tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post993619949502628722..comments2024-01-03T03:28:48.980-07:00Comments on mugwump Chronicles: Mort - Finding NichesMugwumphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01487540636265322556noreply@blogger.comBlogger46125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-90525055581451782212009-08-03T23:51:22.146-06:002009-08-03T23:51:22.146-06:00That was just sooooo wrong...but I always know tha...That was just sooooo wrong...but I always know that what goes around comes around...lil' miss Karen (I'm embarrassed that I share her name) will, or maybe already has, have her day...I probably won't be pleasant for her.<br /><br />I do love your Mort stories though!gtyyuphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02402170522183324256noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-65410917900544478962009-08-03T05:32:13.372-06:002009-08-03T05:32:13.372-06:00Thanks Gillian and Manymisadventures. Gillian, i&#...Thanks Gillian and Manymisadventures. Gillian, i'd like to try dressage some day, but the thought of wearing jodhpurs.. Ah maybe someday.<br /><br />I wondering because mugs describes her cue for TOF as <br />"I shift weight to my inside (left ) seat bone.Press my inside calf into Pancho's belly, at about the back cinch.<br />Bend his nose slightly to the inside. (left)" <br />and then her leg yield (from Gotta Get That Lead Change) as <br />"I'll contain her front end with my hands, and push her outside leg towards her inside front with my outside seat bone, and my outside leg, just in front of my back cinch." <br />So i was wondering if the leg positions are slightly different or if it is the forward motion that seperates the cues for the horse (in the cow-horse world).<br /><br />Then later Mugs says "I will lope many, many large circles. I will push Fluffy's hip to the inside of my circle often" So that leads to another question of mine, what then stops the horse from legyielding rather than moveing its hips to the inside, do you block the shoulders with your inside leg?<br /><br />Sorry about the long post and derailing the topic or it comes out wrong, I should have waited till the next training post sorry. I'm probably just over complicating things and need to just go out there and get it done.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-42720567310884509722009-08-02T22:55:44.535-06:002009-08-02T22:55:44.535-06:00I know I'm kinda jealous of mugs.
I've b...I know I'm kinda jealous of mugs. <br /><br />I've been riding for over ten years. Most of the time I got a lesson a week from college kids who only vaguely knew what they were talking about, on horses that were donated to the program. (Most of them were <i>not</i> donated for the tax deduction if you catch my drift.) Only now, after being a working student at this barn for two years (three summers now) am I getting comfortable enough to go out and ride around at any kind of speed. I know she worked her teenaged butt off for it, and its all working out pretty well for me now, but the stories of tearing around all over the place bareback still make me wonder wistfully what might have been if I had been able to ride more often as a kid. <br /><br />Of course, I also still struggle to not hate those gorgeous little tiny blonde girls with similarly gorgeous ponies and such wonderful balance. They get to jump and everything even though they still post with their hands; while I at that age wasn't allowed to even canter because they thought I would fly out of the saddle. So maybe I'm just a little jealously prone already.gillianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12116128687769268871noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-13373777586138330382009-08-02T17:34:45.837-06:002009-08-02T17:34:45.837-06:00amarygma--you know, I corresponded with mugwump ab...amarygma--you know, I corresponded with mugwump about what you said, because I, too, thought you were picking up on accurate nuances in the piece and not picking on mugs. We chatted about it awhile, and I think you are right that Karen was jealous of mugs (in some ways) and sort of paying her back. I don't know if I was right or wrong, but I said I felt you were a fan of mugwump and just pointing out something that was, in fact, implied in the piece. And I don't think you were entirely wrong. Mugwump was I think, a very good horseman, with a lot of "feel", even at fifteen (which most of us weren't) and there was reason for her friend to feel envious. Of course, that doesn't excuse Karen's behavior, but hhey, they're still friends, so I guess it all worked out.Laura Crumhttp://www.lauracrum.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-19761648913145844042009-08-02T14:12:54.745-06:002009-08-02T14:12:54.745-06:00@gillian. Thank you! Exactly.
Instead of just wa...@gillian. Thank you! Exactly. <br /><br />Instead of just wanting to kick Karen HARD, I want to know why she acted that way. <br /><br />We only have half the story, and I was curious that since they obviously still talk and are friends if Mugs knew the other half yet, or that pretty much just was all there was to the story. Didn't know if she left out Karen's motivations because it confuses the telling (POV) or compromises the emotions she wanted to write about. Mugs may be a journalist, but this is an autobiographical piece and so she has more freedoms to do artsy things like that. <br /><br />It may be that Karen never fully explained why she acted that way and by now has forgotten the motivations, so we may never know. <br /><br />I'm sorry my hypothesization sounded more like accusation. Wasn't supposed to.amarygmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08710889429149749284noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-30677019699007636722009-08-02T10:22:07.675-06:002009-08-02T10:22:07.675-06:00Anon
If you havent already, definitely read this: ...Anon<br />If you havent already, definitely read this: http://mugwumpchronicles.blogspot.com/2008/06/turn-on-forehand-bwaa-ha-ha-ha.htmlgillianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12116128687769268871noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-67036013773616047042009-08-01T23:00:42.401-06:002009-08-01T23:00:42.401-06:00And hey Anon - don't know how mugs does it, bu...And hey Anon - don't know how mugs does it, but in the dressage world, here's how I understand it to work.<br /><br />A leg yield, wherein the horse keeps its body straight with a slight bend (away from the direction of travel) and moves away from your leg, goes like this. Say you're leg yielding from right to left. Your right leg squeezes at the girth while your left remains slightly behind the girth to keep the haunches from swinging out, and your outside (left) rein controls the shoulder.<br /><br />In a TOF, moving the haunches again around to the left, you move your right leg <i>behind</i> the girth and leave your left leg relaxed. <br /><br />Essentially, when you want sideways movement or bend, the leg is at the girth. When you want the hindquarters moving over, you use your leg behind the girth.manymisadventureshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00269126419483167938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-57580972360236800662009-08-01T22:56:55.775-06:002009-08-01T22:56:55.775-06:00Man, I know that feeling, where it seems like ever...Man, I know that feeling, where it seems like everyone else is in on some big joke at your expense and nobody's on your side. <br /><br />It sounds like there were some adults there that were doing their best to guide you in the right direction, though.<br /><br />I used to struggle a lot, especially with Bailey, with losing my temper. It was all my problem - I'd feel so humiliated and frustrated when we did badly. I don't know if it mostly went away in me from getting older or from just learning to be patient with horses, but not taking it out on your partner seems to be a lesson that most riding kids have to learn.manymisadventureshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00269126419483167938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-9912308588507735472009-08-01T19:26:01.965-06:002009-08-01T19:26:01.965-06:0015 is tough. 15 with a competitive streak is extra...15 is tough. 15 with a competitive streak is extra tough. Reading this my sympathies go out to both karen's and mugs' 15 year old selves. <br /><br />Also, amarygma I'm thinking your post wasn't trying to be a rude as it came off. As a person whose phrased things poorly myself, I think you were mostly curious about the grownup perspective compared to the 15 year old perspective mugs wrote so brilliantly. <br /><br />Is that fair to say? <br /><br />Normally I dont get involved in these things, but mugwump chronicles is usually such a happy place I want to test my theory that you are not an exception to that rule.gillianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12116128687769268871noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-22702248857727686972009-08-01T18:15:32.237-06:002009-08-01T18:15:32.237-06:00Mocharocks.. Aww comeon surely there is someone yo...Mocharocks.. Aww comeon surely there is someone you can count on :p.<br /><br />Was Karen intentionally being mean or did she just get overwhelmed by competitive thoughts? <br /><br />Mugs, were you still going to do that sidepass post? My head is about to explode concerning lateral movements. Such as what is the actual cueing difference between a TOF and a legyield apart from forward movement? Or am i just over complicating things again ?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-69402932763463656282009-08-01T13:04:48.181-06:002009-08-01T13:04:48.181-06:00You're right...today's moms seem to be muc...You're right...today's moms seem to be much more in the picture. Growing up I never told my mother anything I didn't absolutely have to. She didn't have a clue about how we spent most days, let alone how we got along with our friends.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-42849048914373538192009-08-01T09:51:22.876-06:002009-08-01T09:51:22.876-06:00spottedmonster- they have to let you see there are...spottedmonster- they have to let you see there are issues first. If you asked Karen's Mom about us as kids she will tell you we stuck together like glue (true) we pushed each other to excel (true) she was my "show mom" (true) and we got along all of the time (whoop! whoop! whoop! false).<br />We never, ever, let an adult in on our issues. <br />Keep in mind, Karen and I survived it all and are still friends to this day. The good drefinitely out-weighed the bad.<br />I don't think we were unusual for that time either.mugwumphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00319060800328355056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-27534308406163747222009-08-01T08:38:32.305-06:002009-08-01T08:38:32.305-06:00My daughter and her friend compete against each ot...My daughter and her friend compete against each other on a regular basis and haven't had any issues...but we haven't hit the teenage years yet:)spottedmonsterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17823787340336079380noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-77841467276893331762009-07-31T15:55:16.425-06:002009-07-31T15:55:16.425-06:00Some people are helpful and sharing of their knowl...Some people are helpful and sharing of their knowledge and some are not. I always try to help, though I'm usually the one people are shaking their head and pitying, I'm sure. I've been known to go outside and cry at clinics, but I keep trying, and learning, as did Mugwump! As long as none of us hangs up our saddle for good, we are still learning.Redsmomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03473393390441394419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-7172451087166091862009-07-31T15:10:27.496-06:002009-07-31T15:10:27.496-06:00I had a "friend" pull this on me at my f...I had a "friend" pull this on me at my first eventing horse trial, tho I was an adult and could handle the emotions a little better.<br /><br />She coaxed me into entering, saying it was simple, and fun, and I'd love it. I took my hunter, who would jump anything and was good on the trails. Figured it would be a fun outing.<br /><br />We arrived so late at the competition that I nearly missed my dressage test. (My "dressage" those days was ridden like a hunter hack, but oh well, no glaring problems because I didn't know the difference.) The real trouble was the cross-country course. I had no time to walk the course beforehand; my friend said "oh, just follow the hoofprints and you'll be fine." Right. I got lost, of course, and wandered around looking for the next jump (no handy numbers on them like in the jumper ring!) and even asked the nice people sitting in the woods, but they wouldn't answer. Turns out that if the jump judges speak to you, you'd be disqualified--but hey, I didn't know that. Eventually, I just jumped a jump that was handy, and was promptly told by the non-speaking jump judges that I was eliminated for being off course. I headed back to the start in disgrace, but jumped another jump or two just for fun on the way.<br /><br />I was embarrassed and as soon as I could got hold of a rule book and then was even more mortified to see just how many things I did wrong!<br /><br />It was actually a valuable lesson for me, in taking responsibility for my own ride. It was also a good thing to learn about that "friend". Never was sure if it was carelessness on her part, or on purpose. Hmmm.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-66938098613510534192009-07-31T14:02:21.637-06:002009-07-31T14:02:21.637-06:00Relax Mugs. I said I was playing Devil's Advoc...Relax Mugs. I said I was playing Devil's Advocate, my comments were full of question marks and "maybe"s because I'm not pretending to actually have a clue as to what kind of a kid you were then. It was why I was asking, which I think is fair. You're writing things as you remember them, and things like that are always going to be colored with how you felt at that time. <br /><br />You've said you loved to tear around on Mort, going fast. You said in this story that you figured you'd be a "shoo in." I haven't been keeping a detailed timeline, but it was with Mort I believe you said you'd do the fast races, the 75 up and back, and YOU said you'd tease Karen because her mom wouldn't let her rile her horse up on the speed events. <br /><br />Maybe you weren't a braggart, but maybe Karen was jealous of all of your misadventures and the teasing? Maybe you belittled her event more than was just joking? I have no idea.<br /><br />You said "I had grown into quite a smart-ass in my teen age years, as the nuns at Benet Hill could attest." <br /> <br />You describe diving through snowbanks, galloping across town racing Melinda, diving into the lake. If you were able to describe them back then to her with any of the excitement you can describe them today, I'd imagine she could be a little jealous and challenged.<br /><br />Maybe she'd want to show you up.<br /><br />I think I woulda been pretty proud as a kid to win some tiny day shows. Um, I think I'd be pretty proud now. <br /><br />I've met kids around the barn that tear ass around out of control, velcro-butt their way through some dangerous situations, and are FULL of sass about it. Anyone tells them different then they're a sissy. <br /><br />It's not like, an impossible thought, especially at that age when so many (myself included) teens are a little snappy about being told to do stuff, you've described yourself as such, and so maybe MAYBE you had put a prodded Karen a little too far this time, and that was my question.amarygmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08710889429149749284noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-33996892464225945682009-07-31T12:56:07.020-06:002009-07-31T12:56:07.020-06:00HOC- Oh I knew how lucky I was! It was a miracle I...HOC- Oh I knew how lucky I was! It was a miracle I had my horse. <br />There's nothing a kid can do about their out of wack emotions. I'd love to write about my incredible maturity and the suave, wise ways I handled all the stuff that happened back then, but I was none of those things.mugwumphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00319060800328355056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-36612363135659571582009-07-31T12:46:03.127-06:002009-07-31T12:46:03.127-06:00Well, I am glad I’m not in my mid-teens anymore. ...Well, I am glad I’m not in my mid-teens anymore. Many of the bad things that happened were subtle evils, not easy to address. The sense of helplessness, suppressed anger and feeling of injustice…arrgh.<br />I agree with the comments about Karen’s mom though. Teenagers might behave badly, but if I as a mom bring another kid along, I would make sure to give her the necessary information and take care of her. In particular if it was a first-timer. <br /><br />But you know Mugs, even if the outcome of the competition wasn't as you had hoped, you were still one of the lucky ones to have A Horse Of Your Own. <br />Sigh. I was one of those standing outside the fence drooling.<br />Fortunately none of my Horsaii friends got a horse of their own either. That would have been a disaster!HorseOfCoursehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15907659164579327290noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-38136062580215883182009-07-31T12:37:34.336-06:002009-07-31T12:37:34.336-06:00amarygma- don't know what to tell you.
Super M...amarygma- don't know what to tell you.<br />Super Mort? Excuse me?<br />He was a neurotic runaway with a scarred tongue and torn up face.<br />The shows I placed in?<br />Did I not make it clear they were little tiny day shows?<br />Or how long it took me to place even in those?<br /><br />No, at fifteen nobody had told me how to make a quick release knot.<br />I was one of those scabby kids not many people talked to.<br /><br />My parents let me buy a horse with my own money. They expected me to learn how to care for him and do it. <br /><br />I kept my horse at a $5 a month pasture with sheds.There was one other boarder, another girl my age who knew as much as I did.<br /><br />As for the rest, I just asked my boss if I was, lets see, how did you put it, "a braggart who needed to be humbled," when we were kids and she started laughing.<br /><br />"You were so shy you wouldn't talk to anybody," was her first response.<br /><br />Her second point was, "Why would you bother defending yourself to a person like that?"<br /><br />Good point.mugwumphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00319060800328355056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-10021489269881962072009-07-31T12:08:23.487-06:002009-07-31T12:08:23.487-06:00Gotta wonder, devil's advocate, what kind of k...Gotta wonder, devil's advocate, what kind of kid YOU were really like back then, too! This is all from your perspective, so I just have to wonder. You're not a jerk now or anything, but you never know what kind of a kid you were. Part of being a kid is being a jerk and then learning not to be. <br /><br />Was Karen jealous of you tearing ass around with SuperMort? Did you show off a lot? Goad her into doing things she wasn't comfortable?<br /><br />Had she ever tried telling you these sorts of things before and you were too independent to listen? <br /><br />After this event, did you listen? Did you respect her more? <br /><br />Money alone might have gotten you to the meetings, but surely by 15 SOMEONE had mentioned properly tying up your horse? Placing things safely around him would be just conscientious. Had you scoffed at her going to the meetings? <br /><br />Was this before or after the whole learning to ride more than the speed events (a while back you talked about the day and night classes and the people who had two horses or weren't allowed to fire up their horses in speed events)? After the whole Melinda Moline thing tearing ass around doing crazy stunts? <br /><br />Dunno how apt the thought is, but maybe you were a braggart who needed to be humbled? Maybe you had scoffed the whole thing as "easy" and she just got fed up?amarygmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08710889429149749284noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-24163030356975657442009-07-31T10:32:27.566-06:002009-07-31T10:32:27.566-06:00You know, I'm sure Karen's mom was at the ...You know, I'm sure Karen's mom was at the ride. She placed in her division, I remember that. But I don't remember her in any other context. As kids we blew off the parental thing completely. And to be honest they didn't pay much attention to us.<br />The real funny part of all this is I work for Karen and her mother now. They own the paper I'm writing at.I was training for her mother when they hired me. Life is so strange.mugwumphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00319060800328355056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-73295991061420323532009-07-31T09:31:30.226-06:002009-07-31T09:31:30.226-06:00Ugh- I was that kid struggling along with no money...Ugh- I was that kid struggling along with no money. I didn't start showing until I was 20, and by then I had enough maturity to deal with the frustration and humiliation. <br /><br />Now, as an instructor, I'm super-sensitive to those feelings. I will die inside if a student bursts into tears during a lesson or is choking down those tears.<br /><br />I gotta say, I feel a little relieved that you are willing to share you stories, because it's so real and honest. Not all of us got started off in the horse world "the right way." But we find ways to learn, don't we?Heidi the Hickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00639479864903922047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-22200863320556082212009-07-31T09:06:24.579-06:002009-07-31T09:06:24.579-06:00Great story. I love Mort - what a guy. Since I a...Great story. I love Mort - what a guy. Since I am still new to showing and all, I can really relate to lerning through embarassment and ignorance. I don't have a very thick skin, but I am learning to act as if I do (and cry my tears into lovely smelling manes in private). What doesn't kill us makes us stronger.Redsmomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03473393390441394419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-67112456315486949842009-07-31T08:37:22.685-06:002009-07-31T08:37:22.685-06:00Wow - great story. I felt like I WAS 15 again... ...Wow - great story. I felt like I WAS 15 again... looking forward to more, more, more! :)Shansterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04397551985965117012noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-1747431427639457382009-07-31T08:03:46.295-06:002009-07-31T08:03:46.295-06:00Oh and I meant to say...
this lady was helpful t...Oh and I meant to say... <br /><br />this lady was helpful to this newbie! She really wanted/wants to see us do this. She called to check on him but MOSTLY to make sure I wasn't discouraged! THAT is how people are supposed to be with newbies... not sitting back and watching them flounder ESPECAILLY a teenage girl!?!??! Those years are mortifiying enough...autumnblazehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14261052609848445921noreply@blogger.com