Month: March 2024

He’s baaaaack! Almost 6 months after our last Modified (at Stable View), we had our first run back at the level last week at Ocala Winter 2.

I opted for the Thursday One-Day division, because I’ll almost always take a one-day option if it’s available. It’s quicker, it’s easier, and it’s less impactful to the rest of my schedule. Love it. Love love. Of course, those one-days are always Open divisions full of pros, but whatever. I’d rather be in a more competitive division and not have to be spread over two days or have it take up the whole weekend, since I’m almost always working on the weekends.

The downside of Thursday this time is that it was hot. Hot hot. Like almost 90 degrees.

Presto was oddly not too obnoxious to braid that morning. Usually he’s a nightmare, spending the whole time wiggling, trying to knock me off the stool, or bite me. This time he mostly stood still. I almost took his temperature to make sure he wasn’t sick (true confessions: have done that before when he was being a little too normal). I got him braided in record time, and off we went on the 45 minute trek to Florida Horse Park.

My ride times were superb… 11:39 dressage, 1:22 stadium, 1:41 XC. Close together, but workable, and late enough that it meant I wasn’t in a rush in the morning. I got there with plenty of time to spare and Presto just chilled (quietly???) at the trailer while I slowly got ready. The only time he really perked up was when two horses got loose from a neighboring trailer and took off down the road.

I got on to head to dressage warmup and he was STILL QUIET. I was like um ok is he about to have a heat stroke or something, why is he chill? He was fine, just like… acting so normal and trained and seasoned. It was unlike him. I only trotted and cantered for maybe 8 minutes and then just walked until it was my turn. They were running early, so it worked out.

The test was fine. Like it was accurate enough, and he went around pleasantly, and there was nothing majorly wrong with it. I thought (and Megan agreed) that it just lacked the usual extra sparkle he has when he’s really in the mood to show off. I assumed it was probably because of the heat. Like my lengthenings were all blah, one of the leg yields (usually one of our best marks) was crooked, and a few transitions were a bit abrupt. It was a good enough test but we left points on the table for sure.

We ended up scoring a 28. After a lifetime of having horses that weren’t particularly talented in the first phase, I’ll never be sad to now have one that can go put down a blah test and still score in the 20’s. We were tied for 4th after dressage.

Hillary was able to come out that day too, which was super helpful because she babysat Presto at the trailer after dressage while Megan and I went to walk courses. I had walked XC the prior afternoon and just wanted her to look at a couple lines/combos with me. We ran out and did that, then went over to showjumping and were able to walk most of that on a drag break before we got booted out. Good enough!

Warmup was brief and uneventful. The gate was sitting open waiting for some people that were supposed to go before me, so I volunteered to go early again. I’m all about shortening my day.

Presto went in and jumped really well. Like I think it’s one of our better rounds at the level, he was really trying and being super rideable. It felt like we finally had our mojo back from last summer.

We did roll the front rail at 7… I just needed to keep his balance a tick more uphill to it, but not a major mistake. I was honestly super happy with the round because it felt smooth and rhythmic and in sync, and he jumped so super otherwise. Not losing sleep over that rail.

After that it was a quick pit stop back at the trailer to put on his XC boots and my vest before we got to the good part… but that’s a story for tomorrow.

I sat down to try to write my weekly catch-up post yesterday and realized I have basically no media from any of it despite there actually being a lot going on at the moment. So… enjoy mostly filler photos.

Last week I went to jumper rounds at Majestic, just hopping around one 1.05m. It was relatively straightforward and uneventful, but there wasn’t a photographer there so ya know… take my word for it. We also did another brief XC school with Megan, kind of reaffirming some of the things (holes, they’re really holes in the education) we worked on the first time. She’s changed the way I’m sitting ever so slightly, and trying to confirm something new into muscle memory takes time.

Argo also jumped down his first line, just a couple crossrails with flower boxes. This was because a friend of a friend is coming to try him next week and asked for video of him jumping a line.

I really had no intention of selling him, but I’ve had several people ask me if I’d be willing to part with him sooner rather than later. I had to think about it for a bit, but I came to the conclusion that if the perfect person comes along and wants to buy him within the next month or so, that still gives me enough time to start over with a new horse for RRP. Do I need to sell him? Nope. But if a super awesome situation comes along sooner rather than later, am I open to it? Yep.

The truth of the matter is that he’s a superb boy, simple and kind in every way, but he’s not an upper level athlete or the type of horse I would keep long term. Because, you know, I’m not right in the head and like them a little bit more… MORE. Know what I mean? See Presto as Exhibit A.

Meanwhile, Argo would love nothing more than to plod around the 3′ and under for the rest of his days, getting treats and face snuggles and having the most predictable and simple life. It’s a fantastic quality in a horse, and one that’s hard to find in something relatively young and fresh off the track. So if his perfect match comes along soon, I’m open to it.

In other news, Presto had his re-check appointment last Friday to look at his stomach and ulcer situation again.

The good news is that the original ulcers that were all along the very top of his stomach are healed. I suspected as much, because he’s been back to normal about jumping ditches and banks. However, something told me that we haven’t solved the problem entirely, and unfortunately I was right. He had some new areas of ulceration a bit lower in his stomach.

There were a couple good things we found, though: 1) his pylorus (we weren’t able to see it last time but this time we got a good view) looks great, and 2) the new ulcers are below the area where food would be, so as long as he’s got forage in him all the time, there shouldn’t really be an issue of discomfort from acid splash like we were having with the original ones.

The bad news is that in my vet’s opinion, this means that ulcers are likely to just be an ongoing issue with this horse. We did learn that his particular ulcer drug of choice seems to be omeprazole and not sucralfate… the sucralfate appears to have done next to nothing for him. She feels like he might be one that does well staying on Nexium, so now we’re trying that along with Platinum GI and Alimend. Which is probably overdoing it but hi hello now I’m paranoid AF.

He could honestly just be that type of horse that requires a round of ulcer meds annually (love that for my wallet) in addition to daily preventatives. All in all I’m extremely glad we’ve scoped him both times, even if my wallet is crying. We’ve learned a lot, and have a much more solid plan because of it.

In more fun news, on Monday I took Presto over to Sweet Dixie mostly just to hop over some bigger stuff, since it’s been a while since we’ve galloped at big tables. We jumped a couple of their P ones and then I schooled their coffin and their new sunken road complex. I jumped maybe 15 jumps total, just mostly wanted to practice the new tweaks a little bit more and at bigger things.

Yesterday I went and had a showjump lesson with Megan and she only really changed one thing but blew my mind entirely in the process. I’ve been having a bit of an ongoing issue lately with riding a little past my distance, especially to oxers. I did it a couple times and she said “so when you come out of the turn to a jump, where are you looking?” and I said top rail, which is what I’ve pretty much always been taught. She said ok this might sound weird, but when you come out of the turn try looking at the exact spot where you want the horse’s feet to be at takeoff, and then once you’re a couple strides out you can lift your eye again.

And I’ll be damned bro, it worked a lot better. There were sparks coming from my brain. But the concept makes tremendous sense when you think about it. It’s yet another re-wiring that I’ll have to do, so right now I really have to concentrate to make my eyes look at the takeoff spot everywhere, but it does seem to help me and my depth perception tremendously. She made a few other small tweaks, but we didn’t jump much since it’s hot and Presto’s got a lot to do this week.

Anyway, I have no media from any of these rides since I went by myself, so… you’ll have to take my word for it I guess. I think having a couple different sets of eyes (Megan and Peter) these past few weeks has been really great, but I’m also now on a big time learning curve trying to enforce some new habits and fill some holes. This is what I’m here for though, so I’m loving it!

Do y’all ever stop and think about what gluttons for punishment we are, trying to ride horses? I mean aside from the obvious things that come along with the fact that they’re ginormous flight animals that thrive on breaking your heart. Like… we dedicate our whole lives to the never-ending, entirely unattainable pursuit of trying to learn how to ride them well. The whole thing is absurd when you really think about it.

Luckily I too am absurd and love to do absurd things. A sport I will never actually master and dedicate my whole entire life to learning how to do it just some kind of marginally decently, with varying levels of success? Sign me up!

Anyway, last week featured a jump lesson, a Peter Gray dressage lesson, a jumper rounds outing, and XC schooling. I don’t have media from the Monday jump lesson but it went well. Lots of turning exercises because it kind of forces you to ride more forward out of the turns, and I needed that.

Tuesday afternoon, Peter Gray was here. And guys, I’ve kind of been wanting to make this happen for years. I don’t idolize anyone (there’s a whole lot of truth to the saying never meet your heroes) but I have a very deep respect for Peter and have always admired the quiet, fair, and methodical approach that he’s always seemed to have in any of the materials I’ve seen or heard from him. He judged Presto as a yearling at YEH, he’s judged dressage tests of Henry’s, I’ve seen him at work so much as a judge or a member of the ground jury, and at YEH/FEH symposiums.

This year I was finally able to connect with him and arrange an afternoon of lessons here at the farm for a few of us. Peter was as expected – fair, but meticulous. He praised what was good and didn’t mince words about what needed work. He gave us exercises to help address the things that need improvement, and I think all the horses got better from beginning to end. Nothing about it was easy – the exercises he had us doing at canter were definitely beyond anything we’ve tried before – but it gave you the opportunity to level up and rise to the occasion.

While his expectations were high, he was very very consistent to enforce that he is seeking quality over quantity, and to always give the horses a lot of breaks and never ask them to hold things for very long when it’s hard for them. Even just half a circle is enough, and we should never drill them. His horsemanship seems top tier. I learned a lot and have already continued to apply the concepts to all of our rides. I’m hoping to have him back out again before season is over, but I think we all need a few weeks to absorb and work on the things he’s already given us. It was a lot!

Patreon folks, you’ve got lots of video of Presto and Tilly’s lessons on your dashboard.

On Wednesday morning Argo went on another field trip to Majestic.

I was mostly just tagging along while other folks jumped around. My goal for that ride was just to have a chill hackabout and let Argo continue to learn that going places and doing things is no big deal. He stood for a while, he walked and trotted and loped around a bit, stood some more, went in the water, etc. He was super good except for when the pony leaped off the down bank like a crackhead right next to him, then he got a little worried, but he calmed back down without much drama.

Michelle also came along and rode Henry, and he was delighted to take her over some of her first XC jumps in a really long time.

On Wednesday afternoon I loaded Presto up and we headed to jumper rounds. The idea was to pop around the meter, and then if that was good maybe do the 1.10m.

Presto went in the ring for the meter and thought he saw demons in one corner. To be fair there was stuff wrapped in black plastic stacked over there, so he wasn’t far off. After a little bit of spooking he decided he might be able to survive it, and we picked up a canter and jumped around the course very uneventfully. We like uneventful. Uneventful is good. Boring is superb.

So we stayed for the 1.10m/Prelim. He was still kind of staring distractedly into the demon corner a little bit, but it wasn’t too big of a deal. I didn’t get him down the first line straight enough and we had a bit of a gap there that resulted in a rail, but the rest was again uneventful and boring.

On Thursday we went and did a quick/simple XC school with Megan (the rider who had Presto when he was a 4yo), who is in town for the season. My regular trainer will be gone for the next show, and since we’re just now dipping our toe back into Modified, I thought it would be prudent to have some trainer assistance lined up for that show. Since Megan already knows us and will be there anyway, she seemed like the logical choice, but I also thought it would be a good idea to ride with her a few times between now and then rather than just day-of. The XC school was super productive, she gave me a few little position tips that I think made a big difference. Getting more eyes on you is always helpful!

The rest of the week was more chill, and one of Michelle’s friends was in town so Argo got to play musical riders. Michelle rode him a couple times, and then her friend rode him a couple times too.

They both rode him great, and again it continues to be really helpful to me to have other people ride him and see how he goes. He’s certainly more of a kick-ride, which makes him more reliable for any level rider… I’m definitely never worried about him running off with anyone or anything like that. I mean, it might take them a few minutes to get him to trot, but… he’s safe!

Michelle was only here for a quick pre-breeding season check-in, so she’s back home now, but she’ll return in a few weeks as we officially get to breeding season. Hopefully she’ll be game to keep riding Argo and Henry some while she’s here!

This week looks to be a little bit calmer (I hope) but ya know… we’ll see what kind of adventures we get up to.

Man, catching up is hard to do. I gotta purge everything else that happened last week before I forget entirely.

The day before the show at Majestic, they hosted a YEH Symposium for USEA. I’ve been to several other YEH Symposiums (this was my 4th I think?) but I will always go to another one if I can. Even if the subject matter isn’t new, every single time is a learning experience. It’s an opportunity to see young horses, discuss them as a group, and every time – without fail – there is really good discussion generated, whether it’s by the attendees or the speakers. Usually both.

This symposium featured not only judges Marilyn Payne and Debbie Adams, but also a panel of speakers that included Lauren Nicholson, Liz Halliday, and Dr. Lisa Casinella. We got to see some really nice 4 and 5 year olds presented by Caroline Pamukcu, Kelly Hutchinson, Alex O’Neal, and Ariel Grald. Each horse did it’s SJ and XC round, then came over and was untacked so we could see the conformation and discuss what we liked/didn’t like about all of it. I appreciate the riders bringing their horses and being willing to subject them to group discussion like that.

My favorite (and I think the overall favorite of most) was Ariel Grald’s young mare Melypsa. She was a stunning type with a big gorgeous ground-covering gallop and seemed to have plenty of scope in the tank.

The discussion generated from this one was pretty interesting too – this is where the riders and the judges disagreed a bit. At one point it was said “the gallop doesn’t really get any better than this for a 5 year old” and a score of 9 was thrown out. The riders on the panel argued that if the gallop doesn’t get any better, why wouldn’t it be a 10? The judges said that they felt it could be even better down the road as the horse matured. So then the debate was – are they judging on a scale of the perfect 5yo or are they judging on a tip top “gold standard” mature 5 star horse scale? As you can imagine, there were feelings on both sides and no real satisfactory answer.

The other horses presented were all quite different, which was fun to compare and contrast. Alex’s was a much heavier type, Kelly’s was quite light and more green/less mature than the others. Caroline brought last year’s 4yo YEH Champion who was in a bit of a weird growthy stage, which generated nice discussion about how young horses develop, what can happen when they’re in these growth stages, and how the riders prefer to cope with that. Overall it was fun, as always. Highly recommend attending these if you ever have the opportunity… even if you don’t think you’re into YEH or young horses, it will be interesting and a learning moment.

The rest of the week was kind of a blur of working horses and working at WEC. Hillary hopped on Argo for the first time in a little while and did great with him.

I think it’s good to get as many people on him as I can… it gives me a lot of feedback on where he’s at and what I need to keep working on, plus it gives me the opportunity to really watch him go and find more things to improve. It’s all information.

On Saturday we went XC schooling, which. Well. I had a real menty b. I was displeased with how I’d ridden at the show on Wednesday, to start with, which is never really great for my psyche. And it was our first time going back to Magnolia Sands, which is where the wheels first started to fall off the bus a little bit last fall before we figured out the ulcer thing. So I was hoping for a nice quiet simple confidence building day, and it was basically the exact opposite.

The other horses that came were wired, which spun Presto up, which really just made me feel like the entire experience was giving him ulcers again, which made me feel like I didn’t want to be there at all, which made me ride not great, which just spiraled and spiraled and spiraled, as you can imagine. As he spooked and spun his way around the field I really just quit and wanted to go home. There was nothing productive about that, and it wasn’t at all the situation I had wanted to put him in that day. We ended up jumping a few tiny things that went ok, but overall it was a massive failure for the mission of the day and I was exceptionally frustrated by the whole thing.

I spent the next day doing stuff around the farm getting it tidied up and organized and ready for Michelle to get here to start preparing for breeding season. I completely wore myself out, which was maybe better for my menty b? Maybe worse? Who knows. I did make a glittery sign for the door of the lab, which yes is a little bit too big but it’s glitter, so. It’s fine.

We were supposed to have Peter Gray lessons last week but he was sick and pushed to this week. I’ll write more about that in next week’s updates, but spoiler it was great. Also spoiler I think I’m back from the menty b maybe? Knock on wood?

The other thing that happened last week was that RRP announced a new fundraising initiative for this year. Basically they’re allowing Makeover participants to get $350 of their entry fees back if they raise $1000 for RRP. Honestly, I love the idea.

Obviously I believe pretty strongly in the mission of RRP and what they’re doing, and have sponsored awards and given them donations in the past. Participating this year is obviously giving them my money too, but I’m always down for helping raise more funds if and when I can. The bonus of it also being a bit beneficial to me as an entrant is an extra perk, because lets be honest… as with anything with horses, the road to RRP is not cheap. A chance to get some money back is always helpful. Seems like a win-win. So if you’re interested or maybe you have an aunt/grandma/cousin that likes pretty ponies and would throw in $20 or whatever, feel free to share my fundraising link with them.

I’m also offering special incentives to business owners, so if you own an equine business and would like to donate, please shoot me a message and let’s talk. And if you make a donation and would like a very small token of our appreciation, email or PM your address!