Shave and a haircut

I FINALLY got around to getting the beast a trace clip.

He looks handsome, as usual. :)

dawww.

Remember how I had asked another person to clip him back in October? She said that he "went psycho" and that he needed drugs. She ended up not clipping him at all. Like could not get near him with clippers, supposedly. I was not there for that attempt, but for 2-3 days after that Hamps was very fearful of the main barn. I suspected she did something to him, because he rarely acts so wild. I can't confirm that anything happened, but I will say today I held him in the aisle and he stood while TWO people clipped him! One gal with big body clippers and another gal doing clean-up with regular clippers.

Was he nervous? Yes. They were getting the hairy eye ball. Was he psycho? NO. NO. NO.

No drugs!!

Ok, we did end up giving him a little bit of happy juice about half-way through, not because he was being wild but because he just got to wiggling around too much. I did not even have a chain on his nose.

So, I dunno. Regardless, he is clipped now. He also got a new blankie to wear.

$50 purchase off eBay. Bam!
He is a size 84 - that is big.

And because I exploit my poor horse:

Drunk

2012 Blooper Reel!

That would be my cat, Grover.

2012 Blooper Blog

It's been a crazy, fun year full of many changes but before I do the boring roundup blog, let's just get to the fun part. The bloopers. :)

Someone left this on my desk at work and I STILL do not know who did it!

OMG Hampton can you hang your knees any more?

Much better jumping form ... except upside down.

In March I had the mother of all broken nails

Summer heat sucks.

Probably not a candidate to send to George Morris!

I am not a Bears fan.

And here we demonstrate the "croup-high canter"

Uhh?

We DID make it over the jump despite being 1) downhill 2) crooked and 3)  a hot mess

nerd alert

Look up HOT SLOPPY MESS jumping in Websters ....

butt shot

Kamikaze

Today's competitive horse prancing dressage show was just down the road, which is why we went ahead and loaded up even though it was raining this morning. Seems the rain chased away a bunch of other competitors. WIMPS! It actually stopped raining for my tests and was starting to get nice out when we were leaving.

Making cute faces while I get comments from the judge.

end of test - he looks proud of himself

Anyhoo.

We did Second Level Test 1 first thing. Back in April, I set a goal with J, my instructor, that we would aim for a "kamikaze second level test" by the end of the year. Rain or not dammit I was going to meet that goal. I thought if I broke 60% I would be thrilled since neither one of us 1) knows what we are doing and 2) Hampton doesn't really have the uphill strength required for that level yet. BUT we can do the movements, so what the hell.

Well ... it was sort of sloppy. Much like the nasty, sloshy, slick footing. Hampton broke from the canter twice on me because his back end was slipping around. Otherwise, the judge said our biggest issue was we need to be more uphill (100% agree). We need more power in the medium, etc. It was not a disaster, but just sloppy on my part. I could tell Hamps was unsure about the footing but I told him to suck it up.

We squeaked out a 60% - which I felt was super fair. Especially since I FORGOT my 10 meter canter circles BOTH directions. *facepalm* So that was two "0" marks.

Warm up ring was inside.

I went right back in and rode First Level test 1. I think Hampton and I were both relieved - this is the level which is easy for us. It's where we belong at the moment. Much more fluid, one bobble where he broke again into the trot (he never does this at home, which is why I sort of blame the footing here ...). We come out with a 66% - pretty typical for what we tend to score.

I was really happy with him, but felt I didn't warm him up well enough to really unlock his back. Poor guy I pulled him right out of his stall, put him on the trailer, pulled up to the show, unloaded and hopped on. He lower back was tight, which is typical, he just needed more time to relax. But he was really well behaved. Our barn manager came along for support and she was laughing at Hamps who always walks off the trailer like a fire breathing dragon - raptor snorting, arching his neck, but within 5 minutes he is back to sweet Hamper who packs me around like a trail horse. lol. He is so funny. He just has to make an entrance.

Our first place prizes were cute horse shoes decorated with beads and stuffs.
If you show in the rain, you get all da prizes because rain
scares away dressage queens! :)

We've got some work to do - fo sho - over the winter. But I think we can do First and Second next year. Maybe get some scores for my bronze medal? MAAAAYBE qualify for regionals?

Coming up ... 2012 blooper blog. I think it's my favorite post to put together. :)

Lesson report

Who drives 3 hours (one way) to take an hour dressage lesson?

This girl.

Since I'm using up all my vacation days before the end of the year, I have all this time on my hands. Which of course means I will be spending most of my days around horses. I drove back to Indy today for a lesson with J, who let me ride the farm's AMAZING 3rd/4th level horse - Racharee ("RaeRae"). I was honored to be able to ride her. She is a many time USDF show winner, regional reserve champion and all around awesome mare.

Racharee. She is gorgeous, too! 

Since Hampton turns 6 next year, I wanted to start feeling some of the 3rd level and up movements so that I can teach them to Hampton (eventually). As far as dressage goes, I am a very green rider when it comes to movements at 3rd level and beyond. It's probably a good idea that I at least get some feel for what is supposed to happen before I expect poor Hampton to perform correctly.

Here is some of what we worked on:

• Piaffe/half steps
• Passage-like trot (I tried to stifle my giggles of delight and remain professional!)
• Canter on-the-spot feeling ...
• a few steps of canter pirouette
• flying lead changes
• shoulder in
• canter half pass
• trot half pass (I failed to contain my delight here ... so easy and amazing!)
• medium trot
• extreme medium trot*
• turn on the haunches/walk pirouette

Shoulder-in. Sorry for crappy cell phone photos.

Added bonus: I rode in Racharee's County Perfection saddle. *swoon*

* Here J referred to something she calls "bionic posting" ... which is basically posting super slow and close to the saddle (at least that is what I found worked for me). Basically I pointed Rae across the diagonal and asked for medium trot ... REALLY revved the engine but then asked her to stay up and under me. This is the beginnings of getting that really cool expressive trot. More giggling and "weee!" from me ... in my true professional manner. *sigh* I don't think I explained this very well ... but it was fun. :)

Rae was really tolerant of my rookie mistakes. She was a good challenge for me because she is nothing like Hampton. Rae has a very calm, almost lazy nature to her. Nothing bothers her and if you let her, she tends to be underpowered.

For example, for a walk-canter transition - I need maybe a Level 2 aid for Hampton to quickly strike off. For Rae, I used a Level 7 aid and her response was still a bit delayed as if she was wondering if I was serious. lol. She needed a lot of "waking up" and "rattling her cage" so to speak. I don't think I ever really animated her as much as she needed to be. Rae was also much heavier in the bridle - even in a double, than Hampton ever is. Then again, she is 10 years old and has more life experience. But she was a total blast to ride and really does try for you. She just doesn't get worried about much lol. I have to give major props to her regular riders - Sarah and Isabelle who have made this mare into something wonderful!

Oh! And having the mirrors helped me see and make an attempt to fix my annoying bad habits, too. As J did not point out all of them. :) There is only so much time in the day.

Of course I am not going to hop on Hampton tomorrow and ask him to do all of these things, but over the winter I'll start challenging him a bit more. He's ready.

Morbid morning

100% totally unrelated jumping photo of Hamps. (thanks SprinklerBandit!)

This morning (before I got to the barn), another horse on the farm died (not sure how, possibly euthanized). He was lying on a hill so I didn't see him until I was leading Hampton from his field back to the barn to tack up. In fact Hampton noticed the body first. I felt him suddenly stop at the end of the lead and begin his - now trademarked - "raptor snorting." I thought he was spooking at the free-range chickens at first but then I looked down the hill and saw the body.

It's interesting to me how horses react to a dead body. I have had them not react at all, and some get really perturbed - like Hampton did. Some of them want to sniff the body, others want to get the hell out of dodge. Hampton has never seen a fellow equine lying dead as a doorknob before - at least since I have had him.

I crosstied Hamps in the barn but from that position he could still see the dead horse on the hill. More raptor snorting and dancing in the crossties. I finally closed the barn door to block his view and he settled down.

He was actually fantastic to ride. We could not see the dead horse from the arena at all.

When I heard a loud rattle coming up the drive way - I knew what it was. The Grim Reaper truck. The stench of death fills the air and I let Hampton have a walk break because I knew what would happen next.

As they hoisted the body into the truck - the horses in the paddocks (who could see this happen) began running and screaming around their fields. Thankfully Hampton did not react to any of this. I watched with interest and wondered if those horses knew what was going on? As soon as they truck left the property - everyone went back to grazing.

I don't know who that horse was - he didn't look familiar to me but I didn't get a close-up look. I hope he went peacefully.

***

In less morbid news - I am going back to Indiana for a lesson at FHF tomorrow. Not taking Hampton, but it will be good for me to ride a different horse or two. Saturday we are going to a small dressage show. And the best news of all is starting tomorrow I am on 6 days of VACATION. !!!!

How not to be a ground person

As someone who has started plenty of babies/greenies in the past, I can tell you that a good ground person is invaluable. I always pick someone I trust, with good horse sense and who can react quickly, in a calm manner if needed.

This girl's ground person did just about everything wrong ... I guess besides just letting go of the horse.

Jump clinic & analysis

Radio Flyer

Saturday our barn hosted a clinic with Dorothy Crowell. You may know her from her days with famous horse Molokai. She also competed at Rolex with Radio Flyer.

Molokai

Hampton and I participated in a group jumping lesson with 2 other riders.

Our group: Rufus, Hampton and Roulette.

We started our warming up on the flat. I was sort of wondering why Dorothy wasn't saying anything to me. Eventually she said, "Karen, you can walk. Your horse is so beautifully balanced over his feet. I really don't have anything to say. Looks good to me!"

... um!!!!! I was beaming of course. :) This just goes to show how important dressage work is. He certainly was not naturally balanced 2 years ago. He is half the age of the other horses in the group, but because of his dressage he appears more schooled.

Warm up.

Always on the look out for treats.

We started out with a basic gymnastic line. A bounce, one stride to an oxer. I really wanted to work on my position because despite 2 years at the University of Findlay, and a scattering of other jumping instructors... no one has ever really taught me what to do at the base of the jump! 

Dorothy did have a good point, however. Because when we stand up (out of a chair or car or whatnot), we lean forward, then straighten the knee and then stand up. So of course our natural instinct is to throw our upper body forward at the base of a jump. So at least I know now that there is a REASON I toss my shoulders at his neck. It made me feel like less of an idiot.

The proper procedure for jumping is: 

Straighten your knee

Put your hands forward

This is similar to what Peter Atkins says "Kick Up Look Up Stand Up" which has been a real help for me with jumping. 

I also really worked on my release. I have developed a bad habit of giving a short release or no real release at all. I have gotten away with it because the jumps are small. And for some reason, Hampton has started to develop into quite a talented little jumper - in spite of me!! But giving a long release no only gives him freedom in the neck, it also provided me with more support so my shoulders can stay away from his neck a little better.

No real release here. I'm perched over my hands. Hampton still jumps
like a boss in spite of me. (from FCF)

A better automatic release. Overall a more stable position here, although
my lower leg his slipped back (typical). But my heel is still down.

Lower leg appears better here, but I'm still really loose with my legs.
(that's what she said! OH!! BLAMO!!)

Bad habits die hard though and we did have some sticky jumps. Partly my fault and partly because Hamps is still pretty green.

Bad Karen.  I threw my upper body at him. He made a real effort but still knocked
the top plank.

Yes, still jumping ahead with my lower leg sliding back.
BUT .... I think this jump, with an actual release, is better  than ...

THIS ... no release. Perched over hands again. AND my lower leg is pretty
much in another county.

I learned a lot from Dorothy and would not hesitate to take another lesson from her. I think she has a real gift for working with OTTBs. She has a great sense of humor, was friendly and positive. 

I had been so starved for quality jumping instruction. This was a real treat and Hamps was brilliant. The way he packs me around meets criteria for Sainthood I think.

I am currently borrowing this jumping saddle from a friend. It is better than the Collegiate I had ... but I'm not sure I've found "the one" yet. 

Back to the sandbox this week. :)