Thursday, May 3, 2012

Scattered Excitement

I always think the hardest thing about writing a decent blog is staying on topic. There are so many things to talk about! How can I pick just one?

Cuna in a borrowed wonder bit
I was trying to get this month's schedule figured out and while talking to Steph, found out two Very Exciting Things.

1) WE ARE GOING XC SCHOOLING!!!!! OMG YAY AND HOORAY!!!!!! Now that I've said something about it publicly, it's sure to get cancelled, but I am super excited. The plan is to head to Golden Spike in Utah in like 8 days. I can't wait to get the old guy out and see what he can do. Let's face it: I have never, in my entire life, ridden a horse on XC that actually knew what it was doing. This is gonna rock!

2) I actually can go to the event derby at the end of the month!!!! I thought I was going to be out of town grooming, but Steph is sure she won't need me (ha! I will giggle when they are stressed and behind!!). I need to figure out how much I can afford as far as clinic fees and entry fees and where in the world the money is coming from, but it will happen. I mean, I already have a ride lined up with a pretty reliable person, so I'm not missing out on this.

However, both of the above make this month's TWO POINT CHALLENGE (!!) even more crucial. Here's a listing of current participants:

Me and Cuna (We are at the top of the list because I like Cuna best. The rest of you are sorted according to the order of you joining in.)

Rinsie and Reveille 

TBA and Jetta

L. Williams and Carlos

Carly and Bobby

The Fullers and Henry

Katie and Owl

Amy and Steady

Sand and Moon

Stephanie P and Gina

Hillary H and horse

A little clarification: I need a "start time" for all of you. That means you go jump on your horse, start your stopwatch/phone/timer/look at a clock and stay in two point as long as you possibly can. If your ass needs to brush the saddle in order to rebalance for less than a stride, ok. If you sit for more than than less-than-a-stride brush, you have to restart the time or acknowledge you've hit your limit.

This isn't a competition per se--if it was, I would lose because I am a terribly non-competitive person who hates losing (and TBA and Amy would kick my butt for sure because they are ridiculously competitive). There may be a prize for most improved over the month, but I haven't decided for sure yet.

We are on the honor system for timing. Just remember, if you say you can two point around for 30 minutes at the end of the month and then you post a jumping video with your heels up and your lower leg swinging in the wind, I will mock you. :-p It's like internet karma.

So there you go! We have a super fun month ahead and I am excited about it.

19 comments:

  1. Im mainly doing this because I need motivation! lol, glad to hear you & Cuna are doing so well. Surprisingly im not that competitive, actually I dont care about my ribbons at all or placing, my goals are to ride the best I can. Are you coming to the RHF derby at the end of this month?

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  2. I have a lesson tonight, so I might not be able to get the baseline tonight, but I'll try and I have my handy dandy HR Monitor so I can get it down to the seconds ;)

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  3. Me competitive, noooooo..... What would ever give you that idea?? Was it the time that I tripped the poor kid in crutches just to win? No that really never happened, promise but I am kind of freakishly competetive...lol.

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  4. Internet Karma - hahaha! Schooling and the derby is going to rock! Something to motivate you when your thighs and calves are on fire! Unfortunately I must pass on the challenge this time, but its a fabulous idea and I hope you to it again. You know, when I'm actually riding my horse without my trainer there babysitting me. =P

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  5. I will not partake in the two point challenge, although my breeches would probably appreciate it...

    More curious how you like the Golden Wings bit? I had one for P1 and *hated* it. I didn't like how restricted the movement was/how much the wings pinched P's sensitive little face. Does C-Man go well in it? If you want my double jointed snaffle version, let me know :)

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    1. Cuna has decided to be a dressage horse lately, complete with contact and about 80 lbs in my hands at any given time. I don't know if it was the bit, the cool weather, or the super exciting jumping, but he was SO FREAKING STRONG that I had to stop riding because I couldn't move my right arm any more.

      So... definitely not love at first ride. I think I have more brakes in a rubber mullen.

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  6. I am sorry I cannot participate in 2-pt challenge because of knee tear, cause I used to kick serious ass at those, and those games where you see who can post the longest with no stirrups. Aging sucks. Even more when you hurt stuff that doesn't heal.

    OMG, you will love the XC school so much you will pee yourself. Seriously. You should probably take a paper bag because you will hyperventilate with mad eventing love. It happened to me and I've had great joy watching others have the same experience. When you run a XC course on a horse who is a partner, it is the most amazing thing you will ever do on horse back.

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  7. My start time is 3 minutes. Sadness. But I am insanely competitive so I'm sure that this will be enough to kickstart my motivation to improve ;)

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  8. ZOMG, you must make sure you have someone to take pictures for xcountry schooling. YAY!!!

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  9. How exciting!!! I agree with Carly, we need pics :) This all sounds very fun. Good Luck.

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  10. So in the lesson tonight we did our baseline. I'm a 4min and Karley aka The Fullers and Henry is 3.5 minutes

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  11. I am in! I am heading out to the barn in about an hour so I will get back to you with my base time. It will be pitiful though as I have been out of the saddle for the better part of 3 weeks. :/ This will be just what I need to get on track and stay motivated.

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    1. And my base time is 2 min and 45 seconds. :)

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  12. Trot time 1:07, mostly because of balance issues. Canter time 3:12. I. Suck. :) That's okay; improvement is good.

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  13. Good thing I never try to write a decent blog, I just ramble on about whatever is on my mind and never shut up. Staying on topic has never been my strong suit.

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  14. This is going to be so cool!! I'm looking forward to see how you guys progress on the two point. :D Maybe in a few years when Chrome is done growing and in shape I can join in (hint hint hoping you'll make this an annual thing).

    Yay for eventing schooling!! How awesome! I also hope you will get some pictures.

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  15. I'll be down for the challenge! Just need to get home so that I can ride...
    Will let you know once I'm home! Darn being on course...

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  16. Archie and I would like to enter! I timed my lazy bum at 2 minutes trotting last night. And, you know.. it wasn't the legs that cried. It was the back. :(

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    1. Engage that core, girlfriend!! It will save your back. I'll enter you. :-)

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