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. :)
Sunday, May 2, 2010
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
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