Phew! The last 2 weeks have been crazy! On the riding front, Kiki and I have been moving forward tremendously...with our first jumping lesson and a trail ride! She handled both like a champ and I after 5 days off I hopped on her after a light lunge and she was fantastic. The only roadblock that seems to have cropped up is that she is not not standing quietly at the mount block (something that was never an issue before) but we're getting through it. Mostly it requires persistence from me and endless patience. We both stand there waiting for the other to give up...I can wait there all day if that's what it takes. Goofing around while I am trying to mount her is something I will NOT tolerate. We've been riding outside a lot, and though I was fearful of it in the beginning, she's figured out that I won't stop riding no matter how silly she starts behaving. During our jumping lesson another mare from her herd came to the fence line, nickered as we went over a jump and sent Kiki into a rocking horse display of wiggles and tiny bucks...I nearly fell off, mostly because I was laughing so hard. What was equally as funny, was Kiki slamming to a halt and snorting at the tiny plank we had her going over the first time around...as far as she was concerned this was an 8 foot wall...so we walked her over the first time and then she got the idea...light bulb went on over her head and she finished the lesson like an old school horse. I was really pleased with her performance over the tiny fences...it's clear that her compact frame will make her dynamite for show jumping...she really feels my weight shifting in the turns and accommodates her body accordingly in a nimble manner. Strangely, working her over fences is making me MUCH more confident riding her. Something about jumping makes me feel fearless and I channel my inner 13 year old self that would wrangle bad ponies around cross country courses one handed over jumps! I had another good ride on her last night where we went on a little hack around the wooded area near the property, she was fantastic and even grazed a little along the way! I think the experience of riding the Pegasus horses on trail has really helped me to feel comfortable away from the safety of the farm...and honestly, they act much worse! Perhaps galloping Belgian draft horses up and down hills has made me a better rider...I think so.
In the meantime I have been doing lots of nice things for myself. I took 4 days off and went to Delaware for a luxurious beach getaway with my best friend Erica. Her parents have a lovely home near the beach and we sat around under the sun, went shopping, ate fantastic foods, indulged in Dogfish Head beer and sweet cocktails and actually relaxed...My pup Hugo came along for the vacation and he had a terrific time and we got to take him to the beach for the very first time EVER!
I returned home from Delaware barely unpacked, rode the mare and then went to the Devon Horse Show! It was really fun to go with a bunch of horse people, my instructor included and to analyze each horse and rider, swoon over the eye candy, and day dream about owning a pair of Dubarrys...sigh.
Being at Devon made me really miss the summer I spent in Southern Pines, NC when I was 16...I think I learned more about myself as a rider that summer then in 20+ years of riding! I wish I had brought a better lens with me, but lesson learned for Upperville!
And now, on to my horsie vacation that starts on Thursday! Here is our schedule! I am especially excited about spending time with Betsey, our host at Hunter's Rest, she's an ex-steeplechase jockey and an all-round bad ass horse woman....oh yeah, and an equine photographer!!!!!!!
Upperville Colt and Horse Show adult camp schedule
Thursday June 10 -- Arrive after lunch.
3 pm hack.
5 pm conformation and movement lesson (unmounted.)
7 pm dinner (farm-raised chicken tortilla soup, homebaked
bread, farmgrown salad with thyme viniagrette, farmgrown
lavender shortbread with creme fraiche.
8 pm art lesson (learning colors, patterns, painting
methods)
Friday June 11 8 am breakfast (farm-raised eggs,
farm-raised steak, homebaked bread, coffee, juice.)
9 am horse communication lesson in the barn (while we groom
and tack up for ...)
10 am polo lesson
12 pm lunch (* choice of sandwiches at the farm (included
in trip price) or on-your-own at cute 24 Crows restaurant
in Flint Hill, or at the newly revamped Orlean Market in
Orlean.)
2 pm art session with your horse
4:30 pm cross country jumping lesson
7 pm Dinner (farm-raised roast, farm-grown new potatoes,
farm-grown asparagus, salad, homebaked bread, home-made ice
cream
Saturday June 12 8 am breakfast (corn-blueberry waffles,
sausage, coffee, juice)
9 am side saddle lesson
11 am head to Upperville show
12 pm lunch on your own at the show
4 pm back to the farm
6:30 pm head to Great Meadow for twilight polo match and
picnic supper (fried chicken, pasta salad, brocolli salad,
rolls, cookies, beer)
Sunday June 13 8 am breakfast (farm-grown quiche, fruit,
coffee, juice)
9 am Organized trail ride hosted by Hunter's Rest for ODH
10 am head to Upperville show for conformation classes
12 pm picnic lunch provided (sandwiches, chips, drinks,
cookies)
2 pm $150k grand prix
5 pm depart for home from the show or return to the farm
Adult camp sounds fun!
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