I love the spring!

Posted on April 11, 2012 by JennyP

I am amazed at how time is flying by, and it is almost the middle of April.  The trees are getting their leaves and everything is growing.  New growth is always exciting and fun.  I have been learning so much on my path, and it just keeps getting better.  Opportunities come when you are allowing them to come, and stopping your resistence.

I used to think you had to have all the answers before you start something, but just starting is the way to get the answers. Mistakes are the challenges that help you guide your path.  Don’t be afraid of making mistakes, as they are to help you. It is how you feel about the process that is why it works or doesn’t work.  Fear of mistakes, brings them to the fore front so be smart, but go forth with surety. Nothing wrong with tweeking your plan.  Happy Spring!

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March 1st

Posted on March 1, 2012 by JennyP

Today I think it could be said that March came in like a lion. The wind was very strong and it was a good day to stay inside and work on the computer. Learning is always a fun thing. I get to  go Judge this weekend in OKC.  I used to live there, so it will be fun to go and see what has changed. Welcome March and hope this month is as good as the last one.

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Superbowl Sunday

Posted on February 5, 2012 by JennyP

It seems to becoming the thing to celebrate in February. It is a good thing to have to give the men their excitement. Valentines is a girls holiday, which gives them an excuse to be treated as they should be all year!. Kinda negative, I know, but romance is the best thing ever and often lost in daily life. How often do you tell the one you love, I love you?? everyday? every week? every hour? Funny I know, but it is the meat of life, and it is sad that we get too busy to live it. I think we need to slow down and smell the roses, and enjoy the little things. The moments that take our breath away. Everyone has a different definition of what that is to them, and doesn’t it make it a fun world to live in?  Stop judging for a little while, and just take in the beauty of every little thing. It doesn’t hurt anything, and you may find you get more done faster than if you plod along in your unhappiness. Change your view, change your life.
This really had nothing to do with football, sorry, but love your own stuff and let everyone else love theirs and if you are lucky you will meet up with fellow lovers of the same thing, and the magic begins. Go forth and have fun!!

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Need to vs Want to

Posted on January 11, 2012 by JennyP

Need to verses Want to.  That opens a big conversation, what I want to do.  I think it really is a mindset, as there are things we must do to get along.  We could learn to approach them in a positive “want” and it will make that task easier, and we will probably do it better.  Find something in the task that you can feel good about the doing, this brings a lightness and happiness into the chore, even if the best you can come up with is “I got it done”.    I think we should change the word “need ” to the word “want” and see if it doesn’t make your chores easier, and help you stay positive.  It will open a new excitement to your daily tasks that will change your mood, and outlook on your situation.  “I want to clean the house.”  This builds a different mood for  you, and if you build on this it can change your life.  You need to do certain things, wouldn’t it be fun to want to?  Try it , it can’t hurt.     I want to be happy and have fun, how about you?

Go forth and WANT TO   :}

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They are treasures.

Posted on January 10, 2012 by JennyP

Today ended the life of a great dog.  Toby, an Australian Shepard, who I brought from Texas to give to my best  friend Kathy.  He lived about 16 years give or take my inability to remember time.  He was smart and well trained and a really good dog.  As things like this make you think a little harder, I was reflecting on the stages of a dogs life.

You get the puppy, and it is exciting and fun and dealing with their mistakes is a happy part of the growing process.  Then they get self reliant and neater and the majority of their life is just fun.  The last stage, they decline and the messes happen, but they do not get in trouble, as they do not want to be doing it.  The key to this story is to stay in the happy healthy part of your life.  Enjoy everyday, treasure your life, and all those great animals that enhance your life.

RIP Toby.

 

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Lessons, Clinics, New Trainers.

Posted on January 2, 2012 by JennyP

I  was watching a lesson the other day, given by a guest instructor.  It occurred to me that there is a really interesting thing that happens when people take lessons with different people, they seem to try harder than they do everyday. They seem to bring more interest, attention, and try than to most everyday lessons.  The funny thing is is, they will give the guest teacher, clinician credit for such a great lesson, when it is themselves who make it better because of their better attitude.  I am not saying that it is not beneficial to have lessons with different trainers, I am just commenting on bringing the best “You” to all of your lessons.

The same thing seems to happen when people move to another trainer.  They subconsciously blame the past trainer for their lacks,  and go to the new trainer with a better attitude, and outlook, so they will usually do better right off the bat with the new trainer, then as time goes by their old worries and habits often show back up.

So what is this mean?  You can change yourself whenever you change your outlook or attitude about the problem.  I do recommend you get the best trainer you can, but make sure you work on taking the best “You” with you whenever you practice.  It will be more fun and productive, than if you do not give 100%.  Get the little details right and the big things will take care of themselves.  Be safe and have fun!!

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Leo Free Jumping

Posted on December 2, 2011 by JennyP

Second time jumping

I have a three year old warmblood that I raised, and this week was his second time to free jump. His name is Leo, and he is 17 hands tall. I have been very patient and allowed him time to just grow up, because he is so big. He enjoys working and is trying to figure it out. I like free jumping the young horses, because it allows them to learn from their mistakes. I like my horses to think for themselves.

When learning something new every one has to make mistakes. And I find it interesting that I do not give myself the benefit of making mistakes without ridicule, or thinking badly of myself. I am learning that that is very silly, as why wouldn’t I make mistakes when I’m learning something new. Our judgments about our self can be debilitating, yet we do it all the time. Or should I say I did it a lot in the past, not anymore. Back to free jumping.

I was happy to discover that Leo is smart. He ran full speed at the jump, an almost fell down. And the next time he chose to slow down think it out, and jump cleanly. A good lesson was learned, and I had to allow him to learn that lesson on his own. I am looking forward to the next time to see if he remembered his lesson.

So the philosophical lesson is to be kind yourself when you’re learning new things, and never stop learning. Keep the challenges fun and keep trying new things. If it is something you really want, you will get it. Enjoy even the smallest gains toward your end. I often tell my students, you know you’re getting better, when you’re bad days get less bad, and farther apart.

So don’t be afraid to make mistakes, be safe, keep learning and growing.

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November 2011

Posted on November 27, 2011 by JennyP

November is the month for thanksgiving and it got here so fast this year.
Since I like to have gratitude to all year, it is like the Christmas of gratitude month. So what are you grateful for? How often do you think about what you are grateful for?

Appreciation is a great way to go through life, as it seems to make everything more vibrant. To appreciate what you have is such a gift. And no matter what we have, we all have gifts. I think it would be very neat if everyone would quit comparing themselves. We are all blessed, with so many different gifts. Think how boring it would be if we were all the same. There would also be very long lines for that same event. So I guess we should all appreciate our differences, and stop judging each other.

So let’s make November the Christmas of gratitude month. Spend more time every day appreciating what you do have, and letting those you love know how much you appreciate them. This should not be hard, in fact it should be quite fun. What ever happened in the past is over, and now would be a great time to set out new. Write a note, say a prayer, just feel the goodness in you for those you love.

So I wish you the best Thanksgiving ever! Everyday!!

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Start off well

Posted on November 21, 2011 by JennyP

I judged this weekend and had a great time watching young people try to guide their ponies and horses around the course.  My biggest observation was that the communication was lacking between the kids and their animals.

To set the stage, the show was in a small indoor ring, and the first jump was coming back to the ingate on the diagonal.  I was just amazing to me that only a few riders really had a good rhythm to the first jump.  So I got to see a lot of bad first jumps.  Since the first jump is important to my first impression, we should try to have a nice first fence.  There really wasn’t a good way to do a circle in the far end of the ring, so the rider must be able to get the canter and get the rhythm right away.  Most of the riders just started and were stuck to ride out the poor rhythm they had, lots of chips because the horse did not have the power to make any distance look good.

The question being asked is:  How do I get a good rhythm in a short space?  It goes back to having your horse well broke, and responsive.  Practice at home doing lengthening and shortening exercises until you can dial in the length of stride you want without worry that you will get too much, or too little power in your canter.  Training will teach your horse to listen and respond.  Poles on the ground with a set number of strides, practiced in different number of strides will help you feel what your horse’s power and length of stride are.

When I enter the show ring, knowing I must strike off and get to work right away, I plan my entrance to give me the most time CANTERING, so I have more time perfecting my rhythm, before I am aiming at the first jump.  The beautiful trot across the diagonal is nice, but if you plop over the first jump, what good was it?  After I pick up my canter, I will ask my horse to go a little bit bigger than I want for the jumps, then I will collect him back so that his balance is coming from his backend.  This prepares his balance to help make the first jump look good no matter what distance you find.  An even rhythm is the most important “look” of the round.  Creeping into the line, and zooming out, is not pretty.  Running down the last line and eating the last jump, just shows me that your horse is not listening to you, or you are not aware of what is happening with your horse’s stride.       Practice , practice, practice, that is the fun of this sport.  Have fun, be safe.

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Sadness of Loss

Posted on November 6, 2011 by JennyP

I learned on Facebook today that Hickstead died today.  It is so sad when we lose our loved ones, animals and people. It seems like no one lasts long enough.  I just wrote about Andy Rooney retiring, and a month later he passed.  We all will go, it seems like the ones left behind have the heavy burden to handle.  I just hope we could learn to live everyday to the best of our happiness, and let those who are important to us know regularly.

Live, Laugh, Love !

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