Rodney in Wraps

I is for Impressions. If you are joining me from Blogging A To Z, welcome! Since the blog is already daily, with topics for each day [About: Schedule], there is no specific A To Z theme. I may even skip a few letters. Gasp. Clutch the pearls. The goal for this year is less crazy, more visiting. [Ze State of Ze Blog 2014]

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(No photos. Left phone in jacket when I took it off. Thought about running back to get. Decided to be in the moment rather than fuss about documenting it.)

After Milton’s weekly trailer jaunt [Mobile], we did a test load for Rodney. Wrap. On. Stand. Off. Aced it.

He stood quietly while I wrapped his legs. Clearly, he remembered this. Equally clearly, it was not a bad memory. When we moved off, he did a can-can. We laughed. His look said, let me tie mattresses to your legs and see how gracefully you move.

I had trouble getting his large carcass properly situated in the slant load. We backed off and tried again. He didn’t leave the trailer as much as roll off like a car that hadn’t been properly chocked. The rig was on a slight hill.

Got him better positioned. Closed the side gate. Fed treats. Offered the hay net. He said, ‘No. This is a carrots-or-better situation.’

Calm. Alert. Dignified. His attitude the whole time was of a horse aware of and in control of his surroundings. As we walked to the trailer, I caught the aura of Big Time Show Horse coming through.

As I related in our origin story [Horse Illustrated], I saw Rodney four years before I bought him. He was a different horse by the time we saw him again. This is the first time I have caught a glimpse of the horse I saw lo these many years ago.

Maybe I was imagining it. Maybe it’s all in my head. Maybe I was just so happy to see my horse one tiny bit closer to being a performance partner instead of – or in addition to – being a pet.

Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott

Keeping it Real

H is from the Heart. If you are joining me from Blogging A To Z, welcome! Since the blog is already daily, with topics for each day [About: Schedule], there is no specific A To Z theme. I may even skip a few letters. Gasp. Clutch the pearls. The goal for this year is less crazy, more visiting. [Ze State of Ze Blog 2014]

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In The Imposter Syndrome: Health & Fitness, Stellar Fashion and Fitness considers what has elsewhere been called “curated” lives.

“There’s a lot of talk about what we see on social media and how it’s the ‘best’ side of us, not the ‘real’ side of us.”

Have I done that?

It has never been my intention to present my life as a rose-strewn path. (It is, and I have no right to complain, but I’m getting ahead of myself.)

Change is interesting. Lately, there have been small changes for the better.

The issues in my life are those of stagnation rather than tragedy (Thankfully!). Same old, same old. Moping doesn’t make for good narrative.

Finally, I have whined so long and so hard on this blog over the years, I figure no one wants to hear it anymore. I’m certainly tired of living it.

Bottom line:

Riding well is the only thing I’ve ever really wanted. When I look out at my pasture and see two beautiful horses that I can’t ride, I feel like a failure every day of my life.

Which leads to guilt. How dare I. The world is full of problems so very, very much more serious.

I run on failure and guilt. For real.

Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott

Letter Art, AlphaBooks: G is for Gray

 

Horsepower
Patsey Gray
Young Readers 1966

My childhood copy that has followed me through many years and many moves.

No website, no Wiki page.
Pony Mad Book Lovers: Patsey Gray aka Virginia Clark
Jane Badger Books: Patsey Gray
~~~
G Posts
Greenlee, Ballyloch [Referral Saturday: Adieu]
Green [A Fool But Not an April Fool]

This Year

[F is for Francis]
[E is for Endicott]
[D is for Doty]
[C is for Cooper]
[B is for Brown]
[A is for Anderson]

This Letter

[G is for Green Grass] 2015
[G is for Ghost Gallery] 2016

Past Years
[2016 Alphabet] [2015 Alphabet]

Project explanation [AlphaBooks 2017]. Open to recommendations for the remaining letters. Which books would you choose?

Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott

Why I Ride, Six-Word Essay

G is for Missed It By THAT Much. Tomorrow is my G post. Couldn’t figure a way to wedge it in here. Blogging A To Z


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I ride because I can’t not.

Katie and Rachel have great stories.
Why I Ride by Katie Wood
Why I Ride by Rachel Wamble

My writing has an [origin story].
My riding has no origin story.
My riding career trajectory is simple.

A city kid at summer camp.
Moved to the suburbs. Rode regularly.
Never occurred to me to stop.

I ride because I can’t not.
~~~
Six-Word Memoirs
Six Word Stories
[Brevity is the soul of wit]

Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott

Foto Friday: Instagram March 2017

F is for Foto Friday, by happy accident. If you are joining me from Blogging A To Z, welcome! Since the blog is already daily, with topics for each day [About: Schedule], there is no specific A To Z theme. I may even skip a few letters. Gasp. Clutch the pearls. The goal for this year is less crazy, more visiting. [Ze State of Ze Blog 2014]

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March Instagram from @rodneyssaga.

 

March 2017

Previous [Instagram February 2017]

Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott

Lots of Lessons

Driving Thursday

E is for Education. If you are joining me from Blogging A To Z, welcome! Since the blog is already daily, with topics for each day [About: Schedule], there is no specific A To Z theme. I may even skip a few letters. Gasp. Clutch the pearls. The goal for this year is less crazy, more visiting. [Ze State of Ze Blog 2014]

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Our driving education continues. We both had lessons.

Combined Driving, Greg

This is what happens when the driver is heavy on the brakes.


Saddle Seat, Katherine

Speaking of brakes …

… Snippy legit ran off in my last lesson.

It really wasn’t too bad. By the time I realized, ‘Houston, we have a problem.’ and started to react, he thankfully dropped out of it. I suspect it was more disconcerting to watch than to experience.

I was more apprehensive about an incident earlier in the lesson. We were trotting. I was requesting an extended trot. Instead of complying, Snippy [earlier lesson, photo] slowed to a walk, then stopped. We were right next to the gate, so it could have been an innocent momentum dump.

However, as he ground to a stop in front of me, I had a flash of all the things that could go wrong from here. Greg and I have been told repeatedly that you get in less trouble driving when the horse is moving forward. Back and/or up are not things you want to think about (I feel superstitious even typing this). So, I took one look at the stationary horse butt in front of me and said, ‘No sir. You will resume trotting immediately.’

Later, while he was zooming along, I had a moment to think, ‘At least he’s going forward.’

Of course, that was then. Now my brain is obsessing over the minor incidents – that I totally handled – in an otherwise stellar lesson. There are times when I hate my brain.

Forward. Forward. Forward.

Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott

Winter Tournament Results 2017

Saddle Seat Wednesday

D is for Delight. If you are joining me from Blogging A To Z, welcome! Since the blog is already daily, with topics for each day [About: Schedule], there is no specific A To Z theme. I may even skip a few letters. Gasp. Clutch the pearls. The goal for this year is less crazy, more visiting. [Ze State of Ze Blog 2014]

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Color me delighted. Banquet haul was 60% as expected, 40% better than expected. [Awards Weekend]. High marks for utility of loot [What Makes You].

Advance Horsemanship WTC Adult: Fourth Place, white ribbon
Advanced Equitation WTC Adult (Pattern): Third Place, yellow ribbon
Surprise! Pleasure Horse or Pony WTC Adult: Tied for Champion, tricolor, hot/cold travel cup (yellow cellophane), & ASB decal
Academy Driving: Champion, tricolor & t-shirt
Surprise! Tied for High-Point SSF Adult: gift certificate (festive bag)

Some day I might get tired of ribbons. Today is not that day.

2017 shows [#1&#2, #3]
[List of Winter Tournament posts]

Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott