Passed my Level 3 Freestyle!

Just got it back today!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50CJ_dTY2oI

Now for the other two auditions!

I'm back!

Ok, it's been 6 months since I posted last. Not that I'm slack, but ...

I was sent this quote from my daily insights motivational email, and I thought it appropo.

A true friend knows your weaknesses but shows you your strengths;
feels your fears but fortifies your faith;
sees your anxieties but frees your spirit;
recognizes your disabilities but emphasizes your possibilities.
- William Arthur Ward

To me this also defines leadership and is exactly what we should be for our horses.

Risk Management

To laugh is to risk appearing the fool. To weep is to risk appearing sentimental.
To reach out for another is to risk involvement. To expose your feelings is to
risk revealing your true self. To place your ideas and dreams before a crowd, is
to risk rejection. To love is to risk not being loved in return. To live is to risk
dying. To hope is to risk despair. To try is to risk failure. But risks must be
taken because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing at all. People who
will risk nothing --- do nothing, have nothing, and become nothing. They may
avoid suffering and sorrow, but they cannot learn, feel, change, grow, love or
live. Chained by their certitudes, they are slaves.

They have forfeited their freedom. Only a person who risks is truly free.

Denis Waitley

So true!

Action is a great restorer and builder of confidence.
Inaction is not only the result, but the cause, of fear.
Perhaps the action you take will be successful; perhaps different action or adjustments will have to follow.
But any action is better than no action at all.


Norman Vincent Peale

That was the week that was

Quick round up of this week's activities.

Monday started playing with Harley again after his month off. Is his play drive up or what! It's like flying a high powered stunt kite. Great fun! Went round the tracks in the reservoir. His energy was up but still responsive.

Tuesday, need to be more subtle with my movements. He's so responsive but that playdrive is still up there. He's started doing Allure's trick of eating the tassles on my chaps. Went around the x-country and found a deer antler. We also popped some jumps, quite nicely, no rushing. I want to be in a position when we go to Dave Stuart's clinic at Sam's that we can both be comfortable jumping. We also came across The Devil's Sheep, at least that's what Harley told me they were. He was happier once we had proved that they could be driven like ordinary sheep.

Wednesday, Went down to Ingleby Toft. A proper hack-out with puddles, scary ponds and everything. Harley handled most stuff with barely a second look. He's decided he likes rosebaywillow herb even if it's in a scary place. First time we used his boots for over a month.

Thursday, played in the school. Did FTR which didn't take too long to drop in nicely. Then we did circles. Not bad at all.

Friday, tracks in the reservoir. Lots of canter transitions and playing leapfrog. He really is one cool horse. Went paddling in the reservoir. A little hesitant but soon was up to almost his belly.

Saturday went round the tracks again doing transitions & leapfrog. Met some kids having a BBQ and playing loud dance musin. They switched it off quick to avoid spooking the boys, so we thanked them and told them to put it back on 'cos the boys like Drum'n'Bass. Got offered some BBQ. Cool! Not the stereotypical image of modern youth..

Gotogo to bed now 'cos we're doing a pleasure ride around Sutton Park tomorrow.

Description of a Quarter Horse

"He's half a ton of poised and controlled energy, held on an easy rein and a hair trigger. He's a workin' man who can earn his keep on the range all week - and be a handsome dandy at the track on Sunday afternoon. He's proud when he stands, looks lazy when he walks, but when he runs he can whip the tears from the corners of your eyes and plaster your hat brim against the crown. He's big in the haunches, supple in the withers, stout in the neck and wide across the chest... to hold his great heart. He's cow-smart and brave... though sometimes a clown, to the man with the sky in his eye and mud on his boots the Quarter Horse is a faithful hand... and a friend. "

That's my boy!

He's Back ..

A very quick blog 'cos if I don't do it now I won't get around to it.

I have just given Harley a month off because we'd done an awful lot since xmas and it was about time he had a break. I don't want to overcook him, so I stopped whilst it was all going well. I rode him tonight for the first time in a month and quite enjoyed it.

We went into the reservoir and went around the track with Max & Archie. He was a bit excited to start with but settled down fairly quickly. At one point Arch trotted ahead an Harley got impulsive, so I turned my hips and we did a beautiful trot sideways up the track. Wow so cool. We did have a little bracey-ness but some time doing lateral flexion seemed to sort that. We also had to wait for Arch for a bit during the leapfrogging, so whilst we did I had Harley do 3 steps forward 3 steps back. When he did that just on my seat with enthusiasm he got to eat hedgerows for a while until Arch caught up. On the last bit on the way home he stretched his neck down & arched his back as he walked. At first I thought he was pooing, but no! He was just stretching & relaxing. Sooo cool!

All in all, a good ride.

I'm going to bed happy.