The One with Mysterious Ways

Every now and then I get this pinge of guilt. After all, this world is in complete chaos as the economy plummets further and further away from anything resembling respectable. So, often times I will feel guilty about the fact that I’m able to enjoy my two horses when others are, say, barely make it by the day to day.

However, as God matures me as a human and Christian, one of the things He seems to be teaching me is that it’s OK to enjoy what He’s so very graciously given to me. I shouldn’t NOT enjoy what he gives me since it is HIS will – even though other people are struggling! I would be INGRATEFUL not to enjoy and be thankful for His Providence. Gosh – WHAT a hard concept, and one that I’m sure I will struggle with for a while!

At any rate, as you may have noted in my last blog, my dressage saddle was sadly on it’s way out. As much as I really liked it (and I think the BOYS liked it), it was really working very hard AGAINST me. I searched high and low online and was without much luck in finding an affordable replacement. Granted, I found plenty of NEW ones that I’m sure I could love to get to know and own, but that simply was not in my budget (I’m not even getting much back from my taxes!).

So, you can imagine my surprise when I found the most unlikely saddle at the most unlikely time at my local tack shop: Black Bottom Stables.

The saddle was in PRISTINE condition, a 38 cm tree (!!! Wow !!!) and a size 18 seat (although it ends up being more like a 17.5). I sat in it on one of the mannequin horse things, and I loved it. The saddle is a Duett Encore Dressage saddle, and while I had never heard of Duett, the saddle definitely seemed to be nice. AND – it was SOMEHOW in my price range!! (Esp if I sold my Wintec!). I spoke with Jeanette (the NICEST lady in the world, by the way) about trying out the saddle, and she so very generously said “Of course dear! I know where you and your ponies are!” Hehe.

Of COURSE the saddle miraculously fits both Sudi and Kehbir, and they both seem to love it!!

So, I called Black Bottom back about the price of the saddle to see if it was negotiable at all, and they gave me the owner’s number. When I spoke with her, she very nicely said that the price was firm, but she’s interested in my Wintec!!! I couldn’t believe it.

It’s at times like these that I believe God is really working to affirm that I’m going down the right path. I just don’t see how something like this could work out any other way! (I sure know I’M not that lucky haha!)

At any rate, I have a new saddle!! This is what it looks like:

I’ll even get to use it at Kehbir’s USDF show on Saturday! I feel so very fortunate!

Now…if only Kehbir can get on board and have a nice performance! (He’s proven to me at home that he can, so let’s hope the Little Bugger can get his act together!

The One with Jasmine's Valentine's Day Show

Yes it rained! Every time I got up on Sudi, the rain would come. Thankfully, it was never a very heavy rain though, and we did indeed get some respite at times.

To back up for a moment, I must say that on Friday afternoon my chances of going to the show looked very dismal. My poor father’s truck has died and needs a new motor. Tammy, however, was VERY generous, saving the day by allowing me to borrow her Forerunner and trailer.

Friday morning was VERY early and DARK at 4am, but we were able to pull out of the barn by 5:45 (Sudi wasn’t even awake yet! Hehe). I’m SO very thankful that the rain didn’t start until at least dawn – which made the travel so much better.

Sudi was a great traveler – and while I was a bit nervous as this was his first show all by himself, he really was a trooper! He was a bit nervous being tacked up, but once I was able to hop on him and get him moving, he was just fine.

Jasmine Farm had a LOT of scary props and decorations everywhere – which was GREAT education for him. The beginning of the warm up had its ups and downs as I worked on getting his attention and keeping it! But eventually he came around. He had some stellar moments – lots of energy and suspension! I was very pleased with his first dressage test though. Despite the neighboring horses galloping about in the field next to the dressage arena, Sudi was able to retain a bit of focus, and he came out with a 32! I was thrilled.

The jumping section was a bit intense for him (and ME!) as it had 11 VERY scary efforts. The warm up was a bit stressful too, as he was really flinging himself over the fences to begin with. Eventually he settled down though, and I felt a bit better as our time approached, although the rain had indeed picked up. I forgot my floaties!!

We ended up having a fun time though, despite one refusal (he was actually spooking at some scary rolltops though) which added 4 faults to our score. We topped out at a 36 though – winning the Amoeba class!! I was so very excited for him. We even won a fun mug.

We had a two hour break before Sudi’s last dressage test in which all of us got a short break and some lunch. Sudi, however, was a bit stressed and tired and didn’t have a spectacular test. Again, he had some lovely movement and energy although he wasn’t relaxed through his top line. We ended up with a 59%, which put us 3rd (the horses next door were really causing some issues and scores were dropping) out of 8.

(Note on video: I can see that my saddle isn't fitting me properly - It was putting me in a "chair" positional all day. *sigh* Hopefully we'll be able to look at a new one by the end of the year!)

Overall, I was really pleased with the day. I felt like it was incredibly educational for Sudi – which was indeed one of my goals! Special thanks to my mom for toughing out the weekend in the rain and being SO MUCH help!! Couldn't do it without her!!

We’re now looking forward to a jumping lesson with Susan and Kehbir’s show the first weekend in March. More to come – and Happy Valentine’s and President’s Day!

The One Where It's Time for an Update!

So – WOW. The weather this week has been absolutely NOTHING short of amazing. 70’s ALL week!! I bet you can’t guess what’s projected for Saturday? Oh wait – you can?? You mean you know I have the worst luck with weather EVER?? ;-) j/k But you’re right – RAIN. All day. I guess I need to learn how to tough it out, but seriously – after this week, RAIN this weekend just seems entirely ALL too unfair.

So – Sudi is scheduled for his first CT this season at Jasmine Farm. Should be a busy day! We have dressage first thing at 8:40 and then his jumping round at 9:40. Then he gets a lunch, I get a nap, and we’re back on for dressage at noon. Yep – long day!

I’m trying not to put any pressure on us for this show as I’m using it basically as a warm up for this season, and to just keep him in the show atmosphere. I’m glad it will be a somewhat busy show since that’s good for him. My goals are to hopefully have him stretching through his dressage test, make it over all our fences (and me stay on!), and to have a great time – even if we ARE getting rained on! Eventers are tough right?! (I feel like I need a big, tough guy beside me grunting in encouragement - hehe).

Kehbir had a FANTASTIC ride this past weekend. We had a lesson with Susan, and although he started off as a COMPLETE spaz, he calmed and ended actually VERY nicely. He’s a very smart horse, and always tries to figure out what I’m trying to ask before I ask it. This makes him a bit nervous – once he settles down though and learns to wait on me, I think we’ll start doing much better.

Susan made a BIG emphasis on the fact that he really wants me to be his “head mare” and take over. He’s a big wimp and doesn’t want to handle the scary white box by himself. Once I get his attention and get him focused on his job, he forgets all the scary places in the world. He’s not one of those horses that can be allowed to go check everything out first to calm down. He HAS to be ok because I’m on him – he HAS to know that’s his safe place. I think that was a big a break-through “AHA!” moment for me – understanding him just a bit better. The more I understand him, the more I feel I can ride him correctly. We’ve come a good ways in the few weeks I’ve been schooling him, so I’m excited to see where he’ll be at the end of this month!

Ok, and to wrap up – our future goals:
Sudi will be taking some jumping lessons with Susan. My goal is to have him ready for a Sr. Maiden HT up in Southern Pines by the end of May. I feel this is reasonable. I also have the free schooling pass for Full Gallop from when I was jump judging, so I need to take him up there by himself to do a practice run in April-ish I think. If the ht in May goes well, he’ll move up to the next level – Pre novice. If I feel we need another run, we’ll hold off on the Pre Novice (really BN) and run the Maiden again. I really just want him (and ME!) to get the feel of cantering/galloping to the fences and taking them in stride. I want him to feel confidant at the end of full of himself!

Kehbir has his upcoming (REAL USDF SHOW!!!) dressage show in March here at John’s Island. If all goes well with his training, I plan on having him up to training level by the end of the year. I have some tentative dressage shows planned out – although I really want to get him into some kind of clinic this year as well. We’re also doing some cross bars at home – he seems very confidant about them, and doesn’t seem to be real worried. I don’t plan on any CT’s/HT’s with him until the spring of next year though. I just want to take it slow with him – he comes along so much better that way.

Ok – well enjoy the weather! I’ll be jealous that I’m stuck behind my desk…*sigh* one day!!

The One with the Start of 2009

So show season is finally making its way to a head: February 14th (Jasmine Farm CT) and March 7-8 (The Low Country Classic – Dressage). These dates are coming more quickly than I’m perhaps mentally ready, but alas, it comes anyway!

Lately I’ve been really pushing myself to ride both boys on a regular basis. Kehbir is really starting to impress me. To be honest, our first few rides were a bit of a battle. Him against me. And believe me, neither of us were winning. However, now that he’s figured out that I can be quite nice when he behaves, he’s opted for that route. We’ve gotten RHYTHM! Woohoo. Now we’re working on the long and low frame – although for Kehbir, it’s not quite the same long and low frame Sudi gets in. At any rate, we were so comfortable that we were able to do some basic grid work! (See fun video - ignore my bad hands though!)



Sudi has been able to work on some grid work and muscle building, and the best part is that he’s really starting to enjoy it! While some of his jumps are still a bit extravagant (see video), I am immensely enjoying his training. He is stretching my riding ability and teaching me what it means to be a rider and not simply a passenger. While I still feel like this is outside my comfort zone, my dedication is reaching new limits!



On a sad note, we didn’t win the Championship for the GSEA Green Horse Intro division. While all of the points that I calculate say that he did, somewhere something has gone amiss as I’m told we came in third. Needless to say, I’m extremely proud of my boy as he came away with great 2008 achievements from those shows (and many blue ribbons!).

So now we are on to 2009 and hoping for a fun and SAFE filled competition year. Best of luck to everyone!

The One with the Little Arabian

“Heeeere Leeetle ARRRaabian. COME BACK leeeeetle Arrraaabeaaann!”

I had to rub my jaw and yawn for a minute, meanwhile wiping the ground implant away. My nose needed a little straightening as well. I was at least able to do my best Bewitched impression.

“Heeeeere Leeeetle Arraabian. Cooome baaaaaaaaaaaack!” Will’s voice echoed again.

Darn it. I owe that man a bottle of wine/liquor/whatever I stumble across first.

The pesky little Arabian was still running. The funniest part was that my saddle was flapping around on his back like little wings. He looked like a Pegasus. At least it was staying put – I could at least say that for my tacking-up skills.

Up and down hills he flew. Along the fence line. Down through the woods. Back up the hill. Down the other side of the hill. Back in a circle around us. And off he went again.

I let out a big sigh.

“Come baaaack, Leeeettle Arrrrrrrrabian!”

Will Faudree was calling my horse for me. How embarrassing.

“Oh he’s done now – his tail has deflated!” Tammy laughed over her shoulder. She and Jazzy formed a wall with their horses, and Sudi came up to a halt in front of them.

I grabbed my reins and walked him over to a semi-flat surface that was good for remounting. I had re-mount therapy coming my way in about thirty seconds.

“Ok – go canter over that log over there and come back. We need a TALK.”

I was fine really. Well almost. My confidence in my “sticking to the darn Arab” skills were greatly shaken. Foundation gone. I did need a talking to.

Well what happened? We were approaching a two stride log combination. Granted, these logs were semi-novice level, and the combination certainly nowhere near Beginner Novice level. Shoot – we’d barely made it through the cross bar combination three weeks ago. And I’m supposed to make it over two LOGS? Sure. Uhuh. You got it, Pete.

Well at any rate, I’d been doing a really good job of keeping Sudi forward to all of our jumps so far, and he hadn’t refused a ONE. I was thrilled. Up we came to this log, I blocked his drifting, and we took the log in stride. I however, was so elated, I let him skip out to the side and not go over the second log.

Will, of course says, “SO why didn’t you go over the second log?”

I really wanted to answer “BECAUSE – I didn’t want to.” I didn’t though. I told him something about how I didn’t make Sudi do it. Truth be told though, I REALLY didn’t think I’d stay on through it. I just thought I’d fall at the second log. Not the first.

Well, upon my second approach, I lost my stirrup. I got it back. Sudi drifted. I drifted trying to fix him. He slowed down, and I kept him going. Well all of a sudden he literally ROCKETS over the jump, and I go flying up on his neck. I’m really not used to that power jump he gets. I knew I was going to fall as I was grappling his neck. My feet hit the ground, but I couldn’t keep up with his momentum. Down I went…face first. And OFF Sudi went. For about ten minutes.

Even though I fell, Will was able to help us work through the combination, and help me figure out how to crouch down to stay a bit more stable through my legs. It worked. After we worked out the combination, we worked a ditch and also worked up a bank and down to a log on a hill. Good stuff, and well worth the day.

I, however, am VERY sore. It didn’t hit me during the day of, BUT I learned that I could pull a ton of muscles in my neck and right arm that I didn’t even know could be pulled.

All in all though, Sudi was a real champ. We had fewer refusals than ever before, and I think he actually really had a good time. I think I have an eventer on my hands. Now…if only I could get MY act together.

The best part? We got inducted to our first EVENTING TEAM!!

See fondly picture below:

The Will Faudree Tadpole Team!

(Left to right: Hailey and Zebbra; Jazzy and Indy; Tammy and Willa; Me and Sudi! - and of course Will Faudree in the middle!)

The One with all the Winter

As the years go by, I have come to the conclusion that if the weather had a gender, it would definitely be a woman.

First – She is always there for us. Always. In all her glory – even if that glory isn’t QUITE so glorious.
Second – She is very fickle and impossibly unpredictable. And even when we THINK we have her figured out, she changes just to be difficult.
Third – She acts hormonal: Cold one minute, breezy the next, boiling hot after that…you get my drift.
And Fourth – She is always beautiful no matter what she does.

The weather this winter has been all of the above. Just when I settled down with the idea that I could handle the cold, it turned to spring like weather. And of course, just when I got used to spring, back came winter – and with a vengeance.

You see, I have this trail ride on Saturday and then a trip up to Southern Pines for some XC schooling with Will Faudree on Monday, and it’s going to be FREEZING!

Sudi and I have been prepping a bit with some nightly rides during the week, and for the most part they go pretty well. In fact, two nights ago, I was THRILLED with his work. Last night, however, is probably one of those times that I should have hopped off early on and called it a night. The moon was NOT out due to clouds, the lighting around the place seemed dismal, and Sudi thought everything was out to eat him. Trying to keep a three-four year old Arabian focused and relaxed in that environment was pretty much asinine. He got frustrated, I got frustrated, and we eventually just had to come back and walk to feel like we were getting anywhere positive.

I guess we all have bad days, but some just seem to really discourage you. I’m sure having to ride in the dark all during the week is part of my “issue,” but I should at least be thankful I’m able to ride, right? I mean some people can’t even ride due to much nastier weather conditions!!

So at any rate, many deep breaths have been taken, and we’re hoping for a fresh start on Saturday. I think the boys will like the trail riding for a bit of refreshment, and then back to work! So grab some warm (and hopefully flavored) coffee and kick on! The winter will be over before we know it!!

The One Where We Make it Cross Country!

I’m hooked on XC! Completely. Sudi and I made it through a REAL XC school at Full Gallop Farm. Yes, we actually made it over OFFICIAL XC jumps!!!

Now, this took a little bit of convincing on my part as Sudi thought a bunch of these logs looked quite scary in the beginning. He was a trooper though, and we made it over many logs, a mini tiger trap, a mini coop, up and down banks, in and out of the water complex, and over a REAL ditch!!!

I think Sudi was really eating up the course too as after most of the jumps he would take off in a very forward canter/hand gallop and the occasional victorious head shake. And the boy has a really nice lengthy stride too!! We both had fun (and I didn’t get thrown into the water!), and that was the best part!

While I’m not quite ready to enter us in a true USEA event yet, we’re definitely on our way. Wish I had pics from the day (my squats paid off really BIG time too so my position was WORLDS better!), but alas we were all riding and had no ground person.

My next trip up to Full Gallop is February 4th – Tammy and I are going to watch and cheer on Will Faudree and then jump judge in the afternoon! Hopefully I’ll get some great pics from that as well. Lots of fun!

Well wrapping up, this weekend, my mom and I are taking Sudi and Kehbs to Mullet Hall to meet up with some friends for some good ‘ole trail riding fun. Yay for early spring!