The Emergency Dismount March 11, 2010

I laughed and teased about learning the emergency dismount at a training I went to recently. When would I ever use that!?!

The Emergency Dismount

Before you get started, you should know how to do an emergency dismount — unfortunately, it is likely that you will have to do one sometime while riding bareback. An emergency dismount is always the best way to go if you feel yourself falling. You are less likely to be hurt.

To emergency dismount, lean forward, drop the reins, slide one leg over the horse’s back, and land on your feet… before you land on your head. You have to do this very quickly, though. Your horse may stop, but he also may keep going. That’s fine. Most likely, you’re in an enclosed area, so he can’t go far.  from WikiHorses

(I had no saddle and no helmet, though my official position is to always ride with a helmet.)

Monday, I needed and used, quite successfully the Emergency Dismount!  I climbed up on Spirit for a nice quick bareback ride and he was ready to go before I had my balance.  I was flopping all over his back.  I knew I was coming off.  My choices were to either flop off his back or dismount using my handy, dandy new skill.

I chose the skill.

I will not make fun of the Emergency Dismount ever again…I will use it with pride and teach it with flourish.

I was rattled and shaken up, but climbed back on and rode for a while.  The next day, I took the time and effort to put his saddle squarely on his back.  It is much easier to hang on that way!

Snow Day Again! February 2, 2010

When I was growing up in central Arkansas, we only had snow every other year or so.  This has been amazing!

It can be calm and peaceful…..

…or exciting and energizing!

(That is what happens when you spend most of your life in the stall.)

When we bought her, she became a horse…in the pasture

This is probably Spirit’s first time to play in the snow, too.

Notice the snow around his lips.  He ate it off the fence rail.

Trigger, however, has seen it all before.

Nothing like a dingy horse in brilliant snow!

This girl knows what to do!

She learned it from her brothers….

This one built a fort from carefully constructed snow blocks.

This one just wants to get on with the snowball fight….and

he’s not waiting on anyone!

The sun is going down and everyone is headed inside.

Almost everyone….sorry guys.

Sizzle Spirit January 21, 2010

Here he is.  Part of my bucket list.  I’ve always wanted a horse that would be competitive.  I’ve written previously about my horse show experiences…

He knows so much more than I do!  I can’t wait to get to know him and take him to a show.  He is so beautiful.

This was his first day at home.  He’s checking it all out.  I hope he likes us!

Things Change December 24, 2009

Timer went to a new home yesterday. It is so easy to accumulate too many horses.  In an effort to keep our herd manageable, Timer will be a little girl’s present this year.

I know that he will be well cared for and loved, but it’s still hard to see him go.

It’s time for him to take care of another little girl who loves horses.  He will be an awesome Christmas present!

Meredith has outgrown him and he is too good of a horse to leave in the pasture while she rides more challenging horses.

He was my “go-to” horse as I  began to do equine-assisted learning and therapy.  He was always ready and willing to work with people.  He enjoyed the interaction with people.

Thanks, Timer!  I will miss you!

Wisdom Cards? Really? July 20, 2009

At the close of an Equine Assisted Learning training last month, we were instructed to choose from a large selection of cards, refered to as Wisdom Cards, that were spread around on a table with pictures of horses. They reminded me of Elvis rugs that people sell at state fairs. The other participants were really studying these pictures. We were told to chose one, read what is on the back, think about it, and then read it aloud to the group and share what you get from the card. The trainers related stories about how meaningful this activity was. How much these cards could tell you about yourself. This sounded a little kooky to me, but I figured I would play along.

I chose one, sat down, and realized that there were several paragraphs on the back of the card. I peeked at other people’s cards. Their cards had titles like “Celebration” or “Confidence”.

At the top of my card was the word in all caps – SORROW.

“Oh, great.” I thought, “Can I get another one?”

I began reading it and didn’t know how to respond. My heart was pounding in my chest. What do I do with this? Here is the beginning of the paragraph, as best I can remember.

Warning signs are all around you. Take note of the signs of danger. If you ignore the……blah blah blah blah….

Here we go. I had prayed specifically that morning that I would bring honor and glory to God that day. I would probably never see these people again and wanted them to know something of the God I serve, but I didn’t know how to show my faith in any significant way to this group of people.

God gave me a way to express my faith in a blatant fashion. I waited for everyone else to have their turn because I didn’t want to ruin it for everyone else. Perhaps they would get something positive from their card…

My turn came and I read the first few words that I have recited here and then shared my faith. I told them that my life is hidden with Christ and nothing can snatch me from my Father’s hands. I shared with them that in Christ, I live and breathe and have my being. I am nothing without him and I reject the message of this card.

It was a powerful moment for me. Christ is supreme. He is my all.

Texting July 13, 2009

Trigger and Meredith

We arrived at Newport at about 2:00, by 2:30 there was sweat rolling down my back and saturating my hair.  Meredith got her horse saddled as quickly as she could and set off to find her friends that she only sees on horse show weekends.

I saw her occassionally ride past in a herd of small and large horses, some sorrel and painted and brown and white.  They were like a little band of outlaws weaving their way through the people who were signing up for assorted events or warming up their horses.

By the end of the day, I was tired and sticky.  Meredith had placed in 7 of her 8 events and was pleased with the day.

Barrels were last and she had a good run and placed 5th.  I waited for her to show up at the trailer so we could load the horses up and go home.  I waited and waited.  Finally I saw her at the far end of the arena with a few friends.  She was on Trigger and he was our last horse to load, so Scott went to go get her and convince her we were ready to go home.

On the ride home, she was asking me about texting.  How much does it cost?  Did I know Sydney texts? (Her older cousin in Texas.)  Did I know that Sydney pays for her own texting?

I thought it was cute that she wanted to tell Sydney about her horse show.

The next morning Meredith asked me about texting again.

Meredith:  How much is one text?

Me:  I’m not sure, maybe 10 cents.  Why?  Who do you want to text?

Meredith:  ……Emily’s cousin.

Hmmmmm——–

Me:  What’s his name?

Meredith:  ……….Cody.

I’m glad she is making friends, but we will not subscribe to texting any time soon.

Disequilibrium July 3, 2009

After 5 days of disequilibrium, I am still a little off kilter. I was completely immersed in horses, horse psychology, horse body language, horse herd behavior.

My thinking and boundaries concerning safety were continually pushed and tested. My picture of myself and how I related to others and life in general was being challenged.

In the middle of this, I received an email about presenting at a technology conference. I enjoy technology and get a lot of satisfaction from teaching people how to utilize these tools for education. However, I have been in such an intensive training that required complete concentration and focus that I was a bit taken aback by this email.

“Am I still that person? Do I present technology workshops? Is that me?”

What an odd response….

I am still finding my footing.

Training in Lubbock July 1, 2009

I have just completed 5 days of training in Equine Assisted Growth and Learning.  I am exhausted.  I was continually challenged on several levels.  I stayed uncomfortable most of the 5 days.  I know that is the state in which the most learning occurs, but I am now so tired.  There is a part 2 training for which I am now signed up and will obtain a certification from EAGALA to practice Equine Assisted Psychotherapy and Learning as a member of a 2 or 3 part team.  I will be the Equine Specialist and work with a mental health professional.

The power of this work is overwhelming to me personally.  I look forward to sharing it with others.  I will be using it as a part of a science curriculum this fall for at-risk students, Lord willing.  I’m not sure where it will go from there.

I’m really excited about working with my horses and preparing them for this work as well.

I am in a state of disequilibrium and it makes it hard to formulate my thoughts.  I am growing and changing and can sense it happening, but it will take some time of rest and focus on other things before I will be able to articulate all that is going on inside of me.  I have a blog where I write exclusively about horses and my work with them:  Learning with Horses.

Mucking Stalls May 2, 2009

My teenage boys have hired out for a month to muck stalls.  They are working several hours every day to clean out stalls for a trainer down the road. Meredith likes to go and hang out and ride our horse who is there for training.

Wednesday afternoon I got home and everyone was milling around the house and down by the pond.  My 17 year old asked me to wake him up in 30 minutes and he and Locke would go to the barn to work before church.   Meredith planned to go with them.  I knew he could bring the kids to church when they were done with their stalls.

I was teaching class, so I planned on leaving pretty early.

I woke Barrett up, he headed out the door and I watched the Camry roll down the drive.  All was quiet.

I scurried around and found my study book I thought I had lost and headed out the door.  Quite pleased with myself that I was leaving so early.

All was well until I discovered after church that our children weren’t there.  None of them.

I had forgotten that Barret has a small group Bible study in town on Wednesday nights in the opposite direction of the church building.

He left Locke at home with Meredith who had been left there by everyone.  She hadn’t gone to the barn and I had not checked for her before I left.

Logistics…we have a few logistics to work out, but I know this must be good for the boys.

————

Last night when I came home late from a workshop, no one was there.  Everyone was at the trainer’s barn.  The boys were working, Meredith was riding our new horse and Scott was probably riding, too.

So I turned the car around and took a late night trip to the grocery store for milk and sandwich stuff.  I hate going to the grocery store.  But at least no one was needing me and now we have milk!  I’ve got to have milk for my cereal-loving family.

Ghosts of Summers Past May 1, 2009

Scott and I were asked to lead a retreat last weekend for a church. Actually Scott was asked to do it and he invited me to help. It was taking place at Camp Tahkodah were I spent every summer of my life till I married, save one. I spent one summer working for Joe Webb who trained Tennessee Walking horses.

Before we went to the retreat this weekend, we were asked which cabin we would like to stay in. My mom and I always had an affinity for the little cabin by the tennis courts. This is the cabin we lived in when I was just a baby and on and off as I grew up. It only has two small rooms, three if you count the bathroom.

I woke up Saturday morning surrounded by my ghosts of summers past. I was brushing my teeth when I saw it. Written in pencil, in my mother’s handwriting was my brother’s name above a small nail by the shower. Right beside it was another small nail with my name….over 40 years ago. What a precious find!