Blog Hop: 10 Questions for October

Thank you, L, for the blog material while settling into the after show season doldrums.

1. What discipline do you ride? What would you ride if you could pick any other one?

I mean, it's easier to ask what discipline I don't ride?  

Right now I consider myself to be a dressage rider that also does equitation over fences and western dressage.  I'm quite content with this mix but if someone handed me a very classy working hunter, I'd head back into the hunter ring with no bitching.

2. How many horses have you ridden in your entire riding career?

I have absolutely no idea.  I have ridden so many horses, ranging from years to minutes.  I've always been the fool that will get on anything if someone asks.

3. Most bizarre activity you've done with your/a horse?

Walk.  Through.  Fire.  What could I possibly do to top that?

4. Do you consider riding to be your outlet? If yes, why?

Honestly, I consider it the opposite.  Riding forces me to stop living in my head, thinking about so many things that are still twenty steps away.  When I'm riding, I have to focus on the here and now, the way my horse feels, what is happening in my immediate environment.  It's the only time that I'm not thinking 100 mph about a dozen different things.  When I'm riding, my mind is quiet.  For someone like me, that quiet is bliss.

5. Have you ever read horse-related magazines? If yes, which one(s)?

I grew up on Equus.  I loved all the medical articles, especially when my pony foundered and I had an article that told me exactly what that was so I was less afraid.  I was an odd little kid.  I now read my local magazine, Equine Journal, and Dressage Today.  Online I read Horse Magazine.

6. Most memorable advice given to you?

Don't put a round peg in a square hole.  This was in regards to Fiona but it resonated with me right to the core of my riding.  If your horse hates something, don't freaking do it.  

The other bit of advice that was simply memorable was Greg Best saying 'it doesn't matter what bit you put in that horse's mouth'.  His comment was about my OTTB Allen's incredible power and my inability to stop it.  What it triggered was me putting away my terrifying leverage bit rig and taking my horse into day two of the clinic in a snaffle.  I think I scared the pants off of that man when I unleashed the Hellbeast in a snaffle and a martingale but it was the day I learned that I really could do it.  I didn't need the gadgets anymore.  It was probably the single most important event that happened in my education as a jumping rider.

7. Did you ever collect Breyer horse models or similar?

Embarrassing info time:  I used to go to model horse shows.  When I was in college and had no horse, I went to model horse shows with my string of model horses.  I even learned to do my own customs.  When I got Allen and lost interest in model horses, I gave my show string to a teenager that wanted to go to model horse shows but didn't have the funds.  No regrets, just handed her the whole set rather than let them collect dust in my house.  I hope she won lots of ribbons with my champions.  I'm currently shopping for an artist to do a portrait model of Theo for my desk.

8. Favorite "celebrity" horse?

Valegro.  Boring, yes, but when I saw that video of him doing a lesson with a ten year old, he became my absolute favorite.  What a kind heart.

9. If you could spend a day learning from any horse person (past or present), who would you choose?

Dr. Reiner Klimke.  I would follow that man around all day and just watch him ride.  I watch videos of him riding when I need to calm down.  Just hearing him talking to his horses drops my blood pressure.  Watching him on Ahlerich is a joy to me.

10. If you could ride in any international arena in the world, where would you choose?

The Alltech Arena at the KHP.  Just because it would feel so grand.  True pipe dream?  Hickstead.  I've been watching those rounds for as far back as I can remember.  It would be a dream to ride in that arena, even if I didn't jump a single fence.

Blog Hop: Viva Carlos's 10 Questions

1. Favorite quirk your horse (or a horse you’ve spent time with) has?
Theo's such a quirky dude, it's hard to pick one.  Probably the way he sticks the tip of his tongue out when he's really thinking.  This is also when he seems to be sucking on his bit.  Not chewing, but sucking on it like it's a pacifier.  It's a very light, engaged contact but it sure ain't what they describe in the books.  It's more like the vaquero idea of a horse picking up the bit.  When Theo's on the bit, it's because he's carrying it for himself.

Sticking his tongue out as usual

2. Three adjectives that perfectly describe your horse?
Curious, sensitive, affectionate

 Hungry was a close fourth

3. Plan your next ride. What will you do/work on?
Tomorrow is a dressage school so it will be lots of shoulder in/haunches in/renver as we work on Theo being more comfortable and less resistant.  I need him to be a bit more prompt off of my leg while letting me practice keeping him on the outside rein regardless of how I'm manipulating him.  Will probably do some flying changes to keep on that project.


4. Have you ever trained an OTTB? If yes, what was the biggest challenge?
Nope, my OTTB trained me.  He was already a school master when I got him.  I've worked with a lot of OTTBs but all were after being let down and having at least a few rides with someone else.

  The world's best OTTB

5. Have you ever groomed or worked for a professional rider?
Yes, I was a groom for an h/j barn and man, that's a tough gig.  Out lunging hunters as the sun comes up, slamming in studs because they're jumping in the grass ring, hurrying down to the ring with perfectly turned out horses to meet up with their riders, then take the horses back up and get them put to bed.  Amateur owners are tougher than professional riders because they aren't as organized and there's a lot more nerves involved.  Nervous riders = snapping at the help.

6. Favorite horse and rider combination?
Hm, Ingrid Klimke and Franziskus.  Pretty much any horse Ingrid rides makes me happy, but I particularly like seeing her soft touch in the dressage ring with this stallion.  Isabel Werth and Bella Rose is a close second because you can see how much she loves that mare.


7. Have you ever ridden a horse at the beach?
Yes with both Fiona and Theo.  With Fiona it was amazing.  We galloped, we played in the waves, she had so much fun.  It was one of the very few occasions where I could let her truly stretch her legs and give it all she's got (and blow right past all the other eventers we were racing).

Between gallops, she's probably sizing up the competition

With Theo?  Not nearly as relaxing.  I think if I took him with a single other horse and we had a nice walk/trot, he'd enjoy it.  We did have a nice canter with a friend and he was good for that.  But he also flipped out and started rearing by the end of the outing so not our best ride together.

Please don't buck me off

8. If you could experience the equestrian community (i.e. ride and compete) in another country, what country would you choose and why?
I think I'd like to try riding in Germany just because everyone I know that has gone over there to train talks about how crazy different it is.  Trying different disciplines has taught me a lot, I think I'd learn even more trying another country with a whole other system.

9. In your opinion, what is an item of tack that is given unnecessary hype?
Five point breastplate.  So many people jumping two foot in a monster breastplate for no dang reason.  Also flash nosebands.  How did that become the default?  Why do people still think Theo is somehow only half dressed because he doesn't have one?  He doesn't need one and his bit is plenty stable without it!  *end rant*

10. What was the first horse you rode called? Are they still alive?
 Rusty Nail, Nails for short.  I did a pedigree search and sure enough, there's an OTTB from 1976 called Rusty Nail.  That could easily be him, right age, color, and gender.  He passed away while I was still at that barn, so I know he's not with us anymore.
   

Blog hop: 12 questions

Copying Contact for this one since I'm still in horse show hangover mode.

Q1:  What hobbies do you have outside of riding?

I love to cook, so I think that counts as a hobby.  I also help with homebrew beer including stewarding at competitions.  I've even brewed my own 5 gallon batch of all grain beer that was good enough to let other people drink.  It's progress.

Blue Moon clone using brew in a bag method

Q2: What is your boarding situation?  Are you happy with it?

 HA.  Okay, Theo is currently on 24/7 turn out with a shed which is ideal for him.  He's lived in this field for six years.  Am I happy?  Apparently not.  Due to a number of things around footing, horsemanship, and the level of care, he's moving to a fancy dancy h/j show barn in three days.  They have a shed with a small paddock attached that we're going to try with field turn out during the day.  If that doesn't work, he's going in a stall at night and out in a field during the day.  And if that doesn't work?  I dunno, my back yard and sleep in my garage?

This will be a big change

Q3:  What's on your horsey-related wish list?

New girths.  His jumping girth is now too small (beefcake).  His dressage girth is fine but with his shifting body I feel he needs more room behind the elbows.  I also need some dressage boots, Trainer Z was giving my Ariat V Sport boots the hairy eyeball before I went in at my last show.  If we're going to keep moving up (she brought up PSG again!!!), we need the boots that will make us look serious business.  She's recommending Petries, I'm just here to look cute and sit on the horse and write the checks so that works for me.

Q4: What is your most expensive horsey-related item?

Like most, it's my trailer.  Best investment ever.  Hands down.  I can't even imagine how I would have got to Second without it.

Q5: What was the hardest horsey-related decision you've had to make lately?

Moving.  Neither of us like change, both of us will be on ulcer meds for at least a month.  

For better or for worse, this was home for a long time

Q6:  What's something you feel you can't live without in your routine?

This is really funny coming from a dressage rider but I don't do routine.  I am definitely a seat of my pants kind of person.  There are a few things I must have.  My stuff must be where I put it last or I won't be able to find it and I'll freak.  Moving my stuff is the sure fire way to make my usually laid back persona completely leave the building.  People still whisper about the time I found my dressage tack in the feed room.  On the back of a chair.

I also require at least five minutes, preferably ten, of just walking when I start riding Theo.  I'll start warming up with laterals while we're doing that, it's not just moseying around, but both of us are getting older and it takes a few minutes for us to feel like it's time to move.  It also takes a few minutes for me to turn my brain from analyst to rider.  It's a very different setting that requires me to be in the moment.

Q7: What's on your horsey-related calendar for the rest of the summer?

September 8:  NHDEA Schooling show, Second Level 1 and 2 (to qualify for year end satin)
September 29:  Oakrise Schooling show, Western Dressage Level 2, 1 and 2 (moah year end satin!)
October 5 - 6:  GMHA, Second Level 1 and 2

Q8:  What is one thing you would willingly change about your horse?

 A little forward tendency would be awesome, kthx.

Pony says no

Q9:  What is something you most want to improve on with you and your horse?

 Please see above.  Also his range of longitudinal flexion.  We've got sideways pretty well figured out but we both struggle a bit with making big and little steps as opposed to fast and slow steps.

Q10:  What has been your [current] horses most severe injury?

Theo is the king of the NQR so I'm going to give this one to the Abscess Wars of 2015 that took him out for a month.  RIP, Abby.

Q11:  What do you feel your biggest downfall is as a rider?

Anxiety.  In warmup, I was sitting my trot so nicely that Trainer Z commented on our progress.  In the show ring?  Theo and I both tense up which does not lead to pretty sitting trot.  He's not carrying as nicely and I'm too tense to follow properly.  It's getting better over time, but I still feel like I'm some lost h/j kid that doesn't belong with the fancy kids in the sandbox.  Put a course of fences in front of me, I'll eat it up.  An empty dressage arena?  Meltdown.

Totally thinking about throwing up over his shoulder in this picture

Q12:  What feeds your motivation?

When I call Theo's name and he comes tearing up to see me.  When I shift my weight and feel him collect from just that.  When I ask him for something that used to seem impossible and he does it as easily as breathing.  All those little moments keep me coming back and grinding away through the tough times.

25 Questions from Viva Carlos

I'm still horse show hungover, so lets do something requiring less brain power.

1. What is the first thing you do when you get to the barn?
Check the white board at the door to the barn for any updates or messages.

2. Is there a breed that you would never own?
I'll ride anything with four legs and a tail, but I can't imagine I'd own a Saddlebred.

3. Describe your last ride?
Go forward, go forward, go forward.  Resetting him mentally so he knows it's collection time.

4. Have any irrational riding fears?
Horses running in a field next to me when I'm mounted.  I will usually panic and dismount regardless of who I'm riding.

5. Describe your favorite lesson horse?
Gus.  He was so kind and sweet and tried so hard while taking care of me at the 3' hunters.  Auto change, adorable knees, and just wonderful to handle for anything but mane pulling.

6. Would you ever lease out your horse?
Yes, that's the plan when he's ready to step down.

7. Mares: Yay or neigh?
I had one but not my first choice.  Adds a whole other component of trying to figure out what resistance is coming from.  Is she having cramps/cysts/heat cycle or is it something else?

8. How many time per week do you get to see your horse?
Used to be three or four but it's now going to be five or six.

9. Favorite thing to do on an “easy day” with your pony?

Trail ride or jumping day.

10. Conformational flaw that bothers you the most?
Crooked legs.  I want a horse that will hold up over time.

11. Thing about your riding that you’re most self conscious about?
Sitting trot.  I have the worst case of imposter syndrome every time I sit the trot and people can see me.

12. Will you be participating in no stirrup November?
Sort of?  I don't take stirrups off my saddle because I have to warm up with stirrups and posting without stirrups is hell on my bad hip.  It makes weird sounds.  I usually schedule some lunge lessons during November since everyone is thinking about it and that's all.

13. What is your grooming routine?
Haas curry comb followed by the Haas Schimmel brush (stiff) and the Haas Lippizaner brush (body).  Pick out his feet and, if it's still a muddy nightmare out, treat with Bannix to manage thrush.  If it's Sunday his tail is fully brushed out, his mane is treated with Ecolicious mane oil and rebraided in pasture braids, and his hooves get hit with some Hooflex. 

14. Describe a day in the life of your horse?
Lives out 24/7.  Breakfast is around 8am, dinner is around 4:30pm, I usually ride around 6pm.  Outside of that, he spends his day eating hay, eating grass, napping, and playing halter tag with his TB neighbor.

15. Favorite season for riding?
Fall.  The heat breaks, the bugs go away, and we usually get a week or two of stunning, dry, perfect weather.  Can't get me in the ring at all during this period of time.

16. If you could only have 1 ring: indoor or outdoor?
Indoor.  I live in New Hampshire and if I only had an outdoor, I'd lose four or so months out of the year.

17. What impresses you most about the opposite discipline (english vs. western)?
I do both, sooooo what about saddleseat?  I am impressed by the raw power and enthusiasm of the horses.

18. You have unlimited funds to buy one entire tack set for your horse, what is he/she wearing?
Custom Frank Baines dressage saddle with blue piping and short flaps and quilting on the cantle, PS of Sweden saddle pad, Stubben Equi-soft dressage girth, white Majyk dressage boots, white Eskadron bell boots, PS of Sweden Flying Change bridle, NS Verdinbend bit, bold style browband from PS of Sweden

19. How many blankets do you have? When do you blanket?
Ha ha ha ha, I have a horse that's body clipped in NH that lives out 24/7.  Rain sheet, medium turn out, heavy turn out, neck rug, heavy neck rug, Irish knit, square cooler, Baker sheet, Baker blanket, Baker rain sheet, Baker show rain sheet, Baker cooler, stable blanket (100g used as under layer for turn outs), wool quarter sheet.

20. What is your horse’s favorite treat? Favorite place to be scratched?
German Horse Muffin.  We call them crack cookies for a reason.  Those actually got him trained to stand for his Adequan shots rather than trying to flatten everyone in the area.  The best scratching spot right now is his whole body, the bugs are bad.  His ears are his favorite spot always, year round, every day.

21. Something about your barn that drives you crazy?
Why is the round pen still up in the middle of my large arena??!!

22. Roached manes, pulled manes, or long flowing manes?
Whatever works for the horse.  I usually go for pulled manes or trimmed if their mane is naturally thinner, but with a full double mane like Theo's, going long has worked much better.  He's happier, I'm happier, and he looks awesome.

23. Can you handle a buck or a rear better?
I can do both, but rearing freaks me out more.  I've had two horses flip over with me, I've got reasons to not like it.

24. I would never buy a horse who ___________________?
Actually tried to hurt the rider.  I've met a few in my life and they are an absolute no.  I won't even handle them.

25. Favorite facial marking?
Star plus snip.  Always been my favorite.

What my horses have taught me

As inspired by Viva Carlos, the lessons that my horses have taught me.

Terry (Open Gate Secretariat)

Terry gets a special mention because while I didn't own him, he was my very first equine partner.  From the age of five to the age of ten, this pony was my nemesis and my best friend. 

• You can do more than you think
• You have to do it yourself, no one else can do it for you
• Never, ever look down at a fence
• When in doubt, kick
• Some days you're going to lose no matter how hard you worked for it and that's okay
• Quick Silver should not be left on for an hour, it won't work better

Allen (All In Good Time)

My very first horse who arrived at the same time that I was discovering horse life as an adult.

• Don't be afraid to let go of control, he's better at this than you are
• You will get there when you get there
• Schoolmasters are worth more than diamonds and gold
• You don't dominate a horse, it's a team sport
• If you get the chance to do something big, just go for it, you won't regret it 
• Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway
• Go.  FORWARD.
• Never, ever pull to a fence 
• If you get dumped in a fence, you probably deserved it
• When the old man says he's done, let him be done

Fiona (Can't Drive 55)

My princess.  A Craigslist find for $800 that taught me all about taking chances.

• Sometimes you've just got to take that leap
• Listen when they say they don't want to do the job
• Don't rush talented horses
• The horse is more important than the discipline
• Galloping down to a big fence is freaking amazing with the right horse
• Chestnut TB mare is not profanity
• Dressage is fun
• Selling a horse is hell

Theo (Expect the Unexpected)

The former school horse turned show horse.

• Things are not always as they appear
• Experts can be wrong, horses don't read the training books
• Inside leg to outside rein is more than something my trainer yells at me at random
• Great mind > fancy moves
• Amazing tails are overrated
• People will never forget the past
• When you know you've found the right horse, freaking buy it
• Dressage is not about checking moves off a list
• Don't forget why you started
• Positive reinforcement works
• Make time for random trail gallops, jumping, and hour long curry sessions; the dressage arena will still be there tomorrow
• Black bay horses look amazing in every color

Blog Hop: June 10 Questions

This set of questions comes to us from Rocking E.

What is your earliest, clearest horse memory?
 Meeting Nails, the first horse I rode.  I remember patting his face and looking waaaay up at the saddle and wondering how I was going to get up there.   

Describe the perfect summer day. 
About 75 degrees, breezy enough to keep the horse flies away, rain within the last couple days so the footing is perfect, the Ritz is freshly mowed, and all of the cross country jumps are available.  Theo and I are in desperate need of a good gallop and that, right now, would be the perfect day.

Are you reading anything right now? Tell me about it!
I most recently read Janet Foy's Dressage for the Not So Perfect Horse.  It's wonderful for a horse like Theo that is far from perfect.  It's a bit like a cook book and definitely on the technical side.  I wouldn't recommend it for someone that's new to dressage, but if you're working on a movement or trying to move up a level, it's very useful for problem solving.  It does a good job of laying out requirements and fundamentals for the more advanced movements.  Janet is blunt and straightforward, I enjoy her style of conveying information.  I actually feel better that all of Theo's issues were right there in the lists.  He's not perfect, but he's clearly quite normal.  By the time I got to the Fourth level chapter?  I was lost.  You really need to know what the earlier movements feel like to understand the later chapters.  Part of why I wouldn't recommend it for someone that's new to dressage, but for someone like me that's developing collection and lateral movements?  Huge help.

Do you follow a celebrity (horsey or non) that you’re embarrassed to say fascinates you? Tell me. NOW.
I don't follow anyone, really.  

What is your single most biggest horsey dream or goal?
To go down centerline in a shadbelly.  If it ever happens, I'll probably be trying to enter in a collected canter while crying.

If you were at Starbucks right now, what would you order?
Large iced mocha something something.  I don't go to Starbucks enough to remember the menu but I usually end up with something huge, chocolatey, covered in whipped cream, and devastating to my blood sugar levels.

What is your biggest equine pet peeve?
People that are rough with horses and people that are arm chair experts.  The ones that can't do it themselves but clearly can advise me when things are going sideways.  I'm looking at you, rail birds at the hunter show when my horse pulled a gorgeous half pirouette and tried to run for his life.  You think you can fix it?  Come and get on.  I dare you.

Not to be trusted

With everything going on politically and in the media, tell me, do you follow it religiously? Tune it out? Or something in between?
I read the Washington Post once a day during the work week.  It's enough to keep me up to date, it's a source I can trust, and when I'm done I can put it away.  I have to keep a balance.  My town is rather . . . conservative, so I avoid political discussions like the plague.

If you had to show your horse to a song, what would you choose?
I plan to show my horse to Tango in Ebony from Musikur.com.
Theo's theme song?  Immortals by Fall Out Boy

    

What are you most looking forward to this summer?
 Relaxing and enjoying the summer without any real pressure or crazy goals hanging over my head.  

Blog Hop: May 10 Questions

Questions from The Horse is Not Black this time.

1. What are your summer goals?
Start running through Second 1 consistently, get my 60%+ score for First 3 at a rated show so I can do my freestyle, and take Theo to his first h/j show.  My goals are pretty modest this year since I'm still adjusting to life as a commuter.  As evidenced by my complete lack of posts and perpetual exhaustion.

2. Do you have any tips or tricks for fly control?
Not for New Hampshire.  Seriously, they're a force of nature.  As the months roll by, the species change and make it even more impossible to manage.  Black fly season now, horse flies and deer flies starting in mid-June, then regular barn flies to close the year out.  Oh, and mosquitos all the time.  I use Ultrashield religiously (the red bottle), a fly sheet with a neck, and a fly mask with ears and a long nose. 

3. How often do you bathe your horse?
Not very often, actually.  He's black bay, dirt doesn't show much on him.  He usually gets one the week of a show, so about once a month for half of the year.  The other half it's too cold and he gets no rinse shampoo baths.  He gets hosed down after most rides during the summer and sometimes mid-day when the heat is bad and he's struggling. 

4. Do you have any upcoming travel plans? Equine related or not?
Nope, my work trip is done and I'm home for a good long while.  My next possible trip is out to Minnesota in October to visit the family.

5. What is your favorite way to beat the heat?
Ride early or ride late and accept that some days just have to be days off/trail ride days/walking lateral work.  Theo does not do well in the heat, so we have to pick and choose our ride times.

6. Do you do anything to prevent your horse from sun bleaching?
His fly sheet does a good job of keeping him that lovely black through the summer.  I also sunscreen his magnificent tail.

7. How hot is too hot for you to ride?
We have relatively high humidity out here, so Theo starts to struggle at 90*.  Heat index hits 95* or higher?  It's not safe to ride him for more than a leisurely trail ride.

8. How important is sun protection for you riding or just in general?
Crucial.  I'm pale and burn easily.  I also have some premature aging due to wearing polo shirts outside for so many years without being good about getting that little patch of skin that shows when you leave it unbuttoned.  I'm usually really good about sunscreen on my face, but I missed that spot one too many times in my 20's.  Now I'm the queen of long sleeve sun shirts, SPF 50, gloves, and sunglasses.

9. Have you ever gone swimming with your horse?
Nope, and not really interested.  I don't like swimming in natural bodies of water, I have too many fish tanks.  I KNOW what's in that water.

10. What's on your summer wish list?
A navy browband from PS of Sweden, a new halter for Theo (completely wrecked his leather turn out halter), and new tall boots specifically for schooling.  Something I can walk in all day and not hate my life afterward. 

Blog Hop: What makes you, you?

First time doing a blog hop of my very own!

This is in tribute to all of the quirks and shenanigans that bloggers are famous for and gives everyone a shot to really document what defines their unique flavor of horse crazy.

What makes someone at the barn (or your trainer) think of you immediately?


For me?  People immediately think of me when they see three things:

1.  Blingy browbands

Part of my collection

Yeah, I have a calling card, and it's having blinged out browbands that I change to match my horse's outfit.  I'm not ashamed.  He feels very pretty with his tiaras.

2.  Treats

The usual staples found in my locker

Everyone knows I always have a treat available if they need it.  I usually have several kinds of treats stashed in my locker with a policy that they're free for the grabbing for my fellow boarders or anyone that rides Theo.  You must pay the pony his dues.

3.  Intentionally doing things that make the trainer say 'get out of my ring'

Yeah, I did that.  All of that.  And the hearts saddle pad.  Every time someone sees something that's just outrageously over the top, I get a message on FB with a link and the expectation that poor Trainer A will be subjected to it in the near future.

So blogosphere, what makes you, you?  Post a link in the comments and I'll add you to the list of fame!

2016 Blogger Secret Santa

I wanted to dilly dally on this a bit since I'm an over achiever and got signed up in the early bunch, but I think it's time to reveal my Secret Santa:

Aimee over at Sprinkler Bandits!  Total luck of the draw to get one of my very first blogger friends.

I was honestly pretty confused when the hubby said I had a bright pink package waiting in the kitchen.  Huh?  I didn't order anything.

Well, mystery solved!  I got goodies from The Herbal Horse for me and Theo from Aimee and Courage.

I got some candy!  Hubby stole the mango one. 

I got absolutely delicious lip balm.  One of the ladies at the barn tried to make off with the blackberry vanilla, so you have been warned.  If you get that flavor, be prepared to defend it.  I'm a Long Winter Farm addict (try the Pony Breath flavor), but these are equally good and have earned a spot in the rotation.  Especially the blackberry one.  Hubby likes the vanilla mint for himself. 

We also got muscle rub and hair conditioner.  I'm keeping the muscle rub for now.  I use it after my stupid running torture sessions, it helps out my sore knees.  The hair conditioner is being used to tame Theo's forelock and to help with a dry, flaky spot in his mane.  They both smell fantastic.

It was a fantastic surprise and a great pick me up on a cold, icy, miserable day.  Thanks, Sprinkler Bandits and Courage!  Also, I'm now recommending Herbal Horse, love the goodies I got.

10 Questions for December

Monthly hop from L over at Viva Carlos.

Does your horse need shoes? Yup, all around all year round.  Nothing fancy, but he wears his feet down pretty quickly when he's in full work.

   
What do you think of the barefoot vs shoes debate? Whatever works for your horse.  I wish I could have a barefoot horse, I'd love that, but it's never worked out for me since I tend to go out on rough trails, jump, and put in a lot of miles in the ring.

Favorite season for riding? Definitely fall, New England is so gorgeous in fall and the bugs are gone.  Spring is black fly season and it's terrible, summer is hot and deer flies, winter is freaking cold and icy.

How many shows do you think you’ve gone to? Absolutely no idea.  I've probably shown in over a hundred and groomed/spectated at more.

Do you consider yourself a good rider? I consider myself to be above average.  Keeping in mind that your average rider doesn't compete their horse or jump regularly and certainly doesn't spend a couple years working at a show barn, I'm comfortable saying above average in the overall rider category.  As a show rider?  Average at best.

How experienced do you think someone needs to be to own a horse? More experienced than they are.  I feel at times like I'm not experienced enough and I've been riding since I was five and I'm on my third horse. 

Have you ever gotten into a fight with your trainer? Sure.  Most of the time it's piddly stuff like my horse's food notes not being updated or when I don't get what they're saying and I'm frustrated.  I haven't had a proper yelling match with a trainer in a long time.  It takes a lot to make me snap.  The last one that I clearly remember yelling at was when I found out a trainer was drugging a horse before showing it to a potential buyer.  Left the barn that day.

Describe your dream horse. Big, dark bay gelding, no white legs, gleaming like glass, bouncy trot with natural lift, forward thinking, calm mind, cuddle bug, enjoys showing and trail riding, SOUND.

Does anyone in your family ride? My mom did when she was younger and up until just before she had me.  I technically had my first ride on a horse in utero.  My sister rode when we were teens, but I don't think she's been on a horse since I went to college.  My hubby rides on occasion, but not seriously.

If you could ride any horse in the world, which one would it be? why? VALEGRO.  Because he's gorgeous and looks calm enough to not completely destroy my uneducated ammy butt for making mistakes.  I don't have any illusions that it would go well or that Charlotte would let my uneducated butt anywhere near that horse, but in my dreams, he tolerates me long enough to experience just a bit of what's possible.

Who wouldn't want to sit on that?  If he can cope with thousands of fans on their feet, applauding and yelling, I can hope that he can cope with playing school master for me.

Blog Hop: Couples therapy

I spotted this one and couldn't resist, even if it was from October.

So, how does your current (or past) trainer manage the partnership/relationship between you and your horse(s)?

This is an interesting question for me, since Trainer A knew Theo before she met me.  She'd worked with and occasionally ridden Theo for years before I wandered in the door.  She already had a pre-set notion of him and knew his history.  She knew he was opinionated, held a grudge, and could not be pushed.  If he got angry with his rider, the ride was over for the rider's safety.  Riders that tried to fight with him did not last long.  I, on the other hand, was a mystery.  She got to know me as I got to know Theo. 


Fast forward a year and a half and we have the current situation.  At this point, she knows both of us, I know Theo, and Theo knows me.  I'm a strong personality, Theo's a strong personality, and the combination of the two makes or breaks most of our rides.  We both have tempers that can become violent, though most see us as very laid back.  Managing moods and communication isn't an option, it's a major component.  She'll ask me what is going on with Theo while I'm riding, since I've been actively studying his body language for some time now.  He's bored, he's tired, he's frustrated, he's happy, he's eager, he's plotting my death.  I know how to speak papi and she lets me translate.  Papi also knows how to speak Catie.  He knows when I'm pleased, when I'm amused, and when he's pushing my limits.

Trainer A considers the relationship between me and Theo to be very important and she actively manages it every time she sees us.  She supported my somewhat controversial decision to use food rewards with him while riding because it made him associate his work (and me) with good things.  I couldn't get anywhere with him if he saw me negatively.  She's the one that originally chased me out into solo trail rides, even though Theo hated them, so that we would learn to trust each other.  She encouraged us to build up a relationship that was more than him doing what I told him to do. 

Some rides require more management of our relationship than others, of course.  When doing a position lesson, Theo is good to just march around and daydream about sugar cubes dipped in caramel.  When we're challenging him mentally or physically, we both have to keep a close eye on the barometer.  If I've had a bad day at work, if I'm slamming into a mental wall I can't seem to get through, if Theo has really got my goat, she'll step in the manage the relationship in that direction as well.  She's very aware of how quickly the two of us can escalate. 

I probably wouldn't be as successful with Theo if my trainer wasn't so willing to consider us as a couple and not as two separate entities.  We're not separate entities.  We have a complicated relationship made up of compromise and trust built over many miles.  My relationship with mi papi is more important to me than any score sheet and she enjoys watching us grow as a pair as much as she enjoys seeing us advance in our training.  She's enjoyed watching the two of us take on new challenges together and depend on each other when things get tough.

I consider myself quite lucky to have Trainer A to shepherd us along and intervene when we need some couples therapy.