Fairhill Recognized Novice -- May 19th

Coming off the heels of his nosebleed issues and forced break, Scout came back into work hardly missing a beat and felt ready to tackle Fairhill. Unfortunately, the weather turned into a summer swamp the weekend of the event which definitely had an impact on a horse who had recently had some unintentional time off.

Dressage:

Not exaggerating about the dust! 

I'm just going to say for the record, that I don't love the dressage warm-up at Fairhill -- it's a tiny little bowl that's super dusty and if even one horse is acting up it gets really chaotic real fast. Scout came to the warmup flat-footed as usual but was definitely dull. The heat and humidity were certainly a factor, as was his recent time off -- so he lacked his usual spark. Nora did a super job livening him up a bit before they headed into the ring and I really feel like she got every last point out of him that she could for the day. It was a nice, obedient test, but was missing some oomph.

That's more like it

<3

Starting to get the free walk finally

He's happy that's over, hahaha!

Despite his lack of enthusiasm, they still squeaked out a 31.90 -- A score I was pleased with, but in a division of all professionals, it put him in 8th after dressage. Overall, I was really pleased with his work ethic to go in the ring and get it all done. He never quits, and that is such an admirable quality in a horse.

And the thing I love (and hate) about eventing and the various division breakdowns, is that if he was in Open Novice B, he would have won his division (though the other two groups at much wider margins for dressage scores) -- very interesting!

After a break and a bit of a cool down, it was time tog et ready for stadium and xc. At Fairhill, this requires a long solo hack through the woods to the other side of the property (which can take some getting used to for greenies), there's also a stream to cross on the way! Unfortunately, SJ was running 45 mins behind and poor Scout had to stand around in the heat for over an hour waiting. We did complain to the officials, who told us that they had no way of letting anyone know (which is funny, because LOUD SPEAKERS) -- but I'll take every experience as a teaching opportunity and it was good practice in standing around and waiting his turn.

Ready to jump things

The long wait gave me time to watch a ton of horses go and Iw as really pleased with the course. They had expanded the space allotted and the course rode best on a big galloping stride, right up Scout's alley!

Being the best at waiting

There were a few combinations that I was concerned about, but nothing seemed out of the realm for a recognized event. I think the trickiest part of the course was the first few fences, a massive oxer with a dogleg left to vertical, and hairpin left turn away from the in-gate.

Scout felt like it was best to give the first fence PLENTY of space, just in case. 

The second fence came up quick, and he jumped it a bit green, but left the rails up (this fence caught quite a few riders).

On to the big combination on a course...

I believe this was a 4 stride to 2 stride

I thought he might get a backward coming into these, but they made him sit back and think, which led to him jumping them cleanly.

The second related distance on course, nailing it -- even if a little green still

Better through the out of the combination

And even though it was a galloping course, it had plenty of twists and turns to keep you thinking about balance and momentum. He had one unlucky rail at the skinny fence on course, but he jumped everything with a much-improved maturity and technique.

Last fence on course -- cleared it!!!!

I didn't get to walk XC this time, but it had a half coffin, water and a bank combo. He literally ate up the course, cruising around like it was a walk in the park! A beautiful double clear to add to his record and he came off the course feeling like a million bucks! And while he didn't look like he was going that fast, Nora said that at the second to last fence she realized she was over a minute under the time and had to rate him in order not to get penalties -- he just really covers the ground SO much!

So thankful for Nora and her whole team for bringing out the best in my young horse. I feel so lucky to have found her and Scout just adores her too! I'm so very proud of his attitude and continuing progress. It's really amazing watching this young horse blossom and develop.

Ocala visit, Part 2 -- The kid is pretty special (and a massive photo dump)

The second day I was in Florida (I arrived Monday morning and left Wednesday evening) turned out to be a bit of washout. We had planned to take Scout over to Justin Dutton's farm for one of her schooling jumper shows where you pay for one round and then get to go back in to fix anything that didn't go well, alas the weather had other ideas. The show was canceled due to a whole afternoon of downpouring -- booooo. I did spend the morning over at the Davidson's Florida compound and to hang out with my favorite little person, her pony and I got invited to go on conditioning rides with Andrea. Yes, PLEASE! The funny thing is that I've never ridden with or around her at all, so it was such a special treat to get to ride their upper-level horses without any kind of knowledge of my ability. Their Florida farm is on 600 acres, has a full track for gallops and a conditioning path that goes around massive fields with undulating terrain. After not riding for almost two months I was a little worried I wouldn't be able to keep up, but it turns out all that gym time has been paying off!

The cutest

It's not pony playtime without Twinkle Toes!

Sadly, will not fit in carry-on bag

We ALL finally got to ride together! Aubrey was SO excited!

Part of the trot paths

We did a series of trot sets and even galloped a bit which was super fun on something that is decidedly NOT a thoroughbred. The horses were all a bit wild that morning with the incoming weather a drop in temps but I had an absolute BLAST.

Scout got a bit of a spa day en lieu of the schooling show, and was not super psyched about Mom rolling in to pull his mane and make a fuss over him. I stuffed him full of treats which may have softened the blow a little:)

Wednesday, we planned to take him over to the venue of his debut event to xc school. Nora had only taken him xc once before and she was super excited to get him out again. I was so pleased to tag along and play groom while she schooled Scout and another client horse. What's even better, is that I got to see just how much he's matured in every way. He hopped onto her big rig without an issue, tied at the trailer and stood quietly for tacking and walked flat-footed across the property with an inquisitive look in his eye.

Growing up!

Starting their warm-up

It was super nice to see how she warms him up for XC. She walked him for 10-15 minutes before picking up a big, forward trot in a giant figure eight around a bunch of jumps. She walked and trotted through the water complex while doing this and picked up a canter and continued on a figure eight, adding in lead changes (!) and going up and down hills to help set his canter in balance before sending him toward any fences.

But, on to the good stuff... She's got him solidly in front of the leg and thinking forward but with a very reliable half-halt to utilize to help him sit and wait when she needs him to.

That trot THO

Weeeeee!

He was really giving everything a ton of respect but still landing in the same balance as he jumped it

This photo makes me SO happy -- she just has the biggest smile when she's jumping him

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First trakehners!

I was super pleased with his attitude about everything -- he's become such a professional about his job and he's proving to really have the right elements to make a great event horse. He still gets it wrong, maybe 20% of the time, but he has VERY good instincts to get his giant legs out of the way and carry a rider successfully to the other side -- better yet, he doesn't get upset or hold a grudge, which is perfect for an adult ammy!

I'm SO excited about our future together and I'm so unbelievably happy that he and I have met a trainer who gets us both. She has developed a really special relationship with him and he is giving 110% back to her in response. And even though I have to wait a few more weeks to hop in the irons myself, I'm even MORE excited now. He makes his eventing debut tomorrow -- so please send good vibes our way, hopefully, I'll have good things to report in a few days!

Ocala Update

Sending my horse to Ocala is easily one of the toughest decisions I've ever made -- and I'd be lying if I wasn't questioning that decision constantly (see: chronic worrier). But I didn't decide to send him because he's naughty or because of my inability to ride him. I made the decision because it felt like the opportunity of a lifetime. I have ALWAYS wanted to go south for the winter and this year, I thought about figuring out a way to spend a week or two with Andrea and Scout. But ultimately the timing and financial aspects of doing a short trip would not have been worth it in the long run. So when this opportunity came along and I made the decision to go for it, after the initial excitement wore off I started second guessing myself. The support I have received by and large has really helped. Hearing from friends and bloggers that you're excited for us and has definitely helped me feel like I'm doing the right thing. But still, you doubt.

So when I packed the kid up for his trip, I tried REALLY hard not to be a nervous wreck. Would he make the trip okay? Develop ulcers? Lose weight? Hate Florida? Would he be happy? How would his progress go? ALL THE QUESTIONS.
And I waited with bated breath for every update...


Well, he traveled very well and settled in like a champ.

Not in Kansas Pennsylvania anymore

For the first couple of weeks, they spent a ton of time figuring each other out on the flat. He was really struggling with going forward and allowing leg pressure before he left (which I think was partially due to being stuck in the indoor up here), so she worked on getting him to respect and allow leg pressure and then sent him forward. From there, she's been able to start fixing other issues, like getting his haunches in line with the rest of his body and introducing real bend.

bendy bean

struttin'

In a way, it's encouraging to see that Scout doesn't just pull this stuff with me and that I've done a decent enough job getting him to this point. Obviously, she's MUCH more adept at correcting his little evasions and it's really educational watching the videos she's sent me because her timing is just SO GOOD. He still wants to get on his forehand and/or curl when he doesn't want to carry himself and she just quickly corrects and sends him on and I think he really appreciates that she doesn't nag or make a big deal.

When he gets tight in his throat latch, she corrects and sends him forward

Looking a bit better here

His transitions are looking REALLY sharp and she doesn't allow him to clown around on his forehand in the canter. The result is a really great looking uphill step with some real bounce.

Dang

His hind step <3

But if I had any doubts about sending him south, that was all squashed when after only a few weeks she told me the most amazing observation. You see, Scout has always has issues with too much pressure, and much like a lot of other horses he needs to know there's an out. When he feels like there isn't one, he panics (remember the rearing???) So, one day we were chatting and she described a feeling in him that he has a bit of a claustrophobic mind... my mind was completely blown. How did this person who has only know him for a few weeks have that much insight? Saying his mind is claustrophobic is the most perfect way to describe his way of thinking and how it relates to his training. So with that insight she's been showing him the out and patiently applying more and more pressure and rewarding when he finds his way.

She's been jumping him a little, but has been taking it very slowly. She expressed that while he has tons of scope, he gets a bit careless with his legs when he gets tired so she wants to get him really fit and a bit sharper on the flat before taking him XC (can I just say I LOVE her for this?)

The cutest

Enthusiastic much?

Weeeeee!

And it seems as though he's taking to southern living quite well. It's been so cold up here that I've hardly missed riding, except for the last few days when the temps were in the 60s. He's even taken to throwing little baby tantrums when he's been kept in due to storms.

What a child

The kid doesn't seem to be missing winter either. His new favorite thing is rolling in the sand.

His condition is looking super and we've changed up his feed program a little to gear it towards the sport horse life (I'll post about this later). When I sent him off I was most worried about him dropping weight on the trip and losing a bunch of condition. Nora tells me he's LOVING the hay and vacuuming up every last piece. For the first time in my horse's life, he looks FAT.

And dapply

He's giant.

So, I'm pleased with his progress so far. I am missing him intensely and I cannot wait to go visit (only 19 more days til I fly to see him but who's counting). My last update from her was that she's teaching him leg yields and haunches fore, and really learning how to bend through his body. She plans to take him XC schooling this week and I can't wait to hear how it goes! 

Stay tuned for more updates!

2018 vs. 2019

The beginning of 2018 brought so much uncertainty for Scout and what our future might be together. And after the scare of him getting cast and the subsequent cellulitis that formed as a result, I owed it to him to pump the brakes and take a long hard look about what I wanted from him. What I ultimately decided was to take things slow... maybe even painfully slow to outsiders. He was after all, a very big, very immature youngster who needed time to heal and fill out physically.

Fall 2017 -- Fall 2018

So that's exactly what we did... and we had some mixed results. In addition, I reached out to trusted professionals to help develop my athletic youngster and help shape him into a suitable mount for me. I dealt with WAY too many truck problems and FINALLY got my rig back on the road. My lessons stopped due to said truck problems which was beyond disappointing but I stuck to my regime of working with Scout both on the ground and under saddle and he really began to blossom. Ultimately, these setbacks led to me not wanting to blog at all -- but if you follow me on any other social media platforms, you know what we've been up to!

He's been LOVING life at the new barn, and absolutely thriving. In fact, he's perhaps feeling a bit TOO good. I think he's finally in his big boy body and he's really ready for the next step in his education.

The best he's ever looked in winter

I was so thankful to have the indoor to retreat to this fall/winter when we got nothing but rain for months and months because he really needed a job to do. He was definitely starting to tell me he was getting bored, even with the indoor riding routine.

ANOTHER growth spurt this fall

Longing for days like this again

I tried to mix things up for Scout a little by having a friend come ride him here and there (which he was very opinionated about) -- and then he got a few weeks off after my 40th birthday -- which coincided with the holidays. After Christmas my BO asked if I would be interested in coming to Wellington to nanny for a week or two (like I was gonna say no) and so I started to make a plan for what Scout would do while I was away.

But what if I want EXTENDED vacation?

There would be a resident trainer at my barn while I was out of town but I thought since my rig was back up and running I'd like to reach out an event trainer, specifically someone close to the Davidsons (since I work for them in summer/fall). So after a little research I decided to send Scout to Nora Battig-Leamer for 10 days! I have a few friends who have either ridden with her or had her work with their thoroughbreds and I really like her riding style!

As it turns out, she thinks Scout is quite special (his step and jump being quite impressive) and after some logistical conversations, we decided he should go to Ocala with her until the end of March to continue his education! He's going to have an amazing opportunity to go and do and see ALL THE THINGS and come back a more mature, more well-educated horse! It seems like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me and for him and I am so excited to see how he progresses. I have a few trips planned to go see him while he's there and of course, I plan to take lessons on my some of my BO's horses while he's away so I don't lose my sea legs!

Who is this grown-up creature?

So, I'm over here trying to adjust to not having my horse around -- which is SUPER weird... and I thought I'd jump back into blogging (I have a ton of fun things on deck to talk about). 2019 is off to a MUCH better start than 2018! Here's to keeping all them positive vibes running through the blogosphere.