Are you feeling neglected?

Its been a busy couple of weeks. Let's go back in time:

A couple of weeks ago was a local show and OOTT was in town as well. Flat lesson Friday, show Saturday, jumping lesson Sunday. Good thing my horse is ridiculously fit.

The show was good. We jumped all the things! I did Pile of Poles and X-Rails at an absolutely glacial trot pace. Sure, I was in theory showing, but I could have given a crap about the judge's assessment. The whole time all I thought about was, "Look up, sit up, look up, sit up." So, when Naners was thinking about not jumping a scary jump with flowers I looked up and kicked on. And, she went over it. We placed decently: 2nd of two in Pile of Poles Hunter, 1st of one in Pile of Poles Eq, 5th of 7 in WTC Hunter Under Saddle, 3rd of five in WTC Eq on the flat, 4th of 5 in Cross Rails Hunter, 1st of four in Cross Rails Eq. As you can probably tell, we did much better in Eq than Hunters, so I guess my Eq isn't as bad as I thought it had become. The cool thing is I won every color ribbon but green. As the Keeper of the Ribbons I have to decide if I want the dark ones or the light ones:

(God I love ordering ribbons. It's one of my favorite perks of my volunteer job. And no one else wants to do it anyway. And since we're almost out of blue ribbons again I get to order more!)

With a looming due date as soon as the show was over I was in essay writing mode. This time I got to talk about some type of equine training device or technique. I went with head restraint devices and techniques. Long story short? It's a short cut, horses find bit pressure aversive, and they don't actually learn from them anyway (there has to be a release of pressure (reward) when the horse is doing it right. Most of them don't allow a release of pressure.) When I was about 48 hours out from due time I was really slogging, but for some reason I turned on itunes and my inappropriate songs playlist. Inappropriate for who you ask? Probably just small children and religious people. They were not in my going to an event playlist for awhile as a tween girl was with us, but now that she's in High School I figure she's hearing worse. Anyway...


Pam's Inappropriate Songs Playlist

The Bad Touch by Bloodhound Gang
I Touch Myself by the Divinyls
The Clap and Inside of You by Infant Sorrow
I Think I Farted by Taryn Southern
Big Bottom by Spinal Tap

If you want to really laugh, go watch the Taryn Southern Video. No, wait, I'll embed it.

I also highly recommend her song Where Is My Goat? as well.

Another fun thing from my paper was discovering that Horse and Rider magazine is full of advice that has nothing to do with equine learning theory. The more I learn about learning theory the more I think every horse person I know should take a class in it. Oh are so many people getting it so wrong. Because seriously, "pull up on your horse's mouth to bring up the shoulders to get him on the bit." So contrary to everything dressage teaches, though I'm also learning dressage doesn't have it quite right either. Equitation Science is pretty cool though. There may very well be a day that cameras will be scoring dressage tests. Imagine it: a camera that will be able to say, "oh hey, that horse is so many degrees behind the vertical, so it should get this score because of that." Anyway, more on Equitation Science at the ISES website

On top of all this, we got a new puppy. When she was surrendered the owners said she was a Golden Retriever/German Shepherd mix. there is no GSD in this dog. However, we think it's very likely she could be a Great Pyrenees/Golden Retriever mix. She's almost 8 months old and was surrendered because she was "chewing on things." An activity that puppies like to do and if you don't give them appropriate chewing articles they'll find things. She's totally getting that toys and chewy bones are for chewing, shoes are not. She's mostly a pretty good girl and has been a nice addition to the family.

 

So that dressage show

I never did tell the tale of the dressage show.

As show secretary I schedule the ride times. This can be exasperating, but generally there will be one thing that will make it all work. This time it was starting the show at 9:30 instead of 9. That put a judge's break during a lunch appropriate time, instead of at 10:30 or 1:00. Since our venue was a further drive for most participants this was welcomed. I didn't have to load in the dark! As it was, Quirky and Naners had the air up their tails and were bucking and running around their corrals. The difficult part of the morning was catching them. Naners ran her hip into her stall door while trying to elude me. Horses.

Loaded up we headed down the driveway, Red chasing the trailer as he does (How dare I take his girlfriend away!) We headed south into the desert to the Taskmaster's, as that's where the show was being held. My tack room was doubling as show office, so I got a choice spot next to the arena.

Quirky and I were the first ride of the day. I would sum up the ride as just fine. Intro B: mostly 6's, two 5's, and two 7's on our center lines and halts. A 7 for Impulsion and a 7 for Geometry and Accuracy. I love that geometry score. Since I started doing dressage I would frequently get "accurate test" as a comment. I didn't realize until recently how good a comment that is. 59.325% We could have done better, but that's fine.

Then I tacked up Naners. We were the last rides before the judge's break and the switch to the standard arena. BN A was a mixture of 5's, 6's and 7's, the 7's on our canters (she does have a fabulous canter) and our final center line and halt. Also a 7 on gaits, which doesn't surprise me. Mare has nice gaits.

BNB was mostly the same, though with a quite notable 8 on our trot half circle right from B to X. 40 on BN A, 39 on BN B. I was quite happy with the mare.

Quirky was very unhappy that she had left him. He was carrying on at the trailer most of the time we were gone. I could see how his mom says he's "suicidal" when tied to a trailer. He did a lot of little rears. He wasn't quite suicidal though.

The two of them stood eating their hay at the trailer the rest of the day. I could tell near the end Quirky really wanted the day to be over. I don't blame him. When the last tests were added and trailers were pulling out I loaded the show office back into the tack room and then loaded Little Mini Man. The top of his butt was shorter than my dividers. I prayed he'd stay in his spot in the front of the slant and wouldn't infringe on Quirky's space in the next spot.

Everyone loaded we set off for home. First time I've had three beasties in my trailer. I kept a good part of my awareness on what was going on in back, but there was no evidence of unhappiness and everyone was good when we unloaded.

I really love my local shows. As I stood there I realized I've become friends with everyone who competed, so it really was like a show full of friends. Spending a day with horses and friends is always a good time.

Naner's first jumping show

On Sunday morning, while the sky was still dark, I loaded my horse in my very own trailer. Good thing it has lights inside, or I don't think I would have ever gotten her on. We crept down the gravel roads, on the lookout for deer, and got to town before the sun came over the mountain to blind us. The Albertson's parking lot was nice and empty at 7 am and I took up about 15 spaces when I parked.

With a Venti Salted Carmel Mocha Frappuccino in the cup holder and a 20 pound bag of ice in the truck bed, we went the rest of the distance to the barn the show was at. No problem parking, since I was the first one there. Banana was quietly eating on the trailer so I left her in there while I got the show office set up. People checked in and after about two hours I tied her to the trailer with her hay net and she continued to be a good girl.

My other mount showed up, Quirky the Connemara. We're still applying small amounts of pressure to him and he's getting better. After his freak out in the warmup at Watermelon I decided it might be good to go in a flat class with people I know can steer, so at the last minute we did a Hunter Under Saddle class. He was pretty fabulous. Quick, but listened. We placed 4th out of 10 or something like that. Then we did Pile Of Poles, to take out the possibility of him bucking. He decided then he was tired and I had to constantly keep my leg on him so he wouldn't walk. As a result, he had a lovely, constant speed to his trot and we placed 2nd out of 4.

Naners was a good girl. She stood around patiently as we waited our turn. Our cross-rail round was decent, considering we hadn't actually ever jumped a whole course before. We placed 4th out of 5. Our 2' round she whacked a rail and it flew about 6 feet, but we placed 3rd out of 4. I was very happy with her, though oh do we have a lot to work on, but it's just that she needs miles.

Afterwards back to the trailer she went, where she stood quietly napping for the rest of the day and I was stuck back in the office. When we got home she got to go out with Red (who is back) and his buddy Pinto and she couldn't be happier.

Show #4 In 5 Weeks

The last show out of my four was last weekend. A local dressage show that I wasn't necessarily planning on showing at, but it was pretty clear at Watermelon that Quirky the Connemara needs to get out more. Somehow, in between secretary duties, I rode him Intro B and we also did Dressage Seat Equitation so the other person in it could beat someone. I knew she'd beat us as I had no intention of cantering, but thought a little pressure, but not too much, would be good for the pony.

I refused to get into a show coat. I told people that morning they were lucky I was wearing clothes at all. I haven't been that tired in a long, long time. I don't know how those Hunter/Jumper types show weekend after weekend.

Our test was fair: 60%. I think she could have safely given us a lower score and I wouldn't have complained. It was much more appropriately judged than the same test was at Watermelon where we got some ridiculously bad score. But, the judge there definitely had a thing for warmbloods looking like they were in a frame, even false ones. This judge definitely judged on what the horses at that level should be looking like.

In Dressage Seat Eq I was told I "have a lovely hunter seat, but need to lengthen my leg so I can use my aids better." Well yes, I would love to ride with a longer leg. But, there's something about dressage saddles my hip does not care for, we're talking hurts so bad you can't sleep pain. So I've been avoiding dressage saddles while I get things sorted out.

We've also sorted out that Quirky does has an offness to his gait, that I've been feeling for weeks but we couldn't pinpoint. If you look at the top picture his hind hits earlier than the fore in the trot. His mom is going to have him looked at now that we've figured out there truly is something amiss.

In Intro B we weren't against anyone, so a blue for the pony. I spent part of the afternoon scribing for the first time and got to scribe for some Western Dressage. It was nice to learn about it from the judge, who is wholeheartedly embracing it. Maybe Banana and I will add it to our "to-do" list.

Banana's First Horse Show

Somehow, in the insanity that has been the last couple of weeks I forgot to recap Banana's first horse show. It was the same show that I got up close and personal with the dirt, but that was a bit later in the day.

Due to having been scared of her just the day before, I decided not to push it and did Walk-Trot flat and Pile Of Poles. She was mostly good. A bit fussy, but not too bad. We even actually cantered part of the Jumper course (yes, Pile Of Poles Jumper. Don't judge us.)

We didn't actually compete against anyone, so four blues. Go us :D

One of my finest moments as an equestrian

The other weekend during the H/J show at the Taskmasters I decided to take Sir Thomas out over X-Rails for shits and giggles.

He's an awesome little jumper and we went over a lot of jumps.

I was starting to get a bit tired, but there was another jump in the line and I thought, just one more...

When I landed I swear the footing reached up and grabbed my foot, as the next thing I knew I was staring at the dirt.

Sir Thomas was concerned.

I survived with bruised knees and a scrape on my elbow.

And so goes the tale of falling while jumping a mini.

Revealing my secret freestyle

Bean and I had an excellent time at a local dressage schooling show on Saturday.

First we did Intro B:

We got 8's on four movements: both halts, our first turn, and the freewalk. Our collective marks were all 7's, except Impulsion where we got a 6. Best comment: "Elegant pair and well ridden test." 68.75%. We'll be the Year End Award winners for Intro Level.


Then I got to unveil the Secret Project I've been working on: our Dressage Queen/Dancing Queen Freestyle. Alas, I'm not posting the video because I don't want ABBA's lawyers coming after me.

It was so much freaking fun. I didn't adhere to any one level's movements so I made my own score sheet and called it "Fun Level." We got a 57%, but whatevers. We did pull it together in 6 rides. My personal favorite part was going into a canter from the first halt. The judge left us an amusing comment, "Lovely try at fun and freedom. Keep playing and dreaming girl!"

Dressage Show! Lots of Pictures

It has been almost ten years since I showed anyone other than Penny. I was supposed to show her yesterday at the local dressage show, but she's been off on her right hind since that day she set back. She's coming home Weds and the vet will be looking at her friday.

I was already planning on showing Meatball Intro B, so that didn't change. The Taskmaster was going to show Bean First Level, so I switched my entry on Penny to Bean. I've really only ridden her a couple of times, but while she's not an easy ride it's not because she misbehaves. she just only does what you tell her to do.

Meatball spent the night at the venue, a local boarding stable. He hasn't been off the taskmaster's property in a couple of years, so we tried to make it the least bit stressful on him we could by getting him comfy there. He was a nut while I lunged him that morning, so much so he was starting to scare me. When the Taskmaster got there I told her and she reminded me he's a nut until you get on him, then he settles. She warmed him up for me and sure enough, he settled.

Our ride... OMG, it felt awesome. I have harmony with that horse I don't have with anyone else, even Pony Toes. I knew we were trotting too slow, but I didn't care. It's the first dressage test I haven't done on fast forward (that's how Penny does them.) I was enjoying the slow balance on him. Of course, our score was low (55%) because we were not at all forward, but I could care less. It felt perfect. I came out of the ring almost crying because it was just so nice. I needed that ride desperately, to remind me that all dressage is not Penny throwing her head up, bucking when I ask for a canter, etc.

Most of the local ladies have only seen me on my pony and had no idea I could ride that nicely. Hearing their praises was awesome. The Taskmaster was very proud of us. That's her in the sparkly helmet. That's my doing. As I've told many people: I should not be left loose with glue and anything sparkly.

Meatball hugs you back if you hug him, as he's demonstrating in that last pic.

My ride on Bean didn't feel as nice as my ride on Meatball, but we got a far superior score: 72.5% on Intro B. I've only gotten a higher score once: Intro A on Penny at our first show 73.3%. I think that judge was being nice to us, though it was before our old trainer screwed her up. Bean and I got mostly 8s, including one for Rider's position, which I'm thrilled about, though I did get a comment about my overly rigid arms (big surprise there :D )  And yes, I changed my shirt. I had the dirty boob look going on and with a photographer there I decided that just wouldn't do.

It was an excellent show and I'm so glad I have horses to ride that make it a joy to ride dressage instead of an exercise in terror and embarrassment. I placed first on Bean and second on Meatball and there was another rider who got third. The Taskmaster is tickled pink by the fact that the 21 year old who is not really a dressage horse kicked the butt of the horse that came out of his mom built to do dressage.