Jan 4, 2011

I had a great ride today. I lent Delight to one of the boarders so that she could take her granddaughter on a trail ride. The granddaughter was riding her (the boarder's) horse named Cody. I planned to ride Tacki.

Due to some unforeseen circumstances I had to stay back and do a few things at the barn and they took off without me. I rode out on Tacki alone, riding in my new English saddle. I have only ridden her out alone one or two other times, and I can count on one hand the times I have ridden I have ridden in this saddle. English saddles are scary doncha know!

I headed down the road that I thought my friends had gone down and as soon as we were almost off the property Tacki started getting sticky feet. Instead of fighting with her I abandoned the idea catching up with my friends and turned around back to the farm. I didn't force the issue as I really wanted this to be a relaxing adventure for both of us. And, I knew my friends were at least a mile down the trail ahead of us. I didn't feel like hurrying to catch up with them.

Tacki on a ride this summer

Tacki and I went all over the property (It's 100 acres or so), but not up and down the hills as the ground is too hard and uneven. I love riding this little mare. Sometimes she was very worried but with the slightest encouragement from my legs or hands she gave it her best try. She's not 100% trusting of me yet and she scooted a couple of times. But I am so pleased with her try that instead of becoming uneasy it made me look forward to seeing how she does after a whole summer of riding her out. We will be going out lots more times as we get ready for the endurance season.

In the end, I am glad I rode out alone today because I have some wonderful quiet time to think about things other than my troubles. Sounds corny but the horses really are a balm for my soul. After Delight, Tacki is my favorite horse to ride right now. I am really looking forward to our summer of riding together.

Oh and I did just fine in the scary saddle. Maybe I will get my love of riding English back after all....

Char

2011 Bucket List

I posted this challenge on my Facebook page today. I have edited it to add a few more of my "horsey" dreams here for my equine minded readers. My challenge is the same here, make a list and I will send it back to you in 6 months.

I want to challenge you, my friends and family, to make a few sort of New Year's un- resolutions.

This morning I was writing in my oft neglected gratitude journal. After writing my few things I am thankful for my mind turned to the second half of the page where I record random dreams for the future. Things I have written in that section over the months have included such grandiose things as buying a house to incidental things like having a baby goat named Lovely. I believe that giving myself permission to sit and dream for a few minutes each day and then reading back over the months of the things my childlike heart has dreamed about has been the most a healing and freeing practice that I have endeavored to do in 2010. My only regret is that I did not sit down more often and record these dreams more often than I did.

Ahh, but had I practiced more "discipline" then perhaps I would have lost some of the freedom of that exercise, thereby defeating it's purpose!

Anyway, back to this morning. Although I would love to share with you the journey of a Gratitude/Dream journal and to encourage you to embark on it with me, my challenge for you is much simpler.

It occurred to me this morning to make a list of dreams and desires for this year, a sort of Mini Bucket List. Some of the things on my list included:

1) Ride Star in her first endurance ride (25-30 miles)

2) Try a 50 miler on Delight

3) Try a Dressage test, maybe on Sam?

4) Become a member of AERC, PNER, AHA, and MHA and start collecting points for my endurance rides

5) More LD's on Takima

6) Canter at will on Sam, Tacki, Star and Shuga

7) Learn to make goat milk soap

8) Begin trying out a new recipes once a month or so.

I am challenging you all to make a short list like mine. If you make a list and send it back to me I will send it back to you in 6 months or so and you can be inspired by the things you have checked off, and/or be inspired to try for some more things on your list. Your list can be as long or as short as you like. I will put it on my calendar so I can remember to send them all back.

The things on this list are NOT resolutions nor are they self-improvement goals. They are NOT rules to live by in 2011 nor even positive changes we want to make. Resolutions and goals and changes are all good, even if they difficult to keep through a whole year. What I am asking for ARE dreams and endeavors that unless life makes a dramatic change (as it is wont to do!), that can be at least "tried on for size". Think, "Something new."

" I want to lose 20 lbs" does not fit in this list. "I would like to try out an aerobics class." or "I want to check out the Wii fit program on my son's Wii." do fit... kinda. However, I challenge you to think bigger than this. Do you have anything you would like to learn to do, but have never made the time; a new recipe, a craft, an adventure? What about trying a different variety of flower in your garden or learning a new sport? What about a drive to visit a place you have always wanted to go to but just haven't ever made time to do it. Think outside your box, I dare you!

Remember, no resolutions allowed, those are for another list.

Take a few minutes to dream. It's good for you!

Looking forward to a dream filled 2011,

Char

Ready For The Jumping Show and a Saddle

So no cantering on Tacki today although mentally I absolutely could have. We set up some jump standards and ground poles and I worked on getting Tacki and Delight used to them for the show tomorrow. Delight will be a piece of cake as long as I ride her "Western" on a loose rein. Tacki was really concerned, but she never refused and did her best to trust me. I love riding that mare, she is such a pleasure to ride even in her greenness.

I tried out a Wintec AP saddle today. It fit Delight and Tacki well. It is not my dream saddle but I think it might be a good transition-to-English-Endurance-type-saddle. When I am riding in it I feel like I am driving a Chevette with vinyl seats. My dream saddle will fit me more like a Jaguar. Unfortunately it will cost like one too. So, all that to say it's not real comfortable but I think it will do. It is 175oo. Of course I don't have the money right now. I am thinking about asking the tack shop where I have my western saddle on consignment if they want to buy it outright.

So tomorrow I will be going second up in the whole show. I am right behind Mr Mitleider. I was sure to thank Nancy for that honor. >.<

I haven't ever memorized anything but a trail course since I was 16. I figure if I can get the horses to actually trot the course in the right order I will be happy. I am thinking of using the English Wintec on Delight... we'll see how brave I am.

Pushing Forward

I finally cantered on Sam yesterday! Yeah it was on the longe and it was awkward unbalanced, clutching, tense, insert all the appropriate adjectives here... but I did it!

I have a hella time staying over my inside leg at the canter and Sam is one of those horses you have to direct every body part or he will trip over himself and fall over. (Well, not really, but he is still very unbalanced.) He also is very lazy and has to be kicked up to stay round and engaged even at the slower gaits. Nancy said I looked great so I must have done something right in there somewhere. Next step is to do this off the longe. It won't be long! Stay tuned for updates next week!

Here is a nice picture of Me riding Tacki and Sandra riding Sam.
We were doing some desensitizing work on this day...

I have decided to take Tacki and Delight to a Jumping Show on Sat. It is a winter series put on by my trainer Nancy. NO I WON'T BE JUMPING! In fact will be riding in my tacky cordura western saddle. My Sexy Breeches should make things all better right?? Ha ha.

At the show the rounds are all timed and there is a certain target time put on each level. The goal is to finish in that amount of time with no faults. I will be in the class where you ride your horse through the course with all the rails down. There will be ground poles to ride over in each jump. I am taking Tacki for experience and Delight so that I will have one horse that I won't fall off of in front of everybody. Neither of them has even ever SEEN a jump course.

I know I am probably asking for trouble, but it should be fun and maybe another blow to my AOF. Sara Mittleider's parents will be there with some horses (Google her!) No I will not be intimidated at all... I will just enjoy being in their presence... I will enjoy... I will enjoy... and be in awe :)

Horse Racing Festival of Lithang, Ba e

12.8.10 continued...

Well, I didn't ride either of my training horses! My endurance partner Sandra came to ride Sam. I ride Sam most often because she can't. But, she is the one who rides him in the Endurance rides. I can only ride one out on the trail at a time! Darn! We had an issue with not having enough tack. When she was done riding  Sam we tacked up Tacki and I encouraged her to ride her too. Sandra has only had the opportunity to ride "my" Tacki a couple of times. It was really fun watching them. Seeing someone else ride her really helped me see some of the progress that I am making with her!

I came across a lovely quote yesterday: "The horse you get off of is not the same horse you got on. It is your job as a rider to ensure that as often as possible, the change is for the better" - unknown author

Wed Dec 8, 2010

Well, today is training day. I will be riding Sam and Tacki the two little black Arabs. I didn't sleep well and I don't have cream for my coffee so I am starting a little slow. I need to shower and heat my soup to go into my thermos and head out.

I have cantered Tacki but only out on the trail, and I have yet to canter Sam despite being the one who started him 2 years ago. Even though the arena is super little dark and spooky My plan is to "get over it" and canter them both in the indoors soon. This summer unless they sell I will be doing endurance rides on Tacki and hopefully Dressage test or two on Sam (and maybe Tacki though she is much farther behind in her training.)