Four more days....

I really wanted to do a nice trot workout today, but everything is still very wet and slushy. Too wet to even walk around the paddocks :( 

The outdoor

 Charlie came out to aid in my inspection of the outdoor and offer some kisses:

Whatcha doin mom?

Achilles soon joined us, vying for my attention. Sorry boys, no treats here, but you sure are cute!

Baby Face and The Beggar

Since the driveway and woods were clearly the only areas that promised anything resembling solid ground, I decided to warm up with Charlie doing our driveway routine, and then do a little exploring in the woods. 

Charlie was a little more anxious today than he has been. No surprise there; we saw at least two different herds of 4-6 deer in the first ten minutes. I really focused on keeping my hands and body relaxed but being as physically (and mentally!) confident as possible whenever he'd get quick or try to resist my leg or hands. I found that using a slightly driving seat and a giving rein to encourage forward movement in these instances really worked well, even though it might sound counterproductive for a quick horse. This made it so speeding up was no longer fun for Charlie, because it was now my idea rather than his, and he soon realized that whenever he tried to stop, he ended up doing more work (working walk). Once we had controlled energy, I started directing it using a series of walk-halt-walk transitions, with some backing up and a few series of serpentines. I needed to get Charlie more focused and nicely listening, especially to "whoa," if we were going in the woods. 

At one point, it was going well enough that I decided to try a small trot, but that brought Charlie right to the edge of what he could handle. I almost lost him mentally, but I held my leg constant and asked him to please trust me and hold it together for just a little bit (I swear I heard Guy McLean in my head: "It's ok, mate, I know you're uncomfortable, but you're doing so well! Can I just ask you for a tiny bit more? I know you can do it and I'm so proud...that'sa good boy!"). What do you know, after a dozen or so strides Charlie stopped tensing and resisting, and I so stopped asking and let him walk. Time for a (literal) change of scenery and mental stimulation: off to the woods!

I've never been on the trails back there, and you can't see them anyway with the snow, so we just followed the deer tracks around the small wooded area bordering the back of the property. It was fun. Charlie was a little anxious, but in an excited way and he held it together well, even when we reached the open field at the opposite end and encountered another herd of deer. I'm excited to try it back there again once the snow melts. Four more days until spring.....!

A great weekend...and a ride!

This weekend was full of fun stuff with my friend, Emily. On Friday, we spent all day at the Horse World Expo in Harrisburg, and, although it is nothing like Equine Affaire, it was still really fun to wander around the booths and listen to some presenters, including my favorite, Guy McLean :) Plus Jan was there, the trainer I worked with back in PA, so it was nice to catch up with him.

Oh, Guy, how I love thee

Saturday was a day of wine tasting and shopping at local tack stores. One of the consignment stores was having a French saddle event, and I unexpectedly discovered the coolest saddle ever: a WISair Dutton RZ saddle (Wise Equestrian).

I have never sat in anything so comfortable and that put me in such a good position; it just felt perfect (and I've sat in plenty of saddles across a wide range of price levels). The cutout in the seat, although meant to promote cooling and airflow along the horse's back, was the ideal solution to my chronically sore tailbone. Plus it has an adjustable gullet and nice wither clearance, which only make it even better for a horse like Charlie.

In the saddle market, this one is actually a very reasonable $2600 (base). However, it will unfortunately be some time before I could even think about affording something like it. The worst part, as I learned after coming home and doing some research, is that they are no longer being produced because Dutton has partnered with Antares instead! Gah! I guess I'll just have to add it to the wish list and hope that when I am ready to buy, I can find one used.

Em and I enjoying some wine with some Lafayette alums on Saturday night

On Sunday Emily and I took a nice morning hike at Oregon Ridge Park. I quickly realized it was going to turn out to be a gorgeous day, and Emily had to get to her barn for spring shots anyway, so as soon as we were done I booked it back home...to ride my horse! At a beautiful 40+ degrees, how could I not go riding?!

Charlie and I didn't do more than walk, with lots of bending and a little bit of trotting. After all, we are both really out of shape and the deep wet snow wasn't great footing-wise, but we did it!

Charlie was reluctant to move forward at first, biting at my legs when I asked him to reach out and resisting by hollowing his back with his head in the air. Once he realized I wouldn't stop asking, though, he gave up and I was able to get him to stretch a bit. We've got a lot of ground to make up after both having the winter off, but I know he knows what he's supposed to do, and it is encouraging to have had such a positive first ride back (behavior-wise) without really lunging or anything beforehand. 

After we were done, I hand walked Charlie down all the way to the end of the driveway to cool him out and test whether the "driveway demons" were still there in his mind. (If you remember, he wasn't too keen about leaving the barn when I had tried this before.) This time went really well, especially since we had to go through some pretty big, deep puddles. It was really good experience for him, reminding him that water is not something to be afraid of. Overall, a really good day!

Look at us, waaaay down here

Checking out the puddles

I would have ridden again today, but I'm super sore, so I'm sure Charlie is too. Plus, today was Dentist Day. Hopefully we can try again later in the week!

Always amazes me how they just stand for this

Another snowy day

It feels like Mother Nature is trying to pull us into spring, but Old Man Winter is really giving her a run from her money and doesn't want to give up his throne. Who can blame him? He's had a damn successful season! Anyway, all we seem to be getting lately are marginally warmer temperatures that allow the spring-like showers to pour, but none of the sunshine we need to dry everything out. Today we're getting dumped with more snow after a night of pouring rain, which means lots of mucky heavy slush.

It is really pretty, despite the muckiness

Two days ago I had to dig out the main barn door with a metal shovel ice-pick-style because it was frozen solid in several inches of ice. This whole freeze/thaw thing isn't working out so well when any melting snow has nowhere left to go and then freezes solid again at night! It's no real use shoveling it either; it just melts and oozes back the next day.

That's a good 3-4" deep puddle of slush

They say we'll have another 5-8" of snow by 7:00 tonight, and I believe them. It's still really coming down and has been since around 6am. Luckily I already work from home, and Dan decided to join me rather than brave the nasty roads.

My friends out west are talking about their horses shedding out (what?!), but here we still seem to be firmly encased in winter. Hopefully the warmer "sheddier" days are just around the corner! In the meantime, Charlie seems to enjoy seeing me for our regular grooming and blanket changing sessions, and of course a few Winnie's Cookies, one of his favorite treats. :)

Good boys get cookies, right? And I'm being good!

In other news, this weekend I'm visiting my good friend Emily, and we're going to the World Horse Expo in Harrisburg. We might have missed the Maryland one this year, but I can't think of a better way to beat the winter blues than to have a horsey getaway weekend with a great friend :)

Waiting out the winter

I've decided to stop feeling guilty for not going to the barn and being productive with Charlie. It's just too damn wintery! Sorry, New England, I know you guys have way worse issues than us right now, but this is by far the worst winter we've had here in NJ in a very long time, and it really sucks for horse-related activities.

Just a typical day

I've realized that trying to ride or do groundwork right now would be skating suicide, death by frostbite, or a combination of the two. I have also realized there is nothing I can do about the weather except wait for it to improve. And that's ok. It's alright for Charlie to have the winter off. Plenty of horses do that, and they do just fine. I'm sure he'll be fine too, although is topline is now completely gone :'(

On the plus side, Charlie is actually growing a coat this year and he's the fattest he's ever been. About a month before the move I switched him to Tribute Calm Ultra and he's really doing well on it.

Looking good, minus the shoulder rub

As it is, I make it out to the barn 2-3 times a week, give Charlie some love (and a quick brush, if it's not too cold), check for scrapes or blanket rubs (kicking myself for neglecting to put on his bra under his notoriously-rubby heavyweight early in the season), paint his toes, and then I'm out.

Now that I've accepted the fact that we're having a winter hiatus from "school", I feel like a guilt-ridden weight has been lifted. Honestly, I think it will be better for us to take this time off and start fresh in the spring as part of a regular routine, than to fight with the elements and inconsistency and ultimately leave us both wishing we had just stayed in bed. If I've learned nothing else in the world of horsemanship, I've learned that consistency is key. And the only way to do that right now, is to let Charlie be a horse.

These two say "Screw winter. Bed sounds nice! Huddle for warmth :)"

Charlie doesn't seem too concerned with the matter and is enjoying his time off. Although I wish I had a blanket with a hood for him for when the wind is really whipping, he seems quite happy to be out in the elements in his high-neck, even with constant negative windchills, and routinely is seen hanging out with Nic at the very far end of the field.

Waaaaaaay out there

Charlie's feet are doing fabulously, by the way. Despite those couple of ouchy days immediately after pulling his shoes, the only time I've really seen him acting wimpy, there have been no continuing issues. I'm putting on Farrier's Fix 2x a week and he's golden.

Every day I'm thankful for these feet

Sooo now we wait for spring!

Motivation?

The new year is supposed to be full of resolutions and the desire to do more, be better, etc, etc, etc, but I am quickly discovering that the sudden lack of an indoor ring coupled with the frigid temperatures is rapidly sapping my horse motivation. I miss my indoor, much more than I realized I would. I look outside and see things like this:

Apartment windows are frozen

The river is frozen

Streets are (pretty but) frozen

...and then I remember that I have an unworked Thoroughbred waiting for me at the barn and approximately ten good minutes in the cold before I lose feeling in my fingers and toes. So I start thinking of other things I'd much rather be doing than wrangling the wild beast in single digit windchill temps. Yes, I could do groundwork - and I'll probably get out some books and reread articles to get myself back in the mood since that's something I can do inside the barn - but all I really want to do is hop on my horse and go! Have fun! Gallop across the snowy fields! 

I know that I can do it; it's just a matter of getting motivated to put in the time with the boring stuff again so that I can get Charlie back to where he was a month or two ago and we can have fun. He's been on vacation for too long and really needs a refresher course, but when faced with the idea of standing in a barn aisle NOT moving around much (read: slowly freezing) and attempting the uphill climb that is getting Charlie to refocus on me and not on what his buddies are doing outside, cozying up on the couch just sounds so much better!

Snow Ride

This weekend my friend, Emily, came to visit and - like almost every other time she's come up in the last six months - Mother Nature did her best to interfere with our plans. This week it was a blizzard on Thursday and Friday which left us with 4-6 inches of snow, billowing winds, and frigid temperatures with windchills below zero. Brrr! Snow always makes barn work interesting: buckets freeze, tractors won't start, and it's always more difficult to turn out when you have to trudge through half a foot of snow, but with help it isn't too bad.

Trying to stay warm Friday morning

So on Saturday morning Emily and I, crazy horse people that we are, decided to get up early and show up at the barn to lend a hand with morning chores. We were going to ride later anyway so what was another couple of hours? It was a good thing we did; they were short-staffed and with the snow that would have made for quite a long morning. It was a bit nippy out, though.

Saturday morning

After we finished working we took Charlie and Colby out for a trail ride in the snow, one of my favorite things and a long-time winter tradition for me and Em :) We went all over the place and the horses were great. We mostly walked since we couldn't see what was under the snow, but at the end decided to let them canter across the flat snow-covered fields that led home. What fun! And what good boys! The uncharacteristic 'tude Charlie had had while we were warming up was gone and we were both enjoying ourselves. 

Speaking of his attitude, I had thought at the time it might be from static electricity building up and shocking him from his quarter sheet. However, when prepping food for Saturday night I noticed that there was a half dose of unused SmartCalm Ultra in his bin. Hmmm. Now, I'm not sure how fast a change in SmartCalm dose would take effect, but I know if Charlie skipped Vitacalm I could tell. So if Charlie only got half his dose for breakfast and then was uncharacteristically jerky before our ride, is that just coincidence? I think it really shows the positive effect the SmartCalm has been having and, if so, then SmartPak, I love you! (On a sidenote, how can you screw up SmartPaks? Really?)

Anyway, I was able to have a truly wonderful ride in the end in the most gorgeous winter wonderland. Here are a few pictures; maybe next time I can get a video of us cantering across the field :)

Can't beat that view

An unlikely pair but Colby was such a good boy

Chestnut looks good against the snow

Paid to ride my own horse?

After a crazy busy last two weeks I haven't had much time or energy to ride Charlie. I did hop on here and there just to do something with him, but I knew pretty soon I'd have to get back in the swing of real riding. So when Friday dawned bright and beautiful and Jan suggested using Charlie as the "dummy" horse to help work on herd sourness in one of our training horses, I was like "OK!"

This horse, Coty, has some major issues when he feels he's being left alone while out on the trails so we'd been working with him in hand while I rode Colby, one of the other training horses, practicing each of them being left alone and then rejoining the other horse. Colby is only in a training program two days a week, though, so we can't use him all the time and we thought it might be good idea to try going out with other horses instead. Since I needed to ride Charlie anyway, and we currently don't have any others in training, he was the logical pick.

Not going to lie, I was a little worried. Charlie has been amazing since going on SmartCalm and being at this new barn, but he's had some herd bound issues in the past where he rears and spins, and not having been ridden in awhile was a little worrisome. Plus there were kids out riding four wheelers and bikes in the woods at the same time. Always fun.

But I decided not to be a chicken, threw on my mom's western saddle, and we hit the trails. Charlie was blowing a bit and did a small mount of jigging here and there, but he kept his head. The first time Coty was out of sight he bobbled from side to side, not wanting to move forward. This is his pre-rear move and when I first kicked him forward and wouldn't let him turn around his front feet came off the ground a few inches, but there was no real rear and with more firm and consistent encouragement he stepped off and continued down the trail. He did do a a few low breathy whinnies under his breath (like he didn't want me to hear) which I just think is just so cute. Plus, if he's not doing anything else bad I don't mind a little "talking" :)

At one point Jan asked me to leave them for a little longer so I took Charlie for a short trot and then canter in the field. He was understandably happy with that. In the end it was a successful training day for both Coty and Charlie, and I got paid to do it! How many people can say they got paid to ride their own horse?! :)

Charlie and Leo enjoying the gorgeous winter day

Winter Wonderland

As I sit here, warming up after a morning at the barn, looking out the window at the softly falling snow....

With Emma snoozing on the bed, keeping me company...

I am happy because I know my pony is out enjoying the first real snow of the season....with his friends :)

Yesterday morning (12/9/13)

12/10/13

Charlie and his new comrades: Colby and Spot

Night and Day

Hello again after the blizzard! It was a bit of a chilly weekend for us (about 48 in the house by our best guess) and we mostly stayed cooped up by the fire trying to conserve heat. Dan's brother lives just down the road in town and had rigged a car battery to provide heat to his house (and he's on city water), so we escaped there for a little bit on Saturday once the snow slowed down to take showers, warm up and charge our phones. We finally got power back on Sunday afternoon.

The barn was luckier than us and was actually up and running, at least water and electricity-wise, by Saturday morning. Sunday, once the snow stopped and the sun came out, everyone spent the day digging themselves out. By Monday the weather had shifted to a gross soaking rain...all day....which managed to get rid of a lot of the snow (plus) but also make it pretty slushy and icy over what was left (definite negative). Luckily Tuesday was warm again and sunny, in the 40s, so what had iced overnight melted away, leaving behind only about 6-8 inches of remaining snow.

This whole cycle made turnout really limited, essentially nothing between Friday and Tuesday until they could snowblow paths out to the paddocks, so I expected that when I finally made it out to see Charlie on Wednesday morning he would be really amped up and I'd be in for a spectacular show. Quite the opposite. Night and day! That's the best way to describe the change in Charlie's behavior. I chalk a lot of it up to the Vitacalm, which he's been on for about a week now, although I was seeing progress before so at least a small portion must be due to us getting to know each other and learning to work together. Anyway, there's not much more to say right now other than I am very happy as I am starting to see the old Charlie that I met that very first day back in October. I now have a horse with a brain, and that I can work with :) I hope to be posting actual riding pictures very soon!

Trying to get February's conformation shot...

A bit better...hoping to be working under saddle very soon to fill out that topline

Kisses for the good boy :)

Very happy :)

Backing up

Still super cold today which means the horses are only out for half a day (read: full of themselves) and it is too icy to let Charlie run around in the outdoor to release energy. I did turn him out a bit in one of the larger square paddocks this afternoon to see if he wanted to stretch his legs a bit before getting to work; after trotting very carefully around for a lap or two and throwing a haphazard tiny buck-kick he decided this was no fun. Since I knew I couldn't push him too far today mentally (he was still pretty high) we worked a lot on getting to know each other more through "hanging out", grooming, and doing "games" in the aisle. Charlie made some good progress learning that he only gets to go where he wants to go (ie out the barn door or into his stall) if I say it's ok and he is polite. If he rushes or runs into me or loses focus we back up or circle and go the other direction and start again. We did a lot of stop and go, back up and go forward, up and down the barn aisle, and in and out the barn and stall doors.

Although it is hard for him, he is understanding the whole "stop or go back with a small hand gesture" idea now and will stand for small spans of time (albeit impatiently) until I ask him to walk forward or I come back to him. My two proudest moments were (1) Charlie backing halfway down the aisle without a fuss on a loose lead and then (2) backing in and out of his stall several times with my only cue being given from several feet away at the end of the rope. At the time I didn't think we were doing much of anything today really but looking back I am beginning to appreciate the small steps of progress. :)

Oh, in other news, my oversize browband came in from SmartPak and fits great!

Old man winter

Winter is definitely here! Its been cold the past few days but today was supposed to be the worst (feels like -7!), and of course its my day to trek out to the barn to work off some of my board. At least I have a wonderful boyfriend who is willing to lend a hand :)

Charlie was less than excited about being forced to work, having had the last week off, but who can blame him. I think my biggest hurdle right now is going to be finding a way to release his energy safely and efficiently so that we have a brain to work with and our sessions can be more effective. We did a lot today on the lunge and in the rope halter, worked through several tantrums, and ended on a not too bad note. It was no glowing representation of Charlie's capabilities by any means, but we at least ended back near where we started last Sunday when M started working with him. I'm hoping, after today's workout, tomorrow we will be in a better starting place and can make more progress.