(no subject)
Yay for discounts off vet bills for a bird that isn't even mine... haha. Bird hide illnesses/issues very well, so really the only way to be sure they're 100% is through bloodwork, which means avian vet specialist + visit fees + bloodwork that needs to be sent out to labs = $230 for a "Well Bird Exam", which is the equivalent to an annual check up for your cat or dog. Luckily they were kind enough to give me a decent discount, so the cost was not bad at all! When the tech brought nameless bird back to me, she informed me that he was a very unpleasant patient... haha. I felt bad, but its not like I've owned him all along, so its fine. Once the labwork comes back I'll know if he's actually healthy. Hopefully he is, because I really have no desire to spend anymore money on this guy... BUT animals are my weakness and I treat all of them the same... best food, best vet care, etc... I think I'll just win the lottery tonight. That should just about cover it all.
Today in my lesson, I actually did not completely suck. I don't understand how I have ridden my entire life, and still suck at it half the time. Last Tuesday was absolutely terrible. Even my instructor asked what was wrong with me... haha. I had the wrong diagonal and didn't even notice until she pointed it out to me... I mean seriously. If you ride, thats one of those things that is hammered into your head and unless you are just starting out, there is no excuse! But anyway... diagonals and leads were good today. Changes were good. I actually stayed on course unlike last week while jumping... my biggest mistake was cantering a line in 5 strides instead of 7... just a bit overeager, but I had fun, the horse was having fun and he has a big stride anyway, so it was ok.
I was just getting very discouraged with my riding lately. I just always walk away from a lesson thinking I've been riding for over 10 years, why am I still at this level?? And then I wonder if its just me, and maybe this is as good as I'll get. But then on a day like today, I remind myself that I have moved from barn to barn to barn, never staying at one place for more than a year (with the exception of Martha and Bittersweet). And until recently, I have really just been riding to ride - I didn't care about how perfect I looked, or finding the right distance to my jumps. Infact, until I started riding at Beaver Brook, I really barely did ANY jumping, and definitely when I jumped, it was never to IMPROVE in it. I also never cared to find an instructor who would "push" me to go further - that's a relatively new goal of mine as well. Actually, I liked Chris at Mainstone, because she constantly pushed my for perfection... but perfection in dressage. Not my thing. Its been how long, and I STILL complain about her??? haha. I fear the day I run into her again...
So basically, I shouldn't be discouraged with myself, because I was never put in the right situation to continually improve and progress... This is one of the reasons I feel like continuing to give Saddle Rowe a chance. They have the horses to keep moving up with, they hold their rated shows and travel to plenty of shows. I still have to see how Charlotte is at August Farm, but we'll see. I really do need to get in touch with her. It just sucks because once I start riding with her, I need to pay for my lessons in packages, so $250 upfront for 5 lessons. Makes sense, but I would just rather pay $50/week than hand over all that at once!
Butttt Pam at Saddle Rowe has Strike #1 against her right now, so I really do need to stop slacking and talk to Charlotte. Last Thursday Pam had a young girl on a VERY cute and flashy pony join in the lesson because she was going to one of the bigger shows over the weekend. Fine, I have no problem with that. BUT Pam of course focused mostly on the little girl. The jumped course after course until she got it 'perfect', while I stood there in the middle of the ring watching. OK, fine. I have no problem standing around, BUT Pam never gave me the chance to jump around and around until I got it 'perfect'. Sorry I'm not signed up for every show this season on a pony who a tons of people know and who has done extremely well in a bunch of shows! But I'm pretty sure I paid for the 45 minute group lesson, and I expect to get my share of it. I know its to be expected at a barn like this/with Pam, and I let it slide this time, but if it happens again and I'm not exhausted like I was Thursday, I do plan on saying something.
Wow... rambling. As usual. Time for a shower. K bye!
Today in my lesson, I actually did not completely suck. I don't understand how I have ridden my entire life, and still suck at it half the time. Last Tuesday was absolutely terrible. Even my instructor asked what was wrong with me... haha. I had the wrong diagonal and didn't even notice until she pointed it out to me... I mean seriously. If you ride, thats one of those things that is hammered into your head and unless you are just starting out, there is no excuse! But anyway... diagonals and leads were good today. Changes were good. I actually stayed on course unlike last week while jumping... my biggest mistake was cantering a line in 5 strides instead of 7... just a bit overeager, but I had fun, the horse was having fun and he has a big stride anyway, so it was ok.
I was just getting very discouraged with my riding lately. I just always walk away from a lesson thinking I've been riding for over 10 years, why am I still at this level?? And then I wonder if its just me, and maybe this is as good as I'll get. But then on a day like today, I remind myself that I have moved from barn to barn to barn, never staying at one place for more than a year (with the exception of Martha and Bittersweet). And until recently, I have really just been riding to ride - I didn't care about how perfect I looked, or finding the right distance to my jumps. Infact, until I started riding at Beaver Brook, I really barely did ANY jumping, and definitely when I jumped, it was never to IMPROVE in it. I also never cared to find an instructor who would "push" me to go further - that's a relatively new goal of mine as well. Actually, I liked Chris at Mainstone, because she constantly pushed my for perfection... but perfection in dressage. Not my thing. Its been how long, and I STILL complain about her??? haha. I fear the day I run into her again...
So basically, I shouldn't be discouraged with myself, because I was never put in the right situation to continually improve and progress... This is one of the reasons I feel like continuing to give Saddle Rowe a chance. They have the horses to keep moving up with, they hold their rated shows and travel to plenty of shows. I still have to see how Charlotte is at August Farm, but we'll see. I really do need to get in touch with her. It just sucks because once I start riding with her, I need to pay for my lessons in packages, so $250 upfront for 5 lessons. Makes sense, but I would just rather pay $50/week than hand over all that at once!
Butttt Pam at Saddle Rowe has Strike #1 against her right now, so I really do need to stop slacking and talk to Charlotte. Last Thursday Pam had a young girl on a VERY cute and flashy pony join in the lesson because she was going to one of the bigger shows over the weekend. Fine, I have no problem with that. BUT Pam of course focused mostly on the little girl. The jumped course after course until she got it 'perfect', while I stood there in the middle of the ring watching. OK, fine. I have no problem standing around, BUT Pam never gave me the chance to jump around and around until I got it 'perfect'. Sorry I'm not signed up for every show this season on a pony who a tons of people know and who has done extremely well in a bunch of shows! But I'm pretty sure I paid for the 45 minute group lesson, and I expect to get my share of it. I know its to be expected at a barn like this/with Pam, and I let it slide this time, but if it happens again and I'm not exhausted like I was Thursday, I do plan on saying something.
Wow... rambling. As usual. Time for a shower. K bye!