Buzz Buzz

I have time for a short and sweet update from le iPhone before work (apologies in advance for formatting). I have so many updates, I need a real computer for those!

Also in case anyone didn't read my last post, just a reminder of how majestic and wonderful B has been lately...

I've been having a rough week in the ways of non riding, and got the immediate urge to clip my horse, instead of ride, on a random weeknight at 9PM. 

So of course, despite no planning, bathing, clipper sharpening or real attack plan of any kind, I drove out to the barn and clipped my horse. 

Sometimes, instead of adulting and thinking things out, I just jump in and hope for the best. 

Bacardi is not one to stand very nicely for the clippers and I knew that going in with this random clip job. I figured I might just brush him off and then be like "Surpise bitch, you're getting naked today". 

It worked to a certain extent actually. 

Last year I had to take three separate days, sedate and twitch him to get the job done. And he still wouldn't let me touch him in some areas. Clipping his neck has been a real problem. Not only does he HATE it, but that is literally the weirdest shaped body part on a horse and when said horse is dancing about, flipping his head around, clean lines do not get drawn. 

Last year this resulted in me saying fuck it and shaving almost all his hair clean off. 

This year, he was much better. 

I even free handed a design on his butt. Because we all need to make dat ass show out & it's my specialty. 

 

Despite standing like a total goon, I think he looks pretty good. 

I've done some cool stuff on Yankee before too and really do enjoy clipping

Miss him. 

That aside. 

He was extremely dirty (not reccomended) and I'm sure I ruined my blades, but also, fuck it. It was time for new ones anyways and I just HAD to clip that night. Because I had to.

 

"Treats now? No more photos please"

I'm well aware the lines aren't great, but he was very convinced the clippers were ripping his skin off and flinched the entire time I was clipping his neck and shoulders. Really difficult to get perfect lines with a twitchy horse. However, I'm not even mad. Twitching is a big step down from lunge-rearing and breaking crossties. Go B!

Last years clip, a sad combination of "oh fuck I messed up all the lines, shave it all off and okay horse won't let me clip here"

I kept the trace high this year, taking off all the hair from his chest, most of his neck and some belly, but leaving the rest, save for chevrons. He didn't have an issue staying fat last year while mostly naked, but he didn't need to be fully clipped and blanketing was a bitch. He does sweat like crazy, so If I need to take more off as the winter goes on, we can, but he's high energy enough as is without the cold wind biting at his skin. 

I DID snag this quarter sheet (Rambo Newmarket) I've been lusting after for literal years and I'm confident it will make us even more magical. Because stuff and things.. It was bottom dollar and a friend was selling it and I was like YAS PLZ. Kind of how I purchased Bacardi to begin with, HAHAHAHA. 

Anyways, I'm rambling, but he's been very good lately & I think he looks rather dapper with his new haircut. 

Flying High

What a wonderful weekend.

I haven't spent more than an hour at the barn in a really long time and I did it 3 days in a row and its was GLORIOUS.

Pretty sure the last week was a week from the pits of hell and I am glad it is very over. Horsey time was much needed and a huge breather/reset for adult me.

A girl will always need her pony. Always.

I took Friday off by happy mistake, and I wasn't mad about it, since I spent 3 whole hours at the barn Friday morning. Reveling in the fact that everyone else was at work and I was at the barn, doing what I loved most, and the rest of the peasants were slaving away inside. It was great.

Its already been 6 weeks since Bacardi came off stall rest, and I've slowly been amping up the difficulty and length of our rides. Last week didn't count since my uterus was trying to end me, but otherwise, we have both been slowly recovering and gaining strength.

Meaning, it was time.

Not our warm up fence

TO JUMP.

I have always loved jumping more than anything else, but never really gotten to do much of it on B. I think we have jumped less than 20 times together in a years time span, and that makes me sad.

HOWEVER, super fancy boarding barn has many jumps and very arena, so I took much advantage of it this weekend.

There was already a course set up and I decided to leave it and see what happened. It was set at a staggering, 18 inches so I left it and warmed up over it.

Bacardi was a WILD man, just in time for the buyer party to come out and try out a horse the BO was selling.

This is the ONE thing I have found I dislike about boarding. It seems literally no matter when I show up, its not an optimal time to ride. I somehow ALWAYS show up at feeding time, or a lesson and theres no schedule posted so I have no clue. And I'm always like, well, I'm here, I'm sorry, I'm going to ride. I get it though. Thats what happens when you board at a massive barn with tons of horses and riders. I aint mad about it, I mostly feel BAD I'm always tearing him away from feeding or in the middle of a lesson.

Anyways, he warmed up quite exuberantly. Luckily, BO was riding the horse and he is a seasoned show horse and took no mind to B flailing around having a good time.

I was  good girl and let the potential buyer have her go, and it gave B a wonderful opportunity to learn patience and how to stand. Which he did for 35 minutes solid while the buyer rode. GOOD MAN.

B hopped right back into it too, literally, and really settled into a rhythm. Best hes felt jumping with me, EVER.

Did he clear it, I dunno

I didn't do much coursework, just popped over a few fences here and there, working on not losing it on landing, or getting too displaced by his powerful bascule.

Opposite to Yankee, he goes quite nicely UP to the fence, then really loses it on the landing. He doesn't necessarily bolt, but I can tell hes off balance and he gets rather quick. Like a good man though, always comes back after about 5 to 9 strides (lol) and then is great again.

We need to work on that.

I do prefer this over bolting TO the fences though, hands down. Hes actually a lovely and packaged horse up to the fences and almost always outjumps me. I still cannot for the life of me figure out how to stay WITH him. UGH.

Getting left behind is the story of my life on this beast

It is much harder than you think to be your own photographer, and I'm pretty sure it took me more time to set up my ipad in juuuuust the right angle and then get on, get collected and jump, than to just ride (but I wanted pics dammit). It was a pain.

I need friends.

Seriously though, I was floored at his efforts and how lovely he felt. Could not have been happier.

Saturday I rode in the afternoon, and OF COURSE, horses were being brought in for dinner (literally, no schedule) but he got over it.

I decided to jump again. Not something I usually do, but the course was still up, it was beautiful outside and why the fuck not.

Again, pretty hype for warm-up, but worked out of it.

He was a little spookier than normal, I think due to dinnertime and the fucking combine cropping the beans next to us and I couldn't blame him for that. Sounded liek a death machine.

Regardless, he gave me some attitude about a panel jump. REALLY did not care for it. Might have been 2'9 total, and if he refused he would just step over it after he gathered his thoughts (plus to being 17.2hh), but still really annoying. Again, I can't blame him. i am pretty confident hes never jumped a panel fence and he always hopped over after the initial refusal, but I really didnt feel like falling off that day, so we moved on from that mess. Another day.

I hiked up the fences, keeping the verticals at around 3ft and made the oxers about 3'3. It looked really wonderful. I can't remember that last time I've jumped over 3ft and I was feeling confident it wasn't too much for B. ( Did you see his overjump the day previously?).

I was right.

He LOVED it. Focusing mainly on balance in the turns and not "bolting" on landing, we worked through a few rounds of figure 8 and outside lines courses.

Jumped the Liverpool without hesitation

He was amazing. Like...a cloud.

I felt like I was riding a rolling, delightful and happy cloud. I can barely form words into a meaningful post (mostly because Monday Mush brain), but I am sure you all know what I mean.

I think jumping is his calling.

Minus his dislike of the panels, we never had an issue, even with the "bigger" fences. I was dying of happiness. WE WERE JUMPING. As a team!

This is bigger than it looks. Damn camera angle & giant standards

Look at the big man go!

I felt like spoiling his pretty self and spent an ectra hour at the barn that evening primping his tail and currying, then wrapping his legs and fluffing his bedding. He got so many carrots, if he weren't already orange, he would've definitely turned. One of my favorite things about B is that he has turned into SUCH a lapdog. Like, he always wants hugs and loves. Such a massive difference from a year ago.

Then Sunday morning I got up early and headed out to see my man and take off his wraps. The plan was to lunge lightly, rub down then turn out.

As soon as I took his sheet off I decided its time to clip.

His hair had dried in this wavy formation and I'm just like, no. Its time. I've been putting it off, but its def. time. Suggestions on designs are welcome, as I can't really think of anything new this year. Keeping in mind he doesn't stand great for clipping...super ticklish.

Anyways, he lunged wonderfully, didnt even look sore and then we did a ton of carrot stretches.

Overall, an fantastic weekend.

This week, not much planned in the ways of riding. I left my boots at home today so I didn't ride, but 4 days in a row I figured warranted a day off anyways. I believe some flatwork is in order and then I leave for the weekend on more adventures on Broadway and weddings, so this post will have to keep y'all satiated for a bit.

Yay adulting.

Lunging Queen

I apologize in advance as I am posting from my phone, but desperate times call for desperate measures. 

I've been a really terrible horse mom in the last 7 days but I have notoriously bad "times of the month" and legit become useless for about 4 days while my body is trying to make me lose the will to live. 

Therefore, Bacardi barely gets ridden. I did lunge a few times because that's better than nothing, but I'm tired of it and I'm sure he is too. 

Not to worry, riding resumes tonight and we have plans for a photo shoot/schooling sesh over some jumps tomorrow! 

With all that TMI aside, Bacardi has continued to be a total doll face despite his human being lazy and only lunging. 

 

"Hello I am handsome feed me treats now slave girl". 

Lately, we've been working on transitions and balance through all the gaits, as well as remaining calm. I know this seems simple, but in the last when B has been weak and lost balance instead of just gathering himself, he would freak out and bolt. 

None of that is happening anymore. 

To make it a little spicy the other days, I added some poles in the mix. 

Again, in the past this has been out of the question. To say he would throw a tantrum is putting it lightly. Explosions of epic proportions is more accurate, because as we all know, poles are ankle munching death traps for horses and should be avoided. 

I kept good faith, knowing how well he has been doing lately and began. 

He did spook at them a for a few rounds, glancing sideways or determining mid stride they might eat him...

...However, he recovered quickly and went right back into a lovely trot after each mini spook. 

This. Is. Huge. 

Previously, he would bolt, and never recover enough to even continue. Think sweating, wild eyed, prancing, nervous, tense, wound up ball of fear. And now, to come back down within seconds was a huge step for baby B and I wasn't even mad. 

After a few sticky rounds each way (avoiding or missing the distance) he REALLY settled and gave me some brilliant effort. 

I am in love with all of this. Like. LOOK AT MY HORSE. Look at 'em. 

I kept the pole session super short, maybe a total of 20 min on the lunge and called it a day. I try to keep lunging sessions short anyways, but ending on a good note is always my goal too. I was sorely tempted to make them cavaletti, but that's for another day. 

I couldn't have been happier with the effort Bacrdi gave me. He looks truly engaged and relaxed. 

Yay for learning! 

 

"Was I good? Can I have treats now?"

The Boys Are Back In Town

I took this evening and made an adult decision to shirk all responsibility (ride my horse, do laundry) and drink in bed with my dog and blog.

That should be someone's blog name, by the way.

Pushing aside extreme guilt, I am happy it gives me time to read, COMMENT and blog, whereas I usually wouldn't (its gross and cold and raining anyways- though it doesn't matter because INDOOR ARENA :D) and I MISS you guys! Don't think I'm not stalking from afar. I am. I just can't comment at work, its a blocked function. But I have been lurking and still love you all.

As previously mentioned many times before, I love this barn, this arena and my BO. I just love it. And I love what its doing for us. When everything else seems pretty shitty, for ONCE, I am happy and positive about my horse.

He's been progressing in leaps and bounds. Quite literally.

Overcoming that hoof injury was scary. I really thought he would be out for months. Its still an open wound, for the record, but slowly (EVER so slowly) closing up. It doesn't seem to bother him too much, I can just feel the stiffness in warm-up at first. So not quite out of the woods yet, but almost.

While dealing with that, we've been coming back together, from injury and way too much time off.

In my last post I talked about us connecting. Its not stopped and only gotten better!

This week, I lunged a little before I rode each time because its been extra chilly (yay fall) and we are both creaky, and honestly I've been REALLY tired this week and wanted to be my best for the ride and not get beat by the warm-up.

I was expecting shenanigans and upside down moose-ness and was happily surprised with some of the best lunge work ever to come out of him.

And before I show the pics and people have a snit fit (there are some out there that will) about sidereins and reins and lunge line...chill.

Anyways, here's some lovely evidence of a very responsive, relaxed, and forward thinking horsebeast.

Serious swoon. I've discovered since re learning to relax myself, Bacardi truly enjoys the stretch work and willingly will trot around for 10 min on the lunge or under saddle with his nose on the floor.

Its really hard to video, and lunge and be sneaky about it (remember what I said about him being honest f you're not paying attention/being lazy?) but I did a few grainy indoor pics & it made me happy.

After letting him trot nicely around both ways all long and stretchy, I asked for more collection and energy. He responded and I almost cried with happiness.

SWOON OMG SWOON

I just...I just love this

And this

And this

Even his canter work on the lunge was wonderful. No insane, weird bending going on and very calm transitions. Literal tears.

Each ride we just worked on staying calm through transitions and maintaining proper contact. It was lovely. I was tired and beat from long days (I ride in PM's after gym and work) but they were productive rides- short and sweet.  All very good.

Which brings me to my next and first horse, Yankee Pants.

There have been a few things going on in his life that I can't fully disclose yet, but I can say that Jackie has been riding him lately.

If you all remember Jackie, she owned Wondermare and is my beautiful best friend, and shes a saint and an angel and wonderful and perfect.

This is us.

Anyways, she has been riding Yanks about 3 days a week and its going.

Again, I can't update fully, but I can show you pics of The Pants and he is still beautiful!

Still enthusiastic about everrything

Still as darling as always

Still perfect

Still beautiful

I do miss my guy, but I'm still grateful he' doing so well in my absence! More on that later, when I can.

HOPEFULLY I can get pics tomorrow outside, but its supposed to rain all day and I still dont have friends so probably not.

TTFN

Taking The Plunge

Adulting is really hard. Do we ever really grow up? Nah.

But it can be really fun.

The coolest thing I've learned while trying to adult is that you're a fucking adult. And you can do what you want. Pretty much anytime you want (or pre-approved work PTO, whichever).

I also have acquired the mentality of "money was meant to be spent" (that is of course after stashing away your alloted amounts into savings and 401K, paying insurance, etc) and have REALLY been doing that.

Dont get me wrong, I know its important to save..but its also important to LIVE.

I've learned to say YES.

So many people live their life afraid and worrying about all the things, fretting abotu this and that and always saying no.

I just live worrying about all the things, but also have fun fearlessly.

For example, I moved my horse to a really expensive boarding barn I can barely afford because a spot opened up. I said yes. It was an amazing decision.

I also took a VERY random and spontaneous trip to West Virginia to go whitewater rafting and zipling because BUCKET LIST.

They Boy asked if I would want to drop a few stacks and snag a spot for Gauley season and I said yes. Because why the fuck not.

It was..... phenomenal. I do not regret one second of it, or my spontaneous decision.

I was absolutely terrified, but it ended up being quite the glorious adrenaline rush, well worth the money.

We went to Adventures on the Gorge in Lansing, WV and it was to die for...eeven if it did rain all weekend.

Literally having the time of my life

Everyone needs to take the plunge. Seriously, go do shit. Especially things you're afraid to do. Mayeb it wont be so bad, and you'll enjoy it!

How hot is this

Breathtaking

Seriously look at us. LOOK at our faces.

ARE WE NOT ENTERTAINED?

So.

Plan a trip.

Take risks. Live life. Soak it in and be with the ones you love! Its so worth it.

The guides complimented my boots. Those are my paddock boots for riding.

The AdrenaLine-3,150 ft of pure awesomeness. Reached up to 70 mph!! It was bananas!

End scene.

Learning How To Ride, Again

It is truly hurting me that I have zero pictures to prove my next few points. I really need that camera that follows you around because obviously pictures are imperative because pictures.

I have about 100 pics of him in the aisle looking like a complete moose, but I'm sure you all don't need to see more than one of those.

Obligatory aisle pic

Winter is also coming and indoor photos are notorious for being atrocious/blurry/dark so we might as well name this era "the Era of No Pics".

Moving on from the lack of photographical evidence that I have indeed, been riding my horse and he has indeed, has been a real angelface.

As I was riding last night, I was trying to figure out how to explain whats been happening without sounding too wordy or boring, but I'm having a hard time on where to even begin, so brace yourselves for a lengthy post.

I guess the best place to start is with a small recap on how last winter was for us.

Bad.

There we have it.

And then Spring & Summer turned into "consistently inconsistent" due to mostly adulting.

We had great moments, but it was a lot more of "Oh we are hacking again, at the walk, this is fun" or "I'm trying to ride in this muddy field but B doesnt like it. Fuck"

To say we have been in a training rut is a massive understatement.

Making the decision to board was the most expensive (minus purchasing the damn animal), but the most practical, wonderful and glorious decision I think I've ever made.

In the few short weeks we've been there, I've managed to ride about 4-5 times a week, usually in a row, with weekends off (due to adulting). Its...awesome.

I'm learning so many things about this horse and my riding.

In a few short weeks, we've gone from floppy, sore and stiff to fluid, together and...not as sore.

I've learned that this horse is a whistleblower. The second you tense up, he does. Like the instant.

Now you're all thinking, well duh, horses are their riders mirrors.

Not always.

Yankee (& many other horses I know) are SO forgiving of our mistakes as riders. They lull us into a sense of security or feeling of greatness.

How tragic really.

With Bacardi, I've also (re) learned that not all horses can be ridden the same. And certainly not every method works for every horse.

Also, LE DUH.

But again, I had owned Yankee exclusively for so long and trained him MY way and just figured if it worked for him it must work on most OTTBs.

Please excuse my idiocracy.

The methodology remains the same, but with each horse you have to personalize it. (FUCKING duh what is wrong with me).

For example. Fresh off the track, OTTBs have no concept of correct contact, how to move forward in a balanced fashion or even how to change gaits without falling over.

We aim to teach them these things gradually. Learning that the contact is good, but can't be heavy. That its inside leg to outside hand. That transitions can be made without falling onto the forehand, etc.

I am making a point, I swear.

With Bacardi, I tried everything. Literally everything. Every method I've ever been taught ever about anything that involves riding ever.. I could go into them, but the most specific one I want to talk about is simple.

How to hold the reins.

Specifically, rein pressure.

With Yankee, I was always taught and rode with wider set hands, parallel to the bit and with more pressure on the outside rein because thats just how it should be done to teach them.

He was happy with that, and eventually learned how to horse and accept contact.

I tried it with B.

And we have fought constantly.

For a year.

I was so frustrated and upset that I couldn't get through to this horse.

And you know what I NEVER thought to do?

Bring my fucking hands closer together and even out the rein pressure.

I was riding about a week ago when I remembered something I read somewhere (maybe Carly's blog?) that said, "horses mouths are only 5 inches wide, why are your hand so far apart?"

And I was like, yeah, why are they?

Its obviously not jiiving with Bacardi...the contact is so inconsistent and just not THERE. So why do I keep doing it?

So I brought them closer together.

Novel fucking idea.

And you know what? For about 6 rides now, we start out fighting and then I relax and remember, ASK not TELL. Ask not tell. Ask not tell. And keep my hands very close, soft and near the withers...and he relaxes.

As long as I remember that, we are good.

Which *is* hard to do. Muscle memory sucks. Real memory sucks too.

I also have to remember that he is a FLIGHT horse. Like really, he bolts.

Whenever he is worried or feels scared or trapped he wants to RUN.

So, since I know this, its REALLY hard to NOT pull back when I feel him tense, knowing full well a bolt is coming.

BUT.

In our training the last few days, if I feel him tense up, we come to a walk and practice free walk (which is his favorite). It brings him back down, I can regroup mentally, and then we try again. Because what is the actual point of staying in the same movement/gait that you're failing and flailing miserably at?

There is none. Thats why its called training.

And he has REALLY started to relax for out entire rides. If something is hard for him, like learning to turn off outside aids yet still remain round and not brace/fall in/ hollow out, instead of instinctively pulling back to stop him from running, I push through my hands, breathe and let my seat do the talking.

Like, I KNOW that you cannot force a horse into contact. Or even get happy contact from pulling. I literally know this. But It was SO hard to practice because my damn horse bolts. Constantly.

All it took though was a few times of me trusting my riding, my horse and relaxing and pushing INTO the contact and actually moving those feet forward. Sucking back does nothing but create tension, which I also knew, yet still was constantly creating. So I just stopped doing that.

The result has been incredible.

Instead of feeling like I'm riding a rubber band, I feel like I'm riding putty. Instead of feeling out of control, I feel a partnership. He is TRUSTING me to not let him down or pull on him or be afraid and therefore HE isn't afraid.

Also, I'm getting stronger and not flopping around like a sack of useless potatoes (thank you Crossfit). Unlike any horse I've ever ridden, he is truly an "off the seat" type of guy. He feels so much more relaxed when I sit the trot and envision pushing the saddle up his withers (cute little "tip" I learned a long time ago on how to ask for "more") than when I'm posting. I dont know what it is but I'm OK with it because I'm getting abs of steel.

What I'm trying to convey is how lovely its been lately.

I know most of you have felt "the moment" and ours was on Monday when I asked for the right lead canter and he just stepped into it, round and soft and quiet as could be.

I literally almost cried.

Unlocking his secret has been indescribable. I NEVER thought it would happen.

This doesn't mean he's perfect 100% now. Hes still an asshole sometimes. I will never understand his spooking and insanity in this weather, but as long as *I* remember to stay calm and not brace, he eventually calms down...like a half hour later. BUT, we are getting there!

Long, slow warm-ups and a calm, collected rider makes for a happy B.

Hopefully now I can stay consistent and remember to not suck while riding.

Who knew pushing forward instead of pulling back would get you somewhere -_-

Baby Growing Up

This past weekend my little nugget went to school.

I felt like a real parent, even mentioning to The Boy that I was nervous about him behaving, and what if the other horses were mean to him or what if the teacher didnt like him?

I was a mess.

The Boy and I had been invited to a weekend away filled with dinners, and dressing up and a Broadway show, so when a last minute XC schooling opp cropped up, I was sorely tempted to cancel on our fancy plans, but didn't.

I adulted and sent my kid to school.

I've NEVER, repeat, never, paid anyone else to ride my horse.

It felt weird...and liberating.

For one, I've never taken the Red One XC schooling. For two, I wasn't in town. For three, Supertrainer is amazing and was not baffled by me texting her a thousand times, asking if he trailered OK and if he was dead or broke a leg. For Four, I can almost afford it.

I was most anxious about him trailering. No one else, in over a year, has tried to load him, and he's only been regularly trailering in my two horse. He did  not really like Amy's slant load, and that is what Supertrainer had.

I'm pretty sure my heart almost exploded with anxiety, hoping the nugget would behave and not embarrass me or rip himself open on something.

If this is comparable to having human children, don't sign me up. I can't take it.

However, I received that sweet, sweet text that gave me great relief when Supertrainer said "He got in after about 4 minutes of thinking, no problem".

WHEW.

I waited for a few hours to hear anything, assuming the worst, but knowing that she was just teaching and riding. Then, I had to turn my phone off, because apparently thats the respectable thing to do at Broadway, and while I enjoyed the broadway experience, all I could think about was the Nugget.

During intermission I checked my phone and get another relief text stating that he was a doll. Even with all the commotion going around, he worked out of his anxiety and popped over all the BN fences with no issues, AT ALL.

He then got right back in the trailer on the way home without any pause.

We've been having really great rides together too, just no photos. Which is crushing my soul. Really digging the indoor and being able to consistently ride though.