Tag Archives for riding

Where’s Ike?

So when no one is available to record your ride and you don’t have a camera stand, you have to get creative.  Since the arena shares fencing with some of the paddocks, you must also be smart in placing the camera or risk having some equine assistance with your recording efforts.  The camera was perched on a fence rail that no equine could reach, well, maybe the giraffe-necked one could, but he was working.  This was the first time I’d attempted capturing one of my rides, so I edited out much of the video that was just empty arena.  Even with what is at the link, you can play the game of “Where’s Ike?”  Now you see him, now you don’t, and now you still don’t. Oh wait, there he is.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XxanI39ILyg

He still looks like a gangly, young dressage prospect when he moves, but there are decent, rideable gaits in the boy.  If you were patient and watched the whole video, you did get to see Ike’s more reliable left lead canter.  If you gave up, replay it and fast forward to the last 30-40 seconds.  I will repeat – we are a work in progress.  I’m sure we could be picked apart 101 ways, but hopefully a year from now, we will see forward progress, more balance, and a steadier connection.

Today was a barn-free day.  We finally got some much-needed rain, so hopefully our ride tomorrow won’t be quite so dusty.  Any guesses on whether or not Ike will be muddy??

Truisms about Ike

Ike has been with me now for almost 9 months.  Time flies by before you know it.  I know there is still much to learn about my boy and as we progress to harder and harder concepts, I’m sure there will be bumps in the road.  Webster’s dictionary defines a truism as,” An undoubted or self-evident truth; a statement which is pliantly true; a proposition needing no proof or argument.”  There are a few things that I already know for certain about him:

1) If the giraffe neck can reach it, it will end up in his mouth.  Things such as his halter, lead rope, fly mask, fly spray, brushes get tossed down the aisle.   Luckily, I was able to retrieve the camera from his mouth before it went flying.

2) If he can reach it with his mouth, he will gum it up.  There are teeth marks on his halter and chicken wire over the light switch to prevent the game, “lights on, lights off, lights on, lights off.”

2) He does not yet know his own strength, but I’m not complaining.  We are all in trouble if he realizes he is BIGGER than everyone else and decides to use that fact against us.  With the slightest of push, he broke this snap like it was a toothpick.

3) Ike will practically grab the bit to put it in his mouth.  Doesn’t hurt that he knows a peppermint will follow.  Had to do something to keep the head low.  I can’t reach high enough if the giraffe neck is fully extended.

4) Three year old horses do not yet have proprioception (body part awareness) and will place large hooves on owner’s feet and not know and/or care.  Screaming does not help.

5) Nothing from Cigar fits Ike.  Blankets, trailer, bridle, bit, girth?  All too small.  The saddle is next.  I am not pleased, but my friend A is (the saddle fits her horse).

6) He likes to create a depression in the middle of his stall to make me feel even shorter.

7) He does not like black licorice.  I cannot blame him.

8) Ike likes to sniff my head when I wrap his front legs.  Maybe it is the strawberry scented hairspray.

9) Just like his owner, Ike can trip on a perfectly flat surface while moving at a relatively slow pace.

10) Ike is a gem and I love him dearly.

Lots to do with only 12 days to go: Confirm trailer loading, trim the goat hairs that escaped beauty day, farrier visit, saddle fitting appointment, multiple lessons, clean tack, and make sure show pants still fit (always the least favorite task).

Ike’s Brother

I would be remiss if I did not post that today is Ike’s brother’s 16th birthday. My dearest Cigar is my retired OTTB (off the track Thoroughbred). He raced under the name HiHoSky for 51 starts with $42K in earnings…of which I was no part. He finished his racing career at Charlestown, WVA and then tried his hand at point-to-point races at Morven Park in Leesburg, VA. Not sure how he ended up at the farm where I was taking lessons, but he joined the family in November 2005. His heart was never really in dressage and truth be told, I think he was hoping to pop out of the trailer at the track rather than a stodgy dressage show. If he could talk, I’m sure he’d have asked me how I expected him to win with his nose on vertical when most of his life had been stretching it out as far as possible.

We battled our way to First Level before an unhealed knee fracture forced his retirement.  We really did battle the past 7 years.  He’s given me a bloody nose, a black eye, a finger that is no longer straight, bruises in the shape of hoof prints on both feet, a bruised butt, a knot on my shin from a kick, whiplash, a sprained wrist, a sprained ankle, and a total lack of ego in the saddle.  But so help me, I love my boy.  He has given me great confidence in myself that I can cope with and overcome big obstacles.

Cigar was not without his battle wounds as well.  He had a major hip injury that kept him out of work for 6 months, two emergency vet visits for stitches to his right shoulder (he likes to roughhouse a bit tooooo much with other horses), an abscess, hock issues and arthritis in both hocks from all the racing, an odd founder-like episode, sprains and strains, and the career ending knee fracture.  Let us hope his younger brother is not as accident prone.

He now lives on the same farm as Ike and lives the life of Riley.  No demands on his time.  Mares to flirt with and his buddy Dude to keep him company.  Mom hands out love and treats just because he nickers hello.  Cigar is a talker unlike his silent brother Ike.  His most endearing trait is giving kisses on demand…if I pucker and ask for a kiss, he will swipe his muzzle on my face.He and his barn buddies enjoyed cold carrots and peppermints to celebrate.  After the celebration, I got in a 20-25 minute ride.  Started off the ride in two-point because Ike was a bit fussy – we believe the saddle is getting too snug as Ike starts to muscle up and develop a topline.  I got him through and using his back; the rest of the ride was excellent.  Canter transitions were spot on…13 days left.