It dawned on me last night while working on my shoulder in on the quarter line. I was putzing around with the angle, trying to see if Theo's short back makes it harder for a judge to see what I'm doing. It was something Janet Foy mentioned and I looked in the mirror and went 'damn it'. Because he has such a teeny tiny back that the movement doesn't really show up well.
But it's not worth fussing over because I don't do shoulder in at shows, so no stress. I can practice more angle or less for fun and adjustability (that's not a word but I'm leaving it).
And then I remembered, I do show in shoulder in now. On Friday, I'm doing Second level. This Friday, as in three days from now. For real. At a show. In front of people and a judge. Yes, judges are technically people but they get their own classification in this situation.
WHAT HAVE I DONE????
And then I halted in the middle of the ring for a minute while I practiced not hyperventilating because, after the better part of six years of trying, I'm moving up to Second. I'm finally busting free of the level that I started back with Allen in 2005. I've been a First level rider for fourteen years! On the one hand, it's very exciting. On the other hand, it's freaking terrifying. Talk about taking the training wheels off and I've had those training wheels on for a very long time.
Pony is unconcerned
Of course I'm afraid I'm going to get out there and fall on my face. I have a long and stunning tradition of getting tense at shows and not being able to sit in my saddle. More of a concern when you've got to sit everything. And my mediums? Well, hopefully we'll get a 5.5 or 6 with a comment about 'tried hard'. Because pony still doesn't really understand the full bounce potential of his booty. He's figured out sitting, but bouncing is much harder for him. I know judges tend to be a bit more gentle with Second 1 because they know it's a lot of riders and horses that have just started to figure things out, but I'm also aware that we're going to have some movements that are . . . . in development.
He's a work in progress and I have so many yawning pictures
I actually considered scratching my Second level tests during my moment of panic and just doing my freestyle and the First level test I signed up for as a back up in case NEDA Spring went sideways. So far I've convinced myself to get out there and ride my Second level tests. No one watches Second 1 anyway. I'm sure the judge has seen worse than a rather clunky draft cross and a nervous ammy struggling through a move up test. I'm comfortable with being marginal and forgettable at this point.
I have friends going to this show with me and one is offering to put Bailey's in my coffee before my test. So long as I have a reader, I may have to take her up on that.
I realized I have three pictures of my horse in the same place facing the same way across four years.
July 2015
July 2016
June 2019
We finally fixed that problem with the dip in his neck! Also look at the size of that booty. And shoulders and abs, but mostly booty. His whole back has lifted especially right behind the saddle which explains why I have to get his saddle reflocked AGAIN to adjust for all that muscle. He just looks beefy in that last shot and I know he feels broader. I feel like I've got more horse to sit on.
Which has it's ups and downs.
I didn't feel like I was seeing a lot of change last year, but with the addition of collection this winter, mi papi has become a bit of a beef cake. I thought he was getting fat since his girths weren't fitting right but . . . maybe he doesn't need a diet after all. That pony does not look chubby, he looks strong.
I also love the lack of a chain shank and improved feet over the years, but that's a different topic.
I had a long talk with a fellow experienced rider/trainer today and our topics wandered about. When we landed on a horse at the barn that was a 'rescue', we both had the same reaction: many of those that 'rescue' horses really should not.
Please note the apostrophes around 'rescue'. Because many of these are not rescues at all, such as OTTBs or pasture potatoes or Amish horses, but they're referred to as rescue horses by the people that pick them up, like it's a title of merit. These horses are typically very cheap or free and have fallen on hard times of some sort. They're more correctly termed a retraining project most of the time. The example we were discussing is a Standardbred of questionable soundness and very little retraining. He arrived a couple months ago. He's been struggling and his owner is completely lost.
Almost on cue, a working student that is also older than I am popped out of the feed room and said 'but I've been online looking for a rescue because I don't have the money for a fancy horse'. This is an absolutely rank beginner looking to trail ride once or twice a week. She needs help with tack and cannot canter. In absolute unison, the trainer and I said 'DON'T'.
Kids, news flash. You get a wonderful horse one of two ways: pay the money to buy one up front or invest the time to make one. You can only do the second if you have the skills or hire someone with the skills.
Not a rescue, just a long term project
Most of the 'rescue's I see going through the barn are attached to people that find cantering nerve wrecking and are often a first horse. A pair of OTTBs went through and I wanted to weep. Fresh off the track and 'rescued' by a pair of girls that couldn't really manage their lessons on school horses. If you can't tack and ride a horse on your own, you're not ready for an OTTB straight off the track.
No, the horses weren't around long. Surprise surprise, a cheap OTTB is still expensive to keep, especially when it freaks out and crashes through a fence. And funny thing, just because they're now 'rescued', they don't automatically turn into quiet, safe trail horses. Surely with just a couple of days to settle they'd be happy to go for a bareback walk! It's so relaxing, and they don't have a saddle that fits so bareback is the best option! Why would they need helmets? It's just a bareback walk on a four year old OTTB that hasn't been restarted yet or even let down properly, but the horses know they've been 'rescued' and surely will appreciate the stroll! That has been a repeated conversation I've had with adults. No, the horse does not realize it's been 'rescued' and will not magically bond with you because you bought it and brought it somewhere new. Please put on a saddle and a helmet and consider ground work for your rearing four year old. The horses moved on when the girls realized it was a lot of money each month to keep a pair of horses they couldn't ride. Free to a good home, hopefully to someone ready to give them a real home.
This is terrifying to me and I really, desperately wish many of the people with 'rescue' horses had left that horse alone. It's a terrible thing to say, but I've done that rodeo and I know what it means. You don't just throw a horse into a nice stable with plenty of food and instantly get a perfect partner. No. No no. That's not how that works.
Let's assume for a second that you really did find a horse that is solid in it's training and a good citizen, just badly neglected. You now have to nurse that horse back. That requires vet support to handle parasite load, very careful nutrition, an experienced farrier to bring the feet back, and a careful reintroduction to work. It's not an over night event. It's months if not a full year of work to get that horse back. My Hellbeast, Allen, was a complete wreck. A bleeding, skinny, kill pen mess. It took me a year to get him back into serious business riding horse condition. He had to put hundreds of pounds back on, his feet required several trims and very fancy shoes, the list goes on.
I don't have pictures from when he arrived because I couldn't bring myself to take them, he looked that terrible
You know what happens when you take a neglected horse and give it a lot of fuel? Energy. A lot of energy. They feel good for the first time in awhile. The feet feel good, the stomach feels good, and they may very well like to share their happiness. That's when the Hellbeast started bucking and bolting. A solid citizen, very well trained, but he still went through a phase of being a rampaging nut because he felt good but wasn't strong enough to manage how good he felt. I was in a program and am generally considered an advanced rider. It was still terrifying at points.
And then you get to find out if your horse is actually a solid citizen. A lot of these 'rescue' horses have behavioral issues due to neglect, inexperienced handling, rough handling, whatever. If they didn't bother feeding them, why would they teach them to pick their feet up politely or stop when asked? You could very well have a horse that has to be restarted from scratch. There's nothing wrong with that, it's a very rewarding process, but you have to be prepared for it.
So no, I don't believe that the average good Samaritan should 'rescue' a horse they found online unless they are in a full fledged program with a trainer that has the skills necessary to manage whatever pops up. It is not a path for a beginner working on their own.
Fiona's feet alone took months to straighten out
I'm not saying that a neglected horse is a waste or a loss. I've seen the opposite many times and I've picked up horses in a neglect situation myself with life changing results. I'm not saying that people shouldn't pick up horses that are being neglected when the opportunity is presented. I'm saying that buying a sob story because you don't have money and thinking you can get your dream horse while saving a lost soul is a good way to be broke, overwhelmed, and possibly injured. Unless you're ready to manage nutrition, vet, farrier, and training for a complete mystery horse, you're not ready to take on a 'rescue'. And for the love of all the little gods, don't show up with some half broke, half starved beast in tow without talking to your trainer first. Because that happens and I have had to fight back tears. These poor horses, so confused and frightened. Despite all of the good intentions, they're not going to get what they need. And they'll get moved on yet again. That's not rescuing a horse.
I saw an ad in the local tack shop. The Standardbred in question is now 'free to good home'.
If you're not prepared for the mystery horse, go to a reputable rescue, pay the adoption fee, and get a horse that's been restarted by someone with experience. Someone that can help you be matched with a neglected horse that needs a new home. You are still saving a horse and your adoption fee will allow the rescue to save another one. If you're going to rescue a horse, actually rescue them.
At this point, I think I can call Theo a campaigner. He's heading out to shows, staying at facilities, and generally having adventures while earning that lovely satin. And smashing my phone and destroying property.
Before and after of his stall door with gouges and missing info sheet
He's lucky he's cute. But his rage is actually something that I'm still struggling to manage. How do you keep a horse that's used to being in turnout 24/7 happy when he's at an away show? The longer he's in a stall, the more irritable he gets. He just wants to roll and eat hay in the sun and not be touched by anyone for awhile which isn't going to happen at a show.
I thought bringing him in every night for a week would help him get used to it, but instead he ran over my farrier when he started to flip his lid. Nope.
I currently hand walk him for hours every day at a show and get him out of his stall one way or another every 1.5 hours. This may be grazing, going for a stroll, or actually doing some showing stuff. From 7am to 8pm, I am on the clock and keeping the pony entertained. He still has to cope with the overnight part and cope is a strong word. I leave a civilized horse munching on a pile of hay. I come back to a demon that can't believe he's still in prison and wants out right now! His stall is trashed, he's rushing his door and generally being a rampaging idiot with much head snaking and kicking out.
This is my life when we're at away shows
I've got a couple more away shows this year and I know I can do better with helping him cope. I just don't know what to try, short of sleeping outside his stall and hand walking him through the night. Our regionals have paddocks to rent, so I'll be splurging on a paddock so he can go out and roll and just be outside for a couple hours each day. If he settles well, he may be in that paddock all day.
For most shows, turn out of any form is impossible. I'm thinking about getting him a toy to entertain him in his stall. Rumor has it that he liked to bop people with a jolly ball when he was younger, so it might be a really bad idea, but it might control some of the rage. Fiona did well with a Likit, Theo might enjoy that. We had a big warmblood on stall rest for almost a year after a suspensary injury and we made him a toy. We cut a hole in the side of an empty plastic jug and loaded it with carrot pieces. As the horse tossed and shook the bottle, carrot bits would fall out.
Down side, the horse learned to throw the beat up jug at staff when it was empty to demand a refill. Nothing quite like having an 18h warmblood throwing things at people walking by his stall.
I know he'll never be good about this. He'll always want out of his stall. He hates being confined and there's a reason he never comes in. But I have to think we can work out a compromise for these three and four day shows. Something with less destruction and running people over.
Anyone else have a horse that seriously hates being in a stall?
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.
People know who I am now. I guess that was coming with a horse named Expect the Unexpected. He got it for such an icky reason, but now people think it's because he's such a fun horse in a very sleepy package. They also know me as the one that travels alone. No groom, no entourage, no trainer. I'm there 13 hours a day keeping my heathen as happy as possible with unending hand walks, feeding, mucking, and grooming. I eat breakfast and lunch next to his stall since he'll settle if I sit down and he knows I'm staying put for awhile.
Hand walking is how I get to 30k steps a day at shows
Today started at 3am technically. That's when the fire alarm went off in my hotel. No evacuation needed, someone burned a cup of noodles in the microwave, but that is not a fun way to wake up.
Theo was in relatively good form when I got there and I stuck to just hand walking. No lunging today. The deep footing was eating away his energy and he needed to keep some for the ring. When I went up for my warm up, he was a bit buzzy and distracted. Buzzy enough to spook badly at the watering truck and have a spin/buck fit. He smashed my phone that I forgot was in my back pocket, so I'll be getting a new phone. Bad, Theo.
Sorry not sorry, mom
The freestyle didn't go quite as smoothly. Because Theo was more distracted and on edge, I had to ease the first canter transition which put me behind my music. I ended up going for my back up plan which is a canter lengthen on quarter line instead of on the rail. I pulled it off and managed to get back with my music. No one seemed to notice. Score one for having a back up plan! Got a 70.3 from a different judge so I think I'm really on to something with this freestyle.
The ladies in the office were after me to start budgeting for a trip to nationals with scores like that. I must have looked like a stranded fish, standing there with my mouth working and no sound coming out. Who, me? Go to nationals? But the girl is no one! But if I keep scoring 70's . . . They were quite insistent and promised to bug me again at the summer show.
Theo was dragging his tush when I went in for his First 3 test, but he picked up and marched well for me. I was practically carrying him down that final centerline but I must have masked it well. We got a 68 with comments about how obedient, harmonious, and easy the test looked. But we need to cover more ground and have greater suspension. Pony was exhausted, so I'll take the 6.5 for impulsion.
4 tests, 4 qualifying scores for regionals. And just like that, we're qualified. I can play at Second level for the rest of the season and not worry about collecting scores anymore. That's an amazing feeling.
Except now I have to sit the trot in competition. Two weeks until our Second Level debut!
I was so freaking nervous going into today. After all the trouble Theo gave me on Day 1, I was not looking forward to having to go into the ring and perform. I took him up to graze by the ring first thing in the morning and he was feeling better, but when I told him he couldn't drag me home, he threw yet another fit and ended up back on the lunge line. It was only ten minutes of ridiculousness, but it was enough to have me very uncertain about our chances of survival when out there all alone in the competition ring.
It doesn't help that I heard all morning about horses melting down. Spun reared and withdrew, got rung out for disobedience, scratched because they couldn't leave warm up, etc. Marshfield is a tough, tough showground. I thought our trouble at our last trip here was due to Theo's inexperience. Nope, everyone says this facility is tough. There's a bunch of activity and noise behind the judge's booths due to a landscaping company that is always working with machinery. They use horse trailers as judge booths and that freaks a lot of horses out. And there's just something about the layout that triggers all the barn bound and herd anxiety.
I brought him up to the warm up early for our freestyle so he could cope with the idea of being up there. He actually adapted pretty well once we started to warm up. Lots of long and low, trying to keep him with me and chill. I cantered both ways and sure enough, he would let me sit and ride. I joined up with the other lady riding a freestyle and we headed over together so our horses had company.
Theo chilled and made out with strangers while waiting for his turn. He really does love people and somehow managed to schmooze a mint out of a spectator. How does he always know who has treats?
I took him in for his turn and there was construction behind the judge's booth. The landscaping company was loading things onto a dump truck with a front loader. REALLY? Theo inflated quite a bit but stayed with me since I was absolutely not letting go of that left rein and letting him get out that left shoulder. Nuh uh. The bell rang and I sent his distracted, nervous butt into the ring.
He surprised me. As soon as we hit center line, he quit trying to dance around and stare at the construction. He was all business once we started our test. My music started and I started grinning. I really have been waiting a long time to do this and my pony was right with me. Didn't even get sticky on his leg yields. It probably helps that once we were going along, I wasn't nervous anymore. I was thinking about my music, my routine, and how much fun we were having.
We finished and I gave him a hug and tried not to start crying in the middle of the ring. I was so proud of him. Theo strolled out on the buckle, ears relaxed and looking for the lady with the mints again. I threw him back in his stall for a break and went to get my score. 70.5. From an S judge. Yeah, I totally teared up.
Unfortunately I left everything in the ring on that first test. When I brought him up for his First 3 test he was dragging a bit. Pony wanted a nap and I had no interest in pushing any of the buttons that would wake him up. He had to march in one more time and with a judge break after our test, there was no one in the area. Rather than tickle him a bit and wake him up, I let him doze and walked around the ring on the buckle. No surprise, our test was obedient, smooth, and flat. The comments were obedient but needed more elasticity and more ground cover. Yup, we did, but I was focused on keeping all four on the floor. 62.2. Hey, that's the score I needed, so works for me!
Theo is doing better in his stall today. I took him out for his last handwalk at 8pm and he was okay with going back into his stall with a fresh pile of hay.
I did a bit of shopping, then went back to my hotel.
Used the bath bomb, now I'm curled up with my M&Ms and cider. The tiny unicorn was just adorable.
Tomorrow we do the same thing, same ring, so I will try to be brave and light my pony up a bit. He can do big boy gaits, I just have to be brave enough to ask for them.
