Nicole's Blog http://half-halt.net/blog The life and rambilings of an amateur dressage rider, writer, and designer Wed, 07 Jul 2010 14:59:58 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 Incredibly Unfair… http://half-halt.net/blog/2010/07/incredibly-unfair/ http://half-halt.net/blog/2010/07/incredibly-unfair/#comments Wed, 07 Jul 2010 14:56:06 +0000 Nicole http://half-halt.net/blog/?p=372 I got the latest issue of Dressage Letters yesterday and I have to say being eligible for any scholarship or grant is quite unfair. You either have to be over/under a certain age AND shown above a certain level. The only I would remotely qualify for says you have to show above Third Level – I am not at Third Level!! The only one that is at my level I am too old to apply for!

There is also a clinic this month but you have to have solid show experience at the level you want to apply for. They need to realize that showing isn’t the world and the most dressage riders are Adult Amateurs who don’t show and just take lessons to improve their riding!

Another comical thing is that one of the people who were awarded one of the grants – is so not Third Level! Her methods are so old and out dated its not even funny! She teaches her students to sea-saw to put the horse on the bit!

Modern dressage is so dependent around competition – riding isn’t all about competition people!

I have come to the conclusion (at least for me) that lessons and showing are highly overrated!

]]> http://half-halt.net/blog/2010/07/incredibly-unfair/feed/ 0 “…Under My Wing…” my butt! http://half-halt.net/blog/2010/06/under-my-wing-my-butt/ http://half-halt.net/blog/2010/06/under-my-wing-my-butt/#comments Wed, 09 Jun 2010 02:25:03 +0000 Nicole http://half-halt.net/blog/2010/06/under-my-wing-my-butt/?iphone=true When you put someone “under your wing” you are there for them to teach them and help them. I guess people have different definitions of what that means – it doesn’t mean to preech to them and always be to busy to help or to not talk to them at all.

]]> http://half-halt.net/blog/2010/06/under-my-wing-my-butt/feed/ 0 Psycho Old Ladies… http://half-halt.net/blog/2010/06/psycho-old-ladies/ http://half-halt.net/blog/2010/06/psycho-old-ladies/#comments Sun, 06 Jun 2010 18:41:30 +0000 Nicole http://half-halt.net/blog/2010/06/psycho-old-ladies/?iphone=true What is up with old ladies and them trying to tell you what to do? We have two at the barn. One of them says we need to medicate Penny since she is protective of her space. Aparently she thinks Penny has “sensory seizures” whatever that is – sounds like something she made up to get her horse medded up by the vet.

The other lady says that Penny’s weight is going really down hill. I think she was feeding the trainer the idea. Well, Penny was never severly under weight and she has gained weight since she’s been getting grain!

People just need to mind their own beezwax especially when they have no idea what they are talking about!

]]> http://half-halt.net/blog/2010/06/psycho-old-ladies/feed/ 0 Yay! Me Got Ratties! http://half-halt.net/blog/2010/04/yay-me-got-ratties/ http://half-halt.net/blog/2010/04/yay-me-got-ratties/#comments Tue, 27 Apr 2010 01:56:20 +0000 Nicole http://half-halt.net/blog/?p=358 After nearly three months of being ratless – yesterday I went down to PetsMart I got two males!! Jasper (a beige and white dumbo) and Yoda (a hairless). You don’t know how much you miss them until you get them once again! Below is a pic of Jasper and Yoda (surprised them by moving their hideaway).

]]> http://half-halt.net/blog/2010/04/yay-me-got-ratties/feed/ 0 I’m Just So Proud… http://half-halt.net/blog/2010/03/im-just-so-proud/ http://half-halt.net/blog/2010/03/im-just-so-proud/#comments Sun, 28 Mar 2010 18:12:45 +0000 Nicole http://half-halt.net/blog/?p=353 I am just beyond proud of Penny, she’s finally learning to be round and relax! She was even round and relaxed while lunging – she’s usually quite wild! We are finally getting somewhere in this thing called dressage!

]]> http://half-halt.net/blog/2010/03/im-just-so-proud/feed/ 0 Poor Neglacted Blog :( http://half-halt.net/blog/2009/11/poor-neglacted-blog/ http://half-halt.net/blog/2009/11/poor-neglacted-blog/#comments Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:46:07 +0000 Nicole http://half-halt.net/blog/?p=342 My poor neglected blog – I haven’t posted since Sept. 1st! I promise I will post more! In the meantime Enjoy Adrienne Lyle and Wizard’s freestyle!

Click here to view the embedded video.

]]> http://half-halt.net/blog/2009/11/poor-neglacted-blog/feed/ 0 A Great First Day! http://half-halt.net/blog/2009/09/a-great-first-day/ http://half-halt.net/blog/2009/09/a-great-first-day/#comments Tue, 01 Sep 2009 16:26:08 +0000 Nicole http://half-halt.net/blog/?p=335 Penny was to say the least exceptional yesterday! She loaded with out a problem and settled right into her new abode.  We even rode in both arenas, the great footing makes her trot so much more springy, I need to learn to sit it all over again! Her canter is also greatly improved! She didn’t like the mirrors in the dressage arena but that is about it. I am just beyond happy there and because she is makes it all the greater!!

 

Penny in the cross ties

]]> http://half-halt.net/blog/2009/09/a-great-first-day/feed/ 0 Penny’s Big Move…Things I will and will NOT miss. http://half-halt.net/blog/2009/08/pennys-big-movethings-i-will-and-will-not-miss/ http://half-halt.net/blog/2009/08/pennys-big-movethings-i-will-and-will-not-miss/#comments Mon, 31 Aug 2009 15:24:52 +0000 Nicole http://half-halt.net/blog/?p=332 In light of Penny’s big move today, I decided to compile a list of things about the old barn that I will and will NOT miss.

Thing I WILL miss:
- Goats
- Mini-Donkeys
- All the foals!
- Seeing Penny everyday.
- Riding with my mom (at least until Maestro moves).

Things I will NOT miss:
- Dirty stalls
- Bad/deep footing
- Dirty waters
- Snow
- REALLY dirty stalls in the winter
- "toxic people"
- The general lack of knowledge and respect for both human and horse

As you can see the will NOT miss list is the longest. Therefore the decision was simple!

]]> http://half-halt.net/blog/2009/08/pennys-big-movethings-i-will-and-will-not-miss/feed/ 0 Sea World Trip… http://half-halt.net/blog/2009/08/sea-world-trip/ http://half-halt.net/blog/2009/08/sea-world-trip/#comments Mon, 17 Aug 2009 20:10:08 +0000 Nicole http://half-halt.net/blog/?p=324 Yesterday we took a last minuet (as in decided Friday) trip to Sea World. I haden’t been their in 7 years and my mom hadn’t been their even longer than that. The animals are magnificent and gorgeous as always!! I could feed and pet Bottlenose Dolphins and Bat Rays all day long! Journey to Atlantis is awesome and it has a  very cleaver surprise and Comerson’s Dolphins have a nice new exhibit, they are just gorgeous!! Is it just me or did the shows get shorter?

]]> http://half-halt.net/blog/2009/08/sea-world-trip/feed/ 2 A BIG Update! http://half-halt.net/blog/2009/08/a-big-update/ http://half-halt.net/blog/2009/08/a-big-update/#comments Sat, 15 Aug 2009 23:01:59 +0000 Nicole http://half-halt.net/blog/?p=322 I know it has been a while since I have posted! I have a HUGE update!!! After years of procrasination and wanting to move Penny down to Shadow Ridge, I have finally decided to do it!!! We’re moving down the 31st of this month!

I can’t wait  to move down and start lessons!! Maybe even clinic and do a show or two — next season!!

]]> http://half-halt.net/blog/2009/08/a-big-update/feed/ 0