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.)