Not-So-Speedy Dressage

Five MORE Random Things?

5/22/2020

I know, right?! But sometimes, it really is the seemingly random little things that can either annoy us half to death or give us a reason to smile. And when we put all of those smile-worthy things together, we realize that even in the midst of stormy waters, also known as a pandemic, there really are plenty of reasons to be happy. Here are my five things.

Happy Thing #1 - Yesterday morning, as I was bringing the dogs back after a very short walk, I found this amazing sign nestled in my front yard. I didn't realize how much I needed a good thing from the outside world. A positive statement from someone I am not married to, related to, or bound to via genetic material. Knowing that people outside of my immediate circle care about me and are thinking about me, was as good as any bear hug, something I am sorely missing.

Happy Thing #2 - While this might seem like a shameless plug, it's really something I am just happy to be doing. The California Dressage Society (CDS) chapter that I both belong to and serve on as Vice-Chair, Tehachapi Mountain Chapter (TMC), has worked really hard to get ourselves a bit better known here in Kern County and beyond. We've launched a Facebook page (Like and Follow us!) and a new website, and now, we have a commemorative t-shirt for sale. This puts a smile on my face because it's the product of a group of wonderful ladies all trying to serve the equestrian community. And, they've done it in a way that promotes inclusivity, fairness, and accessibility.

Happy Thing #3 - Native, and definitely ubiquitous in Kern County, are Cottonwood Trees; they truly are everywhere. In the spring, the "cotton" floats in the air and piles up beneath the trees. If you didn't know better, it might look like snow. It also looks like Speedy's shedding winter coat. After a good roll, there is always a pile of white hair littering the ground. Sometimes it's hard to tell the two mounds of white apart. Maybe Speedy would stay cleaner if he rolled in the white cotton?

Happy Thing #4 - generous ranch owners. I really cannot express the extent of my gratitude at having landed at a ranch where the horses' health and well-being are of the highest importance. I know my horses aren't the easiest to care for. Speedy requires daily medication, and he's a picky eater who frequently eats the yummiest parts of the hay while discarding those pieces he finds less palatable. Never mind that every other horse on the ranch gobbles up every last morsel. The ranch owner accommodates his picky palate and tosses his "leftovers" to the other horses.

While Izzy isn't nearly as picky, he does seem to have a bottomless stomach which the ranch owner continually tries to fill. This mound of hay is what's left over from his breakfast. If he happens to eat it all by lunch time, which happens with some frequency, she always gives him more so that he's never without hay. Both of my boys are lucky to live with someone who cares for them as if they were her own.

Happy Thing #5 - I don't think I even need to explain why this makes me smile, but I will. This horse just charms me to pieces. You can see how the Bedouins might truly have welcomed the Arabians into their tents. I don't know if those stories are true or not, but Speedy says they are. He knows who in his tribe, and he knows he has the run of the place. There is no doorway through which he is not welcome - in his mind anyway. Every once in a while, I do need to shush him outside where he is decidedly safer. All I need is for him to knock over the broom or that pile of buckets - oh, the chaos that would ensue!

I hope you are finding random reasons to be happy, or at least moments in the day when you are able to forget about all the chaos that we're experiencing. Maybe we all need to take a moment to "back out of our own feed rooms" and go for a walk. Happy Friday!

See, right there is a reason to smile!

Torn ACL?

5/21/2020

Back in January, Yellow Dog suffered from a patellar luxation, a condition where the kneecap slides out of position. You can read about it here. We medicated her as recommended by the vet, and the issue was resolved. Or so we thought.

Tobias on the left, Brienne of Tarth on the right. AKA Yellow Dog.

Last week, out of nowhere, Yellow dog started to limp, hard, on the same leg. Her left hind was nearly nonfunctioning. She can sort of bear weight on it, but not for long. She started compensating, which we know is a bad thing, by pogo-sticking off her other hind leg. She doesn't appear to be in pain per se - she runs and plays, although we're trying to keep that to a minimum, but it's obviously uncomfortable to bear weight on it.

From better days.

We took her to see the vet on Monday morning. That deserves its own post, but here's a quick explanation of what that looks like. California is still on a pretty tight lockdown which means pet owners can't go into the office. A technician comes to your vehicle, takes down your information, and then the animal is taken into the clinic. Later, as you wait in the parking lot, the doctor calls and discusses what might be wrong.

Another better day.

Dr. Thurman has been our vet for more than eight years, since Tobias was just a baby. When we brought Tobias home, we didn't know it, but Parvo was in his future. With Dr. Thurman's help, Tobias recovered, not a usual outcome with Parvo, and Dr. Thurman has been our vet ever since.

We've built a good relationship with Dr. Thurman. He knows us well, and we trust his diagnoses. After examining Yellow Dog, he reported that her ACL has a small tear. Without x-rays, he couldn't say how severe it was, but in his opinion, surgery is most likely in order. He said that he could do x-rays, but he didn't want to waste our money if we were taking her to a surgeon because the surgeon would need to do his own x-rays.

I really appreciated Dr. Thurman's honesty and desire to spare us any added expense. He gave us a referral to Vetsurg, a facility that specializes in orthopedic surgery for pets. They're in Ventura however, which is a two-hour drive. It's doable though. I was able to make an appointment for June 1, their first available appointment, which is just two weeks away.

An overload of cuteness.

Since we were already going to the vet, I took Tobias as well as both dogs were nearly due for their regular vaccines anyway. Since it's a 30 - 40 minute drive to Thurman Veterinary Center, they understood why I didn't want to go back the following week for just for a shot; they went ahead and did all the vaccines.

Some things never change.

While we were there, we discussed all of the little things we were also dealing with. Tobias had hot spots under his neck so he needed more spray and medicated shampoo (I was running really low). And since one of the spots was still pretty active, Dr. Thurman prescribed a round of antibiotics.

It's a complicated system - dog food and treat, MovoFlex chews, Omeprazole and pills stuffed in a hotdog bite. Also in the routine is Tobias's spray.

To help Yellow Dog feel more comfortable, Dr. Thurman prescribed a painkiller/anti-inflammatory. Both dogs are also on a daily MovoFlex chew, which Dr. Thurman was happy to hear about. And finally, since both dogs have the most delicate stomaches I've ever seen, someone is barfing at least once a week, we put them both on Omeprazole about six weeks ago. We've only had one barfing incident since, and it was when we brought Yellow Dog home from the vet and fed her dinner. She was pretty stressed by the visit, so I wasn't too terribly surprised.

Dr. Thurman agreed that omeprazole was a good option, but we could also switch to the cheaper Pepcid, especially if they were feeling fine. Pepcid reduces the amount of acid in the stomach while Omeprazole does that while also helping to heal damage to the stomach and prevents ulcers. Since both dogs are on medication, we'll stick with the omeprazole. Dr. Thurman agreed.

Way back in time - Tobias had no gray hair, and Yellow Dog was just a puddle of a puppy.

So now, we try to keep a wildly energetic four-year old lab quiet for the next few weeks. The worst case scenario is that she needs one of the more costly and invasive surgeries; there are least three different kinds ranging from $1500 to upwards of $4500. Given that she weighs a lot, around 65 pounds, and is young and active, we're probably looking at the most costly surgery.

This is a very difficult conversation to have, but my husband and I considered all of the factors: her age, her quality of life, her prognosis, and of course, the cost. It helps that our vacation for this summer has been cancelled due to COVID-19, so what we would have spent traveling is now available for surgery.

We want her to be back to doing this.

For now, we'll try to keep Yellow dog quiet as we wait for the appointment. There isn't much else we can do until we find out how damaged the cruciate ligament is. Once the surgeon has a chance to examine her and do a full work up, we'll know what our options are.

Fingers crossed.

Pushing Him Up to the Bit and Other Stuff

5/20/2020

Izzy and I had another lesson the other day with Chemaine Hurtado, owner and trainer at Symphony Dressage Stables. Because Izzy is maybe too relaxed at home, I've been taking him to my friend Amy's place so that we can see what it's like to work away from home even when you're nervous. And by you I mean Izzy.

From the very beginning of the lesson he was willing to work.

When we were there a few weeks ago, I had to switch out his snaffle for my correction bit, borrow some longer spurs from Amy, and then Chemaine hazed him with the whip when he refused to go forward. For this visit, I started with the big guns - correction bit, whip, and long spurs. I needed him to know from the first instant that if he decided to think for himself, I would be there with an immediate correction. He thought about trying to tell me no, but a few jabs with the spurs stopped any jackassery.

It was a small spook and he got over it very quickly.

Aside from a little tension, from the very beginning of the lesson his brain was engaged, and he was willing to work.

Riding two very different horses has given me a much better education than if I had had only Speedy to ride. Where Speedy wants to be heavy in my hand with his hind end trailing behind, Izzy offers me the opposite problem. He's too light in my hand, and he gets stuck without being able to drive forward. These last few months have been about getting Izzy to reach for the bit as he stretches and rounds his topline.

It's not a medium trot yet, but it's getting bigger.

In every movement that we did, from shoulder-in to half pass to a trot lengthening, it was always the same: push him to the outside rein, let him stretch down, and then drive him forward again. Izzy is so tentative about connecting with the bit, that I almost have to always be thinking about shoulder-in to put him on the outside rein. Once he takes the bit, then I can push him forward.

Besides working on the connection to the bit, we played around with the flying change. I can sort of, almost, was that it? do a change on Izzy. In just a few short weeks he has learned that what I am doing up there is an aid. Now he's trying to figure out the answer.

"I think I got it!"

He doesn't quite have it yet, but he knows that I am asking for something.

There are so many ways to teach flying changes. All it took for Speedy was to head into a corner on a counter canter; he hated that. He gave me a clean change the first time I asked. Izzy is far more talented, but he's a lot less confident. We've tried asking him in the corner, on a circle, going across the diagonal, but he doesn't quite trust that he can or should change leads. Yet.

All that counter cantering has improved his true canter.

Chemaine had me try another method for getting a cleaner change. Instead of just counter cantering across the diagonal, like you do in Third Level, she had me leg yield across the diagonal in counter canter. This really forces the new inside hind to step underneath. It took a few tries to get Izzy to cooperate, and I've been working on it since, but it helped him understand what I am asking for. We finally got a change while still cantering, even if it was a little wonky.

It's not that I need the flying change for any particular reason. I am really asking for it because the harder the question I ask, the more focused that Izzy becomes. And frankly, he does need to learn it. His counter canter is confirmed, and he can even pick it up on a circle. I don't plan to work on the changes every time I ride, I don't work on them with Speedy every day either, but it's time to start introducing them.

Izzy has so much natural talent. He can do any of the movements that I ask for. His problem isn't a lack of fitness or muscle; it's a lack of confidence. We're getting there though, and it's all starting to come quicker and quicker. It's a good thing there's no due by date. We'll get there when we get there.

Well, That Didn't Go As Planned

5/19/2020

Last week, I developed another eye infection. I am rather prone to them but with good eye-hygiene, yes, that's a thing, I've kept them at bay for the last few years. For this particular round, I followed all of my doctor's recommendations - fish oil supplements, hot compresses, moisturizing drops, and daily washing with baby shampoo.The affected eye was getting better, but then I got another one in the same eye. Well that just wasn't going to stand, so Monday morning I headed out to Accelerated Urgent Care to have it looked at.

Not me and not my doctor, but something like this. He wore gloves, and he never actually touched me.

After a quick exam where we tried to maintain social distancing - he was masked, gloved, and smocked to the neck, he prescribed antibiotics and drops for the eye. Great. Even though the weather was unseasonably wet, I headed straight to the barn from the clinic in hopes that the weather would let up. It didn't.

Drippy, but not pouring.

I changed into breeches, determined to get a ride in. As I was carrying my grooming bucket out to Speedy's small field, the drops got bigger and more frequent. It wasn't exactly RAINING, but I was already in a funk because of some COVID-19 punches to my life. I stopped in my tracks, did a u-turn, and put my grooming bucket away.

Too wet to actually brush, but not wet enough to clean him off.

Sometimes, it's okay to just walk away. Neither of my horses was upset about getting a day off.

Between a Rock and an Easy Place

5/18/2020

Newt, my new truck, has seen a lot of trailering action since all this Covid-19 business got started. What with all the trail rides on Izzy and lessons at my friend Amy's place, I've been hooking up and disconnecting at least once a week.

From a trail ride in April.

While I have been hooking up a gooseneck trailer since I bought my first one back in 2000, Newt presented some challenges. You see, Blue Truck, my old 2000 Ford F250, was configured differently than Newt. Blue Truck had a short bed and the cab, while still a crew cab, was smaller overall. In addition, Blue Truck had two bucket seats in the front with a console in between. Also, the back seat was a bench with with no head rests.

I loved that truck.

The thing is, at 5'3", I am what you might call vertically challenged. As it is, I have to use a booster seat to see over Newt's steering wheel. It's a little embarrassing. With Blue Truck's cab configuration and shorter bed, I could lift myself out of my seat and peer between the gap in the bucket seats to almost see the hitch in the bed of the truck. Almost. I got very good at using the ridges in the bed to help me line up where the ball was in the bed. The first time I hooked my trailer to Newt, I realized that I was going to need some practice.

I could see pretty clearly out of Blue Truck's rear window.

Newt is much bigger than Blue Truck. The whole cab is roomier making the distance to the rear window a lot farther away. I also have a center seat in the front that keeps me from being able to really turn around and get a good view out the rear window. Newt also has an eight foot long bed which means it goes on forever. The location of my two inch diameter ball is pretty much a crap shoot when you're sitting in the driver's seat. You know it's out there somewhere, but exactly where is the question.

Not a very good view from Newt's front seat looking back.

Ideally, one should be able to hook up a horse trailer utilizing just mirrors, but for the life of me, I can't do it. Or, rather, I don't want to. It's a lot easier to just turn around and look out the back window so I can really see what I am doing.

To help improve my visibility, the first thing I did was fold down my center front seat. That helped a ton. While the three rear headrests still block my view a little bit, I can live with it. I still have to lift myself up a bit, but at least now I can look out the window. The next task was figuring out how to line up my truck's ball with the trailer's gooseneck without being able to see it.

It's a pretty small target.

While I have a rear back up camera, it's mounted in the top of the tailgate, which would be great if I were hooking up to a bumper pull. With a gooseneck, you have to drop your tailgate which means my camera is pointed straight at the ground - not very helpful. With nothing but lots of long black ridges running front to back, I figured out that I needed to add some context, a visual that would give me a frame of reference. Enter, the rock.

I use the same rock each time. I even store it on my trailer so it's always ready to assist.

It was such a simple solution that I wondered why I hadn't thought of it before. Even with Blue Truck there were times when I missed left or right a few times. I used to joke that if I didn't line it up correctly the first time, it always took me a half dozen times of being an inch too far to the right or an inch too far to the left. With the rock, I get it lined up every single time.

All I do is place the rock at the end of my tailgate so that it's directly in line with the ball (see photo above). Once I am in the truck, I look out the window and line the rock up with the gooseneck. I back up slowly, keeping the rock and hitch in a straight line. Now, I never miss.

To actually hook up, I would remove the lock. This photo was "staged."

Of course, from inside the truck I can't see the ball and the rock at the same time, but I can see the rock and the hitch. The only thing I still have to get out and check for is whether the ball is right below the hitch or whether I am need to pull forward or back slightly. I am rarely off more than five or six inches at most, and frequently, I am only off by inches.

So that's the story of how a rock made my life a lot easier.

Happy (Belated) Birthday!

5/15/2020

Yesterday was Izzy's birthday. I remembered it during the day, but not until I had already ridden and was parked in front of the TV watching Netflix. I do this every year. I know May is Izzy's birthday month, but I can never remember the day. It's the 14th. He was born in 2008 which makes him twelve years old.

Baby Izzy

I've told this story before, but what are birthdays for if not for celebrating and reminiscing? Izzy's breeder wanted a warmblood that she could bring up through the levels, much as I am doing - or trying to at any rate. Just when Izzy was getting fun, his owner got pregnant herself and opted to put him up for sale. I bought Izzy when he was just six years old.

Izzy's dam, Banjo Rose, was a Thoroughbred mare who was Oldenburg approved. His sire, Inbegriff, also Oldenburg approved, was by the famed stallion Ideal. No matter which way you look at it, especially if you shove all the Oldenburg stuff aside, Izzy's essentially a Thoroughbred, but not one bred to race. Of Izzy's grandparents, three of them are straight up Thoroughbreds going back as far as the 1700s.

Izzy at his RPSI inspection.

What is interesting though is how far back the Anglo-Arab breeding of his grandsire goes, and there are a boatload of them. If you follow his sire line, beginning with his grandsire Ideal, it takes a bunch of generations before you get to the purebred Arabians in his pedigree.

Interestingly though, once you get that far back on any of his ancestors, all of a sudden, you see the Arabians back in the mix everywhere, including at least two crosses to the Godolphin Arabian though the stallion Trumpator (b. 1782). Like most Thoroughbreds, Izzy also traces back to Eclipse (b.1764), whose sire line also takes you back to the Darley Arabian (b. 1700) and again to the Godolphin Arabian through his dam. Once you go back that far, there aren't records as those Arabians were desert bred. If you look up Speedy's registry, it only takes two pages before you get to the desert bred horses.

Izzy at his RPSI inspection with his breeder.

While Izzy isn't the sturdy, not-in-a-hurry Halflinger that I've been pining for, I sure do enjoy the heck out of him. It wasn't until Speedy was nearly ten that I really started to like him. It's taken Izzy until twelve, but man is he really coming along. We're now schooling the walk pirouettes, the half passes, and I am am even getting some flying changes. They're far from confirmed, but considering I worried he and I might never anywhere, I am pretty happy with what he's offering.

His breeder made sure he had lots of good experiences.

I love celebrating my horses' birthdays. I love seeing them grow and mature and change. What I don't like is that each year that passes is one less that we have in front of us. Izzy has definitely arrived at adulthood. He's no longer a green bean; he's a fully mature horse, broke to ride. With at least another decade in front of us, I am hoping we can accomplish some great things. And if not, no biggie as I sure do enjoy riding him.

Happy Birthday, my friend!

USDF All-Breeds Award

5/14/2020

Because my GMO (California Dressage Society - CDS) is so big and offers so many awards, I only join USDF as a Group Member (GM). As a GM I am only eligible for Rider Awards but not Horse Performance Certificates, the Adequan Awards, or the All-Breeds Award. Like I said though, CDS offers so many awards, plus a great championship show held in conjunction with the USDF Region 7 Championship show, that I've never felt the need to join as a Group Member.

CDS's Regional Adult Amateur Competition Second Level (Elite Division) - 2018

The only thing that kind of calls my name though is the Adequan/USDF All-Breeds Award. Each year when the Yearbook edition of the USDF Connection arrives in my mailbox, I hungrily flip to the All-Breeds Award section and check out how we might have fared against the Arabian Horse Association (AHA) winners. For adult amateur awards, a rider must have at least eight scores from four judges from four different shows AND a median score of 60% or greater (Training through Fourth Levels). In 2019, Speedy and I had eight scores from two judges from two shows and a median of (roughly) only 56.5%. We wouldn't have qualified for this year's All-Breeds Award.

2019 Arabian Horse Association, Third Level Adult Amateur.

There have been years though, like in 2018, where we might have been competitive. In 2018, we had a median score of (roughly) 61% at Second Level which included sixteen total scores from five shows and five judges. 2019's first and second place riders (at Second Level) clocked in at 63% and 62%. We might have been close.

CDS's Regional Adult Amateur Competition (Elite Division) First Level - 2017

The main reason I don't declare for All-Breeds is because it's pretty expensive.

Each year I join USEF in order to obtain my Adult Amateur status - $80.
I have to join CDS (which I want to do anyway) for $75 annually, which includes a USDF Group Membership.
But if I wanted to be eligible for an All-Breeds Award, I'd have to join USDF as a Participating Member (PM) which runs $90 a year.
I would then need to spend $35 on the All-Breeds declaration fee.
Next, I would need to join AHA for $50 a year and pay $35 for a Competition Card. AHA also charges $35 each year to participate in the All-Breeds Award program.

So what's my grand total to participate in a program where I might, maybe be competitive? $400 annually, that's how much. Without being eligible for All-Breeds, all I spend is $155. The price to be eligible for All-Breeds just isn't worth it for me, especially since I probably wouldn't win any way.

$120 a year? Meh.

That doesn't mean I still don't find the idea attractive. If I didn't ride two such popular breeds - a lot of Arabians get All-Breeds Awards, and the RPSI horses all have scores in the high 60s and 70s, I might be more interested in signing up. If I rode a rescue horse or maybe a Clydesdale, I'd be much more interested in showcasing my breed. Which brings me to the real point of this post. Have you seen some of the Participating Organizations (PO) that give out awards? The list is fascinating!

Page 221 of the March/April 2020 edition of the USDF Connection

A few of the associations really jumped out at me, so I thought I'd do a little research and learn more about them. First of all, who doesn't want to ride a Clydesdale? The one and only time I did, I had an absolute blast. My non-horsey husband did, too! The Clydesdale Breeders of the U.S.A, a new PO in 2019, had a winner - Kim Fiore riding Freedom Royal Legacy at Training Level.

2018 - My husband and I riding Clydesdales. He's 6'3" by the way.

Another association that caught my eye was the Hungarian Horse Association of America. This is definitely a breed that is new to me. Apparently more people know something about these horses than me since in 2019, the HHA awarded All-Breeds Awards from Training Level to Prix St. Georges, including a Freestyle winner.

Image shamelessly borrowed from the HHA's website.

The International Drum Horse Association would cause anyone to stop and take a second look. According to their website: Actually named after a “job” performed by the horse, The Drum Horse is an important member of the Queen of England's Band of the Life Guards. These horses carry two large solid silver kettle Drums, plus a fully outfitted rider, through crowds of thousands, during the Queen’s processions! The fact that the Drum Horse can remain quiet in large crowds of people while being controlled entirely by reins attached to their rider’s feet is a testament to the Drum Horse's extraordinary disposition.

It doesn't appear as though IDHA awarded any horses an All-Breeds Award this year, but they're not a new PO, so they must have had winners in the past. I'm going to keep my eye open for one of these beauties.

Image also borrowed, but I'll take one please!

The International Georgian Grande Horse Registry gave out All-Breeds Awards from Training through Fourth Level to Open and Adult Amateurs alike in 2019. During the 1970s, a breeder named George Wagner Jr. started crossing drafts to Saddlebreds to recreate the[m] as closely as possible the original Saddlebred type. He wanted to bring back the heavier boned, bigger Saddlebreds of the historic past, which were more robust and sensible. One example of the original type Saddlebred was General Robert E. Lee’s horse, Traveler, who was Lee’s favorite horse throughout his many battle campaigns.

This definitely sounds like a breed that can work all day comfortably!

FLYING W FARMS BARON VON CAPRIOLI 2011 Horse of the Year Champion in Dressage: Third Level Open! - Image borrowed from the IGGHR.

We know that dressage is good for all horses, but the International Rescue Horse Registry is making sure that all horses, no matter their breed, get a chance to be recognized. This registry is the dream of a horse rescue board member, trainer and supporter. We'd like to give the wonderful people who give new life to abused and rescued horses a chance to register them (even if the pedigree is unknown) and earn End-of-Year Awards and scholarships.

The IRHR recognized ten different horses in 2019 by giving All-Breeds Awards from Training through Second Level.

We don't qualify, but I love the idea.

The USDF All-Breeds Award isn't really for me, at this point anyway, but I sure do like that so many registries and associations are stepping up to get their breeds recognized by USDF. Another thing that I like about the program is that most of the breeds listed aren't warmbloods. No bias against warmbloods, but dressage really is for all horses, so it's great to see so many breeds and types of horses getting out there and showing in the sport.

As I look over the list of All-Breeds Participating Organizations, the one breed I am dying to try out is the Haflinger. I keep threatening to get one as my next horse. By the time I'm ready for a new horse, I am going to need one that is short, sturdy, and not at all interested in breaking a sweat. Is there a breed you'd like to take for a spin?

Fabulous Farrier(s)

5/13/2020

I don't get to see my farrier very often because he typically comes in the middle of the day, and I am usually at work. For this month's visit, I of course was able to be there. It was great to see him, and even better to pick his brain.

Both of my horses grow a fair of amount of foot which means my farrier comes every five to six weeks. Longer than that and we start to have problems, and not just with pulled shoes.

Speedy's hoof pre-trim - 5 ¼"

My farrier is an integral part of Team Speedy (and Team Izzy, too), so when he talks, I listen. The truth is he never has anything critical to say. Either I am doing things right, or I am just blessed to have horses with good feet. It's probably a combination of the two, and having a great farrier hasn't hurt either. My farrier is well aware of Speedy's PPID diagnosis, so he understands why I have a lot of questions regarding the health of those feet.

Post trim - 4 ¾"

A week or so ago, I tried to use EasyBoots on Speedy, but I just couldn't get them on. These are the same boots that I've used on him for years. I hadn't tried to put one on him since ... well I can't remember when, but it's been at least four years, maybe more. No matter how hard I pried and wedged and twisted, that boot just wouldn't go on. I eventually flipped the boot over and measured it against the bottom of his hoof. To my surprise, his hoof was wider than the boot by at least a quarter inch - all the way around. I gave up, and Edyta rode him barefoot.

I asked my farrier about it, and he explained it like this. Without a shoe holding Speedy's hoof wall in place, the wall has been able to expand and spread out. Not in a pancake way, mind you, but in a more supportive way. My farrier is really happy with how Speedy's feet have changed over the five years that he's been taking care of my horses' hooves. It was this farrier who suggested Speedy's earlier lameness issues were a result of him whacking himself with shod feet which was causing bruising. Once we pulled Speedy's shoes and his feet adapted to being barefoot, those random lameness bouts never returned.

Barefoot is not for every horse, of course, but it sure is convenient when it works. I got so tired of Izzy pulling shoes that I eventually rode him barefoot for a while. Sadly, his front feet just couldn't handle it. He wore them off to a diamond shape month after month which left him unbalanced in his movement. We compromised by putting shoes on the front feet only. He still pulls one every now and then, but leaving him barefoot in the back has worked out really well.

While my farrier's assistant was trimming Izzy's hind feet, he leaned around and asked if I've been doing much riding. Every day, I responded. He laughed and said that he could tell. Izzy didn't have anything to trim in the back, so he just ran the rasp around to smooth things up a bit.

Izzy's hind foot - nothing to trim off!

Last month I wrote a post showing how the mystery hole in Speedy's foot was growing out. Just as I'd hoped, the last bit of the hole was long gone before my farrier even had a chance to trim it this week. The red circle shows where the hole was just five and a half weeks ago.

May 11, 2020

A good farrier is really worth his weight in gold. I am lucky to have found one that's both knowledgeable and reliable. He's also a really nice guy. If you're local and you read this post on Facebook, leave a comment about your own farrier. Even if you're not local, tell us how great your farrier is no matter where you live. I think we need to toot their horns a bit.

When More Leg is NOT the Answer

5/12/2020

Can you think of another sport, other than dressage, that makes you feel more stupid the more you learn? Chess maybe. You would think that simply knowing you are going to be made to feel stupid would discourage anyone from trying to move up the levels. Guess what? We're moving up a level! Yes, I know am going to feel really stupid in a few months, but it feels great knowing that stupid is on my horizon.

Unlike most sports, where experience and training make you better and more confident, dressage simply reveals how much you don't know. And once you get a new "feel," or once you have an "aha" moment, you do one of those palm to forehead smacks and ask how you've been doing this for a decade and are just now getting "it" - whatever "it" is in this particular moment in time. If this keeps up, I am going to have an IQ of about 8.

Trying out our new half halt.

Fortunately, feeling dumb as a rock doesn't happen at every lesson. I am not sure my ego could handle that. As it is, the frequency at which I find myself feeling like the proverbial dim bulb happens enough already. Like last week, I had a lesson with Chemaine Hurtado - owner and trainer at Symphony Dressage Stables. I don't think Chemaine arrived with the intention of batting me around with a stupid stick, but she must have sensed that I was in need.

Chemaine arrived as I was finishing our warm up. As usual, she had to hear the whole sob story about our half passes - they're still sticky, Speedy is ignoring my outside leg, I can't get enough bend, please fix it all today. As she began putting us to work, I had to stop and explain one more "issue." The day before, Speedy had been well in front of my leg, but he was plowing through my aids, and I simply couldn't convince him to carry himself. The more leg I applied, the heavier in my hand he became. Of course Chemaine had a remedy.

It feels a lot like asking for a piaffe.

Chemaine had me put Speedy on the rail, and she took my whip. Speedy knew what was coming; we've done this exercise plenty of times. But this time, Chemaine wanted something different. Yes, she was going to tap him, but instead of sending him forward with more energy, she wanted me to hold him in place so that only his hind legs got more active. If you're thinking piaffe, you're correct.

She asked me to get him round and soft, and then she had me give him a quick kick, kick without letting him go forward. Of course nothing happened which is why she was there with the whip. As soon as he didn't respond, she gave him two quick thwacks with the whip. Of course he gave a big kick, so we did it again. He instantly got the idea; round and soft is going to be followed by a kick, kick which means activate your hind legs.

Getting the hind end active without allowing him to move forward.

The problem started because I have been using a ton of leg while half halting. But isn't more leg usually the solution for everything? Not when you're squeezing all the time. What ended up happening was that I was using so much leg that I was driving Speedy so deeply into the bridle that all he could do was crash into it. So to speak.

Chemaine had me separate the two aids - sponging the rein for softness and adding more leg, so that Speedy had a chance to answer. My task now is to get him round with my rein aid followed by two quick sharp kicks to say "now sit and push." Eventually, if I apply my aids correctly, he will start to give himself the "kick" aid because he will know that it's coming. If he can sit and push with his hind end just by listening to my seat and hands, no kick, kick will happen. This is our new half halt.

You mean I need to balance myself? Speedy and I both are asking the same question.

It was pretty early in the lesson when Chemaine said something like, "this lesson might just be about coordinating your aids." I am pretty sure she was thinking something along the lines of come on, girlfriend, get it together. After softening and kick, kicking at the walk, we picked up the trot. That's when my little freak show really got going. I bet I lost a stirrup about 17 times. Eventually Chemaine got tired of me goofing around and suggested we try to actually do something with all of this softening and kicking, so we started shoulder in.

Putting it all together.

I have to say, once I got the rhythm of how to coordinate my aids, Speedy got incredibly light while not sacrificing the activity from behind. In fact, he felt downright powerful. That'll happen when you're carrying yourself and not being lazy behind. And when your rider quits squeezing her guts out.

Once Chemaine and I were both certain I could "chew gum and walk a straight line," we did some trot half passes, which were hugely improved, and moved on to the canter work. The aids were the same - ask for round followed by a kick, kick to activate Speedy's hind end without allowing him to shoot forward.

Same aids at the canter.

It didn't take much convincing as Speedy is not a fan of being kicked or tapped with the whip. His canter improved almost immediately, and the best part was that he was much more maneuverable, especially in the half pass.

Chemaine described it as folding him up. I knew what she meant. Do you remember those fans you used to make as a kid by folding paper forward and back, forward and back? That's what this feels like. I am basically asking him to "accordion" fold his body, essentially compressing his body so that his back pops up in the middle. You can really see the difference of where his back is when you compare the picture above with the one below. He's uphill in the first photo, but his back is really round in the second one.

Look at how round his back is!

With Speedy carrying more weight behind and really using his back, the canter half passes were also a lot easier. They're still going to be a weakness for us, the lateral work is just harder for him, but I am feeling like we can get 6.0s and 7.0s if I can start using this better half halt. What also made the half passes easier was that I figured out how to get the bend I need. This was another one of those Man, I am stupid! moments.

For years Chemaine has been telling me to put the letter (where we're heading) between Speedy's ears. For our half pass from centerline yes, we do head toward S or M, but then we proceed straight to C. Guess which letter I've been putting between Speedy's ears? Right, C. As Chemaine kept yelling LOOK AT THE DIAGONAL LETTER, a giant light bulb went off and I realized what an idiot I've been. If you actually bend your horse to look at S or H, you will get a much better bend than by looking at C which is straight in front of you. Sorry, non-dressage folks, that's a bit more technical than you probably want read about.

And some flying changes to wrap it all up.

Sitting and pushing from behind, and pointing at the right dressage letter, fixes all sorts of problems. Now I just need to work on coordinating my own aids to make it all happen. We have five weeks until our first show of 2020. I am going to be putting those weeks to good use.

After all, Speedy can't be expected to do all the work.

Let the Games Begin?!

5/11/2020

I am saying this with both fingers crossed; it looks like we might get to start showing in June. Last week, instead of extending the ban on showing, USEF released a Tool Kit for show managers. It's a lengthy read with lots of embedded links and a few things that made me wrinkle my nose in disgust/frustration/aggravation?, but at least we are headed in the right direction.

Click the image to read the press release.

My own chapter of CDS has five shows on hold, two of which we've already rescheduled for the fall. We haven't heard anything from CDS yet as to how many of USEF's rules we need to adhere to, especially since a lot of the rules just don't make sense for teeny tiny shows like ours.

Like this one, Create an Emergency Response Plan specific to a COVID-19 incident or outbreak that includes local medical resources and addresses outbreak protocols including medical evaluation, isolation and quarantine, and reporting. I am sorry, but how is an "outbreak" going to occur at a horse show, and how in holy f--- would we KNOW that an outbreak has occurred? Will people become infected immediately and begin foaming at the mouth? I certainly hope not, but I've seen a lot of movies where that happens.

Horse Show Task Force

Here's even more: Require a facemask or face covering for all staff, officials, volunteers, service providers and participants when not mounted on a horse. My one problem with this is what do I do as a competitor if I must lead my horse to a mounting block that is not positioned at my trailer or my stall? Do I wear the mask until I mount and then lower it so it can then serve as my stock tie? If I don't wish it to serve as my stock tie, do I shove it in a pocket? If I don't have a pocket, do I drop it on the ground? I won't have a groom or family member with me, so I won't have anyone "safe" to hand it to, and why would anyone want to touch it anyway? So I guess I am back to dropping it on the ground.

Need more? How about these three:
1. Prohibit the public, spectators, and non-essential personnel such as guests from being on the competition grounds until further notice. What about our small summer show series that's held at an equestrian center? How do we prohibit paying boarders from coming to the barn? I am not sure how we can kick them out for spectating or grooming or riding their own horses. We already can't prohibit them from using the warm up arena during the show. Now USEF wants us to prohibit them from showing up at their barn, the one they're paying to use. We can "prohibit" all we want, but we have no way of enforcing this rule.

2. Organize horse arrivals and departures to limit contact between people. I already get to a show a little before my scheduled ride time and leave when I am done. Are we now going to wait in a line on the side of a road as each person unloads her horses and stuff so that we're doing things in isolation? Funny how 400 people can be in Costco, but 20 ladies can't show up at the show grounds throughout the day.

3. Arrange judges’ and other officials’ areas to comply with social distancing requirements. I can't wait to see how they work this one out. I guess the judge can just shout out her scores and comments to her scribe. Maybe they'll buy walkie-talkies.

I get it. There need to be some guidelines, but USEF likes to offer solutions that are one-sized fits all. SafeSport showed us that. COVID-19 is only reinforcing how USEF likes to deal with problems. They want a solution that can be applied to everyone and at every show. But seriously, some of USEF's requirements are going to be really hard to police, especially since events like ours are held at equestrian centers with their own clients. Our shows, whether it's our little one-star CDS shows or our "bigger" three-star CDS/USDF/USEF shows are already lightly attended. Because our venues tend to be fairly spread out and wide open, we'll be practicing social distancing without even trying. As much as I want the world to reopen and get back to work, I am not sure USEF has thought this through all the way.

My friend Jen, who is the show manager for close to a dozen CDS/USDF/USEF shows each year, sent me an entry for the Summer Dressage II show at El Sueno in mid-June. I filled it out over the weekend. I want to go, I am planning on going, but I am just not sure how much fun it's going to be. And showing is, after all, supposed to be fun.

I wrote it on the calendar, but we know how that goes.

This past month or so has shown how divided we are as a nation. We have lost the ability to even pretend to listen or respond in a respectful manner. I know that many of you think I am cold hearted without any hint of sensitivity to the issues facing us. I would argue that the complete opposite is true. My heart is breaking for the millions and millions and millions of Americans who are today without jobs. Some of those people are in my own family. Yes, I care that 80,000 have died, but far more than half of them were elderly with preexisting conditions, many of whom would have no doubt died from something else this year.

Marked in red is Kern County which has 900,000 people, a mere 15 of whom have died from COVID-19.

Yes, that sucks. It really does, but I don't see a huge uproar about flu deaths or about deaths due to gun violence or suicide (more than 48,000 Americans took their own lives in 2018). Did you know that 655,381 other Americans died of heart disease in 2018? How many of those deaths would have been prevented if people hadn't smoked or had exercised or eaten better? Why are we not upset about that? (source)

Bakersfield is California's 9th largest city by population, and Kern County ranks as the 11th largest county by population (3rd largest by area). Out of all of those many, many people - nearly 900,000 here in Kern County, 15 people have died from COVID-19. FIFTEEN. And for that, my county now has a jobless rate of more than 15% as of April. California's population is nearly 40,000,000. Forty million. Do you know how many have died? 2,678.

Do I want to go to a dressage show without having to wear a mask? Yes, I do, but not because I am selfish. It's because I am desperate to see my city, my county, and my state get people back to work. I want kids to go back to school, and I want us to think about what we have lost and given away for 15 people.

In my mind, It hasn't been worth it.

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About the
Writer & Rider

I am a lifetime rider.
I began endurance riding in 1996 where I ultimately completed five, one-day 100 mile races, the 200-mile Death Valley Encounter, and numerous other 50, 65, and 75 mile races. I began showing dressage in 2010.
Welcome to my dressage journey.

Photo by Lori Ovanessian

Email Karen

About Speedy G

Speedy went from endurance horse to dressage horse. We're currently showing Third Level for the 2019 show season. Speedy is a 2004, 15'1 hand, purebred Arabian gelding. His Arabian Horse Registry name is G Ima Starr FA.

August 2018

About Izzy

Izzy was started as a four-year old and then spent the next 18 months in pasture growing up. I bought him as a six-year old, and together, we are schooling and showing at the lower levels. He is a 2008, 16'3 hand warmblood gelding. His Rheinland Pfalz-saar International (RPSI) name is Imperioso.

March 2019

Bakersfield Dressage approved!

FOR THE SMALLER EQUINE ATHLETE

I love her stuff!

National Awards

USDF Second Level Rider Performance Award - 2018

2nd Level Rider Performance, 2018

USDF First Level Rider Performance Award - 2015

1st Level Rider Performance, 2015

USDF Training Level Rider Performance Award - 2013

Training Level Rider Performance, 2013

State Awards

CDS Ruby Rider Award - 2018
CDS Second Level Horse Performance Award - 2018

Ruby Rider Award, 2018

2020 Show Season

Show Rating
(***) CDS/USDF/USEF
(*) CDS
(s) Schooling
(c) Clinic
(r) Ride-a-Test Clinic
(Q) Must Qualify

2020 Pending …
6/13 - 14 El Sueno (***)
6/28 TMC (*)
7/11 - 12 El Sueno (***)
7/26 TMC (*)
8/8 - 9 RAAC (Q)
8/30 TMC (*)
9/21 TMC (*)
10/11 TMC (*)
10/24-25 SCEC (***)

2020 Completed …
10/26-27/19 SCEC (***)

Qualifying Scores for 2020

Regional Adult Amateur Competition (RAAC)
3rd Level Qualifying Modified for 2020
2 Scores/2 Judges:
Score 1: 60.405% Atkins
Score 2: 62.432% Atkins

CDS Championship
3rd Level Qualifying Modifiedf or 2020
3 Scores/2 Judges:
Score 1: 60.405% Atkins
Score 2: 62.432% Atkins
Score 3:

Working Towards:

CDS 3rd Level Horse Performance Award
3 Judges/3 Shows:
Score 1: 63.514% Lindholm
Score 2: 62.105% Lindholm
Score 3: 63.243% Wadeborn
Score 4: 60.405% Atkins
Score 5: 62.432% Atkins
Score 6:

CDS Sapphire Rider Award
Third Level: 63.514%
Third Level: 62.105%
Fourth Level:
Fourth Level:

USDF Bronze Medal
First Level - 70.179%
First Level - 72.600%
Second Level - 62.879%
Second Level - 61.970%
Third Level - 62.432%
Third Level -

Five MORE Random Things?

Torn ACL?

Pushing Him Up to the Bit and Other Stuff

Well, That Didn't Go As Planned

Between a Rock and an Easy Place

Happy (Belated) Birthday!

USDF All-Breeds Award

Fabulous Farrier(s)

When More Leg is NOT the Answer

Let the Games Begin?!

About the
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About Speedy G

About Izzy

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