Judgement call

This is never a look you want to sport before a show.

Yes, someone is clearly ready for his promised July break.  On Tuesday I had a fantastic jumping lesson.  He was just wonderful and not showing any sourness due to his long trip to GMHA.  I noticed a small scrape on the inside of his hock.  I slapped some ointment on it, used a file on the sharp edge of the opposite hoof that caused the scrape, and called it a day.  Wednesday didn't work out due to work so papi got the day off.  On Thursday he had a massage.  I got a call saying that his hind leg was all swollen and I needed to come out.

Low and behold, the leg with the scrape looked like a stovepipe.  I trotted him off and he was sound as a bell, but that little scrape now had swelling around it.  Damn it!  So I clipped and cleaned the scrape, followed by a short work out in polos and some cold hosing.  It went down and he was moving great, so I threw a standing wrap on him and kept him in a stall.  I don't put horses in turn out when they're in wraps.

Next day, repeat.  Worked beautifully, but leg was still big.  I had my lesson and ran through my First Level test.  It looked good, so he spent the day in turn out then came in for his wrap.

This morning, it still looked sucky.  His lower leg looked good, especially after work and cold hosing.  He had tendons again!  But it still makes me nervous that he's having fill problems with that stupid little scrape.  And the bugs got him in turnout so his sheath blew up and that affected part of his upper leg!

Since he was still working beautifully, I'm all braided and prepped for the show. 

He's klutzy but attractive.  I, on the other hand, need to keep my pale legs out of sight.  His leg looked much better after spending the day in turn out, so I decided to take the risk and let him stay out tonight with a poultice on his booboo.  He's in a new field with established grass, so he's grazing and moving constantly.  With any luck, his leg will look good in the morning between a long night of moving and a poultice pad.  There's no heat anymore, his immune system is just being as delicate as the rest of him.  He's one of those horses that blows up when he gets scrapes.

Wake up call is 4:15am.  Fingers crossed that my horse is fit to show in the morning.  After that, he gets his promised mid-summer break.  I think we're both looking forward to it.

GMHA Pic Spam

The promised pictures are starting to roll in.

Our prize for first place

That butt, that butt, that big ol', big ol' butt, yeah.  

No, not mine.

Dressage horse!  Also sporting our PS of Sweden pad and fly veil with crystals

The dressage team at the end of a successful weekend

My new favorite picture of us.  I might like this horse a bit, even when he doesn't want to pose for pictures.

Mi papi by the numbers

Now that I've had a night of real sleep, I've done what I usually do when I try to make sense of something.  I rounded up the data.

Here is Theo's show record at USDF santioned shows to date:

Not a lot of data to date.  He's only been to two shows and had eight tests.  I can't draw a lot of conclusions from such a small data set, but hey, that's never stopped anyone from making decisions off of inconclusive data.

So our average test score when up over two percentage points from the first show to the second.  Nice!  Our submission score improved greatly due to a lack of broncing and frightening the judges.  I also got an uptick in my position and his gaits.  We got a hit in impulsion, but that makes sense when three of our five tests were judged by someone that thought Theo was lazy.

Broken out by judge, yeah, we had two very different reactions this past weekend.  Janet Briggs saw us twice at GMHA and we averaged 65% in her ring.  Susanne Handler saw us three times and we averaged 60% in her ring.  The Kristi submission score is highlighted because that includes the bronc test with a submission score of 3.  The Susan Buchanan test was also a bronc test, though a small one.

We are pretty much the same regardless of test.

Breaking out the three Susanne tests, it was interesting that when we upped our gait score, it did nothing about her energy comments but we took a bigger hit to submission than what we gained in gaits.  In the end, regardless of her comments, she scored our most relaxed test the highest (our comments included 'much too relaxed').  Our most electric test was the lowest.  Evidently accuracy and submission really does trump all in Training level and I need to ignore the constant judge comments about need more energy and more forward.  Well, not ignore, but not strive to push Theo toward explosion land.  Impulsion and submission are the two collectives with coefficients.  Our impulsion score never moves, so I better focus on that submission score that swings from 3 to 7.  I need more 7s in submission and position.  Those I can fix.  I can't do a dang thing about the fact he's an earthbound type of a horse.

I feel better after going through the numbers.  I was on the right track.  I don't regret my decision to experiment with my last test.  I wouldn't know what the results would be if I didn't try.  Now I can dial in my approach and give Theo the most appropriate ride possible.

I love data.

GMHA: Day 4

I love my horse.

After two days of showing, I decided to scratch my T2 test and just run my T3 test.  As I got my second qualifying score on Saturday, it was just for the experience.  After seeing things like 'lazy' and 'sluggish' on previous tests, I went in on a mission.  I wanted to razz my pony up and get a fire burning.  I didn't dare to do this before when explosion was a real risk, but this time, I took the risk.  What did I have to lose?

I also let him wear his big bling.  I told him that horses that don't bronc get to wear bling.  After two days of solid tests, I figured he'd earned it.

He was surprisingly hot in the warm up.  Short warm ups seem to be the way to get him through multiple days.  Saturday he did two very short warm ups, one was 15 minutes and the other was 20.  That left him with enough energy for a 20 minute warm up today even with the over 80* temps and hot sun.  I did a lot of transitions and pushed his buttons a bit, getting him up on his toes.  I took the risk that he would explode and wound him up like I do at home when I want him to really lift.

When the horse before me trotted out, I turned and trotted him directly into the competition area.  And like clock work, I heard a bunch of bangs from the road.  I looked over and a trio of tractors pulling empty trailers were going by at about 35 mph.  They made a horrible racket.  The horse in ring 4 spooked and went sideways.  Theo turned into a giraffe and started to rear.  All of that explosive energy?

Whoops.

I have a specific way I say Theo's name when I call him in from his field.  It's a sing song version that comes out 'Theee-oh'.  I have trained him to trot up to the gate in exchange for a treat.  I immediately said 'Theee-oh' and grabbed a cookie from my pocket.  Forget being scared, there were ginger cookies!  Theo immediately forgot the terrifying trailers and reached around for his treat.  It was like a light switch.  I adjusted my reins while he chewed and then we trotted off to circle around the ring like nothing had happened.

I loved my test.  It wasn't as accurate, but it was energetic and responsive.  I went big.  I went for the energy, the forward thinking.  I didn't play the cautious game.  I rode my ass off to ask for more without having a melt down.  We did have a miscommunication and a gorgeous walk to canter transition that wasn't in the test, but screw it.  He felt amazing, confident, almost eager.

We got a freakin' 57%.  I couldn't believe it.  It was the same judge that was marking us 4-5 points below everyone else all weekend.  She didn't like Theo.  She called him LAZY in the comments.  It was the most energetic test he's given me!  Trainer A gave me a big thumbs up for going big and a complete stranger came over to compliment me.  I was so proud of him, I floated back to the stables.  Seeing the comments made me see red.  WTF.  Seriously, I usually will find something I agree with in every judge's comments.  No, not this time.  Theo gave me everything he had.  With our accuracy issues, I figured 61% or 62%.  Not good, but not terrible.  57%.  Everyone that saw our test was slack jawed at that score.  For the record, 54% is what we got for the test where Theo bronc'd and made everyone gasp in fear.

That judge will be one to avoid.  She has a thing against draft crosses.  She knocked 5 points off of Trainer A's ride with a green bean as well, even though the second test was better and more relaxed as an Introductory test.  She went from a 69% to a 65% in the span of an hour.  Lesson learned. 

We packed up very quickly and had the kids home by 2pm.  I sent Theo out into a pasture after his four days of stall life, despite the mares all going into stalls for the night.

Right after this, he had a big roll.  That was followed by some bucking, loud snorting, and cantering about.  He's learning to deal with stall life for shows, but he's much, much happier outside.  When I left, he was grazing and looking more relaxed then he has since Thursday.

I'll do my analysis of the weekend later, but for now, we had a successful weekend.  He didn't bronc in the ring and we got our second qualifying score.  We also scored our best as a pair.  It wasn't perfect, but he wasn't recognizable compared to our previous show.  Our first show we averaged 59.6%.  This show was 62.3% and no bucking or spooking in the ring. 

Mission.  Accomplished. 

Bring on First Level.

GMHA: Days 1 - 3

For everyone that's not in the New England area, GMHA stands  for the Green Mountain Horse Association.  It's a non-profit organization that maintains an awesome facility for equestrian events.  They host endurance rides, competitive trail rides, h/j shows, dressage shows, horse trials, youth camps, driving competitions, you name it.  It's a lovely spot in Woodstock, VT. 

But the most distinctive feature of this well loved location?  No.  Damn.  Cell service.  None.  For anyone.  It makes your multi-day horse show double as a break from technology.  This is my first time online since I got here.  Want to text your trainer a change in times?  Nope.  Want to google for dinner plans?  Nuh uh.  You better hop your butt on a bike and haul across the show grounds to find someone.  And plan on crossing water or bridges on your way. 

Yes, the fancy dancy dressage horses were crossing water and walking on wood bridges.  There's a way around, but it's a long one.  Most of the riders consider it to be worth the trouble to get your horse used to the water.  Theo loves running water, it turns out.  He was giving leads to fancy FEI horses and even stopped to get a drink at one point.  He also doesn't mind bridges.

It's my favorite venue.  The stabling is spread out and well maintained.  They run four rings with wonderful footing and beautiful scenery.  We spent most of this afternoon sitting on a hillside watching the freestyle and FEI classes.  Pictures are coming.

As for the showing part?  I'm so proud of the green bean.  On Thursday I schooled all of the competition rings on my own.  He had a couple things that were just not okay (cows across the street were not something he was expecting), but he worked through it.  Stuck his head in the judge's booths, checked out the flowers, the usual.  On Friday he had to go in and show.  He had a heart attack for his first test when he realized he was all alone out there and tried to spin for home.  Worked through it and he laid down a very nice trip.  67%!

Our second test, the T3 that we needed for a qualifying score, had a different judge.  Almost identical test, got a 61.2%.  Judges make me crazy.  She wanted more energy and fire out of Theo.  The first judge loved his soft, harmonious test.  Win some, lose some.

Today he had to do his first test at the ring that was furthest from the stabling.  A creek crossing from the warm up area.  Completely alone, surrounded by trees and the stored jumps.   The ring was big and beautiful with lots of room, but for Theo, terrifying.  I got him in there, got him past the judge's booth, and eased him toward A.  We turned down centerline and something amazing and unexpected happened:  he took a deep breath and settled.  The green bean has learned his job.  Instead of fighting him to the scary end of the ring, he marched along the rail because that's where he goes.  It wasn't perfect, he was still peeking at sounds and equipment, but he stayed with me.  We even got a 'too relaxed' comment on the test.  62% and no broncing?  Victory!

Our T3 test was supposed to be more energetic.  We warmed up well and he went to the ring.  Heavens help me if that little brat didn't decide to squeal like a mare and kick at my spur right in front of the judge while trotting around the outside.  Such a princess.  Same deep breath and settle thing happened with the centerline.  As soon as we stepped into the box, he knew what we were doing.  We had two bobbles where he thought I wanted a canter that hurt our score, but 63.2% is our second qualifying score.  We're heading to regionals, despite my screwups!

He's grown up so much over these two shows.  We still have moments of terror and spinning for home, but he'll work through them and he now knows what the centerline means.  It's work time.  Considering last year I struggled with Intro tests since he couldn't canter a circle, this is kind of stunning.  He can now keep it together in a crowded warm up.  He doesn't try to lunge at the other horses anymore.  I don't feel him scoot when horses canter by.  He doesn't like it, but he copes.  He knows what the bell means and how to deal with stall life (kick things and drag your teeth until someone feeds you more).  All the little things I never remember as skills have started to kick in for him.

My new shirt

 

Tomorrow we have one test, just for practice.  I may let him wear his bling.  He's earned it.

Flashback

Theo has gone from being that bratty school horse to being the object of a lot of kisses and adoration and admiration.  With his improved manners, a lot more people want to stop and say hi to him in the aisle.  Other people love to watch him work.  He looks like a different horse, going forward with no kicking, making it all look so easy when compared to the other school horses.  Little girls coo to me about how much they want to ride him.

The downside to the lingering chest congestion for me is that they can now hear how hard I'm breathing trying to keep the big lump going in the right direction.

But just because perceptions have changed doesn't mean that Theo has truly turned into a new pony.  He's still Theo.  On Friday I had a private with Trainer A, getting us ready for our big three day show this weekend.  Mi papi got an extra day off due to some work nonsense and instead of being up and fresh, he told me to go pound sand.  He even spooked at the door to the arena which he hasn't done in months.

Well, hello there, Naughty Theo.  We haven't seen you in a long time.

We did a run through on Training 2 and while it was fine, he was braced through the neck and throwing his shoulders about.  It wasn't harmonious or submissive at all.  Trainer A was kind of pleased with the timing, since irritable, distracted Theo is what I might get at the show.  She took us out to a field, past the construction equipment, and had us run our test again out there.  She managed to trigger Naughty Theo pretty effectively, but in an environment where I could stick my spur in his side and school him through his correct responses.  We worked until I was getting polite, prompt canters (on the correct lead) reliably while the tractor loaded water troughs to be hauled up for cleaning.

I wasn't happy to see Naughty Theo one week before our biggest show, but I guess if he's going to pop up, might as well be now.  He's going to be in very steady work from now until we finish the show.  He's so darn fit now that he can canter for multiple minutes and almost immediately catch his breath.  I'm going to pack all of his lunging gear.  He's no longer a horse where I need to worry about him being able to handle the physical exertion.  Some ponies look good with some extra energy.  Theo just finds new and exciting ways to use that energy up.  We don't get bonus points for the degrees of difficulty he likes to add, so I'd like to just skip that part entirely.

And since I just sent off his entry for his First Level recognized debut at the end of the month, I'd like to work on the lengthen canter without praying for my salvation and functional brakes on each attempt.  I get dinged for talking in the show ring.

Trail adventures

As part of my attempt to mix things up, Theo's been out on the trails a lot.  On Wednesday he played lead horse for the group of adult ladies while we showed them where we go to do his canter sets.  He enjoyed the nice walk, though he was a little confused when we walked the whole thing instead of cantering.  Being lazy is nice, but going for a canter is also nice, especially when the bugs are out really thick.

Today Trainer A took us for an adventure up a set of trails I'd never tried before.  There's an old logging road running up Walnut Hill, leading to a cell tower at the top.  Instead of working in the ring, she grabbed Baby Pony and showed us the way up.  I remembered to turn on my ClockIt app.

Considering our rides usually look like this for altitude change, it was quite a difference for mi papi.  Note the scale change for altitude. 

400 foot climb in 0.6 miles.  That's pretty steep for a horse that usually sees nothing more than 100 feet in change throughout a ride.  That initial climb in particular had the ponies blowing and we had to stop to let them catch their breath (the spot where everything goes flat).  Theo wasn't blowing anywhere near as hard as Baby Pony, so our fitness work is definitely on track.

Aside from the elevation change, Theo had to be a serious business trail pony.  This trail isn't really maintained, so there were a lot of branches to dodge (or tear down and eat, as he saw fit) and some rock faces to navigate.  Since he wears shoes all around, granite rock faces are not something to handle lightly.  On the way up we slalomed our way along, finding the dirt paths.  On the way down, I let him figure out some sections.  It was adorable seeing him put his head down and check before tippy toeing down tricky sections.  He's never offered to put his head down and check his footing before, so that's a great lesson for him to learn.  Next time I'll go in my jumping gear so I can lean way back for the steep descent without hating my life and the cantle of my saddle.

I'll also try to get pictures.  It's quite pretty and looks like something you would never take a dressage show horse up and down.  Baby Pony looked quite at home, his spotted butt carefully marching up and down in his bare feet.  Theo looked a bit more out of place, but showed off how sure footed he's become by never missing a beat.

Tomorrow I have to go back in the ring before I completely forget how that's supposed to work.  As much fun as we're having, I do need to remember I have a three day show coming up in two weeks.  I need one more qualifying score before I can decide to officially slack off for the rest of the summer.