Horse'o'course

He's so awkward in some way in each photo.  I think the middle one has him at a stage where things appear most proportional.  But in the other two he's got something growing ahead of the rest of him to catch up to.  He's a happy kid though.  Two boss horses that were in the prevent-Founder paddock are now back out in the field with everyone.  And there are two or three additional horses over to eat grass for a few weeks.  Happy herd of playing horses galloping around on 40 acres.  I'm glad Griffin has lots of friends of many ages to play with - and I'm happiest that the bosses are back in the field to squeal and kick and teach him lessons.  He really needs his ass kicked.

: : : : :

I'm formally going through my "Countdown to Broke" book now as I work with Griffin. I like structure and this book provides it.  While I'm uncertain at what age I'll officially start him under saddle, I do know that I want him to be fully established with as much as possible prior, and this book sets a pretty strong foundation.

G-man is doing very well with all he's learned.  I'm very proud of him.  And it really makes my heart soar when he chooses to follow me around after I've ended our session.  I'm happy I've earned his trust as a leader now.  Granted I still doubt myself at times - I'm learning, too!

: : : : :

I really need to get on the ball and start teaching him to ground drive, but honestly, the thought of doing it intimidates the hell out of me because I know so little about it!  Granted, it would make our runs more interesting.  Me doing my whole fitness thing while driving him along in front.  The neighbors will REALLY think I'm crazy then...

"Walt, did you see that girl driving her horse?"
"No, honey, why?"
"It was the strangest thing, she was doing it all wrong.  I'm pretty sure the person is supposed to sit in a cart, not run behind the horse...."

Yep, that's how I see it.  Ah, well, to each her own, right?

I do have a surcingle and reins in my possession.  I shall read up on a few articles one last time and dive into this pursuit on Sunday.

: : : : :

I've put out my feelers to find a horse to ride for the endurance ride in August.  (Any of you folks want to travel to WV for our ride?!  I guarantee beautiful scenery, a HUGE area for ride camp, awesome food, and a swimming hole!)

Looking down on basecamp the day before the ride.

Dinner and a bewildered child.

The lady who is in charge of the race is well connected and said she was sure she could find a horse for me to ride.  I told her I'd happily ride the 30 or the 50 dependent upon what kind of horse was available.  She asked my preference for riding in the front, middle, or  back of the pack.  I told her it honestly didn't matter as long as I had a horse who was capable of completing it soundly.  But I also mentioned that if there's a capable fast one, I wouldn't say no to a speedy good time.

This is exciting news for me.  I hope something works out.  I will be beyond giddy.

WW: A vicious beast almost got me!

One of those days

Yesterday was just "one of those days".  One of those days when one thing leads to another and before you know it you're broken and crying and everything seems just so awful.  And you know it can be fixed.  But you're just not quite sure how that fix is going to happen.  Or when that fix can happen.  And so you cry more in frustration.

At least that's how it went for me yesterday.

And then I stumbled into my room, still crying, felt a little better to see that my UPS packages had arrived, and saw I had a letter on my desk, too.  Mail always makes things a little better.

I opened the letter without even glancing at who it was from.  One of my bestest friends in San Diego and I trade snail mail routinely - just because.  The card was about that size so I just assumed that must be it.  I pulled out the card to see little Escher-like birds on the front and this:

"Every single day, do something that makes your heart sing." - Marcia Wieder

I mustered a small smile, opened the card and started reading.  I realized immediately this card wasn't from California, but from my friend Ashley in the Midwest.  She had written encouragement to me - just because.  She said some incredibly wonderful, kind things, too.

I cried more - just because that's where I was at this point, crying over everything.  But her words were just what I needed to push me to turn what was left of my day around.

I changed my clothes, gathered barn clothes, and headed out to fulfill that little quote.

And my heart sang.

Sweet, sweet weekend

It was a shorter weekend for me (I have 3-day weekends every other week), and while there were ups and downs to this one, it ended on a major high note and I was a very happy person at the end of it all.

I've become busy with photoshoots for friends recently for numerous events.  Until now most things I've done for friends have been pretty informal, but with so many friends getting engaged/married/etc. I've had several requests for formal photos.  Its been a really awesome experience that has really helped to expand my ability and comforts within photography.

Prom 2012; I ride with the pretty young lady pictured here

Friday I headed out to a "save the date" photoshoot for Jeanna.  This is the first of several wedding-esque photoshoots in my near future!  Tell you what, getting three horses, a mini, a lamb, a mastiff, a cat, and two kids under seven to cooperate?!  Not entirely possible.  But I think it ended up pretty well, all things considered.

The fields were very muddy at the beginning and very flooded throughout, I didn't have boots...  Ended up with a nice thorn in my foot.  Ah, the silly things I do!

The light I was anticipating around the time of day we scheduled it was nonexistent when I arrived.  But right as we got out to the designated "spot" the clouds parted to give us a little bit of the light I was hoping for.

Getting to the spot

Love them.

Their reward for being good little models, running through the giant puddles with their doggy.

The things I screamed to get those kids to laugh... Oh deary me.  Worth it though.

Here are some of the other critters that were not included in the photoshoot:

Oh, and just because I've already had quite the menagerie included in this post...

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush!!

Three of them got caught in the barn and weren't smart enough to fly DOWN, out the door, and AWAY.  This one beat himself up enough to fall down, so I plucked him up for some photos and turned 'im loose.

: : : : :

Saturday I rolled out of bed at o'dark thirty to head down to the New River Gorge for some climbing and lake swimming...or so I thought.  The beginning of the drive was gorgeous.  Misty mountains complete with sunrise.

As I got further and further south the weather got worse.  When I arrived it was raining...and continued to do so until around 2:30p.  UGH.  I went down two weeks ago for it to rain the whole time and keep us locked inside.  Needless to say, I was pretty put out with the fact that I'd woken early to get down there only to have it be cold and repeat this again.

Kudos to Zak for being the peppiest person ever despite my horrid mood.  We went to Hobby Lobby (because I'd never been to one and sort of HAD to go) and then saw Hunger Games because he'd just finished the books (I saw it in MT).  After all of this it was STILL raining.  But, it was Cinco de Mayo, so we headed off to get proper food and margaritas to celebrate the occasion.  Cue day turn-around...or maybe I was just too drunk to care at this point...  But, the SUN CAME OUT AND THE RAIN STOPPED!  And I finally got to meet up with my friends from the Big Sky trip.  And we CLIMBED.  You heard me, I CLIMBED, finally.  Squee!  Day redeemed.

He's afraid of cliff edges.

But decided to smile anyway.

Ka-BLAM supermoon.  But I don't know how to photograph the moon well, so this is what you get.

: : : :

Sunday I managed to put 12 miles in the saddle.  Met up with Carly for the first 4, and with D for the other 8.

Standardbred x TWH mare.  Carly's new horse.  What say you?  I enjoyed her gaits thoroughly.

At the half-way point for our 8-miler

Lady's Slippers are in bloom!

D and I have a ride twice as long (time wise, at least) planned for this weekend.  I'm pretty pumped.

So yes, quite the eventful weekend.  I wish they were all 3-days so I could pack more into them.  Climbing was the highlight by far as its something I haven't done in so, so, so long.  Come July when I have some time on my plate again I plan on getting down to the NRG a lot more.  Happy, happy, happy.

Vaquero

Thinking about Stacy Westfall today as she mourns the loss of her second horse in less than six months.

Many of us remember her losing Roxy (and Roxy's first foal she carried herself) back in February.  Today she bid another unexpected good bye to another phenomenal horse, Vaquero.

I just saw her riding him in April at the Equine Affaire.  Makes it all the harder to take in when you've seen the bond between horse and rider in person.  Such a talented, young horse who had so much in front of him.

Week of Griffin

28 April 2012

Somebody's a little butt high....  Do I suspect another growth spurt?  I think so!  He looks so awkward...  Whats going to be crazy I've realized now that it's May, is that I'm gone for three weeks of June.  With him growing like this I can't even fathom how big he'll be when I get back!!  Hopefully he'll not be a high-strung youthful idiot when I get back.  So far he doesn't strike me as being that way, but you never know what could happen in 3 weeks.

: : : : :

Tuesday night we pulled out a bunch of PVC pipes and began working on trotting over them.  He was funny about it at first, stepping over everything like it was a foot taller than it really was, but then he fell into it as if he'd been doing it since always.  I was happy.  After that we went on a little jog for about a quarter mile on the one-lane asphalt road for his tootsies.  Took him a bit to get the whole "I trot when you jog" thing, but he got it!

: : : : :

Wednesday night I rode Mayer for a short little jaunt.  Still exploring the trails.  She's super tender-footed as she doesn't have shoes and I have no boots that fit her monstrous feet, so we don't go for long when its just us.  I think I've solved her head throwing issue (for now at least).  She was trained as a cutting/team penning horse in her former life, and as a result is wonderfully responsive off your leg (I love it).  As a result, prior to now she never had someone in her mouth ever I don't think.  She was directed to the cows in the arena and then turned loose.  She would always throw her head if I put much pressure on her mouth.  I've switched her over to the sweet iron French D-link snaffle I have and she hasn't thrown her head since.  Progress?  I hope so!

Post short exploratory ride with Mayer, we murdered some starlings and then I brought G-horse in.  He got his meal and then we took a 4-wheeler ride.  Well, he got to jog alongside us.  He's decided its far more fun to go beside the 4-wheeler than behind it.  (No worries, his lead rope is in hand this whole time and there is slack in it, too.  He knows to come with me when I move and stop when I stop staying at my shoulder.  Besides, I wasn't driving and could focus on him.)  He's got such relaxed movement through his trot and canter.  Happy horse.

The creek was up from the 1" of rain we got the other night.  Griffin could care less about water.  I rolled up my pants and waded in with him and sent him away from me in a manner that he'd have to get in the deeper, faster flowing section that was above his hocks.  No big thang.  He seemed more disappointed that I wouldn't follow.

Post creek explorations, I decided to see if the previous night's lesson of move with me when I jog had stuck.  I mean, obviously he was somewhat familiar with the idea as he stayed near while on the 4-wheeler.  He did great.  We ran up the road to the house together and then stopped to talk with Jeanna and D and oggle over how pretty Griffin is becoming.  (We all sort of thought he'd be ugly....)  After a brief respite at the house he and I ran back down the the barn - he even cantered, controlled, beside me!  Good horse.

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Thursday night I managed to play with Griffin for a solid hour.  He's still not "cured" of his catching issues, but its not taking as long.  Part of the problem now is that its pretty much only him and Duke on 40 acres.  While they don't go far from the main field, they're hesitant to be without one another.  Duke has a harder time than Griffin I think.

Once he was finally haltered we headed over to the stream to play in the water.  The bugs are awful, I was out of fly spray, and it was in the 90s so the stream seemed like the logical place to be.  We walked upstream IN the stream for a ways.  G-man could care less.  So we came back down to an area with greater depths (nothing >4 feet) and I waded through and had him follow.  Sure, ain't no big thang.  He got in to his belly/chest and proceeded to splash and play and play and splash.  And then he just stood there.  We proceeded in this manner for a few minutes and then left that part of the stream, walked through a field, and went to another part where he proceeded to eat grass that was growing beneath the water's surface.  My horse the moose.  (This was normal grass just underwater from recent higher flows.)

Post stream expeditions we went on a ¼-mile jog on the road.  And then we came back and I attempted to film him trotting in hand.  By this point he'd had about enough of me (rightly so as this was one of the lengthiest amounts of time we'd spent together).  I thought about editing it.  Then I thought about not posting it.  But then I decided I would post it anyway because its just so comical.  Me yelling at Kenai to not stalk the free-ranging chickens.  Griffin refusing to be the willing-angel he'd been all day.  Kenai trotting along right after us like a little duckling...  Yeah.  Had to share the chaos.

These shoes were made for runnin’

 In an effort to boost my own fitness and that of Griffin + help stimulate his feet/wear them down between trims, I’m going to pick up jogging again.  Ho boy…  I had a bout with running in the fall.  I was doing better than I ever had in the past; even getting up to run times of 30 minutes (I never focused on distance, only time).  I felt as if I could go longer a lot of the time, but stopped because I didn’t want to over-do it and hate running all over again.

I contributed my success to the new way I was running – fore-foot striking, that whole “barefoot” minimalist approach to running.  I’d listened to Born to Run on book tape in October and picked up a lot of information from it and got really inspired to run again.  The science behind a lot of what the author said made sense to me, so I went for it. 

It worked…for awhile.  I know I must have been doing something wrong, pushing a little too much too fast probably.  My weak ankles from old injuries didn’t help matters either.  But I was able to run for a good month prior to these difficulties.

I’m going to give it another go, slower, and this time with a horse at my side.  Won’t we look silly to the neighbors? 

In my first pursuit I ran in some of my mom’s old water shoes, you know, the kind you pick up cheap from the store that have mesh tops and next to near no sole.  The idea is that shoes with a bulky sole encourage heel striking, or in my case, encourage the twisting of an ankle.  I’m a clutz.  I’ve lusted after some of the newer minimalist shoes developed for the growing popularity of “barefoot” running, but they’re all so pricy!  And, I’m sorry, but I just don’t care for that whole Vibram Five-Fingers trend (don’t even get me STARTED on the idiots that assume those shoes qualify as rock climbing shoes…)

However, ask anyone who knows me and they’ll confirm I’m the queen of finding deals on things I want to buy.  Internet shopper extraordinaire, right here.   I may or may not also be addicted to getting things in the mail – it’s really a toss-up.  So, I managed to score some Merrell Pace-Gloves for <$25, slightly used.

These babies retail ~$100.  It’s a little bit of a risk on the whole sizing thing as I don’t own Merrells yet, but I’m optimistic.  And besides, its not like I’m out on that much money anyway if they don’t fit.  I’m a bit excited to get moving, er, running now. 

PS - Hope those of you who don't read in Google Reader like the new header.  I'm becoming a photoshop champ and felt like playing around last night.  I'm pretty excited about it!  So if you ARE reading in GR - pop over here and take a gander!

Wordy Wednesday

Valuable things to remember, my favorites are bolded



Life isn't fair, but it's still good.


When in doubt, just take the next small step.


You don't have to win every argument; agree to disagree.


Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.


Don't compare your life to others; you have no idea what their journey is all about.


If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.


Take a deep breath - it calms the mind.


Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful, or joyful.


Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.


When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take "no" for an answer.


Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie - don't save it for a special occasion.  Today is special.


Over prepare, then go with the flow.


Be eccentric now, don't wait for old age to wear purple.


No one is in charge of your happiness but you.


Frame every so-called disaster with these words, "In five years, will this matter?"


What other people think of you is none of your business.


Time heals almost everything.  Give time, time.


However good or bad a situation is, it will change.


Don't take yourself so seriously.  No one else does.


Don't audit life.  Show up and make the most of it now.


Growing old beats the alternative - dying young.


All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.


Get outside every day.


If we threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.


Envy is a waste of time, you already have all you need.


The best is yet to come.


No matter how you feel, get up, dress up, and show up.


Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

Stay Present, Stay Positive

I have a problem: I constantly set far away goals for myself.  Things to look forward to.  Things that will eventually be.  Things to keep me going.  But sometimes, these things aren't enough.  Sometimes they’re too far away and I get lost on my way to them.  Sometimes they come and go so quickly that all my anticipation and excitement about them seemed to be much ado about nothing.

I need to work on making smaller, daily goals.  Staying present and staying positive.  This is something I’m going to focus on over the summer.  If I actively focus on it and pursue it then, with time, it will become a permanent change in my life.  Or at least that’s what I hear anyway….

I need to make little goals for myself.  I’ve been in an awful drag since getting back from Montana.  I thought vacation would “cure” my cabin fever feelings.  Fail.  I wake up, I go to work, I sit fidgeting all day, I get out, I go work little horse some nights, I come home, I eat, I sleep, I repeat the next day.  See that?  I’m sort of missing some spice in my own life.  I need to add some excitement to one or two nights a week – non-weekend spice.  I miss waking up excited every. single. morning. 

In the middle of crafting this post I took a moment to sit and count out “# of work days until BCHA training”.  See?  I have a problem.  (24 work days left!)  I’m focusing on the “what will be” instead of the “what is right now”.  And part of me is assuming I’ll be all hunky-dory a-okay and “cured” of this drag when I return.  Doubtful.  If anything, three weeks in a Nat’l Park playing with horses and being outside daily is going to give me major pseudo-shaking-leg syndrome when I get back to my desk life.  I fail miserably at sitting still!

Whoops, another distracting break moment: just penciled in all exciting weekend activities between now and training.  (Every single weekend is booked with something, hooah!)  Problemmmmmmmm.  Maybe I need a new, exciting morning routine to jump-start my days?  Problem is, I SUCK at getting up earlier than necessary.  My body is sleepiest between the hours of 3a – 8a and most alert from 5p – 11p.  At least at this point in my life that’s my schedule.

I need to apply this towards Griffin’s training more than anything, since its my look-forward-to thing every day.  I’ve really hit a brick wall with things lately and I need to pick up the pace, but in a small way.  I’m not talking about lengthier training sessions more days a week – I think he’s getting a proper amount of stimuli for his age @ 4 days a week in the evening after I finish work.  I just need to expand his, and my, repertoire of activities – more or less add some more spice to what we’re already doing.  I’ve come up with some little things:

 Ø  Not balking at the sound/feeling of fly spray – Little horse is gonna get a LOT of water sprayed on him (and fly spray on days that merit it)

 Ø  More work with the tarp – I want him to LOVE that thing and all its crinkly noises

 Ø  Head shyness – he is random with his “oh my god you’re near my head” reactions, I’d like to make it so he’s very rarely jerking away

 Ø  Double long-lining to lead to potential driving – this would just be beneficial cool for us both to learn 

 Ø  Walking/trotting over ground poles during our sessions – kid seems to pick his feet up well on the trail when he tags along, but it’d be nice to give him more reason to be aware of his feet and to mix up the whole ground work thing

 Ø  Short walk/jogs in hand – because I’m a lazy bum and need to get myself out there moving, a little jaunt down the back road would be good for his tootsies, too.  Besides, walking/trotting in hand will be useful (vet checks) if we end up in endurance as I’d like.

So now, dear friends, I need your help and advice.  What do you do to spice things up between adventures and weekends?  How about ways to alter your body’s schedule to get up early and jumpstart/take control of your day?  I need ideas, people!  Additionally, horse folk, what ideas do you have for more ground-based mind and body stimulating activities for Griffin?  

Weekending

While my social life in my hometown may blow, I'm accomplishing a lot.  Raising and training the wonderful little horse; got my certification as a National Ski Patroller; and now pursuing BCHA/LNT training in June and my concealed weapons permit prior to June.

Spent the weekend in "Handguns 101".  Shot several different makes and models.  Enjoying myself and slowly putting my fear of guns to rest.  I'm as jumpy as a wild mustang when it comes to most things, guns especially.  But after two lessons I'm definitely getting more comfortable.  Those long solo rides I end up taking in the middle of no where will eventually have a little more security to them than the speed of a horse!

Went on a ride and got semi-lost.  Not super lost, just headed down a really rough trail to the point where backtracking was NOT the preferred method!!

Around #3 is where we bushwacked up through the woods onto the better trail??

Thanks to Endomondo we were able to see where we were and cut back up the hill and onto a clearer logging road.  Griffin came along with us.  He even decided to lead a little.  I was impressed.  He got stuck twice in briers.  Kid is a WUSS.  A single brier strand wrapped around him is cause for squealing whinnies of alarm.  HOWEVER, he knows to wait until help comes.  The second time he even helped me help him by moving in a way to help me get the thing off him.  Nevermind that he could have taken two steps and busted it.  Mayer is a freaking BULLDOZER.  I love it and I love her more for it.  Trail CHAMP.

It was a pretty epic farm-filled weekend of sunshine and horses and happiness.  Weekends like this are what I live for.  I'm proud of myself for pushing through scary boundaries and proud of little man for being a champ through all my chaotic woodsy wandering.  I'm a bit of an extreme trail rider...its more fun that way.  Though most people (most of you likely, except maybe Dom) would hate it!

Anyhoo, I leave you with this:

Duke.  Never know he was so high strung once upon a time... And I TOTALLY get why people think I'm 14 after seeing this photo.  Blech.  But, I'll be happy to look so young once I'm 30.  Pfffttt on all you haters.

Griffin Video

Finally, a new video of the little horse.   You can really see how much he's grown.  I think he looks more Arab-ish than TWH in the video, but more TWH than Arab in his photos.  He's really filling out and getting big, so I'm excited no matter which side of his breeding he ends up as since he's healthy and happy.

I haven't done much round pen lunging lately as its so dusty in there and I"m usually too lazy to hook up and unwind/rewind the hose to wet it all down.  But, for video purposes, its easier to be in there so here you go.

Me & G

Griffin[dor]

No, it was not lost on me when I named him Griffin that he could also be GRYFFINDOR!   Yes, I am a Harry Potter nerd.  I freaking GREW UP with Harry so DON'T hate.  We're the SAME age.  I started following him as a 4th grader and we've been BFFs ever since.  Its not his fault that J.K. couldn't write faster so we could finish our schooling at the same time (he was only a few months behind, really).

Okay, okay, HORSE news (I'll stop with my HP rant....though, okay, one more, I really want a Hedwig!):

Snothead (aka Griffin) is healthy, happy, and crazy.  It almost - but not really - makes me wish he were skinny again so he couldn't run away!  Last Sunday when we returned from Equine Affaire I whistled, he sprinted, he came in.  The next day, I whistled, he sprinted, he played and avoided me, his friends were removed from the field, his ass was chased until he realized, "Oh, hey, I'm gonna not run anymore."  The next day, I came, I whistled, he ran, he played and avoided me, I gave up and said screw it.  I didn't come back to see him for a week!  (It was raining and nasty and frankly, if he was going to be an ass, then fine.)

So this Tuesday he had a trim appointment.  I came to work an hour early so I could leave with enough time to catch him (even if I had to run his ass around to exhaust him).  I decided when I got there to not even play his game, as he immediately started doing his nonchalant avoidance thing.  I whistled without a response.   Hollered without a response.  And then initiated Plan B (no, no, no, not the emergency birth control!).  I waltzed out, loved on Mr. Duke, walked on over to Mr. Wrangler, haltered him and headed to the barn.  Snothead was all, "Oh, hey, that's different!" and followed us across the field, through the gate, and into the barn.  Mr. Wrangler was given a handful of grain as a reward and released back into the field.  Bada bing, bada boom.

Griffin was on HIGH alert to all my movements.  I had to initiate the tiniest of requests and he was responding.  That was the ONLY difference in him from his time off/new snothead-itude.  He worked well, listened well, and fell asleep for his trim.  Trimmer says after two more trims he'll be where he needs to be!  He is also hovering ~638 lbs and has grown an inch (maybe more but I was afraid to call it that, lol) and is now ~13.3hh.  With all this growth I'm hoping he's going to truly fill out to be 15hh eventually, though I'm wee so him being shorter wouldn't be the end of the world since I'm such a featherweight.

These are all cell phone photos, so don't hate.  I was ill-prepared on Tuesday.

Splurged and got this headstall for all future endurance pursuits.  As you can see I didn't put a bit on it yet...and the pricetag is still on it!  I was going to get a Wintec bridle, but realized I really had no need to do that with what I'm interested in (jaunting around in the woods).

All you trimmers and barefoot horse owners, please feel free to comment on how his feet are and where they need to be and what to do to get them to a better place!

And the new time-lapse reveal!!  16 day lapse from other photo.  Growing boy!

More Adventure

I'm determined to really live it up and do things that make me happy that I've wanted to do forever.  I'm going to have some pretty awesome adventures this summer.  Nostalgia for adventure overwhelmed me a day ago as I went through all my old photo albums on FB.  I've really done some amazingly fun things in the past 5 years.  Looking back on all those memories made me that much more determined to pursue more.  The new two months are already chock full of plans (hiking, photography sessions, trail rides and horse clinics, multi-day backpacking trips, backcountry horseman/leave no trace training).  I hope y'all are ready to follow along with it all.  I'm jumping in head first and planning to have a blast.  You're only young once, right?