Stable Exercise and Winter Weight Control Program

As the temperatures fall, my jeans begin to tighten.  I usually accept that this as The. Way. Things. Are.  During spring and summer, I loose weight.  Fall and winter, I gain weight.  The trouble with accepting this as a fact of life is that every year I seem to loose less weight in the temperate months and gain more in the intemperate. My skinny jeans are most unforgiving of this trend.

This year, I moved the horses from livery back to my full and complete charge.  Cleaning stalls and acquiring the amount of food & bedding required to keep four horses helped me to loose the additional 20lbs that clung on me over the last five years of paying someone else to to the hard work.  My skinny jeans favored me.

But after Thanksgiving, the waist band is starting to bind.  And Christmas Cookie Season is just around the corner.  I do not want to unpack the fat jeans.  So, I decide to turn stable management into a gym.  Yes, cleaning stalls burns calories, but if there is no sweat involved- as in the summer, the weight hangs on steadfast to the love handles.  By altering how I clean the stalls, I manage to produce the much needed sweat and return to pre-Thanksgiving weight.

Adding lots of light layers of clothing is a must for sweat inducing labor.  One big coat makes me too hot.  It must be a slow sweat.  Instead of trying to scoop as much poop as possible on each forkful, I scoop smaller forkfuls faster, increasing the aerobic-ness.  The addition of lunges really adds to the workout.  Realizing that I scooped and dumped always on the same side, I re-positioned the wheel barrow so I had to lunge, scoop and twist the other direction as well.

By the second stall, I have a good, even sweat going, and feel the routine is worthy.  I make sure I am breathing well [exhaling on exertion, inhaling on recovery], using good balance during twists to support the weight on the fork, and using each side of my body equally.  I finish by briskly sweeping the alleyway, incorporating more lunges and twists, equal on both sides.

Cleaning the stalls this way takes me an hour to do what normally takes forty five minutes, but afterward I am glowing and feel quite energized instead of the normal feeling of thank-god-that's-done.  And I don't have pay  to go to a gym and spend an hour sweating there, which pleases me no end.

Lucy has weighed in on the subject with her usual enthusiasm.  Her useful advice: after any period of inactivity, perform a deep Downward Dog Stretch.  Then, the Lucy Fur Method of Extreme Fitness calls for: terrorize bunnies at top speed for an hour or until the Humans call you and offer a treat.

I'll stick to the Stable Routine, leave the bunnies to Lucy, add in the Downward Dog and I am confident that I can enjoy a few Christmas treats with out the Wrath of the Skinny Jeans.

Kind Regards,
Michelle Blackler
Serendipity
www.hossbiz.com
Serendipity is an Accidental Sagacity Corporation company.

Combined Driving: David E Saunders

A Brief History of the Sport of Combined Driving

by David E. Saunders

Horses and carriages have always been fundamental to any civilization. The Assyrians were the first to use the horse drawn chariot as part of the military machine. The enormous benefits of controlling a team of horses with accuracy at speed proved to be a winning edge in battle. So for thousands of years almost every civilization has used horses and carriages for everything from delivering freight to delivering warriors into battle.

As Head Coachman to HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, Saunders was involved from the very inception of Combined Driving from its format to the development of the open back step marathon vehicle.

In the early 1970's H.R.H. Prince Philip the Queen of England's husband who was at the time the President of the International Equestrian Federation (F.E.I.) decided to develop a sport based on combined training but with horses and carriages. Combined training, (Military) was designed originally to keep the cavalry officers and their horses sharp and prepared for war.

The ridden dressage prepares the horse and rider to move at different speeds and in different directions under control, this helps prepare the horse to become more agile during battle. The cross country simulates riding cross country chasing down the enemy. The stadium jumping to jump unfamiliar colored obstacles for instance men in colorful uniforms etc.

Combined driving is based on the same premise as combined training. The dressage simulates the precision that the gun carriages, horse drawn or supply carriages would have to move in close formation. The marathon or cross country simulates military equipment and gun carriages being moved across difficult terrain at various speeds. The cone driving is directly related to the stadium phase of combined training to demonstrate the skill of the competitor to move horses and carriages at speed with precision on the battlefield.

The Modern World of Combined Driving

The competition lasts 3 days.

Dressage 1st day

The dressage takes place in a marked arena on level ground 100 meters long by 40 meters wide. Various letters mark strategic points in the arena. The competitor will perform a set test. This consists of a series of precise movements starting at one letter and finishing at another letter. There are several paces required, a walk, a collected or slow precise trot to demonstrate the horse can move slowly and precisely. A working trot which demonstrates the horses' ability to move consistently at a medium trot and an extended trot to show the horses' ability to move at a more exaggerated and faster pace. A halt demonstrates the horses' ability to stand still and not move under pressure and the reverse or rein back which demonstrates the horses ability to push the carriage backward with the same precision as moving forwards.

Saunders performs a Shoulder In with the leaders of a four in hand of Morgans in a dressage test.

There are normally 5 judges who will give marks out of 10 for each movement. 10 being excellent, and 1 being very bad. They are also looking for the horse to move with obedience and lightness and if multiple horses i.e. pair or four- in-hand the horses must move together as one horse. They are also looking for, a picture of sartorial elegance and harmony, the elegance and the beauty of the horse, carriage and driver.

Marathon or Cross Country 2nd day

The purpose of this part of the event is to prove the horses can be driven over varying types of terrain and arrive safely at the prescribed time over a course of 10 to 12 kilometers.

This part of the competition is divided into 3 sections. 2 trot sections and 1 walk section. All 3 sections are timed and have to be driven at a prescribed pace, the penalties are given for early or late arrival.

Section A
Section A is 4 to 6 kilometers in length and is done at a working trot. There is an average speed and each kilometer is marked so that the navigator/time keeper behind the competitor on the carriage can keep the competitor on time and on track.

Section D
The next section is the walk section. This section consists of a kilometer where the pace of walk must be maintained and again it is timed.

Rest Halt
The horses then arrive at the compulsory rest halt, all the horses are checked by a judge and a Veterinarian. The horses then have a 10 minute rest and the (pit stop activities take place) bandages and boots are checked by the crew, the horses are cooled out, harness adjusted and the tensions mount.

Section E
The next section is 8 to 10 kilometers, which would include 7 or 8 marathon hazards. These hazards are to test the competitor and horses ability to negotiate a hazard in the track, for instance a bridge is washed out and the horses have to ford a stream, a tree has fallen across the track and the competitor has to negotiate the carriage safely around and still arrive at the finish on time.

Spectacular form in a Section E Obstacle performed by Saunders and a four in hand of Morgans

The marathon hazard consists of an entrance and exit gate at the gate there is a timer to record the exact time the competitor is in the hazard. There are also 2 or 3 hazard stewards that record the route that is taken in the hazard. There are a number of lettered gates normally A to F, each gate must be passed through in the correct order before the hazard is finished. The gates are marked with red and white flags, red must always be on the right as the competitor passes through the gate.

Most competitors will drive different routes at different speeds. After passing through the hazard finish gate they must continue on the prescribed route and still finish on time.

Penalties are accrued through time taken in the hazard, missing gates, going through gates backwards, or out of order, navigators falling off, harness breaking or carriage tipping over. At the end of the marathon the horses are checked by judges and veterinarian.

Obstacles or Cone Driving 3rd and Final Day

This part of the competition takes place in the arena and it consists of a marked course of up to 20 pairs of cones with balls on the top, the cones are measured at 3 to 4 inches wider than the track width of the carriage. There is a time allowed, the course must be driven clear (in time without dislodging any balls). Penalties are given for exceeding time allowed and dislodging balls. This part of the competition demonstrates the competitors' ability to present horses that are still fit, sound and supple after the marathon. This would equate to having horses fit to fight another battle.

To produce horses for this sport takes an awful lot of time and training. Also the driver who is the competitor relies a lot more on his crew, i.e. navigator/timekeeper/groom. So there is a true team effort that goes with every competitor, everyone that competes in a combined driving competition is a true horseman and warrior.

And in the continuing spirit of the ancient Assyrians who forged the true relationship of horse, carriage and driver we are carrying on the same tradition.

©Copywriter David E. Saunders, Reprinted with Permission

A charming raconteur with a wealth of knowledge, Saunders gives presentations and clinics on all aspects of carriage driving.  Where else can you get instruction from a professional coachman who was entrusted with the Queen's horses and a founding father of our beloved sport.  Despite his illustrious career, Saunders is affable and entirely without pretension.  He has a gift not only for driving, but also for fascinating instruction.  As the old saying goes, I wish I knew a fraction of what he has forgotten.  


For more information: www.davidesaunders.com or call 352.258.8355.


Kind Regards,
Michelle Blackler
Serendipity
www.hossbiz.com
Serendipity is an Accidental Sagacity Corporation company.

Traditional Vehicle Tutorial

Body Break from Pony & Carriage Ltd's Traditional  Reproduction Carriages Slide Show

For those wishing to brush up on their carriage knowledge in the run up to the Elizabeth Lampton Carriage Sale in Lexington, KY, November 19, I suggest grabbing your copy of Driving by the Duke of Beaufort and watching Pony & Carriage Ltd's most excellent slideshow of vehicles.  Most, if not all, I'm no expert on vehicles, are of European design, but that is what chapter XIX on Modern Carriages [written by George N. Hooper], discusses: packed with vehicle descriptions and history.

https://picasaweb.google.com/ponyandcarriage/TraditionalReproductionCarriagesHomePageDisplay#slideshow/5422892823570846546

Grab a cuppa, a blanket and your favorite alternate source of heat [spouse/cat/dog] and wile away a cold, damp November eve with Beaufort's legacy and Pony & Carriage Ltd.

Kind Regards,
Michelle Blackler
Serendipity
www.hossbiz.com
Serendipity is an Accidental Sagacity Corporation company.

Elizabeth Lampton Carriage Collection Auction

I was privileged enough to attend John Seabrook's carriage collection dispersal auction in New Jersey in 2002.  It felt like a piece of history and the upcoming Martin's sale of Elizabeth Lampton's collection in Kentucky promises to be another such milestone.

Please God or Santa or Iowa Lottery:

This carriage deserves to be mine.

On November 19, 2011 in Lexington, KY, 600 lots of carriage history will be sold under Paul Martin's hammer.  Here is a link to the sale brochure:

http://www.auctionzip.com/cgi-bin/showimage.cgi?lid=1217372&type=at&in=1

Looking through the photos makes my heart quicken.  There are so many wonderful vehicles and the harness, oh the harness...[she sighs]


If you are a carriage enthusiast, no doubt you will be there.  I am going to try to reorganize heaven and earth to be there myself.


Kind Regards,
Michelle Blackler
Serendipity
www.hossbiz.com
Serendipity is an Accidental Sagacity Corporatiohn company.

The Rider And Driver, 1893

Harness Racing has begun at Prairie Meadows here in Iowa.  Coupled with the waning colors of fall, I always find myself reminiscent.  Usually this sends me straight to the NY Times Archives, but, ho, I found another source of bygone relevancy today.  Thank you, accidental sagacity!

The Rider and Driver, copyright 1983, courtesy of the Stanhope Libraries is a treasure trove.  An article on the coaching revival, various viewpoints on what constitutes a True Saddle Horse for promotion in the Chicago World's Fair and predictions about the participation of draft horses at said fair, scuttlebutt about the metamorphosis of harness racing with the introduction of the bicycle sulky, and much more all promise to keep me in bedtime reading for awhile.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I:
http://books.google.com/books?id=eAfc5oJJjZoC&pg=PP1#v=onepage&q&f=false

Kind Regards,
Michelle Blackler
Serendipity
www.hossbiz.com
Serendipity is an Accidental Sagacity Corporation company.

The Mermaid's Dad

As Beautifully As I Can

When I was a tween, my mother made me join the town swimming team.  There were a number of reasons why swim team was a complete torture for me.  Firstly, it took time away from riding horses.  Secondly, I have many confirmation faults that can not be disguised by a Speedo.  Standing next to the other lithe, long legged little mermaids on swim team, I felt like a troll with my high waist and thick thighs.  Lastly, while I can swim, I am not a fast swimmer.  Coupled with my fierce competitiveness, I felt like a failure of a troll.  My coach helped [unwittingly] heap insult to injury by assigning me to be the anchor of the B Team's Medley Race.

At every meet, after the beautiful, bronzed dolphin swimmers had completed the race, I stood at the edge of the pool, while my fellow troll teammate floundered through her laps of the butterfly stroke, before I dove in and swam my lengths.  All alone.  When I finished, I drug my rubber limbs from the pool and dove into the anonymity of my beach towel.

"Everyone went to the concession stand," I told myself.  "No one was watching."  Dripping hair about my face disguised the tears of humiliation.

After one particularly gruesome home swimming meet, I was trudging in flip flops, robed in beach towel back to the car, to get the You'll Just Have To Try Harder Lecture when one of the Mermaid's Dads stopped me.  "I just wanted to tell you that my favorite part of these swim meets is watching you in the Medley Relay.  You swim so beautifully."  I hope I remembered to thank him despite my tween stupor at his compliment.

When I climbed into the car, I burst into uncontrollable, convulsive sobs, so moved was I by this man's kindness.  Misunderstanding, my mother said, "Well, if you feel this strongly about it, I guess you don't have to go to swim team anymore."

"No!" I shrieked and those sobs choked out any form of explanation.  She let out one of her characteristic I'll Never Understand You Child Sighs and drove me home.

I finished the season in swim team, trying to swim as beautifully as I could in the medley relay for the Mermaid's Dad. The Troll Team never came close to winning a race, but we came third once.  As I climbed out of the pool, I heard cheering, lead by none other than The Mermaid's Dad.

He died too few years afterwards.  At his funeral, I promised him I would spend the rest of my life trying to do everything I could not do as well as others as beautifully as I could.

For the most part, I have kept my promise.  I try to walk and breathe as beautifully as I can.  I try to ride and drive horses as beautifully as I can.  Whether I can win or not, I try to compete as beautifully as I can.  And whenever I can, I give an awkward little girl a compliment from my heart: as the legacy of the Mermaid's Dad.

Kind Regards,
Michelle Blackler
Serendipity
www.hossbiz.com
Serendipity is an Accidental Sagacity Corporation company.

In the Box Seat With Boyd Exell

Our dear friend and ace film maker, Tim Maloy of Cavewood Productions has produced a brilliant series of film shorts with Boyd Exell driving obstacles at Sandringham. I can watch them repeatedly and see different angles and something I missed on the previous view.  These film shorts are stupendous from the advantage that you and I can witnness how the current World Champion drives: what he does and the standout things that he does not do.

I am not going to spoil these films by babbling.  I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.  Once again: All Hail, Tim Maloy!  And sincere thanks to Boyd Excell for sharing his seat with us.


Boyd Exell - Sandringham Obstacles 1 and 2 from Tim Maloy on Vimeo.



Boyd Exell - Sandringham Obstacles 3 and 4 from Tim Maloy on Vimeo.



Boyd Exell - Sandringham Obstacles 5 and 6 from Tim Maloy on Vimeo.



Boyd Exell - Sandringham Obstacles 7 and 8 from Tim Maloy on Vimeo.


Kind Regards,
Michelle Blackler
Serendipity
www.hossbiz.com
Serendipity is an Accidental Sagacity Corporation Company.