Muzzled

At our old place, there wasn’t enough pasture to really feed the horses, so we supplemented with hay all year.   I dreamed of pastures big enough to feed them all summer.

Well, I got them.  And this is also what I got:

Not even I can deny that mare is fat.

Poor Hudson, who loves grass better than anything in the world, is now coping with a grazing muzzle.  

The choice was grazing muzzle or dry lot (or let her eat until she explodes, which really wasn’t an option).  I don’t like  those options, but I decided that at least a muzzle would allow her to be with the other horses in the grass she so loves.  And, as I learned by observing her yesterday, the muzzle also gave her a puzzle to solve.

The others could not BELIEVE it! Now they could tease her and not get bitten!

For the first few hours of wearing it, she tried to eat, gave up, tried to rub it off, gave up, then stood and moped.  She even went to the dry lot to stand and mope, followed, by my surprise, by DeCato and Stormkite, who stood and moped with her in the dry lot while I was riding Starlight, even though they both had unencumbered access to the pasture grass.

She also followed me around hopefully, letting me know that this thing on her face was preventing her from eating gobs of grass, knowing that I always tried to help her in the past.  This time, she was on her own, though.  For a while, she took to just standing nearby and staring at me, her hurt brown eyes boring holes in the back of my head as my hubby and I worked on some fence posts.

Eventually, she decided she would just have to eat with the thing on, and at last, she started to understand how to use it.   When we got back from dinner last night, I found her in the dark pasture and heard a surprising amount of munching from that muzzle.   I took it off for a few minutes, just to give her a few real mouthsful, but as I watch this morning, she is making due with the muzzle in the pasture. 

Next up for her:  Weight loss boot camp!

Breathing Space

I noticed this thread on COTH and read through it with interest.  It is the question posed by a woman who has multiple horses and a full time job, "How do you do it all?"  Many folks chimed in with their schedules, and many reiterated, "It's hard!"

Dee with a training team

This year, I am reducing the number of horses I own, because I have realized, or long-known, actually, that one rider cannot sufficiently exercise five horses while also having a full-time job to pay for said horses.

While they were too young to be ridden, no problem.  I could do ground work and give them all sufficient attention, but now that they are all riding age, I see it’s just physically impossible to train and ride them all on my schedule. 

So, at this writing, Dee is at a trainer’s, learning how to go well under saddle.  As I have mentioned, I believe that this training is necessary for her to have a shot at a good home. 

Paying a professional trainer is an expensive proposition for me, but I see it as the best option, due to my time constraints, desire to focus on another horse (Starlight) and lack of interest in getting hurt again while training a greenie to be ridden.   And it’s expensive because I want it done well, and kindly.  Finding a quality trainer who does what she says, puts in the hours she promises, and shows steady progress – well, it’s just not cheap.

While watching Dee’s trainer working with her, I see a team of people in support, something I don’t have.  So, I congratulate myself for having trained those that I have by myself, but admit that in some cases, as with a more difficult horse such as Dee, it’s better to employ someone who has time and resources to give to the horse.   

In the jailhouse now...lucky number 7?

I have also asked the trainer to sell Dee for me.  Again, this is a matter of her having the time to give to all the lookers, and people who want to come back and see her multiple times.  It’s also a matter of her having an indoor arena to be able to show her anytime, no matter the time of day or the weather.  

And, frankly, it was hard enough to separate Dee from her little herd once.  I don’t want to bring her back, just to do it again.

My goal is to reduce down to three, which means one more will exit the farm this year.  Even at four, as I am now, I notice the breathing space from having one less horse.   Starlight is benefiting from the focus, and hurtling forward in her training. 

And I’m thinking to myself, “Dang! Fewer horses is funner!” (I don’t always think grammatically correctly).   

Sometimes, you just don't realize how much pressure you put on yourself until a little of it is relieved. 

.

Twin Tiers Horse Activities, June 2 - 5, 2012

The first weekend in June brings us all kinds of great horse activities.  You can bet Starlight and I will be at one of these events this weekend.  

Whatever YOU do, have fun with your horse!

June 1-2: USEF/USDF Recognized Dressage Show I & II Houghton College Equestrian Center, Houghton, NY. Contact Jo-Anne Young at (585) 567-8142 or joanne.young@houghton.edu

June 2 Twin Tiers Classic Horse Show; Chemung County Fairgrounds. Open horse show series (four shows total), sponsored by the Chemung County Agricultural Society. Objective: FUN and Rewarding! Divisions include Halter, Beginner WT; Youth and Adult English and Western, Hunter classes. June 2 & Aug. 18: High Points and Reserve; Sept 1-2 Overall weekends awards and futurity.

June 2 Twin Tiers Trail Riders: Linda Hendricks ride at her house, Van Etten, NY. There will be a dish-to-pass dinner with meat and soft drinks provided by the club. Contact Linda at 607-342-3534 or clearview@htva.net

June 2: Gentle Dove Farm Demonstration: NYS 4-H Youth Development Horse Program In-Service Training at Cornell University, Presented by Joann Long, National Mounted Police and Toronto Police Services Certified. More information coming soon! Check at www.GentleDoveFarm.com. You can also contact Joann at (585) 738-7477 or jklong@rochester.rr.com

June 2-3 Troy Area Horsemens Association Shows, Alparon Park, Troy, PA. Gaming Show on Saturday (sign ups at noon, show starts at 2); Pleasure Show on Saturday, starting at 8 a.m.

June 2-5: Kathleen Lindley Horsemanship Clinic at La Belle Vie Farm, Parrish Street Ext, Canandaigua, NY. For more information, download a clinic flyer.

June 3 Corner Haven Farm Horse Show. Show all day for one price; 125’x 250’outdoor ring, 80’x 158’ indoor ring; great footing, easy in/out parking; professionally designed jumps and courses; no hassle w/adding and dropping classes; all classes open to all riders/horses See www.cornerhavenfarm.com for program; Email-cornerhavenfarm@aol.com 607.387.9557; 6302 Curry Rd, Trumansburg NY

June 3: Carol Koslowski Cross Country Clinic, Contact Cathy Barron at 607.280.8825, or cathybarron87@yahoo.comJune 3: Spring Show, Tanglewood Farm, Jamesville http://cnydcta.webstarts.com/calendar_of_events.html

June 3 Twin Tiers Trail Riders: Danby Forest – Contact Crystal Chaffin at 607-227-1020 or teirnanscm@aol.com

 

June 3: 26th Annual Northampton Driving Society Show; Call Laurie Neubauer at (585) 352-1410

June 3: National Barrel Horse Association, Crystal Valley Saddle Club Corning, NY. http://ny06nbha.com/schedule

JUNE 3 CHEMUNG CO. 4-H SPONSORED OPEN HORSE SHOW; Chemung County Fairgrounds, Horseheads, NY CONTACT: Bernadette Raupers, 425 Pennsylvania Ave., NY 14904 (607) 734-4453 E-mail: bir2@cornell.edu

June 5: Foxtale Farm “After School Delight,” dressage show, Horseheads, NY. 4 p.m. until dusk. Entries deadline: May 26. All Foxtale Farm shows can be entered through their facebook page https://www.facebook.com/pages/Foxtale-Horse-Farm-LLC-New-York/130257720356690?sk=wall 607-215-5594, 607-215-5594 or email foxtalefrm@aol.com.

Week's Work

This week I rode both Hudson and Starlight each evening.  Starlight is in training, so our rides involve work.  I'm using a flattish spot in our hay field as an arena, and during our latest ride, I ran her through some of the circles and other movements that we practiced in the dressage clinic with Fred Kappler, last weekend.  

She is a super smart pony, and I could tell she recognized the work.  She also gave me incredibly good canter departs, letting me know that she has learned the cues we practiced in the clinic and on previous rides around our property.   

'Nuff said.

Now Hudson, on the other hand, I'm just riding to try to get some fat off of her.  A half-draft, half-paint, she is doomed by her genetics to be a big fat mama.  And now that the pastures are officially open, she is not wasting any time in stuffing her face with as much grass as possible.   I'm considering a grazing muzzle or separate pasturing for her, and also am taking her up and down hills to burn some calories. 

Yesterday, though, they both got a day off.  I rode for seven hours, but on a tractor, not a horse.  I spent the pretty day brush-hogging the field at the top of our property.  It was a long, dusty day, but it needed doing, as it was starting to get brushy, with little trees and berry bushes and weeds taking over.   I'm not sure what I want to do with that field (hay, pasture, cross country course...) but I know I want it to remain a field in any case, and not a shrubby weedy area that used to be a field. 

Both mares will have their rides today.

Twin Tiers Horse Events for Memorial Day Weekend, 2012

So much to do with your horse this holiday weekend!  

What will you choose?  What will I choose, for that matter?  Whatever it is, have a great time with your ponies!


May 26-27: Empire State Quarter Horse Association/NYS Horse Breeders (Pointing TBR); NYS Fair Grounds, Syracuse, NY; Secretary: Tari Weston, 315-695-1332; E-mail: tweston@twcny.rr.com; http://www.esqha.org/shows.htm 

May 24-27: NYS Breeders Horse Show - Section 2. NYS Fairgrounds, Syracuse. Visit Web Site Email nblumenthal@twcny.rr.com

May 25 – May 28: Twin Tiers Trail Riders: Susquehannock State Forest, Potter County, PA You must contact Jeanne Root to be included on the camping permit 570-596-3653 or jroot@npacc.net. If you plan on a day ride, just give a call to let us know to watch for you to show up. Parking is planned to be at the Twelve Mile Gas Well Head #1 but double check with Jeanne before the ride. With the new rules in effect, we may have more people then allowed at this site.

May 26 Twin Tiers Trail Riders: – Sugar Hill-ride to Monterey Jack’s for lunch, bring cash for lunch or just bring a saddlebag lunch. You can eat at the close-by picnic area., JoAnn Schwab 607-739-2554 or jnjrockinrranch@gmail.com

May 26 : Dressage & CT Schooling Show Series; - LaBarre/Green Acres Beaumont, PA; Contact: Cala Dearborn; horsescfd@hotmail.com; Click for Prizelist; Click for Entry

May 26: GVPC Spring Horse Trials (Intro, Beginner Novice and Novice levels) at Wheeler Green, Geneseo, NY. Entry form is available on www.geneseevalley.ponyclub.org

May 26- 27- Memorial weekend at Pure Country Campground: 176 Kelly Rd. New Berlin, NY, all camping 1/2 price. Dish to pass Sat. night. Sunday is a Timed Trail Pace 10 am. Payback. www.purecountrycampground.com, facebook too, like us! Call 607-847-9265, 607-847-6139

May 27: Bath Trailblazers Open Show, Bath NY Fairgrounds

May 28 Twin Tiers Trail Riders: Trail ride to benefit ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease). Ruth & Ron Luchsinger's farm south of DeRuyter, N.Y. 315-852-9866. $25.00 donation, food available for purchase, 8 mile scenic views ride, camping available also

May 28 Twin Tiers Trail Riders: - Elmira, N.Y., Elmira Heights, N.Y. and Horseheads, N.Y. Memorial Day Parades. contact JoAnn Schwab 607-739-2554 or jnjrockinrranch@gmail.com for info.

May 30-June 6: CNY Reining Horse Assoc Ride and Slide: Four days of exciting and quality NRHA Reining events. Two full slates of NRHA classes with a Saturday night special event to include freestyle - start time 6:00pm. Portion of Saturday evening event proceeds to benefit the Golisano Children's Hospital. Website Visit Web Site Email hoyttrain1@aol.com

Auditing Leslie Law

I had the great pleasure of walking out on the Stuart Horse Trials cross-country course today to watch eventer and Olympian Leslie Law coach local riders over coops, drops, water obstacles and the dreaded coffin.

Leslie Law watches a rider from a new  jump.

The sprawling course provided an ideal setting for the eventing clinic, and many riders found success under the guidance of Law, who won the individual gold medal for Britain in the 2004 Olympics.

My friend Trish Pierce and I perched nearby, with other auditors, through two sessions, in which riders took their horses over increasingly difficult obstacles, ending their work by splashing through the water obstacle and up over jumps on either bank.

Holly Barrett urges Tenacious G (Gryphon) over the water obstacle

Some of the riders also took the opportunity to jump straight into the water, an act that looked to be completely stomach-dropping as the horses leapt over a log on the bank and down into the drink.

It was a good way to spend a beautiful morning, and it left me hoping that one of these years I'll be riding a horse on those grounds.

Riders show the horses the water before working through it.

A look at the course.

Success at the Clinic

Starlight and I had a fun ride with Fred Kappler today at Lane Cove Dressage in Greene, NY.  We emerged not at all horrified and demoralized, as I feared, but instead, I was very pleased and she was her usual willing and steady self.  

Still standing after our ride.  Photo by Trish Pierce. 

For Starlight, it was her first dressage lesson, doing 10- and 20-meter circles, serpentines, quarter turns and the like.  It was positively the hardest she and I have worked ever during a single ride together.   

I was amazed, once again, by this pony’s cooperative personality and game demeanor.  She’s such a rock star and she received many compliments from Fred and from my friend Trish Pierce, of Foxwin Farm, who joined us on the journey and was very helpful as a groom, photographer, companion and pony complimenter.

Starlight and I were quite bad at the canter, but we did get it going both ways.  We’ll work on that. 

Fred was a kind and perceptive clinician, giving us the type of work we needed to knock the rust off of me and get Starlight using her body in a new, better way.   

Now I’m yawning and she’s dozing.  Two sleepy critters, content with a good day’s work.