See You Later, Checkers!

Time sure flies! I just got back from my last lesson here in Edmonton, I`m very sad to say goodbye to Checkers (I`d be lying if I said I didn`t try to bring her home with me!), but if she`s taught me anything over the last few months it`s that I need to keep looking forward to where I`m going and kick on and enjoy the ride - it`s bound to be a whole lot of fun!

Only One More!

There's just one more lesson left this summer. I'm really sad about that. When I signed up for lessons 6 months ago, I was thinking it would be a fun thing to do a couple of times a week. I didn't have any huge expectations - more just wanted saddle time to keep my sanity and lessen the frustration of leaving Ginger at home . If I could get some more solid jumping basics, that would be a bonus.  It was a pleasant surprise to luck into a barn with such amazing lesson horses, and a huge surprise just a few months later to find that my current riding and confidence levels have surpassed anything I really considered myself capable of.

 I'm pretty sad to leave it all behind just when I feel like I'm really finding the groove and really starting to fit in to such a great barn community. Still, I miss home and I'm leaving for even better horsey adventures. Whatever happens, I've gained a renewed passion for the sport, and the unforgettable experience of what a great horse and a good round feels like. I'm also taking away the knowledge that I can do this - hard work and determination really is a recipe for improvement :)

Heading back from a lesson on Splash, summer 2014

Pony Eye Candy Sunday

This guy shares the same dam as Ginger. Link to sale ad HERE. I see just a bit of a family resemblance:

The video is even more telling...wow do they ever have the same way of going, both in the paddock and under saddle:

Bridget is Home!

The barn owners reported last night that Bridget arrived and basically marched right in to her stall and started eating her hay quite happily. No drama at all. The hauler reported she was easy to haul and deal with as well. What a relief for me to hear! With Ginger being so high stress it will be welcome news if Bridget requires a little less attention and time settling in to new places and situations. Is it too early to hope her confident little self will not only be a help for Ginger, but me as well? In exactly two weeks I'll start to find out. I'll be at the barn saying hi to the girls myself! I've missed my Ginger mare more than I can describe, and I'm really look forward to getting to know Bridget better.

Looking for Ginger out in the field. Bridget Jones is slightly chubby, so has to stay in the diet pen.

 It's killing me that I can't be there, so G made a trip out to the barn this afternoon to say hi to the girls and stuff them with treats. G called me while he was there and the first thing he said was "She's NICE. She reminds me of Lainey!" Lainey was G's favorite horse ever, so I think Bridget and him will get along just fine. The fact he sent me about 20 pictures of Bridget and just 1 of Ginger also tells me he may have found a new favorite ;) Since Ginger and I are best buddies, it's only right Bridget should have an admirer in G.

This one is funny to me because the angle of it gives you an idea of Bridget's size in comparison to the photographer, 6'5" G. I bet they look cute together! ("You make that horse look so tiny and cute!" is not what he wants to hear, I'm sure :)

Confidence Level : MAXIMUM

In keeping with the 'less two point, more fun' theme we seem to be having this summer, our ride last night was fairly unstructured. The back story to the more relaxed atmosphere is that the barn is currently running at half speed for the summer. Lots of people are away competing, the lesson horses are getting a bit of a break, and the instructors are taking some vacation time. Wednesday nights are currently the only lessons.

Tonight, it was decided we'd do team relay jump offs. I was admittedly confused by this, but the concept is actually simple. We were given a partner and a course of twelve jumps. You have to jump the course in the correct order, but who jumps what portion(s) of it is up to your team. Fastest time wins. I'm horrible at remembering courses, so to be told I need to remember the course, but only jump some parts of it was doubly hard. I was pretty sure we were going to lose based on my navigation skills alone :) I was also feeling a little intimidated because the other riders in the group are definitely more advanced than me. I was aware of being the partner no one was going to want to end up with, and was reminded that I'd need to try to be brave and canter ALL the fences and gallop in between them lol.

I needn't have worried - Checkers and I came through and our team won the first round! Go Checkers! There was room for improvement, though - my rollback was sloppy and we got a bit bogged down coming out of the turn. I also timed my last line a little funny and ended up in a less than optimal place to start and wasted a couple of seconds. On to round two!

Number 1 Checkers warming up for round 2. Just kidding, it's her stunt double -a mystery horse from one of our trips to Vancouver.

Checkers had the idea by now, and was doing what she does best - flying! She NAILED the rollback, but sadly we surprised everyone with our quickness to the next fence and ended up having to go wide to avoid my teammate who had expected to cross my line ahead of me. No matter, we made up our new course on the fly and Checkers was game. My poor teammate ended up having issues mid course with her over excited pony, but Checkers made up for it with a really quick last section of the course. We didn't win the last round, but I'm super proud of Checkers for making it close even with all the issues we had. She was definitely the fastest horse there and the star of the hour. We had a few people pretty surprised. I can see why she was a successful show jumper in her past life. She's a big mare with a huge stride, but she's also surprisingly quick and agile through her turns. Even though I don't necessarily have the experience to see and adjust strides from way out, the majority of the time I'm able to do it with Checkers just because I'm so familiar with her and where she likes to be. Of course, it helps that she's super honest and really I just need to be brave and hang on and let her take care of business!

The real Checkers enjoying a treat post ride

It was a super win for my confidence, and I'm sure Checkers knew she owned the course :) I needn't ever be concerned again about her getting too fast or over jumping - we did all of that and while it may not have been 'hunter' pretty, it was fun and no one even got close to getting in trouble.

I don't think I've ever had quite so much fun in the saddle- there's a lot to be said for running around like an idiot on a horse who's on your side 100% :)

Best red mare.

Shipping Date, Check! Winter Lessons, Check!

Things magically fell into place the other day and little Miss Bridget will be moving in with Ginger on Friday. I'm really excited, so now it's going to be even more difficult to be all responsible and put in my last two weeks of work. Work asked me today about taking on another project in the future and I was like "No. We cannot discuss this right now. My brain is full of horses and I must go home." lol I don't think they understand the self control I'm exercising just to refrain from hopping in my truck right now! I'd so love to see G and Ginger and be there for the arrival of Bridget. Hopefully the next two weeks will pass quickly and I'll be home before I know it.

Time machine Ginger wearing a drunken party hat in 2011. Obviously an excellent choice of picture for such a happy post. 

There's even more good news today because Bridget is hitching a ride home with the dressage coach who is moving to my barn! I was so excited she might move to my town, and we'd finally have a legit coach. It turns out she's moving to the same barn as me! So excited, although now I will have zero excuses not to get Ms Gingersnap and myself back into lessons and out to some dressage shows.

Lainey. Far too serious to ever pose with a hat, but all bets are off when there is food involved. Got an update recently from her old lease girl/new owner that she's doing really well in the jumpers this year. Yay, for her going to the best home!

Misunderstandings

Due to a rather funny misunderstanding, I recently paid for a membership in a club I knew nothing much about, beyond the fact that our local group put on a really great weekend ride/party once every summer.

So, you're looking at the newest member of the Backcountry Horsemen.

I'm hoping to attend a trail riding/campout weekend mid September that's combined with an extreme trail clinic. Sounds like a fun time for me, and a great experience for either one of the ponies.

After reading through the provincial chapter's website, I'm actually pretty excited. They host a lot of great weekends throughout the year, and have tons of organized rides and educational events. Readers of this blog know I do love my trail riding and both ponies are in need of some exposure to bigger events, so this is an obvious fit. Sometimes I think those funny misunderstandings are meant to be.

Northlands

I had nothing on the agenda for yesterday, so I ended up venturing up to Northlands Park for a thoroughbred fix. The weather was gorgeous, and the sun shining. It was a nice surprise to see that instead of the standard benches they've got hundreds of patio style couches and chairs set up all along in front of the grandstand, encouraging people to just hang out. What an excellent idea!

I for one, snagged a nice chair with an umbrella and snuggled in with a drink and good book to read (The Hearts of Horses - Molly Gloss) between races. A nice afternoon well spent!

Super Powers

It's so, so humid here this summer. Temperature wise, it currently feels like we're living in Central America, except instead of being smart and staying in the shade with refreshing drinks all afternoon, us crazy Canadians are all like "but we only get 3 months without snow! We HAVE to ride today - Look, Checkers is even shedding her summer coat!" Cue internal panic and desperate thoughts of frozen arenas. Everyone then rushes out the door with the mindset that this could be our last jump school before the snow so we're going to ride. And we're going to have fun and enjoy the sunshine gosh darn it. ;)

At least as a result of our craziness dedication, I've learned I have a super power! Sadly, it's nothing to be overly proud of: I sweat more than anyone I know. No ladylike glow here, my shirt is soaked through before I'm even done tacking up. It's pretty nasty. And then I ride, and I'm basically a mobile puddle. Nothing too sexy about that, but hey, we all have to start somewhere. I promise to use my powers for good rather than evil.  Checkers obviously has the better super power - she can fly! She's so much fun because you can always pretty much guarantee she'll overjump anything by at least a foot, and she loves any excuse to go for a long distance and leave out strides as well. All the better for getting more air time, of course :)

Simulated version of actual events ;)

Tonight, though, Checkers made it abundantly clear that the heat is her kryptonite. My normally forward, can't stand still girl was plugging along like an actual lesson horse. While I missed the 'fun' Checkers, I did have an easier time of things as far as looking like I know what I'm doing. I took advantage of her quietness and worked a little on the downward transitions that she normally dislikes, but kept it all pretty low key. The old girl deserves an easy ride now and then and doesn't need to prove anything. With an unusally sedate Checkers not trying for the long distances and not overjumping anything, we actually had some pretty smooth rounds later in the lesson before calling it quits and hacking around on the buckle in the shade.

As always, I feel incredibly lucky to be able to ride such a wise old mare. She truly knows her job inside and out, and while I joke about her normal exuberance and opinionated nature, I've never once seen her not look after her rider. In keeping with my August goals, I'm trying to be super present in every ride and let her teach me as much as she can...which is a lot!

The Wishlist Game

Idea courtesy of Lauren at She Moved To Texas, In keeping with Lauren's post, I'm listing things I'll likely buy in the near future, not things I want but don't need/can't afford.

First off, breastplate for both girls (hopefully adjustable enough to share). Round ponies + jumping + steep terrain out on the trails means my saddle does move around a little more than I'd like at times. The built in handle is also a bonus for Ginger. The jury's a little out as to the exact style/brand I'll get. Currently thinking along the lines of this if I could find something similar available to Canada:

Nunn Finer 3 point breastplate. $199 at Dover Saddlery

I also need a new show shirt that fits properly, ideally a simple white shirt with a wrap collar and a more fitted profile. Technical fabric a bonus. Since I'm not known as a trendsetter, now is the time of year I try on this years shirts in hopes of scoring one on clearance for next years shows. I was at the tack store last weekend and the Ariat Triumph Liberty shirt caught my eye. I tried it on, and it's now on my wishlist. I like the really subtle detailing, the fit is nice, and the fabric looks like it would be very cool for summer. Pattern inside the collar is a little wild, but hey. Price is around $100.

From Dover Saddlery

Also, from the Ariat catalog, I desperately need a new pair of their H20 paddock boots. I've had mine for 6 or 7 years now and they are beyond beat up. They're still functional, but really, really ugly. I rode and mucked stalls in them for several years. They're also so comfy I also use them as hiking boots on mucky/rainy days. I love these boots and want a new pair! Price around $140.

From Greenhawk

A new helmet is also on the menu. My Tipperary one is nearing it's expiry, and my previous "nice" helmet had a fall a year or so ago, so I'm down to just the cheap Ovation I bought last summer. Don't get me wrong, its cool and comfy and I like it for what it is. But I'd like a new helmet for clinics and shows. I'm on a budget and don't show anywhere fancy (and honestly don't care a whole lot about what's "in" anyways) so I'll probably just replace my old helmet (that was actually really flattering and nicely ventilated) with a new one unless a screaming deal on something better comes my way.

Old helmet = Troxel Reliance $160

Last, but not least, a waterproof reflective quarter sheet for all those dark and rainy winter days. The ring is a short hack along a somewhat busy road with a narrow shoulder. Something bright and/or reflective is a must have, and I'm thinking a waterproof quarter sheet is also practical item to keep the ponies warm and dry to and from the ring. Love this particular one because it clips on and is easily taken on and off. About $70.

V Bandz waterproof quarter sheet

Grand total for shopping spree: $670... hopefully less if I hold out for sales!

Can't Wait/August Goals

So, the wisdom tooth fiasco went just fine...it kicked my butt a little more than I remember the first time around, but hey, I was also an indestructible teenager then! Bad news is there will be more to fix at a later date, good news is tomorrow is a holiday here in Canada and I hope to get out and enjoy some of it!

In the meantime, I'm getting more and more excited to get home. I've been reading all of your guys' blogs and all your goals and monthly recaps and I'm so, so excited to be close to being at a point where I can make a legit recap and riding plan!

For now, some August goals:

Find Bridget a ride home prior to the end of the month.
- I have a few leads and have fingers crossed something works out

Get the most I can out of my remaining lessons.
- It could be awhile before I get any more jumping lessons, so I need to push myself a little. I've come so far, but would still like to really ride through that inevitable line that I always find to hold back on. I need to always remember it's so much easier if I keep the same forward pace through the entire ride!

Make a list and check it twice.
- I live in a small town with little in the way of tack or farm supplies. It's best to buy anything I think I might need here where I can look in person and not have to pay monster shipping fees. Also, there is no provincial sales tax in Alberta. Bonus :)

Sell some things.
-This will be ongoing. I have an assortment of tack from past horses that will never fit either Ginger or Bridget, also a lot of riding clothes that are too big for me to keep wearing. I need to start sorting through it all and getting rid of what I don't need. I've accumulated a huge quantity of stuff, when what I really need are a few quality items that fit well and will last. Putting my old gear in a box in the basement doesn't make it go away.

Research.
- It's been a little while since I've had a really green horse and I should go back through my books and notes to see what I might be forgetting. Bridget is the exact opposite type than what I'm used to, so some chapters I have skimmed through in the past probably contain some useful information! 

Dieting/fitness.
-This is just a matter of keeping up with it and not getting discouraged when things level off for a bit. I'm doing good, but I can always be better!