The Worth of a Horse...

I haven't posted in a while. Lack of motivation... lack of time, and lets face it who actually reads my blog posts?... They are more for me then for anyone else, but lately I've been doing a lot of self contemplation about what's important in life so I'm sending this one into the void and I hope that if someone else reads it they take something positive away from it. 

I've seen my fair share of life struggles... divorced parents, abusive step parents, long distance moves,  strained relationships, lost time with family that can never be made up (but thankfully are better now) job losses and struggles, hard life choices, and it seems to me the one constant thing in my life has always been, and hopefully always will be, horses. I work like crazy to afford my horse addiction. Most normal people would, and have told me that the amount of money I spend on my horse and the amount of work I do to make sure I can continue to keep him ... the sacrifices I've made and the choices I've made just to ensure his future are crazy... I don't spend nearly as much as some do on this crazy sport... and recently I started to think maybe they were right? Maybe. I let the negative creep in. 

Life has a tendency to knock you down...

The $600+ in student loans take  their toll... and its going to take  8 years to pay them off.. yep 8 years.  The student loans are a quarter of your take home pay... Side note... don't take out loans for school its not worth it!

People you thought were your friends take advantage of you... not paying rent, and then not splitting the refunds from your recently vacated shared apartment... and basically stealing money from you after you so patiently and forgivingly let so many things slide and did something nice for them to help them... all the while acting like you're crazy for suggesting you can't trust them financially or as a friend... and throwing away 2 years of friendship. 

The job you love you also hate... because you're working so hard just to keep a float, and do the best you can for the 16 first graders depending on you to shape their future.  How are your screw ups, learning curves and imperfections going to affect them... their futures... their lives? Yet you can never seem to get ahead or find a life balance... all the while feeling like the scape goat for our country's failing education system... when in reality our government is making decisions that don't allow us teachers to do our jobs and our parents are failing to parent. Never mind the fact that every year you face the possibility that your job could disappear and you could be back to square one... again.  

You start to wonder if life will ever smooth out... feel normal or be easy... ever. Even just for a moment. You get stuck in the negative. And you think maybe letting go of the one thing you care so much about might make life easier... take one stress factor... finding away to keep from losing what you love off your plate... accept the inevitable... rip off the bandaid... give up. And, then you have a day like I had to day and you remember why... why you fight so hard to hold onto what you love. 

I had a day off work. I put everything aside and stopped thinking about it. I rode in a lesson today. The sun was shining. There was a breeze and it was just cool enough that it felt like fall in Florida finally. We had a small... almost insignificant moment... literally a moment... where I was working so hard to ride my horse correctly even though every muscle in my body was protesting and then I felt it click... and for that one moment my horse was connected and carrying me... really truly... not just half way...rather then me struggling to hold him together... to keep myself balanced and for a split second riding felt easy... or easier. It didn't last... we went right back to struggling to find a balance and a connection, but I realized that all the hard work we do together made that small moment possible and that if we keep working those small moments will become bigger... longer... better and more connected. Maybe life is that way too... the small moments make the hard ones bearable. 

I rode him back to the barn with that realization and my horse was perfect and quiet on the rode despite our friend's younger less experienced horse having moments of spookiness and I thought about how far we'd come together in a relationship thats lasted over ten years. I spent the evening hanging out with my horse friends at the new barn we are moving to and I realized how many awesome friends I have made because of my horse.  How many amazing connections I've made because of him. 

In every up and down I've faced...  every loss... every achievement... ever moment... good... bad... positive... negative... aggravating... and awesome moments, horses have always been there for me. 

You can't put a price tag on that. 

Make It Go Sideways...

Where to start? the last 3 weeks have actually been pretty eventful in spotted pony land... which is a very nice change considering how little I've had time to ride in the last 6 months. Tomorrow is my last day of freedom before spring break ends and the teaching marathon to summer vacation begins, and I plan to make the most of it, and keep my forward momentum going so that by some miracle we might be ready to try a training level dressage class at some point this summer .

Rio went to his first show in... a really long time, and his first english pleasure show ever with his young leaser Laura. It was fun getting to know Laura and her mom Carol a little bit better, and bond over the experience through prepping for the show which included a 3 and a half hour braiding marathon... I will never do that again! I'd rather pay someone else to braid! 

I was really impressed with the two of them I have to say. Rio got off the trailer and pretty much settled in like it was his long lost home. He placed well despite some communication glitches between the two, and a lot of rushing between classes. 

More importantly I think going to the show served a few good purposes. First, we all got a little closer, and having a team is vital to riding and showing successfully. Second, I was able to get Rio out in a controlled setting, and act as support from the ground which was a confidence boost for myself.  With out their help, and ability to haul a trailer that probably would not have happened, and it made the idea of going to a show and riding myself a little less intimidating. I was able to school Rio between classes, and give Laura a few pointers, that I think made a difference in their final two rides of the day. Again a major confidence boost for me in what I know, my ability to teach others, and how well I know my horse. 

Laura was able to compare her riding with the other competitors and I think came away with a better understanding of what it means to have connection and consistent contact through the reins and using her seat as a driving factor to attain that connection. She's starting lessons with my new instructor, and I am very excited to see her work on her dressage skills because I think she has a lot of natural ability and drive, and the end result will be a very good rider. I have to also selfishly admit that the added rides Rio will get out of it with Casey our new coach will be an equally awesome bonus. I see such a difference in how he responds to aids and moves in just two lessons with her. 

We've got a lot to work on. Our biggest issue is that Rio is stiff through his back and needs a lot of suppling and strengthening in that department. I'm working on sitting straight, and keeping my center of balance back over the saddle so that I can ride more effectively to help him bend and stay balanced. When I'm correct he's correct. Its made me much more aware of how I affect him. Even though we're struggling the thing that excites me the most is that by the end of each lesson I can feel a difference in my own posture and effectiveness, and in Rio's responsiveness to my aides. While the next several weeks are going to be stressful with all the testing and the end of school year routines to get through making that progress is a very motivating factor in my attitude when it comes to making time to ride at the end of a 12+ hour work day. 

The other part that I love about our new riding instructor is how fun she makes the lessons. She listens to what you want, and sets realistic goals to work on, and she has a sense of humor about the whole thing that makes you relax. Even during our first lesson 5 minutes in I felt like I was talking to a friend which hopefully she will become, but point being she made it very fun, and very not intimidating. My favorite quotes of the week include... make it go sideways... which sounds silly, but the little bit of lateral movement I've learned to get out of him really has made a huge difference in suppling him... and "You have to bend... you're not a 2 by 4, your not a 2 by 6, and you're definitely not a 2 x 8".... which pretty much accurately describes Rio's main issue right now. At the very least the banter back and fourth makes for an interesting ride. 

Given how much work his canter needs this may be a lofty goal, but I'd like to enter him in a training level dressage class at some point this summer, which right now doesn't seem completely impossible if we can find some consistency over the next couple of months. 

On a side note... my roommate is fired! The job of picture taker and videographer is now open  for applications... the only major requirement is that you be able to keep the camera focused on the horse... in the right direction... though I will admit her videos are entertaining... just a little... 

Happy riding all!

Back to Basics

The number of posts you've seen on this blog in the last 6 months (hint - 0) is a pretty good indicator of how NOT motivated I have been to ride or to write for that matter! But! Hopefully we are back on an upswing!

If you could picture Rio for about the first half of Casey's
 ride on him this is what he would probably have looked like!
He did eventually give into her!

To recap Rio stepped on a nail last May. That resulted in no riding for a good three months, and then right about the time he was ready to go I got a new job! Yeah for the job! I LOVE it! I get to do three jobs in one, Gifted Teacher, ESE Teacher, AND staffing specialist (think lots and lots and lots and lots and lots of paper work, and meetings with occasionally grumpy parents). Minus the paper work I get to work with some really cool people, and some pretty awesome kids... and it pays for the horse addiction, that try as I might, I can't seem to kick! For the most part I love it. 

But, I digress.... over the last 6 months we have gained 2 pretty amazing leasers who love my horse as much or more than I do, and make it possible for me to afford the occasional  lesson, and keep my sanity when I can't get out to the barn because of work or family obligations... which unfortunately for me, has been ALOT of the time lately. 

We're back atSeminole, and despite the fact that I'm looking to move closer to work which is currently a 50 minute commute... I don't think I will be moving my horse any time soon. Too many crazy people in the horse world, and for the first time in a while I am generally happy with where we are! So now you are pretty much up to date... on with the real blog topic for today!

Laura (one of my awesome leasers!) and Rio. 

Rio, and I have been out of lessons since our last trainer moved up to Ocala. In an effort to gain some forward momentum with my riding again I took a lesson with a dressage trainer who happens to lease the property up the road from my barn yesterday.  

Let me just say; I have been riding for 25 years. I have taken lessons with at least 7 or 8 different trainers over the years, not including little clinics and one time rides for outside help. I'm not a great rider,  but I am by no means a bad rider. I've learned a lot from every one of those trainers including an international level trainer, but I think the lesson I had this weekend was quite possibly THE single best lesson I've ever had... or at least one of them. And, do you know what we did? We spent the majority of the lesson working on an elementary move. Turn on the forehand. 

It was a light bulb moment for me though because for the first time in my riding career I was able to feel exactly what it means to ride inside leg to outside rein, and use my outside rein effectively. I've read about it. I've had trainers tell me inside rein to outside leg. I thought I understood the concept. And, then I felt the difference when I was able to get Rio to do the turn on the forehand, and nope... I really never had a clue!

Rea & Rio (My other awesome leaser)

Casey got on him for a while during the lesson which was enlightening too because I was able to see him move under her, and watch her respond to all of his little hissy fits about having to work, and give, and bend. He spent a good chunk of the time going sideways every time he would throw his shoulder, or root and try to pull her out of the saddle to avoid the work, and eventually he gave in did his job. When I finally got back on him he was so much more responsive to my leg, and I realized that I was a big part of the problem with him not being as responsive as he should be. I over use my leg and work harder then I need to, and as a result he tunes me out, and stops listening, and I work even harder to get his attention. Its a snowball effect. 

Lauren & Rio! So much to update on I almost forgot to mention
our former lesson student turned adopted little sister came
for a visit at Christmas! At some point I will do a before & after...
Lauren learned to ride on Rio when she was 9 ish. She's almost 18 now!

I went back out today and had some one-on-one time with the pony practicing on my own what we'd worked on in the lesson, and playing with my outside rein more. I put him back in my german martingale to avoid what what I'm now dubbing the giraffe effect. I warmed up at the walk encouraging him to really stretch, and then worked for a while on turn on the forehand to get him back in the mindset of giving to my aids more, and to remind both of us what it felt like. We followed up with some serpentine work, and low and behold using my outside rein correctly he gave me a really nice bend through the turns instead of fighting me. I even got some shoulder fore towards the end of our ring work, and finished with with some work over cross rails because my horse actually loves to jump now... small revelation if you've read our earlier posts from years past! 

Carol clipping Rio for our show next weekend!

One kind of really cool revelation I got from watching Casey ride him, and then from playing a bit on my own is that my horse has had little to no actual training for lateral movements, but when you ask correctly he will give them to you. It made me realize what we could be capable of with a little time and effort, and the right teacher. 

At the end of the ride I took him out around the 2 mile trail loop in our neighborhood by himself... again another awesome accomplishment. A year or two ago that never would have been possible. Today he walked down the road calm, but alert and enjoying himself. The one or two opportunities he had to be a little bit spooky I resorted to playing with turn on the forehand down the side of the road and he was so focused on having a different job to do rather then just walking forward that he forgot to spook at the barking dogs or the trash can we were waling by. 

Ninja pony...

Next weekend he goes to his first show with Laura, walk , trot, equitation and possibly cross rails. Its nothing big, but it will be his first time to a show in a while, and I am excited to get him out and see how they do. I'm hoping that with a little bit more work, and more free time over the summer I will get to a dressage show or two... that's the goal I'm setting for myself at least. I want to get consistent enough with my riding to try a training level dressage class. 

I think Rio could probably do it no problem... Its my confidence I have to work on. Which, I'm noticing is a common theme for me! Casey spent a good chunk of my lesson telling me to stop blaming my riding for all of our little issues. My principal at work tells me at least once a week that I need to give myself more credit, and that I'm doing awesome for being "new" to everything that is being thrown at me. I never thought of myself as a perfectionist, but I'm starting to question that now!

Ready for our riding lesson yesterday...

All in all life is good. Things are moving in the right direction, and with a little luck and a lot of prayers they'll continue to move in the upward direction!

Until next time... hopefully not six months from now (sorry!) Rio & I hope all our friends, family and readers are well!

Rock'n it out on the trail... super pony style!