Tuesday, September 27, 2011

I wanna go

Mary Phelps, Whip; K. Gage, Groom. Phelps Photo
It's been busy out here.

The year end stuff has finally caught up with us and it's the final drive to October.

Most of my last two weeks have been spent on the road, training, grooming, finishing up 2011 or planning out 2012.I haven't really seen my guys, or ridden any of my usuals.

I partly blame the weather. My outdoors have been under water now for the last two weeks. So, I've spent the weeks finishing out my paperwork so I can go forward with graduating the L, attend  few conferences and figure out winter.

But needless to say it hasn't been short of adventurous. 

After getting to ride 17.1 hand giants (a nice mare and two lovely geldings), clipping a few ponies (see above photo for results) I was conscripted into service by Sterling Graburn for the weekend for a HDT in Louisville.

I'm not an exact stranger to driving, but I am a complete novice when it comes to the particulars and morays. Within an entire weekend, I think I managed to get grasp on the basics of it. I even groomed and navigated. I ran into old friends and even made a few new ones.

The quality of horses here ranged from VSE to international caliber. It was incredibly pleasant to experience that range and hospitality of both competitor and organizer.  

It felt nice to step out of my discipline for a bit and go in to a place that is a little out of my depth, but not too unfamiliar at the same time.

Now I'm back at home, readying for the final go for October, sending Sincere off for his first 30 days and trying to gain more saddle time while closing out the last bit of the year.

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

We've got to make it rain somehow

I started writing this complaining about the weather. Up until Friday, it was raining, and spent another week grounded because of weather and a convalescing pony.

Seems like karma can't catch a break.  

With the free time and plowing through my weekly groceries, I managed to catch up on paperwork. I was glued into the USEF National Dressage Finals pretty hard, cheering on friends who made it to the pinnacle of the season. Over the weekend I managed to stop by the NDPC/MSEDA show to watch a few of the rides, be around people and carry out appointments.

But, between rounds, I found out it's very hard for me to sit on the sidelines.In fact, it really bites.

So I went back to the barn, and instead of feeling out, I went to work.

Sincere was groomed and worked in hand. He's going through another growth spurt, and while he isn't swan ugly, he's not looking like a super model either. He's amazing to work with and alongside. Soon he'll be shipped out to winter pasture to grow up a little further.

Sinari was groomed, going to have to clip her soon. She's regained a lot of her energy and she's becoming jealous of Sincere. Hopefully will be back under saddle soon and preparing out for winter season.

Saturday, September 3, 2011

Inches

 It's dry out. You step on the grass out here and it's like walking on dead leaves. The ground is hard, and we're in need of some rain. We haven't galloped in ages. Otherwise, the last bit of summer is loosing it's grasp.

I'm not ashamed to bid this summer farewell, it's one that I haven't gotten to reflect on or idle in too much. The horses and I were busy from one weekend to the next, with few breathers until now.

The last week has been slow in the work department, the pony is still off. Her soreness is gone, but just want a vet clearance prior to taking her back into the program. Sincere is still going forward with what he's doing (hint: not a heck of a lot). There are a also a few interesting developments. Arena fever has set in and our attentions have turned to fall and winter training.

I wish we had a competitive indoor series like Europe, we have the facilities for it, and we do have a decent fall season schedule in October. However, personal plans are taking over around that time. So, forcibly, our show season is done. Next year though is already holding a lot of promise.

August Goals:
-Clinic in TN
Check, and had a lot of homework for it.
-School through PSG
Check, perfectly do-able, just going to take some practice.
-Send entry in for NDPC
Check, and then scratched.
-Re-flock saddle
Check, Sara Ivie of County Saddles is awesome.
-Transitions, halts, lateral work
Better transitions, and better lateral work, but need to tighten up the canter-halt transition.
-Finalize Kur.
Still toying with music. Going with Dr. Who, just need choreography.

September Goals:
-Clinic in TN
-Condition, keep running through PSG.
-Ready supplies for winter
-Transitions