Leaving for Las Vegas

Photo credit © finna dat, taken in Oslo, Norway.

This photo is my preferred method of flying.

In two days I leave for Las Vegas. It's a business trip, so it isn't for fun. I used to like to fly to other places but I've become more nervous about it, especially having a family left at home to think about. I hate playing out the "what-ifs" in my mind when I have to take a plane.

Every year I work this trade show in Vegas co-ordinating and being stylist and model dresser for our costume fashion show. It's a LOT of work for 2 full days of preparation and then it's over in around an hour. There isn't much time or energy left to partake of some of the fun stuff in Las Vegas. I don't gamble, except to play the occasional slot machine. Actually, my co-worker and I have a little thing we get a kick out of. She's a smoker and the only place she can have a cigarette is in the casino. So we try to see if she can finish a cigarette or if I can lose $5.00 in a slot machine faster!

I don't go out drinking, so while others from our business gamble or go to the bars, I usually wind up alone after dinner. My co-worker friend is older and by the end of the day is usually only up to taking her pain meds and settling into her room. I've had a few instances while walking around and shopping where I'm like, "gee, here I am in Las Vegas, where there's all kinds of cool stuff to do and I'm alone." I know, I could maybe try to get in to see a show but I really don't like doing things alone in a place I'm not really familiar with.

The Coca-Cola and M&M stores are always lots of fun and good for a few souvenirs. However this year we will not be on the strip. Our show is being held at a place called the Red Rock Casino/Resort/Spa. Not sure I'm thrilled about that. One of the salesmen told me it's an activity resort, with hiking, bicycle riding, kayaking and horseback riding. He said, "you should go horseback riding while we're there". I looked at him and said, "um, exactly when do I fit THAT in?" Great, take me to a place where I could do all sorts of fun things but I have to work during the day when those activities are available.

I looked at their website. They have a sunrise ranch ride and a dinner ranch ride. It sounds like it could be fun, but I'd be doing it alone. And my husband is bummed because he's been wishing to go to this exact resort because he's read rave reviews in his road bicycling magazines of their cycling accommodations. If the kids weren't an issue, he could come with me and while I'm working my @$$ off he'd be pedaling his all over the cycling track.

I will not have much if any internet access for the next several days. I'll be sure to post when I return if it was better than I'm anticipating on here. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure it's a lovely resort and a great experience - IF you are going there for a vacation!

R.I.P. Dandy

It has been awhile since I last posted. Seems the level of busy in my life hasn't left much time for quiet reflection and sharing of thoughts and experiences. But the sad news of my friend E.W.'s beloved Dandy's passing has me wanting to dedicate a post to the closest I have ever come to an equine saint.

This old fellow was the reliable rock we all looked to when heading off property to trail ride. He was the trail buddy that you always knew would not misbehave in any way and his calming effect on other horses was enviable. Never took a misstep with a child on his back and always carried his doting E.W. with care no matter what adventure the two of them embarked on. With personality plus, he could make you smile even on the worst day. E.W. was blessed to share his life and Dandy was blessed with the most loving and attentive human to protect his. I am saddened to know of his loss but the knowing that it was a peaceful passing, that his great heart simply gave out, gives some comfort.

My thoughts and prayers are with you, E.W. in your time of loss and sadness. Perhaps, when you are ready, you will consider posting your own memorial to Dandy. I'll share my tribute to my mare, Alta on Critters.com. This is a lovely place to keep your pet's memory alive.

Happy Halloween! A Pumpkin Tale

Well, let's see. I have been tagged by OnTheBit with a Ghost It Forward. Now I have not been able to recall an appropriately ghostly story to share, nor have I found (or had time to create with Photoshop) a good, "ghostly" picture but I do have a memory to relate about how we used to get our Halloween pumpkins when I was a kid. So here's hoping this is in the spirit of "Ghosting It Forward".

When I was about 11 or 12 years old and had my first horse, Tally Ho, we used to trail ride all over the West Hills park in Huntington, NY. If I had a buddy riding with me we would even cross the road in front of the stable and go into the wooded land on the other side of the park. 30 or so years ago, you would be able to ride through the woods and not be cut off by the housing developments that now cover much of the land.

One of our favorite places to ride to every fall, was a small farm next to a well-known riding school called Mrs. D's. This farm was next to a boy scout camp ground which is still there today, even though both Mrs. D's and the farm are long gone. The farm was off limits (of course) but there were trails around it if you wanted to ride over to Mrs. D's. However, this farmer would have a very nice crop of pumpkins growing in the back section of the field, right next to the entrance to the trails that led to and from Mrs. D's.

We would ride over after school, being sure to wear our nylon school windbreaker jackets. You know - the kind with the snaps up the front and the drawstring around the bottom. When we got to the edge of the field, we'd dismount, snap up our jackets and pull the drawstring around the bottom tight and tie it. Then we'd collect as many small pumpkins as we could find and put them in our jackets. The jackets acted as a "bag" to hold them next to our body. Then we'd take off our helmet and choose a pumpkin the size of our head and put it in the helmet, using the elastic chin strap as a handle to loop over our arm. (back then, that's what passed as safety headgear, LOL. Even funnier is the irony in that we were riding bare headed in order to protect our prize pumpkin!)

Now, the challenge that you had to do all this and somehow scramble back onto your horse before the farmer noticed what was going on and sent his dog out after you. Visualize the drama of trying to climb onto a horse with a jacketful of pumpkins, while trying to keep another pumpkin in your helmet as it's dangling from your elbow by the chin strap! Now imagine a barking dog tearing across the field after you and you can imagine what the horse is doing.

Did it EVER occur to us to have one guy dismount and get the goods, then hand them to the guy on the horse to do the jacket stuffing? Nope, because then in your greedy, pre-teen mind you'd only be getting half as much loot!

If we managed to do all this and get back to our barn without mishap, we'd proudly display the smaller pumpkins on the wooden ledge that was in front of each stall to hold brushes. It was like a badge of courage to have them there because everyone knew where they were from and what you had to do to get them!

Ah, good times.

Every autumn when the air becomes chilly and the leaves change color, I think of the pumpkin raids. So I hope you've enjoyed my not quite a ghost story but definitely in the spirit of the season!! (I'm not sure who to pass this one on to from here, perhaps I'll let the ghost rest here until next Halloween.)

Ed Wrigley Memorial hunter pace - a great day!

The Ed Wrigley Memorial Hunter Pace held at the Muttontown preserve was a fun event!


The day began overcast and soggy. The rain was an intermittent, light misting drizzle, adding to two previous days of the same so I knew what kind of footing we'd be in for. I called my pace partner early to see if she was still up for it. She said she didn't mind the rain, as long as it wasn't a downpour or cold. We were going!(Actually, she turned out to be a much more aggressive rider than I had expected!)


My husband helped me hook up the trailer and I left to pick up Monty, who had already eaten his breakfast and was lounging in his turn-out when I arrived. Thankfully, Monty did NOT roll in his favorite muddy spot and we were loaded quickly and on our way.


The preserve is very close to my home and the stable and we got there in good time. So good in fact, that the very next trailer to pull in was my partner's and she parked right next to us! We tacked up and headed over to the starting box where about a half dozen teams were already milling about awaiting their call to start. It turned out that there were about 35 teams entered which was a great turn out even with the yukky weather.


When they called us to the start, we were expected to jump a cross rail right before entering the woods. I wanted to try it since the photographer was there. (I'm a picture junkie) My partner said to go ahead and she'd follow. Monty trotted up and over. I, however, was in less than perfect form and I know when that proof arrives I'm gonna groan and vow to never let my trainer see it! (of course, if it's not TOO awful, I'll post it here to share!)


My partner's horse is a sweet old soul. He's about 15 years old so he and Monty are close in age. The two geldings got along well, and when we left at the start, they were most compatible and it didn't matter which horse had the lead, although I admit I kind of hogged the front. The footing was what I expected, it was slippery and even a bit treacherous in some spots, so we did more walking and trotting than we would have liked. We knew we were going to be out of the ribbons but our horses would come home safe and sound. If you want to be competitive in a hunter pace, the ride has to be done at a canter and working trot. The more you walk, the more you have to flat out gallop to make up the time.


Along the ride were some nicely maintained, natural log jumps of varying heights and almost all had go-arounds. Some we jumped, some we simply bypassed.


Of course, there was one "jump" that was a bit of a surprise for both of us.


We were galloping down a nice, open stretch of trail when ahead of us was about a 3 foot wide puddle, spanning the width of the path. As we approached, I felt Monty speed up. I had a feeling he was going to try and jump the puddle.


He did.

I prepared for the take off but he didn't jump the way I expected. I thought he would jump across the puddle, in a more flattened arc. Instead, he popped up in a big leap and landed hard on the other side. I got jumped out of the tack and even though I stayed with him, on the jolt of the landing, I bit the inside of my lower lip - really hard. OUCH! At first I didn't feel much, I wasn't even sure it was bleeding, then I wiped my mouth on my glove and yep, blood. My partner rode up and as she asked if I was okay I told her - "I'm gonna have a nasty fat lip". She looked at my face and said, "ohhh, yeah".

Well, no use worrying about it when you are out in the woods and not anywhere near an ice pack. So off we went with me sucking my lip and thinking maybe I need to brush up on my jumping.

The rest of the ride went smoothly. We were fast but fair to our horses. We were pleased that all our horse shoes stayed on, even with the mud, as we passed 2 shoes lost by earlier riders. We finished up heading back into the field where the trailers were parked and jumped the last fence, also with the photographer at the ready. Hopefully, that jumping shot will be a little more brag-worthy. ;)

Once we finished and took the horses back to the trailers. We hosed them down and loaded them. Both horses were tired and glad to rest in their dry trailers out of the now increasing rain. We riders headed over to the lunch buffet and enjoyed grilled burgers and hotdogs, salad and some tasty baked goodies. The rain was quite steady by now, we sat at a table under a tree and ate in a fairly dry spot. Then it was time to head for home.

I appreciate all the work the organizers put in to this hunter pace. The path was well marked, the course was interesting and even challenging in some places and even with the less than perfect weather, it was easy to see that all who attended were having a great time. I hope this becomes a yearly event!

The Dressage Lessons

Been a long time since I last posted on my riding!

So far I've had 4 lessons with the dressage instructor whom I'll call Miss D. I really enjoy her coaching style. Her background meshes well with mine and with each lesson I have been improving my position and effectiveness of the aids and Monty has greatly lightened up on his front end and is giving more from impulsion behind.

From the first lesson, I explained that I knew I had gotten lazy and hadn't had a lesson in about 2 years. She caught me on one thing I was aware of without even clueing her in - I "talk" too much with my hands. I have a habit of getting nitpicky with my rein aids and I had a feeling it was obvious. It was, she called me on it from the beginning. We also were very "clunky" in the transitions. I just let him fall into them without keeping contact and asking him to work into the next gait.

She has made me conscious of my position and balance. Miss D said it's obvious my preferred riding style is huntseat, and I do pivot forward at the hip almost naturally when riding. From the hip down she likes my lower leg position very much. She has pushed me into sitting straighter and deeper. In so doing, I allow Monty more freedom up front by shifting the balance more centrally over his middle. The result of that is his front end lightens, and I don't have to "pick" with the rein aids, he holds his frame by himself.

Lesson 4 was last night and Miss D was impressed in the difference between the first lesson and yesterday's. Last night Monty carried himself in a light contact and nice frame for most of the lesson. The transitions still need work but the improvement over 4 lessons has been notable. Miss D feels that by October we will be able to do at least Training level tests 1 and 2 and should pull respectable scores.

I have also been back to the trails after our access through the big stable down the street was revoked by the owner due to the accident a few weeks ago that I posted about here.

We now have to stay on the road around a blind bend. We hand walk the horses from our barn along this part of the street, then mount up at the top of the hill where the street is much quieter. It's about a quarter mile walk. The ladies that trail ride at my barn have done the new route and assured me if they could do it, Monty and I should be fine. E.W. and I decided to give it a go last Saturday.

As I also posted, with the longer, hillier stretch of paved road to travel, I decided to have caulk holes added to Monty's front shoes and to buy small, removable road studs to give him a little extra "bite" on the pavement so we could minimize risk of slipping. It worked beautifully. He was very secure, the studs did just what I hoped they would and they stayed on through the trails which can get stoney in some places.

I found it kind of fun to use the studs again. I hadn't used them since my serious showing days years ago. My favorite new gadget is the Safety Spin T-Tap. I used to hate the old style metal ones shaped like a letter "T". I was very leery about what would happen if the horse pulled away from me before I had it unthreaded from the shoe holes. This one is a round rubber "hockey puck" that screws in quickly and out just as fast and if the horse did step on it should not cause damage like the other style. If you are using shoe studs and need a T-tap, this is the model of choice!

And to round it off, my twins are still taking their riding lessons and they look forward to Thursday afternoon each week. Part of the excitement is the riding, part is seeing if they get a different pony to ride from the ones they have already ridden!

That's That.

Aww, thanks for the comments on the posts about my weekend trail drama, you guys. My friend and I were starting to feel bummed about the carrot gesture with all the other fallout after this. I'm glad you saw it as the simple act of thanks we intended it to be!

I also thought the comments we were hearing at the time on the fallen rider's condition didn't jive with having her airlifted to the hospital. I'm sure it was much more serious than we were told.

I stopped at the barn last night to see Monty and the vet who owns the stable where I board was just pulling out of the driveway with his son. We said our "hellos" and then he told me, "you know about her not allowing any outside riders on her property."

I said, "yes."

He said, "I heard she had a pretty bad wreck up there on Sunday."

I smiled and said, "yes, with the helicopter airlift and everything."

Then I asked if the owner had ever considered having waivers for riders from our barn to sign. This woman has a friendly business relationship with the vet, she brings horses from her place to his if there are problems. The vet told me that his office had even offered to work up the forms for her and set up the same kind of liability safeguards he has in place at his farm but she just thanked him and never pursued it.

I have a call in to my farrier for those caulk holes in the front shoes. Hope he will do it and that I have the right road studs in my collection. I can always write an interesting post about proper use of shoe studs!

The section of road we now have to ride on has a slight shoulder but it's a paved shoulder, there are hills on either side of the bend and it's a "blind" bend, to say that as you drive around it, you can't see out of the bend until you come to the top of the hill. Drivers always go way beyond the speed limit there and my fear is to have 2 cars pass us at the same time on the bend. Not much room for that! The other problem is the turn outs for the horses from the big stable all back up to the bend in the road. Sometimes those horses start acting up if they hear the clip-clop of hooves on the road. We all know what can happen to even the quietest horse when horses in turn out start getting rowdy. And a skittering steed on a busy road is not my idea of fun!

Helmets, Dammit!

Since it was a riding accident that has caused us to lose our access to the stable down the street. I think it's a good time to post about riding helmets. Do I wear one? Yes, always. Do I like wearing one? No, not always (especially now, as with summer and sweating my helmet gets stinky too fast between cleanings) I am amazed at the riders who don't wear one and all their stupid (yes, stupid) excuses why. I especially like the ones who have the biggest opinions about riding, training and safety where others are concerned but when asked why they don't wear a helmet, they get all defensive. Guess what? Unless you practice what you preach, your lofty opinions are suspect, too.

I found this on About.com and I think it's the best I've read on the many excuses riders give for not wearing a helmet. I think if more of them actually had that talk with family members as in reason #1, they might change their mind.

Top Reasons People Don't Wear Helmets While Horseback Riding And Why They Are Poor Excuses
By Katherine Blocksdorf, About.com

There are a lots of excuses for not wearing a helmet when you ride. But there is no good reason. The quietest, most well trained horse can cause injury if it is startled or hurt. Ask anyone who has accidentally ridden over a nest of ground wasps, or were riding calmly along when a car backfired. A helmet won't make you invincible, but it will help protect the one part of your body almost impossible to fix -- your brain. Please don't use these excuses and do use an ASTM approved riding helmet every time you ride.

#1 - It's my head, and I'm willing to take the risk.

You might think, it's my head and I'm willing to take the risk. But, what if your head meets an arena wall, fence post, rock or hard ground? Head injuries can lead to permanent debilitation. And while it may be your head, have you decided who will spend their life looking after you if you can't look after yourself due to a head injury? If you think you don't need a helmet then you should look your son, daughter, spouse, or friend in the eye and tell them: I don't need a helmet, but if I am wrong it will be your job to care for me. See what THEIR answer is.

#2 - I can't wear a helmet in the show ring without being penalized.

Dressage riders, western riders, and other folks who compete might feel they will be penalized if they wear a helmet in the show ring. I can understand this from the judge's point of view. When comparing two equal riding performances, with one rider wearing a hat, and one a helmet would you consider the helmet a negative? Might it be a disrespect of tradition or a indication of insecurity of the rider? Or is the helmet wearer just showing good sense? I wish judges would reward the later, but unfortunately this often isn't the case. There is no justification for valuing fashion and tradition over safety. Shame on any judge or association rulings that penalize helmet use.

#3 - I know how to do an emergency stop and dismount.

Emergency dismounts and emergency stops are useful skills to learn, but they don't replace a helmet if you take a fall. Falls can happen so quickly that you don't know you are going to come off, leaving you no time to prepare.

#4 - Helmets give me headaches.

The solution to this problem is not to avoid using a helmet, but to find one that fits. Also, I find I get headaches when I'm out all day with my horse. The problem I discovered (it took me years to realize this) was not the helmet, but dehydration. Riding is a sport and like any athlete you have to care for yourself properly, especially when heat and stress can take their toll.

#5 - It will mess up my hair.

I have one young friend who can take off her helmet and look like she just walked out of a shampoo commercial as she flings her locks in the sunlight. The rest of us have helmet hair. While a good shampoo and blow dry can do wonders for fixing your hair, brains are a little trickier to fix.

#6 - I'm a very experienced rider.

A study conducted by a team of Alberta researchers found that riders who reported an injury had an average of 27 years of riding experience. New riders had a relatively small incidence of injury. Alberta Researchers Study Equestrian Injuries

#7 - Helmets are hot and uncomfortable.

With the number of styles and fits now available there should be a helmet to fit everyone. Many are adjustable for a custom fit. Troxel, Tipperary, IRH are just a few of the manufacturers you can choose from. All have a slightly different fit and are different weights and styles. Try lots of helmets on before you buy. Ask your friends what they like. With a little research you should be able to find a helmet that will keep you both more comfortable and safe.

#8 - It's not traditional to wear a helmet when you ride western.

No, it's not. But consider what the traditional hat of the cowboy really was. It was a form of protection. Cowboys wore gloves to protect their hands, chaps to protect their legs, sturdy boots to protect their feet, and a bandanna to protect their face. Extra cinches, deep seats and tapadaros (hoods) on their stirrups, where all forms of safety protection. Their hats were primarily functional--protecting them from the elements. If the cowboy of yesteryear had the knowledge and technology we have today, I have no doubt a helmet would have been part of their gear. Tradition, like fashion, is not a justification for ignoring safety. Even cowboys knew that.

#9 - Helmets are ugly looking.

Again, there are helmets in many different styles, like the Troxel Sierra and the Troxel Cheyenne. If you don't like the way the shell of your helmet looks put on a funky helmet cover. This a great way to personalize your look.

#10 - Helmets are expensive.

ASTM approved helmets cost as little as $50, sometimes less. This is a small expense compared to the amount you could spend on hospital costs or long term care. International Equi-Lite Dial Fit System Schooling Helmet is just one example of several schooling helmets that are under the $50 price mark.

#11 - I wear a helmet--but it's made for another sport.

Riding helmets are made specifically to withstand a fall from a height or a blow to the head by a hoof. Bicycle, hockey, baseball and other helmets are not made to protect the head from these incidents.

If you want to read this entire list with ALL the related links, click here: Reasons Not To Wear A Helmet

And my own personal experience with helmet safety came at an early age. I was about 11 or 12 years old and went trail riding with my dad and another boarder at the first barn I rode at. We were cantering out of the woods in single file when her young horse bolted ahead of us, made a sharp right turn at the end of the trail, stumbled and the woman riding went right over the mare's head. The mare took off for the barn, my dad stopped to help the inert woman and he told me to get help from the barn. I galloped off in the direction the mare went and found her trotting slowly ahead of me. She stopped and let me catch the reins and I ponied her back to the barn, hollering for someone to help us.

The barn manager jumped on one of the trail hacks (it was a rent-a-horse trail barn in addition to a boarding facility) and took off back to where I told him the fall was. Another worker phoned for an ambulance (this was way back in 1975 B.C. - B.efore C.ell phones!) The woman had to be hand carried on a stretcher out of the woods (nope, no A.T.V.'s either back then) And it turned out she had a broken nose and severe concussion.

Was she wearing a helmet? Yes. Granted it was one of the old-school fiberglass shell helmets we wore back then. But I'll never forget when my dad showed it to me. He had brought it back with him as he followed the emergency crew back to the barn. On the back of the helmet was a perfect imprint of a horse shoe. Where her mare had stepped on her head and shoved it into the ground. I can't imagine the outcome of that fall if she hadn't worn the helmet that day. I don't want to.

Lessons, continued...

So to recap from the previous post, we are now stranded at the stable on the corner. Be prepared, it's a long one...

There are a lot of people in the parking lot and courtyard milling around and trying to see what has happened. They are telling us we can't get through, that a helicopter is coming and the field is full of emergency vehicles. Some people are saying we could try to take the road back but I am adamant it's not a good idea, if the helicopter comes while we are on the turn, all I need is for the horses to spook. I have a healthy fear of getting dumped onto pavement and into traffic.

The boarders were very nice, they offered us to take our horses behind the main barn, maybe hose them and offer them water and keep them on crossties in the barn until the problem was resolved. We elected to dismount and find a quiet corner to hold them in where they couldn't see into the field. My horse has seen the medivac copter before. I was riding once in the polo ring and it landed across the street in the sports field in front of the high school. Monty didn't even give it a toss of the head.

The buzz was this rider's horse had simply stumbled as she was riding on the grass hill. The rider had gone over the horses head or shoulder and fallen off. She had a broken wrist (or wrists) and they thought she also had a mild concussion.

We were held "hostage" by the situation for about 30-40 minutes. Once the copter came and went, we ventured from behind the barn to the field. All the vehicles were gone except for a lone police car who's officer was talking with the woman who owns the stable. We quietly walked our horses off her property and directly to home. The horses had even had enough. Where they usually try to graze on the church lawn as we walk home, this time the two of them marched over the grass and down the road to our driveway.

E.W. and I were so relieved when we put the horses in their stalls. What a stressful ending to a nice ride. We decided to go have a nice refreshing sweet tea at McDonald's. While we were there, we thought maybe it would be a nice gesture to bring some big bags of fresh carrots to the stable owner and tell her to share with the boarders since they were so kind to us. So we went to the grocery store and bought 10 pounds of carrots.

We went back to the stable and met the owner. She was nice enough as we dropped off our gift. We said we hoped the woman was all right and that her horse was too and that her boarders were very kind to offer our horses water. The exchange seemed to be appreciated.

Well, it doesn't matter because as of yesterday evening there is a sign posted in our tackroom at our barn that the owner no longer is allowing access through her property. I don't know what transpired but obviously she called our barn management and told them her place is now off limits.

My friend and I can't think of anything we did wrong. My husband thinks it's mainly because of liability. But this woman has been holding horse shows on her property so obviously there's a risk with liability there from people outside her barn community. However, there are also release forms that must be signed before you can compete. Are there non-competition release forms a barn owner can have people from outside their property sign? I know the management at the barn I am at now is very concerned with this and has everyone sign releases. Since it is also a medical clinic, there can be horses coming and going and not always time to ascertain what the owner's experience is. So forms must be submitted.

I was so interested in riding over to compete in the dressage shows at that stable but now I'm not so sure I want to do it. Even if I pay an entry, I still feel like I'm not welcome.

What a stupid society we live in. I am old school. Unless someone maliciously attempts to cause me to fall from my horse, I assume responsibility of my skills in handling my horse if it should spook, buck, stumble, whatever. I always wear a helmet. I try very hard to be courteous, in control and respectful of my actions and my comments when I am on someone elses' terms. I just don't know.

So now my only options if I want to go trail ride is to use my horse trailer, which is more effort than I have time for and to try having my farrier shoe Monty with stud holes in his shoes, then I'll put road studs in and hope the extra grip enables him to handle the paved hill on the bend.

Lessons

Well, after another round of telephone tag, I used email to arrange another lesson with the dressage instructor. Now all I need is nice weather on Wednesday evening and I'm good to go! This delay has kind of dampened my enthusiasm. I'm hoping all goes well to get me back into the drive to get to a show.

My boyz had lesson number 2. They enjoy it so much! Their smiles as they ride the pony tell me all I need to know. The best part was, when they were mounted, it was as if their first lesson had only been the day before. They retained everything! I marvel at the difference between them and me where horses are concerned. And I wonder if it's just them or is it a difference in how boys and girls relate to horses.

When I was their age, I ate, slept and breathed horses. After a riding lesson I went home and played with my Breyer horses. I wanted to know about horse care. I read horse books, watched horse movies. Obsession was too simple a word!

The boys like to ride, they look forward to the lesson. They talk about it a bit afterward. Then they go home and play with Transformers and ask when are we going to take them to the park to ride their bikes. It's like it's just another thing they do. Their main interest in riding is to get good enough to go trail riding with me.

Speaking of trail. Sunday was a lovely day. My friend, E.W. and I went to the park for a long walk on trail. It was surprisingly quiet, both in the woods where we met no other riders and on the roads where all the cars passing us were very courteous and slow. As we were returning I'm thinking, "wow, what a nice quiet ride, today", but didn't verbalize the thought because I was afraid to jinx the day.

Too late.

As we turned down the road for home, a car approached us and slowed down. The woman driving asked if we were headed to the big stable at the corner. We said yes, as that's the place where we cut through their property to avoid riding on a very nasty bend in the road back to our barn. She warned us there had been an accident at the stable and there was a medical helicopter on the way in and there were all sorts of emergency vehicles on the field. No horses were allowed outside on the property.

Oh great. And all we wanted to do was get home. More to come...

Spring Vineyard Ride - Got My Photos!!

I was thrilled to get the photographer's information about the pictures from the Vineyard Ride! (Thanks to Sally!) That's me, on my big white Monty.

I just bought these 4 pictures and couldn't wait to show to all so I'm putting up the small reference shots to share. The entire © peter-marney gallery from the ride is available at SmugMug.com. Check them out for a really great viewing of the day!

Spring Vineyard Ride 2008

Here is the recap of the Vineyard Ride 2008.

The day had finally arrived! The morning was cool and damp but the sun was on it's way to a shining warm day. We left home early to pick up Monty and meet my friend who was also riding in the event. Monty surprised both my husband and I by waltzing right into the horse trailer and standing there. Usually he resists a little, then we wiggle a lunge whip behind him and he walks in. I guess he was just as interested in going someplace else for an adventure, too.

Our drive was quick and uneventful. We arrived at Martha Clara Vineyards in plenty of time to sign in, stop at the restroom and grab a bagel and juice from the breakfast spread laid out for the riders. After unloading and tacking up, we joined the growing group of riders on the lawn for a champagne toast to thank those who work so hard to organize this ride.

The fast group was the first to head out. My friend and I found our place near the front of the group. We left the yard at a trot and it wasn't long before we were cantering/galloping through the fields. It seemed the pace was set and it was faster than the previous year's ride. I enjoy a good gallop and have no problem asking Monty to keep up with the leaders. He's a welcome change from my previous horse. If she wasn't in the front of everyone, you were going to have a really hard ride.

The first Vineyard we stopped at was Paumanok, where we dismounted. Our horses were given a chance to graze and drink water as we sampled a delicious riesling and a nice chardonay. In previous years, this vineyard's offerings were my least favorites but I was pleasantly surprised this time. I called my husband who was out with his road bike and he was over at Jamesport vineyard at the time. He'd already made a few purchases and said he'd be right over. Sure enough, he was there in 5 minutes and agreed with me on the Paumanok wines for this season.

Soon it was time to mount up and head off to Jamesport Vineyard. I have always liked this small, family run vineyard and their wines are always a favorite. At this time on the ride, we are doing a lot of riding along the roads in the area and the horses get a nice walk to relax and settle down. We arrived there quickly and the horses were given another rest. Again, their samplings were wonderful, including a rich, smooth merlot, which was nice as I've gotten used to their white wines and tend to think of them mostly for white.

Now we remounted and headed for Martha Clara, where we would have the last of our tastings and a nice lunch served. All the horses seemed eager to get back and the end part of the ride got a little wild. Nothing I couldn't handle, just kept my horse at a canter while some of the more aggressive riders galloped ahead.

And we were back to where we started. All total, the ride was about 2-1/2 hours. It was a hot day but there was a constant breeze so even though the horses were sweaty they were not overheated. My husband was back from his bike ride already. We untacked, showered off our horses and loaded them into the trailers, then went to enjoy the lunch and socializing. We purchased wines from all 3 vineyards this year, which is the first time we've liked selections from each place.

After lunch, it was time to drive home. By now it was approaching 4:00PM and we were going into babysitter overtime but we just had one stop to make before hitting the highway. There is a teeny bakery in Jamesport called Junda's Pastry Crust and Crumbs, and their cheesecake is incredible. I pulled over in front and my husband ran in and bought cheesecake, apple strudel, rye bread and assorted cookies. Ahh, love to Junda's!

Back at the stable, Monty was happy to have a nice wet bran mash to round out the day. I could see he was tired, that was more galloping than we usually do at this time of the year and I rubbed him in well with wintergreen rubbing alcohol. My husband went home ahead of me to relieve the babysitter (and to get our precious cheesecake into the refrigerator). My day didn't end until the truck was unloaded, the trailer was mucked out, the sweaty tack cleaned and the horse checked "one more time" to be sure he was comfortable.

I really enjoyed the hot shower, cup of coffee and slice of cheesecake that evening.

The Trail "Tail"

What a weekend. Only managed one day of riding during the week and that was a half hour late on Tuesday night. Had thought I had plans to get to the park & trails on Saturday but that just did NOT happen. I did manage to work in the arena with Monty, we wound up putting in an hour and a half of work. The flatwork was great, moving forward, nice headset, soft in my hands. Great stuff. Then I asked for some jumping, (mind you these were cross rails and we were trotting to them) and it suddenly became a project.

He trots to the jump, tries to canter the last stride, then he lands and bucks and acts like a jerk and I have to pull him up, settle him and try again. We go through this every spring after the winter off from consistent riding. We trotted the crossrail a few times and I got so tired of the nonsense that I asked him to canter the crossrail and THAT he did right out of stride and I had no problem with my position and release. I give up, next time, I go back to the exercise of setting a pole on the ground about 9 feet in front of the jump and about 9 feet after. This way he has to concentrate on trotting the pole into the jump and cantering the pole after the jump instead of his usual rushtothejumplandbuckandplayafter routine. That and trotting that crossrail as part of a 20-30 meter circle. Sometimes, I think I have lost my timing and my "eye". I feel like I either don't release well enough or I can't get "with" him into the jump and after.

"sigh" I need some jumping lessons...

Sunday was trail day. My friend and I got our schedules together and headed out earlier than usual. The sky was cloudy and of course neither of us checked the weather so as we got about half way out we began to think rain might not be far off. Monty was the most relaxed he's been off the home property, I think we have that settled.

On the return trip the breeze starts picking up and we could feel it getting cooler, now there are grey clouds starting to drift in. We were guessing how long before it started to rain to how much more ground we had to cover to return home. Now we exit the woods to the road and we notice my friend's horse has a branch with leaves attached to it tangled in his tail and is dragging it along the road behind him. Her horse is completely unfazed by the "thing" dragging behind him but Monty is stepping hesitantly and giving it the evil eye. We were chuckling about "oh no, look, Dandy has a "snake" stuck in his tail" when my friend notices my horse is walking behind her Dandy and he's got his head low and focused on the dragging branch. Of course I'm curious what my horse is going to do, so I sit deep in the saddle and wait. Monty is walking closer...closer...then steps on the branch, it comes free of Dandy's tail and Monty jumps straight up in the air and right down on top of it! Okay - that was a surprise moment in the saddle, (where luckily, I stayed!) Then he marches off after Dandy like nothing happened!

That was conversation for the rest of the ride, how my big brave gelding killed the evil branch snake that was following his friend! She swears Monty looked like a cat stalking something when he was following that dragging branch. Never a dull moment.

We finally get to the church across the street from our barn where the owners have graciously allowed us to graze our horses and of course we reward them with grazing for a good ride when the rain arrives (love to my Wintec saddle). Ugh, thankfully the barn is a few yards away but the snacktime was cut short and we hurried back.

One more weekend of trail riding to go, then we trailer out for the vineyard ride event. I feel good though, I know Monty is fit enough for this. I'm thinking I'm in okay shape too, as long as I don't forget the Advil...

Trail Ride Numéro Deux

After two days of rain, rain, rain, today was sunny and cool here in NY. So my friend and I headed out on trail again. Monty was exactly what I expected and considering he also hasn't been ridden since last Sunday, I guess he was even a little better than I expected! And boy, did I need a fairly calm ride to settle myself since my twin boys have been like two wild colts. I need to do some "Natural Kidsmanship". They need someone to run them around a round pen and then sit on them!

Leaving the property was no problem and the only time he got frisky was when we turned around to go back at the place on the trail that becomes an absolute swamp when we get a lot of rain. And I'm talking suck-the-shoes-off-your-horses'-hooves swampy! Otherwise we would have kept going, because past that point we come to the grazing field nirvana. There isn't much lush grazing grass at our barn but in this field it's a real treat and the horses get to feast on the thick grass and clover.

Next week we will head up to the trails on the higher ground. Tomorrow is Mother's Day. Too many things to do and people to see so we will be schooling in the arena at home.

First Trail Ride of this Year

Yesterday was a great day. It was Monty and my first return to the trails after a long winter. I've been trying to get consistant work in the ring with him to get his fitness up (to say nothing of mine) so we can get out and enjoy the adventure of the trails. I say adventure because where I board, the trails are not close by and you have to do some road riding to get to them. (Every year my horse "forgets" that he has been doing this for years and needs about 3 trips with a quiet trail partner before he's ready to have a relaxing ride on trail.)

Monty has been good enough riding at home but when he starts acting like a fool and trying to buck and scoot here and there after 15 minutes of really good work, I know he's bored and needs to get back on trail.

So this was the weekend. I felt we were ready to head out. My friend with a very reliable aged QH was happy to go with me. I knew he was the best partner for us as my horse got reaquainted with venturng away from home. So, we met at the barn, tacked up and were about to head out when our plans took a detour.

Into the driveway that is in front of our barn pulls a small stock trailer with two whinnying horses. The driver stops a few feet from the barn instead of driving to the back of the property where we have always been told to unload horses. I'm walking my horse outside the barn and by now he's wide eyed and snorting over the two horses calling out in the trailer.

Instead of the @$$hat driver noticing my horse was upset and saying to try and leave with my friend before he unloaded the horses, he gets out and opens the trailer door. One horse steps back off the ramp, still tied, and has to be shoved back in as the other horse bounces around and tried to turn around. By now, Monty is freaked, he's kicking out, tossing his head and has managed to put his tongue over his Happy Mouth kimberwicke bit which has freaked him out even more. I can't get him past this fiasco to get back in the barn to calm him (and myself) down, so I had to deal with it until they untangled the two horses and unloaded them.

My friend is looking at me by now like oh God, and we wanted a nice quiet experience today. As soon as the coast was clear, I told her give me 15 minutes. I brought him back to his stall, removed his bridle and left him in there tacked. I changed the bit to his usual D snaffle and added a drop noseband attachment. I went back to him, let him finish the hay he was munching on and rebridled him. He seemed to have calmed down and I called my friend and said we were ready. This time I walked out of the barn and we headed to the road with my friend right behind. After we were across the street and onto the church lawn full of fresh dandelions, all seemed much better.

From there the ride went well. Monty had a few moments where he got antsy on trail but was steady as a rock on the road. Overall, he was a good boy. It figures the selfish idiot who caused us to have a stressful start never said anything close to "I'm sorry" for causing what could have been a really bad scene. And I'm happy with myself. As I'm getting older and have two little kids, I find it harder to suppress fearful thoughts of "oh God, what if he..." But it was the anger over the stupidity of the situation that overrode any fear and made me kick into trainer mode (as in, I will NOT let this horse end today without walking calmly off this property). I still have that ability, and that is a good feeling.