Hacking

So, Dee's neighbor Patrone is owned, I found out, by a fellow law student!  Today, we went on a lovely hack, and found out that there are some seriously nice hilly grass paths that go on for ages that will be great for conditioning.  Dee started out as the follower, but then decided that she wanted to forge ahead when we were walking together down the grass path, so she very bravely led us through some low branches and fallen trees.  She then, at the very end, had two weird little melt downs where she arbitrarily decided something was terrifying and tried to blow backwards, but she couldn't have been very serious about how scary they were (not surprised) because a swift kick set her ambling on and she didn't look twice at whatever was "scary."
Day 16- Your most recent fall
 I point you here.

Jump the Jumps!

When there are no jumps around, I don't mind just doing dressage, but when there are jumps around, I remember how much I miss jumping.  There are some very cute little logs in the outdoor arena, and the other day, Dee and I got a little improper and popped over the tiniest one in our dressage gear.  Today I opted to go all out, set a little vertical to a cross-rail, and hopped on.  We trotted and cantered the line, and trotted a few logs.  She was thrilled, I was thrilled.  I think we'll start doing a weekly baby-jump school just to keep our lives fun and interesting.  The best part?  She didn't jump everything like it was 6' tall, so my back didn't get sore at all.

Day 15- All the tack and riding clothes you have (brand/color/other details)
I honestly have no idea what most of my "brands" are.  I can tell you I have  Henri de Rivel dressage saddle and a Collegiate jump saddle.

Love Bites, Day 14

Dee has been incredibly sweet lately.  Too sweet, some might say.  As if she is just being nice because she knows she will just murder everyone soon.  I doubt that's the case, but at any rate, she reminded me yesterday that deep down, she is not sweet.  Deep down, she is mischievous and a little bit of an unintentional jerk, despite the fact that she does love certain people and horses, and does try to do right by them most of the time.  This, of course, is why we get along so well.  How did she remind me of the fact that she's not sweet, you ask?  Well, after a very good, but very easy ride, I untacked her and let her stand in the aisle while I brushed her back off.  She's been very good about grooming lately, and I didn't even really pay attention to her while I was doing this, until I felt the very distinct feeling of teeth on my shirt.  As soon as that happened, I then gave her the very distinct impression that her life was about to end.  Right as I swung around, though, I caught the look on her face, where she was just looking at me like "crap!  I did that!  Why did I do that!?"  She wasn't going for blood or anything, because she didn't connect with my skin at all, so I just imagine her standing there and thinking "I'm kind of bored, I feel like I should bite mom a little bit because she's not paying attention to me enough."  Silly mare.  

Today, when I got to the barn it started pouring down rain.  So, I decided that we would have a rainy play day instead of riding.  I took her out to the covered arena, and lunged her for a bit, just to let her stretch her legs.  After that, we had some fun.  First, we worked on in-hand leg yields, which she was a very good girl for, and then I unhooked the lunge line to see what would happen.  She stayed right at my side, stopping when I stopped, turning when I turned.  We even wandered over cavaletti together.  She was so good that at one point I made a sharp left turn, and sort of went backwards, and to mirror me, she did a lovely turn on the haunches.  I then started jogging around the arena, and she jogged right along with me at my side, very much like a dog.  Sometimes it's fun to just play with your horse with no real purpose in mind.  When we finished, I stood her in the middle of the ring, told her to "stay" and grabbed my camera (phone).  While she did stay where I put her, she insisted upon making ridiculous faces or "blah" faces the whole time.  Oh well, at least I got two cute photos of her "smiling" for the camera (one is a yawn... in the other I think she was just laughing at me).

Day 14- Your dream barn/farm

I am torn about what I want eventually, but it is one of these two things:

1. Boarding at a barn with a covered arena, lots of places to hack, a big outdoor, big pastures that get taken care of, and an in-house instructor that I really enjoy riding with.

2. Owning a farm.  If I owned a place, I probably wouldn't have a covered arena, because I'd probably only have Dee and [eventually] her baby.  Well, maybe also another retired TB that is quiet but maybe not suitable for a hard job.  I would, however, want a nice big arena, to be able to fit a large dressage arena in.  The barn could be quite small - 4 stalls and a tack/feed room would suit me just fine.  I would also love to have several pastures, with either lots of trees or a run in, so that I could rotate the horses AND so that they could be happy and cool outside during the day.  I would also like to be able to afford to have someone come and feed/do stalls a few times a week like I used to do for Bettina, since I'm sure sometimes I would be working too late to be able to do evening feeding.  

The good old days: Day 13

Dee was being a cuddle-bunny yesterday

Day 13- Your worst ride ever

I think it would have to be when I was maybe 11 or 12, with Sierra.  It was winter, and although there was no snow on the ground, everything was still frozen.  We went out on a hack with our instructor and a few other people.  Sierra was never well-behaved on hacks.  When he would hit the road after leaving the driveway, he would usually rear.  If the other horses got too far ahead of him, he would freak out and start flying backwards, refusing to go forward.  
On that particular hack, he did his usual road-rear.  We then went for awhile without incident.  While we were crossing a field, however, he suddenly decided to completely lose his marbles.  I don't remember exactly how it happened, but he ended up tossing me, and when I landed on the frozen ground, I got the wind properly knocked out of me.  At this point in our [short] relationship, I think I was pretty terrified of him [on hacks].  He had never done anything good on a hack, and that was the last straw for my 11 or 12-year-old self.  I was sobbing, trying to catch my breath and my horse.  Then, when I finally climbed back on and got back in line, my instructor turned to me (no, she never asked if I was ok) and said: "If you don't stop crying right now I'm going to tell your parents to sell him."
I immediately stopped crying, and got on with the rest of the ride.  

Baby It's Cold Outside - Day 12

We had a downright cold-front yesterday!  That is... if you consider 80 degrees a cold front, we had that.  It has been pretty oppressively hot and humid lately, and yesterday we finally got a break from the humidity, with temperatures only climbing to 80 throughout the day.  To celebrate, Dee and I worked in the big outdoor (I've been staying in the covered arena because it is SO much cooler).  Dee was really hell bent on celebrating, too.  She was pretty good, but high as a kite (think tail sticking straight up for the whole ride) and unwilling to relax in the trot work for most of the ride.  The canter work was a whole different story, and despite a squealing head toss during the first upward transition, she was relaxed and rideable, and after a walk break, she remained semi-relaxed for a few minutes to give me some not-so-great-but-i'll-accept-it stretchy trot.  
She is starting to really pick up some weight, too, I think.  Her flank area looks like it has filled out quite a bit, and I feel like she looks plumper in general, which I like.  I don't want her to be porky, but I do want her to be pleasantly plump.

Day 12- Favorite horse book

Wow, I've read so many that it's hard to choose.  The book that has stayed with me over the years since reading it, though, is probably Man o' War by Walter Farley.  It is a fictionalized biography of Big Red, and made me fall in love with him.  I remember being young when I read it, maybe 11 or so, and curling up in bed to read about how Big Red trounced the field this time.  Sometimes books just give you a great feeling deep down inside, and this one did that.

What Dreams Are Made Of (Day 11)

Day 11- Describe your dream horse

I used to think that I knew what kind of horse I wanted.  I used to think that I wanted a big, black, thoroughbred that could jump the moon and was at least proficient on the flat.  I also used to think that I wanted to be a dolphin trainer.  Dreams are fluid, and as such, the idea of my dream horse has changed over the years.  Right now, I have a beautiful, sound, opinionated bay mare with a funny face marking and more personality than she knows what to do with.  I love her more than I can explain and I think that she came into my life for a reason - I think that we are ultimately perfect for one another.  In a lot of ways, she reminds me of a bigger, more outspoken version of Dusty.  She's not easy, but she always makes me smile, and in her own way, she has fulfilled a lot of my dreams.  Do I sometimes wish I had a big, fancy horse that could teach me upper-level dressage stuff while also being something I could go on hacks with?  Yeah, that would be nice.  But I also sometimes wish I could fly.  

What I do want eventually - and most people would probably think I'm crazy for wanting it - is a foal from Dee.  Obviously, I will not be breeding her until I am making enough money to guarantee that a) I can breed to the right stallion, b) I could support Dee through the pregnancy vet expenses, c) I can then afford to support two horses, and d) I can afford the support of a trainer to help with the little bundle when the time comes to start it.  I made a promise to Dee that I would not sell her, and I plan to keep that promise.  I will only be breeding her when I can extend that same promise to the baby.  Yes, Dee has her issues, but even if I DID end up with a baby that inherits all of her issues, that would be 110% ok with me.

The Diva and Day 10

Mid-Session

Dee got her first massage today.  I was actually a little worried about how she would handle it, but she was a rock star.  In true rock star fashion, she ate up every minute of it.  As I suspected, she was pretty tight behind on the right side, and on the left side of her neck.  After squealing and cow-kicking once when the massage therapist hit a particularly sensitive knot in her butt, she then proceeded to completely relax into it, and as the therapist kneaded, Dee kind of just leaned against her and rubbed her butt against her hands to "help."  For the most part, she really seemed to enjoy the experience, and afterwards I took her out for a short ride, as suggested by the massage therapist.  She was lovely.  Still a little against the right hand and leg, but not stuck.  Today it just felt like she was trying, but not entirely sure what was right, and she picked up the left lead without issue.  She really is getting quite rideable in her canter, which is exciting, and today her upward and downward transitions were borderline nice.  I say borderline because they are still not quite there, but the fact that she is improving is encouraging!

"I'm ready for my spa day now, mother."

Day 10- How your family/friends feel about your riding

They are all very supportive of my riding.  I think at this point, everyone around me realizes that riding isn't just something I do, it's part of who I am.  As my best friend in law school put it, "I feel like to completely know you, I need to meet Dee."  And it's true.  And anyone who doesn't accept that is not someone who truly cares about me.

My Little Pony and Day 9

Day 09- Any injuries that occurred from riding

I've had a few along the way... 

There was the time that Albert fell over while I was riding him and crushed my hand.  Or the time that Dusty flipped over and crushed my leg.  Or when my old instructor made me try a kimberwick on her and she very nearly took my jaw off.  Abby once chipped my tooth.  And then all of the regular lumps and bumps that come from falling.

Then there were the more serious injuries... Abby ripping the ligaments in my ankle when we were cross-country schooling and miss Dee with the piece de resistance of concussion and possibly torn rotator cuff (still haven't had it checked).

In other news, today Dee did what might have been the best canter work of her life going to the left (complete with totally respectable downward transition), and I just finished watching the 1986 My Little Pony Movie.  I don't care what anyone says.  I still love it.

Baby's on Fire and Day 8

Dee has been spectacularly well behaved for the past 3 days.  Saturday and Sunday she was a little sticky at the beginning of the ride, but then settled and behaved.  The canter work was especially good -balanced, quiet, and not sucking back at all.  She even took my half-halts like a grown-up.  The left lead was a little sticky, but she eventually got there.  Yesterday, she was no longer in heat, and instead of being good, she was really good.  She was doing little extensions in the trot, really moving from behind, staying fairly steady in the contact, and moving off of the leg in both directions.  In the canter, she gave me some very nice transitions onto the left lead, and generally felt fantastic.  I am finally feeling like I can ride her at the canter, instead of just doing damage-control.  She even let me ask for a stride of leg yield in each direction, which went a long way to improving the general balance in the gait.    

She will have today off (I originally intended to give her tomorrow off, but I'm not feeling good today), tomorrow we will resume our work, and Friday is massage day!

Day 08- A little about the barn/stable you ride at

Well, we just moved there.  It seems like a nice enough place - covered arena, jump arena, lots of trails, airy barn.  Nothing to complain about, and Dee seems as happy as a clam!

30 Day Challenge... Day 7

Day 07- Biggest riding pet peeve

Being inconsiderate.  Nothing bothers me more, from both other riders and people on foot.  When there are two of us in the ring, and I am keeping an eye out to stay out of your way, I expect the same courtesy.  I shouldn't have to be constantly avoiding crashing into you because you pay no attention to where you're telling your horse to go (at one event, a girl literally rear-ended Tango and I while we were walking at the rail... she was lucky that he didn't kick or freak-out... if that had been Dee I have the feeling someone would have died).  Plus, if someone else is clearly having issues with their horse (he is extra high, or whatever), I will usually just call over and ask if the person minds if I do something like canter, which, from experience, can really get a high horse going.  I don't know... common courtesy, I guess.

And then there are the people on the ground.  If your kids are playing hideaway in the long grass next to the arena and freaking out the horse in the ring because they keep appearing out of nowhere, tell them to stop.  If your dog is barking his head off and clearly upsetting the horse in the ring, get it under control (and do it even if the horse doesn't care... that's obnoxious).  

30 Day Challenge... Day 6

Day 06- What's in your grooming bucket?

My grooming bucket is kind of a mess, and lately it's more aptly described as my grooming tack trunk.  In it, I have my helmet, standing wraps, brush boots, lunge line, cavesson, towels, clippers, pulling comb, needle nose pliers, bell boots (which I never use), ear net, desitin, head and shoulders, furasin, alu-bandage, aluminum spray, peppermints, tack-cleaning stuff, sweat-scraper, and all of the regular grooming brushes.  There might be more stuff in there, but that is the base.

Dee enjoying a belly rub today:

30 Day Challenge... Day 5

Day 05- Your first fall

Honestly?  I have no idea.  It was probably off of Sprinkles, though, since I fell off of him all the time.

In other news, Dee has been in an absolutely RAGING heat for the past few days.  I didn't even go up yesterday because she was such a hormonal mess on Thursday.  Today, she was still in heat, but it turned out to be a good ride.  When I first got on, I had very low hopes for the day.  When she is in heat, she will not yield to pressure.  Instead, she smashes into it as hard as she can.  Usually, however, she's not quite so bad under saddle.  But today when I got on and started walking her around, I asked her to move off of my right leg just a little and she responded by sticking her tail straight into the air, curling into a "c" shape, and smashing through my right leg.  So I thought, ok, I'll give her a swift kick to get her off that leg, and we'll be fine.  No.  Wrong.  The harder I kicked, the more she leaned right.  I even took my foot out of the stirrup at one point and laid the hardest kick that I could on her, because Hey!  Listen when I'm talking to you! but it made absolutely no difference to her.  When it became clear to me that nothing I could do was going to fix it at that point (I haven't been riding with a whip, because she hasn't needed one, and I didn't feel like getting off to hunt one down, but I wonder if even that would work), I just asked for trot.  Even that was a bit sticky, and it took a few boots to get her chugging, but once she was in trot, I just sent her forward forward forward.  She wanted to be distracted and spooky, but the more I asked her to just go forward and circle, change direction, etc, the better she got.  Want to throw your head in the air like a giraffe and shake it up and down?  Fine, but go forward while you do it.  Eventually she just settled in and started loosening through her back.  She even started moving off of the leg when asked.  I then asked for some canter, semi-expecting her to be stiff and horrible.  Instead, I got the best canter work that I've had in awhile.  The transitions were quiet and respectable, and the canter itself was balanced and forward.  She was even taking half halts and moving off of the leg when asked.  I was so pleased that I went back to trot, did a bit of stretchy work, and let her quit.  Mares in heat... you never do know what you'll get, do you?

30 Day Challenge... Day 4

Day 04- Describe the important horses you've had in your life

1. Jasmine - 14.3 hand black pony.  She taught me the basics of jumping and instilled confidence in me.

2. Sprinkles - Flea-bitten gray welsh pony.  The stereotypical "bratty pony."  He taught me about stickability, perseverance, and remaining calm under all circumstances.

3. Sierra - Chestnut Thoroughbred.  He started my love affair with this breed.  He taught me more than I can write about here right now, and I've definitely written about him before.

That is not me on board, this was after Sierra and I parted ways.  I just don't have any pictures on my computer of me and him.

4. Dusty - Bay Thoroughbred.  I don't know if I'll ever find another Dusty.  She will always hold a huge part of my heart.  She was smart, sassy, opinionated, and hot-headed, but she was also a horse that I always trusted 100%.

She was a good sport

5. Kess - Bay Thoroughbred.  He let me really move forward in my training after Dusty got cataracts.  He was kind and dependable, and a great horse to work around.

6. Sitka - Bay TB/Percheron. She taught me a lot about the training process.  Watching her transform from a run-away freight train to a rideable, rateable jumper was incredibly rewarding.  She also loved to cuddle.

7. Tango - Bay Thoroughbred.  Unfortunately, he mostly taught me about lameness issues and injury maintenance.  He was the first horse that I purchased with my own money, and even though he caused a lot of heartache, I still miss him.

8. Dee - OH miss Dee.  She really is something else, but despite myself, I really do just love her to death.  We have our certain special relationship, and she may never be a really trustworthy, loveable animal, but I love her just the way she is.

30 Day Challenge - Day 3

Day 03- Your best ride ever

I have had so many great rides, but here is the one that I would consider the most fun:

Even though Dusty could be a hot-head, she was the nicest horse to hack.  She marched along, never looking twice at anything, and as long as she was allowed to lead, she was a perfect lady.  A few of us -- the barn rats -- used to go out on day-long hacks with the horses, and a few times we snuck into the local public pond before it opened for the season to let the horses swim.  

On this particular occasion, we were on our way to the pond when we saw a lawn with what looked like cross-country stairs in the front of it.  The steps had been created with stone instead of wood, but the effect was the same, and they appeared to be a perfect two-stride distance.  There were only two issues.  First, we had no idea if the homeowners were home, and very much doubted that they would enjoy watching three horses leaping through their front yard towards the house.  Second, there was only about 10 feet between the road and the first step.  Of course this didn't stop us.

One of the girls got off her horse and handed him off to us, then walked up to the house and knocked.  We figured if someone answered, we'd ask for permission.  If no one answered, we would assume no one was home and do it.  Luckily, no one was home, because I highly doubt that we would have gotten the go-ahead if they were.  To combat the road problem, we stationed two horses in the middle of the road to block traffic while the third did the steps.  

Next, we passed by a cemetery that was surrounded by a very nice stone wall.  Employing the same method that we used to block traffic at the house, we took turns jumping in and out of the cemetery.  When we were through, we noticed the "no horses" sign.  Luckily no one saw us.  

The pond was right around the corner from the cemetery, and when we got there we all got off, took off our saddles (complete with saddle bags that held towels and food), our shoes, and our riding pants (we wore bathing suits underneath).  We then tied a stirrup leather around our horses' necks, climbed on bareback, and rode into the pond.  That was the first time that I ever swam with a horse, and once the water got deep enough to force them to swim, it was the coolest feeling ever.  Dusty rocked beneath me, and I had to wrap my legs around her and grab her mane to keep from floating off.  When we got into shallower water again, I had to anchor myself with the neck strap to keep the water from sucking me off as she emerged, and kept holding tight as she shook the water off like a dog.  

We finished the ride by trotting and cantering over a bunch of logs around the pond, and then hopped off to let the horses dry off and graze while we ate sandwiches and dried ourselves off enough to put our pants back on.  Once we tacked the horses back up, we made the long trek back to the barn.  It was the perfect day.

Not Dusty