With the extreme heat, M has been re-scheduling as many lessons as possible for the cooler morning hours.  She knows that I work and can't really come much earlier, but she called because she couldn't remember whether or not I had a lesson scheduled for Monday.

I arrived at the barn, sweating as soon as I stepped from my car.  I was the only lesson that evening, as the group that usually rides at 4:30 rescheduled for Wednesday.  She had Jimmy in the aisle, and we got him tacked up and ready to go.

We worked on simple patterns and transitions.  D complains that we don't use our legs enough to guide the horses, so she thought it would be a good idea to re-enforce how important it is.  I am still confused about how to effectively use leg aids, so I thought the lesson would be pretty interesting.  I tend to not use much leg on Jimmy, because once I do, he either trots faster or canters off.  This was one of the issues that I encountered last night, too.  When I asked how to keep him from speeding off, M used the drag racing analogy again.  You can rev his motor, but he can't go any where until you release the brake.  While this didn't exactly help, it did get me thinking.

During the pattern, I rushed too much and got poor Jimmy all frazzled.  He gets as frustrated with me as I get with him.  I had him cantering on the wrong lead, trotting instead of leg yielding, and walking in circles instead of turning on the haunches.  It all gets so confusing and becomes a muddled mess of rein and leg cues.

At the end of the lesson, M had me canter on the rail, first on the correct lead, and then on the wrong lead, in both directions, to demonstrate the difference.  When I look down at the horse's shoulder, I still can't see a difference in how their legs move, but I could feel a definite difference.

After the lesson, I walked Jimmy down the driveway, but the flies were brutal, so it wasn't very enjoyable.  We didn't even make it halfway down the drive.  The flies were making Jimmy miserable, so we headed back to the barn.

Jimmy was given a quick shower, and M tried to wash the sweat off of him so the bugs wouldn't eat him.  She also removed a bean the size of a rock from a tender part of his anatomy.  Never having seen one before, I was slightly appalled when she showed it to me.  No wonder he doesn't like to walk!  He's probably trying to jiggle it loose and thinks a faster pace will jar it free!  This is why I didn't want a gelding.  For more information than you'll ever want to know, click here.

Me and Blondie heading into class

Laurie and Rachel crashed in my room again, and once again they were like little ghosts.  Or maybe trolls.  I woke up around midnight and noticed their bags piled by the door, but they weren't in the room.  I wondered where they could be - I don't believe Laurie is old enough to visit a bar, and Rachel certainly isn't, but I rolled over and fell back asleep.  At about 1am, they strolled in the room.  They had been by the pool, chilling.  That's when I asked them how they function on 4 hours of sleep.  I was having trouble with with only six.  Oh, to be young again.

They left a little before 6, and I got up and started getting ready.  After a trip to the disappointing breakfast buffet, I changed into my suit and headed for the fairgrounds.  When I arrived, D let me know how lame he is.  He couldn't catch Sammy, so I would be unable to participate in my first Fine Harness class.  I can't believe the horse is smarter than he is!  He tried to make it sound like the other pasture horses suddenly came to value Sammy's presence in the field and thwarted his efforts to capture him.  How disappointing - the pasture posse beat the farrier.

The Medallions is really two different horse shows run consecutively, with different judges, but following the same schedule.  Yes, I thought this a little strange, too.  Everything was the same except for the judge.

We were in the eighth class again, and it was just two entries again.  In fact, it was the same horse from yesterday.  We trotted into class, apparently way too fast, and I struggled to get Blondie to stay by the rail.  Her head was all over, and I didn't know what to do to fix her.  We were second, and on the way back to the barn, I asked D how to keep her head straight.  He said to keep steady pressure on the outside rein, and jerk, jerk, jerk the inside rein.

M was only able to watch the beginning of the class, and she told me that I have to hold Blondie steady, and then bump the inside rein.  She stood behind me and demonstrated what I should do.  I thought I understood a little better, but wouldn't really know until I tried driving her again.

The long wait until class 29 was agonizing.  The lunch break was between 26 & 27, and even though it was only 30 minutes long, it made the time stretch on that much longer.  Then it was time to hop in the buggy and try again.

The same horses were in the class, and D told me to drive straight down the ring when we first entered before turning Blondie toward the rail, and to keep her slower.  We were racing around much to fast for the trot.  Into the ring we trotted, and I concentrated on keeping pressure on the outside rein, and bumping the inside rein as M had shown me.  It works!  Her head straightened out! 

When the extended trot was called, though we did have a noticeable change in pace, Blondie wasn't going fast enough.  I thought I drove her a 100 percent better than previously, but alas, we were still losers!!!  D was happy with the performance; it's the first show that Blondie and I ever drove in.  Dean gave me grief about being last in every class, but there's only one way for us to go now, and that's UP!

I changed from my sweat soaked suit into more comfortable clothes, and wondered why I wore the suit on the hottest day of the weekend.  It got very uncomfortable waiting to go into the class with the sun beating down. 

After packing up my things, I went with Laurie to snap some pictures for her next article in SHR.  If she doesn't sell any ads, they will only print a small bit about the show, so I hope she sells a ton.  It's fun seeing my pics in a magazine!  Even if I don't get paid for them.

Kim and Lee came to watch the show, and Kim, though her usual bratty self, very nicely took some shots of Blondie and me.  We didn't get to talk much, but she has a new horse!  Kim, when is Star moving into the barn?  I can hardly wait to see your new horse!  If you read this before I see you, add a comment about your new pony.

Academy rider trotting into class

Laurie and Rachel crashed in my room last night, and they didn't get there until after midnight.  I woke up, thinking that they weren't coming, and was going to throw the deadbolt.  That's when I saw the glare of a cell phone.  It was Rachel, who didn't want to stay in the trailer with M & D because they were really bummed out about Woody.  She was so funny, because I think she thought I would be upset that she came with Laurie.  I laughed at her and told her to turn a light on so she could get her stuff out of her bag.  Laurie was in the shower, and I didn't even hear them enter the room! 

They left like ghosts at 5:30 the next morning, and even though Laurie's cell phone woke me up, I soon drifted back to sleep.  When my alarm went off at 6:00, I was surprised to see that they had left.  I didn't hear them exiting the room, either.

My first driving class was the eighth one in, so I got dressed at the hotel and went over in my dress.  And my riding boots, my hose safe from runs with a pair of white socks.  I looked so classy!

Our first class had two entries.  I wasn't aware that there was a pace change at the trot until I was on the track warming her up.  D told me to slow down for the first trot, and then ask for more when they called for the extended trot.  I couldn't get her to walk to save my life! 

Once we trotted into the ring, I had trouble keeping her head straight.  We totally blew the walk both directions, but D said that she was bridled better the second way.  The winning horse wins all the time, so I didn't think I had much of a chance my first time out driving.  Next year will be another story!

As we trotted past the in gate, D yelled at me to keep my knees together!  Damn these stupid dresses!  I might have been earning points had the judge been a male, but of course she was a woman.  Now he keeps teasing me about flashing.  It's not that kind of horse show!  Ya, whatever.  You don't have to wear a retarded dress to sit at the pooping end of a horse!

After waiting around for my second class, I started getting a teeny bit nervous.  There were three horses in the next class.  After we trotted in, I wasn't nervous anymore, because I was concentrating so hard on keeping Blondie bridled and her head straight.  we did a lot better, but we were third out of three.  I need to lean back on the reins and keep better contact on the bit to get her head set better.  I can hardly wait to try again tomorrow!  D even said that he would have placed me 2nd, but he's a little biased.

D mentioned that he's going back to the farm tonight and picking up another horse so I can drive it in the Fine Harness class tomorrow.  Because the buggy is higher off the ground, he also told me to wear pants.  He asked if I had my driving suit, which I do, and I can wear that tomorrow to drive both horses.  Ha!!!  M won't like it, but I sure do!

I'm really happy with my first outing driving.  It's really fun, and I don't have to worry about canter leads!!  Oh, and they just announced over the p.a. that Blondie and I won a free oil change!!  I don't know why; I missed that part.  I'll have to go to the office to find out why.

Oil Change Update - It was a random drawing, and I gave the coupon to Suzie.  It was for a place in Okemos!  Like I'm there all the time...

Jen & Woody in Delaware 2006

The Medallions horse shows started yesterday, and I arrived at the Ingham County Fairgrounds without incident.  I even had time to locate the bookstore at the local mall, where I finally scored a copy of the July Shojo Beat.  I have been having a terrible time getting my hands the this issue of the mag.

Yesterday was for academy classes, and I ran around taking pictures and getting a bit of a sun burn.  I was getting a little nervous about driving Blondie this morning, but I tried not to think about it.  I ran into Roxanne, and it's always nice to see family at the show!  I wish more of you would come and check it out!

When I arrived, M & D were nowhere to be seen.  M finally appeared, and told me she was having a horrible day.  I asked what was going on, and she gave me some really bad news.  They were going to put Woody down later in the day because he was in so much pain and wasn't responding to the antibiotics that they have been flooding his body with.  He hasn't eaten in a week, and has lost 150 lbs.  This really makes me sad.  He was so  fun to rack, and I really learned a lot from him.  The treatment for his arthritis did not go well, and he developed an infection in his hind legs.  The vet thought he might be foundering in all four feet, and he wouldn't get up yesterday morning, and it was decided that it would be the most humane thing to put him down.  This is the hardest part of owning an animal, and my thoughts go out to Jen.

Wednesday was a bearable 79 degrees, and it wasn't disgustingly humid.  The lesson riders were Laurie on Gio, Audie on Summer, Maggie on Zeb, Amber on Harley, and me on Jimmy.

The lesson was pretty uneventful, though Jimmy and I battled over where he should keep his head.  M said that even though he's more comfortable with a hunter headset, he could hold his head higher.  I needed to sponge the reins and ask with my leg.  I did get him to pick his head up for a few strides, but then he promptly dropped it again.  That's when M pointed out that after he lifted his head, I had to release and reward, and make that place a "happy" place for him. 

This utopia never happened, and he was soon extremely fussy.  Now, I'm sure that my repeated requests to do something he clearly did not feel like was irritating the crap out of him, but that was no excuse for him to start hopping around like a bird.  I lost a stirrup, but thanks to Laurie's harsh lessons, I was able to retain my seat and regain the missing foot rest.  During the breathless moment without the stirrup, I thought I was going to get dumped, so I grabbed mane, balanced on the reins, and most likely gave Jimmy a sore mouth. 

I am so confused about maintaining the "happy" place.  If I add my leg, he starts to canter or speed up.  If I loosen my fingers, he pulls through his bridle.  Instead, we play tug of war, and I always end up losing.  I just don't understand how to get their heads set!

We also worked again on lead changes.  We were instructed to canter on the left lead halfway across the arena, stop, and pick up the right lead.  Jimmy and I went first, and we got everything right the first time!  He didn't stop very nicely, but he stepped right off into the canter.

We filled out the entries for the show this weekend, but only for Saturday.  M said we'll figure Sunday out at the show. 

Monday's lesson horse was Jimmy.  It was in the 90s and humid.  Ugh!  The sand in the arena just sticks to everything when it's that hot!

We worked on trotting figure 8's at the sitting trot, which was supposed to help with my balance.  After having me make some adjustments, we started cantering figure 8's, which I got all wrong.  Jimmy started getting a little upset with me, and then M had me hop off so she could show me the correct why to cue him.

I was, apparently, over bending him.  For some reason I have it in my mind that you really have to angle the horse before asking for the canter.  After M showed me what I was doing wrong, I got back on and we worked at cantering a serpentine instead of the figure 8's.  Half of the time Jimmy picked up the wrong lead and I didn't know.  This is the kind of stuff that we really need to work on, because I am still clueless when it comes to getting the correct lead at the canter!

It took forever to cool him out, and we even went outside to the round pen to walk around.  It's in the shade, and there was a nice breeze by then.  M followed me out and had me practice turning on the haunches and maneuvering Jimmy at the walk.  Then he got a sponge bath, and finally was allowed to eat his dinner.  It was so hot that I didn't linger, but instead headed home to eat my dinner.

I had a driving lesson today, which is no surprise considering the horse show is next weekend.  As it was hot and humid at 9:30 AM, I can't say that I was upset to not be riding.  I think yesterday's dinner at Bravo wasn't sitting too well in my stomach, and I wasn't feeling up to sweating like a pig, anyway.

D hopped in the jog cart first.  I think he wanted to warm her up because they weren't around yesterday to work the horses.  Blondie acted up a bit at first, but soon she was trotting obediently around the arena.  By the time D handed the reins over to me, she was already sweating.  I don't think she likes the warm weather very much.

I am feeling a lot more comfortable in the jog cart, and I like driving.  I no longer worry about falling off of the seat, and I was even able to put both of my feet onto the foot bars without feeling like I needed a phone book to sit on.  If I didn't feel like such a failure about riding Blondie, I wouldn't even have a second thought about not riding her next weekend.  It will probably be hot and humid again, and I'll be spared having to dress in a layered suit jacket and tie.  Instead, I'll be relatively comfortable in my short sleeved dress.

I was having issues getting her head up, so M hopped onto the cart next to me and tried to demonstrate how to manipulate the reins to get Blondie bridled.  She said that just lifting my arm will cause the horse to hold her head differently; I don't always have to pull on the bit.  Both M and D say that the hardest thing to learn is how to use the reins effectively and get the horse to properly set its head.

At the end of the lesson, M tossed some cones along the wall and in our path, and told me that they were other horses.  Then she had me trot down the quarter line and then find my spot along the rail again.  I wish the other horses were really that small and easy to maneuver around! 

I am feeling pretty comfortable about next weekend, though.  As long as the classes aren't crazy big, I think I'll be all right.  I've never driven in traffic, so that's the only concern that I have right now.  When Blondie's in the jog cart, she usually does her job without too much of a fuss.

Friday night, I rode Blondie.  I remembered to put on spurs this time, and I thought it helped at first.  She started getting long and dropping her head near the end of the lesson, and I just couldn't get her bridled again.

We worked on cranking her head back, and keeping her in her bridle. M told me to pretend the reins are sponges, and that I need to squeeze the water out of them.  I should never just pull on both reins, I need to massage them, and to give and release. Blondie's head started coming up for me, without our usual tug of war.

We only worked at a trot.  Towards the end of the lesson she stared pulling and shaking her head. M suggested that we call it a night, before we really started getting into a fight over her headset.  She also suggested that I try wearing longer spurs, because my leg is hardly touching her sides.

I'm going to just drive Blondie at the show next week.  The arena is kind of scary, and she's never been there before.  She wears blinkers when she drives, and they think that she'll be ok for me like that.  D wants me to have a practice ride Saturday night, and if she doesn't have any issues, we'll try to ride her on Sunday.

For the Wednesday night group lesson, I rode Sammy.  He's a little more subdued now that he's on pasture board, and my arms were given a pleasant respite from having to constantly try to contain his boundless energy.  It was another fun ride on him.

There was a large group in attendance.  Laurie rode Gio, Audie rode Jimmy, Maggie had Zeb, Tina was gifted with Wildchild, and Amber, new to the group lessons, rode Harley. 

At the beginning of the lesson, Wildchild, probably in revenge for me speaking ill of her prior to the lesson, kicked dirt in my eye.  I had to take a little time out and try to wipe it out.  It was really annoying, and when I got home, there was black crud in the corner of my eyes.  I don't even want to think about what it might have contained!

Sammy felt a little off at the canter, but M said he looked great.  He was slow and collected, and he picked up the correct lead both ways.  It was really hot out, and we both worked up a sweat! 

M talked to me about Jen riding Blondie at an upcoming show, and me driving her.  She rode her that morning, and I guess both D and M thought that she had her looking great.  At first I was a little resistant to the idea, but if Jen can get Blondie over some of her show jitters, we'll just have that much more success next summer.  Jen can't make it to the show next weekend because of family commitments, but I think D might take them to Twin Rivers the weekend I'm at AX.  I admit that I am getting frustrated again because the only day I seem to  ride Blondie is Sunday, and I sometimes wonder how I'll ever learn to ride her if I never get to do it!

Ah, tonight was a bonus! There were three of us, so it was an official group lesson! An extra half hour of saddle time! Yay!! I rode Zeb, and Hannah and Anna rode Jimmy and Wildchild.

Zeb was really good for about the first thirty minutes of the lesson - then he started dipping his head. To make sure he really had my attention, he then started the strangest head tossing; he'd bob his head rapidly, which looked like he was having a neck spasm. I really like Zeb, but he has a few issues. He was tossing his head around so much that M finally clipped the overcheck to the saddle.

I really concentrated on squeezing with my knees, and keeping my thighs tight against the saddle. I tried hard to not post off my stirrups, and thought I was making some progress there. Then Wednesday night rolled around, and I definitely took a step backward. *sigh*

The vet was there when I arrived, and that's never a good sign. One of the horses in the other barn colicked and by the time the vet got there, its intestines had ruptured. Sadly, it had to be put down. D showed up during the lesson and asked me if I wanted to hold the horse while he pulled its shoes off. Yuck! Why do they have to take its shoes off?!

M said that a 5 gaited horse dropped dead at the horse show over the weekend, too! argh! I would have been devastated! She said it was awful!