Not the Tevis Cup

The crew.
(Notice how the other horses are tired from the hills. NOT HAMPTON)

A little group from our barn is getting into a little routine of a Sunday morning trail ride. I am loving it!

An older gentleman who lives down the road also joins us, and since he knows quite a few of the property owners in the area he was able to get us permission to ride to the Ohio River on Sunday.

It was a gloomy day, but that didn't stop us. It was probably best as it kept the horses cooler. There was quite a bit of hill work and countless creek crossings as we made out way down the big hill.

Hamps was in the lead most of the time and seemed to enjoy himself. He likes the "responsibility" of being the lead horse, I think. It's interesting to me. When he is in front, he walks with authority. Marching along at a good clip, ears perked. When he follows, he almost always turns into a plug. Relaxing, has airplane ears, head lower.  I am guessing it is because as a follower, he doesn't have to worry as much. Anyone else experience this? He has always been a protector - both of other horses, and me. Which is why I think he thinks it is his job, his duty, to be out front.

Anyway.

As we made our way out, we passed several abandoned race horse farms. One had this COOL old outhouse on the property. It was crooked, and leaned to one side. I noticed their barn sign was called "Leaning Crescent Farm." It had a picture of the out house on the sign. You could tell the property had been long abandoned though.

The outhouse

Once we hit the actual trail, it started to get a little slick and muddy. Hamps slid a good 5 feet down one hill. Good boy kept his footing and kept trucking!

We had to help the mustang cross one rocky creek crossing. She has spent most of her life as a dressage pony, so trails were new to her. Yes, she was caught from the wild but I believe she came from Nevada so perhaps creek crossings were new to her? haha. Anyway she quickly gained confidence and on we went.

After weaving out way through more creek crossings and some gorgeous flood plains, we finally reached the river. It was a touch foggy and in spite of the gloomy day, was still gorgeous. We stopped to get some photos.

The other horses - including an Arabian who is a multi-champion endurance horse - stopped to rest. Guess who still had a flame up his butt? Yes, Hampton. He would not stand still. Chomping at the bit. Not the least bit tired.

I thought, ok buddy, well the way back is ALL UPHILL so good luck with that.

As we turned around to head back home, Hampton was LIT. He was practically passaging up the hills. I could hear the other horses behind me huffing and puffing. Meanwhile, Hampton thinks this is the goddamn Tevis Cup and is hauling ass up the hill

Once we got back up to the road, I let someone else lead and he calmed down. Boy was he on a mission! He still was not tired even as we got back to the farm!

I don't think fitness will be a problem this year....

One of the few flatter areas

Planning the season in pencil

I've been planning my season this week - mostly because my job requires that we put in THE ENTIRE YEAR'S worth of vacation time into the calendar before the end of February. Annoying, but I make do.

Of course my show dates are in pencil because, well, horses. And life. But here's the general direction I am heading. Royale will also be tagging along this year as well but we will have to see where he is at closer to show time. I think he will be ready for Training level!

This booger may show rated this year for some breed awards.
Still planning with him,
so we will see!

March 4: KHP schooling show | 4-1, and 4-3 (cue crap in pants)
March 18, 19: Musical freestyle clinic (KDA sponsors this, so it's MEGA CHEAP. Why not?)

April 21-23: Either Adult Dressage Camp OR Mid-Ohio Dressage Show
April 27-30 : ROLEX. DRINK. SHOP.

May 13: IDS schooling show | 4-3 and/or PSG

June 9-11: Indy Dressage Classic OR Majestic Farm | 4-3 and/or PSG (or 4th freestyle?)

July: IDS Schooling show | PSG with Hamp, Training level with Royale?

August 5: Hamilton County Dressage schooling show | PSG
August 19-20: Indy Dressage Festival | PSG and 4th freestyle (if qualified)

Sept. 14-17: REGIONALS at Majestic Farm | 4th freestyle and 4-3 IF QUALIFIED
Sept. 30: IDS Ride-offs | 4-3 and PSG

Oct: KDA fall show only if I still have money and am not totally burned out. ha.

Hamp would rather show in the Artistic Body Art class

There are also several other local schooling shows available if I want to hit those up, as well. Kentucky is just amazing in the amount of options you have for showing.

Obviously things may and probably will change some. There is a chance my roommate will move out, and if that happens I will have zero money to do anything (including lessons, possibly eat) until someone else moves in. Frankly as long as Hampton and myself stay healthy and happy everything else is fine. But it's looking like a big year for us. *gulp*

Goals:
Qualify for regionals at 4-3 and 4th level freestyle.
Debut at PSG
Earn my USDF Silver Medal
Not go totally bankrupt
HAVE FUN!

Most improved

My Valentine.

Thanks to a very bizarre and mild winter here in KY, we have been able to work straight through all winter.

(Please don't decide to unload a bunch of ice and snow now, mother nature)

Hampton has made such tremendous progress just in the past 6 months. It's hard to believe that what seemed so impossible last year, we are now schooling regularly and keep getting better. Last year was a "development year" and also a year that I really felt like we were in a plateau.

Moving barns and getting into a super regular lesson program (at least once a week) has been well worth the money. I love working on my own, but I really needed the extra help to get us over that hump. I've been quiet this winter. No schooling shows, no clinics. Just quietly chipping away.

I have no idea where our scores will be this year. I am aiming for a small schooling show in early March to test the waters. I mean who knows, we may not be as ready as I feel we might be? That has certainly happened before. Like, every show season.

Best area of improvement? Flying changes!

Check it out I made another gif!!




Actual video clip ...

Two changes along the wall, 4 strides in between. Keep in mind we could not do this even 6 months ago. The left to right change (the first one you see) can still at times get "stuck." I really have to keep the hind end jumping and typically it is at least clean now. It's a little swingy at times, but we are working on getting that cleaned up now that the change is clean and ON MY AIDS. I need to work on keeping my upper body more quiet and stop trying to "help."

We are really starting to get the tempi changes. We can do 4s and 3s and they are now 90% obedient, clean and actually even pretty! No where close to perfect but holy crap if only I had video of the shit show that was our changes for the past 3 years.

"Yes I know I am good boy."

Anyway, point of this post is to KEEP PERSISTING. (shout out to E. Warren here)

Also, I really have Hampton to thank for being such a patient, kind teacher. Future horses are lucky that I am making all these dumbass mistakes on Hampton, who forgives me and moves on. Maybe I will make less mistakes with the next horse.

The Making of a Freestyle: Part 2 (You have to qualify)

Here's the thing about doing a freestyle. In order to do one, you have to have scored a 60% in the highest test of that level.

So, kids. That means I need a 60+ at 4-3.

Here is my reaction when I read the 4-3 test:

via GIPHY

Now, I cannot find this in the rules anywhere but I have been told that you can also qualify by getting a 60+ in the level ABOVE the freestyle level you want to show.

So, that would mean I could also show PSG.

Again, what happens when even thinking about the PSG:

via GIPHY

Go ahead and read through 4-3 sometime when you have a chance. It is NASTY. Like, it appears easier than PSG. However, I think to start the year off I am going to try 4-3. Even though I said I never would and I would skip this test that is the spawn of satan.

But then ... there is a little part of me that wants to make this test my bitch. Hamps and I school everything in the test. But as we all know, it's a different animal when you try to put them all together in a test that is nearly fucking 7 minutes long. (Thus, why I've also started running in the past month)

And maybe, IF we can pull off a 60 at 4-3 ... then my face will be this:

via GIPHY

Now ... as for PSG?
Still crapping my pants.

What we look like at the barn

(credit: PS of Sweden)

I mean, I don't know about you guys, but this is a

TOTALLY ACCURATE

representation of what a typical day at the farm looks like for me.

Back on the trails

Since moving to our current barn, our trail access has just not been as awesome as it was previously. Granted, we now have a covered arena to ride in so I will gladly take the trade-off but I do miss trail riding. Not just taking a walk around, but actually "man from snowy river" - ing it on the trails.

Until now!

A couple of barn friends took me out this morning on some drop-dead gorgeous trails. It MAY or MAY NOT be trespassing in some parts, but we do have permission to ride on others so .... errr ... I will just play dumb if I am ever busted. Plus I do not plan on taking advantage of the land-owners' kindness too often.

We ended up on a good 2 hour ride, going down rather steep hills and ending up at the creek! (Same creek we used to ride in but about 15 miles downstream). It is STUNNING. The walk was gorgeous with rolling hills, boulders, a few old bridges that had overgrown dirt and grass on top. Plenty of deer, too.

It's still supposedly "winter" here in ky ... so nothing is green

Cool boulder. Gorgeous hills to the right.

Getting a drink

There were a couple of rugged parts where we really had to ride up or down steep, rocky hills. It's so good for Hampton to have to think about where his feet are. Next time I take this route tho I will prob need a breastcollar!

All the horses were very well behaved. All are seasoned trail horses so we had no problems at all.

I could tell Hamps worked his little ass off on the hills. I took pity on him and gave him a gram of bute with his lunch.

The covered arena is finally ready to go again (new roof!) so we can practice actual test movements again! Yay! Although the past two weeks of piro work, transitions and suppling have been very good for us. Time to get serious. For realz.

Will we be ready for PSG this spring?
You tell me Hampton!

Cat humiliation

Once upon a time (err, on Monday),

I gave my cat Buckley a mohawk.

It is AH-MAZING.

The end.