21Aug 2014 by myexracer

Wardaca Horse Trials

Barn tales
[caption id="attachment_1492" align="alignleft" width="200"] Heading out to the X country course[/caption] I went to the horse trials at Wardaca. These are rated trails and it was a lot of fun. Wardaca is where my better half first started taking lessons. They have a lot of land including a big cross country course. In fact they do cross country schooling there. One of the Jr riders at my barn was going to be moving up to training level on Sunday and i went down to cheer her on and to take a few snaps. She was riding Brilliant Truth a sassy  red-headed mare who is known around the farm as Baby. They kicked ass in dressage, no faults on cross country but had a couple unlucky rails in stadium that took…
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14Aug 2014 by myexracer

Sidelined

Barn tales, Life with Circe, Life with Jezebel, OTTB
[caption id="attachment_1483" align="alignleft" width="200"] Not broken[/caption] Circe has a stone bruise. Shes getting some time off and I'm crossing my fingers it doesn't turn into an abscess. Time will tell. The redhead has thin soles and this isn't the first time shes had a bruise. I'm using Durasole her feets (i swear by the stuff), giving her some time off and crossing my fingers. Thats pretty much the plan. Oh I gave her some Bute first day just because i don't want her tootsies hurting her to bad. While she has time off Jezebel is being ridden everyday. Perfect example of why two horses is a good thing, when ones broken.... Jezebel is starting to look really good. Her excess weight is coming off and shes starting to muscle up.…
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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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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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19Jun 2014 by myexracer

Upper barn adventure

Life with Circe, Life with Jezebel, OTTB, Training
[caption id="attachment_1369" align="alignleft" width="300"] Dusty and hot[/caption] The text I got was glowing Sammy (new trainer) rode both girls and they both did great. Circe's didn't call out to the other horses (a habit were working on to stop) and after her work in the indoor arena she was ridden around the property. That means around the pond, to the upper barn and back to her own barn. Miss Jezebel was taken into the woods for a hack and behaved! Yes, Jez has been on the trail before but never alone and its been a really long time. I was so thrilled to hear of their progress i could barely contain myself. [caption id="attachment_1370" align="alignright" width="200"] Happy pony[/caption] Next up Michelle. Since Sammy is pushing the pony envelope a little…
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16Jun 2014 by myexracer

How it all works

Life with Circe, Life with Jezebel, OTTB, Training
[caption id="attachment_1363" align="alignleft" width="300"] View from the road[/caption] The girls are being ridden all the time now. They have an actual schedule. It has only been half a month and 2 little weeks into the move the girls are digging in and getting to work. Sunday: Michelle - Monday: Me - Tuesday: Sammy - Wednesday: Michelle  - Thursday: Me - Friday: Sammy - Saturday: Me Only I'm not really riding both yet. Ground work... yes but getting back in the saddle will be a little bit of a work up to it thing for me. I am cooling out Circe after her rides with Michelle and riding her back to the barn this week and then next i'll start riding her on my own. Jez is being re-started really slowly…
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