Program Found

 There really isn't a lot of programs that meet my criteria of price, location, and that attend both schooling and rated shows (or even just schooling shows) that have good trainers in my area. After calling three different trainers, hearing back from two of them, having one flake out on me, and going on one barn tour, I've found a new home for Cinder and I. We'll be moving March 1st to make everything easy. Trainer A doesn't have a departure date, but it most likely will be after the 1st, and I am absolutely not leaving Cinder where she is unsupervised, so to keep my stress levels somewhat manageable, March 1st it is. The new program is also significantly cheaper, so my wallet will be very happy. 

Really happy with how she's looking weight wise, mid winter.

We'll be moving to Trainer M's barn, the barn I initially tried to move into almost two years ago before deciding to go back to Trainer A's program. I like Trainer M, I just liked A more. M is h/j trainer, with a good group of juniors and amateurs, goes to a mix of schooling and rated shows, and is the one that hosts the MDT show series we've shown a lot at. I know a lot of M's clients, and everyone there is excited for us to move in. I'm excited as well, but still grieving the loss of Trainer A. 

This is Fine, Everything's Fine

 Why does it seem like shit always hits the fan in January?

When we left off, I was waiting for my ovarian cyst surgery, which happened a little over two weeks ago. It went way better than I expected; I wasn't nearly as sore as I though I'd be, and other than a rash from the support girdle they gave me, I was pretty much fine after a day. I'm back at work, but I can't lift anything over 10lbs for another month, and can't ride for another week and a half. 

Two days after my surgery, we got hit with a pretty bad ice storm. I was staying at my parent's house to recover, and we lost power for a few hours the second night, and subsequently the water pipes froze and stayed frozen for four days. On the third day we were able to venture out and my mom and I hunkered down at a hotel for a night. Where we live we got mainly ice, but up where Cinder is they got snow, then ice and it was really, really bad for a few days. Trainer A lives on the property, up the hill from the barn and it's normally a five minute walk from her house to the barn, but one of the days it took her over an hour to walk/crawl/slide down to the barn. The horses ended up staying in with some limited arena turnout/lunging for over a week because things were so slick and slippery. 

Between the storm and some issues with the barn owners, Trainer A has decided to move to the East Coast. I knew that has been her long term plan, but now she's looking to move in 1-2 months, not 2-3 years. So I'm on the hunt for a new barn and trainer. Peebs' barn is full, so I can't move Cin home either. I did have a small panic attack the night after she told me, but I have talked to a few trainers and have some barn tours set up and hopefully can have things figured out soon. 

MDT Heirloom Show: October 2023

 We did our last show of the season on Saturday. It was a two day show, but we only decided to do one day as the body worker had already been scheduled for the second day. And despite a few bobbles, I'm really happy with how we ended our season. 

We had originally planned our move up to the 2'3" at this show, doing two rounds at that height plus an under saddle, but the show secretary posted their series points the week before and Cin and I were in the lead for year end champ in the 2'. And, as I told trainer A, I really wanted to point chase and get that series champ. So we ended up doing a 2' round, the 2' under saddle, and then a 2'3" round. 

Our lesson the day before the show

Trainer A was showing her new horse in the 1.0 and 1.10m jumpers earlier in the day, so we hauled over to the show with them and Cinder got to hang out in the trailer while A showed. She was perfect, happily munching her hay and not caring at all when Surelock left. Which was great, because Surelock had a massive meltdown when it was time to switch and he had to stay at the trailer when Cin left. Thankfully show management let A use an empty stall free of charge. Just one more reason we love this show series!

I was hoping the pro photos would be posted, but until they are have a blurry screenshot

 I let my nerves get to me a bit in warm up, but Cinder was foot perfect. Our 2' round was ok, I know I added in all the lines and didn't ride my best, but we nabbed a 3rd out of 7. When we went in for the flat, I heard one of the other trainers telling her kid that "Molly is a great hunter ride, just watch what she does and follow her." and that gave me a big kick in the ass to actually ride like I know what I'm doing. We had an unfortunate break in the right lead canter when I half halted without enough leg, but we still got a second.  

Spoiler alert

We walked around to keep Cin warm while they adjusted for the 2'3" and A asked if I wanted to jump anything else. I said no, but I should have because Cinder clobbered the first fence in our round. Now we know that when we do a warm-up round at a lower height we need to school the bigger height after. I was really, really happy with the rest of round. I did add in the first outside line, but picked up the pace and made the strides in the other line. We rightfully didn't place, but that's ok. Cinder felt like an absolute seasoned pro marching right around and not caring at all about me being a nervous wreck on her back. It was a great way to end our show season.  

Waving the White Flag

Since I last blogged, Cinder and I haven't done all that much. April was one of the wettest months on record, which is a good thing since we need the rain, but didn't really work well with only having an outdoor arena. As I found myself going days with out riding, I was less inclined to hop on Cinder alone. And considering I'm alone 90% of the time, I didn't ride much. Add in some brutal work stress, and my mental and emotional game is pretty much shit right now. 

I did do a couple of bareback walks with Peebs because sometimes you just need your best boy

I've decided that for my mental health, I need Cinder in a program. I need to know she's getting worked regularly, so I'm less fearful of getting on her alone. I'd like a trainer to get on her first at a show if she's worked up. I need regularly scheduled lessons to hold me accountable. I also really miss having a barn family and the social aspect of a bigger barn/program. 

I also recommend taking your horse's b-day pics early for a quick pick-me-up

 

So, I'm on the hunt for a new trainer and barn for Cinder. Peebs will stay at our current barn since he's currently retired and it's a great retirement facility. As much as I love Trainer A and all that she's done for Cinder and myself, she's an eventer and I'm a hunter. I want a h/j trainer and program that goes to the shows I want to do. I've talked with A and she understands, and I did say that if whatever program I try doesn't work out, I'll go back to her because she's my safe space. 

I failed at getting media so enjoy this one blurry pic

I've been in this area long enough to know what barns/trainers I'd want to/be able to afford to ride with. After talking with her a bit, I scheduled a haul-in trainer ride with my top choice trainer. She's a little over an hour away (boo), but is very nice, has a good group of students (both ammys and kids), and her philosophy seems like it meshes with mine. Cinder was pretty wound up, and wasn't so sure about potential new trainer on her back (only the third person to ever ride her, so fair) but I really liked how potential new trainer handled her. We go back this Sunday for another lesson with her. She doesn't have an open stall till June, which is both good and bad. My anxiety wants Cinder in a program ASAP, but this gives me time to work with PNT without fully committing to her program and completely changing both my and Cinder's lives.