We like to party

I did a two for one day at USEA and USDF's conventions.

I made the trek up to Ohio to at least attempt to attend Area 8 awards (missed it due to an overrun meeting) for Reba and Anna, and then jetted back down Lexington to accept my Silver in person.

It's not my first convention I went to, but it was the first time I've accepted an award on the national scene. Reba was also one of the first horses I've had to go out and just dominate, and also the first horse I haven't piloted to those ribbons, but "owned". It was a good way to end a year I'd rather forget.

Despite arriving late, I was lucky that I had friends there to hold a seat and a plate of food. My table had collectively some of the best, most revered classical trainers seated (Charles DeKnuffy, JJ Tate and Mrs. O'Connor) at it. Many of which I met for the first time, and for once in my wee existence felt really awestruck at the living history eating cake and having coffee.

I didn't expect to like many of them, many trainers on the hard-core classical path tend to be eccentric at best. But if you ever have the chance to meet Charles, he's incredibly wonderful to listen to and get to know and Mrs. O' Connor is spot on with much of her commentary.

If the night had a theme, it was education.

It is something that I feel very near and dear to as I regularly host and work alongside people who's greater motivation is to improve riding and it's understanding. To see these people, who have dedicated their lives to furthering the next generation, and being recognized for it, is cool.

It's hard to believe that 40 years ago (I've been a member about a quarter of that time) we were still competing on grass with chain arenas and education and the programs, like the L, the All Breeds, Regionals, Instructor Certification, that in were started when I was 15 or 16 years old. We  have made progress.

It was fantastic to see and hear the stories being exchanged. It was good to see old friends, and touch base with those who I do business with. Plus it just started to stoke the competitive fires for 2014.

Blue Ribbons and other awards

 I don't know why this post got deleted, I just know I had to re-type it. I was nominated a few times

for the Liebster Award (Sixth Stride, Cob Jockey, Woven Web). So thanks for the nomination!

(I tried re-creating the post exactly how it was but, of course things get jumbled)

11 Facts About Me:
1. I ride two to three horses, six days a week on top of a forty hour a week job. Two exceptions to this are weather over 100 and sub 30 degrees. I maintain my amateur status, clean stalls, hang the tack, work for Christoph Hess, and manage my own company in addition to all of this. 
2. I was a vegetarian for 10 years. Animal Science changed this. 
3. I started my company wanting an education, and got much more than I bargained for. I've met countless people, and it's made me a better person and rider.
4. I was a professional journalist for 8 years. It's how I saw much of the world, and I wouldn't exchange the experience. I stopped because the industry was unstable, and the hours really pushed out riding. I made a then-choice to take a crappy job with stable hours so I could train.
5. I am dyslexic. I was in special education for 9 years.
6. I'm way excited about the quality coming up in my barn, but it's also intimidating that I have to live up to it.
7. I'm a pedigree geek. I love qualitative relationships and theory that doing ped work provides.
8. I live next to a pretty cemetery.
9. I love to sleep. You'll often find me conked out on the couch with a book, a cat and the TV going.
10. I used to hate texting and resisted forever about getting an iPhone. Now, I prefer texting and can't live without it.
11. I have good people. I couldn't do anything without them. 

1. Why did you start blogging and who in real life knows that you blog?
   I started blogging to track the progress and chart goals for Sinari. From there its evolved with the goal set and various things that are happening, the cast of characters also evolved as well. A lot of people know I blog, the cool thing (aside from getting comments) is actually meeting readership and getting to know their stories. 
2. Black or brown tack
   Black, but I covet a pair of brown (dark brown) schooling boots. 
3. Favorite Comfort food?
   Chocolate, and various mediums thereof.
4. Favorite Color?
   Red, blues, second runner up black. 
5. If you could ride any horse (living or not), who would it be?
   Too many to list. 
6. What other pets do you own?
   Two cats. Although they would question the word owner. 
7. What is your "hidden talent?"
   Being driven. 
8. You win the lottery, what would you buy first?
   More Grand Prix horses and pay off the house.
9. You can travel anywhere, for an infinite amount of time, with an infinite amount of money, where do you go?
   Europe, to train. 
10. You're intimidated by?
    Lack of knowledge, being out of my depth. 
11. Favorite movie?
    My favorite thing to do at the end of the day is to watch movies. I really don't have any favorite that I can specifically recall. But my Netflix and Amazon Prime accounts are well abused, and on my truly off days (rare) I love going to the movies if there's anything decent playing.`
    

From Woven Web:

 

1. Favorite racehorse and why?

Curlin or Rags to Riches. Classic distance horses have always been a favorite. I hope I see offspring in the sport horse arena.

 2. First racetrack you ever went to or wish to visit if never been?

Saratoga, made Keeneland look a little shabby.

 3. Favorite horse real or fictional?

My own. Perk of the job is I know wonderful horses, but seeing mine and how they're developing is the most exciting. 

 4. What color of horse do you prefer and which markings on it?

Inadvertently partial to chestnuts with bling. Bays and blacks are apparently popular too. 

  5. Who is your riding idol?

Kyra Kyrklund 

 6. Best place you've ever visited that isn't considered a major tourist attraction or is 'off the beaten path'?

OBX. 

 7. Favorite breakfast cereal?

Raisin Bran, otherwise granola in milk. 

 8. Favorite non horse animal? Can't be cat or dog either...

  Blue Heron.

9. What are you most afraid of? 

Being out of my depth. 

10. Could you ever see yourself training or competing in dressage?

I too aspire to make pretty twenty meter sand circles. 

11. Three people, dead or alive, real or fictional you'd have dinner with?

 a. Christoph Hess (I have dinner with him frequently)
 b. The Klimkes
 c. Felicitas Von Neuman Cosal

Learning to walk again

Sinari is back under tack doing light work. I'm immensely happy to have her back. She's steadily gaining back conditioning with the work.

I'm still working and riding the horses. I need to, they're just as much fun as the ponies and I have someone exciting in the wings.

Namely we've been concentrating on forward, supple and balance, taking the time to lay some firm rules down for the push back to 4th and PSG. There is some grumbling from the girl about committing to that much balance, but already it feels better.

Hopefully we'll be further up to speed by the end of the month. Florida is still under consideration with her.

Sincere, however, has been going gang busters in his work. Lunging lightly under saddle, he's really accepted the job. He's worn saddles, bridles, side reins and Vienna reins. Accepted it all, with class and maturity. He looks awesome and minus some willy nillies from spooking at the turkeys, he's pretty darn brave. I can't wait to see him go on as a three year old and a fully formed four year old.

Since this is the end of the year, it means paper work. I shipped in my L paper work, my Bronze Medal application (conveniently online), the photo release form for the USDF Year Book, YR Graduate Application, and a few other things (trying to get my 2012 calendar in order). I have a few projects on the stove, and I still have clipping I need to get done with the ponies.

But right now, it doesn't matter, I'm taking a week break from the rush and I have an excellent view of the ocean.

The Blog has it's own paperwork as well. I'm still surprised after 250 plus posts and a number of years, that people actually read what I write. But then again, it still comes as a surprise when people come up and comment about articles I've written or edited professionally as well.

We recently received the One Lovely Blog Award from Dressage on the Quarter. Dressage on the Quarter posts very regularly, and, has a diverse amount of discussion.

Because of the perpetual nature of the award, I nominate the blogs to the left. They are good reads and aren't always just dressage-related.

The other condition of the award is I have to divulge 7 things about myself. So here it goes:

1. I meet my  heroes on a regular basis. I'm surrounded and continually inspired by the people who I train with, who I know, and who I work with. They keep me, the ponies and my perspective fresh. I think it's uber neat that I get to play, frequently, with those who help shape and impact the sport (not just dressage) on a far reaching level.

2.  It takes a village to raise an FEI horse. I rely on my team on a day-to-day basis to help us get where we're going. Currently on board is a small army of individuals and companies that keep us afloat. I'm hugely ambitious, and want to compete as many times as I can with the ponies at the FEI level, so I seriously cannot do it without them.

2a. Within the same vein: my ponies and horses are awesome too. They are deeply apart of my life and have been for sometime. They've sometimes come from odd, unexpected places as well. Sinari was found on a tobacco farm in back woods Kentucky, Sincere was bred out of two plain bays (and out of a dam that was never started under saddle and came to me malnourished) and the others I've found through just a bevy of network contacts and luck. I feel immensely privileged to have talented, willing and capable equines. When I'm away from them I don't feel right, so I carry video and photographs of them everywhere.

3. I'm pursuing my L, and eventually my 'r' for Dressage and DSHB. I'm currently apprenticing for my CDI organizers license as well (it's a five year push).

4. I'm a work-a-holic. I enjoy having multiple projects, staying busy and solving complicated, huge projects (as well as the cute small ones). Especially after they've created issues. It's a huge rush seeing the resolution come through. Whether it be a complicated article, piece of code, design flaw, riding issues, I don't care, if there's a way to make things less complicated, more effective and more beneficial to a larger part of the world, I'm right there tinkering with it. It also means vacationing and taking time for myself is hard (not to mention 2a).

5. I love to read and watch movies. I regularly abuse my iPad, Netflix and Library card. It also doesn't help I work for the world's largest retailer and I have access to all the new stuff coming out prior to it hitting the shelves. During the off and winter season, I probably roll through a book every week or so.

6. I'm find myself becoming more and more frustrated with the trend of feel good training within the discipline. I like uncomplicated (and happy), but I realize to progress you have to break a few eggs to get there. Training isn't always pretty, it's not meant to be perfect. It's meant to allow development. When things don't go well, or a new idea is met with resistance, just keep going.

7. I believe you are never where you don't belong.

The bronze age.

Long trip home so sorry about the quick note.

Achieved USDF Bronze today with the pony, what makes it even more special is that it was my birthday. Thanks to everyone who came out, celebrated and has been more than supportive of Sinari's career.


Go Pony!

Stylin'

1. Thank and link back to the person who awarded you this award

2. Share 7 things about yourself

3. Award 15 recently discovered great bloggers

4. Contact these bloggers and tell them about the award!

1. I actually was nominated twice, JJ of The Joy of Horses and Checkmate over at Chasing the Dream. Thanks for both for reading and supporting the ponies egos.

2. a. I dislike winter immensely. I become crabby almost intolerable during winter. But I know we're not ready to go to Florida.

b. I'm a pedigree geek and meeting a few larger midwestern breeders this past weekend only proved it. I love looking over pedigree and seeing how it relates to performance and train-ability. I hope to get my r in DSHB in a few years.

c. I co-own a business that specializes in equestrian education (www.teamengaged.com). I work around the coolest people in the industry, and also some of the nicest. I really enjoy this part of my job.

d. My aim is to eventually compete FEI as much as I can. I truly enjoy this part of dressage. I didn't understand the lower levels until I began working through PSG and beginning the L program.

e. I found Sinari in a back yard in Central Kentucky with my mother when visiting Kentucky the first time. She's now my up and coming FEI horse. No one can pronounce her registered name correctly.

f. In my spare time I like to read and watch movies. My Iphone has a list of books and my netflix is continuously updated.

g. I strive to be a positive force in the community. I feel far too often that people are too self-involved to not look around and help grow the sport in a collaborative fashion.

3. I nominate the people on the left, many of them are very new to the list. 

4. Check.