WW: Skiing Trees

Horses Who Made Me: Yogi

Yogi
Once cantering was no longer an issue for me, I took off - literally! I loved speeding down the trails whenever possible. Trail rides with Teri were never like they were with Phoebe, but I knew a good thing when I had it and made the best of it!

We didn't trail ride nearly as much as I used to, but it was enough. We did do an overnight horse camping trip into the mountains behind the barn with several of my friends once. I can remember cantering and galloping and racing my friends for short spurts of that ride. What fun! Additionally, waking up to horses hi-tied around a smoking campfire the following morning is still one of my favorite things in the world.

With experiences like that under my belt, Teri really began to trust me more as a young rider. She presented me with a different horse nearly every lesson. Often, she'd let me choose who I wanted to ride that day. I had my favorites, and I had my very least never-will-I-ever choices (primarily a black pony named Thunder who was super picky about who his rider was - I just couldn't handle his attitude!)

One day though, Teri asked me to ride a dark brown QH named Yogi for our weekly lesson. I don't remember much of his backstory, but I'm pretty certain he was around 11 years old at the time. I do remember that his registered name was Buck Destiny (foreshadowing?). He was a dollbaby most of the time, but he had one pesky vice that cause him to be sent down the road: he bucked at the canter.

Yogi and I standing in the barn driveway.

Judging from my past fears, you'd think this would be a deal breaker for me. Except it wasn't; Teri didn't tell me. She did warn my mother that it was a good possibility Yogi would throw some bucks when we cantered during our lesson. Teri knew I could handle them, so she didn't tell me and allow me to fret about it.

And so, sure enough, when we reached the canter part of our lesson, Yogi bucked.

Teri and my mom both exclaimed, "Wooo!" in surprise. I slowed him and looked at them quizzically.

"He bucked!" they exclaimed. "BIG," Teri added.

"Oh," I replied, "I guess that's what that extra deep hips-forward motion was for me. It just felt like my hips moved deeper into the saddle."

Teri laughed. "Well, proceed!"

And I did. I continued my lesson and the cantering. Yogi tossed in a few more bucks for good measure. My mom and Teri continued to exclaim in surprise and delight each time. I was almost oblivious to the sensation. And thus, the term "velcro-butt" was coined to me for the first time. It was a nickname I'd hear for years to follow.

Teri offered Yogi to me as my 4-H project horse for the year. I would "train" him and learn about him and show him in the 4-H show in the fall. I accepted.

For most of those months the 4-H project was being completed I was the only rider Yogi had - at least for any lessons above a canter. I don't know if Teri was trying to figure out if his bucking was due to saddle fit, rider weight, or what. But I was bold, oblivious to danger, and at < 100lbs., not much of a burden for Yogi to tote around.

Yogi was the first horse I really spent a significant amount of time working with. The more time I spent with him,  the less frequent his bucks became. I had learned to read the signs that often led to a buck, primarily a lowering of the head to gain leverage to toss his hind end up. With a flick of my fingers, I could give a tiny pop to the bit to cue Yogi to cut out his crap. He'd bring his head up and life would continue pleasantly.

We developed a nice rapport between us. It was the closest I'd ever come to bonding with a horse. I don't remember when or why I stopped riding him, but I do remember feeling a bit torn about not spending time with him.

Spending time working with Yogi, working toward resolving his vice instead of sending him down the road because he wasn't perfect taught me a lot. I gained confidence in myself as a rider. I learned that bucks really didn't have to be super scary. I learned that I had a pretty good seat. And mostly, I learned that horses can learn and change with time and patience. It was a lesson the helped propel me forward into many more training pursuits with horses in my future.

Endurance Inspiration

If you need some endurance inspiration, or if you just want to see some absolutely stunning photography that includes horses, beautiful landscapes, and smiling folks, check this link out!

http://www.photo.lynnesite.com/Clients/Distance-Events/Experience-Distance-Riding/i-8LhXQ3t

Photo 156 is a familiar blogger face!

Griffin:It's Been Two Years

*Because I missed his "gotcha" day (01/28/2012), a wonderful story about my little man from Monday night. Happy 2 years little grey horse.*

March 2012

February 2014

Monday night I made spur-of-the-moment plans to meet my friend Hannah at the barn for a short ride. I zipped out there to meet her and we had the horses tacked up in rapid fashion, Hannah on Q and I on Griffin.

For the second time, I mounted Griffin cold-backed. He took the lead position, his favorite, and we walked out of the barnyard, down the drive, and crossed the creek.

Hannah and I chatted amiably the whole time. This kept me from over-assessing what Griffin was doing and potentially sending him subtle signals to cause alarm.

He questioned the best way to cross through the ice to cross the creek, but figured it out without issue. Once in the field on the other side, we walked at a stately pace and wound up the 4-wheeler road.

We then met up with the backroad, choosing to walk down it a ways and then double back on another woodland trail in order to gain the most light from the setting sun. (The woods get dark so much faster.)

The back road was slick in places from packed snow turning to ice from car tires, but Griffin did pretty well. he'd try to walk in the tire tracks, slip some, and then I'd chastise him verbally - calmly - and request he move to the side. He was so alert and focused the whole time. Such a good guy!

When we had to cross a small creek (2-ft in width from waters edge to waters edge), he was a bit concerned. Not wanting to create a bad situation, I requested that Hannah and Q lead. They did and Griffin crossed without issue. Good boy!

Griffin and I regained the lead on the woodland trail. I hadn't been on the trail since Franken-superstorm Sandy. Its still a mess. We had to do a lot of bushwacking and weaving for the next 5 minutes. Griffin was a super star!

He wound around things as I requested, was sure-footed and cautious where he needed to be, and completely unbothered when I had to take the time to lean down low on his neck to avoid certain branches. <3

When we reached a dilapidated barn in the woods, he got pretty spooked. I tried to get him to walk past, but the darkness between the gaping boards of the side of the barn spooked him. He spun on his haunches in an attempt to bolt. I pulled him up chastising him for being ridiculous and tried again. Same response. Q and Hannah led. Griffin still wouldn't go!

Instead of creating a fight or a bad experience, I dismounted and led him by, chastising him all the while in a calm, sarcastic tone of voice, "If you walk over me or run into me I will kill you. Just so you know. You are absolutely ridiculous. Ri.dic.u.lous. Its just a barn. Not a monster. *walk by completed* Oops, yep, how was that? Yeah? Yep. You died. You're dead. You died. The barn killed you. The monsters ate you. You're not here now. You died. Worst day ever. *rolls eyes* You're not allowed to be this dramatic in the future. *remounts* Seriously, though. Monsters. You died. *eye roll*"

After the old barn there is an open field segment that we traverse to reach the next stretch of woods. I said, "Trot" aloud. Griffin immediately trotted - no popping up either! "Can-ter!" Immediately into this slow, uphill canter - no popping up again! It was a JOYOUS canter. I was giggling with delight. SO FUN.

"Trot." Immediate downward transition. "Wa-alk." Immediate downward transition again. "Good boy!!" Praise, pats, happiness.

We bushwacked and traversed through the woods to a more open trail segment to finish our little loop. "Trot!" Immediate transition - no popping up! "Can you can-ter?!" Immediate transition - no popping up. Once again, that slow, uphill canter. *swoon*

Then suddenly low, broken branches across the trail. "WHOA." Immediate downward transition to a fast halt. "Good boy!!"

We traversed the obstacle, then made our way down the trail once more with trotting and cantering. No popping up. Perfect transitions. *more swooning*

The last stretch to the barn continued with perfection. He was a doll. I was beside myself.

*This* is the horse that is underneath all of the silly antics. I know it. *This* is the horse that pairs perfectly with the personality that I've come to know so well from our 2 years of ground work. *This* is my future athlete in many pursuits; my partner who will be a solid, dependable guy that I can trust to carry others around without spooking at nonsensical things as Q does. *This* horse...this horse is after my heart.

WW: A Funny Video

Horses Who Made Me: Boy

Boy
As Phoebe's life vamped up and she prepared for college, our time together dwindled away to nothing.

Boy and I. Taken on my birthday 14 years ago.

Fortunately, a few of my close friends at school had found what seemed to be a great place to take lessons from. My parents talked to their parents and before long, I was signed up for a weekly lesson at a new place - yet another 45 minute drive one-way! (Yay for parents who understand the horse addiction!)

The new place, Arky's Stables, had a myriad of lesson horses. The trainer, Teri, had a son a year younger than me, too. It was a really awesome environment for me with so many peers around. They were involved in 4-H, too, which was part of the initial push for me getting even more involved in the organization than I had been prior.

One of the first horses I spent a significant amount of time riding (probably my first half dozen lessons or so) was a chestnut quarter horse gelding called Boy. He was a real solid citizen, as close to bombproof as you could get. He'd get up and go if you really wanted him to, but if not, he was more than happy to plod along at a stately pace.

I spent a lot of time learning and correcting my position with this horse. Lots of "heels down!", "toes in!" was shouted during my lessons.

My confidence at the walk and the trot wasn't lacking at all during these lessons. But after a few weeks of this, Teri knew it was time for me to move forward. She asked me to canter. I tried, but once Boy reached that fast trot that precedes the canter, I broke down into tears. Fear got the best of me.

Teri talked to me and soothed me and let it go for the rest of that lesson.

We revisited it every week after that. I broke down in tears every time. The fear was too much. I even swapped around on a few different horses for other lessons so that I could keep learning new things (how to ride a different horse's movement and deal with their individual quirks) while I wasn't conquering my fear.

Finally though, after weeks of lessons on other horses, Teri had me on Boy again. I remember being disappointed in this. Boy was just so boring compared to those other horses! But Teri knew best; she had a plan.

Teri had been watching my confidence grow with all the things I'd been tasked in prior weeks. She'd gotten to know me better in that time, too. This lesson on Boy was going to be different.

It proceeded like all the other lessons: warm up, then trot work. But then it changed. She had me stop and walked over to talk to me. She told me that she understood why I was terrified of the canter. But it was time for me to push through and canter anyway. She guaranteed that after that big, fast trot, it got better. She went over the movement that I would experience with me. She discussed how to ride it. And she re-hashed how to cue for the canter. If I was aggressive with my cuing - really meaning what I was asking instead of half-assing it - I'd  be into the canter and out of that fast trot quicker.

I remember crying and being scared and upset. Teri didn't let this faze her though. She picked up a harder, harsher attitude that let me get away with none of my nonsense and told me to get on the rail and pick up the trot.

I did as I was told.

She told me to cue the canter. To keep cuing until he did it.

With tears on my cheeks, fear in the forefront of my mind, and a tiny bit of determination, I did my best to follow all of her requests.

Boy did everything I asked; before I knew it, we were cantering around.

And suddenly, it wasn't so bad! It was easier than a trot. It was simple. It was smooth. My tears faded away as a shy smile spread across my face. Teri was ecstatic as she congratulated me. Boy slowed to a trot during all of this, ever the lazy, compliant guy he was.

Teri had me reverse and repeat the process.

It went even smoother than before. Boy was such a great babysitter for me to conquer my fears.

I didn't ride the big chestnut much after that lesson. But I can't forget him.

He helped me gain my confidence back. He helped me conquer my fear. He opened a HUGE door for me that I was unable to walk through before. He helped me to run through that door and embrace many more opportunities.

Thanks, Boy, for being a solid citizen who was tolerant of my blubbering and my fear. Thanks for helping me take a huge step forward in my quest to be a better rider.

The Snow Can't Stop Me

After a total flop in January with my goals for the horses, I'm off to a strong start in February! I've already worked the horses 3 times (trying to meet a goal of a minimum of 10 sessions) and I've been out even more. I would have been up to 4 sessions with Griffin if I hadn't had a mishap with my phone when I dropped it in the boiling water I was using to prep mashes (don't worry, in these temperatures its WAY cool before it gets to them after soaking!) I had to hurry off to AT&T to start the insurance phone replacement process and couldn't work him that night. At least both horses got a nice meal and were blanketed before a bout of cooler wet weather.

(Aside: I'm blanketing my horses through temps <30F and/or wet winter weather this year - a first for me! I've never blanketed horses before; most people around here don't. However, both my horses have partial clip jobs and both - especially Griffin - have been shivering on days when I've gone out to see them whene the weather wetted their coats significantly. The way we've had to split their field up this year has drastically changed how they're able to get out of the wind. Last year they had access to woods, trees, and more elevation breaks that helped them to stay out of the elements and break the wind. This year they have access to none of that! They've got free-choice hay all the time, but as far as escaping the elements? A few elevation breaks and a small place behind a neighbors wood pile and building that border part of the field. The valley they're in is windier than other places around here due to it's east-west configuration - you've seen the windmills in my photos! They're placed where they are for a reason! I'd much rather have my animals use their calories to maintain weight this winter than to maintain their temperature through each weather event. They're in midweight waterproof blankets, nothing overly extreme. Its enough to boost them through though. I've yet to find them anywhere near sweaty beneath them. Its definitely more of a pain to blanket, but its worth it to me to not have them drop a significant amount of weight through the winter. Especially a winter such as this that has been consistently colder than previous winters!)

I made it out every day of my weekend to see the horses: Friday, Saturday and Sunday! Friday I was a bit pokey leaving my house, so I only had time to prep and feed them their mashes before hustling to the mountain for an afternoon/evening of patrolling.

Can't get any cuter....

Saturday morning I had a request to go visit the horses from a visiting out-of-town friend that I was happy to oblige. For once, someone didn't want to go out just to ride. I got to actually work my horses much as I would have had I been alone: I lunged Griffin for 20-25 minutes with side reins on the flat and over ground poles, and I lunged Q for 20 minutes, then rode her around bareback.

It was fun to narrate and teach a bit about what I do and why I'm doing it with my horses. This kind of demonstration always brings out the huge differences between my two horses that allows people to realize that every horse isn't the same. They're individuals complete with their own set of strengths and weaknesses.

On the lunge in side reins, Griffin demonstrates how overtly sensitive he is to pressure on his mouth. With the side reins on the loosest setting, he does all he can to keep slack in them. Once moving, he'll reach into the contact some, but not more than he has to. Q, on the other hand, will fight that contact on her mouth from the side reins for 5-10 minutes before she'll reach into it. However, under saddle she is the opposite!

Both sessions were great for Griffin and Q. Very positive aspects to both!

A still-shot from the video. My knee was wrapped to support it after tweaking
it skiing a week or so ago. Precautionary measure.

After the lunging and riding sessions in the barnyard, I also demonstrated Griffin's expertise with at liberty work in the round pen inside, as well as the work Q and I have been doing bareback and bridleless. I had a bit of an epiphany with the bridleless work when I realized that I couldn't get her to respond well without the neck rope. I noticed that without the neck rope, I was sitting and riding differently; with the neck rope, I sat as I normally would and my cues were all the same. I have to have some sort of crutch for my hands so that the rest of my body doesn't evaporate into nonsensical communication that Q cannot comprehend. Interesting...interesting...

: : : : :

Sunday afternoon I headed out for some horse time. Snow was imminent, but I figured I'd make the best of it.

I chaperoned K as she worked with Tempest some. Green + Green hasn't made black and blue yet, but it's certainly becoming more and more of a challenge as time goes on. She's learning the ground work that I learned when I started hanging out at Dee's barn; the big difference is that she doesn't already have over a decade of experience with horses. The jargon involved with explanations doesn't hit home for her as it did with me. The subtle things that I notice and look for from a horse's body language and in my own movements isn't obvious to her at all. I'm worried more and more that I'm not the right person to help her out at all.

I'm going to start filming her when we are out there together and I'm helping her. The riding especially, and probably ground sessions, too. That way she has something to go back and review. She'll have my narration coupled with a visual of herself that may help some things click better - that kind of thing always helps me immensely.

One thing that she started doing yesterday that absolutely perplexed me because she never did it with Q during our lessons this past fall was jerking on Tempest's face when he wouldn't listen. I attached a set of my long climbing rope reins that I use on the trail to his halter. She's so unsteady with her hands that I figured this would be most fair to Tempest. After riding him, I know how sensitive he is to his rider's requests - I'm really happy I made this decision after watching K yesterday. Several times as I was asking her to halt Tempest (we were doing lots of walk-halt-walk-inside circle-reverse-halt-walk exercises to keep his attention on her and improve the quality of her communication through aids) she'd release the rein pressure only to apply one more swift *jerk*. Each time I asked her, "Why are you doing that? Do you realize that you are? Do you realize how that feels for him? What if he had a bit in his mouth? It would probably not feel very good at all! You've got to be aware of things like that. That's how horses turn sour to riders." I'm pretty certain that was part of what was on film, so hopefully she'll be able to see and recognize why I was saying those things.

She did tell me that she's hoping to go to a horse camp in the southern part of the state with Tempest for a week this summer. I told her I thought that was a really, really wonderful idea. I told her the more instruction she could receive from a variety of people, the better she would become! I encouraged all I could for her to go. I hope it happens! It would be so good for them.

Pressure on my mouth is HOT LAVA. DO NOT TOUCH!
Side reins on loosest setting. I'd *just* clipped them in place after he'd had
a warm up...this was his response. Silly, silly boy.
And no, he didn't work hard enough to sweat a ton; he had the cooler on to
help dry off before I put his other sheet on.

Once K headed for home, I worked Griffin for 30 minutes at the trot in side reins.

He was more forward today for the first time in a week. I don't know if his mood was just better, if his digestion was happier, the weather was more ideal for him, or if he's just built strength to where things are becoming easier - but he was better about moving out. I did change his bit from a single jointed snaffle to a French-link, so perhaps that made him happier, too? Hard to say as I currently only have n=1. More tests will need to occur...

As you can observe in the photo, I've clipped the side reins higher to better mimic a rider's hand position. I'm trying to mix things up and incorporate tips and suggestions as they're given: position of side reins, bit, etc. I didn't grow up around this kind of thing, so I'm learning as I go! I still am a 2+ hour drive from anyone qualified to be able to give me lessons in any discipline that isn't cow horse related! Its something I lament quite often; lessons from a qualified trainer would benefit me so much.

After I'd finished with Griffin, Q and I headed out for a trail ride...in nearly white-out snow conditions. Lovely!

This photo was taken within 15 seconds of
stepping out of the barn into the snow.
It was really coming down!

I wanted to try for 5 miles, but it didn't happen. Instead we did a fast 3.5 miles on a little loop through the woods. Basically, anything that wasn't a downhill we cantered.

WHAT A BLAST!

The wind coupled with the blinding snow (I wore clear safety glasses so I could see through the mess) really helped Q. Everything was either dark or white. No in between. Ergo, fewer strange-looking monsters to balk at. The gusting wind blowing through the trees and thrusting snowflakes her face also limited the attention she could pay to both auditory and visual things that may have otherwise alarmed her. In fact, my only complaint about her on this ride was her downward transitions. Me saying a quiet, "Easy" or "Whoa" led to her SLAMMING on the brakes with gusto. This slammed my pelvic bone forcefully into the saddle a time or two. Not. Pleasant.

Overall though, a SUPER blast. Zooming through the woods, dipping and dodging branches and limbs as we raced along the twists and turns. She knew where all of the frozen puddles were, too, and jumped them all in turn without losing pace. As her body tilted left and right to wind around the branches, I felt as if I was racing on a motorcycle around a track. It was so. much. fun.

We ended up doing 3.5 miles at 5.5 mph average pace. Not shabby. I'll take it with all of the crazy weather we endured. AND Q drank beautifully for only a 3.5-mile jaunt! She stopped at a puddle in the middle of the ride and had a dozen swigs, and stopped a second time at the creek on the way home to guzzle another dozen or more swigs. I hope this continues through this season!

So, yes, I am indeed off to a much better start of things in February than I was in January as far as goals go with the horses! Roaching Griffin's mane has really lit a fire under my ass to improve his muscling since I notice so much more of his lack of it now! ;-)

Enjoy a wealth of photos!

Still practicing his "hot lava" impression re: pressure on his mouth - note the slack in the side reins.

Houston, we have dapples. Prepare for full launch of dapples in T-minus 2 months.

Griffin tooties in the snow.

Modeling his roached mane.

Kenai eating poop. Oh, and Griffin.

I WILL BE GROUCHY PONEH FOR ALL SELFIES.

Fine, Griffin, we'll be stoic instead.

My crew and I.

A series of still shots from the video; you may or may not see the video. It requires lots
of editing because there is a lot of nonsensical down time. My laziness with video editing
likely means the video will never surface.

I loooove them.

Q-bert is much better at selfies

So much snow in her ears!

White out conditions. Not even a quarter-mile visibility!

om nom nom nom nom nom; she is in LOVE with mashes

Horse Updates

Griffin

• I roached his mane. He pulled out the same section in the hay feeder again. Last year this triggered me to trim the whole mane months later. His bridle path that I keep buzzed is so thick and nice. The rest of his mane is a thin, scraggly mess. He seriously has the. worst. mane of any horse I've ever been around. If its short, it does well though, it seems. So I buzzed the damn thing. It started some grief on Facebook when I shared photos and mentioned it, but that's okay. My horse. My decision. By doing it now, it helps guarantee that by spring when his coat is shedding it'll really be looking good since there will be a bit of growth. I'm excited.
  
• I worked both horses Tuesday for 20 minutes. Griffin was Mr. LazyPants. He was willing to do as I bid, but he was very slow moving throughout the whole workout. I really had to encourage and push him to keep him forward. This was amusing to me because he is usually Mr. SassyPants about workouts. So willing, so eager, so forward. And then he gets a little tired and he settles nicely. Tuesday? Nope. Little more tired = trying to stop constantly. I wasn't very alarmed at this atypical behavior though because his behavior for everything else was 110% normal.
  
• The Tuesday workout involved work in side reins + over ground poles for a time. The first time I'd introduced ground poles to Griffin in this format (working on the lunge) he was a total goof about it. He'd skip and jump trying to figure them out. This time around he just trotted through like it was NBD. I sent him around and over them 10x in each direction. I was definitely pleased with this since he'd been so lazy about everything that evening. It was the best I could hope for!
  
• Little man is getting downright punchy about the whole "receive grain when I get to the barn" ordeal. Polite on the grand scheme of things, but RUDE as far as my horses go. I will NOT tolerate it and I've told him this. As a result, he now does not get his grain unless he is standing still, not pawing, not moving toward me. He is expected to step away from me as I set his grain down, or at a minimum to yield his large head/neck away from me. Q gives a nicker, doesn't move, but waits stoically beyond her small noise for her grain and never invades my space. I expect this from Griffin, too.
  
• Wednesday night when I got to the barn Griffin GALLOPED to the gate away from everyone to come in. He was cold (rain turned to snow so they were wet with snow on them + gusting wind to make it super cold!) and he wanted inside away from the wind to get his damn mash. I'm glad he's so eager to come inside, but not fooled that he likes me any more. He just loves food. Spoiled pony.

Q

• Making an effort to be more calm around the horses and check my emotions at the door has really helped with Q. She is so much calmer all the time now. She has her moments, but overall she is so, so good. We've had almost 2 solid months of this. Granted...its been almost 2 solid months of her *not* being in heat either...so we'll see. But knowing how good and calm she can be will be beneficial when she begins cycling through heat cycles again in a few months. I know what her personality is without the hormones. I'm certain of it for the first time since getting her. June 1 will mark two years of owning her. We've been up and down with many things in that time, but now I really feel like I know this little horse.
  
• Q's workout Tuesday night was stellar. She's such a dork about some things (and the fact that I can recognize this as just a part of who this horse is is wonderful because prior to this I'd have just been frustrated). Throughout her warm up she was booking it around me like a maniac. HUGE floaty trot. And then this super fast canter for awhile. The dogs (Kenai and the border collie youngster) would fly by near the ring and she'd snort and blow as she bounced around in her fast canter. But as soon as I quit laughing at her and asked for a trot, she listened and obliged.
  
• She's definitely right-handed. Things come way easier to her when we're working to her right than her left. What takes 5, 6, 7, 8 circuits for her to figure out to the left, she figures out in 1 or 2 circuits to the right. While it is going to be a conscious effort on my part to work to strengthen her left side more, it is nice to know that she *is* capable of things and *does* understand them. She's just weaker in the one direction. I think we can handle this!
  
• Keeping in mind Karen's recent post about talking to Ashke and explaining to him in English what she wanted him to try to do while riding, I did this with Q when she was working in the side reins the other night. She'd started the evening with her head high and her nose way out. Fighting, fighting, fighting the side reins. I started talking to her, telling her that if she'd reach her neck down more and tuck her nose just the tiniest bit, she'd find that it felt better. I told her how she'd have to use her back and propel herself with her booty, but it would be better. And by god, if she didn't do it! She floated along for only a stride at first before putting her head up and nose out, but I kept talking to her and she began to spend less and less time with her head and nose in the air. "Reach down, Q, tuck your nose a little bit. Goooood girrrrrl."
  
• She was a complete doofus with the ground poles Tuesday night. 75% of the time she'd go through them NBD. The other 25% of the time she was bouncing, skipping, jumping, cantering. No difference in this behavior between directions; it was about equal. I think she was just feeling rather "up" about life at that point and needed to throw some excess energy around in a silly way. Just a little personality to spice up the evening. I was more amused than bothered or concerned by the behavior though. She'd been so stellar about everything that evening. A little spazztic behavior here and there was of little concern at that point.
  
• When I trucked out into the field Wednesday night to get Q, I found her with her butt to the wind, standing on the otherside of the neighbors woodpile that abuts the fenceline using it as a windbreak. I got just over halfway to her when she starts her huge lofty 9-10 mph trot at me. Ears pricked, eyes on me, a whinny to her friends in the distance, but all of her body language directed with attention to me and not them. "Hey Qbee! Q Q Q. Hey hey lady." I said to her. Her trot turned into a slower prancey trot of sorts as she regarded me, approaching, then veering off a little at the last moment to continue trotting toward her friends. DORK. I think she surprised herself a little with her exuberance for me, so she had to pass it off and roll out to be with her friends. Not the first time she's been eager, then blows me off last minute in a half-assed way! I'm finally feeling like I have a handle on her personality - its only taken 20 months! Haha!
  
• The introduction of a beet pulp/grain mash has her eating faster than ever! Its still slow compared to most horses, but for her? So fast! For once, she's finishing hers before Griffin. I'm happy to see this change in her because prior to mashes, she was so picky and slow about eating. The whole mash thing will make sneaking in supplements all the easier in the future! Yay for my little endurance mare.

January Goal Update; February Planning

Aaannnnd, as I predicted at the beginning of January, I didn't get to the barn much during that month! Shocker!

I worked 30 of 31 days in January between my two jobs. That's right, folks, I had one whole day in which I didn't work in my office or on the mountain. That one day was the day Mike and I took some time to go skijoring with Q.

In addition to my work load, at least one third of the month was spent with temperatures in the single digits that were often below 0°F with windchill. Um, yeah, not at the barn much for those!

Awaiting instruction. I see DAPPLES on Griffin. Squee.

In fact, looking at my training log that I keep in Evernote on my phone, I only got out to the barn 5 days in January! And while none of those days at the barn really focused on the concrete goals I'd made on here, they were quality time spent improving both horses - regaining baseline fitness for Q for this upcoming ride season and introducing Griffin to further saddle time on the trail.

I am not surprised, nor do I regret my lack of time with the horses in January. However, it does make me want to buckle down and focus on getting out there more in February. My work schedule will be very similar to January, but with the advent of longer and longer daylight hours, I plan to jaunt out after work during the week to spend time working both critters. (One day down, so far! A pretty good start.)

February Goals:

Q

• Continue to pursue maintaining her calm demeanor: A continual goal that is continuing to have wonderful results.
• Continue with further work in side reins and dressage exercises US: I want to work her a minimum of 10 days this month focusing on this.
• Begin lateral work: This goal has been present and failing for two months, this is the month when I am going to begin focusing on it.
• Continue bareback and bridless work: If we have some time, I still plan to add this to the repertoire.

Griffin

Sad grey pony doesn't want to work.

• Get out onto the trails more: We were very successful with this in January. He was out on the trail 4/5 days that I was at the barn. I want to continue this trend into February.
• Walk-trot consistency US with bridle: I have some new ideas to help Griffin make the connection/transition between the bitless norm he prefers under saddle into bridle work under saddle. I still plan to ride him on the trail exclusively bitless, but I'd really like to be able to gain flat work with a bit without him having a fit.
• Continue work in side reins: I want to work Griffin a minimum of 10 days this month where the side reins are involved; mostly, I really need to focus on exercises to build his strength. His "popping up" during transitions under saddle is most likely a strength issue (thanks, Karen!) and for both our sakes, this needs to be improved.
• Walk-trot poles during non-US work: I plan to incorporate this to every lunging session.

Horses Who Made Me: Jewel

Jewel 

Jewel was the appaloosa gelding that lived at Pheobe's with Demo and Ebony. I would occasionally ride him instead of Demo, the why behind it I can't really remember.

I never really liked him as much as Demo. From swapping mounts between those geldings, I learned at an early age that certain horses moved out differently from others. Jewel was rougher and bumpier than Demo was and I didn't like that at all. He also wasn't quite as saintly as Demo.

Jewel was an escape artist though. He hated when Ebony and Demo would leave with us to ride and he would be left alone. Many times (pictured below) he would escape and Phoebe's mom would have to take him back to the field as we left.

Remembering as I write this, I think some of the times I rode Jewel were because he was always eager and ready to go, while Demo would refuse to be caught.

Jewel shaped a huge part of my journey as a rider through one single incident:

He was the first horse I cantered - and the first horse I fell off.

Phoebe and I were coming back from a ride. We'd passed the first of their three horse fields, were about to pass the second. These were at the base of the large slope that wound into the holler their home was situated in. This area of the drive was finally flat after almost a mile of a steady downhill.

After escaping the field; grazing nearby while Phoebe and I tacked up Ebony
and Demo

On this day Phoebe wanted to canter the last straight stretch to where we tacked the horses up. She gave me the typical, "I'm going to go fast, hold him back or let him go, your decision, you're the boss!" And with my nod, she took off.

I knew the drill. I was good at holding Demo to a trot while Ebony and Phoebe cantered or galloped away. I was always a little nervous, but nothing bad ever happened, so I was fairly confident about the whole thing.

Jewel wasn't though.

Jewel wasn't cued in to the whole routine like Demo was. Jewel just knew he loved his buddy Ebony and Ebony was suddenly rocketing away for home without him.

I held him to a trot for a bit, but that trot quickly turned into the fast, jarring trot horses always seem to do before cantering.

This already bumpy horse was suddenly bumpier than I'd ever imagined. Staying on was suddenly a challenge for me.

And then he broke into a canter.

This was it for my seat. This new gait, one I'd never experienced prior (or at least not much to my memory), was the straw on the proverbial camel's back that was my balanced seat. That first stride or two of canter tossed me forward in the saddle onto Jewel's neck where I clung for life. Despite my efforts though, I slipped around to the underside of his neck, bear hugging him for all I was worth.

But you guys saw the photos of me on Demo last week. You saw how tiny I was on that horse. Jewel was every bit his size if not a little larger. My spindly little arms against the power of a running horse? Yep. I lost that battle.

I lost my grip and I fell.

I fell right underneath him.

I have a distinct memory - clear to this day - of landing butt first, then cracking my helmeted head against the gravel drive as I watched four flashing hooves sail inches above my body and face.

Jewel didn't step on me. He did me that justice.

The whole experience terrified me though. Terrified. I wasn't very hurt - just some epic bruising from where I hit the gravel road. I was thankful for the helmet. Beyond thankful. But boy, oh boy, was I terrified.

I think they made me get back on him right then. Just leading me around by the barn once I'd walked there of my own accord. That whole memory is blurred though; not from hitting my head, but just because the fall itself was so much more memorable for me than anything else.

Falling from Jewel that day had a huge, huge, huge impact on my psyche as it related to anything above a trot. I never cantered again in my time riding with Phoebe. Never.

That one moment with Jewel affected me for several years. I'm glad it happened - because it really had to at some point. And I'm happy I (obviously) have moved on from it, but I never imagined the effect it would have on me or the amount of time I would be affected by it.

I would later move on to riding at another facility with a true instructor in following years. I'd ride different horses nearly every week. A structured lesson for an hour a week. My parents put a lot of time and effort and money into getting me to those lessons, too, for which I will be forever grateful.

Even at those lessons, for weeks upon weeks, months upon months, I would refuse to canter a horse. My instructor would try to get me to, and I would go so far as to get to the fast trot stage before breaking down into tears from fear. Fortunately, the instructor was persistent and patient with me and I was able to get over my fear and finally confront the canter - but I'm getting ahead of myself now. That's a story for next week.

OMG THEY'RE GETTING BACK TOGETHER

So not horse or my life/adventures related.

BUT - this is my favorite band ever. And they're getting back together. And they're gonna have a new album out soon. And they're touring this year. And I'm really excited.

Powder Days: A Photo Journal

Headed up the lift. Man made snow flyin' up ahead

Tips of my skis

Headed into the cloud of man made snow that was blowing

Minimal visibility in the cloud of man made snow

Looking down Upper Spruce

Headed toward Dark Side of the Moon and Prosperity

Looking back up Upper Spruce

Allll bundled up. It only reached 1 degree ABOVE zero for an hour or so this day. Most of the day was below zero!

Jeremy following along my tracks

Makin' his own tracks

Majestic and noble husky on a sheepskin

Frozen

The happiest dog

Gooning as I hit the rail (yes, a rail over a car!)

Panicking after gaining speed at the end of the rail (yes its over a car)

Shannon hittin' it

Our patrol director screaming with glee

Buncha patrollers kids lovin' on Kenai down in the aid room at the end of the day.

Crazy mad snow drifts on my road; the rough snow in the middle is a result of my car bottoming out - in other words, despite my insane clearance on my 2001 Toyota 4Runner, the snow was high and deep enough that it was scraping the undercarriage

Further non-plowed, drifting snow!

Kickass snow drift in my front yard forming

Hodor found a great spot to clean and sun himself

At least he had a great view!