Spontaneous open show

So this morning my friend S and I loaded up our young horses - Hampton and Lilly (the Walker I sometimes write about) and headed down to the local fairgrounds for an "open show."

And by "open show" I mean "complete and utter clusterf*uck." Read on.

The goal was merely to give the horses a nice relaxing experience off the farm. Lilly has never left the farm and I felt Hampton could use another trip just for fun.  I entered two classes. Both walk-trot. :)

The both loaded and traveled well and when we got there, Hampton tied to the trailer (first time ever) and stood like a gentleman. Lilly was a big bug-eyed but eventually settled to graze.

As far as the riding goes, there was a lot of screaming at first. Hampton was tense and nervous. I just ignored him and went on with my business. By the end of the day, he was relaxed and so was Lilly so we felt the show was a success. Overall, I'm pretty darn proud of my horse. Here's what we encountered:

(warning: I am about to sound incredibly elitist and judgmental here. Sorry)

• One girl getting thrown in the warm-up arena. She hit the ground so hard I heard a SNAP! and low and behold the bone in her arm snapped right out of her skin. Also, her horse was loose and ROARING around the arena - spooking numerous other horses (about 22 were in the arena at this time). Hampton stood like a rock for me - although his eyes were bugging out of his head.
• Minis, ponies and mules (Hampton's phobia)
• The fairgrounds is next door to the fire station. So several times an hour, freaking loud sirens and horns.
• Stupid ass "open show" people lunging their horses and cracking their lunge whips repeatedly.
• Stupid ass "open show" people cutting us off while trop-ing their horses around (trot/lope combo)
• A kid in the bleachers who was jumping up and down making BANG BANG BANG noises (this was the cause of the poor broken-arm girl's demise)
• Riding in the ring with 17-22 other horses. Mostly going way, way slower than us.
• Pretty decent crowds lining the ring
• Dumb "open show" people yelling "YUP! YUP!" and smacking their horse into the canter - right as they pass us.
• Lots of little kids running around. Some waving various bags, ribbons, clothes

If a horse can handle the hilljack, clusterf*uck environment of one of our local "open shows," then you can handle anything. Yes he was screaming and was tense, but never once was he naughty. He tried so hard to be obedient despite the overwhelming, impressive environment. Good boy!

Pictures to follow soon.

To give you an idea of the disgusting displays of horsemanship found at this show, here are a couple of photos I took a couple of years ago. (I don't mind beginner riders - we have all been there, but it is those people who display terrible HORSEMANSHIP that infuriates me.) I could write an entire post on the pathetic riders I saw today, but I won't. I'm sure we have all seen them.

This girl went 'round and 'round yanking and jerking on this horse's mouth (for no apparent reason):

Eventually, the horse got sick of it and rebelled:

Don't take another step. Don't blame it on yourself.

Last night's ride was the stuff dreams are made of! It was finally cool and we managed a good hour riding before a storm rolled in.

Hampton, winter 2010.

The warm-up started off a little disheartening. I could feel his right hind was stiff. But after 5 minutes of warming up on straight lines, he had worked out of it. I started to add circles and serpentines and before I knew it - my horse was right there for me! Holy cow, on the aids, on the bit, poll up, forward, rhythm and relaxed! It's that feeling you get when your horse is ON and you just want to sit there for a few strides, do nothing, and enjoy the moment.

Here's what we worked on last night:
• Shoulder-in. Sharp, good angle, forward, round. This movement has improved SO MUCH the past 2 months or so.
• Leg yields
• Transitions *yawn*
• Asking for some engagement (squeeze and hold, wait for the hind end to come under)
• Haunches in at the walk. He is FINALLY starting to get this! Going to left, it's pretty good. The right direction is more difficult, which I expected.

Then I thought: "Should I canter? What if it sucks? Then I will be so bummed."

But I cantered anyway and it was ... heavenly. Both leads. So much so that I course I pushed the envelope and did some counter canter. He only lost his balance once and broke. And frankly that was probably my fault. We did a few walk-canter transitions, too. I was glad to see that they are still there. Also, Hampton is technically not even 4 years old yet (his birthday is June 20). I am SO PROUD of what we have accomplished so far. I shouldn't get so bummed over some minor issues.

The key to the heavenly canter is a relaxed and swinging back (duh). He gets wonky and lateral when his back is tight. And yes the tight back may be caused my something going on in that right leg. But I know now that it isn't his real way of going. It isn't my fault as a rider (well, not totally). I just need to get that back relaxed and we will be golden.

Baby, it's gross and hot outside

I rode Hampton Monday evening and it was still sweltering hot and humid. Thankfully, he handles the heat WAY better than I do. He is all Thoroughbred about it. He can be dripping wet with sweat and look at me like "What? I'm not hot!" and still have plenty of gas in the tank. Monday evening's ride was just that. In fact, I think he may have had even more energy at the end of our ride than at the beginning. I eventually had to call it quits before I started getting woozy.

I would do a few minutes of work, then take a walk break (more for my benefit, he was hardly even breathing hard). Here is what we worked on:

• Tons of circles and serpentines. Make smooth changes of bend. Inside leg to outside rein.
• Trot - almost walk - trot transitions. Working on shortening the stride, compressing the body, then springing forward. Great for body building and quickness to the aids.
• Half steps (trot, collect, turn on the haunches while trotting produces cute half steps from the horseh)
• Shoulder-in. Both directions. These are sharp and show quality now. Too bad the rest of second level isn't anywhere near show ready. lol. We even do shoulder in on the quarter line.
• Canter work. Right lead was nice - very bounding and forward. Somewhat croup-high. Left lead went back and forth. Had moments of rhythm, then moments of a tight back and lateral tendency.
• Lengthen the canter
• Change direction at the canter with simple change of lead through the trot. Need crisper transitions, but the leads are reliable.
• Stretchy circle work to finish out the day. Lovely stretching.

Overall a very productive day! He did spend quite a bit of time chomping on the bit. (no teeth grinding, thankfully) I can't quite determine if this is a nervous thing (ulcers?) or a good thing. He had excellent "lipstick" at the end of the ride. I rarely have to even work at keeping his poll up anymore. That has become muscle memory for him.

I need to schedule another lesson but I've been so broke lately. Ah well, soon!

Hope everyone is staying cool and hydrated.

What I do for fun when I'm not riding.

(these are not my photos. I for once didn't take any, as I got there a little late and was having too much fun)

A break from the ponehs

Today I'm driving to Cinci to see my favorite band. The Phish. :)

The lot never fails to provide excellent photo opportunities.

And I love the music of course. Will return with photos!

I lie. (plus fun with fish-eyes)

So I said I was only going to ride "a few" horses yesterday, and ended up riding 4. I mean who takes a vacation from work to ride horses all day? this girl.

This is Zippy. His attitude makes up for what he lacks in looks. Bless his little heart!

I rode Zippy first. He was much better than wednesday. No spooking, no sucking back and thus no bucks. We walked, trotted and cantered with lots of circles, turning, serpentines, etc. He is really starting to accept more contact in the bridle (he used to flip his head around all the time). At times he even starts to offer roundness. But I don't ask for it, he's still not ready. He needs more miles and better balance yet. He is a big boy (round, but not tall) but quite insecure and while he is "broke" in that he accepts a rider, he is still in a bit of a wobbly stage. Overall, he's going well under saddle. He hates standing tied in the barn tho. Thus I left him tied in a stall while I worked other horses. He made lots of noise, broke out once (just like Noah did the other day. For the love!) ... and he ended up standing quietly for a bit before getting to go back out.

Fun with Zippy and the fish-eye lens!

Next up, is Marisol. We did about 15 minutes of walking. Unfortunately, when I started trotting it was immediately obvious that she was off. Like super foot sore in front. Stone bruise? I jumped off right away and decided to instead give her a haircut (a summer bob, if you will). Here she is:

Marisol. aka "Mare-mare" before her haircut

Mare-mare is an TB supposedly from Argentina. She is about 20 years old and doesn't look or act much older than 10. Rumor has it that she has done nothing but polo her entire life. She ended up here since she was part of the University's polo team. Well, they sold all of their horses and now Mare belongs to the barn. She has a severe tongue injury from a bit. I wish I could get pics of it, but basically her tongue was almost sawed in half. Thankfully, she rides completely off your seat and thoughts. I ride her with VERY little contact, if any. As soon as you take up contact, she hollows and goes faster. She has a lot of baggage from bad riding in her polo days. But remarkably, she is well trained if you ask her nicely. I have found that she leg yields, jumps (quite well) and will do lead changes (hunter style, not dressage style). She has lovely gaits and frankly if she were younger I would say total eventer prospect. But the mare has done her time. She deserves light, kind riding and someone to spoil her. 

Next on my list was Hamper. He was a friggin PISTOL. Not sure why he was so fresh and tense in 88 degree weather but I did manage to use that energy to get some half-steps. wooohooo! Plus solid shoulder in. Otherwise, things were tense and short strided. The left lead canter was still a bit of a hot mess. I am going to video him today so you guys can see. I also put him back on U-Guard as he was doing a bit of teeth-grinding and was so tense that I had to wonder about ulcers ... More on him later.

To finish the day. I rode a barrel horse.

You read that correctly.

The BO offered me a chance to hop on a palomino mare named bubbles. Imagine this. Here I am in tall boots, cute plaid breaches and an IRH helmet. Aboard a palomino mare, western saddle, nylon tie down and all! LOL!!!! It actually ended up being a total blast. The mare can turn and burn. I didn't run the barrel pattern, but I did canter it. :) Perhaps gaming is in my future?

Bubbles and the BO.

Full-time trainer for a day.

Yesterday I rode 5 horses and enjoyed every moment of course. :) Here is a round-up:

Hampton: Walk and trot work was good - smooth leg yields and easy shoulder-ins. I really worked on using my outside aids and he was uphill, poll the highest point and forward. His ears were pricked and he seemed happy to be working with me. The canter is ... well, still a mystery to me. On my first canter attempt (to the left), he did this weird thing. He came above the bit and totally cocked his head to the left. I don't mean his neck, just his head. So I was staring at the left side of his face. Weird. I tried it again. Same thing. Lateral canter. *groan* ... he's trying to tell me something. I decided to canter to the right and see if the same thing happened. That went well - pretty much a normal canter. Not super collected, but totally acceptable for a 4-year-old. We trotted a bit more and then I went back to the left lead canter. Much better transition. Better rhythm. It started to get lateral, and then I counter flexed him and it went away. Hmmm ... I still plan on getting some hock X-rays done, but I have to wonder if this canter wonky-ness also stems from being tight in his back right behind the saddle. Which would explain why the chiro fixes the problem. Anyway, I'm just going to stick with walk trot work for a while until I can get the money for those X-rays. We may canter a little bit, but I don't want to canter "badly" because I don't want his muscles to remember that as being the right thing to do. 

Me showing Phoebe a year or so ago.

Phoebe: This is the BO's own personal horse that I ride every once in a while. She was forward and peppy yesterday which makes riding her so much easier. I also took her down the driveway and worked on walk-trot transitions. She was lovely and uphill (she is naturally quite uphill, especially for a Paint). 

Zippy: I'm not sure when the last time this dude was ridden but it took me probably 10 minutes to sort him out. There was head tossing and a few violent spooks and then things clicked with him and he was a good boy. Until we cantered. Dang left lead again - he was going well, then sucked back in a major way. That meant he got a growl and a good pony club kick from me. He answered that with a HUGE buck. I stuck it, gave him hell and went on with it. He never tried it again and was nice and forward the rest of the ride. Green bean moment. :) He was otherwise lovely.

Marisol: (I need to get photos and give this girl a profile soon!) ... This mare is turning into a favorite of mine. I work mostly on relaxation and rhythm with her. And I rarely ride with any contact on her mouth (she has a tongue injury amongst other baggage). We did lots of slow trotting, cantering and even popped over a jump a few times. She LOVES to jump and is really good at it. So I use it as a reward for her. (Plus it's fun). I took her on a short trail ride down the driveway and she was clearly barn sour but held it together decently I guess.

Noah gets kisses from me!

Noah: The big guy is staying with me another month and yesterday I rode him for the first time in the big arena. He was great - we walked around and worked on steering and stopping. He was quiet and well behaved. We had a little drama lunging, but worked through it. He also is not happy when left alone in a stall for more than 10 minutes or so. In fact yesterday he pawed and pawed at the door so hard that it broke open. I caught him just as he was walking out of the stall. Geez.

Tomorrow I have another day off and plan to spend it again at the farm. I might not ride 5 horses again but I will ride a few! Five horses isn't a lot to professional trainers, but it is A LOT when you have to walk out in the big field to catch each one, walk back, groom, tack up, ride, untack, cool out, etc. etc. I was EXHAUSTED at the end of the day. But I liked it. :)