New Dressage Saddle

Well my Revere saddle has arrived.  I can't wait to try it out.  Only had time to take a few photos.  It looks like it will fit her so much better than the other JRD saddle.  The saddle fits flatter across her back.  Some horses have more curve to their backs than my mare.  My older saddle moved from right to left across her back, which caused a bald spot.  Nothing smells so great as a new saddle.

Puppy Luv

I have heard many sad stories about trying to introduce new pets into an established pet happy home.  All I can say is that we were really lucky!

Chippy has moved right in without issue. 

Dressage in the Jump Saddle

OK, I know there should be no difference in the way one rides between the jump saddle and the dressage saddle, but I feel a change.

I've been told over and over you can get the same out of the horse either way.  Well I don't agree!  I've seen hard core hunter riders struggle when they switch over, and I'm sorry but some of the lower event riders and DQs could use some time on the line.  I am not ashamed that I love lunge lessons and I think if more riders did it, we would see less flop, balancing on the horses mouth, irons that are so far back and Wow! is she going to fly off her horses back w/ that lengthening?

When I'm in my dressage saddle I feel my core better and thus my half halts are there.  I can ride my mare from back to front and she reaches for the bit.  My jump saddle limits how I can wrap my leg around her.  I just need to practice more, but the more I watch jumper/hunter riders using there hands or training aids to get their horses round, I cringe.  We have riders @ my barn who use draw reins on 3 year olds.  These same riders wonder why their horses are not through from behind.

 Old hunter pictures of me in the 80's!

I am just an average rider who wants to learn all there is about horses, and I know I will never stop taking lessons or sound advice from others.

Duct Tape

The duct tape trial worked pretty good.  Removal was a bit tough.  I can get about 3 days or until she starts rubbing it off. 

The hock shield boot is still taking a beating and with some minor fixing, I think I can get another year out of it.

My horse seems to only sleep on her right side, but only rolls to the left when turned out.  Weird.

Duct Tape

Who knew there were so many uses from wallets to hock sore protection.  I've never heard of using it for those nasty bed sores!  We are on day two of my trial, and it seems to really work. I do love my hock boots, but this was worth a try. I will post pictures soon.

And to think I could have saved 35$! Oh, and they don't sell my favorite hock shield boots as a pair.

New Puppy

We just couldn't resist the puppy cuteness. Just adopted a new member of the family.  His name is Chippy and he settled in just fine. 

Feed

I am always on the defense about why my horse eats lunch.  With all the research out there, horses do best when they are out grazing in a field.  I've tried to tell my fellow barn gals that it's better on their systems to space meals, and provide plenty of forage to keep the acids down in the their stomachs.  Why do people feel that advice needs to be given even when no one asks for it?

I really can't believe my horse has survived this long under my care!

Blogs

I just love reading blogs when I'm pretending to work. I have a few favorites:

Fugly Horse
Dixie Rumble
Dressage Curmudgeon
TB Friends
and others I found @ The Hay Net. 

I like to read how horses are progressing and new product reviews. Writing styles are also varied and I find the blogs w/ humor are the best.  I think we can all share the lighter side of horse ownership. 

Lying Cow

So, I'm still learning how post video and pictures.  I need a lot more time to get this right. 

Why the Lying Cow? 

When I purchased my CHESTNUT mare, her nickname was Ivy.  I was happy with that and off we went.  Maybe it should have hit me that she was a bit cowish when she tried to climb through the trailer window the day I came to pick her up.  Or was the 9 times she threw me off.  OK, one of those times she fell too, so it was really 8.  I was determined to ride her w/ out lunging, or turnout.  Our turn out facility is not the best and horses are always falling.  She has a large paddock, and gets personal time in the 60' round pen.  The first year was the hardest since I purchased her in the winter, and she came from 24 hour turn out to a paddock.  I quickly changed her name to Poison Ivy, and listened to my DQ friends telling me that her name might influence the judge.   Please, judges are not that childish, are they?

Fast forward to the starting of our jumping career.  When she turned 5, I started to jump her.  She was willing, but lacked forward nature unless she spooked and bolted w/ the added twist buck.  Never could save myself on those.  I start going to Brian Sabo clinics and know that all the travel will just make her better.

I think the mare has a coin slot on her.  When she feels that her lesson is over, that's it times up.  No amount of encouragement will get her to go.  Brian had to "encourage" her from behind to get her over a flower box.  It was 6" tall and all she had to do was walk over it.  He cursed her and forever changed her name to "The Lying Cow".  You just never know if she's really going to go.  Almost 3 years later, and we are getting over things now, but I still had to have a pad made.  We wear it with honor now.

Wow! And 70!

OK. there is hope.  What a great story.  I know there is probably a lot of money keeping this guy going, but still.  He was a former jumper rider too.  After my post yesterday, age really has no influence on ones riding ability.

Feeling Old

Today I worked w/ out irons and since I don't spend enough time in the jump saddle, it was very difficult.  It was also 2x's as hard doing it on my own and being honest with my effort. Who ever said that riding doesn't get the heart going.  I remember a time when my entire lesson was done w/ out irons.

To be 13 again!

I really think that kids bounce when they fall off and can spend hours in the saddle.  As I age, I feel that time is flying by and I can't slow it down.  At least one can age with their horses and still compete with the best of them.  7 days and counting for the new saddle which is still not fully paid for.

Shows

Well now that I am getting a new saddle, showing is on the back burner.  I just love going to dressage shows and supporting my friends.  I also love reading other blogs about dressage showing and scores.  I've never been brave enough to post, but now that I have my own blog I feel free.  I hate it when people assume that scores in the 70's should be easy @ training.  Anyone can just show up and ride. 

Really, are you serious?

Yep, I see it when people take horses that are way above that level all the way to championships.  I know we all need to learn, and a schoolmaster is worth their weight in gold, but skip training please.

I am now moving up to first.  I have never gotten a 70 nor had schoolmaster or a break the bank horse.  I'm OK with that because I've done everything myself.  It may take me longer and I will never be in the top ten or twenty, but I feel fully gratified as I sit back and read my tests.

Our first rated show when she was really crampy.  Score 50%  Warming up. 

It took me two years to get through training. My goals were to stay in the court, and smile :).  We earned Reserve Champion 2012 for all breeds in the USDF and qualified for the CDS championships all with score less than 70.  With my beer budget it can be done.  Everything I show in is second hand.  I just love it when my friends gain too much weight!  I really should stop baking all those cookies, but I have my eye on some Goode Rider breeches!

Saddles, Saddles! Today I had to take my JRD dressage saddle in to find out it really isn't working. What? Are you sure?  I don't remember having these issues in the 80's.  Maybe we did and I just never paid attention.  We look @ a full custom and sit in it to see if it feels OK.  Of course it feel great, but the 6000+ price tag is not a fit!  I settle on a Revere and there goes my lessons for months.  I know that a dressage saddle really needs to fit us both.  It really does help my riding and I am sure it feels better for the horse. 

It's been a long road with my horse Ivy.  I bought her 4 years ago with 90 days.  Now everyone has their opinion on what 90 days means.  All I know is that Poison Ivy earned her name that first year.  She questioned every moment and didn't agree with me most of the time.  I've hit the ground hard nine times and cleared the arena with her rearing tantrums.  I think we are over those growing pains.  We spent the first year on the trail.  No arena, just hitting the hills.  Then we hit the road for weekly trailer rides to clinics.  We attended our first rated dressage show when she was 4.5.  OK, we didn't even break 50% but she was feeling under the weather.  I really just hacked the class and went for experience.