i am so excited. you know that feeling you get in your tummy when something awesome is right around the corner, and you just feel like a boss? i have that. and now i'll tell you why, it's because my lesson at Mill Creek is in 24 hours; and it will be my first with them since i think November!
i adore that stable. they have like 6 arenas, perhaps more..and it's especially geared toward eventers. lot of hunter/jumper and showjumping there. but Mette Rosencranz trains there, an international dressage superstar from Sweden, who is also looking at the next Olympic games. i believe she's in FL for the show season there at this time, but she did tell me she'd be happy to offer guidance to me at any time she was in the area. that'd be huge! she's incredibly accomplished!
so my lesson tomorrow is very much looked forward to; i'm whooped today after last night's lesson, but that's only because i'd been away for a week. i gotta get back my consistency! it's looking like my 2013 schedule will be something like this:
Monday: volunteer (ride/train/groom/lunge etc) Ride On
Tuesday: cardio/abs/legs, and my play (for the next few months)
Wednesday: volunteer and lesson at Ride On with Megan McQuenny
Thursday: cardio/abs/legs, rest
Friday: lesson at Mill Creek
Saturday: lesson and volunteer at Ride On
Sunday: lesson at Mill Creek (if i can!)
this is just my training schedule; i'll still be auditioning and working between. it's so good being busy! tiring, but Athletes are made not by sitting idle!
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Kerrits
spurs, as it turns out, are small miracles. i took a trip to L.A. Saddlery to check out their selection. it's so dangerous for me to go in there..i could easily spend $5,000 without even blinking. The girl that works there knows me well, and knows my situation, so she was the perfect aid in my quest for a pair of spurs. there were many types/sizes/shapes; but the obstacle here was that i can't control my left ankle, so we needed something very "soft" so if my leg bumped the horse accidentally or repeatedly it wouldn't irritate them. but i needed something with a bit of length since i can't turn my toes out, so that simply moving my left leg back the horse would feel it and respond! i made it very clear that i do not agree with the spiked spurs, or sharp blade-like ones. so i ended up with a pair of blunt, medium spurs, and let me tell you; those babies take my performance up a notch! no more blowing off my leg. LUSCO, that means you!!
obviously, i rode the charming Lusco tonight. Megan taught this one, and it's the first time i've seen her in many weeks. between wind, funeral, and work, my wednesday lessons have been slightly less than consistent. Megan wanted to know right away when i had last ridden; luckily it was just the saturday before last, so not like i've had months away. we warmed up by doing lots of bending, the usual stuff to establish a nice contact and suppleness. Lusco had quite a lot more gumption than he generally does (he's the sort to "run out of gas," once he feels like the lesson has gone long enough). tonight, he was very forward, and moved impressively in response to my left AND right legs. success! he gives me a fight going to the left; makes it nearly impossible for me to put him on the bit in that direction because it's not only my weak side, but his stiff side. megan really took it out of me tonight, and wouldn't let me rest til Lusco gave to my left leg, and outside rein..which meant we trotted for 20min+ and did several canter circles before we had a break. now that would be no problem, but add the fact that my entire arm is seizing up from exhaustion from working the bit forward and back. my wrist got charlie horses!! needless to say i am whooped now! i must have looked a sight, i know my face was screwed up in concentration and my tongue was out half the lesson. real attractive. but in the end we got it. a little. and happy days, Lusco didn't even think about quitting! those spurs were just the right thing. Megan said the first 2013 show is in 2 months, and likely i will be riding mr Lusco. if all goes well, i will debut this year at training level. but there's still quite a lot of work to do. i guess it's a good thing i got back on the roster at Mill Creek!! woohoo, i called them today and explained my absence and they put me in for friday. can't wait! #backinthesaddle
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| my swanky spurs! |
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
when you're going through hell, keep going!
hey everyone,
i apologize for my absence. i spent the last week in upstate New York with my family preparing and holding the funeral for my beloved Granny Kitty, who passed away on January 20th. i would like today's post to honor her life, as she was one of the most amazing ladies i've ever known.
My granny believed in me and all her family, and was always encouraging and sharing in our dreams. i felt i could tell her anything without worry of judgment or disdain. she lifted you up when you were down, cracked jokes, made outrageous things up, and would have given you the clothes off her back. unfailingly generous, my granny never hesitated to offer what was hers. i found i could talk to her for hours; she was a fountain of knowledge and interesting things. it's largely because of my granny that i am on the path i'm on today (acting, at least). and i couldn't be more grateful that at the time she passed, she knew i was just beginning to have success in the entertainment industry. i will continue now to work harder than ever and achieve all my goals; and i promise i will honor Granny Kitty when i win my first Oscar!
i wish that she would be able to see me compete in Rio; because she was never doubtful that i would make it to the paralympics. i know that she will be watching and rejoicing with me, though, and with all the rest of the family through our successes. i am so very grateful for having had 25 years (too short) with granny, and i know i will be seeing her again.
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| granny was a flower fanatic! |
having said that, tomorrow i will be back in the saddle once more, and i've got to grab some spurs beforehand! hopefully i'll be able to get back in the groove and make some great progress. much love!
Saturday, January 19, 2013
Reality
i have quite a hard time not becoming frustrated by obstacles i encounter during lessons.
today, the obstacle was a behind the leg, above the bit, downright LAZY pony. lack of impulse in a horse is probably my least favorite thing to deal with. My trainers won't let me use a crop, and because of the weakness in my left leg it's immensely difficult to ask for more forwardness. my left leg probably has roughly half the strength of my right. i do what i can to build strength in the gym, but the paralysis is just enough to keep it from building much muscle!
today i rode Lusco, a gentle little Andalusian. he's adorable, gray (by gray i mean white) with big warmblood ears that are too big for his head and sweet big doe eyes. he's only about 14.3hh, apparently he was "too small" for an Andalusion, which is how he came to Ride On. he's an absolute gem manners-wise, and quite well trained, but that boy is LAZY! it's one thing if it's a night lesson and all the horses are feeling their oats, but during the day in 80degree weather, poor little Lusco just runs out of gas. he was practically trotting in place today. when we got to cantering, Bri told me to gallop for all she cared so long as i got him forward. well, i tried. as it were, he's a very comfy ride; like a little easy chair, but let me assure you, there was no galloping!
during the warmup, Bri made us try lengthening strides. the thing here is to ask your horse to stretch his strides longer without changing the tempo of the gait. well, Lusco decided he'd rather not do that either; but he did start to lengthen once some poles were incorporated. all in all, today was tough; but Bri asked me to get some spurs so that's bound to help with the slowpokes. couple this with the fact that the past few lessons have been canceled due to wind, and i am flat beat. i came home and literally fell asleep for the next 4hours! i gotta get my fitness back up.
in closing, i'd like to ask everyone to please keep my beloved grandmother, Granny Kitty, in your thoughts and prayers. she is in hospital fighting pneumonia right now, and much of my family are there with her on the east coast. i'm out here in CA and miss her dearly, and wish i could be with them!! please send her good thoughts. i appreciate it!
today, the obstacle was a behind the leg, above the bit, downright LAZY pony. lack of impulse in a horse is probably my least favorite thing to deal with. My trainers won't let me use a crop, and because of the weakness in my left leg it's immensely difficult to ask for more forwardness. my left leg probably has roughly half the strength of my right. i do what i can to build strength in the gym, but the paralysis is just enough to keep it from building much muscle!
today i rode Lusco, a gentle little Andalusian. he's adorable, gray (by gray i mean white) with big warmblood ears that are too big for his head and sweet big doe eyes. he's only about 14.3hh, apparently he was "too small" for an Andalusion, which is how he came to Ride On. he's an absolute gem manners-wise, and quite well trained, but that boy is LAZY! it's one thing if it's a night lesson and all the horses are feeling their oats, but during the day in 80degree weather, poor little Lusco just runs out of gas. he was practically trotting in place today. when we got to cantering, Bri told me to gallop for all she cared so long as i got him forward. well, i tried. as it were, he's a very comfy ride; like a little easy chair, but let me assure you, there was no galloping!
during the warmup, Bri made us try lengthening strides. the thing here is to ask your horse to stretch his strides longer without changing the tempo of the gait. well, Lusco decided he'd rather not do that either; but he did start to lengthen once some poles were incorporated. all in all, today was tough; but Bri asked me to get some spurs so that's bound to help with the slowpokes. couple this with the fact that the past few lessons have been canceled due to wind, and i am flat beat. i came home and literally fell asleep for the next 4hours! i gotta get my fitness back up.
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| in honor of my Granny Kitty |
Friday, January 18, 2013
laughs
as we all know, all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. thus, it can be determined that all work and no play makes elle a dull GIRL. we wouldn't want this, so i decided to add a little (lot) of laughter to today's post.
a few years ago i discovered the brilliance of the BBC channel's talking animals; a.k.a, "walk on the wild side." i've most likely seen every episode, and laugh til my tummy hurts every time. i thought i'd spread the smiles here.
This is undoubtedly my favorite clip; especially the owls. bring your tissues to mop up the laughy tears! enjoy.
i'm off to an audition; i'll check in with horsey type things later! xx
a few years ago i discovered the brilliance of the BBC channel's talking animals; a.k.a, "walk on the wild side." i've most likely seen every episode, and laugh til my tummy hurts every time. i thought i'd spread the smiles here.
This is undoubtedly my favorite clip; especially the owls. bring your tissues to mop up the laughy tears! enjoy.
Thursday, January 17, 2013
riding lessons
Since my wednesday lesson was canceled last night (blast the wind!) i thought i'd take this opportunity to discuss the enigma that is the Sitting Trot.
contemplate, if you will, sitting on a trampoline and being told not to allow your bum to leave the surface whilst your friend incessantly jumped right next to you. what would you do? laugh of course. you'd tell them it was impossible.
this is, essentially, the trick one must master in order to "sit the trot." now, some horses have a more horizontal movement at the trot, and it feels rather like sitting on a gently bouncing sofa. most in the upper levels however, resemble a bounce house with the amount of suspension and vertical movement they have. Ruby is one of those horses. she is by NO means an upper level horse, but this mare is the bounciest thing i've ever attempted to sit! in canter transitions, i dread the moment i'm requested to sit and ask for the upward transition; not only because of her horrendous trot, but because she's quite lazy, and tends to rush around like a mad thing at a super-sonic trot rather than transit into the canter. (why she believes this will save her energy, i do not know; it certainly doesn't save her back!) so then i end up with my backside a solid six inches off her back, arms and knees flapping (exaggeration-i hope!) while ruby rushes around like a chicken with her head chopped off, and we both become flustered and disorganized. Then i am forced to haul her back to a near walk, and begin again.
disregarding Ruby, the sitting trot tends to be a hurdle for many riders. indeed, i've been riding nearly 21 years, and i've not perfected it. i'm told its kind of like rubbing your belly and patting your head. kind of a mind-trip that you must grasp logically before you can apply it. Megan always says, move your hips forward and back, not up and down. (well that's nice, the trot IS an up/down motion; did you forget?!) my mother says alternately lift and lower each hip with the horse's hips.
(but her hips are behind me, i can't see what they're doing!) all in all, it's a sensation that must be learned with years (more than 20, obviously) of practice. Practice at your own risk, i say, and possibly invest in some padded underwear! bruises not included.
this is, essentially, the trick one must master in order to "sit the trot." now, some horses have a more horizontal movement at the trot, and it feels rather like sitting on a gently bouncing sofa. most in the upper levels however, resemble a bounce house with the amount of suspension and vertical movement they have. Ruby is one of those horses. she is by NO means an upper level horse, but this mare is the bounciest thing i've ever attempted to sit! in canter transitions, i dread the moment i'm requested to sit and ask for the upward transition; not only because of her horrendous trot, but because she's quite lazy, and tends to rush around like a mad thing at a super-sonic trot rather than transit into the canter. (why she believes this will save her energy, i do not know; it certainly doesn't save her back!) so then i end up with my backside a solid six inches off her back, arms and knees flapping (exaggeration-i hope!) while ruby rushes around like a chicken with her head chopped off, and we both become flustered and disorganized. Then i am forced to haul her back to a near walk, and begin again.
disregarding Ruby, the sitting trot tends to be a hurdle for many riders. indeed, i've been riding nearly 21 years, and i've not perfected it. i'm told its kind of like rubbing your belly and patting your head. kind of a mind-trip that you must grasp logically before you can apply it. Megan always says, move your hips forward and back, not up and down. (well that's nice, the trot IS an up/down motion; did you forget?!) my mother says alternately lift and lower each hip with the horse's hips.
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| independently swinging hips |
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
gentle giants
I can't decide if its harder to halter a horse using one hand, or pick its feet.
God, you have no idea! yesterday i headed out to the barn to start volunteer tasks. upon arrival, Bri told me first to go get Fanci and bring her in from her turnout time in the little arena. i ignored the little voice in my head that said "but you only have one hand, it's a HALTER, how the heck is THAT going to work?!" and went out to catch Fanci. now, this little bay mare could possibly be the tiniest pony ever; ancient and sweet. she watched me approach with the halter, and stood very still while i struggled to keep the noseband open at the sa,e time as pulling both sides up her face...if you've ever haltered a horse with BOTH hands, you know that its definitely a 2 handed deal. i had got the nose piece around her muzzle but then there was the question of swinging the unbuckled part around behind her ears and essentially buckilng the latch on the left side of her face. WTF?! Fanci complied by keeping her head in precisely the right position and, using my [considerable] height over her as leverage, i bolstered the left part against my chest and somehow managed to catch both buckle halves in my right hand, and got it latched.
i can never fully comprehend the big heartedness of horses.after grooming Fanci, there were 6 or so more i needed to do. next i went to Blaze, the oldest guy in the stable. a 12hh (give or take) Arab gelding who's partially blind in one eye. he also showed vast patience with the halter, and i got him groomed and put him back. Next came Mirage, also old, but notoriously more of a spunky guy, and slightly bigger than the first ponies. now Mirage kind of melted my heart, as when i moved to put the halter on i was getting rather frustrated because i kept dropping it. the problem was his head was much higher than the last 2, and the angle i had to reach up to him at granted me no leverage. Mirage literally bowed his head into the nose piece and SHIMMIED his lip to scooch it up his face. i almost cried. then he bobbed his head and helped me get it into position, and i proceeded to catch the ear band in my teeth (gross i know) and pulled it together and buckled it.
now lets discuss the art of hoof picking. under normal circumstances, one will pick up the hoof with one hand, cup it in that hand and pick the dirt out with the other. it can be somewhat nerve racking as you are in rather a compromised position underneath a horse. now take away one hand, and just take a minute to think about that. i found on the right side of a horse, i could sort of grab the hoof and prop it on my knees, and as long as the horse was a kind sole, i'd just get it done as best i could. the problem came with the back feet. Mirage is somewhat arthritic in his hocks, so it's difficult for him to pick up his hind in the best cases. needless to say he kept stomping back down and i had a tough time with it, but finally got his feet done. i repeated the whole process from halter to hooves with Pippin next, but the real test came with mr. Cruz.
Cruz is rather a giant. well over 16 hands, probably close to 16.3, an ex showjumper, a big bodied warmblood. he was a true gentleman as i tried to get the halter on his massive head; however he wears a cribbing collar which meant there was almost no extra room to do up the halter over it. yea, that one took awhile. the sweetheart kept his head low and steady the entire time though! i took him into the big x-ties, and contemplated the matter of his plate sized feet. all went well, except that by that point my shot knees were desperately throbbing. i used the weight of Cruz's huge feet to counter my balance as i crouched. the back was rather more problematic. he hiked his leg way high up, and as i wedged it against my knees, he proceeded to LEAN on me. now its one thing if it's a 13hh pony using your quad as a footrest, they're so tiny you hardly notice. but we're talking 1300lbs of horseflesh in Cruz, so when he bore his weight down on my knee i had nowhere to end up but on my butt in the dirt! he was certainly surprised as he saw me down on the ground, but i picked myself up, tried again and eventually got the job done.
make no mistake, horses truly understand more than most people give them credit for. never underestimate the generosity of our 4 legged friends!
God, you have no idea! yesterday i headed out to the barn to start volunteer tasks. upon arrival, Bri told me first to go get Fanci and bring her in from her turnout time in the little arena. i ignored the little voice in my head that said "but you only have one hand, it's a HALTER, how the heck is THAT going to work?!" and went out to catch Fanci. now, this little bay mare could possibly be the tiniest pony ever; ancient and sweet. she watched me approach with the halter, and stood very still while i struggled to keep the noseband open at the sa,e time as pulling both sides up her face...if you've ever haltered a horse with BOTH hands, you know that its definitely a 2 handed deal. i had got the nose piece around her muzzle but then there was the question of swinging the unbuckled part around behind her ears and essentially buckilng the latch on the left side of her face. WTF?! Fanci complied by keeping her head in precisely the right position and, using my [considerable] height over her as leverage, i bolstered the left part against my chest and somehow managed to catch both buckle halves in my right hand, and got it latched.
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| clearly using both hands |
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| using the left to hold |
now lets discuss the art of hoof picking. under normal circumstances, one will pick up the hoof with one hand, cup it in that hand and pick the dirt out with the other. it can be somewhat nerve racking as you are in rather a compromised position underneath a horse. now take away one hand, and just take a minute to think about that. i found on the right side of a horse, i could sort of grab the hoof and prop it on my knees, and as long as the horse was a kind sole, i'd just get it done as best i could. the problem came with the back feet. Mirage is somewhat arthritic in his hocks, so it's difficult for him to pick up his hind in the best cases. needless to say he kept stomping back down and i had a tough time with it, but finally got his feet done. i repeated the whole process from halter to hooves with Pippin next, but the real test came with mr. Cruz.
Cruz is rather a giant. well over 16 hands, probably close to 16.3, an ex showjumper, a big bodied warmblood. he was a true gentleman as i tried to get the halter on his massive head; however he wears a cribbing collar which meant there was almost no extra room to do up the halter over it. yea, that one took awhile. the sweetheart kept his head low and steady the entire time though! i took him into the big x-ties, and contemplated the matter of his plate sized feet. all went well, except that by that point my shot knees were desperately throbbing. i used the weight of Cruz's huge feet to counter my balance as i crouched. the back was rather more problematic. he hiked his leg way high up, and as i wedged it against my knees, he proceeded to LEAN on me. now its one thing if it's a 13hh pony using your quad as a footrest, they're so tiny you hardly notice. but we're talking 1300lbs of horseflesh in Cruz, so when he bore his weight down on my knee i had nowhere to end up but on my butt in the dirt! he was certainly surprised as he saw me down on the ground, but i picked myself up, tried again and eventually got the job done.
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