End of an Era

Well our old barn on Base will be torn down soon. Last summer they closed completely, after a few years of only having boarders. Before I was born Ronald Reagan rode at this barn and probably other notables.
I basically grew up at this barn when we moved here 20 years ago. Okay just typing that makes me feel old. I rode in my first show, got bucked off, rode lots of rotten ponies, met my best pony, jumped my first jump and cleaned a million stalls.
Unfortunately, management went downhill and money was short. We left during the management issues and I have not looked back preferring to remember better times. Those memories are priceless even if we have moved onto, literally, greener fields.
So here's to a barn that was a big part of my life and my riding. It was small but mighty and looking back, provided me with some quality training.

Barry and I, 1999 In one of the arenas, used as warm up during shows



Another view of above arena

The Show ring, with ugly pink trailers I did so much homework in.

Cross country, Whoo Hoo

Me and my partner in crime out on the great trails the barn was connected to.

Just inside these doors is where Barry and Sherman's stalls were.

The barn is "T" shaped, this area was where trailers were parked
 

The show side of the barn, show arena to the left and waiting area to the right. I do miss the arena lights.



Unusual Barn Items

I was puttering around the barn getting things in order so tomorrow will go smoothly in case ice makes time short. As I worked I noticed things we have that may raise questions in other people. So here are some of the unusual items used in our barn:

Teapot
Although in the past we did feed tea to our horses, now we only use it to heat up water. During the cold weather the horses enjoy having warm meals. Plus it is closer than the bathroom, the only place that has hot water.

Coffee bean Grinder
We have gone through a few grinders. The main purpose was for grinding whole flax seed. Flax is a great source of Omegas and we have used it for a very long time. Pre ground flax used to be really expensive so we ground our own. The only problem was we used it 4-5 times twice a day which is a lot more than most people ground coffee resulting in the death of the grinder. After the loss of a couple higher priced grinders, we decided to go with pre ground flax. The other use was to break pills. It makes a horrible noise, but works great.

Angled Toilet Bowl Brush
Yep, I said a toilet brush (never used in the bathroom.) This brush is the best feed bowl cleaner. The angled portion gets into the edges well. The short bristles make a better scrubber and lasts longer. Best tool ever!

Diapers
Gretchen bought us the cheapest diapers she could find to use for abscess soaker boots. Cheap so that they would not draw the moisture away. We pour water, Epsom salt and iodine inside, then put on the hoof. Even on Dottie we were able to secure the tabs to hold the diaper on the foot. They are a bit cheaper in price than a roll of cotton, so that helps.

Loofah on a stick
This back scrubber for people is our absolutely best water bucket cleaner. I don't know when or how we stumbled onto this fact, but now we use it almost daily. Great in the cold, keeps hands dry. And when the ties that hold the loofah wear out the released mesh makes a fascinating toy for Roscoe.

Plastic Shopping Cart
Years ago Mom and Dad were driving along and saw an abandoned Big Lots shopping cart. They stopped and picked it up. Now it rolls around our barn holding hay that needs to be rinsed. To help reduce the sugar levels for our ponies we run water over the hay which washes out some of the sugars. We have previously used wire mesh baskets in a wheelbarrow, but the shopping cart is so much better. Any unused hay can stay and breathe in the cart. If only it had all terrain wheels...

Those are a few of our unusual barn items. Did I surprise you? Make you think outside the box? Good. Items that make life easier are priceless.
Do you have any items in your barn not normally meant for the job you use it for? Let me know. I love new ideas.

A Door Unlocked

As we are covered in a light snow, it is a good time to think back to the lovely warm weekend. Beyond a stroll on DaVinci, no riding happened at my barn. We had a cloud sit on us for almost a week, then finally open leaving the ground too wet to ride. My only option left was Comrade. Not that I am complaining.
Saturday was a late ride, made later by a completely muddy pony. I hopped on bareback and began to play. Almost immediately I could feel a difference from Mom's training ride. Comrade was into the outside rein going to the right, instead of falling onto his inside shoulder. This made his lateral work almost easy, when I got all my parts in order. I was able to spiral in on a circle and then push him out smoothly. Not something that can happen if he is falling in, so I was really happy. Comrade certainly did his homework in his time off. I told Mom that night that his right side felt so good it made his left side seem like the bad side now. She unlocked some door in him and we can move forward. Plus we have the key if the door gets locked again. For Comrade that key is lateral work while maintaining straightness.
Sunday was very warm, so I decided to jump Comrade in the arena. He is not blanketed and has no clip which means I have to be careful on the warm days. Peggy was my ground crew and jump designer. When we got to the arena, Comrade was so excited to see what she had set up. As I warmed him up and settled him down, I made a few changes. Then I asked him to go over a really small vertical. Dodo boy about tripped over it, he gave it no respect. I asked for more the next time and he at least took it in stride. Then we played over a baby box oxer. This jump made Comrade think, so he gave a nice round jump. Once he started being more responsive I had him connect the small vertical to another vertical at the canter. He could have been a hunter pony the line was so smooth. And I will say we had the added difficulty of dodging 3 dogs running around. During a walk break, I had Peggy make the baby box oxer into an "X" and put up the 2nd vertical. One bad thing, Comrade was not picking up the right lead over the fences and would cross canter when I asked. No bucking at least, but still not good. I worked him over the new jumps and got the better responses I hoped for. Comrade planted and pushed rounding over the jumps instead of being the lazy pony hitting poles. We also found our right lead over the fences, FINALLY. At that point it was time for the final jump, a bigger oxer. I trotted him up and he gave me the best jump of the day. No hesitation. No drifting. All done :)

Our little jumps with Shadow representing the dogs. Left: Final oxer, Middle 2nd vertical, Back Right small vertical, Front Right baby box oxer turned "X"

Monday was my bonus day since I had the holiday off. I had thought to go play in the woods, but my stroll on DaVinci made me later. So back to the arena. Comrade was working well except that he decided to be a bit lazy. Since the jumps we still up, I put him over a few which woke him up. Then I did some canter work. The way the jumps were arranged made me keep him straight better. He surprised me by picking up the right lead when we were going left. That never happens. I let him carry it until he realized it was a bit too difficult, then asked for the correct lead. I know his canter needs work, but he has come so far since the four beat barely moving gait he gave me when I started riding him. We worked on corners and asking him to bend while stepping under with okay results. Then a simple change to work the right lead. It took me half the arena before it hit me. Comrade was not cutting corners. We were staying on the rail easily. I know it sounds like small fries, but he has never not cut corners at the right lead canter. I enjoyed right lead for the first time. I called to Peggy "Did you see that? He did not cut in at all!!" Mom unlocked a really beneficial door. I only worked a little longer since that made my whole day.
Owning, caring for and training horses can take a village. Each person helps make a stronger foundation. I am fortunate to have the opportunity to ride a horse like Comrade and have the chance to help him grow while I learn too. Since money is tight, having my Mom to help with his training is priceless. Comrade is an amazing horse because he not only retains knowledge, but he thinks about what we ask and normally comes back with a better understanding ready to move on. With limited ride time that trait is an asset.
So now I can reminisce and hope there won't be too much snow to ride this weekend.

Confused Unicorn

My lovely Rosemary has developed a horn. Unlike the unicorn I wanted when I was younger, her horn has developed on her eyelid.

Figured it out yet?

Yeah, I am talking about her sarcoid. We have seen some crazy changes just within the last month. It looks like her eyelid is giving birth to some alien. Well I will let the pictures show the full effect.




This was from 12-29-12
 

This is from 1-6-13

1-6-13 side view

1-6-13 front view

This is from 1-9-13. See the change in only three days.

We have braided her forelock and front of her mane to keep it out of the gooey edge.

 

This is from today, 1-20-13.

Her misplaced unicorn horn.

Some of this is crusty stuff from where the skin has pulled back.

Back view, the rear part is kind of soft and squishy.

So those are the pictures. Can you believe the changes? I hope to come in one day and find the thing has fallen off. She is growing peach fuzz on the smooth area behind the big bump. That is good.
We continue to watch in almost horrified fascination with fingers crossed that she will not need surgery. Rosemary is still our sassy, drama mama so she is not too bothered.

Pleasant Surprise

Like many equestrians, Mom and I have slowly been watching the George Morris clinic. Although I have heard of him over the years especially his critiques of jumping pictures, I really did not know his methods or beliefs. Now I can say I am impressed.

"Carry your hands"
He promotes the French style of hand carriage and explains why in such a way any one can understand. Low hands can cause pressure from the bit on the mouth. By carrying the hands you relieve that pressure and have room to give and take with the horse. George also addressed hand position over fences, which I admit is a pet peeve of mine. I really hate seeing people doing a huge crest release. His correction was to follow by releasing downward, the same way the horse's head goes. Some of the riders really took his advice and a difference could be seen in the horses.

"Don't pull the inside rein"
A fact we all know, but sometimes bad habits die hard. Nice to see riders at their level having the same habits. Always got to remember inside leg to outside rein.

"A martingale is for safety"
I was glad to see him have a martingale removed because it was too short. He stressed that martingales are for rider safety if a horse throws its head. If it is adjusted too short it can cause pressure on the horses mouth.

"Impulsion does not mean more speed"
George asked the riders to get their horses moving with more impulsion. He was quick to slow the riders going fast. Impulsion is forward energy contained with in movement. When a horse goes too fast the energy is lost. In the case of these horses the lost impulsion could mean the difference between making the distance to a jump or through a gymnastic.

Mom and I had to laugh when he talked about having the horse listen and work for the time he rides because the horse has 20+ hours to do what what he wants the rest of the day. Clinton Anderson made almost the same comment. The horse world is such a small place.

In addition to what George teaches, I was impressed with his guest speaker Dr. Deb Bennett. She helps people understand how to read the horse's body and improve their training. I recommend watching her sessions as she has a great way of explaining and describing what she has learned over the years.

Finally I have to say one of the rider's surprised me in a good way. Out of all the rider bio's I looked at, one rider stated her personal achievements were how she rehabilitated and competed her horses. I sensed that she really was happy how her horses have improved. It was refreshing after reading so many others achievements that were show ring successes. Riding is so much more than the ribbons or money won. A happy horse at the end of a day is the highest level of success.

We have a few more sessions to watch, but that will take a little bit. One big thing I can say after watching...I hope I ride as well as George when I am in my seventies :)

Double Teamed

I took Wednesday off from work since I have to work this weekend for inventory. Yippee... not really. Anyway we were able to go to ride Comrade. I really wanted feedback from my Mom about how to proceed with his training.
Comrade was ready to go and did not want walk to warm up. I put him through his paces to show Mom. After watching, she worked with me to get him stepping under better with the hind end. We have impulsion and a kind of connection, but now he ready to move on. Canter shows his gaps quickly. With Mom's help we improved really well in the left lead. Thinking straight, then corner, then move on made Comrade sit and push while lifting his back. In the right lead straight was an issue. Comrade wants to lean on the outside rein creating a constant bend in his neck making me do all the work and allowing him to cheat. I had to think hard about keeping him straight. We made some headway.
Then I handed the reins to Mom. She is more able to close doors, so to speak, that Comrade is using for evasions. She was surprised by how much weight she had to carry in her hands in order to block him. Watching me ride, she said Comrade did not seem that heavy. Contact is a funny thing that can manifest as light or heavy depending on how the horse is at the time. Comrade will start heavy, but then end on a lighter contact. I was glad to hear she was having the same feelings. Mom worked counter bend, leg yield and some shoulder in. Peggy and I laughed as Comrade grunted his way around the arena. All the Cobs I handle grunt when asked to work hard or when stating their opinions. The work was tough and new, but I never got the feeling he was overwhelmed. Where he used to fight learning now he fully absorbs what is taught. When she transitioned down to walk, Peggy noted he still had a happy swish to his tail and hop in his stride.
Mom's opinion is that we have been on the right track. I need to up my intensity and be firmer in how I ask. In lateral work, he needs to be straight in his neck since he uses the bend to evade and cheat. This in turn will help him learn self carriage. He has figured out the connection, but still wants me to hold him. Time for him to be a big boy and learn he can hold himself. For myself, I  have to work on my outside rein to block his bulging shoulder. I crawled back on to see if there was any difference. When I was able to put myself in the correct position and ask the right question we actually got the right response. No bucking at the canter and he only got a bit fast at the trot as he got tired. Just like many horse/rider pairs, Comrade and I have our compromises. Now I have to not accept mediocre answers when I know he can give better.
Comrade worked his butt off and did not have enough juice left to show Mom his jumping skills in the woods. Instead he followed Peggy like a puppy getting scratches as he cooled down. He survived being double teamed and I think he had fun.

And for those of you wondering, Winston is doing great. We put him on Bute for a couple days since he looked so sore, but soon he was running around the field. The swelling is all but gone around his cut and we are still putting antibiotic ointment and honey on it. He may have a little scar to remember the crazy day.
Now to figure out why Dottie is lame... It never ends :)

Winston (and Me) Update

I dreaded going to the barn today. Worries crowded my mind on the hour drive. As I turned the corner near the barn, I started counting horses. One boy by the tree, one boy in the field and yay one boy by the water trough. So he was standing. When I parked I saw him walk in that "What mack truck hit me?" kind of way. I went right out to see him and was glad to see he did not have tree trunks for legs. There was swelling around the cut on his left leg, but only a small amount of heat.
Other than his obvious muscle soreness, I could see no new damage. I finally took an easy breath. Winston got cold hosed, the cut scrubbed and dressed with antibiotic and honey. I added B-L to his food to help with pain.
Overall he is doing so well considering all that happened. I am also doing better. It is not something I am going to forget, but I know when you own horses anything can happen. Now for a few pictures.

This is the ladder he ran into. That bend is Winston's work. The steps are probably what cut him.

Hard to see but that is the hole and rake that started the blind panic

His worst injury, cut on inside left front

Front view, slight swelling in the area

After taking care of everyone, I went for some pony therapy in the form of a Comrade ride. We went for a free spirited, jumping session in the woods. Just what I needed. Comrade and I even conquered our new blue barrel jump. It was not pretty, but he went over. His trot work between jumps was awesome. Comrade wanted to get strong but he came back to me when I asked. We ended with another stag jump over the barrels, then Peggy got on to cool him out. He even had foamy butt cheeks.
I am so lucky to have a supportive family and a great network of friends to help when life goes to hell. Now onto the work week and taking it day by day with Winston. Fingers crossed he continues on the up swing.