So December Started with a BANG... Just moved to a great new barn (Thalia Farm) and have lots of great things to look forward to- namely lots of fun riding things to do in the winter and spring. Nova and I had been taking it easy since the Rivendale show in October and his Chiro appointments to straighten his back out.
Meanwhile, I'd been helping Robyn and Becca get the Barn ready for move in day. Barn work is one of those types of jobs that is immediately gratifying. Even though it's hard and your arms feel like T-Rex arms the next day, you still feel really good about what you did.
So just when I set my sights on getting us both back into shape, enter the ugly, evil, horrible Bronchitis. When I get Bronchitis, I REALLY get Bronchitis. It makes me so sick and I cough so hard I end up puking and it's just all around unpleasant. I also miss work. And most importantly the barn.
When I have Bronchitis, I literally can't stand being at the barn b/c of the dust. So it's been about 2.5 weeks since I've felt like myself but I'm finally feeling better. I rode this weekend and it was glorious. Even just to get on and walk around made me feel like this:
The next day, I got to canter around the perimeter trail with my dog and I felt like this (imagine a dog in the picture below obediently following the horse):
After quite possibly the best two days of my life, the holidays hit. Now as much as I love my family-at this point I was having some major riding withdrawals. Like full on shakes and cold sweats withdrawals.
And today it rained. A lot.
I guess there's always tomorrow to chase the next horsey high. Until then, there's always YouTube & Chronicle of the Horse...
Well a lot has happened since the last post in the life and times of me and Super Nova.
1. We won our division at Rivendale. I actually wasn't too happy with our performance to be honest. I'm not upset about it at all- just know we could have done better. We had a wrong lead in dressage and a rail down in stadium. We still won, but I just didn't feel like we earned it properly. Nova was a star though and was SUPER chill all day like a show veteran. It definitely makes showing more fun when your horse is really laid back about it.
2. We had the vet out to check his hocks. I am happy to report, that wasn't the problem! Dr. Whaley, supervet extraordinaire recommended we try out some chiropractic to straighten Noviepants back out.
3. Chiro came today so we'll see how it worked out! Had a lot of adjustments in his back and neck. He should be feeling like a new man.
4. I am super excited to announce that I am moving Nova to a new barn Dec. 1. We are moving to Thalia Farm which is 2.1 miles from my house. I am so excited to be a part of this great team of people. Becca and Robyn are both so great and I already feel like a part of the group. The farm is in the process of getting upgraded and I've been helping some which is fun! I'm mostly excited because now I have no excuse not to ride more. The barn I'm at currently is pretty far and sometimes I have used that as an excuse not to ride.
So that's it for now! I'll be sure to take some pics of Nova's new digs soon.
After the incredible high of winning our division at Chestnut Creek, I should have probably seen the signs that life was about to throw me several more curve balls. But of course, preparing and worrying about the uncomfortable times in life would pretty much ruin the awesome times. So, I think I prefer to ride out bliss as long as possible and still be surprised when the inevitable happens.
In addition to work and family crises abounds, as a matter of course, change also has arisen on the equine front just as the leaves begin their changing and the northern hemisphere begins it's own metamorphosis.
To do the title of this blog justice, last week, I had started introducing simple changes of lead in the canter. I'm desperately trying to show Nova that he can be bilateral when it comes to my leg aids and he can know and understand the difference between "canter" and "canter left" or "canter right". So, we were back to where we were with canter discombobulation and I was starting to think that this left lead hang up was more than a training issue. He is now almost flat refusing to canter on his left lead. He feels generally unstable on his right hind. And while you can't really see a lameness there, it's definitely noticeable when riding.
Which brings me to my next change: arthritic changes. This is nothing new to us. We injected hocks for the first time over a year ago and were able to extend the life of the injections through IM injections. As I started putting two and two together on this cantering issue, we started having cross canter as a new gait. And, my saddle was tipping right with every stride. Yep, it's time to have his hocks injected.
The thing about hocks is that you only get so many injections before they just stop working. So, of course it's not something you want to do repeatedly. Not to mention it's rather invasive. But the upside is that it makes my boy feel better and allows us to ride another day. When the time comes that he can't be comfortable doing this level of activity, we'll find a new job for him.
And of course, there's change at the barn. While I am 100% certain that the changes are positive for the business and the people there, change comes with inevitable challenges.
But, the outlook is good and I'm excited about new horizons. Because if we never had any changes, man this life would be boring. Nobody lives a straight line. So I guess I'm changing rein across the diagonal. Heading in a new direction, through a simple change of lead.
Our show season begins in Fall because we (the pony and I) can't be bothered to sweat and stress in the middle of the Southern Summer. Every time I think about entering that inevitable mid-July show, I remember sipping Sprite under a tree at TTC because I got so over heated that I went into the port-a-potty and promptly got motion sickness (from being still? Only me...) and had to scratch my entry so that I wouldn't puke on my horse.
So, we strategically entered the first show of our season at a LOVELY farm in Salisbury called Chestnut Creek Stables. It was the perfect way to kick off the season with a beautiful day, not too hot, lovely people and pristine grounds. I also can't help but mention that they had a basket of carrots waiting for us at registration and two full water troughs for the ponies which I found to be equally as hospitable as the warm cookies the DoubleTree provides you upon check in.
So to get the full effect of the preparation that went into this, I need to tell you about the ever evasive, coy, hot & cold relationship I have with my left lead canter.
Notice, he can get it just fine on his own, even with his eyes closed:
I love my left lead canter. It does not love me. For over a month, Nova and I have toiled and tribulated over this left lead. Here is what would happen:
a) working trot, sitting trot, half halt to balance AND.... Cross Canter
b) working trot, sitting trot, half halt to balance, stronger supportive outside aids AND.... Right lead Canter
c) Everything in B followed by the pony attempting very bad tempi changes to try to correct (my) the error
d) working trot, slight haunches in, half halt to balance AND....left lead canter for 1 stride and break to trot
e) lather, rinse, repeat.
I would shake my head and say "WHY CANTER GODS DO YOU EVADE ME!?!"
Nova said "My legs just don't go that way when you are sitting on me!"
My friends said, "I'm sure you'll get it...one day!"
My trainer said, "You need to just teach him to load the right hind prior to the canter depart so that he can carry it through."
My brain said, "I can just trot that circle in the dressage test."
So back at the horse show I decided I would just warm up the left lead canter and not even give him any ideas about the right lead until we were in the ring. We performed every version of non-left lead cantering in the warm up possible and I was like oh well, here we go.
First, the horse trotted down center line like he was at the Olympics. He was soft for the most part throughout the test. Then we pass A, I ride a half halt, tilt his nose to the left and BOOM. We have lift off! I was so happy we got the left lead I almost cried and forgot to ride the rest of the test. However, I avoided major pilot malfunction to complete quite possibly the best test I've ever had on any horse ever. Nova is a super pony who knows when to pull through for me!
Then we had stadium. Only the second show jumping more than cross rails and Nova acts like an old pro. He flew over every jump with the exception of one slight rub because I slowed him down too much. We left all the rails in the cups and ended on our dressage score of 30% and First Place.
I couldn't be more proud of us. To think this is the same pony that was barely broke when I plucked him out of a muddy field... the same one that I needed my husband to walk beside me for our first walk outside the arena. The same pony that thought trot should be faster than gallop. Even though it was just Maiden, it feels like a huge accomplishment. I'm starting to think that we might have Beginner Novice in reach (eventually). If we make it... I think I'll have to change the name of this blog.
The other day while on a hack with my friend, Cindy, I blew my nose on a Maple leaf because I just had one of those feelings up my nose that I just knew was going to ruin my (life) ride if I didn't get it out.
Now, because I am a socialized human and hang out with those that are (gasp!) non-horse people, I realize that blowing your nose on a Maple leaf just. is. not. done.
However, this got us thinking. We horse people are clearly cut from a... ahem... different cloth. So what things do you do that prove, without an inch of doubt, that you are a horse girl? Below are 10 of my personal favorites:
Blows nose on Maple leaf because she can't be bothered to dismount from her horse to go to the restroom because it would interrupt her ride.
Husband refers to horse as "the love of her life."
Wishes breeches, half chaps and a "Hairy Trotter" T-shirt was acceptable corporate work attire.
Shares any of her food with her horse. Extremely anti-sharing food with people.
Hay may as well be a hair product.
F-250 Diesel 4x4 is her dream car.
Broke ankle, called the vet.
Gave horse her Birthday cupcakes
Monthly horse payment is equal to or greater than the payment for a 3 series BMW.
Spends more time shopping for blankets for her horse than clothes for herself.
The blog hasn't gotten much action over the last few months and that is mainly because the pony hasn't gotten much action either so we haven't had too terribly much to talk about. It's been so incredibly hot that we've been doing mostly hacking in the woods, pony spa days, more hacking and did I mention hacking?
So, rewind to June when it was still reasonably cool and one of my favorite horse people Cindy and I decided we would crash the party at a jumper show to practice our stadium rounds. I was nervous. Nova and I had been doing almost 100% cross rails at shows and I thought he might balk at the larger fences away from home. Especially if I was frozen with fear and completely unworthy as his pilot.
My loving awesome husband basically had to put me in the car along with all my gear and get me to the barn since I was having an anxiety attack, complete with total meltdown halfway to the barn. (He's so understanding). After that I was feeling more up to the task at hand.
Upon arrival at Barn HQ, Cindy wasn't completely feeling it either but we decided to head to the show anyway and if we decided not to do it when we got there, no harm, no foul.
But, when we pulled in we were both feeling much better, and I had resigned myself to the fact that I was going to at least try and see what we had. Then at least we would know what to work on.
That dang pony packed my rear end all over that course with clear rounds every time! What a little star!
Now we have that under our belt and I feel confident and ready to move up to Maiden level (2' - 2'3" jumps and...ahem... cantering in dressage test!). Now to find my big girl panties so I don't wuss out :\
JUST KIDDING. No wusses here...
Cindy and Charlie were also awesome and Charlie remembered his former eventing days and went right to work, even making an incredibly tight turn at canter to cut some time off the course. I was impressed, but not surprised since Charlie is always great as long as he doesn't have a Secretariat flashback.
Now, the dog days are over, and we are all getting back to work readying ourselves for the Fall 2012 Show Season coming to a farm near you this September...
Have you ever tried to hop on one foot, rub your head AND your belly all at the same time? And stay upright? If so, you know what it's like to ride a balanced canter on a green (at the canter) horse. Or, if you were unsuccessful at doing all those things at once, then you know what it's like to not be able to ride a balanced canter on any horse.
Tonight, Nova the Battle Ax and I achieved the impossible. Bent the rules of time and space. Literally turned Physics on it's side and made Newton's apple float back up into the tree! We cantered, upright, slowly and balanced.
What!?
About a year ago, our canter looked kind of like this:
If you think that looks terrifying, it was. And so I had partially resigned myself to the fact that we would be trotting and stuck at Intro for the rest of our lives. Time passed and I looked on longingly as my friend's horses floated about the ring like large furry ballerinas. Nova and I instead trotted to all my destinations.
Enter Dom Schramm:
The horse trainer equivalent to Cesar Milan. I start taking clinics with the man and my world is changed. I think, my gosh, with this Australian's help I may actually be able to canter this horse. Literally the best trainer I have ever had. I now consider him "my" trainer. I will save further gushing for a Schramm Equestrian dedicated post, but for now I will tell you what I did to achieve the miracle canter.
First, with Dom's help, I discovered my outside rein. It's really always been there, kind of like Jiminy Cricket, but I never really listened to it or acknowledged it's existence. The outside rein is key, it's the brakes! Who knew!?
Then, with Dom's help, I discovered my butt. That sounds really bad, but it's true. The way I place my butt in the saddle is very important. No wonder I was offending Nova when I was just plopping down in the saddle with no real plan. He was probably thinking "Gah! What is that lady doing with her butt!?" So now, I place my patoot with purpose.
Then with Dom's help, I rekindled my relationship with my inside leg. We broke up for a while, but now we are back together and loving every minute of it. (I really just wasn't fulfilling my inside leg's needs, which is poison to any relationship).
So I had been combining those things and the canter was getting better and better albeit still a bit of a hand gallop. But for the last two weeks, I've been riding with my new secret weapon. And that is-MY INSIDE SHOULDER! I just point it up to the sky. This in turn, puts more weight in my outside seat bone and sets the leaning tower of pony upright. Which makes him balanced and able to SLOW. DOWN.
So there are a few morals to the story. First, finding the right kind of help is priceless (awww, thanks Dom!!!). Second, working on the building blocks of the bigger issue makes everything fall in place eventually. And third, never give up!
Nova is not my first horse. He is actually my 9th horse. And so by the time I was looking for Nova, I knew a few things about what I wanted in a horse.
1. He needs to be low to the ground so that in the event of an emergency dismount, I am not too far up.
courtesy worldnomads.com
2. He mustn't be wild or I would be disowned by husband.
courtesy zazzle.com
3. He must be sound and sturdy.
courtesy barnmanagerblog.blogspot.com
4. He must have a good sense of humor.
courtesy images.mitrasites.com
So I did pretty good on 1, 3 and 4 when I found the semi feral 8 year old Haflinger in a field at the breeder's and immediately knew he was THE ONE.
Under the initially yak-like appearance, all I could see was my dream pony. Husband sees hairy feral donkey. First words out of husband's mouth: "Can you take him back?!?"
courtesy cargocultcraft.com
Convinced husband that we could not return him. Also promised profusely that I would not die and that he would be a really good horse. Eventually.
Here's what we started with:
Here's 4 years later:
And... I'm still alive and still married. I guess sometimes things just work out. :)
Most people that meet me find out within the first 5 seconds that I'm an avid horse-rider, equestrian, fur surfer. What isn't readily apparent is what TYPE of riding it is that I do. Nope, I don't race my horse. Eh, not so much into the rodeo. What I do is pretend to Event. Yep that's right, I'm calling it like it is. Pretend. For the moment. Even though I will still shout "3 days, 3 ways baby!" obnoxiously. And I have cross country colors. And I am crazy enough to hurtle myself at obstacles that do not move or come down if we/I hit them.
Eventing is described as an equestrian sport in which competitors must take part in several contests, usually dressage, cross country jumping and stadium jumping.
~From Wikipedia
Okay technically we do that:
And for the last year or so, we have done just that at the most beginning level they even sometimes call it amoeba, tadpole, green as grass, we have just begun, etc. The "jumps" at this level are low enough for a Chihuahua to walk over.
courtesy cutcaster.com
However, we are getting ready to make our shining debut at Maiden this summer and I'm super excited because the jumps get just a bit bigger (enough to where all four of Pony's feet must leave the ground). And with each cross country schooling and each bank, ditch, or water we stomp through, I'm thinking we get closer to real Eventing vs. just pretend Eventing. Now don't get me wrong. Our goals do not include Rolex Kentucky (well, aside from spectating in 2013). However, we do aspire to Pre-Novice. One day. Maybe.
And now, I suppose it would be a good time to introduce you to the trustiest of trusty steeds, Nova (also known as The Golden Snitch). Nova is a 13 year old Haflinger Gelding who got a higher score on the SAT than I did. He enjoys food of any kind, particularly Icee Pops. He also enjoys trail riding, flirting with mares, and contemplating the purpose of winter clothes for humans.
I will tell you Nova's story in upcoming posts, but suffice it to say that this is the horse of a lifetime. I intend for this blog to chronicle our misadventures in Pretend Eventing and all the other fun stuff we do.
And for now, I will close this post with a note about my dear husband, who fully supports this equine addiction, without whom this blog and its contents would not be possible.
