**NOTE** I wrote this post RIGHT after the show and saved in anticipating adding video - sorry, I'm just not going to get around to posting the video. Besides, it was only about 30 secs before the battery died!
Well, Danny had his first ever Dressage show on Sunday. The good news is that he is DEFINITELY a dressage horse. The bad news is that we need to develop a better prep plan because he was NOT the same horse at the show that he is at home. This is okay though - I just need to know that and be able to plan for it. The fact that he was clipped earlier this week and it was like 27 degrees when I got to the farm did not help things I'm sure!
We went for a lesson on Friday and he was out of the world fabulous. My trainer rode him for the first 1/2 of the lesson. I thought it would be good for her to feel what he does and good for him to get a really good school with correct aids. Lastly I thought it would be easier for me once she set him up. I was right on that plan on all counts. She was able to make him move like I have never seen him move before - I actually had chills at one point. It reaffirmed my thoughts that this is really his destiny. After a while of watching I was really getting antsy to get on. In my head I was thinking - ok, my turn...that's good can I try...come on come on me now , me now. She FINALLY gave him back to me and it was great. He was soft, supple and forward. It was so cool to get a connection and feel his back just springing along. I left feeling really prepared for our first show in 2 days.
I had been having second thoughts that maybe it was too soon - mayby we weren't really ready. If Danny was my own horse I wouldn't care so much, but I'm riding him for his owner. He is for sale and it is my responsibility to make sure he is prepared to be successful. So I had some reservations - was he REALLY ready? Did I choose the correct tests (T-2 and T-3)? Could I actually pull this off? You have to keep on mind - Danny is 8 - sometimes he has the attention span of a 4 year old. He was broken and only ridden by his owner for his whole life. All he really knows is how the huunters go. He had been turned out for a WHOLE YEAR until I started riding him in January. Basically, he has only been back in work for about 10 weeks and he is being asked to do things that he has never been asked to do before. So, not too much pressure right??
Monday, March 23, 2009
Monday, March 16, 2009
Tack Sale
The Somerset County 4H Association is holding its annual tack sale THIS WEEK...
Location: Somerset County 4H Center 310 Milltown Road Bridgewater, NJ
Sale Dates:
March 20th 6-10pm
March 21st 9-1pm
Anyone wishing to sell tack...
All items must be clean and in safe condition
Bring Items to 4H Center
Wed March 18th - 6-10pm
Thur March 19th 9-1pm
All items not sold must be picked up by 2pm pn March 21st
Consignment fee 20%
Additional Info 908-526-1510
732-469-6295 after 5pm
Location: Somerset County 4H Center 310 Milltown Road Bridgewater, NJ
Sale Dates:
March 20th 6-10pm
March 21st 9-1pm
Anyone wishing to sell tack...
All items must be clean and in safe condition
Bring Items to 4H Center
Wed March 18th - 6-10pm
Thur March 19th 9-1pm
All items not sold must be picked up by 2pm pn March 21st
Consignment fee 20%
Additional Info 908-526-1510
732-469-6295 after 5pm
Friday, March 13, 2009
He's a Rock Star!
I mentioned in my first update that I have been given a great opportunity to ride a really nice horse for someone. This is really an unbelievable opportunity because Danny is a really nice horse and this isn't costing me anything other than lessons and showing expenses. AND, the lessons are with my dressage trainer, not someone picked by Danny's owner.
So here is the low down. Mr. D is an 8 yr old KWPN/TB cross from the Concord/Voltaire line. He is a nice big boy toppping out at 16.3 1/2, and a nice mover. He has a wonderful puppy-dog personality and is really very quiet. His problem? He does not like the jumps. In fact, he is convinced that they will eat him. SO....if the jumps will eat you, it makes it difficult to be a show hunter. The solution? Dressage. That's where I come in being the resident DQ at a all hunter/eq barn.
Danny's owner is a top level adult eq rider. She is consistently #1 in our zone and #3 in the country. She horse shows - A LOT - to keep this rank. When Danny decided he was no longer going to entertain her ideas of a hunter for him, she literally "turned him out" and put him at a farm on pasture board for the rest of the show season so she could concentrate on her eq horse. So there he sat, and sat, and sat. All the while eating lush grass and getting fat! The only problem is that Danny is a "people horse". He LOVES attention and LOVES people. While he had pasture buddies, he did not like being away from people. He would harass the poor farm owner at the pasture farm by standing over him as he tried to do fence maintenance, or follow him around when he was throwing hay. Mr. Farm owner felt threatened by this and sent Danny home from "camp" in December (stupid horse). There was now a perfectly nice horse to ride - that NEEDED to be ridden and to find a job - and me, a horseless rider.
D and I have been together now since the first week of January and things have been going well. He has good basics which makes things easy. AND, he generally like having a job and seems VERY happy with he career change. He's clueless sometimes, but a quick study and things have been great. We went for out first lesson with my trainer a few weeks ago and she really liked him. She said we were a well matched and competent pair. She was also able to help me get some really decent work out of him - much more than I get at home. By the end of the lesson we were both exhausted!
This past week, it seems like we took a step backwards. I know, this happens with horses, but I was starting to get REALLY frustrated. I find it more stressful when it is someone else's horse. I feel the need to show that I am always doing a god job and moving him forward. The ultimate goal is to get him in a really nice place and sell him for a nice chunk of change so I do feel a little pressure - imposed strictly by myself - not at all from the owner - but I still feel it. This week I felt like everything was just a fight and the problems were not going away. I was starting to worry that maybe he was too much horse for me.
While discussing this with my friend, she said that she finally figured "it" out with her horse and that she wanted to come try it with Danny to see if it worked on other horses. She came out today. OMG - At first it was ugly - I mean REALLY ugly. Danny was MAD, his stuck his nose in the air, swished his tail and just refused to give in. Now, in this situation I would have said - "oh buddy, what's the matter you don't like this, here how about if I ask this way?" and he would have gotten away with being a butt. Not this time. my friend took up the contact put her hands in one place and put her leg on - and on and on until he finally figured it out to just accept the contact. Surprisingly, the resistance only lasted for about 5 minutes. It seemed like an eternity to me. I was starting to wonder how long I should let it go on before I stepped in - after all, if she really pissed him off, it would be ME who would have to fix it! But seriously, 5 minutes - maybe 7 tops and then this GORGEOUS dressage horse emerged! He was straight, he was supple, he was forward and he was in the contact. I usually get some of these things, but usually not all at the same time! This was amazing and he looked great.
I got on and by now the resistance was totally gone so all I had to do was look pretty - it was great. All of our issues were gone! We have been having a sticky right lead problem - not today. He has been bulgy and a little unbalanced - not today. It was SO exciting. There is a REALLY great dressage horse in there. I just need to learn how to bring it out!
So here is the low down. Mr. D is an 8 yr old KWPN/TB cross from the Concord/Voltaire line. He is a nice big boy toppping out at 16.3 1/2, and a nice mover. He has a wonderful puppy-dog personality and is really very quiet. His problem? He does not like the jumps. In fact, he is convinced that they will eat him. SO....if the jumps will eat you, it makes it difficult to be a show hunter. The solution? Dressage. That's where I come in being the resident DQ at a all hunter/eq barn.
Danny's owner is a top level adult eq rider. She is consistently #1 in our zone and #3 in the country. She horse shows - A LOT - to keep this rank. When Danny decided he was no longer going to entertain her ideas of a hunter for him, she literally "turned him out" and put him at a farm on pasture board for the rest of the show season so she could concentrate on her eq horse. So there he sat, and sat, and sat. All the while eating lush grass and getting fat! The only problem is that Danny is a "people horse". He LOVES attention and LOVES people. While he had pasture buddies, he did not like being away from people. He would harass the poor farm owner at the pasture farm by standing over him as he tried to do fence maintenance, or follow him around when he was throwing hay. Mr. Farm owner felt threatened by this and sent Danny home from "camp" in December (stupid horse). There was now a perfectly nice horse to ride - that NEEDED to be ridden and to find a job - and me, a horseless rider.
D and I have been together now since the first week of January and things have been going well. He has good basics which makes things easy. AND, he generally like having a job and seems VERY happy with he career change. He's clueless sometimes, but a quick study and things have been great. We went for out first lesson with my trainer a few weeks ago and she really liked him. She said we were a well matched and competent pair. She was also able to help me get some really decent work out of him - much more than I get at home. By the end of the lesson we were both exhausted!
This past week, it seems like we took a step backwards. I know, this happens with horses, but I was starting to get REALLY frustrated. I find it more stressful when it is someone else's horse. I feel the need to show that I am always doing a god job and moving him forward. The ultimate goal is to get him in a really nice place and sell him for a nice chunk of change so I do feel a little pressure - imposed strictly by myself - not at all from the owner - but I still feel it. This week I felt like everything was just a fight and the problems were not going away. I was starting to worry that maybe he was too much horse for me.
While discussing this with my friend, she said that she finally figured "it" out with her horse and that she wanted to come try it with Danny to see if it worked on other horses. She came out today. OMG - At first it was ugly - I mean REALLY ugly. Danny was MAD, his stuck his nose in the air, swished his tail and just refused to give in. Now, in this situation I would have said - "oh buddy, what's the matter you don't like this, here how about if I ask this way?" and he would have gotten away with being a butt. Not this time. my friend took up the contact put her hands in one place and put her leg on - and on and on until he finally figured it out to just accept the contact. Surprisingly, the resistance only lasted for about 5 minutes. It seemed like an eternity to me. I was starting to wonder how long I should let it go on before I stepped in - after all, if she really pissed him off, it would be ME who would have to fix it! But seriously, 5 minutes - maybe 7 tops and then this GORGEOUS dressage horse emerged! He was straight, he was supple, he was forward and he was in the contact. I usually get some of these things, but usually not all at the same time! This was amazing and he looked great.
I got on and by now the resistance was totally gone so all I had to do was look pretty - it was great. All of our issues were gone! We have been having a sticky right lead problem - not today. He has been bulgy and a little unbalanced - not today. It was SO exciting. There is a REALLY great dressage horse in there. I just need to learn how to bring it out!
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Could this one the THE ONE?
Molly tried a pony last week that just wasn't a match - oh well. It was a good experience for her to get on something new and she what it threw at her. The pony was actually a little rude, but Molly kept her cool and really acted like a pro (especially for a 9 year old!). She did a great job riding it but it was obvious this just wasn't for her. Plus, it was at the top of our budget so in my mind it had better be nice!
Yesterday we tried another. I really had no expectations since the ad had no picture and no video - great, we could be going out to see a half lame, horrible mover and ugly to boot. However, I googled the farm - the website looked pretty respectable and I was familiar with the shows they attend so I crossed my fingers and off we went.
The pony was actually pretty cute. He is quite green, but sensible, a good mover, and good jumper. He had a nice little attitude and was really good about the jumps. Of course, as soon as we walked in I thought he looked a little off (ok maybe more than a little - he was kind of head bobbing off) but there were a lot of factors going on here I gave him the benefit of the doubt.
Molly got on and rode pretty much like a sack of potatoes. I did not think this guy liked you to hang on his face, but Molly rode around with reins a mile too long. He didn't seem to care. Molly's stirrups were too long so her balance was all over the place - he didn't seem to care. He wasn't perfect - he needs work. He is inside out, a bit inverted and he gets a little quick. But I think he has a very kind attitude and when we finally did get Molly situated right and she put him together a bit he was VERY cute. He will not be something she can go out and horseshow on next weekend, but by the summer we should have something workable for the show ring (if we take him).
Yesterday we tried another. I really had no expectations since the ad had no picture and no video - great, we could be going out to see a half lame, horrible mover and ugly to boot. However, I googled the farm - the website looked pretty respectable and I was familiar with the shows they attend so I crossed my fingers and off we went.
The pony was actually pretty cute. He is quite green, but sensible, a good mover, and good jumper. He had a nice little attitude and was really good about the jumps. Of course, as soon as we walked in I thought he looked a little off (ok maybe more than a little - he was kind of head bobbing off) but there were a lot of factors going on here I gave him the benefit of the doubt.
Molly got on and rode pretty much like a sack of potatoes. I did not think this guy liked you to hang on his face, but Molly rode around with reins a mile too long. He didn't seem to care. Molly's stirrups were too long so her balance was all over the place - he didn't seem to care. He wasn't perfect - he needs work. He is inside out, a bit inverted and he gets a little quick. But I think he has a very kind attitude and when we finally did get Molly situated right and she put him together a bit he was VERY cute. He will not be something she can go out and horseshow on next weekend, but by the summer we should have something workable for the show ring (if we take him).
So here are the pro's for this one - Molly wanted to take him home as soon as we were done. He is a nice mover, a nice jumper and a nice attitude. He is also CHEAP (in horse terms) I think he can be flipped for nice money with a little work. We can take him on trial.
The con's - 1. WE NEED TO SELL TREENIE FIRST 2. He is green 3. He needs work
I think it is worth taking him on trial. We can see how he is and how much he progresses in a week. My concern is what if we really like him at the end of the week and we still have nothing happening on Treenie? Do I send him back and hope he doesn't get sold in the meantime? Can I send him back and ask for a right of first refusal? I'm kind of hoping we take him and then don't really like him because then - problem solved right? Oh boy, it's times like these when I really wish we did some other sport - like running!
Saturday, March 7, 2009
The Saint and the "aint"
We showed Treenie to our first prospective buyers today - she was a SAINT and the kid actually rode her pretty well for a beginner. If these people are really interested, it would definitely be a good match.
After the "showing" I went on to ride Danny. As I said Trennie was a saint - Danny, not so much. This poor boy is eight with the attention span of a 4 year old and today was a particularly bad ADHD day. Of course, being so beautiful out I had to ride outside, but that only gave him more cause to look around and pay attention to anything but me! Riding outside also means riding around JUMPS. D really doesn't like jumps - at all. At one point I was just cantering a simple circle near one of the jumps and he literally jumped off the outside rein, did a flying lead change and bulged in the opposite direction. Well, at least he's athletic? We are officially signed up for a show on the 22nd - I hope we can stay in the ring!
I am thinking that he may benefit from some type of supplement to help him focus - I think B-1 is about the only thing out there - it is also supposed to have some calming benefits. He's not hot, but a little edgy - normally if he is unsure about something he will back off my leg (if he can't climb into my lap first) but today he was just strong and obnoxious. Oh well, I'll chalk it up to spring fever and run out for some B-1 - it certainly can't hurt!
After the "showing" I went on to ride Danny. As I said Trennie was a saint - Danny, not so much. This poor boy is eight with the attention span of a 4 year old and today was a particularly bad ADHD day. Of course, being so beautiful out I had to ride outside, but that only gave him more cause to look around and pay attention to anything but me! Riding outside also means riding around JUMPS. D really doesn't like jumps - at all. At one point I was just cantering a simple circle near one of the jumps and he literally jumped off the outside rein, did a flying lead change and bulged in the opposite direction. Well, at least he's athletic? We are officially signed up for a show on the 22nd - I hope we can stay in the ring!
I am thinking that he may benefit from some type of supplement to help him focus - I think B-1 is about the only thing out there - it is also supposed to have some calming benefits. He's not hot, but a little edgy - normally if he is unsure about something he will back off my leg (if he can't climb into my lap first) but today he was just strong and obnoxious. Oh well, I'll chalk it up to spring fever and run out for some B-1 - it certainly can't hurt!
Friday, March 6, 2009
FINALLY - An Update!
I admit it - I am a bad blogger! I love to read the blogs I follow and actually get annoyed when they are not updated in a few days. But as a blogger, I am the pits and probably totally annoying to the few followers I do have. I apologize. I promise to try to be a more frequent poster this year. How about once a week - at least?
That said, there are actually several updates to report...
1. Thanks to everyone who left messages, called and/or sent e-mails about Lexi. Your kind words of sympathy and encouragement really meant a lot to me (I'm getting teary writing this) and helped me get through a really tough time. I was having his portrait drawn by the same girl who did Treenie's and wouldn't you know it she finished it up right after Christmas - how is that for timing. Now all I have to do is get is framed and he can complete the "wall of fame" in my living room! This gal is an art student in NYC - she is VERY reasonable (like around $200). She is hoping to pick up some consignments for the summer - I will gladly pass along her info!
2. Molly finished out the year with several year end awards. She was 6th at one show series where we went to 1/2 of the shows, 4th at our local h/j assoc. AND the big one - Champion of the Intro Starter Rider division for Dressage and she was given the award for Up and Coming Dressage Rider!! This was a total surprise to us and of course she was in the bathroom when they presented the award - Oh well!
3. Molly has officially moved up to the short stirrup division for this show year - I guess this blog should really be "Adventures in Short Stirrups" now - oh wait - I'm not sure if we're staying in this division. What's that you say - you can't go back once you move up?? Of course not silly - Molly definitely will not go back to the mini's - however, she may end up not doing the full year in the short stirrups but moving to the pre-children's hunters. More on that later - maybe a post for next week??
4. We have decided to sell Treenie so that Molly can move up to a med or large pony. It has been pretty apparent that Treenie, as cute as she is, may not be competitive (aka Fancy) enough for the other divisions. And, Molly is starting to outgrow her. We will probably be able to squeeze this season out of her, but that's about it. So, she is officially for sale - she has an ad on Dream Horse for now and we have several people looking at her. Molly went and tried a large pony this week, but it wasn't for her so the search is on!!
5. I have been given an unbelievable opportunity to train and campaign a really cool horse for the gal who runs Molly's barn. She has a KWPN/TB that she has owned since he was 2. He has VERY respectable bloodlines and she had hoped he would become her Adult Amateur horse. Unfortunately, a 7, he made it clear to her that he REALLY did not like the jumps so a hunter/eq career was not in his future. As a result, we agreed that I would ride and campaign him as a dressage horse this season and hopefully turn him into a nice dressage horse for an amateur. Again- more on this in later blogs. In short, things are going extremely well - he is super sweet, and seems to love his new job. I took him for our first lesson with my dressage trainer and she really liked him. I am really hopeful for the season with this one! I'll post video soon - need to download from my camera first.
So, I should have a lot to write about now - new divisions, new horses, new opportunities. Stay tuned because this may turn out to be a wild whirlwind of a season for us!
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