I wonder if it comes with age...

I arrived home today to find that Rick had baked a cake. A Polish Cake. Cue my bewildered face when I saw it ;) Judgeing by the taste of the cake his Polish is much better than I thought!!!! Yummy surprise :) x

-----------

I wonder if it comes with age...or super long and rich experience...or both. This cool, patient aura, the feel you know exactly what you want your rider to do and you know exactly whether they will be able to do it or not. I wonder if it descents on an instructor/coach/trainer on one of those misty evenings filled with teaching and riding. Sits down on one's shoulder like a friendly butterfly, light and gentle and yet so real and so confident in its mysterious purpose.

I wonder all this as I certainly have not yet been blessed with such feeling! I get impatient with myself being impatient and I am annoyed with myself for being annoyed. 

I had a super day today, very very tiring mostly because I tried to pay a lot of attention to many things at the time and made sure there was a lot of improvement gained. I need to, however, find a way to stop being impatient if someone can't do something at a time. I want them to get that great feel from the horse when they do things right and I really wish for them to do well and get that super feedback from their horse but I don't think it's good to put such pressure on the rider. Many of them are very driven and love their little discoveries. 

As it stands I have to count to 10 many a time to stop myself from shaking them up a bit ;) It's this perfectionist in me who knows they can do so much better but of course we are not machines and can't perform to our 100% 24/7. Note to myself: be patient, be understanding and teach better so they can do things better!

We'll have some very colourful poles soon - can't wait to see the faces of the ponies when they finally get to work over them and jump some scream coloured jumps ;)

 

Pics above: Pip the painter and ice lollies eater.

Day off from teaching tomorrow but not exactly a rest day as we are off for more house viewings. I made sure I arranged the appointment for midday so I can sleep all morning!

The Perk of my job: providing riders with lots of laughter and adrenaline therapy ;)

When I can't ride any more, I shall still keep horses as long as I can hobble about with a bucket and wheelbarrow. When I can't hobble, I shall roll my wheelchair out to the fence of the field where my horse's graze, and watch them. - Monica Dickens

Was reading this week's Horse & Hound and came across...

...an article "Hunting in Ireland: Great fun, or the greatest terror?" by Liam Clancy. I kept reading thinking, wait a minute, he sounds familiar...and then my brain clicked. My first job in the UK in 2003/2004 was an instructor/groom job at the same riding centre in Surrey where Liam was a senior instructor. 

I always thought he was a very good rider and now I know why - those ditches and banks they are jumping out there hunting are absolutely humongous!! It must take a fair amount of stickability to stay on while your horse negotiate the Tipperary county!

Tried a horse today with a view to buy, he's a TB youngster; gave me a nice feel both times I rode him. We shall see.  

Twelve hours on the trot

Pic.left: My half an hour break and someone wants my lunch... 

Just a line today because I've just came back after doing a 12h teaching day (including a Pony Day joys in the morning...) with one 30 minutes break. Shattered but had some super breakthroughs with a couple of my regular evening clients so I'm buzzing :)

Bath, bed and sweet dreams it's The Plan!

It's Mother's Day Tomorrow

Tomorrow is Mother's Day in Poland and I wish I could give my dear mum a big hug and take her for some yummy lunch but instead she will have to make do with some long-distance wishes. 

Pic. above: My lovely Mum on her and Dad's latest cycling trip last week. 

We've been chatting today and she passed a super news to me: our FEI Eventing World Cup Final tickets for all three days arrived today! Yay :) Roll on August, I can't wait to see my parents and my naughty brother and experience some holidaying ;)

Event's timetable: http://www.worldcupstrzegom.pl/en/timetable-.html

And a few more words on that mechanical horse I wrote about in the earlier post

Momentary Summer, Lateral Work and Riding Mechanical Horse

Pic.left: One of the many views on my Sunday commute. 

It's probably here only for a moment but Sunday was certainly enjoying a true summer weather spell. It was hot, hot, hot and I loved it. Maybe there are some tropical islands' natives in my genealogical tree.

Horses were less than impressed but so chilled and relaxed that it made my work that much easier. 

All the riders ended up a little red in the faces but pleased nevertheless. Knowing British weather it will most likely be pouring down with rein next Sunday!

With my morning group we continued our little adventure with lateral work. We've been doing some leg-yielding now and then in the past months but decided to push the ponies a little and added turn on the forehand and shoulder in. They don't know this yet but next week they will also have a go at haunches in and out. 

The horses were in a mild state of shock to start with but are getting the hang of it now. A dressage pro would probably be less than impressed with the efforts they produce but I got fond of those little naughty creatures and am rather proud of them trying their little socks off. And riders are doing great too. 

What's best is that despite less than perfect execution of those movements the horses are actually benefiting athletically and I saw some much improved trot and canter work yesterday.

The leg-yield to canter departure was a super exercise improving every single canter transition. Well done everybody!

For those of you who read this and are not quite sure what lateral work is, here is a nice overview of the movements I mentioned above: SUSTAINABLE DRESSAGE: LATERAL MOVEMENTS EXPLAINED.

I also worked with S. on her canter position and leg aids and it seems that so many problems in riders' position and inability to keep this 'softly hanging leg' is caused by rigid ankles! We often search for problems in the hips, knees gripping etc Next time you ride try to think what your ankle joint does and how it influences your whole leg position. Let your feet dance, let it bounce with the movement of the horse, don't just press your heels down. 

And here is an interesting video I've came across on working on rider's position and rein contact using a mechanical horse. Me thinks that horses used for beginner riders would probably voted a good riding simulator a product of a lifetime.

Some exercises you can do on EQUICIZER:  http://www.equicizer.com/images/equicizer.com/default1.aspx?contentName=Exercises 

Shame the simulators are so expensive, would buy one to give position lessons on my Training Days. I am all for practice, practice and practise on the real horse as nothing gives you the same experience but I bet many horses would be super thankful for that preparatory work being done away from their sensitive backs! There is a lot being said on how equine simulators improve the rider's posture, confidence etc but I see them not only as help for riders but more of a way for horses to have more pleasant experience with novice riders...

Check out some top notch ones: http://www.racewood.com/. The dressage one looks rather amazing.

Training Day with XC theme

Pic.above.: Pauline having fun hosing down her XC machine :)

One of my more advanced riders was doing her Training Day today so we raised a challenge and ran a XC theme throughout. Started off with flatwork out on the field with a considerable slope to practise keeping balance and rhythm regardless the undulation. Then off we went XC and finished off with a lovely relaxing hack. 

To watch more videos from Training Days go to: http://trainingdays-equestrian.blogspot.com/.

A Very Short Friday Report

Day Plan: Training Day with Amiria who has ridden with me once a fortnight for the last several months and who also rides a friend's dressage schoolmaster. We managed a truly all-round day working on Amiria's position and coordination of aids and her confidence when jumping. Very successful day with plenty of big improvements. 

More about Amiria's Training Day on (scroll down to 22nd May):

http://trainingdays-equestrian.blogspot.com/

Tagged by 'Where Is My Effing Pony'...

A fellow blogger, http://wheresmyeffingpony.blogspot.com/  tagged me with the following: 

The rules are:

-Respond and rework
-Answer questions on your own blog
-Replace one question
-Tag 8 people

What are your current obsessions?
Erm, horses? More horses? A few more horses? Riding at the moment, missing my few hours a day fix.

Which item from your wardrobe do you wear most often?
Breeches ;)

What's for Dinner?
Pancakes. Anytime.

Last thing you bought?
Birthday pressies for Rick.

What are you listening to?
Typing noises creatively produced by myself and Rick. His are a little quieter. Alternative Music it might be called in this day-and-age...;) 

If you were a God/Goddess who would you be?
As a teenager I had a bit of an obsession with Egyptian Mythology and goddess Sekhmet. She was a very controversial figure...

Favorite holiday spots?
Sometimes it feels like I'm forever on holiday in a place called Life. Don't ask why. 

I do like secret, undiscovered places, some waves, some golden sun rays, some good company. 

Reading right now?
About 6 different books with Equine Sports Coaching sitting on top. 

Who or what makes you laugh until you are weak?
Those silly animal videos with pets doing most peculiar things. How original of me, not ;)

Who's your Hero/Heroine?
This actually is a secret.

First Spring Thing? 
Hmm, here's the thing, I'm not too good at housework. Having said that I like the idea of a Spring Clean and at times I have a manic -house-tidy-attack. And when I say at times I mean a- few- times- a- year times ;)  

What's the funniest thing you ever saw in your life?
Not sure. Quite a few funny things happen now and then. 

Favourite Film?
International Velvet 

(Official trailer from 1978):

and Garden State.

 

Care to share some wisdom?
- Lots of people want to ride with you in the limo, but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down. 

- http://www.kipling.org.uk/poems_if.htm

- Life can be found only in the present moment. The past is gone, the future is not yet here, and if we do not go back to ourselves in the present moment, we cannot be in touch with life.

- Nothing happens unless first a dream.

- Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born.

If you were a tree, which one would you be, and why?
I am too much a nomad to be any kind of tree.

Name fictitious characters who made a lasting impression on you.
Thorgal (read whole series)

and that coach from International Velvet played by Anthony Hopkins ;)

4 words to describe yourself.
(1)Just (2)Another (3)Horsey (4)Person.

I'm passing the tag to: KJ, Daun, Peachyhollow, Suzie, Beckz, Alison, Stacey Kimmel-Smith, Back In The Saddle. Have fun!

Where are all the houses??

I've been spending considerable amount of my free time on browsing properties and checking all the updates that are sent to me by estate agents but worryingly we cannot find anything that really matches the essential requirements. Very frustrating. 

On a good note - had a lovely evening yesterday celebrating Ricky's birthday, very relaxing :)

Rode a horse today which one of the yards I work at has for sale and liked a good few things about him. Not sure what to think on the price but I will keep an eye on him. 

Not much is happening at the moment, I am trying to revise to my exam as much as possible and...hoping for a Lottery win!... ;)

In vet language "positive" is not a good news :( - Benji's 5 stage vetting report

To say I am disappointed is an understatement but I guess that's horses for you. Benji didn't pass the vetting. It was very interesting to talk to the vet though and now I am definitely going to 5 stage vet any next potential schooling project. 

Money no object and if I had my own place I would still buy him to investigate the findings further as he is a cracking little horse but can't risk it.

When I bought and sold horses in Poland I always made sure they were 100% sound and did the job. I want to make sure I go by those rules here too. So many things has changed since I last dealt in horses and market here is so different that getting things right is my priority. It's such a small world that it only takes a couple of dodgy horses for the seller to lose their reputation. 

I don't just want to buy and sell - I want to make sure the horse/pony ends up in the best possible home ready for best possible future. 

So the search for a horse is on again...   

Advice of the day?

Someone said to me today: At times when you are feeling down and everything seems the wrong way round, slap a smile on your face, force yourself to act as if you're happy, confident and in control, this actually helps you BECOME happy, confident and in control of your life.

Placebo effect? Brain Power?

Windy Rainy Sunday

Found it mega difficult to get up today but off I went onto the patio to test the weather. Some shy sunny rays and quite warm. Good.

Got to the yard fairly quickly but by that time the sun was far gone! 

The rain just kept going on and on and on and anything I said to my riders got taken away with the wind. 

Ponies and horses were not impressed by working in such conditions and manifested it by spooking wildly at random items, noises we couldn't hear and shadows that weren't even there. 

I had my heart in my throat today.

All the riders ended up soaking wet apart from A. who managed to somehow order herself a 45 minutes of sunshine! 

I am upping her workload as well as challenging her with more demanding balance exercises as she is doing a Training Day in a couple of weeks. The best thing with having regular riders is that I can build up short and long term learning programmes for them which adds quality to the whole riding experience. 

We are now having a little more stretch through A.'s lower leg and her upper body has gotten much stronger.

The aim for today was to keep working on balance in trot rising and sitting and start developing coordination between left and right side of the body making them independent from one another and yet to allow them to work together. A. is a super pupil as she really tries hard and has quite a little talent too! 

My afternoon riders were less lucky with the weather and had to endure very bad wind. Mr Z. almost parted company with his spooky mare but stayed on and kept going till the end. 

I took my little people on the lunge today as didn't trust those hairy wild beastie ponies not to play them up;))

A few showers and a bath

My day started awful with a journey on a diverted train which made me ever so late. Had to pay for a taxi from the station to be at work on time - not great.

Pic.left: Killing time snapping pics. My friend phoned too which made the mundane journey a bit more fun.

Apart from that though all went smoothly. Almost. I took proper soaking a few times due to the lovely weather we are having currently. It's a rain cloud's sense of humour perhaps as after each pour down the sun came out to dry the riders and horses out. Only to return and turn the taps back on again!

In a strange way it was actually quite cool ;) I know it probably sounds crazy but when it isn't too cold and if the sun do come back out I find those down pours quite fun ;) 

I had a lady who co-bought Benji with me on a Training Day today and I admit I worked her to the limits. She loved it though and we got some marked improvement in her light seat and canter work. Finished the day with a lovely hack with a fast canter - ponies loved it!

 

Benji behaved himself super for his new mummy and thankfully she loved him and enjoyed riding him (mad me I got her to part with the money without seeing the horse). Although Benjamin is very much a project bought to be sold on I was still a little worried she might say she didn't like him. No problem there though!

Unless something sinister comes up at the vetting on Monday, he will be given a day off to catch his breath after being chased and prodded, then the proper work will start. 

Pic. above: P. trying Benjamin for the first time. Proper photos to follow once all the sale formalities are concluded.

Following a few showers during the day I thought popping myself into a lovely, hot bath would make a pleasant change. My muscles are mega grateful now ;)