Virtual Brush Box

Reaching for the Big Trot, Jump Lesson at FHF

Jumping Diary

Jumping lesson last Friday at Falcon Hill Farm.

Takeaways:

1) Instead of simply thumping away at Milton’s sides with my legs, push him to the outside to get him to step bigger.

Lower leg. I think I remember reading about that as an aid.

2) Forward to the fence is important. Forward away from the fence is equally important.

Much exciting-to-do but unimpressive-to-watch trotting of crossrails. The important part of the video is the last jump where we finally built up a sufficient head of steam to canter away. Videos by Molly McCown. I wore the vest in order to practice with it for upcoming XC schooling.

Not a remedial ride. I asked for help with our canter transition. Coach Molly got on to see what was up. Milton was relieved to have me back, ‘Oh good, it’s you. I don’t have to work hard.’

Milton’s post-lesson reward. I love to watch horses roll. The seem to enjoy themselves so much. I am particularly impressed with Milton’s attention to detail.

Previous jump [Juggling The Options, photo]
Previous Jumping Diary [Still Recording Every Effort, No Matter How Small]

Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott

Tiny Victories

Blurry pic of me riding on the buckle.

My ground crew thinks Rodney likes to be told what to do. I think Rodney needs to be comfortable thinking for himself [Fifth Leg Training]. We’re probably both right.

In pursuit of my goal, Rodney and I have been working on the seemingly simple task of wandering calmly along the edge of the pasture. Previous Horse did this routinely for warm-up and cool down. Even Mathilda managed it, mostly [Helmet Evangelism]. Rodney does not find the task simple. I have no idea why. OTOH, pondering what we have not accomplished because Rodney finds life alarming leads to frustration, tail spins, and breaks from the blog.

Moving on.

Rodney’s been walking quietly for a while now, but not *quite* on the buckle. I’ve kept a nice, long, loopy rein to give him his head. At the same time, I’ve choked up on the rein just enough that I can grab the wheel if needed.

First victory. He gets better as we go. When Rodney is wound up, he gets worse as he goes along. This was his MO for years. Most of this winter, the second lap has been better than the first.

Second victory. I rode absolutely on the buckle for the entire second half of the second lap.

The turtle of progress creeps forward.

Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott

Where In The World Is Milton?

Milton’s been wearing his traveling pants.

A week ago Sunday, we went to Stepping Stone Farm to practice cantering & jumping [Juggling]. Last Friday was Falcon Hill Farm for a jump lesson. More on this once the media is ready. Sunday was Full Circle Horse Park to get reacquainted with the dressage arena and get acquainted with the new covered arena, above.

At FCHP. we rode in heavy mist/light rain. Been awhile since I’ve ridden out in the elements [Team Awesome]. Milton didn’t seem to care about the weather. As long as the footing was solid, he didn’t mind what was happening above it.

Rodney’s been hanging at home, stomping through the mud.

Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott

Milton’s Spotify Song List

Milton motivation on Spotify.
Created by G-Dog.
Coming to you straight from the 80s.

Update: Songs to be adjusted as we discover what motivates Milton. Our songmeister thinks Milton may be more Katy Perry/Lady Gaga/Beyonce.

More Update. The above is a screenshot. To play the list, you need to have/sign up for an account at Spotify.com. It’s free, or at least doesn’t cost money. I assume such companies are profiting off us in some way. TANSTAAFL. But I digress. Once you have an account, find the search bar. Enter “Milton Psyche”. That should work, at least that’s want I did. Thus exhausts my knowledge of Spotify.

Happy Listening!
Katherine Walcott

Speaking of Shopping Sprees, My Latest Breyer Purchases

On My Mind, Miscellaneous Visuals

Books aren’t the only thing I overbuy [MEPSA Annual 2018]. I’m amassing a small but useless line of plastic animals.

Persian Cat, House Cat, Norwegian Forest Cat, Siamese Cat

Because I need more cats in my life?

Because I’m going to make cute vignettes a la Desktop Stables (this one, or this)?

As I was shopping, a horse jumped into my cart. Since he was on sale, I let him stay, particularly once I looked at the conformation under the holiday trappings, Nice horse, says I to myself. I was right. Winter is made on the Totalis mold, Identify Your Breyer: Totilas.

Since I was defeated by the plastic front, here is the image from the Breyer website,
Winter Wonderland – The 2017 Holiday Horse

Why? I have no explanation.

[Shopping: My First Model]
[Foto Friday: A Suitable Subject]
[Low Key Photo Challenge: Toys]

Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott

Why Do We Buy Things We Don’t Need? MEPSA Annual 2018

On My Mind, Miscellaneous Thoughts

Why do people shop? Why do we buy clothes we don’t wear, books we don’t read, food we don’t eat?

Is it wishful thinking? Will this be the time I read The Economist cover to cover, or at all? Is it the act of shopping itself? The act of buying?

I have no answers, only more questions.

The day I went off to pick up my possibly pointlessly re-tailored show clothes [All Dressed Up And No Place To Go], this came in the mail.

Why did I buy yet another MEPSA Annual? I have no idea.

Does it have anything I have seen in other years? No.

Does it have articles and pretty pictures? Yes.

Could I learn from the articles and use the winning photos as inspirational examples? Yes.

Given my level of involvement in the hobby, did three years of books I already have contain sufficient examples? Yes.

Was I supporting the show? Not really. I have bought items to support artists before. OTOH, I don’t photo show, so my desire to support the nice folks who run the shows is a slim connection at best.

Did I use a blog post as an excuse to do what I wanted to do anyway? Most definitely.

Is it possessiveness? A desire to build up my horde in dragon-like fashion? Possibly.

Will this be the prompt that finally gets me to start futzing with model horses? I doubt it.

So, why? I don’t know.

[M is for MEPSA] 2018 post for 2017 book
[Foto Friday: MEPSA Photo Showers Annual 2016]
[New Book: MEPSA Photo Showers Annual 2015]

Do you shop for fun? Do you over-shop?

Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott

All Dressed Up And No Place To Go

The day before the show [Up & Down], I picked up the clothes I had fitted at the previous show [Riding Vs Showing: Meet-up In A Hotel Room]. I’m not used to this high living.

Vest
When I would put on my fancy, custom vest [New Clothes] at shows, I would think, ‘Hmmmpf, this doesn’t fit any better than my last-minute, non-custom vest [Important Questions].’ By contrast, I loved the shirt. When I tried the vest on at the fitters, I couldn’t remember what I disliked about it. However, the nice man found a few places to take it in anyway.

I may have made a mistake getting measured at end of a show day, when I was underfed and dehydrated. The result is well-fitted, bordering on snug. Which is fine, except that I’m currently at the low end of my weight range. I try to stay between 140 to 150. I’m at 143 lbs. Not a lot of wiggle room. Nothing for it but a few sit-ups & always remember to bring my non-fitted vest.

Yes, to me overweight means not fitting into my show clothes. We knew this [Diet Progress 2014].

Pants
As I said, I had planned to buy pants. Turned out the nice ones I already had could be lengthened.

This was the picture that made me realize I needed new pants. Should drape down over the heel of the boot. Photo from NEGA 2016 [Show Photos, Presentation]

Overall
From the way the vest and pants feel, I can tell I look très spiff. I have not looked in a mirror. There must have been one at the fitting appointment, but I didn’t see it/forgot to look. No full-length at home. I mostly put on the clothes and wait for more knowledgeable people to sign off.

Now to find occasions to wear them. Not sure when that will be. Last year, I rode in 7 saddle seat shows. Three were local, i.e. small, and one was in-house, i.e. very small. I only pulled out the full outfit three times. Did okay with the unmodified versions.

This year, I have even less of a plan. I’m sure (Lord willing etc.) that I will ride in the local fun shows. I have no idea about the fancier shows. There is even a potential conflict that could keep me from Nationals. Gasp! Clutch pearls!

Oh well. When the opportunity arises, I will be dressed and ready.

Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott