Don't shy away from opportunity. It may be disguising its self as work!

Opportunity does not always come knocking and sometimes when it does, that opportunity can disguise its self as hard work. My plate is as full as everyone else's but when Cathy Wieschhoff presented me with the opportunity to do some riding for her while she recovers from shoulder surgery, I knew it was something I needed to do and accepted the opportunity. My first thought was how can I possibly add three horses to my plate? I have a husband, a full-time teaching job, my own horse to ride, and lessons to teach. At this time of the year, school becomes extremely busy with several after school meetings, state testing trainings, and district writing meetings because I am also the writing leader for my elementary school. All of this on top of the regular demands of my job which is to teach.... I have lesson plans due each week and grading papers that often require extensive teacher comments on writing pieces so the students get timely feedback on their work in order to apply it to their next writing piece. Top all that off with being married to a wonderful and supportive husband who travels all week and would really like to see me for at least a few hours on the weekends! I really did not know how I was going to add this to my plate to say the least but knew I could not let this opportunity get away!

I felt so strongly about trying to figure out how to get these new horses worked in to my schedule because I have had many people say to me, “It’s a shame you don't have other horses to practice on." I have come to realize that even though I love riding Frankie more than any other horse I have ever sat on, #1 it puts a lot of pressure on us both to give 100% every day and #2, having ridden her now for almost 9 years, I am use to a very certain type of ride so when things change, I only have a tool box that I've developed with Frankie instead of a tool box with all types of tools, even if I will never use those tools with her.

The two sale horses of Cathy’s I am riding are both youngsters and very different rides. Yacht is a chestnut mare that immediately found her way into my heart. She is so brave and really wants to please! Then there is Benny, a very flashy bay gelding that has a lofty trot and very balanced canter, something that is foreign to me!  I will begin adding Cathy's preliminary horse in the mix, as the person that has been riding him will no longer be available. He will provide me with the opportunity to work on my dressage and jumping so this will be an awesome experience. Cathy has been very helpful in the process of riding these young horses.  She has given me time to get to know them ad jump them by myself, and this weekend, she came down to the arena, arm in a sling, and watched me jump them.  It was very helpful and I received great feedback on both horses.  These two horses are quite nice for sure.  This endeavor is really pushing me outside of my box and she is award of that since she's know me since I was 13 years old and I have only ever had one horse on my plate at a time so I have been able to adjust my riding style to fit the needs of the horse.  We had a good discussion this weekend about how this is the best thing I can do for my own riding right now.   I take it as a huge compliment that I am trusted to ride these horses until she is back riding again.  I have been reluctant for a long time to take on other horses, mostly due to the time factor and my love for riding Frankie, but am really glad I did not make excuses for myself and walk away from this opportunity!  It would have been so easy for me to say, “I’m too busy.”  I AM too busy, that is true, but I must keep getting better and I have to keep learning in order to be better for Frankie.

 

As for my Super Mare, she's doing great! We went to January and February Poplar and from those two shows, I came back with some homework. I just didn't feel taking her to more shows is what she needed to do at the moment. She knows what horse shows are all about! We have continued our weekly jump lessons, with the focus on the canter, and I am LOVING her willingness to work on the flat. She can be so fancy when she relaxes through her back!

With my work schedule being what it is, I can't get to the May, Chatt Hills, or run around the prelim at Maydaze even because it is our last day of school and 5th grade graduation.... I have decided to take her to Dayton and let her quietly jump around the prelim. It is closer in distance than Chatt Hills and I can leave after work on Friday to get there. Chatt Hills presented several challenges in relation to work, so I opted to go with Megan Moore and her team to Dayton! It will be a fun trip for sure! Megan and I had a wonderful, foot perfect xc school last weekend. We and I are working very hard on identifying the different canters needed on xc and helping Frankie and me be comfortable in those canters! At the xc schooling, it all came together!

Megan has been a great help. She really understands Frankie and has seen the “other” me that can show up at horse shows! I don't know what I'd do without our Monday night "meeting of the minds" dinner with her, Jenn, Andrea, and Emily! It is a “say anything meeting and expect an honest answer” kind of group and I really enjoy these much needed dinners.

Before Dayton HT, Frankie and I will head to Split Rock to continue practicing our show jumping and will be meeting up with Joe Meyer to school XC while he is in town for Rolex. I plan each day the night before because I can't get too far ahead of myself! So far, somehow, it is all working! SO here’s to all of you that have very busy schedules, children even, and somehow manage to get it all done!