No Riding Weekend

Alas, for me, no riding this weekend. But, plenty of horsey activities. Luckily, I managed a YaYa ride at Glenbrook on Wednesday evening - we had a lovely ride on a beautiful evening. I used a western low-port bit on Splash to work on neck-reining at the walk in the mucky WOR arena on Tuesday and followed up with the same bit on Wednesday. Splash seems to be getting the hang of it - especially when he wants to go the way I am turning.

But, while I was socializing and snacking with my friends, Splash was NOT eating hay at the trailer. He also didn't go for his food when we got home. So, I went to check on him after unloading the truck and found him ROLLING in his stall - food untouched. So we walked and Splash was not pushy or interested in GRASS! He was not sweaty, kicking/biting at his sides and didn't seem distressed, just depressed. We walked some more and I considered calling the VET. Since the phone was inside, I put him back in the stall and ran inside for the phone and to let Steve know what was up. Back at the stall, Splash was rolling again. Steve walked him some more while I went in search of one (of my 2) stethoscopes and found the thermometer...... several more searches later... stethoscope found... gut sounds on one side only.... Before calling the vet, I tried to take a temperature.... to dry to insert so more searching for Vaseline.... 100.1 Splash seems a little perkier and took a halfhearted bite of grass so we walked some more.... In the round pen, we walked (ok Splash stumbled) over cavaletti poles. Splash seemed to perk up a bit more, more walking and then..... Grass looked green again and I let him hand-grass for a while and then took him back to the stall and he started eating his feed. We checked on him several more times and he was munching hay. Whew. Late night but all is well.

Friday evening, the girls and I went to Stillwater for the 4-H/FFA State Horse Judging Competition at OSU - we went to dinner, they practiced halter reasons and chatted with friends at the hotel. Then, Saturday they competed from 9:00am to after 3:00 judging/placing 8 classes and giving 1 set of reasons. Both the junior and senior teams were Reserve Champions; Senior Emily P high overall individual, and Junior Heather High placings individual. All four seniors and 3 juniors placed top-10 in placings, reasons and overall. Very exciting since all the juniors are first time Judges. Juniors placed 2nd in Placings and 3rd in Reasons for a 2nd place Overall; Alaina tied with a girl named Alexis (from another county) 8th Individual Reasons, 9th Individual Placing for 9th place Individual Overall.

We even got to see Kale briefly when he came to the awards ceremony.

Then, without time for horse- washing preparations, we had a 4-H point show on Sunday. We arrived early and did minimal clipping and leg-wash.

	Ivy	Alaina
Showmanship	/	6
Hunter Under Saddle	1	2
Hunt Seat Eq	2	1
Hunter Hack	3	1
West. Pleasure	4	2
West. Horsemanship	3	5
Trail	4	2
Barrels	4	/
Poles	4	/
Stakes	5	6

So, will the party lesson be back next weekend?  Alas, not for me since the girls will be competing at the Metro-Lakes Conference Track meet in Talequah next Saturday.  Perhaps a YaYa ride on Wednesday will happen?  A girl can dream.

It's raining - so we vaccinate!

Mallory and I gave West Nile vaccines to all the horses today and it was raining.  It seems to always rain when we vaccinate, but I think we are to busy riding if its not raining.  That's my story.

The girls rode in the 3rd 4-H point show of the year on Saturday and we got lucky with the weather.  It was cool but sunny and breezes were light.  Ivy got off to a rough start with Hunter Under Saddle - she was disqualified for having a flash on her bridle and Alaina/Sunny won the class. 

Ivy and Pico placed 2nd in Hunt Seat Eq and Hunter Hack, 3rd in Western Horsemanship, 5th in Trail and 6 in Western Pleasure. 

Alaina and Sunny came 1st in Hunter Under Saddle and Western Horsemanship, 2nd in Trail, 3rd in Hunter Hack and 4th in Hunt Seat Eq; they had a near perfect ride in Western Pleasure but didn't place - perhaps the judge just missed them cruising the rail since there were 3 other palomino pairs.

I am feeling deprived since I didn't get on a horse this weekend and next weekend isn't looking to promising for me either.  Patty is hosting a 2-day jumping clinic that the girls will be riding in.  The good news?  Spring is springing even if I don't really feel like that pesky "spring forward."  YaYa.

Dressage Season!

Splash and I went over to Mallory's on Friday for a quick lunch and some equine activities.  Splash was in serious need of attitude readjustment after his rotten behavior at the Will Rogers Classic.  Mallory worked both Trooper in and out of the saddle and Sister on the ground.  Trooper is one smooth ride and Sister is ... Sister.

SOOOOO.  Splash got to try Sunny's Western twisted wire snaffle with the German Neck Stretcher.  He says:  "Yes Mam'am!"   Evil laugh.  Mallory's arena was lots firmer with a truck-load of sand removed so Splash had a much easier time working.  I rode with no rein pressure letting the GNS maintain the attention I wanted.  We did a lot of long trot cruising all over the arena and some good canter work both ways including correct leads every time.  I have started alternating posting diagonal every 2, 4, or 6 strides during trot work practice and it seems to help maintain Splash's attention.  He was responsive to seat and leg during our work.  It was fun to feel a bit of progress.

So, the girls and I rode in the March Madness Dressage Show I with Roberta Clark judging on Saturday.  Since Alaina and I start with Intro C and Ivy rides First Level, we are there ALL day.  We all got a few hours of volunteer hours in too.  Alaina and Sunny received 64.25 for Intro C including an 8 for the final halt.  Sunny needs more energy (especially at the walk) and more bend in the canter work but showed bend in some corners.  Then, in their first Western Dressage Class, they received 58.620.  Sunny needs more ground cover in walk and more energy overall but a lovely first effort including the BLING.  Naomi dropped by to help with the tack change and to watch.

Ivy and Pico concentrated on First Level and had a good first show of the year.  Pico had to contend with a Jupiter jump party just across the street with screaming children.  Very Scary for him.  The pair received 61.551 in FL-1 (7s for both halts) and 62.258 in FL-3 (8 for one 15 m canter circle).  Roberta says that lengthenings need work and to think "uphill" for better balance.  Splash and I rode in Intro-C and TL-1 and scored 60.00 and 63.333 respectively.  Roberta says to maintain Splash's shoulders up to help balance and to think "straight."  Both halts were slightly haunches right so we need to work on that.  We received a 7 for the stretchy circle which is wonderful but we need more march in the free walk.  Overall, a fun show and nice rides to start the year off. 

We have another 4-H Point show on Saturday so no Party Lesson for me this week.  If I could just fit a ride with my YaYa sisters in, everything would be good.