How do I become a balanced rider...................

When I can't make people understand my skeletal makeup? When I feel balanced, I feel confident and I believe my horse does too because then we have no issues with each other. But when with others they point out that I "look" unbalanced, cockeyed and try to fix me and then my horse and I are uncomfortable and we both end up sore or else, we wreck.

My left leg is 2" shorter than the right due to my long ago riding accident. So when I am comfortable riding is when my left sturrup is shorter than the right. Naturally. But it does not "look" right. Everyone tries to shorten the right stirrup,which pushes my knee into a deeper bend which in turn pushes my hip over to the left then I 'feel' lopsided but I "look" balanced.

We seem to be ok when out by ourselves or with other people who just want to meander down the road. Relax.

I do not want to show for that very reason. After awhile you just get tired of trying to explain and most people just don't get it.

I am anxious to get back on and as soon as the Dr. feels my tailbone has healed enough I hope to get back on Meins in a few weeks.

Your turn next year Paha!

Ok Paha, brother made it through the streets unscathed so next year you get to join us.

more parade pics

Celebration of the Horse

We made it! Meins and I survived being on display and in the parade. He was such a gentleman yesterday and was commented on that fact throughout the day. He truly is an ambassador for the Appaloosa breed. Since I busted my butt (tailbone) I could not ride in the parade but walked with him instead. Our biggest challenge was walking downhill on a broken up paved road. But once we got to the bottom we were OK. There were other Appy horses there but none as distinctly marked as he is. I talked so much about him and Appaloosas and the raffle that my throat is sore. From a two year old little girl to an elderly ex-jockey, all were enamored with my calm, well mannered horse. A little Arabian mare kept her eye on him most of the day too. More than half the brochures the ApHC sent me were taken, along with nearly all the coloring pages and puzzles.

I will definately do this again next year and will ride Meins in the parade and Paha will be our display horse. It was worth it!

The C.A.N.T.E.R. group repainted the large statue outside the store and was made up as an Appaloosa! So, of course, I made a donation so my hand could be painted and left my "mark" on his butt.

McKayla and McKenna were our sign carriers and did an excellant job.

Meins and I were in the middle and Ann-Marie, on Indigo, and Denise, on Hunter, brought up the rear of our group.

Although it was a drippy, dreary day there were lots of people and quite a few horses in the parade. So all in all it was truly a great day!

Mom! Your hair!

Paha thought I looked quite funny this morning with my short hair poked out all over the place. This time I had the camera ready so I could show all HIS friends what a clown he is. I was going to send it to Smitty, Juli Thorson's new boy, but did not want to give him any ideas. chuckle;)

Well...... that did not last very long.

Tuesday (Sept. 8) I went to ride Meins and while in the arena my trainer rode up next to me and before I knew it, I was on the ground. :( I was expecting him to back up, so sat back, but instead he spun left right into them. I did try to stay on and have the black and blue calves to prove it along with a hunk of mane. Did try to walk it off and went back over to the mounting block to get back on but when I lifted my left leg to step up, it hurt, and it hurt bad. So we left the arena and at first headed toward the round pen then went into the barn then came back out and by then my back hurt so bad I was not rational and took off my helmet and fired it into the back of the truck then as I took Meins tack off, I threw them into the back of the truck also. Literally dragged him back to his paddock, took off his bridle, threw that in the back of the truck and came home.

I was/am just so frustrated with my riding and lack of balance and the fact that the only time I get hurt is when I am at her farm and get pushed into something I'm not quite ready for. I'm sorry to say I'll be glad when this is over, Meins will be back home and we can resume our quiet rides down the road.

When I first talked about being in the parade my trainer said she would walk beside me. Then all of a sudden we are doing drill team exercises, and everybody is wearing matching t-shirts, her 4-H club is walking ahead with a sign, etc., etc.. So now the whole thing is out of my hands and when I went to get x-rays because my backside hurt so bad.....my tailbone is broken from the fall. So I am disappointed in myself and the ones who had promised to help me. But I'm glad the kids will get to be in the parade and her friend will get to be a participant instead of being the "show mom". Her wonderful client does not feel so right now.

I had wanted to either dress up in an 1800's era riding outfit or my green jeans, Meins' color is green, and a new shirt I had bought with Appaloosas on it. I was doing this to have fun and to promote the Appaloosa. What am I going to do with all the brochures The Appaloosa Horse Club gave me? We are still going to be in the breed display, my friend gave me a pillow made especially for tailbone injuries and, depending how my back feels, I'll walk Meins in the parade. And I will smile and have fun.

Parade ettiquette

My trainer came by and picked up Meins and myself to go to a Harvest Festival at Wolcott Farm near Romeo, MI. She was invited to do a two hour demo and invited us along to get exposure to different sights, sounds and animals. What she did not tell me til we were on the road was that she wanted me to RIDE Meins also. I was game until I saw the crates she pulled out for me to use as a mounting block. I am not a small person and those crates would have been no match for me. I know she meant well but I don't like being tricked like that. I did saddle up Meins, put on my helmet and went into the arena to lunge him. We are doing well with voice commands and did impress a few people. He was a perfect gentleman to those who came to the fence to ask questions about him. When I mentioned how he came to be mine (Appaloosa Museum raffle) , a few folks took down the web address and said they were definitely going to look that up. To them I say "Good luck!", I am definitely lucky to have won two wonderful horses from them.
OOOHHHH, yesterday my trainer had me practice with my parade pard, Denise. Meins wanted no part of being in the middle and kept running backward. Ann-Marie told me to stop leaning forward when he sucks back, set my butt into the saddle, kiss and get my leg into him. We went through that a few times before she put us on the inside and we marched around and around, changing directions, halting and just standing. But we were getting it. I have to pat myself on the back for not panicking and listening to her. Last year I would have been on the ground with the first two steps backward. Because I had not ridden Meins like that in some time so I was exhausted. I wanted to ride today but my body said NO WAY LADY! I did go up to the farm and give Meins his rubs and a treat and tomorrow we will get back to work. We have untill the 26th to really work at this. I'm really excited and scared shitless!!!!!!!!!
Will post pics as soon as I remember to bring my camera in from the garage!

On the mend

Well now that I know I am not going crazy and I really was having medical issues (Thyroiditis, low Potassium and Diverticulosis) I can get back to concentrating on my riding and "playing" with Paha.

With the parade coming up on the 26th, NOW, I am starting to get nervous. The past two months I felt too "off" to stay in the saddle for long so Meins and I really did not get to do a great deal of saddle time. I worked with him on the ground yesterday and he did not want to cooperate. It took nearly half and hour to get him to lick and chew. He took off at a full gallop when a kid rode by on his bike (love my round pen!) and when hubby stepped up to the fence to watch he did not want to go past him. And Paha stood under the tree the entire time watching Big brother make a fool of himself. Then WHAM! all of a sudden he was my ever so cooperative partner! Followed me all around the R/P, backed up on verbal cue, moved his hips from both sides, flex. I'm certain it was something I did that set him off in the first place. Once the meds really start working and the inflamations go away along with the pain and disorientation, we'll get our rhythm back.

I had hoped to be able to take both horses to the celebration but stalls are limited and without having my own transportation I can only travel when someone else is going that way and has the room. Maybe in a few years.........................