In which Dickie jumps

Badass event trainer came out last weds. Usually she rides when I'm at work to maximize Dickie's ride time. We had planned in putting up some poles and maybe setting up a fence. That is a pain to do alone so for the next few weeks we plan to ride together. 

We gave him a good lunge session then she hopped on. He's getting quite fat after his ulcer diet change. He's moving better and there's almost no girthiness. He had gotten really bad at the mounting block and today was the rockstar we all know and love. I started working on mounting block manners from the day he came home. Even when he couldn't stand still in cross ties and needed to eat my clothes he could still stand solid at the block. Yay my horse is almost back!

Ground poles today Rolex tomorrow? Hahahaha

She got on and had an good warm up. He's been pretending like he has to hang out in one if the corners and objected to being told not to but got his work brain on. She took him through the trot poles a few times and he decided he could do it and carry a rider. At the end of three trot poles we set up a teensy fence w a canter pole over. He was game. He whacked his legs on it a few times but there wasn't a hint of hesitation. He said " rider points, I go over."  

Only a few moments like this. 

After he trotted over w few times without really jumping. The she worked on having him canter away. He was pissed and let her know because she made him come down to trot and switch leads if he picked up the wrong one. For all his drama over being told which lead to land on he figured it out quickly. When she took him through the other way he only picked up the wrong lead once the cantered away correctly like a champ and got to be done for the day.

It wasn't a long session and we didn't go above 18" but I was so happy with him. Even when he whacked his feet it was never the scary green almost fall and die tripping. He never refused forward or tried to duck out. Granted he had an eventer who has gone to Rolex on board but I was still pretty proud of him. Best of all a he looked mentally engaged and happy to play even when his baby brain was on overload. 

Lightbulb

Last weekend I visited the Washington horse expo. I had the pleasure of watching my friend on her big adorable OTTB. He's a year older than Dickie and an old soul. I remember seeing her at a show last year when he was just off the track. He was calm, sweat, and down to business. He might be the same color, size, and just a year older but he's miles ahead of Dickie in mental maturity. I'm excited to see what they do this year. 

She rode in an eventing jump clinic demo. He warmed up well on the flat. Calm and obedient. You wouldn't know that he's only been back under saddle again for three weeks after recovering from Australian string halt. Watching him warm up you would think "wow that's a good looking horse" but he wasn't over the top flashy. Then she set the jumps up...... His eyes lit up, his ears pricked, and he was suddenly better than a nice horse. He was a fancy mother that was begging to get to work. He gave a few jumps the hairy eye ball and took a couple odd distances but he was game. 

As I looked at his happy face I wondered if it would be a bad idea to start Dickie over some low stuff. I don't believe in jumping them young, their spines don't finish growing until six and you see a lot of sacroiliac problems in horses pushed young. However, I don't think small stuff will be a problem. He's a big guy so his canter is bigger than low stuff. 

The next time I went out to work him I made things a little more fun. I haven't even set up ground poles in a while so I set up trot poles on the quarter line and a cavaletti at the highest setting on a circle. He ho de dummed along on the lunge like usual then i pointed him over the three trot poles and doofus woke up. His ears perked up and he started using his butt. Next we trotted cavelleti a few times then started cantering over it. He was happy as a clam the whole. He even was more jazzed up at the end than when we started. 

Dickie can be a hard but to crack. He's not the most forward horse but I wouldn't neccesrily call him lazy. He needs to be interested and he needs to feel confident. His TB side wants to keep trying when he's learning something new. This isn't what you want? Ok, what about this? The appy side says "this is boring, here's a donkey kick. Think of something fun then we will talk." 

We are at the stage now where he's confident enough w a rider on his back to argue. He knows enough to think going around in circles is boring but not enough to do much exciting. But he is balanced enough to hop himself over some cross rails and seems to find that interesting. So jump we will do. It isn't going to be me because he deserves to start out with a confident balanced rider. To be continued...........

Pit Crew

It might seem that having a horse in full care means it's no big deal if you can't make it out. Your horse is just fine if your sick, or have to work, or your car breaks down, or whatever kink life throws your way. That isn't the case though if your a responsible horse owner. Having a horse goes far beyond three meals a day and a clean stall. They crave attention and need their person. We've all seen that horse with an absentee owner. He's the one who breaks your heart because he wants a treat too. Or he's chewing the barn down from boredom. She's that horse no one wants to lead in because she's pushy and rude. 

If you can't be out there everyday it doesn't mean you can't own a horse. You just need to be realistic about what you have to offer and plan accordingly.  I have to admit I'm not an owner who can go out everyday. I work 12 hour shifts, have online classes, and try to help out with aging family members. I knew my lifestyle before I bought Dickies so I always make sure my horses get extra care when I can't be there. 

When I decided to apply to nursing school I started looking for a new barn right away. My old barn was fanastic but it was a big boarding stable. Bre gets depressed and is prone to colic without one on one love. She's now in a private home and is part of the family. If I left the state for some reason I would leave her behind. She's that spoiled. On top of that I have a friend leasing her. She's an extra eye to notice cuts, weight changes, lost shoes. I get to be an absentee owner but bre couldn't be happier if she had a 24hr servent. In fact I had her boarded with Dickie when we were rehabbing her pasture and she was incredibly depressed to be away from her family. 

Dickie has been a bit trickier. I need facilities to work him so that means a boarding stable. I've been incredibly lucky that all the stables I've had him at go the extra mile. They've all let me know how's he's doing when I'm on a work stretch and dealt w his baby antics. I've worked hard to make sure he has turnout and a barn owner who truly loves horses. The current barn owner treats every horse like her own.

When I realized that school made it hard to get out as often as usual I found someone to help out. She's currently riding him weekly for half the price most trainers charge. She lives closeby and will drop in at a moments notice if my schedule changes. She's not just a trainer she's a friend who truly cares for Dickie. She also gives me detailed updates that make my day at work. Win win. 

Life gets busy and our horses shouldn't suffer. I wish more people would realize how much attention horses need and plan accordingly. Maybe you can't afford a trainer but there are ways to get your horse the attention they need. I've had wonderful luck with leases just keep in mind that your horse needs to come first. You might really want half of board, vet, farrier but your horse has to come first. The person who can't afford a spendy lease might actually be the best person for your horse.

 Maybe moving to a not so fancy barn that's closer means you can see the horse more. For me it was the opposite. Moving out further means he gets better turnout and more personalized care on the days I'm busy. It's a killer drive but he's worth it. Sometimes you might even have to admit that right now life is so crazy that you need a smaller barn like Bre lives at. It might not be great for you but your horse will be grateful for the love a private home has to offer. Hang in there until you finish grad school or find a new job or get ahead on your debt. 

If you haven't bought a horse yet take some time to think about these things. If you do have a horse it's not too late to come up with a back up plan. Who's going to see your horse if your leg is broken? Are you at the right boarding facility? What's the bus route? Will you partner give you a hand? 

My friend one of Bre's many personal attendants. 

He's always so excited to see me that I feel guilty for leaving. 

"Life's boring without my people"

Tack of The Day (Best website ever)

http://www.tackoftheday.com/

If you haven't discovered Tack of the Day then you need to go there NOW. Or maybe not. Maybe you should just go there NEVER Run while you can. 

I have been following tack of the day for a few years now. My friend turned me on to it back when I needed a Rambo rain sheet for Bre on a mental health worker's budget. I was tired of blowing through rain sheets and seeing rubs in the spring. Ever year or so TOD has Rambo blankets. They are still a little spendy but often 50% off. For example they had the high end optimo 3 in 1 system for less than $200 and it's usually over $400. I got my weatherbeeta that runs over $200 new for $100 bucks. I'm currently hoping that a Rambo wug rain sheet appears. They seems to be focused on medium weight right now. 

They also have smaller items. I picked up a little cotton sheet for shows for $20. Last year I bought my first Kerrits ice fil shirt and fell in love. I was able to buy two shirts for the price of one. 

Most of the deals are amazing. Be sure to check out both the main and bonus item pages. Over the last year they started a Tack of the Day Too page. This page changes often. Sometimes they get closeouts or irregular items. They post something new every weekday by noon eastern. They do sell out so act quick if you know you want something. Sometimes over the weekend they will have big sales of a certain brand. 

I would suggest doing a quick search online of princes elsewhere. Every so often it will be an item you can find on closeout somewhere else. I've never found cheaper bu sometimes the price is close enough that I don't feel the urge to buy RIGHT NOW. 

Throwback Thursday Belle Editiion

Kokoro Reed

1982 Thoroughbred Mare

By Dr Reed's Kin out of Barbielaine

I haven't talked about my Belle horse much here. She was my first horse and one of those special horses that everyone remembers. She came to me when I was at an ultimate low in life. I had been diagnosed with Bipolar disorder and was struggling to get on good medications and back to my life. Belle brought me back from the edge and I don't know if I would be here without here. She was an A circuit hunter who had been donated to the therapy program I started working for. She was too hot for the kids so I ended up as her lucky owner. She taught me how to keep my heels down because she spooked if things got too boring. She taught me how to have soft hands because she would take off if you pulled too much. 

She died of colic when she still had too much life left. I haven't talked about her much because, well  you just had to be there. I still don't know why this hot, impatient, opinionated mare decided to put up with this beginner rider. Whatever her reason I am a better person for it. 

This was six months or so after I started riding. I'm so lucky she taught me how to ride. 

Sicko

I ranted two weeks ago about ignoring a sinus infection only to have it turn into a double ear infection. I took a day off work and after a week of antibiotics my energy was almost back to normal. And my head felt so much better. Sinus infections are insidious. They creep up so slowly you don't realize how shitty you felt until it was over. Then last Thursday night I felt a bit of a scratchy throat and figured it was just from being in my car for three hours in stop and go snowpocalypse traffic. Woke up at 2 on Friday w a high fever and have been battling the flu since then. 

Bre's barn owner has cheered me up sending fun snow pictures. It makes me feel so good to see her happy. Even if I am stuck inside at least she's enjoying life. I feel guilty for how shabby I've let her mane get but overall the old girl looks pretty good. She's kept her weight and is working in her summer coat. She's starting to get a saggy belly but she always keeps muscle like I've had her in work even though these days she only asked to carry a skinny rider for a few minutes maybe weekly. Spoiled she is. 

I'm looking forward to this weekend when I feed at bre's barn. Luckily I have a little slave staying w me who can clean stalls. And the place is set up for easy feeding. It will be nice to give the process mare a kiss on the nose. 

Bre's Story Updated

I started a tab for Bre and Dickie forever and a day ago but didn't write anything. Bre's story is my post for today ;)