"How about that cookie now??" - He has my number

Lovely trailride yesterday, boys behaved, perfect -bug free- weather: Life was good in Kensington!

As soon as we got back to the barn and I took Remy's bridle off I got the "cookie look" and -as usual- I surrendered. How to resist a face like this??

"Please fork over a cookie or two - I was a good boy!"

Well, the tail started wagging again - a week without dressage will do that

Remy had a varied program this week, lunging sessions in our outdoor arena, trailrides, and plenty of playtime.

Especially the first longing session turned out the be quite the nail biter: Remy was starting all ho-hum but suddenly went into his best rodeo bronc imitation "YeeHah!". He pulled so hard (I had him in a longing cavesson, no bit) that I let go of the longe rein. Well, that was quite the sight: Remy hightailing all around the arena, kicking and bucking, probably wondering why this line was chasing him. Good thing our arena is enclosed by four-board fencing. Remy calmed down and we continued as if nothing had happened.

So after a week off today it was time to get back to work. Judy is at Lamplight at the National Championships right now:  Congratulations, Judy!! She won the Reserve National Championship for 5 year old horses on Quintee, and her student, Isabel, is the National Champion Junior Rider. Super results!!

Roz came today to help some of Judy's students and Remy and I had a very good lesson. Roz' approach is not that different from Judy, but she has complementary exercises and explanations that work really well for us. Low and behold, we managed clean changes each way!! All this while staying relaxed - No wonder the tail started wagging again :-)

Time to re-assess - the fun left the arena today

My lesson today started out well, Remy was nicely on the aids and Judy was happy with my position. Yay! I had planned to focus on the changes, so we could finish on a good note before Judy left.

Alas, it wasn't meant to be. Just as I was getting the canter going another rider (who I basically just 10 minutes earlier had told that Remy gets worried when other horses come too close) got in the arena and started cantering without any regard of what we were doing. There went our focus - mostly mine. It was pretty much a disaster and I left the arena with the tail between my legs.

It got me to thinking - once again - that why do it if I don't have fun?? Glenda is proof on how happy you are when you live according to "If it's not fun I won't do it". Obviously, I am not getting any better, the fun sure left the arena today, and consequently it wasn't exactly a good experience for Remy, either.

At least we have the trails and I am looking forward to nice relaxing trail rides. I need to take the pressure off myself. One step at a time, or perhaps better: One hoof in front of the other.

Two weeks left - and food for thought

We are getting into the homestretch of the summer camps at Detroit Horse Power, two weeks left and then the kids go back to school. It is a great experience, not just working with the kids, but also getting to know my fellow volunteers and the staff.

A typical beginner lesson: Balance exercises with a leader and a side-walker

Most of the other volunteers are college students, and I am amazed at their dedication to the program. I learned from talking with them that most are cash strapped, and still they donate their time to DHP. It also makes me appreciate that I am in a very privileged setting with Remy, having Judy as my coach, and being able to afford the lessons and training. My favorite volunteer, Bria, is a college student and makes do with once-monthly lessons on her OTTB (Off the Track Thoroughbred) mare. What I love about her is that she is so excited about working with her mare, she truly loves the horse, and developing the horse is way more important to her than chasing points and ribbons.

I think a lot of time people -especially the more affluent ones- get 'sucked in' by the whole show/awards/clinic/Florida scene that they forget what horse owning is all about. It is the joy of dealing with an -often opinionated- animal and seeing a relationship evolve and develop, taking pride in the accomplishments (even very small ones) along the way.  It is not just chasing scores and championships, and having a "delicate flower" (often with ulcers) that only knows its paddock, the arena, and show grounds.

This week I was very fortunate to have a "Riding Boot Camp", meaning daily lessons. Judy is leaving next week for the National Young Horse Championships (Her fabulous mare Quintee is one of the top contenders in the Five-Year old class), so Remy and I were 'cramming'. While my riding is getting better through the continuous work, I am still not good enough when it comes to the changes. To put salt in the wound: Judy gets a line of excellent changes on Remy (of course!).

One of the personality traits we focus on with the DHP students is perseverance. I certainly need to sit up in the class room and take it to heart!

A horse riding a horse - and a surprising young man

On our way back from the beautiful outdoor wedding we stopped at Glenda's to see her new indoor arena. "Wow" is basically what both JP and I were saying at the same time. Glenda combined the old stable with the state of the art indoor in such as way that it is beautiful and functional but not ostentatious. Ah, all I want for Christmas...

This week at Detroit Horse Power we had another very interesting and inspiring group of 17 and 18 year old students. During James' lesson I talked about horses and leadership, and explained that horses are looking for a firm but gentle leader they can respect. In the wild it is an experienced female, the Alpha Mare, leading the herd. The males are way too busy listening to their hormones to decide where to eat, drink, rest, or take flight from predators. Thus the Alpha Mare provides the trusted leadership. James looked at me and said very seriously that he also believes that women are often the better leaders. He just made my day: There is hope!!

Detroit Horse Power also had the visit from Hooper, the Piston's mascot, this week. We gave Hooper a DHP T-Shirt to wear and he changed his silks.  That was fun, and I was very impressed that the horses didn't spook, not even when he climbed on to ride. After all it was a horse riding a horse!

Hooper and Appy hit it off

Minde and I had fun hanging out with Hooper

Working on "Taming that Lizard Brain" - and "You may leave now"

My latest read is "Tame That Lizard Brain - Brain Training for Riders" by Andrea Monserrat Waldo. I am about half-way through and I do really like the information and exercises very much. Once I am done reading and I've had some time practicing I will do a book review for the MDA newsletter and also post it on the blog. What I like a lot already is that the author give very down to earth background information, advice and exercises. She asks the right questions, and gives working (!) strategies on issues from show nerves to dealing with the aftermaths of accidents (i.e. "Psychological Injury is a Real Injury").

My current exercise is after every ride to write down three things that went well. Luckily this week I didn't have to wreck my brain to come up with the positive points. Even though I had been already tired every day by the time I climbed on Remy, we managed positive rides. The tiredness stems from my mornings at DHP, walking and trotting next to the students while teaching in the sun is not exactly 'a walk in the park'. It is fun, and the kids are awesome. I do feel for the horses, though, and while staff and volunteers are trying their best, it is a fact that the horses are no Spring-Chickens. Having kids bounce on their backs in saddles that not always fit right makes me cringe. I am also concerned because there seems to be more illness going around, and the last thing I want is to bring  an infection home again.

Back to my lessons, all week Remy and I have been able to stay calm and focused, and getting consistent work. While our changes (mine!) are still a work in progress, the canter is getting better and better, and without good canter we won't have good changes. The three of us (Judy, Remy and I) were happy after yesterday's lesson and I proclaimed laughingly to Judy "You may leave now!".
(Judy and the Topline team are at the Majestic show this weekend, while JP and I are off to Cadillac for Ryan's and Megan's wedding).

The weekend at home got canceled - pass the applesauce, please

Well, Remy's weekend pass got canceled - now Chambord and Teddy are coughing. So for Remy not to get exposed to the infection again he has to stay at Judy's. Lisa, the barn manager, and Judy made sure that Remy's turnout time is almost like at home. This is not easy with the number of horses that have to get rotated through the paddocks, so both Remy and I appreciate it very much.

Luckily, we were able to pick up where we left off with our training a few weeks back. Remy went back to work soft and supple. Actually, our back to work faced some weather challenges: On Tuesday we were completed "Thundered out", and on Wednesday we had to ride to grumbling. Yesterday all was well and yay, we got good changes. Judy has been on me to be quieter and softer, and in turn Remy is going better.

As the season is coming to an end I've decided not to try to squeeze in the last show. As much as I would have loved to go to Majestic next week (it coincides with a wedding we are invited to Up North), Waterloo doesn't appeal much. So the plan is to solidify Third and start Fourth over the winter, and then see what we'll have next year.

In the meantime, I have two more boys at home that request to pass the applesauce - Just don't tell them I hide the meds in it!

No fan of selfies - and no room for cattle at our place (luckily!)

I'm no fan of selfies, and when traveling I always get a kick out of signs that announce "No Selfie Sticks Allowed".

However, I am quite addicted to photos of my boys. Angela Booth (Booth Photography) shared the photos she took at the Brent Graef clinic. Here are few:

And no, there is no room for cattle at our place. However, perhaps some goats might be fun??