Yum

Thanks Julia!

Mary Mack

My new horse

Just kidding, this is Melissa's horse.

Melissa will also be taking jumping lessons and videographer lessons.

OK Mags and I are going to the store now.

.....

PS,

We get our new footing soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nick and Sharon Dawson are the BEST BEST BEST!

Thanks Julia

I am so excited for the fresh vegetables

Julia gave me!!!!

Just going to sub Vegetable broth for the chicken and add Mozzarella cheese (to mask that that this is the third vegetarian meal I am making for Dave this week)

Recipe: Eggplant Risotto with Tomatoes and Basil

1. 
   
2. 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
3. One 1-pound eggplant, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch dice
4. 3 garlic cloves, minced
5. Salt
6. 4 1/4 cups chicken stock or low-sodium chicken broth
7. 1 small onion, minced
8. 1 pound tomatoes, coarsely chopped
9. 1 cup Arborio rice
10. 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
11. 1/2 cup crumbled ricotta salata (2 ounces)
12. 2 tablespoons freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
13. 1/2 cup julienned basil
14. Freshly ground pepper

1. In a large skillet, heat 3 tablespoons of the olive oil. Add the eggplant and cook over moderately high heat, stirring occasionally, until browned all over, about 10 minutes. Add the garlic, season with salt and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute longer. Remove from the heat.
2. In a medium saucepan, bring the chicken stock to a simmer. In a large saucepan, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Add the onion and cook over moderate heat until softened, about 5 minutes. Add all but 1/4 cup of the chopped tomatoes and cook, stirring, until softened, about 3 minutes. Add the rice and cook, stirring, until thoroughly coated, about 2 minutes.
3. Add 1 cup of the hot chicken stock and cook, stirring, until the stock is nearly absorbed, about 3 minutes. Continue adding the hot stock 1 cup at a time and stirring until it is absorbed between additions. The risotto is done when the rice is al dente and suspended in a creamy liquid, about 25 minutes total.
4. Remove the risotto from the heat. Stir in the butter, then stir in the ricotta salata and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheeses. Stir in the eggplant and basil along with the remaining 1/4 cup of tomatoes. Season with salt and pepper and transfer to bowls. Serve right away.

MAKE AHEAD The eggplant can be cooked through Step 1 and kept at room temperature for up to 4 hours.

Busy days!

Everyone has been doing really well over at Darenth farms!

Beasty did her canters and was trying to run off with me in all three sets. The footing was perfect.

Callie and I practiced what Jimmy and I worked on. She was very happy with me and jumped great.

Straightness is progressing, but she is very bored with anything below 2'11''. She likes the 2'11'' to 3' range.

Princess thinks that every inch counts.

Vanya jumped and has made tremendous progress.

Summer is working on being left in to work, while some of her herd goes out for the night. It's a work in progress.

Her natural abilities continue to amaze me. I become a better rider for just having sat on her.

My new client Melissa brought her horses (Mom and baby) over on Monday, then the baby again on Tuesday for me to jump. Too bad Melissa wouldn't sell her, I am in love with this Hanoverian Tb crossed with sunshine!

Katie's new horse Willis is settling in nicely. Willis is a super nice mover, often not really in the mood so much to canter, and has a gate staring obsession. He is quiet and sweet and continues to learn at a rapid rate.

Kari worked Knick on the flat yesterday. He looked amazing in his prep for Senneca .

All my girls looked amazing this week in lessons.

Hunter is working on Fance pants and her straightness. This mare is such an amazing jumper.

All of our school ponies are coming along with the progress of our amazing students.

Millie and Sienna looked AMAZING last night with Julia and Taylor.

Taylors horse Violet has been foot sore with no shoes on, but team Oyarzo went over and put some shoes on her. She should be ready to rock soon!

Kevin (Oyarzo) also did Beast and Callie yesterday.

They both look amazing.

Callie got pour in pads this cycle. Callie's whole body has really been in a lot of hard work this summer. She has done a good job going along with it all both physically and mentally.

Today is a quiet day, which is good because Maggie is looking a bit under the weather.

I may be catching it, so I think a trip to the store for "Emergen-C" is in order.

The competition horses will walk today (thanks Kari), then tomorrow I will run through my tests with Vanessa.

Tack cleaning and prep for Senneca will hopefully happen for the most part Thursday.

Friday I have no sitter for the great Majella, and a course walk is in order.

This ones for Nancy

Mary Mack

Alison on Lord Knickerbocker

A HUGE CONGRATS!!!!

Congratulations to Katie Cindric on the purchase of Willis!!!

He is all settled in at Darenth with his new friend Packer.

Look forward to hearing exciting updates about Katie and Willis!!!!!

Check it out!

Callie (California Comet) and Vanya (Manzotti Law) were immortalized on the Equiery blog!!!!!

http://equiery.com/sporting/eventing/

Shout Out

These two went on with their bad selves.

A huge shout out to Mr. Bradley himself! He ended 8th out of 26 starters at "In The Fog's" first advanced!!!!
He was also one of only TWO PEOPLE to go clean in show jumping!!!!!

Watching bambi....

Um Bambi is really traumatizing.
Mary Mack

Life now

I just did Yoga on my porch in the rain.

Well obviously I was not in the rain but it is all around me.

I now sit on my porch and write this blog entry.

I often wonder why Yoga and Meditation feel so grounding, insanely relaxing, almost spiritual.

I know I don't often get "deep" in my blogs but I swear this is related to riding.

I also often wonder why riding is not just a sport to me, but a lifestyle.

It may seem (and I am sure it does) so weird to people that do not have horses.

The obsession. The odd way my life and my family's life revolves around these creatures.

It is like yoga, it is like dance, football, golf, karate, painting, singing, music, whatever makes you happy.

It is something that takes you in, makes you forget the shadows.

It forces you to live now.

Isn't that what we are all after, happiness?

Isn't happiness living and truly enjoying the moment? Being a part of something good?

Happiness is a lot of different things to different people and no one should judge, question, or even have a say in someone elses "thing".

If it is good, if it is positive, if it is yours, go for it.

We all have pasts. Choices, circumstances, people, memories that try to come with us, follow us.

Some of those things we bring along by choice because we are not willing to let go. We have had to let go physically of the person, the horse, whatever it may be for us , it would be to hard to let go of the memory.

It is something we keep in ourselves so it can still be with us every day.

Often they are what I think of, as shadows.

You may at this point wonder what the hell I am talking about. I am not really sure myself, but I know this much.....

You can not carry "riding" shadows with you as you ride.

You can not be self critical or over analyze WHILE YOU ARE ACTUALLY IN THE ACT OF RIDING.

When you get off your horse, have at it.

Watch your video, drive home in your truck, call your best horse friend AND PICK IT APART.

Do a little crying, then realize you are a jack ass.

Don't do it in your lesson.

At this point in my blog, I assume most of my students are thinking "is she talking about me?"

"She is so talking about me"

I don't know if I am.....

But I do know I am talking about me.

I had so many little narcissists asking if certain blogs were about them.....

Don't you know by now?

I am talking about it.

All of it.

All of you, but mostly me.

Lets not kid ourselves, mostly me.

Today I walked Beast and Callie for 40 minutes. Then I trotted Beast for 30 minutes.

I forgot my watch so I counted. I swear.

I counted how long it took to trot from one end of the field to the other, then I did it again, then I divided 30 minutes by it.

Then I kept making sure my estimate was correct.

OK you may think LOSER, but it was so relaxing to think of nothing.

I was 100% involved in the task at hand.

Like in my lesson yesterday with Jimmy. When I rode Beast and he said I was not to think. That I was paying him to think. (He also said some other funny things to me)

Well one thing I got from Stephen Bradley is you do exactly what your teacher tells you to do.

I counted to every fence, and looked ahead to the next.

That is why it was perfect.

Riding is a lifestyle for me, and one I am proud of.

I want to live now, look ahead.....but be adaptable at a moments notice.

Things are good right now.

If you have a home to be safe in and company at hand, things are good.

Xc school before the rain started!

Mary Mack

Good Stuff.

My girls went to work with Jimmy today.
There was some chestnut stardom and some honest bay mareness occurring.
Beast was literally perfect.
Callie was great over the novice height, but felt a bit weak behind at the training level height.
She was straight!!!!No right drift!

So I suppose I am not surprised she felt a bit weak. She has to get all those muscles tuned up in the proper positioning now.
Callie will up her hill walking, do grids on the weeks we are not lessoning, and get kisses for the bounces, liverpool oxer, vertical, vertical related distance line, skinnies, corner, that she did so well today.
Both mares acted like gems.

Vanya continues to enjoy his walks, and jumping.
He also continues to strengthen in his dressage schools.

I came back from my busy morning in professional riding land to this.....
A hunter riding a deer.....

and a chicken aboard Sienna.

Keepin me grounded.

I think all the girls had a BLAST this week at Darenths camp.

In other news,

here are the photos I promised, from the amazing Hannah Youngblood...

(pics of Hunter, Courtney, and one of me)

In other news, Em and Hannah were feeling really brave when they set the course for Ems lesson......

A Huge CONGRATS to Katie Cindric and her new horse "WILLIS"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I will be sure to post pictures soon!!!!!

Socks

Socks are not monogamous. They are not like penguins, beavers, bald eagles. They like to be alone.
They infuriate me. I can not keep buying more just to have a matching pair.
Where do they go to be alone?

Mary Mack

daily grind

Maggie got a new friend from Elizabeth

(Don't worry I left the windows cracked so she would have enough air)

Beasty had an awesome chiropractic/acupuncture session!

She has been working her patootie off lately. Staying fit for these higher levels require a lot.

Icing, legends, chiropractic, acupuncture, a really strict fitness schedule with mental breaks and body breaks.

I have been trying to pay attention to her closely and we seem to have found a really good schedule.

I want to do preventative maintenance, and not get carried away.

I had some pretty awesome lessons today.

Hannah Y, Elizabeth, and the rest of Hannah S didn't make the photo.
Also I didn't get a picture of Hunter and Courtney rocking out at Serra Vaalley, but if I get one, I will be sure to post it!!!!

My best friend, husband and best sponsor bought the horses a pretty big gift this week, so a huge thanks to Mr. David Macklin.

You are the best and I am a lucky girl.

Own them. Own you.

The reason for run outs.

The reason for chronic stops.

All result of the rider/owner/human in charge.

The truth hurts.

Horses are not dogs, cars, or people.

They do not want to cuddle on the couch.

They are not equipment that is an irritation if it breaks down.

They are not a friend that decided not to do what you wanted just to upset you.

It's not personal, it never is.

Now I am not saying that I don't think they have worries, happiness, and a lot more. I am the first person to love my horses like little peeps.

What I am saying is we all need to let go of expectations that set us up for failure.

We are our own saboteurs.

Run outs are ALWAYS rider error. There is nothing else to say about that one.

Chronic stops? I firmly believe this is due to poor, or a lack of training.

This one is a little bit more tricky....

Yes you can have a horse go through a phase, or a couple of phases as you climb through the levels. A smart trainer backs off and reapproaches. Thus eliminating a chronic problem.

A horse may be "ditchy" and may always have that in him, rising it's ugly head every now and then. These ARE NOT the horses I am talking about.

Do you see Phillip, Stephen, Sharon ever chronically get eliminated? No.

Because they don't over face their horses relative to their riding ability, and they do their homework.

I choose what level to enter my horse.

If I compete Beginner Novice, does that make me a Beginner Novice rider? No.

So why is it any different for anyone else?

You are not defined by a title.

If I choose to enter my horse at Novice knowing he will be over faced, does that make me a good horseman? ....

I am not even going to answer that one.

So whats better? Going Beginner Novice well, and laying the foundation for a successful move up?

Or, hurrying and going Novice and sabotaging your confidence and your horses confidence?

You may have entered that level, but did you accomplish anything?

Move your horses a long when they are ready. A professional may be able to move horses along, properly, at the light of speed. Because they know how to do it correctly and they are a professional rider.

Don't judge yourself on placings. This is irrational behavior, especially in our sport. There are too many variables you can not control. ....

The dressage judge, and her style/preference.

Your horse may have a rail that is not your fault.

There maybe someone who is simply better!

What you can judge yourself on is success rate on your riding.

Did you ride to the best of your ability?

If the answer is no, it is probably because you were worried about your placing.

Let go.

Who cares, just ride well.

Take care of your horses.

If you buy a horse, it is reliant on you to take good care of it.

I plan to spend the majority of my "horse" money on the vet, shoeing, lessons, then competitions.

Pretty much in that order.

I have an amazing team that keeps my horses happy.

And a happy horse is an important thing.

Do you make good decisions when you plan your ride?

Do you plan your rides?

Do you think about your horses fitness?

It's ok to realize that you don't think about stuff enough, or don't know how. Ask your instructor!

One of my favorite people to ask questions to is Gretchen Butts.

I will basically schedule a lesson just to talk.

If it's a quick question, shoot an email. I have even done that to Jimmy Wofford. Would I ever do it again? No probably not. I want Jimmy to know me as the girl that did well at his lesson, or Fair Hill. Not the creepy girl who stalks him.

No one likes a stalker.

If you are asking your trainer to plan your entire months fitness schedule, do it as part of your lesson.

(Unless you are my student Kari who gets random emails from her busy body trainer (me) planning out months of fitness for the great and powerful Knickerbocker. I can't help myself)

This is a rambling post but what my point is, is this.

Control the variables that you can and let go of the rest.

Don't set yourself up for failure.

THINK.

My mare Beast is weak on the flat.

She will never become a brilliant mover like Callie, BUT I still have variables I control.

I can learn how to make her appear less tense, but I can also do the most accurate test a judge has ever seen.

I can work on my canter. I can work on my gait quality.

My current goal with Beast is to be in the top 60% after dressage (at the Intermediate level).

My goal with Beast is to jump double clean.

My goal on Callie is to receive all 7's and 8's in dressage and to jump double clean.

These are realistic goals.

Summer is a baby. Her goals are to hack, learn about lungeing, bathes, dogs, people, little poles and small crossrails.

Don't assume your horse knows things.

Pay attention.

Just pay attention.

If you feel like you are missing something, you are.

We all are.

Ask a professional! That's what we are here for!

(But not at 9:50 at night on their home phone, professionals often have ornery spouses, children or are asleep by 8pm)

Remember only 10% of life is what happens to you and 90% is how you react to it.

Try not to react like a crazy person, and try to help the 10% be positive.

Theses quotes were too funny not to post...

It matters not whether you win or lose; what matters is whether I win or lose.

Man invented language to satisfy his deep need to complain.

When your dreams turn to dust, it's time to vacuum.

Blue barrel besty for THE BEAST

Mags and I had a good day.

Then I met Dave at his job (he has to work a lot of Saturdays now :( ).
Then off to meet Kari and Alison for my barrel jumping session.
I told them they needed to monitor me to make sure I was not getting obsessive.

Beasty was an angel.

I had Kari and Alison watch me with a critical eye, and worked on my "left lean".
When Beasty would drift in the slightest, I would really focus on using my leg and not my reins. It was glorious.
I heard gospel music.
I may buy her a shiny new trailer as a reward on Tuesday now that I love her again ;).

I really am getting to a good place with all of this....I have been reading an awesome sports psychology book. It talks about how when you push yourself to new levels, you have to create new muscle memory.

It makes such sense when I think of it in a basic way like that.

I really felt Beast progress and have a clear understanding. This allowed me to have a softer consistent contact, allowing her the proper use of her topline through the bounce.

I realize also how important it is for my students to ride with me.

To see what I work on and how I fix it (or screw up).

I used to watch Stephen ride, and still do. I sure as heck watch Sharon W. ride and try to emulate her.

When I rode with long time friend Katie M. in my lesson with Sharon last week, I noticed how much she emulates parts of Kelley Williams (her trainer) riding style. (Katie looked awesome)

Watching can almost help you pick up the way it feels.

So I am going to try to control my obsessive need to take lessons, and do a bit more practicing at home.

My body is in a good place with it's riding at the level I am at. I think I need to practice the areas that I am weak in a bit more at home. That will also probably be helpful to my students needs.

Later in the day, I got to see my first horse Daisy.

I went to Waredaca to help the amazing Margret Rizzo xc school. (Holy crap they looked good!)
While there I got to visit with Miss Daisy. The Easton family has taken such good care of her since they purchased her many years ago.

Another good day after a wonderful Friday night with my besty, Dave.

Who knew a football game could actually be so much fun?!

Inches

One of my students sent this to me.
(There is a few cuss words, so if you are to young to hear those words keep the volume down........so your parents don't hear. Kidding, just don't hear those parts)

Velka Pardubice 2008 - full race

Fascinating

This is where dave and I are right now :)

Mary Mack

And on the fourteenth day they said......

"Let their be an A$$ Kicking!!!!!"
(I haven't had a day off in 14 days)
My goodness Wed was a push.
I had lessons on Beast, Callie and Vanya (Manny) with the great Sharon White.
Beast taught me a life lesson on Wed.
The Be Be star may have been tired from the days before. She may have been adjusting to the change from hackamore to bit. She may have been doing just what her mom said or, she may have felt claustrophobic. She may have just been being a red headed.......
Anyways she did all the exercises perfectly but one.
Single barrel bounce to single barrel. We weren't so straight over the second. We did it over and over and over .....and over.
Sharon said a lot of stuff that stuck and will continue to stick with me forever.
She is turning into on of those people that says things that sound like wise quotes, but it is just facts she has learned....Reality, this reality....My reality I suppose.
"If you do harder levels, you have to work harder."
Duh, in hindsight, this is a given .
We talked about how this is why some people don't do "this". Competing.
The training for this level. For both this level of competition, and also this level of professionalism.
I learned, I let go, I pushed.
..............................................
I restrained myself from beating Beast. Even in the indoor when I took a moment when no one was looking.;0
I am going to make mistakes. I may have hard moments.
BUT
I do not have to have bad days in this sport, there is no such thing unless I VIEW IT THAT WAY.
I learned so much yesterday, I realized many things my body needs to work on.

I was so exhausted after Beast, I genuinely had no worries or stress left in my body for the other two.
Wouldn't you know, they were perfect.
I did EVERYTHING Sharon said to do and it worked. We talked about Callie and Vanya briefly. We both agreed on the same things. It was great.
Vanya tried his little gelding heart out in the big kid group. (Training /Prelim group)
Callie was big, beautiful, relaxed and amazing. She was the good child yesterday.
Beasts add will be on dream horse soon. Kidding.
Just like Callie has days where her hind end wildly leaves the ground, Beast has days where she acts dramatic in her lack of understanding. It is those cheeky moments that make them what they are.... Mares, special, and able to achieve greatness.

I had a breakthrough yesterday. Yesterday was a special day for me. While it may not have seemed that way as my fellow pupils (whose horses did the barrel bounce easily) looked politely away from my tears.
I get, I got it, I am in.
I didn't know if I would be, this far or farther I mean. I really wasn't sure when I had a daughter and my life changed if I would want to do this all the way. To try to go to Rolex, to try to be the best that I can at this crazy sport. To work as hard as I am capable, while maintaining my personal priorities.
I was embarrassed not to do well in front of the people watching.

Hi.. ..here is reality, the people watching don't give a shit, and if they do it's either fleeting, they are commiserating, or (SHOCKER) thinking something supportive. The last being most likely at the farm I was at.

I am letting go of that now. I realize that I am my only competition. No one, and I mean NO ONE could ever be as hard on me or as nasty as I am to my self.
No one could expect or demand as much as I do.

I often wonder how much to share on this blog. Should I portray something? Should I sugar coat it all?
Will that make me seem tougher, better, more able?
Well I guess the more important question is ...then who?
I do not want to portray professionalism, amazing riding, trueness.
I want to be professional.
An amazing rider.
True.


Anything else is too much work. It is what it is, I am what I am.
I had a bad lesson yesterday, and I realize it was amazing.
I am simply obsessed with this sport, and everything about it.
I have the best students that quietly notice I am switching into a very focused place, and know my lack of chattiness is not personal.
I have the best farm with such awesome owners. And let me just tell you I realized I can be a brat. I caught myself staring helplessly yesterday at poor Sharon (not White, Dawson..the owner of my farm Darenth) filling up the trailer tire, HER trailer tire, so that I could take my 3 horses to lessons.
She did this in her brief 30 minutes away from her day of camp and teaching little ones in the sun.

I have the ride on the MOST AMAZING 3 year old WHO JUMPED YESTERDAY AND WAS AMAZING!!!!

There can be no bad days.
I wrote on the internet so it must be true.

So do I want days where I cry, make an ass of myself, make mistakes, and ache.
Yes
Bring it.

And as for that competitor that is always with me, pushing me and saying those audacious things? I am going to make that b!t@h my friend.
She is going to cheer me around Rolex and not tell me to pull or drop my shoulders.
She is going to tell me to sit up with my leg on.

I want to better, I want to achieve. I want to stay on the path that I am on because it is right. I will accept all the things that seem like road blocks as forks in the road. Directing me to where I am suppose to be.

Today I am home until tonight's lessons.
My horses will all be walking.

I will make yoga and cooking Dave something yummy and non-vegetarian for dinner priority.

That's all for now


Let your freak flag fly.

Callie waredaca

Note Vanya's butt in the shot.
Also note besty Katherine snapping shots, who also helped me.
The dog leash as a grap strap?
Perfect. Thanks Rizzo.

The picture above is unrelated. Just so funny......

Alexa Henry is the best!

She was a super AWESOME help on Sunday.

A well oiled machine the whole day was.

Dave was able to help since the Fabry family spent the day with Mags...Love them.

Alexa and Dave were on top of it all.

Alexa is doing awesome with her mare Josie.

Josie is very complicated and Alexa does an awesome job with her. Especially because most of the horses she trains and breaks are Cleavland Bays (big), and her mare Josie is little and catty. And opinionated.

Alexa is tearing it up and becoming multi-talented in all the disciplines that are keeping her super busy.

Thanks Alexa!!!!!

Dave is the best (as many of you know) and he had a busy weekend.

Grandma (mom) Kathy and Grandpa Dave are visiting.

They had an awesome time at a baseball game on Friday night! (Mags and I watched finding Nemo at home and had a sleep over in mama's room....until daddy came home and kicked little Mags out to her crib :)

Then Dave did garage cleaning and helped me do Beasts canters and icing on Sat.

Busy Busy on Sunday.

This morning he got up at 5 cheerfully and went off to work.

I couldn't do any of this with out him, and I appreciate him so much.

Vanya Show jumping

Here he is!!!

What a good boy! Vanya was wonderful in dressage. He earned a 32 in a SUPER competitive division of REALLY nice horses!

What you can't see in the video is the rail that he had.

He definitely won the award for the funniest rail. The entire show jump crew got a big kick out of it, especially Kathy White!

Vanya was just a teeny tiny peeky. so I gave him a little love tap in the air over the terps jump.

I wanted him to be in it to win it.

I PURPOSELY waited until we were in the air so I would not flatten his step and cost a rail. The little bugger kicked the rail. Like kicked out in objection and knocked the rail, after he had already cleared it!

So it cost him 4th place, but he still got a ribbon in 7th!

He rocked that cross country course like it was no body's business!

I call Vanya Manny. He's my little buddy.

Dave walked Vanya all over the farm while I rode Callie so he would get plenty of grazing time. It looked like Dave had a giant new dog. Dave said that Vanya is very pushy.

Callie comet!

I love her!

Callie was perfect all day.

She was a little snuggle bear while I braided, she trailered well, she tacked up well ( I hear).

She was a dream in warm up and perfect in dressage. I went for more expressive movement and she did it for me. It just gets so small in that ring on a big mover! Callie felt much stronger and able to balance in the deeper footing. With the bit more expression (bigger trot) though my connection wavered as she balanced her self. I think the judge would have preferred I played it a little safer and steadier but novice is not the end goal, and Callie learns so much. Vanessa and I have worked so hard on her canters, and it paid off!!!! She got 8's and 7's.

With all the hard dressaging Callie has been doing, we have been working her strength and straightness. The little mama is getting stronger but I think her tooshie might be a little tired. Thus a serious right drift in my sj!!! I thought we had tamed the right drift beast but it reared its head on Sunday in the sj.

She was so excited in the ring and so smart about her foot work.

XC was a BLAST!

Callie was just perfect. She did a new water and a little log into water (holy crap she jumped big). Ditches, banks, a little baby corner. I told her how big of a star she was.

Little Ossi and Cappy

Marley 2'6-2'9 Jump Off

And here was Em's competition, my other student Hannah.......Emily's sister!

How awesome do they look at their jump off's!!!!

Jazz And Emily 2'6-2'9 Jump Off

Here is Em and her mare Jazz !

Check out Beasty and I in the Equiery!

http://equiery.com/sporting/eventing/

Also Kari and Knickerbocker!!!!!!!

Vanya

Holy Awesomness!!!!

There he is, in all his hay obsessed glory, Vanya!

I am so happy to have this little man in for training! He has been nothing less then perfect, and a joy to ride and have at the farm.

He made the trek back over to Waredaca on Monday to have a lesson with the amazing and patient Gretchen Butts.

Gretchen has known me since I was 9 and I will always have her (if she will have me) as the person I check in with. Waredaca was such a big part of my life. She is such a busy woman, and manages to do SO much.

Gretchen has the best way of explaining things to me, and you can tell she genuinely LOVES teaching.

I don't drive her crazy when I ask all my questions, or at least she acts like I don't.

So Vanya was fabulous, and I had some great success and breakthroughs with his half halts. Love him, and he started my week off with a bang.

Beasty and Callie went to Vanessa's on Tues and holy crap.

I actually applied what I worked on with my core strength the day before with Gretchen, to my flat with Vanessa.

Vanessa is the best. Both mares were moving so well, and so big, I thought I was going to throw up from my abs working so hard! Beasty is making INCREDIBLE progress in her canterwork.

I LOVE VANESSA SWARTZ.

Then today Beasty Bear the Busy went to a Jump lesson with Stephen. I put her back in a bit (no hackamore).

It was great. I feel she has out grown the hackamore now that her flat has improved so much.

I would not be surprised if she bounces back and forth from the hackamore and the bit during her jumping career, but for now we are back in a bit.

She felt like a little mexican jumping bean and she was in it to win it!

Summer has been great.

Kaliente has been a dream.

Happy times.

So then there are my students....

Ameriah and Bandit are tearing it up! Their jumping sure is coming along.

Both Megs and Ameriah have brought that pony so far.

Alexis has come so far, and it sure showed when she rode Knick the other night. Wow.

Same thing with Katie C and Buckshot. Wow.

Katie has also seen some really cool horses for sale!

Annie and Rae continue to excel at a rapid rate. I can't believe how great this mare is doing!

Julia, Taylor, and Alison looked like rock stars.

Heather, Hunter, and Janet also rocked it out.

Payton, Lauren, and Morgan-two thumbs up.

This weekend brings Waredaca! The ponies feel ready to have some fun! (And some very submissive moments in the dressage.)

For those that are mostly interested in Maggie updates, today she got into the A+D ointment while in the back seat of the car safely away from mama's reaching hand.

It was bad.

I just ignored it. She was a very greasy baby today.

At least she would fit though narrow spaces, or be able to get any tight rings off her fingers.