The weekend

Posted on August 19, 2013 by Exechorseluver

Six horses are now in residence once again at Six Meadow Farm. It was a busy weekend with moving to the show grounds Friday, showing Saturday and Sunday while visiting my mom, readying the farm for Snowboy’s return, and regular weekend chores. Everything went well. I am pretty wiped out and it will be an early night tonight.

Lauren and Feather continued their progression up through the height divisions at the show. Although some six year-old horses are jumping over four feet, they have usually been in the show routine longer than the little over one year that Feather has been. Ironically, she did her first horse exactly one year this same weekend! In this one year, which started at the 2’3″ division, they have moved through multiple divisions until Sunday they showed in 2’9″-3′ foot jumpers.

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Lauren and Feather doing a little sailing.

They picked ribbons in all three classes on Saturday. Dev told her it was the best she ever ridden. Sunday came, the jumps were raised. It was a tougher more aggressive group. Lauren would have to ride faster, jump higher to place. She was second out of ten in her first class. It was pretty exciting to see Feather with lots of air between her and the jump.

We were soon loading Feather in the trailer. Snow easily loaded and we were headed home. It was a rocky as we pulled in the drive. Mickey was calling Feather. All the horses were trying to figure out who was in the trailer. Bruno went nuts, bucking, spinning, running in his small enclosed paddock.

We let Snow out with Pixie first. That was a non-event. Snow faced off against Pixie. She backed off. We sent Mick and Feather out next. A little running, kicking and bucking ensued. We got everyone in at dinner and our barn was full.

from left, Snow, Pixie, Feather and Mick

Jordyn called from Denver to ask what she needed to do to get Snowney to come home. I told her keep practicing and Snowney would home soon. We are T-minus 48 hours until the reunion. I can’t wait!

Story of Snowbaby Go!-Horse Rescue

Posted on August 17, 2013 by Exechorseluver

Originally Posted on August 13, 2012 by Exechorseluver

Snowboy at the rescue-the first time-you can still see his black spots through his white coat.

Snowboy will come home to six Meadow Farm on Sunday. Jordyn will see him as a total surprise on Wednesday. He is her sixth birthday surprise present. I thought it was appropriate to reach into the archives to re-tell the story of Snow and how he came to belong to Lauren and myself (although I know many of you have fond memories of him as well).

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Today’s story is the story of Snowney the White Pony, AKA Snowbaby Go, AKA Snowboy. Some of you out there know that there was a time when he was called Oreo-Double Stuff in his youth for reasons obvious above. He was the pony of a girl at Sienna Stables. My father, quite a horseman in his own right, would never have bought a pony for my sister and I. Too mean, he’d had said. And Snow (Oreo) was no different. In his early days he went out of his way to dump, stop, buck or just lie down in an effort to dislodge his rider and quit working.

His first young rider loved him but her mother was wise enough to know that there were better horses for her daughter to ride. Ones that would not be so determined to send her daughter to the ground. And so this adorable white pony went to the horse rescue. I got a call about him and knew he would work somewhere, for someone in the Whipple Tree Farm stable. I remember Dianne telling Snowboy that first night that life was going to be a little less fun and not as glamorous at this new barn. He was going to be expected to work for a living. And his shenanigans would have to stop.

First, why Snowboy as a name? As a child, my father made sure I learned about great horses and great horseman. I loved the book-Snowman-the Cinderella Horse. He was a rescued plow horse that took on the biggest jumping shows in the world and won. He was owned by Harry DeLeyer(yes, the same DeLeyer family from here in Houston) and was further immortalized in a recent book called “The Eighty Dollar Champion”. http://www.amazon.com/The-Eighty-Dollar-Champion-Inspired-ebook/dp/B004J4WKY2

So, I had loved Snowman but this was a white PONY-so obviously, this pony had to be Snowboy, not Snowman. Made perfect sense to me. Later we came up with the name “Snowbaby Go” as a show name, one which was unique and yet classic. I don’t think we actually got to name any of the other horses we had, we just went along with whatever they were called but Snowboy got a barn name, a show name (Snowbaby Go) and later a love name from my granddaughter, Snowney the White Pony.

Snowboy was originally used as a lesson horse at Whipple Tree and in the course of a few months, most of the teenaged riders there, Caitlyn, Lauren, Rachel, Cara, Stefani and Desi (to name a few) had fallen off of him. He wasn’t necessarily mean, just crafty. If you weren’t paying attention, he would catch you unaware and off you would go. (Which, by the way, totally reinforced my dad’s original opinion.)

Not too long after we got Snow, I got a call from the rescue that a beautiful, big, bay quarter horse had come in. He was a seasoned show veteran and quite a solid hunter. I asked if I could trade Snow for the new horse Mac (I had actually paid more for Snow than they were asking for Mac-because of Mac’s older age). A deal was struck and back to the rescue Snow went. I will note that as much I as I was loved for bringing Mac to Desi (his new half owner) I was hated by the girls that had come to love Snow including my own daughter Lauren. There were a lot of tears when Snow left. I would have never done so if I would have known what would happen to Snow in his next home but then Desi, Elizabeth, Mary Lou and others would have never known the wonderful horse that Mac is either. So… you make the best decision you can.

Jordyn at two-years of age riding her “Snowney” with cat along for the ride

It was not easy to place Snow the second time around. I was the big “English” client and Snow was a jumping pony. Most of the rescue’s clients were western people and this pony did not match their interest. Finally, a woman adopted Snow and he went to live with several other horses. It wasn’t Sienna Stables or Whipple Tree Farm but it should have been okay.

It was not. Sarah, our rescue friend and recent trainer of Feather and Mimi, saw Snow emaciated (which was quite a change from his Oreo-Double Stuff persona) standing in a pasture of dried up weeds. There were dead horses in this pasture and obviously it had been a long time since food and water had been on the menu here. I got a call asking if I would take the pony back. I quickly agreed and Snow came back to Whipple Tree Farm. Before Snow could settle in for a good meal, get his feet fixed or be rested, the Brazoria County Sheriff called with claims that I had stolen the pony. Once he heard the story, he sided with us, but the legal owner of Snow was charging Grand Theft Pony and I had to give him back. The sheriff came to get Snow in an open top trailer. If I thought I had been hated for the first time I let Snow go- it was nothing compared to this time when he rode away in the horrible trailer to go to the ASPCA. Snow would stay at the humane society until the court case was decided. I got a call a few weeks later that his previous owner had been convicted of multiple counts of animal cruelty for allowing some of the horses to die and others (like Snow) to be starved. I was told that Snow would be up for adoption. Snow’s story was actually dramatized on Animal Planet in their show, “Animal Cops”.

This time except for telling a few friends, Kathy, Dianne and Rebecca, no one knew Snow might be coming home, not even Lauren. Rebecca agreed to go pick up Snow in her trailer. Kathy helped with the adoption fees and off we went to get Snow. Lauren was left in the Saturday morning lesson with Dianne. No one had any idea that I was off to pick up Snowboy-I couldn’t face them if anything had gone wrong and I could not bring him home.

As we pulled into the barn, Snow was not visible over the high sides of the trailer. Dianne asked the riders, “Oh my goodness, is that Snowboy?” Stefani, always polite and now a student at Texas A&M, replied “you better freaking not say that-you know he is gone forever!” but Dianne persisted, “Yes, I think it is Snowboy!” Stefani was jumping a course at the time and literally leaped off mid-canter to run to the trailer. Lauren and the other girls were right behind her. Rebecca and I pulled the trailer up and Snow was greeted by crying, screaming girls. I vowed that day that Snow would never go away again. No matter what, he was mine for life.

The next day, probably three hundred pounds lighter than he is today with torn up feet Snow went reserve champion for a girl in the Beginner Division. He won ribbons for Lauren that day as well.

Lauren and Snow at rated show-look at those knees!

Since then Snow has gained weight (he is the best scavenger around-no doubt due to his days of starvation), he has won year-end awards for Lauren in Pony classes many times over, and he has turned in respectable rounds at a rated show in the pony division. He has moved with us to Wharton and he has become my first granddaughter’s first love. As Jordyn was able to get down to ride less and less he went to trainer Dev as a school pony and has guided many over their first fences.

Isabel guiding Snow to another win

It seems that for now, Snow is safe, well fed and happy. One day soon, Jordyn will be ready to show her pony all by herself and he will return to our farm.

But one thing is certain, Snow will always have a place to call home and never be hungry again.

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I know having one more horse will just mean more work and more expense but I am grateful for Dev having taken care of him these last years and just as grateful that I can present him to Jordyn on Wednesday. I suspect seeing her excitement and happiness may make it one of the best days of my life. In the end isn’t that what life is about, to bring joy and happiness to those we love?

I will be sure to have the video camera going!

Bruno and Pixie Get Adjusted-A Bruno Story

Posted on August 16, 2013 by Exechorseluver

Bruno’s areas of adjustment.

After all the high-tech, high dollar surgical intervention that has been done to get this OTTB back from an infection of the coffin bone, it is interesting that in addition to a change in shoeing, having my vet/chiropractor adjust Bruno has made more difference in his ride and movement than anything else. It is a little startling.

Eight months ago this Sunday, Bruno, a six year-old OTTB had surgery at Texas A&M Vet Hospital. At least a third of his hoof was removed including a portion of his diseased coffin bone. Then months of stall rest went by. Finally he was released to start back to work. But honestly, he wasn’t moving well. I expected him to be a little off with his hoof as the hoof walls continued to get stronger. But he was also moving stiffly in his hind end. It was a little disparaging to think you had won the battle with his foot but lost the war with him being sound throughout. We added injections to support his overall joint health.

This week we had our vet, Lynn Criner, DVM, who is also certified as an animal chiropractor come out to look at Bruno (who of course she has seen many times, but never adjusted) and also our young mare Pixie.

The picture above illustrates all the areas that Bruno had issues. Lauren said one of the most amazing adjustments, in terms of change, was in the space above his eye and below his ear. I had noticed one side seemed swollen-or had fluid. Also, it was difficult to bridle Bruno and not just because he is 17.2 hh. He did not like his head touched. Dr. Criner took his head in her hands, manipulated it and my head throwing, swollen faced horse was a thing of the past. He dropped his head down and sighed. Last night, for the very first time, he bridled easily and without issue.

His hind end was out at the hip and spine. He was also out in the shoulder. All were returned to the normal position and again, the big horse sighed in relief. It might take a couple of times for this all to hold together, as muscle memory is long and Bruno has been in bad shape for a while but we will repeat as we need to do so.

Last night when Lauren went out to ride, it was a different Bruno she rode. We have had problems trotting Bruno at all. He did not want to trot and we moved him into a canter early in each ride to keep him more comfortable. Last night, he trotted as well as he ever has, most notably was his nice, even pace and lack of a head tossing, tail swishing fight. He reminded me so much of my old horse Mac who is a hunter pro. Around he went, balanced and happy.

When Lauren went on to the canter it was again the canter of hunter, as even and methodical as could be. I even went so far as to say it looked like a hunter under saddle Quarter horse class. His head was down (okay not down that far!), his hind end moved fluidly, and his cadence was perfect. It was a far cry from the usual off in gallop, dragging his hind end, missing his leads, horse of the past. I just hope this Bruno shows up again!!

Pixie, the four year-old pony, has not liked us to tighten up her girth. She has been less than enthusiastic about me putting my leg on her and pushing her forward. In fact, she has been relcutant to really work at all. Well, that certainly began to make sense as Dr. Criner evaluated her.

Pixie’s areas of pain.

Pixie had ribs out of alignment on both sides, two on one side and one on the other. Can you imagine having someone draw a tight band around your ribs if they were out of place? Would not be a good time. I would not be very cooperative either. Her hips and top of her head (her poll) needed alignment and her little knees were sore (probably from bracing against the pain of everything above them). I had been lunging her more (to make her cooperate better under saddle) and that is the worst thing I could have done for her knees. The vet prescribed straight work for her, no twisting or turning as she starts to heal.

Dr. Criner had suggested “ponying” Bruno down the hay roads so he could also work on the straight instead of having to turn over and over in the arena. Ponying is when one horse is being ridden and the second horse is brought along in a halter (seemingly under the control of the ponying horse). At the time, I told I did not have a horse to pony him with. Mickey is an all-star kicker. Feather would just panic and run away with him. Mr. Kid would want to run away with Bruno but might have a heart attack trying.

When she suggested ponying Pixie, I started to give the same excuse-no pony horse available. Then it occured to me! Snowboy was coming home and if he hasn’t changed he will be an awesome horse to take Pixie down the hay road.

Now, Snow ponying Bruno, first, what a sight that would be! Second, I wonder if Bruno could start running really fast and just pull me and Snow into air, like we were para-sailing behind him. Oh, I wish I could draw because I totally have a visual in my mind of the big, black horse dragging the fat, white pony and the old lady into the air!

Horse show this weekend and hoping to be moving Feather up yet another division in height.

Thanks for riding along!

A Creative Response to the Liebster Award (written by a Shetland Pony)

Posted on August 15, 2013 by Exechorseluver

I was nominated in June for a Liebster Award for new blogs. In turn, I had to nominate other blogs. Markthisday blog was one I nominated. I LOVE the response to all the Liebster questions and know you all will enjoy it as well! This is written by a 10 hand Shetland Pony (in the creative mind of award nominee anyway). I recommend her blog as one you will enjoy.

Hay, About That Award (a Guest Post)

August 14, 2013·by markthisday· in Horses at Home. ·

This biped. What’s to be done with her?! She starts a blog about us (me, the biped’s Shetland pony, and my stablemate, her Arabian horse), but then fails to act when the blog is nominated for an award.

That’s me, the biped’s pony, author of this guest post.

What the hay?!

Back in early July, exechorseluver nominated this blog for a Liebster Award. Of course, being the subjects of the blog, my stablemate and I were truly honored. We waited with eager anticipation for our biped to complete the steps necessary to fully earn the award. They seemed easy enough to us. (You can view the award details and steps at https://exechorseluver.com/2013/07/03/liebster-award/ .)

Apparently, though, the steps were too tough for our biped. She has done NOTHING to earn the award. So I’m taking this opportunity to respond on her behalf, as best I can. (I mean, really, the computer keys are too small, even for my petite hooves, and — geez! — it’s hard to read a screen when your eyes are on the side of your head.)

First, 11 facts about myself:

I’m incredibly cute, despite my short legs.
My mane and tail are blond (and yes, we do have more fun).
My coat is gloriously gold, of varying hues, including red in the winter.
I’m worth at least $300, because I can roll completely over on my back, from one side to the other, three times in succession (sometimes more).
I weigh a svelte 350 pounds (or so the weight tape says).
I stand 10 hands high (but my stature is without measure).
I really, really, really like grass.
Grass makes my hooves hurt really, really bad.
I’m very brave.
I’m quite curious (where the nervous fear to tread, go I!)
I’m old enough to know better.

Okay, the next step is to answer the 11 questions posed by exechorseluver. Here goes:

What caused you to start blogging? This is my first blog post — I was compelled to write because my biped didn’t respond to your very kind nomination.
What was the hardest thing you have ever walked away from? Oh man, that’s easy. The grass in the pasture, of course.
What do you wish would change in your every day life? Well, of course, I’d prefer a REAL pasture instead a dry lot in the summer.
If you review your blogs, what are you most passionate about? Like I say, this is my first post, so I’ll speak for my biped here — it seems she is most passionate about her equines (very natural, of course).
If you had to start a new blog on a total different subject, or a specific subject what would it be? Boy, I could write a book about bipeds.
What was the best moment of your life? When I was rescued from a violent and nasty biped.
Where would you live if money and family were not an issue? Well, I’ve heard that the Shetland Islands are nice.
If you could be a superior athlete, what would be your sport? Honey, I AM a superior athlete.
What is one trait you wish you had more of that you don’t? Height. I’d like to be a horse. Then I could see over my stall door.
What is one somewhat unique ability you have that most people don’t? Bipeds don’t eat grass, you know.
If you had only five books to read (and re-read) for the rest of your life what would two of them be? “King of the Wind,” by Marguerite Henry (the Arabian insists this be in our library) and “Champion’s Story,” by Bob Champion and Jonathan Powell (I just love reading about Aldaniti, that gorgeous long-legged steeplechaser who won the Grand National).

Unfortunately, I can’t finish the award steps, because my biped won’t give me enough time on the computer to read other blogs, and if I don’t do that, I can’t find 11 blogs to nominate or come up with questions to ask them. So I won’t put the Liebster Award logo on this blog, because we didn’t complete the process. (I don’t know what a tag-back is, so I hope I don’t do that by mistake.)

I DO want to say, on behalf of myself, my stablemate and our biped, that we really do appreciate being nominated. Thanks, exechorseluver!

Bruno Advice-A Bruno Story

Posted on August 12, 2013 by Exechorseluver

From the artist Amber Brooks comes a symbol of the loves of my life-animal anyway-with the Poodle and the thoroughbred.

I just received the above watercolor drawing today. I LOVE it. It seems to sum up what is near and dear to my heart. What a talent this Georgia lady is. She owns poodles and horse like I.

From a conversation on my office about how siblings have the same genetics yet turn out so uniquely, so can be true in the thoroughbred world. Thoroughbreds are (usually) thoughtfully bred to produce the best assets a breeder can give them through choice of sire, dam and the rest of the relatives as well. I have blogged before about Bruno (registered name-Fiddler’s Pilgrim) being well-bred with AP Indy, Seattle Slew, Secretariat and others. I just had never spent too much time looking at his dam’s side of the family.

Today I glanced at the pedigree once again. I realized while his grand-sire on one side was AP Indy (pictures in blog further back) I had not noticed that his maternal grand-sire was Hansel. Hansel was a top horse as well-most would say greater than AP. Winning two legs of the Triple Crown (the Preakness and Belmont) and many other big stake races.

Bruno’s great grandsire, Hansel.

It was a little difficult to come to grips with such a prestigous horse with so many famous relatives, rolling in the mud at my little place in Wharton. Talk about a long way from New York. The fun of the OTTBs is their great heritage and lineage.

I texted my friend and sometimes farrier, Sean, who grew up in the thoroughbred world, his grandmother one of the first female managers of a large track in the US. He has also spent time as a jockey. He rode AP Indy. I texted him about Hansel. He replied that having Hansel and AP Indy as your grandfathers is pretty much Thoroughbred royalty. I gave him a little update about how Bruno was doing, that we were starting training and even had done a few jumps

I love dry humor. I received Sean’s text back. He told me Bruno was bred to run, that he was a great horse. I certainly agreed with him. He had ridden the great AP Indy and gave Lauren some tips previously. Then he made me laugh out loud with his final comment. ” I would suggest one thing when you get that horse back in shape and ready for the jumper ring, GO SLOW!! That is one horse that was born for speed and Lauren better never let Bruno take off with her. GO SLOW!”

Absolutely made my day. It is kind of like in the Disney movie, Secretariat, when jockey Ronnie has clearly won the Belmont race and his trainer yells, “Ronnie, don’t fall off”.

I can just see me in the stands watching Bruno and Lauren attack a big jumper course and me yelling., ‘Remember, go slow!”

The Barrel Jump-a Bruno Story

Posted on August 11, 2013 by Exechorseluver

Mickey jumping the infamous barrel jump. Set here at 3’6″.

We got these metal jump cups that attach to the side of barrels. A lot of our friends, actually a lot of my friends all my life have been barrel racers. I have owned and run a top barrel horse in my youth. My arena will always have some barrels in it. When I found these jump cups that make my barrels into jump standards, I had to have them.

A barrel is about three foot high. With the jump set on the top cup, with a regular pole, it is a solid 3’6″. With Mickey, we made it an oxer as well. Mickey was sailing over the jump, but he was an experienced jumper. Feather has not jumped the barrel jump before last night and not on the top setting.

We took Bruno out to work and I was armed with my camera not wanting to miss a shot of Bruno finally jumping a fence. We started the barrel jump as an X. It was about two and half feet tall. Honestly, he could walk over it. I saw him trot towards it, move into a canter, easily jump and come back to Lauren (as opposed to running off strong). For OTTB Bruno, with his racer’s soul, it was something good to learn. That he has stayed sound as our work-outs have increased in intensity and now over the jumps is great as well.

Lauren has never jumped Bruno over anything other than an X. I wanted to take the jump up to a vertical, which is really a horizontal pole across the width of the jump (don’t know why it is called a vertical but it is). Lauren said no. I set it up anyway. I will be first to admit his jump is not perfect, no nice even knees, he will hopefully continue to learn. The main point of the picture below and while I squealed with glee when I first saw it, is how Bruno makes this jump look like a toy. Ask any barrel racer, they will tell you they don’t mind racing around a barrel, but they sure would never consider jumping over one.

While this jump is not the full height or width of one Mickey is jumping above, it still was the first balloon we have floated out there to see if Bruno might have the makings of a jumper. Lauren has never competed in a division with fences over 3’6″. In this picture, Bruno’ s giant OTTB body, absolutely dwarfs the barrels. His back feet are still on the ground. His upper body is easily a foot over the top of the barrels. It was quite an ‘ah hah!’ moment for us. I quickly texted one of my friends to tell her the news. She told me she was excited to see where this Bruno story was going.

Each of these small steps, takes closer and closer to having a show horse. We are going to take it slow but it is sure a lot more fun watching him jump than watching him stand in his stall!

Pixie had a good solid ride. She seems to be maturing before our eyes. We got finished up with those two and Lauren saddled up Feather for workout. We don’t jump Feather much at home, preferring to save her legs for lessons and shows. But the barrel jump was calling to her. Again, not set up as high as Mickey jumped, Feather was her usual over-achiever self.

Feather did a pretty good job of making those barrels look small as well. Maybe, we got a couple of sterling youngsters (three if you count Pixie) gaining ground and showing promise at our farm today.

Thanks for riding along!

JUMP-A Bruno Story

Posted on August 7, 2013 by Exechorseluver

X makes the spot!

Two hundred and thirty-three days since OTTB Bruno underwent surgery to clear a long-time infection to his coffin bone, Lauren simply headed towards this X and Bruno jumped.

Regular readers will know all the trials and issues we have endured trying to get Bruno back to sound. Five months in his stall, totally. Months confined to a small area. Boring days and critical accidents that we did not think Bruno would survive. But he has and since his shoeing (with a cast, straight bar shoe and equi-thane filler) a week ago last Saturday each day he has been moving a little better and with a less of a limp. We will need to do exercises to strengthen his hind end so he does not fall so hard on his forehand. Any dressage trainer anywhere near Wharton? But we can do that. It will take some time.

Lauren usually works Feather in the morning. Then Bruno and Pixie are worked in the early evening. I have not been ready for her to ride Bruno when I am 100 miles away. But each day that he has been worked his attitude and mental state are better.

Last night, Lauren wanted to ride Feather so she would have me there as she worked Feather through the jump grids assigned by Dev as homework. I had Pixie saddled. I wondered then what would happen when Bruno got to the ring and saw the jumps. Like a lot OTTB owners we don’t know a lot about his life before us. We can chronicle and even watch some race footage. But there are big gaps for us. Questions like why did such a big, well-bred colt start racing so late (at age 4)? Did he have hoof issues all along?

We know he came here to Texas to Sherre Sims, an excellent hunter-jumper rider and trainer. But we do not have details about what work she did with him. Has he ever been jumped through a course, if so how high?

Lauren texted me early this morning that she was getting on Bruno. Just like I had with Pixie a few days ago, we set a time limit and if we have not heard from the rider within say an hour, it is time to dispatch the ambulance. We are out in an area without close neighbors (or at least neighbors would might even notice if we fell off) and we ride alone, a lot.

I kept track of the time and saw Lauren’s call come in on my cell. I was scared-was she okay? She told me I would be mad at her-heart pounds faster. “Why what did you do?” “I jumped Bruno”. The rule is no jumping when you are riding alone. Still, instead of from fear my heart started to pound with excitement. “How did he do?” I wanted to know.

She said they were just going through the paces, the X came up on the outside line. Lauren made a decision to jump. Bruno continued his even pace, rounded his back, jumped, landed athletically and continued to canter. So, he cantered. He spotted the X. He jumped the X.

And he walked off sound! I will get some photos soon. Tonight all I have is photo of what the jump must have looked like to Bruno as he cantered up to it.

Praise God!! It has been a long time coming. A new big chapter in the Bruno, My OTTB story has just started. Please keep riding along!

Hot times in the Summer

Posted on August 6, 2013 by Exechorseluver

Jp and Alice-run out of their cool tack room by Control Cat-lounge around in the cool dirt.

Some days around the barn are just catch up days. The heat index has exceeded 100 degrees for several days now and rain is no where in the forecast. I felt like I needed to strap on the Gatroade IV and just get going. Since we have made the decision to bring Snowboy back home, we will need to get moving on some neglected chores. We have two stalls devoted to hay storage-one for coastal hay and one for alfalfa. We will have to merge the hay rooms (which will reduce our winter storage capacity) to make a stall for Snow.

I started cleaning out the ‘to-be-Snowboy’ stall. There were a lot spider webs and spiders in the many things haphazardly thrown into the extra stall. I am not freaked out by spiders like my friends Gaylyn, other Lauren and Chelsie. But… I do not want them touching me or biting me. Being covered in sweat let all the webs and dust adhere to me-I was one attractive women when these chores were done.

In the past, I have brought the small mower over and mowed the bit of grass that grows under the barn roof along the fence line. I decided that was way too much work. Instead, I engaged Pixie the-cleaner-upper to work her way down the fenceline. The work got done and she got some special attention.

Pixie, the ultimate weed eater!

I threw out all the old cat food that had sat in the various feed bowls since Control Cat moved in necessitating the set up of multiple feed stations since the other cats could no longer go in the tack room. Kona and Lula were on hand to clean up all the cat food. What a helpful group of animals I have.

At one point into the hot summer morning, I saw Kona, with his long, black coat , overdue for a clipping, just hop into the horse’s water trough. He stood there for some time just languishing in the cool water. I know Kid was not going to be happy with him for getting dirt in the tank but Kona did not care. Kid only likes to drink out of clean water troughs. Water is at a premium, Kid, buck up!

I got Pixie saddled for a ride. I texted Lauren to let her know I was riding alone (always a good idea). First, I thought I would try lunging the little pony, who has recently come into heat. Boy, was she feeling like a hormonal mare! I cinched up the girth and she angrily stared at me like I was puncturing her uterus. When I got her on the lunge line, I really wasn’t thinking and immediately as we started off at a trot, she bolted off, yanking the lunge line out of my hands (must have been watching the ‘Feather bolts on the lunge line show’ of the other night) and took off out the open gate (should have shut the gate as well). I was feeling hot and stupid at this point. I went, collected the mare, tied her up, went back to the tack room for gloves and my helmet and started over again.

The gloves let me keep a firm hold on the line. The helmet protected me as she raced and kicked at my head. Fun times! But it did get a lot energy worked out of the pony, before I stepped in the saddle. She was still wanting to duck and buck but we came to an understanding pretty quickly. As Robert Earl Keen says there is nothing like a mother bucking mare! And I did not want to be the mother she bucked off.

Later, I went to visit my mom and she is deep in her own fantasy island. She told me Jim had stopped by and brought her the new outfit she was wearing (which was a pink sweat suit circa 1990). She talked excitedly about how they had gone out for brunch and what a wonderful time she had. Far be it for me to insert any dose of realty to a happy woman. I just let her croon on about Jim and being so pleased to see him. I know he misses her and would be here to visit if he could.

Hot times continue. Thank you for riding along!

Feather Bolts!

Posted on August 3, 2013 by Exechorseluver

Mickey does not appreciate Jordyn!

We have tried to get by, furthering Jordyn’s riding experience using the horses we have here. It has been okay. There have been times like above, where she has pulled too much in their mouths. There have been times when the horses have been either too stubborn or too fast. But we got by okay, until Jo went off to horse camp at Miss Dianne’s. Then she learned to trot.

Jordyn has her own pony or I guess you could say, we have a pony, Snowboy, that we have had for years but Lauren can no longer show (and has moved past anyway in skill level) that we have lent to Dev to use for his beginner students. Always with the caveat that he would come home when Jordyn was committed and ready to ride. Honestly, she probably has been for some time, but I have dragged my feet. We have five horses at our house now. Five to feed, exercise, shoe, vet-well, you get the idea. I did not need one more mouth to feed, etc.

Jordyn came down Thursday night to ride. Lauren was riding Bruno. I had Pixie saddled up. We saddled Feather for Jordyn. Mickey was big time lame so there was no riding him.

No where in any horse planning book would it suggest to use such a young horse for such an inexperienced rider. Jordyn got on. She immediately had Feather walking around the arena and even successfully over the trot poles (which takes a lot steering and planning). Still I was reluctant to let them go on while I got on Pixie. I kept stalling. I was worried big Bruno would get moving pretty fast and stir up Feather. I wanted to be close by if anything happened.

Jordyn wanted to trot. It is all she wants to do. I was afraid. I should go with my gut feelings. I suggested putting her on the lunge line like we had Mickey. I kind of forgot that Feather was not a great lunger-Mickey has years of experience-Feather is terrified of whips and things moving behind her. STUPID!!!

Feather also has a trot that is not the simple western jog of Mickey but a big, flowing trot of a larger horse. Things went okay for about one minute. I held the lunge line and moved Feather forward from behind. Jordyn was squealing ‘trot, trot!” and Feather obeyed. But immediately Jordyn started bouncing in the saddle (not the smooth trot she was expecting) and Feather flat a** panicked! I think Feather thought Jordyn had become a leopard which had pounced on her back. I was still holding the lunge line and watched terrified as Feather bolted into a gallop. In huge strides, she ran in the sand around as I stood helplessly.

I will give Jo credit as she hung on for at least five or six laps around our little lunge circle. I finally got my wits about me and shortened the line to pull Feather to a stop. When I did, Jordyn went flying off the tiny English saddle and landed screaming on her side.

As a mother or grandmother, there are few worse moments than when you see the young one bounce from the saddle. The praying starts in earnest! PLEASE let her be okay! It was five of the worst minutes of my life as Jordyn lay in the sand. Feather came tentatively over as if to say she was sorry-she just freaked out.

Jordyn, thankfully, is fine. She has road rash from the sand on her face, chest and shoulders. She has a sore back. She has an impressive bruise on her leg. But she was tough and determined and okay!

I do not have a horse that is safe for Jordyn to go to the next level beyond a walk with. Regardless, of the extra work, it is time. Time for Snowney, the white pony, to come home to Six Meadow Farm. Jordyn’s birthday is September 4th. He will be her birthday surprise.

They say God protects small children and fools. I am grateful on both counts.

Try, try again

Posted on July 31, 2013 by Exechorseluver

Some lessons are awesome. They start productively and continue to gain ground as jumps are raised or difficulty of lines is increased. Some lessons, like yesterday for Lauren start a little frustrating and end much the same.

For those of us on the south side of Devereaux Sport Horses, it is at least 60 miles to his barn. He has been driving down to us (Have Trainer will Travel) in the southern district to do lessons here the last few weeks. He is off to the AQHA show in OKC this week and running on borrowed time. He asked Lauren to be at the his place (90 miles from us) at 7 am yesterday. We moved things around, I got up earlier than usual and Feather was loaded (God Bless Her!) by 5 am.

Dev’s plan was to work Feather through a grid of jumps that helps teach her how to work through the various demands of a jump course. Adjustability is one of the greatest assets a jumper can have-to be able to speed up and gain ground when able and then to slow down and set up for a difficult line of jumps. Feather is a good, natural jumper but has been only working over fences a little more than a year. When we challenge her with new combinations of jumps, new heights, sharper turns or ask for more speed, she has to be confident that she can do all of those things. Oh, and so does her rider!

Feather showing a good bascule over this ascending oxer (lower in the front, higher in the back).

Local riding.com talks about the importance of a good bascule. An important concept in jumping is the bascule-it is the way the horse uses his body to clear big fences. A horse with a good bascule is a horse with an extremely round jump, while a horse with a poor bascule may jump flat with his head in the air and his back hollow.

The hollow backs that typically accompany a horse with little or no bascule to his jump tend to prevent the horse from lifting his forearms very high, preventing the tucking motion his front legs need to jump clear. Go watch a training level or itty-bitty jumper class. You will see a lot of flat, fast horses, but when the fences are raised these horse cannot continue their winning speeds.

This will ultimately prevent the horse (unless extremely skillful and strong) from jumping higher and wider. The horse must learn to use their body. Good bascule is an important trait for all jumping horses, as it helps them to be more athletic over a jump and thus jump higher.

Good training can help to develop a horse’s bascule to its fullest potential, but overall trainers are limited in how much they can train a bascule into a horse. Feather has an instinctive bascule. Grid work, the type Lauren was doing with Feather, is usually most helpful in developing your horses bascule. Certain jump types tend to favor a good bascule, most notably the ascending oxer (like shown above).

Feather was attempting to do what she was asked but was having problems with the tight grid she was trying to jump. In what is called an in and out, literally jumping one jump, landing and immediately jumping another, it was hard for her to land and be ready to jump again.

I think confounding this issue for Lauren was that her other horse, Mickey, was the KING of the in and outs. It was his favorite combination, his favorite type of jumps in any course. He is small. He is handy. It was easier for him (with his size) to get in and out of small space than a bigger horse. Lauren could always count on a good grid or good in and out from Mick.

There were three jumps in the grid, going up in height as they progressed. It is almost a necessity to be straight into the first two jumps to make the last jump. Feather was not jumping straight. Lauren landed the second jump and pulled Feather out before the third jump. It was a bad spot to be in, and Lauren made a decision to keep the horse safe. However, it was not a good plan because she just taught Feather to run out on a jump.

So, they tried again. And again. It was frustrating both in the heat and after the early start (4 am) to a long day. Feather feeds confidence from her rider. Lauren was not confident at all that Feather would jump. Finally, Dev got on Feather and proceeded through the grid without issue. “Confidence”-he told Lauren. I am thinking Lauren had some other response in mind. Lauren got back in the saddle and successfully (confidently) rode Feather correctly through the grid.

At the end of the lesson, it was more ‘thank God, it is over’ instead of ‘that was an awesome experience!’. Lauren and Feather have homework to set up the grid at home and try again.

It will be an important aspect of this young horse’s training that she learns to accept direction and change in courses. It will be something they try again and try again, until one day we may say “Feather loves the in and outs!”

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If you want to see Mickey show how the ‘in and out’ is done, go to this you tube link. This was USEF Zone 7 finals a couple of years ago. Count the jumps as she jumps them. Watch for jumps 5 and 6. You will see Mickey jump, land, jump faultlessly. He was the man!

Exechorseluver

The life and times of modern day horse woman

Category Archives: The horses of Six Meadow Farm