"Reisefieber" - and a surprise from our artist friend

Well, now I know why most of the 'snow birds' leave for the South at the beginning of January... now we are caught in an artic freeze with temps in the single digits (F - not C) and wind chills below 0. Not much riding going on, that's for sure. Even with the heated arena at Berwyck, the challenge is getting there on those icy dirt roads.

Remy's hair cut is scheduled for tomorrow. Nothing like a body clip in these temps!  Luckily his new winter-coat complete with hood arrived in time, we'll just have to pile the layers on him. In the Wellington area temps will be in the 70s, what a change!

I admit to having a rather severe case of "Reisefieber" (Lit. "traveling fever" = travel nerves). Packing for both of us is giving me anxiety. I do remind myself that we are NOT going into the depths of China, there ARE stores in Wellington (albeit very expensive ones). A call with Jan, the owner of the transport company C&W, made me feel a bit better. Remy's 'Monster Box' and a smaller box are allowed on the truck. JP will probably have to take Remy to Jan's place as the Semi wont fit in our driveway and Remy and his luggage would have to be loaded on the road.

I'm very fortunate and happy that I have a travel companion: Ellen will be coming with me. She is visiting friends in Ft. Myers, so that works out great. The forecast for driving is pretty lousy - snow and ice all the way from Michigan through Kentucky.

Forget the frigid weather - warming our hearts is an "art surprise" in form of a print that arrived yesterday from our friend Jean-Louis:

JP suggested I should try riding like this :-)

Remy is feeling 'punky' - and Here I Go Again

Vaccinations are just not Remy's thing. Unfortunately, they are required for his Interstate Health Certificate, otherwise he won't pass the Agricultural Inspection gatekeepers in Florida. For years now we have been avoiding the "all-in-one shots", instead breaking up the different vaccinations. Still, Monday, the day of the vaccinations, he was groggy, and I just hoped a dose of Banamine (analgesic and anti-inflammatory medication) would make him feel better. Tuesday we (JP - not me! It was freezing) decided a hack through the woods would be the thing to do. Remy walked out nicely, so did I because I had to get off due to my freezing extremities. Based on the good walk I thought we were in the clear, but on Wednesday Remy was definitely feeling quite 'punky'*, even having a slightly elevated temperature.

Luckily, we have a wonderful veterinary team and after consulting with them I gave him more Banamine and kept close watch. Today I longed him in the indoor and then rode him just long and low and he seemed more chipper. Phew! When the four-legged kids are sick we feel their pain.

A bit more than a week till take-off: Time to start channeling my inner pack rat. While I am usually a very good packer (years of travels) I am just flummoxed on how much stuff there is to take for both of us. And Here I Go Again: I have managed to have another guy in my life that has more stuff than I do. How did that happen?? Flashback to JP moving in with me: He had more shoes than I did!

Remy's magnum travel box is already full, and there a still tons of things to take. Wonder if I can put a trailer behind my snazzy VW??

Just one part of Remy's extensive luggage collection

*Feeling Punk.  A listener in Council Bluffs, Iowa, says his grandmother, born in 1899, used to say I'm feeling punk, meaning “I'm feeling ill.” The term derives from an older sense of punk meaning “rotted wood.”

"His hind legs need to leave first " - and we have a date for take-off

This is also what Brandt Clark said when we worked with him to get Remy over his fear reaction of bolting. Brandt put it like this "he is allowed to leave but he needs to leave with his hind legs first" (meaning he needs to push from behind and not swirl around on his forehand). 

Lisa now has been working with us on having me trusting Remy more ("what, I canter with my hands on his neck??"), and take my over-controlling down several notches. In return Remy has developed considerable more thrust from behind and he has more swing through his body (especially if I can keep that darn right arm under control). 

Remy is still very much tuned into the vibes of other horses. Yesterday we shared the arena with a clearly nervous horse and rider team, and the horse spooked several times. Remy eyed him a bit nervously but kept it together. The horse's last spook deposited the rider right in front of us (luckily she was OK). "Old" Remy would have spun and tried to run, "New" Remy stood and watched. I hope it is because he knows know that he can run away, and therefore he does not need to!

And... drumroll please... we do have a take-off date: Remy will be boarding the bus to White Fences on January 31. Now it's my turn to figure out MY trip. Roughly 1350 miles/2200 km going South. Based on recommendations from friends that have made the trip I plan on  two and a half days, it can be done in two days,  depends this on weather and traffic. I do have to beat  Remy's bus getting there so I can have everything ready for him. 

Sure wish JP would come with me - and not just because we'd make the trip in record time with him driving! (We would probably also have added 'entertainment' in the form of conversations with State Troopers along the way). 

Fixing my right arm - and this is January in Michigan??

It's amazing how the hunt seat lessons with Lisa improve my overall riding. Lisa noticed right away that my right arm often has a life of its own, and not in a good way. I am getting way too busy and I restrict Remy on the right. So Lisa used an excellent exercise: She had me carry my hunt crop horizontal between both hands and the reins, and then ride first straight and then on smaller circles. Wow! This really freed Remy up, and he motored along splendidly. (Note: If there is more British English creeping into my speech: I've been binge-watching Downton Abbey).

I do think that a lot of dressage riders could benefit from hunt seat lessons, and I don't mean the ones where the horse is on the forehand dragging its nose on the ground! As dressage riders we are usually Type A and 'somewhat' controlling personalities. So letting the horse go freely forward without managing each step, trusting the horse more to do its job is a great benefit.

Case in point: Two point and crest releases. Lisa also explained that the reason why a lot of horses rush after the fences is because the riders try to bring them back too quickly and not let the horse take a few more forward strides.

Winter in Michigan is at the moment non-existent. Yesterday the temps hit over 50F (10C) with beautiful sunshine. So after my early morning jumping lesson followed by the daily 5K with the dogs we woke the boys from their snooze in the sun and had fun on the trails. Such a good day deserved a celebration with giant carrots and a lobster roll dinner - for the boys and us, respectively.

"Global warming - what global warming??" asked the boys. It's *only* 50+F in January in Michigan!

We do have to follow them?? - and #5 and #11 especially speak to me

Careful what you wish for - you might have to follow your husband in your lessons! (Needless to say, I am not good at following).  I say that with a twinkle in my eye to all the friends that wish their partners would ride.

Yes, today JP and I shared Lisa's gymnastics/hunt seat lesson. JP and Chambord took to it like ducks to water, especially Chambord once again proved that he worth his weight in gold - at least. When they had a little bobble over a cavaletti Chambord tried very hard not to lose his rider, and JP did a good job keeping his position so they were able to go on their merry way - and I was able to breathe again.

Chambord was so motivated that Lisa had Remy following him in order for Remy to lengthen his strides and really motor along. But hearing "follow your husband" netted an eye roll (or two) from me. But then Lisa had us do a small canter course on our own, and we were able to show off our flying changes. So I went from eye roll to big grin, but then in the back of my mind I had the dressage instructor's voice, admonishing me "not good, that was a Hunter change" (done with little collection). But as they say, when in Rome...

Interestingly, just after the lesson I saw this posting with tips from Ingrid Klimke and basically summarizes today's ride.  I love especially #'s 5, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15.

1. Quiet with your hand use your fist not your whole arm.
2. Keep your horse out in front of you not underneath you.
3. All fingers have to be closed.
4. Do not give with the outside. The outside always stays. Only the inside gives.
5. Your half halt has to be more interesting than everything around your horse.
6. Put the spur away.
7. Diagonal aids. The outside rein holds and the inside leg pushes to the outside.
8. Supple the ribs.
9. Keep the rhythm with your rising.
10. Take give. Don't hold or pull too long.
11. You are not a passenger. You are responsible for your horses ride.
12. Stretch. And more stretching. It's good for him and he will like it.
13. Active from behind. More active.
14. Canter in the light seat.
15. Hands down, hands down, hands down.
16. Hands together, hands together, hands together

What's good for an Olympian should be good for us!