Scheffelridge Jumper Show Photos

Thanks to my friend Audrey who got up to just tag along to the show and take pictures! She was running on almost no sleep since she had switched work shifts with me the night before. Otherwise I would of had less than 4 hours of sleep. Still some other photos I'm waiting for from people but so happy to see these!

First ones there!

White Prince aka Poodle showing those cross rails who's boss!

Where did my friend go?!

Our makeshift halter fixing... 

Waiting... Lauren's face says it all. 

 

Home with her ribbon!

First Show Results!

It may have bee a non rated schooling KHJA jumper show but her first show is in the books! Video and photo's will be available ASAP. Waiting for everyone to get me the pictures they got of the day so I can make one post. 

We were first to arrive at the show of those trailering in - great parking! White Prince was in the first two classes of the day so Lauren got him saddle quickly while Echo stayed in the trailer until he was off for warm up. After a mini melt down from being tied to the trailer and breaking her halter - it was smooth sailing. Except the classes took longer than expected so we had a ton of time to burn between White Prince and Echo showing. 

The day also coined two new phrases to apply to Echo. "Honey Badger It" and "Echoing". Pretty self explanatory but really the mare could give two shits about anything. Announcer? No. Truck and trailers almost hitting her while parking? No. Children? No. Dogs? Intrigued but no. Standing ringside for your class forever? No thats just nap time. So now we just assume when she goes into a new environment or is asked to do something new she's going to 'honey badger it'.

Secondly we know why she's the opposite of a honey badger time to time. She goes into her own world and does as she's told but her brain isn't 'on'. She made this very clear in her first class Sunday. She entered the ring and couldn't care less about all the jumps, I'm pretty sure she was in a 'look at me I'm pretty' phase and just wanted to be told it. I saw her heading to the first jump like that and of course it was the only rail she pulled all day. Really she didn't even pull a rail, she just plowed through. Then about 3-4 jumps in Lauren said she felt her brain kick in and we could all see it from the side of arena where mid air she looks down and had a moment of 'wait... we're jumping?!'. She came out of the arena proud of herself and we were all proud of her but laughing at her mentality. The memo that she had to go in the arena and jump was just delayed in delivery to her. 

Since she was the first horse to go in the first of her two classes, we had lots of wait time for her next round. AKA time for Lauren to remember the next course and time for Echo to sleep and take in all the admiration. 

Time for second class and there was no echoing in the brain. I couldn't be more proud of her. She jumped clear on everything and took a 6th place in the class (which was 2'3"-2'6" Speed) out of at least 12 horses. We counted and Sunday was only her 9th day of jumping. Plus she trotted a little on course so speed and time wasn't something Lauren or I was worried about, just the experience. 

Showing her ribbon off back at home.

I think the plan now is to start some grid work and more schooling at home as far as jumping. Depending on farrier schedule, we may go to Masterson Station next Monday and figure out a Wednesday evening to the dressage show series. I think she's ready to rock Kentucky Classique in 5 weeks. 

Life... Why Me?

All I want is to have nothing exciting happen. It's too much to ask for though, I know.

My last post was that it was my birthday and I was going to Michigan so lets start there. My time home was great. Seeing my friends and family was the highlight but not far behind was all the time I spent swimming and enjoying the outdoors. Sadly the last two days of being home I got a stomach flu which I had to drive home with (not fun!) so my time seeing my grandparents was cut short - not happy about that.

Hanging out in South Haven with my Dad on my birthday. Lunch at my favorite restaurant. Fun fact - if anyone has read the book Time Traveler's Wife it's one of the places in the book.

 

Hanging out on the lake at my grandparents. 

Sunset at Lake Michigan on 4th of July aka my favorite holiday. 

Also while I was home my best friend Erin who lives in Michigan welcomed home the horse she grew up with. She's a 21 year old standardbred. The mare, Silver (yes she's bay and named Silver) was owned by Erin's aunt who passed away earlier this summer. Erin had her shipped to Michigan from Kentucky so she could stay in the family, Erin could have her childhood horse and give her a home to have rest of her life. Me being me... I had a scale to use on hay and grain in my car so I helped Erin figure out a good diet plan for her since she needs to gain a few pounds but not as much as expected. Silver also had a hoof injury right before Echo so it's been 'fun' to watch their hooves progress. Erin is 6' 2" so Silver really isn't that tiny of a standardbred - her owner is just that tall (sorry Erin).

Echo got over her withdraw problems with me fairly well while I was in Michigan. She went to a jump lesson with Lauren while I was gone and has had a flat lesson since. This past Sunday we planned to take the horses to Masterson Station again for more cross country schooling but we realized the park was full of carnival rides for the fair going. Instead Lauren jumped her outside on the grass. The ground was super hard due to lack of rain but she handled it like a pro, jumping her first oxer, barrel jump and lots of first time questions. After her jumping I gave her a much needed and deserved bath, head to toe. I rubbed her legs down in liniment and after some hand grazing to dry her off, let her take her afternoon nap in her stall. 

Off to her flat lesson.

Shiny after her Sunday bath.

Dakota's version of working hard. 

Monday Lauren texted me that her leg was swollen with lots of heat. Thankfully she was completely sound on it. So I cold hosed her, we poulticed the leg, wrapped it and turned her out for the night. Good news is the leg was tight with no heat the next day. The bad news was she had a reaction to the poultice. 

And then she had an allergic reaction to poultice. 

She's been lightly ridden with her weird rash / burn / whatever from the poultice and is sound so we are still planning on taking her to the jumping schooling show Sunday. 

In other life news, I might be moving. I will know more in 2 1/2 weeks when I meet with people and and figure out logistics. I can't say too much but hopefully it would be a good opportunity for myself and the situation would be something fitting for my four creatures. 

2013 Show & Clinic Schedule Posted!

You may notice there's a new page up there at the top of this blog. I finally compiled a list of the available schooling shows, shows and clinics of 2013 I'm interested in going to. I will NOT be going to all of these. Well maybe if I suddenly become employed again, win the lottery, or suddenly get some sort of showing support from my family. 

Clinics - I won't be riding in any clinics but I figure its better to get out there and audit  than not to go to any at all. 

The jumping clinic, while I clearly have no interest in jumping, I figure it might be beneficial for me to hear the whole lecture about sports psychology since I have mental riding blocks from past experiences. DEFINITELY going to the Charles de Kunffy clinic. Not too far away and will be worth the drive. The fourth clinic on my list is the day after their show and if you compete in the schooling show you get to ride in the clinic so maybe?

Shows - I won't be riding in any clinics but I figure its better to get out there and audit  than not to go to any at all. 

Most shows are through the Great Lakes Area Show Series - Educational Dressage organization that is a group member of USDF. There is a Hunter/Jumper schooling show first weekend of May that's through the LMHJA and another 'fun / open show' in October at the same farm that are not on the list yet since I don't know exact dates. We'll be going to these though since they're right down the road and always good for the experience.

While I intend to start doing canter work with Dakota throughout the year, I've decided I will stick to competing in USDF Intro Level and do test A & B and toward end of the season consider the idea of test C - which includes tiny amount of canter. A & B are walk / trot only. I may also do walk / trot dressage equitation classes with him depending on how we progress. The more 'local shows' - less than a half hour drive - I may take Echo for the experience and possibly an In-Hand class here and there. I don't want to plan on riding her through it then be disappointed later.

Show's I'm 90% sure I'll be going to are the Burlwood Benefit, Willow Tree and Chardon Valley. The Burlwood Benefit show is for K's trainer (my trainers former trainer as well), Margret Spencer as she is paralyzed from a riding accident about 4 years ago. The other two locations are super close to me, about a 10 minute and a 20 minute drive. While all the shows are within an hour and half from the barn I know these are most likely. Next most likely are Derbyshire, Mystic Ridge and Equine Line.

The only goal I have from this year of showing and clinics? No falling out of horse trailers!!!