My Amazing Violet

In this February photo of Renny and Violet, you don't necessarily get to see how cool they are.  In this photo, Renny was getting ready for a riding lesson and Violet was patiently quietly waiting for her friends to finish cleaning her stall.  Anyway, during her third week of stall rest, I had ridden her 5 straight days with jumping on each day and she was wonderful.  And I asked Stacey to put a training ride on her because I was going to visit my nieces and nephew over the weekend and I knew she wouldn't get much turnout because it was lesson Saturday and a Jill Jewett clinic on Sunday. 

So, when I got home, Stacey said that she and Violet had fun and that she learned a lot about what Violet was doing that was affecting my riding.  Violet likes to grab the bit with her left jaw and yank it and she is very bendy and flexible to the left, but stiff and unbendy to the right.  And that she thinks that Violet tosses her head impatiently when I ask for a canter because I grip with my knees.

So, Stacey gave us our Tuesday private lesson and helped me tweak my riding and let me tell you.  It was amazing!  Violet was soft and quiet and wonderful.  And we were able to transition up into the nicest sweetest most relaxed canter without head-tossing.  I was just so impressed.  Stacey said she would help me work on softness and riding with my seat and making my leg long and active.  My goal this year is to ride softer, so I was really glad for this great training ride.  And what's funny is that Stacey said that I would feel the difference, but I didn't really expect to, I was just trying to give Violet some exercises on my travels.

Snoozing Patient Girl!

So, on January 3rd, Violet hurt herself running around in her pasture.  She cut her back coronary bands with her front hooves.  And then on January 13th, she reinjured one of the cuts by hitting it again.  So, she's been on 3 weeks of stall rest to entirely recuperate. And she has been a patient good loving girl.  I have been riding her 5-6 times per week, lunging her, grooming her, praising her to keep her spirits up.  And then finally this week, the week of February 21st as I write this message, she was due to go back to pasture life.  But then we got ice rain, and snow, and more ice.  And now we're supposed to have 3 more days of ice rain and snow.  So, she is now deep into her fourth week of stall rest, but is still being a very good girl!  I love my patient girl and I am trying to be patient too, though my nerves are frayed!

My Little Fatty

Namaste.

My Baby's Braids

It's hard to imagine that he was ever so little.  He's my big boy now.  I am so very grateful that he has been a part of my life.  I just truly love this elegant, funny, smart, wise creature.  He's been so intelligent from his very very first moments of life!

Happy Handsome Fancy Pants Cat Day!

 I'm writing this entry on February 9, 2011 and this morning, Arcangelo  was being extra lovey and cuddly and playful, so I told him that it was Handsome Fancy Pants Cat Day!  A special day just for handsome cats before Valentine's Day which is for everybody.  He liked that very well.  And Jackass  spent the morning giving me meows of approval and satisfaction.  He wants to be my good friend because the next two days are going to be bitter cold and he wants to make sure he gets the best warm covers at night!!

Creative Mounting

From Bounce  by Robert J. Wicks (page 126):  'The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and the lightning bug.'

A Free Young Girl!

From the book Bounce by Robert J. Wicks, a story about Martin Buber (page 109), 'The Rabbi Zusya said a short time before his death, "In the world to come, I shall not be asked, 'Why were you not Moses?' Instead, I shall be asked, 'Why were you not Zusya?'"

More LaCrosse Action!

"When you are fooled by soemthing else, the damage will not be so big.  But when you are fooled by yourself, it is fatal."  Shunryu Suzuki via Bounce by Robert J. Wicks

Equine LaCrosse, Moving Fast!

"Let our first act every morning be this resolve:  I shall not fear anyone on earth. I shall not bear ill-will toward anyone.  I shall conquer untruth by truth and in resisting untruth, I shall put up with all suffering."  Gandhi via the book Bounce by Robert J. Wicks.

Wild Stuff

Namaste!

Sideline Action

Here are some photos of that elegant older gentleman and the wild young man! 

The Pick Up

Watching this young man ride and play was a hoot.  He was always in such good spirits and though he didn't have the grace and elegance of the older man, he certainly made up for it with energy and wildness and passion and true grit! He and his pony were having a blast!

The Play

Namaste! Rock on!

The Scuffle

Namaste!