Check it out!

http://brantgamma.exposuremanager.com/p/011_macklin_mary_california_comet_s22/s22b1818_3_105_240_2

Callie girl is growing up! Dave and Maggie are in the background!

http://brantgamma.exposuremanager.com/p/011_macklin_mary_california_comet_s22/s22p1123_3_105_240_2

Callie made me happy. Very happy.

http://brantgamma.exposuremanager.com/p/180_macklin_mary_mahogany_beauteo_s22/s22p4078_3_105_240_3

Beasty did also.

My day so far

Maggie woke at 530.
Scruffy ran away twice.
Myra got car sick, in the car, on my jacket.
Maggie told me she was dino dan....I looked back and she was covered in green marker. Head to toe.
Beast looks great.
Callie does also.
Maggie is happy in green.
Myra cleaned up after herself while I typed this.
Thats disgusting, sorry.

I had a lesson with Sharon White yesterday. My how I missed her.
Callie was a star, well behaved and jumping GREAT! I'm really excited about this season with her.
I totally needed that lesson. It put me in such a great mood. My heels are misbehaving again though. I need to get on that.

Mary Mack

Mary Mack

Check it out!

http://equiery.com/sporting/eventing/?p=1616#more-1616

Summary

OK I am finally starting to breathe.

I have bounced around emotionally the last couple of days between stable, unstable, angry, driven and sleepy.

I am still mad at the world that my amazing horse fell after doing what I told her to do.

It's too late for anything to change though, it is what it is.

Beast continues to amaze me by already appearing basically SOUND.

I love my vet, he came out first thing on Monday. We put the Beast on some stronger antibiotics and he told me not to freak out if ........(insert all possibilities here-such as her body filling with an air pocket, which it did).

I find my reactions to the whole experience fairly child like. I do feel sorry for my self. I feel like a toddler that was handed a lollipop and then got it ripped from her hand.

I don't want to feel immature so maybe I need to go through situations like this (all though ideally situations that don't involve one of my mares being injured.)

Growing pains.

The thing I can keep pulling from is HOW AMAZING my girl felt over all the fences we got to jump.

Anyways back to the Beast update, she is turned out with her herd already. She does not seem to be interested in much other then eating the GREEN grass and sticking her rear in Fance's face. Beast either doesn't realize or care that Fance is a girl and can't help her out in the getting pregnant department.

This is a rare time where my mare being in heat is a tremendous help. I hope her obsession with Fance will keep down any urge to run too much.

My other girl Callie continues to thrive on the Regumate and peppermints.

I can not believe the ease with which Callie handled her first training. I am very excited about this year with my Comet.

Summer has done a flat school and a jump school since I have returned. I forgot what it feels like to ride the nicest horse on the planet. Oh and she is four and stays focused while her herd is getting turned out.

It is a good thing that I have Callie, Summer and my students to keep me busy. I have far too much invested emotionally in my little chestnut mare. Thank god I am older and able to use the tools I have learned over the years to not live in a state of sheer panic that my horse will not get better. I only visit that state every 30 seconds ;).

My students all seem to have not only survived with out me for five weeks, but they actually appear to have improved!

My new dog rocks. She is so much fun to have around and cracks us up.

Maggie is a happy girl with her pack of animals. Dave continues to tolerate everything with the calmness that only a doozies is capable of.

Our yard needs some serious attention this weekend. I just mowed and planted some spring time bulbs.

Hopefully we can get some stuff done between a day of XC schooling and Morven.

So

It was an amazing weekend with a crappy ending.
Nothing can't be fixed with a little thai food, snuggles, maggie going pee pee on the potty and the coolest driving companion ever.
Beast is ready to be home. Callie is ready for her next show.
I'm ready to go finish what I started on my first 11 fences.
I've got a fire under my ass and three amazing horses going home with me. Life is good
Mary Mack

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=n_4wIWPhNxE

Mary Mack

The brave heart beast

Beast jumped like a million dollars. She has never felt so good!
Then she fell on the landing of 11 :(
I was the fifth person to fall upon landing at that fence, after the sixth  fall, they took it off course.
She needed some stitches but will be ok. This horse has the heart of a lion. I will make sure she is feeling confident and keep on keeping on.
Callie was an angel and is an offical training level horse!

Mary Mack

Im a big girl....

I did my first Training level xc and dressage and rocked out.
I think it's about time I get to jump the bigger stuff!
I did a full coffin, a bank complex, a solid water and some other tricky things. I didn't  even bat a pretty little eye lash.
I show jump tom.
I'm going to rest now.

Mary Mack

Hard at work!

Mary Mack

Down time continued....

Mary Mack

Down time

Mary Mack

Dun dundundun (Rocky theme song)

Mary Mack

Maggie at pine top!

Mary Mack

Get it get it

Mary Mack

Yay Fiesta!

This girl got 3rd at her first event ever!!!!!
She went on with her bad self and jumped with her knees to her chin!
Mary Mack

Look who's here!
It's been a busy couple days!
Poor Sharon had a colicy horse so he didn't go to pine top. He is ok though.
Fiesta was great in her first two phases, she goes back for xc  late this afternoon.
I got kicked in the hip. My god did it hurt! Oddly though today I feel fine, a bit stiff and black and blue, but ok.
I have two lessons before heading to pine top, so advil is my friend today!

Mary Mack

Working hard or hardly working

Me and Myra (Macklin?).........

Mary Mack

Yesterday was a loooooooong day!
Callie got reprimanded for kicking out and I will be darned if she didn't just take it and start being a GOOD girl! Regumate, are you my long lost friend?
Jimminers (Becks horse) was a good boy. He is slightly larger then Katie Cindrics horse Wilis, and is prepping for a one star in 5 weeks. I can't believe how fit this big guy is. He is also a stallion, and super well behaved!
Dr Laura Reick came back to full gallop with her two horses. We had an AWESOME xc school! Her horse Mikayla was watching all the prelim horses and getting very happy (but in a good way).
Beasty did an exuberant trot set.
Fiesta did some suppleing work.
We set rails for Stephen and watched a few lessons.
I have fallen in love with a rescued puppy. Her name is Myra. She is so sweet and gentle (she is going to be 150 pounds).
I have bought her treats and we walk together. I didn't know dogs could be like this!

Today will be just as busy. Lots of lessons.
Pine Top this weekend!

Mary Mack

Perspective

My day started out well today.

I had a great ride on Callie.

I schooled Dr. Laura Reicks horse "Mikayla" and that was a special treat for me!

I am working on her to let me compete her.......fingers crossed.

Beast gave me some great work.

My good friend Becky flew to Canada to teach for a week so Little Ossi and I have two of her horses to ride.

Mine was a good boy.

Fiesta gave me a great ride around the competition course of both the show jump and cross country.

Sharon and I went out with Stephen to watch him teach some lessons and towards the end, we noticed a horse running up the hill with out a rider. The horse had been out schooling with another group of people that day.

The horse injured itself jumping. The group was doing everything safely, everything correctly, an accident just simply happened.

The owner looked to be a young adult and was uninjured. The horse did have to be put down.

It broke my heart.

What is strange is that it made me think of Maggie.

Watching this poor girl try to keep it together made me feel sad that her family was apparently back in Canada.

She did have an amazingly kind set of trainers with her and I was so impressed with the way everyone handled the situation.

I went back and forth about whether it was my place to write about this.

I don't want to go into detail as I feel it was a very personal situation between the horse and owner.

It was the perspective that shocked me. It is a shame that it must take a tragedy to snap a new set of eyes on the world that we are blessed to live in.

Every day is a gift. Every moment with our friends (four legged or two) is a special one.

It can be easy to loose sight and to prioritize things in ways that may not make sense. It can be easy to make judgements on other peoples priorities....which are none of our business.

I am so thankful that my equine friends are healthy.

I am so thankful to have my life with my husband and my daughter.

I am so thankful for Darenth farm and the people there that have become my family.

I have had loss in my life, including the somewhat recent passing of my mom. Loss does bring a change to you. It can bring a new light .....or darkness to life. I have always felt that tragedy is a defining moment.

An example of what I mean and that always amazed me is this:

My friend Julie waited years and years to get her horse Rio. She met him when she lived in Texas and he stayed there as she moved back to Maryland. She saved the money to buy him and after much time had passed, she got the funds together and purchased him.

He died shortly after he arrived in Maryland. I can't remember how long she had with him but it was less then a year.

When people hear the story from her and expressed their pity of her short lived horse ownership , she always stops them and says with a smile "he was able to spend his last year with me!"

Sometimes things suck.

Sometimes things are amazing.

All the time, there are people willing to stand by you as you go through it.

My prayers go out to the girl that lost her horse today.

My thanks to anyone that brings light to this life that we are so blessed to live.

Ahhhh Aiken

Mary Mack

Dave and Maggie had fun on the way home!

Best dad ever!

Mary Mack

Beautiful morning!

Mary Mack

March 11, Callie Full Gallop

Please turn the volume up. It is so, so funny.
You can hear me singing, everyone laughing at me, and Becky saying no...it's a good tool. (after laughing herself)

Oh how I love this video.

Then someone crashes a jump behind them distracting them and then I finish and they cheer.

It doesn't get any better then this.
If I can sing Dido with sheer abandon, my students can force themselves to count under their breath.
:)

Beast is like a deer cat.

Get er done.

Beast, Full Gallop

The first few fences. It looks like we are being chased by the other horse.

I realize...

That my blog posts do not make much sense. I apologize for that. I am trying to send them when I have a spare second and they are peppered with little fleeting thoughts that run through my head.

Hopefully I am not being shamefully unprofessional.

My horses were great this weekend.

I am pleased with Beast all the way around.

I am bummed that I was not more thoughtful about the studs in dressage but you live and you learn.

The show jumping was great. The mare is jumping so well and that pleases me to no end.

The cross country was good for what it was.

The ground was a bit hard in spots and the course (which was well layed out with the space given) was a teeny herky jerky with all the winding we had to do.

With that said, I am by no means criticizing, I am just observing in relation to my horse(s).

Beast was very brave and her usual self but I find I ride her a bit differently after last fall.

Retiring at Virginia Horse trials last fall may have been a blessing in disguise. It FORCED me to take a hard look at my horse and what I could do to better prepare her as an athlete.

Beast is definitely an Ulcer Guard kind of girl. She is also a hack the day before competition and requires a lot of low stress kind of girl.

Today I rode Beast as if she were a clients horse. I think I had become lulled into a ho hum attitude with her.

If she would peek at something, I would ignore it because she always goes.

After Virginia, I feel a bit sharper in the XC. I think this will help better prepare us for the upcoming 2 stars and hopefully a move up to advanced.

Callie was (like I said) a dream in the dressage. A total dream. All the scores in the divisions from the judge she had were a bit high. I also simply don't agree with the main comments that were written so oh well!

Callie was a NIGHTMARE in SJ warm up.

I almost bit it for real. If I had not been surrounded by my peers, my pride would not have magically glued me on my leaping mare. I also didn't want my air vest to deploy and cost me a 40$ replacement cartridge.

After the leaping spree, we trotted and I sang to her like a psycho. (It used to work for Ralph Hill right?)

By the time I got into the show ring she was actually pretty good.

I did not sing "I'm bringing sexy back".

I did how ever sing Eminem's "White Trash party" on the XC. She liked that. She got a bit cocky on the XC and over jumped a bit. Interestingly after she scared herself a little on landing she became much more respectful of my half halts.

I was happy to see that she was in heat after I finished. I did not notice before in the day or in the previous days.

Heat causing discomfort would be something I could work with (if this is what can cause her to be naughty)! I had suspected that it had to do with her being a mare but there is often seemingly no rhyme or reason to Callie and her "bad days".

I can work with this. I can call my vet on Monday and start to devise a plan to help my little girl.

Callie was good when it counted and that was great.

Her place changed four times while I was at Full Gallop so lord only knows where she will end up.

The scoring had (has) major issues which can be a bit frustrating.

I was so sad to see Dave and Maggie go. It was so amazing to have them here to support me.

They will be back on Friday so only a four day wait. Then I get them the rest of my stay until we go home together.

I was also sad to see Katherine go. I wish Katherine and Alison could be with me the whole time!

At least I have little Ossi, Stephens crew and my sister from another mister..... Becky.

I hope this all made a lot more sense and I will post video next.

Bed time for me.

Now....

Callie had her placing taken away because they moved on to changing the novice scores.
:(
I choose my own reality.
Beast and Callie are winners.

Big time winners

Mary Mack

Look what I can do Mary.
Mary Mack

Full gallop

Callie jumped well. I prayed to Ghandi, Allah, baby jesus and anyone else that would listen in warm up. (her legs didn't stay on the ground.....and we weren't jumping)
They are having scoring issues AGAIN, so they are re posting the prelim soon.
Novice isn't posted but miss in heaty pants Callie had a rail so hopefully she didn't move down too far.
At least my pants stayed clean. Take that as you will.

Mary Mack

Beast was clean Xc!

Mary Mack

Mahogany Beauteo Full Gallop prelim

Today

Today was great. I didn't put studs in and blew it in my dressage on Beasty.  I earned our 41 score. I had no idea how slippery out would be at 730 am. Beast slipped pretty bad in warm up and stayed worried the whole test :(.
Callie on the other hand freakin rocked in dressage! She was the best ever but the judge didn't agree and she is sitting mid pack with a 40....boo.
Beasty show jumped like a star again. Its all coming together and it feels great!!!

To be continued.....

Mary Mack

Today

We started with bagels and donuts. Had pizza, indian and doritos for lunch. Now moving on to milkshakes.
I'm officially disgusting......but at least I will bring all the boys to the yard.

Mary Mack

When in Wal Mart.....

It's best to dress appropriately.

Mary Mack

Hi mary. Look what Beasty taught me!

Mary Mack

Things are good

It is 830 and I am going to sleep.

I have a busy day tomorrow! Fiesta is going to school at Sporting days, Beast and Callie are flatting and I will be riding one of Stephens horses.

This trip is good for my heart.

I had a great lunch today with Katherine and some old friends.

My friends are so much like my family, it is nice to catch up, stay in touch, sit quietly and stuff our faces.

I like that I have had to be independent yet I have still been forced to be social.

I like laughing and having nothing in life being serious or important, except delight.

I like people that interrupt themselves with their own laugh.

I like it when nothing makes sense and there is the opportunity to watch craziness from a safe distance.

Not mean craziness, funny craziness....Like people and their weird rituals.

I like people that say horribly inappropriate things. I like people that I can say inappropriate things too.

I like horses.

I like being out side.

I like being in Aiken.

I like eating a lot. (Poor Kari is going to have her work cut out for her when I get back. This bootie is going to need to get whipped into shape)

I like my new friends. They laugh in the middle of a sentence and tell me I should take ativan.

I love the three classy hussies that I am competeing.

I like feeling alive.

I like this life and I am glad to be living it.

Sometimes I feel serious and I wonder about certain things. I worry about things that I want, things I have lost, what will be or could have been. Will I achieve certain goals, what goals to aim for.

I guess it all matters but none of it really does. I am doing what I am doing and it makes my heart light.

I can not wait to get back and teach all my students again. I do miss them all.

I miss Summer as well.

I miss a small toddler that likes to eat brownies and donuts and told me yesterday that I was beautiful.

I try to watch a lesson that Stephen teaches for every lesson I would normally teach in a week.

(It is not hard, he teaches ALL DAY LONG)

In the absence of responsibility, I promise to laugh at every dog that pee's on my hay.

Every horse hay bale thief on the farm. Every porta potty that blows over in the wind. Every serious discussion I have with a stranger .....where secretly I have no idea what they are talking about so I smile bigger. Every time I go to the bathroom and forget to check ahead of time for toilet paper.

Every photo that Alison took in Hitchcock woods............even "that" one.

Every time Becky spills her wine on a very nice place mat. Every theme song that I come up with for my peers.

Yummy Yummy

Every spill

Every knocked over item

Every miss

Every nappy bastard

Every bruise

Every serious discussion that requires funny gestures such as arm flapping or hip thrusting.

Every yawn and angry look.

Life is good and it is happening right now.

I miss everyone and can not wait to share.

Check out this hot little red head...

http://www.photostockplus.com/home.php?user_id=41021&tmpl=127&event=997603&action=viewphoto&photo_id=59219179&album_id=997685&pcount=44

FiestaAtAppleTree

Mary Mack

Mary Mack

Beast Sporting Days.MOV

Thanks to the Equiery!!!!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Equiery/113906625362838?ref=ts

Callie is getting some publicity!

Pictures I took off Alisons Facebook....

Getting ready!!!!

Katherines lesson. I am a busy body.

Beasty making Prelim look small!

Beasty the dressage star!

Callie in Hitchcock woods!!!

Beautiful Beast.

The parking at Hitchcock woods. Be still my heart.

We had to keep the mares and their hineys away from the stallions.

Becky and Katherine!!!!

The parking at hitchcock woods

Was interesting!

Mary Mack

Oui

Mary Mack

Hitch cock woods!!!!

Mary Mack

Day of rest

Today was a day of rest!
My girls had off and I caught up on some sleep. I'm looking forward to even more sleep soon!
Alison had a lesson with Stephen and Katherine got some great videos!
No words can express how great my mare was yesterday. Her dressage was pretty average for our current level of work so I was happy she still got such a low score.
I am excited about what we are capable of achieving when we aren't doing our test in the pouring rain with Beasty lifting her tail at every gelding and SUPER deep footing!
Beasty had the best show jumping we have ever had. We did tick a silly rail but it was my fault.I just lowered my rear end a fraction of a second too soon.
I think I dare say, I may have figured out how to show jump this mare!
I have been riding very successfully in the hackamore, really focusing on a quiet ride. I had to do some quick thinking yesterday though. The footing was deep and sticky and the course only rode well very forward. I made a risky decision and rode a wee bit different and it worked brilliantly.
Cross country was a blast. The course was very straight forward. It was a big boost for Beasts confidence. I'm happy with the competition plan I came up with for Beasty. It should work out that she will be in a really good mental place this year.

I'm having a blast with Katherine and Alison. Also my new buddy Becky and of course Stephen and his crew.
We all had a lot of fun last night....except poor Katherine. She ate something funny yesterday and didn't feel so hot last night.
I am so happy to have such amazing people in my life.
I woke up from an afternoon nap to chinese food from Katherine! Yummy!!!!!! Thanks Katherine!
We are going to trail ride in Hitchcock woods tomorrow. Then the rest of the week will be full of serious focus and lessons to get all the comp horses ready.
I am dying to see my little girl and Dave. Two weeks is too long.
I am so exited that they will arrive on Friday!!! I have all sorts of presents for my sweet girl.
I also can't wait to give Dave a big hug! He continues to be so supportive and wonderful. It means so much to  me to have stability. This sport is like being on boat, full of small swells, a few storms and some sunny days. I am along for the ride and grateful for the company I have.

I'm so sorry for the people hurt in the recent  dangerous weather and tornadoes.
Every day really is a gift especially when you do what you love for a living.
My life is a good one and if I ever forget that I want some one to smack me in the head.
I'm going to go eat more chinese now!

Mary Mack

Time for the rest!!!!!

Alison is going to hack Fiesta! The monsoon prevented alot of turn out so this is a nice leg stretching :)

Mary Mack

The Beast was on fire today!!!!!

That horse rocked it in all three phases.
I took it careful in the xc monsoon to finish mid pack in a super competitive division!
Beast got a 33 in dressage, Vanessa Swartz thank you.
8s for my girl.....what what!!!!

Mary Mack

Check it out

Shes famous already!
Fiesta made it to the Equiery facebook!
http://m.facebook.com/pages/The-Equiery/113906625362838?id=113906625362838&_rdr

Mary Mack

Oh yes

Mary Mack

So tired!

I had an awesome lesson on Callie!!!!!¡!!!!!!
Fiesta is down with the XC.(videos to come)
Beasty has been lovely!
All these lessons, taking a few a day and watching like 10 a day has been awesome this week, but lights out before 9 for me!
I have made some awesome and crazy new friends.
I can't wait to see my two number ones next week.
Also excited Alison comes tom!
Katherine has been great company but she went to sleep at 8! She didn't even bother eating!
ok, I really am only half awake at this point. I better stop typing before I miss some hilarious auto correct by my phone!
I will do a much better blog post tom. Off to sleppy town for me.

Mary Mack

Fwd: cheese

Mary Mack

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "editor@equiery.com" <editor@equiery.com>
Date: Mar 1, 2012 9:58 AM
Subject:
To: <mary.macklin1@gmail.com>



Sent from my Verizon Wireless Phone

No smart arses

There is no where else to move the hay.

Mary Mack