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.
Friday, July 20, 2012
Friday, July 13, 2012
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.
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.
Monday, June 18, 2012
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
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
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
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. :)
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. :)
Friday, June 1, 2012
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?
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?
Sunday, May 27, 2012
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?
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?
Thursday, May 10, 2012
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.
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.
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