Kneetoe Productions

I am closing down this blog

2011-07-31T08:06:00.001-07:00

Bye!

So lucky, so impatient

2011-07-14T12:24:00.001-07:00

A picture is worth a thousand words:

We bought a truck. A giant truck. A Ford F-350 Turbo Powerstroke Diesel, 7.3, V8, Crew cab, long bed, 4X4, 6-speed manual, with an in-factory tow package. And I can drive it. My lovely friend Jill has said she'd give me lessons on how to pull a trailer, but the electrical input on my truck is not compatible with the output on her trailer. So I am trying to borrow a trailer from someone at the barn. Before I had a truck people were all" Sure you can borrow my trailer anytime!" and now that I have one, no one is returning my emails. Hrumph.

Which leads to the "impatient" part of our program. I want my own trailer. Now.

If this whole trailer-borrowing thing pans out, we are going to our first one-day horse trial at Lincoln Creek on July 31. Entries close on the 23, and it is now the 14th so we will see. We will be going Senior Hopeful. Is there a more pathetic division name than that? If there is I don't want to know. But upon the advice of my trainer, for our first ever one-day, we just need to show up and make it through. One days are rough. So that is what we are doing.

Kip and I continue to improve, Kip just keeps getting smarter and smarter about how to navigate around a course and use his body, and my big lesson is to let him get into a good, rhythmic gallop and stay the hell out of his face. Yesterday's lesson was bending lines, with lead changes -- and then the hard part -- staying on the left lead down a long line. Staying on that lead over the last fence in a line and into a left turn for some reason is a thing for us. I am sure it is somehow my fault.

I made Lifetime today

2011-05-31T17:03:00.000-07:00

In addition to learning how to ride, I have also been going to Weight Watchers, and today I made Lifetime. I have lost 26 pounds.

I am going to loose five more pounds, to get to what my leader calls my "Heart weight". We will see if I can maintain it. I have been pleasantly surprised at how relatively easy it has been for me to maintain these last few weeks to get Lifetime. I still need to watch it, but I don't feel deprived in the least.

So. Onward.

In just a year

2011-05-30T20:05:00.000-07:00

"They" say that it takes a year to build a relationship with your horse. It took Kip and I about a year and a month.

Our horsey anniversary was spent schooling at Aspen Farms. That was April 24th. He was really a rock star, jumping everything and really loving every moment. But sometimes (often) he'd blast through my hand and the brakes went away. He just wanted to charge on in a straight line and jump everything that was in that line, but turning was sort of not in the program. Since then, we have been working on keeping the canter up and bouncy, so he can rock back on his haunches and turn when asked. Just last week our Wednesday lesson was jump, land, turn and jump. It was really hard. It took us probably eight or even ten times to get it. But seriously, once he figured it out, he nailed it. Over and over.

We spent the last three rides practicing turning -- over fences and poles, and on the flat. A lot of flat work with him listening to the leg. Then today was Jump group. There were four other horses in the group with us, and I swear Kip really examines other horses jumping and figures out what to do by looking. Except Corina's little pony mare, who he is just in love with and wants to race after her. So we couldn't follow her. But besides that, I think Kip has really learned the jump, turn jump thing. Today was bending lines at a nice gallop -- Gallop up then jump, look and opening rein over the fence, three turning strides to the next fence, leg on, (leg ON!!) and turn to the third fence. It was really exhilarating. And Kip just was great all of this. Not that he did it perfectly -- not at all. The first time through one combination, he was swimming; paddling his legs not knowing where to put them. But that is exactly the right instinct in that situation, keep your options open, no propping or just bursting through the jump, but try lots of things out and go with what seems to keep you clear. But who am I kidding. He was mostly just really brave and scopey to every fence. He had the correct striding most of the time...sometimes he'd add a stride, but that certainly beats leaving long. And some of these fences are easily the biggest we've ever done. In the three foot range. Maybe more?

Can you imagine where we will be in another year?

Anyway. Kerry took photos of Jump Group today and I can't wait to see them. There should be some good ones.

Misanthrope

2011-05-16T09:24:00.000-07:00

As the great philosopher Linus once said: "I love mankind...it's people I can't stand."

I looked around for a suitable link for that charming Peanuts quote, but everything I found annoyed me. There is this Fan page which is just too twee, and ignores the more thought-provoking Linus quotes - like this one. Then I found a photo of the panel that I quote at the top of this blog entry -- but the caption of the person who posted the photo annoyed the snot right out of me. And then the idiot commenter below -- AUGH!

I did find this interesting analysis by an Unitarian pastor, though. This alternately annoys and interests me. Unitarians, you know.

Anyway what got me started on this whole thing was an incredibly annoying woman in line at the coffee shop, who could not be bothered to halt her indescribably inane conversation long enough to tell the barista her order -- then it annoyed me that I was more annoyed by this than the barista.
I need this.

Bikram

2011-05-09T12:36:00.000-07:00

Keeping with yesterday's theme of examining things I react to, I decided to go to the Bikram Yoga Studio in Renton. (Bikram has struck me as gimmicky and an attempt at a shortcut.) But I have been freezing lately, and the idea of a 105 degree room was attractive.

It is 90 minutes and 26 postures, and a whole lot of ass-kicking. (click on drawings for a photo of the asana.) Right out of the box, I found the breathing exercise challenging. Yogic breathing is hard, but I always enjoyed including it in my practice, and wish it were part of Anusara (the kind I practice currently).

I enjoyed the sweating part, and only got light-headed near the end, and sat out the second Fixed-firm pose. Not good on my knees. If I go again, I will heavily modify this -- only go down to my elbows, or not even that far.

The instructor did say to do some things that my current instructor say never to do, like clench your buttocks muscles and push your hips forward in Half-moon pose, to get more of a back bend. But all that does is crunch up the small of your back -- back bends need to move up the back to support the core and have the bend happen in the upper back. So practiced the way I practice and modified heavily.

All in all it was an intriguing experience, and they have quite an incentive program to get newbies to come back -- for $10 your first two weeks are unlimited. I do still find it a little gimmicky, but am willing to have my mind changed. I enjoyed the sweating, they are not kidding about that. My clothing and towel were totally completely wet at the end. You know that sound when you throw a wet rag on the tub floor? That "plop"? THAT wet. Also, I weighed myself on my fancy schmancy scale before leaving, and then after the class, and I lost a full pound of water weight.

Anyhow, I guess the upshot is I plan on going back on Thursday. We will see.

Lessons

2011-05-08T13:00:00.000-07:00

You know, I have strong reactions to things. I have opinions and if asked will share them far and wide. I try not to do too much sharing when I am not asked, and am not always successful at that, but I am way better than I used to be.

See? Learning.

That said, one thing that has occurred to me lately, is when I have a strong reaction to something, especially a negative reaction, I need to examine that thing closely. There is a lesson in there that I may be resisting. I guess I am far enough along to recognize there's a lesson, but don't want to look at it.

Just recognizing this is learning a lesson. Small steps.

An old meme, but so am I. Old, that is -- not a meme.

2011-05-05T09:09:00.000-07:00

Stole this photo off of a friend's facebook page and installed my favorite meme from 2008.

This seems like a significant event to blog about

2011-04-14T09:27:00.000-07:00

I made my Weight Watchers goal on Tuesday, April 12, 2011. I lost a total of 24.8 pounds.

I am quite proud of myself and feel really good. I look in the mirror like I look in my head, what my brain thinks I "really" look like. It is a relief, but it has made me buy a lot of clothes. Which my WW leader says is necessary, because if you just keep your old clothes, it is harder to realize when you are creeping up again than if you are wearing clothes that fit. So I HAD to go shopping, you see?

It is hard not to think I could loose five pounds more, which I could and still be healthy I think -- but I think staying at that weight is not something I want to do. I like ice cream and bread too much, and honestly I know I can have those treats and happily stay at this weight.

Now the real work begins.

Just assume every Thursday I will have a post titled: "I have the Best Pony Ever!"

2011-04-14T07:56:00.000-07:00

I had the best lesson yesterday.

We started by warming up with an excellent, forward trot. Kip has such a great rhythm, and is so willing to work. He really is a joy to ride. Then Anne had us show her our turn on the haunches. In our last ride, Kip got confused and frustrated when we were practicing this so I was a bit leery. I did make my self as clear as I could, and let him know I was not going to ask for a canter -- that is really what throws him, when he knows (or think he knows) a canter transition is coming up he does not want to listen or do whatever little exercise I am having him do to prepare for the canter - he wants to canter Now. Now. Now! Anyway, I asked for a few forward steps, left leg at the girth, right asking for sideways movement, and he gave me some great sideways steps for a turn on the haunches left. Good -- now to the right. He stiffened up and counter-bent a bit, but I was able to get him to wrap around my right leg and relax a bit, and he finally believed me that this was different then asking for canter, and he gave me a very solid turn on the haunches right. I need to practice this with no canter transition until we are solid. Or do it at the walk a bunch, and then ask for a canter on the last one.

We then did some circle work, getting him through the bit, lifting his back and really reaching under himself to the left. He has a lovely bend going left and is really starting to stretch though his topline. This trot is much slower but more connected than the working trot that I have been schooling; now that he is stronger I can ask for him to carry me and he is getting it. So nice. Again, the right is a different story, I am mostly asking for more action from his hind legs, and for some flexing in the jaw, and move the shoulders to the outside -- much stiffer this way and not quite as strong, so going to the right we are working on finding the pieces rather than putting them together, like we are on the left.

We were in the indoor arena because the weather was terrible - this spring has been really wet and lots of hail--no fun in a metal-roofed arena - so we did cavaletti work on a figure eight. I am finally feeling confident enough to let him canter at his working speed, which feels really fast to me, but he is able to carry himself better than at the speed I want him to go. When I get it through my head that he is quick, then I have a much better balanced, more in control ride, even though it is fast (really fast!!) But his canter is developing into this great uphill bouncy thing that is really easy to ride. The main thing I have been working on is to keep my leg on, and to steer and adjust with my legs and seat (step in that outside stirrup!!). I can only concentrate on one thing at a time, so now that my legs are doing ok I need to start concentrating on my hands -- my release leaves a bit to be desired. I'm not dragging on his face, but I am also not giving him the freedom he needs to use his neck and shoulders. So this week, I will concentrate on that. Onward!

Re-design & etc

2011-04-11T18:18:00.000-07:00

So I have pfutzed around with the template here -- Still not good. But I am thinking about it.

The real thing I am thinking about is how much further along my garden was this time last year.

Keep in mind this is the same plant. 2010 on the left, 2011 on the right.

Both of these photos are titled "early April".

2011-03-19T09:13:00.000-07:00

Things can sure turn on a dime. You can be drifting through your little life, concerned about things, preoccupied sure, but content in yourself and the space you have made. Then an outside force can come along and threaten nearly every aspect of that happy little place. It makes you realize one needs to be resourceful in this life, and when I understood the threat, my little brain went into overdrive. I really started questioning where I am right now and why I am here -- and where I want to be. And that is the crux of the biscuit, ladies and gentlemen. Where do I want to be? Why aren't I there?

And So. You gonna do something about it?

People who know me, know I usually get what I want. Not because I am lucky or "blessed" (ick), but because I work hard, dammit. That is the problem with deciding what I want, is realizing all the work that will go in to making that a reality.

And I got some work to do.

For a busy person, I sure don't have much to say.

2011-02-26T23:49:00.000-08:00

So somehow another month has passed.

I am constantly busy but feel like I don't have anything to say here.

Yesterday was jump group. Kip is getting to be more solid and I have to up my game to keep up with him. When we were first learning to jump, I was not certain he would go over the jump, and if he did, how big he would jump. this got me in the habit of coming forward very far out of the tack. Well now he is reliably going over, so I need to sit back and drive him to the base of the jump. Believe in the deep spot, as Anne says. Jump group is always exhilarating, and I want to go again the minute I get done. Today I am planning on setting up a teardrop shaped gymnastic, to practice bending lines and turning.

Carolyn's Oscar party was super fun but my tiara kept digging in to my head. I don't think real princesses have that to contend with.

Jay's sisiter Katie is having a baby and the shower is Saturday.

I have the King County Bar Assoc. 5K scheduled for Sunday March 4th

Then on the 13th another 5k, Cove to Clover -- this one "the hardest in Seattle" --Beers withe Jay, Scott and Carolyn afterwards. Doesn't sound too hard to me.

Speaking of which, I need to go run.

Dates and Numbers

2011-01-24T10:39:00.001-08:00

It is hard to post after one like that last one, about the passing of our dear King dog. I have come here and tried to compose a post but did not have the heart to push that post down the page.

But time marches on. Dammit.

I have had a couple of significant things happen, the first being new number on the scale. Now mind you this is not my "official" weight, what I weigh at meetings on Tuesdays. That weight is fully clothed and with shoes on. No, this new number occurred during my daily "NW" as I think of it -- my "nekkidweight". I weigh myself first thing in the morning every morning and write it on a calendar. That way I can see at a glance if I am trending upwards or staying the same or losing (!!). I know, started this paragraph talking about a new number and that number is...2. It's real significance is its position sitting snugly in the tens column of the weight I wrote down. Ok, I will just come out and say I have broken the 120's!! Granted the number after the 2 was a 9 but WOW! to see that was extraordinary. That was Friday, and I have gained a pound over the weekend, but still.

The other thing is my trainer and I were talking, and she said that if I did a couple of unrecognized events and horse trials, it is entirely possible I could be ready to ride in the Aspen Farms Horse Trials over Labor Day weekend. Finally, a goal. And a totally attainable one at that. I do still have the problem of being without a truck and trailer. That really makes things much harder to get to. I am at the mercy of others in my barn going to Unrecs, and I am not sure anyone is going to do that. They are all busy going to the recognized shows. I need to figure out a way to get mobile. Humm. Regardless, I am looking forward to tonight's ride.

And tomorrow's weigh in.

Taking Care

2011-01-08T09:57:00.001-08:00

Kingdog
Originally uploaded by yvettef.

So, there is nothing like huburis

My last post was all about how great everything was, and now the fickle Fates have slapped me right back in to my place.

Our dear dog, King went sick last Saturday evening. I was thinking of turning in, and Scott came into the room and told me King was acting sick. Sure enough, he was panting heavily, and in obvious distress. Was it Bloat? Heart failure? Pain from his hips? He was 94 in people years, so it could be anything. We spent an anxious night, hoping for a morning miracle. It was not to be.

We took him to the emergency vet on Sunday morning, and nearly four hours, an MRI and many x-rays later, we had a diagnosis of right mid-lobe pneumonia. We were sent home with antibiotics and a directive to take him to our regurlar vet by Wednesday. We ran the humidifyer 24/7, gave him a pill melenge -- but he was not eating or drinking very well, by the time Scott took him in on Wednesday. Our great vet, Dr. Heino, had chosen this time to retire, and pass his practice on to other vets - and Scott was not impressed with them. But they gave us anti-nausea pills, so we could get him to eat, so he could continue with the antibiotics. King had a little rally, and he and Scott were able to go for a walk around the block, something both of them enjoyed very much; King with the added pleasure of sniffing and peeing on things.

By Friday morning, He wasn't eating though, and again very distressed and uncomfortable. He asked Scott to put him on the bed, and we did so -- I was happy to move to the couch, becuase there simply is not enough room for two people and a 110 pound dog on our bed -- and I knew dear King needed some comfort. We took him back to the emergency vet, because they were great when we took him in before, and we needed advice from people we liked and trusted. They were great, and quickly made room in Dr. Cuthbert's schedule, so we could be seen right away.

Again waiting in the exam room, we waited for the x-rays, blood work and what ever else they needed to do to find out what was causing King's distress. When the news was delivered, Dr. Cuthbert told us that the pneumonia was clearing up nicely, but that he found a tumor high up in King's intestine, and he had peritonitis. Our path was clear, King needed us to take care of him one more time, to make sure his suffering did not continue, and to help him on to his next journey.

He passed away quietly and with dignity, with the people he loved there with him.

Good dog. You are missed.

Hello 2011

2011-01-01T07:20:00.000-08:00

I have to admit, 2010 was a great year for me. I feel kind of bad, because it was really terrible for so many. But I worked hard, and things turned out well. I know hard work won't fend off cancer, or make mean people suck less, but it can do some things.

I started the year with a very handsome gelding who I was trying to bring along, and if sheer force of will were all it took, he'd be a grand prix jumper by now. But he was not interested in work, and he took a very scary fall giving me a mild concussion. Alas, he had to go back to his owner, and I needed to look for a new horse.

I was determined to get the right partner, come hell or high water. I had had two horses who

were unsuited for eventing, and dammit, I was going to get one who wanted to jump and was not crazy. Other people had found such critters, and I would too. However, I did come into this process with some prejudices. One was no Chestnuts. I know, no good horse is a bad color, but come on. Most Chestnuts out there that are not TB are a failed experiment in Spots. Then there is the red-headed reputation -- that they are dingy and hot. I just wanted a nice bay gelding, chrome totally optional. You can tell the way this story is going, that I found a Chestnut, can't you? I could not have found a more perfect eventing partner, Kip! He is perfect and I just love him and we have such an amazing partnership that grows with every ride. Words cant express his fantasticness.

I also got a handle on my weight this year. I kept hearing ( and telling myself) that women just gain weight as they get older, that at least it was only a couple of pounds a year, and that I ate very healthfully - and I did too. But I also ate what and how ever much I wanted. In August I joined Weight Watchers. I was very skeptical, but I was at a point of desperation, with the scale registering a unacceptable number, and I was terribly depressed and felt horrible in my own body. I have to say with the zealotry of the converted, WW is awesome. It has taught me how to eat, what portions are, what really makes me gain and loose weight. And I have lost weight while not being hungry, I have kept going out and to parties the whole time. So far I have lost 20 pounds, and have four to go to make Lifetime. These last four are the hard ones, which brings me to the next awesome thing that happened in 2010:

Running. With the weight loss, I suddenly found myself able to run

again. Before, my knees and shins just couldn't take it, and I would get terrible shin splints even at the slowest pace. But I am happy to report I have trained for and completed my first 5K, the Resolution Run. I finished in 42:01, with a pace of 13:33. Not bad! I have signed up for the Big Backyard 5K in May. The Resolution Run was so fun, especially because I did it with one of my very best friends. The best part was just hanging out with her.

I also finally stopped biting my nails. Jeeze so disgusting.

I am looking forward to 2011, there are so many exciting things on the horizon: the first showing season with my wonderful horse, new 5Ks to conquer, projects to knit, sew and paint and a few other exciting things that might happen, but I don't want to jinx it.

I hope to complete an Event, get a truck and trailer, to weigh what I did in High School and get some landscaping done on the spare lot. I don't know if those things qualify as resolutions, but there it is.

5k

2010-12-31T11:54:00.000-08:00

So I have signed up for a 5K, the Resolution Run and it is happening tomorrow. I am fully expecting I may be walking for most of it, but I am going to try my hardest. I will walk for 30 seconds then run for 60 ... that is my strategy right now.

Frankly at this point I am most worried about parking at the event. Two thousand people have signed up for this thing.

My WW leader has given me my 5k charm already, so I won't be tempted to back out. I have left it in its plastic until I actually complete the run. She's going to be there too - participating in the Polar Bear Plunge part. I will not be doing that. No.

There is Chili and a Beergarden at the end of the race. That part I am doing.

2010-12-09T07:53:00.000-08:00

Every ride I try to ride my best. I don't always achieve this, and it is hard not to beat myself up when I am just not feeling strong or sharp or what ever it is that I feel I am lacking. Because it is not just for me. I have an obligation, a responsibility to Kip. Sure, I train Kip so I will have a great partner to help me live out my dream of Eventing, but more importantly, I train him to give him the very best chance he can have in this world. A smart, willing, trained horse will pretty much always be able to find a home, no matter what happens to me. So every ride I try to build my skill level, because Kip sure as heck is building his -- He is better every single ride. It is really amazing. In my lesson last night, I was expressing my frustration with myself for not always supporting him with my leg to get that nice, bouncy canter to the fence. I guess I was being kind of hard on myself, because my trainer said that I had done an extremely good job with Kip, that I had not taken one misstep in his training, and that his amazing progress was because I was a good rider. I almost burst into tears.

2010-12-01T08:15:00.000-08:00

Every morning I re-pledge my self to sticking to my WW points allowance, and getting some exercise. And every day it is really a struggle. News flash, I know. This last week has been a complete over-points-fest, with Crush dinner, my birthday, Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving leftovers, and then my birthday again. (Thanks Stitchers!)

Today another Yoga session starts, and I have a riding lesson -- so there are some activity points. But sheesh - I have gained weight this week and it is totally demoralizing. But, today is another day, and I will stay within my 29 points today. That is my pledge. Just for today. I can do that.

2010-11-18T07:57:00.000-08:00

Kip seems to get better every ride, with no help from me. This guy is so smart, it is scary.

Our lessons have been gymnastics for the last month or so -- with winter setting in, keeping rides interesting is hard. Our lesson last night was extra fun. We have been working on transitions in between jumps. So we started with 18" cavaletti 3 canter strides apart. The exercise is come in (straight) at a trot, land, transition to a walk, and then hop out. Then Canter in, trot transition, hop out; third, canter the whole thing. The key to this exercise is for me to SIT UP for heaven's sake. It's eighteen inches after all, no need for a crest release.

Add to that a bounce. So, enter canter, cavaletti, three strides, cavaletti, land on left lead, sharp left, 2' bounce. (that is an in-and-out with no stride in between) . That was cake, Kip is super catty and snapped his feet up nice and tight through the bounce. Add to that - land on right lead, right turn, down the long side (Keep that canter forward and bouncy) sharp right to cross-bar on the diagonal, land in left lead, down the long side, left turn over another cross bar.

That is a lot of thinking. One of the challenges of a smart horse is they have opinions about what they want to jump and in what order. Kip "locks on" to any jump we have even the barest line to, and I have a hard time convincing him that that is not, in fact, our jump. So I need to get a lot more precise in seeing the line. Something I have not been really great at in the past. Part of this is sitting up, and going deep into the corners. Since most of my past experience is with Jumpers, I am used to cutting those corners, and jumping out of a bending line, taking the fence where ever will get me closer to my next fence. Two problems with that are, Kip is green and still figuring out where his feet go, so he needs to come in nice and straight; and I am not riding Jumpers, and that is not how you ride Stadium. Old habits, and all that.

This week's lesson: SIT UP. Put on your leg, and support that canter.

Our first dressage show

2010-11-08T08:37:00.000-08:00

This weekend was rather eventful.

Kip and I went to our first horseshow. It was at Donida and was a Dressage Schooling show.

Heidi and I are both Anxious Annies, so we left the barn at 9 am for the 30 minute drive to Donida. My first ride was not until 12:22. We really wanted to get there with pleanty of time, I guess. We found our stalls, and unloaded the horses and our stuff.

We got our numbers, I was 94, and Heidi 66. We got the lay of the land, brushed our horses, hung out a bit and before you knew it, it was time for me to tack up for warmup. This took longer than I wanted it to, but I was the first ride after lunch, so I could warmup in the ring we were taking our test in. Kip was great, very interested and looking around, but never feeing that "OMG I am going to EXPLODE" thing that Imax did. All of the time. Kip was distracted but I could not have asked for better behavior. He was a doll.

Anyway, the bell rang and my first ride was on. Kip was above the bit the whole time, and on the forehand, but he did great. Some comments from movements in our first test:

The good:

Nicely forward

fairly straight

square halt

The not as good:

looses contact, out of balance

fall into trot

could use more prep into transisitons

looses rythm

Then in further remarks:

Left lead canter looses rythm.

Elegant pair, Work to develop constant rounder connection to the bridle and better preparation into and out of canter, especially transition to trot.

That is exactly the comments I would make as the rider. I think the judge nailed our ride exactly.

Second ride was 20 minutes later. It was much better, except I did not prepare him sufficiently for the left canter, knew I was not preparing correctly, psyched myself out, and sure enough, cross-fired and did not get the canter in the corner.

The video

Some remarks

The good:

Active haunches and swing

balanced trot, fairly active and connected

smooth active medium walk

The bad:

hollow unbalanced on left canter

Needs better prep

almost no stretch shown in free walk (that one hurts - Kip has a great free walk at home!)

Final comments:

Lots of potential, can do more to engage from hind legs so that back comes up more and horse reaches more to bridle.

Again, totally fair. The judge was right on in all her comments to me.

So, Victory! The first show down, and Kip proved himself to be steady, sane and perfect. We cam in 6th and 7th in our class of eleven. Not too shabby.

2010-11-05T07:53:00.000-07:00

This week has been so long, how is it there is still one day to go?

I was so excited to go to dinner and then on the artwalk with Scott last night that yesterday totally felt like Friday.

But alas, it was not and I still have an entire day to get through before the show tomorrow. I am very excited and not nervous at all, at least yet. I figure there is nothing to get nervous about as there is nothing at stake. Exactly what a schooling show is supposed to be.

I have done exactly zero to prepare for this. I still have to clean my saddle, bridle and boots, launder the breeches and jacket I am going to wear, pack my show kit, go shopping for food (no concession stand at this show -- which is fine because all they sell is crap anyway). Not to mention Kip will be a dirtball with his shaggy coat and love of rolling on to his back and grinding the dirt in from his poll to his dock. Oh, andt he also has rain scald. I have laundered my saddle pad, so that is something.

Oh well, what ever I get done will be done. I am just really looking forward to the ride. Fun!!

First Show - preparation.

2010-11-04T07:23:00.000-07:00

Another excellent lesson last night. We primarily worked on transitions with poles and fences. Trot pole, halt. Trot 2-3 steps, jump. We are learning ride to the base, pat the ground, rock back, snappy little jump. Kip of course is getting is quickly. We also rode our dressage test.

Kip and I are going to our first show on Saturday, the Dressage Schooling show at Donida. We are going to be doing Training Level 1 - twice. So my ride times are 12:22 and 12:46. My number is 94. Numerologically speaking, that is "4" which is a practical and organized number. I am good with that. (For an atheist, I am so superstitious. Embarrassing.)

Our goal at this show is just to have fun. Kip is going to be very distracted, and i am sure the judge's stand is going to be very scary. But I am just going to ride, what ever horse I have and have a good time.

Since our ride times are late, I am hoping we can get there with plenty of time to settle in, and have a good look around before warming up and riding. Heidi, who is going with me rides at 1:52 and 2:56, so we won't be leaving until after her scores are posted and tests released, so I am thinking around 4:00 probably.

Training Level 1 test:

Enter at A brisk trot
halt at X, salute
Track Right at C
At E circle
between K and A, Right Canter
Circle at B
Between X and B, Trot
at C, Medium walk
HXF free walk
at F medium walk
Trot at A
at E Circle
between H and C Canter left lead
at B circle
Between X and B, trot
At A turn down the centerline
at X halt, salute.

Halloween Jumper Group

2010-10-31T15:40:00.000-07:00

Wow. That was so much fun, I just want to go back and do it all over again.

Kip and I attended the first Jump Group this fall, our first ever. Kip was just amazing.

I was prepared for him to be more focused on the other horses in the arena, and generally mischievous to begin with -- but right away, he settled in to work. He listened to me very well the entire day.

There were horse and rider combinations, all in the indoor - so it was crowded. The highlight of the whole thing to me was we jumped a course of eleven jumps. And he did it willingly and with very little "green horse looky-loo-ism" (there's a term for 'ya) . There were many kinds of jumps he'd never seen before, and sometimes on the first pass, he'd be crooked, but he learned so fast that usually the second time around, he was jumping it like an old pro. Many people commented on how great he is doing, and how cute he is. He is really cute.

As a bonus, Heidi asked me to go to a dressage schooling show with her next saturday. We are so ready. I am once again expecing him to shy at everything. Then if he doesn't I will be pleasantly surprised.

2010-10-28T06:33:00.000-07:00

Wednesday was a rough lesson.

First, I had not ridden in a week, due to crush. Kip was totally scattered, blasting through my leg, trotting like a sewing machine, rooting, running me into walls and generally doing his best to ignore me. I admit I did let myself get frustrated. It did not help that Anne was having a frustrating day too, and really laid in to me about Smartpaks. It is a long and boring story, not worth going in to here, except to say that she harangued a little too long, well after I got the point -- NO SMARTPAKS. Alright already.

We decided to work in the indoor because Kip was being such a twerp. We had to get him listening. To improve the canter-trot transition, I need to ask on a turn -- a very definite turn, not a drift. He is still rough, but by the end of the evening, improving.

We also had 2 cavaleti 9' apart, at X -- Canter at B, turn at A (Look early!! look at P!) steady the canter, support with the outside leg, bring both hands to the right; canter the cavaletti, opening rein to the right to land on the right lead, turn to M, repeat.

He rushes this exercise so by the time we are over the second cavaleti, he's going Mach 5 into the turn. I need to sit up, NOT lean forward, and let him find his feet. He'll figure out it is easier if he goes more slowly.

Anyway this is the homework for the week.

And Jumper Group is Sunday -- So excited! squeek!

Post Crush weekend weigh-in

2010-10-25T07:49:00.000-07:00

This was Crush weekend and I told myself I could eat what ever I felt like eating. I did not want to make this about any thing other than enjoying this experience.

Thing was, that I did not want very much. My first meal on the road with the "new rules" in effect, I ate an entire garden burger. It was really mediocre at best, but I scarfed it down anyway. At least I ordered the side salad with it, and ate all of that too. I also had 10 sweet potato fries from Scott's plate. I was miserable for the rest of the day afterwards. I think I learned my lesson.

At the Hightowers, I still had plenty of cheese and potatoes and gnocci and cookies and, well WINE (so good), but did not over-eat again.

We worked really hard this weekend, processing a record amount of tonnage (I can't remember the actual amount, of course). So I was very active from 10 am until 9:00pm. That burned some calories, lemmie tell you. I also tore the crap out of my fingers - that has never happened before, and is no fun. Next year I will have to take precautions.

On the drive home we took HWY 410, and it snowed. It was very pretty, and a fun adventure. We had to put the chains on for about ten miles, but that went pretty easily and we made it just fine.

So the upshot of all of this is, I gained .4 pounds. My total so far is 14.4 pounds.

New rooster

2010-02-06T07:54:00.001-08:00

100_3993
Originally uploaded by yvettef.

2010-01-09T09:34:00.000-08:00

Scott and I left to catch the new light rail train to the airport at 4:30am on Monday. The train took us right to the parking garage at Seatac, and we went to our gate. We had a little confusion with getting boarding passes, because for some reason if you are traveling to the Carribean

Scott and i went to Belize for christmas and new year's - we had a fantasic time and are very tan.

We took the train in to SeaTac airport , and it worked like a charm, getting us there with just the right amout to time to check in & go through TSA. I totally recommend it when you go to the airport., works like a charm.

We arrived in Belize City and took a prop plane down to Placencia. Placencia is a 13 mile long peninsula, with a mangrove lagoon on one side and the best beach in Belize on the other. White sands and sloping shore, with not too much turtle grass.

We went on some tours, to Cockscomb National Park (Jaguar preserve) where we had a jungle walk with a wonderful Mayan man named Bascillo, who showed us what we could eat ( including termites - tastes like carrots!) drink, and use medicinally in the jungle. Fascinating. Then we floated on tubes down the river back through the jungle.

We also visited Xunantunich, Mayan ruins that you reach by a hand-cranked ferry. Besides the ruins we saw an actual boa constrictor slithering through the jungle, that then slithered up a tree when it got tired of us staring at it. We saw a spider monkey and howler monkeys, too. The ruins were stunning, see my flicker site for more photos than you will ever want to see.

We went snorkeling to the outer Cayes twice, to the Silk Cayes and one inner Caye I am forgetting the name of. It was amazing - we saw tons of blue tang, yellow tang, butterfly fish, huge schools of parrot fish,damsel fish etc, etc-- most exciting was the nurse shark, the eagle rays, sting rays bat rays, trunk fish, grey angel fish , stoplight parrot fish...obviously I could go on and on. The corals we beautiful too.

Weather for the first week was mostly sunny, and the second week was pretty rainy. We made the most of it though, and the second the sun came out, we were back on the beach. Scott didn't wait for the sun, and spent time swimming and snorkeling even in the rain.

This has been a very dry description of a fantastic and exciting trip. See my flickr site for more photos than you can shake a stick at. I will be organizing them later, right now they are just kind of there in a pile.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/yvettef/sets/72157623021996133/

2009-08-24T10:47:00.000-07:00

Cajun got shod last Monday, and the shoes have made a big difference. I took him for a Lake Youngs trail ride on Sunday, and the big long rocky hill was not a problem. The main problem was we had been turning around before it in the past, because I did not want to risk his feet. So now when I asked him to go past the point where we turned around previously (twice) he had a little fit. They get habituated so quickly!

Cantering is still quite the effort for both of us, but now I think he is starting to enjoy it. I usually ask him to canter both ways, twice. This last time, when we went back to trotting exercises, he was much more eager to go forward, which is exactly what canter is supposed to do.

I still only do 45 minute sessions with him in the arena, his little brain can't take any more schoolin' than that. but our trail rides are usually for 2 hours, and the conditioning is starting to show.

Offically BIG

2009-08-10T08:48:00.000-07:00

I brought a tape measure to the barn, so I will know what size of huge to buy for my new pony. Here are Cajun's official measurements:

68" or exactly 17 hands
1330 pounds
foot 6" across (4 shoe in front, 3 hind)
front cannon bone 9.25"
hind cannon 10.5"

Yep. Big.

Saturday and Sunday

2009-08-10T07:24:00.000-07:00

On Saturday I set up three trot poles and one super tiny cross rail - it was basically a "V" not an "X" . But it gave me a good idea about how Cajun will act trotting through standards.

We started out walking long and low - I say that but it is still mostly theory rather than actually being long and low. I can convince him to drop his head and lower his head and neck for a couple of steps. But that is a huge improvement over... not lowering his head and neck at all. Any way about 10 minutes walking. I do not ask for a forward walk, I just don't let him poke along like he'd rather.

Did trot / walk transitions, and regulated his trot for about 15 or 20 min. Trotted the poles probably 8 or ten times, then reversed and did the same. Did some circle work. coming along. Then at the end, I popped him over the cross rail. He did give it a look and wobble a bit on the approch, so he could trianulate on it, and then just trotted right over. Turned him around and hopped over the other way. I call that a good days work.

Sunday we went for a walk on the Lake Young's trail, because not every step needs to be shaped and controlled. We mostly just had a stroll, with some trots. He gets very forward on the trail, and just wants to pound off with his nose in the air, but is learning that even on the trail, the walk/trot transition lessons still apply.

I hosed him off completely, he was pretty dusty. He really likes playing with the hose. we had a nice hand graze, and lots of pats and treats.

Friday ride

2009-08-10T07:21:00.000-07:00

I did not ride Thursday night because I came home with a pounding

headache. I went to bed at 4:30, and slept till 6:00 this morning! I didn't even wake up at 4:00am like I do nearly every day, to try desperately to get back to sleep before the alarm goes off at 4:45.

He is doing GREAT. I am a better rider than when I got Imax, thanks to Imax. I am making sure my cues are very clear on Cajun to make sure I don't get the same confusion I got in Imax when I later tried to teach him Training level dressage passages like shoulder in and haunches in, turn on the haunches, etc. --

He is totally getting that my leg steers his back legs, and my hands steer his front legs. I set 4 poles up in a circle - poles at cardinal points (N, S, E & W) First, I just trotted him over the poles, he went right over, no problems. No hitting the poles at all, he picks his feet up nicely - as I give him a little leg over the pole. Then I got him bending around my inside leg a bit, going around the outside of the poles. Using my outside leg, I pushed him into the circle, using the striping on the poles to line him up to keep the circle as round as possible. He still really does not get straightness yet. But so what? I used my "spiral seat" (outside leg pushing him into the spiral, inside leg on the girth to bend around and encourage forwardness) and the stripes on the poles to trot a spiral - in and out. This is actually pretty advanced stuff for him at this stage. He was pretty darn good, though.

When I ride outside he is easily distracted but that is totally natural, a young horse thing. I have to ride every stride more than inside , I can coast a bit.

He is a dream on the ground, such a joy to be around. One of the guys who works at the barn actually stopped and wanted to talk to me about Cajun - that never happens! Men just love him, they get little stars in their eyes when they look at him. The jousters still have to comment every time.

I have decided he needs shoes, so he will be getting them on a week from monday, the first time my farrier can fit me in. I don't want to worry about it any more, and he wanted to walk on the grass the other day instead of on the gravel. I don't know if it was just that one time or what, but I am tired of worrying about every little hitch in his step, and everytime he does not step out when I ask. it will be a bit more than for Imax .... are you ready for this? $140!!!!!!!!! AAckk!

First lesson with Melody

2009-08-03T16:16:00.000-07:00

First of all, I won't be updating much for the next seven to ten business days, because my computer is going into the shop. It may or may not have to do with a wine-related incident, I am not saying. Thankfully, when I bought it, I thought "Someday I am going to pour a half a glass of gewurztraminer into this thing. Better get the "I am a lush" warranty." So it is covered, but I have to send it away.

Today was my first lesson with Melody. We took a look at my saddle, and she said it is ok for now, but I need a new one. I was starting to have my suspicions. The throat of it is wide enough, but the base needs to be wider. So I am in the market for a saddle. She wants me to buy her Passat of course. She has a seriously over inflated idea of my bank account. Hank, my Vet also mentioned he has some saddles for sale, so I will call him. And Kerry. Last I heard she was selling some saddles. too.

We started at the walk, asking him to stretch long and low. Still not fully understanding that, but it will come. At the walk, get a good forward walk, and leave him in it, moving my arms with his mouth. When he slows, tap with the stick. Mel wants me to start riding in the spurs trading off and on with the whip, so he will always pay attention, and not deaden to the aid. Soon, I won't need either. He is getting "leg means forward" but I think he forgets - his attention wanders, and he slows down. Must get the walk long and stretchy. When trotting, take up a little contact, keep the poll flexed and to the inside. Don't let him lean - bump and release, he must carry himself. The bit is ok for now, look for a Herm Springer. Do this correctly now, and I won't need to correct it later. Trot must stay active, stay in contact. From an active trot ask for canter with inside leg supporting behind the girth, outside leg back. Use both strongly till he understands the canter aid. Only ask on a bending line - beginning of the turn, or coming out of the turn ( or on a circle) never just after A or C. Ask at F, K H or M.

No nagging, ask then insist. Get it every time. Keep the aids light and he will be light. Canter at every ride. Use outdoor arena when possible. Keep sessions at 45 min for now.

July 23-26

2009-07-26T13:12:00.000-07:00

Cajun is still settling in, and doing great. Thursday we rode in the indoor arena, and there were 3 other horses working in there at the time. He was very interested in them, but I got a little work out of him.

Friday there were way too many people in the indoor arena, the outdoor is very dusty, but I didn't care, we rode out side. He gets very lookie - loo at the jousting equipment, but I was able to get him to trot by it normally at least once! We also cantered for the first time. Not pretty, but we did it! I started really asking him to go on the bit. When we were resting between trot sets, I rode on light contact.

Saturday I was supposed to have a sewing lesson at 11:30 ( it got canceled, 10 minutes before it was supposed to start. Long story, but never go to Stitches on Capitol Hill. They suck.) Anyway because of the sewing lesson I went to the barn extra early. (Left home at 7:00, groomed at 7:30, rode from 8 - 9, untacked till 9:30, drove to be home by 10, got ready by 11, on cap hill by 11:30....See how close I had to schedule it to get to the canceled class? )

Anyway. Cajun did not like this "work before breakfast" thing at all, so had little bratty fits while I was tacking him up. But his fits are really no big deal, and who could blame him. What was great was to have the freshly groomed and watered indoor arena to ourselves.

I started with a warm up walk, then gradually would take up contact till we were going on the bit. Still learning forward, but really catching on. when the walk was active and flexing at the poll I would ask for a trot. We did walk / trot transitions to get him in front of the leg. Very good. resting walk. Then active trot, turn down the quarter line, and leg yield to the wall, practicing straightness. I asked for a couple of steps of shoulder-in, and got it, going both directions. Working on circles and not diving into the corner where the gate is. Circles still very rough. Still not getting the concept of staying on the wall, he wants to dive into the middle of the arena. I think he thinks that means he is done. Working at staying round especially in transitions. not always successful.

I hosed him down and let him have breakfast. He was grateful. Turned him out in the field with the tree. His favorite.

Today I rode early again, but without the pressure of having to be somewhere else. I let him finish breakfast first, which I think he appreciated. I tried just tying him by his chin today instead of cross ties. didn't make much difference. We went for a trail ride on the Lake Youngs Trail. We walked down the road, and instead of taking the trail we went on before, I took him along Petrovitsky , past The Parks on 188 and down the big hill. Going out I rode on light contact, he was moving forward nicely, very interested in his surroundings. got a little strong in the trot once and gave a little bolt, came back easily. Spooked once at a sign on a chain link fence. This was early in the ride. He was bold and had a good swinging stride. I kept him in a walk mostly, didn't have to dog him much to keep the pace. Is going pretty good barefoot - the trail is grass/gravel/dirt, with some of the gravel pointy. He hitches up occasionally, but no more than a shod horse. about an hour in to the ride, I let two little girls pet him, he was being very calm and steady, and their parents said it was ok, so they were my children guinea pigs. He did very good of course, and they were thrilled. We did some trotting in two-point, he had a great forward, swinging trot. I had to ask him back to a walk, he was ready to go. On the way back home, he of course was very forward, and i took advantage of that to get him to go on the bit, and start to learn to carry himself, and not lean on me. He leans badly, and I have to bump him to get him to stop leaning. Broke this up with long walks on light contact, and some on the buckle. Did some leg yielding, did great. As we came home he got a little strong, but I turned him around and made him work a bit going away from home, and I think he got the message, because he walked the rest of the way like a gentleman mostly.

I hosed him off gave him carrots and turned him out. He sometimes tries to use me as a scratching post when I take his bridle off, but did not do that today, I think he is remembering I will give him a good scratch, if he is good.

All in all, I could not ask for better. He is progressing beautifully, and taking what ever I throw at him. Very inquisitive, bold and trusting. Making fans where ever we go. Good Boy!

Back to work

2009-07-20T13:01:00.000-07:00

So today was our first day of real work.

We rode in the indoor arena for the first time. I led Cajun around to let him look at everything, especially the mirrors.

We began the day with a good active walk, and learning straightness. This will be a big lesson, he is pretty wiggley, but he'll get the hang of it. I began asking him to walk on the bit, and still keep an active walk. He did ok, just fine. He is so willing and interested in pleasing. But he did spend most of the lesson with his nose out and back hollow, but showed many instances of relaxing at the poll and bringing his back up. This will happen in time.

We did three trot sets both ways, five minutes a piece with three to five minute active walk breaks between. Sometimes the "active" part of the walk was lacking, it was starting to get hot, even at 10 am. We practiced leg yields, learning that yes, I do mean it every time, even if you just did it a second ago. We also practiced bending and straightening with the hourglass pattern - imagine trotting an hourglass shape in an arena, with the horse's body following the curves, then straightening at the top, bending to trace the side, bend in the middle, then straighten along the diagonal, bend to trace the bottom, etc. We did that three full circuits.

He's coming along fine. I wanted to wait to have a formal lesson with Melody, but I think we are both ready for her to have a look. She'll have lots of great advice. I will call her tonight.

I hosed him down and turned him out. he likes it.

Hittin' the trail

2009-07-19T18:50:00.000-07:00

I couldn't have asked for Cajun to be better on the trail ride today. I decided to see how he would be by himself on the trail. We tacked up, and he gets pretty animated when I tack him up. I have been packing his fly strike sores with an antiseptic before applying fly wipe - he still does not like it, but I think if I am careful not to get any fly stuff in any open sores, eventually he will be ok about the fly spray. I walked him around once inside the indoor arena, the first time he'd been in there. He was pretty interested in the mirrors.

I got on and we set out. The jousters were practicing in the outdoor arena, so we stood there and watched them for a while.

Cajun was pretty good on the road, he would walk sideways and shy at some stuff, but no big deal. Except the goats. They were scary. He had to stop and give them a good snort.

The trail is very wide and clear, and in long, straight stretches that take 90 degree turns occasionally. He has a great, brisk walk - head up, ears forward, interested in everything, but always going forward, At the beginning of the ride, I was just letting him have a good look around and keep a nice, forward walk. Seriously, so far I have had no problem with him being lazy at all. He was eager, even wanting to trot. I didn't let him at first though. I wanted a good long, low stretchy walk - he is learning to stretch his neck down when I ask. He will have an excellent top line in no time.

He was very eager to catch up to who ever was in front of us on the trail--people walking, running, pushing strollers, walking the dog, bikers - then as soon as we passed them, he wanted to catch up to the next people. There were no other horses riding on the trail, but there are plenty of horses in pastures along there, and he was very interested in them, but never pulled toward them or got silly or strong around them. I kept him in a walk till we turned around.

When I did let him trot, he was ready to go, he wanted to move out. I would let him go fast, then I would ask him to shorten and lengthen as I wanted - he did pretty good. I also started leg-yielding him back and forth across the trail, he did really great. Only a tap now and then behind the leg to reinforce my aids. Still I mostly had him walk. He has a great, ground-covering stride. I don't know if it is just because everything is new and exciting, but this horse likes to go, he's just such a pleasure to ride.

We got back to the road and he was just fine on the way back to the barn, too. -even when some asshole kid HONKED HIS HORN as he drove by. I wanted to kill the little shit, but Cajun did not even care, because he was way too busy looking at the GOATS OMG WHAT ARE THOSE THINGS? But even in full blown high-alert, he is still so manageable and easy. Geeze, what a sweetheart.

We got back to the barn and the Jousters were done, and cooling their horses out. We chatted about him and they asked if he had any brothers or sisters around. They really like him a lot - totally jealous I can tell. He would look handsome in their medieval horse-drag, but Jousting is not on the agenda.

He is a lovely, forward horse. He is smart and sane and willing. I am so lucky! I love him!

What a guy.

2009-07-18T16:37:00.000-07:00

Cajun arrived on Thursday evening around 7:30. It had taken about three hours longer than anticipated, because it was so hot in Eastern Washington, 100+, so Kurt, the hauler, stopped every two hours to water him. So I didn't mind him being so late. Cajun was tired, but ate and drank and pooped, and really that is all you can ask of a guy after such a long journey.

Yesterday Scott and I went to the barn and led him around, turned him loose in his paddock, and generally just hung out for a bit. Cajun was fantastic, so polite, but still interested in the goings-on in his new home.

Then today, I went to the barn at about 9:30, for our first ride. I took my time taking up, and he did not get the cross ties at first, but he figured them out pretty quickly and was fine.

I took him out to the outdoor arena, and it was already pretty hot. I led him around and let him get a good look at everything. He was very interested. I got up and walked him around the arena. He does not understand walking in a straight line, but I don't forsee any problem with my leg meaning "forward". I would ask for a brisk walk, he would walk on, and eventually start to drag a bit. I would re-apply the leg, and if I did not get an immediate "good walk" gave him a reinforcing tap with the dressage whip. It did not take three of these reminders, before he was giving me a really good forward response off my leg, and sustaining a relaxed swinging walk. What a good boy!!

Then I wanted to work on walk/trot transitions. Walk 5 steps, trot 5 steps, etc. He caught on to the game very quickly, our downward transistions were choppy, but going from walk to trot was immediate and brisk almost every time. Like I said, I don't see forward being a problem at all! We would work in 10 minute sets, and then I would let him relax and look around for 5 minutes. When I would ask him to get back to work, he would get with the program pretty quickly.

Really I could not have asked for any better response - our first ride in a new arena. When we were done, I took him to the washrack and let him snuffle and look at everything, and I hosed off his legs, and let him drink from the hose, something he really enjoys. Then we went for a little walk.

Tomorrow at 9:30 we have a date with Jill and Turbo to take a walk on the Lake Youngs trail. I am looking forward to it.

2009-07-11T07:32:00.000-07:00

I had planned on taking my time finding a new horse. I had planned on riding a bunch of different kinds of horses to get a clear picture about where I wanted to go on this whole silly horse journey.

But then I remembered Cajun.

I had been dreading driving all over hell and gone, riding strange horse after strange horse, arriving to find some sad, thin, dirt ball in the pasture with barely a passing resemblance to the glossy picture from a show seven years ago in my in box. Or to have the horse rear up when trying to lead him to the arena, and the owner say, oh he's never done that! Or drive for an hour to find they failed to mention navicular, or that he's lame right now, but rides real good, they swear.

All of which and more happened last time.

Also, I am kind of spooked from my experience with Imax who rides beautifully when home alone in the arena, but really becomes Mr. Hyde at unexpected intervals. How would I ever know if they really were quiet on the trail or good with other horses in different situations?

We had just come back from a road trip to Montana, we had a great time. Lisa had contacted me about a month earlier and let me know she was thinking of selling Cajun, because he was not being used at all. I helped her write an ad, and didn't think too much more about it, until we came back from vacation, and suddenly I simply HAD to go back to Montana and ride that horse. I have ridden Cajun a couple of times in the past, but with no thought to actually having him be my horse. You ride differently in a test drive, than just hanging out on a horse going up a trail.

I drove like mad back to Montana - 7 hours, 15 min. A record, I think. I rode Cajun for a couple of days, and he is wiggly and slow, but very trainable, remembering things from one day to the next and trying very hard for me. He had not been ridden since last fall, and was not whacked out at all, unlike other horses who will remain nameless who liked to buck if you didn't ride him five days a week. Anyway, I have deceded to take Cajun on a year lease, and we will see how it goes.

I have no idea if he will take to jumping, but we will see. I plan on conditioning him nicely before asking for any thing challenging, so I know he has the strength to do it. I have three wonderful trainers to help me along, and am already dreaming of Adult Rider's Camp at the end of August in Tulip Springs! I would go just to take him, no jumping. But I loved camp last time on a horse who was freaking out, so think how fun it would be on a good calm boy.

I am such a freak, I could not wait to see how he will look with a haircut, so I did a quick and dirty photoshop with his mane pulled and tail banged. Cute, cute, cute.

Cajun will be delivered Thursday, July 16th at around 3 or 4. I can hardly wait!!!

Imax's new chapter.

2009-07-11T07:19:00.000-07:00

I recently came to a very hard decision - I gave Imax away.

I love him and he is a very talented jumper - awesome, really - but he can't take the pressure of showing right now. I don't think it is fair for me to keep pushing him, I feel like I want to progress much faster than he can go. Some day he is going to make one heck of an eventer, but he needs someone who will slow down and let him progress at his own pace.

He and I improved by leaps and bounds, and he tried so hard for me, but the freaking out at odd intervals became too much. He had always been very interested in other horses in the arena, but he started rearing and bolting when another horse was in there with him. He also started being very hard to load. I think it was because he knew we were going to take him to a new place and ask him to deal with new situations, and he just did not want to do that. I could deal with all his old problems, and they were getting better. But when he started just getting new problems, I realized he just did not want to do the same things I wanted to do. At least not yet.

I can't help but feel like I loosened the lid of the pickle jar, and if I would have just stuck it out a bit more something in his head would have gone "ping" and he suddenly would "get it" but I am getting old, and just can't get hurt. Or have someone else get hurt, even worse. His fits are big and scary.

I am gave him to a woman in Enumclaw with 10 acres. She'll give him a couple of months off to learn how to be a good member of a herd, and to just be a horse. She has a life time of horse experience, and has already done the show thing and is over it.

I have a contract with right of first refusal, and a "no auction, under any circumstances" clause in there. He went to his new home on Monday June 22.

Adult Rider's Camp - Aspen Farms

2009-05-04T08:05:00.000-07:00

On Thursday noon, Kerry came and got me in her truck. we loaded my stuff, then went to go get Olive, her mare, and loaded her stuff.

Imax was turned out when we got to Lakeside, and running around along the fence line with his pasture neighbor. Uh oh I thought. He's keyed up. I put a halter on him and we wanted to load him in the front of the because Olive is too big to fit in the first stall. ( it is a three horse slant) Imax wanted no part of loading, he'd never been in this trailer, and probably never been in a slant. Still, I had never had much of an issue loading him so was kind of unprepared for the level of refusal we were getting. He'd put his front feet in and then violently slam his head into the top of the trailer and go flying out the back. On one of these little episodes, he got loose, and galloped like an asshole all over the farm, tail flipped over his back like an Arab, trailing a lead rope behind him. Disaster was averted though, and he was caught. I decided to put him in his stall to calm down for a minute. Someone at the barn suggested Rescue Remedy (soon to be a theme of the weekend!!) and Kerry asked me to see if we could find some Ace - a sedative. No dice on the Ace, but I seriously dosed him up with the R.R. After letting him calm down, and for the RR to take effect, we got some carrots for bribes and he loaded right in. Imagine, carrots are a good bribe for a horse.

The ride over was uneventful, traffic was light and the weather clear. When we got there, we prepared the stalls, and bedded the horses down. Imax was very keyed up, pacing and calling in his stall. Other horses were going to and fro, many of them calling and acting out - making Imax more tense. We fed and went to set up camp.

The tents went up, people staying in their campers thought we were crazy and we went back to get the horses to walk them around. Imax was very anxious and I wanted to get him out - Kerry took Olive off, and I had to put a lip chain on Imax, just to get some semblance of control; but I couldn't leave him in the stall. People were all asking if I was ok, and did I need some help - Imax was a wall-eyed snorting stomping maniac. I thanked them and said we'd be ok, praying fervently into the atmosphere that we'd be ok. I took him for a walk and hand graze, he calmed down some, but going back to the barn, I had to lip-chain him again. I was thinking I would not be able to ride. He was much too dangerous at that point. Kerry told me to just be calm and everything would be ok.

In the morning we went to grain, and I could still tell Imax was over-anxious - so after he had an hour with his hay, I went to lunge him. I didn't even brush him, just put on his boots -- asking him to stand still for brushing was asking too much. At this point I remembered the Rescue Remedy in my pocket - thank god - and gave him three droppers full. We went to lunge. Again he was a snorting out of control mess, and one man was very concerned for us; so he walked with us over to the warm up area to make sure I got over there and got Imax working without getting killed. I got him to the end of my lunge and he just exploded, plunging and bucking and screaming like a banshee. The man that walked us over was way more scared than I was, but I have put up with this bullshit before, and I think his wife has only had nice trained warmbloods. This was at 7 in the morning and I had a scheduled ride at 9:00; Dressage with Jean Moyer. Kerry said I just needed to make it to that lesson and everything would be ok, because Jean was amazing. She was exactly right. I let Imax run till he wanted to stop, and then ran him a little more, threw his cooler on and walked him out. By that time it was time to tack up.

Imax has a swayed back and has a funky hip attachment that makes him weak behind - so he is hard to collect. We worked on his walk, by far the hardest gait, and Jean had me in full contact and round with my leg fully on him and driving him up in twenty minutes. She is a wizend-gnome of a woman, but so beautiful and generous, you just want to work really hard for her. She is always calling out "Hands down, left rein, left rein BEAUTIFUL! Good girl Yvette, look at that beautiful horse you have, that is it exactly! NO NO NO, don't let that shoulder go, you had it and threw it away, now leg and YES! Perfect, oh he is so cute!" By the end of the ride, I knew I had a weekend of fun ahead of me. Imax was perfect and we never looked back.

At two o'clock I had Stadium Jumping with Jonathan Elliott. Jonathan had us going nice and round in short order, really encouraging me to take a hold of Imax, and insist that he go correctly - I have a tendency that when he softens, I give too; but I give too much, and just let it fall apart. When I insist on correctness, he brings his back up to me and travels so much more comfortably and listens very attentively. We started over some simple cross rails and soon we were riding a very complicate pattern - vertical to the natural, sharp left to the red rails, one stride to the green rails. U-turn inside the course, over another fence, switch leads, canter to to the oxer, another fence and finish again with the cross rail. Imax was a super star and jumped every fence every time. We were going between 2'6 and 3'. They looked big to me!

That was day one.

Saturday I had 11:15 Dressage with Steuart Pittman. He worked on my hand position primarily, take a hold of him, and set my hands. He told me a great story about a sway-backed horse he had that he took to Prelim, and then sold. He said Imax was built a lot like that horse, and told me about articles he'd read and assured me that Imax should have no problems because of it. I knew that already, but to have Steuart freaking Pittman tell me that was really great. Again with the help of the experts, Imax had is back up and was carrying me in no time. Of course I am working my butt of to get there, but it is happening. Steuart also said the most lovely thing - that Imax deserves to have a loving home, and be the best horse he can be. I almost cried. Well later, when I was hand grazing I did. But it was so great to hear that from him, because the snotty women who buy the $50,000 imported warmbloods can be pretty mean.

Later I had Cross Country Ditches and Courses with Stewart at 1:30. At first Imax was not too sure about the three-foot high pile of logs I was asking him to jump, and we had some run-outs. I told Steuart I thought Imax was tired, and the look he gave me was priceless! He just said "that is the least of his worries" and made me actually ride the damn horse instead of just sitting there like I can in Stadium and voila! Imax was jumping the solid obstacles! Huge logs that were not just high but wide - Imax did a classic green horse thing, and over-jumped but he was beautiful doing it and Steuart kept calling out "Good man! what a great jumper! He is a natural jumper!" I loved it. Every time we would go over something I would hear "Wow! Good Man!" Heidi, one of the women at camp got pictures of us jumping in this lesson. I hope she emails them to me. We went on to the ditches, and again Imax was jumping them very big. We incorporated them into the course - over the ditch, big gallop up the hill to the left, over the logs at the top of the hill, gallop down the hill (I forgot to mention this is all in two-point...ARGH!) then over the jump to the left of the tree. Swing around and gallop back up the hill, over the HUGE log, gallop along the top of the hill to the right and finish back over the ditch. Awesome.

Day two down, On to Sunday. I had Water and Gallops with Kyle Carter at 9:45. Water is Imax's big bugaboo, so I took him down early to look at it and walk through and to paw and blow bubbles. I am really glad I did. I was able to get him to relax and walk through, but it did take 15 or twenty minutes. Then in the class, Kyle had us all walk through once, and then trot on in a big circle, all of us together going around and trotting through the water - eyes up 12 feet beyond the edge of the water, short trot, taking advantage of their natural tendency but keep them moving, kicking on. Imax did great! Then cantering through individually and again the key was controlling the speed, having him go on my terms, shortening and lengthening when I say, so I am the one calling all the shots, including the water. It was finally time for the course. We jumped the logs, galloped up and through the water, sweeping galloping turn to the left and back into the water, jump the cross rail out. Gallop down the hill, turn to the left, over the kayak, back into the water, keep in a canter and make a big turn in the water to the left and over the rails again to finish. Imax was getting strong and starting to plunge in the gallop - so I would sit up, and bring him back to me, but still driving him on to keep him ahead of my leg and galloping. He likes to slow down to get in some good bucks - but if I keep my leg on and sit up he keeps forward and comes back to me. I tend to back off when he starts acting up, but he settled great when I insisted. Another excellent jumping experience, with no refusals this time at all.

We packed up and came home. Imax was a little trouble to load, but it only took about 10 minutes and no breaking loose and galloping around, so that was good.

All in all, pretty successful. I am exhausted and sore, and I want to do it again tomorrow.

knitting fool

2009-01-25T09:03:00.000-08:00

So I wanted to get shorter needles, so I wouldn't blind my seatmates on the bus. I thought going to a yarn store would be too dangerous, pocketbookwise, so opted for the closer Michael's in Southcenter. I figured I would dodge some bullets, literally and figuratively; because being the materials snob I am, I figured they would not have yarn good enough to tempt me. This was only partially right, in that it was wrong. They did not have much in the way of good yarn, but what they did have was really tempting. So, Fifty bucks later I left with my new needles and some lovely new yarn.

I also bought some circular needles, which I do not "get". The loopy thing just gets in my way. I think I bought a pair with too long a loopy thing. Perhaps all will come clear in this week's Sn'B. One can only hope.

Reporting from SnB

2009-01-14T18:43:00.000-08:00

So the Stitch n' Bitch was great fun, but perhaps Debbie the bossy Sn'B originator was correct when she extorted Under No Circumstances to Drink Wine While Knitting.

Exhibit 1:

Have you ever seen a sadder, lumpier piece of wool in your life?

But wait it gets better:

Oh yes boys and girl, there is a new knitter in town, so watch out!

New Adventure

2009-01-13T07:17:00.000-08:00

So I finally made the jump. I bought yarn.

I know! I am so excited! I bought some pretty enough green wool -- I couldn't bring myself to by the acrylic Red Heart I knew would be good enough to learn on. Besides I wanted something I could make felted beads out of. I yearn for these felted beads.

My first attempt is a sad, lumpy affair, that I fully intend to rip out as soon as I am "done" when ever that is.

Problems I have encountered so far:

Casting on so tight I cannot possibly get the right needle in between the yarn and the left needle.
accidentally splitting the yarn when I insert the right needle to pick up the stitch.
having my last stitch be so loose, my edges have a weird, loopy quality
dropping stitches
and here is the worst one, because I can't for the life of me figure out how I am doing this: Mysteriously Increasing!! I cast on 20 stitches initially, and now I mysteriously have between 25 and 27 stitches. I have been just picking up two loops to try to decrease, of course I can't be bothered to find how to do it for real, and the result is quite lumpy.

I only know how to "knit" no "perl" yet. I owe it all to YouTube!

Tonight is my first Stitch n' Bitch at the Rowanoake. I'll keep you posted.

10 things I would do if I were in charge around here.

2008-11-05T06:51:00.000-08:00

Obama winning the presidency got me thinking. What do I want to see him do? What would I do? Here is my top 10, in no particular order:
1. Health care for all. Single payer
2. Stop the war on drugs, legalize nearly everything. This will stop the imprisonment of our citizens, and take the money out of drug dealing. Regulate the crap out of the manufacture of pseudoephedrine at the pharmaceutical level, so it can't enter the black market.
3. Use the money saved to educate our children.
4. Seriously reduce our military presence around the world. We do not need 14 military bases on Okinawa, 18 in Germany or most of the other ones out there.
5. Use that money to properly care for our veterans, and outfit a properly sized peace-time military. The military industrial complex would be seriously impacted by this smaller, appropriately sized and outfitted military.
6. Being gay is not a limiting factor in any way. Anyone can marry, serve in the military , be a spy or a kindergarten teacher.
7. Give everyone a solar panel and wind turbine, increase funding for alternative fuels.
8. Instead of welfare, give people housing, food and clothing but give them jobs to work for money.
9. Pay enough so most families only need one wage earner, so one person can stay home and raise their kids.
10. Make it very attractive to live in cities, to stop sprawl, protect our farmland.

Imax in October 2008

2008-10-04T16:23:00.001-07:00

Imax in October 2008
Originally uploaded by yvettef

I am teaching Imax to collect, after all this time of allowing him to travel "flat". He needs to go on contact -- to be stretching his neck and arching down ot reach for. the bit. It is an incremental process, but he "gets" it and is making progress quickly. He especially "gets" asking for extension, and is starting to move with schwung - a suspended, free swinging trot on contact. Well, kind of anyway. I can see how it can happen now.

Compare with this photo taken at the Dressage show this last June.

He is flat, with his nose pointed out and his neck in a "U" instead of rounded and down.

Then this one taken in October:

Okay, so not a HUGE difference, but it is significant -- he is going on contact, his nose is perpendicular to the ground, and he is learning to reach his back legs under himself, to raise his back and "carry" me. Sometimes I feel his back rise in reaction to my aids. Yes, that is a good thing.

Lame.

2008-09-29T12:32:00.000-07:00

Imax had an appointment with the ferrier today, and I lunged him around a bit before hand like usual. He seemed off on his right hind, so I decided just to put him in crossties till Rich arrived. When he did, I sent Imax around again, and Rich said he though he was limping, too.

We thought it was in his hip at first, because his hoof was striking flat. But then when Rich pulled the shoes, the hoof wall on the lower inside quadrant came with the shoe -- and the abcess in his foot burst. So Imax had had an abcess in his foot for the last however long with no sign of lameness whatsoever. How frustraing. I guess it was not bothering him too much, he's been going just fine the last few days. Friday I had a lesson with Jill, and he was a champ; lenghthening and lowering - moving into the bit and really working from behind. Yesterday we worked with side reins then went on a little trail ride, up and down hills, a little trotting but mostly just walking. But he was perfectly fine.

I guess there was just no way of me knowing this was going on. I can't beat myself up about it, even though I feel terrible he could have been in pain when I was riding.

Regardless, I am grounded for the next few days. I'll check him tomorrow and soak it if he's still sore, then see how he is Wednesday. Rich and Bonnie both seem to think I'll be riding by Wednesday or Thursday. So it should not interfere with the grand plan of shows Nov, Dec, Jan, schooling Feb and Eventing camp in spring!

Return from hiatus

2008-09-28T08:33:00.000-07:00

Obviously I took a little break over the summer from the blog. Not that I am a posting-machine.

I got nothin still, but I am going to work with it. Things have been going great.

Imax is improving by leaps and bounds. We are in a new barn and he is just thriving -- there is lots of turnout and he has two mares he is turned out with, so he is in hog heaven. He'd much rather be with the girls than with the other geldings.

We are working toward a show on November 15 at Donida, our classes are:

*75. Intro Hunter course Ground rails only.
*77. Hunter cross rail course Fences not to exceed 18’’.
*79. Hunter course verticals Not to exceed 2

I am really excited, I set up a course yesterday, and we jumped it great, the very first time, no runouts or refusals. Imax is a jumping machine. Just point and shoot. Of course we are still taking baby steps, but it is very exciting.

Boring post, but this is all I got.

chickeny-chicken

2008-07-24T08:22:00.001-07:00

chickeny-chicken
Originally uploaded by yvettef

Oh yes we did. We've re-entered the chicken dance.

Scott picked this little girl up yesterday. She is super tame and comes when you call. We also to a full-grown Barred Rock hen. She is not so keen on being held. But, has aready given us an egg.

What a good girl. I am so excited.

Ten Years Later

2008-06-11T09:33:00.000-07:00

It was ten years ago that I graduated from the MFA Graduate program at the University of Iowa School of Art and Art History in Painting with a minor in Printmaking. If you would have told me at the time that I would be on a long hiatus from painting because I had bought a Thoroughbred gelding, I think I would have been pretty okay about that.

I feel like I have accomplished some stuff in the last ten years: getting married, 22 art shows, six solo shows, a good job making good money, home ownership with extensive remodeling, a lovely gelding, a great dog and a panoply of cats. We are back up to five cats, since the addition of Kittikins, aka, Josephine Baker. She is our second cat named for an African-American Jazz musician, the other of whom is Miles. I don't know how I feel about having black cats named after black people, it smacks a bit of condescension or subtle racism -- but one of the cats was named that by a black woman, so does that make it okay? And of course I had a Cat named Thelonious, but that was because he was a Manx, and his whole name was Thelonious Manx because I am a cheese-ball who delights in terrible puns. Humm, methinks I doth protest too much? What ever, we have another cat, who is called Kittikins, and we don't have to call her Josephine. And I graduated ten years ago. Wouldn't go back in time for nothin'. Life is sweet.

Blah x 3

2008-06-04T07:00:00.000-07:00

Possible origin to the phrase "Cat out of the bag": On ships of yore ("yore" ... nice touch! ... setting the tone for old-timey days) Anyhow, on old sailing ships, the cat o' nine tails was stored in an elaborately decorated, often red bag. So if you did something stupid like mouth off to an Officer, you let the cat out of the bag.

Yes, that is the kind of thing that goes on in my head.

I got a lot to say, but...

2008-04-22T08:09:00.000-07:00

So my entry on cultural vampirism re: the "cheers" signoff was wildly satisfying. I loved writing it, and posting it was so cathartic; that is until someone I like responded by saying "oh I do that -- maybe I should stop." ((sheepishly) Hi Hillary!)

What I mean to say is you should cut it out if I don't like you.

yeah, I'm weak.

I would like to post even more rants -- for example, my ravings about the normalization of millitarism through fashion. Camo print rompers, anyone? What sort of sick mind thinks it is okay to dress an INFANT in clothes that were designed to help people KILL people? In what alternate universe is that acceptable??? Not to mention Pink cammo print sexy tank tops & etc -- Sex and Death anyone? Well I refuse to participate. They are making it NORMAL for people in uniforms to be on our streets. And don't get me started on the freaking HUMMER!?!? (What kind of profoundly retarded idiots do you think we are, with that double entendre??)... (blink)

Uh, this is supposed to be about why I am not so comfortable posting my crazy rants. So if you are a friend of mine, and have decorated your nursery with a camoflage crib set, you get a pass...Oh who am I kidding? you need to stop that right now.

2008-04-16T08:45:00.001-07:00

Cheers! (barf) Warning I Have Opinions, and this is my blog.

2008-04-14T07:42:00.000-07:00

I hate it when American people of the US persuasion sign their emails with ...

"Cheers!"

(Hork, gag smnarf -- Just typing it makes me heave)

I frequent a Blog that is pretty freewheeling, people say what they really think. The blog is about what stupid things people do in the horse world, but people sometimes go OT, and that is what happened here.

Now this all started with one poster quoting an email she got from an ally of an erstwhile horse rescuer whom the board was actively slamming at this time. This slimeball signed his email with "cheers".

Then:

F said...
What is with the cheers thing with him? Does he have an adult beverage in his hands at all times? That might explain the blind loyalty to PEC.

X said...
I usually end my emails with 'Cheers'. It's British slang, means the same as 'Take care' or 'See you later'. I was raised on British comedies, so I use their words often even though I've only visited sunny (Hah!) England once.

In my defense, I shot off the following rant before X's comment posted.

Y said...
The "cheers" thing? (pet peeve alert!) If you are from the US, it is an embarrassing affectation and you should stop immediately. It is like the American tourists who go "on holiday" to the UK for a week and come home saying "jumper" and "biscuit". No one thinks: "Ooh, that is so sophisticated they said "cheers" like they do on them PBS shows." And I assure you any Brit you encounter will probably be too polite to tell you to STFU, but they are certainly thinking it. Okay that rant was more adamant than it should have been (I was right about the pet peeve thing - I could go on but I am sure that is someone else's peeve!)

I never would have posted this on any other blog comments. But this particular one, as I said, folks can be pretty forthcoming with opinion -- And besides, I mean every single word of it, and more. You should have seen the unedited blog post -- oh wait! you will because that is what this entry is all about!! And if I can stop just one person from bugging the shit outta me I'll call that a good day.

So on we go...

J said...
I lived in the UK for many years. Brits can be prissy pommies for sure. Cheers is an old east coast phrase. If you recall a few of us Yanks decided we didn't want to kowtow to a nutters king who felt he could tax us up one side and down the other. Yeah, it's called the English language because we share quite a few words.Duh. Please, save the pommie prissdom for a UK board. mmmkay?

(Screeching to a halt) Wha..? Geeze, where to begin with this? Suffice it to say, that yeah, we Yanks (oh dear) didn't want to kowtow to a "nutter" (ack!) (You are so making my point for me! God, you sound like an ass!) Why on earth are you using the fact we wrested our sovereignty from them as an excuse to cloak yourself in their colloquialisms? The POINT is we wanted to be SEPARATE from them. You know what is really is? It is a class thing. Many Americans have this well-known hardon for all things UK. They think it makes them sound "better" (than you), that it sets them apart and above the hoi polloi, the riff-raff, the "common"... *sniff*. I think it makes them sound like desperate, 41-year old Dungeon Masters wearing capes and waiting for the next RenFair(e). AND haven't you heard: "England and America are two countries separated by a common language." -GB Shaw

I certainly couldn't say that, so...

Y said...
J, I warned you it was a peeve! Yeah, totally irrational and snarky. Apologies, but it still bugs me! I figured I would be leaning on someone else's buttons....SO, again my apologies and I will take my "...and another thing-- they spell with unnecessary vowels!" comments elsewhere. Cheers!!

...so on...

A said...
I lived in the UK for five years, and now in Austria (come from the US). I mangle my vowels all the time and when I write something formal, I have to go check that the spelling is either American or English, but not both in the the same text. Cheers, just after leaving I said it all the time because it was expected of me to talk like a brit if I was in Britain, rather than an Ami. Habits are hard to break :)

I find it interesting that this person did not seem to get my f-ing funny joke. I know things don't always translate well in email/type, but come on. I console myself with thinking perhaps this person is twelve.

K said...
The "cheers" thing bugs the shit out of me, too.

Y said...
Thanks for the commiseration, K ! I find it interesting the folks defending the "cheers" thing both said "...but I lived in England!" I lived for seven years in Germany. So from now on, I will just sign off:

Lederhosen!!

(All meant in good fun, folks! Holster the flame throwers!)

Then lastly...
B said...
Well, I'm going to turn in, my Lhasa is jumping on the keyboard, (edit).... Later....or should I say,"Cheers"....Nope, it's too lame!

I will close by saying, Of course you are allowed to sign off with the "c" word. This is, after all, AMERICA (but--see above!!) And I am allowed to think you are a pale, shivering, fey poser unable to think for yourself, and so have to don the affectations of people who are cool precisely because they are being true to themselves.

I have one friend who signs their emails "Cheerios^TM"!
Awesome.

In the spirit of full disclosure, I enjoy many things British. I am crazy for the Jane Austin-a-thon going on on Masterpiece Theater right now. I love all things by Evelyn Waugh, Roald Dahl, the Buzzcocks, the Beatles, David Mitchell, and on and on. I will actually buy a book simply because it was on the short list for the Man Booker Prize. But I am able to tell where they stop, and I start. Reading about a culture or seeing it on TV does not make it my own.

Newsy news

2008-04-11T13:09:00.000-07:00

My knee is still bothering me but it is fine when I ride, thank goodness. I still need to get a physical therapist -- the problem is I just don't want to do it--- I want the knee to JUST HEAL ALREADY.

We do have some spring-like things happening around here, but it is still cold and rainy - you know.

I went on a trailride on Sunday, and man it was very challenging--it was a tough trail and almost too much for Imax's peanut-sized brain. he Does Not Like other horses in front of him, but he also wants to go slowly.....

Some of the trails were switchbacks with mushy steep hillsides on either side of the trail. One "spook" and you were toast. Unfortunately our group encountered some tourists along the trail with little to no English, carrying UMBRELLAS!!!! the group of horses were TERRIFIED be the umbrellas, being good Washingtonians all. Thankfully Imax was way ahead of the regular group and so for once was not in the Drama. but one woman did fall off, and get more scared than hurt. Thankfully the trail was rather wide at this point. It took some doing to get the umbrella hikers to lower the damn things and back off the trail. Yeah, lady -- you getting wet is better than us getting killed. Thanks.

Three hours in and almost to the trailers, Imax decides he has Had Enough. and stops dead in the middle of the trail. I had to pummel his sides with my heels to get him to go -- this my delicate, sensitive little arena flower who bucks if I leg him too long when asking for a canter. I have given the poor S.O.B. the last couple of days off. I'll ride today, though.

Anyhow, that is the news from Lake Seattlebegone, where all the women are crazy, the men in the basement, and all the dogs are above average.

I knew it.

2008-04-01T08:00:00.000-07:00

Doowee's owner showed up.

Well, Doowee's owner's roommate. Scott got an email on Friday from said roommate saying Doowee's owner is a musician and at a gig on the east coast. I guess said roomie finally told the musician that his dog was missing, and was browbeaten into searching Craigslist for "found dog" listings, where she ran across ours.

Scott gave her an earful about updating microchip info, and took Doowee home. He lives just on the other side of the valley from us, about 3 blocks from where Scott found him. So I guess all's well that ends well, but I really miss that little dog. We found out he's fifteen years old, though; so I guess his musician owner guy would miss him too, if we hadn't found him.

Doo Wee

2008-03-27T07:02:00.000-07:00

The microchip didn't reveal anything of use except that the old dog's name is Doowee (I think I will spell it Dewey). I have a friend who is a private investigator, and even she couldn't find anything conclusive. It seems the phone number associated with the chip number has never been associated with the guy who is the registered owner of the dog, and there isn't any record of him living in Seattle anyhow. So, so much for that.

That said, Dewey is settling in nicely, Scott has been taking him along with King to the dog park, to work, to petco and anywhere else he happens to be going. Dewey loves to ride in the car, and like King doesn't care where you are going as long as he can go with.

We gave him a bath so he is not so doggy smelling, but still has dog-breath extraordinaire. I imagine the vet will talk us in to having his teeth cleaned when we have him neutered; because yes, he still has 'em. I figure after we drop a couple hundred bucks in vet fees on him, his sweet old lady owner will show up.

New Old Dog

2008-03-24T12:40:00.001-07:00

New-old-dog

Scott found a dog on Friday. He is a super sweet old dog, mostly blind and pretty deaf.

He was found on the corner of MLK and S. Henderson, wandering in traffic. It just breaks my heart , I can't imagine what circumstances this good guy found himself in to be in that situation. He is well fed, and loves to ride in the car; obviously he has spent his life as someone's beloved doggie. We are looking for his owners, but as the days go on it is not looking good. Scott put up posters all over the neighborhood in like a mile radius.

It seems like we may have a new old dog.

**update** Old dog is microchipped -- maybe we can find his home after all. I hope so for him and his person.

I laughed! I cried! Really!

2008-03-24T12:09:00.000-07:00

Scott and I went to go see Adam Corolla's new movie The Hammer last night, and it was great! It was genuinely funny and very sweet. It's a quintessential feel good movie, and the boxing doesn't get in the way at all. I hate "sports movies" and this is not one of those, it is a nice little underdog fights the man story.

Go see it!

Ketchup

2008-02-28T08:51:00.000-08:00

So I have some stuff going on right now -- my show opened at Albion College in Michigan -- (Wisconson? no, Michigan, definitely Michigan...for some reason I can't remember what state it's in. The Midwest is sort of an amorphous blob to me, I am ashamed to say.)

They have a...disappointing...web presence for the Visual Arts Center so I won't even bother to link. But I have been interviewed by the school paper, and will link to that if they put it on-line.

Imax is doing much better, in that he is not lame anymore, we never really did figure out what was wrong. Mary, my Animal Communicator said it was a "nervy" type of pain. I had a Vet, a chiropractor and psychic all treat him, and while I learned a lot, mostly I learned I need a new Vet.

I also realized we were not ready for the Adult Rider's Camp at Tulip Springs, which is just so disappointing, I was looking forward to it so much. But I can't be sure how Imax will act in public in a strange place, with strange horses. We just need many more miles under our belts, before we commit to such a big deal.

I am trying to ride him in the arena with other horses as much as possible and going to take him on a trail ride to Bridle Trails on Sunday. We will see how that goes.

2008-02-14T08:39:00.000-08:00

Imax started bucking again when Von was in the arena with Six.

I wanted to get him to trot long and fast, but when ever I would give him some reign, the bastard would start rearing and striking. I just kept trying to push him forward, he kept trying to buck me off. Finally I had had it, and got off, and started chasing him in circles, sort of lunging in tight circles at the end of the reigns. I was fucking furious and Von of course could tell. she told me to just get on him and canter him (she said "lope" - cute!) until he didn't want to canter any more, then make him keep going. Then do it the other way.

Now I know what I was doing (chasing him around yelling at him) was not doing any of us any good. But I had a trainer in my dark, misty past who firmly believed that even if your horse was fresh, they had to listen to you - you should let them trot fast, canter & etc to get their ya-yas out, but they had to listen while you did it. So I was trying to get him to the listening phase, so I could let him do what he wanted, which was canter. But he was not ready to listen, so we were at a stalemate.

Since I didn't have a better idea, I did what Von said, and got on him and just tore around the arena. Dear god. Not only is he fast, he can run forever. It was utterly exhausting, and to the right he motorcycles so badly if I let him (and even when I don't) and that is hard to ride. When we had been going for a really long time, he acted like he was ready to stop, so I asked him to keep going. He found another whole pocket of energy and we galloped around for god only knows how long. I ran him until I was utterly exhausted, at least, and he was pretty winded. I honestly think we galloped around that arena for fifteen or twenty minutes. And he could have gone longer.

So it is no wonder he wasn't listening to me.

Anyway after I let him catch his breath a bit, we did some side passing and walk/trot transitions and called it a day.

So I think I have to run Imax around, at least some days, before asking him to work.

That leads me to the problem of the BO thinking having your horse at liberty and chasing him around equals "turnout". He has finally told me point blank not to do that. I really don't understand the difference between riding/tearing ass around with me on his back, as opposed to me off his back, but apparently there is a difference. So I guess we will just gallop around with me up.

That said, Area VII Adult Rider's Camp is in Kennewick at Tulip Springs March 20 - 23 !!! Squeek! I am so excited. I have to figure out a way to get us there.

Pallette Cleanser!

2008-01-24T11:13:00.001-08:00

January 7th, 2008

This is like a little cheese and crackers to get the depressing taste out of our collective mouths.

I need to push the depressing further down the blog page.

Imax is such a good guy. Look how cute he is. Folks at the barn have been telling me how much better he is looking, and how far he has come in his training. He is a nice mover and loves to jump. More than I can say about a lot of pretty horses. He almost looks as though his neck is on right way up.

Part of a horse not being in good condition us a "U" shape to the neck, as opposed to an arch. Horse people say "It looks like his neck is on upside down" about ewe necked horses. Compare:

July 7th, 2007

Subtle, but it is coming.

I am warning you, this is depressing.

2008-01-24T10:44:00.001-08:00

I have not been posting much, my blog seems to be a sad place these days. But then so is everywhere else, so what do I expect? I'd been avoiding posting because seeing JD's obituary reminds me of how hard the last year has been.

Jake died a little over a year ago, and Mom's illness was hard, and lasted so long. I still think about her all the time, I'm processing and examining our relationship. It is all such a mystery. And I worry about my Dad.

Then there are all my friends' parents, too. C's Mom, and J's Dad. R's Mom died of pneumonia last week. It is not the dying that bothers me -- it is how long it takes. All of these people were (or still are) sick for a very long time. Not "oh i don't feel good give me an Advil" kind of sick. No, it is month after month of actual suffering.

God this is depressing.

I am actually looking forward to the death part of dying, I know that sounds very weird, but I am so curious as to what will happen. Not that I would ever do anything to hasten my demise (unless you count the years of smoking) but the moment will be fascinating. I just want to do it quickly. In about 45 more years.

Okay that is enough of that.

J.D. Franz. 1990 -- 2008

2008-01-04T08:34:00.000-08:00

Our little cat JD, passed away yesterday January 3rd. She was my mom's cat for most of her life -- she lived in the barn and would come out to visit mom while she gardened. JD had to be a very courageous and wiley cat to survive out there in the wilds of Lake Stevens -- just to avoid the coyotes, feral cats, dogs and various other dangers, she had to be on her toes.

We took her in when Mom was too sick to go outside to give JD a pat -- Mom was very worried about her old friend, and wanted to make sure JD was taken care of after she died.

We were JD's retirement home for about six months, and in that time Scott and I became very attached to her. She was an old lady who was set in her ways, and wanted affection, but on her own terms. She preferred to be alone, although she forged a truce with King, and liked to share his dog bed. She'd also eat out of his dog bowl, much to his consternation.

RIP little kitty.

Happy New Year from the whole bunch of us

2008-01-02T10:32:00.001-08:00

We have many wonderful friends in our lives, some of whom happen to be animals at the moment. I'd like to dedicate this entry to them, and thank them for the past year of love. I could not have made it without them.

First up is Binkie, who we have had for seventeen years. She is a wonderful little cat, with the softest fur. I think she is french, because every time you pick her up she says "Merde!"

Next is Bhodi, who is the smartest, funniest, most loving cat in the world. Has world-domination fantasies. Rules with an iron claw.

Then there is Bug. Almost unbearably cute and goofy, super playful and needy. She also is a garbage scow, who if given a chance will eat all four of the other cat's food, before they can make it to the bowl.

Next up is Miles, who is super weird, we suspect he is actually a space alien who somehow got trapped on earth but is finding it interesting, so decided to stay. He loves to sit in the bath tub, to stare at the underside of cabinets and to sleep half-on and half-off the bed.

Finishing the Cat portion of our program is J.D. She was my Mom's cat. J.D. (named for Jack Daniels - yes, that was my mom-- naming her pets after favorite booze.) is seventeen or eighteen, she spent the majority of her life as a barn cat, living by her wits, luck and determination. We have taken her in for a life of ease in her old age, living as a well-loved indoor cat, with plenty of snugglers, scratching posts and warmth. Unfortunately she has Lymphoma, and won't be with us much longer. I am glad we have been able to make her as comfortable as possible in her last days.

We only have one entry in the Dog category - King. Superlatives fail in praise of King; a purer heart never existed. He loves the cats and me, but loves Scott most of all. He's as beautiful as he is loyal. Dog personified. Or Dogsonified.

Lastly in our pet parade is Imax. I am totally pissed off at him right now, we went on a New Year's Day trail ride with eleven other horses and riders. He went ballistic. Two hours of bucking, kicking out, rearing, lunging forward, striking out and any other butt-holish behavior he could think of.
This is the next photo in the sequence from the one above. Yes, that is him trying to bite my foot. What I didn't get a picture of was what happened next, which was me kicking him in the teeth.

Everyone was very impressed that I stayed on the whole time -- Fortunately for me, his bucking is relatively easy to sit, even when he is jumping four feet vertically in the air. Everyone who was watching that particular display swore that they could see the entire horse following behind, in the space under all four of his hooves. We eventually just left the rest of the party behind, as I just pushed the bastard on all day, forcing him forward, forward, forward. At the end of the ride, he was going over pretty long, scary bridges with hardly a hesitation, so he learned that at least. He still seemed plenty fresh after two hours. Tonight I am going to lunge the hell out of him. But I still love him. I guess.

Anyhow. Happy New Year to you, gentle reader. Onward.

What next?

2007-12-13T08:26:00.000-08:00

I finally got a Vet to return my phone calls and make an appointment to come and see Imax and give him his shots. Thirty minutes after the Vet left, Imax was COVERED in hives, panting, itching like mad, and had a temp of 103. It took the vet an hour to get back to the barn to give him a cortisone shot ("gee I have never seen any thing like that in my life" he says.)
( o_O )
He's fine now, we had a good ride yesterday but jahayzuz it scared the shit out of me. and cost an additional $160. Merry Christmas!

We are also having training issues, now that I am really asking him to work, he is having a bit of a problem with that, and throwing temper tantrums. I just keep a chain on him -- if i have it on, he won't even try any crap, and never have to use it, but if I don't have it on him, the second I lead him into the arena, he starts slinging his head around and pawing and striking out. Once we are going he is fine. So, I just keep the chain on and we just don't have the problem. Ah, fun with Thoroughbreds. Thankfully Jill my trainer has trained TBs her whole life. Which is why she is my trainer.

Lastly, WTF is up with it being DARK at 4:00? I know this happens every year (like clockwork!) but geeze for some reason it seems worse this year.

Fa la la la la, la la la la.

pony post

2007-11-15T10:33:00.001-08:00

The only thing I have been doing is riding, so that is all I have to write about. Imax is doing great, like usual. He is learning to canter and is stretching and rounding. This is blurry but you can see how nice and flat his topline is (relatively!!) He is even on the right lead!

We are working toward schooling shows in January.

I have a crush on my horse.

2007-10-23T13:04:00.000-07:00

Imax is doing so good, I am so proud of him.
This is a Then and Now photo. The one on the right is one I took when I was looking for a horse. The one on the left was taken yesterday, October 22.

click for big.

He still has a pointy croup, I don't think that will ever go entirely away, but his hindquarters are muscling up nicely. He has also gained about 100 pounds or more, which also helps. It is great to see this progress.

AND I got a new saddle. Which I also am enamored with.

It is a Stubben Juventus, in BLACK. Sexy.

I got it yesterday, and we had our first lesson in it. It made a HUGE difference. Jill had us do 20 minute trot sets with almost to no contact. For about five minutes, we were even on the buckle. Not the most beautiful circles you have ever seen, but he was responsive to my leg, and most importantly, pretty much stayed in frame. I hope to replicate this wonder when we ride tonight.

I can hardly wait.

Chatty news about our weekend

2007-10-18T08:04:00.002-07:00

Scott and I went to Benton City this last weekend, to make wine at Hightower Cellars. We had a good time, and the wine making process is interesting and all but ...

We left on Friday and meandered over the mountanins. The trees were doing their fall thing and it was very pretty. We decided to take the canyon road from E-town to Yakima (the Palm Springs of Washington). We went on a walk in the Uptanum Recreational area - I forgot my camera for this part.

We drove past our exit to Benton City, a rare occurrance of Scott getting a bit lost. Seriously, he had a piece of magnitite in his head. Once we were camping, and I woke up in the middle of the night, with Scott kitty-corner across the tent, leaving me just a little sliver of pad to sleep on. I woke him up, telling him to scoot over, and he said - out of a dead sleep - "Sorry, I was aligning myself to magnetic north." True story. Anyhow missing our exit got us some great views of mysterious, scary looking Compounds along the freeway. I guess you had to be there.

We got to the Winery around 6:00. It was really pretty .

Jay took us on a tour of the place, and showed us how to punch down the grapes.

One of the owners possibly Republican but definitely humorless relatives were also visiting for the weekend, so I mostly kept my mouth shut the whole time I was there. Scoot wisely followed suit. These folks were a chatty bunch, as long as you stuck to your Alma Matter, Baseball, and passing the Bar exam. They had no time for cracks about Alaska or Cats of Chocolate, I soon found out.

We picked grapes in the morning

and crushed in the afternoon

There were four big dogs there, so that added to the pandimonium, but King was really good with the crowd of people.

We worked really hard and got all six tons of grapes crushed on Saturday so we left early on Sunday after getting paid in Hightower Wine. Yum.

We meandered home, going through Prosser, Mabton, Toppinish, Wapato, back to Toppinish (long not interesting story) and decided to go home via SR 410, White pass. Again, very pretty, again no pictures.

All in all, we had a great weekend.

Contorted Hazlenut - Harry Louder's walking stick

2007-09-25T09:47:00.001-07:00

Contorted Hazelnut - Harry Louder's walking stick

Carolyn and I went to Swanson's Nursery this Sunday to pick out a tree to remember my mom. My lovely co-workers got together and gave me a gift certificate so I could get her something nice. I know she would love this tree.

Imax at the Sea

2007-09-12T08:11:00.000-07:00

Oh my god Imax was a CHAMP. We went to Ocean Shores pn Sept 8th with nine other horses and riders. He had never been to the beach before.

We rode in the WATER and even cantered in the water.
I sort of tricked him into the water, we were in the middle of the pack of horses, and there were non-spastic horses around him, and they just normally kept walking when the water came up, and he suddenly realized - hey! the ground is WET!! He snorted and shimmied around, would stop suddenly and then just as suddenly start. But he calmed down pretty quickly and more or less normally walk trot, and cantered in two inches of water.

But at first when we got there, even damp sand was highly suspect and he had to shy around the patches until he realized all of the whole ground was nothing but damp sand, and then he started to forget about the shying.

We also went up and down sand dunes, all over the beach. After about two hours though, he decided he had had enough, and had a little spaz and would only walk sideways. So we just went the rest of the way to the trailer sideways. It wasn't nearly as fun for him when I was Telling him to go sideways, though.

Then in our afternoon ride we went for a gallop (!!!!) and he is FAST. I was holding him with all my strength, and he still passed everybody. I can't imagine how fast he would have gone if I'd let him go. Scary! But when I started asking him to stop, he did (eventually) but then he was so keyed up he sort of did this little jog/prance thing - he was a hit with the civillians on the beach. Lots of phone pictures of us out there now.

This is the only photo I got the whole time, I was too busy hanging on to take pictures...

Anyhow, so much fun. He is such a good boy.

Derby at Tulip Sprngs

2007-09-06T09:32:00.000-07:00

This last weekend I went to the Tulip Springs Derby to lend a hand to my friend Kerry. It was her first Derby with her excellent Draft-cross, Olive. Her show name is Orange Crush, which I think is cute and funny. I met some nice people from the Area VII Adult riders - actually they seem more crazy and fun than "nice".

We had an excellent time, and I can hardly wait until I get to go to these sorts of events with Imax. There is supposed to be another Adult Event Camp and Derby in the Spring, so I am hoping we can make it to that one.

I finally had my first lesson on Imax with Jill, and he was a total gentleman, which is good, except that I wanted to show Jill the getting behind the bit problem and his off-balance canter to the right. I know how to push him up into the bit, it is just a matter of getting strong enough, but I don't know what to do about the weird sloppy counter-canter to the right. Oh well.

Imax and I are going to Ocean Shores this Saturday, I am interested to see how he reacts to the Biggest, Scariest Puddle in the World, aka: the Ocean.

Men doing Dressage

2007-08-22T09:49:00.000-07:00

The view from up here

2007-08-21T10:10:00.000-07:00

I wish I could go riding with you so I took this little video, to pretend.

I am so honored!

2007-08-09T14:59:00.000-07:00

Miss Eva Lake, of Art World Radio podcast fame and blogger extraordinaire, (the dedication! the productivity! the passion! how does she do it?) has used one of my paintings to illustrate one of her posts.

If you offend easily, don't click here.

Neat!

p.s. and if you clicked through to Carolyn's post referenced by Eva, all I have to say is "ditto".

A rough couple of days

2007-08-01T13:38:00.000-07:00

The day after Mom passed away, I went to the barn to take Imax for a ride. It was relatively early in the morning and he had just been put in the pasture. i walked through the barn to the pasture to fetch him, and he saw me at the gate. He was on the far side of the pasture over by the mares where he always is (he is such a gigolo). he started walking to me, like he always does (he is a dream to catch, comes to you and puts his nose in the halter.) It looked like he was limping, and as he got closer, I saw blood running down his leg.

He had a two-inch gash on the inside of his left knee. I freaked out a bit, I certainly was not emotionally ready to deal with a bleeding, lame horse.

I washed the cut, ran cold water over it, and put some antiseptic on, and Mark, one of the barn owners, kindly called a Vet for me. When she called back, she basically told me what we were doing was ok, except I should get him a tetanus shot, which I did. A friend of mine Kerry, gave me a bunch of first aid supplies including Bute and some good advice. So I have been washing it out every day, running cold water over it for 15 - 20 minutes and putting a homeopathic salve on it that is also a topical anesthetic (sp??). I wasn't wrapping it for a while because it was pretty swollen. It has stopped actively swelling. So I wrapped it today.

The only thing I can figure what happened is he got into a fight with one of the other geldings in the pasture, and he got the worse end of it. It is not so surprising, he is really an instigator, he immediately challenges the dominate horse in the pasture and then wants to boss everyone else around. I may have to re-think him being turned out at all. Erin, his former owner stopped turning him out because he came back with a new scrape every time. I have to admit, he had a new ding nearly every day I have had him, too.

I realise this post is kind of boring to anyone but me, but believe me this is the abbreviated story - The wrap/don't wrap saga alone could fill this page and more.

So anyhow, I am grounded for at least another week to ten days. The up side is we are just hanging out getting to know each other. He is quite charming and funny.

Deloris Alice (Forsythe) Franz, 9/7/1940 - 7/25/2007

2007-07-26T08:25:00.000-07:00

My mom, Dee passed away yesterday July 25th 2007 at 2:30 a.m.. My dad, Wayne was by her side.

Our immediate family - Colette, Larry, Lacy, Caitlyn, Tristan, Scott and myself, all met last Sunday, to say our private goodbyes to her. We each took turns talking to her while the rest of us waited in the 5th wheel trailer, so everyone had privacy and as much time as they needed to say whatever they needed to say to her. I feel pretty much like I was able to let her know how sorry, grateful, happy, indebted, sad, scared, excited, loved I felt, and all the other family members I spoke to felt the same.

I think she knew it was okay to go after that.

Scott and I decided to go up and see her again on Tuesday, Scott had the day off and I had no problem getting the time off, (because where I work, they realize we are human beings and we are treated accordingly). I had a premonition about ten or so days ago, that mom would die on the 25th, and had told Scott. But after seeing her on Sunday I was not so sure. Scott, however, was treating that day like she had an appointment or something and of course that is when she would go. Between him and my friend Margo, they convinced me that we really needed to go see her Tuesday.

She seemed very busy, there was alot going on inside her. The nurse came by and let us know how we could make her more comfortable, and assured us the things we were doing were right. She estimated mom had another couple of days - but I was not so sure. Scott and I stayed throughout the afternoon, sitting with her, talking to Dad, and reading. When we left, I kissed her and told her I would be back tomorrow.

Dad called us at 7:00 am Wednesday to let us know mom had passed away early in the morning.

When we got to mom and dad's house, Colette's family and Carmen and Larry were already there. It was great to have everyone there, we all got to cry together, and sit and talk. I went in to see mom's body, but it was amazing how she was so much not there. We all gravitated to the garden, because that is where she was.

We all sat and ate and talked all day, and it turned into every other family gathering, with us all joking, and the dogs running around and we all had a very nice time.

Bye, Mom, I love you.

Imax news

2007-07-17T16:55:00.000-07:00

Imax is settling in nicely, and has a fan club with some of the little girls who take lessons at Pony Tail. On Sunday, one of them updated me on his every move, and informed me that he likes apples.

Since Saturday was a settling in day, I just worked with him on the ground, mostly leading him around the barn and in the arenas, learning to whoa and back up when I tell him. I think I need a stud chain, he will drag me around if he feels like it. Erin (former owner) said you just have to put one on him, and that makes him calm right down and listen attentively. I have been using the lead-rope around his nose like a stud chain and that works just as well, but having that clunky clasp over his nose looks so mean.

Sunday morning we went for our first ride at PTR, and he was a very good boy. I started him in the round pen, pushing and chasing him a bit, until he was "chewing" and then he followed me around for a while.

He was mostly patient when I was tacking him up, since my tack is new for him, everything needed adjusting, so it took a while - also periodically and randomly picking up his feet. He is getting the idea that I will ask him for a foot at the oddest times.

We had a nice little hack around the jumping arena, and trotted some poles, and he did that just fine. I rode him all around the barn, and down the street about a block; he did great and I decided to quit while ahead.

Then yesterday, after work I decided to take him on the Lake Young trail, and getting down there he was fine, but once on the trail, he started throwing his head around and refusing to go forward. I circled him and kept asking him to go, and he did have a number of flip-outs. No bucking or rearing, but throwing his head around and backing up. When I would get him going forward, just about the time I would think he had been going nicely and we could turn around, he would flip out again. So our little trail ride turned into a test of wills. I finally had a good stretch of going forward and got to turn around. Once back at the barn, I had dismounted thinking to walk him around the arena to cool off, and he did the "drag me around" thing again. So, I put him in the round pen and ran his butt off, and got him following me around like a little puppy. I walked him and brushed him - gave him some carrots and we ended on a good note.

Speculation on what caused the bad behavior - There were a TON of mosquitoes, and he didn't like them, and also I think he has a sore spot on the girth line on the right side. I noticed he would react by flipping his head and lipping when I brushed that area. So today will be a day off from riding, more ground work. Also, since his wither is so high, the saddle slides back quite a bit by the end of the ride - I need to put some more holes in the breastcollar to help keep it in place. Even before I noticed him reacting to being touched on the girthline, I have not been cinching him down super tight, just enough to keep the saddle on - maybe too loose and the saddle is joggling around on his back. All things to watch in the future.

All in all everything is going just fine. I have already cried twice and beaten myself up for not buying Monty the paint. And then I go and see Imax and start to feel better.

Oh dear.

2007-07-12T13:13:00.001-07:00

Imax

Hello?

I keep getting struck with bouts of panic. I will just be sitting here and suddenly my skin feels like it doesn't fit and I have to sit quietly with my hands over my eyes for a moment until I get it together enough to be able to not scream a little.

You see, I have bought a horse.

The very horse in this picture.

His name is Imax. He is five.

He was bred for the track, but was weeded out before he was ever started.

From there, he was bought by a woman who "cowboyed" him around a little too much, and he didn't like it. Started trying to buck her off. She got scared of him and basically put him in a stall for a year.

She finally got tired of feeding him so decided to sell him at auction. The owner of Woodenview stables offered to buy him instead. I am not sure what she planned on doing with him, but a girl working at her barn, Erin, bought him from her. Three weeks later, her boyfriend got accepted to a grad school in University in Southern California. She decided to go with - and Imax had to go back up for sale.

I saw his ad on Dreamhorse:

Has been jumped over a few things & shows interest. I am moving to San Diego Aug 1st and unfortunately not able to take my baby with me! He is registered but previous owner lost the papers supposedly(very annoying). He's never raced, green but has a few months of training under him and really is just a big baby. I have tried him on a few jumps and he will jump and with training would probably make a great jumper. He needs an advanced rider or an intermediate rider with proof of a trainer as I want him finished properly. I have a trainer I work with regularly and will continue until sale. I can ride him English walk, trot, canter -he has real smooth gates, a nice sitting trot all will just get better! He has been to a basic level walk trot show, he clips, loads, lunges, bathes and loves to be groomed. Has been on trails, dogs & traffic didn't seem to bother him. Great personality, good with other horses. A real lover!!

If he passes the Vet check tomorrow, I take delivery that afternoon.

Oh dear. I need to cover my eyes for just a moment. Excuse me.

Dragonwort

2007-06-19T08:16:00.001-07:00

Dragonwort

I have taken refuge in the garden this year, even more than usual. Every new flower that blooms is breathlessly anticipated, and hugely celebrated when it finally opens.

I was afraid I had lost this strange and fabulous plant. It was a volunteer from the back yard; it was growing right outside the bedroom window. When we had to put in new French drains this spring, I had to relocate it. But, it was a champ and pulled through, as you can see.

it is related to the Corpse Flower. Thankfully though, Dragonwort (aka Dragon Arum, Dracunculus vulgaris, or Voodoo Lily) only smells like a rotting rat for a day. I love this plant!

THAT, my friend, is a chandelier

2007-05-31T08:57:00.001-07:00

light fixture
Originally uploaded by yvettef

Scott and I went to 2nd Use and got this light fixture.

It is missing little crystals that dangle on top. I think I will get these.

I love it.

My favorite things

2007-05-17T10:30:00.000-07:00

I was just ~~lurking~~ visiting over at Crazy Aunt Purl's blog, and she spends this entry talking about her favorite things. This got me thinking about what my favorite things are. The things that just make me happy. Now since we are talking things here, the biggies on my happy list, like Scott, and my family and my kitty cats, and my dog don't count.

Now, I have been really trying to have a carpe deim attitude lately, so I thought I would make a top 5 list what makes me happy.

In no particular order:

My garden. I try to spend 5 minutes every morning, when it is not raining, being in my garden - seeing what new has bloomed, and appreciating how beautiful it is. No bad thoughts are allowed. I can't worry over why not a single Calla Lilly came up, and neither has my anxiously awaited Mrs Black. Oh well.
My sparkly glasses. Mine are the ones on the upper right.
Survivor. Seriously, I love this show. The guy I want to win always gets voted out at the last minute, (Yau-Man! I loved him!) But Earl winning was okay. And Dreamz back-stabbing was excellent! Even though it was Yau he stabbed.
~~My palm pilot. More specifically the scrabble game on my palm pilot.~~

edit: Okay I cannot believe I didn't think of this yesterday, but definitely one thing that is making me very happy right now is our new floor. And there is even more of it now, as Scott has finished the Kitchen. I need to get a picture of that.
Teh innernets. How did I live without Wikipedia? and lol cats? (And Zappos and craigslist and ebay and cruel and blogs and email and google maps...)

These are not necessarily the top five things - although I think they are. Just five things I can think of that make me happy.

Still in the running toward becoming America's next top model.

2007-05-14T16:39:00.001-07:00

Rocket

So, I tried Dakota for a week - I would have liked to have had him a little longer, but his owner person had a vet appointment and farrier for him this Thursday, so she said if I didn't want him she needed him back before then.

He and I were just starting to get to know each other, and in fact I think had a major breakthrough the night before he went back home. I was supposed to have him until Sunday, but when I told the owner lady on friday I wanted to send him home, she wanted to come and get him the next morning at 8:00am. She was pretty pissed off at me, which was unfair of her I think -- I told her I had wanted to try another horse -- it didn't mean I was not going to get Dakota... But the more I think about it, the more I think I am just done with that whole thing...

I mean I could only try him a week, she was selling him with him needing shots and ferrier, she did not listen when I told her I wanted to try a couple of horses - Did she really think I was going to keep a horse needing a vet check and shoes? No, I am going to send him back, let her pay for that stuff; think about it and then (maybe) realize I liked him better than the other horses and buy him. I tried to tell her cute stories about the adventures we had had that week, but geeze, she was cold and just shut me right down.

OH and not only THAT but when she brought Dakota down to the barn I am boarding at, I bought three bales of hay from her, so he would still be on the same feed duringn the trial. Then, when she came to get him she TOOK THE HAY THAT WAS LEFT BACK. I paid for that hay! But she had a serious stick up her butt, and I decided it was not worth it to make her unload my hay. Besides, I just wanted her gone. Keep the damn hay. Dakota was a good horse, though.

So, what does that have to do with the picture of the horse at the top of the page?

Well, I am next going to try Rocket, and he looks like a super model. He is 17 hands high and only 4 years old. It would not be out of the question for him to top out at 17.2hh. I have only ridden him once, and he acted out a bit then, but there were very extenuating circumstances ( first time in this particular covered arena, had not been ridden for eight weeks, and was on super hot feed, sort of accidentally.)

It does not look like it in the picture, but his black socks are well above the knee and hock. Sexy. And the cornrows don't hurt.

Visual Codec

2007-05-11T08:43:00.000-07:00

Oh yeah, and I am in a book.

One Shot

It is very exciting, and I am in great company. Here's a sample of some of the work and a list of the artists.

Look!!

For info on buying a book of your very own, go to Visual Codec's website.

I am test driving a horse.

2007-05-07T16:17:00.000-07:00

Dakota was delivered at 8:30 Saturday morning. He did great getting out of the trailer, just backed right out, and then stood there nicely -- no histrionics no slinging his head around, wall-eyed while he pranced like a dork. Very calm and level.

Linda, the owner-lady is lending me her saddle (western) for the trial period, so I at least have something to ride him in, but I just don't like western saddles. I don't get it -- unless I am roping a cow, I don't get the point. Anyhow yeah.

So of course I had a hair appointment in the city that day at 11:30, so I got Dakota comfortable - (I think I my call him Dak; Dakota is too ... meah.) Introduced him to his paddock and everything then went and got my hair done and then drove back to the barn for a ride. I am taking it very easy, mostly walking until I get past the saddle sore stage. I lunged him and he does that really well, however I was not paying attention or something at first and the very first thing I did was get a finger caught in a kink in the line and twisted the hell out of it. So I have had my first injury.

Day two, Sunday:

I got to the barn at about 9:30 - put Dak in the arena so he could have a good roll,
and got to cleaning out the paddock (a daily must at this barn; part of the deal). While I was doing that this other boarder, Leslie, drove up. She is the woman who owns that Percheron gelding I rode a few times until she annoyed me so much I decided it wasn't worth it. She also drives a bright yellow Hummer. She is notorious at the barn for only occasionally showing up, leaving Sharon's elderly husband (OLD man, he is OLD.) to clean Blue's paddock. Well, she saw me there and decided that she was going to groom Blue, then bareback him a bit around the arena. Anyhow she did a thousand little things that just seemed needle-y and annoying, but nothing you could actually call her on; you know stuff where it would me me who was unreasonable, not her.

Okay, so moving on. Eventually I got in the arena and lunged and rode Dak, and he was a little squirrely, and challenged me on a couple of things -- nothing out of the ordinary, and never crazy or aggressive. So she kept going on and on about "Ooh, he is not so docile, is he? You better be careful you aren't sold a crazy horse -- they have this drug that calms them down that takes a month to wear off" blab blab blab.

Sharon, the barn owner, had gone into the loft to find a saddle she was storing in a plastic storage bin, and she hadn't sealed the container completely so a family of mice got in -- so when she opened the bin, a mouse jumped out. Sharon gave a little startled scream. Leslie, who was standing six feet in front of my horse let out a piercing giggly scream that obviously went a beat or two longer than it should have. Not that an idiot standing six feet in front of a new, unfamiliar green horse should be screaming at all. Dak was a champ, though--and while of course he reacted to the loud sound by tossing his head back, he did not crush me as he very well could have in the tie stall. Then, I swear to god SHE DID IT AGAIN. Only a little bit longer this time. Apparently mice you can't even see, across the barn in the loft are worth a FORTY SOMETHING YEAR OLD WOMAN TO SCREAM. TWICE.Unperterbed. Looking like a mule, but still.

Since she couldn't get my horse to fucking kill me, she sort of wandered away, to chat with this other lady who was there. She sat in her Hummer with the engine running leaning out the window for at least a half an hour having a high ol' time yakking it up. Oh, and the best part? She has a yappy fucking dog who barked in the car the entire time she was there.

I guess I have a rich fantasy life.

2007-05-03T11:58:00.000-07:00

I dropped by my own blog today, and was shocked not to find a bunch of recent fabulously interesting posts. I pretty much have a running commentary about my riveting life constantly in my head; imagining I have my own camera crew like I was on Ladette to Lady or ANTM or something. Dear God!! Speaking of Tyra, did anyone watch America's Next Top Model last night when Tyra said "I go pee pee mamma, I go pee pee." (!!!!) Holy Crap! Or is that Wholly Crap? Regardless - Astounding! Anyhow, yes back to me. So I was surprised it had been so long since my last entry. I thought I would make one. So here you go.

Geeze Louise

2007-04-18T11:36:00.000-07:00

I caught the worst cold last Tuesday. I didn't know I was sick until Wednesday morning when I woke up with shards of glass in my throat (the WORST sore throat I have had for a long time). I say I caught the cold on Tuesday because at Drawing Group I was Not In A Good Mood. Of course it didn't help that everyone was ANNOYING. (Hi Drawing friends! no offense meant - ! I was SICK.) I hope I didn't pass my disease on to anyone else.

Anyway, even before I decided to be SERIOUSLY UNHAPPY at drawing, I had decided that three plus years of drawing group was enough. I announced that April 24th, 2007 will be the last day of drawing at Gallery 110. So. It was fun, and I am happy I did it, but it is time for it to be over.

Next subject: I have one of those $15 cell phones. We got it when we were on vacation a couple of weeks ago so we could check in with the cat sitters. I wrote the phone number down someplace, god only knows where, and now I don't know what the number is. I have pushed a bunch of buttons on the phone, but I get frustrated/bored before I find where the little electronic demon keeps its number. I have no idea who I would give the number to anyway. I hate talking on the phone. I don't talk on the phone at home, why would I want to in public? harumph, my grey hairs are just bristling.

Spring Break

2007-04-02T09:24:00.000-07:00

Scott and I went on a roadtrip this past week, we didn't have any certain destination in mind other than "California-ish" (although i was hoping to make it to Big Sur - no such luck). For part of it, the weather was pretty bad, but all in all it was a beautiful and relaxing trip.

We spent the longest time in San Francisco, and did some touristy things - drove down the twisty part of Lombard - and some not so touristy things like an extensive tour of the SF dog parks. I am always surprised at how pretty San Francisco is, and leave wanting to move there.

But my garden is so pretty right now, I guess I will stay here. (even though the french drain has mysteriously stopped working and we have to dig it up and replace it. It's just one thing after another.)

In the Garden

2007-03-22T08:41:00.000-07:00

So on Monday it poured all day. This is remarkable only in that I had
planned to spend the day in the garden. Eventually I decided to go out
in the rain anyhow. I got totally covered in mud, and so did the dog,
but Look!! I now have a garden path down which I can easily be led.

The stones themselves are really pretty, they have mica in them so they are sparkly, and also beautiful rusty-red flecks and streaks.

Here is an action shot of the path:

King is not doing it right, he is supposed to have all his feet on the
stones, but the path is still new, and I think he will get the hang of
it. But still, it is not that hard.

And now the money shot:

.
the path leads right by the current Garden Star, my Bleeding Heart, Dicentra spectabilis

XXIII. IN THE GARDEN.

A bird came down the walk:
He did not know I saw;
He bit an angle-worm in halves
And ate the fellow, raw.

And then he drank a dew
From a convenient grass,
And then hopped sidewise to the wall
To let a beetle pass.

He glanced with rapid eyes
That hurried all abroad, --
They looked like frightened beads, I thought;
He stirred his velvet head

Like one in danger; cautious,
I offered him a crumb,
And he unrolled his feathers
And rowed him softer home

Than oars divide the ocean,
Too silver for a seam,
Or butterflies, off banks of noon,
Leap, plashless, as they swim.

Emily Dickinson

good dog

2007-03-20T17:27:00.000-07:00

please ignore all the junk laying around the yard, we are a construction zone, after all...

Ladette to Lady

2007-03-13T12:21:00.000-07:00

Oh my god, one of my very favorite TV shows Ladette to Lady is casting for Spring 2007.

It's a series from ITV1 but in the states it airs on The Sundance Channel and is about taking eight British binge-drinking floozies, and putting them through Eggelston Hall Finishing School. Here is a sample of some of these delightful girls:

Seriously, these girls are vile. I thought I was wild when I was in my twenties, but no.

The school's teachers are every bit as prissy and nit-picky as you would imagine (but in a good way).

Ironically enough, for as exacting as the teachers are, the website is riddled with mistakes. And no, I don't mean "Colour" instead of "color" I mean:

Iin addition to preparing for the Ball...

and

Wearing dresses they have made Eggleston Hall...

Seriously, do these people need a web designer / content manager?
Because I could move to London and help them out with that. No problem.

Maybe I should just apply to be on the show. Maybe they wouldn't notice I was a forty-something married lady who falls asleep at 10:01 pm.

But I would love to take the classes they have the ladettes take in the show: deportment, elocution,(whatever) sewing, flower arranging, etiquette and cookery.

Here is the schedule for the reruns of the new season.

Fantasy

2007-03-02T17:05:00.001-08:00

I got an orange tree Peony this year,
I am so excited about it,
it is going to be just gorgeous....

Someday.

Patience...........

Peonies take at least one year
to bloom at all, and three to four
to bloom reliably. This is what it
looks like right now.

On a "I want my immediate gratification NOW" note, I got this excellent new Urban Compost Tumbler Yay! I don't know why this one is Urban as opposed to, what? Suburban? Are they calling it "Urban" because it is BLACK?!?!? I am just asking is all.

Look!

2007-02-18T11:40:00.001-08:00

The bedroom
Originally uploaded by yvettef.

Scott has been working really hard on the bedroom, and we are so close to being done. The floor is solid bamboo, and the "wardrobe system" - Ikea, of course.

This closet is just huge, I can hardly stand it.

I have a horn collection, mostly deer, but some mountain goat and antelope, too. They will go on this wall.

beer sale

2007-01-29T16:34:00.001-08:00

beer sale
Originally uploaded by yvettef.

Right to the point.

aeration

2007-01-23T15:18:00.001-08:00

aeration

I have been having a really hard time lately. The wind storm, power outage, Jake's death, snow, ice, the horrible mess that the afore mentioned storms made of the yard... and my mom's illness. I feel like I can't complain about mom being sick, because that is hers - I feel like I am stealing her story or trying to make her sickness about me.

But part of it is about me, this hugely impacts my life, too. M&D are going to Arizona to visit family for a couple of weeks -- I was over at mom's house this last weekend when she told me she was upset because she was going to have to put her old cat, JD down. The boarding facility they use had gone out of business, and she just couldn't inconvenience anyone to come over twice a day to feed her. I was shocked, but suddenly realized that she also has had enough. And one more thing to take care of was just one thing too many. I told her I would take JD while she was gone. JD will have to stay in the basement, because my cats would freak out, but that is ok. M&D brought JD over yesterday, and she is a wonderful little cat. I am glad she is here.

I have a hard time trusting people, so I just don’t ask for help. I can’t trust that they won’t take my vulnerability, my moment of opening up to them and twist it around, or use it against me later. This has happened more than once, after all*. But I guess what I need to learn from this little episode is to know when it is ok to ask for a little help. But that is so much easier said than done. I am not sure that lesson can sink in.

*Yeah, I know I am no saint.

Ok, I have HAD IT.

2007-01-16T16:01:00.000-08:00

More snow on the truck

So, more snow today. I am so tired of the weather-related drama. God knows I have enough drama in my regular life, without worrying if I can make it home.

these things could kill someone
There are Icecicles on my house. And I am not happy about it.

Witch Hazel in snow

2007-01-11T15:16:00.001-08:00

Witch Hazel in snow
Originally uploaded by yvettef.

Here is the photo of the day, for yesterday January 10th. We got about six or seven inces of snow.

It took me an hour and a half to get home, or more accurately, to the bottom of the hill. I had to steer my truck into a snow bank to avoid hitting a jackknifed bus.

Then it took another hour to get the truck chained up, to drive the last block and get up our driveway.

It is pretty, though.

I know you are but what am I?

2007-01-05T13:37:00.000-08:00

I attract the crazies. I know you think you do, but no, it is me.

I went out to grab a sandwich at a local shop for lunch; they have one of those "stand in one line and whichever employee is available next will help you" situations. So I am standing there waiting for someone to finish helping the people in front of me, so I can order my regular "3-cheesesandwich on rye, only except for three different cheeses can I just have the Havarti cheese"? Yes I realize that reduces the cheese by one-third, but no one actually needs 1 1/2 inches of cheese on a sandwich.

So anyhow, I am waiting there when a woman two people behind me says "Well I think I am just going to go ahead of you if you aren't going to order anything."

beat

I reply "I am just waiting for someone to be available to help me."

She continues to shoulder her way to the front of the line, looking at me like I am stupid. Now I know I work in Pioneer Square, home of the professionally crazy (aka our homeless veterans suffering fromPTS ) but she was not one of those. This was a Mom looking lady who can afford to have someone else cut and color her hair (in other words a 40-something woman pushing 200lbs with an expensive blond foil job). She stands in line in front of me, trying to get the attention of the harried teenager in the clutches of The Lunch Rush.

The woman behind me (and in front of he line-jumper just moments before) said "I guess she is really hungry."

So while the Line Jumping Lady (LJL)was distracted giving her order to someone who was busy helping someone else, another guy behind the counter took my order. I wanted to give him a little hug, I think he observed this whole thing out of the corner of his eye, and decided the LJL could just wait.

The lunch counter staff helped me and the lady behind me and the one behind HER before LJL. By the time they got to her she was absolutely red and vibrating with anger. I don't know why she stuck around. I would be surprised if she didn't get a little spit in her Turkey Club. You don't want to piss off underpaid teens who have access to your food. Everyone knows that.

bodhi asleep

2007-01-03T11:10:00.001-08:00

bodhi asleep
Originally uploaded by yvettef.

This is the 1/2/07 photo of the day. I can't help it, I love my cats. Since Jake died (yeah, I am still on about that), she has become much more relaxed and happy. He was kind of a jerk to her.

Jake used to sleep right by my head, and I still find myself in the middle of the night moving my pillow down to make room. Last night for the first time Bodhi curled up there.

(Obviously this is not her on the bed, it is her on the underside of an upside-down chair, of course.)

This is already getting old

2006-12-29T14:27:00.000-08:00

Ok, so I have already resorted to the "I have a lot of work to do" post. But really. that is all that is going on with me.

Have a Happy New Year, you all. I won't post again for a few days, I imagine.

This is what it looks like from the other direction.

12/28/06 - Witch Hazel

2006-12-29T14:24:00.000-08:00

Witch Hazel is one of my very favorite plants. It's spidery yellow petals with the vermillion florette in the center is all the more beautiful becase it blooms in the winter. This photo is of a fantastic tree in waterfall park. It is just covered in blossoms. I really needed this.

Kneetoe Productions

I am closing down this blog

So lucky, so impatient

I made Lifetime today

In just a year

Misanthrope

Bikram

Lessons

An old meme, but so am I. Old, that is -- not a meme.

This seems like a significant event to blog about

Just assume every Thursday I will have a post titled: "I have the Best Pony Ever!"

Re-design & etc

For a busy person, I sure don't have much to say.

Dates and Numbers

Taking Care

Hello 2011

5k

Our first dressage show

First Show - preparation.

Halloween Jumper Group

Post Crush weekend weigh-in

New rooster

Offically BIG

Saturday and Sunday

Friday ride

First lesson with Melody

July 23-26

Back to work

Hittin' the trail

What a guy.

Imax's new chapter.

Adult Rider's Camp - Aspen Farms

knitting fool

Reporting from SnB

New Adventure

10 things I would do if I were in charge around here.

Imax in October 2008

Lame.

Return from hiatus

chickeny-chicken

Ten Years Later

Blah x 3

I got a lot to say, but...

Cheers! (barf) **Warning** I Have Opinions, and this is my blog.

Newsy news

I knew it.

Doo Wee

New Old Dog

I laughed! I cried! Really!

Ketchup

Pallette Cleanser!

I am warning you, this is depressing.

J.D. Franz. 1990 -- 2008

Happy New Year from the whole bunch of us

What next?

pony post

I have a crush on my horse.

Chatty news about our weekend

Contorted Hazlenut - Harry Louder's walking stick

Imax at the Sea

Derby at Tulip Sprngs

Men doing Dressage

The view from up here

I am so honored!

A rough couple of days

Deloris Alice (Forsythe) Franz, 9/7/1940 - 7/25/2007

Imax news

Oh dear.

Dragonwort

THAT, my friend, is a chandelier

My favorite things

Still in the running toward becoming America's next top model.

Visual Codec

I am test driving a horse.

I guess I have a rich fantasy life.

Geeze Louise

Spring Break

In the Garden

good dog

Ladette to Lady

Cheers! (barf) Warning I Have Opinions, and this is my blog.