Family Athlete!

I love this photo of Sierra Audrey, jumping off our dock!  She's a bold brave talented athlete!

Such a Wonderful Family!

Here we are, on the 4th of July holiday -- my Aunts Mary Lou and Shelley, my mom, my Grampa, my Aunt Vicki, cousin Audrey, Uncle Rick, Aunt Anita...and my father.  We are such a good family.

Touches of Love!

Here is a photo taken over the 4th of July holiday.  I love this photo.  I didn't even realize this feeling was happening as I took the photo.  But here you see each lovely lady reaching out to my dad, reaching out with love.  Namaste.

Important Ladies

Here's a photo, taken over the 4th of July, on the dock at my parents' home.  Here is a photo of my mom, Aunt Anita, cousin Audrey, my dog, Zelia, and my mom's and Anita's dog, Lucky.

Rhinelander for the July 4th Holiday

I went home for the 4th of July holiday to visit my mom and dad.  Dad is in a nursing/rehabilitation center and has been in one since March.  He was being visited by me, his brother Rick and Rick's wife Shelley and daughter, Audrey.  And he was visited by his father, my Grampa.  And he was visited by his sisters, my Aunts Anita, Mary Lou, and Vicki.  And he even had Conchita and Donald visit too.  It was a busy fun 4th.  I spent most of my time with Audrey -- we were little water girls, playing in the river right at the park by my dad's rehab center.  We paddled in a kayak, hung in an inner tube, swam out to a water ski jump, paddled to a local dairy queen, rode inflatable toys.  It was fun to hang out with this wonderful child!

Plans...

Here's a photo from Sunday, August 12th, the day I am writing this entry.  Renny's had a wonderful first three years of training with Stacey, Kelsey, and Alyssa and Melinda.  And his Grama!  He's had lots of ladies to love on him and bring out his best.  And Violet's had Stacey, Kelsey, Emily and myself.  She has blossomed into her work.  Both my ponies are proud of themselves and have a wonderful work ethic.  They bring good cheer to their tasks.  And so, I don't know what faces us next.  We've been so busy.  But I imagine freestyle musical dressage awaits, and maybe jumping 2.6 a little more, or practicing lead changes...we have lots of happy times ahead...

Loving My Herd!

Relaxed Violet Rising to Challenges

Here's a photo of Violet, working with Kelsey this Summer 2012.  You can see my mare, bringing her best heart to her work.  I love watching them at their work and watching them grow with Kelsey.  I love growing carrots for them in my garden and feeding them hoof and probiotic treats.  I love giving them smartpak supplements to give them vitamins and joint care.  I love that their farrier and veterinarian are wonderful.  I love grooming them and talking with them.  I love fussing over them.  I love the life of my herd.  I love how pleasant and agreeable and kind my ponies are.  I'm proud to know them and proud to b owned by them.

What I Learned from Violet this Summer!

Beautiful Violet Works on the Flat!

I'm writing this entry on Sunday, August 12th, on the last day that my herd and I got to ride with Kelsey before she left for Law School.  We had such a good summer.  One of the smartest things I did this summer was put both Renny and Violet into training.  Violet just excelled from the very first lesson.  I told Kelsey that I wished she would help her with softness and maybe working toward lead changes and she jumped on and got lead changes the very first 15 minutes.  It was amazing!  So, I got over-confident and thought maybe I could jump the box, since both Renny and Violet jumped the box with Kelsey with no problems.  And so on a beautiful Friday morning, we tried.  But it didn't work.  I tried like 4-5 times and Violet would give a powerful but careful refusal, rolling to a halt with her head held high or carefully moving around the jump.  She was clearly trying to refuse without unseating me.  She was being so good in her badness.

And that's when I learned how much Violet takes care of me.  She literally knew I wasn't ready and so was refusing to take care of me, and managed to refuse without hurting me.  I don't have that many arrows in my arsenal, so couldn't figure out how to make her jump that box.  Kelsey got on and made her do it.  And so, she's been jumping true and straight and well to everything I've put her toward so far, just because of her good and honest heart and not so much because of any particular skill or talent on my part.

And so I learned yet again just how wonderful and kind and sensible and honest and decent my hunter mare is.  She's a treasure!  I learned a good and wonderful lesson from my failure!

Keeping Quiet, Paying Attention

March 2012 Pasture!

I'm writing this entry on Sunday, August 12th of what has been a bittersweet fun wonderful but challenging summer.  I went home twice to see my dad and didn't necessarily bring my best heart to that task.  And I've dealt with pets who are sick or old or injured all summer.  I'm just sort of tired.  But I've learned so much.  I've learned that it's really important to be vigilant, diligent, and caring.  It's important to be scared and worried, but still press forward.  I've learned that sometimes the answers to prayers may be no, but that if you work at your best, you can at least bring comfort and relief or some margin of betterment, if not perfection.  I'm learning the importance of keeping quiet and making myself smaller.

Worried about Chickens

So, I'm writing this entry on Sunday, August 12th and it's been kind of a stressful summer, chicken wise.  Both Thelma and Louise got sick, so I've become quite the expert at giving antibiotics, rimadyl, and calcium supplements to my girls.  Thelma got 20 days straight of medication and now Louise is on 10 days straight of medication and both girls are on 30 days straight of calcium support to strengthen and nourish their little bodies.  I think they are responding and they are back to enjoying their garden and yard.  I've learned more about how better to care for them and I've visited two veterinarians that I think are skilled and wonderful for them -- Dr. Orosz and Dr. Reicherd.  I especially like the latter and think he has excellent coop-side manner.

The other sort of stressful thing is that I've been attending city council and city planning sub-committee meetings all summer to try and get my ordinance passed so that my chickens can be legal.  That's okay, but I don't much like conflict, so it always takes a toll.  There's this retired organizational psychology professor who is often quite mean at the lobbying visitation -- and he's said that it's only taken him 10 seconds to find that it's illegal to keep chickens and that I'm a lawbreaker who should be punished.  I don't much like hearing mean comments like that or hearing that people are writing mean comments in letters to the editor or that they are leaving flyers against my "vermin-attracting" girls on cars in town.  But I do like my chickens.  So, it's worth it.  I'm having my own little Henry David Thoreau summer, I guess.  I can't imagine not having these girls, so I hope it all works out!

Renny as a Fancy Dressage Pony!

Beautiful Happy Pony!

Here is a little photo and video of my happy relaxed pony working for his trainer.  He just loves making her happy and taking on new challenges.  At any rate, I'm writing this entry on Sunday, August 12th, our last training day with Kelsey.  And here's the benefit I already had from her work.  I rode Renny in his regular Saturday morning lesson with Gay and Mary.  He was wonderful.  We rode a dressage pattern and he was very obedient and filled with impulsion and light in my hands.  He got his transitions in the correct locations and was round in his turns.  He was an angel.  Stacey said he looked fun to ride.  And he even got gaits within gaits, he was happy to trot a big fancy bold reaching extended trot.  I just loved him!

Violet Takes Care of Me!

Violet Jumping Sweetly!

Midway through the summer, I put Violet into training with Kelsey and it was such a smart thing to do. She got Violet to be rounder and softer.  And she figured out how to help me listen to her better, so that Violet is better able to communicate with me how she would like to be ridden.  And she got Violet to jump rounder and softer and more consistently.  Violet is just a better athlete and partner who has leg yields, shoulders-in, haunches-in, and lead changes at her disposal.  It's amazing.  And here's one day how I benefited.  I've been worried about the health of my pets (I must be struggling with depression).  I was thinking that Louise might be really ill and I talked to my mom one Thursday and she told me that my dad is doing very poorly.  He's not well.  He's slipped backwards since the July 4th holiday and anxiety and depression have a hold on him.  So, I went to the barn for our Thursday night lesson and I was so stressed out.  I was kind of a mess.  Stacey had us ride out in the rain -- and that was fun.  It was a steady, non-stop rain for the whole lesson.  Rain fell quietly around us and dripped off my visor.  My gloves were a mess, Violet was wet and cheerful.  And here's what she did -- while we were jumping, I dropped the reins twice, lost a stirrup, leaned left, stood up in the stirrups, came completely out of the saddle, lost my legs too many times to count.  And Violet brought her best -- she took care of me.  She jumped every jump I put her to.  She was obedient, soft, and solidly solidly took care of sloppy me.  I felt my heart grow two times larger, realizing how she treats me like precious cargo!

A Good August Day!

A good August day for a ride and farewells!  I've learned so much this summer and over the past few years.  My herd and I have had a wonderful thoughtful skilled teacher.  We wish her well on her next adventures!  And though it's a random thought, on this August day, I was made very happy at the end of the ride.  I was sitting on Violet and Kelsey was sitting on Renny who was snuffling and blowing and slobbering with contentment.  And I was talking about how Renny would be good to sit on on top of a ridge looking down on cattle.  And Kelsey looked down at him and patted him and asked him if he'd like to go on vacation to a dude ranch and she looked casually over at Violet and said she wouldn't like it because Violet loves her current job of being a hunter -- she was a classic hunter, hunter, hunter.  I was proud of both my ponies.  And I felt blessed to learn from one of the best riders I ever met.  It's been magic!!!

Just Happy!

Rock on!  Namaste!

Pony Loves His Girl!

Here's a quick little doodle of a photo taken immediately after our last training ride with Kelsey in Summer 2012.  And here you see how it's always been.  She's calm and sweet and radiates good will. And Renny is smitten.  He always looks for her, perks up when he sees her, tries to touch her sweetly and quietly, and if she stands close, he tries to wrap his neck and head around her.  The pony has love in his heart for his girl and trainer!

Such a Great Trainer!

When Renny  was just a little green-backed baby, Kelsey came into his life.  She's been a part of his life for three Summers and many Fall, Winter, and Spring rides.  She's knit her skills, heart, confidence, courage, and happiness into his heart.  He's a solid sweet pony who enjoys his job, takes care of his rider, and has love for his companions.  She's made him feel brave.  So.  How lucky am I?  I'm a blessed girl.  And he's a blessed pony.

Renny Jumps Sweetly!

During our last lesson with Kelsey, I just felt relaxed and happy.  Even when Renny threw a little heat my way because I got too quick about my leg aids and got too heavy with my potato butt, I just thought it was funny and sweet and fixable and part of the whole process.  It was a great feeling.  So, Kelsey said I should jump and she'd set up a figure 8.  And so, I just started it -- I set him to the first jump and he just took it sweetly -- no rushing, no fastness, no nothing but kindness.  And he got the correct lead.  And then we headed back and it happened again.  Correct lead, no rushing, total relaxation about the job on both our parts.  It was a little slice of heaven!  Badabing!

Violet Gives Her Best!

Here's another photo from my last training session with Kelsey.  We are getting ready to have some fun.  During our last ride, Kelsey kept commenting about how attentive Violet was.  She was being eager, but not anticipating or being bossy or rude.  She was just really focused on proving that she was a good athletic girl.  Kelsey said that she was responding in a big way to leg aids.  She practically did a 180 when she asked her to turn, for example.  Violet gave some beautiful leg yields and shoulders-in and haunches-in, in a relaxed clear crisp elegant focused fashion -- no fighting at all.  It was just the most pleasant ride.  She said that her canter felt rolling.  At the end, we were talking about my horses and she said that Violet was so smart and a good student and that she could feel exactly where Violet was, so her lead changes were easy to get.  I was just so proud of my mare, my beautiful granddaughter to Blushing Groom and Count Fleet.  She wants to please people and she's such a strong athlete and a caring soul.  I just love her!

Last Day of a Fun Summer!

Today was a bittersweet but lovely day.  Today was our last official training ride with Kelsey before she leaves for Law School at OSU.  We were going to share a ride at 10:30 on a gorgeaus cool sunlit Sunday.  My ponies were very happy -- they know they've been doing good and they are in the midst of August carrots from my garden.  They are happy campers!  So, we saddled up for our last ride together and she rode Violet at first and I rode Renny.  It was so relaxed and fun and mellow.  Renny was sweet and soft and obedient.  He gave me a little heat at the canter because if I sat down on him too hard, he'd cow kick.  We laughed because we figured he was trying to train me now.  As soon as I let go of his inside rein and leaned forward and got my potato butt off him, he instantly quit cowkicking and got super soft.  The pony wanted to give me my reward -- he's a good trainer.  I practiced leg yields with him and shoulders-in and haunches-in.  Kelsey said that Violet was being amazing too.  And then I jumped Renny and got the correct leads off both fences.  It was all so easy and fun and relaxed.  We changed up horses and I got to feel Violet being relaxed and mellow and athletic and completely listening to the seat and legs.  She didn't want in any way to fight about her bit for the leg yield -- she was soft and straight about the leg yield just listening to my hips and butt and legs.  It was a terrific final fun fun fun ride!  And lots of carrots and treats for the happy ponies afterwards!

Snow Dog

I'm writing this entry on a beautiful cool sunlit August morning and I can hear my very happy very fat puppy snoring beside me.  Here she is on a winter morning!  

Winter Grubby!

Here's a photo of my grubby deep into winter ponies with their filthy blankets!  Oooh.  I'm writing this entry in August and their blankets recently came back from the cleaners, freshly laundered, repaired, and fluffed.  They look like new!  It'll be a pleasure to put them back on their very first day before they get them grubby again.  That said, Renny is actually the only one who gets grubby.  Violet likes her winter coat.  It's a big plush padded quilted royal blue one, so I imagine she feels like a Chicago Suburban housewife when she wears it.  She knows she looks good!

Renny's Dressage Bridle and Bit

Renny's wonderful trainer asked me to get him a little loose ring bit for his flat work, so here he is in his new Bobby dressage bridle and his Herm Sprenger bit.  He looks gorgeaus!  Because he's the most gorgeaus pony ever!!!!

Violet Takes Care of Me!

Jumping Relaxed and Happy!

Here is some Spring photo and video of Emily working with Violet.  Violet loves the challenge of pleasing that girl and learns so much from her adventures with Emily -- and now with Kelsey.  She's a fabulous thoroughbred, through and through.  But what's my great blessing is that Violet loves me and expects to be my team mate.  She takes great pleasure in doing a good job when we're out together.  It's the most wonderful feeling!

Renny Takes Care of Grams

Beautiful Pony Sunset Jumping

Here are some happy photos and video from Renny's May 14th lesson with Kelsey.  It was my first lesson watching them.  And I could tell that my fat and sassy pony was so pleased to be in the sunset with his girlfriend with his Grama watching.  Renny has an old loving soul.  He has been a family pony from his very first breath, expecting to be part of all action and expecting to be a big part of his herd, and expecting to take care of his Grama!

Violet and Her Teachers

Spring Break Athletes!

I'm writing this entry on Thursday, August 2nd, but this photo and video are from March...Spring Break for Emily.  Violet's been very blessed this year.  She's had lots of people love on her and treat her well, and she's had Emily and Kelsey help her develop her skills.  Emily helped her jump 3' for the first time.  And just recently, I put Vi into training with Kelsey.  It's a funny story.  She asked what I might like -- and I told her help her be soft and help her develop her lead changes.  So, Kelsey jumps on and within 15 minutes, Violet is round and soft and supple and she just bangs out the lead changes.  She hasn't missed giving one, since Kelsey first asked.  So, apparently, Miss Thing has just been waiting to be asked properly!  We did have one lesson, though, recently, where Violet though Kelsey was rude, so she'd give the lead change, but she'd cow kick too, just for effect!  I do love my red girl!

Renny and His Teacher

Renny Trains with His Best Friend!

This photo and video are from Kelsey's first training session with me present on May 14, 2012.  She'd ridden him once or twice while I was at home, visiting my dad.  I'm writing this entry on Thursday, August 2nd, the last day of my second summer teaching session to help support my ponies.  Soon the Fall semester will arrive and I'll be busier than ever and Kelsey will leave for new adventures.  She's going to law school at OSU.  She's been such a blessing in our lives over the past three years.  We arrived when Renny was a yearling and I didn't meet Kelsey for a full half year after that arrival.  But as Renny turned 2, she became his trainer.  And she has put such love, care, and skills into this pony.  He is brave, calm, accomplished, skilled.  He knows his job and takes pride in pleasing.  She's just a remarkable young rider and trainer!!!!  I'm going to be very sad to see her go, but very happy for her future adventures and success!!!

My Beloved Zelia, the Snow Dog!

Here are a few early morning winter photos of Zelia standing in front of our garden, our sleeping winter garden.  I'm writing this entry on Monday, July 2nd right now, and that garden space is neat, tidy and vibrantly filled with lush green life.  So, these photos are really odd and eerie.  But anyway, here you have my beloved sweet dog.  I am so lucky.

Dressage Clinics and Going for Strength and Softness

Here are some photos of Kelsey riding both Renny and Violet at the dressage clinic.  Look how round and happy they are and how they are lifting their backs and bellies.  I plan on working on being strong and soft in my riding and in my life.

Offering Up Lead Changes!

Here's a July 1st photo of my darling red girl.  Lately what's been really fun about Violet is that she's been really consistent about offering up flying lead changes in both directions coming off lines.  She's just so relaxed and quiet about it.  I think she just really is starting to come into her own.  It's a delight.  And K is having so much good fortune with getting Renny to offer up lead changes too.  I just love my ponies and their natural graceful athleticism and willingness!

My Oxer Boy!

Amazing Jumping!

So, I'm writing this entry on Monday, July 2nd, and two weeks ago, I went to the barn for an evening ride on Violet and saw Kelsey.  She was casually finishing up riding and I was getting ready.  And she just mentioned that Renny had jumped his first oxer that day!  I was so excited.  She said that he was great, just great.  That the first time he jumped, he gave it sort of a look and he wanted to jump long.  But then he just knew exactly how to handle it.  My pony is great!  I can't wait to see him jump an oxer in person.  Here you see a little photo and video from a lesson on June 26th.  Look at relaxed and round and beautiful he is!  He has such  good time with his trainer!

Getting Back on Track

I don't know if this ever happens to you, but sometimes while you're planning, working, setting goals, training, riding, and loving your herd, you get lost and a bit off track and something will give you a big nudge.  I had that with the classical dressage clinic.  I had a chance to rethink my goals and priorities and my emotional connections to my companion animals.  I've decided that I'm going to keep enjoying Violet for all the wonderful things she brings me and her enthusiasm about every single task put before her.  And I've decided that Renny is going to be for me -- my own special wonderful pony who was a gift from Hailee.  He doesn't have to be a Pony Finals pony.  He doesn't have to be "kid ready."  He just has to be my darling.  These were good happy decisions over the past week or so!