Wow, how time flies when you're having a good time! Two years ago, I began this blog with the intent of chronicling my entrance into and journey through the world of eventing, and any other equine adventures that occurred along the way. Since starting this blog, we've gotten just under 12 000 hits, and by the time I've posted this we'll probably be over 12 000. Most of the readership is Canadian or American, but we've gotten a few fun ones like Latvia, Sweden, and Israel... though I often wonder how many of those are just spam! The most read post is the Awards & 200th Post, and the 2011 Rolex cross country pics coming in a close second.
To be honest, I'm incredibly pleased I've managed to keep this blog going for so long. There area times when its been tough, to be sure- I only posted 6 times throughout all of July and August. But for whatever reason, I've managed to stick it out & couldn't be more pleased about that fact. Thus far, I've met my goal of chronicling my own progress and my horses progress, and I love the fact that no matter where I am, as long as there's internet I can pull up a picture of my ponies! This blog has proved a great training diary, and a fantastic place to toss around ideas & put 'pen to paper' so to speak! Next year will bring a lot of changes to my personal life, which will undoubtedly tumble over into my equestrian life as well... so will I get to write a third anniversary post? Only time will tell. But in the mean time, I plan on keeping up with the blogging for as long as possible.
As there have been so many changes over the past two years, I've compiled a brief history detailing my adventures from the time I started this blog to the present day:
Showing posts with label NaBloPoMo. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NaBloPoMo. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Monday, November 19, 2012
Related to Riding
Warning:There was a point to all of this.... but I'll be damned if I
remember it. I completely forgot why I was writing this half way through, ironically enough.
I'll admit, I don't have the greatest attention span... to say the least. Riding is one of the few times I am able to actually focus and block everything else out. When my head's 'in the zone' so to speak, I'm lost to the world; the task at hand receives 100% of my undivided attention. But when I'm not on a horse's back, its hard to find that zone. I suppose playing an instrument also allows me to focus. In some ways the two tasks are similar, but in music, I'm influenced a lot more by my mood. If I can't find anything to play that fits my mood, focus proves as elusive as the music. Even then though, I never focus as well as when I'm on a horse's back.
This presented an interesting obstacle for me to overcome when I started catch-riding horses for other people. I'd be asked to ride somebody's horse and work on this, that, or the other thing, but people often wanted to know what I was doing and why. Fair enough, but it was extremely difficult at first for me to talk and ride simultaneousy. I've always taken lessons, and have had people yelling at me from the second I first swung my leg over a horse's back. So receiving instructions has never been an issue; it's all I've ever known, in a way. But explaining to somebody why bending exercises in the walk and trot are important when working on keeping a horse from falling through their shoulder in the canter? Totally different story when you're trying to execute said exercises at the same time.
Learning to divide your attention in that manner while still exacting the best possible results from the horse you're working with is something that I don't think can ever really be accomplished. However, the more familiar one is with a task, the easier it becomes to do that task perfectly even with very little attention. I'm sure most people could say the alphabet while rubbing their stomach and tapping their head. However, if I asked them to rub their stomach and tap their head while saying the alphabet backwards... we'd end up with a bit of a train wreck. The same principle can then be applied to riding. The more familiar you are with an exercise, and the better you are capable of explaining said exercise, the more successful one will be at doing both tasks simultaneously. Though the rider may be more effective when completing each task individually, familiarity allows the brain to go into 'autopilot' for the parts that are understood best, so that the rider's attention can be diverted to whichever area needs it most.
Riding is, in and of itself, a test of one's ability to multitask. For example, when was the last time you consciously thought about putting the rein between your pinky and ring fingers? I personally never think about it... to a point where I will grip bag handles with my pinky on the outside and not notice. When someone first begins to ride, their focus is on keeping their heels down, eyes up, fingers closed on the reins, etc. Placing the rein between their pinky and ring finger is something that requires much conscious thought. However, as a rider progresses and muscle memory kicks in, keeping your heels down becomes instinct, and the rider shifts their attention to new concepts like straightness and balance in both horse and rider. By that measure, those who progress most quickly should be the people with a high level of physical awareness, and fantastic muscle memory. Right?
Thought that may be true in many sports, I think riding is a somewhat special case. To ride successfully, emotional/mental control is often as important as the physical aspect. Like several other sports, to be a good rider you have to be able to control your fear. As a (formerly) avid skier and snowboarder, racing down slopes at high speeds, hopping over jumps, and speeding through mogels definitely requires you to swallow your fear and just focus on the task at hand, in the same way jumping through a coffin complex for the first time might. However, in riding you have the added challenge of participating with a partner who can detect and feed off of your mood in a way your skiis never will. In addition, a rider's ability to read the emotions of her horse is quite often equally as valuable. Knowing whether a horse is acting up or if they're just frightened can be the difference between permanently scarring a horse or having an absolute menace, and creating a successful, well adjusted, confident, and respectful equine partner that is a pleasure to ride and work with, and in my opinion, therein lies the difference between riding and all other sports. To be a successful equestrian, the rider must learn to be an athlete, to achieve a heightened level of emotional awareness and control, and to speak a language that involves no words, and yet is quite as complex and nuanced as any language that does.
Okay, rant over for now. I've really enjoyed thinking about this though, and would like to return to the subject... perhaps fit some science in to back up my hypotheses. Thanks for reading!
I'll admit, I don't have the greatest attention span... to say the least. Riding is one of the few times I am able to actually focus and block everything else out. When my head's 'in the zone' so to speak, I'm lost to the world; the task at hand receives 100% of my undivided attention. But when I'm not on a horse's back, its hard to find that zone. I suppose playing an instrument also allows me to focus. In some ways the two tasks are similar, but in music, I'm influenced a lot more by my mood. If I can't find anything to play that fits my mood, focus proves as elusive as the music. Even then though, I never focus as well as when I'm on a horse's back.
This presented an interesting obstacle for me to overcome when I started catch-riding horses for other people. I'd be asked to ride somebody's horse and work on this, that, or the other thing, but people often wanted to know what I was doing and why. Fair enough, but it was extremely difficult at first for me to talk and ride simultaneousy. I've always taken lessons, and have had people yelling at me from the second I first swung my leg over a horse's back. So receiving instructions has never been an issue; it's all I've ever known, in a way. But explaining to somebody why bending exercises in the walk and trot are important when working on keeping a horse from falling through their shoulder in the canter? Totally different story when you're trying to execute said exercises at the same time.
Learning to divide your attention in that manner while still exacting the best possible results from the horse you're working with is something that I don't think can ever really be accomplished. However, the more familiar one is with a task, the easier it becomes to do that task perfectly even with very little attention. I'm sure most people could say the alphabet while rubbing their stomach and tapping their head. However, if I asked them to rub their stomach and tap their head while saying the alphabet backwards... we'd end up with a bit of a train wreck. The same principle can then be applied to riding. The more familiar you are with an exercise, and the better you are capable of explaining said exercise, the more successful one will be at doing both tasks simultaneously. Though the rider may be more effective when completing each task individually, familiarity allows the brain to go into 'autopilot' for the parts that are understood best, so that the rider's attention can be diverted to whichever area needs it most.
Riding is, in and of itself, a test of one's ability to multitask. For example, when was the last time you consciously thought about putting the rein between your pinky and ring fingers? I personally never think about it... to a point where I will grip bag handles with my pinky on the outside and not notice. When someone first begins to ride, their focus is on keeping their heels down, eyes up, fingers closed on the reins, etc. Placing the rein between their pinky and ring finger is something that requires much conscious thought. However, as a rider progresses and muscle memory kicks in, keeping your heels down becomes instinct, and the rider shifts their attention to new concepts like straightness and balance in both horse and rider. By that measure, those who progress most quickly should be the people with a high level of physical awareness, and fantastic muscle memory. Right?
Thought that may be true in many sports, I think riding is a somewhat special case. To ride successfully, emotional/mental control is often as important as the physical aspect. Like several other sports, to be a good rider you have to be able to control your fear. As a (formerly) avid skier and snowboarder, racing down slopes at high speeds, hopping over jumps, and speeding through mogels definitely requires you to swallow your fear and just focus on the task at hand, in the same way jumping through a coffin complex for the first time might. However, in riding you have the added challenge of participating with a partner who can detect and feed off of your mood in a way your skiis never will. In addition, a rider's ability to read the emotions of her horse is quite often equally as valuable. Knowing whether a horse is acting up or if they're just frightened can be the difference between permanently scarring a horse or having an absolute menace, and creating a successful, well adjusted, confident, and respectful equine partner that is a pleasure to ride and work with, and in my opinion, therein lies the difference between riding and all other sports. To be a successful equestrian, the rider must learn to be an athlete, to achieve a heightened level of emotional awareness and control, and to speak a language that involves no words, and yet is quite as complex and nuanced as any language that does.
Okay, rant over for now. I've really enjoyed thinking about this though, and would like to return to the subject... perhaps fit some science in to back up my hypotheses. Thanks for reading!
Sunday, November 18, 2012
XC Snaps
Well, video stills... but you get the point. We had an awesome school today. Cadence was strong, and apparently thought my arms needed a work out. Better than my legs I guess; at least you know she's (REALLY) enjoying herself! My amazing dad came up and played videographer, so hopefully I'll have the video up by Tuesday.
We totally aren't over jumping... nope! Not at all.
Sunday, November 11, 2012
Remembarence Day
On 11th of November, we pause to remember those who have fallen fighting for our nation. We pause to remember those who fought and survived, and those who are still fighting. Lest we forget.
I
also thought I'd share a little video. I'll admit, I'm not fond of our
current government and their policies, but this crossed the line in my
opinion.
Saturday, November 10, 2012
The Stick It Seat Cont'd
I've probably gone on with this theme for long enough, but whwn I was looking back through the 'official' photos from our show season this year, I just couldn't resist posting a few of my favourites! Like magical slippers and ball gowns, these babies will turn back into pumpkins in a few days time because I'm really not fond of sharing the work of other photographers without their permission. So why have I done it? The photos crack me up, and I couldn't think of another way to share them. Anywho, enjoy.
Friday, November 9, 2012
Jumping for Joy
Since last time I shared bad jump photos, I thought I should share at least a few nice ones, even if they're not as fun.
Cadence's first course
Okay, that one isin't really the best example of a 'good' jump, seeing as she's jumping about 3 feet too high, but its a decent picture so we're taking it. Plus, it was the only jump we did that day!
Okay, that one's actually a rather ugly looking jump on Cadence's part... she's not using her neck at all. But the reason I showed it is because I'm pretty sure that's the closest we've ever gotten to a xc fence!
Aww, mare-face!
The last jump on the wettest course on earth!
Sanity! Its a beautiful thing.
She still doesn't like to get too close to the jumps...
Thursday, November 8, 2012
(Attempt at) Conformation Pics
I've wanted to get some decent conformation shots of Cadence for a while. However, between the weather, time, and convincing someone to come play photographer or pony handler, I haven't had much luck. Until last Sunday, that is. We got some shots. None were spectacular (they were taken on the video camera b/c the nice pretty camera I'd stolen borrowed died on me) as Miss Mare was far more interested in eating the grass than standing in the cold to have her picture taken. Oh, and the ground wasn't perfectly even either... so she looks a bit butt high/oddly proportioned in some!
Umm.... morgan horse impersonation?
Angled towards the camera & pissy 'you no let me eat grass' face
Still angled towards the camera, but at least she looks happier.
Pretty mare perks up with the possibility of a trail ride!
Ain't she sweet?
She's got the tiniest mouth!
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Riding a Good Horse
I have to admit, my horse is a saint. Some way to start off a post, eh? I should also probably clarify that, though saint-like, there's no denying she's far from perfect. In fact, in the eyes of many riders she would probably be just about as far from saintly as you could get. She's willful and opinionated, she's quite sensitive, and she loves to go. However, her intelligence and athletic ability means she can take something foreign and new to her, and make it look easy. For example, we rode our first leg-yield in a clinic. While it started off dreadfully (seriously... she refused to move, in typical "you don't know what you're doing, so I'm going on strike" Cadence fashion) but within 15 minutes she was leg-yielding perfectly. It was like point-and-shoot leg yielding; just head for the wall at the right angle, and as long as you occasionally check her tempo she'll just leg yield away... making me look pretty darn good! That's not to say there's no tension, or iffy moments, but she just picks up on things so quickly that even when I'm not 100% sure what's going on she's got my back.
This is on my mind because of the lesson we had Friday night. Now that we're in the winter training season, we've been ramping up the flat work. After some decent trot leg-yields (we have a bit more trouble with those, because I have a bit more trouble controlling her tempo w/o losing the lateral momentum.. but they're still fantastic seeing as we've worked on it less than 10 times...) my coach decided it was time for us to introduce shoulder fore and shoulder-ins to Cadence. Now, this is an area I'm a bit greener in. I've worked on shoulder-in... less than 5 times before. I know how to ask, and what it feels like, but trying to explain this to a horse who's got no clue wtf you're asking them for is a little more difficult, because while I know what is right and what is blatantly wrong, I struggle a bit more in the grey areas. However, Cadence was brilliant and definitely saved me a bit. She just gets things so quickly, and is flexible (not to be confused with supple) and co-ordinated enough to just simply do it without too much work. So in short, I've been blessed with one heck of a good horse.
When we bought her, we paid for talent and brains... but I don't think I truly appreciated just how important that was at the time. Most riders foray into the world of competitive riding on a safe, trained horse. I competed at my first 'real' show on a pony most people were afraid to ride (he had no breaks... not even an emergency break. Your emergency break was called dismounting) and that I'd decided to lease and train up a bit. He was, and is, the most brilliant horse I've ever known, and taught me more than I could ever hope to learn. However, he did not make it look easy. We rode around hunter courses at mach 10, warming up in our hackamore and switching into the bitted bridle at the in-gate. We circled endlessly to stop, and NEVER competed in flat classes. Those required breaks. He was unathletic, and while he had a decent looking jump, isn't a stellar mover.
While Cadence has had her fair share of 'face-palm' worthy moments, (such as getting eliminated from her first two real shows because of a shed and a barn... terrifying, apparently.) she DOES make things look easy. Or at least easier. She can jump out of just about any distance, and is bold as the day is long. We consistently score well in dressage partially due to her training, which is slightly above what you'd expect to see at the level, but also because she's simply lovely to watch. I can goof up: mess up the shape of our circles, not get her into a good relaxed trot, hit a dreadfully incorrect distance, jump her out of an awful turn, and she saves my ass every time because for the parts of the test we do properly, she's golden.
This is on my mind because of the lesson we had Friday night. Now that we're in the winter training season, we've been ramping up the flat work. After some decent trot leg-yields (we have a bit more trouble with those, because I have a bit more trouble controlling her tempo w/o losing the lateral momentum.. but they're still fantastic seeing as we've worked on it less than 10 times...) my coach decided it was time for us to introduce shoulder fore and shoulder-ins to Cadence. Now, this is an area I'm a bit greener in. I've worked on shoulder-in... less than 5 times before. I know how to ask, and what it feels like, but trying to explain this to a horse who's got no clue wtf you're asking them for is a little more difficult, because while I know what is right and what is blatantly wrong, I struggle a bit more in the grey areas. However, Cadence was brilliant and definitely saved me a bit. She just gets things so quickly, and is flexible (not to be confused with supple) and co-ordinated enough to just simply do it without too much work. So in short, I've been blessed with one heck of a good horse.
When we bought her, we paid for talent and brains... but I don't think I truly appreciated just how important that was at the time. Most riders foray into the world of competitive riding on a safe, trained horse. I competed at my first 'real' show on a pony most people were afraid to ride (he had no breaks... not even an emergency break. Your emergency break was called dismounting) and that I'd decided to lease and train up a bit. He was, and is, the most brilliant horse I've ever known, and taught me more than I could ever hope to learn. However, he did not make it look easy. We rode around hunter courses at mach 10, warming up in our hackamore and switching into the bitted bridle at the in-gate. We circled endlessly to stop, and NEVER competed in flat classes. Those required breaks. He was unathletic, and while he had a decent looking jump, isn't a stellar mover.
The pony. Isn't he cute? I miss him.
Oh, and ignore my saddle sliding back in the jumping photo...
While Cadence has had her fair share of 'face-palm' worthy moments, (such as getting eliminated from her first two real shows because of a shed and a barn... terrifying, apparently.) she DOES make things look easy. Or at least easier. She can jump out of just about any distance, and is bold as the day is long. We consistently score well in dressage partially due to her training, which is slightly above what you'd expect to see at the level, but also because she's simply lovely to watch. I can goof up: mess up the shape of our circles, not get her into a good relaxed trot, hit a dreadfully incorrect distance, jump her out of an awful turn, and she saves my ass every time because for the parts of the test we do properly, she's golden.
Cadence having a 'face palm' worthy moment...
It may be true that we may have a disadvantage, with both my horse and I being relatively new to the sport of eventing, in many ways she's taught me more than a school master ever could. She'll still save me when I get a bad distance to a fence, and I'll stick her out when she has a 'Cadence moment' and flips out at a shed, or a miniature pony, or whatever it is next time. In some ways, its a bit of a bizarre notion- after all, she's still a total green bean. However, when you think about it, it makes perfect sense. We're a team. When I drop the ball, she's there to catch it, and when we enter the wonderful world of learning new things, I (theoretically) am there to lead her through.Tuesday, November 6, 2012
The 'Stick It' Seat
Cadence is a scopey jumper. She's also a pretty brave jumper. This combination has made for some pretty interesting fences! These are a few of my favourites that have been caught on camera. Complete with my desperate attempts to hold on...
Above: If cou look closely in the area underneath Cadence's barrel...you can see my coach. The actual jump is just behind her hind legs. It was a little (2') red bench...
Below: This one doesn't look that spectacular/bizzarre without the perspective of the other horses jumping the fence. She took off WAY out, its just hard to see from this angle.
Above: our whole course looked a bit like that.... except for the last two fences :P
Below: my all time favourite! First jump of her second or third xc school.
Above: NOT what you want in a hunter round....
Below: Cadence putting one stride in a 36 foot line at champs. She cleared the fence....
Above: first fence at Champs. She rocked that course!
Below: Umm.... she just took a long spot. And over jumped
Two more photos from the same school as the one on the top. What a mare.
Monday, November 5, 2012
Introducing the Shoulder In
This was originally part of another post, but that one got a bit long-winded and off topic, so Cadence's first shoulder ins got themselves their very own post. I still get off topic a bit at the end though.
Now that we're in the winter training season, we've been ramping up the flat work. After some decent trot leg-yields (we have a bit more trouble with those, because I have a bit more trouble controlling her tempo w/o losing the lateral momentum.. but they're still fantastic seeing as we've worked on it less than 10 times...) in our Friday dressage lesson, my coach decided it was time for us to introduce shoulder fore and shoulder-in to Cadence. Now, this is an area I'm a bit greener in. I've worked on shoulder-in... less than 5 times before. I know how to ask, and what it feels like, but trying to explain this to a horse who's got no clue wtf you're asking them for is a little more difficult, because while I know what is right and what is blatantly wrong, I struggle a bit more in the grey areas. However, Cadence was brilliant and definitely saved me a bit. She just gets things so quickly, and is flexible (not to be confused with supple) and co-ordinated enough to just simply do it without too much work. The only issues we had were keeping the slow tempo in the trot. She fought that WAY more than anything. To the left, her better leg-yield direction, her shoulder-ins were actually worse. They were better in the walk, but in the trot she just attempted (or maybe succeded is a better term!) to run through my right rein. Overall though she was brilliant, and once again made me look far better than I am.
Actually, I did have to pay for it in the canter work, as she was a bit tense from the new material, so when my coach asked me to collect her through the short ends and let her out a bit on the long wall... she interpreted that as my aid for her to gallop. To explain the feeling to a friend, I likened it to attempting to hold a train back with a piece of string. You can hold on to it, but if you take too much of a hold, the train will just snap the string and then you've got nothing. However, if you just let go completely you're SOL too. So its that fine balance.
Also, as a side note, feeling that amount of energy coursing through an animal really is an amazing feeling, and I can't think of another instance in which it would be replicated. For the sciencey type, you've got all this potential energy stored so close to the surface, and you know the tiniest lapse in your riding would turn that potential energy into kinetic energy... anyway, clearly midterms are getting to my head.
Sunday, November 4, 2012
Stepping it Up
First off, indoor eventing + canadian show jumping championships = awesome, but a bit of a late night. Anywho, I regretted not taking my camera but really enjoyed watching the show.
Back on topic. I had a double lesson weekend, with a dressage lesson on Friday night followed by a jumping lesson Sat am. Both lessons were fabulous, but two lessons plus ballet class has left me incredibly sore! My coach had mentioned to me that she was going to bump up the difficulty of our flat and jumping work, and this weekend Cadence and I experienced that in spades!
In our dressage lesson, we introduced Cadence to shoulder-in. She was brilliant, and picked up on it extremely quickly. We then did some leg-yielding in and out on a circle in the canter, which has improved tremendously since last time we tried that. However, the muscle-cramp enducing part of the lesson was actually probably one of the simplest parts.... I was asked to collect Cadence's canter through the short end and let her return to a working canter on the long walls. She'd collect fine, but once she learned that long wall = being let out, she was dreadfully difficult to hold onto. After the new material, she was understandably a bit wound up. So while she listened really well through most of it, she'd just kind of check out as I desperately tried to keep her in a sane-looking, relatively straight, mostly balanced canter down the long wall. Oh mare. We ended after a few decent ones, and called it a day. She was sweatier than I've ever seen her... looks like I may have to actually clip her this winter.
Saturday's lesson was another fun one. We started off jumping a one stride to a bending two. Cadence was a super star, so my coach pulled out a barrel, laid it on its side, and 'officially' introduced Cadence to skinnies. Cadence has jumped 2 skinnies before, both of them in the first HT she completed. I've never seen a skinny in competition since, and you don't really seem many of them up until Training level. However, in our little wee tiny Pre-Entry event, we saw one in stadium, and one out XC. She jumped both like a superstar, in spite of never having seen one before. But I digress. So we headed to the blue barrel (complete with guide rails on either side) and Cadence gave me a 'umm... are you sure you want me to do this?' kind of a feel. Not afraid, but confused. So I squeezed her, she popped in a canter stride, and voila- it was done. She went on to jump it beautifully several more times before we moved on. Up next: an introduction to corners. The corner was even smoother than the skinny. We trotted in, she calmly hopped over, landed, and got pissed when I asked her to slow down. So in short, a typical Cadence jump. We then cantered in, and while she took it a bit big, it was nothing compared to what she would have done a few months ago. Her confidence is really through the roof right now; its a lovely feeling. After great success with the skinny and corner, it was time to get down to some real work! I've created a dreadful diagram below in an attempt to minimize any long- winded explanations.
We started off heading to 1 on the right lead, swapping leads over 1, and heading to 2. Then we added on 3 to the end. Next, we did 2 to 1 off the right lead, before finishing with 3 to 1 to 2 off the left lead. The first time we did 1 to 2, I completely missed 2, because I couldn't get her back in time. The same thing happened the first time I did 3 to 1. Its hard to get an idea of just how close the jumps are to each other, and just how tight the turns are from the diagram. Even jumping 1 by itself on a circle would have been a bit of a challenge. The jumps themselves weren't huge or anything. The verticles were probably 2'6, and the corner was 2'3, but the point of the exercise isn't the height, its about the technicality of the questions being asked. Overall, the lesson was a great learning experience for both Cadence and myself, and I can't wait to see how far she comes over the winter. It feels like we're really getting into the good stuff now. We're officially out of baby green-bean land and are moving on to the real work! Or at least that's what it feels like to me :)
Back on topic. I had a double lesson weekend, with a dressage lesson on Friday night followed by a jumping lesson Sat am. Both lessons were fabulous, but two lessons plus ballet class has left me incredibly sore! My coach had mentioned to me that she was going to bump up the difficulty of our flat and jumping work, and this weekend Cadence and I experienced that in spades!
In our dressage lesson, we introduced Cadence to shoulder-in. She was brilliant, and picked up on it extremely quickly. We then did some leg-yielding in and out on a circle in the canter, which has improved tremendously since last time we tried that. However, the muscle-cramp enducing part of the lesson was actually probably one of the simplest parts.... I was asked to collect Cadence's canter through the short end and let her return to a working canter on the long walls. She'd collect fine, but once she learned that long wall = being let out, she was dreadfully difficult to hold onto. After the new material, she was understandably a bit wound up. So while she listened really well through most of it, she'd just kind of check out as I desperately tried to keep her in a sane-looking, relatively straight, mostly balanced canter down the long wall. Oh mare. We ended after a few decent ones, and called it a day. She was sweatier than I've ever seen her... looks like I may have to actually clip her this winter.
Saturday's lesson was another fun one. We started off jumping a one stride to a bending two. Cadence was a super star, so my coach pulled out a barrel, laid it on its side, and 'officially' introduced Cadence to skinnies. Cadence has jumped 2 skinnies before, both of them in the first HT she completed. I've never seen a skinny in competition since, and you don't really seem many of them up until Training level. However, in our little wee tiny Pre-Entry event, we saw one in stadium, and one out XC. She jumped both like a superstar, in spite of never having seen one before. But I digress. So we headed to the blue barrel (complete with guide rails on either side) and Cadence gave me a 'umm... are you sure you want me to do this?' kind of a feel. Not afraid, but confused. So I squeezed her, she popped in a canter stride, and voila- it was done. She went on to jump it beautifully several more times before we moved on. Up next: an introduction to corners. The corner was even smoother than the skinny. We trotted in, she calmly hopped over, landed, and got pissed when I asked her to slow down. So in short, a typical Cadence jump. We then cantered in, and while she took it a bit big, it was nothing compared to what she would have done a few months ago. Her confidence is really through the roof right now; its a lovely feeling. After great success with the skinny and corner, it was time to get down to some real work! I've created a dreadful diagram below in an attempt to minimize any long- winded explanations.
Saturday, November 3, 2012
Indoor Eventing at the RAWF
Today, I'm lucky enough to be heading into Toronto to take in the festivities at the Royal, and then enjoy an evening of indoor eventing. Indoor eventing is basically a take on derby cross.
This article does a good job of explaining it, IMHO. Is an interesting concept, and is sure to be a fun night. However, on that note I've decided not to take a camera. I want to legitimately enjoy the show, and not be focused on snapping the perfect shot, or videoing the entire round, etc. We'll see whether or nit I regret this...
This article does a good job of explaining it, IMHO. Is an interesting concept, and is sure to be a fun night. However, on that note I've decided not to take a camera. I want to legitimately enjoy the show, and not be focused on snapping the perfect shot, or videoing the entire round, etc. We'll see whether or nit I regret this...
Friday, November 2, 2012
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Fit Mare-Face & NaBloPoMo 2012
First off, after seeing it on STB Excellence's blog last year, I participated in National Blog Posting Month last November. I'll admit, I have no idea what month this is actually supposed to be in, but I had fun doing it last year, so I think I'll try to do it again. Inconveniently, it falls during my mid-terms.... which are next week. Not the best way to start, but c'est la vie.
Also, what is wrong with my horse?? This was at the end (just past the 3rd fence from the end) of her 3rd full xc course ever... BN level... and she is BARELY SWEATING! Also, it was crazy hot that day. I think I drank 5L of Gatorade. That's got to be the TB genes coming through....
Also, what is wrong with my horse?? This was at the end (just past the 3rd fence from the end) of her 3rd full xc course ever... BN level... and she is BARELY SWEATING! Also, it was crazy hot that day. I think I drank 5L of Gatorade. That's got to be the TB genes coming through....
I do not own the photo- photo is property of A. Bailini.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Year in Review: 2010/2011
I really like Andrea's way of recapping her year... very handy to look back on! So, I decided I'd steal the idea. Here goes:
November 2010
In November, I was still part boarding Bailey, and leasing Arty. Bailey had some issues when he attempted the barefoot lifestyle, and we slapped some front shoes back on him. I would still go out and school Arty before school (should have thought of a better word), and life was good. All in all, nothing of consequence happened.
December 2010
December was slightly more eventful than November. I stopped 'officially' leasing the pony (unless I'm mistaken... but I don't think I am), and about mid-month Bailey injured his back (we suspect he slipped out in the field) and started his time off. My friend Megan was given the mare she had spent the last year and a half leasing for Christmas, and I wasn't given the indoor arena I asked for ;) I met Cadence's mom at my coaches Christmas party, and was in awe of Cadence's impressively scopey free jumping in the video I was shown. Seriously, that mare was jumping 6' in her hind end... over a 4' jump. Thank god she doesn't jump like that under saddle. I ride Z for the first time, and have issues with insomnia. My attempts to brave the cold to school Arty (since we have no indoor arena) fail a little, and his training falls by the way-side.
January 2011
New years passes uneventfully. I make a list of goals/resolutions, and on a whim, decide to add getting a horse to the list. It can't hurt to dream, right? My lessons on Z continue, (on a side note, that pony you see in the video [Z] is now schooling 2nd level... how time flies) and I end up riding her a little more than expected when my coach injures her back. Arty gets a new bit, and I contemplate the awfulness of winter. Not that any of that's relevant. slightly more importantly, Bailey starts back under saddle after about a month off, and I meet and start riding Cadence! I also get sick, but what else is new. Cadence jumps her first gymnastic, and I ride Majik for the first time.
February 2011
I keep Cadence on a trial period (actually that happens in January), and when all seems to be going well she gets her vet check. My whole world changes, when my wonderful parents who have been so supportive of my riding career buy Cadence for me, and call it a birthday present! Best present I will ever get. On a less up beat note, My time with Bailey comes to an end, and technically my 'official' time with Arty does too. Last but not least, I go to England! What a way to end the month.
March 2011
In MArch, Cadence started off the month by knocking the glass window out of her stall with her head, and then colicing a week later. Eventful start to the month. We got a dressage saddle, and had bad luck attempting to get a close contact saddle. We also switched her into an 18mm sprenger kk ultra, which she's been in ever since. At the end of march, Ontario was still covered in snow.
April 2011
Through some good luck, a new saddle came into my life. A beautiful (albeit used... they're over 3k new) Childeric CC saddel. Can you say comfy? The saddle search was over. Show plans for the summer were drawn up, the barn got a set of three REAL standards (sorry bar stool jumps, the real standards take the cake) and it was STILL SNOWING BY THE MIDDLE OF THE MONTH! Mark Todd won Badminton (not that has ANY relevance whatsoever to my mare and I) Cadence got a YouTube channel, and I went to Rolex. Perfect way to end off the month :)
May 2011
Cadence had a wee bit of an issue (I hesitate saying issue, as it really wasn't. It was more of just an occurrence) with a little fill in her hind legs. We revised her work schedule and did some more conditioning. All of this occurred while I was away in Kentucky. A bit of a stressful start to the month, if I do say so myself. Cadence had her first off property school, jumped her first course, and went to her first show!
June 2011
Cadence had her first ever cross country school! She was awesome, and rocked the socks off of it. Other than that, it was just the usual ups and downs of training a greenie. I was also pretty lax in my blogging.
July 2011
Cadence and I did a little more showing. We had our first combined training show (and the first show in which Cadence jumped... or at least tried to) in which we were__(think of word)__ by a terrifying bright red shed; an obstacle which proved insurmountable. Ah well. As for the HT, two days before the competition, we signed up for an event (pullling some strings to get us in) and headed off to our first recognized (and first unrecognized) horse trial. We did swimmingly in dressage, survived Stadium without a single refusal (though I'm sure it looked god awful) and got eliminated out XC. Unfortunately, when your horse doesn't go near a jump... they can't really complete the course. Those scary drops (or benches... don't know which really spooked her more) To end off the month, I broke my finger out XC! Yay!
(I love this picture! Worst form ever, but she threw me a major loop on this one; I just tried my best to stick with her)
August 2011
We attended another HT, only to be foiled once again by those nasty sheds! A different one this time, but apparently Cadence has a serious issue with outbuildings. Other than that, we had some fun schooling at different places, and enjoyed the last few bits of my summer holiday. Oh, and I started riding Launa for her owner on a bi-weekly basis.
September 2011
We attended a hunter show... that was not our finest moment. Cadence was a bit too on the muscle for my liking. There was also some awful form on my part :P Other than that, the most exciting news would be that I started training Launa to jump (going NICE and slowly) and that Riding From the Ground Up hit 100 posts! We also had an awesome XC School up at Headwaters.
(This pic's from September, but its so hilarious I thought I had to include it)
October 2011
Cadence jumped her first bounce at the start of the month and was a total pro! I went out west for my cousin's wedding, and Cadence's old owner/breeder came down for the weekend to ride her and she even took her out XC! RFTGU got 30 followers, and other than that not too much happened.
November 2011
This was an action packed month. Launa was put up for sale, I was essentially 'given' her to ride and maintain, and since I don't have nearly enough time for that, I pawned her off to a friend who is now part boarding/leasing her until she's sold. Cadence went for her first 'real' trail ride, all by her self I might add. I started and ended my acting career with a spot as an extra on Murdoch Mysteries, Cadence and I rode with Belinda Trussel, and we rocked a set of fairy wings at our friend's costume games day. RFTGU celebrated its 1st birthday, and I SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED NATIONAL BLOG POST MONTH!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)