Happy New Year

Wow!  I cannot believe I have let so much time go by without updating my blog.  It's not that I haven't been riding because I have.  Regularly too!  Boo and I are still working on rhythm, suppleness, and connection.  I think we may be working on that forever.  Boo knows how to do it...I sometimes struggle.  When we have those three things going for us we go ahead and work on straightness and collection.  We can only manage that for short periods of time. 

I am much more comfortable on Bay now too.  I don't ride him as often as I ride Boo but we have come a long way together.  I have a couple of friends that help me keep Bay exercised.  I found I just couldn't keep up with both horses and still have time for anything else.  I was burning out.  The ladies help me on Monday and Wednesday.  I ride Bay on Friday, and the DH rides him on the weekends. He's been taking him to cow sorting clinics.  It's so funny.  He has gone from dressage horse to cow horse!  I think I have the DH interested in looking into western dressage. 

I'm still working on my photography.  Having a great time with it.  Looking forward to posting a few things here now and then.  I'm also looking forward to doing some reading and catching up on all the blogs. 

Boo again!

Another shot of Boo.  I took this as a class assignment for a Basic Equine photograpy course.  Do you think I should have cropped out the barn door?  Because the background was so dark I thought leaving it in gave it a bit of context...not sure if it's to distracting...

I've finished my course and am waiting for the final critiques.  I'm not going to take another class for awhile.  I am just going to practice the things I've learned for the rest of the summer.  I'm also working through a workbook for photoshop.   I bought myself photoshop CS5 and there is a lot for me to learn there.  The workbook will help me get familiar with the basic stuff.  I need to have that down before September because I am going to go to Photoshop World in Las Vegas.  Hoping that sitting through the seminars there will really help me elevate my images to another level.

I have been riding both horses this week.  I noticed that my stirrup leathers were worn, so I replaced them yesterday.  Now I am squeaking  with every stride. I had visions of the leather breaking through at the most inopportune time!  Tomorrow is Bay's day to be ridden.  I have to admit that I get butterflies thinking about it.  Guess that's the sign that I am pushing myself out of my comfort zone.  I can only hope I'll end up being a better rider for it.

Riding Baythoven

I have only ridden two horses consistently in my life.  I started on a lesson horse.  Two years later I bought Boo.  I've been riding him ever since.  Bay has always been my husband's horse.  He's always been ridden by the hubby and what ever young lady was sponsoring him for 4-H, OHSET, shows, lessons, etc.  I've been on him maybe 5 times in 6 years.  Now that I'm going to be the one keeping him exercised I am going to have to learn what it's like to ride a horse with a completely different personality than Boo.

Bay is more laid back than Boo.  Some people read that as "lazy."  I guess he is a bit lazy.  He doesn't want to work, so he puts up a bit of a fuss in order to see if your up to the task of getting him to do what your asking.  Frankly, I am not quite sure I am up to the task.

I plan to start slowly.  Lots of ground work to get him to listen to me on the ground.  I guess we could call this the getting to know you phase.  Lots of walk/trot.  Since he almost unseated me when I asked for the trot on Thursday,  I figure we will just stick with getting the trot right before I move on to the canter.

Bay is a beautiful horse and his gaits are smooth.  Once we get a relationship going I think we will be fine.  He's only 15 and Boo is 23 so I'm kind of hoping that Bay will become my main riding horse when Boo is ready to retire. 

Beautiful Boo

It's been awhile
since I've written anything for the blog.  I hadn't been riding...I kept trying to get back on a regular schedule but it never seemed to stick.  In June we made the decision to move the horses once again.  This time we brought them closer to home.  It's an older barn and they only get half day turn out, but I am riding again and that is what I'd hoped for.  Sarah has decided to move on from Baythoven starting in August. It's time for her to try new challenges before she goes off to college in the fall.  We will miss her but we understand.  So, now we are looking for another sponsor for Bay and, in the meantime, I am riding both horses.  The hubby really only has time to help out on the weekend.  If this doesn't whip me back into riding shape I don't know what will. 

I've also been pursuing my photography journey.  I took this photo of Boo at the new barn about a month ago.  I'm having a blast with this.  I'm trying all kinds of things but horse photography is my absolute favorite.

I'm looking forward to getting back to blogging.  I've been reading and keeping up with everyone. I doubt I'll be able to write daily, but I am hoping for once a week at least.

Being there for Boo

Hmmm…wouldn’t you know that Baythoven would come up lame less than a week before OHSET’s (Oregon High School Equestrian Team) first meet.  The horse goes through down times just fine.  It’s like he has an inner clock that says show season is coming up, it’s time for some lameness issues.  I feel bad for Sarah because this is the only showing she was planning to do with Bay this year.  We’ve called in our vet and she’ll be out on Friday to check him out.  I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed that it will be easily taken care of.

I am ashamed to admit that I haven’t been out to ride Boo in quite some time.  As a matter of fact I have only been making it out there about once a week to groom.  I’ve been letting my health problems dictate to me.  I can’t keep doing that.  So, today I put on my barn clothes and made the 30 minute drive out to see the boys.  Boo was the only one happy to see me.  Bay gets his attention from Sarah and doesn’t feel the need for mine.  Boo, on the other hand, only has me.  He was more than ready for a little grooming and treat time.  Once I got him cleaned up I tacked him up and put him on the lunge line for about 15 minutes.  We just did a light workout.  He’s not in any better shape than I am.  As a matter of fact he’s gotten a bit chubby.  He is in good company because so have I.  He’s still pretty fuzzy and I didn’t want him to get too sweaty.  Once we finished with the lunging I decided to cool him out from the saddle.  I climbed on and spent about 20 minutes just walking around.  That is the first time I’ve been in the saddle since October.  It did feel good.  I was a bit nervous but it all worked out.  Halfway through the ride I realized I’d climbed up there without my helmet which is something I never do.  Thankfully, he was a good boy today. 

When I turned him back out in the pasture he watched me for a bit before he went off to join his buddies.  I have been the only constant in this horse’s life for the past 10 years.  Today I realized that I need to make more of an effort no matter what’s going on in my life.  I love him, and I think he kind of likes me too.

A Change In Focus

Sarah isn't going to show Baythoven this year in the class A shows.  That means I don't have to keep up all those cumbersome memberships so necessary and vital to the show circuit industry. If Bay isn't showing, as far as I am concerned, there is nothing in those memberships for me. I do plan to keep my ODS membership.  That one always has educational opportunities for members even if they are not into showing.  A primary ODS membership comes with the "Flying Changes" magazine and it comes with a USDF membership which gives me the "USDF Connection" magazine.  Maintaining my connection with ODS will also give me the opportunity to help out at some of the shows.  I'd love to learn to scribe and I am hoping to get that opportunity.

I've decided to invest the money I would have spent on memberships into photography classes.  Of course I am thinking that my photography will take a decidedly equine bent.  I've already signed up for two classes.  One class in photography and one in photo shop.  I am jazzed about this turn of events.  It feels right.  It feels like a big adventure!

Gratitude

I made my way out to the barn on Sunday.  The weather had warmed up a bit and I wanted to check on the boys.  When I got there they were turned out into their pasture and were grazing side by side.  They paid no attention to me whatsoever until I made my way into the pasture with some horse cookies.  It was then they decided I was their long lost benefactor.

As they ambled across the pasture toward me I was struck by just how beautiful they both are.  Even in they're dirty blankets, even with their manes in a tangle and shavings clinging to their tails.  They are both pretty fuzzy.  I think Bay may even be fuzzier than he has ever been.  His tail is longer than I've ever see it.  It's past his hocks now.  Boo's tail has grown too.  It wasn't but a couple of months ago that I had banged it just above his fetlocks.  Now it's dragging on the ground again.  Looks like I will need to go out and wash it and bang it again on the first available 50 degree day.

I haven't been feeling well lately, but today for that few hours spent with my horses,  I forgot about everything but how much I love being with them. I have heard it said that people who have something that speaks to their soul, no matter what it is, will become so engrossed in it that they will lose time when doing it.  That is exactly what happens to me when I am with the horses.  Time slows down and eventually I lose track of it altogether.  I know I am not alone in this.  I know that almost everyone who will read this blog post knows exactly what I am talking about.  Aren't we lucky to have that? I know I'm grateful for every single moment.

Sunday Stills

Wondering About Blanketing

I am sitting here in my office.  The sun is filtering in through the windows.  Everything is warm and cozy inside.  Outside is a different story.  It was 25 degrees when I got up this morning.  That is unusual weather for the Pacific Northwest. Oh, we get cold weather but we don't usually get it for more than a few days in a row and then it's back to the 50's for daytime highs and lows in the 40's  to upper 30's at night.

I understand that for many people this is just your every day winter weather.  It's far worse in many parts of the country and around the world.  At least this has been a dry cold spell.  Still, it's not that normal for us and I find myself wondering if I'm doing right by my 22-year-old gelding.  I have him stabled about 30 minutes from home.  The elevation is a little higher and the temperature is a few degrees colder than it is here at home.  I have a light blanket on him (no fill) with a neck cover.  It's just to keep him dry and to break the wind.  He has a very fuzzy winter coat of his own, and I've always felt that was enough for our normal temperatures.  Now, with these temperatures, I am second guessing myself.  Should I be putting on a heavier blanket?  It's still getting to the upper 30's and lower 40's during the day...

He is outdoors during the day and indoors at night.  He seemed fine the last time he was checked.  He was warm and dry under the blanket.  His weight is still good.  I'm concerned that if I put on a heavier blanket he will just sweat under it.  I've had that happen before.  I've heard other people say they've beefed up the light turnout sheet in this cold weather. 

What do you all think?

Wordless Wednesday

Learning About Equine Photography

I spent some time this fall taking an online photography class.  It is a fine art photography class and the emphasis is on capturing the essence of the horse.  I heard about the class from a good friend who is a much better photographer than I am.  She encouraged me to give it a shot and I am really glad I did.  I’ve owned a Canon Rebel XTI for about 3 years, but I was lost when it came to taking pictures off auto mode.  With this class I would be required to get off auto. 

I was pretty nervous in the beginning.  I was worried I wouldn’t understand the assignments or even how to upload them.  I am definitely not a techie.  However, the emphasis here wasn’t going to be about the technical aspects as much as it was going to be about beginning to define our own vision regarding the essence of the horse. 

All that was needed for the class was a DLSR camera and some version of Photoshop.  I bought PS  Elements 9 from Amazon and I was set to go.

I didn’t turn out to be the star of the class.  I also wasn’t a total bust.  I didn’t get a photo that I thought worthy of printing and framing as fine art, but I did get an idea of where to begin my photography education which I intend to follow up on.  I am planning to take some of those technical classes to help me better understand the capabilities of my camera.  I’m also planning to take some classes in photo shop.  I’ve developed a better understanding of what fine art photography is.  The class was well worth the money and the time I’ve spent on it.

Although the actual goal of using photo shop was to take a good photo and then enhance it with photo shop techniques, I did learn how to make an interesting sort of photo out of what most would consider a real dud.  Here are a few examples. 



The website for the class is www.learntotakephotos.com  

Sunday Stills

Back Light

I Have Been Missing In Action

I have many reasons but no good excuse.  My last entry was in mid September.  It was just a short blurb about the Pendleton Roundup.  We had moved our two horses to a new barn just a few weeks earlier.  It had not been our choice.  Our old barn had gone self-care.  The new barn was nice.  It was no further away.  It was just something new to get use too.

Both horses have settled in nicely.  It has not been quite so easy for me.  It's difficult sometimes to accept change.  It's difficult to lose the connections with old barn friends.  It's sometimes difficult to build new connections, especially if a person is not going to the barn very often.  Such is the situation I have made for myself in the past few months.

To top off all the difficulties I've been having dealing with change, I have also been dealing with some health changes.  It is amazing how incredibly slow the health care industry moves.  In mid October I visited my PCP due to some recurring symptoms I had been having.  They had been ongoing for a couple of months prior to the visit and were beginning to scare me.  About mid November I finally received all the test results we had been waiting for only to be told I needed to be referred to a specialist.  It took almost two more weeks to get an appointment with the specialist and that is not going to happen until December 30th.  I've been waiting...and waiting...and waiting.  I've put my life on hold and it is finally dawning on me that no matter what I end up dealing with health wise, I just cannot continue to do what I am doing.

I must get back to the things that sustain me.  I need to get back to being with my horses.  I need to get back to being active.  I need to push through the unfamiliar, and the doldrums, and the pain and just be present.  So here I am.

I'm back.

Fantastic weekend

We had a great time at the Pendleton Roundup once again!!!  The DH and I, along with our daughter Jaimee and my dear friend Joanne, managed to be there for the rodeo on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.  We met up with other family and friends.  We saw the big parade on Friday morning.  We shopped until we nearly dropped.  We spent some time at Crabby’s Underground, the Rainbow Room, and of course out on Main Street listening to the bands.  We had a lot of fun, got little sleep, and drank a few beers.  I must have taken about 500 photos, and I learned a ton about what not to do when taking pictures.  I'm always a little sad when it's over...I'm also grateful because these old bones just ain't what they use to be!

Pendleton Roundup 2012

The boys are doing well in their new home

The horses have been in their new home for a little over two weeks now. They are turned out to pasture together and they seem to be getting along well. My first time out I lunged Boo in the outdoor. That went pretty well, so my next time out I rode in the outdoor. He was pretty excited and not listening to well, but we managed. I’ve ridden him a couple of times in the indoor, and he does pretty well in there. There are some trails to ride out there, so I think I’m going to have to get Mick out there and explore those before the rains start up again.

Both boys call a bit when one or the other of them leaves the pasture. They seem to be doing that less and less though. We took Bay to the ODS Championships last weekend, so Boo had to spend the entire weekend in the pasture alone. He did alright though. He had a couple of mares in the pasture next to him and other horses in sight. Boo has some scratches on one of his hind feet. I always thought that was something that happened during the muddy season, but these came on right before we left CEC and the ground was dry. I’ve been treating it with Vetracyn. Looks better, but not completely cleared up yet.

For any who may be wondering I’ve finished the cabinets in the kitchen. I have the island left to do, but that won’t happen until the end of the month. My sister is going to be out here from Cheyenne and all projects are on hold while she’s here. I’ll post a picture when the islands finished.

Oregon Dressage Society Championships

Training Level 3rd Place
First Level 6th place

Tough competition, but they placed.

It's a busy summer

I made it out to the barn on my first day back from vacation. It was a wonderful vacation full of family and fun, but I really missed Boo, Bay, and Miley. I gave Boo a good grooming. Is it weird that he is still shedding? Does anyone else have a horse that is doing that here in the Pacific Northwest.

We didn't work hard, but we did work on staying on the bit. He was a good boy, and we did all three gaits and called it a night. I'll go back out on Tuesday.

Three of the horses that have been boarding at the barn have already moved out. Two more will be moving on the same day that we will be moving our horses. While I was cleaning Boo up after the ride a family walked in looking for the barn owner. They were moving in. It was surreal for me. I'm normally pretty friendly to everyone, but tonight I just felt deflated. It's hard to watch people coming in all happy about their new boarding barn when we would rather not be leaving.

I pick Miley up tomorrow after her bath. Leaving her behind was really hard to do. My only consolation is I know she would have hated being in the car so much. I admit I am a little bit OCD about Miley since losing Poko. I called the kennel midway through our vacation just to check on her.

Tomorrow it's back to my painting project in the kitchen. Sure wish it was done already.

Old Faithful

Road Trip