Weekend Adventures

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So I have a lot to blog about, including trying to put my 19 year old thoroughbred back into work after a cold winter and super wet May, but I’m just going to focus on the incredible Batthorse this post.

A friend of mine came down from NY to visit me and Batt so we decided that Sunday would be a day spent at Marsh Creek State Park. Of course, after being in the 50s last weekend, this past weekend had temperatures up near 90 with lots of lovely humidity. Teaching Saturday was pretty awful and the heat really got to me before I had to lead out a trail ride in the afternoon. That said, it all went well but the day in the heat really hit me Sunday.

So we left around 9 on Sunday morning after my “OMG trailer! I’ll die!” Batthorse walked on the trailer without batting an eye. Actually, Sandra was throwing the brushed in the trailer tack/storage while I loaded and managed to miss the entire thing. ::knock on wood:: but he seems to be mostly over his issues and rather comfortable with our trailering arrangements (aka riding backwards and not being tied). We actually stopped at Wawa on our way down to pick up lunch (something I wouldn’t have dared to do before) and Batt happily watched all the commotion around him. He seemed quite entertained.

Anyway, once off the trailer at HSF, again, it was as if he was there every day of his life. Now that we’re actually going places, I just cannot get over this horse’s brain. He doesn’t even look around, he just acclimates instantly. It’s pretty insane. Those of you who know Subi know that showing for us always meant riding my horse for about 4+ hours until he was quiet enough to go into the ring without having a meltdown. Batt is just the complete opposite.

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“Hi Mom!”

After I gave Sandra a lesson on Boston and we all died in the heat, I hopped on Batt and we headed down to water to explore/splash along. While Boston wanted NOTHING to do with the water (though he was happy to stand at the edge and watch), Batt splashed right in (no hesitation today!) and considered laying down… We instead moved around before heading back to the farm to hack in the ring.

In the ring I had  a super happy and super sound horse. Truly amazing. He was probably sounder than he’s been in years. After all of his hoof issues and resulting soundness issues the last couple of years, it’s nice to have my real horse back. We’ve been taking it easy which sucks for me since I’d like to and need to ride more, but it’s been the best thing for Batty. Anyway, we hacked around, worked on our corners at the canter, especially the dreaded right lead, but he was great, picked up all his leads immediately (this horse has NEVER had perfect upward transitions ever) and even managed a nice right lead canter. After popping over a few crossrails (suddenly he sees his spots too?), I hopped off (the head was starting to get me me again) and let Sandra ride.  She jumped him a little bit more and he had fun.

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After the “I want to lay down and roll” in the water incident, I decided to take him back down to the lake bareback to play. Of course, there were more people at our little “beach” including some random guy laying in the later and 2 people with kayaks and a dog. Of course, this time, without tack, Batt felt no need to roll/lay down. Of course not. Which means that next time he’ll roll while tacked up because that’s just what will happen. Anyway, Batt pretty much thinks that water is the Best.  Thing. Ever. and thoroughly enjoyed himself. He tends to make strange noises when he’s happy (moaning and humming) which he did a good part of the time we were in the water. Though we did have a kayak come right up to us to take a picture which was interesting. After commenting that he’d never seen a kayak before, the people on the shore ask if that was because he was a baby. Um, yeah, OK.

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After lunch and grazing and offers from a boarder to trade horses (nope, not happening!), we headed home and I pretty much crashed from 2 long days in the sun.

In which the Batthorse takes on Fair Hill

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Batt and I finally had our second off property field trip on Sunday. I finally got to meet a friend of mine out at Fair Hill for a nice little trail ride. And it actually happened even though we’ve had to cancel and reschedule thanks to the lovely amount of rain the mid atlantic region has been “blessed” with lately. Actually, we had already cancelled Sunday’s ride on Saturday fearing the trails would be too muddy. But, things looked better on Sunday morning and people were out riding so we uncancelled (good thing because our rescheduled date of the 22nd is showing rain right now).

It was a short ride, but it was pretty successful. Due to the weather, I have NOT worked much with Batt on loading. In fact, I don’t think we’ve loaded in a couple of weeks. Nonetheless, Batt loaded pretty quickly (we had about 25 seconds of hesitation) and then we were off!

What I love about Fair Hill is it’s super close (20 minutes without a trailer). What I hate about Fair Hill is that the trip is filled with tight, twisty, hilly country roads. This is fine day in and day out when I go to work, but less fine with a trailer. So, I decided that I was going to go the longer route. Of course, I wasn’t exactly sure how to get to the covered bridge lot by vehicle (I pretty much only walk to the covered bridge) and my GPS did not like my alternate route. So I ended up on different twisty country roads. I should have just stuck to the ones I know. But, I didn’t have to pass any amish buggies so success?

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Anyway, we met up with my friend Terry and her horse Bailey (they lease a barn in Fair Hill) at the parking lot and once I was tacked up, off we went. Tacking up was surprisingly easy considering Batt doesn’t currently tie. The mounting block was a little less successful since he was convinced that the piece of wood attached to it was going to eat him and there was NO WAY WE COULD STAND CLOSER THAN 2 FEET FROM IT. I ended up using the second step and leaping on. Elegant, no, successful yes. Once on, I almost look my leg on on the wood post since it’s only scary when I’m not mounted?

13177127_10100114204760095_6424462441061312462_nWe stuck with most of the paved trails since it was still muddy, but we had a good time. Batt initially thought that the lady next to the covered bridge messing with her fishing pole was going to kill him once he walked onto the bridge, but after a short fight and a brave Bailey, we walked over as if our argument hadn’t happened. It was a short ride since Bailey’s 28, but a nice introduction to riding at Fair Hill. Hopefully we’ll make this a regular thing.

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Loading after our ride was making me nervous (first time I’d actually load completely by myself) but he walked right on and all was right in the world. Hopefully the more trips we take, the more he realizes that he gets to go to fun places. That horse loves to explore, is brave, and doesn’t spook (unless it’s the second time you pass a tarp, then it’s time to spook). All in all, it was a nice, easy afternoon. It’s sort of nice to haul out for an hour and a half ride and be gone for only about 2.5 hours.

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Now I just need to plan our next adventure and find people to ride with!

Success! Or, a journey at Marsh Creek

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After a few weeks of successful loading practice, I decided to load Batt up on Sunday and haul out for a day at Marsh Creek State Park in Downingtown, PA. He’s been loading so well lately that the biggest stressor was actually driving the trailer. But, rather than focus on that, I practiced some positive visualization (so not my strength!), sent Batt in the trailer and stuffed some carrots down his throat, and headed on my way.

Thankfully, the 45 (well, at my trailer driving speed was probably closer to an hour) minute drive was uneventful and we made it to Marsh Creek in one piece. He did move around some (which I tried to ignore), but spent most of the drive facing out the back of the trailer, watching all the traffic. The biggest challenge was probably unloading. For all of his stress about loading, he HATES getting off the trailer forward. His legs shake, he thinks, he hesitates, and finally, at my urging, holds his breath and leaps off… He’d be much happier if I turned him around and let him back out of the step up…. Strange horse.

Once he was off the trailer, it was as if he’d been there his entire life. Lots of exploring and grass eating, but mostly a super happy horse. We grazed for a bit, watched a lesson, explored the barn, and then went for a short ride in the ring. Batty was sound and happy and dead quiet which is even more impressive considering I haven’t ridden him since the blizzard (and not consistently since probably a month or 2 before that).

After our time in the ring (where he made a new friend and then proceeded to scream for his new friend for a minute once he left), I decided to take him for a quick walk down to the water, because, why not take a horse who is in a new place, who hasn’t really been ridden, down to the lake alone? Perfectly reasonable, right? If there were every any doubts that this horse is bombproof…

As expected, he was a star. I don’t think his ears ever went back once (well, he did sulk when we went back to the barn). He was just alert and happy and in explorer mode. That said, he would NOT step on the sand or get in the water. He was happy, but nope, not happening. And then some jogger came over with his dog to get a drink. Watching the dog drink while wading in the water? Yep, my idiot horse walked right in, had a drink, and splashed around.

After our lake journey, I threw him in the paddock for a bit and he made friends and flirted with mares. After a couple hours off, we tacked back up and headed out on a trail ride with some barn friends and customers. There were a few more people then I’d have liked (3 customers, 3 boarders, and me so 7 in all), but he did well. He did NOT like following and would have much preferred being the leader (not that he knew where he was going but obviously that wasn’t important), but stayed as close to the front as he could. We just walked (which was good) and the only really issue came when we had to cross a fallen tree. It was small enough that the horses could step over it, but larger enough that my reformed-ish stopper assumed something was living inside of it and would NOT walk over. Now, we had a horse up our butt and no real space to circle/trot over it/jump it like it was 4 feet tall so I ended up hopping off and the second I was on the other side, he walked/jumped over the scary thing with something living inside. I got back on and we continued on our way. I could have let everyone else cross and then have tried to get him over but this was just easier and faster. Sometimes it’s not the right place to school…

Anyway, the rest of the ride was uneventful and we ended with another splash in the lake. This time splashing as much as possible and contemplating a nice roll. We left before we could do more than consider. We sulked the remaining way back to the barn.

Eventually it was time to head home. He was a little reluctant to get back on the trailer (though we had already reloaded once before the trail ride just to confirm it was possible), but a little clucking and 2 minutes later he loaded himself and home we went (journey was a bit more exciting as we were surrounded at one point by 7 bikers… We survived and came home to a nice beet pulp/electrolyte mash and lots of water.

So happy the first trip is in the books. Hoping this will be a season of lots of fun and exploring!

Progress!

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So the trainer I wanted to work with came out this week and this is the result!

We’re practicing daily, but not a bad result for having a pro work with him for about an hour and a half…We’re going to let him ride loose and backwards so I think that should alleviate  some of his stresses and insecurities. He doesn’t like being tied and tying just seems to make everything worse.

Defeated.

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I haven’t written in a while. It’s just been a long winter with good and with bad and with vets. Since we all love a good vet bill or 2…

In a minor update of the vet bill related stuff, sometime around Christmas, Subi stopped eating on me. Well, minor correction, he stopped eating grain. This isn’t all that abnormal, especially since he hasn’t loved the grain he’s been on. To make a long story short, last winter, I switched him from Purina Senior Active to Progressive Senior Sweet after the Purina formula changed and Mr. Picky stopped eating it. He loved the Progressive and ate regular meals, licking his bucket clean. Then, 5 bags in, my feed store stopped carrying it. Said feed store also served as the area distributor so all other area feed stores that also carried it, stopped. They also couldn’t special order it. So, I contacted Progressive and found a dealer about 90 miles away and bought from him, 8 bags at a time. But paying cash and driving really far took it’s toll and I stopped around November. So, instead, we tried various feeds. He doesn’t like Triple Crown Senior (too much beet pulp), didn’t like Pennfield. He sort of ate the Safe Choice Senior so we stuck with that. Then he didn’t. He didn’t like Buckeye either. Then he just stopped eating grain.

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Thanks to the lovely workers at my other feed store, I tried the Purina Omalene 500 which he actually eats, semi enthusiastically. Thankfully we only went through 5 different 50 lbs varieties that he wouldn’t eat before settling on the 500. I don’t like sweet feed, but honestly, the best feed in the world means nothing if my horse won’t eat it.

But, during all this drama, I decided to schedule a vet appointment and get Subi’s teeth done and blood pulled, just in case. After a couple reschedules later, the vet finally came out and floated his teeth, which weren’t actually bad at all. He had some swelling around his lower incisors, but that was pretty much it. Vet liked his condition, approved his feed even though she doesn’t like Purina, and we held off blood. She did warn me that they picky thoroughbreds out there tend to get pickier as they get older. Great, just what I need…

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Then, later that month, my Marble dog was diagnosed with happy tail. Several vet visits, wrappings, $$$, 2 cones, and a blizzard later, her tail went necrotic and we had to amputate part of her tail. She’s a chocolate pointer now that her lab tail is missing. She doesn’t care and she’s happy and healthy. Though she was never actually unhappy. And unlike Subi, she never missed a meal.

Then there is my idiot Batthorse with whom I am currently not speaking. He had a great winter and a fun blizzard ride, and emerged from winter fat and happy. Then spring came early and I found myself dreaming of field trips and trail rides.

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This past week, after spending some time driving the trailer and all that, I started Remedial Trailer Loading 101 with Idiot horse. After some initial work, I got confident Batt would pass with flying colors. He was loading without issues. So I made plans to haul out on Saturday for a fun day at Marsh Creek after I finished teaching. Which is way he decided to scare himself to death on Saturday morning (after a minor scare Friday that he seemed fine after) and refuse to load. At all. Ever. I finally gave up Saturday and tried again yesterday and he was even worse. Shut down right from the start. When he shuts down, you can’t get anywhere with him. At this point, I’ll give idiot horse a couple weeks off and see what I’ve got but I think I need professional assistance.

Which is why, after Saturday morning, I decided to immediate reach out to a local trainer know to be great teaching loading. Trainer is happy to work with us and asked that I drop  him off. Which would be fine. Except I can’t get the damn horse on the trailer! If I could get him on, I wouldn’t be in need of assistance. A few others said the same thing. So now I’m left with a trailer, a horse who won’t load, and several miles between me and the trainers who can assist. At this point, I really just need to send him to someone, but I can’t load him and I’m pretty sure that won’t change. So what do I do?

I am so completely defeated. I don’t know that I’ve ever felt this way. Ever. I’ve had frustrations, things haven’t worked, I’ve had fears, but not defeated like this. I am so completely frustrated I can’t  even explain it. We’re also hitting idiot horse’s annual colic season… AHH. So frustrated.

And because I can’t not post a picture of Jiminy…

 

My horse is an idiot and other fun tales.

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After the windy and dreary day that was yesterday, it was nice to have a sunny, though chilly, day.

Batts other person was down from NY for the weekend so I decided that I was going to lunge Subi before she got here. For some reason, today I had it in my head that I needed to lunge him. I rode on Thursday and just hopped on him. Today, lunging was my mindset.

Thankfully I decided to follow my well thought out lunging plan and Sub was a complete and utter fool. Seriously, he was an idiot. Strangely, he was fine walking from the paddock to the round pen, but once in the round pen… For some odd reason, I decided I’d lunge first than groom/tack/ride. So, I put my muddy pony on the line and told him to stand. To that, he flew backwards. Once we mastered standing, I asked him to move forward and forward he exploded. Normally I need to encourage forward movement and we start at the walk and then trot and do lovely trot halt transitions and eventually canter. Today, Mr. Lunatic decided that bucking, rearing, lead changing, spinning antics were in order. He was a little too athletic and almost fell over (that usually phases him, not today) so I basically stood in the center of the round pen and occasionally encouraged him to continue moving forward and tried to prevent his attempts to rear and spin and change direction while the lunge line was wrapped around his head… He also considered cutting in and bucking/kicking out at me, but upon realizing that that trick no longer scares me (he’d never actually kick), he cut that from his repertoire. Seriously though, he was an idiot. He was just up and crazy. Not spooky either, just pretty much nuts. By the time were were done, he was soaked (it took me 30+ minutes to get him quiet enough to walk…) and hot and in need of a bath. In light of the 40-50* temps, we settled to for a sponge bath with warm water and pile of coolers. I elected not to ride (upon leaving the round pen, he started acting like a fool spooking/rearing when he saw my friend–who was standing exactly where she was when he got pats from her minutes before) and while I might have chickened out, sometimes staying in one piece is important. Plus, by that point, I’d had enough of his antics… At least he was tired (though evidently not tired enough to stop being an idiot.

Not overly thrilled about his november bath..

Not overly thrilled about his november bath..

Since my friend wasn’t planning to ride, I ended up hopping on Batty and we had a lovely time. He was sound, really loosened up at the was both before and after we stretched his legs, and was just lovely and happy to be working. We started off with some trot and canter sets on the hill and then headed into to the woods to hack and do some pole work. Again, lovely. He was using his butt as we trotted around, had a big, gorgeous canter, and was happy to see some poles. At one point, he just sort of started doing his own thing and while I should have corrected him, he was moving SO well and was so happy and impressed with himself, I just didn’t have the heart to stop him. So we cantered around when he decided we were going to and ultimately cantered our 4 poles perfected. We ended with a baby cross rail (1, he’s out of shape and 2, all my standards are in the back yard and I only had 2 crates in the woods) which he had fun popping over (while NOT treating it like it was 3′). Called it a day at that point thought I’m sure we could have both done more. It’s just nice to have him when he’s HAPPY and willing and comfortable. He can be such a good boy.

Post ride sun

Post ride sun

Not sure why the girth is half off but...

Not sure why the girth is half off but…

In other news, I managed to be runner up for most improved in Viva Carlos and Equestrian at Hart‘s 2pointober! Was not expected that. I started my attempt at No Stirrup November with a little trotting on Sub on Thursday and more trotting today with Batty. I have to say, it’s MUCH harder to post without stirrups while trotting up or down hill. My legs were burning pretty quickly.

Looking ahead to next year, if I can managed to get comfortable hauling, I definitely want to start talking Batty to some paper chases and such. That’s his type of thing and it’s something I think we can both have fun with.

As my husband coined this picture: Prisoners in the prison yard

As my husband coined this picture: Prisoners in the prison yard

Dreary day and random thoughts about blankets

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It’s a really ugly, rainy, dark, depressing, dreary, disgusting Wednesday (I started with the Ds and just couldn’t stop). I should be doing something productive, like work, but instead, here I am.

The weather is strangely warm and will be warm tomorrow (high close to 70) which is really strange at the end of October. It’s going to cool off by the weekend, but looking at the long range forecast, we’re going to be back at 70 next Thursday? This fluctuation is driving me crazy. I had blankets on a couple weeks ago, we had frost as recently as yesterday (or was it Monday?), and now warm and rain (and 70s and sun tomorrow)? I don’t know what to wear to work anymore!

I also need to spend the time and go through blankets. Warm temps are not helping me find the motivation! Jiminy is all set (thankfully someone is!) but I need to figure out how Subi and Batt are doing. Subi should be good in terms of weighted blankets (though I really need to do some laundry as I never quite got there this summer… oops.), especially now that he has Hayley’s old (new) heavy weight that actually fits him nicely. He has his Horze Avalanche as well and that seems to be in good shape though I may need to re-waterproof that one just to be safe. He’s also got some various Rider’s blankets that fit (one in good shape, the other with misc. repairs) and a pair of old statelines (10 years old at this point) that work really well as backups. That said, his rainsheet isn’t great though I think it’s still waterproof? It should work if I can manage to reattach a back leg strap…

Batt, on the other hand, is king of hand me down blankets. His old rhino (originally Hayley’s) fits him really well, but the waterproofing is gone. His pink argyle smartpak blanket has seem much better days (again, a Hayley blanket) and doesn’t actually fit that well, but it’s a good spare. He also has a heavy Horze Avalanche (well, 2 if I repair Hayley’s old one) so he should be set. BUT, because he only has 1 that fits well that’s NOT a heavy and that blanket may never be really waterproof again, I’m debating getting him a new medium weight. Hopefully one that fits and then I can relegate the Rhino to be a spare (I’ve had it since 2009? and bought it used…). Thinking about getting him one of the SStack ones since I love Jiminy’s and while I’m at it, I could also get Subi a new sheet… http://www.sstack.com/horse-blankets-and-sheets_waterproof-turnout-blankets_euro-fit_traditional-fit/2015-dura-tech-1200d-viking-turnouts/

But, of course, do I really need MORE blankets? It’s really an unhealthy collection I have. But, if they’re not completely dead, I hate throwing them out. I also hate using the ones that don’t fit that well or are partially dead… While I do have a crazy amount of blankets, my guys live out 24/7 in ALL conditions. So, depending on the temps, Subi may wear either 2 heavy weights or a heavy and medium. He spent most of the winter in 2 blankets (usually heavy and medium) but ended up with more when needed. That said, he’s a wimp and shivers when he’s cold so it’s easy to figure him out. Batt wore either 2 mediums, a heavy, or a medium/heavy combo depending on the temps (and what blankets were drying out inside).

Batty