A bumpy week - and right out of central casting?

Well, the Europe trip was not a gift but it kept on giving anyway... in the form of a severe cold/flu. I felt it coming on Monday but decided to ignore it, and also to keep my lesson with Maryal on Tuesday. Fazit: Remy: Good - Birgit: Not so much ("Renvers? hmm, can't remember"). Maryal, sweet lady that she is, kept is easy for us. Afterwards I crashed, developed fever, and finally had to stay in bed.


While the thought of staying in bed might generally sound enticing, it's no fun when you are burning up, getting chills, sneezing, coughing, and have a killer headache... all the while strange men are in the house, sanding the floors and staining same. Yep, it was the week the kitchen and hallway hardwood floors were getting redone. Oh, and I forgot to mention that this also meant all five of us were cramped in one bedroom - the other four being JP and the cats. Julius, the barn cat (a strictly honorary title nowadays) is especially fond of me and loves to put his paws around my neck. Needless to say, sleep was not in the cards.


Luckily I'm one tough (fill in the blanks) and got back on my feet quite quickly. Today the weather was just perfect, and we had a lovely trailride. On the way home a car facing us came to a stop, a man got out and set up equipment. What was he up to? When we got closer we saw it was an elaborate camera kit on a tripod. He asked us if he could take pictures of us because "You guys look like right out of central casting". Hmm... now the question beckons: Central casting for what kind of movie???

Don't blow away - and a distinct advantage

Finally home and back on the horse. The trip to France was strenuous, starting out with no clothes. Well, OK, I had the ones I wore, but other than that: Rien. It took two days to be reunited with my suitcase, and let me tell you, I bought the most expensive deodorant of my life at the airport in Geneva. The things you do for your colleagues!


Remy in the meantime was at school, Judy being motivated by a "European chocolate bribe" to work on his changes. I jokingly asked her today if she earned the chocolates, and she solemnly said yes. All in good fun!


The weather was not exactly with me today, very high winds rattling the indoor arena. I opted for outdoors, where the furniture and muck bucket went on a merry chase. Oh, great. Luckily Remy kept it together, as did Chambord. Impressive, because usually high winds put horses on high alert. No lack of energy today, that's for sure. I was ready for a one rein stop, but I never needed it.


All the rich French food (including dessert after every lunch AND dinner) seemed to have given me a distinct advantage: My center of gravity firmly stayed in the saddle: No blowing this woman off!

A run in with Rosie the Yorkie - and he's filling in for me

A beautiful fall weekend - perfect weather for a trailride. We hadn't even reached the park entrance when all off a sudden Rosie, the Yorkshire Terrier, ran out of her yard, straight between the horses legs! Rosie is cute as a button, full of energy, and has no sense whatsoever of self-preservation.


While I yelled at her owner to come get her Chambord and Remy just curiously observed the little dervish dashing in between their legs, and right under their tails. Good boys, they didn't get rattled or tried to kick Rosie away. Good thing it wasn't Saumur, he would have killed her with one swift kick, as his sense of self-preservation is off the charts.


Speaking of rattled - Saumur and I have a lot in common when it comes to that. I'm getting ready to hit the plane for Europe later this afternoon, and well, let's just say, "this ain't my first rodeo" but it still sometimes feels like it!


First Rosie, then two horses cantering up behind us on the trails, and Remy was a trooper. He clearly had to fill in for his unfocused rider by staying calm and with it during those incidents. But then he showed me in no uncertain terms that this was his time and I better pay attention. From then on all was well on the trails of Kensington.


This definitely called for lots of carrots for the boys and well, yes, something liquid and alcoholic for me!

The gears are a bit stuck - and testing a new bridle

The weather decided to get with the “Golden October” program, it was a beautiful day for my last lesson before the break. The outdoor footing at Judy’s is perfect, and as it is a different composition as indoors it doesn’t cause any breathing issues.

We took both Chambord and Remy on the outing to Judy's. Chambord, as usual, was game and happily worked with JP, even marching off without giving a second look back to his buddy. Remy, on the other hand, decided only one day off clearly was in violation of his contract (overtime, anyone?) and felt like his gears were a bit stuck. He wasn’t as responsive to the leg aids and more or less grudgingly got to work. It took quite some cajoling on my part, but eventually we were back in business – and I had a sweat soaked shirt to show for.

It was also the first time that I test-rode a new bridle design, the Miklem Rambo Competition Bridle. Remy’s regular schooling bridle is falling apart, so I did some research and was intrigued by the design of the Rambo. It makes a lot of sense, at least on paper. It looks very nice on Remy, less leather on his face, which I like as I’m all for “less is more” (as long as it makes sense). But of course, the proof is in the ride. Remy felt better in my hands, less leaning, with an overall steadier contact. No snatching the reins out of my hands, no raising the head so high I have to fear for my nose, no rubbing his head on his legs every time we take a break. Do we have a winner? It will take more rides to confirm the positive first impression, but so far I’d say yes.

Perhaps Remy just likes it because it’s called Rambo and he relates -- Nomen est omen! (He is saying this with the chest puffed out).

 

Monday morning thoughts

You’ll never be brave if you don’t get hurt

You’ll never learn if you don’t make mistakes

You’ll never be successful if you don’t encounter failure

(I don't know who wrote this, I read it somewhere and I think it's right on)

Leg yields are a girl's best friend - and lemonade for all of us

Not much of "Goldener Oktober" (Golden October) here. The German expression is for October sunshine, warmth, and glowing leaves that especially southern Germany is known for. Looking out onto the Michigan October weather: Dark, bleak, cold, wet. Ugh!


We hit the low 40sF yesterday (about 4 to 6C) with blustery winds. Yay, riding weather, as that makes for very "up" horses. Geared up with mask, headset, helmet we tackled our lesson in the morning. Already while grooming Remy I could feel him being pushy and quite alert, ready to jump should another branch hit the wall. So no surprise that once on board I could feel his back hump up, and a buck in the works. That called for determined riding forward and lots of lateral work.


As Judy pointed out "in weather like this, leg yields are your best friend". And sure enough, they made Remy supple and put him on the aids. We had a really good lesson, some of the best canter work ever, and I finally relaxed my shoulders (double yay!). Nothing like a good ride to make your day, especially when the outcome is questionable at the onset.


One more ride tomorrow, and then I have to take a much loathed two-week break from riding: Next week is overfull with meetings and work dinners, then I'm leaving on Sunday for a weeklong business trip to France.


But we are making lemonade out of the lemons: Remy is thrilled to be on vacation next week as Judy is traveling to CA to work with Jan. The following week Remy goes back to school and the good news for me is that he'll be all ready to go with changes confirmed (right, Jude?) by the time I get back.


Oh, and the rest of the family will have their share of lemonade by enjoying their laissez-faire while I'm gone: Cats on the bed, dogs at the dinner table, and JP getting his boots admired by the ladies on the prowl at the White Horse Inn...