Remember the saying: "April showers bring May flowers?"
Somebody should consider the fact that it rains in June as well. A lot. We had a lovely, loud, wet, sopping rainstorm yesterday afternoon. My Mum flew out to the church to make some bullitins since we will ba absent all this weekend. Liddy left her bike out side after some friends left and the barn was left open. The problem with that? Leah and I discovered the fact after the storm had started.
Nathan, Leah, and I were watching LOTR when we finally heard the rain pouring. So, with light coats and tennis shoes, Lele and I shot outside to bring the bike to the garage and to shut the barn.
Needles to say, this was the second time I've been litterally dripping wet in a rain storm.
It's a ton of fun! You should try it sometime!
-Hanna
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Sunday, May 2, 2010
That Makes Three...
Well I rode at the R's home yesterday in some lovely weather. Button's was very forward and we had some beautiful canters together. Anna and I rode across the street from their house in the massive expanse of fields that belong to her father. That was fun, fun, fun! I actually had to hold Button's back! *lol* In one of the fields there was a huge mound of dirt from a project of her fathers and a tractor or something had made a flat place across it. Anna and I rode up that and down again. A little scary but nothing compared to some of the other steep trails that I saw at their place .... I was assured that by the end of the summer I will have rode them all. *oh boy...* Anyway, when we came back Anna put Kurant out in the pasture and I ride Buttons a little more. I probably shouldn't have.
Anna was standing in the center of the paddock that we were riding in taking pictures for me with my Mylo. After a few more canters (which I was thoroughly enjoying) I lost one stirrup and then the other so I tried to pull Buttons up. She began fluctuating between canter and trot and kept that up so that I couldn't do what I needed to do. Eventually she decided on a dirty pony trick that (I believe) she herself came up with. Going from canter to gallop she headed straight for the brand new fence that the R's had just put up along their paddock. When she reached it she got herself as close as she could resulting in my knee getting caught on one of the posts. I went down onto the gravel/sand and she apparently jumped over me.
In the end, I ended up with a banged up arm (not broken, thank goodness), a cover-removed helmet, and a very skinned back. Remember when I fell off of Whit a few months ago and skinned my shoulder blade. Yup, this is right on top and twice the size. I would post a picture but because of where it is, I would rather not.
Anyway, my helmet is at my grandparents getting fixed and my grandmother, after seeing the pictures, declared: "Hanna, I don't want you to ride anymore!"
Sorry, not an option. :)
Anna was standing in the center of the paddock that we were riding in taking pictures for me with my Mylo. After a few more canters (which I was thoroughly enjoying) I lost one stirrup and then the other so I tried to pull Buttons up. She began fluctuating between canter and trot and kept that up so that I couldn't do what I needed to do. Eventually she decided on a dirty pony trick that (I believe) she herself came up with. Going from canter to gallop she headed straight for the brand new fence that the R's had just put up along their paddock. When she reached it she got herself as close as she could resulting in my knee getting caught on one of the posts. I went down onto the gravel/sand and she apparently jumped over me.
In the end, I ended up with a banged up arm (not broken, thank goodness), a cover-removed helmet, and a very skinned back. Remember when I fell off of Whit a few months ago and skinned my shoulder blade. Yup, this is right on top and twice the size. I would post a picture but because of where it is, I would rather not.
Anyway, my helmet is at my grandparents getting fixed and my grandmother, after seeing the pictures, declared: "Hanna, I don't want you to ride anymore!"
Sorry, not an option. :)
Friday, April 30, 2010
Best Lesson Ever!
Ahhhhh..... Total summer weather out! I have no idea how hot it is but it's HOT. Tomorrow is supposed to be colder and with a chance of more rain. What joy. I'm supposed to go ride at Anna R's tomorrow so hopefully it will hold out long enough for us.
Speaking of that, Mondays lesson was the best lesson with the most progress that I've ever made in one day! I trotted some and had some good spots where I got many encouragements from Anna and her mom and Mrs.L on how we looked ("we" as in "me and Buttons").
Later I decided to canter a few times. Mrs.Rupel cantered Kurant int front of me a few times to help Buttons get going. See, Buttons is a driving pony so she is better at the canter if there are other horses doing the same thing. Anyway, we cantered and it was SO FUN! A couple times Mrs. Rupel and I cantered side by side and that was the best part.
Mrs.L and I where so happy at the progress that I had made. We gave each other high-fives and laughed and smiled. At the end of the lesson I said: "I feel like I've won a battle!"
I had.
-Hanna
Speaking of that, Mondays lesson was the best lesson with the most progress that I've ever made in one day! I trotted some and had some good spots where I got many encouragements from Anna and her mom and Mrs.L on how we looked ("we" as in "me and Buttons").
Later I decided to canter a few times. Mrs.Rupel cantered Kurant int front of me a few times to help Buttons get going. See, Buttons is a driving pony so she is better at the canter if there are other horses doing the same thing. Anyway, we cantered and it was SO FUN! A couple times Mrs. Rupel and I cantered side by side and that was the best part.
Mrs.L and I where so happy at the progress that I had made. We gave each other high-fives and laughed and smiled. At the end of the lesson I said: "I feel like I've won a battle!"
I had.
-Hanna
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
short and sweet...
All right, this is short because I have to be somewhere. My birthday was great! I got a ton of birthday money and..... *Drum roll, please!*
A LAPTOP!
I'll write more about it later but for now I have ta go.
-Hanna
A LAPTOP!
I'll write more about it later but for now I have ta go.
-Hanna
Friday, April 9, 2010
My Crazy Morning....
Well, this morning was certainly interesting. Since Monday I was planning on coming to work a 9 just like the norm. Then there was a possibility that a friend would be coming for a sleepover last night but we decided to wait until next Friday. The reasoning for that was because we had forgotten that we had home group last night and since I had to work the next morning it wasn't gonna be much a sleepover. Since this was the second cancellation for the same date I was relieved when she took it well.
Anyway, so before we canceled my mom emailed Mrs.L asking if I could possibly come at 11 instead so that we could do breakfast with the friend instead of rushing out of the house at 8:30 and so ending the not-so-fun sleepover. We got the okay.
So in order for you to understand how this next part plays into the whole crazy morning theme, I'll have to give you my health history from the past couple of days. All winter I've had this stupid growing patch of eczema on my earlobe, right? Right. Well, lately no matter how much cream I put on it it just gets worse and worse. Just a few days ago I discovered a small, hard, lump right behind the same ear that hurt horribly. Over the next few days me, my mom, and my dad watched it and I noticed that every time we felt it to see if it had gone down it always started hurting for a long time afterwards. Last night it started up again during home group and it was REALLY bad. All of a sudden, I noticed that the pain that had kept behind my ear was now spreading down the right side of my neck. I was determined that getting to the doctor was going to make me feel better so we waited until this morning to call the office to see if they could get me in before I had to work.
All night long I was sleeping in spurts because my ear and neck hurt sssooo bad. I almost cried (and I happen to have a high pain tolerance if it doesn't involve blood). So we called this morning and guess what time they could get us in? 10:50. Only ten minutes before I had to be at the barn! We then we had to call Mrs.L back and ask if I could still get there after and praise God, she said yes!
So now you have heard all about my crazy morning. Tomorrow should be an exciting day too.
I TURN 16!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
-Hanna
P.S. - Please pray that the appointment will go well. Thanks!
Anyway, so before we canceled my mom emailed Mrs.L asking if I could possibly come at 11 instead so that we could do breakfast with the friend instead of rushing out of the house at 8:30 and so ending the not-so-fun sleepover. We got the okay.
So in order for you to understand how this next part plays into the whole crazy morning theme, I'll have to give you my health history from the past couple of days. All winter I've had this stupid growing patch of eczema on my earlobe, right? Right. Well, lately no matter how much cream I put on it it just gets worse and worse. Just a few days ago I discovered a small, hard, lump right behind the same ear that hurt horribly. Over the next few days me, my mom, and my dad watched it and I noticed that every time we felt it to see if it had gone down it always started hurting for a long time afterwards. Last night it started up again during home group and it was REALLY bad. All of a sudden, I noticed that the pain that had kept behind my ear was now spreading down the right side of my neck. I was determined that getting to the doctor was going to make me feel better so we waited until this morning to call the office to see if they could get me in before I had to work.
All night long I was sleeping in spurts because my ear and neck hurt sssooo bad. I almost cried (and I happen to have a high pain tolerance if it doesn't involve blood). So we called this morning and guess what time they could get us in? 10:50. Only ten minutes before I had to be at the barn! We then we had to call Mrs.L back and ask if I could still get there after and praise God, she said yes!
So now you have heard all about my crazy morning. Tomorrow should be an exciting day too.
I TURN 16!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
-Hanna
P.S. - Please pray that the appointment will go well. Thanks!
Monday, April 5, 2010
A New Experience ....
Today is another post about horses. My lesson anyway.
The R's came again with their horses, Kurant and Buttons. I rode Buttons again because that's the horse I'll be showing this summer and I need to get in as much riding time as possible. So I trotted her mostly and tried to get her to stay on the rail but hard as I tried I couldn't get her to stay there. This little pony has the uncanny knack of turning against you in the opposite direction when you need to go somewhere else. It makes it very difficult for me to handle when whoever is on the ground watching and giving me directions gets agitated that I'm not where I'm supposed to be. I hate to argue with them even when it's not my fault but I also don't like people to think that I'm a rebellious little teenager. Because I'm not.
Yeah so, towards the end I cantered a couple of times and then the R's needed to leave so we took a few more minutes to do something that I had never done before and found that I immensely enjoyed. We took the horses outside and rode them over to Mrs.L's pond. It was lovely. Not too hot and not to cold and we sat and the horses ate grass and we talked. It was thrilling to give Buttons her head while she inched her way down an embankment and to stand in the stirrups while she walked up another embankment. I want to do it again and again. I'm going on Friday to ride Buttons with Mrs.R and Mrs.L so hopefully we can!
-Hanna
The R's came again with their horses, Kurant and Buttons. I rode Buttons again because that's the horse I'll be showing this summer and I need to get in as much riding time as possible. So I trotted her mostly and tried to get her to stay on the rail but hard as I tried I couldn't get her to stay there. This little pony has the uncanny knack of turning against you in the opposite direction when you need to go somewhere else. It makes it very difficult for me to handle when whoever is on the ground watching and giving me directions gets agitated that I'm not where I'm supposed to be. I hate to argue with them even when it's not my fault but I also don't like people to think that I'm a rebellious little teenager. Because I'm not.
Yeah so, towards the end I cantered a couple of times and then the R's needed to leave so we took a few more minutes to do something that I had never done before and found that I immensely enjoyed. We took the horses outside and rode them over to Mrs.L's pond. It was lovely. Not too hot and not to cold and we sat and the horses ate grass and we talked. It was thrilling to give Buttons her head while she inched her way down an embankment and to stand in the stirrups while she walked up another embankment. I want to do it again and again. I'm going on Friday to ride Buttons with Mrs.R and Mrs.L so hopefully we can!
-Hanna
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Weather and Dog Bites.....
Amazing warm weather out here, people! Lovin' it! I rode yesterday in almost 80 degree weather ... it was lovely but HOT. Today is still pretty warm but very windy. Very windy. So much in fact that I had a hard time hearing Mum from the yard earlier!
Today we mostly worked outside, a little inside, and played when we where not working - us kids anyway. If your friend ever calls you during warm weather and if you have a swing set; totally talk while you sit on a swing! I do it all the time and it's so relaxing and fun.
Let's see. NEWS FLASH : Lean got bit by a dog down the street today. The creep broke the skin and you could see one tiny bruise from every stupid little tooth of his. This particular dog (Benny by name) has always been a bit of a menace to us and our neighbors. It's attacked and scared most of the ones we know and once bit the mailman who is now afraid of dogs. Who can blame him??? Lele, Nate, and Lydia where riding their bikes on the road when they went past their house and the dog didn't have his electric collar on so he escaped. He has gotten out of his fence before with me but fortunately kept his teeth of and out of me.
Leah is okay though it still hurts her. Thank the Lord that she didn't need stitches!
-Hanna
Today we mostly worked outside, a little inside, and played when we where not working - us kids anyway. If your friend ever calls you during warm weather and if you have a swing set; totally talk while you sit on a swing! I do it all the time and it's so relaxing and fun.
Let's see. NEWS FLASH : Lean got bit by a dog down the street today. The creep broke the skin and you could see one tiny bruise from every stupid little tooth of his. This particular dog (Benny by name) has always been a bit of a menace to us and our neighbors. It's attacked and scared most of the ones we know and once bit the mailman who is now afraid of dogs. Who can blame him??? Lele, Nate, and Lydia where riding their bikes on the road when they went past their house and the dog didn't have his electric collar on so he escaped. He has gotten out of his fence before with me but fortunately kept his teeth of and out of me.
Leah is okay though it still hurts her. Thank the Lord that she didn't need stitches!
-Hanna
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Max, Mazy, and Whitney....
Hello blog-readers! I've reappeared after like 3 weeks or something...sorry! : )
So, spring is fast approaching and all the world is fresh.....with the exception of our back yard. Our yard is (at the moment) filled with various doggy-gifts, if you get my meaning. Not so great because Mazy - 8 year old toy poodle - is the laziest pooch on the planet and refuses to go any farther than the boundaries of the patio to do her business in winter. Max - 4 year old goldendoodle - is also in the habit of dubbing a specific spot in the back yard except for his is along the back fence. Everything he has ..... hmhm..... "eaten and disposed of" is right there in a long, neat pile for the neighbor dog to sniff as she pleases.
I discovered all of these lovely surprises today as I took a short breather after school. That discovery was a day after I was told that when it gets warm and stays warm that will be our job: yeah, that.
Therefore, my hopes of warm weather are still bountiful but I refuse to take up that occupation. Horse manure: not so bad. But dog "manure".....no-can-do.
So, spring is fast approaching and all the world is fresh.....with the exception of our back yard. Our yard is (at the moment) filled with various doggy-gifts, if you get my meaning. Not so great because Mazy - 8 year old toy poodle - is the laziest pooch on the planet and refuses to go any farther than the boundaries of the patio to do her business in winter. Max - 4 year old goldendoodle - is also in the habit of dubbing a specific spot in the back yard except for his is along the back fence. Everything he has ..... hmhm..... "eaten and disposed of" is right there in a long, neat pile for the neighbor dog to sniff as she pleases.
I discovered all of these lovely surprises today as I took a short breather after school. That discovery was a day after I was told that when it gets warm and stays warm that will be our job: yeah, that.
Therefore, my hopes of warm weather are still bountiful but I refuse to take up that occupation. Horse manure: not so bad. But dog "manure".....no-can-do.
* * *
Speaking of horses: on to other things! *lol*
I rode and worked yesterday. Whitney was a doll and it was a lovely lesson. I've been fearful since my couple of falls (btw - I've indeed got a darn scar on my shoulder blade). But I'm working on it decided to kick some butt yesterday while I rode. Whitney had not been ridden in two weeks cuz my boss was away so she hopped on first and rode her for about a half hour before it was my turn. I walked around a bit and got into the "swing of things" then we trotted. That was mainly what my lessons consist of at the moment. Since I'll be doing a walk/trot test this summer we've been polishing it up in two point and posting. Most of it was posting and a little bit of two point but not much.
Surprisingly, the trotting has improved though I didn't ride last week. We could not fit in any canter this week because of the half hour that Mrs.L needed to tune Whit up for me. But Whitney was such a good girl even though we had her out for and hour and 45 minutes!
Afterwards, I untacked her, put her cooler on, and picked out her hooves. After finishing some chores inside, I came back out again and fed her a ton of apples and carrots for which she returned in snuggles and licks. Horse licks are much more slobbery than you would expect, but every time she pushed her head into my stomach made up for my sticky hands. It is the most amazing feeling when a horse trusts you enough to let you rub it's ears and scratch it's poll and hug it's neck. My favorite is when she sniffs at my head or my ear as I'm cleaning her stall. What would life be without horses????
Well, I must scoot. A dirty guinea pig cage awaits. I think these animals are totally consuming me. Ahhhhh!!!!! *lol*
-Hanna
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
In General
Nate is okay. He handled it wonderfully and didn't even cry. For Pete's sake (don't ask me who Pete is; my dad asks me all the time!) the kid watched them put the stitches in! There were four, in case you wanted to know. His comment was: "It was so cool to watch them stick the needle in and out and I couldn't even feel a thing!" If I ever have to get stitches I think I'll pass out at home and then pass out again at the hospital. I don't have a very high pain tolerance in case you haven't noticed.
Other than that, life is good. I just watched "Flying Tomato" on TV. Dude, I love that guy! *haha* I've also been dying to watch some figure skating. I've seen a little, but I usually miss most of it. *sniff*
My back is slowly beginning to heal. It is now itchy and annoying and beginning to scab over. Sounds like fun, doesn't it?
I got a haircut today as well. I really don't look much different cuz all I did was get a few inches taken off and my layers renewed. I didn't have much time to think about what I wanted done so oh well.
Well, I must go and work on my math now. Woopy....
-Hanna
P.S. - Has anybody heard the song Fireflies by Owl City? It's my fave song now! *lol*
Other than that, life is good. I just watched "Flying Tomato" on TV. Dude, I love that guy! *haha* I've also been dying to watch some figure skating. I've seen a little, but I usually miss most of it. *sniff*
My back is slowly beginning to heal. It is now itchy and annoying and beginning to scab over. Sounds like fun, doesn't it?
I got a haircut today as well. I really don't look much different cuz all I did was get a few inches taken off and my layers renewed. I didn't have much time to think about what I wanted done so oh well.
Well, I must go and work on my math now. Woopy....
-Hanna
P.S. - Has anybody heard the song Fireflies by Owl City? It's my fave song now! *lol*
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Two Falls In Two Weeks...
Another day, another post. And, once again, it's about horses! (I hope I'm not totally boring you guys with all this horse stuff - if I am - let me know.)
Well, last week during my lesson I was working on diagonal lines and riding right into the corners which is something I've had trouble with. That was mostly what the lesson consisted of. Towards the end of the lesson, I was getting nervous and in turn I made Whit nervous. It's amazing how your body language will transfer to your mount the way it does. Eventually, I fell off but it was not to bad. I had never fallen off before so it was pretty exciting. *lol*
Yeah, so yesterday morning I'm thinking: "Aw, I won't fall again today. That was last week." Right. The whole lesson went pretty well until Mrs.L asked me to canter. The whole past 6 days I had been gearing myself up for the canter. Now I was struggling to keep that feeling and do the deed. When I began to canter everything was all right for the most part. Then, we got onto the longer rail (the length of the arena) and I got nervous. I pinched, and Whit went faster. I swear she was galloping and at the end of the lesson Mrs.L said that she had never seen Whitney go so fast. *lol* Anyway, as we were cantering and quickly accelerating to my dismay, I realized that she was turning slightly toward the standard of one of the jumps. Therefor, I tried attempted to turn her away from it and onto the rail again. But, because of my position and the fact that I was freaked out to high heaven, I completely lost my seat and fell off.
When I landed I felt like I was being jostled around and like I never actually hit the ground. I had a momentary thought that I was being run over, but hey there was nothing I could do about it. After the jostling was over I sat up, shaking and breathing hard as Mrs.L came over. She had me stay where I was and she got Whit - who I might add had not done anything drastic and slowed a few feet away with her reigns all over the place.
Once I was recovered, I stood and walked to the mounting block to brush myself off and Mrs.L hopped on to ride for a bit. I must admit that I was glad she did because I was very emotional as I brushed myself off. *lol*
We finished the ride with a couple of canters on the lunge line and a nice easy trot to cool Whit before we headed out. I waited until then to mention my aching shoulder blade. After Whitney was taken care of we went into the lounge to make sure I was okay.
Needless to say the pain I had noticed was a 7 or 8" skinned mark from Whit's lovely hoof. I'll post more alter, but I've got stuff I gotta do now.
ttyl - Hanna
Well, last week during my lesson I was working on diagonal lines and riding right into the corners which is something I've had trouble with. That was mostly what the lesson consisted of. Towards the end of the lesson, I was getting nervous and in turn I made Whit nervous. It's amazing how your body language will transfer to your mount the way it does. Eventually, I fell off but it was not to bad. I had never fallen off before so it was pretty exciting. *lol*
Yeah, so yesterday morning I'm thinking: "Aw, I won't fall again today. That was last week." Right. The whole lesson went pretty well until Mrs.L asked me to canter. The whole past 6 days I had been gearing myself up for the canter. Now I was struggling to keep that feeling and do the deed. When I began to canter everything was all right for the most part. Then, we got onto the longer rail (the length of the arena) and I got nervous. I pinched, and Whit went faster. I swear she was galloping and at the end of the lesson Mrs.L said that she had never seen Whitney go so fast. *lol* Anyway, as we were cantering and quickly accelerating to my dismay, I realized that she was turning slightly toward the standard of one of the jumps. Therefor, I tried attempted to turn her away from it and onto the rail again. But, because of my position and the fact that I was freaked out to high heaven, I completely lost my seat and fell off.
When I landed I felt like I was being jostled around and like I never actually hit the ground. I had a momentary thought that I was being run over, but hey there was nothing I could do about it. After the jostling was over I sat up, shaking and breathing hard as Mrs.L came over. She had me stay where I was and she got Whit - who I might add had not done anything drastic and slowed a few feet away with her reigns all over the place.
Once I was recovered, I stood and walked to the mounting block to brush myself off and Mrs.L hopped on to ride for a bit. I must admit that I was glad she did because I was very emotional as I brushed myself off. *lol*
We finished the ride with a couple of canters on the lunge line and a nice easy trot to cool Whit before we headed out. I waited until then to mention my aching shoulder blade. After Whitney was taken care of we went into the lounge to make sure I was okay.
Needless to say the pain I had noticed was a 7 or 8" skinned mark from Whit's lovely hoof. I'll post more alter, but I've got stuff I gotta do now.
ttyl - Hanna
Saturday, February 13, 2010
A Short One...
Good morning, world!
I am here to post a short one. First reason is cuz I'm sick with this stupid cold thing that has been going around in our family. Oddly enough, it is being shared by our very close friends in Montana. Everyone has decided that it must be traveling by phone and that's why they have it. *lol*
Another reason is because my little bros birthday was yesterday! That's right: he is now officially 13! Because Fridays are usually a little busy around here (my mom has to work at the church in the evenings, my daddy and I have to clean, and Leah had basketball practice) we held his family party on Thurs.. All the grandparents came over and brought gifts and we had cheesecake - Nate's fave. On Friday morning we left a little after 9:30 for the Art Museum. We spent our time there untill about... 1:30 or so. Then we drove back and stopped at CiCi's, one of our fave restaurants. By the time we were done there, we were all so tired.....until we got into the car. My sibs (not including myself) played thumb wars all the way home. That was interesting!
Anyway, because I've been running around sick since Wednesday, I stayed home with Lid and Rilla while the rest of the fam went to the church. We watched the opening ceremonies for the winter Olympics and had a wonderful time.
Now, I'm going to finsih my breakfast and shower.
Toodles - Hanna
I am here to post a short one. First reason is cuz I'm sick with this stupid cold thing that has been going around in our family. Oddly enough, it is being shared by our very close friends in Montana. Everyone has decided that it must be traveling by phone and that's why they have it. *lol*
Another reason is because my little bros birthday was yesterday! That's right: he is now officially 13! Because Fridays are usually a little busy around here (my mom has to work at the church in the evenings, my daddy and I have to clean, and Leah had basketball practice) we held his family party on Thurs.. All the grandparents came over and brought gifts and we had cheesecake - Nate's fave. On Friday morning we left a little after 9:30 for the Art Museum. We spent our time there untill about... 1:30 or so. Then we drove back and stopped at CiCi's, one of our fave restaurants. By the time we were done there, we were all so tired.....until we got into the car. My sibs (not including myself) played thumb wars all the way home. That was interesting!
Anyway, because I've been running around sick since Wednesday, I stayed home with Lid and Rilla while the rest of the fam went to the church. We watched the opening ceremonies for the winter Olympics and had a wonderful time.
Now, I'm going to finsih my breakfast and shower.
Toodles - Hanna
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
An Update on Life
Ello, everyone!
Not much going on with me lately. There is a lovely snow outside, Daddy is home for lunch, and I've got a cornbread in the oven for us kids to have. Mumzee darling has just left for a very belated birthday meal with a friend of hers and I'm here at the laptop typing. Soon, Grandma Sherry is going to be here to pick up Lid and Rilla (*woohoo!*) for the afternoon so that Nathan, Lele, and I can have some peace.
My gryphon book is going well. I'm only on the seventh chapter but things are definitely moving along at a quick pace despite the fact that I haven't worked on it for a few days. School, work, tutoring, things that Mom and Dad need the computer for happen before I can write, and bed time are all getting in the way. But, whatever. I'm determined to work on it at some point today.
The winner for the 2010 Vision Forum Essay Contest has not yet been announced. I think I explained why they changed the date (of which I have no idea), but just in case I haven't already I will now. They ended up having so many entrees that they could not make the dead line. Not exactly good news. I guess $1,000 fetches many people's attention.
My lesson this last Monday was not the best of the best but not the worst of the worst, if you follow me. I never actually, purposely cantered. I did for a few strides but not for long after a trotting pole. At one point something happened and I lost my seat and Whit was doing something...no idea what but it felt horrible. I did not want to canter after that and neither did Whit, though we tried countless times. We finally ran out of time and quit for the day. I'll be working Wednesday instead of Monday as Mrs.L will be out of town.
One last thing before I close. I'm planning on creating a new devotional blog by me just to see if people will read it or not. I'm always getting ideas in my head about how one thing can relate to another. Anyway, I'll post the address on here when I've got it up.
Toodles! -Hanna
Not much going on with me lately. There is a lovely snow outside, Daddy is home for lunch, and I've got a cornbread in the oven for us kids to have. Mumzee darling has just left for a very belated birthday meal with a friend of hers and I'm here at the laptop typing. Soon, Grandma Sherry is going to be here to pick up Lid and Rilla (*woohoo!*) for the afternoon so that Nathan, Lele, and I can have some peace.
My gryphon book is going well. I'm only on the seventh chapter but things are definitely moving along at a quick pace despite the fact that I haven't worked on it for a few days. School, work, tutoring, things that Mom and Dad need the computer for happen before I can write, and bed time are all getting in the way. But, whatever. I'm determined to work on it at some point today.
The winner for the 2010 Vision Forum Essay Contest has not yet been announced. I think I explained why they changed the date (of which I have no idea), but just in case I haven't already I will now. They ended up having so many entrees that they could not make the dead line. Not exactly good news. I guess $1,000 fetches many people's attention.
My lesson this last Monday was not the best of the best but not the worst of the worst, if you follow me. I never actually, purposely cantered. I did for a few strides but not for long after a trotting pole. At one point something happened and I lost my seat and Whit was doing something...no idea what but it felt horrible. I did not want to canter after that and neither did Whit, though we tried countless times. We finally ran out of time and quit for the day. I'll be working Wednesday instead of Monday as Mrs.L will be out of town.
One last thing before I close. I'm planning on creating a new devotional blog by me just to see if people will read it or not. I'm always getting ideas in my head about how one thing can relate to another. Anyway, I'll post the address on here when I've got it up.
Toodles! -Hanna
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Video from January 18, 2010
*
Here it is! Sorry it took me so long - I finally had enough time to post it.
If you watch carefully, when I go into the trot it was because Whitney (the horse I'm riding) spooked when some blankets began to tumble out of a bucket which you can't see. She didn't spook too badly, but started off in a trot and we where able to keep it going for a while.
Enjoy! - Hanna
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Another Lesson and Pictures and *hopefully* Videos to Come!
You are probably all getting very tired of my riding lesson posts, huh?
Well, I wanna get all of the great ones written down so that one day I can go back and read them and smile as I sit inside my house and look out at all the great dressage horses in my barn. *lol*
I can dream can't I?
This Monday my mom and dad came to stand for an hour and watch me ride. The Karen and Anna R (some of the kids from youth group know who the R's are) and they brought their two horses, Buttons and Kurant. Buttons is actually a bay little pony, but her sire was a Clydesdale and so she looks like one more than anything else. Kurant is a breed that I can't remember off the top of my head right now, but she is also bay - though a very different kind - and she is lovely.
The R's parked across the road at Hopie's old house (some of you also know Hopie) and walked their horses across the road and into the indoor arena. Meanwhile, I tacked Whitney and mom and dad visited with the horses until I was finished. Then we walked to the arena too where Anna and Karen had already mounted their horses and where warming them up a bit while Mrs.Love lunged Whit. I waited for her to be done and then mounted Whit and we set off at a walk around the arena for a circle. When we came back around, a few blankets fell and made a little racket. Whitney - actually all of the horses - spooked a little and Whit started off at a trot so I figured I'd just let her at it and get it out of her system since it was a good pace anyway.
We trotted for a little while and then Mrs.Love had me get up in two point. Soon, all of the riders and horses where in a row, trotting around in circles and then she had us coming on the center line and half-halting. After we trotted a little more we where all to try a leg yield. A leg yield is when you have the horse just where you want them and their outside shoulder is on the rail and their rump in pointing out toward the center of the arena while still traveling forward. It is a pretty cool feeling, really.
So when I was done on Whit, Anna mounted her and I hopped onto Buttons. Anna cantered and trotted in turns and I mostly trotted Buttons. Her paces are so short that you have to post at lightning speed; or at least you feel like it. Later, everyone began urging me to try cantering Buttons. I did. To my surprise - it was fun! Except for the fact that I was constantly hitting myself on the pommel (anyone who knows what the pommel will probably groan with empathy)
it was great! Anna's saddle is a general purpose saddle which is not favored among those who were riding on Monday. *lol*
Anyway, we had a lot of fun and mom and daddy enjoyed it. Needless to say, I am sore in numerous places, but that is the price you must pay for fun. *hehe* I happen to have some vids and pics of Monday but I have to wait to post them until later tonight cuz they are on Daddy's phone.
-Hanna
P.S. - I'm gonna shock Mrs.Love on Monday and ask her if I can try cantering on the right lead this Monday and try leg yields at the trot on Whitney. She has been trying for two weeks now to get me to canter on my own. *lol*
Well, I wanna get all of the great ones written down so that one day I can go back and read them and smile as I sit inside my house and look out at all the great dressage horses in my barn. *lol*
I can dream can't I?
This Monday my mom and dad came to stand for an hour and watch me ride. The Karen and Anna R (some of the kids from youth group know who the R's are) and they brought their two horses, Buttons and Kurant. Buttons is actually a bay little pony, but her sire was a Clydesdale and so she looks like one more than anything else. Kurant is a breed that I can't remember off the top of my head right now, but she is also bay - though a very different kind - and she is lovely.
The R's parked across the road at Hopie's old house (some of you also know Hopie) and walked their horses across the road and into the indoor arena. Meanwhile, I tacked Whitney and mom and dad visited with the horses until I was finished. Then we walked to the arena too where Anna and Karen had already mounted their horses and where warming them up a bit while Mrs.Love lunged Whit. I waited for her to be done and then mounted Whit and we set off at a walk around the arena for a circle. When we came back around, a few blankets fell and made a little racket. Whitney - actually all of the horses - spooked a little and Whit started off at a trot so I figured I'd just let her at it and get it out of her system since it was a good pace anyway.
We trotted for a little while and then Mrs.Love had me get up in two point. Soon, all of the riders and horses where in a row, trotting around in circles and then she had us coming on the center line and half-halting. After we trotted a little more we where all to try a leg yield. A leg yield is when you have the horse just where you want them and their outside shoulder is on the rail and their rump in pointing out toward the center of the arena while still traveling forward. It is a pretty cool feeling, really.
So when I was done on Whit, Anna mounted her and I hopped onto Buttons. Anna cantered and trotted in turns and I mostly trotted Buttons. Her paces are so short that you have to post at lightning speed; or at least you feel like it. Later, everyone began urging me to try cantering Buttons. I did. To my surprise - it was fun! Except for the fact that I was constantly hitting myself on the pommel (anyone who knows what the pommel will probably groan with empathy)
it was great! Anna's saddle is a general purpose saddle which is not favored among those who were riding on Monday. *lol*
Anyway, we had a lot of fun and mom and daddy enjoyed it. Needless to say, I am sore in numerous places, but that is the price you must pay for fun. *hehe* I happen to have some vids and pics of Monday but I have to wait to post them until later tonight cuz they are on Daddy's phone.
-Hanna
P.S. - I'm gonna shock Mrs.Love on Monday and ask her if I can try cantering on the right lead this Monday and try leg yields at the trot on Whitney. She has been trying for two weeks now to get me to canter on my own. *lol*
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
My Lesson Yesterday...
Oh I had a great riding lesson yesterday!
Whitney was so good, just like last week and I had a great time although the inside of my thighs went numb a number of times. Despite the almost-whole-hearted-obedience attitude Whit has though out the lesson, she acts up near the end and after I dismount. She seems to think that you are her personal napkin after a ride. She's got something going on with her vascular vein and her left nostril has been leaking blood constantly. They have her on meds after doing something to it which Mrs.Love thinks might have irritated it even more so it's not getting better. It doesn't seem to bother her, but it does me. My breeches now have numerous light stains all over them from her wiping her muzzle all over me. I can't wait till I get darker ones.
Anyway, so I did mostly two point (standing in the stirrups while you ride) in trot which is not as easy as it sounds. You have to keep your legs in the right spot or if your horse stops, over the neck and head you go! Then you have to keep yourself straight up and your hands on the horses' neck like a jockey or jumper. Not my fave, but oh well.
So then we tried trotting poles (the same poles from a jump except for it's flat on the ground). The last time I tried them, I didn't have enough leg so I was either missing them completely or only going over the end or hitting them at an angle, which I don't want to do. But, this week I did have enough leg and we went straight over it in the middle...most of the time. I was still in two point went we where heading for it once and Whit had lengthened her trot a little too much. We got to it and she, instead of trotting over it, JUMPED over it! Granted, it was a very small jump, but a jump nonetheless.
So after she landed she went into a canter, nice and smooth though she was on the left lead - her stiff, arthritic side, not exactly the most comfortable. I kept my cool and two point which surprised me greatly since I've never jumped before in my life and only cantered once before off the lunge line. I wasn't holding the grab strap, just the reins and a bit of Whit's mane. I did, however, loose my stirrup. Pulling up Whitney and half-halting from the trot, I gave her huge pats and slaps and a treat from my pocket. Mrs.Love was so excited and praised me for not chasing Whit over the pole or hanging onto her mouth. I was so excited!
She jumped a bit later and cantered off once more, but that was not so lovely as the first time around. I practically fell off. But Whit, being the dam of three foals, treated me with patience and slowed and kept her cool as I lost mine.
Whitney was so good, just like last week and I had a great time although the inside of my thighs went numb a number of times. Despite the almost-whole-hearted-obedience attitude Whit has though out the lesson, she acts up near the end and after I dismount. She seems to think that you are her personal napkin after a ride. She's got something going on with her vascular vein and her left nostril has been leaking blood constantly. They have her on meds after doing something to it which Mrs.Love thinks might have irritated it even more so it's not getting better. It doesn't seem to bother her, but it does me. My breeches now have numerous light stains all over them from her wiping her muzzle all over me. I can't wait till I get darker ones.
Anyway, so I did mostly two point (standing in the stirrups while you ride) in trot which is not as easy as it sounds. You have to keep your legs in the right spot or if your horse stops, over the neck and head you go! Then you have to keep yourself straight up and your hands on the horses' neck like a jockey or jumper. Not my fave, but oh well.
So then we tried trotting poles (the same poles from a jump except for it's flat on the ground). The last time I tried them, I didn't have enough leg so I was either missing them completely or only going over the end or hitting them at an angle, which I don't want to do. But, this week I did have enough leg and we went straight over it in the middle...most of the time. I was still in two point went we where heading for it once and Whit had lengthened her trot a little too much. We got to it and she, instead of trotting over it, JUMPED over it! Granted, it was a very small jump, but a jump nonetheless.
So after she landed she went into a canter, nice and smooth though she was on the left lead - her stiff, arthritic side, not exactly the most comfortable. I kept my cool and two point which surprised me greatly since I've never jumped before in my life and only cantered once before off the lunge line. I wasn't holding the grab strap, just the reins and a bit of Whit's mane. I did, however, loose my stirrup. Pulling up Whitney and half-halting from the trot, I gave her huge pats and slaps and a treat from my pocket. Mrs.Love was so excited and praised me for not chasing Whit over the pole or hanging onto her mouth. I was so excited!
She jumped a bit later and cantered off once more, but that was not so lovely as the first time around. I practically fell off. But Whit, being the dam of three foals, treated me with patience and slowed and kept her cool as I lost mine.
Friday, January 1, 2010
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