USDF Reg 4 Champs/ SMSG Team Competition

 I was goign to wait till we got our professional pictures back (we conned a barn mate to come with her fancy schmancy camera) to blog but I'm getting ancy.

The day of competition dawned early. I was excited and hopeful. Injections were working their voodoo magic, Yanks had been going brilliantly and I was prepared. I ACTUALLY had my first test memorized. Our WHOLE barn was coming to support us and it was amazing to feel the love.

We all look just ridiculous

 Our strategy was to immediately separate the beasts to opposite sides of trailer because Demi has separation anxiety and it gets bad at shows. Yankee rarely gives a flip at shows and I've never had an issue with him being badly behaved at the trailer/calling for other horses.

All was good until Demi was in warm up and started blaring away for someone and Yankee heard her. That was the end of that. They called and called and called and I was SO embarrassed because K was reluctant to even take me because she knew her horse would start that. I assured her Yankee was fine at shows and wouldn't be an issue.

Insert foot into mouth and hang head.

Luckily Demi, per usual floated like an angel and despite calling, won her classes with a 77% and 75% in training level.

So I didn't feel very bad.

8 hours (horse shows...hurry up and wait) after we arrived I tacked up and got shiny pants looking spiffy.

Best braids I've ever done.

Our warm up was...bad. He was verrrrry excited and not really listening to my aids at all. I was frustrated so after 15 min I stopped and watched a few tests. Right before my test I did a quick warm up and magically, he was phenom. Okay. Neat.

First test went well despite the stretchwork (pretty much nonexistent) and he was perfect. Absolutely perfect. Our canter departures were jumpy, our trots, forward, 10m circles, bendy, extended canter, full of energy and all  movements hella accurate. Small flaws were out stretches and extend trots. They were just okay. Overall though he was quiet, responsive and bendy. Pretty much a dream.

My ENTIRE barn congratulated me and told me he looked great and we had that in the bag.

Then we got the scores. Out of 5 people I was third with a 61%...uh? What. Okay. Fine I guess 6's are better than 4-5s/.  I don't want to speak ill of anyone but there were some SERIOUS flaws in all of their tests and I was appalled that I didn't get a better score/place better. Our head trainer and my teammate who beat me couldn't believe it. T deserved to win, her horse floats like a goddamn angel but I was still seriously upset.

Our second test was right after so I tried to shake it off. We rode a clean test, Almost the exact same as the first but with leg yields and one loops canters. He was perfect. So perfect. I can't even.

Again. 61%. Are you fucking with me judge? Like, are you serious? Last tiem I showed first level we got a 68% and a 65%, First level is EASY. Our simple change and stretch circle were bad. Okay, I get that. I think we got 5s on both. Leg yield right 6, no surprise there. Leg yeild left 7, happy with this, he was very good for that one. Extensions were both lackluster but he was behaved & engaged. We did get one 8, on our right lead one loop canter. And I got a 7 on rider both tests which has never happened since I moved to MO. Overall though pretty shitty scores and I was still upset. I got second behind my teammate in that class. Again, T deserved to win, per usual because her horse is fucking perfect and I love him.

Never once was I upset with the beast. He was round, engaged, responsive and light. Disappointing that the judge couldn't look past his TBness and score him like she did all the WBs but whatever we can't all love OTTBs I guess. 

The link to my second test video is HERE I don't start my test till 1:20 so FF to there if you want

Gah. Love him.

I just can't get over him. He's the best.

So bendy

The most bendy down centerline

Beginning of extended trot

Our "extensions"

I'm okay with this extension. Very active.

15m circle

Down centerline

Extension...sort of

15m circle

End of extension

Overall I got silver for individual and our team out of 5 teams (? I think) got the silver. My good friend (and reader) from OH got gold indiv and team with her new OTTB (OTTB love) and I'm super proud of her! They deserved it with some really great rides.

Our team and the BO (top) and my pit crew/team (bottom)

Moar cookiez plz

Very happy with my boy. Not so happy with the judge. But hey you win some you lose some.

Sneak Peak

Practice Makes...Mediocre

Apparently the pitfall in this relationships is me.

Yankee has been pretty brilliant and I thought I was pretty fly myself, until I looked at picture evidence of my delusion.

I have a serious case of hand in lap.

MUST. FIX.

When did this happen? How did this happen? Why did this happen?

We may never know.

Tuesday I ran through our first test (since I can only sort of memorize one USDF test at a time. Sort of) and it felt a little tense, but overall it was okay. Just okay. WE wouldn't win any classes with it, but he feels a thousand times better than he used to, so that right there is a win. All of our mistake are mine and mine alone.

Down centerline was actually very nice. Solid bend and pretty straight...

Our first extension was...barely there...But I will take a relaxed frame more than a fabulous fip toe and extend anyday even if the judge doesn't...

Merrr..

The canters were relaxed and our best movements. The injection magic is most noticeable in our canter...

Nice and uphill

Good OTTB

The stretchy circle was half our best move in the test. Literally EVERY SINGLE TIME I SCHOOL him he immediately really reaches for contact and is gorgeous, but EVERYTIME I do a test he's like.."contact, hwat is dis?" And only reaches slightly forward and down in the last 1/3 of the circle...better than nothing I guess...

dats okay I supposes

At least he's round and pushing!

The second extension was..better but still nothing like it could've been...

Our trot circles were inconsistent. He was falling out a few times..but I blame my dismal riding and eq...

Hunched shoulders, hands in lap, collapsing much?

Our free walk was aight, I would've guessed we got a 7. He needed more impulsion but he had swing and reach. Pretty hit or miss movement in tests. I've gotten anywhere from 4's-9's so it really could go whichever way his OTTB ADD takes him...

Overall it was just okay. I think it was mostly in MY head and terrible rising so I'm major pep talking myself before we head out early in the AM. The weather is going to be perrrrffff and we (my team) got matching polos! HASHTAG SWAG.

And here's Yanks being derp per usual. I accidentally flipped the reins over when I got off and he just stood there..

After our ride I went through our regular carrot stretchies. I firmly believe these help and he's gotten WAY better since I started them.

Also I don't know if you've seen his trick but its pret-tey imp-pressive

Hopefully our next update will be positive and possibly with some pretty ribbons! I
m really nervous about our leg yeilds in our second test..they're seriously inconsistent in shows. EEEKK.

Go Team Stoney Hill!

All The Happenings

This week was the most eventful of sorts and has put me in a fantabulous mood.

IT began by saying goodbye to my semi-trusty sexual but ancient truck. I've had it since I was 16 and its 14 years old this year...I think I spent more on new tires and repairs than what its worth and spent quite a while worrying about the trustiness of hauling long distances. It was time.

I will miss Big Sexy (yes thats his name. We name all our cars) but he served me well and I shall always remember his service and rusty spots and sticky gear shift and rumbly roar and searing leather seats and crooked headlights that barely worked. Love you baby.

In his place I bought an SUV. And I am madly in love. Its perfect. I LOVE driving it around AND it can haul. My new baby is a savvy Honda Pilot 4wd, 6 seat piece of metal ass.

Out with the old, in with the new

My parents called it the Great Car Switch of Summer 2013. I sold the Big Sexy, in the process of selling the trailer and my car (Green Bean), I took The Boss from my dad for a massively discounted price, Dad took my brothers sports car, The Silver Bullet, bought my brother a new car, Smiley,  Mom kept RedGreen, her Prius and they bought a truck, Ghost. Dad drove Boss here, got Big Sexy and the trailer and went back to OH. Did you get all of that? All in all...it worked out nicely and I don't owe a bank A FRICKING DIME.

So that was much excite.

I am in need a of a trailer though. One that weighs 2k lbs without a horse. Soooo if any of you in the Missouri area know of one...thatd be sweet to hit me up.

I also went on my first float trip ever this weekend and it was SO MUCH FUN. Nothing like drinking for 9 hours on a river with hundreds of other college kids soaking up the sun.

Also much excite.

Yankee has been a DREAM since the first horrendous ride and I am REALLY looking forward to the USDF/SMSG Area 4 Champs this weekend!

Looking very dressagey

The injections melted away his tense attitude and he has literally been perfect since then and oh so sexual in every transition and halt. Hopefully getting pics tomorrow of some schooling!

Levi dog went to the vet and got his nads removed. He is a very sad pup. He hasn't perked his ears once since we left the vet office. I think he thinks I tricked him because he went into the office super duper happy bouncy playful and came out with a look on his face like, FUCK YOU I HATE YOU. Kind of funny in retrospect. Some pain meds and a week of healing he will be brand new though.

 

 

Sad dog is sad.

This week it FINALLY stopped feeling like satans sweaty ballsack outside and cooled to  tolerable mid 80s temps. The Yankee has been feeling very derp lately, whether due to feelin' good or the weather. But its pretty ridiculous.

How special

Very much looking forward to a show that isn't a thousand face melting degrees outside!!

Buncha' Asshats

There are two of them, actually.

One is myself.

I did it again.

While I was doing this....

(Celebrating A's 21st)

I was doing this (apparently)....

HAHAHA. Goddamit. What is my drunk brain thinking?? That money grows on trees?

You may all remember a few years ago when I did the EXACT same thing with with a 3 point german made breastplate. I spent lots more on that one.

Whats a tack whore to do though? I guess my reasoning  (I can slightly remember saying this to myself) was that "hey, its an HDR, Jackie is taking her 5 point back, I NEEEEED one (DUH WE ARE EVENTERS (THAT DONT EVEN EVENT BTW)) and its soooo cheap. Yes. MUST HAVE. Bid please!"

My phone bling blooped at me around 11pm and I was like "Holy shit guys, I guess I accidentally bought a 5 point?" All of my friends ride so they of course supported my dumb ass, but silently judged me because I had been complaining about the $5 cover because I'm "too poor for this shit".

And thats the story of me and Ebay and why I am an asshat.

The second assface is my silly pony. Apparently when you give an 11 year old hock injections it takes away 8 years of training.  Like, all of it.

I have the war wounds to prove it (blisters).

I lunged Yankee tuesday and he was looking FABULOUS. And fresh. He spent half the time bucking. I chalked it up to being penned up in his stall for the required 3 days after injections. But seriously, fabulous. Toe flicky, hind end engaged, back round, etc.

He feels like a new man.

Too new. Like out of the uterus new. Jerk.

I rode yesterday and about cried.

Pone was THE definition of green. As soon as I got on he was tense, nervous, tight, resistant, tossy, jerky and assholey. He yanked on my hands, danced sideways, tossed his head, squealed, bucked, resisted contact, danced in place (oooh la la, PIAFFE!) and made me look a complete idiot (of course everyone was in the ring that day).

All he really seemed to want to do was dance around sideways and be an idiot, so I said FINE LETS SCHOOL HALF PASS FOR HALF HOUR.

They were flawless. He loved it. I guess he just wanted to dance?

Distractions

While I sit here waiting for 3 days to pass so I can ride my pone again, I shall share what we did before he got his wittle hockies injected.

"Mom, I am seriously bored. This is horseshit. And I hate my hay."

I did "gallop" sets on Tuesday.....

My new fav pic of us.

Dont you love the troxel? Left my CO helmet in Jackies car

That white blur is Levi, the dog.

 ....and Wednesday Jackie and I spent ALL day at our barns. All day. =Sunburns.

We jumped Yanks just a little bit first, considering I knew he was just slightly ouchy. He sure didn't act like it though, rollbacks, engagement and flllyying over fences. So willing. I swear, if you didn't know Yankee/horses that well, you wouldnt even notice the so very slight hitch in his getalong. (Yes, I was told by the vet up until the injections it was OK to continue riding like normal).

I wasn't riding very well that day actually. I don't really know why but my position sucketh, kept getting left behind and I was all wrong distance wise. Luckily Yankee tolerates his human.

My face is absolutely ridiculous. What am I doing forreal in this picture...

Getting quite left behind..ooops

Atttaaack

We could toats win some hunter eq if I liked hunters.

And then there's this...result of myself whacking up distances.

Better

Yankee always loves his second mommy on his back too. I actually think he jumped better for  her all the verticals which I am insanely jealous of since verticals are my fear/nemisis.

After my barn, we went to Jackie's to school miss mare. I love this horse but sometimes I really can't ride her...like at all. I was on the struggle bus getting her to jump. The key with Isis is light contact...but literally..like, no contact (unless you're her mommy) and I just can't ride like that. My epic failure led to both of us hating each other and Isis shutting down. I couldn't even get her to turn or jump a 2 foot vertical and I was the most upset. I should be able to ride any horse, but I guess I've been spoiled with one beast for 8 years and my ability to "catch ride" has suffered.

Trying SO hard to give an epic release

Luckily we have no pictures of our cantering in place/not turning/running into fences/dying.

Jackie and mare were of course, a pair, and tackled the new barn fence with some major style. Check it..

I wish she'd let me ride her with contact, LOLZ

I'm hoping Isis isn't a one person horse, but I can say that Jackie has really turned this mare around into something super nice. I won't even be mad if she can't sell her and she's stuck with her forever ;)

Those knees doh>>>

 

 

 

The MOST funnest part of the whole day involved a pond and  no shoes. And one sweaty horse.

WE WENT SWIMMING!!! It was terrifying. And fabulous.

I've been one other time with Yankee and it was equally as scary. If you've never done it, you feel like you're about to slide off and die. But it is SO COOL at the same time. We were so proud of Isis for taking us both in! Good mare!

Jackie

Me, almost dying.