Akeem's First Lesson

I will get stills and stuff from his video but he did a lot better than I could have ever hoped. Originally, since this is the first time I have had a riding lesson with this instructor, I wanted to bring a horse that showed me riding my best without the distraction of the horse that I could be fixed. But no, wait, I wanted dressage lessons to improve my skills in order to better work Akeem. It makes more sense then to bring him than my older pros.

This poor pony is really mistreated in some ways. Less than 50 rides probably somewhere close to 30 that he has had, not worked in about a month(due to inclement weather), and then driven nearly 2 hours to do a lesson. The boy was just set up for a train wreck.

He showed the "ill" behaviors that he has well without overdoing them. Some bucking and kicking, a lot of head tossing, and his inability to do straight lines. It was really quite wonderful. Since he was doing his normal falling in sprinkled with a little less attention span than normal, we really got to work on rebalancing him. Making him stop falling into the right is tricky since it is a sneaky thing he does. It isn't the standard "I will pull you into the right lane" that I am used to with the more expressive horses. No, no he is a smart fellow.

To help him rebalance himself, I was to ensure that he used the rail or made a straight line at all times. Something that he has extreme difficulty with. For such a green horse though he quickly got over that with more aptly timed cues from my calf muscles, and rein aides. He head tossed quite a bit which i was advised to drive him through and that ironically seemed to have relaxed him. The more I rode, the more he seemed to just start relaxing his entire body. His head stopped curling, his tail became quiet and his short back lengthen a hair.

Once we graduated off of a small 15m square we progressed to 30 then of course the entire arena. By the time we were doing the entire arena he was being asked to flex his neck both in and out of the arena gently while maintaining the cadence and rhythm in the corners.

He did it. Not always and sometimes he did really squirrely things but for the most part he did it all to his best.

HW: work on straightness, FIND LINES AND DO THEM. He needs to be rebalanced to so work on making things the right shape and think about guiding his legs more.

Planted another tray of 72 seeds mostly lettuces, some other herbs and radishes this evening. Also, I got my little do-dad that will allow me to reuse old newspaper to make pots. :D

Friday, February 19, 2010

Weeks In Brief

Week 1 Jan 1-9
My mother and I plotted the garden seeds necessary for our seasonal eating plan that we started.
I worked on developing a training schedule for my ponies. :D Also, started my father's birthday scarf.

Week 2 Jan 10-16
Mother and I switched to just goat soap. Rather nice and leaves the skin ohhhh so nice feeling. Read a little thing on the judging practices in the hunter derby ring and how it keeps calling my name.

Week 3 Jan 17-23
Ordered my seeds! I am excited can't wait for them to get in and started looking around at different water bottles to take to school and work. Knitted some mean rows on my socks too. I really need to finish my scarf though.

Week 4 Jan 24-30
Do you have any idea how many water bottles are on the market? This journey went from simply looking at a few to realize there is a lot more to know about bottles. I really love some of these but they are not quite as "earth friendly" due to their paints and well I look forward to aluminum over than food grade steel. My seeds got in :D Already planted some chamomile, sage, and marigolds. Marigolds are true heirlooms from my grandmother - little nervous as to whether they will actually grow. lol. dad's scarf is about 2/3 of the way done and his birthday was Jan. 25!

Week 5 Jan 31- Feb 6
This was a lovely week. Went back to work and worked with the horses and rode A LOT. ORDERED MY BOTTLE TOO! Found a Sigg on ebay that was just screaming "YOU NEED ME" and I figured it was probably right. Been so busy I haven't knitted really at all. Shame on me!
Received my seeds and planted. I now have Soyu Long cukes down, Curiosity Nigella, and Lemon balm.

Week 6 Feb 7-13
Great weekend. A lot of fun, limited riding but I did go and check out a barn to improve my dressage. It is rather promising but more expensive than I was hoping. I just don't see how anyone's time is $75/45minutes. Eh, very little knitting again.

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Mission 20X

This year is a goal oriented year. Why? Simply because it is the beginning of the third decade of my life...yes I turned 20 this year. What next though how am I going to make sure that the next decade is as good or better as the last one?
Going to make goals.
Long term ones.
Last decade there were some not very original such as get through college, do well at my sport, and enjoy life to it's fullest. There were trials one of which I am glad I got out of my system for the last decade not this one. It bled into this decade but I am not going to dwell on it. I will grow from the process of healing and learning. Learned why I should avoid toxic people which is great and valuable thing to know.

Enough of the past. I am a 'look-on-the-brightside-person.' TO THE FUTURE!

This decade I will reduce my impact on the earth, knit more, learn to crochet better, ride to my fullest ability, garden, get my degree(s), get married to my love, and travel. Evolve a lifestyle that I can live with.

This year I will start off right by starting all those goals. Maintaining my fitness or increase my lifestyle through belly dance, pilates, yoga, swimming, and muscle work; long muscles are the goal. I will reduce my waste and impact on the earth by using more natural products and other means. I will ride, ride, ride - event, hunters, jumpers, race use all my horses and professionals' knowledge to learn. Knit more, I have a list of items and will post it later mostly socks, tunics, and other stuff. Love most.
Once a week I will learn a new exercise for riding.
Once a week I will find a weird way of exercise.
Once a week I will find a way to reduce my impact.
Once a week I will knit at least 4 inches.
Daily I will put aside time to love.
---I will probably add things but no, no subtractions.

Thursday, February 11, 2010

I want to plant

I want to plant
seeds of perennials
I want to plant
seeds of thought
I want to plant
seeds of hope
I want to plant
seeds of change

I will plant
seeds of perennials
I will plant
seeds of thought
I will plant
seeds of hope
I will plant
seeds of change

I will constantly
grow every year
I will constantly
digest thoughts
I will constantly
bring hope
I will constantly
bring about change

I will guerrilla garden. I will make my city prettier and happier. I will attempt to get others to clean up and organize plants and their landscape.

Monday, January 25, 2010

New

First post woot

Friday, January 15, 2010