Somewhat Happy Kid With a Kinda Happy Pony

Work: as yesterday, with 2 sets of weave cones.
Report: some binky (leadrope) chewing but overall pulled his socks up and went to work.

Ramblings for the Day: I had planned to complain. Even though we are making progress this spring, it is so far from what I had hoped to be doing that progress itself is often a source of despair. I even had a pun about me being a whine for all seasons.

I can’t. He did so well today. Simple, yes, but hard for him. After a good solid grooming to settle him down, I doused him thoroughly with fly spray & went out to the weave cones near the barn. We did it 4 times: starting left, starting right, swap ends and repeat. He managed to avoid both cones and fire ant hills, which put him one up on me.

Then we went way out past the far end of the ring to the second set of weave cones. I compromised and went around the ring instead of through it to avoid his reluctance to enter the ring. An issue for another day. We did another full set of weaves. A few longing gazes in the direction of the barn and one knocked-over cone but otherwise he listened and wove. I walk backwards and steer with his nose and neck as much as with his leadrope. Physical contact helps anchor him in this universe.

We only did one iteration instead of the two yesterday because a) the weave cones themselves take more concentration than the reverse poles and b) the second set are about twice as far from the barn. When we came back to the barn to repeat the first set of cones, they went so much more easily that I could feel how much more relaxed he was in this location versus working off in the far, far distance. (Okay, when I went to catch him, he was grazing even farther away. I believe that is termed Not a productive line of inquiry.)

I want to get upset and rage about all the shows we could be doing, but he tried so hard and he listened so well today. If I slow down and see things from his point of view, I can see the effort he puts into trying to understand and trying to do it right. How can I get mad at that?

What are your spring plans?

Going To The Dogs

Work: PM1 grooming, exercise [reverse poles – hither & yon]/PM2 grooming.
Report: one set of poles near the barn, another set in the middle of the field. The only variable was the distance from the barn. It was subtle but I think he walked more confidently the second time we headed out.

Ramblings for the Day: In an effort to find Basset Hound breeders in our area, we hauled ourselves out of bed this am in time make the first class of the day. Unfortunately, two Bassets were entered but none showed up. Before anyone asks, yes we have tried Basset Rescue. In two states. Many of the dogs are senior. Abby lived to be 17. We were hoping to put off replaying the special joys of a seriously senior dog for a few years. Another situation felt morally correct but legally dicey. We even offered to adopted a bonded pair. The sister was cool but the brother need a quiet, stress-free household. So not us.

Revved up animals. People in show clothes. Traffic jams at the ingate. Grooming areas that smell of shampoo. Announcers over the loudspeaker. Ring stewards looking for entries. Judges. Ribbons. Vendors. A dog show feels a lot like a horse show.

We are short of our arbitrarily imposed pet limits by one dog, two cats, and one horse. Stray cats have stopped coming up our driveway. I don’t begin to know how to start shopping for a third horse. And now we can’t even look at Bassets much less find one to adopt. Although I am an advertised cat person [Barn Dogs], I hoped that bringing in a dog might uncork whatever karmic blockage is keeping us from filling our household vacancies.

Do you speak cat &/or dog &/or horse?

Foto Friday: April Showers

Work: ? Plans big. Motivation low. Day not over.

Ramblings: One from the archives during a trip to Saratoga in 2008.

Bloggers are ever on the alert for what The Flirty Blog calls “bloggable moments”. Having generated trunkloads of text over the years, I adapted quickly to twisting bits of my life into posts [First Draft]. Seeing events as potential photographs comes less easily. Hence the trip down memory lane.

What is the most amusing barn decoration you have encountered?

More Tiny Rays of Hope?

Work: day off. Rain.

Ramblings for the Day: Three new exercises introduced this week.
Obstacle Course
On Saturday, hubby suggested that we break up the laps of our walk with the weave cones or the reverse poles as we passed them. This went so well that on Sunday we created a second set of exercises and sprinkled them around the edge of the pasture. The idea is that just walking along gives Rodney too much time to fret, so instead he has the exercises on which to focus. You could see him getting to the weave cones or reverse poles and thinking, Ah yes, I know what to do here. He ended his walk on Sunday more relaxed than he ended the day before. Which of course was the whole point of teaching him such terribly simple exercises in the first place. It’s nice when a plan comes together.

Jog In Hand (jih)
If we ever event, we will both need to get fit. I’d like to have the option of doing trots sets on foot to mix up the routine. Plus, it’s new and weird and different without involving a saddle or bridle.

Cloverleaf Circles (clcr)
As part of the obstacle course, we (me, hubby & tractor) set four standards a square. We (me & horse) walk in through the middle, turn left, circle around a standard, walk through, turn left, circle, proceed until done, repeat to the right. As with the weave cones, the idea is to get him used to shifting his bulk. He got the idea after the first trip through, although there was a definite barnward bulge to the circles.

Three simple exercises may not seem like much to us, but that’s a lot for an herbivore. Swift processing of new ideas is not a required skill when your survival imperatives are Eat Grass & Run Away. Granted I have met clever horses but Rodney’s virtues lie in other directions. In general, Thoroughbreds were not genetically selected to maximize their problem-solving abilities. In specific, we have found that Rodney gets his knickers in a twist if too much comes at him too fast. Using his definition of what constitutes too much and how much is too fast.

Your horse: Clever Hans or otherwise gifted?

Guest Post: P.J. O’Dwyer, author of Relentless

Work: day off.

Continuing in the tradition of guest posters who offer to share the load*, P.J. O’Dwyer has agreed to discuss her new book Relentless. Welcome P.J.:

Thank you for inviting me to spend the day with you here on Rodney’s Saga. I am an author of romantic suspense. I’ve always loved to immerse myself in a good story. Back when I was a teenager, I gravitated toward historical romances. I loved history.

But now, twenty-five years later, married to a state trooper and privy to the day-to-day police work he is involved in, it was inevitable I would combine both our passions: romance and murder. (Not that murder is his passion, only solving them.) I’m often asked if my characters are based on real people and events. They are not. But that’s not to say they are not based on real-life situations. In the case of my novel Relentless, the first book in the Fallon Sisters Trilogy, my heroine Bren Ryan operates a horse rescue farm. I got the idea from a horse rescue across the road from me. I guess driving by it every day must have formed an impression in my subconscious. Now there are other triggers for a storyline. For me, it can be as simple as one word or bits and pieces of a conversation.

Okay, you’ve got me. I confess I’m guilty of eavesdropping. But I won’t apologize. Ask any writer . . . that’s where we get some of our best plots. Writers also have an active imagination. It’s a prerequisite.

Here’s a sneak peek at my debut novel Relentless:

Headstrong horse rescue director Bren Ryan has been a red-headed streak of trouble for more than one man in Clear Spring. She’s grown up needling local “kill buyer” Wes Connelly, and since the sheriff ruled her husband’s sudden death an accident, Bren’s been investigating things herself. She’s certain Tom was murdered, and she’s hell-bent on cornering his killer the only way she knows how—by tempting him to do it again. And she’s the bait.

Rafe Langston came to Maryland looking for land and a fresh start. Or so he says. The sexy cowboy isn’t generous with details, but Bren couldn’t care less—until he buys half her farm at auction and moves into her childhood home. Suddenly, the last man she should befriend becomes her only ally in solving her husband’s murder. Soon their cozy stakeouts sizzle with unexpected desire neither one can ignore, threatening his mysterious plans and her promise to never fall in love again—especially with a handsome stranger whose secrets could shatter what family she has left.

It was during my research for Relentless I realized I had found something I could be passionate about. Yes, I’m passionate about writing, for sure. But learning about the suffering our horses endure every day in the name of greed gave me a reason to finish this book. As a writer, I believe we are entrusted to entertain as well as educate. Relentless gave me the opportunity to do both and became a reality because of the gracious nature of horse rescuers who took a call from a stranger, listened and agreed with enthusiasm to read Bren’s story, and offer their insight and knowledge. They hold a special place in my heart, and as a way to thank them for their kindness and because their fight has become mine, I am donating 5% to horse rescue for every book sold in the trilogy and any other future works. The only catch—you must purchase the books on my website at http://www.pjodwyer.com. There is a list of rescues to choose from including most states, a fair amount of provinces in Canada, and a few in the UK to include my homeland of Ireland, as well as, Australia and New Zealand.

With Relentless soon to be released on April 15, I am busy with the final edits of the second book in the series entitled Defiant, which is Kate’s story, set for release in September. Gorgeous as she is idealistic, this sister wants more than just horse pastures. Next, on my list is the third and final book of the series Forsaken. Dani is the sister neither Bren nor Kate know about, yet. That is until the beautiful Irish barmaid Dani Flynn finds her homeland just a spec on the horizon behind her and open seas dead ahead. She’s poised to change everything Bren and Kate believe to be true. And they’re not the only ones. There was no way I couldn’t write a book about Bren’s best friend Kevin Bendix. More like the brother Bren never had, eventually, they would become family—even if it was by law. I loved writing Kevin. Maybe it’s because I have one just like him at home. It was fun to ruffle this guy’s serious exterior.

Here’s a sneak peek into the life and times of Mr. Law-and-Order:

Sheriff Kevin Bendix’s life is orderly and free of complications. That’s the way he likes it. But that’s all about to change with one gorgeous, blue-eyed brunette who can’t prove she’s in the U.S. legally. It’s his job to have her deported. Only his attraction to Dani Flynn is clouding his judgment. She isn’t your average law breaker. All of about five foot two with a face of an angel and a body of a sinner, she will be his undoing. It’s not only his heart she’ll steal. Loving this woman could cost them both their lives.

I try for strong, likable characters readers can identify with and a plot with a high level of anticipation, uncertainty, anxiety, and sometimes even terror/fear. That’s why I love writing suspense. Whenever possible, I like to create one surprise, something the reader didn’t see coming, usually placed toward the end of the story. And, of course, there’s got to be great chemistry between the two protagonists and a burgeoning love story that warms the heart as menace and mayhem unfold around the pair. If you’ve ever thought about writing, I encourage you to follow your dream. I never had any formal training as a writer, only the desire to put my thoughts and stories on the computer screen. Like anything else, it takes practice and commitment. Writing is a craft, and with time our writing becomes better, sharper, and stronger. Just remember, writing is a journey that never ends.

If you’d like to learn more about P.J. O’Dwyer, here’s where you can find her on the web: website, Facebook, Twitter, Linked In. Giveaway: Autographed copy of the hardcover edition of RELENTLESS.

How do you incorporate charity into your life or work? One commenter will be awarded the giveaway copy on April 15 – to counteract the karma of the day.

(*For which I am exceedingly grateful. List of previous book posts, List of previous guest posts. [Yes, double clicking will be required. Such is the price of a comprehensive list.]) RS

Lowercase v for Small Victories

Work: PM Began work on jogging in hand.
Report: Low grade fireworks, despite using a very short stretch, very close to the barn. Uncalled-for but not unexpected. Still, he did not depart in haste once I removed the halter, as he has done before [Advisory].

Ramblings for the Day: I’ll take victories where I can get them. This morning, I had to do the meds. We were out in the field, me fooling with the plunger, Rodney standing next to me ground-tied. The dog took off after a turkey, much to the consternation of everyone, particularly the turkey. Rodney danced sideways but did not run off (victory 1). I fixed the plunger, gathered the leadrope, & moved us toward the water trough. Dog returned. At high speed. From behind. Rodney flipped out, pulled forward, & spun. As an anxiety attack it was not a maximum effort (victory 2). Most importantly, I was able to hang on to him (victory 3). Every time he doesn’t pull away and run off, he learns that he can keep it together and I learn that I can stay on top of it. The dog, on the other hand, is one paw closer to being banned from barn.

I don’t hope to stop all spooking, fussing, and cavorting. At his calmest, he will remain a high-strung Thoroughbred with lightning reflexes. I wouldn’t have him any other way. However, I do hope to tame the explosions from atomic down to chemical. Then, the goal of our groundwork is to establish in his mind a quiet space that we can return to and reboot.

Ever success is a feather on the scale, but even feathers add up over time.

What is your most recent lowercase v?

The Grass Was Greener

Work: PM1 hose in lieu of grooming/PM2 groom.
Report: An “easy” day after the “challenge” of yesterday. Ridiculous, I agree, but the student gets to set the terms of what is easy and what is hard.

Ramblings for the Day: This weekend, we cut the grass near pasture gate and along the outside of the fence. I was sorry to see it go. It was lush and green and yummy looking. Unfortunately, it had grown long enough for giraffe neck to reach over and graze. I wish I trusted horses in general or this horse in specific enough to hand-graze him outside of the field.

We used to let Mathilda and Previous Horse loose on the spring grass in a temporary, electric pen around the front yard. Right up until Previous Horse tuned into Cow Radio, revved up, and trotted right through the lit wire. The picture does not properly convey the unmitigated weirdness of having one’s horse looking in one’s front door.

Rodney is perfectly well-behaved on a lead, most of the time. However, a) I don’t trust him not to have a come-apart; b) I don’t trust myself to hold him if he does; and c) I don’t want him to be outside the field if a leads to b. I do realize this phobia limits our ability to leave the property for lessons & shows (Pretty Head).

Maybe he can have the grass next spring.

What phobias are keeping you from going where you want to go?