Monday
Well, according to the original plan, I would have been on my way back to Melbourne tonight. Instead, I’m in a lovely Best Western Hotel in Dodge City, Kansas! Spent the day driving across Colorado in Linda Parelli’s comfy Range Rover, enjoying the scenery and chatting with Hilary, one of Pat’s apprentices. Sleeping in til 8am tomorrow, which sounds good until you factor in the one hour time change, so I’m really getting up at 7 anyway! Looking forward to what tomorrow brings.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Saturday, September 18, 2010
18/9/10
Mainly spent the day on my computer, trying to get it to allow me to download an audiobook so I've got something to listen to on the long drive to Kentucky. It doesn't seem to recognise its own software and it's very frustrating!
Not much going on today, the savvy games this morning and then just hanging out at the lodge, watching a movie in the cabin and arguing with my computer.
Not much going on today, the savvy games this morning and then just hanging out at the lodge, watching a movie in the cabin and arguing with my computer.
Friday, September 17, 2010
17/9/10
Friday
Had a bit of a sleep in today, technically I’m finished my work placements now because the Performance Summit weekend, counted at a part of the performance week. Plus Lauren is off to get her hair done and go to a wedding rehearsal, then the bachelorette party and tomorrow she’ a bride’s maid in the wedding. Got a lot to do myself today anyway. Clean out the cabin, get rid of the rubbish, fish out all the dirty clothes and get laundry done. Managed to find a time when the washing machine was empty, ace! Who knew the prospect of clean clothes could be so exciting??! Got them washed and into the drier, then went into town with Sandy-Jean, a mate from the fast track- I think she’s awesome, nearly 70 years old and surviving the fast track is no small accomplishment! Got my clothes out of the drier and folded them up, then headed back to the cabin. Didn’t stay for dinner cos I had an Angus third pounder deluxe and wildberry smoothie from Macca’s. Life is good.
Reflection for the week… “Do simple things with excellence”- Pat Parelli.
Had a bit of a sleep in today, technically I’m finished my work placements now because the Performance Summit weekend, counted at a part of the performance week. Plus Lauren is off to get her hair done and go to a wedding rehearsal, then the bachelorette party and tomorrow she’ a bride’s maid in the wedding. Got a lot to do myself today anyway. Clean out the cabin, get rid of the rubbish, fish out all the dirty clothes and get laundry done. Managed to find a time when the washing machine was empty, ace! Who knew the prospect of clean clothes could be so exciting??! Got them washed and into the drier, then went into town with Sandy-Jean, a mate from the fast track- I think she’s awesome, nearly 70 years old and surviving the fast track is no small accomplishment! Got my clothes out of the drier and folded them up, then headed back to the cabin. Didn’t stay for dinner cos I had an Angus third pounder deluxe and wildberry smoothie from Macca’s. Life is good.
Reflection for the week… “Do simple things with excellence”- Pat Parelli.
16/9/10
Thursday
Went into town with Lauren, she was taking her saddle’s handle bar in to get covered with leather- it’s currently wrapped in black duct tape! Stopped at Goodman’s and made another attempt at finding jeans that fitted…still thinking about that beautiful jacket…decided it was silly to buy something that I might one day get to compete in…got a pair of Q-baby Wranglers which are supposed to be the ultimate ridding jean. They certainly are body hugging, I think I prefer a more relaxed fit, but they are stretch denim so maybe they will give a bit, still a bit too high at the front and low at the back, but nice and long in the leg. Got a few things from City Market and headed home.
The meeting this afternoon was exciting with all the travel plans being layed out for us, along with housing info and money for incidentals. I’m so looking forward to it!
Went into town with Lauren, she was taking her saddle’s handle bar in to get covered with leather- it’s currently wrapped in black duct tape! Stopped at Goodman’s and made another attempt at finding jeans that fitted…still thinking about that beautiful jacket…decided it was silly to buy something that I might one day get to compete in…got a pair of Q-baby Wranglers which are supposed to be the ultimate ridding jean. They certainly are body hugging, I think I prefer a more relaxed fit, but they are stretch denim so maybe they will give a bit, still a bit too high at the front and low at the back, but nice and long in the leg. Got a few things from City Market and headed home.
The meeting this afternoon was exciting with all the travel plans being layed out for us, along with housing info and money for incidentals. I’m so looking forward to it!
15/9/10
Wednesday
8am start up at Linda’s arena. First Lauren had a lesson on Peanut, then with Manny. Manny is grinding his teeth a lot, they are worried he may not be a good candidate so the Canadian team are going to bring a spare horse called Fancy for Lauren as a back up. She has ridden her before and although not fancy in movement, she is accurate and willing. Spent the rest of the day finishing the re-organisation of the ’competition folder’ which I started ages ago, but had to wait for the new stationary to arrive, then got busy with the Summit, so it had been put on the back burner. Now it’s all done.
Wednesday night BBQ as usual, only this time I actually had a torch so I was able to stay and watch the Horseman’s Apprentice at last! Great show, I’m looking forward to watching it all from the beginning when I get a more reliable internet connection.
http://www.horsemansapprentice.com/
8am start up at Linda’s arena. First Lauren had a lesson on Peanut, then with Manny. Manny is grinding his teeth a lot, they are worried he may not be a good candidate so the Canadian team are going to bring a spare horse called Fancy for Lauren as a back up. She has ridden her before and although not fancy in movement, she is accurate and willing. Spent the rest of the day finishing the re-organisation of the ’competition folder’ which I started ages ago, but had to wait for the new stationary to arrive, then got busy with the Summit, so it had been put on the back burner. Now it’s all done.
Wednesday night BBQ as usual, only this time I actually had a torch so I was able to stay and watch the Horseman’s Apprentice at last! Great show, I’m looking forward to watching it all from the beginning when I get a more reliable internet connection.
http://www.horsemansapprentice.com/
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
14/9/10
Tuesday
A day full of lessons and note taking. First was Lauren riding Maile, unfortunately it turned out that Maile is lame again on her right hind, the same old problem with her hock. So they did a few exercises at the walk and called it a day. We then went up to Linda's arena for Manny and Peanut's lessons. Manny was getting a bit stale and grinding his teeth a lot so a change of scenery with a bit of a trail ride on the way, might get him in a better mood. Peanut is just awesome anywhere.
A day full of lessons and note taking. First was Lauren riding Maile, unfortunately it turned out that Maile is lame again on her right hind, the same old problem with her hock. So they did a few exercises at the walk and called it a day. We then went up to Linda's arena for Manny and Peanut's lessons. Manny was getting a bit stale and grinding his teeth a lot so a change of scenery with a bit of a trail ride on the way, might get him in a better mood. Peanut is just awesome anywhere.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
13/9/10
Monday
Wow, first day into my ‘performance horse training’ part of my work experience and I spent the morning watching Lauren have lessons on 3 of her horses, Maile, Manny and Peanut, with none other than Mary Longden. I’m not sure exactly what her title is but she’s a top level coach. She did seem to remember me from the time when she and Sally Francis came out to see me ride back when they were putting the team together for the Atlanta games. I never went ahead with it because I wasn’t allowed to ride in my seatbelt, and I didn’t think that just walking around on a borrowed horse was what it was all about. Having ridden in Lauren’s set up and felt reasonably secure without the seatbelt, and now they use their own horse, I’m really interested! Mary with be giving Lauren lessons tomorrow and Wednesday…should be good, will try and get some of it on video.
Wow, first day into my ‘performance horse training’ part of my work experience and I spent the morning watching Lauren have lessons on 3 of her horses, Maile, Manny and Peanut, with none other than Mary Longden. I’m not sure exactly what her title is but she’s a top level coach. She did seem to remember me from the time when she and Sally Francis came out to see me ride back when they were putting the team together for the Atlanta games. I never went ahead with it because I wasn’t allowed to ride in my seatbelt, and I didn’t think that just walking around on a borrowed horse was what it was all about. Having ridden in Lauren’s set up and felt reasonably secure without the seatbelt, and now they use their own horse, I’m really interested! Mary with be giving Lauren lessons tomorrow and Wednesday…should be good, will try and get some of it on video.
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