1st Paper Chase

We took Cody & Legacy to a paper chase today in Unionville. It was soooo much fun!! It did rain a little, but it was actually pretty nice weather. Legacy took the lead and it was a good test to see how he was feeling...there was absolutely no hesitation or pinning of his ears when we were galloping, so that was really positive. He was kind of backed off into the jumps, but they were all tiny so I could push him over them without a problem. He did everything I asked of him though. Cody was good too and Seth is still working on finding his balance over the jumps....he's been using the yoke to balance instead of using Cody's mouth. He's also been working on letting go of Cody a few strides out to try and get him to take a bigger stride...Cody jumps so much better when he does that so it was good for them too. It was also a great conditioning workout for them both...lots of fairly steep hills for trotting....they will both get the day off tomorrow :). And for the first time all 3 horses were sound today. Hobbs' cut looks a lot better and he's sound so he got a good dressage workout today too. Hopefully Beaventing is on the right track...

Nothing is easy...

Well last night was supposed to be the first real lesson on Hobbs with Danny. So I get on him and he's three legged lame from where Legacy or Cody kicked him 10 days ago. He got kicked right at the same time as the abscess, but it wasn't deep and he was never lame, but he must've picked up an infection. It was swollen, hot and a little pussy. So he went on antibiotics and bute and this morning things seem to be on the right track. I'm still a little nervous of course because of the leasing situation and then Danny was telling us to get an X-ray to make sure....but we are going to wait considering I XC schooled on it and he was fine. Of course this all happened on the day I tried to figure out my show schedule, so of course I'm thinking it's fate that I shouldn't be trying to show this fall....ugh....it's never easy. Just as I think things are on the right track something happens. I'm just ready for a break....instead I keep having breakdowns!!

Anyway, last night I hopped on Legacy instead and Danny taught me a neat trick I think for any horse, but especially for Legacy. He always gets a little hot when we have horsey visitors and he gets VERY distracted. So Danny taught me how to control his shoulders with my reins. I was essentially neck reining his shoulders in and out on a circle while keeping the same bend. Legacy tends to bulge his right shoulder while going to the left, so this was really helping me to keep him on the track I wanted to go. It also helped to make him light in the bridle, which has been our focus forever. Danny also gave me an insight on how to work on lead changes...I need to get him to do the hind end first. The small amount of work I've done with Legacy on changes has resulted in only his front end changing. So Danny told me if I'm on a circle to the right and I have a right bend I just need to bring my right leg back and get his hind end to move out of the circle, while maintaining the bend, until he changes his hind. So that's what we are going to start working on as well as the neck reining of the shoulders. A few nice exercises to work on with both of the boys this fall. I am planning on entering Radnor on October 9 with Hobbs, so hopefully the infection clears up and he'll be good to go...fingers crossed.

Fresh Start

Seth and I took Cody and Hobbs XC schooling yesterday at Fairhill. It was Beaventing's first outing since July. Cody did awesome and provided some entertainment for the group...at every down bank he essentially sat down and slid down the bank...he was so scared to jump off, but Seth got him through everything...even the Training house and downbank into the water!! Seth just needs to work on being more balanced after the jumps...Danny had him holding onto the breastplate so he would use that to balance instead of Cody's mouth. When Seth lands hard and yanks on Cody's mouth he hops and bucks and has a little temper tantrum...so that's Seth's homework from the school.

Hobbs was a bit nervous at the start....as was I. He definitely did not want to stand still and was really not wanting to get soft in my hand on the walk out. I didn't pick too much of a fight about it for the day. I already know I need to get him to have a better "give" response based on everything we learned from Dave Webber. I quickly found out that Hobbs is extremely honest and very adjustable. I'm not used to being able to ride forward, so it was a different ride for me. I think for once I could be in control instead of fighting for control. I just need to make a decision on how to ride each fence and then stick with that decision...I can't change my mind at the last minute if I don't like my spot. If I want a collected showjump canter then I need to stick with that, or else I need to lengthen the stride and ride a fly fence. I just have to commit sooner. He seemed to enjoy himself, but definitely needs some confidence. He took the downbank into the water a few times, but lept into it. So we slowed it down and just tried to get him to jiggy jog and he put on the brakes...he definitely was doing it out of honesty not courage, so we will need to work on that. Besides that he was great...I just need to get more comfortable and confident riding him. Hopefully we can get to a few Trainings this fall and work hard over the winter and come out strong next year.

It was tough coming home to Legacy. I felt really bad about it and didn't expect to feel that way. I just felt like I was betraying him. I'm still having trouble committing to riding Hobbs like I was committed to Legacy. Legacy has been going so much better lately and I still think he can be great. I took him for a gallop on Saturday and he definitely wanted to run...I didn't feel any of the hesitation that was there last month. Seth and I are going to try and take Legacy and Cody to a paper chase this weekend and see how that goes before I decide what to do with Legacy this fall.

Beaventing Family Update

Well a lot has happened since my last post...all good stuff considering the year we've had. I think it may be safe to say Beaventing is on it's way back...but don't call it comeback yet ;). First, Legacy has been on the Gastrogard for a month now and he is a totally different horse. I'm now wondering how long he's been dealing with pain in his tummy. He's so much sweeter around the barn and just seems like he's all around a happier horse. It really is good to see, although I feel terrible for how long we were potentially been letting him suffer...I guess better late than never. It's just amazing to see what a difference it has made. Of course he's much better when riding, I haven't had any hesitation from him about going forward at all for over a week. I think there were so many little things that also seem to have gone away...he's not as cinchy when I tighten the girth, he's much better to work around when grooming, etc. he doesn't even pin his ears when you try and pet him anymore!! So hopefully this is all positive reinforcement that will allow us to continue our career. I'm not sure what the plan is for the fall...I'd like to find a paper chase for Seth and I to go to in the next few weeks just to get him out there...only time will tell. There's definitely no rush for this season.

So during this past month, we were looking at another horse for me. Danny ended up finding this 10 yr. old TB that had done a few Intermediates a few years ago. We had never considered looking at something with experience...a) I always wanted to make the horse myself and b) there's no way we ever thought we could afford something that's been around the block. Well enter Sempre Fino. He bounced around a bit the past 2 years and had colic surgery last November. His current owner was moving and had to sell him quick. Danny forced me to go look at him after I had been totally frustrated looking at young horses that I thought were overpriced. Well I head down to Courtney Cooper's and sit on this horse. First of all, he's only 16.1 and made like a tiny, little thoroughbred...not my type. BUT the horse is a freak of a jumper. I started jumping him and Courtney kept raising this oxer until it was Intermediate height. So after 15 minutes on this little guy I had jumped bigger and wider than I ever had. And he was really forgiving with me b/c to say the least, my eye was not perfect :). So after thinking about it, Mom, Seth and I decide that this is a fantastic opportunity and he was at a really decent price. So we go for it. Well some issues came up with his right front foot in the vetting and we ended up coming to an agreement that we are going to lease him for 5 months and use a really good farrier to see if we can solve the foot problems. So we've had him a week now and he's settled in. Cody and Legacy are ruling the roost and he's a bit of a pushover, but he's doing really well. I said it looks like Papa Bear, Mama Bear and Baby Bear in the pasture...they are all the same color bay. He needs some muscle and weight, but we have him on our normal program and we think he already looks better. I've only jumped him once, but he's really neat to ride. He's very light in your hands and very dainty and light on his feet. He's really quick too and knows where to put his feet. I already feel like riding him makes me be able to feel things on Legacy and will make me be able to train him better. I think my muscles are getting a workout too since he's so much skinnier. Seth rode him tonight for the first time and he said, "It's like riding a 2x4". So far it seems like a really good decision we made and it does seem like this route makes sense...instead of me and the horse trying to move up through the levels, hopefully he will teach me how to ride at a higher level and it will make it easier for next time.

Just a quick note about his name. He came with the barn name Sam, but we thought that was boring, so we've spent the past week thinking of names...Mom and Dave spent 3 hours on Friday night talking about it and even got a bartender involved!! So on Saturday they came down and mentioned the name "Hobbs". Well Seth and I had discussed that name for a dog in the past because of the movie, "The Natural". So I really liked it and I was leaning towards that name. Well when I looked at his coat that night, there is a scar on his side that looks like the lightning bolt that Roy Hobbs put on his bat, Wonderboy, so once I saw that it was a done deal...his barn name is Hobbs.

I'm hopefully that the 2011 season will be strong for Beaventing...but we have a long way to go!!