I have the beginning of a sore throat. The only person who's mentioned having a cold lately is Midlife Mom in Maine. I didn't leave the house yesterday and nobody acted sick at the barn on Friday so this is my only explanation.
We were challenged to try to post without stirrups on Friday. The high school girl perks up and declares, "I know how to do this." I mentally gave her the finger. If getting your butt a smidgen out of the saddle counts, then I succeeded. After class the instructor said she was hoping that if I focused on posting I wouldn't let the horse go wherever she wanted as I tend to do when trotting without stirrups. And by golly, it worked. I was so intent on trying to post that I was making the mare stay on track (for the most part)
The other three students worked on jumping; I'm going to guess about a foot. When it came to my turn the instructor would lay the poles on the ground. So much for my husband's aspirations to have me jump three to four feet. The ladies were trotting their horses and I was encouraged to canter over my poles. The same horse that wouldn't trot but only canter on Monday wouldn't rise to the occasion. I find she tends to be cranky on Fridays. I am constantly being told to shorten my reins but I hate it when she roots and tries to yank me out of the saddle. On the other hand, she kept nuzzling me as I walked her around the ring both before and after the lesson so I'm beginning to think she likes me. It seems like everyone starts out on her then progresses to other lesson horses so she may have learned not to form attachments. I've probably ridden her longer than most so maybe she's warming up to me.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Friday, February 25, 2011
Friday Already?
Where did the week go? I don't think I've accomplished anything. I've had a lot of weird dreams at night. It was spring and I was transplanting my African violets outside. WTH?
Another riding lesson without stirrups on Monday. Every time I asked the mare to trot she would start to canter. Now, the first time it happened I had my leg too far back which may have encouraged her. After that she was just doing it because she wanted to. My instructor was loving it; she said I kept good posture and didn't have my hands fly up the way they used to when I felt out of control. The naughty pony was in the arena with us being ridden by one of the very experienced riders. I assume he'd been bad so was having remedial training. She was cantering him some so I wonder if that's what gave my mare the idea she was supposed to canter. I was also called out for making a clucking noise when I'm asking her to walk. So there is a habit I'm going to have to break. Apparently clucking or smooching are to increase speed (isn't walking faster than standing still?) so I should just use my legs and say, "Walk."
I ordered an equine furminator since I groom one of the fuzziest horses in the barn. She's shedding already and it's only February. We're still below zero some nights. I figure she's only going to keep losing more and more hair so I might as well combat it the best I can.
Watched a show on Animal Planet last night about the invasion of pythons, huge rats and other creepy crawlers that have been released in Florida and are reproducing at an alarming rate. Pretty scary stuff. It seems to be out of control. Sure glad snakes can't survive in Alaska.
Another riding lesson without stirrups on Monday. Every time I asked the mare to trot she would start to canter. Now, the first time it happened I had my leg too far back which may have encouraged her. After that she was just doing it because she wanted to. My instructor was loving it; she said I kept good posture and didn't have my hands fly up the way they used to when I felt out of control. The naughty pony was in the arena with us being ridden by one of the very experienced riders. I assume he'd been bad so was having remedial training. She was cantering him some so I wonder if that's what gave my mare the idea she was supposed to canter. I was also called out for making a clucking noise when I'm asking her to walk. So there is a habit I'm going to have to break. Apparently clucking or smooching are to increase speed (isn't walking faster than standing still?) so I should just use my legs and say, "Walk."
I ordered an equine furminator since I groom one of the fuzziest horses in the barn. She's shedding already and it's only February. We're still below zero some nights. I figure she's only going to keep losing more and more hair so I might as well combat it the best I can.
Watched a show on Animal Planet last night about the invasion of pythons, huge rats and other creepy crawlers that have been released in Florida and are reproducing at an alarming rate. Pretty scary stuff. It seems to be out of control. Sure glad snakes can't survive in Alaska.
Monday, February 21, 2011
I Want A Pony
Forgot to mention the cute foal on the cover of the "Back In The Saddle" catalog I received Saturday. It's a brown and white spotted appaloosa. I'm coveting him/her.
Someday I hope to learn the difference between chestnut, bay and the thousand other colorations. Right now brown will have to do...
Someday I hope to learn the difference between chestnut, bay and the thousand other colorations. Right now brown will have to do...
Blue Monday
A shout out to my blogging buddies who are having complications in their lives. Hope it gets better soon for all of you.
Almost hate to report that it's a beautiful sunny day here, at least for the moment. It was zero when I got up but should warm up to the twenties. I ride later - life is good.
Had my group lesson on Friday. One of the girls (literally - she's a high school student) had cracked ribs so I give her props for being there. I'd probably have been laid up in the hospital. My mare was rooting again on Friday and almost did pull me over her head the first time she did it when she caught me unawares. Supposedly horses can't root and move simultaneously but I was extra cautious when we were practicing leaning forward on their necks.
I admit that I spend too much time on the computer. My husband was complaining about me reading blogs on Saturday. My response was that I wasn't reading, I was shopping. When he asked what I was shopping for, let's just say that he doesn't agree that I need my own saddle. "Do I really need a special saddle for dressage? The stable should provide one," etc.
Later that evening I was telling him about Friday's lesson and how I think that the neck leaning is in preparation for jumping, which I in no way plan to participate in. He said I should attempt jumping, that three or four feet is no big deal. Three or four feet is a hella big deal. It's HUGE! He's still thinking with the mentality of the 12 year old boy when he had a horse.
Later, because I am inherently suspicious, it occurred to me that he's probably encouraging the jumping just so I won't pursue a dressage saddle. I'll show him. I'll tell him I need a special saddle for jumping. Ha - I win! (This is why my fellow students don't think I'm 58. Maturity in certain situations has never been my strong suit)
Re: my previous post. It did occur to me that an argument could be made such as, "Well then, why do bad things happen to those who do turn to God?" I used to drive my pastor nuts with questions like this. Of course the answer is because God's ways are not our ways but that's hard for a non-believer to swallow.
Almost hate to report that it's a beautiful sunny day here, at least for the moment. It was zero when I got up but should warm up to the twenties. I ride later - life is good.
Had my group lesson on Friday. One of the girls (literally - she's a high school student) had cracked ribs so I give her props for being there. I'd probably have been laid up in the hospital. My mare was rooting again on Friday and almost did pull me over her head the first time she did it when she caught me unawares. Supposedly horses can't root and move simultaneously but I was extra cautious when we were practicing leaning forward on their necks.
I admit that I spend too much time on the computer. My husband was complaining about me reading blogs on Saturday. My response was that I wasn't reading, I was shopping. When he asked what I was shopping for, let's just say that he doesn't agree that I need my own saddle. "Do I really need a special saddle for dressage? The stable should provide one," etc.
Later that evening I was telling him about Friday's lesson and how I think that the neck leaning is in preparation for jumping, which I in no way plan to participate in. He said I should attempt jumping, that three or four feet is no big deal. Three or four feet is a hella big deal. It's HUGE! He's still thinking with the mentality of the 12 year old boy when he had a horse.
Later, because I am inherently suspicious, it occurred to me that he's probably encouraging the jumping just so I won't pursue a dressage saddle. I'll show him. I'll tell him I need a special saddle for jumping. Ha - I win! (This is why my fellow students don't think I'm 58. Maturity in certain situations has never been my strong suit)
Re: my previous post. It did occur to me that an argument could be made such as, "Well then, why do bad things happen to those who do turn to God?" I used to drive my pastor nuts with questions like this. Of course the answer is because God's ways are not our ways but that's hard for a non-believer to swallow.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Best Explanation Ever (Warning: Religion Involved)
A man went to a barbershop to have his hair cut and his beard trimmed. As the barber began to work, they began to have a good conversation. They talked about many things and various subjects. When they eventually touched on the subject of God, the barber said, 'I don't believe that God exists.'
'Why do you say that?' asked the customer. 'Well, you just have to go out in the street to realize that God doesn't exist. Tell me, if God exists, would there be so many sick people? Would there be abandoned children? If God existed, there would be neither suffering nor pain. I can't imagine a loving God who would allow all of these things.'
The customer thought for a moment, but didn't respond because he didn't want to start an argument.
The barber finished his job and the customer left the shop.
Just after he left the barbershop, he saw a man in the street with long, stringy, dirty hair and an untrimmed beard. He looked dirty and unkempt. The customer turned back and entered the barber shop again and he said to the barber, 'You know what? Barbers do not exist.'
'How can you say that?' asked the surprised barber. 'I am here, and I am a barber. And I just worked on you!'
'No!' the customer exclaimed. 'Barbers don't exist because if they did, there would be no people with dirty long hair and untrimmed beards, like that man outside.'
'Ah, but barbers DO exist! That's what happens when people do not come to me.'
'Exactly!' affirmed the customer. 'That's the point! God, too, DOES exist! That's what happens when people do not go to Him and don't look to Him for help. That's why there's so much pain and suffering in the world.'
'Why do you say that?' asked the customer. 'Well, you just have to go out in the street to realize that God doesn't exist. Tell me, if God exists, would there be so many sick people? Would there be abandoned children? If God existed, there would be neither suffering nor pain. I can't imagine a loving God who would allow all of these things.'
The customer thought for a moment, but didn't respond because he didn't want to start an argument.
The barber finished his job and the customer left the shop.
Just after he left the barbershop, he saw a man in the street with long, stringy, dirty hair and an untrimmed beard. He looked dirty and unkempt. The customer turned back and entered the barber shop again and he said to the barber, 'You know what? Barbers do not exist.'
'How can you say that?' asked the surprised barber. 'I am here, and I am a barber. And I just worked on you!'
'No!' the customer exclaimed. 'Barbers don't exist because if they did, there would be no people with dirty long hair and untrimmed beards, like that man outside.'
'Ah, but barbers DO exist! That's what happens when people do not come to me.'
'Exactly!' affirmed the customer. 'That's the point! God, too, DOES exist! That's what happens when people do not go to Him and don't look to Him for help. That's why there's so much pain and suffering in the world.'
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Boycott Anti-American Women Comment
I've never had a spam commenter before. I removed his comment. What a tool.
I normally would have caught his comment yesterday evening but we had a mini-crisis to take care of. My husband went into the garage around 5:30 and noticed the water heater was leaking. One of the hoses needed to be replaced. He headed off to Ace Hardware for the part. I decided to caramelize onions for the roast beef sandwiches we were having for dinner knowing I could zap them in the microwave later, if necessary. Husband called saying Ace didn't have the hose so he was heading for Home Depot. I sliced the Kaiser rolls for the sandwiches and stuck them back in the bakery bag.
Husband arrives home with a hose. Home Depot didn't have the exact same hose so he had to buy a different length. Long story short, he had to remove a brass fitting and soldier in additional copper pipe to make this new hose fit. The old brass fitting did not want to come loose even using a torch. Once the new hose was affixed there were new leaks to deal with. We ended up being in the garage until after 10:00 p.m.
Note to new brides - Most men love for you to "help" when they're involved in a major project. I didn't contribute much to this whole endeavor other than mopping water off the floor and handing him a tool now and then. The fact that I was "suffering" along with him and not sitting in comfort in the house while he was working was very much appreciated. This isn't just my observation but something I've read in books. Maybe it's because misery loves company? Personally, I prefer to work alone so it may be one of those Mars/Venus things.
So, we didn't eat dinner until about 10:30. I can't eat late at night without getting acid reflux which showed up around 2:00 a.m. Oh joy.
NuzMuz, yes I having been getting my nails done for over twenty years. I first considered giving it up when I retired because it is a luxury but kept doing it since I was able to afford it. Then I seriously considered quitting when I added the expense of riding lessons. But my real nails are so ugly that I just couldn't bring myself to do it. Actually I've become kind of high maintenance since I was diagnosed with cancer. I never colored my hair before but when I lost it all, I kind of went crazy when the new growth started coming in. I am trying not to fritter away money on other stuff and so far this year have done pretty well.
I normally would have caught his comment yesterday evening but we had a mini-crisis to take care of. My husband went into the garage around 5:30 and noticed the water heater was leaking. One of the hoses needed to be replaced. He headed off to Ace Hardware for the part. I decided to caramelize onions for the roast beef sandwiches we were having for dinner knowing I could zap them in the microwave later, if necessary. Husband called saying Ace didn't have the hose so he was heading for Home Depot. I sliced the Kaiser rolls for the sandwiches and stuck them back in the bakery bag.
Husband arrives home with a hose. Home Depot didn't have the exact same hose so he had to buy a different length. Long story short, he had to remove a brass fitting and soldier in additional copper pipe to make this new hose fit. The old brass fitting did not want to come loose even using a torch. Once the new hose was affixed there were new leaks to deal with. We ended up being in the garage until after 10:00 p.m.
Note to new brides - Most men love for you to "help" when they're involved in a major project. I didn't contribute much to this whole endeavor other than mopping water off the floor and handing him a tool now and then. The fact that I was "suffering" along with him and not sitting in comfort in the house while he was working was very much appreciated. This isn't just my observation but something I've read in books. Maybe it's because misery loves company? Personally, I prefer to work alone so it may be one of those Mars/Venus things.
So, we didn't eat dinner until about 10:30. I can't eat late at night without getting acid reflux which showed up around 2:00 a.m. Oh joy.
NuzMuz, yes I having been getting my nails done for over twenty years. I first considered giving it up when I retired because it is a luxury but kept doing it since I was able to afford it. Then I seriously considered quitting when I added the expense of riding lessons. But my real nails are so ugly that I just couldn't bring myself to do it. Actually I've become kind of high maintenance since I was diagnosed with cancer. I never colored my hair before but when I lost it all, I kind of went crazy when the new growth started coming in. I am trying not to fritter away money on other stuff and so far this year have done pretty well.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
