Alive

We made it through the horse trials. I am currently trying my best not to fall asleep at work so figured I'd give a quick update. Photos to come tomorrow.

We had a solid dressage test. One of our better ones I thought. We got a pretty good score - a 66%, which is funny last year I would have been jumping for joy at that. This time I thought dang I can do better! But still happy with that. And an 8 on our free walk. Blamo!

Stadium was basically Hampton saving my ass at every jump. I am still recovering from strep throat and by this point in the day I was exhausted. I put Hampton at every wrong spot on course. I was sloppy and jumping ahead. But he kept going and never once hesitated. Yeah, we chipped a lot of jumps but he left all the rails up.

Cross Country was next and even though we have not seen a XC jump since July, Hampton remembered the name of this game. He did not hesitate one time and some of the jumps were different than what we have seen before (a few brushes, barrels). At one point I did have to bring him back to the trot because he was ROLLING and I did not have the strength to rate him. I also swallowed a bug and began coughing. Yeah. So once again, Hampton saved my ass and carried me home. No penalities.

We finished 3rd in a really strong group of 12 people. I am really proud of that. Especially since our "episode" this week.

I really appreciate everyone's kind comments. :)

More photos and details tomorrow!

Kiss and make up.

Back in May with James Houston

When I walked out to catch Hamper in the field this morning, he saw me and immediately started walking my way. Ears perked and happy.

He had forgiven me for my part in Thursday's episode.

So I forgave him, too. :)

We had a lovely, relaxing dressage school. He was 100% his normal self. Maybe a touch muscle sore (so was I!) so I avoided any real sitting work. We ran through our test for tomorrow (must remember that you do NOT halt and salute at X on the way in. Just at the end ...). Did some shoulder-in and a little leg yield. Lots of stretching. It was a pleasant ride. One we both needed.

Tomorrow's schedule looks like this:
7 am: breakfast with my parents who are driving down from Indy to watch.
8 a.m. ish: go walk my XC course
9:a.m.: Braid Hampton, plus a quick lunge if time.
10: a.m. ish. Load up, head over to FCF
... get number, show packet, memorize stadium course? Lunge, warmup
My ride right now is 12:30 p.m. but the times keep changing.

We're going to ride dressage, dash back to change saddles, throw on my vest and arm band ... go jump our courses and then probably go right back home. I hate that I have to work but dammit I am NOT missing another horse show due to work. Especially since the weather will be so nice.

I do not anticipate any problems tomorrow. But you bet I am going to lunge him just to check on his mental state. No need to run him into the ground but if he has any sillies to get out, that will be his chance. I'm also throwing the running martingale on for jumping. Its benign unless we run into trouble. Peace of mind for me.

The boy is coming along to take photos and serve me mimosas again.

Will report back with results.

Also, good luck to Hillary over at Equestrian at Hart who will also be competing with her big, handsome guy Houston! I was going to be stalker and grab photos of them but I think our ride times may be too close together. :)

Hi-Ho Hampton

Here's how NOT to boost your confidence days before a horse show:

When your horse rears up, bashes you in the face with his neck, makes your nose bleed and gives you a black eye.

...

Earlier in the ride ...

I knew as soon as I started tacking Hampton up that he was fresh and in a snarky mood. Looking back I probably should have just lunged him first, but I thought that since we were going to jump today that he would wear out pretty quickly.

We started out doing some caveletti which went pretty well. He wasn't being bad but he was very electric to my leg. There was lots of half halting going on.

I moved on to an in-and-out (1 stride) which was actually quite lovely.

Next up I went to canter a vertical, long bending line to the fan. As soon as I even touched him to canter he rooted the reins out of my hands and wanted to get silly. No big deal. BIG half halt. He wasn't amused with that and from that point on I could barely put my leg on without feeling like he might explode.

(Here is another instance where I should have either lunged him or just let him have a good canter around the field)

At one point I did a full half because the rooting and snarky attitude needed to stop. We halted. He wanted to back without being asked ... this is a big no-no so I tapped him with both legs.

I remember the first small rear and thought "Ok, he's too fresh for this let's just go forward and let him get it out of his system." But after the first rear he just. kept. rearing. The second rear (I think) was when I got my face bashed. After that I was disoriented and merely slumped over hanging on. I had let go of the reins and just remember the world going up and down. One rear was VERY high. I should have turned his head to my knee but I was just so disoriented ... he probably went up and down 4 ot 5 times in a row?

(Oh yeah, I also have strep throat so was already sick and weak ... oh hey another bad decision!)

Eventually I just yelled "Hampton, STOP!" ... and it must have surprised him because he did.

This episode frightened me to tears. Fearing for my safety, I jumped off and immediately went for my lunge line. I know a lot of better horsepeople would have "worked through" the problem and blah blah but this type of behavior I do not tolerate. He cantered and galloped on the lunge line until he was begging to stop.

After that I got back on. Did many walk, halt transitions (perfectly well behaved this time) and went over the jumps I had planned to do in the first place. It was lovely. But the damage had been done.

I was now scared of my horse.

November Rein

Good news! The barn cats were returned. :)

Other than that, I am working a crapload of overtime at work (thanks, elections) and trying to get ready for FCF trials on Sunday. The schedule looks like this:

Tuesday: Dressage school (+ clean dressage saddle, wash nasty girth)
Wednesday: Hack day (Jessica gets Hampton this day)
Thursday: Jump school
Friday: Day off (I work weird hours)
Saturday: Dressage school
Sunday: Mini trial! (then ... you guessed it, go into work)

I also need to memorize the Beginner Novice Test A. We are also doing First Level Test 1 for the ride-a-test as long as we ride early enough for me to still get into work on time.

My goals are the same as last time:

Have a solid dressage test
Stay on for cross country
Stay on for stadium jumping.

:)

As the hay bale turns

A few of the evicted instructor's minions returned to the farm last night and ...


STOLE THE BARN CATS.

You read that correctly.

The cats don't even belong to the barn manager - they belong to the owners, who raised the cats on the farm from kittens.

Who steals barn cats?!?!?

Good things come to those who wait.

porkchop

About 10 horses left the farm today in the mass exodus of the former instructor and her minions students. I was out riding during the time the van arrived and they departed.

Which means now I can reveal my very exciting news.

Awesome News #1.

I will now be allowed to teach some lessons at the farm!! This is will very limited as I do still need to work my full time slave job at the newspaper, but it will allow me some extra income. I will only be teaching dressage and maybe very, very beginner jumping. (I won't be able to show as an Amateur anymore but such is life)

Awesome News #2

I was offered a separate part time job doing general barn chores. This goes to directly work off my board. Which is a good thing since Hampton moves to a stall tomorrow and that costs more.

Awesome News #3
I have decided to partial lease Hampton. A very nice lady contacted me. She is about my age, also grew up riding saddleseat and turned eventer. She is very nice, seems normal and is getting back into riding after popping out some kids. She will have the ride on Hamps 2 days a week. In turn, I get some (more!) help with his board. A part of me found this decision difficult, as he is "my" horse and I don't want to share him. But that part of me was over-ruled by the part that knows this will be so good for Hampton. He gets more exercise, plus another rider will be good for him. She plans on taking lessons on him with an excellent instructor at the farm across the street. I told her go for it! :)

I am so glad I decided to lie low and keep my mouth shut during the barn drama. It has turned into a very good thing for me and the Hamper. :)

RanDumb post

So I was watching coverage of Fair Hill cross country on YouTube...

The Boy (who has lived in KY his entire life): "Oh wow! That's a really cool course. Do we have anything like that around here?"

Me: *blinks* "Um, there is an OK one in Lexington ..."


...

Anyhoo Hamper is back to normal. I rode him yesterday in 45-degree, windy weather and he was just awesome. On Nov. 1 he will be moving to a stall (yay!) which is for my convenience only (I DO pay the bills you know!). He will still get 8-10 hours of turnout every day. But now I get crossties, running water and shelter to tack up with. Plus no more 30-minute hikes to catch him and walk to the arenas.

More fun news to come later this week! :)