Crossing my fingers ...

Well, I don't want to jinx anything so I'm not going to reveal too much information just yet ... but recently an opportunity presented itself that would greatly benefit me 1) financially and 2) allow me to train Hampton on a daily basis no matter the weather.  ... Things might be more official on Saturday.

Not much in the way of other news. A couple of people have commented that Hampton looks a little ... uh ... "round" in the riding video, as in fat. lol. I assure you, in my opinion he still just about a "5" on the body condition scale. I can still EASILY feel his ribs. I think he's at a very good weight now for a youngster not in work. I'll revisit his diet once we get back into regular training. I am pretty sure he was going through a major growth spurt and ended up looking sort of thin, rather ribby and ... well, ugly. Today I had to loosen his halter 2 holes because it would not fit on his head. He's busting out of his blankets (I'm stubborn and keep hoping they will finish out the winter) and seemed taller to me when I was giving him is daily check over in his stall. Could be just me, but I do think the boy has grown.

I wish the ice and slush would melt in the arena so we could get back to work .... grrr ...

Trey in Chicago

Here's a video I shot of last night.

What makes a good boarding barn?

I'm starting to get very frustrated. Since moving to this city, I have not been able to find a boarding barn that both 1) I can afford AND 2) Meets my requirements for horse care. The dressage barn I had T-Bone at for a while is fabulous, but it's just out of my price range. I won't bash the current barn I'm at, as it's fine but there are some things that go on that have pretty much pissed me off enough that I'm now looking to move. What do you look for in a boarding farm?

Here are the "duh" requirements:

• Price range. Gotta be affordable for a broke horsewoman such as myself.
• Turn out. Hampton loves living out 24/7 as long as there is shelter. He'd also be fine with turnout during the day, come in at night routine. I expect fields to have fence that is well taken care of. I also expect that herds will be sorted according to personality as much as possible.
• Water provided at all times (and buckets/troughs kept reasonably clean)
• At the very least, an outdoor arena to ride in.
• At least somewhat organized, free of fire hazards, tack room for boarders, place to tack up, etc. I'm not picky and I am no Dressage Queen, but I like to be able to find a pitchfork if I need one.
• Decent quality hay. Hampton doesn't need leafy alfalfa, but a nice grass mix would be nice.

.. and more ..

• if the barn calls the farrier and vet, I would like to know about it BEFORE hand and also AFTER (if I was not able to be there) so I know what has been done or not done to my horse. Otherwise, I will be calling the farrier and vet myself. And I'm find with that.
• If I purchase shavings for my horse's stall, I expect those same clean shavings to still be there the next day. NOT entirely scooped out and placed in another horse's stall.
• I get enough "nasty grams" at work, I don't need them left for me at the barn, too. Especially for something that is not my fault.

The barn is supposed to be my haven. My escape. For often than not, I arrive and something pisses me off. That's not the mood I want to be working my horse in. I consider myself a pretty easy boarder. I pay my board on time, I clean up after myself. My horse is not a pain in the ass. I don't demand anything. I help others out. I mean what the crap. I'm paying a significant amount of money to be treated like a child I guess. Well I'm a takin' my money and my horse elsewhere.

Ok, rant off.

Footage of Hampton

Well the stars finally aligned and I was able to ride Hampton AND get video of it. I have not sat on his back since late Nov., maybe early Dec. 2009. He has not been working much at all this winter. Even so, it was like we never took a break. He was slightly rusty at first on the steering, but it came back. We didn't do anything exciting. Mostly because we are both out of shape, plus I have an ulcer and haven't been eating well - leaving me weak and easily tired. So mostly I just worked on "whoa" and "go." Toward the end, when we were off the lunge, all I had to go was gently squeeze my legs and he would step off. (this needs quickened and sharped still, and he needs MUCH more forward but it's a start). At the beginning I kept having to squeeze my legs AND a swat with the whip. So, he's catching on. By the way, this was the first time EVER that I have ridden him off the lunge in the big arena. And we did eventually trot but the camera battery pooped out before we got there. He was a good boy for that, too. Very proud. Now that I am pretty sure he's cool with the whole riding thing, I can start to sharpen up the aids and start asking more of him (well, once we are a little more fit). He seems to like his new happy mouth bit, too. I'll take comments, critique, comments about my backyard dressage, etc, if you got 'em!

Another fine example

I like to waste time looking at YouTube videos of other people starting their young horses, so that I can compare and contrast what I do or have done. Some videos have some good tips. Others ... just scary. In this video, it's pretty clear that the horse is cool with the procedure until the man sits up. This is exactly why I wanted to pony Hampton - so that he would get used to a person being above him. In any case, I really don't know how this dude stays on ... way to stick with it, I guess, but man it's clear the horse has some holes in his training.

I want this print!

This is just ... awesome. Must. Get. One.

He's a warmblood. Cross.

There is an interesting thread going on at COTH about what is a "warmblood" vs. a "Warmblood." It sort of irks me to read some comments where people imply that horses who are "mutts" (that is what Hampton basically is) are somehow inferior to "purebred" Warmbloods. It strikes me as rather pretentious and maybe that's just because I have been surrounded by warmblood and draft crosses, as well as other mutts for pretty much my entire life. I don't have a problem with them.

Yes, sometimes these crosses result in something that looks like a yak. It is a crapshoot. Yes, I agree that selectively using certain bloodlines will increase your chances of getting a nice foal for the purposes you want to use it for (dressage, jumping, etc.). Maybe it doesn't bother me because I am not a breeder (well, not anymore. Not counting the Morgans ... but that is a different topic for a different day). When I see a nice horse, I see a nice horse. Not the brand it has on its butt. Not its pedigree. Maybe when I start to breed my own horses, I will change my tune. But for now, a nice horse is a nice horse. Who cares if it's part Percheron? I can't really register Hampton with any association except Performance Horse Registry and possibly as an American Warmblood. It does not bother me one bit. He is a gelding. For for many breeders, it does matter. I get it. I just don't get the elitist attitude.

Anyway, read the thread and see what you think.

Hampton: 0; Pony: 1

Just as I suspected would happen, Hampton now LOVES his alfalfa pellet mash. He gobbled it up today and licked the bucket clean. This time I also threw in some apple chunks. Yum Yum.

Hampton has this weird fear of ponies/donkeys/mini horses/dogs. He's ok with the minis as long as he can either 1) face them or 2) be far enough away not to care. I have gotten him to walk up to one of the minis and sniff her (she didn't care, thankfully) and I think this helped. However, he will still snort all day long at the donkeys. Today I let him walk up to to the pen where the donkeys are. They live with a 30+ year old pony named Hershey. Hershey is cute, but he is a bastard. Just when Hampton gets brave enough to take a few steps toward the donkey pen, there goes Hershey squealing and striking out. Hampton of course jumps away in fright. *sigh* Maybe that is why he is scared of equines who are of short stature.

He was otherwise a little more spooky than normal. But it's cold, he's a 2 year old, he hasn't been worked in a while and I've been giving him alfalfa with meals which already includes some sweet feed. Perfect recipe for a spooky youngster! I don't really care right now because he needs the calories and I'm not working him. Once he goes back into full work, the diet might need to be adjusted if he remains goofy. I suspect he won't once he's working. He seems like to the type that may be a little frisky but quickly wears out of it. lol.