Because the Big Yellow Flowers will Eat You!

   

                            

So this happened! My pony is furry, dusty and was a bit wild. My tack was cleaned hurriedly the night before, my trailer was definitely in need of cleaning and organizing but my heart was willing.

Last weekend I decided, even though I hadn't swung a leg over the wild red pony since late December or early January that we needed to get out and do something.  Prove that my pony could behave and that I still retained at least a little bit of riding skills from days past.  A local group was putting on a fund raising fun show that had a little bit of everything for just about everyone.  There were western pleasure classes, games and for us English ridin folk some very low level hunter classes. My horse is not a hunter.  I think if he ever had to do a hunter flat class he'd probably lose his mind completely.  I have discovered over the last two years, more so this last year, that Fox does not like other horses coming at him from the opposite direction.  I've no idea why he has this phobia but he gets very anxious and nervous when horses come at him head on.

Not only is my pony not a hunter but even doing hunter classes I didn't dress him as a hunter. I left his mane long and unbraided, I used a square white AP pad, he was wearing his hoof boots and his neck strap.  We were very rogue eventers.

At the start my pony was a bit nervous, lots of horses moving around, lots of people, noise, it was hellishly cold and he hadn't been off the property since December or January.  Which by the way was at the exact place we were doing the show, in the very same indoor arena.  That was a lovely twist of luck.

So after I tacked Fox up we walked around several times before he deigned to stand still at the mounting block.  Then we walked around some and some more.  In fact until we actually went in to the arena to school prior to our class we never stopped moving.  Fox was just happier that way and fussed less with the reins.

Then we went in to school with a few others.  We walked and trotted around just letting everything sink in and letting my pony relax.  I also kept a wary eye on some of the other horse and rider combinations.  All of the fences were white cross rails, except the first one.  The first one was white cross rails with big yellow flowers all over it.  Every combination we watched either bulked, propped, stopped or outright ran out at that fence.

Here is where I smile a bit smugly and perhaps just a tad evilly.  My pony never batted a lash at that fence.  My baby eventer, with so much heart and try never even looked at it.  Just hopped gently over.  It went this same way when our actual class came up.  Every horse had an issue with that fence, even the dolled up, braided hunter.  If we had cantered the course rather than trotted it we would have won first place.  But I was extremely happy and proud of our red ribbon.  Even if it did have a barrel racer on it.

I love my pony!  Here's to keeping it between the flowers and the flags!

Naughty Pony Seeks Employment

I never really took notice of what was happening until tonight.  Due to my ugly work schedule I ride my pony sporadically during the late fall and winter.  Not the best thing for our riding, his fitness or his attitude but it's the best I can give right now.  It's not like Fox exactly has a hard or stressful life hanging out in the pasture, grazing and making googly eyes at the High Queen.

But it struck me tonight that Fox really does enjoy working and having a job.  Exactly how have I determined this?  Well for starters whenever I walk out in to the pasture with my trusty lead line Fox makes a bee line for me, stands patiently while I clip it on and rub his neck, then check to make sure he's still toasty under his blanket.  Our weather right now is particularly bad and I felt like the US Postal Service tonight when I clipped on Fox's lead line.  It was dark and the sky was spitting snow and stinging ice at us the whole time.  Not to mention the massive half frozen puddles from the rain the day before.  Lovely weather for a walk.

Fox thought so at least because he marched happily after me and only got miffed when I made him stand at the end of the drive a wait a couple moments.  Patience is sometimes not his strong suit though he's not nearly as bad as his heathen brother the Crack Beast. But he followed me without complaint and was entirely happy to pause at the horse trailer to grab a well deserved horse cookie.

I think my pony is just bored. Hopefully when my schedule changes this summer I'll be able to give him the employment he is certainly asking for. 

Take a Walk...in the dark...and the COLD.

                

A few weeks ago I took Fox down to the indoor about an hour from my house.  Once again it was a bit of a hassle to get the pony brat in to the trailer. Which is the same issue the High Queen had.  Anyone sensing a pattern here?  So I decided to take a real hard look at my horse management to try and pin point the deficiency that leads to the "I don't wanna" attitude.

My horses live out 24/7 with run-in-sheds to get out of the weather and a blanketing wardrobe to rival the inside of a Kardashian's closet. During cold weather this sort of set-up fosters a hands off routine. I go in, I dump feed, hang hay nets and scuttle back to the wood stove.  A few times a week I brave the dark and check feet, coats and for blanket rubs (Thank you Horseware Ireland for my no rub blankets!) treating any cuts and for the evils of thrush.  Other than that my horses lead a pretty uncomplicated life.

Which is where my theory that this limited contact was causing the trailering issues.  At least with respect to Fox.  He at least I know will get in to the trailer though it might take awhile. Where as the High Queen if she decided not to get in, well, just start walking!

So what does one do? Especially if my evil day job keeps me slaving away until after dark. Well you suck it up and take your pony for a walk. Every day, in the dark, and the cold. All the evenings that I don't take my pony out for grooming or to and from the side pasture, I clip on a lead line and walk my bratty pony down the long driveway. We turn at the end of my driveway where it touches the paved road, we pause letting Fox learn to trust and obey me. Then we move on, turning at the big gate, push the gate closed, the I try to close the padlock and slip on the insulated bag while Fox mugs me for the horse cookie he is sure is hiding in the bag.

Then we stroll back down the driveway, stopping a couple times to reinforce my role as the leader, then we go back in to the pasture where Fox assists me in pushing the gate closed, also forcing him to step into the big muddy puddle in front of the gate.  The first week or so at that point Fox would resist me leading him in to the mud and cold water.  These days though he follows willingly. Is he a perfect angel every time? Nope. There has been naughtiness, flailing of feet, flinging of heads, and spooking for no reason.

But is it working? Time will tell. I've a couple days off coming so indoor time is imminent. I found a new one about three miles from my house. Looks easy to get my trailer in to and the footing is decent. So until the behavior report keep it  between the flags everyone!

OWN IT!

I still have absolutely no clue what I was doing, demonstrating or talking about in this photo.  I'm not even completely sure who took the photo, friends of A. who was riding the horse behind Fox in this photo. Maybe I was pointing out the George Morris para-troopers who were coming down to do an equestrian fashionista critique, who knows! Regardless I had the best time at the Dom Schramm clinic last weekend.

Superhubs,  who I wrangled in to being the photographer/videographer for the weekend (videos to follow when I have time to get it uploaded)and I went over to the clinic about mid-morning since my session wasn't until 3pm. We settled the pony in his stall(I know, I know an extravagant luxury to get a day stall but I didn't want Fox standing tied all day if I could help it.) then we mainly watched the other riders.

Soon enough it was time to get changed from my jeans and t-shirt in to my riding clothes.  Usually I don't stress about dressing for a competition, a lesson or a clinic. But for some reason, the weather wasn't helping with it's flip flopping, I couldn't decide what to wear. So when in doubt throw it all in the bag. I had no less than two pairs of breeches, three shirts, two pairs of socks and just in case extra underwear. However I did forget the belt that goes with my breeches and had to make the belt on my jeans, which didn't fit tightly enough on my mid-waist breeches, since my jeans hung significantly lower.

Fox's wardrobe was also a victim of my over packing. I packed two bridles, two saddle pads, both my half chaps and long boots and various other things including the Super Pony's favorite cookies. I swear he is a cookie FREAK! Just see the previous post about the ring around the mounting block because of the cookie I had in my pocket!

So when I went to change I was conflicted about which of the two shirts I'd narrowed it down to two choices since the weather had warmed a bit. It was going to be either my white Tredstep Airsilk shirt or the Romfh competition shirt.  Both were meant for warm weather, fairly form fitting. But the Tredstep was a little, I'm not even sure how to put it other than it fit snugly enough that bits of my chest that aren't meant to be obvious, were obvious and I am NOT well endowed.  But the Romfh shirt had this disco-esk collar when it's not all wrapped up like a choker.

So flaunting what little assets I had or looking like a 70's reject?  I decided that I was being an idiot and just threw on the Romfh, thinking, JUST OWN IT!

 

 

 

 

 

So with the wardrobe issues figured out I proceeded on to more significant worries. Would my usually well behaved away from home pony behave in front of the big time professional?

He did, sort of.  We were practicing one of our three new tools, lengthenings and shortenings within the trot when I believe Fox thought I was asking him to canter at which point he leaped in to it a little too enthusiastically.  Again I thought OWN IT!  I made him keep cantering then politely circled him at the end of the arena and brought him back down to a trot.  Naughty pony! The other two tools that are now in our tool box is the Ideal and Effect Pressure tool.  Which I knew about but just hadn't really been practicing like I should have.  As in when he ignores your leg, use a sharper leg, a spur, or light whip tap behind my leg to get him thinking more about being quick off my aids.

The last tool, which I'm really excited about is something that will help Fox come over and through his back, lower his neck and generally teach him to go in a soft, correct frame.  It's a combination of slight inside flexion, while pressing down with the outside rein.  It sound strange but it WORKS!

So thank you Dom Schramm for filling up my winter tool box!!

Dom was demonstrating a tool here but I can't recall which one. Until the next adventure, keep it between the flags everyone!

Performance Anxiety

It's been about three weeks since I've swung a leg over the red pony's back and months since I've ridden him on my own property.  Now why, when my pony is right outside my back door, would I not ride him at home?  Because he's been a freaking naughty brat every time I've ridden him at home for months.

He's also stealth naughty.  The High Queen would always send me a pre-naughtiness memo before actual naughty behavior ensued.  Her neck would stretch up, ears darting forward, llama impressions began and THEN she would grab the bit and try to run off with me.

Fox is a whole different box of bad pony.  He just does random naughty things, a buck here, shying there, grabbing the bit and running off.  At least previously he has.  Off the property (with one notable exception being the farm just down the road) Fox is 98% angel and 2% demon pony.  On the farm the percentages are totally reversed.

Or they were.  Yesterday I managed to get home with plenty of time to spare. I ran in to the house, flinging work stuff and throwing off work clothes as fast as possible so I could get tacked up and ride before I lost the daylight.

I had a trunkful of anxiety when I finally swung in to the saddle.  Which was made harder by the fact that I had two horse cookies in my breeches pocket. And Fox knew it. So he kept trying twist in circles to nudge my pockets as I kept spinning around the mounting block trying to get in the saddle.  Damn you HORSE COOKIES!

But I was finally able to swing up. My intention was to keep it low key, walking only, I know I'm a chicken, but I really needed a good ride more than I needed a productive one.  But Fox was perfect.  He never felt, even for an instant that he had any naughty thoughts going on.  I jabbered like a lemur the whole time trying to distract myself from the possibility of Fox managing to ditch me out of the saddle.  It didn't happen.  We even did several dressage-y trot circles.  Earlier I had set-up some baby cross rails in some far flung hope of hopping over them but I felt like that would be pushing my luck way to far.

I got what I wanted a nice, easy ride on a happy pony which made me one happy, happy girl!

Keep it between the flags everyone!

Down the Trail We Go

Last weekend was only the third or fourth big organized trail ride I've taken Fox on. Originally I was going to haul out the 2.5hrs by myself and ride out with a friend who also has a super slow horse.  At the last minute Superhub's schedule changed and I was just able to get his registration in . 
Wicked early on Saturday I did the last minute things needed to get on the road, loaded the boys and off we went to the Amelia Springs Trail Ride, which I'd been trying to get to for a few years. I popped an audio book into the iPod, we gave the GPS fairy the address and we were away!

The trip out was fairly uneventful, though because I wasn't paying attention (I was trying to pay those horse extras fees and clinic fees by messaging Rodan and Fields clients about their current orders and talking to some other prospective clients about the capabilities of R+F), so we missed an exit and had to make a little detour.  Superhubs was not amused by that one.

But we still arrived with plenty of time to get the horses settled, tacked and hit the trail. This was one of the longer trail rides I have been on, 16 miles, and that's because Superhubs and I took a short-cut after the lunch break. The scenery was great though, rolling, forested hills, challenging downgrades, water crossings (always exciting since Fox will Rolex Leap over all but the largest ones) and some hills that made my pony work his flabby butt.

It wasn't all sunlight and rainbows though.  About half-way down the 16 miles of trail our little herd came across several riders stopped on the trail.  Another rider's horse had spooked and thrown her and she was very obviously injured.  It had happened no less than a minute before we arrived.  Superhubs (who has prior to his stint at Lowes) been an EMT and a Paramedic threw me Cowboy's reins and went to see what help he could offer while the rest of us scrambled to get a cellphone signal and get help.

The woman ended up breaking her wrist and a portion of her hip bone.  Help came fairly quickly considering we were in the middle of nowhere and she was swiftly stabilized and taken off to the hospital.  Her horse(who had stayed right there the whole time) was walked to a site where a trailer could pick him up and taken back to camp.  Superhubs and I continued our trail ride just the two of us our friend having stayed with the now riderless horse.

It was a long, long ride back that didn't seem to end. At one point Cowboy, usually the leader, had had enough of being in front and Fox promptly and I think motivated by getting home quicker, took the lead and brought us the rest of the way in up and down some truly steep and scary hills.

The photo above is of Fox just after his bath, contentedly munching hay and posing in the fading sun just before Superhubs and I went to eat dinner with the other trail riders.  A dinner I might add that served Moonshine and Margaritas!  Definitely a plus in my book.

Later we loaded up, at which point I lost my house/trailer/gate key and I still can't find them, and drove the long way home.  We arrived somewhere around midnight to Seneca's happy cries to have her two minions back.  The best part of the day? When I went to feed, after the boys had settled in from the trailer ride,  what I assumed would be one tired pony Fox strut trotted up to his feed pan. Seriously?  An almost 3 hour ride to get to Amelia, 16 miles of up and down trails, walking and trotting the whole way, 3 hours back and you STILL have energy to trot up to the feed bucket? Love my horse!


Keep it between the flags everyone!

Let the Fall Season Begin!

I've finally returned from my Navy command's yearly exodus to Florida. Which means it's time to get the fat red pony who has been lolling around the pasture for the last couple of months back in to shape and to work on that canter issue that we've been having.

So a long weekend for me having begun on Friday I loaded up the red beast and trailered over to a local place that has a big arena with footing.  It was lovely, all alone, just me and the red pony in a big empty arena.  There was cantering people! Cantering! In both directions on both leads!  Fox is still weak on the right but he picked up both leads when I asked without too much fuss.

This morning than anything else gave me hope and optimism for the future. We might actually be able to canter fences at some point before the year ends!

Now you might be wondering about the logo up top.  Recently I became a Rodan and Fields Independant Consultant.  Initially I joined to make some extra money so that I can take more lessons, go to more horse trials and outfit all my equines in a style to which I'd like them to become accustomed, think full sets of Rambo blankets.  I sorta got hooked on the free samples that my friend, who is also an Independant Consultant, gave me.  I loved how smooth and soft my skin felt after using the mini facial that K. gave me. So then I started in the business and got my own full size products and I'm loving it! I especially love the Soothe product.  A friend got a bad sun burn after forgetting her sunscreen on her way to a horse trial.  Within in 12 hours the burn looked like a tan!
If your interested in learning about all of Rodan and Field's great products and how they can help you get the best skin of your life comment on this blog post I'd love to talk to you.

What's up next for Eventing at Midnight? Originally I was going to haul Fox down to North Carolina to compete in the starter trial in October.  But I found out that both Dom AND Jimmie Schramm are coming to do a clinic about an hour from my house.  I CANNOT pass up getting two lessons with professionals that I respect and being able to commute from my house both days.

So along with perfecting our canter departs, doing strength and fitness work, we will be preparing for a clinic with the Scramms!

Keep it between the flags everyone!