The higher the jump the closer to god.
Mary Mack

Mary Mack

Mary Mack

Good stuff

The mares rocked out on friday at Vanessas. Looks like I'm still on the right track with my dressage, even though I have been unsupervised! :) Saturday all my ladies rode so well. In between lessons we found some time for some "ink". Then sat pm Maggie, Dave, and I got to spend some time with some of our extended family. Today it's play time with the cousins, then teaching some more awesome ladies. Hopefully my mares will have easy canters tonight. It's a busy day, but the only day the canters fit in! (They have mandatory walk for an hour over poles days also) Thank god for Kelleys awesome indoor! I cant wait until Darenth has one this year!!!!! The mares have a busy week of lessons and chiro adjustments. What a mild winter we have had! Hope everyone is enjoying this beautiful weather!
Mary Mack

Jimmy Wofford clinic at Waredaca 1.25.12

Jimmy Wofford clinic at Waredaca 1.25.12

Liz is the videographer. She was happy for me.

Liz is the best.

Jimmy Wofford clinic at Waredaca 1.25.12

Jimmy Wofford clinic at Waredaca 1.25.12

Very exciting.

Jimmy Wofford clinic at Waredaca 1.25.12

Callie got a little tappy from the stick for being lazy to my leg.....she was all business through the jumps but shows her opinion upon landing!

Jimmy Wofford clinic at Waredaca 1.25.12

Beasty makes everyone laugh when she jumps me out of the tack.

.......

and this is when the jumps are small.

Jimmy Wofford clinic at Waredaca 1.25.12

Ohhhhhhhhh

Is this what it's all suppose to be like?

I love Jimmy Wofford, and I love Beast and Callie.

They were beyond perfect in their lessons today.

Jimmy literally didn't know who Beast was because she has changed so much in the last few months. He said she jumped on raw talent before but now its becoming more sophisticated.

He was also very happy with how far Callie has come since he last saw her. Straight as an arrow!

They both did work on grids, focusing on adjusting out and in.

Beast had to jump an oxer so wide she bounced it the first time. Notice I don't even include the word "tried", I didn't say "tried" to bounce it. She was fairly successful but the whack on her leg from the rail he had resting on top made her decide it would be far easier to jump all the rails at once.

She amazes me, like the eighth wonder.

It's days like these where I just want to hold on to the happiness and store it in a little jar.

I have to remember to have soft floating hands. The mares are big fans of that.

Dog Wants to Play Catch

When people listen to Daler Mehndi

My new favorite person of all time is Kim.

She posted this on Facebook and it made my face hurt.

I love it.

DID YOU KNOW..........

Check out my new page!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Did you know I do portraits?

Sunday night is time for failure....

This one is for Katie M.

Mary Mack

Today

Mc donalds lunch after  hot yoga and teaching some awesome students!
Although the mc donalds part seems counter productive!

Mary Mack

It is the best of times.....It is the worst of times....

Beast is entered in her first event!!!!!! Sporting Days- Pass

Hay prices in Aiken-Wack

The fact that it is 65 in Aiken now and 73 tomorrow-Pass

The fact that it is 28 in Mt Airy and that is where I am right now-Wack

The fact that Beast and Callie ate happily in a small private paddock turn out at Kelley's with no "run in" for Beast to hide in-Pass

The fact that my vet said some of the most amazing horses are extremely quirky and predictably unpredictable- soothing pass

Right now my right ear won't pop and I must have a Eustachian tube dysfunction- wack

I get to teach my awesome students this afternoon- happy pass!

The anxiety over the securing of hay in Aiken- wack

The fact that I can not pack my farrier in my tack trunk, in my dressing room, in my trailer- wack

Well I guess I could pack him but he would probably not be happy and I would end up in jail.

The appointment that I have with Julia to get all tatted up next Sat-Pass

Oh oh my ear just popped a little- super pass. Still deaf on the right side though.

The fact that my body is wimpy and super sensitive and wacky- wack

The fact that it makes me appreciate chestnutness and all it's glory- pass

The fact that I took Sudafed and I am leaving evidence on the internet of how heightened my inner insanity becomes on this medication-wack.

You can never take back what you put on the internet.

Mary & Beast 4 (1/18 Stephen Bradley Clinic)

Mini lesson on video!

Mary & Beast 5 (1/18 Stephen Bradley Clinic)

Mary & Beast 1 (1/18 Stephen Bradley Clinic)

Mary & Beast 7 (1/18 Stephen Bradley Clinic)

Mary & Beast FLYING (1/18 Stephen Bradley Clinic)

It is good to want.

I want to do this all (and by all, I mean life with and with out horses) for the right reasons.

I want to have pure intentions.

One of my students the other night was worried because her canter transition was not prompt enough. She was getting so worried that it was getting worse. When I told her it didn't matter right then (my focus was else where) she replied with "But it will matter if it happens at a show."

This is true.

But is that a good reason to be the best you can be? So you can be good at a show?

I realized with my exchange with her that my entire focus has shifted. Perhaps it has not even shifted, but just has become focused.

I want to be the best rider I can be. I want to be the best horse person I can be.

I want to be a good person.

I want to learn how to be more evenly keeled. I want to not worry so much about my horses that I seem like a crazy bag lady that shows up with different blankets every day. I want not to cry in front of people.

I also want to embrace crying. I want to endulge in my desire to drive Beast all over the east coast in hopes that some farm will have a magical field that she and a blanket can exist as one. (Not likely.......Beast may never be clipped again). I want to give in to the crazy and embrace it.

You can see my conflict.

I do want to stay married and retain some friends, so I am thinking that perhaps the "even keeled" goal would be the better route to aim for.

As for not crying in front of people all the time, this may be a lost cause.

Attainable goals.

Back to the horses, and the horse goals, I am so happy about where those are right now.

I am able to learn and that is what I want to do the most.

I don't want to learn about any more chestnut mares though and their weirdness. I am good on that for a little while.

A day even just a day.

Beast (despite a brush with death hives last night......I made that name up, just hives) and I had the best lesson we have ever had.

I feel like my chest is going to burst.

My flat work has come so far that I have this new amazing canter to my jumps. Stephen kept talking about how I have to do things differently now that Beast has come so far in the connection (hollar Vanessa Swartz).

I did what he said and it was like magic. The whole lesson was like magic. Even when I was getting jumped out of the tack and no part of me was touching the saddle or even remotely close, I had the time of my life.

All my working out has really helped my position. I was able to stay with Beast tonight better then I ever imagined (hollar Yoga and Kari).

Beast jumped so well. I was in the air for very long periods of time tonight. Long enough to say the lords name in vain followed by oh my god. Slowly too. I wanted to make sure to be dramatic..... so I said it slowly. Like I was from Alabama.

Callie was amazing also. Really amazing. She is such a special little horse. She is low key and I love her for that. She is also an amazing athlete, such a refreshing combination. Ms. California Comet is getting to be awfully straight!!

I am a big fan of Margret (Mythic Landing Events) and her clinics. The soups, coffee and drinks make the whole day even better. Margret and her mare Lissel looked REALLY good.

I also rode with Glenda Player and her really well behaved stallion. That horse was jumping like a little spring. I am a big fan of that horse.

Kelley Williams and Bomber looked awesome. Bomber is jumping up and around the fences so well. That horse always shocks me because you think you can picture how he goes and then he gets better. In like a really big way. Then he does it again. His heart shines.

I wanted to watch some of the other groups but didn't get much of a chance. I did see a really cute bay mare that Tara Ziegler was riding.

In Darenth news.....

Katie Cindric's "Willis" was a good boy today. He came right back and focused for me despite the wind, snow flurries, and hunting on Sunday.

Willis gets two thumbs up!

Sharon and Harmony had a good lesson. Harmony got a bit exuberant when the hay delivery came. Hay is very exciting I suppose. I am amazed with Sharon's ability to stay with that mare. Sharon and Harmony have such a cool relationship.

Time to watch a movie and snuggle with Scruffy and all her dirty glory.

This afternoon was fabulous.

A big Thank You to Mr. Stephen Bradley. You rock.

I have been trying to upload Alexis's video. I can't because COMCAST is not down with working properly or working at all for that matter.

Alison had THE BEST LESSON EVER TONIGHT on Knick!

I can not understand why he never moved like that when I had him in the ring. Holy Moly. They were on FIRE!

I also taught the best group today. Awesome Ella, Amazing Courtney, Fabulous Jamie, and Fantastic Hunter.

Followed by the awe inspiring Rachel.

Love it. They all rocked.

Then Janet and Sienna did some balance and strengthening work. They were great.

Megan and Bandit are doing SOOOOOOOOOO well. Megan's timing with the fences is almost impeccable.

Pipes and Taylor did a very advanced exercise and their ponies showed me how it should be done!

What a great day!

Thanks guys.

Also as always a big thanks to Kari for helping me keep the mares going on busy days like these, and Kim for hanging with Mags!

I love looking in the observation room and seeing her coloring after spending the afternoon with her "other family".

Julia and knick

This weekend

This weekend was good.

Beast is thriving in her flat work at Vanessa's.

I had a great time at the used tack sale with Julia and Alison.....we were very successful.

Julia and Alexis had awesome lessons. The videos do not do them justice. I am not just saying that to be nice, I think they both wanted the little video clips to look good so they may have gotten a teeny bit pressured.......But if they can look this good on video, they can certainly look this good at a show!

Today was Hot Yoga, teaching T-Gordon (who's horse was the best she has ever been), and a lunch date with my family!

Katherine took Katie's horse Willis out for his first fox hunt and he was a perfect gentleman!

I hope to have pictures soon.

This week brings warmer temperatures, lessons with Stephen and Vanessa, and a whole lot of teaching!!!

Can't wait to get started!

M

Crazy day!

Well today was a busy day!

Our ring at Darenth was great this morning by 8:45 am.

Summer and Callie were perfect angels and were happy to be shielded by some of the wind by the trees out lining the ring.

Elizabeth had an awesome lesson and Alison braved the weather to ride Lord Knickerbocker.

I visited Kari and her dreaded plates. She knows what's up.

Then over to Windsor Manor to teach some AMAZING GIRLS!!!!!!

Suzie Coffee came over to fit Beasty's saddle.

Now that Beasty has her own saddle, I did get the flocking adjusted. A few more tweaks and we will be all set!!!!

Beast enjoyed herself and wanted to run around the indoor a million miles an hour.

I take it that is Beasts sign that she is reaaaalllly happy.

Beast has the need for speed.

Tomorrow brings the used tack sale with some of my buddies and lot's of lessons, both teaching and taking!!!

Yay!!!

Maggie has had the "Man Flu" all week.

Pay backs are hell.

She's sexy and she knows it.

Wiggle Wiggle Wiggle Wiggle Wiggle yeah.

This sums up Sunday

I can think of no better way to describe my own, Hunter, Kari, and Alison's lessons with Stephen Bradley on Sunday.

Knick and Alison made me want to cry. They were so preciously perfect.

Kari and Kaliente are like watching one personality in both human form and horse form. Tough bi^(#$.

Hunter and Fancy made everyone's jaws hit the floor . Hunter and I have been working on having his hands out and riding the horse to them. It has paid off. I wish my hands could be like his!

Callie was like the beginning of the video. Beast was like the end.

Both mares were freaking amazing.

Stephens exercises were perfect for this time of year. We did grid work and two canter gymnastics. Beast was on fire. She had an ear splitting grin on her face the whole time.

I am so ridiculously excited to go to Aiken and work with Stephen for a month.

Her hind end worked in ways never known by a Mary or a Beast.

I attribute a huge part of that to the Chiro adjustment Sally Morris gave her on Saturday.

Wow.

Wow Wow Wow.

Callie is a big bad a$$ now. She doesn't mess around. She also was as straight as she has ever been. What a dream!

Other Darenth Farm members were also out having a blast with Sharon fox hunting!

listen.

I like Kyle Carter's motto "Living the dream".

I also like Phyllis Dawson's motto "Invest in the journey not the destination".

I can honestly say, I get it and I am doing it. Both motto's.

There are two special ladies that have helped me get to where I am right now, which is a pretty good place.

In fact, right now is probably the best place I have ever been. In my whole life, both professionally and personally.

I am truly happy.

There are obviously many other amazing people that have helped me tremendously. My husband is the number one person in my life but today I want to send a shout out to two of my instructors.

A truly heartfelt shout out.

I feel bad not talking about Stephen and Susan, but I will write about them another day. (Maybe Monday after my clinic with Stephen ;)

Today I want to write about my real adoration for Vanessa Swartz and Sharon White.

This week I had the best rides on both my mares.

Like the kind of rides that made me want to cry..........Cry like I do at the end of the movie "Homeward bound". (Which is close to hysterical)

I have never dreamed that my chestnut mare could do what she is doing.

I have also had many an instructor tell me she could never do what she is doing.

Beast moved in ways that were a dream come true.

I know that that sounds really cheesy and loopy, but it is true.

I really and truly feel this week like I am living a dream.

God knows working with horses can be full of extreme ups and downs.

It can be fleeting glimpses of comprehension and greatness.

Working with horses has the potential to be raw and draining. One can be burnt one too many times to return.

I am so thankful to have positive role models in my life like Vanessa and Sharon.

They make it easy to keep loving every good moment, to try to love the bad moments, and they demonstrate how to handle the really bad moments gracefully.

Vanessa is a little powerhouse, some one I am so glad to have in my corner. She has made my horses incredible and reassured me every step that I would get them there. I did, I have, and I will.

I am grateful.

Sharon White is some one I am grateful to ride with.

Sharon is inspirational, and real.

Vanessa teaches me on the flat where my emotional state has (thank god) stabilized, Sharon gets the pleasure of teaching me at my craziest.

Unfortunately in my lessons with Sharon, I often revert to toddler like behavior.

At first I was so horrified and embarrassed I thought about not taking more lessons with her, but I have succumb to the fact that I lack control of my emotions. If I don't fight it, it wont fight me.

I play dead.

I hear it works with Bears also.

Sharon not only doesn't react in embarrassment to my crazy, she keeps pushing.

How did she know I could do it, and I didn't? I mean I TRULY didn't. Like I was ADAMANT I couldn't.

But because of her, I did it, and I will continue to do it.

I heard of how a while ago Sharon had a bad injury. (This was before I was riding with her) While Sharon was recovering from that injury and once she was able to start riding again, she was not allowed to jump for awhile. I imagine this would be immensely frustrating.

I hear of how she turned that into something positive by doing intense dressage training.

I have the desire to be like that.

Every day is a choice. I hope I can choose to be positive.

Sharon's photograph is in the dictionary next to positive, a profile shot. I looked. .......I swear.

I see how Vanessa sets up a clinic for 7 girls. Then 10 minutes after it's done she has cleaned up the ring and set it for games practice. She watches her daughter ride, teaches a thousand lesson's (and GOOD quality lessons) answers a thousand questions and is still a super fun person.

Vanessa has a cape under her jacket and an "S" on her shirt.

I have been practicing what my ladies have taught me. It is paying off.

Callie got an 84% in a second level dressage test yesterday. The show was at my farm. I was the only competitor AND the judge.

Needless to say I won.

Thank you Vanessa.

I have been practicing on Beast.

I have one clear memory that shines like a beacon from the last lesson I had with Sharon. (The one where I was on Crack, oops I mean mass amounts of medicine)

The memory was of the perfect balance I held to an oxer. (It only happened once, maybe that's why it was so memorable) .

I did not mess up my horses balance.

She liked that.

I liked it also and it stuck with me.

I had a dream about it. I am not kidding here, I had a long dream about how it should feel.

I realize what Sharon has been telling me to do on Beast for months!

I am so excited to try to master this!

Like Sharon says, you won't hear things until you are ready to hear them.

I can not say enough positive things about both of these ladies.

They are not just AMAZING instructors, they are amazing people. They are different and they see things in a different way....actually a million different ways.

They are wonderful and refreshing and they are good.

In my career, I will continue to try to hear.

I will try not to let an ego get in my way.

I will try to keep my intentions pure.

I will try to do this all to be the best rider and teacher I can be.

I will try let people know how much they mean to me, and how special they are. They deserve it.

I will try to become who I am not in the shadow of some but in the light of those like Vanessa and Sharon.

This week, I am Thankful. I am happy, and I am Thankful to be happy.

Back to business!

Home and feeling good!

I kicked the day off with heading out to see my Beasty Bear.

She was of course in the run in shed at Vanessa's.

Those of you that don't know Beast personally, don't know the extreme quirky and odd behavior that goes along with her.

Beast will not eat supplements. ANY kind of supplements.

No, not picky eater approved supplements from "Smart Pack".

No, molasses doesn't help.

No not sweet electrolytes.

Tried corn oil.

Tried just about everything under the sun and on the Internet.

This makes electrolytes an expensive endeavor. Rather then buying a months supply at like 28 dollars, I have to buy the dosing tubes and dose her.

Her lack of eating things in her grain was also interesting in her treatment of anaplasma. She was on 40 doxy twice a day. We tried dosing it in a giant syringe with a giant hole in the end.

That was a no go.

We tried the molasses. It didn't really work.

I got so desperate, I bought a coffee grinder but never made it that far because of the controversy about doxy's effectiveness after being ground. (Never mind that it probably would have been SUPER bitter then, but it could have been dosed.)

We finally found Applesauce and in LARGE quantities to be the answer.

The staff at Darenth also discovered that Beast would eat up if she was fed half her grain in the small feed tub put into her permanent corner feed bin. Then when she was done with that half, she would throw the small bucket across the stall, making the noise to demand her other half in her permanent feed tub.

This method was also combined with the method of all of her grain in her portable feed bucket placed in her permanent feed bin.

I do not know which is funnier, that they discovered it or that they were willing to do it.

Love them.

Beast also has a thing for blankets.

Or a thing against blankets.

She always has since I bought her.

When she has a blanket on, she HAS to be in shelter or a very small paddock (1 acre or less) or she freaks out.

If shelter is not available, she will run, and run...... and run.

She will sometimes accept a clump of trees as shelter but it seems she is being much more picky these days. Three walls or more is becoming preferable.

I have witnesses.

Lot's of witnesses.

I have not blanketed her the last few winters because I hate to see her so weird and stressed. This winter however, she is prepping to go to Aiken so clipping became a necessity.

At least with Beast spending her time out in the run in shed ALL DAY LONG makes her easier to catch.

She does peek out around the wall and watches the other horses.

It is kind of sad in a creeper sort of way.

Beast did feel amazing today.

I can't wait until my lesson tomorrow with Vanessa! I feel like I have new tools but I don't know what they are for, or how to use them.

Beast is awesome and I love her.

Callie was a good girl. She was not real thrilled about the crispy footing. She is a princess and likes to be pampered.

Summer was perfect and is tough.

She got lunged today. Every time I watch this horse go, I can not believe she is real.

Hannah and Val had an amazing lesson out in Walkersville.

I love them. I missed teaching them these last few months. Hannah's pony is super sensitive like Beasty.

I had Hannah work on the same concepts as I will be trying to perfect with Beast.

It was so cool to watch.

I swear I heard an orchestra. Beethoven. 9th symphony I believe, but my Internet is to slow to confirm.

Val looked amazing and her horse is super awesome.

Now I am making some Indian food and watching Cinderella with Dave and Maggie.

Tomorrow brings the farrier, riding, acupuncture, and some hot yoga.

Happy.

Trapped

Trapped in ohio last night after a failed attempt at driving home.

Not looking so good for today

Mary Mack

Medicine side effects

Mary Mack