Smell you later 2019!

Wishing all my bombdiggity friends and fellow bloggers a Happy New Year!

In the words of Phish,

"You got your nice shades on, and the worst days are gone
So now the band plays on, you got one life, blaze on"

Love,

Karen

Hampton

Buckley

and Hunter

A decade seems to have passed

Many thanks to fellow blogger and barn mate Emily at May as Well Event for starting up this fun blog hop! I've loved reading everyone else's. So now you can suffer through mine.

2010
Hampton is just a baby, awkward, green 3-year-old.

April 2010

2011
Hampton's first few shows, jumps and more life experience.

Summer 2011

2012

This year was a big year of change. I get a new job that moves us to KY. Leaving the soul-sucking Indiana town I was living in changed my life for the better, no question. Hampton loves Kentucky right off the bat. Settles in great in his huge field of bluegrass. 

Summer 2012

2013

We start to dabble in Second Level early in the year. And in April, I finally get back in the recognized show ring. And it's Hampton's rated show debut.

2013: I show at the KY horse park for the first time

2014

I get my bronze medal by the skin of my teeth. I realize that you can get your bronze medal and not even be a true Third level pair. And I fire the instructor I had been lessoning with for a couple months. We move barns due to this situation. 

Courtney King Dye clinic.

2015

We continue to show Third Level and slowly improve. But struggle with the changes and uphill balance.

2016

Royale the saddlebred joins the family. I co-own him with Liz for a year or two (she eventually takes over the ride). Hampton starts cribbing later in the year. We continue to show mostly Third Level but also try 4-1 here and there. I change barns in order to have the opportunity for more lessons.

2017

This was one hell of a year. With the exception of a disastrous first show, we end up kicking ass the rest of the year in Third Level, Fourth Level and I get my Silver medal in the fall after our PSG debut. We nearly ribbon at Regionals. I WIN A SADDLE and lessons with an Olympian in a contest. .... but then right before Nationals, Hampton gets a nasty fever and I withdraw. Then my dad dies right before Christmas. It was A YEAR I tell ya.

Third level at Regionals 2017

2018

We concentrate on PSG and 4th level freestyle. We have our ups and downs, but end up pulling it together for an 8th place in the freestyle at Regionals, and 9th at Nationals.

2019

We focus on making the PSG cleaner and working toward I-1. It's been a development year, and I face doubt when I get discouraging judging comments. But we finish the year with a strong showing at I-1. We qualify for an I-1 freestyle!

whew - What a decade!

Calling out the hypocrites

via GIPHY

FFS I have talked about Safe Sport and GM a couple times here, and continue to stand by my statements.

Also I'd like to point out the UTTER HYPOCRISY the past week or so regarding how we should reject Michael Vick and ban him from being honored by the NFL and being the Pro Bowl Captain. (I know nothing about football so I'm guessing these are big deals)

Little back story, Vick spent about 21 months in a FEDERAL prison after he plead guilty to charges regarding his involvement in a dog fighting ring. He doesn't seem to be a nice fellow, and does not seem to be someone I would classify as an animal lover. He's pretty much a Grade A asshole.

"BUT! BUT! Football is how he makes his living! BUT he is a great player! He holds several records!! He redefined the role of quarterback!"

Sound familiar?

How come you people defending George Morris and saying the SAME DAMN THINGS about him are all of sudden up in arms about Vick and demanding he not get any NFL honors.

Oh that's right.

Because you are hypocrites.

For the record they BOTH should lose their careers and be banned from their CLUBS.

Excuse me why I go retrieve my eyeballs as they have rolled out of my head.

LS clinic: Getting real

this is a novel - sorry!

My Christmas gift to myself was a clinic spot in the LS clinic here in town. Just a couple miles down the road, actually. I have been reading her blog forever, and admire her riding and the horses she produces. Plus, a fellow blogger/friend also rides with her so I knew a little of what to expect and that I would probably like her.

I was wrong.

I LOVED IT.

Hands down one of the best clinicians I have ever ridden with and my list is pretty long.

On Saturday I introduced myself and explained the comments I have been getting from judges especially in the FEI tests. And how I really struggled this summer with those comments and am I delusional for trying to bring this wonderful horse up the levels.

 The movements are not a problem, but his engagement and uphill balance are a BIG problem and I this winter I am really getting after it.

After scolding me a bit for being too down on myself, she sent us to work.
(Then we had a discussion on why people become dressage judges and it was very enlightening. Basically, if you get nasty comments say F-em.)

That'll do, sir.
Now for more engagement.

We spent almost the entire lesson doing 10m circles down the long side. And he was NOT to lean on my hands. I have gotten in the habit (as MANY dressage riders do) of trying to help him and make it "pretty" at all times. GOD FORBID something falls apart. Well, LS told me to let him make a mistake. Let him fail. Let things fall apart. THEN correct it, put him back together, GIVE. Repeat until death. He is simply not allowed to hang on me, or push down on his shoulders. And I am not allowed to try and hold him up. Because I can't. I know I can't, but it hasn't stopped me from trying hahaha! So I have to "work harder at not working so hard."

canter work from Saturday
#buttgoals

Yes, a "simple" exercise but a good workout for Hampton. He did get tired because he had to carry himself, and find his own balance at the times where I would usually give him some help.

There was also some shoulder-in, and half pass and I would chuck my inside rein away. Does he maintain the bend? yes - great! No? Correct and give again. over and over and over.

Can you take your leg off and the horse keeps going? Yes? Great! No? He needs his cage rattled. Some horses need a loud rattle. Some horses need a train dropped on them. You need to make a point, and then sit still as if nothing had happened. Repeat.

Hampton was such a good boy and it was pouring rain and nasty. But LS has many good things to say about him and the dressage journey in general.

She called Hampton "emotionally stable" and "sure of himself." .... Well at least that's one of us. haha

--

Excuse me why am I tacked up at 7:30 am?

Sunday was a much nicer morning and we picked up with the same self carriage basics from Saturday.

After warming up she asked "does he know half steps?" and I said he has the basic idea but I felt like he was "saggy" and needed to be more sharp.

She gave me an excellent exercise to create a whole bunch of energy, then you just allow piaffe to happen. Like opening a coke bottle. If you try to "make" the piaffe, you are screwed, which is what i had been doing. I had been "tap tap tapping" with my ankles which is probably fine for a more sensitive horse, but is not going to work with Hampton.

Hampton needs to learn to piaffe with my legs OFF. A hotter horse you might put your leg on, perhaps. After 10-15 minutes all I had to do was place my leg and he would piaffe. Clever boy! This is exactly the piece of the puzzle I had been missing before I have a show ring ready piaffe.

Passage was a little more difficult. I explained that no one has ever really given me instructions on what aid to apply for passage. So our transitions from trot to passage have been murky.

So, on a 20m circle we were to passage from 12 to 3. In between I am to keep my body loose, almost sloppy. Playful, sloppy elbows. Then at 12 o clock, ankles at the girth, tip slightly back and engage my core to the extreme. After a few rotations, Hampton picked up these aids and went right from trot to passage. It still needs more strength and lift (and be even more precise), but at least now I've got some clarity. And so does Hampton!

"Next year, it is not out of the realm for you to do Grand Prix." Yes those words came out of her mouth. That is not in my plans, but it was encouraging to hear that come from someone who had made MANY GP horses, and numerous FEI horses who win at the regional and national levels. She knows her shit and I take what she says seriously. I am going to cling to those words.

To end the sessions we tried to play with some ones, but they weren't really happening that day. I got a 1-1 a couple of times but never did get 3. Probably because I was now riding him differently and he was trying to figure it out. We did do a nice spontaneous line of 2s though! Something we could not do 6 months ago.

I found her training and teaching to be clear, no-bullshit, and delightfully profain. I was cracking up at times. If you like trainers who pussy foot around, pretend to be some sort of purist, and over analyze how many pounds are needed in your right seatbone to affect the inside hind leg and then if the moon is in retrograde and Snuggle Muffin might go on the bit, she is not for you. She is a rider's teacher. I can tell she has worked with many different types of horses and riders, been there and done that.

I found her to be hilarious, smart, demanding but also patient.

Other tidbits I wrote down from watching other lessons:

-- Sit down like an auction rider in the canter and drive for a couple of strides to encourage the knees to come up. Then sit chilly.

-- Young horse school in Germany is much like public school. No one is special. Sometimes you get your head slammed in the locker. Young horse school in the USA is like Montessori schools. Spoiled and lacking life skills.

-- think of pushing the bit down to his bottom teeth with your forearms

-- (for a combination where the horse would come off the bit in transitions) - think of building up to the transition. Build, build, build - ASK. ie trot to canter

-- Your strength is not in your muscles, it is in your timing

-- Think of tension between the inside hind leg and your outside rein. Like a bow. Pulling on the inside rein breaks the bow.

Overall take aways
Stop pulling on the inside rein
Stop rescuing your horse
take your legs off, put them back on
Hold your horse accountable
Don't be afraid of the ugly.

Sorry this was so long and sloppy and not well edited. It is a lot to process.

This is all a process and I think a lot of us (including myself) get caught up in what the finished product is supposed to look like. We have to remember that it doesn't start out that way (not even Valegro) and if you only get 10 steps of good work, that is 10 steps more than you had yesterday.

So keep going! :)

Jaws results.

That video of the Arabian mauling his handler is awful to watch.

But it seemed like most readers were in agreement to euthanize him (or her, I just assumed it was a stallion but the footage is grainy).

I agree with this. In fact if he were mine he would be dead before leaving the show if I could make that happen.

I'm sure he has probably been mistreated, treated unfairly, even abused. He probably gets little turn out, and lives a life of isolation and frustration. Humans most likely made him this way. And for that, I do feel sorry for the horse.

Can you rehab a horse like this? I'm not sure. It's certainly well beyond my skills and education.

There was a good point made that he was likely a horse of value (as many Arabian halter horses are), and because of his value this behavior would be ignored. He may even produce foals. (my god can you imagine leading this thing to a breeding shed??) There is a certain amount of tolerance for stallions especially. I did visit Three Chimneys 10 years ago when Dynaformer was still alive, and it is true - he lived 24/7 in a stud chain. I could tell just looking at him that he gave zero shits about me or any other human. I stayed a good distance away from his stall. haha. I hear War Emblem is similar.

I just felt this type of behavior though was at a different level. There isn't a huge point here, except it's just sad all around. I don't know the situation leading up to the event, no after. Or if the handler was ok.

But in the end, the horse is a danger to humans and other horses I would guess.

I wouldn't risk it.

What would you do? Jaws edition

What would you do with the above horse?

1) Ignore the issue. Hope he doesn't do it again

2) rehab him. He has probably been unfairly treated and abused.

3) Put a bullet in his head Humanely euthanize him.

---

I'll gather opinions and post some (authors name won't be attached) in my next blog.

#potstirring

Taking our sh*tshow on the road

The recent snow and cold ass temps are RUDE.

We are going to be snow birds this winter!

Kind of.

A group of barn girls and a couple of strays (including Liz, and another gal from St. Louis) are packing up and heading to Aiken for a week in February.

We tried to do this trip last year, but various factors thwarted our trip including one horse breaking his leg (he is ok and recovered) and someone in at my work on maternity leave so no one else could take a vacation during that time.

So far all engines are go for February 2020 though!

cliche eye ball shot

Surprisingly, this entire trip is going to cost me as much as a simple rated dressage show.

We booked a cool house to share, making it pretty cheap between 6-7 of us. And the horses will be staying at Jumping Branch Farm. And the rates for a week's stay were also really reasonable.

The eventer gals will also be entering a one-day show while we are there. I had originally planned to do another Starter trial there with them, but have since decided not to. After our Starter event a couple weeks ago, Hampton went lame. And I mean LAME on his left front. Like he was lame coming off the trailer when we got home.

My gut says he was getting rocks stuck under the bar of his shoe because he was overdue to be shod and I kept unearthing rocks lodged under there. He recovered very quickly (within 2 days) and has been sound since. So he would PROBABLY be ok, but I am going to err on the side of caution just in case it did aggravate his navicular. He can totally do a little XC schooling at Jumping Branch, but I feel like one little schooling session is enough for him. I'd really like redemption at Starter level since I couldn't even stay on my horse at the last one, though. haha. Maybe another time.

But meanwhile me and Liz plan to find a dressage trainer to take a lesson or two with!
And of course I will be obnoxiously cheering on my friends at the event as a groom and drinking buddy.

Hampton, left,  and barnmate Yogi will both be going

We are also taking a day to ride Hitchcock Woods of course.

And if anyone has any recommendations I am all ears!

I am pretty excited for this little getaway. Aiken I believe is about 8-9 hours from us, so a decent haul. Hampton has never taken a trip like this, so I'm hoping he handles it ok. I am sure I will have more anxiety than he will. Maybe I'm the one who needs the UlcerGuard.

Who has taken a bigger trip like this? Any advice?

Let the bodies hit the floor

not a dressage show

Finally I have some decent blog content!

Drama - check!
Hilarity - check!
Carnage - check!

On Sunday I took Hampton to Flying Cross Farm and did a little mini-trial to close out our year with something fun and playful.

Sidenote: Our last time seeing any kind of XC fence was five years ago. In fact the zipper on my vest was so corroded I had to have help to unstick the damn thing.

Hampton was quite fresh and frisky and also decided to be buddy sour with his trailer buddy. The trailer ride is about 5 minutes long, by the way. He's a quick bonder. So there was so obnoxious screaming, leaping, threats to buck and sucking back. But whatevs. I was able to just work through that crap and had a really lovely dressage test. We did BN test A. The judge agreed and gave us a 21.4 which I think is something like a 79%

Eventing judges I love you.

We went back to the trailer and change tack and I had Hampton looking like a proper fox hunter haha!

I ended up buying this saddle off Facebook, and went out and got a breast collar, new stirrups and some leathers to go with. He was looking pretty legit haha!

Looking like a proper fox hunter or something!

Next up was show jumping and I had a good friend from college coach me through warm up and she really made all the difference. Hampton was jumping great - really round and up under me. He felt sharp and in front of the leg. But without running on the forehand and careening everywhere.

Our show jumping round was clear and smooth. He was taking me to jumps and seemed to be enjoying it.

At this point I'm like "hey! this isn't so scary. Maybe I can do this!"

ha. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

So, I decided to go XC before our trailer/show buddy. So that meant having to canter Hampton away from his BEST FRIEND IN THE FUCKING WORLD. I'm thinking, ok horse you are 12 and a show veteran. This shouldn't be an issue anymore. It was obnoxious.

Jump 1 was fine, but I felt him start to waiver and wobble and suck back before fence 2. I put my leg on and thought he would jump it but he stopped and dropped his right shoulder like some sort of cutting horse and I went flying off the side.  I probably leaned at the fence, too, because I was thinking he would go. He didn't. Wonder if I'll stop leaning at fences now. The fence was literally less than 2 feet high. He could have walked over it. I felt like it was a bit of a dirty move, but I know we are both rusty as we have not done this in 5 years. But still. c'mon HAMPTON.

Flying off a 17 hand horse is a good time, let me tell ya. hahaha. Also, it's the first time EVER I have fallen off Hampton! He was like OH SHIT and took off (back toward his buddy of course)

Thank you to my friends who caught him! My coach for the day said he why don't you just get back on and keep going? Since this was a very VERY laid back little mini trial, and there was no one around waiting to go .... that's what I did. I told myself ok, just get over that fence number 2 and then call it a day.

So I got on, and gave him hell. No problems with fence 2 this time .... And so I kept on going. And ended up riding the rest of the course and all the way to the finish flags! No other issues - in fact he really starting taking me to the jumps.

Fall colors were so pretty on the farm!

I am ok - I did bonk the back of my head and had a little headache, and as I am typing this my right shoulder is starting to hurt. But I am glad I had my TraumaVoid helmet on, and that the ground was a little soft for my landing. I got right back up and did my walk of shame to get my loose horse. I felt like a real eventer.

So that is the story of how I fell off at fence 2 at the STARTER level at a horse trial.

Please do not feel guilty for laughing. I am laughing. And was laughing after I fell (in between foul language). it is hilarious and everyone is ok and that is eventing, right? haha! I got back on and rode better and had a great round, so that is what counts. I am happy that I did that and finished on a high note.

the only disappointment is that there is no video. womp womp

Back to the sandbox!

One two three!

We got 3 one-tempis in a row!

.... this was after about 5-10 minutes of going around and around. I could get 1-1, but the elusive third change was just not happening. I was not fast enough with my legs, or Hampton got his legs tangled, or too crooked, or about a billion other things that must align in order to do the ones.

but finally - FINALLY - we got it!

Brick by brick right?

Dead Musicians?

Hamps and I have been enjoying this (finally!) fabulous weather lately!

And without any shows to prep for, we've gone a little rogue.

I took a jumping lesson which I LOVED and so did Hampton. The jumps were not big, but I learned a lot and Hampton even did a little half assed bucking at first he was so happy to be jumping around.

I am kinda sorta looking for a cheap jump saddle, as I can't really keep borrowing from people. And I definitely need to shorten my stirrups even more. I felt like my knees were in my chest but as you can see they most certainly were not. So a call out to my blogger tack-ho friends, my budget is around $200-$300. I realize the kind of saddle that will buy me but I don't jump often. I just want one to bop around on. Medium tree. Annnnnnd go!

And of course we have been working on dresss-AGGGGHHHHE. I have started to play with some one tempis again. I left them alone most of the summer because Hampton was getting riled up about them. I really think he needed to find his balance in the 2s a little better, because now he will do a 1-1 change and remain calm and mostly balanced.

You can see I lose his haunches there a bit at the end, so we have a long, LONG way to go with straightness and balance. But this is a fantastic base. Soon I will try a 1-1-1 and see what happens! 

And the canter pirouettes. Ah yes, those things have really been difficult for us this year. I was not riding them correctly and Hampton learned bad habits because he is smart and he's rather work smarter and not harder.

He learned to slow way down and use his neck instead of his booty. Resulting in his poll DIVING down to the center of the earth. This left me with really no leverage or ability to fix the pirouette within the actual movement. It dinged our scores. It''s horrible to ride when your horse's poll disappears.

Yeah that's the middle of a canter piro.
(Thank you Jen S for capturing both good and not so good!)

I promise I'm not rollkur-ing him. If he dives down on me, you can see he does not
have to load his hind legs. His croup is actually up in the air.
Trust me, I'm putting an end to this habit. 

BUT I have new tricks and have really gotten after this movement the past few months.

You can see he still wants to use his neck, and gets a little locked at the base but this is MUCH better and he is keeping the jump better. So we will keep working at it. I think he can score well on these, he can sit for sure! 

It is so fun training a horse like Hampton who has a wonderful work ethic, but at the same time is really teaching me to deal with just about any trick in the book. 

And finally I've started to work a bit on an I-1 freestyle for next year. I think I've got the choreography somewhat nailed down. Music is still up in the air but I am thinking my theme might be Dead Musicians. hahaha.

Here's what I've got so far:

I am so open to music suggestions, too! Preferably dead. Or at least one person from the band must be dead. 

Disappearing in airports

September was a bizarre month.

At the beginning of the month, Hampton came up mildly lame (grade 1) on his left front. I immediately called the vet out because I was suspecting his navicular was acting up. The vet disagreed, and said it was more likely a mild collateral ligament injury in his hoof.

We injected his coffin joint, and while still allowed to work my vet said no lateral work, tight circles or anything that could torque his foot for 2 weeks.

His body is looking like a snack these days.

So we did that, although two days after the injection he was sound. So who knows. But he is back in full work now and feels great.

But I did decide to scrap the rest of show season. I may hit up a schooling show just to get ring time, but no more rated shows for us this year. Which I was totally ok about. Saves money, and it means we can have a little non-dressage fun to close out the year! :)

--

Then my mom had to have back surgery. She's ok! But I did end up spending almost the whole week up there with her. She is a tough lady. So Hampton ended up with another 4 days off.

I did sneak away for a couple of hours to play with Liz and her kids' pony, Spot. (She lives not far from my mom) He is adorable but is somewhat of a SHIT which only made me laugh and almost fall off.

Spot's opinion on having me cowgirl him around bareback for a bit.

--

And then last Friday a friend very suddenly and unexpected died. She was only 57.

Kathy, on the left.
Want a sobering fact? Out of the six of us in this photo taken in 2014, only myself, Liz,
and Hampton are still alive.

Our local horse community is in shock. She was a kind, wise friend to everyone. She was one of the first friends I made when I moved to KY. We went to a number of shows together, first with her young palomino cross and later with her Morgan/QH cross. She was a integral part of the local TB rehoming organization, Second Stride. She was a mentor and light to many, many people.

L-R: Kathy, Donna, myself, Kim at Rolex a few years ago

I am still in disbelief that she is gone.

Her husband said that about a month ago, she had said "I have such a great life."

Devastated is such a weak word when it comes to this kind of loss for her family and friends. Life is so short and people can be taken so swiftly.

Kathy, you will be missed.

Kathy and Nichole following us back from the show ring.

A day of volunteering

The day was hot, but perfect.

I volunteer frequently in our local eventing community. Odd maybe, because I compete pure dressage but somehow always end up volunteering at events.

The opportunity to be a fence judge at the American Eventing Championships popped up, and since I already had a rare Saturday off thanks to my birthday (I'm 40 WHOA), I went for it.

Saturday was all about the BN horses and riders. I was stationed at the last fence on course and while it was a long, hot day, I enjoyed watching a wide variety of horses and riders gallop, sing, rap, laugh, cluck, stumble and be cheered on through the finish.

I LOVED the wide variety of horses and ponies that ran around the KHP that day. From small ponies, to Appaloosas, to big draft crosses. It was really neat!

One of the most heartbreaking things I saw was a handful of riders who jumped the last jump, but WALKED and in one case even got off her horse BEFORE crossing the finish flags. That's a TE, and I cannot imagine the suck that goes along with getting that news. One gal cantered right past the second to last fence. Otherwise we didn't see much drama other than one refusal.

Except. I witnessed some gob-smacking unprofessional behavior from one of the other volunteers at the finish line. There was some shouting between her and a junior rider. Now, the rider was slightly in the wrong. She was loitering a little too close to the finish line (off her horse), but was on her way walking back to the barn. The volunteer shrieked at her and I didn't hear what the rider said but then someone (I could not tell if it was rider or volunteer) screamed "THE FINISH LINE IS RIGHT HERE BITCH!"

The rider started flailing her arms around so much that she lost hold of her horse and he nearly got loose.

Finish flags by that black car

Then the volunteer started demanding the rider tell her her number and the rider threw her the middle finger. At this point I laughing at this display of ridiculous behavior. I mean, thanks for the drama to break up my day you idiots.

That particular volunteer also made several condescending comments to me over the day, so I wasn't at all surprised she blew up when someone challenged the power she seemed to think she had. haha. Pro tip: be nice to your volunteers. Don't treat them like idiots.

It was a huge championship event with more than 900 pairs I believe! Saw some darn good riding and I think the eventing bug bit me a little bit .... hmmm.


Also, my favorite horse name of the day: My Box of Crayons.

A sweet itchy butt

That title should get me some interesting internet hits. ha.

This summer has been particularly hot, humid and nasty. And for long periods of time. Hampton has never been a particularly sensitive-skin type fellow, but this summer he has battled sweet itch off and on. At least I think it's sweet itch. Or something similar.

Treat pouch is empty. Unacceptable.

I cleaned his sheath, wormed him, and continued to treat these patches with triple antibiotic ointment and eventually MTG when it was no longer raw. And of course lots of fly spray. They only appeared on his butt cheeks or at the top of his croup.

It worked until recently. When he had a really nasty reaction on the top of his butt, resulting in a big, oozing, hot, very painful lesion. I would merely lightly touch it and he would drop his croup down and wiggle away from me. Poor guy.

ouch

I am not a lover of fly sheets. Especially for a horse like Hamp, who is a sweater, I think they trap sweat and gunk and create an even better environment for fungus and skin issues. Hamp has always been good as rolling in the dirt and mud, too.

But I finally cried uncle.

no but are you serious tho. Why you make me look like
white supremicist

At least it isn't 95 degrees with 85% humidity anymore, so I think he will be comfortable. But still makes me cringe a little. Hoping it keeps those nasty bugs off!

12 questions blog hop

Hey-o! Borrowing this hop from Go Big or Go Home.

Q1:  What hobbies do you have outside of riding?

via GIPHY

Q2: What is your boarding situation?  Are you happy with it?

Hampton lives outdoors 24/7 at a smallish barn with a handful of other super awesome boarders and my coach on site (she's also the barn manager). There's zero drama, the horses are well taken care of and there is both an outdoor and a covered arena. I've got zero complaints except I wish we had hot water.

Q3:  What's on your horsey-related wish list?

My current list of wants include a Total saddle fit stretch girth, brown Mountain Horse Boots, and Sarafina breeches. Probably going to need a new set of DSB boots soon, too.

Q4: What is your most expensive horsey-related item?

The horse trailer. Which my dad bought for me. Because he is the best.

Q5: What was the hardest horsey-related decision you've had to make lately?

Thankfully I have not been faced with any super difficult decisions lately. *knock on wood* Mostly just battling with self doubt and if I should be making my horse do FEI dressage. He answered that question for me already and says he will gladly keep working!

Q6:  What's something you feel you can't live without in your routine?

Probably my routine itself. I really love structure and routine, and Hamps and I have our time in the mornings where we both know what to do, and what is expected. When my routine gets changed significantly, or without warning, I can sometimes get flustered and start forgetting things. haha

Q7: What's on your horsey-related calendar for the rest of the summer?

Pretty busy!

• volunteering as a fence judge at the AECs (I think I'm doing BN on Saturday - shout out if you are going!)
• Dressage chairperson/coordinator for Flying Cross Farm horse trials in Sept.
• KDA Fall Classic horse show in Oct. with Hampton

Q8:  What is one thing you would willingly change about your horse?

I would make him uphill. That's it, he's pretty perfect other than that.

Q9:  What is something you most want to improve on with you and your horse?

Creating a better uphill balance and more engagement in the dressage ring. It's so difficult fighting again his conformation, but it's not impossible. And he is teaching me so much!

This is from first level so we've already made huge improvements!

Q10:  What has been your [current] horses most severe injury?

*knocking on wood* .... hmmm could be a rather nasty case of cellulitis a few years ago, or if you want to count his navicular changes.

Q11:  What do you feel your biggest downfall is as a rider?

Like many of us, probably self doubt. I remind myself often that we are all doing the best with what we have. Some may have more money, more opportunity or better luck. But that doesn't make anyone better than anyone else.

Q12:  What feeds your motivation?

The day-to-day training is what I really enjoy. I love how if you just aim for a itty bit of progress each day, then after 30 days you have made significant improvement. I have enjoyed watching Hampton change and gain strength and balance. I do enjoy showing, and like to use that as a marker for progress as well, but the daily work is where it's at.

... I mean some days we don't really work tho.

Show recap x2. Dressage makes me go bipolar

Thanks Jen for all the photos!!!

First off. 

Someone out there was beyond incredible to me last week. Making it possible for me to enjoy this show at the Hoosier Horse Park even more than I normally would, and really giving me a solid kick in the pants that I have so many supporting me and clearly some extraordinary friends.

I know you read this blog and THANK YOU!! :)

--

I decided not to school Hampton on Friday in an attempt to save his energy. He has been to this facility multiple times a year since he was 4 years old so it's not like he needed to see the show rings anyhow. Liz and I somehow got to bed at a decent hour, which was good because I had an 8am ride for the PSG on Saturday.

Saturday morning Hampton warned up fine. We marched in and had a respectable test, I thought. We did have a mistake in the fours, and the left piro got sticky. But otherwise, I was not disappointed. I didn't think we would get a 60 since we made mistakes, but I would not call the test a disaster.

I went to get my test and was pretty discouraged to see a dismal 55%. Youch. Things we normally get 7s on, this judge was giving us 5.5s and 6s. She REALLY did not think Hampton and I should have dared to go down centerline at PSG because her comment was "Totally on the forehand and inappropriate for this level."

Welp, ok then.

However, this judge was scoring so low all day that people actually filed complaints.

There were even scores in the 40s. Hampton was high point PSG horse for the day with a 55!
I mean good grief. (That's us at the very top)

For the record, I think it is poor sportsmanship to complain about a judge's scoring. You are paying for their opinion, and sometimes you ain't ganna like it. So no, I did not complain to management. I DID bitch to Liz and Jen though hahaha! That is totally allowed.

And I was pretty bummed as this was the second judge in a row to make such a comment.

Did I need to take the hint? Should I throw in the towel and take up basketweaving? Showing hamsters? I was at a loss on how to proceed. I knew that after two judges tell you that you shouldn't be showing this level, you really start to question yourself.

We spent the rest of the day drinking and lounging by the stalls which was really nice. For dinner I hung out with Jen and her hubs who cooked yet another amazing meal. Yum yum!

I spy Jen and a certain pony in the background

Sunday I had the I-1 test to do and figured at this point I might as well go balls to the wall because I had nothing to lose. I knew I needed to keep Hampton's poll UP and him firing off the ground. And that was probably going to require pissing him off a little.

So that's what I did.

Our warm up was not classical dressage by any means. I was sick of Hampton bullying me and throwing his neck down and croup up to get out of work. NO SIR. So the very moment he tried to do that, I floated his teeth with that curb. Yep. Yes I did. It was most certainly not soft, harmonious dressage.

I went into the test telling myself to ride him no matter what. If the judge says I am too rough, then I'll know.

the I-1 ended up going quite well. We only missed ONE two-tempi, and the canter piros def still need work. BUT I rode the ever living snot out of him and had some really great moments.

This judge (NOT the same lady as Saturday THANK FUCK) rewarded us with a fabulous 64.3%!!

Our highest score at the FEI levels to date!
Our only second time doing the I-1
A score toward my GOLD medal
And we qualified to do a I-1 freestyle!!

The judge did not comment one time about my riding. And there were a number of times I smacked him behind my leg, or did a mild teeth floating with the curb.

And another high point for the day!!

Please excuse my saggy breeches. #DQfail

I'm very encouraged. And while I would still like to improve my PSG scores, I think the I-1 really suits us because there is literally no time for me to let Hampton bully me. It made me ride stronger and more aggressive. And since I meant biz-nass, Hampton was like "YES MAAM" (ok more like "ok you slave driving wench')

We've still got a lot to work on, but I'm going to keep pushing on. Hampton proved he CAN do this and is willing. I need to add more positive tension, and ask more of him now.

May or may not do one more show this year. I'm leaning toward one in Oct, when it's a bit cooler at least.

And now I need to start thinking about a freestyle!!!