Day 5: The End

Ah, we have reached the end of the 5 day challenge, but just the beginning of the winter wonderland. The horses crunched around today through the ice covered landscape. All the fences had icicles on every board. It was quite the vision.

The girls decided eating hay was easier than finding grass

All the fences looked like this, some with even longer icicles

21. Favorite classes to watch
Dressage musical freestyles. I love seeing how they put movement to music. A class was offered that would make a CD of music that matched your horse. I really wish I had been able to go.


22. What’s in your cooler at horse shows?
Water, Gatorade, Sandwiches, grapes, chips and probably some kind of chocolate. Except for drinks, I can't touch anything else until after I ride.

23. One thing about showing (or riding in general) you wish you could change?
The expense :( Show fee's are almost crippling now a days. That causes me to pick and choose which horses do or don't do what shows. With out shows it is hard to find the gaps that need filling in your training.









24. Your ringside crew
My Mom and Peggy are my best supporters. They always get my pony ready so I can stay clean. They attempt to take pictures and videos too. Can't get by without them.

25. Best prizes
The best prize I ever got was a surprise win of being closest to optimum time during cross country with Barry. I got a color blocked rugby shirt as a prize. That will always remind me that I was able to ride the correct pace and complete the course. Over the years we also won a couple of plates. One was from my first CT. Ruth, author of Off Centered Riding, had worked with me in the rain and for days to get ready. I was so glad to bring home that plate and show her we won.

Day 4: "Jesus Take the Wheel"

Wow the roads were so bad today. Going to the barn I turned onto this side road out of habit and quickly realized the conditions were not good. Then as I looked for somewhere to turn around, I lost control on a slick spot. We swerved left, right, left. As I saw the side of the road loom close each swerve, I noticed the semi's headlights coming at me. Luckily he saw my problem and was able to stop far enough away. It was a "Jesus Take the Wheel" moment and somehow, someway I was able to regain control. I was still shaking when I made it to the barn almost 2 hours later. I much prefer doings serpentines on the back of a horse.

Onto the questions.
16. One thing you'd like to change about your horse
A lighter front end for Dottie, more Arabian  cheeks rather than quarterhorse for Winston since they cause teeth issues, no melanomas for DaVinci, no sarcoid for Rosemary and no white around the right eye for Roscoe.

17. Your horse's future
Further dressage and driving for Rosemary, my future event partner and stud extraordinaire for Roscoe (hopefully), healthy happy riding fun for Winston, Dottie and DaVinci.

Baby Roscoe

18. Your worst show ever
Hands down Welsh Spring Fling 2012 when Comrade and I had our horrible Ridden Cob. Then he came up lame and stayed that way for two weeks. Plus his breeder was watching, which made the nightmare even worse. But we redeemed ourselves this year.

19. Favorite horse show venue
I really enjoyed showing at Morningside Training Farm with Comrade. Spacious warm up area, awesome dressage ring and a big out door jump ring. Plus the option to play on the cross country field.


20. Your show day routine
Get up before the crack of dawn, drive to the barn, load any items not loaded the night before. Then load the horse, stress out on the drive, dose my self with Rescue Remedy. Plan for about 20min of warm up. Mom and or Peggy will help ready my horse while I dress. Then it is show time. In hand shows require a lot of shower in a bottle and spot cleaning of multiple horses. Most shows it is a lot of hurry up and then waiting.

Day 3: Preparing for Bad Weather

Well, we had sun today. While it lasted I did Pony Spa Day. 5 hours later all my ponies had been brushed, sprayed with lanolin, manes and tails sprayed with Canter and tails bagged. The few that needed feet trimmed got that done too. Then I had to get stalls ready for the crappy weather headed our way. Hopefully it will not be too bad.

Today's questions:
11. Critique your horse's conformation
Fresh from Spa day: Winston according to Mom is a little straight in the shoulder. A positive is the nice long legs which really show off lateral movements.

 Roscoe: Love his shoulder and neck. No cons yet until he is done growing.

 DaVinci: Nice long neck, but a flat croup (good thing he is not a jumper) and he tends to stand over the knee (may be due to old injuries) Plus he is pigeon toed.

 Rosemary: Great head and neck set. She is low in the pasterns.

 Dottie: For her breed, I love her balance, her head fits her body. Negative is that her neck is set a little low.

12. Horse's favorite riding exercise
Lets see:
DaVinci loves to half pass
Dottie actually loves to jump
Winston loves lateral work
Rosemary loves lots of changes of directions, so figure eights, serpentine
Roscoe so far likes to follow mom

13. Favorite spa day products
Number 1 would have to be Elbow Grease. It is free, always with you and multi purposed. Elbow grease makes all products work better. :)
Number 2 would be a Lanolin product, we call Pink stuff cause it is a pink concentrate that mixed with water. It is a hair product that helps condition the coat. We use it during this time of year when they are really dry. It gives them a great shine too.

14. Three best things about your horse
Oh boy here we go.
DaVinci: His Garfield ears, Super sweet personality and how he takes care of Roscoe
Winston: His love of learning, His trust in us and his love to touch fuzzy animals
Roscoe: His brain, His adaptability and the fact he was born on Barry's b-day
Rosemary: Her personality, Her crazy Cob laps and her ground covering, full body walk.
Dottie: Her ability to read her rider, Her cool head and I love her eyes.

15. Favorite picture of your horse
Okay I am taking the easy route on this one and picking a picture of Barry and I. This was our first event away from home. Neither of us really loved dressage, but it was a means to get to jumping. We look great though and we won dressage and the whole shebang.

 Found this one while looking for the other. Definitely one of my favorites of the boys.

Now I am ready for my heated mattress pad and getting prepared for the cold day tomorrow, uh actually today.

Day 2 As the Rain Falls

Not only is rain falling but the temperature is too. Some drama happening at the barn that is really annoying. I am trying to ignore it and worry about my own stuff. Ah deep breath.
 

Now for the next batch of questions:

 

1. Favorite equestrian book and movie

My favorite would have to be the Centered Riding books by Sally Swift. She brings different perspectives to how a horse and rider come together in a finely tuned partnership. She also enhances rider awareness of their own bodies. My Mom was able to attend two of her clinics before she passed away. The information was invaluable. In addition my old instructor wrote a book called Off Centered Riding or Not so Swift, that is a fun read too. Sally wrote the forward for that book.
 

 

Movie, that is a tough one. I like the movies that highlight horses and riders that rise up from troubles. They may not win the day but they grow.

 

 

7. Most common riding misconception

"Only kids ride ponies," "When are you going to get a real horse" It totally bothers me that people underestimate the value of riding a pony or smaller horse. Bigger is not always better. The pony movement has gained momentum in the US. I can't wait until they are judged equally. If the talent is there they should be allowed to compete at the same levels.

 

 

8. 2 riding strengths and 1 riding weakness

One strength is that I have soft hands. I ride light, but firm if needed. My horses have taught me well.

Second, I have patience. I am willing to take the time to do things right. This really helps in the long term relationship. This does not mean I never lose my temper, but hey I am still human :)

My weakness lately is finding the motivation to not sleep in and get to the barn to ride.

 

9. Least favorite thing about horses/riding

The whole "keeping up with the Jones'" and "judging a book by its cover" aspect of the horse world. I did not make the college team because I did not "look" the right way. I was glad to see schooling shows relaxing dress codes which allows those riders who cannot afford show outfits a chance to still show their horses.

 

10. What do you feed your horse?

All five of mine eat about the same amounts with a few variations:

                    Ground Flax    ADM Stay Strong    ADM Healthy Glo  Wet Plain Beet  Soaked alfalfa Wheat Bran

                                            Mineral Pellet        Rice Bran Pellet            Pulp                    cubes

DaVinci        1 cup                1 cup                        1 cup                        1 cup                1 cup                    1 cup

Dottie            1 cup                2 cups                    1 cup                        1 cup                1 cup                      1 cup

Winston        1 cup                1 cup                        none                        none                1 cup                       1 cup

Rosemary    1 cup                 1 cup                        none                        none                1 cup                       1 cup

Roscoe        1 cup                1 cup                        1 cup                        1 cup                1 cup                       1 cup

 

They all get 1oz Pysillium powder and Corta Flex liquid joint supplement. We also use Ration Plus, a product that helps maintain a healthy environment for microflora in a horses digestive system. It keeps the system working efficiently, so for my horses who have to have lower quality hay, it keeps things moving along.

 

We have been super pleased with this feeding regimen, As with anything we adjust where and when it is needed.

Rosemary checking on the progress of breakfast

Birthday and Day 1

I have had some technical issues that have kept me from posting. So frustrating :{ Not much happening in my world anyway, but I did want to do the five day challenge.

Plus today I have to wish DaVinci Happy 25th Birthday. Over the last 7 years we have had our ups and downs, but he has become an integral part of our barn. I can't imagine not seeing those Garfield ears and happy face. So here is to many more, sweet boy.

Birthday Boy and the Photo Bomber (I swear he has camera detection)

 

 

Now onto the five day challenge.

 

 

1.  Most influential person on your riding

Definitely my Mom. Her love became mine at a young age. She taught me how to be the best horse women I could be and helped me become the rider I am today. She always said "if your not having fun, it is time for a change." Those words kept my stress level down and kept the focus on what truly matters, the horse.

My Mom and 3 amazing animals we had in our life

 

2.  Piece of tack you'd love to splurge on…

I would get a Bates Isabell dressage saddle. I love leather saddles being a traditionalist, but so cannot afford leather. The synthetic version has done wonders for me and my horses so I know the leather would be worth the money.
   

3.Top 5 riding playlist

I love to ride with music. The playlist really depends on the horse I ride since I feed off the energy they get from the music. But some of my favorites are: Trans Siberian Orchestra Christmas songs, Lean on Me, Baby Elephant Walk, Penny Whistle Jig (this song inspired Barry's show name, so dear to me), Pickin Wildflowers. Normally I just set my iPOd to play songs and wing it. Complete fun though.

 

4.  Most important aspect of your barn?

It is CHEAP!  We board five horses for $500. They have pasture and stalls. We have a tack room, hay storage, feed room and trailer parking. It is as close to running our own place as we can get right now. So far the pro's out weigh the con's.

 

5.  Three winter riding goals

Oh lets see

    1. To ride my own horses and no I am not joking

    2. Go to available winter clinics

    3. Get Roscoe consistently long lining to prep for further backing next year.

 

Until tomorrow