My life smells like wet horse

Hampton is tired of the rain, too!

My car smells like it.

My house smells like it.

My laundry room smells like it.

The bathroom.

My living room.

Me.

And my horse.

I know that we are not that bad off compared to other parts of the Midwest who are literally underwater. And yes I know spring = rain. But for real, I was long-lining Noah in the round pen in ankle deep water. And in the rain. We were both sopping wet when we were done. On a good note, I think he learned a little bit more about steering.

However he does not like being bridled AT ALL and we had a minor war in the stall over that. I'm going to have to try some other approach because he's 18 hands and just too big for me to wrestle with. He's doing really well in the work department. It's just the stall manners we need to really work on (standing tied, not smashing me against the wall, picking feet, bridling, etc).

Hampton nomin' on grass after our ride.

Before the rain hit, I rode Hampton who was stellar AGAIN. We played mostly with First Level stuff - such as pieces from the old First-4 test. We snuck in more counter canter and I tried the serpentine from Second Level but didn't really nail the whole thing. That's ok, we can come back to that. If you don't take risks - you don't make progress, right? At the end I pushed him for lengthenings and got some good moments. I see First Level for next year easily. Yay!

I have got to get my entry in for the May 14 CAF show ... and after that I'm not sure where we will go. Gas prices have caused me to totally restructure my show plans. We may or may not get to a rated show this year. We shall see. And it's ok if we don't - I'd rather invest those funds in lessons or a clinic at this stage in our game.

Earlier I outlined my plans for show season. Here's how that panned out:

Feb. 12: Winter Reins Dressage at Foxton (?? a big maybe)   (didn't happen)
March 19: Dressage at Come Again Farm (went to the February one instead) 
March 26: Winter Reins Dressage at Foxton    (negative, ghostwriter)
April 16: Dressage at Come Again Farm (nope, had a friend's wedding to go to)
May: Harmony in the Park (Edinburgh) *Young horse test  (I wish, but gas is too expensive)
June 4-5: Indy Classic at Foxton Farm (conflict with a Phish show ... ooops)


I feel like I shouldn't really make show plans this year, but sort of wing it. It's not like we will be able to travel far or anything. So there ya go. My revised show season schedule:


WING IT!

I only wanted to see you baby in the purple rain

Last night after work I jumped on Hampton to try and fit in a ride before MORE rain hit. It was already misting when we were warming up. But it was 66 degrees so we were fine.

Loved his trot yesterday - wonderfully on the bit, steady and foward. His poll maybe could have been a little more up but I was so pleased with the contact that I didn't mess with it. Some shoulder-in in each direction brought the poll up to a competition frame for me.

By now we were both drenched. I had plans to really work on the canter but decided to do the abbreviated version. While the transitions were still a little croup-high I was able to develop an uphill, rolling canter within a few strides. Inside spur - half halt outside rein. Rinse, repeat. I was most pleased with the result. He is really tinkering on the verge of being a First Level horse. Very exciting!

And so we headed back to the barn ... both looking like drowned rats. But most pleased with ourselves.

But not before Hampton has to stop at the largest puddle in the arena and drink out of it for a few minutes! LOL! I admit, I let him do it. I really hope that we don't end up in a dressage test after a big rain and we halt at X and his head goes down for a drink out of a puddle.

And once again, I'm a believer.

It took a day for things to "settle" this time, but Hampton is back to his old self now after the chiro adjustment. Infact, he may be even better.

We went for an evening ride on Friday - right at dusk. Hampton was LIT ... but it wasn't a naughty, "I'm going to buck you off" type of feeling good, it was more like a "oh yeah i can move now - lets GO!" type of thing. No spooking or anything naughty, but wow was he forward. Lots of push from behind. He was sharp and quick off my leg. He was pretty  unsteady in the bridle, but I think that's his 4 year old side showing through and probably part my fault as I wasn't using that much leg since I spent most of the time trying to keep a decent tempo instead of Mach 10. Half halts DO require leg, Karen. Please make a post-it note on that. Geez.

Saturday was even better. His canter was so rhythmical and balanced that we even got some counter-canter in! Probably some of the best we've done so far. He was much more steady in the bridle (um, because I was putting leg on, duh) and we did leg yields, shoulder-in, forward and back and he was just brilliant. The sitting trot was the best I've ever felt on him - like there was a place to sit. So fun! I was so, so proud of him.

We also went on a trail ride around the corn fields. He was, again, perfect. There was even a really flooded part of the corn field. The water was deep enough that there were little waves in it. I had never asked Hampton to cross any real water before (he will gladly slop through puddles in the arena) ... so I wasn't sure what I was in for. But ... he plowed right through. No hesitation. No nothing. In fact I think the splashing was fun for him. He had his ears pricked and power-walked through like a champ! I was beaming and giggling. Then I remembered I had put my good sheepskin boots on him that day!! GAH!!! What was I thinking?

Luckily they didn't seem any worse for wear after a good rinse when we got home. Ugh.

Short term goals include a lesson at the big dressage farm on May 1, then the CAF show on May 14. I really can't wait to use my trailer. haha.

Happy Easter to those who celebrate it. :)

A little more BACKground

So this is pretty neat. Hopefully you can click on this to see the large version. Or, click here.

Anyway, Hampton was quite reactive when the chiro adjusted the thoracolumbar fascia (#4):

... and he was out in many more placed in his booty but that spot seemed to be the most sore. His problems with the canter are likely caused by issues with his sacro-illiac joint.

We checked his saddle fit and it still looked pretty good. If anything, it was starting to "get pinchy" just a tad at the withers. I might try the next gullet size up to see if that helps. I was really hoping to keep this saddle for a long time. I promised myself that if/when Hampton and I were showing 3rd level, I would buy a new custom saddle. And, um, we are not there yet.

What causes soreness or pain in the croup area?

• Conformation. Hampton is goose-rumped and short coupled. Does this contribute?
• Trauma/injury. As far as I know, he hasn't hurt himself. He could have slipped and fallen out in the field. Possible cause?
• Riding. Improper balance of rider, ill-fitting saddle.
• Overwork.
• Lameness somewhere else ... I suspect his right hind stifle and/or hock MIGHT be contributing to his back issues. OCD? Some other problem? It's off and on and really hasn't been this bad in 6 months. OR - do his back issues cause the hind leg weakness?

A little good, a little not-so-good

First, the good news.

Yup, that's my truck with my brand spanking new trailer hooked up! I brought the white beauty home yesterday after the rumber floor was installed. It hauls like a dream. Love love love it!! 

Hampton saw the chiro today as as I suspected, he was quite screwed up in his back and rump area. Infact, during one adjustment (I can't remember what the specific name was), his back dropped WAY down as the chiro hit that sore spot. I have never seen him do that before. I really hope that made him feel better! His elbow also popped quite loudly during its adjustment. Not that I have had any issues with his front end, but I found that interesting. My work schedule might keep me from riding him until Saturday but we will see. We need to get back to schooling if I have any hopes of hitting up a May show. 

The not so good news is that Baxter is leaving. He is not making money and earning his keep at the farm, so he is going back home with his owner. I am unfortunately powerless since I can't afford to pay board on him. But really the deal was that he was to be a lesson pony and schoolmaster for the BO (and myself) and really I have been the only one riding him. So while I am sad, it's ok. I do understand that horses have to earn their keep.

And it's not like there is any shortage of ponehs to ride! I will post soon about another mare I have been riding - Marisol, the polo team burnout. She is an interesting horse, but I really, really like her.

My training horse, Noah, has also been making progress. He is still really green and tends to be a worrier so I have slowed things way down for him. I think he will be fine once he gets several months into a solid routine. But he's lunging well now in a single side rein - I even lunged him in the arena yesterday (first time not in the round pen) and he did really well. But he needs more work on basic ground manners, picking up his feet, etc. I think he will come around but it's best to really go extra slow with these nervous, worry-worts. 

And on another good note, I am going to try and make it to Rolex this year - just Saturday I think. It's been several years and I am wanting to go so badly! I have an itch to try eventing with Hampton and I need some inspiration. 

Ride the horse you're on ...

I had intended to ride Hampton today and one other horse before heading into work. I had plans to work on leg yielding, shoulder-in and possibly try leg yielding at the canter. So I got him out to lunge and .... rut ro. His right hind leg was bad. Sometimes he does start out a little short strided behind but then works out of it. So I lunged him a bit more. When asked for the canter, he was uncharacteristically reluctant to canter (he's very well broke and obedient on the lunge) ... when he did canter, it was that wonky, lateral egg-beater canter. Nope, no riding.

Yup, SOMEONE needs to see the chiro! This is exactly what happened last time. Maybe 6 months ago? His pelvis and back were out as well as his poll. The chiro comes on Wednesday so hopefully he can be comfy again. I let him trot around a bit more just to loosen his joints. I lunged him over a few ground poles as well. He did start looking a bit better at the end. He was really stretching over his back and moving much more evenly. So I called it a day with him. I may lunge him tomorrow or Tuesday - but no cantering. That is obviously difficult for him right now so no need to pick a fight over a clearly physical issue.

Guess that means Baxter will get all of my attention tomorrow and Tuesday. muwahahaha.

Spring Stupids

Well it seems I can now confirm that Hampton's random acts of total dipshit-ness are a case of the spring stupids. We worked in the small arena today and he selected one corner and a bench as his Things I Will Spook At to Annoy Karen. I lunged him through the scary corner and he got over that, but the bench? Nope, going to spook and cut in on the circle. I kept at it.

There was an incident where he bolted sideways to the other side of the ring (he hasn't done this is probably 8 months), in which I responded by working his little butt even harder. Then we returned to the bench and I let him stand. Our ride was ... meh. He still wanted to shy at the bench, but decided to tone it down a bit when I jabbed him with my inside spur. I don't mind him giving things the hair eyeball. He just can't ram his ribcage into my inside leg. He was distracted and the canter was a hot mess. Wonky, tense. Yes he was being a prick but I am thinking a visit to the chiro is in order since the canter hasn't been THAT horrible for quite some time.

After a recent storm, the field is muddy so I think that the horses just aren't playing and have some energy now and are just feeling good. I do have to keep in mind that he is only 3 and a half years old, so ya know, what can ya do. I am sort of glad we aren't going to any April shows now. We need to iron this stuff out. Although I suspect once it warms up, he will be back to normal, quiet Hampton.

He's due for his spring shots and teeth tomorrow so that means he will get Thursday off. If I get to the barn early enough tomorrow, he can lunge again. We shall see.

The Noah Bug did quite well today. He has started to understand the concept of lunging and did quite well. Here are some photos of the beast:

Weekend roundup

Hampton

Indiana was kind enough to give us 80+ degree weather all weekend. :) I rode Hampton on Saturday and magically the Demon in the Corner was gone! He never even batted an eye at the same corner he insisted would eat him on Thursday. Nothing had changed. Guess Thursday was just one of those rare days when Hampton actually did act his age.

Our ride proceeded to be quite wonderful, despite the heat and the fact that were were both sweaty pretty quickly. We worked on counter canter (check!), shoulder-in (very nice!) and more transitions - keeping the poll up and the balance uphill. Sunday was even warmer so I took him on a bareback trail ride for about a half hour - as a reward for being a good boy the day before. :)

Noah
I actually got on Noah on Saturday. He is still learning about lunging, but seemed pretty stable when I jumped around him, put weight on the stirrups, leaned over, etc. So I threw a leg over. Things were going ok ... and then out of nowhere he head shot straight up and he started scooting. Thankfully my awesome ground person had a hold of him and he scooted around in circles for a minute before finally stopping. I jumped off, and then started over. The second time he was fine, no issues. I dunno?

The others

Saturday I rode a new mare named Marisol. She has done nothing but polo her entire life and was recently a polo pony for the polo team of the area university. She has a wonderful attitude - so calm and willing - but is an obvious burnout from being treated rather hard by the polo team. She is VERY defensive about her mouth and her back, so I do nothing but ride her on  very little contact and ask her to stretch. I think she'll come around. I also took Baxter trail riding on Sunday (yes, I rode him with a saddle - I 'm not that dumb). He tried his bolting sideways gig once out in the open field but with some cussing I got him stopped. He proceeded to jog back to the barn, where I then made him keep trotting. Then we went on ANOTHER trail ride in the other direction and the booger walked this time. heh heh.

So busy weekend but I loved every minute!

THE TRAILER!

*JUMPING UP AND DOWN WITH JOY!!!!!!*

It was gross and rainy this morning so instead of working horses, I went to look at trailers. And now this one is mine!!!! It's an Adam trailer, 2 horse straight load with a ramp and HUGE dressage room. I am getting a rumber floor installed, so I won't actually have it for another 2 weeks. No April shows for us, but it's a go for May! :) 

I love all the features on this trailer. Screen door and frosted window to the dressing room (big enough for me to sleep in) ... tall enough for Hamper (7'6") ... easy to lift ramp ... interior and exterior lights ... so so awesome!! I am so happy and tickled and it also makes me feel good to buy a trailer from a guy who was pleasant, polite and no pressure. 

I'm going to go do a happy dance now! :) :) :)

Oh, and here is a pic of me with the trailer. So yeah this is what I look like after working until midnight and dragging myself out of bed at 8:30 to trailer shop. Don't judge. :) And anyway, who cares!!! :)

$&*% for brains!

First, the skunk.

This morning the BO noticed that there was something in the critter trap in the barn (we think raccoons have been stealing the cat food). I heard her shriek "SKUNK!!!" and then ... the smell. O.M.G. My eyes were watering, we were both half-gagging. It was unbearable. We moved the offender (still in the trap) outside away from the barn and then opened all the doors in hopes the smell would clear soon. I think it did, but I still smell skunk and I'm showered and in the office now. Ugh.

The beast

I grabbed the big boy first. The 18-hand luv bug known as Noah. For now, I'm just lunging him in a halter and lunge line - he already knows how to wear a saddle so I don't have to worry about that. He needs to learn about lunging. He did pretty well today, only "protesting" once or twice. Need to work on sharper "whoas" but all in all I was happy with him. The BO took photos and wait until you see how big he is next to me! lol! Thank goodness he is good natured because he is too big to have an attitude!

And now, the little %%*^&$* !!

I wish I had photos. Or a helmet cam. My lesson with Hampton actually started out well. We were working on the usual things - staying uphill. Keeping the bend. We started to work on the canter loop from the old First Level Test 4 and out of no where (and this is after working for 45 minutes), Hampton decides he IS. NOT. GOING. NEAR. the CORNER OF DEATH. Which he has been quietly trotting by for the past 45 minutes. WTF. Every time we approached the Horse Eating Corner, his head would shoot up and he would balk. I tried to keep leg yielding him out and keeping him looking into the arena - instead of at the Demons In the Corner.

At one point he just stopped. And I got pissed. spur spur spur WHACK with the whip and then Hampton does his best impression of coon jumping and bucks in place. Then I yelled at him  and spanked him a few times. Then he started to thrash his head around in protest (I kept asking him to turn left and leg yield out ... ) ... it wasn't pretty. My instructor through he was half truly scared (of whatever was in the corner), and half being a punk. We called it quits because he was sweaty and we feared he might tie up (he's never done so, but he did work really, really hard today).

After I untacked, I took him back to the Horse Eating Corner of Horror and let him eat grass there. Seemed fine. Go figure.

Tomorrow I plan to lunge him exclusively in that corner. And that will be his workout. :)

Gotta love young horses.

Trailers and horses and insaneness OH MY!

I wuv him.

Ok so I am mostly recovered from a super busy weekend of riding and the Hoosier Horse Fair. I went to the chiro this morning to get my back, hips and pelvis sorted out. I was having major back spasms, even while riding which is unusual for me. Much better now. :)

Trailers
So on Sunday at the fair I went trailer shopping. The Hawk I have been eyeing was there and I got another up close and personal look at it. It's a great trailer. The rumber floor is amazing. However ... the sales lady was a loon. And my father was with me. And once you fail at being 1) a friendly, warm salesperson and 2) Giving your potential customers information (she gave us incorrect info on the tongue weight) ... there is no redeeming yourself. This lady couldn't have cared less whether or not I bought a trailer from her. And we are not talking about a $900 trailer (like my last one). You would think in today's economy they would try a little harder to make a sale. Nope. She didn't care. This irked my father. And therefore irked me. So I think I might purchase a trailer elsewhere, and then have the rumber floor installed. Has anyone installed a rumber floor? The trailer hunt continues ... but I think I'll have one in my dirty hands by the end of the week ...

Horses
Hampton had Sunday AND today off because I was really really busy. Plus it was raining this morning. I HOPE to ride him tomorrow. But it might not happen. Why?

I am getting another horse in for training!

A friend of mine from college is sending me her Percheron cross to restart. He is 7 and was started about 3 years ago, but he is still green and has not been ridden since that time. SO ... he is coming to me to learn manners, lunging and get back going under saddle. Did I mention he is 18 hands? *gulp*

Baxter is doing well, despite the 5 minutes we spend flying sideways around the ring on Saturday. I guess I could have lunged him more, but I think it was an issue I really needed to win under saddle. Which I did. Once he gave it up, he was brilliant! I've still been riding Zippy every once in a while, and he was also a wild turkey on Saturday. Spooking (once almost dumping me), being obnoxious to tack up, wiggly, snorty, head in the air. But again, I just kept working through it and he ended up giving me his best canters yet!

... I really need to get back to training Hampton this week. I am aiming for the April CAF show. I thought about bringing Baxter, too but I think I will just take my big bay boy this time. After the show we are going to stay for a lesson, too! It will be Hampton's formal intro to jumping. (ground poles, small crossrails at the most). So yeah, spring is here and now I am so busy I don't know what to do with myself!

Oh - and I see I have reached 70 followers!! Yipeee! Thank you all of you who read my (mis)adventures and leave comments. :)

Let the photos do the talking

I am exhausted, so I will treat you all with mostly photos today. On Saturday, I rode 3 horses (Baxter, Zippy and a new mare, Marisol) and lunged Hampton. Baxter and Zippy were wild (it was windy and chilly). Hampton and Marisol were unaffected by the wind and temps and were good to me. That's yesterday in a nutshell.

Today was the annual Hoosier Horse Fair. I went down to help with the therapy horse demo. The barn where I board Hampton is also a therapeutic riding center, so I like to support them as much as I can. I was nominated to take lots of photos today. So I did.

WARNING: Major cuteness follows!!!

In which Hampton channels his inner Black Stallion

Imagine if you will.

Me, Hampton. No saddle. Just a halter and a lead rope.

Galloping along the beach. The wind whipping through our hair.

That's how last night's ride went.

Ok. Except that there was no galloping. Only me riding bareback and Hampton packing me along at a slow trot, clearly concerned that I had lost my mind. I love watching the sunset from his back and just spending time enjoying my horse. No bridle. No saddle. No dressage. No on-the-bit. The dressage part of me feels guilty for not demanding the best from him during every single ride. But the little kid on me - the Alec Ramsey - loves these rides. I was even holding my arms out to the side while trotting down the rail. (Further proving that Hampton is indeed an actual Saint). 

He gets today off (but I'll still ride the pony) and Saturday we will return to dressage-ing.