The World's Worst Dressage Show: Arrival!

I did it. I made it! We got out for the first time since New Years Day. 

In true ADHD fashion, I spent the evening before leaving, finishing sewing my  outfit for the show. I made a batwing shirt (pattern from Patterns for Pirates) and fashioned my giant sequined shrug into more of a cape because it really didn't fit my shoulder width in a way that would make it riding comfortable. 

On Friday, Kaylee and I packed up and hitched my trailer at home while I was in the middle of a work call and we picked up Gwyn and the rest of my tack. From there we drove to Cortney's house where Gwyn hopped off a  bit confused and had to dragon snort at Cortney's goats. I tossed her in a stall, much to Reign's HORROR (she kept pinning her ears at Gwyn from the cross ties). Gwyn was just happy to find that the hay bag in the stall contained alfalfa. 

We transferred all our gear into Trudy's (Cortney's mom) trailer and camper, followed by Gwyn, Reign and Saffron. Reign and Gwyn were polite for each other in the trailer and each had their own hay. 

We all piled into the truck and headed south! 

Good ponies get nose pets from their kids

We stopped once for a bathroom break and then it was straight on to the Clark County Fairgrounds. 

The stalls at the fairgrounds were safe, if dark. They were excellent for biosafety, at least, with no nose touching. My one regret was not having any double ended snaps because Gwyn knocked her water over CONSTANTLY.   Each stall had 2 bags of shavings in it and no instructions for us to clean at the end, which definitely saved us time!  We were going to be there for about 24 hours, so the stalls didn't get incredibly messy in that time. 

It was a little bit of a struggle because Reign couldn't see Saffron, only Gwyn (who blended in behind the wire grating and looked like a disembodied head most of the time) while Gwyn could only see Reign because Saffron decided that she was being pampered by the shavings and her own private stall and promptly laid down. 

We took the girls out to walk in the indoor arena and get oriented to the space. Gwyn was chill about it all and just kept trying to go touch noses with Reign and Saffron.

Both Reign and Saffron decided the dirt was amazing and needed to be rolled in immediately. Saffron practically bulldozed her nose through the dirt before finally dropping. 

Nice face... then NOT NICE FACE.  Gwyn doesn't react to these faces from Reign, which we're pretty sure just infuriates her more. 

Gwyn: "Hi best buddy, I miss you and you smell like boy goats"

We decided to tack up and ride, which kind of became a wild situation. The high school drill team that was going to be putting on a demo the next day was practicing their routine. Gwyn was SPINNING. For a horse that I struggle to find a heartbeat on when conditioning, I could FEEL it pounding in her armpit with my hand.  This is probably the most scared I've seen her. Between the flags, the loud whistles to indicate  a movement change and shouting, she was frantic. 

I kept a hold of her though and eventually she started to realize it wasn't coming after her and her pause periods got longer and longer. In those moments I scratched her withers and just kept talking to her and praising her. Then we'd work on moving her feet so she knew she had to listen to me and that I was still there in control.

While the drill team was cooling their horses out, I hopped on and started walking Gwyn, who was now breathing heavily too. I just focused on my goals for my ride the next day. Keeping Gwyn's head straight, making sure she was bending from the base of her neck, that my inside hand wasn't creeping across her neck and that I was really sinking into my inside pelvis in asking for turns. She finally got some nice relaxing snorts out and I felt comfortable enough to let Kaylee hop on for a ride around the arena too. 

Then it was dinner and bedtime for ponies and bedtime for humans before the show the next day!

In which I may have had a heart attack...

I came home from Costco shopping on Sunday to a terrifying sight. Gwyn was flat out on the ground in the pasture, with Saffron standing nearby (you can kind of see her white nose against the pine trees). I slammed to a stop in the driveway, with Kaylee in the back asking me if everything was okay. I rolled down the window...

"Gwwwwyyyyyynnnnnn!"

She didn't respond. I told Kaylee we were going to go make sure Gwyn was okay. Then, as I watched, Gwyn's hind feet twitched, like that twitch you get as you're falling asleep? Then I watched closer and I could see her belly rise and fall. Then I noticed that all four feet were twitching.

Fucking mare was passed out dreaming about running somewhere. She didn't actually 'sit up' until Kaylee and I were out of the car and into the pasture walking toward her.

So we took pictures. And all the while I hear just this faaaaaint groaning under her breath before she just gets up because we've interrupted her beauty sleep.

Later, I convinced Kaylee to go out and ride and she was super adorable and was practicing everything she's been learning in her riding lessons. She even rode bareback for No Stirrup November with me! And then she fell off Gwyn for the first time ever (she's okay) while trying to two point with no stirrups at the trot. 

Birds Eye View of the Arena that Isn't Long Enough. It's barely a rectangle. I need good exercises to do that don't require length. Like legit there's not enough room for Gwyn to jump more than one jump at a canter without suddenly needing to turn. I really want to find a giant arena to ride in that I could trailer to.

I untacked Gwyn in the arena and she ground tied by the gate for no good reason while I pulled weeds because my arena is also the best nursery for baby trees and thistles.

Forward Movement!

On the poison ivy front at least! I went to see a dermatologist who completely upended my medication regime and I'm already seeing improvement. The main gist is that I quadrupled my zyrtec dose, went back on just a straight high dose of prednisone and I have a completely different antihistamine for night time.

The hives haven't spread since starting this and have started to fade. As such, I've contacted Alison the dressage trainer and set up a lesson for tuesday! I've fixed what I can on my end, now it's time to focus on training.

Before this hives business I was thinking of doing the July dressage show but now I've got my sights set on the August shows. I already know that the July eventing derby is a no-go, but I'm still gung-ho on the hunter pace with Alicia. In a way, it's almost a good thing with this poison ivy and training snafu because it automatically limited my choices for next weekend, which has the dressage show, hunter pace AND eventing derby. Ridiculous.

Hazel makes sure everyone, including herself, gets a ginger snap. Note the fearlessness. She knows how to safely give treats! #horsesofinstagram #horseowner #kidsandpets #kidsandhorses #donkeysofinstagram #donkey #twohorsetack #horseblogger #stonewallsporthorse #friesiansofinstagram #friesiansporthorse #appaloosasofinstagram #appaloosa #toddlersofinstagram @quantum_chrome

A post shared by Amy (@lifein_space) on Jul 14, 2018 at 9:57am PDT

SmartPak had their rare sale on BoT products so I snagged two saddle pads. I really like them!

They're a good size for my larger saddle with plenty of room for wither clearance while still allowing use of the girth billet. 

Love this view!

 I didn't ride for long. I lunged a bit, but Hazel and Kaylee were in the arena with me and I'm not a fan of running my horse over my children. Hazel rode with me for a portion of the ride so we just toodled around while she chatted happily.

For the time I rode solo we worked on moving Gwyn's body laterally. Mainly because I know that's going to be something I want to show that we worked on when I have my lesson tuesday. Gwyn did pretty good! We also did some canter. She was much better to the right than to the left but nothing that was scary or unridable. I just boot her through it and ask again. She was much  more unbalanced to the left as well, which is what I'm attributing to her bucking and hopping. When her feet were moving appropriately, the canter was nice and controlled and rateable.

Each kid has their own helmet! Safety first.... until the 2 year old automatically removes her shoes upon entering the arena, lol

I didn't ride for long. I lunged a bit, but Hazel and Kaylee were in the arena with me and I'm not a fan of running my horse over my children. Hazel rode with me for a portion of the ride so we just toodled around while she chatted happily. This is one of the first times she's actually ridden with me and I'm really excited! For as happy as she is around the animals (and how comfortable they are with one another) she really hasn't wanted to ride. Or would get scared.

Hot mare. It was overcast but humid.

We rode 1.5 miles in about a half hour. Kaylee also got on to ride but quickly got frustrated because she tries to steer and be independent, but Gwyn always returns to me. Pokey ploddy pony she is not. She just wants to make sure Kaylee is safe.

And because I am all about all things purple... I found purple spurs and nunn finner purple rubber spur straps. I am stoked!

Day 10 - Friends and Family vs Riding

Day 10- How your family/friends feel about your riding



From Clover Ledge Farm

Do you see that expression? That's the face of a man who has just realized that this is his future. It's a grimace. LOL

The big one here is Eric. He is a double edged sword in that he recognizes that having the horse and riding makes a big impact on my mental health. I am happier, more easy going, less irritable and more patient with the kids. He has admitted these things, on multiple occasions, and in writing.

But horses cost money and that man gets anxious when money is not where he wants it (mind you, not low, just not where he wants it) There is no tangible benefit, the horse does not earn us money, it just consumes it. So he gets grumpy but has yet to seriously suggest that the horse go away.

Kaylee likes Gwyn, but she's not as into horses as I was at her age. I can tell. She doesn't need to be out there every day. The horse is always around. I let her ride when she wants, but that's rare.

Hazel, on the other hand, is just an animal lover in general, and wants to be out in the barn with me. She helps with chores. She feeds Gwyn and Saffron. Of the two kids, Hazel is going to be my riding buddy I think.

My Mom is amused that I actually followed through with my determination to have a horse and a farm. She knows it's what I always wanted and damned if I didn't get it in the end.

Friends are amused. No one is surprised though. I made no secret of my love of horses and it's as much as part of me as my hair color and penchant for singing broadway and disney music at the slightest provocation. If they don't accept that about me, they're not my friend.

A sunday ride

I've been having issues with cell reception lately so no GPS tracking for me this time. I did maaaaybe a mile.

After a full day of barn chores yesterday, including getting what I needed to fix one of the dutch doors to the stalls that Gwyn broke, I decided I was going to ride today.  I had promised Kaylee a trip to the Disney store so she could use her gift card that we didn't bring with us on vacation to Disney and while we were at the mall, I grabbed some clothes for work. I left Eric with Hazel.

Unfortunately, Eric was not feeling well. I bought lunch for us and we headed home only to find that Hazel had just passed out for her nap and Eric was ready to doze off as well. Fine by me!

Kaylee and I ate lunch then headed outside to play with the horses. She helped me groom Gwyn and then I spent some time braiding Gwyn's mane. At this point Hazel woke up and Eric, still feeling awful (and not even Man-Flu(tm) but legit 100+ fever awful) went back to bed after passing me Hazel. So I took Hazel out to the barn with me and tacked up Gwyn. Then off to the arena we went for lunging!

Thank FSM she has never done this when I'm riding her. Also, no reins or line on her. I unclipped it all (love the scissor snaps on the reins!) because I intended on this free lunging and didn't want anything to catch and break.

Dork

Saffron also free lunges.

Invisible jump!

Some of this was naughtiness. She didn't want me to catch her. So we did some tough work on the actual line and I made her step under herself and really lift her back. She was working nice and round by the time Kaylee came back and wanted to ride. Our neighbor was mowing and had stopped to watch us.

As I was bringing Gwyn over to the step ladder, she swung her butt away (cause she thought we were still lunging, even though I had my whip tucked back, dunno, body language maybe confused her? I did have Hazel on my back and Kaylee next to me) and then double barrel kicked into the air! I was shocked. She has NEVER done this before. It was away from me and the kids so I wonder if she got bit by a horsefly or something. Totally weird. She was fine the whole time after that.

Only moments after the double barrel. Kaylee climbed on all by herself with the step ladder. I'm really proud of her! She tried steering but hasn't quite gotten the hang of it yet. She loves her new helmet too! Having the perfect fit has really helped her willingness to wear it.

So we did a lunge line lesson so she could just be balanced and feel the movement underneath her.

Gwyn was slow and careful. Good mare.

Then it was my turn! I put Hazel off to the side with Kaylee where they dug in the dirt a bit.

I missed this view. It was too long between rides. With work getting hectic I both don't have time to do this and be with kids and keep the barn/house tidy but also NEED this for mental health.

Fun perspective! 

Playing

Best donkey.

Given how my time has gotten away from me, I'm amending goals for competition this year. I'll likely just keep doing intro rides at the endurance events I want to drive to (Metropark Express in September and then Oak Leaf Run in October).  I REALLY enjoy the volunteer part of endurance rides. I get to be social with everyone while still getting a horse fix. I think my plan for Oak Leaf specifically is to volunteer both days and just ride in the afternoon unofficially. That way Gwyn goes camping with me, I get to ride and I also get to volunteer. Until I have better time management with conditioning both Gwyn and myself, it's only asking for trouble to try and even do LDs, especially with both our sizes, realistically speaking. Neither of us are fit enough.

The eventing derby I wanted to try is next weekend and the entries closed on August 1st, so I'm late for that plus the dressage test requires cantering and I'm really not confident in our ability to remain in a dressage court at a canter tracking left. That's our biggest weakness at the moment. So my plan is through the winter to get some lessons and iron that out. I DO want to do one of the local dressage shows and do some walk/trot tests. There are several more through the year. I just need to pay attention to when entries close. October, as usual, is my horse event month with a hunter pace, hunter derby and oak leaf plus the polly ann trail ride. It's positively packed.

Hopefully with a new person hired at work, things will be a touch less hectic for me and I can more easily fit riding in and some off horse exercise as well.