Busy weekend - and some minor frustrations

Saturday I took both boys for the first time by myself to Sandy’s. Luckily Saumur and Remy load and travel well. We had really good lessons, with voluntary (saddle trial) and involuntary (left double bridle at home) equipment changes.

Remy sported the Triumph saddle to see if he and I like it. It really fits him well, and I do like it, too. Sandy commented on how good my position was in this saddle as opposed to my Wave. Still, this is a big investment, so I need more rides before being absolutely sure. Luckily Luanne let me have it for a 10 day trial.

I do feel a bit awkward about the saddle situation, as Sandy is sponsored by a different saddle company that takes very good care of her. So naturally, it is important that her students should support that particular company. I’d like to do it but.. The saddle fitter comes from out of State. Sandy does a great job organizing the fittings at her barn, but naturally there are often months before the appointments, and then everybody has to be scheduled at a specific day.  OTOH, Luanne has been working with JP and me for years, and she always provided great service. And I do like the saddles better… and Luanne is local, and very accommodating to our schedules.

Saumur got to go in Remy’s snaffle, as I had left his double bridle at home. He was a very good boy, but note to self: if it is hot, hands are sweaty, and you are having laced reins: wear gloves! We did a cool exercise: 10 m canter circle on the center line then continue on the 20 m circle in counter canter, returning to a 10m circle on the center line in true canter.

The boys got a stay for a slumber party while we had a nice dinner with Sandy and Francis at the Redwood lodge. I definitely prefer sitting on the patio, inside I feel like my salad and I are scrutinized by the huge stuffed moose head on the wall.

Sundays lessons were more challenging, and I got really frustrated with myself. I am, and always have been, my own worst critic. Sandy wanted me to do a counter turn on the forehand, and with my left/right issue (“no, not this right, the other one”!) I felt I’d never get it. Good thing two out of three (Sandy and Saumur) kept their cool!

Then frustration with the saddle – I could not get the stirrups onto the trial saddle (I had been swapping leathers and irons between the saddles). The space was way too tight. In order not to waste too much time I used Saumur’s saddle and have to say, both Remy and I would have preferred the new one. With Remy, the key still is determination on my part. To make him more supple we work on breaking straight lines up with a lot of circles. The nice thing is that each ride is another building block on the previous one. Sure is better than me building up my left-right issues!

A perfect start to the day - and too good to be true?

What a great start today, sleeping in until 8 a.m. (!), waking up to perfect weather. We drove the farm pick-up "Old Buddy" to the local diner for breakfast. In order to get into the lovely village we have to go through Kensington, crossing the Huron River, seeing all kinds of wildlife. I felt so good that I even snatched a piece of crispy bacon off JP's plate (I'm a vegetarian). We really have embraced "small town America" and love it. I am thankful every day for the kind of life we are having. And yes, indeed, enough sleep will give you a rosier outlook.

Later today I'll take Saumur and Remy for lessons to Sandy, the boys will have a sleepover at Sandy's. That way JP and I can have dinner with Sandy and Francis, and I'll return for lessons Sunday morning and then take them home.

I'm getting a bit concerned about our combined fitness. Two more weeks until George! His lessons are pretty intense, and they certainly require a good deal of fitness. Actually, the main concern I have is Saumur, he had a pretty laid back time recently. Good thing the boys are keeping themselves  fit with galloping in our rolling pastures.

Last night we took Remy to his saddle-fitting. The place where we met Luanne looks like out of an advertisement "Better Living for Horses". Even the aisles are covered in springy rubber, there is a large cupola, and the indoor is humongous. I appreciated the friendly welcome from the boarders, having had different experiences in the past, trailering Crissy to our jumping lessons. The boarders there viewed us as intruders and made no bones about it.

Yesterday a woman told me her Morgan lived to the age of 43, roaming freely at the farm. Oh boy, if Remy lives that long I need to find a retirement home that takes both of us!

Regarding the saddle it seems the 3/4 independent shoulder relief system works best for him, and the saddle we have on trial now (a Triumph) is build standard on a shorter tree. I also tried a Link II but didn't care for the Mono-Flap. If I decide that I don't like the Triumph I can have a Wave build with the Triumph panels. It's never easy, is it? Back in the old days in Germany the store owner would bring two or three saddles to the barn (if you were lucky), and this is what you got to choose from. Period. The nice thing is that I can keep the saddle on trial for 10 days, so I am looking forward to see how it works in my lesson today.

What I meant with "Too good to be true" is Remy's behaviour in the new place. He was curious, but calm, didn't get bothered by all the horses looking at him through their half-doors. I, of course, had to immediately scout for monsters. Saumur at the time was convinced they were everywhere. I shouldn't have bothered. Remy clearly is not concerned about monsters. He was a gentleman on the longe line, let us adjust and fuss with the saddles, stirrup leathers, etc. and was attentive and polite under saddle, soaking up all the attention. Paranoia setting in I asked JP if he thought something was wrong with Remy?? OK, granted, this didn't even deserve a comment!

Taking the horse to the saddle - and appearance versus comfort

Bob Tarr, the awesome photographer, took some great shots of Remy at Waterloo. I was so excited when I received two photos per email (the ordered prints will take more time). Junior sure looks good! I, OTOH, briefly contemplated if the cooling vest makes me look 'fat' :-). Well, it does soak in water, and expands... JP's comment on this was a quick and to the point French version of "You are nuts!". Anyway,  I opt for being cool in scorching temps, and as long as I am not looking like the Michelin Man I am fine.

Tonight we'll have a road trip to try more saddles for Remy. Usually, Luanne would have come to our place, but after the heavy rains the outdoor arena is too mushy. With the draught we are having I don't want to complain about rain, however, our dirt roads are so slippery now that I have to put the traction control on to avoid sliding around in the mud with my car.

It will be fun to see how Remy reacts to being in a new indoor arena. I took Saumur there before for a freestyle clinic and he did not handle it well. Knowing Remy it won't be a problem. The problem will be making a decision! The two saddles to try are not what I am looking for, but they have the panels Luanne think will work for Remy. If Remy likes the panels, and I don't like the saddle we'll have to have one build. Actually, price wise it will be the same, but it will take ten weeks. What do they say, good things take time -- too bad that I WANT IT and I WANT IT NOW!

Horse Training Advice from the 'Iron Lady'

Like her or not, but here is a great quote from Margaret Thatcher. Initially I wrote it down to help me with some leadership issues at work. Really, though, it applies equally to training horses:

If you just set out to be liked, you would be prepared to compromise on anything at any time, and you would achieve nothing.
- Margaret Thatcher

R E S P E C T - No more 'just co-existing'

Whew – what a weekend! Busy, hot, tiring, but a great learning experience.

Friday night we had a good schooling session. Our Saturday classes  started well, despite Remy’s little bucking fit in the warm up. His attention and focus, as expected, were a bit skewed. He was calling for his friends, ‘humping’ up his back, but all in all we had good moments.

Sunday was a good progression on Saturday, Sandy finally got through to me J in that Remy needs to RESPECT me more and do what I say. Yes, this is nothing new, but it seems I need to go out in public to really get it. Nothing like your horse acting up in the warm up in front of the professionals and other competitors (George’s comment: “Your young horse seems to have some spunk”).

Barb, another instructor and also one of Sandy’s students, put it really well. She said that she noticed that at home she and her young horse ‘co-exist’, meaning she is not pushing issues (that should be addressed) too much in order to keep the peace. Well, thanks, Barb, that hit home!

So, once I rode with more authority, with some growling in French thrown in for good measure, we did quite well. I was really happy with this weekend, and in addition to a mountain of laundry (horse and human) to remind me of it I have good judges’ comments and scores.

The other big ‘aha’ moment was when I realized that Remy IS NOT Saumur! Huh? Well, with Saumur I am constantly on the lookout for anything that could upset him. Remy, OTOH, is a cocky little guy, he doesn’t scare easily. I can ride him like a ‘normal’ horse. Wow, after all these years – I can actually have FUN at a horseshow J

Speaking of fun: Sandy’s students really cleaned up at this show. Sandy was by far the most successful trainer, with five students accumulating:

-        Three championships

-        14 1^st places

-        one 2^nd place

-        six 4^th places

-        one Dover Medal.

 
We had our share in it J

Embrace the spark - or pull out the fire extinguisher?

At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.

-        Albert Schweitzer

I came across this quote from Albert Schweitzer and thought “how true!” for so many situations in life. Also applicable when it comes to horses and competitions. My flame lately is burning pretty low concerning horse shows and the whole competitive stress.  Add another bout of stomach flu to my overflowing schedule and my motivation to pick up Remy tonight and take him to Waterloo for a large recognized dressage show is not really there.

Enter JP, who is not just ‘rekindling the flame’, he’s pouring gasoline on it! Without him, I would have said “forget the entry fees, we are staying home!”. But he is so supportive and really proud of us (even when we don’t do well) that it’s hard not to be motivated by him.

So, I guess JP put enough fuel on the flame that I agreed to spend the weekend in 90F weather at a very crowded show with a four-year old. And did I mention that my ride time requires me to get up at 3:30 a.m. tomorrow morning? Perhaps I should have had a fire extinguisher ready!

The honeymoon is over - pick up your socks!

Long day on Tuesday, we trailered Chambord and Remy to Sandy’s for lessons after work. It was well worth the effort, though, as JP had a great lesson on Chambord, and I got the (needed and deserved) strong nudge to move along.

As with the previous lessons, Sandy still had to point out that I am not asking enough precision of Remy, meaning he needs to respond right away, and not just "maybe". So she came up with more images to help me. One was that as we were trotting along she called out “There is a big sink hole right in front of you – halt!”.  The other one was “There is  branch about to fall off behind you – trot on!” That really helped with getting quicker responses. From there we could refine it to smoother transitions.

 So, yes, buddy, I guess the honeymoon is over… you need to listen and do what I say! (hmm, just don’t ask me how well this is working with my human partner…;-)