I got the opportunity to go home.
Now, if you're from somewhere that you loved, that left a special place in your heart, you'll totally identify with this. My home was Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. I grew up with the local riding club as my playground. The people there taught me valuable life lessons and gave so much of their time and knowlege to me freely. I have never forgotten and have always wanted to give back in some way.
Well, I got a chance to go and do an equine first-aid certification clinic there last weekend. Super exciting! I decided to leave a donation to the local 4H club. I didn't ever get to be in 4H, but I really support the program for kids and families regardless.
I invite the local newspaper to come out and cover my clinic and the donation I made. Here's what they printed: http://www.paherald.sk.ca/Local/News/2012-11-19/article-3123193/Former-P.A.-resident-holds-equine-first-aid-course/1
I'm very pleased with the way the article turned out. He spent about 2.5 hours with us out there, must have taken a few hundred pictures. The group was fantastic and it was very heart warming, the whole experience. I would love to go back again!
Happy Thanksgiving to all the Americans who celebrate today. I know I'm thankful for every opportunity and kind person who has come into my life. I'm also thankful for the unkind and unpleasant because I have been able to learn lessons and take away life experience from then also.
Friday, November 23, 2012
Thursday, November 15, 2012
My Pony's the BEST Pony in the World!!!
My Standardbred is incredible. Have I said that? In-freaking-credible! So he's done his 60 days of training, which was lovely although he came home hella skinny (he's picking up quickly now though) and I've moved him to a new barn with a resident peacock, Mr. Peacock. I was not sure what my poor pony would think of this bird, but I was obviously more concerned than the pony was.
Score 1!
So we started doing tricks. Since he's so young, I don't want to do too much on his back, but still want him really well rounded and we can do lots on the ground. The smile is awesome! He learned a very enthusiastic wave in 2 sessions and now we're progressing to giving me a hug and a kiss on the cheek. Sweet fella!
Score 2!
I think my husband's rifle target practise at home saved my life today. Here's why:
At the new barn is a very old plastic step stool, the kind you would have found in a library back in the day. I used in the last time I went riding and pulled it out again today. I stepped up on it, put my foot in the stirrup, hand on his mane juuust stepping up on him when CRAAACK!!!!! The whole thing SHATTERED under me! I thought, oh crap, I'm dead. But José Did. Not. Move. Not even a blink. I think he just held his breath and waited for me to tell him it was ok. Boy did I ever!! I praised that little feller from top to bottom! Smartest boy EVER!!
Score 3 - 5, I think that deserves bonus points!
I had an epiphany this evening while actually riding my pony. I've been working on trying to have him soften and supple to the right, he's very stiff this way. I have the chiro booked for early December but, in the mean time, I want to continue to lightly work with him. So we talked a little about yeilding the hind quarter to leg pressure, easy peasy he says. And so from there, in the walk, I started to ride him straight. Not to soften and swing his head (and really throw him off balance...) but straight with corners being more like almost a couple of steps around of pirouette instead of asking him to collapse the shoulder... duh! Wow, what a genious. And what happened when I rode him with light, even contact and balanced his hind quarter straight behind him? He softened his jaw, thought more about taking bit contact and lowered and lengthened his topline. Holy cow. Man I'm an idiot... why did I not just do this before? Ride the horse so he can balance us both? No way! That's logic!
Well, better at ride 4 than ride 439...
Score 0.5 for me. :)
Score 1!
So we started doing tricks. Since he's so young, I don't want to do too much on his back, but still want him really well rounded and we can do lots on the ground. The smile is awesome! He learned a very enthusiastic wave in 2 sessions and now we're progressing to giving me a hug and a kiss on the cheek. Sweet fella!
Score 2!
I think my husband's rifle target practise at home saved my life today. Here's why:
At the new barn is a very old plastic step stool, the kind you would have found in a library back in the day. I used in the last time I went riding and pulled it out again today. I stepped up on it, put my foot in the stirrup, hand on his mane juuust stepping up on him when CRAAACK!!!!! The whole thing SHATTERED under me! I thought, oh crap, I'm dead. But José Did. Not. Move. Not even a blink. I think he just held his breath and waited for me to tell him it was ok. Boy did I ever!! I praised that little feller from top to bottom! Smartest boy EVER!!
Score 3 - 5, I think that deserves bonus points!
I had an epiphany this evening while actually riding my pony. I've been working on trying to have him soften and supple to the right, he's very stiff this way. I have the chiro booked for early December but, in the mean time, I want to continue to lightly work with him. So we talked a little about yeilding the hind quarter to leg pressure, easy peasy he says. And so from there, in the walk, I started to ride him straight. Not to soften and swing his head (and really throw him off balance...) but straight with corners being more like almost a couple of steps around of pirouette instead of asking him to collapse the shoulder... duh! Wow, what a genious. And what happened when I rode him with light, even contact and balanced his hind quarter straight behind him? He softened his jaw, thought more about taking bit contact and lowered and lengthened his topline. Holy cow. Man I'm an idiot... why did I not just do this before? Ride the horse so he can balance us both? No way! That's logic!
Well, better at ride 4 than ride 439...
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
SNOW DAY!!!
Ah, lovely, tropical Alberta <3 How sweet your breeze sings, how beautiful the snow...
Ok, back to reality! It's a BILZZARD out there! Highways are closed!! I'm 50 km away at work, my daughter's at daycare and I don't think it's safe to go home. What to do...
Check into a local hotel for the night and have a mommy-daughter mini-vacation! That's right, if you take a look around, you can usually find a good side of a bad situation. Just have to get creative and improvise a little.
A lady I used to work with me grumbled at me one day and asked me "You're on of those
the class is half full' kind of people, aren't you?"
I answered her very honestly, "Nope, my cup runneth over!"
Ok, back to reality! It's a BILZZARD out there! Highways are closed!! I'm 50 km away at work, my daughter's at daycare and I don't think it's safe to go home. What to do...
Check into a local hotel for the night and have a mommy-daughter mini-vacation! That's right, if you take a look around, you can usually find a good side of a bad situation. Just have to get creative and improvise a little.
A lady I used to work with me grumbled at me one day and asked me "You're on of those
the class is half full' kind of people, aren't you?"
I answered her very honestly, "Nope, my cup runneth over!"
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