Life at the Wilken Farm

Ghlen's First Selfie

Life at the Wilken Farm is busy and uses every skill for my daily physical therapy.  At the end of every day, I am exhausted and every muscle in my body is screaming.  But it is worth it.  The Wilken Farm is a personal/private farm of some friends of ours and they have allowed Ghlen and me to come here as we continue on our journey back to the sandbox.  They have taken us under their wing, provided a stall for Ghlen and his own personal paddock.  They allow me to stay in their extra bedroom.  I get to feed and take care of their two dogs and eight cats (kind of like the dog and cat nanny!)  They feed me (and I try to feed them some too).  Ghlen is under cameras, so I can see if he is getting into some residual epm trouble and intervene quickly if needed.  These episodes are getting fewer and further between.  They follow instructions regarding his care when I am gone.  THANK YOU, Wilken Farm owners for helping Ghlen and me make our comeback.

Ghlen is improving each day.  I am amazed at where he was and where he is now.  Each day, I allow my heart to sing a little more with Ghlen's comeback from an almost certain grave.  Ghlen is happy here and is in work 3-4 days a week.  Next week, after my surgery, I plan to bump him back up to 6 days a week, allowing each day and how he feels/is doing to dictate whether it will be a strong work day or a light work day.  Ghlen has a pasture just behind his stall we call the big boy pasture because he has become such a big boy with his being brave.  Several years ago, he was, in the words of his owner, "not very brave".  I've spent several years earning his trust, taking him purposefully into situations I knew were scarey for him but safe for us.  He is beginning to trust and to let me lead him and to look to me with questions when he is afraid, rather than taking the bit and bolting, forgetting he has a rider up there on his back.  He is so bold and powerful and now we are beginning to add the brave.  It is an awesome thing to ride such a powerful horse when there is brave behind the power!  I can't wait to show him off to the world again one day soon.  A special thank you to the Wilken's, Lori Northrup, Kathy Marshall, LV Performance, the Equestrian Aid Foundation, KER, Parson's Auto and EquitOtic - and of course, Nancy Stanton. I'm off to try and fundraise to the tune of about $200,000/year minimum....  Contact me if you have any ideas!!!

Update on Ghlenlivet (thank you EquiOtic!)

Well.  It's been a long, long time since I've posted here.  Ghlen has been through a lot.  I have been through a lot.  And we are both mending and heading back in the right direction.  As many of you know, Ghlen had a run in with EPM in June of 2015.  Since that time, there have been quite a few ups and downs.  He is doing well, under saddle, working on his good days (which is most days now), and is having days where his movements are even more astounding than when I first started with him.  If I can say so myself, this gorgeous mover is getting better with age.

I would never have gotten him back without the help of EquiOtic and Doug Froh.  He talked to me on the phone the night we thought we were going to lose him and offered his help.  Ghlen's response to the EquiOtic was nothing short of miraculous.  I had him on probio's.  But not live EQUINE sourced microcial probiotics.  I cannot thank Doug or EquiOtic enough.  They literally gave me my horse back.  If you have not checked them out, look them up HERE - or go to www.equiotic.com

Out goals have not change - just the timetable.  We are eyeing para nationals,  para weg, paralympics and able bodied nationals, as well as some other things, if he is able.  One day at a time but things are definitely looking upwards! As always, thank you, Nancy Stanton, for entrusting this boy with me.  I hope we can do you proud one day.

Nancy Stanton Dressage

Warming Ghlen up at the trot (picture by Lori Northrup)

We are here in Novelty, OH working with the owner who owns most of Ghlen, Nancy Stanton, for the summer, as well as some work with Walter Zettl and Carl Eijkenaar.  Nancy graciously allowed us to come for the summer to get back on track for competition.  We've had a few set backs over the last two years.  Ghlen had a very serious reaction to a spider bite.  Then I was sick for quite a while.  Then the weather did not cooperate at all this winter.  We are both on the mend, the weather is gorgeous up here, I am back in the saddle, and Ghlen & I are back into full time work.  Nancy has patiently helped us begin to get our feet back on the right track and I am forever grateful for her input, profanities (just kidding) and advise.  She is a class act lady who knows how to put fun into dressage without compromising the quality.  Thank you Nancy! I am so grateful to be back in the saddle and back towards aiming for national and international competition soon - both para and able bodied.  We have alot of goals , and therefore, alot of fundraising and looking for sponsorship in our future.

I would also like to thank Colleen Kelley and Lori Northrup, Reggie Summey Transport and Scenic Run Equestrian Center.  Without them all, this trip would not be possible.  It truly takes a village....

Nancy now has an assistant trainer, Meghan Kelley, who is a up and coming dressage trainer.  I have watched her ride and have been impressed with her seat and her knowledge base.

If anyone in the OH area wants lessons or training, feel free to contact me through this blog and I will put you in contact with them!

Scenic Run Equestrian Center

We are at the lovely Scenic Run Equestrian Center in Novelty, OH.  We came here to work with Nancy Stanton for the summer, who has graciously given me the ride on her Ghlenlivet, whom I am working to own one day.  I couldn't be happier with the facilities.  Between Flip, Phil, Rodolfo and Dani the place is run very well.  There is an indoor and an outdoor arena, pastures, all weather turn out and a whole bunch of cool people!  Ghlen settled in nicely after his 20 hour haul, had one day off and settled into a nice work routine.  I absolutely love that boy!  I am so thankful to Scenic Run and all their staff for their help and to Nancy Stanton for reaching out to help us on our next leg.  We hope to be back to international competition soon, with a specific aim to Rio.   A special thank you to Colleen Kelly, Lori Northrup and Reggie Summey Transport from NC for getting us here safely.

For more information on Scenic Run, check them out here at  Scenic Run Equestrian Center.  If you are in northern OH and are looking for a place to board and train - look them up!  They run all kinds of packages from self care to total care, depending on your needs.

Pictures coming soon!

Meet Ghlenlivet! and Classic Star!

Meet Ghlenlivet, affectionately known as Ghlen or Ghlennie.  He is owned by Greg and Nancy Stanton of Chardon, OH.  Nancy is the Grand Prix trainer at Sendon Way Equestrian Center.  Sendon Way is a family affair with Nancy being the trainer, Sharon being quite involved, and Greg & Nancy and Bob and Bernie living on the property.  The horses have 24 hour care.  Their awesome groom is Alex.

I met them when looking for a horse for purchase when I thought I might have sponsorship to that end.  That ended up falling through, but maybe I can find another way to one day own this lovely, kind hearted, talented boy.  There are not many horses I get on and they immediately feel like a glove.  Umm, not that I could sit his HUGE trot right away, but that he just fit.  He lifted up into me and I was carried by him.  The rhythm from his gait settled into my head where I was able to get my cues to land at the appropriate time without 10 days of practice on him.  (There is alot I have to compensate for the land both sides of my cue at the same moment and in the correct moment of the stride.)  From the moment I saw him, I was smitten and wished there was a way I could own him.  But it was not to be.   I approached them about the possibility of trying to take him to the 2012 Paralympic Selection Trials instead of purchasing him at this time.  God must have been smiling at me, the stars all aligned and the Stanton's graciously offered to take Ghlen off the market until after the Paralympic Games in London.  These people took me in like their own and have graciously made themselves available in every way possible to help this happen.  Look for us in London!

To the Stanton's and Lewis' - from the bottom of my heart, thank you so much for giving me this opportunity with this special boy.  It's been love at first site with him - an instant bond that doesn't happen very often in a lifetime.  Stay tuned!  We plan to knock everyone's socks off :)

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Meet Classic Star!  Star, Starstar, Starmeister has been a horse I have been riding for about 4 years now.  His owner is Beverly Rardin.  She contacted me several years back and told me she had a jumping horse who was getting up in years and knew he had some dressage training (but wasn't completely sure how much - around maybe 4th level)  and would I come work with him to see what kind of dressage he knew and could get back after being out of it for so long.  I needed a horse to ride and she needed her horse to be ridden.  So it was a perfect fit!

I took the first two years to build up his back strength and hind end as he had been ridden in a hunter/jumper frame instead of a FEI dressage frame for the last 10 years or so - give or take.  Gradually, he began to build up his different muscles and began to love his dressage work.  We were starting things like 1/2 passes at the trot and canter, collected and medium canter, 1/2 step trots, etc....  He had obviously had some dressage training up to at least I1.  One day, he began to offer 2 tempi and was so proud of himself!  I didn't ask for it, but I was certainly happy at his exuberance!  After that first day, he would offer 2 tempis whenever he was excited and happy with his work.

Beverly and I began to search for his passport.  We tracked it down and low and behold, Star is not 15 or 16 like we thought, but 24!  Not only that, he was a Grand Prix jumper in his younger years and had attended the big wig shows in Aachen and such.  So we decided to try and make a bid for London with the 24, going on 4 year old.  Only Star had some interim plans.  With his spunk and spirit we all know, he decides that kicking his stall wall might be a fun thing to do.  In the process, he broke his splint bone.  We think he may have at that time also injured his suspensory in that leg because all his xrays had been clean to that point for suspensory injuries.  It's been a process getting him back.  But Star is all heart and loves a job.  Then in the middle of rehabbing him, I had an injury and was out for 4 months.   I'm back.  Star's back.  I am willing to work and see what he can do as long as he is wanting to try and is not injured.  So we are working to get to Selection Trials.  So far, so good...but he has a long way to go to get the stiffness out from being off for so long.  He is also a bit emotional with things, which is new for him.  So I'm taking it one day at a time and seeing what he can do each day.   We are working every day on getting there and I have no doubt as to his "want to" and drive.  It will be fun to give him a chance in his golden years to shine on the international stage one more time.  For me, it's more about the relationship than the goal - so if he ever decides he can't - or if he is in danger of being injured again, we won't do it.  The horse comes first.  Always.  But if he can, then we will.

Beverly has also taken me under her wing and adopted me.  She has done absolutely everything possible to help me, not only with Star, but simply to make it to the Paralympics.  I could not do this without people like her who give so generously and do everything they can to make someone else's dreams come true.  Beverly is a class act and it's an honor to know her and work with her horse.

Star has quite the personality and it is impossible not to love him.  I love him so much.  If I could own him, I would own him too!   I am so proud to ride him and honored to be a part of his life.  To Beverly, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for allowing me to ride him and see what he can do.  He's got too much heart to turn out to pasture and retirement until he says he is ready.  Thank you.

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To the Stanton's, Lewis' and Rardins:  I am honored beyond belief that you have entrusted your horses to me.  I get teary eyed everytime I think of the trust you've put in me with your wonderful partners.  I hope to make you all proud of your four legged family members.  Thank you!

Update

It's been quite a while since I've written, so I thought I'd give you guys some updates.

Equifit has this awesome product, ShouldersBack.  My shoulders tend to hutch forward because of all the time I have to spend in a wheelchair.  I've been using it and it is AWESOME!  You can find a ShouldersBack and other products HERE.

The pancake breakfast fundraiser had to be canceled for not enough interest.  We are currently working on a CT, a golf tournament, a spaghetti dinner, and a clinic with Colleen Kelly in February.  Contact me if you are interested in helping with any of these!

Lou is back from PA and is doing well.  I miss him so much.  He was such a sweetie.  Hopefully I can get out to see him in the next week or two.

I had to withdraw from Mexico for lack of funds.  The next competition is Portugal and I need to raise about $15,000 in about a week.  Anyone with any ideas of quick fundraising, let me know :)

Last week, for my birthday, Challenged Athletes Foundation paid for me to ride with Walter Zettl.  I always love learning from him. I rode at Houghton College in New York on a 23 year old horse named ET.  I was able to work again on my flying changes (needs LOTS of work from right to left and my hip tends to get stuck going that direction), canter pirohettes (they are improving a little), piaffe and passage. ET was a lovely partner and I enjoyed learning from Walter.  Thank you Challenged Athletes, Jo-Anne Young, Houghton College, ET, and especially Walter Zettl.  I have a small clip of some of my riding but need to get permission to post.

That's it for updates.  Next month will see if the funds come in for me to compete in Portugal (actually, the next week will tell that), I will audit the clinic Missy Ransehousen and Robert Dover are giving at Gladstone, clinic with Walter again possibly, train with Missy and Jessica Ransehousen.  December will be Portugal and continuing to raise funds and look for a horse.

Thank you all for your friendship and support!

My Answer To Stress!

Click here!    

No, I don't have any drama llama going on in my life.  However, I am quite stressed about our upcoming nationals.  Not the competing part; just the financial part of raising the funds, the stress and responsibility of borrowing and transporting someone else's 4 legged boyfriend to PA, NY, PA and then home, raising funds, a hurricane possibly coming our direction while I am gone, raising funds, arranging for my mom and cats to be evacuated in my absence if necessary, raising funds.... You get the picture.

This is where the Drama Llama comes in.. Although no drama is going on, this song makes me laugh every time I hear and see it!

Enjoy!

(Sorry no pics!  My computer bit the dust and all my pictures were lost.  I'll be back to posting pics when I get a new computer!)

Captain Lymington (Lou)

Babe of Ballisodare, owned by Michelle Donlick of Avalo Farm in Wagner, SC has not been competed this year yet as he is coming back from his injury.  For our nationals this year, he has to either qualify with one ride from another rider (Michelle) from a competition this year with an R or S judge, at or above my grade comparison, OR qualify with a Championship AND a freestyle score from me from one of our PE international judges.  I considered trying - and even competed him in a Championship test (receiving a qualifying score).  But after giving him his first real workout in a year, I felt it was not fair to push him to do all that in a two week time frame.  He is healing well, feels good, and I decided to forego that for now in hopes of possibly riding him next year, if that is what his owner decides she wants to do.

I've been riding another friend's horse this past week.  Sara Kinard is the trainer and runs Half Pass Farm and Stables in Ravenel, SC and has a horse named Lou.  He is 9 years old, a Holsteiner, and is currently between 3rd and 4th level.  Here is my 2nd ride on him.  We are playing around with some school figures and hoping to put together a freestyle.  It's sloppy, I know.  He's the biggest horse I've ever ridden.  I'm slowly learning to not look so sloppy and get him more over his back, forward and engaged.  Hoping it all comes together soon.

Thank you, Sara, Rob and Maggie!

Lesson with Bargain

I had a lesson on Tal-Shaya today.  It's not often that I get out to his barn.  His barn name is Bargain.  I BELIEVE he is 24 years young this year.    He is a Grand Prix dressage horse whom I take lessons on when the opportunity arises, which isn't very often lately!  It's been 9 months since I've been to the farm this go round.    He is owned by Susan Selvey (who owns and runs One Tempi Farm in Moncks Corner).  Susan is an FEI level coach.  She is also a judge.  She coaches through the FEI levels in dressage and works with lower level eventers and jumpers.

Anyway, I worked on relearning the piaffe/passage which I have only infrequently worked on since my injury 10 years ago.  Attached is a quick clip of that.  I'm not doing great, but it's a start.

Jean Luc Cornille Clinic - May 7 and 8, 2011

In May, I went to PA for a week. My awesome-sauce teammate, Becca, let me hole up on her couch for the whole week - bless her lil ole soul! I took a couple of lessons from Missy and Jessica Ransehousen. At the end of the week, Trudy allowed me to borrow her horse, JD, and take him to a clinic with Jean Luc Cornille. I've been wanting to clinic with him for a while. Jean Luc combines anatomy and physiology bio-mechanics of the horse along with the anatomy and physiologic bio-mechanics of the rider and teaches how to combine the two into a harmonious partnership. I came away with some helpful tools and hope to incorporate that into all my future riding.

A huge thank you to WHOA in Aiken, SC who funded this clinic for me with the remainder of the 2010 scholarship awarded to me from last year. Thank you WHOA!

Of course, unless someone comes with me and remembers to take pictures, I forget. I have no pics of me riding at this clinic, so I have posted one of Jean Luc that is readily available on the web.

You can find Jean Luc Cornille's website @: www.scienceofmotion.com