We were supposed to go out on Saturday, but a wind storm knocked over my tree and we had to get rid of it, as it was laying on the power lines. Not good.
We went out Sunday. I'm just gonna write it in present tense at times, it's easier to remember things.
First thing we see as we drive up to the stable are people outside! Yay! I was mega excited to be able to use the outdoor arena for the first time since winter, it was beautiful out. Ray approaches us and says for us to not ride Harry and Nina because since he's not training next month he wanted to show us what he's been doing with them. So we just brush them off, Brie was SOOO DUSTY by the way, and get Nina first. He has this really rough looking jaquima on her, at least the underpart (I forgot whether it's bosal or barbada, but the part that goes under the chin). He told us that she might get scratched up today but that he doesn't use it all the time. He also was using a different bit on her. He worked Nina really well outside and she had her head set really nicely.
Then I noticed that she was bleeding under the chin from the bosal/barbada. My brother rode her, she was okay, then I rode her. Obviously I didn't want to move my hands or do anything really because all I could think about was that she was bleeding so she wasn't that great.
Ray got Harry next and worked with him. Harry was a little wild, he reminds me a lot of Brie. I rode him really well though, maybe because of Brie, and Ray even gave me compliments on him.
Ray also did this really backwards apology type thing which resulted in my parents considering keeping him as a trainer up until May. We're going to start Harry on the same calming supplement that Brie is on and see if it makes a difference.
Brie was FANTASTIC! Well I mean, she still didn't want me to take her out of the stall, but we rode outside in the arena and she had fun, I think. She didn't want to walk, but I managed to get her to a slow corto. We cantered! It was probably the best cantering experience with her so far because I know what I'm doing now!
Show Update!
Memphis: Week of April 19th
I don't think we're going to bring Nina or Harry to this one. If anything, I'll convince my parents to trailer Brie down there and I'll show her. Otherwise we'll just go and be spectators, which might be kind of fun. I don't know yet.
Spectrum- Miami: Memorial Day Weekend
I'm super looking forward to this one! It's bigger than Nationals, almost as big as the bi-yearly Mundial. Horses are coming in from Puerto Rico and Colombia to compete. Naturally, we'd go as spectators, but it would be one hell of a weekend! I can't wait for this, especially because when we get bored of the show, we can go lay out on South Beach. =]
Showing posts with label Horse Show. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Horse Show. Show all posts
Monday, March 29, 2010
Friday, March 5, 2010
Sweet Girl
A nursery of foals running around in the pasture, wobbly on their new legs.
This is how I first met Dulce Nina, who we just call Nina for short. I met her as a foal one weekend, she had been born during the middle of that week. Not really standing out from the lot, my brother
and I just enjoyed watching them play because they were so adorable.
We never took particular notice to Nina until she was kept in the stall over the winter because she had an eye infection. More like 'Shy Girl' instead of 'Sweet Girl', she stood facing the corner, refusing to look at us, no matter how hard we tried to lure her out. Once she was released from the infirmary, she was let back outside to grow.
We never really planned on getting another horse. It just came spontaneously. When we heard that Lorraine wanted to sell the barn and auction off all of the horses, we asked Andre which one of the babies was the best. At the time, it was down to three babies: Obrero, Futur
o, and Dulce Nina. He said that out of them, Nina had the most potential other than his own baby, Elegante, that he recently bought from Lorraine at the auction at Nationals that fall.
Auction day was a blur. We walked in to find a crowd of people seated on hay bales in the arena; all the horses were lined up and wearing numbers on their flanks. My brother and I approached Nina in her stall and my brother promised her that he would buy her. A whirlwind of bids later, we were the proud owners of Dulce Nina. My brother and I rejoiced and took about a million pictures of our new family member. Nina was just over a year old.
So now we have this baby horse. What do we do with her? The first step we made was desensitizing her. We worked on our bond with her, my brother connecting with her the most. Andre suggested that we do Bella Forma with her. Bella Forma is a class in shows where you have either one or two people and you walk the filly or colt around the arena to show her or his gait. It's kind of like a dog show, only with a
horse. The first year we competed with her, my mom was by herself with Nina because Nina was still little. As Nina grew, she went on double lines and my brother joined in. We won a few classes, I believe we qualified for Nationals, but we decided not to go.
This past year was Nina's first year competing under saddle. We did well, but not as well as we would have liked to. Andre told us that she had a lot of potential and was even turning out better than Elegante. He told us that we had a pretty good Fino horse on our h
ands and we were thrilled. What luck we had to have a Fino horse bought at an auction! But something went wrong, and Nina became angry and unwilling to work. We thought, maybe Andre was over working her? But none the less, she flat out stopped in the middle of the sound board when we were competing in Kentucky this past year. She became angry and wanted nothing to do with us anymore. Shortly after that, we stopped training, and after that, Andre was fired from our current stable.
Now Nina is getting down to work. After having quite a few months off to play, bond even more with Brie, and not do really anything, she is very eager to learn under Ray. Ray tells us that at the least, we will have a very high quality performance horse, but that he doesn't want to make any promises about whether she is Fino or not. We're all very eager to see how she turns out, but she has now grown into her name none the less. She is certainly a sweet girl.
This is how I first met Dulce Nina, who we just call Nina for short. I met her as a foal one weekend, she had been born during the middle of that week. Not really standing out from the lot, my brother
and I just enjoyed watching them play because they were so adorable.We never took particular notice to Nina until she was kept in the stall over the winter because she had an eye infection. More like 'Shy Girl' instead of 'Sweet Girl', she stood facing the corner, refusing to look at us, no matter how hard we tried to lure her out. Once she was released from the infirmary, she was let back outside to grow.
We never really planned on getting another horse. It just came spontaneously. When we heard that Lorraine wanted to sell the barn and auction off all of the horses, we asked Andre which one of the babies was the best. At the time, it was down to three babies: Obrero, Futur
o, and Dulce Nina. He said that out of them, Nina had the most potential other than his own baby, Elegante, that he recently bought from Lorraine at the auction at Nationals that fall.Auction day was a blur. We walked in to find a crowd of people seated on hay bales in the arena; all the horses were lined up and wearing numbers on their flanks. My brother and I approached Nina in her stall and my brother promised her that he would buy her. A whirlwind of bids later, we were the proud owners of Dulce Nina. My brother and I rejoiced and took about a million pictures of our new family member. Nina was just over a year old.
So now we have this baby horse. What do we do with her? The first step we made was desensitizing her. We worked on our bond with her, my brother connecting with her the most. Andre suggested that we do Bella Forma with her. Bella Forma is a class in shows where you have either one or two people and you walk the filly or colt around the arena to show her or his gait. It's kind of like a dog show, only with a
horse. The first year we competed with her, my mom was by herself with Nina because Nina was still little. As Nina grew, she went on double lines and my brother joined in. We won a few classes, I believe we qualified for Nationals, but we decided not to go.This past year was Nina's first year competing under saddle. We did well, but not as well as we would have liked to. Andre told us that she had a lot of potential and was even turning out better than Elegante. He told us that we had a pretty good Fino horse on our h
ands and we were thrilled. What luck we had to have a Fino horse bought at an auction! But something went wrong, and Nina became angry and unwilling to work. We thought, maybe Andre was over working her? But none the less, she flat out stopped in the middle of the sound board when we were competing in Kentucky this past year. She became angry and wanted nothing to do with us anymore. Shortly after that, we stopped training, and after that, Andre was fired from our current stable.Now Nina is getting down to work. After having quite a few months off to play, bond even more with Brie, and not do really anything, she is very eager to learn under Ray. Ray tells us that at the least, we will have a very high quality performance horse, but that he doesn't want to make any promises about whether she is Fino or not. We're all very eager to see how she turns out, but she has now grown into her name none the less. She is certainly a sweet girl.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Days 13 & 14
Day 13
Yay! I got to go home and see Brie and Nina!
I figured why stay at school if nothing's going on? So I went home.
Well. For the past couple weeks it's been really hard to get Brie out of the stall. I go by the door with the halter and she runs into the corner. Now I know that you're not supposed to barge on in there and get the horse, but I already stood/sat there for over an hour once and I'm not about to do that again. She didn't even come out when I did that! So I need to find a way that doesn't involve bribing her with food, to get her to come by the door and put the halter on.
Other than that, today was the best day I've had with her so far! She's learning how to canter on command. She's still a little mixed up between gaiting and cantering, but she'll get it. She goes so fast! It's indescribable! The only thing I can think of to explain it is it's like I'm flying, it's incredible.
And that's not even galloping!
After that adrenaline rush, I switched with my mom and rode outside with Nina. Very relaxing. Brie got too far ahead and Nina broke into her tiny canter to catch up. It was adorable! My mom and I had a race. Nina had no chance! Her canter is so short while Brie's is so extended. It was very amusing though =]
This was such a good day. I didn't realize how being around them makes me so calm. It was the perfect remedy to an overly stressful week.
Now to do it again tomorrow!
Day 14
So I was too exhausted to remember to post yesterday so I combined it with today.
First off I want to talk about Nina. She too has been having trouble with putting the halter on. While I was watching Cesar Milan on Friday night, he did this trick where you massage the animal to make it calm and then pet it once it's calmed down. Easiest thing ever and I never thought of it! So I walked in Nina's stall and did this to her and she was better putting the halter on. Today she only tossed her head once before she lowered it to put the halter on. Progress!
Also Brie is getting better at cantering. It's more me getting scared of falling off. But we walked outside and Brie was pretty calm. I was so proud of her! She too is making progress. And with all this progress made it makes me even more satisfied that I went home this weekend.
Now next weekend I'm going to the Nationals as a spectator. Now THAT should be an interesting weekend. I'm sure I'll have much to say about it. Until then, keep riding!
Yay! I got to go home and see Brie and Nina!
I figured why stay at school if nothing's going on? So I went home.
Well. For the past couple weeks it's been really hard to get Brie out of the stall. I go by the door with the halter and she runs into the corner. Now I know that you're not supposed to barge on in there and get the horse, but I already stood/sat there for over an hour once and I'm not about to do that again. She didn't even come out when I did that! So I need to find a way that doesn't involve bribing her with food, to get her to come by the door and put the halter on.
Other than that, today was the best day I've had with her so far! She's learning how to canter on command. She's still a little mixed up between gaiting and cantering, but she'll get it. She goes so fast! It's indescribable! The only thing I can think of to explain it is it's like I'm flying, it's incredible.
And that's not even galloping!
After that adrenaline rush, I switched with my mom and rode outside with Nina. Very relaxing. Brie got too far ahead and Nina broke into her tiny canter to catch up. It was adorable! My mom and I had a race. Nina had no chance! Her canter is so short while Brie's is so extended. It was very amusing though =]
This was such a good day. I didn't realize how being around them makes me so calm. It was the perfect remedy to an overly stressful week.
Now to do it again tomorrow!
Day 14
So I was too exhausted to remember to post yesterday so I combined it with today.
First off I want to talk about Nina. She too has been having trouble with putting the halter on. While I was watching Cesar Milan on Friday night, he did this trick where you massage the animal to make it calm and then pet it once it's calmed down. Easiest thing ever and I never thought of it! So I walked in Nina's stall and did this to her and she was better putting the halter on. Today she only tossed her head once before she lowered it to put the halter on. Progress!
Also Brie is getting better at cantering. It's more me getting scared of falling off. But we walked outside and Brie was pretty calm. I was so proud of her! She too is making progress. And with all this progress made it makes me even more satisfied that I went home this weekend.
Now next weekend I'm going to the Nationals as a spectator. Now THAT should be an interesting weekend. I'm sure I'll have much to say about it. Until then, keep riding!
Monday, September 14, 2009
Days 11 & 12
Didn't get the chance to write this weekend due to personal issues. But here we go.
Day 11
Brie was really good today =] I got to ride her outside, and she didn't really like the outdoor arena, mainly because of the disassembled round pen in there. But I got her to calm down over it and we walked around out back. I'm teaching her to canter the right way outside and I think that she's getting the hang of it. I rode Nina outside. She is such the perfect trail horse, I love her to death. Brie is my stunning beauty of a horse while Nina is the lovable cuddly horse that you just want to hug to death. Don't get me wrong, Nina's beautiful too. It's just something about a black horse that's so breathtaking. And Brie's cuddly too, on occasion. But you get my point.
Oh and Taco? That horse that I was training before? I forgot to mention, Jane took him out of there for this month to just laze around in the pasture at her relative's farm.
Day 12
Brie was a bit more crazy today. Once again we rode outside in the arena and she was a bit more nervous. After a long while I got her to calm down, then we rode out back again. Continued teaching her to canter, but on my way into the stable my mom was coming out with Nina so we walked around the back together. I showed her how I'm teaching Brie to canter and I admit, I'm kind of scared because she goes so fast! I think that once I'm more confident about what my knee can hold up to I'll be more relaxed with teaching Brie to canter. We had more troubles outside. Brie kept freezing like in the show arena. I bought a crop but I forgot it inside. So I just tried to deal with her and I think I did so effectively.
Now I won't be writing for a while. I'm going to school and I don't know how often I can go see my two babies. I'm going to miss them so much, it makes me so sad.
But I might have a post in a week. I don't know if I'll be able to make it to Nationals next weekend, but I really hope I can. I'm sure I'll have something to say about the show. As a matter of fact, I do right now! How is it fair that once you earn 20 points you can waltz on into Nationals? You can earn 20 points with two blue ribbons, probably in one weekend show! I believe that this standard should be raised. And another thing I'm miffed about. I emailed the director of the editorials of the PFHA magazine and she never got back to me. I guess I'll keep spamming her inbox then.
Until the next post, wish me luck at school!
Day 11
Brie was really good today =] I got to ride her outside, and she didn't really like the outdoor arena, mainly because of the disassembled round pen in there. But I got her to calm down over it and we walked around out back. I'm teaching her to canter the right way outside and I think that she's getting the hang of it. I rode Nina outside. She is such the perfect trail horse, I love her to death. Brie is my stunning beauty of a horse while Nina is the lovable cuddly horse that you just want to hug to death. Don't get me wrong, Nina's beautiful too. It's just something about a black horse that's so breathtaking. And Brie's cuddly too, on occasion. But you get my point.
Oh and Taco? That horse that I was training before? I forgot to mention, Jane took him out of there for this month to just laze around in the pasture at her relative's farm.
Day 12
Brie was a bit more crazy today. Once again we rode outside in the arena and she was a bit more nervous. After a long while I got her to calm down, then we rode out back again. Continued teaching her to canter, but on my way into the stable my mom was coming out with Nina so we walked around the back together. I showed her how I'm teaching Brie to canter and I admit, I'm kind of scared because she goes so fast! I think that once I'm more confident about what my knee can hold up to I'll be more relaxed with teaching Brie to canter. We had more troubles outside. Brie kept freezing like in the show arena. I bought a crop but I forgot it inside. So I just tried to deal with her and I think I did so effectively.
Now I won't be writing for a while. I'm going to school and I don't know how often I can go see my two babies. I'm going to miss them so much, it makes me so sad.
But I might have a post in a week. I don't know if I'll be able to make it to Nationals next weekend, but I really hope I can. I'm sure I'll have something to say about the show. As a matter of fact, I do right now! How is it fair that once you earn 20 points you can waltz on into Nationals? You can earn 20 points with two blue ribbons, probably in one weekend show! I believe that this standard should be raised. And another thing I'm miffed about. I emailed the director of the editorials of the PFHA magazine and she never got back to me. I guess I'll keep spamming her inbox then.
Until the next post, wish me luck at school!
Sunday, August 23, 2009
State Fair
What a bunch of favoritism.
Pardon my language.
On the subject of Brie: she did really well! She placed her first ever third place! And got a fifth too. And I won $150! I'm so proud of her. She got excused twice at night, I don't think she's a night person. She got caught in the middle of a traffic jam and was the unlucky one, she got scared and almost backed up over the judge. Oops. =]
Nina also did well. Anthony rode her and I forgot what she got. And my mom rode her as well and got a 6th, which is okay, it was her first time showing Nina.
On to the sabotage!
So Taco, as I've said, is a very good horse. He has the bloodline of probably the most famous horse in the Paso Fino world, Capuchino, and did nothing out-of-step, yet he got excused every class. Why, you ask?
Because the judge doesn't like Capuchino babies.
There are over 5000 Capuchino babies.
Yet this man does not like them. He doesn't like 5000 horses in the breed. Not only is this statement ignorant, but how the hell do you know who is a Capuchino baby when that horse enters the ring? Completely ridiculous.
And this is what makes people want to quit.
This is why when the Midwest goes to America's Nationals we lose.
This is why when America goes to the World Nationals we lose.
This is why other experts are pulling out of PFHA and are starting their own organizations that follow the rules they themselves write.
On an ethical note, let me leave you with this question.
Principe, a well-known performance horse, was put into retirement because of kidney damage.
Someone is leasing Principe in order to make a name for his granddaughter.
I'm not even asking if that's right. I'm asking, how could Principe's owner agree to leasing him when he's the one who sent him into retirement?
Pardon my language.
On the subject of Brie: she did really well! She placed her first ever third place! And got a fifth too. And I won $150! I'm so proud of her. She got excused twice at night, I don't think she's a night person. She got caught in the middle of a traffic jam and was the unlucky one, she got scared and almost backed up over the judge. Oops. =]
Nina also did well. Anthony rode her and I forgot what she got. And my mom rode her as well and got a 6th, which is okay, it was her first time showing Nina.
On to the sabotage!
So Taco, as I've said, is a very good horse. He has the bloodline of probably the most famous horse in the Paso Fino world, Capuchino, and did nothing out-of-step, yet he got excused every class. Why, you ask?
Because the judge doesn't like Capuchino babies.
There are over 5000 Capuchino babies.
Yet this man does not like them. He doesn't like 5000 horses in the breed. Not only is this statement ignorant, but how the hell do you know who is a Capuchino baby when that horse enters the ring? Completely ridiculous.
And this is what makes people want to quit.
This is why when the Midwest goes to America's Nationals we lose.
This is why when America goes to the World Nationals we lose.
This is why other experts are pulling out of PFHA and are starting their own organizations that follow the rules they themselves write.
On an ethical note, let me leave you with this question.
Principe, a well-known performance horse, was put into retirement because of kidney damage.
Someone is leasing Principe in order to make a name for his granddaughter.
I'm not even asking if that's right. I'm asking, how could Principe's owner agree to leasing him when he's the one who sent him into retirement?
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Days 7 & 8
Day 7
Brie was good today! She didn't even break into a canter as I rounded the corners of the arena. And I walked her outside. She seemed really happy. I think she really loves being outside but doesn't like being cooped up inside. I've been misinterpreting it all along as the reverse. Yesterday she was happy as a clam walking around outside but when she saw the barn, that's when she started acting up. She stopped and turned her head to the side, refusing to look at the barn. So now I think I'll make going outside more common with her.
Well yesterday this guy from Florida was up here. He looked at all of the horses and said what he thought of them. Now this guy is a trainer for one of the stables that keeps winning everything. Well he didn't really pay attention to Brie, which is okay. But he looked at Nina. Nina's having a hard time listening to what we want her to do. She just stops walking, refuses to back up, which I attributed to being a young horse who is tired. Well this trainer said that she is tired, tired of being pushed. Andre pushed her faster and faster to grow up and be a Fino horse (the most desirable of the Paso Fino breed) only because my father and brother kept badgering him to. So I don't blame him for that. Maybe I should start working with Nina, but then again maybe not since I'll be at school now. I only hope that my mom will take over for me and let Nina just be a horse.
I didn't work with Taco because of all the commotion with the visiting trainer. Perhaps I'll work with him tomorrow. There's really nothing to do other than let him out of his stall and stretch since Jane's already at the fair.
Day 8
So this trainer says that we should be utilizing the outside arena more. We don't use it at all, there's grass growing in it! So we all rode outside today. Brie was doing really well! I walked her around the property and she was doing okay but towards the end she started getting a little freaked out. I let my mom and dad rid Brie as well, she was pretty calm for them =]
Nina was a whole world different today. She was very good, didn't die out. We changed her nosepeice to a harder leather. So we'll see how that goes.
Taco? Well Andre changed his bit -.- I personaly didn't like it, Taco was pulling too much. But we'll see how Jane likes it.
The state fair's next week! I'm so excited, wish me luck!
Brie was good today! She didn't even break into a canter as I rounded the corners of the arena. And I walked her outside. She seemed really happy. I think she really loves being outside but doesn't like being cooped up inside. I've been misinterpreting it all along as the reverse. Yesterday she was happy as a clam walking around outside but when she saw the barn, that's when she started acting up. She stopped and turned her head to the side, refusing to look at the barn. So now I think I'll make going outside more common with her.
Well yesterday this guy from Florida was up here. He looked at all of the horses and said what he thought of them. Now this guy is a trainer for one of the stables that keeps winning everything. Well he didn't really pay attention to Brie, which is okay. But he looked at Nina. Nina's having a hard time listening to what we want her to do. She just stops walking, refuses to back up, which I attributed to being a young horse who is tired. Well this trainer said that she is tired, tired of being pushed. Andre pushed her faster and faster to grow up and be a Fino horse (the most desirable of the Paso Fino breed) only because my father and brother kept badgering him to. So I don't blame him for that. Maybe I should start working with Nina, but then again maybe not since I'll be at school now. I only hope that my mom will take over for me and let Nina just be a horse.
I didn't work with Taco because of all the commotion with the visiting trainer. Perhaps I'll work with him tomorrow. There's really nothing to do other than let him out of his stall and stretch since Jane's already at the fair.
Day 8
So this trainer says that we should be utilizing the outside arena more. We don't use it at all, there's grass growing in it! So we all rode outside today. Brie was doing really well! I walked her around the property and she was doing okay but towards the end she started getting a little freaked out. I let my mom and dad rid Brie as well, she was pretty calm for them =]
Nina was a whole world different today. She was very good, didn't die out. We changed her nosepeice to a harder leather. So we'll see how that goes.
Taco? Well Andre changed his bit -.- I personaly didn't like it, Taco was pulling too much. But we'll see how Jane likes it.
The state fair's next week! I'm so excited, wish me luck!
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Day 5
Today was so damn hot out.
But I'm pleased. Brie did a really good job, I think with next weekend being the last weekend before the show I'll be able to finish tightening her reverses and controlling the difference between largo and corto.
I also worked with Taco and Jane today. Taco was a dream! Beautiful as always. Jane did pretty well on him too. I think all that she has to overcome is her self-doubt while riding. She's also firing Andre.
Nina is where the problems are. She's just a young horse so she runs out of energy quickly. We have to work on buliding her stamina.
As for tomorrow, we'll probably just go out to shower them since it's going to be 97 degrees. I guess summer arrived late this year.
But I'm pleased. Brie did a really good job, I think with next weekend being the last weekend before the show I'll be able to finish tightening her reverses and controlling the difference between largo and corto.
I also worked with Taco and Jane today. Taco was a dream! Beautiful as always. Jane did pretty well on him too. I think all that she has to overcome is her self-doubt while riding. She's also firing Andre.
Nina is where the problems are. She's just a young horse so she runs out of energy quickly. We have to work on buliding her stamina.
As for tomorrow, we'll probably just go out to shower them since it's going to be 97 degrees. I guess summer arrived late this year.
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