New Kid on the Block...

New year, new season, new... horse? Yep! Meet Whiskey Bent, known around the barn as Bourbon. He is an '08 17.1h Thoroughbred by Storm Day out of Jenny O/Gold Case. Bred and raced in Louisiana, he just couldn't hack it on the track. Thus, his race record is definitely less than impressive but he liked the turf and was retired sound.

I acquired this horse a few months ago and it was a rocky relationship in the beginning, to say the least. This ridiculous Oklahoma winter certainly didnt help matters because it made consistency difficult. One really REALLY awesome thing about this horse though is that he retains his lessons very well. We can typically pick up our training sessions where we last left off rather than having to reschool countless times. Respect was definitely a major issue and he was quite the cocky boy! I blame the Storm Cat in him, but once I was able to channel that energy and attitude, Bourb has become an awesome partner! His dressage is coming along nicely which is good considering that it has been our sole focus for months. Jumping has recently been added to his training regime and he is taking to it quite nicely. Those big long legs of his tend to get in the way on occasion during grids but he is figuring it out. We went for a cross country excursion over the weekend and I was thrilled with how he behaved! Bourb was happy, quiet, and game to jump anything! We kept it small and positive but there is definitely room for more! This boy is proving to be a one person horse that thrives on a bond but once that is established, he will try his heart out for his rider. I love that in a horse!

I am looking at focusing on schooling shows with him for a while just to build his confidence and gain experience while staying on a budget. Holly Hill is on the calendar as his first recognized HT debut at BN. I have high hopes for this boy in the years to come!

So very much has changed since I last wrote on this blog (as usual) and to say that life got turned upside down might be a bit of an understatement. A family situation prompted me to leave Woodridge and head back home for a while, which is bittersweet. On the plus side, it allows me the opportunity to reflect on the events of last year and truly decide what I want to do in life. I have a pretty good idea though and hopefully that leads to a big announcement in the coming months!

Some of you may be wondering what has come of sweet Scottie boy lately and that is really exciting news! After lots of testing and watching and rehabbing, along with a few serious conversations with my vet, it was decided that a competitive comeback just wasn't in this phenomenal horse's future. That was a tough pill to swallow. The suspensory had healed nicely and there were no residual side effects from the EPM but something still wasnt quite right. Every once in a while a mystery lameness would pop up but it did not seem to effect him any other time. Without spending thousands of more dollars trying to diagnose the problem, with a not so promising outlook, we just couldnt pinpoint the issue and it was decided to officially retire Scottie. He had other plans and apparently "retirement" isnt in his vocabulary! I will save the details for next week, once everything is certain, but it looks like Scottie may have a new lease on life and a new job in which he LOVES! 

It has become quite obvious that thirteen is NOT my lucky number, as 2013 was a long and frustrating year, but it is what it is. I have grown to appreciate the little things in life and am working towards much bigger things than I could have ever dreamed of! Here is to a wonderful 2014, the year of the horse! More updates soon. Until then, keep kicking! 

Why can't dressage have an easy button? Staples does.

Dressage is my kryptonite. Stretch and I can be a cross-country machine and have the finesse to jump a clear stadium round, but oftentimes, and especially now, dressage eludes us. Nine out of ten times we cannot get a proper transition. Trotting on the bit, good luck! Bending to the right, well, that is a thing of the past. This is not a comforting discovery when MeadowCreek is only three weeks away! If dressage basics are so far out of reach, how the heck are we supposed to make it through an entire test?! Every great once in a while the sky opens up and the Dressage Gods smile down on us as a glimmer of hope emerges. I realize that the perfect dressage pony I had a year ago is still in there... somewhere. But, alas, the consistency and fluidity quickly fades away and I am once again left riding the equine version of a llama.

I really figured that working at a dressage farm would help improve MY dressage, and to some extent it has. My position is better and I can get good, quality work out of every horse but my own. Sigh. Dressage remains an ellusive little creature that frequently escapes our grasp. However, it will not win. Stretch and I will conquer dressage, eventually. We were so close before he got injured last year and I keep trying to hang on to that little ray of sunshine. If nothing else, MeadowCreek will be a learning experience. Right?

Stretch arrived in Stillwater safe and sound early Wednesday morning. I was my first time to pull the new trailer and it was a peice of cake. The trailer pulled great and Stretch seemed to enjoy the ride. It took some coaxing to get him to load up but otherwise went well. He will definately be doing some extensive traveling before we "go show" to get him loading easier! He settled right in at the Farm and seems happy, although he is currently stuck out in the snow. I rode him Thursday after work and the ride went well. He did not regress as much as I was expecting during his extended vacation, but we do definately have some work to do before MeadowCreek!

I have not been on Stretch since that first ride, first due to rain and now snow making the arena sloppy and frozen. This leads me to my next topic. I have been reading Sally O'Connor's book, Practical Eventing, and she makes a great point about this very thing. She states that "an event horse must... perform no matter what" and that riders must "learn not to make excuses for lack of schooling." These are valid points and made me realize that myself, along with many others, tend to overprotect our horses which ultimately hurts them in the long run. Just because the arena is boggy or the grass is slick does not mean you cannot work, it just means you should proceed with caution. I really need to get better about this and vow to change it tomorrow. We have a competition to prepare for in just over a month, and he isn't going to get better just sitting in a pen because of the weather.

So far, I have made it through chapter 8, also referred to as section 1, of Sally's book. I feel like it is directed more towards riders with little to no experience in the eventing world, but she does bring attention to little details that rider's often forget. For instance, lunging is invaluable. It helps to teach a horse self-carriage and balance and can benefit any horse of any level. Also noted is the value of cavaletti work in the basis of jumping and improving flat work. I know a lot of riders that feel as though raised cavaletti work should not be done until the horse is very established in their training, but Sally's point is to use those exercises TO establish their training. This book is definately giving me some ideas and inspiration for my horses' training programs and I am excited to begin incorporating some of them.

The main point of this post is that, much like every other topic of this blog, things are not always going to work out as planned but that is not an excuse. Rain, shine, sleet, or snow "get out into every kind of weather and work."

New Year. New Season. New goals...

I have successfully completed a few more chapters in Denny's book and continue to be inspired by the rider profiles and his advice. All of this has also made me start thinking about what I want to get accomplished this year with Stretch. This time I am definately taking into consideration his best interests and mine.

After talking with a good friend and judge, KC Campbell, I have decided that I am going to drop back down to beginner novice for a little while and work on some issues that really became evident with our move to novice. Stretch can easily jump height and has become very competitive in the dressage ring, but he still lacks alot of experience required to successfully and consistently jump clean around cross country. Thus, that brings me to some new and improved goals for 2012. I want to successfully complete a few more beginner novice horse trials, preferably winning some along the way, and want to earn a USEA medal with Stretch. If all goes well, I would like to move him back up to novice in the fall. That move will only be made if we can consistently go double clean xc, place well, and he tells me that he is ready to move up.

Looking back, Im not exactly sure what possesed me to make the move up a level. Especially considering that we had only done well in one horse trial, which we won. Both of us definately need to get some additional SHOW experience under our belts before we again try our hand at novice and ultimately the novice three-day at Heritage.

I have officially circled February 28th on the calendar. You might be wondering "What is so special about that day?!" and the answer is, other than my cow/calf exam, the closing date for the Meadowcreek Horse Trials. I am planning on moving Stretch back up to Stillwater next weekend, the first of February, and have full intentions of getting back to work! The idea is that I will be evaluating him for a few weeks and have an idea of whether I can have him ready or not by mid month. If he remains sound and willing, he will be entered into the Spring Social at Meadowcreek at the beginner novice level. Fingers crossed that on March 16th we will southbound and down to Kosse, TX!

"I wasn't a naturally gifted rider... But for some reason I always had this inner drive to succeed in the sport." -Mary King

Getting Good...

I recently purchased Denny Emerson's book How Good Riders Get Good and it finally arrived today. After only a couple of hours of forced multi-tasking, I am already through chapter three and my mind is spinning. Denny is constantly mentioning choices and how they impact one's future and opportunites; I can't help but to reflect on mine.

I have been fighting for what I want to do with my life for as long as I can remember. I have been told by several people that my dreams of becoming a trainer, instructor, and breeder are nothing but pipe dreams. That it will never happen. That one can't make a living doing that. I have never had the several-thousand-dollar horses. Everything that I have ever rode I have trained myself. I have never had the financial means to compete extensively. My show schedules are fairly carefully planned out and oftentimes I just have to roll with the punches. On top of those things, I have hit many other bumps and snags along the road. Luckily with some hard work and determination I have been able to make childs play out of those.

I am slowly chiseling away at the other major issues on the list. I have a group of wonderful people standing behind me currently and I am so thankful for that. I have a great opportunity to begin pursuing my dreams at the Frederiksborg Horse Farm by training dressage horses and learning the ropes of the breeding side of things. I have a fantastic coming six year old that I am so proud of and am looking at breeding my mare this spring for an event horse prospect.

All in all, things are looking bright and falling into place nicely. I cannot wait to see what 2012 holds for me and how it influences my future. I am also looking forward to finishing Denny's book soon and hope that it continues to impact my life and my riding career.

"Don't let the highs get too high and the lows get too low, or you will never make it." -Karen O'Connor

The Ups and Downs...

I would like to start this post by asking everyone to keep Liselotte in their prayers. Hans found her in the pasture Sunday with a severe puncture wound in her left hind leg. She is currently not bearing any weight on it and is on alot of medication to help fight infection. To top all of this off, she injured herself shortly after someone called to inquire about her and wanted to come try her out. We are all pretty upset about it and are hoping that she will pull through to at least be a broodmare. Sound for jumping would be a small miracle from what Rebecca told me. As horrible as this situation is, it pretty much sums up life with horses.

On a brighter note, I have began to work with Meka and she is coming along extremely well! I could not be more happy with her progress. She went from being very timid and not even letting a human get close enough to touch her to being caught fairly easily and letting me start to lay over her back. All of that in a little over a week! Meka is a gorgeous chestnut with a flaxen mane and tail and of course her lovely roman nose. That trademark characteristic tells alot about her personality, and thus, her problems. She is a very noble and intelligent horse which leads to some issues with respect and pride. It was difficult for her to submit to someone and I had to earn her submission. That meant alot of join-up! It actually took me three days to get a true join-up with her and taking that time meant a world of difference. I love working at the Frederiksborg Horse Farm because every day I learn something new and with each step of progress I become more confident in my abilities.

As for my personal horses, they are doing well. Stretch's feet are great and the recent rain helped out alot! He is no longer sore and his feet are not chipping at all. This barefoot thing may work after all! I am still greatly looking forward to spring and seem to be getting more antsy by the day. Also, I have considered pulling Spot of his temporary retirement and begin seriously riding him. It would be fun to actually see him go to a recognized event, after all, he is a very fun ride when he enjoys his job! To top it off, I already paid for his limited USEA registration years ago and might as well put it to use! It is looking like 2012 is going to be a fantastic year. Just remember that with horses there will always be trials and tribulations, you just have to perservere through the downs and cherish the ups. Until next time, kick on!

The Saga Continues...

First off, I want to address how these more recent posts pertain to the road to the classic. It is something that has been on my mind because there have been times that even I think that I'm just randomly writing about my life now. I have come to the conclusion that everything that happens in my life, good or bad, Stretch related or otherwise, leads me to the classic three-day event. It alters my life and the things that happen in it, which ultimately affects that one big show.

Moving on to an update on the Stretchy pony. I decided to pull his shoes for the winter and am working closely with a farrier to monitor his feet and to stay on top of things. He is a little sore right now, but here's to hoping that it gets better in a few days! If he cannot handle the barefoot road then we will slap some cheap basic shoes on him through the winter and go with a quality set in the spring. Unfortunately I am unable to ride him much due to my school schedule, money issues, trailer issues, and tack issues. In the end it is probably best for him to continue his much needed and deserved time off. The goal is that by spring I will have a trailer and at least a dressage saddle and will be able to bring him to Stillwater with me, where he will reside at my wonderful place of employment, the Frederiksborg Horse Farm!

As for things at work, they are going great! Pete is doing fantastic! He is working w/t/c in the arena, going over cavalettis, and is safe to hack in the field. He is also reaching for the contact consistently at the walk and trot and he bending well. Cannot wait to start him over fences soon! Kristiana is coming along nicely as well. She is starting to relax under saddle and is beginning to reach for the contact at the walk and trot. Paint Design is gaining confidence with every day and that is the most rewarding of all. He was afraid of everything a month ago and is now wearing a saddle, going on the walker, exploring scary barns, loading in trailers, and ground driving without a fuss.

Every day that I go to work I am reminded of what magnificent creatures we have the priviledge of working with. I love my job and everything it entails, whether it's a good day or a bad one. I live for the "lightbulb effect" that a horse has when something that you have been working on and struggling with for so long finally clicks and I get to witness it every day. Life is good, and only getting better!

Meet My Mounts...

I have finally started my new job at Frederiksborg Horse Farm and am having a great time riding and learning about each horse's personality. Thus far I'm pretty sure that I have cleaned more tack than is needed by a small army and if we opened a store, we could make a fortune! My first full encounter with all of the horses was deworming day. Oh the excitement! We had to catch and deworm twelve horses, which took a total of about three hours. The horses consisted of broodmares, green broke youngsters, two-year olds, and babies. Some were much easier than others, of course, and this gave me an oportunity to get hands on each individual and begin to figure them out.

Now that all the boring stuff has been touched on, let's get to the part that I know you all have been wanting to hear about! The horses themselves...

Kristian:
4y/o Frederiksborg gelding
Kristian is a great horse that I am sure will make a fantastic kid's or adult amateur's mount. He is very quiet and laid back, but still rather cautious about new things. I love riding him, as he is a quick learner and reminds me a bit of Stretch under saddle. He is a lovely mover and knows walk, trot, halt, and turn. He is also learning how to go on the bit at the walk and trot and his canter is coming along nicely. Kristian left today to head out to the East Coast where he will be training with a young rider schooling under a upper level dressage trainer. I think that will be a great experience for him that he is more than ready for and will hopefully help to promote the breed and influence some sales!

Kristiana:
4y/o Frederiksborg mare
Kristiana is just about the exact opposite of her half-brother! She has a fiery redhead personality and is extremely independent and curious. I think she would flourish in the hands of a professional at the upper levels. She certainly has the potential to go to the top! Due to her "Imma Be Me" personality, Kristiana is difficult to catch which means alot of ground work is in her near future! Under saddle, she is currently working at the walk in the round pen and can halt and turn quite well. Still working on giving to the bit though! She is quickly becoming a favorite of mine! ;)

Pete:
4y/o Thoroughbred gelding
Pete is definately a cutie and would have a nice career in the hunter ring. He has a gorgeous flat-kneed, long strided movement when working free and on the lunge. His trot is so smooth that it is easier to sit than post! He definately needs some miles under saddle to get comfortable enough to relax and allow his movement to shine through. He is working w/t/c and goes over cavalettis. Soon to be evaluated over fences. Hopefully he is just as nice over fences as he is on the flat!

Liselotte:
3y/o Oldenburg mare
Lotte is my favorite of the barn and if I had five grand sitting in the bank, she would be mine in a heartbeat! I am extremely excited to get to start her under saddle this fall. I have done join-up with her in the roundpen and have worked on giving to pressure. Lotte is extremely smart and gorgeous to boot! (Greys are my weakness!) Although she does not seem to be quite the mover that I thought she would be, I am interested to see how she will go over fences. If her jumping form is on par, she definately has a career as a jumper! She accepted a saddle with absolutely no fight and did well with a bridle as well. I was able to lay over her back yesterday and it didnt even phase her. Hopefully I can actually sit on her the first of the week. Fingers crossed!

Paint Design:
2y/o Frederiksborg/QH gelding
Paint is a nice horse but seems to have some trust and respect issues that we are working through slowly but surely. He gets a little more confident every day but it is going to be slow goin' for a while. He is getting lots of roundpen work, saddled every day, and goes on the walker.

Way To Go:
2y/o Appaloosa gelding
I havent came up with a nickname for him yet, but it is definately in the works. Way To Go is just too long to say all the time! I definately have a soft spot for this little guy. He almost died two winters ago because he got extremely ill and emaciated and just flat gave up on life. Now he is back to 100% and is an absolute sweetheart. He has taken to saddle and bridle with no fight and also goes on the walker. I layed over him yesterday as well and he was a little nervous but very cooperative. However, dont let his cute looks and sweet baby antics fool you! He is definately a little spit-fire when he wants to be!

Well, obviously I have my hands full. However, I have certainly found my dream job and I think it is going to get even better once breeding season is in full tilt. I could be content doing this for the rest of my life. What was once a 'pipe dream' is quickly becoming a reality. Life is good.

A Break in the Clouds...

Although my original goals have been temporarily de-railed, a new track has been placed before me. After moving back to school, I visited a farm that I had worked with on previous occasions and things seem to be looking up. I have been given a great opportunity to work with an extremely talented rare breed of horse, the Frederiksborg. As I mentioned, I had worked here before but only as a groom. I now have the chance to work with these great horses on a higher level. My new position includes halter and saddle breaking babies, exercising horses for clients, and putting some additional training on green broke horses. During the breeding season I will have the chance to fully utilize my up-and-coming degree by helping out in the breeding shed with collecting stallions and learning to AI mares. Who knows, some other exciting things may be in the works as well! ;)

So what does this mean for Stretch? Well, the wonder baby will be recieving a much needed and deserved break during which he will be well cared for and will return to work well rested, hopefully in the spring. The idea is that he will be at the top of his game after this and will be ready to show everyone what a talented underdog that he really is! This will also give me the time and opportunity to continue to save money for my much needed big ticket items and will enable me to get the things that I really want.

I know that this experience will be invaluable and I am definately looking forward to beginning this new chapter in my life. There has finally been a break in the clouds and nothing could be better!

Lessons Well Learned...

Saturday was the learning day, put on by Oklahoma Eventers and hosted at Woodlands Equestrian Centre. The high for the day was 34 degrees and the wind was bone chilling, but being the dedicated horsepeople that we are, there was a decent turnout. I had an 8 am dressage lesson on Stretch with Chrissy Pappas. Although she didnt really tell me anything that I didnt already know was a problem, she helped me put it all together so that I could work through the problems which is exactly what I needed! It was a great ride and despite the cold, Stretch and I had both worked up a good sweat. Throughout the day were unmounted sessions pertaining to eventing, and of course lunch was provided. At 3:30 Alex and I went out on cross country for a lesson on O'Malley and Stretch with Meg Ferguson. It was a great school! We did all of the training jumps, and several prelim. Stretch also schooled the water great, which included jumping a bank in and cantering through and off the prelim bank! That was my goal for the day and anything beyond that was a bonus. We had a minor mishap at the steps into the second water, and luckily there was no water at the time! It was a prelim question jumping a series of three banks down into the water. Stretch made it halfway down the first one before changing his mind, sending me flying through his ears to land on the bottom step. After a quick body checklist, I shook it off and remounted. After a bit of an argument and several attempts, we made it down the banks in one piece. We also jumped our first trakehner, brush fence, and ditch and bank. All in all it was a good, worthwhile, and productive day! Those rides certainly give me a new bout of confidence going into the Spring season, which kicks off Feb. 4 with the hunter/jumper schooling show in OKC doing the .95 and 1.0m jumper classes.