Some success before the rain

What a day yesterday was!
Do I reschedule lessons, do I not reschedule?
It it better for everyone to show up, all ready to ride and then get rained out or not come and have it not rain?
I never know what to do, and inevitably if I cancel, the weather holds, and if we go for it, the rain starts!
I rescheduled my afternoon lessons (of course prompting the weather gods to hold their buckets in an upright position, waiting until 9 pm to start dumping them on us!)
But the good news is, I got all three horses done.
Beast is definitely showing her fitness. She started the day running away from poor Sharon and taking a tour of our very long driveway. However when I rode her, she was great! The plan was "the circle exercise" using rails and only one small jump.
I practiced what Jimmy, and Stephen have taught me. I also have obsessively been stalking videos on you tube of Katie Prudent, Mclain Ward, William Fox Pitt well you get the idea. I compare them to the videos I have of my self, and pick apart all the things I am doing wrong or too much of etc.
I take into consideration, every rider has their own distinct style, like an artist. I find there is a fine line between an individuals style, and their flaws. Of course, their ability to mesh with a multitude of different horses is dependent on their ability to fine tune their adjustments.
I gave my self a lesson, and Beasty was great. I must say my drastic improvements on my flat work are truly enhancing my jumping abilities. Duh.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXgVVIBd0lc&tracker=False
This is great link that I took off Jimmy's blog.
Now I will say this type of information is with a grain of salt.
While I find it unbelievably, earth shatteringly helpful to stare at the center of the jump rail until it disappears myself, I will not be teaching this tool to all of my students. For obvious reasons such as, if your balance is not independent of your eye, you and the rail may meet eye to eye in real life. Also if you are relatively new to jumping OR new to jumping a different horse and you are staring at your jump with no leg on, you may find your lips pressed against the pole, as you kiss the next 8 weeks of riding good bye due to a broken collar bone.
As I was tacking up Callie, Sharon came back from a wonderful hunt with her mare Harmony. Harms is Callie's field mate, so as Sharon was letting her out, I was taking Callie to the ring...........I opted for a lungeing session before "the circle exercise"> THANK GOD!!!!
My god that mare is athletic. She bucked, leaped, flew, Irish river danced, with a few moments of break dancing thrown in, for about 15 minutes.
Then it was time for me to get on.
She held it together for mama, and after the first canter, we progressed onto our circle.
I heard the voices in my head at 7! What I mean is, when I go cross country, 5 strides out, I generally hear a very happy 5!!!!! in my head, then on to 4, 3, 2, 1. I love it, it is my friend. I don't talk back to it, so I see no problem with it. Sometimes my voice is busy (it may be distracted thinking about whatever the latest purchase obsession is) and when it's not there, I count my 1,2's.
So yesterday, I was getting a very excited 7!!!!! It was happening thru bending lines also, this is a breakthrough for me, I used to not see where I was at until I was straight. I try not to get caught up in numbers, always have my leg on and ride my rhythm.
Of course Sharon Dawson's Summer was perfect. Despite the wind, her herd all having a good time, and the minivan of children, she walk trotted, cantered, all in the beginnings of a frame.
The one exception was when she stopped to poop. I got an ear pin then when I hit her with the crop.
I was able to do my lessons in the indoor at Serra Valley. Heather looked great, and continues to excel on a multitude of horses.
Katie, Laney, Julia, Taylor and Alexis did a great job with their "dressage with jumps on course" lesson.
Julia's canter work continues to progress. Taylors mare Violet (all though Violet would like to be called Violent...just kidding, but she can be a hand full) liked the hackamore.
Alexis looked good, even when she pouted.
LANEY REMEMBERED ALL HER COURSES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!The Patsters looks good!
Katie looked like a million dollars on Buckshot, and neither of them batted an eye or broke from rhythm over the bigger fences!

So now I sit, awaiting the vets call. I have Freckles hocks to get injected, and coggins to pull for the upcoming season!


Now go get your dreams before someone else does!

Summer!!!!!!

Photos of the angel Summer!!!!
Summer was a good girl today!
Callie ponies well, Beast gets feisty while ponying. There may have been a few dicey moments.
Patsy continues to try her little heart out.
Janet had an awesome lesson on Sienna.
Annie was a star on Strawberry!
Julie looked fabulous on Freckles.
Buckshot has decided that Katie Cindric is "the one". Julie saw it to, I have a witness. It was a defining moment in chestnut gelding history.
I am thankful to have Kari help me.
Kari has been, and continues to be crucial to my horses fitness!
I follow a combination of Jimmy Wofford and Stephen Bradley's fitness regiment. I find it very important to have low impact days, usually 50 minute walk hacks. Beast will do these twice a week. On one day she will jump in addition to her walk hack. She does two days of dressage and one day of sets, both trot and canters. She does not always jump height on her jumping days. Cantering rails, or small fences will often count as a jumping day.
Beast is entering a new level of fitness, and will probably be receiving acupuncture on a regular basis, at least until we plateau yet again. I want to keep the Beastling comfy!
Callie does a much more toned down fitness regiment. The young lady is only going beginner novice! She hacks, does dressage two days, and jumps one day. Callie does small trot sets that will build to 20 minute trots by early mid season.
I do not do canter sets for the thoroughbreds until they are into training level.
Callie likes low key days to keep her mind balanced.
Summer will be worked 3 days a week, just flat work and lunging in loooong side reins, encouraging her to stretch and gradually build her top line.
Even if Kari just helps me with one ride a week, it helps a ton! It can get tricky with all the lessons and horses in training! Thank god I have the stellar rider Allison as well!

Magsters got to have a mini pony ride on Strawberry today, thanks to Aunty Liz, and Aunty Sharon! Daddy even gave in and gave her a second little ride!!!!

We are gearing up for the last Serra Valley Farms jumper show in the winter series. It is on the 13th (Sunday).
All the other shows are opening up, and some are even closing soon!!! Here we go!
I wish the best of luck, and safe travels to my friends going to Southern Pines. Go get it ladies! (And gentlemen ;)

More good days

Thursday went smoothly. Thank you to Kari, my bestie.
I dropped Maggie off at the sitter, and headed to Darenth. Thank god the horses were all close to the gate! I brought in the 4 for the farrier, put them in stalls I had freshly cleaned for them (don't want to make the afternoon workers mad, and don't want poopy toes for team Oyarzo). Packer went first, he's a super star and stands like a gentleman on the crossties. Actually all of them seem to stand quietly except mine. Hmmmmmmmmm.
I got to ride Beasty while Kevin did Packs!!!!!
We rotated horses around, I brought in the remaining horses for the vet. Kari showed up, which allowed me to ride the other two girls before the vet arrived.
It dawned on me that I was getting a double whammy with Mags at the sitter, so I could have the vet and farrier come out. Hey wait a minute, I pay the sitter when I go to take lessons also. Hmmmm, I will have to teach Maggie to be my assistant as soon as she's old enough. I am thinking 4? 4 seems like a good age to go catch all the horses for me and hold them for their shots and the farrier. I will get her a very tall ladder so she can switch tack on my horses at their lessons. It will have to have wheels though, because Callie wiggles when you tack her.(For those of you that don't have a sense of humor, I am joking, it is funny to picture though)

After the vet and farrier left, I picked up an exhausted Mags from the sitter, headed back to the big D (Darenth) where the other big D (Doozers) came to do the Maggie transfer.
Hopped on the Packs for his training ride, then on to Katie C's first lesson on Buckshot!
Katie did a fabulous job. It was interesting to see how Buckshot really pointed out the habits Katie has gotten into from Riley. It was a great lesson, then on Friday, she rode Buck again and the difference was amazing. She must have practiced in her head.
Julie rode Freckles and looked amazing!
Patsy pants was a good girl yesterday (Friday), but a bit resistant to the basic building blocks of dressage....half halts, outside connection etc. I'm thinking we need to restructure the whole approach to Pats.
Today, Patsy was a perfect angel. She tried her little painted tooshie off for me! It was a great start to a great day. Callie was a doll as well.
I had the pleasure of Vanessa coming to my farm today.
I had a lesson on Summer. I don't think it has really sunk in yet how freaking nice this horse is. A walk that's floaty, a trot with so much suspension and power, and a canter that is so perfectly balanced! Match that with a quiet mind, and just enough of an edge to be bold, we have the key ingredients for a seriously competitive upper level event horse. I am so excited. So, SO excited!
Beasty not only tried her little mare heart out, she counter cantered. She counter cantered on a circle! And well! All I had to do was sit correctly, imagine that!!
It was a real treat.
Thanks to the Lanesters for keeping me company today!
Thank you to Alexis for the photos!
More photos to come, of Summer!!!



Stay far from timid, only make moves when your hearts in it, and live the phrase sky’s the limit.
-Notorious B.I.G.
“If I can’t do it, homie, it can’t be done Now I’ma let the champagne bottle pop I’ma take it to the top” -If I Can’t, 50 Cent

Made it!!!

So Monday was a bust.
The tornado warning made me think maybe it wasn't such a good idea to load my trusting mares into my metal box and cart them over to Olney for my flat lessons. Vanessa agreed.
Ont top of that, my Monday lessons got cancelled. You know the storms never did get that bad.
Tuesday was my scheduled day off so I was feeling guilty after having had Monday off.
Maggie and I scrubbed the house from top to bottom. She liked to help in ways like wiping down the stainless steel fridge with a baby wipe (no they are not streak free unfortunately.) She also enjoys un-folding laundry. We have moved up in the world. She used to just go for the folded laundry that was not put away, NOW however, she opens drawers to get to it.
My favorite discovery of Tuesday was when Maggie learned how to take off her own diaper. She did that about 7 times. Hmmmmm this could be a problem.
Any ways the maid (me) did a pretty good job! The chef (also me) really stepped it up. This will make a certain Dave Macklin happy, hopefully lessening the blow when the packages start arriving from Dover and Smartpack. He loves me.
***Helpful tip if you buy Succeed, Dover takes FOREVER to ship it! Valley vet is super fast! Believe it or not though, Stablemates has the best price with (obviously) no shipping and handling. Unless you charge yourself.***
Wednesday started with the noise of Dave in the shower. It was 545, and technically I had another hour or so in bed. Not much point though when your mind is counting back your schedule hour by hour, over and over and over!
All I had to do was leave the house by 7:45. No sweat. Right???
Maggie's hair was a mess, she didn't want to get dressed and ran giggling from me. Scruffy and Bobby got excited by my running and started jumping up and down for food. And of course the tea kettle is screaming at me. Oh god.
Got clothes on Maggie, got her a bottle and Cheerios, made my crack-oh I mean coffee, got my clean saddle pads, snack for later, Mags diaper bag, fed the dogs etc headed out the door.
My sitter must wonder why I drop my daughter off in a horse trailer.....its really cost effective and green.
Off to the barn!
My sweet mares loaded and rode over to Vanessa perfectly.
Callie was perfect. It is like a dream riding her when she acts like this.
Beasty had some wonderful trot work. She was a bit stiff and quick in the canter work. This is hindsight was really good though, Vanessa got to see the exact problem (we don't really have a balanced canter yet) and told me what to work on!
Callie was a dream waiting on the trailer!!! I give the credit to my new hot hay bag, and Katie C's work. I may even be getting a matching hay bag as a gift. Love matchy matchy!
We went back to the barn, had some lunch and cleaned some tack.
Then I had a cat nap in the sun, and tried to have some time to reflect.
I struggle to stay grounded. I really do. I find it very easy to get caught up in the ....well to be blunt, BS of the eventing world.

I really like to read "Wylie eventing". She had a good blog recently, "Peace Love and Horses?"
It was a good reminder to keep it in perspective. I am worried about what new helmet to buy for dressage.?! I want to keep working on myself. I have nothing to be upset about, only blessings to be thankful for.
Anyways, I don't want to get to serious. Its a process.
ENOUGH ABOUT ME LETS TALK ABOUT SUMMER!!!!
The first photo was an attempt at evidence. Summer didn't think it was a good idea to come in. So she didn't! She spun, reared, reared some more, and then just ran away. back to the girls.
Oh, I was so mad. I went and got a chain, and the funny part was she trotted up to me, all happy. She has no idea she is 16 hands (or bigger) and like 1000 pounds.
We made it half way down the hill this time and then she just knocked into me and went for it. I put up a good fight.
Anyways, she was tired and wanted treats so she came in.
She was PERFECT for Kari!
It's the first time someone else has ridden her! Kari did a superb job in her hot mess half chap. They walk, trotted and cantered. I must say, this mare can move!!!! I cant wait to take her to Vanessa and Stephen!
Then my afternoon lessons were great.
Riley, Bre, and Alison all looked perfect!
My next group was big, it was like being at a Jimmy Wofford clinic ;)
Hannah rode Knick and the pair looked amazing. Sam rode Fance, and she did a really good job! I am always hard on Sam because I see so much potential. She always rises to the occasion! Ameriah, Elizabeth, Megs and Morgan looked like a million bucks.
On to my ladies.
This was a good lesson. My ladies always make me so happy. We have such a good group. It wasn't as much fun with out Taylor,Linda and Allison, but its good to rotate so the groups stay smaller.
We did course work. Laney remembered her course! I think I have it figured out!!!!
Julia breathed and cantered (her mare is sort of gaited so big accomplishment), Alexis stayed over top Packer and his new big jump, and Katie convinced Riley to try whole heartedly for her.
They all looked Fab, and they all jumped some big fences! (check out the photo!!!)
I made it thru the day, and a wonderful day it was!
Today we have the vet, the farrier, lessons (Katie's big debut on Buckshot) and 4 to ride.
I'm thinking its another crock pot night.

"Most folks are as happy as they make their minds up to be."-Abraham Lincoln

photos by Mr.Willie




Sooooooooo
I don't have pictures of EVERYONE, but pretty much everone looked like the woman, maybe a little better.
Except Hunter, I thought maybe, just maybe William Fox Pitt could try to do him justice. Everyone in the crowd was ooohhing and ahhhhhing about Hunt and Fance!
Seriously,
Leslie, Kari, Allison, Kathy, Sharon L, Katie C, Laney, Kristen, Brittany, Hunter, Katherine, Sharon O, and Skyler looked PERFECT in the clinic!!!!!
You could tell Stephen has been down training in Aiken.
When he told me to set up the exercises, I was like, Huh.....maybe I will need help to set up!!!
The grid in the middle was X 18' Vertical 10' Vertical 19' oxer 11' Vertical.
On one long side was vertical 21' vertical 21' vertical. On the other long side was Oxer 45' vertical 11' vertical 45' oxer!!!!

All of the horses did the exercises perfectly. I'm being totally serious. It was like magic.
My mares were like magic. Oh it just makes all the hard work worth it.
The jumper show went great. We set up on Saturday for about 7 hours, and it showed.
To the best of my knowledge, the show went smoothly. Warm up was the entire lower out door, and the course, while slightly harder then the last show rode well.
I was excited to see a few people take the optional tight turns that Katherine had planned.
My wonderful husband helped Maggie with the parking. I don't know what I would do without Dave and Maggie.
Kristen P got there early and helped with jump crew. In hind sight, I don't think we laughed hard enough at both Dave, but especially tiny Kristen.
When a rail near us would fall, they would put one hand on the 3 and a 1/2 foot wall in front of them and just levitate their bodies to the other side.

Kari was a trooper at the in gate. Both Katie and Julia were super troopers at the warm up!!!
Allison helped me judge, and the OCD Alexis did a superb job at check in. Quite the crew we have!!!!
All my students, you are the best. You are more then that, you are my wonderful friends.
Today, we (Beast, Callie, and I) are off to Vanessa's for a dressage lesson! I will try to get some teaching in before the rain hits.
Tomorrow, Maggie and I will have a busy day of Sprout t.v., yoga, nap, and some lifetime movies. We will do this while we eat peanut butter straight from the jar.

Best clinic ever!

Everyone did AWESOME!!! Sharon on Harmony, Katie on Riley, Laney on Blue, more to come!!!

Sent from my MaryBerry