training – My Ex Racers

26Jun 2017 by myexracer

I never write anymore

Barn tales, OTTB

I guess I lost interest in whole blogging thing but not in my ponies. Since I've brought everyone home I've been just too busy and my interests have gone to other places then keeping the update on my horses lives. Looks like the last time I wrote a blog post when was Stutz AKA Toots came to rehab with me. She's been here with me for over a year and a half, closer to two years and is now ready to go back to After the Races for training. Which is really very bittersweet for me because I love her like she's my own horse. I really think she deserves her own person who will love her and lavish her with attention. That's been the goal along to get her sound…

07Dec 2014 by myexracer

The days of winter

Barn tales, Life with Circe, OTTB

[caption id="attachment_1695" align="alignleft" width="200"] Rep and the better half before the bad eyeball[/caption] Stuff has been happening even things besides me bitching about the cold a tradition with me as soon as it gets below 40 on a regular basis. Interesting stuff, boring stuff and of course the daily grind stuff. Rep was hauled back up to New Bolton for his eyeball recheck and the results were giant big two thumbs up! He is healing great and that makes me very happy. My better half is happy too because hes been unmounted since Rep's eye took a turn for the worse right when they were of course really doing well cantering around and doing walk trot transitions and poles. In a couple weeks Rep can get back into work and…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

24Sep 2014 by myexracer

Get out ya seat and jump around!

Life with Jezebel, OTTB, Training

[caption id="attachment_1562" align="alignleft" width="300"] Jump Jez Jump![/caption] Jezebel is back into work. Shes still being treated for ulcers and I'm still in the process of devising an ulcer maintenance plan for her but she's feeling much better and is ridable. Both Michelle and Sammy have taken her on successful rides on the flat. I even popped on her after Michelle one day because she was being a super clam and listening pony. I felt awkward and dorkish. That's what not being able to ride does to ya. I'll get better the more i get on her. She was doing so well with her rides on the flat that Sammy decided Jez could have a jump day. [caption id="attachment_1563" align="aligncenter" width="864"] Small cross rail[/caption] She was super happy to be jumping.…

10Sep 2014 by myexracer

The week in review

Barn tales, Life with Circe, Life with Jezebel, OTTB

[caption id="attachment_1540" align="alignleft" width="200"] Heath Ryan, Moe and his rider[/caption] The week has been long and hot and not a ton is going on. Both ponies are still out of work. Jezebel is still being treated for ulcers, shes not as reactive when palpated and is much less cranky in general. Sammy did take her on a 20 min how is she feeling ride and she was mostly okay. A little bit of pain anticipation was evident but that should fade with successful rides. A few more days for her and she should be able to get back into work. Circe is a lot less lame. I sent video of her trotting right, left and straight lines to my farrier who assured me she was better then i thought she…

28Aug 2014 by myexracer

Jezebel tried to kill me

Barn tales, Life with Jezebel, OTTB, Training

[caption id="attachment_1513" align="alignleft" width="300"] Bad Bucking Bronco [/caption] Well not really but thats what i'm calling it. The better half was taking his lesson my my trainers event horse and i tacked up the Bo and was going to ride her for the second half of his lesson then Sammy was going to get on Jez. She had been kept in the night before to keep Circe company because i'm dealing with lameness issues with her (post to come about that once a definitive diagnosis is had) so JezaBo was a little up but not to bad. The better half was riding in the lower gymnastics ring looking really good by the way, he was trotting over poles and getting the lazy Rep to move forward. Sammy was explaining to…