IDS show part 1: Royale's debut

I'm going to split up the show roundup into a couple of posts with lots of photos!

First off, Hampton recovered from his swollen face and looked normal on Friday. My awesome farrier tacked the shoe back on, and we were good to go! More on Hampton next time ... but first, little Royale made his show ring debut!

I'm not sure I have ever had the pleasure of being around a young horse who was so well behaved at their first show. I mean he never put a foot wrong. There was a whinny here and there, but hardly anything to be concerned about.

Saturday morning I got on about 30 minutes before our Intro A test. It was COLD and WINDY. I decided not to lunge because ... well ... I mean it seems smart to get right on a 3-year-old, not-super-broke SADDLEBRED on a nasty windy morning right?

I will admit there was some speed trotting going on, but that was the worst of it. After I let him trot around a while, he calmed down and then was pretty ridable. In the ring he was a super star. Never spooking, very attentive and reasonably steady. There were some wobbly, wiggly moments but it's just young horse stuff.

I was so proud when he got a 66+% and second place!

Liz got on an hour later for Intro B and he was actually starting to run out of gas by then, but they had a much more steady test I thought - this time pulling off a 69%!!

How about that for the chicken nugget?!!!

He is going to be such a nice horse. What a good sport of him to truck around two different riders, off the property at his first show. He was a champ about the warm up ring which actually got a little busy at times.

It makes me so excited about his future! Go skaddadlebreds!

The Stages of Freaking the F Out

Imagine this, my fellow equine bloggers.

You have a show on Saturday - so you plan to leave Friday. It's Thursday.

You walk out into the field to find your noble steed nasty ass hog of a horse.

"Aww, he looks sleepy," you say from a distance.

As you get closer you realize he is not sleepy. His eyes are puffy. AND his nose is swollen too.

this eye was puffy-er

You glance down and count only 3 shoes, too.

Here are the stages of "pre-horse-show-crisis-freak out" :

First, confusion
via GIPHY

Then, reality:
via GIPHY

Followed by:
via GIPHY

Then an irresistible urge to ....
via GIPHY

am I right?!?!

I think he got his face in something weird, or possibly got stung? His breathing and vitals are totally normal. He is perky and hungry and begging for treats as normal, but he did get some antihistimines and got to hang out in a stall all day.

God bless my wonderful farrier who will be tacking the shoe back on tomorrow before we leave.

However, if Hampton gets any worse or shows signs of discomfort I'll just leave him home. But otherwise he seems ok?? He does not seem to notice that he looks like he was in a bar fight.

Add this on top of a somewhat overwhelming life change right now (nothing bad, promise!) ... I may have a legit nervous breakdown. Prescription: BOOZE.

Stay tuned!

Rare sighting (my Derby experience)

That's me on the left. I point that out because I rarely ... RARELY wear a dress, much less do my hair and wear it down. I realize I am somewhat unrecognizable. These are a few of my barn girls. We had a wicked good time at the Derby.

It was my first year attending, even though I have lived in Lville for 4 years. And I will say it ... Derby is WAY WAY cooler than that nasty, dirty, trashy Indy 500. There. I said it.

The infield was actually pretty tame. It did POUR on us right before the race, but then in true Midwest fashion the sun came back out and all was right again. I had a feeling Nyquist would win, but didn't bet on him because ... well you just won't win any money when you bet on the favorite. He ran a great race, but looked really tired as they were walking back. Makes me wonder if he could run the Belmont ... but a nice horse anyway. Love those handsome bays!

Who wants to have a Blogger Derby trip next year? Anyone?!?! :)

M (barn owner) in my lap. haha!

Royale update!

Just realized it has been a while since I have updated on the baby skadaddlebred!

Royale is currently in the most adorable, awkward stage of growing out his forelock. It's so cute I almost cannot stand it. It just adds to his saddlebred character.

He continues to be pretty much a model baby horse. He has had moments here and there where he has tested his boundaries. For example, he has been a bit of a douche about trailer loading but nothing too horrible and I know it will get better.

His previous issue of being a prick to bridle is gone, thanks to L. He is easy to bridle now and Monday I even tied him to the trailer to tack him up and he (mostly) stood like a good citizen.

so gangly!

Under saddle he is still a very good boy. He just needs miles really. I don't work on anything specific except learning to move away from my legs and responding promptly to whoa and go requests. If he goes on the bit, great. If not, I don't wrestle with him. He is too weak and wobbling right now to be too demanding except on the very very basics. He gets ridden maybe once or twice a week at most.

Did I mention that kids can lead him around?

He is such a string bean!

And now the big news! Royale will be going to his first dressage show!

We are aiming at a couple of Intro tests at the IDS schooling show next weekend. Personally I cannot wait to have him all braided up. We will be using a fly bonnet to cover up his current forelock tragedy.

Hampton will also be tagging along for a couple of Third level tests. I'd like to show him in the snaffle and see what happens, and maybe ask for a little more pizazz and see what we have. Plus, we need to qualify for some IDS year end awards here. This could be out good-bye to Third Level. After this show, I plan to focus on 4th exclusively.

As you can see, Hampton is so ready for another show ....

cannot horse.

The "S" word.

You  guys all know what this is:

It's the dumb dressage training pyramid. Eh ok, there may be something to it.
But as a rider who has been working through the levels, I'd like to let everyone in on the secret of the REAL dressage pyramid:

Anyway, now for serious.

Hamps and I have really been focused on straightness lately. It is a real challenge, but we are getting better and stronger. Our issue with crookedness really come out in the tempi changes. Ok, who am I kidding. We don't do actual tempis yet. But rather randomly-placed, drunk looking flying changes.

The other place where you really notice our crookedness is the extended canter. He throws his haunches in, which is VERY COMMON. But I have trouble maintaining the straightness, AND the power needed in that movement.

Random "done with test now horse exhausted" photo from 2013
Problems with straightness really start to rear their
ugly heads in second level.

So here is an exercise we have been working on. I stole it from Lainey Ashker, but modified it some. You can modify this depending on your horse's level, mood and how much you want to torture yourself that day.

Set up 4 canter poles approx 9ft apart (depending on your horse's level of collection). I also added two poles to make a little chute.

Coming on the right lead (so counter cantering on the left rein) ... come around the corner and canter through the grid. IF he feels attentive and jumpy, try a change after the grid. Turn RIGHT (so now you are counter cantering on the LEFT lead). And repeat.

You could canter in from the true lead, you could do simple changes instead of flying. You could just canter straight on through. Maybe add a halt? So many things you could do. You could add canter leg yields even! The point is to stay straight and keep the rhythm.

It was more difficult than it looks! One time Hampton actually changed his lead WHILE CANTERING through the poles. Such talent, this one. So many times we would canter through and I wouldn't change at all. You have to wait, horse. WAIT.

My skillz

Interestingly enough, after schooling this for a while we went back to the trot and I had an extremely obedient and supple horse! Hell for you eventers you could even make this a crossrail or small vertical exercise. Go wild!!

I hope you guys find this little exercise helpful. I do apologize for my pathetic art. No one ever said I was an actual graphic designer, just a visual journalist. Lower your expectations.

Sea horse.

I have this post all about straightness and how it is KEY TO ALL DRESSAGE in the works ... but I am just too lazy to put it together right now.

So instead you get pics of our trail ride this morning. The weather was finally nice enough (and dry enough) to go creek stomping again. I love it because 1) it is gorgeous and peaceful and 2) Hampton thinks it is playtime, but he actually has to articulate his joints and work a little bit to walk through the water.

Lots of splashing ensued.

Then Hampton pooped in the water. Gross.

Derp alert.

On our way back to the barn, sometimes I let Hampton canter up a couple of hills. He was suddenly FULL OF HIMSELF and happily shook his head and cantered up the first hill. I giggled at him. Some people may not allow that behavior, but I like his spirit.

Then there is a portion of fence we have to STEP OVER to get to the bigger field. I am talking like 2 boards on the GROUND. Literally have stepped over them 100 times. It is not a big deal.

Wellllll .... Hampton thought "Oh hey human! Wanna pretend like we are at Rolex!!!??" and fucking lept 4 feet off the ground over the damn boards on the ground .... during which I was dislodged (because I did not see it coming, and I was in my dressage saddle ...) ... then proceeded to joyfully buck twice before I squeaked out a "whoa" and he stopped. I very nearly bit the dust and was thinking in my head "Dammit I am going to have to walk all the way back to the barn."

So needless to say his privileges of cantering up the other hills was revoked and we walked politely back to the barn.

Sorry to spoil your fun, horse.

Kentucky you are so gorgeous in the spring.

Send Me on My Way (show report!)

Seems like many bloggers have been out at their first shows of the season this weekend!

Hamps and I went to Majestic Farm in Ohio for our first recognized show of the year. It was my first time at Majestic, but won't be the last. I really liked the facility, rings, footing and stalls. It was well run (even a typed test, and my score was texted to me in less than 10 minutes after I walked out of the ring!).

7s on our half passes.
Never thought I'd see the day.

This show was run entirely indoors, which was fine considering it's early April. But I'd like to come back and show when all the rings are set up outdoors. It's gorgeous.

Speaking of the indoor, it was causing problems for multiple pairs all weekend. The end of the arena by the judge was highly offensive. Plus, there were 50mph+ wind gusts all day Saturday which made the atmosphere quite electric as the horses were getting spooked and feeding off one another.

One of the gorgeous outdoor arenas
Plus some sketchy ass weather rolling in
(BTW: It SNOWED that night)

Hampton was unfortunately not immune to the CORNER OF DEATH and expressed his opinions on the matter several times, especially in our first go which was 3-1. I did what I could, but he was just too much of a snarky shit spooked in that corner so our test wasn't as fluid as it could have been. Even so, we squeaked out a 61%. I'll take it considering.

Not a movement in 3-1

May be one of the best comments I have ever gotten.

Later in the day we came back for 4-1 and he was better, but still spooked a few times. After our shoulder-in on the centerline, he came to a dead halt before A. (sidenote: There was not a halt there in the test). Sigh.

But when he was listening, he was so good! Our score was 61% and some change. I was more than happy with that for our recognized debut at 4th. The environment was just not ideal and I rode the best I could. It's a score toward my SILVER medal though! That alone is worth celebrating!

Still stunned that we are now a 4th level pair!

On Sunday the weather was much better and we just did the one test, 4-1 in the afternoon. It was going splendidly until the left canter half pass when he dropped too low in the poll and shut down on me - swapping leads and napping up and down. Considering I had nothing to lose, I booted him over but it did ruin the two movements (half pass and the flying change right after). GRRRR.

BUT even with those mistakes, we got a 64%!!! I was thrilled with that!!! Many 7s including GAITS and RIDER POSITION. Boy did he make me work for it though. At no point was I ever just sitting there enjoying the ride. I was half halting every stride and basically praying for the extended walk to come up so I could catch my breath. haha.

9:30 pm visit (I may have had a lot of tequila)

Sucks that we were not allowed to be in the indoor area to take photos. Everyone had to watch in the (admittedly lovely) observation room behind glass. So, I do apologize for the crappy cell phone shots.

Between myself, my instructor and her other student we hauled in 10+ blue ribbons. Not too shabby! And BFF Liz also came along with the wonder pony and showed Second 3. I was super proud of them, the pony mare is not easy and neither is that test (or the level for that matter). She's going to get her score to do her freestyle very soon. They are knocking on the door!

Overall I am super super pleased with Hampton. The quality of our work has really improved this winter. We just need to keep focused on straightness and strength. 

The only thing we are missing for the PSG is the damn tempi changes!

Porkchop will get a day or two off and then back to work!