Someone....

Bumped his head on the way to aiken. Poor Jack!
We are getting him all fixed up!

Mary Mack

Green = happy

Watching stephen teach. Fiesta rocked it today!

Mary Mack

Hi mary. I thought you took to   long riding Fiesta. I did something to punish you. I hear this hay is expensive.

Mary Mack

Happy

The last two days have been super busy, and awesome.

Beasty flat schooled yesterday and after being very wound for the first 15 minutes, we had some very obedient work. She did a canter set on Sat, had Sun off, so not so shabby for a hay bale thief.

Today the little rocket had a lesson with Mr. Bradley himself.

We started out show jumping (she was pretty much perfect) and then headed out XC.

We jumped right into it with a smaller table, medium then some bigger stuff.

Oh Beasty, how you can fly.

We did the water complex and did it pretty darn well.

Stephen reminded me politely that perhaps I should "sit" to my fences cross country.

I started laughing so hard. OF COURSE I SHOULD!!!! I am not sure what I was doing, but I got just the tune up I needed.

What a blast!

Callie ......wait for it.......... went for a long hack yesterday.

I stalked some people and joined them on their hack. Callie was a little angel!

It made me so happy!

Today she jammed out on the cross country. She did Training level questions, trakheners, bank complex, water drops, all with ease and man was she a happy horse. She is getting all shiny and round (well as round as a Callie can get).

Fiesta did light dress yesterday (such a nice mover) and today she hacked around and got to look at all the things she will be jumping soon!

Tomorrow Katherine and her two boys come, and Friday Alison comes!!!!

I have lessons with Steve-o on Thursday and Friday then we are going to walk courses Friday afternoon.

Beasty competes this weekend, then both girls next weekend.

Fiesta will do a combined test next week and aim for her beginner novice debut!!!!!

I have found the coolest book here in my little house. It's all about yoga and meditation and stuff. I have my "mind gym" book, and some other stuff to read as well.

There hasn't been a whole lot of time to read, but when there is, it has been nice.

I like having had a week of alone time. At first it was sort of awkward. Like I had awkward silence with my self. Then I kind of annoyed myself, like on the hour drive to Pine Top. Now I have made up with my self and I am getting along well.

I'm kinda cool actually.

That's how I should introduce my self to other people....In the third person and then tell them that I am cool.

That would definitely help in the friend department.

I am faithfully doing the work outs that Kari sent me. She told me at the email that we could change anything I wanted to.

I hate the work out, all of it. It all hurts so I guess that means I don't want to change a thing. ;)

I can use my new yoga state of mind to remain calm while I do things that hurt like child birth.

OK, me and myself are going to do a little competition calender for Fiesta pants.

Talk soon.

Thank you Katie C and Julia for the update emails on your horses.

The rest of you are delinquent. I am still a busy body 500 miles away and would like to know how things are going.

Toodles.

Fiesta has landed

Mary Mack

Fwd: Knick

This email is about my retired horse Knick. He is ridden by two lovely ladies at my home farm.
Knick was never behaved for me. He always spooked and was often pulling stunts in the dressage ring.
He would still be like that with me now.....but he loves being a teacher.
I'm so happy my students are taking this time to be independent.
It's hard to be independent (especially when you are used to an awesome husband, daughter, and farm owner......then you are in aiken and convince yourself you are in a lifetime movie with a stalker living in your attic).

I draw inspiration from my students. In all seriousness. You guys all rock.
Thanks Julia, your email means a lot.

Mary Mack

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Julia Fitzgerald" <jfitz129@yahoo.com>
Date: Feb 27, 2012 9:49 AM
Subject: Knick
To: "Mary Macklin" <mary.macklin1@gmail.com>
Cc: "Alison Bowyer" <abowyer@conwater.com>

Hi Mary!!!

How are you and the girls?! We miss you but we are glad you are having a good time according to your blog :]

I wanted to give Knick some props on being an AMAZING boy yesterday :D Yesterday was my first time jumping him with out you and I was soooo nervous. When I brought him in from the field Nick Dawson was using an electric saw nearby and turned it on as we were walking in. Knick reared and spun and freaked out which did not help my nerves and when I set up the jumps he was so excited! When I got on and warmed up he was ready to go and as we came to the first jump I pulled and released, pulled and released (literally saying it out loud) and he slowed and trotted over and was PERFECT the whole time :) Even when Nick turned the saw back on while we were riding he got a little tense but ignored it and was so so sweet. I think he knew I was nervous! We just did the little cross rails in a figure-8 and he wanted to do more but was ok when he realized that we weren't going higher but did the exercise a fair amount of times and was aloud to canter around at the end of each little course! He was so good it made me want to cry; He got a big hug and scratch on the neck each time. He knew I was scared and was just such a good boy I couldn't believe it! It was definitely a confidence boost for me doing it without you and having him behave. I was having a mini heart attack before but I just remembered everything you told me, stayed in two-point after then jump so I didn't get pushed and pulled around, gave him his head, tried to relax and half-halted. It was a really exciting day for me and I wanted to share it with you!

I hope all is well with you!! Knick is doing great and Alison and I are not obsessing over his every little dramatic cut or stiff leg ;)

Love,

Julia and Knick

Good morning mary. I didn't think you gave me enough hay so I took the liberty of pulling a bale in my self.
Oh, but I'm in heat so I pee peed on all of it.

Mary Mack

I miss my little bear

Mary Mack

Stephen Bradley pine top advanced

Stephen bradley pine top advanced

Poor Jan and at least one other rider have been held on course. I'm not sure the reason but I believe there has been a fall.
Being held on course or even at the start is nerve racking and so disruptive.
It's impressive to watch Jan handle it with such ease.

Mary Mack

Do you think they would like it.....

If I sat in the cab and screamed honk honk as they approached?

Pine top is great. Everyone looks awesome out here. Waiting for Stephen to go!

Mary Mack

Mary Macklin, party of one

Mary Mack

Stuff

Just pulled up to Pine Top Horse Trials. The view is from my truck. They are suppose to start XC in a few.I will post videos.

My girls did combined tests yesterday. They were both perfect. ....... Except when they had to wait on the trailer. Then they were the opposite of perfect.
Poor Callie ended up with a 50 min warm up in the sand. She was a little tired for her test but it worked out well. I rode her low and made her sit at the same time. The judges marks reflected this so I was super happy. Callie show jumped perfectly but was pretty bored. I worry her move up to training is past over due.

Beast jammed out. She actually got 8s on all the stuff Vanessa and I have worked on......CAUSE VANESSA ROCKS.  Beasty had"bold" lengthenings, had prompt and obedient transitions (can you believe it?) Beasty got an 8 on her gaits and the judge stopped me to tell me how she was such a nice mare.

If she only knew.
Her read headed self was breath taking in show jumping. I did a few rounds with her and she didn't touch a thing. Not even the air two feet above the jumps.

I celebrated with some pho.
Yay.

Ok I will put up some stuff from pine top soon. If I don't blow away in a tornado.

Mary Mack

Mary Mack

Mary Mack

Where am I

I am sending this from my phone so I can only format it a certain way. I have included pictures of the barn the girls are in (there are 6 or 7 total), the girls in their turn out, the view from their stalls, the hacking area (cross country), and the owner and her entourage of dogs. One is going to be adopted out. Uh oh. It is in the high 70s, with FLY's!!!!! (My phone kept trying to auto correct flys into a bad word used to describe girls who like a lot of male companionship :)

Please (students) send me emails of all your progress. I do look forward to hearing from you and miss you all! Those of you who have not received lesson plans from me yet, I will send them tonight now that I am settled in!
Mary Mack

Happy

Today was just happy.

All of it.

I lunged Callie for about 15 minutes (spent mostly bucking and leaping) then put her in her stall to relax while I rode Beast.

Beasty and I hacked the grounds at Full gallop and checked out all the cross country.

She started to feel a little excited as I headed over to the water complex.

When I walked up to the lip, I wasn't sure what to expect from this mare.

She is often a bit slow and suspicious her first walk through the water this time of year. The last time we were at a water was at Virginia when she stopped and I pulled her up.

Well, she got to the edge and then splashed both front feet in like a little kid in a puddle!

Then she hurried in and pawed and splashed very happily.

We walked for another 30 minutes and did some light dress. She feels great.

Callie got ridden next. She had some amazing trot work and lulled me into a false sense of security.

When we started cantering, I was happy to have my grab strap on! She worked out of it quickly and settled down to do some stellar stuff.

Both girls went out then to their day time paddock and boy were they happy!

Beast was trotting SO FANCY! She was snorting and leaping and Callie was mirroring her every move.

I cleaned all my tack, did all the other chores, chatted with a few folks and now here I am in my little townhouse typing away!

It is like 77 degrees out so I am off to watch some lessons in the sun................or fall asleep. What ever happens first.

I really feel like I belong here, like this is a step in my personal path that is right. I have to again thank my amazing husband who I adore and am so in love with.

With out him none of this would be possible.

All of my students, you all rock. Also with out you, I could not be doing this.

OK I have some bettering of myself to do.

I will put up more photos later.

It's good

The girls are eating especially beast!!!!!! Gotta love ulcer gaurd.
I'm getting ready to hack (after callie gets exhausted on the lunge).
Dave is on his way to work......via airplane!
It's already warm on my neck as I type this.
Life is good.

Mary Mack

Yes.

Mary Mack

Maggie the morning after her first big girl sleep over!!!!

Mary Mack

And we are off!

Got up at 4 to take a shower. It's funny that I shower for my car ride to full gallop but not to things like family gatherings!
Pulled out at about 530 from "A Bit Better".
Everyone there rocks.
I'm so thankful for my time spent there.

I have a happy Callie, and a slightly worried Beast on the trailer.
Fiesta (Vegas Show Girl) will hopefully be arriving on Sat. As in true mare fashion, she developed a little infection in a tiny cut right before departure.
Women always like to add a little drama to events!
Dave and I are taking turns driving.
Maggie had a successful first over night at Kims!
2 miles from north Carolina!!!!!!

Mary Mack

Every jump I have ever jumped has always had a distance.

Every single one.

Every single one.

It may not have been a distance I liked, but it was there.

Why do I still look for it like it might not be there? Like maybe it will be hiding.

I have realized this little bit of amazingness and now I can fully believe.

I should take wedding vows with believing.

For better or worse.

Jimmy Wofford said he "never got to a distance he didn't like"

I get it.

Find your canter girls and boys, find your canter.

What a great couple of days it has been.

Super busy, but a blast!

Thursday my horses got the day off and had a pedicure. I can not express how awesome their feet look.

I genuinely didn't know Beast could have feet like this. I am so lucky to have a farrier that does such a good job and more importantly CARES. Kevin is constantly on the search for knowledge and it shows.

Friday was a day of traveling.

Mags went to Dina's in New Market to spend the day with her friends.

From New Market I went to Mt Airy to get acupuncture (my acupuncturist is another AMAZING member of my team.... http://www.corywalsh.com/bio/ ).

After acupuncture, it was off to Darenth to teach Sharon (she rode beautifully).

Then I headed to the gym for a work out with Kari. Kari is yet another AMAZING member of my team, Kari is currently doing an awesome certification for personal training with equestrians! It sounds amazing, it is super detailed and based out of California.

Then off to teach Heather. Heather and Bolter are doing really well. We have found the secret to his canter!

I swung by home after Heather's lesson for a snack, then off to "A Bit Better"!

I had two lessons with Vanessa. My mares are ready to rock out.

Then off to teach Court and her wonderful gelding, then Rachel, and finally Lisa!

All three ladies impressed me.

I love days like these. It all went so smoothly, I knew I was doing just what I should be doing with my life right now.

Today miss Beasty and I had the best jump school EVER. A huge thanks to Kim for helping me. It was really nice to have a set of really highly trained eyes on the ground.

Beast did clear a good 6 feet today (the jump was only 3'3'') and the coolest part?

I didn't even cuss! :)

I am finally finding a really secure place on that horse where I can just go with her! (Thanks Kari for kicking this butt into shape)

Beast is really happy about her body parts working, her tummy feeling good, and the lymes stuff out the window (fingers crossed).

It is a little scary at this level to trust my self. Only I know what I feel. I spent a good chunk of money getting this little grasshopper of a horse feeling this way. I am so damn glad it was all worth it. All worth it and THEN some.

As I do the final preparations to head to Aiken I do feel a bit sad.

I am not going to see Maggie for a good two weeks and that thought seems overwhelming.

I will miss Dave so very much. (So excited that he is driving down with me though!!!! He is able too because the Fabry family ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

Dave and Mags will be visiting Aiken and then staying with me!

I am going to miss my students and my family at Darenth so much.

I really do love everyone at Darenth and I am already excited about my homecoming at the end of March.

Kari and Sharon will be getting Summer ready for me. Next year she might be getting clipped for Aiken!!!! ;)

Time for burritos, family time and "The Voice".

February 15, 2012 5:33 PM

Katie and Willis!!!!!

get it girl, get it.....

Callie was feeling goooooooooooooood today.

First time in an outdoor in awhile.

Awesome Chiro and accupuncture session prior to this.

Thanks to Liz!!!!! She is saying "riding with the cool precision of a surgeon" in the beginning of the video. That's what Jimmy had said earlier. He was full of quotes and awesome knowledge today!

Whoop Whoop!

Just FYI, My last blog was totally not any attempt as a cryptic message to anyone. I apologize if it came off as that! I keep this blog as a diary off my thoughts.

I appreciate so much the candid blog posts from people like Sinead Halpin and Jennie Brannigan. It's my little attempt at giving back.

I like to write, I like to think, so I like to blog.

I like to learn, I guess I like to grow older.

Being a teen and early 20's is hard. This 30's thing seems pretty awesome.

Transition to my awesome experience today....

I bought my mares grain for Aiken today.

I put it in the bed of the truck and drove to go teach at Darenth. Of course it starts sprinkling and I was sure it was going to turn into a storm and ruin my expensive purchase.

I parked under cover at the shell station and called one of my two super practical friends...Katherine.

"Why don't you just put it in the cab? Or as much as you can at least?"

I would be embarassed to admit in my panic, this didn't even cross my mind......But like I just said, I am trying to embrace this "being down with reality thing" so I am down with being an internal blonde.

Now we go on to problem 2, my neck.

All though my neck is now pain free, the last thing I want to do is re-injure it before my Jimmy Wofford clinic tomorrow!

I started carefully lifting as Maggie asked me if it was heavy and an older man came and helped me!

Yayyyyyy nice people!!!!!!

The grain is now safely in my trailer.

Time for valentines eggplant parmesan!

Faith

You have to.

It's as simple as that.

You have to believe in yourself, that's number one. If you can't, you have to find a way to.

You have to believe in your horse.

You have to foster their confidence. If they feel worried, if they look at a jump or resist a dressage movement, you have to tell them that you know they can do it.

It should not be emotional. It should be curious.

Not "Gosh darn it do it. You are not doing it because you are trying to be bad." (FYI this is crazy thoughts)

It has to be "Hmm this is hard for you. You are fine." "Here are some exercises to better prepare you."

Don't get me wrong, there is a time and a place for a stick, but that is not what I am talking about here.

So what else do we believe in?

Well that is up to you. Choose carefully.

At least, I have to choose carefully.

I choose to keep it simple.

If I don't keep it simple, I can get confused.

If I call someone that I know will give me the advice I want to hear, it is a pointless conversation.

I must call someone who's opinion is honest and who I value and trust.

I must keep it simple.

I must believe.

In the horse world, I especially must believe.

I believe in my vet, I believe in my 4 main instructors (Vanessa, Stephen, Sharon, and Jimmy).

I think these are all good choices.

I have to believe in them completely, I have to believe in them when I think they may be wrong, they know more then I.

But in order to do that, and do that wisely I must always combine it with believing in myself.

This is so simple but also so complicated.

At my level I must sift through the information and store it. I have to take it for what it is to me now and know that it may mean more later.

I have to keep decisions and ideas, clear and concise.

I must know that as I am always trying to do my best, so are the people I hold faith and devotion in.

If I do not understand something , I will ask. That is the part where believing in myself comes into play.

I must believe in my values, my husband, my daughter.

I can only choose positive people to be in my life. I am very thankful that I am at a place in life where this currently seems possible.

I have spent years in my life trying to control the uncontrollable. Trying to prevent the unthinkable. Running on empty and forgetting to breathe. I have spent more recent years learning how to let it be. Work my hardest to get to where I want to go, but be open to alternate routes.

Life seems to have a good flow when I let it.

I have noticed more and more lately to choose not to believe in some things.

A negative comment, a negative thought.

That little voice inside that doubts, a little voice outside that doubts.

PEOPLE THAT DON'T BELIEVE IN ME. They have no place in my life.

I know that I will make mistakes, as will all the people close to me. It is a wonderful thing, a chance to learn and grow. I just have to remember that, I have to remember this.

I seek out strength, but a quiet strength. A confidence, but not a showy act.

I want knowledge and truth.

I promise to myself and to the internet, every time I canter to a fence, I will believe.

Every time I go down the center line, I will believe.

Every time my horse dwells, bucks, trips, disrupts, I will believe more.

Life is good. It's all a point of view.

Kari kaliente 1

Another one of the fabulous ladies.......

Kari, kaliente

Kari has done such an awesome job with Kaliente.

I got excited and missed the last jump.

Alexis, Fance

Alexis did a great job with Fancy today!!!

http://www.equisearch.com/horses_riding_training/news-flash-great-riders-are-made-not-born/2/

Check it out

You will all be happy to know....

The hard working, super husband, wonder dad, got himself a man toy for valentines day.

Mary Mack

Beast va ht

I had to re-post this.

It is too funny.

Not as much that I almost fall off at the 3rd fence, just because Beast is a back cracker........but more her reaction.

You can watch her ears, and hear her think........

"Sh!t. Why is she on my neck. um Should I tro...... No? We cool?" (this is when I pat her) "OK, we cool"

Horses are so funny.

They do not question the funniest things.

Oh dear

Now I have hurt my neck.

Maggie and I are waiting until this afternoon for a driver to go to the Urgent care.

My neck has a tendency to lock every couple years, requiring professional help.

My sister and brother in law advised against taking the horse methacarbanol I have in the house.

I listened to them, much to my dismay.

Thank god I have AWESOME peeps.

Katie is going to do Beasty's canter set for me today.

Callies job today is to gain weight.

Katherine is on board to flat my girls with Vanessa tomorrow if I am still helpless.

Summer is cool with another day off.

Fortunately, Maggie and I have a clean house to mope in. Maggie has been such a star for me this week.

I have been stuck in the "I'm stuck and I can't get up" position for 20 hours.

Maggie is good at retrieving the remote and bringing cups to me. If only she could reach the faucet and drive to the store for UTZ party mix.

I will take this opportunity to read some more sports psychology, teaching/coaching methods, and stalk.....I mean research show jumping videos.

So this crazy week continues.

Maggie's little house of friends (her babysitter) has been canceled most of this week.

Dave told me to take it as a sign to have an easy week, ugh.

At first I ignored him but Dave is usually right so I decided to make the best of a surprise situation!

Maggie and I got a TON of cleaning done yesterday.

Toilets scrubbed, furniture re-arranged, dusting, laundry, you name it.....we did it.

Then Maggie came with me to lunge Beast and Callie.

I can't believe how successful this was.

She actually played in the corner of the ring as I lunged both of them!!!

When I lunged Beasty, Maggie would wander close to us and Beast would make her circle really small so she was close to me and Maggie could have extra room! It was so stinkin cute.

When I lunged Callie, Maggie was more tired, so she just sat quietly playing a game. When Maggie did distract me though, Callie would use the excuse to move a bit slower.

Dave met me at Kelley's so I headed to Darenth to teach some amazing students!

Ameriah did an amazing job with a very agreeable and star jumper, Buckshot.

Hunter and Fance looked awesome (as always).

Hannah did a great job with Harmony. Harmony deployed all distraction maneuvers....spooking, speeding, and sideways, but Hannah prevailed with patience!

Piper and Taylor looked like future young rider champions!

In some good news of my current Thyroid obsession, Callie's appear to be getting smaller.

She has been on 2 tsp of iodine infused salt once a day for about 2.5 weeks now.

I saw that the grain that she eats (FCA's racing blend) has salt in it so after I freaked out, I made awesome Margret Rizzo ask the lady she knows at the "Farmers Coop" if the salt has iodine in it.

You will all be thrilled to know it does not.

You will also be thrilled to know that the "Himalayan Rock salts" do NOT have added iodine. At least the ones from Hiton Herbs do not.

From my understanding, this does not mean that there is no iodine present in natural salts, just trace amounts that do not amount to enough to be noted.

Iodine is an important thing.

Not too much, not too little......just another wonderful thing to take up space in ones busy brain.

It is a necessary thing for the body to have. A lack of the CORRECT amount of iodine can lead to all kinds of things from ovarian cysts to depression!

Maggie and I have the day off today.

I suppose some more cleaning and organizing is in store, along with a break at the gym.

The next week is busy with riding and lessons (both teaching and taking).

The Jimmy Wofford clinic is next week at Waredcaca (he is suppose to come every month). If you have any interest in going or want any more info, you can email Liz at Waredaca. Her email is on the website, or I would be happy to give it to you.

Saturday is both the dressage show at Playland and the jumper show at Serra Valley farms.

Team Red Hawke will be attending both.

REPRESENNNNNNNNNNNNNT!

Sunday I will hopefully be riding Fiesta! I haven't ridden her in over a month and I have missed her!!!!

She has to get a little brush up before making the trek to Aiken with me.

She will hopefully be making her debut in Aiken, if she tells us she is ready!

Team UmiZoomi is almost over. Time for phase 2 of this day.

Remember these?

Put your face close to the image and stare past it. Images will pop at you.

The girls

All my girls rocked this week.

My mares jumped and had a lesson with Vanessa and they couldn't have been better!

Beast likes it when it's just the her and I jumping and I can listen to her more clearly.

My other girls all did awesome as well!

Piper looked amazing jumping Happy.

Heather is doing awesome on her horse!

Willis was very pleasant this week, he was happy to do some work and is ready to have a jump school!

Ameriah and Hannah looked like a million dollars....

I had the pleasure of working on a few things with Courts horse.

I love him. Courtney is going to rock out this year!

Looking forward to a ride on Summer with Kari. She is starting back up after a 6 weeks of eating, sleeping and growing!

Summer will hack with her momma Sharon while I am gone in Aiken, then she will prep for her big debut!

Alexis will be flatting today on Packer.

I will be taking 2 more flat lessons.

Fortunately next week is low key.

I will be stalking all my friends at Kelley's to hack with me.

I am also stalking the person setting up lessons with Jimmy at Sharon's. (He may be teaching this week)

Date night tonight!

Maggie is so excited to see "Bizabeth" and we are excited for sushi and maybe a movie......if we can stay up til 9.

I guess I am not permanently 22 in all aspects!

My name is Mary.

I am permanently 22.

That is the age that I will be forever on the inside. Not 31.

I did nothing yesterday. I did not enjoy the amazing weather. I enjoyed my couch, Maggie, a bag of UTZ sour cream and onion and a lot of other food.

I like to obsess about my horses until my head spins and my tummy hurts.

Right now my main obsession is the lump that appears on Callie's thyroid .....or maybe it is just her thyroid.

My vet doesn't seem alarmed, neither did the vet that was at the farm that looked at it for me.

I am trying to convince myself that this is not all a conspiracy against me and Callie.

I love Callie.

Everything about Callie is wonderful....even her objections.

When Callie gets in deep to the fence or when I make a mistake, she just takes over and fixes it. Despite what my body may do.(Or my legs not do)

Beast does this cross country, but in show jumping she responds to my every move, breath, muscle tension.

You may see me at the events this year singing out loud in showjumping. Then I may not freeze when I don't like where I am at to the fence.

I think my song will be "I'm bringing sexy back".

That song played by accident in my yoga class on Tuesday. It made me feel gleeful with hilarity.

Delightful.

Anyways, Callie's current lump is something tangible that I can poke at.

I suppose the worrier in me likes objects that move and that I can feel. It is more solid then just the splinter in my mind that may not (usually isn't) reality.

I am not sure what this blog post is. Maybe I will know at the end of it....maybe not.

I need to force myself to have days like yesterday more often. I had not had a day with out horses for a few weeks before that.

I generally operate on a level 8 or 9 (1 being calm 10 being.....not) and that can get exhausting. I want to learn to come down to a 3 or 4 occasionally. (Dave exists as a 2 maybe a 3 when he is upset. I love him).

I also really like alone time. A lot of alone time.

I have started my "Mind Gym" book again.

I love this freakin book. For those of you who don't know what it is, it is a sports psychology book.

It is awesome, I think Sharon White was the one who recommended it.

I can't wait to get to Aiken and ride with Stephen obsessively.

All the pieces are coming together, but sometimes I have the piece in the right place but at the wrong angle.

It really is no different then watching Maggie put together a puzzle. A new puzzle that is more difficult takes some time. She needs a little help, and someone to help her not get frustrated. Then she can do it on her own like its nobody's business.

Beast is my puzzle. Her flat work has come so far I am not really worried about it. I just have to keep working and she will always have consistent obedient tests.

Stephen has ridden Beast while I was pregnant so he knows what she is like in the show jumping.

A bundle of this and that with a brain a mile a second, sensitivity, distraction, and an insane and eager need to please.

Jimmy was right when he said that I will be ready for her when I am done with her.

All though this is bitter sweet, this little red mare really is teaching me so much about everything.

She is a horse that pushes me out of my comfort zone yes physically, but also mentally.

She is a horse that shows me every day that only I know what I am feeling from her and TO TRUST THAT.

I choose to believe with abandon and blind faith that this horse will be my first advanced horse. I know this to be true because she already is.

She already does everything that an Advanced horse does. She is my greatest teacher and for that I am thankful.

Back to chores for now. Scruffy really wants me to vacuum so she can bite at the vacuum and make me want to break her neck.