When your breakfast server reminds you it's time to clean the barn - and a sweet moment

Milford is a “horsey town” so it’s no surprise that the server at our favorite breakfast spot also has horses. The usual chipper Lori hardly could get a word out yesterday, but we learned that her allergies were acting up because she had been cleaning her barn, getting rid of a winter’s worth of dust and cobwebs.

Thanks for the reminder, Lori! JP had just finished the new barn roof and started re-decorating and arranging the inside, so what better time for me to bring out R2D2 (the shop vac)? I tackled cob webs and dust with gusto, and as filthy and smelly I was at the end I was proud of my accomplishment. Somehow it is way more satisfying for me to clean the barn than the house. Hmm??

Last night only Teddy was at the door in time for dinner, the others enjoyed the lush grass in the lower pasture. When my calls went unanswered (highly unusual) I walked down to see them. That was enough for Saumur and Chambord to kick up their heels and high tail it to dinner. Remy surprised me: He stayed with me, I had my hand on his neck and we walked companionable towards our respective dinners. JP watched us from the kitchen window and we both were touched by that sweet moment. It doesn’t take ‘big things’ to make us happy!

Not the best of weeks - but still some highlights

My coughing/breathing issues got so bad that on Monday I ended up at my doctor's - who was quite surprised to see me. We have a once year 'standing appointment' for my annual check up, otherwise we don't see each other. I ended up at the hospital for x-rays. Heavily medicated and thus bone tired I went back to work. That meant not much energy left for riding. Remy wasn't complaining about time off, though.


Based on my week I wasn't sure what to expect in our lesson with Roz today. Remy had had several days off in a row and I had 'crashed' last night, completely zapped of energy. Surprise: We both pulled our respective selves together and had a really super lesson. Remy was right on, nicely forward, light and responsive. We worked some more on his changes, and doing them on a straight line across the arena is a great exercise. Roz had me counter-bend Remy a bit before turning on the straight line and then she blocked him/us from falling over the shoulder in the new direction.


Note to self: The change has to be on the straight line, and not going into the turn, or -big NO NO- falling into the turn/new direction.


My 'associate coach' (aka JP) commented on how big the changes are getting. Very pleased with ourselves we boarded our schoolbus and went home to green pastures and German cake.

Is this the one?? - And getting more input

Luanne brought my reworked Triumph saddle back, this time the rear panels received soft foam (the rest is still wool flocking). The foam in the rear helps alleviate the pressure from the panels being a tad too long for Remy's more collected frame. As this is a rather short term fix, Luanne also had the 'piece de resistance' in her back pocket, uh, back seat: The limited edition Tribute.

The little voice in my head says "If you ride in this you better ride darn well!"

Luanne left the saddle for a few test rides. Perfect timing as I had a lesson with Judy's friend and fellow professional trainer Roz on Saturday. It was the first time I rode with Roz, I had seen her at shows riding and coaching (she coached her para-equestrian student to the Olympic games), and always liked her approach.


Roz honed in (or should I say try to get it in my thick skull) that Remy needs to be quicker and more responsive to my leg. With her being the third professional pointing it out you would think I'd get it!? Roz had some good exercises to address the problem, such as turn on the forehand to make Remy better listen to my leg: Halt - a few steps turn on the forehand - halt, a few steps, and so on.


In trot and canter we did shoulder in, straight to the center line, back to the wall, shoulder in. When doing the canter half-pass to the change I need to change before the corner, otherwise it all gets muddled. Our initial changes weren't very good or prompt, it all went back to Remy listening (or rather not) to my leg. Roz suggested doing the changes on a straight and short line across the arena and that did the trick. JP noted afterwards that the changes were "large" and clean, and I didn't "let the canter die" right before the change. Good observations from my live-in coach. He definitely earned the delicious fresh morel mushrooms my friend Glenda bestowed upon us!


As for the saddle: Riding in it felt good, and yes, I love the look. Is it THE one? I will give it a few more rides and if indeed it's THE one I might have to take a summer job ... or hire out JP :-)