#Problems reminder!

Just a reminder to send in your hilarious photos and hashtags for my #Problems contest!

More on the contest HERE in case you missed it.

... and now, BACK TO WATCHING THE OLYMPICS!!!!! squeee!

Not an Olympic pair. 

#Problems contest!

I am sure many of you are aware of Eventing's Nation's series, #eventerproblems. It is a hilarious collection of bloopers, situations, mishaps, and everyday hilarity from equestrians, not just eventers. In fact my barn friends and myself have made the list more than once ...

#Ihopethatisjustmud
#mudmaskatthebarn

In the interest of making everyone laugh (especially myself), I'd like to host my own little #EquestrianProblems contest!

WHAT TO DO: Send in your photos. It can be bloopers, falls, horse shaming, barn cats, anything hilarious, sarcastic or even wonderful and amazing. Send in as many photos as you want! But, with each photo you must create a hilarious hashtag to go with it.

Don't wear grey shirts in the 80% humdity, 90 degree weather that is
KY summer.
#brasweatline
#savedbythebell
#classy

WHERE TO SEND: Send your photos and hashtags to me via email: finalchapter.karen@gmail.com

WHAT YOU WIN: Ummm I'm not sure yet?! Mostly just a good laugh when I collect them and publish them in a post. Or multiple posts if I get a good response! Or would you rather I set up a poll and we all vote on the best ones?

Here are some more examples from my collection of "moments." Hopefully they will inspire you!

#notfuckingaround

#expertcatlady

#theclassicsloppyjumpphoto
#wearebetteratdressage

#whattheactual

#ISaidTURNpony!

#Dressageyouannoyingsometimes

Ok ... ready ... go!!! I will see what I've got next weekend, and publish everyone's awesome photos and hashtags!

Our own room

The boys!
(I'm not sure they could be any more different ....)

Time for some updates blog land!

Hampton

-- At the risk of jinxing myself AGAIN, Hamps is currently sound and feeling fantastic. I never did find a spot where the painful abscess blew out. So, maybe it reabsorbed? In any case, I am not asking questions. Just moving on.

-- I started him on Pentsosan. (May do a separate post on this later ...)

-- We have been working on the basics this week. Just transitions, forward-back, ground poles,  stretching and suppleness. I threw in some leg yields today, and he stayed sound within those. I think later this week I may ask him for a session of "real work" and see where we are. I am sure he has lost some fitness, but I am totally ok with that. We can get that back.

Royale, Hampton and Spot.

-- Unfortunately the arena has a crap ton of large gravel rocks that are surfacing. I am not sure it is fair to continue to ask Hampton to school the level that he does on this footing. It also has random sink holes, and the kids are doing donuts in the ring with the ATV. It needs totally re-done. And that likely won't be happening. This has been on my mind. Am I being a total footing snob? 

-- We are still aiming for a clinic at the end of August.

-- Not sure about future shows. Have some options on Sept, Oct and even Nov. I'd like to try 4-2 at some point, and maybe even go buck wild and try 4-3 just because I hate myself at times. ha.

Royale

-- Working on taking a steady contact. He likes to curl some, and bop around the contact at times. This usually happens when he falls behind the leg.

-- Turn on the forehand. He picked this up rather quickly!

-- Leg yields. Will start more of these now that TOF has been established.

Royale's first hack in KY!

-- Lots of serpentines, changes of bend.

-- Canter departs. Working on becoming more prompt and less "OMG LEGS EVERYWHERE". Sometimes he picks up the wrong lead, but I'm not worried about it at the moment.

-- Lunging in side reins (once a week). Will help him learn to balance himself at the canter. 

-- Stand quietly in crossties/washrack. CHECK!

-- Accepting baths/showers. He had made big progress here. He used to FREAK the fuck out, but now I can get him to stand in the washrack for a shower. Of course I can't turn the nozzle on full blast yet, but he will accept it now. (with the help of a chain over his nose).

Why you tie me in here?

-- Next up: FLY SPRAY

-- Hills, trail rides, general exposure.

... It's actually sort of nice not to have anything exciting/frustrating to report. We are just plugging along in our little routine. I think some changes are on the horizon, but isn't that always the case?

IDS show round up

First off, I spoke too soon about Hampton. On Monday I found him 3-legged lame on his left front. The inside of the hoof is raging hot, so I suspect (and hope!) it's an abscess. I've been soaking and packing his hoof, and letting him stand on the theraplate all week. He is much improved today - he is at least walking on the foot now, and just has a mild limp at the trot. Ironically, he popped a damn abscess out of the GOOD foot this morning, too. Horse, WHY?! *slams head on desk*

So hoping he continues to improve ....

****

But in the meantime:

Baby Royale is a superstar!!!!

Saturday we schooled a bit at the HHP and he was a total star. Just trots around with the best little attitude. It was of course 5000000 degrees out, so I kept it short and sweet.

A little BTV here, but it's just because he is weak and behind my leg

Better here!

Thanks to Jen for taking all of these wonderful photos!!!

Saturday night I crashed at Jen's house, and her hubs made I think the most delicious dinner I have had all year. No even exagerating! Then we drank sangria on their porch. You guys, their house is so dreamy and cool! Plus, Jen is great company. I felt a little old because I was ready for bed by 10 pm after eating so much and drinking sangria ... lol ... Jen I promise I can hang sometimes!!

Sunday morning we had out first ride - Intro A- at about 830. I decided to only warm up for 10 minutes because the heat index was HELL. NINTH RING OF HELL. But it seems I needed to burn a little more energy out of Royale as he was a bit distracted and skittery. I had some trouble keeping the gerbils on the wheel, leading to an "unfocused" test. But - that's why we do this! I just stayed calm and kept giving him direction and he was fine. One little spook but he gets a pass because he is 3, and because saddlebred.

Tense but trying for me

Spooking! lol SQUIRREL!

Yes!!! Good moments, too

Our second test ... he was a totally different horse! He was relaxed and focused and we nailed Intro B with a 70% and first place!

He is still obviously all over in the contact, and wiggles his shoulders. But all that is normal. He got a great education and I was super proud of his wonderful behavior. He is still a bit bewildered at times but tries so hard and looks to his rider for confidence. I think he will have a great future!

Example of a "saddlebred moment"

In fact, back at the barns I kept looking at him and saying to myself:

HE IS A SALES HORSE.

Did everyone read that?

HE IS A SALES HORSE.

Ugh. But he is just so stinkin fun!

Just love the little squirt

Many many thanks to Jen again for these fab photos.

Also Liz kicked ass as well with her two horses. Our little crew really cleaned up!

Me, Connor (notice I am trying to steal him ... heh heh), Jen and Liz

And since Royale is in KY now, I will have blog fodder this week that includes things besides boring hoof-soaking photos with Hampton.

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.