Since the month is coming to a close and I never blog on weekends, lets look at my goals and see where I am!
March:Goal by End: Walk and trot in outdoor ring
April:
Goal by end: Jumping individual X's and 18" verticals from the trot inside. Balanced canter, correct half halts. Hacking at the walk. Canter in outdoor ring (weather permitting!) Do a 6 mile ride.
28-29 - Volunteer at Aprilfest
May
Goal by end: Canter single fences, 2' -2'6" from trot or canter. Walk trot on hacks. Complete CYEH Dressage test without too much difficulty and be relatively pleasing to watch. Load on trailer within 15 mins. Clean up some of the x-country jumps. Do an 8 mile ride.
12- Maybe go and watch CYEH tests at Glen Oro, Orillia
13- Maybe volunteer at Queens Bush Training Ride Chatsworth (but its Mothers day! Will have to see what plans are)
19-20 - Hopefully volunteer and trailer B to OCTRA spring ride in Millbrook
June
Goal by end: Complete a full course of 2'-2'9" at trot or canter. WTC on hacks. Cross the river. Learn to braid mane nicely! Do a 10 mile ride. Hand gallop in outdoor ring. Safely tied on trailer.
10-Hopefully volunteer and trailer B to Stormont CTR in Finch, ON
16-17 - Hopefully volunteer and trailer B to Summer Solstice in Mansfield
23-24 - Maybe CYEH at horse trials at Woodwind Farm Orillia, maybe just watch!
30-Jul 1 - Hopefully volunteer and trailer B to Cayuse canter, Millbrook
July
Goal by End: Do 1 offsite rode (OCTRA or CYEH). Do a 15 mile ride. Jump a <2'9" course with one line. Jump a ditch jump and a few small x-country jumps. Ride in snaffle.
4 - Maybe CYEH at Equus 3D
15 - Hopefully volunteer and trailer B to Flesherton CTR
21 - Schooling event for CYEH at Glen Oro
22 - Maybe CYEH at Equus 3D
August
Goal by End: Jump a full course entirely at canter. Jumps with "scary" filler or standards. Trot up hills. Able to syringe electrolytes.
8 - CYEH GlenArden farms in fergus
12 - Summers End Training Ride - 15 Mi SS Millbrook
19 - Seouls Corners Endurance - 12 mi SS
22 - CYEH at Equus 3D
25-26 - CYEH at Woodwind
September
Goal by end: Sane and happy hacks, Drinking at river, snacking en route.
1-14 - Horsey Holiday!
2 - Me volunteer at FEI endurance at Stormont
16 - Massie Autumn Colours - 12 mi SS
23 - CYEH at Glen Oro
29-30 - Oktoberfest in Mansfield - 12 mi SS
October
Goal by End: 20 Mi hack at walk trot. Tie for picnic! Find appropriate saddle.
Clearly we have already surpassed our expectations. Largely due to the fantastic weather and how willing Bentley is. Perhaps I have to start setting our goals a little higher?
Friday, March 30, 2012
Sugarfree Month coming to a close
Well I thought I should do a reflection on my month without sugar.
First off, I have been going through so many apples! Which of course is a good thing... cheap and healthy, I am getting in my "Apple a day" Only bad side is sometimes if I am eating said apple at work, I feel bad that I have no horse to share the core with. Silly but true!
One outcome I have had is some weight loss. It was not one of my goals in this, but it did not come as a surprise and I am happy to take it. As of this morning, I am 7lbs less than I was when I started. This puts me at my lowest weight since I started college. Combined with taking the train (as a result of my car woes) and riding and working at the barn, I am about 20lb less than I was about 1.5 years ago when I finished school. Not bad for an average sized girl! Also, for the first time, the fat seems to be disappearing in the right places, no more muffin top or kangaroo pouch.
I feel great, I think I actually eat less food now and stay fuller longer. My energy level is up, I believe. I am not napping when I come home at lunch from mucking stalls at Halton Place and have enough energy at the end of those days to go riding. So those are all good signs.
Also, it has benefited my grocery bill. Last night, we went out and got groceries and our bill was only $26. Along with cutting out sugar, I find I don't even bother going much down the dry aisles, and fruit and veggies are far cheaper than cookies and pizzas. Mind you, I don't buy meat, but that's a whole other explanation.
What a great way to kick start my confidence and encourage me on. I still want to keep from slipping back into where I was before, eating sugar with every meal. I will not exclude it completely however, I will give in to temptation some times, I do miss chocolate!
I did purchase some delicious looking almond and cashew caramel corn, its my reward for Sunday.
Now I just need to find a way to get Lee off the treats too!
First off, I have been going through so many apples! Which of course is a good thing... cheap and healthy, I am getting in my "Apple a day" Only bad side is sometimes if I am eating said apple at work, I feel bad that I have no horse to share the core with. Silly but true!
One outcome I have had is some weight loss. It was not one of my goals in this, but it did not come as a surprise and I am happy to take it. As of this morning, I am 7lbs less than I was when I started. This puts me at my lowest weight since I started college. Combined with taking the train (as a result of my car woes) and riding and working at the barn, I am about 20lb less than I was about 1.5 years ago when I finished school. Not bad for an average sized girl! Also, for the first time, the fat seems to be disappearing in the right places, no more muffin top or kangaroo pouch.
I feel great, I think I actually eat less food now and stay fuller longer. My energy level is up, I believe. I am not napping when I come home at lunch from mucking stalls at Halton Place and have enough energy at the end of those days to go riding. So those are all good signs.
Also, it has benefited my grocery bill. Last night, we went out and got groceries and our bill was only $26. Along with cutting out sugar, I find I don't even bother going much down the dry aisles, and fruit and veggies are far cheaper than cookies and pizzas. Mind you, I don't buy meat, but that's a whole other explanation.
What a great way to kick start my confidence and encourage me on. I still want to keep from slipping back into where I was before, eating sugar with every meal. I will not exclude it completely however, I will give in to temptation some times, I do miss chocolate!
I did purchase some delicious looking almond and cashew caramel corn, its my reward for Sunday.
Now I just need to find a way to get Lee off the treats too!
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
A little bit of inspiration
Came across this facility in Florida today in the various articles I follow. Such beautifully designed jumps, even at the novice levels!
Hopefully some time this year, we can start tearing down the dangerous broken jumps in the valley, and use some of these ideas as inspiration to build some new ones!
http://poplarplacefarm.com/facilities.html
Hopefully some time this year, we can start tearing down the dangerous broken jumps in the valley, and use some of these ideas as inspiration to build some new ones!
http://poplarplacefarm.com/facilities.html
Great ride last night!
Last night was so incredible, I hardly know where to start. I guess chronological will have to do!
I convinced Lee to come out to the barn. I am trying out a new saddle and wanted to see if it would fit Lee too for the day when he would eventually ride. When I went to catch B out in the field, he whinnied and trotted up to the gate as soon as he saw me. Aw I love him too!
In our ride, Bentley was behaving particularly well, no trying to run off at the trot or steering difficulties. Ok maybe there was some running, but it was an easy correction and was happy to abide. We were able to do some large serpentines bending off my leg without breaking into the canter and he was very focused on my commands, very relaxed and well behaved. After several minutes of this, I decided it was ok to canter. He transitioned easily into a nice canter. Going down one side of the ring however, he would dig in and really push the speed limit I was trying to set.
Lee was concerned that I was pushing him too hard after his recovery, but he was the one pushing me! We probably did about a half mile of the speedy canter and I pulled him up after he got that calm canter I was looking for. He wasnt even panting and still itching to go on. We walked for a little bit, then continued trot work.
Again I decided to see what he would do over the little crossrails. Today he was being much more obedient and quiet, and instead of a real jump, did a tiny hop in the front and just trotted in the hind. Took him over a slightly larger crossrail and he was happy to turn it into a real jump. We did the crossrails a few more times then trotted over the 2' vertical. Well, we refused the vertical a few times first, he was a little unsure. By the 3rd time, I was a little more persistent, and he wasn't about to argue with me. Lee was (of course) typing away on his phone and didn't get a picture :(
Lee's punishment for this was to get up and ride Bentley. The saddle fit him well, and he said it was really comfortable on his hips which is great to hear! He described it as "I feel as if I am riding a Cadillac" I had to correct him that a Bentley was much nicer than a Cadillac and he changed his mind. It was very short lived however. Bentley is a speedy walker and Lee mistook his fast walk and inability to stand still, for taking off. So Lee got all nervous, and Bentley could feel it, and got nervous in the process, making things worse! Still, Lee proudly shared the picture on his Twitter account... perhaps taking a bit too much credit for his 60 second ride haha.
I got back on Bentley and started to trot him again to burn off that extra energy and nerves he had built up. Did a few more jumps as well. He had been very good this time about coming back down to the trot within 6-10 strides after the jump. This time around, I decided to let him continue cantering into the small crossrails. We didn't naturally find the distances and had a few awkward jumps, but they were so small, and he doesn't try to over jump, so it wasnt so bad. He certainly was learning and that extra canter stride in between turned into him going back to trot before the jump and getting it correct. What a smart boy! Maybe I will have to dig out those gymnastics exercises that Amy Millar made for me (I won a contest last year) when I was planning on teaching Abby to jump.
Our scariest jump ended up being our best jump. A little 18" oxer with an old Christmas tree underneath it. He refused it several times, until I decided to jump it backwards so we were jumping towards the barn, he paused only slightly to look at it, and gave a good effort over! Nicole and Patches were in the ring and commented about how cute he is, hes so expressive, it must have been adorable to watch his face through the whole thing.
I convinced Lee to come out to the barn. I am trying out a new saddle and wanted to see if it would fit Lee too for the day when he would eventually ride. When I went to catch B out in the field, he whinnied and trotted up to the gate as soon as he saw me. Aw I love him too!
In our ride, Bentley was behaving particularly well, no trying to run off at the trot or steering difficulties. Ok maybe there was some running, but it was an easy correction and was happy to abide. We were able to do some large serpentines bending off my leg without breaking into the canter and he was very focused on my commands, very relaxed and well behaved. After several minutes of this, I decided it was ok to canter. He transitioned easily into a nice canter. Going down one side of the ring however, he would dig in and really push the speed limit I was trying to set.
Lee was concerned that I was pushing him too hard after his recovery, but he was the one pushing me! We probably did about a half mile of the speedy canter and I pulled him up after he got that calm canter I was looking for. He wasnt even panting and still itching to go on. We walked for a little bit, then continued trot work.
Again I decided to see what he would do over the little crossrails. Today he was being much more obedient and quiet, and instead of a real jump, did a tiny hop in the front and just trotted in the hind. Took him over a slightly larger crossrail and he was happy to turn it into a real jump. We did the crossrails a few more times then trotted over the 2' vertical. Well, we refused the vertical a few times first, he was a little unsure. By the 3rd time, I was a little more persistent, and he wasn't about to argue with me. Lee was (of course) typing away on his phone and didn't get a picture :(
Lee's punishment for this was to get up and ride Bentley. The saddle fit him well, and he said it was really comfortable on his hips which is great to hear! He described it as "I feel as if I am riding a Cadillac" I had to correct him that a Bentley was much nicer than a Cadillac and he changed his mind. It was very short lived however. Bentley is a speedy walker and Lee mistook his fast walk and inability to stand still, for taking off. So Lee got all nervous, and Bentley could feel it, and got nervous in the process, making things worse! Still, Lee proudly shared the picture on his Twitter account... perhaps taking a bit too much credit for his 60 second ride haha.
I got back on Bentley and started to trot him again to burn off that extra energy and nerves he had built up. Did a few more jumps as well. He had been very good this time about coming back down to the trot within 6-10 strides after the jump. This time around, I decided to let him continue cantering into the small crossrails. We didn't naturally find the distances and had a few awkward jumps, but they were so small, and he doesn't try to over jump, so it wasnt so bad. He certainly was learning and that extra canter stride in between turned into him going back to trot before the jump and getting it correct. What a smart boy! Maybe I will have to dig out those gymnastics exercises that Amy Millar made for me (I won a contest last year) when I was planning on teaching Abby to jump.
Our scariest jump ended up being our best jump. A little 18" oxer with an old Christmas tree underneath it. He refused it several times, until I decided to jump it backwards so we were jumping towards the barn, he paused only slightly to look at it, and gave a good effort over! Nicole and Patches were in the ring and commented about how cute he is, hes so expressive, it must have been adorable to watch his face through the whole thing.
After that, we called it a night. However, as the sun was setting, Lee, Bentley and I went out for a walk around the corn fields. First time he had been out without a horse friend. He was just fine. He was walking at his usual speedy pace, excited and eager to go wherever I pointed him.
Hes starting to get a little ribbly (a word I made up to describe his ribcage showing, combination of ribs and ripply) so I discussed with Laura about starting him on a regular grain program. He had grain while he was sick, but now I think he needs it more than to just disguise medicine. We havent been working TOO hard, but with his new playmates, I think he is working more off in the field. He knows now what it means when I go into the feed room, and grunts happily when he sees me return with a bucket. Very cute!
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Registration Complete!
Well, I see that my credit card has been charged by the Arabian Horse Association, and therefore Bentley's registration MUST be approved.
So I am proud to announce to you his registered name
Cricklewood
Wait what? How did you come up with that? Yes I can read your thoughts.
Let me explain.
We had a few names floating around in our head, most of them funny and cheeky and cute. Once he came into our possession however, we decided we wanted something dignified and related to his barn name "Bentley" So, of course, I turn to the Internet to help me out.
Cricklewood is the town in England where the car manufacturer Bentley first produced its vehicles in the 1920s. The idea of a town name itself appeals to me as being named after a place, Hickstead, became the world's best horse in the last few years. So it starts as a recipe for greatness.
As I read on, I learned that while Bentley vehicles were made in Cricklewood, they became top contenders at the 24 hours of Le Mans Grand Prix Endurance races, winning 4 years in a row. These cars were driven for 24 hours on what they had, no changing tires or tune ups. The drivers must manage their cars consumables against their speed and their own endurance in order to perform. That pretty much sealed it.
So that's how the Cricklewood name came about. A perfect name for my new distance horse :)
So I am proud to announce to you his registered name
Cricklewood
Wait what? How did you come up with that? Yes I can read your thoughts.
Let me explain.
We had a few names floating around in our head, most of them funny and cheeky and cute. Once he came into our possession however, we decided we wanted something dignified and related to his barn name "Bentley" So, of course, I turn to the Internet to help me out.
Cricklewood is the town in England where the car manufacturer Bentley first produced its vehicles in the 1920s. The idea of a town name itself appeals to me as being named after a place, Hickstead, became the world's best horse in the last few years. So it starts as a recipe for greatness.
As I read on, I learned that while Bentley vehicles were made in Cricklewood, they became top contenders at the 24 hours of Le Mans Grand Prix Endurance races, winning 4 years in a row. These cars were driven for 24 hours on what they had, no changing tires or tune ups. The drivers must manage their cars consumables against their speed and their own endurance in order to perform. That pretty much sealed it.
So that's how the Cricklewood name came about. A perfect name for my new distance horse :)
Monday, March 26, 2012
Jumping for Joy
Rode B yesterday for the first time since Wednesday. It had also been the first time we did much more than a walk in the last 2 weeks. The reason we had taken it slow started out from him being sick, then progressed more to nerves about riding in a "public" situation. With the nice weather, there seemed to be triple the amount of people at the barn, one time I even counted 10 horses in the ring at a time. And with all the walking, grain and spring fever, Bentley felt like gunpowder beneath me. With 10 kids and ponies in the ring, its not a very good time to let him loose!
After working at Halton Place, I came to GEC to happily find that it was close to empty. Sunday nights area always good for that. We joined Michelle in the ring, who was training a 2 year old set for the track (and was incredibly quiet!). We did our usual warm up and he was good, but trotting only lasted about one lap of the ring before he decided it was time to canter. I let him do it, knowing that he needed it, and was careful to check him when it started to get out of control. There were a few points where we were unbelievably fast, but I listened to his footsteps and it was still 3 beats. Makes me wonder what his gallop would clock in at! I will have to upload my garmin results and see what we hit. We had a couple of good fast canters, I couldn't say no... he just seemed so happy to run!
After getting that out of our systems, we worked at the trot. One of our problems is that after we canter once, he thinks that bending to circle at the trot is the same thing as prepping to canter. So we did lots of that.
I wanted to get him picking up his feet as well, just to practise for anything we might encounter on the trail. In the past, he does this over 18" cross rails and there were jumps set up, so I decided to trot him over. Well instead of his usual stepping, he lifted up and gave me a nice jump over it! Surprised at his reaction, I congratulated him and pointed him at a slightly scarier jump: still a cross rail, but had scary tires on the sides. Again, nice little jump over it! So then I walked him over the 18" vertical skinny jump (about 5-6' wide instead of 8-10', so scarier as its more enclosed), he walked fine, so again we trotted and he had a nice little jump! We then trotted up to a 2' vertical, and no problem, pops right over it like hes been doing it since birth. Did a couple more times over the first little x, and called it a night. I think he actually enjoys jumping now, and he was so fluid about it, he might turn out to be a better jumper than I expected! However, after the jumps, he did canter and get a little wild... our steering wasn't so fabulous and it would take a lap of the ring before I could get him to trot. I'm sure after we school a bit more, we will be able to better steer and maybe even navigate a course in time for the next schooling show.
Unfortunately, nobody was around to video or even witness our accomplishments!
I also had a jumping lesson again on Friday at Myrddin. LBH and I are hitting our groove, he isn't trying to bolt anymore and I notice myself relaxing at the canter more. Hes pretty bouncy and I think I have been gripping with my thighs and pushing with my hips to keep the shape of his movements, but after a few laps of cantering, I caught myself doing it, focused on relaxing and riding it up and down like a raft on a wave, using my core to keep centered. He seemed happier about that too! It helps that I am starting to trust him a little more. Now that I know I am doing it, hopefully I can catch myself doing it on Bentley too. I'm typically cantering him in 2 point, but have been trying to move back more as I start to trust him more too.
Anyways, LB and I were working on our jumps in the lesson. I think I am getting better with my position and my nerves about jumping a course is getting better too. I know what I really need to work on is looking forward. Marg keeps telling me that I have to stop making dressage corners and push him on. I think I have been taking the "slow and steady" approach because I am nervous and most of my previous lessons are in dressage. It might take a little longer to click into the jumper mindset! One thing that I am very proud of from this lesson was, he tripped on our way to a line of a 2'9" vertical, one stride to a 3' oxer and I lost my inside rein. I was planning on circling until I was able to get it back together, but I heard Margie telling me to go for it so I did. I ended up jumping the line without my rein and stayed relatively straight, collecting the rein after we landed the combination. I was pleased that I didn't panic and I was able to rely on my other aids to get us through it. LB certainly helped too, hes such an eager jumper!
After working at Halton Place, I came to GEC to happily find that it was close to empty. Sunday nights area always good for that. We joined Michelle in the ring, who was training a 2 year old set for the track (and was incredibly quiet!). We did our usual warm up and he was good, but trotting only lasted about one lap of the ring before he decided it was time to canter. I let him do it, knowing that he needed it, and was careful to check him when it started to get out of control. There were a few points where we were unbelievably fast, but I listened to his footsteps and it was still 3 beats. Makes me wonder what his gallop would clock in at! I will have to upload my garmin results and see what we hit. We had a couple of good fast canters, I couldn't say no... he just seemed so happy to run!
After getting that out of our systems, we worked at the trot. One of our problems is that after we canter once, he thinks that bending to circle at the trot is the same thing as prepping to canter. So we did lots of that.
I wanted to get him picking up his feet as well, just to practise for anything we might encounter on the trail. In the past, he does this over 18" cross rails and there were jumps set up, so I decided to trot him over. Well instead of his usual stepping, he lifted up and gave me a nice jump over it! Surprised at his reaction, I congratulated him and pointed him at a slightly scarier jump: still a cross rail, but had scary tires on the sides. Again, nice little jump over it! So then I walked him over the 18" vertical skinny jump (about 5-6' wide instead of 8-10', so scarier as its more enclosed), he walked fine, so again we trotted and he had a nice little jump! We then trotted up to a 2' vertical, and no problem, pops right over it like hes been doing it since birth. Did a couple more times over the first little x, and called it a night. I think he actually enjoys jumping now, and he was so fluid about it, he might turn out to be a better jumper than I expected! However, after the jumps, he did canter and get a little wild... our steering wasn't so fabulous and it would take a lap of the ring before I could get him to trot. I'm sure after we school a bit more, we will be able to better steer and maybe even navigate a course in time for the next schooling show.
Unfortunately, nobody was around to video or even witness our accomplishments!
I also had a jumping lesson again on Friday at Myrddin. LBH and I are hitting our groove, he isn't trying to bolt anymore and I notice myself relaxing at the canter more. Hes pretty bouncy and I think I have been gripping with my thighs and pushing with my hips to keep the shape of his movements, but after a few laps of cantering, I caught myself doing it, focused on relaxing and riding it up and down like a raft on a wave, using my core to keep centered. He seemed happier about that too! It helps that I am starting to trust him a little more. Now that I know I am doing it, hopefully I can catch myself doing it on Bentley too. I'm typically cantering him in 2 point, but have been trying to move back more as I start to trust him more too.
Anyways, LB and I were working on our jumps in the lesson. I think I am getting better with my position and my nerves about jumping a course is getting better too. I know what I really need to work on is looking forward. Marg keeps telling me that I have to stop making dressage corners and push him on. I think I have been taking the "slow and steady" approach because I am nervous and most of my previous lessons are in dressage. It might take a little longer to click into the jumper mindset! One thing that I am very proud of from this lesson was, he tripped on our way to a line of a 2'9" vertical, one stride to a 3' oxer and I lost my inside rein. I was planning on circling until I was able to get it back together, but I heard Margie telling me to go for it so I did. I ended up jumping the line without my rein and stayed relatively straight, collecting the rein after we landed the combination. I was pleased that I didn't panic and I was able to rely on my other aids to get us through it. LB certainly helped too, hes such an eager jumper!
Friday, March 23, 2012
First Published Article
For those of you who arent members of the Ontario Equestrian Federation, here is my first published article. Published in Whoa! Magazine, March 2012. The magazine reaches thousands of readers across Ontario, anyone who competes in equestrian diciplines.
A friend helped me out and in under 4 months, I was ready to ride with the Ontario Competitive Trail Riding Association. The 10 miles seemed like a marathon to me, but other riders were out for 50 miles that day. It was the hottest day of the year, and I didn’t sleep at all from excitement. My mount was also a first timer, and trotted circles around me as I prepared.
My riding partner and I headed out at a brisk walk/trot pace as soon as the trail opened, within minutes away from base camp it became just another wonderful trail ride through the scenic forests. “To finish is to win” is often uttered. We had a great time riding the trail, we earned our completion in 2.25hrs, and it certainly felt like we had won that day. I will definitely be back again!
Crossing the Starting Line
A year ago, if you had asked me about long distance riding, you may have gotten a blank stare. Little did I know there was a whole sport dedicated to breaking out of the ring and testing your determination, athleticism and… math?
| Sarah Cuthbertson (Me) and Almost Perfect (Owned by Carol Lewin) partaking in some down-time |
That ride was Set Speed and relatively new to OCTRA. The goal is to complete the trail within certain time and pulse parameters; a grade is calculated based on how well you pace yourself within your abilities. I warned you some math was involved! Some of these rides offer placing, but generally Set Speed is a test against the trail, not other riders. This makes it the perfect start for someone who wants to try their hand at distance.
OCTRA also offers training rides for most disciplines as well as mileage options, where no scores are given -you just ride for fun and training! You can find all the upcoming events at http://www.octra.on.ca
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