30 Day Challenge - Day 3

Day 03- Your best ride ever

I have had so many great rides, but here is the one that I would consider the most fun:

Even though Dusty could be a hot-head, she was the nicest horse to hack.  She marched along, never looking twice at anything, and as long as she was allowed to lead, she was a perfect lady.  A few of us -- the barn rats -- used to go out on day-long hacks with the horses, and a few times we snuck into the local public pond before it opened for the season to let the horses swim.  

On this particular occasion, we were on our way to the pond when we saw a lawn with what looked like cross-country stairs in the front of it.  The steps had been created with stone instead of wood, but the effect was the same, and they appeared to be a perfect two-stride distance.  There were only two issues.  First, we had no idea if the homeowners were home, and very much doubted that they would enjoy watching three horses leaping through their front yard towards the house.  Second, there was only about 10 feet between the road and the first step.  Of course this didn't stop us.

One of the girls got off her horse and handed him off to us, then walked up to the house and knocked.  We figured if someone answered, we'd ask for permission.  If no one answered, we would assume no one was home and do it.  Luckily, no one was home, because I highly doubt that we would have gotten the go-ahead if they were.  To combat the road problem, we stationed two horses in the middle of the road to block traffic while the third did the steps.  

Next, we passed by a cemetery that was surrounded by a very nice stone wall.  Employing the same method that we used to block traffic at the house, we took turns jumping in and out of the cemetery.  When we were through, we noticed the "no horses" sign.  Luckily no one saw us.  

The pond was right around the corner from the cemetery, and when we got there we all got off, took off our saddles (complete with saddle bags that held towels and food), our shoes, and our riding pants (we wore bathing suits underneath).  We then tied a stirrup leather around our horses' necks, climbed on bareback, and rode into the pond.  That was the first time that I ever swam with a horse, and once the water got deep enough to force them to swim, it was the coolest feeling ever.  Dusty rocked beneath me, and I had to wrap my legs around her and grab her mane to keep from floating off.  When we got into shallower water again, I had to anchor myself with the neck strap to keep the water from sucking me off as she emerged, and kept holding tight as she shook the water off like a dog.  

We finished the ride by trotting and cantering over a bunch of logs around the pond, and then hopped off to let the horses dry off and graze while we ate sandwiches and dried ourselves off enough to put our pants back on.  Once we tacked the horses back up, we made the long trek back to the barn.  It was the perfect day.

Not Dusty

30 Day Challenge - Day 2

The last time you rode a horse and what you did

Well, this is a little late/dated now, since I was in Connecticut for a wedding this weekend.  So, while I will ride today, I will write about what Dee and I did on Thursday (I wrote this Friday, before my ride, and don't feel like updating to add in Friday's ride... it was good though).  

I went pretty easy on her, since I'm just concerned with letting her chillax and settle in.  I mean, I won't even be here this weekend, so I feel like there is no point in pushing her during her transition.  When I got to the barn, she looked calm and happy, although she had begun the process of dragging her hay all over her stall.  I got there about an hour after they came in, though, so I'm hoping she was just in the middle of eating.  She got right back to it when I was finished, at any rate.

Similarly, when I put her in the cross-ties, she stood like a rock while I groomed her, and her bottom lip was flapping in the wind.  Once I got her into the covered arena (I actually wanted to ride in the jump arena, which is bigger, but there was a lesson going on in there), she was mostly good.  She got a little ramped up when another horse came in (argh, a new lesson, and they switched arenas on me!), and I didn't do too much more in that ring once they came in, because the rider was very much a beginner, and didn't have her steering 100% down.  We just sort of trotted around avoiding her while she trotted, and when she took a break, I did a quick canter in each direction and called it a day.  The best part?  Totally quiet canter transitions!  Go Deedles!  To finish, we went for a little hack.  This turned out to be a bit of a harrowing experience for me.  

There is a small opening to the woods in the treeline -- it is VERY small, and I wouldn't have noticed it if I wasn't looking.  Dee understandable thought I was going crazy asking her to walk in there at first.  Once I thumped her with my leg, though, she marched in.  Luckily, the trail was pretty nice once you got through the opening.  However, my face got hit my about 10 spider webs as we walked, and when we came to the exit, I thought I was going to get peeled off of her by branches.  

I honestly can't even tell you what was going on with the branches.  The first one was REALLY low, and so I just hunkered down on Dee's neck, put an arm out in front of me, and yes, I'll admit it, closed my eyes to avoid branches in them.  And then they just kept coming, and getting bigger.  I'm glad Dee doesn't care about things like that, and calmly found her own way out, because I was blindly flailing at the branches to keep them away from my face the whole time (I have a weird fear of things coming near my eyes... the eye doctor hates me, and it's mutual).  After what felt like ages of battling branches, but what was probably about 5 seconds, we emerged into the sunlight, walked back to the barn on a sunny, branch-free path, and called it a day.  

Before we went into the woods, the BM indicated that she had to remove some branches in the woods. I will not be going back in there until that happens and the demon branches are gone.  

30 Day Challenge... Day 1

July 2013 -- She was not cooperating and this was the best of 5 shots

So, I found this, and decided to do it.  No promises that I'll remember to update everyday, but I'll at least get through all of them eventually!

30 Day Challenge Equestrian Edition

Day 01- When and why you started riding
Day 02- The last time you rode a horse and what you did
Day 03- Your best ride ever
Day 04- Describe the important horses you've had in your life
Day 05- Your first fall
Day 06- What's in your grooming bucket?
Day 07- Biggest riding pet peeve
Day 08- A little about the barn/stable you ride at
Day 09- Any injuries that occurred from riding
Day 10- How your family/friends feel about your riding
Day 11- Describe your dream horse
Day 12- Favorite horse book
Day 13- Your worst ride ever
Day 14- Your dream barn/farm
Day 15- All the tack and riding clothes you have (brand/color/other details)
Day 16- Your most recent fall
Day 17- Your equestrian idol
Day 18- Your riding goals
Day 19- A discipline you would like to do that you’ve never done before
Day 20- Your favorite place to trail ride
Day 21- Your perfect riding outfit
Day 22- The importance of riding in your life
Day 23- Your worst riding habits
Day 24- Your best riding friend
Day 25- Your dream trailer
Day 26- Your grooming routine
Day 27- You know your an equestrian when….. (Give 5 original ones)
Day 28- Helmet or no helmet?
Day 29- A style/trend in tack/etc. that you don’t like
Day 30- Your Future With Horses

When and why you started riding

Some kids must just be born with the bug.  My mother never rode, and neither did my father.  My grandparents?  Certainly not.  Yet, I was always drawn to it.  At age four, I wanted a pony at my birthday party.  I used to beg my grandma to go to Lee's riding stable for pony rides, and feel absolute despair when my cousins could go on a trail ride, but I had to stay in the ring being led.  By the time I was almost six, I was doing everything in my six-year old power to convince my mother that riding lessons were a good idea.  Eventually she caved, and began taking me for lessons.  In fact, she used my obsession to indulge herself, and joined me in my lessons for awhile.  

I couldn't tell you why I wanted to ride, or why I never wanted to stop.  I guess I was just born with the bug.

View from the back of the barn

Room With A View

Settling in nicely

 Dee has officially moved in to her new home.  The trip started out with some stress, as the trailer was a straight-load step-up.  Straight-loads she does no problem, but I have the feeling she'd never been in a step up, and this particular one was a bit odd, because the only way for me to get out was to climb out the side window/half-door.  So, the first few tries didn't work so well.  It ended up with her coming in, saying "Oh, sorry mom, I don't want to crowd you," and then kind of falling off the back, at which point she would get scared and fly backwards.  After a few tries, I finally convinced her that it was ok to crowd me a little, and we managed to get the back closed.  Poor thing.  The one time in her life that she's being polite, she didn't have to!

Ready to hit the road

Half an hour of driving later, she arrived at her new home.  In typical Dee fashion, she got off the trailer, made herself as big as possible, bugged her eyes out, looked around, and then relaxed and walked into the barn.  As soon as she got into her stall she sniffed her neighbors, looked out the window, and then started scavenging for hay scraps.  I'm glad she's not the type to fret about new surroundings.

After I got my things put away, I popped on her and let her wander around the two different rings.  She was a little bit looky, but generally took it all in stride.  We ended with a little bit of stretchy trot and then I called it a day, just in time to miss the crazy rainstorm that was rolling through.

As an aside, I think I have mentioned the old couple who loved to give Dee treats and thought she was just lovely.  Well, I was really happy to see the woman at the barn today before Dee and I made our exit.  I told her that I would miss the barn, and thought Dee would miss it, too.  She replied, "we'll miss Dee, too.  I just love her.  She has such a great personality!  She and that calico cat... they're both kind of crazy, and just so entertaining."

So... Dee is apparently just like a crazy calico cat.  I'll buy it.  She does have a little bit of feline-spirit.  Maybe that's part of the reason I love her so much.  We both have a little bit of feline-spirit.

Life Changes

Dee and I will be moving!  Well, Dee will technically be moving twice.

Tomorrow, Dee is heading to a new barn.  Poor thing is a little bit of a vagabond.  But conveniently, the barn is half an hour closer to me than the one I'm at currently.  This was not something I had planned, but I'm hoping it works out for the best.  Long story short, the barn owners (or more accurately, the college owners), pulled some shady stuff and ousted the BM with one story while trying to retain the boarders with another.  Why they thought we weren't in communication with the BM is beyond me.  At the end of the day, what they did was pretty despicable, and I doubt any of us will be hanging around (unless the person is a member of the college and "stuck").  So, Dee and I are heading to a lovely new facility that boasts a covered arena (score!) and miles of trails (double score!).  Although I wasn't planning on having to drop everything and head out there to move her, I'm pretty excited and will try to document miss thang's move.

As for me, I will be moving too.  But... in a year.  I was offered a job in Greeneville, TN.  It's a year-long clerkship that a can't give out too many details of because of confidentiality concerns, but needless to say, it's going to be a really amazing experience that should help to open a lot of doors.  Am I excited about living in the middle of nowhere in TN?  Not really.  I'm I excited about working for an amazing person and learning a ton?  Absolutely!  So, next September, Dee and I will be off on another adventure into the depths of East Tennessee.  Until then, however, we'll keep chugging along in Knoxville.

July Training

I've been pretty useless all week.  Apparently, the doctor wasn't kidding when he said it might take up to 3 weeks for me to get back to normal.  And here I was thinking I would be back in the saddle by yesterday.  Uh, nope.  I managed to drive myself out to the barn on wednesday and lunge miss thing in side reins (she was lovely), but I paid for it on Thursday.  Sore, head-achey, and exhausted.
I was especially bummed because this was my last week in Knoxville for awhile.  I am moving to Nashville for the month of july for an internship, and I was hoping to get tons of saddle time in.
On the bright side, the BM and I discussed it, and figured out a training plan for Dee in July.

Understandably, the BM didn't want to ride Dee herself.  I don't blame her at all.  It's been a slow road getting Dee back into manageable riding horse mode since her nearly-year-long vacation in NY.  I've lacked the ability to be consistent with her, and while she has been quite good lately, and while I don't think of her as a threat under saddle, I can see where other people might not agree.  She has an opinion about just about everything, and she is definitely the type to test the waters... if she can intimidate, she is happy to go down that road.  Heck, there have been days (not recently, but in fall and winter) when she comes out with NO intentions of doing anything good, and I can tell within 5 seconds of picking the reins up that nothing good will happen if I try to really ride, so she is made to walk in the contact for awhile, and then goes on the lunge.  But, like I said, lately that hasn't been the case.  Lately, she comes out willing to work, or at least willing to tolerate me for 30 minutes, if she's not in a great mood.   That said, canter transitions are still pretty explosive, and if she's feeling lazy, she will pitch a fit IN the canter to try to convince you to let her go back to trot... if it doesn't work she usually just quits being stupid and gets to work, but it takes being willing to just ignore the bad behavior, kick on, and reward the good behavior.

Anyway, that was a long ramble to say I totally understand being unwilling to get on the she-beast.  She is not for everyone, and I LIKE when someone is willing to look at her and say "you know what?  I'm not the right fit for her, and I think we would be a bad combination."  That way, everyone stays happy.  But, being the AWESOME barn manager and horsewoman that she is, she contacted a former student of hers that enjoys riding temperamental mares to see if she would be interested in the gig.  Well, she is, so we arranged for the student to ride Dee twice a week, and BM to do ground work (lunging, etc) once a week.  I think it will work out perfectly.  This way, Dee doesn't get a month of vacation time (the LAST thing that lazy mare needs).  Plus, I will have to be back in Knoxville for law journal stuff midway through July, so I'm hoping to schedule a lesson on the beastie and enjoy her for the weekend (hopefully my head will be completely healed, by then!).  Silver linings, I suppose.

On an un-horse related note, I got this postcard from my mother, who is currently on a cruise of Europe:

"Don't get hurt anymore!"  Thanks, mom, I'll try not to!

Lawn Dart

Well, Dee finally managed to get me off.  I always knew that the first time she succeeded would be spectacular.  She was actually being quite good, but the second time I asked for right lead canter, rather than leaping with a little buck into it (like she sometimes does), she apparently decided to just buck. Hard.  And it MUST have been hard, because she's never managed to unseat me like that (and mare can buck).  I ended up at her ears, and at that point I knew it was all over, so I just went with it, but of course I tried to slow my fall.  Cut to an unknown amount of time later.  I was laying in the ring, on my back after being knocked out.  Still on my back, I looked around to see Dee running in panicked circles around me.  I think maybe she was upset that she might have killed the only person who actually likes her.    It took me four or five times to sit up, and when I finally got to my feet, I just remember staggering around until I managed to get to Dee, who let me use her as a crutch to get me to a chair at the side of the ring.  We stayed there for awhile, while I tried to deduce what day it was, why I was there, and what the heck happened.

Finally, I managed to get Dee up to the barn, untacked her, and put her in the wash stall (I do not remember any of this).  Finally, one of the other boarders arrived, and called an ambulance and the barn manager.  She also washed Dee down and put her away.  The paramedics said I was fine even after telling them that I lost consciousness and showing them my helmet, which now has a big crack in it, and told me I probably didn't need to go to the hospital.  So, I said goodbye to Dee and the barn manager and her boyfriend drove my car and I home.

I did end up getting checked out yesterday.  Concussion and huge bruise/lump on the back of my head, but no bleeding or fractures.  I'm pretty bummed, because this was my week off before going to Nashville for a month, and I intended to ride everyday.  Now, I can't even get a helmet on over my lump, and I'm still a little bit out of it.  I'm hoping tomorrow I'll feel ok to drive out to the barn so that I can at least lunge her.  Maybe by the weekend the swelling on my head will have gone down enough to put a helmet on.  Silly mare.