Stress+Awesome=Balance

Hope everyone is well!  Winter is almost over...really.... it is!!  

There have been moments over the last six weeks where I felt like I was in some sort of vortex.  Stress was a normal state for me.  Here's a snapshot:

• Work life since January 2014:  membership renewals, closing year-end, office reno and move of department to new space, setting up invoicing for new European office (damn you, VAT!), yearly audit one month earlier than usual, Board meeting, workplace harassment.
• Personal life since January 2014:  A house that My Husband and I really liked came back on the market so we listed ours on Feb 1st and had 5 showings the two weeks, my mother's caregiver quit three days before I went on holiday mid-February, Lady's caregiver had to transfer Lady to the actual rescue group's farm because she couldn't feed Lady as often as she needed to keep weight on over this cold winter, my mother became very cranky that my youngest sister and I were going away for two weeks (we manage her care), came back from holiday to find that my other sister has convinced my mother that she should be taking care of her and her finances.....what???

There were times when I really thought the top of my head was going to blow off.  But....it didn't.  :-)   In fact, as much as there was a lot of stress, there was also awesomeness.

I haven't been on a real holiday since 1997, when My Husband and I did a wonderful tour of Scotland.  Other holidays over the years have been a week here, a week there.  I sort of got used to that routine and when my youngest sister asked me to go on a two-week holiday with her, I was a bit hesitant.  Two weeks?!  Then I gave my head a shake.  :-)  We had a fantastic time cruising around the Caribbean!  She snorkeled and swam with sea turtles, we went to an amazing butterfly farm, we got kissed by dolphins and we rode on a beach.  We ate and drank ourselves silly.  It was exactly what the doctor ordered for both of us.

I'm not that round!...it's the wind!!

The riding on the beach was a highlight for me.  It was very windy and the ocean was very rough that particular day, so for safety sake we did not wade out into the water.  Nobody wanted to get caught in an undertow!   The horses were clean,  healthy and happy.  Our saddles were interesting; the guides called them military saddles, sort of an English saddle that had a roll bar on the front that you could grab on to if necessary.   They were very comfortable and light.

My riding at home has been sporadic over the last few weeks, mostly due to weather.  If we weren't experiencing a blizzard, then the temperatures were very low.   Arena riding has been crowded and the stir-crazy horses let their grumpiness show through when being ridden.  Lots of bucking, running and general bad attitude.  Who could blame them?  When a horse (or human) is used to having a work out 4 or 5 times a week and then down to once a week or not at all, of course there is going to be some grumpiness!   Fortunately for me, Gem is quite happy with the routine of only being ridden once or twice a week.  :-)  When I was able to ride, Gem was attentive and responsive and our rides were good.

We actually had a fantastic trail ride the day before I left on holiday. The weather was perfect; -5C, no wind, sunny.  The snow was pristine, very deep and we had to break the trails.  Gem was almost up to his chest in places, but he never wavered.  DH's Mom's feet and stirrups were actually touching the snow in places as we plowed through.  :-)  It wasn't a long ride because it's very tiring for the horses, but it was a great memory to take with me on holiday.  

I have been able to ride three times since I got back the beginning of March.  I feel pretty good.  The sun and warmth of my holiday has rejuvenated me and Gem has kept me centered since I returned. I could have let my sister's actions with my mother while I was away really get to me and take away all the good that my holiday did...but I let it go.  I guess feeling like my life spinning out of control occasionally can be a positive thing because it makes me appreciate the good stuff and savour when things settle down.  This weekend, Gem and I are participating in another Western Dressage clinic.  Should be fun.   Oh, and our house sold and we bought the house we wanted all in the first week of my holiday!  Yay!  Looking forward to a slower pace, warmer weather and sipping a cold beverage by my new pool.  :-)

Have a good week, everyone!!

Dressage Goes Western

At the end of January, I participated in a Western Dressage clinic (thanks Calm, Forward, Straight and It's Quarters for Me for the encouragement!).  I had never heard of Western Dressage until LA mentioned it to me in December.  It's still fairly new and is drawing quite a following.  Western Dressage uses the classical dressage techniques to help improve communication, softness and balance between western rider and horse.  There is no specific "western dressage" breed of horse.  Any western rider and horse can participate and benefit. What's not to like?   I can't find many videos of Western dressage, but perhaps this one can give you an idea.....

Boarding in a reining and games barn, I see a lot of sliding stops, gallops at full speed, sharp turns around barrels, etc.  This seemed a little more up my alley.  :-)

It was a balmy -15C day, with just enough wind to blow snow off the roof of the arena. My team mates included Nervous Classmate, who was riding a dead broke lesson horse (this was good because she was anxious about the snow blowing off the roof) and Wade and his crazy Arabian, Dar.    I was a little nervous, not because of the snow or Dar, but because there was quite a crowd observing.  

We had to walk, jog and then do a working/posting trot so that the instructor could evaluate us. Considering I haven't been getting in much riding lately, Gem and I were working together nicely.  As we moved up from a jog to a posting trot, the instructor said "Wolfie, you have a good seat."  Why, thank you!  It was a good way to start the session.  :-) 

There are some advantages to being in a group; you get to learn and observe a variety of things.  For instance, in Wade's case,  he competes in endurance events and his horse only goes forward; Wade does not know how to back up, side pass or turn on the forehand/haunches.  Interesting, eh?  I hadn't really thought of that.  I assumed that if you were competing, you would know at least how to back up.   Also, Wade has been riding for a few years, but does not know how to post.  His understanding of posting was having the horse pitch you forward, popping you out of the saddle and then plop back down in the saddle.  So when the instructor explained about using his legs to post, you could see it was a light bulb moment for him.

Personally, I was glad that the areas that we worked on were mostly at a walk or jog.  I know that I need to know how to lope confidently (I am getting there!!!), but to be honest, Gem and I could jog or post trot all day long; we both love it and have the stamina.   Here's what she helped me with:

• I shouldn't plan too far in advance of where I want to end up.  When I do that, I turn and look and my shoulders inadvertently move to follow my head, making Gem start to change direction sooner than I want.  So, I should know where I want to end up, but only plan two horse lengths in front of me so that my shoulders stay in the correct position.

• I tend to ride with my elbows sticking out.  Sigh.

• I have always wanted to side pass consistently and she broke it down for me.  When side passing right, I tilt Gem's head ever so slightly to the left so I can see his nostril and then lightly bump with my left leg at the girth, keeping shoulders and hands straight.  Easier said then done, but we were able to get a few good cross-overs with nice big movement.  With practice, Gem and I will get it.

• Turning on the forehand; Gem ends up counter bending regularly (my fault).   Same set up as side pass but I need to keep my left leg just a smidge back from the girth (I was too far back), my right leg ever so slightly on to stop him from bending and bump (not push) so that his hind end moves over.  Again practice, practice.

• Oh, and I should stop looking at Gem's mane all the time.  :-)

The snow did come down of the roof a couple of times, causing Dar to bucked and dance during the session.  Wade is so used to this behaviour, he just sat through it.  I could tell Nervous Rider was, well, nervous, about the snow and about Dar, but she survived.  :-)  The feedback from all participants was positive.  I can see that Dressage would help in endurance, trail class, reining; using Dressage principals can only help improve the communication between rider and horse no matter what activity you are involved with.   Gem seemed to enjoy the challenge of this clinic and he was very well behaved and light on his feet.  Would I do it again?  Definitely.

Have a good weekend, everyone!!