Will the real Right Lead Canter please stand up?

I think I've got most of the prep paperwork for Hampton all filled out and organized for next year. Now it is just a matter of coughing up the cash for it. *groan*. But I have plenty of time for that.

As far as riding, the horse has been beyond terrific. Our half halts have become much more sharp, and mostly off of my seat now with just a tickle on the outside rein. I do many spurts of forward and back in the walk and trot. It makes him so through and yesterday a fellow boarder commented how much more "push" he is developing behind. His trot lengthenings on the lunge are A-MA-ZING. I need to tap into that under saddle but haven't quite gotten there. We can get lengthening of stride, but not the "boing boing DRIVE" that he does on the lunge.

Today I played with leg yield at the canter. It was a little wobbly leg yielding left (on the right lead), but surprisingly quite solid leg yielding right. He understood what I wanted, I just think he lost his balance a bit. I also attempted our first few strides of counter canter. :-) Basically I cantered a circle on the true lead, then cut down the short diagonal and then counter canter on a straight line before the turn - when I would trot. We made it about one or two strides on the right lead - he lost his balance and broke into a trot. Left lead went much better - kept the counter canter until the turn, although still a bit unbalanced and wobbly. That is to be expected. I feel like counter canter is something I should start to think about schooling because it improves the true canter so much, and that is his weakness right now.

Speaking of weakness. For some reason, I am having problems picking up the right lead canter lately. Left lead - prompt, no problem. Right lead? He either will pick up the left lead, or not canter at all. I am reasonably sure the root is that he's not in front of my leg. And I am possibly not setting him up for it. I finally got it today but breaking out a few of my "young horse" tricks to pick up the right lead - post on the wrong diagonal and then step into my inside stirrup when I ask. Yup. Correct lead. So, I dunno. I'm sure it will work itself out. He has no problems with either lead on the lunge, so I blame this issue on my riding.

I'd like to include some hacking and a trail ride this weekend just to get out of the arena. Goals for next week? More leg yield at the canter, maybe a couple more attempts at counter canter. Shoulder-in. I know this probably sounds like a lot to ask of a 3-year-old, but I assure you I only do small spurts. So far nothing has over-taxed him ... he just merely loses his balance and goes on with it. I wuv him.

Houston, we have a problem

So after reading some material on the Young Horse Classes, it looks as though Hampton will need to be registered with an organization recognized by the World Breeding Federation for Sporthorses.

The Performance Horse Registry is not one of those. Since Hampton is basically a mutt, he's not really eligible to be registered for much of anything ... except the American Warmblood Society (or Registry ... whichever one accepts draft blood). The good news is, both of the American Warmblood registries ARE on the list for WBFS.

So I've got to get him registered, and possibly inspected. I'll likely still send in papers for PHR for record-keeping purposes, but I should probably get on the ball for AWR or AWS.

I am not sure if the horse needs to be nominated for participation? So much to do! Geez!

As far as work, it was a lunge day today since it was unbearably hot. Even at 5 am chores. Thanks, Indiana. Hopefully a real ride tomorrow.

Keep on truckin'

I need to start thinking about all the paperwork and fees that I need to deal with in order to show the horse in the USEF Young Horse 4-year-old class next year. Do I think we will qualify for the championships? No. But I'm still setting a class or two as one of my goals for next year. He's a nice horse, with good gaits ... and also, why not?

So here is what I need to do before next season:

• Renew memberships for me.
   - USEF
   - USDF

• Registration/membership for the horse
   - Performance Horse Registry
   - USEF #
   - USDF #

• Buy a friggin horse trailer.

Then I saw (his) face, Now I'm a believer

Finally climbed aboard the horse last night for our first ride after the chiropractor adjustment. I sort of half expected not to notice any difference at all ... but ... there was a rather dramatic difference to my delight.

• No twisting in the poll or tilting his head.

• No head shaking and tossing toward the middle of the ride ... or at all.

• Traveled much more straight

• Worked toward the bit, took a hold instead of "ping-ponging" off the contact.

• Forward, fluid, supple, obedient

• Right lead canter back to normal (soft and rhythmic)

Yeah, it was hot and we were both drenched by the end of a reasonably light workout. I even attempted a few steps of shoulder-in each way and pretty much nailed it (just a few steps, though). There is a heat advisory today so I don't know if I will suck it up and ride this evening ... we shall see. But I was pretty happy and it feels like Hampton is happy with it, too.

Now off to shop for horse trailers and a horse show to enter in the fall ...

Get your head on straight

Dr. Ziegler, a local chiropractor (and DVM) was out today to look at Hampton. I told her nothing about the issues I was having, but decided to just wait and see. His withers, back and hips were good ... but when she got to the poll, she spent a little more time there. She informed me he was torqued to the right (which made total sense to me, as that is the direction he was been twisting his head and poll under saddle). I was happy that I had listened to my horse and went ahead and had him examined. I was also impressed that she immediately found the issue. Luckily, it seems we have caught it early enough before it started to affect the rest of his body.

She cracked his head back on straight and the look on his face was priceless! In typical 3-year-old fashion, he was distracted, chewing on the lead rope, fussing around ... then SNAP! And he looked at me like "what the ..." and stood motionless for several seconds, bewildered at what had happened. Then ... licking and chewing. He is so hilarious sometimes.

He'll be rechecked in about a month or so and then put on a regular reschedule for check-ups. I realize some people think it's quackary, but frankly I am a believer in most alternative medicine treatments. Although I do think you should have a DVM perform any acupuncture or chiropractic work.

I'll likely just handwalk and graze Hampton this evening, then work him tomorrow to see if he is better. She said he might have been living with a mild, but chronic headache from being out of alignment. Poor guy. Annnd sticking with my "rule" ... I get to schedule a chiro appointment for myself, since the horse got the royal treatment. (My rule being that if the horse deserves special treatment, so do I!)

Sweating to the oldies

The beast was still mildly off today when I rode. I didn't lunge beforehand so he was also stiff and narly in the neck and mouth. Ugh. But, the good news is that he did work out of the hind end crap. He maintained his opinion that he shouldn't have to bend right, however, for most of the ride. I spent most of the time walking, doing turn on the haunches (hard work, Hampton says!), TOF and transitions. We did some trotting too - more transitions and straight lines. Kept it pretty easy today. (It's stinkin hot so for his sake and mine we took many walk breaks) Hampton will see the chiropractor on Tuesday to make sure that his resistance in the poll is not because he needs adjusted. If he doesn't need an adjustment, then I will get after him more about it. No excuses, buddy.

Oh yeah, and the July 31 show? It's been cancelled. Nice. Way to send out show bills and advertise your show .. and then cancel it. This particular farm does this a lot. I almost expected it. Oh well, there will be another show!

Do I not pay attention enough?

Man I've been on a blogging roll this week. Could be because it's too friggin hot to do much with the horse. He did get his feet trimmed today. Here's the deal. He is wearing his feet faster than they are growing. His hind feet especially get the toe worn down because he drags his hind legs. Normally, I would like "Crap - hock problems!" but he only does this when leading. He does not do it when I ask him to lunge, or ride him or otherwise am working him. So ... I think he's just lazy. He has done this ever since I got him. So, I dunno. I would hate to have a 3 year old with hock problems already. In any case, he might need shoes if this continues. I've always been a barefoot believer, so I don't know if I want to go the shoe route ... he's got good, solid feet .. he's just wearing them off quickly. So ... I dunno.

Here's the other deal. Apparently, about 6 or 7 months ago, Hampton had an abscess pop. There is a distinct mark on the front of his left hind hoof. I heard the farrier say "Hmmm, well his abscess mark is growing out nicely ..." ... and I was like "Uh, what?" I am familiar with how a horse acts with an abscess rears its ugly head. They are normally 3-legged lame, and it shows up suddenly. This has NEVER happened with Hampton. He has NEVER been lame, except for some very mild soreness in his front leg last fall when he clipped his cornet band with his back hoof and then developed scratches. Plus, I know every stinkin' inch of my horse. I never noticed a popped abscess in his foot - no blood, no pus. Nada. Six or seven months ago would have been in winter, so I guess it IS possible that he popped it out on the field, and was lame very briefly perhaps on a rare 2-3 day stint when I didn't make it out to the barn. He certainly lived in muddy, gross conditions where an abscess would thrive. But man. What the heck? I felt stupid when I explained I had no clue about any abscess. derrrr.

Tomorrow I am going to ride. I have to do 5 am barn chores so I might as well stay awake and get a ride in around 7 am. It needs to happen if we are going to have any chance at not embarrassing ourselves at the show on July 31.

Check out photos from today. Woot. He still looks like a heaping mess of legs. But I think the shot with the barn in the background shows how much weight he has gained.

Unmentionables.

So I lunged Hampton briefly this afternoon and he was significantly better. Pretty sure he just stung himself really good. Still no swelling or heat, or reaction when I palpate any part of his leg. *shrug* I don't think I'll try riding until possibly tomorrow or even Friday mostly because of the heat. It's just ... gross. So today I groomed him up and tried to clean his sheath the best I could. He was well behaved for it (he was totally sober, too!) ... but wouldn't allow me "total access." Gelding and stallion owners will know what I mean. Next time he gets his teeth done and is tranq'd, I'll do a more thorough job. But for now it will do.

He's due for a trim tomorrow morning.

Good news - I've got a couple of lessons schedule before the show. This makes me super excited because my instructor always gets the best out of both of us. And we both need a little kick in the butt I think!

**

In other news, I scored:

(to replace the one Hampton broke)

(the brown/rust one)

... and some cool socks ... all from HorseLoverz for $14.99 (shipping was free!). SCORE!

.. I'm still eyeing a new helmet and a new pair of breeches but I'm so picky I can't commit to a decision. Pretty sure I want another IRH helmet ... just can't decide which one!

He's got legs. He knows how to use them.

Found Hampton to be somewhat off on his right hind this morning when I went to lunge. ARAGH! That is the same damn leg he kicked the wall with yesterday. No swelling, marks or heat ... so I'm thinking he probably just bruised or torqued himself. I stopped the lunge session and put him up when I realized the offness wasn't going to work itself out. We did some simple groundwork just so I felt like he did something productive. Hampton thought it was boring.

Sooo ... will probably not ride him tomorrow either. That means he has earned himself a day at the spa tomorrow! Hair cut, clipping, annnnnd (wait for it) .... a sheath cleaning! Oh goodie!

Hopefully he'll be sound again on Thursday and we can pick back up. He's not super lame right now, but better safe than sorry. Sheesh.

"I gotta go!"

Things were going to well today with Hampton until I asked for the left lead canter. At first it was OK, then he got a bit wiggly and sassy and threw in a head toss. Hmmm. Ok maybe I accidently goosed him. So I tried another transition and WHAM! He kicked out, NAILED the letter A (and shattered it) and therefore earned himself a spanking and about 10 minutes of leg yield work. Tried the canter transition again in the same spot and while it wasn't as prompt as I would like, it was calm and obedient. Sheesh. 3 year olds! As soon as I put him back in his stall, he peed. So I'm going to blame that on the reason for his mild hissy fit. Still no excuse. I do not know why, but a lot of young horses seem to do that - they end up getting this "I have to pee" look about halfway through the schooling session. Weird. Otherwise the session was good - he's really getting the hand of stretching down at the free walk. Stretching at the trot is good, too, but his nose could be a little more out. Something to work on. Turn on the haunches is starting to get there, although he is still a little confused. I just take it slow. One step at a time. He's getting it. One of my favorite exercises is "Think turn on the forehand while walking a circle." .. I started doing this with Hampton and it does WONDERS for him. Makes him soft and supple. He's really good at stepping way under himself. While he can't do many steps in a row (he will "protest" and come above the bit and want to stop because the work is hard), I think it's a great exercise for any horse. Even if you just do little bits.

I'll work him probably almost every day this week and really start working on the transitions and making our 20 meter circles smooth and consistent.


***
More from the song challenge:

Day 08 - A song that you know all the words to:

"Disarm" by the Smashing Pumpkins. Every time I pick up a guitar, I almost always play this one. :-)

Day 09 - A song that you can dance to

"2001" by Phish. ... actually just about anything by Phish but if 2001 doesn't inspire you to dance, then,

well, maybe you are catatonic?

Day 10 - A song that makes you fall asleep

"Night Moves" by Bruce Springsteen. Sorry, but it's sleep inducing.

Day 11 - A song from your favourite band

I have to pick just one? OK this time I pick "Tweezer." by Phish

Day 12 - A song from a band you hate

Nickelback has been selected as the band I hate most. I'm not sure I know any of their songs. How about "How you Remind me"

real quick

Ok, catching up on the 30-day song challenge. Here we go:

Day 02 - Your least favourite song: I only get to pick one? Anything by Lady Gaga I guess. lol

Day 03 - A song that makes you happy: Bouncin Round the Room (Phish)

Day 04 - A song that makes you sad: Last goodbye (Jeff Buckley)

Day 05 - A song that reminds you of someone: I Am the Highway (Audioslave)

Day 06 - A song that reminds of you of somewhere: Wait for it ... Bye Bye Bye (NSync) remind me of college!

Day 07 - A song that reminds you of a certain event: I will Remember you (Sarah M.) .. high school graduation.

***

No news to report on the horse front. Its been 90+ degrees 
so I haven't ridden the past few days. Its supposed to 
somewhat break tomorrow so hopefully will get some time 
in the saddle. Still on the hunt for a horse trailer ... grrr ...

ONE YEAR

One year ago, I wrote a check for a barely-handled 2 year old TB/warmblood/clydesdale cross. He was leggy, awkward, a little clumsy. But he was handsome and appeared to float across the ground (when he wasn't bucking ... derrrr ...) When I approached him in his stall, I saw intelligence and kindness in his eye. Despite having limited handling (he was maybe 30% halter-broke), he stood there quietly while I touched him all over his face, neck and belly. I wasn't brave enough to go to the hindquarters. lol. He was priced CHEAP.

It was the best money I have ever spent.

My first encounter with Hampton (who at the time was named Smitty, but I quickly changed that)

... thank goodness THIS didn't become a habit!

30 day song challenge

Here's a neat concept that I think I'll include with my horse-related blogs:

30 Day song challenge

Day 01 - Your favourite song

Day 02 - Your least favourite song

Day 03 - A song that makes you happy

Day 04 - A song that makes you sad

Day 05 - A song that reminds you of someone

Day 06 - A song that reminds of you of somewhere

Day 07 - A song that reminds you of a certain event

Day 08 - A song that you know all the words to

Day 09 - A song that you can dance to

Day 10 - A song that makes you fall asleep

Day 11 - A song from your favourite band

Day 12 - A song from a band you hate

Day 13 - A song that is a guilty pleasure

Day 14 - A song that no one would expect you to love

Day 15 - A song that describes you

Day 16 - A song that you used to love but now hate

Day 17 - A song that you hear often on the radio

Day 18 - A song that you wish you heard on the radio

Day 19 - A song from your favorite album

Day 20 - A song that you listen to when you’re angry

Day 21 - A song that you listen to when you’re happy

Day 22 - A song that you listen to when you’re sad

Day 23 - A song that you want to play at your wedding

Day 24 - A song that you want to play at your funeral

Day 25 - A song that makes you laugh

Day 26 - A song that you can play on an instrument

Day 27 - A song that you wish you could play

Day 28 - A song that makes you feel guilty

Day 29 - A song from your childhood

Day 30 - Your favourite song at this time last year

••

Day 1: Your favorite song.

Man, that's difficult. My favorite songs are always changing. It depends on where I am in my life, who my friends are, what my mental state is, etc. etc. Seeing as how Phish is my very favorite band, you'd think my ultimate song would be a Phish song. But not today. I think the one song that would win out pretty much anytime would be Pink Floyd's "Wish you Were Here."