Is it August?

I haven't posted since the spring -- boo! And so much has happened since then! In addition to giving lessons at the barn where I keep my horses, I'm also now the head instructor at a Western barn south of town. I started that gig in July and it's really taking off. I'm basically just teaching dressage fundamentals in a Western saddle. I have two lovely school horses to work with: Yeller, a very elderly palomino with a crazy sway back, who takes care of the little beginners (but still has a lope in him!), and Mojo, a nicely-put-together, solid little paint who does it all, from toting around beginners to becoming a zippy little sports car for the more advanced folks. I am very proud of a recent creation of mine: I sewed a fluffy bed pillow to the underside of a Western saddle blanket to fill in the gap in Yeller's extreme swayback. I think he'll be a lot more comfortable now that the saddle won't be bridging.

J., the awesome grad student who had been leasing Dakota, had a sudden opportunity to study in Australia, so in addition to Clair I'm riding Dakota full time as well. Dakota is schooling all of second level, and Clair is schooling all of third level. Clair threw out a crazy double spook in early June and dumped me hard. I fell with my full weight on the back of my left ilium, and boy did it hurt. Luckily I didn't fracture my pelvis. I did pass out later in the day and fell face forward onto my jaw, knocking it sideways out of alignment for a few days. But I was back in the saddle after a week! The injury did slow me down a bit, riding-wise, for part of the summer. I'm still stiff and sore but better every day.

Clair's trot half pass is just super these days. I also have a reliable, decent medium trot. At third level they want extended, so we'll just have to see how we score. Canter half pass is starting to come. The canter overall is becoming highly collectible. On the lunge she's offering pirouette canter. I've decided to push my third-level score attempt to a show in the spring. We might be able to squeak our scores this fall, but I'd like to feel solid. The next Suzanne & Gwen clinic will likely be in early October.

My husband and I successfully sold our last flip and bought the next one in mid-June. We've been working on it like mad and hope to have it on the market in 3-4 weeks. Hard work, but so fulfilling!

Cleaning up the flying changes

Clair's flying changes have gotten so obedient and calm! It has been a solid year since we started working on them. During that time the canter sort of fell apart and then came back together again, bigger and stronger. At one point I dropped working on flying changes for six weeks and went back to simple changes through walk to get the feeling of the half halt back into the canter. At one point I thought I would never get the change right to left. Now, right to left is her better, cleaner change! Left to right is slightly sticky but so close to correct. I see in this video that I'm behind the motion again (argh) so that may be the problem. I'm also working on asking for the change a hair sooner -- during the third beat of the canter. Fixing my shoulders has also made a world of difference. When you twist your torso to follow the horse's shoulders, you have to remember to keep your arms independent (outside arm must go BACK to keep the outside rein, inside arm must go FORWARD to give the inside rein).

This sport is hard. But so rewarding!

Wonderful week of training in Louisiana!

The ponies and I returned to Lubbock Saturday evening after traveling 1200 miles round trip. That was my first long haul solo, and it went just fine. Dakota loaded like a trouper at both ends. Both kids are great travelers, not even seeming to stress much. It was fun to be able to see them munching on their hay nets via the wireless cam.

I took lessons on both horses every day for four days, except Wednesday when I just rode Clair. We introduced Clair to the double bridle, and it could not have been less of a big deal. She is such an oral horse; two bits actually make her happier, I think. She'd probably take another bit stuffed in there for good measure. I'm still refining my technique of holding the reins in the French method. Clair has also gotten extremely sensitive to my outside leg in the left lead canter, so we experimented with where my right leg should go to not trigger her irritation. We made good progress and got many happy left-lead circles. Quirky mare.

Further proof that Clair has an oral fixation? Here's what her trailer tie looked like when we arrived in Louisiana:

Dakota worked his little butt off. He showed off shoulder in, haunches in, baby half pass, and trot lengthenings. Suzanne was thrilled with him in every way. He may go third level before too long as well! Sorry I have no video, but my videographer/husband had to stay behind this time.

Coming up on Sunday -- another Blarney Stone dressage schooling show. Trainer Gwen is judging, and Suzanne is coming along to give me a couple lessons while they're here. Woo!

Beautiful butt rope, captivating camera, double debut

The key to consistent loading by Dakota? The butt rope. I don't know why I didn't pull one out sooner. The first attempt with the rope he lashed out with double-barrel back hooves a couple times, then jumped on board. The second attempt he jumped on board as soon as he felt the rope touch his back legs. The third attempt he took one look at the rope lying on the ground and just walked on. As long as we have it out so he can see it, he now loads quietly. Sometimes the old methods are the best.

My amazing husband got me a wireless camera so I can see the horses in the trailer while I'm driving. He thought of this gift, purchased it, and installed it all without me even knowing. It's AWESOME! So comforting to see quiet ponies on a nine-hour drive. It also doubles as a backup cam that helps me see the gooseneck hitch and the ball in the bed of the pickup. It ALSO has night vision. I love it!

[night-vision pony butts]

Dakota, Clair, and I had an uneventful drive to Dubach, Louisiana, Monday. We got a late start and arrived around 9:30. Trainer Gwen helped me unload, unwrap legs, and tuck the horses in, and also helped get the hay and grain bags situated. I was in bed by 10:30 and slept like a rock.

Yesterday we introduced Clair to the double bridle. The Weymouth bit I ordered is a bit too wide, and we need to punch a couple holes so the bits ride higher in her mouth, but even so Clair took right to it. Suzanne has me holding the reins in the French method, with the snaffle rein running over the top of my index finger and the curb rein running under my pinky and up my palm, with my thumb over both reins. This allows me to use the bradoon to elevate Clair, and then while she's up, if she needs it, I can lightly apply the curb to ask her to give in the poll. It worked like magic. We didn't work her too long, but I got nice walk, trot, and canter with no resistance or stress. She had crazy amounts of foam, too, which she doesn't usually. A splendid debut!

Dakota, too, was wonderful today. He was a little tense with everything going on around the farm (many lessons in multiple rings, and a pony named Truffles shooting by the arena randomly). Also, Clair and he were hollering back and forth. Even so, Suzanne was thrilled with his progress. She said he's really showing a nice trot lengthening now, which we've been working on, and we even did a little half pass. Mustang got skilz!

Louisiana!

On Monday I'm off to Louisiana for a training week with Suzanne. Clair will definitely be coming along, and I'd love to bring Kota if he'll get on the trailer. I have been sadly remiss in his remedial trailer training. I worked with him today and got both front feet on board -- gave him some soaked alfalfa to eat as he stood like that, and called it a day. I'll work with him again tomorrow. He's supposed to get trailered to the vet (along with Clair) on Friday for their health certificates, so if he doesn't get on the trailer on Friday then he's not going to Louisiana, which would be too bad. My fault, though, for not working on this all year. I need to start taking the truck out when I work the horses, hitch up, and make Dakota get on every single time I'm out. He's not one that you can pressure into getting on. He sulls up and the mustang in him comes roaring out (tight spaces are not his thing -- BLM trauma). I need to give him him the time to let it be his idea.

In other news, Clair LOVES canter poles. If she gets up a head of steam as we head toward one, she always leaves out a stride and leaps like she's jumping the Grand Canyon. I've been moving away from approaching them on too long of a line. We did have one exciting day where I set up three canter poles together. She left out a stride and threw herself over the first one; I got a little left behind and bumped her in the back, so she bucked over the second pole, and then during the buck she farted, scared herself, and bolted halfway around the area. I rode it out in front of the pommel. Another time she overjumped the pole by about three feet and I ended up hanging off the side. She politely stopped and let me pull myself back up. I'm keeping at it because I can get the flying change to the left about 85% of the time over a pole. The change to the right is starting to feel smooth as butter. I need to work on canter half pass -- that'll probably help the change to the left too.

I just ordered a double bridle and bits for Clair! Having it shipped ahead to Louisiana so Suzanne can help me fit it. The double is optional at third level and required at fourth, so it's time to introduce it.

Updates

Dakota's situation has changed. His previous leaser, R, gave up the lease at the end of October. We will both miss her! R hooked us up with a possible new leaser, J, who rides Dakota very well. She has an extensive riding background in h/j with a sprinkling of dressage. J has taken a couple lessons from me that went great, and she has ridden Kota on her own a couple times. She has to have a medical procedure in a week that will keep her from riding for a month or more, but I think there's a good chance she'll pick up at least a half-lease as soon as she's able.

I've been riding Kota quite a bit, and he's just delightful. He's very sensitive and reacts honestly to everything the rider does. Shoulder in is very good, and travers is coming right along. I've started working on walk-canter-walk. He's starting to get the idea of lengthening the stride in trot. Canter lengthening is great! Canter in general has improved so much in the last few months.

I've been working hard on canter with Clair as well. The left lead has always been the weaker lead, so I've been doing my best to strengthen her on that side. We don't have a reliable flying change right to left yet (I'm sure that's due to my lack of experience putting in changes). On the plus side, the change left to right is basically confirmed! We need to improve our extensions in both trot and canter. Will we be ready to try to get our third level scores in April? Fingers crossed!

No, there is too much. Let me sum up.

SO MUCH has changed since my last post. All in good ways.

I quit my job in publishing. My last day was August 31. I've been in book publishing for more than twenty years. I was at this last job for three years and four months. My prior job, in Oregon, ended when a new asshole of a CEO came in and decided the book team, while profitable, wasn't profitable enough. Without even discussing it with me (in fact, I never even talked to the dude), he cut my team from six to two. They told me I could stay or go. I felt so angry and betrayed (I had worked at that company for eight years) that I decided to go. I was out of work for six months, and even dabbled with the idea of going pro with the dressage thing, but then this most recent position became available, at a press I had worked for before, and it seemed like a great opportunity. So my husband and I moved to Lubbock, Texas, and I started work. It was not good basically right from the start. I wasn't told the truth about debt the press had incurred under the previous director. I wasn't told that the subsidy would be cut by a third right off the bat. I was forced to lay off several staff in an attempt to balance the budget (which was unbalanceable given the meager subsidy). I was continually hounded for not finding a magical way to balance the budget. Through it all, I and my most excellent staff worked our butts off to put out some great books -- and no one at the university seemed to care at all. I was anxious and stressed all the time, and I finally got completely fed up. If I sound angry and betrayed, it's because I am. I quit, and again, no one at the U seemed to care at all. Since I left, two more of the staff have found other positions. Prior to my departure we were at seven, now they'll soon be down to four.

My husband picked up a job driving a school bus to keep us in insurance. Our main source of income (we hope) is going to be flipping houses, starting with the one we're living in. We've done a LOT of work to it, and we hope to have it on the market in two to three weeks. Then we'll do another move-and-flip, hoping to turn that one around in three months. We'll probably do the move-and-flip thing a few more times, and then our hope is to be able to have a permanent residence and flip other houses. We're also available for home renovations. Ted knows how to do almost everything and has all the tools, and I'm pretty good at probably 70% of the tasks (my father was a home builder for much of his career, and I picked stuff up through osmosis). We're thinking about eventually looking for an acreage property outside of town and starting with a tiny house.

I've also decided to once again see if I can find some dressage students. I've had one nibble so far. I'd been planning to go pro once I got my bronze medal, but given the situation, I'm forging ahead on it now. Unless things go terribly wrong I should be able to get my third level bronze scores in April at Texas Rose Horse Park, and April isn't all that far away. So, when I renew my memberships I'll be changing categories to pro.

I am so HAPPY since I quit. I haven't been this happy in years (since before my father died, in fact). In the mornings I go to the barn. I ride Clair five days a week, and Dakota three days a week. Then I come home and work on the house. Projects progress quickly when you have most of the day to work on them! Last weekend I hosted a clinic with Suzanne May and Gwen Packman Swanbom on Friday and Saturday and then managed a schooling show on Sunday (and also rode both horses in both the clinic and the show). It all went great, and I didn't have to go back to work, utterly exhausted, on Monday, so my stress level stayed low. Clair and I got a 58.9% on third one (still lots to work on) and Dakota got a 65% on first one and a 63% on first two (such a good boy). So proud of those kiddos.

I'm blessed that my last job compensated me very well and allowed me to pay off a lot of debt. My mother has been very supportive both emotionally and financially, so we have a cushion if the flipping business doesn't take off immediately. I hope we can make a go of this, because I feel so fulfilled with the current arrangement. And to be frank, I'm twice-bitten from working for "the man" and would just like to be my own boss. I haven't had a good boss I could respect and trust since 2006 (I'm looking at you, Noel Parsons)!

I'll have another post soon with video from the clinic and the schooling show.

Clair at the Suzanne clinic, day two

I get the sticky change myself! Twice!

First Gwen gets on and gets it, and a little trot extension to boot.



My turn:




Since then, I've gotten that change over a ground pole several more times. Without a pole (like at the schooling show) we don't quite have it yet. So we'll keep working over the pole for the foreseeable.

Third one at another schooling show

The judge didn't like it much -- 54.8% -- but I was super pleased with just about everything. We didn't get the sticky change, but she did change in front so that's progress. The other change was fine. Half pass needs more consistent bend. I'm starting to get a real medium trot, so that's wonderful. Overall, just really happy with my Clair mare. I'm riding Dakota in first one and first two tomorrow.

At the Suzanne clinic, trainer Gwen gets that sticky flying change!

Hallelujah! The right-to-left flying change has finally been gotten, three times in a row! Suzanne brought along trainer Gwen Packman Swanbom to this weekend's clinic, and I asked Gwen to see if she could get that sticky change. Using a ground pole, she did! I'm so relieved and excited. We also worked on some half pass. Tomorrow we'll see if I can get the change myself!

Cow-kicking update

Suzanne viewed the videos of my problematic ride last week and sent the following:

Hi! Well, I was worried when I first read the email, but I was happy, for the most part, when I actually watched the videos. Interesting! Frame is MUCH better. This makes her more athletic. This can be used against you (don't they always?). Haunches-in on the circle is much better, too. Remember to stress he proper aids - inside leg and outside rein. In the canter, make sure you are not poking her with your left heel too far back. Think of taking WHOLE leg back from he hip. Almost picture bending your knee backwards (hyper-extending) to push your heel down and not bend at the knee to take leg back. She might be reacting to too much weight on that seatbone, too. Eliz's horse, Lita, doesn't like weight on that outside seatbone back at all. Left to right changes are clean most of the time. Nice trot lengthening. We will have to work on those right to left changes. Half-halt during change. Very distinct and strong aids. Lateral balance. Possibly have to even counter bend her, but keep her going left as in leg yield.

I see marked improvement and less problems!

For the next ride I made sure to sit over my inside seat bone in right lead canter, and to keep my outside (left) leg below the knee completely off. And not a single cow-kick! Suzanne is so good at pinpointing the littlest position problem and fixing it. I've had a couple cow-kicks since then and every time realized that I was sitting too much on my outside seat bone. Mares can be very picky.

Suzanne is coming for a clinic next weekend, and the following weekend there's another schooling show. I'm going to try third-one again with Clair, and I'm also going to show Dakota first-one and first-two. He's doing so well!

One of those rides

Step right up and see: obnoxious behavior! a big spook! cow-kicking in canter! It was just one of those rides where we never really connected. I am most concerned about the cow-kicking, which has been happening off and on for a few rides now, always in right lead. The flying change right to left still isn't really happening for us, so I wonder if she's anticipating attempting the change and getting irritated? I've tried both putting my outside leg on more strongly and also backing it off almost entirely. I don't really notice a difference either way. I'm seeking wisdom from Suzanne.

Very first try: third level test one

We got a very generous 58% on our first try at third level test one! I'm so pleased. All mistakes were my own -- especially my choice to simply hand-walk Clair in her home arena once it was set up with judge's stand in place. She snuffled everything and seemed fine with it, but when I sent her down center line I could feel she was looky, unfocused, and just not through. I should have schooled her under saddle during the lunch break. Live and learn!

Half passes were too labored, trot and canter mediums and extensions were not defined enough, canter was a bit of a rodeo overall, and she jigged in extended walk. But we got our flying change left to right, hallelujah! And overall I feel like we look very close to being ready for third level. It's nice to have a third level test under my belt just for psychological reasons.

Yay, Clair mare! Love my girl.

Memorial Day ride

Just throwing it all out there. Flying changes left to right are coming along swimmingly; the other direction is coming along not at all -- sigh. Patience. We've only just begun. Oh, and she tripped and almost went down at the walk for no apparent reason except a possible tumbleweed sighting.

Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes! and a little baby passage

Clair and I had a BLAST during Suzanne's lessons. I learned how to ride with the whip pointing straight up, making it easier to give a pop on either side, especially when Clair is blowing me off. I gave her a good pop to wake her up, and then after that all I had to do was wave the whip in her sight line and she would give me lots of forward.

We also worked on Clair's very first flying changes. She was SO good. She didn't get excited or on the muscle. We didn't get a clean change in either direction, but both ways we did get a couple late-behind changes. I was thrilled with these first attempts. Such a good mare. Also, she gave me a teeny bit of baby passage when we stopped to switch directions. Fun!