In my inbox today, I found a survey from the AHA, Arabian Horse Association. They sent this out to others like myself, who have let their membership lapse.
In a few places it would have been helpful, had they allowed multiple choices to be selected, since none of us really fit into a single box. Pigeon holing anyone? Please don't do this AHA. Nobody benefits from that.
I love the breed. They are beautiful horses, extremely intelligent and can be wonderful mounts for a variety of sports and competitions. They are not overly sensitive as many people think they are, they are usually just out thinking their handlers. That's when the problems start. There are a number of horses that fall into the same category but of different breeds.
As everyone knows, I was pregnant with the twins for most of 2008. I quit riding along about month 3 of that. I just did NOT feel comfortable on a horse, any horse, in any saddle, even at a walk, so I gave it up for the remainder of the days. My mares got a year off, I was no longer giving lessons and all of my memberships had lapsed.
Guess what? I am now eligible for Amateur status! At least under the guidelines of USEF. It has now been officially two years of me being 'off' from the horses- showing, training, teaching and coaching. I just need to apply, go through all the proper channels (to read paperwork and a few forms) and waa laa- Done!
So in getting back to the survey, they were wondering if I am going to be renewing my membership. I am likely going to renew, but based solely on the grounds of a few things happening. One of them would be that I get our Arab stallion going under saddle again. He's feeling quite spunky though lately, so it may be time to get going with that.
*He's the one in my avatar. I snapped the pic on a Saturday morning as he came blasting across the turnout towards the fence and me with my camera phone. I had turned him out, he was playing and having an absolute BLAST! I love seeing that.*
I will renew IF a friend or former client wants their horse shown, IF we end up with another Arab that has the potential to do well in the ring or IF another client comes along wanting their horse shown and I am the one chosen to do it. If it is our horse- Ammy. A friends or clients horse- open. I just can't and don't see doing it any other way. At least not if I wish to play fairly. How others go about it- that's up to them in the Karma Lottery.
At the end of the survey, there is a box where you can fill in the AHA with any comments you may have. I filled them in on a lot of things on my mind. I just wonder who reads this stuff and if anything I have said will actually do any good. One can hope, right?
Monday, March 22, 2010
Thursday, March 18, 2010
FSF- Driving Like Crazy
Soooooo, any guesses about the topic today?
Driving can be a lot of fun and something else to do with your horse. There are a number of events hosted by driving clubs across the country (and world) as well as chuck wagon races (fun to watch, but some level of insanity required to compete), chariot racing and there is even a club for endurance driving...
One of the clubs in the pacific northwest has plowing competitions, pulling competitions can be seen at state and county fairs and then there is also the Combined Driving Events. I highly recommend attending any of these as they are educational as well as incredibly fun. The American Driving Society is a great place to start, and their calendar has events and shows in many areas. Carriage Driving. Net has a host of information, events, articles and resources for those wishing to learn more about this sport.
And now for the carts and harnesses I am offering up for sale.
Nylon harness-
I have a nylon pony harness, black with white felt padding. It has been used but always kept clean and stored inside. This harness is missing the breastcollar and traces, but replacements can be acquired. It fits my Welsh cross pony stallion, but would fit a larger pony a bit better. I am open to offers as is, or with the replacements. Great starter harness as it retains it's softness and requires little care.
Leather harness-
Leather pony harness. Fits a smaller pony- shetland, hackney, Welsh section A or B, etc. Harness comes complete and is undergoing cleaning and oiling this weekend. It may soon be seen with the one cart below if it doesn't find a new home soon. Asking $100
Metal training cart-
Needs cosmetic work- paint, padding and vinyl on the seat and undercarriage, but is otherwise strong, sturdy and ready to go to work.
There are three adjustment positions for the seat to balance the cart for your pony's comfort and a number of springs underneath the seat for yours.
The basket underneath for your feet is diamond mesh steel covered with vinyl to keep the road dust from coming through on the driver. This cart would likely fit a loarger pony- POA, Haflinger, Welsh section C, Quarter Pony- etc. Asking $400 as is, price is negotiable.
Meadowbrook cart-
Then there is my beautiful Meadowbrook cart. Made by the Eden Mill and Carriage Shop in Eden New York, Craig A. Vogel, as listed on the brass plate on the spares box under the seat.
This is a beautiful cart that is made to fit smaller ponies, Shetland, Hackney, Welsh Section A or B, etc. Black vinyl seats and vinyl under the basket to keep out any dust from the road.
Here you can see the left side seat flips up for easy driver entry. The spares box is under the drivers seat...
and the backrests fold forward for shipping and storage. This cart has been well cared for and maintained, kept under cover, up on jacks to prevent the rubber on the tires from developing flat spots and oiled to prevent the wood from drying out. Asking $1000.00
As always, contact me for more information and I would be happy to answer any questions you may have. The Trading Post is always open and Fern Valley Appaloosas is as usual posting her For Sale Fridays too.
Enjoy your horses and your weekend. The weather has finally turned nice around here. Time to go out and get to work...
Driving can be a lot of fun and something else to do with your horse. There are a number of events hosted by driving clubs across the country (and world) as well as chuck wagon races (fun to watch, but some level of insanity required to compete), chariot racing and there is even a club for endurance driving...
One of the clubs in the pacific northwest has plowing competitions, pulling competitions can be seen at state and county fairs and then there is also the Combined Driving Events. I highly recommend attending any of these as they are educational as well as incredibly fun. The American Driving Society is a great place to start, and their calendar has events and shows in many areas. Carriage Driving. Net has a host of information, events, articles and resources for those wishing to learn more about this sport.
And now for the carts and harnesses I am offering up for sale.
Nylon harness-
I have a nylon pony harness, black with white felt padding. It has been used but always kept clean and stored inside. This harness is missing the breastcollar and traces, but replacements can be acquired. It fits my Welsh cross pony stallion, but would fit a larger pony a bit better. I am open to offers as is, or with the replacements. Great starter harness as it retains it's softness and requires little care.
Leather harness-
Leather pony harness. Fits a smaller pony- shetland, hackney, Welsh section A or B, etc. Harness comes complete and is undergoing cleaning and oiling this weekend. It may soon be seen with the one cart below if it doesn't find a new home soon. Asking $100
Metal training cart-
Needs cosmetic work- paint, padding and vinyl on the seat and undercarriage, but is otherwise strong, sturdy and ready to go to work.
There are three adjustment positions for the seat to balance the cart for your pony's comfort and a number of springs underneath the seat for yours.
The basket underneath for your feet is diamond mesh steel covered with vinyl to keep the road dust from coming through on the driver. This cart would likely fit a loarger pony- POA, Haflinger, Welsh section C, Quarter Pony- etc. Asking $400 as is, price is negotiable.
Meadowbrook cart-
Then there is my beautiful Meadowbrook cart. Made by the Eden Mill and Carriage Shop in Eden New York, Craig A. Vogel, as listed on the brass plate on the spares box under the seat.
This is a beautiful cart that is made to fit smaller ponies, Shetland, Hackney, Welsh Section A or B, etc. Black vinyl seats and vinyl under the basket to keep out any dust from the road.
Here you can see the left side seat flips up for easy driver entry. The spares box is under the drivers seat...
and the backrests fold forward for shipping and storage. This cart has been well cared for and maintained, kept under cover, up on jacks to prevent the rubber on the tires from developing flat spots and oiled to prevent the wood from drying out. Asking $1000.00
As always, contact me for more information and I would be happy to answer any questions you may have. The Trading Post is always open and Fern Valley Appaloosas is as usual posting her For Sale Fridays too.
Enjoy your horses and your weekend. The weather has finally turned nice around here. Time to go out and get to work...
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Public Service Announcement #1
In the comments on the last post, I posted about a horse named BitterCreek Bill and the tragic accident that took the life of his owner. The horse flipped over and landed on his owner/rider in an irrigation ditch half way across the field, across the street from the barn. While a helmet may not have saved her, it very well may have. Who's to say really?
In my email inbox, I recently received another story about a top level rider, who was caught in a bad situation. In light of the fatal skiing accident of the actress Natasha Richardson, I'm not sure how much a helmet would have helped in this situation, but it's always a good idea to wear one and be better safe than sorry.
Admittedly, I don't always wear one. I do if I plan on doing ANY jumping. I do if I am getting on a young horse and I do sometimes, just because. With the girls- it will now become a mandatory issue. Lead by example Mom. When our teenage daughter started riding, she always wore a helmet. Always! Helmet hair isn't pretty, but life support and brain injuries are considerably far less attractive.
This is a picture of Courtney King-Dye, an accomplished rider on the horse Idocus in the USEF HP Grand Prix. Below is the email that accompanied the picture and explains what had happened on a Wednesday, back at the beginning of March. More information can be found on her website- Courtney King Dressage which was last updated yesterday.
Hi Everyone.... so, as usual, I knew I could count on my little group to jump to the prayers.... the response has been amazing and the response, nationwide, has been something that I know Court will be completely overwhelmed by....
I just got home from the hospital.... she is very heavily sedated
and they asked for everyone to leave for the night.... but, she is
holding strong...
SO, I know there are SOOOO many questions, but here is the
story....
She was on her last horse of the day at her farm, a young one....
without a helmet on.... he was not being bad, she was cantering and did a half halt and pushed his haunches out, as he was falling in... he got his legs all tangled up and tripped and fell down.... there was no scramble or anything weird, he simply fell and she literally rode him to the ground.... she stayed on him all the way down and as she went down, her head smacked the ground.... someone was videoing her and said that her head actually bounced it hit so hard....
she was unconscious and life flighted to StMary's Trauma center in Palm Beach... they did not fly her because she was too unstable to be driven, but because of the time situation.... they call the first hour "the golden hour" (so I have learned) after the trauma happens.... the more they can do in that first hour, the better
the chances of a good outcome....
so, what happened.... when her head hit, her brain separated from the lining and shifted a bit..... that caused some bleeding in various spots.... they did a procedure and placed a monitor between the lining and the skull to monitor the pressure in her head.... normal pressure is between 5-7, hers is 9.... the point
that becomes critical that they have to take measures to reduce the pressure is 20, so they are happy about that.... she also has a fracture in her skull, but that is actually the least of their worries.....
she is still what they consider to be medically "unresponsive".... to be responsive, she has to be able to do a few very black and white tasks, when they say, squeeze this hand, she must do it.... when they say, open your eyes, she must do it.... and she is unable to do that right now.... however, the people that came with her were holding her hands and talking to her and when they mentioned Jason to her (her husband) they could feel her respond and try to move and then again with other words.... when they mentioned Viva, her dog :-) so, she IS a little responsive.. ..
they now have her heavily sedated because they want her brain to rest... they want it to have NO stimulation. .. Jason and her dad were able to go in with her for a second, but they asked them to leave as well... they said the next 3-5 days are the most critical.... it could go anywhere from steady improvement to
catastrophic. ...
The waiting room had a solemn tone, but everyone is being optimistic.. .. and of course, there were a few moments where laughter was required.... . it got a little quieter when Jason got there.... (he just HAPPENED to be flying in tonight anyway, got the phone call 30min before his plane left) he came over and sat down by me and after the original conversations there was quite a while when we all sat quietly, then he looked over at me and said, "you girls and your horses" with a cute smile on his face.... I think right now he HATES horses, but he knows how we all feel
about them, his wife included....
Now, I know in this email group are doctors, nurses, daughters of neuro surgeons, etc.... Im telling you NOW that there is probably something that is not exactly correct in the way I said it, but overall, this is the general gist of whats going on.... the bottom line is A) PRAYERS, PRAYERS and more PRAYERS for Court.... and B)
WEAR A HELMET!!!! I know, I am more guilty than anyone on this list of NOT wearing one, but that changes today.... I have already ordered my new one and I can promise you, it will always be on my head.... I have talked to several other professionals down here whose mind changed today..... will keep everyone as posted as
possible....
xoxo,
JK
Jodie Kelly
In my email inbox, I recently received another story about a top level rider, who was caught in a bad situation. In light of the fatal skiing accident of the actress Natasha Richardson, I'm not sure how much a helmet would have helped in this situation, but it's always a good idea to wear one and be better safe than sorry.
Admittedly, I don't always wear one. I do if I plan on doing ANY jumping. I do if I am getting on a young horse and I do sometimes, just because. With the girls- it will now become a mandatory issue. Lead by example Mom. When our teenage daughter started riding, she always wore a helmet. Always! Helmet hair isn't pretty, but life support and brain injuries are considerably far less attractive.
This is a picture of Courtney King-Dye, an accomplished rider on the horse Idocus in the USEF HP Grand Prix. Below is the email that accompanied the picture and explains what had happened on a Wednesday, back at the beginning of March. More information can be found on her website- Courtney King Dressage which was last updated yesterday.
Hi Everyone.... so, as usual, I knew I could count on my little group to jump to the prayers.... the response has been amazing and the response, nationwide, has been something that I know Court will be completely overwhelmed by....
I just got home from the hospital.... she is very heavily sedated
and they asked for everyone to leave for the night.... but, she is
holding strong...
SO, I know there are SOOOO many questions, but here is the
story....
She was on her last horse of the day at her farm, a young one....
without a helmet on.... he was not being bad, she was cantering and did a half halt and pushed his haunches out, as he was falling in... he got his legs all tangled up and tripped and fell down.... there was no scramble or anything weird, he simply fell and she literally rode him to the ground.... she stayed on him all the way down and as she went down, her head smacked the ground.... someone was videoing her and said that her head actually bounced it hit so hard....
she was unconscious and life flighted to StMary's Trauma center in Palm Beach... they did not fly her because she was too unstable to be driven, but because of the time situation.... they call the first hour "the golden hour" (so I have learned) after the trauma happens.... the more they can do in that first hour, the better
the chances of a good outcome....
so, what happened.... when her head hit, her brain separated from the lining and shifted a bit..... that caused some bleeding in various spots.... they did a procedure and placed a monitor between the lining and the skull to monitor the pressure in her head.... normal pressure is between 5-7, hers is 9.... the point
that becomes critical that they have to take measures to reduce the pressure is 20, so they are happy about that.... she also has a fracture in her skull, but that is actually the least of their worries.....
she is still what they consider to be medically "unresponsive".... to be responsive, she has to be able to do a few very black and white tasks, when they say, squeeze this hand, she must do it.... when they say, open your eyes, she must do it.... and she is unable to do that right now.... however, the people that came with her were holding her hands and talking to her and when they mentioned Jason to her (her husband) they could feel her respond and try to move and then again with other words.... when they mentioned Viva, her dog :-) so, she IS a little responsive.. ..
they now have her heavily sedated because they want her brain to rest... they want it to have NO stimulation. .. Jason and her dad were able to go in with her for a second, but they asked them to leave as well... they said the next 3-5 days are the most critical.... it could go anywhere from steady improvement to
catastrophic. ...
The waiting room had a solemn tone, but everyone is being optimistic.. .. and of course, there were a few moments where laughter was required.... . it got a little quieter when Jason got there.... (he just HAPPENED to be flying in tonight anyway, got the phone call 30min before his plane left) he came over and sat down by me and after the original conversations there was quite a while when we all sat quietly, then he looked over at me and said, "you girls and your horses" with a cute smile on his face.... I think right now he HATES horses, but he knows how we all feel
about them, his wife included....
Now, I know in this email group are doctors, nurses, daughters of neuro surgeons, etc.... Im telling you NOW that there is probably something that is not exactly correct in the way I said it, but overall, this is the general gist of whats going on.... the bottom line is A) PRAYERS, PRAYERS and more PRAYERS for Court.... and B)
WEAR A HELMET!!!! I know, I am more guilty than anyone on this list of NOT wearing one, but that changes today.... I have already ordered my new one and I can promise you, it will always be on my head.... I have talked to several other professionals down here whose mind changed today..... will keep everyone as posted as
possible....
xoxo,
JK
Jodie Kelly
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