http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdmsRcsl_xA&feature=player_embedded
This is clips from a horse racing video game in Japan.
I am sure Saki was involved.
I am not sure the point of the game, but I think the inventors should be held for psychiatric evaluation...
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
Lessons this week
I am really hoping I can finish out the week teaching outside, so rain, STAY AWAY.
This might be the last week we can really do evening lessons outside as the sun is setting so much earlier.
We are working on two things this week: the halt, rein-back & trot transition, and keeping an even rhythm at the jumps
For the halt rein-back & trot, we are first going to make sure all the horses CAN rein-back reasonably well. To ask for the rein-back, first make sure you come to a complete halt. Then tip slightly forward onto the front edge of your seat bones, put your leg back to create energy, but then block that energy with the hands so the horse backs. If you need to, use your voice. To then move forward into a walk or trot, you sit up and give a bit with the hands. When you get it right, it will be that the horse lifts its leg as if to continue back, but you then transfer the motion to forward, and that leg steps forward instead of back.
For finding rhythm at the jumps, we will be doing canter poles, and then cantering jumps with placement poles both in front of and after the jumps. This will help with horses that tend to rush or stall at the jumps.
Karen
This might be the last week we can really do evening lessons outside as the sun is setting so much earlier.
We are working on two things this week: the halt, rein-back & trot transition, and keeping an even rhythm at the jumps
For the halt rein-back & trot, we are first going to make sure all the horses CAN rein-back reasonably well. To ask for the rein-back, first make sure you come to a complete halt. Then tip slightly forward onto the front edge of your seat bones, put your leg back to create energy, but then block that energy with the hands so the horse backs. If you need to, use your voice. To then move forward into a walk or trot, you sit up and give a bit with the hands. When you get it right, it will be that the horse lifts its leg as if to continue back, but you then transfer the motion to forward, and that leg steps forward instead of back.
For finding rhythm at the jumps, we will be doing canter poles, and then cantering jumps with placement poles both in front of and after the jumps. This will help with horses that tend to rush or stall at the jumps.
Karen
Busy times!
This has been a busy few days!
Saturday was the last of the year's Rookie horse shows at Maple Leaf Meadows. I really enjoy their shows, but it would be nice if more "intro to showing" barns came out to play so the classes could be more competitive! We had some lovely rounds on Saturday (even Zander almost looked like a hunter) and the ribbons would mean more if there was more competition. Hopefully I can post some of the pictures Laureen took of she show when I get some time/energy to go through them all!
MLM has another show this year: it is on the 21st of September, and features Dressage, Hunter and Jumper classes. As always, students are welcome to take lesson horses. This is a great warm up for anyone thinking of going to the Amberlea Harvest horse show at the end of the September.
Yesterday (Monday) was Clare Patershuk's memorial. It was held at the Artery in a kind of scary part of town, but a pretty cool venue that we found out meant a lot to Clare. The memorial was very emotional, and I learnt a lot about the other facets of Clare's life outside of horses. I hadn't planned to say anything at the Memorial, but after Clare's mom got up to talk, and I saw the rawness of her pain, it occurred to me that it didn't really matter what I had to say, but just that I say something...her parents need to know she mattered and still matters, and that hopefully the good memories and positive experiences can eventually shine brighter than the tragedy of her death.
Rob and I had to head home to feed the horses, but we both wish we could have stayed for the music. They had played one song about a Sway Backed Mule which was awesome, so I would have liked to hear more.
Remember this Saturday is going to be a barn get together/bar-b-q and soccer game! Hoping people can make it!
Karen
Saturday was the last of the year's Rookie horse shows at Maple Leaf Meadows. I really enjoy their shows, but it would be nice if more "intro to showing" barns came out to play so the classes could be more competitive! We had some lovely rounds on Saturday (even Zander almost looked like a hunter) and the ribbons would mean more if there was more competition. Hopefully I can post some of the pictures Laureen took of she show when I get some time/energy to go through them all!
MLM has another show this year: it is on the 21st of September, and features Dressage, Hunter and Jumper classes. As always, students are welcome to take lesson horses. This is a great warm up for anyone thinking of going to the Amberlea Harvest horse show at the end of the September.
Yesterday (Monday) was Clare Patershuk's memorial. It was held at the Artery in a kind of scary part of town, but a pretty cool venue that we found out meant a lot to Clare. The memorial was very emotional, and I learnt a lot about the other facets of Clare's life outside of horses. I hadn't planned to say anything at the Memorial, but after Clare's mom got up to talk, and I saw the rawness of her pain, it occurred to me that it didn't really matter what I had to say, but just that I say something...her parents need to know she mattered and still matters, and that hopefully the good memories and positive experiences can eventually shine brighter than the tragedy of her death.
Rob and I had to head home to feed the horses, but we both wish we could have stayed for the music. They had played one song about a Sway Backed Mule which was awesome, so I would have liked to hear more.
Remember this Saturday is going to be a barn get together/bar-b-q and soccer game! Hoping people can make it!
Karen
Friday, August 23, 2013
Next Saturday...
Mark the 31st on you Calendar! We are hoping for good weather so we can have a Hillside Bar-B-Q, photo day and soccer game! Bring your own cameras, and we will use the best to make a Hillside Year Book! Family is welcome to attend!
Normally Hillside provides the beverages, but if we are doing a Bar-B-Q, perhaps this year we will provide burgers instead? Although be forewarned they may be weird non-beef burgers...
We would appreciate some idea of how many guests to expect, so let me know if you are able to attend!
Also let me know if you want to ride in the soccer game :) I am thinking teams of 2 or 3, so we will see how many teams we can get together. I am thinking we may draw for teams to make it more fair.
Planning on starting around noon. Lessons will go as scheduled from 9:30-11:30. Help taking jumps down would be appreciated.
Karen
Normally Hillside provides the beverages, but if we are doing a Bar-B-Q, perhaps this year we will provide burgers instead? Although be forewarned they may be weird non-beef burgers...
We would appreciate some idea of how many guests to expect, so let me know if you are able to attend!
Also let me know if you want to ride in the soccer game :) I am thinking teams of 2 or 3, so we will see how many teams we can get together. I am thinking we may draw for teams to make it more fair.
Planning on starting around noon. Lessons will go as scheduled from 9:30-11:30. Help taking jumps down would be appreciated.
Karen
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
What if...
Lindsay was texting me about yet another show name she thought of for Java...and I had a thought...what if our horses also got to pick show names for us?
I am sure Izzy, Dani and Rocket would name me "Cookie Dispenser" or "Piñata"
Other names I could see horses wanting to name their riders:
- Lay off the Cheesecake (I think this is what Wolf would want to be calling Michelle right about now)
- Princess Pulls a Lot
- Lean and Chip
- Squeaks (you know who you are...)
- MissDirection
- Chatterbox
- GrabMane
I am sure Izzy, Dani and Rocket would name me "Cookie Dispenser" or "Piñata"
Other names I could see horses wanting to name their riders:
- Lay off the Cheesecake (I think this is what Wolf would want to be calling Michelle right about now)
- Princess Pulls a Lot
- Lean and Chip
- Squeaks (you know who you are...)
- MissDirection
- Chatterbox
- GrabMane
This week in lessons...
I am hoping I will be able to teach outside by later in the week, but it seems determined to just keep raining a little bit more each time I get hopeful. For now plan on being inside where we will be working on learning and riding patterns. For the flat portion there will be a pattern that combines trot and canter poles, with leg yielding and a small jump. For jumping we will be doing a hunter course in order to prepare for the show this weekend. Hopefully riders will remember to LOOK where they are going in the air to prompt landing the lead!
Sunday, August 18, 2013
Important Dates
Important upcoming dates:
August 24: Maple Leaf Meadows horse show
August 26: 7pm, The Artery. Memorial/function to remember Clare Patershuk.
September 14: 10am-2pm Delaney Vet Services Open House
August 24: Maple Leaf Meadows horse show
August 26: 7pm, The Artery. Memorial/function to remember Clare Patershuk.
September 14: 10am-2pm Delaney Vet Services Open House
And I was stung by a bee
Spent a long weekend judging horse shows.
Saturday sent me to Westlock where I found more than a horse show...there was a complete carnival, chuck wagon races, chariot races, physic fair and cow show! Quite the event indeed.
Some nice horses attended the horse show, and it was fun to judge, albeit a little warm standing in the middle of a sand ring for 8 hours! With prize money in all the classes (except bareback), some of the competitors had a pretty good pay day that would put dressage and some jumping shows to shame.
I was a little disappointed that there were no foals in the foal class, and only one yearling, but it was a very nice welsh yearling. In a later halter class there was a miniature horse braided up like a big draft...it was very cute!
We had some excitement in some of the classes with horses spooking at a sponsor banner blowing in the breeze and the excitement of the cows nearby. These open shows really test a horse's character!
There was one horse who really didn't want to be in the ring, to the point I actually had to ask them to leave a class...the horse would throw its head straight in the air and just head to the outgate regardless of any horses standing in the way. Later the owner was talking to me...turns out the horse was in some other classes and placing well but with a more experienced rider. The moral of this, is that naughty/nervous horses are just as often an issue with the rider rather than with the horse. Something I wish the riders that punished their horses for being fearful would learn and understand. It really bothers me to see someone (usually kids) yanking on their horse or spurring it when it is nervous. This is simply fear and lack of knowledge equally violence, and the adults in these kids lives need to teach them to take a moment and think with empathy before reacting with aggression. Good life lesson.
Sunday was judging trail in Darwell. Darwell is also a fair with cows and such. I judged the open show last year and was invited to do Trail this year. At these open shows, competitors who want to try for High Point have to do the trail element. Because trail takes so much time, it is held in a separate ring, and people go compete as they have time. We had set the class time to be from 10 to 2, so Rob and I got there for 9:30 to make sure the course was set up properly, and to post the courses.
Rob then took the dogs to Lac St. Anne for some boating adventures, and I waited for my first competitor. And waited. Then I got stung by a bee. I have never been stung by a bee before. It was gross...they leave behind bee gunk and a stinger. A stinger that needed tweezers to remove before my hand (the right one of course) swelled like a balloon. The trail course wasn't really that far from the main show ring, but the path between the two was fenced with field fence (not climbable), so it was a bit of a walk to the show office...and then to the concession to find a set of tweezers...meanwhile my hand swelled up to completely suck in the stinger. So that was fun.
Then back to the show ring...to continue waiting. I don't think my first rider showed up until noon. 2 entire hours I could have been elsewhere. I should have brought a book! At least it was nice out. The actual class itself was fun to judge! I was a little worried by course was too hard, but enough riders did it well, and only a couple couldn't do some semblance of each obstacle, so hopefully the competitors thought it was fair. The hardest advanced elements were a counter canter/lope over 2 poles, the side pass over a short pole, and having to back between two barrels, then around a barrel, then back between the first two barrels. For the novices it was more just remembering where to go!
An interesting observation was that when doing elements involving backing between obstacles, most horses (or was it their rider's) ended up being aimed right at the element they were avoiding! A couple horses almost sat on a barrel, and more than a few stepped on a pole in the novice backing challenge.
Overall though, it was not a bad weekend's work. Thanks to Beth and Stephanie for looking after the barn on Saturday so I could be in Westlock!
Karen
....I would suggest next year we should go compete at some of these shows...but our horses would have to be able to function in sight of a cow, and I am not sure ours would!
Saturday sent me to Westlock where I found more than a horse show...there was a complete carnival, chuck wagon races, chariot races, physic fair and cow show! Quite the event indeed.
Some nice horses attended the horse show, and it was fun to judge, albeit a little warm standing in the middle of a sand ring for 8 hours! With prize money in all the classes (except bareback), some of the competitors had a pretty good pay day that would put dressage and some jumping shows to shame.
I was a little disappointed that there were no foals in the foal class, and only one yearling, but it was a very nice welsh yearling. In a later halter class there was a miniature horse braided up like a big draft...it was very cute!
We had some excitement in some of the classes with horses spooking at a sponsor banner blowing in the breeze and the excitement of the cows nearby. These open shows really test a horse's character!
There was one horse who really didn't want to be in the ring, to the point I actually had to ask them to leave a class...the horse would throw its head straight in the air and just head to the outgate regardless of any horses standing in the way. Later the owner was talking to me...turns out the horse was in some other classes and placing well but with a more experienced rider. The moral of this, is that naughty/nervous horses are just as often an issue with the rider rather than with the horse. Something I wish the riders that punished their horses for being fearful would learn and understand. It really bothers me to see someone (usually kids) yanking on their horse or spurring it when it is nervous. This is simply fear and lack of knowledge equally violence, and the adults in these kids lives need to teach them to take a moment and think with empathy before reacting with aggression. Good life lesson.
Sunday was judging trail in Darwell. Darwell is also a fair with cows and such. I judged the open show last year and was invited to do Trail this year. At these open shows, competitors who want to try for High Point have to do the trail element. Because trail takes so much time, it is held in a separate ring, and people go compete as they have time. We had set the class time to be from 10 to 2, so Rob and I got there for 9:30 to make sure the course was set up properly, and to post the courses.
Rob then took the dogs to Lac St. Anne for some boating adventures, and I waited for my first competitor. And waited. Then I got stung by a bee. I have never been stung by a bee before. It was gross...they leave behind bee gunk and a stinger. A stinger that needed tweezers to remove before my hand (the right one of course) swelled like a balloon. The trail course wasn't really that far from the main show ring, but the path between the two was fenced with field fence (not climbable), so it was a bit of a walk to the show office...and then to the concession to find a set of tweezers...meanwhile my hand swelled up to completely suck in the stinger. So that was fun.
Then back to the show ring...to continue waiting. I don't think my first rider showed up until noon. 2 entire hours I could have been elsewhere. I should have brought a book! At least it was nice out. The actual class itself was fun to judge! I was a little worried by course was too hard, but enough riders did it well, and only a couple couldn't do some semblance of each obstacle, so hopefully the competitors thought it was fair. The hardest advanced elements were a counter canter/lope over 2 poles, the side pass over a short pole, and having to back between two barrels, then around a barrel, then back between the first two barrels. For the novices it was more just remembering where to go!
An interesting observation was that when doing elements involving backing between obstacles, most horses (or was it their rider's) ended up being aimed right at the element they were avoiding! A couple horses almost sat on a barrel, and more than a few stepped on a pole in the novice backing challenge.
Overall though, it was not a bad weekend's work. Thanks to Beth and Stephanie for looking after the barn on Saturday so I could be in Westlock!
Karen
....I would suggest next year we should go compete at some of these shows...but our horses would have to be able to function in sight of a cow, and I am not sure ours would!
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
New horses and other news.
I have been slow updating, but we have two new horses at the barn!
Horse #1 is Flicka, She is a lovely Quarter Horse pony that is in training to learn to be ridden English for a young girl. Flicka was a well trained western horse, but has been sitting for a few years, so needs a complete refresher. Hopefully her training progresses well, and then she will be available for students who want extra riding to ride to give her as much experience as possible. So far I have longed her to get used to the English tack, and been on her briefly. She has an AWESOME jog, so almost seems a waste to make her an English horse, but maybe she can be an all rounder.
Horse #2 is Duncan...Janine's new horse! He is also a Quarter Horse, but at the complete opposite end of the gene pool as he is tall and stream lined! Harder to imagine him chasing cows as he resembles the race horse side of the Quarter horse world...but same kind eye and sweet personality.
Not sure what it is about the influx of Quarter horses...but, at least one of them is a chestnut, so chestnuts still rule Hillside!
Karen
Horse #1 is Flicka, She is a lovely Quarter Horse pony that is in training to learn to be ridden English for a young girl. Flicka was a well trained western horse, but has been sitting for a few years, so needs a complete refresher. Hopefully her training progresses well, and then she will be available for students who want extra riding to ride to give her as much experience as possible. So far I have longed her to get used to the English tack, and been on her briefly. She has an AWESOME jog, so almost seems a waste to make her an English horse, but maybe she can be an all rounder.
Horse #2 is Duncan...Janine's new horse! He is also a Quarter Horse, but at the complete opposite end of the gene pool as he is tall and stream lined! Harder to imagine him chasing cows as he resembles the race horse side of the Quarter horse world...but same kind eye and sweet personality.
Not sure what it is about the influx of Quarter horses...but, at least one of them is a chestnut, so chestnuts still rule Hillside!
Karen
Friday, August 9, 2013
Adventures in Oven Cleaning
When I was growing up, we were led to believe that we would have hover cars, eat pills for nutrients, and have our own personal robot servants. Ensure has come close to the pills for nutrients, but as for the rest, the future has been pretty much a let down.
So in light of the above, who can blame me for not paying attention to the task of cleaning an oven?
When I lived alone I didn't use the oven enough to ever clean it, but a few weeks ago, it occurred to me that perhaps ovens shouldn't have a layer of dinner remains scarred to the bottom, and that perhaps the window at the front should be able to be seen through.
This was my first mistake. I should have realized the door opens so who needs the window, and the burnt food particles at the bottom of the oven just add flavour to whatever I am cooking...mesquite!
Next mistake was believing the "Odour Free" label on the can of oven cleaner. They don't really mean Odour Free. It stinks...a lot...what they mean is it will get you high so quickly that you will soon not notice the horrid smell you are spraying into the thing that you make dinner in.
But I read the label, and sprayed the spray, and shut the door as it said to. Then I needed fresh air. Badly. So I went to the barn, chatted, rode Izzy, fed the horses....and forgot about the oven.
Until 2 weeks later when I went to pre-heat the oven to make dinner (yummy Salmon!).
Do you know what happens when you turn the oven on without rinsing off the Oven Cleaner?
I will tell you what happens.
Visible vapours start to pour out of the stove top elements and out the door. Your throat will close and you will feel faint. Your husband will say "something smells funny" but not bother to get up from the sofa where he is watching TV while you lie spasming on the floor. Fortunately stoves have range fans, unfortunately the cloud of killer fumes will continue to find their way out of the oven for the next hour even though the oven wasn't allowed to get that hot.
Then the dilemma becomes what to do next. The "Easy Off" spray is now BAKED on to the inside of the stove like a sticky greasy layer that was way worse than the former layer of fat, grease and fallen food particles, and the element in the oven will have a sickly grey tinge.
My choice was to just use the toaster oven for the next while.
It then occurred to me that maybe I just needed to Easy Off it again, but this time actually rinse it after the suggested two hours. So I did that. And now my oven has moderately less burnt on gunk on the bottom and the window can now be seen through more or less. But I am afraid to turn the oven on ever again in case I missed a spot of cleaner and infuse our next dinner with toxic fumes that will render me blind and leave me saying "like" five times a sentence. It was not worth it. I think they should just sell disposable oven doors, and I will get one of those tin trays to put at the bottom of my oven, and cleaning the thing be damned. Or take out. That is the worst part of country living...no dinner delivery!
Of maybe you damn kids should get off the computer and get around to inventing that Robot servant like I was promised when I was 8 years old!
Karen
So in light of the above, who can blame me for not paying attention to the task of cleaning an oven?
When I lived alone I didn't use the oven enough to ever clean it, but a few weeks ago, it occurred to me that perhaps ovens shouldn't have a layer of dinner remains scarred to the bottom, and that perhaps the window at the front should be able to be seen through.
This was my first mistake. I should have realized the door opens so who needs the window, and the burnt food particles at the bottom of the oven just add flavour to whatever I am cooking...mesquite!
Next mistake was believing the "Odour Free" label on the can of oven cleaner. They don't really mean Odour Free. It stinks...a lot...what they mean is it will get you high so quickly that you will soon not notice the horrid smell you are spraying into the thing that you make dinner in.
But I read the label, and sprayed the spray, and shut the door as it said to. Then I needed fresh air. Badly. So I went to the barn, chatted, rode Izzy, fed the horses....and forgot about the oven.
Until 2 weeks later when I went to pre-heat the oven to make dinner (yummy Salmon!).
Do you know what happens when you turn the oven on without rinsing off the Oven Cleaner?
I will tell you what happens.
Visible vapours start to pour out of the stove top elements and out the door. Your throat will close and you will feel faint. Your husband will say "something smells funny" but not bother to get up from the sofa where he is watching TV while you lie spasming on the floor. Fortunately stoves have range fans, unfortunately the cloud of killer fumes will continue to find their way out of the oven for the next hour even though the oven wasn't allowed to get that hot.
Then the dilemma becomes what to do next. The "Easy Off" spray is now BAKED on to the inside of the stove like a sticky greasy layer that was way worse than the former layer of fat, grease and fallen food particles, and the element in the oven will have a sickly grey tinge.
My choice was to just use the toaster oven for the next while.
It then occurred to me that maybe I just needed to Easy Off it again, but this time actually rinse it after the suggested two hours. So I did that. And now my oven has moderately less burnt on gunk on the bottom and the window can now be seen through more or less. But I am afraid to turn the oven on ever again in case I missed a spot of cleaner and infuse our next dinner with toxic fumes that will render me blind and leave me saying "like" five times a sentence. It was not worth it. I think they should just sell disposable oven doors, and I will get one of those tin trays to put at the bottom of my oven, and cleaning the thing be damned. Or take out. That is the worst part of country living...no dinner delivery!
Of maybe you damn kids should get off the computer and get around to inventing that Robot servant like I was promised when I was 8 years old!
Karen
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
Things you should not let your horse over hear....
You just got work benefits....because your horse will make sure you NEED that chiropractor
You ran out of horse cookies...see above result.
You have put the horse up for sale...because it will put its leg through the fence requiring a long recovery.
You have entered a show that requires braids....because it will ensure it rubs out the center part of the mane.
Your farrier is away for a week....it will be sure to pull a shoe.
It is the first day of a long holiday weekend...as it will do something requiring at least one emergency vet call.
You have someone coming to take photos of you riding...it will be sure to wipe green slime across your boobs...even if you made sure not to let it grab any grass on the way to the ring.
Your mom who is terrified of horses is watching you ride...as your normally lovely horse will step on your toe in the barn, and buck you off in the ring and take off galloping.
You got a bonus/raise at work...your horse will suddenly change shape and need a new saddle, or rip its blanket needing a new one or need a major vet appointment.
"He never spooks"....no horse wants to feel taken for granted...he will find something to spook at...particularly if this comment was in a sales ad and you are in the process of showing the horse to someone...
Karen
You ran out of horse cookies...see above result.
You have put the horse up for sale...because it will put its leg through the fence requiring a long recovery.
You have entered a show that requires braids....because it will ensure it rubs out the center part of the mane.
Your farrier is away for a week....it will be sure to pull a shoe.
It is the first day of a long holiday weekend...as it will do something requiring at least one emergency vet call.
You have someone coming to take photos of you riding...it will be sure to wipe green slime across your boobs...even if you made sure not to let it grab any grass on the way to the ring.
Your mom who is terrified of horses is watching you ride...as your normally lovely horse will step on your toe in the barn, and buck you off in the ring and take off galloping.
You got a bonus/raise at work...your horse will suddenly change shape and need a new saddle, or rip its blanket needing a new one or need a major vet appointment.
"He never spooks"....no horse wants to feel taken for granted...he will find something to spook at...particularly if this comment was in a sales ad and you are in the process of showing the horse to someone...
Karen
Sunday, August 4, 2013
Izzy Show update
As many of you know, Izzy and I were showing this weekend at the first annual Sparkles and Spurs dressage show at Maple Leaf Meadows. It was a Gold rated show, meaning horses needed passports, owners needed to feel the need to spend $$$ to dress in silly outfits and be told what they are doing wrong, and the judges were rated to judge at a National/International level.
This was Izzy's first "real" show, having done two schooling shows (one last year, and one this spring), and one 3" hunter show...the 3" hunter show went well, but at her previous dressage shows we had some pretty big issues with nerves and Izzy's fear of people coughing or dropping pencils...
I chose this show as it allowed us to haul back and forth...something unheard of at other Gold rated dressage shows. I figured as we live at the same location, easier to just haul her back and forth than to worry about her dinner and breakfast feedings.
Schooling was Friday, and I had planned to leave early to give us lots of time to see the rings and such, but blue truck was not cooperating, and Rob had to take me later with white truck. Got there to see a few trailers there already, and one horse being ridden one of the dressage rings. Took Izzy for a walk to find her stall (day stall) and was relieved to find we weren't in one of the portable stalls in the (scary) coverall, but rather we were in the Princess Extra Large stall right beside the porta potty and warm up ring! Score!
Got on to hack, and stuck to the plan of walking until she relaxed, and then schooled her in both show rings (set up side by side in the sand ring). They had it decorated with flowers, and Izzy was being good. They didn't have the judges booths set up yet though, so I was a little worried about that causing some grief, but as it was the only things she really spooked at was the garbage bag covered speakers...particularly when the suddenly boomed noise as we walked by!
I was on her for about an hour...long enough for both of us to be sweaty and feeling prepared and done for the day...meanwhile the bay horse that was schooling in the ring when we first pulled up was STILL SCHOOLING. Pretty sure if you can't get it done in an hour and a half the day before a show, it isn't going to happen. But who knows, maybe they kicked my butt all weekend...
Hauled home, Rob got Blue truck working. Headed back to show after teaching on Saturday. Notice that the parking lot is crammed full. Fortunately the first person I see is Diana the steward and we discuss my parking behind the indoor arena...super close to my stall, the warm up and to shade! Score!
Also notice that the judges booths are trucks. They just aimed trucks at C. I had not thought to school riding straight at trucks. Fortunately it seems that horses in genera, and Izzy included, are not afraid of trucks and these were non-traumatizing a compared to the fancy booths at most shows! Not sure how they would be to judge/scribe in though...I would assume hot?
Went to the nice indoor to school for first class. Izzy is terrified of that ring. I think it is the windows to the kitchen area that bother her the most. They are positioned such that the people behind them are just bodies...neither legs nor heads are visible...just torsos. Not really the most attractive part of most humans when missing the context of limbs and head....
I figured I needed to work past this silliness and work on her submission so we did lots of shapes, transitions and laterals. She continued to eye the one person in the stands with great suspicion. I think he had been yelled at enough by his dressage girl friend that he did NOT MOVE A MUSCLE the entire time...which possibly made Izzy even more suspicious. My big worry is that we would crash into one of the many fancy warmbloods, however that embarrassment was avoided.
Time for our class (first level test 2) so we head over to the ring. It is a bit of a walk, and I can feel her relaxing the further we get from the indoor arena. This seems like a good thing. Until we get into the show ring. And suddenly Izzy is completely deflated and in need of a nap. And so am I. We are supposed to halt, salute, then go across the diagonal in lengthened trot but I have nothing...all the forward I had was left in the warm up ring running from disembodied torsos. Her leg yields were good though, and her walk on a long rein, and we managed a 60 point something which was good enough for third. (I debated checking my score before my second class just in case it disheartened me, but in the end curiosity won out and I did. I did not get my test though until after I was done my second test...but only because I had to go up stairs to do so)
Two hours before my next test. (Second level test 2). Our first attempt at Second Level. Really, I shouldn't be showing second as I am still schooling it, but I wanted judge's feedback to know I was on the right track. The $50 entry per class is less than the $100 lesson fee it seems local dressage coaches charge, so it made sense to me...we will see if Rob agrees after he reads this....anyway... this time I thought I would warm up less as she was tired, so we just did some jogging around the ring to try to relax her. This was ok until I was left alone in the ring and poor Izzy was very aware that if the devil at the end of the ring was going to eat something it was likely her and she really wanted out.
So we headed to the ring...and halt salute...and whinny. And Whinny. Poor Izzy was not happy. Horses in the parking lot and coverall arena shared her sorrow by calling back. I just could not get her to relax. I think she was at the point of being over tired to the point of silliness. Anyone who has been at, or around a tween girl sleepover knows how that goes. Score for that test: 51%. The odd thing was that our movements scored low, but our collective marks (overall impressions) were ok. Normally it is the opposite. So I figure the judge saw some rays of hope. Done for the day so I put her in her giant stall to cool off while I got ready to take us home...and she proceeded to prance laps in her stall.
Sunday I rode earlier: 10:30 ride time, so I left for the show right after chores, then made up a new style of braid as the buttons I had done for Saturday were apparently the most itchy things EVER, and I hate how running braids pucker...so I evented an ugly but functional running scallop braid combo. Izzy approved. She apparently has as little fashion sense as I do.
First test was again the First Level test 2. I tried a new tactic in warm up by avoiding the scary end, and I think this really helped her be able to not get tense as she felt more relaxed in the bridle. She was however about as tired as I was for the class, so there were a few requests that required a second ask with the help of spurs. Ended up with a very slightly higher score, under a slightly harsher judge, and so placed second! She also got a 7 for her gaits which made me pretty happy.
Two and a half hour wait until our Second level test. Time felt like it was standing still. I watched some upper level rides, had lunch, mooched watermelon, had a discussion on AQHA's recent court case regarding cloning, discussed when whips were allowed in classes, argued if there was breed prejudice in dressage, had a nap, cleaned all my tack...and still had over an hour to go. Short warm up, with the goal for this class to be less rushed as that had been a recurring theme in the comments from the day before. We definitely were less rushed, but also tired and our first canter/walk transition ended up being a canter/halt transition, and our second walk/canter transition ended up being a go sideways and then LEAP into the canter. Still, I felt it was better, and the score reflected improvement with a 56+% percent and a fourth. We also got a 7 for our first Renvers.
Apparently our turn on the haunches need a lot of work though, as do our transitions down from the Medium or lengthened gaits. It is just taking too many strides. I also really need to work on making her back round (When I told her I wanted her to be rounder she thought I meant in the belly which she has been working on as much as possible...). It also seems that when tired I get crooked without knowing it. I had no comments on being crooked on Saturday, but today both judges commented on it. I need to work on that!
Overall pretty happy with Izzy and thought the show itself was really well run, with fabulous volunteers which of course are who makes the show a success or failure! Best part? Prize money! Ok, not a lot of prize money, but the $35 Izzy won at this show means my total life time winnings in dressage are $40 and a saddle pad...dressage shows just aren't known for prize money. And it gives me something to put in her passport!
Previously I have show warmbloods in dressage, and there is some benefit to having a lofty moving warmblood. The way movements are scored, you get a 5 if the judge can recognise what you are trying to do, and you score more for doing it well. On a good moving horse, the judge kind of starts you off as a 7 or 8, and if can go up or down from there based on how well you do the movement. On a poor moving horse you are starting at a 5 or 6 and moving up or down from there. This is fair and not breed prejudice, as dressage was made for the warmblood type horse...if it was made for Arabians it would include a lot of hand galloping and hollow backed movements.... My reason for having a little Arabian is that I find her gaits easier to manage and she makes me feel safer even when I can't feel my legs. And she doesn't pull. And her neck is shorter so less braiding needed. Overall, Izzy scored three 6s and one 7 for movement, so I think we are on our way to being able to get decent scores and moving up the levels if I can stay on the right track with her.
Next show for her? I am hoping Harvest in September if I can get her less fearful of sounds!
Karen
This was Izzy's first "real" show, having done two schooling shows (one last year, and one this spring), and one 3" hunter show...the 3" hunter show went well, but at her previous dressage shows we had some pretty big issues with nerves and Izzy's fear of people coughing or dropping pencils...
I chose this show as it allowed us to haul back and forth...something unheard of at other Gold rated dressage shows. I figured as we live at the same location, easier to just haul her back and forth than to worry about her dinner and breakfast feedings.
Schooling was Friday, and I had planned to leave early to give us lots of time to see the rings and such, but blue truck was not cooperating, and Rob had to take me later with white truck. Got there to see a few trailers there already, and one horse being ridden one of the dressage rings. Took Izzy for a walk to find her stall (day stall) and was relieved to find we weren't in one of the portable stalls in the (scary) coverall, but rather we were in the Princess Extra Large stall right beside the porta potty and warm up ring! Score!
Got on to hack, and stuck to the plan of walking until she relaxed, and then schooled her in both show rings (set up side by side in the sand ring). They had it decorated with flowers, and Izzy was being good. They didn't have the judges booths set up yet though, so I was a little worried about that causing some grief, but as it was the only things she really spooked at was the garbage bag covered speakers...particularly when the suddenly boomed noise as we walked by!
I was on her for about an hour...long enough for both of us to be sweaty and feeling prepared and done for the day...meanwhile the bay horse that was schooling in the ring when we first pulled up was STILL SCHOOLING. Pretty sure if you can't get it done in an hour and a half the day before a show, it isn't going to happen. But who knows, maybe they kicked my butt all weekend...
Hauled home, Rob got Blue truck working. Headed back to show after teaching on Saturday. Notice that the parking lot is crammed full. Fortunately the first person I see is Diana the steward and we discuss my parking behind the indoor arena...super close to my stall, the warm up and to shade! Score!
Also notice that the judges booths are trucks. They just aimed trucks at C. I had not thought to school riding straight at trucks. Fortunately it seems that horses in genera, and Izzy included, are not afraid of trucks and these were non-traumatizing a compared to the fancy booths at most shows! Not sure how they would be to judge/scribe in though...I would assume hot?
Went to the nice indoor to school for first class. Izzy is terrified of that ring. I think it is the windows to the kitchen area that bother her the most. They are positioned such that the people behind them are just bodies...neither legs nor heads are visible...just torsos. Not really the most attractive part of most humans when missing the context of limbs and head....
I figured I needed to work past this silliness and work on her submission so we did lots of shapes, transitions and laterals. She continued to eye the one person in the stands with great suspicion. I think he had been yelled at enough by his dressage girl friend that he did NOT MOVE A MUSCLE the entire time...which possibly made Izzy even more suspicious. My big worry is that we would crash into one of the many fancy warmbloods, however that embarrassment was avoided.
Time for our class (first level test 2) so we head over to the ring. It is a bit of a walk, and I can feel her relaxing the further we get from the indoor arena. This seems like a good thing. Until we get into the show ring. And suddenly Izzy is completely deflated and in need of a nap. And so am I. We are supposed to halt, salute, then go across the diagonal in lengthened trot but I have nothing...all the forward I had was left in the warm up ring running from disembodied torsos. Her leg yields were good though, and her walk on a long rein, and we managed a 60 point something which was good enough for third. (I debated checking my score before my second class just in case it disheartened me, but in the end curiosity won out and I did. I did not get my test though until after I was done my second test...but only because I had to go up stairs to do so)
Two hours before my next test. (Second level test 2). Our first attempt at Second Level. Really, I shouldn't be showing second as I am still schooling it, but I wanted judge's feedback to know I was on the right track. The $50 entry per class is less than the $100 lesson fee it seems local dressage coaches charge, so it made sense to me...we will see if Rob agrees after he reads this....anyway... this time I thought I would warm up less as she was tired, so we just did some jogging around the ring to try to relax her. This was ok until I was left alone in the ring and poor Izzy was very aware that if the devil at the end of the ring was going to eat something it was likely her and she really wanted out.
So we headed to the ring...and halt salute...and whinny. And Whinny. Poor Izzy was not happy. Horses in the parking lot and coverall arena shared her sorrow by calling back. I just could not get her to relax. I think she was at the point of being over tired to the point of silliness. Anyone who has been at, or around a tween girl sleepover knows how that goes. Score for that test: 51%. The odd thing was that our movements scored low, but our collective marks (overall impressions) were ok. Normally it is the opposite. So I figure the judge saw some rays of hope. Done for the day so I put her in her giant stall to cool off while I got ready to take us home...and she proceeded to prance laps in her stall.
Sunday I rode earlier: 10:30 ride time, so I left for the show right after chores, then made up a new style of braid as the buttons I had done for Saturday were apparently the most itchy things EVER, and I hate how running braids pucker...so I evented an ugly but functional running scallop braid combo. Izzy approved. She apparently has as little fashion sense as I do.
First test was again the First Level test 2. I tried a new tactic in warm up by avoiding the scary end, and I think this really helped her be able to not get tense as she felt more relaxed in the bridle. She was however about as tired as I was for the class, so there were a few requests that required a second ask with the help of spurs. Ended up with a very slightly higher score, under a slightly harsher judge, and so placed second! She also got a 7 for her gaits which made me pretty happy.
Two and a half hour wait until our Second level test. Time felt like it was standing still. I watched some upper level rides, had lunch, mooched watermelon, had a discussion on AQHA's recent court case regarding cloning, discussed when whips were allowed in classes, argued if there was breed prejudice in dressage, had a nap, cleaned all my tack...and still had over an hour to go. Short warm up, with the goal for this class to be less rushed as that had been a recurring theme in the comments from the day before. We definitely were less rushed, but also tired and our first canter/walk transition ended up being a canter/halt transition, and our second walk/canter transition ended up being a go sideways and then LEAP into the canter. Still, I felt it was better, and the score reflected improvement with a 56+% percent and a fourth. We also got a 7 for our first Renvers.
Apparently our turn on the haunches need a lot of work though, as do our transitions down from the Medium or lengthened gaits. It is just taking too many strides. I also really need to work on making her back round (When I told her I wanted her to be rounder she thought I meant in the belly which she has been working on as much as possible...). It also seems that when tired I get crooked without knowing it. I had no comments on being crooked on Saturday, but today both judges commented on it. I need to work on that!
Overall pretty happy with Izzy and thought the show itself was really well run, with fabulous volunteers which of course are who makes the show a success or failure! Best part? Prize money! Ok, not a lot of prize money, but the $35 Izzy won at this show means my total life time winnings in dressage are $40 and a saddle pad...dressage shows just aren't known for prize money. And it gives me something to put in her passport!
Previously I have show warmbloods in dressage, and there is some benefit to having a lofty moving warmblood. The way movements are scored, you get a 5 if the judge can recognise what you are trying to do, and you score more for doing it well. On a good moving horse, the judge kind of starts you off as a 7 or 8, and if can go up or down from there based on how well you do the movement. On a poor moving horse you are starting at a 5 or 6 and moving up or down from there. This is fair and not breed prejudice, as dressage was made for the warmblood type horse...if it was made for Arabians it would include a lot of hand galloping and hollow backed movements.... My reason for having a little Arabian is that I find her gaits easier to manage and she makes me feel safer even when I can't feel my legs. And she doesn't pull. And her neck is shorter so less braiding needed. Overall, Izzy scored three 6s and one 7 for movement, so I think we are on our way to being able to get decent scores and moving up the levels if I can stay on the right track with her.
Next show for her? I am hoping Harvest in September if I can get her less fearful of sounds!
Karen
Friday, August 2, 2013
Adventures in horse shopping...& texting
A text conversation Friday evening. Person texting in orange, I am in black.
"You guys coming?"
"?I am not sure who this is? do you have the right person?"
"Ill take an offer"
"Still confused"
"Ya. I am selling horse (name removed to protect the likely drunk). You should buy her"
"Oh that mare. we looked at her weeks ago. She was lame"
"No, She's good. Come get her and ill give you a deal that you can't resist"
"Ok, I am busy this weekend, but will see if I have a student interested. What are you asking for her now?"
"2300 (aka same price as before) but to a good home ill take a good offer if you promise to take care of her. She's a great horse"
"Is she at the same location?"
"Yup. For 5 more days"
"What happens in 5 days?"
"Sausage"
"Just kidding"
"Giving her to a friend that wants her. And she don't want to sell her after that"
"Ok, I will keep that in mind"
So...anybody want to buy a seemingly quiet middle aged mare that is fairly pretty, decent sized, but doesn't seem to have more than basic training? I actually did really like her...she was just trimmed really short after being neglected.
And just when I thought it was over...
"come grab her ill give you a deal"
Anyone feel that maybe all cell phones should have breathalyzers?
Karen
"You guys coming?"
"?I am not sure who this is? do you have the right person?"
"Ill take an offer"
"Still confused"
"Ya. I am selling horse (name removed to protect the likely drunk). You should buy her"
"Oh that mare. we looked at her weeks ago. She was lame"
"No, She's good. Come get her and ill give you a deal that you can't resist"
"Ok, I am busy this weekend, but will see if I have a student interested. What are you asking for her now?"
"2300 (aka same price as before) but to a good home ill take a good offer if you promise to take care of her. She's a great horse"
"Is she at the same location?"
"Yup. For 5 more days"
"What happens in 5 days?"
"Sausage"
"Just kidding"
"Giving her to a friend that wants her. And she don't want to sell her after that"
"Ok, I will keep that in mind"
So...anybody want to buy a seemingly quiet middle aged mare that is fairly pretty, decent sized, but doesn't seem to have more than basic training? I actually did really like her...she was just trimmed really short after being neglected.
And just when I thought it was over...
"come grab her ill give you a deal"
Anyone feel that maybe all cell phones should have breathalyzers?
Karen
Sunday, July 28, 2013
This week in lessons...
First off, fingers cross we can be outside this week! Hopefully it doesn't rain too much early in the week...jumping outside it just so much more fun and has more options course wise.
This week in lessons we are returning to lead changes, either flying, simple or in the air. Those of you who have horses with good lead changes can sit by and gloat...
This lesson plan is a direct result of the horse show: we had some lovely jumping, but the lack of any type of lead change really made it hard to shine in the hunters!
Step one is to know if you are on the wrong lead in the first place, to know if you need to ask. If in doubt though, ride the end of the ring as deep as you can to give you time to sort yourself out, and give your horse a chance to do the lead change in case one is needed.
Lead Change type #1: Simple Change through trot. At the show, our riders seemed to know they needed to trot the change, but didn't actually get the trot, so it was just kind of a slow down then go again with no real purpose. To work on this type of change we are going to just trot at each first corner...so don't let them turn until the trot has been achieved! This will help in two ways: one, it will help you think of using the ends, and two it will help you learn to balance in the corners.
Lead Change type #2: Flying change. Some horses just don't have them...maybe they are sore, or just don't have the training, but most horses can get a change over a pole, or if really set up for them with a forward and straight canter. To get the flying change, keep the horse straight, push the horse into the corner with the inside leg back like a leg yield into the corner, then catch the horse with the outside rein and leg and ask for the change more or less like you ask for the canter from a trot/walk. Important to maintain the forward, and to ask for the haunches first so they don't drop their shoulder into the turn and loose their hind end.
Lead Change type #3: Change over the fence. This is easiest when the jump is high enough to require them to actually have all four legs off the ground and a good moment of suspension in the air. The rider needs to put their weight in the outside stirrup (but NOT lean) to encourage the horse to land with the outside front leg first, and open the inside rein off the neck. Looking in the direction of landing can also help, but if you don't want the horse to turn on the land, you have to be careful with this. Looking means turning the shoulders as well as the head! Here is a good video to illustrate this.
Likely this week we will working on lead change type #1 (Simple) and #3 (in the air) and that will likely be enough, but in some lessons we may also work on the flying changes.
Advanced flat/dressage riders will work on haunches in this week. Haunches in (Travers) requires the horse to look down the track with the haunches travelling to the inside and crossing over. The best way to set up for a haunches in is coming out of a small volte/circle. Just before the horse's front end reaches the track, the rider asks the horse to maintain the bend and step laterally along the wall rather than straighten out along the wall. Aids for the haunches in: rider looks down the track with their head/shoulders. Inside leg active at the girth to maintain bend and activity, outside leg behind the girth to hold the haunch off the track and encourage the lateral crossing. Belly button looks to the outside so that the inside seat bone is forward. Inside hand supples and keeps the horse bent and soft to the inside, outside rein against the neck to keep the shoulder from dropping to the wall.
I really like haunches in as a strengthening exercise, but you need to pair it with lengthening and straightening so that your horse doesn't end up crooked and on its forehand as a result of getting overly tired as this exercise really works their hind end!
What else may be fun this week if riders took the time to clean tack before or after riding!
Karen
This week in lessons we are returning to lead changes, either flying, simple or in the air. Those of you who have horses with good lead changes can sit by and gloat...
This lesson plan is a direct result of the horse show: we had some lovely jumping, but the lack of any type of lead change really made it hard to shine in the hunters!
Step one is to know if you are on the wrong lead in the first place, to know if you need to ask. If in doubt though, ride the end of the ring as deep as you can to give you time to sort yourself out, and give your horse a chance to do the lead change in case one is needed.
Lead Change type #1: Simple Change through trot. At the show, our riders seemed to know they needed to trot the change, but didn't actually get the trot, so it was just kind of a slow down then go again with no real purpose. To work on this type of change we are going to just trot at each first corner...so don't let them turn until the trot has been achieved! This will help in two ways: one, it will help you think of using the ends, and two it will help you learn to balance in the corners.
Lead Change type #2: Flying change. Some horses just don't have them...maybe they are sore, or just don't have the training, but most horses can get a change over a pole, or if really set up for them with a forward and straight canter. To get the flying change, keep the horse straight, push the horse into the corner with the inside leg back like a leg yield into the corner, then catch the horse with the outside rein and leg and ask for the change more or less like you ask for the canter from a trot/walk. Important to maintain the forward, and to ask for the haunches first so they don't drop their shoulder into the turn and loose their hind end.
Lead Change type #3: Change over the fence. This is easiest when the jump is high enough to require them to actually have all four legs off the ground and a good moment of suspension in the air. The rider needs to put their weight in the outside stirrup (but NOT lean) to encourage the horse to land with the outside front leg first, and open the inside rein off the neck. Looking in the direction of landing can also help, but if you don't want the horse to turn on the land, you have to be careful with this. Looking means turning the shoulders as well as the head! Here is a good video to illustrate this.
Likely this week we will working on lead change type #1 (Simple) and #3 (in the air) and that will likely be enough, but in some lessons we may also work on the flying changes.
Advanced flat/dressage riders will work on haunches in this week. Haunches in (Travers) requires the horse to look down the track with the haunches travelling to the inside and crossing over. The best way to set up for a haunches in is coming out of a small volte/circle. Just before the horse's front end reaches the track, the rider asks the horse to maintain the bend and step laterally along the wall rather than straighten out along the wall. Aids for the haunches in: rider looks down the track with their head/shoulders. Inside leg active at the girth to maintain bend and activity, outside leg behind the girth to hold the haunch off the track and encourage the lateral crossing. Belly button looks to the outside so that the inside seat bone is forward. Inside hand supples and keeps the horse bent and soft to the inside, outside rein against the neck to keep the shoulder from dropping to the wall.
I really like haunches in as a strengthening exercise, but you need to pair it with lengthening and straightening so that your horse doesn't end up crooked and on its forehand as a result of getting overly tired as this exercise really works their hind end!
What else may be fun this week if riders took the time to clean tack before or after riding!
Karen
Monday, July 22, 2013
Lessons for this week
Jumping lessons will work on a simple hunter course: starting small, then actual jumps.
We will then convert the horse to a basic jumper course if time allows. Again starting small, then actual jumps. Trying to incorporate roll backs before and after the jumps like we worked on last week.
This is in preparation for the MLM show next Saturday...let me know if you want to go! There are 2 trailer spots available.
Flat/Dressage lessons this week will work developing a hand that is independent from the seat and from the eye. A few of you have a silly/unproductive habit of looking down when doing transitions and such! It is important that you can adjust your seat forward or back, without your hand moving as well. Or move your hand without your seat moving.
Neck straps or hooking a finger in the mane may be useful for this lesson/skill set.
Karen
We will then convert the horse to a basic jumper course if time allows. Again starting small, then actual jumps. Trying to incorporate roll backs before and after the jumps like we worked on last week.
This is in preparation for the MLM show next Saturday...let me know if you want to go! There are 2 trailer spots available.
Flat/Dressage lessons this week will work developing a hand that is independent from the seat and from the eye. A few of you have a silly/unproductive habit of looking down when doing transitions and such! It is important that you can adjust your seat forward or back, without your hand moving as well. Or move your hand without your seat moving.
Neck straps or hooking a finger in the mane may be useful for this lesson/skill set.
Karen
A wasted Sunday
Margie and I got up early, and hit the road under the cloudy skies of yesterday. Headed south to Olds to look at a 15.3 hand QH mare, with a pretty colour. We had seen pictures, and a blurry video, so she seemed worthwhile to take the drive for, as apparently pretty colours sell quickly around Edmonton!
The owner wasn't to be there, but the property owners were ok helping us. Apparently helping us just meant showing us which horse it was, but never mind. We pull up...and notice we just missed watching them collecting semen for AI in their yard...because apparently it was breeding day. Who doesn't want to hang around on breeding day? Soon trailers started arriving with more mares and foals for breeding day...lots of cute babies|!
But who wants to approach a man carrying a fake horse vagina to ask about the horse you are there to see?
So we waited a little, then the wife came over and told use where to find the mare. So we go to the barn, scrounge for a halter and lead rope....and pull out what looked to be a pony. Obviously the same colour and markings, but nowhere close to 15.3! Maybe 14.3? And not a bulky 14.3 either. So we took her out of the stall...and she was also a tad obnoxious with a weird hoof crack that was NOT just a surface crack as we had been told...so we put her back, and asked if the farm owners had anything for sale.
They did, and pointed is in the direction of a field to look for a Buckskin (Margie heard Mexican, and was curious what a Mexican horse look like). So we go looking for horses in mud, grass and trees. And find a short palomino (why are the cute ones so short?), and a couple nice chestnuts, including one with lots of white and a grey mane...we liked that one. Further into the forest we found the buckskin, who was the unfortunate friend of a giant beast of a Quarter Horse who was a bully and a little worrisome to be around.
The buckskin was ok, but saddle scars on his shoulders, and a very small/common head.
We went back to ask about the chestnut we liked...and found out he was a well trained roping horse, so worth pretty good money...of course.
So we left and headed back to Red Deer to have lunch as we couldn't go see the next horse until 1:30ish. I was very excited about this one as it was advertised as QUIET and jumping well to 2'6". It has evented and done 4H. Good colour, and I thought pretty.
And she was pretty with a decent build. Kind of weird hooves, but nothing horrid.
Now the owner had told me when I made the appointment she had been hurt/bucked off her young horse, so couldn't ride. Something about soft tissue damage and a crushed hand... When we got there she said she could hack her for us, but I saw little point...after all, this was an ALL CAPS QUIET horse. And for hacking she was. She felt oddly short strided on the grass, but listened well, and I felt comfortable enough to drop the reins to the buckle and wave my arms (one at a time of course) at the canter. I kind of liked her.
The I started jumping. Went to trot into a cross pole...but mare wouldn't trot, and burst to a canter two strides out. Seemed odd for a QUIET horse, but maybe she hates trotting jumps, or just doesn't do it much. So I thought I would canter it the other way, giving her the reins to lope over it. She did stay decent to it...but flung herself over knees down...and then jammed her fronts into the ground on the land and crop hopped/bucked. I lawn darted into the lawn. Ouch!
So then the owner mentions she hasn't jumped for 2 and a half weeks...other the hay bales she jumped her over the night before "to cool her out" This made zero sense to me, but then I just did smoke my head into the ground face first.
So I looked at her and Margie and said: "So if you jumped her last night, why can't you jump her today".
"Oh, it was just little hay bales. I don't want to get hurt again."
"well, if you could jump hay bales, why can't you jump a little today? Am I making sense here?"
So yes, the owner got on the mare...which is what I should have done in the first place...and I could have seen the issue that lead to me injury..
First, the owner has taught the horse to canter two strides out from trot jumps. I have no idea why. Second, she sits up in the air and gives no release. Exactly how someone rides a horse that is either very powerful (think Justice) or wants to buck on the land. Third...there is something wrong with the horse...she jumped knees pointed down AKA is a leg hanger...a bad one. Over a bigger jump (which I didn't ask the owner to do) she swung her legs to the side.
So I asked if that is normally how she jumps, and got a wishy washy answer that she felt odd over the one jump.
So we left. And I struggled to bend my right leg enough to get my half chap off!
lesson learned...give sellers the 3rd degree before driving more than 30 mins and ALWAYS have them ride first!
Karen
The owner wasn't to be there, but the property owners were ok helping us. Apparently helping us just meant showing us which horse it was, but never mind. We pull up...and notice we just missed watching them collecting semen for AI in their yard...because apparently it was breeding day. Who doesn't want to hang around on breeding day? Soon trailers started arriving with more mares and foals for breeding day...lots of cute babies|!
But who wants to approach a man carrying a fake horse vagina to ask about the horse you are there to see?
So we waited a little, then the wife came over and told use where to find the mare. So we go to the barn, scrounge for a halter and lead rope....and pull out what looked to be a pony. Obviously the same colour and markings, but nowhere close to 15.3! Maybe 14.3? And not a bulky 14.3 either. So we took her out of the stall...and she was also a tad obnoxious with a weird hoof crack that was NOT just a surface crack as we had been told...so we put her back, and asked if the farm owners had anything for sale.
They did, and pointed is in the direction of a field to look for a Buckskin (Margie heard Mexican, and was curious what a Mexican horse look like). So we go looking for horses in mud, grass and trees. And find a short palomino (why are the cute ones so short?), and a couple nice chestnuts, including one with lots of white and a grey mane...we liked that one. Further into the forest we found the buckskin, who was the unfortunate friend of a giant beast of a Quarter Horse who was a bully and a little worrisome to be around.
The buckskin was ok, but saddle scars on his shoulders, and a very small/common head.
We went back to ask about the chestnut we liked...and found out he was a well trained roping horse, so worth pretty good money...of course.
So we left and headed back to Red Deer to have lunch as we couldn't go see the next horse until 1:30ish. I was very excited about this one as it was advertised as QUIET and jumping well to 2'6". It has evented and done 4H. Good colour, and I thought pretty.
And she was pretty with a decent build. Kind of weird hooves, but nothing horrid.
Now the owner had told me when I made the appointment she had been hurt/bucked off her young horse, so couldn't ride. Something about soft tissue damage and a crushed hand... When we got there she said she could hack her for us, but I saw little point...after all, this was an ALL CAPS QUIET horse. And for hacking she was. She felt oddly short strided on the grass, but listened well, and I felt comfortable enough to drop the reins to the buckle and wave my arms (one at a time of course) at the canter. I kind of liked her.
The I started jumping. Went to trot into a cross pole...but mare wouldn't trot, and burst to a canter two strides out. Seemed odd for a QUIET horse, but maybe she hates trotting jumps, or just doesn't do it much. So I thought I would canter it the other way, giving her the reins to lope over it. She did stay decent to it...but flung herself over knees down...and then jammed her fronts into the ground on the land and crop hopped/bucked. I lawn darted into the lawn. Ouch!
So then the owner mentions she hasn't jumped for 2 and a half weeks...other the hay bales she jumped her over the night before "to cool her out" This made zero sense to me, but then I just did smoke my head into the ground face first.
So I looked at her and Margie and said: "So if you jumped her last night, why can't you jump her today".
"Oh, it was just little hay bales. I don't want to get hurt again."
"well, if you could jump hay bales, why can't you jump a little today? Am I making sense here?"
So yes, the owner got on the mare...which is what I should have done in the first place...and I could have seen the issue that lead to me injury..
First, the owner has taught the horse to canter two strides out from trot jumps. I have no idea why. Second, she sits up in the air and gives no release. Exactly how someone rides a horse that is either very powerful (think Justice) or wants to buck on the land. Third...there is something wrong with the horse...she jumped knees pointed down AKA is a leg hanger...a bad one. Over a bigger jump (which I didn't ask the owner to do) she swung her legs to the side.
So I asked if that is normally how she jumps, and got a wishy washy answer that she felt odd over the one jump.
So we left. And I struggled to bend my right leg enough to get my half chap off!
lesson learned...give sellers the 3rd degree before driving more than 30 mins and ALWAYS have them ride first!
Karen
Monday, July 15, 2013
The week in lessons
Well, it looks like we will be indoors for at least the first part of the week as the outdoor arena is once again under a layer of water. Seriously...has it ever been this wet and humid in Edmonton?
I think we may cover the different (basic) ways of changing direction and why/when you would use them: Across the diagonal, through the middle, half circle reverse, reverse half circle, and the roll back. In keeping with that, for jumping, we might do jumping and turns/changes of direction, which may also lead to some work on lead changes, changing in the air.
We may also work on feeling for the lead both on the flat, and when jumping, so be prepared for lots of canter transitions as part of the flat work.
Karen
I think we may cover the different (basic) ways of changing direction and why/when you would use them: Across the diagonal, through the middle, half circle reverse, reverse half circle, and the roll back. In keeping with that, for jumping, we might do jumping and turns/changes of direction, which may also lead to some work on lead changes, changing in the air.
We may also work on feeling for the lead both on the flat, and when jumping, so be prepared for lots of canter transitions as part of the flat work.
Karen
No, a family of bunnies did not explode...
The plethora of hair is actually from Phelps.
What or who is Phelps you ask?
Phelps is the matted smelly beast that was laying in front of the barn door Saturday morning as I went out to feed. I am not always fully awake when I feed hay, so my brain was really trying to figure out what exactly was staring at me...did Ginger get fluffy or was it Amarillo the neighbourhood husky? Or did the neighbours get another fluffy creature that decided our place looked more awesome?
But it was none of the above...it was a neglected looking dog, with mats the size of dinner plates layered like scales on its back, and hanging fur balls looking like really sad Christmas décor. I immediately named him Phelps and called Rob. Between the two of us, I think we spend 4 to 5 hours brushing the poor guy over the weekend! So far, we haven't found any lost dog ads matching his description, and none of the nearby vets have been contacted, so we aren't sure if he was dumped or?
He appears to be an Australian Sheppard crossed with an ottoman. He seems old...teeth have bad tartar build up, and he has trouble getting going in the morning. He also seems partially deaf...or as Janine says, just has the typical male selective hearing! It doesn't seem like he has ever been trained or even worn a collar, and the collar we have put on him for containment purposes isn't to his liking. He also seems to think cats are edible...something I am really trying to discourage, but I wish a cat would help by clawing his nose rather than running away (which just makes it that much more exciting).
If you come out, feel free to take him out of the stall using the rope or lunge line to lead him or tie him up. He is really good with the horses, but I just don't want to risk a kitty catastrophe., and he doesn't know he isn't allowed upstairs or in the arena yet.
karen
What or who is Phelps you ask?
Phelps is the matted smelly beast that was laying in front of the barn door Saturday morning as I went out to feed. I am not always fully awake when I feed hay, so my brain was really trying to figure out what exactly was staring at me...did Ginger get fluffy or was it Amarillo the neighbourhood husky? Or did the neighbours get another fluffy creature that decided our place looked more awesome?
But it was none of the above...it was a neglected looking dog, with mats the size of dinner plates layered like scales on its back, and hanging fur balls looking like really sad Christmas décor. I immediately named him Phelps and called Rob. Between the two of us, I think we spend 4 to 5 hours brushing the poor guy over the weekend! So far, we haven't found any lost dog ads matching his description, and none of the nearby vets have been contacted, so we aren't sure if he was dumped or?
He appears to be an Australian Sheppard crossed with an ottoman. He seems old...teeth have bad tartar build up, and he has trouble getting going in the morning. He also seems partially deaf...or as Janine says, just has the typical male selective hearing! It doesn't seem like he has ever been trained or even worn a collar, and the collar we have put on him for containment purposes isn't to his liking. He also seems to think cats are edible...something I am really trying to discourage, but I wish a cat would help by clawing his nose rather than running away (which just makes it that much more exciting).
If you come out, feel free to take him out of the stall using the rope or lunge line to lead him or tie him up. He is really good with the horses, but I just don't want to risk a kitty catastrophe., and he doesn't know he isn't allowed upstairs or in the arena yet.
karen
Thursday, July 4, 2013
News Article
http://www.edmontonsun.com/2013/07/04/manitoba-man-charged-with-impaired-driving-causing-death-in-head-on-crash-that-killed-young-edmonton-woman?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=recommend-button&utm_campaign=Manitoba+man+charged+with+impaired+driving+causing+death+in+head-on+crash+that+killed+young+Edmonton+woman
I didn't even know she was a painter.
I hope her boyfriend pulls through. I met him at the barn, and he seemed like a nice guy. I hope he is still able to go away to get his Masters and pursue his dreams.
I didn't even know she was a painter.
I hope her boyfriend pulls through. I met him at the barn, and he seemed like a nice guy. I hope he is still able to go away to get his Masters and pursue his dreams.
Wednesday, July 3, 2013
Very Sad
(Percy) Clare died on the weekend after being hit head on by a drunk driver.
What a senseless way for anyone to die, much less someone who gave so much back to the community in working for the Sexual Assault hotline and through her chosen career as a psychologist.
Her brother called to inform me this afternoon. It feels surreal and so unfair. She had so much to look forward to in her near future, with her upcoming move to Montreal and her recent completion of her Masters Degree. So many moments unlived. So many memories unbuilt.
My heart goes out to her family and her boyfriend, as well as to everyone at Hillside that will miss her.
If anyone is able to attend, her funeral is this Saturday (the 6th) at 2pm, at Hainstocks Funeral Home, 9810-34 ave. Instead of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Sexual Assult Centre of Edmonton. https://www.sace.ab.ca/index.php/support-sace
I have a prior commitment that weekend, but Rob and I do plan on making a donation in Clare's honour.
Of course I would normally turn TO Clare for help in dealing with grief and emotions, and somehow that is just making it extra hard for me right now.
I will miss you Clare.
Karen
What a senseless way for anyone to die, much less someone who gave so much back to the community in working for the Sexual Assault hotline and through her chosen career as a psychologist.
Her brother called to inform me this afternoon. It feels surreal and so unfair. She had so much to look forward to in her near future, with her upcoming move to Montreal and her recent completion of her Masters Degree. So many moments unlived. So many memories unbuilt.
My heart goes out to her family and her boyfriend, as well as to everyone at Hillside that will miss her.
If anyone is able to attend, her funeral is this Saturday (the 6th) at 2pm, at Hainstocks Funeral Home, 9810-34 ave. Instead of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Sexual Assult Centre of Edmonton. https://www.sace.ab.ca/index.php/support-sace
I have a prior commitment that weekend, but Rob and I do plan on making a donation in Clare's honour.
Of course I would normally turn TO Clare for help in dealing with grief and emotions, and somehow that is just making it extra hard for me right now.
I will miss you Clare.
Karen
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