I love days like today. The sun is shining, the wind is blowing, it's perfect weather for riding.
I started by switching up where every one stands on the cross ties and started brushed Nina for a change (my brother was MIA). I never noticed how RED her coat is. It's so red it's almost purple, kind of. Then I tried to brush out her ears and she wasn't having any of it, so I got the carrot stick out for the first time in a while and started rubbing her ears with that and giving her carrots whenever she stayed still for a couple of seconds. By the end of it, she was staying pretty still, but when I brushed them she still fidgeted around and moved back and forth. My brother really needs to work on that. But I'm happy I got some bonding time with little Nina.
I rode Harry with his fruit basket first. My mom taught me what she's been working on with him, working him on a circle and pushing his rear kind of off of the path of the circle so that his back feet cross over every time he steps so he has to think about walking. We did that for a while and then I took him out on the board. I tried to largo him, but I wasn't able to give him my complete attention, which I felt bad about and really tried to, but it just wasn't happening and I didn't want him to suffer because of it, so I gave him over to my mom to ride and I got on Brie.
I took Brie into the outdoor arena after going around the indoor a couple of times and we corto'd around out there. Then I had my dad set up a little X jump out of two boards and a couple of traffic cones so we could go over it. Brie just wanted to charge the thing down every time we turned to approach it! She never refuses a jump (so far), so it was more for me to try and fix my posture going over it. By the end of it with my mom coaching me I had a better posture than at the beginning, but still not quite as good as necessary. I didn't want to stress Brie's joints too much, so we took a long walk around the property with Harry and Nina afterwards. She started out really calm but once we started heading back towards the barn she was GO GO GO! I was just focusing on trying to get her to not run into the barn, and actually had to turn her around so she wouldn't face the barn and do sidepasses to get in front of the door to go in straight without running herself or me into the siding! What a goof.
We still don't know if we're going to Nationals, but I really don't even want to anymore. It's so disappointing and because of everything that happened I didn't really enjoy myself as much as I could have today, which is even more upsetting...
Showing posts with label Nationals. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Nationals. Show all posts
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Day 168
Today was a sad day.
Not because of riding. Brie was so good today. I think it's because I gave her a banana before we rode =]
But today was a sad day because I don't think we're going to Nationals anymore. I'm gonna take a break from same old training talk and go on a mini rant about my organization, just to be warned.
I sent in the entry forms this past Monday for Nationals. I only authorized paying for the classes right now and my mom would pay the stalls when we got there. Seemed normal. Shows usually let you do this. We thought we were good to go.
But then tonight my mom gets a phone call from the show secretary. They said my credit card was declined. That's odd because I had enough money in there to cover double entry fees. She calls them up to find out they were trying to charge it for the classes AND the stalls, which is NOT what I authorized for. What was I supposed to do if I somehow had enough in my account to cover this?! The secretary said that we had to pay everything in full up front, but no where on the rules did it say this.
She then proceeded to try and charge us for USEF memberships, which we don't have because the shows we went to weren't USEF sponsored. I was going to get my membership sometime closer to nationals because I need it for the USHJA and IHSA membership for the team as well, but they were trying to clear that. My brother was going to get his closer to the show too, but they said that since he's a minor he can't do that anyways.
Then, on top of all of it, we found out that we aren't guaranteed any of our money back if we can't make it. Only if there's a vet emergency, we might get 50% back from the classes, nothing from the stalls or shavings (the stalls and shavings are outrageous, btw). We've been to that venue before and they're 3x the amount as before, but whatever, it's Nationals, we were going to do it. They wouldn't give us money back if there was something wrong with US, only the HORSE. How is that right?! The horse wouldn't have a rider, so how could he/she possibly be in the class. What if there was a family emergency? Nope, no money back either. Get there and break your leg getting out of your car? Nope, tough for you. Die upon arrival? Sorry, you might get a little bit of money back.
It's just outrageous. I mean, the cost is one thing. We could handle that. But the fact that they won't give you any portion of money back if YOU, the rider, had an emergency is really stupid (for lack of a better word). Plus, it's in September, the month when most children in the United States go back to school. If they're always harping on about getting the kids involved, how about not making them choose between academics and their passions? And then they wonder why people are leaving the organization.
This whole thing makes me not want to show at all. What's the point if you can't go to Nationals? What's the point of spending your small amounts of money on weekend shows if you can't make Nationals your goal? If that's the case, to hell with my horses' gaits, I'd rather have them be atomic bombproof on a trail.
I'm just really upset and really disappointed with the organization right now. If it were up to me, I would leave it for good. But we'll see how the rest of my family feels about it.
Not because of riding. Brie was so good today. I think it's because I gave her a banana before we rode =]
But today was a sad day because I don't think we're going to Nationals anymore. I'm gonna take a break from same old training talk and go on a mini rant about my organization, just to be warned.
I sent in the entry forms this past Monday for Nationals. I only authorized paying for the classes right now and my mom would pay the stalls when we got there. Seemed normal. Shows usually let you do this. We thought we were good to go.
But then tonight my mom gets a phone call from the show secretary. They said my credit card was declined. That's odd because I had enough money in there to cover double entry fees. She calls them up to find out they were trying to charge it for the classes AND the stalls, which is NOT what I authorized for. What was I supposed to do if I somehow had enough in my account to cover this?! The secretary said that we had to pay everything in full up front, but no where on the rules did it say this.
She then proceeded to try and charge us for USEF memberships, which we don't have because the shows we went to weren't USEF sponsored. I was going to get my membership sometime closer to nationals because I need it for the USHJA and IHSA membership for the team as well, but they were trying to clear that. My brother was going to get his closer to the show too, but they said that since he's a minor he can't do that anyways.
Then, on top of all of it, we found out that we aren't guaranteed any of our money back if we can't make it. Only if there's a vet emergency, we might get 50% back from the classes, nothing from the stalls or shavings (the stalls and shavings are outrageous, btw). We've been to that venue before and they're 3x the amount as before, but whatever, it's Nationals, we were going to do it. They wouldn't give us money back if there was something wrong with US, only the HORSE. How is that right?! The horse wouldn't have a rider, so how could he/she possibly be in the class. What if there was a family emergency? Nope, no money back either. Get there and break your leg getting out of your car? Nope, tough for you. Die upon arrival? Sorry, you might get a little bit of money back.
It's just outrageous. I mean, the cost is one thing. We could handle that. But the fact that they won't give you any portion of money back if YOU, the rider, had an emergency is really stupid (for lack of a better word). Plus, it's in September, the month when most children in the United States go back to school. If they're always harping on about getting the kids involved, how about not making them choose between academics and their passions? And then they wonder why people are leaving the organization.
This whole thing makes me not want to show at all. What's the point if you can't go to Nationals? What's the point of spending your small amounts of money on weekend shows if you can't make Nationals your goal? If that's the case, to hell with my horses' gaits, I'd rather have them be atomic bombproof on a trail.
I'm just really upset and really disappointed with the organization right now. If it were up to me, I would leave it for good. But we'll see how the rest of my family feels about it.
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Days 162 & 163
Saturday
Back from vacation! I've missed Brie, Nina, and Harry so much. I haven't ridden in two weeks!
Before we went to the barn, we went to John and Jane's barbeque at the yacht club and grabbed some lunch because by the time we all woke up and got out there it was already 1pm! I met up with Annie and her new boyfriend and cousins and we all just hung around for a couple of hours until we left and went to the barn.
I was expecting quite a handful today, especially when mom said that I should ride Harry first so she could tinker around with a new bit that we're trying on Nina. I gathered up Harry after giving everyone much love and brought him out into the round pen. As soon as I let him off the line, he ran around like a maniac! I was happy he was getting it out of his system here instead of while I would be on him. After he started slowing down, I hooked him back onto the line and lunged him some more and he was responding super well to just my voice commands and didn't really try to give me any crap, so I brought him back in, cleaned and tacked him up, and into the arena we went!
I was also anticipating that he'd be a little berserk when I would flex him because he has been lately before we left, but with just a little kick and throwing my weight backwards, he gave in very quickly and stopped trying to start spinning around to throw me off.
I was super super super surprised on how amazingly he worked today! He responded so well to everything I asked him and had a perfect board and wonderfully slow walk and cute little largo. I can only hope that he'll stay that way until Nationals are over and he'll get a nice break going into winter. We went to go walk around outside a little bit by ourselves, but he seems like he doesn't have a lot of confidence to go very far from the barn by himself, as whenever he reached a certain distance from it (about 30 feet), he'd spin around and start heading back, not even in a hurried way, just kind of saying "Nope, not going any further". We'll have to work on that.
The bit my mom tried to use on Nina didn't work out too well, so we're going to try a different one tomorrow. We're trying to get her head to come down more, and with our last show before Nationals coming up in two weeks, we don't have that much time to work with!
After all of this, we were all sweaty and icky and still had to go back by John for dinner and the fireworks show he puts on every year, so we took Paco (who was also going back), and ran to Wal-Mart. I'm not sure what happened, but I do know that I went in with breeches and tall boots and came out with a pair of shorts and child sized flip flops and headed to a lovely fireworks show and dinner of cake (the real food was all eaten by the time we got there...830pm!). In all, it was a nice first day back =]
Sunday
So since Harry was so wonderful yesterday, especially after a two week break, I REALLY expected him to be horrible today. Wrong! I think that a break was really all he needed, he might've been starting to get burned out, because he worked beautifully today too! I even got him to go all around the property (except for by the pond. It might suck him in, you know) by himself! To say that I'm proud is a huge understatement. I hope he keeps it up for Nationals! I might even put him in Pleasure classes for fun at the State Fair just to see if we'll get some blue ribbons if he keeps up this wonderful attitude!
Nina's bit adventures didn't go so well today either, but we've seemed to have settled on a simple Mylar snaffle and a tie-down. With only another weekend's practice until the State Fair, I would start focusing more on working on dropping her head for Nationals instead of short fixes. We've done everything we could think of, it's just been an ongoing problem since she's been broke to ride. If you have any head-setting/dropping suggestions, please tell me!
Brie's leg was a little swollen today, but my brother warmed her up while I rode Harry and she was walking fine by the time I got to her. We all went for a nice walk around the property and she seemed to enjoy it a lot. We even ventured out onto the little side street next to the property, much to my dismay. I was freaking out getting there, but had to pull it together and act like I wasn't scared that way Brie wouldn't flip over on the asphalt and run away. There's nothing to really be scared of, not very many cars drive there, but all I could see was that one scene from The Horse Whisperer.
Thursday we're going out to meet the farrier again for shoeing. Hopefully the tranquilizer will work on Nina this time!
Back from vacation! I've missed Brie, Nina, and Harry so much. I haven't ridden in two weeks!
Before we went to the barn, we went to John and Jane's barbeque at the yacht club and grabbed some lunch because by the time we all woke up and got out there it was already 1pm! I met up with Annie and her new boyfriend and cousins and we all just hung around for a couple of hours until we left and went to the barn.
I was expecting quite a handful today, especially when mom said that I should ride Harry first so she could tinker around with a new bit that we're trying on Nina. I gathered up Harry after giving everyone much love and brought him out into the round pen. As soon as I let him off the line, he ran around like a maniac! I was happy he was getting it out of his system here instead of while I would be on him. After he started slowing down, I hooked him back onto the line and lunged him some more and he was responding super well to just my voice commands and didn't really try to give me any crap, so I brought him back in, cleaned and tacked him up, and into the arena we went!
I was also anticipating that he'd be a little berserk when I would flex him because he has been lately before we left, but with just a little kick and throwing my weight backwards, he gave in very quickly and stopped trying to start spinning around to throw me off.
I was super super super surprised on how amazingly he worked today! He responded so well to everything I asked him and had a perfect board and wonderfully slow walk and cute little largo. I can only hope that he'll stay that way until Nationals are over and he'll get a nice break going into winter. We went to go walk around outside a little bit by ourselves, but he seems like he doesn't have a lot of confidence to go very far from the barn by himself, as whenever he reached a certain distance from it (about 30 feet), he'd spin around and start heading back, not even in a hurried way, just kind of saying "Nope, not going any further". We'll have to work on that.
The bit my mom tried to use on Nina didn't work out too well, so we're going to try a different one tomorrow. We're trying to get her head to come down more, and with our last show before Nationals coming up in two weeks, we don't have that much time to work with!
After all of this, we were all sweaty and icky and still had to go back by John for dinner and the fireworks show he puts on every year, so we took Paco (who was also going back), and ran to Wal-Mart. I'm not sure what happened, but I do know that I went in with breeches and tall boots and came out with a pair of shorts and child sized flip flops and headed to a lovely fireworks show and dinner of cake (the real food was all eaten by the time we got there...830pm!). In all, it was a nice first day back =]
Sunday
So since Harry was so wonderful yesterday, especially after a two week break, I REALLY expected him to be horrible today. Wrong! I think that a break was really all he needed, he might've been starting to get burned out, because he worked beautifully today too! I even got him to go all around the property (except for by the pond. It might suck him in, you know) by himself! To say that I'm proud is a huge understatement. I hope he keeps it up for Nationals! I might even put him in Pleasure classes for fun at the State Fair just to see if we'll get some blue ribbons if he keeps up this wonderful attitude!
Nina's bit adventures didn't go so well today either, but we've seemed to have settled on a simple Mylar snaffle and a tie-down. With only another weekend's practice until the State Fair, I would start focusing more on working on dropping her head for Nationals instead of short fixes. We've done everything we could think of, it's just been an ongoing problem since she's been broke to ride. If you have any head-setting/dropping suggestions, please tell me!
Brie's leg was a little swollen today, but my brother warmed her up while I rode Harry and she was walking fine by the time I got to her. We all went for a nice walk around the property and she seemed to enjoy it a lot. We even ventured out onto the little side street next to the property, much to my dismay. I was freaking out getting there, but had to pull it together and act like I wasn't scared that way Brie wouldn't flip over on the asphalt and run away. There's nothing to really be scared of, not very many cars drive there, but all I could see was that one scene from The Horse Whisperer.
Thursday we're going out to meet the farrier again for shoeing. Hopefully the tranquilizer will work on Nina this time!
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Day 15 & Nationals Comments
I didn't make it down to Nationals. =[ The flights coming home weren't looking so good, so we decided not to risk being stranded in Georgia. We did watch the ending of Nationals on Galopando TV though, which is the stream-network for all things Paso Fino. I feel like I'll get my commentary on Nationals out of the way right now.
I was amused by the largo race, but disappointed at the same time that there were only three entries. Come on people, lighten up and have some fun with your horses! Don't just work them all the time! Secondly, I was SO MAD when I saw the costume class! Backstory, I qualified on Brie to go to Nationals this year and last year for costume class but we figured it was too long of a ride to bring here there for just one class. This is what my costume looks like.
Well, I don't have a screenshot of it, but there was a girl in the costume class who had pretty much the EXACT same dress, the same black horse, the same roses, same ribbons, same veil, but this is the killer part: She had the same speech as me. How low can you get? Thankfully she was punished (by karma) for the copycat-ism and received 5th place out of 5.
Lastly, I'd like to congratulate the Fino Stallion Champion, Halago! He is truly amazing. If the clip isn't on Galopando TV, then I'm sure if you're really curious and search it on YouTube you'll find it. Maybe I'll even link these two classes tomorrow or something for you to watch.
Went to the stables today. Instead of doing the same old routine, I decided today would be a great day to teach Brie a little bit about jumping (and learn myself, with help from mi madre). At first she was kind of freaking out that the jump was made up of a 2x4 and plastic traffic cones, but then she got used to it and then she loved it! She kept going around and jump jump jumping! We both enjoyed it, and I love that she's getting used to doing all sorts of different things now.
I switched Brie for Nina with my mom and we rode outside. Nina is too funny, she has a shorter stride than Brie, so Brie covers ground faster and gets farther ahead. When Brie gets too far ahead of Nina, you just tell Nina, "Come on Nina, go get Brie!" without any other signal and she takes off at a cute little carousel pony gallop to catch up to Brie. It's adorable! I'm teaching Nina, too, how to jump outside, over little ditches, and she's kind of hesitant. Knowing this, I didn't think that she'd want to jump up and over a fairly steep little hill, but she did! I wasn't prepared for this and almost flew out of the saddle but caught it before I fell backwards over her butt. It was scary and fun at the same time. I'm also proud of Brie, she's getting more calmed down outside.
I still have my problem of trying to get Brie to come out of the stall by me. I haven't gotten around to watching Parelli to see if he has any suggestions for this, so in the meantime, if anyone has suggestions other than bribing her with carrots, please tell me!
P.S., I don't think I mentioned it before, but the two horses in the header are Brie and Nina! Brie's the black one, Nina's the brown one.
I was amused by the largo race, but disappointed at the same time that there were only three entries. Come on people, lighten up and have some fun with your horses! Don't just work them all the time! Secondly, I was SO MAD when I saw the costume class! Backstory, I qualified on Brie to go to Nationals this year and last year for costume class but we figured it was too long of a ride to bring here there for just one class. This is what my costume looks like.
Well, I don't have a screenshot of it, but there was a girl in the costume class who had pretty much the EXACT same dress, the same black horse, the same roses, same ribbons, same veil, but this is the killer part: She had the same speech as me. How low can you get? Thankfully she was punished (by karma) for the copycat-ism and received 5th place out of 5.Lastly, I'd like to congratulate the Fino Stallion Champion, Halago! He is truly amazing. If the clip isn't on Galopando TV, then I'm sure if you're really curious and search it on YouTube you'll find it. Maybe I'll even link these two classes tomorrow or something for you to watch.
Went to the stables today. Instead of doing the same old routine, I decided today would be a great day to teach Brie a little bit about jumping (and learn myself, with help from mi madre). At first she was kind of freaking out that the jump was made up of a 2x4 and plastic traffic cones, but then she got used to it and then she loved it! She kept going around and jump jump jumping! We both enjoyed it, and I love that she's getting used to doing all sorts of different things now.
I switched Brie for Nina with my mom and we rode outside. Nina is too funny, she has a shorter stride than Brie, so Brie covers ground faster and gets farther ahead. When Brie gets too far ahead of Nina, you just tell Nina, "Come on Nina, go get Brie!" without any other signal and she takes off at a cute little carousel pony gallop to catch up to Brie. It's adorable! I'm teaching Nina, too, how to jump outside, over little ditches, and she's kind of hesitant. Knowing this, I didn't think that she'd want to jump up and over a fairly steep little hill, but she did! I wasn't prepared for this and almost flew out of the saddle but caught it before I fell backwards over her butt. It was scary and fun at the same time. I'm also proud of Brie, she's getting more calmed down outside.
I still have my problem of trying to get Brie to come out of the stall by me. I haven't gotten around to watching Parelli to see if he has any suggestions for this, so in the meantime, if anyone has suggestions other than bribing her with carrots, please tell me!
P.S., I don't think I mentioned it before, but the two horses in the header are Brie and Nina! Brie's the black one, Nina's the brown one.
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?
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