Behind the Bit

The Dressage Chronicles Book Two: A matter of finding time to read!

2013-06-18T10:00:00.000-04:00

Karen McGoldrick and Gia
Photo by Alicia Frese

People who read BTB regularly know that I'm a big fan of the first Dressage Chronicles novel by Karen McGoldrick. In my last review of Book One I gushed -- and for good reason. Karen McGoldrick (KM) is a real dressage rider who can write, and I'm a "discerning" (picky) reader. I was among the folks who begged her publicly on Facebook to write a sequel, and KM stepped up to the plate. When the second book in the Dressage Chronicles series came out, I could not fill out the order form fast enough.

Horse stories: My share of disappointments
When it comes to horse stories, I have no ability to suspend disbelief. One technical mis-step, and I mentally check out. In War Horse, I was dismayed to see the "newborn foal" looked to be about two months old. In a novel I read recently (one that was not really about horses), a horse trainer was teaching her stallion "the dressage steps." Unlike these posers, KM has established her dressage street cred with her own riding resume -- she's a USDF Gold medalist and "L" judge, and she operates a training facility, Prospect Hill Farm in Alpharetta GA. It's not surprising that she's produced a novel that gives us an utterly realistic, insider perspective of the sport.

Well. Maybe it's juiced up a little -- but in a good way ;-)

The Dressage Chronicles series is more than just horse stories. KM's writing talent rivals (and surpasses) books from the big publishing houses, at least what I've read while hanging out in airports. Nowadays most fiction -- even the well-written stuff -- is highly formulaic, with characters are straight from central casting. I've read quite enough about the fiercely independent (always beautiful) female reporter; the dark mysterious police detective with the murky past; the wives and husbands in a mid-life crisis; the teen coming of age; blah, blah, blah. The same familiar tropes are trotted out, even if the cover looks different.

YAWN.

The review
Truthfully, I'm about half-way through Book Two, so it's a matter of making time to read before I can write a real review. I'm riding, I'm working, I'm lifting weights, and I'm falling into bed with about 20 minutes of reading time before I nod off. And I have to tell you, it is hard to put this book down, even when I'm exhausted. My thoughts so far -- I LOVE IT. Lizzy is back and in form. There is no "sequel letdown" in Book Two. Karen is capturing my equestrian wanna-be-diva world, tossing in humor and pixie dust and a handful of shavings, and handing it back to me in a readable, thoughtful, entertaining format. Next go-round, I'll tell you a bit about the plot and how Lizzy's doing. Here's a teaser: Lizzy, working student with Grand Prix aspirations and a talented mare, has a love interest.

A love interest? No! Lizzy remember your goals!

Stay tuned for part II of my review. If you can't wait and want to buy it now, go to Amazon.com

Harvey and the tall grass

2013-06-17T09:25:00.000-04:00

Just snapped these shots at the end of the day today. Harv is lovin' the tall grass...

Spurs that jingle-jangle-jingle

2013-06-16T09:00:00.000-04:00

Spurs are apparently Riley's wake-up call. This year, he has NOT seemed like a horse on limited turnout. Quite the opposite, he's been a bit too relaxed about our riding sessions. And you know First Level, relaxation needs to go hand-in-hand with ENERGY. The canter work -- well, you saw it, it's been a bit luggy and pokey. I had been using just the whip, and we take a good twenty minutes to "establish the monarchy," as an acquaintance says. Here you see us at the start of a series of walk trot transitions, demonstrating the incorrect response to the whip. It's the horsie equivalent of the middle finger -- kicking backwards and no forward motion. I could stand to use the whip more effectively (note floppy hand), of course...

On a whim this week, I decided to "rediscover" my spurs. Vive la difference! Suddenly we have a marching walk, a trot that is bouncing me out of the tack, and a canter that moves right along all by itself (albeit leaning one way or the other). I have to find a way to keep him sharp without extra equipment but this is a reminder of what he's capable of. There are many transitions in our future, methinks.

Bob is doing better!

2013-06-15T07:13:00.000-04:00

Well, it's Saturday, and I thought I'd interject that Bob's skin is looking a ton better on his new meds, Targretin. Because it never rains but it pours, he has learned that he has a torn miniscus in his left knee, and that is bothering him alot -- not the pain, but the inability to dance! Bob is an avid contra dancer and he's quite good at it.

I guess those are the kind of problems you want to have. The ones that money, and modern medicine, can fix :-).

Riley and Harv, silver and gold

2013-06-14T09:30:00.000-04:00

Not a recent photo, sorry, note winter coat!

Years ago, Harvey was my riding horse and Riley was just a young pup. I was enjoying both horses, but perhaps I was enjoying Riley a little more. With Harv, I had goals that I wanted to achieve, and the fun was tinged with the usual worries about soundness, ability, and success. With Ri it was different. It was so fun watching him grow up -- there was no pressure to achieve anything, there was nothing to do but enjoy his antics and cuteness.

The tables turn...
Well, now the roles are reversed. Ri is my riding horse, Harv is my buddy.

Like tonight -- I finished my ride on Riley. It went well overall, but we are having an ongoing conversation about the canter frame specifically, and the First Level frame in general. I want it, he has to be convinced, and it is clear he finds the whole thing a bit tiresome. After the ride, he forgives me. Ri gets his flake of alfalfa and I rub his ears for a bit before I leave.

Then I get in the car to go see Harv. At the moment there are no worries about him -- is it bad to say that my time with Harv is more "pure enjoyment" right now than Ri? The tables have turned!

Harv's weight is good, his summer coat gleams, and he is happy in his situation. When I get to the barn he is usually either napping or munching something. Tonight, it is the latter. Since it's rained for days, and the indoor is empty, I lunge him a little. Bob observes that Harvey loves to work on the lunge-- he looks so pleased with himself trotting around, neck arched and showing off. Tonight I can feel it too. At some point Harv shifts into a walk and starts to sniff the ground -- he wants to roll. I don't know if the barn frowns on this breach of horsey etiquette, but there is no one around to object. I stand by while Harv has a long, delicious roll, and then pulls himself up with a big shake. After this, there is nothing to do but take him out for hand-grazing in the twilight.

One is silver and the other gold
I like the challenge and the ups and downs of riding toward a goal, but I can't tell you how it lifts my spirits to see Harv enjoying life and looking good. It really is a little like a drug, or maybe a glass of wine. Feeling good about both of the boys, but my old guy is my everyday gift. I knew this would be a good summer for him. And for me too.

Is anyone here surprised?

2013-06-13T12:13:00.000-04:00

Horses chose "Exit, stage right, to the pasture!"

From The Horse magazine, report on a study of horses and work ethic...

"König von Borstel and her fellow researcher Julia Keil, BSc, of the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna in Vienna, Austria, created a study in which horses were given the choice of more or less work. The team trained 18 warmblood horses in an arena set up with a Y-shaped entrance. If they took the left branch of the Y, they would work two circles before the rider dismounted. If they took the right branch of the Y, they would work only one circle before the rider dismounted. Once the horses had been trained sufficiently in that pattern, the riders dismounted and the horses were allowed to make the choice themselves: right branch or left branch?

As it turns out, they didn’t seem to choose either one, König von Borstel said. In fact, their favorite choice was usually the exit."

"For a social, prey animal, it’s not surprising that horses will generally choose feeding and social contact over locomotion,” said Uta König von Borstel, PhD, researcher at the University of Göttingen in Germany."

Warden Hill

2013-06-12T10:00:00.000-04:00

In the last year, it seems like many horses have been lost to illness, old age, or accident. Some have been owned by friends, some by acquaintances, and some by people I know of, but don't really know. Each time my heart has ached, because I have an inkling what the owners are going through. I know I'll be there at some point. We all will have to say goodbye someday.

Then last night someone posted to the Dressage list on COTH that they had lost their heart-horse. I don' t know what made me think of it, but years ago, in the seventies, The Chronicle of the Horse used to publish poetry. I remembered saving one particular poem in a journal I kept in high school. I dug through my bookshelves and found my journal and the poem. As I re-read it for the first time in years, I cried. It is a wonderful poem and I wish I had known the writer. I did find an obit for someone by that name who was a poet and foxhunter. Wonder if that was her...

Warden Hill

A packet of poppies for Warden
Poppies are flowers for forgetting,
aren't they?
Rosemary remembers, they say.
Warden, I will plant a bouquet
of both kinds.

You never liked light flowers moving
in any sort of wind.
Warden, it's
all right.
These poppies are not white.
They will grow only fetlock height.

Remember:
The rosemary seeds I plant for you
will grow too gray, too stiff for wind.
Never mind.
Sleep welll.
I will grow you a warm farewell
of poppies and of good spice smell
Warden Hill,
Sleep well.

Lynn Stefenhagen

And cannnter!

2013-06-11T10:30:00.000-04:00

Some canter work here.. Sluggish but he hangs onto it fairly well. Sometime I'll show you the left lead...

June 2013 Riley footage...

2013-06-10T10:00:00.000-04:00

So, you no longer have to wonder what rein creep or posture issues I mentioned in the last post. I didn't get much ride time in this winter, so that's my excuse. Ri looks pretty good here, I think, all things considered.

Swimsuits for horse lovers

2013-06-08T20:04:00.001-04:00

And this one is age-appropriate for everyone!