Baby, are you coming for the ride?

Trail ride!

Had a seemingly benign conversation with a friend the other day. She works her ass off as a show secretary and was telling me about a parent who complained about the dressage judge and other things.

"Why don't you just be better?" was what my friend wanted to respond. Obviously she handled the situation professionally at the time, but if you are complaining that you or you kid is getting low scores in dressage ... then be better. Take more lessons, buy a better horse, practice more, BE BETTER and maybe you won't be so disappointed in your scores.

Like the 54% in out first Grand Prix. Yes he did all the movements,
but we just were not good enough for the 60.
(An a good photo demonstrating DAP+)

I realized ... well shit, the amount of complaining/blaming/blowing off of judges that I do is kind of shameful. There is plenty of it on this blog. I have never complained to officials of course, but plenty to my friends and on here.

Are there judges who are tougher than others? Yes of course. Are there judges who will simply not like your horse? Yes, probably.

But if I get a disappointing score, the hard truth is that I am simply NOT GOOD ENOUGH. 

I can spend all the time I want saying things like "the judge doesn't like my horse," "I won the warm up" "Well so and so big ass clinician said I was good" "The judge is drunk" "I don't understand this score" "The judge is biased and wants flashy gaits"

That is all a load of shit because the actual truth is pretty hard to admit to yourself.

A low score = you is not good enough.

So, as the new year approaches I am going to try very hard NOT to complain about the judge. To take low scores and work harder. To take the better scores and ... keeping working. And not let a judge get me down about my really nice horse, because that happens too. 

Maybe we will aim for Regionals in 2022!

Just chipping away. To be better.

And on that note, we are off to Aiken for 4 days! 

Actual interesting blog content to come.

Caught a vibe

Thanks to my friend who got this cool orb shot of the horses! haha

Hamp is back to full work! Schooling most of the FEI again, and doing as much trail riding as I can manage before the weather totally goes to shit.

Did some dressage on the hills at Flying Cross Farm while my eventer gals had a great
school! So pretty right now!

Do not question Reign of Porkchop

Taylorsville Lake State park was a nice ride!

You can sort of see the lake straight ahead

Speaking of my eventer friends, one of these ladies COERCED ME into going to Aiken for a short trip in December. I am telling you, she twisted my arm and held a gun to my head. Not left with a choice, I lined up some lessons and hopefully will give us a boost going into winter.

Argyle polos, but don't ask me to have matching bell boots. ugh

Just a reminder to live in the present. Live your life because it can change in an instant. Eat the french fries, take the chance, ride the dressage test even if you are not totally ready. Go to Aiken. If you have your health (and your horse's health) you are truly rich.

Live your dreams.

Off unemployment!

 

Hampton has re-joined the workforce!

He feels GREAT and while he is a bit out of shape, that's ok. We are going to live in 2nd/3rd level land for a little bit while he regains strength and fitness. I have had zero issues with stumbling, or weirdness or anything. He feels better than he has in at least a year. I could not be more excited. And Hampton seems fresh and happy and is no longer in pain.

I might already be making some adventure plans, too. <grin> 

Halloween sunrise on the farm.

Recovery Week 4

 

A Porkchop in the wild

Hampton was QUITE happy to have turn out time again! He has a couple more days in the small paddock and then on Wednesday he will be released back into the wild with his friends.

The first time I let him out for some turn out time, there was some ... theatrics ...

That's his hind legs .... above his head. Sigh.

But after about 5 minutes he calmed down and went right to grazing and has not had a case of the stupids since. 

His legs have stopped stocking up, too.

Gross and hairy

SO HAPPY TO BE OUTSIDE 

Annnnnd I have started riding him again! Starting out very light and easy but he feels sound, swingy and fresh. I have not felt this push in his gaits for probably a year. It makes me so happy to have him feeling so good! The time off seemed to have been very good for him and his body. Everything had a chance to heal and rest.

He is still enjoying being hairy and somewhat feral. I will probably clip him when he starts working hard enough to break a sweat. But for now, he looks like a fuzzy school horse and he is loving it haha.

So happy to have this view!

Now it's time to slowly build both of us back up. That means trail rides, poles, hills and long power walks.

I could not be more impressed with Hampton on how he handled this entire process. I guess I am not terribly surprised, given his nature. But you never know. He has never spent this much time in a stall ever in his life so that was an unknown. But he caused zero problems and I am so beyond thankful that he was so sensible and easy to deal with.

onward!

Recovery Week 3

 

Porkchop and I are getting our steps in! I usually walk him about a mile or so (20 minutes) and then just let him graze for another 30-40 minutes. A few days I got frisky and put side reins on and made him do hills. That's a great idea until you realize that you, too, are walking up and down the big hill.

He continues to behave like a gentleman.

Although we have been playing some ring-around-the-which-leg-is-puffy-today game. The surgery foot looks great, but the other legs are often stocked up in the morning. I added standing wraps to help but poor Hamp is still pretty stiff when he first comes out of his stall.

I am not super worried as this should go away once he is back in turnout.

This week (Wednesday I am thinking!) he gets to go out in the small paddock! I am not sure who is more excited for this, me or him. haha.

What you little guys lookin at!!

Another riveting blog post. Sorry guys! 

Recovery Week 2

We are now finished with Week 2 of stall rest and now into a week of handwalking!

Hamp and I are getting our steps in every morning. I started out walking a mile (took us about 20 minutes) and will increase that over the week. Honestly I will probably be the one who wears out first haha.

He is behaving remarkably well. I am still using a chain over his nose  but I have not had to use it. . He has been such a good boy. I did add in some alfalfa pellets (soaked) and GUT supplement to help support his stomach. Plus a lot of treats and daily grooming and scratches.

On Monday I yanked his stitches out and he handled that like a champ as well.

So far he seems to be walking just fine as far as the mechanical use of his foot. When I first starting taking him on short little hand grazes, he would stab his toe and trip a lot. This of course made me want to puke. But as time has gone on, he seems to have figured out this new situation and the tripping and catching his toe has almost totally stopped already.

Next week if things are ok he can go out in the small little paddock!

Recovery week 1

Hampton will be on 2 weeks of stall rest with bandage changes every other day or as needed. As of this blog, we are one week in and he has been a wonderful patient. I can tell he wants to go back out with his friends but he is behaving and letting me change his bandage with no problems. 

He can do brief periods of hand grazing, as long as I don't get the bandage dirty or wet.

His staples come out 10-12 days post op and then he can start hand walking.

Week 4, if everything looks good, he can start turn out in the small paddock and then Week 5 he can return to light exercise and then we go from there!

Forgot to post this photo of this MAGNIFICENT chonk that lives 
at Rood N Riddle.

 I am not sure what to do with myself for these first two weeks. I guess get stuff done that I always put off? Like organize my bedroom. Maybe deep clean all my tack. Annoy Buckley obviously.

I am picking up some side hustle jobs as well, and other than that I think this break is good for both myself and Hampton. We have been training pretty much non stop for 12 years! I think our longest breaks have not been more than a week at a time? 

Yeah this gate didn't last long with the foster kitties lol