if Jill were to get on ponies just after her students had been on them, she is sure she would set about giving the equine partner a wee tune up. why then had she left her feelings get hurt when her teacher clearly had to give Jill's last mount some extra work?
She should be glad some else was making the ponies more "well-schooled" than even she could make them!
*
One thing I love about taking people on a tour of the property at this place, is the colourful bouquet of ponies. We can do an actual lesson in colours and markings as I point out who is who in the herd because we have such a collection. One bay, a few black with different markings, a few greys and some grey roans, chesnut, liver chesnuts and some that i have to look up in a book. i think they might be sorrels you know because they've got the chesnut body colour but flaxen manes and tails...
Jill's enthusiasm was contageous!
People were dropping off cheques, student registration forms and waivers every day! Soon she'd have the 15 she'd predicted!
2008-11-03
2008-10-30
Loyalties
1. if my teacher thinks i'm wrecking the ponies, what is going to happen when students start riding them?
2. i get it that the kid doesn't want to come and meet my ponies out of loyalty to her horse at her riding centre.
*
i never like sharing my horse.
isn't there a famous quote about no secret as intimate as that between a rider and horse?
*
2. i get it that the kid doesn't want to come and meet my ponies out of loyalty to her horse at her riding centre.
*
i never like sharing my horse.
isn't there a famous quote about no secret as intimate as that between a rider and horse?
*
Jill went to pat the nosy bay who was sticking his nose over the stall door. When she did, he spooked and stepped back.
Was it her raincoat scaring him? Or, had she misread his interest??
As she stood patiently, with a hand out in his stall now, she thought he looked sad. In his eyes. Then she remembered that she'd heard the story of the divorced, childless woman who gave him all her love and attention. And who died of unkown reasons, while out riding him several months ago. He'd come back the barn alone and his life had never been the same since...
Eventually, she was able to pat his face a little. She told him some sweet things and hoped that she could offer him a little more attention as things progressed around that place.
2008-10-27
Breakthrough
He was easy to catch in the paddock. He peed in the stall while Jill collected the tack, but then was still antsy in the cross ties, so she knew he was feeling his increased grain ration...
and Jill decided not to go out on the roads all by herself right away. She put on the spurs and started on dressage work. He was moving well, but kept spooking. Even after a half hour of hard work, including long canters to work off the excess beans, she couldn't really grab his mind, despite the fact that his body was engaged.
She decided to take him out and really burn the energy.
They trotted up Kennedy road to the bridge (1.5km) and then back. Really forward moving, with a steady tempo up and down the hills in trot. It had just rained so the gravel was really soft.
Then they went back into the arena for more work. His canter work in there was good and they did tree sets of canter walk, walk canter each rein and then called it a day.
and Jill decided not to go out on the roads all by herself right away. She put on the spurs and started on dressage work. He was moving well, but kept spooking. Even after a half hour of hard work, including long canters to work off the excess beans, she couldn't really grab his mind, despite the fact that his body was engaged.
She decided to take him out and really burn the energy.
They trotted up Kennedy road to the bridge (1.5km) and then back. Really forward moving, with a steady tempo up and down the hills in trot. It had just rained so the gravel was really soft.
Then they went back into the arena for more work. His canter work in there was good and they did tree sets of canter walk, walk canter each rein and then called it a day.
2008-10-26
What A Naughty Girl!
So the pretty little bay that Jill thought was 100% student worthy, was in a difficult mood today. First she was kicking when Jill did up her girth. And then, she got right down on her knees in the cross ties when Jill was doing her feet.
Jill appreciated that Mrs. Owner offerred to come in the arena if she felt she should have company, which the rider declined. Mr. Owner didn't ask, he just came right in. He even offerred to get on first, but Jill hopped right up. She probably should have lunged first, and next time, she would.
The pony really needed to be sent forward. She was thinking about crow hopping, but she did not get away with it. Shortly after Mr. Owner left the arena again, surmizing, "she sure is feeling her oats. but you're okay now right?"
The canters were okay, so the ride was pretty short. But she still sweated a lot, and was a pain in the cross ties til she finally was dry enough to turn out.
Jill thought it was a good thing she was advertising for youth horse trainers not riding students!
Jill appreciated that Mrs. Owner offerred to come in the arena if she felt she should have company, which the rider declined. Mr. Owner didn't ask, he just came right in. He even offerred to get on first, but Jill hopped right up. She probably should have lunged first, and next time, she would.
The pony really needed to be sent forward. She was thinking about crow hopping, but she did not get away with it. Shortly after Mr. Owner left the arena again, surmizing, "she sure is feeling her oats. but you're okay now right?"
The canters were okay, so the ride was pretty short. But she still sweated a lot, and was a pain in the cross ties til she finally was dry enough to turn out.
Jill thought it was a good thing she was advertising for youth horse trainers not riding students!
2008-10-18
Working with and without Faith
Now that Jill was spending time with a new breed, she wondered if her old pony friend Frisco (who ditched so many students spooking at things in winter) was part New Forest. It was something about the way the whites of their eyes would show. Such very expressive eyes, and faces. She looked forward to reading the history of the breed in the book she had out of the library.
*
Faye was one of those curious, determined ponies that was always challenging paddock fencing (and getting caught up in it), and would also usually escape from wearing her halter, if it was left on her for too long. So, you'd have to remember her as the black one in the herd with the pulled mane and no halter. Her mom was the other dark one, but fatter and with the long flowing locks.
*
What a fast canterer! And Jill learned she needed a lesson in telling the foot fall pattern during strike off, because this pony tended to pick up the wrong lead going left. It took Jill a minute to figure out if it was right or not and then til third try to strike correctly during the first canter on the left rein and til second try the next canter left. So Fast too. Ride the rhythm not the speed with this one too? She needed lots of the same kind of work as the bay.
Where were the new little horse trainers in training going to come from?
Jill really appreciated their manners. Faye knew she was supposed to stand square when you halted her and would fix up, if you thought about it. And, it was like that in the barn too. They stood still in the centre of the aisle. For as long as you needed to dilly dally around in the barn around them.
None of them liked their girth being done up. Some day, Jill would investigate saddle fitting.
*
Jill said "I like his glasses and I like his clothes and I like his skin and his voice and his confidence and his breathing and his rhythm. But for some reason I never let him hold the pony while I was tacking up by the car."
She wondered if it would ever be possible to live on a horse farm with high speed internet.
2008-10-16
Going Solo
Jill wasn't sure if there was anyone on the property or not, but she went and caught Precious anyway. From the sweet little bay's willingness, Jill thought that they sometimes caught her with a treat in hand. It was funny to see that she was quite a boss in the herd, but so obedient to a human.
The dark chestnut stallion was very active. And, vocal. And, observant. Jill thought he seemed in need of attention, and liked the size of him too. She hoped eventually he'd turn into one of her projects...
The walked all the way to the barn nicely together. She didn't even try to eat grass while she was being led. What a good pony!
Jill took her for a walk in the arena, before they went into the barn. She was amazed at how line friendly that New Forest friend was. She would trot the first step Jill took into a run. And, she would halt instantly, square, in synch with Jill's stop step. They worked on backing up, which wasn't good the first time, but was perfect by the third try.
A smart, eager to please pony. A forward moving little thing too, once you got on her.
Her canter needed lots of work. The transitions are green and she is not balanced through the corners and goes to fast and is almost always about to break. Jill rode a few canter circles and even lunged a bit on a canter circle to the left to address it. Just one in a series of training efforts.
Jill wanted to get fit.
She needed the ponies to get fit too.
The poor girl sweated in her winter coat, even though it was such a short and easy work out.
And, she winnied the whole time. And, by the end of about an hour together she was starting to get really agitated and Jill hurried to just throw her out in the paddock with her friends.
The dark chestnut stallion was very active. And, vocal. And, observant. Jill thought he seemed in need of attention, and liked the size of him too. She hoped eventually he'd turn into one of her projects...
The walked all the way to the barn nicely together. She didn't even try to eat grass while she was being led. What a good pony!
Jill took her for a walk in the arena, before they went into the barn. She was amazed at how line friendly that New Forest friend was. She would trot the first step Jill took into a run. And, she would halt instantly, square, in synch with Jill's stop step. They worked on backing up, which wasn't good the first time, but was perfect by the third try.
A smart, eager to please pony. A forward moving little thing too, once you got on her.
Her canter needed lots of work. The transitions are green and she is not balanced through the corners and goes to fast and is almost always about to break. Jill rode a few canter circles and even lunged a bit on a canter circle to the left to address it. Just one in a series of training efforts.
Jill wanted to get fit.
She needed the ponies to get fit too.
The poor girl sweated in her winter coat, even though it was such a short and easy work out.
And, she winnied the whole time. And, by the end of about an hour together she was starting to get really agitated and Jill hurried to just throw her out in the paddock with her friends.
2008-10-07
Training Log
Jill rode for exactly half an hour, in the copper snaffle, in the arena this morning before work. He was great -- it was worth the hauling-her-butt-out-of-bed-to-hurry-around-like-a-fool effort.
Stone was easy to catch (and messed up his stall instead of the hall before she groomed him). Good boy!
They just did dressage work -- lots of longer canters, some counter canters, and lots and lots of down transitions. He was very good. She knew they were definitely improving! Jill could hardly wait for her next dressage school with her coach so as to get more feedback on what to practice.
He looks a little nerdy with his short bangs. His feet are very dry and the right front looks crooked and too long. But, no thrush, and not a single cough.
*
Stone was easy to catch (and messed up his stall instead of the hall before she groomed him). Good boy!
They just did dressage work -- lots of longer canters, some counter canters, and lots and lots of down transitions. He was very good. She knew they were definitely improving! Jill could hardly wait for her next dressage school with her coach so as to get more feedback on what to practice.
He looks a little nerdy with his short bangs. His feet are very dry and the right front looks crooked and too long. But, no thrush, and not a single cough.
*
2008-09-28
Forewarned
“See you next year!” a handsome grounds crew volunteer said, earning a place in Jill’s memory. He was a lot like the accidental boyfriend. Only, more articulate, and Canadian sounding. It was such a short ride!
He was so cute with those shades on, what did he look like without them? He made her laugh several times on the crazy gator ride to where her car was parked. She shouted at the parked maching, “I’ll take a ride”, in desperation after walking all the way to the stabling area in error. In the exhaustion of her departure, she'd trusted a complete stranger implicitly. "Ohmigod, I have hopped into a fast-moving machine with a complete stranger, where art thou taking me?" she smiled at him as he turned out onto Mulmur Township road at full speed. So fast her hat flew off, and he turned around and went to the top of the hill for a safe turnaround pickup. She didn’t know if it would be on his side or hers, but it was his.
He rides. He works for horse people. He’s bought and sold a few horses. He made her laugh, and’ she’d trusted him implicitly. Now they were careening down an unknown country road
She hadn’t learned much about him in those noisy 6 or so minutes, but the few facts at least stuck.
*
The woman who ran an ad for small riders (ideally 12 yrs old, but 120 bs will do) for talented ponies with charming owners in Guelph.
So, did you take a fall and refuse to ride with the ambulance when it showed up for you? The stranger nodded, smiling. I heard about you then. When I took a fall and they refused to call an ambulance because they knew all about crazy Canadians that wouldn’t want to pay the extra fee.
*
He was so cute with those shades on, what did he look like without them? He made her laugh several times on the crazy gator ride to where her car was parked. She shouted at the parked maching, “I’ll take a ride”, in desperation after walking all the way to the stabling area in error. In the exhaustion of her departure, she'd trusted a complete stranger implicitly. "Ohmigod, I have hopped into a fast-moving machine with a complete stranger, where art thou taking me?" she smiled at him as he turned out onto Mulmur Township road at full speed. So fast her hat flew off, and he turned around and went to the top of the hill for a safe turnaround pickup. She didn’t know if it would be on his side or hers, but it was his.
He rides. He works for horse people. He’s bought and sold a few horses. He made her laugh, and’ she’d trusted him implicitly. Now they were careening down an unknown country road
She hadn’t learned much about him in those noisy 6 or so minutes, but the few facts at least stuck.
*
The woman who ran an ad for small riders (ideally 12 yrs old, but 120 bs will do) for talented ponies with charming owners in Guelph.
So, did you take a fall and refuse to ride with the ambulance when it showed up for you? The stranger nodded, smiling. I heard about you then. When I took a fall and they refused to call an ambulance because they knew all about crazy Canadians that wouldn’t want to pay the extra fee.
*
2008-09-24
Trailering Tips
At 10:00 the boss's partner asked if the boss had mentioned that they need to be ready at 11, as in groomed like for a show day. Jill said “so, not braided but just hoof polish and show sheen?” as calmly as she could, realizing that with a horse to cool out in between, she was going to have about 20 minutes per traveler, max.
Fintastic would not get on the new trailer without a hassle. She felt they needed someone standing at the edge of the ramp to keep him straight and drive him on, not someone with a nippy dog coming up behind him while he was led, and sending him off sideways even faster, but nobody asked her opinion. She tried to help anyway, with the vocal commands that he listens so well to, saying Walk On, but soon the boss was back from the second ride and asked Jill to take the horse and get it put away as quickly as possible.
Thankfully KC mr. spookster his oneself, followed her right on the trailer with no fuss no muss. And, just as she was asking what else she could do to help, she got in trouble, by the returning boss, right before they left, because, apparently, when the boss says 11 it means 11, not 10 past.
Jill was told she should have been over there helping Jim with his horses, so he could have been at the truck earlier.
*
It would come to pass eventually that Jill was the only one the difficult loaders would follow on. And she would be the one they would come to for tips.
Fintastic would not get on the new trailer without a hassle. She felt they needed someone standing at the edge of the ramp to keep him straight and drive him on, not someone with a nippy dog coming up behind him while he was led, and sending him off sideways even faster, but nobody asked her opinion. She tried to help anyway, with the vocal commands that he listens so well to, saying Walk On, but soon the boss was back from the second ride and asked Jill to take the horse and get it put away as quickly as possible.
Thankfully KC mr. spookster his oneself, followed her right on the trailer with no fuss no muss. And, just as she was asking what else she could do to help, she got in trouble, by the returning boss, right before they left, because, apparently, when the boss says 11 it means 11, not 10 past.
Jill was told she should have been over there helping Jim with his horses, so he could have been at the truck earlier.
*
It would come to pass eventually that Jill was the only one the difficult loaders would follow on. And she would be the one they would come to for tips.
2008-09-23
The End
Jill was beside herself, all the woman did from the moment she arrived was criticise things. After arriving late. Was she glad to see her horses in? Did she appreciate that Jill had been on hand to greet the vet? It had taken Jill most of her precious riding time to get them brought in.
Jill was very sorry that her pony footsies were sore. His poor bare feet. In a way she was relieved though because that explained what was going on, and she wouldn’t worry about larger back or hip or hind end issues. Did the vet use the hoof testers on the back feet? She’d expected him to be the most sore there, but they didn’t comment. Obviously the owner was mad that the shoes had been taken off in the first place. Jill was sorry for that too, if she’d gone against the owner’s better judgement.
She was only doing her best. Was it even her fault? WHO finally convinced the farrier/friend to stop by and see them, and pull the shoes, after their feet had been left neglected and overgrown? Jill thought she was responsible, but the owner had said it was her who worked it out at the gym. Whatever.
Jill had NOT dealt with the owner of the place about the feed, so why was she being GRILLED on where the ruffage chunks were? It was upsetting that there didn’t seem to be any on the property. How was she supposed to know why there was so much left? Meanwhile, she also accused the barn owner of feeding her feed to everybody. There was no winning.
She said not to call the farrier to come earlier, because she couldn’t afford it. Then she said call. Jill knew she was being set up for another disaster, so she gave her "boss" the number and told her to let her know what she decided to arrange.
Jill had thought the farm owner said she used Quest to worm them, which worried her, because of the discussion they’d had about how that stuff can actually cause blockages if the horse has worms, because it is so effective at killing so many.
Part of what these horses needed was consistency. Could they draw lines about who was responsible for what? The owner wanted to be the boss, but she wasn’t the one who executed things. And she wasn’t the person who saw things on a day to day basis. And, she did not know as much as she thought she knew, in comparison to those in continual equestrian/equine education!
Jill suggested a board contract that would specify all these things.
Apparently the body brush was worth $200. Whatever. She was obviously taking inventory. She was asking where’s this, where’s that. Jill said her favourite grooming stuff was still over on the other side where she tacked up, and when questioned further on particular items, she went over there to get it, so the woman could see for herself. The owner started rearranging items. Why? Jill had the things she used in the carrier she preferred to carry. There’s no thrush buster in your kit, the woman said, adding one. Jill pointed out the one in there already.
Jill had taken the saddle pad off because it needed cleaning. The owner saw it sitting there and made a fuss about her having used it because it was so dirty it could cause saddle sores.
Jill felt like she was in a bad relationship. But she couldn't break up with the boss because she loved the horsies so much. And she knew no one would ever take better care of them than she would.
Shortly thereafter when the boss ended their relationship, Jill was actually releived for her own sake, if sad for the horsies. The old guy's teeth would haunt her just for starters...
Jill was very sorry that her pony footsies were sore. His poor bare feet. In a way she was relieved though because that explained what was going on, and she wouldn’t worry about larger back or hip or hind end issues. Did the vet use the hoof testers on the back feet? She’d expected him to be the most sore there, but they didn’t comment. Obviously the owner was mad that the shoes had been taken off in the first place. Jill was sorry for that too, if she’d gone against the owner’s better judgement.
She was only doing her best. Was it even her fault? WHO finally convinced the farrier/friend to stop by and see them, and pull the shoes, after their feet had been left neglected and overgrown? Jill thought she was responsible, but the owner had said it was her who worked it out at the gym. Whatever.
Jill had NOT dealt with the owner of the place about the feed, so why was she being GRILLED on where the ruffage chunks were? It was upsetting that there didn’t seem to be any on the property. How was she supposed to know why there was so much left? Meanwhile, she also accused the barn owner of feeding her feed to everybody. There was no winning.
She said not to call the farrier to come earlier, because she couldn’t afford it. Then she said call. Jill knew she was being set up for another disaster, so she gave her "boss" the number and told her to let her know what she decided to arrange.
Jill had thought the farm owner said she used Quest to worm them, which worried her, because of the discussion they’d had about how that stuff can actually cause blockages if the horse has worms, because it is so effective at killing so many.
Part of what these horses needed was consistency. Could they draw lines about who was responsible for what? The owner wanted to be the boss, but she wasn’t the one who executed things. And she wasn’t the person who saw things on a day to day basis. And, she did not know as much as she thought she knew, in comparison to those in continual equestrian/equine education!
Jill suggested a board contract that would specify all these things.
Apparently the body brush was worth $200. Whatever. She was obviously taking inventory. She was asking where’s this, where’s that. Jill said her favourite grooming stuff was still over on the other side where she tacked up, and when questioned further on particular items, she went over there to get it, so the woman could see for herself. The owner started rearranging items. Why? Jill had the things she used in the carrier she preferred to carry. There’s no thrush buster in your kit, the woman said, adding one. Jill pointed out the one in there already.
Jill had taken the saddle pad off because it needed cleaning. The owner saw it sitting there and made a fuss about her having used it because it was so dirty it could cause saddle sores.
Jill felt like she was in a bad relationship. But she couldn't break up with the boss because she loved the horsies so much. And she knew no one would ever take better care of them than she would.
Shortly thereafter when the boss ended their relationship, Jill was actually releived for her own sake, if sad for the horsies. The old guy's teeth would haunt her just for starters...
2008-09-09
How To Be A Good Dad?
Brother Mikey cam riding last holiday season. Jill was providing a lesson as a gift for her friend and her young daughter, since they were both established horse-lovers but her husband wanted in on the family outing, and paid his own way.
Jill couldn't believe a 3 yr old could last sooooo long in the cold, a whole hour, before she started crying.
Mike finally got the posting rhythm, and even though Jill was not instructing the adults (her teacher was), she couldn't resist piping up. "Hey Mike, you GOT it." When he trotted past her next he said "Can I take a rest" and Jill replied "I dunno, ask YOUR teacher."
She had just been insisting that Maggie pat the pony's neck again even though she was afraid.
He went around the ring in posting trot a few more times and then shyly addressed the real hard *ss of the establishment if he could please walk. She made him trot around a few more times before she acknowledged his question and said "okay now walk and rest." Meanwhile, her friend Kim was cantering around and around on a cadillac and Jill's dad summed up the whole outing later by saying he thought Mike seemed like a pretty good dad.
*
Jill was both relieved and disappointed that the nice guy she'd been seeing romantically would encourage her to explore the live in job option so far away.
*
"My association with Limehouse is the park. Dee 'n me used to ride our horses off the property at our teacher's first farm. And we'd go out on the roads up to the park, where we'd jump the benches, then the picnic tables, to impress the baseball players."
So, you can jump a picnic table? That sounds like a big jump.
Jill couldn't believe a 3 yr old could last sooooo long in the cold, a whole hour, before she started crying.
Mike finally got the posting rhythm, and even though Jill was not instructing the adults (her teacher was), she couldn't resist piping up. "Hey Mike, you GOT it." When he trotted past her next he said "Can I take a rest" and Jill replied "I dunno, ask YOUR teacher."
She had just been insisting that Maggie pat the pony's neck again even though she was afraid.
He went around the ring in posting trot a few more times and then shyly addressed the real hard *ss of the establishment if he could please walk. She made him trot around a few more times before she acknowledged his question and said "okay now walk and rest." Meanwhile, her friend Kim was cantering around and around on a cadillac and Jill's dad summed up the whole outing later by saying he thought Mike seemed like a pretty good dad.
*
Jill was both relieved and disappointed that the nice guy she'd been seeing romantically would encourage her to explore the live in job option so far away.
*
"My association with Limehouse is the park. Dee 'n me used to ride our horses off the property at our teacher's first farm. And we'd go out on the roads up to the park, where we'd jump the benches, then the picnic tables, to impress the baseball players."
So, you can jump a picnic table? That sounds like a big jump.
2008-08-25
Time ' Travel
instead of a scratch, Jill decided to take her time faults up front. at least thats how she thought of it, heading to the stable dreadfully late for a riding lesson.
she was riding then with a babe named fear, no kidding. it turned out that she was late for the lesson too, since the washing machine in the office had overflowed.
"thanks so much for the laughs last night, i really needed the comic relief"
*
Jill was overexplaining herself "my geography is rather wonky. in my own province, i think it because i have competed, groomed, coached and/or spectated in many, many horseshows all across this great land. i have also travelled great distances for clinics and training endeavours."
sometimes you could swing interesting accomodation arrangements at the last minute. jill had slept in the homes of complete strangers - do they call that a billet? some nights she would spent in the horse trailer at least one night of a weekend away to keep costs down. most of the time, she would just go and come back on the very same day.
"as a result, i think everything in ontario is driving distance. everything sounds familiar, like i know i've been there, even though i have no actual idea where it really is, or how long it actually takes to get there"
she was riding then with a babe named fear, no kidding. it turned out that she was late for the lesson too, since the washing machine in the office had overflowed.
"thanks so much for the laughs last night, i really needed the comic relief"
*
Jill was overexplaining herself "my geography is rather wonky. in my own province, i think it because i have competed, groomed, coached and/or spectated in many, many horseshows all across this great land. i have also travelled great distances for clinics and training endeavours."
sometimes you could swing interesting accomodation arrangements at the last minute. jill had slept in the homes of complete strangers - do they call that a billet? some nights she would spent in the horse trailer at least one night of a weekend away to keep costs down. most of the time, she would just go and come back on the very same day.
"as a result, i think everything in ontario is driving distance. everything sounds familiar, like i know i've been there, even though i have no actual idea where it really is, or how long it actually takes to get there"
2008-08-15
Show Plans
Jill was glad she'd taken him out to the grass ring, even though they were calling for thuderstorms. He was good out there for dressage work for a change!
It only took about 10 minutes til he was really on the bit at trot, with lots of changes of direction and transitions. His left side was harder than to the right, but she kept flowing back and forth. They worked on lots of transitions too, including canter-h a l t, and Jill thought it actually helped them to improve their downwards tranitions. The best one was when it only took about 6 steps to establish the appropriate tempo, while he stayed on the bit.
To keep it interesting, as a reward, Jill took him for a walk to the sand ring. That reminded her of when you warm up in one ring at a show and then ride over and perform in another one, so she collected him up again. He came together instantly. They worked some transitions in there, which were pretty good (relatively speaking of course), and when she checked her watch, it turns out they'd worked an extra 25 minutes in there. Time flies! He was so good.
She took him back to the grass ring and handgalloped around each direction a few times. And then, she approached the rails in a cross country fashion! It was fun, he liked it. And so she was brave about his speed too, and he was easy to get back in hand when she asked, even though he was only wearing the copper D. What a good boy!
*
Jill spoke to the boss/horse's owner about Checkmate. Jill said that they could get it together but they'd really have to scramble around to get everything ready by Sept 13 (mane pulled, coggins, overnight stabling, accomodation for us, X-country school beforehand ETC.) And, the expense!
Jill really wanted to get him out to a dressage show, something different just to mix him up a bit and so that he didn't always anticipate galloping cross-country when he gets off a trailer. The boss agreed that the time and expense can be directed towards better ends.
Jill went into "In The Ribbons" and tried on both brands of hard hat they carry, in her size, and she hated them both. The new regulation helmets are so big and bulky and tall - she hated how they sit and feel and look, and didn't get one. She did however, exchange the top hat and put it towards a beautiful new show jacket - black and feels great! It looked so sharp while it was so comfortable. Jill had seen it in the shop before her very first show and had it stuck in her head ever since.
She picked up a few other items they needed for the grooming kit - a different kind of curry for the tail, a replacement for the broken/stolen flash noseband part, and a rubber glove thingie. The bill was $72 after the exchange. Usually the boss would cover these expenses, and Jill was owed $35 for the trailering to Caledon, but she wasn't going to bring it up, since the birthday gift top hat had cost $250.
Jill always said she could tell how much her mount liked the work they'd been doing by how hard or easy he was to catch in the paddock.
It only took about 10 minutes til he was really on the bit at trot, with lots of changes of direction and transitions. His left side was harder than to the right, but she kept flowing back and forth. They worked on lots of transitions too, including canter-h a l t, and Jill thought it actually helped them to improve their downwards tranitions. The best one was when it only took about 6 steps to establish the appropriate tempo, while he stayed on the bit.
To keep it interesting, as a reward, Jill took him for a walk to the sand ring. That reminded her of when you warm up in one ring at a show and then ride over and perform in another one, so she collected him up again. He came together instantly. They worked some transitions in there, which were pretty good (relatively speaking of course), and when she checked her watch, it turns out they'd worked an extra 25 minutes in there. Time flies! He was so good.
She took him back to the grass ring and handgalloped around each direction a few times. And then, she approached the rails in a cross country fashion! It was fun, he liked it. And so she was brave about his speed too, and he was easy to get back in hand when she asked, even though he was only wearing the copper D. What a good boy!
*
Jill spoke to the boss/horse's owner about Checkmate. Jill said that they could get it together but they'd really have to scramble around to get everything ready by Sept 13 (mane pulled, coggins, overnight stabling, accomodation for us, X-country school beforehand ETC.) And, the expense!
Jill really wanted to get him out to a dressage show, something different just to mix him up a bit and so that he didn't always anticipate galloping cross-country when he gets off a trailer. The boss agreed that the time and expense can be directed towards better ends.
Jill went into "In The Ribbons" and tried on both brands of hard hat they carry, in her size, and she hated them both. The new regulation helmets are so big and bulky and tall - she hated how they sit and feel and look, and didn't get one. She did however, exchange the top hat and put it towards a beautiful new show jacket - black and feels great! It looked so sharp while it was so comfortable. Jill had seen it in the shop before her very first show and had it stuck in her head ever since.
She picked up a few other items they needed for the grooming kit - a different kind of curry for the tail, a replacement for the broken/stolen flash noseband part, and a rubber glove thingie. The bill was $72 after the exchange. Usually the boss would cover these expenses, and Jill was owed $35 for the trailering to Caledon, but she wasn't going to bring it up, since the birthday gift top hat had cost $250.
Jill always said she could tell how much her mount liked the work they'd been doing by how hard or easy he was to catch in the paddock.
2008-08-13
Training Log - hack
Jill reported that the day’s hack was awesome and then while lunging, Not-so was actually, indeed, totally terrific. He only needed to be chased to continue on the right rein once.
*
While riding out with the boss, Jill was told about KC's fear of bikes and given the instruction that if the bike club were to ever come by, to dismount. Jill thought she might be safer on his back, but she had done one emergency dismount in her life so, which ever way it were to shake out, she felt ready.
She apologized to the boss when Not So spooked "Sorry, Casey did that." Who was apologizing to her that her mount spooked? It could have been a lot worse, but Jill had the knack of smoothing these things out -- the key to KC staying relaxed is the rider staying relaxed. And, her sense of humour was good for that. "He usually doesn’t wake up until after the first trot."
Once left to their own devices, they hacked right past a stallion and went along the edge of all the paddocks on the quarter horse farm. It was lovely. Jill could swear that horse needed someone like her to come a long and show him how to relax in a pinball machine.
She thought she better clean some tack before tacking up Finn and taking him for a hack/trot set. She wanted to take out that pathway went all the way back into the woods, where she went with Nellie, and was able to pick a pinecone from a tree while on her back.
*
While riding out with the boss, Jill was told about KC's fear of bikes and given the instruction that if the bike club were to ever come by, to dismount. Jill thought she might be safer on his back, but she had done one emergency dismount in her life so, which ever way it were to shake out, she felt ready.
She apologized to the boss when Not So spooked "Sorry, Casey did that." Who was apologizing to her that her mount spooked? It could have been a lot worse, but Jill had the knack of smoothing these things out -- the key to KC staying relaxed is the rider staying relaxed. And, her sense of humour was good for that. "He usually doesn’t wake up until after the first trot."
Once left to their own devices, they hacked right past a stallion and went along the edge of all the paddocks on the quarter horse farm. It was lovely. Jill could swear that horse needed someone like her to come a long and show him how to relax in a pinball machine.
She thought she better clean some tack before tacking up Finn and taking him for a hack/trot set. She wanted to take out that pathway went all the way back into the woods, where she went with Nellie, and was able to pick a pinecone from a tree while on her back.
2008-08-10
More Lesson Lines
lesson lines"to my students i like to say IS THIS A NINTENDO ROBOT PONY you are SITTING on, or are you RIDING a LIVE ANIMAL?" is what i said, in response to the equine phisiology teachers' comment that she often asks endurance riders to STOP thinking of their horses as a bicycle with 4 furry legs and feet for wheels.
*
"i tell my students, horses don't eat meat. so, i have been less afraid of every horse i have ever met than i am of your typical house cat" and, so it was that the large animal vet finally started delegating to her.
wouldn't it be great if she could work afternoons with horses too?
*
"So, what's a release?"
a rather talented young dressage rider asked Jill in the tackroom.
While they'd been warming up, as the student riders for the OEF Coach Evaluations, another horse and rider pair had taken a terrible tumble. They were cantering over an everyday plain vertical, and had a normal pace, and hit a normal spot and seemed to jump normally. but a stride after landing the clyde cross fell right down, like crumpling in front. hitting the ground hard and appearing to roll over the rider's lower half.
Jill had been riding behind and came up first to the fallen girl.
"now, take a minute. don't rush to get up. can you talk to us or is the wind knocked out of you"
there girl was spitting dust out of her mouth and wiping her face and getting to her feet. "well, you've got a scraped elbow, that we can see"
one of the coaches there for the testing was at her side by this time, holding the now on its feet with a bleeding scratched nose bay and helping the blonde to her feet.
"what did i do wrong?" she said.
"oh honey, i don't know if you did anything wrong. to me it looked like zoe just tripped." the other instructor, who'd been standing at the doorway, watching from the front said "you just need to release more"
*
"i tell my students, horses don't eat meat. so, i have been less afraid of every horse i have ever met than i am of your typical house cat" and, so it was that the large animal vet finally started delegating to her.
wouldn't it be great if she could work afternoons with horses too?
*
"So, what's a release?"
a rather talented young dressage rider asked Jill in the tackroom.
While they'd been warming up, as the student riders for the OEF Coach Evaluations, another horse and rider pair had taken a terrible tumble. They were cantering over an everyday plain vertical, and had a normal pace, and hit a normal spot and seemed to jump normally. but a stride after landing the clyde cross fell right down, like crumpling in front. hitting the ground hard and appearing to roll over the rider's lower half.
Jill had been riding behind and came up first to the fallen girl.
"now, take a minute. don't rush to get up. can you talk to us or is the wind knocked out of you"
there girl was spitting dust out of her mouth and wiping her face and getting to her feet. "well, you've got a scraped elbow, that we can see"
one of the coaches there for the testing was at her side by this time, holding the now on its feet with a bleeding scratched nose bay and helping the blonde to her feet.
"what did i do wrong?" she said.
"oh honey, i don't know if you did anything wrong. to me it looked like zoe just tripped." the other instructor, who'd been standing at the doorway, watching from the front said "you just need to release more"
Faces to Names
At first I recognized the name on the list and then I remembered the face. Then I put it together that Katie rode Dr. Broom who was owned by that ladym which was how I knew the name.
The face I'd met at the David O Clinic. She told me then, that at the previous clinic, she'd learned her horse is one with fewer ribs than many horses. That's what givers her that cat like snap.
"Are there no men riding in Canada?" the clinician asked, causing Jill to laugh so loud she almost damaged the video recording she was making for my friend, who was riding in the class... In retrospect, she came to THINK she was seated where she should not be, on the jump crew benchm while she did so, so its a blessing perhaps that she ran out of memory card so quickly!
“Your guy has a nice jump” on Olympian said to her friend about her horse.
The highlight for Jill at the time was that he put on his helmet every time he hopped on a horse. But I have come to see the benefit of his teaching even more since then.
The face I'd met at the David O Clinic. She told me then, that at the previous clinic, she'd learned her horse is one with fewer ribs than many horses. That's what givers her that cat like snap.
"Are there no men riding in Canada?" the clinician asked, causing Jill to laugh so loud she almost damaged the video recording she was making for my friend, who was riding in the class... In retrospect, she came to THINK she was seated where she should not be, on the jump crew benchm while she did so, so its a blessing perhaps that she ran out of memory card so quickly!
“Your guy has a nice jump” on Olympian said to her friend about her horse.
The highlight for Jill at the time was that he put on his helmet every time he hopped on a horse. But I have come to see the benefit of his teaching even more since then.
2008-08-08
Back and Forth
He’d already shown her the pool in his brother’s house earlier that day, and flirted saying if she ever wanted to go skinny dipping, to let him know. To her own surprise, she’d replied that it was so warm and beautiful in there that for once, such a notion wasn’t out of the question. She was surpised he’d heard of it, when he asked if she went to the all night art festival. Does he flirt with all the girls? She liked his influence on the smoking issue. He’d quit because they were so expensive in Canada, and that being around people who didn’t smoke helped a lot and that it just didn’t seem right to be doing that around a barn. He told her how he used to smoke them far away from the stable and stub them out fully and then pick them up and carry them in his pocket.
His brother had said he tried to catch mono in Mono… So was he a womanizer or what?
*
The day before she had to lunge Not-so and did so in the covered round pen. It was closer, not past the road, and easier for handling Not-so once in there. She'd been told today that she should have been in the open pen. At least he only got turned around on me once on the right rein, Jill thought. He'd been almost balanced in time for each direction and he was listening to all the transitions. As far as Not-so goes, she would have to say he was quite well behaved.
The same horse tanked around on her bringing him first thing in the morning. He was bucking in the field before she caught him and then he shuffled her on down the barn, past his stall and past his grain and hay. Why was it the halter and lead shank without the chain left outside the paddock?? she'd called down the barn. It was the first time he’d really drug her around, and Jill was shaking afterwards for a good 5 minutes or so.
The chain over Tempi’s nose was a godsend, because she just half-halted him all the way in, and his trot shuffle stayed beside her instead of dragging her towards the barn. Tempi was part of a twosome that came in together. Nellie was always very helpful.
Before her boss got on Not-so to ride him, he asked Jill to walk him around for a few minutes. Thankfully Not-so did walk on down the barn. Her boss humiliated her with a frustrated and confused face when she came out the barn and then turned around and went back in. But she’d forgotten the whip on his stall door, and was simply going back for it. Not-so had to learn to help out and go with the flow, was how she looked at it. The trouble was, he wouldn't cooperate and the practice was taking forever. So, Not-so got quite the whack on the butt with the whip the boss had in hand, for refusing to move forward properly. His startled huge spook reaction spooked the precious show jumper horse that was returning from a ride.
So, Jill got at good yelling at as well, with a new rule being instituted to always bring the horse out the other side of the barn...
His brother had said he tried to catch mono in Mono… So was he a womanizer or what?
*
The day before she had to lunge Not-so and did so in the covered round pen. It was closer, not past the road, and easier for handling Not-so once in there. She'd been told today that she should have been in the open pen. At least he only got turned around on me once on the right rein, Jill thought. He'd been almost balanced in time for each direction and he was listening to all the transitions. As far as Not-so goes, she would have to say he was quite well behaved.
The same horse tanked around on her bringing him first thing in the morning. He was bucking in the field before she caught him and then he shuffled her on down the barn, past his stall and past his grain and hay. Why was it the halter and lead shank without the chain left outside the paddock?? she'd called down the barn. It was the first time he’d really drug her around, and Jill was shaking afterwards for a good 5 minutes or so.
The chain over Tempi’s nose was a godsend, because she just half-halted him all the way in, and his trot shuffle stayed beside her instead of dragging her towards the barn. Tempi was part of a twosome that came in together. Nellie was always very helpful.
Before her boss got on Not-so to ride him, he asked Jill to walk him around for a few minutes. Thankfully Not-so did walk on down the barn. Her boss humiliated her with a frustrated and confused face when she came out the barn and then turned around and went back in. But she’d forgotten the whip on his stall door, and was simply going back for it. Not-so had to learn to help out and go with the flow, was how she looked at it. The trouble was, he wouldn't cooperate and the practice was taking forever. So, Not-so got quite the whack on the butt with the whip the boss had in hand, for refusing to move forward properly. His startled huge spook reaction spooked the precious show jumper horse that was returning from a ride.
So, Jill got at good yelling at as well, with a new rule being instituted to always bring the horse out the other side of the barn...
2008-08-07
Improving The Bottom Line
Jill was somehow proud of the way the shyest rider urged her giant clyde cross mount towards her and ASKED the teacher if she could jump. she projected her voice and expressed herself, as well as provided solid leadership to her horse friend. while asking to do the very thing she never wanted to do in class.
*
earlier Jill had found herself ranting, as the child careened past the turn to the little cross rail, because she didn't actually want to do it,
"listen, you cannot just ignore your riding teacher. if you don't want to jump, i am not going to make you jump, you should know that about me by now. but if you don't want to jump, then at least come in here and tell me about it, because i cannot have you and i miscommunicating with that horse. got it?" and then turning her attention towards the two students in the class who were ready to start jumping at a higher level.
*
the first jump cup hole was full of earwigs and the super tough outdoorsy instructor squealed by mistake as she lowered the cup one hole. the second hole was buggy too so she joked "okay you owe me now, you better really enjoy this jump i made you."
when the child had successfully cleared the non-obstacle her fellow riders cheered and she beamed.
*
"every week she goes up another million." that's what one of my mentors used to say about our quietest school horse. a 27 year old bay, with smooth gaits and a trustworthy nature.
*
earlier Jill had found herself ranting, as the child careened past the turn to the little cross rail, because she didn't actually want to do it,
"listen, you cannot just ignore your riding teacher. if you don't want to jump, i am not going to make you jump, you should know that about me by now. but if you don't want to jump, then at least come in here and tell me about it, because i cannot have you and i miscommunicating with that horse. got it?" and then turning her attention towards the two students in the class who were ready to start jumping at a higher level.
*
the first jump cup hole was full of earwigs and the super tough outdoorsy instructor squealed by mistake as she lowered the cup one hole. the second hole was buggy too so she joked "okay you owe me now, you better really enjoy this jump i made you."
when the child had successfully cleared the non-obstacle her fellow riders cheered and she beamed.
*
"every week she goes up another million." that's what one of my mentors used to say about our quietest school horse. a 27 year old bay, with smooth gaits and a trustworthy nature.
2008-08-05
Nellie's For Sale
Jill wasn't sure how to help when a horse was up for sale.
The woman who stopped by had an Intermediate horse that she doesn’t think will go Advanced.
Jill smiled at her and she smiled back. Then she asked the boss's partner
"Does anyone around here ride her for the boss? Sometimes the staff at the barn are sorry to see a girl go…"
He mostly just avoided the question and introduced his brother to the client/buyer but not Jill.
Jill wandered away thinking "I am just a groom."
She had wanted to tell the woman what it was like to ride Nellie (wonderful!), and the woman had wanted to hear from her, but apparently, that was not Jill's place.
*
Her first day of working Jill did four stalls three times, pulled five manes (Nellie, Fyn, KC, Not-so and Tempi) and cleaned and polished several bridles. She was not terribly familiar with stables that looked like no horses lived there, they were kept so clean, but the boss seemed reasonable and they did all work hard as a team...
Her second day of working she pulled another four manes (Steve, Sam, Vit, Weston)
And the third day of working, rode three of the high level event horses, just at a walk, as well as cleaning all the tack, show jumper and eventer. And, Sweeping, so much sweeping. Then she had to go to an American Thanksgiving party where she felt like the oldest working student ever and and sat beside a grown woman with two jobs – one at the factory and one as an office assistant for a photographer. Her husband was an employee of our horse people hosts... The hostess said ‘I’ve never seen this girl before in my life" when Jill hugged her on the way out, because she’d hugged the guests on the way in. Jim turned out to be dead wood at a party since he was shyer than Jill. She was finding his attention flattering and his mother’s disapproval annoying.
The next day of working she rode three horses with one 10 minute set of trot each. And, her bottom ached.
There had been much trouble hitting the fan already. Wheelbarrows don’t go in the stalls. You must pick out the stalls even when the blacksmith is in the way and the priority is to get the horse ready etc. etc. Jill found that saying sorry helped, and wanted not to accidentally rat out the rest of the team with comments like “but that’s how I was told to do it!” as she moved forward.
The woman who stopped by had an Intermediate horse that she doesn’t think will go Advanced.
Jill smiled at her and she smiled back. Then she asked the boss's partner
"Does anyone around here ride her for the boss? Sometimes the staff at the barn are sorry to see a girl go…"
He mostly just avoided the question and introduced his brother to the client/buyer but not Jill.
Jill wandered away thinking "I am just a groom."
She had wanted to tell the woman what it was like to ride Nellie (wonderful!), and the woman had wanted to hear from her, but apparently, that was not Jill's place.
*
Her first day of working Jill did four stalls three times, pulled five manes (Nellie, Fyn, KC, Not-so and Tempi) and cleaned and polished several bridles. She was not terribly familiar with stables that looked like no horses lived there, they were kept so clean, but the boss seemed reasonable and they did all work hard as a team...
Her second day of working she pulled another four manes (Steve, Sam, Vit, Weston)
And the third day of working, rode three of the high level event horses, just at a walk, as well as cleaning all the tack, show jumper and eventer. And, Sweeping, so much sweeping. Then she had to go to an American Thanksgiving party where she felt like the oldest working student ever and and sat beside a grown woman with two jobs – one at the factory and one as an office assistant for a photographer. Her husband was an employee of our horse people hosts... The hostess said ‘I’ve never seen this girl before in my life" when Jill hugged her on the way out, because she’d hugged the guests on the way in. Jim turned out to be dead wood at a party since he was shyer than Jill. She was finding his attention flattering and his mother’s disapproval annoying.
The next day of working she rode three horses with one 10 minute set of trot each. And, her bottom ached.
There had been much trouble hitting the fan already. Wheelbarrows don’t go in the stalls. You must pick out the stalls even when the blacksmith is in the way and the priority is to get the horse ready etc. etc. Jill found that saying sorry helped, and wanted not to accidentally rat out the rest of the team with comments like “but that’s how I was told to do it!” as she moved forward.
2008-07-29
Under One Roof
Jill had had the pleasure of riding the old guy in his younger years, for many of them, and she hadn't had to pay any of the bills.
But the owner of the horse had a sweet deal too, because Jill was the only long term rider for him that improved him to such a degree, while paying him sweet attention, and never charged a penny. And, she never drugged him, or lied, stole or took advantage of his owner either. She sincerely and deeply cared for the individual equine partner, and he could always relax around her. It was a special trust. Regardless of his impending relocations, she knew he would always recognize their bond, as she would. They were special friends. And, she'd worked up a bond like that with their little buddy too...
Jill thought it was cute that the chocolate roan pony and the dapple grey mare who usually had pasture board where brought in because of the stormy weather and shared a stall. He was so tiny, and the stalls were so big. There was only the one available. And, the mare was his mom anyway! Cuuuuuuuuuuuuuute.
What Jill couldn't get out of her mind however, was the not so cute worry that her little buddy and the old guy had ALSO had to share quarters because of intense storm flooding in the show horse's stall. Her little buddy did pick on the old guy sometimes and even when he didn't he EXHAUSTED the old thoroughbred with over herding and stall/paddock walking.
The old guy just looked so exhausted when she said her farewell, and he did have a new scrape above his half-closed left eye...The little guy had a bit of a rainrot rash happening in the girth area so she didn't bother putting a saddle on him, just taking him out for a bare back ride.
For repeatedly abandoned horses with unpaid board bills, she thought they actually seemed okay. At least they weren't on the auction block for the meat market. Yet. Jill really feared that was what was coming... she was unable to pay their bills, despite wishing to.
Jill heard about the the official plan from a blacksmith, rather than directly. It was that they were going back to a previous home. A stable that Jill did not like and she knew it was mutual. The farm owners of her equine friend's intended new/old home would bad mouth her to the ends of the earth. And she would take the fall for all the weight loss and tender feet - the horse owner would not learn the error of her shortsighted, high stress ways. All this, to the detriment of Jill's beloved ponies...
She wanted to point out that the new/old place that had charged for floating the old guy's teeth every six months when they hadn't done it for two years. And she wanted to stress that the old guy actually, currently, needed his teeth floated, as confirmed by but not done at the last vet visit. They had weight problems there in the past as well, but the horse owner had stated her intention and was refusing Jill's input... Besides, what options could she suggest? The woman would not budge on the individual turn out thing.
And, as bad as it seemed, it was better than leaving them where they were. They WERE underweight and out too much, including poor individual. And, if the bills weren't paid, Jill knew the stable had the right to sell the horses at auction, and how inhumane the auctions were. Jill shuddered to think how sick the transportation to the slaughterhouse could be. And she had seen the CBC footage about the indecency of the slaughterhouse kill floor procedures. She could not bear to think that for her sweet bay pals.
But the owner of the horse had a sweet deal too, because Jill was the only long term rider for him that improved him to such a degree, while paying him sweet attention, and never charged a penny. And, she never drugged him, or lied, stole or took advantage of his owner either. She sincerely and deeply cared for the individual equine partner, and he could always relax around her. It was a special trust. Regardless of his impending relocations, she knew he would always recognize their bond, as she would. They were special friends. And, she'd worked up a bond like that with their little buddy too...
Jill thought it was cute that the chocolate roan pony and the dapple grey mare who usually had pasture board where brought in because of the stormy weather and shared a stall. He was so tiny, and the stalls were so big. There was only the one available. And, the mare was his mom anyway! Cuuuuuuuuuuuuuute.
What Jill couldn't get out of her mind however, was the not so cute worry that her little buddy and the old guy had ALSO had to share quarters because of intense storm flooding in the show horse's stall. Her little buddy did pick on the old guy sometimes and even when he didn't he EXHAUSTED the old thoroughbred with over herding and stall/paddock walking.
The old guy just looked so exhausted when she said her farewell, and he did have a new scrape above his half-closed left eye...The little guy had a bit of a rainrot rash happening in the girth area so she didn't bother putting a saddle on him, just taking him out for a bare back ride.
For repeatedly abandoned horses with unpaid board bills, she thought they actually seemed okay. At least they weren't on the auction block for the meat market. Yet. Jill really feared that was what was coming... she was unable to pay their bills, despite wishing to.
Jill heard about the the official plan from a blacksmith, rather than directly. It was that they were going back to a previous home. A stable that Jill did not like and she knew it was mutual. The farm owners of her equine friend's intended new/old home would bad mouth her to the ends of the earth. And she would take the fall for all the weight loss and tender feet - the horse owner would not learn the error of her shortsighted, high stress ways. All this, to the detriment of Jill's beloved ponies...
She wanted to point out that the new/old place that had charged for floating the old guy's teeth every six months when they hadn't done it for two years. And she wanted to stress that the old guy actually, currently, needed his teeth floated, as confirmed by but not done at the last vet visit. They had weight problems there in the past as well, but the horse owner had stated her intention and was refusing Jill's input... Besides, what options could she suggest? The woman would not budge on the individual turn out thing.
And, as bad as it seemed, it was better than leaving them where they were. They WERE underweight and out too much, including poor individual. And, if the bills weren't paid, Jill knew the stable had the right to sell the horses at auction, and how inhumane the auctions were. Jill shuddered to think how sick the transportation to the slaughterhouse could be. And she had seen the CBC footage about the indecency of the slaughterhouse kill floor procedures. She could not bear to think that for her sweet bay pals.
2008-07-19
Coolin' Out
Jill could hear the boss's partner shouting in the arena, as they were schooling the sales horse. The most prized, spoiled, well treated horse on the property. Their future.
"Hit him again!" Whack. "And again!" Whack. "Again. HARDER!" Whack, Smack. Thump, Groan. Swish.
The sound effects made her feel naseaous, but Jill still went to the arena window to look in. She was here to learn more about different training methods, and various styles, across different disciplines. The young bay Holstiner was rearing and bucking in response to whatever lesson they were teaching him. She couldn't watch it. If she was confused, he must be too. It was unfair. She turned away and busied herself with some chore at the far end of the barn.
When the boss came in and Jill set about her groom-duty of untacking, she noticed a tooth sticking out the side of his mouth. Sick! It was one that was clearly too long and should have been floated long ago, and had thus broken in the episode in the arena. It barely even looked like a horse tooth and she wanted to take a picture to prove later the horror before her.
Was this why he was so disagreeable or a result? She showed the boss, in the hopes of learning what action to take. The boss said "ohmigosh! Did you do that taking the bridle off? Could you have caught him in the mouth putting the halter on?" She said she would call the vet, but it was three days the horse wouldn't/couldn't eat before he did actually get medical attention.
Jill wanted a good reference from the place, but she knew that she wouldn't/couldn't work there much longer. Later, when a horse with a tooth injury fell into her hands after having been boarded there, she couldn't help but have her haunting theories...
*
People will tell you that's its actually hard to make a spur mark in the side of the horse, no matter how sharp the device that you are strapping on and using is. Jill could only respond that some people make it look easy. She would always remember from her time at that place, how the trainer had a spur change to make between every mount. At the time she was reading a book about harmony with horses that mentioned the possibility of such marks at the potential of razor blades in the hands of the monkey.
She felt sorry for all her equine (and fellow worker/rider) friends still stuck there.
2008-07-16
Working at It
its been hard for me riding him dressage with no teacher, and no mirrors. I feel like he is like at my level, so we do what I know how to do, in as a fine a form as I know to wish for and only 15 minutes have passed.
there are some horses i get on and i have to work a lot to teach them what i know. he already knows, so i don't know what to do.
*
bag of ribs it hurt her to go see
*
can we do the pairs again?
it was so cold for them to be out without blankets. apparently, the day before in the paddock the little guy had been all caught up in his coat, to the point he was standing on it and couldn't move. poor thing! was it true? why hadn't the blanket been put back on when in the stall then?
*
the horse's owner found them in the paddock together and was furious. she said it was unacceptable and jill feared she'd lost her ride, and loves. what a sad day. she didn't know what to say.
*
The student confided that sometimes when she came home from school, she would find her mom passed out on the floor of the front hall. The kid thought she took too much medicine. Her father was a drinker, and sometimes they would have to check on him to see if he was still breathing too. Jill wondered if there was physical violence at home when the kid added that she knew her mom sometimes took percacet before a fight with her dad, knowing when "it would be a bad night.” What IS percacet she wanted to know.
*
wouldn't it be fun to take rio, the super experienced, reliable eventer FURTHER than he'd ever been before? oh my, jill was surprised to even entertain the thought. she wasn't competitive, was she?
first of all, eventers are said to be suicidal idiots and jill had academic, artistic and career oriented goals that she didn't want to be risking for sport. she thought she NOT be thinking about going prelim while sitting on the transit, but she was. every day.
he was such a good boy! he was really teaching her how to LOVE jumping. and, her teacher said it would be interesting to see how it goes.
*
the pony was frisky and bouncy to ride. but, he carried himself in such a nice frame! and, he was truly listening. she jumped two small fences in between really lovely dressage work. was it a half hour in the grass ring? she'd been unable to find her watch this morning.
all the practice on the 10 second full stop stay still halts was paying off too. and they manouvered the gate okay although they did not latch it.
as they headed out the driveway he was really spooky. the flag was flapping hard from a different direction and then all of a sudden there was a crash in the trees as a deer ran away from them. THAT really scared the pony. so much that she gave him smack with the whip to make him walk on again. on the road he was fresh and he turned his head right around to look at things like a green horse would and he was speedy. she decided to do their little route to the stop since twice the same day.
he winnied to the neighbour horses on their way by and they neighed back. cuuuuute. then they got to the end of the road and would you believe there were two GIANT sheep up against the fence. he was spooky before he spotted them, she guessed from the scent, but when they moved? ooooooooooooooooooooh la la. he wanted to get away from there.
she was really proud of how he didn't spin or rear these days, but at least spooked straight, and stopped in stead of moving. the man from the house on the corner came out to watch. he was shaking. it was so weird to be on the back of an actually quivering coward. she made him turn around in a civilized way and walk toward home. he was joggy and uptight and a very thoughtful car came past safely. she walked him all the way home and all the way back to the sheep again. this time they were further away from the fence so it was a little easier.
she really hoped she'd get more time to keep experimenting with such adventures. she was really having a good time with him, and it was nice to be atop such an (unintimidating sized) athlete.
there are some horses i get on and i have to work a lot to teach them what i know. he already knows, so i don't know what to do.
*
bag of ribs it hurt her to go see
*
can we do the pairs again?
it was so cold for them to be out without blankets. apparently, the day before in the paddock the little guy had been all caught up in his coat, to the point he was standing on it and couldn't move. poor thing! was it true? why hadn't the blanket been put back on when in the stall then?
*
the horse's owner found them in the paddock together and was furious. she said it was unacceptable and jill feared she'd lost her ride, and loves. what a sad day. she didn't know what to say.
*
The student confided that sometimes when she came home from school, she would find her mom passed out on the floor of the front hall. The kid thought she took too much medicine. Her father was a drinker, and sometimes they would have to check on him to see if he was still breathing too. Jill wondered if there was physical violence at home when the kid added that she knew her mom sometimes took percacet before a fight with her dad, knowing when "it would be a bad night.” What IS percacet she wanted to know.
*
wouldn't it be fun to take rio, the super experienced, reliable eventer FURTHER than he'd ever been before? oh my, jill was surprised to even entertain the thought. she wasn't competitive, was she?
first of all, eventers are said to be suicidal idiots and jill had academic, artistic and career oriented goals that she didn't want to be risking for sport. she thought she NOT be thinking about going prelim while sitting on the transit, but she was. every day.
he was such a good boy! he was really teaching her how to LOVE jumping. and, her teacher said it would be interesting to see how it goes.
*
the pony was frisky and bouncy to ride. but, he carried himself in such a nice frame! and, he was truly listening. she jumped two small fences in between really lovely dressage work. was it a half hour in the grass ring? she'd been unable to find her watch this morning.
all the practice on the 10 second full stop stay still halts was paying off too. and they manouvered the gate okay although they did not latch it.
as they headed out the driveway he was really spooky. the flag was flapping hard from a different direction and then all of a sudden there was a crash in the trees as a deer ran away from them. THAT really scared the pony. so much that she gave him smack with the whip to make him walk on again. on the road he was fresh and he turned his head right around to look at things like a green horse would and he was speedy. she decided to do their little route to the stop since twice the same day.
he winnied to the neighbour horses on their way by and they neighed back. cuuuuute. then they got to the end of the road and would you believe there were two GIANT sheep up against the fence. he was spooky before he spotted them, she guessed from the scent, but when they moved? ooooooooooooooooooooh la la. he wanted to get away from there.
she was really proud of how he didn't spin or rear these days, but at least spooked straight, and stopped in stead of moving. the man from the house on the corner came out to watch. he was shaking. it was so weird to be on the back of an actually quivering coward. she made him turn around in a civilized way and walk toward home. he was joggy and uptight and a very thoughtful car came past safely. she walked him all the way home and all the way back to the sheep again. this time they were further away from the fence so it was a little easier.
she really hoped she'd get more time to keep experimenting with such adventures. she was really having a good time with him, and it was nice to be atop such an (unintimidating sized) athlete.
2008-07-10
More Training Methods
they each seemed happy in their paddock when she got there. but, any weight gain they may have made was lost to her eye.
she cried in the grassy ring, knowing she could not follow her little riding buddy, where ever he was going next. she could not buy him, part board him or otherwise rescue him, keep him or be associated with the bill payer's irresponsible conduct any longer. she was frustrated about many of the decisions being made for his well being anyway so maybe it was all just as well. what she didn't know wouldn't hurt her? what about him???
he followed her around from jump to jump while she paced in there, and he ducked his head under her arm. he was used to following her around as she set jumps before mounting. they walked together and she rested her arm in the warmth between his ears and it was good quality time.
jill wondered if it was possible to find a SPONSOR to foot the bills. or to provide another horse to ride...
*
at work jill had talked to a rider about the farrier's escapade with her grey mare. Jill had seen him unnessarily beat/discipline an unpopular horse at a former employers. The bosses there had looked on while he did so, today, Jill's boss was off the property.
"so, he whacked her, and i heard it and i heard the scramble afterwards. i knew he shouldn't have done it - she is not a horse that likes to be bullied."
"no she is not. so, what did she do, rear up, break both cross ties and escape?"
"i dunno, but she came cantering out the big barn door completely naked, like with no halter on. i could picture her running all 50 grassy acres but i just opened my arms wide, and said whoa (with easy at the end of the lead shank). and she stepped, actually stopped into my arms, like i am a freakin' horse whisperer or something. you should have seen it! the blacksmith was in the doorway, gesturing with a lead shank and offerring to bring me some tools."
she cried in the grassy ring, knowing she could not follow her little riding buddy, where ever he was going next. she could not buy him, part board him or otherwise rescue him, keep him or be associated with the bill payer's irresponsible conduct any longer. she was frustrated about many of the decisions being made for his well being anyway so maybe it was all just as well. what she didn't know wouldn't hurt her? what about him???
he followed her around from jump to jump while she paced in there, and he ducked his head under her arm. he was used to following her around as she set jumps before mounting. they walked together and she rested her arm in the warmth between his ears and it was good quality time.
jill wondered if it was possible to find a SPONSOR to foot the bills. or to provide another horse to ride...
*
at work jill had talked to a rider about the farrier's escapade with her grey mare. Jill had seen him unnessarily beat/discipline an unpopular horse at a former employers. The bosses there had looked on while he did so, today, Jill's boss was off the property.
"so, he whacked her, and i heard it and i heard the scramble afterwards. i knew he shouldn't have done it - she is not a horse that likes to be bullied."
"no she is not. so, what did she do, rear up, break both cross ties and escape?"
"i dunno, but she came cantering out the big barn door completely naked, like with no halter on. i could picture her running all 50 grassy acres but i just opened my arms wide, and said whoa (with easy at the end of the lead shank). and she stepped, actually stopped into my arms, like i am a freakin' horse whisperer or something. you should have seen it! the blacksmith was in the doorway, gesturing with a lead shank and offerring to bring me some tools."
2008-06-29
Stubborn Courage
The last couple times Jill'd been riding, she'd thought what a lovely pony he was. It was boring to only have the grass ring to go round and round and she was tempted to try some other course soon...
It was nice to be challenged about riding the line in a certain number of strides. He really listened when she asked him to come back - twas lovely to know he was so responsive and adaptable. whoo hoo!
She was still sick however. The pain in her side was not abating, in fact it was going on a week this time. Recurring, long lasting and at least moderate pain... isn't that the kind of thing one sought medical attention for? The doctor's didn't have any suggestions for her however. Guess work in white coats, that what a friend of hers always said and that's what it felt like at the moment.
Jill said the rash he had from all the rain was clearing up nicely and was asked "Why does he have a rash?" She thought the rain explanation was pretty clear, and was taking her time coming up with an answer to the boss -- it reminded her of when a kid asked her at the Equine Research Teaching booth WHY a horse has bars in their mouth. Evolution she'd said, but the child insisted again, "But WHY?"
*
Remember when she sat the little tiny blond on the huuuuuge haystack and said “stay” and left the child there in the sun on the prickly straw for hours?
*
The woman needed a shot of whiskey before mounting her horse. Jill did not normally approve of such behaviour, but in this scenario, it made sense to her. The horse owner needed just to r e l a x a little bit, to make it all better.
It was not as easy to accept for Jill that the coach suggesting this unusual and no doubt uninsurable technique needed a shot too, but she withheld comment. She also kept her mouth shut when the horse owner mentioned that the booze bottle in the tack locker had a fullness level shrinking faster than her sips warranted. Far be it for her to be outspoken in regards to her boss's conduct.
It was nice to be challenged about riding the line in a certain number of strides. He really listened when she asked him to come back - twas lovely to know he was so responsive and adaptable. whoo hoo!
She was still sick however. The pain in her side was not abating, in fact it was going on a week this time. Recurring, long lasting and at least moderate pain... isn't that the kind of thing one sought medical attention for? The doctor's didn't have any suggestions for her however. Guess work in white coats, that what a friend of hers always said and that's what it felt like at the moment.
Jill said the rash he had from all the rain was clearing up nicely and was asked "Why does he have a rash?" She thought the rain explanation was pretty clear, and was taking her time coming up with an answer to the boss -- it reminded her of when a kid asked her at the Equine Research Teaching booth WHY a horse has bars in their mouth. Evolution she'd said, but the child insisted again, "But WHY?"
*
Remember when she sat the little tiny blond on the huuuuuge haystack and said “stay” and left the child there in the sun on the prickly straw for hours?
*
The woman needed a shot of whiskey before mounting her horse. Jill did not normally approve of such behaviour, but in this scenario, it made sense to her. The horse owner needed just to r e l a x a little bit, to make it all better.
It was not as easy to accept for Jill that the coach suggesting this unusual and no doubt uninsurable technique needed a shot too, but she withheld comment. She also kept her mouth shut when the horse owner mentioned that the booze bottle in the tack locker had a fullness level shrinking faster than her sips warranted. Far be it for her to be outspoken in regards to her boss's conduct.
2008-06-26
"You've Really Improved"
Jill did not know what to make of the compliment. The same person who had scribed the marks during Jill's rider level examination and told her she did well, when in fact she had failed, had more kind words.
She also quoted the former-examiner as having said Jill attended several clinics she ran, when Jill hadn't. Though the woman had offerred her a free horse to ride, even after failing her on the rider exam, saying the beast "had potential for someone who knew what they were doing." Jill had been quite comforted by that offer, and encouraged to manage the politics required to pass, though she hadn't taken a shine to the aforesaid chesnut.
(on second thought, maybe she meant when Jill was a volunteer student at the coach assesment? And when she attended the instructor assesment? it was a couple of "clinics" if you looked at it that way.)
*
Jill had never understood why the other instructor went to the CLIENTS with her concerns, instead of to her co-worker, Jill herself, directly. Jill was trying to pitch in, to pull together as a team, while their boss was laid up, and was in fact working for free (paying the milage to the barn out of her own pocket, despite a lack of alternate income) -- but the other coach, who was getting paid cash, had set about damaging the business, citing Jill as a dangerous teacher. If that was true, couldn't she give Jill some costructive suggestions and support?
If it weren't actually true, what were Jill's options? To argue? To try and generate an alternative word of mouth among clients? To go to the very weak boss with complaints about the lack of team spirit, and requesting the boss solve it? No options seemed appealling and Jill honestly felt the best thing she could do for the boss, was bail out, and so that's what she did.
*
Now, the same fellow teacher was saying "And, I hope this doesn't sound arrogant, but your teaching has really improved." How had she even heard anything? She was riding in a lesson with some strange visitor at the other end of the ring, while Jill did a very boring school with a now 11 yr old student she had always gotten on very well with. Same old, same old. It didn't make sense...
*
They had a private lesson in the grass field. The canter was the beautiful kind of canter Jill would imagine when she wasn't riding... just glorious. The teacher said, "That looks lovely. You should be so proud. " And, Jill was.
Her request for the class had been a focus on related distances, like riding the same line in 5 comfortable strides, then 4 or 6. It went well.
The teacher suggested taking him out to a Dressage show, so that he didn't always anticipate "An Event" when taken off the property.
At the last event, his former trainer had spoken to the teacher while Jill was riding. "Wow, you guys have him jumping so well." From what Jill could remember, the owner had taken him away from that trainer, because the woman was jumping him too much.
*
The little guy was happily strong and sound. Jill was exhausted. She did a few rounds of the up up down posting she'd been making her students do, a few rounds in two point each direction and then let him gallop a little. She let him get his breath back and then the did another little hand gallop the other direction. He seemed to WANT to do the giant 4 ft course that was set up and looking beautiful in there, but Jill's legs were already shaking. And, he was lathered up. And, she was only planning to stop in and admire his new shoes, she wasn't really prepared for riding... T'was lovely to see him. Even though he actually kicked her while she was scrubbing his skin condition. She whacked him back instantly with the hard part of the brush and a shout, hopefully making the point that the conduct was inappropriate.
She also quoted the former-examiner as having said Jill attended several clinics she ran, when Jill hadn't. Though the woman had offerred her a free horse to ride, even after failing her on the rider exam, saying the beast "had potential for someone who knew what they were doing." Jill had been quite comforted by that offer, and encouraged to manage the politics required to pass, though she hadn't taken a shine to the aforesaid chesnut.
(on second thought, maybe she meant when Jill was a volunteer student at the coach assesment? And when she attended the instructor assesment? it was a couple of "clinics" if you looked at it that way.)
*
Jill had never understood why the other instructor went to the CLIENTS with her concerns, instead of to her co-worker, Jill herself, directly. Jill was trying to pitch in, to pull together as a team, while their boss was laid up, and was in fact working for free (paying the milage to the barn out of her own pocket, despite a lack of alternate income) -- but the other coach, who was getting paid cash, had set about damaging the business, citing Jill as a dangerous teacher. If that was true, couldn't she give Jill some costructive suggestions and support?
If it weren't actually true, what were Jill's options? To argue? To try and generate an alternative word of mouth among clients? To go to the very weak boss with complaints about the lack of team spirit, and requesting the boss solve it? No options seemed appealling and Jill honestly felt the best thing she could do for the boss, was bail out, and so that's what she did.
*
Now, the same fellow teacher was saying "And, I hope this doesn't sound arrogant, but your teaching has really improved." How had she even heard anything? She was riding in a lesson with some strange visitor at the other end of the ring, while Jill did a very boring school with a now 11 yr old student she had always gotten on very well with. Same old, same old. It didn't make sense...
*
They had a private lesson in the grass field. The canter was the beautiful kind of canter Jill would imagine when she wasn't riding... just glorious. The teacher said, "That looks lovely. You should be so proud. " And, Jill was.
Her request for the class had been a focus on related distances, like riding the same line in 5 comfortable strides, then 4 or 6. It went well.
The teacher suggested taking him out to a Dressage show, so that he didn't always anticipate "An Event" when taken off the property.
At the last event, his former trainer had spoken to the teacher while Jill was riding. "Wow, you guys have him jumping so well." From what Jill could remember, the owner had taken him away from that trainer, because the woman was jumping him too much.
*
The little guy was happily strong and sound. Jill was exhausted. She did a few rounds of the up up down posting she'd been making her students do, a few rounds in two point each direction and then let him gallop a little. She let him get his breath back and then the did another little hand gallop the other direction. He seemed to WANT to do the giant 4 ft course that was set up and looking beautiful in there, but Jill's legs were already shaking. And, he was lathered up. And, she was only planning to stop in and admire his new shoes, she wasn't really prepared for riding... T'was lovely to see him. Even though he actually kicked her while she was scrubbing his skin condition. She whacked him back instantly with the hard part of the brush and a shout, hopefully making the point that the conduct was inappropriate.
2008-06-25
Muddy Bud
The big dark bay had rolled so thoroughly in the mud that Jill had to spend as much time grooming and she did riding! The dressage practice wasn't bad, though it wasn't great. Canter was better than trot - Jill was finding it was happening that way, one gait would be good, the other not and then it would rotate.
They did some gallops around the grass ring and then jumped all the jumps from a collected canter, including the creepy wall and the gate that he had never seen before. Jill felt that he was not stopping anymore, he seemed to be enjoying jumps! And, he was letting her organize in front of them.
She'd been looking at old photos at her parents. She sure hoped her position didn't still look like that!
*
In the lesson, they targeted some oxer practice. The horse was confident now and it was nice for Jill to feel that she could actually flub it once in a while and the sky wouldn't fall in. And, he could flub it once in a while and still bail himself out too... He impressed student and teacher with a freakasorous spot to a fair size spread, because he had the scope to work it out anyway, with ease!
Some of the camp kids were watching the lesson. When they finished schooling the teacher said to the young 'uns, "Jill's got a big show this weekend." One of the little people piped up enthusiastically, "I think she's gonna win!"
They did some gallops around the grass ring and then jumped all the jumps from a collected canter, including the creepy wall and the gate that he had never seen before. Jill felt that he was not stopping anymore, he seemed to be enjoying jumps! And, he was letting her organize in front of them.
She'd been looking at old photos at her parents. She sure hoped her position didn't still look like that!
*
In the lesson, they targeted some oxer practice. The horse was confident now and it was nice for Jill to feel that she could actually flub it once in a while and the sky wouldn't fall in. And, he could flub it once in a while and still bail himself out too... He impressed student and teacher with a freakasorous spot to a fair size spread, because he had the scope to work it out anyway, with ease!
Some of the camp kids were watching the lesson. When they finished schooling the teacher said to the young 'uns, "Jill's got a big show this weekend." One of the little people piped up enthusiastically, "I think she's gonna win!"
2008-06-23
Growing Up
At some point you have to take up riding as a sport, instead of passtime and one of Jill's students hadn't been showing the maturity or concentration while on horse back to crossover. It was frustrating.
They went out that day for a walk in the snow before heading into the arena, because the young blond was ready early and the class before had gone in late. Jill had the pony on a shank instead of just holding the bridle and was explaining to the child how riding outside required her to be even more aware than when in the arena. She was stressing the importance of sitting up and deep in the saddle with your anchors on and feeling what your horse was doing - for the spook factor et al. But the student was bored and not listening and asking when the "real" lesson would start.
Then, the pony spooked and knocked Jill over and dumped the kid. After that, she showed real concentration. Even later in the arena when someone didn't call door and spooked the pony by coming in unannounced! The kid rode the horse like the live animal it was instead of making comparisons to her horse video game etc.
Telling another more advanced same age student about it later, the child laughed at her saying "you fell off and you weren't even riding!?"
*
The farm owner quoted the inn keeper's act and said that the horse(s) could be sold at auction for the amount owed.
When the senior vet called Jill directly, she summed up the horses' condition as a side note saying "they need more food." Jill was not so sure she would have gone so far out of her way to follow the detailed recommendation of the more junior vet... changing every item they ate, instantly. Purchasing it at great, unexpected expense in bulk no less. She would have made gradual changes and made sure they like it and assured herself she was prepared and able to follow it through for a long time. The old guy's teeth still hadn't been done, which was the problem that prompted Jill to request the vet come in in the first place!!! If it hurt to eat, why try feeding him m o r e ???
In Jill's observation, a lack of consistency of care and treatment was one of the challenges the equines had already experienced... especially the old guy. She didn't mean to be skeptical, but she was. And, in making realistic decisions, Jill suspected it was better to go too long between farrier attention (due to financial constraints or worse, bad debts) if the beast was barefoot, and could break over and wear down the foot naturally. But she wasn't in charge of whether they were shod or not, or if the service provider was paid promptly and tried to find the upsides.
Since they weren't allowed to be turned out together, Jill was not as pleased with the place they were now boarded. Yes it had been a place she found, but she thought she would be able to direct their routine there. Instead, she worried about them constantly. First of all, she didn't have the time to police TWO paddocks for safety all the time - and she'd addressed boards down with giant nails and old rusty shoes with sharp nail sticking out lying around and other such concerns in the old guy's field a few times now. And the little guy just stood at the gate all the time. He had been so happy for the months before when he'd had a fellow herd animal to herd. The owner wasn't aware of that and now he had no buddy to stand head to tail with and swish flies away, or snuggle into in all the bad weather they'd been having. Maybe she could make him a run in, since she couldn't find him a friend. Individual turn out for 12 hours a day was a lot different than for the 2 hours a day he got once upon a time and Jill wondered if there was anything she could do to help him out. She couldn't afford a rain sheet and she couldn't afford to go out there every time it rained to put it on him!
She had bought the venice turpentine for their feet even though her own rent wasn't paid. And she'd borrowed a saddle pad in order to clean the other one which came out looking the same as it went in. ACK. She didn't want to give the boss the info/idea on the potential part boarder til she got the money she was owed. She hoped that would be soon.
*
if anyone can talk the boss into it, its Jill. That's what a mother said to her pony birthday party wishing daughter.
They went out that day for a walk in the snow before heading into the arena, because the young blond was ready early and the class before had gone in late. Jill had the pony on a shank instead of just holding the bridle and was explaining to the child how riding outside required her to be even more aware than when in the arena. She was stressing the importance of sitting up and deep in the saddle with your anchors on and feeling what your horse was doing - for the spook factor et al. But the student was bored and not listening and asking when the "real" lesson would start.
Then, the pony spooked and knocked Jill over and dumped the kid. After that, she showed real concentration. Even later in the arena when someone didn't call door and spooked the pony by coming in unannounced! The kid rode the horse like the live animal it was instead of making comparisons to her horse video game etc.
Telling another more advanced same age student about it later, the child laughed at her saying "you fell off and you weren't even riding!?"
*
The farm owner quoted the inn keeper's act and said that the horse(s) could be sold at auction for the amount owed.
When the senior vet called Jill directly, she summed up the horses' condition as a side note saying "they need more food." Jill was not so sure she would have gone so far out of her way to follow the detailed recommendation of the more junior vet... changing every item they ate, instantly. Purchasing it at great, unexpected expense in bulk no less. She would have made gradual changes and made sure they like it and assured herself she was prepared and able to follow it through for a long time. The old guy's teeth still hadn't been done, which was the problem that prompted Jill to request the vet come in in the first place!!! If it hurt to eat, why try feeding him m o r e ???
In Jill's observation, a lack of consistency of care and treatment was one of the challenges the equines had already experienced... especially the old guy. She didn't mean to be skeptical, but she was. And, in making realistic decisions, Jill suspected it was better to go too long between farrier attention (due to financial constraints or worse, bad debts) if the beast was barefoot, and could break over and wear down the foot naturally. But she wasn't in charge of whether they were shod or not, or if the service provider was paid promptly and tried to find the upsides.
Since they weren't allowed to be turned out together, Jill was not as pleased with the place they were now boarded. Yes it had been a place she found, but she thought she would be able to direct their routine there. Instead, she worried about them constantly. First of all, she didn't have the time to police TWO paddocks for safety all the time - and she'd addressed boards down with giant nails and old rusty shoes with sharp nail sticking out lying around and other such concerns in the old guy's field a few times now. And the little guy just stood at the gate all the time. He had been so happy for the months before when he'd had a fellow herd animal to herd. The owner wasn't aware of that and now he had no buddy to stand head to tail with and swish flies away, or snuggle into in all the bad weather they'd been having. Maybe she could make him a run in, since she couldn't find him a friend. Individual turn out for 12 hours a day was a lot different than for the 2 hours a day he got once upon a time and Jill wondered if there was anything she could do to help him out. She couldn't afford a rain sheet and she couldn't afford to go out there every time it rained to put it on him!
She had bought the venice turpentine for their feet even though her own rent wasn't paid. And she'd borrowed a saddle pad in order to clean the other one which came out looking the same as it went in. ACK. She didn't want to give the boss the info/idea on the potential part boarder til she got the money she was owed. She hoped that would be soon.
*
if anyone can talk the boss into it, its Jill. That's what a mother said to her pony birthday party wishing daughter.
2008-06-19
Working Woman
The bay thoroughbred school horse had been whinnying and carrying on in his stall for ages. She couldn't believe how much he looked forward to turn out. When she finally had him and her favourite trustworthy clyde friend in hand, on the way out the wide door, she saw the hay truck. She scowled trying to stop her horse friends, because there didn't seem to be a reasonable way to walk around the big rig. But, there was no turning the beasts around either, they expected to march on full speed ahead! Fortunately, the driver realized the predicament and backed the rig up enough that they could fit through.
*
Jill was singing the songs in her guitar practice while she worked. It was a good way to keep your voice strong - the hard work had her out of breath but she could still carry her tunes! The ones she was trying to learn on guitar right now that is. One of the hay supplier loader guys made a comment about singing along... the other one was wearing a hard rock cafe t-shirt that just revealed a touch of tatoo under each sleeve. No matter how she tried she couldn't make out what they were. A Warner Brothers logo maybe? She watched him work through the office window while she ate her sandwich. He was attractive, in his way, but needed to cut his hair. She never understood why grown men didn't recognize the point when they had to stop carrying the long tresses of their youth!
*
Jill mentioned she thought the big black horse looked like a police horse. Turned out that Len and Rob deliver to the mounted cops regularly and have noticed how unspookable the animals there are. "They treat them like motorcycles" Jill said, frowning, knowing that horsemanship is not actually welcome in the mounted unit.
*
Blabbety blabbety blabbety he quoted a scottish proverb, obviously meant in celebration that their work was done. Jill made a joking interpretation about how it was so kind of them to offer to stick around and do the rest of the heavy lifting at the farm, for free, for the rest of the day.
*
The fence was falling down all over the place. One board was down in her old man friend's paddock with nails sticking up, but she fixed it. At least in a makeshift way. And checked him all over for injuries, thankful that there was none. He didn't seem to like his new food, but she hoped he looked a bit let hippy anyway.
The little guy was eating his. His coat was a bit gross and his nose a little runny. It had been the old guy last time. There was a scrape mark on his neck but the tooth was looking good.
While being ridden, in the grass room only, her little pocket bay was being good. She was trying to see the benefit of the blacksmith delay, instead of being disappointed she wasn't out riding the roads already. If she couldn't get some lessons soon, would she get some students? Maybe one to video tape her dressage school and/or stand guard during some jumping once in a while.
She has some ideas to find a part boarder. But she didn't dare start dealing with "the boss" just yet, the peaceful silence was appreciated, even if she was still unpaid.
*
Jill was singing the songs in her guitar practice while she worked. It was a good way to keep your voice strong - the hard work had her out of breath but she could still carry her tunes! The ones she was trying to learn on guitar right now that is. One of the hay supplier loader guys made a comment about singing along... the other one was wearing a hard rock cafe t-shirt that just revealed a touch of tatoo under each sleeve. No matter how she tried she couldn't make out what they were. A Warner Brothers logo maybe? She watched him work through the office window while she ate her sandwich. He was attractive, in his way, but needed to cut his hair. She never understood why grown men didn't recognize the point when they had to stop carrying the long tresses of their youth!
*
Jill mentioned she thought the big black horse looked like a police horse. Turned out that Len and Rob deliver to the mounted cops regularly and have noticed how unspookable the animals there are. "They treat them like motorcycles" Jill said, frowning, knowing that horsemanship is not actually welcome in the mounted unit.
*
Blabbety blabbety blabbety he quoted a scottish proverb, obviously meant in celebration that their work was done. Jill made a joking interpretation about how it was so kind of them to offer to stick around and do the rest of the heavy lifting at the farm, for free, for the rest of the day.
*
The fence was falling down all over the place. One board was down in her old man friend's paddock with nails sticking up, but she fixed it. At least in a makeshift way. And checked him all over for injuries, thankful that there was none. He didn't seem to like his new food, but she hoped he looked a bit let hippy anyway.
The little guy was eating his. His coat was a bit gross and his nose a little runny. It had been the old guy last time. There was a scrape mark on his neck but the tooth was looking good.
While being ridden, in the grass room only, her little pocket bay was being good. She was trying to see the benefit of the blacksmith delay, instead of being disappointed she wasn't out riding the roads already. If she couldn't get some lessons soon, would she get some students? Maybe one to video tape her dressage school and/or stand guard during some jumping once in a while.
She has some ideas to find a part boarder. But she didn't dare start dealing with "the boss" just yet, the peaceful silence was appreciated, even if she was still unpaid.
2008-06-18
Wishin
Jill was grateful to see the baker sheets had been used in the cold. This weather was hard for dressing horsies!!
How she wanted to take some lessons. And, GIVE some lessons, on her pony.
its been hard for me riding him dressage with no teacher, and no mirrors. I feel like he is like at my level, so we do what I know how to do, in as a fine a form as I know to wish for and only 15 minutes have passed.
there are some horses i get on and i have to work a lot to teach them what i know. he already knows, so i don't know what to do.
*
bag of ribs it hurt her to go see
*
can we do the pairs again?
How she wanted to take some lessons. And, GIVE some lessons, on her pony.
its been hard for me riding him dressage with no teacher, and no mirrors. I feel like he is like at my level, so we do what I know how to do, in as a fine a form as I know to wish for and only 15 minutes have passed.
there are some horses i get on and i have to work a lot to teach them what i know. he already knows, so i don't know what to do.
*
bag of ribs it hurt her to go see
*
can we do the pairs again?
2008-06-14
Ride Reports
Jill had taken the saddle pad off because it was clearly in need of cleaning. The owner took a fit when she saw it and said that it would cause saddle sores! Jill agreed that it was quite dirty especially after the day's very sweaty ride and wished the owner would make good on her offer to provide an alternate one, so she could take it to the laundromat and wash it. The poor rider just didn't have the funds to buy a spare, and getting it home on exactly laundry day hadn't been working out all that well...
The thrush treatment that they had discussed had been dumped down the drain and left for Jill to pay for. The owner said afterwards that she didn't know what it was but that was an outright lie. It still bothered Jill how the woman had started rearranging things in the mini kit she had made for herself to carry to the other side - Jill was the one who was there every day, why couldn't she carry only the items she preferred to use? The owner accused "there's no thrush buster in there" when indeed there was, but she added another. Sigh, it was all getting very tiresome. Obviously the woman did not want expert input or to gather facts before making decisions and obviously she wasn't happy with their arrangement -- it didn't seem like there was any pleasing her, and Jill was starting to see why barn owners would find it easier to lie to their clients than deal honestly with them.
On the upside, she jumped the first course she could remember since her rider level test. And, it was bitless and included the Grand Prix horse spookable pink planks with no fuss. Jill was grateful for the recently rained on grass footing that made it soft enough to do so, and for the other riders in the ring - and especially for her encouraging jump crew. Whoo hoo!
The words "you could do whatever you want with her" kept ringing in her ears. And, she was also taking comfort in the words "you should call my mom. she'll have something for you."
Meanwhile, her mom was encouraging her to exploit familial relations to find a "real" job. Was she picturing her daughter in some panty hose and suit type position that she wanted for her? Clearly Jill would never be the woman her parents wanted her to be. At her age, she was sick of even trying, because they never approved anyway and because she wanted very different things for herself. It was hard to keep in touch with them during this tough time, because she was always being reminded how low and desperate she was -- as if she wasn't worrying about it enough on her own, she'd get a reminder every time she called. Perhaps they were both just picturing her commuting long distances to be employed in the meat packing assembly line and had more in common than Jill thought... she was frightened and depressed that's for sure.
*
Jill went up late in the day and they went on a quick but nice hack. It took about an hour to do the whole concession from Kennedy to Hwy 10 at 375m/min, including both bridges and a bike to pass! He'd spooked so bad, and so suddenly, she felt like she got whiplash, no joke.
He was getting fuzzy already and she asked the owner for his blanket when the replacement halter came along.
The next day was mittens wearing weather already! The lesson was cancelled and she worked on flat work on her own and was delighted to reach the swinging trot...
*
it felt like teaching a kid to ride popcorn instead of a pony! it was the snow banks in the arena and the wind outside if not just the cold itself making him so frisky. and the heaters were broken so gramma and gramma had to watch all the hair raising terror in the complete cold!
Jill said she did not have warm enough boots for that kind of crap.
*
she reported that he was good for dressage and good for stadium (although he did LEAP an entire jump and the nine foot ground pole in one clean sweep, giving the clinic instructor a heart attack). He was especially solid cross country, settled right into a rhythm and leapt of the bank into water. SOOOOOOOOOO much better than last year!
*
too bad she'd gone to the trouble of getting a recording device for the vet appt, when it ended up being rescheduled. alas.
The thrush treatment that they had discussed had been dumped down the drain and left for Jill to pay for. The owner said afterwards that she didn't know what it was but that was an outright lie. It still bothered Jill how the woman had started rearranging things in the mini kit she had made for herself to carry to the other side - Jill was the one who was there every day, why couldn't she carry only the items she preferred to use? The owner accused "there's no thrush buster in there" when indeed there was, but she added another. Sigh, it was all getting very tiresome. Obviously the woman did not want expert input or to gather facts before making decisions and obviously she wasn't happy with their arrangement -- it didn't seem like there was any pleasing her, and Jill was starting to see why barn owners would find it easier to lie to their clients than deal honestly with them.
On the upside, she jumped the first course she could remember since her rider level test. And, it was bitless and included the Grand Prix horse spookable pink planks with no fuss. Jill was grateful for the recently rained on grass footing that made it soft enough to do so, and for the other riders in the ring - and especially for her encouraging jump crew. Whoo hoo!
The words "you could do whatever you want with her" kept ringing in her ears. And, she was also taking comfort in the words "you should call my mom. she'll have something for you."
Meanwhile, her mom was encouraging her to exploit familial relations to find a "real" job. Was she picturing her daughter in some panty hose and suit type position that she wanted for her? Clearly Jill would never be the woman her parents wanted her to be. At her age, she was sick of even trying, because they never approved anyway and because she wanted very different things for herself. It was hard to keep in touch with them during this tough time, because she was always being reminded how low and desperate she was -- as if she wasn't worrying about it enough on her own, she'd get a reminder every time she called. Perhaps they were both just picturing her commuting long distances to be employed in the meat packing assembly line and had more in common than Jill thought... she was frightened and depressed that's for sure.
*
Jill went up late in the day and they went on a quick but nice hack. It took about an hour to do the whole concession from Kennedy to Hwy 10 at 375m/min, including both bridges and a bike to pass! He'd spooked so bad, and so suddenly, she felt like she got whiplash, no joke.
He was getting fuzzy already and she asked the owner for his blanket when the replacement halter came along.
The next day was mittens wearing weather already! The lesson was cancelled and she worked on flat work on her own and was delighted to reach the swinging trot...
*
it felt like teaching a kid to ride popcorn instead of a pony! it was the snow banks in the arena and the wind outside if not just the cold itself making him so frisky. and the heaters were broken so gramma and gramma had to watch all the hair raising terror in the complete cold!
Jill said she did not have warm enough boots for that kind of crap.
*
she reported that he was good for dressage and good for stadium (although he did LEAP an entire jump and the nine foot ground pole in one clean sweep, giving the clinic instructor a heart attack). He was especially solid cross country, settled right into a rhythm and leapt of the bank into water. SOOOOOOOOOO much better than last year!
*
too bad she'd gone to the trouble of getting a recording device for the vet appt, when it ended up being rescheduled. alas.
2008-06-13
Absence and Ailments
Jill had decided that with her teacher being in the US for a show for two weeks that she would totally goof off, and hack as much as possible. But, by the time she got to the stable the first night, it was too dark to go outside and she ended up tooling around in the arena. Ug.
He seemed quite stiff behind, probably from the show on the weekend (Jill was stiff too!), so they just did a half hour of flat work.
The next day was beautiful, so she took him out to the Christmas tree farm. He was not frisky in the slightest, but he was CRANKY and in fact he kept trying to turn around and go home. Jill felt he wasn't moving in his normal way and must be anxious for dinner and they kept it short with just one small canter.
The next day they trotted and cantered the whole concession to Heart Lake road. She was aware that he was stiff on the right lead and that up hills he was veering a bit with the left hind pushing more than the right - the opposite of his usual weakness. He was happy though, and the work seemd to do him good.
His halter was broken.
*
Lady was having a problem in that her tonge was so swollen it was sticking out of her mouth about 3 inches and she couldn't eat or drink. There was a big puddle of drool anywhere she stood. In examining the tongue no cut could be seen, no toxic weeds were spotted in the paddock and no one knew what to make of it. Poor thing. The vet's theory was she was allergic to bee stings but Jill kept her horse buddy f a r away just in case it turned out to be contagious. Would she really have to be put down?
He seemed quite stiff behind, probably from the show on the weekend (Jill was stiff too!), so they just did a half hour of flat work.
The next day was beautiful, so she took him out to the Christmas tree farm. He was not frisky in the slightest, but he was CRANKY and in fact he kept trying to turn around and go home. Jill felt he wasn't moving in his normal way and must be anxious for dinner and they kept it short with just one small canter.
The next day they trotted and cantered the whole concession to Heart Lake road. She was aware that he was stiff on the right lead and that up hills he was veering a bit with the left hind pushing more than the right - the opposite of his usual weakness. He was happy though, and the work seemd to do him good.
His halter was broken.
*
Lady was having a problem in that her tonge was so swollen it was sticking out of her mouth about 3 inches and she couldn't eat or drink. There was a big puddle of drool anywhere she stood. In examining the tongue no cut could be seen, no toxic weeds were spotted in the paddock and no one knew what to make of it. Poor thing. The vet's theory was she was allergic to bee stings but Jill kept her horse buddy f a r away just in case it turned out to be contagious. Would she really have to be put down?
2008-06-01
Eat Cake
"Have you heard about the birthday parties where they've smuggled a pony up the highrise elevator?" Roomie asked as she stepped in the door.
As Jill got home and felt so suddenly ill, she thought back over what she'd eaten. Then, she worried about the cake. She'd only eaten the bottom half of the chocolate riches she'd been given - so, if it WAS posioned, hopefully at least she'd only gotten half! ha. Who would have ever thought she would sit down with that fellow employee/rival and share in her birthday cake. She'd only done it to be nice, but she didn't trust as much her companion's motives...
She had a thousand things to say when the boss called, but of course she didn't say any of them. She just thanked the boss for relaying a message to her and welcomed her back. All she hoped was that maybe the hard work she'd had put in would show and would make the boss's life a little easier somehow.
*
To tell you the truth, I think our first meeting was Grandview." Jill smiled to the handsome artsy lanking fella. "That's when you passed your business card through the driver's side window to me, but Bee, the intended go-between, managed to just keep it. I thought she must have a friend that liked you and I resented the entire carpool."
She remembered that he'd made her laugh on course that day. She was just a specatator/cheerleader that day, and was actually impressed to watch the photographer catch a loose horse, the first human it encountered after a rider fall.
He clearly didn't remember meeting her back then.
Would she become more special to him? To anyone? Jill remained single, yet optimistic.
*
Her bay retired-riding project peed outside, just as she approached the paddock, which she'd never seen him do before. And which she was worried was a sign he was staying out overnight - the surest way to teach them to go ahead and do such a thing! They were paying indoor boad for both horses. She felt a bit better about the paddock walking now that she remembered about his stall walking. He ate better when she rode too, she would make sure they went out on adventures at least a few times on the weekend. She also wanted to practice riding more with her seat.
*
Jill thought the grass in the paddocks did not look all that great, and neither did the horse! She spoke to the barn owner about his weight, and she said she'd make sure he got more food.
She rode for 35 min in the grass ring in the snaffle. He warmed up great, even when they went all the way around the outside... he had the glorious canter, and, she didn't even have spurs on. She worked canter halt, halt canter and then to keep him keen she jumped a few jumps and went back to the transitions. Sometimes he would root and pull so hard she could not Sit Up and she got mad at her own lack of stregnth, and looked forward to working him in the "big" bit the next day.
Twas lovely to just hose him down and toss him out afterwards. They BOTH liked it.
One of her young friends agreed to take action on his thrush action before Jill could get there. They were going cross country schooling and Tessa said she'd groom! whoo hoo.
As Jill got home and felt so suddenly ill, she thought back over what she'd eaten. Then, she worried about the cake. She'd only eaten the bottom half of the chocolate riches she'd been given - so, if it WAS posioned, hopefully at least she'd only gotten half! ha. Who would have ever thought she would sit down with that fellow employee/rival and share in her birthday cake. She'd only done it to be nice, but she didn't trust as much her companion's motives...
She had a thousand things to say when the boss called, but of course she didn't say any of them. She just thanked the boss for relaying a message to her and welcomed her back. All she hoped was that maybe the hard work she'd had put in would show and would make the boss's life a little easier somehow.
*
To tell you the truth, I think our first meeting was Grandview." Jill smiled to the handsome artsy lanking fella. "That's when you passed your business card through the driver's side window to me, but Bee, the intended go-between, managed to just keep it. I thought she must have a friend that liked you and I resented the entire carpool."
She remembered that he'd made her laugh on course that day. She was just a specatator/cheerleader that day, and was actually impressed to watch the photographer catch a loose horse, the first human it encountered after a rider fall.
He clearly didn't remember meeting her back then.
Would she become more special to him? To anyone? Jill remained single, yet optimistic.
*
Her bay retired-riding project peed outside, just as she approached the paddock, which she'd never seen him do before. And which she was worried was a sign he was staying out overnight - the surest way to teach them to go ahead and do such a thing! They were paying indoor boad for both horses. She felt a bit better about the paddock walking now that she remembered about his stall walking. He ate better when she rode too, she would make sure they went out on adventures at least a few times on the weekend. She also wanted to practice riding more with her seat.
*
Jill thought the grass in the paddocks did not look all that great, and neither did the horse! She spoke to the barn owner about his weight, and she said she'd make sure he got more food.
She rode for 35 min in the grass ring in the snaffle. He warmed up great, even when they went all the way around the outside... he had the glorious canter, and, she didn't even have spurs on. She worked canter halt, halt canter and then to keep him keen she jumped a few jumps and went back to the transitions. Sometimes he would root and pull so hard she could not Sit Up and she got mad at her own lack of stregnth, and looked forward to working him in the "big" bit the next day.
Twas lovely to just hose him down and toss him out afterwards. They BOTH liked it.
One of her young friends agreed to take action on his thrush action before Jill could get there. They were going cross country schooling and Tessa said she'd groom! whoo hoo.
2008-05-31
Another Day
what a nice horse. she carried the whip in her left hand and used it often. he was a bit dead on that side. was that his sore hind then or the other? they'd lunged only to the right for 5 minutes at walk and halt before getting started on the ride. it was his worst transition, the worst way, on a dead-as-a-doornail-hot day. she used her dressage whip as a lunge whip. the ripple on the line worked to move him out, thou he thought it was going to be a yank.
before grooming the old guy she'd walked the fence line and found an impassable pile of logs. a trail needed to be forced around that. and it needed to be filled in. as a jump? the bugs were TERRIBLE in the forest on the humid, dark day. she also found barbed wire on the ground, rusty and old. she used it to reinforce where the fence was sagging. the part that had been built up with logs and twigs and branches. she added to that with that as well.
even with a friendly qualified supervisor killing time in the ring she didn't want to jump. WHAT WAS WRONG WITH HER?
he was the only sensible horse on the property when the trailer hoopla happened. all the geldings went running and bucking like hooligans! she brought him to a halt near stone's gate accusing, "you of all people, to be carrying on like this" people. her little buddy didn't mind the boomwackers either. she was keeping a dressage test in the car for next ride.
she managed to get the little guy's too big leather halter opened on one side, and had left it softening to try again tomorrow. she should be able to shrink it two holes but the noseband needed a punch. his fly mask had been in the mud where he'd rolled it off.
"stone, i get blisters every summer when i first wear my sandals buddy, your face is just going to have to toughen up." she felt bad for the raw spot his new halter had rubbed.
before grooming the old guy she'd walked the fence line and found an impassable pile of logs. a trail needed to be forced around that. and it needed to be filled in. as a jump? the bugs were TERRIBLE in the forest on the humid, dark day. she also found barbed wire on the ground, rusty and old. she used it to reinforce where the fence was sagging. the part that had been built up with logs and twigs and branches. she added to that with that as well.
even with a friendly qualified supervisor killing time in the ring she didn't want to jump. WHAT WAS WRONG WITH HER?
he was the only sensible horse on the property when the trailer hoopla happened. all the geldings went running and bucking like hooligans! she brought him to a halt near stone's gate accusing, "you of all people, to be carrying on like this" people. her little buddy didn't mind the boomwackers either. she was keeping a dressage test in the car for next ride.
she managed to get the little guy's too big leather halter opened on one side, and had left it softening to try again tomorrow. she should be able to shrink it two holes but the noseband needed a punch. his fly mask had been in the mud where he'd rolled it off.
"stone, i get blisters every summer when i first wear my sandals buddy, your face is just going to have to toughen up." she felt bad for the raw spot his new halter had rubbed.
2008-05-29
More Roadwork
jill thought maybe the pony did have some lameness behind. should she have lunged him to study his way of going? at least she had tied knots in the new lunge line. he was certainly trippy on the grass and tenderfooted on the gravel. but, what a good boy! after 15 min of dressage school he had already done everything she could think of nicely. he even had the SWINGING trot, and finally, she was sitting. transitions, circles, changes, he was lovely. a little low, maybe and a little overbent. all the more reason to keep it short right? he was really soft and really listening. just a little slow off the leg on the up transitions maybe, and not quite coming off the left enough. she'd meant to bring the dressage whip.
"Today, he got away with two things on the roads" Jill reported. They'd walked all the way down to the sheep stop and then past the ever lying down brown foal. he didn't winny. the only thing he spooked at was big rocks. she made him do ten second halts beside or facing the scariest ones. "we went past the driveway and towards the construction. when we came upon that big trailer bed with the big grate gate backing he stopped dead. shaking." he was so small she could like FEEL his heart pounding, through her saddle. "and then he did something he hasn't done for weeks, where he turned and ran away. got about 3 or 4 strides down the road away from it, before i could make him stop."
she had gone back to face it, but a big dumptruck was coming up over the crest of the hill now, from behind it and towards them. when she turned around to see where they could wait it out, she saw another truck coming, this one with a trailer behind it with blue johnny on the spots jiggling around on the back of it.
she trotted right up the asphalt between the trucks, playing chicken in effect, but making sure they were seen until they got to their own driveway and then she turned in. walked back to the barn and that was that.
bike bike bike bike bike. when would she try it?
AND, when would she start jumping?? she was comforted to know that even the Grand Prix horse spooked at the pink planks. it wasn't just her. or, her pony.
*
"Today, he got away with two things on the roads" Jill reported. They'd walked all the way down to the sheep stop and then past the ever lying down brown foal. he didn't winny. the only thing he spooked at was big rocks. she made him do ten second halts beside or facing the scariest ones. "we went past the driveway and towards the construction. when we came upon that big trailer bed with the big grate gate backing he stopped dead. shaking." he was so small she could like FEEL his heart pounding, through her saddle. "and then he did something he hasn't done for weeks, where he turned and ran away. got about 3 or 4 strides down the road away from it, before i could make him stop."
she had gone back to face it, but a big dumptruck was coming up over the crest of the hill now, from behind it and towards them. when she turned around to see where they could wait it out, she saw another truck coming, this one with a trailer behind it with blue johnny on the spots jiggling around on the back of it.
she trotted right up the asphalt between the trucks, playing chicken in effect, but making sure they were seen until they got to their own driveway and then she turned in. walked back to the barn and that was that.
bike bike bike bike bike. when would she try it?
AND, when would she start jumping?? she was comforted to know that even the Grand Prix horse spooked at the pink planks. it wasn't just her. or, her pony.
*
Jill enjoyed how their friendship was evolving, and recognized a closeness in their silence. They were comfortable together not talking, and it implied to her a level of intimacy. There was never a physical expression of affection, just the occassional glance or smile to show intuitive understanding and that they were in synch with each other. It was a constructive partnership, even though it was not romantic. She was pleased to have a male friend without sex being in the picture. They could choose to be romantic, and somehow the fact that they chose not to "wreck it" made the relationship feel somehow superior. Jill felt smug and triumphant.
And, instead of being disappointed that she still didn't have a boyfriend, she was grateful for so many good men in her life.
A friendship based on strong opinions and common ambitions and the pleasure of professionals. The treat was always dutch and the conversation always lively. Passion and friendship are two different things and while the ideal relationship features a balance of them, Jill could see that the presence of one did not neccessarily imply the other.
*
*
i have no recollection of this, but it says here in the old pages the old man wouldn't let me clip his ears.
*
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