The Calm Before the Storm?

I've now owned K for eight months.  We've been at our new barn for three.  For three months I've seen my horse transform into exactly what I've been hoping for.  She's now in a snaffle, collecting, listening to me, and focused.  She's fit, has some nice muscle tone, and is happy.  This is what we were hoping for when we decided to move to a show barn.  I no longer worry about my horse when I'm not there, I can see the care and the experience that is given to my mare.

Knock on wood, but we've now gone three months without injury.  I haven't even given a thought to my vet.  My goals for us have grown...I plan to get us to Regionals this coming show season, and if the Horse Gods will allow, maybe even Nationals?  But I still have trailering in the back of my mind.  If a four hour ride to Regionals is going to be too much for her, then Nationals in Oklahoma will always be out of the question. 

Our first show is two months away, and I am starting to feel like we will be ready.  Only the show grounds are the same as the last time we pulled to a show, closer this time as our new barn is closer, but I still have this fear that she hasn't overcome the trailer issues.  I've invested a small fortune in B Kalm past, and still pray to the Horse Gods for guidance.  

Only now, I have a trainer who is involved, knows my horse well, and is ready to help us get to where we want to go.

New Beginnings

We moved, and without an injury at that.  We started the morning with a little B Kalm paste.  Let it be known that Bubblegum flavoring and coloring probably not the best idea for a horse paste, but we did manage to get a lot of it in.  It was just enough to take the anxiety away for the trailer ride.

After packing up my tack store amount of horse items, we loaded K in the trailer, turned on the trailer cam, and pulled away from the barn.  No screaming or kicking.  With my little trailer TV, I was able to stalk K and see that she was calmly watching out the window.

After the 30 minute ride, we safely arrived at our new home.  We were greeted by a multitude of whinnies, which K had to return.  We pulled her from the trailer, looked her over and breathed a huge sigh of relief.  She hadn't even broken a sweat. 

As we walked into the barn, every Morgan head in the barn was peeking out of the stalls to see who the newcomer was.  K was also very curious, turning to look at everyone as we walked by. She settled into her stall quietly, and immediately started to eat.  Her stall is open and airy, with 30 foot ceilings and a skylight, along with a view of the indoor arena.  This is the horse version of the penthouse.  Her next door neighbor happens to be the same neighbor she had at the barn we trialed her at...she already has a barn buddy.

I unloaded my tack, set up house, and headed home.  K watched me walk away, not in a "take me home" kind of way, more like "See ya Monday, Mom!" 

We're going to really enjoy our new home.  :)

I Can't Leave You, With a Bad Goodbye...

Yes, I'm channeling a little Clint Black.  We move barns in 5 days.  And though I've made light of it in my last post, it was a hard decision to make.  Saying goodbye to our trainer, who has helped me through my first few months of horse ownership and taught me to ride again after so many years away, is really tough.  I've made some really good friends who have helped me through a lot since K came into my life.

The decision came after our last show, when I realized how badly I needed my trainer.  And although I got through the trailering ordeal with my friends and hubby, going to our first show that we trained so hard for on our own was disappointing.  I wanted that coaching from the rail, needed the help with the horse, and am still left wishing our trainer had been there to see us win.  I also realized that although Hunter Pleasure is fun, and we do well in it, it's not my passion.  I'm still yearning for that dressage ring.

I started out my horse search looking for the perfect dressage horse.  And then bought her.  And now that she's starting to work better in her snaffle, I'm ready to start training.  Hard.  And our barn isn't a dressage barn, nor is it a Morgan barn.  So when one has the goals of testing in Training Level at a Morgan Show, one must find a barn that can get them there.

No matter how exciting it is to move to the show barn, leaving good friends behind is always hard.  Especially when they threaten to take the wheels off your trailer in order to get you to stay.  :)

Colic happens...

  Three days before our big show.   K has been slightly off on her front left ever since the trailer ride and I'm starting to get worried.  I decide on three days of rest instead of work to be sure she is ok to go.  And then the unexpected...colic. Finding your beloved horse thrashing around in her stall, unable to get up is one of the scariest horse moments an owner can have.  I call the vet immediately, trainer gives Bannamine, and I hand walk for two hours while the vet tries to get to us.  She's tubed, examined and impactions pulled out.  And we get the news: No trailering or showing this week.  I literally felt the wind pulled from my sails. 
  
  She recovered pretty well, was on a limited diet for four days, but also went into heat.  So last week I had a lame, colicky horse in heat.  Not our finest hours.  And she's still off, and can't be ridden.  What's a girl to do with no rideable horse, no show season and no tears left to cry?  Find a new barn and show tack for next season of course!

We move to our new show barn on the 15th.  Next show season is going to be amazing.  :)

When you're up you're up, and when you're down you hug your horse

We started at the barn at 5 am, got K and the two other horses loaded and on our way. Hubby drove. I could hear some kicking back there, but checked once at a stop light and all looked fine. Got to the show, pulled out the other two horses, and got to K. She was drenched, I mean absolutely drippin in sweat. Her show sheet was drenched, and ripped. Pull her out quickly and into the stall at the show, and start drying her off and getting her to drink. She recut above her eye, same place as last time, and has two big scrapes at her point of hip. Her hip is bleeding and swollen. I have a break down and just start bawling. This is what I had been so scared of and it had happened again. Hubby snaps me out of it, and I start working on the wounds. I had packed all her boo boo meds from the last time, just in case, so cleaned it up, put the antibiotics on, and then the corona paste. I scratched my first class, Halter Hunter Type. I let her rest for an hour, and she seems calm and happy, eating and drinking, I call both my trainer (he's home sick) and my vet. Both say she is ok to show. Bleeding stops, scrapes are superficial, swelling goes down.

I tack up, go into our first class. She just knows what to do and where she is. She's in full show horse mode, and takes first. Then takes first in our second class. I was elated, so proud of her. I then head over to the trails class, which was very intimidating. She completes the whole thing, including one of those swim noodle car wash set ups, a jump, a waterfall,a gate, and a buried tarp among other things. We take third in trails which was so exciting, since we'd never done anything like that at home.

It's about 90 degrees when our first of two canter classes start. Our first class is equitation...I enter the ring wanting to find a competitor to vomit on (a little tip given to me by an online friend). Target is identified, I smile and end up taking third place, couldn't believe it. Our second canter class goes very, very well. We have collection, we have great cadence, I'm confident. We're on the correct lead...and then the horse in front of me rears up, high. I use my inside leg to move K close to the rail as I see the horse is rearing towards the inside. K thinks I'm asking for a flying lead change, which she does beautifully, unfortunately, and then I can't get her to change back. Have to bring her back to the trot and back up into the canter on the correct lead. Judge sees the whole thing. We still placed though with a 5th. So after 5 classes, I take her and hose her off, feed and water her. A lady gives me some Ace pills for our trip home for her. She takes them and looks a little drowsy. I'm hopeful the ride home is going to be calm.

Another rider from my barn hears my name called over the sound system, I won high point that day for our division. Can't even believe it, it was so amazing to win on our first show together, the rosette is my most prized possession at the moment.

So, we load up. K is fine, we pull away from the show grounds and I hear something going on in the trailer. The truck is moving I jump out and climb up on the trailer to see whats going on, and there is K, all four hooves up against the front of the trailer, back against the padded butt bar, and she's pushing her face against the window to get out. She's stuck. I went into complete panic mode screaming for my hubby to get out and help me. I open the trailer, we pull the other horse out (who's an angel through all this) and get to K. At this point the show execs have heard us, and run out to help. I get the bumper open, finally and K falls to the ground, and is struggling to get up. She finally gets up, the show exec slams the bar up on her, loads the other horse and yells to get her home asap. I'm hysterical. She hugs me, tells me its all ok, get her home fast. Its a 45 minute drive, and I can hear her doing it again back there. I pray the whole way home, completely stressed, that she comes out of this without a broken leg. We pull into the barn, finally, pull out the first horse, get to K, who is once again drenched in sweat, shipping boots shredded, and pull her out and hose her down. I look her all over. No new cuts but the cuts from the morning are now bleeding again. I find that her rear shoe is dangling off. Find the shoe puller and get it off, her hoof wall is cracked, and chipping. I was an emotional mess. I am so thankful for my barn friends, who helped me get her hoof taped, wounds bandaged, trailer cleaned and put away, and all my tack away while I stay with K to calm her down. I finally get her into her stall and she eats and drinks, and I can leave.

Hubby took me to dinner, sweat, blood and tear soaked, and got me a huge glass of wine to calm me down. At that point I finally can think logically, and realize it all could have been so much worse, and our farrier can fix the foot, the wounds will heal before the breed show and I can celebrate our performance during the day.

Six Days and a Wake Up

 Show day is only seven days away.  I'm not nervous at all, which is a miracle in itself.  Only five months ago I was showing on the back of a Thoroughbred that did acrobatics in the show ring that the Spanish riding school would be proud of...in a walk/ trot class.  And though I loved and still do love Grace, my new mare is simply amazing. 
 We've worked through bit issues, collection issues, flexing issues.  Six more days of training, and we'll be loading into the trailer and going to our first show together.  This is where my nerves lay.  The only time I trailered my girl, she had an accident in the back of the trailer, which resulted in a month of nursing a hurt fetlock, a swollen eyelid, and am expensive vet visit.  This time, she will be wrapped, traveling with barn buddies and kept busy with hay even on this short trip.  And along with a week of prayers to the horse gods, and fingers crossed, we will make it to the show grounds unscathed.
 With new show shoes, a new show saddle, and many, many hours working together, we're ready to take home some ribbons, if only to prove to hubby that my new horse is indeed a winner.

A Snaffle and a Show

  As of last week, we are in an honest to goodness dressage legal bit.  It's amazing actually, considering that she was heavy even in a curb.  With the help and patience of my trainer, lots of hours in the saddle, and prayers to the horse gods, we are now in a Baucher bit.  !!! Of course we have some other hurdles to get over before our first dressage test next Spring, but our biggest challenge has been solved.  The Baucher has quickly become my favorite bit to ride her in.  She can start to charge in it, but she does listen to reminders to take it easy.  It also helps that she is very intuitive.  She wants to do the correct thing, and she is also a mind reader.  Mind reading is a bonus when it comes to training a horse. 

In addition to our breed show at the end of the month, we've also entered a benefit open show in just a couple of weeks.  A practice show for us, but still, will be our very first show together.  It also involves two canter classes, which I desperately need and secretly dread.  Cantering with 15 other horses in a ring is so intimidating I almost can't even think about it.  What if I pick the wrong line?  What if she picks up the incorrect lead?  What if we run into someone????!!! 

Thank God there are two of us on this team. One of us has done this before, I keep reminding myself.

A Short Time to Get There

I can't believe it has been almost a month since I last posted...time flies when prepping for a show!  Our first show is at the end of August, 6 weeks away. She's come a long way since April, when she stepped off the truck into my life. "Shaggy Bones" as my hubby named her. He's eating his words now.  She's sleek, shiny, perfect weight, building muscle, and above all, has an incredible work ethic.  Now we have to get in sync.

At the moment, we're working on collection.  She wants to start out strung out, heavy on the fore and heavy in my hand.  By the end of a workout she is working from the hind and lighter in the bridle, but still not show ready.  Alternating between riding and long lining, my trainer feels we will get her there and I'm keeping the faith.

What makes me most anxious is that I know the competition.  Morgans that have been to Grand Nationals with trainers that have been in Morgan barns their whole careers.  That's not to say my girl can't hold her own, she's got the fire and the confidence and the drive to compete.  And she's been in the ribbons.

The ribbons...didn't I once say I was here to have fun, that ribbons really meant nothing once you left the show grounds?   I want to bring home the ribbons.  I want to show the Morgan world that my mare, from a little run down barn in the woods, can rock it in the Hunter Pleasure ring.

Dressage...It Ain't Just for Politicians Anymore.

Completely off topic post, but I just had to comment on the whole Colbert/Dressage thing.  You can love or hate the Romney's but it's pretty darn cool that dressage is getting some attention right before the Olympics.  All of a sudden all my Facebook friends have an inkling of the sport I (try) to participate in, and half the country now wants a dressage saddle. (Get those used Amerigos up on Tack Trader, like NOW!)

I just need to know, where can I get a case of those foam fingers to hand out at our Breed show next spring ;)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=gd05MR0qtOI

What happens in Vegas...

When heading out of town for 4 days, I usually have a check list of things that must get done before my flight.  Parents arrival to stay with the kids...check.  Pet food and supplies well stocked...check. House clean and organized...check. Sunscreen and bikinis packed...check.

Add a new one to my pre-vacation check list: Horse taken care of...check.  Let's be clear on what this does not mean.  It does not mean I swing by the barn, let the manager know I'm heading out of town, and hope all goes well.  Are you kidding?  This is my horse we are talking about!

To prep my horse for my four day absence, I need the day before my travels to be spent at the barn.  With the horse sitter.  And my trainer.  My trainer and I show the horse sitter how she lunges.  How she likes her legs wrapped.  How she likes to have her two cookies when back in the cross ties after her workout.  Which hoof pick works best, which MTG bottle to use on her tail, and which brushes bring out the best shine. 

We go through my plastic tote (you know, the plastic tote kept in the tack room, the one full of every type of horse product in tubes, pastes and bottles in case one of 200 different emergencies could arise). I point out what items I use on a daily basis.

I double check her supplements, clean her stall, water buckets, and pick her hooves one last time.  I check to be sure every appropriate number ever needed is still on her stall door.  I check her grain and oat cans to be sure she has enough.  I go into her stall one last time, kiss that soft nose and let her know I will only be gone a few days.

Then I finally board my plane, arrive at my destination, lay next to the pool with a cold drink and Dressage magazines in hand and wait.  My phone finally chirps at me...horse sitter checking in, all is going fine.

Yep, I'm now that neurotic horse owner. :)

A Bit of an Issue

So my well trained horse has a little bit of an issue (pun intended).  See, being new to horse ownership, I neglected to understand that a horse in a Pelham is not the same horse in a snaffle.  And while I had her on trial for the month, my dressage trainer had her in a Pelham or a Weymouth.  And I was excited to learn to ride with double reins.  I brought along a snaffle one day, just to try it on her, and she was strong in it, but not so strong that I was worried about not testing well one day.

Fast forward to today, 5 bits and a German martingale later, we are going to be learning now to be soft and supple in a snaffle.  In a snaffle, she doesn't listen to your seat, or your hands.  She just goes, hollow, on the forehand. Sometimes in front of the bit, sometimes behind it.  And if you call hanging on to the bit with your front teeth "on the bit" then yes, we've had a few episodes of that as well.  My gorgeous, sweet mare, who is a dream on the ground either in the round pen or on the lunge line, becomes a...wait for it...headstrong mare with no brakes. Sound like any TB's we know?

Back in the Saddle

After 3 weeks of rest, a vet visit with ultrasound, hand walking, cold hosing, bute and anti inflammatory leg massages, my girl is finally back to perfect.  Bringing home a new horse wasn't supposed to end in an injury, but we've worked through it, started building a bond, and definitely created a friendship.

Of course, with any new horse, we have some things to work through.  She's incredibly strong in a snaffle, and since I'm a lower level dressage rider, I can only test in a snaffle.  Not that we'll be testing this show season, sniffle, sniffle.  At her muscle condition, a 20 minute ride is pretty taxing.  Our dressage career will come next spring.  Right now our only goal is to get her body back into condition to possibly get into our state Morgan show by August.  Hunter Pleasure anyone?

From Dreams to Reality

Just as reality is so very different from dreams, so is horse ownership.  It comes with things like injuries from a trailer ride (both a hurt fetlock and a cut above the eye), allergies (swollen watering eyes for two days) and the inability to ride due to lack of muscle and body tone.   It also comes with sleepless nights, constant worry and endless expenses (but the horse NEEEEEEDS 8 bits, honey!).

Because my girl has hardly any muscle, and is so out of shape (not so different from her owner) she needs conditioning to work her way back into the the show horse she really is.  We've started with ground work, twice a day.  And this is how I've come to be sure that we're going to be a great team.  As soon as I take her to the round pen, she's all business. One ear on me, an eye on me, and she walks, trots and whoas on command (more like an ask, she doesn't need anything firmer than a raise of a hand and a word.) And she'll go until you ask her stop. She just doesn't have quit in her. 

What ground work also does for us is establish leadership.  From her attitude and personality, it's easy to see she looks for a leader, she doesn't want to be one.  She wants the guidance, and the praise.  She knows I'm hers, and she needs me.  What she doesn't know is how much I've needed her my entire life, and that I am willing to do whatever it takes to bring her back to perfect.  The riding will come later.

Mine

How does one even title a post that is about realizing a lifelong dream?  Every time I try to come up with something, the tears blur my vision, so a one worded title is going to have to summarize my last two weeks.  Mine.  MINE.  MINE!!!  Yes, I have a horse, registered to me, dependent on me.  I can barely sleep at night.

Like a new mom, I'm thrilled and terrified.  What if I mess her up, all those years of training erased by my amateur seat?  What if Timothy isn't available and she'll have to have Alfalfa? When can we be ready for our first show?!  Walking into her stall is like going on vacation, only better.  Everything else in the world just doesn't exist, it's just me and my mare.

She rides beautifully.  Needs only light rein and leg, and responds to my seat with little effort.  Rides in a snaffle or a double bridle, both equally well.  Non spooky (woah what's that like??), is sensible and so far was only curious about weed whackers, lawn mowers and tarps blowing in the wind.  I have yet to find her vice (I'm not naive, I know it's there, but after 2 and a half weeks, not much has come up.  Unless you count that she's 100 pounds underweight and shedding out like crazy.)  Not show ready, but still, she's lovely. And mine. :)

You Get What You Need...

Over the course of the last week, I've gone back to visit the mare a few times. Each time she has been sweet, friendly and so willing to work. Even though she's so out of shape, and skinny, she's shown me she has the moves to take me further than I had ever hoped for.

We've ridden in gale force winds, outdoors, and not one spook. We've ridden indoors, in the heat, and she didn't ask for a break. Her 10 meter circles are just as fluid and lovely as her 20 meters. She shoulders in before I even ask for it, I swear this horse can read my mind.

So over the course of the week, I have decided that I cannot live without this horse. I don't have one doubt in my mind and I know this is not a decision I will ever regret.

It's funny, thinking over the last few months of horse shopping, what I initially had on my wishlist: 17hh, gelding, dark, THOROUGHBRED, trained to first level. I was willing to trade off a couple of those items for the right horse, but all of them? This mare has not one of my desired traits, but has everything I need.

Pre purchase exam on Monday...I'm once again praying to the horse gods.

Underneath it all, there's a show horse...

After some horse trucking issues (tire blew out) the mare finally arrived at my trainer's barn. I strapped the family into the car, and off we went to get there as soon as I possibly could. We didn't meet her off the truck, but it sounded like she did quite well and caused no issues during the trip.

My trainer warned me on the way that she was skinny, and wooly. She wintered in a pasture, and hadn't had a body clip...at all. Nor had she had enough groceries from the look of her hips. I'm a horse-half-full kind of gal, so was able to look past that. Hubby is still trying to.

I walked into the stall, where she was facing the wall and obviously tired from the trip. She turned and looked at me, with a very kind eye. She liked being touched, so I touched her all over. Her legs looked good, and so did her feet which had recently been trimmed. Her face and ears had been trimmed as well, so at least I could tell she wasn't a yak.

We took her out to lunge, and she showed good manners, listened well, even though she was tired. I then took her for a walk on the lead around the farm. Although very curious, she wasn't spooky, even at the tarp blowing in the breeze or the chicken coop next door. She pays attention and keeps her space. Back in the stall she ate some grain and hay, and seemed to be settling in.

She's smaller than I wanted, and skinnier, and furrier, but something is still telling me that this one has potential to be the horse I'd been hoping for. This isn't exactly how I pictured I'd find my horse, I'm not sure what I expected in this process. But everyone has told me that when I find my horse, that voice inside would be letting me know. And the voice keeps getting louder.

I ride on Tuesday....I'm so anxious I had to open a bottle of 14 Hands Cab just to calm myself down enough to cook an Easter dinner for my family.

Bet on Bay

They say the right horse will appear out of thin air, or in my case out of a barn 3 hours away that didn't have a horse for sale as of yesterday.

My dressage trainer had remembered a big bay mare she had seen at a show in September, and called about her. As luck would have it the owner had been thinking of selling. After seeing some pictures, and hearing about her training and experience, we decided this mare was worth taking a chance on. The stars are so aligned that the shipping truck is only an hour away from there, and can pick her up this evening. She's going to be on trial with me for two weeks. I'm not sure what it is, but I'm boiling over with optimism. Perhaps its her bloodlines and training, or maybe it's the fact my trainer saw this horse show recently, but something is telling me to get my checkbook ready!

Thank you Easter Bunny!

The Other Half of the Dream

Today started out like every Tuesday morning...at the barn with Gracie. I decided to work with her on ground work instead of riding, and threw on my new saddle, pad and girth to have her work with them on, in case there were problems with fit. We worked about 20 minutes on the lunge, working on transitions. She had a lot of energy to burn and didn't like coming back down from the canter, and threw in a few bucks here and there for fun. At one point she got so hyper she bucked several times trying to pull me down the arena. A loud "knock it off" brought her attention back to me.

We did have a breakthrough on the lunge today, even with the bronc show going on. One, she kept her inside ear bent to me, listening for direction. And two, she kept licking, showing me she was relaxed and willing. Normally we don't have this, she usually does what she feels like on the lunge and we burn some energy, but no real communication ever takes place.

After the lunging, I took off the saddle (which seems to be just fine on her) and set her free to run. After rolling in the wettest spot she could find, she kept walking back over to me for a scratch. Then heading away to sniff out any hidden monsters, then back for another scratch.

She got a good grooming, then back to the clean stall for a nap. Not a bad morning to be a Thoroughbred.

I jumped in the truck and headed into town to meet my new Equine Massage instructor and pick up my materials. As of today, I am officially enrolled in Equine Massage Therapy School. (Hubby calls it "Horse Rubby School") By this time next year, I will be certified in my state to work on horses. And Gracie will be one relaxed mare.

Remember Justin Morgan?

We have another contender! Since I've handed over my search to my dressage trainer, I've been patiently waiting for videos and pics of new horses. Today I received info on a boy who has a lot of potential. Tall, dark, handsome...yep, I do fall prey to a pretty face. He's got the training I want, has quite a bit of show experience, loves to trail ride, and...is LOCAL!

I'm really skeptical, and not willing to get my hopes up quite yet. But if all goes well, I could be going to see him this week. He's a little shorter than what I was hoping for, but only by an inch, and what he lacks in height I hear he makes up for in muscle, and his engine is in the rear, right where it needs to be.

I could quite possibly be showing with a new partner by summer...and then off to the big Morgan show in August...(did I just say that?) Not sure that's the route we will go, but I'm keeping all options open.

California Dreaming

It's not something I ever thought I'd consider, but I'm thinking about a horse in California. Being in the rainy, dreary Pacific Northwest, the Golden State is usually a spring break destination for us each year. It's not unusual to hop on a plane and head to the sun for some much needed vitamin D this time of year (and boy do I need it after this winter we've had.) But a day trip to see a potential horse?

My dressage trainer has found something special...a Morgan mare (yep, a Morgan...I know, I thought they only showed saddle seat too, but I do hold a soft spot for them after leasing one way back in my teens) about 16 hh, and trained up through first level dressage. And has shown in the open circuit, and did well. More Warmblood looking than Morgan and has the talent to bring us to levels in dressage I hadn't even considered for my future. She's got a California price tag too.

I've seen only one video, with the promise of more coming...but the movements on this girl are large, yet elegant with a trot even my bulging disk can sit. I hate to start feeling optimistic, but with my trainer by my side guiding me through the process, I think we could be closer to "the one."

Not sure how many trips sweet hubby is going to agree to, but I'm ready to pack up my helmet, breeches and field boots and head south. At least if I'm not loading a horse onto a large Air Van ride to the Emerald City by the end of our trip, I'm sure I can console myself with a nice visit to an Elephant Bar (do they still have those???)

Big Black Horse and the Cherry Tree

Another horse shopping appointment, another rejection letter. This boy was big, bold and gorgeous. Schooling first level, had proven himself in the ring in training level. Even my trainer had hopes for this one.

His owner happened to be a really sweet girl, sharing lots about him as she tacked him up. (He's girthy...ok, well I can deal with girthy) Apparently he has passed out while being girthed up...red flag going up. His hoof abscess was healing, but he still seemed to be favoring it. And not so good manners in the cross ties. I wasn't getting good vibes at this point.

She led him to the arena and lunged him, and he did quite well. Smooth gaits, listens well, maybe he was going to end up being a prospect for me. She mounted, and started him into the trot. Big, elegant trot. And then the canter. He doesn't transition up to the canter, instead he bucks along until he gives up and heads into the canter. At this point, I've decided I probably am not going for a ride. But he calms down, and has a large, powerful canter. I should mention his owner is one of the most talented riders I have ever seen.

I change my mind and want to give him a go. I climb up all 17 hands of him, and off we go. He leg yields nicely. From the walk to the trot, he does ok, but realizes I am greener than his owner and wants to test me. He wants to canter. I don't. And the rodeo begins. Through the jumping and bucking I am hoping I fall pretty. Hubby stops recording the ride and starts praying. The bronc does calm down long enough for me to take the emergency exit.

Que KT...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQmDUEv939A&ob=av3e

Miles and Miles of Thoroughbreds and Not a Horse to be Found!

I'm a good shopper. Let me rephrase that, I'm an EXCELLENT shopper. So why is horse shopping so incredibly difficult?

First horse: Nice bay gelding. Super sweet puppy dog personality. Huge (like I like 'em). No motor...not a dressage prospect if you have to whip them into the canter. Can see the judges remarks now: Between A and F, working canter left lead. "unwilling, unbalanced, disobedient why is this horse even here?"

Second horse: Nice boy, wanted to be loved on. Infected foot, rain rot all over neck, ringworm. Had been in the pasture for some time. Hated to walk away from him, since I'm a "stray dog fixer upper kind of gal." Hubby reminds me I'm looking for a teammate, not a project. I've already got a project at home (my rescue dog)

Third horse: The horse I held most hope for. Training 2nd level, lovely gaits, nice price...and sold before I got there.

Fourth horse: rescheduled due to abscessed hoof. Still hoping for the best on this one.

I live only 30 minutes from a famous race track...I should be having no problem finding a OTTB that meets the qualifications I have in mind. With several dressage barns around me, there should be something out there thats sound, trained up further than I am, well taken care of and ready to work!

I feel like the girl who got asked to the prom, only to realize that the shops with dresses are the picked over consignment stores. Luckily, I've already paid for the limo :)

The Cart Before The Horse!

I'll just come out with it...hubby bought me a horse trailer! (Can you hear my squeals through your monitor?)

We found it in a round about way through Craig's List. A lady was selling a nice trailer, good price. Hubby calls on it, it's already sold. Lady tells hubby her friends also have just decided to sell their trailer. Gives hubby number, hubby calls. You know when car lots try to tell you that the lovely auto you want to buy is a one-owner-grandma-drove-it-on-the-weekends type of car? Well this trailer is the real "grandma drove it" deal. This 1998 Circle J was purchased new, pulled a few times, then parked in their shop for the last few years. It was covered in thick dust, but you could see there was not even a scratch on the paint! No dents, didnt even look like it had ever been used except for the hay still in the manger. With a used trailer price. I'm giddy.

And...its a 3 horse. So Gracie and my barn mates will no longer be bumming rides from other trailer owners to get to the shows. We'll be able to schedule trail rides, and vet visits. And we'll be able to take my horse on our summer trips each summer across the state...

I know, you're thinking "but, you don't have a horse." Today I test rode a contender, and Sunday I will be seeing another boy that looks to be exactly what I have been looking for. I'm feeling pretty optimistic that my new trailer will soon be hauling my new horse to his new home.

But first said trailer needs to be delivered to my driveway in suburbia for a deep cleaning and polish. Won't the neighbors think I'm nifty? ;)

Starting the Search...

I know, I know. I said we were going to long term lease. But funny things happen when the tax man decides to give you back some of your money...

In addition to the horse fund filling quicker than expected, the horse I've been keeping an eye on for months on dream horse has dropped into my price range. And hubby is willing to start looking..I have an appointment to view her this week, along with some others.

I wasn't expecting to learn about my self in this horse shopping experience. It seems that once one starts looking for a teammate, one evaluates themselves as a teammate and what comes out of it seems to be quite positive.

For example, I test rode a horse over the weekend who was the friendliest horse I've ever met. I could have put my three year old on him and felt safe. But he had no go, no willingness to work, and took extreme coaxing to show me his canter. Which was lovely, but not worth the work to get there. He was just so...mellow. I realized then, as I walked back to my truck for the two hour drive home, that I actually appreciate a hotter horse! Ok, maybe not a 8 on the hotness scale, but at least a 6. I also realized from that experience that Gracie is wonderful with leg yielding and her willingness to work when asked.

The most important thing that came out it all though, was my desire to canter Gracie. I put all fears aside this morning, and after warming her up, asked for the canter. She transitioned into it right away from the trot. No whipping, no asking over and over, no hard pressure like the test ride from the weekend...just an easy transition into canter...on the correct lead even. We went around the arena three times before I had to finally had to bring her back to the trot to start cooling down.

I CAN ride a hotter, spooky OTTB...in fact, I kind of like it :)


'

Even Horses Have Soul Mates

Over the last few weeks, I got it into my head that Gracie would be a much happier horse if she were moved over to a stall with a run. She could see the other horses, get some fresh air and see the world.

When I pulled up this morning, my Sunday riding buddy asked how she was liking her new stall...she's been moved? I was so excited for her as I emptied all my tack from the truck and headed over to the other barn to check out her new crib. Even though my lease fee was going to increase, I felt it was going to be a great situation for both of us. She was going to have an improved attitude, and be ready to work each day.

Boy did I get that one wrong. I'd been told that in the past, Gracie had a boyfriend and they had to be separated to get her to work. I had thought she'd forgotten that boyfriend...but she hadn't, and he was in the stall across from her. And she did not want to leave him.

I led her to the arena to groom, and she wouldn't stop calling to him, and he to her. With each call, she grew more anxious and panicky. She started sweating. And wanted nothing to do with me, even forgetting to give me my own space as she moved back and forth as I tried to groom her. It wasn't going to work. I decided to set her free in the arena and let her run some of the anxiety out. This only made matters worse...she had now decided she was part jumper, and was thinking about jumping the arena gate to get back to her soul mate.

It wasnt a good situation, she wasnt calming down, she was getting more fired up as each moment passed. I put the help call into her owner, and it was decided she wasn't returning to her stall with the run, but heading back to her more isolated stall. But I'd have to catch her first. I grabbed my dressage whip, and headed out to the center of the arena. She thought about running me over, but then she saw the lead rope in my hand..."oh? We're going back now, oh thank goodness we're going back" She headed back to me and let me catch her.

I needed a focused horse, so I asked for some ground manners, and we worked on backing up. As soon as she was thinking about what I needed, I headed her into her old stall. She was dripping wet, steaming. And clearly upset at the trick I just pulled. She started calling to her boyfriend, but she couldnt hear him calling back. I left her for an hour or so.

When I returned, she was matted in dry sweat. It took quite a bit of effort to get her groomed and blanketed, but she's all tucked back in to her old stall...without her soul mate.

Gracie the Show Horse!

It's official, Gracie is a show horse. The horse gods smiled down on us yesterday, and Gracie did beautifully.

The morning started at about 5:15 am, when I arrived at the barn and woke up the poor mare. She looked at me like "what on earth are YOU doing here?" After a little coaxing, she did get up, we walked out to the arena where we picked her hooves and then lunged for a bit just to get her up and limber, and to get out any energy she might have. She was attentive, but not too hot. We went back to the stall to wait for the trailer to come into the arena. When I brought her back out, she spooked at the sight of the trailer, and realized what was about to go down. Surprisingly, it took only ten minutes to load her (our trainer is awesome.) Her barn mates then loaded and off we went.

She acclimated pretty quickly to the show grounds...there was just so much to look at, she couldn't really decide what to spook at, so she didn't. Her stall was next to her barn mate, which seemed to help her out, and she ate and had water as normal. After a few hours of waiting, it was warm up time.

Out in the arena, she was lunged and had no spooking or kicking. She just seemed ready to work. We saddled up and started our warm up. She was scared...the show arena was open at that time for warm ups and had a lot of horses in it. She wasn't sure of the arena, especially with the hot heater blowers going in the corner. We stayed away from that corner and continued to focus, and she started to work.

We headed back to the warm up arena, which was like a carousel. About 25 horses warming up together in a too small of space. She didnt like to be crowded and kept stopping and backing up. It took quite a bit of coaxing to get her to do what I wanted her too. During this time I heard my name over the load speaker..how was I late to a class???!!! A few classes had no entries and mine started early. Thank goodness for calm trainers, I was almost in panic mode, on a panicky horse. Lovely combo.

We got to our class, and entered the ring. It was as if a transformation happened...the hyper, spooky TB turned into a well polished show horse. She just knew somehow it was time to pay attention and do her best. It was a walk only eq class, so I was feeling calm as well, and we took second place. If she had backed up straight, we would have won it.

Our second class went the same, taking second, and only because my arms were too stiff and I had a strong hold on the reins (waiting for a spook.) Sorry Gracie.

Our third class my nerves were on edge. The class was large, and it was a walk/ trot eq class, where I was expecting chaos. She collected instantly, was responsive and calm, but very alert. I could feel us working together well as a team, and I was able to ride confidently. As we lined up at the judge, I was so proud of her. She had done her best and no matter where we placed, I knew she had looked awesome. As they read the placings, I got confused. Why had they not called our number? Did they not mark us down as having entered the class? We got down to second place, with just three horses left, and I realized we must have come in last. No problem, we still did a great job. When they called our number for first place, I almost fell out of my saddle. We got FIRST?! I started tearing up...this was the horse that I had so many doubts with, had struggled with for the last month, and was sure was going to spook every chance she got. My cheer squad was on the sidelines clapping, and our trainer was beaming. I am so proud of this horse!

Looking forward to our next show :)

It's Show Time!

Here we are, the night before our first show. She's clipped, bathed and hopefully calm. I wont even go into how many hours it took just to get her ready. We didn't ride today, so I'm not quite sure where her mind is going to be tomorrow morning, after the trailer ride. Thank goodness for patient trainers!

English classes wont start until noon, so we'll have quite a bit of warm up time and getting acquainted with the show grounds. All I ask is finishing the classes without incident...ribbons are the furthest thing from my wishlist at this point in time. A spook free TB is all I ask for..so, please horse show gods, if you are up there, send some calming vibes my way tomorrow.

Don't Give a Thoroughbred a Vacation, And Other Useful Pointers

In this land of wind and rain, we got an unexpected snow storm. Then an ice storm, followed by a wind storm. With the power knocked out for four days, and no way to get to the barn, Gracie got a 7 day vacation. I don't know if it was being cooped up, feeling forgotten, the unexpected cold and then high winds, or a mixture of all of the above but Gracie developed a bit of an attitude. Bucking, spooking, bolting...she was the poster child for a fresh OTTB mare if I've ever seen one. And this made me really nervous. I managed to stay sticky in my seat for the 20 or so spooks we encountered, though I did lose my stirrup one one of the bigger ones. Nonetheless, this behavior only 20 days before our first show started causing me some anxiety.

4 rides, a lesson, a practice show lesson, and a talking to from her owner, and we are slowly getting back to where we were, except my trust still isnt where it was. She had never spooked with me, never bucked with me. Though a little stubborn, I felt like she had been taking care of me. Now the "what ifs" are hanging around. What if she does this at the show, what if she does this when we're riding alone, what if the calm schoolmaster Gracie doesn't return?

While trying to push my doubts aside, I did realize that, though my equitation may not be getting a lot of practice, my riding is indeed getting stronger while dealing with these issues. I'm learning to handle a hotter horse than I'm used to, and learning to move past my fears for the love of my sport.

We've also decided to continue the lease for a year...I must have some hope that this story ends well somewhere in the depths of my doubts.

Gracie and the Trailer

It came about time to re-introduce Gracie to the trailer. I knew this was going to be no easy feat, and that lately with her being a bit sassy, she was going to rebel. And rebel she did.

The trailer arrived while I was grooming her, and she saw it pull in. I think she sensed it was there for her, because she got antsy, and kept looking back at it. After lunging, her owner (who is also our trainer) took the lead and brought her to the back of the trailer. Her poor legs were shaking, and she was breathing pretty heavily. She sniffed it, then pulled back, reared a few times and trotted around and around. He lead her to the trailer again, this time she took a step in. Then backed up, reared and trotted around again. This went on for about 30 minutes. Finally, she was brave enough to enter the trailer. And then turn around and rush out.

After an hour, she had successfully entered the trailer three times. I was so proud of her, knowing how scared she is of them.

With a mouthful of liquorice she headed into the arena for a well deserved free run. I'm feeling hopeful that we may possibly make it to the show next month!

The Year of the Horse

Happy New Year! My grandmother used to believe that what you did on New Years day sets the mood for the entire year. It was no mistake I started my morning out in the barn. It was a slow lazy morning ride. The sun was out, but the winds were really up and Gracie was on alert for anything that might appear on the wind. We walked/trotted for about 45 minutes with our friends; a bay Quarter Horse and her owner. It gave me time to contemplate my horse future, and where exactly I want to go with my riding.

After a good grooming and a few New Years cookies for Gracie, I left the barn with a plan for the year.