Thursday, March 9, 2017
Thankful the fences are still standing - and for having a generator
Yesterday was the worst storm in the history of DTE Energy, with wind gusts up to 70 mph (110 km/h) wreaking havoc. Over 700,000 households are without power - and we are one of them.
JP and I were very worried about our fence lines, as we have trees all around, in addition to all the trees on the property. Luckily no major damage.
The horses took the high winds better than expected. Usually wind sets them off, but what's "usual" with horses anyway? I was amazed that Judy decided to ride all her training horses in those conditions. The arena roof sounds like it has its own life even in normal conditions, I imagine what it must have sounded like yesterday. Judy is one tough and determined lady, there is not much that keeps her from riding (so far, I can only think of a ruptured appendix being 'successful' keeping her off a horse). Remy apparently got off his couch and was nicely forward (no wonder) - AND he worked really well (that's a wonder given the conditions) with only one spook at the outside door (it moves in high winds). Whew! - for all three of us.
In conditions like this Chambord could have made his audition to become a specialist for "airs above the ground" at the Spanish Riding School - or the rodeo circuit. This big, strong and usually cocky guy spooked at JPs flashlight last night during barn check.
I am so grateful we have our generator humming away in the garage. We have electricity for the main functions, i.e. the well pump, and heat. I'm blinking my way through today, though, as the lights in the bathrooms are not working (JP opted to have the TV connected, I guess in his mind this is an essential function?), so I had to fumble my contact lenses in with the help of a storm lamp.
It will take a few days to get everything running again, but hey, this is America - guess we need a reminder sometimes of the pioneers - and they didn't even have generators!
JP and I were very worried about our fence lines, as we have trees all around, in addition to all the trees on the property. Luckily no major damage.
The horses took the high winds better than expected. Usually wind sets them off, but what's "usual" with horses anyway? I was amazed that Judy decided to ride all her training horses in those conditions. The arena roof sounds like it has its own life even in normal conditions, I imagine what it must have sounded like yesterday. Judy is one tough and determined lady, there is not much that keeps her from riding (so far, I can only think of a ruptured appendix being 'successful' keeping her off a horse). Remy apparently got off his couch and was nicely forward (no wonder) - AND he worked really well (that's a wonder given the conditions) with only one spook at the outside door (it moves in high winds). Whew! - for all three of us.
In conditions like this Chambord could have made his audition to become a specialist for "airs above the ground" at the Spanish Riding School - or the rodeo circuit. This big, strong and usually cocky guy spooked at JPs flashlight last night during barn check.
I am so grateful we have our generator humming away in the garage. We have electricity for the main functions, i.e. the well pump, and heat. I'm blinking my way through today, though, as the lights in the bathrooms are not working (JP opted to have the TV connected, I guess in his mind this is an essential function?), so I had to fumble my contact lenses in with the help of a storm lamp.
It will take a few days to get everything running again, but hey, this is America - guess we need a reminder sometimes of the pioneers - and they didn't even have generators!
Tuesday, March 7, 2017
"He's a bit couchpotato-y" - and getting ready for the mountain
Tuesday = Remy's Monday = Back to school day. Chambord got a pass today due to the extreme blustery winds. Chambord is such a cool guy, but his 'pet peeve' (hmm, not sure if that's the right term) is being indoors when high winds are howling and rattling the roof. This usually prompts Chambord to do his own version of "airs above the ground". As I'd like to keep JP in one piece (at least most of the time) we decided to be prudent and leave Chambord at home.
I knew before getting on that it would be a difficult day - breathing wise. Unusually warm weather (in the high 50s) plus high humidity spells trouble for me in the indoor. Those shredded Nike's are just telling my air ways to shut the hatches. To make it easier I put Remy on the longe line first for his warm up, already focusing on engaging his hind quarters, and on good (prompt) transitions.
The blustering winds luckily did not get Remy much off the couch - at least in this case luckily for me (I did not fancy a rodeo). Judy was not enthralled with his rather lackadaisical approach. We worked through it, somehow. It's not so easy trying to get 1200 pounds motivated while gasping for air like a fish on land.
We finished well, but my "Inner Type A" was rather frustrated with me. I mean, finally I had a canter worthy enough for Judy to say "Now you can do a flying change" and my short answer was "No". Just didn't have enough breath, which annoys the heck out of me. Even the masks that are supposed to work for athletes are not doing the job properly.
On the bright side (and of course, there is one) - I should be ready to conquer any high altitude mountain in no time. After all this training I won't need any oxygen bottles. Watch out, Pico de Orizaba*, here I come!
*Our company has a plant in Orizaba, and two people from my sales team are part of a small group climbing the mountain next weekend.
Pico de Orizaba, also known as Citlaltépetl (from Nahuatl citlal(in) = star, and tepētl = mountain), is a stratovolcano, the highest mountain in Mexico and the third highest in North America, after Denali (formerly known as Mount McKinley) of the United States and Mount Logan of Canada. It rises 5,636 metres (18,491 ft) above sea level in the eastern end of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt, on the border between the states of Veracruz and Puebla. The volcano is currently dormant but not extinct, with the last eruption taking place during the 19th century. It is the second most prominent volcanic peak in the world after Africa's Mount Kilimanjaro.
I knew before getting on that it would be a difficult day - breathing wise. Unusually warm weather (in the high 50s) plus high humidity spells trouble for me in the indoor. Those shredded Nike's are just telling my air ways to shut the hatches. To make it easier I put Remy on the longe line first for his warm up, already focusing on engaging his hind quarters, and on good (prompt) transitions.
The blustering winds luckily did not get Remy much off the couch - at least in this case luckily for me (I did not fancy a rodeo). Judy was not enthralled with his rather lackadaisical approach. We worked through it, somehow. It's not so easy trying to get 1200 pounds motivated while gasping for air like a fish on land.
We finished well, but my "Inner Type A" was rather frustrated with me. I mean, finally I had a canter worthy enough for Judy to say "Now you can do a flying change" and my short answer was "No". Just didn't have enough breath, which annoys the heck out of me. Even the masks that are supposed to work for athletes are not doing the job properly.
On the bright side (and of course, there is one) - I should be ready to conquer any high altitude mountain in no time. After all this training I won't need any oxygen bottles. Watch out, Pico de Orizaba*, here I come!
*Our company has a plant in Orizaba, and two people from my sales team are part of a small group climbing the mountain next weekend.
Pico de Orizaba, also known as Citlaltépetl (from Nahuatl citlal(in) = star, and tepētl = mountain), is a stratovolcano, the highest mountain in Mexico and the third highest in North America, after Denali (formerly known as Mount McKinley) of the United States and Mount Logan of Canada. It rises 5,636 metres (18,491 ft) above sea level in the eastern end of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt, on the border between the states of Veracruz and Puebla. The volcano is currently dormant but not extinct, with the last eruption taking place during the 19th century. It is the second most prominent volcanic peak in the world after Africa's Mount Kilimanjaro.
Sunday, March 5, 2017
Eight months later - back to the (saddle) drawing board
Well, it's been eight (!) months since I initially ordered the new saddle. As that one didn't work, and the rework didn't do the trick Luanne came today with another to try. Same issue. It feels like I'm sitting on a 2x4. It seems the relief wedge that Remy needs is causing me the pain.
I feel bad for Luanne because she's working hard to find something that works for both of us, but so far, no luck. I can't believe I'm the only one that feels that way?! Am I such a "Princess on a Pea"?? Guess so. I was relieved that -without asking- I received my down payment back.
It boggles my mind that it is so difficult to find something that works for both of us. I never had a saddle issue until now. Hope the solution is NOT a bareback pad (Ouch, Remy does have very developed withers).
Hey, Jude: Meet my jumping saddle that will take us to FEI!
I feel bad for Luanne because she's working hard to find something that works for both of us, but so far, no luck. I can't believe I'm the only one that feels that way?! Am I such a "Princess on a Pea"?? Guess so. I was relieved that -without asking- I received my down payment back.
It boggles my mind that it is so difficult to find something that works for both of us. I never had a saddle issue until now. Hope the solution is NOT a bareback pad (Ouch, Remy does have very developed withers).
Hey, Jude: Meet my jumping saddle that will take us to FEI!
Is "a little late" already too late? - and just like an Eichhoernchen
And the quest for good changes continues - Remy was game, but he is tricky in that he only goes as well as he is ridden. Duh! No freebees in his playing cards.
I love it that he has such a good counter canter. That was my nemesis with Saumur, and one of the reasons why I was eager to get him to 3rd level - to be done with the counter canter.
Back to Remy: My frustration level mounted as I hadn't even finished the change when "LATE!" boomed through my headset. (Meaning his hind legs changed not at the same stride as the front). We graduated from "LATE" to "A little late". I jokingly asked Judy if "a little late" is like "a little pregnant"??
I got the hang of it better when Judy had us do counter canter with haunches clearly to the outside, keeping Remy straight, only my hands moving a sliver to the inside. "DO NOT BEND HIM TO THE INSIDE!" firmly admonished the voice in my ear. (As if - I'm too scared to dare ;-) ) Then ask for the change.
Voila: I graduated from "A little late" to "Clean but short". Muehsam ernaehrt sich das Eichhoernchen... (German saying - "Laboriously the squirrel gathers its food", meaning the little critters have to work hard and long to gather and crack the nuts).
I love it that he has such a good counter canter. That was my nemesis with Saumur, and one of the reasons why I was eager to get him to 3rd level - to be done with the counter canter.
Back to Remy: My frustration level mounted as I hadn't even finished the change when "LATE!" boomed through my headset. (Meaning his hind legs changed not at the same stride as the front). We graduated from "LATE" to "A little late". I jokingly asked Judy if "a little late" is like "a little pregnant"??
I got the hang of it better when Judy had us do counter canter with haunches clearly to the outside, keeping Remy straight, only my hands moving a sliver to the inside. "DO NOT BEND HIM TO THE INSIDE!" firmly admonished the voice in my ear. (As if - I'm too scared to dare ;-) ) Then ask for the change.
Voila: I graduated from "A little late" to "Clean but short". Muehsam ernaehrt sich das Eichhoernchen... (German saying - "Laboriously the squirrel gathers its food", meaning the little critters have to work hard and long to gather and crack the nuts).
Thursday, March 2, 2017
Tackling the changes - and the gap between theory and execution
Cold and blustery today and I could feel initially how Remy was more jumpy then the last days when the temps were warmer. He is after all a California Surfer Boy!
I was happy that Remy went to work nevertheless without any whining. All went well... until it came to the flying changes. Ugh! He can do them, obviously. Me - it's still hit and miss. It frustrates the heck out of me, I feel so stupid that I don't seem to get my aids simultaneously right and on time. The best I could get was a comment from Judy "that was a nice Hunter change". Obviously NOT what I was supposed to do. Oh yes, and a reminder that "Remy loves his changes". (Read: Just not with me).
I give lots of credit to Judy that she didn't get frustrated with my rather fruitless efforts. She had me do a really neat exercise: Second track, straight line, a few strides each of canter - walk - counter-canter - repeat and then change. The first tries were quite an eye-opener, but then it worked. As Judy pointed out: The better the canter, the better the changes. I know Remy needs to have his rear wheel drive on full throttle and be right on the aids. Yep, the theory I have down pat. Execution - obviously not so much.
Of course, at home JP -aka my resident expert- weighed in: I'm too tense. If I were just more relaxed...
Well, honey, it doesn't take a genius to figure that one out. Quick, hand me Emil's home-brewed Schnapps*!
*Schnapps, a German word, "is the generic term for all white (clear) brandies distilled from fermented fruits. True Schnapps has no sugar added and is definitely an aquired taste, particularly for nationalities not used to raw distillates."
I was happy that Remy went to work nevertheless without any whining. All went well... until it came to the flying changes. Ugh! He can do them, obviously. Me - it's still hit and miss. It frustrates the heck out of me, I feel so stupid that I don't seem to get my aids simultaneously right and on time. The best I could get was a comment from Judy "that was a nice Hunter change". Obviously NOT what I was supposed to do. Oh yes, and a reminder that "Remy loves his changes". (Read: Just not with me).
I give lots of credit to Judy that she didn't get frustrated with my rather fruitless efforts. She had me do a really neat exercise: Second track, straight line, a few strides each of canter - walk - counter-canter - repeat and then change. The first tries were quite an eye-opener, but then it worked. As Judy pointed out: The better the canter, the better the changes. I know Remy needs to have his rear wheel drive on full throttle and be right on the aids. Yep, the theory I have down pat. Execution - obviously not so much.
Of course, at home JP -aka my resident expert- weighed in: I'm too tense. If I were just more relaxed...
Well, honey, it doesn't take a genius to figure that one out. Quick, hand me Emil's home-brewed Schnapps*!
*Schnapps, a German word, "is the generic term for all white (clear) brandies distilled from fermented fruits. True Schnapps has no sugar added and is definitely an aquired taste, particularly for nationalities not used to raw distillates."
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