Horses & Other Interests
Rodney’s Saga, post #1 on December 22, 2011 [Begin], post #1000 on October 14, 2014. That’s it. No profound comments. No lessons learned. A simple wheeee!
Process note: I made this as a gif, but it wouldn’t stop. Ever. Even in the media library. I felt like the Sorcerer’s Apprentice. I decided to spare you. This is a non-looping gif. You may see it animate, you may not. Either way, it should cease to spread rage and despair. You’re welcome.
Rodney
As soon as Rodney feels a rider aboard, he tucks his head into a dressage frame and marches off. If this were the beginning of a diligent work ethic, awesome. Unfortunately, it is the first hoofstep into a ever-tightening spiral of tension that ends with Rodney shutting down and going to his happy place.
Therefore, we have gone back to kindergarten. We stand by the mounting block. We do weave poles. We watch Milton work. I have even sat on him while doing the above. The goal is simple (very. very. oh so very. simple.) exercises to show him that he can have Positive! Experiences! under tack.
Given that the AECs have passed us by for the fourth year, I’m happy with his progress. A few days ago he gave a release yawn with the bit in his mouth. It confused him. Yawn = happy. Bit moving = weird.
Saddle Seat
Nationals is coming at the end of the month. Given all the excitement at home, I have missed this year’s Boot Camp [Begins]. Instead, I have asked if I can have daily lessons Tues through Friday for the two weeks until we leave.
Even if this effort fails to make a difference in Tennessee, it will be an interesting experiment. I have not ridden that intensively since I was a working student back when we all rode eohippi.
I realize this directly conflicts with my stated desire never to get on another horse ever again. Welcome to the inside of my head.
Milton
Milton has been a star. He lunges. He long-lines. He goes for walks. He takes everything in stride. Oh sure, he’s had moments of being young &/or ignorant. But everything in the barn, in hand, or at work has been within expected parameters. He does not give the slightest indication that he can go from zero to hellspawn in less than three seconds.
After Nationals, I hope to sit down with my saddle seat instructor to plan a campaign for Milton: work him here, take him over there, find a cowboy, etc. I’m still nowhere near wanting to ride him again, but there is a lot of progress that can be made elsewise.
My reinterpretation of Life Muses by Ro‘s nifty graphic 10 Tips for Overcoming F**r. (Click on the blue lettering under the share buttons to pull up the jpg.) The first tip is “Do something. Anything. F**r feeds on inaction.”
Excellent advice all through. However, my understanding is that the practicing mind does not register negatives. If you are told, “Don’t lean forward over your jump.”, your brain fastens onto “Lean forward …”.
Instead, I reversed the ten tips into ten positive words. For the lettering, I picked bright but non-competition colors, as far as possible. “Action” got a buzz cut when I trimmed the subtitle with the f-word in it. The sheet went with me to the show yesterday. Just reading through all 10 words gives me a lift.
More advice on conquering nerves compiled in Confessions of an AA Event Rider and Convicted Over Thinker: A WORD TO THE WISE. For example, “Ask yourself, is it real (in the moment) or a story (a possibility of happening in the future)? If it’s a story, get back to what is real.” from Stressless Riding.
Last year, with Alvin
This year
Coach, in general email: “Please let me know if you intend on doing this one.”
Me, in response: “Sure, sign me up. I still have a few flickering shreds of confidence and optimism left to be stomped out.”
My nearest and dearest found this hysterical.
Sigh.
I need new nearest and dearest.
What is your shopping IQ? Mine is abysmal.
A while back, I attended a blogger meet-up. Since then I have been following some of the bloggers I met. I read Budding Fashionista because she’s local and as a glimpse into an alien landscape. I am as likely to go clothes shopping for pleasure as I am to sell everything and move to Paris. But I like to read about people who engage in these unlikely activities.
I have nothing against the fashion industry. Surrounding one’s self with beauty is a noble aim. I’m sure Budding Fashionista spends less on her clothes than I do on horse shows.
Recently, she posted a Denim Guide. She talks about boot fit versus skinny, distressed versus color. She talks about how to style the jeans. She talks about balance. And fun. And color-blocking.
Say what?
I have two types of jeans. Ones I wear to the around the barn and ones that are suitable for the general public. This is how I tell the difference:
A fashionista I am not, neither budding nor otherwise.
BTW, the site referenced above has a jeans giveway that ends tomorrow tonight at midnight. Definitely not barn jeans.
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Failed attempt at this week’s art photo.
Great colors. Good shapes. The whole is less than a sum of its parts. Reveal on Monday.
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Show tomorrow. One-day, there and back again. Perhaps packing tweets later today.
Here are two of my favorites.
My mother:
Me:
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Gratuitous Cat Picture
Mystery #1: Butt Wrinkles
At the end of the summer, Rodney developed wrinkles around the top of his tail. I have never seen the like. They are now fading. WTF? Any ideas?
Mystery #2: Hay Holes
I sweep old, unused hay out to the dirt area in front of the barn for erosion control. Some critter comes along and digs perfectly round, 3″ holes. Over a dozen in one night. Again I say unto you, WTF?
Virtual Brush Box 