No family braggin rights here!

I know my husband's been checking this blog, waiting for me to admit defeat at the first shoot of the year. So admit I will, however, all in all, I didn't do too shabby. I did win my division, have some great runs and am now officially an L3. Not bad for a first time out for the year. I did, however, lose to my greatest and most favorite opponent, my husband. Patrick ripped through the stages, even beating out some of New England's known best. I am quite proud, which in reality also gives me bragging rights as his wife to tell everyone how well my husband is doing.
So things went well for the Pages, but not for everyone. There were 32 riders total, many competing for the first time. Before the shoot starts any new riders or riders on new horses must complete a new rider/horse stage. It basically is to show the Rangemaster and Match Director that they can ride safely through a course and that their horse accepts the gunfire. Many times people will attend a clinic, not practice at home then come to their first shoot without a trained horse. This can be very dangerous. A few years ago a new horse almost went through a fence during a shoot at a fair packed with spectators. This horse had no business being in the arena and by the look on the horses face I'm sure he'd agree. It was not only dangerous but gives the sport a bad name. We now require riders who are new or have new horses to complete a run successfully before being allowed to enter the competition. The problem is different people have different definitions of what "successfully" means. ......... On Sunday we had quite a few "young guns" as I call them. Young guns are new shooters who are experienced riders but not experienced mounted shooters. They try to tear through the new rider/horse stage to prove that they know what they're doing. One of these young guns did a face plant in the sand at the end of the rundown and another almost went through the fence before also meeting with the sand. Things are a bit different when you're alone out in the arena with people watching. The horses know the difference, experience or not, people need to take it a bit easy at their first shoot. I've seen horses rear before each shot, I've seen people go out and lead a horse and rider through part of the course until they were at the back end of the arena and only had the rundown to complete, so of course the horse completed the rundown to get the heck out of the arena!!! In most cases, these horses and riders were allowed to compete. We had a few of these situations on Sunday which made for an entertaining yet scary shoot at times.
We also had a slippery spot right around a barrel turn on stage 2. There were 3 horses that went down around the barrel, feet slipping out beneath them. This was the same spot someone went down during warm-ups yet neither the rangemaster or match director made an effort to correct the problem. As a CMSA Certified Rangemaster, I said something to the match director that I had been told it was clay underneath the sand in that spot. He replied that it couldn't be as the area was an old river bed and is gravel. I would have shifted the course so the barrel wasn't over clay and in a dangerous place but nothing was done. The horses continued going down. Many riders decided to take the turn extra wide and slow down. I decided to trot going into, around and away from the barrel as I tend to be overly cautious being responsible for two young souls. It killed my time on that stage but at least I was safe as was my horse. Stage 2 was tense, luckily no one was hurt other than a few bruises.
So other than a few issues things went great. The weather was good except a bit windy which added some challenge to shooting the targets. It was wonderful to see all my friends I hadn't seen all winter. I'm looking forward to the next shoot we'll attend in 3 weeks. Until then, I have some things to work on to improve my times. I'm also going to try and mix things up a bit and get out on trail more. Both Kitt & I get bored just riding in the arena. It's always fun to trail ride with 2 .45's on my waist and see the reaction from people we meet along the way. It opens the door to talk about my sport, which I love doing.
So at the end of the day at my first shoot of the year, I had respectable times and felt good about my performance and Kitt's. I have yet to get the smug look off Patrick's face.

Let the Games Begin !!

Well, it's time. Time to see just how far we've come (or not) this spring with getting ourselves and our horses ready for the first shoot of the year. Yes, it's time for the annual Mothers Day shoot. I alway find it difficult to have a shoot on Mothers Day. Not that I mind not being able to be waited on hand and foot for the entire day(yeah, right) because I'm too busy dressing, grooming and competing. My issue is alway finding a babysitter. Yup, that's my issue. A babysitter. No youth who appreciates mom's good cooking would dare to bug out on dear old mom on her day of pampering. Fortunately, due to the economy (there is a good side to everything!), after exhaughsting my long list of babysitters, I found Brooke. She is the best friend of one of my regular sitters (one who dares to not bug out!) and Brooke's Mom felt it best she take the opportunity to make some money while an opportunity presents itself. Now that's my kind of Mom!!
So Kitt and I are ready. At least as ready as we ever are for the first shoot of the season. Actually, I feel more ready than I have in the past at first shoots. I'm not too sure about how ready Kitt is though. She's been a bit off on her canter to the left. I started giving her some Vitamin E thinking it may be a bit of hind end weakness due to the lack of lush, green grass available. Ok, give credit to the vet for that suggestion. She's also still coming off of a few months winter rest and I find it does take a while to get back into the swing of things. I have a feeling as soon as she hears the gunfire she'll get a bit more kick in her step.
My husband, on the other hand, is more than ready. He's been consumed with bettering himself and the connection he has with his horse, Tucker. Last summer it took until mid July for Patrick to get in the mood. My how things change. This past fall he took a stock horse clinic at River Fare Farms in Webster with a clinician named Tom Neel. Well, my husband hasn't been the same rider since. There is more cowboy than I ever thought I'd see in my cyclist husband. He gets Tucker moving out, rolling back, changing leads like nothing I've ever seen him do with that horse. To say Patrick is ready for this first shoot is an understatement. He's not just ready, he's looking forward to whipping my butt! I can see it in his eyes. The Page family contest is much more important and competitive than any state, regional or even national competition we could ever compete in. It's a matter of family bragging rights. And we take every opportunity we get to brag to other family members and friends about who is on top at the moment. It's fun, especially when you get to be the bragger!
So this Mothers Day I'll get out and enjoy my horse and husband. That evening I'll enjoy my children and thank God for allowing me to be a Mother for there is nothing more important and special than that. I'll enjoy the day with a smile on my face, thinking about my Mother, Marie Woody, who watches me from heaven every day.
So let the games begin........

Spring has Sprung!

There comes a time up here in New Hampshire when most horsepeople people sort of retreat and start the waiting game. We wait for Spring. This waiting game usually starts sometime mid January, when Winter starts feeling real long, and ends when we actually know Spring is here to stay. You see, the weather likes to play games with us in the early months of the year by tempting us with warm weather for a few days or even a week, then it quickly changes back to very cold, rainy weather. I can't tell you how many times I tell Kitt that Social Security is over and it's time to get back to work, only to get in one, maybe two good workouts before she's back to rest again for a week or so. It's real hard to get both myself and my horses in shape for the upcoming shooting season when the weather plays games like this. However, I'm happy to announce that Spring has sprung around here, the spring is back in my step and I'm truly able to start getting ready for the upcoming season. Not that there aren't other obstacles to overcome, such as painting the house (this weekend), mending fence posts, planting the garden (my children WILL know how to grow food for themselves)and other such spring tasks. It is obvious that spring is here. Even the horses realize it. Last night we had a beautiful rainbow off in the distance and a Tom Turkey with his harem gallivanting around. The horses were quite interested in the turkeys and when the Tom started strutting Kitt kicked up her heels and ran around the pasture to let him know this was HER territory. I don't think it much affected him. With 7 hens he was obviously having a great day.
So tonight I'll leave the store to head home to pick up my paint brush and thank goodness Spring is here. Hopefully, at some point this weekend, I'll actually ride my horse too!

What Defines You?

My view on life is that it is a Journey. My life and the way I live my life changes as I go through my journey. I don't let anything "define" me except the fact that I am married to my husband and I have two children that I am a Mother to. The husband part will never change. I guess I'm from the old school that marriage really means a lifetime commitment and he will be my husband forever. Knowing that my husband feels the same is what made marrying him an extra bonus. I don't think I would have ever been married unless I fell in love with someone of the same mind. As for the kid part, I hear in the early teens they may feel like they don't need a mother anymore, however they can't shake me that easily. I am forever their mother and I will remind them of that throughout their teen years and beyond if necessary! For now, at the ripe old ages of 4 & 6 they tell me they'll live with me forever and that's just fine with me! Other than that, my journey keeps me constantly on my toes and I like that!
Too many times I meet people who hold positions in an organization, club or business and you can tell they'd be lost without being in that position. They let their position define them. I've seen it happen all too many times. Some plan it and want to be defined by their position because they want the power it brings, others have just been involved for so long they don't know how to not be involved. Either way, it's unhealthy. It's unhealthy for both the individual and the business, club or organization.
I'm involved in lots of different positions, committees and jobs. I am 1st Vice-President of the NH Quarter Horse Association, Youth Advisor, By-Law Committee co-chair, Versatile Horse Committee co-chair, Membership Committee co-chair, Nomination Committee co-chair, AQHA Region 6 Director, AQHA Region 6 Versatile Horse Committee Chair a member of the AQHA Leadership 2008 Team and a Daisy Girl Scout Co-Leader ! Whew! Hope I didn't forget anything. I am involved in all of the above for different reasons but it all comes back to this - I'm in the position to work it and make it better so the next person who steps in can work it more and continue to grow the organization, business or club from their accomplishments - and so on. It is the people who enter into a commitment and have no foresight into their future journey except still holding on to that position who let the wrong things define them. When they eventually leave or are "dismissed" from their position, it can be so wrenching because they haven't looked past being "that person". They don't know what to do. It's destructive to them personally and professionally and disrupts many more than just themselves.
Today we saw a President leave office. He held office for 2 terms, 8 years and it was his time to go. Now the Country has a new beginning. If we leave ourselves open to our journey who knows where we'll end up. I'm looking forward to passing along some of my positions to others and feel excited to see what a new view will bring. By leaving myself open to many opportunities my Journey is and has been an exciting one. My job and volunteer positions will never define me, I have too much to do yet in my life. So what defines you?

How it is.....REALLY

This past Christmas season has brought many new faces into my store and many familiar faces too. One of the most popular questions from all of my customers is "how is business". Now you see, the question isn't just asked. There is always a negative sound in the voice of those asking. I guess because these days we're all filled with doom and gloom from the radio and television, so it's easy to pick up on that mantra. I really enjoy my customers and many come here because they enjoy me, I'd hope anyway! So when the question is asked I can tell they're ready to chime in with some cheer even though they ask with a bit of hesitation. Many are rendered speechless when I answer, "It's fine actually. Yes, we've had to make some changes. I'm in more and some employee hours have been cut, but by doing so we're in ok shape and expect to remain in ok shape until things turn around a bit and become fantastic!" Once the customer loosens up and realizes a bit of cheering up isn't necessary we chat and catch up. One of the bonuses about my store is I not only carry western tack but also western clothing and boots. Clothing and boots sell all year long and the winter is no exception. If I had to rely on tack sales alone my customers would have quite a cheering up job to do when they walked in, if there was even a place to still walk into. I'm one of the fortunate ones, or maybe even one of the smart ones (ok hubby, you get credit for this one too!). By having both tack and clothes I'm able to make sales year round. There is no "down time" so even though sales aren't what they were a year ago, they're still there and more than enough for us to weather this storm. I look forward to Spring when tack sales will increase again and we're back in the thick of it.
But for now things are fine.......REALLY!

Yes, I am High Point NH !

In 2008, I won the title of NH High Point Cowgirl in Cowboy Mounted Shooting. This is very exciting for me and quite a nice title to hold. I wasn't even going for a High Point win. With two young children, my husband and I don't travel far to many shoots and therefore aren't as competitive as many other shooters. There are some who will travel to all the shoots in New England and even further "chasing points". For now, the only things we chase are named Lexington and Liberty, age 4 & 6. That's fine with us. This is the family time in our lives and there is absolutely nothing more important than our children. For now we try to make every NH shoot and some in Mass. We love winning the State Championships and Regional's in our levels, which both my husband and I have done numerous times, and proudly wear the buckles we win. So when I realized I was heading toward a High Point Cowgirl win I started to get excited. Unfortunately, there were ladies "chasing points" in NH and my win sort of took them by surprise. There have been no congratulations, no "good job"s, only disappointed riders who are explaining away why they didn't win this year, but should have. There were jammed guns, cancelled matches, bad weather, off days. Actually, people are doing exactly what my husband does after each shoot. He will pick through the results of each stage, his time, how many misses, and quickly point out that his time was better than so and so's and he would have beat him in that stage if he hadn't missed the balloon, which would have put him ahead of him so in REALITY... he would have won!! There! Now he feels better. Until I gently remind him that he DIDN'T ride clean and "what if's" don't count in Mounted Shooting. Once I've lovingly burst his bubble I remind him that the results should show him how he can improve so the next time he will actually beat so and so and not have to "excuse it to happen".
The reason I took High Point this year is simple. I was consistent. Not always the fastest, not always the cleanest shot, but consistent. One of the things I love about Mounted Shooting (aside from the cool clothes) is that it's not always the fastest or the best shot that wins, it's the one who combines all their skills the best. And this year I did just that. There are many that ride faster than I do. There are many that are better shots or have more experience. But this year, in 2008,I had the most overall points of the Cowgirls in NH. It was my year, no excuses.
My theory behind improving is to go at the speed in which you can get all the shots and build your speed from there. In my third year of competing I'm getting faster and I've always been a good shot because I go the speed in which I can shoot, usually clean. Therefore I'm consistent and consistently getting faster. That's why I won. And to all you nay sayers, I deserved it!! It get's tiring hearing why people didn't win and getting the feeling that many believe I didn't deserve it. It takes away from those of us who did win and deserve feeling proud of their title. So for the entire year of 2009, I will proudly bear the title of High Point New Hampshire Cowgirl in 2008 and this year, I'll work on defending my title!!!

Let it Snow !!

So close to Christmas I don't mind the snow at all. Having two young children makes it even better. We're in the middle of a storm right now and my kids are home safely with my husband while I stay here at the store waiting to help those customers brave enough to venture out in bad weather. It doesn't surprise me that we get quite a few customers during the bad weather. Horse people have trucks, trucks with good tires, and we don't mind making our way out in any weather. It is especially nice so close to Christmas when you know non-horse owners, or people without trucks, are staying home clearing the way for us to shop to our hearts content with short, if any, lines.
I'll probably arrive home with a freshly made snowman by our walkway and the smell of chicken baking in the oven (ok, now I'm starting to let my mind wander a bit) Hopefully some laundry will be done and the house will be somewhat clean. We still have one big chore to do and with this snowfall I feel we're a bit behind. You see, my kids love to sled, most do I presume. Our backyard is perfect for sledding until you get to the bottom of the hill where it drops off quite sharply down to the arena we built a few years ago. At the first big snowfall we pull out the snowmobiles and make a track down the hill which banks at the bottom to steer the sleds to the left before they are able to go over the hill....or so we thought. It worked well until last year...one icy day that I shouldn't have had the kids out sledding. The kids made a few runs down and things were going well. Then for some reason my son, Lexington, only 3 at the time, didn't bank to the left. His sled went up over the banking due to the ice and headed towards the steep hill (ok, cliff, about 20 feet down). I yelled for him to jump but of course as he later told me, he was too scared. I started running down the hill, thigh deep in snow, still yelling for him to jump off before he went over. All of a sudden his little hat disappeared over the cliff and he was no where in sight. I yelled back up to my daughter, still at the top of the hill by our house, to go get daddy...quick. I made my way to the edge and looked over...sitting at the bottom was Lexington, a bit scared but looking unharmed. I jumped and tumbled down the hill (believe me, not as graceful as you see in the movies)ran over and checked him over for any injuries. He was fine, a bit shaken but proud of his sledding skills. We looked at the cliff and it seemed like the sled had been airborne, bouncing only once on the way down until landing correctly at the bottom. Just then my husband came down via snowmobile to see what was going on. Lex gladly jumped on the back and headed back up the hill. I sat quietly in the middle of the snow covered arena with tears streaming down my face, realizing how close we came to a serious injury. To this day Lex still talks with pride about his sled jump. My husband & I now purchase extra hay in the Fall to create a banking at the bottom of the hill that no one, not even an adventurous youngster, can make it over. My chore for the evening is to make sure the hay is lined up so the sledding season can begin...safely.