The Greyness just starred in her own exciting film, a cross between The Birds and Children of the Corn (more like children of the wheat, but it doesn't sound as cool).

We went walking around the track today and it was a little more than our stinky heroine was prepared for. She knew what danger lurked on the other side of the train tracks, but her warnings had no effect on deaf ears of her ignoramus rider.

Once over the dangerous train crossing the mare was constantly assaulted by birds- hungry, angry, dangerous birds. There were pigeons, crows, pheasants, and numerous small, spotted brown birds that, despite their sweet song and innocent, insect-eating ways, are known by savvy horses to be carnivorous shapeshifters who delight in equine blood.

The birds came from everywhere- the sky and the ground. Particularly frightful was the time a family of pheasants were ambushing from the wheat beside our hero. It was only good luck this particular family of birds had bad aim, flying directly away from The Greyness rather than directly to her face, where they would have pecked her eyes out given half the chance.

It was only her pure heart, great courage, and cat-like reflexes that allowed Alabama to bring her rider home safely, unaware of death's shadow just inches away.

The sequel will include the horrifying episode where the bunnies burst out from underfoot, running from the wheat away from our hero, to go alert his compatriots that it was time to set the trap!

This industry is pretty hard on horses and people, both mentally and physically. I always talk about the mental aspects of it - the fun things I get to do, the frustration of making mistakes, the joy of overcoming hurdles and accomplishing goals. But the physical aspect is something that riders often neglect, myself included.

I've been working in this business for 19 years. I have clean a lotof stalls and ridden a lot of horses. Swept a lot of isles. I have been lept on by frisky babies, bucked off horses that should know better, been bit a few times and luckily only kicked once that I can remember. I've been very lucky to never have any serious injury, but I still wear my helmet just because.

Once I passed 30 years old I started to feel the effects of my career choice. Since I've been in Germany I've taken advantage of the awesome public health care and actually taken action when I've had pain issues. Last year it ended up that I couldn't turn my head to the right. Just couldn't. Excruciating pain in my neck made it impossible. However, after two chiropractic adjustments, a lot of massage therapy, and acupuncture (all free with public health care. Did I mention how awesome it is?), I felt better than I had in years.

For the past few months I've had pain in my right shoulder when I ride. It comes and goes but has gotten steadily worse over the last weeks. Though light contact with a horse is the goal, it is not always light and soft when you're training. When my shoulder started to hurt I found myself getting irritated very quickly with the horses for being too strong and for pulling, and then I started to be cranky with them. It's just not nice.

So today I finally went to the Doctor's office again for this and now, I feel a bit more sympathetic to the horses. I have an inflamed tendon in my right shoulder, simply from the work. My options were: A: take time off (no), B: take tablets that would relieve the pain and inflammation but take some time to work (no), or C: have an injection that will work fast (oh crap. but yes). So for all the times I've nonchalantly watched horses get injections in to various joints, now it was payback. No sedation, no lip twitch, just "this will probably hurt. Sorry." I got a needle directly into my shoulder and IT DID HURT! Son of a biscuit!

Luckily I got most of my riding finished before my injection because now it just hurts. Doctor told me to expect this, and said tomorrow it will be better and the next day it should be great. I will be going to physio therapy too, so hopefully this will soon be a thing of the past.

My point is this: working with horses is not an easy job. Most of us can't just show up at the barn and our horse is ready, we ride and then we leave. Most of us clean stalls, either because we want to or we have to in order to get our education. This takes its toll. Riding horses takes its toll. Horses are big, strong animals and we bounce, pull, strain, stress, eject, and all sorts of other things, often repeatedly, because we love the animals and the sport. If anyone reading this is young enough to think, "ah, it won't happen to me," I have news for you... wait. It will. Take care of your body so you can get the most enjoyment out of it for as long as possible. If you are reading this and you know what I'm talking about, then cheers! I'm finally admitting I am not a machine anymore. But, it still beats carpal tunnel from having to type at a desk all day!

On a totally different topic, I had the nicest email when I got home tonight. I had sent an email to the people at the Virginia Summer Sport Horse Sale to request a printed catalogue when I found out that Davignport and I were on the cover. Tim Jennings emailed me back that this would be no problem, he would send something to Germany. Then today he sent me a nice note to let me know how it went with Davingport at the sale. That was such an unexpected and wonderful surprise. Even though I had watched the sale online, I still wanted some kind of update first hand from someone involved, and it came from a complete stranger. That was beyond the call of duty I think, and it meant a lot to me. From what I saw I think this was a pretty successful sale, of course with some screamin deals for buyers too, and I think with this kind of management and customer service they are bound to have more success with warmblood sales in the future.

Cheers,
Eiren

Florencio x Rotspon x Weltmeyer x Brentano II. This is some outstanding dressage breeding, and the bloodlines of a new 4 year old I'm riding. The bay gelding came to Hermann's just over a week ago and has impressed me every time I sit on him. He is a sales horse but one I'm hoping will stay around (actually, I tend to think that about all of the sales horses). It is really fun to be riding a youngster again, and especially one of such quality. He has a super work ethic, a good, quiet mind, but a GO BABY, GO! that you would expect with such breeding. This will be a horse that has the engine to get through an upper level test later in his career without the rider having to work for every step. I really do wish I could buy them and keep them all!

On the subject of sales horses, last night I was able to watch the Sporthorse Auction at Lexington, VA while it was live online. My big guy, Davignport, was certainly the success of the sale. It was a combination of heartbreaking and thrilling to see him ridden around the arena. Nadine, the rider, did a great job presenting him and DP looked proud and impressive, like a real showman. It was a little funny to hear the auctioneer reading the email I'd sent to friends and colleagues to let them know about the auction. First of all, it's pronounced "ERIN", not "IREEEEEEEENE". If you're going to quote someone, learn how to say their name. Second, it was a bit annoying. I wrote this email for personal reasons, not for public ones. I guess I should know how the Internet works, but it would have been nice if someone asked me if they could use this private email for advertising. Finally, I think it's funny. Who do they think I am? They said I'm riding for the KLIMKES about three times. Trust me, I know it's an amazing life I'm living full of crazy opportunities, but even though I am a professional I still feel like a student in this game, and certainly not yet someone to be quoted or referred to. It was just funny to hear them talking about me the way I know my mother does.
Anyway, an online bidder, LisaTsmith (or something like that), got the final bid and knockdown at $68,500. I want to say congratulations to Lisa, whoever you are. I wish you all the best with this amazing stallion. Please take good care of DP, and just love him to bits.

Back on this side of the ocean, sales horses have allowed me to meet some more great people. Beth Baumert and her posse came to Hermann's farm to look at and try horses. If you've ever picked up a Dressage Today magazine you will know Beth's name, and it was great to meet her. They are still in Germany for a few more days and I'm hoping to get to see them again, and maybe find time to sit with a coffee and a little chit chat. I'm fascinated by the work Beth has done in this industry and with the magazine, the people she has met and interviewed, and it would be so interesting to hear about it all.

Also in Germany, but for a longer time, is American Grand Prix rider Jim Koford. He received a Competition Grant and is in Munster training with Michael Klimke until the end of August. Jim, his horse Rhett, and his groom/manager Crystal arrived at the beginning of July and it's been fun getting to know them. I didn't realize how much I missed the sound of sarcasm. That's one thing that you have to be fluent in a language to appreciate, and I can appreciate good, drippy sarcasm in the English language once again. I think having Jim and Crystal around will make things more entertaining for me this summer!

Today is my day off, and though I'm enjoying sitting around drinking coffee in my pyjamas, I still have 3 horses to ride (my day off?), and I'm hoping to get to the gym. I signed up for a one year membership at a really nice fitness center so I can eat more cake and cookies. Also maybe so I can be a better, fitter rider, but mostly for the dessert-eating benefits. So I'd best get at it.

Cheers,
Eiren

Ugh. I'm always slow to write, and then I have 100 things to say, and then it takes too long to write so I put it off, and it gets worse, and worse, and worse...

I'll try to keep it simple and short, but that's nearly impossible for me.

I had my first show with Michael Klimke's six year old Diamond Hit gelding. I was a little intimidated by the competition in my classes, but in a way knowing that I would be riding against my old boss Ingrid and the likes of her made it easier, because it kind of took the pressure off. I had a good ride in the "dressurpferde A" (basically a the equivalent of the 5 year old test) but not a stellar score. Ingrid won the class with Dressden Mann, who the next day was selected for the World Championships for Young Horses. In the "Dressurpferde M" (6 year old test) we had what felt like an equivalent ride but a much better score. We tied for 7th, and the first four placings were held by Brigitte Wittig (1st), Christoph Koschel (2nd and 3rd), and Ingrid Klimke (4th - with Flipper!). If you dont' know who the first two are, look them up. (If you don't know who Ingrid is, I'm not sure what you're doing on my blog?) Even though I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to win, I have never had so much fun NOT winning.

I can't believe I got to ride in the same class as these people. And even better that I didn't make an ass of myself! THey don't know who I am yet, but they didn't kick me out either.

Next news, I have to say Welcome! to my new project, Alabama! Donna and Paul from Chinook Arch Farm in Kentucky sent me their beautiful and super talented mare all the way from the suburbs of Lexington. She is by Silvermoon, the same sire as Lars Petersen's top horse Success, and the superstar mare from the 2006 World Equestrian Games, Matine. If you don't know who Matine is, you are not one of the almost 9 million people to have watched her video on youtube. I am so excited to ride this amazing mare (who's barn name is The Greyness) and can't wait to see what we can do together.

Also, on the subject of horses travelling over the water, congratulations to my friend Sara on the great find in "Der Klein Man", a super 5 year old Damon Hill gelding. I'm hoping to hear great things from the two of them together.

And another congratulations to Dorit for the purchase of Diamond Watch, better known as Raul. Raul was MY HORSE since he was 8 months old or so, but once it became clear that I'm not coming back to North America any time soon, I realized I needed to sell him. It was a hard decision to make because I had Big Plans for he and I together, but I couldn't have asked for a better owner. I'm so excited for both Dorit and her new boy, and am happy I will get check on their progress when I'm over for clinics.

And welcome back to Germany Jamie! After working here for Ingrid and Helen Langenhaneberg, Jamie went back to Canada for a little R&R. Now he's back in horse heaven, working for Ingo Pape. His first text message to me started with "I rode 7 horses today!" Awesome stuff.

I emailed a bunch of people with this news a while ago, but my favourite stallion Davignport is being auctioned Saturday, July 11th at the Virginia Summer Sport Horse Sale. Turns out DP and I are cover models! I can only hope he finds a super home. It is a very personal and rather emotional thing for me that this horse is being auctioned, because I really wish he could be mine. I know the opportunities I have now are because of the education he gave me, and if I had not come to Germany we would still be a team. If his new person loves him half as much as I do, he will be fine and they will have a great future together. I'll be curious to see the results of this auction. There looks to be quite a few remarkable horses being offered, and it would be great to see a successful auction of quality horses in the USA.

What else, what else?

Um... my job(s) are awesome still. I'm riding usually between 9-12 horses each day. Anything under 10 feels like an easy day, and anything over that I'm feeling like I got my ass kicked by the end. I am so privilaged (I know I say it all the time) to ride the horses I get to ride. I am learning so much from them, it's an amazing gift. Also, the lessons from Hermann are great. The feeling on the horses always gets better and easier when he helps me, and it's things I can remember and apply. Today while I was piaffing the superstallion that I hope never sells, HG told me to relax. He rolled or shrugged his shoulders into a bit of a slouch and exhaled, showing me what I can do. "Don't be so rigid. Let him do the work, you relax up there." It's just one of those moments where I think, ok - maybe I'm not making the world a better place, but I'm sure as hell enjoying my time here! I know there are a lot people who love horses and dressage their whole lives and never get to sit and feel a piaffe. And I'm being told to relax, like it's a boring thing. Hmmn. Did I mention I'm lucky?

Right now the BIG SHOW of the year is going on, the CHIO Aachen. Last year I was able to go for 4 awesome days, but this year I'm too busy piaffing and other such nonsense to attend. My old boss Ingrid is there with Dami, Dante, and Braxxi. My new boss gets a mention about 1/4 of the way down the page, as the horse Favourit that placed 3rd in the CDI Grand Prix was trained by him.

Every working day finishes for me back at Ingrid's stable with my last two horses, Ike and The Greyness. After marathon riding during the day I always enjoy slowing it down and taking time with MY projects. I find it really relaxing and peaceful to groom them, take as much time as I need riding them, and then another grooming, fluffing up their stalls, making sure everything is ready for them for the next day, cleaning tack, and finally tucking them in with a little smoochie, a pat or a hug if they've been very good, and hopefully a carrot or apple. As much as I love riding the horses at HG's and Michael's, there's nothing better than riding a hose that you really KNOW. This takes time on the ground, hands on time. I love to know their expressions, their sounds (Ike is a talker and it just makes me want to hug him every time he nickers), their itchy spots, and more. It's this kind of quality time that reminds me that I really simply love these animals.

Go hug your horse.

Eiren