The finished product:
I hope you all had a wonderful holiday, looking forward to 2014!
Friday, December 27, 2013
Sunday, December 22, 2013
Sunny and 75!
Kind of....
The last two days have been absolutely BEAUTIFUL here, temperature wise. Today was rainy and I had a lot of last minute things to tend to, so no riding.
Saturday on the other hand, I practically ran away to the barn. A little in and out Christmas shopping at the mall with William's sister, lunch and off I went.
I didn't go out there with very high expectation being that I haven't touched shadow other than feeding him treats in about two weeks, give or take. All the horses were feeling pretty good, galloping around like mad men. (we only have geldings!) I got Shadow together fairly quick and off we went, after I struggled to get my new chaps on for about 10 minutes.
This 30-45 minute ride really reminded me 1. how much I love my standardbred and 2. how much I miss riding in a short sleeve shirt. (hurry up spring)
After sitting for two weeks, it was like we never missed a beat. I skipped lunging because I was just so anxious to get on him (sorry Dom) His trot was absolutely wonderful after we got some of his stored energy out. Smooth and consistent, and he was responding to my leg fairly well. We practiced leg yields away from the fence and back onto the rail and a lot of inside bend, a little rusty but he figured out what I was asking for.
Normally after working on those things for a half hour or so and his trot is consistent I call it a day, but since I don't know when the weather is going to be nice enough for me to want to go out there again and get up, I decided to try cantering around a bit.
Shadow really surprised me. I asked him once for the transition. and he landed it, NO PACE. So we switched directions and did it again. I was so surprised and so excited I wanted to jump down and squeeze his face!
We just practiced picking up the canter with a smooth transition a few times each direction, and I let him carry it for a few strides and asked for the downward transition back to the trot before he had a chance to think about pacing. We trotted around a little bit more and I called it quits.
I was really so so excited, I needed that ride, it made me feel so much better. The winter months really take a toll on my personality. haha
I had hoped to get out there today, really, but the skies just didn't look promising. I'm hoping that maybe on Christmas morning after all the family events I can get out there and get on for a little bit, that would really make my day!
I know this weekend was nothing but a big tease and we are in for months more of cold and snow, it made me optimistic for the spring to start with a consistent riding schedule again and to get Dom back out for our lessons. I can't wait any longer. ugh!
The last two days have been absolutely BEAUTIFUL here, temperature wise. Today was rainy and I had a lot of last minute things to tend to, so no riding.
Saturday on the other hand, I practically ran away to the barn. A little in and out Christmas shopping at the mall with William's sister, lunch and off I went.
I didn't go out there with very high expectation being that I haven't touched shadow other than feeding him treats in about two weeks, give or take. All the horses were feeling pretty good, galloping around like mad men. (we only have geldings!) I got Shadow together fairly quick and off we went, after I struggled to get my new chaps on for about 10 minutes.
This 30-45 minute ride really reminded me 1. how much I love my standardbred and 2. how much I miss riding in a short sleeve shirt. (hurry up spring)
After sitting for two weeks, it was like we never missed a beat. I skipped lunging because I was just so anxious to get on him (sorry Dom) His trot was absolutely wonderful after we got some of his stored energy out. Smooth and consistent, and he was responding to my leg fairly well. We practiced leg yields away from the fence and back onto the rail and a lot of inside bend, a little rusty but he figured out what I was asking for.
Normally after working on those things for a half hour or so and his trot is consistent I call it a day, but since I don't know when the weather is going to be nice enough for me to want to go out there again and get up, I decided to try cantering around a bit.
Shadow really surprised me. I asked him once for the transition. and he landed it, NO PACE. So we switched directions and did it again. I was so surprised and so excited I wanted to jump down and squeeze his face!
We just practiced picking up the canter with a smooth transition a few times each direction, and I let him carry it for a few strides and asked for the downward transition back to the trot before he had a chance to think about pacing. We trotted around a little bit more and I called it quits.
I was really so so excited, I needed that ride, it made me feel so much better. The winter months really take a toll on my personality. haha
I had hoped to get out there today, really, but the skies just didn't look promising. I'm hoping that maybe on Christmas morning after all the family events I can get out there and get on for a little bit, that would really make my day!
I know this weekend was nothing but a big tease and we are in for months more of cold and snow, it made me optimistic for the spring to start with a consistent riding schedule again and to get Dom back out for our lessons. I can't wait any longer. ugh!
My Shiny, Handsome boy. <3
Cooling out, My favorite view!
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
Thursday, December 12, 2013
Goodbye 2013!
I don't normally do theses either, but I stole this from Dom because I am so incredibly bored at work!
1. What did you do
in 2013 that you'd never done before? Got a job as a secretary, something I have never done before. Exciting, I know.
2. Did you keep your New Years' resolutions,
and will you make more for next year? I never make them, because I never follow them, and I'm not going to sit there and say I'm going to lose weight like the rest of the world. That will never happen either.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth? Jamie, Kristin, Marissa, and Michelle
Lilly, Jamie's Daughter
Madison, Kristin's daughter
Milania, Michelle's daughter.
Shaine, Marissa's son, my baby nephew <3
4. Did anyone close to you die? No, thankfully
5. What countries did you visit? None, I'm lucky if I even stepped outside of NJ.
6. What would you like to have in 2014 that you
lacked in 2013? A savings account
7. What date from 2013 will remain etched upon
your memory, and why? July 17th, the day Shadow came home.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the
year? Paying off all of my credit card debt, go me!
9. What was your biggest failure? College. I'll give school another try in 2014.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury? nothing serious. The stomach flu knocked me out of commission for a few days though. YUCK
11. What was the best thing you bought? Shadow
12. Whose behavior merited celebration? My Father's. He made a big turn around, finally.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and
depressed? Certain members of my family, whom I will not name. I'll just never understand how you can betray family.
14. Where did most of your money go? Bills and Shadow
15. What did you get really, really, really
excited about? My nephew being born
16. What song will always remind you of 2013? Blurred Lines, ha!
17. Compared to this time last year, are you...happier or sadder? much much happier.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of? Spent time by the pool or at the beach.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of? Working
20. How will you spend Christmas? With my family and William's family
21. Did you fall in love in 2013? I've been inlove since 2009!
22. How many one night stands? That's big ZERO.
23. What was your favorite TV program? Sons of Anarchy, absolutely devistated that it's over and I have to wait for next year now. haha
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year? I could list a few, but I'll be nice.
25. What was the best book you read? I don't read, ever.
26. What was your greatest musical discovery? I started listening to country music again. I forgot how much I liked it.
27. What did you want and get? a horse.
28. What did you want and not get? a horse trailer
29. What was your favorite film of this year? Despicable Me 2!
30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I turned 24 and I think I worked?
31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Having Brookdale keep the ultrasound program so i could have continued my college career and been on my way to a promising future.
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2013? Lazy work clothes and barn clothes.
33. What kept you sane? William, always.
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Carrie Underwood
35. What political issue stirred you the most? I don't pay any attention to that stuff.
36. Who did you miss? Gizmo, I miss him everyday.
37. Who was the best new person you met? Dom, thank goodness for her.
38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2013. Always stay positive. No matter how bad things are, they can always get worse and there is no point in giving in and feeling bad for yourself. Everything will always work out in time.
39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year. I don't think there was any, this year was pretty tough, I can't think of anything that really hits home. Thank god this year is coming to a close. Looking forward to a healthy new year for myself and my family as well as everyone else. <3
Monday, December 9, 2013
Holiday Photos
As the snow started to come down yesterday morning, Dom and Mike came out and took some beautiful Holiday photos of myself, Shadow, William and the pups.
I'll be sending Christmas cards out this year for the first time ever.
I think I'm officially getting old. :)
Here's a preview:
This one seems to be the favortie.
Christmas Card!
Shadow trying to get in on the kisses. lol
My Poor dogs were so miserable, they had no idea what shadow was, and gizmo bit him.
I love them so much and a big thanks to Dom for being awesome as usual!
Happy Holidays everybody.
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
Reunited!
Finally, a lesson, after almost a month!!
I have been barely riding, as I said in my last post. On Thanksgiving, I decided to go ride. Shadow had other plans.
The fact that that rain storm and Shadow was in his stall for 48 hours, and the wind, really didn't dawn on me. On top of those two things, Shadow was moved to a new field that morning as well. I ventured out to his new field to get him, and as usual my big gentleman walked back to his stall to get ready to work (or so I thought). I get him onto the cross ties, and he turned into a crazy man. He could not stand still, it took me probably about 40 minutes to tack him up and wrap his front legs because he would not stand. We spent most of the time arguing I'm sure.
I had no intentions of lunging him being that it was a holiday and I had things to do. Al I wanted to do was get up trot around work on some leg yields and go home. We finally walked out the stall and Shadow was so up, he was practically in my pocket. We took a walk around the barn and waited for him to calm a little before I got on. As I went to put my foot in my stirrup my oh so calm and lovely standardbred started running away from me and crow hopping like a crazy. Okay, we took another walk around and I tried again. Nope, not happening.
I proceeded to go to the barn and get my side reins and lunge line, a safer alternative them me falling. I get him on the lunge and he takes off like a maniac, pulling me around grunting and galloping, bucking, snorting. Wait, where is standardbred? He finally stopped and started pawing at the ground, and then off he went again. By that time I had a better handle on it and just stood there and let him get his energy out rather than being pulled around like a rag doll the way I was the first time. haha Once he calmed himself and gave me a nice collected trot both directions, I took him off the lunge and tried to get on. SUCCESS. I got on, walked two circles and got off. End on a good note, right? Atleast I got on.
Saturday, some lunging (like a normal horse) and about 30 minutes of trotting. Still a little up and a little spooky, but he was still adjusting to being in a new part of the farm, so I expected nothing less.
LESSON DAY!!!!
Finally got some Dom time back in my life, between the weather and me having to cancel and Dom having to cancel because poor mike had to get surgery on his hand, we have't been able to get ourselves together.
After 10 minutes of catching up like we haven't seen each other in years, it was off to work. Lack of riding really showed a little in the beginning for my poor boy and to top it off his feet are over due and have become his worst enemy yet again.
His canter is getting more consistent and his trot is pretty well where we want it, on and off the lunge.
Dom started working him in small circles at the canter and he was getting pretty upset, between the ground being soft and slippery, his feet defeating him, and the small circle he didn't know what to do with himself.
Dom rode him, and couldn't believe how up he was for her either. I had forewarned her before she got on him that he has been a little crazy compared to his normal. lol He is doing lovely with his trot as I said, we have also discovered he is afraid of the dressage whip, which we will be working with, as well as some more ground work with picking up his shoulders and turning. She worked on leg yields for bending instead of using her hands, which is something I need to do from the ground as well as on his back. It's amazing to see the improvements he has made, but I get so impatient. Winter is really slowing me down, and I'll probably complain about this until spring is finally here again.
Dom cantered him, which seemed really really nice and consistent going to the right with a nice transition in both directions, but the left is still not there yet.
We have alot of work ahead of us, and I am trying to learn to be patient ever step of the way, I mean, we have already conquered the trot. Almost there, right?
It was getting kind of dark, so I didnt get much video/pictures, but I did get a quick video of him cantering on the lunge. He is a mess, which is why we started the small circles, he is pretty much rushing around and not bending all that well, but we'll get there, I swear. I'm very confident in Dom, and thankful to have her in my corner.
I have been barely riding, as I said in my last post. On Thanksgiving, I decided to go ride. Shadow had other plans.
The fact that that rain storm and Shadow was in his stall for 48 hours, and the wind, really didn't dawn on me. On top of those two things, Shadow was moved to a new field that morning as well. I ventured out to his new field to get him, and as usual my big gentleman walked back to his stall to get ready to work (or so I thought). I get him onto the cross ties, and he turned into a crazy man. He could not stand still, it took me probably about 40 minutes to tack him up and wrap his front legs because he would not stand. We spent most of the time arguing I'm sure.
I had no intentions of lunging him being that it was a holiday and I had things to do. Al I wanted to do was get up trot around work on some leg yields and go home. We finally walked out the stall and Shadow was so up, he was practically in my pocket. We took a walk around the barn and waited for him to calm a little before I got on. As I went to put my foot in my stirrup my oh so calm and lovely standardbred started running away from me and crow hopping like a crazy. Okay, we took another walk around and I tried again. Nope, not happening.
I proceeded to go to the barn and get my side reins and lunge line, a safer alternative them me falling. I get him on the lunge and he takes off like a maniac, pulling me around grunting and galloping, bucking, snorting. Wait, where is standardbred? He finally stopped and started pawing at the ground, and then off he went again. By that time I had a better handle on it and just stood there and let him get his energy out rather than being pulled around like a rag doll the way I was the first time. haha Once he calmed himself and gave me a nice collected trot both directions, I took him off the lunge and tried to get on. SUCCESS. I got on, walked two circles and got off. End on a good note, right? Atleast I got on.
Saturday, some lunging (like a normal horse) and about 30 minutes of trotting. Still a little up and a little spooky, but he was still adjusting to being in a new part of the farm, so I expected nothing less.
LESSON DAY!!!!
Finally got some Dom time back in my life, between the weather and me having to cancel and Dom having to cancel because poor mike had to get surgery on his hand, we have't been able to get ourselves together.
After 10 minutes of catching up like we haven't seen each other in years, it was off to work. Lack of riding really showed a little in the beginning for my poor boy and to top it off his feet are over due and have become his worst enemy yet again.
His canter is getting more consistent and his trot is pretty well where we want it, on and off the lunge.
Dom started working him in small circles at the canter and he was getting pretty upset, between the ground being soft and slippery, his feet defeating him, and the small circle he didn't know what to do with himself.
Dom rode him, and couldn't believe how up he was for her either. I had forewarned her before she got on him that he has been a little crazy compared to his normal. lol He is doing lovely with his trot as I said, we have also discovered he is afraid of the dressage whip, which we will be working with, as well as some more ground work with picking up his shoulders and turning. She worked on leg yields for bending instead of using her hands, which is something I need to do from the ground as well as on his back. It's amazing to see the improvements he has made, but I get so impatient. Winter is really slowing me down, and I'll probably complain about this until spring is finally here again.
Dom cantered him, which seemed really really nice and consistent going to the right with a nice transition in both directions, but the left is still not there yet.
We have alot of work ahead of us, and I am trying to learn to be patient ever step of the way, I mean, we have already conquered the trot. Almost there, right?
It was getting kind of dark, so I didnt get much video/pictures, but I did get a quick video of him cantering on the lunge. He is a mess, which is why we started the small circles, he is pretty much rushing around and not bending all that well, but we'll get there, I swear. I'm very confident in Dom, and thankful to have her in my corner.
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
Osselets
The last time I was on Shadow was aroundddddd, November 9th. That feels like forever.
We cancelled our lessons last week because it was snowing, and I didn't expect Bonni and Dom to stand out in the snow and work with Shadow while I was warm and cozy in my office at work.
Even after cancelling my lesson Dom had asked if I could still meet her out at the barn around 5:00, I was wondering what was up and told her I would be there. When I pulled up I see her boyfriend Mike's white truck, and again, I was wondering what was up.
I pulled up next to them and out comes Mike and Dom, and they had brought me two new jump standards! I was so surprised and so grateful! With all the the stuff I have going on I haven't gotten around to buying them yet. Dom said that she wanted to do something nice for me, so her and Mike made them. I have never appreciated anything so much before, that was one of the best things anyone has done for me in a while. They really are two of the best people I know, thanks again to them!
As I said in my last post, I can only pray for nice weather on the weekends now, so that I can get some training/riding in with my boy. Friday morning, Bonni texted me to tell me that Shadow had a bump on his ankle. She has noticed it two days or so prior to this, but wanted to keep an eye on it before telling me because she knows I like to panic from time to time. :) It had been getting bigger as the days went on, so she wanted to bring it to my attention.
I contacted my vet, Dante, and let him know what was going on. He had a full schedule Friday, so he said he would come out for an emergency or he could come Saturday. I told him just to come Saturday and if anything changed I would let him know. I went out around mid-morning to take a look with my own eyes what was going on. Bonni and I were taking a look at his leg and he was a little "ouchy" but not really. I wasn't too worried so I just left my appointment with Dante as it was, Shadow was really not bothered by it, he wasn't lame and didn't have a care in the world.
Saturday morning came around, I got out to the barn pretty early since I had to drop Gizmo off at the vet.
I sat around for while, took a look at his leg again to see if anything had changed and decided to groom his, since he looked like a hot mess covered in dirt with leaves in his tail. I come back out the barn and Shadow is laying down, sleeping like a baby. Literally, knocked out. He had his face in a pile of leaves and he was so deep into a sleep that he was twitching, I couldn't help but take pictures, of course! I've never seen him lay down, and it makes me feel good because they say they won't lay down and sleep unless they feel safe. I'm glad he has adjusted to us and his surrounding so well.
Dante got there around 11, took a look at Shadow and informed me he had osselets on both ankle from racing. He explained to me what exactly they were and how they form. After feeling around the swollen ankle, he let me know it was nothing. He had a little scab on the outside of his front right (the swollen one) and Dante assumed he hit or even casted getting up or rolling and just bumped himself. He told me I didn't need to give him any time off and everything was fine.
What a huge relief! Of course, I got NO riding time in this weekend because even though the vet said it was okay, I still felt like he needed to rest it, so I rubbed him down and went about my busy Saturday and Sunday.
Dom had to cancel for today, which is okay because it is cold and windy again, and I feel bad asking Bonni and her to stand out there, but I will be sure to make myself ride this weekend. I HATE WINTER.
We cancelled our lessons last week because it was snowing, and I didn't expect Bonni and Dom to stand out in the snow and work with Shadow while I was warm and cozy in my office at work.
Even after cancelling my lesson Dom had asked if I could still meet her out at the barn around 5:00, I was wondering what was up and told her I would be there. When I pulled up I see her boyfriend Mike's white truck, and again, I was wondering what was up.
I pulled up next to them and out comes Mike and Dom, and they had brought me two new jump standards! I was so surprised and so grateful! With all the the stuff I have going on I haven't gotten around to buying them yet. Dom said that she wanted to do something nice for me, so her and Mike made them. I have never appreciated anything so much before, that was one of the best things anyone has done for me in a while. They really are two of the best people I know, thanks again to them!
As I said in my last post, I can only pray for nice weather on the weekends now, so that I can get some training/riding in with my boy. Friday morning, Bonni texted me to tell me that Shadow had a bump on his ankle. She has noticed it two days or so prior to this, but wanted to keep an eye on it before telling me because she knows I like to panic from time to time. :) It had been getting bigger as the days went on, so she wanted to bring it to my attention.
I contacted my vet, Dante, and let him know what was going on. He had a full schedule Friday, so he said he would come out for an emergency or he could come Saturday. I told him just to come Saturday and if anything changed I would let him know. I went out around mid-morning to take a look with my own eyes what was going on. Bonni and I were taking a look at his leg and he was a little "ouchy" but not really. I wasn't too worried so I just left my appointment with Dante as it was, Shadow was really not bothered by it, he wasn't lame and didn't have a care in the world.
Ankle Comparison
Big lump on the outside and swollen all the way around. (left ankle in picture)
Lump on the outside of his ankle
Saturday morning came around, I got out to the barn pretty early since I had to drop Gizmo off at the vet.
I sat around for while, took a look at his leg again to see if anything had changed and decided to groom his, since he looked like a hot mess covered in dirt with leaves in his tail. I come back out the barn and Shadow is laying down, sleeping like a baby. Literally, knocked out. He had his face in a pile of leaves and he was so deep into a sleep that he was twitching, I couldn't help but take pictures, of course! I've never seen him lay down, and it makes me feel good because they say they won't lay down and sleep unless they feel safe. I'm glad he has adjusted to us and his surrounding so well.
Nap Time, Dirty Horse!
Dante got there around 11, took a look at Shadow and informed me he had osselets on both ankle from racing. He explained to me what exactly they were and how they form. After feeling around the swollen ankle, he let me know it was nothing. He had a little scab on the outside of his front right (the swollen one) and Dante assumed he hit or even casted getting up or rolling and just bumped himself. He told me I didn't need to give him any time off and everything was fine.
What a huge relief! Of course, I got NO riding time in this weekend because even though the vet said it was okay, I still felt like he needed to rest it, so I rubbed him down and went about my busy Saturday and Sunday.
Dom had to cancel for today, which is okay because it is cold and windy again, and I feel bad asking Bonni and her to stand out there, but I will be sure to make myself ride this weekend. I HATE WINTER.
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
Sorry for the Delay
So, I really suck at this blogging thing, just like I thought I would.
Life has been crazy and it hasn't left me much time for Shadow in the last two weeks.
We lost Tulsa, which kind of made it hard to go out and not see him there anymore, so when I did get out there, I just kind of spent some time with him, the farm seemed to have an empty feeling and I just couldn't get motivated.
Not to mention getting dark early is really taking my riding time right out from underneath me.
Lessons:
Last week, we really worked on the canter transition and a little bit of "jumping". Shadow is really starting to show that he is willing to canter, he just cannot hold it for more than a few strides. His trot is pretty well there. He looks amazing on the lunge line, if he can just start prancing around all fancy pants with a rider on his back, it will be perfect (almost there). He wiggled his way over some cross rails (learning to pick our feet up still) and plowed through some vertices. We need cavaletti so that he doesn't learn that objects will move if he just runs into them. By the time I got on him, he was exhausted. He has about 30-35 minutes worth of solid riding time in him before he gets literally exhausted, but we'll get there. I'm learning patience is a must, something I don't have much of. All in all, he did great.
From last Tuesday to this Tuesday I barely even saw him, I stopped out Sunday, but never even brushed him, I was not prepared for the cold, and I don't think I'll ever be. Something I need to get over. Needless to say, I have't ridden my horse in two full weeks. I hate having to tell Dom when she comes out "I haven't done anything with him" I just literally don't even have a minute to myself and I'm starting to feel bad about it.
Dom was out yesterday. We have now moved our lessons up to 3 in the afternoon. This means I can't be there. Dom said he was very resistant and ignoring her leg, which lead me to apologizing because that is my fault. He just sits around and gets ridden once a week, by her! I haven't been able to do any "homework" at all. No transition work, no lunging, no nothing.
We are going to continue the lunge work and do a lot more lateral work. I myself need to start insisting he bends in the correct direction and starts moving off my leg. As I said, he offers such a nice canter but he cannot hold it without coming off the fence.
I did manage to see Dom yesterday for about 5 minutes while she was working with him, and he did seem to have his sassy pants on, again my fault for just letting him sit.
I will ride this weekend if it kills me.
I'm kind of uncomfortable with having lessons and not being there. Only because I feel like I'm not seeing what is being done and I don't want to do anything different when I get on him. I want him to be able to understand what I'm asking and get it done just the way Dom does.
Dom has gotten so busy, so early afternoon lessons are our only option.
I have been on a steady search for a trailer, we have one, but I am not going to buy tires for it, being that it isn't mine. I have found two really nice ones I am hoping to go look at this weekend and maybe make some progress. If I am able to get one, William will have to start trailering me to Dom's on Saturdays so I can have her teach me and him from her barn, I'm feeling kind of out of the looped with these early lessons, and it is stressing me out.
I hope this is a short, easy winter because I am over it already!
Life has been crazy and it hasn't left me much time for Shadow in the last two weeks.
We lost Tulsa, which kind of made it hard to go out and not see him there anymore, so when I did get out there, I just kind of spent some time with him, the farm seemed to have an empty feeling and I just couldn't get motivated.
Not to mention getting dark early is really taking my riding time right out from underneath me.
Lessons:
Last week, we really worked on the canter transition and a little bit of "jumping". Shadow is really starting to show that he is willing to canter, he just cannot hold it for more than a few strides. His trot is pretty well there. He looks amazing on the lunge line, if he can just start prancing around all fancy pants with a rider on his back, it will be perfect (almost there). He wiggled his way over some cross rails (learning to pick our feet up still) and plowed through some vertices. We need cavaletti so that he doesn't learn that objects will move if he just runs into them. By the time I got on him, he was exhausted. He has about 30-35 minutes worth of solid riding time in him before he gets literally exhausted, but we'll get there. I'm learning patience is a must, something I don't have much of. All in all, he did great.
From last Tuesday to this Tuesday I barely even saw him, I stopped out Sunday, but never even brushed him, I was not prepared for the cold, and I don't think I'll ever be. Something I need to get over. Needless to say, I have't ridden my horse in two full weeks. I hate having to tell Dom when she comes out "I haven't done anything with him" I just literally don't even have a minute to myself and I'm starting to feel bad about it.
Dom was out yesterday. We have now moved our lessons up to 3 in the afternoon. This means I can't be there. Dom said he was very resistant and ignoring her leg, which lead me to apologizing because that is my fault. He just sits around and gets ridden once a week, by her! I haven't been able to do any "homework" at all. No transition work, no lunging, no nothing.
We are going to continue the lunge work and do a lot more lateral work. I myself need to start insisting he bends in the correct direction and starts moving off my leg. As I said, he offers such a nice canter but he cannot hold it without coming off the fence.
I did manage to see Dom yesterday for about 5 minutes while she was working with him, and he did seem to have his sassy pants on, again my fault for just letting him sit.
I will ride this weekend if it kills me.
I'm kind of uncomfortable with having lessons and not being there. Only because I feel like I'm not seeing what is being done and I don't want to do anything different when I get on him. I want him to be able to understand what I'm asking and get it done just the way Dom does.
Dom has gotten so busy, so early afternoon lessons are our only option.
I have been on a steady search for a trailer, we have one, but I am not going to buy tires for it, being that it isn't mine. I have found two really nice ones I am hoping to go look at this weekend and maybe make some progress. If I am able to get one, William will have to start trailering me to Dom's on Saturdays so I can have her teach me and him from her barn, I'm feeling kind of out of the looped with these early lessons, and it is stressing me out.
I hope this is a short, easy winter because I am over it already!
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
Sleepiest Horse in the World
Lesson Day, this should be short and sweet.
Typical Tuesday, getting Shadow all ready in his stall, Dom and Bonni were standing inside with him and I walked out to put my bit looks and flash band on his bridal, and i hear him fumbling around. As I look over, Shadow is asleep buckling at his knees. REALLY? He was not ready to wake up either. Petting and shaking his head was not working, we were all looking at each other like 'uh oh' I took him out and walked him around and BOOM he's awake and everything is fine. Someone is a little too cozy in his stall.
We put the flash on and he was not happy, flapping his lips and carrying on about it. Dom started with lunging in side reins, he is starting to move out very nicely at the trot, and he no longer bucks and flips out when you ask him to canter. He's making wonderful improvements. He was moving funny in the beginning but it was because he was bracing his neck and he look off, but he was not. Stiff in the beginning but he is a 15 year old ex race horse, so I'll give him that. He finally relaxed and Dom got on. I passed on riding as I had a really bad day and I'm not feeling so well.
They worked for another half hour and he looked great. Dom told me I am really going to like how he feels riding with the flash on because he moves out so much nicer being that he cant brace his mouth against the bit. She told me she would like to start getting him over some cross rails and for me to start cantering him, which I really don't do. She said we will work him over the cross rails and his canter we will build up as we go. His trot is coming along so nicely, hopefully by Saturday I will have enough energy to ride.
Dom stopped to talk to me and Shadow proceeded to shove his face into mine as if he was saying 'Mom get this thing off my mouth please', needless to say, the flash was not tight at all. Once Dom got off he proceeded with the lip flapping and carrying on, so Dom said 'okay, you want it off, we will take it off' and literally slid it off his mouth, that's how 'tight' it was. He stood there with me for a minute covered in sweat and then walked away to shove his entire face in the water trough and clean off the feeling of the flash band. Of course that's the way he made it seem. He always knows how to make me laugh.
I have taught him to give me a kiss before he gets a treat, but he gets so excited so I have to tell him to be nice or he will knock me out. He'll very gently put his nose to my lips, and then he knows he gets treat, but if I take to long, he will start throwing his nose at me and I have to pay attention or he will catch me in the mouth good one of these days. He got me a little yesterday, but I corrected him, he means well. Lol Shadow lives for food and treats which makes me wonder what kind of life he had all over again. If he knows I ave treats he will nudge me ever so lightly until I give them up. Love him <3
Typical Tuesday, getting Shadow all ready in his stall, Dom and Bonni were standing inside with him and I walked out to put my bit looks and flash band on his bridal, and i hear him fumbling around. As I look over, Shadow is asleep buckling at his knees. REALLY? He was not ready to wake up either. Petting and shaking his head was not working, we were all looking at each other like 'uh oh' I took him out and walked him around and BOOM he's awake and everything is fine. Someone is a little too cozy in his stall.
We put the flash on and he was not happy, flapping his lips and carrying on about it. Dom started with lunging in side reins, he is starting to move out very nicely at the trot, and he no longer bucks and flips out when you ask him to canter. He's making wonderful improvements. He was moving funny in the beginning but it was because he was bracing his neck and he look off, but he was not. Stiff in the beginning but he is a 15 year old ex race horse, so I'll give him that. He finally relaxed and Dom got on. I passed on riding as I had a really bad day and I'm not feeling so well.
They worked for another half hour and he looked great. Dom told me I am really going to like how he feels riding with the flash on because he moves out so much nicer being that he cant brace his mouth against the bit. She told me she would like to start getting him over some cross rails and for me to start cantering him, which I really don't do. She said we will work him over the cross rails and his canter we will build up as we go. His trot is coming along so nicely, hopefully by Saturday I will have enough energy to ride.
Dom stopped to talk to me and Shadow proceeded to shove his face into mine as if he was saying 'Mom get this thing off my mouth please', needless to say, the flash was not tight at all. Once Dom got off he proceeded with the lip flapping and carrying on, so Dom said 'okay, you want it off, we will take it off' and literally slid it off his mouth, that's how 'tight' it was. He stood there with me for a minute covered in sweat and then walked away to shove his entire face in the water trough and clean off the feeling of the flash band. Of course that's the way he made it seem. He always knows how to make me laugh.
I have taught him to give me a kiss before he gets a treat, but he gets so excited so I have to tell him to be nice or he will knock me out. He'll very gently put his nose to my lips, and then he knows he gets treat, but if I take to long, he will start throwing his nose at me and I have to pay attention or he will catch me in the mouth good one of these days. He got me a little yesterday, but I corrected him, he means well. Lol Shadow lives for food and treats which makes me wonder what kind of life he had all over again. If he knows I ave treats he will nudge me ever so lightly until I give them up. Love him <3
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
Ground Poles
With the days getting shorter, so are my riding days and the amount of energy I have. I have now gone from riding 4-5 times a week to riding 2-3 if I'm lucky, and one of them being my lesson day.
Saturday was a pretty miserable day after raining all week, it was super windy and drizzling, but I needed to get at least a quick ride in. I was so excited to see Shadow after not seeing him all week. So we tacked up and rode in the open field in front of the farm. He was looky at first, being that there was the woods, a big yellow front loader and all the other horses are on that side of the farm. We did a few warm up circle and a lot of trotting. He was moving out nicely, but I ended it early because it was super windy. Happy he was being so consistent after having 3 days off sitting in his stall because of the rain. Sunday was another lazy day for me, I went to the barn but only to meet Dom and Mike because they were dropping off ground poles for me. Shadow needs to learn how to pick up his feet, and this will also help with his canter.
Monday my boss was away, so I was able to sneak out in the middle of the day to go ride. Dom was there working with Shannon and Nikko (she's always with us, I love it) I went out and moved all the horses around and got Shadow ready. We did about 10 minutes of lunging in side reins and then I got up. His trot was steady and consistent just as it was on Saturday. We worked on a couple canter strides and before I knew it we had been working for an hour and I had to get back to work! He is coming along so nicely, I really couldn't be more excited.
Yesterday was our lesson, Dom lunged him for about 10-15 minutes and we introduced the ground poles. First on the lunge, he was looking at them like they were going to come out and bite him and he was LEAPING over them. I couldn't help but laugh, he is so funny. Dom continued to lunge him over them until he was calm, and then she got on him to take him over them. His first try with her on him was great, he is hitting his feet a little but what can you expect this is the first time he has ever done this. He was going over them at the trot and cantering off of them, just as we had hoped. Dom didn't ride him last week because he was doing so well. She rode him around this week and said after not riding him for a week she feels a great improvement, which means I'm doing my homework. I took a minute to pat myself on the back and continued to watch them work. I finally got up, and he was doing great. We have noticed the more tired he gets, the more he falls apart, but that will come together with the more muscle he builds. His trot is becoming amazing, I think we are just a few lessons away from tackling the lurch completely and never seeing it again. (woohoo!!) We took a few laps over the ground poles and a lot of trotting. He is holding it all the way around the ring, several times. At one point I actually asked him to walk and looked at Dom and said "did I just trot this ring like 6 times" lol, I can't believe he is coming along so quickly.
Next week we are going to continue our trotting and ground poles of course. We are going to raise the middle pole to make him think about it a little more and start some cross rails. YAY!
Yesterday was a great lesson, and I can honestly say I get off of him smiling just about every time now. He gives me his all and I can't thank him enough for having such a big heart. :)
Saturday was a pretty miserable day after raining all week, it was super windy and drizzling, but I needed to get at least a quick ride in. I was so excited to see Shadow after not seeing him all week. So we tacked up and rode in the open field in front of the farm. He was looky at first, being that there was the woods, a big yellow front loader and all the other horses are on that side of the farm. We did a few warm up circle and a lot of trotting. He was moving out nicely, but I ended it early because it was super windy. Happy he was being so consistent after having 3 days off sitting in his stall because of the rain. Sunday was another lazy day for me, I went to the barn but only to meet Dom and Mike because they were dropping off ground poles for me. Shadow needs to learn how to pick up his feet, and this will also help with his canter.
Monday my boss was away, so I was able to sneak out in the middle of the day to go ride. Dom was there working with Shannon and Nikko (she's always with us, I love it) I went out and moved all the horses around and got Shadow ready. We did about 10 minutes of lunging in side reins and then I got up. His trot was steady and consistent just as it was on Saturday. We worked on a couple canter strides and before I knew it we had been working for an hour and I had to get back to work! He is coming along so nicely, I really couldn't be more excited.
Yesterday was our lesson, Dom lunged him for about 10-15 minutes and we introduced the ground poles. First on the lunge, he was looking at them like they were going to come out and bite him and he was LEAPING over them. I couldn't help but laugh, he is so funny. Dom continued to lunge him over them until he was calm, and then she got on him to take him over them. His first try with her on him was great, he is hitting his feet a little but what can you expect this is the first time he has ever done this. He was going over them at the trot and cantering off of them, just as we had hoped. Dom didn't ride him last week because he was doing so well. She rode him around this week and said after not riding him for a week she feels a great improvement, which means I'm doing my homework. I took a minute to pat myself on the back and continued to watch them work. I finally got up, and he was doing great. We have noticed the more tired he gets, the more he falls apart, but that will come together with the more muscle he builds. His trot is becoming amazing, I think we are just a few lessons away from tackling the lurch completely and never seeing it again. (woohoo!!) We took a few laps over the ground poles and a lot of trotting. He is holding it all the way around the ring, several times. At one point I actually asked him to walk and looked at Dom and said "did I just trot this ring like 6 times" lol, I can't believe he is coming along so quickly.
Next week we are going to continue our trotting and ground poles of course. We are going to raise the middle pole to make him think about it a little more and start some cross rails. YAY!
Yesterday was a great lesson, and I can honestly say I get off of him smiling just about every time now. He gives me his all and I can't thank him enough for having such a big heart. :)
Hugs at the end of our lesson. I think he is sleeping. lol
Intro to ground poles. No complaints!
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
Sassy Shadow
Our lessons have been moved to Tuesday now, which works better for Dom. She's not exhausted by the time she gets to us. She has a crazy day on Wednesdays and then has to come and ride 3 trouble horses. I don't know how she does it!
Yesterday was quite comical, we should have known it would have been an interesting day when Shadow was falling asleep as I was getting him ready. Dom said "Oh Shadow, you are so tired" and I said "yeah, because he has such a rough life" and Shadow proceeded to nod his head yes, as if he really does have such a rough life. Dom and I burst out laughing, What a jerk he is.
Since it gets dark so early and I work so late, I don't get much time, Shadow hasn't been lunged in his side reins for about a week. So we started our lesson there. They lunged for about 20-25 minutes (or at least that's what it felt like to me). Shadow is holding a very nice consistent trot on the lunge line, but whenever he feels any pressure on his face he lays into his bit so Dom had mentioned a flash band. Well, as soon as Shadow heard that, we never saw him open his mouth again.
He is also holding a very consistent canter on the lunge, which means he is starting to build real horse muscles! I have learned, as Dom told me, which now makes a lot of sense, it is much easier to argue on the lunge line then when on his back. On the ground I can insist on TROT or CANTER and remove the pace completely better than I can on his back. We didn't see too much pacing yesterday on the lunge, nor did we see any lurch. Maybe we are getting somewhere?! :) So going to the right Shadow just wanted to canter away, Dom wanted a trot but Shadow disagreed. He was cantering around us pretty nicely and I said to Dom, he looks like he is going to fall (he was leaning in to the center, not looking so balanced at one point). Dom's response? "Eh, horses fall over sometimes, it's okay". That's not something I expected to hear and I just started laughing, as I said, very interesting day at the barn.
Dom also mentioned as she was lunging Shadow around that I need to get some ground poles so he learns to pick his feet up. Well, this is where Shadow put his fancy pants on. He broke into the NICEST trot. I didn't even know he had it in him. He had his tail up, and he stretching so nicely under himself, in a frame. He was literally prancing, as if he was saying "I'll show you, I don't need any ground poles". Needless to say Dom is now convinced our horses speak English. I myself may have to agree!
Since he was doing so nicely on the lunge, Dom didn't want to waste any time and made me get right up. His trot was so nice. We made it around the ring at least twice in each direction, very minimal lurch and no fast/slow nonsense. It's so nice to finally be over or at least be on top of the mountain I've been try to conquer since I got him. I am starting to feel his potential and feel my doubt slowly start to fade away.
I still worry about his hips/hocks/stifles, but it is too early to tell. It could just be weakness and I won't really know until we get further in his training, but he is not lame by any means. I'm hoping with more work, he will get stronger and it will start to go away. He is 15 I don't expect him to be perfect, especially not with being a retired race horse. If it turns out that I have to get his hocks injected or put him on an additional supplement I will, but I don't really think it is anything that is going to affect his abilities. He doesn't show pain anywhere, so I'm being hopeful! I guess we won't really know until he starts jumping, which won't be until probably next spring/summer at this point. Let's just keep our fingers crossed that my big man builds up all the right muscles and he is just fine.
My lesson ended on a good note, and I walked Shadow up to get him untacked. Dom and I were talking about Dancer (she has asked me to come ride him, which I am very excited about) I told her if I had the money for him and Shadow I would take him in a heart beat. Then I jokingly said "We can switch" and Dom said "well, okay" and Shadow then proceeded to walk away from me and put his head behind Dom's and "snotted" all over her. LOL, that's what he thinks about going home with her I guess. He is such a character.
I have a video of him going, I am going to try and post it, I' not too sure how (lol). According to Dom, this was our worst attempt at it, and I feel like I look like a rag doll up there, between riding in brand new boots, and concentrating so much on him I just kind of hang out up there and pretend I know what I'm doing. (not too pretty!!)
Yesterday was quite comical, we should have known it would have been an interesting day when Shadow was falling asleep as I was getting him ready. Dom said "Oh Shadow, you are so tired" and I said "yeah, because he has such a rough life" and Shadow proceeded to nod his head yes, as if he really does have such a rough life. Dom and I burst out laughing, What a jerk he is.
Since it gets dark so early and I work so late, I don't get much time, Shadow hasn't been lunged in his side reins for about a week. So we started our lesson there. They lunged for about 20-25 minutes (or at least that's what it felt like to me). Shadow is holding a very nice consistent trot on the lunge line, but whenever he feels any pressure on his face he lays into his bit so Dom had mentioned a flash band. Well, as soon as Shadow heard that, we never saw him open his mouth again.
He is also holding a very consistent canter on the lunge, which means he is starting to build real horse muscles! I have learned, as Dom told me, which now makes a lot of sense, it is much easier to argue on the lunge line then when on his back. On the ground I can insist on TROT or CANTER and remove the pace completely better than I can on his back. We didn't see too much pacing yesterday on the lunge, nor did we see any lurch. Maybe we are getting somewhere?! :) So going to the right Shadow just wanted to canter away, Dom wanted a trot but Shadow disagreed. He was cantering around us pretty nicely and I said to Dom, he looks like he is going to fall (he was leaning in to the center, not looking so balanced at one point). Dom's response? "Eh, horses fall over sometimes, it's okay". That's not something I expected to hear and I just started laughing, as I said, very interesting day at the barn.
Dom also mentioned as she was lunging Shadow around that I need to get some ground poles so he learns to pick his feet up. Well, this is where Shadow put his fancy pants on. He broke into the NICEST trot. I didn't even know he had it in him. He had his tail up, and he stretching so nicely under himself, in a frame. He was literally prancing, as if he was saying "I'll show you, I don't need any ground poles". Needless to say Dom is now convinced our horses speak English. I myself may have to agree!
Since he was doing so nicely on the lunge, Dom didn't want to waste any time and made me get right up. His trot was so nice. We made it around the ring at least twice in each direction, very minimal lurch and no fast/slow nonsense. It's so nice to finally be over or at least be on top of the mountain I've been try to conquer since I got him. I am starting to feel his potential and feel my doubt slowly start to fade away.
I still worry about his hips/hocks/stifles, but it is too early to tell. It could just be weakness and I won't really know until we get further in his training, but he is not lame by any means. I'm hoping with more work, he will get stronger and it will start to go away. He is 15 I don't expect him to be perfect, especially not with being a retired race horse. If it turns out that I have to get his hocks injected or put him on an additional supplement I will, but I don't really think it is anything that is going to affect his abilities. He doesn't show pain anywhere, so I'm being hopeful! I guess we won't really know until he starts jumping, which won't be until probably next spring/summer at this point. Let's just keep our fingers crossed that my big man builds up all the right muscles and he is just fine.
My lesson ended on a good note, and I walked Shadow up to get him untacked. Dom and I were talking about Dancer (she has asked me to come ride him, which I am very excited about) I told her if I had the money for him and Shadow I would take him in a heart beat. Then I jokingly said "We can switch" and Dom said "well, okay" and Shadow then proceeded to walk away from me and put his head behind Dom's and "snotted" all over her. LOL, that's what he thinks about going home with her I guess. He is such a character.
I have a video of him going, I am going to try and post it, I' not too sure how (lol). According to Dom, this was our worst attempt at it, and I feel like I look like a rag doll up there, between riding in brand new boots, and concentrating so much on him I just kind of hang out up there and pretend I know what I'm doing. (not too pretty!!)
Here's the video, hope it works. 10/8/13
Here is another video from the beginning of September (9/18/13) of him and Dom.
Sorry for my yelling. LOL
Sunday, October 6, 2013
Psychic Saturday
My day Saturday started off kind of slow. I got to the barn early to go to a small local tack sale where I made out quite nicely. A brand new blanket for Shadow, brand new boots and half chaps all for $100.00. I was rather proud of myself. We got back and had lunch and I stood there staring at Shadow debating on wether or not I wanted to ride. Bonni and I then decided to do some more running around and then I would come back to ride.
Around 2:00 I got up on Shadow to practice the "give and take" method, which is working quite nicely. A few big lurches and then he remembered his transitions and we made it all the way around the ring in both directions at least twice. That was good for me and I let him stop as it was almost time for dinner.
Anyway, the real point to this post is kind of freaky. My best friends mom is a pet psychic. I don't know how much some of you really believe in that stuff, as a matter of fact, I don't know how much I believe in it. She does it for a living I guess. She has a YouTube series and does readings at several places around our area, she has quite a following from what I can see. We don't really talk much about it, I had gone and visited her with Gizmo once and she had come to the house to read Gucci, but I've still never been a firm believer. I don't mean that as I doubt her abilities, I mean, I don't know how much I believe in psychics in general.
Anyway, earlier in the week, before seeing Dom on wednesday, (which if you had read my earlier post, you would have heard that Shadow was off in his back left leg) I had texted Tracey and asked her if she could check in on Shadow for me and see how he is liking his new life with me. I know she is very busy so I didn't expect anything right away and told her no rush, well, she got back to me on Saturday. I hadn't mentioned anything to her about him, nor did I know he was off in his back left until Wednesday. I just simply asked her to see how he was feeling about being with me and to ask him if he was happy.
Her Response:
"First of all he says he loves it when your head in his neck and pat his neck or hug him. You call him something very sweet when you do that. Something like "my special boy" or "the best horse in the world" I don't really know the words because he is giving me the feeling not the words. Whatever it is, keep doing it, k? He also says you have given him a reason to be a horse again and opened up his heart again. He loves you dearly and he is so grateful for you. He's also very relieved that you are so light because he had a bone infection in his back leg. It started in his hoof and was left untreated and went to his bone. Back left maybe, thats the limp you catch sometimes. It's sore sometimes."
Okay well, I am ALWAYS hugging him or putting my face in his neck and telling him I love him, and I call him "bub" or "bubba" all the time. So that was the first thing that caught my attention as I was reading along. She knows none of this. She has never even seen us together or met him in person, just pictures. Then there is the leg, HOW WEIRD! This is way after Wednesday when he was off in his back left, which I never told her about, since I reached out to her before that!
Freaky, right? Maybe that changed my thinking on psychics, lol. So now I have that leg on my brain. He was perfect on Saturday no soreness, not off, no hitch, nothing. So maybe it does just bother him sometimes. I massaged him before and after our ride Saturday and didn't get to see him today because I was so lazy, but I guess all I can do is keep an eye on it. After our ride Wednesday I rubbed his whole entire leg from the top of his but all the way down to his foot with Sore No More, I don't think I missed an inch, which seemed to really help.
I don't think it's anything that is going to affect his abilities, at least it hasn't yet, and with the supplement and everyones close eye, I think he will be just fine.
Just a very surreal "reading", I'd say. :)
Around 2:00 I got up on Shadow to practice the "give and take" method, which is working quite nicely. A few big lurches and then he remembered his transitions and we made it all the way around the ring in both directions at least twice. That was good for me and I let him stop as it was almost time for dinner.
Anyway, the real point to this post is kind of freaky. My best friends mom is a pet psychic. I don't know how much some of you really believe in that stuff, as a matter of fact, I don't know how much I believe in it. She does it for a living I guess. She has a YouTube series and does readings at several places around our area, she has quite a following from what I can see. We don't really talk much about it, I had gone and visited her with Gizmo once and she had come to the house to read Gucci, but I've still never been a firm believer. I don't mean that as I doubt her abilities, I mean, I don't know how much I believe in psychics in general.
Anyway, earlier in the week, before seeing Dom on wednesday, (which if you had read my earlier post, you would have heard that Shadow was off in his back left leg) I had texted Tracey and asked her if she could check in on Shadow for me and see how he is liking his new life with me. I know she is very busy so I didn't expect anything right away and told her no rush, well, she got back to me on Saturday. I hadn't mentioned anything to her about him, nor did I know he was off in his back left until Wednesday. I just simply asked her to see how he was feeling about being with me and to ask him if he was happy.
Her Response:
"First of all he says he loves it when your head in his neck and pat his neck or hug him. You call him something very sweet when you do that. Something like "my special boy" or "the best horse in the world" I don't really know the words because he is giving me the feeling not the words. Whatever it is, keep doing it, k? He also says you have given him a reason to be a horse again and opened up his heart again. He loves you dearly and he is so grateful for you. He's also very relieved that you are so light because he had a bone infection in his back leg. It started in his hoof and was left untreated and went to his bone. Back left maybe, thats the limp you catch sometimes. It's sore sometimes."
Okay well, I am ALWAYS hugging him or putting my face in his neck and telling him I love him, and I call him "bub" or "bubba" all the time. So that was the first thing that caught my attention as I was reading along. She knows none of this. She has never even seen us together or met him in person, just pictures. Then there is the leg, HOW WEIRD! This is way after Wednesday when he was off in his back left, which I never told her about, since I reached out to her before that!
Freaky, right? Maybe that changed my thinking on psychics, lol. So now I have that leg on my brain. He was perfect on Saturday no soreness, not off, no hitch, nothing. So maybe it does just bother him sometimes. I massaged him before and after our ride Saturday and didn't get to see him today because I was so lazy, but I guess all I can do is keep an eye on it. After our ride Wednesday I rubbed his whole entire leg from the top of his but all the way down to his foot with Sore No More, I don't think I missed an inch, which seemed to really help.
I don't think it's anything that is going to affect his abilities, at least it hasn't yet, and with the supplement and everyones close eye, I think he will be just fine.
Just a very surreal "reading", I'd say. :)
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
Wednesday Lesson Day
So, I don't know about anyone else, but it is finally starting to hit me that the days are getting shorter. I work until 7 at night, so I get NO riding time during the week now, except for Wednesday to work with Dom. I'm getting a little nervous now that all the things we worked on are going to be forgotten if I don't get at least two solid days of riding in, and who knows what the winter is going to hold. Last I rode was Saturday, and I didn't get out to the barn Sunday or Monday. Yesterday, I made it out there with just about 20 minutes of light left, which was fine. I took him out and let him graze for a while and just hung out, I like to do that once in a while just to spend time with him. I don't want him to associate me only with "working". I feel like if the only times I go out there is to ride and leave, it's not a very loving relationship, more like a business partner, and that's not what I want it to be like with him at all. I'm a whacko, I know.
Anyway, Wednesday, my favorite day of the week. I look forward to seeing Dom. We work on things, and I get reassured that I know what I am doing and he is progressing more each week. Every now and then I need to be told I'm right so I stop doubting myself. At the end of our ride today Dom said "you are a good rider" and that made me feel so much better. At this point in Shadows career he has the power to make an Olympic rider feel like a slob.
Our ride started off a little funny. Dom got on and I was watching him walk. At the same time Dom said "what are you doing" I said he doesn't look right. He was off, not lame, but off. I couldn't really see it so it was hard to say. Dom asked him to move forward and he still didn't look right so we switched. I got on so she could watch him move along. Once I asked him for the trot I could really feel something wasn't right. It felt like his front right was off, but it could have also been his back left. I asked Dom if we should give him off for the day and not push him, she checked his feet thinking maybe he had an abscess coming, but no signs of that. She decided to get on him and work him for 10 minutes to see if he would work through it and if not we would call it a day.
Bonni came over to talk to me for a while and I asked her how he looked, and she watched him and said he looked off in his back left, and the more I looked the more I saw it, but he was working along fine, he wasn't showing any pain he was just a little stiff I guess. This is kind of aggravating to me because he is on a very good joint supplement AND flax meal, but I guess it happens right? It's not like he was dead lame.
Dom looked pretty busy, she wasn't talking, which I understand. Sometimes I feel like I need to be a rocket scientist to ride him with all the things I need to remember and then to talk at the same time, forget it. lol Finally she came over to me and told me what she was doing. She has started riding him on a loose rein and letting him go. Working on giving slack and taking it away. Letting him trot at his own pace, as long as it is consistent. She switched directions and continued.
The way I have been riding, I have had such a short rain, it is basically like I am holding him up. Finally it was my turn to get on. At first I wasn't understanding this concept, remember this whole thing is new to me! lol Keeping a loose rein and getting him gathered up and forward at the walk, I ask for a trot, and there is that dreadful lurch, which I am now riding through. Picking up the slack when I feel him about to lift his head and giving him the slack when he relaxes himself. After about my second time trying this I got it, and so did he. He did excellent, a nice smooth (for a standardbred) forward trot, continuing to take away his slack when he felt like he was going to fall apart, or needed to know I was up there to hold him together. Once he got it, we stopped and switch directions, so he didn't have a chance to loose it. Starting over in the opposite direction we had a small lurch, but a much better transition into the trot. He was kind of searching for me like, "Mom where are you I need you to hold me up" so I took away the slack on the reins really quick and gave it back when he relaxed. We finally hit "the moment". The moment where he held himself more than half way around the ring in a beautiful forward collected trot. Holy god, my pacer can trot, we're almost there.
We ended our lesson there, Dom and I couln't have asked for a better note to end on. I am so proud of him.
Dom untacked for me while I moved the other horses back to their field and then left to venture home.
I took Shadow out to graze for a while (again because I don't want him to relate our relationship with work, work, work) and I rubbed his left hip down all the way from the top of his butt down to his hoof with sore no more. I feel bad when he is sore, my poor babe, hopefully he will be good as new tomorrow. Hoping he worked it all out while he was moving around tonight.
He is doing great, and I really couldn't ask for a sweeter boy that gives me his all time and time again.
Thanks for reading.
Anyway, Wednesday, my favorite day of the week. I look forward to seeing Dom. We work on things, and I get reassured that I know what I am doing and he is progressing more each week. Every now and then I need to be told I'm right so I stop doubting myself. At the end of our ride today Dom said "you are a good rider" and that made me feel so much better. At this point in Shadows career he has the power to make an Olympic rider feel like a slob.
Our ride started off a little funny. Dom got on and I was watching him walk. At the same time Dom said "what are you doing" I said he doesn't look right. He was off, not lame, but off. I couldn't really see it so it was hard to say. Dom asked him to move forward and he still didn't look right so we switched. I got on so she could watch him move along. Once I asked him for the trot I could really feel something wasn't right. It felt like his front right was off, but it could have also been his back left. I asked Dom if we should give him off for the day and not push him, she checked his feet thinking maybe he had an abscess coming, but no signs of that. She decided to get on him and work him for 10 minutes to see if he would work through it and if not we would call it a day.
Bonni came over to talk to me for a while and I asked her how he looked, and she watched him and said he looked off in his back left, and the more I looked the more I saw it, but he was working along fine, he wasn't showing any pain he was just a little stiff I guess. This is kind of aggravating to me because he is on a very good joint supplement AND flax meal, but I guess it happens right? It's not like he was dead lame.
Dom looked pretty busy, she wasn't talking, which I understand. Sometimes I feel like I need to be a rocket scientist to ride him with all the things I need to remember and then to talk at the same time, forget it. lol Finally she came over to me and told me what she was doing. She has started riding him on a loose rein and letting him go. Working on giving slack and taking it away. Letting him trot at his own pace, as long as it is consistent. She switched directions and continued.
The way I have been riding, I have had such a short rain, it is basically like I am holding him up. Finally it was my turn to get on. At first I wasn't understanding this concept, remember this whole thing is new to me! lol Keeping a loose rein and getting him gathered up and forward at the walk, I ask for a trot, and there is that dreadful lurch, which I am now riding through. Picking up the slack when I feel him about to lift his head and giving him the slack when he relaxes himself. After about my second time trying this I got it, and so did he. He did excellent, a nice smooth (for a standardbred) forward trot, continuing to take away his slack when he felt like he was going to fall apart, or needed to know I was up there to hold him together. Once he got it, we stopped and switch directions, so he didn't have a chance to loose it. Starting over in the opposite direction we had a small lurch, but a much better transition into the trot. He was kind of searching for me like, "Mom where are you I need you to hold me up" so I took away the slack on the reins really quick and gave it back when he relaxed. We finally hit "the moment". The moment where he held himself more than half way around the ring in a beautiful forward collected trot. Holy god, my pacer can trot, we're almost there.
We ended our lesson there, Dom and I couln't have asked for a better note to end on. I am so proud of him.
Dom untacked for me while I moved the other horses back to their field and then left to venture home.
I took Shadow out to graze for a while (again because I don't want him to relate our relationship with work, work, work) and I rubbed his left hip down all the way from the top of his butt down to his hoof with sore no more. I feel bad when he is sore, my poor babe, hopefully he will be good as new tomorrow. Hoping he worked it all out while he was moving around tonight.
He is doing great, and I really couldn't ask for a sweeter boy that gives me his all time and time again.
Thanks for reading.
Just hanging out.
Kisses <3
Saturday, September 28, 2013
trot, pace, canter, TROT
As you know, we are trying to install a nice forward trot into Shadow now. He is making great progress.
My lesson on Wednesday with Dom went well, but I slacked off the rest of the week. I stopped out with William yesterday just to give Shadow a kiss and say hi, but that was it.
After a busy day Shannon and I ventured out to the barn. Shannon and Nikko working on "ho" and doing it when he is asked, not 4 steps after the word leaves her mouth, and me, working on the usual. Trot, half halt, trot, half halt, trot. He does absolutely great to the right, we made it all the way around the ring without really "losing" it. I only had to bring him back a time or two from his crazy fast trot/pace thing. To the left however, totally different story.
We start by walking around in a nice frame on the rail, then we proceed to trot. We start out very nice and framed, and trotting slowly. Then when I ask him to pick up the pace I get the big forward lurch. Sometimes I think that lurch is going to be the death of me. He always seems to do it while I'm mid post and I fly forward, lol. We just kept trying, but couldn't seem to get it, so we switched back to the right. Trotted around the ring again near perfect in that direction again, so back to the left we went.
Getting a little better, but not much. After about a half hour of just trying to get a real trot out of him, and stopping and re-framing and trying again, I got a little aggravated. I asked him one more time for the trot, and he lurched again, this time I let him ride through it instead of stopping and asking again. I couldn't seem to get him to hold a steady trot, just a pace. He seems to think he has 8 legs and isn't a horse, but an octopus and doesn't know where his legs go (this is a very interesting feeling!)
I haven't cantered him, ever, since he has been with me. Dom and I have discussed taking away options, and pace is not one of them. His choices with me are walk or trot and his choices with Dom are trot or canter and I didn't really want to change that, being that he doesn't really know how to canter well. He was just giving me such a hard time to the left and I felt myself getting more and more frustrated. I asked him one more time for a trot and he picked up very nicely, and I thought to myself okay maybe we have it now, but I thought to soon. I finally gave in and said okay this fast "eight legged trot" is not working for me, and I proceeded to ask for the canter. I got 3 or 4 beautiful strides out of him before he broke back into the trot, so we stopped and took a walk. After our little walk around, I tried the trot one more time and I GOT IT!
I made my own circle instead of using the whole ring because as usual, we needed to end on a good note. So I used about a quarter of the ring, and concentrated on his movement. I gave him small half halts whenever I would feel him tense like he was thinking about falling apart. He did it, thank god.
Needless to say, I rode for probably about an hour, which is more than I usually do when Dom isn't present and I feel like I got hit by a bus. I do not feel like the last time I was one a horse was Wednesday, at all. I am learning to concentrate on everything, me, him, and everything else I need to do while I'm up there. Since half halts and leg yields are the most important right now, I've kind of given up on steering. Terrible, I know.
I mentioned this to Dom on Wednesday, and she told me it's okay! I was relived to hear that, I have to be able to half halt at the right moment in order to bring him down, I have to keep pressure on him through my knees to keep him moving forward, and keep my inside heel on him to keep him some what straight to keep him from dropping his shoulder. All of this, for a person who has no coordination makes adding in steering at this point a little difficult. Once we get the trot down, I will go back to that, its already there, he just needs a little direction.
To finish our ride, we did some bending exercises as always, he even does it by himself when I stop and give him a break because he thinks it means we're done and I will get off of him. Lol, he is such a funny boy.
I'm so excited to see him progress in every ride, maybe Monday we will start to the left and end to the right and see if there is any improvement there.
Goodnight all.
My lesson on Wednesday with Dom went well, but I slacked off the rest of the week. I stopped out with William yesterday just to give Shadow a kiss and say hi, but that was it.
After a busy day Shannon and I ventured out to the barn. Shannon and Nikko working on "ho" and doing it when he is asked, not 4 steps after the word leaves her mouth, and me, working on the usual. Trot, half halt, trot, half halt, trot. He does absolutely great to the right, we made it all the way around the ring without really "losing" it. I only had to bring him back a time or two from his crazy fast trot/pace thing. To the left however, totally different story.
We start by walking around in a nice frame on the rail, then we proceed to trot. We start out very nice and framed, and trotting slowly. Then when I ask him to pick up the pace I get the big forward lurch. Sometimes I think that lurch is going to be the death of me. He always seems to do it while I'm mid post and I fly forward, lol. We just kept trying, but couldn't seem to get it, so we switched back to the right. Trotted around the ring again near perfect in that direction again, so back to the left we went.
Getting a little better, but not much. After about a half hour of just trying to get a real trot out of him, and stopping and re-framing and trying again, I got a little aggravated. I asked him one more time for the trot, and he lurched again, this time I let him ride through it instead of stopping and asking again. I couldn't seem to get him to hold a steady trot, just a pace. He seems to think he has 8 legs and isn't a horse, but an octopus and doesn't know where his legs go (this is a very interesting feeling!)
I haven't cantered him, ever, since he has been with me. Dom and I have discussed taking away options, and pace is not one of them. His choices with me are walk or trot and his choices with Dom are trot or canter and I didn't really want to change that, being that he doesn't really know how to canter well. He was just giving me such a hard time to the left and I felt myself getting more and more frustrated. I asked him one more time for a trot and he picked up very nicely, and I thought to myself okay maybe we have it now, but I thought to soon. I finally gave in and said okay this fast "eight legged trot" is not working for me, and I proceeded to ask for the canter. I got 3 or 4 beautiful strides out of him before he broke back into the trot, so we stopped and took a walk. After our little walk around, I tried the trot one more time and I GOT IT!
I made my own circle instead of using the whole ring because as usual, we needed to end on a good note. So I used about a quarter of the ring, and concentrated on his movement. I gave him small half halts whenever I would feel him tense like he was thinking about falling apart. He did it, thank god.
Needless to say, I rode for probably about an hour, which is more than I usually do when Dom isn't present and I feel like I got hit by a bus. I do not feel like the last time I was one a horse was Wednesday, at all. I am learning to concentrate on everything, me, him, and everything else I need to do while I'm up there. Since half halts and leg yields are the most important right now, I've kind of given up on steering. Terrible, I know.
I mentioned this to Dom on Wednesday, and she told me it's okay! I was relived to hear that, I have to be able to half halt at the right moment in order to bring him down, I have to keep pressure on him through my knees to keep him moving forward, and keep my inside heel on him to keep him some what straight to keep him from dropping his shoulder. All of this, for a person who has no coordination makes adding in steering at this point a little difficult. Once we get the trot down, I will go back to that, its already there, he just needs a little direction.
To finish our ride, we did some bending exercises as always, he even does it by himself when I stop and give him a break because he thinks it means we're done and I will get off of him. Lol, he is such a funny boy.
I'm so excited to see him progress in every ride, maybe Monday we will start to the left and end to the right and see if there is any improvement there.
Goodnight all.
Friday, September 27, 2013
Blast from the past
Today I guess I decided to do a little exploring, with the help of the Standardbred Performance Society, that is.
They recently added me to the group so I decided to extend my thanks and post a picture of Shadow and give a little introduction. This turned out to be an all day conversation between fellow standardbred owners.
I got some racing information, which I had already know, as I mentioned in our about me. It was a lot cooler to actually see it on paper, and again getting to see his blood lines, birthday, etc. I found out the park where he raced his last race in Indiana at age 2, and also photographer information in hopes of getting some pictures.
With the help of Jess, we have emailed and left messages for her, so hopefully she will get back to me, I would absolutely LOVE to have race photos of him. With a little more research we found information on the people who had him as a baby. So I proceeded to make the call, well actually Jackie who I work with called because I was too nervous. The man who owned him, named Dwayne Pletcher, who is now 82, was able to get on the phone. First we spoke with his wife, and she remembered Shadow, but couldn't tell us anything. Maybe she didn't really have much involvement in the horses?
She put Mr. Pletcher on, but he couldn't hear well, and I listened close as Mrs. Pletcher said " she wants to know about You Got It, the horse we had long ago" and I heard him reply " I don't remember the horse", he is older, so that was to be expected. His wife came back on the phone to tell us that unfortunately he does not remember him. Jackie, thinking quickly, saw that I had written down another number, she asked Mrs. Pletcher if that was another one of her numbers and she said no, and she gave her another number and said that is my son. Jackie asked if her son would remember him and she replied with yes, he probably raised him!
Jackie then called their son, who didn't answer, she left a message. About 20 minutes or so later, my cell phone rang and it was him! (I'm literally so excited, if you cannot tell.) Jackie asked if he remembered, and thankfully he did. He couldn't give us much, but the little bit he did give was enough to make me smile from ear to ear.
He told Jackie he was very successful for them, but he was CRAZY. He said he was a lot to train and had to be tranquilized several times during his training because he was too much for them to handle (hard to believe because he is the biggest love on the planet). He said they got him started at 2 (as I mentioned already) and said he was a very successful horse for them. Making the 10 starts and winning 6, bringing in exactly $62,749.00 for them. He only raced that year, he said in the fall of his 2 year old life, someone from the east bought him. Ready for this? They purchased him for $90,000.00. WOW. Never saw that coming.
He said after he was sold, he never raced. There was no reason not to race him, but they didn't. He said the last he heard from them he was training very well, they just never put him back on the track, but hey, I'm okay with that.
He asked us how he was doing, and if he was over his craziness, and what he was doing now. He was very please to hear that he is a hunter/jumper prospect and wished me the best of luck with him and said he was a very good looking horse, which made me really feel good, knowing that he has known Shadow since he was a little babe!
The plus side of all this for me? Shadow was NEVER injured in his racing career, I needed to hear that. That worry is now checked off my list.
Even though this is barely anything, it was more than I had and I absolutely loved hearing it, I am like a little kid. Literally filled with excitement!
They recently added me to the group so I decided to extend my thanks and post a picture of Shadow and give a little introduction. This turned out to be an all day conversation between fellow standardbred owners.
I got some racing information, which I had already know, as I mentioned in our about me. It was a lot cooler to actually see it on paper, and again getting to see his blood lines, birthday, etc. I found out the park where he raced his last race in Indiana at age 2, and also photographer information in hopes of getting some pictures.
With the help of Jess, we have emailed and left messages for her, so hopefully she will get back to me, I would absolutely LOVE to have race photos of him. With a little more research we found information on the people who had him as a baby. So I proceeded to make the call, well actually Jackie who I work with called because I was too nervous. The man who owned him, named Dwayne Pletcher, who is now 82, was able to get on the phone. First we spoke with his wife, and she remembered Shadow, but couldn't tell us anything. Maybe she didn't really have much involvement in the horses?
She put Mr. Pletcher on, but he couldn't hear well, and I listened close as Mrs. Pletcher said " she wants to know about You Got It, the horse we had long ago" and I heard him reply " I don't remember the horse", he is older, so that was to be expected. His wife came back on the phone to tell us that unfortunately he does not remember him. Jackie, thinking quickly, saw that I had written down another number, she asked Mrs. Pletcher if that was another one of her numbers and she said no, and she gave her another number and said that is my son. Jackie asked if her son would remember him and she replied with yes, he probably raised him!
Jackie then called their son, who didn't answer, she left a message. About 20 minutes or so later, my cell phone rang and it was him! (I'm literally so excited, if you cannot tell.) Jackie asked if he remembered, and thankfully he did. He couldn't give us much, but the little bit he did give was enough to make me smile from ear to ear.
He told Jackie he was very successful for them, but he was CRAZY. He said he was a lot to train and had to be tranquilized several times during his training because he was too much for them to handle (hard to believe because he is the biggest love on the planet). He said they got him started at 2 (as I mentioned already) and said he was a very successful horse for them. Making the 10 starts and winning 6, bringing in exactly $62,749.00 for them. He only raced that year, he said in the fall of his 2 year old life, someone from the east bought him. Ready for this? They purchased him for $90,000.00. WOW. Never saw that coming.
He said after he was sold, he never raced. There was no reason not to race him, but they didn't. He said the last he heard from them he was training very well, they just never put him back on the track, but hey, I'm okay with that.
He asked us how he was doing, and if he was over his craziness, and what he was doing now. He was very please to hear that he is a hunter/jumper prospect and wished me the best of luck with him and said he was a very good looking horse, which made me really feel good, knowing that he has known Shadow since he was a little babe!
The plus side of all this for me? Shadow was NEVER injured in his racing career, I needed to hear that. That worry is now checked off my list.
Even though this is barely anything, it was more than I had and I absolutely loved hearing it, I am like a little kid. Literally filled with excitement!
My $90,000 man, lol!
Thursday, September 26, 2013
The Beginning
Since I've already had Shadow for about two months, I have a lot to write about. I guess I'll start with SRF.
They were scheduled to have a meet and greet Bonni told me to attend, it was on a Friday. It happened to rain, but we never saw an update that it was cancelled, so off we went. Upon arrival, nobody was there other than the volunteers and workers, reason being the meet and greet was cancelled! They showed me around anyway, took me from paddock to paddock and mentioned some horses they thought would be a good match for me based on what I was telling them about myself. They approved my application and asked several questions for a "screening" and I set an appointment to come back Monday. Of course that Monday was the start of the heat wave with 100+ degree weather. We ventured over there anyway at around 6:00, Bonni, myself and Rhiana, who came for moral support. I went there with 3 horses in mind, Closer, who was a beautiful red headed boy standing at about 16.3 (I'm a sucker for the tall ones) Spirit who was a small mare and Angel, another smaller mare. Well, turns out, NONE of them were for me. Closer was dreadfully lazy, Spirit was a little too much to me on the ground, very antsy and very pacey under saddle, and Angel. Angel and I just did not get along. I asked for a trot and I got three bucks and a turn to the inside in an attempt to get me off of her. Once she was done putting on a show, I got down (willingly). Luckily before I had left to head over there that night I took one last look at their website and jotted down some other names of horses that would interest me. Once I was done with those three and ready to give up, I said well I have a few more names. We ran down the list and Shadow was the last one on it. Everyone else on the list had some sort of issue or was already adopted. Trish, the adoption coordinator went and got Shadow from the field and placed him in a stall until I was ready for him. Finally, exhausted, I made my way into the barn and down to the stall he was in. I opened the door, he picked up his head perked his ears up and came right to me. I brought him out on the cross ties, got him ready, and as I was doing this, he was falling asleep! All I could thing was "what a sweet boy" he did everything I asked him to do (on the ground) without a fight and very gently. We finished getting ready and out to the ring we went. I got on and we walked around nicely, even went over a little cross rail set up at the walk, he kind of stopped and looked at it, then went on his way. So far, the nicest horse I had seen the whole time there. I then asked for the trot, and then the canter. He was great, I really loved everything about him. Trish told me there were several other people looking at him, so Bonni came in and asked me to take a walk and talk with her. We discussed my options and how I didn't need to settle for the first horse that felt nice, but there was just something about him. She said she watched him go, and he looked great. He didn't seem to show any hitch or stifle issues or even hip issues. I then looked at Rhiana for her input, and she gave me "the look". The look that says I know your happy so just do it. She said she could tell me and him would be a good fit. So I went back to the barn and spoke to Trish, did the paper work and handed over a check. Shadow wasn't supposed to be home until August 1st, but Bonni convinced me and he came home the next day!
Bonni went and got him while I was working the next day and I rushed out of work to go see him. He was a little upset being alone, but he eventually got used to that. He sat around for a week doing nothing, just spending time with me grazing and being groomed. His feet were really bad. Very long toes, and very flat heels, which caused for a lot of tripping. As you can imagine, once we got under saddle, it was even worse. I also noticed something funny with his back right hip, which I didn't notice before. When I would ask him to pick up his foot so I could pick his hoof. instead of lifting it straight up, he would push it out. I didn't mention it to anyone, I just kind of let it go. Then our farrier came out and met Shadow for the first time, I sat and I talked with him for a while and then he got to that back hip, and I still didn't mention it. I watched Rob ask Shadow for his back foot, and Shadow pushed Rob over into the wall. Not meanly, but because of the way he lifts his leg. I asked Rob what he thought of it, and he replied "There is definitely something wrong there". All I could think was GREAT. I had gotten this horse in hopes of continuing my jumping career and I had felt like that all went out the window, but I had calmed myself and said, maybe its just weak muscles. Nothing a joint supplement and a little work won't fix, right? Shortly after this, we started riding together.
So one night, Shannon and I were talking about Nikko, who has terrible trailer loading issue and she told me about a girl that was recommend to her. Her name was Dom. Shannon showed me her website, and I read along kind of excited, She seemed great, but I was nervous about starting with someone new. I've only ever trained with one person, but I knew going back to her was not an option. I finally came across what sold me, she worked with standardbreds, not only did she work with them, but she has one of her own. Awesome, right? So I emailed Dom, told her my thoughts, concerns and goals and we proceeded to email back and fourth for a while. I then learned that standardbreds were her favorite breed, which made me feel even better. We scheduled our first lesson, which was rained out, and then rescheduled for the following week. Excited and a little nervous I went to the barn to get ready that day. She came in, and Shadow must have known I was a little excited because he was on the cross ties like a fire breathing dragon. I had never seen him like that before, and Dom was a little surprised. I proceeded to tack him up and get him to the ring for his evaluation. I was happy to see (well not happy) but felt better about myself when I saw Shadow giving Dom the same trouble he was giving me, the only difference being, she knows what she is doing! haha. I brought his hip up to her and she said she didn't feel anything and watching him walk didn't see any stifle issue, which made me feel okay about it. The next couple of lessons went great, we got a nice painfully slow trot out of him, he now knows how to frame, and the lurch is virtually gone, now our project is getting away from the painfully slow trot and getting a nice medium gate out of him.
At about our 4th time working with Dom, he wasn't having a good day. I didnt even ride him, Dom took the whole hour and didnt offer for me to get on. I knew something wasn't right that day. The look on Dom's face was not her norm. She has said there was no point in me getting on and getting frustrated and she had mentioned she now felt something going on in that hip after cantering him for the first time. She mentioned him being a lot stronger to the right than the left, which was the total opposite of the usual for these guys. So again, my fear came back, but as I said, I promised him forever. No matter how bummed I was, whatever he was, he was mine. I had mentioned he was on a joint supplement and it still hadn't had time to start working yet, so I still had a little hope.
Lessons continued, each time a little better, bending, holding a frame, and trotting. Dom had brought up that there was a standardbred show coming up at the beginning of September, and I decided to go. I thought it would be a great way to see what I have gotten myself into, the potential the breed has and network with other stb owners. Well, I saw the potential and was very excited, as far as networking, there was none of that. I almost forgot for a second how political the show world is. Anyway, Shadow schooled like an all star, Dom even jumped him over a cross rail a few times (his first one) and he got very excited in the actual show ring. Pacing, cutting corners, throwing his head and eventually, the nicest canter I have ever felt in my life. This to me was rather funny, but I had to keep a straight face, being that I was in a walk trot class!! Needless to say, we did not place, which was okay. He still did better than I would have ever planned being with me for only a month. I was so proud of him.
After the show, we continued working on the same. Leg yields, trotting, framing up, bending, and trying to hold his nice trot. Which is where we are leading up to this week. In between that time, Dom had set me up with a fellow stb owner who had also adopted from SRF, Jess. Jess and myself had been talking for awhile and we finally set a date to meet when she had returned from her honey moon. I went and sat in on one of her lessons with Danny Warrington and met Spyder, who I think is Shadow's cousin actually. It was good for me to see, it gave me hope, more than the show did. Spyder is further along than Shadow and it good to see someone on the same path as me, they are great pair and I love them already! Jess is hoping to get a trailer soon so we can do more together and include BOTH horses rather than one of the boys and both of us.
I had another lesson last night and Jess came to visit. Dom reassured me she no longer feels anything wrong in Shadow's hip, which made me feel great, thank you Smart Pak! Jess said she didnt expect Shadow to be this far along already and told me he looked great. He is doing really well, he frames himself very nicely and can really get beautiful trot, but he still cannot hold it for that long, a couple strides and we fall apart. I'm getting inpatient, but I see his potential and I have a ton of support, so I need to relax myself. He does great and he gives me his all time and time again. I know we will get there, especially with Dom in our corner.
They were scheduled to have a meet and greet Bonni told me to attend, it was on a Friday. It happened to rain, but we never saw an update that it was cancelled, so off we went. Upon arrival, nobody was there other than the volunteers and workers, reason being the meet and greet was cancelled! They showed me around anyway, took me from paddock to paddock and mentioned some horses they thought would be a good match for me based on what I was telling them about myself. They approved my application and asked several questions for a "screening" and I set an appointment to come back Monday. Of course that Monday was the start of the heat wave with 100+ degree weather. We ventured over there anyway at around 6:00, Bonni, myself and Rhiana, who came for moral support. I went there with 3 horses in mind, Closer, who was a beautiful red headed boy standing at about 16.3 (I'm a sucker for the tall ones) Spirit who was a small mare and Angel, another smaller mare. Well, turns out, NONE of them were for me. Closer was dreadfully lazy, Spirit was a little too much to me on the ground, very antsy and very pacey under saddle, and Angel. Angel and I just did not get along. I asked for a trot and I got three bucks and a turn to the inside in an attempt to get me off of her. Once she was done putting on a show, I got down (willingly). Luckily before I had left to head over there that night I took one last look at their website and jotted down some other names of horses that would interest me. Once I was done with those three and ready to give up, I said well I have a few more names. We ran down the list and Shadow was the last one on it. Everyone else on the list had some sort of issue or was already adopted. Trish, the adoption coordinator went and got Shadow from the field and placed him in a stall until I was ready for him. Finally, exhausted, I made my way into the barn and down to the stall he was in. I opened the door, he picked up his head perked his ears up and came right to me. I brought him out on the cross ties, got him ready, and as I was doing this, he was falling asleep! All I could thing was "what a sweet boy" he did everything I asked him to do (on the ground) without a fight and very gently. We finished getting ready and out to the ring we went. I got on and we walked around nicely, even went over a little cross rail set up at the walk, he kind of stopped and looked at it, then went on his way. So far, the nicest horse I had seen the whole time there. I then asked for the trot, and then the canter. He was great, I really loved everything about him. Trish told me there were several other people looking at him, so Bonni came in and asked me to take a walk and talk with her. We discussed my options and how I didn't need to settle for the first horse that felt nice, but there was just something about him. She said she watched him go, and he looked great. He didn't seem to show any hitch or stifle issues or even hip issues. I then looked at Rhiana for her input, and she gave me "the look". The look that says I know your happy so just do it. She said she could tell me and him would be a good fit. So I went back to the barn and spoke to Trish, did the paper work and handed over a check. Shadow wasn't supposed to be home until August 1st, but Bonni convinced me and he came home the next day!
Shadow standing outside SRF's barn after our ride.
Bonni went and got him while I was working the next day and I rushed out of work to go see him. He was a little upset being alone, but he eventually got used to that. He sat around for a week doing nothing, just spending time with me grazing and being groomed. His feet were really bad. Very long toes, and very flat heels, which caused for a lot of tripping. As you can imagine, once we got under saddle, it was even worse. I also noticed something funny with his back right hip, which I didn't notice before. When I would ask him to pick up his foot so I could pick his hoof. instead of lifting it straight up, he would push it out. I didn't mention it to anyone, I just kind of let it go. Then our farrier came out and met Shadow for the first time, I sat and I talked with him for a while and then he got to that back hip, and I still didn't mention it. I watched Rob ask Shadow for his back foot, and Shadow pushed Rob over into the wall. Not meanly, but because of the way he lifts his leg. I asked Rob what he thought of it, and he replied "There is definitely something wrong there". All I could think was GREAT. I had gotten this horse in hopes of continuing my jumping career and I had felt like that all went out the window, but I had calmed myself and said, maybe its just weak muscles. Nothing a joint supplement and a little work won't fix, right? Shortly after this, we started riding together.
Shadow's first day home with us.
It finally started to show that I was at a loss. We started riding, and he would run away with me, super super fast with an extra large lurch for a transition. He was not trotting, not even a step, and I tried everything I have ever know and nothing was working.. I was starting to get discouraged. Asking myself, was this right? Did I make the right choice? and then eventually I NEED HELP!
So one night, Shannon and I were talking about Nikko, who has terrible trailer loading issue and she told me about a girl that was recommend to her. Her name was Dom. Shannon showed me her website, and I read along kind of excited, She seemed great, but I was nervous about starting with someone new. I've only ever trained with one person, but I knew going back to her was not an option. I finally came across what sold me, she worked with standardbreds, not only did she work with them, but she has one of her own. Awesome, right? So I emailed Dom, told her my thoughts, concerns and goals and we proceeded to email back and fourth for a while. I then learned that standardbreds were her favorite breed, which made me feel even better. We scheduled our first lesson, which was rained out, and then rescheduled for the following week. Excited and a little nervous I went to the barn to get ready that day. She came in, and Shadow must have known I was a little excited because he was on the cross ties like a fire breathing dragon. I had never seen him like that before, and Dom was a little surprised. I proceeded to tack him up and get him to the ring for his evaluation. I was happy to see (well not happy) but felt better about myself when I saw Shadow giving Dom the same trouble he was giving me, the only difference being, she knows what she is doing! haha. I brought his hip up to her and she said she didn't feel anything and watching him walk didn't see any stifle issue, which made me feel okay about it. The next couple of lessons went great, we got a nice painfully slow trot out of him, he now knows how to frame, and the lurch is virtually gone, now our project is getting away from the painfully slow trot and getting a nice medium gate out of him.
Learning to use side reins for the first time
Which was kind of hard for him at first, lol
Shadow and Dom during our third lesson together
See, he really can frame nicely, my favorite picture.
Excuse my eq., we are not working me, but he looks wonderful, 3rd week in!
At about our 4th time working with Dom, he wasn't having a good day. I didnt even ride him, Dom took the whole hour and didnt offer for me to get on. I knew something wasn't right that day. The look on Dom's face was not her norm. She has said there was no point in me getting on and getting frustrated and she had mentioned she now felt something going on in that hip after cantering him for the first time. She mentioned him being a lot stronger to the right than the left, which was the total opposite of the usual for these guys. So again, my fear came back, but as I said, I promised him forever. No matter how bummed I was, whatever he was, he was mine. I had mentioned he was on a joint supplement and it still hadn't had time to start working yet, so I still had a little hope.
Lessons continued, each time a little better, bending, holding a frame, and trotting. Dom had brought up that there was a standardbred show coming up at the beginning of September, and I decided to go. I thought it would be a great way to see what I have gotten myself into, the potential the breed has and network with other stb owners. Well, I saw the potential and was very excited, as far as networking, there was none of that. I almost forgot for a second how political the show world is. Anyway, Shadow schooled like an all star, Dom even jumped him over a cross rail a few times (his first one) and he got very excited in the actual show ring. Pacing, cutting corners, throwing his head and eventually, the nicest canter I have ever felt in my life. This to me was rather funny, but I had to keep a straight face, being that I was in a walk trot class!! Needless to say, we did not place, which was okay. He still did better than I would have ever planned being with me for only a month. I was so proud of him.
Beautiful head shot by Dom
Schooling, he's so handsome.
First jump ever, he wiggled up to it and had no idea what he was doing, good effort.
Shadow and Dom
In the show ring, one of our brief nice moments
After the show, we continued working on the same. Leg yields, trotting, framing up, bending, and trying to hold his nice trot. Which is where we are leading up to this week. In between that time, Dom had set me up with a fellow stb owner who had also adopted from SRF, Jess. Jess and myself had been talking for awhile and we finally set a date to meet when she had returned from her honey moon. I went and sat in on one of her lessons with Danny Warrington and met Spyder, who I think is Shadow's cousin actually. It was good for me to see, it gave me hope, more than the show did. Spyder is further along than Shadow and it good to see someone on the same path as me, they are great pair and I love them already! Jess is hoping to get a trailer soon so we can do more together and include BOTH horses rather than one of the boys and both of us.
I had another lesson last night and Jess came to visit. Dom reassured me she no longer feels anything wrong in Shadow's hip, which made me feel great, thank you Smart Pak! Jess said she didnt expect Shadow to be this far along already and told me he looked great. He is doing really well, he frames himself very nicely and can really get beautiful trot, but he still cannot hold it for that long, a couple strides and we fall apart. I'm getting inpatient, but I see his potential and I have a ton of support, so I need to relax myself. He does great and he gives me his all time and time again. I know we will get there, especially with Dom in our corner.
Just a quick shot of him, I can't get enough.
09/25/13 photo taken by Jess. Working on holding our medium trot with Dom.
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