The Manor Girls’ blog

Hey u guys! HOw have u all been? Rachel, i know how u r since we probably just hung up. hehe. but SAM!!!! how do u like the Manor being an instructor now! Crazy to think we graduated almost a year ago! Wow im ready to start another 1/4 life crisis again! Steph...where ther hell r u, r still on this earth? u called but hung up n never leave messages:( well, miss u! sam...u have sumthin coming in the mail but to skol n lets call it a mid qtr present since it never made it out 4 xmas...which was its intent but o well, thought that counts right?

well, im doing good still besides the fact that i WAS losing weight and getting skinny and then the holidays happened, within the last month  ive  had to throw my new pants to the back of the closet and pull out my fat girl jeans again :( if i was sum where where it was actually WINTER id blame it on the fact that i need insulation to stay warm, but thats not the case... o well.. as rachel said to me, AFTER the holidays is when we need to worry about our health! right? haha. Well other than that, the horse life is going great, still having fun and learning lots! love and miss u guys! Have a MERRY XMAS!!!!!!! Xmas time comes once a year once a year now its here now its here xmas time comes once a year. tra la la la la la!!!!! :)

Hey everyone! Im taking a break from packing. i was supposed to do that today but it has been absolutley georgeous at the harbor and beach this week, i didnt get much done except tan...oops! well, frodo and i met up in clevland and wen to the graduation n wv together. i miss the school and everyone so much. it was super sad, the people there are getting worse and worse, their attitudes suck , we tried to get them to go out and leave the dorms, but theyre all depressed hopeless people. it was nice but sad to hear some instructors say that once our group left, the new classes are worse as far as attitudes, they all cant have a good time...theres no people screaming and running around like retards, it was sad. but n e ways... frodo and i told them we (our whole class) would come back the 1st week of every quarter and do a pep rally! hehe what do u think?

well on happier note, i finished georgys. it was very interesting... clients were pissed when they found out i was leaving and told her it was her fault and some are/have left. they told me they wanted to put their horses in training with me, but i told them not for another 2 years when i get back.

o! which brings me to my next adventure! im moving to santa ynez. absolutley wonderful facility. refugoird.com till feb. then feb im going off to france for 1 year then to holland the next year! im so happy with where im going right now i feel like im finally going to make it eventually!  when i get back my sis and i are going into bussiness together, clients from mine and my sisters job already plan on it.

so thats the latest w/ me. im missing u guys so much though!  cant wait till 2010 for WEG in KY. DONT FORGET!!!!!!!!! Wellmans coming! YAYAYAYAYAYAAAYYYYY!

Well i hear from rachel frequently, by the way, wha have u had to eat today?!?!?!!?? but sam and steph!!!! how r u guys! i miss u!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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well hope everyone is happy and doing well\, let me know!!! love ya!

So I was looking at the forems on horsetopia.com and someone posted asking for directions on how to make a Parrelli "Carrot Stick".  This was the reply:

"You need:

1 golf club grip (get from golf shop or sporting good store)

1 plastic push-in fencepost, the smooth round kind (TSC usually has em)

10" of old leather belt - a man's belt works best, you want one about an inch and quarter to and inch and half wide, plain edges.

4 - 5' one quarter to five sixteenths cotton yachtbraid rope (TSC usually carries this too, but you may need to buy a whole skein - the extra won't go to waste, its excellent for tying rope halters, too)

heavy braided nylon string (cotton will do, but the nylon will last longer)

Household cement (the clear, stinky kind that sticks to just about everthing - a more durable alternative would be Shoe Goo)

Cut the pointy end off the fencepost, and remove any hardware that came with it, then trim it to 4' long

Slip the golf club grip onto one end of the post, using some of the glue to make it stay.

Fold the peice of belt in half, and position it on other end of the post so that about 2 and one half inches are on the top and bottom of the post (the post in the middle) that will leave another 2 and one half inches of looped belt past the end of the post. apply glue to the leather and post to

Wrap the belt leather loop onto the post with some of the nylon string, pulling it tight and keeping the wrap neat and even. Tie off the string, then coat the whole wrap with more of the glue. There should now be glue inside the leather and all over the string.

Set the stick aside to dry completely.

To make the string, splice a loop into one end of the yacht braid (if you know how to splice) or simply fold it over into about a 2" loop and wrap it with the nylon string (just like the loop of belt on the stick) and cover with glue.

On the other end of the string, either wrap the end with nylon string, splice an end on it or burn it close to keep it from fraying."

Wow...just buy a whip

-Frodo

So, none of us has updates in forever, and since I am the one always harping on people to update, I guess I should start us back off.

So I got a new teaching job...and quit already.  It was just a disaster.  Teaching beginners on saddlebreds and morgans.  Riding in side pull bridles.  Having students fall off of said saddlebreds and morgans and getting yelled at for the falls, then being told (after explaining the situation) "Oh that doesn't suprise me about that horse" or "I told you he takes off with people."  Hhmm, but the falls at still my fault.  And then seesawing for a headset, touching whip on the shoulder to go forward, digging spurs in and holding to go forward...just not a good fit for me.  Oh well I guess.

I have an interview on Wednesday at Maypine Farm - a big jumper barn on the eastside of Cleveland (I live on the westside). They are looking for a barn manager/lesson coordinator/instructor starting at $60,000 a year.  So fingers crossed guys.  I really want and need this job.

I took Mac to a local horse show yesterday.  He actually got on the trailer with no problems (for him).  None of the shows in the local area jump (which sucks) but we did a bunch of flat classes.  We got thirds in EVERYTHING.  Which kinda suprised me in a few of them because for some he was freaking out and then towards the end of the day he was going beautifully.  We did Dressage Suitibility where they are wanting "to see the horse bending, connecting and coming thru"  Basically, you went in, rode a figure eight to show change of bend and then when everyone (13 people) where done, go out and do ring work.  Our work was beautiful.  He stayed soft, connected, we had a beautiful half halt and change of direction but he would not stand while we waited for everyone else to go thru.  Then we did equitation (which I wish was the pleasure class) and then pleasure (which I wish was the equitation).  He went like an awesome pleasure horse in the equ class.  But he was getting tired by the pleaseure class and needed a little more encouragement into his up transistions.  Then we did hunter under saddle, which he went wonderfully for.  But we didn't have the hand gallop so as far as I can figure if was just like the other classes.  But he stayed long and low and soft and hunterish the whole time.  I was really happy with him. 

Ok, so this is really long, and if you have gotten this far...congrats.  Hope to hear from you guys soon...really miss you guys. (Oh Sam...my cousin, my brother and I went to grab dinner last night after the show and Tim and Jonathan were talking about guitars and Tim said something about "have you ever seen Bill and Ted's Excellant Adventure "[something about the music in it and the artist who did it].  And I laughed cause I have and then I missed you buddy.  Sigh)

-Frodo

Rachel! My address is 1520 Viewpoint Dr/Channel Islands, CA 93035. There! You have it in writing! hehe. Well, glad to hear life is looking up 4 ya! Tell EVERYONE (that we liked hehe) I miss them SOOOOOOO much when u go 4 grad! Tell Liz congrats 4 me 2!

WEll, My life is in the middle of a change, I think its a good one. Im quitting Georgys this week, she hasnt found out yet, but it is soon to come! :) I have 2 many freelance jobs. Not that thats a bad thing and since shes not furthering me n e more, ill just ride for myself.

K, so EVERYONE SIT DOWN!!!!!! Riley is going to a Dressage clinic in 2 weeks!!!!!! Yes, this is not a joke! A client of mine is paying for it for me to take her horse and my pony. It's with one of the few women to ride at the actual Spanish Riding School, so it should be cool. He is now going to be a Jumper wanna be Eventer! Cuz I want to do xcountry! His flat work has been so good (w/out a running martingale!!!!) and his jumping is like old times again. I coundlnt be happier w/him!!

So who saw the pony at Rolex?!?!?! Thats 2 awesome! Yay 4 pony power! hehe, sorry its been a long day!!!

Sam, how have u been? Ive talked w/Steph and Rachel, but no Sam:(

Well, thats all from me for now, MISS U guys SOOOOOOO incredibly much! i have friends out here, but its just not the same, u guys were like sisters! AND...They dont like doing stupid things, like roller chair down hallways, or walk around in caps and gowns humming that song that i cant remember the name of, or eat pie off the road! Theyre just no fun! Miss u girls! Take care!

So I am starting to think that I am the only one of us out there who is going to post on here.  Come on guys...I miss you all like crazy...by the way...I lost your addresses (and I never got your new one Felzer) and I REALLY need them (believe me, you want me to have them). 

So my little cousin got a 4th in leadline...yea.  I was pissed though.  The kids ahead of her had their legs straight out in front of them, knees straight and almost fell off when we were asked to change directions.  So, um yeah, she is done with leadline...she can ride better then that.  We are going to go to Michigan this weekend to look at a large pony for her, it is about time she has her own...she will do really well if she has her own horse.

Um...Mac is going BEAUTIFULLY.  He is staying soft, forward, straight, jumping great...I am really excited about it.  The thing that sucks though is that there really aren't any shows around here that jump.  :-(  We need to find something cause he is going so nicely. 

Symphany is great.  She is getting HUGE.  I cannot believe how big she is.  She is taking over my whole bed though.  Oh well, such is life I guess. 

Um, Oh I got the teaching job and she is going to pay me more then she originally told me!!!!!!!!!!!  Yeah, so I can quit the stupid Dressage lady soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Spring graduation is this week...I am going on down to see LIz graduate...can you believe that is has already been three months.  Wow.  I miss all of you guys.  Sigh.

Ok, well it would be great to hear from someone sometime...remember I need addresses.  Ok well I am going to go ride Mac now.  I hope to hear from you guys soon.

-Frodo

So life up here is interesting.  I hate my current job, but the good news is that I have a second interview for a teaching position!!!  I hope that I get that job, cause I am so done with this crazy Dressage lady.  I hate her and I hate it there.  So hopefully that will go well. 

I was given a horse trailer, so I think I might actually show Mac some this summer.  That should be kinda fun.  I think.  My 5 year old cousin is going to show Pretty Baby.  That is going to be super cute.

I just bought a whole bunch of jumps, so I am really excited about that.  I have a couple course in my mind that I just want to go set up and jump.  YEAH.

SO that is about it.  It would be nice to hear from people sometime (wink wink)

-Frodo

MAC GOT IN A TRAILER.  MAC GOT IN A TRAILER.  MAC GOT IN A TRAILER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  And it only took 20 minutes. :-)

-Frodo (in case anyone was wondering)

K...so this made me miss jump class! This looks like something we'd c at the manor! except shes not touching flag! its so fun! go look! http://youtube.com/watch?v=FCIugid_bT8&mode=related&search=

Rachel-i got ur message, im soo bad bout calling back cuz u guys r to far ahead of me! by the time i call people its this time and i dont think ud love me n e more if i wake u up! i will call u soon when i have time during normal hours! I miss u!