We had a great ride and I felt so confident riding him. Even his crazy flying lead changes don't scare me (as much) anymore. I do totally love this horse!
Monday, May 14, 2018
Rusty Stirrups Equitation over Fences May 12, 2018
Silver and I finally made it to the show ring this year after bad weather, show cancellations, hoof abscess, spring break, my pneumonia, etc...
We had a great ride and I felt so confident riding him. Even his crazy flying lead changes don't scare me (as much) anymore. I do totally love this horse!
We had a great ride and I felt so confident riding him. Even his crazy flying lead changes don't scare me (as much) anymore. I do totally love this horse!
In the Zone
My riding takes a back seat to everything else. Which is normal for moms, I think. Family comes first. Riding is my therapy.
I had to take time off in February because it rained...a lot...and the barn where I board doesn't have an indoor arena. It does have a beautiful outdoor arena but I don't ride in the rain if I can help it. Then came March with spring break. We went on a wonderful Disney cruise around the Caribbean. The day we get back in town, my sister in law comes to stay with us for two weeks.
So I finally get out to the barn and my horse has gone lame. Poor guy had an abscess in his hoof...from all that rain...I had planned to ride in a horse show the weekend he went lame, so quick find a horse for Charlotte. I tried out the new schooling horse, Tilly but I was unsure that we were a good fit. She has a lovely collected canter but her jump was different from Silver. I wasn't getting it. The next horse was Elijah. My husband really likes riding this horse. He can sit is canter. And I'll be danged if I can't sit that less than smooth, uncollected canter. But after a couple of weeks of riding him, I was starting to have problems over fences with him. So I got to ride Gypsy. I have been a little skeptical of Gypsy because the first time I rode her, she ran off with me. I have fallen for this mare. She is wonderful and got me to enjoy jumping again. Really enjoy jumping.
After my 6 week hiatus from riding, I was a bit intimidated about riding a full course. Even though I had been jumping at 2 feet in the fall. I could ride one maybe two jumps at a time with some trepidation. I was blessed to be in a group lesson with two more experienced riders. My trainer set up a grid. It scared me but I enjoyed watching Amy and Michaela jump the grid. Kelsey offered the grid or a line of two jumps. I decided to feel my fear and do it anyway. I was assured that all I had to do was set Gypsy up and she would easily do the rest. And she did! I just stayed balanced and she jumped them all. So I did it again that lesson.
And I did it again another lesson, another grid...I figured I could jump 5 jumps at one time, or 5 jumps in a course, just get it over with. And the more I jumped the grid, the better I got and the more I relaxed. And then suddenly I could do courses without freaking out.
And then Silver got better and we started having fun. True he kicked his heels up after some grid work and he crop hopped after a jump but he was happy with himself! And I stayed on! And I was happy with myself. And we did some flying lead changes, he hops a bit and I feel like he's bucking but I'm starting to get used to it. Now that I know he's not trying to buck me off, I'm good with it and I tell him I'm happy about it, instead of slowing him down we keep going forward.
I had to take time off in February because it rained...a lot...and the barn where I board doesn't have an indoor arena. It does have a beautiful outdoor arena but I don't ride in the rain if I can help it. Then came March with spring break. We went on a wonderful Disney cruise around the Caribbean. The day we get back in town, my sister in law comes to stay with us for two weeks.
So I finally get out to the barn and my horse has gone lame. Poor guy had an abscess in his hoof...from all that rain...I had planned to ride in a horse show the weekend he went lame, so quick find a horse for Charlotte. I tried out the new schooling horse, Tilly but I was unsure that we were a good fit. She has a lovely collected canter but her jump was different from Silver. I wasn't getting it. The next horse was Elijah. My husband really likes riding this horse. He can sit is canter. And I'll be danged if I can't sit that less than smooth, uncollected canter. But after a couple of weeks of riding him, I was starting to have problems over fences with him. So I got to ride Gypsy. I have been a little skeptical of Gypsy because the first time I rode her, she ran off with me. I have fallen for this mare. She is wonderful and got me to enjoy jumping again. Really enjoy jumping.
After my 6 week hiatus from riding, I was a bit intimidated about riding a full course. Even though I had been jumping at 2 feet in the fall. I could ride one maybe two jumps at a time with some trepidation. I was blessed to be in a group lesson with two more experienced riders. My trainer set up a grid. It scared me but I enjoyed watching Amy and Michaela jump the grid. Kelsey offered the grid or a line of two jumps. I decided to feel my fear and do it anyway. I was assured that all I had to do was set Gypsy up and she would easily do the rest. And she did! I just stayed balanced and she jumped them all. So I did it again that lesson.
And I did it again another lesson, another grid...I figured I could jump 5 jumps at one time, or 5 jumps in a course, just get it over with. And the more I jumped the grid, the better I got and the more I relaxed. And then suddenly I could do courses without freaking out.
Unmet Mother's Day Expectations
Last week I was filled with energy and new found confidence over jumps. I had found my zen. my happy place.
Today I am unhappy and I should be filled with joy! I won my rusty stirrups division this weekend, 2 Blues in Equitation on the Flat and Equitation over Fences and a second place in Equitation over Fences. I was cool and collected and absolutely not panicked at the show. I even rode my horse in the warm up, no one got on him before I did. I just got on and rode him, jumped a few fences and enjoyed myself.
But the day after mother's day, I'm sitting here furious, mad, sad and lonely...why you ask. Not because my horse mistook my foot for shavings and crushed it. Not because I spent part of mother's day in the ER checking out my foot and then laying in bed resting it.
I'm mad because my husband didn't take the time to get me a friggin' mother's day card. He didn't lift a finger for mother's day. Yes, he fed the kids when I went to the ER and he fed them dinner but he left all the dishes in the sink, didn't unload the dishwasher...thanks so kind of you to leave that for me to do that the next day. I made myself a grilled cheese sandwich for dinner although I was really tired from the painkillers, I couldn't sleep because I was too hungry.
He didn't have any lunch, brunch or dinner plans for the family. He didn't help the kids get mommy a mother's day gift. No flowers, nothing, nada, zip, zilch. In the past, we have gone out for Mother's Day Brunch. And he would get me flowers. The kids usually make me something at school to give me. Nathaniel had brought me a bag from school - we've lost it. But Natty is in on my good side. Emma quickly made me something in Sunday School.
And I shouldn't be so upset except he forgot me on Valentine's Day, too. Nothing from the kids and nothing from him. Granted Valentine's Day fell on Ash Wednesday, I get that a secular holiday gets trumped by Ash Wednesday but really nothing? I got him some cute red/white striped pants. I originally bought him a new suit but took it back because it was over the top. He has yet to wear those pants, so I will take them back. Nordstrom's is good about returning things.
We talked about him not doing anything for me on Valentine's several days afterwards. I told him it really upset me. He said he didn't think I was that into it because I had forgotten a wedding anniversary. He HAD forgotten the wedding anniversary! He didn't make any plans that night and he didn't ask me to get a babysitter for that night. I try not to have hurt feelings.
I ended up buying some pretty 14k gold earrings to make up for Valentine's Day. When we went on our spring break cruise, I bought a fantastic 14k gold Tinkerbell pendant. But I paid for it. I don't need his permission to spend my money!
My step son came into town for the Scottish Highland Games this past weekend and my husband went to the Games when we already had plans in place for the Spring Fling Horse show. I was determined to get to that horse show. I had already missed a few because my horse was lame or the show was rained out. The plan was for my husband to spend the day with our kids while mommy went to the horse show. It was a perfect horse show because the hunter divisions were on Saturday instead of Sunday. My division was in the morning. The kids didn't want to go and I understand if they aren't participating why would they be interested. Frankly, I didn't want to have to keep up with them, so he was going to stay with them. So I ended up having to find a babysitter to watch them so he could enjoy himself with his older son, normally I don't mind. it's just that we already had plans. And it was mother's day weekend. So he did nothing for me. Nothing. He got to do what he wanted. Why should I expect my children to be any different?
I'm thankful for my trainer, Kelsey and her assistant, Michelle for being my cheerleaders. I'm also very thankful for Michaela, who rides Silver and has shown him in upper divisions for being my cheerleader. She is wonderful! Her boyfriend is kind to me. His son likes to ride Silver and has shown him, too. It's nice to have a little group of people to cheer me on because my family doesn't. Most people think my husband is watching the kids when I go to shows but I actually have a babysitter. I hire someone to watch them during church because he is too busy with choir. I think I just depressed myself further. It hurts my feelings. It really does.
Today I am unhappy and I should be filled with joy! I won my rusty stirrups division this weekend, 2 Blues in Equitation on the Flat and Equitation over Fences and a second place in Equitation over Fences. I was cool and collected and absolutely not panicked at the show. I even rode my horse in the warm up, no one got on him before I did. I just got on and rode him, jumped a few fences and enjoyed myself.
But the day after mother's day, I'm sitting here furious, mad, sad and lonely...why you ask. Not because my horse mistook my foot for shavings and crushed it. Not because I spent part of mother's day in the ER checking out my foot and then laying in bed resting it.
I'm mad because my husband didn't take the time to get me a friggin' mother's day card. He didn't lift a finger for mother's day. Yes, he fed the kids when I went to the ER and he fed them dinner but he left all the dishes in the sink, didn't unload the dishwasher...thanks so kind of you to leave that for me to do that the next day. I made myself a grilled cheese sandwich for dinner although I was really tired from the painkillers, I couldn't sleep because I was too hungry.
He didn't have any lunch, brunch or dinner plans for the family. He didn't help the kids get mommy a mother's day gift. No flowers, nothing, nada, zip, zilch. In the past, we have gone out for Mother's Day Brunch. And he would get me flowers. The kids usually make me something at school to give me. Nathaniel had brought me a bag from school - we've lost it. But Natty is in on my good side. Emma quickly made me something in Sunday School.
And I shouldn't be so upset except he forgot me on Valentine's Day, too. Nothing from the kids and nothing from him. Granted Valentine's Day fell on Ash Wednesday, I get that a secular holiday gets trumped by Ash Wednesday but really nothing? I got him some cute red/white striped pants. I originally bought him a new suit but took it back because it was over the top. He has yet to wear those pants, so I will take them back. Nordstrom's is good about returning things.
We talked about him not doing anything for me on Valentine's several days afterwards. I told him it really upset me. He said he didn't think I was that into it because I had forgotten a wedding anniversary. He HAD forgotten the wedding anniversary! He didn't make any plans that night and he didn't ask me to get a babysitter for that night. I try not to have hurt feelings.
I ended up buying some pretty 14k gold earrings to make up for Valentine's Day. When we went on our spring break cruise, I bought a fantastic 14k gold Tinkerbell pendant. But I paid for it. I don't need his permission to spend my money!
My step son came into town for the Scottish Highland Games this past weekend and my husband went to the Games when we already had plans in place for the Spring Fling Horse show. I was determined to get to that horse show. I had already missed a few because my horse was lame or the show was rained out. The plan was for my husband to spend the day with our kids while mommy went to the horse show. It was a perfect horse show because the hunter divisions were on Saturday instead of Sunday. My division was in the morning. The kids didn't want to go and I understand if they aren't participating why would they be interested. Frankly, I didn't want to have to keep up with them, so he was going to stay with them. So I ended up having to find a babysitter to watch them so he could enjoy himself with his older son, normally I don't mind. it's just that we already had plans. And it was mother's day weekend. So he did nothing for me. Nothing. He got to do what he wanted. Why should I expect my children to be any different?
I'm thankful for my trainer, Kelsey and her assistant, Michelle for being my cheerleaders. I'm also very thankful for Michaela, who rides Silver and has shown him in upper divisions for being my cheerleader. She is wonderful! Her boyfriend is kind to me. His son likes to ride Silver and has shown him, too. It's nice to have a little group of people to cheer me on because my family doesn't. Most people think my husband is watching the kids when I go to shows but I actually have a babysitter. I hire someone to watch them during church because he is too busy with choir. I think I just depressed myself further. It hurts my feelings. It really does.
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