As “Luck” would have it

31 Tuesday Jan 2012

Did you catch the premiere of the new HBO series “Luck“?

I did, and I’m amused to breathe in the vapor of Miami Vice in director Michael Mann’s newest series, along with the feast of gritty-and-oblique dialog that is David Milch’s hallmark (Deadwood). My only problem is atmosphere overtaking unintelligible dialog.

Rant break: I know I’m getting older, but I am so tired of films and TV shows in which actors mutter. No doubt we have the best sound engineering we’ve ever had, but what is it with the whispering? Is it because I have an ordinary television rather than a media system? Is it because I can’t hear so well out of my left ear (and my Yankee-Irish horse whispering boyfriend can’t hear so well out of either ear)? Are we the only two people with this problem?

Nick Nolte is one of my favorite actors and I’m hooked on his character in Luck. Seedy with a heart. I wonder if he sleeps in his shed row. (Interestingly, it’s said that Nick Nolte was considered for the role of Sonny Crockett in Miami Vice. I’m so glad Mann didn’t try to even up the score by casting Don Johnson in Luck.)

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Sand in the hand

30 Monday Jan 2012

Posted by Katie in Training

≈ 3 Comments

I’m an overachiever. I strive for excellence. The harder something is, the harder I try. It’s in my nature.

My younger sister, who takes a much more lighthearted attitude towards life, gave me some advice years ago. She said, “Imagine that you grabbed a handful of sand…you wanted to keep it so badly that you kept squeezing your hand tighter. All the sand would disappear.”

I try to follow her counsel, in life and with horses. I have to admit, it’s easier with horses, because I can do for them what I can’t do for myself.

It can be difficult to draw the line. There’s nothing wrong with wanting more and there’s nothing wrong with striving, but there is something wrong with forcing. Especially with horses.

It's not so easy. Fail to support the sand in your hand, and you will also lose what you want. Thanks to Barbara Carr for her photo.

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Heavy metal

29 Sunday Jan 2012

Posted by Katie in Sunday Photos

≈ 1 Comment

Photo courtesy of Chabata_k (Japan)

Girls and horses

28 Saturday Jan 2012

Posted by Katie in Uncategorized

≈ 3 Comments

I love this song by Templeton Thompson. Did you know that her horse Jane is a Breyer model? You can learn more about her on her website, where the banner says “dream big…work hard…have faith.” A great motto to live by, for girls and boys who love horses.

The right answer

27 Friday Jan 2012

Posted by Katie in Training

≈ 3 Comments

Years ago, at a TTouch clinic, we played a classic TTeam game. The idea was to help riders see through their horses’ eyes.

One of the participants offered to be a horse, and the instructor offered to be the rider/trainer.

The “horse” stood attentively, waiting for instruction. Within seconds, the “rider/trainer” said in a firm tone of voice, “Orange.”

The horse did nothing. So the rider again said “Orange,” only this time a bit more loudly.

The horse now moved a foot and lowered her head. The rider responded by shouting “Orange!” The horse moved both feet. Wrong again. At which point, the rider shouted, “Orange, orange, orange!”

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Saddle saga

26 Thursday Jan 2012

Posted by Katie in Horse Care

≈ 10 Comments

Years ago, I became a member of the “My Saddle Cost More Than My Horse” club. I am currently a member of the “I Have [Many] More Saddles Than Horses” club. And I am about to proudly join the “I Buy a New Saddle Every Four Months” club. At least I hope so, if I can find a new saddle that works.

Butet dressage

County Drespri

In the last several years, I’ve sold a Crosby close contact saddle, a Butet Premium close contact saddle, a Jimmy’s 20th Century close contact saddle, an Hermes Steinkraus and a Butet dressage saddle. That’s just for me. For my clients, I’ve sold a County Drespri, a Collegiate close contact, a Beval Natural and an Albion Legend 5000.

Smith Worthington Brianna

Hennig Classic

I have a brand new Smith-Worthington Brianna advertised for a client. I tried selling my Hennig privately, but there were no takers even after I dropped the price to $3200, so it’s now on consignment with a prominent Hennig dealer. Same with my brown Adam Ellis Brio, which is on consignment somewhere else.

Kieffer Wien

Crosby Equilibrium TC

In the interests of full disclosure, I also have a Kieffer Wien up in the attic. It has a broken tree point. It makes no sense to repair it (although it’s old and the leather is really nice) and I won’t sell it to anyone in its current condition. It would be nice on the wall of some restaurant/pub, but I think that there are already plenty of candidates available on ebay. I’m also hanging on to my old Crosby Equilibrium designed by Tad Coffin, which was such a deal I can’t see letting it go.

How many saddles is that? I don’t want to count.

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Inspiration from Michael Jordan

25 Wednesday Jan 2012

Posted by Katie in Horse Care, Inspiration, Notes & Quotes, Training

≈ 4 Comments

Have you ever felt guilty because you pushed your horse too hard? Or felt you let your horse down by not pushing him far enough, so he could show the world what he could do or simply gain in confidence?

Have you ever yanked on your horse’s face and regretted it later? Yelled at your horse? Told him or her something you wish you could take back?

Have you ever forgotten to release or just been too slow?

Have you ever walked by your horse without saying hello? Or neglected to pick feet or groom or give a wither scratch when you had time?

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Barefoot break

24 Tuesday Jan 2012

Posted by Katie in Horse Care

≈ 3 Comments

Photo courtesy of D. Sharon Pruitt

Loyal readers of my blog know that I periodically get fed up with the nonsense I read in Practical Horseman magazine (articles like “The Pulley Rein — Not Just for Emergency Stops”). But I like to give credit where credit is due, and I have to give PH credit this month, for bringing back the wisdom of Vance Glenn, CJF.

It’s been a long time since Certified Journeyman Farrier Vance Glenn wrote a monthly column for PH, but it’s nice to see him back this month in the “Here’s How” department. The question was “Should I pull my horse’s shoes for the winter?” and Mr. Glenn’s answer was a resounding “Absolutely!”

I no longer have the article Mr. Glenn wrote years ago about this very thing, but as I recall, it was very much along the same lines as what he writes in the February issue. He talks about how a barefoot break can stimulate new growth, restore the natural balance of the foot, and make the hoof stronger and healthier. He talks about the best way to transition to barefoot, what to expect, and what to do along the way.

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An exercise for better balance – with pirouette renversee

23 Monday Jan 2012

Posted by Katie in Training

≈ 15 Comments

Last Saturday’s post talked about how important it is to have an open mind.

So I’m going to ask you to have an open mind about Turn on the Forehand and its distant cousin, the Pirouette Renversee, which also requires the horse to move its haunches around its forehand.

You’ve probably read that the Turn on the Forehand should only be taught to the beginner rider or used for the young horse, primarily to teach the leg aid or responsiveness to that leg aid for lateral work. You may even have heard someone point out that there’s a reason it’s called turn on the forehand — and that the last thing you want is your horse on the forehand, so the sooner you abandon the exercise, the better.

I say, “Yes but…”

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