I sit here on the eve of June 2011 and am amazed by two things: one, that there are dark, formidable clouds overhead, and I am crossing my fingers that summer finally stays, and two, how quickly time is passing and how often things change. I can't help that the desire to compete is still there, or that I still wistfully stalk eventing nation and the USEA website and look at the events I would be attending. But I am happy. Regal is looking fatter than he has all year, and that is actually a really good thing!! If you only knew the struggle to keep weight on this horse...haha. I think Regal is happy, and that is my main concern. He has felt fabulous under saddle lately.
Since there aren't any jumps at our new place, I've decided (well, been forced haha) to focus more on dressage. I actually don't mind this at all, and I'm hoping that I can actually take a few dressage lessons here and there and perhaps hit a few dressage shows this summer. Regal's movement has been so amazing lately, I literally almost can't ride it! I'm a bit out of shape, I will admit, but I'm working on it ;) Regal has just been so excited to go to work every day, he begs to leave his stall, grabs the bit when I hold it out for him, and wants to go to work. The first day I went back to my serious sitting trot work, I think my whole body cramped :( We have also been spending some time trying to get off the property. We made it to the trails once so far, and Regal had a blast, but was quite confused as to where all the obstacles were! I found a nice little hill to let him gallop on, and I could tell he was pretty happy to get to stretch his legs. We take little daily outing down the road by our facility, and Regal is just happy as can be, wandering along with his ears perked up, trying to stop and eat grass like a sour trail horse!!
I'm waiting for Regal to get his feet done before I resume any serious work with him, and I'm trying to set some goals for us this summer so I have something to work towards!! Always looking to the future and keeping it positive :)
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Roll With the Punches...
Holy moley! It has been a while...I don't even know where to begin. Ok....
Though Regal and I had an amazing opportunity with one of the best riders and trainers that I know, no matter how hard I worked I just can't support the eventing lifestyle at this point in my life. I have spent the last little chunk of time feeling a bit shattered into a million pieces, even putting Regal up for sale for a brief period of time. In my heart though, I think I knew I could never part with my dear friend. It's difficult wanting something so badly. But I ain't no quitter!! Believe you me, Regal and I may be sidelined for now, but we'll be back ;) eventing is a bug I can't shake, and for some insane reason I really feel like Regal is a special horse. Even if all he ever did his whole life was simply perk up his ears and be excited to see me when I call his name every day, that would be enough. If all he did was put his head down in my arms and let me kiss his nose day in and day out, that would be alright too. Because when I see the way Regal looks at me I see love and devotion and loyalty, I realize that is hard to come by in this world. But besides all that...I still think he's going to make a wicked eventer!!!
I remain friends with my trainer, and can't wait for the day to resume training with her!! I moved Regal to a place thats a bit more affordable, where I can still keep up the training I have, and luckily its close to trails so I can condition. The only real bummer is the lack of jumps!! I managed to put together a freaky corner jump out of three old barrels and two wooden poles I found on the property. When I put the barrels upright and camp one of them out, its a pretty sick corner!! But besides that....reeeaaallllyyyy dying for an actual course and some air time. Regal is already bored with my one contraption I made. I'm already planning a trip to Home Depot and have been Googling how to make jumps haha :)
If there's one thing in life I've really learned so far in my 22 years....don't let anything get you down!! Sure I'm bummed out, incredibly. I want to compete so bad it drives me crazy. But I have to take life one step at a time and do what I can. I follow the advice of one of my all-time favorite quotes..."it takes as much energy to wish as it does to plan"...so I don't waste my time wishing good things would happen to me....I plan for them to!!
Though Regal and I had an amazing opportunity with one of the best riders and trainers that I know, no matter how hard I worked I just can't support the eventing lifestyle at this point in my life. I have spent the last little chunk of time feeling a bit shattered into a million pieces, even putting Regal up for sale for a brief period of time. In my heart though, I think I knew I could never part with my dear friend. It's difficult wanting something so badly. But I ain't no quitter!! Believe you me, Regal and I may be sidelined for now, but we'll be back ;) eventing is a bug I can't shake, and for some insane reason I really feel like Regal is a special horse. Even if all he ever did his whole life was simply perk up his ears and be excited to see me when I call his name every day, that would be enough. If all he did was put his head down in my arms and let me kiss his nose day in and day out, that would be alright too. Because when I see the way Regal looks at me I see love and devotion and loyalty, I realize that is hard to come by in this world. But besides all that...I still think he's going to make a wicked eventer!!!
I remain friends with my trainer, and can't wait for the day to resume training with her!! I moved Regal to a place thats a bit more affordable, where I can still keep up the training I have, and luckily its close to trails so I can condition. The only real bummer is the lack of jumps!! I managed to put together a freaky corner jump out of three old barrels and two wooden poles I found on the property. When I put the barrels upright and camp one of them out, its a pretty sick corner!! But besides that....reeeaaallllyyyy dying for an actual course and some air time. Regal is already bored with my one contraption I made. I'm already planning a trip to Home Depot and have been Googling how to make jumps haha :)
If there's one thing in life I've really learned so far in my 22 years....don't let anything get you down!! Sure I'm bummed out, incredibly. I want to compete so bad it drives me crazy. But I have to take life one step at a time and do what I can. I follow the advice of one of my all-time favorite quotes..."it takes as much energy to wish as it does to plan"...so I don't waste my time wishing good things would happen to me....I plan for them to!!
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