Amy Fitzgerald's Blog

My Foal

2009-12-04T15:39:00.000Z

I have a chestnut colt foal called Fraggle Rock, I have yet to pick a stable name. He is mostly Irish Draught and growing quickly. I am becoming quite fond of him and he led today for his first time with a leadrope and headcollar, he was much more cooperative than I thought he would be and becoming less nervous by the minute. I am looking forward to him growing up so that I can ride him. He enjoys his life in the field with two other fillies although I wish Ireland was a bit warmer, particulrly at this time of the year so he would not feel cold on the bitter days.

Training week in La Santa, Lanzarote

2009-12-04T15:34:00.000Z

I was away at Club La Santa in Lanzarote last week for one week. This is my fourth time returning and I had even more fun than ever. Club La Santa is a sports resort where you can have a chance to try out many sports, ask the experts, chill out in the wellness centre and partake in wonderful classes such as yoga, pilates, aerobics, tai chi, spinning etc. I ran two races out of four of the International running challenge. I kept to the 8 mile ridge run which after a 4 mile climb took me across the magnificent peak where I could look out into the warm Atlantic ocean and hail the view of the surrounding islands. I ran the 5k beach run at Peurto Del Carmen through very nice soft sand and boy was I hurting at the end of that! It was all made worthwhile with a refreshing dip in the Atlanic. I gave my first shot at an aquathalon which is a swim and run, and I participated in a team triathlon where I took the cycling leg. I was exhilerated by this, first a 5 mile cycle all uphill to the next village with the second half of the race full throttle downhill in daredevil style. We topped off our busy days with team outings to the beach for body boarding, games and to the restaurants with one educational visit to a michelin star restaurant at Playa Blanca.
One of my highlights, well there are two actually. The first was the opportunity to go snorkeling on the coast line of lanzarote where I could feed the beautifully coloured marine fish in their natural habitat in crystal clear water. The second was watching the Belgian track and field team training, they were perfection. With tailored physiques and tailored routines, I watched in awe and envy, although, I am not going to tell them!

Tai Chi With James Shaw

2009-10-07T13:48:00.000+01:00

Sunday was a great day for me. I really looked forward to my clinic with James, I was so relaxed and healed by the last one. Unfortunately, the horse I was supposed to take that morning lost a shoe, anyway, Rosalind Mackey, the girl who hosts the course, gave me her horse on loan. We discused the 3 way movement of the seat (femur, pelvis and lower back) freeing them through the walk. We spoke about the Ming Mung or the gate in the lower back and breathing out through it. We worked with body weight and slight changes in the mechanics of riding to create a connection and a non blocking way of moving in harmony with the horse. It was very relaxing and an elightening day.

"To know others is wisdom, to know yourself is enlightenment"

"Art is long and life is short"

National Amatuer Championships

2009-09-14T17:43:00.000+01:00

Great day on Saturday in Kill with the Amateur champs, pity there was not more people, the recession has really hit that sector. What a pain in the ass. First round, I forgot where I was going and faced my horse to a fence far too late which resulted in a refusal and me hitting the deck. The next competition 1.10m was more successful, I cleared and got through to the jump off. I did not go for it in the jump off, but I cleared it. A good day and lots of fun. Rambo Jack my mount had a super time too, he has been out in the field for the last month since the Dublin Horse Show. Jack is a bit famous too, he was an actor and starred in the Hit TV series Rough Diamond.

The McKen Run

2009-09-08T10:50:00.000+01:00

I had a great time at the McKen run, Ard Cath, Co. Meath on Sunday. Hoards of youngsters and hunting fanatics do this to warm up for the hunting season. Groups of 20 are sent out with a lead and tail rider across acres of unspoilt valleys to school horses. The buzz is fantastic and you are out for a few hours. The fences are not too high and alot are optional, however, you do not know what is coming next and you just keep on going. I gave most a stab and loved the variety in terrain, galloping downhill and steep descents into the small rivers were fun. My horse was great, a young sport horse by Colin Diamond. He was so clever, he knew how to set himself up and was worth leaving alone. Leyla had 2 classic falls, once bucked off and the second throw into the stream, fully submerged and walked on. She was fine though, she was challenging the horse.

Wrecked

2009-09-02T21:11:00.000+01:00

Ok, I am very tired today. I have increased my training and I actually feel tired from it which is a good sign. I needed a snooze before I took my class for circuits, I am awake again now. It is so great to be healthy tired. Swimming rocks, I have been twice already this week. For me swimming brings everything together. Saunas in the winter, oh yes!

Great Day - Kelly Marks and Mick Dowling

2009-09-01T23:23:00.002+01:00

Looking back on today it was a gift to me. I am so lucky to have watched a fantastic horsewoman at work and then train with the best boxer and boxing coach in the country. Their worlds are miles apart but I certainly achieved my maximum with both today.

To start with, Kelly Marks travelled to Ireland to give a seminar with the BHS in Thornton Park Equestrian centre in North Dublin. Most of all, I really enjoyed Kelly's calmness and passion for what she does, her empathy and willingness to listen, to be in the presence of these qualities fills you with patience and gratitude. Kelly had our undivided attention as she animated her way through the explaination of the learning patterns of horses, positive and negative reinforcement, using humans as her models.
I am the first to become dubious when I hear the term "natural horsemanship" being thrown about. To me, natural horsemanship seems obvious and reeks common sense - that is, if you prod a horse with a pin and he becomes agitated, stop poking him with the pin and so on. Knowing horses when you spend time with them everyday becomes almost like reading your closest friend, you get to know what does and does not work for them, what will upset them and the best ways to deal with them, not always perfectly but you do build up a store of methods that helps you and your partner to get along. To me, Kelly Marks is a wonderful woman and a very effective facilitator of her technique however I do think that in some way, anyone who spends time around horses and makes a serious effort to understand them is a natural horse person.
I did learn alot from Kelly though, I guess I just like to keep a perspective on the matter. The main lesson for me was to watch and learn from her experience and to always think about a kinder and more intellegent method to work around situations, always look outside the box. I also took the time to think in another way how I can be a more effective rider. I know about perfect practice, good coaching and self observation, however, watching the experiment with the 6 fortunate volounteers offered another way for me to examine myself. Watching the puzzled expression of the volounteers as they tried to achieve a task with a simple "yes" or "no" as their only guide, gave me a snapshot into the horses frustration at times and at least explains to me when they are not doing what I want it to do maybe they don''t understand, maybe I don't understand or maybe, the language is not clear enough or timed well enough. The tasks the volounteers needed to achieve were very black or white, for example, one girl needed to be directed to a part of the arena to open a gate - this is a very tangible result, she either did it or not and it was easy for us to see however, when we work with our horses, there seems to be alot of incongruity when it comes to us knowing exactly when to reward and when to punish, do we know all along the training ladder when we should say yes or no so that the horse can be maximised all the way? Do any of us know what end result we are trying to achieve? No, this is not written in any book although broad guidelines are documented. If we could tap into this a bit more and explain it in words when and why we react when we do I think we could open up another level of understanding although great horse masters find it so difficult to part with this knowledge. (I secretly believe that our philosophy and approach to training is vital, we can never be sure what is around the corner).

Other interesting topics we touched on - the practical demonstration of using the Dually halter and the appropriately timed application of pressure and release for a difficult loader. The lowering of the horses head will decrease adrenaline levels, think about those travelling boots a hidrance really? And the curse of knowledge, we have become immune with our knowledge to those who need us to help them.

One question which remains unanswered for me is this: When a horse backs away and pressure is applied with the halter, lets say, you hang onto them at the end of your lunge line all the time they resist however the moment you release, even before the horse gives in, the horse moves forward immediately. I think this is something to do with the transfer of energy under the principle that any force is met with an equal and opposite force, that when they pull back, they create a spring in their back end and once the force of the handler is released, all that horse can do is release the spring resulting in steps forward. Some people suggested something in there psychology with the pressure realease. I am do not buy into that.

Mick, I will save him for another day. In contrast.

End of summer

2009-08-31T16:02:00.000+01:00

It is well and truely over, summer. It amuses me how at this time of year we settle back into our routines which seem to be mostly determined by the Academic calander. Even though our miserable weather begins for the winter months, it is as though we do more things, stick to a plan and engage in even better habits. I want to be included!