Linda Zang

Well, I confirmed it, Linda Zang is the Goddess of dressage instructors.

Missy has had a very, very limited amount of lessons.  Ever.  Frequently, we come away feeling like we spent more then we had to spend, and often, Missy has a difficult times remembering or processing the information.  She has always had some trouble with short-term memory loss, and when you can't keep going back week after week.....it doesn't do a lot of good in the long run.  So, much of what she has done, she has done through trial and error.  Sometimes she will listen to me, most often, it's like two rams butting heads to get anything done.

I once saw another lesson, with Buck Davidson, that left me in awe.  Missy could relate to Buck, and Buck was so gifted as an instructor, that she did, indeed, get a lot out of his lessons.  But most were jumping lessons.

This is her first true lesson, with a dressage instructor.  One of this caliper for sure.  When we got there, Sara, from Overbrook Farm was there, and that girl has some NICE horses!  Missy was intimidated with watching the lesson, and where she is in her education, vs. Sara.  Near tears, she just kept saying she was going to be embarressed.  Linda Zang doesn't embaress.  EVER.  I have seen many videos of her doing clinics, and she has always seemed kind the few times I met her in person.  Remember, I scribed for her at the AEC's a couple years ago....and had a blast.  She remembered me today, and the feeling was mutual, she had a blast with me too!  I LOVED THAT...but I remiss.

Missy, near tears, saddle Prince, and trepidiciously awaited her turn to be gutted.  Her words....never happened though.

First Linda said, quite clearly, this horse has no quads...NONE.  She said, his trot looks off, because he has no muscles there.  She made a comment on how strong Missy must be, to have carried him well enough to allow that to happen.  So you know all those comments that he needs stifle injections, or hock injections, or that he is lame?  NOPE!  He has no muscle there.  Do you know what a relief that is?  I told her so, I told her that I was only a few weeks shy of getting him injected. 

She told Missy, "what I show you today, is going to change your life forever, and will change who you are forever".  Pretty bold huh?

So she showed Missy some exercises to do for him to build those muscles, to help him to understand what she wanted, to help him unlock his neck.  It was so simple, so easy, so very very easy.   She had Melissa do this at the walk, then at the trot, all the while not caring where his head was, or if he was in trot or canter, and she said, "you will, by the end of this lesson, have a horse coming from behind, on the bit, and with a big stride", again, bold, huh?

Missy went from tearful, and fearful, to big smiles, and wow, and OH MY GOD's, more times then I care to admit.  She went from a horse not going forward, heavy, to one who was truly engaged, truly supple, and probably very sore now!!!

By the end of the lesson, after a few minor adjustments, we had a new horse, a new rider, and a great coach.  Fortunately, LInda comes twice a month here, and if I have to sell kidneys, we won't miss a chance to ride every time she comes.  But the best part, when Linda says..."ride your horse to the outisde rein", she doesn't just say to do it, but explains, in great detail, HOW to do it.  Which for Missy, made all the differance in the world.  She came home, put it to great use on the rest of her horses, and tonight, feels just a bit more confident, and a whole lot happier then 24 hours ago!!!

Advanced.....ready?

Today, thanks to the miracle of technologies, and Event Entries, we signed up for Rocking Horse 2. And...Advanced. One of my top priorities is to try really hard to not have to scratch an event due to funds. Bad enough because of fires, broken transmissions, healthproblems, deaths in family, lame horses, but it is embaressing when it is a lack of funds!

I am excited, for Melissa, for me, for Prince, but the mom in me isnt sure she can go watch xc that day. The Mom in me isnt sure she can NOT go watch XC that day! Lol.

Missy had a lesson with Joe Meyer yesterday. His prices are a bargain for this area, and he seems fun. He did some basic stuff with her, said it in a way I wouldnt have thought to say it, and wahlah...a lightbulb moment! We will go back as finances allows.

The rest of the horses are coming along! JJ just has amazed me, I truly believe that if we had a decent amount of funds just for him, we could get him doing intermediate this year. He has to be one of the nicest horses we have owned! He has great xc form, bold! Smart! Athletic! We are taking him over to Joes, and they are going to evaulate him, and he is going up for sale. I would genuinely like to keep this horse, but he can go so far, and those are the ones people wanna buy! So he will help fund us for another year we hope!

Maggie is surpassing our wildest dreams! She isnt as bold XC, but she isnt a wimp either!

Please remember, you can make a Tax Deductible contribution to American Horse Trials Foundation, in Missy's name. Even a few dollars helps us out!

Till next time!

Dee

Barn Help, Working Students, and Brasso

Sitting here, feeling sorry for myself, because I have a miserable headache, fever, sore throat, I decided to get the bits shiny for this weekend. We are doing an un-recognized horse trial on two of our Greenbeans.

Buffing a shine into a KK is really one of my least favorite jobs. I put it right up there with suffering thru the Flu...so suffering thru the flu AND polishing bits, you get the picture. It does afford one plenty of time o think! After all, how many brain cells can it take to rub on, rub off?

My first thoughts, follow me here, was WHY was I stuck doing this menial chore? Hadn't our working student JUST left? Didn't I just make the decision to help out the economy and HIRE someone? Well, really, it's a schooling show, how important IS one bit of tack? And just for appearances...isn't that just vanity.

I got to wondering, for real, why the working student hadn't stayed on top of it? Why Melissa had to do stalls that truly looked as though someone just took everything and piled it in the middle, and went on about other things.

Lots of time to think leads one to some great insights. Stalls being nasty? I don't have an answer, other then barn help was sick, and she probably did what she thought she could, I got to moving on, thinking about working students. I loved this past student, but I do wonder about the whole thing, and came to this...it wasn't important! Hadn't I just said the same thing. So I asked myself: Why? So back to shining those bits and coming up with an answer.

Missy was a working student for about 3 months with Jon and Jen Holling. She would come home exhausted, dirty, in pain, and smiling. Why? Because her dressage was ever improving, and she was learning....ah ha, first requirement for a working student, wanting to learn! She would be full of info she had garnered from a long day at thier farm, and wonderful stories of who she had met, what she had seen, how easy Jon made dressage. But the one thing she hated, above all else...polishing bits and halters. Everyday, after riding was done, mid-day feeding done, horses rotated, it was time to clean leather, do laundry, and polish bits!

Anyone having ever met Melissa, and shaken her hand, knows ow hard they are. She is embarrassed by it, because they are so hard, but not me! No, I am proud of her, it shows how hard a worker she is! Qualification 2, working student must be a hard worker. But cleaning metals? Hard, hard, hard on the hands! At night, she often had sores on her hands, cracks, and no amount of lotion helps.

I have an answer for you, of why the Holling bunch care, and WHY I care, and WHY it's important! Pride in yourself, pride in your work, AND when you are walking your horse past that random person, who sees that shiney bit, it tells those onlookers, here is a person who CARES how thier horses look, how they feel, and takes pride! Who doesn't overlook the small stuff, who, no matter how sick, or tired, or frustrated they might be, cleans thier stalls, shines thier bits, and gets up and cares....MAYBE I want that person on my horse, I want that trainers opinion! I want that trainer to care about me and my horse! I want to be part of that team.

So, my bits look great now, my bridles sparkling like new. My whites are white, my horses eyes free of dirt. So my daughterand I can be proud! My daughter can be very proud of herself! Because her stalls look amazing, as do her horses! Even with us oth sick as dogs!

Horses, men, working students, and.....?

I don't know which is more difficult to figure out....men or green horses. Hmmm, never mind, what am I thinking?

Men are so odd! I won't say more, but they TOTALLY baffle me! My daughter is beautiful, gorgeous, great sense of humor, into cars, motorcycles, looks awesome in a dress....sigh. Codi, may never get a sister! Ok, ok, will stop being a typical Mom...but the men in Ocala are IDIOTS!! Letting a good one get away.

The horses are going amazing. Went over to a friends Saturday with JJ and Maggie. JJ was his usual rocking self. Jumped a 3'9" triple like it was child's play. Knew taking our time with him would pay off.

Maggie....my girl! She was TERRIFIED of the sand area!!! Yup, she just had this look...."are you real, WTF is this?". It was hilarious to me...Melissa didn't find it near as funny!! But as soon as she got on, and gave a little push, that mare got down to business!!

The previous day, riding in the pasture, our pony went running up o Maggie. Well.......Maggie can passage.....grin. Missy was so excited! She just thought it the coolest thing ever!! Too bad it wasn't on cue eh?

Back to sand...anyway, after they rodea bit, our friend was schooling 2 foot, and Missy followed him thrusome poles, a little x....keep in mind, we have done one other jump session.

Before you knew it, we did some cutesy courses, a couple lines, an in and out, and Maggie was burning it up! The mare LOVED IT!

So she is doing amazing.

Our working student is headed home, leaving us looking for a new one. She is headed hiking with friends! Man are we going to miss her. We have a new employee, more on that a differant day!

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!

Wearing so MANY Hats!

Hats: Mother, Coach, Groom, friend, sponsor, landscaper, course designer, MUGA...

Some of my hats fit like a glove. I LOVE being Muga. Being a Grandmother to Codi, is absolutely, the most AMAZING expierance. She is truly an unique child. I have figured out, being a Grandparent is Gods way of rewarding us Mothers, for not killing our teenage kids! So of those hats above, this fits the best.

I can design a stadium course or gymnastic exercise with the best of them....thank you life expierances, and those grand Prix riders I rode with in the 80's. I had John Pearce brother here this weekend, helping us set up a course....John is a BNR in the Grand Prix circuit. We had fun talking about mutual friends, and horses we knew back in my day. He liked what our course was, what we were setting, the gymnastics being set. Big compliment!

I can definetly cut a yard, not one of my favorite things to do though, but when I get done, my yard and pastures look like golf courses. I had a student tell me that once, that my pastures looked as good as the golf course at thier house....hmmm...

Grooming. I remember Missy showing five horses in a one day, and having them all clean, ready, and gorgeous. I don't think I can do that anymore. I forgot to mention, construction....but that too is going by the way side as I age, and my body is getting decrepit! I have pushed hard,worked hard, my entire life. So, I can keep up with a few horses, but not five!

This leaves Mother, Friend, and Coach.

I would like to think that I have been a good Mother. My son, who is off to college, getting his third degree, was born very Ill. The fight for his life, his milestones, his education, his right to be a part of normal society, taught me a lot. I KNOW on his school records, somewhere, I am probably referred to as "Bi**h". That's ok...it's what I had to be...school systems are rough on a special needs child, and thier Mom. But I arose to that occasion. The boy that they said would never function...well, he is way smarter then I am, and I am very proud of him!

Then there is Melissa. I know people think that "I" want to be at shows. I have been called some horrible names, made fun of, called controlling. Surely, it must be true to those who call me those name....except, the fact is, most shows, I try to stay home. Being a Mom to someone who has chosen this sport, is tough! Ask Valerie Ashker...it's hard, when you love the sport too, but it's your daughter and best friend out there on course, and you can't see them...

No, I have tried to stay home....and then had her ask, who will help me, if you do not come. Dressage, stadium, whatever...she has a bad day there, it's most likely points....a bad day on xc....not just points. I worry, what if? So I go....lol. But most of the time, it's because SHE wants me there. Most of the time, in dressage warm up, I stay away. You aren't going to fix it at the show....and that's her worst phase. So for those who think my going is control, or helicoptering....shove it!

What about coaching and being Mom? So many times, you want to take your child, the one who was six, and had the skinned knee, and hug them, and say, "that mean ole judge", but the other hat, the sponsor, or coach hat? That one has to say things like "suck it up", or "what were you thinking when you rode that line." That's the hardest one of all. Because that six year old child is still in that young lady, she still needs Mom, she still needs that hug. The obvious solution, get a different coach...duh right? But budgeting for that is a bit away. The people she needs to work with want a full time student...not the once in a blue moon student.

This leaves Friend. Our life is a solitary sport. It's you, a horse, and your skills. Days are spent riding horse after horse, occasional lessons, and fund raising. None are conductive to building friendships. Through necessity, the feed store, farrier, vet become your buddies. It's very lonely at times. It gets old, seeing the same person, day in, day out. This is my hardest hat...because so often, it comes after all the rest. A friend enables a friend. A Mother says.....???? You get the idea.

So it's all an odd life...being a business partner with your daughter. You hope they know how much you love them, that you want the best, and that those may not be the same thing they think is best, but that they know no matter how big the arguments, you want them happy.

Shiney bits, wash stalls, mowed pasture, and nice weather.

I thought that driving to Ohio to pick up Dubai, alone, was smart! Imagine the work that would get done without me taking the crew!?! I was right about that, my house is spotless! The tack is clean. Horses look amazing, yippee. Yesterday, I spent the day mowing all the pastures, burning branches, dragging....my pastures look AMAZING! Missy was busy putting in wash stalls, which is such a blessing. Having said that, do you know how faaaaaarrrrr Columbus is from Ocala? This old woman wont be making any mre LONG trips, hauling horses, alone! I don't know WHAT I was thinking! We have some great horses. As I was mowing yesterday, I watched our herd. How gorgeous horses are! All of them are beautiful, and some, most of the herd in fact, just make my heart sing. Some will go on to other homes, some will give me babies, and maybe a few will reach stardom, wouldn't that be cool! The weather is warm, the day is sunny, out to play and live the life!

Jumpers, jumpers, working student, and more Jumpers

This weekend was a blast! There is just something about competing against a clock, and knowing how you did, that just...well...rocks!

Yesterday finished up the jumper show, would have preferred being at Poplar, but just didn't have the funding this time. So we did the next best thing, and found a jumper show, with money! Yahoo!

Yesterday was another winner take all class, and at the end, Missy came home the winner. Out of six classes, 5 blues, two championships, and both classics won. ALSO she received the Jumper Style award of the show. The judge, who hadn't talked all day, had her stay in the arena, and commented that speed kills, but executing turns that no one else could or did, wins. Missy had a big grin on her face till bedtime. She said that was the best award she received. Better then the check, trophy, or ribbons. She came out and just kept saying, look what dressage has done for us. And it was true. I had so much fun, watching her have fun. Even fellow competitors, and trainers were clapping for her and saying fun things! It was way cool!

To top it of, our working student, April, in her first jumper show, took home champion! Pictures to follow soon of the girls, and their wins.

Codi also got into the action, showing Prince in walk. We don't push her to ride, and in fact hope she choose a much different path...look for Dr. Codi in 20 years. She keeps telling us she is going to be an FEI Vet! The girl definitely knows what she is all about! She took two seconds, and won the over poles class.

It's a brilliant day here in Florida, and horse family, feel free to come visit this winter!!