Last night was the Nations Cup at 7 pm. As if we don't work enough with horses from 6 am until 6 pm....we also go to watch night classes after work hahaha. We bought tickets for the Canadian section and of course we were the rowdiest lol. There were 4 riders per nation team and two rounds to be ridden. The canadian team consisted of Eric Lamaze, Keean White (sp), Yann Candel last?) and of course Ian Millar.....I can't believe I don't know how to spell all these names haha. Ian went clear in the first round but halfway through couse In Style through a shoe....but the good boy still gave it all he's got and went clear. Ian was the second of last in the order of go and Canada was sitting with 15 faults after dropping the low score. I think it was Ireland who was the last rider to go and if he had a clear round they'd win. He knocked a rail and Canada cheered....that meant we won the $ 75,000 Nations Cup!!! It was so great to be apart of it all. As tired as we all get it makes it all worth while to be apart of those moments. The barn was a happy place to be today :)
As of today I've been working in Florida for a week and I'm starting to feel more settled. I know the horses, I know the people and even better....they know me too.
And the best part.....they told me yesterday they are giving me a raise :) !!! YAY. Lori said she talked it over with Amy and felt I'm doing such a fantastic job and I deserve a pay raise. It was sure nice to hear that feedback as you all know I was having a few issues this past week. Being away, meeting new people really makes me realize how sensitive of a person I am. It has always been my lesson in life to stand up for myself and go after the things I want. To know that I am good enough and I need to speak up when I feel the need to do so. I'm so excited for this adventure I'm on and besides the amazing skills I'm learning I'm also thankful for the contacts, the references and all the people I am meeting along the way. I am going to walk away from this a million times richer in experience and what more can you ask for.
I have my groceries in order and I am sleeping better. Still not quite climatized yet but I've always been too hot anywhere I go haha. I get Monday off.....yay another day off.....it's been awhile since that last day off at the farm haha. Technically I wasn't working when Mom and I were in Florida but we were up early every morning and doing horsey things all day so it didn't feel like time off.
And this time I have roomates/coworkers who will be off to so we can actually go play in Wellington :) Fun fun!
Anyway...off to bed. Sunday means Grand Prix day which means hectic in the barn all day.....Goodnite
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Finally writing...
Sorry I have been MIA the past few days. I have been soooo tired. Trying to catch up on sleep and getting used to a new place with very long days. I think my body has finally adjusted and the days aren't so hard. I have a routine. I know my horses.....things are good.
One frusration that sticks out from today is I cannot believe how much these people dwell on the bad things. I mean when we teach people we point out the posotive right? And with training horses....same thing. We praise the good things. Here it seems no matter how hard you work the people who matter only see or comment on the bad things. Today I didn't pick a horses feet out before I took her out of the stall. She was on the walker already so her feet had already been done and I did check them first. Anyway she pulled a bunch of sawdust out and they were like " awwww you didn't pick her feet!" I went back and swept it up....no big deal but still....seemed to be to them.
The other thing was, I was in a hurry getting a horse ready to go be lunged. Ian and a bunch of people were in the barn.....it was a zoo this morning. Anyway my rider started to lead the horse out and I had one more clip to do up on his surcingle...he kind of shy'd away from me as I was moving fast and there was lots of people around and Ian went on about how I shouldn't do that and it's a good way to be kicked. I was thinking to myself....YES I KNOW....but you want things perfect and that puts pressure on. Pressure to be fast and move fast and thats what I was doing. I wasn't being danergous in anyway and I came from the front of the horse, not behind like he thought. Anyway this stuck in my mind all day. I'm a sensitive person like that and I put alot of pressure on myself to be perfect. I just have a hard time with things like that.
Today was crazy busy but I enjoy it when it's like that. Makes the many hours in the day go by fast. Waking up at 5ish isn't such a shock now which is nice.
We all have tickets to watch the $75,000 Nations Cup at 7 pm tomorrow night. Ian is riding In Style in it so Nicki will be working late....long day for her. We get to sit somewhere special apparently. YAY.
The weather has been a little cooler which is nice for me because I get so over heated.
Ok I have no idea how this paragraph sounds as I'm watching TV as I type haha. I'm watching NCIS...it's a good show. I have to go back for night check tonight so I only really have two fulls hours of ME time before I go to bed so I'm trying to multi task lol
TTFN
One frusration that sticks out from today is I cannot believe how much these people dwell on the bad things. I mean when we teach people we point out the posotive right? And with training horses....same thing. We praise the good things. Here it seems no matter how hard you work the people who matter only see or comment on the bad things. Today I didn't pick a horses feet out before I took her out of the stall. She was on the walker already so her feet had already been done and I did check them first. Anyway she pulled a bunch of sawdust out and they were like " awwww you didn't pick her feet!" I went back and swept it up....no big deal but still....seemed to be to them.
The other thing was, I was in a hurry getting a horse ready to go be lunged. Ian and a bunch of people were in the barn.....it was a zoo this morning. Anyway my rider started to lead the horse out and I had one more clip to do up on his surcingle...he kind of shy'd away from me as I was moving fast and there was lots of people around and Ian went on about how I shouldn't do that and it's a good way to be kicked. I was thinking to myself....YES I KNOW....but you want things perfect and that puts pressure on. Pressure to be fast and move fast and thats what I was doing. I wasn't being danergous in anyway and I came from the front of the horse, not behind like he thought. Anyway this stuck in my mind all day. I'm a sensitive person like that and I put alot of pressure on myself to be perfect. I just have a hard time with things like that.
Today was crazy busy but I enjoy it when it's like that. Makes the many hours in the day go by fast. Waking up at 5ish isn't such a shock now which is nice.
We all have tickets to watch the $75,000 Nations Cup at 7 pm tomorrow night. Ian is riding In Style in it so Nicki will be working late....long day for her. We get to sit somewhere special apparently. YAY.
The weather has been a little cooler which is nice for me because I get so over heated.
Ok I have no idea how this paragraph sounds as I'm watching TV as I type haha. I'm watching NCIS...it's a good show. I have to go back for night check tonight so I only really have two fulls hours of ME time before I go to bed so I'm trying to multi task lol
TTFN
Monday, February 23, 2009
A day in the life....
Well I know you all are wondering what I do all day and what the horses are like so since I have a little more engery today to sit and type I will haha.
Mondays are a sort of day off.....ISH for the horses. We got up at 6 and headed to work for 7, there was only 3 of us today as the other 3 got the day off. Fed hay and grain, cleaned stalls, put 3 horses on the hot walker. Every horse gets their temperature taken in the AM and PM.
It's a 6 horse walker but they only ever put 3 on it because awhile ago they had a mishap where one went underneath the divider and in with another horse so now they leave a space in between them all. Everytime a horse leaves the stables it gets front boots, bell boots and back boots, feet picked and tails brushed to get the sawdust out. They get picked before them come off the walker as well. On their day off they don't get brushed other then that, every other day they get groomed excessivly and they are clipped all over very regularly....and we are in florida it's hot and they dont have much hair to start with. We put 8 rotations I think it was of 3 horses on the walker by lunch time. Each horse gets put on the walker and turned out on grass. There's a few that only get hand walked and led out to have grass.
We took every feed and water bucket out and scrubbed them with listerine and rinsed well and then put them back in their stalls. I thought my back was going to break by this point. My bed is terrible and I'm not sleeping well and the work is definatly not easy. I thought I used to work hard....I was mistaken. These guys don't stop....at all....from 6 am until 6 pm...and then we always have house stuff to do. Eat, laundry, get groceries ect. My feet are killing me. I cant wait until my body is used to working like this in this heat. I really need to buy a water bottle so I can keep hydrated as that's half my problem. I couldn't find one at the store yesterday.
Back to barn stuff.....ummm what else did we do today. It doesn't sound like much but once you do this routine with as many horses are there are there it takes the whole day.
I will write again tomorrow with a "usual" day when the riders are back.
Other little details....two horses get apple juice in their water cause they are finicky drinkers. They get a million different suppliments and vitamins in their feed twice a day, bran mash on Sunday nights. Some horses get the electro blanket put on once or twice a day with the magnets in different areas. There is also another machine that is like an ice boot. They stand cross tied with this thing on their legs and it circulates ice water. There's a horse massage thingy. Every state of the art machine for horses......it's here. A few horses go on the horsey treadmill. They get ridden 5 or 6 days a week. Lots get wrapped....different legs different days. There is no detail too small here. It's neat to see really but it's down right exhausting with no food and no sleep. I feel the people should be treated as good if the horses are haha. The riders work down right hard as well too don't get me wrong. Ian, Amy and Jonathan are out there all day riding and teaching in this heat. I immagine it takes their toll on them too just in a different way. As my mom always says.....If it was easy, everyone would do it....right?
Thats all for now....talk soon. Sleepy time for me. YAWN.
Mondays are a sort of day off.....ISH for the horses. We got up at 6 and headed to work for 7, there was only 3 of us today as the other 3 got the day off. Fed hay and grain, cleaned stalls, put 3 horses on the hot walker. Every horse gets their temperature taken in the AM and PM.
It's a 6 horse walker but they only ever put 3 on it because awhile ago they had a mishap where one went underneath the divider and in with another horse so now they leave a space in between them all. Everytime a horse leaves the stables it gets front boots, bell boots and back boots, feet picked and tails brushed to get the sawdust out. They get picked before them come off the walker as well. On their day off they don't get brushed other then that, every other day they get groomed excessivly and they are clipped all over very regularly....and we are in florida it's hot and they dont have much hair to start with. We put 8 rotations I think it was of 3 horses on the walker by lunch time. Each horse gets put on the walker and turned out on grass. There's a few that only get hand walked and led out to have grass.
We took every feed and water bucket out and scrubbed them with listerine and rinsed well and then put them back in their stalls. I thought my back was going to break by this point. My bed is terrible and I'm not sleeping well and the work is definatly not easy. I thought I used to work hard....I was mistaken. These guys don't stop....at all....from 6 am until 6 pm...and then we always have house stuff to do. Eat, laundry, get groceries ect. My feet are killing me. I cant wait until my body is used to working like this in this heat. I really need to buy a water bottle so I can keep hydrated as that's half my problem. I couldn't find one at the store yesterday.
Back to barn stuff.....ummm what else did we do today. It doesn't sound like much but once you do this routine with as many horses are there are there it takes the whole day.
I will write again tomorrow with a "usual" day when the riders are back.
Other little details....two horses get apple juice in their water cause they are finicky drinkers. They get a million different suppliments and vitamins in their feed twice a day, bran mash on Sunday nights. Some horses get the electro blanket put on once or twice a day with the magnets in different areas. There is also another machine that is like an ice boot. They stand cross tied with this thing on their legs and it circulates ice water. There's a horse massage thingy. Every state of the art machine for horses......it's here. A few horses go on the horsey treadmill. They get ridden 5 or 6 days a week. Lots get wrapped....different legs different days. There is no detail too small here. It's neat to see really but it's down right exhausting with no food and no sleep. I feel the people should be treated as good if the horses are haha. The riders work down right hard as well too don't get me wrong. Ian, Amy and Jonathan are out there all day riding and teaching in this heat. I immagine it takes their toll on them too just in a different way. As my mom always says.....If it was easy, everyone would do it....right?
Thats all for now....talk soon. Sleepy time for me. YAWN.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
I survived
Well I survived my first day. There was a $75 000 Grand Prix last night so when I arrived from the airport I went right to the show grounds. It was an amazing class with riders from all around the world. There were a few crashes where both horse and rider went down and there was only 2 clears....the course was greuling. So of course it was a long night for the other girls and we didn`t get home until 10:30 pm. I was in bed by 11:30....had no time to unpack, get food or anything. The alarm went off at 5:30 am....get ready, eat something head to the barn. It was a very fast paced day trying to remember names of people and horses. I feel like it went really well and a few of the riders said I came highly reccomended from Mandy and Christian so at least they had "heard" of me before. I met with Amy, then Jonathan and then Ian today. I am grooming for a client and have 3 wonderful horses to work with.
First thing this morning I had to get my horse ready, on the walker, then Amy flatted him, came in and changed tack then headed to the show ring. It's going to take awhile to learn my way around this place. There's so many back trails that are filled with horses, grooms, scooters, golfcarts, dogs ect.
All the horses get ridden, turned out and put on the walker. Everything is immaculate.
I know now why all the girls (and one guy who works here and lives with us as well) are skinny miny....they don't stop to eat....ever. Maybe it'll be good and I'll lose a few pounds however in order to run around all day long like this I NEED food. I do not operate well when I'm hungry haha. Not to mention getting used to the heat...my body is like what the heck is going on...cold weather, hot, then cold again back to hot. I was a sweaty mess.
Ummm I am not having much luck typing tonight....I'm hungry and tried lol. We got home from the barn at 5:30 pm (and didn't stop once today for anything) and me and one other girl have to go back at 8:30 pm for night check. Our house is about 10 minutes from the show grounds.
I will try to write more tomorrow however spare time is a rarity around here so we'll see.
TTFN
First thing this morning I had to get my horse ready, on the walker, then Amy flatted him, came in and changed tack then headed to the show ring. It's going to take awhile to learn my way around this place. There's so many back trails that are filled with horses, grooms, scooters, golfcarts, dogs ect.
All the horses get ridden, turned out and put on the walker. Everything is immaculate.
I know now why all the girls (and one guy who works here and lives with us as well) are skinny miny....they don't stop to eat....ever. Maybe it'll be good and I'll lose a few pounds however in order to run around all day long like this I NEED food. I do not operate well when I'm hungry haha. Not to mention getting used to the heat...my body is like what the heck is going on...cold weather, hot, then cold again back to hot. I was a sweaty mess.
Ummm I am not having much luck typing tonight....I'm hungry and tried lol. We got home from the barn at 5:30 pm (and didn't stop once today for anything) and me and one other girl have to go back at 8:30 pm for night check. Our house is about 10 minutes from the show grounds.
I will try to write more tomorrow however spare time is a rarity around here so we'll see.
TTFN
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Might as well write
I'm currently sitting in the Philidelphia airport. I've seen alot of different airports in the last while. This one is far bigger then the one in Chicago..which by the way I thought that one was huge. I landed in terminal F, had to find a shuttle over to teminal C 22 which is where I am now.
With nothing else to do I thought I'd write in my blog since last nights entry was kind of skimpy. I managed to get all packed, get my travel insureance all lined up and and almost in Florida. Just talked to Lori who is hte barn manager in Florida and she told me who will be picking me up ect. Also that I will be coming directly to the show grounds as there is a Grand Prix tonight....talk about being thrown right in haha. Trying not to forget to breathe today....feels like I just blinked and its gone by.
I can do this....I know I can.
While I was on my last flight I was thinking about big this world is. I mean even those who have travelled extensivly still have not seen the WHOLE world. There are so many people in so many places. Makes you wonder who you meet along your path and why you are meant to meet them. I like looking around this room and wondering where everyone is off to. Everyone has a destination and a story to follow I'm sure....look at mine haha.
I can't help but wonder how many doors this opens up everytime I set foot on a plane. I'm a single person and I always think it's neat to see who gets seated beside you. So far they have all been very nice and fun to talk to....except the french guy who didn't speak english and the only thing we thought was funny was how huge my laptop was compared to his teeny one. But he shared some cookies with me....food always beings people together lol.
I'm excited to get to Florida and see the farm again. It's insanely beautiful....here is a link to it http://www.westerncommunities.us/idx/residential/R2918514/details.html
I'll be living in a house with 5 other girls....that should be interesting but I'm happy to not be alone anymore. Don't think I'll have time to even consider being homesick from here on out. I was warned about how hard they party in Florida. Good thing I'm not big into that. I mean don't get me wrong I do love to act 23 on occasion and go out and get my dance on however....anyone who knows me knows that I get very sick the whole next day if I drink so that would NOT go over well. Thats one of the number 1 reasons girls get fired. They party too hard and can't work. What a stupid way to ruin an amazing opportunity is the way I look at it. I think I have a pretty good head on my shoulders and I know I won't be one of those! I can picture my parents reading this and going "good girl" haha. Yes I am :)
My finger is almost back to normal....that Tremueel cream or whatever its called works wonders. Amazing stuff. Anyway this is getting long and then becomes hard to read since I have the font so small so I'll leave you with that. TTFN....
With nothing else to do I thought I'd write in my blog since last nights entry was kind of skimpy. I managed to get all packed, get my travel insureance all lined up and and almost in Florida. Just talked to Lori who is hte barn manager in Florida and she told me who will be picking me up ect. Also that I will be coming directly to the show grounds as there is a Grand Prix tonight....talk about being thrown right in haha. Trying not to forget to breathe today....feels like I just blinked and its gone by.
I can do this....I know I can.
While I was on my last flight I was thinking about big this world is. I mean even those who have travelled extensivly still have not seen the WHOLE world. There are so many people in so many places. Makes you wonder who you meet along your path and why you are meant to meet them. I like looking around this room and wondering where everyone is off to. Everyone has a destination and a story to follow I'm sure....look at mine haha.
I can't help but wonder how many doors this opens up everytime I set foot on a plane. I'm a single person and I always think it's neat to see who gets seated beside you. So far they have all been very nice and fun to talk to....except the french guy who didn't speak english and the only thing we thought was funny was how huge my laptop was compared to his teeny one. But he shared some cookies with me....food always beings people together lol.
I'm excited to get to Florida and see the farm again. It's insanely beautiful....here is a link to it http://www.westerncommunities.us/idx/residential/R2918514/details.html
I'll be living in a house with 5 other girls....that should be interesting but I'm happy to not be alone anymore. Don't think I'll have time to even consider being homesick from here on out. I was warned about how hard they party in Florida. Good thing I'm not big into that. I mean don't get me wrong I do love to act 23 on occasion and go out and get my dance on however....anyone who knows me knows that I get very sick the whole next day if I drink so that would NOT go over well. Thats one of the number 1 reasons girls get fired. They party too hard and can't work. What a stupid way to ruin an amazing opportunity is the way I look at it. I think I have a pretty good head on my shoulders and I know I won't be one of those! I can picture my parents reading this and going "good girl" haha. Yes I am :)
My finger is almost back to normal....that Tremueel cream or whatever its called works wonders. Amazing stuff. Anyway this is getting long and then becomes hard to read since I have the font so small so I'll leave you with that. TTFN....
Friday, February 20, 2009
Things don't take long to change
Well things certainly don't take long to change around here....when I got to work this morning we got a phone call from Florida saying they need me now. The other girl who hurt herself is being ordered to come back to Canada for more tests so because of that her and I are trading places.
So back on a plane I go after being here for 3 days LOL. I fly out at 11:30 am, have a layover in Philidelphia and end up in Florida at 6:30 pm tomorrow night.
I hope I get settled in over there quickly and figure out their routine. Going to be a whole different ball game being on the horse show. Not sure who I'm grooming for yet...everything has happened so fast I haven't bothered to stop and ask.
Here's the next part of my adventure :)
So back on a plane I go after being here for 3 days LOL. I fly out at 11:30 am, have a layover in Philidelphia and end up in Florida at 6:30 pm tomorrow night.
I hope I get settled in over there quickly and figure out their routine. Going to be a whole different ball game being on the horse show. Not sure who I'm grooming for yet...everything has happened so fast I haven't bothered to stop and ask.
Here's the next part of my adventure :)
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Long Day
Today felt really long as I was tired and sore. Didn't sleep well last night as I kept trying to put my hand under my pillow and would wake up in alot of pain. This morning my whole hand was swollen and I could barely bend my finger. It was quite the process to get dressed and put my hair in a pony tail. I was determined to go to work and try my best not to complain. It was just Christian and I cleaning the barn this morning and of course he does thinkgs alot faster then Mandy and I do. I was trying to keep up the pace but my hand was not working the way I wanted it to. I made it through cleaning and turning horses out. At coffee break Mandy brought me some cream to put on it and Christian gave me a hard time about resting it throught the night. Said if I would have kept working then it wouldnt have swelled up haha. Then went on about telling me I should have stayed on and the things I did wrong. I try to take his critisim as his way of teaching. I just agree for the most part and listen well to everything he says. When I have a chance to go and watch them work with the horses i do and take it all in. It's just a very different way of riding the young ones I'm not used to. I will do my best to learn it their way and I won't give up.
He said today how I shouldn't be on the young ones and he'd be the one to get in trouble if I get hurt and can't do my job. I told him I'm thankful for every opportunity he gives me and I know it's all part of it. I won't say anything to the Millars and I'm more then happy to climb back on next time he asks me to....well except today because he wanted me to get on lightening who isn't broke, he's the biggest one here and he's spooky. I just said I can't use my left hand so today really isn't a good day. He always looks at me like he's so disapointed but I like to think he at least understands.....maybe?
I will learn alot from Christian and Mandy...they are wonderful people. We all have days where we feel low and that it's hard to keep going but if you just keep your chin up and get through another day, it always gets better.
I have alot going on both here and at home and this week has been a bit of a struggle for me. I'm homesick, I miss the farm and the people I love and I'm lonely but it's nice to know I have people out there rooting for me and I'm enjoying this so much. My mom always says " This too shall pass..." and I can't wait until it does. I think I'm going to go have a shower, ice my hand and try to unwind. I wish I had tv....Grey's Anatomy is on tonight. I'm sad I'll be missing it haha. Goodnight everyone. Big hugs!
He said today how I shouldn't be on the young ones and he'd be the one to get in trouble if I get hurt and can't do my job. I told him I'm thankful for every opportunity he gives me and I know it's all part of it. I won't say anything to the Millars and I'm more then happy to climb back on next time he asks me to....well except today because he wanted me to get on lightening who isn't broke, he's the biggest one here and he's spooky. I just said I can't use my left hand so today really isn't a good day. He always looks at me like he's so disapointed but I like to think he at least understands.....maybe?
I will learn alot from Christian and Mandy...they are wonderful people. We all have days where we feel low and that it's hard to keep going but if you just keep your chin up and get through another day, it always gets better.
I have alot going on both here and at home and this week has been a bit of a struggle for me. I'm homesick, I miss the farm and the people I love and I'm lonely but it's nice to know I have people out there rooting for me and I'm enjoying this so much. My mom always says " This too shall pass..." and I can't wait until it does. I think I'm going to go have a shower, ice my hand and try to unwind. I wish I had tv....Grey's Anatomy is on tonight. I'm sad I'll be missing it haha. Goodnight everyone. Big hugs!
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