Sunday, January 30, 2011
Rocking Horse Recap
FINALLY
I have learned to sit the trot on my horse, and it has paid off! Donald was proudly tied for 4th after dressage.. Top 5.. Something I never thought I would see on that horse until AFTER all 3 phases. We are not a hot mess anymore.. We’re hot.. Well… ya know ;)
I’d like to think it is just all my hard work paying off, but maybe it is because I threatened Donald on the way to the show. I told him that if we were still bad at dressage, I was going to pack everything up and leave for Maryland straight from Rocking Horse. He would be back in his paddock at home with 8 inches of snow. I don’t think he liked that idea.
At any rate, things are shaping up for us not to be a total embarrassment in the ring at Rolex.
Donald and I bumped down a few places after show jumping where I made a rookie mistake. Running at the long spot tends not to work above Training level.. Oops. On the plus side, I did get to ride with a bit and spurs this time and he jumped very well.
On to Cross Country! It was Donald’s playground and he was foot perfect. I think he was so happy to be back out there. I tried him in the snaffle but I think I would like my gag bit back for the next go. Donald has a special bit that I rigged up for him. It is like that fairy tale.. Goldilocks and the Three Bears.. The snaffle bit is too small, the gag is too big, but the PONY GAG is just right! I found these perfect pony sized gag ropes and put them on his full cheek bit, perfection, it’s “Just Enough”. I think Goldilocks is right? Or is it Little Red Riding Hood? Who was that chick that went into the woods and ate porridge? Or was it the bears that ate the porridge? What is porridge?
Hewie’s day was good and bad. He was good in the dressage but got a little nervous and curly. I struggle to make Donald round enough, Hewie is almost TOO round. Hewie jumped his big ole heart out in show jumping, he had the last rail down with his back tippy toes. I think he jumped so hard he wore himself out. I’m very pleased.
Sunday. Cross Country. Poor Hewie, he was doomed from the start. As we biked the XC I knew the exact moment where he would lose it. The course started in the middle of the field, then worked its way back around to the front of the venue.. Right.. By.. The.. TRAILERS. Ugh, I knew it, and there was nothing I could do about it. We jumped 1, and 2 and 3, and headed towards the first combination. Then it happened, a piercing scream… DONALD. He saw us! He screamed at us! He SABOTAGED us! Hewie’s head flew up in the air, started screeching back, and peeled out. The turbo kicked in and we were a screaming, wild orange lightning bolt. Eyewitness accounts described it as “Shocking” and “Very Fast”. I like to call these episodes his “Zig Zag”. I barely got him back under control enough to jump 4, a table, but there was no hope for us, I was still riding an emotional lunatic and there was no way I could keep him focused enough to jump 5 B, the corner after the skinny. Being the rational one of the two, I simply circled around and picked off the corner in fine fashion, settled the nervous wreck and we went on our way. He jumped spectacularly around the rest of the course. At that point my technical 20 put us so far behind, I just took it slow and carefully guided him around, he is so green at the Intermediate level that even when he makes mistakes I want to make sure he is safe and gains confidence.
Next time we go XC… Tell Hewie to leave the Zig Zags at home!
I have learned to sit the trot on my horse, and it has paid off! Donald was proudly tied for 4th after dressage.. Top 5.. Something I never thought I would see on that horse until AFTER all 3 phases. We are not a hot mess anymore.. We’re hot.. Well… ya know ;)
I’d like to think it is just all my hard work paying off, but maybe it is because I threatened Donald on the way to the show. I told him that if we were still bad at dressage, I was going to pack everything up and leave for Maryland straight from Rocking Horse. He would be back in his paddock at home with 8 inches of snow. I don’t think he liked that idea.
At any rate, things are shaping up for us not to be a total embarrassment in the ring at Rolex.
Donald and I bumped down a few places after show jumping where I made a rookie mistake. Running at the long spot tends not to work above Training level.. Oops. On the plus side, I did get to ride with a bit and spurs this time and he jumped very well.
On to Cross Country! It was Donald’s playground and he was foot perfect. I think he was so happy to be back out there. I tried him in the snaffle but I think I would like my gag bit back for the next go. Donald has a special bit that I rigged up for him. It is like that fairy tale.. Goldilocks and the Three Bears.. The snaffle bit is too small, the gag is too big, but the PONY GAG is just right! I found these perfect pony sized gag ropes and put them on his full cheek bit, perfection, it’s “Just Enough”. I think Goldilocks is right? Or is it Little Red Riding Hood? Who was that chick that went into the woods and ate porridge? Or was it the bears that ate the porridge? What is porridge?
Hewie’s day was good and bad. He was good in the dressage but got a little nervous and curly. I struggle to make Donald round enough, Hewie is almost TOO round. Hewie jumped his big ole heart out in show jumping, he had the last rail down with his back tippy toes. I think he jumped so hard he wore himself out. I’m very pleased.
Sunday. Cross Country. Poor Hewie, he was doomed from the start. As we biked the XC I knew the exact moment where he would lose it. The course started in the middle of the field, then worked its way back around to the front of the venue.. Right.. By.. The.. TRAILERS. Ugh, I knew it, and there was nothing I could do about it. We jumped 1, and 2 and 3, and headed towards the first combination. Then it happened, a piercing scream… DONALD. He saw us! He screamed at us! He SABOTAGED us! Hewie’s head flew up in the air, started screeching back, and peeled out. The turbo kicked in and we were a screaming, wild orange lightning bolt. Eyewitness accounts described it as “Shocking” and “Very Fast”. I like to call these episodes his “Zig Zag”. I barely got him back under control enough to jump 4, a table, but there was no hope for us, I was still riding an emotional lunatic and there was no way I could keep him focused enough to jump 5 B, the corner after the skinny. Being the rational one of the two, I simply circled around and picked off the corner in fine fashion, settled the nervous wreck and we went on our way. He jumped spectacularly around the rest of the course. At that point my technical 20 put us so far behind, I just took it slow and carefully guided him around, he is so green at the Intermediate level that even when he makes mistakes I want to make sure he is safe and gains confidence.
Next time we go XC… Tell Hewie to leave the Zig Zags at home!
Monday, January 24, 2011
It's Go Time
Go Time.
This week is going to be spent preparing for our first competition of the season, Rocking Horse I. I went out on a limb and entered Hewie in the Intermediate straight away, the dude has done a year and a half of prelim, if he's not ready now he ain't ever gonna be!
I'm really glad I did. We did our XC school today over at Longwod and I took both Donald and Hewie. I kid you not when I say it was a perfect day. Perfect venue, perfect weather, perfect footing, and perfect horses. They did everything I asked of them and more. They're so much farther ahead this year than they were at this time last year, and I know it is because they are now a product of a good program. When I get to go out there and have my horses go absolutely beautifully, it makes all the sacrafices I am making to be down here worth it.
Buck made us do an interesting exercise today and it really got me thinking about how important position is. We had to jump a series of XC fences with only one hand. We joked that this was our "test" to go to Rolex. I jumped around the first time successfully but when I came back he asked me if I noticed how much my hand was moving (the free one, not the one on the reins). He asked me to do it again but keep my hand perfectly still. It not only improved my balance but my eye got better and so did the rythm of my ride.
The most important thing I'm learning, and the scariest, is that at the four star level there is no room for error. My rookie mistakes are not tolerated anymore. Every time I throw a leg over a horse it's focus, focus, focus... I can see my efforts paying off but I still worry about messing up from time to time.
Now I just have to remember to get my jacket dry cleaned... or my mom will have a fit!
xo
k
This week is going to be spent preparing for our first competition of the season, Rocking Horse I. I went out on a limb and entered Hewie in the Intermediate straight away, the dude has done a year and a half of prelim, if he's not ready now he ain't ever gonna be!
I'm really glad I did. We did our XC school today over at Longwod and I took both Donald and Hewie. I kid you not when I say it was a perfect day. Perfect venue, perfect weather, perfect footing, and perfect horses. They did everything I asked of them and more. They're so much farther ahead this year than they were at this time last year, and I know it is because they are now a product of a good program. When I get to go out there and have my horses go absolutely beautifully, it makes all the sacrafices I am making to be down here worth it.
Buck made us do an interesting exercise today and it really got me thinking about how important position is. We had to jump a series of XC fences with only one hand. We joked that this was our "test" to go to Rolex. I jumped around the first time successfully but when I came back he asked me if I noticed how much my hand was moving (the free one, not the one on the reins). He asked me to do it again but keep my hand perfectly still. It not only improved my balance but my eye got better and so did the rythm of my ride.
The most important thing I'm learning, and the scariest, is that at the four star level there is no room for error. My rookie mistakes are not tolerated anymore. Every time I throw a leg over a horse it's focus, focus, focus... I can see my efforts paying off but I still worry about messing up from time to time.
Now I just have to remember to get my jacket dry cleaned... or my mom will have a fit!
xo
k
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Today I am too exhausted to write anything worth reading really. So I’ll just make lists.
Life In The Sand
Pros
Good footing for the horses
Cheap (free) to build arenas
Beat up footing is fixed with every rain storm
Studs seldom required
No Mud
Sand roads better than dirt roads
Makes horses shoes very shiny
Feels “beachy”
Hurts less when you fall
Cons
In my eyes
In my clothes
In my car
In my house
In my bed
In my shoes
In my teeth sometimes (especially unpleasant)
In everything
Whips you in the face when it’s windy = Sand Burn
Makes dogs itchy
Not actually near a beach
Life In The Sand
Pros
Good footing for the horses
Cheap (free) to build arenas
Beat up footing is fixed with every rain storm
Studs seldom required
No Mud
Sand roads better than dirt roads
Makes horses shoes very shiny
Feels “beachy”
Hurts less when you fall
Cons
In my eyes
In my clothes
In my car
In my house
In my bed
In my shoes
In my teeth sometimes (especially unpleasant)
In everything
Whips you in the face when it’s windy = Sand Burn
Makes dogs itchy
Not actually near a beach
Friday, January 7, 2011
Jump Day!
Every morning Buck writes in "the book" what all the horses are doing that day. So far since I've been down here, all that's been written next to Donald and Hewie is "trotting". Yesterday we spiced it up, we did 40min instead of 20. Trotting on Donald is horrendously boring, and a little painful. He's so big that is trot is sort of bone-jarring. Awesome. Hewie is the opposite, he's so exciting to trot. Exciting does not = Pleasant. Instead of trotting he mostly leaps and bolts, with his tail straight up in the air like an Arab. My horses are cool.
Low and behold, when I showed up to the barn this morning.. What was written next to their names? JUMP. The activity that makes all other horse-related activities bearable! Sweet sustenance of life! I finally was released from trotting prison!
Since the horses did so well at their fall 3-days, they had most of the winter off. After a tough year competing I like to give them at least 4-6 weeks of rest. This was the first time they had jumped since mid-October. I expected to be a little rusty, but I didn't expect to be this bad... we started jumping over a 2'6 oxer so naturally, like any experienced Advanced level rider, I come around the corner and charge at it full speed, while Donald's head is straight up in the air. Nice. I got a serious reprimand for not being able to jump a Beginner Novice sized fence. Failure.
After the fences got bigger we got better. We did some good gymnastics and I was surprised how rideable Donald was and how clean he was jumping. Hopefully I can keep this going all spring. Hewie jumped like a million bucks, but as usual, rode like crap. Rooting and crowhopping in between the fences, barely steerable. Sometimes when I ride him, I'm not really sure what his legs are doing underneath me.
My baby horses are continuing to go well. We are painting jumps at the house to we have stuff to school them over. They are also sick of trotting.
xo
k
Low and behold, when I showed up to the barn this morning.. What was written next to their names? JUMP. The activity that makes all other horse-related activities bearable! Sweet sustenance of life! I finally was released from trotting prison!
Since the horses did so well at their fall 3-days, they had most of the winter off. After a tough year competing I like to give them at least 4-6 weeks of rest. This was the first time they had jumped since mid-October. I expected to be a little rusty, but I didn't expect to be this bad... we started jumping over a 2'6 oxer so naturally, like any experienced Advanced level rider, I come around the corner and charge at it full speed, while Donald's head is straight up in the air. Nice. I got a serious reprimand for not being able to jump a Beginner Novice sized fence. Failure.
After the fences got bigger we got better. We did some good gymnastics and I was surprised how rideable Donald was and how clean he was jumping. Hopefully I can keep this going all spring. Hewie jumped like a million bucks, but as usual, rode like crap. Rooting and crowhopping in between the fences, barely steerable. Sometimes when I ride him, I'm not really sure what his legs are doing underneath me.
My baby horses are continuing to go well. We are painting jumps at the house to we have stuff to school them over. They are also sick of trotting.
xo
k
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
For Sale "Compass Rose"
Video of Chloe at The Maryland Horse Trials July 2010
Day 1
Okay, well this is actually day 4. Everything between day 365 and now is sort of a blur. My feeble attempt at responsibility on New Years Eve landed me on the couch with the spins, laughing at anything that sounded or resembled the word "boob". Staying at home playing board games actually CAN get you into trouble. Real good start to the year, real good.
As if I wasn't in enough pain on New Years Day, I had to make everyone else suffer along with me. Somehow I convinced Josh and a former student, Annie, to get in the trucks and drive to Ocala during the night. Why do people allow me to do these things... I must be very convincing.
15 hours and a blown tire later we arrived in Ocala! Around 8am something started beaming through the window of my truck.. it was very strange.. at first I was spooked and startled but I slowly started to remember what it was that I was seeing... SUN. We settled the big boys into their stalls at Buck's where they were very happy to be with the rest of their Chestnut Eventing Family. Two of my best friends ride with me at bucks, Casey McKissock and Kerry Blackmer, they also have odd chestnut geldings.
I've spent the past two days legging up Donald and Hewie and starting to school my two Training level babies, Helios and Compass Rose. They all feel great considering they had 2 months off. Hopefully I can find Chloe (Compass Rose) her new eventing partner down here, Buck is going to take a look at her tomorrow and I have a few other calls to make. She is wonderful, now to just find her a person!
I have to admit that even though I am loving the sunshine and warm weather, I'm pretty homesick. I know the farm is in good hands, my working student Karen is beyond wonderful and she's doing a great job. There is no better place than Che' Loch Moy. It's home. Although, our landlords down here at the cottage are SO fun! Jean and Sevy. They own our "Rancho Martinez". They are wonderful, hysterical people. For the past two days I couldn't figure out how to work the gas range, and Jean asked me if I was retarted. We are going to get along just fine.
I hear hungry horses, especially Donald.
xoxo
k
As if I wasn't in enough pain on New Years Day, I had to make everyone else suffer along with me. Somehow I convinced Josh and a former student, Annie, to get in the trucks and drive to Ocala during the night. Why do people allow me to do these things... I must be very convincing.
15 hours and a blown tire later we arrived in Ocala! Around 8am something started beaming through the window of my truck.. it was very strange.. at first I was spooked and startled but I slowly started to remember what it was that I was seeing... SUN. We settled the big boys into their stalls at Buck's where they were very happy to be with the rest of their Chestnut Eventing Family. Two of my best friends ride with me at bucks, Casey McKissock and Kerry Blackmer, they also have odd chestnut geldings.
I've spent the past two days legging up Donald and Hewie and starting to school my two Training level babies, Helios and Compass Rose. They all feel great considering they had 2 months off. Hopefully I can find Chloe (Compass Rose) her new eventing partner down here, Buck is going to take a look at her tomorrow and I have a few other calls to make. She is wonderful, now to just find her a person!
I have to admit that even though I am loving the sunshine and warm weather, I'm pretty homesick. I know the farm is in good hands, my working student Karen is beyond wonderful and she's doing a great job. There is no better place than Che' Loch Moy. It's home. Although, our landlords down here at the cottage are SO fun! Jean and Sevy. They own our "Rancho Martinez". They are wonderful, hysterical people. For the past two days I couldn't figure out how to work the gas range, and Jean asked me if I was retarted. We are going to get along just fine.
I hear hungry horses, especially Donald.
xoxo
k
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