Recent Shenanigans Photo Journal

Tent city
WVU tailgating

LET'S GO MOUNTAINEERS

<3

They serve beer at our games now.
I was drinking a local microbrew and Mike had Yeungling's Oktoberfest

Mike bringing Gumby into the stadium

Huzzah Gumby!

Gumby is really just T

Armed forces appreciation

Remi beating up Gumby; typical

Ah, WV roads

So, the muffler fell out of Mike's car that Haze has been borrowing

The Haze is not amused

T and I pre-Gauley

Important things in the dry box

Pregaming for the river while we wait for the shuttle folks to come back

Smiles! And beer!

Proper beer holding etiquette

Gooning

Haze and a happy T

Funder, you wanted river photos on the water, so here they come
All taken during flatwater though!

T and I

Typical

My raft for this day

Our crew...plus some custy rafts

SPIT ON IT!
K-pumping the raft

Lower G vistas

Me and Mike

Basically sums up the day

Gauley Canyon is a beaut

Tiernan....what are you doing....

Canyon vistas

T, seriously...what is this

So very tyipcal Haze

RR bridge

Sinking sun

My paddle's keen and bright
Flashing with silver
Follow the wild goose flight
Dip dip and swing

Of Blogger Visits, A Horse Show, and Tantrums

Last weekend Miss Mary from Simply Horse Crazy and I finally met IRL. We're from the same state and have been discussing this possibility for what seems like ages, but it didn't happen until last weekend due to our busy schedules!

It was a whirlwind of a 24 hours, but it went something like this:

Friday night around 7p I picked Mary up from a friend's house, a pre-determined rendezvous point as she'd hitched a ride to Elkins with them. From this point, I spirited her away to the barn immediately as light was dwindling and we wanted to ride!

Chatting with Mary on the way to the barn (and from the moment we greeted one another) had no airs of awkwardness. It was as if we'd known one another all along. Oh blogging, this is what you do. IRL, Mary is just as - or even more - level-headed than she comes across on her blog. She's got such a good head on her shoulders and I admire her so much. There were multiple moments in our brief time together when she divulged some insights to me that really made me sit back, think, and nod agreement. Things I hadn't been able to fully put into words or view so black and white before. It was good to hear them, and great to talk things through with such a wonderful person. =)

We arrived at the barn, whipped out the horses, and tacked up lightning fast as the light continued to dwindle. Fortunately,  as dusk was settling into night, a not-quite-full moon rose high to help light our way.

I tossed Mary a headlamp for her helmet, and with her astride Q and me on Griffin (for the first time US since his ultimate Shit Fit weeks prior), we set off with Kenai bounding alongside.

We wound through the back field, up into the now dark woods, and headed toward the haul road where we went for not quite a mile before turning back. I had previously considered doing the 3.5 mile loop, but as I'd taken enough spiderwebs to the face already and I was worried that we'd run into momma bear and her cubs, I decided it would be prudent to turn around and back track.

Griffin led this short not-quite 3 mile ride. I can say that by and large, he was well-behaved for having not been ridden (only ground driven and other from-the-ground pursuits) in weeks, having a new bit (a borrowed (thanks, Nicole!) Myler combination) in his mouth, and riding at night (with headlamp) for the first time.

However, he did make no fewer than three attempts to spin for home as we headed out. I'd ask for him to slow or stop as I turned to check for either Mary/Q or Kenai, and Griffin would take those moments to try to spin to his left for home.

Preceding each of these moments, he had zero pressure on his mouth from the bit or on his sides from leg aids. I was quiet and cautious of my riding this night because I wanted to be able to rule out a rider error in his behavior. Each time he tried to turn and I blocked him, he'd make a few seconds attempt to ignore me, threaten to stumble and fall, and then I'd win out with my aids and angry voice. Drgh. Such an opinionated fool. However, it was nice that he learned we would continue forward!

The night ride was a blast. It was my first time riding in darkness like that. The moonlight was brilliant, too, in the more open areas. We walked, trotted, and cantered even! I think I'm coming closer to being mentally ready to try to tackle a 100 mile ride...

Post ride, Mary and I whisked home to shower and settle in with a movie and a very spur-of-the-moment dinner that Mike and I tossed together. It was yummy and just the thing before settling into sleep.

---

Mary, Q, and the new covered arena.

Saturday morning dawned earlier than I would have preferred, but we needed to get up and get moving in order to have the horses rinsed and ready to head to the County Fair Show! It's a rinky dink show in comparison to what many of you are accustomed to, probably, but a show all the same. I wanted to see how Q would handle the two English classes and I wanted both horses to be able to enjoy the experience - not to mention share it with Mary!

Neither Mary and I were overly concerned about looking super prim and proper for the show or worried greatly about much of anything, really. In fact, by total fault of my own, we showed up an hour late! It started at 9a not 10a as I'd thought! HA. We laughed it off, surprised but un-caring.

Of the 30 odd classes for western, English, ranch, draft, gaited, and fun/games, my horses were involved in 4:

1. Mary would ride Q in the Open English Pleasure.
2. I would ride Q in the Hunter Hack Over Fences.
3. We would both ride a horse in the toilet paper race.
4. We would both ride a horse in the catalog race.

Open English Pleasure:

We signed up quickly for classes, worried we would miss Mary's first class with Q. With paperwork done, we raced to the trailer, prepped Q, dressed ourselves, and then I sent Mary off to warm up on the mareface with some cursory comments on what should help/not help with riding Q.

A very tiny Mary and Q.

Fortunately, the two classes before Mary's that we'd arrived during were pattern classes and thus took a bit of time. Perfect! Mary had ample time to warm Miss Thing up and get them both on the same page. They seemed to be getting along beautifully; Q was riding very well for Mary - better than she's done for nearly anyone!

When the class rolled along, they were 1 of 5 participants and Q was the only non-show horse, non-QH. Add that to the whole Q HATES the (currently) over-deep footing of our new arena and the little factor of Mary being on her for the second time ever, and you've got a fun little equation to work through. Haha! Mary took it all in stride though and did a bang up job.

I'm not certain the judge really liked my zoomy endurance horse's gaits as she zipped around the ring, but I was very proud! Other than being looky and a sticky transition to the canter the first time (she HATES that deep sand! She did this last month when I rode her there the first time...), she and Mary did wonderfully! They nailed all transitions except that first canter depart, and stayed on the wall as well as could be hoped for my looky-Arab.

I told Mary over and over how well she was riding Q and how impressed I was. Q lets you know when you're not doing it right, she'll toss her head (mildly in the spectrum of head tossing, but still notably), nom the bit, and give subtle refusals to certain requests. None of that for Mary! Girl knows how to ride, use her aids properly, and really ride with her seat, something Q really likes and responds to really well.

The pair ended up 4 out of 5, but hey, when you have a class of push-button show QHs, it's the best that could be expected I suppose. I was proud of their efforts and that's what matters!

Hunter Hack Over Fences:

With Mary's ride done, she hopped off and I hopped on to warm my legs up.

I have to admit, I knew little to nothing about what this class would entail. All I knew is that there were jumps involved and I wanted to give it a go! The other two English riders participating (one on a 25 year old TB who looked like he was 5!) had no clue either (we were all led to believe it would be a jump course initially as this had been what existed at a previous show), so I wasn't too concerned.

Dear my elbows, we've discussed where you're supposed to be and it
isn't where you are in this photo. Dear eyes, you should come up.
Dear arms...um, release for your poor poor horse!

Yeah, let's just scrap my riding for this and note how dramatic Q decided to
jump this little vertical for the first time after her initial refusal.

Additionally, damn that browband looks good, Karen!!

Photo by Tracy Walker

Well, turns out (for those who also don't know) this class consists of flat work on the rail w-t-c, and then 1 turn each over 2 verticals where you canter in on the left lead, vertical, 2 strides, vertical, and canter out on the right lead, essentially making a big sweeping S with jumps down the center diagonal.

We were allowed to warm up over the jumps where the very seasoned QH show horse tossed his momma into the sand to break the ice for all of us! (Good for my nerves because by this point my stomach was CHURNING despite my calm mind!) Q gave one refusal (but that may have been my bad as I think I was looking at the rail) and then proceeded to over-jump because they're (obviously) monsters.

With warmups closed, we all moved out to the rail for the judged flat portion.

Q NAILED her transitions for this part. I was SO PROUD of her (and me, I guess). Good little endurance poneh!

We then lined up along the judges stand to take turns (as we were called) to do the jumps. The TB went first, clear and clear. Then Q and I picked up the canter nicely, turned in nicely, she hesitated, over jumped, and I forget what happened in the middle completely, but we jumped the second jump and cantered out nicely. Then the QH went, clear over 1, pulled rail on the second.

Q and I ended up 2nd of 3 behind the QH. Very proud of my little mare for her efforts!!

Toilet Paper Race:

For those unfamiliar, this event involves 10 squares of TP held between two riders. You have to w-t-c-back-whatever the judge says without letting go or breaking your TP.

I rode Griffin and Mary rode Q.

Things to note, for better or worse:

• Griffin had been ridden the night prior but no other time since mid-Aug. when he had his Shit Fit. We've been doing a lot of ground driving. No riding because while I have no fear of getting hurt from his shenanigans, I simply do not care to deal with rehabbing myself right now. I'm very happy to redirect Griffin with some other pursuits until a time when it's a little more convenient to be potentially broken. (Kid's been doing stellar with his ground driving and double long-lining lunging, btw.)
• Both horses have been cooped up in barnyard/paddock areas for 2 weeks while I have been dealing with Q's scratches. (Q likes having a buddy.)
• Griffin had been tied to the trailer and had not had any aspect of a "warm up" prior to this class.

Long story short, Mary and I were the first "out" in this class lol.

Griffin was pitching a minor fit prior to entering the ring, continued his fit in the ring before the class started, spooked as I tried to get a second thing of TP (as we'd already destroyed the first lol) prior to the judging, and then threw another fit as soon as the judging began.

He was bouncing (quasi canter piaffe it seemed) and crow hopping, throwing small bucks and mini rears, chewing angrily at his double-jointed snaffle, presumably spooking(?) at things outside the arena (hard for me to judge because if it was a spook he spooked a good 5'-10' after passing the "monsters" which is very unlike a Q spook which I'm quite accustomed to), and generally being a cranky baby horse.

He would have some very nice moments between these bad events, but as soon as something happened that wasn't on His Agenda (environmental stimuli or aids from his rider) he'd pitch a fit. Such a wonderful first public outing, Grey Horse, bravo! 

I trotted him briefly in the arena immediately post-class with better success (though he did his bouncy canter piaffe thing in protest at not being able to go faster to leave the arena) and then more trotting in the part of the arena open to warm-ups (small and cramped). During our moments in the warm up area, he threw another minor fit, and then one of the local cow horse trainers called to me, "Breathe, Liz. You're getting more worked up than your animal right now!"

Noted.

Breathe.

And cue a better horse.

I ended it there. Dismounted and put his grey ass away before another moment could ruin that zen.

I love that grey horse, but eegads is he a Piss Pot lately! Time. Time. Time. Patience. Patience. Patience. Diligence. Diligence. Diligence.

Catalog Race:

Mary and I both rode Q for this event as I opted to sit Griffin out.

Mary rode towards the beginning of the group of 12 to 15 riders of varying ages while I rode last in order to give Q a breather (ha, she didn't care, friggin' endurance poneh).

The race works like this: a catalog is placed on top of a table or barrel on the far side of the arena. Rider runs in, stops at barrel, dismounts, and flips to and tears out the page that the judges call out for them to get, then re-mounts and races back. Fastest time (with correct page) wins.

Pro tip: going earlier in the game is better because the judges seem to forget which pages they've previously given out which leads to absence of pages in the book.

Another pro tip: If you're ever judging this event, just call out only even or only odd pages so that you avoid giving an odd page that may have been previously ripped out due to the adjacent even page being called.

Going last had it's advantages: I knew the time to beat and I was able to see where people were losing time.

It seemed to me that this race was JUST like my years competitive swimming: the race isn't won by going fast in the middle, I mean, you need to do that, too, but the race is REALLY won between the flags (backstroke flags 5-meters from ends of pool) at the start, the finish, and on the turns. If you have a bomber start, KICKASS flip turns, and a strong finish you can make up for time lost in the middle of the pool.

Comparison: The catalog race could be won if you could dismount and remount FAST and find your page quickly. Everyone was losing time getting on and off their horses and flipping for pages.

Time to beat? 32 seconds.

When my turn was up, I kicked Q into a gallop, and then dismounted while she was still slowing near the barrel/catalog. I'd been told to get page 15. Flip, flip, flip. Oh, there's 14, so 15's on the back...except its like a 3rd of a page. -_- I thought about taking that, but as I was tearing it I called, "ONLY PART OF THE PAGE IS HERE!" worrying that I'd be DQ'd for bringing a piece of the page. "PAGE 21" they called. Ugh. I flipped a page or two more to find it, and ripped out 21, stuffed it in my shirt, remounted lightning fast completely ignoring my stirrups, and galloped Q back.

My time? 35 seconds. Had the page I'd been assigned been in the book I'd easily have won. No doubt in my mind. Ah well.

Q and I ended up 4th out of the 12-15 riders in that event. I'll take it lol

---

After the catalog race, Mary and I high-tailed it out of the showgrounds.

We unloaded the horses back at the barn, Mary helped me treat Q's legs (she's healed, just gotta keep that new skin healthy), and then I suggested Mary ride the Grey Beast just to see how he was US as she'd delivered several compliments on his movement while I'd been riding him since her visit.

She tacked him up in the Wintec and his halter-bridle (because seriously, fuck the bit with this horse lately, his worst moments have always occurred with the bit). Mary mounted Griffin with no issue and set to riding him around the barnyard - familiar territory for the little man.

She had (or seemed to at least) a terrific little ride on him! From what I observed, he threw zero fits of any degree and was quite compliant to her requests for directional and gait changes. She even noted how uphill he was for a 4 year old. Yes! THAT is the horse I know so well! Terrific end-note! (And a further thinking-note for future pursuits with the opinionated grey horse! - a future post, for sure once I get my thoughts more solidified with time.)

And that was the end of our blogger visit with horses. We both showered and then whisked back up to Morgantown in time for the first home game of the 2014 football season (54-0 WVU over Towson).

It was absolutely terrific to finally meet Mary IRL, and I sincerely hope we have more visits in our future. Mary, I loved chatting with you on so many things and really appreciate your point of view on so much! You helped me to remember and note some things I've taken for granted with the horses and it was really good to hear. =) Cheers to next time!

Yoga Girl Challenge Week 1

In an attempt to continue my journey to better myself, I have begun the Yoga Girl Challenge.

It was started by popular instagrammer Rachel Brathen (yoga_girl) several weeks back. She ultimately chose one challenge participant for a free spot in one of her yoga getaways in Thailand.

The contest aspect of the challenge ended the day I began the challenge, but with such a wonderful daily challenges and quests for self-improvement it seemed a great thing to pursue with or without a "prize" at the end. To me, the journey to better myself and be healthier both mentally and physically is prize enough.

Here were my posts during the first week (request to follow estout18 on Instagram if you'd like to follow along each day).

Day 1: Yoga Every Damn Day. 

I was in a great daily yoga routine 3 years ago - then I separated my shoulder and had to cease and fell way out of practice. I think it's time to fall back into daily practice. It calms me and helps me to focus on the moment at hand. Additionally it is a great way to build balance and body awareness which helps in all of my pursuits.

Day 2 of the yoga girl challenge: Meditation. 

Something I've fallen in and out of since graduating college. It always helps me to calm down and focus on the present. I hope I can do more of it and make it a steadier practice than I have of late. Photo is a headboard to a bed that I focused on while mediating today. The subtle play of light on the wood gave my eyes something to wander while I set my mind to rest.

Day 3 of the yoga girl challenge: Rise and Shine.

Not a hard one for me! I start my work days between 6-6:30 most days. Today was a 6 am start; up at 5:25a and on the road for work by 6a to watch some hydropower and relate it to work stuff. Welcome to Gauley season 2014! 

Mary on Q

Day 4 of the yoga girl challenge: Random Act of Kindness. 

I didn't focus in on trying to do any *one* act today. When I think back on it I did several small random acts of kindness throughout the day. Nothing overly great worth mentioning, but things I didn't need to do that I went out of my way to do to try to make someone else's life a little better. Mandy made a good point when we were discussing it that the challenge is really more of a way to get you to think harder on kind things you can do for others more often - and I couldn't agree more! She also pointed out that random acts of kindness are something we should do more of overall - in these next few weeks of challenge and for life. Truer words... 

Day 5 of the yoga girl challenge: Get Rid of a Bad Habit. Excuses. 

I make them outwardly and I make them inwardly to myself. They're about minor and major things and everything in between. I have been bothered for some time now about the number I make - especially to myself. They need to stop. It won't be easy. But I need to start somewhere! Here's to being more forthcoming with myself and others about all things. No more (or at least significantly fewer) excuses. 

Day 6 of the yoga girl challenge: Start A New Routine. 

How about a new routine of being easier on myself? I'm constantly too hard on myself, my dog, my horses. Cheers to relaxing and letting things be and being proud of where I am and what I've done. 

Day 7 of the yoga girl challenge: Thank You. 

Today, and every day, I am grateful. For my friends and family and their unwavering love and support that truly is humbling and inspiring. For the beautiful place I call home that awes me daily with its demonstrations of beauty. For my menagerie of animals, who while expensive and vexing at times bring me more happiness than anything else. For my good fortune in so many things (brains in my head, food in my stomach, a roof to shelter me, a healthy body). This is a truly wonderful life. So much to be grateful for...and so important to remember it all daily - especially days like today when I'm struggling the most with stress and anxiety that has me at the verge of a mental break down. I'm especially grateful to Mandy for helping me through some exceptionally tough moments today when I know she was busy juggling some big life stresses of her own. <3 you lady. #grateful 

DeMotivation

I haven't felt like writing much at all lately.

I had several GREAT rides on Q, then went and visited Saiph, and then came home to find Q with a wretched case of scratches AGAIN.

She's so incredibly susceptible to it. Three days of missed preventative washings/topicals led to the current demise.

And to add to matters, my finances these past few weeks have been in the most dire of straights. Like, I haven't even been grocery shopping dire straights. So just "calling the vet" to come out and sedate my small elephant (because that's the kind of sedation it takes to get Q drunk enough to deal with it) hasn't been an immediate option. However, today is payday...

I've read up oodles on scratches vs. Pastern Leukocytoclastic Vasculitis and other dermatological issues. This case of scratches, even more than the original one, presented very "textbook" though. Complete with that oh-so-NOT-lovely smell customary to fungal/bacterial infections.

Photos of horses with PLV do not match the appearance of Q's legs this case or the other case. Additionally, PLV won't improve with topical treatment from what information I can gather. Q improves RAPIDLY with topical treatments - especially if the scabs are softened and removed. 

The trouble is treating my highly-pain-sensitive mare who doesn't love human touch. She's very hands off and doesn't love grooming or scritches from humans. She's a do her job kind of horse. She appreciates me for the food I provide her, and she will be my friend when she's away from her "herd", but beyond those things? She'd rather be left alone.

She is a total and complete Drama Llama about pain. And I don't blame her - to a point. 

Q is the Queen of Anticipation when it comes to pain. Her very first vet visit when I got her 2 years ago demonstrates it perfectly: I'd asked my vet to show me how the vets at the endurance ride would be palpating to test for back soreness. She stroked her hand along Q's back lightly, narrating things to me, then she prodded one time just to show how it wouldn't be done and why - because any and all horses would react to it. Well, Q danced off Highly Offended about being touched in a painful way. And, being the Queen of Anticipation that she is, she proceeded to dance away from my vet's approach to touch her for the next solid minute because she thought it would happen again! My vet laughed, and remarked how similar Q is to one of her geldings - a comparison that has been made countless times since. (Ultimately, Q got over it and let my vet complete the exam with no more issue. Additionally, Q harbors no lasting resentment to my vet and has never been fearful around her.)

So, as you can imagine, treating a Drama Llama Queen of Anticipation for something as painful as scratches is incredibly frustrating. She takes her evasion games that she's always played to a minor extent to the Extreme. She dances about and waggles her legs and jerks them away in various attempts to avoid touch - these are both evasion tactics and games to her. To an extent it is expected and understood for painful areas, certainly, but it becomes infuriating to deal with when you go to touch, oh say her ELBOW, an uninfected area, and she nearly leaps out of her skin. -_- 

I refer to these tactics as games also because she often will waggle a leg about or dance/walk away when you're not doing a single thing to cause pain (including times when she doesn't have scratches). Brush her - she walks away (as far as the lead allows). Pick the hoof out on an uninfected, non-painful leg - she waggles it about. Kneel down to take a photo of the affected areas (you know, not even touching the horse) - she walks off/waggles the leg. 

And when you look at her body language while she's doing these things? Completely and totally relaxed. Soft eye, relaxed ears, nostrils un-pinched, body relaxed throughout.

So understandably, the increased degree of these evasion techniques and games and dealing with them intimately each day has been quite infuriating. I have sobbed uncontrollably, talked calmly, and yelled and screamed my frustrations to the sky. In fact, I've had to apologize to the neighbors within the ¼-mile vicinity for screaming my frustrations, "Sorry if you heard strangled screaming last night. I'm okay and I swear I wasn't dying or killing anything."

This bout of scratches is on both hind pasterns and on one front leg. Despite frustrations with the mare, within three days of treating it, I was able to have all of the scabs removed from the front leg and the skin was healing - today it is clean, pink, and healthy new skin. Her hinds are more difficult to treat; she's always been weird about her hinds being handled. The areas have improved greatly (like seriously, they're 75% better than they were), but without being able to completely remove the scabs due to her refusal to have the legs handled at all, they're not completely better and won't get there.

So, to keep both myself and the mare sane, the vet will be coming out ASAP this week to sedate the hell out of her and shave the two areas the size of a silver dollar each that I have not been able to shave to treat. And I will stock up on all the medicines and washes and skin biopsy for good measure. So you're welcome, Q.

Grocery store, I'll see you in another few weeks when I can afford you again. Until then, if anyone has recipes that are healthy and SUPER DUPER CHEAP, please share them in the comments. I don't like peppers.

Throwback

To the days when fear was only a word and not a feeling or thought within my head.

Informal Transformation Bloghop

Griffin - January 2012

Griffin - July 2014

Q in her first 30 - August 2012

Q in her third 50 - OD 2014

Of Supplements, Confidence, Music & Meditation

Each of these three things has melded Q's attitude under saddle back into normalcy and extraordinary. 

Supplements

In June, I started Q on SmartPak's SmartMare Harmony and Magnesium Oxide.  The SmartPak supplement is in a pelleted form, so I didn't imagine she would mind that much. The MgO though? A powder. In the past, when I have provided Q with powdered probiotics (through the first year I had her to help jump start better hoof, coat, and GI health), she would routinely turn her nose (and upper lip!) up at them. When I could trick her into eating it, she'd still bobble her head along with those first bites in protest of something being not quite to her liking. Thus, I expected the same with the MgO.

Imagine my surprise when, without any trickery, Q licked all of the supplement right up with her feed! She even goes so far as to lick the bottom of the pan when she's done! To me, this spoke volumes. She wouldn't go after something like that if it wasn't something her body needed a little bit more of!

Several months into these combined supplements now, I have a much calmer horse. In fact, it has been nigh impossible to even tell if/when she is in heat as a result! This is a miracle considering that when this mare was in heat in the past she was 150% MORE wiggy, distracted and alert than she typically is. I'll definitely take this change!

Her behavior and attitude is so consistent day-to-day as a result of these supplements. As a lady myself, I'm kind of jealous of that as my own hormones wreak havoc on my behavior during their cycling! (Difference being, I'm usually unduly aware of the fact that my hormones are playing a role and I am unable to completely control it (e.g. the tiniest of things like not being able to find a pen on my desk at work causes tears to appear before I even know what is going on - urgh).)

Consistent behavior on Q's part levels out one side of our female:female equation! This is good because it means I can buckle down on my issues more - an easier thing in the long run, though it is still difficult at times! Constant effort reaps rewards over time, however.

Confidence

Shortly after I started Q on supplements, the herd dynamic changed. Now we have 5 geldings who are spread across the totem pole of control. The leader is one of the best gelding herd bosses I've ever been around. He is calm, but he doesn't take shit when it happens. He is possessive of his mares, but not overly so and never studdy.

Additionally, there are four mares. Q vies with Mayer for the boss mare role, and they seem to alternate it day-to-day. The new little mare who replaced the studdy gelding is Q's absolute favorite to boss around. Q is very hands-off with her bossy behaviors. She does a very sassy head flip at those she wants to back-the-hell-off, and no more. It's a big gesture, all things considered, but it is done from a distance and not followed up with physical contact as she is able to get her point across without touching.

The small herd (ranging in age from 19 to 4 with the largest contingent between the ages of 4-10 - there are only two > 10) is very happy; Q is very happy.

The absence of studdy geldings has made a HUGE difference for her. She doesn't go racing across the field after work to find that *one* horse as she once did, nor does *that* horse come RACING to the fence to meet her when she returns from work. Some of the horses will call when she returns from the trail, but nothing excessive. And she never calls back, merely gazes their direction in acknowledgement.

She wanders away from the herd often to graze on her own; some days, the head gelding will even follow Q's lead for grazing area selection!

The confidence she has gained in this herd dynamic seeps into her behavior when being handled. She's still alert and has the potential to really wig out over things. But gone is her hypersensitivity to being reprimanded. In fact, she's even going so far as to play games with me to demonstrate her High Opinion over certain things (primarily me washing her legs off). When I grow tired of her game and slap her on the chest (as I'm usually kneeling down and she's waving her leg about in the air so I can't easily do what I need to) she no longer wigs out like I committed the Worst Of All Evils. Instead, she ceases her behavior with floppy ears and a distant gaze that seems to say, "FINE. FINE. TOUCH my leg SEE if I care. Stupid human *muttering*," and acquiesces to letting me do whatever I need to do.

Additionally, on trail she is more confident about wanting to GO and DO in more situations than she had been before. And I'm even having to reprimand her pushy behavior toward horses (Griffin mostly)! An open-handed slap on her neck from me returns side eye and an irritated ear flick from her, a far better response than former crumbling from fear.

Sassy > scared. I'll take it!!

Her steady behavior due to supplements coupled with confidence from the herd dynamic change has resulted in a more confident mare on trail. Big, broad leaves (burdock) in the middle of the trail and dead leaves on branches that fell from storms still wig her out, but she's not spooking dirty like she did before. She's slowing down and stutter-stepping some, and sometimes she is very hesitant to go forward past the scary things, but overall SO IMPROVED!

Music

I've begun listening to music and making it a routine in my time with the horses. The new earphones that enable me to both hear my surroundings and listen to music are AMAZING.

I took time last Sunday after Mike left to head to Oregon to fight wildland fire (he's still there) to make two playlists on my iPod. One is songs ranging from 130-180 bpm and the other are strictly songs in the 170-180 bpm range. Bumpin' songs that go perfectly with trotting and cantering, of which we do a lot on the trail!

Having music to listen to keeps my mind off worrying about tiny things that Q may wig out about on trail. I micromanage less, a huge plus. Additionally, I am calmer due to the music, another huge plus.

Music coupled with Q's steady attitude and gained confidence has led to trail rides on her for over a month now that have resulted in ZERO dirty spooks. My new mantra with her on trail when she becomes concerned about something is, "DOWN the trail! Move DOWN the trail! Keep going!" No dwelling on scary things. No looking at them forever. DOWN the trail is what we're out there to do. I don't care how fast she gets past the scary object, as long as she's moving in the direction I want and not spinning for home. So far, so good! Much praise and encouragement.

Two trail rides last week contained minimal spooking overall and zero dirty spooks. We even came upon ~2 dozen turkeys with minimal issue; in fact, we ended up chasing them down the trail! And we've flushed several grouse and a dove with Q's only response being, "HUH!?" *stutter step, move out again*

Now, to get her to realize that large-leaved plants and dead leaves are not monsters.....

Meditation

Since Mike's time away (we're at 9 days now, but who's counting?) I've fallen back into some routines that have been absent from my life for about a year now, primarily meditation.

I did a lot of meditation and mindfulness exercises my first two years out of college. They were amazing. Falling back into it these past 9 days has been great.

I went to the barn last night in a total zen-state. My short flatting and jumping session with Q was a DREAM as a result. If I have my shit together - especially mentally - that mare can do ANYTHING. She was so absolutely incredible last night.

We wove in and out and around the little gymnastic line I had set up. We did figure 8s with a cavaletti as the central crossover point. And then we did the line in pieces at increasing speed until we connected the whole exercise.

I had a bad to mediocre night of riding, but it didn't matter to Q. She picked up my slack, hunkered down and focused on her job, and helped me get better where I was failing. Our last two times through the gymnastic line were so amazing. I wanted her to trot it once, land at the canter, canter around to the right and re-approach the line once more, slowing to a trot at the approach, and then bounce on through. PERFECT. FREAKING. EXECUTION.

Zen, baby, zen.

We ended on that good note (amidst much praise; there was much praise the whole time).

Zen-Liz isn't necessarily a perfect rider, but Zen-Liz doesn't fault the horse for it and praises the horse for putting up with far-from-perfect. Zen-Liz is okay with less than perfect moments on all fronts, happy to just be in the moment riding a horse. Zen-Liz cares little for anything more than that moment and being in it.

If I can keep Zen-Liz present all the time, (WHAT A CHALLENGE!) then my horses can do ANYTHING.

Ooooohhhmmmm...

Sale or Trade Items: A Blog Hop

I've yet to ever jump on board with a blog hop; I shamelessly stalk the posts others partake in and have enjoyed some of them thoroughly, but I just haven't ever taken the time to play along. Consider this my maiden voyage.

The $900 Facebook Pony had an idea for a blog hop that was a tack sale/swap. I think it is BRILLIANT. I love the linky thing that these blog hops do. I think I'm going to be the first endurance rider to post on it, but damnit, I really want to get this pad sold!

So, FOR SALE or TRADE 

(would trade for another used pad that has wool and inserts like a Skito or Equipedic)
comment if interested

Töklat Woolback XL AP pad WITH INSERTS $100
Used this pad for about 8 months (as chronicled on the blog) and then switch from the Wintec AP saddle to my Ansur. The AP shaped pad is no longer a good fit for the dressage shaped saddle - primarily around the wither/pommel region.

This pad is in great shape other than the pilling of the wool and slight stain from leather - as one gets from use.

Spine opening for inserts. Comes with the standard Töklat foam inserts.

Measurements of pad are visible in the photos (measuring tape is set atop the pad).
- Spine to bottom of flap 21.5"
- Width of flap 18"
- Front to back measurement along spine 23"
- Total width from bottom of flap to bottom of flap  43"

Top of pad

Bottom of pad

Spine measurement 23"

Bottom of flap to bottom of flap measurement 43"

Flap width measurement 18"

Inserts / velcro spine opening

Inserts / velcro spine opening

With Wintec AP; you can see how much extra room remains for saddle bags etc. to rest upon

Mentally Unstable

(Re-reading this live post on Feedly at 11:43a on 8/14/14 and noticing a LOT of mistakes that weren't present in draft form....fixing as many as I can. Blogger really botched this up.)

I went to the barn on Monday night with the goal of putting in 3 to 5 fast miles on Griffin. I try to not go to the barn with strict plans any more because chaos reigns when I do. I THOUGHT that 3-5 fast miles was vague enough to be a not solid plan (didn't specify how fast, didn't set sights on precise distance, just a range based on what I thought I might cover on trail). APPARENTLY, my plan was too strict though because surprise, surprise chaos reined.

I fed both horses and then turned Q out and tacked up Griffin complete with 4 boots. I had planned to utilize the haul road for part of the ride as it's easy to really move out on that trail. Griffin hates the rockier footing though, so I decided to boot him. He was too large in the front to wear the size 1 Renegades, so I tossed on slightly large size 1 gloves in the front with Renegade 0s behind.

Griffin was a complete and total pill for picking up his feet to have the boots put on. He REFUSED to pick up his feet. Upon finally getting the first foot off the ground and the boot on, he play-acted like he couldn't put any weight on it when I set it on the ground. He buckled at the knees like he's done before, "falling" in slow motion until he realized I didn't give a damn, and then he re-righted himself like it was nothing. DRAMATIC!

I put on the other boots WITH EFFORT. I pinched his chestnuts as I've had some people recommend to me to get them to pick up feet, except when I did it to his final foot (right hind) he FREAKED OUT, goosed me in the bicep with his hock (I think it was his hock...might have been hoof judging from soreness?) and skittered away like a mad horse rolling his eyes at me. (In hindsight, this should have been A Sign.) "DUDE. Seriously? This isn't the first time you've been asked to do this." I resumed, and had success the second time.

I took my crop too because I anticipated he may get lazy at some point. One pop on his rear earns you his full attention when he's being a pill. Tapping on his shoulder refocuses his attention on the matter at hand instead of on whatever greenery he's trying to rip from trees and shrubs or any other random thing that grabs his attention. (Can horses have ADHD?)

Have some zen-photos of me in pretty places
doing relaxing things...
It'll counter the frustrating nature of this narrative

We mosied out of the barn yard, across the creek and into the back field. He was forward and he felt strong and solid. I remarked in my head about how much he'd changed in the 2.5 years I've had him. <3

And then as we trotted across the field toward the trailhead in the woods chaos loosed itself.

Griffin snatched the bit, turned right and made a strong attempt to turn and run home. Side passing at first, then gaining full control to try to take off.

UGH.

I tried one rein stopping to the right. No dice. To the left? He threw his head up in the air and his nose out away from his body in full effort to resist the bit while putting more of his weight in his hind end than front end as he skittered to the right. It felt like he was going to just fall over to his right. So I quickly aborted attempts to one rein stop to the left and renewed my attempt the the right. I was not fully successful, but he did slow down enough that I could emergency dismount without hurting myself.

I'd thought for a moment about riding it out longer, but the way he'd just SNATCHED up that bit and turned for home with such strength was frightening. The fact that I had NO control over him was horrible.

So I emergency dismounted as he was skittering, barely standing stilll. With reins in hand and horse in front of me, I lost my temper and yelled at him for being an asshole and jerked the reins once, twice popping him in the mouth. Not a proud moment, but I need to note it. That reaction stems from working with him in a halter for so long where a jerk on the reins like doesn't apply pressure in his mouth. A typical reaction from Griffin when I pop the reins/lead when he's in a halter is that he backs up as far out of my space as he can and waits. I've done it with the bridle/bit before when he's been a royal piss about standing still; he'll roll his eyes a little and maybe take one step to the side or back, but never anything more.

But still.... Sigh. =( Bad, bad Liz.

In response to my hasty action though, in the matter of 2 seconds: Griffin rolled his eyes at me, skittered backward a big step or two (I was on his left side slightly, now), REARED UP (with his head slightly turned and nose up in the air JUST like it had been when I was on him moments ago - scary realization to see he could/would rear; I was even more thankful I'd dismounted), and then he fell hard to the right as he came down onto all four again which successfully ripped the reins from my hands.

He then galloped off.

He headed away from the barn at first, toward the upper pasture, but then slowed and circled back at a trot. I walked to him, still seething, but resolved to be calm enough to get him to be calm so I could mount. He couldn't win this.

He let me catch him and untangle the reins from where they'd settled. As I went to put them over his head though, he REARED UP AGAIN. I tried to hold on, but he jerked to the right AGAIN and tore the reins from my grip.

He then TOOK OFF anew for home this time.

Ooooh I was boiling mad. I sent Nicole a text immediately:

Me: "Griffin is for sale."
Nicole: "What? Your Griffin? Why? What happened?"

Mmm, yes. Oooohmmmmm.

I explained, very disjointedly as I was trudging through the field and trying to watch where my runaway grey demon went, but I explained.

I muttered under my breath as I trudged, many cursewords edited out: HATE walking. HATE this. HATE being hot. HATE that this stream is up. DAMNIT why is the water up TODAY? my boots are going to be SOAKED and of COURSE I had to wear the NON waterproof boots of COURSE.

I eyed up the stream crossing trying to figure the best line of approach to dance across. Shallower areas to shallower areas....5 footfalls in the water and it was done. But not good enough to keep my feet dry. Le sigh.

Griffin had the audacity to be eating grass ahead of me. I trudged up the hill from the creek eyeing him. He turned to me, mouth FULL of grass, and casually walked further away toward the barn. -_-

I trudged onward.

Once in the barnyard, and within 20 feet of him, he acknowledged me anew, and then WHEELED away through the barnyard at a gallop.

I couldn't help but recall this day on trail when he bucked me off the first time and proceeded to evade capture for the longest time. Little. Shit.

I tried to get near to Griffin twice more with the same gallop away behavior. The third time, he ran out of the barn yard, through the yard, and to the road. "Whatever Griffin. Go. GO down the road. RUN away. DO IT. I dare you." He got the road and turned around confused, and then picked up a trot, a canter, a gallop and came rocketing by me and headed to the back field again.

The boots were staying on at least? Yay?

Well, nope, right as that thought hit me the left front glove flew off. Boot unharmed fortunately.

I jogged up to the house now and hopped on the 4 wheeler. I revved it up and was quickly in third gear and took off. If that little horse wanted to run, so be it. We'll run, sucker, we'll run FAST. Move those damn feet little grey horse.

(I've learned how to drive a horse away from me with a 4-wheeler just like I'd do on foot. It's a faster dance with modified body language from on the ground, but it's still effective. I have utilized the skill in times when I've had a very uncooperative horse who doesn't want to be caught from the field. When your horse has 40 acres to escape to, you need another method than just pushing them away on foot. I tried to pursue Griffin on foot when he didn't want to be caught during the first spring I had him and gave up after awhile; as a result, I got a horse in later days who wouldn't let me near him. He thought it was a terrific game. The behavior he was displaying on Monday night was just like that, a game. He's a strong-willed guy. Mr. Highly Opinionated. Couldn't let him get away with this kind of behavior again, thus the 4-wheeler. His game becomes significantly less fun when he can't stop and graze while I huff and puff to catch up to him.)

I perused the ground where he'd passed for boots as I went, then decided it was more important to catch up and make him keep moving, I could look for boots later.

I found him near the other creek crossing. All 3 remaining boots present. Excellent.

I revved the engine a few times and Griffin rolled his eyes at me and trotted off fast. Beautiful little fucker, I tell ya, he's turned into quite the mover with that extended trot. -_-

I drove him into the creek, dropped the 4wheeler off the 2' drop bank into the water, and revved on up the other side. Griffin raced through the back field with me driving him from about 30' behind.

Through the field, back across the creek, up the hill, and back into the barnyard we ran.

The remaining glove was holding strong, but both Renegades had slipped and were hanging on by gaiters around his pasterns.

I drove him around the barnyard for a time with the 4 wheeler. I closed the gate so he couldn't escape to the back field again.

Run. Run. Run. One Renegade tore off, cables intact but the metal circle with screws gone and destroyed. UGH.

Ooooohhhhhmmmmmmm. 3 weeks away from this exact view.
Ooooohhhmmmm

Griffin showed signs of wanting to "come in" and be done. I drove him a moment or two more, and then asked him to be done. He obliged.

I left the quad running and walked over to him. SUCCESS. (The reins had tangled around the top of the saddle somehow during all of this, so he never tangled himself. BONUS!) I held him/let him stand and huff and puff as I quickly removed the gaiter/heel captivator of one Renegade and removed the pastern strap of the other whole boot (one shredded cable on this one) and undid the gaiter from the remaining glove, but didn't take it off completely.

I stood, removed the reins from where they'd settled, gave Griffn the stink eye, and made to lead him to the barn. He refused to move forward. I gave a twitch to the reins (light and not mean!) and he FREAKED OUT, head in air (no rear this time) and tore the reins from my hands as he spun (to his right....again....) away from me. URGH.

Back on the quad. Back to driving him around for a time before he settled near the barn entrance where I caught him up. (He was hardly sweaty. -_- Just wet from the creek.)

I took him into the barn, put the lead rope on his halter and then led him to the outdoor round pen from there, turning off the quad as I passed it. (Go figure, running engine fazes him none.)

In the round pen, I removed the reins completely, removed the lead rope, and with a loud, "ZAH!" sent him cantering around and around. I made him change directions often. He ran and ran and ran. It would be another 15 minutes of hard, fast movement before he was finally too tired to move above a walk. Only after this round penning was he FINALLY sweaty.

I put on his breast plate (to much eye rolling), and also added the running martingale *Just To See*. If he was gonna toss his head up in the air like that to evade then maybe if he hit the martingale's resistance....

I led him into the barnyard and mounted. (To an audience of all of the other horses RIGHT at the fence, might I add. If a horse could look smug, then that's how Q looked! Haha.)

I turned him to the right. Sticky, not happy about martingale, but he did it. To the left? Cue PANIC over martingale applying additional pressure. He nearly fell over for real. I somehow managed to get him to stand still long enough to unhook the martingale from the saddle.

Many mountain. Much beauty. So high. Wow.

I continued to try circles to the right then left. Right, okay. Left, FREAK. Freak to the point where he skittered into the fence with his ass. This stopped the potential "fall over" sensation.

I removed my feet from the stirrups for quick dismount if necessary, and decided to just ride out his skittering to see if he would really fall or if he was just being stubborn and tricky to get his way.

Right. Left. Skittering panic and stumbling, dropped off a slight drop into the yard/ditch which startled him long enough to give in and turn more. I released and asked him to go forward.

We meandered along the drive turning right and left, making circles each time. He was less sticky with each attempt.

Across the creek and into the back field to the start of it all. Right. Left. Right. Left.

I took him over to the jump line I'd worked Q through and did everything I'd done with her on Sunday: circling and weaving around every jump/cavaletti, serpentining between them in various ways.

Good, good, better. Praise, praise.

And then, on a whim, I had him walk over all of the cavalettis (they were set at 9"). He was confused at first, but did well. He did try to avoid walking over them a time or two, but it just afforded us a moment to do a circle and repeat the request to step over. Again. Again. Again. Weaving and circling all the while. Praise. He finally was comfortable walking over all three in turn. Praise.

He was relaxing.

We trotted some. Weaving, circling, serpentining. He was really trying now. I'd captured his Working Brain and managed to convince him to stow away his Arguing Stubborn Brain.

We trotted over the cavalettis, turning before the vertical - 2 stride - oxer. Success. Praise. Repeat.

Each time we approached the vertical (18"), he would key in on it as his "next" obstacle. So, on a whim again, I let him tackle it. 3 cavalettis to the vertical at a trot. Boomboomboom BOOM. Success! PRAISE.

And wow, he was so much more balanced than I anticipated over his first jump!

Repeat x2. Praise x4.

Zen for me, though I know it isn't for all of you. ;-)

And then, because he was keying in on the oxer as he had the vertical, I decided on a whim, what the hell.... (Recall that this little horse used to seek out the jumps when I was starting to ride him in the barnyard. They were jumps I'd been taking Q over, but he always gravitated toward them.)

Boomboomboom BOOM BOOM. Praise! He over-jumped the oxer, but it was good.

I asked if he wanted to do it again, but with a little more purpose for the oxer? Then we'd quit (I've no desire to jump him hard or crazy for awhile to come; just wanted to see if his tendency would be to over jump again; kind of using this moment as a baseline for later pursuits). He seemed eager enough, so we tried again.

Except I looked at the oxer and threw him off so he refused it. So we repeated so I could not throw him off and then HE refused it. So we repeated a final time with success and QUIT. Praise. Ended on a good note. Mosied back to the barn on the buckle.

So a good ending to all his shit. A pleasant surprise to have a good first time over small jumps on a surprisingly well-balanced 4 year old. (He was so much more calculated about jumping than Q; she is so snappy about it.)

---

So, the jury is in on Griffin's mental readyness for any more attempts at competition for awhile: too mentally unstable.

Is he physically capable? Oh hell yes. His brain JUST isn't there yet.

He's got a problem to the left. He spun only to the right with Nicole at RBTR, too.

He's got a problem with bit snatching now, too. I'm totally open to recommendations on this one! Not entirely certain how to resolve this behavior. I can fix it in certain environments, but because it could happen in nearly any circumstance...how does one nip it in the bud for good?

He's got an attitude. I've known this. Nicole wondered last night about when his herd-boundness had begun. I replied that I don't think that is entirely it. It's a trigger, certainly, but once an argument has started he is just so hell-bent on winning it that everything else goes away.

Tiny-eared mule, ladies and gentlemen. Tiny-eared mule.

After Monday night, I'm nearly positive I'd have received the same result on trail at RBTR with Griffin if had I been riding instead of Nicole. He's a little shit and this is just the newest phase of his struggle to be right and not listen to humans.

He's always had this bit of attitude and streak of stubborn. In ground work as a babe he'd always squeal and kick up his heels in argument with what I wanted when he didn't like it. He'd keep this up until he was too tired to do so (because I'd make him move his feet faster and longer). With the bit in the beginning he'd grunt and crow hop and buck in argument to the pressure on his mouth. He did this until we worked for months in side reins and other gadgets to teach him that pressure on his mouth was not a reason to be an ass. And now? Now we have bit snatching and stickiness to the left. Just the newest chapter of fun with this grey beast!

Ooooohhhmmmmm

He snatched the bit two weeks ago during our mountain sprints, but he was so jazzed up in the moment that I thought little of it once we'd corrected it (and sprinting up that mountain a second time tired him too much to argue again. He snatched the bit from Nicole because he didn't want to go forward on trail any more at RBTR and in the field at basecamp when he didn't want to work any more. He whirled to the right with her, too, in attempts to run home. Always to the right (clearly his preference).

I foresee increased exercise on the lunge in side reins with emphasis counter clockwise for a time. And then advance to work on long lines with driving. Additionally, we'll be doing lots of bendy exercises under saddle. I'm sure we'll leave property on some trail rides - solo rides because he's got a problem with those apparently - but it may be a little while!

I was planning to entertain his brain with introductory jumping exercises for awhile this fall (a goal for this month actually!), so we'll probably focus in on that in addition to the lunge work, long-lining, and bendy exercises. Not work with verticals and oxers (that was really just an in-the-moment whim, "Can he?" as I'd had no plan to do it at all), but more with cavalettis. It'll be a good mental reprieve for him to have something so structured for awhile.

The trail is definitely in our future still, but I need to get his head in a better place for "work" and deal with his Angry Stubborn Brain in environments that are close to home so if and when I end up on the ground again I'm not in such a bad way.

So there you have it. The newest chapter of Stubborn Evil with Griffin the Grey.

Recommendations on dealing with bit snatching welcome!

WW: SHAME!!!!!!

Shame-faced