Tests and more tests
| April 18, 2015 | Posted by Melinda under Uncategorized |
On Wednesday I took and passed my CA state boards. All I need to do is graduate (and do some more paperwork, pay more fees, get fingerprinted…) then I am licensed to practice medicine in CA!!!!!!
Today I sent in a much more blog relevant test.
To be an AERC control judge not only do you must have a DVM degree, you have to take a 50 question multiple answer test and receive a passing grade.
Even as a relatively experienced endurance rider I learned a few new things about our sport while doing this. It was not a mindless obvious answer test and I actually had to look up answers and read the control judge handbook in order to pass it. Which I suppose is the point. I devoted at least an hour (or 2?) rather than the 20 minutes I thought was reasonable to answer 50 questions (for comparison, it took me 23 minutes to take the 100 question multiple choice state board test).
Anyone want to hire me for an AERC ride this summer? Because at this point that’s my best chance to be *in* the sport this summer since my possible rides have narrowed down to *one*. Wild West Day 2.
What happened to Cache Creek????
Well. it was already going to be a logistical nightmare. But a doable one. Farley is absolutely ready and as long as I could cling like a good little monkey on her back and the good Lord saw fit to help shove me back into the saddle during inevitable airs above ground I was good to go. (what is with this spring time bucking?????).
And then I got notified last week that the optional (but not really optional) California Veterinary Medical Association Senior Banquet was Friday night. Really?????????
So I admit I threw in the towel. Admitted defeat. Because the last time I tried to buck the direction the universe was obviously shoving at me (don’t go to the ride) and I ignored it I received a pull that took us out of commission for two years as my “prize”. Let’s not do that again.
Today, 2 weeks prior to the ride, I had a long ride scheduled with friends as a last shake out for Cache creek. I decided I would still go – it would be and excellent ride to maintain condition for Wild West and some company at a different from usual trail would be a great outing.
Except….one of the people on the ride had her hand impaled by a hay hook last night.
Well. If I needed confirmation that Cache Creek is NOT the ride for us, that was it. Having already decided to skip CC, the cancellation just has me shaking my head and laughing, instead of biting my nails trying to reassure myself that Farley has the conditioning to do Cache creek without today’s ride (which she does…but still…).
Today after feeding I was invited by a local polo rider at the barn to go out on a *set with her. At first I hemmed and hawed….Farley had been off for 3 weeks and how wise was it to hit the trail with three other horses and do trot/canter? On home trails? (she has been increasingly *naughty* on home trails). All sorts of visions popped through my head, most of them involving….bucking. So I declined. And then about 10 minutes later realized that without the motivation of another person with I was unlikely to ride at all that day. Or maybe even the weekend. After all I had done *spectacularly* at riding this week (ummm…that would be zero. Unless you count ML).
So I went. And she was hot, and there was a lot more vertical than horizontal movement, but no bucking. And I stayed on. And we did not get shot by Turkey hunters. Nor did cleverly disguised Turkey hunters pop out from behind trees and scare the bejeezes out of us and the horses. And the horse eating goats (and their guardian dogs) did not in fact eat us (like most of the horses were convinced would happen). A sweet little 20 or 25 min ride that reminded me to take advantage of opportunities, especially if they are an excuse to ride my fun little pony (who keeps getting older and grumpier, but not noticeably slower or less fit….).
*A “set” is what polo riders call their conditioning rides where they leg up their horses. Typically done with riding one horse and ponying 2 or 3 others. For players at my current facility, sets are typically 30 or minutes or so done at a trot or extended trot/canter, with walking on hard packed stuff. The pace is remarkably close to an endurance conditioning ride so it works out really well when I have a chance to hook up with someone.
Congratulations doc!
Thanks for the reminder about seizing the day 😀
You could come visit and vet a ride up here!!!
Now that is an interesting proposal! I will have to consider whether that’s doable considering all of the other “stuff” this summer (*wink*).
Congrats, you’re almost there! A long journey successful. There will be other rides, I think listening to the universe telling you to take is easier might be a good idea… but will miss seeing you there!
I’m going to see if dr Lydon will let me help again this year. I think it will be fun. I loved vetting there last year.