I didn't ride today. I could've, I suppose, but Dixie hasn't had a day off in just over a week.
While wandering around Wikipedia tonight, reading about Lord Byron (who now rivals Sir Richard Burton as my favorite Englishman) and Henry the Eighth's wives and Louis Riel, I somehow ended up back in ancient Greece. Bucephalus means "ox-head"! I should have known this, because I know that Bo is ox and Cephalus is head, but I didn't put it together. Anyway, I shall refer to my heifer Dixie as an ox-head from now on.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Repeatability
Hah! I totally rode my horse - who is definitely in heat - on the short loop again! And she was actually better than Monday! Cersei came with us. She's gotten very serious about her job. No more dashing off ahead and behind; she sticks with us on point or heeling the horse. I think even Dixie appreciates having a dog to defend her from the evil rabbits. :)
So we call the short loop the Pueblo Loop, because it circles around the adobe house nearby. Google Earth says it's 1.8 miles, and it's almost totally flat. There's another loop, the Scenic Loop, that's about 2.5 miles, and it goes down the side of the southern hill, along the base, and back up to the top. The Mines is harder to see from sat maps, but I'm guessing it's about 3.25 miles. The Canyon ride is about 5 miles, but it's scary scary stuff for Dixie - there could be wolves around the next corner, and how would she see them in time? And of course Palomino Valley is very hilly and about 9.5 miles. I have plenty of options for rides, with either deep sand or rocky stuff to get her legged up.
I think next time we go out alone - probably Friday or Saturday - I'll shoot for 5 miles at a good steady walk. Either the Mines, or Pueblo plus Scenic. I don't have a watch, so I'll have to remember to bring my phone and see how long it takes us. I know the distances, and if I take her out alone I can get a good sense of how fast we go on average. Then I can add either miles or speed and work out a better plan.
So we call the short loop the Pueblo Loop, because it circles around the adobe house nearby. Google Earth says it's 1.8 miles, and it's almost totally flat. There's another loop, the Scenic Loop, that's about 2.5 miles, and it goes down the side of the southern hill, along the base, and back up to the top. The Mines is harder to see from sat maps, but I'm guessing it's about 3.25 miles. The Canyon ride is about 5 miles, but it's scary scary stuff for Dixie - there could be wolves around the next corner, and how would she see them in time? And of course Palomino Valley is very hilly and about 9.5 miles. I have plenty of options for rides, with either deep sand or rocky stuff to get her legged up.
I think next time we go out alone - probably Friday or Saturday - I'll shoot for 5 miles at a good steady walk. Either the Mines, or Pueblo plus Scenic. I don't have a watch, so I'll have to remember to bring my phone and see how long it takes us. I know the distances, and if I take her out alone I can get a good sense of how fast we go on average. Then I can add either miles or speed and work out a better plan.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Silver and black
Well, our moonlight ride was only half a success. The horses did great under the circumstances, but we timed things very poorly.
We waited til the moon was almost over the hills to the NE, then headed out. But the sun wasn't all the way down - it had just dropped behind the mountains to the west - and we were riding west so we couldn't see shit. The sky was bright and the earth was dark and it just wasn't a good combination.
But we were riding down the gravel road, so we persevered. We stopped for a while at the end of the road, til the sky got darker and the moon was all the way up, then we started down the straight sandy trail. But as soon as the trail headed downhill, even a little bit, we couldn't see anymore because the moon just wasn't high enough.
We were undaunted and turned to head home a different route - but then we were riding directly toward the moon and I swear to god it was too bright to really make out the trail. I could kind of see the trail, but that particular trail is just a twisty path through the sagebrush, and the bushes were casting huge long shadows and in 100 yards I wandered off trail and ended up against somebody's fence and we said fuck it and went home.
Our horses looked fabulous in the moonlight! S was on Summer, who is also a paint, and the horses were just glowing silver. The scenery was a million shades of grey, from midnight black up to pearl-grey. Really beautiful!
Dixie behaved quite well. I suspect she thought we were going to die and came into heat real fast in the hopes of getting some before death, but I won't know for sure til tomorrow. She stopped once to pee and Summer nickered at her, which he never does unless she's in season. But my sure sign that she's in heat is our monthly battle about the bit - she H-A-T-E-S contact and slings her head nonstop when she's in. I have to be extra light with her. I'll know tomorrow.
No pictures - it's hard to get a moonlight picture to come out from horseback, and I knew Dixie would need all my attention. Yall can imagine a silver horse in the desert :)
We waited til the moon was almost over the hills to the NE, then headed out. But the sun wasn't all the way down - it had just dropped behind the mountains to the west - and we were riding west so we couldn't see shit. The sky was bright and the earth was dark and it just wasn't a good combination.
But we were riding down the gravel road, so we persevered. We stopped for a while at the end of the road, til the sky got darker and the moon was all the way up, then we started down the straight sandy trail. But as soon as the trail headed downhill, even a little bit, we couldn't see anymore because the moon just wasn't high enough.
We were undaunted and turned to head home a different route - but then we were riding directly toward the moon and I swear to god it was too bright to really make out the trail. I could kind of see the trail, but that particular trail is just a twisty path through the sagebrush, and the bushes were casting huge long shadows and in 100 yards I wandered off trail and ended up against somebody's fence and we said fuck it and went home.
Our horses looked fabulous in the moonlight! S was on Summer, who is also a paint, and the horses were just glowing silver. The scenery was a million shades of grey, from midnight black up to pearl-grey. Really beautiful!
Dixie behaved quite well. I suspect she thought we were going to die and came into heat real fast in the hopes of getting some before death, but I won't know for sure til tomorrow. She stopped once to pee and Summer nickered at her, which he never does unless she's in season. But my sure sign that she's in heat is our monthly battle about the bit - she H-A-T-E-S contact and slings her head nonstop when she's in. I have to be extra light with her. I'll know tomorrow.
No pictures - it's hard to get a moonlight picture to come out from horseback, and I knew Dixie would need all my attention. Yall can imagine a silver horse in the desert :)
Monday, November 2, 2009
Another small step
Yesterday a group of us did the Palomino Valley ride again. I took a bunch of pictures, but if you don't love the desert (hi Mel!) they will probably look boring to you. I walked Dixie down the far side of the mountain, where the road was really rocky, and my calves hurt SO BAD today.
Dixie did just fine and led the group most of the way. S asked us to lead, because Dixie moves out faster than the QHs, and we make better time when she's in the lead. I don't mind leading, because it's good for Dixie - she has to be brave, but it's not as hard for her as being totally alone is.
Mainly I was impressed with Cersei! My dog is pretty awesome. Very early on, maybe a quarter mile from S's place, three loose dogs went running across our path baying at the top of their lungs. Cersei quivered like maybe she ought to chase them, and I yelled "No!" and she stayed with me like glue. We encountered a couple more dogs, and each time I told her to stay with me and she did. The trip's about 9.5 miles, so it tired her out but didn't exhaust her.
I took some video too yesterday! This is when we were almost back home, just cruising down the trail at a TWH's medium walk. My friend on her paint was falling farther and farther behind, and the other three horses were waaaay back there.
Today I left Cersei snoozing on the couch and went out alone with Dixie. And we did it! I kept her busy weaving very precise tight serpentines around the sagebrushes and before she even realized it we were 1/3 of the way down the shortest loop trail. After that she got a little nervous - we had to stop and stare at every bird and jackrabbit, no matter how far away it was - but she didn't lose her cool and freak out on me. We racked down the sandy straight section of trail headed home, and it was just wonderful. She has the BEST gaits.
She can only rack at a decent clip for about a quarter mile, then she either slows down to a fast walk or breaks into a trot. A very dressagey trot. A trot like she's a cross between a Saddlebred and a kangaroo. It is not remotely a jog. I'm not sure how much I should be asking of her, so I usually just ask her to slow back to a walk. I guess I should ask the endurance mailing lists?
I know that horses can rack for longer periods than that, but I'm not sure if it's good for them to rack that long - it's a naturally inverted gait. Should I (gasp) let my gaited horse trot, just so she works some different muscles? Or should I just keep pushing the walk? Her walk is getting faster, and I don't want to confuse her or ruin her muscle memory. Any ideas?
Dixie did just fine and led the group most of the way. S asked us to lead, because Dixie moves out faster than the QHs, and we make better time when she's in the lead. I don't mind leading, because it's good for Dixie - she has to be brave, but it's not as hard for her as being totally alone is.
Mainly I was impressed with Cersei! My dog is pretty awesome. Very early on, maybe a quarter mile from S's place, three loose dogs went running across our path baying at the top of their lungs. Cersei quivered like maybe she ought to chase them, and I yelled "No!" and she stayed with me like glue. We encountered a couple more dogs, and each time I told her to stay with me and she did. The trip's about 9.5 miles, so it tired her out but didn't exhaust her.
I took some video too yesterday! This is when we were almost back home, just cruising down the trail at a TWH's medium walk. My friend on her paint was falling farther and farther behind, and the other three horses were waaaay back there.
Walking down the trail from Funder on Vimeo.
Today I left Cersei snoozing on the couch and went out alone with Dixie. And we did it! I kept her busy weaving very precise tight serpentines around the sagebrushes and before she even realized it we were 1/3 of the way down the shortest loop trail. After that she got a little nervous - we had to stop and stare at every bird and jackrabbit, no matter how far away it was - but she didn't lose her cool and freak out on me. We racked down the sandy straight section of trail headed home, and it was just wonderful. She has the BEST gaits.
She can only rack at a decent clip for about a quarter mile, then she either slows down to a fast walk or breaks into a trot. A very dressagey trot. A trot like she's a cross between a Saddlebred and a kangaroo. It is not remotely a jog. I'm not sure how much I should be asking of her, so I usually just ask her to slow back to a walk. I guess I should ask the endurance mailing lists?
I know that horses can rack for longer periods than that, but I'm not sure if it's good for them to rack that long - it's a naturally inverted gait. Should I (gasp) let my gaited horse trot, just so she works some different muscles? Or should I just keep pushing the walk? Her walk is getting faster, and I don't want to confuse her or ruin her muscle memory. Any ideas?
Saturday, October 31, 2009
My tongue unleashed!
Unlike Mel, I haven't been prewriting posts for this glorious moment. I've just been thinking about what I'd write when I was through with the pictures.
Come to think of it, I think I owe you one more day of pictures. Well, consider this an interlude.
After Champ died, everything horse related got SO HARD. Champ was supposed to live to be at least 30, and I was going to ride him (lightly, as needed) til he was maybe 28, so I had over 10 years to get Dixie to calm down and work with me. She was definitely my second string horse - I didn't know enough to work with her, and I wasn't a good enough rider to teach her anything, and she needed time to get used to normal humans asking normal things of her.
Then in March it all changed.
All of a sudden I had one nutty horse and hole in my heart, and I still really needed to ride. So I rode. I still liked Dixie - she still made me feel like the Queen of the World, like she did when I bought her - but every time I got on her I missed my Champ. All summer, riding was a chore - a thing I needed to do, for my sanity and to make her a better horse. I read and thought and analyzed what I was doing and how she was responding, and I cried as I drove out to see her. Less and less as time went on, but still.
Then we moved out here, and I didn't get to see her at all for six weeks, and it was horrible, not having a horse. Then she was here, but she was in quarantine, so she needed to be ridden lightly ever day, just so she could get out of her tiny paddock, so I rode. And she appreciated it. She was glad to see me and she gradually, almost imperceptibly, started reacting properly to my cues. And I gradually started to figure her out.
Dixie is a headstrong mare, and I am a somewhat timid rider, and we clash all the time. But I am getting better and better at realizing when she's being a bitch versus when she's scared to do what I ask. When she's scared, I let her stand still and think about things. When she's a bitch, I am a bigger bitch.
Sometimes we can steer around the individual sagebrush clumps with a leg and a neck rein. Sometimes she blows me off and crashes through them. Sometimes I keep my hands quiet, but alive, and ask her to pay attention to me. Sometimes it's like I'm drowning and the reins are my lifeline, and I haul on them in panic. But very gradually, over the last two months, it's been more of the former and less of the latter.
But more importantly, I am delighted to see my mare. And she's happy to see me - ears up, alert, sticks her nose in the halter, stands quietly while I groom and saddle her. We are, finally, a team. Sometimes we hate each other and grind to a halt, but after a few minutes of both of us practicing deep breathing, we come back together.
I found my joy again. I hope you have your joy, which is probably your horse. And if you've lost it, I hope you find it again soon.
Come to think of it, I think I owe you one more day of pictures. Well, consider this an interlude.
After Champ died, everything horse related got SO HARD. Champ was supposed to live to be at least 30, and I was going to ride him (lightly, as needed) til he was maybe 28, so I had over 10 years to get Dixie to calm down and work with me. She was definitely my second string horse - I didn't know enough to work with her, and I wasn't a good enough rider to teach her anything, and she needed time to get used to normal humans asking normal things of her.
Then in March it all changed.
All of a sudden I had one nutty horse and hole in my heart, and I still really needed to ride. So I rode. I still liked Dixie - she still made me feel like the Queen of the World, like she did when I bought her - but every time I got on her I missed my Champ. All summer, riding was a chore - a thing I needed to do, for my sanity and to make her a better horse. I read and thought and analyzed what I was doing and how she was responding, and I cried as I drove out to see her. Less and less as time went on, but still.
Then we moved out here, and I didn't get to see her at all for six weeks, and it was horrible, not having a horse. Then she was here, but she was in quarantine, so she needed to be ridden lightly ever day, just so she could get out of her tiny paddock, so I rode. And she appreciated it. She was glad to see me and she gradually, almost imperceptibly, started reacting properly to my cues. And I gradually started to figure her out.
Dixie is a headstrong mare, and I am a somewhat timid rider, and we clash all the time. But I am getting better and better at realizing when she's being a bitch versus when she's scared to do what I ask. When she's scared, I let her stand still and think about things. When she's a bitch, I am a bigger bitch.
Sometimes we can steer around the individual sagebrush clumps with a leg and a neck rein. Sometimes she blows me off and crashes through them. Sometimes I keep my hands quiet, but alive, and ask her to pay attention to me. Sometimes it's like I'm drowning and the reins are my lifeline, and I haul on them in panic. But very gradually, over the last two months, it's been more of the former and less of the latter.
But more importantly, I am delighted to see my mare. And she's happy to see me - ears up, alert, sticks her nose in the halter, stands quietly while I groom and saddle her. We are, finally, a team. Sometimes we hate each other and grind to a halt, but after a few minutes of both of us practicing deep breathing, we come back together.
I found my joy again. I hope you have your joy, which is probably your horse. And if you've lost it, I hope you find it again soon.
Argle, last day in the life!
Google has been horribly slow for me for a couple days now - I don't mean annoyingly slow, I mean "wait ten minutes and it still hasn't loaded yet" slow. Blogger, of course, is a google service, so whatever's wrong with my gmail is also wrong with Blogger.
Also I haven't done anything different from the earlier part of the week - everything feels like "oh I posted this two days ago."
Anyway! Here's yesterday's photos. I took plenty, but more than half of them didn't come out. Stupid iPhone camera. I tried to take all my week's pics on it, and it was more convenient than the real camera, but the quality leaves a lot to be desired. I think I'll try to just carry the real camera more often, and try to take a good picture a day next week.
Palomino Valley and beyond
S and Summer climbing the hill
Blue view
Oh hi!
Moon, road, dog
Sweaty horse
Also I haven't done anything different from the earlier part of the week - everything feels like "oh I posted this two days ago."
Anyway! Here's yesterday's photos. I took plenty, but more than half of them didn't come out. Stupid iPhone camera. I tried to take all my week's pics on it, and it was more convenient than the real camera, but the quality leaves a lot to be desired. I think I'll try to just carry the real camera more often, and try to take a good picture a day next week.
Palomino Valley and beyond
S and Summer climbing the hill
Blue view
Oh hi!
Moon, road, dog
Sweaty horse
Thursday, October 29, 2009
And now for something completely different!
How to make a birthday cake, by Funder.
First, stick the Frangelico in the freezer.
Line a pan with wax paper and grease and flour it.
Assemble your stuff (or prepare your mise in place, if you're not a redneck!)
Whip it all into a thick delicious batter.
Woah look at that, it's a cake!
Make some real classic buttercream frosting...
Whip in some melted (and cooled) chocolate!
Secret frosting-taming weapon.
Ta-da!
Oh shit, get the Frangelico out before it freezes and pour yourself a drink.
Not cake related: Rock out!
First, stick the Frangelico in the freezer.
Line a pan with wax paper and grease and flour it.
Assemble your stuff (or prepare your mise in place, if you're not a redneck!)
Whip it all into a thick delicious batter.
Woah look at that, it's a cake!
Make some real classic buttercream frosting...
Whip in some melted (and cooled) chocolate!
Secret frosting-taming weapon.
Ta-da!
Oh shit, get the Frangelico out before it freezes and pour yourself a drink.
Not cake related: Rock out!
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