Stop turning your back

Freedom Hall

I love the American Saddlebreds. I love the breed, and the people do care about their horses and treat them well. I think they get a bad rap at times because they get lumped in with the Big Lick TN walkers.

And then I go to a show. Like this week was the Louisville World's Championship show. It is a USEF recognized competition with a buttload of prize money and millions and millions of dollars of horses on the grounds.

It is so disheartening to see this:

I don't even have to zoom in

Every. Show. I go to I see at least one horse with blood in the mouth. This particular class there was 3. The FEI has strict and specific blood rules but Saddlebreds are not under FEI. The USEF rulebook does not mentioned anything about blood at all in the saddlebred chapter of the rulebook. And general rules are sort of vague regarding this.

I had thought that the blood in the mouth rule was a blanket USEF rule, but it is not. 

We all know that this could be a simple case of the horse accidentally biting his tongue. It happens. But I think this industry should at least have an official check on the horse before allowing it to continue? It's a bad image when people walk into your show arena and one of your horses is bleeding like this.

Unfortunately, as someone who has worked in the trenches, I am also aware that it might not be an accident.

How the heck am I supposed to explain this to non-ASB friends who ask why is that horse bleeding? Is anyone going to do anything? And my answer is no, people just look away.

I guess my point is: Do better.

Giants

So Hampton and I did finally try out the Grand Prix this month!

His soundness has been questionable. (I hate you navicular/caudal heel syndrome) For a while there it was literally day by day. I would just let him tell me whether he could work that day. And I know the clock is probably ticking on how much longer he will be able to have an FEI show career.

I entered a show in Ohio. Then he was lame. Then I had resigned myself to scratching. Then he was sound. Then he was off. Then right before the show he was sound. So I put him on the trailer.

Thinking I might as well try because I might not have the chance again, we went down centerline!

And it was ... actually not terrible! 

We only made one little mistake in the extended canter, but everything else he was obedient, sharp and a really good boy! The score was quite low - a 54. But looking at the test it was all the 5.5s on the piaffe/passage that got us. The passage is just not big enough, and sometimes he gets too flat in the ring. Still a work in progress. And I did ride the entire test sort of underpowered on purpose so that I could slow down time and really set him up right. So the pieces are there, but we lack quality and polish. (and the whole uphill/off the forehand thing lol) I was beaming though as WE DID IT and it was NOT a disaster! 

Just did my first Grand Prix on an Indiana Warmblood!

Unfortunately the next day our test was not nearly as good. I felt Hampton fall way behind my leg and shut down in the twos. And after that I never got him back. It was pretty rocky and in the last centerline he just got flat and down and nothing was happening so I gave him a mild pony club kick and he bucked and nose dived at X. Earning a "very disobedient" comment from the judge. And another 54. The judge was really trying to give us good marks but it was not happening.

Bummed, but not deterred, I decided to try one more show.

Soooo I took him to a show in Indiana to try again.

by the way, I was sitting on my tails of my shad pretty much the entire
test of my first GP!! PLUS 3 buttons on my coat fell off.
#hotmess

Saturday morning he warmed up OK but then shut down again when I started to ask for some ones. Like I could not get even a 1/1. Nada. He got nappy, sulky, crooked and kicking out behind. No passage. Granted, the footing was basically concrete and A LOT of horses were saying F right off that morning. Not sure if  his back was just super tight or what? He seemed sound as far as his feet but he started to get really fried-feeling.

Hampton can be snarky, but that morning I just felt like he was trying to tell me something. And I'm like you know what dude, we don't have to do this today.

So I withdrew.

The first time in 12 years showing this horse that I have ever had to withdraw right before the test.

And you know what? The world did not end. No one really cared. Life went on, and I think both of us were relieved.

I went out and had a school later in the day and the buttons had returned. He did ones, passage, piaffe. No nappy shit. Just normal Hampton. 

I then decided to change my test for the next day and drop down to I-1. It was clear to me that both of us were just over our heads at GP for this year. I am glad I gave it a try, but we are just not ready. It's not worth frying him or ending every show so disappointed. I do not want to keep riding at a level we are just not ready for. That destroys confidence and is poor horsemanship to go in in the ring and give my horse a bad experience. Mistakes are one thing, but over facing your horse is quite another. I wanted to ride a solid test and be able to tell him what a good boy he is.

into the I-1!

And that's exactly what happened! We rode a smooth, organized, lovely I-1 test for a 62.6%. And the judge was not giving away freebies. It was the second highest FEI score of the day, and I think one of only 3 FEI tests that scored above a 60. 

And I got to pet him and be happy with him and he got to go in the ring and do things he is comfortable and confident in.

And shit, thinking I-1 is EASY and being very comfortable there is NOT TOO SHABBY. 

I think I will end the season on that.

There is more experimenting to do with shoeing to try and keep Hampton sound. If we are successful, then awesome we can try GP again next year. If not, then I will reevaluate his next chapter.  

One day at a time. One half halt at a time!

Spotted: The BFF in the background lol

Ride IQ

 So my eventer gal friends introduced me to this RideIQ app. 

And Amanda did a more extensive review, too, so check that out!

It is basically like a Pelaton app but for riders. There are a large variety of lessons and warm-ups to choose from, and there are even lessons that focus on specific types of horses. For example, dealing with a horse who is unsteady in the contact. Or a session for a 3 year old.

There are also dressage test read-throughs.

I picked a Jon Holling Orange Level warmup titled "Responsive and supple" since that is always my goal warming up Hampton anyway. I think Orange Level is the most advanced level, but the most challenging exercise it included was canter leg yields so yes that is beyond training level but it really is within everyone's reach.

On that note, being a "upper level dressage rider" (that's a rant for another day as it irritates the shit out of me when riders refer to themselves this way as if they are superior when they are not) MOST CERTAINLY does NOT make me above these types of simple, basic lessons. I rode for a good 35 minutes and I thought it was well thought out, and he had a lot of good instruction there. 

Of course you can always pause it if, say, your 14 year old dressage horse spooks at nothing and bolts into a corner. Not that that happened to me, but IF IT DID.

And sometimes I needed to do a transition within the gaits or a shoulder in. Just because that is what helps Hampton. He needs to stay a little busy because his mind wanders. So of course you can add in what you need to these lessons. But I found it to be excellent guidance and general structure.

I think there is a 7-day free trial, and you do have to go to the website to create and account. Then you can download the app and off you go! 

Define pasture sound

Note: This is not about Hampton - he is feeling good! This discussion came up last weekend and just thought I would bring it to my blogger friends. No one freak out this is NOT about Porkchop! Or any specific horse. :)

But that Porkchop topline tho

How do you define pasture sound?

Say you have a horse that has retired from work for whatever reason that may be. Their option now is to be a pasture friend, companion, pet, etc. 

What exactly does Pasture Sound mean?

For me, that means they are sound at the walk but probably not the trot. They are bright, alert, and eating. And maintaining acceptable weight. They may have aches and pains from aging, maybe an old injury. But their pain is not causing them suffering. I do not count aches as suffering, as we ALL have our stiffness and general days where we take a little longer to get going. So moving and creaking around in a stiff manner is pasture sound. Quality of life is still good, but maybe they move a little slower and don't run and buck with their friends. They can get up and down easily.

Hacking at Flying Cross Farm. What a pity it's so ugly

There is this grey area though between pasture sound and ... quality of life is not acceptable. I think this area probably differs from person to person. How and where to you draw the line?

Over the years there have been a (sad) number of horses I would not have classified as pasture sound.

A mini who had dwarfism and could not get up without assistance. She would thrash and hit her head trying to get up until someone came to help her.

A 30+ year old pony who became emaciated and had pressure sores all over his body.

An old navicular horse who stopped coming up for breakfast with his friends because his feet hurt.

I am sure everyone has stories like these.

What's your definition and criteria for a pasture sound companion horse?

Anhidrosis vs. A Karen

New browband made by a friend!
And you can also see some of his hair loss.

 I feel like it's late enough in the summer than I can write this post without jinxing myself?

Guess we will see.

Anyway, the battle with Hampton's anhidrosis has gone MUCH better than last year. Last year he completely shut down. Like he would be BONE DRY after a ride. Even under the saddle pad. It was scary and there really is no "cure."

This year, I was better prepared. While there have been days where he has not been sweating enough, he has not stopped. He still has symptoms of anhidrosis - such as  loss of hair on his face and chest - but thankfully he has continued to sweat and I have only found him once in the field where his respirations were slightly high. It was a 95 degree day, too. (He goes immediately under the cold hose when this happens). But nothing like last year.

Here is what worked for me. Every horse is different but figured I would share!

April: Started him on 1 scoop 1AC.

 

May: Increase to 2scoops 1AC. Increase Vit E supplement and electrolyte.

June: 3 scoops 1AC, and add in 1 scoop of Let Em Sweat (Maintain this through Sept I am thinking)

On 90+ degree days, I add in a beer. Mostly stuck to dark lagers but the other day I gave him a Fat Tire and he liked that too.

  On 90+ degree days & days he works hard, I also add in tube electrolytes.

So far, this regime seems to have worked pretty well! It also seems to help when temps drop below 70 at night. This seems to help "reset" him.

He has also been getting more frequent PEMF sessions. I am not sure if that has anything to do with his sweating, especially since a lot of it has been concentrated on his front feet but who knows?

He loves his PEMF!

Acupuncture is another option I have read. Hampton has some done last fall when it was cooler so I can't really speak on those results.

As far as his diet, he is pretty much grain free. The "grain" he does get is Hallway FibreEnergy which is a grain free, beet pulped based feed with low NSC.

Now if it would just RAIN FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THINGS HOLY in Kentucky that would be great.

Stay hydrated everyone!

Make sure you bring champagne

I am SUPER ANNOYED that Blogger seems to have disabled its reading list. So I am trying to find other ways to read everyone's blog without manually scrolling through I dunno 30-40 of them. C'MON BLOGGER. Suggestions welcome.

--

Anyhoo.

Canter transition

I was lucky enough to ride in a LS clinic again here in town. Only had the funds for one day but honestly I get so much out of her lessons that's ok.

Hampton was a really good boy, and we touched on firing him up, turning in passage, working on a little bit of Spanish walk to help lift his shoulders, and then ran through the entire Grand Prix and picked a few weak spots and touched on those. 

She is just such an inspiring, no-nonsense coach. She makes me want to ride better. However, I think the big take away for riding a GP test in the ring is that I need to BREATHE and SLOW TIME DOWN. I paid for my time in the ring, so take it. Hampton and I both get to running and that is bad for business. 

oh look your knees CAN come up higher

Here are my notes from my lesson and a few others that I caught.

• Horses (and humans) don't tend to stretch well in the first 5 minutes. Unless they have a reason, don't start out long and low. Start picking them up and engaging their brain right away
• Keep horse short from tail to ears
• Even though rulebook says horse lengthens their frame in trot lengthening, they should not! That results in pulling with the front feet. Think power off the ground.
• "My grandmother could out trot you and my grandmother is dead."
• Build build build the trot, then canter
• "love him less"
• Accountability and honesty live in the transitions
• Let him live in fear of your leg
• Trot to rein back (for a horse who's legs are sticking to the ground in piaffe) Do a few of these then try piaffe

• When turning the passage, turn horse like a wheelbarrow. This really helped me!
• BREATHE
• Breathe in the corners. Take your time. Organize
• Try the one-tempis in medium canter
• Trot, then right into a 360 degree turn on forehand. Also unsticks the hind legs. Do these a few times, then piaffe
• Piaffe pirouettes help unstick the front legs
• Passage: Suck his withers up with your thighs 
• Passage lives in the ribs
• Transition in/out of passage is a dimmer switch. 3, 2, 1 .... not BAM
• Hands forward
• Think wheelbarrow a little bit in canter zigzag (for me and Hamp within the changes)
• Ride with my aids off. If I apply at a level 2, and he doesn't flinch then he gets hellfire
• BREATHE
• Don't support him so much in passage. Hampton relies on me too much
• BREATHE
• Bring champagne to my first GP. lol

When worlds collide

 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! 

Me and Wilson, a super cool Morgan my family owned 
in the early 2000s.