No, this will not be about my own riding abilities, since I haven't been on a horse at all since the 2012 Minnesota Horse Expo.
Success in the Saddle is a series of equestrian workout DVDs by Debbie Rodriguez. The back of the set of volumes 1, 2 and 3 says: "While Debbie Rodriquez is a 'S' dressage judge, eventing judge, certified personal trainer and USDF Gold Medalist, she is first and foremost a rider herself. Work with her through these no equipment, no excuse workouts and discover for yourself the value of core fitness to your own riding. This is functional fitness for riders of all disciplines!"
Each DVD has the exercises for two days on it. I had used it some time ago, but today was the first time since January that I started using it again. It was easier to get back into it than I thought it would be. There was only one exercise for which I needed to do fewer reps than were called for. There is a fourth volume, but I haven't even opened that one yet. The workouts on volume four are supposed to be more intense than the earlier DVDs. The first six workouts are challenging enough right now, so it'll take a while before I'm ready for volume four.
In each workout, Debbie tells the participants to check with their doctors before starting the workouts. She says if you feel any pain, to stop and not use the DVDs again until after you've checked with your doctor. She explains how each exercise is beneficial to riders. For example, shoulder exercises are helpful for dealing with shoulder injuries caused by landing on your shoulders when you fall off your horse. She always has two other women working out with her, one demonstrating an advanced version of the exercises and the other demonstrating an easier version of the exercises.
The DVDs are helpful and I plan to get back into the habit of using them on a daily basis. There are two changes I believe would have made the DVDs more useful.
1) Put the easiest workout as day one, not day six. The workouts should move from the easiest one on day one to the the hardest one on day six.
2) Do one demo rep of each exercise first. Sometimes it's hard to watch the DVD and do the exercise at the same time if the exercise is one I'm not familiar with. Although it wouldn't be that difficult to watch each day's workout before I do it, so that's just a matter of making an extra twenty minutes to watch it before I do it.
Besides the DVDs, I also try to do stretches recommended in Horseback Riding For Dummies. They're stretches meant to be done before riding, but I like doing them even without riding.
If - when - the opportunity becomes available to ride on a regular basis, I'll have been doing the exercises and stretches that will help make me physically ready to ride.
Monday, July 8, 2013
Sunday, July 7, 2013
There's A Pattern For That
Reining is one of the most spectacular equestrian events I've seen. The Breyer horse and rider pictured above are performing reining's signature move, the sliding stop. The model doesn't do the move justice, but I don't have the rights to show a photo of a real horse and rider performing this move. This photo is one of my own model horse and rider sets and I took the photo myself. Reining is the only Western event approved by the FEI. Internationally, the U.S. dominates the event. In the three times reining has been included in the World Equestrian Games (2002, 2006 and 2010), the U.S. won the team Gold Medal all three times.
Reining is a judged event and there are twelve patterns. Among the things included in the patterns are slow small circles, large fast circles, 360 degree spins, rollbacks, flying lead changes and the sliding stop. Sometimes just watching the series of 360 degree spins is enough to make me start to feel dizzy!
A horse of any breed can be a reiner. I've seen it at Arabian Horse and American Quarter Horse competitions. I've seen a YouTube video of a Gypsy Vanner Horse competing in reining. For horses that compete only in reining, a special shoe called a slide plate is used on the hind feet. There are also saddles made specifically for reining. It is essential that a reining horse wear protective leg gear.
One caution when training a horse in reining is not to overtrain, especially when it comes to patterns. If the same entire pattern is practiced over and over, the horse will either get bored or will start anticipating the next part of the pattern. A horse is only supposed to perform the parts of the pattern when the rider gives him the appropriate cues.
Since I'm not competitive, I don't imagine myself ever competing in reining. It would be fun to try at least once, though. But if I ever do want to compete in reining - there's a pattern for that.
Saturday, July 6, 2013
IALAC
IALAC is a term I learned in a class in high school. It stands for I Am Lovable And Capable. Whenever people are criticized for no good reason or put down in some way, a little of their IALAC is lost. For some people, by the end of the day little or no IALAC is left.
As an experiment, everybody in class wore a paper badge with IALAC on it for the rest of the day. Every time someone said something that hurt, that implied we weren't lovable or capable, we needed to rip a piece off the paper badge. That day we all learned that the old saying, "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me" is false. Words don't leave bruises, but the wounds they leave on a person's spirit may never heal.
How often do my words hurt people? Do I stop to think before I speak? Do I say hurtful things on purpose? Do I ask myself how it would make me feel if someone said something like that to me? Words, once spoken, can never be taken back. No matter how times I apologize to someone, it can't undo the damage thoughtless words have caused.
The Golden Rule "Do unto to others as you would have them do unto you" is the best way to deal with other people. If I remind myself constantly of that, I'll be less likely to use careless words that will damage another person's IALAC.
I also need to remember that God sees me as lovable and capable. I can't let circumstances allow me to see myself as anything less than a loved and cherished daughter of the Most High.
I'm going to do my best - with God's help - not to damage another person's IALAC again.
As an experiment, everybody in class wore a paper badge with IALAC on it for the rest of the day. Every time someone said something that hurt, that implied we weren't lovable or capable, we needed to rip a piece off the paper badge. That day we all learned that the old saying, "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me" is false. Words don't leave bruises, but the wounds they leave on a person's spirit may never heal.
How often do my words hurt people? Do I stop to think before I speak? Do I say hurtful things on purpose? Do I ask myself how it would make me feel if someone said something like that to me? Words, once spoken, can never be taken back. No matter how times I apologize to someone, it can't undo the damage thoughtless words have caused.
The Golden Rule "Do unto to others as you would have them do unto you" is the best way to deal with other people. If I remind myself constantly of that, I'll be less likely to use careless words that will damage another person's IALAC.
I also need to remember that God sees me as lovable and capable. I can't let circumstances allow me to see myself as anything less than a loved and cherished daughter of the Most High.
I'm going to do my best - with God's help - not to damage another person's IALAC again.
Friday, July 5, 2013
Happiness Can't Be Found Looking Back
It's all too easy to look back and wonder, "Why did I do that?" or "Why didn't I do that?" There's no way to go back and change anything. A life of "if onlys" is no way to live.
While I can't go back and stop myself from making the mistakes I've made, every morning is a chance to start over, to move ahead toward the future I want. Or, more accurately, the future I believe God wants me to have. If the future I want isn't the future He wants me to have, He'll put up roadblocks. He's done that with other things I've wanted to do.
I can see now that some of the things I wanted would have been bad for me. "Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone?" Matthew 7:9, NIV+ Although it's not in the Bible, I also believe that if I ask God for a stone, He's not going to give me a stone - he's going to give me bread. So many of the things I asked for in the past were stones, not bread.
I'm not going to live in the past anymore. It's time to press on. I'll stumble along the way, since I won't be perfect until I'm in heaven. Stumbling along as I move forward is better than a life of looking back in regret. Maybe I won't become a children's novelist. Maybe I won't become a horse artist. Maybe I'll never be anything more than a cowgirl at heart.
Whatever the future holds for me, like the apostle Paul, I want to be able to say, "Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:12-14, NIV+ Paul didn't ignore his past, but he didn't drag it around with him.
I need to saddle up my horse (figuratively for now) and follow where Jesus leads. I'm hoping that will lead me to becoming a successful novelist and artist. If it doesn't, though, that's okay. It just means God has something even better in mind for me.
Why look back when that's not the direction I want to go?
While I can't go back and stop myself from making the mistakes I've made, every morning is a chance to start over, to move ahead toward the future I want. Or, more accurately, the future I believe God wants me to have. If the future I want isn't the future He wants me to have, He'll put up roadblocks. He's done that with other things I've wanted to do.
I can see now that some of the things I wanted would have been bad for me. "Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone?" Matthew 7:9, NIV+ Although it's not in the Bible, I also believe that if I ask God for a stone, He's not going to give me a stone - he's going to give me bread. So many of the things I asked for in the past were stones, not bread.
I'm not going to live in the past anymore. It's time to press on. I'll stumble along the way, since I won't be perfect until I'm in heaven. Stumbling along as I move forward is better than a life of looking back in regret. Maybe I won't become a children's novelist. Maybe I won't become a horse artist. Maybe I'll never be anything more than a cowgirl at heart.
Whatever the future holds for me, like the apostle Paul, I want to be able to say, "Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:12-14, NIV+ Paul didn't ignore his past, but he didn't drag it around with him.
I need to saddle up my horse (figuratively for now) and follow where Jesus leads. I'm hoping that will lead me to becoming a successful novelist and artist. If it doesn't, though, that's okay. It just means God has something even better in mind for me.
Why look back when that's not the direction I want to go?
Thursday, July 4, 2013
Horses In The American Revolution
In 1776, horses were the main form of transportation. Could the American Revolution have happened without them?
Obviously, Paul Revere wouldn't have been able to make his famous ride on April 18, 1775 without a horse. He didn't ride his own horse. There is no record of whether or not he even owned a horse. He borrowed the horse from patriot sympathizer Samuel Larkin. The horse was never returned to Larkin. The British captured the horse and used it to replace the tired horse of a sergeant.
General George Washington saw the need for cavalrymen to patrol the coast for British activity and to act as messengers. He saw battles being lost to British cavalry horsemen. He proposed the creation of the U.S. Cavalry on December 11, 1776. He wrote this message to congress on that day: "From the experience I have had in this campaign of the utility of Horse, I am convinced there is no carrying on the war without them (horses) and I would therefore recommend the establishment of one or more Cavalry Corps . . . In addition to those already raised in Virginia."
By June 1777, there were two hundred sixty cavalry men. Among the things they did was lead raids on the British hay storage, which destroyed their ability to maintain their horses. No horses meant no way to transport artillery and supplies, as well as the end of their cavalry. Sergeant Elijah Churchill was awarded the Badge of Military Merit (now known as the Medal of Honor) for destroying three hundred tons of British hay.
When the war ended, all of the cavalry regiments were disbanded.
Of George Washington's own horses, his two favorites were Nelson and Blueskin. Another favorite was Mongolia, a white Arabian. Some of his other horses were named Samson, Steady, Leonidas and Traveller.
The horse was an essential part of the American Revolution. What better day to remember those horses than on Independence Day?
Obviously, Paul Revere wouldn't have been able to make his famous ride on April 18, 1775 without a horse. He didn't ride his own horse. There is no record of whether or not he even owned a horse. He borrowed the horse from patriot sympathizer Samuel Larkin. The horse was never returned to Larkin. The British captured the horse and used it to replace the tired horse of a sergeant.
General George Washington saw the need for cavalrymen to patrol the coast for British activity and to act as messengers. He saw battles being lost to British cavalry horsemen. He proposed the creation of the U.S. Cavalry on December 11, 1776. He wrote this message to congress on that day: "From the experience I have had in this campaign of the utility of Horse, I am convinced there is no carrying on the war without them (horses) and I would therefore recommend the establishment of one or more Cavalry Corps . . . In addition to those already raised in Virginia."
By June 1777, there were two hundred sixty cavalry men. Among the things they did was lead raids on the British hay storage, which destroyed their ability to maintain their horses. No horses meant no way to transport artillery and supplies, as well as the end of their cavalry. Sergeant Elijah Churchill was awarded the Badge of Military Merit (now known as the Medal of Honor) for destroying three hundred tons of British hay.
When the war ended, all of the cavalry regiments were disbanded.
Of George Washington's own horses, his two favorites were Nelson and Blueskin. Another favorite was Mongolia, a white Arabian. Some of his other horses were named Samson, Steady, Leonidas and Traveller.
The horse was an essential part of the American Revolution. What better day to remember those horses than on Independence Day?
.
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
My Dream Job
This entry will be of the "if money was no object" type. In real life, I work in accounting and so I know the numbers aren't there for this to happen, but I'm going to write about it anyway.
My dream job would be to become a Clinton Anderson Certified Clinician. I was impressed by him and his work almost from the first time I read any articles by him. He's down to earth and describes himself as a "meat and potatoes" kind of guy. He gives instructions in plain and simple language that anyone can understand.
I was happy he was bringing one of his WalkAbout Tours to the Minnesota State Fairgrounds, even though I couldn't afford a ticket. Then a complimentary ticket arrived in the mail. Even though I didn't - and still don't - own a horse, the things he talked about and demonstrated took my breath away. I ended up joining his No Worries Club.
Because there are more people who want to learn his Method than he could possibly reach, he created the Clinton Anderson Clinician Academy. There men and women are trained to be mini Clinton Andersons - minus the Aussie accent. It's a rigorous program and not every one who wants to attend the academy is accepted. Clinton wants to be careful about who he'll allow to bear his name. However, for those who stick with the program, he'll offer a money-back guarantee to anyone who takes lessons from or attends a clinic done by one of his certified clinicians. Being a Clinton Anderson Certified Clinician means he believes those who earn that title are able to teach the Method the same way he would himself. Those men and women have the backing of Downunder Horsemanship. It's up to each clinician to determine how much he or she can earn.
Of course, tuition isn't cheap and the academy students are expected to work their butts off. It's basically eat, sleep and drink horses while they're there. They work on training the horses that will become Clinton Anderson Signature Horses. Clinton has a strong work ethic and he expects no less from his clinicians.
I had gone so far as to contact Downunder Horsemanship to find out about being a Clinton Anderson Certified Clinician in Japan. I was told as long as I took care of all the requirements set by the Japanese government, there was no problem. Just for fun, I had done some research about bringing animals into Japan. From the quarantine side of things, it's easier to bring a horse into Japan than a cat or dog. The work visa for me would be the tricky part, since I would need to find a sponsor. Maybe one of those Western riding stables in Japan. . .
I will probably never have my dream job, but as one of my favorite posters says, "God gives us dreams a size too big so we can grown into them."
My dream job would be to become a Clinton Anderson Certified Clinician. I was impressed by him and his work almost from the first time I read any articles by him. He's down to earth and describes himself as a "meat and potatoes" kind of guy. He gives instructions in plain and simple language that anyone can understand.
I was happy he was bringing one of his WalkAbout Tours to the Minnesota State Fairgrounds, even though I couldn't afford a ticket. Then a complimentary ticket arrived in the mail. Even though I didn't - and still don't - own a horse, the things he talked about and demonstrated took my breath away. I ended up joining his No Worries Club.
Because there are more people who want to learn his Method than he could possibly reach, he created the Clinton Anderson Clinician Academy. There men and women are trained to be mini Clinton Andersons - minus the Aussie accent. It's a rigorous program and not every one who wants to attend the academy is accepted. Clinton wants to be careful about who he'll allow to bear his name. However, for those who stick with the program, he'll offer a money-back guarantee to anyone who takes lessons from or attends a clinic done by one of his certified clinicians. Being a Clinton Anderson Certified Clinician means he believes those who earn that title are able to teach the Method the same way he would himself. Those men and women have the backing of Downunder Horsemanship. It's up to each clinician to determine how much he or she can earn.
Of course, tuition isn't cheap and the academy students are expected to work their butts off. It's basically eat, sleep and drink horses while they're there. They work on training the horses that will become Clinton Anderson Signature Horses. Clinton has a strong work ethic and he expects no less from his clinicians.
I had gone so far as to contact Downunder Horsemanship to find out about being a Clinton Anderson Certified Clinician in Japan. I was told as long as I took care of all the requirements set by the Japanese government, there was no problem. Just for fun, I had done some research about bringing animals into Japan. From the quarantine side of things, it's easier to bring a horse into Japan than a cat or dog. The work visa for me would be the tricky part, since I would need to find a sponsor. Maybe one of those Western riding stables in Japan. . .
I will probably never have my dream job, but as one of my favorite posters says, "God gives us dreams a size too big so we can grown into them."
Monday, July 1, 2013
BarrelSim
BarrelSim is a PC game created by Rodeo Software. It has two different simulations - barrel racing and pole bending. I don't remember when I bought it, but I do know I had it before I went to Fort Worth last year. I brought it along with me so I could play it in the evenings. It requires having the CD in the computer to be able to play. (My hotel had free wi-fi, so I had brought my computer along. My laptop along with my riding helmet made my carry-on luggage heavier than my checked luggage, but I digress. . .)
The cover says it has "ultra realistic game play." Never having tried barrel racing or pole bending in real life, I'm not sure how realistic it is. The horse doesn't move the way real horses move when I'm watching barrel racing, but that could be due to the fact that it's a PC game, rather than one for Wii, Xbox or PlayStation.
I learned early on not to bother with the pole bending part of the sim. I'm worse at the pole bending than I am at the barrel racing - not that that's saying much. I stink at both games, but I stink less at barrel racing than I do at pole bending.
The game comes with three versions - practice, multi-player and online.I only play the practice version. I can't play the multi-player version, since I don't have anyone to play with/against, and I'm not sure if I'd want to even if I did. The online version is out of the question for me. Aside from not being competitive, other online players would probably get a good laugh out of how bad I am. My best score so far has been 23.642 seconds since the time I started keeping track. My worst time has been 29.973 seconds. If I ever am able to score 18.000 seconds and under on a regular basis, then I might consider trying competing online once. But only once.
The cover also says,"For the same reason pilots need flight simulators, barrel racers and pole benders need BarrelSim." Again, I don't know how accurate that statement is. I don't know if my friends who are barrel racers have ever played the game or what they think of it if they have.
For me, playing BarrelSim will probably be the closest I ever get to barrel racing. So I'll enjoy playing the game and be satisfied with watching real cowgirls do the real thing whenever I have the chance.
The cover says it has "ultra realistic game play." Never having tried barrel racing or pole bending in real life, I'm not sure how realistic it is. The horse doesn't move the way real horses move when I'm watching barrel racing, but that could be due to the fact that it's a PC game, rather than one for Wii, Xbox or PlayStation.
I learned early on not to bother with the pole bending part of the sim. I'm worse at the pole bending than I am at the barrel racing - not that that's saying much. I stink at both games, but I stink less at barrel racing than I do at pole bending.
The game comes with three versions - practice, multi-player and online.I only play the practice version. I can't play the multi-player version, since I don't have anyone to play with/against, and I'm not sure if I'd want to even if I did. The online version is out of the question for me. Aside from not being competitive, other online players would probably get a good laugh out of how bad I am. My best score so far has been 23.642 seconds since the time I started keeping track. My worst time has been 29.973 seconds. If I ever am able to score 18.000 seconds and under on a regular basis, then I might consider trying competing online once. But only once.
The cover also says,"For the same reason pilots need flight simulators, barrel racers and pole benders need BarrelSim." Again, I don't know how accurate that statement is. I don't know if my friends who are barrel racers have ever played the game or what they think of it if they have.
For me, playing BarrelSim will probably be the closest I ever get to barrel racing. So I'll enjoy playing the game and be satisfied with watching real cowgirls do the real thing whenever I have the chance.
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