Support Mason County 4-H

Mason County 4-H may be eliminated. If Mason County stops funding the County Extension Office, it will have to close. And if it closes-that eliminates 4-H in this county. December 1st is the county commissioner's meeting to allow public comment on the proposed budget cuts. Please consider writing letters to the editor of the County's one paper, come to the meeting, and write the commissioners supporting 4-H.

3rd level dressage mount /good over fences as well/motivated seller

Spryte
Competed through 3rd level dressage mount... Earned Bronze medal for current owner in 2007-2008. Ready for future Bronze medalist to be. 14 years old SWB gelding. 15.3 hands tall. For confident rider...

$11,500






gail mcguffey
USDF Gold Medalist
USDF L Graduate
www.thedressagearena.com
707-481-5512

The Pigeon

These pictures look like they are of nothing, but if you look closely, standing at the gate looking in is a pigeon. And if you look more closely, the pigeon is watching me ride - it's head is pointed wherever I am (hard to see) in the arena on Willig.

Save Washington Horse Farms

Because of my job, I can't really get involved in this, but for those of you who might be interested, here's some information from an email I got from a horsey friend in Redmond:

Visit the below link for information on the devastating affects of
this potential taxaction act and sign the online petition to do your
part in preventing it!

http://savewashingtonhorsefarms.org/

Please fill out and submit this form to show your support
By submitting the form below you are affirming that you agree to the following statement: Horse boarding, riding, and training farms are a vital part of our farm and agricultural community. I am concerned that these farms are being left out of regulations designed to help protect farm and agricultural open spaces.


Save Washington Horse Farms

About Us
This site was built and sponsored by the members of the Save Our Farms Coalition. Our growing coalition is made up of Washington state horse farm owners committed to supporting our common goal. If you are interested in helping out further or joining our mailing list, please contact one of our representatives below.

The Save Our Farms Coalition has one goal:
To maintain the commercial viability of Washington horse farms by assuring that they qualify for current use taxation as farm and agricultural land.

Contact Us
Geary Eppley - Acacia Farm - geary@acaciafarm.com
Ken Starr - Starry Night Farm - ken.starr@savewashingtonhorsefarms.org

What you can do:
Sign our petition -- sign it online or print out a paper copy to sign or distribute.

Contact your representatives -- Email, Mail or fax this petition to your State Representative, State Senator, County Council Representative, and the Department of Revenue.

Attend the Department of Revenue hearing -- November 13 at 10:00 AM in the auditorium of the General Administration Building 210 11th Ave SW, Olympia, WA - (360) 902-7300. Let them know you are coming by notifying Marilou Rickert.

Spread the word -- Forward this to your neighbors, customers, and friends and encourage them to lend their support.

Another Jonathan Elliott Clinic

22-23rd of November Dressage and show jumping will be the focus.
I'm bummed because that Saturday I have plans. Maybe I should change them ...

2008 Washington State-wide Elections

Please vote Rob McKenna for Attorney General and Doug Sutherland for Commissioner of Public Lands. I've had personal experience through work with both of them, and I already voted for both of them. Leave a comment if you've got questions about my personal opinion.
http://www.robmckenna.org/
http://www.dougsutherland.org/

If the glove doesn't fit, you must acquit

Those of you who slog through this thing might recall that at the Happ's derby, my ex-fiancee and my dad spent most of the day hanging out with Bob, my former trainer. I really miss him, and lessons with him, but after I moved the horses because of Willig's hives, and Bob's wife/barn manager lying to me about what the vet told her when I wasn't there, I asked him to come give me lessons at my new place. Unfortunately, I don't have a way to talk to him directly, and his w/bm told me that he was too busy to give me lessons. That was last Feb/March, and when my dad and K talked with him, he said that it had to do with the insurance. So I finally talked to the owner about if there was anything we could work out so that he could come give me lessons.

This is the email I sent yesterday to Bob and his wife/bm:
Hi Bob and A[],
After K[] and my dad had a chance to talk to Bob at the Happ's derby, my new barn had a change in management, so I took the opportunity to ask again about the insurance for trainers. The owner said that the USEF insurance should be adequate. There is something you add onto it (that she thinks is free), but she thought that Bob would probably already have that. She said she'd be happy to talk with you about it (either phone or email), if Bob has time and is interested in coming there for lessons.
One of Bob's former students (Jen - I don't know her last name, but she has curly hair and used to ride with Bob before you guys were married and when there was a "jump night") trains there, and she said she'd be interested in taking lessons from Bob, and I have another friend there who is looking to improve her dressage who said she'd be interested in lessons too. Right now, they have every other Saturday open, though they have a few trainers so the schedule keeps moving around.
If that doesn't work for Bob's schedule, then maybe in the spring, I could meet him for some schooling at Happ's or Lincoln Creek or one of the other places, and do a back-to-back dressage lesson and jump lesson? If you think that might work, I could email/call again in the spring when places start to open up again.
Thanks,
Martha

And, disappointingly, I got exactly the response today that I was expecting:
Hi Martha,
It wasn't so much about the insurance since I never really knew what was needed and still don't.
It sounds like the arena availability is still sporadic and would be difficult to have a set schedule.
Which means he can't have a set schedule here. And as well as him having other commitments on the weekends.
I just don't see how it can work to anyone's benefit.
Thanks,
A[]

So I guess I'm on to Plan B, which is to try out the Rainbow Farms trainer and my friend R's trainer. (Though I think that's actually like Plan D because several have already fallen through.)
Huge sigh.

Willig was really good in the cross-ties tonight, which suspiciously coordinates with being kind of crazy in the arena. He was high energy, probably still buzzing from his alfalfa pellet feast, but we worked on consistency (counting 1-2-3-4) and my idea of stretching and collecting, and it was actually a pretty satisfying ride. I kept it kind of short because he was crazy, because my back is still a little achy from yesterday, and because I got there late because I had to work late, but he still got a little sweaty!

P.S. - Succeed and too much horse

One of the other riders told me about this stuff called Succeed (by SmartPak), and so I ordered some and I'm going to try Willig on it for a month. Jon seconded her and they both said it makes hard keepers fill out (it made Jon's TB look like a warmblood and her TB look like a "fat white tick"). If it works on Willig, I might put Mercury on it too, even though it's kind of expensive.
And, one of the other confidence boosters from this clinic was that Jon didn't take me aside and tell me Willig was too much horse for me. Instead, a lot of people asked about him, and he appeared to have been appropriately classed for his age and experience in BN. I've been afraid at both derbies and at the clinic that someone would finally tell me I couldn't ride, but instead, we have stuff to work on (like always!) AND more confidence and I'm excited about working on stuff all winter to get ready for next year. I still think he has the potential to turn into a really good horse. The longer he knows me, the more heart he seems to have (though he does have his asshole moments, but one of the training level riders was telling me her horse is a Trakehner/TB cross, and he goes by "the Big A" at her barn).

Jonathan Elliott clinic - day 2 report

Willig had a naughty, high-energy day today, but it provided some really good lessons for me and it turns out it wasn't really his fault - but mine. Like Bob always said.
So first - I got there a little before 7 am and it was pitch black. I gave him his soaked alfalfa pellets and grain, and then tried, unsuccessfully, to hook up my truck and trailer in the dark, and then got him ready while he thrashed around on the side of the trailer because other horses were whinnying, did a super fast lunge where he was all kicky and a maniac, and then we warmed up in this nice sand arena.
Once again, Jon told me to keep him slower, consistent, and more organized. He said every time he'd look up, we'd be going too quick, even though I'm capable of slowing him down as soon as he tells me to. So I need to get a feel for the right speed.
We did trot and canter, and Jon recommends a two point canter (sort of) to warm up, to let their back warm up. That actually made my legs tired, going around and around in the two point. Then we did galloping (or just lengthening) along a long side, and then collecting back up for the other three sides. This was actually a really great exercise, the same as transitions and stretching out in trot, because it made Willig really listen and be responsive.
We went out in the xc course next and did some trotting and cantering, then some little logs and little log courses.
Then we went over and did some more distance trotting and cantering, with a couple little log jumps.
We ended with the water feature, trotting through, picking up the canter in the water, cantering through, and a little course through the water, up a hill, over a jump on the top, down the hill (at trot), and then back through the water, and finally, over this nice jump with the wood carved to look like a kayak.
Willig was head strong and rushing. When we did the distance canter, the pony went first, and Willig saw him way up ahead and went charging like a bull. He acted up a little over some of the fences too, kind of putting his head down and really gunning for them.
And then the second to last jump over the kayak, he went all rodeo on me on the other side - bucking and kicking. I thought he was going to launch me into the trees. We did some trot work, then did it again, and he did it perfectly.
So what I learned was:
- Amazingly, what Bob was saying all along was right (actually, that's not amazing at all - it's just amazing that I finally got it). As soon as I quit thinking, and just rode him, everything came back to me. I actually felt like a pretty decent rider. I've been riding scared for a long time, and today was a huge confidence booster. I'm good enough that I can ride Willig through the rough patches, so I can push him and help him learn.
- If I hold him too heavy and tight with my hands, he doesn't balance or think for himself, and he stumbles. I have to have light contact, but not HOLD him for him. (I want to see if this works with Merc too.)
- I need to do my corrections ahead of time, instead of big corrections once the error starts.
- Point your thumbs where you're going next. This is so obvious, but I had completely forgotten it (I look with my face), and it works like a charm.
- If I count while I ride "1 - 2 - 3 - 4" etc., I can feel the consistency. If I don't count, I lose track of what it's supposed to feel like. Again, Bob had me count before fences, but when I was just cantering in the field (or trotting) it helped too.
- Jon said that, like the poles yesterday, for BN level, if you just work on cantering in the field on a straight line (and gallop/trot transitions), that will help as much as, if not more than, lots of fences. It teaches them to listen and to think and to ignore the stuff around them. That's good news, since I don't have any logs to jump, but I have space to go out and canter around. (I hope the footing is as good as Jon's place!)
- When Willig is bad - like rushing or bucking - it's ok to turn him, but then make him work. Don't reward him by allowing him to walk when he's been bad. Make him trot 15 m circles for a while.
- Canter away from the other riders and walk back. (For the herd bound thing.)

So, this really wasn't Willig's fault though. He never refused, and although he was kind of hyper, he wasn't really bad (Jon said the bucking was good - it meant he was enjoying himself and was being playful, so not to punish him for it, but make him work, and then reward him by letting him walk after he did it right the second time). And it turns out that 1/4 scoop of alfalfa pellets (what he usually eats), is like 1/16 of what I was giving him. I gave him way, way, way too much alfalfa last night and this morning. I think that, combined with the brisk air this morning, the sleepover in a new place, AND the newness of being out in the xc course, was just too much for him. Given all those factors, he actually did a really, really good job today.
At least three people told me they thought he was really a nice looking horse.
Also, I was really relieved at how nice everyone was. Even though we were pretty much outclassed (my half chaps aren't leather and they don't match my paddock boots), I never felt like I wasn't supposed to be there, and even though Jon's all famous and everything, he wasn't snotty at all. He did just as good a job with us as with the training level riders. I liked him.

And while I was at the clinic, Sam got 1st place in 7 classes and 2nd place in 1 at the POA show on Mercury!! She got high point rider in her division both days. I'm really proud of her and Mercury.

Addition to 2009 calendar

I'm going to add to June, July, and August a schooling day each month. There's so many shows in July and August, but schooling is so much cheaper than the show entries, and Willig really just needs the mileage.

2009 Estimated Calendar

This is my best guess for what I'll do with Willig in 2009. The estimated entry fees for these comes to $1500, and if I can afford it, I'll probably go to a couple extra clinics and then volunteer at most of the shows I'm not riding at.
(All Beginner Novice)
April:
3-5: NWEC Adult Rider's clinic & derby
19: Happ's Derby

May:
8-10: NWEC Horse Trial
16: NWEC one day horse trial

June:
12-14: Aspen Farms horse trial

July:
26: Happ's Derby

August:
1-2: Lincoln Creek Horse Trial

September:
4-6: Lincoln Creek Horse Trial
27: Happ's Derby

October:
Aspen Farms clinic

Jonathan Elliott clinic - day 1 report

It was a pretty cool day. I was in the second group to ride, and each group only had 4 riders, so we got plenty of individual attention, but we got to see what the other riders did right (and wrong) and learn from that too.
Willig was kind of upset yesterday and today because of the show going on at home. He got in the trailer after some hesitation (not much, compared to how bad that last trailer incident was), and we drove over to Aspen Farms.
Just after he got out of the trailer, the four riders in the first group went by, so he went ballistic because from 200' away they were his new best friends and they were abandoning him. He thrashed around on the side of the trailer, got lunged, thrashed around more while I put on the saddle and groomed him, got lunged again, and then got ridden, all before we rode in our group.
We started with some pole exercises - one on the ground and building up to 5. Well, before we even got to the poles, Jon told me to pull him together - he was all over the place, but I hadn't even noticed until he told me to pull him together, and then I was like 'oh.' (small "o" because it made so much sense and I hadn't even realized it was going on).
So, we've done poles, and Willig was good at them. Then we started with an easy jump and worked our way up to a few courses. The first several courses we went back to trot mostly, then we did a few courses where we continued or cantered completely.
Willig got a little strong towards the end, but he was also jumping great. He didn't refuse anything or knock anything down.
We had one PERFECT jump. I just felt it going in, everything was set up, we had the right space, he took off at the right spot, I didn't have to do anything, and we just floated over that jump. It was a great feeling.
The main things Jon told me were:
- Keep Willig organized.
- I let my reins slip long. Keep them short and keep my hands wide and forward (also keeps your shoulders flat).
- Sit up straight. I don't need to fold in half over a teeny tiny jump.
- Think about cantering on the other side - that will help him keep the impulsion and the forward movement over the jump.
It was really useful. I watched the two Novice groups after lunch (and miracle of miracles, Willig in the stall was like "no big deal" - how about that?), and we're right to be in BN right now, but I have higher hopes for Willig now that we might only need a year at BN (of course, that depends on a lot on dressage and how much I can get him out next season).
Some of the other horses had some really naughty habits, and Willig was only bad at the trailer. He was great while I was riding him and in the stall. And he really tried hard. Considering I've jumped him probably less than 10 times total, he didn't spook or anything - he just used his heart!!
Tomorrow we do cross country, and the BN group went and rode through the xc fields after our session.
Aspen Farms is amazing!!! I have never been to such a cool place. Everything is new, and nice, and huge. They have 240 acres!
Plus, it's only a half hour from my house, so I went home and picked up the dogs and came back to give Willig dinner (and he was STILL good in his stall!).

I love Fugazi

I talked to the owner yesterday, and she said that this week she had two discussions with the staff about how unacceptable things had become. She thought that I would instantly see an improvement, and today certainly seemed to be better, though it was two new staff, and J, who has consistently done a good job. Interestingly, he asked me to always let him know if I need anything, because they don't always tell him.
Yesterday R and I went on a trail ride over at Kennedy Creek. Willig was a holy terror in the trailer, R's horse stepped on a snake (not a poisonous one, thank goodness), and much adventure ensued. Willig's trailer behavior was completely out of line - he was like a fish that got caught thrashing around in there, and he broke loose from his halter when I was putting on his bridle and tried to run out, and then when I was putting him back, he tried to jump over the ramp (which was closed) with me hanging on the breastplate. I was really mad at him yesterday, but then after I rode him today, and he was a monster again, and then I rode Mercury, who was also acting up, I realized it is most likely ---- oats. I hate feeding oats. I put them both back on oats because they were so skinny (they are also on alfalfa and complete or senior horse), and so I'm taking Willig off the oats and cutting Merc's down to 1/4 scoop (which is basically a coffee cup). Then again, it could be the nice fall weather.
However, I did spend half an hour last night setting up the jumps for today (which Willig was too bad for us to jump) and using my first 8-11 Sunday jump time. And the trainer I don't care for? Had a lesson at 10.
Thankfully, the weather was nice, so they rode outside, but I got pretty frustrated.
Once again, I don't feel out of line thinking I should be able to jump my horses in the winter and the summer. I pay $650/month, and I have to race to jump ONE horse ONE day a week. That kind of sucks.
Then I realized if I just wait it out, I bet she'll be gone in a few months. I don't know though - even if everything else resolves - a beginner barn just might not be a good fit for me and Willig because I need to actually work him.
On my trail ride with Mercury - it was beautiful! Blue sky with those orange/yellow/red leaves against it. Very nice.

Everything is always so complicated - what to do about Mercury

If I end up moving barns, it messes up my whole little system. I'll either have to move somewhere that Sam can move with me and keep leasing Mercury or sell him. The past few months have taught me that I definitely do not have time to ride two horses and do everything else in my life, and I'm ready to focus on Willig.
But with the economy going down, down, down, and tons of horses on the market, I don't want Mercury to end up in a bad situation, and I'd like to do everything I can to keep Sam riding him.
I called the prior barn manager, Amy, and we exchanged a couple voice mails. She says she might have an idea, but her place is full, which is a bummer because I would trust him with her.

Rainbow Meadow Farm

Does anyone have any opinions or experience about this place and the trainer?
http://www.rainbowmeadowfarm.com/index.htm

Perusing New Barns

I'm thinking about moving my guys. At least two other boarders and I have been complaining, and things seem to be getting worse. I'm not sure what's going on, but I'm hoping to talk to the owner sometime this weekend to let her know how concerned I am, and then give it a couple weeks to turn around. If nothing changes, or, heaven forbid, if the quality of care gets worse, then I'll need a new barn.

For anyone who reads this, please let me know if you know of any barns in or near (less than 20 minutes) Olympia which have the following minimum requirements:

- Daily turnout in a big enough space to run around (this doesn't have to be all day, but a few hours per horse)
- Staff who know horses well enough to recognize a swollen leg or sheath or etc. injury and call the owner and vet when appropriate
- Staff who can follow instructions and can feed the right thing consistently and whatever quirks the owner has (like, for example, "keep blanket on" means don't take it off)
- Decent sized stalls (Willig is pretty big for an "average" stall)
- Safe facilities - no crazy nails poking out or barbed wire
- Covered arena that is lit and is a decent size (doesn't have to be huge)
- Feeds twice a day; waters all the time
- Time for the boarders to ride on evenings and weekends
- Place for boarders to park trailers
- Lockers for boarders (big enough for two saddles)
- Cross-ties

These are bonuses but I would love to find a place that also has them:
- Feeds THREE times a day
- Trails
- Water (to practice crossing or, better yet, jumping into)
- Cross country course
- Jumps
- Huge indoor arena
- Outdoor arena
- Less than $350/month per horse
- Staff who can do medical care (like bute, eye ointment, soak feet, hold for farrier)
- No gossip/drama/cliques
- Hot water wash rack
- Experienced trainers who come for lessons (dressage, jumping, x-country)

Vet Visit for Mercury and Willig

I normally don't go out on Monday's (because it's a lesson day, but now basically every day has something going on, so I might be revising my schedule), but at the first 4-H meeting, Sam told me that Mercury's leg was swollen so she didn't ride him.
I was going to stop by to give them hay since I had to drive past anyway, so I got Mercury out, and sure enough, he had a swollen right front leg. He had some scrapes on the inside of the leg, but his leg seemed to hurt a lot more than the scrapes warranted. I hosed it, betadined, and put on that furazone (the goopy yellow), and planned to give him a few days of stall rest.
Then I got Willig out, who had been when I went past at 6 standing, skinny, in the rain without his blanket. And in addition to being naked, and all clumped from the rain, he had a HUGE swollen sheath. It was all hot and tender, and he clearly felt bad because he let me run cold (icy cold) water inside while I tried to feel if it was dirty. It was a little dirty, but not enough to justify the swelling.
So I had the vet come out, and to do the other stuff I've had on my list: flush Willig's eye, float his teeth, and give both guys their fall shots.
Willig had a temp (103.5), the vet thinks the swelling is from a bee sting because most everything else seems to be ruled out, he had sharp teeth, but not crazy sharp, his tear duct was REALLY clogged, and he has to wait for his shots until he gets over his fever.
Willig is like Franken-willig when it comes to sedatives. Because of the fever, the vet didn't want to give him a huge dose, but with three doses, and me hanging on his ear, he could still lift my feet off the ground. It was very exciting for both me and the vet, and today my left arm is sore from hanging onto his head. Fortunately, we got everything done, but now I have to put ointment in his eye twice a day for 10 days (I'll probably have to switch to once a day after the weekend), and based on this morning, that will be it's own challenge.
It will be interesting though, if he rides different with his teeth floated and without the swelling in that eye. That's his "spooky" side.
This morning his sheath was still pretty swollen, but his temp was gone (100.6), and he was annoyed about being in the stall, which I take to mean he's recovering.
Mercury was also annoyed, but I'm going to force him to take it easy - the vet thought it was probably a deep bruise and thankfully, doesn't appear to have cracked a bone.
Another boarder and I are leaving each other notes but trying to give our three boys up to three flakes of alfalfa a day. So tonight I'm going to pick up more crazy expensive alfalfa. The whole - difficulty with getting my horses the feed and hay I want them to have (and spending mucho bucks and time to do it myself), difficulty riding because of lessons and events, and the whole CANNON thing last weekend (with no notice) has made me less enamoured with where I'm at.

Top 3 Dressage Scores at Happ's

Hopeful:
34.0
38.0
39.5

Beginner Novice:
35.5
38.0 (3 way tie)
41.0

Novice:
32.11
33.2
35.3

Jonathan Elliott Clinic at Aspen Farms - 25/26 Oct

Willig and I are going to register for the clinic at Aspen Farms, http://aspenfarmseventing.com/, with Jonathan Elliott on the 25th and 26th of October. I really need lessons, and this one is a great location (Yelm, which is just about half an hour from my house) and a great price: $185, including a night of stabling.
I was thinking about going to the Don Sachey clinic at Tulip Springs, http://www.tulipsprings.com/, in Kennewick, on the 1st and 2nd of November, but I'm not ready for back-to-back weekend clinics, and the gas price to Kennewick (and travel time) is considerably more. The Don Sachey clinic is only $200.

A gross p.s.

After the show, when I turned Willig out in his turn-out (with hay), he went over and ate some poop (his own) and then went back to his hay. My mom looked it up on the internet and it doesn't seem to be a big deal, but it was kind of shocking and horrifying. The vet has to come out for fall shots soon anyway, so now I will get to remain par for the course with bizarre or disgusting animal problems.

Happ's Derby - Willig was 2nd place in Hopeful

Compared to his ride the day before (at home), he was amazing. But compared to my normal expectations, he was mediocre. No refusals, a 39.5 in dressage (I think), and pretty well behaved all day. It was nice to have a team of three people to help me too.
I miss Bob.
The big surprise was that Mercury and I are Mr. and Miss May (well, one of three shots) in the Happ's 2009 calendar.

Happ's Derby - Kevin took good photos

Happ's Derby - Photos

Jump & Trail Ride Photos

Because my parents are here, I finally have some pictures of Willig.

Resolution!

I talked to the two barn managers tonight, and they said that the Sunday lessons don't start until 11 am (I had no idea), so I can have the 8-11 block to jump. That works wonderful for me, and I'm so relieved I talked to them. They also want to encourage some other people to jump too, so I'm not totally alone like I thought. They were so professional.
Something is going on that I don't want to blog about because I'm not sure exactly what it is, but if you are in the Olympia area and you want a part time or maybe even full time barn manager, I totally, totally recommend Amy who has been managing the barn since I got here. I don't even know that she's looking for a new job, but she is very, very professional and I've been so happy with her.
Of course, they were riding together, and I was riding Willig, and the doofus could NOT pay attention. (sigh) He is carrying Bob's torch of keeping me humble.

Irritating Arena Conflict - Any Advice?

There are four days of lessons at the barn. Most of the people who take lessons come in and ride school horses and are very, very beginners. Amy and Jen give lessons on Monday, Thursday, and Saturday.
A few weeks ago, Catherine added someone she knows named Kat to Sunday lessons. I have been jumping on Sunday's in the outside arena, and sometimes on Wed evenings. Last weekend, before I got there, Kat took down all my jumps. When I went out to ask her if I could put them back up, she told me NO. I looked surprised (because, to me, asking is a courtesy, not really asking permission) and she said "can you wait at least half an hour? My riders can't ride around your jumps.") and I said ok, but then her delicate rider who apparently can't steer at all got too hot and so they had to do the lesson inside.
So I left a note on the board that asked if instructors could post their lesson times 48 hours in advance, and that way Willig and I would ride different times and avoid the arena when lessons are going on. Jen and Amy wrote their lessons (as in, they just put down their huge blocks of time - what I meant was an actual list of lessons so I could see, for example, that there was an hour free from 2-3 on Saturday), but for Kat, it just says "Sunday."
So, since the show is next weekend, I planned to jump Willig again today. And again, she took down my jumps. So I put them back up (I couldn't find her), got Willig, brought him in, and then she walked by and said "I took down your jumps" and I said "Oh. I put them back up." and she looked really, really irritated and all huffily told the parents of the kid (a kid on a LEAD LINE, and if she can't LEAD a horse around jumps, then she's got problems) they had to ride inside.
Like 30 seconds after I finished jumping, she had the next rider take down all my jumps. She didn't ask, and didn't know that I wasn't going to ride another horse (which, normally, I ride Mercury over jumps after I ride Willig over them if I'm not too tired but today I was going on a trail ride with Sam).
So - I understand her position. She's a trainer, and she makes money giving lessons, and it is easier to ride in an empty arena. But my position is that I am there SEVEN days a week, while she is there ONE, and therefore, I have seniority, and if I want jumps in the arena, then I get jumps in the arena. I think baby riders who don't board a horse shouldn't get to control the arena all day four days a week, especially both weekend days.
And, I don't have problems on the other three lesson days. Only her day.
So one solution is I shift my jumping day to Saturday and avoid her completely.
Another solution is I talk to Catherine about what would work best for conflicts between boarder riding time and lesson time.
Another solution is I talk to her, but I actually don't think that one's going to be effective.
Another solution is I ride after lesson hours, but one thing I like about weekends is spending four hours out there in the middle of the day. It's not as fun from 6-10 pm which is what I do every weeknight.
The problem I see is that as we move into winter, everyone will want the inside arena, and it is too little for me to ride Willig in there with beginners who can't steer (especially with jumps), and I don't like having to ride after 7 pm on the weekends (lesson days go past 6 pm).
Any thoughts? I am being kind of selfish, and it is a problem kind of unique to me because no one else rides at my level (or jumps or has a horse as big as Willig).

Jumping

Last weekend I set up three jumps - two cross rails which I switched to verticals(about 2'8"/2'9"), and a "spread" - I set up two sets of jumps about 3' apart, with the barrels in between.
Willig had some issues with the spread (so I'm glad I made it and we worked on it). He did great on the cross rails and verticals, but he didn't want to jump the spread when we came at it from the left. And he would WAY overjump and do that deer jump that sproings up into the air like a rocket launching. The first time I lost my stirrups completely (I'm pretty sure my legs shot out to the side like a rag doll too), but I stayed on, and after that, although they weren't beautiful, I never lost my stirrups again.
He did a good job though - he refused a few times, but made an effort and tried to figure it out.
I think our biggest obstacle right now is just the herd-bound/confidence/lack of experience. Though I would very much like to start taking dressage lessons once a month and jumping lessons (especially at someone's place with a xc course so we can experience all the different stuff) once a month.
I am thinking about maybe doing one of the clinics this fall. Up to now, I was feeling like we had so much to work on that a clinic would be a waste of time, but now I'm starting to think it would be good for him about now.
The Happ's Derby is next weekend, but the weather prediction is RAIN. I don't know if it's going to be held or not. My parents will be here, but we have a lot going on too. And, I'm about to drive the truck today, because last weekend the ABS light kept coming on, and then twice the brakes felt funny to me - like they were jumpy?? I'm going to see if it does it again today, so I can take it to the shop next week if something is wrong. No way am I hauling Willig if my brakes are acting up.
I also realized one reason our progress is so slow (aside from not having a trainer and me having no idea what I'm doing) - although I'm out at the barn about 20 hours a week, I really only ride about 3 hours a week. And some of that is on Mercury. I spend a lot of time lunging Willig because he's had a day or two off (and then I don't ride him as long after), and even though it feels like I have hardly enough time in the week as is, I have to figure out a way to get more riding hours in the saddle. Then I thought, maybe if I totally suck, I'm at least slowing down the damage I'm doing to him until I get a trainer. I don't think so though - we seem to be making inching progress. And I'm really, really pleased with the 2'9" because that means that once we have the experience over the different types of jumps, and the dressage lessons, it won't take us long to move through BN to Novice. He's such a delight to ride compared to Merc, even though when he's not paying attention, his steering goes out.
I think in a few years he'll definitely be able to go Training. I don't know enough to know if he'll ever go Prelim. I am, however, a convert. Warmbloods for me from now on.

Growth opportunities abound

I know a decent amount about horses. Not compared to a professional, or someone who's been riding their whole life, or, ok, lots of people. But compared to a beginner, I know a lot.
But horses, one of the best and worst things about them, is the constant challenge. And man oh man is Willig good at that. As soon as I start to relax, he takes me by surprise again.
Last night, I lunged him outside while they brought in the last of the horses still in their turn-out. And he did ok with that. And then someone hauled in to ride, and rode past him into the woods, and he did ok with that. And it got to be dusk, and he did ok with that.
But then, two people came across the field from a trail ride and went into the barn, and then, he just had done so well with everything else, that old herd bound thing kicked in and he just couldn't deal with it anymore. I tried riding him, but couldn't get him to focus, so I got off him and lunged him and he did the thing where he broke into crazy nervous sweat and raced around with his ears just FIXATED on the barn and not listening to me and not paying attention.
After a while, his ear started flicking towards me, so I rode him again, and every time we came around the corner pointed towards the barn, he'd try to rush, so we'd make little circles - little circles - little circles - then try again. After about 5 laps, he quit rushing, so I just let him quit then.
We didn't get to work on any of the things I planned to work on, and while we've made good progress if I look back, it feels frustrating to not ever just - well - ride.
I know I'm learning a lot, and in an area I didn't know before, but I really, really wish I had a trainer right about now.
And, of course, he's not getting as much time as I wish he was because of my new position at work and Odie's heart.
I need to get some books about what to do about a herd bound horse. I've just never dealt with it before. All I can think of is ride him (or work him) until he behaves, then stop. Then keep introducing new things until he builds confidence. I'm just in totally uncharted territory (for me).
The wonderful thing, however, is what my co-worker and riding friend said today, about riding horses, even when they're naughty, makes you be present. It's true. Just like climbing. It is the single easiest way for me to be present. It's why I love it so much. Well, one reason.

Calorie burning day

Today Sam helped me "strip" Mercury and Willig's stall. They have mats, but sawdust and manure (and pee) gets in the cracks between them, and I thought the combo was mounding up. Turns out the floor is just bumpy. The mats were really heavy, and I couldn't have done it without Sam. It took the two of us two hours and I had sweat pouring down my face. Well, ok, trickling.
Then we picked some blackberries (yum!) and set up a jump exercise for both boys. It was three ground poles (like last time), 4'9" apart, then 9'6" to a cross rail, then 18' to a vertical (2'6" or 2'8", I already forgot), then 18' to an oxer (back rail was 2'9"). Willig did amazing. He had a couple refusals on the oxer, but Sam watched and helped me change the jumps. We started with no jump on the vertical and no back bar on the oxer, then the low bar on the vertical, then the high bar on the vertical, and then the back bar on the oxer.
He was, however, his usual freaky obnoxious self about the side of the arena closest to the forest. It is driving me crazy. It isn't even the jumps he's scared of because they were all INSIDE the arena today.
Mercury was not as good as Willig. He tended to rush a bit towards the end, and he got kind of wound up about the whole thing. But overall, they were both really good.
I, however, am old-lady-out-of-shape and suspect I'm going to be sore tomorrow from the stall cleaning.

Chiropractor

Both Willig and Mercury got an adjustment today from the chiropractor. Both of them had their pelvises out of alignment - Willig a little bit to the left, which is possibly what's making his left front knee look a little long; and Mercury a lot to the right. That's pretty typical for Mercury, who is conformationally challenged. The chiro had a nice, calm attitude, and both horses were really well behaved. Hopefully I will make it out Friday and see if they feel different. Neither of them were having problems, I just thought I'd get them checked while he was out.
Willig's personality is getting better and better. He still has room for improvement, but I can see some progress now if I look back at where we started. The biggest problem we're having right now is with the ever-so-scary jumps and barrels on the side of the arena. I can not figure out why they're such a big deal.

Fun weekend with trails

On Saturday morning, Willig and I went to Shelton to ride in another Poker Ride with Janis and Erin. I got too excited and couldn't sleep, then miscalculated the time I needed, so I got there an hour early. I was the second person there, and the first person was friends with the organizers.
I had to lunge Willig twice, and every time he saw horses leave on the trail he started thrashing around tied to the trailer. But once I got on him, he calmed down a lot. He even walked through big ol' puddles.
The trail was really fun. The long loop was "4 hours" but only took us 2, and there were awesome, incredible views of the Olympics. I'm going to try to figure out how you do one of the horse packing trips through the Olympics. Janis said she'd be interested. Willig started out pretty good (while Erin was passaging), but he either a) got tired and crabby, or b) got worked up when he saw horses ahead of us that we could never catch up to, or c) got worked up the short burst we cantered. I think b and Janis thinks c. But he proceeded to toss his head and sweat most of the last 1/3 of the ride.
It was a great experience for him though, and I got some local corn and won a couple things and got to see a Christmas tree farm and the Olympics.
Then Sunday, before the downpour started, Kevin and Mercury went on a trail ride with me and Willig. Mercury was his normal, placid, reliable self while Willig was one of those aggressive drivers who you are supposed to call the cops about when you see them on the interstate. He was riding Mercury's ass, then wanted to zoom around him and go slow, and flashing his headlights and beeping. He doesn't have any trail manners. Sam and a friend of hers were at the barn, so they hung out with him for a while and Kevin fixed some stuff in Willig's stall (the broken salt lick holder and restrung the wire I hang the jolly ball/Jimmy's ball on). They stayed inside because it was pouring most of the day, and then, becuase Kevin left his wallet in my locker, we got to go out and check on them a second time!
The bummer is that Sam left me a message today saying Mercury was lame so she didn't ride him. I'm starting to be pretty frustrated with this. He's either the gimpiest, most useless horse or something is going on. I don't know if maybe Sam is being extra cautious (but usually a trainer is there too), or if Mercury is acting up or what. It's hard for me to believe that after one trail ride he went lame. I'm planning on being out tomorrow and Wednesday, so I'll check him (and hopefully ride him) both days.
I really don't want to have to sell him, but I can't afford to board a horse who can't be ridden reliably. I don't really know what to do. He has a pretty easy, posh life. He has no reason to be going lame (if he is lame).

An excellent jumping session with Willig today

Yesterday was super hot (around 90), so I rode in the morning and Willig had a touch of the crazies, which seemed right after pretty much two weeks off and an increase in his diet. The barn manager told me he lost 40 pounds, which was news to me since I've never measured him with the weight tape. So we added a 1/4 scoop of alfalfa pellets to his a.m. and p.m.
Today I set up a jump exercise from the 101 Jumping Exercises book (thanks, Dad!) - I think #28. It was three trot poles (4'9" apart for Willig), then from the third trot pole to the first jump, double the distance (but I made it 10' which I think was too far), then 18' to a cross rail that later I switched to a 2'6" vertical.
Then on the other side of the arena I set up a 2'6" vertical with the two barrels on their sides under it, and a pole 18' on either side.
First, I lunged him over all of it (and did the combination with just a pole on the ground, then as a half cross rail, then as a vertical). Then I rode him over the combo as a cross rail, and after three near perfect rounds, I rode it as a vertical.
It turns out Willig is even easier to ride over something that's higher than 12". He was great!
I registered him for the Hopeful derby at Happ's at the end of September, but I can't find any local shows or other unrecognized derbies between now and then. If you know of any (local means near Olympia, WA and shows means dressage or show jumping), please post a comment and leave a web page. Thanks!
Poor Mercury has had a week off now because they told me he was lame last week (incredibly, while I was gone), and then I lunged him the one day I was out during the week, and when I went out yesterday, his left front knee is swollen. There's no heat and he's not lame, so I hosed it today and kept him in half the day (with lots and lots of hay), but I think it might be a sting. He also seems to have some bumpy skin - almost like a rash - he's in a new pasture so I'm wondering if he's rolling in something he's maybe sensitive to.

Willig's first derby!

Willig exceeded my expectations for his first derby, though he also gave me plenty of ideas on things we need to work on.
We rode senior grasshopper, which, based on our score and the two other riders', was actually about right. He got a 50 on his dressage test, no faults in stadium, and one refusal (20 faults) in cross country (on the first "fence" which was a telephone pole on the ground).
There were only two other senior grasshoppers, so depending on whether you're a glass half full or half empty person, he either kicked ass (2nd place! woo!) or he was kind of pitiful (he was 2nd out of 3, and for a while there, he was 3rd, so basically, uh, last place).
The other two riders got a 45.5 and a 49.5 on dressage, and then one rider had one stadium fault, and then she had two refusals (first log, second log), so even with our xc refusal, we eked into red ribbon territory.
Most of the judge's comments on dressage had to do with him "bending to the outside". Unless I'm missing something, that was him spooking at every flower pot at every letter. I went past them approximately 2000 times on the outside (and one million times with the daisies at home), but apparently they were very scary from the inside. Overall though, he did really well, with mostly 5s and 7s. My score (that one that the rider gets) was a 6.
Then for the stadium, we went second, and although three fences has fake flowers, they apparently aren't as scary as real flowers. We had one close call where they did a combo, and he stepped over it from almost. a. stop. but. I. squeezed. and. begged. and we made it.
There were no time limits on either stadium or cross country, which was nice too. Oh, and speaking of nice, the weather was perfect. Cool in the morning (for the "real" lunging and riding with the jacket on), and then sunny and breezy in the afternoon. And they sold AWESOME $1 giant pickles and mt. dew. My two favorite foods. (You can't see it in the photos, but I braided last night, which was another ordeal. He doesn't like standing still and knocked me off the stepladder thing twice. I kept meaning to take a picture because it was such an effort, but forgot.)
Cross country was just 6 flat boring poles - 5 of them were like telephone poles (one was tricky and short) and one was a PVC pipe with concrete on each end.
I lunged Willig before each phase, and he was tired by stadium, but REALLY tired by cross country, and his power steering went out after the second jump. So I was really lucky we didn't have more "refusals" because he just quit responding and I had to flap my arms all big and cling with my legs and we had the ugliest course ever. But I think it was him just being a kid, doing too much, being overwhelmed, and then the lunging before each phase.
Since I came for the day, I also had to deal with not having a helper, so how did I leave him to use the bathroom, walk the course, etc.? I solved that by leading him everywhere I could, and putting him in the trailer to eat hay after stadium so I could walk the xc course. A lot of people left their horses tied to their trailers, but I don't trust him.
He was not thrilled about getting in and out of the trailer (like 5 times), but if I wait, eventually he walks in on his own. He also had a few panic whinnies, but overall, he was much, much calmer and better than I thought he'd be.
I'm definitely moving him up to Hopeful, but I'm pretty sure we're going to "lose" (i.e. not place) for at least a year or two. And I'll do Hopeful for one or two shows and then move him to Beginner Novice.
It's the experience he needs now - the miles under his girth. So I think I just need to bite the bullet and pay a lot of money for shows where we're going to be in the bottom half.
What worries me is that he'd progress faster if I had more money to spend on him - take him to school xc courses, to unrecognized shows, to clinics, to recognized shows ... Then he'd be ready to go in just a couple years.
The other thing that worries me is I felt like I rode terribly. What if I'm just not a very good rider? Like grasshopper is really my level? But I definitely don't have money for more schooling AND lessons, so I'm not sure what really needs to happen next.
I hope I can take him to the Happ's Derby in September (at Hopeful), then that will be it for this year, and then I'll spend the winter working him and hopefully ride next summer for the experience, and then start working with a trainer again to improve me and him together after that.
He is, in some ways, so easy to ride, that if I am good enough, I think once he "gets" it (it's ok to jump it and the flowers aren't going to kill him) that he'll progress very quickly because the height is not the obstacle.
Here's the number of riders in the senior levels and the dressage score range (for future reference):
Senior Hopeful (16 riders), Dressage range 24.5 - 49
Senior Beg Novice (16 riders); I couldn't find scores
Senior Novice (17 riders), Dressage range 27.89 - 41.05

Final photos L.C. derby

More photos L.C. derby

Photos from Lincoln Creek Derby

Riding quotes

From my journal, a long time ago (1999? 2000?).

Wanless:
"At least some of us ride to find out who we really are."

Henry Moore:
"The secret of life is to have a task, something you devote your entire life to, something you bring everything to, every minute of the day for the rest of your life. And the most important thing is, it must be something you cannot possibly do."

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi:
"The best moments (in life) usually occur when a person's body or mind is stretched to its limits in a voluntary effort to accomplish something difficult and worthwhile ... one's skills are adequate to cope with the challenges at hand ... concentration is so intense that there is no attention left over to think about problems. Self-conciousness disappears, and the sense of time becomes distorted. An activity that produces such experiences is so gratifying that people are willing to do it for its own sake, with little concern for what they will get out of it, even when it is difficult, or dangerous."

N. (?) Seuning: (I can't read my own writing)
"Riding: The dialogue of two bodies and two souls whose goal is to establish perfect harmony between them."

A bronze star trail ride

After last weekend's spectacular success, I shouldn't have had my hopes up for a repeat performance. And Willig was set up for failure because I found out this week (on Wednesday) that my beloved dog (my other blog) has a second heart problem on top of the first one, and I don't think he's going to make it much longer. So in the big scheme of things, I figured Willig and Mercury could just enjoy life this summer and I'll spend extra time with my dog.
Well, short version is Willig doesn't like "enjoying life." He'd rather I come out and work him every day.
He was pretty wound up today. I rode him Tuesday and then I lunged him Saturday, but for him, that is an extremely light week. So this morning, even though it was hot, he ran and ran and ran on the lunge line, and worked himself into a full lather. He just stayed jumpy after that.
To compound the problem, Sam rode Mercury, and I finally got to see the problems she's been talking about. They were suspecting it was a group problem, and since he's been on the trails tons alone and lots with one other horse, I wasn't sure one more horse makes a difference. It seems to. He was terrible. I told Sam not to ride him on trails anymore with two other people, but I'm not sure how I'm going to fix the problem since a) it's almost impossible for me to get two people to go out with me, and b) I only have two horses, so that means I have to get two people with their own horses to boot!
But at least we know now it isn't Sam, and isn't random with Merc. I don't know why he would be a weirdo with three but not two.
The high points, however, were that Willig and Erin were good in the water, and we did the medium hill (the steepest is still too steep) and we got to see Rainier.

As to the two comments posted to my last blog - I agree completely that I think I needed some time to get my "feel" back. Instead of making a list of questions for Bob, I have to figure it out myself, and while that's slower and I make mistakes in the things I try, I can "read" Willig much better now than I could when I first got him. It's like I'm regaining my horse sense, which I kind of wondered where it had gone too. I still plan to get a new trainer as soon as I can afford it (and hopefully diesel prices will stop going up!), but I think this summer has been well spent working with Willig and me on relationships, trust, and figuring each other out. He seems to be getting better and better (or at least, more predictable). I'm fond of him.
And I will try the keratex next winter! Thanks for the tip!

Willig gets gold stars today!

We had a great day today. I started things off with a change in routine, which is normally very disturbing for Willig. I got there and was grooming him in the cross-ties as the other horses were being put out, and he pranced around until he got two good, hard smacks with the crop, and then he was as still and docile as a lamb. He lunged (no crazies), and did a little lunging over a jump. Then I rode him (excellent) and we rode the jump both directions at the trot, and once at the canter. He is sooooo smooth to ride over fences. Even when he does a hop or takes off too close or too far, it is like floating on a cloud. I can feel the hang. And, special bonus, he isn't getting all crazy in the head and running around after.
The approach I am taking is to let him figure it out - on the lunge line and with me on him - I want him to learn, on these little flimsy ones, where to take off and how to control himself, instead of me telling him. In case of trouble, I want him to know what to do.
Then my friend Janis showed up with her mare, Erin, and we went on a trail ride. I tried to take them down the super steep hill, but Willig was scared and Janis declined, so we did the other hills (everyone was great), and then the dreaded stream. I got off, jumped the first bit to a gravel bar, turned around, saw Willig doing the little leap dance, and then shrieked like a little girl as he leapt at me. Being on the ground, with Willig slightly uphill, both legs tucked and coming straight at you like a torpedo is a little heart stopping. He splashed a little into the water, realized it didn't kill him, and then happily pranced around in it, doing his little downward horse, flipping it with his lips, and just stomping all around happy as a clam. Eventually Erin decided it couldn't be that bad if the idiot gelding was stomping all around all merry-like, so she came in too. Then, like a mare, when Janis had her foot in and was about to leap up, Erin took one step forward so that Janis fell in the stream. It was totally on purpose, and adds to my reasons to never, ever have a mare.
So then we rode around on the other side of the stream, went back across the stream, did some more trails and hills, went across the stream a third time, and just a little bit after that Willig's brain got tired.
He was excellent. Sometimes he led, sometimes he followed, but after that first big leap, the water was never a problem again. He's not as careful with his feet as I'd like, but he's learning, and best of all, he's starting to trust me.
Mercury was good today too, but Willig blew me - well, out of the water.

Willig and the Giant Trailer

I am trying a new approach with Willig. Instead of treating him like a trained horse, I am treating him like a 3 or 4 year old (my guess as to what a 3 or 4 year old should be treated like, since I have never actually owned nor trained a 3-4 or any-year old), and instead of being annoyed with him at all the things he can't do, we have backed way, way off, and I am trying to work him in smaller increments and on easier things. So on a "typical" day now, he gets lunged (more transitions than I was doing with him so he exercises his hind legs better and it's less repititious) and then I ride him for about half an hour with a lot more breaks, a lot more "routine", and just a few minutes of something new. This doesn't always work, but there has been a real improvement in his attitude. I'm not sure if they're connected, but it works for me.
Sam has had a few problems with Mercury, and it turns out he's just gotten really hot from all the grain. So I'm going to start scaling him back and working him harder on my days, and I went out with her yesterday on the trail to watch and see if I could help her with the problems. She is really treating him well. He has gained some weight on his hindquarters, but he is still a little too skinny, especially for it about to be the start of July.
I also took the trailer in this week to get a new brake box in the truck and a new, lower drop hitch for the trailer. It ended up costing way more than I thought it would, and then, after I parked the trailer at the barn and disconnected the truck, I went to take out a flake of alfalfa, and the front ramp fell off. One of the hinges rusted completely away. Fortunately, the barn manager's husband can weld, so he is going to pick it up when he gets time to work on it and weld a new hinge, as well as whatever else needs welding, back on it. I can't take it anywhere until it gets fixed, so that might mess up some of my plans for July. The timing was incredible. I mean, that DAY it had been at the shop.
Yesterday it was over 90, and Willig was scared of one particular corner, so we worked pretty hard (with lots of walk breaks) but he got totally soaked. Mercury got pretty sweaty just on his trail walk. I've been giving them electrolytes in their night water each time it gets over 80. Today I had to work on a house project, so I'm waiting until later in the evening to go out, when it starts to cool down a little.

Trailer sleep-over

The trailer got to spend the night at the house last night so that I could take it at lunch today to get a new electric brake box and a longer drop hitch so that it will ride level. I also got the piece that zinged loose when the gravel hit it riveted back in. This all lightened my wallet considerably, but it feels easier to drive, and some little moron tested my electric brakes by pulling out immediately in front of me. The electric brakes passed the test and I narrowly avoided a heart attack smashing some little car with my enormous truck.

Here's what the truck & trailer look like from inside the house and the front corner of the front yard. My yard's not THAT small, either.

Important Lesson

If you open the truck's back window and drive on the interstate with hay in the back, hay will blow into the front of the truck through the magic of air flow physics.

Willig's first solo trail ride!

Willig was having a rare lazy day yesterday, so after a little lunge work, we did some of the ground exercises, then some "thinking" riding (swerving through cones, ground poles at extended walk distance), and then I took him on a trail ride.
He balked as soon as he realized where we were going, so I got off, led him over the bridge and across the field to the hill, where I got back on him (amazing thing #1!), and then he was a little skittish about walking again, but once we started going, he did ok. Not great, after a little bit he started doing that antsy trot, but I'd say "and walk" (his lunge command), and he'd do it (amazing thing #2!).
He was a little nervous about going back over the bridge by himself, but he did it, and so then I just brushed him off and put him away.
I read/heard (can't remember) somewhere that it takes a horse about a year to trust you. Of course, that depends on the horse's personality and what you're doing with him (i.e. if you're untrustworthy, it probably isn't going to happen at any point). But I like to tell myself that Willig is young, hasn't been around a huge variety of people or experiences, and he is really showing some effort to do the weird stuff I ask him to. That, more than anything, is our biggest learning opportunity right now.
Last night I watched the first DVD (of 4) in the first set (of 3) of Clinton Anderson. I'll probably watch them all before I try any of it. I'm just not sure I'm coordinated enough to successfully do what he's doing with the horses - it seems like an awful lot going on at once.

Tying Up a Pickle

Saturday turned out to be quite the adventure. Mercury and his partial lessee, Sam, went with me and Willig out to Janis' to ride in her indoor arena and go on a trail ride. I wanted to give the truck and trailer a whirl, and I mostly wanted to see how Willig behaved in a new environment. It turned out to be more of an adventure than I hoped for, but in some ways, better (actually) than I expected.
From the earlier posts, you can see how high the truck is - it's still up in the air (pun intended) whether all F-250's of that year and model came like that or if it was done by the prior owner. Regardless, we thought that by dropping the hitch to the bottom, it would be level enough for the trailer. Well, no foreshadowing here, we (the royal we) thought wrong. Even though it looked level at the barn, it turns out it was just enough not level to cause trouble. (That, however, is foreshadowing.)
Despite the fact that I've been to Janis' a few times, and always gotten there without a hitch, somehow I made two wrong turns hauling the big ass trailer. And I think part of the later excitement came from the fact that when I backed the truck up to hitch it up, I backed it within one inch of being exactly in the right place. I used up all my truck/trailer karma backing up. In the future, I'd rather spend 20 minutes inching back and forth to get the ball and hitch lined up. And then Willig and Mercury loaded right in (once we were all set up) like it was no big deal and we trailer every weekend.
As we got to Janis' - about 30 minutes away - she has a gravel driveway, and we pulled off the highway, started up the driveway, and got stuck. Every time I took my foot off the gas, the trailer would pull us back down the driveway - back towards the highway. And it wasn't that steep of a hill.
I tried putting it in 4x4 high, 4x4 low, 2nd gear, 1st gear, overdrive on, overdrive off, getting out and looking and kicking rocks around, and finally, my old stand-by, I called my dad. He suggested the same thing, didn't think that backing onto the highway and gunning it would help, and after about the third time I smelled rubber, I started backing, very slowly and carefully, back down to try to back onto the shoulder so I could get back on the Highway (it is two lane with shoulders, but the other side is what I would call a cliff, but might be a "drop" into some salt water). In the meantime, my dad was looking up Janis' number because despite the fact that I had a map with her home and cell numbers, I somehow didn't put it in the truck or trailer (even though I totally remember putting it with the trailer registration in the envelope that went in the trailer).
So my dad got Janis' number, I called her, and while she and Michael came down, I managed to wedge the truck and trailer blocking the entire driveway/road, with the trailer tires about a foot from going in a ditch.
Michael, who is a trailer driving pro, got in the truck, drove it up the driveway, and drove it up to their house.
We spent some time up there trying to figure out what went wrong. He thinks that I got too dug in on the hill, and that it needed the acceleration on the flat, but that you also needed to keep going, slowly but gently, and it did spin for him too. The best he could guess is that the hitch was too high, so the front of the trailer was lifted a little, which kept the back tires from gripping. So I need to get a new drop hitch that drops it about 4 more inches. (Patti, fortunately, has one (and a wagon for Ode!), so when I drop him off next week, we'll see if it's longer than mine. She said they're about $300 new!)
Also, the things I was calling sway bars aren't. They're some sort of special hitch thing.
Willig came off the trailer pouring wet. I lunged him (he got drier while being lunged!) tacked him up, lunged him again, and then rode him in Janis' super awesome, spacious, wonderful and delightful indoor arena. Sam rode Mercury, who wasn't sweaty, and was just as calm and sweet and reliable as he always is. Janis got one of her mares, who she lunged and then rode.
Then we decided to go on a short trail ride (because Mercury's feet are still sensitive after the shoes coming off two weeks ago). Well, Janis has great trails, we saw a bald eagle nest with a bird in it, and it was fun and Willig was well behaved, but at the turn around point, Mercury started gimping really badly.
Sam eventually had to get off because Mercury was picking up his left hind foot and then swinging it WAY up (almost touching his belly) before stomping it down on the ground again. She walked him back, and towards the end, Janis' mare and Willig decided they hated each other's guts, so Janis went on ahead, and then Willig realized he was with ol' lion bait Mercury, and he started acting up (trotting sideways - little rears and leaps in the air), because apparently he'd rather be with an arch-enemy than with a gimpy-brother.
We hosed off Mercury, gave him a Vitrolin bath, and put him in the stall (he was, by the end, really sweaty on his belly and butt, and when I gently stretched that leg, the muscle would quiver). We went down and had some cool drinks, but when we went back up to the barn, Mercury was still lame. He was also dehydrated, so we tried to get him to drink (he refused - but he did train Janis to keep molasses in her hand so he could lick it out), and we decided to go ahead and trailer home.
I was trying to adjust the trailer brakes for the descent down that gravelly hill, and the adjuster broke off in my hand, and then the brakes locked on. So Michael had to climb under the dash and unplug it, and then I had to drive the trailer home, and down the hill of doom, with no trailer brakes. Sam and I both got very, very quiet on that section, and we went down it at approximately 2 mph, because had the trailer started to push us - not only would we have gone across the two lane highway, but as you recall above, down a drop into the ocean. And I figured if I drove my lessee into the ocean, Mercury's lease would probably end.
We made it. We cheered and pumped our fists.
We got back to the barn without any more excitement, and Mercury walked off the trailer like he's never been lame a day in his life. Willig came off pouring sweat, so he either hates my driving or is not used to being trailered. He was good though. (By the way - at Janis', they both loaded right back up - despite the harrowing adventure on the hill.)
And aside from the rearing and jumping and trotting sideways, he did much, much better than I expected him to. (The high point of the day.)
I looked in all my vet books, and unfortunately, I'm totally at a loss what is going on with Mercury. I'm going to have the farrier put shoes back on next week when he's there to do Willig, and I think Willig is going to need a special shoe too.
Willig has a sandcrack in his right front hoof, and I've been ignoring it, but I asked Janis and Michael, and they said it could be a serious thing, so I looked it up in the vet books. You just put on a shoe with toe clips and hope it doesn't get worse and wait for it to grow out. It's caused my concussion, which is kind of weird since he doesn't work on anything hard. Maybe it is from his pawing?
Mercury is more of a mystery. The more I read, the more horrible things I thought it could be, so I had to quit reading. I think the most likely is either a bruised sole or a pulled muscle. However, we thought he might be tying up, and there's also like 5 other terrible problems, most of them rare, that it could be. So I tried the solutions for the sole and muscle - I put that purple spray on all four feet (but my sprayer broke after the first two, so I ended up putting the end of the scissors in it and spraying more my hands, which will probably also be purple for the next week) for the sole solution. Then I gave him some table salt, liniment, a massage, bute for two days, and a day in the stall for the pulled muscle. I turned him out for about an hour, and he walked fine out and in, but I thought to be safe he should stay in. He's going to get salt all week with his other supplements.
I also went and bought electrolytes for both of them if we have more hot days, or for Willig in the trailer and the sweat he lost.
I'm also going to get apple juice for the trailer so that Mercury will drink strange water.
I'm not planning on hauling again until the end of June (to Janis' again) which gives me time to spend the money I already wanted to spend but didn't have for the truck cap on a new brake box in the truck, and if Patti's hitch doesn't work, a new hitch.
I heard Sam saying she had a "good time." I wish I was still 15 so that the adventure could be called a "good time." It was nice to have her along with sweet, reliable Mercury, who I wish we could get functioning. I was hoping that with just a beginner lessee and not competing he would start being a consistent horse.

Two in a Row!

Another great day with Willig. We had the absolute perfect environment: warm but not hot, cool breeze, sunny, empty barn ... and so I finally jumped him. I had taken him over a couple of cavelleti on their highest rotation, but never jump jumped him.
It was great! We did a cross rail, a teeny little vertical, and finally a cross rail with two strides to a teeny vertical. That one kind of freaked him out, so we cut in and did the vertical first, then came back and did the combo, and then did it again to make sure it was ok.
He is a great jumper! He is so smooth to ride. We just floated over the top of them.
So then he got an hour out in the pasture on grass as a reward.
I am giving the dogs a break from the heat inside, then I'm going to go ride my bike for a couple hours and enjoy the great weather.

Finally! A Willig Success Story!

Mr. Willig has had it pretty easy (too easy) the past couple weeks. First he had the abscess and his shoe off, then I had the back thing going on (still going, by the way), so I am supposed to "go easy" on my back. That means Willig has been getting a lot of lunging, and there have been a few incidents at work. My cut-off is 6 pm - if I can't get out the door to the barn at 6, I go home instead, even if it's a barn night, because otherwise I am getting home near 10 pm, and I feel too guilty leaving the dogs alone for 14 hours.
When I brought him in yesterday, he threw his typical fit in his stall "Oh no! I'm alone! I'm going to die! Someone come rescue me!" And I did my typical ignore him until he's quiet (I plan other things to meddle around doing), and then take him out.
The girl partially leasing Mercury was there, and I asked her if she could go on a trail ride. I wasn't sure what to expect. Well, I did expect some hyperness out of Willig. But he was really good on the lunge line, not as good being ridden, but he got tired pretty quick because most of the day was over 80, which is really high for us.
Then Mercury started off on the trail (wincing delicately with his bare feet whenever they even thought about touching a rock), and Willig followed him. And when I say followed, I mean Willig's nose was touching the top of Mercury's back. Bless Mercury's patient soul, he didn't kick or anything, but the only struggle, and I am so grateful for this, was keeping Willig off Mercury. He would be a tailgater for sure if he could drive. (The image of Willig driving a car makes me laugh out loud. What a maniac. Wait. I know a human driver who fits that image to a T.)
So we did the loop I hoped to do, and since Willig was being so cool about it, we added a second loop, but I had Willig lead this one. And poor Mercury had to struggle to keep up! Willig started getting a little anxious, but I did a slightly longer loop home, and then we were back!
We stopped to talk to the owner, and Willig proceeded to do some yoga in front of everyone (which is what he does when he's had to "think" during that day's ride - he crosses his front legs and stretches down - like a horsey downward dog).
I am really, really pleased with how he handled the novelty. And, one of the newer boarders had her horse outside the arena rearing and stuff while I was riding him, so all in all, he was a pretty cool cucumber.

The week in review

Twice I saw rainbows. The first time was the drive home, and the end of the rainbow actually touched the road. I saw the end of a rainbow! The other time was lunging Willig over a fence. Someone had set up a couple jumps, so I turned it into one to change his routine, and he did really well. I was all impressed, thinking he was jumping 3' easily, but it was just 2'6". He still had no problem with it.
After two weeks off (for the want of a shoe ...), his first and second days on the lunge line were kind of an adventure. If any of you read "Little Black Samba" where the tiger melts himself running around and around the tree - that's basically what I thought was going to happen. It didn't seem to be so much hyper energy as a challenge to who was the boss. The second day, I couldn't even see him on the end of the lunge line because the arena got so dusty. However, I appear to have come out on top, because on the lunge line he is now a model of respect. When I say "trot", he trots that second. Excellent, crisp transitions. He has, not, however, been doing so well in the cross-ties, and his whole "I'm afraid to be alone" thing has gotten worse.
Mercury, last week, did some fine, fine dressage moves. Turn on the haunches and forehand, half pass, and the half pass but going forward move (which I totally know the name of and am just blanking on). Then this week, he got an odd lameness that has no heat, no sensitivity, no swelling. I think it's because he's a little overdue for his shoeing (which will happen Thursday morning), and one shoe is getting loose and he's been kicking his own ankles. We'll see.

Trailer photos

This was the view on the way to pick up the trailer. Nice.

The truck back seat folds down and makes a flat area that is perfect for two big dogs and their dog beds!!

I have a crush on the truck

More photos of truck and trailer

I got a truck and trailer!

Here's the truck.

The human has a sore back

My back has been aching for a while. It started way back when I first got Willig and rode him a couple times before his hives got so bad I basically didn't ride him again for two months. And then when I started riding him again, the back pain came back. At the time, Bob said it was because he's such a big mover, and I hold myself pretty rigid, so it was jarring my back.
It actually doesn't hurt so much when I ride him now, but sometimes it does, and sometimes it hurts when I ride Mercury. Willig's little tantrum on Saturday, combined with that first day of holding his leg for 20 minutes bent over the bucket, has made my back hurt pretty bad the last week.
So today I went to the chiropractor. He said that the muscles are like rebar - they're totally inflamed and knotted up, and he can't do anything until they relax some. I have to stop jogging (the jarring), and I'm supposed to take it easy on other activities. He said he wasn't going to ban riding yet, but it will depend on if I can get the muscles to relax. Worst of all, I have to wear this dorky back brace, which granted, feels pretty nice, but makes me look like a little old lady.
I haven't decided if I'm going to ride the rest of this week or just take it off. Since Willig isn't rideable and Mercury does ok with breaks, maybe I should give my back a break and hope I can ride again next week once Willig gets his shoe back on.
And great news! Sam is going to do a partial lease on Mercury. I am so happy. She loves him, he loves her, and I love that I can relax a little about the amount of attention I'm giving him.

Next saddle sizes

I need a 17" dressage. The 17" xc is pretty comfortable, but Bob told me to get jumping a 1/2" bigger, so I guess I need a 17 1/2" xc.
I took my old saddles to be sold at Tack Room Too, and the xc was 18" (whoa!) and the dressage was 17 1/2". That's quite possibly why my new jumping is so comfortable - it's the only one that actually fits me.
I got a 16 1/2" dressage as my new saddle, and when I do my hand behind my butt, it's just a little bit too small.
Both Willig and Mercury were very good today. Maybe I just need to do Willig on even (or odd) days.

Willig's lameness was (is) an abscess

That makes two for Mercury this year and one for Willig, while my prior almost 20 years of horse history includes 0.
It was under his shoe, sort of on his toe, and fairly deep. And it was the left leg, which he was pointing with (but also pawing with), and it was not easy to detect.
He was terrible though, the day the vet was out. He had been in the stall almost a week by then, and wanted one thing and one thing only: to be out with his friends. We had to use a stud chain on him, which he respected immediately, which was weird because I've never used a stud chain before. So it was either his old home or Bob that taught him.
That day, his first day soaking, was a bit of an adventure. Mostly, I hung onto his leg with my left arm and the bucket with my right arm, and bent over for 20 minutes, mostly with his foot in the water. It wasn't until the very end (when his other three legs got tired) that he finally set it down in the bucket.
The next day he didn't get soaked because I spent my entire barn time hanging up one of those "pas-i-fiers" (the rolling thing that mounts in the corner) and this treat ball that hangs up high. He loves the treat ball, and sportingly licked the pas-i-fier before going back to the treat ball.
Day three (but really like day 10), I took him out to the grass turn out, and let him eat grass and walk around until the other horses started to go in, at which point he finally started running around. The soaking that day was not easy (like Mercury), but not so bad.
Day 4 - yesterday - bad, bad day. We had divine weather, so I went out around lunch, put him out in the grass turn out again, and then rode Mercury. Then I switched him and Mercury, and about half way back, he realized he was going back into the barn and did not want to go. Honestly, I don't blame him, but the vet said stall rest. So we inched our way back to the barn, he'd walk a few steps, stop and put his head in the air, I'd make him step sideways, he'd walk a few steps. When we got to the barn, I took him into the grassy area and had him walk over the "bridge" a couple times, then let him eat grass again for a few more minutes. My thinking was it was at least a small reward for actually making it to the barn. Because ... the barn staff told me on Day 2 that he had "broken out" of his stall each time they put the hay in. He does stand there with his head at the door (because there are bars so he can't hang it out), but I was like "oh dear" ... I've been thinking some about barn staff - who might mean well - but the effects it can have on a younger, willful, opinionated horse and that horse's owner when she gets out at night.
So anyway - that foot soaking was a disaster. We got in a huge fight - while he was more willing to plant his foot (so he could paw with the other foot) - he was also leaping around, and eventually spilled the bucket. I had his foot only partially wrapped (I don't like for him to put it down half way, because then it just gets gross and dirty under a layer of duct tape), and I got so mad at him that I put him in his stall and left. At the time, I was just pissed, but later, I realized it was an awful lot like a time-out for a kid.
I totally understand why he's acting up - he's not getting enough exercise, he's away from his herd (and is clearly a horse that has problems with that), I'm doing weird things with him, and he doesn't feel bad anymore, so he just wants to go out and run around. But this raises the old beast - is he too much horse for me or will I learn as I go along? The vet said that a 6 year old warmblood is the mental equivalent of a 3 year old quarter horse, and that he'll improve with age and training, but that his personality will always be a bit like this. And this is probably my absolute weakest area - I don't know how to train a baby. I don't know how to train ground manners.
He gets his shoe back on May 5th, but I'm turning him out again starting tomorrow. I'll just clean his foot and reapply his little bootie each night and hope it doesn't create another abscess.
I've noticed, even without riding him the past two weeks and only riding Mercury, my lower back is still killing me. And bending over with that bucket is not helping at all. My supervisor's wife just had to have neck surgery and has fused vertebrae in her lower back (she rides), and my trainer back in college had a fall and landed on a jump and broke her back and had fused vertebrae. I'm wondering if my back is just weak from the time off, and keeps getting sore instead of stronger, or if something could be going "wrong" with the way I ride that's messing up the vertebrae. I know I'm a bit of a hyopchondriac but I'm thinking of visiting the chiropractor just to make sure it's not something serious. Each week I tell myself I'm going to start doing pilates at home to strengthen it, then each week there's too much else to do.

Lame Willig; Leased (?) Mercury

Willig went lame over the weekend. When I went out Saturday, he was a little off, but when I went back out Sunday he was a cripple. His right shoulder is knotted up pretty badly, but I can't find any warmth, swelling, or tender spots. And I've poked all around his feet and it doesn't seem to be coming from his feet. The lameness isn't the big problem though; it's the stall rest. Willig HATES being separated from the other horses when they get turned out. Even with all the activity Saturday with lessons all day, he was a total brat - in pain and pissed off makes for a hard to handle Willig. He did, after about an hour, settle down and be a sweet boy.
In the meantime, Mercury is on his way to a partial lease. The girl who is interested in him has had a couple lessons and is more comfortable with him being a good choice. She was out Saturday and asked if she could do anything and I said if she wanted, she could groom Mercury, and she groomed him for like an hour, and then took him out to eat grass. He was so shiny and clean. That's exactly what I was looking for - someone to dote on and love Mercury. So hopefully that will all work out.
But for today - another call to the vet, who is probably wondering if I fell off the face of the earth after my December-February earth shattering vet bills, and then nothing (thankfully) for March.