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Great ride

Thu, 20 May 2010 18:07:28 +0100

So today Chavo and I had a GREAT ride! On Tuesday, Victoria Pirko, my trainer, had me working on trot to canter transitions. She would like me to eventually move up to Training Level and knows it is hard for me to ask for a canter from the trot. I can get the most beautiful transitions into the canter from the halt and the walk, but when asking from the trot, it all goes to hell! For whatever reason, especially to the right, I have the hardest time asking Chavo to transition into the canter from the trot. I think it is because I have to get my left leg back to cue him into the canter, and that is my bad leg. But in addition to issues with my leg, going to the right, we tend to run into the canter, so it looks AWFUL. Well today after warming up with a lot of trotting, walk/trot/walk transitions, trot/halt/trot transitions, I decided to start with cantering to the right. The first few attempts from the trot were awful. Like normal. In addition to running into it, once we were cantering, Chavo gave me the "middle hoof" and decided to just run wildly at the canter, which he has been doing lately, but I was ready for it. I gave him several small half halts until he finally started listening again to my aids then immediately transitioned into a collected trot. We trotted a few strides then I asked for the canter again. This time, while we still ran into it, once cantering he listened to my aids and moved forward from behind. After a couple times around like this I asked for the downward transition to the trot. Which he obliged. A few strides more at the trot and then I asked for the canter again...this time it was right there! He did not run into it! So we only went around for three or four strides before I asked again for the downward transition. Again he obliged in a nice collected trot. So then I decided to give him a little break and let him for the walk on a long rein for about 2 or three minutes before I asked him to collect and transition to the trot. After one time around on a 20 meter circle, between B and X I asked for the canter...it was right there again! I was so happy, but I still needed to work him going to the left. He, of course, was perfect every time to the left. So we did a lot of trot/canter/trot transitions to the left. Normally, I would end our ride there because it was such a good note, but I had to see if what we had started our workout with had been retained so decided to ask for the canter from the right...nope, we ran into it and there again was the big ol' "middle hoof"! What a turkey! So we proceeded to work for a half hour more with trot/canter/trot transitions to the right and about 15 minutes into it the light bulb went off and he really started working very nicely again! While I was pretty happy with how things were going, I decided I would ask a couple more times then end for the day. Well the very next transition ended it early because finally, I got the most perfect and smooth transition EVER going to the right! So I rewarded him with ending right then and there! I LOVE my boy!

Would you want them reprimanded??

Thu, 20 May 2010 04:26:00 +0100

hypothetically speaking...

Say you've just been told that a person or people that sit at the helm of a "show association" within your breed industry have recently been caught doing something illegal. Say there is proof that this person or people broke into confidential files to obtain information about a registry and/or some of its members and publicly revealed information about said registry and/or members. Their motivation was to publicly tarnish the registry and or said members reputations in order to draw show goers away from the registry shows and in turn hope these show goers participate in the shows held by the law breakers. When all is said in done, their ultimate motive is greed. Say they decided to pick on a member, however, maybe that member does not have the funds to prosecute, but has the proof and would win if they did prosecute. Do you think the law breaker(s) should be reprimanded by the "show association"? Would you be willing to assist the victim(s) so that they could prosecute?

Here is my take, I believe, people like this should be reprimanded AND that reprimand should be harsh. "Banning them from being able to participate in any type of breed functions for a period of say 5 or 10 years" type harsh. They not only broke the law, but violated a code of ethics, and could harm the "show associations" reputation. Being a fairly young breed here in the States, we cannot afford to have greedy people at the helms of our organizations. When greed motivates, someone somewhere always gets hurt, and unfortunately this type of behavior will ultimately cause the breed's demise. If these people were allowed to get away with this, who's to say their unethical behavior would stop there. Maybe they would rig the show. Pay off judges. Can you imagine the ripple effect then! Can you imagine how much harm that could do to the breed?

So I want to know your opinions on this...

My First Blog...

Wed, 19 May 2010 13:18:50 +0100

Anyone who knows me and knows me well, understands that I have an overwhelming drive to open the lines of communication between myself and the world. So I've finally decided to create a blog. I am not really sure why it has taken me so long, but none the less, I've finally done it!

This blog will primarily focus on my horse, the gypsy breed, breeding practices, showing/events participated or attended, my personal journey with Chavo, my dressage training, tack and riding apparel, grooming tips, etc. Occasionally I will bring up topics that most people will run away screaming from...or choose to pretend the matter was never brought up. I've never been the type to hold my opinions back, but I also know everyone has an opinion, and whether I agree with it or not, I need to be respectful of their thoughts.

Before I get started with organizing my thoughts and putting them on display for the world to pick apart and take from them what they will, I want to make a point to saying, that communication via the internet is one of the trickiest and deceiving forms of communication. Once words are written and put on display here, I have no idea how my message will be received by readers. One thing that is almost certainly lost is "tone" of conversation and the ability to read body language. I tend to be very sarcastic and facetious at times. Sometimes I am very outspoken and very passionate about a topic. Other times, especially when I am furious about something, I hold nothing back. However, on the whole, I only want whats best for the breed, and often times I bring up topics that I KNOW others are thinking, they are just too introverted to speak up, or they don't want to say something because they are afraid to "rock the boat".So please, if you have a serious problem with something I've written, please contact me via email, before jumping to conclusions about the way something has been written.

Well I think that is enough of an "opener", so now I shall focus on my true intent here...hope you enjoy!

-Mollyann