Beastmode, Engage

I realize its taken me a coons age to update everyone on the show last friday (wow,  almost a week ago) but you know how horse show hangover goes, then add on there about a thousand hours of late night work AND moving (yes, I moved. To a house. A real one!) AND not having a real computer....

I was going to put a GIF here but I can't figure how with no computer FML I WANTED A GIF.

So. Horse show hangover was bad. Like worse than usual. And it wasn't even the normal three day show. My trailer is still packed with shit and I only rode twice this week.

And Yankee did this...

COME ON YANKEE FOR FUCKS SAKE

Awkward bell boot is awkward

Yes, that IS a coronet band cut. No, its not too horrible. Still. WTF.

But mostly horse show hangover. I do not recommend going to a show that STARTS at 5 pm. I've done it twice and both times it ends with me chugging 34oz of coffee at 11pm. Mostly I was proud though... because YANKEE WAS AWESOME SAUCE!!

Seriously though, I almost cried I was so proud of my horse.

I, of course, fucked up my first two classes because apparently I can't remember jumper courses for shit. I intentionally entered the classes with no jump offs, but apparently at this show in the "power and speed classes" the "jump off" fences in the other class are PART of your course, and they are the timed ones....what the fuck right.

Never heard of that.

So it took me two classes to get acclimated.

But then, we BEASTED. We won every class after that, including the Jumper Classic.

Yankee was on point all night. I can't even explain it. He rated when I asked, jumped with knees and galloped like the wind and turned on a dime. He even beat the quick QHs and big WBs!!

Everyone noticed him, which I think is in part to his clip, but also because (and yes I AM bragging) he is a boss.

I didn't get any pictures...yet, but I do have video of the Classic round HERE and the jump-off in the classic HERE. I believe it was only 3'3-3'6 which was disappointing since I like to win over bigger stuff, but STILLTHEMOSTHAPPY.

We even won a saddle pad! I've never won a pad before. I was super excited. Hastag horse swag.

Our next show is April 6th, dressage, then mid April we will go XC schooling in prep for Queeny in May!! Happy show season is finally turning the corner.

Much Horse. So Wow.

Yet again, another duo ride between me and German Jessie. Yankee got his butt WORKED.

"You fucking humans and your ratchet shit and saddles and riding and things and dog."

 Which is good because I mean, he is an eventer. He should be used to long schools and double disciplines.

Contrary to our last ride, he was very compliant and actually made some progress from last time. I got some stellar still shots since I am still trying to compile a video for something I am applying for (not going well by the way. I am technologically retarded on some levels).

Not only was he compliant, but he was WAY more chill for the flatwork. I was setting up the jumps and videoing so I wasn't paying too close attention but I know Jessie was working on half-pass and transitions as well as the extended trot. 2 of those 3 things I cannot get my horse to do...like, at all.

German training man.

Like...what are this? Is that...collection and impulsion?

Oh my god is that...impulsion? extended trot? Is he....not on the forehand? For once?

Oh look he's actually picking up his fucking legs

Ugh. Bitch. I kind of hate her.

Oh hai look I can flick my toes

I can sidepass too bitch

What what human  look at my legs. Look at them.

JK I LOVE HER LOOK WHAT SHE DOES TO MY BEAST HE IS PERF

Video link for her flat work with Yanks is HERE

SO thats pretty cool. I wish I could ride him that way. MUST. LEARN. BETTER. DRESSAGE. HOW. TO.

Then I hopped on to jump him and I was like....

......I did not got this.

I think we crashed through the vertical at least 10 times. And it was barely 3'3. I mean I know verticals are our nemisis but seriously, a 3'3 vertical? Yankee. How many times must I remind you, YOU ARE TWELVE. Not 4. PICK YO DAMN LEGS UP FOO'

And Yankee was like...

Please Yankee? I'll ask nicely.

Yankee was like....

I really didnt want to come down to it, but I busted out the dressage whip. And just held it there. He knew I had it but still was like...

                                                             ....Yankee get it together!

I collected his canter, came around to the vertical and then I did what I never ever wanted to ever have to do to my horse...I hit him as hard as I could on the shoulder with that whip.  And guess what. He jumped it just fine.

And the time after that.

and that.

and that.

I hate to admit, but sometimes they all just need a reminder...but I still felt bad using such a harsh reminder. But seriously, he has been jumping for YEARS and a 3'3 vertical should be no issue. What was bothering me was his intentional laziness. I wish you could see the video of him not even picking up his legs. He literally telling me to fuck off and it infuriates me!

Luckily, besides the vertical, he was jumping very well and hopefully the jumper show friday will go well.

The first is 3'9 and the second is 3'6 and he was on point over the oxers. Almost over jumping, so at least I can count on his exuberance over the bigger fences. Damn verticals.


Wish us luck Friday...supposed to snow AND I'm braving this show alone...eeek.

Video link for me jumping Yanks is HERE

Much German Training

A few days ago Yankee got the crackdown on his dressage fuckery.

Lately, he's been an asshole on the flat. Not in  a "I'm-being-a-bad-horse-because-I'm bad-and-I-hate-you" but more the "I'm-being-a-douche-because-I'm-lazy" and its been driving me bananas.

I realize he's been off for the greater part of 5 weeks, but that is no excuse to not brain and pretend you have the dumb. The newest evasive measure has been sideways dancing and head-tossing while running away. Classic OTTB.

It seems every movement, transition, or bend I ask of him is just too momentous for him.

 But instead of doing the simple task of say, a canter transition, he wastes more energy evading my aids and not doing what I ask. Horse logic.

I needed to enroll him in remedial dressage and fast. He no longer gets the benefit of me saying "oh he's just a babay and he used to race so its okay that his mind is a little wandering". He. Is. 12.

I just so happen to have the bestest riding buddies around, and my friend Jessie came to the rescue.

She is currently horseless and extremely badass at dressage (she's been in a few posts before, mostly helping me dressage), so I tend to beg her to come ride my bipolar beasty often. Especially when he's intent on convincing me he doesn't know anything.

She got on him & he immediately began with his shenanigans. I figured he would. I got it all on video. But am too ashamed to show you the crooked, head tossing, sidestepping, ewe-necked hot mess that is my stoopid horse.

While she worked his ass off (literally), I sat there mesmerized, watching the cogs in his brain turn over. Its SO COOL to SEE a horse think through the problem. He wanted to do what she asked, but he also DIDN'T want to. So conflicting. Being a horse is hard.

Exibit A, 20m circle. Simple enough right? WRONG.

Luckily Jessie has more patience than I do and worked him a solid 30 minutes just on being straight through a circle and PICKING UP those legs. She even whipped out the ole "stick as a crop" trick...

With a lot of patience and even more lateral work....

She got him to relaaaaax and step under himself like I've NEVER seen my thoroughbred step. Like...what are this. Is he a Warmblood disguised as a mediocre OTTB dressage horse?

I was like "Jessie, you can ride my horse better than me and I hate you. But. He looks amazing. That frame!! How do you do that/ LEARN ME". And her response was only "Much German training".

It made me laugh because its so true! The germans are very particular about their training but DAMN do they get results.

Ermahgherd jerhmps

For the first time in what seems like a 1000 years, I dusted (literally) off the jump standards and made my creaky bones set up a small, but fun, course in the indoor-since the outdoor was unfortunately still a hot mess.

Yankee has had about a month and half off, not consecutively, but overall quite a chunk of time. Since I've returned from my road trip I've ridden the beast almost everyday. We started off slowly with lunging and some hacks but rapidly moved right back into full training. I doubt I will do Texas Rose due to lack of funds, but I plan on riding in William Woods jumper show at the end of the month. Ver excite. 

Without T. R. I don't think our first USEA show will be until May- but that will give me some time to train, go XC schooling and save some dollhairs for showing expenses. Fingers crossed Yankee doesn't need injections or get random cancerous tumors again. 

I digress. 

My BFFFL, known as Jackie, came around, as she seems to do when we bust out the jump tack ;) Miss Isis has been off most of winter thanks to a sloppy outdoor at her barn so I happily let her hop on yanks and twerk whenever she wants. 

Our goal for the night was just to get the rust off all our jumping bones and see how he was handling it. 

Quite well it turns out. Almost too well. He was an asshole for the first 20 minutes of the ride and attempted some half hearted bucks and fence charges...

But dat tail doh 

Fast thoroughbred is fast. 

Luckily nothing fazes the Jackie and she straightened him right up with one halt in a corner, back up and canter from halt. And he was like "oh, she's serious. I guess I'll behave for human".

She put him through his paces with some nice rollbacks and kept him right on track to jumping like he's supposed to. Love her!

Rollbacks for days

Then I hopped on, uncharacteristically more nervous than usual. 

I concentrated reaaaalllly hard on not jumping ahead. Which was good for the most part..however, for the life of me, yanks usually jumps me out of the tack. Not sure if upset, or okay with it. 

Grrr! At least Yankee makes up for my fail with his boss moves. 

I don't think we jumped higher than maybe 3'6 maaaaaybe 3'9 but my dumb brain still forgot how to ride. My solution was to look at he rafters when approaching the jump. Something I DONT recommend  trying on a green horse, but Yankee knows his job and knows me and I trust him. I've jumped him many times with my eyes closed to help me with my jumping ahead issue and it's actually beneficial!

I think it helped a little, but in the long run I need to work on my muscle memory. 

I gave him the day off today to recover but tomorrow plan on either another small jump school or a flat session. 

Love being back riding! Hope everyone is thawing out :)

Facebook Official

I'm not quite sure if everyone who follows my blog knows that I art. Not only is it one of my 3 jobs (I teach painting and get people wasted), but I also art for fun! 

In college I got a minor in fine arts and specialized in drawing and paint media. I've never done anything with that (except it may or may not have made a difference in me getting hired at my place of employment) .....until now. 

...I have an announcement to make.

I am in the works of getting a business license to make and sell customized artwork. The process is halfway completed, with Etsy and Facebook pages made, but not activated. I'm still thinking on a name since I CAN and will do pieces that are not strictly equine. 

I'm hoping that this new adventure will pad my income level and thus allow me to show my damn beast. 

I know I've had requests for months building up among readers and I do apologize that I haven't finished anything. I work 70 hrs a week between 3 jobs, my horse is on self care and I have to sleep at some point. 

With this license I'm hoping it will give me time to ACTUALLY complete commissions, since my end goal is to only have two jobs, my business being one of them. 

So stay tuned!! 

Adventuretime, Homesickness and Horse Shows

I'm sure you've all noticed I've been gone for quite some time from the blogsphere. Mostly because  I've been having the adventure of a lifetime, but also because taxes and new job hunt and errands and life.

First, I wanted to thank you all for your notes on my last post. Grandma was a special person to me and it truly rocked my world in the worst way when she left us. I will always remember the impact she had on my horsey life...miss you Gma!

Secondly, where in the world have I been? technically just the USA...but ALL OVER IT!

My best friend from ohio called me about a month ago and was like "Hey. I'm moving to L.A. for an engineering job. They gave me $5k to relocate. Want to keep me company and pay no dollars?"

And I was like...

She continued, "We are going to take 9 days to drive 2500 miles. We can stop in Nashville, Memphis, Dallas, Amarillo, Phoenix, Grand Canyon, Albuquerque, then stop in vegas for 3 days then end in L.A. hows that sound?"

And I was like...

So we did. And it was BANGIN.

 I have about a 100 more pics (all on my FB) from this amazing trip! My favorites had to be Nashville and the Grand Canyon. Vegas was...weird. But fun. Met some interesting people and saw some baller landscapes. The USA is so diverse! From a small town Midwestern town, the difference is crazy. I loved it!

I was SERIOUSLY homesick after the first 5 days though-it was nice to get away but I really did miss my boys. All of them. Dog, human, and horse. Horse especially.

As soon as I got home, despite the -15* windchill, I hopped on him and romped in the snow!

 He was squirrely, but soooo happy to be out and paid attention to again.

I have two short term goals we will be working on in February. One is to become the Thoroughbred ambassador for NVRA where I adopted Yankee from. Been working on the entry all month...now I just need the world to thaw so I can make my video. Two is to make it to the WWU Jumper Show at the end of the month. He's had over a month off so that may be too steep a goal, but hes a TB, he bounces back nicely.

We most likely won't make Texas Rose in March because I am flat broke. Though the tax return will be nice and my inheritance from Gma, but I want to save that AND we haven't ran XC in over a year. ACK!

Currently lining up the rest of the show season. STOKED!

Now I just need Missouri to stop pretending its Antarctica so I can WORK MY HORSE

Cruel Irony

Yesterday, a few days after my last post discussing bad luck and loss, my dear grandma gained her wings in heaven.

I did not take the news well and shut down completely for a few hours.

I had just been thinking about calling her to tell her I miss her when my phone rang....

I am not very good at putting together words in times like these, so I will share my favorite picture of her and my first horse, Dolly.

13 long years ago, the day I got my first horse

Grandma played a huge part in my horsey life and always loved my horses just like I did. We shared something no one else came close to in my life-the love for horses. She grew up with belgians and told me so many stories about them. I made her tell me over and over because I loved them so much.

She was a fabulous seamstress and would fix anything my crazy ponies ripped. She defended my sassy pony to my parents when she tossed me and they threatened to sell her. She made costumes for 4H costume class at fair. She braved the heat to sit and cheer me on at shows. She came with me on my secret mission to acquire my mini horses (much to my parents dismay, later when they came home to minis in the field!). She bought my mini, Z, her first harness and cart. She cried with me when Spirit died. And when she started to lose her mobility, she still made her best effort to come to a few shows.

I will miss this woman more than I can even describe and I don't really know how else to end this but by saying I love you!