Looking Around, and Around, and Around, Rodney at Full Circle Horse Park

Training Journal

 

In our continuing quest to help Rodney explore his universe, we went to Full Circle Horse Park last weekend.

Walked about. Looked. Long-lined. Looked. Rode. Looked. Rodney looked at everything. His ears were so busy his ear muscles must have been exhausted.

We explored all the exercise areas. We went into the covered ring (ridden), wandered into the field to sniff – and lick?! – a cross-country jump (in-hand), walked around the show jumps (in-hand) and checked out the sandbox (both). We even executed a few dressage maneuvers at the walk: circle, serpentine, a bit of sidewaysness that passes for our lateral work at the moment.

Rodney did everything he was asked. While he did not put a foot wrong …

… he still had a BIG day.

A thin undercurrent of nerves was his constant companion. For example, he couldn’t hold a stand. That is one of his tells for anxiety. We could have trotted, but he would not have been comfortable in his mind. So we underplayed our hand and kept everything at a relaxed walk.

He gave the occasional hairy eyeball to a wheelbarrow or a tarp. Mostly he was fascinated with the other horses, the people, and a paint pony who was his new best friend. The facilities didn’t seem to bother him at all. Umbrella? Pffft. Walking the ring road? Whatever. Arenas? Judge’s stand? Sure, although he was aware that he was in a dressage ring.

He wasn’t scared, as much as so intensely curious that …

… his head and neck were on constant swivel. Look at that! And that! And that over there!

At one point there was a person off in the distance to the left and a person off in the distance to the right. He kept looking from one to the other. Left. Right. Left. Right. It was tough for him. He kept having to count to 2.

I jest. He was a star.

Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott

How Long Has It Been? Helpful Technology

Training Journal

 

 
When long-lining or riding, we use a phone app that buzzes every X minutes for a total of Y minutes. This way we know approximately how long we’ve been working without constantly consulting our phones.

We make sure not to change gaits/activity exactly when the buzzer goes off, particularly not to stop at the final buzzer. Don’t want the horses to learn that buzz equals quitting time. They learn sh*t like that way too fast anyway.

Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott

Spotted Spots Ghost Ads

Random Images

 

Another homework assignment from my History in Plain Sight photo class taught by Meg McKinney [Archives] at Samford University’s evening class [Spotted at the Birmingham Mural]. Previous assignment [Spotted on the Vulcan Trail].

More Ghost Ads
Book. “Features nearly 70 wall signs spanning a century of Birmingham history”. Web page has link the “original Birmingham magazine article that inspired the book.” Charles Buchanan: Fading Ads of Birmingham.

Post & gallery. AL.com: Ghost signs: The South’s fading vintage ads .

Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott

State Of The Blog, The Lure Of Being Definitive

Blogging About Blogging

 
State Of The Blog [Archives]
 

debandtoby: Pictures of random items are nice.

Me: I get caught in a loop of thinking I need to be reporting our progress. No. This is not a training journal. This is for amusement, yours and mine. Training is part of it. So are random images. I shall endeavor to remember that.

Comment exchange on an earlier blog post. [SitRep Summer 2019]

I often find myself sliding into a mindset that stresses over not being comprehensive in my recounting of how Rodney and Milton are progressing day-to-day. Their most recent rides. What they are eating now. Schooling plans are for the next few days. Minor health issues.

Meh. Boring to write. Boring to read.

I only need to hit the highlights. You’re smart. You can connect the dots. If I say I’ve been to a horse show, I don’t have to detail every practice ride leading up to it. Unless the practice is part of the story, for example, boot camp at Stepping Stone Farm [Third & Final Progress Report].

You can assume they are eating. I don’t have to document every change in amount or additives. Hint, we keep our horses at home. We are *always* tinkering with amounts and additives. Unless, again, the food is part of the story, for example experimenting with a possible soy allergy [Feed Adventures]. BTW, results inconclusive & assumed to be negative. Back on regular feed [What’s In The Feed Scoop].

And so on.

There is no mandate. There is no editor expecting a certain word count, no House Style that I need to match, no expectations for this content or that. Clearly, creating demands where none exist is a recurring issue for me [Attitude Check 2015]. I am free to record whatever amuses me, whatever interests me. The hope is that what amuses & interests me will amuse & interest you. The big moments. The small moments. The interesting moments. Each entry is part of a mosaic that makes the whole picture. What is the whole picture? I have no idea. We will find out together.

Fun to write. Fun to read.

I have incorporated Training Journal and Random Images into my subhead roster to remind me of this.

Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott

Pix Are Always Amusing To Look Back On, Show Photos, Falcon Hill Farm, July 2019

Return to Hunter/Jumperland

 

Falcon Hill Jumper Show
Hunter classes
Saturday July 13, 2019
[Show Report]
Photos by @kaitiefitzphotography

Cute-looking jump. Unfortunately, the perked ears & high knees mean he’s overly excited. This was just before the mini-meltdown in the 4th class.

When he’s relaxed, he tranters the jumps. 3rd class

Does he really need to be studying a tiny crossrail this hard? 3rd class.

Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott

They Said It Couldn’t Be Done, Or At Least I Said It Couldn’t

Training Journal

 

Video


Still from video

CANTER!
BOTH WAYS!
NINE YEARS!

We have cantered before. Technically. In the past, work with Rodney meant – metaphorically – holding my breath and hoping we got to the other side. On this day, these were simple, organized, quiet canters. The sort of canter thousands of horses do every day. The sort of canter I used to do on Previous Horse without thinking.

How did we get here? What changed?

Who knows! Who cares! We cantered!

Obviously, I have thoughts. If this continues. If this is a one-off. Either way, I will undoubtedly dissect the entire process at great length. For now, I am basking.

Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott

Stepping Stone Show Team Shows Off In Show Horse Magazine

Adventures in Saddle Seat

 

Still other people’s adventures. Stepping Stone Farm in Show Horse Magazine.


 
I was at the show where the group photo was taken [Saddlebros], possibly even on the grounds. Since we shipped Milton in for the day, we were hanging out in a shady corner of the parking lot rather than cluttering up the barn aisle and getting in the way.

I had been invited to be part of the ad. I would have loved to see Milton in the magazine. A gray TB in hunt seat tack would have been eye-catching in a magazine full of chestnut ASBs in saddle seat tack. Alas, the opportunity came when I was reeling from one of those exciting expense experiences that whacks you upside the head when you pay, and then returns for another go when you pay the credit card. The bill clotheslined me when I first heard about the ad. Then resurfaced like a bad meal right at the deadline when it was time to give the final word. So, no PR for Milton. Sniff.

[The Two Sides Of Major Milton]

Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott