Spring is in the Air!!

Hi Friends,

So, I have been less than faithful in keeping this blog updated the past few weeks.

It's been a bit kind of a rough go the past couple of weeks.  I have unfortunately had some health problems that have not exactly resolved.  I'm not sure if they are related to the mysterious undiagnosed disability, or just too much stress, but one thing is for sure, it's getting old.  I have been living off of rice and bananas, and man, a steak has never sounded so good.

Meanwhile, Dylan has continued to have his downs and ups.  He seems to be pulling his head out of his rear-end, thanks in large part to the hard work of my trainer Jenny Nell, and barn trainer and friend Roxanne Christenson.  To the best of our figuring, getting him into this next phase of collected work caused his unique form of non-violent protest.  Anyway...now that he seems slightly more convinced that he can actually do it, his trot has truly developed into an FEI frame, and his canter continues to be lovely.

With my health issues, we decided not to go to Del Mar.  It was kind of a bummer, but probably was the best choice in order to give Dylan some time to get back on track.  It sounds like it was a great show, and wish I could have gone to cheer on my friends & teammates!

I found out however that I will need to have my classification reviewed prior to WEG, as all athletes with neuromuscular conditions must be reviewed before major competitions.  The good news here is that my diagnosis should not have to be reviewed at this time, only my bench test numbers (the physical exam of strength & coordination).

So, I am planning on competing at a CPEDI in Toronto, Canada in May.  We will not take Dylan, as that is obviously a very long road trip in advance of US Team Selection Trials in June.

My plan is to find a horse to borrow to compete on.  

If you know anyone with a petite PSG horse (needs to have a passport), that might be available for loan, let me know. 

In the meantime, Dylan and I are hoping to get out to some schooling shows, and basically just keep on keepin' on!!  

Thanks for all your continued support!

Time Flies...

Holy Cow, has it already been a month?!

In my defense - there were final exams, the holidays, and I also took an "internet holiday" for a couple weeks.

So...the quick & dirty.  Dylan is going through a "phase".  We've explored, expounded, hypothesized on the reasons why, but to some extent, a horse is a horse.  Basically he has just become a bit of a stubborn bugger.  Every question we ask, he comes back with "why?  do i have to?".  After a couple of weeks of us just repeating our "questions" and waiting for him to answer with "oh, ok, I can do that", we seem to be making progress.  It has been a less than exciting couple of weeks, however, in terms of riding.  Pyschological riding, I guess.

I do love our new barn, and the new folks and their super-cute horses.

We have a CDI/CPDEI scheduled in March, as well as Conrad Schumacher, so we'll just keep ticking along for now, with a half an eye towards those events.  Trying to keep the pressure low, even as I am super-excited for all the years events!!

I will post more soon :) Happy riding!

Happy Holidays...already!

Hi Everyone!!

I can't believe how fast the past few weeks have gone by!  Time for a quick update, for sure.

The clinic went really well.  Sharon ended up getting the flu, and could not come out - so I worked with Missy both days.  Dylan did pretty well.  We had been going through a pretty frustrating phase of spook & bolts...but as soon as he was at Little Bit-Woodinville he was great.  Makes me wonder if a lot of that behavior was related to the indoor arena at Little Bit-Redmond.  It is on the small side, and pretty dark.  The end opens to the parking lot, and there is a lot of somewhat unpredictable foot traffic.  

Anyway.

Had good rides at the clinic, working quite a bit of getting Dylan into a more "grown-up" frame - really keeping his poll up, and working for more expression in the trot.  It was a challenge for both of us...those muscles are not completely well-developed for Dylan, and I have a tendency to maybe not ask him for as much as I should.   Missy also had some ideas for Dylan's unique personality quirks (ha ha) - that perhaps we should investigate whether he has an upset tummy (ulcers).  It isn't too far-fetched, his previous owner had thought he might have ulcers, and had even gone so far as to have him scoped (which was negative).

So, we'll probably try him on a trial of Gastro Guard, or one of it's slightly more affordable equivalents. ;-)

She also suggested a supplement that apparently a lot of the FEI jumpers use on their horses.  Dylan does have phases where he just gets so amped he doesn't quite know what to do with his energy....so again, probably worth a try!!

After the clinic, Dylan made the big move up to Trilogy Farms - home of Roxanne Christenson Dressage.  He is in HEAVEN.  He gets to out in a giant grassy pasture, he gets his blankets changed - he is so happy!

I just finished up school for the quarter, so I am hoping to have a bit more time to spend up at the barn, and get to know all the people and horses up there.  So far everyone has been great!  

If I don't get a chance to post in the next few weeks, Merry Christmas to all, and here's to an AMAZING 2010!!

Big Week Ahead!

Hi everyone,

Very excited for this upcoming week.  Monday and Tuesday I will ride with the US Team coaches, Missy Ransehausen and Sharon Schneidmann.  Sharon has not seen Dylan since Nationals in May, and Missy only saw him briefly in June before he threw a shoe during our warm-up.  So...I'm hoping they like what they see, and the direction we're going in.  

My greatest concern is that he has been a little fresh - and when he gets fresh he gets a little unpredictable.  It's sort of like riding a roller coaster...slow to start, but you better hang on for what might come next!!  I worked with my trainer Jenny Nell on how to warm him up in such a way that I keep his attention, and get his energy focused in a better way - it isn't just a matter of getting him forward and through, I have to add in a shoulder-fore, or a transition, to make sure he's not looking for more "exciting" things to do!

He moved over to the Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center facility on Thursday, so hopefully he will be relaxed and ready to get down to business come Monday morning.

After the Thanksgiving Holiday, I will be moving Dylan up to Trilogy Farms in Monroe, home of Roxanne Christensen Dressage.  I'm very excited about this opportunity!  I am also incredibly grateful to have the support of not one, but two great trainers, as I forge into the year ahead! 

On to WEG!

 

Rolling right along...

Hello Friends -

Just a quick update.  Nothing too exciting going on.  Getting ready for the USEF clinic in a few weeks.  I hope that Dylan brings his "A Game".  Lately we've been a bit hit & miss - fantastic rides interspersed with rides where Dylan alternates between his feet being glued to the ground, and his favorite trick, the "spook & bolt".  The most annoying thing is that he doesn't actually spook...it's more like a convenient leap followed by an all out run to get out of whatever task we're working on at the moment.    I can almost hear him singing "I don't wanna grow up, I'm a Toys R Us kid....".  

We're starting work on the medium trot.  He has gotten to the place where he can actually "push" instead of "pull" his way through them, and we are now trying to teach him that if he keeps his poll up, he can really reach through his shoulder.  He enjoys it, to say the least.  Canterwork is coming along.  Sort of the same phenomenon - he is now initiating the strike off from the hind legs, and "pushing"...but there were a few weeks where he would strike off, then his legs would get all tangled.  Did some work on the lunge to help him sort it out, and we're in a good space now as far as that goes.  We're able to approach the subject of walk to canter now, without too much drama.

I am feeling more confident that we'll get the pieces together in the next few months.

Going to start working on timelines, budgets, and plans soon (exciting!).  Hoping the financial aspect will all come together.  

Until next time....heels down, eyes up, and keep riding! 

Holy Cow, it's almost November!

Time flies by...Fall is officially here this morning, as evidenced by the ridiculous rain, urban flooding, and the closure of the road I usually take to school due to a fallen tree.

Dylan is managing...we're working on how to manage a cold back - probably both his and mine.  Now that he is learning self-carriage, it seems I am having to re-tool our warm-ups.  It's really now about warming up muscles before we go to work, instead of a conversation about all the things we could do INSTEAD of work.

Little Bit Redmond is closing down the boarding aspect of the business in preparation for permitting & construction of the "new" Little Bit.  The public announcement of the capital campaign was on the 17th - I rode Little Bit horse Raphaelo (Raffi) at the event and it went really well.  He's a beautiful big grey german warmblood, donated by the Rattner family (Devonwood Equestrian Center) - I had so much fun riding him.  Dylan will be able to stay at Little Bit Redmond, but I am exploring other options for us as well.

Last week Roxanne Christenson hosted Conrad Schumacher at Trilogy Farms in Monroe, and invited me to audit.  I really enjoy watching him teach, he has such a keen understanding of what the horse needs, and how the rider can make it happen.  After the rides, she and her clients had organized a wine & cheese reception, where she put me on the spot and asked me to talk about Para Equestrian, WEG, and what I'm up to.  !!!!.  I was mortified, but spit something out.  Conrad then spoke about his experience with Para Equestrian, and how much sheer will disabled riders have.  I couldn't agree more!  

This week I've been invited to clinic with Kathleen Raine.  I rode with Kathleen last year, shortly after I had gotten Dylan.  She had also worked with Dylan when Leigh Cochrain (Bear Creek Farm) was working with him.  She understands him and his quirks really well, and was not at all phased by working with me (and my quirks!).  Hopefully  I can shuffle my schedule to make this work!

In November we have the USEF sponsored clinic with our team coaches, Missy Ransehousen and Sharon Schneidmann.  USEF is providing transportation costs for the riders who have their FEI certificates of capability to come to the clinic, so I am hoping to get the chance to see some of my teammates!!   Dylan conveniently threw a shoe during the last clinic, so I am excited that the coaches will get a chance to see how he's coming along.

Wow...I guess I have been busy! :-)

Lastly, still looking for sponsorships & help fundraising.  I'd much rather be riding than fundraising....but it's become very apparent that in order to keep this adventure alive, I will have to do both :)  If you have ideas, as always, please feel free to contact me.

Until next time...

Fall is here -

It always seems like the beginning of Autumn feels more like the start of a new year.  Show season wraps up with Region Championships, kids go back to school, and generally everyone starts changing routines.

There has been a lot of change in this corner of the world, for certain!

My very close friend, who has also groomed for me at all my major competitions, has made a major life change, and is moving across the country to be closer to her boyfriend.  I am so excited for her, but in a very selfish way, am wondering who is going to help keep my nose clean (so to speak)!!  Not to mention who am I going to make starbucks or thai food runs with!!  

On top of that, my teammate who I have trained and competed with for the past 4 years also decided it was time for change.  She thought long and hard about the decision, and in the end, packed her things and also moved cross-country, for a chance at a fresh start.  

So...our longtime "team" - two riders, a groom, and a coach, is now down to a duo...and my coach is currently recuperating from a very significant surgery.   I admit I would like her back in action as soon as possible...but in my heart I know that she needs much more time to rest & recover than either of us probably want to think about!!

However, I forge ahead!!  I am more or less in charge of Dylan's training.  He is going well, but I am lacking a bit of confidence at this stage in the game.  When we are having a good ride, I feel like I should try and introduce something new, but am not that sure of "what comes next". When we are having a less-good ride, I start questioning myself, and wondering if I have taken him astray in some way.  I suppose these are things every rider goes through.

On the upside, FarmVet and I are on our way!  I received great feedback from the press release they put out, and my college (Sweet Briar) turned around and posted a story about me and my quest for WEG.   Dappled Grey has also continued their support.  I continue to try to keep the momentum going!!  

So...it looks like my lesson this week is to embrace change, have patience, stay confident and keep on keepin' on!!