NY to MI

MEGAN: Today, I lugged all my stuff and a couple bags of trash over to the girl's. Annie gave me one last ride to the barn, and I got all my stuff out of her truck, fed Mr. Simba, and did turnouts and the indoor. With one eye on the clock, I did Simba's stall, packed all his stuff into the trunks which would accompany him on the truck back to Michigan, walked Bentley, and ran a quick errand with Mica to the pastry. My treat was a lemon-coconut cake, which was (of course) delicious. I then took Isox tables to Mica's barn, gave Heather, Annie, and Mica their gifts, said my good-byes, and packed all my stuff into Laura's car to go to the airport. We got there in record time and I got my ticket- after taking 10 minutes to make my suitcase exactly 50 pounds. This time though I used my head- before my turn in line I used the scale and measured my suitcase so I didn't hold up the line! After security I waited about 10 minutes to board the plane to Philadelphia. It was an uneventful flight and upon landing I located my gate and waited for about 3 hours, doing.. You guessed it! Biology! Then they announced that the bathroom had overflowed and they had to locate another aircraft, resulting in roughly a hour delay. Though this flight was also uneventful, the delay resulted in my missing the 4:45 pm Michigan Flyer. I called the office and they scheduled my on the 6:30 Flyer... so more time for Bio!! I had a great ride home (doing Bio note cards) and was really happy to see my Mom and sister- but not to be in Michigan. Despite my many persuasive arguments, nothing could convince my mother to let me stay... So here I am! Orientation is tomorrow, school is Tuesday. Simba should be home Wednesday, and thus begins life in Michigan. Goodbye, my Paradise! I hope to see you again soon!

SIMBA: Mom did my stall, gave me food and water, and left. Yes, left! I have not seen her all day. A nice girl took me out for grass and a walk in the afternoon, and no one made me work. Mother, let me tell you, you are in so much trouble. I do recall you saying something about "home" and "school"- what, are we going back to that freezing-winter-Michigan place? Well, if we do, I hope there are treats involved!

Packing... *sigh*

MEGAN: So, a huge thunderstorm woke me up really early, and instead of going back to sleep, I studied for AP Bio and went downstairs to cook. I made chocolate chip cookies for the grooms, banana cream pie for the girls, baked ziti, and biscuits for the girls. Then I hauled everything to the barn, including gifts for the girls, Fern, and Heather. The morning began with a big down pouring of rain, so all we had to do was the indoor. I was in charge of scooping in Mica’s barn today, and while I was scooping lunch Laura came in and told me that I get to ride Danny! I am so looking forward to that! Walking Simba and giving him water and a clean stall were the next tasks to be completed. He sure was up when I was walking him- he tried to take off bucking twice! We had a lesson with Annie at 9:00 am and we worked a lot on half pass and how to warm Simba up in a way that set us up for a more successful ride. For the half pass we alternated, for example, between half passing right and leg yielding left to get him off my legs. If I have to move my hands, then he is not honestly yielding to my leg! He was very good, though spooky at the men trimming trees behind the indoor, so after a bath we grazed and I gave him lunch. I scooped in Mica’s barn, then ate lunch and said good bye to Fern. By this time Danny was in from turnout, so I tacked him up and we worked a bit in the ring. Annie helped us a little, and though it took me some time to get him really through, he was very good by the end. Rachel and I cleaned Eva’s car, then I took a lunge lesson on Melos with Annie. It was fun, different, and very helpful for my seat. After scooping one more time I said good night to Simba and cleaned out Patty’s trunk with Rachel. At home I finished up my thank you’s and changed to walk to church. Mass was very nice, and then I did my final run in New York- a hard/easy workout, some on the trails, and arrived home in enough time to shower before Lendon got home! I am so glad that she returned before I left! I then put a chicken noodle casserole in the oven and made everyone tacos and garlic-cheese biscuits. After cleaning up in the kitchen I did laundry, swept the guest room, and packed up all my things. Now I am off to bed- will have to finish packing in the morning!

SIMBA: That big storm got me excited!! When Mom took me out for a walk, I wanted to run with the wild horses of the Catskills. Eventually I settled down, and we worked in the indoor with Annie again. Darn it all, she has so many ways to make everything harder for me. For example, Instead of doing a nice, slow trot after a medium, go from medium to shoulder-in to increase the collection of the downward transition. Completely unnecessary hard work I tell you! Mom says that she is leaving tomorrow, and I will leave on Tuesday. This has been a hard-working summer, but I have had a great time being back in New York.

Unorthodox Auxiliary Aid

MEGAN: The morning began as usual- feeding, turnouts, and raking the mounting area in the indoor. Then I did my stall, water, and walked and grazed my horse, though the flies were terrible this morning! Once he was all taken care of, I did laundry and cleaned the trunks of two clients- I am frantically trying to finish all the services people asked us to do for the fundraiser! Around 10:45 am I tacked up Simba and rode with Annie. We really worked on the counter canter, voltes, and mediums in the canter. She gave us two good exercises- counter canter, then go across the diagonal and do a medium onto the true lead. Second: Counter canter and change between shoulder-fore and haunches-fore in the direction of the lead, and be sure not to challenge him too much by going too far into the corners. The right lead counter canter was much more difficult than the left, and we both worked very hard! At one point Simba was losing energy and Annie told us to go forward- just as a gray squirrel was climbing up the back door and was level with Simba’s face!!! He shot into the air- and forward- and Annie was quite proud that we had used a squirrel as an auxiliary aid, though it is most certainly not listed in the German Principles of Riding!!! After that excitement we cooled out, bathed, and ate some grass. Then, I grazed both Tawny and Danny while they dried- I could make my living as an official horse grazer! Once they were both cared for I finished cleaning one of the last trunks and tacked Simba up again to go on a walk with Annie and Bentley out in the field. At one point Simba tripped and Bentley spooked, jumping into the air and quite nearly running into Simba! It was highly amusing, once I was sure neither Annie nor I was going to die. Simba barely broke a sweat so I pulled off his tack and put him away, then washed one of the client’s cars while Rachel did another trunk. Mica gave me a ride home, hurrying so I could run… and it promptly began to thunderstorm. Hmmm, how nice. Luckily it stopped thundering about 5:20 pm so I could run, shower, and be in a dress (yes, a dress) at the girls by 6:45 pm. We went to the Meetinghouse with Heather and had a wonderful time- For appetizers we got thin bread pizza, mussels, macaroni and cheese, and a Caesar salad. All three plates were delicious. For dinner I got a grilled turkey burger with shredded carrot cooked in the meat, brie, Portobello, and apricot-dijon sauce and sweet potato fries. Yum!! The table got Crème Brule and Apple Crisp a la mode for dessert and I tried both- Sooo good! Stuffed, we went home and I wrote out receipts for the clients, did thank-you’s, and organized the last of the fundraiser information. Off to bed, and it is storming again…

SIMBA: Those flies sure are annoying! They were driving me crazy this morning; a horse can barely walk straight for all he is bitten and pestered by those awful things. Mom, in conjunction with Annie, made me work really hard today. Phew! When do I get a rest, Mom? This had been a continuous summer of hard work for yours truly. One good thing from all this work is that my haunches are beginning to fill in- like I said, when I get home they won’t even recognize me! Oh, and Mom- don’t ever let me see another of those little scuttling rodents again, or you might just end up in the rafters. Just a fair warning!

Groom for a Day

MEGAN: Today I woke up early to study for AP Bio, then went to the barn as usual. Mica was my knight in shining armor- she came and picked me up at the house when nobody was home! I immediately grained all 7 horses Melky is in charge of, gave them hay, and started their water. Rachel came over at this point and helped with some of the watering, and did a stall while I refilled all the water buckets. Then, I did 3 stalls and turned out TJ, bathed Joris, undressed Timmy, and finally got to take care of Simba. We enjoyed a nice walk and graze, then I brought in two more horses and began cleaning out a trunk (finishing up fundraiser services) before tacking up Simba and going for a hack. After Simba’s bath and little bit of grass to jumpstart the drying process, I helped tack up a horse and put away another, also cleaning 4 bridles. Then I washed a car, and finished organizing the trunk before checking water, dinner hay, and doling out grain. I re-picked the 3 stalls I cleaned earlier and took out the trash (Melky’s job on Thursday). Cleaning up in the Main Barn and re-rolling all the polo wraps we used throughout the day was my final task, which left me checking Simba’s water and saying goodnight. After a distance run (nice and relaxing) I showered and am off to do dinner and study some more. Oh, I can’t wait for school…

SIMBA: Finally Mom didn’t make me work hard!! All I had to do today was walk up some hills and around the stable. I did break a sweat though, due to the extreme heat. Mom gave me a nice rinse with the hose and took me out for grass (twice in one day- must be my lucky day!) and gave me my lunch. What a nice, relaxing day it has been. I could get used to being a trail horse I think. Except I don’t like water, or branches inn my way, or the woods, or bugs, or bad footing, or big hills, or slopes… Maybe I’ll stick to dressage!!

Royalty for a Day

MEGAN: I got to the girls a little early, and Annie went to the deli for breakfast before taking me to the barn. I fed the Hunter Barn, did 3 sets of turnouts, and swept the corner of the indoor before doing Simba’s stall, water, walk, and handwalking Bentley. Then I took towels to Mica’s barn and scooped lunch, enjoying some popcorn one of the clients brought. At 11:00 am, after a bit of studying, Annie gave me a mini-lesson on Simba. We worked mostly on lateral work in the trot- keeping him round and through his back. After his bath, I grazed him and met Katie from County Saddlery. She had to work with Fern first, so I scooped dinner in Mica’s barn before tacking Simba up and trying some different saddles to figure out what he and I both liked. I love those saddles!! So comfy for me, and apparently Simba agreed! There was one saddle we put on him that made him move very uphill and freely in his shoulders. He liked that one!! So, after Katie got both Simba’s and my measurements, I took Luke for a quick hack and scooped dinner in Mica’s barn, did some laundry, cleaned the feedroom and tackroom, and took care of all the laundry in Mica’s barn. Upon arriving home I changed and did a 4 mile tempo and attempted to mow the lawn which did not work- apparently this requires a certain amount of skill that I have not yet developed. After a shower and a little dinner I am off to do more work for AP Bio- Oh, joy. More schoolwork, and school has not even started yet!!

SIMBA: I had to work twice today. How much work does she think I need? For heaven’s sake, a horse does not need to work twice when he is sweating just standing in his stall. Oh, but the second time there was a lady watching who put lots on different saddles on my back and some of those were really comfortable. All of them were better than my usual one, but that one… I could go forever in that thing!! I felt like a prince, getting all my measurements taken for a custom-made saddle… I could get used to living in the lap of luxury. Especially if it meant I didn’t have to work…

Half-Pass, Hacks, and HOT!

MEGAN: Arriving at the barn, I took care of a few bags of trash from the house, helped feed, did turnouts, and swept the indoor. Then I did both Simba and Ivan’s stall and water, walked Simba, and lightly worked him in front of Lendon. He was super, though a bit lazy in the beginning (probably a combination of being a little stiff and the horrendous heat), but after we warmed up we did some half pass and got some really good collected trot- where was that Sunday!? Simba then got a shower and some grass while he dried, and then I did laundry and tidied up in the Hunter Barn. Mica then asked me to warm up Luke, and she helped me with him. He was a bit tougher then I remembered, but was good by the end, and Mica was happy, which is quite a feat! After handing Luke off, I walked Lucy for Mica, did more laundry, and got to hack DANNY! Yay! We had so much fun out in the woods, and he was just wonderful, as usual. The Wonder Stallion (Danny) got a bath, then I scooped dinner and breakfast in Mica’s barn and went home to run. I am all showered and am now off to make dinner- taco meat on tostadas with cheese, lettuce, and tomato. Yum, yum! Then off to study…

SIMBA: Once again Mom made me work in this heat, but she took me out for grass afterward, which helped compensate for the horrible work. She is figuring out how to make me really sit and use my hind end- that means I might get some more muscles back there! When I go home to Michigan, they won’t even recognize me!

My Last Busy Monday

MEGAN: Today I was at the barn by 8:00 am and helped feed. I had Paddock #2 so divided my time from about 8:15 am to 1:45 pm dressing, turning out, and undressing horses, cleaning my stall, walking my horse, doing lots of laundry, scrubbing buckets, and cleaning out trunks. At 2:00 pm we went to Heather’s house to swim. It was sooooo hot all day. I was sweating from about 8:30 am on! After swimming we went back to the barn to feed. I was in charge of Mica’s barn, so I fed, scooped breakfast, and swept both the tackroom and feedroom. Nikki stopped at the grocery and I got a single serving of light ice cream, lettuce, and cheese for tacos. One cold shower later, I am off to study for AP Bio and memorize some Latin and Greek roots. Yea…

SIMBA: I am so tired of this heat. Mom took me for a walk and for grass, but the bugs were so bad that we were not out for more than 20 minutes. Nexus took off running in one of the pastures, and I wanted to go too! Mom wouldn’t let me, though. Silly girl. Running is fun- she of all people should know that! I spent the rest of my day eating and trying to catch a stray breeze out my window. I am ready for some cold Michigan winters right about now!