With the return of the summer monsoon rains, the thirsty valley has been revived. The prairie grasses are greener. The ponds refreshed. The wildflowers in bloom again. It also means a bit of yard work needs to be done.
morning dew on the prairie (North Ranch, Aug 2018)
Much of our ranch land consists of prairie grasses. It is not much different from when the Johnson and Norris families settled the valley in the 1880s. Closer to the house, we have a mixture of buffalo grass and rye grass, which makes for a nice lawn. Both grass types are drought hardy, preferring dormancy when water is sparse. Similarly, the wildflowers are drought hardy too. The wildflowers are a mix of wild asters (white, pink, and purple), black-eyed Susans, wild bluebell, and more.
prairie yellow wildflower (North Ranch, Aug 2018)
A factory reconditioned Kubota B2320 with a mid-mount mower deck, front loader bucket and a rotary cutter keeps our place trimmed. In the more tighter spots, the lawn mower and weed whacker works the best. It isn’t necessary to mow and trim every square inch; it’s impractical. The paddocks receive the lightest of trims, which keeps the more noxious growth away from the horses. In manicured settings, foxtail, thistle, and a few other invasive weeds are more likely to gain a foothold. They become a significant problem if they enter into the grazing cycle. Also, greener grasses are more difficult for a horse to digest.
Kubota B2320 (North Ranch, Oct 2017)
After the ranch complex has been nicely mowed and trimmed, the next mow and trim may be 4-6 weeks later. It’ll depend largely how much rain falls during the interval.
The determination is the same. The scrutiny is the same. Proving themselves, no sweat. The gear, the tools, are different. Welcome to medical school.
My daughters began their first week of classes on Monday. While a few of their classmates wore their white coats, they did not. They would describe themselves as still being very new to the regimen, a while from white coat time. It is understandable. In their backpacks, though, are their stethoscopes and diagnostic kits. The girls have described the first week as fast paced and detailed. “Not quite thrown into the fire, but close enough.”
They’ll be home most weekends, riding and staying sharp on the saddle. And, have some downtime.
If you’ve visited Andalusia, festivals and ferías are the norm during the summer months. The sonrisa weeks are many. Generally, the ferías are connected to celebrating patron saints while the festivals are more connected to celebrating the regional culture like dance and music. On most evenings, it is not uncommon to find a sevillanas parade. In Seville, the annual exhibition featuring the Andalusian PRE draws many horse aficionados. The stallions and mares, very striking. The foals, off-the-scale cuteness.
A few of the traditions carried over to the New World. The festivals and ferías were fewer but incorporating traditions from the native cultures – Native American Indian, Aztec, Mayan and Incan. Horses made an impression in the American Southwest, particularly in the northward migration of Spanish missions into California, New Mexico and Texas. Equine bloodlines, from PRE thoroughbreds to quarterhorse to pack, were highly valued.
The revival of equestrian sports in New Mexico has included adding some of the festive sonrisa traditions. It may not be Seville, but the influence and atmosphere is undeniable.
equestrian review: Simeon Krestrel, Sonrisa de Santa Fe (Jul 2018)
When EquiCenter de Santa Fe closed their doors in 2009, it seemed equine sports in Santa Fe, and New Mexico, was finished forever. The fallout from the 2007-08 economic downturn was devastating. Riders were leaving the sport in droves, often selling their horses at “best offer” rates. So few competed in 2008, many sponsors left for other venues. Those riders who chose to compete opted to ride in Colorado where the equestrian scene had more stability.
Guy McElvain and his business partner, Brian Gonzales, entered a bid to buy the bankrupt equestrian center. Brian’s wife, Phyllis, had the more difficult task of rebuilding the thin equestrian ranks in New Mexico, and attracting riders from elsewhere to give the Grand Prix de Santa Fe another chance. Sponsors were initially, and rightfully, reticent. To change minds, they had to bring perspective, knowledge and expertise to the table. Guy, a respected adult-amateur rider, businessman and horse rancher. Phyllis, an experienced horse show planner and organizer. Brian, respected businessman and avid horseman. Also, their deep community and familial ties in Santa Fe aided in attracting investors and sponsorships.
After six years of planning and work, August 2015 signaled their new beginning with two shows, Sonrisa Week and the Grand Prix de Santa Fe, at the renamed equicenter, HIPICO Santa Fe. The two, smaller A-rated shows did well enough to expand the two shows into a four-show summer series in July and August 2016. Though overlapping with the Summer In The Rockies series in the Denver area, there are differences. The Summer In The Rockies series feature the large AA-rated shows, with the ability to attract riders, including top amateurs and professionals, from across the nation. The Santa Fe series with smaller A-rated shows, similarly aims to attract top amateurs, and possibly a few professionals. The difference maker, the uniquely Santa Fe atmosphere against a majestic southwest backdrop.
Invited since 2015, my daughters have struggled fitting the Santa Fe shows into their show schedule. A choice had to be made: compete with some of the best talent on the AA-circuit in Iowa or compete in a series in the process of regaining their footing in the equestrian world. The choice was easy, Iowa. Phyllis understood emerging talent riders need to compete with increasingly better talent to move to the next level.
With an already tight calendar, my girls committed to riding a private charity invitational over the Labor Day Weekend. In making the commitment, they also added Sonrisa Week to their show schedule, and tightening their calendar further.
USHJA Hunter Derby: Marianne, fellow RRC member, on the course (Sonrisa Week, Jul 2018)
warm-up session: Tara and Candace before the USHJA hunter derby (Sonrisa Week, Jul 2018)
During the mixer on opening night, Phyllis acknowledged several top amateurs riding Sonrisa Week – including a few she had been wooing for 2-3 years. After introducing the new faces that arrived during the day, Phyllis invited them to say a few words, if they had any. Elizabeth raised her hand. “We had wanted to come here for awhile, and we finally made it,” she began. “Someone said this could be the beginning of a tremendous legacy.” Pausing for the brief applause, Elizabeth finished, “I think that’s what you said, Brian.” He nodded yes to much laughter in the tent. “May everyone ride their best and ride well.”
The girls rode extremely well, continuing their incredible run this season.
NOTE: If you haven’t experienced an A-rated hunter/jumper show, please watch the video below. It is best viewed in full screen HD, which can be found here.
A tightly knitted trio of littermates. Their mom cat, Miss Grey, a Russian Blue Mix, teaching them how to live in the outdoors. Miss Grey taught them where safe harbor could be found.
Today, the Musketeers – Maxie, Midnight and Tuxie – are 13 years of age.
Maxie the brave
Midnight, the little sister
Tuxie, true blue loyal and forever loved
The sudden loss of Tuxie, two years ago, was a test of the Musketeer ethos of “one for all”. Maxie and Midnight met and passed the test.
The second week of the orientation process was proving to be busy, and one with great anticipation.
It began with advanced first aid instruction, focusing primarily on CPR/AEHD training, the Heimlich maneuver, and trauma. Upon completion of the two-day course, the new students would receive certification. They would be able to provide limited aid pending the arrival of emergency responders or medical personnel.
The students were broken into groups to facilitate the hands-on teaching. Each student had their own “patient” and automatic emergency heart defibrillator (AEHD). “A little stiff, a little silent,” Tara said very seriously. “Plenty creepy with the plastic wrap over his mouth.” Deborah and Elizabeth tried not to laugh; so did a few others in their group. Mike the nurse, their course instructor, teased even further. “We need a chaperone here. Anyone?”
demo: Mike showing how to perform CPR on “Stiff Steve” attached to an AEHD
photo credit: Deborah camera: Blackberry Classic
While AEHD devices have a “PlaySkool” toy appearance, it is to convey its simplicity of design and ease of use. It has made their availability in public spaces more practical and widespread. However, the device is not a substitute for CPR, nor a substitute for CPR training. The device is used in combination with CPR for those in cardiac arrest. Should the device fail to detect a heart rhythm after discharging a shock, CPR is continued. “It’ll be awhile before you get to use one of those,” Mike said pointing at the crash cart.
at the ready: fully prepared crash cart
photo credit: Deborah camera: Blackberry Classic
After lunch, attention was turned to “Casual Cal” to learn the Heimlich. Cal is a full-sized, male medical mannequin used in a variety of instructional settings. “Fortunately, Cal is much lighter in weight and can be handled much more easily than your typical adult male,” Mike said by way of introduction. “Cal’s redeeming quality, he won’t be spitting up any food or liquids while he’s with us for the afternoon. He had a very light lunch.”
The second day of class was learning about various trauma situations, especially shock and seizure type situations. In many instances, it is more about keeping the patient stable and still much as possible, and be more observant in detail. While observation is a key aspect of first aid, having more specific information on the patient for emergency responders and medical personnel is likely to lead to a better outcome.
The orientation week concluded with the White Coat Ceremony. At the University of Colorado School of Medicine, the ceremony is a formal recognition and acceptance of the new students as medical students. The new medical students received a waist-length white coat, with the embroidered University of Colorado Health logo. They also received a pair of pins, one from UC Health and the other from the University of Colorado.
What made the ceremony extra special, Andrea, was asked to offer her remarks to the new class. A senior-ranking nurse in the UC Health system, Andrea told them it is important to remember why they have chosen the medical profession. “It is to heal. First, last, always. Don’t have the solution, find it. Have the solution, share it. It defines who we are in the profession.” Not a sound could be heard in the quiet auditorium. “My last piece of advice, make sure you don’t spill anything on your white coats at the reception. May God bless you all.”
refreshment station: one of the cookie-and-brownie stations
With two and a half weeks to the first day of class, it is a few days of fun. For Deborah, Elizabeth and Tara, it is back on the saddle, and a new horse show.
At times, the ten years seem like yesterday. Other days, it seems so long ago.
From his kitten days to his very last, Dino was the best of cats. He always understood. That made him special. Dino was a friendly and happy boy. Most of all, he was loyal – not only to his one but also to his littermate, Pebbles.
greenhouse scents: the container pot
outdoor scents: peach harvest
Dino loved his fresh scents, from fresh cut flowers to Kona coffee to babies. When the gardenias began to bloom, he was right there to inhale all of its scent. Similarly with babies. Dino loved sitting and sleeping with Deborah, Elizabeth and Kyle, taking in their baby freshness.
We were fortunate to have Dino for nearly 19 years, and to be blessed by his undying love and devotion. We love and miss you.
They have traveled this road before – full-time students, full-time riders.
These were the first steps into the next part of their journeys. An excitement could be sensed. Making a good, first impression too. “No pressure here,” Elizabeth said with a smile. The girls, though, have found their transition between show ring and classroom to be very straightforward. They have noted, “the demands are roughly the same. It’s doing your best in both settings.”
For the girls, and the other new students, it was a week of pre-enrollment tasks at med school. The first two days consisted of completing administrative tasks. The first day included submitting the final collection of requested background materials and filling out more forms. The second day was each new student verifying the accuracy and completeness of their personal file. It may be a wired world, but much remains the same. Paper is the backbone of administrative files. The student files, primarily containing restricted, confidential information, a paper reference copy must be archived with its limited-use release. The high-point of the two days was having their photos taken for their IDs.
classroom notes: learning first aid
The third and fourth days was devoted to basic first aid training. While the new students all have a measure of first aid training, it is likely of varying degrees. The aim was to have them all on the same level. First, proficient at the basic level, then certified at the advanced level.
Next week, advanced first aid certification and a walking tour of the medical school complex.
morning dew on the prairie (North Ranch, Aug 2018)
prairie yellow wildflower (North Ranch, Aug 2018)
Kubota B2320 (North Ranch, Oct 2017)
