Video from 2009

My first attempt at making a video. Something I need to learn, obviously, but enjoy the photos and footage of my Phish adventures this year.

Thanks, man

While I am not with any family or friends this year for Thanksgiving (I'm workin'), I am thankful for many things in my life. Here are just a few:

Tedwin Touch O Class

Sadly, I just heard the news that Tedwin Touch O Class ("T.C.") died Saturday night. He was one of my favorite stallions out at the barn. I wish I could find some photos of him, but it's proving impossible. Anyway, he is the sire of Corrinne - Sparkle's first baby. He was about 14.2 hands but thought he was bigger. A true Morgan in every sense of the word. I think he was approaching 30 if not already past that mark. Still onery until he final day.

Here's a photo of Corrinne (and Sparkles) ... back in 2006.

Back in the Day ... Part 2 "Sparkles"

Spice O Life Sparkle Plenty

Sparkles became part of out family sometime around 1998. She was formerly a saddleseat horse, but didn't like the requirements of that and found her nitch in the Morgan hunter pleasure division. As a young horse, Sparkles was somewhat of a wild child. She dumped the trainer twice at Gold Cup and sent her previous owner into tears on numerous occasions. Luckily, by the time we got her she had mellowed out into one of the greatest horses I have ever known. I was off to college, so my sister showed her for the most part (I "catch rode" whenever I could). They had much success, including a World Championship in 1998 (I think). After several years of basically winning everything under the sun, we "retired" Sparkles and decided to breed her.

It took probably 3 years of failed attempts. She would settle, but then lose the baby at 90 days. I graduated college and had a job close to where Sparkles was living - so I started riding her again, to give her a job and remind her that maybe she'd rather choose motherhood. Without a trainer (or any kind of instruction, really), Sparkles and I formed a really cool bond. She was the ultimate show horse - we went all over the midwest - basically a show every other weekend. She was as sound as could be. We kept winning and I realized how fun showing could be. There was no pressure. I even taught her flying changes and how to jump. I took her  trail riding. I could ride her around the farm in just a halter and lead rope. (This a mare who MUST be ridden in a twisted wire bit, according to previous trainer).

We kept trying to breed her, and she did settle again but we decided that I should just keep on showing her and see what happens. Well that year she kept the baby (by Tedwin Touch O Class), and had a chestnut filly the next spring, Corinne. She ended up being an OK mom, and we rebred her to Pot of Gold (the 1998 World Champion stallion) for the next year. The result was an adorable chestnut filly, Piper.

I halter broke both babies (Piper is pictured above). They were both sold a year or so ago.
After numerous horses and years of losing and never being good enough, Sparkles gave me a taste of what it was like to ride the best. People would stare at her when we walked into the warm up arena - at one small show, one woman scratched mumbling something like "I can't compete with that." Don't get me wrong, Sparkles could be frustrating. Sometimes she just would not walk in the show arena, and thus would require quite a bit of lunging the morning before a class. She had thyroid problems and needed to be on meds. She had a dished foot. She could be a little bitchy. But she was so fun. Will I ever have a horse that amazing again? I hope so, but if not that's ok.

One winter, Sparkles was out in the pasture and slipped and fell on the ice (actually, it was my previous horse, T-Bone, who was chasing her and thus caused the accident). Her hip was never really right after this, so I quit riding her too much. And when I did, we didn't canter because it seemed more difficult for her than before. And she was pushing her late teens. So, she was sold to a wonderful family who needed a babysitter horse for their kids. She's well fed and loved, and even has a goat for company now. A good retirement for a great horse. I would have kept her for life if I could.

It's the face

Over the weekend I went to visit the farm where Hampton was bred and born. There was several half-brothers of him out in one field. It was interesting to note the extreme differences in the horses, depending on what mare they were out of. Hampton's mother is a Jockey Club Thoroughbred mare, so he is lighter-boned than some of these horses - who are mostly out of draft cross mares.

Here are four of them (all same sire as Hampton):

The chestnut is also out of a TB mare, but the others are out of draft cross mares. The grey is much too heavy for my taste, but I bet he'd be a handsome fox hunter.

While I may be biased, I do think Hampton has a far prettier face than any of his brothers I saw. Perhaps he got that from his mom.

And as far as I know, there have been no other siblings of Hampton's started under saddle (or any kind of work, really) so I can't compare them in that respect. The oldest of the Fletcher (Hampton's sire) babies are 3, I think. (Coming 4 in 2010).

And in other news, since it's been raining, cold and gross, the 2 year old hasn't done much of anything. Today I tied him up out in the hallway - there are single ties on a wall where most of the lesson horses stand to be groomed and tacked. Up to this point, I've tied and crosstied Hampton in his stall - and today decided to see how he would do "out in the open." He was ... fine. Not a problem at all.

The answer

Riding the 2-year-old

So, I read a lot about how wrong it is to ride 2-year-olds on the various dressage discussion boards I visit. A lot of people say it's too early; some say it's ok to do some light work and riding. T-Bone was started under saddle in February of his 3 year old year (so he was technically still 2). I decided to go ahead and very lightly start Hampton under saddle because 1) He has the mental ability to handle the work. He has never once gotten "brain fried" or shown any signs of becoming afraid or irritated at work. That's not to say he hasn't been confused at times, but he has been so easy-going and willing to learn that I felt it might do him some good to "have a job." And 2) I really wanted to get all the lying over his back, jumping up and down next to him, etc. stuff over with before he was too big for me to do so safely. and 3) He is a strong 2 year old. If were really gangling, boney or ribby I would not have sat on him. But his topline is nice and he is capable of balancing with me on him. And I have been working him VERY sporadically. I have maybe been on his back 10-12 times total. Currently, we can walk and do very little trotting. And it's a pokey trot at that. He never works more than 2 days in a row. Lunging is kept at a minimum. I really don't think that this work load is harmful to him. Plus, look at me, I weigh next to nothing. I am capable of staying quiet and balanced on a horse's back, so I don't interfere. I don't ride with a loose rein techinally, but as you can see I don't restrict his head at all. Steering still needs a little more work, but he understands whoa quite well. When I rode him the other day, he has his ears forward with a relaxed expression. No tension. Will I continue to ride him over the winter? Probably not. I don't have an indoor and it will be good for him to keep growing up. I think starting him now will give me a good leg up for the spring/summer when we get going to more training level work - including introducing the canter. And if he's not ready, I won't do it.

In other news, he is fat and furry. Had his teeth done and his mouth was basically a mess. I was VERY glad I have not done much with the bridle (although he has been wearing the bit, but never acted like it hurt him). He had 2 wolf teeth pulled, teeth floated, 1 cap removed from a front tooth and 1 retained premolar yanked. Ouch! I'm sure he's much more comfortable now. I've also switched his food over to Purina Omolene 100. He LOVES it. I realize it might make some horses "hot," so I'll be watching for that but so far, so good. I just want to make sure he stays reasonably plump throughout the winter. May reconsider feed again in the spring.

He's due for a trim later this week.