I am lacking in the flexibility department - and yep, no good deed goes unpunished

Today I finally got myself motivated enough to go to a yoga class. It's been an on again-off again relationship, so it's been a while since I did something more than Yoga Nidra (laying there doing nothing but relax). However, there is a big motivating factor: I have signed up for a "Posture Clinic" = Pilates for riders. In the mornings there are mat and ball exercises, and then in the afternoons the -hopefully- well prepared muscles and ligaments will make tempi changes and canter zig-zags a breeze (wishful thinking on my part).

So Yin Yoga today. Yin Yoga is comprised of floor postures that are held longer (several minutes) to bring flexibility to hips, lower back and shoulders. While I consider myself fairly fit, it was painfully apparent that I lack in the flexibility department. I tried not to stare at the "Human Brezel*" next to me, a senior citizen no less. Guess a one-time try doesn't cut it, so back I go next week.

Drama on the home front: When I looked out the kitchen window I saw Jerry (the cat) sauntering towards the house with a 'gift': A big squirrel. Going back into VP mode I sent JP out to the squirrel rescue. Usually Jerry brings chipmunks that scamper off after being rescued by JP. This squirrel, however, did not appreciate the help: He sank his teeth deep into JPs hand. I give the man credit, he still saved the ungrateful critter, much to Jerry's dismay.

Big relief after a Google search: Squirrels do not carry rabies. Good deal, says Jerry, but I am vaccinated anyway.

*A Pretzel  (German: Brezel) is a type of baked bread product made from dough most commonly shaped into a twisted knot. Pretzels originated in Europe, possibly by monastery monks in the Early Middle Ages. The traditional pretzel shape is a distinctive nonsymmetrical form, with the ends of a long strip of dough intertwined and then twisted back into itself in a certain way (a pretzel loop). [Wikipedia]

Big Day: Graduating to the "Big Boy Bridle" - and one guy's sportscar is another guy's tractor

Yesterday was the Big Day for Remy: Introduction to the "Big Boy" bridle - aka the double bridle. I was lucky enough that Saumur's bridle and Sprenger HO curb fit Remy, I only had to get a new Sprenger bradoon (call me a snob but I do like German quality). I stuck with the recommendation of having the bradoon the same size as his regular snaffle bit (5 1/4") and the curb 1/4" smaller. The curb chain is a no-twist "Kinnkette". And no, I am not sponsored by Sprenger--

Speaking of quality bits: years ago I was on a trailride with a friend on a hot and unpredictable TB. During one of his bolting episodes on a dirt road the -bargain- bit broke! Luckily no car came und horse and rider survived unscathed but shaken to the core.

Roz helped me adjust the bridle and bits, and Nicole complimented Remy on how handsome and grown up he looked. We were off to a good start, but I nevertheless wondered how he would be under saddle: Head-tossing? Hopping? Not going?

Well, to my immense relief it was very uneventful. Roz guided me through it as I was almost too afraid to take contact. It's so different with Remy: He is introduced to the double bridle because his training is at a stage where we can ask for more refinement. Saumur, OTOH, needed the double bridle because he had learned to use his big neck muscles to ignore the snaffle. Hanging on the snaffle is definitely way more harsh than a double bridle used tactfully. Also, it should not be one or the other exclusively.

In the evening I talked with my friend Ingrid in Germany, and she told me her significant other had just purchased a Porsche. We both got a big laugh out of it when I told Ingrid "Well, yours is happy in a Porsche - mine is happy on a tractor!"

And when it comes to world cup soccer only one in our household seems to be interested:

"Scoot, hop, and spin mode"... and taking the exercises on the road, uh, trail

Another fun and educational lesson yesterday. Roz had us work a lot on Remy's thoroughness, suppleness and responsiveness (aka no more ignoring my right leg!).

Remy was relaxed and happy to work - until he got spooked. The horse in the turnout next to the indoor arena rattled the gate and then run off, Remy could hear him and see something flying by the window which in turn got him into "scoot, hop, and spin" mode. Interestingly, I immediately focused on the positive: I didn't lose my seat, and Remy didn't bolt. That is big, because before he would invariably bolt. Roz said it was an honest scare for Remy, and not misbehaving on his part. As I didn't dwell on it neither did Remy. We were at the end of our work anyway, so we just finished with the same exercise we started with: shoulder-in to renvers in the walk.

Always keeping Buck's advise "Chase trouble before trouble chases you" in mind, I kept Remy busy during this morning's trailride. The exercises Roz had us do during our lesson were perfect for the trail: Shoulder-in to renvers, half-pass to leg yield to half-pass, trot half-pass then walk half-pass back to trot half-pass. No bogey-deer distracted us.

On the homestretch I had to do an emergency dismount, however, for a very compelling reason:

Found and plucked while riding - it must be a lucky charm!

Back to DHP summer camp - and learning from the intern

Detroit Horse Power (DHP, www.detroithorsepower.org) summer camp started this week. They will run for the next eight weeks, with kids from different inner city schools every week.

This year I feel way more confident with the kids than last year at that time. Now the routine is familiar, same barn, and my favorite horse "Officer Doc" returned (he is a retired police horse that normally lives at the equine rescue farm Horses Haven). The majority of the horses used for the camp come for Horses Haven, and are usually senior citizens. Doc, for example, is in his late 20s, but still going strong.

I have a renewed admiration for riding instructors, especially those in summer camps. There is a reason why they are mainly in their early 20s... this is a physically -and mentally- quite demanding job. I suddenly remembered why I lost weight over the summer last year: About three hours of walking and jogging next to horse and student(s) will do that in no time. That doesn't take into account getting horses from the fields and back, grooming, tacking, etc. Add the summer heat and of course being constantly vigilant of horse and student plus giving instruction at the same time and I felt I more than deserved my (low-alcohol) beer at the end of the day! And of course, I still have my own riding and dog exercising to do.

But the demands are way outweighed by the joy I see in the students. One little boy yesterday for example was super quiet, didn't want to answer any questions, not even how he was doing - and as soon as we did some trot steps he giggled and had the biggest smile on his face!

This year, the staff is joined by a super fun and intelligent college student that acts as communications intern. I have hardly ever met somebody with the kind of enthusiasm and interest Hakeem shows. He does not have any horse experience but soaks every piece of information up. And I'm learning from him: Did you know that the hand sign for "call me" can also be used to teach how to pick up the reins??

Now I just have to stop grinning every time I'm called "Miss Birgit"!

"Officer Doc", the retired police horse, is an excellent teacher

Sunday starts with being left in the dust - and it's the bikes!

Heat advisory: High 90s with 'generous' humidity. Wonderful - if you are a deer fly. For the rest of us, not so much. So a 6 a.m. wake up it was in order to get a ride in before the height of the heat hit. The boys were game, and off we went. Initially we had planned to go all the way to the Huron River for a splash, but between the deer flies and the oppressing heat we decided to turn for home after about an hour in.

Getting closer to home we had a familiar discussion: JP wanted to use the dirt road, I wanted to stay on the trail. Cars are literally flying down that road, and visibility is at stretches lousy. So - I won. However, my win was a bit short lived: Coming up to a big hill JP wanted to canter, I not so much. That's the place where Saumur rather unceremoniously dumped JP in front of some unsuspecting people some years back, and I still remember that (JP was fine).

I was still arguing when I saw a flash of blond tail -Chambord's- taking off. Talk about being literally left in the dust by (what you believe) is your loving husband!

Not only did Chambord leave Remy in the dust - to add insult to injury some people on mountain bikes were whooshing by (the bike trail at some spots runs adjacent to the riding trail), overtaking him also. What's a guy to do? Remy opted for his go-to spook and spin in protest, but then calmed right down and we caught up with our two renegades. Remy: Happily sticking to Chambord, me: decidedly less happy sticking to the human runaway.

Hand-me-downs again... Resurrecting Saumur's Double Bridle

That's what younger children of the human and horse kind get: Hand me downs. When Remy came to me as a three year old he had to wear Saumur's saddle, made to fit with extra pads. Knowing he would change quickly I really didn't want to invest in a saddle for him until he had somewhat grown up. (And even that plan didn't pan out, Remy got his own adjustable custom saddle, and even outgrew that one ...).

Now it's time for the double bridle - and sure enough, what we will be starting out with is Saumur's 'retired' bridle.

Ah, it could be so easy … if the boys would wear the same bit sizes... Two Sprenger bits (bradoon and curb) can easily run around $450. I was able to sell Saumur's bradoon on eBay, but of course, the size I need for Remy is only available at full price.

The trick will be to resurrect (aka assemble) the bridle correctly, I had taken it apart for cleaning, but now the puzzle is getting it back together. I might let the engineer have a crack at it... if you can design cars you should be able to put a bridle together, right?

I was on my own getting Remy to my lesson today, JP had septic tank duty (waiting for the truck to show up). Yep, the joys of country living also encompass the unsavory task of having the septic tank pumped out every few years. So if you think your job sucks...

Luckily there weren't many cars in the driveway at the barn so I could get the trailer around the tree without side-swiping anyone. Whew!

We build on yesterday's lesson with more cool and effective exercises, like half-pass three steps, straight three steps, then half-pass again. I am now able to keep Remy more forward going into the changes, and they are happening. Now it's time to work on the quality. We got our homework assignments from Roz, and I can't wait for our lessons next week.

Actually, on second thought, a damper to our enthusiasm could be the weather: The forecast calls for temps in the mid 90s. Welcome to Michigan, where you go from deep freeze to fryer in a heartbeat!

"Less is more" - and my resident coach says "gentle half-halts are the trick!"

Riding homework this weekend had to be postponed again due to rain and stormy weather, but it didn't keep us from enjoying the trails yesterday. I was very happy that both boys didn't get rattled, the woods are dense and the high winds can make things scary for the horses. 

Today we had another good lesson, things are really coming together. Roz reminded me that the key to Remy is "Less is more". It was great that she rode him while I was gone, that way she got to find out how he ticks.

However, "Less is more" doesn't mean Remy gets to loaf around. He does have to make an honest effort, but instead of me being on his case all the time I give him the aids and then it's his turn. When he ignores me he gets a reminder, but otherwise I lay off. No more over-riding and micro-managing on my part. (Interestingly, I never ever micromanaged other horses, or people reporting to me...hmh??). While drilling works for a certain type of horse it's just not his thing. Understandably so. 

JP comes with me to my lessons most of the time (thankfully, because I don't enjoy maneuvering the trailer around a very narrow driveway) and he is very observant and has a great eye. Today our flying changes seemed almost effortless. JP pointed out afterwards that I used to block Remy before the changes with too strong half-halts, so he lost his forward movement in the canter and thus he was stymied by me. 

Once the canter is 'bouncy', round and forward I can go for it - taking the advise from my resident coach (and -in no particular order- barn manager, trailer-driver, cook, handyman, lover, horse-, dog- and cat-whisperer, husband, ...) to heart: "You need to do very gentle half-halts before the changes, and then you won't have any problems". Right he is!

Wonder what he will be charging me as consulting fee?? Better secure another bottle of Henri Bardouin*!

*Pastis from Provence

From Galettes Bretonnes and Maultaschen back to peanut butter and spelt bread

Our trip to Germany and France was wonderful. It was great catching up with family and friends in France, while also exploring medieval towns in Brittany.

Rochefort-en-Terre

Castle in Brittany

We traveled back to Paris via the Loire valley and of course the highlight there: Saumur. We love the town of Saumur, and staying at the Hotel Anne d'Anjou (www.hotel-anneanjou.com). This gem right on the Loire river was built by architects of Napoleon I. Our room featured paintings depicting scenes from the Cadre Noir, the French National Riding School, currently home to approx. 350 horses. We took a tour and were able to watch some of the training sessions(www.ifce.fr/en/cadre-noir).

When your hotel room has a picture of dressage movements... you are in Saumur.

Below: Poster of the French National Riding School

Continuing onwards to Paris we caught up with our artist friend Jean-Louis. Aside from being a world-renowned artist Jean-Louis also is a fabulous horseman, having studied for seven years with Nuno Olivera. JL invited us to observe him working his Lusitano in-hand. What a treat!

My two favorite French horsemen

After a lovely time with friends in Paris it was time for JP and me to 'split' (temporarily!): JP went home and I continued on to Germany, where I was able to help my parents and also got to spend time with very close friends. The 20 hour trip home wasn't fun, but it's great to be home!

All was well while we were gone, Ellen, Ed & Angie, Carl, Roz and Nicole took awesome care of our four-legged friends. Yep, indeed, it took a small village!

I had been a bit worried how Roz would like Remy, as our training partnership had barely started before I left for Europe. Luckily all went well, Roz got Remy back on the straight and narrow (he had figured out how to get away with little effort), and Nicole took him galloping in the fields.

So now it's my turn again, and after almost three weeks without riding I am fumbling my way back into the swing of things. Remy's stint with Roz has made it easy for me, he is supple and relaxed, and we had two excellent lessons this week.

While I dearly miss the French Galettes Bretonnes (buckwheat pancakes) with goat cheese, walnuts and honey, followed by crepes with dark chocolate and bananas and a bolee de cidre or the German Maultaschen and Rothaus beer I think my body will thank me (I sure hope so!).

At least I kept some ties to Europe in my diet: Organic peanut butter from Aldi on Dinkelbrot (spelt bread)... and let's not forget the Lindt Piemonte (thanks, Stephanie!)

And really: What's a castle when you have your own private Park Avenue? (Path from our property to Kensington Park).