- Breathing
Fire: Since our clinic, Rocki has been feeling it. Yesterday during my
ride, I felt it better to dismount and do some ground work rather than continue
riding the horse that preferred to only piaffe and terra terra –
without my cues or consult. Kadima said “Ima, are you going to rip a run?”
She’s very perceptive. I told her I was hoping not, but Rocki sure wants
to. After a little releasing of steam on the line, I hopped back up and had my
sweet Rocki back… Until I started adding the intentional piaffe and terra
terras and then she was revved up and ready to go again. It’s different to
have an energized horse using their body in very intentional, beautiful ways,
versus sporadic explosions. It’s actually quite fun and I’m learning how to
better to team up with her needs daily and still keep the vision for the
grander things ahead. But in current, we’re practicing the simmer down
moves as I decided I prefer to be a part of the decision making in when to do
the fun things ;).
-
Kadima
officially a VGBRA member: I grew up in VGBRA (Valley Girls
Barrel Racing Association) but have been out of it for quite a few years. I
rejoined this year and it was mentioned that I should sign Kadima up, too. I
hadn’t even though of it, but realized she would be with me and doing the
leadline, so it made perfect sense. She is 3 and now a first-year member. I can’t
remember how many years you have to have been a member to be a gold card, but
it’s safe to say she may earn that privilege in her 30’s or early
40’s. She has claimed Blondie as her choice mount and they have been
practicing up. Blondie is a complete gem and I couldn’t ask for a better mount
for my sweet daughter. Yesterday at the end of their ride I whispered to her,
“thank you for making another little girls dreams come true.” Life is good.
- Why
is Maintenance Normal? I’ve come across quite a few posts
encouraging the normalizing of maintaining horses with injections and drugs. I
know that this is a touchy subject, so I enter it with as much compassion as
possible. I resonate greatly with the heart and reasons behind encouraging
maintenance for our equine athletes, the core being care for the horse. I
wonder though if it has been asked: “Isn’t there a better way?” or “But why
does it have to be like this?” Or better yet, “Is there something in our riding
or training that is broken if maintenance has to be the normal?” I have several
ideas of why horses in athletic events today require such maintenance and many
suggestions of how we can make changes to make the normal natural again and
allow their bodies to do their own healing and upkeep. I hope that through many
facets in my life, this can start being explored and the tide turned for the
sake of our horses and their well-being. I wholeheartedly believe that
maintenance (in the way of injections and pharmaceuticals) is not normal. Let’s
explore better ways together.
- Wool
Leg Wraps: I had a discussion with my farrier Joe this morning about these
very subjects of maintenance. I love these talks with Joe. He brings such down
to earth, simple, yet groundbreaking truth to these subjects. We brought up the
harm that everyone knows neoprene boots do to our horses. Extreme heating of
the tendons for one, but also in my study of energetics It’s terrible in
decreasing body coherency. I had already been trying to solve this
problem in my head but rubber met the road when I needed to “rip a run” at the
clinic. I had some 100% soft prefelt wool left over from my saddle seat and cut
out rectangles the size of Rocki’s legs. I then took my Viking
Anglo-saxon leg wraps (for people, yes) that are 100% wool and wrapped them like
a polo over the prefelt. It was perfect. It gave the right amount of protection
as well as flexibility, breath-ability and softness. After the run they hadn’t
shifted and didn’t have dirt. Wool actually increases the coherency of the body
and regulates body temperature, so in using these for future warm up and runs,
I’m actually going to be benefiting by booting up ahead of time, in traveling
in our trailer, etc, and subsequently eliminate all of the negatives to
traditional polo and leg wraps. Let’s think outside of the box and for the
betterment of our sport. There is a better way, we just have to be willing to
seek it out.
- Sukkot
2024: Sukkot (the feast of tabernacles) is almost here, starting
Tuesday, October 1st for us. Uriah, along with the help of some
great friends, put up a 16’ x 20’ Sukkah out of old lumber we had around. I
went crazy on ordering lights and décor to make it a fairytale dreamy beautiful
place to spend the next 8 days in. We are commanded to be joyful in this
season, so that is what we have set out to do. I am so excited to share this
special place and season with those we love, especially in preparation for the
Billings rodeo. Sukkot Shalom from our home to yours! <3
5 Steps Closer, thank you for coming along.
Nicole & The Team,
Uriah, Kadima, Birdie, Blondie, Dean, Grace, Rocki, Salily, Shasta & Shmini
