Category Archives: Horses

Feather-Training

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Feather moving forward, working hard, in Gaylyn’s well groomed barrel arena.

Saturday Lauren and I had planned to go to our friend Gaylyn’s house for a little outing with Feather.  Feather, at four, is just enbarking on her life with us and her life as a show horse.  It is important that we do things the right way the first time and develop a horse that is quiet, capable and willing when we get to the show ring. 

So, I have no idea what I was thinking when I thought we would take Leo and Feather to Gay’s house.  I guess I was thinking that Feather had come all the way from Florida in a trailer just a few short months ago and she would not have issues getting back into the trailer.  I was so wrong!. When Feather first got here from Florida she had to re-load from the giant transport trailer into our three-horse slant trailer.  We had no issues.  The next day we hauled her to the vet.  She loaded in and out without a problem.  Since then we hauled her one time up to Caroline’s for an outing with Mickey and Leo.  She was sweating and a little edgy but re-loaded easily for the ride home.

My original theory was to load Feather first then Leo would come in behind her.  First, I am not pointing fingers, but Lauren was in a crappy mood.  It was early, she is never patient on a good day and this was no exception.  Feather didn’t want to get in the trailer.  She would get to trailer door and back off dragging Lauren with her.  She did that a few times.  Then we decided to put Leo into the first slant.  Oh, he went in, but then started pawing and kicking.  His behavior freaked out Feather further. She was not riding shot gun with Leo.  Perhaps she had read my blog.  No riding with Leo!

We decided to go get Mickey and take Feather with him.  I’ve got to tell you, when Mickey is your go-to guy, life is nuts.  Mickey had years when he would not load in a trailer without serious prompting along with bolting and dragging his handler.  In the meantime, Lauren and I are both sweating and complaining about our stupid horses and it isn’t even 8:00 am yet.  Mickey, in his current place, as the king of the herd and champion of Six Meadow Farm, walks right in the trailer.  He stands patiently as we figure a way to get Feather in with him. 

I got a short whip and stood behind the horse, while Lauren lead her forward into the trailer.  It took a couple of trys and couple of hard retreats (dragging Lauren out of the trailer with her) but Feather loaded and we were off to Gaylyn’s place.

Gaylyn and I have been friends for several years.  Both of us moved our families from Sugar Land to this little town to have more space for our horses.  Gaylyn has run top-quality Quarter horses and a few paints in barrels and poles over the years.  She has made her mark at Quarter Horse World and as a dear friend.

Fortunately, we live only about ten minutes apart.  I was very happy with Feather when she got to the new arena.  A show horse must settle in to new places.  There isn’t time to be afraid of everything, buck or run.  At a new arena, my horses need to be ready to work.  Feather really took the whole new place in stride.  She certainly was looking around and taking it all in but not in any crazy or difficult way.

Boomer, with his perfect head cocked toward the mare.

Gaylyn’s young, home-bred, gelding, Boomer sure had his eye on my mare.  He is a pretty perfect looking Quarter horse.  I think he liked the looks of my leggy grey mare as well.

We all had good rides working on our multiple horse disciplines.  Gay was working her barrel horse stuff, lots of canter circles and stops.  Lauren was trying to get the mare collected up and moving well.  I was riding Mickey, walk, trot and canter with my main goal to stay in the saddle.

Gaylyn turned to watch Feather work.  She remarked that the mare moved powerfully and yet smoothly.  I definitely was proud of Feather (and Mick) when the cows in the pasture next door start a mini-stampede for their barn.  Feather watched them carefully but made no move to run or spook. 

We got both horses in the trailer pretty easily and headed home.  It is good to have good horses and good friends.  Feather will practice loading each day this week until her departure to Dev’s for more training on Thursday.  I bet she will be a pro by then.

Man O’War, Secretariat and Mr.Kid (OTTBs and OTQH)

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Man O’War

My friend Gaylyn gave me a photo of my favorite horse of all time-Man O’War, last night.  Man 0’War, or Big Red as he was called, raced in 1918-1919.  He won 20 of 21 races beaten only by a horse named Upset in a race as a two-year old where he was literally backward at the barrier when it was snapped (no starting gates existing then) to start the race.  His jockey got him boxed in on the rail and still he only lost by a neck in this horrible race.  He didn’t win the triple crown, I think he would have, but his owner, being truly interested in the welfare of his horse, thought a mile and a quarter was too far to ask a three-year old to run early in May.  He did win the Preakness and the Belmont. He was truly one of the great ones.  If you have young kids that like to read, get the Walter Farley version of Man O’War.  It will be a great summer read for them or you.  Just be prepared for the proclamations that Man O’War was the “mostest horse that ever was” as his groom used to say.

Secretariat

Secretariat, also known as Red, may have been the greatest ever-I would say certainly in the spring of 1974 when it was Triple Crown time, I do not think there was a horse ever that could have beat the horse he was then.  Yesterday, a decision came down that Secretariat’s time in the Preakness was officially a Preakness record.  This has been debated since 1974.  The official clock malfunctioned.  Two track timers clocked him at the same Preakness record time but it wasn’t until Penny Chenery continued to fight for her big red horse that now, the record will stand until someone can surpass it.  Secretariat broke records at all three triple crown events.  His time from the Belmont (watch the movie Secretariat if you haven’t-you will enjoy it) will never be beat (or if it does that thoroughbred may be the best ever).

Kid at 30-imagine him in his prime

My big red horse, Mr. Kid, continues to be the love of my life.  He is an off the track quarter horse.  He was fast.  He went from the track to speed events like barrels and poles.  He is related to both Secretariat and Man O’War in his bloodlines, or at least that’s how I remember it.  Both of those super race horses had what horse lovers call heart and I believe my horse does as well.  He has certainly given me his.

The other two OTTBs, are coming along.  Leo worked better today than ever since his adjustments.  We made some saddle and pad changes.  I think the saddle was not fitted as well as it should have been.

Caroline and Joey (I think they like each other!)

Caroline is doing a great job on the new horse Joey.  I think they have bonded and he is lucky to have someone he trusts as he makes the transition from race horse to jumper.  He is gaining weight, getting stronger and more balanced.  I want to see him go over some small jumps soon. Oh, I hope he likes it!

Leo

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Leo blazing to the finish line.

I have another update from the weekend horse show.  Leo had a great show-ended up with a first, second and fourth place ribbon to be reserve champion overall.  But wow, Friday was bad.  Lauren was thrown hard into a jump when Leo stopped on her in the warm-up ring.  Dev got on Leo (although I noticed he did not hurry to jump another jump once he was on his back).   Dev got him going over jumps, then Leo stopped again.  Dev stayed on, but was thrown way up on Leo’s neck.  As Leo pulled himself out of the jump ( and the poles and boxes that made up the jump), he reared while Dev clung to his neck. Then the big Leo did a fast spin in retreat but still Dev hung on.  Leo got in a little trouble for that.  Dev pushed him through the next several jumps with a kind of banshee yell each time he approached a fence.  Leo did not refuse again. 

With Leo, I am reminded of the old saying that God gives us what we ask for but sometimes we do not know we already have what we need.  Sometimes we need to try a little harder.  We keep asking God to help us and he does but we keep looking for something else. 

Leo went to training at Dev’s in January.  He was sent home with the advice to sell him.  We tried that.  No one wanted him.  Or if anyone wanted him, we did want them to have him.  So, we started the whole chiropractic/vet work-up thing to try and improve him. 

Leo is better.  You can see it in his canter.  Most of time you can see it when he jumps.  But when Lauren took the hard fall on Friday, with tears in her eyes, she told me to get rid of Leo.  Sell him, kill him, she didn’t care.  I said he is so sweet and doing so much better.  Her reply was “you don’t have to show him”.  Fair enough.  I wish I could.   He was hot when we left him Friday night and hot horses are easy colic victims.  Half kidding (I think) Lauren told Dev not to call the vet if Leo went down.  It was her form of DNR-do not resuscitate.  I think she was kidding.

On Saturday as he started through his classes, Dr. Criner-Leo’s vet, sat with me.  She kept questioning-puzzled, “This is better?  This is really better?”  with amazement in her voice that what he was doing could possibly better than anything.   But it truly was.  Perhaps not good yet, but definitely better.  By his third jumping round, he was pretty much jumping like a real horse not a gazelle.  Lauren had gained confidence and relaxed which helped Leo do the same.  By this third round, not only did they do better but they won.  Been a long time since he has won a round.

Perhaps, God is giving us the horse we need.  Perhaps he will never fly like Mickey.  But perhaps somewhere there is someone who just wants to soar a little and this will be their boy. I do not God’s plan for me and this horse.  I will try to make him better to the best of my financial and physical abilities.  I will not make Lauren ride him if he is dangerous.  I can’t.  But I must follow this guy and try to find the right spot for him.  It is out there with me or with someone new.

p.s. the trailer ride home with his friend Mickey along was way better.  Although Dr. Criner might have said, “this is better?”  because he was still rocking and rolling.  Thankfully, I was in the truck and Mickey was riding shot-gun.

Leo starting to get more collected.

Leadline

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I have tried as a mother and grandmother, to instill a love and respect of animals in my children and grandchildren.  It is clearly a desire of mine for my grandchildren to be comfortable around and enjoy horses and equestrian sports. 

It brought me profound joy to reunite Jordyn with Snowney-Pony as she calls him this weekend at the Great SW Equestrian Center in Katy,TX.

Snow comes to us from the ASPCA with a run through Sarah/Sharelle Petty’s rescue.  Jordyn started riding on his back before she could walk.  She was trotting on his back as a two-year old.  Then came my new job and less time at home.  We got to spend less time with Jordyn and Jordyn less time with Snow.  I made the decision to send Snow to Lauren’s trainer, Dev, where he could use him (and pay his bills) until the time Jordyn was ready and able to ride him again on a regular basis.

Snow has done well at Dev’s winning numerous championships for little girls there-including one for Isabelle this weekend.  But it was also time for Jordyn to get back on Snowney’s back in the show ring.

The first class done by a lot of little riders is “Leadline”.  The parent (or aunt-in our case) leads the little rider into the ring all decked out in show gear on a tiny English saddle.  The judge asks for a couple of things from the riders, like show your jumping position or some basic questions.

Jordyn was with us on Friday when Snow arrived in Dev’s trailer.  Nothing would do but to get on him and take a trip around the show grounds.  Lauren schooled Mick and Leo.  We left the horses at the Equestrian Center and headed home for last minute preparations.

Early Saturday morning, Jo along with Caroline’s daughter Abby, got ready for the ring.  Their hair was done in braids with large ribbons.  They sported jodhpurs and paddock boots.  Hard hats (helmets) were required and on.  We caught a great picture of the girls, both four years old, peering into Snow’s stall.

Abby and Jordyn, entry numbers in place,checking on Snow.

Both girls did great in the ring.  I would note that Abby’s pony is a rescue as well, but no two ponies could be cuter!

I love the picture of Jordyn with her parents.  Ally is late in her pregnancy with sister Kendyll.  They are all in blue and it matches to Snowney’s blue ribbon perfectly.

I love that Jordyn loves the shows, and the horses.  I love that I am lucky enough to share it all with her.  My one dear friend reminded me later, just wait until Jordyn is a teen riding for the top spot in the Junior Division.  She said, “you will want to keep these pictures close at hand to remind her where she started”.

I will indeed want to do that.  I will indeed.

 

Jordyn on Snowbaby Go-earning her blue ribbon for a job well done.

Training

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I am in training for a few days.  I am trying to learn new things.  I did not grow up with computers.  I was in journalism school and we were still using the IBM Selectric typewriters.  They actually had little corrector tapes that made changes to your papers or articles.  When word processing came along it changed everything-things people take for granted now.  Being able to go and change one line of document without re-typing the whole thing was an enormous step forward.  And saving the document electronically for another day, wow, what an invention!   I know you don’t want to hear about the old days but I want you to understand how crazy the idea would have been for me, to do computer training.  It would be like something out of The Jetsons. And if you don’t know who the Jetson’s are…well that’s another story entirely.

So, I am learning to manage and coordinate a computer site that handles retention of files and documents.  It will be new for me.  I am a little scared.  What do I know about this stuff?  Very little is the answer.  But I will troop along and learn and grow. 

Our horses, with our dogs and even our cats to a degree, learn and grow.  The cats simply learn I will show up with the food at appointed times of the day.  The horses and dogs need more lessons.  I have heard many dog trainers comment that horse people make good dog trainers.  It is because we already get the repetition and time needed to make an animal understand what we want to teach them. 

Yesterday, Joey- the new off the track thoroughbred (OTTB) started his training with Caroline.  He was fresher and livelier.  Probably he was feeling pretty good from the pampering, the good food and rest.

He knows a lot.  But for us it is just the beginning of a process that will teach him to balance himself and hopefully to jump.  All horses will jump, but if they do it well and enjoy it make the difference in a winner in the ring and one who will never make the cut.

Lauren is working Leo-the other OTTB, to re-learn all that was taught him before so that he re-learns the use of his muscle and muscle-memory.  All of his chiropractic work is going well.  But he needs to train his right side which has been weak for so long.

Today, I learned a lot of fancy computer skills that wouldn’t have even existed 20 years ago.  I can be trained and I am pretty old.  It gives me hope that these great thoroughbreds will take to their training as I have, perhaps reluctantly, perhaps with apprehension but in the end with acceptance and a mastery of new skills.

Mickey-alert and on-fire headed for the jump-doing what he was trained to do

Leo-Stands Still

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Just a quick note- the severe storm that tore limbs from our tree and drove holes through our roof, also has kept the horses from being ridden.  Our arena is still a few days from being rideable and much of our pastures are just mud.

I saddled up Mickey and Lauren got on Leo to ride the hay rides this afternoon.  It was still wetter than I thought it would be on the dirt roads.  Both horses were hyped up and excited.  Feather was charging up the fence line wanting to go along with the boys.

We were doing a long trot headed through the corn road at a pretty good pace.  I was having some problems holding on to Mickey.  I think the Belmont was fresh in his mind and he wanted to show everyone how fast he could go.  Just as we were nearing the end of the road, where we would turn for home, a cow popped up in the neighboring pasture scaring both horses. Leo saw him first and hit the brakes, hard.  Lauren went flying over his head and hit the ground on her hip.  Mickey was braced to turn and run.

 Remarkably, although Lauren had lost her reins in the tumble, the big horse, stood over her.  He was scared of the cow, but concerned for his rider.  I was trying to maneuver over to him to grab his reins.  Leo just stood and waited for Lauren to get back up from the ground.  He waited for her to grab his reins and re-mount.  I have rarely been so thankful for anything in my life.  If he would have bolted, Mickey would have run with him and I, well, I would be on the ground somewhere.  Life Flight would probably be in the air headed to pick me up.

Lauren is a little banged up and no doubt tomorrow will be moving a little slow.  But Leo stood still and I am grateful to whatever trainer taught him that long ago.

 

And MayFest was our Fest this time

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The loot from the MayFest (plus some serious cash and token gifts)

We had a rough Saturday.  Mickey and Lauren both were getting tired.  Hard to sustain the speed and edge as the jumps got higher and higher.  Still a lot went well. 

Today  we learned that Lauren won Grand Champion for two Divisions.  Total points for the division are calculated over all the days showing and the rider with the highest points is the Grand Champ and second highest points are awarded the Reserve Champion designation.  Over all the years Lauren has shown in the rated shows, once (MayFest last year) she won one Grand Championship.  And once quite some time ago she was Reserve Champion for a show.

So, two Grands!  Wow.  And in her Low Adult Jumper division she was one point (1 freaking point) out of Reserve Champ.

I am very proud of both them. 

 And since it is Mother’s Day, I would also like to mention how lucky I was (am) to have my great Mother!  She doesn’t remember much these days.  I am so saddened to have lost my biggest supporter and advocate.  I must carefully edit my remarks to her so she can understand them and so she doesn’t get scared.  I am so blessed to have had her by my side all these years.  Momma, I love you so!  I miss you so much too!

My daughter Amber is the best little momma herself.  She is always selfless and trying to do more for her kids.  I know how hard it is to work and have young ones. though mine were never so close.

I love you, Ammy and am proud to be your mother.

Ally has been the greatest mom to Jordyn.  I just don’t know how she could have done better.  So soon, she will have baby number two and I know she will be the best mother to Kendyll as well.

I love you, Ally and am proud to be your mom.

Lauren, of course, is a great mom to Mickey, Sneaky and Puppy Girl.

How they all learned this is puzzling.  I know I have not been half the mom to them that they are to their children.  But some how they learned.  I thank God everyday for my wonderful family.

Today, I give thanks for many things!  Happy Mother’s Day to all you, moms.  God Bless you!

Another show day

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Lauren and Mickey hit the ground running winning their first class at .80 meter with a pretty good margin.  The next class was tougher.  Mickey was starting to get tired, day three class number 8.  That is a lot jumping and running.  Mickey jumps when Lauren guides him perfectly to each jump.  Second to the last jump of 13, Lauren had fallen out of position and Mickey-Stopped.  Dead stopped.  Lauren got him going again, donning the crop and spurs but was penalized by the clock and for the “refusal”.  Normally, it is very difficult for Lauren and Mick to come back after this type of issue.  I was afraid for them as they went in the ring for the first of their adult low jumper classes at 1.0 meter.  It was higher and harder and they were struggling.  They cleared all the fences and ended with a time of 41.04 seconds.  There were some fast horses in the class but they had problems and Lauren and Mick won their first Adult class!  Extremely proud of them doing so well and coming back after a refusal.

I had the last of my tests this morning so was there to see this round.  No more tests until Tuesday.

Update

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Just a quick note-Lauren had a good day!  She was second in her first class by 3/10th of a second.  Apparently, Dev told her to push harder and she won her second class by ten seconds just like last year.  Tomorrow and Saturday, they will be back in the ring again.  Hoping for a championship, but if not, these last two days have been great for them.

I have had stomach problems for the last couple of months. I have been having tests with more to come over the next five days. If you are the praying kind, I would appreciate your prayers.

Sure I will be fine-but thank you and God Bless-

Cindy

Horse Shows

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Grand Champion MayFest 2011-hoping for a repeat!

Last year at this time, I watched Lauren and Mickey at the “AA” rated MayFest show in Katy,TX.  We had been doing alright with the move from hunters (slow, steady and pretty) to jumpers (fast is as fast does).  But the best the Lauren and Mick combo had ever come up with was a second place ribbon and only at a lower rated “B” show.   It was with delight and astonishment that Lauren and Mick won their first jumper class last May.  I remember being so excited that I texted my friends.  I actually was beside myself with joy.  I could not believe they had done so well.  They were riding against adults (Lauren was still rated as a junior rider then) and against professional riders.  It was like the switch had come on and they just got it.

I will always remember the feeling of that day.  I hurried back to work and did not see their subsequent classes but got a text soon after to tell me that they won the next class also.  And where time is measured in hundreds of seconds, they had won by ten full seconds. I texted everyone again.  When they won the third class the next day, I started wondering about being so joyful.  The first and then the second blue ribbons were so amazing.  But by the third I wondered if I was being a braggart.  My friend Gaylyn came with me the next day. I had always respected her as a horsewoman.  I certainly wanted Mickey to do well.  I did not have supreme confidence that he would. We stood in the stands as he won again.  She was astounded.  She still thought of Mickey as the sour little horse that Lauren rode as a kid.  Her first words to me as we watched the clock stop on the new fastest time were, “Have the Davangs seen him do this?”

The Davangs were our mutual friends from our old Sugar Land barn and it meant the world to me that Gaylyn was so impressed with Mickey and that she thought our other friends would be as well.  It was one of the better days of my life.

Today, the MayFest started again.  It will be the first show for Mickey and Lauren since Lauren’s bad fall in February.  Lauren had her last finals at school today so trainer Dev Branham took Mickey through the paces. 

I learned that they came out of the first class blazing fast.  And no one could catch their time.  Dev said he was a little surprised and quite delighted with the little brown gelding he rode.  First place was Mickey’s to start off the MayFest.  They returned for the .90 meter class.  Dev had tuned up his attack plan and even though the fences were higher, their time was faster still.  No one caught them.  They won this year by four seconds.  It was still a big margin of victory.  Dev said Mickey was a blast.  He really had a different sense of him, riding him rather than watching Lauren on him.  He called him handy and quick.  He walked away with two blue ribbons for the day.

Tomorrow, Lauren will be back in the saddle herself with Mickey.  They will be riding again for the fastest time.  I hope history repeats itself and MayFest is our fest again.