Virtual Brush Box

Cantering This Way and That, Jump Lesson at SSF

Jumping Diary

I had my first jumping lesson with a saddle seat instructor (referenced [here]). Yeah, you read that right. It was her first jumping lesson also. Until now, all our work with Coach Courtney has been in her wheelhouse: driving [Hitched! & Maiden Voyage!], holding my paw [I Ride Milton!], even our walk/trot classes were at ASB shows [1,2,3].

So why did I go this route? I’m not asking her to help me with anything that I haven’t already done with other horses. In between formal jumping lessons what I need are educated eyes on the ground and moral support. She’s seen me at my worst and helped me do my best. A few jumps won’t faze her.

To help you keep the players straight. I had a jumping lesson with Molly McCown at her Falcon Hill Farm a few weeks ago. Milton and I did a two-pole canter exercise [Enough Retrospection]. Last Friday, I took Milton over to Stepping Stone Farm for lesson to practice this exercise with Courtney Huguley, the person from whom I have been taking saddle seat lessons since 2012. Got it?

Okay, we didn’t technically *jump* anything, except the pole once or twice, but it was jumping theory and technique. I’m counting it.

I wanted to break the exercise down for Milton. Trot both poles. Canter one pole by itself. Canter the second pole by itself. Canter both together. Reverse direction. Repeat. Coach Courtney was massively obliging about moving this pole, then that pole, then this pole again, then that pole again, then … then … She hath discovered the joys of being jump crew.

Milton had trouble meeting the pole on the correct stride. She said he looked like a person who was learning ballroom dancing and trying to sort out which foot went were. Exactly.

She asked what role position plays in jumping, I said the same role that position plays in asking a horse to rack. Beezie Madden and Michael Matz can make a grand prix jumper trip look like an equitation course. Other riders have a rougher style but get the job done.

At one point, Milton was flat and lugging on my hands. To which I responded by trying to haul him up with both hands. This never works, but one does it anyway. She told me to ‘Wiggle Up.” This is a saddle seat term, which means a quick left-right with the reins to set the horse’s head. I dunno the proper dressage terminology, or even if it is proper dressage, but it got him to quit laying on me. Whereupon, I became enchanted with the maneuver and cantered around the ring going wiggle, wiggle, wiggle. It worked as well as one would expect. I was advised to put it away until I needed it again.

Then, I pointed out how badly I was looking down at the rail as I went over. I don’t mean glancing downward. I mean eyes staring straight down to the ground as the rail went under Milton’s hooves. Next time around, she told me to ‘Look up at the pond.’, meaning the pond outside the ring at the far end.

Quit picking at your horse before the jump.

Look up.

Yup, we’ll make a jumping trainer out of her in no time.

Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott

We Got Wheels

A 2018 Toyota Yaris, which is apparently a Mazda in sheep’s clothing. In addition to being a generalized life event, buying this car has horse-specific ramifications. I have my truck back and can once again go places! Such as saddle seat lessons. Or haul Milton on his various barn visits. Or get feed without having to wait until Saturday! Small dreams, but they are my dreams.

Onwards! With truck!

Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott

R is for Ribbon, II

On My Mind, Miscellaneous Graphics

Belated letter art to go with last week’s photo.

[R is for Ribbon]

Process Notes
Drawn in Inkscape, finished in GIMP. Instead of sorting out how to cut or intersect objects in Inkscape, I patched over the problem areas with pieces of the same color. A functional solution but not an elegant one. Speaking of elegant, the roundness on the upper arm of the R never got right. After much fiddling, I had to declare victory and get on with my life. Curves are hard!

On the up side, the result is at least in the same time zone as what I was aiming for and I don’t hate it. So, progress.

Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott

In Which I Fail to Ponder My Writing Career

On My Mind, Miscellaneous Thoughts

tldr: I’m leaving it a bit late to decide what I want to be when I grow up.

I had planned to treat myself to a long cogitation on the state of my writing career: where it’s been, where it’s going, how to get from the former to the latter. However, I just got back from Stepping Stone Farm where Milton and I practiced our two-pole canter exercise from our lesson at Falcon Hill Farm [What’s Been Happening]. Go Milton! Go Me!

I’m beat. So, I’ll boil it down.

A) Nothing has changed from last time. [In Which I Stare, Blinking, Into the Future]

B) I have the luxury of choice. I should figure out what I want to do with that choice. [Writing Life: What Next? Advice Sought.]

C) First step is to work hard on the one writing job I do have: “Behind The Scenes” USDF Connection.

[USDF Interview: Andreas Stano, DressageClinic.com] December 2017/January 2018
[USDF Interview: Heidi Degele, Dressage-Horse Sales Agent] February 2018
“Richard Taylor, Equestrian Video Professional,” USDF Connection, March 2018
“Daniel Stewart, Equestrian Mental Skills-Training Coach,” USDF Connection, April 2018
“Louise Leatherdale, Sport-Horse Breeder and Owner,” USDF Connection, May 2018
“Eva Peterson, Massage Therapist, USDF Connection,” June 2018
“Tiffany Donnelly, Specialty Equestrian Designer and Retailer,” USDF Connection, July/August 2018
“Beth Baumert, The Dressage Foundation, USDF Connection,” September 2018
“Michele Hundt, Equine Artist and Equestrian Retailer,” USDF Connection, October 2018
“Emily Koenig, USDF, USDF Connection,” November 2018
“Beth Haist, Dressage Specialty Retailer,” USDF Connection, December 2018/January 2019

Why I stopped posting these [Blinking].
March 2012 to February 2018 [Clips].

Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott

Do You Hobby When You Travel? New York City 2018

Travel

8th Avenue & 56th Street, Manhattan, USA

While I was researching my recent trip to NYC, I came across a website that offered horseback rides in Central Park. Having grown up in Manhattan [NY Cliché, Guest Post], riding a horse through my former playground would be a kid’s dream come true. I knew that Claremont had closed, so I wasn’t sure where this barn was or if the company was still in business. I kept running across websites for awesome restaurants that had closed four years previously. Nothing dies on the Internet. Maybe this was more of the same.

Not every horse can be a pampered pasture ornament owned by an indulgent amateur. Some gots to work for their feed: pulling carriages for tourists, making endless circles with beginner riders, walking down the Grand Canyon trails. I would hope they live and work under good management. So, I had no theoretical objection to trail horses in Central Park.

What I didn’t have was time. There was always something else I would rather be doing during my six-day stay. At home, I horse. At home, I can’t eat at interesting restaurants, wander the streets admiring urban life, or take a weaving class [Gotta Start Somewhere]. So, no trail rides for me. I never even discovered if the offer was viable. Don’t get me wrong, I’d love to go, but I wanted to do other things more.

Which got me wondering about what we chose to do on vacation. There are hobby trips, e.g. attending Rolex-as-was, going to knitting conventions, displaying LEGO models. Name the hobby. Somewhere people gather to do it together.

But what about trips that are not hobby specific? I don’t horse when I travel. Sure, I look out for horses on signs and in the flesh, and not just for blog posts [Time To Go]. But I don’t make time for horse-related activities. I want to do things I can’t do at home.

Or am I missing something? Would I increase my horsemanship by touring a barn on Staten Island? Perhaps see how an urban barn solves its weather, footing, acreage issues. Would I go farther with my riding if I were to remain on task rather than futzing about discovering Japanese candy shops?

Am I curious or am I unfocused?

On the fence around the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine.

Note: the photos are bordered with the colors from the official NYC flag, which hearkens back to the Dutch founders of the city. “The colors of the flag derive from the early flag of the Netherlands, the country that first settled the area in 1625 and named it New Amsterdam in 1626.” CRW Flags, NYC

[NYC Previous Years]

Thank you for Reading,
Katherine Walcott

Gotta Start Somewhere, New York City 2018

Travel

The initial stages of learning a skill are the same, regardless of the skill.

While I was in New York City, I took an introductory weaving lesson at Loop of the Loom. You walk in. You take your shoes off. You sit down at a loom. The nice lady shows you how to move the pedals up and down and how to send the shuttle back and forth. For two hours, you weave. Change yarns. Learn a new pattern. See what happens when you try to leave space. There are no mistakes.

It reminded me of riding a school horse in a lesson program.

You are a beginner. You know little about weaving (horses) other that it (they) seems pretty. You show up at the weaving studio (the barn). The loom is strung for you (the horse is tacked up). You sit down (get on). You weave (ride). You don’t need to understand the set-up (horse care). You don’t have to spend the inordinate length of time with all the non-weaving tasks such as stringing the loom (looking after the horse).

There are all the yarns (tack) you need, extra bobbins (ring furniture), and random fluffy bits (peppermints). An instructor hovers nearby to help you when you get snarled (ditto). When the session is over, you get help tying off (dismounting). You waft out of the weaving studio (barn), leaving the clean up to someone else.

All of the weaving (riding). None of the responsibility.

You don’t make anything useful (you spend a lot of time trotting around in harmless circles) but you have a lot of time to concentrate on your weaving technique (your riding position). If you want to produce anything useful: a shawl, a dress, a set of placemats (move up), you need your own loom (horse) and you need to learn how to maintain it (start shoveling).

Do you find parallels in your disparate activities, or am I reaching here?

[NYC Previous Years]

Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott

Banquet with a Bonus, ASHAA Awards for 2018

Adventures in Saddle Seat

We take a break from New York City adventures for a short trip to Lake Guntersville, Alabama.

This year, we arrived too late for the outdoor scenery. [Spotted at the Banquet]

I had to settled for the indoor scenery.

American Saddlebred Horse Association of Alabama
2019 banquet for the 2018 competition year
Lake Guntersville Stare Park Lodge
Saturday, January 5, 2019

Champion Academy Driving
Champion Academy Open Hunter Pleasure Walk/Trot
Champion Academy Open Hunter Equitation Walk/Trot
Third WTC Showmanship Adult
Third WTC Equitation Adult
High Point Academy Rider Adult

Or to look at it another way:
Driving Championship – Snippy & Whiskey
Two Hunt Seat Championships – Milton
Two yellows – Tigger, Sam, Joanie, & Whiskey
Thank you to the wonderful horses for their work and to their generous owners for sharing.

The Loot

Displaying our winning jackets. Left to right, High Point Youth Academy Winner Madelyn Shockey, who rides at SSF, Coach Courtney, me.
Photo by Melissa Shockey.

My haul was five ribbons, three bags, and one jacket. I won the adult high point despite losing the adult division due to points from the other three divisions.

For a dash of perspective, my year-end placings reflected the nature of my classes over the year: small classes, solo performances, & last places, the latter of which I shall think of as participation awards. Driving was a division of two. Hunt Seat Academy was a solo. In Adult Academy, I was last of three. I’m not complaining. If you’ve read any of my show posts, you know I love me some ribbon. Gotta keep it real.

The Barn
Stepping Stone Farm
High Point Academy Rider Juvenile
High Point Academy Adult
High Point Performance Rider Adult

High Point Barn Academy
High Point Barn Performance
High Point Barn Overall

We won everything but High Point Performance Rider Juvenile. In the divisions themselves, we won over 25% of the Performance High Points (9/35) and half of the Academy High Points (11/22). Go, Team Awesome!

The Last Echo of National Academy

At the banquet, my missing trophy came home, wagging its tail behind it.

The Napkin Check

After Christmas dinner one year, my uncle suddenly intoned, out of the clear blue sky, the words “Napkin check!” He had us all hold up our dinner napkins. It was fascinating to see the condition in which each of us had left our linen: folded, not folded, stained, not stained. It has become a family tradition.

In that spirit, I give you our banquet table after dinner. Which one do you think was me? I promise, I did not stage my napkin for effect. The idea came to me when I saw the table while I was packing up.

The Coda
[List of banquet posts]
First banquet was 2014. Six years of High Point. If I were to move up to suit, I’d have to kiss it all good-bye: the ribbons, the trophies, the titles. Be a long time before I could duplicate my Academy record in the far bigger pond of Performance.

Thank you for reading.
Katherine Walcott