Making Plans

This is the time of year when we start planning, although some of us haven't stopped since last season! Planning what events to do, planning when/if to move certain horses up a level, planning the entire seasons out, then planning how to make those plans happen! The bummer is, with horses, it's hard to plan! 

This doesn't stop us though, having a plan drives us, it gives us things to work for and motivation on theses cold, dark, days, to keep going. You have to adapt and be flexible enough, and you guessed it, have back up plans. Every once in awhile everything will go according to plan and you will just keep moving ahead. 

Not to sound like a downer, but more often than not things won't go according to plan. It's hard to know how your horse will be in 6 months, or how you will be in that same amount of time. It's not just your health and your horses health but the weather can mess up plans, family problems, and any number of other issues can creep in and throw you off your path. 

It's only the second week in January and some of my plans have already gone out the window. I'm working on back up plans, but honestly, I may need back ups for those back ups. You can't let this get you down, you have to go with the flow to a certain degree. Of course missing specific goals can get you down but you just need to look ahead to the next set of goals and how to achieve them. This gets harder as your horses get older, you worry about not having enough time to achieve everything you've dreamed. The problem is horses can't go forever, there comes a time when you have to back off of your goals for your horses well being. I think a true horseman knows when to stop pushing and appreciates every event, and even every ride with their horses. This isn't such a problem when you have a young horse, it's ok to have light seasons where they only compete a few times, if at all. You don't feel like you're running out of time, you have all the time in the world (in theory haha). 

Anything can happen to disrupt your plans, and that's ok, you just have to come out of the other side with new plans. I am a person who likes to plan, I like scouring through the omnibus, figuring out where I can try and go and how to prepare to get there. It's exciting to create plans, and even better when they work out!

Do You Walk the Walk?

At Tamarack we put a huge emphasis on our horses fitness. The fitter your horse, the easier their job will be and the less likely they will be to injure themselves. It's not, however, just about galloping. 

The majority of our conditioning is done at the walk and trot, we frequently do an hour and a half or longer rides, sometimes it is just walking, others it's trotting when the footing is good. We start and end every ride with a good walk. Frequently I will hack before doing flatwork but, if I don't then I walk for at lest 10 minutes in the ring. Every ride is finished by a nice hack as well. 

It seems to me that there are many people who don't think you can accomplish much, fitness wise, at the walk. And half of those people are probably right because they probably don't make their horses walk with purpose. Most horses, when left to their own devices will walk slower than molasses, this isn't doing much for their fitness level. Think of yourself walking, if you went on an hour stroll, taking your sweet time, how tiring is that? Not too tiring compared to you going for an hour power walk. It's the same with horses, if you aren't worrying about fitness then by all means, let your horse walk however they want to. But, if you are thinking in terms of fitness and exercise then you are probably going to have to work to get your horse to march forward in the walk. 

So many people just say, but my horse doesn't walk fast, and when they go hacking they get left way behind. None of the horses I ride naturally walk fast, but I have taught them to all walk with more purpose. When you are first teaching your horse to walk more forward they will probably jig some, it's not big deal, you just bring them back to walk and ask again. Eventually they will start to get the idea and you will have to ask less and less. 

Several years ago I was fortunate to be given the ride on Jetting West, a horse both Denny and Sue Berrill had competed through preliminary. Westy had been off and when we were bringing her back into work, all we did was walk. We have this sandy area we call the bean field that is about a mile around. Denny and I would walk and walk and walk around that field, we gradually built up to this of course. We kept a brisk walking pace, we didn't let them creep around that field. It was shocking to me how muscular and how fit Westy became just from walking! When it came time to start her back in real work she was fit and ready to go, we didn't cut corners and had taken all the time that was needed at the walk. 

Westy was my first really experience with getting horses fit from walking. Of course when you move up the levels more trotting and galloping need to be integrated, but don't short change your walking! 

Post vacation

I just went home to Michigan for the first time in over a year. It was a great trip, I was able to catch up with friends and family I haven't seen in a long time. It's not too often I go days with out riding, or even seeing horses, and I realized I sometimes take my job/ what I'm doing with my life for granted. 

I always feel very lucky to be able to ride horses, but coming back from vacation made me realize how much I really love what I'm doing. I went out for a drink with a very good friend from high school, we haven't seen each other in years. We were discussing how cool it is we are both doing what we always wanted to. She has always loved fish, and has been able to make a career out of that. I always loved horses and I have a job where I get to ride most of the day! I think most people reach a point where their dreams get put on a back burner so they can conquer "real life." Thankfully, I was pig headed enough not to listen to anyone who told me I should get a "real job," and make money and have horses on the side. 

A lot of people didn't understand my love for horses and many more never thought it would be a good career. Going to college wasn't ever a question for me though, I always knew I would go and I even wanted to. I chose a school where I would receive a business degree first and foremost (equine business management), I always wanted a fall back just incase! I have been fortunate to work for wonderful, encouraging people that have helped me along the way. I have no doubt that is why this is working out as a career for me. Don't get me wrong, it is a ton of work, but if you give up, you will never know. I still may not "make it" but I never would if I just gave up. 

I got back to NC last night and when I got up this morning and went to work, I was so excited to be able to ride. I couldn't wait to get chores done so I could get on Union! Then I was able to ride five more horses, a dream come true. Nothing like a little break to make you appreciate what you have and what you're doing!

Bits Part Two: Jumbie

Jumbie

So Jumbie (Cabin Society) is a seven year old Irish mare. I started Jumbie under saddle as a three year old and have ridden her ever since. Jumbie moved up to training level this summer and we plan to move her up to prelim next summer. I currently ride her in a loose ring myler on the flat and a loose ring gag with tow reins jumping.

I start all young horses in a double jointed loose ring snaffle, I have found it to be pretty soft in the green horses mouths. So jumbie started in that bit but she was very unsteady for quite awhile (mostly just from being weak/young). There was a time where I rode Jumbie in a d-ring snaffle, this created a little more stability and helped her learn to be steady and consistent. Once Jumbie got a lot stronger and more capable of sitting and lifting, she became much steadier. At that point I felt like I could use a little more softness, so I went back to a loose ring. I tried the myler because it fits the shape of the horses mouth well and is just thin enough (without being too thin) that horses don't want to lean on it. I fell like Jumbie is very accepting of the contact in this bit I can be very soft with my hand.

As far as jumping goes, it took a little while to figure out what bit worked best. As with flat work, all my horses start jumping in a snaffle. It isn't until they start doing more cross country and cantering full courses that I ever feel like I need a stronger bit.  If they can stay in a snaffle great, I don't think that every horse needs a stronger bit just because they start doing cross country but I also don't think people should feel like they are failing just because they need more bit.

Jumbie can be a little blasé and so I have to generate a more active, forward canter when jumping. When I do this, sometimes it then becomes hard to bring her back and adjust her. I found that I was not going forward enough because I wasn't sure if I could bring her back, that's when we decided to try another bit.

The first bit I try after a snaffle is a wonder bit, it gives you a little leverage with a soft snaffle mouth piece. It's pretty mild and I didn't get much reaction from Jumbie. Denny is a big fan of Tom Thumb Pelhams, so often that's what we try next. This seemed to work really well for Jumbie, for awhile. I found that I could gallop more confidently forward and get her back when approaching the fences. After a little while, I found it was almost too much and when doing a stadium course, she would suck her head in when trying to make turns. I had started having a hard time keeping her head up to the fences and started loosing the adjustability. A big part of it, I think, was the curb chain, even though I used it pretty loosely I think it was too much for her.

One jump school when I was telling Denny my concerns with the Pelham, my friend Lila told me I should try a gag, that's what her two horses go in. I hadn't ridden in a gag much, and honestly it sounds much worse than it is. A gag has a snaffle mouth piece and uses leverage by the reins attaching directly to the cheek pieces. You do have to be pretty light with you hand but when used properly it can be very effective.

I decided the gag was worth a shot and the first time I used it, I had never felt Jumbie jump so well! She stayed up and had a much better bascule over the fence. I was able to ride forward and keep her up as approached the fence. At the time I only rode her with one rein but she became a little more sensitive, so I put a snaffle rein on the bit. This gave me the snaffle rein to us most of the time but the gag (or curb) rein to use when needed. I have ridden her into his for over a year now and I am very happy with it. This doesn't means she won't need to switch her bit out at some point in the future, but I don't see any reason to change anything right now.

Bits part one: Rosie's Girl

I was asked to write a blog about the bits I use on the horses I am currently riding. I decided I would do a blog on each so I can discuss what I use, why, and what I have tried in the past. I'm not saying I'm an expert on bits, just giving my opinion on what I've tried :)

I thought I would start with Rosie since she is the most straight forward. Rosie is an ottb mare who can be quite sensitive, she has successfully made the move up to preliminary this summer.  I currently ride her in all phases in a loose ring snaffle, with an oval piece in the middle. Her dressage bit is a KK, but her jumping bit is a much cheaper bit that looks basically the same. I have never needed to try anything stronger on Rosie because she is very light in the bridle. I think if I tried anything stronger at this point, it would cause her to get tight and would make her bounce up and down more in the canter. I could also see her becoming afraid of her mouth being touched if too strong a bit was used.

I do ride her on the flat in a Micklem bridle. With the flat work improving and asking her to sit and lift more, Rosie was getting a little tight in her jaw. She wasn't really crossing it but I had heard the Micklem could possibly help. I decided to try it and I really like her in it, I tried it jumping and it was a little too much. Rosie can be more sensitive in her mouth jumping than she usually is on the flat. She jumps in a figure eight bridle that she seems quite happy in.

At some point in the future I wouldn't be surprised if I need a slightly stronger bit cross country (I would probably try a wonder bit if I needed more control), on the other hand part of me could see her going the rest of her career in a snaffle. Since she is a thoroughbred who likes to run it is possible I may need more but I am quite happy to keep her in the snaffle as long as possibly. She is very rideable and confident, so if I can keep her that way as she moves up the levels a snaffle may be just fine.

Plantation Fields 2014

Eventing is a funny sport, I guess by funny I mean hard, but what sport isn't hard, right? Just when you think you've fixed one problem, something else arises, possibly the polar opposite problem! With three very different tests, there are many, many skills to master, and even more things that can go wrong. Honestly, it's part of why we do the sport, why do something if it's too easy? Event riders love the challenge of mastering three phases instead of one.

I've had a really great season with Union, it started out a little rocky until I found the right xc bit, then things really clicked into place. We jumped clean around four intermediates, dressage was getting better and we had a couple clean stadium rounds. Denny and I started talking about moving up to advanced next season, thankfully that's still the plan but you never know what can happen between now and then! Anyway, I took Union down to plantation this past weekend for one final event for 2014 and it didn't go quite as planned.

Just before entering the dressage ring, as I passed the judge, Union leapt into he air, and that's about how the rest of the test went. Our tests have been getting much better, but the tense, nervous tb came out this weekend. It can happen with him, but less than in the past. Oh well, onto xc, right?!

The course looked great, big and gallopy with a few technical combinations. I thought it would be a great course for Union but I was worried about the out of the ruins and the last combination, a big table three strides downhill to a very oblique corner. I talked to several people and they all said to go straight the the corner in three, there was a possibility of jumping the table on an angle and bending four strides to the corner. Whenever you do a bending line instead of a straight line there is a greater chance of messing up the line, so I decided to go straight in three. Union was cruising around the course, he was making  it feel so easy and I was right on track to make time (something I never do!) Union locked right on to the out of the ruins which made me feel very confident for the corner combination. I came to the table and jumped in well, but I didn't push enough for the three and we got three and a little, Union went out try and jump but (probably for the best since it was way too long) ended up stopping, chesting the corner and then running out. We did finished the course but I was very disappointed.

Last year, at this event, Union took over and smashed the last combination, almost fell down and I went flying. We worked so much on getting him more rideable and more under my control. We did achieve this and he is more rideable than ever, however, I think now when he is balanced, he does not have a full 12 foot stride. I think this is why the three stride was so long for us, the total opposite problem from last year! So, at least he is better than last year, but now we need to work on him staying balanced but opening his stride within that balance. I noticed it in stadium as well, we had two rails, both from him having to reach to the distance.

So, all in all, a disappointing weekend, but we came home no worse for the wear. I learned a lot, and we are both still as confident as we were before, in fact I feel even more confident with how well and easily he jumped the majority of the course. It isn't like he ran right past the corner either, I know if I had gotten him there better, he would have jumped it. So, good things for "winter work" and onto bigger and better things next year!

Below are the xc videos the Horsepesterer took. Thanks Dave!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=y5Hm8ESaBhI&feature=youtu.be

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=U4foeBiqyog

Huntington!

What a weekend!! This past weekend was Huntington Farm’s July USEA horse trial; we take advantage of it being right down the road from Tamarack, and take most of the horses. I took Rosie in her first Prelim, Jumbie in her first Training, and Simply competed in the Novice. I came into the weekend with little expectations as Rosie and Jumbie were moving up and you never know how they will handle it until you try! They stepped up to the plate and showed me they were truly ready for the next level.

                You go into a move up as prepared as you can, obviously if you don’t feel the horse is ready, you don’t move up! Rosie has felt so on task at every event this year, the plan from the start of the year was to try her at prelim if all went well. It’s almost comical how often things go wrong, but luck was on our side and she has stayed confident and sound through the beginning of the season. We took her to the GMHA Team Jumper Challenge on the Thursday before Huntington, where she did her first 3’6” round in public. There was a big crowd and she acted as if she didn’t even see them, she was such a professional! This really proved to me she was ready to move up.

                Over the entire event, she acted as if she had been doing preliminary for several events, she didn’t feel like a green horse in any way. Rosie had never done a full coffin, ditch and wall, or a drop into water (we had at least schooled drops into water!) and she answered each question like a true event horse. She then jumped clean around the show jumping, finishing in second place! I was over the moon! She really feels like she is much more experienced than she is, I can’t wait until the next one!

                Jumbie also had an excellent move up! She had a decent dressage, not our best test but it put her into fifth place. She then had a clean cross country and made the time which moved her into first! She had a few spooky, green moments, which was to be expected but she handled it all very well. I was hoping she wouldn’t be too tired for stadium but she wasn’t! She jumped a double clean show jumping round to win her first training! It is such a relief to complete a first move up, but to win it is just amazing! I am so proud of these girls for handling the weekend so amazingly well!

                To top off an already successful weekend, Simply competed on Sunday, winning her Novice division! She was a little spooky at the jump judges on cross country but we managed to get around clean. There were a couple times I thought she may try to run out, spooking at the people but when I said “jump this!” with my leg she went! She seems to be pretty bold and willing and I think her spooking will go away with more experience. She then had a clean stadium round, finishing on her dressage score!

               I just want to thank Ann Kitchel and everyone at Huntington Farm for running such fun events! And a thank you to Lila Gendal for helping me on Saturday, couldn't have done it without you :)! Also, I want to thank Denny and May Emerson for giving me the opportunity to bring along such nice horses!! I am so lucky to have these amazing horses to ride and compete!

The wonderful Horsepesterer came out and took some great videos of the horses on Saturday, thanks Dave!

Rosie’s Dressage:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66nvoMxUNY8&feature=youtu.be

Rosie on XC:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzEL5N8Jzms&feature=youtu.be

Rosie's Stadium:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2b2c3MPKc0#t=72

Jumbie's Dressage:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbN-nESNP-I&feature=youtu.be

Jumbie's Stadium:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbWTfyCr7gc&feature=youtu.be