Ya-Ya Riders

Balmy in January

2012-01-30T21:42:00.001-06:00

Fourteen Biker Women Lunching at LaMansion in Catoosa - LART (Lunch After Road Trip) on Saturday afternoon. Luckily, the LaMansion staff love to have WWL (Women Who Lunch). So we joined them for LAL... hahaha... Really they are just like us having lunch with their girlfriends who share their passion for riding. We ride powerful animals and they ride powerful machines. They did have matching bandanas too.

The last weekend of January was beautiful with temperatures starting off in the fifties on Saturday and almost making 60 on Sunday - way better than "almost 40."

The girls' lesson started late because of a couple distractions. Sophie, Sydney's new horse got a serious laceration on her face so Dr. S. came out to sew her up - Mallory gave some medical assistance before we got going in our lesson.

And, Cynthia was moving in with Ahab and Shadow, so Alaina was very distracted with the new Arabian and Half Arab.

Finally, the girls rode and after their lesson, Ivy jumped Pico over the BARRELS for the first time. Very Nice.

So, the ladies started late too.We had the SUPER Party Lesson with Nancy, Kathy, Mallory, Mary, me, Cynthia, and Margret.

We rode in the outdoor arena since the weather was nice and the group was so big. Splash struggled with canter in the deeper parts and where the surface was uneven. Even so, he was a pretty good boy. Mallory had some lovely canters, Call looked great in the trot work and Nancy had nice canter departs both ways. Yay!

Ivy, Alaina and I rode our horses at the Wild O Ranch on Sunday afternoon. Steve set up a new Gate for Alaina in the grassy side arena and Ivy was set to do more JUMPS. Steve took some pix from the top of the shed and scared poor Freako-Pico.

Pico spooked at Sunny resisted the
low jumps on Sunday. grass temptation.

Ivy took pictures so I would have Blog Fodder.

The weather is great for now, but cold rainy weather is in the forcast later this week. If so, the groundhog will not see his shadow and we will have an early spring. YaYa.

Return of the Cold Front

2012-01-20T23:26:00.000-06:00

Or maybe just cloud cover.

Mallory and I planned a fun Friday playing with the ponies in the 50 degree sunshine predicted. Alas, cloudy and cold was the order of the day. It was 11am and 36 degrees and Mallory told me to get over my Miami roots, put on my boots, and come work my horse.

So, I did. First some Clinton Anderson in the round pen - lunging for respect, desensitizing/rope, yeilding the hind quarters, desensitizing/string, flexing, and a bit of backing. Then, up to the arena for some basic flat work. Splash was a pretty good boy. The deep, sandy arena is hard for Splash but he gave mostly good efforts in canter departs with just one wrong lead at the start. Then, we concentrated on forward trot and some stand/trot transitions. Finally, for cool down, we did some turns on forehand and haunches. I tied Splash to the trailer for a cool down and "lesson setting" while I watched Mallory work Sister in the round pen. Sister is pretty responsive to all the exercises but has a residual kernal of resistance - but I know Mallory will prevail.

Meanwhile, my Saturday Party Lesson is a no-go and I will be in Stillwater for a 4-H training while Patty and Kathy are at the AGM. Perhaps I can sneak a ride in Sunday morning between the cold fronts. YaYa.

Wild Life

2012-01-16T23:58:00.015-06:00

Alaina and Sunny working at the Rocking C

Saturday lesson for Ivy and Pico

Furball needs a SPA day

Pico

Rooster at the Wild O Ranch

Sunny and TC

Ivy and Alaina with their mounts

New Year - New Horse

2012-01-08T23:34:00.007-06:00

Well, not really. It's just that with the unseasonably lovely weather for January in OK, I have managed more riding than usual. And, the result? If I didn't know better, I would think Splash was a really good horse. After 4 riding days over the New Year's weekend, Splash and I worked 3 days over this past weekend.

Friday was Fabulous. So Mallory and Trouper picked us up and Splash and I joined the YaYa's at Oolagah (Centennial Trailhead) for a ride up Kite Hill. Riders inclued: Rita, Patty, Sherry, Lila, Marsha, Judy, Mallory, Amy, Linna, and me. For the record - Kite Hill is way to steep for Splash - and for me. We had a wonderful time anyway and the view from the top while picnicking with good friends was great. Splash and I survived the trip downhill and Rita thinks I won't have any qualms about the slopes at her place from now on. Hmmmm.

Saturday we joined Mallory, Mary, and Nancy for the Party Lesson with Lunch at Ramona's. We worked on trot serpentines, sitting trot/collection, and then canter departs and canter circles. Slash was really good in trot work sitting and posting and, after one left lead depart that should have been right, we had good canter work as well - only one instance of dropped gait. We even did a little cone weaving at walk and then trot.

Sunday was cool but still warm for January. I got Splash tacked up and we worked in the Wild O Arena for about 30 minutes before Ivy and Pico joined us. Splash was a bit tense working on his own but it was good for him. After Ivy jumped Pico at several levels of our jumps, Splash and I went around the front pasture all alone. He was very good. Perhaps Splash is my new horse after all. YaYa!

Happy 2012!

2012-01-01T20:51:00.001-06:00

The Walkerosa was beautiful on January 1, 2012 for the our first trailride of the year - sunny with a high of 55 degrees and light breezes. Fantastic day and a fantastic ride. Eighteen riders and one walker wearing mud boots to keep her feet dry. After our ride, we shared potluck with a couple ways to eat blackeyed peas, cowboy chilli, cranberry salsa, salad, brownies, pie, Juli's beer bread, etc..... YUM!

Reese was wearing his New Year's tiara and all the mounts were very good. Ivy and Pico found a jump to play over and Alaina and Diez tried to outwalk the walkers in the front. Splash and Sunny brought up the rear most of the time with Tater and Rio.

We had lovely weather last couple of weeks of 2011 and the girls and I had several horsey outings including a visit to Rita's last week to play with Fresians! Cindy H (Duchess Desires a Fresian), Sherry B and the Hays family joined in too. Ivy and Alaina rode both Silka and Jurgan; I took a quick turn on Jurgan and now have a new YaYa name (Duchess Also Desires a Fresian!). Cindy rode a walker out back and Alaina took Silka through the woods. When we were finished in the back field, we put a sidesaddle on Splash just for fun. Alaina and Abbi managed a quick trot, but I was testing my balance limits at the walk. Splash wasn't really into it but didn't object either.

Splash has been good during our last couple of lessons at Patty's - trot work is really improved, forward and more consistant contact with the bit. His walk is still sluggy and right lead canter difficult to maintain, but both are very slowly getting better.

So, 2012 lies ahead and I look forward to working with Splash to develop his abilties beyond Into Level. Cross Fingers. Ivy and Pico need to really refine their First Level movements and Alaina and Sunny will consider a move into Pri Caprilli. And, Maybe... Splash and I will try a western dressage class or two.

And as many YaYa Rides and we can manage.

YaYa Dirty Santa

2011-12-19T23:07:00.000-06:00

We talked, ate, played dirty Santa until our checks hurt from laughing - a fitting year-end party for the YaYa Sisters Riding Club - hosted by Kathy B in her beautiful home on Sunday evening.

We missed a few members last night but (l-r) in our 2011 group shot are Paula, Cathy, Kathy, Rita, Juli, Judy, Janet, Krystal, Sherry, Joan, Christiana, Tammy, Lila, Donna, Patty, Nancy, and Marsha.

Tammy didn't give up until she located the DS.

And, our group sure can COOK. And EAT.

Weather permitting, we will ride the range at the Walkerosa Ranch on New Year's Day, so mark your calendars. Just the beginning of many wonderful rides coming in 2012.

Meanwhile - The holidays are in full swing at the Wild Orban Ranch. The Orban Twins turned 13 on Saturday and had several friends over to ride, watch a movie and eat cake. But also wanted to have the Saturday Party Lesson (worked out for Mallory and Me with our new Friend Mary since we got a lesson too) and we managed LAL as well.

Now that the birthdays are past, we even cut down a cedar tree in the pasture to use as our Xmas tree this year. And help clear a couple of Eastern Red Cedars (scurge of OK) from the Wild O Ranch (Ivy needed to cut a little practice tree first). I guess I better start shopping NOW.

Is it time to panic?

I am not in Kansas Anymore

2011-12-15T23:22:00.001-06:00

But I just got back from my last trip of the year. Just in time for Steve's birthday tomorrow and then the girls' birthday on Saturday. Then I can start the Christmas preparations.

Last weekend was packed with horsey events but no actual riding. The rescheduled parade started the weekend early on Thursday evening and the Horse club accompanied Peanut the wonder pony in his 2nd annual outing. Again he is The Cutest Pony EVER.

The 4-H Horse Club banquet was Saturday so I met other board members Friday to set up and have a lovely lunch with the 4-H ladies. Then, we had a great visit from Jetta (Steve's sis) and David Friday night.

SaturDAY we spent at the banquet - food, awards, elections, wooden nickle auction, and fun. Ivy is the new Historian and Alaina was re-elected as VP (she took over VP mid-year when the post needed a mid-year replacement).

Saturday night was spent in Owasso at the ODS/GCC Party where we played DIRTY SANTA and found out our year-end standings. Ivy and Pico were most improved as well as 14 and under First Level champs winning a cool chair and lovely leather halter. Alaina/Sister and me/Splash recieved 5th place standings and very nice show pads. Then - HUGE surprise - Splash and I won reserve VINTAGE Intro Level and a cool bag (thanks for my very considerate friends who were not quite old enough). Kathy B does a great job choosing awards!

Just when you think no more fun could happen in one weekend, I joined my WY Hot Flash friends at Tami's to have a Dirty Sock Santa, along with Michael Jackson Wi as well as a bit of wine and yummy food. I think photos should have been forbidden during the MJ Wi exhibition....

It looks like the weather will be fine for riding in the Sat. Party Lesson as well as for the girls to play around in the yard with their friends in the afternoon. Next week, cold is expected. Maybe I can squeeze a ride in tomorrow in between the big party preparations.

Finally, and best of all, the annual YaYa Dirty Santa - Fun - Food - Christmas gathering is Sunday afternoon. I can't wait.

December is Here

2011-12-05T23:12:00.000-06:00

And it is snowing on Monday evening and the temperatures are BELOW FREEZING... OH NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

My formative years were spent in South Florida so I am very wimpy about the cold. However, I have riding boots and riding breeches designed for sub-zero temps so I will have to be brave, but only if it is above freezing. By late January, I will have the courage to say "it's almost 40" as I head to the Rocking C for the Party Lesson and LAL.

Meanwhile, it's beginning to look alot like Christmas. And December is already flying by.

Mallory and I worked our mounts Friday - Clinton Anderson groundwork and some riding in Mallory's hilltop arena. Splash is dull and resisting energy in the ground work but, even so, seems to be improving energy under saddle.

Huge thunderstorms were forecast for Saturday so Claremore postponed the parade scheduled for Saturday evening but we headed to Inola hoping to finish the Party Lesson and Lunch before the storms rolled in. Mallory and I were halfway through our lesson when the monsoon started - no lightning - so we continued our ride. Splash was pretty good for leg yields out in the circle, had good energy at the trot, and even had decent transitions. Canter to the left is still labored and hard to keep. Afterwards, the horses munched hay in the trailer with rain beating down while we lunched at Graham's (the temperature was near 60 so they were happy to stand and wait).

OSU won the bedlam game Saturday night as the temperatures started to plummet. Footing was beyond soggy on Sunday, so we didn't brave the cold. I guess WINTER is here but we have the YaYa Christmas gathering to look forward to in a couple of weeks and, hopefully, a New Years Trail Ride at the Walkerossa Ranch in Inola. Stay tuned for details. YaYa - Yeah.

Thanksgiving Weekend

2011-11-27T23:30:00.000-06:00

Thanksgiving means cooking, baking and eating.... Mighty preparations..... Fabulous Food..... Wonderful Family Visiting....

Then, suddenly, its the day after Thanksgiving - the sad day that we bade our friend Christian fond farewell. We will miss Christian's beautiful barn keeping as well as his horsetraining advice. Sister owes a huge debt of graditude, without Christian's help last year, I wouldn't have been riding her and Sister would have had to move on down the road.

The weather on Sat. was very rainy and the girls and I went to Patty's for the party lesson together. We worked on shoulder-in, travers, renvers (very hard for all of us) but we made some progress. Splash was fairly good; correct canter leads; some bend and pretty good leg yeilds. Hmmm, hope this trend keeps going.

The YaYa Sisters will gather at Kathy B's for the annual party and dirty santa gift exchange on Dec. 18. Mark your calendar! YaYa!

TC Likes to Escape

2011-11-20T23:49:00.000-06:00

Every time we take Sunny (TC's pasture mate) or Pico/Splash (next-pasture neighbors), TC walks through the electric tape to see where "they" got to go. Who knew he would be so restless in his retirement?

I had another KS trip last week and fritered away Friday w/o any horse play/work. But, we DID manage a party lesson on Saturday a the Rocking C with LAL at Graham's. Roxy, Ivy, and Alaina worked their horses at 10 and Mallory and I took the 11 o'clock. We worked short but the work was good.

It could be that the Clinton Anderson ground work has been influencing Splash. Or perhaps Splash forgot his main mission (standing still as a beautiful pasture ornament). Splash was forward, responsive, picked up correct leads, and was relatively "on the bit." Wow - if I didn't know better, I would think we were making progress. Happy Thanksgiving.

Time Flies When Its the Weekend!

2011-11-14T00:11:00.000-06:00

November weather was windy but mild and I played with the ponies three days in a row. Alas, we didn't get the Saturday Party Lesson since Patty was in Stillwater to help with the equine special olympics but I am hopeful that next week will work out for LAL with my horsey friends.

After a couple of days in Kansas, I had Friday off so Mallory and I met for lunch in Catoosa and then worked some Clinton exercises on Raffles (Mallory) and Sister (me). Sister was very responsive for ground work including yeilding the hindquarters and forequarters, lunging, backing, and de-sensitizing. We added flexing on the ground and then I mounted up and tried some "one-rein stops" from the walk and trot - I did not try that at the canter. Sister was a little snarky with one rump-hop the first time I used the "spanker" end of the lead. Overall, she seemed to get the concept and we ended the lesson with cruising at the trot.

Saturday morning and - moving like a herd of turtles - the girls and I took Splash, Sunny, and Pico over to Che' Cheval spend the day while Steve held down the OSU football fort at the Wild Orban Ranch as they stomped again.

The girls rode their horses while I worked Splash in the round pen - lunging for respect. Although better than the first attempt last week, Splash just couldn't bring himself to comply. So, MUCH later, he finally realized that he better get with the program so we could stop before we dropped. Whew! So, THEN we mounted up and went to work in the big arena with Mallory and the girls. We worked on walk/stop transitions mostly trying for submission and no back / prompt trot-off. Then to took a lunch break before moving on to the next horse victim - Sister.

Sister is getting much better with her ground work and we breezed though the basic warm-up exercises and then Mallory tried to teach me "yeilding the forequarters." Sister seems to get the concept although there was a lot of operator error on my part.

More horse torture on Sunday when Ivy started Pico in the Clinton Anderson exercises. Poor Pico isn't the sharpest tool in the shed. So I jumped in to help. We free-lunged in the round pen until he figured out turning in and following. Then, we concentrated on de-sensitizing with the stick and string and some yielding the hindquarters. Pico got to stand at the trailer and ponder things while I worked with Splash in the round pen. We started with lunging and then moved on to yielding the hindquarters and backing. We finished goundwork with flexing. Splash is very stiff (especially to the left) and we had to lower expectations a-bit. But, we did manage a little flex and then mounted up for more work to minimize head-bob in the transitions. Some progress so, lets hope for more improvement next week at the long overdue PARTY LESSON! YaYa!

Schooling Show Championships!

2011-11-06T21:16:00.001-06:00

Kathy and Call

Kathy B and Call did us all proud competing in the GCC/SSC Horse Show held in Claremore Saturday afternoon judged by "r" judge Amy Jablonovsky - they are the Reserve Champions at Training Level! Judge Amy's pet peeve? Spreading and lowering the hands for stretchy circle and free walk - she calls that a fault.

The girls and I rode in the open show portion in the morning. Alaina and Sunny rode T-1 and recieved a 58.75; Judge Amy says "quiet horse just waiting for directions." Ivy rode Pico in F-3 for a score of 58.064; they recieved 7's on the first lengthening at the trot, the second canter lengthening, and the last halt.

Splash and I rode Intro C - for a 65.0%! Since I was only doing one test, I decided to work Splash in the warm-up like I was riding a lesson - aiming for 30 minutes of "lesson" leading into the test without a break. The show was running on-time so we went right in to the arena and Splash was a good boy. Our first canter transition (right lead) should have been our good side, but was slow to develop and lacked bend; the second canter was hollow and above the bit (although prompt). Splash was forward (YES!) and showed good bend in trot circles and was an "8" for the first corner after X-C, "7"s for both trot circles and the second canter circle. Judge Amy says "Lovely horse has loads of talent - develop differences in the paces, smoother transitions." Ya!

So - that really was the last horse show of 2011. No more baths for the equines until next spring.

One more thing to report. You can dress the girl up.... I bought some Ariat paddock boots last year. They were zip front and half price (they were brown). I wear them for shows only, and until this past show, with black half chaps. A few weeks ago I found some Ariat half chaps on SALE for HALF price. They were Brown so I was all set for my next show. I put the new half chaps on over my brown paddock boots for my ride. They didn't fit the same way my old pair did - they were very bulky under my knees and the zipper seemed to be in a strange place. I figured I would need to break them in. My knees got a bit bruised. Good News! Mallory pointed out that I had the half chaps on backwards. They fit a lot better when they are worn correctly. Whew - operator error. HeHe.

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-31T22:07:00.001-05:00

Diez is dressed as a Foundered Pony for her trick-or-treat cruise around the pasture looking for grass treats. The trick is on her since she hasn't figured out the one-blade-at-a-time eating technique. Poor thing.

She is to old to trick-or-treat anyway.

Splash got another Clinton Anderson ground work session on Saturday before I took him to Patty's for our lesson. Alaina and Sunny joined us and we both had really good lessons. Alaina and Sunny very worked hard on his bend at the canter since he is very stiff - and made a lot of progress.

Ever since Splash's injury last year, he tends to throw his head up with every upward transition and really braces in the downward transitions - transitions into canter are really bad. We did lots of halt/walk and halt/trot up and down transitions working to lighten the downwards and energize the upward transitions. We made good progress in walk and trot and even some improvement in the canter. I was really happy with our progress and will continue with the CA work as well. We might even get a chance to ride the warm-up class at the championships next weekend.

Mallory and I did some more CA work with Sister and Mario on Sunday and we ventured out with the girls to Claremore Lake for Roxy/Trouper's and Ivy/Pico's first public trail ride outing. The girls did good jobs settling their spirited mounts. So, Ivy, Roxy, Mallory/Raffles, Alaina/Diez and me/Splash made the trek along the west side of the lake on a beautiful fall day. YaYa!

Aerobics Clinton Anderson Style

2011-10-28T23:31:00.003-05:00

No riding for 3 weeks - the past 2 weekends were filled with the Junior Camp and the L Program/C Session. Splash was pretty sure he had made the jump via golden parachute into retirement. But NO. I got Friday off so Mallory and I decided to play with the ponies at Che' Cheval. With Mallory's help, we worked both Sister and Splash through several steps of the Clinton Anderson (CA) ground work program. Ivy and Mallory gave Sister a good start in 3 sessions several weeks ago and she seemed to retain a lot of the basics and really did well at: lunging/turning into the round pen, following, yielding the hind quarters, desensitizing w/ lead rope, sending, desensitizing with the stick/string (stage 1 and 2), and backing - all in about an hour.

Then we gave the CA method a try on Splash. True, it was his first time. But, he was very resistant to the idea of giving respect or moving his feet. So, we worked with the lunging lesson/turn into the pen for a long time. Splash got sweaty and out of breath. I was sweaty and out of breath - but I needed a cardio workout. We had to stop with baby steps/looking to the inside. WHEW. We worked next with a little yielding the hind quarters and Splash did OK. Desensitization with the lead went fairly well and we finished with 3 backing exercises (tapping the stick, wiggle the rope, and marching). We took a lunch break. Our Sat. lesson with Patty is scheduled for 5pm so I hope to work Splash a little more CA in the morning.

Ivy and I spent last weekend with the L-Judge candidates at Lily Pond Estates in Kellyville. The focus for the weekend, judging Collective Marks and developing scoring methodologies. The collective marks are the frame around the picture of the test. See the photos at the L Progam photo link. Kathy and Call did a great job demonstratingTraining Level Test 2 and we watched several of our ODS members ride for the judge candidates.

The judge’s task is to place competitors in proper order rewarding training by classical principals, help riders properly develop the horse by giving accurate, helpful comments, and to enhance the quality of dressage riding and training.

The collective marks should be a reflection of the entire test and should be in the same range as the average marks of the test.
• Gaits – the natural athletic ability of the horse. Are the gaits pure – 4 beat walk, 2 beat trot, and 3 beat canter? Is there a tendency to lateral (pace) movement at the trot? Are the walk steps regular and distinct? Is the canter 4-beat or labored? Paces are collected, medium, and extended and should be regular not hurried. Gaits should maintain their purity even in transitions.
• Impulsion – willingness to move forward and to connect (use of topline and thrust)
• Submission – obedience and willingness. Does the horse look happy in his work?
• Rider’s Seat & Position/Rider Biomechanics – from a stable base (seat) the rider’s posture should be vertical when sitting all gaits and slightly forward in the posting trot, shoulders/hips level, hands independent of the seat and with steady, elastic connection with the horse’s mouth. Are the aids effective to accomplish the goals of the test? Is there harmony between horse and rider?

Remember – 8/9/10 are Good, Very Good and Excellent. 7 means Fairly Good and 6 is Satisfactory. 5 is Marginal – 4 is Insufficient.

Purpose of the Levels -
• Training Level - to confirm that the horse is supple and moves freely forward in a clear and steady rhythm, accepting contact with the bit.
• First Level – in addition to the requirements of Training Level, the horse has developed thrust, improved balance and throughness to maintain more consistent contact with the bit.
• Second Level Collection – to develop/increase the horse’s ability to lower and engage its hindquarters and moves with an uphill tendency.

ODS/GCC Junior Camp at Lily Pond

2011-10-18T00:10:00.001-05:00

Twenty campers gathered at Lily Pond Estates the weekend of October 14 for the 2nd annual Oklahoma Dressage Society/Green Country Chapter sponsored Junior Camp. Ivy and Alaina both explored vaulting with Cheryl West and had dressage lessons with Laurie Hedlund and Robin Hessel.

The short review is: Great Camp, Wonderful Fun, and Excellent Education.

Both girls won their divisions; Ivy was First Place 12 and Under First Level Rider and Alaina was First Place 12 and Under Training Level rider.

The girls are already talking about next year.

I am off to Kansas tomorrow but I did get to ride last Wed. evening with my girlfriends - yaya.

PARTY LESSON YEAH!

2011-10-10T22:02:00.002-05:00

We still needed rain but the weather over the weekend was beautiful and mild. FINALLY, after weeks of shows (4-H and dressage), we got to have our Sat. Party Lesson - followed by LAL of course.

Kathy B and Mallory S were not able to make it but Nancy E and I rode our mounts in a much needed lesson after Ivy and Alaina worked English - Sunny even JUMPED. The girls will go to the GCC Dressage Camp next weekend so they were getting ready.

Splash and I worked on canter transitions (our worst scores from Kay last weekend). For some reason my left hand drifts down toward my thigh when cantering right lead. So, working to steady my left hand, I concentrated on providing inside leg and hand to support Splash (and keep him from cutting in!). Took three tries, and we made progress. Left lead was not as difficult but the same issues are there. Then, we worked leg yields and finally, canter transitions w/out the Mongolian War Horse Look. Splash really thinks that he MUST throw his head up in the canter transition so we have more work to do there. Then, with the "short cut" to La Mansion in Catoosa - haha - we lunched at leisure. YUM.

The final hay hauling foray was set for the weekend so we raced out Sat. evening to prevent real rain from hitting Claremore. Yippee, the barn is full. Here's hoping for rain between now and next year's hay season.

Sunday morning was sunny so the girls and I went over to Che' Cheval to work Sister a bit before the "rain" came in. Ivy took Sister into the round pen and worked some Clinton Anderson exercises and Sister was very responsive. Then, saddled and up in the big arena, Alaina (with Christian's guidance) worked on body control at walk-trot-canter. Right lead was pretty good with minimal tail swish expressions. Left lead not quite so good. After initial resistance to bend and canter depart, got wrong lead once and then a big buck. Alaina backed Sister across the arena and then asked for canter again. Good Job Girlie! The pair cantered circles and straight lines and practiced a couple more departs and finished on a good note.

PS - looking forward to a YaYa ride Wed. evening - unless rain happens - either option is a good one.

Rocking C Show Report

2011-10-07T22:57:00.000-05:00

October 1st is Kathy B's birthday and was also the latest dressage schooling show at the Rocking C in Inola. It was a beautiful, mild day and the judge was Kay K. Kay is not known for generous scores.

Splash and I were scheduled for Intro C at 10:24 and we received our best score yet from Kay - a 59.00. But then we had hours to wait for our next classes - T-1 and T-2 at 1:55 and 2:23.

T-1 had a few problems starting with my first left at C - I turned right..... minus 2. Our first canter was "inaccurate" B to E and our stretchy circle wasn't stretchy. But we did get a 7 on one trot circle - final score of 50.416. T-2 was better with a 56.785. Our stretchy circle still needed stretch but had good tempo and bend. We need to work on halt w/o resistance and for more harmony with canter.

Alaina and Sister scored 52.5 and 53.0 for Intro B and Intro C. Sister needs to gain consistency in the bridle and better bend but they are making progress and even won high point for juniors 12 and under. Alaina got to ride Astari around bareback which made her day.

Ivy and Pico started with Prix Caprilli Wk/Trot 60.5 and PC Wk/Trot/Canter 56.956 - they need to maintain bend through corners to improve balance. T-3 was 55.6 which included an 8 for the first halt but stretchy circle was labored and not stretchy. F-1 also had a great first halt but Pico lost bends in the 10 meter half circles and didn't get stretch in the stretchy circle.

Mallory and Roxy didn't get to ride but did come to hang out and it was fun to see Julie and her mounts ride Western Dressage.

After the show, we shared German chocolate cake from Graham's in honor of Kathy's birthday. YUM.

The girls got to ride on Sunday at the 4-H clinic. After pizza for all, they worked Showmanship with Mandy, barrels with Emily, and Ivy gave a little talk on Dressage. The planned work on horsemanship levels was saved for the next clinic.

And, I got to ride with my yaya sista's on Wed. evening AND, the party lesson is on for tomorrow!

Jaime and Sunny

2011-10-03T22:09:00.002-05:00

Sunny was just 2 and Jaime 16 in March 2003.

We miss you Jaime.

Tulsa State Fair 2011

2011-09-27T21:14:00.001-05:00

The weather is about as perfect as weather in Oklahoma can be in September. The girls completed mighty show preparations without much help Friday afternoon getting the trailer cleaned out, gathering tack/cloths/etc. and washing the horses (I was busy at a social gathering for a friend turning 40).

So off we went Saturday morning bright and early (really O-dark:30) to the Mustang Arena at the Tulsa Expo for the Tulsa State Fair 4-H/FFA horse show. The girls showed well and both horses were good. Ivy and Pico were really good - 2nd in hunter under saddle (could have been first), 2nd hunt seat equitation (was the best), 2nd western horsemanship (was 2nd even against all those western horses) and 9th in western pleasure. Pico was relaxed and consistent with smooth as silk transitions all day long. Alaina and Sunny were not as sharp (her allergies were BAD). But still, the pair did well for the most part - 4th in showmanship (could have been 2 or 3rd), 4th hunter under saddle, 4th hunt seat equitation, 6th western pleasure, and 9th (last) in stakes. Alaina studied the 9 to 11 pattern and then rode some mix of patterns for western horsemanship - she couldn't get it together once she realized her mistake but Sunny gamely did what she asked.

I got my equine therapy on Sunday when the girls and I loaded Pico, Splash and Diez and headed to Cheval Lake to play with Mallory, Roxy, and Maddie. Ivy worked Sister with Mallory's help using Clinton Anderson methods. Roxy and Trooper, Maddie and Misty, Alaina and Diez, and Splash and I got started in the big arena. When Ivy was finished with Sister, Alaina switched over and ran Sister through her walk/trot paces. Mallory worked on one-reign stops, and took R, M, and I on a mini trail ride while I worked on stop/back/walk transitions with Splash.

Ahhh, a horsey fun weekend followed by short evening rides with the girls in the Wild Orban Ranch arena both Monday and Tuesday - the weather is just to perfect to skip any opportunity. I will miss out once again when the YaYa's ride at Rita's tomorrow. But, NEXT WEEK! Count me IN!

Rogers County Fair Update - 2011

2011-09-19T23:35:00.000-05:00

The Rogers County Free Fair is History!

Next Weekend? The Tulsa State Fair 4-H/FFA show at the Mustang Arena at the Tulsa Fairgrounds on Saturday. Come on by and keep me company!

Splash and I won Adult Hunter Under Saddle and Hunt Seat Equitation, and came 3rd in Adult Showmanship. Splash was also Champion Appaloosa Gelding for Ivy but stomped her big toe in exchange for that beautiful plaque.

Alaina's Placings on Sunny: 2nd Halter Palomino, 3rd Hunter Under Saddle, 1st Hunt Seat Eq, 2nd Trail, 5th Western Horsemanship. Ivy and Pico placed: 2nd Hunter Under Saddle, 2nd Hunt Seat Eq., 1st Hunter Hack, 6th Western Pleasure, and 4th Western Horsemanship. Very Nice Riding at this last point show of the 4-H season. We had the Youth Fun Show on Sunday and had a great time. Roxy joined in so I got to hang with Mallory (when I wasn't on annoucer duty). Ivy/Pico and Alaina/Sunny both won their heats of theTennis Ball Ballance race and Alaina won the final as well as the Jr/Sr championship. Then, Alaina and Sunny showed everyone how to canter balancing an egg on a spoon held in her teeth - very impressive but I missed the picture.

Splash was still miffed about his mane treatment last weekend so I just gave him a light banding job; he wasn't thrilled when the clippers quit working on his first ear and I had to finish the job with nail scissors (not pretty unless you like that "chewed by a beaver" look). Our showmanship was decent in parts but Splash showed his pushy side when we had to trot around the cone to the judge and stop (very tight pattern) - then stood mostly square for inspection followed by a non-pivot (clearly the weakest link, so I have to work on that - any ideas for training pivot?). After donning my new-blue riding shirt with the palm-tree ratcatcher, we had a pretty good ride in hunter under saddle - Splash had good impulsion (mostly), was steady in the bridle (mostly), was moving out nicely (mostly), and took correct leads at canter - only dropped to trot from left lead canter for a stride or two BEHIND the judge. Woo-HOO! Hunt Seat Equitation wasn't quite so good, but the pattern was accurate if a bit resistant in transitions. Even so, lots of fun to WIN although I would have been fine without the announcer calling my name followed by "the old lady" before announcing our placings. And my YaYa friend Joan (AKA the Duchess Bovina) dropped by in time to watch our classes. The rest of the show was more relaxing for me (I was DONE) and more YaYa sisters dropped by to say hi - Thanks Kathy and Judy - Next year, we will ALL ride. Judy (Princess Rides while Navajo Steers) can just point at the trail pattern and Navi will Just Do It while Kathy (AKA Countess Loves a Paint Mare) and Call will be ready to dominate in the hunter classes.

Meanwhile, the weather is cooled down beautifully and my YaYa's are riding Wed. evening when I will be out of town - again..... My time to ride is coming..... Soon.....A girl (AKA YaYa Sister) can dream.

Splash Has a Bad Hair Day

2011-09-11T23:56:00.026-05:00

But, it was for a good cause.... Splash and I were lucky enough to be a demo rider/horse pair for the B-session of the LProgram clinic held Saturday and Sunday at Bridle Creek in Sperry. The requirements included "Braiding."

I have banded and done French and net braids but never those Button Braids traditional for dressage horses. So, Marilyn B gave me a latch hook, black yarn, and guidance (watch YouTube videos and purchase Activator Gel) AND came over Friday evening to help me do the braiding deed. Splash wasn't pleased but did look good.

And, he got a free perm out of the deal when the braids came out on Sunday afternoon.

I planned to really work Splash to get ready for the demo ride and we were off to a good start with the Rocking C show Sept. 3. Alas, I had a McPherson/Wichita work trip last week and then the farrier came Friday..... So, Splash was not tuned up. Ginny H and I were to trailer-pool Splash and Acca to Bridle Creek for the Sat. afternoon session, but first - we joined Maryal Barnett and the L-Judge candidates for the first half of the lecture Saturday morning. The lecture with video examples focused on Training and First Level movements. Ginny and I left the lecture early so that we could come back to Claremore to get the horses and head out to Bridle Creek in time for my ride time at 1:00 to demonstrate Training Level movements; Richal on Genna and Elizabeth with Theo were my partner demos. Ginny and Acca were on at 3:15 to demonstrate First Level movements. Marilyn and Jurgan, Jessie and Denali, Ruthie and Dreamweaver, and Marta and Chasqui also demo-ed.

Sunday's program focused on Second Level and was fascinating to a woman forever in Training Level - on a good day. It was really fun to see my horsey friends and teachers ride as demos - Patty and Dante, Marilyn and Willie, Cynthia and Shadow, Sandy and Fancy, Heather and Studly, AND Kay on Odakai - Wow.

I am really sorry I missed the A-session but I will definitely go to the next session in October. The B-session covered: 1) criteria/purposed for Training, First, and Second level; 2) criteria for gait and paces; and 3) criteria for movements. In dressage, the quality of gaits are dependent on rhythm, freedom, elasticity, suppleness, suspension, scope/amplitude, and reach/range of motion. In the classroom, we reviewed the Pyramid of Training and listened in on the review of homework from the A-session - very interesting discussion between the judging candidates and Maryal. Also, we reviewed the principles of increased engagement and elevation - the horse will develop both as training progresses.

Dressage Training Pyramid

Definitions - these are helpful for a rider of any level to consider when riding.

Purpose of the Test/Level - to evaluate the expected stage of training objectives as stated on the top of each score sheet.

Criteria - standard by which a movement is judged as stated in the USEF Rule Book

Test Movement - the section of a dressage test that must be assigned a single score - note that half points will be introduced next year.

Essence (of the movement) - The most important part of the sequence in the score sheet box; e.g., the "halt" or "canter depart".

Modifier - other elements in the box that might add or deduct from the score

Directive Ideas - explanations on the score sheet in the column after each test movement

Biomechanics of the Movements - Did the horse do "it" and How did the horse do "it." Evaluate posture, bend, carriage, stride, energy, balance, and more - straightness, collection, frame, and engagement.

Training Level Purpose - to confirm that the horse is supple and moves freely forward in a clear and steady rhythm accepting contact with the bit.

First Level Purpose - To confirm that the horse, in addition to the requirements of Training Level, has developed the thrust to achieve improved balance and throughness and to maintain a more consistent contact with the bit.

Second Level Purpose - To confirm that the horse, having achieved the thrust required in First Level, now accepts more weight on the hindquarters (collection), shows the uphill tendencey, especially in the medium gaits, andis reliably on the bit. A greater degree of straightness,bending, suppleness, throughness, balance and self-carraiage is required than at first level.

A Taste of Fall

2011-09-06T23:20:00.002-05:00

It's warmed up since the cooldown after the Rocking C Dressage show judged by Robin Hessal the first Saturday of September. Marsha and Latte won High Point Am Intro Level and Mallory with Trooper won High Point Am Training level (just edging out Call and Kathy). Go Girls!

We all had a great show. Ivy showed Pico in Prix Caprilli Wk/Trot, T-3, and F-3 with scores of 64.5 (2nd place to Roxy and Trooper), 63.2, and 56.452 respectively. Alaina and Sister are improving with Christian's help scoring 52.5 in Intro-B and 57.0 in Into-C - canter departs and all. And... Spash was a good boy. We recieved 64.5 in Intro-C and 60.800 in T-3.

It was a lovely Labor Day weekend, hot Fri/Sat with cool weather Sun/Mon. The girls were out of school on Friday so we joined Mallory at Cheval Lake for some horsey fun in the morning. Ivy did Clinton Anderson work with Sister before Alaina worked her under saddle with Christian's help. Meanwhile, Splash and I did a little show preparation work. We finished the weekend with Monday morning horse fun back at Cheval Lake - same drill except Roxy was out of school too, so we all rode - Ivy and Roxy working on their hand gallops and Alaina making good progress with Sister.

The cool weather makes me dream of evening trail rides in the near future....

YaYa!

Double Dog Days

2011-08-29T22:46:00.000-05:00

Roxy on Trouper and Ivy with Pico hung out in the shade while Alaina worked Sunny over crossbars. Then, both girls worked straight bars too.

We got to party with Patty and the Gang on Sat - with lunch at Gaham's afterwards. Patty has a new, tiny kitten named Boots - Alaina, Ivy and Roxy have started a cat training program. Splash was very good in the lesson and we cantered very briefly - worked canter serpentine to the quarterline with no break of gait - Kathy and Call managed canter serpentine to X beautifully. Mallory and Raffles did some beautiful canter work while Susan/Webster and Nancy/Doc did a little western in preparation for the Western Dressage Classes in the coming show. The show will be at Patty's in Inola. Ivy and Roxy will do Pri Caprilli while Alaina will consider canter in Intro C. Splash and I will try Training 3 so cross all fingers and toes.

We took Sister over to Che' Cheval on Sunday to trade-out TC. TC is now at the Wild O Ranch and Sister is back where she can be WORKED with Christian's oversite. Ivy has been working on her useing the Clinton Anderson method of ground work - sending and yeilding the hind quarters. She is pretty smart and making progress on that score.

Alaina followed the ground work in the saddle as preparation for the GCC/ODS show next weekend. Walk and trot work was OK but canter left a lot to be desired. So, we need to get the Che Cheval Method! and, a YaYa ride int the near future!

Back to School (ing)

2011-08-25T00:11:00.000-05:00

After spending a couple of days in Kansas for work last week, I made it back to Oklahoma (i.e., Glenpool) in the nick of time to watch the Claremore JH volleyball team play their first match (3 games) of the season. The Big News is that Alaina is on the B-Team so she got to play in Game 2. She made one successful serve, one assist, and one return as well as several other good tries, but alas, the team lost in a close comeback battle. The Good News is that Claremore JH A-Team dominated, so Claremore won the match which just happened to be the first day of school. FUN.

Although still hot overall, a couple of days have been cooler and we have had a bit of rain. So, Riding again seems possible. Mallory and I met at Cheval Lake to work the horses on Friday morning. Splash was first and Mallory showed me a bit of Clinton Anderson ‘Lunging for Respect’ lessons on him. After lunging, I rode walk/trot in the round pen reminding him that he is a horse and I mean to ride (our next show is Sept 3 at the Rocking C). Next up, Sister. It has been several months so I thought I would only lunge a little. But she was very snotty – so we lunged a bit more. Then the heat must have gotten to me because I decided we needed to lunge until I felt like I could ride. So we did. We moved up to the arena and I rode walk/trot until Sister flew right. I didn’t canter but decided to quit while we were both ahead. Then, off to Lunch After Riding (LAR) – haha.

Saturday morning and the party lesson was ON! The girls (Ivy, Alaina, Roxy, and Maddie) worked their horses in a lesson while Ashlyne and Laura rode a bit with them. Then, Mallory on Raffles, Kathy on Call, Marsha and Latte, and Splash and I rode. I confess to using der GERMAN NECK STRETCHER for all but the last canter. The lunging Friday morning must have helped because we had a great lesson. I told Larry that Splash’s price had gone UP! But Larry said he could hear Splash groaning at the canter work so I should mark him down. We all worked on leg yields walk and trot. Kathy and Call finished the lesson with some magnificent canter serpentine loops and Mallory looked lovely at her canters too. Also, when Latte canters, the sound of his pounding hooves can lift your spirits. Even Splash and I worked on very shallow serpentine loops. We dropped gait finishing the first on left lead because I lost control of his bend but we managed one good go left lead and two to the right. Woo Hoo.

LAL at Romona’s new location is the best!

Sunday afternoon, ODS/GCC hosted a seminar with Sloan Taylor (MS, CSSD, RD/LD – Sloan works at St. Francis and is the nutritionist for all but one TU sports team). Sloan is certain that riders ARE athletes that the horse does not do all the work. The seminar was very informative and Sloan is a dynamic speaker. Not only that, but we got so see dressagy friends as well.

Peak Performance with Sports Nutrition – M-W Dictionary Definitions – Athlete: a person who is trained or skilled in exercises, sports, or games requiring physical strength, agility, or stamina. I am a person, trained (if not yet skilled) in exercises, sports, and games requiring physical strength and stamina. That’s my story…… Sport: 1) a contest or game in which people do certain physical activities according to a specific set of rules and compete against each other, 2) a physical activity that is done for enjoyment. We certainly do physical activities (tests) and compete against ourselves (at least) and do it all for enjoyment. So. We ARE sporting athletes.

Sloan discussed several items that can affect our nutritional requirements which can also affect our performance. Some of these are beyond our control, such as hear, wind, humidity, and cold. We can influence other factors such as lack of sleep, hunger, dehydration, and overeating. The message? For peak performance we need adequate sleep, food, and water.

How much water do we need daily? Take your weight and divide by half – that is the number of ounces of water that a body needs. You need to add more to compensate for exercise and perspiration. If the weather (heat/humidity) are excessive, you need replacement salts as well as water (G2 is lower carbs and higher salts). Caffeinated beverages do provide fluid but not equal to their volume. BAD Cathy! Tea is not salted. Remember, if you are sweating profusely, water alone can dilute your electrolytes. So, eat pickles!

Hydration in preparation for exercise – 2-hours before event/drink 1 oz for every 10 lbs body wt; 20-min before event/drink 0.6 oz for every 10 lbs body wt – at a minimum sip 4 oz of fluid; drink your 0.6 again if you have more than 30 minutes between tests. W/in 30 minutes of your final test drink a recovery fluid/food – you need at least 50 grams of carbs – chocolate milk is a best bet but grapes, Gatorade, granola bars or raisins are good.

Food at the show – pack your own and if you can’t eat LUNCH, than snack every 2 hours.

A Few Rules – 1) Coffee is not Breakfast; 2) Feed yourself as carefully as you feed your horse; 3) for mental focus, feed your brain. Thanks Sloan.

PS - Steve and I went to see Steve Martin (Banjos and Bluegrass) on Wed. night and it was a great show. We did not wear our head arrows, but they let us in anyway. Brown Betty (a Narragansett Pacer) was Paul Revere's borrowed horse.... Steve sang a song called Me and Paul Revere.

Dog Days - NOT!

2011-08-14T18:01:00.000-05:00

The girls had the last 4-H point show of summer on this past Saturday and the weather was lovely. The show was casual/done-by-one (2:00pm really) to help us survive the brutal heat of the "dog days of summer." But, we had rain and cooler temps and got home before the humidity heated things up.

Ivy and Pico had a good day winning Hunter Under Saddle, Hunt Seat Eq and Hunter Hack. Alaina and Sunny (AKA TTG) won trail, and came 2nd in Showmanship and Western Pleasure (her palomino buddy Lindsey was first with Timer). Ivy skipped speed to complete her work segment requirements and Alaina rode Sunny in Speed classes for the first time (6-6-5 out of 8); not bad for a western pleasure pony.

Sister got to stay home and Splash had the weekend off (there is no excuse for me......). Diez got the torture bath Sunday afternoon and then rolled in the black dirt to return things to their normal appearance.

Hopefully, things can return to normal next week with the Saturday Party Lesson/Lunch and some work on the Splash-man. We have work to do since the next dressage show is Sept. 3 and I want to ride in the Rogers County Fair. But, work will have to wait until after my Kansas trip this week.

Perhaps a YaYa Ride can happen next week - a girl can dream.

Cool in the 90's

2011-07-31T23:56:00.000-05:00

The girls and I spent a week in Wyoming having a lovely time in the mountains. I missed my YaYa Sisters but managed to get a ride in the Absakora Mountains. My lovely mount was a percheron cross named Frosty (guess Grey with brown ears). Click this link for more Wyoming Pix .

Then, back in overheated OK, I spent the work week playing catch-up and with a bit of lunging work Friday night, rode in the Under the Stars dressage schooling show on Sat. eveing. Ivy and Pico had a rough start with major spooking, off-course, dropped/added gaits, and etc. during her T-3 but had good rides for Prix Caprilli and F1. Alaina and Sister were a bit tense in Intro B and noticed spurs still on her boots so removed them for Intro C - not bad considering - even got both canter leads. Splash and I had a pretty decent Intro-C before a 90-min break. Back in the arena, Splash was very clear - we were done and what did I think I was doing expecting obedience this late w/o supper. The good news - I didn't fall off... The bad news - it wasn't pretty. Ah, good to know there is room for improvement. YaYa!

The heat wave is expected to continue but we won't get to ride next week since Patty will be off to Clayton's Wedding. Mallory and Roxy will show at the Morgan show, so perhaps a horsey fix is possible.

Did you sell all your hats?

2011-07-12T21:17:00.003-05:00

No, but one did find a new home - the blue hat Ivy modeled looked best so now I have no excuse for sunburn. It is still my birthday month so we did birthday lunch at LaMansion in Catoosa since Graham's was closed and Ramona's was moving. Our amigo the server looked cute in a pink hat too.

Krystal's birthday was June 28, Clayton's was the 10th and Larry's the 12th but I got the singing and the home made chocolate cake by master chef Nancy. YUMMY.

The four girls rode in the "cool" of 10 am and Mallory, Kathy, and I worked our usual mounts and Reilly joined us on Eddie. Other than the first left lead canter depart, Splash was fairly good. Some head fussiness at the trot but no break of gait. Mallory worked to slow Raffles down while I try to move Splash out a little faster.

We will all be sweating this weekend at the 4-H point show with more record temps expected - we hope to run a very fast / casual dress show at Expo on Sat. The next dressage show is July 30 into the "cool" of the evening. Alaina is considering Prix Caprilli on Sister but will ride 2 intro tests on her for sure. Ivy is planning on First Level and Splash and I will try Training level.

I am wait listed to ride training level with Splash at either the Sept. or Oct L-program so cross fingers that both Kathy B and I will get to ride (Kathy is wait listed to ride ahead of me). Ivy is game to ride Pico so I will talk with Patty and Anne about that - she thinks it will be fun. It is to hot to YaYa, but I think an Aug. 1 social is in order. Maybe it will happen.

Birthday Ride

2011-07-05T00:00:00.009-05:00

Had a great lesson on Splash - but it was short - 'cause it was HOT. No neck stretcher or spurs - but its was OK. We didn't need to WARM up but we warmed up anyway with some dropped stirrups, neck rolls and arm circles. Trot work included changes of bend in and out along the long side - very hard for Splash to the right. After leg yield exercises and bends into corners we concentrated on canter departs. Splash took correct leads (just one miss to the left) and held together fairly well (just one drop to trot). Mallory and Raffles make those canter departs look easy. No LAL until next week.

The next show is July 30, so cross fingers for continued good work at the party lesson next time.

My sister and bro-in-law were here for the week, so horsey stuff was limited to bringing Trisha to the lesson. She got several pix of the girls in the trusk and on their horses. Doesn't want to ride or be a YaYa Rider - its a mystery. Trisah and Jim unhooked the Invader and headed east/south on the 4th and we headed to the annual Nowata bash.

it's HOT

2011-06-27T21:51:00.000-05:00

But after minus 18 in February, I am NOT whinning.

My non-horsey sister Trisha and her favorite husband Jim are in OK for a visit so I am trying not to torture her with horsey activities - to much. They arrived in the Intruder (very large RV) Saturday afternoon - after our party lesson. Jim and Jason had hunted carp in the creek at Ray Ranch in Sapulpa and Trisha brought marinating filets with them to the WOR. Pretty yummy fried up and served with newish potatoes. Also stored in the Invader freezer is ground gator meat which made good SpaGattor.

You can see that Trisha is trying to distract me from my horsey obsession with food. Good plan.

A small contingent of the YaYa's rode at Rita's on Wed. evening (the coolest day of the week) - the four of us (Rita, Sherry, Judy, and me) had a lovely ride out the gate through College Park and beyond. We feasted on Tetrazinni and fresh fruit salad including Glenbrook raised raspberries (Rita), chicken salad on cresants (Judy), and spicy cheese ball (Sherry) and garlic bread (pathetically me). You can see that various foods are diversions from going outside in the heat.

The girls - Ivy, Alaina, and Roxy - had their lesson at 10 concentrating on equitation. Then Mallory and Raffles joined Splash and me at 11. Splash warmed up nicely and we worked trot and leg yeilds before concentrating on canter. Mallory and Raffles make those transitions look easy although Mallory is trying to slow the canter down. Splash was having trouble with leads so we worked on rollback exercises. Splash does well with right rollback/right lead depart but has difficulty with left. Perhaps there is a link between his right hind issues from last year (shortened muscles and habitual protection?) so that the pivot to the left gets bound up and he hold the right bend and gets the wrong lead. Very hard for both of us but we got some improvement. During canter work, Splash had a pretty big stumble so hopefully no re-injury will show up this week.

LAL was at Ron's in Claremore to avoid the crowds in Inola for Hay Days. Fun until next weekend when we will ride again. YaYa.

Horse Show Hangover.....

2011-06-20T23:05:00.001-05:00

But it hurts good.

At long last, the 4-H State Horse Show - 2011 - was Thursday though Saturday and the Green Country Classic dressage show was Saturday-Sunday. So, after returning from Shawnee Saturday night we volunteered at the Classic Sunday afternoon; Ivy and Alaina as runners and me on Paddock and "bit check:" duty. So - horse - horse - horse - fun - fun - fun.

Although I didn't see Patty ride Dante, I did catch one of her rides on Jurgen and it was the best I have seen. But the big news is that Patty earned her Bronze Metal with Dante this past weekend recieving a 62.368% from Dr. Paramjeet Chopra and a 60.526%Thomas Poulin - 2 qualifying scores when she only needed one! Congratulations to Patty and Dante! Yippeeeee.
Rita's Friesians did very well too. Silka's baby Teske Van G scored 68% and 68% in T3 and Jurgen Fan Bluffview received 64.828% and 61.724% in F1.

And.... the "girls" - Brady and Double Entrondre, Patty and Jurgen, Stephanie and Teske, and Sara and Rumba - placed second in the adult team competition.

At ride night Tuesday night, Krystal trimmed Pico, Sunny, and Sister and we got to see the Budwiser Clydesdales who were stalling at Expo on the way to TX. So cool to see those dainty little feet. Those feet got 5 bags of shavings per stall - no expense was spared.

Thursday morning, we met Mallory in Catoosa and headed west to Shawnee; I got the girls (Ivy, Alaina, Roxy, and Mattie) in the Truck with Me. Mallory was lonely all the way. The Rogers County 4-H horse club T-shirts were emblazoned with "Drop it Like its HOT" - but Alaina "Drops it like a Sock" - haha, she lost a sock out of the window between Chandler and Shawnee and I do not turn the trailer around for a sock.

We arrived in Shawnee before noon and checked in, unloaded, settled horses, decorated stalls, socialized a bit, made plans, watched a little speed, rode the horses, bathed horses and then.... around 6:30, went en mass to Red Lobster for a real dinner (my first in all the years of doing state horse show stuff - I think I like it). We missed the 2-year old project but our club's Britton Carpenter placed 5th with his horse Perpetually EZ.

First thing Friday morning, Ivy and Sister showed Halter mares 6 and over - they qualified as 4th place mares at District but didn't place at State. Then, Sunny and Alaina showed in Geldings 6 and over and showmanship 12-14 - no ribbon but Alaina and Sunny had a lovely showmanship pattern. Competition is stiff in their age division.

Later, Ivy and Pico had their 2 riding classes - English Equitation and Hunter Hack. Ivy was 2nd to go in Eq and watched the girl in front of her totally blow the pattern. Did the pattern to perfection until almost the end, when doubt caught up with her and she skipped the last trot circle. Ivy and Freako-Pico managed to place 7 in Hunter Hack - just a little hesitation in approaching the second jump.

Saturday morning it was time for Trail. Sunny and Alaina placed 2nd out of 30 entries - and won an embroidered bridle bag. Very exciting. Sunny was very good, was steady and willing and accurate. Just over-rotated a bit in the tiny box and looked a little uneven in the complicated back through. Did not eat corn plants or pull down the gate (which has been done twice before).

Western Pleasure was good (canters a bit fast) and Western

Horsemanship very nice (just a head pop at the very end of the pattern) - neither good enough for call back. But nice rides none the less.

So, now we can relax until the July shows (4-H and ODS/GCC). and work in some YaYa rides too.

Getting Ready for STATE

2011-06-12T22:28:00.002-05:00

The 4-H State Horse Show that is.... Mighty preparations have begun. The girls and I unloaded lots of stuff we won't need in Shawnee from the trailer today and we added a few items already. But we won't really get things in order until Wednesday evening - then on Thursday morning - we will head WEST. The plan is to meet Mallory and Roxanne in Verdigris and caravan to the show grounds.

It's been a few weeks since my last post and my excuse is that I had two trips to Kansas and the girls got out of school. I got lucky the last two Wednesday evenings in a row when my YaYa Sisters got a chance to ride at Rita's and have good eats afterwards. I rode Splash both evenings and he was a good boy. I am still babying him by avoiding steep hills because he seems to have a bit of trouble - my thought is that his injury last year left residual effects. He also seems to have trouble with right lead canter - it is hard to get and hard to keep. But otherwise, he is working sound and making improvements.

We had Saturday Party Lessons the last two weekends - last weekend with Kathy B getting ready for Pinto World. She and Call are reserve champion T-1 and Kathy has the buckle to prove it. We are all very proud of the great progress they have made in their dressage training. Woo Hoo!

Ivy has been working Pico over jumps every chance she gets since her riding classes at State are Hunt Seat Eq and Hunter Hack. Pico is Freako a lot of the time but has some really nice jumping moments. Alaina is working on Trail obstacles and making progress with Sunny. They will practice a few more days but are really looking forward to having a lot of fun.

Work with Splash has been fairly good - no German Neck Stretcher at Rita's or Saturday; less fussy in the bridle and some give to the bit. Besides the normal leg yield work, Patty had a new exercise for us. We worked on canter transitions up and down from/to the trot (left lead) and from/to the walk (right lead). Not surprisingly, correct lead wasn't guaranteed and downward transitions needed a lot of work. Nancy and Doc were really making progress and Mallory on Raffles made it look easy. Susan and Sarah joined us and we all went to Graham's after the lesson.

Graham's has some competition in the new Mexican place just past the Depot. It is fun to have contrast in eateries - the owner/chef/manager at Ricardo's LOVEs us. We will have to come up with a Haiku for them too.

In other news - Bill's birthday was Saturday so we sang the birthday song! And TC is loving life at Lake Cheval. He has gained wait, shed out, and enjoying Christian's TLC. Ivy, Roxie, and Mattie gave him a low intensity bareback workout and he seemed to enjoy the attention.

So, no YaYa for me this week (4-H gets the whole week with meeting on Monday, ride night on Tuesday, preparations on Wednesday and then the show in Shawnee Thursday through Saturday. Cross fingers for next week. YaYa!

Jaime's Birthday

2011-05-23T21:05:00.000-05:00

Right Bend

2011-05-22T23:46:00.000-05:00

It may feel like summer, but it is still stormy-spring. The unsettled weather continues this evening with storms headed this way even now. Tornado warnings east of here as well. Mayfest brought it on. Maybe.

I took Splash to the party lesson on Saturday and I am happy to say that he feels and looks sound. However, bend to the right is not easy for him. We warmed up with trot and cavaletti work alternating between extended and collected spacing. Sitting trot helped get collection and lots of leg helped get the extention. No neck strecher but spurs. Trot felt good and left lead canter was good as well. Right lead canter - not great. Splash was counter bent and really struggled to keep canter when we worked on right bend. So, Patty suggested using side reins to build his strength. Stay tuned for updates.

Meanwhile, Velcro is growing fast but still cute. He likes to bite so Ivy is trying to nip that in the bud. HaHa.

Dressage and 4-H Fun - All in ONE weekend

2011-05-17T00:16:00.002-05:00

The weekend was a blur. And it was cold again - brrrrr. So in preparation for District on Saturday, I took Sister, Pico and Sunny to the Claremore Expo Friday afternoon to bath, band/braid/trim, and complete other show prep.

The horses shivered and I put blankets on them... I shivered too but had no blankie.

The girls moved up to the intermediate group this year, so qualifying for the state 4-H horse show was hard. Ivy and Sister placed 4th in Halter Mares (6 and up) - Alaina and Sunny placed 10th in Halter Geldings (6 and up) and 11th in Showmanship. Whew - they get to go to the State Horse Show and riding classes still to go. Ivy and Pico placed 2nd in Hunt Seat Eq and 1st in Hunter Hack. Alaina and Sunny placed 6th in Western Pleasure, 3rd in Western Horsemanship, and 2nd in Trail. Yippeeeee. The girls hung out with their horse show friends and Roxanne rode in her first 4-H show placing in Hunter Hack with Trouper and Western Horsemanship with Misty (both beautiful Morgan horses).

The weather was beautiful for the Rocking C dressage show in Inola on Sunday. Insanely, we took Pico, Sister, and Splash. Alaina rode Sister for the first time in the show ring (she aspires to Pre Caprilli by the end of the year); they were 3rd (60.62) for Intro B and 2nd (57.5) in Intro C. Canters were rushed but on the correct lead. Judge Lee Ann Alf said: nicely forward with energy but needs soft connection. Ivy and Pico were 2nd (61.6) in Training Level Test 3 and 1st (60.68) in First Level Test 1. The judge said: needs more suppleness and connection, nice freely forward horse.

Sister and I attempted Training Level B. Although the score wasn't awful (56.87), we were 6th and Sister resisted every step of the way - very fussy in the bridle. Lee Ann said: nice energy but needs to be softer and more supple. Yes. Then, I switched to Splash with very little warm up (Kathy B had worked him for me because my ride on Sister and Splash had one ride between). We placed 2nd (64.5) in Intro C and 2nd (60.0) in

Training 1. Really pretty good considering the year he had off recovering from injury last May. Judge LA said: nice free-moving horse; work on connection in/out of canter and keep hands closer together to help connection.

After my rides, I manned the paddock and was reader.

A lovely, serene ending to the day.

It didn't start out that way at all. We arrived 3 hours before ride times so that the girls could help in the concession stand over lunch and so I could lunge Sister and Splash without a rush. After checking in, I groomed/saddled both and headed to the arena to work Sister. She was very good on the lunge and I had high hopes because she had been good at the District show. While I was working her, a crisis at the trailer. I raced back to discover Pico cowering under the big district blue ribbon - Alaina had decorated hi

m and left him to the vicious attack of a big blue ribbon flapping around his neck in the breeze.

I rescued him and finished with Sister's lunging.

Next up, Splash. All was well until another runner brings news of chaos at the trailer - AGAIN. Pico spazzed out when a white bag blew by and broke the halter rope. Marilyn caught and tied him back up and I went back to finish the lunging extravaganza. Yikkes. So, Splash is lunging nicely when, suddenly, he bolts away and rips the lunge line from my hands. Blasts around the outdoor, into the covered (luckily, no test in progress since the show was on break), charges around and then back out for more charging until captured. Completed lunging wondering what had caused "that" and thinking two shows in one weekend is a bad idea. Turns out, there was bucking behind me that started the whole thing. Got in trouble for having a bad horse (or two).

After 2 days of showing, Alaina wanted to work Sunny on some trail obsticles Sunday evening. I wanted to lay on the couch.

I guess we survived, but I am really ready for serious equine therapy with my wonderful YaYa Sisters - if they will still ride with me. Please?

District Horse Show - Sat. May 14, 2011 / Dressage Show Sunday

2011-05-13T23:10:00.001-05:00

Whew - I am tired already. Come by the Claremore Expo on Saturday and hang-out and watch the girls show Pico, Sister, and Sunny. Show starts at 8:00am with Halter/Showmanship, then English, followed by Western. Then, cross fingers, we will show at the Rocking C in Inola on Sunday afternoon with Pico, Sister, and Splash.

It was a long week and I didn't post my usual Sunday envening Blog Post because I was stressing about TC. Long story short - I went and picked him up on Tuesday and he is now boarding at Cheval Lake. We had a nice weekend wrangling horses at the Tatonka Ranch in Chandler on Saturday and I spent half a day at the Arabian/Dressage show at Tulsa Expo on Mothers Day - I saw Patty ride Dante and Jurgen, Nicole ride Elvis, and Marilyn on Willy. Lovely.

And saw Debbie Wester on Merlin and Jesse Korver with Denali. So, since a picture is worth a thousand words.....

PS - Ivy wants me to mention our new non-horse pet - Velcro - longhair, gray tabby, five weeks old. CUTE

No Show - Oh Nooooo

2011-05-01T22:47:00.002-05:00

But Jolie organized a quick clinic on Scribbing when weather forced her to cancel our Saturday show. Lee Ann Alf and Judith Brown presented great information based on their experiences as scribes up in the big leagues. Believe it or not, some judges are fun to work with and others - not so much. After some basics were covered, we "practiced" scribbing a 3rd level test ridden by Judith (on video) and judged by Lee Ann. Those movements come fast but I kept up without any problem... alas, my writing was not legible. Hmmm, further training needed.

Here are some of the things I learned from Judith and Lee Ann.

Scribbing Rules:

1) Match the horse in ring/number to the test and confirm correct test in schedule – things can get OOO (out of order) - its your job to fix problems before things get bad.

2) Judge will generally give comments first followed by score

3) Score of 6 or below must have comment; comments/score may be late to allow the judge to see the entire segment – don’t worry

4) Keep an eye on the arena to keep score/comment with correct movement

5) Write judge's words EXACTLY – abbreviations are OK

6) Write legibly so that the rider can learn from the judges input

Judges vs Learner – dressage judge candidates have to qualify to enter the Learner Program; once graduated from the L-program, the candidate is an L-graduate (not a judge) and then can pursue the sequence of judge progression: little “r” -> big “R” -> “S” -> I …..

Scribing Abreviations -

CL - centre line

O - circle

CT - collected trot

diag - diagonal
d trans - downward transition
ext - extended, extension
ET - extended trot
Ht - halt

hur - hurried

imp - impulsion

L - left

reg - regular, regularity

R - right

sal - salute

serp - serpentinest

trans - transition

u trans - upward transition

WT - working trot

I did manage to ride on both Friday and Saturday before the rain moved in early Sunday to wash out the day. Splash and Sister got a field trip to Verdigris Springs to work with Christian and Mallory joined us with Flame Friday afternoon. The wind was blowing hard enough to cause unintended dismounts. Sister and I worked through warmup, trotting, and canter with minimal resistance until, after a little break, she was certain she didn't want to work some more. Then, while cooling down, we had to get past resistance to backing. But, not bad since the new dog Teddy, chased us a couple of times barking and Sister handled dog and wind in stride.

Splash was pretty good as well, without the german neck stretcher and showed a bit of energy (likely due to the excessive wind). Taking left lead canter is a bit of a problem but Splash is going sound so I hope to work through the lead problem with more work.

The cancelled show ment we were on for the Party lesson. Splash got to go and I used spurs rather than the GNS. Again, trouble getting and keeping that left lead canter but otherwise, pretty good work.

In other news, the white yak living in the barn was Diez under dreadlocks made by pounding rain - she still cleans-up good.

April Showers.....

2011-04-26T00:06:00.000-05:00

RAIN! Thunder, lightning, and lots of rain. We were dry - dry - dry until Saturday night since the big storm on Friday night was just south of us. Then, in 2 days we got the years worth of rain. The Easter Bunny had to stay indoors on Sunday.

We managed to ride on Saturday morning at the PARTY LESSON! Sunny and Pico got to go for the girls lesson and I took Splash. Kathy/Call and Mallory/Raffles joined Splash and me - they were looking mighty fine.

The new plan is for Alaina to RIDE Sister for the dressage schooling shows and I will get back to work on Splash. That way, Diez can bask in her retirement.

The next dressage show is next weekend and I sure would like to ride between now and then.... so cross fingers for a little drying before the weekend.

Splash was a little miffed at being dusted off to go back into training. So, I lounged him a bit before the lesson. And, I used the german neck stretcher too.

We did the usual warm up and Splash was fusy in the bridle but we perservered. For

trot work we tried collection along the short end and the suggestion of extention on the long sides.

Collection without STOP was a challenge but we "drafted" off Kathy and Call to get some fairly nice trot along the long side. Then for canter, we tried to get counter bend to get better stepping up behind. Left lead was fairly good but we had a little trouble with right lead - not to bad after such a long break. Let's hope for improvement in the next few months. The good news is that Splash felt sound. Yeah!

With the serious mud, it may be weeks before YaYa's can ride again. But I am game to lunch instead...

Show Girls

2011-04-17T22:45:00.000-05:00

After Sunny's injury in January and Pico's sudden illness in February, the girls didn't get a chance to ride their regular mounts in the Will Rogers Classic. But, at last, Pico and Sunny were good for the show today.

Pico was a little Freako - I know, its a big surprise - the wind was causing strange noises from the metal roof at the Expo. But Sunny was pretty good for a horse that has been out of training. Ivy showed Sister in Halter and Showmanship too.

The girls had a great time with their friends and I enjoyed seeing some of my favorite show mom's.

But I didn't get much of a chance to ride so Splash and Sister have been missing my riding. And, since I am off to Kansas on Tuesday morning, I guess it will be next weekend before I'm back in the saddle.

Sure hope the YaYa's ride this week even if I am in Kansas.

Sister's New BFF

2011-04-10T22:34:00.000-05:00

Alaina - Sister says that she would much prefer a lighter rider. We will have to see.
We had several fun horse evenings lasts week -

Monday - the girls hit me up to ride before my car was parked so I rode Splash, Ivy rode Pico (jumps of course), Alaina rode Sunny a little and worked Sister in the round pen and then did a little riding too.

Tuesday - The neighbor twins came over to ride and Rhett tried Sunny and then Diez while Riley made Splash walk and trot a bit. Both Ivy and Alaina jumped poor Pico who is wondering if jumping is the only thing 12-year old twins want to do. Then the 4 of them did a little trail ride around the ranch.

Wednesday - I took Splash to Rita's for my first YaYa ride this year - Rita, Nancy, Sherry, Kathy, Judy, Julie, Christiana had a sunset ride with yummy eats after. Splash was very good and the girls made fun of my efforts to skip the steepest slopes to spare Splash's haunches from strain - don't want to re-injure him now that we are riding again. They are pretty sure I am just a scaredy-cat.

Thursday - 4-H ride night - we took Pico, Sunny and Sister as well as our jump blocks/poles. Ivy worked Pico (jump-jump-jump) and Alaina worked Sunny a little western before mounting Sister to see how she handles real work during a busy ride night. She was GREAT and Alaina worked the cross bars and caveletti - even got some good canter departs over the cross bars.

So, we finished the week with the Saturday party lessons (Ivy, Alaina, Roxy, and Maddie at 10; Margret, Mallory, and Cathy at 11) followed by lunch at Graham's. It was a real party day since Saturday was Patty's birthday but since Kathy B had planned a surprise party Sat. Night at Pepper's, we didn't let on to Patty any hint of our plans.

Kathy B took Call to the ATRC schooling show and had some great rides. Sister and I worked on bend into corners while we all worked leg yields and circles with bend. We tried right lead canter first (the good side) and Sister was fairly good on our canter depart then we did several 20-meter circles, continued down the long side and circled in the other end. Decent downward transition too. Right was Bounce's difficult side, but Margret looked good to me and Raffles gave Mallory some lovely canter work too. When it was our turn to canter left lead (Sister's BAD side), she took the depart in under 3 strides and we circled before going down the long side and cantering a couple more circles before we transitioned to trot and then walk. The best canter work for us to date. Sister finished her work with Alaina and some practice over cross bars (for Sister) and in jumping position (for Alaina).

Later that same day (evening), we gathered at Pepper's in Claremore to help Patty celebrate her birthday. We were all cleaned up and be barely recognized each other with our "cloths on" since usually we are covered with horse hair, green slime and dust. Very fun. YAYA.

Truck Trouble and Sister’s Big Weekend

2011-04-03T22:49:00.000-05:00

Oh, and we had a dressage show too.

The big red truck has been having issues and Kissee has checked it out a couple of times in the last few months – to no avail. Finally, its loss of power at dangerous moments meant another trip to the truck doc. We dropped it off early Tuesday morning and Wednesday, Darrel called to ask a few more questions and change the cue from “transmission” to “diesel guy” – several trucks before ours, and a fix by weekend unlikely. BUT we had a dressage show at Patty’s scheduled for Saturday. So, crossing fingers, I made arrangements to retrieve the unfixed truck on Friday morning and take our chances. Kathy and Mallory were on stand-by for either horse hauling or rescue operations.

Friday morning at the shop Darrel said the tech was just putting the truck on the lift – so we crossed fingers and toes in hopes of a fix before 5pm. Mid-day and the word was that diagnostics found nothing and the “educated guess” was that the accelerator sensor was having issues (pricey) and did we want to replace it in hopes of a fix. We did and got the truck back just before 5 in time to check it going to Patty’s for a “night before show” lesson for the girls.

We loaded Sister, Pico and Diez and I worked Sister while the girls had a quick lesson. Ivy and Pico practiced Prix Caprilli and Alaina worked on holding Diez together while working for impulsion, bend, and submission to the bit (all very difficult for a retired Mongolian War Horse). After Alaina finished with Diez, she convinced me to let her try Sister over the crossbar of the PC test. Sister did fine and in fact, took a couple of nice canter departs after going over the poles. So, Alaina and Sister did a few circles trotting over the crossbar and we quit for the night. Meanwhile, Ivy was washing (torturing) Pico. It was to cold to wash Diez and I was too tired to wash Sister – we went home.

The truck ran fine.

First thing Saturday morning and we headed to Patty’s at 7am. Ivy was scheduled to ride Prix Caprilli at 8:30 and we wanted to have a chance to school before the first ride. Larry and Patty had groomed the arena to a high finish. Lovely swirls converging on center line and swooping around the end of the arena at “C.” Yes, you guessed it. Freako-Pico did NOT want to STEP anywhere near such beautiful dirt. OMG.

Alaina and I took Sister and Diez into the arena with Pico to help him adapt to the perfect dirt. After Prix Caprilli (134 points/1st place), Ivy and Pico rode First Level test 1 (55.172) and then (after the arena was shortened) Training Level test 3 (63.6) and was high point baby juniors FL and TL. The biggest problem Pico and Ivy have is no stretch in the stretchy circle and getting lengthened stride in canter. Sister and I rode Intro A and B with some nice moments (hehe) – we scored 63.125 on both tests. We need steadier connection and more ground cover in the walk.

Really, I was pretty happy with Sister since she is making progress with left bend and fussiness in the bridle. Alaina and Diez scored 63 in Intro C and 60.416 in TL-1. The judge (Lyn Francik) says Diez needs more ground cover at the walk and better inside bend.

At lunch, Lyn suggested that I work on asking for canter with a whip – tap-tap-tap – when the bend is right and see if that helps get a better canter depart. I will have to try that soon.

The truck ran fine - so maybe it was the accelerator sensor.

All in all,a fun day with our dressage friends and beautiful weather before the BIG WIND came in Sunday.

Alaina has decided to aim for Prix Caprilli with Sister since Diez is not an option (5 degrees of rotation from her founder a couple of years ago excuse her from jumping). So, Alaina saddled and lounged Sister on Sunday to try a bit of “jumping” and trail work. Sister shows potential for both since she isn’t spooky and is athletic. Both girls worked Sister over a pole in the round pen both directions and Alaina worked the bridge, cavaletti, ground poles and the box out in the big arena. Ivy did some jumping with Pico and Alaina gave Sunny a light workout too. The wind was howling but the temperature was warm. A nice end to a horsey weekend. YaYa.

PS - Meet Ruthie's new horse Dreamer!

Big Sis

2011-03-27T23:35:00.001-05:00

My yaya sista's did the first ride of the season at Glenbrook on Thursday night - but I was flying back from Denver after a work trip to Laramie, WY so I MISSED it. And although cool, the weather was lovely. Hope everyone had a great time for me and that I can join in for the next one.

So, I had to wait until the SPL to ride and the weather was cool and misty all day - but did get above 40 so I shouldn't complain. Sunny's foot was looking pretty good on Friday so I thought we would take him along for Alaina to get started with a short ride BUT Sat. morning and there was a little blood again, so we took Diez instead. Alaina rode first Diez English and then Casper western (thanks Kathy). Ivy, Roxy and Maddy joined Alaina for the kid lesson.

Doc had an injection last week so Nancy didn't ride in the lesson - Call was recovered from her farrier attack so it was Mallory, Kathy and me. We warmed up with trot then worked a little shoulder in along the long sides and collection along the short sides. Sister was making some progress with left bend about half the time and showed minimal attitude for most of the lesson. After a short rest, we had a bit of "discussion" about returning to trot work and I had to get after her with some strong kicks. Canter right lead was fairly good, prompt and obedient transition for several large circles at A. Left lead canter took more than a complete circle - very resistant but FINALLY, left lead canter without kickout. Sister has a little trouble holding canter when changing from circle to straight line so Patty suggested staying on the circle to make things a bit easier. We finished with a practice test (Intro B) and discovered BAD HALT. So, before we even started the test, we worked on standing Quietly at X. Forward 10 steps - Stand; repeat - repeat - repeat..... Finally, Sister stood still. The plan for the show next weekend is to make our halt at X as brief as possible. Hopefully, I will get a chance to practice halts a little before then.

Kathy and Call were looking really good so expect High Points for them next weekend. Mallory and Raffles had some really beautiful canter departs and had great impulsion, so they could give Kathy and Call some serious competition. Yippeee, my show friends are making progress with their mounts.

LAL was at Graham's (surprise) and we were an extra large group - 16 total including Marsha, Melissa, Larry, Susan, Mike, Deb, Ron, Patty, Nancy, Mallory, Kathy and me plus kids. Graham's loves to see us come in for our late lunch - haha.

I hope to get Big Sis over to Patty's for a lesson Friday evening before the show on Saturday and maybe will get a chance to ride this week. Cross fingers and toes. Yaya.

Spring, Spring Break and 3 Days of Horsey Fun

2011-03-20T23:31:00.002-05:00

The girls were on Spring Break Last week and I managed to take Monday/Tuesday/Friday off to hang and horse around. Rain on Monday soaked the arena so we missed out on riding both Monday and Tuesday too. BUT.... Friday, the fun began.

The girls and I went to Rita's and met up with the Hays girls and boy to do a bit of jumping and to try Sister on her first trail ride (see picture of the Mini-YaYa's). For me, that meant a ride down the hill and around the pasture and back to the barn....... However, Rita says that a trail ride needs "trails though the woods, up/down hills, and over water/mud crossings." Oh No..... Can we say UD for Unintended Dismount?

So, after some wild jumping girls and uneventful lunging, "we" mounted up and headed down the first STEEP hill, across the culvert/bridge and up the hill to the WOODS. Down the BIG hill to the FIRST water crossing.

After a brief discussion regarding the wisdom of actually crossing the water, Sister LAUNCHED herself and took me with her. It was a blur to me but I have been told that there was whiplash backwards and then boomerang forward and by the time I could focus we were almost into the woods and I was hugging Sister's neck with my hands somewhere near the bit. Somehow we stopped and I sat up. NOT in the saddle. But not in the dirt either although the neck does not provide the most secure seating. So, NO unintended dismount by a technicality. Rather, an unintended dislocation. My "friends" were laughing so hard they almost fell out of their saddles. But, my adorable daughter Alaina came to my aid and held Sister so that I could Intentionally Dismount without injury. Sister and I walked back and forth across the "creek" several times before I got back in the saddle to continue the TRAIL RIDE. Thereafter, Rita and Comet blocked the launch trajectories so that Sister had to "walk" across water/mud crossings. Six or so crossings later, I was ready to call the ride a success and head back across that first crossing (Sister walked nicely) and up that final STEEP hill (Sister wanted to blast up but didn't go as fast as she wanted or as slow as I wanted). Back at the barn, I intentionally dismounted the normal way. Whew....

Mallory, Roxie, Maddy, Kathy, Amanda (in from West Texas) and Nancy joined us at Patty's for the SPL and LAL. Kale went along so that we could all eat at Graham's. Call had a run-in with a BAD farrier last and was off on the right front - DARN - Kathy and Call had to miss the first ODS schooling show of the year. Sister and I worked on bit contact and leg yield into corners in preparation for Intro A and Intro B at the show. We practiced Intro C with just half 20-meter circle canters each way. Sister took right lead fairly well and was slow to take left lead but no kick-out - yippeeeeeee.

The rain predicted for Saturday afternoon missed us so Alaina tacked Sunny up for a little walk-trot in the dried arena after 2 months of recovery from his foot injury. His foot is much better so its time to try to get him back in shape without causing re-injury. Cross fingers that he can slowly come back into work this month.

The first schooling show of the year was on the first day of spring - and Sister and I received 59.4 and 58.8 on our tests. Alaina dusted Diez off and will be riding her this year since Sunny isn't back for real work yet - they had very nice rides in Intro C and Training 1. Ivy and Pico rode Training 3 and First 1 - their first time at First Level - they won highpoint for both Training and First Level (13 and under Juniors). Both girls did really well in their rides and also worked the Concessions to benefit the juniors as well as did a little running/office help. Marsha C did a wonderful job managing the first show of the season held a Honey-Do in Mounds. The only real problem is that with me in Intro and Ivy in First Level, our rides were spread over the whole day - we left the house at 8:30am and we didn't get home until after 8pm.

So, three rides on Sister in three days. Fun. Now spring has sprung and I am ready to YaYa!

Spring Forward

2011-03-14T00:10:00.001-05:00

Spring in OK means weather of some sort. Friday was hot and dry and windy - with the entire state under a burn ban, wildfires were burning and my drive home from work was smoky all the way. Saturday was sunny and beautiful with no wind and the temperature was warm. Ahhh, great day for the SPL (Sat. Party Lesson).

So, the girls and I joined Kathy B, Nancy E, Mallory S-B, Roxie and Maddie for lessons at 10 and 11. Alaina brought Diez since the dressage show is NEXT weekend! Diez is still trying to figure out what went wrong with her pasture pet retirement; but she was in luck and Alaina switched over to Casper once Kathy arrived. Ivy and Pico ended their lesson with some fine jumping.

The new dressage tests have been issued and Kathy B has the book. Each level has 3 tests including Intro. But.... Intro C has a little canter. So, Sister and I will do Intro A and Intro B next weekend.

Alaina and Diez plan to try Intro C and Training 1 and Ivy and Pico will ride Training 3 and First 1. Wow, 2011 should be really fun.

Sister was pretty good in the lesson and we worked on keeping my hands steady (especially inside) and tryed to push into the bridle rather than pulling. After shoulder fore exercises at the walk and spiral circles in and out at the trot, it was time to try canter. Luckily, right lead was first and after preparation for depart, Sister took the right lead and cantered nicely for me. Patty was impressed and so was I. Left lead wasn't so pretty. But, after resisting bend/setup, SIster took left lead canter with evil mare ears and serious tail swish - but no kickout. All in all, success. Time for LAL (Lunch after lesson) at Graham's.

A cold front came through and Sunday was cloudy and cool (not cold compared to sub-artic) and there was a threat of rain. The girls had spent the night with Roxie so I loaded Diez, Pico, and Sister and headed to Cheval Lake just afternoon. We had a great afternoon. Ivy, Alaina, Roxie, and Mattie joined Jordan to play in the big arena. Meanwhile, I lunged Sister before mounting up and joining the Girls and Mallory for some arena work. Although we didn't work to hard, Sister took left lead canter first and with a little more grace than yesterday - and then did right lead canter too.

Its spring break this week and I have some days off. So, it the rain coming down tonight doesn't swamp my arena, we should get a little more practice in before the show. Even got to see the YaYa Sisters for birthday dinner at Olive Garden on Wed. Night. With the Spring Forward, evening rides with my sista's is coming soon.

Equine Therapy is Good

2011-03-06T22:59:00.001-06:00

After a work trip to Denver for an environmental staff meeting, I got home Friday evening and made plans for the Party Lesson at the Rocking C. Pico is better but Sunny is still in recovery so Kathy B brought Casper for Alaina. I brought Splash and Sister but planned to ride Splash for the lesson and just play a little with Sister. Casper lost a shoe so Alaina rode him lightly and then finished her lesson with Sister.

Call and Kathy looked great and when Call passed us by, Splash made an effort to keep up - even rushing a bit (mark down the date). Alaina and Casper have really improved (it was their 6th ride together). Casper likes to have a fairly loose rein and Alaina is slowly gaining enough confidence to give him some. Pico and Ivy looked good and they worked on contact - pushing into the bit to gain collection. Splash and I worked on shoulder-fore down the long side and then tried for extension/collection along long/short sides. We got a little and really had some fairly good trot about half the time. Right lead canter was good, obedient and not to sluggish. Left lead canter didn't start out so well (wrong lead/falling right), but finally, we got it together. We finished with some shoulder in and stopped before we hit Splash's wall. Confession - I was using the GNS!

Ivy and Kathy worked leg yields both directions and I helped Alaina get Sister into the arena (she was standing by in her saddle and I had lunged her a bit before the lesson). Alaina mounted and after a short walking warm-up, they did some trot work both directions. Sister is still very stiff to the left and falls left at every opportunity - especially, when going left into corners. Alaina worked hard to help support the left bend and sometimes got it. Alaina was a bit nervous about canter work but gave it a try. Right lead canter was pretty good after a hesitant start. Left lead was hard - wrong lead first try but then, they got it and did a couple of big circles. Evil Mare Ears but no kick or buck.

Not bad, so we all went to lunch at Graham's.

Sunday the girls gathered the horses, groomed and saddled for me so we could ride in the WOR arena. Ivy worked Pico over a series of 3 jumps - slowly raising the bar for the 2nd and 3rd. I worked Splash with a bit of trot to warm up and then a little leg yield into canter. Both girls decided they wanted to give Splash a try and I worked Diez while they did. Diez pretends she doesn't bend or come on the bit, but I insisted, but not for to long since she has been in retirement for several years. Alaina plans to ride her for Dressage shows this year, so the Dezzie Do has to get with the program.

The YaYa's will meet at Olive Garden in Owasso to celebrate the Jan/Feb/March YaYa birthdays - that will be almost as fun as riding at Rita's.

Will Rogers Classic Time Again

2011-02-27T23:42:00.003-06:00

Ahh, the feeling after a 2-day horse show. Makes me remember how old I can feel. Somehow, I didn't manage to ride myself but Kathy rode Call two days in a row.

Poor Pico had to stay at Shipman's Vet Clinic until Wednesday when his white blood cell counts came down and he was discharged with the plan for another week of convalescence. So, since Sunny has been recovering from his foot injury, neither Alaina nor Ivy had their project horses for the Will Rogers Classic. Finally, we were able to have a couple of ride nights but I was in Kansas during the first and the girls and I were at Alegria during the second - so we planned to ride with Patty Friday night and to make mighty show preparations there. Ivy practiced showmanship with Sister and then rode Splash in a lesson while Alaina worked Casper. Then leg and tail washing and some minimal trimming since full wash was out even with hot water in the wash rack, it was 35 degrees (which for horse washing purposes is not even close to 40).

Off to the show grounds early Saturday for the start of the 2011 show season. Ivy and Alaina have moved up to the 12-14 age group and it is tough. Ivy showed Sister in Halter Mares, Showmanship, AND rode her in English walk/trot; she also showed Splash in Halter Geldings, Hunter Under Saddle and Hunt Seat Equitation. Considering that Splash was off most of last year after his injury in May, they did fairly well. Ivy got correct lead canters and fairly good transitions - and Splash lapped the competition, beleive it or not. And, Sister was very good. They didn't place much but Ivy did a great job with both horses.

Alaina and Casper had some really good moments, and overall, the pair was very good. They showed Hunter Under Saddle, Hunt Seat Equitation, Western Pleasure, Western Horsemanship, and Trail. Casper belongs to Kathy B and we made plans for Alaina to ride him in the 4-H shows until Sunny recovers. They had their first ride in January, but then the weather conspired and they didn't have another chance until last weekend for the Saturday lesson. So, they showed with 3 rides under their belts.

Sunday afternoon, Mallory, Roxanne and Maddie stopped by to hang at the show a bit. Soon, Roxanne will have to join in the fun and then Mallory can be a 4-H horse show mom like me.

So, Pico should be back on track for Ivy at next weeks lesson and Alaina will ride Casper until Sunny is recovered. The first dressage show of the year will be March 20 and I am planning to ride Sister, Ivy will move up to first level with Pico and Alaina wants to dust Diez off and try for the pony award. I hope that spring weather will provide some lovely days for riding every weekend. YaYa.

IVBHHA

2011-02-21T00:07:00.002-06:00

That's what happens when you haul Pico to the vet on a Sat. night with signs of colic. And a step up from GVBF. After two vet emergencies in January, this was not in the plan or budget (OOM).
And the weekend looked so promising. The temperature made more than a hundred degree improvement since the sub zero / excessive snow events of last week. Friday was short-sleeve weather (for anyone in winter denial; crocus blooming in front yard) and I got to lunch with Kristina and Julie in Collinsville before getting the girls from school and vaccinating the equine residents at the Wild O Ranch with 5-way and Rabies.

SPL! And my first dose of ET for February. Long overdue. The girls rode at 10 with Roxie and Mattie; big girls got the party lesson at 11. Kathy B, Mallory S, Shannean F, Nancy E and me. Great lesson although Splash was resistant to resuming training. Splash did get correct leads but was irritated to be moving and Alaina got along pretty well with Casper. After the lesson, Shannean gave Sister a brief workout while Alaina tortured Casper in the wash rack. Ivy and Pico finished their lesson with some nice jumps although Pico seemed a little sluggish - but the temperature was in the 70's and with vaccinations the day before, I didn't think to much about it. We tried the new Mexican restaurant in Inola (LAL) – Susan H, Carol J and Nancy F joined us for a rather long lunch. The horses got hot in the trailers and Pico didn't eat his hay. No pile in the trailer either.

Home, put horses out to pasture before heading to Kathy's to check her show stash to get the show wardrobes worked out since the girls outgrew most everything. Success in a pair of boots and showmanship jacket for Alaina, and show shirt/pants for Ivy. Kathy will bling the shirt and I will DYE the pants dark brown. Next stop, Lake Cheval to vaccinate Mallory’s bunch with 5-way and rabies. And, Alaina gave Jody a quick ride as the sun went down.

After a late dinner, Steve mentioned that Pico hadn't eaten so I went out to check on him before getting ready for bed. HIRD

So, off to Shipman's at 10:06pm. Symptoms: respiration - 68; temperature 102.8, dehydrated, gut sounds but dry/hard manure; bright pink gums with slow capillary refill; and elevated white blood cell count. So, several needle insertions later (blood samples, antibiotic, pain reliever, etc.....) as well as administration of oil and Pico got to stay at Che Shipman until the white blood cell count comes down. The good news is that as of Sunday morning, Pico was eating and his temperature was down. Cross fingers and toes that he will make a speedy recovery.

The plan for Sunday was to let Alaina and Ivy ride Jody and Romeo at Cheval Lake before going to the GCC/ODS year end party (rescheduled at Uncle Buck’s at Bass Pro Shop). But Ivy was feeling under the weather and with Pico in hospital, we skipped riding in the blustery morning. We had a lovely time with our dressage friends. Ruthie received the Jaime Memorial award and Marilyn won the 4H/Pony Club award winner sponsored by Patty C. Alaina and Sunny won champion Jr. (12 and under) Intro level, Ivy and Pico won champion Jr. (12 and under) Training level, and Pico and I won Armature First Level so we all received fabulous fleece jackets with GCC/ODS logo. Way cool. Next year, Ivy and Pico will move up a level and I will show Sister. Perhaps Alaina will show Diez once again. I can’t wait. Meanwhile, the Will Rogers Classic is NEXT weekend and we are NOT ready.... FSCWTE, HCWEH

Texting Key For Horse Women - expanded list coming for future Blog
ET - Equine Therapy
FSCWTE - First Show Comes Way To Early
GVBF - Got Vet Bill, Fainted
HCWEH - Horses Covered With Excessive Hair
HIRD - Horse In Respiratory Distress
IVBHHA - Imagine Vet Bill, Have Heart Attack.
LAL - Lunch After Lesson
OOM – Out of Money
SPL – Saturday Party Lesson

No-Ride February

2011-02-14T23:16:00.002-06:00

So far. Two record breaking snow storms two weeks in a row plus a little bonus snow in between has prevented riding. Storm number 2 came in Tuesday night and dumped an additional foot of snow on the Wild O Ranch... And, -18 degrees (that is MINUS) was recorded on the WOR weather station. Uncivilized.

And I am in dire need of equine therapy. Cross all fingers and toes for a lesson on Sat.... and lunch with horsey friends.

Meanwhile, Sunny has been on stall rest to allow his injury (mysteriously acquired) time to heal. I am loosing hope for recovery in time for the Will Rogers Classic. We have been wrapping his foot every 2 or 3 days for 3 weeks and it is finally starting to look a bit better. He is really ready to GET OUT.

The girls competed at the 4-H State Horse Communication Contest in Stillwater over the weekend and came away with 2nd place in Horse Quiz Bowl and red ribbons in Team Problem Solving and their power point presentations. Ivy discussed Dressage and Alaina talked about Gymkhana and other games on horseback (including Pato originally played with a duck in a basket rather than a ball). The kids had a good time and we had dinner at Eskimo Joe's before we came back to Claremore.

Sure have missed my YaYa Sisters so let’s ride the range soon.

Blizzard Report

2011-02-07T00:33:00.000-06:00

News Flash! I hate snow.

It interferes with riding and trailering the equine partners is impossible if your trailer has 6 foot snow drifts all over the wheel wells. After the last weekend in January had temperatures in the 70's, the forecast snowfall didn't seem possible.... but record snowfall and excessively low temperatures came anyway. The snow started Monday evening and the temperatures started to fall Tuesday. By the time the snow stopped Wednesday morning, there was 20 inches in Claremore and high winds making huge drifts all over the county. Lows dipped below 0 all week and hit -5 degrees on the coldest night - daytime highs were below 10 degrees - pretty cold for a Florida girl.

Sunny and Splash in the open barns had heat lamps as well as winter blankets and the other 3 had blankets in the main barn. Steve hauled hot water several times a day and moved a lot of snow. Then, to add insult to injury, we got an additional 4 inches of snow on Friday. Roads in our area were dangerous until the temperatures finally got to 40 and major melting started on Sunday. The bad news is that more snow is forecast for Tuesday/Wednesday - 5 to 10 inches. Let’s hope that storm misses us and that spring comes soon.

Exept for Tuesday and Friday when snow was falling, we let everyone out of the barns (except Sunny) and I tried to get some good snow pictures. I got a couple so now I am ready for daffodiles and spring rides with my YaYa's....

Hi Ho Silver... Diez

2011-02-02T22:56:00.000-06:00

The old gray mare..... she is more than she used to be.

We let the horses out for some snow fun while "we" cleaned stalls - except poor Sunny who had to stay in to keep his injured/bandaged foot dry.

Splash chased Pico around the field and through the trees to see if they could rip up their nice warm blankets and Sister considered having a roll but changed her mind when her belly hit the snow.

Both Pico and Splash had halfhearted rolls too.

The low this morning was 2 degrees with a high of 17.... Eggs were cracked before we could collect them and the chickens are not that smart about snow, they don't want to walk on it, to funny.

Alaina and Sister

2011-01-31T00:07:00.000-06:00

The OK weather warmed up to 65 and Sunny on Friday - WOW - wish winter was always like that. After being in Kansas for a couple of days I was able to get away early enough to catch a quick ride with Sister on my way home from work.

After almost 2 weeks since my last ride, I was a bit nervous. Lunging went OK after Sister worked off a bit of excitement and she gave me fairly good Whoa's and reverses. Mounted, we warmed up with long trot before working on SLOW. I concentrated on sitting deep and keeping my hands as steady as possible and we worked for collection, straightness, and (as needed) bend. The work went well - we got fairly good - if a little fast - jog and I quit with a little backing. No nerve for canter after the long break and growing dark.

Saturday promised to be balmy after a crisp start at around freezing. We heading to Patty's for lessons and lunch. The current dilema is Sunny - he got a serious cut on the bulb of his right fore foot and might not be healed in time for the Will Rogers Classic at the end of February. So, options for Alaina include Splash (a difficult ride after his long recovery from injury last year), Sister (still green), or lease a horse from a friend. So, Alaina rode Carmen (the Mongolian war horse look-a-like) for the lesson with Ivy and Pico. Alaina loved riding an Arab again and Ivy had some beautiful jumps to finish their lesson.

Kathy and Call, Jolie on Casper, Julie on the paint mare, and Splash and I rode in the party lesson. I admit to using the German Neck Stretcher..... (I KNOW - but the 12-step program is on hold). The sun was out and the weather was fine. The four of us stretched legs down and back for warm-up, trot circles and arm circles before we picked up the trot. Call and Kathy were looking really good - they will dominate at the Will Rogers Classic! Jolie and Casper seemed to get along fine and they even managed canters both directions. Julie and the mare were doing well too although the first canter attempt was exciting. Splash was really resitant to comming out of retirement. But, we got both canter leads - even while we were falling out at the shoulder during those pesky transitions.

After the lesson, Alaina gave Splash a try and even managed a brief canter without a whip. Jolie and Alaina swapped for a bit and Alaina did pretty well on Casper. Jolie loves Splash even though he is a slug...

After lunch at Graham's, we dropped horses back at the Wild O Ranch and headed to Cheval Lake so Alaina could give Sister a try.

Sister gave Alaina the usual resistance at the beginning but they worked through it. Since Alaina is interested in Western, C helped her with slow - sitting deep and steady hands. They were able to canter both ways without kickout. Yeah! Much work still needed before Alaina and Sister are show-ready, but...

Sunday and the normal OK winter weather returned. Darn. But, since it was 'almost 40' and the big winter storm was still out to the NW, Alaina gave Sister another workout with more success. Followed up with S'mores around the campfire lakeside.

Then, home for the trailer to move Sister to our house for the storm to give stalls to Romeo and Jody. Cross all fingers and toes that the big storm misses us and that riding weather will return sooner rather than later. YaYa.

Snow and the Dezzie Doo

2011-01-20T23:38:00.000-06:00

The snow that was predicted came in Wednesday night and the Wild Orban Ranch got 4 or 5 inches overnight. Schools were cancelled and the girls went out first thing Thursday morning the play in the snow just so they could come in and have Hot Chocolate. With Whipped Cream... and Chocolate Chips.......

Steve kept the horses up with hay in the morning while the snow lightly sifted down. The snow ended around noon and he let them out with hay to play.

With my trusty computer hooked to the internet, I worked from home all morning and then, with my wonderboots on my feet, fleece breeches, gloves, etc. to keep warm, I went out to take photos and ride the Dezzie Doo. Diez is hard to see in the snow but she is a cushy ride.

And she is already shedding. LONG hair left Diez and applied itself to my fleece pants. Lots of Long Dezzie hair. Over two inches long - I measured several. Alaina says that no outfit is complete without some Dezzie hairs. I am very complete. YaYa.

Splash VS Sister

2011-01-16T23:38:00.003-06:00

January 15, 2011 and the sun was shinning and the temperature was mid-50's in NE OK. Ahhhhh. I missed the ODS/AGM but couldn't miss a riding opportunity. I just haven't figured out how to do 2 things at once... So...

Mallory, Roxie, and Mattie met us (the girls, Sunny, Pico, and Splash) at Che' Cheval for a horsey Saturday afternoon. Mallory started with Raffles and I saddled Sister. Raffles has been off for a couple of months and Mallory worked him pretty hard in the round-pen before mounting and then rode lightly for about 30 minutes.

Sister started out very distracted and was fairly fresh on the lunge line. Also, the footing was a bit slick under the sandy layer but she settled fairly quickly considering there were several stumbles and slips. Mounted, we warmed up at the walk and then trot before we worked on bend (when asked) and straight (when asked).... Pretty good, but I was timid about canter because of the slips. So, we worked on backing. 1) ask for give to the bit; 2) as gently as possible, ask for back - keep hands even, legs off, and use as little pressure as needed. Sounds easy. But, Sister would back a step and then fall right with the haunches. I would try right leg pressure way back to prevent the fall out. Meanwhile, my hands would contradict my leg and then, more falling out. Ugh. So, several more tries to keep hands EVEN and leg right (not to strong but strong enough). Next try, and haunches left... More tries and Sister got mad. Finally, an almost straight back without a fight. Yeah, good place to stop for the day.

Next up, Splash. I finally got my new webbers so I could FINALLY try my new Isabelle (Christmas present from my favorite husband). I lunged Splash before mounting and he slipped and stumbled and tried to drop gait every 4 steps. Mounted, we tried trot without whip, spurs, or German neck stretcher. OMG. 5 minutes and I was sweating. I LOVE Sister - she will GO. So, we worked at trot, post/push/post/push etc. Whew. No push = STOP. Stop is important, so I guess I love Splash too. Clearly, the many months off for recovery (Splash) has resulted in Loss of ALL my Splash "leg fittness." So, in the interest of aerobics, Splash is now officially back in training. And so am I.

Sunday dawned COLD and the plan was to take 4-H kids to Sheppard's Point at Lake Heyburn to map horse trails using GPS. How cold is to cold? We decided to go and got lucky with weather - it was a beautiful winter day. Sunshine and calm. The woods were beautiful and the lake bright. We divided into 2 groups - riders lead by Ruth H (Friends of Heyburn) and walkers lead (?) by me. I had a rough map of the trails in the park and the riders went to map a trail in the ACE wilderness area. Riders included: Melodie, Mandy, Teresa, Dorie, Tami, and Abby. Walkers were: Ivy, Alaina, Lyndsey, Glenna, George, Diane, Michaela, Kelly, Charlotte, Paige, and Brook. Dean stayed at base camp as backup. George kept up with the kids while the rest of the adults brought up the rear.

Riders headed out around 2pm and walkers were right behind them to map the Yellow trail. Walkers completed the yellow trail in about an hour and then went back out to work on the Red trail. The pace slowed a bit and walkers returned to base camp about 4:15. The riders had finished up in about an hour and a half. All the GPS units will be delivered to my GPS guru (Meredith) for data download and map generation - we will try to get the kids to the lab to finish the map in the next few weeks. No 4-H members were lost on the trail and Sheppard's Point will be a great place to ride.

The Friends of Heyburn have done a wonderful job marking horse trails and I hope to get back there soon. ON a HORSE. YaYa!

Canter in Public

2011-01-09T17:26:00.001-06:00

After neglecting Sister's feet for too long, I met Jeff M at Che' Cheval so she could have a trim. We did a little lunging so Jeff could see Sister's movement and then we opted to keep her barefoot for the time being. Sister was a little longer on the right front than the left and since she was evened up, we didn't ride on Friday.

But we did have a party lesson at Patty's on Sat. morning. I picked up Sister for the day so Splash got another day off (he is starting to think he is due to be on vacation forever). It was cold but the sun was out and the winds were light. Alaina had a good lesson with Sunny working on lowering the head and prompt transitions. Pico worked well for Ivy and even gave her some lenthenings after she worked to slow down the "rush" around the arena. Roxanne and Trouper were looking super - Morgan's have a lovely way of going. Mallory and Mario had some lovely trot and canter and good transitions as well. Nancy joined the lesson on Major and even cantered one direction but Kathy didn't get to ride in the lesson since Call was ouchy after her trim on Thursday.

Ivy and Roxie finished the lesson with some jumping! Go Girls!

Sister started out a bit fresh on the lunge line and not focused for the ground tie work but we pushed through and got mounted in a timely manner (more or less). Warming up along the rail, Sister was a bit fussy in the bridle but fairly obedient. We all worked on collection/sitting trot on the short ends and extension/posting trot along the long sides. I focused on straightness and bends as appropriate. Then, we all took our turns for right lead canter.

Alone and from the trot, I pushed haunches in and asked for right lead canter. Sister took the canter and we cruised the arena with a couple of smaller circles. It was great! No kick out and prompt. Then, we all reversed and took our turns a left lead canter. Again alone, I tried to get haunches in and proper position and ask for canter. It didn't develop, I lost my position, Sister lost her bend, we rushed around trying to get it together. Not pretty. We tried a couple more times and Patty pointed out that I was to strong with my left hand to allow Sister to canter and that I was giving to much with the outside hand which resulted in to much inside bend. We tried again. Finally, got the left lead canter without a kick-out and rode a couple of loops in the arena. It felt a little rushed but Sister went where directed and dropped to trot when asked.

So, our first canter in public is history and now we will need to continue to get better transitions and more collected work.

Sunday, we got the first part of a serious cold front and the temperature stayed around freezing. I pulled out blankets to see if any will fit Sunny and Splash in the open barn when the single digits get here Tuesday. Splash gave me to much attitude, so we lounged until he said he would be GOOD. Then we did some showmanship/ground-tie and he was contrite.

So, winter is setting in but I am still basking in the glow of our new years ride last weekend. I am plotting for another ride for Ground Hog Day. YaYa!

Sister's Status -Year-End 2010

2011-01-07T22:10:00.000-06:00

My only New Year's resolution for 2010: "If I can't ride Sister by the end of the year, we will have to sell her." And, by year end, I was riding Sister - if not cantering nicely left lead. So, I guess I don't have to sell her right this minute. Lucky Sister. And Lucky Kale.

2010 Sister Re-cap -
Sister and Krystal in Stillwater - The winter weather was rotten so, even though Sister was Krystal's winter project, the ice/snow/wet curtailed regular work. Even so, Sister did make progress and Krystal really improved Sister's ground manners and was able to walk/trot/canter and did lots of long trot. I did ride walk/trot briefly before I brought her back to Tulsa in March.
Sister and Patty in Inola - Sister spent a few weeks in Inola where Patty really worked leg-yeild - leg-yeild - LEG-YEILD! I tried walk/trot a couple of times before I brought her home for the summer.
Sister's Summer - Ivy and I did lots of round pen lunging and showmanship work. Ivy even took Sister to a 4-H point show for halter and showmanship and to a couple of ride nights. Ivy and Ruthie tried walk/trot work a couple of times. I hoped to ride in the Rogers County Fair - but we were NOT ready.
Sister and Dawn in Owasso - Dawn spent the last month of summer working Sister but I didn't try a ride. Dawn didn't think training was going well enough so I brought her home.

Sister at Cheval Lake in Verdigris - With help from Christian, Sister was finally making progress. Oct. 1 and I was worried about mounting, fearful of trot, and tentative when handling Sister. By Nov. 6, I had progressed enough to take Sister to her first dressage show where we rode in a Walk/Trot Class. By Thanksgiving, I was cantering right lead a little. Although progress has SLOWED with our canter work, I am hopeful that 2011 will bring success with canter and perhaps enough courage to ride a little trail ride.

2011 is here and with winter in real swing, my riding opportunities have slowed a bit. But, my last canter attempts went fairly well so cross fingers, Sister and I will continue to make strides. I hope to take her to dressage schooling shows this year (the new Intro has canter in the highest level) and on the trail at Rita's by summer with my YaYa sisters.

YaYa's Ride The Walkerosa - Jan. 2, 2011

2011-01-02T23:02:00.000-06:00

Sixteen Riders dressed warm and headed out on Sunday afternoon for the first YaYa ride of 2011 ~ the sun was warming and the breezes light so the temperature seemed "almost 40" degrees. Riders included: Paula (trail boss extrodinaire), Laura, Tina, Cathy, Judy, Lila, Rhonda, Nancy, Rita, Alaina, Sherry, Patty, Chelsea, Julie, Ivy, and Elizabeth. Jimmy manned the homefires and several more joined in for good eats after the ride.

What a wonderful day and a wonderful ride. Paula, Rhonda and Patty opened/closed all the gates ~ thanks guys. We started through the woods and across the creek before we traversed the big pasture east of the house. Then, down the road and through a couple more pastures and across another creek and then through some more woods as we circled south and west before heading back up the road to get back to the house. We found a good tree jump and Chelsea inpired Rhonda, Ivy and Laura to try their jumpers.

Horses were well behaved and there were no unintended dismounts. Ivy on Pico and Alaina with Diez were excited to be included on their first ride with the group. The YaYa's shared pot luck before loading horses and heading home. I can hardly wait for our next YaYa ride - Hope you all can join us.

1-1-11 or is it 01-01-2011?

2011-01-01T23:35:00.001-06:00

The temerature was freezing but the sun was out and the wind was not. So, I put on the wonder winter riding boots, fleece pants, thinsulate everywhere possible and went to ride Sister on this first day of 2011.

We had a great ride!

Sister worked well on the lunge line so I worried a bit about the ride to come. Mounted and made short work of the walk/trot warm up. Worked on the feel of proper body alignment - ear/hip/knee/ankle - and tried to keep toes rotated in. The mantra and questions in my head sound like this:

shoulders level? hands steady? elbows in? seat deep? heels down? chin up? hands steady? Sister bent with circle? elbows in? reins soft? heels down? Sister giving to bit? elbows in? hands steady? Sister positioned for transition? seat deep???

Alot for me to keep track of but, based on Sister's work today, we are making slow progress. More things to work on: wrist straight and reins back/down for left bend rather than up and to chest or over withers.

Sister gave me canter transitions with-out kickout. All correct lead. Left lead was VERY slow to develop but canters were good when finally taken. We finished with some backing. Ask for whoa then add the lightest bit pressure that gets the back and keep legs light. When haunches fall out, move shoulder over rather than pushing the haunches back. Sister was very good so we walked back down the hill to the barn and, with the wool cooler on to ward of the chill, had a little hand graze.

Tomorrow the girls and I will join the YaYa's for a trail ride at Paula's Walkerosa. The weather promises to be perfect (for January) and it will be wonderful to ride with friends in the new year.

Riding in Late December

2010-12-30T23:02:00.001-06:00

Windy and 60 for my Thursday ride on Sister after the 35 degree (35 is almost 40....) sun and no wind Sunday ride - Okahoma weather always lives up to its reputation.

Wild Orbans enjoyed the Christmas weekend and it was VERY COLD. Finally, on Sunday it warmed up to 35 so I went to Che' Cheval to ride a bit with Mallory after cleaning stalls. Mallory rode Trouper and had some lovely trot and canter work in the arena. I lounged and then mounted sister and we worked on walk/trot transitions and left bend. Sister gets very resistant when I push to hard for collection on the bit so I tried to keep bit acceptance with a little longer rein. Sister was pretty good but I was not quite up for a canter fight, so we finished arena work and then did a little ride around the edge of the pasture. Sister was quiet and willing to ride serpentine down the hill while Trouper was very anxious to go back to the barn so Mallory worked circles down the hill.

Monday afternoon, the girls, Kale and I rode a little at the Wild O Ranch - Kale back on Sunny after a long hiatus. Pico spooked Ivy off within the first 5 minutes of warmup but she got right back on, Alaina reminded Diez that horses can carry people, and I worked on posting/sitting trot with Splash. Then, Brandon arrived and took the reins on Sunny, Kale took Splash and we finished with a mini trail ride around the WOR.

Thursday's work with Sister started with lunging in the round pen. Sister was very fresh and not listening so, lots of change in direction and canter until - finally - whoa when asked. Sister was sweating and blowing. So, mounted, we headed up the hill to the arena to join Mallory and Trouper. Christian has moved a lot of sand from the east end to the west half so the footing is pretty good. After a walk/trot warm up, I asked for right lead canter and got a slow, but no kick-out, transition - and good canter work a couple of times around the arena half. So, good downward transition and then another right lead canter request - no kick, but left lead canter. So, counter canter then good downward transition. Another request for right lead canter and again, left lead with no kick-out. So, next try, we reversed and asked for left lead canter. Got it without a fuss and had a good left lead around the arena half. YEAH!

While cantering, I tried to work on sitting deep, keeping my hands out of Sister's face, keeping heals down and shoulders level. I wasn't as steady left lead but I am slowly improving - I think? Sister was blowing hard and I decided to cool down and finish the ride at a walk while Mallory did some canter work. She and Trouper worked on figure-8 canter/counter canter circles and made it look pretty easy on the left lead - it was harder on right lead but they kept a few strides of counter-canter before the downward transition. We walked zig-zagged down the hill as the sun went down. Lovely.

Struggles with Sister

2010-12-22T00:01:00.000-06:00

I had a trip to Kansas last week but made a quick trip to VerdigrisTuesday afternoon to work Sister before I left town. We started with the usual lounging warm-up and Sister was rather fresh - blasting around at the end of the line with head up and nostrils flaring. Cross firing, stumbling and even went down at one point. I was a little worried about the riding to follow. After she settled down, we mounted and went through the walk/trot warm up. Sister was pretty good. With proper set-up (haunches in and shoulder up), we got canter departs with no kickouts and all correct right lead, and 3 out of 5 correct left. Yeah!

So, Friday I was hopeful for a good ride. Lounging was perfect. Sister listened and was calm and obedient. Then we started riding and things were not as good. The walk/trot warm-up was OK and then we tried for left lead canter. Kick-out and resistance but correct lead. Next try we got wrong lead without kick and we changed direction at the canter to correct the lead. We continued to work for left lead and got right without kick-out and left with kick-out and FINALLY, left without a fuss. I was ready to quit while we were ahead (if you don't count the backward steps first), so we did.

The weekend included birthday visits, birthtday movie party, holiday baking, and no time to ride. But, I managed a little training session Tuesday afternoon. Sister was pretty fresh on the lounge line, but no bucking or kicking. Resistance started the minute I mounted up. Falling left, falling right, swinging the hanches everywhichway. FUSSY in the bridle. We WORKED hard on straight and forward with a some give to the bit. We got a little improvement. We worked some more and got some nice moments going right, improved moments going left. We quit while we were ahead without even asking for canter. 10 steps back I guess. Perhaps our next session will be better. YaYa.

Left Lead Canter and YaYa Xmas

2010-12-13T00:08:00.000-06:00

Things can get crazy in December and this year is no exception. We are on the birthday/Christmas countdown, the temperatures are dropping, and riding is hard to fit in.

But, I managed a quick ride on Sister on Friday afternoon. We tacked up and lounged in the outdoor arena and Sister was more settled than last week. Some walk into trot to warm up with a little leg yield and posting/sitting trots left and right. Sister is getting better bend to the left and is more steady in the bridle (mostly). C suggested less trot work and more canter - perhaps LEFT LEAD! So, we started with right lead, tried to set-up with haunches in, so, with a minimum of fuss, we got right lead when asked. A couple of laps around the arena and downward transition into posting trot. Sister gets a bit fast after canter, so we do figure-8's for calming and then ask for right lead canter again. Good canter work. Time to quit while I am ahead? C said no..... So, reverse and set up for left lead canter depart. Advice from C: put haunches in (or shoulder out); give half halt with inside rein; ask for canter early as we come down the long side (so that if we get the wrong lead, we can just do a figure 8 and circle on the correct lead rather than immediately correcting when she does get a canter). So, haunches-in and ask for left lead canter. The depart was to long, so the haunches drifted straight and we got rt-lead. So, went with it for half the arena and then asked for trot. Tried again with same result. The biggest problem was the 6-stride transition during which we lost inside bend and got the wrong lead. So, one more try and WE GOT THE LEAD! It wasn't pretty - felt rushed and heavy. But we cantered the entire arena before we dropped to trot. And then asked for left lead again and got it but also got the dreaded kick-out. Decided to accept the correct lead and overlook the little kick. But, we did get 2 left lead canter departs. Yeah!

The rest of the weekend was a blur. The Annual 4-H Awards Banquet most of the day Saturday. Then, Nutcracker and a party with the Wyoming Hot Flash Girls and the annual YaYa Party Sunday night. Nancy hosted the YAYA shindig in her beautiful home and since I was late, Sherry took my food and dirty Santa gift - but Inquiring Minds want to KNOW! Who got the Dirty Santas?

Christmas is Coming

2010-12-05T23:05:00.000-06:00

My first present? Cantering on Sister in the BIG arena on the Hill at Che' Cheval. The sun was out and cold weather predicted for the weekend so I escaped work a little early to get a ride on Sister Friday afternoon. My knee was feeling recovered so we headed up the hill to the wide open spaces in the arena. I told C that I didn't plan to canter and he told me Sister would be ready when I was.

We started our session with lounge line work and a little ground tie time. Then, mounted, we did trot circles and straight lines staying off the rail. Sister gave me good bend both directions and was fairly willing in transitions. So, as we come clockwise around the west end, I decided to ask for canter before I thought to much and scared myself out of it. The transition took most of the way down the long side but finally, CANTER without kick-out. We cantered all the way around and then dropped to a trot. Posting trot, transitioned to sitting trot - zig-zagging until Sister seemed calm and steady. Before the next try, C reminded me to move haunches-in just before asking for canter - Sister picked it up within 2 or 3 strides - no kick-up either. We went about half way around and then transitioned to trot. Yeah! The light was almost gone, so with a little more sitting trot and stop/back, we walked down the hill and dismounted near the barn. Sister is really making progress and canter in the BIG ARENA is a big step for me. Still haven't cantered left lead canter - but.....

Saturday morning dawned windy and warmish (40's) but the temp dropped into the 30's by 9am. Kathy B and I had a lesson at 10. Since we were in the covered arena, the wind wasn't a problem and both horses were sweaty by the end of the lesson. Call is really looking good these days and Kathy had some lovely trots and nice canter departs. Splash was pretty good without the German Neck Stretcher (managed some moments of work on the bit). Patty noticed that Splash needed to slow down several times - mark the date since usually Splash is way to slow. After work on walk/trot transitions, we worked canter both ways changing rein through X for simple changes. Kathy and Call had great transitions, Splah and me? not so much. But we did get correct lead every time, just had sluggish/early (dropped gait) changes. We moved on to cavaletti and then to shoulder in at the walk and then trot. Kathy and Call tried to show us how its done, but Splash really has a hard time - particularly going to the right. We finished with leg yields right and then left. I think the lateral work was to hard on Splash's right hind, so we quit. Splash was done - hope we didn't over do it.

The 4-H horse club is planning a GPS Horse Trail mapping project at Heyburn Lake in January, so we had a training session Saturday afternoon (including a practice walk at the RSU reserve). Then, the Horse Club participated in the Claremore Christmas Parade. The kids dressed in Santa Hats and LED lights and walked with Peanut the pony dressed as Rudolf - Very CUTE! The kids took turns riding in the cart and they all had a great time.

Seems like I have been sneaking off to ride every spare moment the last couple of months so today we did some baking and went to Lowe's for a Christmas Tree. No riding or horse related activity. Hmmm, I was really enjoying horse - horse - horse all the time.

We are clearly overdue for a YaYa ride but I am looking forward to next weekend's YaYa Christmas Party.

Horses make the Thanksgiving Weekend

2010-11-28T22:35:00.002-06:00

We are all thankful for our partners in equine therapy but sometimes I would be more thankful for plain obedience.

The girls were on a riding roll last week and rode every chance they got.

Ivy has been jumping Pico so much lately that Alaina wanted to give it a try (cross bars only). So, we had some horse exchanges but Ivy didn't jump Sunny.

Thanksgiving day promised to be FRIGID so the girls and I joined Mallory and Roxanne in Inola for a lesson at noon on Wednesday. We loaded Pico and Sunny and headed to Cheval Ranch to pick up Sister for the outing. It was humid and unseasonalbly warm (70's) so Sister was a bit sweaty before we started our lounging session.

I am still not getting complete obedience during lounging although I try to keep her moving out and away from the center of the circle. Even so, Sister was calm and mostly good on the lounge line. So, when the gang was ready to ride, I mounted up to join the lesson. Sister went over cavalletti fairly well but tripped over the elevated poles. She did some decent leg yeilds but I did not canter. Roxie and Ivy practiced a little jumping.

Thanksgiving day and the horses were thankful to have the day off and that the cold came in after the rain. We went to Nowata for the annual eating festival. I looked forward to riding my brains out for the rest of the weekend but disaster! My knee gave out on me and I was gimping around in a bad way.

Steve found a brace for me so Friday afternoon the girls and I went to Cheval Valley so I could lounge Sister. We did some good round pen work and C was helping me upgrade my lounging technique. I wasn't up for riding so C got on and had good work until canter. Then, Miss Attitude regressed to a bit of Kick-out.... C worked her through it.

Ivy has been missing TC so we dropped by the Urban Ranch to visit. TC has a new pasture pet named Jack but seemed happy to see us. Ivy rode a little walk/trot and then we got to feed before we headed back to Claremore.

Kale joined us in Inola on Saturday for the Party Lesson with dreams of lunching at Graham's. He rode Splash for me since my knee was still in recovery - I rode a little in the western saddle with my knee brace in place. Splash does not admit any neck reining knowledge.

Graham's was CLOSED for the holiday so we lunched at La Masion in Catoosa. Kale headed back to Stillwater a little late to go to Bedlam - sadly, OSU lost after a good game.

Sunday was extremely windy but my knee was feeling some better, so brace in place, I headed off to Cheval Meadows to lounge and maybe ride Sister. After a good lounging session, I decided to mount and ride a little walking and trotting. Sister was very good and we worked on left bend / right bend as well as sitting and posting trot.

Hope all my YaYa Sista's had a wonderful holiday weekend.

PS - Dirty Santa is coming soon.

Ride as much as you can!

2010-11-21T21:42:00.001-06:00

After spending a few days in Kansas last week, I escaped from work early and went to Cheval Acres to work with Sister and ride with Mallory and Flame. The temp was cool and the afternoon a bit windy but we rode in the big arena until Mallory had to dash to Tulsa to pick up children from school. Both mares were good as we worked circles, straight lines, and leg yields. Mallory and Flame even opened the gate so we could ride back to the barn.

Sat. morning we headed to Inola for the Party Lesson! Mallory/Mario, Roxanne/Trouper, Ivy/Pico, Alaina/Sunny, Mattie/Zoe, and me/Splash had a good lesson. Mallory and I were in dressage gear, Ivy and Roxie in hunt seat, Mattie and Alaina in Western. The lesson was fun for all. Mallory had some fabulous canter departs and Splash was sound for walk/trot/canter. He took correct leads although he dropped gait from left lead canter - we didn't canter small circles or very long. Yeah!

We were planning lunch at La Masion in Catoosa when Ivy and Alaina ditched Patty and me to go see Harry Potter with Roxanne and crew. They spent several hours in the movie theater but didn't actually see HP because of a fire alarm hoax. Patty and I had a yummy lunch.

Then back to Lake Cheval to canter Sister! Needless to say, we stayed in the round pen. After a bit of lounging, we warmed up with walk/trot transitions. Sister was clearly expressing reluctance to work, irritation with my requests, and a serious aversion to one side of the round pen when working to the LEFT! It was a struggle for me, but we worked though it. Then, we went to the right and asked for canter. The depart was SLOW and FINALLY, with a Kick-out, we got canter. Several circles around the pen and we dropped back to posting trot then sitting trot. Then asked for canter again, Repeat. Success a couple of times, then more Kick-out. Yikes, can't stop yet, so more canter departs. None prompt. But, I survived some kick-outs. Still not ready for prime time, but...... More canter work is in our future.

Sunday afternoon, after the girls and I volunteered at the Williams Water Stop at the Rt 66 Marathon, we played with the horses when Andrea and Nick dropped by for a ride. Andrea got Sunny and he was a star, Alaina played with Diez, Ivy jumped Pico, and poor Nick got to WORK Splash. Splash was not cooperative in the arena, but Nick persevered. Then, off on a trail ride around the Wild O Ranch and Splash was better. Pico the wonder trail horse was pretty good. Diez and Sunny were very good.

No one fell off although Alaina staged a dismount to try to scare us. I think they had fun, I took lots of pictures.

So, even though I was horseing around all weekend, I didn't join my YaYa Sisters on the big Hunter Pace at Flint Ridge. Maybe next year.... but I want to hear all the details ASAP.

the DARK (left) Side

2010-11-15T22:11:00.001-06:00

The rain on Friday left arenas to wet on Saturday and since Patty and Ashley went to Stillwater for the equine Special Olympics, we didn't get to Party. But first thing Sunday morning, the TEXT came in - C was free until 11, so I dashed to Springs Cheval to ride Sister in the wet SANDY arena.

Mallory's place holds up to rain pretty well and although wet, both round pen and arena were ride-able by Sunday. So, we started some lounging work on a walk circle. Sister was sniffing as she went so I asked for trot. One and a half circles trot circles and she dropped like a rock to roll - not even breaking the trot until she hit the ground. Dressed in my trusty Isabelle! I yelled and she scrambled into a canter. We worked canter both directions before we tried trot again. Whew.. after a bit of ground tie, I mounted and we moved on.

Sitting trot and circles left and right on a fairly loose rein - things were pretty good. We were getting left bend! Mostly. I tried to focus on body position (shoulders LEVEL?), even weight in both stirrups, deeper seat, even seat-bones, quiet hands, elbows in, etc ... ... HARD work for me!

So, we worked leg yields left and right and then haunches in left and right. Legs yields were not bad. Haunches in? Not for more than a stride or two. Then a bit of "extension" along straight lines (extension is relative here since it wasn't much). We finished on a good note after just an hour of work since the footing was heavy.

The bad news is that this work has clearly identified my weak side (left you think?). Well, we have something (things) to work on. YaYa!

PS - my brave YaYa sista's are headed to Flint Creek next weekend for a hunter pace - I will stay home and work Sister and/or Splash.

PPS - sand art by Roxanne, Ivy, and Alaina.

Shoulder Issues

2010-11-12T21:28:00.000-06:00

Rain was in the forcast today and I had an appointment with the eye doctor at 10 AM. Dr T's operation is a well oiled machine and I was out by 10:30. No rain yet - so I headed to Mallory's Paradise to get a ride in on Sister before the rain came in. Amazingly, I had all my riding gear in my Honda Farm Truck.

After a brief lounging session, we started working on trot and bend in the round pen. Since left bend is difficult, that is what we focused on. When going to the left, I really struggled to keep my weight even. Sister seems to be right sided and so do I. So, I tried to keep my left leg on at the girth and I was inconsistant - so Sister was too. Leg-yield right was the correction I could get after not getting bend. So C suggested we work on my seat.

First, we worked to the right so that I could focus on my position without worrying about left bend. Within 2 minutes, we had uncovered a real issue. My left shoulder moves up and forward - so, my left seatbone lightens and my right side gets heavy. Not just a little. Yikkes! So, I practiced sitting deeper, rotating my shoulders back and level, and NOT leaning back. I made some progress and Sister was pretty consistant, keeping trot regular on a fairly loose rein. Next we reversed direction.

Going left was so awful I started laughing - that didn't help. My seat was non-existant. Sister and I both lost our left shoulders, mine went up and she dropped hers. We slopped around cutting in and loosing my balance. I could not sit the trot going left. It was not pretty. Using my left hand on the back of the saddle, I held on and tried to keep my shoulders even. We worked until I got a couple of better left bends and I practiced keeping left leg on and right leg light. It was hard. It looks like Sister and I have some serious work cut out for us to resolve our Shoulder Issues.

A few rain drops fell while I was loading up and the rain really came down shortly thereafter. But some sun came through too making a beautiful rainbow. I take that as a sign the we can overcome all our issues. Yaya!

Sister Does Dressage

2010-11-07T22:55:00.011-06:00

After Sister met Christian, I made a plan to ride her in the last schooling show of the season - the Thanksgiving show at the Rocking C. To that end, Sister and I made three trips to Inola to ride with Patty and practice in the arena before the show. Mallory with Raffles and I shared a couple of lessons on Friday last week and this past Wed. On Wednesday, we practiced leg yeilds in and out of the circle and trotted over cavalletti poles in the outdoor before trying a practice test in the covered arena. During the practice test I noticed that Sister was very resistant to the left since before that, I wasn't really thinking about geometry.

Friday, Pico came along in the trailer for Ruthie but Sister and I had a private lesson with Patty. We concentrated on figure eights to alternate bend work and made some progress. I tried to think about weight distribution and tried to lighten my right leg to encourage bend around my left leg and we seemed to do better. So, crossing fingers, I hoped for a good show day.

Saturday started out fairly cold but the sun was out and the day was beautiful. Ivy had the first ride time with Pico around noon.

Ruthie followed with a Freestyle on Pico in memory of Jaime which got me all teary but was lovely.
Ruthie rode Pico again in a training level test before Ivy rode him again in her T4. Next, Alaina and Sunny rode their two Intro tests before I took Pico and tried a F4. I didn't ride the test well. Right off the bat I went straight down the long side rather than across the diagonal - this was not the fault of my reader. Then Pico did a huge spook at C in our first canter. But we finished the test - the score? A 57.875, could have been worse. THEN....

Sister and I rode our first dressage test! Intro B, not very long or very hard but I was pretty happy with our ride. We scored 59 - mostly 6's with 5 for development of medium walk, 7 for free walk and 5 for the final halt (not square and haunches right). Sister did not fuss with the bit to much and gave me a little bend left. Yeah!

Sat. was a fun day with lots of friends to show - Patty and Jurgen had lovely rides and Christiana on Arde dominated Intro. Shannean had Silka moving out and Ivy had high point Jr Training level. Charlene rode Lil in a Cowboy Dressage class. Zoe rode Bullseye in Intro B and Alaina rode Sunny in Intro very well and had him moving very forward for a western show pony. Marsha and Lakota worked the intro classes, Mallory and Raffles rode a couple of training level classes and Roxanne got a 9 and Jr. High Point for Jr - Intro.

Sunday was cool and windy but sunny and YaYa Sisters visited Julie for a cowboy afternoon. After a wonderful beef stew on mashed potatoes cooked in dutch ovens over an open fire, we cruised the ranch in a wagon pulled by a team of Belgians. We finished our afternoon with more cowboy fare - dutch oven peach cobbler with wiskey sauce and vanilla icecream. YUMMMMY Julie and Dude live in a beautiful wood cabin furnished with antiques, wood burning stove, a real ice box, and native stone floor. What a wonderful way to spend a beautiful fall day. YaYa!

The Last of the Fast – The NEW me

2010-11-02T00:28:00.004-05:00

OK, I am hooked. I am the newest TWH convert. Since my last post about my first CANTER on Sister, I have discovered a need for speed. But not on my trusty Appy mount (who takes the Slow Mantra into STOP mode), or my latest AQHA project (with the reflexes of a large cat), but on one of Rita’s stellar examples of the famous Tennessee Walking Horse. Now we all know why she, Nancy, and Sherry all have more than ONE.

Sister and I followed up on our canter work last Wed. afternoon with a lesson at Patty’s on Friday. After a good warm up on the lounge line (Sister was very sensible and responsive to voice), I mounted and rode with Mallory and Raffles. We worked leg-yields in and out of the circle, followed by cavalletti and finished with leg-yields left and right from quarter line to the rail. Mallory worked on canter while I continued with walk/trot transitions. Sister was not the vision of harmony we strive for in dressage. But, she was really very good. A bit fussy with her head, and inconsistent in the bridle. I was thrilled with our progress and have signed up for Intro B at the show next weekend at Patty’s.

The girls had a 4-H Halloween Party on Saturday so we missed the ATRC schooling show. But, a YaYa ride/feast was planned for Sunday afternoon. Sherry and I trailered to Rita’s and I rode Splash in the arena to check his soundness. W/T/C was great to the left and almost good to the right. Rita had Winston tacked up and ready to go when his rider cancelled. So, I left Splash in the stall eating hay (his idea of heaven since there no movement except for the jaw) and I got acquainted with Winston in the arena. Boy can you FEEL that walk! But, the running walk is HEAVEN. I skipped the canter trial until next time and 10 of us headed down the trail.

I had a great ride. Sherry on Jazz, Rita on Reese, and Alyson on Comet lead the way down the trail and we were right behind them – the last of the Fast Women. Judy and Navaho didn’t lag too far behind, but Kathy and Cisco were the trail block for the rest of the field (Marsha and Lakota, Charlene and Lil, Amanda and Lady, and Nancy on Wisdom).

That Walker gait is so smooth, I didn’t even need leg. And, Winston goes across the dips and around corners like a dream. I wonder if Steve would mind building me a new barn for my future herd of TWH? YaYa!

PS - Congrats to Kathy and Call for their exceptional scores at their last schooling show of the season!

Sister News!

2010-10-28T00:10:00.000-05:00

We CANTERED! I stopped by Verdigris Springs after work today (i.e., Mallory's beautiful place is not yet officially named - so I will try out a few possibilities). After bushing, saddling and cleaning hooves, we headed up the hill to the big arena to lounge and do some walk and trot and transitions work. And a bit of ground tie - not perfect out in the much bigger area. The footing is deeper than in the round pen so we didn't over do.

THEN! We rode down the hill to the round pen and with brief preliminary trotting, I asked for canter / right lead, her good side. Sister picked up a canter and I DIDN'T FALL OFF. She didn't kick out. We went around the pen about 3 times and then I asked for trot and got it. I don't think she was thrilled, but I am.

We cantered 2 more times and our departs were not prompt (the last took most of the way around). Polished? Not. But, no kick outs and no BAD behavior. She was fussy with her head and expressive with her ears. But, the progress since Oct. 1 is amazing.

So, we will go to Patty's on Friday and make a plan for the Nov. 6 show. YaYa!

Sister's Canter Progress

2010-10-24T23:55:00.003-05:00

No, not with me. Christian has been cantering Sister for a couple of weeks working on that pesky kick-out. She seems to be better on the right lead and has made progress on the lounge line. Not to worry - she does express herself.

I was in Kansas last week but took Friday off for the girls' fall break. I started my morning at Mallory's to work Sister. After lounging and some round pen work, we moved up to the arena. We trotted straight lines (but not along the rail) to work on staightness w/o the help of a solid boundary on one side. Then we finished with very slight bend to the inside for a suggestion of shoulder in. Sister was a good girl and we dismounted before going back to the barn.

Saturday was the Honey-Do Dressage Schooling show. We were looking forward to a costume class and planned to take Diez along for the Indian pony part. But, the costume class was cancelled - saving me lots of work. Also, it was cold and rainy most of the day so there were several storm delays but the barns are large and the covered arena provided covered warm-up for most of the tests. Alaina and Sunny rode Intro A (57.5/3rd) and B (63.5/1st) earning highpoint jr Intro; Sunny was moving out more at the trot and sometimes at the working walk but the judge found his free walk toooooo slow. Ivy and Pico did Training 2 (64.286/1st) and Training (59.60/2nd) receiving an 8 for one of her trot circles but needs to work on immobilizing the halt and the "chewy circle." Pico found the runner in the bright yellow slicker VERY SCARY! Ivy and I had about 15 minutes between our rides to after change of saddles, I warmed Pico up with slow sitting trot and walking around while the crew extended the arena - my mission was to keep him calm. Then we rode First 1 and scored 56.000/1st receiving 7s for medium walk and walk transition as well as extended trot. We need more stretch at free walk and the "chewy circle."

After the blustery rain on Saturday, the weather was lovely on Sunday so the girls and I headed to Mallory's to work Sister and to Play. Lounge work and ground tie practice complete, we worked on walk and trot (sitting and posting), transitions, and finished up with haunches in exercises to prepare for canter. C is very good explaining the why as well as the how for the exercises to help build my confidence. Ivy lurked nearby and wanted a chance to canter. So, we shortened the stirrups and Ivy mounted. After a few minutes of trot to the right, C explained preparation and cue for canter and they did it - without the pesky kick-out. After a couple of laps, they transitioned to trot. Then repeated 2 more times - the third canter was lovely and Ivy was grinning when they finished. She is especially pleased that she cantered before me. But, I am ok with it.

I need to canter so that my fear of being out of control will be tempered with knowledge that I can handle the canter. I am making good progress at trot, walk, and ground work but to be really confident in a large area I need to feel in control at all gaits. So, work continues! Yaya!

PS - Happy Birthday Marsha! Hope you had a wonderful BirthDAY.

Gravity

2010-10-17T23:04:00.001-05:00

Still works. I checked and hit the dirt (e.g., sand).

I started my weekend Friday morning with a sunrise ride on Sister with C supervising. After very good lounging, I mounted and worked walk/trot/stand/back in the roundpen before C had to go. Sister is making some progress and Mallory's pasture looked so inviting with dew on the grasses in the beautiful early morning light that I decided to try a pasture walk alone. We managed to open the gate and walk through and slowly made our way up the hill to the higher grass. Sister was very good. No trail salad allowed but we walked big circles in the dew and then serpentined our way back down the hill. No spooking and we even crossed a dry creekbed. Back in the round pen, I dismounted and let sister have some hand grazing time while I brushed.

The girls started their weekend with a lesson at Patty's on Friday night. Patty and her drill team had a competition Sat., so no Party Lesson. We started in the DUSTY outdoor arena at sundown and the dust made beautiful lighting effects in the covered arena. Splash was just slightly off but we worked caveletti collected and then extended before we moved to the covered arena for the rest of the lesson in hopes of less dust. At the walk, we worked on shoulder-in. Splash has a really hard time with shoulder-in right and was some better when working for left shoulder in. Maybe because he has a hard time with right hind work? We moved on to trot and leg yields. Alaina got some good shoulder in and leg yield and Ivy had some lovely canter transitions. Splash had correct left lead canter and got right lead about 50 percent of the time. He also wanted to drop to trot during right lead. I am hoping that riding lightly will strengthen him and help him get totally sound.

Saturday morning the girls and I took Diez and Pico to Mallory's. I worked Sister while the girls rode a little pasture/trail ride with Roxanne and Mallory. After the girls got finished, Mallory and Trouper and Sister and I headed up to the arena. Roy was mowing up on the hill, but Sister seemed fine each way around the arena at a walk so we worked trot along the long sides and walk in the corners/short side. After a couple of loops both directions, Sister did a major spook to the left and I didn't move with her. Darn! I hate when that happens.

The good news is that Sister didn't run away out of the arena and into the wild west. Also, she stood quiet while I re-mounted. We trotted a bit more and walked around briefly and then we serpentened down the hill to the round pen. I am stiff and sore but will probably live.

Later that afternoon, I dropped in at the Expo where the Rocking C Drill Team was competing at a Drill Competition. They placed first in Youth Freestyle and 4th in Youth Theme with their fabulous Pirates of the Caribean routine. Congratulations girls - you were wonderful. I think the YaYa Sisters should consider doing some drill team work - it looked really fun.

ODS/GCC Jr. Dressage Camp & Sunny's Little Sister

2010-10-10T23:16:00.000-05:00

First, the camp! We checked in Friday evening and, after meeting the other campers, settling the horses and sharing Pizza, we had a presentation by a local equine chiropractor (Matt P). Bullseye got adjusted and then Pico got evaluated. Dr. P discovered that Pico was out of alignment at the Pole and Jaw. Pico cooperated by licking his lips after each adjustment -perhaps his long standing bitting problems are related to jaw or pole pain. Sargent Cheryl was serious about lights out at 10:10, so it was an early night.

Saturday morning, everyone was up before 7am and horses fed/watered/hayed before the kids got breakfast. Then at 9, 10, and 11, the kids rotated through Riding by Feel with Cheryl W (the kids learned their natural posting side), dressage with Denise L, and Prix Caprilli with Nicole W. Ivy and Alaina were in a group with Zoe and Jaden; Alaina and Sunny did their very first cross bars! After lunch of delicious HOME MADE soup and HOME MADE stew and HOME MADE BROWNIES, the kids got a scribbing lesson and got to practice on a "slow" horse (Shannean on Jurgen) and "fast" horse (Emily on Shadow). Scribbing is harder than it looks!

Next, the whole crew, including Cynthia on Ahab minus Ivy, went on a trail ride while Marsha, Nancy, and I relaxed and watched Ivy jump the jumps without a horse (she doesn't try Pico on the trail). After a yummy spagetti dinner made by Catherine and equine care duties complete, we had a saddle fitting presentation by Marty H. The girls learned about re-stuffing, leather making, and got to sit in a Sommer Saddle. Kathy B brought crafting supplies and the kids made their thank-you notes for the sponsors. Lights out by 9:30, but giggling continued for some time.

Sunday morning and the horse care drill before breakfast complete, the kids got to play mounted horse games. Games on Horseback for groups of six riders was pretty entertaining. Then the campers learned about pilaties for riders presented by Cynthia after a intro video. They all practiced pilaties on the floor before lunch. After lunch, everyone rode the dressage test of their choice for scores from Denise, discussion and then a do-over to apply the comments. The "dressage show" started at 1:30 with Alaina and Sunny riding Training Level Test 1 followed by Ivy with T-2 and then the rest of the gang. Shannean rode Jugen in First Level Test 4 as did Marilyn and Willie. The kids rotated in and out of the box to practiced their scribbing. Tests and ribbons were presented at 5pm - all the kids did well. Ivy and Pico were high point dressage score.

Loaded and headed to the house by 6pm. Woo Hoo, what a great event. Many thanks to Cynthia, Cheryl, Denise, Nicole, and John and Judy Dix and all the GCC board members. Prairie Lane was a wonderful venue for the kids and horses. Cynthia went above and beyond staying in the apartment with giggling girls 2 nights in a row - one on an air mattress. Wonderful weekend - Thanks to everyone.

Now the Sister Update - After a couple of weeks off since bringing her home from Dawn D's, I took her to Mallory's place on Oct. 1. After settling her in a stall for a quarter hour or so, we groomed, saddled, and headed to the round pen. Christian B worked her on the lounge line in the round pen - she was good. So, he mounted and worked walk/trot/canter - she was good. So I mounted and rode a walk and a little trot - she was good. But I wasn't pretty - no way for my tense body to sit the trot. But she was good.

After the Jr Camp weekend, I took Splash and Pico to Patty's on Monday so didn't get back to Mallory's until Tuesday. We groomed, tacked, and headed back to the round pen. Christian lounged and worked walk/trot/canter and she was VERY GOOD. Then I rode walk/trot and we were better. I sat the trot some and had a couple of discussions with the very expressive mare. But she was good.

Wednesday, back a Mallory's and I did the lounging this time and Christian rode a bit of walk and trot before I mounted and did the same. Our trot was better. I posted some and Sister was GOOD.

Thursday afternoon and I groomed/tacked/lounged/rode walk/trot with Christian watching over. Sister was good. So, I rode at a walk out of the round pen, across the pasture to the arena on the hill. We walked turned, stopped, backed, walked....and then walked back to the round pen. Sister was so good we let Ivy and Alaina ride her in the round pen at walk and trot. Sister was VERY GOOD. Thanks to Christian and Mallory, we are making progress.

New goal - ride Sister in a walk-trot test at the Nov. 6 dressage schooling show. YaYA!

We headed to Patty's on Friday afternoon for a lesson and I rode Splash for part of the lesson - he has been sound but still resistant to canter departs on right lead. So, we will continue light riding and see if we can build up his strength.

Saturday, the girls and I went early to the schooling show at Aberdeen Stables. The girls had very good rides and Alaina rode Intro-B and T-1 - her first training level test with Sunny - the camp gave her confidence and she was pretty forward (for Sunny). Ivy and Pico had a couple of really good scores at TL-2 and TL4. Ruthie rode Pico in T-4 for a Jr. HiPoint score. I rode Pico for a couple of First level tests - I didn't fall off but they were not my best rides. I was stiff and didn't sit the trot well but I guess we will just keep working on that.

Later that day we worked as balloon setters for the Cowboy Mounted Shooting at the Tulsa State Fair from 4 to 10:30pm. Hard work but we did get to see the Texas Thunder again and the kids got a ride in the wagon after the presentation. And! I got to see Rita and Winston on duty - they looked GREAT!.

Today I took the girls and Diez and Pico over to Mallory's and the girls rode with Roxanne around the field and edge of the woods while I worked Sister. I saddled Sister with my dressage saddle and used a dressage bridle - Sister looks good in black leather! We worked walk and trot in the round pen. Sister was good. Now that my week off work is over, I will need to rider as often as possible to continue with progress. Cross all fingers and toes.

October means we have several more yaya birthdays. We already missed Kathy B (Oct. 1) and Sherry B (October 9) - Marsha's is coming on October 24th. So, we need to have a yaya gathering soon.

Seven Years

2010-10-03T23:05:00.001-05:00

Seven years without Jaime is a long time. The beautiful fall weather and the yellow color on the green leaves bring back memories. I am glad that I can continue to ride horses with my daughters and remember other rides.

The girls were part of the first ODS/GCC Jr. Young Rider Camp and I went along as chaperone/nerotic mother. It was a good distraction and Jaime would have loved to go to such an event. Ivy and Alaina loved every minute - Pico and Sunny would have preferred a quiet weekend at the Wild O Ranch.

We still miss Jaime every day.

Finally Fall

2010-09-26T22:35:00.000-05:00

The first cool front of Fall 2010 came through early Sunday morning and the day was windy and, compared with the 95 degrees on Sat., felt pretty chilly. My niece Amanda woke up and decided that she wanted to RIDE a HORSE for her birthday - so, she came to the Wild Orban Ranch and we had a horsey play birthday play day. We saddled Splash, Pico, Diez, and Sunny in western saddles and loaded up. In between, there was plenty of chicken chase'n. I think there is a better than good chance that a future yaya was born.

The Tulsa State Fair starts later this week, but the TSF 4-H/FFA show was held yesterday at the Tulsa Expo in the Mustang Arena. Ivy and Alaina were excited and we did the standard show prep.

Alaina came down with a cold and was not her usual perky self for the show - Sunny was pretty good and they placed in the ribbons in Showmanship (8th), Hunt Seat Eq(4th), Wst. Pleasure(7th), and Western Horsemanship(6th) - Sunny slid a wrong lead in for Hunter Under Saddle.

Ivy and Pico had a pretty good day too. They skipped Showmanship but placed in all their classes - 6th in Hunter Under Saddle and Hunt Seat Eq, 9th in Western Pleasure, and 5th in Western Horsemanship. Trail and Jumping are not held at the TSF show. Nancy E stopped by the show grounds to watch a little and treated the girls to sugar and caffeine - that helped Alaina and made Ivy a bit wild.

We have a ride night this Thursday and food bank work night on Tuesday. Then Friday night the girls get to go to the ODS/GCC kids camp. Should be really fun and I get to help.

Now that fall is here, I can dream of yaya rides together with my friends. Ahhhh.

Rogers County Fair 2010

2010-09-19T22:41:00.002-05:00

It was a fun if frenzied weekend. I was hoping to ride Sister in the fair this year but after a month with Dawn D, but she is still not ready for me. So, I picked her up on Tuesday and then took Splash to the adult ride night to check his soundness - he seemed fine if a bit rotten. But I love my German Neck Stretcher! I felt like I was tiptoeing in the old white truck since my main truck had some sort of problem going the Rocking C last week. Steve had treated the fuel with Lucus and then Kissee Ford checked it out on their road test machine and found nothing. So, the red truck is hooked up and I guess we are back in business.

The girls entered muffins and cookies for the fair on Wed, then we helped with the Speed horse show on Thursday when my wonderful YaYa's had an evening ride without me. I heard it was a lovely ride. Darn... sure do miss my horsey friends! Then on Friday evening I took Splash out for another fair ride check and he seemed sound again. We washed etc., worked the Steak Dinner, and then headed to Expo for the long show day Sat.

The girls showed halter in the am - Alaina and Sunny took Reserve Palomino. Ivy and Splash were 2nd Appy Geldings "3 and over" but placed 3rd in the Grand/Reserve. Ivy showed Pico in Stock Type (hehe) and both girls showed 4H Halter.

Kathy B with Call, Amanda on Casper, and Julie with Stormy joined me in the English classes. Splash was better than could have been expected after all this time off and seemed sound for the show. He was really bad in Showmanship but didn't run over the Judge - so its all good. The Hunter Under Saddle wasn't to bad, just a bit inconsistent with occasional head tossing. Amanda won the class fair and square. Call gave Kathy a hard time so she went and worked her in the warm-up until Call straightened-up. Equitation wasn't great, but I didn't fall off. The pattern was: start with a 360 left on haunches, sitting trot/left posting trot/right posting trot stop; then 90 turn on forhand right, counter canter 1/2 circle, canter 1/2 circle (backwards S), sitting trot, stop and back. Not precise but ... then no counter canter and a trot early... but... could have been worse. He still felt sound so we quit for the day. Even so - it was great to be riding my horse in a show again. Splash spent the rest of the day eating hay while Sunny and Pico had to do western.

Ivy and Pico won Hunter Under Saddle with a lovely ride and then won jumping as well (2 riders) - Pico was a really good boy all day. Alaina and Sunny had some good rides although he was a bit high headed and gave her a little trouble in the warmup before Trail. Marsha C stopped by to watch and spoil the girls with limeaid. Then, home late to eat/shower/bed... ahhh.

After sleeping in until 9am, the girls washed Diez and we hauled back to Expo for the Fun Show and Cloverbud show. Pico got to go 2 days in a row but Splash and Sunny got the day off. 21 kids did Keyhole race, egg and spoon, tennis ball balance, cracker/snack/singing, goat decorating, and ride-a-buck. Both Ivy and Alaina won their heats in the tennis ball balance and Ivy was a finalist in ride a buck (with Pico's high withers - I don't want to imagine). Christiana had 6 Cloverbuds and Kathy brought Missy and Cisco for a couple of kids. They had a great time and Ivy, Alaina, Emily, and Abby helped out. Ruthie came out to watch and gave Pico one more ride before we headed home.

I guess I will go to sleep right now - no wonder I am tired... Ahh, horse shows...... Next week, Tulsa State Fair 4-H and FFA at the Tulsa Fairgrounds.