Tuesday
In the car by 8am, picked up Hans, Lauren’s farrier, by 8:30 and got to the airport by 10am. Nice and early…my flight isn’t until 6:56pm…thought I’d be able to store my bags, but no, they don’t do that. I’ll have to cart my luggage around the airport all day. Tempting to get a room at the airport hotel, not worth 140 bucks tho. So I’m sitting in the food court area with Krispy Kreme donuts, catching up on my blogs! Nobody is on face book to chat to, or skype…not surprising as it is 3:30am in Australia! There is heaps of shops to look at which I will do once I check my bags, I can do that 4 hours prior to my flight. Until then it’s easier to stay put, apart from the internet I have movies and audio books for entertainment. Will lose a day on the way home…the 27th of October will not exist for me.
I’m looking forward to getting home, it’s been a great adventure, time to go back to the real world.
So long and thanks for all the fish.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
25/10/10
Monday
Wow, the puppy and the cat must have missed us a lot…couldn’t go to the bathroom without both of them following me in! They’d run in under the chair before I could shut the door, so I went back out and they came back out, so I’d go back in and they’d come in again, eventually had to get lauren to hang on to them…funny little aminals. It was my last day and I had to get packed and organised, we were leaving at 8am tomorrow morning. Lauren’s farrier, who fly’s over from Canada to do her horses feet, had to be at the airport by 10:30am and it takes a good couple of hours to get there. We went out to dinner for our last night, to theJapanese steakhouse, where I had the filet mignon…mmmmm…and a Bosai Blossom cocktail.
Wow, the puppy and the cat must have missed us a lot…couldn’t go to the bathroom without both of them following me in! They’d run in under the chair before I could shut the door, so I went back out and they came back out, so I’d go back in and they’d come in again, eventually had to get lauren to hang on to them…funny little aminals. It was my last day and I had to get packed and organised, we were leaving at 8am tomorrow morning. Lauren’s farrier, who fly’s over from Canada to do her horses feet, had to be at the airport by 10:30am and it takes a good couple of hours to get there. We went out to dinner for our last night, to theJapanese steakhouse, where I had the filet mignon…mmmmm…and a Bosai Blossom cocktail.
24/10/10
Sunday
Another full day of fun and games. Pat even brought the cutting horse simulator so people could experience how it should feel. It’s a mechanical horse on a track and a cow on a parallel track…will try and insert some video of Lauren riding it. Bought lots of stuff cos there were also Parelli preferred vendors there selling everything from Photonic therapy red lights to stem cell products. Don’t know how I’m going to fit it all into my bags! The event finished up by 4pm and it took a couple of hours for us to load up the horses and head back to the ranch…hopefully this video will work…
Another full day of fun and games. Pat even brought the cutting horse simulator so people could experience how it should feel. It’s a mechanical horse on a track and a cow on a parallel track…will try and insert some video of Lauren riding it. Bought lots of stuff cos there were also Parelli preferred vendors there selling everything from Photonic therapy red lights to stem cell products. Don’t know how I’m going to fit it all into my bags! The event finished up by 4pm and it took a couple of hours for us to load up the horses and head back to the ranch…hopefully this video will work…
23/10/10
Saturday
The day starts a little more relaxed, we didn’t have to be there til 8:30am. The purpose of the Jacksonville Rendezvous is for all the Savvy Club members to gather and do demo’s, spotlights, discuss problems or concerns in small forum groups, compete in levels games and generally socialise, find instructors, watch Pat, Linda and the Mastery Program students in action training their horses.
The day starts a little more relaxed, we didn’t have to be there til 8:30am. The purpose of the Jacksonville Rendezvous is for all the Savvy Club members to gather and do demo’s, spotlights, discuss problems or concerns in small forum groups, compete in levels games and generally socialise, find instructors, watch Pat, Linda and the Mastery Program students in action training their horses.
22/10/10
Friday
Chaos as usual for the first day cos no one really knows what’s going on, it’s usually a ‘fly by the seat of your pants’ kind of thing. We turned up at the hotel last night to discover that the rooms booked for us where upstairs, and there was no lift. Only rooms available on the ground level were smoking rooms- no thanks. So me and Lauren drove around several hotels with me running in each time to ask about accessible rooms…it was about midnight when we finally found one, got to bed about half past and had to be up at 5:30am. Had a team meeting at the venue at 6:30am, the moon was still up and it felt like the middle of the night. I joined the media crew and was tasked with filming the Dream Horses. I should explain that the Dream Horse program is a way for the horses at the ranch to move on, rather than hang around for ever doing the levels and getting sour. The horses can be purchased for $1000 plus a donation to the Parelli Foundation (tax deductable)…Pat’s top Cutting horses require a donation of up to $150,000, lower end horses can be bought for $9000 ($1000 plus $8000 donation).
Chaos as usual for the first day cos no one really knows what’s going on, it’s usually a ‘fly by the seat of your pants’ kind of thing. We turned up at the hotel last night to discover that the rooms booked for us where upstairs, and there was no lift. Only rooms available on the ground level were smoking rooms- no thanks. So me and Lauren drove around several hotels with me running in each time to ask about accessible rooms…it was about midnight when we finally found one, got to bed about half past and had to be up at 5:30am. Had a team meeting at the venue at 6:30am, the moon was still up and it felt like the middle of the night. I joined the media crew and was tasked with filming the Dream Horses. I should explain that the Dream Horse program is a way for the horses at the ranch to move on, rather than hang around for ever doing the levels and getting sour. The horses can be purchased for $1000 plus a donation to the Parelli Foundation (tax deductable)…Pat’s top Cutting horses require a donation of up to $150,000, lower end horses can be bought for $9000 ($1000 plus $8000 donation).
21/10/10
Thursday
Ok, well Tuesday’s plan got thrown out the window and I spent most of yesterday, Wednesday, trying to find out what the new plan was…as it happens, the new plan was for us all to come up to Jacksonville today instead and stay the 3 days. So I’m sitting in Lauren’s van, in Jacksonville, observing lots of exciting stuff going on all around me. We brought 37 horses with us including Casper, Remmer and Magic. Once the phone is charged up I will be on Twitter duty for the day, unless needed for something else. It’s been great to catch up with some of the office team that went to WEG, and meet Savvy Club members from all over! Still have to find out about hotels, can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings…
Ok, well Tuesday’s plan got thrown out the window and I spent most of yesterday, Wednesday, trying to find out what the new plan was…as it happens, the new plan was for us all to come up to Jacksonville today instead and stay the 3 days. So I’m sitting in Lauren’s van, in Jacksonville, observing lots of exciting stuff going on all around me. We brought 37 horses with us including Casper, Remmer and Magic. Once the phone is charged up I will be on Twitter duty for the day, unless needed for something else. It’s been great to catch up with some of the office team that went to WEG, and meet Savvy Club members from all over! Still have to find out about hotels, can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings…
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
14 - 19/10/10
Thursday - Tuesday
Feeling a bit displaced…don’t really have a job to do. Helping out Lauren with some admin., puppy sitting, doing laundry…trialling the new savvy club website Parelli Connect. Went to the supermarket and got some provisions, don’t get down to the lodge much.
This is Lauren's puppy...an Australian Shepherd called Skye...
Woke up in the wee hours of the morning cos I was getting jumped all over…sat up to see the cat had brought a frog to show me and every time the frog jumped, the cat pounced on it, thankfully the frog then hopped off the bed and the cat hopped off after it. Found the frog during the morning hopping across the bathroom floor, so I relocated it so a moist patch of grass under the shed outside.
Got to watch Lauren's dressage lesson with Walter Zettle...
Went to the Japanese Steakhouse again for Brittney’s birthday…teppinyaki style…couldn’t catch zuccini in my mouth…birthday cake was awesome!
Found out the plan for the up coming event…Jacksonville Rendezvous…I will be going up to Jacksonville on Friday, coming back Saturday night, or maybe staying on for Sunday if they need me.
Feeling a bit displaced…don’t really have a job to do. Helping out Lauren with some admin., puppy sitting, doing laundry…trialling the new savvy club website Parelli Connect. Went to the supermarket and got some provisions, don’t get down to the lodge much.
This is Lauren's puppy...an Australian Shepherd called Skye...
Woke up in the wee hours of the morning cos I was getting jumped all over…sat up to see the cat had brought a frog to show me and every time the frog jumped, the cat pounced on it, thankfully the frog then hopped off the bed and the cat hopped off after it. Found the frog during the morning hopping across the bathroom floor, so I relocated it so a moist patch of grass under the shed outside.
Got to watch Lauren's dressage lesson with Walter Zettle...
Went to the Japanese Steakhouse again for Brittney’s birthday…teppinyaki style…couldn’t catch zuccini in my mouth…birthday cake was awesome!
Found out the plan for the up coming event…Jacksonville Rendezvous…I will be going up to Jacksonville on Friday, coming back Saturday night, or maybe staying on for Sunday if they need me.
13/10/10
Wednesday
My first day at the Florida campus after a good sleep in. Had a wonder around the barn where I’m staying, which happens to be Pat’s barn. Excited to see friends that were at the Colorado campus, had lunch at the lodge and had a campus meeting with Pat and Linda, getting to know a bit about everybody. Had a relaxed afternoon, Lauren gave me a tour of the Florida campus, which is very spread out, I think I’ll need a map if I’m to venture out myself. Went for dinner at a sushi place, enjoyed trying lots of different things, including a Japanese beer, Sapporo.
My first day at the Florida campus after a good sleep in. Had a wonder around the barn where I’m staying, which happens to be Pat’s barn. Excited to see friends that were at the Colorado campus, had lunch at the lodge and had a campus meeting with Pat and Linda, getting to know a bit about everybody. Had a relaxed afternoon, Lauren gave me a tour of the Florida campus, which is very spread out, I think I’ll need a map if I’m to venture out myself. Went for dinner at a sushi place, enjoyed trying lots of different things, including a Japanese beer, Sapporo.
12/10/10
Tuesday
Up at 5:30am, my ride is coming between 6 and 6:30am. Alanna arrived in Linda’s car and off we go…thru Kentucky, thru Tennessee, thru Georgia and finally we get to Florida ! A very long day, heaps of awesome scenery, very ready to hit the sack. I’m in the barn apartment with horses for neighbours, cool!
Up at 5:30am, my ride is coming between 6 and 6:30am. Alanna arrived in Linda’s car and off we go…thru Kentucky, thru Tennessee, thru Georgia and finally we get to Florida ! A very long day, heaps of awesome scenery, very ready to hit the sack. I’m in the barn apartment with horses for neighbours, cool!
11/10/10
Monday
Sleep, coffee, krispy kreme donuts, pack, great last night dinner with Janie and Bobby, sleep.
Sleep, coffee, krispy kreme donuts, pack, great last night dinner with Janie and Bobby, sleep.
10/10/10
Sunday
Last day…bittersweet…happy to be leaving but sad to say goodbye. Pat’s demo with the savvy team was great, demonstrated the savvy games, tournament style. It was a slower afternoon but still with a steady interest and lots of last minute sales. Then it was time to pack up, lots of people and lots of crates…didn’t take very long really. Home by a decent time and looking forward to a sleep in and good rest day tomorrow.
Last day…bittersweet…happy to be leaving but sad to say goodbye. Pat’s demo with the savvy team was great, demonstrated the savvy games, tournament style. It was a slower afternoon but still with a steady interest and lots of last minute sales. Then it was time to pack up, lots of people and lots of crates…didn’t take very long really. Home by a decent time and looking forward to a sleep in and good rest day tomorrow.
9/10/10
Saturday
Started with getting up at 6:30pm and working the morning shift, then found out the final of the stadium jumping was on tonight at 8pm, so worked the afternoon shift as well. Hung out with Shannon and got some hot chips for dinner then went and found a good spot in the stadium. We weren’t sure if they were going to let us in with our passes but they did! It was a case of the final 4 riders having to jump their own horse, then each of the other finalist’s horses over the same course, with only 3 minutes to get used to them. It was very exciting to watch! The event was won by Belgium, Saudi Arabia second and Canada third. The Canadian’s horse won the “best horse” prize for going clear every time. Didn’t get home til nearly midnight but it was very worth it.
Started with getting up at 6:30pm and working the morning shift, then found out the final of the stadium jumping was on tonight at 8pm, so worked the afternoon shift as well. Hung out with Shannon and got some hot chips for dinner then went and found a good spot in the stadium. We weren’t sure if they were going to let us in with our passes but they did! It was a case of the final 4 riders having to jump their own horse, then each of the other finalist’s horses over the same course, with only 3 minutes to get used to them. It was very exciting to watch! The event was won by Belgium, Saudi Arabia second and Canada third. The Canadian’s horse won the “best horse” prize for going clear every time. Didn’t get home til nearly midnight but it was very worth it.
8/10/10
Friday
A beautiful day in Kentucky, warm and sunny. The freestyle para-dressage starts today, Lauren doesn’t ride until tomorrow. Pat’s demo was huge today with the biggest crowd I’ve seen so far and the crowd was not disappointed. The savvy team started off doing some really cool stuff, then Pat came in on Magic for a bit, showing how to bounce the big green ball and get your horse to bounce you (piaffe) at the same time. Then Linda came in with West Point. By that point I was needing to sneak out and go to the bathroom, guess who I ran into? Guy Mclean, that’s who. Had a quick chat, found out that his tour is going really well, and that one of the other demonstrators is sharing demo time with Guy, will have to see if I can catch his show tomorrow. Also discovered an exciting product which could give me total independence when it comes to riding…magnetic stirrups. About the only thing I can’t do myself is put my feet in the stirrups and put the elastics around my feet to keep them in, these magnetic stirrups might fix that, would love to try them out.
A beautiful day in Kentucky, warm and sunny. The freestyle para-dressage starts today, Lauren doesn’t ride until tomorrow. Pat’s demo was huge today with the biggest crowd I’ve seen so far and the crowd was not disappointed. The savvy team started off doing some really cool stuff, then Pat came in on Magic for a bit, showing how to bounce the big green ball and get your horse to bounce you (piaffe) at the same time. Then Linda came in with West Point. By that point I was needing to sneak out and go to the bathroom, guess who I ran into? Guy Mclean, that’s who. Had a quick chat, found out that his tour is going really well, and that one of the other demonstrators is sharing demo time with Guy, will have to see if I can catch his show tomorrow. Also discovered an exciting product which could give me total independence when it comes to riding…magnetic stirrups. About the only thing I can’t do myself is put my feet in the stirrups and put the elastics around my feet to keep them in, these magnetic stirrups might fix that, would love to try them out.
7/10/10
Thursday
Para dressage has started. Lauren rode today in the Individual Championship. She has finished in 10 place. The team event was on a couple of days ago and Lauren’s team, Canada, finished 9th.
Discovered a wireless internet connection at my new accommodation, yay! Finally got to call my long lost husband and my parents. Now I’d better get my blogs up to date.
Para dressage has started. Lauren rode today in the Individual Championship. She has finished in 10 place. The team event was on a couple of days ago and Lauren’s team, Canada, finished 9th.
Discovered a wireless internet connection at my new accommodation, yay! Finally got to call my long lost husband and my parents. Now I’d better get my blogs up to date.
28/9/10 - 6/10/10
WEG, WEG and more WEG!
Mostly working in the booth or over at the trade fair, didn’t get to see much else, have not seen any of the events other than a bit on TV on Sunday. Hopefully this week I will get to see the para dressage which is kinda the whole reason I’m here.
Moved house. I could no longer stay were I was because I had no transport or means of getting up or down the stairs. The new team that was supposed to be coming into the house, decided to stay at Winstar which is closer to the games location. Janey Elliott, a lovely lady volunteering at the Parelli booth offered me accommodation and transport, so I’m back in action.
Mostly working in the booth or over at the trade fair, didn’t get to see much else, have not seen any of the events other than a bit on TV on Sunday. Hopefully this week I will get to see the para dressage which is kinda the whole reason I’m here.
Moved house. I could no longer stay were I was because I had no transport or means of getting up or down the stairs. The new team that was supposed to be coming into the house, decided to stay at Winstar which is closer to the games location. Janey Elliott, a lovely lady volunteering at the Parelli booth offered me accommodation and transport, so I’m back in action.
27/9/10
Monday
Well this afternoon we had a bit of a weather change, instead of being hot and sweaty and desperate for water…it was cold and misty with gentle rain and cold wind. Boy, was I frozen to the marrow. Mark was very chivalrous and gave me his coat, I was touched that he was prepared to expose himself in the pink shirt which was our colour for the day!
It was certainly not as busy in the Equine Village (where all the exhibitors are) as it had been on the warmer days. I guess people who had bought tickets to the events figured their shopping could wait for a nicer day. I just did another half shift and left about 5ish with Renee and Carol, we stopped on the way home and got more soup.
Well this afternoon we had a bit of a weather change, instead of being hot and sweaty and desperate for water…it was cold and misty with gentle rain and cold wind. Boy, was I frozen to the marrow. Mark was very chivalrous and gave me his coat, I was touched that he was prepared to expose himself in the pink shirt which was our colour for the day!
It was certainly not as busy in the Equine Village (where all the exhibitors are) as it had been on the warmer days. I guess people who had bought tickets to the events figured their shopping could wait for a nicer day. I just did another half shift and left about 5ish with Renee and Carol, we stopped on the way home and got more soup.
26/9/10
26/9/10
Sunday
Feeling much better, still a little weak and shaky but at least the fever seems to be gone. Went in to the horse park for the second shift which meant I could sleep in. Lauren had finally arrived with Renee about 1am and the media team got in even later I think, the floor boards in this place are very squeaky. We had a relaxed morning then headed in by 1pm, just in time to catch Pat’s demo, with the demo team. The booth was quite busy after and Pat came down still on his horse to do photos, autographs and do the lucky draw prize thing. He’s doing a lecture and a demo every day. The team sent me home with the early shift just to be sure I wasn’t overdoing it. As we were leaving- the exit was a tent- a golf cart was coming in, so I opened the ten door wide to let them drive thru, as they passed the elderly gentleman said thank you. I had just opened the door for William Shattner! Apparently this particular exit was also the VIP entry. It was good to get back early, I had certainly started to fade. We stopped at a soup and bread place for dinner and I gotta say I had the best tomato soup I’d ever tasted and it was exactly what I needed, felt completely revived.
Sunday
Feeling much better, still a little weak and shaky but at least the fever seems to be gone. Went in to the horse park for the second shift which meant I could sleep in. Lauren had finally arrived with Renee about 1am and the media team got in even later I think, the floor boards in this place are very squeaky. We had a relaxed morning then headed in by 1pm, just in time to catch Pat’s demo, with the demo team. The booth was quite busy after and Pat came down still on his horse to do photos, autographs and do the lucky draw prize thing. He’s doing a lecture and a demo every day. The team sent me home with the early shift just to be sure I wasn’t overdoing it. As we were leaving- the exit was a tent- a golf cart was coming in, so I opened the ten door wide to let them drive thru, as they passed the elderly gentleman said thank you. I had just opened the door for William Shattner! Apparently this particular exit was also the VIP entry. It was good to get back early, I had certainly started to fade. We stopped at a soup and bread place for dinner and I gotta say I had the best tomato soup I’d ever tasted and it was exactly what I needed, felt completely revived.
25/9/10
Saturday
Agonising decision, to go or not to go…today could potentially be a very long day, especially if we were able to watch the opening ceremony. Decided I was probably not going to be much value and if I take the day to rest and recover. At least I was able to watch the Opening Ceremony and recorded it for the rest of the team who didn’t get to see it. Lauren had the honour of carrying the flag for Canada as the athletes entered the arena.
Agonising decision, to go or not to go…today could potentially be a very long day, especially if we were able to watch the opening ceremony. Decided I was probably not going to be much value and if I take the day to rest and recover. At least I was able to watch the Opening Ceremony and recorded it for the rest of the team who didn’t get to see it. Lauren had the honour of carrying the flag for Canada as the athletes entered the arena.
24/9/10
Friday
Spent last night shivering violently and sweating profusely, my temperature was 100 f at the doctor’s yesterday and I daresay quite a bit higher overnight, Alain had some panadol which at least reduced the fever so I could sleep. Stopped by the pharmacy and got the antibiotics…will be on the mend soon.
Last day for final set up and clean up before the big lock down and security sweep, supposed to be out by 2pm. Nobody chased us out, in fact we did a behind the scenes tour (or maybe we just got lost) and got to see the main stadium where the opening ceremony will be held tomorrow. Didn’t tweet as much as a should have, I must confess I was feeling quite unwell. Hopefully those antibiotics will kick in before the throwing up starts and I can’t keep them down. I am making sure I drink enough water tho, lessons of the past…
Spent last night shivering violently and sweating profusely, my temperature was 100 f at the doctor’s yesterday and I daresay quite a bit higher overnight, Alain had some panadol which at least reduced the fever so I could sleep. Stopped by the pharmacy and got the antibiotics…will be on the mend soon.
Last day for final set up and clean up before the big lock down and security sweep, supposed to be out by 2pm. Nobody chased us out, in fact we did a behind the scenes tour (or maybe we just got lost) and got to see the main stadium where the opening ceremony will be held tomorrow. Didn’t tweet as much as a should have, I must confess I was feeling quite unwell. Hopefully those antibiotics will kick in before the throwing up starts and I can’t keep them down. I am making sure I drink enough water tho, lessons of the past…
23/9/10
Thursday
Second day of setting up the booth, the office crew had already got the tent up yesterday as well as the internal structures for displaying the equipment. I was given the twitter phone and spent the day taking pictures then tweeting them. Tried to use the twitter phone to send a message to Andy for his birthday. Don’t know if it went. Tried to use it to send him an email, hope it went. So disappointed not to have internet here at the house, apart from not being able to ring Andy on his birthday, I think a lot of exciting things are going to happen over these next two weeks. Had to concede that I was sitting on a guilty secret and asked that instead of me coming to dinner, could they drop me at the medical centre so I could get some antibiotics for the now infected pressure sore under my left seat bone. Couldn’t get the drugs till the next morning…
Second day of setting up the booth, the office crew had already got the tent up yesterday as well as the internal structures for displaying the equipment. I was given the twitter phone and spent the day taking pictures then tweeting them. Tried to use the twitter phone to send a message to Andy for his birthday. Don’t know if it went. Tried to use it to send him an email, hope it went. So disappointed not to have internet here at the house, apart from not being able to ring Andy on his birthday, I think a lot of exciting things are going to happen over these next two weeks. Had to concede that I was sitting on a guilty secret and asked that instead of me coming to dinner, could they drop me at the medical centre so I could get some antibiotics for the now infected pressure sore under my left seat bone. Couldn’t get the drugs till the next morning…
22/9/10
Wednesday
Travel day- arrived at Winstar* about 3pm, via Indiana. Went in the big truck to Kentucky Horse Park, unloaded horses and stuff. Found the office team and went back to the house with them.
*I should note that Winstar is an incredibly beautiful Thoroughbred stud which is friends of Parelli through horse training, I not sure of the details but our instructors John and Kathy Baar helped train some of their racehorses and won last year's Derby...something like that...and this is where most of the team is staying, as well as Pat and Linda.
Travel day- arrived at Winstar* about 3pm, via Indiana. Went in the big truck to Kentucky Horse Park, unloaded horses and stuff. Found the office team and went back to the house with them.
*I should note that Winstar is an incredibly beautiful Thoroughbred stud which is friends of Parelli through horse training, I not sure of the details but our instructors John and Kathy Baar helped train some of their racehorses and won last year's Derby...something like that...and this is where most of the team is staying, as well as Pat and Linda.
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