What is up?

Maggie rode in the Darenth Farm show today!!!!

 Miss Julie helped her earn her ribbons!

 Maggie Bear rode Bandit and Suzie.

 Then Maggie ran a muck and Elizabeth, Abby, Taylor, Grace and lots of other people hung out with Maggie.

 Maggie is such a lush.

 Maggie and Daddy with their ribbons.

 Myra was so courteous and polite. She is such a good hostess, always introducing herself politely.

 Oh Maggie, how you wore everyone out.

And were back

So it would appear I am back in action.
I had great rides yesterday with Jimmy.
Jimmy always is such a great mix of humor and seriousness. He has perfected the art of telling you the brutally honest truth in a way that makes you laugh. If you don't laugh, you may cry because the truth hurts.

I love it.
I am learning that I need to let Beast do her job. I have taught her, now I need to "let her". I have a phobia of letting go of over riding.
It is time.

Callie was actually quite lovely yesterday. She had a few nappy moments when cantering away from the group in the beginning but that was it for any bucking. She also thought the jumps we were jumping were beneath her and that she should not be bothered with putting forth effort. That ended after she scraped her leg on a table.
One thing about this horse is once humbled, she does not get scared or all girl drama like. She gets on her job. She is a tough little cookie.
Get it girl, get it.

Alexis looked great on Packer last night in her show jump lesson.
He is all ready to go Novice this weekend at Loch Moy.

I had a good day of teaching.
Miss thing Emily had her best school to date on Jazz this morning at Waredaca.
They are going to be in top form for Senneca.

My little mares got lunged in halters on a grassy slope. 5th leg training BOYAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.  They did not do long enough for it to be a fitness day, but enough to count as stretchy work.

Then off to Olney.

I set up some tough exercises and Courtney made it look easy. Brat. Way to ruin my plans Court.
I am just kidding (about the brat part). Court and her horse right now look great. He is a happy horse.

Miss Lisa, (who I found out works for my favorite channel ever) had a great ride on her mare. Her horse Ella was feeling her opinions today and Lisa rode her right through them. The jumps help because Ella forgets to be naughty if she is pointed at a jump.

Alex and his horse look to be right on track for Senneca. Duncan (his horse) would probably jump a car if Alex told him he could do it. A great horse Duncan is. He is a good team player.

Rachel has come so far and she and her horse Zoe make such a great pair. Rachels position and confidence continue to amaze me every lesson. I just can not believe how much one kid can learn and continue to learn.

Now Mags is having waffles for dinner and Dave and I are getting ready to watch some of Lisa's awesome shows on ID TV.
The dogs have bones and the bunny has celery.
All is well.

Alison Stadium Waredaca

I am suppose to get testimonials for my new web site. I'm wondering if I could just put up videos of my students riding. It speaks volumes.
This video is of Alison Bowyer.
She is a mother of two, wife and has a full time job. (so she has two full time jobs cause lord knows being  a mama is one in itself).
She is competing wild man Knickerbocker.
Knickerbocker has a phobia of butterflys and anything else that seems delightfully distracting at the moment. Knick has a need for speed and does not like to "wait".
Knick and Alison were in first place again after this show jumping round but knick felt deceptively fast cross country (another one of his tricks.....he climbs unless you let him stretch out).
They sealed them selves a green ribbon despite some time penalties!
We will be forcing Alison to buy an optimum time watch and we will work on our minute makers at Darenth.
I am not complaining though! I will take time penalties from my students any day. Especially from the students who compete at the level I suggest. If I feel they are ready to be at that level and they want to take a few extra seconds to make a safe turn or get a better approach, kudos to them.
I think Alison and Knick look more then ready to move up to Novice. Waredaca unrecognized sounds like the perfect place!
Way to go Alison!
And we can't forget Julia Fitzgerald who has put a lot of hard work into Knick herself!!!!! A big thanks to Julia!!!!
Mary Mack

So mary, what did you do today?

Work emails/scheduling- 3 hours
Let the dogs out , ate some watermelon-10 minutes
Talked on the phone about horses-1 hour
Thought about Ramen noodles, then decided I was too lazy to make them-20 minutes
Watched ID tv while drifting in and out of a medicated consciousness -6 hours

Summary of what I learned today from ID tv.......
People are capable of committing horrendous crimes to get what they want.
People should learn to be happy with what they have. It is usually more then they need anyways.

I did watch a wedding show during ID tv commercial breaks.

Summary of this experience.......
Hmmmmm should I spend 20,000 dollars on a dress that I will wear once, for a few hours OR a car that I will use every day for 6 years.(2190 days). OR groceries for 3.85 years.

The dress. Definitely the dress.

My assistant Myra slept for a solid 9 hours. She out did herself today. I believe it was her way of apologizing for the  mass destruction she caused on Saturday.
I must thank Myra. Not only for her sheer dedication and amazing work ethic today but also for her "self expression Saturday".
We will be getting a nice new sectional sofa due to her angst. This way both Dave and I can lay down when we watch movies. The old couch only allowed room for one layer and one seated foot rubber.

To finish my day I will be enjoying Hannah Jo Shipley's favorite meal. Chicken, cream of mushroom soup and  white rice.
This is in celebration of the Shipley's. Just because they are awesome.

Heres to you awesome people.

Mary Mack

Xc schooling

I will be teaching at Waredaca over the competition course on Tuesday at about 1 and again at 4:30
Please let me know if you are interested!
Mary.macklin1@gmail.com
Mary Mack

Weekend wrap up

Well this weekend didn't go as planned!
Instead of feeling the adrenaline from cross country and enjoying the beautiful weather, I felt an Iv and a high  body temperature! I was super sick and there was worry about my appendix.
Never making it to the event, I started the day at Urgent care, they sent me to the Er and the day was spent there. Dave is a super dad and husband, juggling a maggie bear and a cranky wife for 7 hours at Frederick Memorial Hospital (I love the people there, they are the BEST). Maggie bear was in toddler heaven at the hospital, there was lots of buttons to push and restricted areas to run through.
The rest of the weekend has been spent (for me) sleeping in a medicated bliss.
Dave really has been amazing and is giving a whiny bear a bath right now.
Myra however was very offended about our time away on saturday. She jumped out of her gated mud room, collected all the toys from upstairs and piled them in the family room (normal). She went above and beyond her normal routine however. We will be needing a new couch, footstool, and their was a diaper bag casualty.
That was a special treat to come home to. Dave and I didn't even say anything to each other. We just stared at the mess, Maggie said "ohhhhhhh look what she did mama". I looked at Dave and he said "just go lay down".
I am sorry I didnt respond to anyones calls or texts, I literally have been out cold. Thank you for all your well wishes.
A big congrats to all my amazing students who competed at Waredaca! I wish I could have been there more then words can express.
My fifteen minute window is almost up, I feel sleepy time calling.
The good news is I should be fine by tomorrow or Tuesday. Then onward!!!!!
Mary Mack