Risky business

So.

Last week I asked the resident instructor (for now, read below for that shit storm) ... if she had time to give Hampton a trace clip. She said sure. (I don't have body clippers and really don't have the time to do it at the moment ... and I'm lazy)

On Monday I get a text that said "Your horse is a fruit loop when you turn clippers on. I'll have to tranq him. I'll try again later this week."

Ok, so he has never heard actual body clippers before so I figured he was probably just startled by the noise. Plus an unfamiliar person. Sometimes he CAN and DOES still act 5 years old.

So today I go out to ride.

I go to put the saddle pad on like I have been for 3 years. Hampton freaks out, pulls backward and snaps the baling twine tie I have. He snorts and prances around me like I have the saddle pad of DEATH. Which he has NEVER done, EVEN AS A 2 YEAR OLD WHO WAS NOT BROKE TO RIDE.

Weird. He finally settled and licked and chewed and I tacked up and rode him up to the arena.

Well I get to the corner where you have to walk past the barn to get to the arena and he stops dead. Neck tense. Snorting. Balking.

WTF?!

I ask him to go forward. He backs up. I keep tapping with my legs. He doesn't throw a major tantrum, but he did rear once (not really that high but VERY unlike him) and also gave his trademark "sit on THIS lady!" buck that he will do when he balks.

I finally get him to walk up to the barn and I dismount. More snorting. Very very nervous. For those that know Hampton, this is VERY unlike him - even when he is fresh and has the stupids.
At this point I realize that his poor brain has just had enough. I take him to the ring and lunge him where he proceeds to gallop, cross canter, snort and buck for a good 15 minutes.

I rode for another 25 minutes or so and mostly did lateral work. He was still tense, but obedient and didn't do anything naughty. It was a bit busy at the farm with tractors and some gardening going on ... but things like that don't normally set him off.

A case of the fall stupids? Or ...?????

Tomorrow it's back in side reins for him. I am hoping today was just a case of freshness.

This weekend I should probably jump him. Although it's supposed to be wet and cold. Wah.



Someone had a flame up their butt ....



In other news:
There's been some barn drama in the past week.
The "house" instructor was evicted. Remember that "perfect" barn I looked at a while ago? The one that is 30 minutes away but otherwise wonderful?

Well the instructor and about 10-12 of her minions current students are moving there Nov. 1. A mass exodus I tell you! :)

I think I'm going to stay put.

I've always done my own thing anyway. :)

And some new opportunities are opening up. Stay tuned!

Sunday in the (Kentucky Horse) Park

Playing in one of the terrifying Rolex jumps (I assume)

Sunday I drug The Boy down to the Kentucky Horse Park to watch the tail end of the Haygard Team Challenge. We managed to watch some Prelim and Training show jumping and Beginner Novice Cross Country. I really want to attend next year, it looked like a total blast!

Anyway, here are some photos I managed to snap. :) Love the KHP!

I liked her sheepskin boots.

Adorable horse

"Um, no thanks!!!"

3-day pair

This cute Appy liked to flag his tail over jumps

More 3-day show jumping (Prelim)

This guy reminded me of Hampton in that he was so green but sweet about it all.

BN XC water

BN jump (with smurfs)

weeee!

git er done?

Black lab finds stadium boring.

I think this is Dorothy Crowell?

Gorgeous

And what's the KHP without a Fresian?

Hunter pleasure. Or not.

Poor Quarter Horses.

They get a lot of negative attention for the "peanut rollers" and various abusive techniques seen to force these horses into submission.

The hunter riders ride with open fingers, straight elbows and encourage their horses to lower their necks.

Proooooobably not going to make it over a a fence like this.

Your fake tail is also obvious.

But I am going to discuss the opposite end of the "why do you call these hunter classes when your horse has no hope of making it over a fence?" types.

Morgans.

And I can do this because I showed Morgan hunter pleasure to many years.

Let's examine.

This horse is a World Champion. What do I see?

Weighted shoes. Long curb shank. Very hollow back. A tail that has obviously been set in a bussle. Neck broken at the 3rd/4th vertebrae. Rider in a chair seat. No tracking up.

This horse would likly fall on his face if asked to jump a fence. He cannot use his neck or back like this.

Another example. ANOTHER World Champion.

Do you see a trend in what wins in the Morgan breed?

Here is what I would like to see when I judge a Hunter under saddle (on the flat) class:

Rider flaws aside ... I think this is just lovely. Why can't we train our Morgans to go like this? They are a versitile breed, I know they can.

I found an American Saddlebred who is putting the Morgans to shame. Check out this pair:

Yes, the horse could stretch OUT more with his neck ... but overall, a lovely picture. Overtracking, outstanding reach in the shoulder. Horse and rider are tidy and well dressed. UNLIKE this tacky Morgan pair:

*shakes head in disgust*

Maybe traditional hunter attire is outdated? Maybe it's time we wear bright orange! Maybe I am just being stuffy.

I understand that the Morgan breed is showing their MORGANS in hunter tack. But why do they stray so far from the discipline standard?

Discuss.

Nevermind.

Well, I was forced scheduled to work on the day of the show. (Due to someone else's last-minute vacation) So I have to cancel and there are no refunds. Nice.

One part of me in pretty pissed because I am out that money.

Another part of me is relieved because while yes I am out the $95 entry/stall fee (cheap for a show really!) I am also "saving" money by not forking over $400 for transportation. Look on the bright side, Karen!

The next opportunity is Flying Cross in the middle of November. Even if I still have to work that day I can still make this one since those mini trials are usually over by 1 or 2 p.m.

Until then ... back to the sandbox. :)

Not organized. Or prepared. At all.

Octoberfest is only 1 week away.


AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!


I am 95% sure we have found a ride. It's going to cost a lot of money, but with gas prices as they are the lady is actually cutting me a little bit of slack. After this, I am afraid I will be forced to stick to shows that are close to home. Which thankfully there are plenty. :)

Here's what I need to do before we leave:

• Buy a cot (new car is too small to sleep in, so horse trailer it is)
• Run through First 1 and First 3 a few more times.
• Organize horse trailer
• Clip Hampton (fetlocks, nose, bridle path)
• Pull Hampton's mane
• Organize show clothes
• Clean tack (saddle, 2 bridles, wash fuzzy girth which smells like a dead homeless person right now)
• Wash show saddlepads
• Clean tall boots
• I am sure I am forgetting something

Here's a problem. I don't have a jumping saddle.

I have been meaning to borrow one from a friend but time snuck up too fast and it hasn't been shipped. So ... even though I have paid for a stall Fri-Sun, I may just go to the show for dressage on Saturday. Unless I jump in my dressage saddle. Mehhhh. I don't have any friends going from whom I could borrow a saddle.

I'm fine with just doing dressage but I was hoping to stay over and get some stadium rounds in. Since we'll be there anyway, but whatevs. Maybe something will work out.

The skinny on He Who Is Not Skinny Anymore

Compare.

March 2012 

Oct. 2, 2012

Hampton looks the best he has EVER looked right now. He has started to sprout his gorgeous, deep red winter coat and his body condition is just about perfect. The area where his neck meets his withers has filled in - whether that is muscle or fat, I am not sure. :) His butt his round and his coat just shines (and I'll admit, I do not put in a lot of elbow grease daily ... bad owner.).

Back in March I was pretty much pouring grain down his throat. He was eating Purina Ultium - plus an extra 10-15 pounds of soaked alfalfa cubes, PLUS canola oil and another fat supplement. Plus (low quality) hay.

Now here is his diet:

Grass.

That's it. No grain, no supplements (well, except treats).

I realize that eating this lush pasture won't work for a lot of horses, but Hampton has thrived on it. 

I never thought I would refer to Hamps as "the round one in the field" ... but he is. Granted, he lives with OTTBS ... but still. It makes me so happy to see him in such good weight now. He feels good, too! 

Making he thankful I do not have a grey horse ...

Jump skewl!

We left the sandbox and decided to jump over things yesterday. :)

Over the tarp!

OMG my position is not terrifying! Not perfect, but at least not terrifying!

weee!!!

Here are some videos of Hampton jumping around at the farm yesterday. We haven't jumped in a while, and it sort of shows. :)

Here's a crossrail .. trot down the hill to the bending line. (5 strides)
For some reason I actually RIDE the damn bending line well and it's quite pretty. I have always had a weird thing about bending lines, probably just inexperience, in that when I jump in I have steering issues and end up screwing it up. This one is pretty good for us!



***

Here's a 2-stride in an out, and a canter to a fan of purple planks. We are a little crooked coming into the grid, but somehow it's pretty smooth. As I watch these videos I realize how easy this is for Hampton. He just canters over. lol.



***

Here we are hopping over a fake liverpool, aka  a tarp under a jump. He thought about stopping, or maybe just needed an extra peek but I tapped him and over we went.



***

HOWEVER ... the tarp from the other direction did not go so well. We canter over the fan and "rollback" (not really a rollback), back to the tarp. You see him waiver, swap leads, try to run out on me. I could have ridden better and I needed more outside rein, but I kept my eyes on the prize and he DID go over (or sort of through, oh well!) This is the video in which I say "You little SH!T!! GET OVER!" ... So uh, sorry if that offends your ears.



***

Here's the bending line to the fan again. This is more of our green-bean moments. It isn't horrible, but crooked and awkward.




We are getting better! :) My instructor wants us to move up to Beginner Novice but I am going to do another Starter event (or 2) to build on our confidence. Next year we will tackle the BN division.

Hamps has been his usual, wonderful self on the flat, too. Still trying to find a ride to Octoberfest but I think we will be ok. :)