2014 Resolutions and Goals

Posted on December 30, 2013 by Britt

As previously discussed, 2013 was a huge year for us (Parts I, II, and III here) here in the House on the Hill. I think I will always look back and smile when I think of all the changes me and mine have gone through, and be glad for the memories. However, as much fun as it is to relive those moments, now is the time to look forward to what lies ahead. Surely 2014 will not be quite as tumultuous as 2013, but I still expect to make lots of memories nonetheless! Here are some of the things I hope to see happen in the coming year.

The Horse
Blah, blah, blah, insert yet another comment about moving up to Novice here. But to get a little more specific, my hope for 2014 is to not only go Novice, but to do so with a final score below 35. So ideally, get a 65% or better on dressage and go double clear in show jumping and cross country. I know time is going to be our biggest issue, so I think I would also be pretty ecstatic if another scenario happened- like a 67% dressage test and a couple time penalties XC. Just being honest! 🙂 At the end of the day though, I will be satisfied with a happy, healthy, and fit horse!

At home, I want to nail our canter transitions (we had some great ones this weekend so this should be entirely possible!) and get our lengthenings solid enough to do a first level test and score in the mid 60s. In order to do this all of our transitions need to be sharp and supple as well, so I will be concentrating on these too.

The House
I pretty much went into this at the end of my accomplishments post, but my main two priorities are the kitchen and the landscaping. We’ve done a lot to the backyard recently (pics to come) but the kitchen will surely be the biggest project of all!

The Rest
Lately I’ve been doing some soul searching, and there are definitely ~~tons of~~ some things I would like to improve about myself. On a purely physical level, I let myself eat poorly over these holidays (who doesn’t?) and want to get back to feeling good about myself and be more in shape. I want to look into calcium supplements and try to decrease my Red Bull intake.

Seriously, it’s a problem.

Then I want to work on my attitude. I’ve always known that I have perfectionist tendencies and somewhat low self esteem, but recently the combination has had a pretty dismal effect on my general outlook. I nitpick at every thing I say or do, and it needs to stop. Waking up the morning after a social interaction and reliving every detail until I find something to feel guilty about is not healthy, and not how I want to live my life. So, I am going to try to be more positive about, and accepting of, myself. I hope in 2014 that I learn to spend more time in the moment and really focus on enjoying the wonderful friends and family I have- I am lucky to be surrounded with beautiful people and there is no reason to be unhappy!

Beautiful (erm, Handsome) on the inside and out- my husband!

I’m sure as the year goes on these goals will change, or become more specific. But for now I feel like these are all attainable with work and dedication! A fit and capable horse, an improved home, and a happy lifestyle are what I hope to cement for myself. I hope you guys will be along for the ride! What resolutions do you guys have for 2014? What changes do you hope to see?

Merry Christmas week!

Posted on December 23, 2013 by Britt

I’d feel like a broken record if I were to tell you I had another busy weekend. That’s pretty much the story of my life, but somehow everyone has realized it except me. Most of the weekend was dedicated to playing photographer, first in a family portrait session…

And second, taking my camera to the barn because believe it or not, it was too hot to ride. That’s right, too hot. In the end though I feel like it was worth it!

Is it too late to print Christmas cards?

Moody winter skies, doesn’t look like 80 degrees, does it?

Isn’t he a cutie?

Fabio, I mean, Foster

Anyways, I will be essentially offline for the next few days, so you guys enjoy your Christmas holiday! Cheerio!

Chuggin’ Along…

Posted on December 19, 2013 by Britt

Truthfully, I’ve been a bit boring this week. I’m sorry. The weather has actually been great, and I have been attempting to ride a bit on my quickly-getting-out-of-shape pony. What happened to all those goals about getting fit this winter? Oh yeah, it’s winter, which here in North Carolina means it may be nice, but it’s more likely to be gray, cold, and rainy. And when the arenas are closed, and it’s dark outside, that means no riding. Because while I have heard of people putting on a head lamp and riding in the dark, I prefer to value my life and not do so. If you have seen the size of some of the deer around here, you’d understand (I have a weird fear of being speared in the dark by one of the eight-pointers I’ve seen on the farm).

Oh hello deer from HELL!

So anyways, the last time I rode I set up trot poles. One set of 4 poles flat on the ground, and another that were raised at one end. We’ve done exercises like this before, but apparently it’s been too long- what a joke it was! First I took him through the normal poles, and he was not completely relaxed over them, but confident enough. So I took him through the raised set. Yikes. We cantered them, we jumped them, we stumbled through them. He got through them once with success, before I gave up on that idea and went back to the regular set so he would gain confidence. By the end of our ride he was lovely and relaxed going through these, completely soft over the top line, but picking up those feet beautifully. So, apparently footwork exercises are in our future!

Why you confuse me, mom?

Tonight I think we will go back to regular trot poles, and maybe set up one proper cavaletti (8″ vertical) to trot over. Or, if any one reading this has a fun gymnastic exercise to suggest, maybe we’ll do that and I’ll tell you how it goes- suggestions, anyone?

Santa, baby

Posted on December 16, 2013 by Britt

It’s almost Christmas, which means that I am so broke buying other people gifts that I have no money with which to buy pony presents… but in the name of consumerism I am going to share with you what I would really love underneath the Christmas tree…

Santa baby, just slip some Kerrits under the tree for me;
Been an awful good girl, Santa baby,
So hurry down the chimney tonight

Santa baby, a holder for Foster’s Lickit treats; to eat,
Wouldn’t that be so neat, dear; Santa baby,
So hurry down the chimney tonight.

Think of all the poles that we have missed;
From no dressage arena have I been dismissed;
Next year I could be just as good… if you check off my Christmas list

Santa baby, I want a lengthening trot, a lot;
Been working on it all year; Santa baby,
So hurry down the chimney tonight.

Santa honey, one little thing I really need…
The deed… to a 5 acre farm, Santa baby,
So hurry down the chimney tonight.

Santa cutie, I just want to repeat, full seats;
I won’t fit in petites, Santa cutie,
and hurry down the chimney tonight.

Come and trim my Christmas tree with gifts from Dover Saddlery;
I really do believe in you;
Let’s see if you believe in me…

Santa baby, forgot to mention for toots… bell boots…
And they must be in green; Santa baby,
So hurry down the chimney tonight

Hurry down the chimney tonight
Hurry, tonight!

Throwback Thursday

Posted on December 12, 2013 by Britt

Yes, this is a bit of a cop-out post. But, I was inspired by a coworker to share these photos, one of my mum on her Appaloosa jumper, Blue Boy, and another of her and her sister jumping cross country back in England. Different times!

Mum in the yellow/black and my aunt in pink

2013 Accomplishments Part I: The Horse

Posted on December 9, 2013 by Britt

Dressage at Portofino

This year has been a big one for Foster and I. After ~~the crappiest winter ever~~ basically the whole winter off, we started our spring season with him being lame and myself being busy (wedding planning > riding, and that’s just the way it goes). So it wasn’t until May that we really started to figure out the problem, but after a plethora of treatments he was finally serviceably sound and ready to go.

After that, it was a matter of rebuilding the lost muscle and teaching him to be confident and trust that the movements wouldn’t be painful. We tried very hard to find zen and I rediscovered how much my horse thrives on positive (vocal) reinforcement.

After that things started moving quite quickly, so without writing a novel here are some of our accomplishments this year:

Dressage

Acheiving straightness
Leg Yields at the trot
Shoulder-in at the trot
Becoming steady in the bridle

Shoulder In

At a dressage show over the summer

Show jumping

First gymnastics
Cantering an entire course
1 & 2 stride combinations
Jumping 3’6″
3′-3’3″ courses

Standing next to our first 3'6" (3'7"?) fence

Standing next to our first 3’6″ fence

Showjumping at the Carolina Horse Park

Cross Country

Baby ‘trakehner’
Jumping in/out water
Galloping/making time!
Novice & Training fences
Jumping downhill/terrain

Before: Our first XC school in Feb 2012. Note tiny jump and horrible release

Before: Our first XC school in Feb 2012. We’re jumping the log- note my non-existent release

After: Training Table Nov 2013

For myself too, I have seen some improvements:

Sitting more, using core
Better elbow-to-bit line
Looking straight
Leg Position
Better release during and after fences
Better use of positive reinforcement

Shameful photo of me jumping Merry in a dressage saddle circa 2007

Look ma! Soft hands!

Overall I am quite proud of what we have done in essentially 6 months of the year. There have been plenty of ups and downs, but of course that is the nature of owning and training a horse. I can’t wait to see what he does next year!

Winter Weather Blues

Posted on December 4, 2013 by Britt

It’s finally starting to look like winter, now that most of the leaves are gone and they sky has attained that always gray cast to it that won’t go away until spring. Foster got the last two days off since we worked pretty hard 3 days straight, with two dressage schoolings that definitely burned off some turkey and then a fun jumping day that went a little longer than intended.

A friend took a couple photos of us, and here are a few that stand out…

Foster was pretty tired in these photos, but it allowed me to see my position quite well, with its strengths and weaknesses. I would like to see my leg a little more forward, and in the first photo, my heel a bit more down. But I’m happy to see that I’m not roaching my back terribly like I used to and my release has gotten a lot more consistent. Hooray for that!

This one I’m sharing for two reasons. One, it makes me laugh- because, holy cow did he ever decide to take the long spot (and leave me behind, yes, I’m sorry but it happens occasionally!) but two, he shows what an incredible athlete he has become. Something about this picture just cements the fact that baby Foster really isn’t much of a baby anymore, he’s 6 and he’s got the potential to go a long way. Now it’s up to me to help him reach that potential and, erm, not get left behind!

The weather has yet again turned freakish here in North Carolina, and thanks to the brief heat wave we’ll probably have just a couple long and low sessions this week, and maybe do some cavaletti work to get that hind end strengthened.

5 day forecast

That’s right, folks, we had highs in the 30’s a week ago, now we are in the 70’s with a 30 degree difference over the weekend. Awesome sauce. But that’s North Carolina for ya!

Do you guys have any great plans this week?

Keeping all our fingers and toes: A successful lesson recap

Posted on December 2, 2013 by Britt

The cooking of Thanksgiving dinner went off without a hitch, the turkey was perfect, the timing worked out, and no one died of food poisoning. Of course, in a small house with 9 people in it, something is bound to happen, but luckily this presented itself just after dinner, when one of the tables collapsed, sending red wine, candles, and leftovers to the floor. But no one died, so it’s OK.

Thanksgiving: Centerpieces, Good food, and English Christmas Cracker Crowns

Anyways, regarding that lesson… If you really want to watch part of it (and I won’t take offense if you don’t), here’s the video- otherwise pics and talking below!

Though the temps were definitely in the lower 30’s, we did indeed drag ourselves out to the trainer’s farm for a lesson this Sunday. Foster has been making progress with his canter transitions in the draw reins, and I was eager to report this to our instructor and take advantage of her beautiful mirror set up an focus on weaknesses in our trot- namely, lateral work and lengthenings.

We warmed up at the walk and trot (and a bit of canter, in which there was minimal bracing -good boy!-) and then started with an exercise to get him thinking about crossing over behind. We were asked to do a head-to-the-wall leg yield, similar to a haunches in but with more angle. At the walk it’s okay to ask for more cross over than at the trot, and it helps stretch the muscles and get him mentally prepared for the real thing. Foster handled this exercise quite well, other than hopping up the bank that surrounded the dressage arena once (XC schooling and a dressage lesson- cool!).

Accidentally schooling banks…

Then we moved on to proper leg yields at the trot. Come down the quarterline, leg yield to B or E. Moving off of my left leg, the instructor describes him as a magnet to the wall, he tends to fall over too quickly. The solution to this, for now, is to break the leg yield into two parts, moving off the leg a few strides, then a stride going straight, then over again. This definitely helped Foster to balance and perform the movement more correctly. Moving off my right leg is more difficult, and I just need to be patient with him and if need be bring him back to a walk to explain more slowly what I am asking. We did get a couple leg yields done in this direction, it’s simply more difficult for him.

Leg Yield Left

After a quick break to discuss we then moved on to shoulder in and then lengthenings. I explained that he doesn’t seem to have that 4th gear that my last two horses have had in the lengthenings- where they would explode off the ground and really enjoy the work, Foster gets a bit worried and rushing. One piece of advice I got is the try to verbally get him excited, which I will be sure to try at home and hope no one mocks me terribly. What also started to help was collecting, asking him to really sit on his haunches, and then drive forward for 12 meters or so. After doing this for some time I did finally feel a burst of impulsion when asking for the lengthening, and I think eventually this will help us get a true lengthening that last the diagonal length of the arena.

Shoulder In

Overall, it was a great lesson and I have plenty to work on and new exercises to implement into our dressage schools. It was obvious to me that he is still a bit green, but every time he repeats an exercise he gets better. Foster felt great, and was very workmanlike the whole lesson, amazing for a 6 year old in freezing temperatures.

Good boy!

Coming down from Cloud 9

Posted on November 22, 2013 by Britt

Our cross country outing at the Fork was definitely a breath of fresh air and made me feel like doing the happy dance, but now it’s back to business, and the name of the game is dressage.

Cat humor + Dressage Meme… you’re welcome.

Foster got a well deserved couple days off and last night was our first semi-real ride this week. After a discussion with a trainer about his canter transitions, we decided it would be worth trying draw reins to help him understand that he can stay round and engage his hind end to transition rather than rely on his overly developed under-neck.

Under Neck Problems

So last night I tried my hand at them. As one who tends to believe that ‘gadgets’ are to be avoided less they become crutches to true training, I have never used draw reins before and it took me several minutes to figure out how to hold them. Needless to say, I now sport a fresh blister on each hand (gloves next time, duh!) but I do see how they will help get the epiphany I am looking for. Foster had two successful transitions where he used his bum, and the groans he emitted definitely reinforced that he is not used to using those muscles! We kept things pretty short so both of us would not be mentally or physically exhausted, but I see a path forward and that makes me hopeful.

Tonight we will have another go at it, and Sunday we have a lesson in front of mirrors! Today the high is 66, and on Sunday the high is 38 (that’s the high, we will be riding at 10AM, so I’m guessing it will be 32 or so). Needless to say, if I can stay on it should be interesting! That’s North Carolina weather for you though!