Q: What do you do if your horse starts bucking?
A: Raise your right arm.
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Relationship 101: Rule #1
"My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends." John 15: 12-13
My thirteen year old son's aunt was graduating from college one Thursday evening and I had given him the choice to go with us to help her celebrate or to stay home. He was busy fixing up his room in hopes of getting a new computer over the weekend. He told me he was having a hard time deciding whether he wanted to go and help her celebrate or stay home and finish his project. He decided to stay home. "There are no do-overs," I said, "She will only graduate once."
I got ready to leave and when I stopped by my son's room to tell him goodbye he jumped up and told me he was going with me. "I wasn't going but when you said there were no do-overs I realized my room project would still be here tomorrow but I could never go to her graduation again."
The first thing to emphasize on any study about relationships is that relationships take time. "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends." You have to give up time to yourself to make time for others even when it is something you'd rather not do. Sometimes just being with a friend is what they need. Maybe you sit quietly while they sleep in a hospital room or you sit in the audience at a service or program where all you give to them is a hug in a receiving line or a wave from a distance giving them only the fact that you showed up. How much you give will determine the depth of your commitment to the relationship.
When my late husband was in the hospital I got a lot of phone calls from friends wanting updates and sending their best wishes but my best friend sat with me in the emergency room all night. She laid down her life for me so I would not have to go through the night alone. It wasn't comfortable. We slept in waiting room chairs. It certainly wasn't fun. I didn't feel like talking or joking or playing card games. I am sure she had a million tasks she put off to be there for me. But I can not imagine going through that without her there.
My friend and I have always been good about dropping our lives to reach out to each other in crisis but as mothers of four kids trying to find time to enjoy each others company was more of a challenge. It is important to lay down our lives for each other in crisis as well as time to build the relationship in good times. When you need a helping hand moving, or a shoulder to lean on, or child picked up during your work day, a friend lays down their life and jumps in to help. Friends help celebrate the milestones and hang out in the quiet times, too.
Rule #1 about relationships; Be there! Show up for the crises and the celebrations.
My thirteen year old son's aunt was graduating from college one Thursday evening and I had given him the choice to go with us to help her celebrate or to stay home. He was busy fixing up his room in hopes of getting a new computer over the weekend. He told me he was having a hard time deciding whether he wanted to go and help her celebrate or stay home and finish his project. He decided to stay home. "There are no do-overs," I said, "She will only graduate once."
I got ready to leave and when I stopped by my son's room to tell him goodbye he jumped up and told me he was going with me. "I wasn't going but when you said there were no do-overs I realized my room project would still be here tomorrow but I could never go to her graduation again."
The first thing to emphasize on any study about relationships is that relationships take time. "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends." You have to give up time to yourself to make time for others even when it is something you'd rather not do. Sometimes just being with a friend is what they need. Maybe you sit quietly while they sleep in a hospital room or you sit in the audience at a service or program where all you give to them is a hug in a receiving line or a wave from a distance giving them only the fact that you showed up. How much you give will determine the depth of your commitment to the relationship.
When my late husband was in the hospital I got a lot of phone calls from friends wanting updates and sending their best wishes but my best friend sat with me in the emergency room all night. She laid down her life for me so I would not have to go through the night alone. It wasn't comfortable. We slept in waiting room chairs. It certainly wasn't fun. I didn't feel like talking or joking or playing card games. I am sure she had a million tasks she put off to be there for me. But I can not imagine going through that without her there.
My friend and I have always been good about dropping our lives to reach out to each other in crisis but as mothers of four kids trying to find time to enjoy each others company was more of a challenge. It is important to lay down our lives for each other in crisis as well as time to build the relationship in good times. When you need a helping hand moving, or a shoulder to lean on, or child picked up during your work day, a friend lays down their life and jumps in to help. Friends help celebrate the milestones and hang out in the quiet times, too.
Rule #1 about relationships; Be there! Show up for the crises and the celebrations.
Monday, May 09, 2011
My Riding Journal- May 9, 2011
The best move I ever made was to change my regular schedule-- instead of riding after all my work was done I decided to ride first, then ranch work. Amazing how much I can accomplish after a ride and actually get my ride in because I am not too exhausted to ride. Thus, got a nice ride in today during the cool of the morning on my grand-horse, Apache. Our first ever ride, went well. I had heard he can be a little stubborn and I did have to use my encouraging stick to keep our transition smooth but he was amazingly willing to try to figure out what I wanted.
I made our first ride short and sweet. We worked on walk-trot transitions and once he got his balance and realized I meant it he kept quite steady. Additionally, my goal was tempo. He seemed very concerned about the tall grass and the dog playing nearby but relaxed when I counted cadence at both the walk and the trot. Eventually, he relaxed and kept an even tempo when I didn't count out loud.
Our transitions, which were quite rough at first, became smooth and more balanced as we practiced on the short sides. Tracking left I would prepare him with a little jiggle just before M, ask at M, and up my phases until I got a trot. At first he balked, stepping up into the trot on cue but only taking a step or two and then acting as if he crashed into a wall (I assume it was the bit he was fighting with). Not sure if he was used to riding with close contact on the bit. I practiced a few times giving him the reins and letting him move forward until he was comfortable with a little more contact during the transition. With a little encouragement from the crop, we began getting transitions on cue, with a steady tempo, and a continuous trot along the short sides until I asked for a walk at H. Repeating again preparing with the jiggle at K, asking at K, and on this side a little reminder at the gate, A, to keep him from stopping at the gate. Sometimes a little more encouragement at the quarter-line to get him to continue the trot around the corner until I asked him to walk at F. Of course, we repeated the exercise tracking right: preparing just before F and H, asking at F and H, and transitioning to the walk at M and K.
The trot to walk transitions were a little troublesome although we had several good ones. Many of them were before I asked or taking too long to respond. I suppose I need to use a little more rein but then he would do a dead stop. Which by the way his walk down the centerline to a halt at X, was very nice, on cue and fairly straight.
Thoughts for next time: work more on the walk-trot transitions and trot-walk transitions. Continue working on steady, tempo at both gaits and work on straight lines and adding circles to practice the bend. Apache needs a lot of saddle time to build up his balance. He was tripping all over the place and losing his balance and stumbling. I don't think it is from his foot because I see him playing and having no problem in the pasture. My guess is he is just not used to carrying a rider and needs to build up some new muscles and balance. One reason I'll keep our rides short this week.
INTRO OBJECTIVES (USDF):
I made our first ride short and sweet. We worked on walk-trot transitions and once he got his balance and realized I meant it he kept quite steady. Additionally, my goal was tempo. He seemed very concerned about the tall grass and the dog playing nearby but relaxed when I counted cadence at both the walk and the trot. Eventually, he relaxed and kept an even tempo when I didn't count out loud.
Our transitions, which were quite rough at first, became smooth and more balanced as we practiced on the short sides. Tracking left I would prepare him with a little jiggle just before M, ask at M, and up my phases until I got a trot. At first he balked, stepping up into the trot on cue but only taking a step or two and then acting as if he crashed into a wall (I assume it was the bit he was fighting with). Not sure if he was used to riding with close contact on the bit. I practiced a few times giving him the reins and letting him move forward until he was comfortable with a little more contact during the transition. With a little encouragement from the crop, we began getting transitions on cue, with a steady tempo, and a continuous trot along the short sides until I asked for a walk at H. Repeating again preparing with the jiggle at K, asking at K, and on this side a little reminder at the gate, A, to keep him from stopping at the gate. Sometimes a little more encouragement at the quarter-line to get him to continue the trot around the corner until I asked him to walk at F. Of course, we repeated the exercise tracking right: preparing just before F and H, asking at F and H, and transitioning to the walk at M and K.
The trot to walk transitions were a little troublesome although we had several good ones. Many of them were before I asked or taking too long to respond. I suppose I need to use a little more rein but then he would do a dead stop. Which by the way his walk down the centerline to a halt at X, was very nice, on cue and fairly straight.
Thoughts for next time: work more on the walk-trot transitions and trot-walk transitions. Continue working on steady, tempo at both gaits and work on straight lines and adding circles to practice the bend. Apache needs a lot of saddle time to build up his balance. He was tripping all over the place and losing his balance and stumbling. I don't think it is from his foot because I see him playing and having no problem in the pasture. My guess is he is just not used to carrying a rider and needs to build up some new muscles and balance. One reason I'll keep our rides short this week.
INTRO OBJECTIVES (USDF):
- forward with steady tempo in all gaits
- elastic contact with independent hands (light, steady contact except during freewalk)
- correctly balanced seat
- proper geometry of figures
- straightlines on rail and down centerline
- correct bends in corners and circles
- 20m circles @ working trot rising
- 20m circle developing canter in first quarter of circle
- smooth transitions
- working trot rising to halt through walk
- halt to working trot rising
- working trot rising to med walk
- med walk to working trot rising
- med walk to free walk
- free walk to med walk
- working trot rising to canter
- canter to working trot rising
Sunday, May 01, 2011
A Circle of Wagons for You
You can not circle the wagons with just one wagon. Even two wagons can not provide protection from attacks in all directions. If you are not in fellowship with other believers, you are leaving yourself and your family open to attack on all sides.
Who are the travelers in your wagon community that are traveling alongside you. Who is it that you are doing life together with? Are you sharing your resources including gifts and talents with each other? Do you have a strong community that can circle around and provide a barrier for each other in times of attack?
If you are like a lot of us who are traveling down this road too fast, too busy, and too distracted by a string of trivial pursuits you may be saying, "I don't have enough wagons in my group to protect us on all sides." If that is you, then it is time to get out and build up your wagon train again. Building a community of strong friendships and fellowship takes time and effort. For some of us who are not super outgoing socially it can seem like an insurmountable task. A strong community of believers helps minimize attacks and gives you the advantage when you are attacked.
Over the next few posts I am going to offer some ideas on how to go about building up strong relationships and meaningful friendships that can eventually lead to a stronger community that you can do life together with.
Friday, March 04, 2011
My Riding Journal
Even though we have been having a lot of winter weather, we have gotten a lot of riding in. However, I haven't been keeping up with the riding journal. Have been riding at Tally Ho EC under the instruction of Amara Packwood. The first lesson was an impulsion lesson on a almost 17 hand slow to go beginning lesson horse. Trained to stop when his rider is off balance, I spent the whole lesson trying to get a 'go.' Guess I had some balance issues to work out. I did learn how to offer impulsion cues with my legs while posting. Additionally, learned which muscles I use posting that apparently I don't use for anything else.
After that ordeal, I starting riding Sugar. Sugar also is happy to stop on the dime if you are off balance but very senstitive to cues. Unfortunately I do a lot of cueing that I am unaware of. After three weeks of riding Sugar, I have learned to maintain a better seat, keep my shoulders balanced, use my inside leg to keep her on the rail, avoid crossing my reins over the whithers, and to maintain a soft contact. In addition to the continuous implusion cues with my legs. Needless to say my thighs and calfs love me!
This week I continued my work with canter departs from the posting trot. Did not realize that I need to stop posting, sit, and then ask for the canter depart. The trick is to sit with impulsion...LOL! In other words, sit while asking for forward impulsion so that the horse doesn't stop trotting. Then ask with a half halt (which I call a rein jiggle) to prepare the horse to listen for the next cue and then ask for the canter. The ask for canter is outside leg slight behind the girth and inside leg on the girth and check your hands to make sure they are soft then squeeze and let your hands go slightly forward making sure you don't brace against the reins. With Sugar I also have to encourage forward impulsion with a crop. Just a tap on the shoulder immediately after I squeeze usually does the trick. I then transition back to the trot and try to keep the impulsion. Working to keep or regain my balance and actually keep him from cutting the corners with my legs.
My lessons to Opie transition was not as encouraging as I had hoped. Possibly because Opie just came out of the paddock after a long rest and wasn't listening very well at all. I expected to start up where we had left off-- a very positive note on our last ride in January. That didn't happen. It was obvious Opie wanted to be back at the hay bale just slightly barn sour. He even took off on me once when someone opened the arena gate. Our ride back to the barn wasn't much more impressive as he took off and cantered down the hill to the driveway and almost hit my car.
I was much more encouraged after this week's lesson though. I felt I had a great sense of balance, I was able to stay balanced during the posting trot and keep Sugar on the rail with leg cues. The trot to canter transitions went well and I really didn't feel like I was going to come off during the down transtions even if he took a tight corner unexpectedly. I must say I was pleased and as an added bonus... I could still walk the next day.
After that ordeal, I starting riding Sugar. Sugar also is happy to stop on the dime if you are off balance but very senstitive to cues. Unfortunately I do a lot of cueing that I am unaware of. After three weeks of riding Sugar, I have learned to maintain a better seat, keep my shoulders balanced, use my inside leg to keep her on the rail, avoid crossing my reins over the whithers, and to maintain a soft contact. In addition to the continuous implusion cues with my legs. Needless to say my thighs and calfs love me!
This week I continued my work with canter departs from the posting trot. Did not realize that I need to stop posting, sit, and then ask for the canter depart. The trick is to sit with impulsion...LOL! In other words, sit while asking for forward impulsion so that the horse doesn't stop trotting. Then ask with a half halt (which I call a rein jiggle) to prepare the horse to listen for the next cue and then ask for the canter. The ask for canter is outside leg slight behind the girth and inside leg on the girth and check your hands to make sure they are soft then squeeze and let your hands go slightly forward making sure you don't brace against the reins. With Sugar I also have to encourage forward impulsion with a crop. Just a tap on the shoulder immediately after I squeeze usually does the trick. I then transition back to the trot and try to keep the impulsion. Working to keep or regain my balance and actually keep him from cutting the corners with my legs.
My lessons to Opie transition was not as encouraging as I had hoped. Possibly because Opie just came out of the paddock after a long rest and wasn't listening very well at all. I expected to start up where we had left off-- a very positive note on our last ride in January. That didn't happen. It was obvious Opie wanted to be back at the hay bale just slightly barn sour. He even took off on me once when someone opened the arena gate. Our ride back to the barn wasn't much more impressive as he took off and cantered down the hill to the driveway and almost hit my car.
I was much more encouraged after this week's lesson though. I felt I had a great sense of balance, I was able to stay balanced during the posting trot and keep Sugar on the rail with leg cues. The trot to canter transitions went well and I really didn't feel like I was going to come off during the down transtions even if he took a tight corner unexpectedly. I must say I was pleased and as an added bonus... I could still walk the next day.
Sunday, December 19, 2010
December 19, 2010
My Riding Journal- December 19, 2010
Such a great day today. Almost 50 degrees in the middle of December and mostly cloudy turned into very sunny and beautiful. Opie was excited to come out and play. A little fuzzy and I had to add a few holes to his girth...LOL. We both were overdressed for the weather... He in his fuzzies and me in my silkies and a sweatshirt. Didn't take long for both of us to work up a sweat.
Things went as planned with the exception of the neighbor's target shooting but I was successful in keeping Opie busy and paying attention to my requests. A little reassuring him that we were doing well and he relaxed.
First thing on the agenda was to work through the warm-up pattern we're designing for riding school. Worked well for one horse--- we will see how well it will work with six horses in the pattern. Enter on the large track- come in at C and track left to your assigned letter. I used M. Turn right at your letter and halt on the centerline. Opie was a little distracted at the centerline and kept looking back over his shoulder--but otherwise straight. I think he was more worried about the cackling birds in the trees behind us and the gunshot sounds. After a 4 second halt at centerline, the horses ride on at the previous gait and track left and come all the way around to their letter again. Making a left at their letter and halting at the centerline completes the first warm-up segment. The instructor at this point can request the ride to walk-on or trot-on to the track and track right, repeating the pattern as many times as necessary to warm-up properly while correcting as necessary to get everyone in the proper balanced seat and to help with the transition to halt at the centerline practicing straightness. Today I practice the pattern several times with a mix of walk-trot and practicing the halt on the centerline.
Then we moved on to the exercise I wanted to practice from The Right Track
. "Learning the feeling of the half-halt." Opie was little confused during the exercise and it would have been helpful to have some eyes on the ground to help out. The exercise commenced with posting the trot on the track and asking for a walk for 5 steps at A, E, C and B and then returning to the posting trot. The plan was to continue reducing the steps from 5 to 4 to 3 to 2 to 1 until I could just ask for the walk, act like I changed my mind, and then ask for the trot. Well, we did get to the point where I could actually count 5 steps but Opie was a little frustrated and seemed confused at what I wanted from him. A couple times I think we actually were doing piaffes!! That was kind of cool but we sure didn't plan to.
I practiced the first 3/4's of the Intro C pattern at the walk and rising trot. Could not remember the end and did not have a reader. Also practiced the canter depart on both leads. The left lead went very well and we practiced some 20 meter circles at the canter. However, had trouble getting the canter depart on the right lead. So we did a few serpentines at the rising trot and called it a day.
It was a very pleasant ride. NOTE TO SELF: no more graining inside the paddock with four horses. So I'll plan to stop by the farm store and pick up a few more hanging buckets for the paddock. Just to keep things a little safer for my fragile human bones. Berry fights for his bucket or two with a powerful hind kick and that is just too close for comfort.
Jazz was putting a lot more weight on her left foot. I think the bute is also giving her a little more empowerment to fight for top dog. However when all is said and done-- she is a pretty solid third.
Anyway, it was awesome to have this window of opportunity for a spring weather ride in the middle of December. Another Great Winter Ride!!
GOALS for NEXT RIDE:
Such a great day today. Almost 50 degrees in the middle of December and mostly cloudy turned into very sunny and beautiful. Opie was excited to come out and play. A little fuzzy and I had to add a few holes to his girth...LOL. We both were overdressed for the weather... He in his fuzzies and me in my silkies and a sweatshirt. Didn't take long for both of us to work up a sweat.
Things went as planned with the exception of the neighbor's target shooting but I was successful in keeping Opie busy and paying attention to my requests. A little reassuring him that we were doing well and he relaxed.
First thing on the agenda was to work through the warm-up pattern we're designing for riding school. Worked well for one horse--- we will see how well it will work with six horses in the pattern. Enter on the large track- come in at C and track left to your assigned letter. I used M. Turn right at your letter and halt on the centerline. Opie was a little distracted at the centerline and kept looking back over his shoulder--but otherwise straight. I think he was more worried about the cackling birds in the trees behind us and the gunshot sounds. After a 4 second halt at centerline, the horses ride on at the previous gait and track left and come all the way around to their letter again. Making a left at their letter and halting at the centerline completes the first warm-up segment. The instructor at this point can request the ride to walk-on or trot-on to the track and track right, repeating the pattern as many times as necessary to warm-up properly while correcting as necessary to get everyone in the proper balanced seat and to help with the transition to halt at the centerline practicing straightness. Today I practice the pattern several times with a mix of walk-trot and practicing the halt on the centerline.
Then we moved on to the exercise I wanted to practice from The Right Track
. "Learning the feeling of the half-halt." Opie was little confused during the exercise and it would have been helpful to have some eyes on the ground to help out. The exercise commenced with posting the trot on the track and asking for a walk for 5 steps at A, E, C and B and then returning to the posting trot. The plan was to continue reducing the steps from 5 to 4 to 3 to 2 to 1 until I could just ask for the walk, act like I changed my mind, and then ask for the trot. Well, we did get to the point where I could actually count 5 steps but Opie was a little frustrated and seemed confused at what I wanted from him. A couple times I think we actually were doing piaffes!! That was kind of cool but we sure didn't plan to. I practiced the first 3/4's of the Intro C pattern at the walk and rising trot. Could not remember the end and did not have a reader. Also practiced the canter depart on both leads. The left lead went very well and we practiced some 20 meter circles at the canter. However, had trouble getting the canter depart on the right lead. So we did a few serpentines at the rising trot and called it a day.
It was a very pleasant ride. NOTE TO SELF: no more graining inside the paddock with four horses. So I'll plan to stop by the farm store and pick up a few more hanging buckets for the paddock. Just to keep things a little safer for my fragile human bones. Berry fights for his bucket or two with a powerful hind kick and that is just too close for comfort.
Jazz was putting a lot more weight on her left foot. I think the bute is also giving her a little more empowerment to fight for top dog. However when all is said and done-- she is a pretty solid third.
Anyway, it was awesome to have this window of opportunity for a spring weather ride in the middle of December. Another Great Winter Ride!!
GOALS for NEXT RIDE:
- Hopefuly will get a chance to ride the warm up with more than one horse so that we can get a feel for how that works.
- Need to memorize the rest of the Intro tests so that I can practice without a reader.
- The trot to walk and halt transitions are coming a long great. Still need some work on posting with balance and correct seat. I can see why some dressage arenas have the big mirrors. Definitely would have been of value today to ride by and check my seat.
- Get with my riding school partner to practice some of the schooling exercises together so we can present them to the classes in the spring.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
My Riding Journal- November 28, 2010
With temperatures dipping to below 30 degrees last week, it was a pleasant surprise to have a sunny 60 degree day after church to ride in. The wind was a little vicious in the corral tacking up but amazingly enough not so bad on the top tier riding in the arena. Had plan to take a try at Training Level with Opie. Training Level introduces the canter into the test and hey, we had a great canter depart and a canter on a 20 m circle last time.
Warm up went swell, lots of posting and working on the downward transtions to the med. walk. Still need work. Did a little canter work, great departs but not so much going straight in a direction I chose. It was a little difficult to work with all the riders in the arena that the nice break in winter weather brought out to the ranch today. Although other than one near head on collision and one fall, all went well and everyone had a great time. Some may be sore tomorrow but if they are, they need to ride more often.
Due to the inability to get direction at the canter and the crowded arena, I decided to opt out of starting training level today. Did some modifiied work on the introductory tests. The final Introductory A went well with an exception of riding down the rail from M-F. For some reason, Opie wanted to keep his head turned into the center of the arena when and to trail off the rail toward the center. At the canter that was exaggerated and we did a sort of sideways canter down the diagonal.
All in all it was a great ride. I don't know if I had any great insights this ride but I did get some work done. Worked on keeping my legs under me and not over-exaggerating my post. I worked on the downward transitions, picking up the pace at the trot, and slowing down the canter without losing it.
Next ride I need to work on the downward transition to the walk, staying at the pace of the working trot, the canter take off on the right lead and staying straight.
I was so happy being able to get this ride in; not just cause it's winter but also because we have a long to do list that needed our attention. But at the end of this day I feel blessed to have squeezed so much in. Cleaned the house before church; enjoyed a great worship and teaching, picked up the hay rings, took the youngest to a play date, packed my boarding bag, visited my daughter, put out hay bales, had a post-turkey dinner, and spent a few hours in the saddle! What a sweet, sweet, sweet day at the ranch.
Warm up went swell, lots of posting and working on the downward transtions to the med. walk. Still need work. Did a little canter work, great departs but not so much going straight in a direction I chose. It was a little difficult to work with all the riders in the arena that the nice break in winter weather brought out to the ranch today. Although other than one near head on collision and one fall, all went well and everyone had a great time. Some may be sore tomorrow but if they are, they need to ride more often.
Due to the inability to get direction at the canter and the crowded arena, I decided to opt out of starting training level today. Did some modifiied work on the introductory tests. The final Introductory A went well with an exception of riding down the rail from M-F. For some reason, Opie wanted to keep his head turned into the center of the arena when and to trail off the rail toward the center. At the canter that was exaggerated and we did a sort of sideways canter down the diagonal.
All in all it was a great ride. I don't know if I had any great insights this ride but I did get some work done. Worked on keeping my legs under me and not over-exaggerating my post. I worked on the downward transitions, picking up the pace at the trot, and slowing down the canter without losing it.
Next ride I need to work on the downward transition to the walk, staying at the pace of the working trot, the canter take off on the right lead and staying straight.
I was so happy being able to get this ride in; not just cause it's winter but also because we have a long to do list that needed our attention. But at the end of this day I feel blessed to have squeezed so much in. Cleaned the house before church; enjoyed a great worship and teaching, picked up the hay rings, took the youngest to a play date, packed my boarding bag, visited my daughter, put out hay bales, had a post-turkey dinner, and spent a few hours in the saddle! What a sweet, sweet, sweet day at the ranch.
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