What Do Wednesday: Other Rides

So while B was "down for the count" I was so incredibly bored and envious of those riding. You truly do not know what ya got until its gone...even if what ya got is an unpredictable hot red mess.

At one point I jumped Yankee in the almost 5 weeks B was completely, 100% lame.

Throwback to my last XC on Yanks

It was like riding a brand new horse and I flopped all over the place like a giant sack of potatoes, ran him in to a few jumps and couldn't even turn him left... I quickly handed him to V to jump...HAHA whomp whomp. Was this my horse? Did I ever ride him? Who am I? Is this real life?

Guess thats the result when you've exclusively ridden a giant, green, massive strided red dragon for the better part of two years then hop on a small, tiny strided well-trained BAMF. You flop. Everywhere. Like you have no idea how to ride at all, which is insane because Yanks should be easier to ride with 11 years of ownership and training put in to him myself, but no.

Summer 2010

Then it got me thinking how many horses I have NOT ridden in my lifetime. When it boils down to it, its about 4. Sure, I owned a few QH here and there,  a project horse for 7 months, trained greenies for a semester in college and have ridden a few friends horses every now and then...but the majority has been Dolly, Spirit, Yankee and Bacardi.

Circa winter 2011

For 18 years, I've ridden four horses exclusively. Thats not that many and that does not lead to a wide range of riding skills or adjustability. Sure, I can stick a buck, get around  dressage test, hop on babies, jump a 2'6 course on anything and teach anyone how to ride my beasts...but ask me to do a training level test or jump a 3'3+ course on a horse that's not mine? Yeah, ok.

Winter 2013

Jackie, Yank's last leaser, is the catch-ride extraordinaire and I am truly envious of her ability to hop on literally everything and survive spectacularly.

One time, Amy asked me to take her horse to a USEA event having never ridden him and I almost said no due to the fact that I know this about myself and was legit afraid of her hating me forever when I couldn't steer him around XC to save my life.

Turns out, I did OK, but Steady is a machine and extra tolerant and we survived.

After a double clear XC

I like to consider myself a good rider; teachable, solid, and experienced. I feel like I ride my own horses well, and I am comfortable there. If I had the choice, I would ride more horses, but not many people want or need their ponies ridden, and lets be real...when would I have the time? A few of my barn friends ride each others horses all the time, but B is a different beast. Dragon in fact, and no one volunteers to ride that madness, ever.

Friends riding other friends horses

So I suppose you could call me a monogamous  equestrian.

This monogamy has led me to be an excellent rider on the horses I am used to...and a horrible one on those I am not. One would think those skills would transfer, but apparently they don't.

Spring 2014

This theory was solidified when I was given the chance to hop on a friends horse a few weeks ago. He's a beast and gorgeous and tolerant and lovely and an OTTB so of course I was like fuck yeah, gimme gimme gimme.

#beast

So I clambered up on him, adjusted my stirrups, got used to staring down another neck then promptly almost fell off over a 3ft oxer. Like, landed on his neck, grappled with his mane, lost my stirrups almost fell off.

So that didn't go well and I handed him back mortified and embarrassed that I couldn't ride the easiest horse to ride in our barn. Like what the fuck.

So, moral of the story is, I need to ride more horses and get used to horses that aren't mine. In some universe, in another plane, I know this is possible, so now I just need a time turner or a time-space continuum to achieve this new goal.

What I want to know is if my readers are monogamous or not. Do you get to ride a lot of horses? Do you want to? Why or why not? Tell me dear readers, WHAT DO? 

Clinic Dayz

This weekend was everything I had hoped it would be and more. For one, it is my favorite holiday and one of two holiday excuses to get day drunk and celebrate with frivolity. Two, the weather was perfection. Cool and overcast. Perfect. Three, 3 day weekend. Four, pony time. All of it.

V and Yankee had a jumping clinic with one of our local pros and I was able to watch day 2 of it unfold. I always enjoy watching clinics and lessons, even if I couldn't partake. One can always learn little tidbits here and there through watching other lessons and different levels of riders.

My favorite was watching my trainer ride with the clinician. She is a fantastic rider, obviously, but also our highest level competitor at the barn. She recently won her last Prelim and also snagged a fourth previously this year as well. She rarely scores outside top ten as far as I am aware, and of course she rides an OTTB too. I LOVE watching lessons with other OTTBs, because you can always learn so much. The trickiest question of the day was a bending S line and negotiating it properly looked tricky.

Supertrainer on her superhorse

After watching a few lessons, it was finally V and Yanks time. He was awake but looking kind of lazy. The day previously he was apparently incredibly lazy over grids as well, which is surprising. We still put his XC bit on though, since the lessons were outside in the field.

My pretty boy

Warm up was lackluster and he seemed rather meh. To be honest he looked bored. I can't blame him, we've forced him to jump crossrails for weeks now and the poor guy is probably bored stiff. Luckily, V has an awesome fitness regime set up, and his strength is coming back quickly. Along with conditioning days, flatwork and jump lessons, he gets strategic days off as well and its paying off. He looks and feels glorious.

#strut

model status

The beginnings of the lesson was a little sticky. Yanks was barely trying and kept flipping poles out of the cups and I could tell V was frustrated. I too was frustrated, because as an owner, I want Yanks to be everything V hopes for in a lease, and I want them to be successful. Watching him knock rail after rail pained my soul. Especially with Champagne Run coming up in the next few weeks.

V was riding quite well, and his rails honestly looked like him just being incredibly lazy. I remembered this from years ago when we started jumping him, and how he always did so much worse when the jumps were below 2'6.

They were negotiating the tricky S curve well, but still knocked a rail here and there. I couldn't really give much advice except advise to package him a bit more. She did, and he was still rapping poles.

So, I figured it was time to raise the jumps. He has recovered so well, and his strength was back, so for the last little bit of the lesson we had the clinician raise the jumps.

LOCKED ON

GAME FACE

From that point forward he was ON. Didn't knock a single rail and lit up with joy. Their last two rounds were fantastic, I wish my internet was working well enough to upload the video. Truly lovely. My favorite was how wonderfully packaged she had him. He was collected, energized and perfectly on point.

Horse abz

LOVE

When she expertly half halted down the hill to the VERY upright and lofty vertical (his usual worst fence), he sailed right over it! I hooted with joy I was so proud of them as a team.

Yankee is the hardest easiest horse to ride. He is incredibly well trained and knows his job, but he also requires a rider who keeps the package to the last second and is OK with the short spot. The short has always been his jam, and if you drop him too early, he lets you know. Always honest, he will jump it, but its usually ugly. Unless its a 5ft oxer...ask me how I know.

V has been getting used to this type of horse and has adjusted quickly. I admire that she was able to adjust her release to one of more contact over fences, as you can see in almost every pic. Love.

I spy a lofty vertical

They ended on a good note and had a lot to take away from the 2 day clinic. I'm terrible at summarizing things, but at least there are pretty pictures. This week we hope to get out on a XC course and continue with her programming for fitness and training.

Dream Team

ALSOOOOO, this happened....

He's sound. 4.5 weeks later. He has a shoe/half apoxied foot. We toodled. It was grand.

Annual Independence Day Shoot

Year One throwback to B

I had such an amazing time with my friend this weekend, my lovely Yankee and her fancy camera. Quite the improvement to my lone iPhone video setup, running back and forth in from of it to capture the moment. We still ran back and forth a lot, as well as cantered in circles and flapped the flag around, and it was a BLAST. Yankee was so game to play. Here's a few of my favorites.

Lemme run ma!

iPhone video still, lolz

Butt scoots

Stallion mode, engage

FAV by a million

Happy Independence day  ya'll, enjoy the rest of the weekend and rejoice in our country and the freedoms we have here! #Freedom

Jump All the Things!

Bacardi update: less lame, but still out of commission. Depressing.

Good news on the Yankee front though, he is flourishing, which is a relief. I am tentative to say we are out of the woods, but he has been 100% gastro wise, bloomed beautifully weight wise and now just needs to gain some strength back. Trying to pretend that nightmare is behind us for good...

fattttty <3 td="">

He was cleared for jumping this month and literally attacked the jumps on his first session a few weeks ago. This was also his first time with his leaser and they were still getting adjusted to each other. When I first got Yankee I was tentative to let anyone jump him, but over the years as he's grown more mature and learned his job a bit better, I've relinquished my hold on him. He's such a cool horse and loves to jump and I want to share that with anyone who wants it. I can see him carting around my future spawn over crossrails when he's an older man and its an adorable thought. The amount of spunk he has over fences is contagious....I wish I could find the photos from the first session, but they have disappeared (I know, how did this happen).

Earlier this week though we had another session together and this time I dug out his favorite hackamore and we used that instead of a bit. Its remarkable the difference that change makes for him and how much he prefers jumping with the hack over a bit.

V had had a few jump lessons with Supertrainer since our first jump session together but that was with the bit so I was curious to see how she would adjust to the hackamore and its particular set of skills.

not bad not bad

We warmed up over some low low grids and let V play with direction changes, rating and learning to cruise with Yanks. He was almost a bit lazy at first, until he woke up and then gave her some trouble with turning right--not surprising. She is a quick study though, and just in the short few weeks she's been with him, I have already seen her level of riding improve two fold. I love teachable people, especially if they are riding my horse, and she listens and does exactly what you ask...not trading her in for a long time, hahah!

Over grids, either her or Yanks have a tendency to drift left, so we were working on straightness. Additionally, worked in looping together the 3 lines we had set on an easy S curve. Yankee was lit after about 15 minutes, and we had to revisit a correct half halt but once that was established, V piloted him around like a pro.

zoomies

I advised that "hands high" is better than pulling low, since the hackamore is not really activated with hands at the withers. She picked up the skills quite fast and eventually nailed the half halts and was able to correctly sit him back, rock back through the turns and keep him straight through the grids.

As much as I wanted to climb aboard and take him for a spin, I am committed to this new partnership and am trying my best to be hands off.

Originally I was going to take Yanks to a hunter pace on the 4th, but V is doing a 2 day clinic with him and then Sunday going to their first jumper show together! I advised to keep the classes no higher than 2'6 for now, and just feel him out at a show.

He loves his job and his enthusiasm shows...but as most begin to notice, he is never dangerous--just exuberant! I wish  could be there to watch and it KILLS me that I have plans for Sunday, but I am sure someone will take pics or video for me....THEY BETTER.

Only over jumping a little bit...*eye roll*, its a crossrail Yanks

The most fun for me has been watching the partnership bloom, and I am so excited for their future together! The summer season is packed with schooling shows and recognized events and she sent in the entry for BN at Champagne Run at the end of July. I am more than stoked to watch them go, and in-between there's XC schooling, a jumper show and another dressage show...YAY living vicariously while my horse heals....slowly, haha!

They're adorable

Tack Review: Highland Browbands

First off, I want to thank everyone for you kind words regarding Dolly...it meant so much to me to see the support online through Facebook, IG and blogging. This is why I love the community. I felt so much less alone and more comforted knowing you all knew how I felt/am still feeling.

That being said, I need to put my big girl panties on and move forward, She will always be on my mind, but I am not allowing myself to wallow anymore. 

So without further ado, I bring you my first ever official tack review on this here blog. 

Besides that adorable red face (that tends to cut itself every other day...and is still lame) you might notice the wonderfully blue and sparkly bling browband adorning my sweet delicate flowers' face.

Oh yes, I went bling. I never thought I would do it, but I couldn't pass up this browband. I mean, look at it! Such bling. Very sparkle. Many shine.

Before I get too excited and jumble all my coherent thoughts together, I would like to say that the hardest part about ordering a custom band was picking the colors!! Did I want red, white and blue for America? Did I want straight white for extra bling? Did I want to go full teal (fav color) or did I want to mix up the blues?

I obviously decided on the mixed blues, and went along with the curved style. I LOVE how this fits B's giant forehead and it matches my bridle perfectly. I was a little nervous since it has a little bit of chestnut on the padding, but the havana color mixed right in. If you have a large boned horse I recommend the curved browband for sure.

In addition to custom browbands, the store has pre-made brow bands, rider accessories and items on consignment! Head over to the website to check it out! I also perused their IG for color ideas because I had such hard time deciding; highlandbrowbands

Looks good even on giraffe's

Additionally, the customer service is top notch. I am a huge stickler for prompt acknowledgment of any orders, questions and or concerns I might have and the owner was quite quick in getting in touch with me...also quite tolerant of my many questions. 

Shipping was also prompt and well within the timeline I had perceived to be acceptable. I was stunned at how quickly she got my order together and how well made and lovely it was when it arrived.

I was literally like a kid at christmas when I opened the lovely wrapping, and greeting card they sent along with the browband. I resisted running through the house shouting, "its here, its here!" because I am an adult. Instead I rushed to the barn and forced Bacardi to stand for a photo shoot.

The leather itself was buttery soft and already shaped for the bridle, no oil soaking needed. I've only ridden a few times in it, sadly because of B lameness, but after a few uses its broken in even more and fits like a dream! The crystals haven't budged and the craftsmanship is quite lovely. I can tell they took their time in creating my piece for me.  Only thing I am nervous about is cleaning it once my sweat machine goo's it all up, since I don't want to ruin the crystal sparkle (this is my only 4 our of 5 rating!) I will be ordering more of these though for sure, despite Bacardi's pleads against bling. Sorry buddy, my rules! Yankee too, isn't safe against the bling. BLING FOR EVERYONE.

Speaking of ordering more, you know how I am a tack whore on a budget and I wouldn't be caught dead spending an arm and a leg on custom tack. Starting at $50, these brow bands are not only gorgeous, they are affordable too. If you're interested, use my code "MONICA15" for an additional 15% off until July 31. 

In summation;

Quality: 4/5

Customer Service: 5/5

Craftsmanship: 5/5

Shipping: 5/5

Hello I'm gorgeous

A Tribute to Fyre

"Until one has loved an animal, a part of 

one's soul remains unawakened" - Anatole France

Death is such an interesting aspect of life, and one that I am blessed to not have encountered often. In fact, only a handful of people I have known have passed on, and only one close relative. I consider myself lucky in that sense. However, I have felt grief for countless animals, and those losses I sometimes feel deeper than any other.

Animals touch your soul in a way that humans cannot even begin to comprehend or match. It is a different kind of love, friendship and forever bond, and I know most of you agree with me.

Losing a horse though, is my worst nightmare and I was so close to losing Yankee this spring...those feelings stay with me. They surge on occasion, creating fleeting panic, squeezing my heart, constricting my breath and battering my thoughts with worry, pain and heartbreak. I know that when that horse goes, I will be inconsolable. I try not to think about it.

I did not expect to feel that type of pain though, for a horse I haven't owned in years. She was my first horse though, and they say you will never forget your first true love.

It was love. Love at first sight. I was ten years old, and my parents surprised me for Christmas with a pony. She was horribly ugly, her tail was gone, her head was huge,  she had tiny white spots everywhere and she was permanently fat from years of being a broodmare and she was a MARE...but I loved her instantly because she was mine. 

There were no iPhones back then, sadly

I had begged for years for a pony, like any typical girl would, but my parents made me work for it. She wasn't just a gift that a spoiled white kid got for christmas one year- I spent literal years proving I was ready for such a huge responsibility, and they were hands off for most of my equine years. I wish I had more photos of her, but anything we have is buried deep in the family photo album archives. 

A rare photo from our time together

Dolly taught me more than I can even comprehend, and to this day I am grateful for her sassy attitude, her sweet nickers, her willingness, her staying power and her mothering nature.

She was a registered, winning Arabian mare that spent her younger years as a western pleasure champion. She then went on to have 11 foals and then was sold to my parents for the rock bottom price of $700. I will never know what she was like in her earlier years, but I did find a few photos of her offspring floating around the net. They looked EXACTLY Like her, which I am not surprised about. 

Dolly carting my cute ass around a tiny jumper course

There was this one spot on her elbow that had a red heart inside of it, and that was my favorite thing about my horse. She had a heart by her heart!

Dolly was a raging bitch though, most of the time, and I struggled sometimes with her attitude. Typical chestnut (ARABIAN) mare. But I loved her anyways. She was the sweetest girl alive on the ground, and intended to keep you there. I think she bucked me off everyday for two years, hah!

Granted, I was new to riding, so coming off that often was no surprise, and I usually bounced back on, much to Dolly's displeasure. After a few tries to unseat me she usually begrudgingly settled into whatever we had planned for the day and did was she as asked by  my puny pre-teen self.

Oh the adventures we had!

I was incredibly lucky to grow up in such a cool area, and horse trails butted up against our property. My mom would give me a small pack and send us off for the day. How a parent was ever comfortable with letting her 10/11/12 year old go off all day, in the woods, on a horse, with no cell phone is beyond me, but that was my childhood. We explored everything! Galloped through fields, meandered down paths, and crossed streams. We laid in grassy knolls together, chilled under trees and played in the corn. It was a magical existence, a true fairytale.

BillyGPhotography

Dolly was the greatest gift I was ever given; she allowed me to find myself. She was my best friend and a shoulder to cry on. She was my comfort through the turmoils of being the youngest in middle and high school. She was my constant, my friend and my everything. We did 4H, jumpers, western, gaming, hunters and even dabbled in dressage and eventing. We completed 2 BN events together when I was 12, right before I got Spirit, the Wonder Pony (also RIP). She did everything I asked, with a little bit of sass.

Soon, she grew older and I grew much taller, but we still enjoyed each others company. She was in her mid 20s at this point, and I was moving on with life. Dolly girl was much too old to continue competing, but she still had some spunk in her! I remember one day I took her out for a bareback stroll and asked her to trot and the little B bucked me off (I was 16 at the time!) and I broke my arm falling off that damn 14 hand pony! Only horse related riding injury to date, on the tiniest horse I've owned, haha.

Eventually, I got Yankee, along with Spirit, and she needed a new job. I donated her to a friends non-profit horse camp for trouble teens, and Dolly flourished there for a few years. However, when the camp lost funding, Dolly found her new and forever home with a family in SC, where the winters weren't as harsh and she was only lightly ridden occasionally. She was about 25 at this point an I couldn't have been happier where she ended up. She lived the rest of her days at that farm with a wonderful family that loved and spoiled her...and thats all I could ever have hoped for for my Fyre Dawl.

Dolly on her 30th birthday

I got the news yesterday that it was her decided last day on earth and I simply didn't believe it....Dolly would never die, she was too spunky.  But 33 years later, my baby girl was leaving us.  I assume her body was failing her. I know most of her teeth were gone and she had trouble laying down and getting up. Until recently, she held weight fairly well..but at 33 her body was tired. I had the pleasure of knowing her for 15 of those years, and owning her for about 6, and I will never forget her snarky, beautiful face. 

Enjoying her last bath..and look at that tail! <3 td="">

The hole in my heart feels too big right now, like it won't close up for a long time. I cried and cried in the car, so much I had to pull over and just let it flow. Pulling myself together for the rest of the work day was impossible, and I left early. I just can't believe she's gone. I so wish I had had the chance to touch her soft muzzle one last time, or give that neck I had hugged so many times one more. My peace comes with the fact that she was loved until the very end and never worried about hunger or abandonment. Her family gave her what I couldn't, and for that I am forever grateful.

Rest in peace Fyre Dawl 1983-2016

What Do Wednesday: Trailering

The update on B is depressing AF and consists of possible weeks on stall rest, packing with magic cushion and lameness. Literally what the fuck. I have NEVER in 18 years had a horse go this lame or be this problematic all of a sudden, with shoes. Farrier came out yesterday and said he was too sore and had no foot to attach a shoe to...which I suspected. And now I am le sad.

Moving on from that bullshit, my question this week was spurred by a conversation with a barn mate regarding trailering protection. Meaning, the discussion of "to wrap or not to wrap" when trailering.

I have the tendency to do more than less, which is not the norm around here. Most toss their horses in with just a halter and thats that, regardless of the length of trip.

However, I am paranoid, and have been in 2 trailering accidents (thankfully not horrible BUT could have been) so therefore I stress when trailering. Bacardi also is a special snowflake. While he flails less than he used to, he still occasionally kicks and or behaves badly. Therefore, I don't care if we are going 5 minutes down the road, they are essentially bubble wrapped.

If you've been with me long enough, you know that B's favorite thing is NOT trailering. He's made huge steps in getting over his fears and now will go in after about 5 minutes staring and thinking. The hardest part is getting him out when he's in my trailer. In Supertrainer's he can spin around and walk out, but mine is a straight load. Always something with him.

Bringing him home, be fore I knew he hated trailers and wraps 

Regardless, I take several precautions now when trailering, especially with B. You never know what could happen in the trailer or, in an accident. I try to keep them as safe as possible, while also taking in to account comfort (weather, length of trip, etc) and safety.

For any short trailer ride, they get boots. I don't care what anyone else thinks, all it take sis one misstep, one kick or even an accident to shred some leg. I've seen it happen. They get boots. Always.

I prefer shipping boots, but summer can be a bit hot so on days that are 85+ they get bells and regular SMB boots all around.

If its a long distance, they get shipping wraps. When I brought Yankee home from MO, I used the equiflex sleeves under stable wraps and it worked beautifully. I recommend that set-up for horses whose legs swell up.

B DOES NOT tolerate wraps on his hind legs, ever, so he always gets just boots. I hate it, especially since he will kick on occasion, but he kicks more with wraps. Whomp whomp.

B also gets a super special shipping halter and shipping cap. I like to call it the dunce cap. I don't have a picture of it, but its a thick wool and leather cap that attaches to their halter and protects the poll.

Without special hat. This was before I knew he needed it.

This bitch WORKS. I swear it saved his life once.

Last spring? Remember when he ripped his face open to the bone? Yeah. He was halfway in the trailer and decided he didn't want to be in there anymore and reared (IN THE GODDAMN TRAILER) and fell out backwards, bashing his face on the way out. terrifying to say the least, but without the dance cap, I am sure he would've been dead.

Stitches out!

So he gets that special halter every time.

I didn't pay $200 for a custom halter either. Took an old leather halter and added sheepskin tubes to it ($60/set on ETT) and BAM, shipping halter.

In addition, I ONLY ship in leather halters and lead ropes stay ON in transit. This has been handy in so.many.situations. I ship with two halters usually; one attached to the tie in the trailer, and the other with the lead line, untied. This way if the tied halter breaks, there is still one on the horse. Ask me how I learned this trick.

A lot of people scream "UNSAFE", but as long as the lead line is out of the way and looped/tied in a loose release knot, I see no issue with it.

I think of fires too, and in that situation, the lead  line is RIGHT there, no need to freak out and try and get one, attach it and get the horses out. SO many instances where this is handy, and has been handy for me.

Additionally, Yankee rubs his tail in the trailer. He sits back on the butt bar and cruises right along, effectively rubbing all the hair off. So he gets a tail wrap too.

See tailwrap

So to recap:
1. Boots/shipping boots & bell boots always. Wraps if long distance.
2. Two leather halters, one with fleeces.
3. Lead line attached
4. Special hat for B
5. Tail wrap for Yankee

I am always fascinated by everyone's answers, and I would really love to know what ya'll do when trailering! How do you wrap your horse? Do you? Do they wear a special hat like B? Tell me dear readers, what do??