Last rides of the year - and greetings from Pferdle

2018 ends rainy and gloomy, but just concerning the weather. JP and I had really good rides this morning, the boys enjoyed themselves and the four of us had a good time. I'm still not 100% at home in the jumping saddle, but at least now I feel like a welcome visitor.

It's nice to ride at a place where there are various disciplines. The people we have encountered so far were friendly and the horses are mostly laid back. But this morning it became clear again why people from other disciplines frown about Dressage riders. We had almost finished when a woman came in with her dressage horse. Immediately she pulled on the reins, tried to crank the horse together, and didn't stop tapping him with the whip. Honestly, I had a VERY hard time not to say anything. Note to self: Don't rock the boat and risk not having an arena to use. And sadly, whatever I could say in all likelihood wouldn't change anything. Eye rolling is still allowed, though.

I am so grateful for the many wonderful people, horses, dogs, and cats in my life. The older I get the more appreciative I have become, and I no longer take the good things in my life for granted (yep, JP, that includes you, too!).

Now let's see what new adventures 2019 will bring:

Prost Neujahr from Pferdle* and me!

*Pferdle is a cartoon character that has been on the Swabian TV channel Suedwestrundfunk since the 1960s. It started with the Pferdle as the horse is the symbol for Stuttgart (Stuttgart means Stutengarten = mares pasture). Later the Pferdle got a friend: the Aeffle (monkey) was added.  These two have a famous song: Hafer- und Bananen Blues ("Oats and Banana Blues")

Remy and I are straying - into the Hunter World

Today was our second lesson with Lisa, the H/J trainer at Berwyck. I still feel kind of wobbly in the jumping saddle with the short stirrups, but Remy is getting the hang of my changed position.

Lisa had us doing gymnastic exercises over poles. She helped me find my long-lost two-point position*. I enjoy her lessons very much, she hones right into my weaknesses (no shortage there), such as too much hand, not enough leg. She teaches in a kind and encouraging way and doesn't make me feel like George Morris would have a heart attack. I guess the only thing George couldn't complain about is my weight.  For those not familiar with George's clinics and columns in the Practical Horseman magazine: He is notorious for critiquing seemingly minute details, such as the cleanliness of the bottom (!) of a rider's boots - and notably his wrath is geared towards riders that are not slim and fit).

By the end of the lesson Remy was taking me to grids and bounced happily through them - while I kept soft hands, heels down, balanced seat, eyes up.

It feels like our flirting with the H/J style could morph into a full-fledged affair. But hey, we are all consenting adults here.

Tally ho!


*Riders usually employ a "two-point" position while jumping fences, depending on the type of course and height of fences. The position is so named because the rider has "two points" (both legs) in contact with the saddle. The rider supports his or her body using leg and stirrup, keeping the heels down, closing the hip angle, and lifting the buttocks out of the saddle while keeping the head and shoulders up.

An ocean away - but the forests unite

My 28th Christmas in the US, and I still miss Christmas in Europe. Especially Christmas mornings with my dad. My mom wouldn't let anybody near her kitchen, so Emil (my dad) and I would go into the forest. We'd check the feeders for the deer (hay) and the boar (corn), and replenished salt blocks. Unlike in the US, this is not to make it an easy hunt by killing the animals at their feeding grounds. Rather it is to keep them in a certain area and most importantly, away from the Autobahn. If you go 150 mph you certainly don't want to encounter a 200 pound boar ambling into your path!

Once done Emil would check his watch and inevitable say "way too early, we can't go home yet, let's have a Schnaps at the Jagdhaus". Make no mistake, German Schnaps has nothing to do with the American sweet stuff. It is distilled fruit brandy, or -in Emil's case- high octane home made brews with blood root, sloe, or other herbs. We'd sit there amicably and sip his concoctions in the Jagdhaus, a hunting lodge that was build sometime in the 1800s, until it was the acceptable time to go home. 

So, while now there is an ocean between us I still go into the forest and I feel a deep connection to him. Luckily, I do have Emil's Schnaps here, and it does warm my heart. And while out with the dogs today I remembered what he wrote in my Poesie-Album when I was a kid:

You think the hunter is a sinner,
because he rarely goes to church.
In the green forest, a view to the sky,
is better than a false prayer. And luckily, Emil is doing well. He will turn 90 in February but still goes into his beloved forests several times a week. Just recently he shot a 150 pound boar with a "Blattschuss" (a shot directly into the heart). It's what my parents, brother and nephew will enjoy for Christmas dinner, cooked in a wine sauce with wild mushrooms and served with Knoedel (home made dumplings). JP is salivating...

"You have a really good heel for a dressage rider" - and 'Fit for a queen'

I have been toying for a while with taking some jumping lessons. OK, let's be honest, we are not talking four foot oxers here, I was thinking more along the lines of starting with some gymnastic grids and cavalettis. 

After meeting Lisa, the H/J instructor/trainer and auditing one of her lessons I decided that yes, Remy and I should try this. It's been a very long time since we had our one and only lesson with an eventing instructor. Remy was a game and gangly four year old at that time. I would have liked to continue but the trailering was a hassle in the winter and the instructor was difficult to nail down for scheduling. 

Fast forward six years and here we are. I was thrilled that the beautiful Hunt Saddle -custom made in Walsall, England- I bought on a whim finally could come out from years under the protective covers. Story about the saddle is that it was ordered by an 80 year old MFH (Master of Foxhounds), and when the saddle finally arrived from England he decided that he was now too old to go hunting. Soo...by chance I saw it and it was love at first sight. One of the things you just have to have and justify by telling yourself: "Sure, I'll find a use for it!". And after all, what's good for the Queen of England* should be good for me. That lady knows her horse stuff.

 Beautiful work by a Walsall Saddler*

Properly dressed we presented ourselves to Lisa for an evaluation lesson. Note to self: I should have ridden Remy in the saddle before hand. Turns out that if I go in a two-point position he slows down in the canter, obviously not sure what is happing on his back. Lisa first complimented me on my leg position "you have a really good heel for a dressage rider" (yay, I remembered to keep my heels down), only then to proceed to jack up the stirrups several holes. Greetings from jockey training camp.  It was fun! Looking forward to more of this.

So, between the ice skating and the jumping JP is getting nervous that I might crack something and he won't be able to get rid of me -- Florida is less than four weeks out! 

*Walsall still manufactures the Queen's handbags, saddles for the Royal family and leather goods for the Prince of Wales. Walsall is the traditional home of the English saddle manufacturing industry.

Saumur in the bathtub - and I got rid of some bad habits just to develop new ones

Horse and Sense is growing by leaps and bounds, and I am happy that it is mostly word of mouth. Yesterday I had three new clients in addition to existing ones. Yay - and really, I love what I do! However, when I got to meet my first new client I had to swallow a bit: 18 hands and probably 1300 pounds of pure young muscle. While he was overall a good boy, his bodywork session made me want one for myself.

After four horses I got home cold, hungry, dirty and tired. It also happened to be my birthday. Never despair: JP, Stephanie, and bathtub to the rescue! JP had dinner ready, my BFF Stephanie in Germany had shipped a very special gift to me: Saumur! No, not the hairy one residing in our barn*. This one is bubbly, and perfect for enjoying in the bathtub:

The four-legged Saumur would take exception to sharing a bathtub with me, I'm sure.

Today we made the trip to Metamora to ride with Maryal, first time this year. Maryal's eagle eyes haven't changed, I swear the woman has radar vision. She noted right away that my position is too far forward, with not enough weight in my seat bones at the walk. But then in the canter I overcompensate and push my seat bones down too long therefore restricting Remy's back. On the bright side: I got rid of the nagging with my legs habit and the tendency to override him - only to now being too passive and not using enough leg aids for proper collection.

Oh, maaan - or better oh, womaaaan!!

"With a little help from your friends" - in different areas

I have been getting nervous about the Florida trip, because I hadn't heard back from the transportation company. Of course, I know they are extremely busy right now, as the annual exodus of Michiganders and their horses is in full swing. It so happens that Glenda is friends with the Jan, the owner of the horse transportation company, and she is also getting ready to say "Auf Wiedersehen" to Northern Michigan. So Glenda to the rescue, I had barely told her about my worries when the phone rang and Jan called me.

Big sigh of relief: Remy is on the schedule for the end of January. We don't have an exact date yet, but he is booked on the bus. Not only that, but he is booked to travel in style. I had planned on shipping him in  a stall and 1/2, which would mean a bit more space than in a normal spot but being tied for the entire 1300 miles. The truck drives right through, there are stops of course, but the horses are not unloaded. After diligent research I decided to reserve a box stall for him. More expensive, of course, but much better for his well-being (and mine!). Importantly he will not be tied and can therefore lower his head which means less risk for respiratory problems.

So I've been assembling the to-do list. Remy will have to be loaded at the cul-de-sac road because the truck doesn't fit in the driveway. JP has to take the hay, mammoth rolling tack box, and horse down the road to meet the truck. I will have left by then so I can be there when Remy gets to White Fences. Remy sure does have "people".

Back to the "Little help from your friends": Stephanie, my BFF in Germany, outdid herself again this year with my Adventskalender.Every year she sends a lovingly selected and wrapped gift for every day of Advent (December 1st through the 24th).

Yesterday's thoughtful gift made me laugh out loud and I sure hope it won't be necessary:

Friends: Always looking out for one another!

"Surprise and Delight" - and re-discovering a childhood joy

Our morning ride had quite a surprise for me in store. Remy got a walk-warm up from JP while I was helping Chambord getting rid of some of his pent up energy. It's tough for the boys right now, the ground is frozen and as they are luckily (!) careful they don't tear around in the pastures (ok, not too much). So what's a horse to do with all the energy when on nice, springy ground in an arena that's 72x200? Yep, you guessed it. Hence a bit of long-line warm up for Chambord first. He can yeeha like a rodeo bronc with all four feet in the air, not something JP or I need to be sitting on.

Remy was pretty chill, and after our warm up I played around and asked for flying changes every three strides down the long side of the arena (having the wall kept us straight, as opposed of trying it on the diagonal). And wouldn't you know it, they were smooth, big, and clean! I was ecstatic. Roz' word's came to mind "Don't be so surprised when it works!". Well, yes, I AM surprised and super happy. It's those elusive times when things click. An acquaintance of mine and very successful rider said the other day "Daily dressage training is not pretty". That made me pause for quite a bit, because while yes, everyone has tense and difficult moments, it should not be the rule. Where is the fun in that? I'd rather go for the frequent "delight" (according to the quote from a riding master "be happy with little and then build on it").

Speaking of "surprise and delight" - I re-discovered ice skating, thanks to Donna, a very interesting woman I met while out with the dogs on the horse trails. Turns out she is an accomplished rider and polo player, and despite a broken back returned to the saddle and on the ice (even way more impressive when considering that Donna is an 'Early Boomer'). So sure, skating sounds like fun, why not? My skates are about 40 years old, but the TUV approved steel (same organization that passes and fails vehicles in Germany) and good leather had held up well sitting in a box in the garage. Question was: How about my "German Quality"?? It's been over 30 years since I last skated. JP was not too confident in my abilities: What if I would fall and break anything so close to going to Florida?? Perhaps I should wear my riding helmet and body vest? What about protecting other extremities??

Well, long story short: I am still in one piece and I had a blast! So, let's see if Donna will talk me into playing polo next?

We finish the lesson year on a high note - and Wisdom from Denny

Having the last lesson of the year was bittersweet. Roz is heading to Wellington next week, so we are on our own until it's time for our adventure end of January. I am freaking out a bit because the shipper seems to ignoring me. I know they are really busy going back and forth but still - I'd like some reassurance that Remy will indeed be able to get on the truck! Especially after the checks for his stall and my room were cashed. I even found a swank -and humongous- vertical rolling saddle trunk in great condition. One of the times when posting on FB paid!

Back to our lesson. After working on our own for a couple of weeks it was a good test to see if we can 'survive' on our own (aka me not messing up too much) for two months. And yes, WE CAN! Remy felt great, light, fluid, round, connected, nice big changes, then from almost half-steps to long and low (correct stretching round and over the back).  Those rare and elusive times when you think you can do this and what makes you come back for more...

It so happens that I received the latest edition of a riding magazine that had an excerpt of Denny Emerson's new book "Know Better To Do Better*". The following really hit the nail on the head, both regarding Saumur and Remy.

"The first lesson is that if you ride the same horse, day after day week after week, month after month, year after year, you and that horse are going to know each other so well that despite the fact that you both have failings and insufficiencies, you trust each other well enough to begin to create something bigger and better than either one of you alone. 

Next is that most of us tend to "bail out" on a horse that is hard to ride, and one that does not win easily, but if you do not bail out, the talents that may be deeply hidden within both of you may have a chance of being discovered."

Yes, I admit, I have thought quite a few times about "bailing out", Saumur with his almost insurmountable issues (how about taking eight hours to get in a trailer?), and Remy with his "horse phobia"? But then, the boys also had to put up with me during stages of my very stressful work life, when I got to the barn close to being a nervous wreck, and then expecting them to somehow relax underneath a not-so-relaxed (read: super tense) rider??

I do hope Denny is right and by not bailing out more of our talents will be discovered? The question begs, what kind of talents? We already know that Saumur and Remy are bi-lingual, so that counts!

*Denny Emerson "Know Better To Do Better: Mistakes I Made With Horses So You Don't Have To"

Our routine is getting better - and an evening off the farm

The boys and we are starting to settle into a morning routine trailering to Berwyck. Even though it's only 1.8 miles, it still means hooking up the trailer, loading all the stuff, getting the boys 'booted up' (nope, not like the start button on your laptop, in our case it means putting protective boots on). Luckily they load themselves on the trailer, no muss no fuss - just make sure there is hay. The problem is rather getting them out again, and with the short trip they don't feel like leaving the hay bags behind.

It is so nice having the large arena to work in, and did I mention the temperature is around 40F?? Mornings are ideal, as it is quiet and we can not only focus on the work but in addition have fun with some games. Remy is getting really good not only at his changes, but also in his groundwork at liberty. For example he backs up on voice command, follows my every move in walk and trot, yields his hindquarter just by me moving closer. Today we borrowed a large horse ball, and while Chambord had fun moving it around Remy was bored with it. "Come on, really, that's all you've got??" he seemed to say.

Last Saturday we ventured "into town" (Detroit). As it's a 40 mile drive one way we don't do it that often, but a MUST is the once a year performance of "Too Hot to Handel", the jazz gospel version of Handel's Messiah at the Detroit Opera House. It's an incredible atmosphere, super musicians, and of course the Rackham choir. 

And yes, I admit I do have a bit of a (totally innocent and strictly artistic!) crush on the tenor Rod Dixon (tenorroddixon.com). It was a great evening off the farm, even though the drive home was a bit marred by bad weather, lots of police activity, and a guy that steadfastly ignores the Navi - nevertheless we got home in one piece. Hallelujah!