Showing posts with label horse show. Show all posts
Showing posts with label horse show. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Show Time
9:39 AM | 
Posted by
Amy
Roxie is really coming along nicely. I'm quite pleased with her! The tenderness of her ears is decreasing despite the fact that her ear plaque is coming back. :( She also has some funky looking warts on her vulva and anus, so I'll be having the vet out to check on those. I think part of her tenderness is just plain old head-shyness, but when combined with very sensitive ears, it makes for a difficult time bridling and haltering. The good news is that we can now halter without issue. Bridling has come a long way as well. The first time I tried to bridle her, I resolved to taking the bridle apart after nearly 20 minutes of struggling. Now, I no longer have to take it apart and she stands quietly. I still have to take things slowly with no sudden movements. And I have to talk to her and love on her the entire time. But, she allows me to bend her ears and put the bridle on. It is no longer a huge production. So I'd say that's improvement!
Under saddle, I couldn't be more pleased. She is learning to come to me at the mounting block. She pretty much has the "come to me" part figured out. Its the proximity that she needs to work on. That is to say that she gets too close. But still, to have a whip-shy, head-shy horse be able to take direction from someone on a mounting block holding a whip and then stand quietly for mounting is a pretty big accomplishment.
Her gaits and temperament under saddle couldn't be nicer. She is a very floaty mover with long, stretchy strides. She responds wonderfully to the seat and shifting in weight. She's doing so well that we're registered for the February 6th dressage show at Foxton Farms. Part of this is to get her out and let people see her go. Another part is to see how her mind handles going to a new place with new horses. The only other time she's done that has been to go to the track. She could be just fine. She could be a spaz. We'll see. ;) We'll be riding in Intro A & B (just walk/trot). I don't think it will be a big deal as long as she settles into things. I'm also taking Jewel and riding Training 4 and First 1. It should be a fun day!
Under saddle, I couldn't be more pleased. She is learning to come to me at the mounting block. She pretty much has the "come to me" part figured out. Its the proximity that she needs to work on. That is to say that she gets too close. But still, to have a whip-shy, head-shy horse be able to take direction from someone on a mounting block holding a whip and then stand quietly for mounting is a pretty big accomplishment.
Her gaits and temperament under saddle couldn't be nicer. She is a very floaty mover with long, stretchy strides. She responds wonderfully to the seat and shifting in weight. She's doing so well that we're registered for the February 6th dressage show at Foxton Farms. Part of this is to get her out and let people see her go. Another part is to see how her mind handles going to a new place with new horses. The only other time she's done that has been to go to the track. She could be just fine. She could be a spaz. We'll see. ;) We'll be riding in Intro A & B (just walk/trot). I don't think it will be a big deal as long as she settles into things. I'm also taking Jewel and riding Training 4 and First 1. It should be a fun day!
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Tuesday, December 1, 2009
An Earful from Roxie
Roxie has been doing really well. She has a wonderfully thick coat (for a Thoroughbred) and has put on weight since we added a cup of Ultimate Finish to her feed each day. I'm really pleased with how she is looking going into winter. I'm also pleased to report that she is doing very well in her ground work and prep for riding. She is consistent on the lunge line (w/t/c in both directions) and works well in both the bitting rig and the side reins. She is really coming along nicely!
The only thing standing in our path is her ears. Yesterday, the vet was out to remove aural plaques (believed to be a form of papilloma) from her ears. This is typically a young horse thing, so we were surprised that at 6 years old, she had plaque in both ears. While the papillomas are benign, they make her ears incredibly painful and sensitive to touching. As you might imagine, this makes bridling an issue. So, yesterday we had them removed. I was originally planning to ride her today, but we'll see how she is when I get out there today. I do have a schooling bridle that is easily taken apart so that I don't have to mess with her ears. That may be the answer. I'll report back later today as to what I do and how it goes.
Jewel is doing very well under saddle too. The chiropractic adjustment last month has made a huge difference. She is really coming along nicely with a lot of power from the hind end. Right now, we're just doing strength building exercises. I started a little bit of collection work yesterday after having doing a few weeks of long and low work to build back muscle. She still isn't strong enough for a lot of collected work, but she can do a little bit at a time with frequent walk breaks to stretch and relax the muscles. I was quite pleased with her work yesterday!
Jewel is also looking great going into winter. She too has a thicker coat than usual. Hmm...are the horses trying to tell me something? I've given both of them a modified bib clip so help the dry a little faster after working. In the past, Jewel has been a little on the thin side going into winter. However, I think we FINALLY found a good combination of feed and fat supplements because she has PLENTY of excess weight right now. Of course, she did have most of the summer off due to my schedule, so that allowed her to just pack on the pasture. Oh well, I would rather have her head into winter being a little overweight (knowing that she'll loose some) than to have her be thin.
Other exciting news is that I'm planning to attend the schooling dressage show up at Foxton Farm on December 12. Weather permitting, I'll be heading up there to ride Jewel in a couple dressage classes. I'm thinking of doing Training 1 (in the side saddle) and Training 4 in the regular saddle. We'll see how things go. If you're there, please stop by and see us! :)
The only thing standing in our path is her ears. Yesterday, the vet was out to remove aural plaques (believed to be a form of papilloma) from her ears. This is typically a young horse thing, so we were surprised that at 6 years old, she had plaque in both ears. While the papillomas are benign, they make her ears incredibly painful and sensitive to touching. As you might imagine, this makes bridling an issue. So, yesterday we had them removed. I was originally planning to ride her today, but we'll see how she is when I get out there today. I do have a schooling bridle that is easily taken apart so that I don't have to mess with her ears. That may be the answer. I'll report back later today as to what I do and how it goes.
Jewel is doing very well under saddle too. The chiropractic adjustment last month has made a huge difference. She is really coming along nicely with a lot of power from the hind end. Right now, we're just doing strength building exercises. I started a little bit of collection work yesterday after having doing a few weeks of long and low work to build back muscle. She still isn't strong enough for a lot of collected work, but she can do a little bit at a time with frequent walk breaks to stretch and relax the muscles. I was quite pleased with her work yesterday!
Jewel is also looking great going into winter. She too has a thicker coat than usual. Hmm...are the horses trying to tell me something? I've given both of them a modified bib clip so help the dry a little faster after working. In the past, Jewel has been a little on the thin side going into winter. However, I think we FINALLY found a good combination of feed and fat supplements because she has PLENTY of excess weight right now. Of course, she did have most of the summer off due to my schedule, so that allowed her to just pack on the pasture. Oh well, I would rather have her head into winter being a little overweight (knowing that she'll loose some) than to have her be thin.
Other exciting news is that I'm planning to attend the schooling dressage show up at Foxton Farm on December 12. Weather permitting, I'll be heading up there to ride Jewel in a couple dressage classes. I'm thinking of doing Training 1 (in the side saddle) and Training 4 in the regular saddle. We'll see how things go. If you're there, please stop by and see us! :)
Friday, October 9, 2009
Why You Should Attend the IHC Octoberfest Show
There is an immediate need at the Hoosier Horse Park to provide safe footing that can accommodate various disciplines, while minimizing dust, maintenance, and concussion to the horses and providing necessary grip. The solution being considered for the dressage and stadium arenas at the Hoosier Horse Park is the same fiber product sold by Premier Equestrian that the Kentucky Horse Park has installed in its new Main Arena. For more information about this product, visit http://www.dressagearena.net/pages/ggtarenafooting.html. This fiber meets the critical needs mentioned above and has a life expectancy of 10 years or more. The approximate cost of this material for these arenas is $25,000. Baker Arena will require more effort with a new clay base and sand installation, while ensuring that the liner is not damaged. Estimates are being investigated, but preliminary numbers indicate that it will cost approximately $25,000 to complete the Baker Arena project. A grant request is being submitted to ECLR to help supplement footing and drainage improvements in addition to this fundraiser.
By repairing the most critical concern of the varying disciplines, our goal is to re-establish Hoosier Horse Park as a first-class equestrian facility, resulting in expanded use of the Park. The growth in use of the Park illustrates the need and interest of the equestrian community in these facilities. This then provides a strong argument to present the hotel tax bill in next year’s legislative session to obtain long term funding which will be necessary to renovate and maintain the Park for future equestrians.
The opportunity arose for organizations that utilize the Park and that would benefit from these footing improvements to partner with the Indiana Horse Council and provide much needed support from the equestrian community to increase the fundraising efforts. The Horse Park is a proud partner with the Indiana Horse Council in an effort to benefit both organizations, and all equestrians.
More information on the show can be found here: http://www.indianahorsecouncil.org/Events/octoberfest.htm
By repairing the most critical concern of the varying disciplines, our goal is to re-establish Hoosier Horse Park as a first-class equestrian facility, resulting in expanded use of the Park. The growth in use of the Park illustrates the need and interest of the equestrian community in these facilities. This then provides a strong argument to present the hotel tax bill in next year’s legislative session to obtain long term funding which will be necessary to renovate and maintain the Park for future equestrians.
The opportunity arose for organizations that utilize the Park and that would benefit from these footing improvements to partner with the Indiana Horse Council and provide much needed support from the equestrian community to increase the fundraising efforts. The Horse Park is a proud partner with the Indiana Horse Council in an effort to benefit both organizations, and all equestrians.
More information on the show can be found here: http://www.indianahorsecouncil.org/Events/octoberfest.htm
Monday, August 3, 2009
Roman's First Show
Sarah & Roman participated in their first USDF show over the weekend. Roman (aka Shedroe Warrior) is one of my former foster horses. While they had a bobble in their first test where Roman left the arena and it caused them to be eliminated, he evidently determined that this dressage thing wasn't bad and did beautifully on his second test! They did so well, in fact, that he earned a 68.5% -- good enough for first place! Many congrats to Sarah and Roman and I look forward to many more blue ribbons in your future!
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