"He is a trained horse and you are a big girl: Get on with it!"

Back from Quebec were I got treated to my first snow this season. BRR! To top it off our customer gleefully shared the forecast: Lots of snow, also in the Midwest. Of course, if you produce Snowmobiles, you like it. If you shiver when the temps drop to 60F snow is not all that appealing.


While I was contemplating moving (again) to somewhere warm and sunny for the winter Remy continued his lessons with Judy. She keeps me updated with text messages - the last one read: "Remy good today. Rule #1:The better the canter the better the changes".


Still a bit groggy from my travel meds I was happy that Remy got right to work today. His lateral work is coming along very nicely, and today we introduced canter half-pass zigzags. Cool! The changes were more of a struggle as Remy knows what to do and I don't. Somehow I can't get my aids coordinated in time, and then I do what Saumur successfully trained me to do: Clench my cheeks, take my legs off, throw my weight in the new direction - and hope for the best. Obviously, that pleases neither Remy, nor Judy, nor me - aside from the fact that Remy goes on counter-cantering. After all, I didn't tell him to change now did I?


With frustration setting in I wanted to quit and got the above mentioned reminder. OK, deep breath, refocus, resume, and it worked in the end.


I feel like an analphabet getting lessons in reading and writing. I sure hope Remy keeps his enthusiasm up and teaches me the right words. This brings back memories of my very proper French tutor (a highly degreed lady from the Sorbonne). Dating JP added quite a few new words and phrases to my French vocabulary. After a summer off I was eagerly looking forward to impress Madame with my newly expanded and enhanced language skills. I delivered the 'wow' factor, alright, just not the one I had been hoping for: Once Madame's initial shock wore off she sighed and said: "Mon Dieu! We have a lot of work ahead of us to undo all of the slang you picked up".

On the trails - and feeling like being on a family road trip

Fall is beautiful in Michigan, at least when we have sunshine, and the trees are ablaze with colors. Saturday it was cold and windy with the sun peeking through the clouds from time to time. We took Remy and Chambord on a trail that starts on lush grass and then winds through narrow spots in the woods. So while the boys were walking nicely forward and were general obedient, the whining soon started: "Can I have a snack? Please? Puleeze??", " I really need a snack", "If I scratch, you might not notice that I snack". Ugh! You'd think they don't get fed. It took a thwack or two with the jumping stick to get their minds off snacks on onto the task at hand: Watch where you are going.


Today we had beautiful sunshine and warm weather. Perfect to head out on the trails again, this time away from the snacks and onto larger trails. Alas, another issue: As soon as I got on Remy I felt the tightness in his back and the stiff gait - he had to pee. Grr! I was hoping he would stop on the nice sandy ground and do his thing - but no, that would have been too easy: He was grumpy, argumentative, even tried to pinch Chambord. I got off because I thought without my whopping 52 kg on his back it would entice him to do his thing. No luck. But wouldn't you know it: On the way back about a mile from home he decided he found the perfect spot. Really, now?? Yep, now. At least we came home nice and relaxed.


Does the whining for snacks and search for the perfect rest stop remind anyone else of family road trips??

From 0 to 100 in no time - and "just like a garden hose"

Ah, nothing like a good challenge: A lesson with a demanding Olympian after a whopping 15 minutes of riding in 9 days. And sure enough, Jan had us going from 0 to 100 in no time. It wasn't the best of days today, weather-wise. Warm and raining, which means I had to fight for every breath in the arena, even with my mask on.


Well, the good news is that I have better control of my shoulders. Bad news, I still don't have consistent contact with my right hand, meaning I give and take to much. When Remy doesn't go forward enough I give, and then he has nothing to go towards to.


Jan compared it with a garden hose, if you have it on full power and let go in front it will wiggle all over. If you have it turned on but keep a hold of the front you can control the movement. Yep, made perfect sense - of course!


I was happy with our ride. Remy kept his focus and worked his little butt off ... and quite frankly, so did I. Good thing we went to Dimitri's for breakfast this morning, my Spinach Omelet kept me going.


Remy wasn't worse for wear - he was off galloping with Chambord as soon as he came home. JP and I hopped into the sauna and afterwards replenished the lost fluids with champagne and we all agreed: Life is good :-)!

Back in the saddle - and a horse fix in form of a purse

Nine days without riding - one of the few things that keep me sane. But a weekend with a good friend in a fascinating city was great therapy, too. Ingrid met me at the Frankfurt airport and we traveled together to Porto, Portugal. We stayed at a historic luxury hotel right in the city center, and explored the UNESCO world heritage site from there. It was good that we had a day trip booked that showed us all the great sites, including a boat trip and a tour of a port winery with tasting. OK, it's official: I am not a fan of the sweet port. Give me a nice, light Loire wine or a Trollinger, or a really good champagne (which I'm having right now), and I'm happy.

Ingrid left and I had to pay my dues for the trip: A week of meetings. I was proud of myself that I kept the spines in. Ah, the advise from good friends: "Don't get into your Porcupine mode - keep the spines in".


Last night I came back to a clean barn, clean house, a full fridge, and happy husband. Note, the list is in random order. Tired but very happy to be home.


Remy was in Judy's capable hands while I was gone and she reported good flying changes. So today I finally could climb on again. We kept it short and sweet, just enough to find my 'riding legs' in preparation for our lesson with Jan tomorrow.


And I got a small horse fix in Porto after all: A purse with -you guessed it- a horse on it from the Portuguese company Cavalinho. It tied me over until I got to the real deal at home.

And the roller coaster ride continues - Highlights and low points

You could also say when it rains it pours. Still grieving for Max, then Teddy, the pony, had a worry-some colic episode (he's fine now), and to top it off my boss called yesterday to tell me I now report to a guy that is way less qualified and experienced than I am... but he's a guy and he's younger. What does that tell you?? Time to explore.


On the bright side, Jaas seems to slowly come out of her grief. She is eating again and overall more active. The boys are doing all well. My lessons with Remy are becoming the highlights. Judy made my day when she texted me that I'm doing well (after I questioned if I ride him well enough so she doesn't have to 'fix' my mistakes) and that our lessons are fun.


And JP of course does his darndest to keep our rides interesting - last time he lead us into a bog "oh, let's try a new trail". Luckily the boys kept their wits about them and their legs under them and got us out without pulling a tendon. Uff!


Tonight I'm flying to Europe. They highlight will be the weekend: Ingrid is joining me in Frankfurt and we travel together to Porto to spend the weekend exploring the city. The following week will be probably be the low point of the trip - meetings made even more 'fun' by the above mentioned changes. Oh well, what doesn't kill us makes us stronger!


Right when I get back I have a lesson with Jan to look forward to. Nothing like that to take your mind off anything else. You either focus or sweat it all out :-).

"With a little help from my friends" - Sadness lifts a bit

Friday night I hit a low point. It had been a stressful week at work and I was looking forward to  dinner at our favorite restaurant. Alas, we made the plans without one of the presidential candidates: He decided to campaign in Novi that evening, which meant that all freeways in the area were shut down. What can I say: No go. Three hours in the car, and I ended up dead tired, sad (missing Max) and sans dinner (too exhausted to eat) in bed.


Saturday we took the boys on a trailride, and that was an instant mood booster. Nothing like enjoying the quietness of the woods with my three favorite guys. It's almost like Remy senses my sadness, he's been even more sweet and cuddly than usual. JP tempted me to eat with a vegetarian Indian dinner, and we had a relaxed evening at home.


I got lost in a book (again), this time "Circling the Sun" by Paula McLain. It is a fascinating read, the life story of race horse trainer and aviator Beryl Markham. Beryl was an incredible strong and complex woman growing up in Africa in the 1920s.


Today we had another beautiful trailride, and I'm finally feeling less 'blue'. When I say "With a little help from my friends" I mean way more than "a little help", it takes a village: JP, the boys, the few close friends that are there for me whenever I need them, my books, Jaas, and the cats.


Stephanie, this one is for you:


Scheint Dir auch mal das Leben rauh
Sei still und zage nicht,
Die Zeit, die alte Buegelfrau,
Macht alles wieder schlicht.
(Wilhelm Busch)


Meaning:
If life sometimes seems rough, be quiet and don't despair. Time will eventually iron things out.
I do hope Wilhelm is right!