Happy New Year

' The Moon Last Night'

 

Thoughts For The New Year

Christmas is over and we’re heading into a new year with lots of possibilities.  I’m not one for making New Year’s resolutions.  Mainly because in the past I rarely kept them and then just felt bad that I didn’t.  So I’ve decided to set myself up for success as I do with the horses.  In other words, if there are no resolutions to keep I can’t possibly fail if I don’t have any. Sounds like a good plan, right?

However, I have come to some conclusions, if you will, about what needs to be done this year.  Along with the requisite get physically fit and eat healthier I’ve decided that I need to spend more time riding than I do now.  Averaging only two times a week is not doing the horses or me any good. So it’s about time I make time for them and myself.

The thought process behind this is simply that I’m not getting any younger and can’t keep waiting to have the time to ride.  I need to make the time to ride.  The house will be clean and the laundry done.  I’m relatively certain we won’t starve if I don’t shop for groceries on a regular schedule.  Really, we did eat last week so what’s the big deal with left overs and take out once in a while?  I’m sure we’ll survive if I’m not Suzy Homemaker, Wife Extraordinaire and Domestic Goddess all rolled into one!

As a matter of fact, I’m planning on riding this weekend.  Poor Dusty and Blue.  Well, they’ll get used to it.  I’m sure when I tell them how fit they’ll be by the Spring they will thank me with slobbery kisses and horsey hugs! Or they may be thinking “In your dreams lady” at this very moment.

I wish everyone a very Happy New Year filled with happiness, peace and good rides!

Until next time

Quote for Today
Riding is not a sport, it is a passion. If you do not share the passion, you do not know the sport, and therefore are wasting your time.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

 Seems it’s that time of year again.  Out with the old and in with the new.  I’m not much for making the obligatory resolutions about losing weight, exercising more, eating healthful foods etc. because truthfully I never keep them.  This year I thought it might be better to set goals for the horses and myself.  It’s something that might actually work.

"Dusty"

 When Dusty is well and able to be ridden again, we’ll start slowly with groundwork and either some light longeing or long lining until she’s in shape again and able to support a rider.  Then we’ll have a refresher course of all she’s learned.  Hopefully, this will be followed by new exercises and lots of trail rides.

"Blue"

 With Blue I think the main goal is to get him in shape; he’s a little on the chubby side right now and needs to muscle up a bit.  So we’ll be taking short hacks to start the New Year.  Blue needs work that interests him so we’ll do a different exercise each time.  We’ll aim for less structured conditioning rides of walking/trotting in the field (weather permitting) or indoor, interspersed with occasional cavelletti patterns and more advanced dressage moves here and there for variety.  Blue knows quite a lot already but he’s no schoolmaster by a long shot.  His whole career he’s mainly done hunter/jumper and he loves to jump.  We’re not up to that yet or should I say I’m not up to that yet and don’t know if I really want to jump anything substantial anymore.  I’ve given myself permission to not jump if I don’t feel the need.  I’m thinking in reality Blue may be in for dressage training if he’s agreeable to switching disciplines.  We’ll take it slow and see what happens.  I’m a fan of taking one day at a time and working with what my horse gives me that day.  Or to be honest what I feel like doing on any given day.  Doesn’t sound very organized, does it?  But the main goal is to ride and teach him there are many enjoyable exercises he can learn and that working isn’t all bad. 

"Donnie"

The biggest goal I have this year is to have Donnie in consistent work and hopefully he will gain confidence in himself.  We’ll do lots of longeing, long-lining and interacting with him on the ground.  By the end of the year or perhaps sooner I’m hoping Donnie will feel comfortable enough to let us tighten his girth and even get on him.  He’s had major problems with this for years but now that his EPSM has finally been diagnosed and treated we’re hoping he’ll be confident enough to hold a rider again.  Anyone who’s familiar with Donnie’s problems from other posts will know this goal will be a major achievement for Donnie and for us. 

I’ll keep you posted on how everything is progressing with the horses.

I’d like to wish everyone a Happy Healthy New Year with lots of good rides.

Until next time

Quote for Today

To make a perfect horseman, three things are requisite. First, to know how and when to help your horse. Secondly, how and when to correct him. And thirdly, how and when to praise him and to make much of him.
    - Thomas Blundeville

New Year's Wishes From The Herd

' New Year's Wishes

From

The Herd '

' Sweetie’s Wish '

“Please help abused and neglected horses when you can; it means so much to us.”

' Donnie’s Wish '

“Be kind and gentle to all you meet and you will be rewarded with the same.”

' Sami’s Wish '

“Take time to play and have fun every day. It will keep you in high spirits.”

'Blue’s Wish '

“Take the road less traveled. New adventures await you at every turn!”

' Mellon’s Wish '

“Fight for what you want and don’t let anything stand between you and your goals.”

' Nate’s Wish '

“Always be a friend to another in need. You never know when you will need to share a pile of hay or have your withers scratched.”

' Dusty’s Wish'

“Be the best you can be at what you do. Or, look good trying!”

' Grey Horse Matter’s Wish '

May you have a healthy Happy New Year, and may all you wish for in the coming year become a reality for you.

Until next year!

Quote for Today

The love for a horse is just as complicated as the love for another human being...If you never love a horse, you will never understand.

Happy New Year

It is the beginning of a New Year and I would like to wish all my friends and family peace, love, health and happiness for 2008.

I would also like to take this time to wish all the horses and their people a year of renewed commitment and understanding with each other. The most important thing we can do for our horses is to be more understanding and kind to them everyday. They deserve the best we have to offer.

It seems everyone has an end of the year award here's mine:

Best of 2007 Horse Awards

The winner of the Best Horse Awards goes to:

All of the horses who put up with our mistakes and who love us anyway.

Worst of 2007 Horse Awards

The envelope please:

This award is won by all of the people in the horse industry who mistreat and misuse their horses to promote themselves and endorse products to make money without any regard for their horse’s health and safety. This year at the top of the list would be anyone who employs or endorses the use of ‘Rollkur’, which is a despicable torture inflicted on horses by riders and trainers who will not take the time to properly train a horse, but are looking for an easy shortcut and to the judges who condone this behavior.

P.S. If you want to learn more about Rollkur check out the blogs at www.Glenshee.blogspot.com or EveryRider.com, both these blogs have excellent articles concerning this practice.

Until next time

Quote for Today

A man of kindness to his horse, is kind
But brutal actions show a brutal mind.
He was designed thy companion, not thy drudge.
Remember his creator is thy judge.