Was Jill flirting, teasing or serious when she asked him, "My dad says that sometimes the caddies are smarter than the players, do you think it could it work that way for grooms?
Jim had the lead shank, controlling the pulling horse and the video camera falling off his shoulder and the towel he was trying to use to clean the beast a little... and, though Jill was just spectating - not officially working, she offered to help "do you want me to hold something?"
"Me" he said, making her laugh and then handing over the horse...
When they'd walked over to the ring together he said he was glad the pizza took so long to come last night, because he liked looking at the stars together and getting to know her a little better. She appreciated his flirtations and flushed with the memory of when they'd met at the horse trailer at 6:30 am that morning. She still felt half asleep when he told her she looked nice, and then she'd gasped to see a shooting star like he had suggested she watch for, especially early in the mornings.
"Do I smell romance in the air? her friend, also spectating at the show wanted to know.
And, Jill admitted that instead of losing boyfriends because they hate playing second fiddle to horsies, "I like the idea of FINDING a beau IN the horseworld -- that way, he'll understand... not to mention lend-a-hand!"
Showing posts with label Stonehedge. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Stonehedge. Show all posts
2011-05-04
2011-04-05
Schooled at Stonehedge
Jill trailered off property with her coach and had a first time to let him gallop. It was amazing to let him go full out, trusting the path was safe of ground hog holes or roots and the border of the field he may go long enough to tire him out ha.
When they got back to their coach she said, "Well OF course, ON course, you will not need to go nearly that fast" But they could laugh together because it was great for Jill to go like that and then to be able to get control again. The gag snaffle was doing exactly what it should, "lI ove the new bit!"
They only jumped about 7 or 8 fences but it was still worth the trip just to get the smell of the place up his nose. Then, unfortuneately he was lame for a few days after being reshod. Jill had talk the owner into buying new stirrup leathers because they were just stretched unevenly by about two holes and she couldn't even them out no matter what she did and it was effecting their balance!
In the notebook Jill reported "i hate his dressage because he is so bouncy and also, he hates my dressage because i bounce around so much, Ha.
They were working together through a rotten circle, because his back wasn't strong enough yet to be round for very long, and so he would often hollow out and gets bouncier, which would make Jill bounce more and so on and so on and...
Jill jokingly predicted that maybe their loose rein walk across the diagonal will stun the judge with its beauty and the double counting of that movement would have an amazing impact on their score...
*
During a practice ride the next morning, even though you're not supposed to, she jumped the three foot wall both directions on her own. The show was coming up, they needed confidence at that exact height and they needed to practice something else, because the only available "creepy" stadium fence was a purple and white wall, about 2'6"t
The only cross country trouble Jill could foresee was a small log with a fairly significant drop that one had to jump after running up and down a mound. It was quite steep for about four strides and then the drop. ACK.
When they got back to their coach she said, "Well OF course, ON course, you will not need to go nearly that fast" But they could laugh together because it was great for Jill to go like that and then to be able to get control again. The gag snaffle was doing exactly what it should, "lI ove the new bit!"
They only jumped about 7 or 8 fences but it was still worth the trip just to get the smell of the place up his nose. Then, unfortuneately he was lame for a few days after being reshod. Jill had talk the owner into buying new stirrup leathers because they were just stretched unevenly by about two holes and she couldn't even them out no matter what she did and it was effecting their balance!
In the notebook Jill reported "i hate his dressage because he is so bouncy and also, he hates my dressage because i bounce around so much, Ha.
They were working together through a rotten circle, because his back wasn't strong enough yet to be round for very long, and so he would often hollow out and gets bouncier, which would make Jill bounce more and so on and so on and...
Jill jokingly predicted that maybe their loose rein walk across the diagonal will stun the judge with its beauty and the double counting of that movement would have an amazing impact on their score...
*
During a practice ride the next morning, even though you're not supposed to, she jumped the three foot wall both directions on her own. The show was coming up, they needed confidence at that exact height and they needed to practice something else, because the only available "creepy" stadium fence was a purple and white wall, about 2'6"t
The only cross country trouble Jill could foresee was a small log with a fairly significant drop that one had to jump after running up and down a mound. It was quite steep for about four strides and then the drop. ACK.
2010-10-05
Truth and Lies
"Well, if you could get yourself there, you could make use of my colleague's hotel room for a week…" Jill wondered if she was dreaming to hear such a statement about such a big, huge horse show.
But then again, it was not the first time Jill had landed an invitation to head south just by showing up somewhere. "Remember the first clinic I went to go audit?" Thanks to an OHTA blast where it was clear there was no charge, she went out once to a David O'Connor clinic to spectate. "I was desperate for some kind of equestrian development!" Jill was telling her students after their class about losing yet another horse - this time her mount had been sold out from under her to cover the owner's medical bills. Said owner also being her teacher meant she was really, suddenly, fully out of the game (albeit selfish to see it that way).
Jill said she'd never done anything like that before, attended a clinic for such serious competitors, but she was so glad she had! It was an amazing facility and it was surprisingly easy to be there, and, so totally worth the drive! She stuck it out all day in the cold and damp and moved in closer and closer, eventually sitting on a cross fence beside the clinician and making conversation with the riders as they all watched each fellow participant and waited their turn for various exercises.
Eventually Jill had even taken over as jump crew, as other helper/auditors left, but still she had been to shy to chat with the team coach at all.
In the barn, the chief maintenance guy had obviously taken a shine to her. He must have liked she walked through the stable making conversation with each animal through its stall door, because before she left they asked her to join them in Florida for the season. She hadn't really had much of a conversation with any of the people, but yet she agreed. On the condition that she go down AFTER the Royal Winter Fair.
*
And then, she was almost made famous for the fact that she made them wait an extra few days after that, so she could spend some time in the Kentucky Horse park. Afterwards, she learned it was her worker-buddy-to-be that convinced everyone else, saying "there's just something about her." How could it be her fault that he fell in love when she didn't?
*
But then again, it was not the first time Jill had landed an invitation to head south just by showing up somewhere. "Remember the first clinic I went to go audit?" Thanks to an OHTA blast where it was clear there was no charge, she went out once to a David O'Connor clinic to spectate. "I was desperate for some kind of equestrian development!" Jill was telling her students after their class about losing yet another horse - this time her mount had been sold out from under her to cover the owner's medical bills. Said owner also being her teacher meant she was really, suddenly, fully out of the game (albeit selfish to see it that way).
Jill said she'd never done anything like that before, attended a clinic for such serious competitors, but she was so glad she had! It was an amazing facility and it was surprisingly easy to be there, and, so totally worth the drive! She stuck it out all day in the cold and damp and moved in closer and closer, eventually sitting on a cross fence beside the clinician and making conversation with the riders as they all watched each fellow participant and waited their turn for various exercises.
Eventually Jill had even taken over as jump crew, as other helper/auditors left, but still she had been to shy to chat with the team coach at all.
In the barn, the chief maintenance guy had obviously taken a shine to her. He must have liked she walked through the stable making conversation with each animal through its stall door, because before she left they asked her to join them in Florida for the season. She hadn't really had much of a conversation with any of the people, but yet she agreed. On the condition that she go down AFTER the Royal Winter Fair.
*
And then, she was almost made famous for the fact that she made them wait an extra few days after that, so she could spend some time in the Kentucky Horse park. Afterwards, she learned it was her worker-buddy-to-be that convinced everyone else, saying "there's just something about her." How could it be her fault that he fell in love when she didn't?
*
2010-01-01
RSVP
Jill had just taken a message from someone inviting the boss to her hero's Christmas party. That is a night she had made a date with the accidental boyfriend be up at the big house. Having what she now saw as a groom-class bbq.
Jill reported that she didn’t get to ride that day. “That’s good, if you’re not feeling well” he guessed. "I consider riding therapeutic. And, I am definitely trending the right way health-wise, and was really hoping to get back in the saddle." There was to be no winning with her. She was miserable there and riding was the blessing that get her going.
Jill should have been flattered when she overheard the boss say “Your brother probably doesn’t have the patience to teach that.” as the accidental boyfriend explained how he'd learned his trot diagonals.
The boss had commented on something else constructive that day “That was good how he went in the washstall like that.” Jill was grateful that Buddy would behave for carrot bites. It gave her the only training too she had with him.
The boss's partner that day have given the carrot she said she'd specifically SAVED for bringing in Buddy to another animal -- and told Jill with a smile.
It is Sunday and we are not showing, Jill jotted a note in her daytimer. The boss announced "The schedule is a bit different today" and gave her the heads up on the next twenty minutes.
*
"He rode some popcorn"
Jill reported that she didn’t get to ride that day. “That’s good, if you’re not feeling well” he guessed. "I consider riding therapeutic. And, I am definitely trending the right way health-wise, and was really hoping to get back in the saddle." There was to be no winning with her. She was miserable there and riding was the blessing that get her going.
Jill should have been flattered when she overheard the boss say “Your brother probably doesn’t have the patience to teach that.” as the accidental boyfriend explained how he'd learned his trot diagonals.
The boss had commented on something else constructive that day “That was good how he went in the washstall like that.” Jill was grateful that Buddy would behave for carrot bites. It gave her the only training too she had with him.
The boss's partner that day have given the carrot she said she'd specifically SAVED for bringing in Buddy to another animal -- and told Jill with a smile.
It is Sunday and we are not showing, Jill jotted a note in her daytimer. The boss announced "The schedule is a bit different today" and gave her the heads up on the next twenty minutes.
*
"He rode some popcorn"
2009-12-27
Postcard
Stardate Thurs. Dec 7, The Devil watch is flashing Tuesday.
My feet are wet and the manure truck is full which makes it a pain. It sounds like we aren’t getting shavings until Tuesday and I am stuffed up again and don’t own any Claritin.
Then the boss comes in and spends ages adjusting the noseband. Sometimes I hate this job.
Jill knew her chum would understand the frustration she wrote on the card before posting it.
My feet are wet and the manure truck is full which makes it a pain. It sounds like we aren’t getting shavings until Tuesday and I am stuffed up again and don’t own any Claritin.
Then the boss comes in and spends ages adjusting the noseband. Sometimes I hate this job.
Jill knew her chum would understand the frustration she wrote on the card before posting it.
2009-11-01
First Aid and Other Comments
Eli got his sutures out. It required Jill as the human twitch and then the boss near his rear and the vet holding up the other leg and then the boss's partner came by just as the job was done and said Jill didn’t need to hold his lip like that since he was so drugged it was obvious he wasn’t feeling anything. ARGH!
The same day, Jill was embarrassed to be corrected about her use of the laser. But certainly she had been distracted and chatting like crazy to the accidental boyfriend. The laser wasn't really aimed correctly the moment the boss stepped in, and the comments that time were fair.
At Christmas dinner the clinician explained what he had done at the clinic. He kicked some students out! He said "these horses are not ready to be here and one of you is going to get hurt and I am not going to take responsibility for that so you are now excused from class."
Jill admired him. And was also grateful that that didn’t happen to her at the Ian Stark clinic, even though'd felt then she WAS in over her head.
2009-10-30
Friday the 15th
Jill was glad she remembered Casey’s bridle, for the trailer load, since the boss's partner said they only needed two. This was after the boss had a lesson to teach to someone who’s name wasn't remembered and who’s name wasn’t written in the book. Jill smoothed that one over while cleaning tack, including a breastplate left behind by last year’s borders, moldy and forgotten in a stall.
While they were all away at a show, Jill lunged Buddy and he was quite contrary in terms of her vocal commands and therefore there was much canter, especially on the right rein. Indeed there was much canter on the wrong lead. However, his work on the left rein was especially good in terms of the way he carried himself and was bending.
Portia had a tiny lump on her neck after the special rhino shot and was not really eating well, so Jill thought it would be wise NOT to ride her. Furthermore, her owner had made a big deal about her “streak” and how Jill should not trot alone blah blah blah. Meanwhile, at the boss's direction, Jill had also already hacked her alone right across the edge of the Quarter Horse farm, past the impossible stallion pen.
Jill was excited to
Jill had to learn that there is no winning with these people and that she should not take it personally. "I guess it’s the show nerves." he said. Jill said she could take it "I am here to learn about who is who and all about the industry and to WRITE about it and get paid. While also getting paid to be here, ha. Unless I decide to just run away" she added.
2009-08-24
Mantra Song?
Jill said she had only written one song on horseback. It was about bailing out on the boss and riding off together on Monday, and really seemed to solve the matter when she had to hack Ellie past the Alligator pond or the g i a n t burn pile, to soothe both their nervousness daily, ha!
She believed that music affected both her and the horse's physiology. She sang it slow to slow their heartbeats and the breathing rates, as well as to bring down blood pressure... she called it "Campain"
*
It was weird to run into that very boss-partner the day after telling the story... "you broke his heart" she was told, in case she hadn't felt bad ENUF about the accidental boyfriend already.
She believed that music affected both her and the horse's physiology. She sang it slow to slow their heartbeats and the breathing rates, as well as to bring down blood pressure... she called it "Campain"
*
It was weird to run into that very boss-partner the day after telling the story... "you broke his heart" she was told, in case she hadn't felt bad ENUF about the accidental boyfriend already.
2009-06-15
Hack Chats
"For fun, in Florida," Jill informed the owners of her current riding hang out, as they cut diagonally across the field behind the paddocks to avoid all the stallion-turnouts, "I would hack right along the fence line of the quarter horse stallion of the neighbour's farm." It was true she was the only paid training/exercise rider that could take the ponies through the narrow straight electric fence walkway home -- the one that the horse-owners' insisted their horse could never handle.
But, she hacked past the alligator pond on the boss's horses everyday now didn't she? ha.
Even the boss didn't do that.
*
But, she hacked past the alligator pond on the boss's horses everyday now didn't she? ha.
Even the boss didn't do that.
*
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.
2008-08-13
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.
2008-08-08
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...
2008-08-05
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.
2007-05-09
Tank Tops to Leg Cramps
are expressly written out of the appropriate riding apparel rules of two of the places i like to ride. like sandals as a safety issue?
at several other places i participate in horse activities, they are permitted.
in florida, i took it upon myself to address the risk issue with the boss. i said that while i was schooling Ellie dressage the day prior, while the lesson the boss was teaching was going on, i ended up boiling hot, but/because i didn't dare to take off my short sleeve shirt;
because all i had on underneath it was this: and i showed the boss the tank-with shelf yoga wear the flatchested me generally wears in leui of a bra.
the boss thought that such dress code would be fine, for hacking around the sunny private property, as long as i didn't think i could ride a sales horse for a potential buyer wearing something like that. just like jeans were okay sometimes. the boss also threatened to send a note to a former mentor, feigning surprise that i had initiated "topless tuesdays" ha ha ha
*
When driving back from Florida, Jill used the cruise control for the very first time. It was a total lifesaver, because for days (duh!) before that she'd been killing her thigh with the forced pressure/pose required for the looooooooooon drives. "It was such a relief -- my last day of driving was the longest, but also by far the easiest!"
Jill said when they finally thought to open the partition in the horse trailer for the big bay it provided a similar comfort for him.
at several other places i participate in horse activities, they are permitted.
in florida, i took it upon myself to address the risk issue with the boss. i said that while i was schooling Ellie dressage the day prior, while the lesson the boss was teaching was going on, i ended up boiling hot, but/because i didn't dare to take off my short sleeve shirt;
because all i had on underneath it was this: and i showed the boss the tank-with shelf yoga wear the flatchested me generally wears in leui of a bra.
the boss thought that such dress code would be fine, for hacking around the sunny private property, as long as i didn't think i could ride a sales horse for a potential buyer wearing something like that. just like jeans were okay sometimes. the boss also threatened to send a note to a former mentor, feigning surprise that i had initiated "topless tuesdays" ha ha ha
*
When driving back from Florida, Jill used the cruise control for the very first time. It was a total lifesaver, because for days (duh!) before that she'd been killing her thigh with the forced pressure/pose required for the looooooooooon drives. "It was such a relief -- my last day of driving was the longest, but also by far the easiest!"
Jill said when they finally thought to open the partition in the horse trailer for the big bay it provided a similar comfort for him.
2007-02-21
Barn Doors
"Jill doesn't have a line on him" Jim said to his brother, the stable manager, and sent him over to the covered round pen to look in on the new team member and the naughtiest powerhouse chesnut of them all. There were some unusual thumping noises coming from in there.
When Jill saw his face peeking over the top, she was thrilled. It was the first time anyone had ever shown the slightest concern for her safety. He asked "How is it going in here?" so, with the beast cantering in a circle around her, she said, "Will you please make sure that those pins outside the door are all the way down? This bratty beast is so smart that he keeps banging against the doors and then turning around to see if they've opened. And, I would rather be locked in here with the likes of him than have him escape and be out there, on the loose."
Jim stuck his head over a few moments later and said for her to call him when she wanted out. He said he'd be listening in the barn for her call. Some ten minutes later, after shouting Jim's name, requesting release, she came in the stable and thanked big brother for his timely ESP. He confidently took credit.
But in the afterwork chatter they always shared, she'd learned it was actually Jim's awareness that had led to the assistance... she thanked him profusely.He said he was remembering what she had told him the the day prior, about how while free-lunging the same horse, he had banged against the doors, accidentally, while cantering and correcting his lead as she'd asked him to. "The doors burst open," she'd said "startling us both." But she had immediately and calmly commanded "Buddy, whoa" and was flabbergasted when he stopped dead in his tracks, facing the bright sunlight and lush grass outside the sandy ring.She had gone on and on how relieved and delighted at his new, beautiful obedience she was. Proud too, but she knew to give the horse the credit he was due... she said had told him, "Good boy good boy and came up to his side with a tiny bite of carrot for reward. "It's lucky he's so motivated by food," she enthused, but Jim said he knew it was her all of her kind training methods combined that were making the difference with Buddy.
"That and your sweet voice," he added.
When Jim and Jill had gone to see the trick horses at the fundraiser event in the nearby college town, the boss had said "you can teach Buddy that stuff. He would bow for a carrot." Jill replied, "Okay, good, instead of asking him to somersalt for our first trick, I thought I would start with "Head Down."The next morning Jim heard Jill leading the beast in from the paddock. She said "how do you say DON'T bite me in horse? Or maybe it's tiger. Are you part tiger? Should I try and speak tiger to you?"*http://loguelikevogue12.blogspot.com/2006/12/speaking-horse.html
*
They had him tranqued to do the full body clip, but the drugs didn’t really seem to be effecting him. He was his usual alert yet oblivous self. But, even Jill was surprised by how well Buddy behaved, in the cross ties, with her holding a lead shank for extra security. They had passed over his entire left side with the vibrating, noise rattling clippers, that had freaked out more reliably calm horses than he, and the stable manager was already half done the beast’s right hand side when it began to get complicated.
A new boarder, the New Jersey horse-humbling driver man started lunging in the dressage ring. Jill and Buddy noticed right away and when the distraction seemed too much for her charge she spoke up – “Is he allowed to be doing that in that ring?” gesturing out the big open doors. The clippers were immediately turned off and Jim was summoned and then sent to deliver the “lunging in the round pen only rule” as quickly as possible. As Jim returned to the barn, the big man and the small, young, chesnut disappeared from sight, in search of more appropriate schooling areas.
But then, when they suddenly appeared again, walking, with all their lunging gear, passing by en route to their area of the big barn giant, Jill's powerful, athletic, equine subject freaked out in the cross ties. With his scrambling, he sent both members of the clipper team flying, back against the walls. As Jill crashed back against the concrete walls, barely on her feet but still holding the shank she commanded, "Stand."
And Buddy stood, head held high and straining against the fully extended chains attached to the wall, fixated only on the pair on the concrete bath. Jim’s brother started whipping him with the electrical cord, as he regained his balance, but the horse didn't even seem to notice. “What do we want him to do?” Jill said, stepping forward towards Buddy’s head, struggling for breath.
The stable manager said, “he’s on the plug” and pointed to the other electric outlet end of the clipper's extension cord, on the ground under Buddy’s front right hoof. Still shakey, and despite the stable manager's so-called disciplinary action, she pushed on Buddy’s shoulder and pulled gently on the lead shank chain over his nose, saying weakly, “Back.” And, to their shock, he backed up one step, exactly as requested. Releasing the pressure on the crossties, instead of breaking them off the walls and bursting out of the barn loose like they'd all expected.
They decided simply to finish his body and shave his head the next day. But, she was proud of Buddy and proud of the way her ground work with him had just paid off.
For the follow up clipper session, the stable manager "changed the cocktail" and Buddy was so drugged he could not even walk down the hall safely. The stable manager was guiding his hind end holding his tail, and Jim was leading but having a hard time keeping the horse's front end moving down the middle of the aisle. Buddy was staggering, very out of balance, almost falling over and when they halted him his head was way down below the clips on the cross ties. As Jill attended to other chores, Jim held a handful of mane, while his brother finished the clip job on the halterless, barely conscious chesnut. When the boss came in, Jim's brother made a joke. "I think the way Jill held him yesterday made all the difference in his behaviour, don't you Jim?" And it was then that Jill knew that her influence on Buddy was legitimate, and tangible, even if only she and the horse were able to openly acknowledge or demonstrate it.
*
Thinking back on the incident got Jill believing Buddy had a problem with vision in his left eye, and that he had simply been trying to see the lathered yearling more clearly. After all, when he spooked right over you, you were always standing on his left. "There's something about the way he was holding his head up so high that sticks in my mind" she said to Jim. "They have to move their head to position the eye. Think about it, all his wounds are on his left side, I bet the eye was damaged somehow in the same accident." She had once shown Jim an odd dent-like tiny scar on Buddy's lower eye lid.
He said nothing, and she thought he looked unusually skeptical of her theory. "Either that," she added "or Buddy’s got a special sense of premonition, since that was the very chesnut yearling from New Jersey who made Sara parapalegic for life. Talk about closing the barn door AFTER the horse..." Jill sighed. "I can't believe they brought waivers around for everyone to sign the day after the tragic accident."
When Jill saw his face peeking over the top, she was thrilled. It was the first time anyone had ever shown the slightest concern for her safety. He asked "How is it going in here?" so, with the beast cantering in a circle around her, she said, "Will you please make sure that those pins outside the door are all the way down? This bratty beast is so smart that he keeps banging against the doors and then turning around to see if they've opened. And, I would rather be locked in here with the likes of him than have him escape and be out there, on the loose."
Jim stuck his head over a few moments later and said for her to call him when she wanted out. He said he'd be listening in the barn for her call. Some ten minutes later, after shouting Jim's name, requesting release, she came in the stable and thanked big brother for his timely ESP. He confidently took credit.
But in the afterwork chatter they always shared, she'd learned it was actually Jim's awareness that had led to the assistance... she thanked him profusely.He said he was remembering what she had told him the the day prior, about how while free-lunging the same horse, he had banged against the doors, accidentally, while cantering and correcting his lead as she'd asked him to. "The doors burst open," she'd said "startling us both." But she had immediately and calmly commanded "Buddy, whoa" and was flabbergasted when he stopped dead in his tracks, facing the bright sunlight and lush grass outside the sandy ring.She had gone on and on how relieved and delighted at his new, beautiful obedience she was. Proud too, but she knew to give the horse the credit he was due... she said had told him, "Good boy good boy and came up to his side with a tiny bite of carrot for reward. "It's lucky he's so motivated by food," she enthused, but Jim said he knew it was her all of her kind training methods combined that were making the difference with Buddy.
"That and your sweet voice," he added.
When Jim and Jill had gone to see the trick horses at the fundraiser event in the nearby college town, the boss had said "you can teach Buddy that stuff. He would bow for a carrot." Jill replied, "Okay, good, instead of asking him to somersalt for our first trick, I thought I would start with "Head Down."The next morning Jim heard Jill leading the beast in from the paddock. She said "how do you say DON'T bite me in horse? Or maybe it's tiger. Are you part tiger? Should I try and speak tiger to you?"*http://loguelikevogue12.blogspot.com/2006/12/speaking-horse.html
*
They had him tranqued to do the full body clip, but the drugs didn’t really seem to be effecting him. He was his usual alert yet oblivous self. But, even Jill was surprised by how well Buddy behaved, in the cross ties, with her holding a lead shank for extra security. They had passed over his entire left side with the vibrating, noise rattling clippers, that had freaked out more reliably calm horses than he, and the stable manager was already half done the beast’s right hand side when it began to get complicated.
A new boarder, the New Jersey horse-humbling driver man started lunging in the dressage ring. Jill and Buddy noticed right away and when the distraction seemed too much for her charge she spoke up – “Is he allowed to be doing that in that ring?” gesturing out the big open doors. The clippers were immediately turned off and Jim was summoned and then sent to deliver the “lunging in the round pen only rule” as quickly as possible. As Jim returned to the barn, the big man and the small, young, chesnut disappeared from sight, in search of more appropriate schooling areas.
But then, when they suddenly appeared again, walking, with all their lunging gear, passing by en route to their area of the big barn giant, Jill's powerful, athletic, equine subject freaked out in the cross ties. With his scrambling, he sent both members of the clipper team flying, back against the walls. As Jill crashed back against the concrete walls, barely on her feet but still holding the shank she commanded, "Stand."
And Buddy stood, head held high and straining against the fully extended chains attached to the wall, fixated only on the pair on the concrete bath. Jim’s brother started whipping him with the electrical cord, as he regained his balance, but the horse didn't even seem to notice. “What do we want him to do?” Jill said, stepping forward towards Buddy’s head, struggling for breath.
The stable manager said, “he’s on the plug” and pointed to the other electric outlet end of the clipper's extension cord, on the ground under Buddy’s front right hoof. Still shakey, and despite the stable manager's so-called disciplinary action, she pushed on Buddy’s shoulder and pulled gently on the lead shank chain over his nose, saying weakly, “Back.” And, to their shock, he backed up one step, exactly as requested. Releasing the pressure on the crossties, instead of breaking them off the walls and bursting out of the barn loose like they'd all expected.
They decided simply to finish his body and shave his head the next day. But, she was proud of Buddy and proud of the way her ground work with him had just paid off.
For the follow up clipper session, the stable manager "changed the cocktail" and Buddy was so drugged he could not even walk down the hall safely. The stable manager was guiding his hind end holding his tail, and Jim was leading but having a hard time keeping the horse's front end moving down the middle of the aisle. Buddy was staggering, very out of balance, almost falling over and when they halted him his head was way down below the clips on the cross ties. As Jill attended to other chores, Jim held a handful of mane, while his brother finished the clip job on the halterless, barely conscious chesnut. When the boss came in, Jim's brother made a joke. "I think the way Jill held him yesterday made all the difference in his behaviour, don't you Jim?" And it was then that Jill knew that her influence on Buddy was legitimate, and tangible, even if only she and the horse were able to openly acknowledge or demonstrate it.
*
Thinking back on the incident got Jill believing Buddy had a problem with vision in his left eye, and that he had simply been trying to see the lathered yearling more clearly. After all, when he spooked right over you, you were always standing on his left. "There's something about the way he was holding his head up so high that sticks in my mind" she said to Jim. "They have to move their head to position the eye. Think about it, all his wounds are on his left side, I bet the eye was damaged somehow in the same accident." She had once shown Jim an odd dent-like tiny scar on Buddy's lower eye lid.
He said nothing, and she thought he looked unusually skeptical of her theory. "Either that," she added "or Buddy’s got a special sense of premonition, since that was the very chesnut yearling from New Jersey who made Sara parapalegic for life. Talk about closing the barn door AFTER the horse..." Jill sighed. "I can't believe they brought waivers around for everyone to sign the day after the tragic accident."
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