The horseshow this past weekend was such fun, and even though it was a casual schooling show I still got dressed up for the photos. Kaitlyn with Double S Photography was there taking pictures, and she got so many great ones of both Son of a Lynx and of Dylan, my friend Kathy's horse. We both purchased the packages with all of our photos, and here are some of our favorites!
We made a trip down to Oxford, NC last night for a horseshow with friends! Son of a Lynx was an old pro, showing how well track life can prepare a horse for horseshow life. He was entirely unphased by the kids, other horses being squirrerely, spectators clamoring around in metal bleachers, large banners and posters, the PA system and music. He's more curious than anything.
We entered a halter class, which ended up being the biggest class of the night with 6 horses. Son of a Lynx came in second place!
Next we tacked up and went back to the arena for warmup. As most horseshow riders know, the warmup ring is the most challenging part of competing. Horses and riders going multiple directions, some horses misbehaving, some humans being distracting. Lynx handled it all with aplomb. He did occasionally stare at the more dramatic incidents, but it was with an air of "Are you ok? Is there something wrong with your human? Do you need me to contact someone?" Then I'd calmly explain to him that it's ok to notice, but we don't worry about any of that.
Our flat class was a novice horse walk/trot. Lynx could tell this was when it "mattered", and he remembered his job was to pace when it mattered in racing. He's still differentiating his job as a riding horse from his job as a racehorse. While I got a nice balanced trot several times in the warmup, by the time the class came around he was a little tired and just paced. He was truly quiet and well behaved though, and did give me some good balanced trot in the next break.
This little show had a ground poles "jump" class, which was our last entry. I loved that Lynx and I were able to do do a ground poles class at his very first horseshow, even so early in his riding training! He did great, went forward and straight over each one, earning himself another red ribbon!
We headed back to the trailer after that, and I tied him while I changed out of my show clothes. In the couple minutes it took me to put away my tall boots and jacket, Lynx feel asleep at his hay bag! I turned back to him and his eyes were shut, ears flopping to the sides. When I woke him up and offered him a cookie, he rested his horse lips in the palm of my hand on top of the cookie without taking it, and promptly fell asleep again.
He did perk up a little for some photos, and then we loaded up and headed home. What an incredibly successful first show!
https://youtu.be/GvIxiRzKPaM?is=ox4sjD_39PF_ckfB
Field trip! We went to a friend's place to ride in her jumping field. Son of a Lynx was super confident and well behaved.
We also rode in her hay field and on the trails, and he enjoyed himself so much that we hacked around for a couple hours with him leading the way!
https://youtu.be/4TNS1dmTQM0?is=pvtzzWoWgIB6noo9
Not bad at all for a horse who's only been under saddle for about a week, with fewer than 10 rides!
This morning Son of a Lynx and I warmed up in the arena and then headed out to the fields and trails to the neighbors. I'm fortunate to live in a rural area, and to have fabulous neighbors who have given me permission to go around their places as well as mine. With just under 30 acres at my place, combined with one neighbor's 40 and the other neighbor's large field, we have plenty of space to cruise around. I'd made some trails and when I was running regularly (I currently have an injured foot but riding is ok), one circuit of the paths was about 3 miles.
When we were approaching a grove of trees at the neighbor's, I saw a round greyish critter start moving in the tall grass going towards the trees. Once it hopped up a little I could see it was a racoon! It looked at me, we looked at it, and then we all just kept walking. Son of a Lynx watched it hop through the tall grass into the trees, but he wasn't concerned at all.
As we got to the other neighbor's place, she and her toddler were outside. When the little girl caught sight of us she shrieked in excitement! Lynx started a little, then carried on as though he went on trailrides seeing toddlers every day. That's one of the great things about off the track horses, they've seen so much action and commotion of all kinds during their days at the racetracks. They often are very accustomed to new things, and can handle novel encounters because they've learned how to handle themselves in the face of new and weird stuff.
The biggest spook (which still was only kind of a jump in place) came when we were near the end of the driveway. Several deer came crashing through the woods and out into the clearing, darting in front of us and then taking off. The suddenness surprised both of us, but we were able to watch them run across without any drama from Lynx. What a good fellow!
As far as skills, Lynx is now quite proficient at the basics, including stopping and steering when I use weight shifts and breathing. He does hesitate a little when I'm neck reining and talking with the video recording, but can you blame him? When I'm just riding I'm super clear with my voice, leg, hands, weight shifts and breathing, when I'm taking video suddenly I'm talking differently, and not always to him. One hand is on both reins, but the other is waving around holding the phone. Even my weight is different because I'll hold the phone up or down depending on the angle for the video. So it's no wonder he pauses and holds his head a little to the side to watch what in world I'm doing! He's really a pretty good sport.
https://youtu.be/KQv35zNnl0c?is=VnUbLBzkVwfowUvE
Once we were all done riding I hosed him off and let him back out to pasture with his friends. They are still having occasional skirmishes, but mostly are all getting along fine now.
Come for a ride with me and Son of a Lynx! It's his first time riding out of the fenced ring, but it was definitely time. We were both getting a little bored going around in circles now that he has the idea of walking and trotting under saddle. The ring is good to have for a secure and safe area to do his first rides, to introduce the leg aids, to practice standing for mounting.
Once I've got reliable gas, brakes, and steering, off we go to bigger and more interesting locales! The long walks in the fields (and soon on my trails) are so good for a horse. Developing correct muscling, better balance carrying a rider, teaching him to trust his rider in more unpredictable environments, and giving his brain something else to think about so he doesn't get bored, sour, or frustrated with arena work.
I always prefer to have a dog working with me, especially on these early rides outside the arena. Mahzi has been amazing, she's come out of retirement to help me with Son of a Lynx. She led the way on our ride today, giving him confidence and showing him that it was safe to go through some of the scarier places, like into darker areas between trees.
I'm so impressed with her, she's been a house dog for many years, but still remembers all the things she learned when she was young and a working dog in the barn with me. She's seen me start horses under saddle, and even though it's been such a long time, she still remembers all I need her to do. For example, she walks behind us following while Lynx is moving forward confidently. If he hesitates or gets nervous, she'll go out in from of him and lead the way so he can follow her and do what she does.
Lynx and I will go back in the ring for starting a little jumping later this week, and I'll also put jumps out in the fields so he learns how to go over obstacles in the wide open and in the trees. Stay tuned- he's well on his way now!
Name: Son of a Lynx ("Tony")
Age: 10 yrs
Height: a half inch shy of 15.2h, measured with a stick and level
Color: Bay with no white
Training: Drives (raced as a pacer), started under saddle with some show experience riding english, is jumping crossrails confidently in the arena and in the field
Location: Halifax, VA
Future career: Jumpers, trail horse, eventer, fox hunter, CDE driving, really unlimited options! This horse is safe safe safe.
Soundness history: no limitations, retired from racing sound. Current on vaccinations, deworming, and farrier.
Adoption fee: $7500, to increase with training and show experience
You can see all his videos at this link: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLS3pbqYQdzgw
All of his blog posts chronicling his training and time at Bit of Honey can be seen here:
Son of a Lynx raced for nine years as a pacer, collecting 14 wins, 20 seconds, and 28 third place finishes. Total he won just under $170,000 over the course of his harness racing career. He retired sound and is currently ten years old. His last racing owners had him for the previous four years. He is currently owned by MMXX Standardbreds and is in training here at Bit of Honey with Kim Leonard as part of the ReBrand Initiative: Trainer's Challenge.
Lynx is a half inch shy of 15.2h, measured with a stick and level. He is big bodied, and he takes up my leg nicely. He's very well mannered and friendly, though of course has opinions on things like brushes and tack. He's happy living in a stall, paddock, pasture, or combination. He gets along with my mixed herd after learning some social skills when he first arrived.
A nice mover with more warmblood type movement, he trots and canters on both leads easily in turnout. Under saddle he has a big trot with plenty of impulsion, and his canter is getting more balanced all the time. Most importantly, this horse is safe safe safe. Lynx has very little spook, and when he does he just starts in place and then stares.
He stands quietly for mounting, bathing, he ties, loads, and trailers well, is well behaved for farrier and vet. Current on all vaccines, deworming, and farrier. He's barefoot all around and is good to go in the arena, on the trails, and on the gravel driveway.
Lynx is proving himself to be a nice sporthorse prospect. He rides out happily in the open alone or in a group, in front or back, rides well with dogs, and has been started over fences both in the arena and cross country. He's intelligent, willing, hardworking, quiet and easy to handle.
A bay with no white markings at all (easy to keep clean!) other than freeze firing marks on the outside of his left front.
The adoption application is at mmxxstbs.com/adopt or you can reach out to MMXX Standardbreds on facebook
The requirements are:
1. Safe fencing (Photos)
2. Shelter (Large Run-in in absence of stalls) (Photos)
3. 4 References including vet + farrier
The biggest things to note about MMXX Standardbreds adoptions is that we do not allow for resale BUT we are flexible; not all horses will be a perfect fit. If a horse doesn't work out, the owner will reach back out to us and we will readopt them (they just have to hang on to them)!
Additionally, because Lynx has come though the Bit of Honey Training program, he will always have a place here. While Bit of Honey doesn't buy back horses, should he ever need a place to land for any reason, he will always have a space here.
To inquire about adopting Son of a Lynx, contact either
Kim Leonard at BitOfHoneyTraining@gmail.com or 970-231-9999
or
Molly with MMXX Standardbreds mmxxstbs.com/adopt or you can reach out to MMXX Standardbreds on facebook
