"When the going gets tough...the tough get going."


"Be at your best when the best is needed."

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Conditioning

Conditioning tonight...30 minutes of trotting through the fields of Elverson. Legacy and I were both tired...we may have to switch our conditioning workouts to the mornings. First we're going to have to find somewhere to gallop...Elverson works for trots, but too much hard ground for galloping. Only noteworthy moment was when we almost got sprayed by a skunk...they are disgusting animals...

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Rideability - Satan's Exercise

So there are a few holes that I need to fix to continue progressing through the levels. You see, since Legacy is kinda talented, I got away with some things up until this point. So last week in my lesson with Danny we focused a lot on this bending line exercise...let's call it's Satan's S-Curve Exercise. Let's just say that it was a mess and I will be spending the next few months of my life perfecting this. The intent is to jump in quietly, soften the horse's jaw and take a bending line to the next fence (see the black s-line in the diagram). Now, you won't see this detailed exercise in a stadium course at my level, but I WILL have to drop off a 3' bank and bend to a skinny solid fence on cross-country. Up until now, I've been able to "cheat" and take the straight line (blue line). Those days are now over and I need to fix this... Anyway, last week I just kept rushing and thinking I had to do so much to get him to bend and I would end up hanging on his mouth and fighting with him and we wouldn't get to the next fence. There were run-outs and just ugly, ugly fences. I basically have an intermediate exercise where after each fence I do a 10 meter circle to recompose myself and then proceed to the next jump. So...tonight it was time to attempt it again. So I started with my silly circle exercise so I didn't freak out and rush to the next fence. That went pretty well, so I decided to go for the bending line....it actually went really well!! I still had trouble getting to the 3rd fence quietly, but it was a huge improvement from last week. We also struggle going from a left bend to a right bend since that is more difficult for him to change leads...that's a whole other workout :). Then I had the pleasure of riding Cody. Let me tell you, riding that horse is the ultimate upper body workout. My body aches from my bellybutton up. He is such a massive tank of a horse...I swear he has extra muscles. It's like one of those cows that are fed too many hormones...that's Cody>>>
So needless to say it's tough to ride him and I always feel bad for Seth because he is a beginner dealing with a beginner horse who doesn't make it easy, but at least he has nice arms from it :). So we're working with Cody to try and make him rounder...well I think he has too many muscles in his body to carry his fat head in a nice round frame. He does try though and hopefully it will click. There are moments where he is ok, but his dressage will never be strong. Considering he wouldn't even pick up the right lead when we bought him, he's come a long way. And he and Seth have a blast when jumping, so that's all that matters. Ok...time for a glass of wine and American Idol...

~Kelly

Sunday, April 25, 2010

Rainy Sunday

Ok so what did I do today...no riding since it was a rainy Sunday and we've had a rough couple of days. Well I spent too many hours making this blog and watching online videos of Rolex cross-country on Eventing Nation or on NBC...sometimes it's tough to watch the falls, but it's part of it.
It's amazing when you see a great ride like Boyd and Neville or Phillip and The Foreman....it looks so easy...and I've been there for the past 2 years...does this look easy?

Sometimes it makes me wonder if being a professional in the sport sometimes affects your decision making skills. Are certain horses running to attempt to win an award for the rider or because the owners want them to even though they may not be ready? When it's your livelihood the monetary aspects obviously are much more important. You see, I have no idea about this because in my riding career the money only goes one direction...OUT. I did win some prize money at AEC's, but that barely covered the entry fee and stabling..haha. People often ask me how much I win and I feel a bit like a moron when I say, "maybe a ribbon and a Cosequin bucket." Anyway, I would give anything to have my career revolve around horses in some way, but I would hate for riding to be like a "job" and to have to treat the horses like a business. It's a very fine line, but I think when the horses become "assets" you lose that connection that every horse and rider team needs. Anyway, luckily all horse and rider combos were fine at Rolex...after a lot of scrutiny in the sport that is somewhat positive. Interestingly enough, a new technology called a frangible pin that is supposed to let the jumps collapse when a horse hits a fence failed to work at fences where some pretty nasty falls happened...the Hollow and the Coffin. Hopefully that technology is reviewed and can be implemented properly or else let's figure something else out.

So after hours of staring at the computer screen, we did some landscaping. It was an odd choice with the weather, but it had to be done. When we get a day with no shows or events, we have to take advantage. So most of you may think landscaping is planting some tulips or lillies...no we moved a large bush...and as pictured we had to tie it to the trailer so it wouldn't fall over...who thinks this will actually hold and not die?? My grandma told Seth and I there was no way it would live. We celebrated her 84th birthday today...what an amazing woman with an incredible life. She's been an inspiration to women in sports...she played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League and started several of Reading High School's womens sports team throughout her teaching career. I hope I get even a sliver of her charisma...


~Kelly

Lessons Learned

I am a bit crazy, which I guess is why I'm drawn to three day eventing. Luckily, my laid back husband balances me out and keeps me sane (sort of). I am approaching my first Prelim event in 3 weeks and I'm already nervous, actually I've been nervous since February when we set up my show schedule. I evented through Traning in high school, but it was so different, it's a whole new world now. Legacy and I are more than ready, which Seth has to tell me every time I have a melt-down after a crappy ride. I've had 2 wakeup calls this week...1) conditioning for upper levels is going to be intensive and 2) I have no idea how to ride a collected canter, my hips just don't work yet. 1) I went for a trot workout on Friday with Danny Warrington and his Prelim and Intermediate horses. Legacy was fine and kept up, but it's time to step up our workouts and it's going to be a time commitment since we will have to trailer to get to some hills since it's flat around our house. Luckily Seth has some flexible hours with his job (which I do not) and he can condition at least once a week for me. 2) After our trot workout I rode one of Danny's horses...let me just say that Legacy and I have a lot of work to do with our canter. It was really good for me to feel how a horse should respond to your seat and hands. I think I may have to start to do pilates or something to open up my hips and try and get more flexible.

~Kelly