Turkeys, other birds and the child's pose

Cloudy, windy, and a little above 0 C at 10 am when we met Laurie/Gucci for another great ride. The bird theme continued today. Saw wild turkeys in full display on the side of the 416 on the way to the farm, saw my first robin of the spring in the paddock, a cardinal flew across the road as well as Canada geese and snow geese.

The turkeys reminded me of an old photo I ran across the other day that, for some reason, I have been carrying around in my wallet. It is my Uncle David and the first turkey at Lenswood. Good thing Baba annotated all her pictures!

David. Our first turkey at Lenswood. 1952

In keeping with the bird theme, Gucci and Luba did some flying too - we hit 19mph at one point on the way home from Carsonby Road! We need to find a track so we can really open those girls up! Luba's CRI at the end was 53/51.

All that riding can be hard on your back after the winter hiatus. I find the child's pose to be very restorative for my back after riding. The goal is to keep your buttocks on your heels, so if you need to, make fists and stack them under your forehead. Then practise deep abdominal breathing in and out through your nose. You should feel your belly pressing against your thighs with each inhale.

child's pose

child's pose with stacked fists

A variation is to spread your knees as wide as your yoga mat and stretch your arms out in front of you.

hip and upper back opener version of child's pose

Once you are very comfortable in this posture, you can get the whole family involved with the partner version of child's pose!

Partner yoga version of child's pose

Blackbird

Black birds, geese, dogs, leaves, little blue flags... everything was out enjoying the unseasonably warm weather today. 15 C with a warm breeze.

After our great ride on Sunday, I was looking forward to hitting the roads again. As it turned out, neighbour Laurie joined us on her lovely mare, Gucci (Arab and Connemara or Welsh cross).

Hand walked/jogged until we met up with our riding date and rode up Phelan to Rideau Valley and back. Total of 8.25 miles for me and Luba in about 1 hour and 50 minutes. Luba had a tiny bit of fill in her front fetlocks after our ride on Sunday, so I was glad that we walked most of the way home.



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Despite having two mares with a tendency to kick, all we got were some faces and a little ear pinning. I rode Luba in the side pull on the way out, but decided that the bit was a good plan for the way home. As usual, she is not so willing to lead going away from home. Good advice from Laurie - bring a stick next time! We did have a nice canter (and almost a gallop!) on the way out. At one point, Luba was getting rambunctious and I thought I was going to get another hind end "lifter", but as Laurie pointed out, we were going too fast for bucking. Wise lady! As usual, Luba was on fire on the way home.  Point-to-point rides are easier for her mentally than ones that loop back to base camp.

Basking in the afterglow in the car on the way home listening to CBC Radio 2 Drive with Rich Terfry (one of my favourite radio shows), I was treated to Sarah McLaughlin's interpretation of the Beatles "Blackbird".

Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise.

Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these sunken eyes and learn to see
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to be free.

Blackbird fly Blackbird fly
Into the light of the dark black night.

Blackbird fly Blackbird fly
Into the light of the dark black night.

Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise
You were only waiting for this moment to arise
You were only waiting for this moment to arise.

In this beautiful song is the theme for today. 

We are all doing the best we can with what we have. 

Right here.  Right now.  Just the way things are.

Perfection, if we can just take these sunken eyes and learn to see.

Road Warriors

Sunny day, minus 5 C. Time to ride!!!

Walked over to Steven's Creek to warm up in the arena. Neighbour Laurie and her new black Arab mare were working over trot poles and a caveletti jump. We startled them when we got close to the door. Next time I will shout "DOOR" in my biggest, baddest voice instead of the polite, inquiring one.

Luba was completely upside down for the first 20 minutes or so and then settled. We worked about 45 minutes total. She was drenched in sweat  by the end!

The lovely arena at Steven's Creek

The jump standards, hay bales and bags of shavings at the other end are the best hiding places for the bogey man! Not to worry, Luba is keeping close watch.

Then went down to Phelan Road as far as the airport.   I dislike riding on roads and dislike doing it without the company of other horses/riders even more. However, we have 15 more weeks until the Pine Tree 100, and three more weeks before Luba goes to Horses of the Sun for a month of training with Sonja Koch. So NOW is the time to get a jump on conditioning and the roads are clear and soft. So no excuses! Off we go!

Luba gave me a hind end "lifter" when we turned right instead of left (towards home). After a bit of cajoling, she agreed to head away from home. By the time we turned onto Phelan Road, she was all business. It felt soooo good to let Luba open up with nice extended trot and a lovely canter.  I got off near Steven's Creek on 2nd Line Road to walk the last 3/4 mile home and took these shots of my pretty pony, wearing the fluorescent halter fuzzies we got for finishing the Vermont Moonlight 50 last summer. Great prize!

Was an absolutely glorious almost spring day! We were out for a total of almost 2 hours. Luba's CRI when we got home was 49/51.

I am off until March 19, and plan to ride ride ride.  I love Luba.

Buns of steel

Wednesday was 12 C and sunny! The geese have arrived, the horses are shedding and kids are out on their bikes (big kids too - I saw a motorcycle!)

Spring!

The swelling in Luba's rear fetlock is gone. We went for a hand walk down the road, past Steven's Creek to another neighbour's farm. They have a lovely long laneway with a big hill at the end. We walked up and down the hill for about 20 minutes and headed home just as the sun was setting. Luba and I will both have buns of steel for the riding season.

Luba has also put on some weight. She is now 878 lbs up from 863 two weeks ago. She is out in the herd with the brood mares now.

Full moon peeking out from behind the clouds on the drive to Motions to teach yoga. Life is good!

Fat ankle

Worked too late on Monday to make it to the farm.

Left early today looking forward to a trip down the road to Steven's Creek Farm to ride in their lovely coverall arena. It is about 3/4 of a mile from the farm, making for a perfect warm-up and cool-down.

Went to get Luba out of the paddock and noticed her left hind fetlock looked puffy. Sure enough, some heat as well. Found a small cut (about 2 inches long) high up on the outside of her cannon bone that is probably the culprit. A bang and a cut? It was scabbed over, so at least a couple days old.

She does not seem lame, so hopefully looking better tomorrow.

Buffed up her feet, fed her, and kissed her on the nose.

The upside is that I think she has put on some weight! Will check with the weight tape and photographic evidence tomorrow.

The lesson for today is plan plan plan and then be prepared to change you plans at the last minute. Yogi Bhajan (I think) as told to me by Sylvie Gouin.

Namaste Nancy

Holy wind Batman!

The radio said winds gusting up to 90 km per hour. But it was warm and the snow was melting, so off we go. Don't believe everything you hear on the radio.

Rode Sera in the outdoor snow ring while watching Charlotte and Ryan build a snowman - fresh Sera road apples for eyes. Successfully trimmed at least 1/4 inch off the back of Luba's front Renegade Hoof Boots with hoof nippers. The 0N size I am now using is just a bit too long and I should order them cut back next time. Wished Kim and Mike a great trip to Florida, wishing I was going too!

Still blowing at 3:45 pm when I headed to Kars. Lunged Luba over trot poles and a small jump in Pat's arena. At times, it sounded like the roof was going to end up in OZ. All good training.

Mostly trotting but went long enough to get Luba breathing hard - maybe 45 minutes? Left watch and camera at home, cell phone dead. No technology. Imagine! Cooled out for about 10 minutes hand walking up and down the driveway in the slush. The driveway has a little slope to it.

Fed beetpulp with her supper and left her in the stall with a couple flakes of hay and a pail of water so she could dry out.

Looked at our log from last year at this time. Same story: snow/rain/ice = bad footing.

The secret is to show up. Every little bit counts. That's my story anyway.

Om nama sivaya.

Haiku Hiking

Cold sleet in my face
Deval Premal in my ears
Light snow lifts us home




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Home to work, work to Charlotte's school, school to home: 6.2 kms.

Rider fitness - intention matters - nothing is insignificant.