New Year New Me?

 

This is the current view from my kitchen window.  Only 4 inches or so of snow but it is COLD, like highs in the teens cold, and expected to be awful for the foreseeable future.  So, lots of groundwork in my plans and a couple of quick rides a week in my teeny tiny indoor.  I just finished one of my “quick” rides on Cruise after a bit of groundwork.  We are focusing on forward to a light contact and having the circle of energy.  I got some great stretched over his back walk and trot, nice leg yields, and some quality turns on the forehand and turns on the haunches.  Best of all he was very willing.  

Christmas was lovely with just the two(three?) of us as the kids were off having their own awesome adventures.  Full of good food, projects, planning for our next big trip(hint it involves The Cadre Noir), and a couple of fun day trips.  I missed my kids but I am blessed with Mr. EDB even if he does beat me at Scrabble sometimes.

Jet Set is 22 this year.  During the end of 2024, he had in quick succession an all clear from the chiropractor on his TMJ, Potomac Horse Fever when my vet was unavailable, and a massive accident involving getting his foot trapped in my ring roller.  He is, amazingly, sound, though his legs are still a bit banged up.  I tell you after finding him with his foot through the tongue of that thing(still can’t figure out how he got his foot through a 1.5” diamond hole) I thought he was done for.  It was about 5 degrees, I had to spend 20 minutes underneath him with a wrench and needle nose players taking the whole thing apart, with him covered in blood, hoping he wouldn’t panic again.  He was such a good boy.  He was three legged and I thought for sure something was broken but after extensive X-rays and ultrasound nothing major showed up.  With anti inflammatories, some wrapping with Furazone/DMSO, and time he is 100% sound with some scarring and hair loss on his legs.  I’m still amazed and very grateful.  He is my best boy.

So, new year, new me.  After a little introspection and looking over my riding diary for 2024 I came to the inescapable conclusion that I am a rainbow chaser.  In my quest to become better as a rider I’m flitting from one thing to the next trying to figure Cruise out and it’s not really working for us.  I think I need to stick with one program and problem solve within that program for an extended period of time.  I’ve been having great rides after returning to RS Riding and its emphasis on looseness, forward, and a light connection.  Cruise loves it and settles immediately when I am insistent that he go forward in a rhythm ALL THE TIME as our baseline.  I’m making a commitment to myself to use the RS Riding program as my home-base for 2025.  We shall see how it all works out.

What are your winter plans?

A Quick Rider Warmup

 

I really like this quick little warm up before every ride.  It’s really helped me sit the canter and generally be more mobile with my hips.  View it HERE

Fall Gratitude

 

In light of the horrific US election results, I feel the need to perk myself up and do a gratitude post.  First up Fall.  Glorious Fall.  Beautiful colors, dry and warm weather, this Fall has been one for the ages.  And I’ve gotten a lot of riding in.

Second is family.  My husband is a rock and our adult children are doing well, daughter with a great job and currently doing her Master’s in Electrical Engineering and son three semesters from graduating with a Civil Engineering degree.  But more importantly, they are thoughtful people capable of compassion for others and themselves.  Sp proud of them.  Photo is of the Green Day concert my daughter took me to for my Mother’s Day present.  We had so much fun-screamed, danced, sang, and people watched to (good) excess.

Third is gratitude to be surrounded by pets inside and out.  I love having a farm and the horses at home but I also really enjoy the inside cats and dog, and the outside cats.  Above is a picture of Fifty Shades of Grey who was an outside feral cat of many years before I semi-tamed her and convinced her to be an inside princess.  She is living her best retirement life.

Fourth is satisfaction that I finally lost the fifteen pounds that has been hanging on for a few years.  Nothing revolutionary, just following the recommendations on Nutrivore.com of whole foods, lots of vegetables-eating the rainbow-limited sugar, and less than 20% of calories coming from ultra processed foods.  So far it’s been working for me and I don’t feel super deprived.  Also, I do yoga for my bad back, which helps a lot, but recently found a stretch for my psoas that has made my back completely pain free.  Three cheers for YouTube.

Last is my current foray back into Dressage Naturally.  It’s been a while and I am loving the Video Classroom (so much better than watching the news!).  The basic alignment exercise is working wonders for Cruise and I love the positivity and concepts of DN.  It’s really interesting coming back after a lot more natural horsemanship and dressage education.  Things that didn’t work for me or I didn’t understand last go through are now much clearer.

What are your positives for Fall?

Updates

 

We finally got our scores from Dressage Show Online’s Championship Show and we did well.  In Open Training Tests 1, 2, & 3, we were 1st, 2nd, & 3rd respectively with scores in the 60’s.  All of the tests were ok, but I still feel like our Test 3 in the late summer was the best of the year and was also the highest score at 70+%.  

I’m really grateful to have a way to keep getting feedback, move up the levels, and set some goals while working on Cruise’s other horses/other locations issues.  DSO has been great for us and the plan is to get in a First Level Test 1 before winter sets in.  The harder canter work is on his more difficult side, so we shall see.

Speaking of other locations and other horses, our field trips to the boarding barn have been going well.  Honestly, it’s all been groundwork in the ring, walking the aisles, and hanging out in his stall.  It’s been really hard for him.  He’s just now at the point of being rideable and showing some focus and relaxation.  I think this is going to be a really long road TBH, and being able to continue on with showing online has really helped me to persevere with patience to his reactivity.