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You take a deadline away and your work is that much easier?
I had a jump lesson with Stephen before I left Aiken and my goodness Beast had wings. In fact she had wings, springs, a jet pack, and I had a brain.
Since that lesson I have had nothing but break through rides on Beast.
Knowing that I am just doing horse trials at the Prelim and Intermediate level this spring (rather then any CCI/CICs) makes me feel "right". I know that's a strange descriptive word, but it's the perfect word for me right now.
I think again that all of my personal and professional struggles can only help me be a better coach, instructor, or trainer. If I was a horse god knows I would be like Beast.
Learning for myself what my own reactions to pressure are makes me view the mares I ride a bit differently. Sometimes in order for them to become more submissive, they may just need a break. A hack day. A week of lunging.
In other news, every single one of my students looked amazing upon their first lessons back.
Absolutely not a single person regressed at all. Not one inch. So kudos to all of you!
I am happy to be back home at Darenth. I am happy to be back with my awesome working student Hunter (even if he greeted me today by a snowball attack as I got out of my car).
I am happy to be back in my routine at home.
I am happy to once again be fully immersed in my Yoga practice.
I had such an amazing stay at Mayadinya south. Julia Beamish was a most gracious hostess and I really had a blast with her! The accommodations (her cottage and farm) were spectacular as well.
Stephen came every week to Mayadinya and taught us. I also took all the mares to Full Gallop to school a bunch of times.
I do feel like Aiken is my second home. Especially Julia's and Full Gallop.
It's really nice to feel like I have "roots" in more then one place.
I have a busy spring planned with all my girls and guys ( two legged and four legged). We will be doing the Loch Moy schooling events, Morven, and Redland CT (with XC schooling) to start.
Off to bed for me!
This Aiken experience has been much different then my past Aiken trips. I have gotten a chance to really reflect on my personal and professional goals and accomplishments.
My time spent working with Mr. Stephen Bradley has as usual proved to be beyond amazing.
My whole adult life has been spent driven by two thoughts.
"Where am I going"
And
"How do I get there".
Well where I want to go, is to the advanced level and how I have spent my time trying to get there is .....by any means necessary.
This has proven to be a roller coaster ride for myself, Dave, Maggie and my horses.
Last year was a good year. Probably one of the biggest years of growth for me in my own riding.
This spring I came to Aiken with a plan. I had a goal, a road and Beast was my ride there.
Beast is super fit, Beast is super sound and Beast has taken me to my goal. I can say with complete confidence that I am riding at the Advanced level.
Pine Top was going to be my chance to prove how far I had come to everyone.
Then it rained. Then I scratched. Then I realized something after being incredibly cranky for two days.
No one gives a shit about it but me. I don't have to prove anything to anyone but myself.
So where do I go now? My whole spring was based on Pine Top.
I started a train of thought that seemed to spiral to a lot of different areas. Money, time, my daughter, my husband, my horses, my students. There are so many factors.
I suppose what my goals come down to,for me, professionally is to be the best rider and instructor I can be.
I also want very much to be an excellent horsemen.
Beast is complicated. She is wild and insecure. She is my greatest teacher. She is outraged by the thought of holding a connection. She loves cross country and worries a bit in stadium. She spooks at silly things. She regularly kicks the vet when sedated. She is one of my greatest loves and she is probably not going to be competitive at the advanced level this year because of dressage and the intense pressure involved at that level. These things are all facts that I must sort through. The pressure that I would have to put on this horse to do what I want to do is not fair. It could change, but right now I must honor my crazy chestnut mare. She is fifteen and loves competing. She can skip around intermediate cross country like a walk in the park. I will probably skip a spring CCI and focus on polishing the basics. I'm going to make my students a priority and work my patootie off with Ava.
Ava has all the parts to be competitive at the upper levels and hopefully I will get a chance to experience that with her next year.
Instead of buying a nervous break down I think we are going to buy some chickens and do a giant vegetable garden at home. I'm going to work with Vanessa, Stephen and Sharon as much as possible. I'm going to spread the knowledge and light that these folks give me and I'm going to do right by my horses.
I'm going to breathe and know that by this summer Ava will hopefully be going Prelim and prepping for a fall CIC.
I'm going to go where I'm suppose to go and just trust I'm in the right place.
I am currently happy. My horses are currently happy, I'm moving towards my goals and I'm doing nothing harmful to get there.
I believe in myself and my program and that is a good feeling.
Aiken this year has been a good experience..... Except for the not showering when we lost power. That part really was awful.
Or close enough. Not just a regular man but a non showering, chain saw wielding, heavy lifting living in the same clothes i worked in, man. I slept in seven layers last night. My dog barked a lot because of the noises in the woods.
I came up with many escape plans from the Wagener townie that i imagined was out there, planning to kill us all.
One included driving my truck into Julia's house and saving the day.
My clothes are all filthy.
I swear that if my mares don't give me amazing results at the next few shows they are being retired.
I just got back to the farm and Kelley and Julia are collecting rain water from all of the melting surfaces. At least I live with other smart men.
Tomorrow my dressage times are five minutes apart. Kelley does xc then sj then dressage.
Let the s#*t show continue.
All of you that are sad about not being in Aiken. Here you go.
So i have ten minutes to catch up with the past couple weeks!
Things have been great but crazy busy. The mares are all doing well.
Sharon (Summers owner) was able to come down and watch Summer compete. Sharon also got to do some trail rides and Hitchcock Woods! Julia's horse Frankie was a happy companion for Sharon to take along.
Julia has out done herself with putting all of us up in her lovely cottage.
Summer continues to learn at an incredibly rapid rate. I find this intense training with her provides me with excellent insight into her individual needs.
Summer is both cocky and a bit needy. I had no idea she would be as careful as she is over the bigger fences. She will be much more at ease at Paradise this Friday in the training. She has a jump school both today and Wed.
Ava is also prepping for the Training at Paradise this Friday. Ava has been a joy as usual, all though she is a true chestnut mare. She hates to be corrected and often takes it personally. I have to stay totally calm and level when ever I'm on this little lady.
The Beast just put in a solid performance at Pine Top. I do regular check ins with my sports medicine vet, Jeff Beshear. (Best Sports Medicine vet ever).
Jeff checked her for me the day after she ran the intermediate. We can be proactive this way, and i can know that she is 110% going into the advanced at Pine Top.
Myra is still being my number one fan. She accompanies me everywhere i go.
Julia is unbelievable and I'm so so lucky to be staying with her.
Steve-o has been helping me step my game up. I'm feeling pretty on top of things right now. I'm going to try harder each day and give a little more then the day before.
I miss my little Magalicious and Dave. I can't wait to see them!
I will be looking at everyone's spring schedules and can't wait to pick up with everyone!!!!! :)
