Oh What a Night

Oh what a night....  Late September about at 6:15, what a very special time for me.  Two big horses, what a night.

 Dewey says, "Highboy is nuts!  Get me outta here!"

Sweetpeacefuldream at the Jumping Show

Today Sweetpeacefuldream and I went to Triple Creek Ranch for their jumping show.  It was Miss Pea's first time jumping somewhere other than home or the saddle club, and she has really started to figure it out.  I rode her in the 2' jumper division.

She was quiet in the warm up after a very little gallop at the beginning (she likes to burst forth onto the scene).

She stood nicely at the side of the show arena and watched the other horses go.

When we entered the arena to ride our first course she paused to look at the first fence, and then jumped it after a good examination.  Then something clicked in her brain and she realized this is a real course of jumps, and she switched into another gear.

She got her lead changes, she buckled down and really ate up the course.  She jumped a number of fences too large and too long, but that will get better as she gains experience jumping.  I don't jump her more than once or twice in a week because of her young age, she has plenty of time to develop and learn how to use her body more efficiently over fences.

Huge thank you to Kimberly Hale Photography for capturing our day. 

Ridiculous Ride

Every once in a while I have a truly ridiculous ride, where the horse is so silly all day that I wonder if I'm actually starring in a cartoon.  Today was one of those days for Monty.  We were at a schooling show and fortunately we were the only ones in our division, so no one but the judge and gate person saw us.  The 2'9" jumper courses were pretty long, twisty turn-y and complicated, and since we were the only ones riding I had to go immediately after myself and didn't really have time to process the direction changes.  On top of that Monty was really squirrely, feeling confident, fresh, and even a little bronc-y.  So while I'm glad there wasn't a big crowd to watch his antics, we did get some really funny photos. 

This is sort of how Monty felt all day.  "Hey, look at my lip tattoo!  I think this horse show thing is a piece of cake, I don't need to practice good behavior!  Kim might need to look at the course one more time but I've got it all under control.  I shall leap the little fences so high and long that you simply must call me Superman."

I remind myself that he's only six, and he has been very studious all summer at the horse trials in which we have competed.  He has earned his upcoming winter off (and perhaps a little romping around at a schooling show).   I also remind myself of all the shows I went to as a kid.  When I would watch the other riders go I would always mentally choose the biggest hottest horse I could see and wish it was my own.  Between some of the goofy geldings in my barn right now I definitely have fulfilled that childhood dream.

Thank you to Kimberly Hale Photography for getting this fun recorded.

30 Days Until the Retired Racehorse Makeover!

Countdown to the Makeover has begun! The TCA Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium is only a month away at the Kentucky Horse Park. Join us for educational seminars, shopping at the 70+ vendors in the Sponsor Fair, the launch of Off-Track Thoroughbred Magazine, horse shopping, and a weekend celebrating with Thoroughbred lovers. I will be there with my Makeover entry Sweetpeacefuldream competing in showjumping on Saturday. Be sure to cheer us on as we compete for the $100,000 purse!

http://www.retiredracehorseproject.org/2015-01-24-14-45-48

Cole's New Protege'

Cole, my lesson horse, is an incredible teacher.  There are certain areas where he simply excels, and teaching jumping is one of them.  He and my working student, Phoenix have started jumping together this fall, and Cole really enjoys showing her the ropes.  He spent all summer asking for more demanding rides, and now Phoenix is at a level where they can really take off together.

Sweetpeacefuldream Walks in Fields of Gold

This morning was chilly, and when I went into the paddock to catch Sweetpeacefuldream she said she was feeling fresh!  She ran up the little hill shouting, "you can't catch me!"  The silly mare had run right into the corner where it was easy to get her.  I caught her and tied her for grooming, but she was very wiggly and needed to go play first.  I put just her boots on and turned her out in the round pen for a few minutes.  She ran and played and generally enjoyed herself.  A couple of her playful sliding stops got me excited for her future with challenging turns on a jump course, as well as pondering her potential as a western horse.  This mare could be quite versatile!

 When she was done she came right over to me and followed, docile as can be, back to the gate where I haltered her again. 

We walked back to the barn and then went through grooming calmly, adding a bareback pad and bridle.  I hopped on at the mounting block at the barn, then we wandered down to the arena with the dogs.

Miss Pea had been pretty anxious about riding in the pastures when she first arrived, but now that she has been here for a couple months she has mellowed considerably.  She was quiet enough today that I was comfortable riding her bareback with the dogs around the front field and around the geldings' paddocks.  When we got to the back side of the barn, her friends rushed the fence to say hello and she just paused and visited with them politely.  I took some video, which can be seen here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LN9DSF__tP4&feature=youtu.be