I won’t even bother with excuses because I know no one wants to hear them. It’s been almost 3 weeks since the last update and a lot has been going on, so let’s catch up!

When we left off I said that I was pretty sure Rubes was brewing an abscess. Indeed that was true, but it was one of those that kept coming and going, and it’s just finally started to burst. It seems like it might be a pretty big one, so that’s super fun and neat. As of right now he’s shoe-less because it’s come out right at his toe, which would be under a shoe. We’ll re-assess next week and see if we feel like the abscess is resolved so that he can get a shoe back on. As of this point he’s been without for about 3 weeks so what’s another one, really. (if it sounds like I have given up, you would be correct)

His new custom-fitted loaner saddle did arrive from France though, so whenever he decides to get with the program and rejoin the riding squad, we’ll be in business.

Presto had a little bit of a light week after my two jump lessons at the end of July, mainly hacking and doing flatwork while my trainer was out of town. Then he was back to training rides to start to prepare for his two shows in August.

I will say that for as much as I really love riding him and reaaaaaaaaally am itching to have the ride back, this summer of basically full training has been really transformative for him. I think it’s also helped Trainer get to know him really really well, and find lots of little holes to fill. You just get a lot more information riding the horse multiple times a week and showing it vs watching someone else ride it or riding it every so often. She’s also been able to help him figure some things out way way faster than I would have. I think it’s been super good for him and a really worthwhile spend of time and money as far as his development and his future. He’s a little bit tricky in that he can be really emotional and dramatic and over-reactive (literally if I had a dollar for every time someone has called him “dramatic” in his life, he’d prob be pretty well funded), so we’re at the point where guiding him through his big feelings is the key. He needs for everything to be calm but very clear, very black and white, and confidence-building.

This past weekend he ran the Prelim with her at Ocala, and he was honestly pretty foot-perfect start to finish. No dramatics, no excuses, he just went and did his job like a wholeass grownup.

She thought there were a couple moments in showjumping where he could have been a touch more submissive (story of his life, is it not), but it’s for sure markedly better and continuing to improve.

We’ve backed him all the way down to a basic snaffle and taken the running martingale off. She felt like at the moment if he feels any kind of restriction he wants to fight it, which mostly just causes him to drop behind the leg a bit and hollow out behind the saddle. That’s the opposite of helpful really. There could be a time when we put it back on, but for now she thinks he needs to be a bit more rideable in general and better about staying genuinely between the leg and hand and thinking forward. He seems to be going just fine for both jumping phases in his very plain set-up. He’s the kind of horse where, if anything, he could be a little sharper off the aids (he’s def not a lazy kick ride but he’s also not really TAKING you places as much as he kinda needs to be at this point) so having him in a very simple setup does seem to make him more inclined.

He finished in third in a big competitive open Prelim division, adding some time to his dressage score. It was a very warm and humid day, he ran XC at noon, and he’s running again this weekend at Bouckaert, so speed was not a priority. Mostly we were looking for rideability, straightness, and him wanting to take her to the fences. She did ask him to pick it up a bit on a couple of the long stretches though, and he obliged. I think his gallop is getting better too – more balanced and carrying.

Another thing we’ve worked on over the past couple months is increasing his strength and fitness, which (while challenging to do in Florida in the summer) is starting to pay off I think. He was definitely hot when he was done, but he cooled down quickly and didn’t seem particularly tired afterward.

She was really happy with him in all three phases, he earned a gold star and lots of cookies for the weekend.

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Presto had yesterday off and will hack today and tomorrow, then get a really light jump school on Thursday when I drop him off at Trainer’s barn. They’ll haul him up to Bouckaert on Friday and I’ll make a quick trip up there to see him go this weekend. We’re all hoping he’ll decide to be a well-behaved creature so that I can have the ride back as we head into fall. Fingers crossed he makes good choices… you just never really know with him sometimes.

I do think he’s looking REALLY incredible though, like the changes in his body and his strength and how he’s carrying himself over past year are pretty phenomenal. Heck, even over the past 6 months really. Is it the training program? The fact that he’s 8 now? Probably both. It takes such a long time for horses to build up their bodies and mature as they come up the levels, and he’s such a big horse. But man, he’s really starting to look like the real deal. It almost makes me wish I had Owner Money so we could find out what he was really capable of. Alas, I want the ride back. Gimme gimme.

In other news, things with the 2yos are getting pretty serious.

They’ve worn saddles a few times now, and Andy has done a little bit of very very light walk/trot lunging with his. Rue is a little bit behind him, so she’s mostly learning how to pay attention and be still (Andy LOVES being still, it’s his favorite) but they’ve both been champs about the saddle. Next will be bridles!

Next week Studbook sBs will be here inspecting the 2025 babies, and then after that we’re already getting close to weaning time.

Hopefully we’ll get some good pics of the foals to share before they start getting into that weird growth stage and aren’t cute again for possibly years.

Fingers crossed Bouckaert goes well this weekend, and I hope everyone is surviving the swampass part of summer!