A decade seems to have passed

Many thanks to fellow blogger and barn mate Emily at May as Well Event for starting up this fun blog hop! I've loved reading everyone else's. So now you can suffer through mine.

2010
Hampton is just a baby, awkward, green 3-year-old.

April 2010

2011
Hampton's first few shows, jumps and more life experience.

Summer 2011

2012

This year was a big year of change. I get a new job that moves us to KY. Leaving the soul-sucking Indiana town I was living in changed my life for the better, no question. Hampton loves Kentucky right off the bat. Settles in great in his huge field of bluegrass. 

Summer 2012

2013

We start to dabble in Second Level early in the year. And in April, I finally get back in the recognized show ring. And it's Hampton's rated show debut.

2013: I show at the KY horse park for the first time

2014

I get my bronze medal by the skin of my teeth. I realize that you can get your bronze medal and not even be a true Third level pair. And I fire the instructor I had been lessoning with for a couple months. We move barns due to this situation. 

Courtney King Dye clinic.

2015

We continue to show Third Level and slowly improve. But struggle with the changes and uphill balance.

2016

Royale the saddlebred joins the family. I co-own him with Liz for a year or two (she eventually takes over the ride). Hampton starts cribbing later in the year. We continue to show mostly Third Level but also try 4-1 here and there. I change barns in order to have the opportunity for more lessons.

2017

This was one hell of a year. With the exception of a disastrous first show, we end up kicking ass the rest of the year in Third Level, Fourth Level and I get my Silver medal in the fall after our PSG debut. We nearly ribbon at Regionals. I WIN A SADDLE and lessons with an Olympian in a contest. .... but then right before Nationals, Hampton gets a nasty fever and I withdraw. Then my dad dies right before Christmas. It was A YEAR I tell ya.

Third level at Regionals 2017

2018

We concentrate on PSG and 4th level freestyle. We have our ups and downs, but end up pulling it together for an 8th place in the freestyle at Regionals, and 9th at Nationals.

2019

We focus on making the PSG cleaner and working toward I-1. It's been a development year, and I face doubt when I get discouraging judging comments. But we finish the year with a strong showing at I-1. We qualify for an I-1 freestyle!

whew - What a decade!

Calling out the hypocrites

via GIPHY

FFS I have talked about Safe Sport and GM a couple times here, and continue to stand by my statements.

Also I'd like to point out the UTTER HYPOCRISY the past week or so regarding how we should reject Michael Vick and ban him from being honored by the NFL and being the Pro Bowl Captain. (I know nothing about football so I'm guessing these are big deals)

Little back story, Vick spent about 21 months in a FEDERAL prison after he plead guilty to charges regarding his involvement in a dog fighting ring. He doesn't seem to be a nice fellow, and does not seem to be someone I would classify as an animal lover. He's pretty much a Grade A asshole.

"BUT! BUT! Football is how he makes his living! BUT he is a great player! He holds several records!! He redefined the role of quarterback!"

Sound familiar?

How come you people defending George Morris and saying the SAME DAMN THINGS about him are all of sudden up in arms about Vick and demanding he not get any NFL honors.

Oh that's right.

Because you are hypocrites.

For the record they BOTH should lose their careers and be banned from their CLUBS.

Excuse me why I go retrieve my eyeballs as they have rolled out of my head.

LS clinic: Getting real

this is a novel - sorry!

My Christmas gift to myself was a clinic spot in the LS clinic here in town. Just a couple miles down the road, actually. I have been reading her blog forever, and admire her riding and the horses she produces. Plus, a fellow blogger/friend also rides with her so I knew a little of what to expect and that I would probably like her.

I was wrong.

I LOVED IT.

Hands down one of the best clinicians I have ever ridden with and my list is pretty long.

On Saturday I introduced myself and explained the comments I have been getting from judges especially in the FEI tests. And how I really struggled this summer with those comments and am I delusional for trying to bring this wonderful horse up the levels.

 The movements are not a problem, but his engagement and uphill balance are a BIG problem and I this winter I am really getting after it.

After scolding me a bit for being too down on myself, she sent us to work.
(Then we had a discussion on why people become dressage judges and it was very enlightening. Basically, if you get nasty comments say F-em.)

That'll do, sir.
Now for more engagement.

We spent almost the entire lesson doing 10m circles down the long side. And he was NOT to lean on my hands. I have gotten in the habit (as MANY dressage riders do) of trying to help him and make it "pretty" at all times. GOD FORBID something falls apart. Well, LS told me to let him make a mistake. Let him fail. Let things fall apart. THEN correct it, put him back together, GIVE. Repeat until death. He is simply not allowed to hang on me, or push down on his shoulders. And I am not allowed to try and hold him up. Because I can't. I know I can't, but it hasn't stopped me from trying hahaha! So I have to "work harder at not working so hard."

canter work from Saturday
#buttgoals

Yes, a "simple" exercise but a good workout for Hampton. He did get tired because he had to carry himself, and find his own balance at the times where I would usually give him some help.

There was also some shoulder-in, and half pass and I would chuck my inside rein away. Does he maintain the bend? yes - great! No? Correct and give again. over and over and over.

Can you take your leg off and the horse keeps going? Yes? Great! No? He needs his cage rattled. Some horses need a loud rattle. Some horses need a train dropped on them. You need to make a point, and then sit still as if nothing had happened. Repeat.

Hampton was such a good boy and it was pouring rain and nasty. But LS has many good things to say about him and the dressage journey in general.

She called Hampton "emotionally stable" and "sure of himself." .... Well at least that's one of us. haha

--

Excuse me why am I tacked up at 7:30 am?

Sunday was a much nicer morning and we picked up with the same self carriage basics from Saturday.

After warming up she asked "does he know half steps?" and I said he has the basic idea but I felt like he was "saggy" and needed to be more sharp.

She gave me an excellent exercise to create a whole bunch of energy, then you just allow piaffe to happen. Like opening a coke bottle. If you try to "make" the piaffe, you are screwed, which is what i had been doing. I had been "tap tap tapping" with my ankles which is probably fine for a more sensitive horse, but is not going to work with Hampton.

Hampton needs to learn to piaffe with my legs OFF. A hotter horse you might put your leg on, perhaps. After 10-15 minutes all I had to do was place my leg and he would piaffe. Clever boy! This is exactly the piece of the puzzle I had been missing before I have a show ring ready piaffe.

Passage was a little more difficult. I explained that no one has ever really given me instructions on what aid to apply for passage. So our transitions from trot to passage have been murky.

So, on a 20m circle we were to passage from 12 to 3. In between I am to keep my body loose, almost sloppy. Playful, sloppy elbows. Then at 12 o clock, ankles at the girth, tip slightly back and engage my core to the extreme. After a few rotations, Hampton picked up these aids and went right from trot to passage. It still needs more strength and lift (and be even more precise), but at least now I've got some clarity. And so does Hampton!

"Next year, it is not out of the realm for you to do Grand Prix." Yes those words came out of her mouth. That is not in my plans, but it was encouraging to hear that come from someone who had made MANY GP horses, and numerous FEI horses who win at the regional and national levels. She knows her shit and I take what she says seriously. I am going to cling to those words.

To end the sessions we tried to play with some ones, but they weren't really happening that day. I got a 1-1 a couple of times but never did get 3. Probably because I was now riding him differently and he was trying to figure it out. We did do a nice spontaneous line of 2s though! Something we could not do 6 months ago.

I found her training and teaching to be clear, no-bullshit, and delightfully profain. I was cracking up at times. If you like trainers who pussy foot around, pretend to be some sort of purist, and over analyze how many pounds are needed in your right seatbone to affect the inside hind leg and then if the moon is in retrograde and Snuggle Muffin might go on the bit, she is not for you. She is a rider's teacher. I can tell she has worked with many different types of horses and riders, been there and done that.

I found her to be hilarious, smart, demanding but also patient.

Other tidbits I wrote down from watching other lessons:

-- Sit down like an auction rider in the canter and drive for a couple of strides to encourage the knees to come up. Then sit chilly.

-- Young horse school in Germany is much like public school. No one is special. Sometimes you get your head slammed in the locker. Young horse school in the USA is like Montessori schools. Spoiled and lacking life skills.

-- think of pushing the bit down to his bottom teeth with your forearms

-- (for a combination where the horse would come off the bit in transitions) - think of building up to the transition. Build, build, build - ASK. ie trot to canter

-- Your strength is not in your muscles, it is in your timing

-- Think of tension between the inside hind leg and your outside rein. Like a bow. Pulling on the inside rein breaks the bow.

Overall take aways
Stop pulling on the inside rein
Stop rescuing your horse
take your legs off, put them back on
Hold your horse accountable
Don't be afraid of the ugly.

Sorry this was so long and sloppy and not well edited. It is a lot to process.

This is all a process and I think a lot of us (including myself) get caught up in what the finished product is supposed to look like. We have to remember that it doesn't start out that way (not even Valegro) and if you only get 10 steps of good work, that is 10 steps more than you had yesterday.

So keep going! :)

Jaws results.

That video of the Arabian mauling his handler is awful to watch.

But it seemed like most readers were in agreement to euthanize him (or her, I just assumed it was a stallion but the footage is grainy).

I agree with this. In fact if he were mine he would be dead before leaving the show if I could make that happen.

I'm sure he has probably been mistreated, treated unfairly, even abused. He probably gets little turn out, and lives a life of isolation and frustration. Humans most likely made him this way. And for that, I do feel sorry for the horse.

Can you rehab a horse like this? I'm not sure. It's certainly well beyond my skills and education.

There was a good point made that he was likely a horse of value (as many Arabian halter horses are), and because of his value this behavior would be ignored. He may even produce foals. (my god can you imagine leading this thing to a breeding shed??) There is a certain amount of tolerance for stallions especially. I did visit Three Chimneys 10 years ago when Dynaformer was still alive, and it is true - he lived 24/7 in a stud chain. I could tell just looking at him that he gave zero shits about me or any other human. I stayed a good distance away from his stall. haha. I hear War Emblem is similar.

I just felt this type of behavior though was at a different level. There isn't a huge point here, except it's just sad all around. I don't know the situation leading up to the event, no after. Or if the handler was ok.

But in the end, the horse is a danger to humans and other horses I would guess.

I wouldn't risk it.

What would you do? Jaws edition

What would you do with the above horse?

1) Ignore the issue. Hope he doesn't do it again

2) rehab him. He has probably been unfairly treated and abused.

3) Put a bullet in his head Humanely euthanize him.

---

I'll gather opinions and post some (authors name won't be attached) in my next blog.

#potstirring

Taking our sh*tshow on the road

The recent snow and cold ass temps are RUDE.

We are going to be snow birds this winter!

Kind of.

A group of barn girls and a couple of strays (including Liz, and another gal from St. Louis) are packing up and heading to Aiken for a week in February.

We tried to do this trip last year, but various factors thwarted our trip including one horse breaking his leg (he is ok and recovered) and someone in at my work on maternity leave so no one else could take a vacation during that time.

So far all engines are go for February 2020 though!

cliche eye ball shot

Surprisingly, this entire trip is going to cost me as much as a simple rated dressage show.

We booked a cool house to share, making it pretty cheap between 6-7 of us. And the horses will be staying at Jumping Branch Farm. And the rates for a week's stay were also really reasonable.

The eventer gals will also be entering a one-day show while we are there. I had originally planned to do another Starter trial there with them, but have since decided not to. After our Starter event a couple weeks ago, Hampton went lame. And I mean LAME on his left front. Like he was lame coming off the trailer when we got home.

My gut says he was getting rocks stuck under the bar of his shoe because he was overdue to be shod and I kept unearthing rocks lodged under there. He recovered very quickly (within 2 days) and has been sound since. So he would PROBABLY be ok, but I am going to err on the side of caution just in case it did aggravate his navicular. He can totally do a little XC schooling at Jumping Branch, but I feel like one little schooling session is enough for him. I'd really like redemption at Starter level since I couldn't even stay on my horse at the last one, though. haha. Maybe another time.

But meanwhile me and Liz plan to find a dressage trainer to take a lesson or two with!
And of course I will be obnoxiously cheering on my friends at the event as a groom and drinking buddy.

Hampton, left,  and barnmate Yogi will both be going

We are also taking a day to ride Hitchcock Woods of course.

And if anyone has any recommendations I am all ears!

I am pretty excited for this little getaway. Aiken I believe is about 8-9 hours from us, so a decent haul. Hampton has never taken a trip like this, so I'm hoping he handles it ok. I am sure I will have more anxiety than he will. Maybe I'm the one who needs the UlcerGuard.

Who has taken a bigger trip like this? Any advice?

Let the bodies hit the floor

not a dressage show

Finally I have some decent blog content!

Drama - check!
Hilarity - check!
Carnage - check!

On Sunday I took Hampton to Flying Cross Farm and did a little mini-trial to close out our year with something fun and playful.

Sidenote: Our last time seeing any kind of XC fence was five years ago. In fact the zipper on my vest was so corroded I had to have help to unstick the damn thing.

Hampton was quite fresh and frisky and also decided to be buddy sour with his trailer buddy. The trailer ride is about 5 minutes long, by the way. He's a quick bonder. So there was so obnoxious screaming, leaping, threats to buck and sucking back. But whatevs. I was able to just work through that crap and had a really lovely dressage test. We did BN test A. The judge agreed and gave us a 21.4 which I think is something like a 79%

Eventing judges I love you.

We went back to the trailer and change tack and I had Hampton looking like a proper fox hunter haha!

I ended up buying this saddle off Facebook, and went out and got a breast collar, new stirrups and some leathers to go with. He was looking pretty legit haha!

Looking like a proper fox hunter or something!

Next up was show jumping and I had a good friend from college coach me through warm up and she really made all the difference. Hampton was jumping great - really round and up under me. He felt sharp and in front of the leg. But without running on the forehand and careening everywhere.

Our show jumping round was clear and smooth. He was taking me to jumps and seemed to be enjoying it.

At this point I'm like "hey! this isn't so scary. Maybe I can do this!"

ha. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

So, I decided to go XC before our trailer/show buddy. So that meant having to canter Hampton away from his BEST FRIEND IN THE FUCKING WORLD. I'm thinking, ok horse you are 12 and a show veteran. This shouldn't be an issue anymore. It was obnoxious.

Jump 1 was fine, but I felt him start to waiver and wobble and suck back before fence 2. I put my leg on and thought he would jump it but he stopped and dropped his right shoulder like some sort of cutting horse and I went flying off the side.  I probably leaned at the fence, too, because I was thinking he would go. He didn't. Wonder if I'll stop leaning at fences now. The fence was literally less than 2 feet high. He could have walked over it. I felt like it was a bit of a dirty move, but I know we are both rusty as we have not done this in 5 years. But still. c'mon HAMPTON.

Flying off a 17 hand horse is a good time, let me tell ya. hahaha. Also, it's the first time EVER I have fallen off Hampton! He was like OH SHIT and took off (back toward his buddy of course)

Thank you to my friends who caught him! My coach for the day said he why don't you just get back on and keep going? Since this was a very VERY laid back little mini trial, and there was no one around waiting to go .... that's what I did. I told myself ok, just get over that fence number 2 and then call it a day.

So I got on, and gave him hell. No problems with fence 2 this time .... And so I kept on going. And ended up riding the rest of the course and all the way to the finish flags! No other issues - in fact he really starting taking me to the jumps.

Fall colors were so pretty on the farm!

I am ok - I did bonk the back of my head and had a little headache, and as I am typing this my right shoulder is starting to hurt. But I am glad I had my TraumaVoid helmet on, and that the ground was a little soft for my landing. I got right back up and did my walk of shame to get my loose horse. I felt like a real eventer.

So that is the story of how I fell off at fence 2 at the STARTER level at a horse trial.

Please do not feel guilty for laughing. I am laughing. And was laughing after I fell (in between foul language). it is hilarious and everyone is ok and that is eventing, right? haha! I got back on and rode better and had a great round, so that is what counts. I am happy that I did that and finished on a high note.

the only disappointment is that there is no video. womp womp

Back to the sandbox!