Icy temps and 'pushy playtime' make a little renegade

Argh, Michigan winter. Yes, I know, can't change it, so don't complain. But after spending altogether more than 5 hours yesterday in frigid conditions, I have to seriously catch myself not to whine.

I was bundled up and poised for my rides on Remy and Saumur, with the saddle tryout for Chambord thrown in for good measure. Ah, the best laid plans.. My little guy had other ideas, from the beginning Remy was argumentative and tried to push me around. He felt like he was looking for an excuse to loosen up with some serious bucks. So Judy and I decided it would be best to put him on the longeline. I had thought about it because of the cold but then Remy was so good the last days that it didn't seem necessary.

Well, he sure was forward on the longeline. Initially he blew through my half-halts and voice commands, all he wanted to do was canter. It took him a good 30 min. to blow off enough steam. I am careful not to let him buck on the longeline, while some people think it might help getting the kinks out I want my horses to understand that work is work, and bucking is not allowed when I am working with them. There is a time and a place for everything, and in this case: Take it to the turnout, guys! Speaking of turnout... seems Remy was seriously bossing Saumur around during the turnout in the morning, so that even got him more full of himself. Note to Remy: I am NOT a pushover as Saumur -- and don't even think about trying it with "Aunt Jude"!

After Remy's longing session finished on a good note, Judy offered to get on. And Wow: "The Little Renegade has left the arena" - Remy was as good as could be (OK, yes, he is also very smart and doesn't pick the wrong person to play the 'pushing game'). It really was a joy watching them.

By the time Remy was tucked back into his stall with treats I had turned into an icicle, and we still had the saddle to try for Chambord, and Saumur needed his exercise, too. Make a long story short: The saddle was great for Chambord, but didn't fit JP. Bummer. By the time I got to Saumur all I had left in me was putting him on the longeline. And wouldn't you know it, my 'Active Retiree' had as much fun playing as the 'Little Renegade'.

The saddle that grows with the horse - and might even bring a relative

Remy's muscling has changed a lot in the last months - that's what regular workouts will do for you. The down side is: Saddle fit!? It had been a while since Remy's saddle was adjusted, and to me it just didn't look and feel 'right' anymore. There were also some clues, such as uncharacteristically, I seemed to have to push Remy more forward lately; and the saddle pad bunching up under the saddle. So it was time: Luanne to the rescue! Luanne is our tried and trusted saddle-fitter, having helped us since I first purchased a custom-made Schleese saddle for Saumur eons ago.

Sure enough, Remy's saddle was becoming too tight in front, thus pinching his shoulders (sorry, buddy!), and therefore not enough weight-bearing behind. Once Luanne did her magic it was like Remy and I were simultaneously saying: "Aaah - that feels sooo much better!" We are ready again to gallop into the sunset (well, OK, for now around the arena - but only due to the ice).

Later I overheard Luanne talking with another client that had several used Schleese saddles for sale, due to her horse retiring. So I asked if by chance one of them would be a fit for JP and Chambord. Seems there might be a good candidate. We'll find out tomorrow when we'll try it out.

The good thing is that you only bite the bullet once when you purchase a saddle that can and will grow with the horse (being maintained by an expert fitter); paying the adjustment fee beats having to buy a new saddle everytime the horse's muscles change. However, I didn't expect the prospect of having a 'saddle-relative' move into our barn that soon!

"Yes, those hind legs" and the need for making a deposit

Remy was a gem in my lesson, we were able to start where we had left off. He was nicely forward, and I could feel a real push from behind. It prompted Judy to exclaim "Yes, THOSE hind legs, you found them!". Yay, finally! It means that Remy is working over his back, carrying more weight behind. One of the main aims when training a horse.

The other "aha" moment had to do with half-halts. You can't do a correct half-halt if the horse is not in front of your leg. As Judy put it: "It's like the bank, you have to put a deposit in before you can withdraw" (Well, Jude, unless I go to a loan shark, but that's a different idea -- or perhaps not, the humongous penalty would correlate to driving the horse on the forehand).

So, the idea of putting a deposit down  (having Remy nicely in front of my leg) before I make a withdrawal (half-halt)  made perfect sense. It  allowed me to use the half-halt as re-balancing aid, and voila, we were centered.

Banking and Riding 101: Don't spend more than you have!

A bit more 'warm and fuzzy' for the year end - beautifully expressed

I received the following from one of my colleagues at work. It really touched me - and so I would like to share it with my friends:

"I salute you. I am your friend and my love for you goes deep. There is nothing I can give you, which you have not got. But there is much, very much, that while I cannot give it, you can take. No Heaven can come to us unless our hearts find rest in today. Take Heaven. No peace lies in the future, which is not hidden in this present little instance. Take peace. The gloom of the world is but a shadow. Behind it, yet within our reach, is joy. 

There is radiance and glory in the darkness, could we but see. And to see, we have only to look. I beseech you to look. Life is so generous a giver that we judging its gifts by their covering cast them away as ugly or heavy or hard. Remove the covering and you will find beneath a living splendor, woven of love by wisdom, with power. Welcome it, grasp it.. and you touch the angel's hand that brings it to you. Everything we call a trial or a sorrow or a duty, believe me that angel's hand is there. The gift is there and the wonder of an overshadowing presence. Our joy is too. Be not content with them as joys... they too conceal diviner gifts. Life is so full of meaning and purpose, so full of beauty beneath its covering that you will find Earth but cloaks your heaven.

Courage then to claim it... that is all. But courage you have, and the knowledge that we are pilgrims together, winding through unknown country... home. And so at this Christmas time, I greet you. Not quite as the world sends greetings, but with a profound esteem and with the prayer that for you, now and forever, the day breaks and the shadows flee away.

Fra Giovanni Giocondo - 1513 A.D."

Just to clarify, I am not trying to 'push religion' here. I found the poetry and spirituality absolutely beautiful. It was written in 1513 by Fra Giocondo. Fra stands for "Friar". In case you wondered about the difference between friars and monks: Whereas monks live in a self-sufficient community, friars work among laypeople and are supported by donations or other charitable support. A monk or nun makes their vows and commits to a particular community in a particular place. Friars commit to a community spread across a wider geographical area known as a province, and so they will typically move around, spending time in different houses of the community within his province.

"Don't ask another question if he hasn't answered the previous one"

Remy enjoyed a week off, hanging out with his best buds at home. But he went back to work without so much as a grumble. I didn't even longe him before the lesson, and Remy was still fine.

The problem we ran into was that he made me work much harder than he did. OK, obviously that's MY problem. Breaking a sweat in 20F for me is quite remarkable, usually I am turning into an ice sculpture at those temps.

Judy took pity on me (or more likely she was tired of telling me constantly to make Remy move off my leg), so she had me take my little jumping bat. Remy is not overly fond of whips, even though he never had a bad experience. I think he takes exception to the fact that someone would DARE to think he needs it.

A little tap on the shoulder with the bat was all the encouragement he needed, then Judy had me put it away to see if Remy got the message. Yes, Ma'am! So that's where the advise "don't ask another question if he hasn't answered the last one" came in. Meaning it's no use 'dying on the vine' trying a different exercise when he clearly is sucked back and not in front of my leg. Not going anywhere with that. Get the right answer and move on!

The little guy is also pretty good at reading my mood (they all do at some level, but both Saumur and now also Remy read me better then I sometimes like). I was quite sad because by sheer coincidence just before my lesson I found out that someone I had dated for five years (a long time ago, I was 17 when we met)  had unexpectedly died. Granted, it was a long time ago, but still... I never regretted that I ended the relationship, but I did carry a lingering guilt on the 'how'.

Perhaps making me work so hard was Remy's way of trying to get my focus back on him "Hey, Lady, it's MY time". This question has been answered.

'Tis the season - for a bit of warm and fuzzy

“My Equestrian Hero” was the theme of a recent writing competition that caught my eye and made me think some more about the subject.

According to Wikipedia: A hero is defined by “the display of courage and the will for self sacrifice for some greater good of all… More generally it is now extended to moral excellence...” 

The ‘ideal equestrian professional’ (according to me): With riders and horses alike he/she is encouraging whenever possible and strict when called for. There is no bickering or backstabbing at his/her place (rather uncommon in a sport that coined the name “Dressage Queen”). The horse care is meticulous and all the horses are trained with compassion to high standards. There are no short cuts, and no exotic gadgets for quick-fixes. But all this comes at a price, and by price I mean the unwavering commitment,  dedication –and yes, quite literally- the blood, sweat and tears of the owner-trainer.

We all know that dealing with horses can be incredibly rewarding but also extremely frustrating. Horses come with their own baggage, they get injured, have colic, short attention spans, likes and dislikes, friends and foes. Throw the owners into the mix and things get really interesting. Naturally, people’s lives spill into the barn. Reason sometimes gets left by the wayside when it comes to horses. Owner’s expectations of progress can be ludicrous; and if they are not met who to fault if not the professional? 

During decades of riding and owning horses I have come across enough burned out and frustrated professionals of all riding disciplines. Some just shut down; others become abusive to the very horses in their care.

Being able to keep the ‘inner fire’ burning with the same intensity year over year, through injuries and illnesses (horse and human), successes and failures, staying true to oneself through all of life’s ups and downs and never waver from the chosen path is truly remarkable; this pretty much is the definition of ‘My Equestrian Hero’.

Merry Christmas, Jude!

Take your shoes off - and a New Year's Resolution straight from the judge

It's great to have the Christmas vacation. The boys are home until the 26th, then it's time for work again. Not exactly riding weather anyway, it was 9F this morning. But now the sun is out and the snow looks very pretty. However, pretty is as pretty does -- it's still 'saukalt' (the Germans will know what I mean).

Every year with winter comes: 'Take your shoes off'. I really believe that it is important for the horses to go barefoot in the winter. It gives much better traction on snow and ice, and the hooves get a chance to grow naturally. Of course, it all depends on the horses and the quality of their hooves. No use forcing crumbling and cracking hooves to go 'naked'. We are fortunate in that all our guys have really good feet, the only one that sometimes throws a shoe or gets cracks is Chambord, but what can I say - He's blond :-)! 

We were at a lovely Christmas party the other day (thanks, Minde!) and I got to chat some eminent veterinarians from Michigan State University. One of the top researchers told me that her horses have been barefoot for 15 years; and she competes up to Grand Prix. 

Oh, and I got a great piece of advice from Maryal, an USDF "C" and USEF "S" judge. She happened to be one of the judges at Lamplight. With a twinkle in her eye she said: "Next time, Birgit, stay in the ring!" Yes, Maryal, that is indeed my intention! It was all in great fun though, and we had a good laugh. 

So, I've got a New Year's Resolution that's way more helpful than "eat less chocolate" (which I wouldn't do anyway).

MERRY CHRISTMAS

My bubble still has holes - and a birthday gift to myself

What better way to spend part of the birthday (or any other day) at the barn? OK, that’s a rhetorical question for those of us infected with the horse virus.

After spending a lovely morning lounging around enjoying calls from friends and family in Europe I eagerly went for my lesson with Remy in the afternoon. Somehow I expected it to be fairly quiet, but alas, it turned out that not only did I have to share the arena with another lesson being taught by a different instructor; but in addition also with an additional rider and my least favorite horse (to share the arena with). Oh, great.

It meant I had to face my nemesis head on: crowded and busy arenas. The warmup at Lamplight was Remy’s and my undoing this summer, in hindsight now I know that I didn’t give the kid the support he needed. It was really unreasonable to expect an –albeit very cool- five year old to figure it out for both of us. Chuck that one under “experience”.

Back to the task at hand, I kept it together for most of the lesson, heeding Judy’s advice of “Stay in your bubble, pick your line and stick to it!” Kind of difficult if you have a fire-breathing ‘dragon’ cutting through your path in an earth-shattering canter. It was OK, until I lost my concentration, that is. Listening to the other lesson, and at the same time trying to stay out of the path of the ‘dragon’ got me flustered: “Where the heck should I go??” Voila, we were stuck. Remy was sucking back. In an effort to get Remy in front of my leg again I poked him a bit and he clearly showed me what he thought about it: “That is SO NOT COOL at all!”. No big deal, we got our act together again and finished well. Time to breathe again.

And where’s the gift in all that, you may ask? Well, it’s the realization that even though my bubble has still holes, they are getting smaller, and we have much better tools to fix the few remaining ones. Hand the industrial strength duct tape, please!

Early birthday and Christmas presents - and Rossbolla in the Adventskalender

I feel like Remy is giving me early Birthday and Christmas presents this year. My rides the last days have been just great, we finally are coming closer to the harmony I am always striving for and that seems so elusive at times. I wasn't sure what to expect as the day before yesterday it was too cold to ride and Judy's comment after longing him was that he was quite 'frisky'.  Uh, uh.  I rode Remy in the company of JP and Chambord, and he was soft, supple, forward AND obedient. Just a happy camper. He didn't even flinch when Chambord left him alone in the arena. The little rascal is growing up.

Today I had a lesson and we were able to build on yesterday's work. Judy is upping the ante, we are now working more on transitions within the gaits, -precursors to collection-, as well as trot leg yields that encompass small zig-zags, and head to the wall yields (basically the first step to haunches in). It was a wonderful feeling having Remy working with me, what can I say: it just flowed. My position is finally finding it's 'Zen'.

Of course, I am very cognizant of the fact that I am benefiting from Judy's work with Remy. I wouldn't know anyone else that could have helped us mesh together like she does. It's one thing for the horse to go well for a professional, it's another story for the horse to keep it together for the amateur, and for the amateur to be able to build on it.

Not many people realize that riding well and teaching well are two different shoes (as we say in German), and there are lots of people out there better in one area than the other. That also is the reason why some clinicians fail. Riding well doesn't automatically translate into teaching well. Some famous international caliber riders might not be able to teach a lick because he/she rides by feel and doesn't know how to transmit it to the amateurs. Lucky us, we found the rare 'ambidextrous' professional! Yay, Jude, you'll be in Hanuta for a long time :-)!

Speaking of gifts: My dear friend Stephanie has been sending me the most amazing 'Adventskalenders' every year from Germany. There is a lovingly selected and wrapped gift for each day from December 1 until Christmas Eve. Well, Friday's gift was a bucket of Rossbolla! OK, not real manure, the small metal bucket contained chocolates shaped like horse manure balls.The name of my home town Stuttgart comes from 'Stutengarten', loosely translated it means "mares' pasture". So the local bakeries sell 'Rossbolla' (manure balls) made out of chocolate. And with "Mares' Pasture" as place of birth it's officially stated on my birth certificate that I'm into horses :-)

No "drunken sailor trot" for this loverboy - and glad I didn't call a 'Freeze Day'

Today's temps came close to my "cut off riding" weather. Usually at 20F (-6F) I contemplate not riding, calling a 'Freeze Day' for sure in the lower teens (-10C). However, during the week I hadn't had a chance to ride at all, so today I was more than ready to bite the bullet at 18F. And good thing I did!

Remy is just such a cool traveler, all you have to do is open the trailer door and point him to it. In he goes, waits politely for the doors to close and you won't hear a peep (or hoof banging) the entire trip. Perhaps he figures that if he travels well he gets to have more playtime at home. I am very grateful that Judy is so flexible and open to work with us on the schedule. This way Remy gets his own work/life balance!

Remy warmed up well, and the ride only got better from there. I remembered to "close the side door", meaning keeping him on the outside rein and not let him fall on the shoulder. That sure improved our leg yields. We were happily trotting along until.... soon enough, the bliss hit a hitch. Ah, there is just always something that will 'tattle' on you when the horse is not honestly between your legs and on your seat. Today it was a beautiful ray of light coming through the windows. I used it to practice center lines. Left rein: No problem. Right rein: Uh, where are we going?? Left? Right? It didn't take the peanut gallery (sorry!) to tell me that we had a "drunken sailor trot", I was almost getting seasick myself. Dramamine, anyone?

Obviously, I did not have Remy evenly between my legs and on my seat. As Judy pointed out, this is not something to be fixed with the reins. Several 'sunshine lines' later, and I got it (uff!). The icing on the cake at the end of this exercise was a square and straight halt on the bit.

Our canter work is also improving, I'm less tense and keep my position better. Thinking of some advise from DeKunffy really helped my position: "Lift your rib cage". I read this article some time ago and had to chuckle on how he put it that the old masters had no idea of 'Pilates for Riding', 'Rider's Workout', core strengthening exercises, etc. They positioned themselves correctly, for example lifting of the rib cage to straighten the torso. So I figure, if it worked for them - it sure can work for me!

Of course, our major improvements are entirely due to 'Judy's bootcamp' (and I mean that in the most loving way!).  Needless to say 'Drunken Sailor Trot' will result in several "give me 20s!"

There is always a trade-off - and happily trading money for time

As the saying goes “you will get nothing from nothing”, or sometimes better described as “no pain, no gain”. I’ve been contemplating that for a long time. I had to face the fact that I wouldn’t be getting to where I’d like to be with my riding by relying on sporadic lessons and rides.

So, after much soul searching and examination of the options (not working obviously not being an option) I figured out that a four-day work week with some additional home office days for flexibility would allow me to successfully tackle both my riding and working goals. Part-time executives are not very common in this industry, so I was rather doubtful how my (granted, well prepared) proposal would be received. And really, my reason for asking was purely “for pleasure”, not for any major issues (child care, health problems, etc.).

I ran the proposal by our HR manager, and he was very supportive, but the real hurdles were the president of the division, and the heir apparent of the company. If they were jumps I’d say one is a straight forward fence, the other one a more tricky combination. But luckily they both turned out to be good distances and heights, to stay with the jumping jargon.

Make a long story short, the amendment to my contract was approved! I am very grateful for the support and willingness to help with my work/life balance.

So yes, effective January 1, 2014 I am trading money for time, but I am super excited about having the extra time for the boys. And, JP, there might even be a bit left over for you J

My alternative to the Black Friday Buying Frenzy: Read horse books and watch a good movie

The next best thing to all my critters (equine, canine, feline, human... :-) ) for me is reading. I am devouring books with a certain ferocity, always have, always will. So this week I ditched the shopping frenzy in favor of some good old fashioned 'hardcover entertainment'.

I started with "The Dressage Chronicles" by Karen McGoldrick. The two books follow working student Lizzy on her journey into the 'inner sanctum' of life in the dressage world. The stories are very entertaining, and easy to assimilate. (Who hasn't met a dressage queen yet?) There are some nuggets of good advise and excellent observations. It gives you a glimpse of the hard work/low pay/politics/dependencies in the dressage world. Some episodes are rather far fetched (a rival trainer is trying to kill the horse of Lizzy's boss and Lizzy herself and his punishment is being sent to China to train dressage horses??). But again, it's fun entertainment.

The other book had me shaken and bothered almost all the way through. It is a novel based on a true story "Mares Nest" by Lesley Kagen. It is based the mother/daughter journey in the Hunter/Jumper world, and what a crooked world it is. The sad part is, it is easily believable, from abusive trainers, drug addictions, horse show moms that try to sabotage other competitor's chances, to horses that get 'Ace'd' (given Acepromazine, a tranquilizer) every time before they are ridden. You name it, it's there. Luckily there is a silver lining all through the story, the strong mother/daughter bond. And yes, there is a happy ending!

And to top it off, not horse related but "Must See" nevertheless  - at least  in my (not so humble) opinion: "The Dallas Buyer's Club". That is a movie not to be missed, and I do hope that Matthew McConaughey gets the Oscar he so deserves for portraying Ron Woodroof, an electrician and rodeo cowboy, who is diagnosed with HIV in the 1985 and given 30 days to live. No happy ending here (I cried) but VERY powerful. 

"Schoolmaster?... Active Retirement??" - "I'll give you 'Schoolmaster' and 'Retirement!'"

What a wonderful week! I hardly ever have an entire week off, so it was absolutely great to have this Thanksgiving week to do the things I love. The week started with our trip to Chicago and the German Consulate - and yes, now I am the proud holder of the coveted "Beibehaltungsgenehmigung", which means I received the document stating that the German government grants me the right to have dual citizenship.We also had time to explore the Field Museum and enjoy a lovely dinner at "Le Petit Paris".

Back home it was spending lots of quality time with the boys - and yes, JP, that includes the two-legged one ;-). Oh, and let's not forget the lone girl in the equation: Jaas. She and Max got their daily extended run through the woods, which all three of us thoroughly enjoyed.

Judy fit me into her busy schedule with several lessons. Friday and Saturday I had two lessons each day, which was exhausting but also a fabulous learning experience. Remy is coming along so nicely, it is a treat to ride him. And then... Saumur. What can I say? Friday he started really worried, breathing heavily, and I wasn't sure what to expect. Luckily he calmed down quickly, and worked well, no spook in sight.

The big surprise was yesterday's lesson with Saumur. It was one of the best rides I ever had on him! He was on the aids, on my seat, light and easy. It truly felt like a dance. It had us all flummoxed, and Judy jokingly asked  "Where did you find that horse??". "Umh, in my backyard :-)"! It made me think of the DVDs featuring a German trainer: "Scrape off the mud and ride Grand Prix". OK, maybe not Grand Prix, but you get the gist.

It was like Saumur wanted to show me what he thinks about 'retirement' - he definitely doesn't want to be in the 'senior citizen' bracket yet. No AARP membership for him!

Wow, I think I trained my own schoolmaster - and here is to Active Retirement

Saumur is in his last "teen-year" - if he were human he would be getting social security by now. He does not look his age, the boy is still strapping and healthy, some white in his mane just improves his looks. Sean Connery comes to mind, still sexy ... OK, I digress!

Realistically, it would be unfair to push Saumur along further. I don't see any reason why I should force his aging body into the high degree of collection needed for the upper level movements. He is comfortable where he is. Now, that doesn't mean Saumur will be a pasture ornament. His new job is to be my schoolmaster! Yes, it sounds strange, usually people buy dressage schoolmasters (highly trained upper level horses that let the rider get the correct feel). Seems I've made my own (Selbst ist die Frau :-)! )

As my 'schoolmaster' Saumur will help me work on my position, give me the right feel for the lateral work, collection, extension, and the occasional flying change. All this is going to help me tremendously while bringing Remy up the levels. And yes, for Saumur it will mean less work, more time to spend hanging out with his best bud Teddy. Here's to active retirement, my man!

Just the other day I thought how lucky we are to be able to have the horses at home. There are so many people with equine retirees that can't afford to board two horses, so it is the difficult choice to either pay for the retiree and stop riding - or trying to place the old guy for free (or doing the unmentionable) in order to afford another horse.

Off to the movies, buying tickets for "one adult - and one (other) active retiree"!

A different kind of "couples therapy" - and leave the front door open

She: "He doesn't listen at all to me"
He: "She's always nagging and I don't know what she wants"
She: "He's blowing me completely off!"
He: "I'd rather be shooting the breeze with my buddies!"

Enter *Dr. Judy*:
"OK, now, Birgit: Make sure your aids are very clear, no grey zone at all. He has to be on your aids, in front of your leg and on the outside rein at all times. Remy: You have got to listen. Blowing her off is not an option, even if it's sometimes understandable ;-)"

Ah, the joys of riding lessons - aka couples therapy! Good thing *Dr. Judy* is helping us moving our relationship forward. I am looking for -the sometimes very elusive- feeling of harmony with my four-legged partner. Once it's there it's awesome, but when one of us or -heaven forbid- both are not 'in the zone' it feels like we would rather slam the door and walk away in different directions. Luckily it hardly ever comes to that. With Judy's help, Remy and I are becoming more and more like a really solid couple, forgiving little blunders and helping each other out when needed.

It was great observing Judy working with Remy on Monday, I could see how lovely the boy can go. It helps me to have the right 'film' in my mind, in order to recreate what I need to do. Our lessons are going really well, with more and more "yes, we can do this!" moments. We have been working on lengthenings, and what made it click was Judy's advice "You have to leave the front door a bit open!", meaning Remy needs to have room to move out. It seems I am sometimes a tad over-controlling (me??, Nah, no way!!). Sure enough, when I leave the front door ajar, Remy has the freedom to move nicely out, using his entire body.

At home though, the front door stays closed. Of course, only because it's freezing!

"Take control of your brain - don't let your brain control you"

Ah, another ‘pearl of wisdom’ I picked up during my lesson on Remy last night. I have been struggling with the canter departs, having a hard time getting my outside leg and half-halt just right for Remy to move smoothly off into the canter. Instead, I tend to do too much on the inside and then try to move him off my upper body. It nets me… a faster trot on the forehand.

I’ve been thinking (OK, some might say fretting) over it quite a bit. Why do I automatically go for more inside rein? Is it because that way I can do an easy one-rein stop to the inside when things go south? I learned the one-rein stop eons ago from a cowboy, it proved extremely useful to stop Saumur when he was bolting, but alas I got overly dependent on it. Sort of like taking “something to relax” when needed but soon you take it “just in case” – not that I would have personal experience with that, of course!

Judy nailed it with her “take control of your brain – don’t let your brain control you” advise. My brain has to go on autopilot, like “OK, canter depart: keep him on the outside rein, outside leg slides back, and off we go”. Needless to say, it should be a no-brainer at this stage of my training. With Saumur it takes the slightest of aides to get him moving off my leg. But Remy of course is still a work in progress, and he actually shows me where my holes are. (Ugh, I guess I do have some?!).

Yes, Jude, it’s high time to fix those potholes and take control of this blonde brain of mine J

Reflecting on the National Championships - 'Likes' and 'Dislikes'

We just came back from KY - JP and I had a great weekend. However, I felt there was definitely room for improvement at the National Dressage Championships. I knew full well that I couldn't expect something along the lines of German National Championships, but still....

So here I go with my very own personal list of thumbs up and thumbs down.

Likes:
1) Watching a beautiful, classy lady stay cool under pressure on her amazing mare: Judy! (Several thumbs up!)
2) Carolyn, Chris, and Barbara all doing well in their FEI classes
3) Watching Team Topline work together like a well oiled machine
4) Kentucky Horse Park and the International Museum of the Horse
5) Kentucky Bourbon Ale Brewery; Bluegrass Sundown: Yumm!
6) Amazing dinners at Le Deauville
7) My new PJs (*grin*)
8) Weather complied, meaning there was some sun and it didn't rain, we won't mention the freezing wind
9) Driving the golf cart - It was my maiden voyage. Thanks, Gerry!
10) George inviting Remy and me back for a training week in Ohio next year 

Dislikes:
1) Showgrounds difficult to navigate for spectators
2) Lack of spectators! (Several thumbs down)
3) Lousy food (or better: almost no food) for spectators. If you didn't sign up for VIP seating you were relegated to a choice of hot dog or burger
4) Limited shopping, nothing compared to Rolex (my credit card was spared a work out)
5) Awards ceremonies not worth mentioning
6) Last but not least: Politics in judging...

Let's see, the likes still outweigh the dislikes.

I really loved watching how Judy very focused went through the warm up;  and ride with the quiet determination, grace, and beauty that lies in the harmony she has with Benise. The score in her championship ride did not reflect this, but she did not complain. (It didn't keep the rest of us from grumbling, though).

It's that "complete package" that separates the "Spreu vom Weizen" (OK, I make it easy for you, literally translated it means separating the chaff from the wheat). The good stuff stands out: Many Thumbs Up for you, Jude!

A colicky pony gets a break - and a date

Teddy colicked again on Tuesday evening. This time I wanted to spare him the twitch/tube experience and called the Equine Homeopath that helped us with Crissy. Sue came right away (luckily she doesn't live far from us) and got to work examining Teddy and administering different remedies (I.e. Nux Vomica, Arnica M) and probiotics. Teddy seemed to get pain relief quickly, but it took him a while to really turned the corner. Around and around we went on our circular driveway, with Sue carrying the flashlight. When finally it seemed like he turned the corner we tucked him into his bed and kept checking.

By the next morning he seemed fine but I was very reluctant to leave as planned for Kentucky to cheer for Judy at the National Dressage Championships. Sue came to the rescue: she offered Teddy a sleepover at her barn, hot date included! How could I deny the pony-man that?! So Teddy traveled like a Pro in our trailer,  swaggered up to the very cute pony-mare... And wouldn't you know it: they immediately hit it off! Bet lots of people wish their first dates would go that well...

So, with our far sitter Dolores taking care of the rest of the crew we made it to the Kentucky Horse  Park today. Just in time to watch Judy win her PSG class with 71.18%. Now she just has repeat it on Sunday in her Championship class: Piece of cake! (how's that for a vote of confidence, Jude?)

It was a beautiful day in the KY Horse Park, but clearly Dressage has a long way to go in the heartland of racing. Very few spectators, nothing compared to European shows. Hopefully, over time this will change.

Over and out - JP and I are off to Le Deauville for a lovely French dinner. Romance is not just for the ponies!

Wish I could go into hibernation – and of Books, Baths and the ‘Con Trick’

OK, here we go again, a cold and rainy weekend, with the time change to boot. Saturday was just miserable, our outdoor arena made me think of high tide. There was no way we could work the horses in that muck. So I bit the bullet and went shoe shopping instead. Heels, to be more precise, to go with my evening gown. I’m invited to a private event at the Tower of London end of November, and in typical fashion “I have nothing to wear!”. OK, yes, I do have a “suitable frock” as the Brigadier General organizing the event calls it. And now I also have killer heels to go with it. How I will negotiate the cobble stones in and around the Tower remains to be seen, though. I’ll probably go barefoot half-way through the event. But my mind is never far off horses, while at the shoe store I couldn’t stop thinking how I’d rather buy Dubarry boots than sexy heels.

Sunday the rain stopped and we decided to take Chambord and Saumur out for a spin in the woods. It was COLD, not even a mile in and I couldn’t feel my fingers. That time my mind actually wandered off the horses and on to my bathtub. Ah, nothing like luxuriating in 100F water with a great book. I am reading Clare Balding’s autobiography “My Animals and Other Family”. It is absolutely wonderful, and there are so many things that hit home.

One paragraph gripped me especially, it’s the advise Clare gets from her father’s French assistant trainer: “Life, you see”, said Erwan, “it is all – ‘ow do you say? – a con trick.” (Here I paused reading, because in French ‘con’ is not a nice word, ‘Idiot’ is one of the more tame translations).

“I mean ‘con’ as in ‘confidence’. The more confident you are, the more people will believe in you; and the more they believe in you, the more confident you will actually become.” 

I couldn’t agree more!

Getting over the hump - and please swallow the tube

After last week’s less than stellar lesson with Remy (all my fault) I was pondering alternate avenues that could help get me over my mental hump. Several years back I had a few sessions with a hypnotherapist that helped me deal with the anxieties that developed after Chambord had planted his hoof in my face, and Saumur’s panic attacks in the indoor arena were getting almost unmanageable. I had instantly clicked with the therapist, and low and behold, the sessions had made a huge difference.

So, Monday night it was time for a ‘refresher’ appointment. Not to go into too many details, but basically the session was geared towards replacing bad memories (Lamplight!) with pleasant ones in the subconscious mind. And I loved the ‘side effect’ of the session – deep relaxation that stayed with me long after. Very neat! And of course, the proof of the pudding came yesterday: Another lesson on Remy – and may I say it was a stellar one J Big relief all around, that’s for sure!

Still glowing from that highlight of the day I came home, not expecting JPs call from the barn that Teddy (our pony) seemed ill. The poor little guy was obviously in a lot of pain, thrashing around, eyes rolled back in his head. Quick call to my vet’s office revealed that Mike, our regular vet, was off that night. The one covering for him recommended a dose of Banamine. That usually does the trick in about 30 min, but not so with Teddy. I got pretty desperate and called Mike at home, luckily he picked up my message and came right away, armed with bucket, mineral oil, tubes and sedation. After administering the tranquilizer and pain killer Mike threaded the tube through Teddy’s nose into his stomach in order to pump water and mineral oil down. Luckily that did the trick, subsequent night checks found Teddy drousy but apparently pain free. He seemed fine this morning. 

Note to self: Don’t complain next time you are sick and have to throw up – having a tube stuffed down your nose is much worse! Note to JP: Finding lots of manure in a stall is a good thing! 

How tall are you? - And a surprising flashback to the past

Last weekend Susanne and I went to large used tack sale. It is always fun to see what’s out there. Last year I got some really awesome deals, a new hunter bridle with matching martingale plus some other things. This year it was small pickings, but I scored a new high tech measurement stick to determine height (in hands, inches, and meters). Up to now we more or less guessed the boys’ sizes, so I figured it would be nice to know for sure.

Here are the numbers: Remy = 16.1H (1.65m), Chambord = 15.3H (1.60m), Teddy = 11.2H (1.20m). Saumur = 16.2H – best guess

Well, Saumur’s height we can only guess. He’s a tad taller than Remy, so that should make him about 16.2. Very surprisingly, the measuring stick must have triggered some very bad memories in Saumur. One look at it and he freaked out, piaffing, trying to bolt, trembling. It was quite the surprise, as Saumur has been doing so well for a long time now. Nothing could calm him down, so we didn’t force it on him. Saumur has been with us for 13 years, and still, he gets flashbacks. I guess if he were human he would have needed a shrink – but then, as opposed to Chambord (who likes any opportunity for a snooze) Saumur wouldn’t like to lie on a couch!

Sometimes I just can't fake it - will there be a "Happy Ending"??

Last night was one of the worst times riding Remy I had in a long time. Not to find excuses, but my mind was racing around the upcoming travels (“how do I find time to ride???”) which literally take me out of town and/or country every week until almost Christmas. To top it off, Remy was not to thrilled to see me, it was feeding time and he figured out that he had to wait for dinner. Not a happy thought for him!

Remy was fidgeting while I was preparing him and not paying attention. My gut told me to longe him, but then I thought a bit of groundwork would to the trick. Well, it didn’t. Between him and me last night: It wasn’t going to happen, no chemistry. The more I failed to get his attention, the more I got frustrated. Having a huge warmblood cantering around us for what seemed an eternity didn’t help. To the point where I actually got off and said to Judy “I just can’t do this”. She’s seen her share of difficult students, so luckily she didn’t lay into me.

I know I should have faked it – confidence and take charge that is.. and Judy said as much. But sometimes I just can’t do it. With the last bit of resolve I was able to scrounge up I got back on, and finished on a somewhat decent note. Not a “Happy Ending” but not total frustration either.  The nagging feeling hasn’t left yet, though: Would it be better to find Remy a good home and myself a trained horse that I can just hop on and have fun with??

As always, Judy will support whatever I decide to do. JP not so much, he loves Remy and wants this to work. Deep down I know I would see the whole thing differently with less pressure – but alas, it is what it is. Guess for right now I have to work harder on the ‘faking it’ part. There must be a “Happy Ending” in there somewhere!

Improving one canter stride at the time – and should we dress alike?

First lesson on Remy after 10 days. I rode both boys at home on the weekend, and while Saumur was –for his standards- pretty laid back, Remy showed a bit of his feisty side. Just for good measure he had to throw in some bucks on the longe line, but then he was fine.

Tuesday he went back to Judy’s, and she reported a good ride on him. Last night then it was my turn. Still having the video from my lesson with Jan in mind I tried hard to apply the ‘lessons learned’. Judy told me that she and Jan discussed my ride also, and basically pinpointed the same issues. Ah, nothing like an Olympian and a Grand Prix rider/trainer pointing out your weak spots. Talk about taking “self-conscious” to the next level.

Remy was a good boy yesterday and didn’t argue as he sometimes does. While our canter departs still are works in progress the canter work itself was so much better. I was able to be quiet in the saddle, focusing on having him on my outside rein and keeping my darn legs on. Progress – one canter stride at a time. I’ll take it!

A rather ‘dangerous’ item of mail was awaiting me at home: the new catalog from Loesdau, my favorite tack store, had arrived from Germany. Ah, all the good stuff… and what every girl needs: matching outfits for horse and rider - hey, it beats dressing like your poodle! 

Reliving my ride thousands of miles away - and how to relax those muscles

It's good to be home, especially when you are eagerly awaited by nine critters plus one husband, and home greets you with perfect fall weather. My trip to France went well, and luckily there was a bit of free time to take the Autoroute du Soleil to Avignon for a visit of the Palais du Papes (Palace of the Popes), and a bit farther away, the Pont du Gard (Roman Aqueduct). Ah, it makes you understand all the people that want to live in Provence.

Don't think it was all fun and touristy stuff though - the days were full with meetings and plant tours, followed by late dinners and delicious wine (the tough part). As 'entertainment' I had taken the memory card from the Camcorder to watch the Jan clinic. I really appreciated JP recording my ride, despite being attacked constantly by flies (as evidenced by the occasional "m...e"  on record).

Right after the lesson I had written down Jan's comments, but hearing the comments while watching the recording is perfect. What can I say: Remy was awesome, and he tried hard to follow the program without discussions. Me, OTOH, more room for improvement. Especially in the canter I sometimes still look like there is an oxer waiting for us. The jumpers say "throw your heart over the fence, the rest will follow" - it sure looks like I'm throwing not only my heart but my entire upper body forward (the more the merrier). All that forward positioning doesn't give me a good canter transition, of course. Jan didn't let me off the hook until we had the transitions down pat, and there was success at last. Jan pointed out that after a forward trot I have to bring Remy down a stride (collect him more) before asking for the transition off the outside leg. And the transition better be prompt.

Another eye opener was the position of my spurs. I am always super concerned about using too much spur. Judy has been trying to convince me that my spurs are not making any contact with Remy's hide. Well, guess what, right she is: My spurs never touched Remy the entire ride! And I wonder why he sometimes ignores my leg?

What was great about the lesson was that Jan and Judy are so in sync. One might have a slightly different approach or explanation, but the big lines are entirely the same. I must have done a fairly decent job with my ride because afterwards Judy asked me why I don't ride that well in her lessons?! Ouch! It is certainly not because I put less effort in my lessons during the week. But the fact is that after work and the commute I show up tight and tense and it often takes the better part of the lesson to get my tight muscles to cooperate. What to do? I might have to resort to "Emil's Finest" before the ride (uh, what I sometimes do a shows) - taking a sip of my dad's homemade secret recipe brew. So, if I anyone detects alcohol on my breath: It's only to please my riding instructor :-)!

"You pay a lot of money... to let go of control" - and a "Two for One" Deal

Last lesson before the ride with Jan tomorrow. By the time I got to the barn I was tense and stressed, and Remy picked up on it immediately. So to get us both into the swing of things I did some groundwork which settled both of us.

Our lesson was a continuation of the previous one, getting to “more”. We finished with a really lovely trots on both diagonals. The trot work is getting good, canter is still a work in progress for both of us. During the lesson Judy had to remind me to relax my shoulders, and really use them for the half-halts. That really helped a lot. The other area she ‘picked’ on was that I’m too controlling, I do need to let go. It’s hard for me to let go (mentally) when all day I try to keep everything together and under control as much as possible. (No need to mention that I’m pretty much a “Type A” personality!) So then I get on my horse and I’m told to be less controlling. Don’t get me wrong, it doesn’t mean that I am supposed to throw the reins away and let him go his merry ways – even though Remy certainly would say “yes, please, I’m a big boy now!” The idea is to give him the correct aids and then let him figure it out.

Yes, I’m paying a chunk of money for my riding lessons (which are worth every penny of it!) to learn how to be less of a control freak.  However, I truly believe it is a job requirement for excellent instructors and coaches to be also part shrink, so viewed from that perspective: We have a ‘Two-for-One’ Deal, or as the Americans say ‘Buy one – get one free’!

I'll have a big juicy burger...

Nothing like an upcoming lesson with an Olympic rider to get you going. Jan is coming this weekend to Topline, and Judy offered me a spot. Timing isn’t the greatest for me, as the same night I’m flying out to France. On the bright side, having audited Jan’s clinics before, I’m sure I’ll be tired enough to sleep on the plane.

With two horses the question of course begged “who do I ride?” Ideal would have been a day on Remy and one on Saumur. That’s a no-go due to the trip to Europe, so who to chose?? And the winner is… Remy! It really forces me to concentrate on him, while my tendency is to favor Saumur. After all, Saumur is “my man”. That doesn’t mean I’m neglecting Remy by any means, but Judy training him the main part of the week allowed me to be less engaged. No more, I have to get my act together so I don’t embarrass myself, Remy – or, heaven forbid - Judy!

We had a good lesson last night, with Judy going into ‘prep’ mode, asking for more, more, more… More uphill, more engagement, quicker reaction to my half-halts, more bend in the shoulder-in, more accuracy in the leg yields, more and better transitions. How often can you ask for “more” and “better”?? I’m still struggling to make Remy listen to my seat and leg, and it was quite the effort getting him into the left lead canter. “Over and Out” is the goal, meaning get a quick reaction and then leave it be: No nagging! By the end of the lesson I was getting exhausted (it didn't help that I had to hit the road at 6 a.m. that morning, and was stuck in meetings the better part of the day).

I was glad that we ended on a good note, tired but good. I jokingly texted Judy “Next time I’ll have a big juicy burger before riding” (something I NEVER eat). My ride time with Jan is in the morning, so I can safely forgo the burger and just have a heap of Nutella for the additional oomph. Remy, you'll get some extra oats, and then:  We'll both be ready!

When the "threat" comes from above - and those darn half-halts

I had a couple of interesting rides on Saumur these last days. Tuesday’s trailride started well, until several hot air balloons quietly floating up over our heads, their captains choosing just that very moment to ascent – with the unmistaken help of lots of gas. The noise unsettled Saumur quite a bit, he couldn’t figure out where it was coming from. When that happens I feel like sitting on a black powder barrel just waiting for the spark to ignite the whole thing. Over the years I’ve learned to deal with it, and luckily the forest trail loomed ahead. Once in the woods he felt “out of the woods” (how’s that for a word play?) and by then also the balloons had sailed away gracefully.

Yesterday was the first lesson in a while, and I had been really looking forward to it. Ah, but then, “he’s Saumur”, having perfected the “I can lay on your hand” shtick quite well. When I think I have him on my seat and leg he’s still diving down, putting his weight in my hands. I have the Popeye-muscles to proof. Judy focused on having me getting him off my hands and onto my seat. Whew. I tend to give and take constantly, where really the goal is to be quick with the half-halt, even if it has to be strong, and then get light.

To top it off, Remy got send home from school today with the teacher’s note saying “Half-halts in a forward motion.. the better he half-halts from your seat and you use less rein the better he is – just like Saumur”. What, another one that needs my seat and leg?Judy’s job security = my misery J

A beautiful weekend - and planning the cheer for the National Dressage Championships

Michigan in the fall is beautiful. Even though it’s a bit early to see the Indian Summer color changes we decided to extend my business trip and spend part of the weekend “Up North” – horse-less and altogether critter-less! Doesn’t mean we didn’t miss them, though. I couldn’t help but imagining long gallops along the sandy shores of Lake Michigan, or through the sheer endless forests.

If you are traveling to Traverse City, two excellent recommendations: Patisserie Amie and especially Bistro FouFou, where I had the best dinner in a long time. And yes, to those of you that know me and are now snickering: I had more than salad!! (for those of you not familiar with my eating habits: I’m not on a diet, I just absolutely LOVE salad). 

So, back home Sunday we wasted little time and took Chambord and Remy out on our own trails. During the ride we came across a pretty worried horse and rider: Two big bucks (Male Whitetail Deer) were standing right in front of them on the trail. No problem for Chambord, who clearly considers himself the “Trail Blazer”. We invited the lady to come with us, which she gladly did, and Chambord made sure the trail was clear! Remy was curious but relaxed, and seemed to like his new trail friend.

But of course, the big event (not surprisingly J) this weekend was the USDF Region 2 Championships: All Topline clients did really well, but Judy and Benise nailed it by besting a huge group of competitors to take home the win of the PSG Championship! Congrats, Jude!!  We will be traveling to KY to cheer you on at the National Championships. Although, uh, I'm not sure how you feel about JP waving PomPoms, screaming “Give me a T, give me an O, give me a P…”???. On the bright side - Topline Dressage would be instantly famous on YouTube J.

A nifty little gadget - and what's bobbing up in front of us?

Kensington Park requires that all riders and horses be registered with the park office. In exchange for providing emergency information the park issues free bridle tags. It’s a great idea, should a horse become lose the rangers can look up owner/vet etc. But those tags are big enough to be easily spotted and therefore not exactly “Bridle” material. Lightbulb moment: I use a neck rope and put the bridle tag on it: two birds with one stone! It will help the horse balance without use of the bit and it holds the tag. Some more research revealed that “Balance Reins” (fancy name for neck strap, actually a stirrup leather will do the trick) are highly recommended.

What can I say: it works! Climbing up and down rather steep hills I put a hand on the strap instead of grabbing mane. It’s also much easier to hold on to than a “sissy strap” (the little leather strap right in front of the saddle). And in pinch, should a rein or stirrup break, it can become an emergency aid.

I didn’t need it last night, but I was glad that I had it: While going down the trail I noticed something white bobbing up and down. What was that?? Hope Remy doesn’t spook! I looked at JP and saw him already laughing. A closer look revealed that the “white thing” was a naked behind, belonging to the Human species! While Chambord decided to make a wide berth around the couple Remy had all intentions to check them out ”Hey, watcha doing??”. Conclusion: Remy is not only good with tarp, he can handle naked humans having a different kind of fun on the trail, too!

Sorry, Kid - we are on our own now!

Remy is back from his week of school. He actually has about 10 day vacation now, as Judy and a group of her clients are off next week to the USDF Region 2 championships. I almost feel a bit left out, but the emphasis is on ‘almost’… even though Remy made a ton of progress I didn’t want to jinx it with another trip to Lamplight, IL. Better to tackle the championships (at the Kentucky Horse Park) with confidence next year. And also, hmmm, having saved a huge chunk of change by not going to Lamplight I might be able to splurge on the next Jan clinic.

Remy was sent home with a teacher’s note to me: “….Remember to have expectations as you do for your employees! No free rides! He needs to earn his treats!..”

Ah, kid, it’s you and me now. Let’s see how we can figure it out: staying straight between inside and outside aids, pushing through the half-halts, etc. etc.…

If all else fails: I’ve stocked up on Nutella, and I promise there are enough ‘stud muffins’ for you to tie us over until Judy comes back!

A surprising email - Saumur's gaze touched a stranger

I received a very polite email from a complete stranger: A German woman that had seen the photo of Saumur and JP in the German riding magazine “Cavallo”. She wrote that she was so touched by what she saw in Saumur’s gaze she felt compelled to contact the magazine and ask for my email address. Her specialty is management consulting, and she also teaches management and communication skills with the aid of horses. So, she very kindly asked if she could use the photo in her training sessions.  Now I was touched. For this  complete stranger to notice the unspoken communication between Saumur and JP is really remarkable.

Photo courtesy of Mathieu Boimare

The more I thought about how horses teach us non-verbal communication skills the more I realized how much the boys (aided by some excellent cowboy advice) have taught me. One of the first lessons I learned was “make yourself as tall as possible” – when Saumur was trying to run me over. You have to command presence, and really it’s the same with people. If you shy away and make yourself small you will not command respect. There are plenty more examples like that, and I completely believe that what I learned by dealing with horses has helped me in the ‘non-horsey’ aspect of my life. Instantly, leadership and also mentoring come to mind. OTOH, some things I try to refrain from transferring:  Being emotional for one (well, I said TRYING!)

Animated movies, trailrides and tarp

OK, who ever designed “Maximus” in Disney’s animated movie “Tangled” must have met Chambord! We happened to come across it the other night on TV, and OMG – in all of "Max’s" expressions we recognized Chambord. Hello Disney, if you want hire the real deal: Give us a call!

Speaking of movies, this one has nothing to do with horses, but we were both deeply impressed: “Blue Jasmine”, the latest Woody Allen movie, starring Cate Blanchett. Wow, she deserves an Oscar for her role as Jasmine!

Back to the horses – it was a weekend for lovely trailrides… and some heated discussions. It’s hard for me choosing who to take, Saumur or Remy? Saumur is “The Man” and he carefully watches who gets my attention and how much. As soon as he sees me in the pasture he comes right up to me, and if I get Remy he tries to push him away. Yesterday I took Saumur on a trailride, much to JP’s chagrin. He feels I should spend more time with Remy. But I have to admit that after all these years of runs, bolts and spooks having Saumur now marching along happy and relaxed is just the icing on the cake for me. It makes me happy to feel him FINALLY relaxed. Actually, relaxed enough to put Chambord in his place by baring his teeth.

So, for Remy I came up with another kind of ‘entertainment’: Groundwork. I like to go back to groundwork from time to time, things like yielding the hindquarters, backing up, etc. Remy remembered everything, and thought that was a snooze. To spice things up I put a large tarp in arena to walk over it. Well, after Remy wasn’t successful in picking it up he was quickly bored with the whole thing. So JP and I decided to drape him in it. NP!! (No problem). The ‘crowning achievement’ was flicking an automatic umbrella at him, again: NP. Conclusion: We have reached tarp and umbrella proficiency, now we can go back to the dressage work! 

Labor Day - Is everyone happier with a job to do?

Judy, JP and I worked out a schedule for the fall that takes the boys' individual needs into account:

- Remy goes to school at Judy's Monday through Wednesday, comes home Thursday through Sunday for "track and field" sessions with me. That gives him a good balance between work and play.
- Saumur works in our ring and on the trails, and we do some "graduate work" with Judy
- Chambord and JP are mainly hitting the trails, interspersed with "alternate high school" classes

That way we balance work and play for everybody and take advantage of the Michigan fall riding weather. Remy is young and needs to get exposed to a lot of different things, besides continuing with his dressage training. Saumur is at a stage where he has reached his zenith, and the focus now is more on keeping him sound and healthy than moving him up. Chambord's goals are pretty straightforward: Be a good boy for JP!

I think everyone is happier if they have a job to do. Our two Viszlas, Max and Jaas, think their job is running through the woods, chasing squirrels; and defending our place with the most threatening barks possible. JP needs to have something to build (fences), tear down (fences, walls), fix (tractor) or cut (lawn, trees). I have to be physical active, preferably riding, otherwise I get crabby (yes, OK, I admit it).

Ah, but there is always an exception to the rule  - in our case Julius and Halle (our rescued house cats): No work! Snuggling, eating and sleeping is perfectly fine, thank you very much!!

"Born to ride .. forced to work" - Professional or Amateur

I saw that bumper sticker for the first time last weekend, and it got me to think about the meaning. Initially I found it funny, but honestly I view it a bit differently. Yes, I have to work to pay the bills, but I also have the privilege to work. I consider myself a "Die-hard Professional", and I have worked hard to get to where I am in my career. It gives me pleasure to create a good work environment, alleviating some of the day-to-day stress, and of course leading a successful team.

But then, when it comes to riding, I am an amateur at heart. I don't want to be a Professional in the horse business. Dealing with a multitude of customers and their egos, green, spoiled and unruly horses that are expected to be 'fixed' in a month, the hard physical labor and dangers that come with training the above mentioned horses, staffing issues (try to find and keep good barn help!), all the while striving to be on top of the competitive game... wow, this is not for the faint of heart! ( I'm not a sissy, but I know my limits, mainly the lack of patience to deal with said customer egos).  Not to mention the 24/7 on-call hours. This truly is "Survival of the fittest". I wouldn't want to fall into the category of professional that loses the love of the horses and the sport due to the daily grind.

Lucky for us, we found a professional that very successfully handles the pressures of her job with grace and good humor, while preserving her love for the horses and the sport.  Chapeau, Judy!

Yesterday Saumur and I had a good lesson, and after a particularly well executed exercise Judy exclaimed "Pretty good for an amateur!" Now, coming from her, that really is a compliment!

Wikipedia: An amateur (French amateur "lover of", from Old French and ultimately from Latin amatorem nom. amator, "lover") is generally considered a person attached to a particular pursuit, study, or science in a non-professional or unpaid manner. 

Yes: I am a true amateur in the sense of the word - And not just pertaining to horses! I wonder if there is such a thing as an "Amateur-Wife" :-)?

Some more thoughts on the season -- It's all good!

Actually, after the ups and downs: It's all good!!

Remy and I certainly learned a lot. Remy: "Stay off the forehand", Birgit: "Watch your position", are among the key points. I might add another useful one: It's a bad idea to celebrate with champagne on a stomach that's only received a yogurt a day. (No, I'm not on a diet, I just can't eat when I'm nervous).

After Lamplight I really had some doubts about my partnership with Remy, and I am grateful that I had the support of Judy and JP all they way. They both believed in our team. With Judy taking over the training and the showing, Remy received a really good foundation.And that is absolutely key. How many good horses get ruined by riders and/or trainers rushing them through, the faster the better? Or just give up? A  lot of these horses last one or two seasons, never to be seen again. 

Judy mentioned this weekend that in all the years she never had a horse improving that much within five rides! Once Remy figures it out, it's there. Morgan-Power :-)

I also had to swallow hard this season on one judge's comment. But then, this particular person is known for being unstable and various complaints against her have been filed with the USEF. OTOH, the majority of the judges offered constructive criticism and encouraging comments.

The best comment, very fittingly, was after the last class. The judge peeked out of the judges box and asked "May I have him? He is lovely!" NO WAY, Lady! He's all mine!! :-) She must have been serious: the test scored 72.5%. 

So: It's all good!!

Finishing with several WOWs - the show season that is

"Wow" only partially covers the roller coaster ride we were on the last days. Remy had a sore throat/infection, but it got nipped in the bud right in the beginning and his temperature went back to normal within a day and stayed in the 99F range. Remy was his perky self again so we decided to take him to Waterloo on Thursday for schooling and "to see how it goes".

Ah, as to "see how it goes"... schooling didn't go so swell. The lower warm up arena is not for the faint of heart as it is lined by dense forest on one long side, facing the road on the other long side, and the short sides sport the food vendor on the left and several  Porta Johns (toilets to you Europeans) on the right. Now add a bunch of horses to the mix and you get the idea. Remy got rattled by some 'fire-breathing' heavy warmbloods cantering up behind him and not surprisingly chose to save his hide by jumping out of the way. That, of course, didn't help Judy with her well thought out training plan. The traditional German training way would be to push (sometimes force) the horse through the issue and make him listen no matter what. However,  Remy is Mr. Sensitive, therefore Judy chose to stop, reassure, and then go about business as usual. The question was: Would this help Remy overcome his issue with feeling crowded? Time would tell...

As usually, Remy handled all the other commotion on the showgrounds exceedingly well. The warmup on Friday was better, and he did very well in the large open training classes: Winning his first one with 69.3% and scoring 67.8% in his second class. I, of course, was a Nervous Nellie the entire time. I never thought that I could be more nervous watching that riding. Well, now I know better: My broken nails are proof! Poor Remy: his 'reward' for doing so well: a huge injection in his hamstring with the final dose of antibiotic.

Saturday Judy didn't even longe him in the warm up, on she went and rode another two beautiful tests, culminating in a score of 72.5%!!  So, yes, WOW!!

All four of us (Judy, myself, JP and Remy) were VERY relieved that her strategy in the warm up was the right one. Of course, it's always easy to say after the fact "I knew it", but really, I did. There is nothing wrong with questioning your approach, and actually it's the right thing to do, but you also have to have faith in your gut feeling. Yes, Jude, your gut was right on :-)

The weekend also helped me bonding with Remy more, without riding I could focus on really pampering him, as I was his groom. At home I am always watching that Saumur doesn't feel left out (OK, yes, they are horses but they do have feelings! It's no fun when your sibling gets all the attention). So away from home I don't have to feel guilty about spoiling one of them individually. I might have taken it too far, though: Remy now digs through my clothes in search of cookies and I got 'reprimanded' for letting him do this as evidenced by me sporting a shirt with horse slobber all over.

I also got to watch Judy ride Benise in the PSG, and here is another WOW!! "Beauty and Harmony" came to mind as they danced away from the competition -in a snaffle- with almost 75% despite a spook caused by two dogs. Remy and I sure have a long way to go, but it's great to have a role model to emulate right in front of us. Said role model even makes me look better off the horse - no shirts sporting horse slobber allowed :-)

Last show of the season - and the kid is under the weather

Remy went to Judy’s on Monday to get ready for the last show of this year. Not long after he arrived Judy with worrisome news: Remy had a fever of 104.3F. He had seemed fine in the morning, ate all this food, but when Judy rode him she felt him to be not his usual self. So she took his temp and called me. Luckily the barn vet was able to come quickly, and she treated Remy with an Antibiotic and Banamine. The bloodwork revealed an infection, but the vet assured me that due to Judy’s astuteness and quick reaction the infection was nipped in the bud. Thanks, Jude!

Remy’s temp returned to normal the same evening and so far is staying normal without medication (knock on wood). He’s still not his old perky self, so I am monitoring him closely. The vet gave us the green light to go to the show “if he has no fever, eats all his food, and seems happy”. I scratched his Thursday classes, and if he seems rearing to go then we’ll do Friday and Saturday. If all goes well he will probably have to expend a lot of pent-up energy and enthusiasm by then!

Dressage clinics - Egos and two sides to every story

First a note to my European friends: A dressage clinic is nothing medical! It's a "Lehrgang" in German, or "cours" in French.

Ok, after all the controversy regarding the blog “It’s time to train the trainers” on the Chronicle Of The Horse website, and friends asking me what I thought about it, here are my five cents:

The woman has a point. There definitely is a lack of well trained, local trainers that can teach the ABCs of dressage (or any riding discipline, for that matter) with skill and compassion for both horse and rider. Yes, she sounds rather abrasive and condescending, but I also think she wrote what some other clinicians think but don’t dare to loudly express. It seems silly to pay around $300 for 45 minutes to get told how to hold the reins or post the trot. And yes, teaching the rudimentary basics probably does not utilize the clinicians considerable skills and experience to the fullest (to say it kindly).

A visiting European clinician once quietly asked me “Why do the Americans spend all this money for a clinic?” Ah, good one!

Take your pick, in no particular order:

(A)    Because they can afford it

(B)    There are no good local trainers available

(C)    They don’t want to make the commitment of having regular lessons and hope for a quick fix

(D)   Practice in a show like atmosphere (spectators) without the stress of scores

(E)    Their trainer needs to fill the clinic and ‘strongly encourages’ students’ participation

(F)    It’s something to brag about

(G)   They want to work on specific problems and/or strive to learn from international accomplished experts

My reasons are always (G), with a bit of (D) mixed in. I have been fortunate to ride with a few outstanding clinicians over the years, and I got a lot out  of it (Thank you, George!). Once so much I felt compelled to write a -published- article for the USDF Connection about it.

So, it’s a free country, and whatever the motivations are, clinics are mostly beneficial. A word to the wise: ALWAYS check out the clinician beforehand, don’t just sign up because somebody recommends the person, or the person has published an article or a book. I remember auditing a clinic where the well known rider and published author beat the heck out of a participant’s horse. Or the time a friend of mine rode with a European trainer and he threw a chair after her horse because the trot wasn’t forward enough (!?). There is responsibility on both sides to be as professional and committed as possible.

Finally, if you are a rider and you can’t sit the trot or hold the reins correctly, don’t sign up with a clinician that feels offended by it. And on the flip side: If you are a clinician and feel “dissed” (disrespected) by having to teach beginners, don't whine - just make sure none sign up. 

Lessons learned and best practises - musings during stall cleaning

Yesterday it was my turn to do the room service for the boys. I like cleaning stalls, it’s physical, but you can let your mind wander, and at the end I take pride in having nice fluffy beds made up. Sporting manure stains all over my clothes is a different story, though.

It’s interesting to think how many ways they are to bed and clean stalls. Growing up in Germany the only option was straw, and the stalls were made up in ‘mattresses’ – which means only the top soiled layer was taken off daily, and then a new layer of straw was added. Hence, the ‘mattress’ was build. Once in a while the barns had “Pee Days” where the entire stall was stripped. Called “Pee Days” because of the urine that had accumulated at the bottom of the mattress. Yuk! All the barns in my area were full service, and the barn owners did not want the riders to mess up their carefully planned systems. They even hid the pitch forks.

In my early days in the US I traded Crissy’s board against barn duties, cleaning stalls, feeding, turnout. Even though the barn owner/trainer was a bit on the strange side (i.e. if a horse stood in the stall with the hind end pointed to the door it didn’t want to be worked and thus was left alone) she taught me correct mucking and bedding, using saw dust or wood shavings. I still stick to her program of taking the soiled bedding out, raking the rest in the middle, and then banking fresh bedding around the walls. This way, there is fresh bedding available to be raked in when needed, and it stays in place. If you only pile new bedding in the middle of the stall and leave area around the walls bare the sawdust gets spread and then the horses are left with only a thin layer often not even covering the floor.

JP and I are big fans of wood pellets, they are soft, very absorbent, and dust free. Initially they need to be watered down, and I have fun doing it: It’s like making a giant batch of popcorn: “Snap, crackle, pop”, as the pellets expand. I guess you really can find joy in little things – in this case, wood pellets!

It's a dangerous world out there - Where is the bubble?

It started with a laugh, as the new assistant of the Equine Homeopath called to schedule an appointment to discuss Remy’s “biopsy”. Uh, last I checked I didn't take a piece of flesh out of him. Just some mouth and nasal swaps and a piece of mane.

Sue, the Equine Homeopath. reviewed the result with me in detail. No more laughs, as some findings were pretty worrisome. Remy tested positive for TB Aviary bacteria, which means a strain of TB transmitted by birds. Then there were all the chemicals (pollution) and metals (vaccination byproducts) in his system, plus an epithelial cyst (that’s the cysts in the mouth the vet pointed out, it’s still healing). I got paler by the minute, even though Sue assured me it’s not as grim as it sounds. Well then… the good news was that it seems there is not much concern regarding the cataracts!

So, Remy’s is receiving a Biofeedback medication, which is “bio-identical made from the submitted samples to enhance, supplement or detox the body – all working together to safely stimulate the body’s healing capacity. Some of the forms used are food supplements, phenolics, vitamins, trace minerals, amino acids, nosodes, bach flowers and homeopathic”.

Sue also gave me a strong warning about vaccinations, as Remy already had a bad reaction she feels strongly that his body cannot handle them. (Ah, yes, Glenda, just as you said!). Remy’s adverse reaction came after the Rabies vaccination, which according to Sue, is the one the causes the most problems. She recommended I put it in perspective, and to consider that the risk of a horse getting rabies is about as high as being hit by lightning.

We have started to give Remy his Biofeedback, squirted into his mouth several times a day. Good thing he’s such an easy patient, and the formula: “Spray followed by Cookie” does the trick. Cross my fingers (and Remy probably crosses his hooves) that it works! Retesting is recommended in six to eight months. Right now to me it looks like my ‘worry-list’ got much longer (Any chance to get rid of the birds at the barn?? Is his –very expensive- Grass Diet Balancer contaminated? What about fly spray?…) Sounds like living in a bubble would be recommended!

Finally - a glimpse of lightness and "hey, I can ride him"

My lessons with Saumur have been going really well, mainly because Saumur is no longer so anxious and is able to remain relaxed (to his standard) most of the time. And, uh, minor detail, I seem to figure out how to ride him! I him – OK, after what, 13 years?? Better late than never!

Judy has been working with me on “light hands, weight in the saddle, remind him he has hind legs” – which is basic, but very difficult for me to do on Saumur. When Saumur used to get strong my initial reaction used to be to lighten my seat to get off his back, but then make it up with being strong in my arms. Needless to say, things would go downhill from there.

Yesterday we were able to do correct shoulder ins in the trot and canter, and when I kept Saumur engaged and off his forehand (duh), riding him in a light contact, he gave me the most awesome feeling: I had him on my seat! I actually got several “good riding!” out of Judy, and she’s a hard one to please (yep, Jude, and we love you for it J!)

Saumur was one happy dude after the ride, he is so expressive that you always know where you are with him. In this case: Pass the carrots to Saumur, Hanuta to Judy, and Moser Roth to Birgit, please! Oops, and let's not forget the Henri Bardouin for JP (yep, there is something for everyone, although Saumur seems to be the easiest to satisfy: He's happy with  plain carrots!)