Here it is, a chilly evening in New England, and I'm relaxing with friends and a cider after a hard day of work... except that it doesn't feel like work when I get to help enthusiastic riders get a better connection with their horses!

Tuesday I travelled through 4 states (Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Connecticut & Massachesets) between the flight and driving to clinic locations. Over Tuesday and Wednesday I worked with 22 horses and their riders, what a great two days! Lots of eventers and a few dressage purists made for a fun and diverse mix. I really enjoyed the selection in the horses & riders, it's always more interesting as an instructor when I don't have to give the same lesson twice.

Today, tomorrow, and Sunday are more days of teaching and meeting great new people. Have I mentioned before how much I love my job & the life it lets me lead?

This year's YDHTS was everything expected and more. As always it was educational and perhaps most of all, FUN! This is my chance to see so many friends in one weekend that I would otherwise not get to see in such a quick trip. 

Lots of training tips from the Experts, lots of great discussion & ideas. I'm inspired and ready to go... and maybe a little tired (after the fun).

Tomorrow is a day of rest then up to New England for what is looking to be a full schedule of teaching. I'm very excited to get up to a new area and meet lots of new people & horses.

How lucky am I that this is my life?! 

(or Dropping the Basket)

 

I've skipped my other Mistakes as Lessons, because if I wrote about them all I wouldn't have time for a job…

 

Normally I write about the silly, fun, and interesting things here on my website. What I tend to not talk about is when things are crap. Most of the time I can laugh off bad days, bad rides, or nasty people. However, sometimes life just stinks.

 

Not too long ago this was the situation for me. Let me tell ya…

 

It started with a feeling of restlessness. For various reasons I felt like it was time to move on from my current situation. Both of my jobs have wonderful aspects, but there were things that felt unsatisfying and they built up to make me a little unhappy. I figured I'm in this foreign country for experience and education, but also for FUN! No, I don't mean I came to Germany to party and be some sort of socialite, but I don't believe in being miserable. 

 

So I started looking and asking around. I connected with some people building a lovely place about 4 hours away from Munster, and after going to see their new facility and speaking with them, I was pretty enthusiastic. We verbally agreed that I would come in as the trainer, but didn't really discuss finances before I had to go.  But we felt comfortable that we would figure it out.

 

I came back to Munster and, before my trip to Kentucky for the World Equestrian Games, I gave notice at both of my jobs. 

 

After Kentucky I wrote my prospective new employers an email with my proposal - pay, number of horses, competition expectations, etc.  Except for hard numbers we had discussed most of these things. I received an email back explaining that we had a completely different vision and they were looking for such and such from their employee. Good luck. 

 

Hmmmn. Shit.

 

I guess better to know before I end up in the middle of nowhere that we had different ideas about the business and my role in it. However, here came that old saying, 'don't put all your eggs in one basket.'  Well, not only did I put all my eggs in one basket, but I dropped the frickin thing and before I could pick it up a stampede of elephants squashed it, trampled it, and pooped on it. 

 

Doh!

 

So I suddenly found myself without much of a plan come December. No job prospects, no idea. And of course when it rains it pours. My new-to-me car broke down (numerous times), my closest friends in the country were moving back to the USA, I dropped and broke my cell phone, found out the object of my affection was in fact married, got tossed off a horse I have no business coming off of, and a few more other non-uplifting experiences added up to just a few shit weeks (and throw PMS for a couple days into the mix. Ladies, you know what I'm talkin about). 

 

During this time the friends and family that I spoke with were always supportive and trying to help me figure things out. A lot of people suggested it was time to come back "home," whether that is Canada or America. Almost three years here is nothing to be ashamed of, and with all the new tools I have collected to train and show horses, I can be proud of what I have to offer. 

 

However, something in my gut said no, not yet, and even though sometimes I wondered if it was just an ulcer developing, I still do follow my gut. 

 

I think one word people might use to describe me would be "positive" (yes, there are plenty of other words you can use, but this is my story so keep quiet!). For a few weeks I found it pretty hard to stay positive, and the future looked so uncertain. 

 

I remembered the last time I felt so confused, uncertain, and lost was almost exactly three years ago. I found my self suddenly single and it was like the rug was pulled out from under me.  This time was without the emotional chaos, but the same feeling of what the f*@k?!  But when I look back at this time now, my focus is on the doors it opened for me. Without that turmoil in my life I never would have come to Germany, never worked for Ingrid Klimke, which led to all the other adventures I've been able to have. 

 

With this realization I knew that there was something around the corner for me. Something exciting, something big was waiting for me to stumble across it's path. 

 

And sure enough, this week the door opened and I can see the next step. It's another move, another adventure, and a lot of unknowns. But it's going to be amazing, exciting, and educational. 

 

Yes, yes, I'll tell you all about it… next time. But for now, let me just advise you - if you do put all of your eggs in one basket, then drop it so that everything is ruined, take the lesson. However, maybe the next step is to just buy a backpack, tie it securely around your shoulders and waist, fill it up with chocolate (cause when it breaks it's still delicious), and get on with it!

 

With that I say cheers! I'm off to the Young Dressage Horse Trainers Symposium for the sixth year in a row. This year it's at the new facility Riveredge, in Maryland, and I'm just as excited to see my friends & watch some good training as I was the first year, many lifetimes ago.

It's a typical rainy day here in Munster, and I'm taking a house-cleaning/packing for next week's trip break on a day off. 

Yesterday I drove to the Netherlands with a friend to look at a young sales horse. My friend is looking for the diamond in the rough, which can only be found by spending time in the car, traveling to many farms & stables, and seeing a lot of duds.  Yesterday's horse was on the rough side of the diamond mine. 

Not to say this horse didn't have a value, and a place in the industry, but he wasn't the project we were looking for. This was a five year old gelding with jumping bloodlines, having competed in dressage. His trainer is a jumping rider, and when I rode the horse I felt a lot of things that I would do different. The trainer admitted that they were both learning the levels together, hence some of the holes in the training. And when I say holes, it's not like there were glaring problems - just some crookedness, some resistance in transitions, slow reactions to the aids.

The horse was handsome, pleasant, and had a good work ethic. He was a little nervous of other horses cantering towards him, but with confident, reassuring riding he was learning to trust the rider through this issue. He had three good gaits, but none of them spectacular. He had that best-friend personality that makes you spend a little too much time at the stables, grooming, talking, and just loving on your pony. 

Is this a horse I would buy for myself? No. Is this a horse that I think would be suitable for many people I know? Yes! and his price was so reasonable, I would say absolutely!

This is something that still amazes and dismays me here. As a Canadian, who's lived in the US, I really support buying horses AT HOME. There are so many good horses being bred in North America that I think it's not always necessary to come horse shopping in Europe. It's the logistics of living and shopping in such a huge land that make horse shopping at home a nightmare.

Over here, if someone tells you they have a super horse, you can usually see it within a two hour drive. If you plan a little bit you can also see many other horses during the same trip. At home, you may need a 6 or 10 hour drive, or a plane ticket, to look at ONE horse.

In either situation, it's entirely possible that the horse is NOT what you were expecting, often not what was described to you. It's one thing if you are disappointed after a 2 hour drive, another thing to be disappointed after a whole weekend of traveling.  

The other problem of home vs. here, is the training. It's true there are a lot of BAD riders in Germany & the Netherlands, and surely all of Europe. However, there are a lot of really good riders, I think it's easier to find good riding more often here because of the basic training people get at the beginning of their riding career. Better riding equals a better trained horse, which makes it more attractive to potential customers.

It's hard to see the great horse through bad or mediocre riding sometimes, and I believe this is a problem at home. Here they know how to show a horse. Forward, uncomplicated, and unapologetic. At home you often see sales horses dragging their toes on a circle for 30 minutes, while the rider explains why this isn't quite right, this problem sometimes happens, but how Spotty is really the sweetest horse in the world who will try his heart out for you. 

Yes, character is important, maybe the most important factor even.  However, clients want their socks knocked off when they look at a horse. If you look at the PSI auction catalogue, you see forward ridden horses, groomed within an inch of their lives, with the riders sitting quiet and proud on the horses. Now I believe that the PSI auction is NOT the place for normal horse buying, certainly not where to shop when on a budget. But they do know how to present, so that even a dud can look like a diamond (and bring in luxury prices). (I am not saying they have duds there, you know what I mean)

I've seen and ridden many sales horses in the (almost) three years I've been in Germany. I've ridden horses from 5,000 euro to the 800,000 euro ballpark. I've sat on horses that I think are way overpriced and others that I think are a steal. Some of the horses would be perfect for adult amateurs who don't have access to great training very often, but want a good, safe partner. Others, you'd better have good eyes on the ground and a firm foundation in your own riding skills, or I would predict a wreck. Still others are horses that go on to represent their new owner's country. Some horses wouldn't pass even the most primitive vet check, while others seem to be made of steel, staying healthy and sound while doing the hardest work.

I've often wondered if my lottery ticket will be the big winner so that I can buy one of these horses. While I'm still waiting for the magic combination of numbers to cash in, at least I can enjoy tagging along with others to see and feel new horses, and meet new people. The sheer number of horse for sale out there is mind-boggling, and every sales barn I come to presents a new opportunity. Maybe not for me, maybe not today, but for every horse there is a rider, and for every rider, there is a horse out there. 

Yesterday, the no-longer-little-orange colt (he's now HUGE and liver chestnut), Denny Crane, got himself microchipped and branded. He's officially an Oldenburg horse. 

Denny thought the whole ordeal was a little rude, having to stand and put his head here and there so that his white markings could be better seen under the light. Then he was shaved on his hip and neck, got the chip jabbed in his neck, and then that terrible man pulled out some of his tail! Yeeouch!

The terrible man left, and Denny thought the drama was over, went to his mom for a drink. While he was nursing the guy came back. I asked him if I should move Denny up next to the wall, and he said, "No! This is perfect! Leave him be." With that, with Denny just nursing away, the man stuck a hot iron on his ass and branded him for life.  

Denny was more than a little shocked, but, besides tucking his bum a few times and looking extremely bewildered, was very good.  He is so big and strong now, he could have dragged me over to Holland, but he just tried so hard to be a good boy. I'm very proud.

Today when I went to see him I was worried he'd want none of my company, since I was a participant in yesterday's trauma. However, as usual he came marching right up to me and offered his nose for a kiss. But that was all the lovin I was getting today, as he bolted away, bucking and squealing! He's over it, I'd say. 

Today I woke up, then, after walking my dog, looked around my little apartment and realized it needed a big cleaning. With that thought in mind, I hopped in the car and drove out to watch the second day of the Morten Thomsen clinic. (Really, house work or horses? Is there even a question there?)

I watched Morten work with Michael Klimke on a few of his horses, as well as some of the horses owned by Frau Meyer, the host of the clinic. It was the same as what I saw yesterday, methodical, patient explaining to the horses and they all figured things out. Stress-free and happy in the work. One of the ladies was explaining to another that Morten is like the "Monty Roberts for sport horses," due to his incredible way of reading the horses and knowing where to put the pressure, and how much, to make things easy for them.

Soon I had to head back to Munster to get myself ready for my ride. Alabama stayed a little cleaner for me overnight, so there wasn't so many green stains to sponge off of The Greyness! She self-loads, which is handy since I was alone today, so we were quickly on the road.

My lesson today was more of the same magic as yesterday. Actually, it was even better today. Last night (and this morning) I watched my video from yesterday's ride and saw a lot of places where I need to sit better, be softer in my aids, be firmer but not harder with my aids, wait longer, etc. 

Today it came together better. We did more trot work, where Greyness really shines. Then we did more work to quicken the reaction in the left-to-right change, and finally some more work in the half-steps. That was a super ending, I had some great feeling under me at the end.

It was a sunny day, the facility is beautiful, I have an amazing horse, and I had top-notch instruction. I am feeling excited and hopeful about the future with this mare! What more could I ask for?

Here's a quick clip from yesterday's lesson. It's nothin fancy, just basic transitions, and you can see the asking for cross-canter. I so wish I had someone to video today, but this is it.  

Cheers!

Eiren 

After a long day in the stables, as is my routine, I get home and get online. Catch up with some friends and the news of the world, both from the dressage and horse sport, as well as the actual "news." 

Tonight I was delighted to see a great article on one of my newest and greatest hero's in the dressage world, Uta Graef. I've seen her ride a handful of times here and she is absolutely delightful. Not only is she a magnificent rider, looking like the happiest person on earth in the saddle, but when you see her walking around at shows she has that same smile and open, approachable persona that is not so common here in Germany, and certainly not in the top sport. Though I don't know her personally, I adore her and am a huge fan. She seems very similar to Ingrid in all of these great qualities.

So here's the link to the article on eurodressage.com  I hope you enjoy it! 

No, not THOSE three words! The other three,"this is good."

The German style of riding instruction is very different from the North American style. I've enjoyed my lessons with Jimmy so much, not only for the amazing technical help he's given me, but also for the positive way he delivers his message. I feel confident after the lessons, knowing that we worked through a problem successfully. No, it wasn't perfect riding, but it was good training. It was good for my education and the education of my horse. Most importantly, I feel empowered with new tools that I can use next time a similar situation arises. Empowerment and confidence are wonderful things (yes, yes, like a good wine or a rich triple chocolate cake, wonderful in moderation!). 

Not so much the German way, this positive, empowering way of teaching your students. My lessons from Hermann sound like this, "more forward, calmer, CHLIK (that loud clucking sound), shorten the reins, more forward, longer neck, rounder and deeper, longer neck, forward, CHLIK, poll higher, make the neck longer, FORWARD, rounder, CALMER, longer reins, CHLIK, rounder and deeper, CHLIK, CHLIK, straighter, longer neck, bending, CALMER, CHLIK... sigh."

The sighing is an important punctuation in my lessons. It's the sigh of disappointment, that I'm obviously an idiot incapable of riding with feeling or timing. The sighs are loud, audible throughout the arena for all to hear. Next to the sighs, my favorite is the "CHLIK, forward, CALMER!" combination. I just don't think I get it sometimes, and the sigh tells me I'm right. 

When my brain is about to implode because of my inability to trot a Grand Prix horse in the appropriate frame, tempo, and level of impulsion, it's frustrating seeing some of the other riders flouncing around doing tempi changes and some very sigh-worthy piaffe & passage tour.  

Just as I'm considering hanging up my helmet and taking up competitive knitting or a career in gold-fish breeding, he says those magic words, "this is good."

And that is enough to keep me going.