Snow!

It actually snowed!

It's been cold enough for snow this winter (plenty cold enough), but today was the first day we actually got any!

Out my window:

Shop, and our monstrous wood pile

You can tell we don't have a whole lot, maybe a little over an inch, but the roads are slick as anything and we live at the top of a massive hill, so I didn't get out to the barn. :( I think this is the first day I haven't been out to River since...before Christmas sometime? I don't remember. Somewhat traumatic but he should be fine. Supposed to get sunny and somewhat warmer tomorrow, so I should be out then!

A Picture and A Ride!

That handsome bay gentleman with the chompy mouth? Look familiar?

It's River! :D

SO excited!! I still can't find an actual racing picture, but this is good enough! :)

Just a heads up, if you want nice track photos of East Coast tracks, Nikki Sherman is the place to go to! I've found all my race photos on her site, for Rhapsody, Paradox, and now River! She also has some pictures of QH racing and harness racing in case you're into that kind of thing.

It was crazy warm today (got up to 60!) so of course I had to try to ride! He was great but started flipping his head part way through, so we just walked and trotted a tiny bit, and then lunged in the round pen at all three gaits. I suspect that his ear mites/ticks/whatever-creepy-crawlies are back. We treated him for them about a month ago, and in my crazy researching at the time I learned that mites can lay eggs that hatch in about a month, so we'll re-treat with the stuff the vet recommended tomorrow, and hopefully he'll be A-OK again.

Met another person at the barn, which was exciting! Lol, folks here are pretty mind-their-own-business kinds of people, which is fine with me, but it doesn't lead to a lot of friends made quickly. It doesn't help that when people ask "So what do you do?" my answer is pretty much, "Um, well, we walk...and trot...sometimes we canter--and regret it immediately, and don't do it again for a week..."

Haha. In touch with Coach about the canter--he has a lovely free-lunge canter, but under saddle he dives down and powers along on the forehand--and she suggested some round pen work to help him learn to carry himself properly without me on board first. So along with the hill work, integrating that.

Going to freeze ourselves solid again the first part of this week; I keep hoping that each single-digit low will be the last one! :-/

Defender 1680D High Neck Turnout Sheet Review

So back in the beginning of December River got a new blanket. It was Defender brand--a brand I'd never heard of--and thus I promised a review when I learned how they'd wear! So, I bring you:

Defender 1680D High Neck Turnout Sheet Review!

 

How it looked when I got it!

I chose this blanket because:

• It was cheap! I think I paid around $70-$80 dollars for it on State Line Tack! I didn't know how much abuse River would put into it and didn't want to buy an expensive blanket only to have him destroy it in a few weeks.
• It was one of only a few 1680-denier turnout sheets I could find. With a horse on 24/7 turnout, toughness is important!
• It has shoulder gussets and is nylon lined to help reduce rubbing
• Has all the other important things: clips to attach a hood if needed, belly straps, leg straps, removable tail flap, open front snap closure, and a fleece wither.
• I liked the idea of the higher neck to help keep River dry.
• The color contrast was nice ;)

So River's been wearing it most of the time (usually with a liner) for going on two months now, and this is what I think so far:

• Great: The material and seams are holding up GREAT. I wasn't sure what to expect for the price, but it doesn't have so much as a scratch, even with the transition between barns and the Mighty Evil Donkey at River's last barn.
• Good: It fits big, but isn't really a high-neck--more of what I've seen called a "Euro cut," with extra drop on the sides and a higher neck. I like this, but some people might not. I ordered down a size for River and am happy with the fit.
• Also Good: It's super waterproof! We'll have to see how it does with re-waterproofing, though...
• Bad: The snaps and hardware don't seem to be the best quality. I replaced the top front snap within a week. The other hardware is holding up so far, though. 

Overall: 4/5 stars
 
Overall I'm happy with this blanket--for the price, I really don't think it can be beaten. Depending on how it re-waterproofs, though, I might choose a different option for the midweight I hope to get him for next winter (these cold snaps have me a bit worried!). And if you don't like to replace snaps, you won't want it. But, if you're looking for a cheap blanket with good coverage and a tough exterior, you might want to look into this blanket!

How it looks now!

[Somewhat] Wordless Wednesday

Zzzzzz......

Well she's early today...

I guess I could be bothered to take a few steps...

FEEDZ MEEE NOOWW I WILL DIEEE

Chilly day (I want to move to Florida!), but he was toasty warm in the sun. Trail walk, because I left my saddle at home and didn't have the guts to jump on bareback. It barely touched freezing anyway, so we weren't going to do anything amazing. Nice relaxed afternoon.

Game Plan

So much lined up I don't know where to start, lol!

School is crazy this semester--we are heading into intensive practicum time so lots of reading and lots of field experience--but fortunately still pony time too!


River is having some issues with the new barn building itself. It's rather small compared to our old building (low ceilings, narrower aisles, and smaller stalls) and as he's a big horse, and rather claustrophobic, and prone to being a [big] fire-breathing dragon when he gets claustrophobic, that poses some problems. We had a Very Bad Night trying to feed him Monday evening, but nobody was physically hurt and now that's been temporarily resolved by feeding him outside--he can eat in the dark, and I can mostly groom him and switch blankets in the dark, so no biggy really. I plan to reintroduce the inside of the barn slowly and hopefully he'll learn to see it as a good place and be okay in there.


We have a game plan now, though! It goes somewhat as follows (my game plans are very flexible):

1. Hill work 2-3 days a week on the lunge or under saddle

Right outside the back gate to River's pasture!

You can't see it as well in this pic, but this is an awesome pasture for hill work--some gentle slopes and some steeper ones, plenty of room to adjust and play with. I noticed improvement in River's way of going and ability to do more balanced transitions even with the intermittent hill work we did at the old barn, so I hope that with regular work on the hills he'll get even better!

2. Ride Sunday-Wednesday-Friday at least. 

I would love to ride more, and maybe we will (we have an arena with lights now, after all!), but those three days are definites. Saturday and Tuesday are River's days off from formal exercise/riding, but we might go on a quick bareback trail ride or something on Saturday also, if it's a nice day and we're in the mood. We're not going to do anything fantastical yet, just work on rhythm and relaxation in our forward gait (probably start with trot), and my position. River is great at moving forward, but he doesn't "get" rhythm or relaxation and has had very little serious under-saddle work from what I've learned, so we need to start with baby stuff. :)

3. Stretches, Massage, & Foot Upkeep

Just continuing to try to keep him at the best he can be. :)

4. First schooling show this spring/summer?

Our new barn doesn't have their event schedule up yet, but I'm eagerly awaiting it to see what we might be able to go for. Planning to do some little flat classes and maybe a w/t hunter hack class for his first show experience, depending on what he's ready for. I'll have to see how his under-saddle work is coming before I can set any goals for end-of-year, but we'll see!


And for me:

1. Work out routine every other day--I have a good one I've figured out, just need to stick to it!
2. Stretch routine every day I don't work out
3. Walking/running/hiking would be great, just can't figure out where to put it in......

So that's our game plan as of now--hopefully it won't have to change drastically this year! 

We Rode!

Just a quick post to say I unburied myself long enough to go and ride yesterday afternoon!

We rode in the covered arena and River was great. His typical rather-strung-out and motorcycl-y self--he felt like a barrel horse going around the corners at times, even just at trot--but great. We had several hard stares at the calves in the next-door pen, but gradually he got more comfortable with them. We went over a couple ground poles and he was very careful, much to my surprise, and didn't so much as brush them. Maybe he'll make a jumper yet! Of course, first we have to get him a bit more balanced in himself...

I, on the other hand, have gotten horribly out of shape. Even posting for very long made me tired/sore! But that's going to be fixed soon, with more regular riding and working out.

Wishing you all good rides as the weather warms up! :)

Settling In

Long post, but lots of pictures!

River's continuing to settle in just fine. Yesterday went to feed him, he wouldn't get a drink, but brought him in and after a mild fit about the calves he settled to eating. Hope his shoulder guard gets here soon; the rubs aren't getting worse per say, but they are expanding despite my daily efforts to prevent it, and I don't want to have a hairless horse! :(

Then we went out and walked around and took some pictures: they aren't splendid but they get the idea across!

Inside the boarders' barn. River doesn't have a private stall but they are available if we need them.

From the door to the boarders' barn: looking toward the covered arena

Inside the covered!

Jump field (currently being grazed)

Other jump field and "track" outdoor arena

Stalls by the covered arena, and a chicken!

It was very cold and frosty!

River exploring the covered arena

River was very alert and nervous and had a bit of the fire-breathing-dragon side out, but listened well. We went in the covered arena (only place that didn't have frozen footing!) and did a bit of groundwork, since no one else was riding, just turns on the forehand and hindquarters, and backing up. That really helped him focus and relax, and I took him back out.

Today I went out to get him (he still comes when I call!) and was thrilled to find out that someone had given my horse all his brain back! He was completely calm and relaxed and his normal self again. I was impressed--only been three days!

I fed him outside and he was very good, despite kids screaming in the background, and a little friend who joined us...

Look closely--see anything unusual?

We had a chicken clean-up crew! River was not phased at all.

 He did inform me, however, that I need to start feeding him on a tarp:

Expressing his displeasure that there was some sand that had gotten in his food...

Looking down toward the barns from the back corner of his field

Looking into his field

 

Barns and arena from the back side

Normally I would say we'd be riding by the first part of the week, but it's supposed to get freezing cold (FOUR degrees by Monday night, not counting wind chill--we're all going to die! That's the coldest it's been in seven years down here!), so I don't plan on riding till Wednesday at least, unless I slip in a quick jaunt tomorrow.

We Moved!!

Yep, to start off the new year, we moved barns today!

Stolen from their website, which I would give you but I don't want random creepers stalking me...lol!

The new place has a small XC course, a covered arena with footing, two outside jump arenas, a grass dressage arena, a round pen, a little outside "track," miles of trails, and lots of hay! Plus it's only 3.5 miles from my house, and even closer to school! SO excited! I've been on the list for it since I got River in June; finally a spot opened up on the first of the year, and I was blessed enough to actually have the money to afford it!! :D

So I got over to our old barn early today to get River. It's really a mixed bag of emotions, because I will miss the people at our old barn so much. It was so small and friendly and you knew everybody. At the new barn there are probably 40-odd boarder horses, plus the lesson horses, so you're not going to be good friends with everyone. But I left on good terms with everyone at our old place, so that is a good feeling. :)

River spent a lot of time doing this as we were waiting for the trailer:

MOOOM I WANTZ TREATZ

Nomnomnom extra hay!!

He got on with just a tiny bit of coaxing, rode well, was reluctant to get off as it's a step-down trailer but did get off eventually. Was very nervous but very good! Turned him out and it seems his pasture buddies are a pretty relaxed bunch--so nice. Saw a couple half-hearted kicks but that was about all. :)

The most terrifying thing about the new place, as far as River is concerned, is the calves.

I don't care for most cows, but calves are cute!

The new place is more of a "farm" atmosphere in addition to a boarding barn, and they have maybe half a dozen calves, plus four smaller ones that live in two stalls in the barn--two of which, may I add, set up a terrific racket whenever they hear or see people. I'm pretty sure River's never seen any kind of cow and the calves freaked him out, lol. He saw them through his stall window and then couldn't do much but just stand and stare at them and be so tense he was practically shaking for minutes on end! Poor fellow.

Eventually he did calm down enough to turn his back on the horse-eating calves, eat his supper (with frequent glances over his shoulder to make sure those calves weren't going to get him), and then go out and hand-graze some--we met one of my old instructors and chatted with her, did a tiny bit of groundwork, ate grass (well River ate grass), and then I turned him back out to eat from his piles and piles of hay.

Told him that all horses should be used to cows (he hasn't even met the chickens yet!), and all the activity and unusual things here would be good for his brain. I'm not sure he agrees... ;)

So we'll be able to ride in almost all weather now, and we have plenty of jumps to play with when we choose to start that, as well as plenty of flatwork opportunities! I'm going to give River several days to settle in and then we'll hopefully start riding! In the meantime I'll see if I can get my own pictures to share with you all! :)

2014: Year of the Horse!

I think it's pretty cool that River's and my first full calendar year together is the Chinese Year of the Horse! :)

from Pinterest

For this year's riding, I have one major goal:

 

Have riding be a low-pressure (generally) activity: make it about having fun and learning something, and giving River the best activities/rides I can

If that sounds like we won't be going to shows or really working on anything, have no fear: There are big changes in the works that should lead to us actually attending some events, taking semi-regular lessons, and improving our horsemanship greatly this year! (Stay tuned!)

Teaser pic! :)

But I don't do well under pressure, and therefore neither do my horses. River especially will get very stubborn and resistant if you put a lot of pressure on him and don't respect what he wants to do of a given moment. So my focus needs to be on having fun and learning, for both of us. And that's what it's gonna be! Horses aren't my job at this time, and they're too expensive and time-consuming for me not to (usually) enjoy myself and my Buddy. :)


Happy 2014, everybody! We'll be back tomorrow (hopefully) with (hopefully) exciting updates! :)