Jean broke her collar bone a few days ago. We had Peggy Flemming, a chiropractor and accupuncturist working on some of our horses. Many people were watching, and she had much equipment laying around. Beth came by with one of her horses who spooked at the equipment on the ground and slammed into Jean who fell against the wall and hit her head. Both Beth and the horse were shaken up, and I know Beth feels really bad, even though it wasn't her fault. Jean is 70 years old, and according to one doctor she has a 50% chance of it healing on it's own. She is considering flying out to the west coast to have surgery with a brilliant doctor she has worked with in the past.
Beth's mom is here for a visit. It is cray how much they are alike! Today they rode together all day, and each rode like 8 horses. I joked that I don't even know if my Mom has ever been on a horse =) This weekend they are taking an equine massage course. I am learning that massage and chiropractic work on horses makes a huge difference. Arella was adjusted a few days ago, and I cannot believe the difference in her.
I rode Adeline in Jean's saddle the other day. That is a horse that I have just had trouble with. She never seems happy in her work. However, when I rode her in that saddle, it made all the difference, and I felt like I was riding a different horse. Andrew was visiting at the time and saw the ride and commented on how far she is coming along. I have decided to not ride her in any other saddle! I have also learned how important it is for the rider to have a saddle that helps their position. My saddle doesn't do anything - it doesn't help, and it doesn't hurt. I always thought that it was better to learn "the hard way" and not get any help from the saddle, but I am beginning to realize that I will actually be able to ride better by getting some support from a knee roll, because I will be able to relax more. Long story short (too late) I have been putting the word out that I am looking to buy a saddle. I can't spend a lot though, because I don't have a lot.
We took some video of Raniero yesterday. I really didn't think it was all that good, and even said so in the video, but I was pleasantly surprised when I watched it. I am beginning to look like the riders that I admire whose positions are correct, and who look like they are just sitting up there while the horse is going beautifully. Now I know how much work it is to make it look effortless!
Friday, January 29, 2010
Monday, January 25, 2010
When it goes too long between updates to my blog, I never know where to start. Jake went home, so it is back down to me and Beth. We had Sam helping us out for a few days, but that didn't work out. Jean is talking about taking Tracy off doing morning feed, so that will increase our workload yet some more. It will be manageable, but means that either our days will be longer, or we will work fewer horses. With the sunset becoming later, my guess is that it will be the former.
The pictures are up on the website, and seeing professional pics of me up on a sale page has really helped me to feel professional. Erin has recently complimented my riding as well, saying that it has come along a lot farther that she has even realized. Gilda just came for the weekend to visit and ride Luc. She is very pleased with his progress, and I am very happy to see that he is growing up and taking his job more seriously. She is going to let me start showing him in February! I also have a 3rd client horse, Luna, in training with me. She is an older mare, 12, has had a few babies and has not been ridden in two years. She is quite the project. She is very out of shape and crooked. She seems to like working, but is a bit of a bully on the ground. I think it will just take some time for her attitude to come around. Jean seems to really like her - she is BIG, and is by her favorite stallion, Martini.
Word about John is that he had been telling us that his dog got in to some poison and died while living on the streets. This turned out to be false. However, Jean was still talking to him and trying to work out a way for him to come back. John called me, presumably to talk about the situation. So, when I called him back, I told him that I had been thinking about it, and I did not want him to come back. I explained that on top of the fact that I do not feel I could trust him again, I think it would be better for him to find a place to work where he can have a fresh start. He then said that he was never even considering coming back, and that he just said that because he thought if he did, everyone would forgive him. I told him flat out that his lying and manipulating like that was the number one reason why I did not want him to come back. After saying that, he twisted it and twisted it until he was pointing back at me. At one point in the conversation he said "this is not the worst thing that has ever happened to me, nor is it the worst thing I have ever done." I ended the conversation by telling him that I forgive him, yet I don't want him back in my life, and that I hope that he gets things straightened out for himself. The next day I told Jean what happened, and told her that I think he needs professional help.
I am into week 3 of Business Law - the final class needed before graduation. I am keeping up with the reading and the majority of the discussion. It is tough, but it's not as bad as I thought it was going to be. Wish me luck!
The pictures are up on the website, and seeing professional pics of me up on a sale page has really helped me to feel professional. Erin has recently complimented my riding as well, saying that it has come along a lot farther that she has even realized. Gilda just came for the weekend to visit and ride Luc. She is very pleased with his progress, and I am very happy to see that he is growing up and taking his job more seriously. She is going to let me start showing him in February! I also have a 3rd client horse, Luna, in training with me. She is an older mare, 12, has had a few babies and has not been ridden in two years. She is quite the project. She is very out of shape and crooked. She seems to like working, but is a bit of a bully on the ground. I think it will just take some time for her attitude to come around. Jean seems to really like her - she is BIG, and is by her favorite stallion, Martini.
Word about John is that he had been telling us that his dog got in to some poison and died while living on the streets. This turned out to be false. However, Jean was still talking to him and trying to work out a way for him to come back. John called me, presumably to talk about the situation. So, when I called him back, I told him that I had been thinking about it, and I did not want him to come back. I explained that on top of the fact that I do not feel I could trust him again, I think it would be better for him to find a place to work where he can have a fresh start. He then said that he was never even considering coming back, and that he just said that because he thought if he did, everyone would forgive him. I told him flat out that his lying and manipulating like that was the number one reason why I did not want him to come back. After saying that, he twisted it and twisted it until he was pointing back at me. At one point in the conversation he said "this is not the worst thing that has ever happened to me, nor is it the worst thing I have ever done." I ended the conversation by telling him that I forgive him, yet I don't want him back in my life, and that I hope that he gets things straightened out for himself. The next day I told Jean what happened, and told her that I think he needs professional help.
I am into week 3 of Business Law - the final class needed before graduation. I am keeping up with the reading and the majority of the discussion. It is tough, but it's not as bad as I thought it was going to be. Wish me luck!
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Whoops, it has been awhile again since I last updated my blog. So much has happened. Let's see, I got to go home for a few days for Christmas, which was very nice. It was awesome to see my family and friends back home. It was a nice break from work too, and I was able to come back refreshed and refocused.
We have Jake helping us out for a few weeks. He has been a very nice addition to our group. Beth and I have had a lot more fun at the barn and after work with Jake being around. In the week since I have been back though, Erin has been sick, so I have been largely working on my own and not getting too many lessons. However, I have had a few good lessons and I have been able to get some good work on my own as well. We have also had Shannon, Jean's daughter, come out to get some professional pictures of us riding some of the sale horses. Seeing my photos up on the website has really helped me to feel like I am really doing this professionally! They aren't bad pics, either!
John called me the other day. Said that he got kicked out of the house, lived on the street for a week and is now at a homeless shelter. He is really sorry for what he did and wants to make it up to everybody. He has been talking to Jean, and says that he wants to come back. I know that Jean wants him back and that what I think probably doesn't matter in the decision, though I did tell her that I would not live with him. Beth is not even willing to work with him. After thinking about it a bit more, I don't think I even want to work with him either.
My roommates and I have been doing a lot of things together lately. This morning we all went out to breakfast, and tonight we cooked and ate together. Now we are watching the Princess Bride, as Jake has never seen it. Gotta run, the best part is coming up!
We have Jake helping us out for a few weeks. He has been a very nice addition to our group. Beth and I have had a lot more fun at the barn and after work with Jake being around. In the week since I have been back though, Erin has been sick, so I have been largely working on my own and not getting too many lessons. However, I have had a few good lessons and I have been able to get some good work on my own as well. We have also had Shannon, Jean's daughter, come out to get some professional pictures of us riding some of the sale horses. Seeing my photos up on the website has really helped me to feel like I am really doing this professionally! They aren't bad pics, either!
John called me the other day. Said that he got kicked out of the house, lived on the street for a week and is now at a homeless shelter. He is really sorry for what he did and wants to make it up to everybody. He has been talking to Jean, and says that he wants to come back. I know that Jean wants him back and that what I think probably doesn't matter in the decision, though I did tell her that I would not live with him. Beth is not even willing to work with him. After thinking about it a bit more, I don't think I even want to work with him either.
My roommates and I have been doing a lot of things together lately. This morning we all went out to breakfast, and tonight we cooked and ate together. Now we are watching the Princess Bride, as Jake has never seen it. Gotta run, the best part is coming up!
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