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
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Monday, March 5, 2012
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 :)
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 :)
Friday, March 2, 2012
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? ;)
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? ;)
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
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 :)
'
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 :)
'
Sunday, February 19, 2012
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.
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.
Sunday, February 12, 2012
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 :)
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 :)
Friday, February 10, 2012
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.
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.
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