Minor adjustment to plans

I'm swapping one bay mare for another at this weekend's combined test. Instead of taking Freddie, I'll be taking Gina!

Fred's always had a pretty minor little hitch in her giddyup. Richal and I have been ignoring it because Freddie has about 123098 issues that could be causing it. She's a hideous paddler, which sometimes tricks onlookers into thinking she's taking a funny or lame step. She's ouchy when barefoot. She enjoys removing her shoes and gimping around. Sometimes she's stiff. The hitch doesn't manifest constantly or consistently. Sometimes it gets better after she's warmed up. Sometimes it never appears. But Fred never acts uncomfortable and never takes a head-bobbing lame step.

Freddie loves the Theraplate.

Now that Freddie's been in consistent work for a couple of months and kept her shoes on for a full shoeing cycle, you'd expect the hitch to maybe resolve itself. But it hasn't. On Monday evening, Fred was looking just off enough that Richal didn't feel comfortable taking her to a show this weekend. No one wants to be excused from the ring for riding a lame horse or start the rumor mill going that their horses aren't well cared for. So Baby Fred's eventing debut will have to wait until Mystery Hitch is resolved.

Freddie also loves eating. 

Hitch or no, I saddled her up yesterday and went on a short trail ride with Richal, who was on the giant freak-of-nature Tennessee Walker/Friesian Goliath, and one of the students on a saintly five year old Appaloosa named Andy. 

I was super impressed with Fred, who was unfazed by cars driving past, neighbor horses cantering by in excitement, and dogs barking. She went up and down steep embankments, listened to me, and walked over telephone poles. Goliath was busy spinning in circles and making Richal's life miserable; Freddie was unconcerned. She didn't mind when poky Andy had to trot to catch up with us. The only things that got a couple of little spooks out of her were a truck pulling an empty trailer rattling by and a dog that ran up to a fence and started barking (the fence was to her back). I always knew she was a basically sensible creature.

I'm looking forward to taking Gina to the combined test- we'll be doing Green As Grass, as I didn't want to make the event organizer's life difficult by switching divisions; plus, we all know Gina isn't the most reliable horse over fences. I think a course of 18" cross country jumps will be a good confidence builder for her. Hopefully we'll have a good time and finish on our dressage score!

What have I done?

I've officially entered myself and Baby Fred (proudly entered under her Jockey Club name of Expect Freedom) in a combined test at Gallery Farm next weekend. 

We're entered in the Green as Grass division, where the dressage test is Intro B and the maximum XC height is 18". I'm confident that Freddie will be just fine if I can keep myself from getting very nervous. It's been years since I actually competed in any kind of show, and I'll be riding a super greenie! 

Fred's had a great week of work though, with a pretty calm trail ride, more cantering without bucking, and even a little baby cross-country jump. This show seems like the perfect, low-key opportunity to make a debut. 

Freddie the jumper

I flatted Freddie in a dressage saddle last Friday morning. This particular saddle is a Wintec that's on loan from Richal's sister. It's a nice enough saddle, but way too slippery and way too small. However, it does help me keep my legs and seat in a more appropriate place for dressage, so in that way, it's a vast improvement over doing dressage in my cross-country saddle. The only notable thing about Friday's ride was that Freddie cantered an entire lap around the indoor arena without bucking. Y'all, I just about fell off, I was so excited.

dressage wut

Since the Fred and I have been dressagin' exclusively on our early-morning rides, I thought we could both use a little change in routine over the weekend. Johnny came to the barn and we set up four little crossrails in the outdoor arena. Johnny also assisted in grooming Fred; he brushed her mane and tail and commented that she looked like a big dork because her super-thick mane parts down the middle.

Johnny is the best.

Freddie was super riled-up and raring to go. She spent a few minutes jigging around the indoor before we went outside, where she walked pretty calmly for most of one lap before jigging some more. I just about had to stand on her head to get her to stop.

I mean, she is basically Will Smith at this point.

I settled her onto a big circle and got her to walk quietly in both directions for a few minutes before asking for a trot. Surprisingly, she trotted beautifully all around the arena, circling and changing directions like she was an old pro. 

I trotted her over all the crossrails several times and was impressed by how well she behaved. She was initially a little hesitant, but with some leg and a cluck for encouragement, she hopped over all the jumps without a problem. She improved as she went- she felt far more confident by the end of our ride. Johnny dutifully reset the few rails we knocked; I was pleased that Freddie didn't scare herself knocking them down, or get spooked by Johnny resetting them. (Gina could learn something here...) 

And, get this y'all: little baby Freddie cantered away from 90% of the jumps without bucking! Hooray! Toward the end of the ride, she bucked a couple of times coming off a jump. It felt like she just had so much momentum going that she didn't quite know what to do with it all upon landing. I am very optimistic that as she becomes stronger and more balanced, she will stop bucking. 

Face of a champion.

Maybe baby Fred and I really will have a good show next month!

Freddie goes to a show

On Saturday, Freddie and I hitched a ride to a local dressage schooling show. We didn't compete, but I felt like I couldn't pass up the opportunity to get her out and about away from home.  It was cold over the weekend- Saturday morning was 52, overcast, and windy- and I was a little apprehensive that Freddie would be feeling exuberant and try to murder me once I climbed on.

So chilly that barn dogs needed blankets! (Deets, Joey [green], Maisy [purple])

She loaded and unloaded from the trailer like a pro, but seemed totally bewildered by her surroundings at the farm where the show was held. (Trailer parking was in the middle of a tree-filled field.) But she stood tied to the trailer pretty calmly. The stuffed hay bag in front of her probably helped.

"This isn't the race track or home!"

Five of Richal's students were competing on three of Richal's horses, so we spent the morning hustling around, grooming and tacking horses.

Adorable tiny child grooming adorable pony Max.

We all headed to the warm up ring once the ponies and kids were ready; I was on foot leading Freddie, and we were accompanied by one of the students riding Training level later on Sundance. The four of us stood outside the warm up area; Sundance grazed and Freddie circled around me nervously. When the warm up ring cleared out, I walked Fred around in it. She was unimpressed for the most part, although some drainage pipes gave her a start. After her very minor spook, she settled down and took advantage of the grass.

"These Intro tests are a snooze fest; I'm hungry."

We watched some of the kids' tests. Freddie paid very close attention.

"So that's what walking looks like..."

After lunch, we headed back to the trailer for some food. We tied the horses up in front of their hay bags, offered them some water, and settled down to enjoy horse show staples like granola bars and goldfish crackers. All of a sudden, there was some commotion on the other side of the trailer: a squeal, some clattering, and some thudding. Richal and I dashed over to see what caused the ruckus. Freddie was nonchalantly eating her hay, while adorable gray pony Max was staring at her, bug eyed and holding up his right hind leg a little. Freddie had nailed him right in the stifle!

Thankfully, Max walked it off just fine and went on to put in two nice Training tests for his young rider. I saddled up Freddie shortly after that; she was totally bonkers for a few minutes, bouncing and jigging and generally trying to zoom off with me. Once she got in the warm up ring, she was a good bit better. She doesn't mind being close to other horses, or other horses getting close to her. She wasn't frightened by any noises or sights. She walked and trotted very quietly in the ring- Richal joked that Freddie looked like she was impersonating a western pleasure horse as she shuffled along. The only bit of ugliness was when I asked Fred to canter- she let out two or three mighty bucks, but since she occasionally does that at home, I wasn't overly concerned. (She is also a ridiculously easy bucker to sit.)

A few people complimented Richal and me on how well behaved Freddie seemed for her first time off her home property, so at least we didn't embarrass ourselves. I was very proud of her; I guess all that hard work on walking is paying off!

Fat Paint horse Paige is a cute mover; even cuter with a tiny kid aboard.

 I'm also proud of all the kids; they rode well and one of them even brought home the high point award! 

The next schooling show is in early October- I'm hoping Freddie will be ready to do an Intro test, but if not, she'll at least be along for the ride.

One step forward, two steps back

Freddie: becoming an expert walker

Last Friday, I rode Freddie in the outdoor arena for the first time since she had her meltdown. Richal had set up a dressage-sized arena within the outdoor, so I was able to keep to Freddie contained (sort of). I was really proud of her- she didn't act like a fool! She walked relatively calmly and halted quietly several times. 

What a sky over the barn!

Freddie had her hooves trimmed and her missing shoe replaced on Tuesday. Yesterday morning, I headed to the barn bright and early to see if Freddie remembered how to trot.

Maybe bell boots will help.

I stuck my running martingale on her mostly to see if it'd help me emphasize half-halts, which Fred typically ignores. We headed to the outdoor arena, where the dressage arena was still set up. Freddie walked quietly for about five minutes, then started jigging anxiously. I tried my best to sit quietly and stay relaxed; I gave her a half-halt any time she moved faster than a walk. Freddie escalated from jigging to pogo-stick trotting. I pushed her forward into a real trot. She flailed and went faster. I half-halted. She started the most awkward canter ever. I grabbed the breastplate's handy neck strap when I felt her hump up her back; fortunately, she was just performing a very uncoordinated flying lead change. (Yay?) 

We eventually settled down and onto a 20-meter circle. After she walked quietly in both directions a few times, I asked for a trot. There was minimal zooming, and for the most part, she trotted her smooth and slow trot. I circled her maybe three times each direction and called it quits.

You will be a sporthorse.

I'm headed to ride after work today; let's hope baby Fred remembers the happy part of yesterday's ride, when I was scratching her neck and telling her "Good girl!", not the part where I was mumbling rude things about her intelligence and parentage while she careened around the arena...

Ponies have arrived!

This weekend was pony weekend (but isn't every weekend?). On Saturday, Richal, Audrey, and I headed to Tulsa to pick up Moe and Gina. After admiring my ingenious tuna can bridle hangers, they helped me load my meager possessions into the trailer. We caught the horses and both of them loaded into the trailer like total pros. Neither horse has ever been bad about trailering, but I am always grateful when they hop right on without any fuss.

They unloaded quietly and were quickly led to their new homes: two stalls with dry lots off the back in the breezy shedrow. They aren't next to one another- between them is a mare and her cute Paint/Fresian foal. Both horses spent some time pacing and whinnying; Moe was also terrified of the foal. (He's terrified of all tiny equines.) They settled down after a little while and were munching hay when I left.

"GINA OMGZ WHERE GINA, NEED SOMEONE
TO BITE ME ON THE BUTT"

On Sunday, I went out to see how they were coping; both horses were turned out in a big field. I rode Gina in the small indoor, just to see how she'd do. 

"This looks a lot like work..."

Gina was good; she didn't spend a whole lot of time looking around or calling for Moe. She put in some really excellent trot work, let me open the gate to the outdoor from her back, and walked around the outdoor arena sanely. (It was a nice change from Fred, let me tell you.) I gave her a good scrubbing after our ride, which she desperately needed. She was grimy with sweat and dirt and general grit. She pulled back once and broke her lead rope (sigh), but I just grabbed the spare in my tack trunk and proceeded as usual.

Monday I rode Moe, who was delightful as always. The minis, Peanut and Charlie, were hanging around in an aisle close to one corner of the arena. Moe was completely terrified of them and spent a few minutes standing completely still, staring at them. He refused to go very deep into the corner (lest a mini attack) and spent the entire ride in the indoor giving the minis some serious side-eye. For their part, the minis ignored him. I took him out into the newly mowed hay meadow and we cantered for a bit; it felt good to have space to run. It also felt good to just ride my favorite old horse. I gave Moe a bath after our ride and turned him out, where he thoughtfully rolled in the grass.

"Did you need us for something?"

I also rode Freddie on Saturday and Monday. Dear old Fred has pulled her right front shoe again, so we are continuing the ever-exciting walking routine. I rode her in a borrowed dressage saddle on Saturday, which made her feel super downhill. She was good, though, and I felt like I was using my seat and legs better, so we'll keep it in our rotation. On Monday, I dug out my breastplate to see if it fits her; it does, and she looks extra legit in it. 

The best at looking like a majestic creature.

Fred was good. She's starting to respond to halt requests more readily and seems to be beginning to understand bending. If only we could keep her shoes on!

One last note: Carson has found a new home! A couple of weeks ago, I accompanied Audrey and Richal to a nice hunter barn in Tulsa who was interested in trying him for their lesson program. They thought he was too forward (again, LOLZ) but thought he'd be a good fit for one of their students. He stayed there on trial, and his new owner recently commented on one of my posts about him that she'd just bought him. I wish her the very best with Carson (who is now renamed Moose); he was one of my favorite horses and I won't say I didn't shed a few tears when we dropped him off at that barn. 

Back to the work grind today; I hope y'all had a great Labor Day weekend!

Freddie freaks out

After Freddie had a little meltdown in the hay field last week, I decided to keep things low-key for our next few rides.

Ruining a perfectly good photo by shaking her head.

On Sunday, we headed to the outdoor arena for a walk. She's had some trouble containing her excitement in the outdoor before; she walks quietly for a couple of minutes, then totally spazzes out and tries to run off. She was marginally better on Sunday, by which I mean she walked for about 10 minutes before beginning her nervous jig. I tried to stay relaxed and keep my reins loose so she wouldn't have anything to pull against. Major fail, as Freddie took that as a sign to trot as quickly as possible. We spent the next half hour having a come-to-jesus about the nature of half-halts and walking. It was ugly, but when she walked an entire lap each direction as well as over some ground poles, we headed back to the indoor to cool out in the shade. Freddie promptly pitched a fit and took off careening around at a canter and bucking. The indoor is very small, so I didn't feel like I was in any real danger and I sat the temper tantrum until Freddie settled down. Then I closed the gate between the arenas from her back, which didn't bother her. Weirdo.

Indoor is boring! Need more running!

I rode Tuesday before work, sticking to the indoor this time. Freddie was about the same as she was on Sunday; totally fine for about 10-15 minutes, then totally amped up and ready to run. More careening, more bucking. 

Such noble. So majesty. Much Thoroughbred.

During our Thursday morning ride, Freddie was definitely better. She stayed (mostly) relaxed for our ride; I also shortened it, thinking that maybe 45 minutes was just too long for green bean Fred. I stuck to the indoor and tried to keep her busy with arena figures and walk-trot transitions. She had a few very moments of stretching down and reaching for the bit; I was very happy with her. 

Freddie is proving to be much feistier than I thought she would be! She is pretty sensible, not spooky, and not mean. She's just very ignorant. I'm currently riding her every other day, and I think having a regular schedule will help her immensely. (Doesn't it help them all?) 

As long as she doesn't buck me off and break my good arm before work, I think we'll be okay.

Desk jockey

Good news, y'all! Yours truly is no longer unemployed! Or rather, yours truly is no longer under-employed teaching the occasional riding lesson and training the occasional horse.

Starting Monday, I'll be the web manager for my local tack store The Horse of Course! When I was in to browse saddle pads a few weeks ago, I noticed they were hiring. I applied, and thanks to a well-placed call from a friend with a contact there, I was granted an interview.

I'm really excited, but also a little nervous. It's a full time position, but has flexible hours. The barn is now a solid 45-60 minute drive away; I think as long as I get up bright and early, I'll be able to ride before work. After all, someone has to keep Freddie in line and feed Moe cookies.

Speaking of Freddie, I got a hack in on her this afternoon. She was excellent in the arena, all softness and bends and little baby lateral movements. I headed outside for a walk around the hay meadow with our friends Holly and Sundance for company; Freddie was a real gem for about five minutes. Then she went from calm and happy to omgomgomg bolt now wut! in approximately 30 seconds. 

I don't have a clue as to what set her off. Perhaps Sundance was too far behind her? Maybe the grass was extra tickly today? At any rate, Fred spent some time on a tiny circle and sidepassed for the better part of the walk back to the barn. We went back to work in the indoor arena for about 10 minutes, where she was cool as a cucumber. I'll just file today under "learning curve" and leave it at that.

The great outdoors

Fred's first time out of the arena.

Working with Freddie is already an exercise in patience. She somehow yanked off a shoe earlier this week, which is terribly inconvenient. Moe and Gina have been barefoot for years without any trouble; farriers regularly comment on how good their hooves are. I'd always silently thank the Thoroughbred gods for giving me two tough, hardy horses when I'd read fellow bloggers' posts about hoof and lameness woes. Well. Now I'm right there with y'all. 

Freddie's a little gimpy at the trot without her shoe, but totally sound at the walk. I spent about an hour on her yesterday afternoon, walking endless laps around the indoor arena while asking her to soften her jaw and bend the tiniest amount. We worked on halting. We worked on steering. We worked on letting other horses zoom around us. We worked on standing still. Freddie did well; I'm pretty sure she fell asleep while we were standing the the middle of the arena. 

While we were watching other horses canter around, a couple of riders tacked up and decided to go on a short ride around the facility's hay meadow and back pasture. It's about 8 acres of lush green grass with a small pond in the middle. Freddie hasn't been out of the arena since her racetrack retirement, and I figured there's no time like the present. Right? 

Freddie and I followed our friends out of the arena and into the unknown. Three dogs were escorting us on our ride, joyfully bounding through the tall grass and into the pond. Fred was unfazed by the knee-high grass and marched over to the pond as if she had every intention of getting in. (We didn't, only because no one is sure what the bottom is like.) She happily followed one of her stablemates around and bravely led the way through a gate. She spooked once, when a dog suddenly rushed out of a thicket to her right, but settled down shortly thereafter. She was definitely interested in everything that was going on, and while she was a little tense, she didn't feel afraid. 

I'd say Fred's first trip outside was a big success. The farrier is coming Monday to trim her hooves and reset her shoes; I hope she'll keep them this time! Tomorrow and this weekend, we'll continue working at a walk. Next week? Trotting- maybe in the great outdoors!

Freddie

O HAI

I've added yet another horse to my list of bay Thoroughbreds: Expect Freedom, known around the barn as Freddie. Freddie is a 2008 mare by Include and out of Fairway Freedom. 

Freddie came off the track in April after eating some hay that contained blister beetles. She's fine now, and trying to adjust to life as a sport horse instead of a race horse. She lives at the barn Moe and Gina are moving to in a couple of weeks. 

Richal offered to let me ride Freddie; Richal has a lot of horses in training as well as a lot of students, so she doesn't have tons of extra time. Freddie is fairly low on her list of priorities- she'd really like to sell the horse. So my current job is to help retrain Freddie for a productive, off the track career and get her sold when she's ready. 

The cutest.

Freddie is physically very similar to Moe- relatively short (around 15.1 hands), narrow, and kind of...delicate. Well, delicate looking. She has slender legs, a short back, a dainty face. Both Freddie and Moe have a lot of Turn-To in their pedigrees, which I suppose accounts for the similarities. 

Progress with Freddie has been a little slow- she was barefoot when I first encountered her a couple of months ago and seemed fine, but kept going gimpy. So she was shod on the front, which was a dramatic improvement...except she kept pulling her shoes. But when Freddie's feet feel good, Freddie is good! 

Practicing standing around.

She stands quietly for mounting and her walk and trot are smooth and forward. She tries to zoom around a little bit, but settles down once she realizes her rider isn't asking her to go. She halts pretty well and stands around like a champ. Last week, I trotted her over a few low crossrails, and she very bravely conquered them. Freddie still needs some work on cantering; she currently zooms around at a slow gallop and lets out a few exuberant bucks now and then. But she's a smart horse and I know she'll keep making progress.

I am so, so happy to be at a barn with lots of other horse people, lots of horses who need to be ridden, and good friends. I love Moe and Gina, and I love riding them and working toward goals I've set. But I also love the challenge of riding new and different horses and teaching them new skills. 

What about y'all? Do you prefer to stick with horses you know and love and perfect your partnership? Or do you like to ride something different every day? Some of both?