One lame beaver

So what do you want first? The bad news or the bad news?

Bad news first? ok!

So I lunged Hampton on Monday assess his soundness. He was glorious!! He was free, swinging and SOUND. I was looking forward to riding on Tuesday.

Tuesday I tack up and hop on. I go to trot and ....... LAME. Like the most lame he has ever been in his life. While riding, it felt like the right front but I wasn't sure. I hopped off and removed all of his boots. I checked his legs. No heat. No swelling. No cuts. No signs of scratches. He did not react at all to me touching his tendons, or picking his feet. So I untacked and put him back on the lunge. He was nearly sound going to the left. But going to the right, he was favoring the right front. No quite head-bobbing, but limping for sure. Very short strided. Argh. HORSE!!!

Checked him again today and he was maybe a touch better, but not much. It may have been my hope getting in the way. Again checked his legs. I may ... MAY have felt a little heat in his right front hoof but again I can't be sure. Again I poked and prodded and he did not react at all. His shoes were secure and have no moved or lost any nails. I examined his hooves closely for any sign of an abscess brewing. I could not find anything but I am no expert. All of his legs are cool and tight. He does still have that little scrape/puncture healing up but I don't think that's the problem.

I am going to give him the rest of the week off and see what happens. Perhaps he just tweaked himself out in the field? Could be an abscess. Could be something worse. Of course all of the possibilities have run through my head. If he is not better by Monday then I will call the vet (or if he gets worse).

Now for the bad news! :)

Hampton now a beaver

So the barn manager called me to inform me that Hampton has been eating the fence out in his field. She said that there are chew marks EVERYWHERE around his 20+ acre field. And he is getting the blame for all of it. The barn owner is very angry. We are going to try putting out more salt blocks (he will get a new one in his stall, too). And I am going to repaint the fence that has been chewed. If this does not work, he may have to wear a muzzle. Or he can be out 24/7 in the gelding field that has only electric tape around it. *sigh* I guess they were out watching to see who was chewing and Hampton was busted in the act. I certainly do not want to piss off the barn owner. The beast may have to be muzzled. Booo. Any tips on how to stop this? He has plenty, and I mean PLENTY of green grass to eat. He gets hay when he comes in for the day. I have no idea how long this has been going on. Nor do I really have any idea if it has been only him chewing on the fence.

So yeah it appears our dressaging is on hiatus for the moment. There is a pony type fellow at the farm I can hitch some rides on though. We'll see how the Hamps is doing next week.

In some GOOD news - I did get moved into a wonderful apartment. No more living out of my car! Boy did that reduce the stress in my life by about 80%.

And Happy Derby! (not going this year, but certainly drinking. lols)

Rolex wrap-up

Here are a few competitive horse prancing photos I took on Friday:



Wise Requestrian Master Rose. I really liked this pair's slow, relaxing warm-up.




Mary King after her dressage test.




Mary King's groom takes Fernhill Urco back.





This Great Dane was very interested in the little yapper dog.




I think this is Becky Holder coaching.




The Master.




William Fox Pitt warmed up Chilli Morning slowly and calming.




drool




Putting DQs to shame




Last minute fixes


Saturday was a really fun time. The boy came along (I assured him there was plenty of beer ...). We had a fun time walking around and he especially enjoyed making fun of the pretentious, overpriced Dubarry booth. (I joined in on the mocking but if I had that much disposable income you bet I'd purchase a pair! lol! However I really love my super comfy, well worn Dublins thank you!)

I did not purchase one thing! (except a bloody mary). I did find some OK deals, and even found one double bridle but the leather seemed really crappy so I decided to just hold out. I didn't really have the money to buy anything anyway so no big deal. Was fun to try out fancy saddles though!

The horses and riding were breathtaking, as expected. I was disappointed that we did not have an American higher than fourth but maybe next year?

I got a few crappy photos.


Head of the Lake




At the sunken road




I think this was Daniel Clasing and Houston



Cliche cheesy photo with Bruce Davidson statue
 (with my barn buddy Nicole who also joined us)




Big ol' brush fence




I think this was Hawley and Gin n' Juice FLYING over this fence.





HUGE up bank.



Rolex: Friday

A friend gave me two tickets for Rolex on Friday so of course I had to take advantage. Normally I would have only been able to afford to go one day but what a treat to be able to catch some dressage!

I caught some of the earlier rides including crowd favorites Allie Knowles and of course Mary King. There were some super rides, and many OK ones. At the end of the day I watched William Fox Pitt warm up and suddenly there was just no comparison. He was in a league of his own. It was stunning and mesmorizing to watch him and Chilly Morning. I had to leave before his test (to go to work ... boo) but later I saw he earned a very impressive 33 on his test to take the lead.

I was a Peter groupie. No shame.

I also met up with Peter Atkins (of Run Henny Run fame) for his noon course walk. We didn't walk the entire course, but he did explain several of the more difficult elements. He was, as usual, very funny, down to earth and I did learn quite a bit. However the man is a cheetah and you better be in shape to keep up with him on foot. I was very thankful I put in my Dr. Scholls inserts into my boots. haha.

I did a very quick run through of the shopping and wasn't impressed. Slim pickings and also very overpriced. I doubt I'll get my double bridle here. I may get a hat as that may actually be within my budget. Perhaps a pair of breeches if there is a good sale tomorrow. One can hope.

Cross country tomorrow. Tailgating. Beer. Bloody marys.

Better photos to come!

Leg update, etc.

Random photo of sleepy Hampton.

Good news! Hampton's leg looks about 90% better today. The swelling is almost totally gone, although it is still a bit puffy directly around the wound still. It seemed less painful today. I was able to scrub it and flush it out really well with less protest from Hampton. I was able to get a closer look and it does appear to be a very shallow puncture wound/scrape combo. It was still leaking some pus today, too. Gross. I gave him bute again today but it will probably be the last dose. It seems to be healing well. He is otherwise bright, alert and obnoxious about treats. I think he is OK with this routine of me doctoring his wound, feed him a carrot. More doctoring. Another carrot. Grain. Hay. Pats.

He can have the rest of the week off since I am going to Rolex. I have not been since college and someone gave me two tickets to Friday and our barn has a tailgating spot for Saturday. I can't wait!

Of course I do have a SMALL shopping list.

Double bridle
bradoon
curb

I may grab a shirt or two for myself but I don't have much of a budget so that'll have to do.

Will of course report back with Rolex photos and trade fair porn.

No noseband and injured list.

On Sunday I decided to try something different just to see what happened. I left the noseband on Hampton's bridle undone, and just buckled the flash (loosely).

HE. WAS. AMAZING.

From Sunday's bomb diggity ride.
(Photo by Ed Van Meter)

Immediately soft and supple in the poll and neck. Light in the bridle. Uphill. In front of my leg. An absolute JOY to ride. I mean he is always a joy to ride but he was really feeling like an upper level horse! Our trot half passes were darn near show-ready. I tried canter half pass for the first time and we got some good steps. Wasn't perfect but we just need to work out our timing there. But it's in there! Got one super flying lead change! ... The only thing that went wrong was one monster buck when I asked for another change. It damn near unseated me and he thought about taking off right after because I had become so unbalanced. Ooops. He came right back though and after that I just re-enforced forward at the canter so we did not end on a bucking note. haha.

Was it just the day? Or did the lack of noseband have any ting to do with it? I don't crank it tight, but it is usually snug. I am wondering if I should try a drop noseband on him? It was an interesting experiment.

I was going to ride again today but Hamps had a very swollen, HOT hind leg. Rut ro. I promptly cold hosed the beejesus out of it. As I was cold hosing, I saw that he had scraped a little fur off the inside of that leg, and a little more up near the hock. Hmmm. It looked like just your run of the mill scrape. Weird. But maybe it was bothering him? I reached down to touch the scrape and when I did a bunch of pus started to squirt out!!! Bingo!!! A small puncture-type wound. That certainly explains his hot, swollen painful leg. I continued to "milk" the infection out while cold hosing. Hamps was an angel about it. He would hold his leg up in protest but never got mean with me. Good boy. The cold hosing helped the swelling quite a bit, thankfully. I am hoping that it has not involved any tendons or ligaments. It seems shallow but you never know with the lower leg ... It is obviously in a place where you can't put your head to look very close without the horse being sedated.

I scrubbed the area as best I could with betadine. It oozed a bit more after that. Ew. Hamps got bute and if the leg gets worse tomorrow he will probably need a round of antibiotics. Not sure if he got caught in a fence or what?!

Guess he earned himself a few days off!

More photos, more analysis

As you can probably tell from the last post, my brain was F.R.I.E.D. from the weekend.

Now that I have had a few days to digest, I think I can wrangle together a post that actually makes sense.

Plus, I've got more photos to share!




Free walk. Hampton's favorite gait.



Friendly barn kitten helps me clean tack.



The boy (on the right) and Hampton wondering why I insist
on prancing around a sandbox wearing white breeches.

Canter lengthening.

I love the effort Hampton gives me during the canter lengthenings. I need to work on bringing his poll up and his shoulders up to me. But this is fine for a 5 year old, very average, TB/Draft cross I would say. Also, can we talk about me and the world's more flexible ankle! OMG. It is literally pointing at the camera. This habit needs to stop. I will take any and all advice.

Hampton really loved his hotel for the weekend. The window
was a big hit with him.

Our homework this year is uphill uphill uphill!! This is nice, he is tracking up,
and accepting contact as well as giving me his back. But now we need more
thrust, more swing.

I have serious homework to do in the sitting trot department. I have no issues at the working trot, but the mediums throw me for a loop. It's not the sitting that bothers me, but that fact that my feet come out of the stirrups. They start flopping around and I can hear my stirrups jingle. So I am going to try and get some lunge line lessons in. Plus I think it's a matter of fitness (for both of us, really). Lots of collected trot, push into medium trot transitions. Maybe I only sit a few strides at first. Eventually I will find that balance. This is all very new to me and Hamps is very patient while I try not to flop like a sack of potatoes. In fact, when he feels me become slightly insecure, he slows down. I don't punish him for that - he's just being a good boy - but it dings our medium scores. I'm the one who needs to do the homework on that.

Not very accurate, but a good pony.

I also lost A LOT of points for simply being inaccurate. Like the above photo, I should have been starting either a shoulder-in or a lengthen here (I'm not sure which test this is ...) and I'm nearly past the letter and we're still in working trot. My right lead 10 m circle was too big both days. I cut corners. Amongst other lost points due to my bad riding. I need to school accuracy at home so it becomes habit for both of us at shows. Also, more schooling shows for us so I can get more miles.

In other news ...

Hamps and I have taken a few days to chill out and relax. Today he was standing at his door nickering at me so he's probably ready to be ridden tomorrow or Friday. He seems in good spirits. I, however, am still majorly stressed out from non-horse related events in my life at the moment. That's for another post. Basically, I am living out of my car because my living situation at the new place has become very uncomfortable. So I have to find a new place to live AGAIN. Soon. With very little money.

But the good news is that Rolex is coming up and I'm going on Saturday. Woooot!!

I can hear my checking account wail in pain.

Sometimes you're the windshield. Sometimes you're the bug.

Meadow Lake Equestrian Center. We were stabled at the farm at the top of the hill.

I hope you're comfortable for today's post. It will be a doozey. (doozie?)

Chapter 1: The Bank Incident

On Thursday I had everything packed and ready to go for Friday's departure for the show. My car was packed, Hampton ready to go. We would only need to load 2 bales of hay and shavings ... and the horse.

A few minutes after I arrived at work Thursday evening, I got a notification from my bank that my account was low (under $100). Now, I get this notification a lot but I knew this week that by my calculations I should had plenty of money for gas, hotel, food, etc etc. So this worried me. I checked my account.

I had been hacked.

And by hacked, I mean someone in North Carolina had DRAINED my account and bought themselves some groceries.

*%&^(&( !!!!!!!!

I called the bank in a panic and they canceled my debit card and said they would refund that money, but it could take 90 days. Um mmmm ... I don't get paid again until NEXT Friday so I was in a panic on how I was going to survive not just the horse show but the next week! You can imagine the cuss words flying outta my mouth.

Well some stupid debit card hackers were not going to keep me from a horse show, so I jetted out of work early Friday and followed the trailer down to just south of Lexington at the beautiful Meadow Lake Equestrian Center. Thankfully, my parents had planned on coming to the show on Saturday and promised me some cash so I would be able to eat. Gotta love good old Bank of Parental Units. The truly saved my week this time. (*note, the money did end up getting back into my account on Saturday some time).

Chapter 2: The trailer incident

As a baby, Hampton and the other colts his age were often herded onto a step-up stock trailer, brought into the barn, given shots/wormed, etc etc) and then trailered back out to the field. So when my instructor pulled up with a step up, slant load trailer I was pretty sure Hamps would load up. What I didn't think about, was unloading him. As a baby, they turned around and jumped off going forward. He would have to back out this time. But he is a smart horse, I figured he would do just fine.

*cue ominous music*

Hampton actually loaded up like a champ! He did not even hesitate. I was super proud of him. He was so good, and I was a nervous wreck. Those that have been reading this blog for a while may remember my previous horse, T-Bone almost killed himself on a slant load. He was also a very good traveller.

Hampton road along with a little Mustang mare to the show (who is pony size ... lol ... what a couple). When we arrived and tried to unload, he was very unsure of what to do. He had to back up AND turn a little bit to get out. He finally put a a foot on the ground and stepped right back up into the trailer. Hmmmm. We kept gently asking him and eventually he put both back feet down ... and then ... COLLAPSED. He literally sat down like a cat. J said both of his hocks were touching the ground (I was at his head). His front legs were shaking as he tried to stand back up. I feared his back legs would slide under the trailer. At this point I am having a heart attack. This whole incident maybe lasted 30 seconds but he did stand back up and back away. Could you be any more dramatic, horse!?

I am not sure what that was all about but I think he thought he was stepping off the edge of the earth. The look on his face was so pitiful and scared. Poor guy!

Meadow Lake is beautiful

Chapter 3: The actual show

After we unloaded, we went for a ride. Hampton was on his very best behavior and I walked him for a long time to make sure he was OK from the trailer ride and dramatic exit. He seemed fine and was extremely calm. I rode maybe 40 minutes and put him up with lots of pats.

Saturday rolled around. Our first test was Second 3. Our warm up went well. Unfortunately, this became a prime example of why I prefer to show alone or with friends and not with a trainer or instructor. Don't get me wrong, I do love my current instructor but at shows I really need to be left alone or I become obsessed with doing what the trainer says and not listening to the horse underneath me. We warmed up a bit and she said he looked locked in the poll and to work on unlocking that. She was right in saying that, but the REAL problem was that he was behind my leg. I should have fixed that instead of obsessing over his poll for the rest of the warm up. And you'll see why here in a minute.

I will say that trotting down the center line as a USDF recognized show for Second Level almost made me cry. It is such an accomplishment for me. Especially on a horse I have raised and trained myself. My family was there to watch, too, which made it even more awesome. (Although they are still really clueless about this dressage land. lol). Anyway, the test went pretty well. Until the walk-canter transition at K. I asked for the canter and it felt like Hampton thought I wanted haunches in (the aids are the same). I thought "Shit, he isn't picking up the canter" and I crammed my spur into his side. And because he was so behind my leg at this point, he BUCKED. And I mean all four feet off the ground complete with kicking out, too! There was a LOT of air between my butt and the saddle. After we landed, I asked again - nicer this time - and off we went. The rest of the test went fine. The first thing I said when leaving the ring was "please tell me you you that on video!". SADLY ... my brother, who was taking photos, missed it. And my mom, who was taking video, missed it too because my dad's head was in the way. DANG IT!!! lol. I had so wanted to share that with you all. We did get a big fat 3 on that movement. Judge's comment was "strong resistance." lols.

Next up was First-3. I found myself alone in the warm up ring and took advantage and gave Hampton I big fat SPANK on the fanny. Ah, much better! The test was alright, our only terrible bobble was leg yield from K to the centerline. He did not want to move over at all. It was pretty ugly. He also spooked at a growling flower at C, too. Eh well. I put the blame mostly on my riding, but also I think he was just tired and weak. The footing in the warm up (an indoor) was very deep. He isn't really used to that.

Sunday's tests went a lot better - but we showed under a much harsher judge so the scores didn't really change. Second 3 was really nice except one bobble when he broke from the canter. My fault really. I knew he was tired and I should have ridden a little harder there. Not a big deal. First 3 was pretty nice. No big mistakes there. Just lack of sparkle.

Overall I am really proud of Hampton. I have never had a horse be so calm and downright lazy at a show before! In the future I think he may get his grain increased a few weeks before a big show like this. Also, on Sunday he had a bit of an upset tummy. He was very gassy and his poo was ... um ... very soft serve. He was eating and drinking  A LOT, and otherwise alert and acting normal (no temp either) so I don't know what caused it. He certainly did not ACT stressed out all weekend. My parents did feed him like 4 or 5 apples but I don't think that caused it either. Anyway, he may get probiotics at future shows, too. Today (Monday) the poo in his stall was back to normal.

Chapter 4: The results

Well, I did manage to scrape by with 3 out of the 4 Bronze medal scores I had hoped to get this weekend. We got a 60.9% in Second 3, a 64% in First 3 and a 63% in First 3. BLAMO!!! Sunday's Second Level test got a 58.9%, so we missed that one. But like I said that judge was pretty harsh and the highest score for that test all day was a 62% so while I am just a bit disappointed, it's not the end of the world. We will just get that other score another time.

Chapter 5: The aftermath

Today I have major horse show hangover. I am also pretty sun burnt. I ate a nice big order of Hooters hot chicken wings last night to celebrate surviving. So, I am also hungover from THAT decision.

Here are some things I have taken away from this weekend:

• My family rocks
• My horse takes really good care of me
• I need to learn to sit the medium trot without my feet coming out of the stirrups
• I need to be more accurate in my tests
• Hampton needs to be in front of my leg always. It solves about 90% of our issues.
• The dressage crowd takes themselves too seriously
• Beer makes me ride better
• Avoid miserable, bitchy people (nothing new here)
• My horse is pretty cool.

I TOLD you this post would be a doozie! If you are still reading, well, good for you! And thank you!

Enjoy these photos from the weekend. :)

Kentucky is so ugly, isn't it?

Preparing for turn on the haunches.

Argh. I left his braids in over night and they looked sorta shitty on Sunday.

Medium canter! Haunches just a touch too far inside ...

Why is my head crooked?

Our mediums need work.

Weeee!

Bit check. Hampton being a dork.