I am writing a series of guest posts over at Virtual Brush Box.
It has been really fun comparing dressage and the saddlehorse world. They are so different, and yet similar all at the same time. I do not consider one right or wrong, or better than the other. It is a different way to enjoy horses. And each industry has its practices I don't agree with.
Anyway, pop on over and check out my word vomit!
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| Me and Wilson, a super cool Morgan my family owned in the early 2000s. |
"Do you have the guts to fail? If you don't fail, you aren't even trying… To get something you never had, you have to do something you have never done… Don't be afraid to fall, but fall forwards, not backwards" -- Denzel Washington
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| Wearing Uncle Buck's tie |
I haven't felt totally ready to add another cat back into the household after the dramatic and heartbreaking losses of Hunter and Ralston, but I thought maybe I should give fostering a try. That way I can help a cat in need, get Buckley some exercise, but not be committed to vet bills.
My first resident was Willard - an ADORABLE grey floof. About a year old, with gorgeous green eyes and a huge personality.
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| Lap kitty while working |
He made himself right at home straight away. Enjoyed all the toys I bought for Buckley but he never plays with. Ate everything in sight and quickly learned to be a lap kitten too.
I had him just 11 days and damn near kept him he was so cute. I do need to start seriously looking for a roommate though and I think it might be easier with just one cat. But I am sort of playing it by ear. I will foster again for sure! I loved having a kitten around. They are like squirrels on meth! haha
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| Uncle Buck and Willard |
It was a really great experience through KY Humane Society. They checked up on him, gave me a bag of food and were super to work with. It was quite sad for me to drop him off but he will be ok. He is young and cute and healthy. He's not up on their site yet but I'm keeping an eye out. Unless he got adopted today which is totally possible. Looking forward to helping another furrball!
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| He actually fit in my cat condo! (unlike Buckley) |
Last week there was an imposter at a Kentucky saddlebred show.
There was a dressage rider in the hunter pleasure classes.
(*gasping*)
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| I did wear my OneK helmet. One of very few approved helmets on the show grounds. |
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| I took her out to hand graze in the mornings. She was happy to pose! |
The Horse: This is Pippa. She is a 5 year old buckskin American Saddlebred mare.
Green, but kind and willing and a super good thinker.
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| Naps! |
I had a friend call up and ask me to show her last week at a saddlebred show about 40 minutes from me. He is her usual trainer and rider but this show conflicted with his already booked vacation.
Um, when someone asked me to show a saddlebred I do not turn that down!
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| Tunnel into the show ring! |
After riding her only 3 times, we headed to the show (after showing Hampton in the I-2 Wednesday morning haha! I am a masochist. Oh by the way I was also working my FULL TIME JOB concurrently so the exhaustion was real). I worked her briefly Thursday morning to make sure she wasn't going to be too frisky. She wasn't.
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| Morning handgrazing |
The saddlebred world is ... different. You can have a really great ride and not place well, and you can make all sorts of mistakes and even FALL OFF and still win the class. I have seen both extremes and everything in between. Pippa was great, sure we had some bobbles but I don't think she was what the judge wanted. She was simply too quiet compared to the others. Also, there is color bias in the saddlebred (And Morgan) show circuits. If your horse is not bay or chestnut, you are less likely to place well. Not saying it is impossible but that unfortunately exists. Her next show she may be rewarded for her quiet, steady nature. But just not as this show.
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| Waiting on the warm up ring! We didn't show until almost 9 pm Fri and Sat nights. |
Even so, I made sure she had a positive, empathetic ride. She thinks she won every class.
These saddlebreds are so kind and tolerant. The atmosphere would make most warmbloods poop themselves. It was in the middle of a county fair. And I do mean in the middle of it. At NIGHT. There are big noisy rides with lights, people everywhere, other horses, snapping whips, people shouting, all sorts of chaos. She never put a foot wrong.
Spot the imposter in the video!
And the horse comes first. Not your ego.
Rant over. I had a total blast with Pippa and her owners were the most kind, awesome people. They were so involved with her and were such a huge help to me with grooming and cooling her out. Most owners never touch their horses in this industry. Much less do any sort of work with them.
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Miss Pippa will continue on with her show season with her regular trainer and hopefully make it into the World Championship show in August. I'll be cheering for her!
She is a sporty thing. Even did an unauthorized flying change on me Saturday night.
Hmmmm ... perhaps a dressage future? :)
Welp.
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| 8 am show time! |
I took Hamp to a show on Wednesday down in Lexington to try another rated I-2.
He warmed up fine, felt pretty good. But the SECOND I went into the ring he just ... decided to clock out of work early that day. I asked for piaffe. He planted his feet. So he got a big pony club kick. He BUCKED before we even down down centerline. So behind the leg, downhill, just trashy all over. The ones didn't really happen (how could they?) and I felt like this ride was not even close to what we are capable of. It was so disappointing.
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| Show office kitty |
HOWEVER. Here's a kicker. It seems I have been forgetting a movement THIS ENTIRE TIME of riding I-2. I think this is the 4th time I have shown it, and none of the other judges including a "S" judge at another rated show have ever rung the bell, or marked on my test that I have missed this movement.
During the first medium canter, you do a flying change at X.
Well I had been diligently doing the change at the rail THIS ENTIRE TIME.
Well this judge (Natalie Lamping, pretty highly respected) rung the bell on me finally. So I will NOT be forgetting this change again.
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| Yep there it is. The missing change. |
Another kicker, even though my ride my shit and we made all sorts of mistakes. I still got a 59.6%. In front of Lamping.
Had I not had an error, we would have had a 61%+
So looking at it that way, it is promising. And heck even so it's an improvement from our 54% back in April.
So while Hampton certainly had an off day, we are going to keep on keeping on. More lessons in the works and I think I'll keep showing the I-2. I think it's good for us and I see no reason to stop since scores are showing improvement. One off day should not be the end all.
We were in and out of the show though because I had ANOTHER show to get to later that day!
Stay tuned for The Time Karen Bit Off More than She can Chew by Also Going to a Saddlebred Show!
(sorry for lack of Hamp media. I was all alone at the show at 8 am so didn't really get any photos)
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| Sneak peek of the saddlebred! |
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| Wittle bebah snuggles! |
I watched a handful of lessons at a Gwen Poulin clinic this week. When she comes back in town I think I will try and ride with her. She was very helpful and positive and I liked how she approached different riders and horses. (Yes, she is the daughter of Tom Poulin - top judge and founding member of USDF).
Anyway, here are my notes!
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| Some of the trails were a bit "pick your own path" |
Definitely going to explore this place some more. On the map there is a location marked swimming hole so maybe next time we will check that out?
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Hampton loves the creek. He enjoys splashing and soaking us both in the process. |
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| Gorgeous meadow that was at the end of one the trails |
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| Splashing |
