What my career and dressage have in common - and I'm not at Grand Prix (yet)

One of my last activities in the old year was updating my professional profile. I hadn't done an update of my initial version in over five years. It was good to focus on my accomplishments and the things I can contribute to an organization. Definitely gives the self-esteem a boost.


It also made me think about the similarities between working up the levels in dressage and my career. I started all my horses green, and -with the help of good and not so good people along the way- was able to progress with Saumur to the USDF Bronze Medal, and almost fourth level. Remy -with the help of excellent 'people' Judy and JP (aka "Team Remy") is well on his way to Third level, aiming up all the way.


When I came to the US I had to start my career at the very bottom again, from Pre-Green (Sales Administrator) to Training Level (Account Manager) and then up the levels finally to FEI (VP). Grand Prix is not going to happen at my present company, with 7500 employees and one woman in the executive ranks (yours truly) - "rien ne va plus".


But then, the door is wide open when it comes to riding, and there is no reason why Remy can't make it to GP. He's got the talent, we've got the coach - and as for me it's an equal playing field, in that it is not a male dominated environment: Plenty of women competing there.


There is a major item dressage and my career have not in common: It will be way easier to change companies than horses - after all JP won't ask for a divorce when I switch jobs but he sure would if I tried to 'up-trade' one of the horses!

Starting the new year on the straight and narrow - after a rather fretful night

Both JP and I are not big into New Year's Parties. The main reason is that we don't want to leave the barn unattended. A few years ago some teenagers threw fireworks into a horse barn down the road from us, and it subsequently burned down, killing several animals.


We did go out for a nice dinner, made it back by 9:30 p.m., did night check - and realized that Saumur hadn't touched his dinner. Red Alert! Saumur not eating is unheard of. He only gets a cup of pellets per feeding so he usually devours those in no time. He gets plenty of hay several times a day and also dives right in. Not so last night. On the bright side, he looked perky, had drunk some water, and passed manure. Not all was lost - no emergency call to interrupt the vet ...yet.


We checked on Saumur several times during the night and he seemed fine. I was afraid to drink much in case we had to ship him to MSU (Michigan State University Veterinary Clinic). Luckily no need for this, and by this morning Saumur was eating again. Perhaps he just wanted me to lay off the champagne??


With Remy the New Year started on the straight and narrow - cantering up the centerline that is. We had a very good first ride of the year, so Life is Good!


Now all I need is a good sweat in my very own Finnish Sauna, lovingly built by JP. Top that off with the champagne I didn't drink last night and Life is Excellent!

Finishing the year on a high note - with No Bend*

Last ride of the year - and we finished on a high note. For I don't know how long Judy had been on my case about the shoulder-ins. Usually the voice in my ear rose with frustration: "NO BEND! Too much inside bend! More inside leg, less rein! Inside leg to outside rein, NO BEND!!"


To the left it was marginally better, but to the right - way too much bend. Not today! I don't know what clicked but someone switched the light bulb on for me, and sure enough, we finally were able to do it. Yay! Sounds easy enough, I know, but it is HUGE. With correct shoulder-ins the half-passes flow, and we went from shoulder-in to half-pass to shoulder-in across the arena. Double yay!


Both Remy and I were relaxed and happy (which is no biggy for Remy, he is happy most of the time - Saumur and I are the worrywarts of the family). It was also some kind of 'vindication' for me, as the day before I had a panic attack in the arena and had to hand-walk Remy before getting back on. Too many people in the arena and I get claustrophobic and can't deal with it. Remy, on the other hand, is getting much better in dealing with crowded spaces. As long as one of us keeps his or her wits together all will be well.


*Yes, "with no bend" is an oxymoron.




2015 was a very good year - here is to an awesome 2016!

HAPPY NEW YEAR, everyone!

Best wishes for health and happiness!!

My 'minimalist' approach - and Chambord and I have more than one thing in common

Ambitious plans for this week: A lesson every day! Well, as they say: The best laid plans... Judy had checked the weather forecast and texted me to suggest to bring Remy earlier than planned. Unfortunately, the weather changed right at that time to freezing rain, ice and sleet. This meant another day off for Remy.


It also meant that I dug out the sheets for Remy and Chambord. "Finally!" - some of the people at the barn are most likely are saying. When it comes to horse keeping I try to keep my approach very minimalistic, meaning no sheets if it's over 30F, and blankets only when the temperatures plummet into the teens and below. Saumur and Teddy go 'naked', as they both have very long and fluffy winter hair. Chambord, alas, is not blessed when it comes to thick hair. If he were human he would hit the Rogaine aisle. His coat is shiny but fine, and there is virtually no difference between summer and winter. So on with the waterproof sheet today (he was clearly happy to get to wear it, no fussing, looking for treats etc. while I buckled him in). Remy has a winter hair coat, but being at Judy's during the week he has not shelter during turn out, so he needs added protection.


All four of them are -gasp- barefoot, usually from November through April (Remy and Chambord) and all year round (Saumur and Teddy). They have good hooves, and being barefoot gives added traction on snow and ice. The other option would be shoes with borium, but I like to give their hooves a chance to grow naturally - with regular trims by our farrier, of course. Only a horse person can swoon over 'perfect feet' like I do over Remy's.


So the minimalist approach works fine for the boys - but what about me? Tja, different story... plenty of performance shirts, vests, winter riding pants (all color coordinated, of course!), winter riding boots, and the warmest gloves I can possibly find. After all, Chambord and I have more than our love for JP in common: We are both blonde and we don't grow winter coats!

Riding on a gentle wave - and Merry Christmas!

Amazingly, I had good rides all week. I say amazingly because I still am not feeling too swell, and Remy could easily have taken advantage of my rather feeble state. (Come to think of, the last 'real' meal I had was on my birthday - a week ago Thursday.)


We started upping the degree of difficulty in my lessons, according to Judy: "Third Level is not the goal, it's just a stepping stone". So we practiced cantering straight up the center line (entry at 4th level). Sounds easy enough, but it actually is not. It took me several tries to get it right, collected canter with engagement AND staying straight.


Even 'under a virus' I am riding so much better than usually - because I am not stressed out from work. Duh! In theory, the idea of taking two afternoons off to ride (for a pay cut) sounded great. In reality "it ain't working too well" - meaning I work even more hours now than before, just on a different schedule. I'm always harried, and I think one of the reasons the virus could get such a hold of me is that I was just worn out.


So I am enjoying this Christmas break tremendously, and having rides where it feels like I am on gentle wave are taking me up to the clouds!


Today JP and I went on a beautiful Christmas trailride, we had the park seemingly to ourselves, and thoroughly enjoyed the quiet and sunshine.


Afterwards the boys hung out and Remy played "King of the Hill" with Chambord while Saumur and Teddy -in the spirit of Christmas- stuck to the manger.