Aspen Park stables, oak meadows, etc (they gave me like, three different names) in Victoria.
Just don't do it.
This is the place my classmate found and asked me to contact and book for a class trail ride.
They advertise safe horses for riders of all ages and skill levels, guided trails through Thetis lake park, and things like kids camps and riding lessons.
The first thing that bugged me about it was our trail guide for our ride was on foot. That's right, he was walking along on foot ahead of the horses. But, fine, if that's how they want to do it. Only, he didn't say a word to us the entire time, just marched along with his head down.
Not like I was doing much chatting. I didn't have the luxury of enjoying a pleasant chat, or the scenery.
In the first five minutes of the trip my horse threw me off. I've got a huge bruise on my side, a very sore neck and knee, and a headache that may be a mild concussion, so I'll be keeping myself awake for some time yet this evening.
I picked myself up, and immediately wanted to return to my car and go home, refund or not I didn't care at that point. The trail guide didn't even ask if I wanted to get back on the horse, he just assumed that I did, and because I didn't want to make everyone else return to the stable so I could quit and go home, I got back on the stupid horse. I should have gone home.
I was willing to believe at first that tossing me into a ditch was an accident. Then she tried it several more times throughout the ride. The reason wasn't because she was spooking either, it was because she was hell bent at getting up and biting the horse in front of me. Her skittering about underneath me, and her constant attempts to shake the reins out of my hands nearly dumped me in the dirt several more times throughout the ride.
And my horse wasn't the only problem, the third one up in the line kept snapping at and trying to fight with the one behind him, the same horse mine wanted to bite, and between the two of them this poor horse in the middle kept darting side to side and forward and back with nowhere to run. I suggested changing the riding order to separate these horses, but nothing was done.
I do have some experience riding horses I know what it feels like to be on a calm even tempered horse, and to have full control over that animal, and at no point did I feel fully in control of this horse. She threw a fit every time I stopped her, pulled against the reins every time I tried to turn her. Her ears were back nearly flat for the entire ride and all I had was 1100 lbs of pissy bitch beneath me. Even had I not been thrown, that horse would have been an issue the entire ride, and I wouldn't have enjoyed it. As it is, I can't tell you guys anything about the trail (other than that it was extremely slippery), or what we saw along the way, because I was too busy concentrating on keeping that horse away from the one she wanted to bite, and avoiding being killed by her whenever she decided she didn't want me in the saddle anymore.
I expressed my concerns to the stable manager. She didn't seem surprised, but was very defensive about her horse. Steer clear of the place. Safe reliable horses for riders of all ages and skill levels my ass. I'm lucky I wasn't seriously injured, and there is a good chance I'll never get on another horse.
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Sunday, November 22, 2009
How to organize group events
I am annoyed.
I should not be nearly as annoyed about this as I am, but I'm just that kind of person.
Back in September, probably about the second week of the course, it was suggested we come up with some exciting group event. Two ideas that were bounced around were:
a) whale watching
b) horseback riding
I believe price was the deciding factor, and inquiries about horseback riding began, or... should have begun.
To be fair, horseback riding was my suggestion, as I had seen a sign on my way to school advertising trail rides and I personally would enjoy a ride through the forest here. It was, however, the person who suggested whale watching who volunteered to call the place and book a trail ride.
Two months later, long after the pleasant weather has ended, on a Thursday afternoon, said organizer decides to go around and see who is actually interested in going for that trail ride. I say sure, count me in, and then don't worry about it anymore. Like I said, I wasn't the one organizing it.
So, yesterday, Saturday, I get this text message. She wants me to call the trail riding place, saying she can't get a phone signal (so, how did she text me?). I agree, and text her back asking her to email me all the information. Now, in my mind, the information required for such an event includes things like the name of the place, the name of the person I am calling, the day she wants to do this trail ride, and how many people I am making a booking for. That last point being one of the most vital, because I can't just show up with nineteen people and expect to have her saddle up nineteen horses without notice, nor can I show up with two people, when she has already saddled nineteen.
What I get is a phone number, that she wants to book for the next day, and that "a bunch of people will cost $35 each".
That's great. So, you want me to book a place with less than 24 hours notice, I have no idea who or where I am calling, and I tell them that 'a bunch' of people are interested?
So I call the place up. Explain that I am calling on behalf of someone else, and that I have very little information. I check that a date in one week, not one day, is clear. I get a time. I ensure that she has enough horses on the off chance that everyone in the class would like to go. Then I tell the lovely patient woman that I will call back and confirm numbers on Monday. Then I send out an email to the class list, giving the date, time, location, and price, along with the Monday deadline for RSVP.
I did, in five minutes, what took the other person to do in 2 months. This is how you plan and book a group event, folks. Set a prospective date with a minimum of one week's notice, ensure the venue is available and able to accommodate your group, inform the group of the date, the location, and the time, set a dealine for RSVP, finalize the reservation with the venue ASAP.
Most importantly:
Don't pass the buck to me! I don't like doing it!
I should not be nearly as annoyed about this as I am, but I'm just that kind of person.
Back in September, probably about the second week of the course, it was suggested we come up with some exciting group event. Two ideas that were bounced around were:
a) whale watching
b) horseback riding
I believe price was the deciding factor, and inquiries about horseback riding began, or... should have begun.
To be fair, horseback riding was my suggestion, as I had seen a sign on my way to school advertising trail rides and I personally would enjoy a ride through the forest here. It was, however, the person who suggested whale watching who volunteered to call the place and book a trail ride.
Two months later, long after the pleasant weather has ended, on a Thursday afternoon, said organizer decides to go around and see who is actually interested in going for that trail ride. I say sure, count me in, and then don't worry about it anymore. Like I said, I wasn't the one organizing it.
So, yesterday, Saturday, I get this text message. She wants me to call the trail riding place, saying she can't get a phone signal (so, how did she text me?). I agree, and text her back asking her to email me all the information. Now, in my mind, the information required for such an event includes things like the name of the place, the name of the person I am calling, the day she wants to do this trail ride, and how many people I am making a booking for. That last point being one of the most vital, because I can't just show up with nineteen people and expect to have her saddle up nineteen horses without notice, nor can I show up with two people, when she has already saddled nineteen.
What I get is a phone number, that she wants to book for the next day, and that "a bunch of people will cost $35 each".
That's great. So, you want me to book a place with less than 24 hours notice, I have no idea who or where I am calling, and I tell them that 'a bunch' of people are interested?
So I call the place up. Explain that I am calling on behalf of someone else, and that I have very little information. I check that a date in one week, not one day, is clear. I get a time. I ensure that she has enough horses on the off chance that everyone in the class would like to go. Then I tell the lovely patient woman that I will call back and confirm numbers on Monday. Then I send out an email to the class list, giving the date, time, location, and price, along with the Monday deadline for RSVP.
I did, in five minutes, what took the other person to do in 2 months. This is how you plan and book a group event, folks. Set a prospective date with a minimum of one week's notice, ensure the venue is available and able to accommodate your group, inform the group of the date, the location, and the time, set a dealine for RSVP, finalize the reservation with the venue ASAP.
Most importantly:
Don't pass the buck to me! I don't like doing it!
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Additional requirements
Pat just reminded me, because I completely forgot.
Additional very important puppy requirements.
Age: 7 -8 weeks, Kodi won't accept a pup much older than this
Source: I would be just as willing to take a rescue as I would a dog from a breeder, if not more so.
When: Sometime in the new year would probably be best. I should probably, you know... get a job. Do you guys want to find me a job too?
Additional very important puppy requirements.
Age: 7 -8 weeks, Kodi won't accept a pup much older than this
Source: I would be just as willing to take a rescue as I would a dog from a breeder, if not more so.
When: Sometime in the new year would probably be best. I should probably, you know... get a job. Do you guys want to find me a job too?
Big Happy "okay!"
To answer Pat's question. I'll be coming back to Alberta, weather permitting, on about Dec. 20th. My course ends on Dec. 4th (2 Weeks!) and then I have a canine first aid course, so I'll be staying where I am in the trailer in Victoria until Dec. 12. Then I think I'll be heading up to Parksville to see my aunt and visit some other parts on the island before coming back on the ferry around the 20th.
Update on my hand. The doctor suggest that it would not heal (I almost typed 'heel' haha) until the course was over, but lucky surprise I was able to take the cast off two weeks ago. It is still sore sometimes, and I can feel the difference in the muscles but I have full use of the hand now, which is really lucky because we've been doing free training (that's training of random dogs brought in by clients, neighbours, landlords) and having two hands for that is really important.
At this point, let's just say I am very ready for this course to be over. That might just be the rain talking though.
Oh! I went and had a look at a litter of puppies yesterday, nothing there I was after (didn't like the parents so passed on the pups). Redline, you know what that means? I'm looking. I'm after a border collie, aussie, or another cross like Kodi. Start sending the links! My requirements? Approximate adult size of about 35lbs, middle of the road temperament, perhaps leaning towards submissive, male. Looks? Yes, looks are important to me too, but are of course secondary to temperament. I'd really love a black tri-colour, medium coat like Kodi's. Full tail or full bob.
This is your mission should you choose to accept it.
Update on my hand. The doctor suggest that it would not heal (I almost typed 'heel' haha) until the course was over, but lucky surprise I was able to take the cast off two weeks ago. It is still sore sometimes, and I can feel the difference in the muscles but I have full use of the hand now, which is really lucky because we've been doing free training (that's training of random dogs brought in by clients, neighbours, landlords) and having two hands for that is really important.
At this point, let's just say I am very ready for this course to be over. That might just be the rain talking though.
Oh! I went and had a look at a litter of puppies yesterday, nothing there I was after (didn't like the parents so passed on the pups). Redline, you know what that means? I'm looking. I'm after a border collie, aussie, or another cross like Kodi. Start sending the links! My requirements? Approximate adult size of about 35lbs, middle of the road temperament, perhaps leaning towards submissive, male. Looks? Yes, looks are important to me too, but are of course secondary to temperament. I'd really love a black tri-colour, medium coat like Kodi's. Full tail or full bob.
This is your mission should you choose to accept it.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Mould
About two weeks ago I went into the closet near my bed to pull out a brand new dress I bought before coming out here to wear out. But when I took the dress, black with a white hem, out of the closet I discovered that mould had grown on the hem, ruining it. As a result I checked the cupboard where I kept the rest of my clothing and found that the outside wall of every closet and cupboard was wet with condensation. I have since pulled all my clothing out of the closets, ensured it was dry and mold free, and am now living out of a laundry hamper at the kitchen table.
I thought my mold problem was resolved until today.
The blinds behind the bed were tied down with twist ties because the little plastic holders on the bottom are broken. This fact, combined with the fact that I closed the outside shutter to keep the bed area a little better insulated both meant that I just never bothered to open those blinds. But last night I tucked a hand in under my pillow and discovered it was wet, so I flipped on the light and found that the entire top edge of my bed was damp from water condensing on the window behind the shut blinds and there was mould growing on the wall just above the mattress. So my temporary solution at 1 am was to just turn around and sleep with my head at the foot of the bed, away from the mould.
Of course, this morning, I untied the blinds and opened them up to find mould growing all around the window frame, down the wall, on the little fabric headboard, and on the wall behind the mattress. I decided to change all the sheets and treat the wall and window, after wiping them clean, with a lysol mould and mildew killing spray. Then I pulled the pillow cases off the pillows and found along the edge of one of the pillows just a mass of mould.
Ew. And a saturday full of scrubbing and spraying for me. I don't think I can save the pillow. This trailer was not designed to be used in the winter, this is clear in more ways than this, but the mould was sort of the last straw. I'll be sleeping with my head where my feet used to be from now on.
I thought my mold problem was resolved until today.
The blinds behind the bed were tied down with twist ties because the little plastic holders on the bottom are broken. This fact, combined with the fact that I closed the outside shutter to keep the bed area a little better insulated both meant that I just never bothered to open those blinds. But last night I tucked a hand in under my pillow and discovered it was wet, so I flipped on the light and found that the entire top edge of my bed was damp from water condensing on the window behind the shut blinds and there was mould growing on the wall just above the mattress. So my temporary solution at 1 am was to just turn around and sleep with my head at the foot of the bed, away from the mould.
Of course, this morning, I untied the blinds and opened them up to find mould growing all around the window frame, down the wall, on the little fabric headboard, and on the wall behind the mattress. I decided to change all the sheets and treat the wall and window, after wiping them clean, with a lysol mould and mildew killing spray. Then I pulled the pillow cases off the pillows and found along the edge of one of the pillows just a mass of mould.
Ew. And a saturday full of scrubbing and spraying for me. I don't think I can save the pillow. This trailer was not designed to be used in the winter, this is clear in more ways than this, but the mould was sort of the last straw. I'll be sleeping with my head where my feet used to be from now on.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Bye creepy neighbour!
I woke up this morning and he was gone. They must have had a permanent site open up somewhere else and moved him into it, on the other side of the park.
Bye creepy neighbour!
Bye creepy neighbour!
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
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