Horses & Other Interests
Happy Mouth plain mullen loose ring snaffle, for Rodney.
Pardon the glare. My photographic support staff is working on a light box. Also, the fancy new camera [Story] is struggling to take a decent picture with available light. I didn’t want to wait for the test drive.
So far, so good.
Last Sunday, saddle goes on Milton preparatory to lunging. Milton leaves barn at Mach I, bucking like a rodeo bronc. Milton gets out to the ring. Stops. Looks around. Heads back to the barn, still bucking like a rodeo bronc. Enters barn at Mach 1. Spectators in barn unclear on how Milton plans to stop. Milton hits the brakes. Stands in front of us, puffing like a locomotive.
He’s athletic. He’s girthy.
Sigh.
ASHAA Fun Show
B & W Stables
Hartselle AL, USA
Saturday, September 4, 2015
Academy Driving. Alvin & Katherine, 1st; Natalie & Greg, 2nd. 2 in class.
Academy Pleasure WTC Adult with Alvin Ailey, 1st of 3
Academy Equitation WTC Adult with Alvin Ailey, 2nd of 3
Thank you to the Wamble family, Ann Stanton, and Nicole Hardy for their marvelous horses.
Driving: Katherine
… Yay, second cart made the trip. I get to drive … Oh my, it’s been a while … Narrow ring … I’m going too slow … Well, I’ll have to save something for the extended trot anyway … Reverse? I guess we aren’t showing the bigger gear today. Better sell it in the second direction … Alvin, I hope you know where the rail is … Let’s go! … Wheeee-haaa …
Really, it’s all Alvin. I sit up and support.
Driving: Greg
When calling my first place, the announcer said, “Happy wife, happy life.” I disagree. Personal relationships stop at the ingate. Friends, family members, small children [Chattanooga: Class 89], you are chum to my shark attack.
Riding
First class: Several excellent lessons made me overconfident, plus a mite dismissive of the competition. I thought I was better than I was. Therefore, I tried to fix more than I was capable of at the moment. I wiggled.
Interim: I got an attitude adjustment. Or, in the words of my advisory council, Coach slapped me upside the head (metaphorically).
Second class: I sat still. Ish.
Back in 2012, I showed in my first saddle seat show, at this barn coincidentally, “In my first class, the verdict was that I was too ‘busy’ …. In the second class, I sat up and stayed quiet just like my trainer told me to.” [Sorta]
Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose.
I need to face the idea that I may work my butt off for the next two months [Tune-Up], yet still blow a raspberry at Nationals. The required skills may be too far outside of my wheelhouse. Energetic? Dynamic? Entertaining? All day long. Still? Pleasant? Harmonious? Never in my life.
Alternatively, learning to sit quietly may make me a more effective rider when form no longer counts.
Or both. Never rule out “both” as a possible answer.
Over on Horse Collaborative, Haley Katherine Esparza takes an opposing viewpoint on the recent helmet safety awareness campaign. Not against safety, but against getting swept up into something to be regretted later. These are questions worth considering.
Upon reflection, why did I decide to drop trou [The Naked Challenge] & did it work?
Will You Take #TheNakedChallenge? on Horse Collaborative
The Naked Challenge on Facebook
7 Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Bare It All for Helmet Awareness
1. Does my birthday suit violate the barn’s dress code?
At home. Not an issue. One benefit of life in the boonies is a lack of housing covenants.
2. Am I really ready for people to see that much of me?
“… down the road. Like when you’re interviewing for a high level job or applying to graduate school …”
This is aimed at young people, who tend to have more road in front of them & tend to take it less into account. When I was 16, I couldn’t imagine being 30. Now, I can’t remember it.
3. Would you actually rather go naked than not wear a helmet?
“It should reflect the choices you make in your everyday riding habits.”
I have helmet cred. Online, I have been yapping for years. IRL, I am a vox clamantis in an unhelmeted deserto.
4. Why am I doing it, and what do I want to accomplish?
“Every person deserves to feel sexy and love their body.”
So much no. Do people deserve to? Yes. Did I? So much no. I felt awkward during and appalled after. That much unfit, saggy flesh is horrifying. But then, I’m appalled at how I look on a horse when I have my clothes on.
5. But it’s like the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, right?
“The ‘peer pressure’ element of nominating your friends seems a little more dangerous.”
Ignored this. Will happily support anyone who wants to join in. Can you say Naked Challenge guest post? Doesn’t have to be horses: motorcycles, bicycles, skis, or so on. However, it is a personal decision.
6. What other messages am I sending?
“If you don’t like people offering alternative uses for your crop and tall boots, it might be best to not actively feed into those stereotypes.”
Barefoot would have been thematic. Since it was at heart a safety message, I wore boots.
7. What other things can I do to increase helmet awareness?
Represent.
When crossing in front of a car, make eye contact with the driver.
ASHAA Fun Show
B & W Stables
Hartselle AL, USA
Greg will drive.
I will ride.
Schooling attire & turn-out.
A friend told me, “Happy to see you are doing what you love with the one you love.”
A photo project from my Instagram feed, @rodneyssaga. Started Instagram early last month as a blog tie-in, see first two photos below. Did this instead. A single object each day. Nothing to do with the blog. Occasionally to do with horses.
Virtual Brush Box 