31Oct 2014 by myexracer

Eric Smiley Clinic

Life with Jezebel, OTTB, Training
[caption id="attachment_1634" align="alignleft" width="300"] Eric Smiley, Jezebel & Sammy[/caption] Eric Smiley was coming to town. He's a very sought after clinician and also an Olympian. I just missed him last  spring when he was teaching in this area  and really none of my horses would have been prepared for a clinic at that level last spring anyways. I personally think its important to be prepared. To make sure your not wasting anyones time (your instructor) or your hard earned money as these clinics are not exactly cheap. Sammy decided to ride Jezebel both days in two jump lessons. One was private the other was a semi private. Being as the clinics were being held at my farm i had the opportunity to audit sans big piles of cash both flat…
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28Oct 2014 by myexracer

Heres to fall

Barn tales
[caption id="attachment_1630" align="alignleft" width="300"] Michelle and Jezebel[/caption] The leaves are changing big time around here. The colors are rich, warm and glowing. I better enjoy it while i can because soon enough the leaves will all drop off the tress and the cold will set in and winter will be upon me. Winter my least favorite of all seasons. I grew up and lived most my life in southern California where winter meant a light sweater and 65 degrees. So you had to put the heat on with the top down on your car. I had never ridden in an indoor until i moved to MD where an indoor in winter is a really nice thing to have. Thankfully this winter i have one, last i did not. So heres…
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23Oct 2014 by myexracer

Fall with Jez

Barn tales, Life with Jezebel, OTTB, Training
[caption id="attachment_1624" align="alignleft" width="200"] Its fall the leaves are turning[/caption] Jez is doing great, she loves her new job... Jumping bean. Shes had some really great rides with both Michelle and Sammy. I get great feedback on her progress all the time. Shes one pretty amazing horse. On this day the video was shot we were sharing the ring with another rider who was jumping 3.3+ so we had to splint up jump runs as Jez was jumping 2.6 (ish) There were 3 of us n the ground acting as ring crew. It was good for Jezebel to have to stand quietly and wait for the other horse to do its run. She did really well, was very patient and was an all around happy pony. She has a lot…
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13Oct 2014 by myexracer

Party time

Barn tales
[caption id="attachment_1614" align="alignleft" width="200"] The best barn poocher ever[/caption] My barn hosted a kids Halloween party. Many kids had an awesome time. My trainers 8 year old daughter and 3 year old son both were the party hosts for this barn event. Many kids from their schools came to enjoy the day, carve scary pumpkins, bob for tasty apples (then feed them to the horses), hit a candy filled piñata. There was food, drink and cupcakes. A good time was had by all. It was raining out so everyone had to be inside the barn, which was filled with scary music and impromptu dance party and lots and lots of laughter. The barn was decorated, the dog was dressed up and all survived to tell the tale. [caption id="attachment_1611" align="aligncenter"…
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10Oct 2014 by myexracer

Good news

Life with Circe, Vet
[caption id="attachment_1607" align="alignleft" width="200"] First ride back[/caption] Circe is Lyme negative! Not just a little negative but super negative. The test from Cornell finally came back. Thats good news for Circe. However it still doesn't explain the lameness other then sole bruising which is just to in the wind of a diagnosis for me. Were in the second cycle of her shoeing and shes out of the corrective wedge on the right. We didn't shoe all around but i'm keeping an eagle eye on her in case we have to go that way. So far shes sound. Circe is beginning work again. Very, very slowly. Were started with 15-20 minutes of walking only. No circles. She's calm, happy and looks good. Trot sets are being added, still no circles for…
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08Oct 2014 by myexracer

Training day: Grids

Life with Jezebel, OTTB, Training
[caption id="attachment_1598" align="alignright" width="300"] Major grid![/caption] Grid work its now on the agenda for Miss Jeza-bobo. She did great on her first day. She figures out whats being asked of her after just one or sometimes two shots at it. The grid was a tough one, very challenging. Sammy started with with trotting though, poles down. Once she understood the layout of the grid  we added jumps one at a time. She jumped the grid like a champ! http://youtu.be/9nCH20hm0Oo [caption id="attachment_1599" align="alignleft" width="300"] Skinny[/caption] She wasn't so sure of the skinny though. That makes sense as with a skinny you have to remain straight and Jez is still wiggly sometimes as evidenced by her second run at the grid (on the video above) Jez was asked to acknowledge the skinny…
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06Oct 2014 by myexracer

Learning by listening

Life with Jezebel, OTTB, Training
[caption id="attachment_1591" align="alignleft" width="300"] Weee![/caption] Jezebel is back in full work, shes finished her round of ulcer medication and shes on a maintenance program. Theres going to be a little trial and error for that but a plan is in the works to control her ulcers. Seems Jez is just a thinker or rather an over thinker she must get that from me. She's been doing well both on the flat and over jumps at home so it was time to school off property. Step one, ride over to a local barn and school in their jump ring. Which is exactly what happened. Sammy rode Jez to Covered bridge (I drove over) it's on the far side of our farm and its where Circe did her first schooling Jumper show…
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03Oct 2014 by myexracer

Horze Reflex Stirrups – Review

Review
[caption id="attachment_1581" align="alignleft" width="225"] Awesome![/caption] When the good folks over at Horze contacted me to review their products I was thrilled! I also had two sound horses who were going really well. Yippy! By the time the products arrived I had two horses out of work. One with ulcers and one with still unidentified issues (come on Cornell give me my test results!) That made reviewing products quite the challenge. Luckily one was Horze No Turn Bell Boots. So I was able to use that product and put that review up but was forced to wait out the review for the Horze Reflex Stirrups as no horse was ridable enough to have a use for stirrups. Eventually Miss Jez got back into work but I'm only sorta riding her and…
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