Sue – How Do You Do – 3 days to zero

August 5, 2008Posted inSue - How Do You Do!
I understand catatonic behavior now.  After I made the annoucement that I was going to show Sue, someone asked me what I was going to wear. There are people who like to match clothes, saddle blanket and horse ribbons. Me, I went catatonic.  The idea of riding Sue in a horse show is really all my brain can handle. The thought of having to figure out some sort of matching show wear made me unable to participate in speech or thought. I did finally respond "black slacks, some kind of long sleeved…

Sue – How Do You Do Fluidity?

July 30, 2008Posted inSue - How Do You Do!
FLUIDITY CLINIC- The last time I rode Sue in an indoor clinic, I was overcome by emotional non-fitness by noon and had to quit. This indoor arena clinic was full of horses and Sue and I rode two days.  What a difference. The first day when we first started riding, Tony told me I didn't look fully relaxed.  I thought I hid it well, but there it was...tension.  We can't have tension in a Fluidity Clinic! So, I started to whistle without sound.  Amazing how whistling, even when you don't produce…

Sue – How Do You Do with Crinkle-Crunch?

July 30, 2008Posted inSue - How Do You Do!
Remember the water bottle crinkle-crunch noise that scared Sue?  It occured to me today, that I've not really taken care of that. This coming weekend, Sue and I will be participating in a trail ride clinic.  It will be very hot.  I will need water.  In the afternoon, I'll be out in the middle of 500 acres on a trail ride.  I will need water. I have Thursday nite and Saturday morning to fix things so I can take a water bottle out of the saddle bag and drink it.  If I don't…

Sue – How Do You Do – Announcing a Scary Goal

July 30, 2008Posted inSue - How Do You Do!
Two years and four months of emotional fitness.  "My personal craven coward to hero journey", Employing the practical purpose of natural horsemanship Using high level friendly games, bonding and leadership-with a "ruined" right brain introvert It is my thrill to announce: I will be showing Sue at the Fox Trotter All Breed Horse Show at Longview Horse Park on 8/9/08.  Riding from the trailer into the arena, Riding back to the trailer Long awaited goals! Occasionally, Sue and I will even be performing the gait as directed by the judge! If you…

Sue -How Do You Do at Keeping Up with a Saddlebred?

July 29, 2008Posted inSue - How Do You Do!
We rode tonight with a saddlebred show horse.  Yep  We had a great time with Katie and Feather. We rode.  One of us rested while the other rode.  We thought it might be good if Sue and I rested while Feather cantered. It was hot and rest periods were essential Katie hasn't seen Sue and I together for a while and she could tell the difference in my tension..none.  We marveled over how different Sue and I both look..and it a fairly short time period. I told Katie that Sue was was…

Sue – How Do You DO with Crunchy-Crinkle Saddlebag

July 14, 2008Posted inSue - How Do You Do!
It's hot in Missouri..hot and humid in the summer.  One needs water on trail rides.  I slung the saddle horn bags over the horn with a few bottles of water on each side.  Off we went. We were zipping along pretty darn good when my arm brushed the saddle bag and made the plastic water bottle make that crunch-crinkle noise. Zowie!  That's a "startle" noise to Sue.  Sue used to startle into a spook when I took my glasses off. They just made a tiny bit of noise.  A plastic water…