Just One of Those Days

"Let's go play on the trail course," Tiffany said.

"It will be fun," Tiffany said.

HA!

Ever have one of those days where everything goes wrong? Not big things like car accidents and grease fires, but little things like closing your coat in the door and hitting every red light.

Today was one of those days.

Last week, one of my favorite riding buddies Tiffany asked me to join her at a the Oregon Horse Center to play on their mountain trail course. I haven't worked with Madge in ages, so I eagerly took her up on the offer.

Cut to today. I headed off to the barn to hook up the trailer and get Madge. The first thing I noticed was that the stool/tool box I use for my trailer's tack room was under the corner of the trailer. This is not normally an issue, but it's been raining, and the trailer had sank a few inches due to the saturated ground. The stool was stuck. After a few rescue attempts, I had to resort to the inevitable—I drove over the damn thing and picked up the pieces.

Note to Travis: Please add a new trailer step to my Christmas list.

Then, I drove down to load Madge. I was happy to see that she was waiting by the gate, which was surrounded by fine mud. As I was looking for the best way to get to her without sinking to my ankles, I looked up to see that I had a bigger problem. Madge had rolled in the mud and was now covered from tip to tail on her left side. It was still fresh and drippy. Yay! Thankfully, she stuck her head out the gate so I was able to carefully slip her halter on without making a complete mess of myself.

And, we're off!

When we arrived at the horse center, my first stop was the wash rack. I hosed Madge down, blanket and all. Well, only the side that was dirty. This time I was glad the mud was still fresh, cause it hosed right off.

After her mini-bath, Madge quietly loaded back in the trailer, and we headed to a parking spot. It was a 30-second drive. She couldn't get up to much trouble in 30 seconds, right? Wrong. Reaching to unclip her halter, I looked up to see that the entire inside of the trailer was splattered with mud. "Really," I asked Madge. "You just had to shake like a dog?"

With a chuckle, I removed Madge's blanket and led her to the arena. Madge has been in the arena with the mountain trail obstacles many times in the past. That said, it's been almost a year since our last visit, so I was prepared for the unexpected.

We walked down the center of the arena and headed over to the cow hides. She wasn't happy about the hides, but it only took a few gentle tugs to get her to cross them.

We wandered through a ditch. Easy. We crossed bridges. Piece of cake. We headed to the water box. "We could do this in our sleep," I thought. Madge had other ideas. Despite having traversed water boxes on many occasions, today she wouldn't have anything to do with it.

"Hey, Tiffany," I hollered. "The princess who rolled in the mud earlier suddenly doesn't want to get her feet wet!"

There we stood. Me holding my ground, Madge holding hers. "Take you time," I told Madge. "I can wait all night."

And wait, I could. Whenever I'm faced with a challenge like this, I'm thankful for the time I helped get a horse into the water at a clinic. It took one and a half hours for three of us, under the direction of my trainer, to coax the horse into the water. It was a proud moment, and it truly taught me the importance of patience when training on obstacles.

The big difference here is that the horse at the clinic was scared. Madge simply didn't feel like it. She would get no sympathy from me. I worked with Madge for a while, then asked Tiffany if she could drive her from behind to help speed things up. Tiffany made a wall with her horse, and I pressured Madge from the front. We eventually convinced Madge that she was better off to cross the box if she wanted to move on. Then we made her do it two more times.

I can't say I was excited to spend so much time working on an obstacle that we'd done many times, but I was quite happy with the lesson. It took 20 minutes to get that silly girl across the box. We knew she was just testing us, so we pushed hard, but she remained calm the entire time. Not once did she buck, rear, kick or try to knock me down. She simply wanted to take the easy—and dry—way out. I couldn't have asked for a better mule. Madge may get a little ornery at times, but she keeps her head about her. She's going to be a great, safe riding mule, just like my dear Maxine (only without the attitude).

Madge was fabulous for the rest of our time on the course. Maybe she was tired, or maybe knew she'd been had. Either way, my day was finally looking up, and we ended up having a lot of fun.

Oops!

Maxine's lovely tail. Yes, it's an appy
tail, but it's the best she's got! 

Today the weather was great and I was off early, so I headed out to the barn to ride Maxine. She has some cinch sores from earlier in the week, so I tightened up her britchen to keep the cinch from rubbing any furless spots.

It was a casual, lazy day for me, so I wasn't surprised that Maxine was a little lazy as well. As a result, I planned to keep the ride short and just work on one thing--keeping in the lope gate without using my heels to continually encourage her. The judge mentioned this to me at the last show, and I wasn't surprised. We've been working on our lope, and this is simply the next step in our progress. 

So, I put her in the lope and--big surprise--she stopped after a few strides with no heel. 

Back into the lope. 

Fall to trot.

Back in the lope.

Wait, did she buck a little?

Fall to trot. 

Hmm.. 

*grabbing whip from wall*

Back in the lope.

*tap*

Continue lope!

*SMILE*

We loped successfully without heel pressure for two laps each direction, so I decided to call it a day. Sometimes the best lessons are the short ones. 

And sometimes, we learn lessons when we least expect it. 

As I walked around Max to undo the britchen, I realized I forgot to pull her tail out when I put it on. As a result, the britchen had been rubbing up and down on my poor dear's tail, causing her hair to pull every which way. It wasn't tight enough to do damage or cause pain, but it looked like it was definitely annoying--hence the little buck at the lope. 

After many apologies (and a few treats), Maxine forgave me for my mistake. 

Lessons learned? 

1. Always pull tail out of britchen before riding.
2. Check tack if Maxine is acting off--even slightly.

Baby's First Ride!

Groundwork works! This is Madge's first, unedited ride. I can't wait to try her out myself, when she's ready.

Big thanks to our trainer, Lori Forge, for giving me the homework to prepare Madge for this milestone. And thanks also to Brian Jones, for gently introducing Madge to a rider.

My Five Tips for Entering the World of Equines

Hanging out at the barn. 

This summer, there have been a lot of new students at the barn where I board and train. It's always fun to watch folks come up through the ranks, because each step they take reminds me of how far I've come with my own training.

I remember being the gal who didn't know a Kimberwick from a Sliester. Checking someone's cinch took extra time because I was still learning to retie the knot. And, when a mule kicked out while I was riding, I was convinced I'd just ridden a bucking bronco.

These days, I'm much more relaxed. No, I don't yet know the name of every piece of tack, but I know lot more than I did, and I have a much better idea of what I'm looking for. I'm quick at checking a cinch, no matter how it's fastened. And, the last time a mule kicked out while I was riding, I had the giggles for at least ten minutes.

While I can't say that there haven't been bumps in the road--how many of you have tipped over a mule at a trail show--my transition from fearful novice to confident intermediate rider has been somewhat smooth. I owe a lot to the folks who helped me along the way, but I can take a little of the credit myself for listening to those those wiser than me and making a few smart decisions.

If you're just starting out, here are five tips for making a smooth entry into the horse world:

1. Find a trainer and take lessons before you buy a horse, mule, or donkey. In my younger years, I loved going on rental rides. No matter how frisky the horse, I was fearless. During my high school years, I even ran down a runaway horse on the beach, caught it by a rein, and proudly brought it back to the group. When I took up riding years later, I was surprised to find that my fearlessness was gone. A good friend recommended that I get back into horses by taking lessons. Thanks to her, I was referred to a wonderful trainer who helped me build my confidence before I attempted to take on a horse of my own.
2. When it's time to buy your first equine, let someone else do it. Even if you're an equine expert, it's never a bad idea to have a second set of eyes. Someone who isn't invested in the purchase and knows you as a rider is in invaluable when it comes to choosing an equine partner. Maxine was hand-picked for me by my trainer. I didn't even know what she looked like when I agreed to let my trainer bring her in for a two week trial.
3. Choose mind over beauty. Okay, I'll admit that if I'd seen the sale photo of Star (Maxine's previous name) before the trailer was headed down the pick her up, I might not have agreed to try her out. When I saw her for the first time, I'll admit I was a little disappointed. For a split second I though, "Where were all the gorgeous mules from the sales ads? Why did I have to end up with this short dumpy mule?" The, she turned and looked a me. I saw those expressive eyes of hers and melted. Before I finished our first ride, I asked my trainer to call the vet in for a purchase exam.
4. Board your first equine for at least a year before caring for him/her on your own property, and spend as much time at the barn, watching everything that happens around you. In the past six years, I've soaked abscesses, seen vets pull fluid from a sick donkey's lung (I almost fainted!), kept watch while a horse experienced seizures during his last hours, witnessed naughty equine tantrums, changed IVs, given shots, helped uncast a donkey and a mule, and walked out horses, mules, and donkeys with colic.
   
   I've also seen many fuzzy day-old babies, watched friends and equines experience countless first triumphs, and learned what works--and what doesn't--when it comes to caring for an equine. Videos, books, and magazines can offer a lot of good advice, but nothing is as good as first-hand experience. Each one of these experiences has helped me to be a better horsewoman, in good times and bad.
   
   
5. Smile. If someone doesn't like your favorite breed, smile and compliment their animal anyway. If you don't like an aspect of a show, smile and kindly tell the show staff what you liked, followed by a polite suggestion for changing what you didn't. If someone cuts you off in the warm-up ring, smile and go warm up outside in the sunshine. Life's too short to frown.

It's Show Time--Bring on the Plus-Size Riding Clothes!

Three dollars of glass beads and a little time can
transform a basic black jacket into a show stopper. 

Show season has officially started!

I'll admit I never thought I'd be a girl who likes to show. When I first met my trainer, I said, "I'm here to learn to trail ride. I'm not interested in shows."

I was wrong.

Shows are a great way to meet new friends, show off the skills you've gained throughout the year, and collect pretty ribbons. (I consider all ribbons pretty, no matter the color.)

Shows force me into new situations, both in and out of the ring. I figure I learn as much at one show as I might in three months of training. After all, where else would you ride over a suspension bridge and then ground tie your equine while you take a "pit stop" in an "outhouse"?

That said, there's one thing I don't like about shows--getting dressed up. It's not that I don't think I can look as snazzy as the thinner gals, it's just so hard to find fabulous show clothes in my size. Oh, who am I kidding? It's hard to find ANY show clothes in my size!

As the years have gone by, however, I've amassed a decent show wardrobe. Here are some tips to help you get your show gear ready:

Check out the Fuller Fillies line at SmartPak.com. I used to feel so silly during the English classes. Unable to find a pair of English boots to fit my mancalves, I was relegated to a pair of hand-me-down half-chaps that had been customized to fit a gal's larger calves. Usually I was the only one in the class wearing half-chaps. *shudder*

Then I found Fuller Fillies. They have a pair of English boots that fit fabulously--right out of the box! You can get their boots to fit up to a 19" calf! At $300 a pair, the price was still a little high, but it was worth it the first time I wore them into an English class, head held high!

I complimented my boots at that show with my first-ever dressage coat. Before I found this Tuffrider Dressage Coat from The Lexington Horse, I was riding with a navy blue business blazer I'd pulled together at the top with a diaper pin so it looked like it had the right number of buttons. Nice image, huh?

On the western front, I've been a little more innovative. My favorite show jacket (pictured) is one I bought at ShopKo. It started as a simple black jacket embroidered with black roses. Very subtle. Three dollars worth of glass beads and three evenings later, it's one of the showiest jackets in the ring! I get comments left and right.

My showmanship jacket also started as a basic black jacket I bought years ago from Lane Bryant. I hadn't worn it in years, but I remembered it when I was scrounging around for show stuff a couple years ago. A few iron-on embellishments and some glued-on crystals turned it into another show stopper.

So, if you're having trouble finding show clothes that are right for you, don't be discouraged. There are options out there for us larger gals. If you can't find something, get creative! And remember, there is an advantage to being the largest gal in the ring--it gets the judges attention. Then, all you have to do is ride well enough to keep it.

Protect Yourself From the Unexpected

We want you to stay safe on the trails this summer. 

*And now, a public service announcement from Jenny, Maxine, and Madge.*

My husband and I were driving through the country today when we saw people riding a moped. They were wearing helmets, but their arms and legs were bar, as they were enjoying the unseasonably warm weather.

"Oh, all I can think about is all the chaffed skin if they crash," I said.

"They say that when it comes to motorcycle crashes, it's not if it happens, but when it happens," my husband replied.

"Sounds kinda like horseback riding," I quipped.

Horse accidents happen to the best of us, so it's important to be prepared when they do. I know that not everyone can afford a full-blown health insurance plan, but many of you may not know about something called catastrophic health insurance. This is insurance that is generally cheaper than a regular policy because it has a high deductible. The point of catastrophic insurance is not to help with day-to-day check ups, but to protect you when the unexpected happens.

Many of my horse friends have Life Flight coverage and Good Sam-type coverage as a precaution. Catastrophic health insurance is just another form of protection for those of use who enjoy high-risk activities.

To find out what options are available for you, contact a local health insurance agent. You can find one online or in your phone book. You can also visit eHealthInsurance.com for basic information.

A coworker reminded me about this type of coverage when I told her about a recent horse-related accident, and I thought it's something every one should know about. I'll get back to the fun stuff, soon. I promise!

A Friend in Need

A friend of mine, JoLinn Hoover, was in a horse-related accident this past weekend. She's doing well, but will need some medical attention to fully recover. Unfortunately, she doesn't have medical insurance, so her recovery will impact her life in more ways than one.

To help raise money for her recovery, I've created a drawing just for her. I will donate 100 percent of the proceeds from the prints and cards that use this drawing to her medical fund.

The donation will be made in your name, and I'll include a copy of the donation receipt with your purchase.

"Get well soon, JoLinn" products include:

• 8"x10" print for $20 ($20 donated to her medical fund)
• 5"x7" print for $15 ($15 donated to her medical fund)
• Note card for $15 ($15 donated to her medical fund)

In addition, I will donate $1 from any other item purchased at MostlyMules.etsy.com through Monday, April 30. Simply type "Get well soon, JoLinn" in the notes field when you make your purchase.

Why Maxine is Priceless

I was wandering around YouTube tonight, watching some of my old videos. While watching this video of my husband Travis, it really hit me how priceless Maxine is.

When this video was filmed, Travis had probably ridden fewer than 15 times. Nevertheless, he rides with confidence because of his trust in Maxine. He's relaxed and happy. Heck, he even has softer hands than many long-term riders.

Truth is, he and Maxine have formed an amazing bond. Maxine likes and appreciates me, but she adores him. When I ride Maxine, she's sweet but always thinking. When Travis rides Maxine, she's protective. It's endearing to watch.

A few years ago, I suggested that Travis try taking Maxine through a novice in-hand class at a local trail show. Maxine followed him through the course like a love-sick puppy. They did such a good job together, they one the blue ribbon--three days in a row! Since it was a championship series, he officially won a champion ribbon. Not bad for his first time in the show ring.

Travis has never shown since. "One and done," he jokes whenever I bring it up. I don't mind, cause he's one hell of a show groom. But I make sure he rides Maxine for fun whenever I get the chance.

Video: Travis and Maxine riding the 2007 Northwest Trail Championship course during the practice session at the end of the show.

Mostly Mules Open for Business!

After years of looking for fun mule items online, I've found that most items depict realistic mules. The artwork is lovely, but it just feels like I'm putting up a picture of someone else's mule. I'm looking for something whimsical. Something fun.

So, I decided to create it myself. Motivated by a friends with successful shops, mostlymules.etsy.com is now open for business! My store features unique, handmade gifts for mule lovers. I now have two products available, a toasty warm scarf with a mule silhouette and cute note cards that depict Madge with a butterfly on her nose.

I don't know how popular my shop will become, but I'm mostly doing it for fun, so I'm not too worried about it.

If you like mules, check it out.

Photo: One of my first products - Madge note cards.