Whoo Ha... I went to a great show the other night!

TCLB

Thanks to good friends, I recently found out about this talented band and wanted to let y'all know about them. Original songs, and if you've never seen a violinist plug it in and use the "wah-wah" pedal.... it's amazing.

From their press page: "Contradictory (their first album) is a collaboration of lively and talented musicians....if your attention isn't caught by the soothing vocals, great acoustics, or funny lyrics, then you, my friend, should check to see if you're still breathing."
-Veronica Ramos Space City Rock Houston, TX

The Lucas Cates Band is based in Madison, and gaining recognition across the nation quickly. See their website (click here) for Madison shows, tour dates and locations.

Tonight they are at the Cardinal Bar. If you missed it, they'll be back in Madison in July, after their Kentucky, South Carolina, and Georgia tour.

Riding Diesel

Okay, if you haven't had a good laugh yet today, watch these videos. Diesel does a pretty good job, and after seeing these videos, I can see why he complains. I look ENORMOUS on him! I'm a light 5'8", honestly. It's so funny with the helmet, boots, gloves, and this professional trainer, towering over this cute little mule, in a western saddle, no less. I think he will be great (and look great too) with younger and smaller riders. Thank you, Diesel, for putting up with me while in training.

Today I rode and videotaped myself on 3 different horses. I am giving myself lessons by reviewing the footage. It's excruciating. I FEEL as if I'm riding with beautiful posture, but the video reveals otherwise. I can stay on almost anything, but it is my intention to learn to ride correctly with elegance. Send a prayer. Oops, I meant to say, "I'm getting better every day, I'm getting better every day....."

Sparkly Fun Art Gallery

Have you been in Absolutely Art yet? It's wonderful! And it's next door to Cafe Zoma, so you can get a sandwich or coffee and see their rotating art exhibit as well. Here's a little clip of Jeanne Ross, an amazing artist in her own right, hanging my prints on the wall for display. Absolutely Art is located at 2322 Atwood Ave. Madison, WI 53704. Click here to see their website.

Diesel and Rowdy hanging out

Diesel has made lots of progress since he arrived. He drives outside nicely and he has been riding walk, trot, and canter indoors. He prefers driving to riding, but he is a good sport under saddle anyways.
I've got to get some footage of us riding, because we are quite a sight!

Diesel will go home early July. I'd like to find someone to board their mini with Rowdy for company or find a mini to take in for training when Diesel goes home.

Meeting Don the Andalusian

I am so honored to be working with this horse for a couple of weeks. We will do some riding and driving, and I'll spend time with him on the trails to build his confidence and improve his fitness. Mentor Pat Fitzgerald will give me some lessons on him, and among other things, I will learn to ride with my shoulders BACK. Wouldn't that make it a prettier picture?

This is the first time I've ridden Don. In the first video (above), after about a minute it gets a little more exciting as he spooks by the large back door. He is so smooth, even his spooks are comfortable!

This video shows me trying out his canter. He hasn't had much practice at the canter, and he sort of falls in, races at times, and suggests stopping each time we pass the mounting block. I am not complaining, however. He has the DREAMIEST canter I've ever ridden. Thanks, Don. I'm looking forward to our time together.

I hope to post another video of Don after I've worked more with him and hopefully we will see some improvement in my own riding as well.

Happy Birthday, Melissa!

A very special gathering occurred thanks to Melissa bringing wonderful friends together for a birthday party. There was music, drumming, and dancing, and at the end of the night almost everyone was making hilarious impromptu skits with sock puppets. (My personal dream come true!) Melissa is a talented life coach and you can visit her beautiful site by clicking here.

Masks

During the Spring Art tour, I was blessed to have two delightful friends with me for the day. We rode Rainy, made paintings, played with sock puppets, and brought up these paper mache masks from my basement. The curtain partition served as a great stage.

Wooden Coat Pegs

During the art tour, my mom photographed each painted coat peg, as some people were not able to see the video of them I had posted earlier. Thanks, mom! Each one is hand painted, and the paintings are my own design. Acrylic on wood, $25 each.








The froggy one has been sold.

Playing with Rainy outside

In late May a friend filmed Rainy and I playing outside. It's her first time going over a jump on a lead line. Neither of us know much about jumping yet. In the videos below, you can see us playing in the round pen, Rainy's first small jump, and our progress on the Spanish Walk.

Spring Art Tour This Weekend

Sock Puppet Production line



This weekend is the Spring Art Tour. You can still catch it tomorrow, Sunday June 8 from 11-5. Artists open up their homes and studios to the public to show their working method. Matt at the Vernon Creek Gallery of Art has his place brimming with gorgeous ceramic work of his own and features other talented artists as well. Find us through Vernon Creek Gallery of Art website (click here.)
This video will take you through my house. Notice the effects of sleep deprivation - makes me look sort of relaxed and strained at the same time! It feels great to invite people in to see my art and the effort was worth it. Thanks to Mom for her generous help with this event.

Diesel in his first week driving

Diesel is pulling the cart around now! Glad, because it was so heavy for me to lug around during his ground training. With the open bridle and the blinker bridle, I have been pulling the cart with one hand while I long-lined him with the other so that he could get used to the noise following him.

Now that he's driving, it's HIS job to pull the cart. When I sit in it, my weight balances the cart so that it is much lighter. Yesterday we ventured out of the arena in the cart for the first time, and he was very well behaved. In the video above, we are practicing his slow trot and extended trot.

Photos of Heather Driving

Kristine Fisher was at our barn for a photo session and took some BEAUTIFUL photos of Heather (the Fjord pictured below) and I driving! Click here to see them. This weekend Heather and Rain, my Morab mare, will attend a fun show that features all obstacle driving classes.

Heather Arrives

Isn't she beautiful!

Heather, a 10 year old Fjord mare, arrived on Thursday. I will keep her in shape, and practice with her for 3 weeks, and then I'll compete with her at the Columbus Carriage Classic in Columbus, Wisconsin in June. It will be Heather's first show.

She is owned by Patti Jo Walter, and Patti really did a nice job of finishing her. This horse drives beautifully. Patti needed surgery on her knee, or she would have been showing her at Columbus herself. (Click on the purple words above to find out more.)

Diesel LOVES to be bridled

One of Diesel's favorite things is when I bring out the bridle! I actually can't leave it lying around, because he will try to put it on himself. This enthusiasm came from carrot treats, no doubt. Hopefully he will feel the same way about the cart and be very happy when he gets hitched to it.

Diesel's Progress

Diesel has been line-driving in the indoor arena very nicely, with an open bridle and with the blinker bridle as well. He is comfortable with either bridle dragging a tire, a PVC pipe, and the noisy septic tube while practicing all the gaits and commands.
A couple of days ago I decided to take him outside. At first he forgot everything, but within a few minutes he was driving like a pro! This video (below) is sort of long, almost 5 minutes. It shows him turning easily, standing well (notice all the GREEN GRASS that he is not eating!), and backing.

* Two days later, I had my dad (Wes Licht) out to assist with Diesel's first hitching to the cart! It went very well. Diesel did a few rounds at walk and trot, got a few carrot treats along the way, and we unhitched.

Harper riding Rainy

Harper , age 2, LOVES horses. Harper is my very dear friend. I was her nanny for a year, watching her through many milestones such as taking her first steps, first words, and saying my name :). Before she could walk, it became apparent that she was into horses. She woke up early from a nap one day while I had a video of Reiner Klimke playing, and she was RIVETED. These days she watches a Parelli promotional DVD each night before bed. She's very serious about it all.

This May Harper received a special gift from her Grandpa: her very own saddle! Yesterday Harper rode in her new saddle on Rainy sitting up there all by herself. When I asked Harper different questions, she usually answered with the word "faster." Click on the photos to enlarge them. Click the "play" arrows to see the videos.Here we are riding together with no saddle. We use a saddle pad so it's more comfortable for everyone. Harper has been riding horses with me this way since she was not quite 1 1/2 years old.

Diesel the Mule - early training

Diesel is an adorable pony mule that I have in for training to ride and drive. Here he is about 3 1/2 weeks in, and he's looking more fit and less furry.
This video is from day 9 of our training together. Here he's dragging a noisy septic tube, and wearing a bridle. I have the longe line attached to the halter, not the bit. I like them to get used to lots of different things "following" them, so when the cart follows them it will be no big deal. Diesel noticed that I wasn't able to hold the whip properly, and is taking advantage of that while I film with one hand.
Here is Diesel, again on the ninth day of training, and he's giving his first ride! This is my assistant, Slim Jim. Jim stays on through most things, and you can see he's a very relaxed rider. Jim rides while we practice long lining, too. Then when it's time for the real dummy to get on, (guess who that is), the horse is already accustomed to seeing somebody up there. Jim is made out of swim noodles and duct tape.

Currently we are beginning week 4, and Diesel does a nice job of walk and trot under saddle (carrying me now), and has been doing more driving focused training with "cart play", the blinker bridle, dragging poles and other things around.

Rowdy and Rainy - clips from their first DVD

These are from a DVD I made with Requisite Variety last year in July. You may notice in the first one that Rainy (my gray mare) is not stepping under her body fully. Since the filming, I began to use massage with my horses (with guidance from Barb Riffle,) and have noticed a dramatic improvement in their movement and attitude. Of course, who wouldn't benefit from a couple of massages each week?
Thanks to my parents, especially dad (Wes Licht,) who brought me up with horses and ponies as part of our lives. My dad's father taught him to ride and work with horses at a young age as well.
This last one features Rainy in her Fairytale costume. She is a Unicorn, I'm a Princess, and I'm carrying a Frog Prince sitting on a little throne. Can you can figure out what makes the Frog move?
It ends with Rowdy pulling a sled on one of the rare snowy days last year. It was remarkably cold that day.

Absolutely Art's Mural in Progress

Each year Absolutely Art will have a new mural on their back wall. I got the opportunity to paint the mural for 2008! Above are photos of the wall before I primed it with a dark brown color.











Click the "Play" arrows to see the video clips.

Party and Mural Unveiling on Gallery Night at Absolutely Art

Enjoyed friends, music, and seeing the new work at gallery night. Each month at Absolutely Art they feature a different artist. Tom Robichaud and Don Issacson provided lively music through that evening.




Don't miss Short Stories, a Gloria Van Dixhorn exhibition at Absolutely Art, 2322 Atwood Avenue, in Madison Wisconsin, 53704. (608)248-9100
Her show will run through the month of May.
While you are there you can grab a latte next door at Cafe Zoma, and check out my new mural in the courtyard.

Here are Tom Robichaud and Don Issacson livening up the scene at Absolutely Art.