Millbrook Winter Riders

On Thursday, the last day of riding with the school, I realized I had my camera in my pocket.  You may wonder while this realization resulted in so relatively few photos, but I had to get on my horse, and Wellington is not as easy to ride while shooting as EZ is. 

I have ordered (as a teacher, you get to order) the kids to put the bridles on their horses.  You can tell in the background that this is still only being contemplated (that's the thing with ordering, you can't guarantee fulfillment).

But the little kiddies do you usually get around to doing it, here the throatlatch has successfully been identified on Pal.  Pal is a great teachers for the beginners, although he has very bossy grand manners.

Like that.  

All around, sometimes these horses are tricky to keep a hold of.

But once you got them, you best hold on!

Both children and horses can occasionally be a bit camera shy, unfortunately.  Although others are complete hams, need I remind you of this:

Winter is the longest sports season, and with the weather this was a particularly rough one, but still it seemed to go by pretty quickly.  After a few weeks of spring break, we'll be back for more, different kids, but same deal.  We want to try to have a little show at the end of the season, give us something concrete to accomplish--other than being able to bridle your horse on command, of course.

Jiggity Jig

We're home again!  Yesterday marked the 5 week mark at Broken Wheel Ranch, and our date of departure.  It is still mad snowy around and not a whole lotta options for outdoor riding, but it was time to return to Indian Pond Farm.

 Although still snowy, as seen from the ride down to the road from the Ranch, the air does undeniably have a spring feeling to it.  It has been alternately raining, snowing, melting and freezing, but it seems to be moving towards a general thaw from the Snowpocolypse 2011.

Trying to aim from horseback is tricky.  Here, though,  you get a good view of where EZ's mane gets bunk.  I've been considering braiding it to try to get it to lay all on one side.  Then I think, why?  I mean, if I was going to attempt mane-care, probably I should start with pulling it to a decent length, no?  But it's so thin to start with, I'd rather leave it long, as long as it's acceptable to French Braid it if/when we show.  I don't know what Emily Post would say about that.

EZ was somewhat confused and kept looking back over at his bachelor gang; it had been awhile since we had made the mailbox-riddled road ride back to Indian Pond Farm.

Once we got home though, there was much reuniting with the D Gang.

Note Donovan's trademark "I am so big/give me treats" neck arch that he employs on occasions such as these.

 It's not like they were embracing in joy and love, but nor were they snorting in rejection.

Once everyone had deemed each other non-threatening, it was back to the full herd.

Donovan thought it was his duty as self-appointed herd leader to follow EZ around to make sure he wasn't up to no good.

EZ and Dutch also checked each other out a bit

But they determined nothing required further investigation.  And EZ's tongue felt really heavy.

All in all, it was all so uneventful that Donovan thought he'd just catch a little nappy. 

And EZ had to just get a little roll in, in order for it to fully feel like home.

Sorry it's so bouncy, Donovan was literally breathing down my neck.  I think I should start a rolling video collection.  They are always endlessly entertaining.

The reintroduction of babyEZcakes means restructuring the feeding process, which has been helpfully streamlined with his absence and the relocation of the goaties, who are living in the lower pasture since they realized they could wiggle through the pig door and wreak havoc in the tack room.  Now though, they get quality time with Dukey boy.

Poor Duke looks like he's about to get impaled in this one.

But he recovered quickly.

I was trying to get them both standing on the fence at the same time, but goats and dogs are not the most cooperative, I discover.

EZ Dollar Superstar

Just got back from the show.  Spent a literal 12 hours today with EZboy, which was pretty glorious.  He was super incredible, acted like he had done it all a million times.

I took only 2 photos the entire long day we spent together.  I was too much of a basket case.  But, here is his cute little professional looking head, chilling in the trailer like it ain't no thing.  (and he doesn't actually have two noses, his neighbor has a twinny bay thoroughbred nose)

And dad is a show dad from way back.  Cup of coffee in one hand, horse in the other.  We did a lot of this--the standing.  After I warmed up over the fences when we first got up to the ring Ronan and I both agreed that we were already satisfied.  EZ was just the bomb.  Went over everything, didn't bat an eye at anything, not even the snow sliding off the roof that was driving all the other horses nutty.

Seriously, we were amidst some chaos in the warm up ring, with horses refusing, people coming off, wheeling and shying at the snow sounds, and EZ was unperturbed.   I for sure lucked out.  I wasn't sure what to expect, having jumped him so rarely, and having never taken him to a show situation, but if there were any doubt I am now positive that I am in possession of a super star.

We did do our two little hunter classes, which is funny, just because neither of us are hunters, but luckily neither were most of our competitors and we got 3rd and 4th place, which means that EZ has some ribbons currently adorning his stall door.

Country Animals

EZ and co. had some more visitors this weekend.  Randi and Caroline made the trek from New York City to the Millbrook School Log Cabin for some fresh country air.  And gossip magazines.  Ooooh, and the zoo, where we were all captivated by these guys (all photo credits to Caroline):

Yup, high school with a zoo, no big deal.

Since in the country there is really nothing else to do than look at various animals, both exotic and farm, we also made a visit to both Indian Pond Farm and Broken Wheel Ranch.

Here is Caroline, both she and Donovan seeming awestruck with each other.

And here Randi and Dutch Boy seem equally delighted with each other's company. 

 Even more delighted here!  The horses are hoping that the proximity to the tack room door may indicate a possibilities for treats, and just working their charming magic on the lady from the boogie down.

"Yeah, ok, this is fun and all, but where are the treats?"

The tiny charmers were also out in full force.  Donker was not enjoying the rainy weather though.

Myma was totally digging her hay-filled burrow, however, only emerging at the ever promising possible presence of food.

Next we went next door to visit Mr EZdarlingdoo.

And to do some doctoring, because that's what we do when we go to Broken Wheel Ranch.

Some for the chest...

A little more on the eye...he loves it.  He actually is a very good patient, and I bribe him in between each dab.

The star of this visit though, had to be Rafter Cat.  Ask Randi and Caroline to sing you the song they composed in his (her?) honor.  It's a great jingle.

Here Randi is probably trying to get a better look at Rafter Cat.

The good thing about having visitors, other than that they are wonderful people whom I love, is that they take pictures of EZ and me, and we get to work on our glamor shots.

A Retrospective

Mom found a photo album I had compiled during high school tucked away in one of her drawers.  Why she is hoarding my photo collections is a separate issue (but maybe not a difficult one--apron strings, anyone?) (love you, mom!). 

Anyway, all of the pictures I had taken the time to lovingly place in the album were of me and my various horses.  There were a bunch of me with my parents too, but they were sort of just tucked in haphazardly--priorities, you know (love you, parents!)?  Anyway, I convinced mom to scan some of them for me, because she's the bombdiggity.


















So here we are--at the beginning, Liz and I with our horses!  She is riding Rodeo Rosie, and I am on Sheena, the only other horse I can legitimately have called my own before Mr EZ.  We have ridden up to our grandparents' cabin by the lake, where probably Grammie is standing on the porch and maybe having a slight issue with camera aim.  There are many observations to be made:

1) Rosie's apaloosa markings were and continue to be way badass (no pun intended about the ass part).
2) We are wearing "Heels Down!" riding sneakers.  So cool.  And shorts, which I recall being uncomfortable in the long run.
2) My helmet, set at a jaunty angle, is missing its visor, I think because I used it also as a biking helmet.
3) Look how blond I was.
4) Sheena's noseband looks a tad high, no?

There are more, but I'll let you make them.

This is with Skeeter, the Arabian schoolmaster who taught me dressage.  Obviously a very good teacher--check out that ribbon!  That cute little bay there to the left was named Matilda and it was actually while riding her that I learned how to steer and my instructor thought maybe there was hope after all at becoming good at the whole riding thing and upgraded me to Skeeter.  His real name was MC Jabaskan, very fancy, from the fancy Bask Arabian line.  He also had a mad intense sway back--you can see some of his hardcore padding.  But he was an incredible horse and my long time partner.  I don't know what's up with my look here--apparently trying out some modeling glares.  Or the sun was in my face.  Blinding!

Here I continue my pretty awesome modeling skills while getting Skeeter ready for the show.  I was never all that good at the button braids.  I think I remember being very hot and stressed at this exact moment.  Mom is being very helpful, whispering soothing sweet nothings to both of us, by the looks of it.  See, I wasn't kidding about that swayback.  Once I was riding in a clinic with a bunch of other kids on their dinky horses and we were doing leg-yielding, and the clinician said something about having to take confirmation into account and basically she didn't think Skeeter would be able to do them very well, and I was like, Oh yeah?  and then we schooled them.  He was the best. 

After the braiding was done, here I am in my show clothes, apparently skeptical at whatever dad is saying.  Pretty sure that was a velcro stock tie.  And that's definitely a velvet cover for my plastic helmet.  And also definitely our maroon Volvo station wagon in the background.  (so many Vs!)

Another few years later and here I am on Patrick  (total Nev look alike!).  This is at the Northeast Junior and Young Riders' Dressage Championships, I think my third year going.  I was showing Patrick at Training Level and Skeeter at First.  I loved this dude.  I was awestruck by how huge and cool he was and got my instructor to let me ride him, and she said something like, "You did better than I thought you would with him," which was super encouraging.  Please observe that I have moved on to French braiding the mane, even though it is unfortunately a bit wavy.  Also observe Liz's toned leg muscle in the background.

He definitely wasn't the easiest to ride, but I loved that I felt like I made a statement on him.  We would not be ignored!  We had a shoulder issue though.  A few months after this show while struggling to control the bulge in a lesson I finally just halted him and threw my arms up in exasperation and said, I give up!  I can not do this anymore!  And my instructor patiently said, Well ok.  How about we finish the lesson though?

It was not during this test, but during a prix caprilli one in a similar arena that Patrick just exited the arena at the corner.  Seriously, the shoulder bulge just bulged right over the fence.  I hoped no one noticed, but yeah, we were disqualified from that one.

In the Winner's Circle!  Whatwhat!  Look at how much less loot I get at second place than the first place rider did.  Lame!  At least I still got a medal.  I think this is the same year that I rode both Skeeter and Patrick, and got second in both my categories (although maybe my helmet is different, so maybe it was a different year?  My memory is like swiss cheese).  Possibly the zenith of my riding career.

...although, later on I did go to the Arabian Championships and there were some pictures of those that I can post once they are scanned (no pressure, mom.  I swear)...

All in all though, you gotta admit, pretty cute, right?  And this is how I spent my summers.  Riding these little buggers, working at Cricket Hill Farm in order to do so, and trying my damndest to rack up as many of those ribbons as possible.  Except for the ribbon part, some things never change.

We're pretty serious

EZcutiepie and I have moved to our winter quarters: the aforementioned Broken Wheel Ranch.  We've been there for about two weeks, and just in the nick of time.  Seriously, the snow/ice is out of contreezy.  I don't think we would be able to ride at all without access to an arena--it is the layers of ice and then snow that really would've done us in.  I probably just would've tacked him up, sat on his back, and been like, "I love you!  Let's hug."  Doesn't sound allll that bad.

Broken Wheel Ranch

All my complicated decision making worked out in the end--I just trittrotted little EZangelpie down to farm, as we were used to, and then had helpful Mr. Dad bring all our stuff and we were all set.  Check out the digs.

This is his stall, where he takes his meals like a fancy boy.  Please note his gorgeous O'Halloran cooler, borrowed from Cathleen, like all our nice stuff.

So the upshot of these winter quarters is the arena, not, in fact, that he gets to be spoiled with a stall if the weather gets nasty.

We built a baby jump to celebrate.

When I say "baby," I mean, "baby."  EZ was pretty sure he should just trot over it.  

Once that task is completed, he waits patiently at the door.

"Aren't you forgetting it is time to wrap things up now?"

"No, seriously.  I'm ready."

He did actually jump some things.  Which was good, considering we are going to a little schooling show in a few days where the hope is that things will be jumped.  Since I decided that we were shooting for the Beginner-Novice event at Kent on May 15, Ronan thought it would be good to get out a little bit, get a little practice with the whole "jumping" thing, as well as the whole, "leaving home" thing.  So, we'll see how that goes, but it would seem we're becoming quite professional.

I've been spending hours every day at this place now, which is much longer than I should, considering the fact that a boarding school never sleeps, and they are the ones who pay my bills (sorry about skipping classes to go to a show on Saturday!).  Part of what takes me so long every day is this business:

Wound cleaning.  EZdelicateflower is apparently finding his new pasture-mates to be rather rough.

 There they are, clearly up to no good.

"Who, us?  We're nothing but good.  Swear."

"Please get me out of here."

They actually don't seem very mean to him; he doesn't seem scared by them and I never see anyone giving him a hard time, but every day there's a new scratch or scrape.  Nothing too serious though, and it gives me a chance to brush up on my mad doctoring skillz.  We may look rather raggedy though, just sayin.