So I realize that it has been a very long time since my last post. Too long, in fact. So much has changed, I don't even know where to begin. First and foremost, I survived my first year of college with decent grades. Yay! I ended well in my IHSA standings as high point rider on my team in my division and was the first of my school to win High Point Overall at a competition. I didn't make it to regionals, but I was literally one spot away. Pretty neat. Second, I am now the owner of a registered 19 year old black Arabian mare named Ebonit who is currently in Ashland under the dutiful care of my significant other. After leasing to buy a yearling Andalusian/Warmblood colt for a little over a month--one I definitely didn't need--I decided that it was a mistake and went with an unbroke Arab mare instead. Makes sense, no? Well, maybe I have lost it a little bit, but I love my mare and wouldn't trade her for the world. She "chose" me, per se. Love at first sight and all that. She tried to kick the person who scooped her up from a slaughter auction, then looked at me with batting eyelashes, and I was sold. How could I resist? One fugly-I-mean-gorgeous mare later and here I am. My life has turned from being all about the status to all about reality and love, and I like it that way.
However, it seems like status might once again come to pick me up on my feet right after I had finally made the decision to let it go. I am about to find out whether or not I can have it both ways.
After one possible summer situation fell through, sending my girlfriend and I into turmoil, I decided to take a sort of working student position in Axton for the summer so that I had some way to stay on this coast while doing what I love best--riding. Basically, I ride horses in exchange for food and board with a few extra perks. Pretty simple. The distance has put my relationship through hell, but I figure it's better than if I had gone all the way back to California. Besides, I love it here (even though know the gf is going to murder me as soon as she reads that. I think she has a problem with sharing. ;) ). I get to eat, sleep, and breathe horses. I am pretty amazed by what it has done to me in the short time that I've been here. I feel great. I am remembering what it is like to absolutely love life and what I do. I am remembering why I ride and why I was and maybe still am considering training horses as one of my career options. Horses are my life. Nothing makes me happier than to get on the back of the horse and just dance.
And now I am thinking of doing what I never thought I would be able to do or even want to do again. Show. My father decided to send me one of our horses we are trying to sell--Fiction--as a consignment horse. Fiction is a monstrous bay 18 hand imported Irish Sporthorse beast by Cavalier Royale with ears like Eeyore and a personality like Romeo. According to everyone who has trained him so far, he is a spastic beast who needs a bicycle chain (a Flying W bit or a Potato Masher bit--things I have never heard of before in my life) in his mouth in order to do anything. The trainers who had him before claimed he would be too strong and complicated for me to ride. They said I wouldn't be able to sell him. They said the best he could do competitively was the Low Jr./Am. Jumpers, a 1.30m jumper division, and that he could only do that with a burly man on his back with the strength to muscle him around. At 115 pounds, I am definitely not a burly man. But I am definitely intent upon proving them wrong.
Yesterday, for the first time in 2 years, I jumped 5'. And it was effortless. No bicycle chains, no worries, just me and a horse in a KK Ultra Lite Snaffle soaring over 5' fences. It was not even a stretch for Fiction. He jumped it as easily as if it was 3' and had an absolute blast. I have not met a horse who loves to jump quite as much as he does. Now we are looking at possible shows and I might have the chance to show in the Grand Prixs that eluded me before. This time, I'm not going to let the status get to me. I'm going to have a blast and try not to think about the moment I have to hand Fiction's lead rope to some other really lucky rider.
Friday, June 5, 2009
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Writer's Review
So it's time to put the horses away for now and take a step back to my cozy little dorm room and the little college nestled on the edge of the famous Gettysburg battlefields. My weekend horse-high is sadly slipping away, and now instead of horse noses and pitchforks, all I can see are Economic graphs, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (such a 6th grade novel, I know), and the stories of my peers. It's around this time that I become restless, itching to be in a barn instead of sitting in a classroom for hours on end with little to do but dream of being outside, but there's not much I can do. I do get to ride at my coach's barn tomorrow for the team, but it's not the same. My coach may be one of the nicest people you will ever meet, but her ideas of riding in a pitched forward hunter seat with the horse flinging it's head in the air, and my concepts of trying to balance and focus on getting the horse to stretch, just, well... clash.
I had my peer review today on my creative nonfiction piece I wrote for my Creative Wrting class. Peer reviews are always an exciting time for me because I get to test out my skills as someone who hopefully someday will be a writer and get a live audience response. Today's crowd wasn't so interested, though, I'm afraid, which was kind of just a little bit actually really really annoying. Oh, they had nice things to say. Five out of my 14 fellow students had no problem talking about how they "enjoyed it" or "it was good," but that was all, and the rest were pretty much silent. Can you say rawr?
Seriously, there is nothing more annoying than investing all this time and energy into a creative writing course, only to get a bunch of disinterested and bored faces, staring at you blankly as you rant about how much you'd like advice on how to improve your paper. There was only ONE girl in the entire class that actually gave me a real review. I think she's probably the only one who actually read it. I felt like she and I were having our own conversation in the middle of the class while everyone else buried their faces behind their laptops (we're supposed to bring laptops to class so we don't waste paper) and checked their facebooks and emails.
Seriously?
In addition to spoken reviews, everyone also has to provide a written statement. This one was my favorite: "Right from the beginning of your piece i left as though I was in the room with you. At times you kind of tell the reader too much, and other times not enough."
...
Not only is this reply WAY shorter than the recommended 200-300 word reply, but it's not even clear what the reviewer is actually saying! Could you maybe, just maybe, say what it was that I told the reader too much of, and what I didn't tell the reader too much of? Or would that take up more than, oh, 30 seconds out of the hours you're supposed to be dedicating toward this class? Ugh...
Other than the one other student, the professor was pretty good at critiquing too, which I was pleasantly surprised about since he's seemed so disinterested in everyone's work so far. It was pretty much a 3-way conversation between the one dedicated reviewer, the Professor, and myself. I did end up coming away with some good ideas, but the other 13 silent students kind of annoyed me just the littlest bit. Although, to be fair, a couple of the ones who graced me with their responses DID have some really nice things to say. Which doesn't hurt my ego in the least, but didn't really help my paper.
Other than that little bit of excitement, I went out to see Noelle, my baby pygmy goat, today.
Awww. Ain't she cute.
I had my peer review today on my creative nonfiction piece I wrote for my Creative Wrting class. Peer reviews are always an exciting time for me because I get to test out my skills as someone who hopefully someday will be a writer and get a live audience response. Today's crowd wasn't so interested, though, I'm afraid, which was kind of just a little bit actually really really annoying. Oh, they had nice things to say. Five out of my 14 fellow students had no problem talking about how they "enjoyed it" or "it was good," but that was all, and the rest were pretty much silent. Can you say rawr?
Seriously, there is nothing more annoying than investing all this time and energy into a creative writing course, only to get a bunch of disinterested and bored faces, staring at you blankly as you rant about how much you'd like advice on how to improve your paper. There was only ONE girl in the entire class that actually gave me a real review. I think she's probably the only one who actually read it. I felt like she and I were having our own conversation in the middle of the class while everyone else buried their faces behind their laptops (we're supposed to bring laptops to class so we don't waste paper) and checked their facebooks and emails.
Seriously?
In addition to spoken reviews, everyone also has to provide a written statement. This one was my favorite: "Right from the beginning of your piece i left as though I was in the room with you. At times you kind of tell the reader too much, and other times not enough."
...
Not only is this reply WAY shorter than the recommended 200-300 word reply, but it's not even clear what the reviewer is actually saying! Could you maybe, just maybe, say what it was that I told the reader too much of, and what I didn't tell the reader too much of? Or would that take up more than, oh, 30 seconds out of the hours you're supposed to be dedicating toward this class? Ugh...
Other than the one other student, the professor was pretty good at critiquing too, which I was pleasantly surprised about since he's seemed so disinterested in everyone's work so far. It was pretty much a 3-way conversation between the one dedicated reviewer, the Professor, and myself. I did end up coming away with some good ideas, but the other 13 silent students kind of annoyed me just the littlest bit. Although, to be fair, a couple of the ones who graced me with their responses DID have some really nice things to say. Which doesn't hurt my ego in the least, but didn't really help my paper.
Other than that little bit of excitement, I went out to see Noelle, my baby pygmy goat, today.
Awww. Ain't she cute.Obviously, since I live in a dorm room and my roommate has severe, life-threatening allergies, bringing her in my room would be out of the question, sooo... she stays at a nice little house about 25 minutes away with a huge yard to play in and lots of kids to love her. She just recently moved to this place about a week and a half ago, and she's settled in nicely. Maybe a little too nicely. I think the family loves her so much, they wish I would just give her to them (apparently the father doesn't like her name, either, and insists on calling her "Lola." Grrrr.), which I'm not really sure how to feel about. On the one hand, I'm extremely happy she's surrounded by people who love her. She's a very clingy and needy little goat, so she gets depressed when there aren't people around for her to follow or to love on her at her request. On the other hand, I'm ridiculousy possessive and really wish I had my own place to put her so she could be purely my goat and not claimed by some other family. Hmph!
Yeah, I can be pretty possessive sometimes. Just ask my gf about that one. But seriously, I adore little Noelle. She's my baby. She goes for car rides and walks through the battlefield and has "helped" me clean a lot of stalls over winter break. I think if anyone were to take her from me, it would be devestating. I've already lost so many horses and pets, it's kind of hard to imagine losing one more. Nope! This little girl is mine. She may be sweet and you may love her, but honestly, I don't know what I'd do without my miniature horned beast bleating for me and wagging her little tail upon my arrival.
I'm just hoping that doesn't change.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
What's your horse's personality?
So after my last long, loooong post, I figured it was a good idea to post a much shorter post that's all fun and no ramble. ;)
My gf and I took horse personality tests for all of our (yes, I said "our," take a picture and frame it!) horses. It was quite entertaining and most of the time, the results were spot on. The only one I wasn't completely sure about was Sophie's result, but then again, I have difficulty communicating with and understanding Sophie, sooo... A disconnect in understanding personality (and therefore verifying accuracy of this cute little test) could also be present.
Check it out:
Emma--DECF (Dominant Energetic Curious Friendly)
The Rock Star
Rock Stars are confident and charismatic. They are expressive and strong minded. They love to show you what they know but are hard to get to focus on the small details of the task. They are found in many competitive arenas, usually at the top of their field.
Sophie--DLAF (Dominant Lazy Afraid Friendly)
The Accountant
Slow, steady and determined describes this personality. They do not need excitement or fanfare. They like predictability. They want you to have a plan and stick to it. The friendship is important to them, so it is important for them to be honored and appreciated.
Happy--SLCF (Submissive Lazy Curious Friendly)
The Steady Eddy
If you are a novice or amateur, this is the horse for you. They are quiet and predictable, loving and engaging, willing to learn new things, willing to hang out with you and do nothing. This is not your big ego, career-oriented horse. They are happy to just be. Consistent and loyal, all you need to do is enjoy!
See your horse's personality here.
Oh, and my gf thought I made her sound like a demanding, um, "female dog" in my last post, so I'm just clarifying (for her benefit) that she is not. That was for purposes of fun only, not a criticism of her character.
There. See? All better.
:]
My gf and I took horse personality tests for all of our (yes, I said "our," take a picture and frame it!) horses. It was quite entertaining and most of the time, the results were spot on. The only one I wasn't completely sure about was Sophie's result, but then again, I have difficulty communicating with and understanding Sophie, sooo... A disconnect in understanding personality (and therefore verifying accuracy of this cute little test) could also be present.
Check it out:
Emma--DECF (Dominant Energetic Curious Friendly)
The Rock Star
Rock Stars are confident and charismatic. They are expressive and strong minded. They love to show you what they know but are hard to get to focus on the small details of the task. They are found in many competitive arenas, usually at the top of their field.
Sophie--DLAF (Dominant Lazy Afraid Friendly)
The Accountant
Slow, steady and determined describes this personality. They do not need excitement or fanfare. They like predictability. They want you to have a plan and stick to it. The friendship is important to them, so it is important for them to be honored and appreciated.
Happy--SLCF (Submissive Lazy Curious Friendly)
The Steady Eddy
If you are a novice or amateur, this is the horse for you. They are quiet and predictable, loving and engaging, willing to learn new things, willing to hang out with you and do nothing. This is not your big ego, career-oriented horse. They are happy to just be. Consistent and loyal, all you need to do is enjoy!
See your horse's personality here.
Oh, and my gf thought I made her sound like a demanding, um, "female dog" in my last post, so I'm just clarifying (for her benefit) that she is not. That was for purposes of fun only, not a criticism of her character.
There. See? All better.
:]
Horse Speak 101
It is an amazing thing to carry on a conversation with a horse. It is particularly amazing when you are in tune with that horse, when you don't just hear them speak, but really feel what the horse is saying.
I would like to think I had such a conversation when I last rode my gf's horse, Emma. I didn't just hear what she was saying. I didn't just look at her ears and go, "Wow, they're forward. She must be happy! " or "Her ears are back and she's resisting. That must mean I should push her harder!" No. I actually listened. I heard what she was saying through the lunge line. I spoke to her and asked her questions with my body. I found out what she's been doing these past months while she's been unreachable due to distance. I heard what had happened to her body and how she had been comprimised. I felt her instinctual wariness of a stranger, but also her extroverted desire to be friends and work together toward a common goal. For the first time in what seems like forever, I took a deep breath and listened.
Now, I know this might sound a little ridiculous. You're probably thinking to yourself, "What a wacko! Horses can't talk!" But let me tell you, horses can communicate just as easily, perhaps even more easily, than you and I can with words.
I'm still learning how to listen. I haven't gotten it down pat yet. Sophie often confuses the hell out of me, but I think that has to do with me not looking in the right places for the answers. Instead of saying to myself, "What am I doing to make her resist me? What can I do to make it easier? How can I form a partnership with this horse and get her to relax and stretch?" I should have been asking, "What else could be going on here? Could she be in pain?" Sophie is a little hard for me to understand, but I think the signals are clear, I just have to think a little more broadly and a little less like the narrow-minded human that I am.
Emma, though. Well, there's a different story altogether. I have never met a more sensitive horse. And when I say sensitive, I don't mean hot-sensitive. I don't mean sensitive like a Thoroughbred that just has a lot of energy who hasn't been shown how to use it in a positive way. I mean sensitive like I caress the lunge line or rein, and she leaps to comply. I mean sensitive like the tiniest shift in position or weight can send her half-passing across the arena.
Okay, maybe not that extreme. Obviously I would be stupid to be asking a horse to half-pass at age four when they're not fully developed and are just learning the basics of stretch and supple. Still, she did surprise me when the first thing she did upon arrival at the new barn was passage around her field for 15 minutes straight. And when I say passage, I mean literally dancing around the field with such grace and suspension that all you could do was watch moonily and sigh. I must say it didn't hurt my ego at all to see a horse that I had bred so effortlessly completing a coveted movement in the dressage world. Which just goes to show that dressage, at it's best, is simply harnessing the horse's natural movements with as little interference from the rider as possible.
Anyway, now I've gone and gotten off topic. Back to the conversation between me and Emma.
Working with Emma is the closest I will ever come to dancing. It is so free, so beautiful, so effortless that when I'm working with her, I'm torn between tearing up and laughing at how amazing it is. Once again, you might think I'm crazy for saying such wild things, but I think I've ridden enough horses (top level hunters, Grand Prix jumpers, upper level dressage horses, talented young horses etc.) in my life to know when one is special.
This one is special.
Yes, she may have her conformational flaws. Her back might be the teeniest bit too long, her right hip might be twisted the itsy bitsiest bit to give her trouble at the canter to the right, but honestly... Emma? She's a keeper.
I feel bad, looking back upon that day over the weekend when I rode her for the first time in a month and I worked her so hard, but the gf demanded, and I delivered, and the whole experience rests somewhere up there right along with epiphanies and moments of nirvana. Everything just worked.
Sadly, her time at what will be referred to as "the other barn" did have an effect on her musculature. What once was a perfectly free and balanced horse now sports a bit of an underneck from going with her head cranked up in the air and her energy going out the nose, and she has hind legs that swing out from behind her instead of propelling her forward from up underneath her. I felt that the moment I put her on the lunge to get out her kicks and giggles and see if she would stretch. I worked with this horse in the very beginning before "the other barn" trainer had a chance to ruin her, and I knew something was wrong the instant I gently asked her to bend and she resisted. It wasn't an obvious resistance. I doubt anyone watching would have caught it. It was just the lightest pressure against my hands that told me that her newly developed underneck wouldn't let her stretch and breathe.
So I worked through it. I allowed her to bend so that the underneck wouldn't get in her way and she could open up her body. It worked. Just like a padlock being unlocked, it clicked and down went the nose and up went the (very weak) back.
Unfortunately, time was pressed, and O (the gf) was desperate to ride, so after that moment, I went ahead and got on her. Instantly I knew something was up. Instead of her back filling up my seat, there was a sunken cavity. Now, I don't know about you, but I wouldn't want someone sitting on my back while I'm doing the "cat" part of the "cat and cow" exercise and my back is arched. Even worse, I wouldn't want someone bouncing up and down on my bent spine and digging their seatbones into my back!
Well, she didn't either. When I asked her to move forward at the walk, I got repeated swishes of the tail and an occasional flick of the hind hoof. I looked to O with concern and stopped what I was doing. Still, in accordance with O's demands, the ride had to go on, so I did the best I could to stay off her and get her to lift up her back and stretch out and down her neck. She complied. No more tail-swishing or discomfort.
Happy, happy horse. Happy, happy rider.
From then on, it was like riding magic. It was what riding should be. Should always be. It was riding a live, energetic wire contained between my legs and captured with my hands. The energy did not escape out the nose or through the hind end, it stayed within my grasp, and it was a tangible thing, a living essence. It was alive.
I may be a prospective writer, but even my [somewhat pathetic] pen falls short when describing that feeling. There is nothing else like it. Never in my life, except perhaps during brief moments of epiphany with my old trainer, Arlyn, have I felt anything like that. Never have I had a horse so willing to perform, so sensitive to touch and command. It's the way it's supposed to be. There's no yelling with heels or reins, no screaming with the thudding of the seat, it's all whispers and coos and caresses.
Now, Emma and especially I have a looong way to go, but it was a pleasant start and an even more pleasant and gratifying ride. I hope one day I can ride all my horses with a new level of communication. Sophie is the major project at the moment. I would be happy if I could even be able to communicate with her without feeling the need to yell or have her yell back at me. But I guess the only thing I can do is improve her nutrition, do what I can to change how I communicate, and give it time. Lots of time and lots of patience and not quite so much screaming (figuratively, of course).
Well, I guess that's all for today. My gf can tell you about the rest of that somewhat interesting day on her blog, Three Mares and Me. ; ) I'm off to do a quiz for Economics, that other 101 class. It's time to leave thoughts of the stable behind and return to droll concepts like supply and demand. Although, I think I might rest first. Day 4 of battle with the cold and sinus virus isn't going so well. Everything sounds muffled and I'm snorting and wheezing when I breathe. They had a test of the emergency siren system a little earlier and it sounded like an alien was living inside my head. Ugh.
Until next time, space cadets.
I would like to think I had such a conversation when I last rode my gf's horse, Emma. I didn't just hear what she was saying. I didn't just look at her ears and go, "Wow, they're forward. She must be happy! " or "Her ears are back and she's resisting. That must mean I should push her harder!" No. I actually listened. I heard what she was saying through the lunge line. I spoke to her and asked her questions with my body. I found out what she's been doing these past months while she's been unreachable due to distance. I heard what had happened to her body and how she had been comprimised. I felt her instinctual wariness of a stranger, but also her extroverted desire to be friends and work together toward a common goal. For the first time in what seems like forever, I took a deep breath and listened.
Now, I know this might sound a little ridiculous. You're probably thinking to yourself, "What a wacko! Horses can't talk!" But let me tell you, horses can communicate just as easily, perhaps even more easily, than you and I can with words.
I'm still learning how to listen. I haven't gotten it down pat yet. Sophie often confuses the hell out of me, but I think that has to do with me not looking in the right places for the answers. Instead of saying to myself, "What am I doing to make her resist me? What can I do to make it easier? How can I form a partnership with this horse and get her to relax and stretch?" I should have been asking, "What else could be going on here? Could she be in pain?" Sophie is a little hard for me to understand, but I think the signals are clear, I just have to think a little more broadly and a little less like the narrow-minded human that I am.
Emma, though. Well, there's a different story altogether. I have never met a more sensitive horse. And when I say sensitive, I don't mean hot-sensitive. I don't mean sensitive like a Thoroughbred that just has a lot of energy who hasn't been shown how to use it in a positive way. I mean sensitive like I caress the lunge line or rein, and she leaps to comply. I mean sensitive like the tiniest shift in position or weight can send her half-passing across the arena.
Okay, maybe not that extreme. Obviously I would be stupid to be asking a horse to half-pass at age four when they're not fully developed and are just learning the basics of stretch and supple. Still, she did surprise me when the first thing she did upon arrival at the new barn was passage around her field for 15 minutes straight. And when I say passage, I mean literally dancing around the field with such grace and suspension that all you could do was watch moonily and sigh. I must say it didn't hurt my ego at all to see a horse that I had bred so effortlessly completing a coveted movement in the dressage world. Which just goes to show that dressage, at it's best, is simply harnessing the horse's natural movements with as little interference from the rider as possible.
Anyway, now I've gone and gotten off topic. Back to the conversation between me and Emma.
Working with Emma is the closest I will ever come to dancing. It is so free, so beautiful, so effortless that when I'm working with her, I'm torn between tearing up and laughing at how amazing it is. Once again, you might think I'm crazy for saying such wild things, but I think I've ridden enough horses (top level hunters, Grand Prix jumpers, upper level dressage horses, talented young horses etc.) in my life to know when one is special.
This one is special.
Yes, she may have her conformational flaws. Her back might be the teeniest bit too long, her right hip might be twisted the itsy bitsiest bit to give her trouble at the canter to the right, but honestly... Emma? She's a keeper.
I feel bad, looking back upon that day over the weekend when I rode her for the first time in a month and I worked her so hard, but the gf demanded, and I delivered, and the whole experience rests somewhere up there right along with epiphanies and moments of nirvana. Everything just worked.
Sadly, her time at what will be referred to as "the other barn" did have an effect on her musculature. What once was a perfectly free and balanced horse now sports a bit of an underneck from going with her head cranked up in the air and her energy going out the nose, and she has hind legs that swing out from behind her instead of propelling her forward from up underneath her. I felt that the moment I put her on the lunge to get out her kicks and giggles and see if she would stretch. I worked with this horse in the very beginning before "the other barn" trainer had a chance to ruin her, and I knew something was wrong the instant I gently asked her to bend and she resisted. It wasn't an obvious resistance. I doubt anyone watching would have caught it. It was just the lightest pressure against my hands that told me that her newly developed underneck wouldn't let her stretch and breathe.
So I worked through it. I allowed her to bend so that the underneck wouldn't get in her way and she could open up her body. It worked. Just like a padlock being unlocked, it clicked and down went the nose and up went the (very weak) back.
Unfortunately, time was pressed, and O (the gf) was desperate to ride, so after that moment, I went ahead and got on her. Instantly I knew something was up. Instead of her back filling up my seat, there was a sunken cavity. Now, I don't know about you, but I wouldn't want someone sitting on my back while I'm doing the "cat" part of the "cat and cow" exercise and my back is arched. Even worse, I wouldn't want someone bouncing up and down on my bent spine and digging their seatbones into my back!
Well, she didn't either. When I asked her to move forward at the walk, I got repeated swishes of the tail and an occasional flick of the hind hoof. I looked to O with concern and stopped what I was doing. Still, in accordance with O's demands, the ride had to go on, so I did the best I could to stay off her and get her to lift up her back and stretch out and down her neck. She complied. No more tail-swishing or discomfort.
Happy, happy horse. Happy, happy rider.
From then on, it was like riding magic. It was what riding should be. Should always be. It was riding a live, energetic wire contained between my legs and captured with my hands. The energy did not escape out the nose or through the hind end, it stayed within my grasp, and it was a tangible thing, a living essence. It was alive.
I may be a prospective writer, but even my [somewhat pathetic] pen falls short when describing that feeling. There is nothing else like it. Never in my life, except perhaps during brief moments of epiphany with my old trainer, Arlyn, have I felt anything like that. Never have I had a horse so willing to perform, so sensitive to touch and command. It's the way it's supposed to be. There's no yelling with heels or reins, no screaming with the thudding of the seat, it's all whispers and coos and caresses.
Now, Emma and especially I have a looong way to go, but it was a pleasant start and an even more pleasant and gratifying ride. I hope one day I can ride all my horses with a new level of communication. Sophie is the major project at the moment. I would be happy if I could even be able to communicate with her without feeling the need to yell or have her yell back at me. But I guess the only thing I can do is improve her nutrition, do what I can to change how I communicate, and give it time. Lots of time and lots of patience and not quite so much screaming (figuratively, of course).
Well, I guess that's all for today. My gf can tell you about the rest of that somewhat interesting day on her blog, Three Mares and Me. ; ) I'm off to do a quiz for Economics, that other 101 class. It's time to leave thoughts of the stable behind and return to droll concepts like supply and demand. Although, I think I might rest first. Day 4 of battle with the cold and sinus virus isn't going so well. Everything sounds muffled and I'm snorting and wheezing when I breathe. They had a test of the emergency siren system a little earlier and it sounded like an alien was living inside my head. Ugh.
Until next time, space cadets.
Monday, February 2, 2009
There is a method to the madness!
I kinda looked into horse nutrition today. I kinda found out that I've been a complete and utter ignorant fool for not paying more attention to what gets served out to my horses. You know, those little analysis labels and nutritional info actually do come in handy. They actually do determine the health, fatness, and energy level of the horse. They can even affect how sound the horse is, or whether they develop things like DODs or other problems.
What a concept!
...
Honestly, sometimes my ignorance astounds me. Absolutely floors me to the point where I have to pause what I'm doing and just think really, really hard about just how little I actually know. Take, for instance, that I, someone who actually considered becoming a professional rider, thought that I could do so without any knowledge of what NSC means in relations to food, or how protein, fats, fiber, and even the insignificant little minerals in the horse's food have a major impact on the horse's health and well-being. Did I take the time to wonder, "Well, gee, could Roli be cranky because of gastrointestinal problems? Could Pasadena be ripping the reins out of my hands and literally cantering in place because she's getting stuffed like a roast turkey with sugars and fats? Could Perfect be doing somersaults around the ring because he's getting Ultium and kept in a stall for all but one hour of the day?" No, I did not. I beat myself up and cursed myself for being a bad rider, threatening to just give up altogether without considering that what they were eating might actually have had an affect on their performance.
My last trainer did help me believe that I was not a bad rider (not that I am a particularly great one, either), but unfortunately I did not have the attention span to realize how important it was when she gave me the name and number of an equine nutritionist. The ADD child was rearing its ugly head at the most inopportune moments, and now I can only look back in surprised recognition and realize the importance of what she was trying to teach me. The light bulb has finally been switched on!
Seriously, though, I don't think I would have checked into this (vital!) equine nutrition stuff at all if not for my gf's horse (and sort of my horse too, I guess, although I still stubbornly refuse to acknowledge partial ownership), Sophie. Like all the rest of the horses I have worked with, I approached Sophie no differently. I ignored her resistance to work, failed to see her anxiety as anything other than the personality of a young horse (she's only 4). I simply chalked it all up to her being "blocked"--which I'm sure she is--and thought that by working her without a rider on the lunge and doing some consistent massage therapy, I would see improvements. What I could not understand is how her condition got worse. On the lunge, she would twist out in two particular corners and just generally resist what I was asking her to do. Was it too much for her? I tried lessening the difficulty, but still no improvement. Puzzled and discouraged, I lost motivation to work with her, feeling that I had failed both my gf and her horse. I thought that it must be me, that I must just be increasing the blockages with my own body and transmuting my own imbalances to her. Now, while I'm sure this is also true along with the blockage theory, I now understand that her attitude goes much deeper than just her persona while under tack.
That's about when I was minding my own business at college when I got a revealing call from my gf.
"I think Sophie has ulcers."
Ding, ding, ding!
Now, I have had a horse with ulcers before. I know that she received vet-prescribed GastroGuard for a period of time and that the problem seemed to go away after that. However, I had absolutely no idea what specifically caused the ulcers, or how common they were, or how greatly they could affect a horse's attitude. All I knew was that the problem was there, and then the vet magically appeared, prescribed a magic medicine, and all was well in Roli land. Roli aka Rolita being the horse who had the ulcers.
Really? Ulcers can do all that? They can completely change a horse's character?
That's when the "ohhh" factor set in. So changing venues for a four year old can be a huge stressor?! And abruptly changing feeds from one low in NSC to one higher in NSC with less positive nutritional value can mess up her metabolic system?! And, believe it or not, what you feed a horse does, in fact, matter?!?!
Yep, it clicked.
Soon after that, I got on the internet and, for the first time, actually read my "The Horse" nutritional newsletter that usually goes straight to my "deleted" folder, and then the avalanche of research began. I learned things I had never known before about the importance of sugar and starch content in a horse's diet. I learned the difference between hays. (I had always known there was a difference, I just, err, didn't... know what that difference acually was.) I learned about how much protein, fiber, and fat you should feed to different horses, and how much a difference that little percentage change can make in a horse's health and activity level.
You know, I can't help but thank The Draft Mare (aka Sophie, the Friesian/TB who is all Percheron in appearance). I will admit that it makes me a little sick now when I look at her glossy, dull eyes and see how uncomfortable she looks, but her SmartPak of SmartDigest Ultra is on the way to amend her humans' erroneous mistakes, and thank God that horses are one of the most forgiving creatures alive, or else I probably would have been trampled eight years ago for my ignorance and stupidity. At least, from this wrong will come a right, and the nutritional needs of future horses I am involved with will be acknowledged and taken care of.
What a concept!
...
Honestly, sometimes my ignorance astounds me. Absolutely floors me to the point where I have to pause what I'm doing and just think really, really hard about just how little I actually know. Take, for instance, that I, someone who actually considered becoming a professional rider, thought that I could do so without any knowledge of what NSC means in relations to food, or how protein, fats, fiber, and even the insignificant little minerals in the horse's food have a major impact on the horse's health and well-being. Did I take the time to wonder, "Well, gee, could Roli be cranky because of gastrointestinal problems? Could Pasadena be ripping the reins out of my hands and literally cantering in place because she's getting stuffed like a roast turkey with sugars and fats? Could Perfect be doing somersaults around the ring because he's getting Ultium and kept in a stall for all but one hour of the day?" No, I did not. I beat myself up and cursed myself for being a bad rider, threatening to just give up altogether without considering that what they were eating might actually have had an affect on their performance.
My last trainer did help me believe that I was not a bad rider (not that I am a particularly great one, either), but unfortunately I did not have the attention span to realize how important it was when she gave me the name and number of an equine nutritionist. The ADD child was rearing its ugly head at the most inopportune moments, and now I can only look back in surprised recognition and realize the importance of what she was trying to teach me. The light bulb has finally been switched on!
Seriously, though, I don't think I would have checked into this (vital!) equine nutrition stuff at all if not for my gf's horse (and sort of my horse too, I guess, although I still stubbornly refuse to acknowledge partial ownership), Sophie. Like all the rest of the horses I have worked with, I approached Sophie no differently. I ignored her resistance to work, failed to see her anxiety as anything other than the personality of a young horse (she's only 4). I simply chalked it all up to her being "blocked"--which I'm sure she is--and thought that by working her without a rider on the lunge and doing some consistent massage therapy, I would see improvements. What I could not understand is how her condition got worse. On the lunge, she would twist out in two particular corners and just generally resist what I was asking her to do. Was it too much for her? I tried lessening the difficulty, but still no improvement. Puzzled and discouraged, I lost motivation to work with her, feeling that I had failed both my gf and her horse. I thought that it must be me, that I must just be increasing the blockages with my own body and transmuting my own imbalances to her. Now, while I'm sure this is also true along with the blockage theory, I now understand that her attitude goes much deeper than just her persona while under tack.
That's about when I was minding my own business at college when I got a revealing call from my gf.
"I think Sophie has ulcers."
Ding, ding, ding!
Now, I have had a horse with ulcers before. I know that she received vet-prescribed GastroGuard for a period of time and that the problem seemed to go away after that. However, I had absolutely no idea what specifically caused the ulcers, or how common they were, or how greatly they could affect a horse's attitude. All I knew was that the problem was there, and then the vet magically appeared, prescribed a magic medicine, and all was well in Roli land. Roli aka Rolita being the horse who had the ulcers.
Really? Ulcers can do all that? They can completely change a horse's character?
That's when the "ohhh" factor set in. So changing venues for a four year old can be a huge stressor?! And abruptly changing feeds from one low in NSC to one higher in NSC with less positive nutritional value can mess up her metabolic system?! And, believe it or not, what you feed a horse does, in fact, matter?!?!
Yep, it clicked.
Soon after that, I got on the internet and, for the first time, actually read my "The Horse" nutritional newsletter that usually goes straight to my "deleted" folder, and then the avalanche of research began. I learned things I had never known before about the importance of sugar and starch content in a horse's diet. I learned the difference between hays. (I had always known there was a difference, I just, err, didn't... know what that difference acually was.) I learned about how much protein, fiber, and fat you should feed to different horses, and how much a difference that little percentage change can make in a horse's health and activity level.
You know, I can't help but thank The Draft Mare (aka Sophie, the Friesian/TB who is all Percheron in appearance). I will admit that it makes me a little sick now when I look at her glossy, dull eyes and see how uncomfortable she looks, but her SmartPak of SmartDigest Ultra is on the way to amend her humans' erroneous mistakes, and thank God that horses are one of the most forgiving creatures alive, or else I probably would have been trampled eight years ago for my ignorance and stupidity. At least, from this wrong will come a right, and the nutritional needs of future horses I am involved with will be acknowledged and taken care of.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Let's Get to Know Me
This is the life of a college student. A college student attending one of the top 50 liberal art schools in America. Also a liberal arts school that, despite its standing, probably less than 5% of the population has ever heard of, although you mention the name Gettysburg, and anyone not from this area who hasn’t been beaten over the head with the only significant history our poor young country has will fawn all over the location.
Okay, make that less than 1% of the population.
I’m a professional horseback rider. Or at least, I was before my dad cut the finances and I decided to focus on that whole “school thing.” I guess I’m not really now since I’m not technically a trainer yet and my riding still has a long way to go, but it still impresses people when I tell them that. My favorite thing is to tell people who know nothing about horses that I made it all the way up to the Grand Prix level in a voice that can hardly contain my pride and hubris. Of course, they, being polite and not wanting to hurt my sensitive feelings or risk sounding unknowledgeable, gasp in awe about my success and attempt to look interested before tentatively asking what that means, exactly. Is it the riding with or without the horn? You mean like the car racing Grand Prix?
…
Uhh, well, you see... no. Not quite.
Yes, these are the ways I entertain myself and keep my life bearable. I certainly don't have any friends to entertain myself with. I do have a girlfriend I'm practically married to, but I might not call that entertaining. Work and insanity and lots and lots of drama are more accurately associated with the word "girlfriend." All that, and of course, twice as much love as drama.
Wait, did I just say girlfriend?! Yes, I did. Just keeps getting more interesting, doesn’t it? A lesbian attending an expensive liberal arts school no one’s ever heard of, kicked out of her house at age 18 for the friction between her and her mother, a professional horseback rider whose career got shut down with a wave of her father’s magisterial hand… Sounds pretty interesting, right? It might even make a nice story. Maybe I should be writing a novel right now instead of this silly little blog, but then that might actually be useful and contribute to my career. It would, in fact, contribute to my career, since my unrealistic dreams include becoming an author and a successful horse trainer/rider. But no, I could never do that. Instead, I must waste my time writing something that very few people will care to read when I could and perhaps should be working on an 8 page paper that will contribute to the success of my more realistic goal of becoming a psychologist. A paper due in two days that I have yet to start on.
You’re probably torn between feeling bad for me and rolling your eyes at my idiocy and laziness, if the fact that me having a girlfriend hasn’t already offended you to the point of finding your entertainment elsewhere (this is especially true in those of you who are not my age, which is to say nicely, those of you who are significantly older). You’re probably debating whether or not you should stop reading this and spend your time on something more beneficial to you instead of wasting it on the wasting of my time. Yes, I can see you, with your cursor hovering over the back button or the address bar, or whatever it is you’re about to press that will take you away from my sad little college student sob story that’s not worth your time. If you decide to stay, well congratulations, you must have more time to waste than I do, because I would have clicked that little back arrow by the first sentence. Where is that extra time and how do I get some?
Well, that’s it for now. I actually wrote an email to my professor concerning the paper. How absolutely diligent of me. The work must continue. You will hear more about my pathetic little existence in the posts to come.
Enjoy the ride. Literally.
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