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
Charlie with the long sought after cooler
Spring NWEC 2013 Novice
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
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.
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.
Monday, September 29, 2008
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.
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.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
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.
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.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
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).
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).
Saturday, September 20, 2008
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.
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.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
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.
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.
Sunday, September 07, 2008
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.
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.
Wednesday, September 03, 2008
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.
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.
Monday, August 25, 2008
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).
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).
Sunday, August 17, 2008
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.
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.
Sunday, August 03, 2008
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
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
Sunday, July 20, 2008
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."
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."
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