Genuine

So this is the final draft of my English essay. I am cherishing it because this is the only time we won't have to analyze some God-awful book (Great Gatsby and Death of a Salesman here I come!) and because it means a lot more to me (and is more along the lines of what we were supposed to write) than the original essay I wrote. I'm going to be taking that one off. Ick!

So, here it goes, my persuasive essay!

Genuine

It’s hard for many to understand a life revolving around horses. Some detest the smell, the dust, the manure, and sloppy lips slathered in feed. Some cling to their concrete jungle, and would not know what to do in an open space with fresh air. And as for just as many others, horses are simply not for them. But they are for me.

I love the smell of clean leather whisking together with the dusky aroma of shavings and the sweet smell of molasses and oats. I love the quiet of the stable, of the residents peacefully shifting in their stalls and munching on hay, only broken by a soft nicker or a shrill whinny. The sunlight gleams through the windows above the aisle and casts heavenly light down upon the dim interior. When I walk out to the pasture, the bright is everywhere, and it gives way to green fields and majestic oaks. Interweaving amongst them are the horses, shadows beneath the trees and swaying with the grass as they graze. And in between two chocolate brown geldings is the one I came here for: a silver sublime basking in the sun. My dream come true. After school, every weekend, whenever I can: I don’t go shopping, I’m not on the basketball team, I don’t waste time. No, I drive along country roads and past fields of green coastal and to go to a stable to see a mare, Greta.

We love to simply stand in the aisle, taking a pause from brushing, and listen. I lean against her, and she turns to look at me in her special way. It is special because of her big brown eyes and long white lashes that mirror her intelligence and knowing and personality. From the first moment I laid eyes on her, I knew she was something extraordinary. Shivers run down my spine whenever I think about it.

Many people claim to share a bond with a dog, or a cat, perhaps something as abstract as a goldfish or turtle even. Horses are not for everyone, true, but the few who are fortunate enough to see something special in the horse, and not simply as a beast of burden, those are the people who truly share a bond with the horse. There is something delightful about striding atop one, soaring across the arena. When you are in a Zen as you float before the judges in an airy trot, your body melding with the horse into one unanimous creature, and then the sincere clap of audience hands breaks you from your trance as you find yourself giving your horse a great hug from the bottom of your heart: it is then you can feel and know the bond with a horse.

There is something more magical than simply riding a horse. Looking into a horse’s eyes, you know you look to them for spiritual wholeness and they look to you for leadership and guidance. Some people never connect like this, and I do not pity them. Like I said, horses are not for everyone.

But, for those special few who can feel and understand the joy and freedom of riding, and the calm and peace it brings to run your fingers through a thick mane: I praise you. When you love your horse, like how I love Greta, you can look past the musky smell and the dust and the “mess”. After all, every pet has their good and bad moments. It is all a part of taking care of and loving an animal.

Mud and mold (no, not THAt mold)

On Greta

It has been very cool the past two days. Yesterday I was totally unprepared and was absolutely freezing (the school's air conditioner was still set for the hundred-degree weather we had only a few days ago!) and very cool outside. In the seventies! It was great! We also got some rain. I was better prepapred today. I actually got to wear a sweater again! I love my sweaters. They're so cozy and warm....

And we also got 2 1/2 inches of rain today. Very cool, but that means the stables had turned to mush. Especially Greta's pasture! When I got out there she was standing in this disgusting (and I rarely use that word when it comes to barn stuff) poo and rotten hay juice. The hay was what was left from the old round bale. She was still munching on it! Yeck! So her hooves are now purple with Thrush Buster. And so is one of my hands. It looks kind of cool actually....

Riding-wise... a dream! Sunday and Monday Greta was a saint. Nice and mellow, which had me kind of scared at first, but then I remembered how she became like this once she got used to the old barn. It was quicker this time since she is around a bunch of horses and does not have just one horse to obsess over, and her pasture mates aren't taken out often, save her. Also, I would like to think, because she sees me every day so I guess I'm something familiar.

Greta gave me the perfect trot both Sunday and Monday. So nice in fact, that I felt comfortable enough to sit it. It wasn't a "oooh, I'm going to be a pacer horse today!" sort of trot. It was smooth, swingy trot and she got on the bit very nicely. When I sat it I began to understand what is meant with the term "elastic seat". I relaxed enough to keep my seat sort of swinging in motion with her. I made sure not to cheat and tuck my pelvis, which would hollow out my back, and deepen my seat enough to go along with the ride. The slang version I've heard of developing an elastic seat is to, well, "pretend you're making love to the saddle."

I wouldn't know that quite yet, so.... I just had to develop my own.

It felt like my seat was wax and it was just sort of molding to the saddle. I wasn't a plastic figurine that you just tried to squeeze onto the plastic horse. I had been molded with the horse in the same cast. I fit! Greta's mouth was soft in my hand and she just carried herself lovely. It was pretty friggin' cool.

So that's my analogy.

And pasture-wise: Greta's been hanging out with the same two geldings for the past few days. One of them I call "Cupid" because he has a big star resembling a heart on his head. The other just shadows him. Both are handsome dark bays, and Cupid is a very lanky boy. He was just resting his head on Greta while I picked out her hooves.

Greta, you little coquette!

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On Quarter Marks
This is soooo cool. I know Jolanda Adelaar likes to do a heart on Guus. So adorable! And they look so flashy and fresh! In the picture gallery, I love the first one with the kangaroo!

Quartermark Gallery

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Lastly, on the AECs

GO GO GO GOGO AND ANDREA, VAL AND SAM!!!!!!! KICK SOME BUTT, EVENTING STYLE!!!!!

She's mine? Yes. Are you kidding me? No.

I stumbled upon the first video, and I just grinned. Then that video led to another, which led to another. Reminds me of when I came home from school that day in May and my grandmother said, "The x-rays looked good. She's yours."

I screamed pretty loud.

Enjoy.

You tell 'em boi! And extensions update...

If there were such thing as ghetto gangsta dressage riders, that's what they would say to Philippe Karl.

I know I'm probably a bit behind on this (this is, like, a month old, I think?) but oh my God it's about time! I have seen a numerous outcries about rollkur and other grievances of modern dressage - particularly from equine medical professionals, who's unfortunate tasks range from injecting the backs of very young horses because they've been pulled up into the bit (and they will probably need those injections for the rest of their lives because they've been ruined at such a physically tender stage) to having to surgically "snap" horse's necks back into place from them being broken at the tird vertebrae so they can be "supple" (supple, yeah right) - but this one is actually from a classical rider! Excuse me, a traditional rider. A very good traditional rider. It is these "old masters" such as Philippe Karl that I wish we had in places other than Europe or the East Coast or Rockies at some insanely high-end facility. But hey, these guys earned their high-end living. They didn't cheat their way to it.

This is a gorgeous piaffe. The horse is uphill and engaging his hind quarters.
Karl is not pulling the horse up into the bit (notice the very loose lower rein and even how the top has some give) and the horse is not directly on the vertical nor is he behind it, but actually holding his head up himself and comfortably on the bit. Another huge tell-tail sign (pun intended) is how the horse's tail is nicely arched. I have heard from many an instructor that this is a sign of comfort. If a horse's tail is stiffly straight and out, they are not comfortable in the least bit.

I found the English version of Philippe Karl's letter on his website. Here is his very well-written letter to the German Equestrian Federation (which has been doing some major revamping, I believe, due the recent drug scandals. If only I could add "among other things").

The GEF's response

And then Philippe Karl's response back

The GEF (well, really, the abbreviation is FN, but that's in German so I'm sure it would make no sense to us ignorant Americans) agreed to a meeting to discuss the matter with Karl. Good!

Here is a bibliography of all the letters and responses, and how it's all going so far. I didn't want to spam this post with Karl vs. GEF links.

Ugh, politics.

At least this looks +positive+ so far....

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Now, for a Greta-licious update! The indoor was about 3/4 dry - the covered end was dry and the uncovered end had dried, but the middle part was still sloshy and wet - and the outdoor arena was good. The round pens were still closed off, but we don't use those anyway! It was really humid outside, so we decided to ride in the indoor arena. Greta had a nice walk going on.

I'm working on driving her into in the bit with my legs, pushing her to reach for it, and so far it's been so-so. There are sometimes when she'll do it, and others where she'll sort of do it. I feel it's me more than anything. I probably did it right, then adjusted or stopped and she stopped.

The extended trot work went pretty well. It feels extended, though when I watched the video we looked really bleh. My chair seat came back! Noooooooo! And I am totally flapping my elbows around when sitting the trot. I look like a chicken! So for the rest of the ride I was obsessed with making sure that was in check. When lessons weren't going on in the indoor arena (we could only use half of it, so that constricted things a bit lol) I did go in and do some trot work until another lesson started up. I tried to collect up the trot a bit, and she did that wonderfully! I saw her in the mirror: on the bit and picking up her legs and tail had a nice little arch and everything! Oooh, I wish I hadn't put away the camera by that point! There's always tomorrow though. Labor Day is fun.

Two of the riders did say that we looked good together! That made me feel really good. And I noticed how "swingy" Greta's tail was at the trot. Besides being cute, from what I understand that is a very good thing! Afterall, it don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing.



Feel free to cringe at our riding. Also, feel free to give critique!

Lots of Love

Because of the 3/4" of rain yesterday (finally!) all but the covered arena was closed off. So I went out and hung out with Greta. It was very relaxing outside, what with the cool quiet and the thunder off in the distance. Nobody was out there, except a boarder in the barn who was cleaning off her horse in the cross ties. But she was gone after a while. So it was just me and der Greters. It was really nice.

She was kind enough to humour me for some Bre+Greta shots, then she walked away like, "Okay Bre, you're going to have to humour yourself by yourself now. I'm gonna eat my hay."

She even chased me! She usually follows, but at a walk, and today she trotted after me! Until she realized that she could trot faster than I could sprint, so I was way behind her, and she veered to a halt and turned around as if to say, "Okay Bre, you got long legs. You can keep up, right?"

No, Greta....... I haven't done track since the 6th grade! You've done all the running for me lately.

Heehee. I love that Greta girly.

I've been so ushy-mushy-gushy lately, haven't I?




All pictures were taken today.

"Oh, rainy day, come 'round...."

"Some times I just want it to slow down."
-Rainy Day by Coldplay. Best band ever.

So, as the title suggests, it rained today! It poured! It was hurricane something-or-another! It was great!

So lemme put this from square one. I got out to the stable. Greta was great, she has definitely settled in and was grazing with the herd on the remnants of the round bale (which was brand new not even two days ago. Yikes!) Sock's rider riding Socks (found out his full name is Sock Monkey. Totally appropriate!) and Sock's rider's mother, aka future instructor, was riding her horse Fuhrst (?) in the indoor arena. It was very cool outside today, so I had no problem going in the outdoor arena. Greta, for a mare who just went into heat, was very calm today. Couldn't even tell that she had only been here for a week and was in heat!

I tried my hand at extensions. I wish I had some video! I watched a dressage lesson at the barn last night, and noticed how the riders put more thrust into their posting and softened their hands, and their horses enxtended! They collected up their horses by doing about the opposite. So i thought I'd give it a shot. What do you know? It worked! I need to do it in the indoor arena though, so I can actually see it in the mirrors. It felt very right though. Yayuh!

So then I take Greta back into the barn, and the lights were already on because of the overcast. I saw some rain way off in the distance, but I thought we'd be good for a while. As I was taking off the saddle, it began to sprinkle. And by the time Greta was ready to go out into the pasture, it was pouring. It was super noisy with the metal roof and the thunder right over us. The lights flickered on and off a couple of times and the lightning flickered into the barn from outside occasionally.

Greta did very well. I stood there and hummed and sang quietly - it was so loud all around us that I nobody would've heard me, and there were three other riders in there! - and Greta just stood patiently. She froze when it thundered, but she didn't flip out. After about an hour - yes, and hour - Greta started to get very anxious. So I waited until the rain subsided a bit, then we made a run for it all the way out to the pasture. In my leather boots. Of all days to forget my rubber boots, it was today.

Nonetheless, Greta made it out okay! I did too! My boots are just covered in mud right now. Oh well.

But boy I wish I could've seen those extensions and collections myself. It felt great to ride. Greta was just all-around great today. I can't wait until tomorrow.

This looks a lot like what the sky looked like today. Freaky. Picture taken near Amarillo.

BTW, some cool Swedish horsey names that I composed, just to humor myself:

• Snowvitparla (snow white pearl)
• Fjadraregna (spring rain / April showers)
• Gretavinna (mix-up of "Greta" and "kvinna" which means "lady", or in other words "Greta girl" which is one of her many nicknames)
• Virbina (after Greta's granddam "Viveka" and her grandsire "Urbino")

Mål för September

Goals for September:

1. Developing a deeper and more elastic seat, especially in sitting the trot
2. Getting and staying on the bit
3. Collecting and extending Greta's gaits (she can do, I know she can!)
4. Keep my legs still when posting the trot
5. Better steering (heehee)
   
6. Confidence: for the both of us!

Some inspirational pictures. Greta's sire: Pehrsson! I can totally see where she gets her good looks from. I want us to look as good as the pictures in the next few years - regardless of whether or not it's in a show, I don't care, I'm really more into learning dressage than showing at the moment. Believe me, we can pull it off.




Pictures from Caduceus Farm website.

What's in Greta's name?

Okay, so Andrea on Eventing-A-GoGo had a cool posting on what the meaning was behind her horses' names. GoGo' name was wicked. Totally James Bond-worthy ("The name's Fatale: GoGo Fatale." Duh-duh-daaaaah-dum!) So I thought I'm post some past and pondering about Greta's name. Afterall, this is her blog. Our blog. Oh, I don't know anymore!

Greta's registered name is Penelope. She is by Pehrsson (a Swedish Warmblood, who sounds like he was quite the shi-bang in his career) and out of Mite Oh Been (a QH mare, sounds more like the English-type QH based upon her pedigree). Her former owner called her a very honest name: Goose. Goose because Greta has a long neck. And she's white. And also, I'm sure, because she's quite an opinionated and goofy lady. It was a cute name.

Though I still despise both names. Goose? Cute, but poor Greta! Identity crisis! And Penelope? Makes me think of that movie with the girl who had a pig nose. And it just sounds like a pig's name to me anyway. Maybe because I had a friend who had a potbelly named Penelope. Regardless....

I wanted something that began with "G", for familiarity's sake, and something more appealing to me. Greta is not a name I would have normally picked: when I first heard she was a mare, my initial names were classy ones like Elizabeth, Mary, Jane, Georgiana (I still like that one, "Greta Georgiana"). But that doesn't mean that I didn't like it. It was cute and girly. But not fahncy.

Upon meeting Greta though, those classy names I had in mind just didn't seem to fit. I now also had to urge to play upon her Swedish ancestry (yah, yah) and still find a names that began with "G". My grandmother suggested "Greta", but I was a bit unsure. Went home, did some research, and bam!

According to several sites, "Greta" is a shortened version of the other Swedish name "Margareta" which is derived from the name "Margaret," derived the from the Latin word margarita, supposedly from the Greek margarites meaning "pearl", likely ultimately a borrowing from Sanskrit (margriti?) Complicated, but perfect! Greta's white, like a pearl, and she is my wittle jewel! Plus, it's a pretty cute name. Greta it was!

So Greta is a definite, there's no changing that. But I've always liked to play around with show names (I have some pretty good ones, I think, if anyone needs ideas) so I've always considered some show names for Greta, if I didn't do just "Greta".

• Greta Georgiana
• Amalthea (since she reminds me of the unicorn from The Last Unicorn, one of my favorite movies and books)
• Eidlewiess (pretty German name)
  
• Elizabeth Bennet (from another one of my favorite books and movies, Pride and Prejudice)
• Trésor ("treasure" in French, also the name of a nice-smelling perfume)
• Yvaine (from Stardust, one of my other favorite movies... I think it's a book too)

Any particular favorites you see in that list? Any others you can think of? Anything related that doesn't have to do with Greta? (your horses are important too!)

Thanks to everyone for the comments. Do y'all find it annoying when I respond to everything? I just feel this obligation to do so.

And the top two pictures are from Saturday, when we moved Greta. I love the one of her dragging me around the place!! She hasn't done it since, which is good.