Heritage Farm Horse Trials....trial?

Are you all tired of my equi-centric postings? Well, that and the FPP. Here is my interpretation of my blog... "horse, family photo, horse, horse, band, horse, family photo..."
 EYEROLL.
That truly isn't all we do, just that is the stuff that is fun to share. I also go to work (fun for me, but maybe not for blogging... or maybe so, I'll have to think on it), I pick up a lot of poop, do a lot of laundry, gardening, cleaning, and a whole lotta driving. I read books in the bathtub, and watch snippets of late night Jimmys while stirring my morning eggs. I listen to podcasts while painting fence and weeding. I run errands and build stuff and dig up  mulberries. I stress about what to make for dinner, or that I still haven't made dinner, and pray for my friends who are suffering, and the patients I can't fix. I occasionally vaccinate pigs, or get dressed up in challenging gowns that require careful fitting and high heels. I watch my kids grow into really cool people, and watch Youngest do his homework, and have a glass of wine.
YAWN.
But, then I pursue my curiosity, and my drive to challenge my abilities on this big, sometimes unsettled dark brown horse, and that somehow speaks to me enough that I want to share.
 
I've used this photo in my blog before, but it is an old favorite. This is me, best pal, Tommy, and my first pony, Peanut. I bought him for a dollar. They say "you get what you pay for" and Peanut was an early lesson in economics.
 "Riding Peanut" consisted on mounting and riding him across the Little River, and staying on until he bucked me off, chasing him back to his stable, remounting and repeat. There's the rub. Repeat. I don't recall giving up. I recall crying, and feeling battered. I don't recall thinking "This is NUTS. I could just play with Tommy."  That would've been most sensible. But I loved Peanut devotedly, deeply and without reserve. It never occurred to me that a pony should be any more than what Peanut gave me daily. I was more likely to question Tommy's actions than I was to doubt Peanut.

Note the great ridge of Connecticut rock in the background, and the Gram sweater and the goose feather. I think the main thing that has changed in my ensemble is the rock.

 And, now, 40 years on, I see that might be an essence of my person.
I fall off a LOT less. Thanks to Peanut, and his even more accomplished successor, Frosty, for teaching me how to stick to an unstickable spot. But sometimes I still do part ways with my horse. And sometimes, even when I stay astride, I still dismount feeling a bit battered. Mostly ego. Horses have kept that well within margins my whole life.

This past weekend, I headed off, once again to test my mettle in an unrecognized horse trials. On paper, it went really well. We had a decent dressage test, with ( I thought) our best free walk, ever, in competiton. We jumped clear in stadium, and then clear, again on cross country.
 I wish it felt that successful off paper and on horse.  But, my partner stopped dealing well in the environment right around when we began our stadium round. He got, shall we say, "nervous."

 But, to start, we warmed up for about a thousand hours. By "warmed up" I mean, "walked around looking at stuff, with occasional moments of trying to concentrate." And, it went fairly well.

He was somewhat obedient in the dressage arena. Our biggest issues have been around relaxing into a free walk, and being resistant after the free walk. So, we worked hard on getting that to start turning around, and he did relax, and stretched his head and neck out.

 Now, he did not "track up" in the hind end, or, step farther forward with his hind legs which would mean he was engaging his hind quarters and flexing through his back, but he was at least strectching out, and I was sure it was his best free walk score yet!!  I carried that piece of loveliness forward into the rest of the day, trying as it was, because I was proud of him. That is, until the competition wrapped up and I recieved my dressage test and found the free walk had garnered a "4", and the comment "no stretch". A "4" in dressage is like being on the Circleville Bible College Football team, and never getting off the bench. It is not a score that inspires you with your accomplishment. Sigh.
Go team.
Rah.
Ego Bash.
Still proud of the moment, just the only one that witnessed it. ( And my photog, Eldest)

Stadium was clear, as I said, and fortunately, un-timed, as we had some moments of major distraction looking at the horses out on cross-country. He did manage to remember to pick up his feet, and I was able to guide him through the course.

I can't tell you what I'm saying to him, but it's along the lines of "You're okay" or "You're fine" or "CHILL OUT."....

 Here, I am smiling so big because he remembered to jump, but look how worried he is about what could be potentially happening elsewhere in the world. This jump is right after he came to a full stop to shoot dragon breath flames.  

 He's pretty. 

It took us a long time to go out on cross country. This was not an advantage.

When we finally went out, it went better than expected, and I had a fine time...mostly. 

 I think he's having fun? I think I am too? Some days are better than others. Certainly. Certainly glad for my helmet and vest.

Family Photo Project- September 2015

My family are good sports. Or, maybe they, too, treasure the idea of the chronicle of our little tribe. Whichever it may be, as we pull into the drive after church, they have been put on notice that today is the day for the FPP. Youngest says "I'll get the tripod." Eldest finds the camera. And, then, they put up with me arranging the spacing, and we laugh, and get a bit silly, and somewhere in the 60 or so shots by my trusty Canon, there is a keeper or two.
September, month #9, rounding the bend on the last quarter of the FPP 2015; a chronicle of how many times I've had to buy Youngest longer pants. We went shopping directly after our photo session. They don't seem to make pants in a 28x32....

For September, I chose an action shot...

 But this is the action shot Huz was happiest about...

He spent about 16 photos thinking about where to hold the apple, and forgetting to look pleasant for the photo. Ex:

 or...

 Of course, I don't know this until I upload all the photos on the computer and have a look. This is why taking  A LOT of shots is imperative. And loving that man, also crucial.

And, for our fun and silly FPP September?  An all out run in the backyard.

Horsey-Day of Adventure at Rocky Point Farm

This weather is proof that God meant us to enjoy our days. So, I chose to enjoy my yesterday atop a horse!
Middlest, Youngest and I went west to Springfield, Ohio to school cross country fences at Patty Miller's Rocky Point Farm. They have a little Horse Trials every fall, and it is pure fun.
Unfortunately for me, and for Middlest, the church that nestles into a corner of the back side of the farm was having it's Annual Church Picnic. Let's just say, my horse, and hers, were highly suspicious of the church activities, and my poor horse's bravery and security was devastated early on by the swing set. By the time volleyball began, he was in a very bad place, and we did not get much cross country schooling done, ourselves. On the positive side, Youngest's pony, Zac, had one little glitch with the church party, then was past it, and had a wonderful day. A moment of pride here on that glitch... Youngest and Zac were out on the course in the distance, jumped down into a gully, and then jumped over a jump to get back out. And right there were a bunch of children having a ball. Zac, let's say, got a little fast. Control was lost, and he was zooming back to the herd for safety. But Youngest calmly stayed with him, steered him up hill, and into a large circle, and then reorganized  and headed to the rest of the course. It was beautifully done.

 Yesterday's youngest adventurer was 4 year old Ava, on her mini, Peaches. They did the water, and several logs, and are well suited. While Ava was on the smallest mount, her mom was on the largest! These two are quite a pair. I love watching them together. Ava trusts her mom, and has a great time.

Another mother-child pair.... I treasure being fortunate enough to share this with my children. And, while Eldest doesn't ride anymore, she was along for the ride, today, as photographer. Plus, she is doing observation of the very advanced Ava for her Child Development class.

 Even while resting, my horse is on high-alert. I think he sleeps, sometimes?

 Middlest and Nelle never quite settled into the ride yesterday, and jumped very little.  Some days are just like that.

On the other hand, Daisy is not shy about showing off her imitation of a massive rocket.

 Love this group shot of the hind quarters.

And, as I said, Youngest and Zac had a fine day. They are coming together!

 And it is such fun to watch. I honestly don't know if I've gotten even a smidgen better as a rider over the past few years. I'd like to think so, but...it's possible I haven't. On the other hand, these young riders improve over an hour and a half. It is so impressive to watch them gaining skill and knowledge and confidence. I guess it is what allows some of us old horse folks to stop riding altogether and just help the next comers learn. It is that rewarding. Mind you, I'm not there yet....

Karli and Patches are finding their footing and friendship. 

And with that caption I'll put in a few words about my sometimes flighty friend, Chaser. We have gone from 80% flighty, 20 % confident to the exact reverse. And, as my partner, I know when to push him, and when to just support him. Yesterday, he needed my support and my confidence in order to continue. He never relaxed. In fact, I could feel his heart slamming against my heels much of the time. But, he believed in me, and kept it together enough that we were able to participate in the day. And that is what I have to accept and leave behind, and hope that next time he moves just a bit farther in his confidence, even if there is a swing set involved!

Jumping Grids- Pony Club Style!

 Today was a beautiful early fall day to ride! The kids had a Pony Club lesson and worked on "grids". These are brilliant obstacles, several placed one after another that make the horse think, make the rider balance and point out all sorts of riding faults that need to be corrected in order to move forward.
Middlest was mounted on her athletic, but sometimes fussy mare, Nelle. The grid is excellent for making Nelle slow down and think about her feet!

 Youngest was on his new partner, Zac. They are doing so nicely together, and are genuinely fond of each other. In this partnership, the grid is perfect for making Youngest balance and stay with Zac over fences.
I like this sweet pony so well that I took him on a Hunter Pace yesterday, through woods and fields, jumping the whole way. We had a fine time together, and I think I can try to take Zac out with the  Fox Hunt!

  In the photo below, you can see the instructor has asked Youngest to turn his hands upside down on the reins. It is a nice tool for allowing a following hand to the horses head and mouth (with a bit on the other end that can potentially cause pain if you don't have soft, following hands!)

Middlest and Nelle take the middle section of the grid, a double "bounce" to a one-stride. The "bounce" is what you call two fences placed in such proximity as to make the landing stride the same exact stride as the take-off. You can see Nelle is going to place her hind feet right where she needs them to be in order to take off over the next fence.

Youngest is working on his balance over the bounce in the grid. He is doing a nice job of letting Zac have his head and use his body in the bounce. But you can see Youngest's balance is too far forward, with his heels lifted, knees pinching and hip angle open. This is why there is going to be a nice grid in our front field this week. If you're interested in watching a kid find his center of gravity...he is learning fast!

After a big day and night yesterday for both kids on the band field, I am so proud of them for switching hats and saddling up today (and, a bit jealous...I didn't get to ride today! )

Marching Band Season Begins!

The first Marching Band Contest of Middlest's Senior Year! For Huz and I it is season number 7, I believe. The first contest usually means a pretty late summer sunset and evening, but last night it meant gloves, a scarf and a blanket. Fall has arrived in Ohio.
Middlest blows the whistle and begins to march forward. She is easy to spot in glowing white, and followed by a host in blue and gold.

 She then stands atop a large platform, making her quite visible, but after her salute to the judges and the crowd, she turns her back to us for the music parts.
 This year the band is performing "Pictures at an Exhibition" music by Mussorgsky.

The Salute

    

She starts to conduct and the band begins to move in constant complicated forms all about the field, music rising and falling to great heights,  and who should be found playing right about there- in front of his sister? 

Yep, that's Youngest! Playing in his first band contest. As I write this, I realize it seems like I'm surprised to find him there. Well, I'm not. Band started practicing in earnest in mid-July. 

When the last note finished, the Drum Major turned about to face the large crowd, and her smile said it all- they had played well, marched well, and gotten the season off to a fine beginning.

 Some time later, as the sun had set, the Field Commanders (Drum Majors) had all been called trackside to line up for the awards. This can be really fun, or disappointing, depending on your scores.
Our band delegates, which are led by the Drum Majors, but include student leaders from different band sections all march in perfect formation to the awards ceremony. They are typically the only band that does this, but boy, do they look professional!

 Here, the Drum Majors step out to salute and receive their first award for Best Auxiliary Class A (that would be the best flag-wielding Color Guard.)

But the awards just kept coming! Best Percussion, Best Overall Music, Best Overall General Effect...Best Overall Marching Band! 

 When they finished handing out trophies, there was a haul of 7. Seven of the nine awards given.

But, as rewarding as this pile of trophies may be, the "icing on the cake" is the ratings given by the judges panel. They award bands a "1" "2" or "3". The "1",or "Superior" rating, is earned by only the top scoring bands and receiving a "1"  means you have qualified for Ohio State Marching Band Finals.
At the end of all the trophy awards, they announce what bands have earned a "Superior Rating" and qualified for finals. There was only one band qualifying last night. They worked hard, they deserved it, and I am so very proud!