Mary Mack

Daddy and the birthday diva

Mary Mack

For the grandparents....

Mary Mack

Mary Mack

Mary Mack

Birthday suit!

(her new bathing suit!)

Mary Mack

Mary Mack

Mary Mack

Mary Mack

Omg

Dave just told me that that's the bike lane. I never  knew. I have a new spot to ride my 10 speed. Or my stationary bike.

Mary Mack

Up up and awayyyyy

So we are leaving now to VA beach. We saved 300$ doing Priceline!
Lessons were awesome yesterday, such a blast.
Everyone looked and felt amazing.
Beast likes it when I put my leg on.

Callie does also. All though, I believe Callie is PMSing and Beast partied hard the night before.

It's so nice to ride with this group of people. We can all chat (quietly) and talk about what we see and feel.
Such a lovely farm.
Riley (Kim's horse) is amazing.
Of course, such a lovely instructor.
Peace

Yesterday was a good day.

Annie Larson riding Rae!!!

So I had many highlights yesterday.

1. Hannah Shipley riding Grey Goose in an XC lesson straight from a highschool sleep over.

It was like she was "sleep riding". Which worked out well because it helped keep Goose relaxed.

2.Hunter and Elizabeth's lesson.

The best was when Elizabeth came cantering back to me, leaving Hunter and Happy (pony) in the dust.

Hunter was trying out Beasts hackamore (bitless bridle) on Happy for games.

Hunter was also bareback.

Happy's head went straight down and Hunters smile never left his face as he wildly came running behind Elizabeth. He did however throw one arm up in the air for balance, looking like a very holister inspired cowboy, as Happy prepared to buck.

So funny.

What made it even funnier was that Kim (Hunters mom) continued playing with Maggie like nothing out of the ordinary was occuring.

3.Beasty and I hacked

4.Maggie rode Saphire the whole time Beasty and I hacked (double with Elizabeth holding her, and Paula helping)

5. Some of my ladies XC schooled at Loch Moy.....
A certain Jack Russel came to supervise. ...

Scruffy Nuffy Macklin.

They all looked FABULOUS.

Everyone schooled beg novice, some novice, and even a little Training for Annie!

Packer looked amazing and sound.

TGordon rocked out.

Julia and Princess did awesome. Julia gave those worries a "SLAP".

URBAN DICTIONARY DEFINITION OF SLAP......

slap	886 up, 276 down
	What the five fingers said to the face. I'm Rick James bitch!

COULD ANYTHING BE CUTER THEN THIS PICTURE?

Yes, yesterday was a good day.

Now Dave and I are heading to my lesson's with the awe inspiring Sharon White.

Hopefully we can get some clips of me, Kelley, Kim , Little Ossi, and whoever else may be in my groups.

Yesterday-Word Up

2011 Maryland Horse Trials - Intermediate XC

Beasty is in a Buzzertown video (around 5:20) she even got a slow-mo! Check out our course!!!!
Thanks Hannah for letting me know!!!!

The things they don't tell you

So before I had Maggie, everyone was full of advice. I HAD to have a rocking chair, epidural, lamaze, etc. Everyone told me everything that would happen. Except the stuff that actually did and does.
Babies can have rear end explosions that will get all the way on top of their heads. Babies (some) will sleep through the night at 6 weeks.
Babies, and as I have learned, toddlers will ALWAYS poop when its time to go. Usally waiting until you are setting them in the car seat. This is also when the dog will run away.
Babies nap a lot.
They especially like to repeat bad words.
If they are quietly playing, it usually means something very bad is happening. Like writing on the wall, or the discovery of dumping something wet, stainable, or both, on the floor.
The best laid plans generally end in a bust, or crying. The crying is generally done by the child, but often the ma ma. Although in my case, my daughter calls me Mary more often then ma ma.
My point is, Maggie has given me wonderful life training.
As I sit here in my car in the pouring down rain, I will not count the minutes of riding I'm missing. I will not think about the baby siting money I have spent just to sit in my car staring at the barn.
I will think of my little angel sleeping in her little pack and play with her little toddler friends sleeping near by.
I will think of my little mares tucked safely in the barn. 30 feet from me.
I will remind my self of how lucky I am.
I will say hi to you. I hope you have a good day.
Hi.

Mary Mack

Things That Make You Go Hmmmm....

Well, Beast got her glue on's with her pour in pads and her new fancy shoes.

I must say she feels really freaking good.

She will wear the glue on's for a few cycles to let her hoof walls grow out, or rather grow!

A thing of beauty those feet. Go team OYARZO!

The picture below Beasts feet is one of the Darenth Farm foxes. The greyish white thing above it is an angry birdy.

Did I mention she is three?

(You can click on the lower right hand to make the video larger...it's hard to see because of the dust. Good thing Mr. Nick just got the new waterer! We will put it to use once we fill the containers with rain run off from the roofs. How green and clever!)

All four mares were great this am. I got up at 6 to have a productive day, and that we did!!!

Horse lingo 001

In college I took math 001. I am not proud of this but now that I made it through, I can admit it.

The wiggidy wiggidy wack part is that I took it multiple times.

How many times I won't admit.

The hardest part of math was attending.

Any ways, a remedial horse lingo post has been requested. So here goes.....

Eventing-the horse triathlon.

the three phases are...........

Dressage-french word for training

dres·sage/drəˈsäZH/

Noun: The art of riding and training a horse in a manner that develops obedience, flexibility, and balance.

Beasts definition of dressage is "wiggidy wack"

Cross Country-the reason eventers event

Here is the wikipedia def-

requires both horse and rider to be in excellent physical shape and to be brave and trusting of each other. This phase consists of approximately 12–20 fences (lower levels), or 30–40 at the higher levels, placed on a long outdoor circuit. These fences consist of very solidly built natural objects (telephone poles, stone walls, etc.) as well as various obstacles such as ponds and streams, ditches, drops and banks, and combinations including several jumping efforts based on objects that would commonly occur in the countryside.

Beast definition of cross country is WORD UP.

Hmmmm Word Up-that may replace "Pass"

Show Jumping- show jump·ing

Noun: The competitive sport of riding horses over a course of fences and other obstacles in an arena, with penalty points for errors. More »

Wikipedia - Answers.com - Merriam-Webster - The Free Dictionary

Levels of eventing

Intro/Baby Beginner

Beginner Novice

Novice

Training

Preliminary

Intermediate

Advanced

Some other terms commonly used-

Hacking- a walk while mounted

green-an uneducated horse

schooling-practicing

farrier-he who shoeth

(Just so you know....

shoeth	1 thumb down
	shoeth shoo-th, shoethed, shoething -noun 1. A shoe investigator. 2. An investigator of everything having to do with shoes. (ie. size, color, type, style, fashionability, etc.) We need a good shoeth. Someone needs to figure out how the hell my left foot is naked, while my right foot is double hugged with two cherokee style, cheddar cheese flavored, neon orange, baby skinned moccasins.)

Please add comments of commonly used horse terms for those who don't know!

Every bit helps! Ok, I'm ghost....parade waves

►

wiggidy wiggidy wiggidy wack

wiggidy-wack
Not regular type.
"Yall are so wack!"
"Wiggidy-wack?"
"Nope, just regular type."

This is the definition of "wiggidy wack" from the urban dictionary.
I have decided that instead of pass and fail, I will do pass (until I find a word more appropriate ) and wiggidy wack.
I may use the initials ww for short.
I am a poor typer, so I use all the short cuts I can.

So Wed I went to the farm around 1:00 with great expectations. That ended when I saw my poor horses covered in sweat with the word miserable written across their foreheads. Callie's "miserable" was pronounced with a Spanish accent, I am not sure why.
I checked Beasts shoes-two were a little loose.
My amazing farrier came and tightened them until she gets her glue ons today (Fri)!!!! Yayyyy for Beast, Booo for the additional cost.
Hopefully just a cycle or two, and we will be good to go.
Kevin is the best!
I went home Wed feeling very hot and full of unspent energy.
Beasty did get a much deserved week off. She will go back to work on Sunday.
Thursday I was much smarter and got to the barn around 8.
I did Summer first, since she is suppose to compete on Sunday. What a dream. She does feel a tiny bit keen at times, I am hoping that stays with her as she grows older. I think it will be that aspect of her personality that will help her enjoy the jumping.
Summer has been gifted by god with the genes of a serious upper level horse. I am already thinking about her fitness and what will be the best low impact way to preserve her amazing body (though a bit portly and tailless right now) while being prepared to make cross country times when desired.
The endless walking will start soon.
Callie was next, she wasn't down with the whole working thing but it was too hot to tantrum. We had some really great trot work.
By the time I got to Cow girl (Laney's Prelim horse Kaliente) it was just walking, then a bath. What a sweetheart this mare is.
All of these rides were done in our amazing ring!!!!!!!!

A big thanks to Mr. Nick Dawson!!! His new equipment and hard work make our ring fabulous!!!!

It will be all set for next Tuesday's show jump schooling day!

Today my Aunts and Uncle are coming for lunch.

Then next week ...

It has been decided..
Virginia Beachhhh!

I can't wait!!!

So now for the Pass and Wiggidy Wacks-

Our ring and it's new and improved footing- PASS

Summer (the horse)-Pass

This Heat-Wack

Tropical Rider breeches-PASS

Scruffy running off yet again-Wack

Recieving a random check from Comcast-Pass

Kari leaving her cooler of food in the truck to ferment-Wack

Me seeing it and leaving it to ferment for four more days-Wiggidy Wack

Kevin Oyarzo-Pass

Kim Keating-Pass

Mythic Landing Events-Pass

Sharon White-Pass

Maggie saying "Mary sit....Mary,Maaaaaaewry,"-undecided.....Wiggidy Pass?

The cooler still being in my truck even now as I type this-Wiggidy wiggidy wiggidy WACK

Who is more amazing?

Who is more amazing?

My friend Katherine and her photography or my mare and her chestnutness.

These pictures make me teary eyed. I am so thankful to have the three amazing mares to ride that I do, that they are healthy, but more importantly the amazing friends that I have that are like family to me.

Relaxxxxxxxxx

Here we are. Maggie and I, with a baba,tall glass of water, sprout tv (lifetime or ID when she naps).
Finally a full day off. We are going to go for a walk later, not too late though.... it's going to be hot! Scruffy and Bob (dogs) are hoping I will take them also. I sure hope we can fence in our yard for them someday soon.
I love thinking about days off. The idea of having nothing to do is so relaxing. Then when the time arrives for me to do nothing, I find myself restless. Days off usually end in a complete overhaul of the house. Dusting, windows, the whole nine yards.

In other news....

Someone special turns two soon!!!! No, not a horse....

Someone SUPER special.
Majella Elizabeth Macklin!
Dave and I have vacation next week, so the 30th will be all about Mags.

Kari will help me keep my mares all in working order while I am gone.
Summer and Callie were little baskets of agreeableness yesterday. Summer is practicing for her PVDA show on Sunday. Callie is practicing for the dressage score in the 20's that she will earn at Waredaca.
Next week we have a jump lesson with the amazing Sharon White.
I was going to give Beast a few days off, then put her back to work early next week. But based on her GIANT attitude yesterday though, she will at least walk this week. Maybe a flat ride or two, maybe a lesson with Fred.
Beast knows she is something special now. I don't know how they figure it out, but Knick did the same thing after his first one star.
I will keep telling her she is right. She is an advanced horse in the making.

I believe.

Mahogany Beauteo

Here is the chestnut in all her glory. Karen Adams may not have loved, liked or even thought it was sufficient, but I am pretty damn proud!!!

Beasty's first intermediate dressage test-Pass
Worrying about anyone else's opinion-Fail

Beast Loch Moy Intermediate

Kari/Knickerbocker Training Loch Moy

Here is the star pupil, Kari Archambault. One tough lady.

some photos!!!(more to come)

Here is Alexa on Josie Posie! They put in a great dressage test and had two wonderful jump rounds!
Dave and Mags took Sunday off from Loch Moy and did some serious hanging out!
Beasty's 4th jump on the Intermediate (you can see 4b in the background), I'm so happy to have a mare with springs for legs!
Jazzy being a good girl! She is trying hard not to touch the rails!!!

Mary Macklin and Mahogany Beauto. Intermediate.

Awesome Margret Rizzo (Mythic Landing Events) took this video!

WHOOP WHOOP!!!!

Well Beast was perfect.
I had a "oh no say it aint so" moment when I realized I HAD THE SAME JUDGE AS LAST WEEKEND. She liked me even less this week, but Beast was great.
There is the simple reality that though Beast is incredible in jumping, she both struggles with and is not fond of the flat.
The judge was very accurate in what was wrong with Beast, just SUPER harsh.
Her collective marks were better this week, so I walked away with something. Beast was obedient, tried super hard, did all the movements, and I was happy. Vanessa will have us lowering our scores in no time-just like she did with the prelim!
Maybe Fred can get on her a few times also!
Beast was PERFECT jumping!!!
Show jumping was great.
Katherine said "She will go in, notice that the fences are bigger, then decide she doesn't care."
It is exactly what she did.
Then she skipped around the XC like it was a walk in the park.
Beasty climbed her way up to a 9th place finish in a super competitive division!!!

Katherine Rizzo-Pass
Margret Rizzo-Pass
Sharon O-Pass
Dave- ***Pass***(the stars are kisses)
Alison-Pass
Maggie was the best groom EVER!!!!
Kari rocked it. She had a phenomenal dressage, show jumped clean, and went XC clean!!!
She ended 5th in a super competitive division! Knick just loves her to pieces.
I will post photos and video...

Em was awesome!!!! Great dressage (as usual). She did a great job in the SJ, Jazz had a few peeky moments. She rode her through it, took the time to re-present correctly and ended confidently. The mare just wants to be careful, so we will get her feeling good with a few jumper shows. They went GREAT XC!!!!

Loch Moy is such a great event, the xc footing is perfect (for July ), volunteers are awesome, just a really great venue. So happy to have gone.....I will be going back tomorrow for round 2!!!

A huge shout out to Stephen Bradley for walking the courses with me, he's the best.
A huge shout out to Sharon White. Her help has been instrumental to my success. She has such a knack for horses, people, and the communication between the two!
I was so happy to see her today. Just knowing she was there made me feel great!
They are both such wonderful people, and I can't say enough good things about them.
Hopefully I will be able to watch Stephen tomorrow while I am their coaching!

It was so nice to have everyone around, and so friendly!!
OK TIME TO EAT!!!!
I will post photos and video soon!

Another PASS

Eventing Nation http://www.eventingnation.com/home/ PASS.

And in my efforts to find a super cute chinchilla, I could not ignore this.....

platypus

Stuff

What a week!

Tuesday I had an OMG ride on Beast (good) then yesterday, after leaving her in while her mare friends went out, I had another OMG ride on her (not so good).

She worked into the right frame of mind after about 20 minutes and then we had some pretty good work.

I also had Summer left in for me, we never made it as far as a ride. We opted for some lungeing after a less then productive attempt at a walk to the ring. Summer is after all three years old, and days of naughtiness are few and far between so I will pick and choose my battles.

I won't go into details but the consensus is that Summer sure is beautiful as she runs away down the driveway, straight at poor Nick coming home after a hard long days work.

Callie was wonderful yesterday in her lesson with Stephen. It was POURING down rain during the whole thing and all three horses in my group acted like it was a normal situation. I love these animals.

Nico did some amazing work today. Stunning he is.

Val and Hannah both ROCKED OUT in their lessons! Both Marley and Raven looked perfect.

Katie and Alison had really good flat rides in the dressage ring at Serra Valley. Both ladies had their horses connected! Buckshot is something else when he is into the bridle!

Kari and Knick had the perfect tune up for Loch Moy.

My other Hannah, Elizabeth, and Ameriah all did grid work. Hannah S is teaching Goose(new horse) the ropes. Ameriah and Elizabeth have made great strides in their position.

Alison and Riley looked awesome today also!!!!

So tomorrow I will walk the course with Stephen, clean up Beasty, do my mandatory pre-competition yoga, and clean tack. Summer and Callie will do a little something also.

Now I am going to stuff my face with food and watch Dateline while Maggie sleeps. Then its back out to teach Em on her two fabulous horses!

Here are my random pass and fails....

Ugg flip flops - Fail

Plastic flip flops from grocery store-pass

F.I.T.S breeches -pass

F.I.T.S breeches in July and trying to use the porta potty real quick between horses at a show-Fail

(They stick to you as well as the stick to the saddle)

( ....I just ordered tropical riders and will post my opinion in case any one cares)

Maggie Macklin-Pass

Maggie Macklin calling me "Mary"- undecided

Margret Rizzo-Pass (thanks for the silver stuff)

The weather channel saying it was going to be 105 yesterday-FAIL (I'm glad only a few lessons got canceled)

Kaliente-Laney's horse who is currently at our farm -Pass

(What a sweetheart!)

Vitamin B stress complex (for people)- PASS

Beasts new supplements (including the pelleted electrolytes since she will not eat powder)- Pass

Callie on Mare Magic- Pass

Having to use the trailer that the barn swallows made a nest in-Fail

Watching the barn swallows swarm the nest when I bring the trailer back to it's spot(just eggs in it so far)-Pass

Knowing I will not be driving it once the eggs hatch-undecided

Success but no Pool

Never could I be more proud!

Em did an amazing job Training at MDHT!!!!! She was third after dressage. Then rode well in SJ but the footing had gotten deep. She had a few sticky moments costing her a few rails.Then she rode her heart out, and Jazz jumped her heart out XC. They looked perfect. I am so proud of Emily, how far she has come, how hard she has worked, and how awesome her horses are!!!!

Mags had a pretty high fever yesterday, so after Maryland HT, I met Dave at the urgent care. Poor little bear has a virus on top of her ear infection (at least the ear infection appears to be almost gone).

Back at home turf, I hear Alexis and Katie went to Morgan run for a trail ride. I saw Kari and Alison coming back from a hack, and Sharon L. and the ladies out on a trail ride.

It is so nice to have such a wonderful group at our farm.

Nick was of course on his way out to go do some work in the fields. His work ethic is nothing short of a miracle.

I haven't seen Taylor in a while. I'm hoping we can have a big group lesson soon so everyone can catch up!!!

My amazing farrier is coming to put Beasts pour in pad back in today (hopefully) (go team OYORZO). The farrier at Loch Moy did a good job getting Beasts shoe back on, but we held off on the pour in pad. I have iced, poulticed, and prayed..................................... In reverse order though.

Knickerbocker and Kari will make their long over due debut this weekend at Loch Moy, Em and her two, Beasty and myself, and Alexa and Josie. It should be a good time!!!!!

They have the BEST volunteers (they even don't give you dirty looks when your 5 year old takes a swipe at them and their stupid water bucket, Callie really thought she was something important after that novice).

Love, Love, Love the shuttle. The ground was great, and the gnats were not bad!!!!

I have a lesson with Stephen B. this Wed. Probably just Callie since Beasty lost that shoe and is suppose to run again on Sat.

I can't wait to tell Sharon W. all about Beast and Callie. I will resist the urge to send her emails including detailed photos and video. Dave will have to suffer a little extra.

I am so grateful for both of them and their amazing teaching skills.

Also Vanessa and Fred. I can't believe how far my girls have come. Even if the judge doesn't know amazing chestnutness when she see's it ;)

Just joking...... I will work on the Magic tension erasing serum for Beastys top line.

Mags is enjoying a Horse and Hound, ginger ale, and sprout t.v.

I think we will be spending the day like this with a restless Jack Russel, and a gassy Bob (the other dog).

I am looking forward to the busy week ahead and getting Summer ready for ............................................................................................................................................

HER FIRST PVDA SHOWWWWW!!!!

WHOOO HOOOO

YAY

My girls were perfect. I could not be any happier with either of them.

Beast was beyond perfect in all three phases. She ended 9th in the open Prelim!

Callie was bored by me asking so little of her. She only wanted to buck me off on the walk to dressage warm up. She ended fifth after a stellar performance in all three phases.

A big thanks to Kristen, Sharon O, Dave and Maggie!!!!!!

Beast continues to amaze me with her cat like style around the course. What an amazing feeling.

Callie cracks me up with how bored she already feels at Novice.

What characters these two.

I'm off to coach Em at Loch Moy then poolside with Dave, Mags, and Katherine!!!!

Beast loch moy The beast has wings

July 9, 2011 12:14 PM

Alison thru the water!!!

Mary Mack

Mary Mack

Fwd: Awesome

Mary Mack

That's what today was! Beast and Callie were perfect in my lessons with Sharon. She really is an amazing instructor.
We did some wonderful exercises, and I am so happy with both of them.
Alison did amazing on Buck! They had a limited warm up for dressage. This is partially my fault. I didn't want Buck to get tired and shut down. Alison wanted a long warm up (it would have been tough with the course walk) next time we will make it happen. Alison and Buck had some amazing work in the warm up after the test.
August will bring them 3 fix a tests :).
The xc was perfect. I couldn't have asked either of theme to go better.
Yayyyy wednesday!

Mary Mack

Hannah Youngblood cross country....

The pony is for sale!!!!!!

Hannah cross country....

I love my students

Recap

My internet is down. Or house got struck by lightening in  one of the storms. So blogging is difficult.
We had the best 4th ever.
All my students did awesome this weekend.
I have the best daughter ever. She is fighting an ear infection, but she is a super trooper.
My mares both went nuts this am raced across the field and pulled front shoes. One of the other mares zapped themselves and it was drama central.
Fortunately I have the best farrier EVER and he came out and fixed the girls. I iced their feet first so hopefully they will be ok for loch moy! They did a flat lesson with Vanessa, they were amazing. My abs hurt from their awesome trots. I was lunged at the canter, I had a breakthrough!
Tomorrow the girls are jumping with Sharon.
Kari and Alison are going to the Waredaca show. Annie is coming also, but not riding.
That's all for now! I'm of to eat vegetable curry.
Going full vegetarian-super easy.
Giving up caffeine-not so easy.

Mary Mack

This is my version

His name is bob

Mary Mack

This is a great dog

And his name is Angus.

Mary Mack

more photos from the show...