Last of August, Rest of the Weekend

Saturday night, R and I travelled to our hometown to watch Los Lonely Boys in concert. A very good show - I won't lie and say I'm a huge fan, but I am familiar with some of their music. They perform live very well, and the crowd was controlled - nice for an outdoor event. I was nursing a headache all of Saturday after my ride, despite Tylenol, Advil, a few naps, and oodles of water. In the mid-afternoon, it was all I could do to muster the energy to go for a few groceries. I was entirely glad to get back home after that. I was committed to go to the show, however, and was glad I did. Another event where, even though I've got the live performers on stage, I caught myself leaning against R, listening to him singing in my ear. *smile* There's at least one song now I can listen to on my mp3 player & remember that night.

Sunday, filled with church & choir kick-off event. Church was a blessing, as always. Without even knowing it, our Pastor, not even the speaker for the day, blessed me with his words. We had a guest speaker in, who did a marvelous job, and seemed to get quite a few folks' attention, which is good. In between church & choir, I had a quick lunch, did some laundry, and crashed out on the couch, that headache still mumbling around the back of my head.

The choir kick-off was a success for certain! We had guests from another church that will be joining us at Christmas, but even still, the room was FULL!!! How incredible to see so many in each singing part rustling through music & listening intently to our director. A fantastic time. The music this season will bring some challenges, but, if everyone comes to practice, I saw nothing we can't handle. Our staff provided a wonderful supper, filled with things even I could enjoy. Of course, again, listening to the voice behind me, and watching all the oogling eyes at supper. Take a picture! It'll last much longer! No need to stare, ladies.

08/29/09 Bug Check

With an abnormal start to my Saturday morning, I was faced with the opportunity to ride Ransom early in the day. I sprayed on the Mosquito Halt, noticing the little stinging monsters falling to the ground. Neat stuff.. And off to the arena we went.

I gave him just a few minutes free lunge around the arena before settling him into side reins & the line. Worked for about five minutes free. To start, he was leaning on the side reins, head in the sky, quite hot & disorganized. His mind & body caught up to each other, and after about ten minutes at mostly trot, with some canter. When his trot to canter back to trot transitions started looking pretty, I asked for walks to whoa. Both directions were nice, so I got on. A quick mosquito check found a few on his belly, but none surprisingly feasting on me, or his neck & legs. I decided this would be good enough for a working ride.

I got through the "parts" of Training 1, with the ask for canter in the corner, travel down long side, 20m circle over the center, ask back to trot on the last 3/4 of the circle. He did well. In each direction, I'd first ask for canter in a comfortable spot, on the low circle. Canter the circle, canter all the way around the arena, ask back to trot. Ask canter in the deep corner, head down long side, turn for 20m circle in center, ask trot last 3/4. This went much better than the last time I tried it, when he thought it'd be blast to blow full steam ahead down the long sides. Much better - I felt him in my hands rather than pushing through them.

Lots of trot to walk down transitions - And probably 75% of them were good. I was a bit surprised, as he'd had a few days off with the bugs, and I was asking for hard serious work. After some more trot/canter/trot and walk/trot/walk work, I trotted him over the ground pole series, hoping to keep him consistent down the otheg long side, and keep the trot the same whether in or out of the poles. A few go's each direction, and it became very fluid, and if I didn't know the poles were there, I might not have known the difference.

We rode together for about an hour total, including a long loose rein walk out. The mosquitoes were still at a minimum at the end of the ride. Hosed him down, scraped the water off, and quickly added more bug spray. It's expensive, for sure, but good stuff that should get me through the remaining mosquito season.

reFlective Friday

How's that subject title for forcing it to sound like it Fits together? *laugh* I'm a nerd,, sorry guys. Ain't intentional, it just happens. Aren't you glad I get paid to be a nerd? If I did this daily for no good reason, well, then.. there's a thought to give ya nightmares. *giggle*

I'm in a Like It Don't // Like It Mood Today.. So here goes.

Like It ... When his number's on caller ID at work
Don't Like It ... It's August, and COLD in my office

Like It ... I'm cantering Ransom on every ride without fear
Don't Like It ... The mosquitos have overtaken my property

Like It ... SonnyBunz is doing better
Don't Like It ... Haven't seen an update from Mikey in a few days
(*of course, as soon as I blow this smoke, I see she posted an update.. Darnit*)

Like It ... Hurricanes are missing the Gulf so far this year
Don't Like It ... We need rain, desperately

Like It ... I've still got a good job
Don't Like It ... I want my promotion, and I want it NOW. I'm getting mixed signals worse than a bowl of spaghetti around here, and I'm sick of it

Like It ... I've got plenty of folks around that want to be around me
Don't Like It ... I can't replicate myself and do everything I want to

Like It ... My sweetheart's back in town
Don't Like It ... I'm still at work for another 40 minutes *smirk*

Like It ... Evenings are getting a little cooler
Don't Like It ... It's getting dark earlier

Like It ... When he holds me close
Don't Like It .. When the darned alarm goes off

Like It ... Choir starts back up Wednesday
Don't Like It ... Practice means one less ride-day

Like It ... I'm looking forward to the next Dressage Show
Don't Like It ... Part of me is terrified I'm making big plans for it. Nucking F-V-T-S

Okay.. Tag... Who's Next ..
looking, thinking, looking, thinking ...
I'm tagging Always There Are Horses AND Texas of All Places
Make a list!!! This will be fun! I listed 11 - why don't ya'll go for at least 5??

Friday Fill Ins

1. He was a patient horse, despite the blood sucking mosquitoes all over the arena.

2. Waiting on cooler temperatures, knowing they're closer is what I look forward to most this time of year.

3. My best friend in Texas has great horse news! Go check it out.

4. Before last night, I wondered if Hwy 59 ran North after 6pm to be honest with you. =)

5. Appearances can be truthful. I look tired today, and I am tired today.

6. The last person I gave a hug to was R (and it was worth "5 over").

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to home-cooked supper, tomorrow my plans include mow grass & chase mosquitoes and Sunday, I want to enjoy the new choir season kickoff event!

08/27/09 #$&*% Bugs

I ate dinner early, as did the kids.. Got my clothes changed, sprayed with bug repellant. I caught Ransom, saddled him dressage, and as the mosquitoes swarmed, I realized we'd do a very quick warmup and work on nothing but walk - on the bit, off the bit, coming & going. But nothing much else.

He had a very brief warmup, I donned my helmet, and hopped on. By the other end of the arena, we were both covered in mosquitoes. I'm tolerant of the heat, I can handle some sprinkly rain, I'll even fight cold winter winds. But mosquitoes, I just don't do.

Rides are "on hold" until the monster mosquitoes subside. I hate that, but I can't force myself, or the boys, to concentrate while the needle-jabbing evil critters are eating me alive. nasty little bitches I hate Mosquitoes! Hate them hate them! Bad itchie allergie reactions that last at a minimum two weeks for each bite. I'm miserable when I get bit, and the more the nibbles, the worse I feel.

I unsaddled him, hosed him down, and added more bug spray. I'll be picking up something a bit stronger tonight, as the cheap spray I'm using doesn't seem to hold up very well. Even covered in monster mosquitoes, Ransom was still patient & easy going.. good boy!

08/26/09 Romeo Lesson

Pulled Romeo out of the pasture for his probably last time this week. In fact, until those pesky mosquitoes ease up, it might be my last ride for the week. Snotty monsters BITE! Saddled him up western, english bit, and wandered to the arena.

Warmed him up free lunge a bit, no issues. A little goofyness, but I figure he knew something was different about me - I meant business. Jen arrived, and I hopped on.

Neighbor's cows were grazing through the pasture, and Romeo's ears pinned on them. Cute! So, for a few minutes, Jen "played cow", and walked up & down the long side, turning frequently. After quite a few turns, Romeo started sticking his rear and turning on the haunches really nice... cute cute - his own little version of a rollback.

We had a great flying lead change lesson. Pick up canter on the low end circle, circle twice, cut across the diagonal, break to trot briefly before switching back to canter on new lead. Travel on new lead around the arena, and repeat on the circles. Worked through this exercise a number of times. Closer to the end we had some great results - it seemed to start making sense to him. Though.. some humorous parts of the lesson, as he was flipping his feets all over the place, trying to figure out what to do, combined with his general "lack of fitness", it probabably resembed this:

(I know, I know... I shouldn't tease him. Surely Romeo is sneaking on the blog & reading up on our antics, but I can't help myself...)

Rode for about 45 minutes, a good time. Nothing too spectacular, but we were having a good time. For now, I can feel like we're working towards something when I want to ride him more than a trail hack.

Tonight, mosquitoes pending, Ransom dressage. Anxious for this - I need to get started on picking up canter in the corner heading down a long side and into a 20m circle in the center. hmm... This makes me think. I bet, if I were courageous, and felt so darn ambitious. I bet Ransom will do flying changes. In fact, I bet I can practice on him, and see if I'm really giving the cues right or not... hmmmmmmmmmm

08/25/09 Romeo & the Mailbox

Fed the boys early, ate supper myself, tended to the kids inside, and headed outside. Grabbed Romeo, western saddle, english french link bit. I had mosquito repellant on both of us, but hid under a long sleeve shirt & thick blue jeans. It was hot out, but not so hot I was willing to be a living sacrifice for the blood suckers.

Warmed him up only on the end of the lead line for about two minutes, just to see how he was feeling. Seemed calm enough, so I hopped on. We walked away from the house to the left on the side of the dirt road, for our standard "three driveways" distance. I didn't see anything interesting, neither did he. One neighbor was outside, but otherwise, we didn't have any traffic. Bugs were b-a-a-a-a-a-d. Headed back towards the house, and I had a thought.

I hadn't checked the mail yet. I had one lesson where I worked on getting closer to the mailbox without Romeo spooking or shying. I hadn't seen the one neighbor's horses in the roadside pasture, so I figured, "Why not?! I can always hop off & lead him if I need to."

Headed away from home, headed towards the mailboxes. Did as much of the trip towards the boxes as I could in the grass. As it turned out, the mosquitoes, while damaging and monster-chewing size, were a needed distraction. I was so busy swatting & squashing them on my pantlegs, I wasn't fiddling with Romeo's face, and stayed mostly on a loose rein. He looked hard at the neighbor dude's goats, but they weren't right at the fenceline, either. He also searched intently for the little Arab cross mare that used to live on the other side of the street up a few houses, but she's been sold, so no little mare to say hi to.

We approached the end of the dirt road, headed out on the pavement. I have this weird fear of steel shoes & pavement - I'm always afraid of a slip & fall... so I dismounted, and led Romeo over near the mailboxes. Grabbed the mail, looked through it, folded it up & shoved it in my back pocket. Looked back at Romeo, shaking at the skeeters and licking & chewing. He was quite pleased with himself, and I was, too. So I led him back to the dirt, and hopped back on.

We saw the neighbor that has all the horses, goats, and ponies standing at the end of their driveway, on the paved road, watching us with great intent. "What's she looking at?", I wondered. I quickly dismissed her curiosity, and realized in my mind, "She usually has a pasture full of skinny horses. Probably don't know what a fat one looks like."

Approached the freshly mowed grass roadside where the mare used to live, and I decided to pick up a trot. We trotted the about 0.1mile that is the front of their yard. Romeo was happy to trot along, even collected up a few strides. Cute!!!

We giggled and swatted mosquitoes the rest of the trip home. I measured it this morning. From my house, to the mailboxes, is about 0.5mile. So round trip, about a mile. Not a long trip, but plenty of opportunity for surprises in the form of deer, bunnies, other livestock, and a blind turn that could've greeted us with a 4-wheeler or auto traffic. Had a fun time.

Total ride, about 30 minutes. He wasn't even sweaty when I untacked, except for a spot or two where the saddle pad rested. Happy little monster... sent him back to pasture with a hug, a few cookies, and a flake of hay.