Uh oh

Maggie had a temp yesterday of 103. Poor little bear.
Today I'm in the same boat. Lucky for me though, Maggie is feeling better so shes taking care of me.
We are watching Barbie movies.
Thank goodness I have the best friends and students ever to keep my horses on schedule!!!!

Mary Mack

Here is the email that I sent out recently. I would like to share it with any one I missed. Please contact me if you are interested!!!!!
Hi guys!

I am really excited to send this email!!!

We will be lucky enough to have Canadian Event Rider Rebecca Lee coming for a clinic!

Here is a website with Becky's accomplishments through 2006 http://www.rebeccaleeeventing.com/about.htm

 Since 2006, Becky has been traveling all over the United states and Canada competing and gaining experience at the Advanced and 3 star level. She has ridden with the best of the best in our country and brings valuable information to the table.

Becky currently competes clients horses of both the Thoroughbred variety and the big boy variety....http://www.dkhirishdraughtsporthorses.ca/stallions/ check it out.

Becky is also a psychologist and can help provide tools to use for any kind of performance anxiety. The tools can be accessed and used for competing, clinicing, or everyday performance.

There is so much Becky brings to the table, I could go on and on!

The dates of the clinic will be July 28th and 29th.

Saturday will be dressage and show jumping, Sunday will be cross country at either our farm or Serra Valley depending on the turn out.

We will also offer a few lectures on fitness, and any other topic I get specific requests on.

The cost for the clinic will be 250$ for both days (3 lessons and the unmounted lessons)

OR 100$ per mounted lesson.

We have a few spots for those that would wish to trailer in. Those spaces are VERY limited so let me know asap :)

Uncle Joe's back yard.....

Was like a theme park!

Mary Mack

More fun!

Mary Mack

Look, I'm levitating

Mary Mack

Look at her go!

Under grandmas watchful eye

Mary Mack

Maggie and Luke

They are swimming!!!!

Mary Mack

Cuteness

Mary Mack

Great time!

Maggie is having a great time with Luke! Now if only she would stop calling him August! (her other cousins name :)

Mary Mack

After a long day....

This morning I taught two amazing Sharons. They both rode so well!
Our new horse Justin is pretty awesome. He is learning how to jump, is super brave and"boings" over fences. Like a certain chestnut I know.
I worked out with Kari.
Then back to the barn for my first ride with Vanessa!
Callie was my first horse. She has been good since Tues.
Of course on monday I planed to get her all kinds of supplements, re visit her jump saddle fit, pull some blood work,  put her on natural stomach soother (gastro-gaurd for a month didn't change her kicking out)you know indulge the crazies in my head.
Now that June is upon us, Callie will probably make the switch back to her little lamb self regardless of my wasted money and yet again I will wonder if it was something I did or really just her"mare ness".
One would think I would know the answer since this is the third spring I have done this with callie.
Anyways, Callie was fabulous.
A switch to Beast while Alison rode Knick and round two was under way!
Beasty was good. She feels like shes ready for a good cross country run. She has Waredaca next weekend so that will make her happy.This mare is super fit. Her big competition is not until mid July so I'm going to have to get creative with her fitness schedule. I may have to give her a little vacation in late june so she is not tweeked out come the big weekend!
Another change of horse while Kari rode, and Summer was up.
Summer was a bit fresh. I kept steady correct pressure on her and she yielded. The mare is starting to become more broke.
I got trot work out of her that I have NEVER felt on any animal.
Kari sprayed her off for me when we were done. Summer does not let any one but Kari spray her.

It wouldn't be a mare that I rode unless it had personality!

Dave and I are headed to Michigan now. Maggie gave me some cuddles while I rested and Dave drove.

I am looking forward to a few weeks really focusing on my dressage.  I will be visiting my amazing Vanessa Swartz alot, and also Fred Weber. Fred demands alot and uses different wording for the same things that Vanessa asks of me. He also has a barn that is new to Callie and thats always a plus!

We have a lot of really great things coming up at Darenth Farm!
Check out Darenths Facebook or Red Hawke Eventings NEW Facebook fan page!
Mary Mack

Maggie took this picture!

Mary Mack

Good things are happening!

The three mares went to a Show Jump clinic with Jimmy Wofford today.
Beast was a bit wild, but in a good way. The few days off/hacking made her very fresh. She tells me the jumps are little and she wants bigger stuff.

Boing.

The whole time Beast jumps, she thinks "that one?That one.....THAT ONE? FUN FUn FUNNNNN This is FUN I AM HAVING FUN.Thatone, this one, ok THIS ONE!!!!"

Callie was quiet and much more agreeable then usual today. I asked Jimmy about where I should sit. I feel like Callie is going through a lot of physical changes and needs some help coming through.
I am also a sucker for Callie and worry about my little girl......
Callie has ADD and needs to move off my leg when I put it on. Not when she gets around to it.
Callie was a shetland pony in her last life.

Summer was a star and a breath of fresh air.

Beast and I have our little relationship established. She boings, I hang on. She sometimes gets excited and I try to tell her to wait. I mess up and she fixes it. We both try to help each other.

Callie and I are still trying to decide who is in charge and who is the princess of Russia.
I have no desire to be the princess of Russia. Callie also has no desire, she believes she IS the princess.
A lazy yet hot tempered princess. I tell her I am in charge but that is when she decides her English is rusty.

Summer is so super duper talented that even if she is not trying, she is still doing amazing. This mare gives me such a good feeling over fences. She waits and springs off her super charged hind end.
She has a Hemi under the hood.
Summer did try for me today which made it extra special. Jimmy sure was impressed with her!


In other exciting news, I have partnered with Mythic Landing Enterprises!!!!
http://www.mythiclanding.com/
There will be so many exciting things coming up, and lots of changes and updates!
Red Hawke Eventing will have a real website soon!
(The blog will still be part of it)


Thank you to all of you guys that are so patient and supportive.
Red Hawke Eventing has grown so much and I love everyone that is making the journey with me.
Life is good.

Awesome

Mary Mack

Pilot maggie

Mary Mack

Mary Mack

Dave and his trusty steed

Mary Mack

I miss my doooooogies

Myra gets to go to the barn with little ossi!!!!!

Mary Mack

The little lady bug is going to the beach!

Mary Mack

Kari and Kaliente

Mary Mack

Alexis on packer

Mary Mack

What a DAY!!!

What a great day!
Kari and Kaliente looked like a million dollars. Literally!
They were in second after dressage (even with an error and Kaliente tripping for no reason in a transition) after an amazing test.
I was literally drooling watching her, it was beautiful!!!
They show jumped well. Kari got into a rhythm and relaxed as she went and Kaliente jumped amazing the whole course!
They were on fire XC. They were going a bit more like prelim speed....over achievers. Both looked happy, confident and BRAVE!!!
They finished 2nd!!!!

Alexis won on her dressage score of 29.5. What a great day for them. All the hard work paid off!!!
I guess the move up is on the horizon!
Packer looked amazing in all three phases and Alexis rode great!

Little Ossi piloted her horse around the training level with ease!!! She had an awesome dressage, show jumped great and looked awesome XC! Cappy and Sharon ended in 4th place!!!!

Emily (of course) had an amazing dressage. I think she was in first after dressage.
She had the best show jumping she has ever had. Jazzy was clearing the fences with room to spare!!!
They had a parting of ways XC.
Now while a parting of ways doesn't initally sound awesome, it was.
Let me explain....
You know the saying "Life is 10 % what happens and 90% what you make of it"?
Well Em was very matter of fact about what happened, she came in to a question (line of jumps) too fast and slowed down quickly and at the last minute. Jazz just didn't understand and sort of stopped and went past the jump at the same time.
I am so proud of Emily for realizing it was just a silly mistake.
I am so proud of how proud she still was of the day.
Jazz used to be a bit worried and would always slow herself as she came to any fence. Now Jazz is getting brave and CONFIDENT.
Emily recognized it, just a hair too late.
When horses start to get brave, they can need to get more packaged or they will run at the fences a bit.
It reminds me of a post I wrote about Kari last year......Emily is a bad ass.

It was great to see friends out competing and looking good as well.

Katie and her horse Grantley looked awesome!!!! Grantley looked so happy to be out there!!!
Margaret and her horse also looked awesome and HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY!!!


Off to Ocean City for me!!!!
I didn't spell check or read this, so sorry about any errors

My students are on fire today!!!

Mary Mack

Guess who won!!!!

Finishing on her score of 29.5!!!!!
I'm so proud!!!

Mary Mack

Alexis

Alexis and Packer had an AWESOME DAY!!!  Great dressage, and double clear and confident!!!!!
Mary Mack

Past few days

Yesterday was busy busy!
Both of my mares jumped with Sharon White at "A Bit Better".
They were great and tried really hard.
Well actually that's a lie.
Callie tried really hard.
Beast bounded over the jumps effortlessly and I had the time of my life!
Beast and all her body work sure has paid off!
Her feet are the best they have ever been thanks to Kevin Oyarzohttp://marylandhorseshoeing.com/index.htm
Her body is amazing thanks to Dr. Laura Reick.
Her tummy is happy thanks to Ulcer Gaurd and Gastro Gaurd.
She is a happy, happy girl.

Callie is also feeling good but her little adolescent mind hurts sometimes.
She has so much growing up to do in such a short time.
After Callie gets carted all over Maryland for dressage fix a tests and tension erasing sessions, she will have a much deserved break.

Beasty is on a staycation at Darenth.
She will have a few days off for some R&R.

Alison and Alexis both looked amazing last night in their lessons.

Mags and I are headed to teach Em and Sharon O and XC lesson now.
Then hopefully I can squeeze a work out in before Summer and Callie get done today.
This afternoon will be spent teaching some private lessons to some amazing people in Olney!!!!

Kari xcschooling

Kari did an AMAZING job schooling Kaliente today.
They have really developed an amazing partnership. Kali is jumping great and I am so excited for their season!!!!!!!!!!
They got a chance to do some prelim fences and Kali makes them look so tiny when she jumps them.
A great afternoon.

Kari xcschooling 2

Beast intermediate plantation

I am proud of this show jump.
Beasty was quite naughty in dressage. She kept spooking at the letters! But I just rode. And rode pretty well!
 Before I went in showjumping, I felt calm and I knew what to do. Beast was quiet and lazy in warm up. I had to abandon how I normally ride her (on a loose contact and just stay out of her way). I had to kick her up to the connection and ride her! I was able to adjust and it was great.
All the hard work is paying off.
Beasty was AWESOME cross country!
She was not impressed with the tables that were all a bit smaller then the ones at Loudon. I had to try to set her up a little more so she wouldn't just run at them. She is starting to really read the terrain well and she was brave as could be! THEN the rider on course ahead of me had an unfortunate fall and we were held. FOR FOURTEEN MINUTES.
It was right before the second water so I asked to warm up over a training table then go to my table to the water. When we started again I gave Beast a smacky and we were off!!!!!
Beast was even better then before! I again had a slightly different horse at the last third of the course and this time didn't adjust as fast as needed. I could have ridden a few a bit better here but Beast has my back. That's a good feeling. A really good feeling.
Beasty got a ribbon for eighth place in an open division of 20. Not too shabby !!!! Sally Cousins got 1st, 2nd and 3rd as usual. Ahh Sally.

A Huge Thanks

A huge thanks to Alexis who managed to video, tack, set stalls, strip stalls, ice, stud, help with Maggie and deal with Callie!!!!!!!!

Mary and Beast Plantation XC3

Mary and Beast Plantation XC2

Mary and Beast Plantation XC

The grunting is priceless.
I must have gotten it from my old horse Knick.
I was totally unaware of the noise I made and the smacky Beast got. :)))

Mary and Callie Plantation Dressage

Mary and beast plantation

Callie training plantation

Ahhh. Callie.
Callie is something else.
Callie was also naughty in dressage. I have the video and will post it soon. She tried to jump out of the ring. I don't actually think she was being bad at that moment, I think she needs medicine for ADD.
Callie is just going through a phase. The phase consists of trying to pick fights. I had Stephens voice in my head saying "Just send her forward".
I think the judges see her and nail her for her tension. What they don't know is that the "tension" is a desire to let her hind end rip.  I see some dressage shows in her future. Then in about six months to a year, I see 20's as her scores.
Callie was her lovely self in show jump warm up.
I only cantered a few fences. I felt bad leaping through the air as others were trying to warm up.
Callie show jumped a bit cocky. I let her have the one rail she had. I am going to spend her time at Training level doing just that and Training her.
She get's SOOOOOO MAD when she has a rail, you can see it!!!!
She's jumping great and I was really happy with her.

When we headed to XC, we waited for our turn. When we had 30 seconds left to leave the box, they put another hold on course. This time for a broken fence.
Ahh. I love my start being postponed when I wonder if I may die leaving the box. Callie can be unruley if she can't see her first fence.
Finally time to start 3,2,1 and we trotted, Callie peered her head, saw her fence and Cantered straight to it. I swear when we were in the air she was looking for the next fence. She was amazing. Obedient, BRAVE, Catty and careful. She loved it when I yelled good girl. She would pin her ears and gallop for a few strides.
Callie is a bad ass. I have to stick through the naughties and I will have an Advanced horse that will be in the top 10 after dressage and finish in the top 3!

Counterproductive- When one works out then eats half a large bag of Utz Sour Cream and Onion potatoe chips.

Gordonsdale!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We had a great time!!!!

Callie never ceases to amaze me with how brave she is. She might possibly be the bravest horse I have ever sat on. She is also one of the most athletic horses I have ever sat on. This makes it really fun when she "expresses" herself with her hind legs, front end or both...... at the same time.
Callie was full of "expression" when she had to go away or towards the horses, when she had to slow, speed, or when the golf cart drove by. Good thing Stephen was their to scream at me to gallop her. I often want to stop her and punch her in the head ;) (kidding.......sort of).

Hunter and Fance did AWESOME!!!!!!!!! Fance did such a good job at Redland Horse Trials, wait until you see her at her next event! She and Hunt are starting to work hard and it sure paid off yesterday!

Alison and Knick looked happy, and confident!!!! It is so nice to watch this pair and so cool that Knicks "other Mother" Julia came and was great company and help!

Alexis and Packer looked Fierce!
They made short work of all the questions asked!

Myra

Mary Mack

Busy days!!!

Yesterday, both of my mares went for dressage with Vanessa. They both did great. They also had a jump school with Stephen on Wednsday(the videos are from that) so they have had a busy week!
After coming back from Vanessa's, I had to ride Summer then scoot to teach Julia.
Then Julia and I  headed over to walk the course at Iron Bridge with Rachel, and Carolyn.
I got home and Dave and Maggie had scrubbed my trailer!
Maggie did most of the work of course.

Iron Bridge was today.
We were able to sneak in an entry for Summer.
We have decided to do a number of really low stress shows with her Fabulous self. Summers too special to overload. We had originally planned to do the USEA Young Event Horse competitions with her. They have to start out as 4 year olds at the equivalent of novice. I tried to have her ready for BN at Redland a few weeks ago, and thought I did have her ready. When we tried to warm up for dreassage, she was beside herself with worry and we elected to scratch.

THE PLAN WORKED!!!!! Summer finished in FIRST on her dressage score of 21.3!
The judge actually thanked us for performing the test for her :)
Summer was very brave and quiet with all the commotion. I could not have asked her to be any better in any of the phases. She will continue with low stress levels until she says she is ready to go forward. If she ends up being ready for the YEH stuff, great! If not, this mare has bigger fish to fry any ways.

Special that Summer is!


Julia also took Violet to Iron Bridge.
They Jamned out.
Violet was so wonderful in dressage! She was also a gem in both Jumping phases going double clear!
Julia has put a lot of work into Violet and herself and it sure paid off today!!! They ended up second! Hopefully I will have some pictures soon :)


Rachel competed her little mare Zoe.
They won their division finishing on her dressage score!!!
Rachel and Zoe both looked picture perfect around those jumps!

I couldn't be more proud!!!!!!!!!!



Tomorrow we have a clinic with Stephen at Gordonsdale.
It's been a busy weekend!!!

Thoroughbreds are from the Sun and Warmbloods are from the moon.

We have stink bugs in the house.
One time when we first moved in, Dave and I got the great idea to throw a onesie (baby shirt) at the stink bugs on the ceiling in our two story stairwell.
It was a team effort. Dave would throw the onesie, knock the stinkbugs down and then I would vacuum them up. While apologizing to the stink bug.
The onesie got stuck on the chandelier.
We left it there.
A few days later, the onesie caught on fire from the light bulb.
Thank god we were home.

What in the world does this have to do with the title of the blog post?
Everything.

I saw/smelt the onesie on fire and called downstairs to Dave. He ran over to the bottom of the stairs and looked up and started screaming ''Oh My God, what do I do, what do I do?"
He then proceeded to run from the bottom of the stairs to the mud room and back. A few times. Panic had set in.

I looked at him and then looked around.
"Ah!" my dusting pole was right there.
I used it to reach the fiery onesie, caught the onesie and then carefully carry it to the toilet and place it in.

Dave was still running.

A moment later, I looked down and he had a bucket of water. I still don't know what he intended to do with the bucket of water. Perhaps throw it, up two stories at the ceiling fixture?

Dave-Warmblood
Mary-Thoroughbred.

What do I mean? That doesn't make sense!
Oh but it does.

Dave- calm, level, pleasant,  generally in a relaxed state.
Mary-high strung, try's to be pleasant, generally NOT in a relaxed state.

Crisis situations, I am already there. The rest of the world catches up to me. I live in a state near crisis.
Crisis situations, Dave observes that there is a crisis.
Then buys a fire extinguisher. Dave plans.

Dave likes to be prepared so he can exist in the state he is comfortable in.
I like to do lots of stuff at once and thrive on action.

I guess you could also sum it up, Dave-male, Mary-female.

Warmblood-male
Thoroughbred-female
Dave would get amazing scores on the flat.
He would be so relaxed and he would be focused on the predictability that the dressage brings.
He would be an amazing show jumper if he knew it was time to jump. He would have such a great relaxed canter that the perfect distance would always exist from such a rhythmical canter. He would need to be told clearly where he was going so he doesn't get distracted
He would be great cross country if he was schooled well and he understood what was coming.
He likes to do a good job and gets really mad if he thinks he didn't do a good job. He would also get mad if you didn't explain the task well.

I would anticipate a lot of the movements in the dressage. Canter now? how about now? You seem like maybe you want me to canter.
I would try really hard not to touch the poles in showjumping. That hurts. I would tell you I was mad if you made me touch a pole. I don't like that the poles move. That freaks me out. I don't like to hit my ankle.
Cross country would be fun. FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN. FUN. If you prepared me well, I would run and jump and turn and jump. EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I do not have a point.
I am just making observations.

Kaliente is Kari's horse. She is a warmblood. Yesterday, she steps in her own poop on the trailer ramp, slips and as she is staring at me has one thought. "Oh I seem to be falling."
Until I slap her on the chin and tell her to stop falling.

Relaxed.
Not always relaxed.
Both have their ups, downs and reasons to laugh.

I am of course making MAJOR generalizations and mostly joking around so please don't take this blog post too serious.
Hopefully Dave enjoys this blog and doesn't get mad at me.
Dave is a smart planner. He likes lists and safety precautions. He likes having extra of things on hand.

I can learn a lot from Dave.
I can learn how to prep the little four year old Holsteiner I am so lucky to ride.

There is a lesson everywhere if you look hard enough. :)
Thanks Dave.

Beasty clinic 6

Beasty clinic 2

Beast, stephen clinic