Meet Braggles

So, things are changing around here. And as someone suggested, I think I might need a time turner to make it all work. I kind of feel like I'm back in college, surviving off 5 or less hours of sleep a night and living my life by my planner, and the horses aren't even back at the homestead yet.

I enjoy work, and being busy and actually get bored being lazy.

Its about to get too busy though. And THAT I don't know about.

Boarding  Bacardi has opened up my life, literally, in so many magical ways. I am able to sleep again 7 hrs a night, you know, normal things people need to survive and I finally got my health & anxiety under control. I was able to go back to school and work on my dual masters degree. I had opportunities to work OT at work for extra money. I got to work out consistently AND ride my horse. It was wonderful. WAS.

Then, a month ago, my spoiled white girl life was shattered when Yankee had colic surgery and his lease ended.

If you don't know by now, he is coming home April 1 (meaning I am driving 9 hours to go get him) and I will have horses on my property....again.

So of course, Yankee can't be alone right?

RIGHT.

So I found him a friend.

His name is Braggles and he's adorable and looks exactly like Bacardi and it works out for all parties involved that he comes to stay with us until Yankee is well enough to be ridden and hopefully leased out again.

Because mama aint got no time of' dat.

I spent the ENTIRE weekend getting sawdust, hay, fixing fence and pastures, cleaning and prepping the barn and I can 100% admit, I am not exactly the cheeriest about my situation.

Barn is prepped

Before anyone gets their panties in a bunch, go read Amy's blog. She states everything so wonderfully and summarizes all the reasons I HATE having horses at home. Color me spoiled. I don't care. I work hard for my money, and money is time and time is money. Without time to work, I don't have the ability to ride at all. And caring for horses literally eats all my free time. My slight, minuscule, tiny small amounts of free time. Boarding saved my life, social, mental and physical and I am legit terrified I will slip back into a dark mental state, get fat and lose everything I've worked for. Seriously though, its a possibility.

Regardless of all my worries, I am very grateful Yankee is alive and well and that I am lucky enough to own 2 OTTBs....but truly, I need him to get better fast so I can lease him out, or I will have to sell Bacardi...and I would really like not having to do that.

Anyways, here is Braggles and I go get him Saturday and I am super excited to have horses at my house again, even if I do hate it at the same time. He's also an OTTB that currently cannot be ridden and is a magical unicorn that gets fat on air. Its awesome. Plus his face. So cute.

UH-dorable. Just wanna smush his face.

We Have a Bit...Of a Problem

Thats actually a really punny title. You'll find out why if you keep reading.

How to make your 17.1 horse look small : be me

I have no fun show updates like the rest of you, but it was a pretty good week/weekend in term of riding. But I do have several other small updates to make. Try to pay attention.

So all last week and the week before, while my beautiful new dressage bridle was at the tailors, because Bacardi is a superstar at breaking shit....

...I was using my jump bridle/bit to do flatwork because thats all I had. Poor planning/I might need a spare bridle set for future reference.

example

He was absolutely stunning all week. No tantrums (those are rare these days) and even better, no giraffe resisting. I was pretty confident and happy with how things were going.

I then got the precious back and went ahead and rode in the correct tack.

Cue head flipping, literally every 87 seconds.

Um, ok.

So we revisited the standing martingale and the lunge line of discovery. Much shorter lesson this time at 10 minutes and then he was like, FINE.

Not from this week, haha

Then I thought about it. He is ALWAYS perfect in my jump tack. Rarely flips his head in the middle of a gait or transition, unless he wants to RUN through a fence and I have to half halt. Even then its a sideways head toss and not a half rear type deal. In his dressage bit he isn't bad, he just literally flips his head every transition, or mostly I notice in the trot.

I think B hates his dressage bit.

Before we revisits saddle fit, I've ridden his dressage bit on the jump bridle, and also his dressage bridle with his jump saddle, the common denominator here is the frenchlink. LE SIGH.

Which sucks, because he also REALLY hates anything ELSE that isn't a french link. Like literally, good luck walking forward because he will be spending his time flying backwards trying to spit offending bit out.

Which poses an even greater problem for competition. HE LOVES his waterford. Waterfords are not dressage legal. WHY WHY WHY though?? They are such nice bits. Yankee goes in one for XC and he adores it. They are so mild and my boys prefer the several breaks in the mouthpiece.

The Gina Miles version of a Waterford loose ring

So what am I to do? He obviously goes super nice in his waterford, and resists the frenchlink a bit. Anything else is out of the question.

Any advise would be helpful....

I thought I was done with bitting problems, ugh.

Anyways, besides that, he was great this weekend. I was absolutely destroyed from shoveling an actual half ton of sawdust into my barn for the boys (arriving next week!!) and stacking the expensive fucking hay I bought their precious selves, so riding was hard.

He was VERY excitable and really wanted to jump and my body was like, no.

I had fully intended on jacking the oxers up to 3'6 to get some height in, but I was too sore to really tolerate his constant pulling so we schooled *trying* to maintain a nice, huntery canter in between jumps. Tried.

He was actually a very good boy, but I simply didn't have the physical ability to really ride well and cut the ride short. I was pleased though still, even with a few minor wtf moments, he was lovely.

This week I am interviewing for a part time medical billing position so along with grad school, gym, and full time insurance job, in addition to picking up Yankee's companion horse this weekend and bringing him home....we will see if we ride much.

Also, stay tuned for a cool giveaway for my 600th post!!

What Do Wednesday: Tails

I have actually done a post about this topic before, but it was in 2014 which seems like ages ago. Also, my methods have changed a bit since then. Also also, my recent FB and instagram post got a bit of attention, so I want to explain myself for those who requested!

What is it exactly? My transformation Tuesday of Bacardi's tail

Why yes, that is the same  horse and the same tail, almost exactly 2 years apart, save for a few months. Crazy right?

If any of you know me on a personal level, you know my obsession with tails is almost at an unhealthy level. For real though, I worry about myself. Considering I almost didn't buy B because of his wimpy tail...couldn't have that. (Jk jk!)

God his tail was awful.

LOOK AWAY

I honestly never thought his tail would ever reach the point where it is currently, since my methods worked no magic on my wee pony, Spirit, and his horrendously wimpy tail. Yankee was fortunately gifted with luscious locks, and requires little maintenance and I've been lucky with that beast at least.

Circa 2008

I actually believe my "old method" damaged the hair more than it helped, and he has lost some gloriousness with recent events. So we will have to work on that.

We have a lot to work on actually

I USED to braid the tail after applying Cowboy magic, roll it up and stuff it in a sock or vet wrap it...

Exhibit A

Exhibit B

This was truly so much work (so.much.work.), and I noticed more and more hair in my brush when I would take it down once a month to re-do.

So for the summer of 2015 I left the tail down.  Or kept it in a single braid.

Single braid rules. Wanna know why?

It keeps the hairs maintained, out of the way, unable to be stepped on/pulled out, keeps it conditioned, easy to take out for pics, and still gives the ability to swat flies. ITS PERFECT.

Before I braid, I FINGER comb with detangler and then usually ride to let it air out and dry. Finger combing is essential...and annoying, but essential.. If super tangled (it never is, because braid) I will allow myself to carefully use a human hair brush, but generally, brushes yank hairs out and that is the opposite of what we want.

After our ride, I will finger comb again with Cowboy Magic and then loosely braid from the tailbone down. The key is loose enough that it won't come out, but not too tight that the hairs break off. Its a fine line. I then leave about 6-8 inches of "swatch" near the end of the braid. I've noticed this helps the hair tie securing the braid not fall out, and gives an end for fly swatting.

Example of braid. ignore slipped polo. But now that I've pointed it out I bet you can't

and....thats about it.

I baby it with Cowboy magic and braid it up.

I usually take it don for pics or weekly, whichever comes first.

Then, in spring (NOW, yay!) I hack it off

Nah, I dont do that, but I do bang a good amount off the ends. Like a solid 3-4 inches.

Tail was touching the ground beforehand

Before you gasp and lose your shit, this really is the key. I know its horrifying to destroy all the growth that occurred all winter, but seriously trust me.

Major key

This creates a full effect, and gets rid of all the nasty ends. Just like a human hair cut!

Then, just repeat for a year or so or more and BOOM, sexual tail.

Disclaimer, I also feed a biotin supp for the feet and I swear it helps with tails. I also don't participate in the "venter tail" style where the top of the tail is pulled or trimmed up. Seriously, look at his tail head...I would be chopping off so much luscious hair and I absolutely refuse to. Plus, I've done this on Yankee, it looks tacky and I hate it (see circa 2008 pic fr proof). No offense to those who do it, I just think it looks silly. I like me a full tail.

But, this is how I do it. And with some patience and a little Magic, you can too!

So dear readers, this is my question to you, what do?? Are you as obsessed as me? Do you not give a flip at all? What do you do to make your pony's tail the best it can be? Feed your secrets.

Week Wrap Up

Super boring post today, be warned...but it is Monday. Still behind on rides, but I am slowly making my way in reporting on our super exciting happenings.

Last week on Wednesday Amy and her ducklings came over to my barn to take advantage of the jumps in the indoor. Perfect timing too since it was POURING outside.

It actually hasn't stopped raining since, and I have a feeling it won't for some time either. Poor ponies have been stuck in, but at least they're nakey! Almost overbite I've come to the barn, B has been asleep, and I feel bad about waking him, but sometimes ya gotta horse.

B kept up his streak of impressing me with his horsey adulting during the ride Wednesday. He stood still while the crew jumped all around him and he jumped everything I pointed him at, quite willingly.

Not from Wednesday, but still cute

Amy's lovely children were my jump and video crew for the night, (so spoiled by them)  and we focused on working through the grid that was set a few times, raising it a few holes each successful attempt. He knocked a rail once on the last oxer, but I am pretty sure that was my riding and not his error. Regardless, he was an angel and didn't fly through or knock down the entire exercise like he used to! Progress. So much progress.

Considering that he used to refuse everything repeatedly, or jump like a deer, I think its safe to say he's really starting to enjoy and understand his job.

Inbetween Wednesday and now, I rode every day, just continuing to work on basics on the flat, or hacking out. Combined with gym time, work and school, sometimes *I* have zero energy or too sore from CF to make a real ride of things and just focus on transitions or adjustability in gaits. Also important, but usually short sessions and rather boring. So, not much to report there but continued calm and willingness from the baby.

Saturday he was a bit sassy for our flat session and kept hauling on my left arm. Granted, going on 2 weeks of being stalled, it was sideways raining and there were FIVE horses in the ring...I didn't really blame  him or get too mad. 

However, one silly head toss too many, I did lose my patience with weaving inbetween horses jumping and being lunged that I said fuck it and chalked the day up for a loss. I also had just come from an absolutely BRUTAL and savage gym sesh that included a 3 mile run, broke up into sprints with burpees and lunges and I just didn't have it in me to focus my remaining energy on great transitions and wrangling a semi-hot OTTB.

Still not a terrible ride, just really didn't get past warm-up.

Sunday Funday did not happen, I was so sore and when I arrived, B was sleeping and I felt bad making him get up. 

Eventually he did, but I just spent the time grooming him and primping. His mane and tail now look less "wintery" and he seemed to enjoy it! 

I always treasure any barn time I have, and I wasn't mad about either visit this weekend.

Here's to a new week though!

Oh we gonna work, work, work, work , work

I am a little behind on Bacardi updates, so I am going to do my best to recall the two rides I had last weekend.

First, they were beyond wonderful.

I really needed some uplifting rides, life has been stressing me out and running me into the ground. Why did I think double masters grad school was a good idea?

So Saturday ride first, which was flat work.

It was a mucky gross day, but I rode outside anyways, sorry Supertrainer, don't hate me.

Really, I just wanted a few good videos to take some stills from. Indoor fuzzy pics are getting old.

B was incredibly chill and we got to work right away. The ring was atrocious, so I kept our ride mostly on one end in a 20 meter circle, and theres only so much one can do on said 20m circle before one gets bored.

SIDENOTE, I rode in my bargain FITS breeches I got off ETT for $60, They look like jeans and they're amazing. I wish I could afford MOAR

However, He was working quite well. So well, I didn't really know what to do with him actually. I was like, oh okay, trot transition perfect, forward in trot, tracking up, relaxed, lets try canter, OH OKAY no sass today? Um alright, lets collect? Oh snap that feels great. Ok, flying change here, BAM wow okay then, lets do another, WOW okay B stop blowing my mind, lets trot, Extended trot? okay fine, you're being amazing we can walk.

Fancy trots left

Fancy trots right

Canter right

Canter left

flying change

NBD

So after a few flying changes and some more trot transitions I just sat there and was like welp, I don't know what else to do, he's being perfect. Soooo, lets end it there.

So productive, I know.

So heres a few more pics of our very excellent, uneventful ride. Enjoy. Also don't judge the jump bridle, my dressage bridle/bit are in the leather shop getting fixed.

FAVORITE

Such uphill. Very canter.

Then Sunday was jump day. I think I am going to try and make early Sunday morning rides a thing now and work on jumping that day specifically. It just works out with my schedule and barn slave videographer schedule.

There was a very unique exercise set up, one I had not done in a while. If anyone has every heard of "thread the needle" you know it can bring about feelings of anxiety and claustrophobia.

First, we just dabbled with the outside lines of the exercise. He was a smidgen strong on Sunday, but I wasn't mad about it. This time last year he was refusing fences left and right so...not mad.

But he did about haul my left arm out of its socket. I was sore until Wednesday!

After that we increased the height to the smallest verticals and I ran through the outside lines a few times, then switches it up to angling them. You can't really tell in the video, but I did. He handled the angle jumps easily too, which made me a happy momma. Then, we worked on threading the needle, which means we jump all four jumps, with only about 2 feet of room. its hard to explain...watch the video.

Talk about anxiety. I don't know why but riding that made me so nervous and B was just like um, r u ok? I got this ma.

After that, I added a boxy oxer on the outside line to test his scope a bit without going too crazy. I still have a healthy fear of anything over 3'3 and Supertrainer prefers we don't jump over that while she's in FL anyways. Happy to oblige.

I was pleased with his efforts and also cut that ride short.

He has really been making improvements in leaps and bounds (literally) and it makes me so happy to finally have a horse that shows up to work everyday. He is beginning to feel like home. You know what I mean? Like when you sit in the saddle, you know thats where you're meant to be. Yankee has always felt like that to me, but I am beyond happy that Bacardi is starting to feel the same.

Teamwork

Ride for Olivia

Quick sidenote, I can fully get behind this hashtag. Maybe with this tragedy the eventing community can make some much needed changes...

My two favorite pics of my beloved OTTBs

#RideforOlivia

Spoiled AF

Much has happened in the last few days, and I am struggling to stay afloat with school, work and the horses. I haven't read a single blog in 3 days, so apologies to everyone! I still see your comments and love them to death and can't thank you enough. 

This will be a rather quick, disjointed update so I'm hoping my next few posts won't be all over the place or done with a mobile phone. 

Besides riding, Bacardi got treated to another massage day last Monday (posting a week late, HA). As some of you may know, I am not the biggest fan of voodoo things like Chiro, massage etc...but I will say, trying the massage once, and now twice...I am a believer.

The first session was an overall body work for B. That was about 8 weeks ago and Magic Therapist (MT for short) solidified my spidey sense that his neck/shoulders and hips were routinely sore/problem areas. If you know us from our flailing days, you know he specializes in giraffing and holds literally all tension in his neck/shoulder area. His special talent.

That first session was almost two hours and I loved the dedication she had for my horse. As an upper level dressage rider, she understands what we as clients do with our horses and what would help them the most.

Our second session was a little different. I only had about an hour total to spare from work and MT got to work on B and discovered he was extra tense in his shoulders. As in, very tense. 

She spent a good deal of time working his neck and shoulders with her hands and even added in the laser after his mild protest of just hands. It was curious to watch, because you could clearly see he was enjoying it, and then MT would move to another area and he would be like "OW OW OW ouchhhh!" and then relax after about minute.

MT spent about 30 minutes on just his shoulders and neck before moving to his hind end. Not noticing anything particular about his spine, she moved forward with addressing his hips. Cue surprising small meltdown from Bacardi. Apparently his hips were extra ouchy and he let us know. He did this little buck hop thing with both legs, never actually kicked out, but his tail was a' swishin'.

I always find it interesting how horses can communicate to us handlers what they are feeling with simple flick of their tail or leg raise and we can accordingly adjust our actions.

After about ten minutes, MT moved back to his shoulders to wrap up with some more massage in his lower neck. 

I know it's "just massage" but I truly do feel it helps him. Especially with him being such a tense horse, the bodywork  truly releases some tension and he's a much different horse afterwards. He just feels a little less "stuck" and gives more effort in all he does after a session. Swings through his back and hips more, jumps rounder and nails his changes. I know I feel better after a massage, and I know he does too!

Next up, weekend jumping fun x 2!