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

Prepping for Plantation

It’s always hard to know exactly how much to do and how hard you should push when prepping for an event. I like to do my hard schools at least a week before the event so the last week is fairly easy and the horses is fresh and ready for the competition. I feel like we gave Union the best jumping prep we could have before Plantation.

A few week before the event, there was a jumper schooling day at GMHA, you could go in the ring and jump a round, come out and do it again! It was pretty low key, but I hadn’t done a 3’9” or bigger round with Union in public since last September. I did a 3’6” round and then they very nicely put them up (it was technically only supposed to go up to 3’6” but they were awesome and put them up for me!). My 3’9” round was much better, it was smoother and Union was jumping amazingly well. I was happy to have gotten a bigger round out of the way so I could focus on the more technical questions in the ring at home.

The next time we jumped, I set up a skinny corner; turning left was three strides to a skinny, turning right was four strides to a different skinny. The skinnies could also be jumped in a straight, five stride line. I also set up very off set one and two stride lines. Today height wasn’t the main focus, rideabililty and holding the line were. I have discovered that what I need to most work on is knowing and counting my striding between related distances (4-8 strides mostly). I usually land, reorganize and then see my distance but I rarely land thinking, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5…. I believe in today’s courses this is a necessary skill, I am very happy I can ride off my eye but I need to become better at riding the line and distance the course designer is looking for. So the arena is full of set distances and I have been practicing with all the horses.

Once I was warmed up I started with the skinny to skinny line, it was a nice five as long as I didn’t land whoaing too much (another bad habit of mine!).  I then did the two off set lines which were no problem, as long as Union can see where he is going and I set him up properly he is good about these kind of lines. I then did the much harder 3 and 4 stride bending lines. Union gets aggressive so everything always seems to come up in a hurry. The four stride rode well but the first time I did the three stride I ended up pulling up in a straight line because he was starting to get too frantic. I re-approached and rode the line, it was a little quick but he was good. We quit after that, these kinds of schools really get his blood pumping, it’s best to do them more than a week before the event; this lets me do one more straightforward school, so he isn’t still in attack mode/ feels quietly confident when we get there.

My last school was almost a week before the event and we just jumped a few straight forward fences. After I warmed up I jumped a couple pretty big (4’-4’6”) jumps. We didn’t’ do much, he was jumping very well and was being very rideable, so we quit while we were ahead. It is always nice to jump a couple fences much bigger than anything you will have to jump at the competition. I always find it’s a bit of a confidence boost for myself and the horse.

The next week I hacked and did light flatwork, when I got to the event I was very happy with the courses. They were fairly straightforward for Intermediate, this was our first one of the year and it couldn’t have been better. There were a few things we hadn’t jumped before, a key hole and a log bounce down a drop but Union jumped beautifully. We were clear in stadium and cross country, with some time xc. I was over the moon with Union, he was so good and positive without being too aggressive.

I really think the preparation leading up to the event made for such a successful weekend. My next event is in three weeks and I won’t need to do anything as technical to get ready since we are coming off such a good weekend. He’d had about two months between his last event and Plantation and it was his first Intermediate of the year, so the prep was a little more specific than this next one will be.

Below is a link to the pictures from the weekend:

http://akdragoophoto.zenfolio.com/p642640725/h1ef7c666#h1ef7c666 

Hitching Post

Often the first event of the year for many area 1ers, and usually our first event back in New England, is Hitching Post. They run one recognized event and many schooling events over the summer/fall. All of their events are great outings whether it’s your first event after a long winter, you are looking to move up, or if you are taking a young horse to their first show.

The winter was so prolonged this year that our move north was much later than it usually is. We wound up moving one week before the recognized event at Hitching Post. I was worried about entering because I wasn’t sure I would have enough time to get all the horses worked and the barn set up, without any working students to help.  In the end we decided to take Rosie to the recognized event and Simply and Jumbie to the schooling event the following weekend.

Rosie had a few days off with the move, but thankfully she is pretty reliable and becoming very consistent in her work. I took her hacking one day, jumped the next, and then did a light dressage school the day before the event and she was perfect. This was her first training level event of the year, her fourth ever. She performed just like a professional; she had a very nice dressage test followed by two double clear jump rounds, winning the event.

The cross country course was such a good early season course, and the footing was perfect. We had an unbelievable amount of rain the night/early morning of the event and the very hilly course wasn’t the least bit slippery. We went right to show jumping after cross country, which can be challenging if the horse is still in cross country mode. Rosie was very rideable and jumped well around the course. We are looking at moving her up to prelim sometime this summer!

The following weekend I took Simply novice and Jumbie did her first training at the schooling event. These two are a little greener than Rosie so it was nice to have an extra week to ride them after the trip. It again, poured right before the event, but the footing remained excellent, I didn’t have studs on either horse and it wasn’t an issue at all!

Warming up for Dressage, Simply felt like a ticking time bomb and kept screaming to Jumbie in the trailer. She is normally quite good, but she was in heat and apparently couldn’t control herself haha. We had a very distracted, inconsistent test, but we stayed in the ring and got to go jump after! She jumped well around the show jumping but was a little spooky to the first few cross country fences. I had to get after her a bit in the beginning but then she got into the rhythm and jumped clean, finishing in fifth.

Jumbie has been getting better and better, she feels like a different horse this year. Knowing the courses would be very similar, if not the same as last weekend, I felt confident that it would be a good first training for her. She was very relaxed and responsive in dressage, quite different from Simply! She won the dressage and had two double clear rounds, winning her first training! I was very proud of her, she jumped stadium like it was a walk in the park and came out on cross country confident and bold. In the past we have had ditch issues but she just skipped over the ditch on the course. There was one fence near the end that had a large white hitching post silhouette on the front of it, Jumbie wasn’t so sure about this one, but with some encouragement jumped it anyway. I was actually happy to see that even if she wasn’t sure about something and I said jump it anyway she would trust me and go do it.

I want to thank Laurie and everyone else at Hitching Post for having such great events. They are always so well run, the courses are great, and everyone is always so nice! Overall, the girls all had great outings and are set up nicely for GMHA this weekend.