I have been looking forward to the 2010 WEG especially since it is being held here in the USA. Since I started competing internationally in 2002 I have traveled mostly to Europe to compete against the top riders, this time it will be a hop skip and a jump. My England 2012 horse is not as of yet emotionally ready for a competition of this size so I have been trying to keep my gold and silver medal Beijing 2008 horse in training for Worlds. Maile has age and physical limitations against her however her accuracy, with her heart and desire are will help her make it through WEG with great results. Maile has had a fantastic 2010 show season with her highest results most recently in Canada at a 3 star International show scoring 78% in her freestyle, and overall grade 2 championship.
Her training involves mostly supelling exercises, stretching and cardio strengthening. Since this will be her last International competition with me as a grade 2 rider I have decided to not change her freestyle from the one she performed in Hong Kong winning a gold medal.
My second horse in training for WEG is L’Amistat (Manny) . I have been partnered with him since January. We are still getting to know one another and he is learning to adapt well to my aids which are very different from an able bodied person. He has great technique and knows dressage well, he just needs to improve on his expression, exuberance, and communication with ME his partner.
With WEG being in the USA I am looking forward to all the sideline support. With the competition being so close it will allow friend and family the opportunity to support their riders.
As a Para Equestrian I am ecstatic being involved in the first World games that have all the FEI sports competing at the same venue within the same time line. This is really a step forward for my sport and I hope spectators take advantage of the opportunity to be inspired and empowered by watching what is possible!!
I am fortunate that I actually get to be involved in the 2010 WEG in two ways. My sponsors and full time educational program Parelli Natural Horsemanship will be there for the full 2 weeks as demonstrators. I have three other horses that will be at WEG as a part of the Parelli demo team. Before the Para Equestrian Canadian team goes into team training camp I will participate in demos with Parelli showi ng there principles and the kind of foundation I believe will help a performance horse achieve their optimum potential.
Lauren Paralympian Dressage
Friday, August 13, 2010
Friday July 28th
Friday July 28th
It’s been another 8 days and I’ve decided I will sit on Maile on Monday. Just at the walk but it will give me a good starting point and an idea of how my leg is going to respond.
My Paralysis causes spasms ( In voluntary movement) if my leg is in any pain it will spasm pausing me unable to ride. ( Well actually if my left leg decides to spasm I may get some nice leg yields) I am currently wearing an air cast that I will keep on to give the leg support. It’s going to be a long weekend waiting.
I had the girls ride Manny and Maile over slightly raised cavelties for strengthening their backs. Manny did great while Maile watched “Surely I’m not next” Was the look she gave us. . Maile is one of those mares who will do her best to do anything you ask, however would never expand any energy over what is necessary for the situation. You could say she wouldn’t be the type of person to sign up for an aerobics class, more like a all you can eat buffet!!!
Monday here I come!!!
It’s been another 8 days and I’ve decided I will sit on Maile on Monday. Just at the walk but it will give me a good starting point and an idea of how my leg is going to respond.
My Paralysis causes spasms ( In voluntary movement) if my leg is in any pain it will spasm pausing me unable to ride. ( Well actually if my left leg decides to spasm I may get some nice leg yields) I am currently wearing an air cast that I will keep on to give the leg support. It’s going to be a long weekend waiting.
I had the girls ride Manny and Maile over slightly raised cavelties for strengthening their backs. Manny did great while Maile watched “Surely I’m not next” Was the look she gave us. . Maile is one of those mares who will do her best to do anything you ask, however would never expand any energy over what is necessary for the situation. You could say she wouldn’t be the type of person to sign up for an aerobics class, more like a all you can eat buffet!!!
Monday here I come!!!
Not Counting the Day's!!!
July 19 – Don’t want to count the days to WEG
Horses are going well, Maile and Manny do a trail ride twice a week for verity and building endurance, and then in the ring 3 times a week. Maile is also being played with on line for a second time a day for 20 mins to help her loose the sympathy weight she must have gained for me. Actually she is turned out in a wonderful pasture that has grass so tall that she doesn’t even need to lower her head to eat. For her arthritis it is better though that she is in a pasture moving around then constricted to a paddock.
Manny is doing well; our focus has been to help him become stronger emotionally and mentally. He is extremely capable in his dressage training but really doesn’t enjoy being in the ring and lacks exuberance and the ability to maintain gate and direction without having to be micro managed. To help with this we are developing his other 3 Savvies as I did with Maile when I first got her. Online, Liberty and Freestyle. He really loves liberty and has great impulsion; he is so playful and sticks really close to you. As for the trail rides Manny is so enthusiastic that he doesn’t really think about where his feet are. Ears perked forward marching along, and “Oh my” tripping here and there. But it doesn’t even faze him.
On a bit of a discouraging note I did have my x-rays done and I’ve not been given the go ahead to ride yet. The Dr. Says its healing but not healed yet and to give it another 2 weeks. GRRRRR “god give me emotional fitness” Even more importantly give the people who deal with me a daily bases the ability to smile and not take my snarkiness personally.
P.S. how many calories are in a Taco Bell grilled stuffed Burrito??? Way to many but oh so good!!
Horses are going well, Maile and Manny do a trail ride twice a week for verity and building endurance, and then in the ring 3 times a week. Maile is also being played with on line for a second time a day for 20 mins to help her loose the sympathy weight she must have gained for me. Actually she is turned out in a wonderful pasture that has grass so tall that she doesn’t even need to lower her head to eat. For her arthritis it is better though that she is in a pasture moving around then constricted to a paddock.
Manny is doing well; our focus has been to help him become stronger emotionally and mentally. He is extremely capable in his dressage training but really doesn’t enjoy being in the ring and lacks exuberance and the ability to maintain gate and direction without having to be micro managed. To help with this we are developing his other 3 Savvies as I did with Maile when I first got her. Online, Liberty and Freestyle. He really loves liberty and has great impulsion; he is so playful and sticks really close to you. As for the trail rides Manny is so enthusiastic that he doesn’t really think about where his feet are. Ears perked forward marching along, and “Oh my” tripping here and there. But it doesn’t even faze him.
On a bit of a discouraging note I did have my x-rays done and I’ve not been given the go ahead to ride yet. The Dr. Says its healing but not healed yet and to give it another 2 weeks. GRRRRR “god give me emotional fitness” Even more importantly give the people who deal with me a daily bases the ability to smile and not take my snarkiness personally.
P.S. how many calories are in a Taco Bell grilled stuffed Burrito??? Way to many but oh so good!!
NEED TO RIDE!!!
July 9th 10 weeks till WEG
Hmm, I think I’m getting cabin fever. NEED TO RIDE!!!!! What I now call the “Understudies” who are riding Maile and Manny are now clear on a few things. Horse are to be marching in the walk, they can stretch longer and lower than they ever thought possible, if you double cluck the ponies better be cantering, if you use one stick the ponies better be doing some sort of lateral movement, and when you stop even to get off they need to be squared up. I know this sounds a little strict but really it’s not because
“Nothing means nothing and everything means something”
“Practice doesn’t make perfect, only perfect practice makes perfect”
Trying to maintain a positive Attitude I have signed Maile and Manny up for a pre WEG show Near Denver for August 20- 23rd. This will be the only chance to really have a mock run through. This means I have about 5 weeks to get back on and have a functioning leg. I have know idea what to expect when I do get on but I’m anticipating zero complications!. Big time LOL- now that’s optimism.
So to help with the being ready to ride I am now back on a strict diet as the past 5 weeks have not been kind to my body. My taste buds have been thrilled with the abundance of delicious comfort food and the glasses of wine to wash it down with allowing me to drown my frustrations away. With the cost of riding breaches in mind I’d say I have about 15 pounds to lose. REALLY not kidding!!! When you are wheel chair bound living on a 1600 calories a day diet and add at the minimum 1500 more calories a day with zero exercise the pounds add up. And let me tell you this is not when you want your Significant other to say “That’s ok it just more to love” And the late evening eating of pizza pockets, Pringles, and cheese filled quesadillas are not what I call helpful support when I am eating blue berries and nuts. All jokes aside I normally have a very good diet and exercise at the gym 3 to 4 times a week with wheeling for a bit of cardio. My injured arm hasn’t let me do any of that, causing there to be some soft spots developing on my body. At this point I’m really glad there is this thing called Muscle memory,
Hmm, I think I’m getting cabin fever. NEED TO RIDE!!!!! What I now call the “Understudies” who are riding Maile and Manny are now clear on a few things. Horse are to be marching in the walk, they can stretch longer and lower than they ever thought possible, if you double cluck the ponies better be cantering, if you use one stick the ponies better be doing some sort of lateral movement, and when you stop even to get off they need to be squared up. I know this sounds a little strict but really it’s not because
“Nothing means nothing and everything means something”
“Practice doesn’t make perfect, only perfect practice makes perfect”
Trying to maintain a positive Attitude I have signed Maile and Manny up for a pre WEG show Near Denver for August 20- 23rd. This will be the only chance to really have a mock run through. This means I have about 5 weeks to get back on and have a functioning leg. I have know idea what to expect when I do get on but I’m anticipating zero complications!. Big time LOL- now that’s optimism.
So to help with the being ready to ride I am now back on a strict diet as the past 5 weeks have not been kind to my body. My taste buds have been thrilled with the abundance of delicious comfort food and the glasses of wine to wash it down with allowing me to drown my frustrations away. With the cost of riding breaches in mind I’d say I have about 15 pounds to lose. REALLY not kidding!!! When you are wheel chair bound living on a 1600 calories a day diet and add at the minimum 1500 more calories a day with zero exercise the pounds add up. And let me tell you this is not when you want your Significant other to say “That’s ok it just more to love” And the late evening eating of pizza pockets, Pringles, and cheese filled quesadillas are not what I call helpful support when I am eating blue berries and nuts. All jokes aside I normally have a very good diet and exercise at the gym 3 to 4 times a week with wheeling for a bit of cardio. My injured arm hasn’t let me do any of that, causing there to be some soft spots developing on my body. At this point I’m really glad there is this thing called Muscle memory,
Recovering from the accident!!!
July 2 - 11 weeks till WEG team training camp.
Well its been a month since the vehicle accident that left me with 5 broken bones in my leg as well as a hyper extended right arm. The bruises and cuts on my body have healed but the arm and leg are taking there sweet time. The staples are out of my leg and the incision from the operation are still healing. When Paul my boyfriend saw the last set of X-Rays he actually thought they were some one else’s he looks at me and says " Wow Lauren look at those X-rays that person sure has it bad" When i looked at it I happened to notice my name in small print at the top. Oh Paul Thanks for that!!! 12 screws and pins are what is holding my lower leg together.
It’s been great being back in Colorado living in my cabin and being around the whole Parelli team again, but really really tough having to focus on getting healed. I want to be out at the barn or even in the office - however once my leg is not elevated for more then 3 hours it starts to throb and swell, so off to bed I go.
I've started having the Mastery Program students at the Colorado Parelli center ride my horses. If you ask me to be honest I didn’t have much faith in them...... isn’t that awful! How are they going to help me keep them in development for WEG. These students all have a great foundation Online, in Liberty and Freestyle however are still developing their feel for finesse
TO my surprise they all managed to have a good feel, and listened really well. Maile my Gold medal winner from Beijing just needs to be kept fit, stretching and building her endurance. Manny my back up horse is still learning to go forward off my sticks instead of legs & to have contact that isn’t heavy but is consistent. Manny is who I am most worried about the most as I was just starting to really understand him.
My other two are in development and are doing great.
It has been a test of my communication skills trying to articulate what I needed done with my ponies. At one point there were the four of them going around the arena in different patterns. I’d call out for one of them to be longer and lower or to give or to bend and all of them would do it or look at me confused. Got to get better and quicker with the names!!! .
It is hard to know how my leg is healing since I can't feel it. At night is spasms and actually jumps out of the bed, I have to take the pain killers and anti spasmodic drugs for it to keep it sedated. Feels odd taking medication for something I can’t feel. Anyhow I will go for X- Rays in two more weeks, and hopefully get the ok to start riding again.
Well its been a month since the vehicle accident that left me with 5 broken bones in my leg as well as a hyper extended right arm. The bruises and cuts on my body have healed but the arm and leg are taking there sweet time. The staples are out of my leg and the incision from the operation are still healing. When Paul my boyfriend saw the last set of X-Rays he actually thought they were some one else’s he looks at me and says " Wow Lauren look at those X-rays that person sure has it bad" When i looked at it I happened to notice my name in small print at the top. Oh Paul Thanks for that!!! 12 screws and pins are what is holding my lower leg together.
It’s been great being back in Colorado living in my cabin and being around the whole Parelli team again, but really really tough having to focus on getting healed. I want to be out at the barn or even in the office - however once my leg is not elevated for more then 3 hours it starts to throb and swell, so off to bed I go.
I've started having the Mastery Program students at the Colorado Parelli center ride my horses. If you ask me to be honest I didn’t have much faith in them...... isn’t that awful! How are they going to help me keep them in development for WEG. These students all have a great foundation Online, in Liberty and Freestyle however are still developing their feel for finesse
TO my surprise they all managed to have a good feel, and listened really well. Maile my Gold medal winner from Beijing just needs to be kept fit, stretching and building her endurance. Manny my back up horse is still learning to go forward off my sticks instead of legs & to have contact that isn’t heavy but is consistent. Manny is who I am most worried about the most as I was just starting to really understand him.
My other two are in development and are doing great.
It has been a test of my communication skills trying to articulate what I needed done with my ponies. At one point there were the four of them going around the arena in different patterns. I’d call out for one of them to be longer and lower or to give or to bend and all of them would do it or look at me confused. Got to get better and quicker with the names!!! .
It is hard to know how my leg is healing since I can't feel it. At night is spasms and actually jumps out of the bed, I have to take the pain killers and anti spasmodic drugs for it to keep it sedated. Feels odd taking medication for something I can’t feel. Anyhow I will go for X- Rays in two more weeks, and hopefully get the ok to start riding again.
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