Baby Mama

Ivy is looking very big these days. Only two weeks to go and she's very cranky. I think she still looks super and it won't take too long to get her back into shape.

Catching Up

Time seems to fly by. Baby is almost here! Only a couple of weeks left. I rode Ivy until her tenth month and now she's on vacation. Rubicon has come along way and has even taken me to my first trial. We ended up in third with no faults. Still working on bolting issues which are not related to pain or ill fitting tack. He has taught me a lot! I plan on showing him dressage and will be going out First level. I went to a clinic and was given advice to start at that level. He naturally carries himself more uphill and would look out of place at training. We are still working on grids and trot fences.

Ivy looking pregnant

Our first HT and we got 3rd!!

Adventures Continue at 2nd Level

It's been a big year for us and we have had a lot of fun over the summer.  I decided to give it one last try at the breeding thing.  If she takes, super and if not, fine.  Well, we are pregnant!  I am very happy and Ivy is just herself.  I am still riding her and showing.  I wanted to get my second level scores before the baby comes. I am happy about our 63.5 on our first try!! We only did one class and in retrospect it was a wise choice. There was heat wave that day and I think it would have been too much for the mare.  She is such a super horse and puts 110% in. She isn't fancy and will never move like the big lofty ones, but she has heart.  We got 7's on our free walk and our right lead canter lengthening. Our trot mediums were 6.5! We lost points on our simple changes.  We only got 6's on those.  Need to melt into them and not be so abrupt. Learned a lot and plan on one more show.

My project horse is moving along.  He still hates to travel by himself, but behaves at new places. I've been hauling him out at least 2-3 times a month.  Our goal is to attend a derby in September.  His canter is more balanced.  He couldn't even canter a 20 meter circle with out falling on his face.  It felt like a freight train going down a hill.  I've been doing a thousand transitions.  Our connection is so much steadier.  He really doesn't understand it and has a fear of being hit in the mouth.  We really don't know what happened to him when he was younger. He really needs a soft leader and not a passive one!

Rubicon

My friend and Rubicon having fun!!I think I will keep him for a while and see.  The goal is to go to a couple of schooling shows and then event him in the fall. And this is my other little jumper Chippy!!

Big Changes

Well, big changes have happened. Ivy never took, but will be bred again in the spring.  She is now working on third level and we are ready to show second this season.  Her changes are great and we finally have a medium!!She really enjoys the work and even gets excited about shoulder in or half pass.  I also got a free horse!! They are never really free.  He belongs to a friend and has been sitting in a field for over a year. Oh and he can jump!!  And did I mention he's a buckskin.  I have been taking it slow and just working on basic things.  He will not reach for the contact and he's very uphill (not a bad thing). I got him in mid October, and we finally have canter and some stretch in the trot.  I forget what it's like to ride a baby.  All wiggly and falling in or out.  Spooking at trash cans and trucks and who knows.  The thing he has what Ivy lacks, heart.  He will jump anything.  Ivy on the other hand isn't so sure and really needs an honest ride to each jump.

 His name is Rubicon and he's 12.  I think he will make a great eventer for me.  I of course needed to buy him a new saddle since he needs to be a dressage horse too.  Going to be paying this JRD off for a while.

Love this Story

I wish my horse had this type of heart and drive:
Olympia: Kauto Star set for competitive dressage bow in 2015

By Nick Hope
BBC Olympic sports reporter
Record-breaking steeplechaser Kauto Star is likely to compete in dressage in 2015, but will not take part in the 2016 Rio Olympics.
The 14-year-old, who won the Cheltenham Gold Cup twice and the King George VI Chase a record five times, was retired in late 2012.
He was introduced to dressage as a way of keeping him entertained in his post-racing career.
"He's ready to go whenever it works," rider Laura Collett told BBC Sport.
Kauto Star performed a demonstration routine in front of over 6,000 people at the Olympia Horse of the Year Show on Tuesday.
Collett added: "We threw him in at the deep end really and he got a bit of stage fright, but he's never been in that kind of atmosphere before and it's a huge ask for a horse like that who's used to open spaces."
Kauto Star's owner, Clive Smith, said: "I'm very proud of him and I feel he can do it.
"He won't do any three-day eventing with cross-country and show jumping, but dressage is harmless for him and he's intelligent, so he will learn the steps."
British Olympic Equestrian team performance manager Yogi Breisner said: "He is magnificent and very healthy and fit, but he has done his work and is a superstar who deserves a happy retirement.
"We won't be seeing him in Rio, that's for sure, unless they want a demonstration of what a real racehorse is like."

Catching Up

We have had a lot to work on this summer. Ivy did not take this breeding season.  I am not worried nor do I really care.  I will try one more time this spring.  We only went to one rated dressage show and received a 67% @ first, but had to scratch the second class due to Ivy not feeling well.  Jumping is coming alone and we have a derby in September and a few schooling shows.  I am riding with Heidi this weekend to confirm I am ready for second.  It's amazing how hard we work and yet we only slowly climb up the levels.  Ivy isn't a natural nor is she built for collection, but we are going to make it to third! I will do it without draw reins or a double. I just love this mare and we are happy being a Jack of All Trades, but Master of None!  Oh, and the 2' level is just my speed.  

Moving to Second Level and Other Things

I have been really debating the move to second level.  After showing a full year at first, I am still not certain our collection is there.  Simple changes are 90% and we can handle all of the other things on those tests.  Her changes are there, but we only ask for them when we are jumping.  I think collection is the major block, and my over thinking.  Next show will be in July.

I've taken Ivy a couple of times to Lone Tree Farm.  She was so good each time.  Our first trip was during the high winds of early April.  As we headed into the wind, my helmet would shift from the severe headwind.  Ivy took it all in and was very willing.  My last trip was last weekend and I actually jumped some BN fences! Not ready to compete, but my confidence is back.

Big changes are happening this month. Ivy went to the breeders.  Not sure if she took, but we check next week.  I am not going to stress over it nor spend a ton of money on breeding.  If she doesn't take for two cycles, then it wasn't meant to be.  I really love Irish horses, and either way I am going Irish on my next one.  I still plan on showing and going to my first HT while she's in foal.

Ivy is still loving her pads.  I have been using leather, but will be changing to a harder plastic pad.  They don't break down as fast and they last longer on harder ground.  I plan on the Tildren treatment next year for her foot issues.  It runs about 1500 for initial treatment then 100 a month after that.  I am looking at about three grand, so saving all my pennies for this one.

Dressage Show

Ivy and I went to our first rated show of the year. A bit of a late start.Again I am doing first level.  I am afraid to make the jump to second.  I was reading some other blogs about when to move up a level.  I found it interesting that several people stated that riders need a 70% before the move.  Really? Um, Ivy will never get close that score.  She is very tight and reactive and .....Plus, not the best mover. I never bought her to be strictly dressage.  The horses that scored in the 70's had a lot of hock action and jump. They truly are beautiful to watch, but way out of our league. But, Ivy can camp, jump, trail, and ...I love my girl.

We ended up w/ a 66%. Almost a 67%!! Got a 7 on trot lengthening and an 8 on halts. Lost points on free walk and stretchy trot 6.5's.  Should have known there was an issue then.  The day before the show, Ivy was in season.  She was flirting with every horse in the arena. The pee thing is such a nightmare and I know when she hits me w/ her tail, it's time to leave.

We had a two hour break and Ivy just stood by the trailer eating away.  As I led her away to the warm up, she wouldn't walk.  I freaked out. She looked like she needed to take a big poo.  She finally moved off and we walked a while.  I alerted my coach and hopped on.  It was awful.  She felt like she had a hump in her back plus lame behind.  Poor girl.  She was in pain, so I scratched.  Of course she was fine on Monday.  Really need to deal with her spring cycles.  When she was younger she would colic during her cycle.  Had the vet up every month. In time her cycles did get better.

In the end we did great!
 

April Jump Lesson

We are making great progress! I need more work on my release, but Ivy is very forward to the jump.  I am using half halts but I can clearly see she is not listening.  I am just thrilled she is jumping and not doing the dreaded stop thing.  We have our big show next weekend and are currently working on our second level stuff.  Counter canter to the right is finally smoothing out and keeping her straight through the neck and poll helps.  I have been watching videos online w/ the three loop serpentine and see a lot of riders w/ too much neck/poll bend.  My goal is to be consistent.  Our left lead is still a major mess.  She is weaker on that side and I have tendency to stop riding her.  Rein backs are good and turn on the haunches are fine.  I know I will loose half of all we know on show day! I am just grateful for every day that I can ride.

Another Lesson

The rainbow filler.

Last jump is our first stone wall. 

We went to a new barn to try something different.  They have a cute lot for xcntry practice.  It had a slight slope and the footing was a mix of dirt and manure w/ lots of uneven spots.  The arena was hard and had very little give.  I am not an arena snob, but when steel shoes slide on top of the base, I know it's too hard.  If I fall on that, I know I will break something.  At first we thought she was off, but after a round pen flat lesson we couldn't find the issue.  Not sure if I need to change the pads to thicker ones or chiro work.  I really think she hates working on cement footing. She is very willing and forward to the jumps.  She was never forward before the pads, but after we fixed her feet she is so much happier.  We worked on adding a stride and then removing it between jumps.  Then we worked on the rainbow filler.  It was moved around the front of the jump until it was placed in the middle.  Ivy just popped over it.  I need to work on my eq.  It was a good lesson, but I really disagree about jumping horses on cement (hard footing).  I was told that event horses have to jump on all surfaces.  I get that, but there are limits.

Big Lesson Weekend

On Saturday we had our lesson with Heidi. The weather was very warm so I decided to just hop on. We rode outside and there were lots of things to spook at.  Ivy held it together.  Ivy has about 5 different trots and they aren't good.  She can get rushy or lazy.  She can look like she has four square wheels (not good). Heidi told me to pick her up (shorten the reins) and kick her butt, but also keep her from rushing on the front end (half halts).  We got it!  Lots of abs, and get in and out w/ leg aids.  We then worked on travers and shoulder in.  Shoulder in was spot on and I had to do it posting ( very hard for me).  I thought our travers was correct, but Heidi said that the angle had to be greater for the judge to see it.  By this point we are working on sitting trot.  I really didn't think I could sit the trot, but Ivy gave me a spot.  I am not a pretty rider and I know I give Ivy way too much busy information.

We leg yielded down the rail almost perpendicular to it, then straightened the shoulders (and mine) on the rail to exaggerate the travers. I then worked on canter and collecting it.  We had haunches in going left and worked on straightening that out.  I totally forgot to think of shoulders in.  Finally I did a clean change for Heidi.

Sunday was a jump lesson.  Ivy was very tired, but did everything I asked.  We jumped all the jumps and even made it over some barrels.

Lessons and New Saddle

Love the new saddle.  I find it really puts you in a perfect balance position.  Half seat is a breeze.  We have also been working on aspects of the second level test.  Canter walk and counter canter along the wall.  We also have our changes.  I mainly use those in jumping and only practice them during the jumping lessons.  Ivy loves changes too much now.  She is telling me when to change.  I like to ask for my change on a straight line before the corner. I was told to skip second level test 1 because of the 3 loop canter movement.  I don't want to loose the changes by drilling counter canter.  Some horses find changes harder if they are drilled too much on counter canter.  Now I have to teach her counter canter is what I want.

Her pads are still doing the trick and I limit my jumping to one day a week.  I work on pole work and dressage.  Looking forward to the first show and will have 2 clinics w/ Heidi Gaian to see a judges opinion on our progress.

New JRD Jump Saddle!

Just got my new saddle.  It was used, but you can barely notice it.  It's a monoflap by JRD.  Love the blue trim.  First ride tomorrow and I will see if I can stay on.  Long billets so I won't have buckles under my legs.

New Feet!

It's been four weeks since I put pads on Ivy and pulled the shoe closer to the tip of the frog for a faster break over. She is a different horse.  I see a lot of stuff online about no shoes, pads.... Go natural!  When I brought her home as a 3.5yr old, I kept her barefoot.  Biggest mistake of my life.  I suppose if I lived in an area where the ground was soft things might have been different.  Her issues are caused by impact on hard ground.. All those trail rides in the hills didn't help. Well, she is sooo happy now.  She is much more willing and her shoulders are free.  I feel awful knowing we could have fixed her issues sooner.  Our first show is in March and I will attempt first level again.  Not ready for second yet but now I think I will go for my medal.  Why not! Oh, and I will go to a HT too. OK, intro level..

Video of Ivy @ Fresno HT

 

 

Proof that Ivy went to a HT!!!!

 

 

 

 

Another Vet Check

Since I have now decided to breed my mare for my next low level event horse, a vet check was in order.  I have always battled with connection issues and Ivy seems to go better in softer footing.  Bells go off, "Do her feet hurt?" I learned a lot last week about feet.  Apparently not all people get a vet check on their mares before they breed.  The vet told me that you want to rule out any foot issues that could be passed on.  Now I have seen some pretty ugly broodmares and I know they wouldn't pass a vet check, so why breed them?  I love my mare and I want another one just like her.  Sassy, hard headed, big heart, and very smart.  I love chestnut mares!!!!  I think mare people are truly special people.  We know how to negotiate, and never pick fights that will end badly.

Now I had a full vet check a year ago and flextions were all neg. but I never xrayed the front feet.  New vet last week and he could not see anything out of the ordinary.  After the images were taken, we could see she had an issue.  In her lft front she has pedal osteitis.  That's it!  I know some people would freak out, but I live in California and the ground is very hard.  Ivy was raised on it and the breeder never put shoes on her. When I brought her home, I trail rode her for 6 months over the same hard hilly ground.  Vet said, no big deal and that her feet looked super.  Nothing there that could be genetically passed on.  I wonder if part of her connection issues were from her foot.  Pads are in our future.

Change

A lot has happened in the three months since Ivy has been gone.  She competed in two HT and finished both!  She finished on the bottom, but she did finish.  I then took her to our first Hunter Pace.  We jumped all the jumps, but finished over time.  Since she's been home, we have been working on the same connection issues we had over a year ago.  Well, I knew the dressage training would be lacking and old habits are back. I have also taken her to her normal weekly jumping lessons and am happy to report she is very willing.  She may not win or move up to BN w/ me, but I am very happy.  I will go intro till? We are also going to go to several schooling shows w/ low jumps and will continue up the levels in dressage.

In the fall I plan on breeding her to Liam.  I know there are lots of horses out there, but none that are "Jack of All Trades" w/ a good mind under 5 grand.

Ivy Goes to Her First HT

Well this has been a long road.  Still can't decide if I should sell or not.  Ivy is almost the perfect horse.  She will always have a stopping issue and we may never win, but is that the goal? I can take her to any event, trail ride her, camp and she is perfect.  She is safe and loves attention.  Maybe I will just breed her.

Ivy went to her first HT and showed in BN.  I had the only horse that stood there w/ her eyes closed dreaming of food.  In dressage she got a 35 and that put her in 3rd.  Next came stadium.  In the warm up she stopped at all 3 fences including the x.  I couldn't watch after that.  All I wanted was for her to finish and that's it.  The horse before didn't even get over the first fence.  Now Ivy trots in and I walk away, but peek through some bushes.  She was looking good until the first stop, then came the second and an almost, but she made it through the combination. Now she's heading for the last oxer and she makes it w/ a big whack on the butt. She really has good form, nice square knees. Ok, we have major time faults plus 2 stops, but she made it.  Happy Dance!!!! Next day she is out on xcntry.  Double clear.  Life is almost complete, now I have to ride her.  We are Hunter Pace bound on Sunday.  Ivy finished out of the ribbons, but she jumped every single fence.  I can breath now.

Boot Camp at Lontree Farm

Ivy is now getting ready for her first HT in Oct.  I know she will learn a lot at boot camp.  Progress seems on track.  Today we attacked all the logs and introduced some new jumps.  Yes, there were a few ugly stops but in the end she did a little course. She had a stop in the second clip at the end.  She did get over it.  There is hope yet!