Sum Summer

Sharon had an AWESOME lesson on Summer. I didn't get a photo, so I found the closest thing to what it looked like.
Summer is a bit more talented of course, and Sharon had on her hot pink helmet.

BUSY BUSY BUSY!!!

OK here they are....

This is Monday. We had a blast schooling over some of the new cross country jumps at Darenth Farm. Everyone did well, except the tree kept trying to block Katie from the photo. ........Mean old tree.

Check out our new little straightness log wedged between the two trees!

Who had a breakthrough lesson? Alison on Buckshot!!!! They had the most amazing flat ride EVER!!! I am so proud of Alison who has found the perfect connection with Buckshot! Never have I seen him look so good!
Someone has been busy!!!!Mr. Nick Dawson has outdone himself with our new XC fences. We schooled them today and I couldn't be any happier with my students.

Hannah Youngblood and the Amazing Marley looked perfect and even jumped "Nessie" (pictured below) which is Training height. No sweat off their backs!

Hannah Shipley and Buck had a power struggle but Hannah prevailed. She has arrived at the next level of riding, where she is as effective as firm. Speak softly and carry a big whip is the saying I believe. Buck looked great jumping all the fences with classic form, including Nessie!

Annie and Rae continued their work on allowing Rae to use herself, and that she did! Rae looked like a million bucks, and Annie stayed with her beautifully in the air! They jumped everything ( Rae mad Nessie look small).

Katie schooled Riley over all the Beg Novice and Novice fences. This is so amazing considering last year at this time she was just starting back riding! It was a big deal last year at this time to trot rails! Katie rocked out!

Ameriah and Bandit sailed over all the fences. I swear they cleared 5 feet over one of the bigger fences. Bandit is an overachiever and Ameriah does such a great job staying with him in the air!!!

We had the best trail ride EVER!!!!!! I rode the AMAZING Millie (that's us in the photo above) at Morgan Run. The weather was perfect, the horses were all perfect and the company was the best EVER!!!
Millie did drench me in the creek though, pawing up a storm. Everyone got a kick out of it and Katie said I should call this post "Mary screams like a girl".

Tomorrow is the big show day!!!

Saturday brings a busy day with lessons all morning. I will also watch Fred ride Beast before I take her home.

I can't wait for my next lesson with Vanessa, she is going to think I did such a good job with Beast! ;)

Be be

Beast is at dressage boot camp with one of my secret weapons, Fred Weber. She had a fabulous chiropractic and acupuncture session!
Legends next week, we will be feeling good for lessons and loch moy!
Mary Mack

Beasty

Mary Mack

Mary Mack

Um, my student (the one pictured) just said I look like an anorexic rhinoceros. She was in cahoots with the one in sunglasses.

Mary Mack

Em is awesome!

Emily did an amazing job at Waredaca.
I will post video as soon as they are up!
I couldn't be more proud, or hoped she could have ridden any better!
She is on her way!!!!
Jazz ended 2nd in the Tn and Charlie ended 4th in the novice.
Em has stuck to the program, and worked her butt off, and it all came together for her this weekend!

I love her

All amazing photos are by the talented awesome Hannah Youngblood
California Comet was a star!
She was good to catch at 5 am (thank god).
She didn't act a fool at all in the barn by herself.
She loved on me while I braided her and even lowered her head to get her forelock.
Callie scored a 32 in dressage at her first Novice, and finished on that score to earn 3rd place. Yayyyy Callie.
She only bucked once in SJ and once in XC.
She's growing up!!! ;)

Perspective

Everything has to be put in perspective on a daily basis.

I am trying to work on this every day. There are often bumps in the road, things that try to bog me down.

I just let go

They come back, show up when I least expect it, when I least want them to.

I let go again.

If I let go of these bastards enough times...they won't come back.
Fear, indecision, sadness, WORRY.
All wasted emotions. They may provide good companionship for a while, but they are bad friends. They are not to be trusted, they are not to be let in.
They are not to be slept with!

I try to remember that.
All those emotions are guests in my home, and none of which I will invite with me to sleep, eat, or spend time with my family. (Like I said, it is a work in progress)

On a personal note, I would like to take this opportunity to share a thanks with those who mean a lot to me, which chances are, anyone who follows this blog.
This is the upcoming week of my mothers passing, the one year anniversary.
I have chosen to look at this as a positive milestone.
I made it.
Not many things can ever be as awful as the passing of ones mom.
I imagine the first year is the worst, and I look back and am so thankful for those who stood by me.
I take a deep breath now. I know, if I made it through this last year, and managed to progress at work, riding, and life, I am good to go.


If I say this, if I write this, this must be true..............To me...............
I will remember what is truly important, and not get bogged down with negative things or people......
I will continue to transfer any negative energy into the fuel that will allow me to accomplish what I am suppose to.
I will follow the path I am on, and in situations that seem devastating, I will know, there is a reason.
There is always a reason.
If I choose to look at it that way,




This is my favorite quote!


On a much less serious note, I have finally found something to get rid of that persistent stuff that has plagued Beasts feet.
She has had some form of thrush in between her heel bulbs for EVER. Seriously, I think it has always been there.
TOUGH ACTIN TINACTIN. Holllllaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

As another side note, Beasts "left shoulder tension" has not been noted for well over a week.
Ever since Kevin last did her feet, and my obsessive Tinactin spraying. I hear bells chiming and harps playing.

Today Mags and I will be going to WV to teach, then lessons at Darenth, a training ride for Packer and Star Summer, and Em XC schooling.
Callie and Beast are resting their amazing selves.
Tomorrow all the girls will flat, and Sunday Callie does her first Novice!

June 21, 2011 1:56 PM

Alison on Buck

Annie on Rae

Alexa on Josie!

Remarkable days!!!!

Tuesday was AWESOME!!!!

Alexa had a kick a$$ lesson on her mare Josie.
She had a few learning experiences, and they were good ones, and the perfect ones to have the week before an event. She is learning how to put her leg on, but still ride quietly. Also the proper canter for each different question XC.
Two thumbs up!

My mares were awesome Tues, and even better Wed in their jump lessons.

It was wonderful and refreshing (in a butt kicking kind of way) to ride with Stephen again. We talked about stuff, Beasts plans, and got down to business.
Once I got my leg on, things started to get going really well. Then, once I KEPT my leg on (amazing concept) it really came together.
It was great. I made a couple mistakes, but was able to shake it off and learn from it. This is new for me.
I thought of my students a lot . When they say they ARE trying, but I want them to try harder, that's what I had to do today.
I was able to really stay with Beast in the air.
Callie was a gem. She jumped some rather large fences. It was really exciting for me to really feel her use herself. I realize Callie's potential on a whole new level now!

Alison and Annie rocked out at Waredaca Wed pm.
Alison looked amazing jumping Buck. All the hard work in the show jumping paid off. It was very nice to watch it all come together. Alison and Bucks base for the dressage is there. So we will switch our focus to that for a little while. All of the pieces of the puzzle one by one.

Annie was able to go in the ring and get consistently better each time. I was really proud to watch her fell what happened, react properly, and work on holding her position.
It was a super experience as well as really fun!!!

Weekend Wrap Up!!!

Saturday was a day off for my horses.
My three ladies had the best XC school EVER!!!!
We had to be very mindful of the hard ground, but what a great school!
Annie and Rae continue to make leaps and bounds of progress. She really had a moment when her position at the top of Rae's bascule clicked in.
Katie finally stopped being so critical of herself, and rode in "the moment". It all came together then. Katie has all the right instincts, and responses. It was nice to see it come together for her as well.
Julia had a great ride on Princess. A solo trailer trip.....WHO HOOOO, and a lot of really nice canters to her fences!
Julia also had all the pieces fall into place.

Sunday an early morning. 40 minutes of Yoga then Beast tested out our "hill".
At my lesson with Sharon, we talked about fitness, canter sets etc. We are on the look out for a "hill" that takes a minute to get to the top in our fitness canter.
This is to be a back up if the ground is to hard to do full canter sets.
Well, I was pleasantly surprised that my hill at Darenth is 45 seconds corner to corner.
Beast walked for 30, did her hill a few times, then walked for 10.
She got iced, a bath then off to Serra Valley to teach Alexis.

Alexis had a great ride on Packer.
He picked up just where he left off, and looked really happy to be at it again.
His breathing was AMAZING. This horse has had the most insanely awesome response to his allergy shots!!!!!
Alexis wasn't so shabby herself! She held great position over the fences, and did a great job finding her proper canters.
I was done with horses and back home for fathers day by about 11:30

Then off to celebrate fathers day!

Today is a busy afternoon of lessons.

The new health kick is going well. Being a full vegetarian is actually pretty easy.
Mags and I are going to spend some time together before the marathon of horses begins this afternoon.

Go on with your bad self

The weekend is upon us

Whew, what a busy couple days!
Wed was a lesson marathon.
My first lesson was Heather with her horse "Bolter". He is a spotted draft who is very large, with even larger movement!
Bolter is not a fan of backing off the trailer. It took Hunter and I 10 minutes. It's very funny in hindsight. I think the easiest way to get him to back off is to put food in between his front legs so he has to step back to reach it.
Heather did a great job with Bolter, and once he learns where his long legs are, his canter transitions will be much easier! I think the grass ring is in his future.

Next was Breanna, Alison, and Riley. They all did a really good job. Riley was perfecting her accuracy with circles. Both Bre and Alsion showed a lot of improvement in their position.
Then on to Meg, Hunter, Hannah, and Elizabeth.
They all did great. We worked on stride adjustment, of course Hunter could go from like a 8 foot to a 12 foot stride with no problem! Overachiever.
Hannah did an awesome job with our new horse Goose!
Megs and Elizabeth both also showed wonderful accuracy with their lines and approaches!

Then little Rowan went for a trail ride. We sang songs together, mine awful and off pitch, hers made up and on pitch :)

Then the ladies rocked out. We worked on striding and adjustability as well. Alison had some of Buckshots best canter work to date. I got on him for a few minutes and was very impressed with how far he has come!
Annie and I continue to figure out her horse Rae. I like this horse, she keeps me on my toes as an instructor. She try's super hard for her mom, and sometimes those horses are almost harder to ride. There does not leave a whole lot of room for error! Annie does a really good job with her, and Annie takes direction very well.
Katie had more of an "auditing" lesson. Poor Riley had a stiff back, so he did not do a whole lot. We gave him extra love, cookies, and a little bute. He has seemed happy as a clam since!
Thursday AM took me to Walkersville.
Jo had an amazing lesson. Her little mare Misty is such a star.

Nico jumped brilliantly (as always). This horse is so beautiful to watch. It makes my stomach have butterfly's. I understand the men who melt at the sight of a 1956 Ford Thunderbird, or a big awesome tractor, or for Dave-a chocolate sundae.

Then I took Beast and Callie to a lesson with Sharon White.
Both my lessons were amazing.
Super tough exercises, but both mares were wonderful!
Beast was really careful to leave a lot of space between herself and the jump. I am pretty sure I said the lords name in vain multiple times.
The good news is, everyone seems distracted by Beasts efforts, they don't seem to notice me clinging to her, while being less then "tight" in the tack. I don't think Beast will ever go with out a grab strap again! Especially now that the jumps are getting bigger!
Callie was in her sassy mood yesterday. It worked out well though. We are starting to get to a place where I can still ride her despite the mood. She controlled her little self, I just need to keep my a$$ from shooting off to the left when we canter right! Callie expects perfection.
I love both these mares. They have some odd quirky behavior, but it is what makes them so special.
I had a focus breakthrough on Callie. I was able to bring it over today into my flat work and it was great.
Beast walked for 30 minutes prior to a low impact dressage ride. It was the best dressage school I have ever had, or dreamed to have on her. I can't wait to show Vanessa what we have worked on!
Callie hung tuff. She is always a bit wound after a jump school, so we had an easy walk trot day in the grass ring. She had her back up (like in a "I want to buck way"), but after hearing Fred Weber talk about liking the horses a bit wound, I was able to use this bizarre concept to transfer it to a "coming over her back way"!
Summer hacked today. She is so funny.
That's all I have to say about Summer. She is always just a comedian and a pleasure to ride.

So now Maggie is sleeping while I type this blog. I just ordered a pair of more portable ice boots for Beast. Kim and I got talking at "A Bit Better Farm" yesterday. I will take good advice when I hear it. It can't help but to ice Beast after every jump school and gallop.
Her feet are feeling AMAZING due to my AMAZING farrier.
I am so grateful to have so many wonderful people with great input and talent to help my mares and myself along the way.

I will sit down next with a calendar to plan canter sets galore. But first I am thinking I should do some yoga.
I have a headache due to caffeine withdrawal.

I am weaning my self from caffeine.
With Dave's brother staying with us, I have the final push to go full vegetarian (he is a vegetarian) I have only eaten turkey, no red meat or pork for like 10 years. But I am taking it a step farther. Just for a month (to start) I am going to try to be super healthy. "Straight edge"
I already didn't drink much (alcohol) since having Maggie, but stopped completely last winter (it gives me super bad anxiety). So that's already gone.
I quit smoking like 4 years ago (something I still long for when I am done with XC)
so that's gone.
That just leaves meat, caffeine, and being an a$$h@le.

I am going to step up my yoga, but also step up my caloric intake.
We will see. I am hoping to feel more energy, less stress.

If I don't, I may try doubling my caffeine intake. ;)
I have bought some of the meat substitutes. They are actually called "protein". It's a little creepy, but I will be damned if they aren't REALLY tasty!

Anyways, enough about my weird quarter life crisis diet change (I also plan to dye my hair and get another tattoo).

This weekend brings an XC school or two, and not a whole lot else.
Next week is show jumping with Stephen, and the unrecognized at Waredaca.

I'm off now. Take care of yourselves, you only get one.

(that's me, I just look different because the red balloons)

Dear Yoga,
I love you.
Thank you for making me feel sane again.
Thank you for existing on Exercise tv.
It is the only reason we do not get rid of "Xfinity" aka Comcast aka the most crappy service in the world.

I will miss you downward facing dog, and child's pose.
Until we meet again.

more photos from the show...

Alison B on S.S. Buckshot!!!

Holy Crap

(EM on Jazz)


Beast was amazing yesterday at Vanessa's. I get it, I am fully on board with the connection. I am connected.
I also realize I have a lot of core work to do.
Vanessa got on Beast for me, and like Susan did, had a hard time with Beasts canter. Sadly this is not because I am an amazing rider that does a more stellar job then these grand prix ladies. It is because those little ladies have little cores of steel.
Vanessa may be little but holy hell.
It was the best thing I could have ever seen.
I simply do not ask Beast to "sit down". Not like Vanessa does at least. But I get it.

So I got back on, and I did it. I will continue to do it. And then watch out because the Beast will be unstoppable! :)

I went back to the farm and had a insanely good flat ride on Callie and Summer.
Callie was coming over her back so much I didn't know what to do with it.
And Summer comes through her back so muck I feel like a vomit face after I am done with her. Summers new name is abb burner. Or six pack maker.
I seriously can't breathe sometimes after I sit her trot for a few minutes. It's like Jillian Michaels took horse form and figured out a way to show me the most massive series of crunches that could be.

Janet had a super lesson on Sienna.
Then off to walkersville where Val, Hannah, and Em on both horses looked SERIOUSLY AMAZING.
Val's horse is so talented, and Val does a really good job with him.
Hannah is moving on to phase 2 in her jumping. I have to think about her a lot. Both Hannah and her current mare like to jump, have a great eye, but like a slightly longer distance. Just a hair. Grid work.

Emily has two super hero horses. They should have had capes on. Charlie should have had lime green tighty speedo type pants on, complete with a hole for his tail.

Both of her horses are jumping insanely well. Emily has done such a good job sticking with a program and bringing these horses along. I can't wait to see how they do the rest of this year!

Hydrate, Show, and repeat

So all last week, I felt a little "off".
I did have a SUPER ride on Nico (see sales page). I love this horse. He did banks, logs, water, and a "ditch". All without batting a long lashed Nico eye.
I then had an AMAZING lesson on Callie. (Thurs)
And then I didn't drink enough water.
Which caught up to me the next day.(Fri) I didn't make it very far into the day, before having to go home and try not to get sick.
Fortunately, Dave came home early and I slept for like 12 hours.
I felt a bit better for the

DARENTH FARM SHOWWWW!!!!!
As the wonderful day progressed, I chugged gatorade, and kept feeling better!
My sister was able to make it to Maggie's first class, also her first show ever!
I will now flood you with pictures...





Maggie's cute cousins came also and rooted for team Macklin.
Dave represented team M....


Everyone had fun.....



Lots of people rode perfectly...

It was a great day!






I will post more pictures as they come.

Mindless observations on nothing. Then I will post horse stuff

This time of year always gets to me. I always have wanderlust right around June. When I was younger, I would just get into my car and go to Ohio, I was lucky enough to drive cross country from California once.
When I first met Dave he was still in Mi. I would drive up there fairly often, and loved it. I love car trips. Especially by myself. It's a free feeling, and it forces you to think. Observe. Move past the nonsense.
Obviously my life is different now, and I wouldn't change it for anything in the world. I can't just pop off in the car, with a stroller strapped to the hood,but I am obsessively planning vacations for me Dave and Mags.

I am also going through art withdrawal. I have to cut out some time for painting, or gain access to a kiln somehow.

My mind keeps wandering to old funny memories. I miss my close friends from high school, they were such a blast. We were so bad. Everyday, we would walk past the guidance counselors office, open the door, scream our names, pull the shade on the window and slam the door shut. How weird that they never bothered to give us detention. Maybe they thought we were too smart to say our own names?
That wasn't the case.
I miss my best friend Jocelyn. She is in California now. She was in college in Ohio when I was younger, and that's who I would take off and go pick up. She has the same sense of humor as me. She "gets it".
We drove to Montreal once. It was a very bizarre trip. She and I were hell raisers in High school and college. We grew up at Waredaca together. God bless the Butts family, Rob and Gayle for putting up with us.

So many people don't "get it".
Life is so serious and mindless to them.
It makes me sad.
I like having Dave's brother Kellen around. He shares the same sense of humor as Dave and I. I find people like Kellen fascinating. He reminds me so much of my friend Inga. Inga is also a friend I miss and have to catch up with.
I have a few close friends now that share in the same bizarre wonderful sense of humor.
What am I talking about you might wonder?
I'm not really sure but I think it relates to something somehow.
Like this.
.....
As I work harder at climbing up the ladder of the "professional horse person status", I can't help but struggle to keep my priorities in order.
I live in this bizarre world. Part professional athlete, part crazy, part wishing I was independently wealthy, part wishing I didn't require sleep so I could get it all done, and part wondering if I am missing very important family time.
I am vaguely aware of all these things as I pass through the blur every day, driven. DRIVEN.
I never did drugs growing up. However, I think I can imagine what a addict of some hard drug feels like though. If I don't ride for a day, I get all out of sorts. I get cranky, restless, etc.
Dave I am sure, could tell you all about it.
Anyways, to tie this in to the people I miss, and the people I enjoy, I guess it's simple.
B-A-L-A-N-C-E

I have to maintain balance.
I didn't remember how much fun it was to do something like go to the zoo. (We went to the Zoo on Sunday)
Maggie was amazed by everything. Dave was a sarcastic ball of fun, and Kellen was Kellen.
Maggie loves Uncle Kellen, especially at the zoo. He is very tall, so she can see everything. All though, consider yourself warned, mostly we saw "Exhibit closed under construction".
My highlights were...............................................................
the 45 minutes that Kellen stood in line to wait for his AMAZING boca burger.
He looked like he was one of those monks, that can meditate with fly's on them. Kellen does not seem to have a frustration button. He didn't move, just patiently waited. I on the other hand was getting super claustrophobic by the nice French man that kept talking to me. Dave of course happily chatted back, and I was super uncomfortable and wanted to start squealing.

the weird bear cage that had no bear for the longest time, just eaten orange peels everywhere. The bear did later make an apperance, just to pee and look miserable.

and last but not least Maggies face, the whole day.


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