Virtual Brush Box

Awareness of the outside world. Alabama New Center: Alabama State Black Chamber of Commerce holds conference in Birmingham, Kelly, 6.22.23. Meg’s photos inject action into what could be a visually dry subject.

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Caption: Behind the ears of a stellar dude.

When Rodney walks, he has thoughts. Many, many thoughts. Constantly. I have a bug on me. I have an itch. I want to follow Milton. I don’t want to follow Milton anymore. [The Morning Constitutional]

Rodney is that way about everything. Many, many thoughts. Plus reactive. Plus prone to sudden outbursts that make sense to him but seem random to the rest of us.

This is why I go over to Stepping Stone Farm and ride the kindest, quietest, most amenable school horse available.

Optimus is an awesome dude. Yet, at my most recent lesson, I could still feel part of myself, say 5%, braced for him to suddenly cavort across the ring. I know he won’t. I don’t believe.

Once again, I slipped in a lesson before a show. I had planned to take more than one lesson between the shows. August got away from me.

We rode & drove. Optimus was a star. I was beyond tired once I got home.

In other news, I realize Emotional Support Animal is a specific term that gets misused. I am employing it here to underline the emotional impact a lesson can have. I really, really feel better after a good ride.

Onwards!
Katherine

Awareness of the outside world. In looking up how to aid Morocco, I found this. The people who prey on disasters are not vultures. That is unfair. Vultures are awesome. Such people are not awesome. I’m sorry this organization has to exist. I guess I’m glad it does. National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF)

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ASHAA Summer Fun Show III
Heathermoor Farm
Moody AL, USA
Saturday 9 September 2023

Optimus
4. Academy Driving, 1st of 1
26. Academy Showmanship Adult WTC – 4th of 4
27. Academy Equitation Adult WTC – 4nd of 4

Thank you to the Gray family for sharing their multi-talented horse.

Discussion

Success. I have qualified for year-end awards (as I understand the rules). My placings were irrelevant. [Lesson Thoughts]

Success. I rode the horse of my choice (more on this tomorrow), although I know he does not suffer from an excess of show ring sparkle.

Success. I rode more like a saddle seat class and less like a jump-off.

Still. I dislike losing.

Onwards!
Katherine

Awareness of the outside world. CNN: Exclusive: CDC hopes new ‘Wild to Mild’ ad campaign will tame skepticism about flu vaccines, Goodman, September 6, 2023. Hat tip to M.

CDC: Wild To Mild. Created to be shared. These have been resized, click over for originals. Four because I couldn’t decide on one. Also Lion to Kitten & Elephant to Mouse.

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Phase I was Rodney standing quietly away from the stall while I opened the door. [Rodney’s Spot]

Phase II involves getting from his spot into the stall without a mad dash.

Rodney’s issues. He came to us with a long scar on this left side. We were told it was from a run-in with a stall latch. There is undoubtedly more to the story, but he can definitely get weird about doorways. [Remnant of Rodney’s Past] & [Why Rodney Will Never Be An Outstanding Obstacle Horse]

My issues. I know of two local horses who had bad outcomes after getting a hoof stuck in a stall. So, we build up the ground under the doormat to keep the door as flush as possible. Occasionally, it can take a moment or two to shove the door open.

All of which means that getting himself through the door can become a production.

Would we expect any less of Rodney?

I recognize that there is difference between a horse trotting in with enthusiasm and one dashing through in a panic. The former, hey, what are you gonna do. Then latter they can rush about and run into things, making it worse for themselves. “When Rodney goes into panic mode, he completely loses his proprioception.” [Remnant]

So, we model correctly behavior.

I have to make sure he gets all the way it the stall before I release him. He can be a few feet from the door and still go from zero to run.

How do we do it?

Sometimes, I can talk him through with a calming voice. Easy. Easy. Easy.

Sometimes, I hold his snoot and request that he move quietly.

Sometimes, I use a halter.

A work in progress.

Onwards!
Katherine

Art of the outside world Sand Quilt. Phillips: Learning to Slow Down with Sanford Biggers (Part I), (Part II). Hat tip to R.

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[Fractal Alphabet]

Onwards!
Katherine

Sports of the outside world. OmegaBall. Three-sided soccer.

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Swim supplies from Dick’s Sporting Goods

I do remember that the original goal of Fitness Friday was getting in shape for riding. A dog can dream.

Swimming

Haven’t been since pre-pandemic.

Got new gear. Found bathing suit. Went swimming. Lasted 10 minutes.

Only went once. We moved into a period of afternoon thunderstorms.

It’s a start.

Biking

Did a bunch back when husband was working from home. Haven’t done much since.

Dusted off bike. Went for a short ride.

Also once.

It’s a start.

Walking

All walking was in the pasture. No new places. [The Morning Constitutional]

While I went out every day but one, some days I didn’t get the full mile.

Therefore. This is the first month in over three years that I haven’t walked a 5K. At the beginning of the month I was stressing about the horse show & work. I figured I had the rest of the month. As turns out, I didn’t. During the second half of the month, I wasn’t finishing my daily mile. Trying to do 3 miles didn’t make sense. So I gave the 5K a miss for the month. I am oddly unperturbed by this.

Fun Fact

Post pandemic (I assume), the Y no longer supplies towels. This is a piece of information one would like to have before one arrives. Ah well, it was a hot day. I dried off fast.

Onwards!
Katherine

Time of the outside world. When is now? Fervent thank you to the person who reminded me that an interview which takes place at 11 am PDT is at 1 pm CDT, not 9 am CDT.

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Updated Now Page

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September 2023

Let’s do this!

Andiamo!

Allons-y!

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Last Month [Here Comes That Month, State of the Now]

Onwards!
Katherine