WW: Let Sleeping Dogs Lie

Discontinued Vacation + Winter Goals

Last Friday I ended Q's vacation. I can't say she was exactly thrilled about it. I mean, what mare really wants to quit being a pasture puff on 20 acres with her harem of male suitors? Its a pretty good life for a friend-addict hussy like Q.

But alas, her loafing time is over.

I have lots of plans for her over the winter months. Nothing greatly strenuous or seriously structured in a way to keep her in super-shape for a 50, but more than enough to keep a good baseline fitness on her.

This winter I strive to remedy a myriad of small issues she has that I've grown tired of:

• slight, yet noticeable one-sidedness with nigh on everything
• fidgeting when tied in the barn (she's great outside or just standing freely in an enclosure)
• acceptance of me holding up her hind feet for extended periods of time 
• standing 100% (not 60%) of the time when mounting
• acceptance of clipping hair on her legs (need to prevent scratches)

And skills/exercises I strive to work toward with her (in combination with the above) are:

• more at liberty work to get her attention on me - she's responsive, yet extremely distracted during any liberty session we've ever had; I'd like to figure out how to best get her mind on me and off her friends
• progressing through the 101 Dressage Exercises book
• lateral movements
• suppleness

I'm certain there are more things I will incorporate as time progresses, but these are some good beginning goals. She's had a wealth of minor issues since the beginning that I've only remedied part-way; its time to improve more.

Nothing one my list is impossible. All of the above will just take some time. And if I can achieve all of the aforementioned things I'll have one heck of a better horse for it!

Ground Driving Lite

The ending before the middle or beginning. That's how this story is gonna go.

I worked Griffin in three parts on Saturday with one intermission to shoot starlings (bangbangbang): I trimmed his front hooves, I worked him in the round pen, I ground drove him for a half mile.

The trimming you don't ever get to find out about (sorry, it was routine and boring). The round pen work is going to be presented in another post.

The ground driving though? It was brief and pleasant.

Feeling a bit lazy and a bit curious, I just tossed on the bridle with the long reins. No saddle or surcingle to keep those puppies from getting tangled if he acted up.

I was hoping that he was tired enough from our round pen work earlier that it wouldn't be a great issue; and it wasn't.

He had moments where he got things a bit tangled when he dropped his head very low to do his bloodhound impression (he does this ALL THE TIME on the trail/away from the barn), but because he understands how to give to pressure, I was able to do a one rein stop with the untangled rein so that I could untangle and move forward.

We wove around the back open field awhile as the sun danced off the tufts of grass.

Griffin was a little forward at times, but he was really good overall.

I found that when he was most forward (going the last 300 feet back to the barn) I could easily redirect his want-to-trot energy into miniature serpentines back and forth within the width of the trail. It served two purposes: redirecting energy from trotting to walking and listening to the directional pressure (learning to turn). The latter purpose was very beneficial as in the past when he's been under saddle he often gets cranky about so many requests for directional change. I think I'm going to be repeating this exercise frequently so that he can [hopefully] put together that it isn't an awful exercise worth pitching a fit over.

Still so thrilled with my little grey horse, and increasingly excited for December to be here when I will lift my "no riding the grey horse" ban I've placed on us both.

Evidence: Climbing

Much to contrary belief (or at least contrary evidence in form of photography), I DO actually climb. (Thanks, Jeremy, for some photos!)

Zipped down to Summersville Lake for the day for climbing with my absolute favorite people. It was so good to see them after so many months hiatus. I was weak climbing, but I got on some stouter than normal climbs for me (exhibited above; Satisfaction Guarateed, 5.11a - apparently a pretty stout 11a as it was supposedly once an 11c?). Either way, it was something to stretch my realm of comfort.

I have many more photos to share later in the week once I've had time to upload them.

The Grey Jumper

I recognize that when I posted the photo yesterday of Griffin jumping I gave zero details.

Well, as a reward for your patience here they are: he was jumping a 3'3" vertical in the photo.

3' here

3'3"

3'3" - I love his expression. Such focus.

I wanted to work the little man a bit yesterday before working miss Q - fresh out of her vacation.

I worked on the lunge line awhile in both directions playing around with a new device to get him to give to pressure from the bit without it being because his hock action forced it [Fauxssoa] (this will be another post in itself if I can get the homemade device to my specifications).

After 10 minutes or so of this, I took the surcingle off and just lunged him around the barnyard.

I had him do the bounce set with slants, then set those up to 1'3", and also had him jumping a 1'9" jump that had a wide ground pole set so he really had to work on jumping longer and not just up.

From there, I set a 3' vertical and lunged him over it a time or two.

You can see above how much he was concerned with this.

And so I popped the jump up to 3'3" for a finale to end on.

And he excelled.

Its worth noting that I've never ridden this horse over a jump. This is not likely to happen for another year - maybe more.

I've also never put any "gadget" on him to somehow modify his body position when he's jumping.

This is Griffin. All Griffin. His natural form.

Yeah. Right?

I'm excited.

I've got a feeling I'll have to get over my fear of the show ring with this horse. He's just got so much potential. I'm so excited for his future.

Griffin: My Future Jumper

Floofums

My return from the Red River Gorge wasn't as smooth as I'd planned. One envisions the slow return into work, errands, life, etc. after a vacation. And thus, that was my plan as well, but instead I was graced with what I dubbed the "Kentucky Krud", a brutal head cold like none I've ever had before. It knocked out a day and a half of work for me and two days I'd planned to go to the barn.

As a result, your previously scheduled equine updates shall resume on the morrow, and today you all get to finally answer that little question I know has been floating around in your heads since I shared photos in this post where my beautiful little Siberian floofums revealed his oh-so-stylish and hairless rear end.

IT'S GROWING BACK! Slowly, but surely.

The guard hairs will take a long time. But the floof is there! And everything is sticking to it. -_-

But its okay. I'll take it.YAY for growth of hair and floof!

Red River Gorge Climbing

Last week after work, Jeremy zipped by to pick Kenai and I up to head to the Red River Gorge (RRG) in Kentucky for a climbing trip. At ~6 hours away from home for me, its quite a surprise that I hadn't frequented this place for climbing prior - especially in college when I 1.) worked at a climbing wall, 2.) was friends with mostly climbers, 3.) was dating a climber, 4.) lived with all climbers.

Good things come to those who wait, or so the saying goes. And good things were quite plentiful on this trip!

1. Kenai was able to come. Jeremy was able to move things around a little from our original plan to adapt for the addition of Kenai. This trip was so wonderful for him. All the mini hikes into the crags were perfect rehab for him. We never hiked more than a mile (and rarely that) at a time. The terrain was equally up and down which was perfect for getting Kenai to incorporate all ranges of motion in his knees/hind limbs.

I was really apprehensive at first about the whole Kenai hiking thing. I worried it would be too much. He'd be sore. He'd be too stiff. More harm than good would be done.

A scared Kenai hiding under Jeremy after we made him climb up onto
a ledge

I'm really, really happy to report that I was wrong on all fronts. He was a little stiff and sore in the evenings, but he fared really well over all. He even got a rest day when we went to an area that forbid dogs.

Kenai LOVED this trip. It was so great to get back out with my little buddy like pre-surgery times. He was moving so much freer by the end of the trip. That casual, lofty trot of his was beginning to return!

2. I didn't have to camp in the cold. I'm on ski patrol. I very much enjoy winter. Snow is fun. HOWEVER, my body sucks at regulating its temperature and remaining warm throughout the winter months. As much as I love playing outside in the winter, I really appreciate a warm place at the end of the day to recuperate.

Jeremy rented us a room for the whole trip. Beds and heat. The first night I was chilled to the bone from being out at the crag until dark relatively unmoving as the guys worked a final climb. I was SO THANKFUL for heat and a place to hide away and regain warmth afterward.

Two queen beds, two desks, ample space for two people!

I have a feeling that if we had camped I wouldn't have regained warmth for the entire trip. I'd also not have been as happy a person to be around!

3. Great company. I've spent most of this climbing season out with Jeremy, which says a lot for how

great his company is. ☺ I [finally] got to meet his friends Jorge and Jess (and their dogs Lola and Rowan) on this trip.

Jorge and Jess live at Miguel's where we stayed. Jess works there and Jorge is [f]unemployed for the time being. Very strong climbers, the both of them. Really amazing people. Very, very fun. So much laughter.

Jorge is really flippin' incredible with dogs, too. He and Jess both. It was enjoyable for me to watch their interactions with their dogs and gain some insight for my own training methods for Kenai and other future dogs.

4. Lots and lots of climbing. I lost track of the climbing I did. It was a lot though. Many, many 10s. While uneasy about leading a 10 (right now), I did climb the majority of the 10s that we hit up cleanly or with only 1 or 2 hangs. This isn't too shabby for someone who hasn't been on rock for several months!

Rock amphitheater. Note the people (adults) at the center. HUGE formation.

Under the amphitheater, a little right of center in the preceding photo's point of view.

Rowan. Such a cutie.

Jeremy visualizing moves on a 12c project; I took this picture to show the ledge I was belaying from.

Overhanging cliff

Top roping a 9

Day one we climbed at Emerald City and I jumped on a 10d and 10c. Day two was at the Gallery and I jumped on a 9 and an 8 - maybe a 10, too? Day three was at Muir and I hopped on 4 or 5 climbs, though I don't remember what several of them were. Day 4 I climbed up something 6 times (twice on two climbs). Why twice? Because...

5. I finally confronted my fear of leading. In sport climbing (what we did this trip), there are bolted hangers for quickdraws (two carabiners connected by reinforced webbing) along the route. You place the draws as you ascend. These bolts are often 5-8 feet apart. This means that you have to climb past one before you're clipped into another. Thus, the max distance you could "fall" before the rope/draws "catch" you (your belayer on the ground below is key to the "catch") is the length of the rope above the last point of protection x2. (Climb 3 feet above the draw and "fall", it will be 6 feet before you cease the "fall".)

I'm afraid of the "fall". More specifically, I'm afraid of an unclean fall (i.e., I'm afraid of cracking some part of my body off the wall while falling thus resulting in greater injury).

My fear is irrational. I've recognized this for years. Until recently though, I've been unable and unwilling to confront it despite my understanding that it was silly.

Jeremy has been after me since spring to lead something. He tried over the summer but I spazzed and chickened out.

Not this trip.

Day 2 we climbed (I top roped) a really awesome 8. I told Jorge and Jeremy that I'd lead it in a day or two. It was a really straight-forward classic climb. The only place that was a tiny bit tricky (and even then, SO EASY for me) had a nice clean fall if I effed it up.

Day 4 dawned and Jeremy and I headed back to the Gallery where the climb I said I'd lead was. The wall this climb was on was really busy, so we headed under and through the amphitheater of rock to another wall with some available climbs.

Jeremy put up a really tricky/technical 10b first. I TR'd and then cleaned it. We then hopped on a 7 that I knew I could lead. Jeremy led it and placed the draws (per the norm) so that I'd have one less thing to worry about, and I climbed up after. Instead of cleaning the draws and rapping down though, he lowered me, pulled the rope through and I led it.

I knew I could do this climb. I'd just done it. Not to mention it was several grades lower than climbs I'd been climbing clean on top rope in previous days.

I toughened up, silenced my fearful mind, and lead the damn thing. I got a little shaky between the last two bolts and the anchors, but I took a moment, breathed, and pushed through.

It felt good to get it over with. So good.

I was really proud that I didn't freak out more than I did. Huge deal for me. I don't think Jeremy even realizes how huge that was for me. Its been 4 years since I led a climb, and even then I was borderline panic attack the whole time.

After the experience with my lead on the 7, we went back over to the now empty wall where the classic 8 was. Same song and dance: Jeremy led and placed draws, I TR'd, I led.

I didn't freak out at all.

I was calm. I used logic to calm my nerves. I had FUN.

I confronted fear and turned it into a form of excitement instead of terror. I can't wait to do it again.

5. I finally got to see the Red River Gorge. ...which was very different terrain-wise from the New River Gorge at home in WV. RRG cliffs are nestled in a series of valleys throughout the Daniel Boone forest. The cliffs at the NRG are all a part of the gorge system (one huge valley more or less).

In addition to seeing a lot of the RRG, I got to finally see the Natural Bridge, a unique rock formation within the RRG.

5½. Oh, and did I mention that it SNOWED? Because it did. Our last morning there we woke up to snow. Quite comical.

It made for a beautiful, easy little hike though.

The view of camp from the room the last morning

Our campground!

6. We ate really well. Good food = energy to do all the climbing we did. Miguel's pizza. The Rockhouse Cafe. A Mexican place one night. Sushi in Lexington another night. Yeah. I ate well. It was awesome. 

And thus, lots of good. Lots of fun. Lots of awesome.

Such an awesome trip. I had an absolute BLAST. Thank you, Jeremy for making this happen and pressuring me to lead finally. =)