and now, it's all about Her

Well, really, when you're a mom, when is it *not* all about Her?  Or, truthfully Her and Him, in my case.  Which is really how it's supposed to be, right?

Anyway, it's time for Her introduction.  And as much as she'd like to do it herself, I'm stepping to the plate.  My blog, Chicky, my way!  ;)  (yes, I do call her Chicky...)

Erin and her current, best-loved, lesson pony

She's Erin, the ten year old who turned my life all a whirl with her birth.  Don't they always, with that?  I suppose I should've guessed what our life would become when she was born 2 weeks early.  In a different state.  (I went to visit my sister, and whoops, labor!)  Anyway, she's been an amazing child right from the very start.  I know, what mother doesn't think that of their child?  But truth is truth.  Amazing.  Right from the start.

When Erin turned six, she started expressing an interest in learning how to ride.  (Can you hear my YAY!  And then, following, my husband's big ole GROAN?  LOL)   I wanted Erin to be just a tad older when she started riding (and also had to convince non-horsey husband that it would be a good activity to start...real reason.).  So we held off other than a few rides at the barn my sister and niece rode with.  Since my sister and niece live in a different state, those few rides were few & far between.  But I immediately saw the love bloom in Erin's eyes with that first lesson...

First time on a horse!  Well, that wasn't a pony ride :)

Finally the time was right for regular lessons, on our home turf.  A friend of mine had her Quarter Horse in training with a barn that sounded exactly like what I was looking for.  Because I was very specific in what I wanted.  So I contacted the barn owner, who also happened to be the one who worked with beginner kids and spoke with her at length.  We hit it off well, she seemed to provide what I wanted.  We then went to visit my friend at her barn, and observed a lesson and spoke with the owner/trainer again.  I went home and slept on our visit.  And decided it was right.  And signed Erin up for lessons.  And saw that love continue to bloom and grow in her eyes each time we walked into the barn.

We continued on at that barn and Erin got a fantastic start.  Her instructor was wonderful, perfect for a first timer.  Erin was learning so very much.  And not just about riding, but also horsemanship.  As it should be.  Her lesson horse was exactly what a lesson horse should be for a beginner rider.  And we really enjoyed riding there.  Because yes, I started riding there too.  It was a good place to be.

My girl wanted to learn how to lunge one day...so she did!

But there was a catch.  Really, two catches.  First, was the distance.  We were traveling an hour.  One way.  During rush hour.  On a Friday.  So yeah, two plus hour commute for a half hour lesson, plus half hour tack/untack.  Made for a long day.  So long.  And I was getting tired of driving...and even Erin complained of the drive.  But we carried on.  And commuted.

Erin and her first lesson horse, Blaze.

This barn works with riders of all disciplines, but does specialize in Western Dressage.  So she started Western. But time for the Second Catch.  After a while riding Western, Erin decided she wanted to ride English.  Like her cousin.  And she wanted to jump.  Like her cousin.  So when she said she wanted to switch disciplines, out came a close contact saddle and instruction was switched up from Western basics to a more forward, all purpose English instruction.  And it worked.  And worked well.

English saddle and lots of pink!

But finally, I decided it was time.  Time to switch.  To a closer barn.  And one that would allow Erin to pursue the discipline she really seemed interested in.  Sure, we could have stayed at the other barn.  And Erin would have done fine.  And probably would have happily been jumping and dressaging at the speed of the barn we were with.  But she was really enamoured with the whole hunter scene she was watching her cousin becoming immersed in.  And what momma doesn't want their child to become involved in something with their whole heart?

Every child must at some point ride a cute little Appy!

So I started the search again.  For a hunter/jumper barn that was located closer.  Luckily, I found one with relative ease.  And hey, it was right in our backyard!  So there we are now.   And Erin really loves this barn (not that she didn't the other, mind), and has a great relationship with her coach.  She's made some wonderful friends, and has started a bit of local showing. And I anticipate we'll be here for a while.  She's already got plans for bigger showing, joining the active IEA team, and eventually owning her own horse.  So that's where we are.  And where we'll be.  Enjoying the barn.  

PonyGirl must match all the things...

so, then, who are we?The Mom

Welcome back!  Or, well, HI!

I said that I'd do a proper intro, and I suppose that means I should.  I'm a bit of an introvert, though, which surprises those who *really* know me...but doesn't surprise others ;)  So don't be surprised if I kinda gloss over myself a bit.  But, well, I also like to write...so who knows where we'll go with this.  Heh.  Remember the "verbal vomit" comment from my first post?  Yeah.  So.  Happens.

Anyway, as mentioned, I'm Holly.  The Mom with Horse Fever ;)  I'm a 40-something horse woman, married to a wonderful, tolerant, exasperating, decisively-non-horsey man.  We have two wonderful children, an 8 year old boy and a 10 year old girl.

During the summer, we spent alotalot of time at my parent's lake house.

We also have an amazing German Shepherd (who might or might not end up on the blog at times).  Abel is the Best. Dog. Ever. for our family.  He's amazing with the kids, and even if he wants to snack on our cat at times (...no, we don't let him...), he's an awesome boy.

"Get OFF the stupid camera, mom!"

 

Gosh, this was taken 3 years ago - how were the kids so small?
And no, this won't be a "MommyBlog".  Promise!

The girl is the other horsey-person in the immediate family.  Our son, that's a big ole "NO" to the whole horse thing.  He's taken a few lessons, but it's just not interesting to him.  He wants a Cow.  Really, a cow.  So farm in the future, yes?  Yes.

As to my "horse life", I've been riding, off & on, since childhood.  We had a lovely family friend who supported my horse addiction from the start, and signed me up for lessons at the barn where her horse was boarded...and happily still claims herself as my Enabler.

Late-1970's me on my first lesson pony, Goldie.
Helmet?  What's that?

I started off at about six, and pretty much rode off & on through elementary & middle school.  Lesson ponies, once a week.  You know how it goes for those who are horsey but without a real horsey family. We never were financially able to afford a pony, but I still enjoyed those lesson ponies and learned so very much!

First show ever!
Don't you love the hairnet & velvet huntcap?

In high school, I switched to Western, and rode above Enabler's lovely Quarter Horse.  I joined 4H for a short time, but mostly just rode and lessoned for pleasure.  Montego was a lovely, super-well-trained gelding, and to this day is probably the standard to which all QH's will have to measure up. 

Montego Bay.
Check out those boots!  Ha!

My college years were spent riding both hunters & Western.  I went to the University of Connecticut, and am a graduate of the College of Agriculture, Health & Natural Resources.  If you are unaware, UConn breeds Morgans.  They also have a fantastic polo program, and their woman's polo team were National Champs a number of times when I was at UConn.   I had a wonderful time at UConn and met some great friends.  I also did a great internship while at UConn, interning in the Summer Experience in Equine Management at the Miner Agricultural Institute.

My project horse at Miner was HD St Regis.
Best Boy.  Still love him.

It was partially my exposure to the UConn & Miner Morgans that solidfied my appreciation for the breed.  I grew to love their work ethic and spirit with more experience.  In my middle school years, I'd had the fortune to visit Whippoorwill Morgans, and met the amazing breeding stallion Blackwood Correll.  That was my first experience with Morgans, and likely where I first fell in love!  They are indeed my favorite breed of horse.

Reggie, while mainly a Western Pleasure horse,
did also work Huntseat Pleasure.

 I took a few years off after getting married and having kids, but knew I'd be back on at some point! When my daughter was able, I signed her up for lessons with a barn a friend recommended.  She started Western, but soon became entranced with all things jumping.  So we switched to a local hunter/jumper barn, and that's where we are now!

My sister is also a horse-girl.
This was me a few years back, riding her first horse, Sergio.

And yep, I do ride too.  Once a week, at this point, because we are horseless.  But well, hopefully we'll remedy that in the meantime!  :)  I'll share info on my partner in horse crimes later...

welcome. and ::le sigh::

My girl and her favorite lesson pony

Hello and welcome!  I'm Holly, the mom.  She's Erin, my now-ten-year old daughter.  And yep, Horse Fever.  Big time, for us both.  LOL  I'll do a proper welcome and introduction, I suppose, but well, long & short of it is that this is going to be a chattering-run at the mouth type of blog, with me talking about my daughter's exploits as she explores the horse world and finds herself within it.  Yep, I'll also be chattering about my own horse-life as both the mom of a horse-less horse-girl, and a horse-less horse person myself.  Horseless being key here at this point.  Eventually, we'll remedy that.  But for now it'll be about our interactions within the horse world as non-owners.  But before a more intro post, I've got some stuff to work through, and I tend to do that best when rambling....so yeah.  What a way to start, eh?

Because who doesn't love the between the ears shots?

Anyway, I cancelled my riding lesson for tonight. Because, mostly, I'm a head-case of a rider.  And coming to realize that is a big thing.  Typically, I ride about once a week at this point.  Sure, eventually it'll be more.  But riding once a week is what I can do at this point, so I do it.  It's better than not riding at all.  Believe me.  8-year hiatus.  Killed me.  But riding only one a week leaves my head open for introspection and overthinking on my rides.  While I ride.  Not a good thing, necessarily.  Recently, my rides haven't really been my best rides.  I think, out of the past 7 rides, one has been satisfactory.  In my mind.

I'm sure you know how it goes, that bad ride.  You feel "off" the moment you step into the stirrup.  And your "off" continues your whole ride.  Your legs don't feel solid.  Oh, my, that's a might big twist in my shoulders.  Straighten out. Lower leg, stop swinging.  How'd these reins get so long?  Gather 'em up.  Horse, why are you so long and strung out?  Come back to me, please.  Posting, ughhh, why can't I handle it?  Oh.  Yeah.  Out. Of. Shape.  Sit up sit up sit up.  Need a more forward trot, please, let's go.  No.  Wait.  That's too much.  What is going on with my foot?  Why is it shoved home in the stirrup?  Canter transition?  Okay.  But stop with that big ole counter bend.  Just no.  All the no possible.  Oh wait, wheeee!  Careening around the ring!!  No.  Not really fun.  Oh, wait, where'd that person & horse come from?  Oh crap.  That sort of thing.  You know.  It's enough to want to make you take a break and just watch your daughter ride!  (ha.)

So that's exactly what I did.  I took a break for a week.  And maybe I'll schedule a private, so that I still ride this week.  But next week, regardless, I'll be back up and in the saddle.  Because the lure of the good rides are so very much worth it.  Despite being so much of an in-my-head rider, examining every single second of my ride and finding it lacking.  So much lack.  And soon, hopefully, I'll ride more than just once a week.

Because that makes a huge difference too.

As does getting into better riding shape. Which I will certainly do.

(and hey, now I have another blog topic...heh.  How does an out-of-shape part time equestrian mom get back into riding shape...ha.)