Labor Day through the Hunters Moon

[Chisamba]

I hoped someone would start a clever thread, and I played with a few puns on "fall" , and then I was too impatient to wait.

Saiph, we are going to make it. She is stepping up to the plate, but show season is over. So get everything really solid before her winter break.

Kimba, flying change , topline muscle, improved connection.

Pauletta , canter, establish leg yield. Get ready for soring show season now.

Fly, more relaxation.

Rex and Rachelle, in training with view to sell.

I have these lovely Gaudi babies going wtc. If you know anyone looking, they are super. Above my pay grade super.

[exvet]

My goals are really for next 'year'. I have a hope that Junior and I will ride PSG at the February recognized show. To that end, I have a schooling show coming up next weekend where I plan to ride 4-2. Next we have a recognized show this coming November. I'm going to show 4th level there too. I just haven't decided which tests I'll ride on Saturday/Sunday. The schooling show should help me decide. Those are the competition goals. Of course the actual training focus will be getting Junior more through and more expressive. He and I are continuing to work on our coordination which is gradually improving. We also are working on expecting and getting more responsive along with accuracy of those aids. More cantering around in the open and really getting Junior to realize that he can lift his thoracic sling and get out of the way of his hind end. I believe the more push, carry and lift off we can develop, the better our scores will get. Finally, for me with Junior, I hope to keep improving my seat in a way that allows him more freedom. We played a little bit with that this lesson and it seems to be keeping him happy.

In terms of my fitness goals, I'll be really kicking into gear because we have another rim-to-rim hike scheduled for mid October.

I hope to be able to provide some goals with my new guy who I will be picking up in 2 weeks; but, first I have to let him settle in and get to know him. At his age, the focus will be ground work and exposure, getting him out to do lots of sight seeing. He seemed pretty chill when I visited him at the breeder's so we'll see if that continues with new surroundings, new 'friends' and new expectations.

Ace the quintessential baby sitter and trail horse is actually looking better. My daughter commented last week when she came to ride him that he no longer looks like an expectant broodmare. He's been getting out 4-5 times a week on 2-3 hour trail rides. He is such a solid minded type. I keep telling my SO that when this horse goes there will never be another like him. It's hard to believe that he's 13 and we've had him 8 years next month. I don't believe he misses the range or his band one bit.

[StraightForward]

Wow, I can't believe you've had Ace for 8 years. It does not seem that long ago at all!

Chisamba, I wish I was looking. I mean, I look, but lack time and money, LOL.

First goal this go-round is to get Tesla's sarcoid jettisoned, and we'll see when she can get back to work. It's coming off Wednesday, so I just decided to let her have a break after the weird lameness. I'm a bit bummed missing the clinic with Leslie, and not being able to ride during my week off, but I'll be getting some projects knocked out at home. Also thinking I can get in some more workout while she's off.

My hopes for this round are:

Keep working on engagement and connection. Use canter HP more, as I think it really gets her using her legs better. Also the CC loops.

There is a schooling/horse trials in October, so I'm hoping to ride 2-3 there, and try out the 2'6" and 2'9" on the show jumping day. We haven't graduated past the logs on XC, so that will have to wait until next year.

Me: Get to running outside twice a week as soon as the air quality allows. Revisit the DRT sessions, as my membership auto-renewed and I might as well get something for the $$.

[mari]

I don't have clear goals. Everything we're doing is new to me and I guess my goal is just "ride better"

Trot lateral work is such hard work for me when Odin is not fully on board. I don't really know how to make that better without REALLY getting after him. I'd like to work on a much more collected canter, that comes easier and holds for longer.

[Moutaineer]

I'm out of the country for a biggish chunk of September. I can get a few rides in before I go, but it gets a bit nuts trying to ride and work and do all the things related to the great basement flood...

But the overall goal is to refine the 3.3 work for a show in mid-November.

One of my challenges is the trot lateral work, too, Mari. I know he can do it, so it's me. I'm pretty sure the answer lies in greater impulsion, but I'm blocking him somewhere.

And I need to get myself back in shape. I was doing so well before I broke my toe, but it's been tough to find an exercise routine that hasn't made it mad. But I think it's healed enough that I can probably start back to some Pilates if I'm mindful.

[blob]

Hoping this a more productive set of months!

Me
Continue to eat healthy, especially when traveling
Work on position
Workout when not riding--even if just walking

MM
Keep breathing on track
Get back in shape
Enjoy her

RP
Continue to work on lateral work, esp getting a clear HI at trot
September--regionals--try to stay calm and actively ride my test
Post-regionals--start laying ground work for changes

[Tanga]

mari--I'm with you, but on the being able to get back on a horse and do more than sit there track. Last week I tried to do a couple of trot and canter circles and my arms and abdomen were aching for days. Sigh. I'm lucky I can not ride and I have people who are mostly getting them out. I go there, but just walking the small hill to get them is lot. I have to ride them to the barn from the pasture because it's too far to walk. I can sit in the saddle on the trail, but putting the saddle on or trying to curry is hard. Sigh. The one thing I can ride is piaffe, so we're doing a lot of that and cuing it on the ground just from voice.

Can't wait to see your 4th level ride, exvet!

[mari]

One of my challenges is the trot lateral work, too, Mari. I know he can do it, so it's me. I'm pretty sure the answer lies in greater impulsion, but I'm blocking him somewhere.

I'm not so sure Odin can do it very well He's got a pretty upright pony trot, and moving him around in trot is just so so hard. He's quick and keen on forward aids, but just very 'meh' for lateral ones. Unless I am really really sharp with my whip and spurs the first few times, which doesn't make me feel great as a rider. To be fair, he's the same with my instructor, she's just a lot more business-like and effective than I am.

Canter lateral work is a breeze. He's got so much airtime in the canter and I think that makes it easier. Half-pass, LY, SI, HI - they're all so much easier in the canter than in the trot. Especially the HP work.

Anyway, I have no ideas for making it better. A bit stuck at the moment, both in terms of my ability as a rider and my motivation to puzzle it out.

[blob]

Mari--I can relate. Trot lateral work is a real sticky point for RP as well. Canter lateral work--fine, no problem. But trot is tough. I am frustrated because lateral work, particularly at the trot is usually a strong suit of mine, so it feels frustrating I can't fix the problem.

[exvet]

In terms of lateral work, trot is easy for me and mine but not the canter as one would expect. Regardless of trot or canter when it comes to the lateral work I must first make sure not only am I NOT blocking with the hand (don't get the bend from the inside hand) but also that my hips are open to the direction of movement. I tend to be tight in the hips and have a tendency to block with my right one. If I position my sternum and hips towards the direction of travel I find things a lot easier for the horse. Now for the tight backed beast.............I love the exercise where I move in half-pass (pick a gait) from a letter just coming out of the corner (M, K, H or F) towards x then come to a walk/halt and literally side pass off the same leg as I was moving away from in the half pass towards E or B. I will also use turn on the forehand and turn on the haunches to make sure I have shoulders and haunches equally mobile. I also do A LOT of zig zag work going different directions and off of the opposite leg interchanging the direction of travel and the request to move off the leg to keep them laterally mobile to either direction (again making sure all 3 pieces of the body - shoulders, mid piece and hips) are moving. If I have a horse that gets stuck I always go back to walk to repeat the exercise and give them clarity. Finally I also am using a lot of in hand work to teach them how to lift the shoulder girdle and get more mobility that way too (it's not just about getting jump in the canter for air time but a horse that is naturally gifted with a big jump in the canter does make canter lateral work easier).

[Tanga]

exvet--You are spot on with the lateral work. I pretty much lost my left half pass because I was tight/blocking with my inside hip and hand. Chelsey really helped me with this--she said it looked like the horses were stuck and dropped to the inside. I think of sort of scooching from the outside hip to a lighter, up inside and make sure to keep my inside rein very soft and light. In teaching the person riding Quilla this, she's had a really hard time with half passes, I really focus her on getting that feeling, and when she looses that up, forward bend to the inside to go into a leg yield or circle and really concentrate on getting up and off the inside so the horses can lift on the inside fore and push from the outside hind. If she feels like she doesn't have the energy, off she goes into a med/ext. trot feel. Always go for the feel.

[Moutaineer]

I felt like I was riding a volcano today. A few days off, a cooler day with spotting rain, and all his joints lubed up, someone was feeling REALLY good!

And all that impulsion and energy, once (more or less) under control and directable, gave us some of the best lateral work we've ever had. I was also focusing on not blocking anywhere, keeping both legs on and riding off my outside rein. But I could do that because I wasn't having to work on the forward.

And yet again, no one died.

[Aleuronx]

I had a wonderful, tough but eye-opening lesson on Monday. The quieter I sit with positive tension the easier everything this. A revelation. And then the shocker, to me slightly at least was the comment to buy the tailcoat. It's the dream but the fear of inadequacy has been a blockage that well, I just need to get over. So I will, just buy the tailcoat.

It was a chill morning, 45 degrees and the spice was spicey and sharp was cutting. Here's some work, we are told to do the changes *anywhere, and everywhere* and start making them part of the conversation not just the conversation if that makes sense. Happy to hear insights, I'm in no man's land and just struggling as we go.

https://youtu.be/lxs9Wa3d8Ko?si=MccVG5c_ycRxjdAL

Section Goals:
-Trot thoroughness at greater collection
-Start to control actual counted tempi's
-Enjoy the Fall hacking weather
-Follow the 5k speed increase program

[Tanga]

Aleuronx--I agree. Get a tailcoat.

[Moutaineer]

Seconded. Order the coat!

We had another ride on the edge of sanity yesterday. Nothing awful, but not entirely fun either. So I put Potters on the lunge today and just let him buck and fart it out. He had a very good time indeed and came in with a smile on his face. I'm hoping that will help his brain a bit. I wish we had a big grass pasture to turn them out in to play and get the ya-yas out, but that's not the reality of around here.

He's a funny boy. Whenever we get to a new level of collection or throughness his first reaction is "no, I can't do that. I'm going to have a bit of a panic." He'll get fixated on something like the mounting block, or yesterday, the letter pylon at S (none of the others. S was for Spooky, apparently.)

He did it yesterday in the trot HP to the left. Got about three quarters of the way from the centerline to the rail (at S, naturally), very nicely--good design and crossover, nice bend, good impulsion, nothing to indicate coming hysteria--and then just lost his marbles. So we went back to doing a haunches in on the centerline--which is at the end of the day, the same bend, the same degree of crossover, and he was fine about it. So I don't think it's physical.

I'm a bit bummed I can't ride tomorrow and test out how he is now he's not feeling like a lit fuse, but I have to go meet my vet to look at Laddie. He is suddenly looking much thinner than I'd like him to be going into winter and has colicked a couple of times recently. Hoping it's teeth, but being realistic about the fact that he's a very big horse in his mid 20's and maybe we are approaching the end of the line.

[Chisamba]

Wrt trot lateral work, I think its a real test of back to front connection... by which I mean if you can the lateral work in a stretch trot, it will be a breeze in collection. If you are holding the horse into collection, it's hard not to block them in lateral work.

And I know this because Saiph is the queen of baulking.

Kimba, forever forward and forever strong disguises the lack of stretch to the bridle with her forward. She is harder to keep through than Saiph. But Pauletta , as worth all young horses, is reaping the benefit of what kimba and saiph have taught me. ( as always happens) now that I'm riding everyone else 4th/ psg, I kind of know what the baby needs better.

[StraightForward]

scrotal harder

Where does auto-complete come up with things?

Aleuronx, I'm excited to see the shadbelly you choose. I'm sure it will be fabulous!

Tesla had her sarcoids off yesterday morning. The ones in her ear haven't been too growthy, and they came off really nicely. Due to the recent rapid growth on the chest one, the vet wanted to go more aggressive with margins. There were two smaller spots below the large tumor, and so he took them out along with it, as an extended strip. So basically, it looks horrifying. The thinner strip was sutured, but the sutures were coming loose tonight. The upper part is looking a little less horrifying than last night, but this is more than I was prepared for, and I'm not sure when we'll be back to work. I think tack walking in a week or two, but I'm guessing at least a month for full work, if not more. I did some noxious premise spray all over her stall, and at least that is keeping the flies at bay, and she is letting me put Swat around the edges. Hopefully in the next day or two it will stop leaking serum so that a coating of Underwood's will stay in place to protect it. She is sore walking around, poor girl, but doesn't seem too wildly uncomfortable. I really hope this round of Torigen does the trick after going through all of this!

[exvet]

We're a strong bunch and don't lose site of our goals.

Aleuronx. I had the same recommendation back when I had Monty. BUY THE TAIL COAT! I did and I used it again for Gallod Morgan Henry and will dust it off for Annwylid Dare to Dream. Fortunately I have worn the same size for 30 years; but damn it buy the tail coat. So few of us get here. Take the chance.

[blob]

excited for your tailcoat, Aleu!

re: trot lateral work: I agree, Chisamba that it's about back to front connection. But I'll also be honest that trot lateral work is typically a strong suit of mine, so I feel a bit frustrated it's been such a slog with RP. We finally have a decent leg yield, we sometimes/usually have an OK shoulder in. But we have garbage for haunches in.

I've been getting over being sick and feeling impatient given regionals is around the corner and i have been out of the saddle so much. Thankfully RP feels decent.

MM is back to light work after time off for the bad breathing lapse. We are taking it easy--mostly walking with some trotting and cantering in between. She seems THRILLED to be back doing somethign--ears forward, eager. I just love her.

[Lipsmackerpony88]

My goals as always are just to keep my little humpty dumpty all together lol! That being said, out focus will be on good quality pole work this month.

My focus is to keep myself even and straight.


My daughter was sick this week so unfortunately not a lot of riding at all for me but did manage to hand walk him over a set a few poles and reintroduced the equiband. The other vet never called me about the Estrone so that a bit frustrating.

The saddle fitter comes out this Friday to watch me ride in both saddles. Then next Tuesday he hauls back to the vet for a recheck.

Onward we go.

[Lipsmackerpony88]

Chisamba, your comment about lateral work in a stretch, caught my interest. Because right now, I often do that with Lynx for a few reasons. One, we certainly aren't really wanting collection right now. Any lateral work is more for keeping his mind busy, getting straight or sometimes for the bend depending on what we are doing. And I find it a good way to test myself that I'm riding him more off my seat than using damn inside rein too much, the old usual issue.

[exvet]

Each time we give it a go, we get a little better. Today Junior earned a 66 and change at fourth level test 2. I was pretty happy overall. Definitely need to work on the canter half-pass sequence and of course continue to develop the flying change but hey at least they were all flying. I had enough pony at the end to get a 7 on our final extended trot. It would appear that our work on building stamina is paying off. I was also very pleased not to leave tons of point on the floor in the movements that aren't modified by gaits such as the walk pirouettes. We earned nothing less than a 7 on those movements. Getting better at our ring craft, stamina and flying in the flying changes..................I'm seeing the light, definitely seeing the light.

Next weekend I'll be picking up Troy, my 2 year old section D Welsh Cob gelding. He's already as tall as Junior and should get close to 15 hands if not over. His dam is 15.2 and his sire is 14.3. My hope this time is for a taller Cob. My Welsh Cobs have been mostly bay, a few chestnuts, a few buckskins and a palomino. Though not intended, this will be my first black Welsh Cob and yes, he has chrome. He seems to be fairly level headed and a generally cooperative type. He's been well handled and understands lunging. I'll be giving him a few weeks to settle after I get him home and then the ground work begins.

Added a couple of pictures from the warm up which might show how we start.....LOL to where I try to get before we enter the show arena (ie, relaxed). I've been working hard on trying to take the 'up' Junior and get him more relaxed through his back. "Getting the wrinkles out of the base of the neck", as per JJ Tate, has helped. Of course I still got lots of 'tight through the back' comments throughout the test but not quite the issue as it often is.





and video........some cringeworthy and some I'm proud to put forth LOL
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fluMhxSW4ho&t=146s

[heddylamar]

Maia is sound-ish? Or at least I'm no longer feeling ill?

In the past few days, she's turned a corner. We were on bute 2x a day for a week, spent 5-6 hours inside in Easy Boot Clouds, then Venice turpentine when I took the boots off and turned her back out.

Much to my abject horror and joy, Maia started playing and dancing again on Tuesday/Wednesday ....... I had visions of her coming in even more injured. Friday evening I applied Hoof Armour, then a second coat this morning. If you haven't used it, Hoof Armour is an epoxy kevlar adhesive coating that protects against bruises, chips, etc. I figured the armour + easy boots were the cost of four glue-on shoes, and at least the boots and armour dispenser can be re-used

Fingers firmly crossed she stays sound!

[mari]

Woohoo well done Exvet! Great results!

I've given my instructor instructions to really drill us in the trot lateral work. Lots of it, lots of sideways, and lots of prompt response to my leg. I just don't have the capacity to do this strict work much by myself at the moment. Today we had a good day, w/t transitions in SI, and HP to the right was probably the nicest we've ever managed.

We're also working on sequence changes. Straightness is a very very big problem. He throws me around like a rogue washing machine. So we're going to be practicing a million transitions in a very straight, very OBEDIENT channel across the diagonal and on the QL. And then start throwing in the odd change, and build from there. On the wall it's manageable, although we did get rodeo towards the end.

[exvet]

I think you will find that your plan gets you far, mari. Lots of sideways with the expectation of immediate response helps Junior a lot. Your tempis will straighten out too. One thing that I always found that helps is keeping the letter at the opposite end of the diagonal right between their ears as I keep my own form/position in proper alignment.

[Moutaineer]

Fairly wretched ride today. Blazing hot, muggy, sweaty and insanely buggy and a Monday after a weekend off. I'm not sure which of us was crankier about the whole thing, TBH. Summer can be over about now.

Oh well, it can't all be sunshine and rainbows. Tomorrow is another day and I have a lesson which should help.

Part of the problem is we're heading out of the country on Friday, and I have been read the riot act about "not doing anything stupid" before we go. So of course I'm riding with the handbrake on. And I'm distracted by the ten billion other things I need to achieve before I go to bed on Thursday.

[Lipsmackerpony88]

Exvet, Thank you for sharing and congratulations. Just know that you are living out some people's dreams

Mari- sounds like a really good plan.

Mountaineer, I hear you. So over the heat and the flies! They are vicious acting here. Poor Lynx I fly sprayed him (twice) and I swear it seemed like I had put water on him! At one point in my lesson, Lynx decided he had to stop and reach for a fly. Right as he was messing around with the fly a squirrel was running on some tarps covering a hay bale to the left of us. I promptly got his head up and got us to try them before we died lol! He's not normally that level of spooky bit he definitely was contorting himself in a weird way at the time and I felt like we were in a curious position.

My lesson yesterday was okay. Not the best but I think it was ME. I just didn't feel I rode as well as I needed. There was a lot of poles set out in the arena and it kind of was messing with me. Just trying to maneuver around things felt like I never gotten a rhythm. Don't got me wrong I also utilized the poles and was grateful that someone had set them out but they were just kind of in awkward spots that when I came to dressage work we're kind of a pain in the butt.

[Moutaineer]

I had a very productive lesson this morning. Amazing what happens when you actually focus and ride your horse...

[Chisamba]

scrotal harder

Where does auto-complete come up with things?

Aleuronx, I'm excited to see the shadbelly you choose. I'm sure it will be fabulous!

Tesla had her sarcoids off yesterday morning. The ones in her ear haven't been too growthy, and they came off really nicely. Due to the recent rapid growth on the chest one, the vet wanted to go more aggressive with margins. There were two smaller spots below the large tumor, and so he took them out along with it, as an extended strip. So basically, it looks horrifying. The thinner strip was sutured, but the sutures were coming loose tonight. The upper part is looking a little less horrifying than last night, but this is more than I was prepared for, and I'm not sure when we'll be back to work. I think tack walking in a week or two, but I'm guessing at least a month for full work, if not more. I did some noxious premise spray all over her stall, and at least that is keeping the flies at bay, and she is letting me put Swat around the edges. Hopefully in the next day or two it will stop leaking serum so that a coating of Underwood's will stay in place to protect it. She is sore walking around, poor girl, but doesn't seem too wildly uncomfortable. I really hope this round of Torigen does the trick after going through all of this!

Oh ffs!! So sorry everyone.

[Chisamba]

Let me begin by saying i always use my phone for this,
and i dont know if i have fat fingers , but i make a lot of errors and autocorrect does not help. So i apologise.
Pauletta has decided that cantering right really sucks and trying to run out the door at B is a great idea. There is a person door at B, and large doors at A and C. So here I am, cantering along , and whoosh, she attempts to duck out at B. Ai, Ai, Ai. But on a very positive note, she is cantering.

Saiph made me cry. She had been going so well, so through so forward, I decided to test her and took her off property for a test ride. She flung herself around, did her rear, did multiple unasked for tempi changes, acted as thought croup high was all she knew. So I ask myself, what good is all this progress if I cannot reproduce it away from home. I have friends ( shocking I know) who say things like , take her to a hundred shows to she is so used to it that she gets it. But I think the clever mare knows that she can just fling herself around the show ring until she gets to x and is done. She seems to have learned that there is a limit to my ability to correct her in the show setting. Her whole attitude just flipped like a switch when she heard the whistle.

So I'm going to try imitate the show setting, bell, judges table and all, and school her and only leave when she has been appropriate. Or go to a show, enter one class, then go in the warn up and school her aftercatering. However I am going to forge ahead and teach her all the changes, piroettes and piaffe passage even if I never show it because it will stand me in good stead for bringing on Pauletta.

Suggestions welcomed

I am very determined, however, to get my youngster out and in the ring from the start. Both Kea, and Saiph were over ten years old before their first show and I believe that was harder for them to adjust. Again opinions welcome.

Kimba has decided that i am rude to expect uphill flying change, and I have informed her that she too is going to learn the tempi because i need the skills.
I used to think I was fairly good at developing canter and FC , but my current group of reprobates are proving me wrong. If the universe, ( Or God) gives you what you need when you need it, I am clearly at the doorstep of flying change hell. DO or die, Conquer or collapse,

which school of thought do you belong to,
A don't ask until everything is great, the basics are there, et al.

Or B, nothing us ever perfect, ask and persist.

When Kea was obnoxious about fitting in the flying changes on a diagonal, I took her out on a half mile track and just kept asking until she realized we never ran our if space, and I could ask anywhere, and it was a huge break through. But the break through was my attitude, I can ask anywhere and the horse should be up for that. Opinions?


Maybe as a trainer I don't canter enough. Maybe I'm so in my comfort zone at trot that I just don't canter enough.

I should time myself.

[Moutaineer]

I think i understand what you are saying, Chisamba. At some point you have to have an expectation that the horse will come to the party, also. And this may require that one insists more than one is used to or is entirely comfortable with.

And I'm not talking about being aggressive or abusive in any way. That's not at all that I'm trying to express. It's more a question that one has to raise ones expectations both of oneself and the horse.

I guess I'm going through this at the moment. "Good enough" isn't really good enough, either from him or me. I have to really ride to get the most out of every stride. It's physically and mentally very challenging for me, riding to the edge like that.

He seems happy to take the challenge and be prepared to answer the harder questions, however, so I guess we will persist.

[mari]

which school of thought do you belong to,
A don't ask until everything is great, the basics are there, et al.

Or B, nothing us ever perfect, ask and persist.

When Kea was obnoxious about fitting in the flying changes on a diagonal, I took her out on a half mile track and just kept asking until she realized we never ran our if space, and I could ask anywhere, and it was a huge break through. But the break through was my attitude, I can ask anywhere and the horse should be up for that. Opinions?

Maybe as a trainer I don't canter enough. Maybe I'm so in my comfort zone at trot that I just don't canter enough.

I should time myself.

Chisamba I love your update, you are so thoughtful with the work that you do and the expectations you have for your horses.

I'll comment in two parts.
Firstly, on your question, I used to be in the A camp, but am now firmly in the B camp (ask and persist, don't wait for perfect). I will try and explain why, but please excuse me if this doesn't come across as very clear. Apart from teaching my horse to respond to cues and aids, I ALSO try very hard to teach him to try. There is just reward for that "try" mindset. It has made our whole journey so much easier, because we are both perpetually at the same level. So for myself I can't 'perfect' a collected canter when I have NEVER ridden a proper pirouette. So we play with pirouette, and he's quite happy to try and flub it. From there I can feel that we are not in the collected canter that I need, and I can work towards that and try pirouette again.

And I hope that I'll take that mindset forward with my next horse, even though then I would be the more experienced partner in our duo. I want my horse to still have fun when we have a wobble or a mistake or an out-of-balance moment. And I will certainly start working on half-steps much earlier, and include FCs as part of normal transition vocab even if they're just playful tries.

And secondly, my instructor says we can never canter enough. So canter more

[exvet]

First on the question of getting them used to performing away from home as well as they do at home - take them out as early as you can and as often as you can. No question when I had my larger rig and filled every open spot with the young ones who I took with the ones to be shown, the whole task later on down the line was much easier. I plan to take Troy to every schooling show I can even if it's just to hang out at the trailer. I won't, due to cost be doing the same with recognized shows but I'll have a lot of lesson and clinic opportunities to get him on the trailer and off property. As soon as he's under saddle I'll be riding him at the schooling shows even if I don't enter him in the show/class/test.

I have had more than one individual who figured out the limitations that I felt I had in the show arena. Again I used schooling shows (explained to judge before going down centerline my expectation and objective) to correct their too smart for their own good behavior. This actually occurred with Monty when I had him at third/fourth level. A judge who I explained the challenges and intent actually stopped me mid test and had me repeat a movement so that I could get the set up even better and then correct him when he tried to take over (evade) and we did much better. This is really what schooling shows are for imo. I've never had an issue if I chose to repeat a movement that a horse refused or blew while riding in a test at a schooling show - both judge and horse accepted the concept. If it's an issue of riding the broom stick through the whole test and the need to get rid of it, I would prepare the judge for the fact that the test might not be geometrically correct but that I needed to focus on supple first and ask for the movements at the letters where I felt the movement would be better......................again most judges would just smile and nod. Of course so many in this area are used to me training my horses this way and me riding HC so that while scores still were attempted, being held to a guise of how I compared to others wasn't an issue for anyone. The others can have the ribbons. All I care about is the training so that I have a better chance of showing a judge what the horse is really capable of at a recognized show.

As for flying changes, well, I'm afraid I am one who tries to insure that their transitions are good, their canter is balanced in both directions and they can counter canter at least enough to earn a 6 in a dressage test and then introduce the flying change. This does NOT mean that they are 'perfect' at everything before the introduction of the flying change and in all honesty I've almost always had a horse offer and give my a flying change before I ever get there (and this I don't punish but reward and move on usually working on better balance and being supple so they don't pop the change if I didn't want it). I will say though that Junior has taught me a very hard and tough lesson - don't allow or accept a flying change if it doesn't feel like it's going to come through properly so I've become much pickier in my set up and much better able to 'abort' the mission if I feel him try to take over and swallow the broom stick so to speak.

[Josette]

Chisamba - Her whole attitude just flipped like a switch when she heard the whistle.

I do agree with you about adding the bell, whistle, judge's table staging at home to test her sound trigger.

[khall]

Just wanted to thank all for your condolences and understanding of losing mom and the difficulties we faced during that time. Horse people get it.

Anyway I’m still trying to catch up with riding. I did get on Joplin one day this week and have worked her in hand some too. Definitely not ready for clinic but it’s happening anyway I know Cedar will get us back on the right path.

No plans for showing right now. Just need to get back on track. Cedar clinic in a week. Right now we are being impacted by the hurricane with rain and t storms for several days. So yeah no riding still but needed rain!! Trying to get a 3 rd hay cutting this year. It’s been a terrible year for hay. Too wet too dry army worms cut late weeds and more weeds sigh. I’ve got a good bit in the barn but per usual would like a bigger cushion.

Rip seems to have responded well to his coffin joint injections but yesterday he was showing footsore to balled up mud in his LF. He is such a puzzle. He looked ok in his stall today but last night bringing him in I was concerned he looked nqr. For now I’m just going to see if he gets worse or better.


Chisamba as for taking youngsters out. It’s always imo a good idea for them to get exposure. Can’t say with certainty it fixes all potential issues since I do think some horses are just more challenging than others. For example Rip was hauled all over from yearling on and he still had to have a day before a show or clinic to get the kinks out. And I would still not always know what I might get. Joplin on the other hand wasn’t even hauled off to ride off farm until her first show. lol! Bless her she just went in and went to work. Didn’t mind the warmup was fine with judges booth flowers etc and required no lunging. She was 8 or 9 when I first took her off. Now she is a bit of a worrier hauling itself. But settles just fine in the stall. Rip haled well and was fine in the stall it was the riding that could be dicey. All I know is that with Joplin her innate character is to work with me. I can count on her and she handles the pressure of the work. Rip I could count on him to challenge me in some form or fashion almost daily. Gaila is a bit in between the two. Lani who knows! But Lani is definitely going to get more exposure than Joplin did as a young horse.

I do know horses keeps one humble. I’m glad you are having success at home with Saiph even if it’s not transferring to off the farm. Hopefully you can crack that issue! Paulette sounds like she has a bit of willful streak:). Lani and her would get along. Lani just takes a motion to go where she wants to regardless if I’m on the end of the lead and when she got corrected about it the other day she laid down! I told her tantrums get you no where. She walked nicely back to the barn then. Testing them waters


Happy riding all!

Good luck at regionals blob!!

[Flight]

I'm a B camp. And patience, just keep chipping away. It took my horses (and me!!) a while to figure out where legs are supposed to go for flying changes.
I dont think you wait for perfect. You try stuff, see where it fails then work away at that. I also had to stop thinking that first goes (and 2nds, and 3rds....10ths) had to be perfect. You have to accept little tiny improvements.

I think your autocorrects are hilarious Chisamba, so never worry about them But sorry Saiph lost her shit at your show. I would try and find training days/protocol days and school her through them.

Khall, sorry about your mum

I've decided to take Ding to the working eq national champs which means I have to ride consagrados 1. This means riding one handed ..I HATE riding one handed! But I have to suck it up and practice a lot between now and end of November.
I was going to take Norsey (he is still in the class of 2 handed riding) but because he lost weight, I'm struggling with saddle fit. He's always been so hard to fit and always has atrophy and massive withers, I don't think any saddle has actually fitted him well. Plus I'm quite heavy now, so that's not helping.
I'm just doing lunging and ground work with him to see if I can develop his back, but truly I think his shape is always going to be difficult.

I've got the young horse lined up to go and see a trainer for a few weeks. I'm ready to get back on him, but dont trust my own training anymore so will get a professional's opinion and get him to find the holes that I missed.

My little dog died the other day. He had cancer and it was coming. But it still hit me hard and I've been quite mopey since. Hoping to shake that feeling soon, but still remember him in a good way.

[Srhorselady]

So sorry Flight! Every time some one loses a dog, horse, or parent it reminds me of those I’ve lost too. Grief is hard but better we had them (people and pets!) and lost them than never having had them. Our relationships make us the people we are.

[StraightForward]

So sorry about your dog, Flight. It is never easy, no matter the circumstances.

Chisamba, I also enjoy your typos. Usually I can figure out what you were trying to say, but not on that one (though I got the gist)!

T got to start turnout yesterday, which was good, as she was starting to get a little obnoxious. Inspired by those lycra fly masks, I MacGyvered her a protective bib out of an old lycra shoulder guard with the chest cut out and replaced with a bubble of mesh from an old fly sheet. The wound is healing nicely, but is going to take time. I've been using the ArcEquine microcurrent device and my little red light laser almost every day, and keeping it protected with Underwood's. I'll post pics of the progression at some point. The BO said she was still quite full of it when she brought her in after 7-8 hours. She'll get out again today, then I'm planning to do a light ride tonight and see how she's feeling. Perhaps we'll be able to go right back into work; we'll see. At any rate I'm glad to have her out and moving to keep the range of motion as she heals.

[exvet]

Good luck SF and T, sounds like you're on the right track to an uneventful recovery though they always keep us exercising our ingenuity

Flight, my condolences regarding your dog. No, it's never easy and there's never a 'good time' to have to say good-bye. While they take a piece of our heart with them when they leave they already made it so much bigger by being a part of our lives.

Well yesterday started out a 4 am, on the road to Durango, CO by 5 am and back with a 2 year-old Welsh Cob gelding at 8 pm. Troy loaded like a champ, traveled so well, and unloaded in the dark without getting stressed or upset (can it be he's really a Welsh Cob LOL? Hell Yeah!). I'm sure I'll be barraging y'all with pictures and video in the near future but here are some to get us started. These were taken this morning while Troy was getting acquainted. He's already as tall as Junior and I expect he'll be at least as tall as Ace when it's all said and done.

[StraightForward]

Cuuuuutiieee! Can't wait for the barrage of pony pics and following your progress with him

[blob]

he's very handsome, Exvet! and has certainly won the lottery landing with you. I can't wait to see how he progresses.

So sorry about your loss, Flight--that is such a hard thing.

We leave for regionals on Tuesday and they still haven't sent us stabling information, hopefully that comes tomorrow. While they haven't emailed us about ride times, they are up online, so i was able to peek at mine. I have a huge championship class--nearly 60 riders and I go 4th in the class, ha. Definitely not the best place to be strategically, but oh well, at least I will be done early in the day.

[exvet]

Good luck Blob. Starting in the beginning isn't always that bad. If you set the stage especially with accuracy of your geometry it means the rest have to follow and that puts them at a disadvantage.

So my plan with the boys was to keep Troy and Ace together and maybe see if Junior will behave with the twosome after a week or so. Junior is so dominant that I'm prepared to keep him apart for up to a year if need be until Troy gets more size on him. My property is crossed fence in a way that it's easy to do. Well Junior had other ideas. He took the carabiner off the gate separating him from the two and opened it in order to have them altogether. At first it was okay because they seemed to be getting along but then Junior took off after Troy. Well everyone survived but I ended up sticking to my original plan and found a really thick double snap that hopefully will be too difficult for Houdini to open. Geesh Welsh Cobs!

[Lipsmackerpony88]

Flight, so sorry for the loss of your dog.

Blob, best of luck!! I hope you can share some pictures with us later on.

Exvet, he's very handsome! I can't wait to watch his journey.

I had a good lesson this morning and then Lynx got his feet done. My beloved farrier let us all know that he would be raising his rates for us as he lives about an hour away. So he will be $250 for front shoes and $300 for hind shoes. He's always been on the pricier side but that's getting a little bit much. I put them on the books for next time but I might have to look for someone else. Really sucks and I don't want to cheap out by any means but there is kind of a line of what I can pay every 6 weeks.

We go to the vet tomorrow. We will see what happens...

[StraightForward]

Ouch, that is a lot to pay, LSP! It seems like I've invested a lot in my glue on showing venture this year, but that's a good reminder that it will pay off over time.

I was hoping to ride last night, but still needed to trim T's right hind after the weird lameness stuff a few weeks ago. I had not handles her hinds at all for two weeks and assumed she'd be past it. It's not as bad as before, but I could not use the rasp or grinder at all or she'd start hopping on her LH and I'd have to give the leg back. Bodyworker is coming out tonight and I sent a video to the vet and am waiting to hear back. She did look sound on the lunge, so I'll probably try a light ride tonight and see if I can feel anything. She did seem sore around her hips, so I think it's related.

[goldhorse]

So he will be $250 for front shoes and $300 for hind shoes. He's always been on the pricier side but that's getting a little bit much.

Wow, just wow. I pay $100 for fronts and pads. $150 for a full set. Another farrier charged me $135 for fronts and he's on the high end around here. And that's in pricy Northern California. Glue ons at the UC Davis farrier shop never ran me more than $300. Is this guy something special? However, I do understand paying that if he's the only one who can keep Lynx sound.

[heddylamar]

That's pretty pricey, LSP! I was looking at $100/foot for glue-on shoes with Maia's latest adventures. Does Lynx need extra special shoes??

[exvet]

Gosh I feel so very lucky (well in many ways) but especially in regards to horseshoeing. I pay $95 for front shoes only. I pay $135 for keg shoes all the way around but since I have aluminums put on Junior's hind, keg in front I pay $150. I always get an apology with each price increase too. I haul 2.5 hours one way to have my farrier of 18 years (both of us were shaking our heads the last time after realizing it's been that long - we've watched both our sets of kids grow up and our usual conversation covers multiple family members as topics LOL) to do my horses. I'm more than willing to do that since this guy keeps my horses sound. He's always been on the lower side of the price range in my area (that now covers two counties in AZ). People are always asking me who does my horses' work because they know how sound my horses have been over the years as well as NEVER having to complain about a shoeing problem, lost shoes (still can count on one hand the number of times I've had to have come back out to tack one back on), etc. He's built his business to the point that he doesn't accept new clients but I'm always amazed at the negative way people dismiss my choice of farriers simply because he's Mexican (legal US citizen). His nephew who also has a successful business as a farrier is always willing to take care of any 'emergencies' I might have when my farrier goes out of town or his apprentice is willing which has only happened once when Brandon threw a shoe. This last round of shoeing, I told Miguel that I didn't know what I would do if he ever retires. He promised me that we would both retire together Of course in addition to being a loyal customer I've never put him in harms way, willingly using drugs on my horses if needed, and providing shade/fans/misters/decent accommodations to get his work done. Still, I read others' accounts regarding farrier service and know I have a gem of a farrier.

[Aleuronx]

Exvet, what a cutie!! Cannot wait to see how you shape him as he grows. Fingers crossed you get the herd dynamics sorted too.

blob safe travels today and jingles for great ride at regionals!

LSP being in the Northeast those prices don't scare me. I'm lucky that Kora is happy as anything barefoot but from what I see others paying with my farrier and others that's kinda in line especially considering a special travel fee. Might be worth investigating others but I can see why you'd be cautious if it's working. It's only money right?

I had a great lesson on Saturday where Kora offering the nicest very collected canter on the tougher left lead. Couldn't do a thing in it of course and next day the hind legs were absolutely dead but it was fun to feel that it's in there. Might see it appear again in two weeks, seems to be how these things go. We did work a bit in the trot and increasing the expression in the shoulder-in as I tend to position and pray rather than position and push for greater engagement. That was also fun to feel and good to try and snapshot that feeling in my head/body as a goalpost.

Then the less good, monday show up to some swelling on left side of her jawline and sensitivity. Not sure if she bit/lacerated the inside of her cheek, sting from bug or what. Took a peek inside her mouth best I could and no smell or cracked teeth or anything I could see, not reactive to pressing on teeth from outside etc so will give her a couple days before I raise the alarm with vet or dentist.

[Lipsmackerpony88]

Lynx isn't in special shoes all the we do rocker the toe a bit but I don't think that's considered special. Besides $300 is his price for just a standard keg shoe now:(

He is a great farrier, horses love him. Lynx literally falls asleep during his appointment. He works well with vets and is polite and always on time. But I also feel he doesn't really want to come to our area anymore so that's the reason for the price increase.

He's definitely about $100 or more more than most.

[Lipsmackerpony88]

I'm definitely not going to switch right away as I'm very nervous about it. Lynx so far hasn't had anything really complicated going on with his feet but at the same time he does seem to have a sweet spot that he needs to stay in to be comfortable. This seems easy for this farrier but I'm not so sure about just anybody. With everything else going on I certainly don't want to rock the boat...

But the writing is on the wall. He will only come to our barn if there's at least three or four people. I know one lady said he was now too expensive for her and she was going to have to switch. I have no idea what the other clients are going to do. There was already only four or five of us.

I do think this also means that there will be no way to reschedule or let's say if a shoe gets pulled he will not be able to come out. He's just too busy and lives too far away. So I do think I should at least start thinking about different farrier eventually. I will definitely take my time even if it's a few months of finding a good fit.

We're going to the vet today anyways so I'm going to ask them about recommendations or anybody to absolutely stay away from.