My Sweet Beloved Girl

Namaste.

My Good Good Boy

This pony is athletic, handy, smart, agreeable, patient, even-tempered, a quick study, and most importantly, very very loving.  This pony is my super faithful loyal pony.

Lessons I'm Learning

It's been a real tough week at work, this week ending on Friday, April 8th.  I've been disrespected by a few colleagues.  Someone sent a disparaging email about me accidently to me rather than to the intended party.  It's been a tough week at work which hurt my feelings.  Plus I had been impatient with Violet  and feeling insecure.  So, now I'm ragged, look bad, and tired, but I am learning what I'm supposed to learn.  I'm learning that my creatures to love me and trust me and know that I care about them.  Renny can't see me without wanting to walk over and seek love.  Both horses want to do good under saddle.  And my other creatures love me too.  And I have my family, my beautiful family.  So, I can let a rough week at work carry itself and trample me...but it can't undo me!  And the most important thing I learned is that I NEVER want to bring impatience to my horses again.  They deserve a world of lovingkindness and not a moment of my bad temper!

Massage, Acupressure, Stretches

Here are some photos of Violet taken on the day that she officially ended stall rest, after hurting her coronary band.  What a blechy set of days, let me tell you. If Violet's  not well, I'm not well!  We're now on to a new treatment situation because her back pasterns got rubbed a bit by these icky bell boots.  Now she's not wearing bell boots in back, but has the nicest soft rubber ones to use.

But that's not what I want to write about on this Friday, April 8th.  I am trying to learn more about horses and caretaking and riding, so I've been reading books about acupressure, massage, and stretches.  And what's funny is that Violet LOVES it.  She loves to have the stroking relaxation massage.  And she feels so athletic but girly when I carefully do her stretches.  And she likes her energy to be manipulated.  She really radiates happiness about my using touch to love on her.  It's been a good experience.  And what I think is cool is that she's getting more supple and flexible with this program -- I really think it's working.  Our riding is getting better and she can supple more quickly and for longer periods PLUS her range of motion on the stretches is getting better and better.  I am enjoying honoring the athlete which is my good girl!

A Week of Apologies...

So, on Wednesday, I just struggled through the day, trying to figure out how to apologize to Violet and make it right.  I bought peppermints, biscuits, carrots.  I went to the barn and she seemed fine.  So, I had a super lesson on the imperturbable Renny and then pulled out Violet and rode her.  And here's the amazing thing -- she was kind and sensible and focused on her work.  And her entire demeanor seemed to radiate an apology to me.  She acted like she had been thinking about what we were trying to do and so we quietly and smoothly did what I had messed up Tuesday -- we walked, trotted and cantered quietly past the gates, we circled nice and round, and we did big looping happy cantering figure 8s with simple changes right on an X, and halts which were balanced toward her hindquarters.  And she also conveyed in the most polite terms that she wouldn't hold on the rein at all if I promised not to hold either -- that she would supple sweetly.  I got off and cried a bit.  Not only did she forgive me and still trust me, but she wanted to be a good girl and do the job right.   So, she got lots of carrots and a big massage and stretching session -- which she enjoyed.  I am grateful for her friendship.

Laura is Impatient with the Kind Miss Thing

I'm writing this entry on Friday, April 8th of what feels like a horrible week.  On Monday, Violet was an angel in lessons and working hard.  She was having trouble suppling, but so was Parker, and she was giving her game face best.  But on Tuesday, I had to come flying out to the barn right after teaching and I was in a little frazzle and I took my impatience into my lesson.  I wasn't super mean or vicious, but I was impatient.  I got frustrated with her because she wanted to be stiff at the gates and I wouldn't stop leaning, so, of course, she wouldn't successfully downward transition nor halt.  It was a mess made by me.  I felt so rotten because she's been a true blue girl.  And so the next day, Wednesday, I crashed into a big fat depression, thinking that I'm a rotten person and don't deserve her friendship and that I violated her trust and in my mind's eye, I could see that she was trying her best and that I wasn't giving her a fair chance.  So...

St. Renny's Good Week

I'm writing this entry on Friday, April 8th of a very emotional week.  Ugh.  I got a little dose of spring depression and it's been raining all week and grey and I had trouble at work and was disrespected and I had a squabble with the agreeable Violet, so it's been rough.  But you know what hasn't been rough?  Renny.  Renny decided to take it to the next level this week and bring Grams along with him.  At his Monday lesson, he had to canter a tight small circle of ground poles and he was very willing and able to make that happen.  And he would jump those poles if I leaned forward or canter quietly if I sat back.  And if my big fat butt made him accidently take the wrong lead going over the pole, he would quietly in a flash switch back his leads to the correct one.  And then on Wednesday, he was super duper good at making upward and downward transitions and trotting briskly over sets of ground poles and then breaking into a happy canter over others.  AND best of all, for his own personal reasons which have nothing to do with me, he decided to unleash the perfect heavenly canter on Wednesday.  He was in this light, responsive, balanced, floating, fluid, springy, collected canter that just wouldn't go away -- he went around and around and around that arena in both directions just in a little heavenly float.  I mean, come on!!

My Darling Heart

Jackass has been a wonderful part of my life, since the moment I first saw him in a room just stacked with cages filled with kittens and cats.  In the center of that room was a large cage filled with the cats who were chosen to be euthanized that day.  It was a horrible experience.  I remember seeing my little grey scruff of a kitten.  He was supposed to "replace" the irreplaceable Tigi, so it's just hard to imagine why he called out to me.  She was long, lean, elegant, very brightly coated, with big beautiful sexy ears and a long gorgeaus muzzle.  She was regal.  Jackass was a scruff -- a teeny tiny piece of scruff -- not even fluff.  But he called out to me.  And now I know why.  We were supposed to be together.  And he's been taking care of me and his family every since with diligence, grace, passion, responsibility, and dedication.  He's a class act.  Lately, he's been getting skinnier and skinnier -- he's at his most skinny ever.  But he has energy and he keeps up his routine with skill.  But he's mellowing with age.  Nowadays, he'll walk into the living room when I'm sitting down and I'll hear him call to me -- so, I'll turn and glance at him and he will be sitting there and he'll put his nose forward and crinkle his eyes with the cat version of "I love you."  It blows me away.  I crinkle right back at him!

Overnight Beauty

Here's a surprise Mid-March storm we got overnight which coated everything in big wet fluffy beautiful snow -- it was brief, but gorgeaus.

I Love My Pony!

Namaste.

Cantering Lead Changes!

At one point, during the Saturday lesson, Renny gave Sarah an incorrect lead as they transitioned upward into the canter.  So, she was riding him around a corner and began turning him into a circle and quietly, sweetly, effortlessly, softly, he just changed his lead to the correct one -- a  floating flying lead change.  I was sitting right next to Stacey when it happened and we looked at each other -- that was the second flying lead change he had offered that week -- without effort or fight or fuss.  So, the next day, I asked Jill J. whether she suspected that this talent might be something that could be brought out easily during training or whether it's something he might "lose" or age out of.  And she said that it sounded like lead changes were very easy for him, natural, and that she suspected that they will be brought out easily in training.  I hope so.  Wouldn't that be fun!

Things to Work On!

I was really grateful to Sarah's parents for letting their daughter take Renny for a spin.  I just loved watching him at the beginning of his life's work -- being a beloved hard-working show pony for young children!  But anyway, though they had the prettiest working and extended trots and nice circles and serpentines, and nice canters.  I had a chance to see a few things that Renny and I need to work on together -- he really wants to get on his forehand at the canter to the right -- and in fact can really pick up speed fast -- he can fly around in pony fashion!  And if you don't really offer your seat first, he won't really stop swiftly and square!  These are easy things, fun things to work on over the course of time with Team Renegade!

Renny's First Ten Year Old!

I'm writing this entry on Monday, March 28th.  Stacey and I have been trying to coordinate a chance for Renny to get a little riding experience from someone closer to his age!  So, Stacey set up that Sarah, a really competent strong quiet rider at St. George, would take my Saturday lesson with Renny and ride with the four ladies on their giant draft crosses!  Sarah and Renny were amazing.  Renny  was the tiniest bit nervous at the very beginning because he didn't understand why I wasn't mounting, and he had to use the mounting block for the first time, so he was stepping lively.  But when I looked at him next, he had his head dropped in his usual relaxed quiet way and was totally bonded with Sarah.  And she rode him beautifully.  They just quietly efficiently effortlessly did their upward transitions, downward transitions, worked the little serpentine obstacle course, and they were very very good about keeping lots of space for themselves, while those big draft crosses kept clustering.  Renny looked like a little quiet hunter show pony.  I could just imagine him at his work down the road!

Violet's First Pessoa Experience

I'm writing this entry on Monday, March 28th and this photo is from sometime earlier this winter. You can see my beautiful girl's soft eye.  Anyway, she has been so good in lessons lately and really trying to supple and give and respond.  Her responses to my aids are becoming more prompt because I'm trying to be more precise, accurate, and soft about things.  And she is glad.  She knows that we are trying to become a team.  So, yesterday, Jill Jewett from the equestrian program in Findley came down for a training session and she brought Pessoa training system ropes and pulleys which she used on Violet.  Violet responded beautifully.  She relaxed her middle, stretched her topline, lifted her belly and rounded.  She was very good about paying attention and trying hard.  She was able to trot large and very very small circles and she cantered softly and rounded.   As she trotted very small circles, she kept herself bended round and didn't throw out her haunches and stepped over herself very sweetly laterally.  Even Jill said that it was amazing, even though it was a very first effort at this system.  I've decided to save my pennies and purchase a Pessoa system for Violet and Renny. 

Breaking News! Renny Attends his First Show!

My faithful pony, Blue Easy Renegade, attended his first horse show this weekend and handled all challenges beautifully.  I could not be more proud of my little guy.  He trailered well.  He accepted schooling rides like a mature boy.  In fact, Kelsey said that she often forgets he's just three because he feels like he has more inside him and has more to give.  And he was cheerful and interested in his surroundings.  And why shouldn't he be cheerful.  He got to see lots of exciting people, horses, dogs.  And his Aunt Lexi brought him handmade treats!  He had a nice safe adventure!!

Violet's Winter Nose





Arcangelo Complains

Here are my boys, one in mid-grooming and the other in mid-yawning.  Such handsome glossy sexy self-assured boys!

The Sexy Boys

These photos were taken in late winter and I'm writing this entry on March 25th.  We had some beautiful sunlit seasonally appropriate weather this past week and now suddenly it grew very cold over the past few days -- that damp clinging cold.  So, my cats have renewed their nocturnal relationship with me.  I will wake up in the middle of the night, entombed by cats -- like I'm an Egyptian queen or something!!

Solitary Winter Violet

Here comes a February Violet, looking for love!

Winter Peace

Namaste.

My Mellow Winter Boy

Here's a few photos of Renny relaxing after a wonderful Saturday morning lesson in late February.  In the first photo, he's casually walking over to have a drink of water, while watching his two friends, Digby and Elliott wrestle with each other over the fenceline.

Where Renny Waits for His Winter Kisses

We had an unusually snowy winter this past year, and sometimes the weather was just gorgeaus when I'd go out to the barn, particularly on a Saturday morning.  We'd get these gentle fluffy snowfalls and it just seemed like the perfect weather for kissing your pony.  And Renny always makes that easy -- if I walk down past his pasture to say hello to Violet, I can always be sure that Renny will drop whatever he's doing to walk over to the fenceline to say hello to me.  He's a wonderful delightful sociable creature!

Renny and His Training

I'm writing this entry on March 23rd and I have to say that I am looking forward to Renny's next baby steps.  We're going to start doing more ground pole work, cantering over poles, practicing transitions, transitions, transitions, and even eventually start popping over crossrails.  All, of course, in fun relaxing increments, so that my little guy continues to feel confident and taste success!!!  Love my guy!

My Winter Beauty

Namaste! 

Breakfast with My Loved Ones!

Namaste!

My Beautiful Talented Girl!

Okay, so I'm writing this entry on Wednesday, March 23rd, and I am happy to report that Violet and I have been on a groove.  I know it won't last forever and that we'll have bad days or moving backwards days, but I'm just saying that for now, we've had many days in a row where we've been good at our good stuff and had fun trying new stuff!  It's been a delight.  For example, last Tuesday, she was hard-working and sensible for her half and half lesson with Stacey.  And last Thursday, she was light and fun and happy in her jumping lesson.  This weekend, she was truly a good girl at her four activity stations and half-passing.  And then on Monday, she was amazing in her evening lesson, by being patient and good about different walk, trot, canter, halt transitions.  And she was terrific about taking the canter without head-tossing or complaint -- just nice and round and soft.  And then yesterday, Stacey gave us a great lesson that really worked our butts on our weaknesses.  I had to practice half-halts because she's been quick and on her forehand lately over jumps and I need to get a better handle on her because we've been jumping a tad bigger.   She was patient and hard-working and very sensible about it all. It gave me a chance to work on my form which is not up to snuff!!  And then Stacey also had me do a lunge exercise that let me do all these deep seats to really feel Violet's movement.  I did all these yoga stretches too.  I just loved it.  I'm really enjoying the lesson program at St. George and I am so proud of my beautiful thoroughbred girl!

Activity Stations

Okay, so I've been being an academic equine geek and I'm loving it.  I read a book on stretching exercises for horses, and then a book on horses and yoga, and now I'm happily reading a book on schooling with ground poles.  The book gave me lots of great ideas for playing with Renny and Violet.  I'm writing this entry on March 23rd, and this past Sunday, I set up 4 activity stations based on the book.  For the first, I set up a cavaletti in the second position.  For the second, I set up cones to make a box for the turn on the hindquarters.  For the third, I set up a little serpentine box for trotting turns, and then a set of four poles in a circle, for different sizes of trotting circles.  My little herd was very professional and accomplished and they both even happily half-passed down the long side afterwards to really stretch their legs.  They were terrific!  I am looking forward to trying other ground pole exercises too, such as cantering over a series of poles, setting up poles around the perimeter to practice different trots and canters, cantering ground pole "virtual" jumping courses, etc.  And then using poles to improve both of their dressage strength and capabilities.  I'm truly having a blast trying out new things!!

My Adorable Hard-Working Boy

Here's a photo from mid-March and I'm writing this entry on March 23rd.  In a little over a month, as I write, Renny will be fully three years old.  I've been trying to read more books to get me in the training mood for him because he's had lots going on.  I spoke with a trainer at Quicksilver Farm in Chardon about taking him on later this summer to help him over his first fences and help him with his lead changes.  And she told me that I could be working him over 18 inch crossrails over the summer.  So, I've been reading a book on how to school with groundpoles and he's just been fabulous at it.  My little sport is really such a good good boy!  For example, this past Monday evening at his lesson, he was just an angel.  He gave me different versions of trots, he took his canter transitions beautifully.  He cantered over ground poles.  He popped over cavaletti in the second position.  And, most special, he did these wonderful trots and canters in a quiet circle and nice and straightly through parallel poles and then did nice relaxed smooth turns over ground poles and he was happy to stop roundly and quietly either before or after poles.  I mean, he was just a baby champion in training!  I was so darn proud!

Happy Independence Day! From Jackass Sanchez

Here's a photo of Jackass, after I brought home my western saddle.  He was as pleased as punch with himself for finding that new spot to sit.  He thought he was a little teeny tiny western outlaw!  Anyway, happy independence day!  I've learned quite a bit in this past year and I can tell you one thing -- I'm digging in deep to my Mattie Ross heritage and I'm not going to take crap from any trash from here on out!  Dig it.  Jackass endorses this position.

Paws

Rock on.  Namaste.

Beautiful Hunter

I'm writing this entry on March 9th and I have recently purchased a furminator for my horses.  I wasn't going to use it on Violet, but a friend did and I was shocked to see just how much undercoat Violet  really had!  so, I've been using the furminator and many body brushes and pink spray very faithfully in February and March and she just came off the winter, looking so radiant and gorgeaus and fit and athletic and muscular.  She's a red glossy gorgeaus girl!

Renny and Kelsey on July 1st!

Kelsey has kindly agreed to help me with Renny this summer.  She's home from school this summer and she's lending her skill and time on Friday mornings.  So, I woke up, made coffee, and leisurely went out to the barn to spend a wonderful morning with my fabulous talented little Faberge Egg of a fella.  And he was wonderful.  He was supple, willing, alert, attentive.  And he delivered up a direct straight kind jumping course.  I could not have been more proud.  I was delighted to give him a bracing liniment bath and rub liniment on his legs to celebrate his good sweetness.  And he was happy to roll immediately in the dirt to become a chocolate covered cherry!  Team Renegade rocks!

Winter Birds

Here are more photos from the early March light snow.  I've so enjoyed my winter garden because many birds have been using the feeders -- blue jays, cardinals, finches, little grey birds in many varieties, mourning doves -- it's been a treat to see them so active.