I am back home at Derby Road. There is a new snow storm on the way. It has been the coldest April in 25 years.
Banner and I won Ram Tap Preliminary Rider Division on the weekend of April 16th in Fresno, Cal.
I am eligible to ride in Preliminary Rider because I have not ridden at a higher level than Prelim in 2 years. This is a cozy, appropriate division for me because the California super stars like James Alliston, Jennifer Wooten and other advanced riders are not eligible for this division. I found the Prelim Rider Division to be challenging anyway. Californians have the opportunity to compete alot and they want to win in addition to giving their horses a good experience as do I.
Gene Lewis said "there are only two things you can do wrong when jumping, go too fast or too slow".
in
Preliminary level's optimum cross country speed is 520 mpm. Banner has a better experience when I allowed or asked him to go faster. He jumps better by coiling and proping off the ground in a bascule when I'm not holding him off the fence or going too slow. He lands lighter and the jump requires less effort. I am not advocating running down to a fence. I mean keep coming, re balance and maintain balance to jump. A couple of my coaches said I had a good eye. I am grateful they think so.
I learn by experience and here are some of them I had in my journey to riding Prelim level successfully and confidently.
I had to change body position, lower hands, fall off alot, study videos, get lots of time penalties, become stronger in core (yoga), have access to good galloping track and facilities, have a eye on the ground most of the time (Connie) and refuse jumps at competitions and home. I rode multiple horses every day and I was immersed in horses training. It was a fabulous winter. Thank you Connie and the staff at Lone Tree Farm for tolerating and supporting me.
At Ram Tap I also got to ride "Charming Waltz" a 14 hh Haflinger mare owned by Kim Fischman. What a gem she is! She has immense power and desire to jump and is fun to be around as she is always knickering at us and adoring us with her soft brown eyes. She has lots of potential to be a super star. We placed 9th as our dressage placing was 10th in Beginner Novice division. She was clean in cross country and jumping and it was a blast to ride her.
I was slated to ride Mary Morris "Otter" in his first event and was very much looking forward to it as he jumps superbly also but alas he stepped on a nail. He is ok now I hear.
What now? I plan to attend some HJ shows and Golden Spike then Rebecca farms. Not much work here in Wood River Valley. It gives me time to write and rehearse music.
I'm working on my solo performance. Played last night with Jim Paisely and Keith Waller and it was very fun.
When I get the Ram Tap video from Ride On productions, I will post on Facebook.
Thanks for reading this.
Gratefully, Mia and Banner
Monday, April 25, 2011
Monday, April 11, 2011
Expect a Miracle
Today is April 11th. My mother, Louise Loening turned 80 yesterday. She is growing gracefully in Kennett Square, PA.
I plan to return to our Idaho home on April 19th after another attempt at the Ram Tap prelim course with Banner. I also get to compete a very fun Haflinger Pony named Heidi who jumps brilliantly. She is 14 hh, beautiful, sexy and cheerful. She has a very bushy mane and her tail drags on the ground. Her owner, Kim Fishman politely resisted my pleas to pull her mane. I've come around to appreciating her shaggy look now. It's hard to even part it for a bridle. It's really thick!
My experience at Lone Tree Farm for the last 7 months has been rich and rewarding. I extend my thanks to my husband, Steve for his support. It has been a dream of mine to immerse myself in horse training and that is exactly what happened here. Connie Arthur, the owner and her manager Dyan Southern taught me so much by example. The horses here taught me even more. The job involved lots of catching, leading, handling. I'm proud of the way they have improved under saddle and on the ground.
I rode an average of 4 to 5 horses per day 6 days per week. I rode draft crosses, arab crosses, haflingers, tb's, warmbloods and Liam, the Irish Draught stallion. I jumped most of them in group lessons with Connie.
I fell off my horse Banner 5 times in one 30 day period. Miraculously, I was not hurt. My regular AM yoga practice must have helped me sustain those falls without injury. So far I have not fallen off any LTF horses but I could. If you ride, you fall off! I didn't teach much formally and rather missed that. I was able to sneak in some teaching with the working student young riders, Mary and Amber. I lunged them and they got stronger.
I learned about turning my shoulders in for shoulder in, letting the jumpers sort themselves out with less help from me, keeping my hands down and different warm up techniques for different horses. I learned that that a young horse cannot sustain a rhythm on a lunge line because he lacks the strength and that one must wash and dry Banners legs after being in water or he could get vasiculitis from scratches. I learned how slow I go and how fast I need to go at Prelim. I learned how to drive around LA and SF. I learned about trailer bearings, air filters and clutch parts. I learned how to ride with my spine/ back in mind and to be super tall. I learned to walk up hills on foot with good posture.
I learned that I am uncomfortable with surprises and most family visits and that I am the common denominator/ problem and it hurts too much. I learned that people like my dog Cash but won't be sorry when he leaves. I learned that I am employable at a horse barn. I learned the gift of not blaming those around us and accepting everything. (I got that from Connie and Dyan, thanks ladies) I learned to set boundaries.
Music....I learned how to sing higher. I learned that the G note is where my chest voice ends and face voice starts and how to practice the transition to make it all sound like the same voice. I learned to appreciate a good jam session. I learned not to be so afraid of heavy drinkers. I learned more about harmony, violins, dobros and auto harps. Guitar or banjo riffs are an important key element to create an appealing song.
I made lots of new friends here in the Central Valley of California which in itself is truly the land of milk and honey. What an incredibly habitable climate! I will miss the Tuolome River and the geese, herons and bobcats that reside here. I will miss the birds of prey, the flowers, the grass and the footing.
When I get back to Idaho I plan to rehearse 2 hrs per day each day to work up good musical solo. I plan to write songs and letters too. I also get to organize the upcoming jump clinic with Nick Karazissis and get back online with my students. Of course there is always yoga and connecting with important friends and mentors. I look forward to jamming with musicians there and getting out to see live music.
Thanks for reading this I hope you enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
Cheers and Happy Spring!
Mia
PS. Banner and I won the Prelim. Combined Test at Woodside last weekend so we are confident for Ram Tap!
I plan to return to our Idaho home on April 19th after another attempt at the Ram Tap prelim course with Banner. I also get to compete a very fun Haflinger Pony named Heidi who jumps brilliantly. She is 14 hh, beautiful, sexy and cheerful. She has a very bushy mane and her tail drags on the ground. Her owner, Kim Fishman politely resisted my pleas to pull her mane. I've come around to appreciating her shaggy look now. It's hard to even part it for a bridle. It's really thick!
My experience at Lone Tree Farm for the last 7 months has been rich and rewarding. I extend my thanks to my husband, Steve for his support. It has been a dream of mine to immerse myself in horse training and that is exactly what happened here. Connie Arthur, the owner and her manager Dyan Southern taught me so much by example. The horses here taught me even more. The job involved lots of catching, leading, handling. I'm proud of the way they have improved under saddle and on the ground.
I rode an average of 4 to 5 horses per day 6 days per week. I rode draft crosses, arab crosses, haflingers, tb's, warmbloods and Liam, the Irish Draught stallion. I jumped most of them in group lessons with Connie.
I fell off my horse Banner 5 times in one 30 day period. Miraculously, I was not hurt. My regular AM yoga practice must have helped me sustain those falls without injury. So far I have not fallen off any LTF horses but I could. If you ride, you fall off! I didn't teach much formally and rather missed that. I was able to sneak in some teaching with the working student young riders, Mary and Amber. I lunged them and they got stronger.
I learned about turning my shoulders in for shoulder in, letting the jumpers sort themselves out with less help from me, keeping my hands down and different warm up techniques for different horses. I learned that that a young horse cannot sustain a rhythm on a lunge line because he lacks the strength and that one must wash and dry Banners legs after being in water or he could get vasiculitis from scratches. I learned how slow I go and how fast I need to go at Prelim. I learned how to drive around LA and SF. I learned about trailer bearings, air filters and clutch parts. I learned how to ride with my spine/ back in mind and to be super tall. I learned to walk up hills on foot with good posture.
I learned that I am uncomfortable with surprises and most family visits and that I am the common denominator/ problem and it hurts too much. I learned that people like my dog Cash but won't be sorry when he leaves. I learned that I am employable at a horse barn. I learned the gift of not blaming those around us and accepting everything. (I got that from Connie and Dyan, thanks ladies) I learned to set boundaries.
Music....I learned how to sing higher. I learned that the G note is where my chest voice ends and face voice starts and how to practice the transition to make it all sound like the same voice. I learned to appreciate a good jam session. I learned not to be so afraid of heavy drinkers. I learned more about harmony, violins, dobros and auto harps. Guitar or banjo riffs are an important key element to create an appealing song.
I made lots of new friends here in the Central Valley of California which in itself is truly the land of milk and honey. What an incredibly habitable climate! I will miss the Tuolome River and the geese, herons and bobcats that reside here. I will miss the birds of prey, the flowers, the grass and the footing.
When I get back to Idaho I plan to rehearse 2 hrs per day each day to work up good musical solo. I plan to write songs and letters too. I also get to organize the upcoming jump clinic with Nick Karazissis and get back online with my students. Of course there is always yoga and connecting with important friends and mentors. I look forward to jamming with musicians there and getting out to see live music.
Thanks for reading this I hope you enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
Cheers and Happy Spring!
Mia
PS. Banner and I won the Prelim. Combined Test at Woodside last weekend so we are confident for Ram Tap!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)