Giving Thanks by Giving Back

Earlier this week, my photographer friend and I were talking about a local horse rescue and sanctuary in Rockwall, http://www.throwawayponies.org/ .  The owner of the sanctuary, who is also a fulltime nurse, was having to work really hard to solicit money this season because the number of rescues has grown to 37 horses.  In fact, just that weekend she had gone to pick up one donkey that has been surrendered and the owner had in fact left her three! She had recently gotten a $500 donation but that month's farrier bill was $600. I guess this is a similar tale for many rescues.

As we talked, I started wondering how I could help besides sending the odd donation here and there. Her big charity golf tournament was at least 6 months away and she could really use some intermediate help. How could I build some awareness for this rescue and raise some funds at the same time?  Immediately, I thought of a schooling show to benefit TaPs.

As a dressage rider, I am lucky to have the funds for this sometimes expensive hobby.  My horse has never had a day of suffering (he may disagree) neglect or gone without a meal, a vet visit or a warm blanket; if I am lucky, he will never go without.  I know many other riders whose horses have had similarly pampered lives. If we've never rescued a horse,  I know many who've been touched in some way by someone who does do rescue, maybe has rescued a dog or a cat or taken on a OTTB project.  And in these economic times, with unemployment at an all time high, there are many animals out there that are going without and rescue organizations are working harder than ever before, TaPs included. We lucky dressage riders have an opportunity to help out when we can!

So, the plan is to organize a charity schooling show.  I've lined up the facility, a show manager, and the judge.  Now I just have to iron out all the little details and post the entry form!  I am really excited.  My goal is to raise enough funds to either cover a couple of months of farrier bills but the sky is the limit. I will post more details as I finalize them.

In the meantime, hug your pony, your puppies or your loved ones and give thanks that we are all heathy and surrounded by people and animals that we love and love us back unconditionally!

Happy Thanksgiving!

The 20 Meter Circle of Death

About three weeks ago, our trainer was finally able to come out to give lessons after being away for WEG, judging and riding in the Steffen Peters clinic.  I guess she'd been gone just long enough for things to go the hell in a handbasket, because before you know it I found myself on the 20m circle. A little wave of hatred, anger and despair usually washes over me when I get told to get back on the 20m circle and stay on it.  THIS IS NOT HOW I WANT TO SPEND 45 minutes and $105! But when this happens it is usually because I have lost all control, have started to micromanage bends, legs, shoulders, you name it! 

At first, I was going through the motions but then I got tired of being yelled at for not doing it right. Afterall, how can you not do a 20m circle correctly? Apparently, it is possible. Eventually, I asked Sue why the 20m circle? Sue said all the experts tell you to go back on the 20m circle to fix a problem, but no one tells you how to ride the 20m circle.  Once I understood why she wanted me on the 20m circle, I embraced the challenge of the 20m Circle of Death.  Because the sooner I conquer it, the sooner I can get back to Half Pass, Renvers and all the other stuff that makes dressage more interesting!

You actually ride the 20m Circle of Death  (COD) like a diamond with flat sides.  You have to hit all your points on the flat sides, where you have a moment/step of straightness before you use your outside aids to turn and head straight to the next 'point'.  I've been riding my 20m COD by C so my moments of straighness are at C, I, and the halfway points between H-S and M-R. Somehow, riding the 20m COD and just worrying about hitting all my 'points' I can incorprate all the correct aids for my halt halts, correct flexion, use of the outside aids to 'straighten' the horse. I can find the rhythm and the correct tempo where we are in balance and harmony.  AAHHH! The exercise works for me because it gets us on the aids without thinking about 'being on the aids'. It really does all the work for me so that I am not micromanaging my horse. And then once you have the 20m Circle of Death down, you can adjust the circle to the 10m Circle of Pain! And once you've conquered hitting all your points at the walk and trot, you can do it at the canter.

So my new mantra is "nothing bad can happen on the 20m circle!"

I've been incorporating my 20m COD as part of my warm up after our marching walk and our lateral walk exercises, and right before our lateral trot work warm up. By just having that to focus on, it really doesn't matter what is going on because it puts Red and I into the perfect frame of mind, both of us sharp and on the aids!

Girl Power!

Zenyatta may be the best female athlete ever! It is nice to see CBS' 60 Minutes give such a great profile of this great mare, her trainer, her jockey and her owners:



Here she is arriving in Kentucky, on her way to beat the boys! She travels in style!

Ready for Adoption: Bailey the Highway Dog

I am posting this on the blog in hopes that someone 'out there' will read his story and be moved to adopt Bailey. We have been unable to find a home for him, despite sending emails, posting on Facebook, petfinder and the giveaways on Chronicle of the Horse.  I just cant understand it! Bailey is a sweet dog that probably wouldn't be here today if Cheryl and I weren't such suckers for a cute face!

Here is the story about Bailey (new name) aka Scout (the original name) aka Mr. Wiggles (what he likes to do).

Sometime in September, My friend Cheryl and I were leaving the barn where we board at. It was around 8pm. As we were about to get on the highway, Cheryl slammed on her brakes because a little puppy was on the road. We stopped and she opened the door and he jumped right in. We thought he might have been lost but there is a good chance that he was dumped. It was right near the highway, a remote part of east Texas with lots of big pieces of property. Because it was nearly sunset, we know that if he stayed out very long, it was inevitable that he would end up getting hit and killed by a car going 70 mph. He got in the car, and just laid down. (He's a great car dog!). We went to the surrounding properties and asked if anyone was missing a dog. No takers. So someone had dumped him.
So we called Cheryl's husband and asked permission to take him home. She already has 3 dogs and I have 2 dogs and a cat. We received permission as long as we found a home for him ASAP!

We got his shots taken care of, had him tested for HW (negative!).  We told everyone we knew on Facebook about him. We thought we found home for him with a woman that had a Great Pyr. She had him for about 3 weeks and decided that he was spending too much time in his crate and she didn't have enough time for him because she worked and because he wasn't potty trained yet. So he came back to us.

By then, he knew his new name. Walked on a leash, was crate trained. Knew how to sit. We knew he was good with other dogs. He would make a good companion to another dog or be good alone. We have just had him neutered. We figured that making him the perfect dog-to-go would get him adopted.

He's mostly black lab with something thrown in because he's got that gorgeously soft lab coat, webbed feet, noble nose and chocolate eyes and lab tail. But he's only 40lbs, and I don't think he will get much bigger. He's got an amazing personality, can be hyper like a puppy but can be calm too. He loves, loves, loves to be petted.

He has now been at Cheryl's for about a month or so.  He is in love with Cheryl's dogs (all girls) but being older DQ's like their mom, they are so tired of the young rowdy boy! And since he has been sporting his 'cone of shame' they run from him in terror!

Cheryl says that this is the best dog ever! But he can't stay with her forever. He really needs a home of his own.  He would be good with other dogs or even better as an only dog.  He is now 100% house trained, will stand near the door and wait to go outside. He's leash and crate trained.  He is UTD on shots and neutered! Cheryl and I are located east of Dallas, TX and would be willing to drive him to a new home!

Bailey is free to a good home. We only ask that his new owner be a decent human being, can provide references from a veterinarian, verify a fenced in yard, and maintain him on HW preventative.

I am attaching some more photos of Bailey, but they aren't very good...because he is Mr. Wiggles!

If you are interested in adopting this wonderful puppy, or know of someone who might be interested...please contact me by leaving a comment here on the blog. Thanks!

(who wouldn't want a sous-chef as cute as this!??!)