

I'm a dreamer, but not the only one.

Ah, dreaming, its what gets me through the slower parts (read: less action-packed) parts of my day.  Aside from the obvious dreaming about future-super-star, my dreams of late have consisted of the following random things:

Having an Elliptical – Skiing is AWESOME for getting me back where I want with cardio fitness.  I can cover so much ground and work hard while having a ton of fun.  Unfortunately this will end come April.  I wish I had an elliptical to keep up with my cardio fitness when it ended.  My ankles are poo-tastic from swimming, as I’ve stated before, and while I’m definitely working to strengthen them, they’ll never withstand what they once did.  (I still hope to one day accomplish running a ½ marathon, though!)  How perfect would an elliptical be?  I could watch TV, read a book, listen to an audiobook, read/catch up on blogs, all while exercising.  I try to stay away from the TV now because I do nothing but lie around or eat while I’m watching it often times, but if I had an elliptical I could make some rule about having to exercise while I watched a show.  One day, I will do this.

Toilet training the cat(s) I will one day have – I grew up with kitties.  Once I’m settled I plan to get one, probably two.  A good friend recently adopted two littermates and is in the process of toilet-training them.  I agree COMPLETELY with this decision and think it is absolutely BRILLIANT.  Like her, I love kitties and cuddling with them and laughing at their antics, but kitty-litter DISGUSTS me.  Cat shit particularly strikes a chord with me.  Yuck-o.  (Yes, my cats growing up were all indoor-outdoor, but as a semi-bird-enthusiast I plan to have indoor kitties.)  So, why not toilet train the little devils?!  Lots of folks have done it.  Hello, Meet the Parents/Fockers/whathaveyous, anyone?  I’m not saying I want the kitties to flush, but imagine the $$ saved buying kitty litter!  Maybe I’m absurd, but this sounds fun to me.

Amp up my GIS skills – I think about this often at work.  I wish I was super savvy and could do all the super-cool things that Arc software allows one to do, but when it comes down to it I’m still a nature nerd.  Wildlife is what tickles my fancy more than mapping.  I’ll run out the door any day to bask in the sunshine following some creature rather than sit at a computer.  Due to this, this dream is unlikely to come to fruition.  But, I am picking up bunches of skills along the way with my continuing education via the interwebz through Oregon State.  Becoming proficient enough to produce maps that make me happy and get the point I’m trying to convey across is enough for me!

What fun/crazy/silly dreams have you come up with lately?

For the love of all things horses

This upcoming weekend I will be participating in a team penning event.  I know very little of the sport, but its bound to be a good time.  I’ve been working weekly (which became nightly as of this week) with the big-brown-lady, who we’ve been calling Merrylegs – nevermind that she’s hundreds of pounds larger than her namesake.  She’s a sweet girl and is very responsive to my requests. 

She's stocky

Some nights we ride western, some we ride English, some I just jump on bareback

Later in the night I had her trotting over the tarp and then she even let me drape it across her back.

OH!  Kenai went on his first trail ride(s) this week.  Mini ones just around the property.  I've always put him in my car (where he has lots of room to lounge) while I ride if he comes out with me.  He's never been loose while I was on horseback.  He listens extremely well so far.  He even came over and "heeled" while I was mounted, sitting on the ground to my left.  What a good boy!  && he played very well with some kids last night.  I knew he was sweeter with kids, but it had always been in passing or with kids at least 8 years old.  These two were both younger.  The lunging he usually does to get a tennis ball he completely refrained from while playing with them.  Super impressed.

Practicing my mini-vault from the ground by her head to her back... And now I see how I should remedy  my mistakes

Granted, I've found in the past that the more I practice and develop the muscles needed to do this the easier it is.

The lady who keeps Merrylegs has invited me to go to the Equine Affair with a group of them.  I’ve received this invite from multiple people over the past six years or so, but I have yet to go.  In the past school has ALWAYS been in the way.  Well guess what, NO MORE.  And, conveniently enough, that weekend I have Friday off work due to my flex schedule.  We’re leaving Thursday night so I doubt I’ll have to take much work – if any – off at all.  I’m really excited to finally go – even if my dream of going just to see Monty Roberts doesn’t come true.  Stacy Westfall is slated to be there, D told me.  And we’re going to see Fantasia, booked the tickets already!  Let's hope I don't spend toooo much money on more horse things I can't use for lack of my own horse!  ...even if I am drooling extra sloppily over the prospect of my future-ARABIAN-super-star more than I should lately.  Must. Keep. To. Mantra. "Get job. Get settled. Get horse."