Jumping with My Girl!

Here are some very early June photos of me jumping my sweet athletic loving thoroughbred!  We've really gone backwards since these photos were taken by our friend, Lizz.  But you can see here that we are sort of together.  I am clearly looking where I'm going, Violet is getting to the base of jumps.  But you can also see that I'm not quite sure where to put my body and that my heels are not down to make them more stable!  We have lots of work! But our work is fun and happy.  We do love each other!

My Elegant Girl!

My Elegant Girl!

Here's a July 29th photo and video of beautiful Violet with her trainer, Kelsey.  You can tell that she's tired after a tough workout!  I was so proud of my sweet girl this summer.  She worked hard to please this summer.  And she demonstrated that she has lots of hidden talents -- like lead changes, leg yields, shoulder ins, and haunches in.  She was just such a great little student!

Sweet Brave Pony!

Sweet Brave Pony!

Here's an August photo of my sweet light balanced quiet obedient handy athletic pony with his best girl.  He really enjoyed his time with Kelsey.  And he really enjoys being sweet and true!

My Sweet Trying Girl!

We've had a rough month, Violet and I.  We got a new trainer and she's been shaking things up by requiring tougher technical rides.  So, my sweet mare feels as though I'm mad at her and she gets all worked up. So, I took her out of lessons for a month, so we could work on bonding and getting soft and communicating better. And I think it's working!  We've spent time long-lining, pessoa-ing, lunging, Parelli work, and flat work and jumping.  And I've been practicing being patient and soft with her and that's been helpful.  I can really tell that Violet is working hard to please.  She wants to enjoy her work and her time with me.  This past Friday, she and I had a little riding fun with another friend at the barn and we jumped for the first time in a long while.  And she was just sweet and happy and obliging.  I do love my sweet mare!

My Darling Athlete!

Here's a photo from a lovely evening in July of my beautiful handsome relaxed Renny, jumping the box for the first time.  I'm writing this entry on October 27, a Saturday, and I had such a great day.  I went to an IHSA show with Lexi and Sandy and we enjoyed watching young college kids competing with bravery and skill.  And then we went for a wonderful lunch and talked horses.  And then I went to the barn and had a great relaxed ride on my pony.  We rode by ourselves in the sunlight and practiced lead changes and then practiced bare back!  He is just the funnest sweetest pony!

Happy August Pony

I'm writing this entry on Friday, October 26th.  And these photos are from August 3rd when my happy little pony, Renny, was enjoying his training time with Kelsey.  This week has been kind of fun.  I took Violet out of lessons because she was getting so upset and wound up.  And so, she and I spent a week lunging, long-lining, Pessoaing, relaxed flatting, and even jumping!!!  Today she and I jumped with Betsy and Merlin.  She was full of vinegar and kept blowing, but she was obedient.  She wanted to please.  She's been working so hard lately, so she's fit and strong and keen and intelligent and sensitive.  So, I'm working on really learning how to be quiet and trusting and faithful to her -- soft but strong.  It's been a fun week.  Renny and I had that week too.  So, finally, after a fitful few weeks, I jumped both my sweet creatures this week!

Mellow Show Pony!

Here's a photo of my little guy, not feeling really well, with a case of diarrhea, and not drinking, but still being an obedient show pony, working out with his new little rider, trainer, and Grama.  He's the best!

Beautiful Intelligent Girl!

My Thoroughbred!

I'm writing this entry on Wednesday, October 24th, and this photo and video are from late July.  Violet has so many friends because she's a gracious kind funny sweet playful girl.  She would have been an excellent comedienne or maybe Southern belle.  She's definitely a big flirt.  Here's an example. There's a mom at the barn, Dawn, who brings her child for riding lessons.  This really nice lady really likes Violet. She always pours compliments and kind words on her and pets her and lets her know that she's a very nice girl.  Violet loves her for it.  Anyway, I like this photo because you can see my beautiful girl just relaxed and waiting and quiet.  And looking radiantly gorgeaus!  Casually beautiful!

Beautiful, Hard-Working Violet!

Here's a picture taken on July 27th, of one of Violet's  last training sessions with Kelsey.  I've been having some troubles with her lately because she gets so wound up about doing her best.  She gets in a tiny anxiety fit about doing things as fast as possible and rushing around and being strong.  So, I've been slowing down our own work and trying to break things up -- we've done lots more longing, long-lining, Pessoa-ing, Parelli work, and just plain old "on the buckle" relaxed riding, just to give her permission to loosen up her mind and spirits.  And it's working.  We are working to a better understanding of our communication together!  I'm very pleased!

Big-Hearted, Hardworking Pony!

Here's a photo from a fun July 31st evening when Kelsey was training my little buddy.  Renny was jumping the box for the very first time and he was giving it a big college try.  Here you see him working to get his balance back after a thunderous gallop to the box and huge deer leap.  He's an amazing little boy who is fearless and brave!

Zelia Bedelia

I'm writing this entry on Sunday, October 14th and these photos were taken this past winter.  Zelia is finally really slowing down and showing her age.  For the past week, she's had trouble negotiating stairs and she's not comfortable using the stairs in the garage anymore.  I've increased her pain medication and have a doctor's appointment.  She's still doing great on her walks, so I know she's happy with her life. But I want to make sure that she's comfortable and getting the best treatment she can for her various lumps, bumps, and arthritises!  

Jackass and Arcangelo

Namaste.

Renny's Dear Friend

I love this photo.  This photo was taken in late July and shows Kelsey giving Renny a jumping lesson over the 2.3 wall. It was his first time jumping it.  He was awesome.  Look at how relaxed and happy he is as he pleases Grams and his Kelsey!

Rainy Day Stall Visits

I'm writing this entry on Sunday, October 14th, and it has been a classic Fall day -- windy, blustery, cloud-chasing, dramatic in color, flashes of rain.  It's been wonderful.  So, the horses had a day in their stalls to chill and it was kind of nice because the barn was also hosting a Schooling Show run by the BGSU Equestrian Team.  I showed up at the barn early to deliver something for the show and then got to just relax, talk with friends, eat, drink, visit the ponies, give them treats, pet them.  I got to enjoy watching Violet do her usual shenanigans of luring people to her stall to pet her.  And I got to watch Renny's faraway look when he puts his neck out long, flattens his head and looks up toward the sky as he listens to stuff going on in the aisle ways.  He's so sweet and funny.  The very nicest part of the day was sitting in Violet's stall and just hanging out with her.  She was so gentle, but she'd come up and tousle my hair, run her jaw over my head, so that she'd start with one ear, nuzzle my entire head, and nuzzle the other ear.  She and I just spent some quality time together.  Such a pleasant rainy day Sunday!  This photo by the way is from late July and shows Kelsey helping Violet work on her jumping skills.

Taking Time

Here's a picture from late July of my beautiful Violet, practicing jumping with Kelsey.  Violet is a natural talent.  She has such a big heart, wants to please, and is so intelligent.  I am writing this entry on Sunday, October 14th, and today Sarah at our barn gave Violet a really big compliment -- said that she liked her and that she wasn't the usual thoroughbred because she was just so intelligent.  Right now, she and I are having a little rough patch because Violet is upset with my driving harsh ways and my unforgiving hands.  She's asked me to rethink my riding.  And earlier this week when I rode with Sarah, she told me to look in the mirror and confront what's within me.  And I've decided to take that task to heart.  I've become harder and more fearful.  I want to learn how to listen and connect and ride strong, but soft!  So, my beautiful mare and I are going to take our time and slow things down a bit and get better in sync, especially since we have to deal with the indoor arena now that Fall is really here!

My Super Trooper Pony

I'm writing this entry on Sunday, October 14th.  Renny's just been spectacular lately.  I just really love him to pieces.  He's been true blue to fences.  He's worked hard at these technical exercises over groundpoles which require him to be very careful about his feet and strides.  We had a guest trainer from the University of Findlay this past weekend and she just raved about how much he's progressed and how great he looks, soft and supple and obliging.  And he really did.  He just delivered up his patient best, being attentive to my seat and legs and being willing to really step up under himself for upward and downward transitions.  And what was really sweet is that Kelsey had returned after her first 9 weeks in Law School.  I told her to go to his stall and say hello and when she did, she was pleased and said he was sweet because he seemed really happy to see her. Of course!  When I rode him on Saturday, she entered the arena on a new trial horse, and Renny just dropped what he was doing and gawked at her and just started to follow her with long pony strides.  He just thinks she's the bee's knees!

My Beautiful Violet

Here is a photo of my beautiful Violet, being ridden over Thanksgiving 2011 by Emily.  And the video shows Renny and Kelsey.  So much has happened over the past month.  I'm writing this entry on Sunday, October 14th and early in September, St. George switched trainers from Stacey to Jill Jewett.  Jill is solidifying everyone's skills and giving excellent training about how to control your horse and place them where you choose.  She's working to get me to ride Renny to the base of jumps and count strides and control the length and pace of strides.  And she's working to get me to be in charge of Violet who is often bossy and opinionated.  And it's been wonderful.  Our technical lessons are just so instructive.  But this week, Violet and I had a mix of rides -- some really wonderful and some truly wretched.  And the wonderful rides were when we just hacked quietly and worked on rhythm, suppleness, and straightness.  This past Friday, I went out to the barn early on a cold bright cloudless Fall day and rode her in the outdoor arena.  We took time to just stop by the pond and relax.  And we worked hard on upward and downward transitions.  And it was great.  I think Violet would like me to ease up on her -- we've been working so hard.  I've decided to take more free rides and hack rides to be bonded and sweet with her and not just ride her in technical tough lessons!

Sweet Mama

Here is an April 15, 2008 photo of Hailee, waiting to deliver the very best pony on the face of the earth.

Then and Now

I'm writing this entry on September 16, 2012.  Here's a photo of my beautiful Hailee, Renny's dam, when she was living in Paris, Kentucky, getting ready to become a mother.  So much has happened since these days-- I've had the best and worst of times for sure.  Buy me a glass of wine some day and ask me about it.

Ragged Winter Coat

I'm writing this entry on September 16, 2012 and here's a photo of my beautiful pony in his shabby ragged winter coat!  He doesn't mind.  He's a sweetheart!

Sexy Jack and Arcangelo

Here is a photo taken in March 2008 of Jackass and Arcangelo, making me super happy by being their own fabulous selves.  And here's a little video with my oldest Flip Mino device I had just gotten to mark Renny's last days in his mom's womb!

Arcangelo in catnip

Here is a February 22, 2008 photo of Arcangelo, after he deliciously rolled in dehydrated catnip.  He's such a little happy boy!

Moibeal

Here is a January 26, 2008 photo of Moibeal.

Rory Bolin Butterscotch

Here is a photo of Orangeina taken on January 4, 2008 shortly after I found her meowling in a snow bank!  Such a little teeny cutie pie!

Apple-Loving Cats!

Here is a June 1st, 2012 photo of Arcangelo and Jackass, helping me get work done!

Girl in Training

Girl in Training

Look at that thoroughbred bring her best!

Lovely Soft Girl!

Lovely Soft Girl!

Look at this beautiful photo taken on August 5th, of my beautiful Violet.  She's moving round, soft, collected, and she's moving out with softness and obedience under Kelsey's active ride!

Gorgeous Form!

Bam! Over the Box!

Here is an August 5th photo and video for Violet as she learns how to be a bold hunter athlete with Kelsey!

Violet Practices Jumping

Violet Practices Jumping

Here are a photo and video of Violet taken on August 5th.  I love this photo because she's round and moving forward with elegance and power.  She really wants to please her riders!

Gorgeaus Girl Warming Up!

Gorgeous Girl Warming Up!

Here are photo and video of Violet relaxing as she warms up to work hard.  She's such a good elegant thoroughbred!

So Obedient!

So Obedient!

Here is Renny all happy and mellow and delighted to go for a sunset ride with his friend.