Well, I was in Toronto for part of the weekend with my sister. We went to see Melissa Etheridge perform at Massey Hall. We caught the 5:45 a.m. train on Friday morning. With the train leaving that early in the morning, I had to do the Mummy Sleep. What is the Mummy Sleep, you ask? Well, it means that I shower, reapply my make up and fix my hair before I go to bed and then sleep in the same position (on my back) until the alarm goes off (in this case 4:15 a.m.). The Mummy Sleep allows me to sleep up to the last possible moment. All I have to do is throw on my clothes (ironed the night before), brush my teeth and apply lipstick when I get up. When I arrive at the train station, I am the best looking one there. :-)
Business class is very civilized. I love it. You get served a hot breakfast and fresh coffee. The seats are big and adjustable. When you have to spend about 4 hours on the train, it's nice to be comfortable.
Wow. What a performance. Melissa really knows how to rock it out. She did every one of my favourites and they sounded pretty much like the recorded version. Quite an accomplishment considering she had a drummer and two guitarists backing her up. She sang and played solid for over two hours. Where does she get the energy????
Serena Ryder, a very talented young lady, opened for Melissa. I believe she is touring in the U.S., so if she comes to a place near you I would highly recommend you go see her. It was evident that Melissa and Serena shared a professional affection for each other. Melissa called Serena back out on the stage a few times. Serena said, when she first came out to the cheers of her home-town audience, that this experience was a dream come true and never in a million years did she think that she would be touring with someone like Melissa. Serena proves that wishes do come true if you wish hard enough and work hard enough. :-)
The train going home Saturday night was just as delightful and I pulled into my driveway around midnight. I got up as usual Sunday morning to go riding, but 8 hours of sitting in a train, 3 hours sitting at a concert, hours of sitting in pubs and restaurants and shopping on Saturday afternoon had taken it's toll on my back. I went out to the stables with the intent of just grooming my boy. When I arrived, half of the parking lot was a swamp, a result of the warmer temperatures and pouring rain last week. I was sinking up to my ankles in places.
As I was brushing Gem, a retired couple arrived. The woman had on a white micro-fiber ski jacket, with suede boots. The man had on a nice windbreaker and leather shoes. Not appropriate barn wear, and I wondered how they managed to get to the barn without getting a speck of mud on their clothing or shoes. I found out when I went to the clean room and saw their car parked in the private parking space next to the house; they bypassed the mud by driving right up the lane way. Who were these people?? As it turns out, they are the owners of a 3-year old mare that LA is training for them. The mare is gorgeous and has the stall right across from Gem. She very friendly, but apparently has not been exposed to a lot and can be very spooky. I have a rescue dog like that and it's taken almost 3 years to get him to the point that he doesn't go absolutely crazy when we have company over or the door bell is rung.
They cooed over their pretty girl, but didn't touch her very much, I guess because they didn't want to get dirty. :-) LA arrived and saddled up their horse and off they went to the arena. Yep, everyone got muddy. :-) LA showed the couple what she had been working on. I found out that the woman had bought this mare for herself! I get the impression that the woman and her husband bought property when they retired and I guess they would like to keep horses and ride. The horse was an impulse buy; she is pretty.
LA has worked with the mare for six weeks and was now finished with her evaluation. Although there have been vast improvements with the mare's ground manners, there are still issues when being ridden. She told this couple that the mare was too much horse for the woman. LA suggested that she sell the mare to a more experienced rider (LA would recommend someone) that could provide the training required to work the mare through her issues and that she buy horse for herself that was really broke. Or, she could leave the mare with LA (or another trainer) to train over the next 6 months and then re-evaluate. It's got to be tough to hear, but LA wants what's best for both the horse and the woman. The pretty mare, at this point, would be a dangerous ride for the woman. It makes me a little angry at the irresponsible person who sold them the mare. Clearly this couple did not understand what they were getting into and they were taken advantage of. I will give the couple credit, though, for recognizing after the fact that they needed help.
Personally, if that mare was mine, I know what my decision would be; I would continue having LA train her. I would look at it as an investment in my future with her. But, this couple are a little bit older than me, so are they willing to give up at least a year of their plans? Time seems to be in shorter supply after you cross the 50 mark...at least in my opinion. :-) I think either way, the mare will come out the winner. I am wondering what the mare's owner will decide.....
What was I thinking....
Monday, March 14, 2011
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
The Glow of Success
My lesson last Tuesday had some successes but also had some losses. Gem is working hard at not working. I think he's beyond bored. The weather here has been crazy. Turnout time has been reduced at times because of treacherous conditions. Gem and I have been on ONE trail ride this season. I mentioned this to LA and last week she pulled out the poles and caveletti's. It was a good lesson when it came to trotting and weaving through the poles. Lots of fun. However, loping was not so great. Transitioning to a lope - no problem. Keeping him moving - exhausting. Gem just does not want to lope.
LA: Kick his butt!!
Me: I'm trying!!
LA: That's not kicking!
Me: You are killing me!
LA: Keep him moving! Don't let him slow down!
Me: I'm doing my best!
LA: Do better!
Me: You are a witch!
LA: I don't care! Don't let him win!
Well, Gem won...more than once. I was beginning to take his resistance personally. I could barely walk the next day. So, knowing that LA was going to be riding him on Friday, I asked if I could join the Saturday afternoon class just to keep up the training momentum. Gem and I had to iron out some minor wrinkles and we both needed to get our heads in the right place. Saturday's lesson was adequate and it helped with my confidence, so I guess that's a good thing. But, again, I was exhausted from fighting with him when it came to loping. It is not in my nature to get "rough" with an animal and I still have a hard time with kicking. Yes, I know. Convincing a 1300 lb. animal to do something is a little different from convincing a 15 lb. dog. :-)
As much as I was looking forward to seeing my boy last night, I was sort of dreading lesson. I am at the point where my classmates are light years ahead of me when it comes to loping and I am starting to become embarrassed about it. We did our warm up, and then LA said we were going to lope. LA told my classmates they were going to practice loping in small circles and then try to do some lead changes. Then, she looked at me.
LA: You are going to go around the arena twice at a lope.
Me: I am??
LA: Yes.
Me: You mean, tonight? (gulp)
LA: Yes.
We walked large and then the first in line would lope off while the rest of us continued walking. My turn came up really quickly. I actually felt pretty good as we took off; butt was in the saddle and I didn't feel like my hands were all over the place. We took the first corner well and didn't loose steam as we caught up to the group. An observer told me that Gem looked beautiful loping. :-)
We all did a couple of more practice runs and then my classmates started to learn how to do lead changes. Pretty cool to watch. I was sort of hoping that I could fade into the background and let my three classmates be LA's focus. No such luck. A 16.0hh 1300 lb. black horse sort of sticks out amongst 900-1,000 lb. 15.0hh sorrel horses. I was told to start loping and to go around twice. I tried. And, I tried. Every time, Gem would cave about one and a half times around and turn into the middle with me loosing stirrups or getting the saddle horn in my gut. It was a blatant case of him wanting to be with his friends in the middle. No amount of making him walk in small circles or backing him up made a difference to his pattern. I accepted defeat. LA did not.
She asked BF to start loping and when he was 1/4 way around the arena, she asked Jean to follow him at a lope. When they were a 1/2 arena length around, she told me to kick that black beast's arse and get him moving. And, I did.
Gem's demeanour changed immediately. When he realized that we were following other riders, he became interested. A new game! His ears went up. His body became lighter and his lope softer. I relaxed and just let him do his thing. The chase was on!
I felt good as we went around the arena the first time. I barely had to use my legs (thank goodness!). Gem's movement is big, so the 1/2 arena length between us and BF and Jean was closing quickly. Gem was sort of prancing while he loped, obviously enjoying himself. I was enjoying him.
LA and CA were yelling words of encouragement from the middle of the arena. As we continued around the arena, the gap between us really started to close. Gem was doing his Seabiscuit impersonation. LA started yelling for BF and Jean to ride faster! BF and Jean were pretty much doing a hand gallop as Gem and I followed closely behind.
GEM AND I WENT AROUND THE ARENA TWICE!!! As we crossed the "finish line" and I said "eeeeeeasy', Gem rounded his neck and tossed his head a couple of times as he slowed to a trot. Clearly, he was pleased with himself. I couldn't stop smiling! BF, Jean and CA were yelling congrats. As I gave my boy' mane a big rub, I thanked LA profusely for coming up with a solution that allowed me to reach my goal.
I was a Chatty Cathy during burgers and beer after lesson. I was elated and my classmates let me run on. :-) We came to the conclusion that Gem just doesn't want to work if his friends aren't. Why should they get to stand in the middle of the arena? He gets bored and needs a challenge. It also became apparent during the feedback that I am in awe of my horse's beauty....but that's another post. For now, I am still in the glow of the memory of last night. The sore back and legs are sooooo worth it!
What was I thinking....?
LA: Kick his butt!!
Me: I'm trying!!
LA: That's not kicking!
Me: You are killing me!
LA: Keep him moving! Don't let him slow down!
Me: I'm doing my best!
LA: Do better!
Me: You are a witch!
LA: I don't care! Don't let him win!
Well, Gem won...more than once. I was beginning to take his resistance personally. I could barely walk the next day. So, knowing that LA was going to be riding him on Friday, I asked if I could join the Saturday afternoon class just to keep up the training momentum. Gem and I had to iron out some minor wrinkles and we both needed to get our heads in the right place. Saturday's lesson was adequate and it helped with my confidence, so I guess that's a good thing. But, again, I was exhausted from fighting with him when it came to loping. It is not in my nature to get "rough" with an animal and I still have a hard time with kicking. Yes, I know. Convincing a 1300 lb. animal to do something is a little different from convincing a 15 lb. dog. :-)
As much as I was looking forward to seeing my boy last night, I was sort of dreading lesson. I am at the point where my classmates are light years ahead of me when it comes to loping and I am starting to become embarrassed about it. We did our warm up, and then LA said we were going to lope. LA told my classmates they were going to practice loping in small circles and then try to do some lead changes. Then, she looked at me.
LA: You are going to go around the arena twice at a lope.
Me: I am??
LA: Yes.
Me: You mean, tonight? (gulp)
LA: Yes.
We walked large and then the first in line would lope off while the rest of us continued walking. My turn came up really quickly. I actually felt pretty good as we took off; butt was in the saddle and I didn't feel like my hands were all over the place. We took the first corner well and didn't loose steam as we caught up to the group. An observer told me that Gem looked beautiful loping. :-)
We all did a couple of more practice runs and then my classmates started to learn how to do lead changes. Pretty cool to watch. I was sort of hoping that I could fade into the background and let my three classmates be LA's focus. No such luck. A 16.0hh 1300 lb. black horse sort of sticks out amongst 900-1,000 lb. 15.0hh sorrel horses. I was told to start loping and to go around twice. I tried. And, I tried. Every time, Gem would cave about one and a half times around and turn into the middle with me loosing stirrups or getting the saddle horn in my gut. It was a blatant case of him wanting to be with his friends in the middle. No amount of making him walk in small circles or backing him up made a difference to his pattern. I accepted defeat. LA did not.
She asked BF to start loping and when he was 1/4 way around the arena, she asked Jean to follow him at a lope. When they were a 1/2 arena length around, she told me to kick that black beast's arse and get him moving. And, I did.
Gem's demeanour changed immediately. When he realized that we were following other riders, he became interested. A new game! His ears went up. His body became lighter and his lope softer. I relaxed and just let him do his thing. The chase was on!
I felt good as we went around the arena the first time. I barely had to use my legs (thank goodness!). Gem's movement is big, so the 1/2 arena length between us and BF and Jean was closing quickly. Gem was sort of prancing while he loped, obviously enjoying himself. I was enjoying him.
LA and CA were yelling words of encouragement from the middle of the arena. As we continued around the arena, the gap between us really started to close. Gem was doing his Seabiscuit impersonation. LA started yelling for BF and Jean to ride faster! BF and Jean were pretty much doing a hand gallop as Gem and I followed closely behind.
GEM AND I WENT AROUND THE ARENA TWICE!!! As we crossed the "finish line" and I said "eeeeeeasy', Gem rounded his neck and tossed his head a couple of times as he slowed to a trot. Clearly, he was pleased with himself. I couldn't stop smiling! BF, Jean and CA were yelling congrats. As I gave my boy' mane a big rub, I thanked LA profusely for coming up with a solution that allowed me to reach my goal.
I was a Chatty Cathy during burgers and beer after lesson. I was elated and my classmates let me run on. :-) We came to the conclusion that Gem just doesn't want to work if his friends aren't. Why should they get to stand in the middle of the arena? He gets bored and needs a challenge. It also became apparent during the feedback that I am in awe of my horse's beauty....but that's another post. For now, I am still in the glow of the memory of last night. The sore back and legs are sooooo worth it!What was I thinking....?
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