The learning never stops

I spent Wed. and Thurs. at a clinc with JoAnna Mendl Shaw and David Lichman. The two of them together with their combined knowledge of movement and horsemanship was impressive. I've been licking and chewing, as we say when the horses are thinking, the last few days on the information I got from the clinic. One significant thing that was confirmed for me was that technique and skill aren't as important and heart, energy and intuition. Technique and skill level can be taught and enhanced, but there are so many other components that the horse is aware of when we work with him.

On Friday I had a private lesson with David. I've struggled for a while now with some confidence issues with Morado. Both of our confidence! "When the student is ready, the teacher appears." It was just what I needed. My emotional attachment to Morado has somehow made it difficult for me to intuitively troubleshoot the challenges I've faced with him. In the meantime, I've been doubting myself when working with him, and my lack of confidence has worried him. Sort of a snowball effect.

David has put me back on track, offered follow up support and he validated my feelings about what's been going on with Morado. It's been as if a weight is lifted off my shoulders.

I've recommitted myself to Morado's development, which is committing to my own development. I am inspired and excited to track our progress starting yesterday. For the next 30 days, I will be blogging about Morado and I and getting it together again!

Back to the Blog

My apologies to my blog followers for being gone for a month. Just not enough time in the day to fit everything in. Without rehashing what the last month has been like, I'll just say that there have been a lot opportunities for personal development between our construction of the barn and other business items that needed our attention.

The good news is the grass is growing, all horses remain healthy and happy, and activities are picking up speed at The Center. Our newsletter reaches over 900 people, and we've had great response to the important work we are doing!

Some important dates this summer: Sept. 17 our big fundraising event: Equine, Arts& Eats Festival to be held at The Center. We are accepting art and food vendors now, and looking for sponsors from businesses and organizations, and individuals. We will have all of our information posted very soon.

Memorial Day weekend, keep your eyes open for the Stowe Guide magazine where you will read a feature article on the Center. It should be a wonderful way to spread the word of what we do.

And today...I have an hour long radio interview with Equess radio show, an internet radio show which features women in the horse industry. The show will be posted to the internet on Friday!

Well friends, that's all I have time for right now, but keep visiting the blog as I get back into the swing of things..

Sincerely,

Stephanie

Attention Hidalgo Fans!

Tonight we've announced an exclusive offer to raise funds for our organization! You don't have to have a Facebook account to view. But I'll tell you here too!

A beautiful horsehair bracelet has been made and donated by Crazy4 ponytails.com out of Oscar's tail hair (our equine celebrity). It's gorgeous, with sterling silver charm and beads. It will be auctioned off on Ebay starting April 30 and ending May 8th.We'll post the link to ebay when we start the auction. The bracelet comes with Oscar's autograph, certificate of authenticity, and a Hidalgo dvd! Please share this info with your friends! http://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?fbid=10150565691390094&set=a.10150194877085094.433185.10150104999335094&type=1

Jeezum Crow, or is it Geezum Crow? (Vermont saying for you out of towners). Where'v I been? Fallin' behind on blog posts. For a day or so there I thought it was spring and got all excited about it. Turned to flurries the next day, but never fear ...spring is almost here. Down to three layers on the top today. Was one year ago exactly that I moved the horses to the Johnson land. The week before, Kara, Jo and I had spent our time pounding a few hundred cedar posts for fencing. Glad I'm not having to do that right now. Still got two feet of snow in some places. Top wire of the fence at the horses elbows in the back 40. Two different vehicles got stuck in the mud in the driveway today. Not too bad considering the traffic around the Center. Had a couple of horses up and down it, four or five trucks, a couple of cars, and a Subaru. Subarus don't count as cars around here, or as trucks. (They're the un-official Vermont car and are in a category all by themselves.) Can't drive up next to the Caboose for a bit of time till things dry up. Take note. Won't mention the site around the arena foundation. Might lose your boot if you walk in too far. Won't mention anything like that to the crew till they get here early next week... if their foreman gets out of the hospital. THAT has really held things up. Have learned alot lately about accepting those things we can't change. Like the weather and sick foreman. Found some used spring tiles on craigslist. They were practically right in our backyard and at a price I couldn't pass up. Funny language the guy spoke when he pulled in with a 36' trailer to deliver them and thought he'd make that narrow turn at the bottom of the driveway. Guess we gotta fix that culvert. Couple of words I didn't quite understand when he got his rig stuck in that mud a bit later. Dang...hope his day got better.

The Latest Scoop

Check out our newest e-newsletter! And pass it on...! http://centerforamericasfirsthorse.org/in-the-news.html

The little things in life

Sometimes it's not the biggy events that make my day, or leave me feeling accomplished and satisfied with my work. Successes can be measured in so many different ways. For example, I was looking at yesterday's accomplishments before I fell asleep and was thrilled of my find on Craigslist in the FREE section! Funny I thought, that here our long anticipated indoor arena arrived on two semi's and I'm all excited about a futon to put in my office. Not to undermine all the work that has been done by so many people to just get the arena here, but it still isn't tangible goods yet to me. On the other hand, this gently used futon and frame with a sun bleached cover is in the office, ready to sit on. There is security in knowing that in a horse health emergency, if I needed to sleep at The Center I could, and quite comfortably now, I will add. I have a little heater, all my paperwork in one place, awards, certificates and ribbons hanging on the wall. My little sanctuary. Once the arena goes up, which they tell me will start in a weeks time, there will also be security in knowing that income to The Center will be flowing again. Regardless of weather, lessons will be held, the horses will have plenty of shelter, event's can be planned, horses can come for training. Those are big things that can make a big difference and that's good.

It does seem like everything happens at once. I received a phone call tonight that the arena is going to be here Tuesday, and delivered Wednesday morning at 8:30. I had to give the truckers directions and tell them they CANNOT park two semi's on the side of Clay Hill Road overnight! The Northgate Plaza parking lot was my suggestion. These guys have no idea where they are headed...not only mud season and ruts and frost heaves the size of Volkswagons, (I didn't mention that part to them) but Mapquest directions that sometimes make no sense in Vermont. So the excavator showed up today to drain the water from the trench the foundation sits in. It never got backfilled because of the big daddy of a storm we got a few weeks ago. Now have to play catch up. So as the anticipation, ooops, I mean anxiety builds with the arrival of the arena, reality hits me square in the forehead and I get cold feet. Thank goodness I have an amazing board of directors who keep me focused and organized. And do a little hand holding when I need it! "The Caboose" has undergone an interior face lift. It really isn't a train caboose, we just call this 8'x26' construction trailer that because it's painted red and is on wheels. Johnson State College students volunteered 6 hours of time on Friday and we painted and spruced it up. Today I moved in a desk, an unwanted recliner, and tomorrow pick up a free futon I saw on Craigslist. Now there will be a place at The Center for me to rest my weary head on days when I'm feeling overwhelmed! Our summer schedule has been approved by the board so the announcement is coming out in our Latest Scoop newsletter in a day or two. Lots of good updates and news, too!