The Trip Debrief

I am now officially back in Canadia – the affectionate name B gave to my frost ridden home country. I am starting to wind down from my post school adrenaline. But not so much. The last two weeks were especially intense for me, as I am just starting my own Finesse. There were a few days where I attended morning class, vacuumed up all the info I could, and then took off shopping for the afternoon because my brain was melting. My brain was just so full that I couldn’t be in the moment for Mo, so I didn’t want to cheat her.

My internet is down right now so I cant remember my last blog, but I know its been a while. I think the last time I wrote was on Jumping Day in Fluidity 1. Since then a lot has happened. After being in the jumping Demo, Mo and I had a great few days. We played with all of the Freestyle concepts we were learning and had a great time. I got to see Twilight on the day it opened – and again on the next day! B and I went and took our Europeans too.

The weekend of Fluidity 1 ending was supposed to be Beach Weekend, but the weather wasn’t agreeable so we postponed. Fluidity 2 began with only 14 people checking in. I would have helped with check-in again, but there really wasn’t enough to do! J, my hostess, was actually attending this course to, so we got to hang out a lot more! Instead of helping on check in, I went over and watched Brandon Crew trim and shoe a bunch of horses. Very interesting stuff! The whole methodology of balancing a horse is really intriguing. I should probably learn how to trim my own horses in a vaguely soon manner… Mo could have used a touch up while we were away.

In Fluidity 2 me and Mo were in another demo! This one was about bending properly on a circle and snakey bends. Since I had no idea how I was supposed to do these things, I thought it would be a prime demo to participate in! I LOVE being in demos like that – it was a perfect mini lesson on how to help support Mo through her spaghetti noodleyness and help her find the right bend through pushing with my KNEE – NOT LOWER LEG! One little adjustment from lower leg to knee and VOILA ! Success. AND do in my body what I want her to do. That has been a really powerful statement for me – the biggest thing being sideways on the ground so far. Her hind end tends to lag, so on one of the last days [Tuesday maybe?] I started to finally clue in and mess with my body language, shifting my hips over more and her hind end instantly tracked over! SERIOUSLY! I felt dense, but at least I did eventually get, even if I am slow!

The first weekend in Fluidity 2, the weather gods finally agreed to our standards for a day at the beach. First thing Saturday morning M, B and me loaded up Jack, Chance and Mo and took off en route to the BEACH! The beach we picked wasn’t just any old beach on a lake… no, it was the COAST!! An hour and a half from the centre is a HUGE gorgeous beach on the ATLANTIC ocean that just goes for miles and miles – we didn’t even find the end! We showed up around 11 I think [?] and played on the ground first [obviously!]

All three horses were total stars. Literally! We apparently signed up to be the entertainment for the day because all the people on the beach were looking our way and taking pictures with cameras or cell phones. It wasn’t long before a crowd actually came to visit Jack, who kept bee-lining to them.

We played approach and retreat with the waves until everyone was in to their bellies and knees. It was amazing. When we mounted up it was like a dream come true – one of those things you always have on your Bucket List, you know? We all rode bareback off down the beach. We walked and trotted on and on and on. We waded into the water – and found the most interesting thing…… Standing in the moving water, on a horse that is standing still, feels like being in a crazy kitchen. The tide is coming in and out, the horse is still, but you feel certain that they are drifting backwards or sideways – for me it was enough of a strong feeling that I grabbed mane to make sure she really wasn’t moving. It was the most bizarre thing!!

Eventually we turned around and headed back to B’s trunk, which is like a pantry, for some lunch. The ponies were happy to go and stood tied nicely while we ate. After eating we tacked up and rode down to the beach again. We played and played on the beach, racing around, taking pictures and videos and generally having a blast. Chance was so funny, we would walk up beside him and he would pin only one ear at Mo. Just the ear on the side she was on. It was to cute, I have never seen anything like that before. And I don’t just mean ear back, I mean FLAT to the head on one side, and perky happy on the other. SO funny! Chance and Mo had snarky face making contests. Chance would turn and make a face, then go back to walking straight, and then Mo would turn and make her face and go back to walking straight… lather rinse repeat. To funny.

We didn’t want to leave the beach in the afternoon, but we had to get home… The best day ever came a close with a beautiful sunset. I cant wait to go back!

And so the last week of Fluidity snuck up on me. Me and M were lamenting the fact that we have to go home to cold snow – M is from Michigan, so she feels my pain! B gets to stay in Florida with J, in our now empty echoey room … Hopefully to start the apprenticeship in January! [GOOD LUCK!!!!]

There was sooooo much info in the last week, I cant even express. Thank goodness for notes, because I couldn’t remember it all in one shot. I found out that Mo is ready for finesse, and she picked up fluid rein in one session. We played with duck landings and suspension rein. Avery also pointed out that her bit-fidgetyness was not an opposition, but her just asking questions. VERY cool. We rode in the confidence snaffle pretty much for this course. Except for a few times when I could feel Mo getting fried [ just like me!] and I ditched everything and went and played bridless and bareback in a round pen. M’dear enjoyed that.

I discovered that as much as I adore the end result of Finesse, I have a tiny little brace about it. I haven’t figured out the root of it yet, or exactly what I am bracy about, but I feel it there, and that’s half the battle. One more thing to work on – whoo!
I decided to apply for the Apprenticeship Program. I just need to save up, and hope I get accepted. It would be so much fun to go to Colorado!!

BIG NEWS: On Finale day, I had to wait for the vet [because of stupid extenuating circumstances] and so I was missing the little graduation ceremony. I finally went back into class to sit and watch and wait for K to come tell me he was here and no sooner do I walk in than John is pushing me up to the front and Avery is telling me to come here… Obviously I am very confused by this point, and even more so when she tells me to turn around… I thought maybe it was a simulation for something so I played along and turned around … I turn around face the class and then… A BLUE STRING IS DRAPED AROUND MY NECK!!!! I had taped and submitted my level 2 tasks on the third week and I PASSED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Much squeeing and hugging Avery and Kathy later, I found a seat with M, who had grabbed my certificate for me [thanks!] The vet did finally come, and Mo and I got our pass out of Florida.

The weekend inevitably drew nearer, and Friday came when I had to pick up my dad at the airport so we could make the journey home. On the up side, we went boot shopping and I am now the proud owner of a pair of cowboy boots!

Saturday morning we went and loaded Mo and my things and set off on our journey home. We made it no problem to NC for the night – although it was COLD. We set of at 6 am the next morning for the long haul home – a trip we did in two days we crammed into one, neglecting to stop in PA this time. We pulled into home at 2 am, unloaded Mo, ditched the trailer and went to Dad’s. It was so late/early I just didn’t bother to do the return trip home and crashed on his couch.

Much to my pleasure my Aunty was off on Monday so I got to hang out with her and catch up and talk for most of the day – until she had to go to the dentist, but Chels was home an hour later so I probed her for the goings on when she got there.

Dakota and Indy are FAT! I pulled in on Monday morning at nap time apparently because Kota was sleeping. He let me come and hug him while he layed down, which was really cool, and I controlled myself to wait for Indy to come to me before hugging her to.

I was off from work on Tuesday too, so I slept in [something I haven’t done in six weeks!] and snuggled with Cairo – I missed that kitty more than I thought! He was adorable and following me everywhere and meowing at me to hug him. Goodness I love him! <3

Tuesday was stormy. Winter Storm Watch and all that… yey… welcome back to Canadia! EW! I still went to the hardware store, grocery store and then to visit my ponies. Even though I closely resembled the Michelin Man, I made it out to see them. It was snowing quite hard by then and Mo looked miserable. I opened the back door to the barn and called her name. Her head FLEW up, she looked for me and RAN! She ran to me! It was so cute! I brought her in, got all the snow and ice off her that I could and gave her some hay. She liked that.

My next mission was de-snarling Indy’s mane. She has that nice straight hair that gets snarly and tangled so easy… *Sigh* I went out to fetch her, but instead of barging into the pasture I waited at the gate… and waited and waited… Dakota finally got curious and came over and started Spanish Walking to see if it would get him a cookie. Seriously Kota? SO CUTE!!! The look on his face was priceless.

Indy finally waddled over [although honestly it is NICE to see her chunky after how much Ivy sucked out of her!] and I walked over to say hi. I let her be the first on to touch me before rubbing her withers and offering the halter. I tried to remember everything I learned in LHB and offered zero brace. It took a while, and it was hard to wait in the blowy snow and frosty cold, but it paid off when she put her nose in the halter. I did it up and then did the hardest thing for an extrovert…. I waited…. And waited some more. After what felt like an eternity Indy finally licked and chewed!!! SUCCESS!!!

When I turned to go to the gate, guess what, zero brace, she was right with me with slack in the line! Through the gate no problem and on to the barn entrance which was partially blocked by a tractor… well, approach and retreat similar to trailer loading and she went in confidently. I had her go first because I didn’t want her to suddenly get claustrophobic and run me down. Safety = Savvy and all that…

I spent a good amount of time getting the snow off of her, and bushing out her mane and just loving on her. Every time I approached I asked her permission to touch her, because one of the things we talked about was horses who shiver [like they do for flies] when a person touches them. Indy does this and I learned it was her saying I didn’t have permission so I asked her a lot of questions and let her always be the first one to touch me. I had a very different look from her at the end of this session.

I played with picking up her feet with INTENTION and you know what? She tested me once and that was it. I have been fighting with her and her feet for a year…. DOH. When I put her back out she went right past the tractor when I sent her and was really soft. HOW INTERESTING!

After finishing with her I toweled off Mo as best I could and put her back outside. She wasn’t to pleased, but I couldn’t leave her in all day. It was still crappy and snowing so I went home to clean and organize my room and catch up on my Heartland – since it’s a Canadian show, I couldn’t watch it stateside!

Today I am back at work, its ok, but not Florida. I really want to look forward to each day and be pumped about getting up in the morning. Each day I am working my way back to Florida .. or Colorado, whichever comes first!

:-)
S