Ramses

I tried out a another riding instructor, Vicki, of Cloverleaf Farm.  It was also a potential boarding facility...

The stable was closer than I thought.  I thought I would be driving to Monument but I ended up at Woodmen and Marksheffel.  The facility is not too bad of a drive if I wanted to board there.  No indoor arena though and that's a big deal for me.

The day was pretty windy and cold...I really missed riding inside, I've gotten spoiled but I know the boarding facilities that have an indoor come with a price tag...one I'm SOOO willing to pay!  Ramses was a 15.3 light bay gelding that Vicki had me riding.  We tacked him up outside of her trailer/tack room.  Then headed to a dressage size (I'm guessing) outdoor arena with letter stakes.

I'm not too familiar with the lettering scheme, I just know that certain dressage movements start and end at specific points.  Vicki had me begin posting trot in a figure 8 and I made the same mistake I always make with Laurie, I did a figure eight in mathematical terms not a dressage figure 8.  Dressage figure 8 is actually two circles bumped up next to each other, not the swirling figure 8 like the number I just typed.  Ooops!  Well at least she's seeing that I'm not a big competition person. 

Apparently Vicki is and competes cross country with a rather handsome dark bay thoroughbred gelding.  Ramses was very tall to me and I was glad there was a mounting block to use.  I love her reins, they were a rubber weave I think...very grippy.  I'll have to look for that when I buy my headstall.  The braided reins I had when I rode Willy were nice but these I think I liked better, they were smoother feeling than the braided reins but still had a nice grippy feel. 

Vicki had me post the trot doing circles using the letters....I so was not even training level dressage I guessed by the look on her face when I was confused by the lettering!  LOL.  She set up cones and had me aim to ride between the cones as a point to help me better visualize where my circle should be.  I did improve and she had me do figure 8's, dressage ones, and then an hour glass shape around the ring. 

Ramses was not responsive like Divine but I think I was just feeling him out.  I really needed to push him to keep him trotting, a hard task as I was beginning to tire and would have been perfectly content if he'd come to a dead stop and fell asleep standing in the middle of the ring with me perched on top catching my breathe.  But alas I had to keep pushing him as Vicki kept pushing me to keep the bend and trot around the ring.

When we were done with the lesson I untacked him and brought him into a stall where Vicki had his dinner waiting.  It was a nice lesson and I could see going to her again to occasionally supplement Laurie's lessons.  Honestly I feel more comfortable with Laurie but it is good to try new things occasionally and ride a new horse.  As for the facility, I'm not interested in exploring it mainly because of no indoor arena....I need one since I don't want weather or darkness to interfere with being able to ride.  An indoor arena is a major priority for me, it just is!

Anyways, I just want my own horse.....NOW!  That way I can ride every day of the week, when ever works out for me!  That time is coming soon....I just can't wait!  Until then, happy riding!

The Stirrup

I had a lesson a few weeks ago that was all walking but working on lateral transitions, on the round and on the straight.  I circled Divine and then would move her off my left leg and press with my right seat to get her to move sideways.  Obviously there are opposite cues to leg yield her to the other direction.  When she's collected and soft it feels like we are ice skating in the arena!

It was a cool lesson with lots of hard concentration.  Even though it was only walk I was tired after from the mind work and then the leg pressing.  The next interesting thing that occurred at the end of the lesson involved the far side stirrup.

Then I dismounted, ran the stirrup up on one side and started to walk around the front of Divine.  She swung her head to the far side, like she had an itch or something.  Then she pulled away in a freak out moment, her mouth was caught on her stirrup!!  She pulled back with her head up trying to free herself.  I called for Laurie and tried to calm Divine.  She stood still as Laurie came over and then gasped a little at what she saw.  What in the world!!! 

We pulled Divines neck over to the far side, her training in sideways flexing majorly payed off and she remained calm as Laurie unbuckled the stirrup so we could release it from the mares mouth.  After she was freed we both looked at each other in amazement.  I've never heard of this and neither has Laurie.  It happened so fast that I don't even know how it happened!  Laurie inspected her mouth, luckily no teeth or major injuries occurred.  Her lower lip had a cut on it and was bleeding slightly but nothing to call the vet over at least.

Standing in the arena after all was done and calm again I could feel the surge of adrenaline in my veins.  What a crazy feeling!  I was just standing there and all of the sudden felt a wave come over me and my body began feeling very shaky.  That was scary!  Divine was such a good girlthough, I was very amazed.  She and I have had our differences, she can be a little reactive to silly things but this instance really impressed me.  Such a good girl!  I was so glad it all turned out well.  Phew!  You never know what can happen when you are around horses!

To My Readers

Laurie does not read my blog but others do and have misread statements and made assumptions and then caused worry and potentially some unneccessary hurt for Laurie by mentioning some posts to her.  I don't care who it was or why, I know you had good intentions but believe me, so do I.  I have no idea what posts have been taken out of context or blown out of proportion but apparently word has gotten back to Laurie and the word has been that I'm unhappy in some way with her.

What???!!!!????

So I have gone back over some of my posts to see if perhaps my wording may have made my thoughts sound different than I meant.  I have been frustrated of late because of my work schedule, life, some riding technique issues and wanting my own horse but deciding to pay for a Cancun vacation with family (choices....) but Laurie has been nothing but understanding and pateient with me, one good example is the big mistake I made thinking I was ready to lease the young Pstar.  My blog is not a blog where you need to read between the lines, I'm pretty upfront or try to be and perhaps I didn't proffread very well but here are my best guesses at to what may have upset some people....

Is it upsetting that I was open about being frustrated with schedules?  I'm frustrated that Laurie and I's schedules aren't meshing with each others so it's harder to get out for riding lessons.  I stated numerous times that I know it's not her fault.  My schedule changed and hers did too...that's life, I just need to figure out ways to get more riding in (including taking an occassional lesson somewhere else)  When Laurie has had an opening she's sent me an email letting me know.  Sometimes I can make it sometimes I can't.  It's still frustrating even when it's no ones fault, its just a part of life getting really busy!  I'm hoping when I have my own horse, even before I have a trailer, that I can continue to work with Laurie, paying extra or what ever to have her come to my boarding facility for lessons.  I love her style of teaching.

The bathroom comment I made during my Vantage Point farm post, was that upsetting?  I'm referring to potential boarding stables where I could show up at 7am or 8pm and want to ride my horse and have to use the bathroom facilities.  One ranch I looked at the gal stated her house was always open even if she wasn't home and I would end up having to trapse through her kitchen and dinning room to use a bathroom.  How odd would that be to barge in when they were having family dinner or breakfast?  I did not feel comfortable with that idea nor the idea of going into the house when no one was there....it's a liability thing for me.

Lauries house and bathroom is different because she knows I'm there for a lesson and I can run and use the restroom and it's not barging in on a family having dinner who had no idea I was there!  It's not like  her family doesn't know I'm there for a lesson.  It still feels like I'm inconveniencing others, that's my issue though.  I'm the person who hates carpooling and having to ask the driver for a pit stop because I have to "go" yet again. I've always had a small bladder I guess and I try to drink a lot of water so my urination schedule is always well known to people....I wish it wasn't but that's my issue.  It's my insecurity not anyone elses.  But it feeds into my criteria for what I want in a boarding stable...complete convenience where I don't have to bug anyone, and I feel I would at Jennifers farm. 

It kind of goes along the lines why I bought my own tack for Willy.  I felt like I was a bother having to always track down Susan to get into the tack room to ride Willy.  I wanted to be completely independent and therefore I took care of it by buying my tack.  It's just a me thing that's all and I think the statement was read but not understood (particularly the reference to Jennifers boarding farm post which I have no posted that link on the Vantage Point farm post) and people just ran with it and made their own assumptions....and worried Laurie in the process.

The horse canter and longeline?  Is that something that people thought I was upset at Laurie for?  No...just me trying to figure out my own psychology and "talking outloud" on my blog to figure out what might be the best way to conquer my fear.  Should it be on a longeline or does that make me feel totally out of control?  Should I ride in a western saddle since I don't have to reach so far for security grips?   Do I feel like I'm not as trusting of Divine as I want to be?  These are just thoughts trying to figure out my fears so I can get over this hurdle.

I have no idea what posts made people think it necessary to worry Laurie over instead of getting clarification from me or just staying out of it.  I like Laurie as a riding instructor.  Her stable is too far out for me to consider boarding my horse there, just if anyone was curious why I haven't mentioned boarding a horse with her!  I'm frustrated with my schedule and hers, who wouldn't be, and the inconsistent times I can come ride but am I mad at her for having a life?  Am I upset that she can't bend over backwards and give me a lesson when ever I want?  No of course not!  I miss my friday mornings because it was so conventient.  But life changes and we just have to keep trying to find the times that work for both of us.  I'm throwing in a wrench this week since I leave to head up for Denver on Thursday for the horse expo, so even fewer chances to ride but at least I made it out Saturday and had a great lesson....post to come soon! 

Anyhow I just wanted to post some things to clarify any misconceptions people had about what I'm saying.  Please feel free to contact me if what I said doesn't make sense and please don't try and read between the lines...there's nothing there!  Happy trails to you all!

Vantage Point Farm

I checked out yet another stable and found a jewel...well if jewels are indoor areas, paddocks with happy ponies, manure piles and run in sheds!  Vantage Point Farm is not too far from my house and borders the Black Forest.  Apparently it is adjacent to a trail system through the black forest and some of the parks in the region.  Sweet!

The stable part is fairly small I would say about 10-12 stalls?  I didn't pay attention since I have no intention of doing stall board.  The rest of the property had paddocks with run in sheds and then one larger paddock with 5 acres...the gelding paddock.  I really don't understand the aversion facilities have to boarding geldings and mares together (NOW I DO!!!  Please read this post on geldings and mares thank you Lytha for this informative information.  I had no idea!).  I know introduction into a herd has to be a process but...I have no idea why geldings can't be with mares, I've seen it before and it seems to work fine.  If I end up with a mare she'll be in a single paddock with another mare or two and next to other paddocks with mares.  The paddocks were pretty nice at least.  Geldings get the best deal though!

The outdoor arena did not have a fence which is fine it's just going to be a mental change for me since there isn't that security!  It's a full size dressage arena with the letters.  I'm not familiar with the lettering of arenas so that might not do much for me to begin with.

The indoor arena was beautiful.  Nice and big and airy feeling!  I think there were some mirrors on the wall which are great for checking your position as you ride.  I think if I ever have property with my own indoor I will mount many mirrors.  They are great when riding alone.  Also by the stable was a porta potty.  Sweet, I love not having a hassle to go to the bathroom!  One stable I still do like I would have to go into the persons home to use the restroom and that just makes me feel uncomfortable.  Sometimes I just want to go ride my horse and not have other people aware of my bathroom needs, especially if it's in their house.  I like the stables that have a bathroom or at least a porta potty so I can just run and go without feeling like I have to ask permission like a little kid.

Kevin, the manager, took me around the farm and answered all of my questions.  The boarding fee is $385 a month for the paddocks which includes feed, hay and any supplements you provide.  Of course the location is great and the facilities are great too so the price is reasonable to me.  A lot of facilities are that price and don't offer as much!  For a tack locker I can pay $15 a month which I might think about.  Parking of a trailer near the indoor arena is free.  I probably won't have a trailer right away but I like to have the option of trailer parking at no additional cost.  Plus there are no restrictions on time of day to come to the stable.  If I come at 9pm that's fine or 5am that's cool.  With my work schedule I love that I can not worry and be able to come to the facility when ever to see my horse.

I certainly prefer a gelding to a mare and especially since this facility offers a nice huge paddock for geldings.  What a nice life!  All the fencing was nice horse safe, no barbed wire or even smooth wire.  The gelding paddock is about 5 acres and has little hills, trees and a nice view of the front range.

Unfortunately the odds of me finding a mare is pretty high.  The rescues I'll start my search at seem to have mostly mares right now.  As long as she's not overly reactive and sensitive I'm fine with that.  Rescues for the most part are so upfront about their horses since they don't want to see them coming back that if a mare is "mareish" I'm pretty sure they will be upfront about that.  But anyways, it just bums me out that if I get a mare she can't be in this nice big paddock!

Still I really liked this facility.  Indoor arena, close to trails off the property and no time limitations.  It's made it to the top of my list for sure!

Frustration

I'm frustrated with schedules and trying to work lesson times out with Laurie, I know it's not her fault.  It's just I haven't ridden since before Steve and I left for Florida.  Laurie has a lot of things going on with her daughters and their dance rehearsals, they are amazing dancers....Laurie included!  Since I can only ride in the evenings after work, on Saturdays or Sundays...and she doesn't teach on Sundays it limits me.  Laurie has a regular lesson on Wednesdays and I think most evenings she is bringing kids to dance etc.  The last couple times I've tried to arrange lessons it seems she's available on the days I'm not and maybe one other day, usually the least favorable day for me.  Even on Martin Luther King day someone had already grabbed a riding lesson slot before me!!! Laurie had sent an email about her change in availability way back in July stating her her time would be limited with the dance stuff this year....so it's not a shock me, I'm still just disappointed.  I used to have 3 day weekends so Friday mornings were perfect lesson days, no conflicts nothing!  I like having 8 hour days instead of 10 hours but I do miss my Friday mornings. 

This week I can ride any time but Monday and Tuesday....Monday I took a day off work since a friend got a couple free tickets for A-Basin (a ski resort here in Colorado)  My hubby doesn't like skiing so it's a nice treat to go with those that do and on a weekday too!  Then Tuesday I have my hot stone massage after worked (that was rescheduled from Sunday when I realized I'd be skiing on Monday, smart thinking aye?)  So anyways Laurie replies that she can give me a lesson on Monday or Friday...Saturday she's booked.  Uge.  I know it's not her fault, she has more students now which is great but with one horse that is rideable, dancing lessons and rehearsals that her daughters and her are committed to, then of course my schedule/hubby schedule on top of it...the number of days a week that would work out are VERY limited.  Most times something comes up on Fridays but I'm gonna go ahead and make this Friday available so I can get some horse time in!

2006 Gelding for sale (bad pic his video is nice), has won multiple top 5's and 1st places in
Sport horse in hand and Breeders Cups.  He's only $3500 or best offer
Of course the rescues will come first in my search but he's one of the many
others!

Hard as it is I want to look for another riding instructor to supplement my lessons with Laurie.  I need to ride more often and Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday are the best days for me and I think are the worst for Laurie!!  Laurie always says that once I have my own horse it won't be as much of an issue, I guess since Saturdays are limited to only two lessons because she only has Divine.  If I trailer in my horse then I can have a lesson.....well that's great but requires one thing, well two....a truck and trailer.  I will be happy to start searching for a horse hopefully as early as May but a truck and trailer....that might be a bit longer.  I'm not planning on financing anything either, soooooo......it will be a while before I can get horse transport.  I'll have to see if Laurie can come to where I board my horse or find a trainer that can come to me or is located at the facility in the mean time.

***Oh I so have to post about Vantage Point Farms asap!  Very nice stable that I think has made it as my TOP choice in boarding facilities!  VERY NICE!!!***

Then there is this cute guy who is already trail savy and endurance ridden!

So anyhow, back to the lessons, I'm gonna set up a Friday lesson with Laurie and see what else after that I can schedule.  I have a gal up in Monument that teaches dressage principles and has a nice Arab gelding I can ride...I told her about my accidents and fear of canter and what I need to work on, so we'll see.  All in all, this just sums up that I need my own horse that I can ride when ever I want and whenever works.  There are several geldings that I'm really dying to email the owners about but I need to get Cancun paid for (we go in late July but will pay for it in March....so excited!!) and then this one bill paid completely off before I let myself start looking.  At least I have about $200 in gift cards from Dover Saddlery to help pay for my new Wintec saddle I'm looking at for "future horse".  I'm glad that it seems I'm on the last turn before the homestretch!!

Fire Horses

It's amazing to me that horses have done so much for us!  I recently saw War Horse and was awed.  I've been on horses that shy at a bird singing and yet war horses had to deal with fires being shot and explosions!

Fire horses are no different.  Not only did they deal with a siren but they dealt with the noise and chaos of a building on fire.

My local fire operations center, I go there often because of my job, has a museum with old fire engines and then these set up with model horses pullin scale fire engines etc.

There were also many photos of the actual fire horses.  How regal they are!

Of course the fire hydrants were kinda cute, I had to take a picture of the different types and kinds.

So this was a short post, I just wanted to get the pictures of the old fire engines and the brave horses up for everyone to see.  Does anyone see a dalmation dog in these pics?  I know they were an importatn member of the fire team since they worked to keep the horses calm. 

PONY MAGAZINES!!!

So the mail was on hold since December 22nd and was just finally delivered today because of all the holidays....I have not one, not two but SIX horse magazines to read!!!  SWEET!!!

I love it!

Swing that Butt!!

So there are bad days riding and good days riding.  Still any day at the stable is a good day overall.  I have of late felt down on the riding, I’ve had a few bumps in the road with fears that I still have to deal with but I know in time I can get there.

Pstar and Brownie in the pasture

The last riding lesson I had was Monday Nov. 28^th after work.  The day temperatures were nice and sunny, of course when I left work at 4pm the sun was already setting behind the mountains as per this time of year.  When I got out to the stable I turned on the lights as I made my way back to the tacking area.  I still had my clothes on from work so quickly changed into my jods, boots, shirt etc.  Then I opened the garage bay door to head out to the field and get Divine.

The wind was horrendous!  Divine didn’t seem to bothered that I was bringing her inside since she probably knew it would be nicer in there.  Grooming and tacking her up in the relatively warm barn was difficult as usual.  Divine has the habit of not staying put where she’s tied.  She swinging her body into the barn aisle and I had to keep backing her up, around the corner tie and into place.  She was driving me nuts!  On a lighter note though I had a slightly better bridling experience with her.  She lowered her head and didn’t fight as much.  Only issue was when she opened her mouth at the same time she also swung her muzzle away from my hand that was supporting the bit about to go in her mouth.  It took a couple tries but eventually she was bridled.

Not so clean Eksodus nose...it was chilly so I'm sure my nose
wasn't too dry either!

The riding lesson itself was off the lungeline.  I was surprised since I felt like we’d do some canter try outs again but perhaps Laurie is wanting me to not get frustrated, throw in a few lessons where I feel more comfortable so they aren’t all “tiring, facing my fear” type of lessons!  Anything that is difficult it is best to take in little steps and not thoroughly concentrate on the task 100% of every lesson so I wasn’t disappointed.  I did trot work and circles on Divine.  I worked with her on her trouble areas where she fought to go through the door out of the arena back to the barn and where she tried to stop or walk in the corners instead of keeping her bend and circling like I was trying to ask.  It was a lot of work for me too trying to keep her impulsion up and then either posting or sitting the trot correctly and balanced.  It felt good and little successes made me happy

Next we worked on a serpentine at the trot and then the walk.  The walk serpentine had an extra task of moving her hindquarters, yielding them, around the turn.  It was fun and took a lot of concentration to keep her in the path I wanted.  If I didn’t let up with one leg or keep a wall with the other, or keep the right amount of pressure on the bit at the right time Divine would walk through my aids and side step down the arena instead of getting back on track with the serpentine.  I was worn out.

I love the smell of hay!

Later after the lesson and Divine was all groomed up and untacked she got a nice meal of hay in a warm stall.  I love the sound of horses munching on hay!  Glad to have a good lesson again!  Perhaps next time I’ll have some confidence to go with the canter again, we’ll see what Laurie has planned!

Horse Slaughter Legalized in U.S.

The past five years there has been a ban on legal horse slaughter in the U.S.  I didn't realize it'd only been for that short time, I thought it had been decades.  Of course slaughter has occurred, horses have been sent to Mexico or Canada.

http://horsechannel.com/horse-news/2011/11/18/horse-slaughter.aspx

I never, ever want to send an animal I have loved dearly to the slaughter house, nor do I want to place an animal in a situation where I won't know it's fate.  I want to keep my horse for life, if I can but I know realistically that a lot of people can't do that...who knows something drastic could happen in my life and I wouldn't be able to continue to keep my horse.  Life changes and if someone is faced with a job loss, foreclosure, and supporting their family...pets will go by the wayside.  Hopefully that person will find a good home for their horse or find a rescue to help them.  Unfortunately others can't stand to part with their horse and many are left to starve on the sparse pastures we have here in Colorado.

So this blog is about questions.

Will legalizing horse slaughter prevent slow, cruel deaths to horses?

Will it create a better slaughter house environment compared to the slaughter houses in Mexico that horses were exported to?

If there are local slaughter houses will there be regulations on the transport and slaughter practices?

Will a rancher or horse owner, down on their luck, be more likely to sell, give away, euthanize or send a horse to slaughter?

Is horse ownership verified before some of these sales to slaughter houses?

Do we need to worry about our mustangs?  What about our herds of horses in the fields?

http://www.petside.com/article/truth-behind-lifting-horse-slaughter-ban

This is a tricky issue from many angles. 

I eat meat, I eat cows, lambs, pigs, etc.  Other countries hold the cow sacred.  Other countries eat dog and cat meat.  Where do you draw the line?  Who are we to say but animal can be killed for food and what animal cannot?  Is it the type of animal that is most distressing?  Is it the endangered status (um that ones a no brainer I think!)?  Is it how the animal is killed (quickly vs. bleeding out)?  If an animal is humanely taken care of and then humanely killed I don't find an issue with it, in general.  But, I could never eat a dog, cat or a horse.  I just couldn't.  The thought makes me sick.  But I have to remember that same thought is one Indians have about eating cows, it makes them sick.

I do strongly believe though that these auctions with under nourished horses that have obviously been neglected should be fined, the sellers tracked down and persecuted....no animal should be starved or mistreated like that.  Sure maybe the horse will be killed quickly just like cows in a slaughterhouse but can we really advocate the inappropriate treatment at any time, of any animal, no matter it's fate? 

http://www.kolotv.com/news/headlines/Horse_Slaughter_For_Human_Consumption_Now_Legal_134794253.html?ref=253

These questions really make me sick.  I love horses and would never want to have one of mine or ones I've known killed for meat, even if it is done quickly and humanely.  Period.  But what about all the other horses? 

What are peoples opinions?

Coiled Like a Spring

I had a lesson the day after Thanksgiving. I was tense. Really tense. Laurie had me on the lungeline and the thought was to try the canter out. I guess the thought of it had me really tense.


Sometimes I wonder if I just have issues trusting Divine and she certainly picks up on those feelings. She tends to be reactive to everything I do wrong. I lose a stirrup, it bumps her, she’ll jump. She “shies” at something I’m not even sure of what! It’s hard sometimes, I lose confidence on her when she gets upset because I am not leaning the right way or I’m tense. I have to admit it gets frustrating! On the other side of the coin though the challenge of Divine is that she will tell me what I’m doing wrong…and theoretically I should know what I’m doing wrong and fix it. It’s a lot of pressure thinking about it you know?

Eksodus mug shot!

She’s a pretty good horse for learning on but I think at this stage in my life I enjoy a horse that I can relax around a little more. Sometimes I really feel about of control with her. Grooming and tacking up she still doesn’t stay still, I have to keep moving her back to where she needs to stand. It’s exhausting! But I guess she’s good to learn on, it will give me patience and small problems that occur with my future horse might not seem as big. It can just be pretty frustrating to learn on a very sensitive horse. I have good days and then I have bad.


Towards the end of the lesson at least I started to relax more and Divine was going better. I can be a sensitive person, I think a good match for me would be a horse that is easy going and not so sensitive. I don’t want anyone to think bad of Divine, she’s just a touchy type of horse.  Some riders really dig a sensitive horse, most top horses tend to be.  If I can ride her and ride her well I think I’ll be well on my way to being able to ride a lot of different types of horses.