Dan Hobyn HT wrap up

Yesterday was the fall HT at Dan Hobyn Stables, a facility just 15 minutes from home so how could I not go?

They've been a fixture in eventing Indiana for decades and usually host two shows a year, one around Memorial day, the other around Labor day.  I like their shows because they are low key and the lower level courses tend to be simple and inviting, an excellent event for horses or riders nervous or new to the sport.

I was on the fence to enter all the way up to the deadline, could I give Stella the ride she needed to make it around?  Would coming just cause issues where I let her stop?

I finally sucked it up and entered, I've had good success her in the past, I know about what the courses will be, put on your big girl pants, etc.

This is a tie to the trailer kind of place and luckily Stella ties well

She did get bored eventually and started making up things to do so I decided to get on her early and hack her around.  I did have quite a bit of horse and we did some unauthorized leaping about but she soon went to work and then all of a sudden I had too much time on my hands!  I need to figure out a better game plan for keeping Stella from getting bored and the proper amount of warm up.

As with the last show I have been getting some really solid work in the warm up, then 50 50 in the dressage ring.  There's a lot to look at here and someone on a pony was riding all the way around the ring (a no no) and when the pony screamed Stella answered.  Darn it.

We still need more work on our connection at the walk, it's coming along at home but the slower speed gives Stella more cause to gawk and it hurt our score.  It was still good enough to put us in Second so I was happy.

I ended up going directly to show jumping from dressage which worked out well.  I just wore my jumping tack in the dressage ring and literally started jumping as soon as I hit the warm up.  I had some issues with some bucking, once when Stella tried to do a lead change, only got half, and got pissed at me because it was somehow my fault.  Then when I got her in the mouth a bit.

Lesson learned, stay out of the way.

Show jumping I kept slow, focused, my speed.   The course was quite twisty and on grass, and Stella's canter isn't quite umm.... something so we did lots of trotting.  We did come to a screeching halt when Stella spied some suspicious looking XC fences and I had to work on getting her attention back and getting her to the fence, which we jumped sideways.  I know she has an issue with STUFF so I'm hoping the more STUFF we see the less it bothers her.

Then on to XC.  The course was "bigger" than I expected and took quite a trek so I was a little nervous.  Ok, a lot nervous.  Ok, like I felt like I was going to vomit.  I had a pep talk with myself and then went for it.

I kept my hands down and I put my leg on in front of each fence, and I remembered most of the time to think about my route and not just celebrate making it over each fence.  It wasn't the smoothest course but we made it around.  I was very generous about slipping my reins, especially over a few of the bigger fences.  I'd much rather lose some control at this point than get her in the face due to my lack of confidence.  I made myself keep riding, even to the fences that I didn't think were going to be a problem because I've been there at letting my guard down and having an easy stop.

In the end I was breathless but jubilant!  We made it around clean and earned ourselves a second place ribbon!  Yeah!!!!!!!

4 X 4

Stella has been going well in her front shoes and has decided to leave them on after the first unfortunate incident.  I do confess to driving out to the barn and checking her shoes in the muddy pasture!

Yesterday was her appointment to have her shoes reset and her hind feet trimmed but we had a sudden change of plans.  I've been to some rocky trails recently at a brisk pace and that combined with a longer trim cycle that normal left her back feet in pretty rough shape.

When I rode her Monday night she felt a little unsure behind and I wouldn't have been surprised if the farrier had found an abscess.

As it turned out he actually did, but in a front foot!  She hadn't been lame at all (although she had been cranky but that's not exactly out of the ordinary for Stella!) so I was very surprised.

He ended up having to put shoes on all around, much to the disappointment of my now empty wallet.  There just wasn't enough hoof to get a good shape that wouldn't lead to more chipping and with a couple shows coming up I didn't want to chance her being off.  He had to get really creative getting the nails in, and you can see just how much foot is missing but she's sound now and the feet will grow out safely.

I will probably end up pulling her hind shoes at the end of October and seeing if she can continue to go just in fronts with a shorter trim cycle and minding our speed on rocky trails.  You can see just how much foot was missing in this picture, and how nice of a farrier I have to get shoes to stay on!

Her front feet look much better and are getting a better shape, the nail job is a little different as she does flare out naturally as she grows and he wants to make sure the shoes stay on.  She got her bell boots back on as soon as this photo was taken!

August horse show a success!

Last weekend we had a combined test/derby and it was a success!

I ended up putting front shoes on Stella and then went trail riding in some mud where she promptly ripped one off.  Shoe replaced, bell boots permanently attached and we were off!

It's been quite the struggle this year getting regular jumping lessons in, even with a trailer, and I feel like I've struggled building and maintaining momentum.  The initial plan was to come out strong and take biweekly lessons but I've had to settle for a couple a month if at that.   Quite the bummer.

I did have an awesome lesson the weekend before the show which left me with loads of confidence about our tiny course including jumping this panel like a couple of pros.  Notice tiny picture of horse in background and watchful (and sick, she never sits down!) trainer in foreground.

I felt like our dressage schooling the night before and morning of was pretty solid.  Stella has been more and more consistently on the bit in our flatwork despite our right lead taking a vacation.  Although it appears on its own when we are jumping, go figure.

What kills us right now are the transitions, keeping Stella engaged on the bit during the downward transitions, keeping her attention on the bit at the walk, and not going above the bit in the upward transition.  Right now we are scoring slightly below people who have less noticeable head changes in the transitions but who are also less consistently on the bit so it's frustrating.  I think once we get those transitions we will consistently be in the top of the pack though.

Jumping felt pretty solid and easy especially considering the size of the fences we jumped the week before.

We ended up our day with a 5th out of 12 which was largely based on our dressage score!!

Now to decide what's next on our agenda with another 3 week unavoidable gap in lessons starting.

I'm considering a local HT which typically has very friendly courses, and contemplating when we will move up.  I'm debating staying at crossrails until after the fall HT at CAF depending on how competent I feel navigating Stella around.

Abscess

Stella turned up lame 24 hours before our jumping lesson last weekend so I was forced to cancel, she got progressively worse and then slightly better right before the farrier showed up so I suspected abscess, and was right.  

The farrier noted it had blown out the heel bulb but opened a small hole in her sole to let it drain down and out completely.  Then he wrapped her as only farriers can and she got stuck in a stall.  I've truthfully been considering having front shoes put on her as this is the second abscess she's had this season and I think it's due to the increased workload and trail riding.  I don't have an issue with boots, but if she's got an abscess I can't ride her at all, thus I think it's time for shoes.  I'm hoping to have him back out in a few days and slap a set on so we can continue on with our progress.

In the meantime, I decided to put a pair of hoofboots on to protect the wrap and turn her out on the grass every day while I cleaned stalls.  Stella had other plans and refused to be caught in a very dramatic fashion.  I noted that she appeared to be quite sound and was comfortable enough in the boots to be a total dumbass.

Yes, that is a perfectly hoof shaped wrap job.  Yes, it was just on her for less than 8 hours.  Yes, I did swear AN AWFUL LOT.

After that I decided that she could darn well stay in her stall until she was good enough to go out in the field.  

Horses.  

Menacing blades of grass

Stella and I went out for another solo ride Saturday after our plans to camp fell through when one person had truck trouble and the other was out of town.  I couldn't find anyone who wanted to go with me close to home so I decided to take Stella out for a longer ride by herself.

Once again we were the only horse at the park, it was very busy Saturday with lots of people at the baseball fields, and a big tent set up at the trailhead for a mountain bike work day with lots and lots of bikers around.

This was the first time in quite awhile that I've ridden Stella up from the trailer, since she was so balky last summer I dealt with it by leading her up to the trailhead and about 50 feet down the trails, then getting on. Today I figured what the heck and to my pleasure she didn't have a problem besides some snorting.

The first trail we hit is along the ridgeline, is very twisty turny, and has a steep drop off.  Nothing to worry about as Stella was great!!

After that we headed to a nice doubletrack trail so we could do some trotting.  First we came across a deer which didn't go as horrible as I thought!  I caught this on my helmet cam for your enjoyment.

A few minutes later we came to screeching halt.  Stella was intently staring at something and would not budge.  I looked and looked as she has gotten pretty good with all the suspicious rocks and logs.  Finally I saw what had my horse shaking in her socks.....

A blade of grass with a fluffy top.

Serious.

Some whacking and clucking and I got her moving again, she wasn't quite as dramatic at the second blade of grass and after that she was good.  I did quite a bit of trotting, tested the brakes a few times, and even trotted right past the short cut she usually has a fit at.

After we came out into the parking area I decided to ride her back up to the trailhead to reinforce the I'm In Charge.  She was reluctant but didn't put up too big of a fight.

Then I rode  her down toward the baseball diamonds but didn't get too close.

Overall I was quite pleased with her, she's so much more confident on the trails than last year and she is getting stuck less and less.

I hope you enjoy the video and let me know how scary that blade of grass was on camera!!!

First 2016 XC school goes great

This weekend was my favorite horse trial at my favorite place, Come Again Farm, and I didn't go.  Not only did I not go, but I didn't even enter.  It was part of a very grown up decision to put my money toward lessons where I could work on our cohesive unit problem under supervision.  I didn't need another show where I struggled to get over tiny fences because my leg wasn't on well enough and Stella decided things were optional.  

We all know what happened at the last horse trial I attended at the same property in October.  It's been in the front of my mind for months.  

So when I showed up for my lesson, already nervous about show jumping, and found out we were going XC schooling I almost packed my ass right up and left.  Instead, I put on a brave face and tacked up my steed.  For some bizarre reason I felt much more comfortable out in the field jumping the (tiny) fences than I thought I'd be.  Perhaps because I'm in general more comfortable in "nature?"  I have had accumulatively fewer bad experiences XC?  Who knows.

As usual my instructor had many more things to say to me than the other students.  I have not figured out if this is because I'm generally more terrible, or if she pushes me harder than others to achieve my goals.  

This lesson was about precision.  Who picks the direction?  Me or Stella?  Who picks the speed of the trot?  If the speed of the trot is a mutual decision, change something anyway to emphasize that I am the boss.  Half halt before the fence to establish control and put the horse on its haunches, even if I am trotting to a 10 inch fence.

  Jump the middle of the fence.  The actual middle.

No, like the middle middle.  

I had a run out at the bank up because I had chosen to jump the shallower edge but wasn't specific enough and Stella thought it was easier to skirt around.  My fault.

I did not have a stop at the jump from the grass into the arena, even though that fence has always terrified me because I think the change of footing should be spooky.  I kept my damn leg on and rode.  

Yeah!!!!

No problems at the water, and I am ever thankful I spent so much time getting Stella over her water issue when I first got her, thanks to a good friend of mine.  

I did have a snit fit on the long trot out to a fence in the back 40.  I think because we went by the exit gate headed back to the barn?  Trainer had me go by this a few times so I could practice what I needed to do in this situation.  Be decisive. Leg on.  Wide hands.  Go forward.

It was a great lesson and I left feeling disappointed that I didn't get to jump anything bigger!  We'll see if I feel the same way when I HAVE to jump something bigger!

Stella roughs it

Last weekend Stella and I went camping, this wasn't our first camping trip but it was our first trip in my new trailer, and my first time setting up my own camp by myself.

I managed to get my trailer backed in reasonably straight, eventually.

I tried out my 10 minute awning design I saw on another trailer online somewhere and was really pleased with the results.  With a silver tarp it didn't look that redneck at all!  I just used step in posts in this picture but raised it up when my boyfriend brought his car loaded with random PVC pipes.  I have a few other changes to make for next time but I was pleased as punch!

Here are my sleeping quarters, I have a foam wood puzzle floor in and one of those As Seen on TV screen doors up to keep bugs out.   I had one of the saddle racks sawed out and my cot fits perfectly in that spot, with my feet under the mangers.  I have still not decided if I should insulate the inside or just paint it up nice and fresh.

My Sterno stove did a great job cooking all my meals for one for the weekend!

Here's my little hand/dish washing station!  

Stella's electric corral went up pretty easy for the first time ever, especially considering I cobbled it together in order to save money.  She respected it, and the fence charger kept it nice and hot just in case

I had a really great view all weekend!

Saturday we did 10 - 12 miles at a pretty good clip.  Stella was a very good horse and enjoyed being in front and had to learn how to enjoy being in the middle and bringing up the rear.  On Sunday my boyfriend brought his GoPro up so I got to try it out on top of my helmet.  It took great video but we went quite a bit slower since he went with us and only did about 4 miles.  The only issue I have with the Gopro is that my computer can't handle the large files due to my older graphics card so I had to borrow a laptop to get this short video.

Hope everyone enjoys it!