It's about time

Ned Divine <3

So yes I haven't written in a while but I am very very busy and with all my new found friends blogging I thought I'd start up again.  So what have I been up to the last few months let's see...
1. Thanks to the help of my fantastic trainer Holly Hudspeth I have a new horse I will be showing this season.  His name is Ned Divine he was purchased by my fantastic grandparents from Jane and Tim Murry. Ned has been the most fantastic thing ever!  His jump is super and has the best trot of any horse I've ever ridden.  Sara my has gone up to Albion College to be apart of there program.  After a bumpy trailer ride she has settled in nicely to there program and has now become a school horse.
2.Holly had a baby the most recent of news! Hailey has been born and I am over the moon that she is here! With the many cousins I have had running around all of my life it will be nice to have a baby around again!
3.Stewie A.K.A Last Monarch is recovering wonderfully from his fall at Southern Pines 2.  He has been on a rehab program and is coming back strong as ever.  I've been walking him 2 a day for X amount of minutes.  He is coming back more strong willed then ever!

So there's the little bit of catch up. I'll start blogging again and the few people that read it can stay up to date with my life :D

Everything happens for a reason

For the few of you that read this you probabley already know whats happening in the world of which i live in. and if you are unaware then please vist Holly's Blog or the chronicale or Eventing nation you will find all the information you need to know. This week has had its ups and downs but thats why I came down here to learn the real world of eventing not everything is pretty ribbions and passing rating's. Horse's jumping round then trotting up sound.  20's in dressage and cheesey smiles. You have to see the ugly in this sport to appreciate the good.  It will all mean so much more when you place or finally understand what your trainer has been saying the last 10 lessons.  This sport is full of ups and down as is life. I'm learning as many life lessons as I am horseie lesson.  The most important thing ive learned the last few weeks would have to be stick it out you will succed you may have a million failures but when you have that one victory it will be so sweet you'll want it again and again which will push you farther.  I know kind of rambley but it's a somber week theres the words of wisdome from HHE.

I know this update is long over due!! So were just coming home from Southern Pines 1.  The weekend had it’s high points and lows just like any other weekend.  The weekend started out with Dressage which took more prep then I was expecting. Sara was ridden twice b4 her test once at 8 for 30 minutes and then at 10:30 for 30 minutes. She than did dressage at 11:48. Some people may read this and gasp WHAT she rode her horse b4 her time is that even legal???!!! Well yes it is for all of you that care just don’t forget your number and then theres some of you that say psssh I have to ride 2hrs b4 a test! Holly has a theory which I agree with it being: When you have a horse like Sara who is older has miles and stiff she needs to be worked out and this can’t be done in 1 45 min warm up.  You need multiple rides so you can truly work there muscles.. Every horse is different some horses need a short warm up, a longer one, some need to be lunged and others lots of hand walking. It is very important that you learn what your horse needs and stick to it.  If you know your horse needs to be ridden b4 your test then you need to make time to do it you are being purely lazy if you don’t set yourself up to have the best test possible. You must do what you have to succeed UNLESS YOUR PLAN INVOLVES SOMETHING ILLEGAL!!!  Anywho Sara got a 39.4 in her test which is fine with me because it was differently not out best test so it a 39 is her worst I’m thrilled!! After dressage we got ready for XC which was the curse and the blessing of the weekend!  The course was lovely we had 2 waters good questions and some awesome combinations (awesome because they were really easy :)). If anyone kept track of Maxine this time last year you would know that Sara and I were WAY to fast and flat and we had a water problem.  Well I am thrilled to report I no longer understand this “water problem” people speak of because she nor I have one.  We have also figured out the balance now we need the speed within her gait.  Yes we had 2 stops :(((( but that's ok because she was listening mommy said slow slow slow and she said ok but I can’t jump that slow :).  So the horse listens jumps into water now she just gets to go faster but controlled!!! (Were both excited)  Then stadium our warm up = fantastic and our jump round was good I had some unwanted pressure going into the stadium ring which I ended up riding through and in the end we didn’t place but we learned a lot and met some really awesome people and when we go to SP2 Sara and I are just going to rock because were getting it these things take time Sara and I have done a 180 degree spin on our lives. SIDE NOTE  and if anyone ever gets a chance to visit the Carolina horse Park  take it it’s worth the trip the venue is just fantastic!

Sorry!

Time to update. Sara and I have reached a new level in our training as Holly would say we have finally arrived at the game! On the flat Sara is finally moving straight. She is no longer compensating for herself and I am no longer compensating for her.  She is tracking on a straight line and moving forward!  Sara has also decided that she can stretch herself down without going any faster.  So our next dressage test our stretch marks better be 8's! Her jumping has also improved. We are now learning to jump more technical elements and thinking in the air. As you move up the levels, it gets more and more important to think through every step. You no longer have 5 strides of LA TE DAH nonsense. You now think about every foot fall and every fence that's coming your way and those 3 seconds you're in the air you're thinking about the next turn and jump you're coming to.  So the jumping is coming along fabulously and I'm really excited for our next event so we can show what we have been working on.  Along with Sara I'm also riding the training horses Al, Ralph, and Pilgrim, who are all teaching me in their own different ways.  With Al it's important to not use much hand and get him through the bridle with your leg. Pilgrim on the other hand you have to have a hard hand and strong leg to convince him of anything.  Rolex and The Fork are quickly coming.  I will be shadowing Holly's groom for both shows.  95% of the upper level riders do a lot of things the same way but getting one of those riders to sit down and teach you things can be extremely difficult.  So I'll be the follower trying to soak up all the information about braiding, walking, the after xcountry rush, and the all important jogs so that (the few of you that read this that are involved with the wonderful world of horses ) when I come home I can show you new and different ways of looking at your horses and developing with them.  Now personally I am doing quite well - a little stressed but besides that I have really soaked into the HHE world quite well.  I am getting ready to move into my new house which I will post pictures of when I take them.  I have taken to a new strength training program Hello 25 sit ups , push ups and squats a day + 2 min planks + a 10 min jog.  Only 10 minutes any more and my knees start to hurt we don't need new knees for Maxine at the age of 16!  All in all its been a really awesome month and March is going to be even more exciting. Love and miss you all!

Pictures From Pine Top

Yes theres like 5 that are scary BUT tell me which  ones are your favorite I have to buy 2 a dressage and Jump one so describe it

http://www.hoofclix.com/Pine-Top-Farm/2011-02-13-USEA-Horse-Trial/MaxinePrestonSara205/15818608_yCGaW#1187308663_WRZvb

Home again home again jiggity jig

A week with holly has been survived I only hit her once thought the whole week :D ( yes I was having one of those I'm falling down a hole dreams and I jumped hitting holly in the face while we were sleeping oops :) ). The event was awasome it's so diffrent down here then up north. First off all those people we see riding at rolex ie Boyd Phillip will and of corse holly!! Well those ppl I am now riding with and against I got a high five and a noggie fro
Boyd today for our xcountry round. The high five for the clear round and having NO STOPS AT THE WATER :D the noggie for the 10 time penalties :/! Aiken was amazing as ive said earlier it was a great way to train consentrated lessons is exactley what I needed. The show I have no complaints except sara needs to realize were going training not grand priz dressage yes my mare was doing tempe changes at the canter but besides that her trot was fantastic all 7 and a 8 on her halt :) stadium was fantastic we had my 2 evils a triple bar and a sweetish all we were missing was the triple but Sara being Sara jumped them both fantadtaticley!! Xcountry was the bomb another huge difference beteween east coast and michigan is the courses everything was 33 maxed and drops and width were all maxed so for our first show since august it was a tad daunting but she was a superstar in all her combinations :). We finished 9th out of 19 so were thrilled for my first event if were starting Herr then our season is going to ve great hello prelim!!!!!!! Ok off to hollys house where I will be staying because little girls should not be out driving this late :D ok biii peeps ttys!!!!!

And the first show of the season!

We are down in Georgia at Pine Top Sara was a super star in her stadium lesson this morning so I'm praying for a great weekend!! I have no idea whats going on all I know is that I ride dressage at 1:02 tommorom then stadium 3ish. On Sunday xc at 5:20 FEEL SORRY FOR ME!!!!!!!!!!!!! But it'll be fun!!!!!!