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

Not ready yet

I love Pony Toes dearly, but she's clearly going downhill mentally. I wish I had just put her down with Condor. Actually, I don't. I wish my pony was healthy and had a long life ahead of her, but she doesn't. The reason I didn't is because I can't leave Banana alone, she will lose it and I couldn't think of a fast replacement. I totally forgot I could borrow Sonny. I think it was selective memory as no matter how degenerative she is I still won't be ready to say goodbye.

So now I probably get to pay for a second hole in the near future. She's barely touchable these days and oh so incredibly fat because I can't get her muzzle on, or if I get it on I can't get it off. Right now I really need to send Banana out for more training, which will leave Penny alone. She's been just fine alone in the past, but with her current mental frame I don't think she will be. I had the chiropractor out last week (she hasn't seen her in a good 9 months) and she feels that Penny isn't happy and is a completely different pony than she used to be and not in a good way. I completely agree with that.

I am a firm believer that it's better to let them go sooner as opposed to later. The longer I drag it out the more opportunity there is for her to get worse. I suspect there will be a time when I won't be able to touch her at all and the vet will have to shoot tranquilizer at her with a blow gun (okay, that's not what she does, as I asked her) so we can get the deed done. But I can't help wanting to delay what is going to be very painful for me as long as I can. But, it's going to be equally painful whenever I do it, and generally I find the aftermath easier than the anticipating.

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.

I will never get tired of my view

My very first event with a Letter ending

The plan had been to take Banana to Watermelon. But, with her trailering issue it seemed less than wise. They weren't going to give me a refund so I scrambled to find a mount. I found one, though he was green, known for being evil and hadn't been ridden in six months. But, we were just doing the 20" division. And, even if I brought him and scratched before we went into the dressage arena I was fine with that. He needs mileage anyway.

Introducing Quirky the Connemara

Our first ride was two weeks beforehand. He's not really evil, but is extremely sensitive and does not deal well with pressure. So, I added pressure really subtly and felt well about things 4 rides in. Then I got sick and we went to Watermelon with only those four rides.

He was absolutely super on the ground. I couldn't have been more happy with him. He gave me a lovely dressage test that should have gotten a better score than it did.

We went into stadium warmup and he was fine until other people started coming in. We popped over an xrail and he bucked on landing.  Next time he bucked three times and was getting very unhappy. I took him out of the arena so we could take the pressure off. When we went back in we walked over the xrail and then trotted it without incident. All of a sudden it was time for our round. We started to leave the ring and at the gate he completely lost it. Spinning, bucking and thinking about running back to the barn. When he stopped I got off and said, "I'm not riding this pony." I did end up getting back on him, going into the show arena and walking over an xrail, which he was back to his quiet self for.

We have several theories about his change in behavior and will work on those in the future. When everything was over for the day we turned him out in a spare arena, figuring he needed to roll, run and buck. He didn't do any of those things. He just stood next to me, his nose on my elbow. When I walked, he walked. When I trotted he trotted, when I stopped he stopped. We did serpentines and circles all over the place. He really likes me.

I'm going to keep riding him on a regular basis. His mom is one of my partners-in-crime so having an excuse to go ride with her isn't exactly painful :D

RIP Condi

1984-2013 Photo from five days ago

A little over a week ago Condi started going downhill. His neck was so stiff he couldn't get his nose down to graze. He was better with bute, but that's not a long term solution, and better didn't mean he was cured. The vet was here on Tuesday to draw a coggins on Banana and he looked half dead. I decided then to put him down next week (as I was going away this weekend and didn't want to mess with the herd,) but as the day progressed he just got worse and worse. I put him down two days later (this morning,) which is the soonest a backhoe could get here.  He spent his last time with lots of bute so he could eat and be happy. The old man even set back and broke a lead rope this morning.

It's always hard to put down a horse, but this was really a very easy decision. It was time. Not being able to graze is no way to live. I shed tears and he's buried next to my beloved Fudge. The Taskmaster is devastated of course, she's known him for 27 years. But, he couldn't have had a more pleasant last year of his life. He had unlimited grass and a pony to boss around.

Enjoy those pastures in heaven sweet old man.

Banana in the pasture

I wanted to write a long thoughtful post about this, but I just don't have the time. Long story short... I seem to not be scared of Banana anymore. Could it return? Absolutely. But right now, after a good ride on her on Saturday and a fabulous ride at the show yesterday (four blues that we didn't need to beat anyone to get) I'm feeling perfectly fine on her. And, with help of friends with a stock trailer, she's now home at my place. She's less than thrilled with spending most of her time in the corral as I get her acclimated to the grass, but otherwise she's good. And I'm good. So life is good.

Bay Faces

Banana and Meatball