08Aug 2014 by myexracer

Circe’s first show

Life with Circe, OTTB, Training
[caption id="attachment_1474" align="alignleft" width="300"] Jump 2, scary blue blocks![/caption] A short hack away from my barn is Covered Bridge Farm. A really nice private barn that has recently put up a nice ring with lights and everything. They have been putting on some casual schooling jumper shows and Sammy thought she'd take Circe to her first show as one was coming up. Awesome! The better half got off work early to watch (evening show) and i brought my camera, of course i did. The ring was really nice. Good footing, lights for night time riding, and a 2 story observation room! The ring was divided in two (cuz its huge) they had a course set up on one half and two warm up jumps on the opposite side. It looked…
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04Aug 2014 by myexracer

Plugging along

Barn tales, Training
[caption id="attachment_1466" align="alignleft" width="200"] The better half and the event horse[/caption] Everything is plugging along according to plan. The horses are doing well, progressing and thriving. Ive been getting plenty of ride time on both horses and my confidence on both improves daily. My better half is taking lessons every week on my trainers event horse (an un-raced TB) and getting better with each ride, its really nice to see him figuring the whole thing out. I on the other had need improvement. Besides being out of riding shape it seems i'm posting from my hands. Thats not something i've done before. I'm going to chalk it up to me having had too much time off regular riding and my unfitness. I'm using my hands for balance.. bad! Michelle was…
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02Aug 2014 by myexracer

Half week in review, the DERP edition

Barn tales, Life with Circe, Life with Jezebel
[caption id="attachment_1454" align="alignleft" width="300"] horse politics[/caption] Wednesday: Michelle's day to ride and it was a but of a hectic day for me. The better half needed a new helmet my Troxel which he had been riding in was not working anymore for him and my Tipperary didn't fit quite right so we went to Dover at 10am mind you and spent all the money. He got a One K (its pretty awesome) Then a mad dash to get to the barn by noon and meet up with Tina and Sammy. Tina is still thinking about selling Wasabi and i thought hooking her up with Sammy to this end was a good idea. So varoom the the barn we raced and Michelle was already riding Jez in the upper ring. I…
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27Jul 2014 by myexracer

Back in the saddle again

Barn tales, Life with Jezebel, OTTB
[caption id="attachment_1439" align="alignleft" width="225"] Riding Jezebel[/caption] I've been riding Circe but i haven't been riding Jezebel. After she out me  on the ground last Feb and was acting out so badly i gave her the rest of the winter off to figure out what her deal was. Ulcers.. hind and gastric was the diagnosis and since that time we've teated the ulcers and moved twice Jez is back in steady work with both Sammy and Michelle. Since i've moved to the fancy eventing barn I've been on her one time. After Michelle rode i cooled her out and was super nervous. Which pissed me off, i haven been nervous like THAT with her before. As a result i've been sticking with Circe working on building my stamina (which sucks) after…
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17Jul 2014 by myexracer

Magic

Life with Jezebel, OTTB, Vet
[caption id="attachment_1412" align="alignleft" width="225"] Lead rope fun waiting on the Doc[/caption] Since Miss Jezebel is back in work 4 days a week i wanted to have Dr Jim come out and give her the once over. Hes the chiro, acupuncture, vet, bio-mechanic guy i had come out and and who diagnosed her with the ulcers and all that jazz back in March. The idea is I want to be sure that any tude i get from Jez is in the mind and not the body. Its not fair to get after a horse too hard who's in pain. So i had Dr Jim come out. I was lucky he has other clients at my facility (of course he does its a high performance barn and hes the best) So I…
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14Jul 2014 by myexracer

Totally Thoroughbred horse show

Off Farm, OTTB
[caption id="attachment_1398" align="alignleft" width="200"] First place in hand geldings[/caption] It was going to be hot out but i was determined to go watch the Totally Thoroughbred horse show which is in its 3rd year and held at Plimlico Racetrack. Hundreds of OTTB's in classes from lead-line to jumpers held at a race track. What could go wrong? Heh. First off this is a big show with lots of entries, so many that they have to split the classes and they are still huge. Novice hunters over fences at 2'6" went on for 2 hours at least just to get though all the horses entered. Lots of really great looking OTTBs in all stages of retirement from the horses in their teens who have been in new careers for over 10…
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12Jul 2014 by myexracer

Jumping beans!

Life with Circe, Life with Jezebel, OTTB, Training
[caption id="attachment_1387" align="alignleft" width="300"] Jump![/caption] Jump training has started. Circe was up first with Michelle on board. After her normal flat work, Michelle decided to take Circe over a few cross rails and a couple of little jumps to see how she did. Circe loves to jump! Who knew!? Shes a careful jumper with scope to go higher then the little baby jumps shes going over now and she tucks her front legs up underneath her. Every single time her ears were perked forward and she never refused anything. It looked like she was having a good time. I really didn't expect to be able to start this work with her this quickly, so of course i'm tickled pink. Especially because she really seems to be having fun. I'm consistently…
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01Jul 2014 by myexracer

One month in

Life with Circe, Life with Jezebel, OTTB
[caption id="attachment_1382" align="alignleft" width="200"] Pink Hat![/caption] Everything is coming together. The horses are loving the new place and so am I. Its quiet and beautiful and even though there are quite a few horses on the property, because its so big it feels much more quiet. A month in and they are both really doing well. Both ponies are being ridden in the upper ring, the lower ring and the indoor as well as out into the woods and on the bridle paths around the 100 acre property. I think the only ring we haven't used yet is the dressage ring. Circe even has a new friend, trainer number two's 8 year old daughter. Her and Circe are total pals and have a thing going. The 8 year old even…
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