Skeedaddlebred takes the spotlight

Hampton has been feeling MUCH better this week. Today he felt sound, even springy in his step. He seemed happy to work.

My main focus with him for right now is fitness and strength. We do have a clinic planned for the end of August, but I'm not sure we will hit any more rated shows this year. A schooling show or two, for sure. We achieved so much this year already, I think I'd rather focus on training for the time being.

BUT!!! That does not mean little Royale will be sitting out shows! He is headed to HHP on Sunday for a couple of Intro tests, and after the show he will be coming to KY! I am very excited to have him!

He is just so damn cute.

Liz (his other mum) has done a fantastic job of handling him this year. But, he is still a baby and there is a lot of work to be done. For example:

* freaks out about fly spray
* freaks out about baths/hoses
* freaks out for no apparent reason
* not the best at tying ....
* needs to learn to stand still on the ground (he will sometimes just start walking off ... )

It's just general baby horse stuff. He is 100% better about bridling, thanks to Liz's excellent work. So at least we knocked that one off the list!

On Tuesday I rode him around the HHP for fun and he did really well! Liz has him going so well, he is A LOT better about keeping a consistent rhythm these days. He is still weak, but that will come as he grows and gets stronger.

Women pay hundreds of dollars to have highlights like Royale.

He is a little spooky about changing footing (we got stuck at a crack in the pavement ... sigh) and he took some encouragement to walk through a water puddle, but again ... normal baby horse stuff. Plus, saddlebred.

Once he settles in at his KY home, I am going to work him 3 days a week (because he is just 3!), with one of those days being hill work. I may try to pony him off Hampton if Hamps will behave himself. Liz has reported that Royale may be getting too big for his britches in her herd at home. Hampton will fix that as well. And if not (which I doubt, as Hampton runs a very civil herd and will  not tolerate idiotic behavior), he can go out with the mares.

Very excited about the show - several bloggers going include Jen/Connor and Kelly/Fergie too! Plus Liz, who is also bringing 2 horses. We are going to be so busy, but I love it!

Photos to come!

All aboard the lame horse bus

I am the worst horse mom.

Hampton's regular farrier (for about 2 years now) got seriously injured over the winter. Like, almost died. So obviously he won't be working for a while. So that left us with picking a replacement farrier for the time being. I picked someone who I thought was reputable.

Barn buddy holding drunk Hampton
(yay for Dorm gel!)

Well, Hampton ended up pulling his two front shoes off about 3 times in a 5-week span. The first time, no biggie. But eventually he tore up his front feet something fierce. He was sore, obviously. And I didn't ride him for nearly 2 weeks. It became clear that I needed a different farrier. Especially after this farrier 1) damn near ruined my horse's feet and 2) started sending RUDE texts to my barn owner. Like, this guy is actually a BIG ASSHOLE. A dick cheese, if you will.

#byefelicia

Finally, I got one of the best farriers in the state to come out and shoe him. It kills my checkbook but no hoof, no horse.

I lunged Hampton today and .... he was off/on lame on that right front at the trot. Sound at the walk and canter.

He DID blow an abscess out of that hoof a few days ago so ... is there another one in there? Is this residual inflammation? Still a bit foot sore?

Or something more serious?

There is no heat, swelling, pulse. He does not react to me palpating his suspensory or flexor tendons. So I don't know.

Our arena is in terrible shape. It has large chunks of gravel coming up and it just a mess. I am wondering if that is part of the problem ....

Overall he is moving WAAAAY better than he has all year really, just with the intermittent head bob on the lunge line. And Hampton is pretty stoic, so if he is gimping then something is hurting him for sure.

one more drunk photo

I packed him with magic cushion, and gave him some aspirin. He is also staying in during the day now to give him a break from the heat, and let him stand in a soft stall. Will see how he is tomorrow. I may try to hack him lightly in the grass and see if that makes a difference. IF he is sound on grass, then I can be pretty certain he is still foot sore. And go from there.

I feel terrible. I should have never used that farrier (he was cheap, and a friend of a friend).

7 years

Seven years ago Hampton became mine.

He was a little feral, but we bonded quickly.

I should have not purchased another horse. I had just sold my Morgan and was trying to get in a better place financially. The company I work for was laying people off left and right, and the rest of us were furloughed every quarter. It was a very difficult time. There were times I went to pawn anything I could just to have money to eat. Not exaggerating.

So I did what any sane person would do. Bought a horse.

First time I met him

I am so happy I took that risk and ignored every rational, sane bone in my body.

A lot has happened in 7 years. And Hampton has been my rock, my constant. When I purchased him I thought I would start him under saddle and sell him. I didn't really think he would turn into the best horse I have ever owned. He is not the most talented, certainly not the fanciest. For sure not the most expensive. But he and I have a rare thing, I think. A trust in one another, and a willingness to learn from one another.

Wearing a saddle for the first time, and walking over flower boxes.

He is my mirror. An extraordinary horse who is emotional, but stoic. Will try for you, but shuts down if he thinks he is in trouble. He will not tolerate being bullied, but would walk through fire for me if I just gave him a moment to trust me. He is a thinker, a character with a dash of naughtyness thrown in there just because. A very quick study, almost to a fault. Loves to snort at things. He never did grow out of the "2 year old colt, I have to put everything in my mouth stage," but otherwise matured into a rather handsome adult.

He will cart around the BO's 12 year old daughter like an old school master, and the next day give me everything he's got as we work toward the FEI. Then he will plod along on a trail ride like an old cow horse the next day.

Horses like Hampton do not come along very often. I've been in the horse industry long enough to know that.

He may not be perfect. But he is a kindred spirit. He is my horse.

Photo shoot

Almost forgot to share some of the photos from our little photo shoot while we were up at the Indy Classic. Keep in mind it was 90 degrees and this was maybe 45 minutes after our ride for the day. Thus why I look like total crap. I was also bloated. #girlissuessuck

But nonetheless I think they turned out pretty cute.

Anyone know how a horse becomes a Dover model? I think Hamps has some serious potential! :)

I'm 5'7" and can barely see over his back

Did you have fun today Hampton?
No?? lol

So stately

"Oh god. My human is so weird."

Updated conformation shot

Sorry about my pasty ass legs. sigh.

#nodressage

We're taking a mild hiatus from intense dressage for a couple of weeks. This is for a couple of reasons.

1) I have already accomplished everything I wanted to accomplish this year as far as competitive dressage. We aren't aiming for regionals because they are too far away, so instead I was after my 4th level scores for my silver. Done and done.

2) It's f-ing hot

3) It's good for our souls and minds. Hampton has been having days of his weird spookiness again. It hasn't been this bad since last spring, so I am going to treat him for ulcers and back off the work a little bit. He only does it in the ring at home. And it isn't a "hot spook" it is a "totally fall behind ALL YOUR AIDS and spook" He does not do this out in the fields, on the roads, or at shows. He is getting his teeth done and a massage in the next week, too. Last year taught me not to push it - that is is trying to communicate something to me, as he just isn't this spooky by nature.

Beeetch, please. This DQ can still equitate over fences.
Sort of.

4) It's fun.

5) Money is tight (no shows for a while) ... due to a significant event about to happen in my life. (it's a good thing, and NO I am not preggers or anything horrific like that)

So enjoy these videos of the Porkchop and I SLAUGHTERING a grid, and making a little oxer look easy. Hampton was immediately forward, perky and the spooking vanishes when we do things like this. I think we both might have been mildly burnt out from a rather intense spring of showing.





And of course we are hitting the trails a lot, too!

We are still dressaging in the ring 2-3 times a week, with really only 1 "intense day" ... the others are stretching and suppling.

I'm not sure when our next show is. I only had things planned out until June. It's kinda nice - for the moment - to just be able to focus on the training. And not prepping for a particular show. There are a couple of clinics I am eyeing here in the future, but for now .... we relax.

Buckley has the right idea.

We brought our drum and this is how we dance

aka ... round up of the Indy Dressage Classic ... aka dressaging in 90-degree heat.

Coats were waived. Praise Jesus.

We arrived Friday afternoon at the HHP, and I decided to not ride Hampton at all. It was hot, he was sweaty and he thinks the Hoosier Horse Park is his second home. For pete's sake he has been showing there since he was 4 years old. I did hand walk him some, but tried to conserve energy for what I knew would be a sweltering weekend.

Saturday morning I was the warm-up ring steward - which was actually a really good time. I got to sit in the shade with my gatorade, and listen to area trainers warm up their students. I got quite the education standing there. And I only had to yell at one person for not going to the ring in time (after I already gave her a heads up once.)

My 4-1 ride was at 2:30 and I walked for about 10 minutes, and then tried to "Warm up" for another 10. We were both melting. I had zero horse to work with, and I was not helping matters. We both had a big case of "don't give a f---s." Hampton was downhill, leaning on my hands, and behind my leg. This is usually a recipe for bucking/naughtyness but he was so hot and tired he didn't even bother.

Did you know that 4th level is 10x more difficult with zero impulsion?

I managed to nurse him around the test, but it wasn't pretty. We made a lot of mistakes, including trashy changes. Hamps kept tripping, and falling out behind. He felt a little foot sore again at times. I walked out pretty disappointed. But later decided to blame it totally on the heat. We scraped up a 58%.

He should be a Dover model.

Sunday our ride was at 2:20 again. I had a different game plan. If I had to work in this heat, so did he. So I jazzed him up. Piaffe, walk, turn on the haunches. Piaffe, SMACK with whip, turn on the haunches. Rinse repeat for the majority of the warmup. I tossed in a couple of changes each way and went in.

This test went MUCH MUCH better. He was still downhill, but at least somewhat better. The only mistake we made was we totally bombed the left canter half pass. He pulled that 'stuck' maneuver he ONLY does in the ring. And I wasn't having it. I turned it into a leg yield and nailed him for it. The movement was already blown, so in the moment I decided to go ahead and make an ugly correction.

We got a nice slew of 7s, and even an 8 on the extended canter! woot! Some good comments, too. Even with the big bobble, we earned a 61.7%! That's my other 4th level score toward my silver.

Hamps was hot and exhausted after, so I knew he really did give me all he had. What a good boy!

Overall a great show, and a major learning experience for how I have to ride him. We still have a lot of work to do before we can do PSG, but this year even our "bad" tests are better than last year's "good" tests.

Perspective people,  perspective!

... and for now we will be doing all the trail riding and relaxing. Maybe amp back up in another week or two. We have accomplished so much and it is only June!

Also, new fly bonnet with BLING! 

All systems go

After several days of babying Hampton with Magic Cushion, time in a stall, and a little bit of bute - he seems back to normal today. In fact he felt fantastic, offering his floaty show trot and in general just being pleasant to ride.

Keeping my fingers crosses he continues to feel good. I don't know what it is about this year, but A LOT of horses have been throwing shoes, have been foot sore or otherwise mysteriously lame.

After I rode today, I let the BO's 12 year old daughter take Hamps for a spin. She is a decent little rider, although a little timid. Hampton packed her around like a schoolmaster. She rode him quite well. I was so proud of him.

What an adorable pair! Hamps is going to make one amazing lower-level packer
one day. Once I am done torturing him at the upper levels!

We are showing 4-1 this weekend. Did you know it's going to be 95 degrees? I am happy that I only entered one test each day. I get heat exhaustion easily so I am going to have to be careful. My warm up is going to be mostly walking, because I don't want Hampton to cook either. Obviously I am going to try and ride my best, but the safety and health of my horse and myself come first. I am armed with electrolytes (for both of us), fans and will have a cooler of water. No booze this show I am afraid. How will I ride?!?! #dressagealcoholic

We just need one sixty for our other 4th level score toward my silver. Don't screw this up, Karen.

Let's get this done!