Trying to find the 'new normal' - and sticking to trail riding for now

 In a few days it will be two months 💔. There times when I'm doing ok and times it's like a wave of pain and grief swallows me. But there is no choice - I have to keep on going. And I know that I am incredible fortunate to have a few very good -and rather 'new'- friends, and neighbors, that help tremendously. JP always worried should something happen to him how I would make it alone without good friends and family nearby. People are surprising (ok, that's nothing new), the ones you think you could count on text once and that's it, and others you barely know jump in and are becoming your rock.  Of course, there are always exceptions to the rule - old friends in Germany that stick with you no matter what - and distance be damned!

The tractor was JPs pride and joy, but I just couldn't get myself to use (or even look at it). My neighbors Howie and Kourtney took it to their place, advertised it, and sold it for me. I was looking for a John Deere Gator (or Kubota, Polaris, etc). but literally there is nothing available. The local dealer said "perhaps August 2022" - well, that doesn't help me through the winter. Luckily Laurel volunteered to call all over Michigan, and low and behold she found a dealer in Comstock Park that had ONE fully loaded Gator. I knew that the USEF (United States Equestrian Federation) offered a discount but doubted that with the shortage it would be applied. Surprise: The nice lady at the USEF arranged it directly with the dealership.

My new Gator
delivered by the owner of the Four Seasons Yard and Sport Dealership

The boys haven't had a lot of serious work but that's OK. I feel somewhat 'normal' on the trails in the park, and luckily Chambord has his fans, so I have company. Remy needs to go back on a program, though, he is looking for all kinds of excuses to let off steam on the trails. Once Vanessa is back from Nationals I am so looking forward to get back into the swing of things. I do dread winter, but may have found a home for at least one of the boys for the harshest months of January and February. If not, we all just hibernate! One step at a time...

'Flecti Non Frangi' - Warrior and Broken Mess

 A dear friend gave me a talisman with a raven that reads 'Flecti Non Frangi''. It's Latin and means 'To be Bent not Broken'. According to the description: "It refers to one who can endure hardship yet still remain true to themselves. The raven signifies hope and is believed to have keen vision that pierces through all darkness. " Let's hope it's true!

Right now, what makes me get up in the morning are my eight dependents. You can't stay under the covers when you have horses, dog, and cats to be fed and watered, stalls and litter boxes to be cleaned, dog walked, horses ridden....

The boys enjoying a nice fall day

Ziggy and Jerry like to snuggle together

This sums it up:

"L'amour - toujours l'amour" (what Georges used to say every time he saw us)

 

"Es ist ein Augenblick und alles wird verwehn"
- Eduard Moerike

He now has a spring in his step - and how's that for German quality?

 Remy has been going really well lately (knock on wood!), and he is developing a very nice spring in his step (suspension) in the trot. He sometimes feels like a completely different horse -in a good way! So much so that I jokingly asked Vanessa yesterday "who is this and what happened to my horse??". Remy is happy and very proud of himself. While I still sometimes feel like the kid that has to repeat a class or two (common in the German school system, no 'socially passed' happening there) I am happy that we finally seem to find our groove. Jenn, who's always supportive and a great sounding board, reminded me that Morgans were bred for groundcover, they had to be smooth and efficient in order to make good cavalry mounts. 'Springy steps' do not lead to accuracy in battle, I guess.  

So it's neat to feel the bounce in the trot, all the while he is going freely forward. This weekend, though, we are not going forward. We are under a heat advisory and it's so miserably hot and humid that riding has been suspended. Remy lounges with his friends under the fan in the run in shed, snacking on hay, or sauntering a bit around the pastures before coming back into the shade. Not a bad gig, he says. 

Yesterday, I carried a change of "clothes on ice" in a cooler to my appointments to help me stay cool. 

"Shirt on ice"

Luckily most barns have fans in front of the stalls, but some only have them in the aisles, and they don't help much when working with a horse in a stall. Tomorrow I'll start bright and early to beat the heat. 

While cleaning my every day Koenigs riding boots I happened to glance at the stamp "Made in West-Germany". A quick calculation revealed that these boots pre-date 1990 (Germany's reunification was in 1990). The are from the pre-zipper era, no muss no fuss. Talk about German quality! They are also a reminder of my dad - the boots were a gift from my parents during their first visit to the US. These boots can fall apart and they will still be with me. 

I wear them several times a week, on and off the horse. Remy and I are so efficient: He travels to our lessons wearing his saddle on the trailer, and I drive in my riding boots. 

The "West" tells that they were made in or before 1990

Still looking great - after all these years of almost daily wear

A confidence restoring weekend - and "Bummer - no need for Guinness!"

 Roz and Jenn were right on: Remy and I enjoyed the clinic with Bill McMullin. We learned a lot, and had our challenges, but it was always in a very positive manner. First assessment was the warm up. I had opted for the double bridle, as it keeps Remy's attention a bit better and he has less of a tendency to blow me off. Bill commented on how straight Remy was in all three gaits and how well he is taking the big (nice, even contact, closed lips). From there we went to lots of suppling exercises, such as three steps travers, three steps shoulder in, etc. in preparation for the half pass. Loved the tips of thinking shoulder fore in the halt, and also rein back, in order to keep Remy straight. 

Second day I was a bit worried as we had to warm up in the arena with a stallion. Remy can get quite worked up if there is a "manly man" around. This one was the cutest guy ever, a Welsh breeding stallion expertly ridden by a dressage professional. This time Remy looked but didn't loose his cool. We focused on canter half-pass to counter canter. That definitely is our week spot, as I let Remy "die" in the counter canter (remembering some bucks he can throw in when he thinks that's not how it should be done). It didn't help that there was a window at the short side with lots of interesting things going on outside - thought Remy. "Hey, what's going on? Who's that horse? Just let me have a look!" And boom, we lost it. Guess we know our homework! 

I did hold my breath a bit when I saw Bill reaching for a longe whip to tap Remy's hind leg for better crossing in the half-pass. No worries, he was very kind a patient, and Remy had no issues with that approach. 

It definitely was a bonus to have the view of the judge interwoven with the exercises. For example, Bill asked not only to the rider but also the audience about the training scale, he explained the difference between turns on the haunches in Third Level versus pirouettes in Forth Level. 

This weekend restored my faith in clinics. After each ride both of us were happy and relaxed, not completely exhausted and dejected (me more than Remy). However, Remy had a serious gripe afterwards "Bummer - no need for Guinness!" Sorry, buddy, I didn't make it to the liquor store, and you really didn't need it...here, have a banana instead 😋

It was super nice to have Jenn as 'groom' (more precisely Moral Support Person) on Saturday. JP and Ziggy did the Sunday 'duty'. Ziggy would have preferred to chase the birds, but having the auditors lavish attention on him came a close second - both he and JP lapped it up 😀

Jenn is the Para-Dressage coach at TRI, and she and I are on the same page when it comes to riding and training (and it doesn't hurt our relationship that she loves Morgans!). Best compliment I got in a long time: "Really nice to see kind, correct riding. Well done!"

"It's like boiling water" - and yay, I got the shirt!

My apologies to the friend that checks my blogs to see how I'm doing... I haven't written in a while. Busy times, all good, and often too tired to type. Catching up now, and I promise to get back into the swing of things, Ingrid!

Remy and I have had our ups and downs in our lessons, nothing dramatic, just some days are better than others. Do I wish we were further along? You bet! But then I'm honest with myself and admit that I'm not a 'five or six-days-a week dressage' person - and neither is Remy's horsey mind. And sometimes I'm just plain tired from 'wrestling' horses that can be up to 18 hands, weighing close to 1,800 pounds. 

When I struggled with getting Remy in front of my leg quickly enough. Vanessa came up with the analogy that "it's like boiling water - you can set the flame low and wait a long time, or put it on high right away". We are still catching up with her pace. 

Our next challenge will be a dressage clinic this weekend with Bill McMullin, a USDF judge and certified instructor. Crossing my fingers and hoping for a good experience (Remy probably crosses his hooves also), as we both are still reeling for our last experience. Usually I don't sign up with someone I haven't audited first, but in this case I do trust Roz, and Jenn, who both gave Bill the thumbs up. 

Today I was sporting a very cool IBKUL shirt that I almost ripped away from the company's owner when he presented the collection at the local tack store. I WANTED the shirt - however, it was not for sale! Luckily, the owner's wife is a happy client - and voila: Trading bodywork for sample shirt :-) 

"Anything in that pocket for me??"

Whatever happens - we are dressed to rock and roll!

Let's hope it's not a revolving door! - And where's breakfast?

 Lately our lessons have been going quite well. Especially last week had some highlights, I'm thinking of Friday's canter half-passes to clean changes. That just made my day. What really made my day/week was that Remy felt great, he stayed "locker" (loose) and relaxed. Perhaps he went through the door and got to the other side? Glenda said this is how her trainer Gabor would call it when it 'clicks' and the horse gets over the training hump. Let's hope it's not a revolving door!

Remy certainly likes the creature comforts at home, in fact, so do all the boys. Remy is the only one that literally goes 'under the covers' in his stall and buries himself in the shavings. 

Breakfast?? Where's my breakfast??

 

Sad times - and not everything is about shows and competition

 Last week we had to say goodbye to Bella, our lovely senior lady. She had only been with us for nine month, but we loved her dearly. We knew when we adopted her that she had had a rough life on the streets after being abandoned twice, and that at 12 years old with a heart murmur time would be limited. Still, it didn't make it easier when she started to have breathing issues and had trouble getting up. The young vet at the emergency clinic gently asked to consider letting her go - and it was the right and kind thing to do. Bella passed away gently in our arms.

Godspeed Bella - we miss you💝

The weather has been pretty unpredictable, but we were able to get on some relaxing trail rides. Last Sunday Chambord came to a dead stop (very unusual for him) as a big female turkey was in the middle of the trail. She wouldn't go away, and we found out quickly, why: A whole flock of little turkey chicks came out of the bushes, ran underneath Remy, and went to the other side, herded by momma turkey. Quite the sight! Remy was so surprised he just stared after them, like "what the heck was this??".

Otherwise I have been feeling quite a bit out of it. I feel left out even though it's my own decision (I know, pretty stupid). As trailer-ins we are not part of the barn community, we haven't gone to any shows this year, and I opted not to do the four day dressage clinic based on our last -not so good- experience with the clinician. It's that nagging feeling we should be doing more, and be farther ahead. Our lessons can be quite frustrating at times, it's like being stuck in the mud and not making much headway. 

I'm working a lot and it's physically tiring, but also very uplifting to help horses and owners. Yesterday I had a client appointment and before starting to work Claudia and Julie had a lunch spread laid out at their barn for me, including waffles and Nutella. (Claudia remembered from 20 years ago that I love waffles and Nutella) 😍 That just made my day! Also because they made me remember that not everything is about shows and competition. 

Applying corporate tools to my riding - and learning by observing

Long- and short term strategic planning was a huge part during my corporate life, and I still use the tools that I applied then. For example: SWOT Analysis. 

SWOT stands for Strength, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. It is a study to identify internal strengths and weaknesses, as well as external opportunities and threats. It has been VERY helpful to dig in and assess where Remy and I are, what we need to work on, and setting short-term and long-term goals. Being around a barn full of talented performance horses and riders sometimes makes me feel like the underdog, especially as Remy and I are not part of the full training/boarding package. I basically pull Remy out of the pasture, clean him up, saddle him, have him load himself on the trailer, and off we go to our lesson. But actually, that can go on the 'Strength' column, as Remy lives a very healthy and balanced life with his friends, and is less prone to stress and ulcers. 

Food for thought: I attended an excellent webinar with Amanda Burton (tilefieldequestrian.com), where she pointed out that in the wild, horses are living in big groups and are able to chose their friends. In a training setting, most horses are turned out alone, or only with one or very few others. "They are more work colleagues than friends". Imagine having to spend your outside time in a small enclosure with your least favorite colleague --  Luckily, Remy has his BFF at his side, and all four boys have room to roam should the friendship go through a rough phase. 

I am a visual learner, and it helps me a lot to see how things should look like. Vanessa is always happy to get on Remy to show me how it's done. It has multiple benefits: Remy gets expert training, I get to see how it should look like, and when I get on I profit from Vanessa's work as Remy is still very much 'on'. 

 

Watching like a hawk

"Der Apfel faellt nicht weit vom Stamm" (The apple doesn't fall far from the tree).
Emil (my dad), in the uniform of the German forestry service

"Stay in your bubble!" - and lessons from endurance athletes

 We (ok, I!) had a light bulb moment yesterday - and it shouldn't have been a light bulb moment because it was so obvious. The indoor arena has windows all around, and they are just the right height for the rider to look out ... and get distracted. Remy and I were merrily trotting along when my eye caught a horse that was being turned out kicking up his heels and careening around. First thought (and unfortunately audible outburst): "Oh, sh*t!" - as I fully expected Remy to follow suit and and join the action indoors. Vanessa quickly gave me a strong half-halt: "Stay in your bubble!", "Remy didn't even notice what was going on outside, he was focused on his work. Your horse needs YOU to stay in YOUR bubble, otherwise he'll wonder where his person went." Oops, of course,  mea culpa, stimmt genau, Vanessa! 

We (again, I) had some difficulties in our previous lesson. For some strange reason I could not get a decent shoulder in to the right to save my life. The harder I tried the worse it got, and my frustration mounted. It didn't help that we had a rail-bird* chiming in (which made me very cranky). Yesterday, without a rail bird in sight, we (I) were back on track, with flowing and correct shoulder-ins and half-passes.

As luck would have it, the WSJ's Wednesday edition featured an article by Elizabeth Bernstein "Hard-Earned Lessons in Endurance", subtitled "Adversity can make us braver and stronger, in sports and in life. We got advice from endurance athletes". 

I loved "Accept the Rule of Thirds" quoting Alexi Pappas, a professional long-distance runner and Olympian. She explains that when she got frustrated her coach, Ian Dobson, explained ..."when you are chasing a big goal, you are supposed to feel good a third of the time, OK a third of the time, and crummy a third of the time. If you are feeling bad all the time you are fatiguing, he said. If you are feeling good all the time, you are not working hard enough."

The other one that hit home was from Blair Braverman, a dogsledder, who has completed the 1,000 mile Iditarod Trail Sled Dog race (amongst many others). "... After years of trying to anticipate and solve problems before they happened, Ms. Braverman realized her worry was unproductive. She decided to trust herself to successfully deal with a problem when it arose." "If I could come up with a solution while lying awake in bed at three in the morning, I could also come up with a solution on the trail - and it would probably be a better one...".

OK, to sum it up:

1) Stay in your bubble when riding

2) Accept the Rule of Thirds

3) Trust yourself to successfully deal with a problem

4) Relax and SMILE - Says JP 😊

As JP says: SMILE! 
Saumur and his people at Waterloo, quite a few years ago

*Rail bird = Zaungast = Onlooker (often someone that gives unsolicited advice / comments)

When things fall into place - and "I assure you I'm a person"

Sometimes things just fall into place. Remy and I had a super weekend at Sheffield Farm. Luckily, Remy is such a good traveler, and aside from road construction on I-94, traffic was flowing. He and I had beautiful accommodations, Remy had a big and deeply bedded stall, and my lovely room (also deeply bedded) at Sally's had a stunning lake view. 

Beautiful view at Sheffield Farm

Our session with Britta Pedersen* started with her observing our normal warm up. Then she put me through an assessment off the horse, plus worked on me on the massage table (yikes, tight hips and thigh muscles). Then back on Remy, with exercises, followed by being "bandaged" (using a patented system of resistance bands). It felt a bit like riding on a trampoline. Once I got the hang of it I could really feel the difference in my position. Day 1 was a wrap! 

Straight, elbows back, both seat bones even, open rib cage, turn

Day 2 was more of 'bandaged on the horse' (I was tempted to call it bondage, but then all the weirdos out there would probably pick up the post 😏), and we had a dressage lesson (Britta is also a GP dressage rider and was on the NZ eventing team). At one point in the canter I was actually squealing "I feel like a kid again!" I felt a bit silly, but Marian, the clinic organizer, and a professional trainer, assured me that this is how she felt also. Effortless, fun, and in tune with the horse is the best to describe it. 

Question received on my FB post: "Is this a mannequin or a person on the horse?" (Seriously!)

 Reply: "I can assure you that I'm a person" 😀 

The only minor hitch was me braking out in a cold sweat on the way home: My GPS took me through the country side, with no gas station in sight anywhere. Lots of Amish carriages, so I guess no need for gas! We barely made it to a gas station, and I breathed a heavy sigh of relief when I managed to squeeze truck and trailer close to a pump. We made it home, tired and happy - and JP breathed a sigh of relief that I hadn't brought Woody home 😅

Comment from JP when I sent him the photo: "Whatever you do, don't bring him or her home!"

Not this time, JP, by maybe next??

*Britta Pedersen, performancerefinery.com

Here is the outline from Britta on the clinic:

"Equestrian RMBA (Ridden Muscle Balance Assessment System) consists of a series of strength, flexibility, and Range of Motion tests, performed to the upper and lower body, spine and core. The specific RMBA (both off and on your horse) is structred into 4 phases:

Stage 1: We look at your postural alignment and biomechanical systems during the warm up phase on your horse.

Stage 2: We will see you put through a variety of specific tests from the ground, where we identify any possible muscular weaknesses, tightness, dysfunctions, joint hyper/hypo-mobility.

Stage 3: We comprehensively explain the biomechanics of 'your' seat in the saddle and closely guide you on how to make correct and effective changes. We work with you on the horse for the remainder of the session as this will help you to cement the "feel" of your alignment and achieve postural harmony between both you and your horse's way of going. "

"Life is no wish concert" - and road trip with my Bestie

 Just when you think things are going swimmingly - life has a way of telling you: Not so fast! Saturday morning we had fun trying out a course that JP had designed for our outdoor arena and the boys were happily strutting their stuff. Then we went on a trail ride, and nothing seemed amiss until I finished working with two nice mares later in the afternoon. I felt dizzy and queasy, but tried to ignore it. By Saturday night I was vomiting violently, and could barely move. Sunday late afternoon JP carted me (and my puke bucket) to the ER. Of course, I didn't want to go, but by then I was so sick I couldn't really object. A few bags of IV fluids later and we were sent on our way, I felt marginally better. That didn't last too long though, by Monday morning I could only crawl and when I did a tele-visit with my GP she sent me right back to the ER to be admitted.

Well, for those of you that don't believe that there is a health care crisis and the hospitals are overloaded: There was no bed to be found, so I had to literally camp in a cubicle in the ER overnight.  Harried staff, stretched to their limits, moaning all around, you get the picture. More IV's, more meds, CT scan and chest Xray. Once the meds and fluids kicked in the next day I was ready to jump ship and sign the "AMA" paperwork ("Against Medical Advice")  to get the heck out of there. But a nice nurse convinced me to wait for the Neurologist (who was a day late), and after I passed those tests I hightailed out, with approval.  Luckily, nothing major was found! Whew! Seems I had a very bad case of Vertigo. Through all this JP was my champion, working hard to keep me sane. We were very grateful to Ed and Angie for taking care of the dogs during the day so we didn't have to worry about them. 

German saying: Das Leben ist kein Wunschkonzert
"Life is no wish concert" = literal translation from a funny calendar Stephanie sent me 
"Life is not a musical request program"

So all this put the kibosh on my tight schedule, but all my clients were very caring and understanding. Yesterday Vanessa rode Remy for me, as I'm still a bit wobbly, and he looked fabulous (of course 😍). 

Remy and I have exciting plans for this weekend, so I better be fit: Two days working on ME! It's a Biomechanics for Riders clinic, based on a "Equestrian RMBA" (Ridden Muscle Balance Assessment) system - performancerefinery.com. It's held at a beautiful farm on the other side of Michigan -West-, and Sally, the owner, has kindly invited me to stay with her. Looking forward to it: Road trip with my four-legged Bestie: Yay! JP will stay home with his Besties, and I think he'll be glad to get some respite from taking care of me 😏

"Let the wall help your shoulder-in" - and the bunny needs a horse

 Having grown up in a country that was divided by a wall, and now living in a country where discussions about walls are areas of big contention didn't predispose me to thinking of walls to help my riding.

Enter our lesson with Vanessa today. We have been working a lot on straightness, as in staying straight on the quarter line in all gaits, no straying off the straight and narrow! I was struggling with our shoulder-in* to the right today, just couldn't get it with the correct bend through his body and not the neck. Vanessa had me ride it turning on the quarter line on the left hand, and then doing the shoulder right facing the arena wall. And wouldn't you know it: It worked. I guess sometimes a wall is a good thing. 

Even the Easter Bunny needs a horse 😀

*"A correct shoulder-in is ridden in the walk or trot with the horse’s hind legs on the line of travel and with the shoulders displaced to the inside. The legs should be on three tracks and this angle should be stable. In other words, the outside hind leg tracks along the wall, the inside hind leg and the outside front leg are on the same track parallel to the wall, and the inside front leg is on the inner track parallel to the wall. The line of travel can be the wall, which is the easiest place to begin, or another line off the track, such as the centerline. The horse should be bending in his body around the rider’s inside leg with the poll flexed to the inside, away from the direction of travel". (Janet Foy, DT)

"He is very energy efficient" - and it's tough being Remy and Chambord

 Remy (still) surprises me in our lessons. He has turned into the 'Energizer Bunny' - you switch him on and he goes. This is how it should be - no constant prodding, pleading, asking ... me working harder than he does. For a long time, this was the case. Now we turned the corner, but he still wants to be asked (nicely) to go strut his stuff. As Vanessa put it yesterday "he is just very energy efficient". "No use expending all that energy when it's not called for", says Remy. 

Remy's ancestors were bred to be sturdy, hard-working, easy to maintain horses*. Remy does fit the profile to a T (with the added energy-conservation streak he shares with Chambord, see below).

Next step: Sit on the sofa, have a beer, and watch TV 😅

 *Horses were an essential component in the transport of cavalry troops, supplies, and artillery weapons throughout the war. Morgan horses are known to have been used in both the Union and Confederate armies. Due to the quality of the Morgan horses and their physical attributes, they were in high demand.

Morgan Horses in the Civil War | Morgan Horse Guide

morganhorseguide.com/2016/03/10/morgan-horses-in-the-civil-war/

We have our own "in-barn" horse-whisperer - and decision making help

With the warmer weather the boys love to snooze in the sun. Especially Chambord can be found daily taking his nap. He scares the unsuspecting people walking or driving by - he has the "dead horse" look down pat. 

Remy watches over "Mr. Sleepyhead" Chambord

JP loves to join the boys (I bet if the ground would be nicer he'd snooze right next to Chambord). As it is, he has very deep conversations with Chambord. One day it will be over a glass of Bourbon, I'm sure!

Profound conversations going on here!

Our lessons with Vanessa have been going really well. Every time we get to Ferris' Remy is ready to rock right from the beginning, and he puts an excellent effort in (which wasn't at all the case in the past). I feel we do have a shot at correct upper level work. Vanessa is encouraging, and tough when needed; and both Remy and I always finish with a sense of accomplishment. If you wonder how I know what Remy feels - I only have to look at his expression to know that he is proud of himself. We have been working on sharpening up our flying changes. Canter/walk/counter canter/walk/canter in quick succession has been very helpful. The lateral work (shoulder in and half-passes) is getting sharper, as are the more collected gaits. 

With being on such a good trajectory I struggled with the decision of signing up for a clinic with a well-known judge. Our past experience left me quite frustrated, even though we did learn some things. Right in time I came across this post from Paulo Coelho:

And then of course, there are a few people I would NEVER walk away from - one of them Stephanie, source of unwavering friendship and purveyor of the most incredible care packages that always show up when I need some TLC the most. 

😍

We not only "got through" the Michigan winter - we actually thrived

With the daylight savings time fast approaching (this Sunday), I think it's safe say winter is over - at least the worst of it. Still a long way to Memorial Day, and the official begin of summer, but hey, the sun is shining and the weather -mostly- cooperates. The horses seem to be convinced it's Spring already, based on the amount of hair everyone is freely shedding. 

I had been concerned how Remy and I would do this winter, last season in Wellington being an almost distant memory. In the end, it was a blessing in disguise being at home. We got to hunker down with our best buddies (JP for me, Chambord for Remy), and enjoy being home. Let's not forget there is still a pandemic going on! We were also very lucky to have 'found' Vanessa (www.hollanddressage.com), and that she took us on this winter, despite her super busy schedule. Remy's school bus sure was put to good use, and aside from a few times when it was too iffy to drive on ice and snow, or too cold, it worked out well. In fact, it was a very lucky break for us as both Remy and I have been thriving in our lessons.

I received a few good natured jabs from friends, as there is a long standing rivalry between the German and Dutch dressage riders, and they joked that I went to the dark side. Fear not: Good training is good training (goes for the opposite, too, of course) - and  we are getting excellent training.

Not just that, we both are way more chill. Just one example, yesterday was one of the extreme windy days, that seem to trigger the horses' flight instinct. Put them in an indoor arena, with the winds howling outside, walls and roofs creaking, and you can get some rather 'interesting' rides. Remy didn't bat an eye, stepped off the trailer relaxed, was focused and eager to work during the entire lesson, and we had fun! 

 

Gespitzte Pferdeohren 😊

When an article hits home - "No impulsion - no horse"

 Today was one of those few times when I felt like "I can do this". Sounds strange, I know, but as riders (especially dressage riders) we always search for that perfect harmony and "one-ness". Today things just clicked, and Remy felt amazing. I was not only "riding the wave", to quote Vanessa, Remy and I were together. So when things go south (which they invariably will) I can draw on those moments and know: Yes, we can do do this! 

I follow Col. Christian Carde (former chief rider at the Cadre Noir in Saumur, and former national dressage coach in France) on FB. Today I read a post that really hit home as Remy and I recently have come close to Col. Carde's definition of impulsion:

"No Impulsion, No Horse Impulsion starts with the inner attitude of the horse to listen to the rider. In this early phase of retraining the feeling of the rider is of exceptional importance: He has to listen to his horse and only focus on the quality of the reaction and the forward going.

In equitation the development and cultivation of impulsion is the most important thing which a rider has to achieve. „No impulsion, no horse“, recognized one of my most famous predecessors at the Cadre Noir, General Alexis L’Hotte, in his legendary opus „Questions Equestres“ which had first been published in 1906 and is part of the French doctrine .

I want to define this term which many riders correlate only with the physical procedure of the forwards-upwards stepping hindquarters more precisely. In the equestrian tradition of my country impulsion begins with the inner attitude of the horse to listen to his rider and to react promptly and willingly to his rider's requests. This intrinsic motivation to provide his forces to the rider then leads to this energy which the hind-legs generate. For that reason I prefer speaking of „activity“ instead of „impulsion“ because this term includes the mental as well as the physical procedure within the horse." 

The entire article was first published in KAVALLO magazine, Switzerland, issue 10/2017, page 48-52.

                                            

Careful what you wish for - the "unloved relative" to winter lurking around the corner

 Well, we got what we wished for: Warmer temps. Today we were in the 40sF, which seemed like a heat wave. The snow and ice are melting, and the "unloved' relative" to winter is just lurking around the corner: Mud and Shedding Season. Ugh. I've curried about 1/2 a muck bucket full of hair off Saumur yesterday, and that's just the beginning. And don't me get started about the mud... but hey, in the big scheme of things, it's an improvement. We don't have to lug hot water to the barn several times a day anymore, or break ice, shovel snow, etc. etc. And I can work without turning into an icicle. 

A scene from our daily life

Speaking of work, I truly enjoy my volunteer time at TRI (Therapeutic Riding Inc) in Ann Arbor. It is also a center for Para-Dressage. The horses and people are amazing, and I always leave after the sessions feeling very happy. Win-Win all around.

Spin Doctor is a former Arabian race horse, trained to 4th level dressage, and now preparing for a new career in para-dressage. 
The yawning is a sign that he is relaxed and releases tension. (I am working on some tight spots in his scapula area.)

I also did my first KT (Kinesiology Taping) on JP's knee. He swears it feels better - so let's just hope he doesn't scream when it comes time to pull the tape off. (It won't hurt, of course, but you'll never know..😉).

A study in contrasts - and using the 'off time' well

 And the deep freeze continues... at least until this afternoon, where the forecast predicts temps in the 20s F. Yay! Of course, a far cry from the 18C in Germany. 

Outside
versus
Inside

It was too cold for equine bodywork in the last couple of weeks, but a good occasion for studying. I started a certification course in Equine Kinesiology Taping, which I find very interesting. An added bonus is that a section on Equestrian Taping is included.

Yesterday I was able to see three clients, which made me realize how much I missed it, even though the 'off time' wasn't too long. Liz very thoughtfully surprised me with  the most delicious pastry from a French bakery (Chez Pierre et Genevieve), and that about made my day. I always carry tea with me and the combination hit the spot. Recently I discovered Fraser Tea, a family owned company in Michigan. I'm definitely addicted to the Pur-erh Organic Chocolate Chai.  

I have also signed up to "Yoga for Riders", and now one of the bedrooms sports a yoga mat and all the accoutrements (blocks, blanket, etc.) needed for the practice. Four sessions a week plus meditation and horse home work. A bit ambitious for me, but the yoga sessions are only 30 minutes - perfect for my short attention span - stilling my mind is not one of my strong suits😊. 

The boys are on an on-again / off-again work schedule. JP and Chambord had a great lesson with Lisa on Friday (I missed out because my phone died and of course the only appointment available at the store was that time). Remy and I will have a lesson with Vanessa this afternoon, and I am very much looking forward to it. Let's hope the forecast is right and we won't resemble the icicles in the photo above. 

Nightly Betthupferls - and "Action beats Anxiety"

Some things just don't translate well - so what is a Betthupferl? It is a night time treat, literally something to "jump into bed" for. Often children were offered a special snack at bedtime as an incentive to go to bed. 

The boys don't have an issue with jumping into bed but Saumur, Remy, Chambord, and Teddy still whinny for their Betthupferls.  So, like clockwork, every night at 9 p.m. JP and I trudge to the barn through the snow, carrying warm, soaked alfalfa pellets, carrots, and also hot water. We pick out stalls, top water buckets with hot water, replenish hay bags, and dole out the Betthupferls. Not a bad gig, being a horse at our barn!

Betthupferls for the four boys

Due to the cold the boys had quite a bit of time off, I did longe Remy in the snow a couple of times, but nothing remotely strenuous. On Friday we tagged along to JPs and Chambord's lesson, and clearly, it was not Remy's idea of a good time. He felt tight as a tick, and sure enough, he threw in some -minor- bucks. We both like to be on the move, and waiting for our turn is not always beneficial for our respective -overactive- brains. 

I happened to come across some posts from Karl Greenwood (a British trainer), and he nailed it with this phrase: "Action beats Anxiety". I love it, it's so true. If you are focused and have a job to do there is no time to wonder "ob in China ein Sack Reis umfaellt" ("if a bag of rice falls over in China" - German metaphor for something unimportant happening).

Case in point: Today with Vanessa Remy was concentrated, listening to his rider, not bothered by the shenanigans of another horse in the arena. Not a whiff of anxiety in the air. And now it is clear to me why I have to move so much - it alleviates my anxieties, too. My mind usually goes 100 miles an hour (at least), so the body has to follow which is not always easy. It's slippery ground out there...

Bittersweet memories - and discovering a new way of movement classes

 Yesterday was Emil's birthday, quite a bittersweet day. It's been two years, and I still miss him a lot. It is also a special day because I introduced JP to my family at Emil's 60th birthday. Lots of people that were celebrating that day are no longer with us, but will be in my memories forever. JP was a very good sport that day, a French guy, not speaking German, not a hunter -- Emil and his friends (most of them knew me since I was a little girl) were really 'sniffing' him out. 

After moving to the States we tried to make it to the special birthdays, and it was always a great time as Emil and his friends sure knew how to party (they made us feel old!). The fun part was that JP and I stayed at the Hunting Lodge, a bit rustic - but oh so cozy.

JP and I in front of Emil's Hunting Lodge

 

Today it was way too cold to do anything with the horses, our thermometer never climbed above 8F. They still were turned out (as there is shelter) and we made sure the boys didn't run out of hay and warm water. 

Good morning, sunshine: It's -22C

Exercising horses in very cold weather (about 23F to 14F)  is damaging to the lungs. When a horse is forced to exert himself, he inhales quickly and deeply, and the body doesn't have time to warm the cold air. The thin layer of fluid that lines the airways evaporates faster than it can be replaced, effectively drying them out, causing inflammation and constriction. 

Speaking of exercise: I discovered a fun system today I had not heard of before: GYROKINESIS® for Riders. It was presented by noted physiotherapist and author ("Balance in Movement") Susanne von Dietze-Pollack. I had met Susanne at a clinic in Wellington two years ago, attended her lecture, and found her amazing. 

The zoom classes on GYROKINESIS® for Riders are focusing on spinal motions and breathing (today was the first in a series of 4), and did not disappoint. Good news, Remy: There might be hope for your tight rider after all!

The old boy is giving us a scare - and "forced hibernation"

 Sunday evening we noticed that Saumur wasn't eating or drinking, and seemed overall listless. When he refused a horse cookie I knew we were in trouble. I gave him Banamine paste, but that didn't improve anything in the 30 min. or so it usually takes to kick in. His temp was normal, but he obviously wasn't. So, a call to the emergency number at the vet was in order. Luckily Dr. DeWitt called right back and came quickly. She thought it was gas colic, and the exam revealed dry manure in his 'pipes', so out came the long tube, up his nose it went and then oil/liquid got pumped into his stomach. It took a bit but then Saumur was interested in nibbling on hay again. 

We suspect that the large doses of SMZ (antibiotics) he receives after the dental surgery upset his system. Tonight is his last dose, whew! I tried to counteract the effects with pre- and probiotics, but obviously it wasn't enough. Saumur is still not into anything but 2nd cutting hay and soaked alfalfa pellets, but at least he is eating this. And he does love "German Horse Muffins" (thanks, Andra!), they are soft, easy to chew, and smell yummy. 

It's interesting to see that the other two, Chambord and Remy, started to pick on Saumur, chasing him away from the hay bags (there are five for four horses). It's like nature kicks in, and the weak is getting kicked out of the herd. Luckily we have a good set up: Saumur has a turnout area connected to his stall, so he can go in and out. He can see the others, but eats in peace. After lunch he joins them for a few hours. 

We are at the beginning of a cold spell that will last until the end of next week (gasp!). We will be lucky to see the teens (F). JP was one frozen tractor driving snow removing barn manager today. Needless to say, I canceled all my bodywork appointments, as well as our rides. Even though Berwyck has an heated indoor, trailering on those treacherous roads is too dangerous (and never mind getting the horses ready, hooking the trailer, etc. etc.) Looks like we will be forced into some kind of hibernation for the week. 

The good part is that it gives time to review plenty of educational programs. I attended a webinar on Muscles and Fascia (Gillian Higgins) that was excellent. Loved her exercise to show a human how hard collection is for a horse and that the strength for it has to be carefully build up:

Go into a squatting position and then jog (staying in the squat). Uff! I have a new appreciation for Remy's dressage work. 

Both Remy and I have been working very hard on our respective areas of improvements, especially knowing that we will have periods of 'hibernation' this winter. We both are happy in the challenging work and are making progress:

Experiencing a new level of intensity - and a promise

 Yesterday Vanessa got on Remy to get a feel of how he is under saddle, which obviously helps her helping both of us. The good news: She is a beautiful rider, and Remy looked amazing. The "bad" news: JP couldn't stop raving about her all through dinner. Remy probably told Chambord the same over their dinner. 😀 Ah, well, I did join in, too!

It is a different level and intensity of riding than I'm used to. We both are asked to step up our game considerably. When I say intensity it doesn't mean "hauen und stechen" (and old German term for hitting and using spurs). Remy understands now that FORWARD means FORWARD, and a medium trot or canter is not a half-a**d effort. The boy is smart and it's almost like the genie is out of the bottle and he found his turbo. Hand me the racing goggles, my eyes are watering!

However, with all the excitement and intensity I made Remy a promise to always keep the following in mind:

Col. Christian CARDE

QUOTES

"The most important thing which is lacking today is humanity.

Riding became a technique more than an art.

The horse has to obey more than to understand. And all too often it is just there for achieving personal glory and success."

(Christian Carde in an interview with Eurodressage, 2010)

Trying to stay motivated - the difference a year makes

 The difference a year makes: January 2020 versus January 2021:

January 2020 - Wellington, Florida

January 2021 - Milford, Michigan

I admit to not 'digging' the cold, and it is hard to stay motivated without regular access to an indoor arena. Yes, of course, I know - I'm "complaining on a high level" - there are way more serious things in life! We are in the midst of a pandemic, with no vaccination appointment in sight until August 2021 (latest estimate).

This week I have been longing Remy in the snow. Luckily our outdoor arena footing was covered by a nice layer of snow, without ice underneath, so Remy could have fun letting off some steam. Yesterday we tagged along with JP and Chambord for their lesson, but the crowded arena didn't do much for both of us. The best I can say was that we got some exercise. 

Today we are heading to Ferris' for a lesson with Vanessa. I know she shares my issues with working in the cold, so I appreciate her even more. It's 18F (about -8C) as I'm typing this. Yesterday morning I had horses to work on in 10F (-12C)  - and wouldn't you know it, the kids that had lessons at that barn were still cheerful. I do recall riding in the cold and snow in Germany, but then, it really never got to the deep freeze we have here. Most of the time I could ride in a sweater in the (unheated) arena in the winter. Ah, the good old days and/or to be a kid again! 😉

Old man teeth - and my kitchen looks like a drug lab

 Poor Saumur had his dental surgery this week. No fun at any age, but at 27 it's pretty worrisome! Saumur all his life has never been a fan of trailer loading (to put it lightly), and his last trip off the property was to Michigan State University for his colic surgery four years ago. We practiced loading a few days before the trip to Hadley Hill Equine, and with Remy as emotional support, it worked.

Remy traveled with Saumur to the hospital, but then Saumur had to content himself with a 2 year old stud colt in the stall next to him. The first injections went reasonably well, but once in the stock (a padded stand) Saumur's adrenaline went into full flight mode and Dr. Turner had a hard time keeping him sedated. To add to the nail biting situation was that the tooth was cemented in, and had to be chiseled out in pieces. It took over two hours, and it was pretty nerve wracking (at least to me). Dr. Turner had warned me before "there will be a lot of blood, so if you can't handle it don't stay". I felt Saumur needed me to hold his hoof (figuratively, of course) so I stayed - and I didn't faint! Unfortunately, the procedure took longer than expected, so the second tooth couldn't be extracted. We earned ourselves a return trip ...

I have to say Saumur is the most resilient horse I've ever encountered. When I checked on him in the afternoon and hand-walked him he was all chipper, dragging me along, and rolling in the clinic's indoor arena. He went home the next day, loading himself on the trailer.

Now at home we have quite the drug regimen: 32 antibiotic pills a day, plus pain killers, plus pre- and probiotics, soaking his food, and salt water rinses of the wound.

The pills are the biggest issue, who wants to eat 16 pills in a setting? I tried to grind them with a mortar and pestle but that was way too tough. Enter a coffee and spice grinder, purchased while having to see some guy's underwear at the Walmart checkout. Yuk! The things you do for your horse!

Now the kitchen is transformed in a 'drug lab', I am wearing a mask because grinding the pills is a dusty business (and I don't want to absorb all the antibiotics). The powder gets mixed with water, put into a giant syringe and tag teamed (JP and I) into Saumur's mouth twice a day. 10 more days... I think I'll ask Dr. Turner for some 'Happy Pills' next time around, at least I'll get something out of my 'drug lab', too 😋

Saumur's daily dose of antibiotics

He got his beer after the ride - and what's the safe word?

Sometimes watching other rides is not helpful - there were some incidents that had me really worried before I even got on. I am not a fan of repeating exercises ad nauseam, and hearing "you are so fricking disorganized" (said to successful surgeon) did nothing for my confidence.

I fretted all morning before my ride, and sure enough, my nerves were pretty blank. Add to that an intimidating lady carrying a bamboo, and later a longe whip, and you are on a horse with a tendency to bolt when the whip comes up and you have a recipe for a rattled rider.

Despite all that Remy worked well, and he definitely filled in for me. He more than earned his Guinness! As for me, I'm still a bit rattled. Leave it to my friend Stephanie to cheer me up: I was telling her what happened and she said "Well, when people go to a Dominatrix there is usually a safe word to make her stop. You should have asked for one!" 😀

Too bad that I saw the post about the "Confidence Button" (FB post from Rudy Horsemanship) only today:

Rudy Horsemanship

January 4 at 8:03 AM  · 

The Psoas Muscle and the Confidence Button!

The psoas major is the "fear muscle". It connects from your spine to your femur and it closes your hip angle when you get scared. You can't directly keep this muscle from contracting- if you are scared or nervous, it WILL close your hip angle. This is why you see so many riders leaning forwards, pulling on reins, and no matter how hard they try, they CAN'T sit back!

So what can we do about it?

Well, all our muscles have opposing muscles. Muscles work in sync- as one set contracts, the opposing muscles must extend. So if you can contract the muscles opposing the psoas, you can get the psoas to knock it off! your opposing muscles are the muscles in your butt that open the hip. But those muscles can contract in all sorts of ways, and we need THE specific movement that will re-open the hip! The best visualization I've come up with is to "ENGAGE THE CONFIDENCE BUTTON"!! Pretend you have a button, right at the top of your butt crack, that when you press it down into the saddle, will flood you with sticky seat super powers! Because it does! When you tuck your tailbone, lift your pubic bone, and engage your lower abs, it opens and relaxes your hip joints, enabling you to sit most evasions or spooks that your horse may dish out. It also puts you in a position where if you really HAVE to pull your horse's lips to his ears, at least you are able. Your seat will be in a strong position to both keep you on, and to influence your horse.

(These are my sketches, you can share the whole post, but don't steal my art.)