We did it!

We survived, and it was awesome.

So Miss Joy was a pain about getting in to the trailer, in hindsight I should of practiced a bit with her since it was her first time off the property in 2 years! We got to the barn a little late so my friend helped me tack up and we rode straight away. Joy was spooky and looky at first but settled down to work and we had a very productive lesson.

Sandi was great, taking time to ask questions about Joy and we talked a lot about the challenges and positives of  doing dressage with Arabians and Saddlebreds. We did fairly simple stuff (circles, spiral circles, turn on forehand and haunches and looooooots of transitions) but focusing on Miss Joy using her body correctly.


Okay, things I learned.

1- Keep my reins the length they should be, so when she relaxes her neck and picks up contact they are the correct length. Fairly simple concept,  instead of messing around with the reins just keep them "correct" (even if it feels awkward when she is doing a giraffe impression) and when she relaxes it is more comfortable for both of us.

2- Leg on! Joy is a hot horse, I generally ride with a relaxed leg and I like not having to motivate her constantly like you do with some really mellow horses. But in order to get her hind end under her correctly I need to be active with my legs.

3- Because she is so compact (seriously compact) circles are my friend, In a circle she has to focus a little to balance herself and I have the opportunity to get her working correctly. Getting her to reach under herself with her hind legs and stretch a little.

There is more of course but those points were the most helpful right now.

Now pictures, first lesson in 2 years! so no laughing.

Start of lesson, OMG IM A PONY RUN AROUND NOW

start of lesson WHEEEE IM RUNNING AROUND

starting to relax

My fav picture, I don't look awesome but she is so soft and willing here.

Mid lesson, she has  a neck!

working on bending

Oh Hai!

Overall I'm super pleased and am definitely going to work on making this a monthly thing. Joy was awesome and happy to be working.

ride in the rain.

I love my poneh, seriously she is amazing.

Joe was home and Smooshy was asleep so I had my first proper long ride on Sunday (as opposed to the "hop on, looook I'm riding" rides) Here are something I learned.

My muscles used to be reeeeeeeally strong, I wish I had appreciated them more, like when I had them. (please note the past tense)

All my saddles suck, since I was paying such close attention to my position I can't help but notice the dressage saddle tips me in a funny way. Saddle fitting is on the agenda this summer for sure.

Joy likes to spook, at chickens and things in the yard, probably because the yard is boring.

We like going fast, on the trails.

My mare is a snot to saddle and possibly always will be even when I have a better fitting saddle.

Spiral circles are one of the most useful training exercises for tense, high headed horses. (see below)

Joy is so remarkably sensitive it is ridiculous. Fun to ride, challenging to ride and totally ridiculous.

I was so completely happy to feel her be responsive and supple, we (obviously) haven't done much formal training lately. One exercise I particularly like is a spiral circle at the trot, you start out on a nice round circle and slowly spiral in  making it smaller and then out again until you reach the original size. Circle work is great for Joy since it forces her to slow down, balance, relax and stretch her body. The spiral is especially helpful because it requires her to focus on me instead of anticipating what comes next. It is super helpful for me to work on using my outside aides and staying focused.

Then it rained really, really hard.

Raspberry Thursday

Smooshy is crashed out in the swinging seat so I should be doing something useful like make dinner but alas, I am writing here and eating  RASPBERRY CANDIES that an internet friend from my mommy board sent me unexpectedly, HOW COOL IS THAT!!!!!!!! I know I am shouty but I really like them and they are impossible to find around here...

I finally checked the schedule for local horse trials/derby/events this summer, dunno why I was procrastinating on it. I think I felt like I was going to miss out on all the fun and everything good was happening now, like Eventing University which I was bummed to miss. Well, I needn't have worried because there are several doable events going on in August/September/October that are close to home. Hurrah! I can get myself and Joy fit, get some lessons in and still show a little this year.

k off to figure out dinner.

One handed typing.

Not as dirty as it sounds! just makes updating one's blog slow since one only has one free hand, the other always holding a Smooshy baby.

We are doing well, Smooshy is eating (lots) pooping (lots) and sleeping (lots! yay!) I am finally feeling more normal and thinking I might be back in the saddle by next week, which would be super.

I really like the whole mommy thang, it has it's hard parts like when you reallllllllllly want to shower but can't because this little person NEEDS you so then you just smell bad until your husband (who is working six days a week) gets home. Or when the little critter is upset and you can't figure out why. But in general it is pretty cool. I figure babies are born a few months to early so basically he should still be in my belly and you treat them as such, sort of like a kangaroo.

Like a kangaroo I love my Mei Tai, I think I will love my sling too when I figure out how to use the silly thing properly. I can strap Smooshy on and go for a walk, feed horses, make dinner. Basically anything I need two hands for and he will happily sleep. We went looking for Morels yesterday and he slept damn near the whole time (I also figured out how to nurse him in it, I'm a rockstar) I think this little baby stage lasts for a very short time and that helps keep me from being too frustrated when I can't do the things I want.

Joe has decided Poppy must go now, our pasture is getting really munched down and he is really worried about feeding hay all summer. They are on the back part and have grazed it down to nothing. We have about three acres fenced off for them but the grass quality varies a lot depending on what part of the old farm it was, it would be much better with two instead of three. So this week she needs her coggins done, feet trimmed and to be cleaned up. I'll get some decent pictures and put her back into work and up for sale. She was an upgrade so I don't care if I get much for her, would just like to see her taken care of. I picked up her up super cheap and improved her training (although she is still quite green) so hopefully we can get her into a better place then she would have been otherwise.

Joy needs a lot of conditioning but she looks good, I'm really excited to start riding again. Planning on starting off with some light trail rides and lunging (likely with the chambon to get her neck properly muscled before we start our dressage work, silly giraffe horse) I need a lot of core conditioning so am starting now with daily walks with baby, pilates and yoga when I can fit it in. Hopefully riding soon and start running around the six week pp mark (end of the month) I didn't gain much weight with baby but all my muscles are squishy. I'm planning on taking Joy out and about for experience, getting in some much needed lessons and aiming for a later summer show. I also want to get her properly fitted for saddles, since I am sick of everything sliding forward on her and trying to figure what will work on my own, hopefully can get something I already own reflocked.


anyway that is us :)
xo

Still, still, still preggo.

Midwife appointment today, Baby has dropped and I feel like there is no more room in my body for both of us. I let her feel me up, cervix is smooshy but not at all dilated. Lots of little contractions, hormones are making me really PMSy and I am really impatient to meet my baby. Taking this last little bit of pregnancy time to really spoil myself in the name of preparing for labor, especially since I really seem to need it, I am sleepy and so fricken hungry lately. But I was secretly really hoping to hear that my cervix was ready to go and I shouldn't sneeze or anything because the baby would fall out. Totally unrealistic, but a girl can hope.

Today I was bad and got an overpriced Carmel macchiato on the way home, also managed to get to the feedstore, partially because I was a little low on a few things and I didn't want to have to stop on the way home from the hospital or something silly like that. Also it is better if Joe doesn't know exactly how much a bag of good feed costs. 

Ponehs are in the awkward stage of spring, nasty shedding. They annoy me when they shun their perfectly good hay in favor of tiny grass sprouts, We divided the paddock and put them in the back so they won't kill all the grass before it has a chance to sprout. Little and Poppy are putting on weight, Joy is ridiculously out of shape but it in fact the cutest horse ever so it is okay.

See, cutest snoot ever.

pretty spring

Wow, my cat stinks and the litter box isn't even in this room. I guess I will stop messing around with changing her food and keep her on Taste of the Wild dry and Evo wet, I was trying Wellness wet and Innova dry and she is just astinkin. She was on Science Diet when we got her from the shelter and Joe threatened to take her back since she smelled sooooooo awful.


In blog news I changed the comment section so it should be easier to leave comments, if it still sucks let me know and I will switch the whole shebang over, maybe to wordpress.

chickens are trying to come inside 

Free range :)

And suddenly Sadie

gonna do chores since it preferable to beating teenage boys for making stupid noises in the other room.

The problem with being a (sorta) grownup

It's the stuff like making dinner, say you expend a ton of energy making an awesome dinner and then the next night you have to think of something nourishing and tasty AGAIN! because you are an adult type person.

Such a bummer,

I tend to look back on my accomplishments like "wow, I did a kickass job cleaning the house, go me!" and then ignore the fact it has to be done again because I am irritated by the reality that I am just going to have to do it again. It's kind of a character flaw because I tend to be critical about my own bodily needs such as eating, like "what!, body needs more food, body already had food yesterday!"

Animals seem to be exempt from this criticism since I really enjoy fussing over critter food. When I was a kid I had the job of feeding our rabbits and I managed to complicate the task into my own cooking show with the food dishes artfully arranged, poor buns just wanted their tasty noms and not to be lectured on the aesthetic merits of layering the carrot pieces with the lettuce... Now my ponehs "benefit" from this quirk because I obsess over their rations and fantasize over what supplements I could give them with an unlimited budget, usually I do this after Baby has kicked me in the bladder in the middle of the night and I can't get back to sleep, like I debate if it is better to start Joy on MSM or a fancy combo supplement that would cost more then my monthly hay budget, you know cause she's getting soooo much work right now what with the standing in the field, eating hay and pooping.

 I am totally failing at feeding myself over the past couple of days, all I want is sugar and the more sugar I eat the more I wants it, my precious.... Which sucks and it annoys me, since I know I am using it to balance out my moods and I will have more energy/be less depressed if I eat properly, I am a sugar addict and I really need to just stop. Damn being responsible.

Went to town today, despite extreme sleepiness. I took Smelly Manchild to get a haircut and more pants at the thrift store, apparently having your family refer to you as Severus Snape for enough days in a row is incentive to get a haircut even if you have to go grocery shopping with your stepmom afterward. He is at the awkward "I am 13 year old boy and no clothes fit me" stage so shopping wasn't a huge success but we got some stuff. I managed to only buy one (really cute!) skirt that will fit me post baby, presumably. Full length mirrors are not my friend right now, I feel ginormous.

I thought I wanted to buy some baby stuff but when I looked at baby stuff I realized I actually just want to have the baby.

and now I want to go to bed.

goals and the upcoming year

Since it is January and I don't feel like folding clothes I thought I would post about goals. I am not the type of person who likes making New Year resolutions, I think if you are going to make a change it needs to come from within and be attainable, so I guess a resolution like "I am going to my body healthier" is more my style then the infamous "I am going to lose ten pounds" type resolution.

Looking back at this post I did in the summer (before I knew I was pregnant) I think my goals were pretty reasonable, taking lessons, trying to get to another show and improving my fitness and Joy's dressage. Of course shortly after that post I found out I was preggers, we had some financial restraints and our infamous "move in while looking for a house and stay for fucking ever" house guests happened. In short life happened and while I am not disappointed in myself I do wish finances were not an issue, I still rode and worked on Joy's fitness and training and feel we got a lot accomplished even if it wasn't quite how I pictured it.

So basically my goals for 2012
-I want the remainder of my pregnancy and labor to be uneventful
-I want to have a healthy and happy baby
-Get myself and Joy fit
-improve Baby horse's ground manners (not human Baby that would be silly)
-get Poppy started under saddle and make preparations to sell her
-improve Joy's dressage (biggies are balance and relaxation)
-Have some lessons to get experience and feedback on our training
-Make it to at least two horse trials
-continue improving pasture and fencing (love my husband)
-set up better arena space (see above)
-have fun!

On a poneh health front everyone is doing great, weight is good for all three. The weather has been freakish and we are back to mud mud mud so I haven't taken any recent pictures. I can't get them to touch the GroStrong minerals that I was trying to feed free choice, so have been mixing the appropriate amount in with the morning feed of beet pulp and rice bran. I don't think I will buy them again since the primary component is salt (which they already get free choice, they especially enjoy the Himalayan rock salt) and they have no interest in eating the stuff free choice and if they won't touch it then it defeats the purpose of offering it. Planning on putting Joy on some Glanzen Complete since she did well on it last year and looking into joint supplements, at least will try some msm.

On the Me health front Baby and I are doing good, still having a surprising amount of sleepiness, I feel kinda lame because I get so tired, I feel like all I do is eat and sleep right now. I think giving myself permission to be tired helped, I don't feel as guilty for "not getting as much done" and I am doing something, I'm growing a person! I found making a big list of the things that have to be done and doing one thing off the list everyday helps, makes me feel more accomplished and less overwhelmed.

I'm also doing a lot of research on hospital births and procedures although I am going with the nurse midwives at a birth center it is different then doing it at home and I want to be educated. My midwife says everything looks great and is really supportive which is so nice since I had to take a "parent education class" through the health center and it was all "of course you want an epidural, they are totally wonderful and safe!" Out of the 15 women there only three of us were going with midwives, I guess I didn't realize how pervasive the modern birth attitudes are, I really don't believe giving birth should be like an illness or trauma that has to be interfered with. I have time but I think it is best to figure out what I want now.

baby needs tasty noms and so do ponehs so I better go feed myself and critters :)

All the small things

Joe asked me today what my plans for the day were, I replied without thinking that I had a bunch of little stuff to do. Meaning no grand or exciting projects, but that got me thinking about how most of the things we do are little things, even a big project has all the little steps pieced together.

Which made me think of horses (because everything in life can be related to horses), a good trainer in any discipline will give a lesson with the three basic elements of warm up, work time and cool down but will also break everything down into little understandable chunks that build on each other. Often when you are riding alone for a training session it is easy to fall into the trap of making a big deal out of it, like the training has to be x amount of time, work and if you aren't working hard enough then you aren't training. I guess for some things and horses (especially the dumb ones) that is true but I have accomplished more with Joy by creative training rather then drilling. It always makes me sad to see someone asking the horse in the same way over and over again, with no progress and both horse and rider getting more and more frustrated, I've been there and it sucks.

Part of the cornerstones of good training (or teaching) is being able to explain something in a different or new way. For instance I had a really hard time convincing Joy to canter when I first started her under saddle, I did the usual working on the lungeline and perfecting walk to trot while being ridden but for canter she would get excited and bunchy. So I took her on the trail and started giving the cues while trotting up a hill or over some fallen saplings, once she understood how to shift her weight back with a rider then it was easy for her when we tried again in the arena, and not a big deal.

I wish more people understood how to train smarter rather then harder and listened to their horses, that's how you get a good partnership. But it is a good reminder for anyone to pay attention to small steps since that's what really moves you along. Especially if you are super duper impatient awesome like me.

It's overcast so I writes lots while eating Drunken Noodles.

Trail rode Joy, she was a good but a little hot since she hasn't been out in a few days due to weather and life.We cut through the woods and she was all "Now we canter fast and jump things"  it makes me sad that I am getting to be a less effective rider, mainly because when she would get strong before I would engage my core and sit up deep in the saddle this would make her shorten her frame and I could give a strong half half and no more run away pony. Now my belly is in the way, my balance is off and I just feel like I am bracing on her mouth.So I am seriously thinking about sticking to walking (with a little trot) trail rides especially after having my boobs go bounce bounce and baby go bounce bounce whenever we picked up any speed, it was uncomfortable.

Last night was so cold and windy that I had to put hay in the shelter or it would have all blown away! Today is chilly in that snow is coming way. I guess it is November so can't complain to much, we got more of a Autumn then I thought we would.

On a positive note, Joy seems to be doing well on the TC Senior, it is quite low starch and so far hasn't been making her weird. She isn't getting a lot however, only around a pound per day, honestly doesn't need a lot, we don't need a pudgy pony. Poppy has gained some weight which I am pleased about, she looks nice as does Baby. I hope Poppy puts on some more muscle when she is in work but since she is only three I am figuring she is still growing. Hoping to start her lightly under saddle next spring.

Good news is I am at 20 weeks and going for the ultrasound tomorrow, and Joe can come :) It was looking like he would miss it due to work but he is able to make it after all. I wouldn't have gone alone since my dear friend Melissa, would have braved getting up early to come with me even though she thinks babies are weird. I had an appointment with my midwife yesterday (who is really wonderful) and got to hear baby heartbeat, everything seems to be going well.

Surprisingly I don't mind being pregnant, by the end I will likely be huge and sick of being huge and waiting for baby. But right now things are good and I don't see why so many people make a huge deal about it. Yes, I am more sleepy, sometimes I don't feel good, there are parts that are really unpleasant and parts that are amazing. But I don't get why people complain about how horrible and inconvenient it is, especially when they got knocked up on purpose.

I haven't talked much about it on here (since I think it is tacky) but we have had friends living with us for the past four months and they have to move out soon or I will lose my mind. I had a little breakdown two weeks ago and told them they have to move out by this coming weekend, I hope for the sake of the friendship they are taking me seriously.  They are "looking" for a house and I feel I have been very patient but we don't have room for three extra people. I resent being expected to take care of the household chores and cooking for everyone, I also take issue with them being really messy and not helping out with the bills. I miss having privacy, space and the messy being my messy. So until they are gone I have been refusing to do any cleaning (except occasionally dishes) the house is totally trashed and I am just going to try to ignore it until they go away.

anyway enough bitching, got thing to do, like play with Luna :)

Bridle bridle bridle

I am completely in love with the Micklem Bridle, I was considering one for Joy last year but didn't find out much about it and ended up going with the Silverleaf, which I have been happy with, it is a nice bridle (keep meaning to do a review, whoops) The Silverleaf has gone up since I got it but at the time it was quite a bit cheaper then the Micklem and I was having second thoughts about the different design. Recently I have been reading up on it after stumbling across a review on it and I really think Joy might be more comfortable and happy in it. She is always shaking her head, and itching it, she used to be terrible when I rode in her old bridle, slightly better in the silverleaf but still really fussy about it. I kind of chalked it to her being impatient and fussy but now I am starting to wonder. The Micklem looks funny because it is proportioned differently to keep from putting pressure on nerve endings on the face.

Almost got Joy to the river the other day, didn't quite make it. I just don't have the energy to gallop up alllllllll the hills and didn't want to take the time to walk (and fight about walking up allll the hills) I'm not as pathetically sleepy as I was in the first trimester but I just don't have the energy to ride really hard, which is a total bummer and kind of depressing, So anyway I am very happy I decided not to spend money on competing any more this year and just work on getting my silly hot mare balanced.

I have been hugely depressed over not having a good place to ride, it is so frustrating to have a mental image of what you want to work on, try to fir it into reality and have it not work. I need to be doing supplying exercises with Joy, I need a basic flat fenced in place to do it, I need it not to suck weather wise. I don't have it and it makes me dislike everyone who does. Joe has promised to help me put up a basic ring but it is finding the time and money to do it.

We have other people living with us still, while they are looking for a house. But it has been three months and I have despaired of them ever leaving. It is not that I am not fond of them, they are great people but I am sick of not having any space, any privacy and always having people around. The house is always trashed and I am refusing to do any housework, soon I will begin refusing to cook for everyone (every flippin night) because I am not a fucking  house elf.

So I have to go make Jam, sulk sulk sulk. and likely should put some proper clothes on before Joe gets home, but my jammies are very comfortable.

looks like i get my indian summer after all

The weather is glorious and I have a cold. Not awful enough to spend the day in bed but bad enough to put the damper on my enthusiasm to do things.

The weather last week was terrible and since HiT was here I had to trail ride in the pouring rain a couple times. HiT has gone home, I got her owner out on some confidence building rides, got the mare much fitter and got her trailer loading nicely. Then I got paid, overall it was very good. I had some interesting conversations with the owner about horses and training since I am not a fan of most natural horsemanship gimmicks.She was surprised that I could start a young horse in a safe and compassionate way without following any natural horsemanship gurus. To be honest good horse trainers have been around for centuries and most of the techniques these people are selling have been in use for generations.

I've decided not to compete again this year, since I am not entirely sure of how I will be feeling and would hate to pay a lot and then not feel comfortable jumping. I am going to put the money towards lessons instead. Will try and get some jumping lessons in soon before I switch to flatwork in a couple weeks. Joy will definitely benefit from lots of dressage and lunging so I am not feeling at all restricted.  Took Joy out on a fast ride last night since whenever I rode her last week it was as a guide for HiT's owner and we had to mostly walk, it was good for Joy to stretch out over the hills and be able to enjoy some speed. The weather is supposed to be glorious for a bit so I plan on taking her to the river one more time before Fall kicks in again.

Sadie has been having some peeing issues, think she might have a slight UTI, so I've been dosing her with apple cider vinegar and yogurt, which must be terrible because the poor dog won't touch it without a generous amount of cat food mixed in. It seems to be helping. She has been getting large amounts of people food recently due to our roommate's toddler and it seems to be adversely affecting her, she is also all dandruffy and itchy.

Had Joe take some belly pics last night, I think I just look a little chubby instead of preggo.

baby belly at 14 weeks

stupid grin, lol

so going to ride, do a little lunging, deburr ponehs again (dunno where they are finding the beastly things), and clean bunny cages.

Cranky day

Tried to register Poppy, apparently would be $250. to change her name, which is a bummer since her registered name sucks. I can't find my folder with the registration papers anyway and the Arab horse association won't let me update my membership because my email isn't right or somesuch. I thought about registering her as  National Show horse but due to her age it would be $500. to do it, so I am annoyed with the whole thing.

Supposed to take HiT's owner out on a trailride today, she hasn't called back so I don't know if I should wait to ride her or just ride her while it isn't raining. It has been rainy rainy lately, HiT was not pleased about going out in the pouring rain yesterday. otherwise she is doing good, trailer loading reliably and riding nice on the trails.

Tried the Chambon on Joy on Sunday, was very cool, I see why you wouldn't want to use it on a horse that was prone to falling on the forehand since it definitely shifts the weight down and forward but it was super effective in encouraging my high headed mare to drop her neck and relax forward. I am going to try using it  every couple of days to improve her muscling on topline. Once HiT is gone I will have my arena space back, until then I have to be content with lunging and trailriding. Her neck really is her biggest conformation flaw since it is so upright, coupled with the Arabian desire to look at everything and go all flatback and all leg moving when excited.What she needs is steady dressage work so I guess it is a good thing that I am going to be grounded from jumping and galloping soon.

I found the most lovely looking TB gelding, he is gorgeous and I have to stop looking at him since I can't afford to buy another horse even though he is off the track and not super expensive. He looks like he would make a nice jumper. Problem with not being wealthy and into horses is you can't buy the super nice horses to make yourself look good, you have to ride a client's nice horse or buy a cheap prospect with potential and bring them along. I do wish I had the money for him though since it would be good for him to have the winter off to adjust to being a horse before light work next spring when I am back in the saddle. Being broke sucks.

Going to work Joy and Poppy after lunch and then make some jam unless I get a call from HiT's owner.

baby and me

I've been thinking a lot about riding and pregnancy lately, it is a somewhat controversial topic but I have decided to keep riding until I start getting uncomfortable or unbalanced. Planning to stick to just Joy, no jumping just  flat work and walking trail rides soon, although I would love to get miss Joy to one last mini horse trail in the second weekend of October but I am going to wait and see closer to the date. I feel comfortable with my decision to keep riding as long as I can since I am a secure rider and will be riding a horse I am comfortable on.

I am currently12 weeks barely showing (looks like a food baby!). My balance isn't changed and my energy levels are better then early in the first trimester, although not as high as pre-baby. The biggest risk of handling horses while preggo is getting kicked so I am sticking to handling my horses who I know their behavoir quirks and feel comfortable handling.

I think it is a really personal decision and a lot depends on your skill level, awareness of your animals and comfort level.

There is a baby in there!

The baby has a heartbeat, which is pretty cool. Dr appointment went okay, got to have lots of poking around in my girly bits and so far everything is normal. Nurse midwives were nice but I felt slightly guilty about forgetting to use deodorant, I showered yesterday (and we have hot water again, yay!) but I rode yesterday afternoon and forgot to use deodorant this morning when I was rushing out the door, so I stank. Ultrasound in November, which I'm hoping Joe can come to,that would be sweet.

There are guys Joe knows from hockey picking up wood from the horse paddock, they really pissed me off when they first got here and while I am glad they are picking up wood, I wish they would go away. He gave me attitude when I pulled up and was told they were here for the wood and I said he would have to wait until I got the horses sorted out.

I really dislike riding gaited horses, does that make me weird? I took HiT out on the two mile loop yesterday, she was excellent. She is so out of shape though and really can't handle much, I would say she a good 100 pounds overweight, All cresty and bulgy. Other then a couple spooks and not standing still for mounting she did fine for her first time out in ages. She doesn't look like a Tennessee Walker,she looks like a Morgan or Quarter cross but her gait is comfy I guess. Gaited horses are weird, everyone like them since they are smooth but give me a regular horse any day, I know how to post. With a gaited horse I feel like the back and front halves are totally disjointed and crooked and like there is a hinge right at the girth, I also feel behind the motion in a weird chair seat.

I am going to head out again with her this afternoon,  Since her owner primarily trail rides I want to make sure she is really confident. I think I will take Joy out after as she needs to be fitted up a bit, I finally got the Chambon so I am excited to try it on her and see if it makes a difference with her neck position. Gonna have to punch holes in it though first, she is so teensy.

Gosh, I need to do pilates and take a bath, my back is tight. ok horses first.

slightly less sick.

I can breathe a little now and almost smell things, amazing! I have also done something besides sleep all day I also have slightly more energy which is a good thing. I got sooooo behind last week after being gone for four days and then getting sick for five.Horses have been severely neglected to the point where they are going feral and have spiky burr hair. I have some serious detangling and cookie feeding time ahead of me today. Joy has stopped coming to the fence when I throw the hay over, choosing instead to glare at me from a far, probably because she feels ignored, she is touchy like that. If Joy doesn't get enough attention/cookies/brushing and general adoration then she gets very aloof.

I really hope to ride today and work on getting poneh a bit fitter, I really want to take some lessons soon and would love to do another event but cashey money is really tight and will have to see what will work financially. Especially since I have to buy hay for the winter soon. I am going to work her like we will show again this summer and if it doesn't happen then she will at least be that much further in her fitness and training.

it is hot!

Worked Red Mare today, I think her name is Poppy, should start calling her that. I have been working on her feet and they look way better, still need improvement however. She does pretty well if I give her a bucket of grain and then file, she doesn't tie and I realized I need a better place to tie so I am going to try and set something up this weekend yesterday she went down on both knees when I was working on her feet because she tried to stomp at a fly, she was very puzzled how she got that way but didn't get upset, it was funny!. I lunged her today and worked on voice commands, I wish I had a proper round pen and could work on getting her to come to meat the end, she did well on the commands though, sorta over reactive and not sure where her body is which is normal because she is young.

Lunged Joy today with sidereins,she did beautifully, much more balanced and supple. She is really getting the submission to the bit concept. Still would like to see her shifting her weight onto her hindquarters and relaxing her back though, I guess it is all a process.I rode her on the trails yesterday, did the two mile loop. She started out kinda hot and distracted but by the end was going nicely, she certainly has a lot of stamina though.

In which I post pictures of riding and helpful comments like "look up and stop making that stupid face"

Since I convinced my husband to take pictures last night of me riding in my new arena (don't get excited, it's just t-posts and tape, but it is weed whipped :) I have decided to start posting some pictures at the first of every month, for progress noting and critiquing.

It was a very nice ride, she was fairly relaxed and happy to work, despite the hay guy cutting in the back field and my diabolical plan to keep Baby Horse out of the arena failing. Worked a lot on transitions,circles and balance, she feels stiff right now. It is great to feel her relax and soften though, a great exercise for her is the constant circle, where we put in a ten meter circle go on the track for a few strides and put another one in, and repeat. If I really work on keeping my outside rein steady and give with my inside, and add a few little half halts she will soften nicely.

Overall I am happy with the pictures, I know my weak areas and the things Joy needs to improve in. I am not happy with the position the saddle is putting me in though, I am going to try a different pad and see if that improves it, I really feel I just need to bite the bullet and get her professionally fitted.

happy with her here,she is moving forward nicely

My leg is to far forward and I need  bend in my elbows.

Look up! and close your fingers

I would like to see her shifting more weight on her hind

Canter, upper body to far forward.

And in case you were wondering this is what an explodey bottle looks like.

I swear my brain has fallen out, day before yesterday I put a bottle of water in the freezer to cool it down for drinking fast, night before last we heard a weird popping sound and I couldn't figure out what it was, I just opened the freezer to get a Popsicle and there are glass shards form the Perrier bottle all over the freezer. I wouldn't be so hard on myself except I have been doing this shit all week, I'll be lucky if I don't burn the house down. 

So this is us now

 And this was us last year about the same time

So definitely an improvement there.
Except I think I look pudgier, but at least I am not throwing away contact. But time to start running again and try to convince my metabolism to do something rather then crawl around. Although to be perfectly honest I haven't done much in the way of dedicated exercise in awhile, unless sex counts.

 Now I need to go find some breakfast,since I have been neglecting feeding myself in favor of my blog, also going to take some ibuprofen and vitamin c, since all that weed whipping yesterday killed my shoulders and my allergies are crazy.

Rainy rainy rain

Dear Rain,
Please go away, come again another day, I want to go outside and paint.
Love, Ruth

Eventually the weather might get nice and I can do things outside without getting drenched! It has been a weird spring, either cold and rainy or hot and humid with little in between. I have painting fantasies but I have to wait until we get some dry days. We just helped put the garden in yesterday, it was good fun playing in the dirt and I am excited to have fresh veggies again.

 Went to an event yesterday and got to be a horse show mom for a friend, it was good fun. Also helpful experience to see an event in action, honestly not much different then the shows I am used to, just more spread out and you have to keep good track of the time since there isn't one central arena. I feel Joy and I will be ready for our eventing debut soon. Baxter (Joy's boyfriend) was a good boy so I fed him lots of cookies, it was a very important part of my horse show slave girl duties. It is so nice to see the horses there loving their jobs. A horse got loose and ran around like mad before zooming off across the fields! I have never seen a loose horse behave like that and just take off away from their buddies and the people, I don't know when they caught him but he was at a dead gallop across the corn and hay fields.

 My babies are coming on Wednesday and Thursday, We have the coop fairly ready but I would like to get everything totally set well in advance in case of disaster. Going to be getting 87 chickies! Likely will love them for the first week and then get over it.

Rode Joy on Saturday, she was awesome, had a great conditioning trail ride in the rain. SO nice to feel her so forward and balanced, after I set my proper arena up I hope to work on some good solid dressage stuff. I am hoping to convince people to come ride with me,can't wait to take the horses swimming in the river again.

bad Ruth, stop looking at TBs! no more ponehs for you!

Ok, stuffs to do!

I'm Famous! on the interweb that is.

Hurray for gorgeous weather! So going to enjoy riding today,

I just got a cool book about working horses on the ground, lunging, double lunging and advanced ground driving. So cool! It inspired me to lunge Joy last night and she was primarily good, she did hit her limit about half way through, get frustrated and take off at a mad canter around and around completely ignoring me. When she was younger I used to call it "getting her canter button stuck" since she will go around and around completely tuning you out, I used to get annoyed at her when I was free lunging her in the round pen because you could be standing there completely ignoring her and she would just whip around until she was drenched. It seems to happen when she gets frustrated or annoyed, she isn't the type of horse with huge amounts of patience and running her until she gets tired isn't a valid option since it gets her more and more wound up so it is much better to give her something else to focus on.

I guess it falls under the heading of preventing frustration before it happens, she can be wonderfully willing and obedient but if she feels overwhelmed or upset then she gets wound up, and chaos ensues. That is one of the primary reasons I try to train smarter and not harder, if I can head a temper tantrum off at the pass instead of pushing her past her point of endurance then it is a more useful and productive training session, I don't know why everyone doesn't train like that, it just makes sense. She doesn't like being off balance, I was asking her to do canter to trot transitions and she was having trouble getting her hind legs under her on the circle so she got mad and started trying to gallop and buck, I took her down to trot and then walk on a small circle until she calmed down and then we tried it again for a short distance and she was fine.

Joy has been kinda cranky lately, she is out of shape and I am slowly working on getting her fit. She has a small abscessy bump on her chin. Apparently this is the spring to get weird injuries and bumps, I would like to be done with that now, kthnxbai

So basically first I have to drive into town and buy dog food, not really excited about it, I would say on a scale of one to ten my motivation is about three, three is a nice number. I do love my dogs though and I guess I will buy them sustenance.

In other news I am famous! a posting on bunny rearing that I put on the horse forum to help people who were finding sad wild babies is now on it's own website on Angora Rabbits, how cool is that!
You can read it in all its glory here: Dangerbunnygirl's Guide to Raising Orphan Rabbits The site looks like it will be pretty awesome too and twenty people have read it, although maybe just twenty people who feel sorry for me but still twenty! I'll take what I can get, even if it's a pity read.

Unfortunately (or fortunately depending on how you look at it) most of the babies are looking to be males, so if I am going to keep more then Miss Siamese (the lone girl) Joe is going to have to make more cages since the boys will not generally live together happily. I was hoping one of the three whites would be a girl, I have one white (Violet) from the last litter and while she is nice she seems to have more of a cottony fiber then I was aiming for. I really loved Rosie's wool and was really hoping for one of the babies to be female with similar fur. I guess if one of the white boys has kickass fur then maybe I will have him neutered and keep him with Cadbury (my brown male from last litter with great fur) I am going to need to start advertising some soon, I hate selling them, I get too attached! Little grey is going to one of my favorite people and he will have a wonderful life with her. I think the rest should be house buns with people who will love them.

I just got done riding and I wanted to write this before I forget.

We had a fairly productive ride but with a major battle. She seems to like her new saddle and was excellent for tacking up (generally she wiggles a lot and acts girthy) so that was a big win. We went up the road on a long rein and went to the left and up the big hill, it is a dirt road without much traffic, we did a big canter up the hill and stretchy walk down the other side. On the way back up the long side of the hill I asked for a little leg yield to the left and she just shut down, first bracing off my leg and the when I pushed her she started doing the really annoying spinning, almost rearing, backing thing she does when she is pissy. I don't know if she is sore on the side or it is just harder for her. After a couple tries I ended up getting off and asking from the ground, mounted up and she did a really nice one to the right but was still being pissy to the left, I got a couple good steps and called it good.

I rode her in the field a bit and she was being really wound up and hot, did a lot of circles at the trot and asked her to soften to the inside and stretch and got some nicer ones. Then we went in to the arena and schooled over the cavalettis which I had tricked out into scary looking jumps (blankets over them, buckets in front, ect.) to my surprise she was excellent even though she was keyed up. We jumped them a couple times then we walked up the road the other way to cool out, did a little leg yielding and she was better, less resistant. I am not going to try and"fix" anything, because that doesn't work for her, what works is improving her obedience, submission to the bit and continuing to ask her in non confrontational way, forcing or dwelling on it won't help. But I will note it as a weak spot and continue improving on it. In most ways I am glad she is my horse, sometimes she is a pain though.

Joy is not an easy horse, she may look sweet and she is very affectionate for a mare but she has a stubborn streak a mile long, generally she is really good but when I engage that stubbornness watch out! The key is not to engage it, sometimes it is really annoying when she decides she has forgotten completely how to back (has happened twice) and we have to have an argument over it, she is getting better and more relaxed so I think there is hope.

Joy's Coggins came today! and the ride times should be posted tomorrow. So we should be moving forward. Now I am just worried she will hurt herself or come up lame or something, she rarely gets injured but it always seems to happen right before an event. So I submit this prayer.

Dear Horse Gods,
Please keep Joy healthy, happy and sound for our eventing clinic.
Thank you,
love Ruth