It's a Tues night. I had a good day. The weather was amazing, cool and sunny. It's about 40 now this evening. It snowed in Idaho. I am grateful for California weather. No wonder so many people live here although where I am is very rural.
The staff and Connie here at Lone Tree have been very tolerant of me while teaching me the ropes. The days go fast and I have no time to even talk on the phone except to family. I sweep the aisle, organize tack, catch horses down the hill, ride them, groom them, prepare prize bags for hunter pace coming up this weekend, watch Connie teach, photograph babies, eat, sleep, practice voice, practice yoga, go to meetings in Modesto etc. I am not inclined to stand around and chat much. I keep moving.
I have kept my opinions to myself which has been a wonderful lesson. It is a new habit for me! My job does not call for my opinion much. My job is to follow directions and ride. The horses that I ride are going well.
Here are descriptions of some of them.
Banner is my horse that lives here with me. He is an 11 year old WB that I have owned for 5 years. He is chestnut and stands about 16.1hh. We competed our first Preliminary division event last weekend. He was fearful in the beginning of the cross country course. He refused the 3rd jump once. We recovered after that refusal and he went well. His dressage and show jumping were very good. Overall I am pleased with him and look forward to the event on November 7th at Galway Downs.
Maggie is an 8 yr old draft/Tb mare bay 16.2. She has lop ears (good jumper) and is quite athletic and willing. I will ride her in the Hunter Pace here and then at another Ram Tap event BN.
Chloe is an Icelandic pony who I ride to condition for kids who come and ride her. She is grey 13hh and the coolest pony ever . She loves to be pointed at a jump so she can head straight for it and jump it. She is kind and fun to tolt around on.
Rosie is a 10 yr old draft cross who has foxhunted for the gent that owns her. I get to ride her in the Hunter Pace. I have to rev her up at first but she goes great once she realizes that I'm serious about her moving up and fwd.. She is sweet too.
Liam is the Irish Draught stallion here. He is 16.3 chestnut. He is very compliant and polite and sweet and I like him. He is ridden in shows by Jon Michael a professional event rider who does a good job with him My employer Connie Arthur rides him here at home and has trained him .He has an impressive disposition, body and is game to run and jump any chance he gets.
I miss my friends and family and dog. I speak with my supportive husband every day and he has been great. I plan to see Anna and some other family here over TG weekend in bay area.
I have been taking voice lessons from a very capable and positive instructor in Oakdale named Annette Hutton. She giving me exercises which I practice regularly. I am already amazed at the ease and confidence I get from these lessons. It has brought a new element into singing. Also I have been rehearsing guitar, banjo with foot tambourine.
God bless you all
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Working in the heat and lovin' it
It is the evening of Oct. 12, 2010. I am in the bunk house kitchen of Lone Tree Farm and my employer has kindly loaned me a lap top that is connected so here we go!
Banner and I have been here for about 3 weeks. We have jumped most of the xc jumps here but still have a few left. Connie Arthur my kind employer returned from WEG in Ky. with our manager Dyan Southern so there is more going on.re
I may have been over zealous in cleaning tack room and moving stuff but they have it back where they want it now.
Banner is doing very well and thrives here. I took a xc lesson with Connie. We worked on turning. He turns much better when I look ahead where I am going and open the rein before he takes off. The opening rein before he takes off keeps my body more upright and still as well.
I am enjoying it here and meeting new friends everywhere.
Today I rode 5 horse and I am tired physically. I do yoga and meditation every morning and make time to take care of myself. I am taking voice lessons and my instructor is encouraging. We are working on the muscles for my voice to increase range without going to "face voice".
I have entered a Horse Trial on weekend of Oct 23rd in Fresno. Steve and I talk every day and he is coming to Galway Downs first week in Nov. He has been so supportive and kind.
Lots of love, Mia
I hope to figure out how to post photos on this soon.
Banner and I have been here for about 3 weeks. We have jumped most of the xc jumps here but still have a few left. Connie Arthur my kind employer returned from WEG in Ky. with our manager Dyan Southern so there is more going on.re
I may have been over zealous in cleaning tack room and moving stuff but they have it back where they want it now.
Banner is doing very well and thrives here. I took a xc lesson with Connie. We worked on turning. He turns much better when I look ahead where I am going and open the rein before he takes off. The opening rein before he takes off keeps my body more upright and still as well.
I am enjoying it here and meeting new friends everywhere.
Today I rode 5 horse and I am tired physically. I do yoga and meditation every morning and make time to take care of myself. I am taking voice lessons and my instructor is encouraging. We are working on the muscles for my voice to increase range without going to "face voice".
I have entered a Horse Trial on weekend of Oct 23rd in Fresno. Steve and I talk every day and he is coming to Galway Downs first week in Nov. He has been so supportive and kind.
Lots of love, Mia
I hope to figure out how to post photos on this soon.
Friday, October 1, 2010
October in Horseville
It's been really hot here in Waterford, Cal. I wake up at 5am..ish to complete meditation and vinyasa flow and pray and I'm out the door. First I eat breakfast. If I start the horse care without eating,I risk melting or over eating later.
There are 75 horses here. 7 or 8 of them are in training of some kind including my partner and traveling companion, Banner. They are mostly draft crosses and are well behaved and I like working with them. My employer Connie Arthur is still at WEG probably dreading the long trip home!
My work involves monitoring the herds also. There are 5 huge pastures with grass where various categories are turned out. There is the geriatric group, the mares and foals (there are some for sale and mostly RID/TB), the mare field (it's the jump field and the mares ignore us when we ride in there), the retiree field, the geldings, the tough footed geldings on river bottom etc.. The ranch hand, Pat and me work together. He works hard. There is another young man, Brandon who does the stalls. .
There is tack to clean, manes to pull, catch horses for shoer, grooming etc There is plenty to do!
I look forward to Connie's return when the stallion will come back, weaning starting, 2 year olds to work with and the fall events. The farm is next to the Tuololume River which is lovely with good fishing.
I plan to enter Ram Tap and Galway Downs this fall if I can save my money.
I go to Modesto for meetings and have made some new friends there. I went to the tack store today and hope to find some musicians soon. Mostly I hang out at the farm. I'd like to get to the ocean and to see Anna and SF soon. I look forward to Steve's visit in Nov when his schedule changes.
I love hearing from you all. I don't type well on this borrowed lap top so like to blog and type news once for everyone. There is no internet and spotty phone reception on farm so it's been difficult to stay in touch. I come to a cafe in Waterford with wifi about 3x's per week.
Boy do I appreciate the beauty of Idaho. I love that the wind doesn't blow here though! I also miss riding my bike. I have not seen a bike yet here.
LOL, Mia
There are 75 horses here. 7 or 8 of them are in training of some kind including my partner and traveling companion, Banner. They are mostly draft crosses and are well behaved and I like working with them. My employer Connie Arthur is still at WEG probably dreading the long trip home!
My work involves monitoring the herds also. There are 5 huge pastures with grass where various categories are turned out. There is the geriatric group, the mares and foals (there are some for sale and mostly RID/TB), the mare field (it's the jump field and the mares ignore us when we ride in there), the retiree field, the geldings, the tough footed geldings on river bottom etc.. The ranch hand, Pat and me work together. He works hard. There is another young man, Brandon who does the stalls. .
There is tack to clean, manes to pull, catch horses for shoer, grooming etc There is plenty to do!
I look forward to Connie's return when the stallion will come back, weaning starting, 2 year olds to work with and the fall events. The farm is next to the Tuololume River which is lovely with good fishing.
I plan to enter Ram Tap and Galway Downs this fall if I can save my money.
I go to Modesto for meetings and have made some new friends there. I went to the tack store today and hope to find some musicians soon. Mostly I hang out at the farm. I'd like to get to the ocean and to see Anna and SF soon. I look forward to Steve's visit in Nov when his schedule changes.
I love hearing from you all. I don't type well on this borrowed lap top so like to blog and type news once for everyone. There is no internet and spotty phone reception on farm so it's been difficult to stay in touch. I come to a cafe in Waterford with wifi about 3x's per week.
Boy do I appreciate the beauty of Idaho. I love that the wind doesn't blow here though! I also miss riding my bike. I have not seen a bike yet here.
LOL, Mia
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