Literary Review

This is my literary review - I'm not sure that it's entirely correct or accurate, but here goes!

I originally checked out "The Performance Mare" as a pleasure reading book, but after reading into the jumping section, I realized its valure to my project. The section titled 'The Show Mare,' is the only portion of this book that I will be using. This section gives an overview of the number of mares [percentages] that participate in high level equestrian sports. It then breaks down into jumping, dressage, and combined training to give more specific data. In the jumping section, it goes on to describe two of the most famous mares of the 2oth century, and then gives a description of the ideal jumping mare, later countering this by saying that both top mares were built completely 'wrong.' In other parts of the section it tells the reader that the eye of the judge passes over mares, to land more favorably on stallions and geldings. Knowing this, and the statistic that less than 20% of top show-jumping mounts are mares, one can begin to realize a giganitic pitfall of today's show-jumping community - possibly even of today's horse industry in general. Mares are viewed as the weaker, and thus less valued sex.

One of the most important points in the section was the 20% - a number that has almost quadrupled since the 1980's, giving rise to the [correct] assumption that mares are coming into popularity. This book also makes another important point in saying that mares, in general, do not jump as well as geldings and stallions, due primarily to muscleclature. The courses at today's most prestigeous events were made for the modern showjumper, said to be an incredibly powerful, [well-muscled] animal.

A point not acknowledged by this book is the effect of this sexual discrimintation on the show-jumping community. I believe that this low percentage of mares might actually show a bigger problem in the equestrian world. If more mare owners feel less compelled to compete due to judge bias, the whole world looses a potential equine superstar, the next Halla, or Touch of Class. And the show-jumping community looses a talented team, as well as fans, potential sponsors, etc. Could this sexual bias be a factor in the lack of unity of that seems to plague the U.S. show-jumping community?

I'd like to find out!

Interviews, cont'd...

Today I was driving past Walnut Spring and I thought that I'd just stop by for a minute to see if they had checked into my request to board there. Needless to say, I got to meet the owner, Carol Gwin, who is the coach of the Radford Redcoats riding team, as well as the former president of SWVHJA (pronounced by the horse community as 'swavja') for 2004 and 2005, and I am going to move Maddie there just as soon as Farmingdale will allow. I know for some people this must seem like a sudden 360, but in reality, it has nothing to do with Farmingdale. They are, and will continue to be, near and dear to my heart, but it's time for me to move on, to move Madonna to a barn that will help us work toward my Olympic goals. Walnut Spring hosts 5 horse shows per year, all of which are affiliated with the Blue Ridge Horse Force, a prominent power in the mountains of SW Virginia. The barn also hosts 30+ riding teams for Intercollegiate horse shows at least once per semester!

As I listened to Carol tell her story, I realized that there are things there that I can use to further my research. Carol has owned and operated Walnut Spring for over 15 years, and she was born and raised in good old B-burg. She keeps a good working relationship with the owners of most of the other barns in the area, as well as ties to all of the prominent organziations that touch the valley. One of her biggest accomplishments comes with seeing the numbers of people competing in the last SWVHJA show, the season finale. In her opinion, it is a huge, community building event; "I really do think that we had more members active and competing in our SWVHJA finale that the VHSA (Virginia Horse Show Assoc.) did, and that's really saying something."

The more I heard, the more I realized what a valuable source I had in Carol, and that, in her words, "For the most part, SWVHJA ends here, and over at the Tech barn, with T. McDonald." I feel like I have gotten some amazing information, and for once, I really do believe that this was just the most incredible day! I know that it is surprising that I have any interview information up, but this was too good to not post tonight. See everyone in class!

Site Visits/Interviews

I am in the process of redefining my topic - I would now like to focus on the NRV's show jumping community. I am also looking into the connection to the Blue Ridge Eventing Association, as well as the out-reach into other horse communities. There is a big connection between the NRV and HITS Culpeper (one of the most prestigeous competitions in show-jumping VA). I will be looking to interview (in the near future), members of the local show-jumping community, as well as - if possible, members of the American GrandPrix Association - the national Olympic show jumping basis. I would also like to interview a member of the Stadium Jumping, Inc. group, which does all of the behind-the-scenes work for the major events of the 'Olympic Show Jumping tour'. Though I have not yet started this section of my research, I plan to finish and record both interviews by Friday's class.

Last Goal...

3. I would like to increase my participation in class, and well as work on my public speaking ability.

There, the last goal is done! See you in class!

Goals....

I've been sitting at my computer ever since I wrote that first post, trying to come up with reasonable, measureable goals for a Freshman level Honors English class, and guess what...I've got 2.

1. Work to improve my ability to use library newprint resources to find articles about my topic [Farmingdale Stables].

2. Improve my ability to use fact, rather than opinion, to illustrate points in my research paper. Bascially, I really do enjoy adjectives and creative writing, with all of it's great metaphors, similies, and doo-dads, but I need to write more scientifically. Short and to the point.

When numero tres hits me, I'll post it up, but until then, adios!

Questions from last class...

So rather than putting all of my questions up, I decided to choose one or two to post, and tell you why I chose them.

1) Is it true that the VT equestrian program used Farmingdale Stables as its main barn before the Campbell arena was built? Can you explain the relationship dynamics?

I chose this questions because it was of interest to me - in learning the history of the barn, I needed to draw on its connection to the community here at Virginia Tech. However, some of the gossip that I have heard on this particular topic leads me to believe that there is more to it that what meets the eye. A hidden storm...

2) If you had an unlimited income, what are some improvments you might make, both to the structure itself, and to the social interactions? (Ex: new water heaters for winter, or hosting an X-mas party)

I chose this question mostly because it is a fun and easy going question, and I really like the whole 'Magic Wand' idea! It will be interesting to hear Mr. Shaver's improvments, because there are a few that I have heard from boarders as well, and if they align, they might actually be worth looking into.

Assignment #2

My community was the Driver Improvement class I participated in on Saturday.

Free Writing:

The teacher seems to be one of those people that likes to pick on people for making mistakes - not going to be very fun. I was late - as usual - but I mucked stalls all morning. I started at 5:30 a.m. The guy sitting next to me got a speeding ticket too, so did my entire row. The next person that tried to get into the class late was thrown out - me and another Chinese girl that came in at the same time were lucky. After that, one more person came in, but she was given a sheet with the wrong time on it, so he let her stay. She's an APSC major like me. I brought a hamburger for lunch, but not sure if it was enough to eat...About 95% of all car crashes in the state of VA are related to speeding. Reckless driving can get you jail time, but the teacher says that he can give anyone a reckless driving ticket for anything, not just speeding. The Chinese guy at the end of my row keeps falling asleep, and the instructor is getting mad. Another guy behind me likes to argue - he seems to enjoy hearing the sound of his own voice. There's a frat boy in the back who's convinced that all cops are out to get him. The instructor is a cop, but he seems to be better than I initially thought - he's not into writing tickets left and right, and he gives most people the benefit of the doubt. This isn't going to be the worst day of my life after all - I just might live through it :P...

Narrative:

So I showed up about 15 minutes late for class, because I had to finish mucking my stalls in the morning, 5:30 a.m. to be exact. The teacher asked me why I was late, almost sounding like if he didn't like my answer, I wouldn't be getting in to the class. I told him it was because my dog ate something that he shouldn't have eaten, and the instructor let it slide. I was already beginning to get hungry too, and lunch wasn't for another 3 hours. The time actually seemed to fly by, and after discussing several specific instances, and the traffic laws behind them, I believed in some of the laws that I - as do most of us - tend to break on a constant basis. The most important things that the course emphasized were reckless and agressive driving. Most people don't believe that they are driving aggressively, and there was an instance discussed in one video where some one who was driving aggressively was encountered about his driving, and he shot and killed someone with a cross-bow. Though this was an unreal situation, most of us, as drivers, either are faced with or contribute to the growing number of aggressive driving incidents.

The teacher turned out to be a cop, and he said that he was really picky about aggressive drivers, reckless drivers, and children not in child seats. He was actually one of the more lenient officers, as we found out. About 75% of the people in the room were there for speeding, the other 25% either for running a red light, stop sign, or passing a bus with lights flashing. My row was two speeding and one reckless driving, and me, another speeding ticket (69 in a 55 mph zone). He asked us to introduce ourselves, and I quickly found that I wasn't the only one to get a speeding ticket on 460 - nor was I the only one that was bitter about the change to 65 mph. The instructor just laughed and said "Too bad." We had an hour lunch, and I came home and let my dog out, then drove back, and surprise, surprise; I was 10 minutes late...

The next 4 hours were comprised of movies, basically, older than we were. One of them showed a young superman, a walking, talking Christopher Reeve. That's just old...But we all sat through them - the instructor left the room, presumably to do something more interesting, but we were left to listen to tales of 'road rage' woes and hear the shreak of twisted metal as cars plowed into each other at high speeds. We were even taught how to get our cars back onto the road, if they were to accidentally slip off the side. I got a 24/25 on the test, a passing grade, and so I got my certificate and hauled butt out of the room and over to my car. However, even in my haste to get back home, where something more interesting waited for me, I was still cautious. All it takes is one mistake, one little 'oops', and someone could die.

The course really did leave an impression on me, because I don't think twice about speeding when I have somewhere to be, or tailgating, when traffic is backed up. But all it takes is that one time, that split second, that could mean the difference between creaming someone's car and stopping just in time. It could mean the difference between life and death - between someone getting up and walking away, and someone in a body bag. The real question is: Are YOU an aggressive driver? Is it really worth it?

Questions:

1) How many people are going to take what they learned and actually apply it to their driving?

2) How many people will be in a Driver Improvement course again? Why?

3) Do the instructors actually live and drive by the rules they teach us?

4) Why isn't this class required before you get a lisense?

5) Why are a majority of the participants college undergraduates/grad students? Are we worse drivers?

Well, that was that - hope you enjoy my little blurb about Driver Improvement...See you all tomorrow (well, actually, it's today!)!

~ Katie

So...

So Monday is the day that I let me horse be a horse, and don't bother her at all - with feeding, or whatever. But Tuesday, she's supposed to get fed, so that she doesn't go too long without food. Needless to say, the first time I fed her this week was today, and I just thought I'd write to tell everyone how bad of a horsie - mom I am (never let me have kids :P). But, just to make it up to her, I let her graze on the good grass, outside her field, for over an hour, so she was really happy. Also today - I got done with all of the work that I had to do at the barn - muck 12 stalls, strip and re-shaving two stalls, clean and refill water buckets (sometimes 2 per stall), give hay, and blow down the aisle (equivalent of sweeping) - in approx. 3.5 hours, which is amazing!!!! Just thought that I'd throw that out there...Not to mention, my other horse, Gump, is completely sound (as of Tuesday's workout), and I think that it's because of this new, cool gluteal and biceps femoris stretch that I've been doing! Anyways, I've got to go get ready for bed - yea, I'm a geek, but I'm also a morning person (which means that an typo's or spelling/grammer issues can be blamed on a distinct lack of sleep :P), which means that tomorrow I'll get up early and work on the homework that I haven't finished yet! Guten Nacht!

Communities...

I've been thinking a lot about the communities that we've been discussing in class, getting ready to make the most important choice of this class - what community do I want to research. Trying to decide between communities that have touched my life, and those that I'm interested in or am a part of, I've come to realize that there is one that stands by itself. It's not a particularly prominent community, nor is it completely agreeable or idellic. But it has become my home away from home in may cases, and it is my anchor here at Tech. The people in this community may not all get along, but they are all part of 'the family.' The community that I would like to complete my project on is Farmingdale Stables LLC., one of the many, yet unique family owned horse boarding farms in the New River Valley.