A Mother's Wisdome

So last night while watching the olympics with my mom before supper, I started yearning to be there myself (happens every time I watch them).  But then I also told her how I was starting to miss jumping, partly because a lot of people around me are doing it and loving it, and because I've realized I'm kind of bored with doing the same tests at every show.  I miss the fact that with jumping I didn't know the course before hand.
So my mom was like: Oh so it's kind of like premiere in dancing? (in dancing you have set steps for each dance, but in the lower levels you can pick what steps you do, but in premiere their chosen for you each year).
Me: Yep.   I think it'll get better in 1st level but right now training level is really... boring.  Circle here, canter there... woooo.
Mom: hmm.... I think you need to change your attitude on this.  (translation: suck it up).

Haha... Though I agree.  I do get bored easily doing to same thing over again, buuut I do need to suck it up and do it, so I can do it well.  But I do know it'll be more fun once we get the lateral movements going.

Gotta get into boot camp mode with one more show before Championships!!

:)

The only time I hate owning a gray horse is when I'm trying to get said pretty much completely white horse spotless before a show.  Oy.  Her stains are extra stubborn this year (though it probably didn't help I had to speed bathe before a thunderstorm rolled in).  And it's always nice walking into the stable at 4am and seeing she slept in poo, on both sides and got new stains all over.

Pony I love you but at 4am when I have to do extra scrubbing, it's kind of hard to like you.

So I was kind of(really) embarrassed that my pony still had stains at the show, especially when the other greys looked spotless...  Seriously am I the only one with a horse that every single "trick" I've heard of to get them white doesn't work?  I'll figure it out yet!  I finally managed it by the end of our hunter season.  I had managed it in college, though the day before inspections she always got new stains.  I'm going to try bathing her every day the week before the next show.

She loaded like a pro, even after a year off from trailering, yay!  She was great in the warm up, minus a mini spook at a horse eating bush we'd already walked past twenty times.  A bit looky in the show ring, which made me looky and tense, but our first test went great!  Got a 60%!  (Which for non horsey people is a good thing!  Especially at a first time silver show!)

Unfortunately we got buzzed out of our second test cause she came up sore.  With the trailering, and me warming up probably a bit too long she got tired, the footing was deeper than she's used to.  So hopefully with some pampering she'll bounce right back and we'll figure out how to keep her strong through the next one!

Crunch Time

It happens every year.  (Well this is my third year).  You've spent the winter thinking "oh I've got plenty of time" and then it suddenly hits you:  Oh crap.  Show Season's around the corner!!  When did this happen???

I won't deny, part of me doesn't even want to write this blog post because I feel like I'll jinx it.  In truth, I still don't actually fully know I'll be competing.  I know I will, but I kinda won't believe it till I see it if you know what I mean?

Belle's progress has been in leaps and bounds and it makes me so happy, so grateful that after every ride I just think: thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou!  Cause it's all I can think.  Yesterday with the cool weather, she was having a blast!  Cantering (she would manage it in  a small space), bucking, turning and rearing.  I didn't realize the pony knew how!  Never seen her do it!

It was nice to see, but also terrifying.

Every time I ride I'm afraid it'll be too much and that she'll break again.  But I keep reminding myself that this time's different.  It feels different, she feels so good it makes me grin, and I've been praying before and after every single ride.

But, I think partly why I'm afraid is also because around this time last year, things were also going really really well and then it all poofed.

Although yesterday I had a short, but interesting conversation with someone.  My friend was having a jumping lesson while me and another boarder were tacking up and getting ready for a dressage test practice session!  She asked me if I jumped as high as my friend was jumping and I told her than I used to before I stopped jumping.  (Okay, not actually sure what height she was jumping because I didn't actually look, so I could've accidentally lied).

I went on to say that it was partly because Belle can no longer jump and that since then I've come to really, really enjoy dressage.  So I'm quite pleased with the switch (minus the extra memberships).  It made me grateful too, because I don't think I would've ever given the sport a chance had I not been thrust into it.

Things definitely happened for a reason.  And plenty of good has come out of it!  So much so it leaves me speechless.

I still haven't told the pony yet, though I may have accidentally let it slip.  My original plan was to just surprise her when we showed up at a dressage show.  So I'm hoping she didn't hear me.

I realized yesterday too that I'm more nervous about showing dressage than I was about doing the jumpers.  Which, oddly enough, is a relief.  I've been kind of worried that part of me just gave up on jumping and went to dressage because of fear.  But the fact that I'm even more nervous makes me realize that it's what I actually want to do.  Because otherwise, why would I be scared?

So, just have to do my best to be ready for June 9th!  And remember to send in my entry form way earlier than was needed in jumper land.

Grace Under Pressure

This week was an interesting week.  A lot happened and I'm so thankful it's finally Sunday.  Church is an awesome place to unwind and review how things went, where I could improve, and what things I can pat myself on the back for.

I feel like I've grown a ton, especially within the past few days.  I feel stronger, calmer, and more capable of handling myself.  I feel more like a woman and that feels pretty darn awesome.  Friends helped with that one.

I've also had the opportunity to think over some things.  Like where I am, where I'm going, and what should I be doing right now.  Some promptings are not easy to follow, but I'll do my best to do what He would have me do.  Because if there's anything I've learned more strongly over the past few months is that God does know best.  He loves me and cares for me and will never leave me hanging.  So long as I do what I can to keep myself near to Him.

Belle is doing awesome.  She's been eating her medicine (slathered in very sticky molases), and we've been enjoying our 20min walking sessions.  So long as mommy does it when it's warm.  But I laughed as she power walked the whole time.   My little goofball.

I had an excellent time at a dressage clinic yesterday.  Dash was such a good girl for me.  I also learned a lot about my position and how to improve it.  Totally awesome, especially because it did improve (major yay).

I'm so looking forward to going to the Temple next week.  It's been a long overdue trip.  I need it especially now, to take time to reflect and ponder and learn.  I know I'll receive His guidance.

Life is good, life is very good, especially when it's hard.  Because that's when we grow, we progress, and when we learn the most about ourselves.  Sometimes what we learn isn't pretty.  Sometimes it's downright ugly.  But what matters is that we accept it, move on and do our best to improve those parts and make them strong.

Jesus Christ lives, He is the Son of our Eternal Father.  And this I know with every fiber of my being.

Much love,
Leah