BB in Photos

BB's jumping career, in photos. Starting out in late September of 2013...

And into 2014...

And into our first show season...

And just like that show season was over...

And it was December:

And a new year has begun. Now, to get some more pictures!

Anxiety Brain!

So my brain tends to be anxious and fixate on things whilst trying to smooth them out and make them orderly. Thus, I feel frantic and powerless because THE BIT ISN'T RIGHT OMG.

It's actually kind of stressful to be in my own head - and then I go out to the barn like I did last night, ride outside in blustery 50 degree and dropping weather... and have a lovely, lovely ride.

BB was quiet in the bridle (weighted snaffle, tight noseband) and was light and at the vertical. She was distracted, but I was able to get her back pretty easily. We started off with figure eights, which is always good for her for some reason, and I was happy that she was dropping down/coming through in her back and pushing through the direction change versus fussing and coming up. She rolled into canter pretty promptly (though this varies depending on her focus) and was willing to collect into her medium trot without breaking to the canter, coming up, or bracing too badly. Some of the canter work was messy, but she got it together a little better as we went on to play "red light green light" of "please stop hanging on my hands that's not how you stop". She will figure it out eventually, me thinks. Now that her trot work is back to being awesome, I want to get back to working on prompt transitions (up AND down) with no bracing or head raising/shaking and getting her strong in her canter work. We need to canter canter canter until she's strong enough to not swap leads in the back when she's distracted. Once she's strong, we can hopefully figure out flying changes.

Realizing that the waterford is too much for her has me thinking: beval gag or slow twist something as a jumping bit? Or a lever noseband? Or should I just try the cheltenham on her and see what happens?

Do I even really need a new bit?

Sigh, 

Bitting Conundrums

Continuing the saga of OMG I have shit to do before show season, better get on that, I rode my horse for approximately 20 minutes on Monday. The farrier was super late (Appointment was at 4:30, I got on at 4:45 because he wasn't there and had time to ride) and Bailey was super apathetic, so we toodled around in the outdoor for like... 7 minutes before going on a spectacularly spooky trail ride down the road in the wind. Bailey started doing the super cute skittering backwards from scary things routine, and I didn't have a stick. And I was in the snaffle, in my dressage saddle... we dealt with it but we also backed into our  "friend" Elena, who was less than thrilled with the readheaded tornado. 

The horses did get trimmed, and blanketed. The farrier reported that Fox is still blowing out a stone bruise (probably aggravated by hard ground last week) and thus, probably the reason she was a touch off last week. She joyfully ran around outside after I turned her out (before catching her again because oh, hey, farrier is here) so I think she's feeling much better. Bailey seemed cold as well, so I felt perfectly ok with my less than amazing ride. I mean, my horse did jump 3'3 on Saturday. 

She seems a bit... tired as of late, but still is strong in the bridle. Even jumping in the waterford on Saturday, I was kind of shocked that she did get around to shaking her head and being a bit wild. I think I am going out in search of something I can feel ok using with a running martingale and find a better balance between brakes and her willingness to come through the bridle. She definitely isn't Foxie - Fox is willing to take a feel of your hands even in a waterford, or in the pelham, and often starts to lean lean lean until you snap her out of it my lifting your hands / engaging the curb or dropping her. 

I did do some bit swapping as I noted and wanted to get my perceptions down:

1. Nathe Snaffle: deemed too soft last year. The rings are too small unless the nose band is cranked down, and the horse didn't seem particularly interested in listening to it. 

2. French Link Eggbutt Snaffle: Much better than the nathe, but it was deemed that BB was quieter in the weighted single link. 

3. Loose Ring 16mm full weight snaffle: Bailey seems much quieter in the bridle with this bit. She did start sticking her tongue out when working, but seems to do this much less as of late. 

4. Waterford loose ring snaffle: she will still get up and fight this bit, but is much more respectful on the flat. She does mind half halts better, but hides behind the contact more often. The tongue sticks out with this bit, and also needs a tight nose band because she gaped her mouth and it almost pulled through/tongue when through the ring.

5. French Link mid shank pelham: definitely too much. Fantastic turning and obedience on the flat, seemed willing to come through the bridle, but the curb is way, way too much for her and makes her feel trapped which results in rearing.

So... what to try next? 

I'm between the beval gag (similar mouthpiece to what she wears now (thin, single joint) with a touch of leverage) and a full cheek something or other... or a dee because it works like a full cheek but it's less likely to stab me?

Keep Calm, Kick On

So this weekend I showed up at the barn not sure what I wanted to do with myself. I pulled out the jump tack, and warmed up the naked and muddy BBmonster in the Back On  Track ensemble before tacking her up. I still wasn't sure what I wanted to do, but I set up a set of three fences (xrail that became a vertical to two gates) with two strides between and got the princess warmed up. We were rocking the waterford with her grackle noseband / no martingale, and she was very light and obedient the whole warm up. I am still contemplating if that is too much bit for her - it's nice when she's being a brat, but it seems a bit much judging from the way she is tentative about taking a feel of my hands when she's on the flat and being good.

We figure-8'd over the first element and even did the second on a killer angle before I put her through the grid. We had a bit of a motor dispute but after that, she did a nice swap into fiery jumper mode. She gets up and shakes her head coming in, but I could half halt (thanks, waterford) and was able to balance her pace while keeping her balanced. She put in a few lovely attempts towards the end and we exited the arena. I decided we could go for a walk on the road which ended up being a trot and even a canter! For reference, at the walk she would stop and STARE (waiting for the goblins, I assume?) at various things but walked on willingly enough with a cluck and a nudge from my leg. She gets better the higher the gait goes - I finally took my own advice (aka my blog name) and just kept kicking her on when she'd spook at this and that, and the system really worked.

I'm guessing that this is how our final XC round went so well last year - I was kicking for time, and she's not strong enough at the canter to get really rowdy about something. I think I'm going to do for the "trot the first fence with much feeling" approach and then kick her on to canter the rest of the course this year. I have to stay out of my own head and keep looking forward, and for the spooky stimuli. I don't want to "prespook" for her, but I want to be ready for her to put on the brakes so I can be balanced and keep her going forward.

We still have some work to do but I'm feeling really optimistic for this coming season - I mean, my horse did happily (including with a mid-air buck) rock it over a 3'3 gate no questions asked - there's no reason we can't take on BN!

:) 

A Good Tuesday

I rushed home, and rushed out to the barn yesterday to get in a jump school outside with the Queen B. After Sunday's... expressive ride, I was expecting her to continue to be a crazy jumping fiend of a horse. Alas, as she does, Bailey morphed back into her hunter canter and was night and day better behaved than she was just a few days ago. She got a bit hot and sassy coming into a line, and did a big drop and dance routine after she landed out of our fences, but no bucking, and she was relatively controllable. 

We started out with a bigger X on a diagonal (it feels strange to set the cups at waist height, but the center was still 2'3 or so) and did some wiggly line work to incorporate the vertical that was the first element of the line I set. I need to get more exact in setting my lines - I swear I was setting a two, but it rode as a tight three. I made the best of it, though, and the X became the backrail on my oxer, which with a gate front and a panel back rail, looked pretty darn big! She clunked through and was a mess the first few times, but we got it right a few times with the funky distance and then figure-8'ed through the line which worked out spectacularly. With the weird striding out of the equation, she galloped a very respectable oxer with hardly any effort. Good girl! We did some simple changes and trot work outside, and while we ended much softer than we began, I felt she wasn't as responsive as I would like.

I'm still contemplating more bridle, as I'm still having problems unlocking her jaw and poll when she gets distracted, but I am also seeking something I can be more subtle with- I gave her a few big 'ol body check style half halts and it just made her fling herself all over everywhere like it was insulting. I dislike having to manhandle her face to get her back, or half halt, or turn and I'm going to try some new things to see what we can figure out. 

Unfortunately my plan of trying new bridles and bits (as well as getting out my second trunk, putting away my medium blankets, etc) was totally foiled by the mud, which almost claimed the BO's 350 diesel pick up in 4-wheel mode; I have no doubt it would have eaten my trusty Escape for dinner. Foxie was acting a bit odd but I'm going to chock it up to being too warm and possibly the start of her allergy season, as she was wearing a medium weight until one of the staff pulled it off of her when she came in acting strange, and it did seem like her glands were swollen. She ate, drank and pooped while I was at the barn, so I'm confident it's not colic. I threw her bridle and bare back pad on her after she cooled down and hung out in her stall a bit and she seemed fine, if tender footed, and when she didn't seem into being ridden, I quit and used her as an all-terrain pony to haul sheets in from my trailer.

We will do dressage, hopefully with a different bit, tomorrow and then over the weekend I plan to do some riding and give both girls a spa day to get manes pulled, legs and bridle paths clipped down, etc. I need to grab the last of my stuff from La Casa De Randel, as well, so hopefully I'll have all of my tack and such back soon! 

 

SUNLIGHT!

I had two glorious rides this weekend. On Saturday, BB and I did some dressage in the puddlesome outdoor, and while she was wild and wanted to canter, canter, canter she finally settled down into some nice lateral work and also did some AWESOME canter work. I'm proud that she's getting more prompt and is learning the more complex concepts, and can actually do a walk-canter transition (even if only on one lead...). She is definitely learning to brace through her poll, which is annoying, but something we can work on. She's using outside to fight the running martingale so she can gawk at whatever is going on (horses running, tarp blowing in the wind, scary trailers). Her leg yields outside need some work, but inside they are on par so I know she knows it- I'm going to write it off as "crazy baby horse outside for the first time" syndrome.

Yesterday we jumped! Just a simple gate and xrail/vertical on a rollback, but we JUMPED! OUTSIDE! AND NO ONE DIED! The singular disadvantage to Drew doing things with Foxie is that I don't have any pics or video, but still. BB was super naughty over the x-rail to warm up, and wanted to buck and play and take off (and then got quite huffy when I kept asking her to halt). I finally make her walk or tiny trot up to it and she did it calmly, so I had drew put up the vertical. She knocked it down like a dummy because she went back to her super-blast-off tendencies, and we played over the gate (which she respected much more) for a while until we got our vertical reset. She left the vertical in it's cups after that and after a lot of arguing between us, I finally got a (albeit, still kind of wild) vertical roll back turn to the oxer, without an inordinate amount of leaping into the air, trying to buck or taking off, so I called it a day. Our last jump was the nicest, and thus great to end on, because I finally just scooped her up with my inside spur and made her put her booty to use for good instead of evil - she sat down over her hocks and powered through the turn and put in a quiet few strides to the gate.

Meanwhile, Foxie had a lovely bit of fun on the lunge line with Drew - she was full speed ahead prepare-to-warp cantering around with such a happy, bright expression. You can just tell she loves to run, and I was happy to see that she was being quite obedient to Drew, as well. He got her puffing and veiny - a good bit of exercise for the fat mare! I'll probably get on her on Tuesday (probably just with the bareback pad) so she gets a ride in this week, too. I should teach Drew to put on her boots, and he can maybe even start lunging her in the surcingle and some kind of contraption next.

Some take aways from this weekend are:

1. I need a hole punch, or to find mine back. The running martingale is too long (did the darn thing stretch?!) and while the knot tied in it makes it short enough for acceptable flatwork, it's a bit too short to be fair to jump in. I will try the breast collar with martingale attachment until I can get a punch.

2. BB needs lots of schooling before she's show ready.

3. We might need a new SJ bit. Beval gag? Waterford? Cheltenham? Soooo many options. I also want to try the boucher for the flat to change things up a bit. Luckily, I have plenty of bridles!

4. Lighter blankets are going to be a thing. It's so warm out all of the sudden!!

5. I need my videographer/photographer back, photoless posts suck. 

BB did stuff!

Last night's ride was lovely, and I was so happy with my baby pony. Yes, we rocked a running martingale with a dressage saddle, and yes, I did carry my dressage whip, but I had a prompt, thinking, functional pony for 97% of my ride yesterday. And I think that's a record.

Because clearly, the indoor is haunted. 

She was braced and unresponsive for only a small part of our canter work (left lead only) and leg yields, also to the left. I think part of it was memory from last time; some other boarder exited the arena and did a real shit job of closing the door I had carefully, lovingly set in it's track, which means that when the wind blew as we were going by it, it made a lovely crashing banging noise and blew in. Left lead stuff seems to be harder for her, so I guess we have a lot of left cantering and left leg yielding to do! She was, however, pretty darn straight in her leg yields, prompt in her canter transitions (though to the left she was struggling with lead - I am sure that's an attention issue, because it only happened in one spot) and we even got a few walk-canters. I'm focusing on the whole trot-canter blob of issues right now: mainly that she's slow off the leg coming up, needs to be more naturally forward / I shouldn't have to kick for every stride and then in her downwards, she either flings her head around and braces or tries to blobflop into a halt. Erhm, no. 

So I think my goals for the next few weeks will be: 

1. Productive dressage rides, with praise. I suck at praising her and she really flourished with all of the good girls she got last night. I'm going to continue to demand forward off the leg horse, and try to encourage her to be more supple and self carrying in the process. I think her issues are partially sassy mare, partially unbalanced baby and partially her realization that work is hard. 

2. Grids. We need to get back into jumping shape and I think that's the way to do it. She took rails in our last jump school, which means we need to get her picking up her knees and really rolling and tucking her hind end. 

I also need to continue to weigh options for blankets, as I really feel like Bailey needs... something. I'm not sure what. Probably another medium, and maybe retire the old WB heavy to emergency duty? 

If I have any readers, how many spare blankets do you keep around? How do you deal with blankets in general??!

Life

There are days when life beats the hell out of you. I've had a few of those days myself, lately. Life is miserable. Life is hard. Life is... life.

The horses are my greatest escape from this; being their mom and taking care of them is one of the most wonderfully therapeutic things I will probably ever be lucky enough to do. Too many good horses have been put down lately, and I feel the shadow of fear on my heart that my hearthorse might be next. It's an awful thing to think about, the point where you have to decide to let go of an animal. I've had to think about it far too much, and my heart stops at the thought that I'll have to make that decision any time soon.

I had a pleasant enough ride on Tuesday, and I am sure that my pleasant eyed darlings will be waiting for me again tonight, mooching for treats and not knowing why I'm dressing them for warmer weather. Hopefully BB will tolerate another dressage ride; she's getting really good at leg yields and gave me some lovely canter departs on Tuesday, and I'd like to have another day of that. The warmer weather in our near future is giving me hope of schooling and lessons and show season; I want more than anything to be back outside, to be back to hacking out down the road. I'm even ready for cold, muddy rides on sunny but cold spring days. I miss being in college, and having my morning rides to myself. I miss being a stranger to the other boarders, and not having to share "my" arena to do what I want to do.

I find myself overcome with worry a lot, lately, and I'm craving a ride simply to let all that baggage fall away. I worry that I'm going to come to the barn to a trashed medium weight on my red horse, when I already have little holes to patch in it, and a bigger one in her heavy. I worry about injuries, and expenses and that niggling wonder why Foxie doesn't finish her feed completely every night. She looks spectacular, so I'm hoping it's just distraction, or needing her teeth done. I worry that my family drama is going to impact my riding life, my ability to get to shows and do what I want to do. I worry that I don't have the opportunity to photograph things this summer, because I don't own a camera anymore. While I feel I have a right to these things, I don't know if I really do, or if that right will be respected, anyways. I don't know if I know much about the interactions of the world - or what to expect from anyone, anymore.

The only thing that's been consistent is the horses. And that is where I'll flee, when it's all said and done. Today's a day when I need to go hug my horses. 

In Which Ponies Do Things

So I haven't had a legit update in... weeks. Sorry about that.

Feb 13 - BB jump schooled and was a silly baby. However, she can (still) jump the moon and I love her. Foxie also go lunged! By the boyfriend!

Feb 16 - BB does dressage, and attempts to buck me off. She nearly runs into a wall in the process, naughty brat. Her leg yielding is SO on par, though, so DANG, girl.

Feb 19 - I think we farted around that day. BB got ridden that's all that matters.

Feb 21 - Drew was gone at drill, so BB got a full dressage ride and Foxie did, too. BB is still naughty as all get out, and Foxie is an angel.

Feb 24 - BB did some fitness gallop sets in a VERY dusty indoor in an attempt to tire her out. She attempts to buck me off cantering down the long wall and also does some fancy simple changes and leg yields. While she doesn't seem particularly beat after this, she is, apparently.

Feb 27 - I'm a bad girlfriend and mooch the boyfriend into coming out with me. He sets up a version of the Lucinda Green Run-And-Jump and some barrels and BB has a ball being very silly. She jumps the barrels as a double, then a single, then two singles wide and its very steerable and awesome. She does, however, crash through our oxer, making me realize I'm holding her face too much (in my defense, I'm trying to prevent bolting in the corners...) and I make her do some work without my help. We move the oxer out to a (albeit tight) 2 stride, and finally I send her through clean with a long one and call it a night.

March 1 - BB does dressage, and still is an odd mix of super frisky and also le tired because we aren't actually fit. She does her usual collection to extension at the trot and loses her shoulders at the canter. We keep the expectations easy and once she is quieter in the bridle and going forward / staying upright in her shoulder around turns, we call it a day. The Foxmonster gets ridden and looks super awesome when being lunged. She's still a little hop-ey on the small circles, but in general is a delight and doesn't get over excited when being ridden and start being naughty.

We're sort of back in a pattern after a lot of family drama, weather fuckery and oh, you know, general adulting. This month I want to continue to work on her flat work and hopefully get to ride outside at least once. She also needs to start ramping up her jump schools in technicality so that we can get back to being somewhat competition ready. Come April, our trainer returns and hopefully we get some spring weather so I can start trailering up to her place for jumping things and also (hopefully) schooling Roebke's Run. I'm revamping my competition plans because money is money and doesn't stick around - I want to get her out and get her experienced, which means that I'm probably going to back her down to Starter for Otter Creek spring and then go from there. I want to hit both Roebke's Run competitions (which will get me up to 3 shows...) and I'd love to do Carriage House, as well....

We shall see.