Saturday, February 27, 2010
Friday, February 26, 2010
Acres and acres of snow
The snow came, the snow decided to stay, and now I want to chase the snow off with a frying pan.
We've got a little over 2.5 feet out there, though that's not all from this storm, and it's still snowing. Due to the wind we've got some pretty deep snow drifts too. Anyway, yesterday morning it rained before it snowed so the roads were awful, and I didn't make it to the barn. Yesterday was the third day I haven't seen the quarters since I got them in August. I hate not seeing my horses. I know they're fine, they're in the barn and the owner is there to give them hay 3x a day and grain 2x a day, but I need to actually see them to know they're okay (what can I say, I'm a worrier).
Fortunately my workplace opened late this morning, so after I dug my car out of the snow I stopped by the barn. I had to park on the road and trudge my way up the really long driveway, but it was worth it.
Any day I get to see my horses is a good day!
We've got a little over 2.5 feet out there, though that's not all from this storm, and it's still snowing. Due to the wind we've got some pretty deep snow drifts too. Anyway, yesterday morning it rained before it snowed so the roads were awful, and I didn't make it to the barn. Yesterday was the third day I haven't seen the quarters since I got them in August. I hate not seeing my horses. I know they're fine, they're in the barn and the owner is there to give them hay 3x a day and grain 2x a day, but I need to actually see them to know they're okay (what can I say, I'm a worrier).
Fortunately my workplace opened late this morning, so after I dug my car out of the snow I stopped by the barn. I had to park on the road and trudge my way up the really long driveway, but it was worth it.
Any day I get to see my horses is a good day!
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
This doesn't look good...
Hurricane-Like Storm Aims for Pennsylvania to Maine Thursday, Friday 2/23/2010
A powerful storm of historical proportions is aiming at much of the Northeast Thursday into Friday and will follow up to a foot and a half of snow through Wednesday over upstate New York and western New England.
This second storm will be nothing short of a monster. Even in light of the blizzards earlier this winter that targeted the southern mid-Atlantic, this may be the one that people remember the most this winter in parts of New England and the northern mid-Atlantic.
At its peak, the storm will deliver near hurricane-force wind gusts (74 mph) blinding snow falling at the rate of over an inch per hour. For some people in upstate New York and eastern and northern Pennsylvania, this may seem more like a "snow hurricane" rather than a blizzard.
Cities likely to be impacted by heavy snow for all or at least part of the storm include: New York City, Albany, Rochester, Syracuse, Binghamton, Scranton, Allentown, Reading, Williamsport and Burlington.
Maybe I'll get lucky and it'll just go around us like all the other storms...
A powerful storm of historical proportions is aiming at much of the Northeast Thursday into Friday and will follow up to a foot and a half of snow through Wednesday over upstate New York and western New England.
This second storm will be nothing short of a monster. Even in light of the blizzards earlier this winter that targeted the southern mid-Atlantic, this may be the one that people remember the most this winter in parts of New England and the northern mid-Atlantic.
At its peak, the storm will deliver near hurricane-force wind gusts (74 mph) blinding snow falling at the rate of over an inch per hour. For some people in upstate New York and eastern and northern Pennsylvania, this may seem more like a "snow hurricane" rather than a blizzard.
Cities likely to be impacted by heavy snow for all or at least part of the storm include: New York City, Albany, Rochester, Syracuse, Binghamton, Scranton, Allentown, Reading, Williamsport and Burlington.
Maybe I'll get lucky and it'll just go around us like all the other storms...
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Grown-up clothes
Thankee-sai weather gods, thanks to you I got to ride again today. Here's Coriander in his big boy bridle:
Isn't he handsome in it? He went very well today. He was attentive, relaxed and listening to my leg. He did have quite a problem bending though, it felt like I was riding a 2X4. I predict that there will be many circles in our future.
Take a gander at this:
Yep, that's Gwen wearing a surcingle. She's making huge strides with her emotional control. You can see in the top picture that she's actually walking while wearing it (a first for her). The next picture represents a monumental improvement for her emotionally:
She's actually mid-spook during this picture. Why is this an improvement? Because that jump was it. Where before a spook always preceded a bolt, this time she CALMED HERSELF DOWN. She found something else to spook at a few minutes later and CALMED HERSELF AGAIN. That is huge for her and makes me feel a heck of a lot better about riding her. She was still going around with her head craned up in the air though, so I finished up the day by teaching her to put her head down and relax with the surcingle on (thanks to Mary for the tip).
What a great weekend!
Isn't he handsome in it? He went very well today. He was attentive, relaxed and listening to my leg. He did have quite a problem bending though, it felt like I was riding a 2X4. I predict that there will be many circles in our future.
Take a gander at this:
Yep, that's Gwen wearing a surcingle. She's making huge strides with her emotional control. You can see in the top picture that she's actually walking while wearing it (a first for her). The next picture represents a monumental improvement for her emotionally:
She's actually mid-spook during this picture. Why is this an improvement? Because that jump was it. Where before a spook always preceded a bolt, this time she CALMED HERSELF DOWN. She found something else to spook at a few minutes later and CALMED HERSELF AGAIN. That is huge for her and makes me feel a heck of a lot better about riding her. She was still going around with her head craned up in the air though, so I finished up the day by teaching her to put her head down and relax with the surcingle on (thanks to Mary for the tip).
What a great weekend!
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Landmark ride
Coriander went for his first ride with the bit today!
I wanted to keep it as low key as possible, so it was a short ride. We only walked and I essentially rode with zero contact. I wanted him just to get used to the feeling of walking around with me on his back and a piece of metal in his mouth. Someone might be thinking, "geez, easing him into it much?" To which I say, "heck yeah!" First of all, the poor boy hasn't even been ridden in about a month (stupid, crappy weather), and second I don't want to get hurt. Keeping him comfy keeps me safe.
I'm pretty darn pleased with him. He wasn't constantly mouthing the bit, he didn't poke his nose up in the air, and he was cool as a cucumber. He did pretend to forget what leg aids were but I'm going to forgive him for that.
Gwen got some work in today too. She got some practice targeting and dropping her head on cue out in the ring. I think it's really good for her. I let her work at liberty and there are a ton of distractions around. She was initially very anxious and ran the fence line. But once I got her attention with the target she calmed right down. When we were done, she walked very calmly next to me back to the barn.
All in all, it was a pretty good day!
I wanted to keep it as low key as possible, so it was a short ride. We only walked and I essentially rode with zero contact. I wanted him just to get used to the feeling of walking around with me on his back and a piece of metal in his mouth. Someone might be thinking, "geez, easing him into it much?" To which I say, "heck yeah!" First of all, the poor boy hasn't even been ridden in about a month (stupid, crappy weather), and second I don't want to get hurt. Keeping him comfy keeps me safe.
I'm pretty darn pleased with him. He wasn't constantly mouthing the bit, he didn't poke his nose up in the air, and he was cool as a cucumber. He did pretend to forget what leg aids were but I'm going to forgive him for that.
Gwen got some work in today too. She got some practice targeting and dropping her head on cue out in the ring. I think it's really good for her. I let her work at liberty and there are a ton of distractions around. She was initially very anxious and ran the fence line. But once I got her attention with the target she calmed right down. When we were done, she walked very calmly next to me back to the barn.
All in all, it was a pretty good day!
Friday, February 19, 2010
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Daydreaming
It's a beautiful spring day. The grass is lush and green, the trees are full of new, bright leaves, and the sky is blue with fluffy white clouds drifting over the horizon. The temperature is a perfect 72 degrees with a light breeze that pulls along the scent of blooming trees. Just enough to make your skin tingle but not enough to make you feel chilled.
I'm taking Gwen out for a hack and we're having a lovely time. She's calm and relaxed, yet very responsive. We turn into a field full of grass gently swaying in the breeze. Clumps of baby's breath and sweet peas peek out between the waving stalks. Gwen's head comes up and her ears perk forward, she starts to prance a bit, she wants to stretch out and enjoy this flat swath of ground.
I give her permission with a touch of my leg and she immediately steps into a light, rocking horse canter. She keeps her contact with the bit soft, maintains the gait on her own, and we float across the field in perfect harmony.
But the field is coming to an end, and the entrance to the woods is approaching. I sit up and still my back, Gwen obligingly comes down into a trot and then a walk. We ease into the dappled sunlight of the forest, both feeling happy and more alive after our canter across the field.
Someday, someday...
I'm taking Gwen out for a hack and we're having a lovely time. She's calm and relaxed, yet very responsive. We turn into a field full of grass gently swaying in the breeze. Clumps of baby's breath and sweet peas peek out between the waving stalks. Gwen's head comes up and her ears perk forward, she starts to prance a bit, she wants to stretch out and enjoy this flat swath of ground.
I give her permission with a touch of my leg and she immediately steps into a light, rocking horse canter. She keeps her contact with the bit soft, maintains the gait on her own, and we float across the field in perfect harmony.
But the field is coming to an end, and the entrance to the woods is approaching. I sit up and still my back, Gwen obligingly comes down into a trot and then a walk. We ease into the dappled sunlight of the forest, both feeling happy and more alive after our canter across the field.
Someday, someday...
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