Our Herd

Here's a photo of Renny with the thoroughbred and Budha in the front pasture in the days leading up to his big move to the back pastures. I've been reading a lot of literatures lately to try and ground myself in ideas and methodologies for work on the human-equine connection. I read both of Linda Kohanov's books, The Tao of Equus and Riding between Worlds and in them she talks beautifully about what each of her herd members brings to her life and to her equine facilitated therapy and experiential learning practice. So, it got me to really thinking about our herd -- me, Hailee, Violet and Renny. And I realize that each of us is a part of our own little family -- I sure am going to try and learn from each of them for what they can bring to our relationship and I'm going to try and learn what I can bring to my research and students from what I learn from the herd. Namaste.

Healing and My Girls

I am writing this entry on April 19th. For the past few weeks, I have been working studiously on my riding. I've focused on trying to learn from my excellent teachers, to team with my beautiful mare, and to feel our hearts and thoughts merge as we work on new skills. And I can honestly tell you that the fear is lifting off me. I will finish riding and realize that I haven't been frozen with fear. I will ride and feel some energy and enthusiasm not tied to feelings of weakness. And most important, I can actually say that I feel changes in my head. Since my accident way back in 2005, I have felt my left eye be strange like something is in the socket and I feel the light pressure of a hand on my brain where I hit the ground. But those feelings are leaving or lightening. I think enjoying riding again and feeling better at it and feeling joined to my good mare is healing me again. I didn't know you could have spurts of healing, but I believe that's what's occurring. Violet is helping to heal me with her good spirits and kindness and Hailee is helping by serving as a foundation in our herd too.

Mellow Girls

Namaste!

Renny's New Pasture

I am writing this entry on April 19th. In these photos, you see Renny in his front pasture at St. George. This past weekend, he was moved to a pasture in back of the facility where his mom and aunt hang out. He's in a new group of geldings which include some of the boarder and schooling horses. So, on a very breezy windy Saturday, I was standing in the girls' pasture visiting when I looked over and saw that all the horses in Renny's new pasture were cutting it up and bucking and running around. And what made me laugh out loud was Renny's new friend, Georgie. Georgie just stuck super close to Renny and it was hard to tell whether he was hanging with love or just enjoying the ability to herd my little guy around. But then I could see that when all the horses went haywire, Georgie hung close and protective next to my little man and they would stop and graze together. So, I think Renny has a powerful rowdy rocking new friend!

My Hard-Working Baby Angel

Okay, so I am writing this post on April 19th, Monday. Over the past week, my little Renny started up work again. And he was such a good good boy. He was worked four separate days. On his first day, we worked hard -- we did mounting block work, saddle work, longing, trotting-in-hand, and standing in the wash rack. He even let me throw my leg over his back and give him some kicks and rowdiness. Then the next day, he was feeling rowdy and naughty, so he was squealing and kicking and bucking as he longed which was funny to see him display such independence. And then his next two days, he worked like an angel again. Every time I groom him, I get a pony's worth of hair. I can't imagine he'll ever be ready for his glamor shots. But I am just taking the whole process a single day at a time! Here are some photos of him celebrating his first real day's back at work. He was so glad to go back out and graze!

Jack and Arcy, the Loving Boys!

Okay, I am writing this post on April 19th, and I have to say that I just love Arcangelo and Jackass. They are very funny little fellows. They really know that they are the top cats in the family and they look so regal when they sit together. And they radiate their understanding that Arcy is the trophy boyfriend to Jack's rugged leader. It works for them. What's really cute is that Arcy recently figured out that it's nice and toasty under the covers, so he gets under the covers next to me and Jackass. He's gotten a bit better about acknowledging that Jack gets the prime mommy spot and doesn't try to boss his way in so much anymore. There's nothing quite as funny and happy as hearing them both purr like little diesel trucks in the early cold mornings!

Violet Needs a Vacation!

So, I am writing this entry on Friday, April 16th, a few moments before I am getting ready to go out to the barn and visit my herd! So, here's a photo of Violet and Hailee from yesterday on a beautiful perfect spring morning. I am proud to say that Violet was taking the first of a 2 day vacation after 5 straight days of work! She jumped 3 of those days, practiced giving and bending and engaging her rear on 2 of those days, had 3 riders and worked for a AA hunter circuit judge. The girl needed a break. So, what did she do? Get as dirty as ya wanna and hang with her pals! Smart girl! And here's a photo of my beautiful foundation mare -- still shaggy from winter but radiant and glossy and gorgeaus. I am so blessed!

Renny Goes Back into Training After a Vacation

So, I gave Renny about 2-3 weeks of vacation in March and April and then put him back to work the week of April 11th. He was wonderful. On Tuesday, he seemed so surprised to return to longing, trotting-in-hand, grooming, standing by the mounting block, walking poles, etc. But he seemed super happy to be back hanging with Grams! Then on Wednesday, as I lunged him in the outdoor arena during a beautiful rosy sunset, he decided he was over going to school. He squealed with frustration and threw bucks and kicks of machoness. Then on Thursday, he was back to being a good student and even let me throw a leg over his side as I played with him at the mounting block and let me kick at his sides and give him some rough housing. And he was happy to learn how to walk and trot over cavaletti. He and I have many things to work on and improve, but I will say that he is such a great student. And yesterday was wonderful because it was a radiant spring day and he and I were so happy to be together!

A Spring Festival

Namaste.

Spring Garden 2010

Here's a photo and video from my April garden. Lovely, lovely tulips. Namaste.

Violet's Big Engine

I like this goofy photo because you see my girl's shiny chrome and her big ol' engine! What a pretty princess!

Violet's Big Girl's Heart!

Again, photo and video from Violet's April jumping clinic. That week, Violet also had a ride from another young rider at our stable, Sarah, who was so quiet and calm with her. Violet really enjoyed her and gave lovely upward transitions and jumped a pattern of 4 jumps and even threw a flying lead change coming off a jump. It was fun. I was sitting quietly watching Sarah work and Katie came up and chatted about horses and riding and form to function. It was a really great afternoon!

Violet's April Jumping Clinic

Again, here are photos and videos from Violet's jumping clinic with Katie and Jill. I cannot emphasize enough how quiet and good and capable my mare was that day. She brought such good energy to her tasks. I love her so much.

Waiting for Grooming

Here's an April 18, 2008 photo of my young lovely sweet Violet, waiting for grooming on one of the first Spring days of that year -- while we were waiting for Renny who was officially a day overdue at this point. This was the start of our last month at Breezy Acres. Lots has happened since this photo -- Violet moved to Showgate Stables and had a more normal life and learned how to long-line and pull a cart. And then we moved to St. George where we are now discovering Violet's natural native talent as a hunter. She's a spectacular loving bright athletic mare. I am blessed beyond description!

Handsome Running Happy Yearling Boy!

Namaste.

Flowers from May Day 2008!

Namaste.

The Horse Boy -- Amazing

I finished reading The Horse Boy by Rupert Isaacson about his and his wife's quest to heal their autistic son by taking him to Mongolia to be cured by Shaman and horses. This book is simply magnificent. Isaacson is a superb writer. I can hardly wait to see the documentary. And, as it turns out, Mongolia is considered the sacred birth place of horses, very rich in healing energy from the divinity of horses. Useful information!

Reeves' Painting of Seattle Slew

Again, always a little time to have a sip of coffee and contemplate great beauty and strength!

Secretariat Retired

Here's a photo of Secretariat, taking a sexy post-retirement jog for his fans. Handsome handsome handsome! And it won't surprise you all to be reminded for the kajillionth time -- Violet is closely related to this handsome dude!

Take a Little Time for Beauty

Namaste.

My Sweet Jack

I'm writing this entry on a cold damp rainy April 8th day. Yesterday we had really big storms, so while I was at work, I was imagining my sweet Jackass nervous at home. And sure enough, when I got home at 5, he was in a state, chattering and talking to me and twirling around. But I had to jet out to the barn to visit the herd. When I got home later that night, we got another big rain storm with lightning and I could tell that Jack was freaked out, but didn't want to go in the basement alone, so he was sitting like a little carpet boat next to me in the living room. But I could tell he was getting more nervous, so he and I laid on the couch and he did a little scrunchy circle "sleep" with me, letting me carefully pet him, but without being too rough.

This morning, he was back to his old wild self and chose to sleep on my fresh laundry and when he was scooted from there on the clothes that I'd picked to wear today at work. I could tell that he would be annoyed to be scooted again, so I carried him carefully over to the King Pillow, the main pillow on the bed, and he was satisfied that he'd been treated with respect. I hope he catches up on his sleep on this damp Spring day!

My Peace

Namaste.

Ren's Last Lazy Days!

I am writing this entry on Thursday, April 8th. So, I am certain that it's mainly because I've become focused on trying to work on my fear and frozen nature in the saddle, but after I talked with Dr. Zimmerman about Renny a few weeks ago when Ren had his shots and his wolf tooth extracted, I put Ren on a little vacation. Dr. Z. said that Renny was young and little and didn't need to be rushed along. And his Florida grandma said the same -- that no one was expecting my two year old to have much training. So, Ren started a real vacation -- no lunging, no cavaletti, no parelli, no trotting-in-hand, no saddles, etc. Which I think is nice, but Stacey says you can see it in his attitude. He is definitely being more bossy and pugnacious about getting up in people's space. So, in May, when he officially turns 2 years-old, he will begin his work for real again! And it will be more work than play (but still lots and lots of loving friendly play)!

My Content Wet Foundation Mare!

Again, I'm writing this entry on Thursday, April 8th, while sitting in my office at work. The town is wet and the air is cold and damp, but the grass is so green and lush that you can practically watch it grow! Spring is really here with a flourish!

And I am reporting about my herd's first contact with a good solid heavy Spring rain! Hailee is used to the elements because she had a good long outdoor life in Paris, Kentucky. So, she knows what it is to have fresh cooling rain fall on you. And Violet probably remembers a little bit of that from her youth in Kentucky too, though she hasn't had rain fall on her in 4 or 5 years! But Sugarlump has never had a drop fall on his tender red hide! So, Violet reacted by rolling fiercely and covering herself entirely in mud. And Renny reacted by rolling furiously in his stall to try and dry himself and went on a little finicky rampage about how uncomfortable he felt wet!

So, after I was done laughing and being happy about goofy Renny and Violet, I went to Hailee's stall to take a look at her. And, yup, she was soaked and wet and muddy, but standing as quietly and contentedly as always. She was perfectly satisfied with her wet condition because she is my tough range cow pony. I am so proud of her!

Violet Takes a Mud Bath!

Again, I'm writing this entry on Thursday, April 8th, and here is a little video and some photos from earlier this month. Yesterday we had a terrific rain storm and spring thunder and my herd was spending a wonderful day on green grass. So, Violet got caught by the went and decided to really enjoy it.

When I saw her, she was being ridden by Katie and she was sopping wet! She looked dark and sleek and lovely, but dirty!!! And she looked relaxed with her soaked drenching while she was working out. The girl is a hardworking thoroughbred, that's for sure!

Anyway, after her ride, I was walking her out and when she dried off, it became apparent that Violet was literally covered head to toe in thick thick mud. Her ears, her big cheeks, her eyelids, her jowl, and every inch of her body and neck and legs. She was hilarious!! I had so much fun grooming her and trying to take off the mud packs while I listened to pattering rain and watched the evening shades of blue settle in. I could just tell that Violet had really had a ton of fun rolling in the fresh mud and water outdoors!

But what she really reminded me of, given that her face was entirely muddy, was that movie Predator with Arnold Schwarzenegger. She looked like she was trying to hide from the alien by covering herself in a mud bath. My beautiful funny goofy athletic priceless girl!!

Spring Rains and my Goofy Renny!

So, I'm writing this entry on Thursday, April 8th and yesterday we had really heavy rains and thunder and lightning, particularly in the late afternoon. So, after I taught Population and Society I jetted out to the barn to see Katie riding. And I drove through a countryside with skies thick and heavy and blue and purple. It was really pretty.

I get to the barn and hear the funniest story from Stacey. She said that when she brought Renny in he was so agitated that they thought he might be colicking. He rolled three separate times furiously in his stall and he was rearing and bucking and hijinxing when the walked him down the aisleway to turn him loose to run and buck snort in the arena. And he was naughty when Stacey brushed him to take off the sawdust and take his temperature. But that he wanted his hay like his usual gangbusters self! So, here's what they figured out -- my little guy wasn't colicking, he just didn't like to be wet!

I laughed and laughed. My little guy has never been wet all over before. He's had a pretty sheltered life at both Breezy Acres and Showgate Stables, so has never had a good drenching. And he's such a sweet thing, my little Sugarlump, that he must have thought he was going to melt. I went to his stable to check out my guy and he was comfortably eating his wonderful smelling beautiful green hay, but his hair was in furious twirls and he looked like a drowned rat. He got a good soak!!!

I'm really blessed. Renny had an exciting Spring day and got a good rain and people watched him very closely to make sure that he is happy, healthy and safe. I am just tickled by this story!!!

Miss Thing the Hunter!

So, I am writing this entry on Thursday, April 8th and I've had a pretty eventful past two weeks. Violet and I punched through and made some real breakthrough progress in our relationship. Stacey's private lessons with me are really helping me focus on riding with my seat and legs and I know much more now what it means to truly use my seat. We've really been able to work on our extended, working and collected trot and our canter is coming along though Violet has a harder time going to the right.

So, Stacey thinks that we are finally ready to begin working over cross-rails. So, here's how it went. On the Saturday before Easter, I went out to the stable for my morning lesson before going to see Elena and family in Pittsburgh. We had our first wonderful glorious ride outdoors in a sunlit breezy day. Violet was tremendous. Then on Monday, Violet and I had an evening lesson outdoors and the stand was filled with about 5-6 people and Vi couldn't care less. She was rock solid, fluid and relaxed to ride. We trotted circles and serpentines and went over ground poles. And we had a nice big loose canter in both directions. So, we walked out of the arena and went with Lacey and Pan all the way around the facility and into the door of the arena and then went over our first cross-rails! We weren't great, but we did it with heart! The next day, Tuesday, I had a private lesson with Stacey on a very windy day, so Vi was goosey and shied a bit, but we worked on cantering and I posted without stirrups and practiced my two-point. It feels weird to me. It's doesn't feel natural to close my hip angle and get my heels down, but I want to strengthen my seat. Then we went over cross-rails again!

And now for last night! Katie said that she would ride Violet, so I went out to the barn to see how it went. Violet looked gorgeaus. She has this long loose thoroughbred walk and her trot was neat and relaxed and fluid. And her canter was quiet and sweet and big and quick. And Katie jumped her over both cross-rails and a rail and it was awesome!! Violet is a quiet but big jumper. She really rounds her back and uses her legs. I was thrilled to see what I guess you would call her scope even over very small obstacles.

So, Katie is going to ride Violet this weekend in a hunter clinic with Jill Jewett who is a AA circuit hunter judge. I'm thrilled that Violet will get a little experience from a top rider and a top judge!

Happy 4th from the Threesome and Zelia

These photos were taken on May 9th, 2008, a short week after Renny's birth. Happy 4th of July, all y'all!

My Baby's Big Can!

Day 8, Saturday, May 10th, 2008. Here's my freshly born little guy. Oh, my heart sings when I think of these days. And my eyes are filling with tears as I write this entry on March 30, 2010. God bless my darling beautiful Renny!

Rolling Uphill! A Happy Memory!

Here are some photos of beautiful baby Renny rolling up hill on August 19th, 2008. Oh how he made me laugh with joy and happiness and delight and life on that morning. What a goofy boy, trying very hard to roll uphill!!!! Such good happy mornings!

Get Better, Baby Boy!

Here are little photos of my boy in his first summer on an evening when he was feeling a little sick. These pictures were taken on August 20th, 2008. He was taking a deep deep nap, poor little sick guy.