Rural California

On Wed. Sept 22nd  Banner and I loaded  up for the big haul to our new winter job near Oakdale, Ca.
We stopped over near Reno at the  home of Red Rock hounds.  Lyn Loyd  was gracious and fed us and showed me the hounds and her very beautiful and fun place.  I went for a ride in the mountains the next morning, jumping in and out of allotments over coops built by the hunt. It was lovely stop over and uplifting experience all around.
I arrived next day at Lone Tree Farm. Traffic going thru Sacramento is congested pretty much all the time. Lone Tree is a lovely facility with the best xc schooling course I've seen yet. There are green pastures everywhere and very inviting jumps.There are 75 horses there so plenty to do.  I set up my room and settled into a new life for the winter without husband, dog, house, internet or any more than 1 bar of cell phone service.  Man what a shock!
Now I sit in a cafe with a laptop that  Connie (my employer) loaned me.  If I have no contact with you, that is why.....I have been to town once. It's 12 miles trip to Waterford and 22 miles to Modesto and Oakdale.    I have been riding her school horses, and learning where everything is. The staff has been helpful. They are used to having a 20 year old working student doing my job so I must confess that I'm feeling rather out of place!  There have been tears and I talk to Steve 2x's per day. He is very encouraging.

This has been a big change and jolt to our routine. I suppose that's good in the big picture. The only constant is change.  I miss Idaho, my cushy life and Steve. I should have done this when I was younger but I didn't so am doing it now anyway.
Banner has turn out and a nice stall so he is just fine. When we schooled xc yesterday he was joyful and positive. I look fwd to Ram Tap at the end of Oct. Prelim here we come.
Text is great way to contact me.  I hope to hear from you.  Seriously if anyone wants to come school and/or take lessons I highly recommend it. 
Bye for now.....

Horses and Music Sept 2010

On Sat. I took Banner and Jude, Jennifer Self's horse, to Gary Mittleiders near Boise to ride in an impromtu cross country clinic. The footing and jumps were excellent and instruction helpful also.
Banner went really well and seemed willing and straight.  We had a resistance at one narrow after a cabin because I was not thinking ahead soon enough about preparation for the narrow.  Also Gary reminded me to keep rhythm better. Sometimes I took "setting up" to extremes from too slow a pace to begin with.  All in all it was a grand day with safe trip to and fro. Jennifer and I both learned alot and the weather was perfect. It was a good confidence builder for Banner and Mia's first Prelim together coming up at Woodside Oct 8,9,10th.
Now settling into packing to leave for Lone Tree Farm in Cal on Sep 22nd. But first, Steve and I are leaving for Hood River, Ore. to a family wedding.
My music partner Gerard Kelly and I have a gig at the Brick house in Bellevue on Tues the 14th so hope to go out stomping.  Musicians and friends welcome.  It should be a blast.
My music has evolved lately and I look forward to playing solo in Cal if I can find a place to play.

dressage week

Hi,
I am expanding from song writing to blog writing.  It was suggested by some students as a way to journal my upcoming move to California for winter. I will be working for Connie Arthur at Lone Tree Farm in Waterford Ca.  The website is http://www.lonetreefarm.net/
I am taking my horse Banner and my Jack Russell, Cash.  I'm not sure if Cash will be accepted but will do my best to keep him from offending anyone. He is a very kind little dog but chases and digs and jumps in cars and people's laps with out being asked.
My horse Banner is also kind and he will be coming too.
Last week, here in lovely Idaho, I took a dresssage lesson with Debbie McDonald. It was a B' Day gift from Debbie and my devoted husband Steve.  We worked on leg yield, Sh. fore, inside leg to outside rein connection, self carriage where I could surrender inside rein and straightness.  Banner was really good.
I learned:
1. It is necessary to ask him to stretch down during warm up to loosen his topline before work. Then his entire body is warmed up and ready for dressage. Hacking around on a loose rein is not warming up topline.
2. He tends to fall in subtley and haunches somewhere to side.  Leg yield to sharpen him up to inside spur. As always not constant thumping with my legs. Leg must ask, get result and release from pressure.
Yesterday, I took a lesson with Kelly Weiss.
First he corrected my leg position, toe in spur off, thigh turned back.
He wanted Banner's back up more so he could track up, relax, be straight etc.
He asked for inside flexion, when Banner yielded to flexion we asked for 3 or 4 shorter steps with outside rein, then I squeeze him properly with my calf to go more fwd and in so doing allow an inch or so in neck so Banner knew it was safe to go fwd off leg. Kelly reminded me that we have to let horses make mistakes and use them to get to know horse better.  I cannot dictate every move my horse makes. He is a partner. He can volunteer to go fwd with this sytem. he will be more self sufficent, sounder and more joyful that way. It's very important for an event horse.
Tommorrow some students and I will school at Rafter K. What fun.