Rocking Horse Winter I judging: Part II

Sorry.  I fully meant to post this yesterday, but financial reporting, y'all.  Year end + month end = CFOMP (Cluster F of mammoth proportions).

So, anyway, Rocking Horse Winter I, Training division.

First off, it was the continuation of an absolutely beautiful day.  It cooled off a bit, with intermittent clouds, but was what I think of as horseback riding weather.

I got the opportunity to judge the steps.  The riders were to come over a pretty maxed out open square cedar oxer in the shadow of a tree, slight right turn to the opening of the sunken road, and out over the two bounce steps out of the hollow.  It was a pretty good question.

The steps 8AB

Fence 7, large open square oxer

Being the 8th fence, it was towards the middle of the course.  Again, in training we did have a couple of falls, but nothing serious, and absolutely nothing at my fence.  I did have one refusal at the second bounce, but other than that, the horses figured it out pretty readily.

This fence does not make for pretty pictures, but here is a series of Joe Meyer on his first ride of the division. They made short work of this.

Joe Meyer

Joe Meyer

We did have one horse that had an issue before he got into the "chute" created by the sunken road.  It looked to me like he came off of 7 and saw the edge of the chute and simply said "uh-uh" and hopped up and down a bit, backing up.  Since he did not appear to have even seen the bounce at the other end, never mind been presented to it, I didn't count it as a refusal.  His rider handled him beautifully, though and got him in the chute and out over the bounce with no issues.

A couple of notes I made from watching and listening to coaches that were doing one last coursewalk with their students:  you need the right canter.  Send them deep to the base of the first one to make sure they go UP instead of getting strung out, or else it's going to get bumpy.  Keep your eye on the first part of the fence until you get to it, and then look UP.

I can tell you several riders were not aware of the deep to the first one piece and got long, and boy was it ugly.  Like I said, all the horses figured it out, and no one fell off, but there were some where all you could say was "oof".

Marcy came through with Riley like a seasoned pro.  She said it felt like he looked like a freight train, but it didn't look that way to me.  It looked like he was game, and she was keeping him focused on the job.  So happy this guy is staying in the program and can't wait to see where he goes with both Marcy and Ginny. Unfortunately, I was trying to get video with the camera, which didn't work, so I have no pictures or video.

Here's a picture of him in their last event, though.  I had to "borrow" it from Ginny's facebook.

So after that, I took pictures of fence 7, since it made for prettier pitchers.  Nope, not sure of the riders.  Still can't find my roster.

Buck

Then came one of my favorites, Elisa Wallace and the amazing mustang Hwin.  This little horse is so game.  If you look them up, Elisa is nice enough to post videos of her competitions rides.  I'm always partial to the little ones, and the ones that are not what you would consider "standard".  Don't get me wrong, I like a good thoroughbred, too.  I'm just partial to the "odd men out" so to speak.

Elisa and Hwin

Elisa and Hwin

Elisa and Hwin

And then came Dom Schramm on one of his horses.  I have to say, I'm loving the black boots with the gray tops to match the pony.  I'll have to look and see if that is his normal, or if he does match his boots to his horse.

Dom Schramm

Domm Schramm

All in all, it was a beautiful day, with great competition.  There were no major issues, and no injuries that were reported.  I walked away with a sunburn and a sinus headache, but it's all worth it to me to be able to see all these great rides.

I judge again next weekend.  I'm a little bummed because this year I won't be judging Advanced or Intermediate, since they are running it on Friday and I can't take time off work, but I'm happy to help any way I can.

This weekend my Valentine's Day present from the boy is that I get to go stay at Marcy's for the weekend. Yay for multiple days of riding, which means maybe I can try some gridwork?  And of course it is much appreciated that I get a chance to catch up with the ladies.  You just don't realize how much you miss them until you don't get to see them for a while.

Maddie is keeping my bed warm for me.

Rocking Horse Winter I judging: Part I

This was a huge show.  In one day, I only judged two levels, Prelim and Training, and I believe some of the Prelim actually completed on Friday, so I didn't even see them all.  There were over 200 combinations judged between those two levels, and we were there from 9am until approximately 4.  The people who run this event do a fantastic job, and it is always a pleasure judging for them.

It was a beautiful day, starting out brisk, clearing up and getting quite warm, and then clouding up a bit and cooling back off.  I spent the day standing by the truck, rather than sitting in it, and got close to my 10K steps by walking in circles between rides.  I know Cindy in the booth probably thinks I'm nuts, but hey, I can't just sit there.

I will break this up into two parts, starting with Prelim, since that's how we started the day.

5A-B - Table to skinny chevrons

Another angle showing the bend

I had the first combination on course, 5A-B, which was a large table on a bending five to six strides to a skinny.  I was told I was placed there because I was guaranteed to see some action.  Yeah, not so much.  It was well placed, however, because I could see both waters as well as the trekhaner.  The second water caused the most problems on the course, as the footing was iffy in front of the "in" fence, as I was told by a trainer who was not happy.  I believe we had two falls in all of Prelim, one on the first water, once at the second.  All parties walked away with no reports of serious injury, and that is the best result we could ask for!

Random rider making short work of a massive table

And over the chevrons with no issues

My fences rode really well.  There were a few saint horses where the rider buried the horse to both parts of the fence, or didn't support them, or didn't have the right canter and had a bit of a scramble over them, but nothing that caused serious pucker factor, which was refreshing.  Prelim, especially Prelim Rider divisions tend to scare the bejeesus out of me.

I love a horse of a different color

Colorful pony has no problem with these

It was really nice to see so many riders simply take the fences at a nice forward pace.   There were really two rides that you could choose from here.  One choice was a straight, forward five where both fences were taken at a slight angle.  The second choice was a steady bending six strides.  If the rider dribbled over the first fence, then they would end up with a sticky six.  I know I saw at least two sevens, one that was not on purpose (chip), and one that was (nice uphill bouncy canter).  The fences were situated on a slight downward slope.  I had not a single stop the entire morning.

From the colors, I think this might be Caroline Martin?

From my fence, riders continued down the hill over one fence and to the first water, which I believe was a drop into the water, through, up a bank and over a fence.  I could then see when they came back to the second water, which was a rolltop, through the water to another rolltop.  The first rolltop is where the problems occurred.  They eventually put some gravel in the takeoff of that one because it got deep.    From there is was a gallop back up the hill I was on to the trakhener in the fenceline.  I really enjoyed watching the riders gallop up the hill.  A few of them got really forward until about 6 strides from the trakhener, where they balanced for the fence.  Not a single horse stopped at that, either.  It was really a good forward course that just did not seem to have too much in the way of issues.  A few horses had additional refusals at the steps, which they took down in Prelim, including one who apparently just launched off the top and jumped all of the steps in one go, instead of bouncing down them.  Whoever it was stayed on, and they went through the flags, so...

Buck galloping up the hill on one of his many rides

I did get to see a couple of people walking the course, including Jon Holling.

Jon Holling walking away

The clouds made for some spectacular viewing between horses.

Clouds were doing strange things

They were very interesting

 And now we begin my stalking of Buck Davidson.

Buck and Park Trader

Buck and Park Trader over 5B

I swear, the man is one of the most balanced riders I've ever seen.  I know it's because he rides six thousand a day, but still.  Love to watch his leg.

I would properly identify each of these but, while I kept my score sheets, my roster has disappeared and I can't get to results on the Rocking Horse website.  I have the numbers, but, well, the best laid plans, you know.  I'll do better next weekend, I promise.

Rainy day lessons

I got to ride this weekend, YAY!  Sorry, no media, other than the weekly pony pictures I torture you all with.

The pony-girl actually seemed happy to see me for once.  She was turned out by herself.  We've had to consolidate turnout because there are so many horses on the property, and she is one you can trust to be out without her buddies and be OK, so she gets to be odd man out sometimes.  And I know she was out a bit during the day instead of at night due to Marcy wanting to watch her feet.

Hey, Mom, s'up?

She seems to be good, though.  I got a video of her doing the grid with one of the young ladies that works with Marcy, and she looks fabulous.  If I could figure out how to get the damned thing off my text and onto the computer, I would upload it.  She did the horse strides and everything.  I was told she rode it like a bad-ass.  Here's to pony power!

Anyway, as I tacked up for my lesson, it started to rain.  Fortunately, it was not overly cold.  60 maybe? No real wind either, so not horrible.  Unfortunately, I do not own a proper raincoat.  I wore my "barn coat" but it's not waterproof, so I was pretty well soaked through by the time I was done.

Overall, it was a great lesson, though.  Violet appeared to be in a better head space this time.  She still wanted to know who was doing what up in the jump ring, but when I told her she needed to pay attention, she pretty much did.

And I didn't short out the headphones this time!  So I got the whole lesson with Marcy's voice in my head.

We worked on using the leg yield step to push into the outside rein.  We exaggerated this in the corners and on circles, and carried the feeling of it down the long walls, which resulted in her being straighter.  We pushed the trot a bit more, since she was being very willing to work.  We also used that slight yield step to go up and down through the transitions, which was very interesting.

We used a lot of what I imagined were more like 10 meter half circles to go from the rail to the centerline, change bend and go the other direction through another 10 meter half circle.  This gave me a bit of time on the center line to concentrate on getting the yield step and bend to the new direction.

No media, so here's a pic of a slightly wet pony looking for an apple.

By pushing into the outside rein using that step when going up to the trot, I didn't hold down on the rein. Violet came up into my hand as she stepped up into the next gait.  Going from walk to trot, I could feel how the canter step would be right there.  Violet would have done it gladly, but waited pretty patiently while we worked through the slower transitions.

We even leg yielded into the halt, which actually put her back legs up under her.  I have to remember that when it comes to halting on the centerline.  I believe our halt was actually straighter and more square by using the feel of the yield step to get it.

Then came canter.  This time, we trotted our 15 meter circle, exaggerated the yield on the circle and then asked with the outside leg for the canter.  My issue is that I over think, so if I do it quickly, I run less risk of doing this and getting all tense about it.  Asking off the yield step puts her legs under her so she can step UP into the canter instead of dragging down on me to it.

And this time, we went around the full ring.  Now, we were not working in the little dressage ring, but the big one.  I know it's nothing to a lot of people to go 3 times around a standard dressage ring, but that is twelve corners and a lot of steps in the middle.  For the longest time, I had trouble just keeping Violet going in a balanced canter along half of one long wall, partially because of her strength, and partially because of my own.  I can't say I wasn't winded after the third go around, and I can't say she didn't break at that time because I lost all control of my legs due to oxygen deprivation, but it was still a huge deal for me.

Anyway, so at the canter, we worked on the corners a bit.  I was told to step into the outside stirrup and turn my chest toward her outside ear.  We started to the left, as this has traditionally been the harder direction, so that would mean step into the right stirrup and turn slightly to the right as we went around the corner to the left.  As Marcy said "this will probably feel wild, but you will be set up for a straight canter on the long wall" and of course she was right!  And of course I had to concentrate on not perching at the canter. I don't know that I will ever be able to break that in a jump saddle.  I'm just not used to sitting all the way on my butt, so I find myself getting more and more forward.  Unfortunately, being on the little one, this puts my center of balance too far forward and she ends up on her forehand trying to keep up with my chest.  So, concentrate on sitting up straight at the canter.  But I didn't really hear anything about my hands, so that's good.

Is this my better side?

We did this again (yes, a total of 4 times around) and repeated on the other side (total of 8 circuits!)  The right is still hard.  In the past, it was her more comfortable canter for me, but she bulges to the inside to the right and keeping that shoulder up where it belongs is harder for me, so it's no longer as comfy.  And for some reason I must ask too hard to the right, because she likes to porpoise into the right lead canter, which means we have to do twice as many transitions that way to get her to calm the F down.

And we still have the occasional "but you aren't right and I don't like the way you ask, so I'm going to hop up and down with my head in the air like a giraffe" moments.  This time only once on the long wall.  The good thing is, as long as I am quiet and then push her forward, she goes "oh, OK, I guess you are right" and goes back into the bridle and back to work.  Marcy says that even when I'm wrong, I have to tell her I'm right, because she has to learn to not overreact to everything I do.  We're getting better at it.  Not so much because she doesn't overreact, but because I don't.  I think she will always overreact if you let her.  But if you just say "Nope, not doing that today" she gives in.

Marcy says she is very confident right now, and she's always had an opinion.  Now, she's just figuring out how to voice it.

Anyway, I was grinning like a fool through the whole thing, even though I was soaked at the end.

A huge thanks to the whole team that takes such good care of my girl, especially Marcy, who sits in the cold and wet with a head cold to teach me.  I hope you are feeling better soon.

Do I have something on my face?

The bathroom saga continues

Sorry I haven't gotten back to the horsey stuff.  I promise, I will have horse related content next week.  Both judging and a lesson!

Unfortunately, my life has been taken over by other things.  On top of reports needing to be given to the auditors, I had the whole tooth thing to deal with.  It turned out they couldn't do a crown on what was left of my tooth, so I had to have it pulled and a bone graft put in, so they can put in an implant in 4 months.  Yes, I did that at lunchtime on Wednesday and was back at work for the rest of the day.  Why? Because I'm an equestrian and we do not let things like tooth pain keep us down for long!  We are bad-ass!

On another note WTF IS WRONG WITH PEOPLE!

To reiterate the story from where it began, we started having toilet issues at work a few weeks ago.  The bathrooms would be out for half the day and up again that evening.  Then a week later it would happen again.  Then three days later, etc.  We started getting emails from our building maintenance people "DO NOT PUT PAPER TOWELS DOWN THE TOILETS!"  Well, duh!  Then a week would pass and it would happen again.  Now this week, we have not had toilets that worked for more than the first hour of the day since Tuesday.

We received an email from building maintenance showing what was being pulled out of the pipes.  The normal offenders: feminine products (just no, people) and wads of paper towels.  The not so expected: plastic bags and plastic coffee cup lids?  This is someone doing it on purpose, which I have said from the beginning.

What was removed from the pipes on Wednesday.

We were told to use the toilets in the building next door.  Within three hours, their plumbing started having trouble as well.  Within half a day, we were kicked out of their building.  There were wads of paper towel found in their pipes as well.

People started going to the surrounding businesses to use the facilities.  I can say that Target probably had an abrupt uptick in business this week.  As the person who sits next to me said "I went to Target to use the bathroom and spent $200!"

They brought in "luxury toilet trailers".  Kind of like the ones in the VIP tent area at Red Hills, if you've ever seen those.  You know, paneling, music piped in, running water.  That was not so bad when it was sunny and 80+ degrees outside.  But yesterday it started to rain.  And not just here and there.  Three inches throughout the day, rain.

It made for captivating watching from the office windows.

At first it was humerous to see all the people out there with their umbrellas.  Unfortunately, there was a line, because we have about 500 people in the building and a total of 6 stalls.  Then it rained more and the electric failed on one of the trailers, so people were using their phones as flashlights.  The company brought in golf carts to tote people to the trailers, which were located in the furthest part of the parking lot.  The stairs were metal and slippery.

My team and I left around lunchtime when we decided we couldn't hold it anymore.  Fortunately, we have laptops and have that option.  Not the best option for this time of year as far as work efficiency goes, but workable.

My home workstation.

After we left, they brought in standard pot-a-potties.  You know, the big blue ones.  Which they placed right next to the front door.  We are classy.

Right next to the front door.

Finally, one of the Senior VPs sends out an email saying what I knew all along.  They suspect sabotage. They will be redoing the plumbing, and in the meantime, there will be measures put into place to try to keep it from happening again.  In the future, we can expect that the paper towels will be removed from the bathrooms and dryers placed instead.  They reiterated that the only things to go down the toilets are toilet paper (you know, the kind you can inadvertently put your finger through) and the toilet seat covers that are provided.

This morning, we arrived to a tailgate being set up in the parking lot.  They will refund the money paid by anyone to buy tickets to this event (it was a ticketed $5 thing for chili, choice of 2 hamburger/hotdog, chips and a cookie, tailgating games, etc.) to try to make up for the inconveniences we have had to deal with this week.  Of course, it's 45 degrees and blowing wind, but at least it's sunny.

Parking lot tailgate.  Toilet trailers are behind the truck.  They have yet to add the cornhole boards, but they will.  I have no idea what we are supposed to do with the RV...We suspect it's new housing for the plumbers that may have been added to our staff.

I get to my desk greeted by laughter as people read their emails.  We now have attendants in front of each bathroom in the building.  We are to be provided 2 paper towels on entry into the bathroom.  We are expected to use those to dry our hands, and return the used paper towels to the attendant on exiting the restroom for disposal.

Next thing, we will be being frisked upon entry and exit to make sure we come out with what we went in with.  Because believe me, if someone wants to do damage, they will.  We kind of think it's "game on" now. I suggest they begin looking to see if people walk out with all the clothes they went in with.  I'm thinking socks and underwear...

Tooth pain and toilets

I had this big plan to put out a fantastic review of the Prelim judging I did over the weekend.  There were over 120 riders across 6 divisions, so there is plenty to talk about, and I got some great pictures. Unfortunately, plans have changed and I have to leave work in a bit to go have a root canal.  Not what I planned for a Wednesday morning, but alas, that is what I am going to be doing, instead of putting together all the pictures. and witty remarks.

See, my teeth appear to be falling out of my head.  I had really good teeth growing up, with the exception of them being close together and developing soft spots between the molars.  I sucked my thumb as a very young child, but chose at 6 to have a permanent "appliance" installed to break me of that and allow my teeth to go back to where they needed to be.  I never had braces or retainers, and I only had to have two wisdom teeth pulled.  I think that means either 1) I didn't have much wisdom to start with or 2) I got to keep some of what I had.

Apparently when you turn 40, all that changes.  All those "soft spots" they were watching for 30 years decided now to need correcting.

Then my dentist retired.  He was a close friend.  Then he died in a plane crash in his backyard.  His daughter was my hygenist.  She retired as well.  The dentist that bought his practice closed it about four years ago and moved to an area of town I'm not interested in traveling to.

I went to a dental clinic on the side of town by work.  The dentist was...unfriendly at best.  They did a crappy job in my opinion on a couple of cavities, and when I went in for a root canal, I ended up hiding under a desk with the dental assistant, worried that the guy that had just thrown the dentist up against the wall while screaming that they had "ruined his grill" would come back and shoot up the place.  Needless to say, I still don't have the crown on that tooth, because I refused to go back.

One of my fillings fell out a few months ago.  I was still looking for a new dentist.  Then last week, that tooth broke in half.  Still no real pain.  Until this morning.  This morning it woke me up about 2am, and I've not really slept since.

So I called my boss's dentist.  They offered an appointment at 7am...on March 11.  When I explained what was really going on, the lady then made an additional appointment to see the doctor this morning.  The 3/11 appointment is for a cleaning.  I am floored that a doctor will see me to correct something like that before he's even met me, but I am not complaining.  Hi-ho-hi-ho, it's off to the dentist I go.  I look forward to completing my work day with no feeling to my face.  Is that the definition to the song "Can't feel my face" by The Weekend?  Or maybe "My name's blurry face" from Stressed Out by Twenty One Pilots?

Oh, and for the third time in two weeks, we have no working toilets at work because someone keeps putting stacks of paper towels down them.

This may be the cause

Update:  Now they are bringing in "luxury restroom trailers" for our convenience.  Which will be fantastic when it starts raining.  They will be located next to the dumpsters.  So if you have parked over there, move your car.  I have never laughed so hard at work in my life.  Guess I'll use the bathroom at the dentist's office.

Happy Wednesday, ya'll!

Frustrating farriers and fantastic care

For once I'm not going to complain about my own foot, because that appears to have healed.  I've been back on the elliptical with it, and it gave me no problems at the show on Saturday.

This weekend I judged on Saturday at Rocking Horse Winter I.  It was such a beautiful day, crisp and clear in the morning, and quite warm during the day.

A beautiful start.  My prelim combination.

I can say I walked away with quite the sunburn on the back of my neck.  I was not able to do more than one day, as I needed to work on Sunday.

Lovely selfy with my training fence (the steps)

I went by the barn twice during my shift to say hello to the team, as Ginny was making her move up to Novice and Marcea was taking Riley around at Training.  No one was in the barn either time.  No one other than my pony, that is.  The first time I went in, her hay net was on the ground, but she was picking at it anyway, so I hung it back up for her.  The second time I went in, at lunchtime, this is was I was greeted by:

Pretty girl can do no wrong.

So I got new hay string and rehung it.  I must say, though, how cute is that face?  She was exceptionally cute on Saturday for some reason.

After judging was done, I went by the barn on the way back to turn in my gear and saw Marcy washing Riley.  I said something about going to change clothes to get a ride in, and she looked at me and said "we need to talk about the pony-girl".  Uh-oh.  Not good.

Long story short, Violet is off in the front.  She apparently came in Wednesday morning off.  Not really lurching lame, just off.  Short-strided.  Ouchy.  We have seen this from the sensitive footed mare before. Back before I put shoes on her, specifically.  When she would mince across the ground like a barefooted person walking across sharp rocks.

So Marcy pulls her out of the stall and starts walking her.  I had not noticed her feet were wrapped because she was in her stall and the shavings covered them up pretty well.  Besides, the wrap job was fantastic!  She is indeed short strided, more so when turning to the right than left, but obviously uncomfortable in the front. She saw the farrier on Tuesday and was off on Wednesday.  Hmm.

I didn't take the best pics when I had her on the cross ties, but here are some in the stall.

All I can say is what the heck?  Looking a little short there, I think.  Well no wonder the girl is not comfy. Fortunately, it's just a bad trim and should grow out in a week, but really?  This is the same guy that cut her frog and didn't say anything.  I'm concerned, especially since I can't be there to talk to him.  But no one else has had a problem with him, so I guess we'll just keep on with the program.    

UPDATE:  As of this morning (2/1) reports are that the girl is (and I quote) "Sound and sassy!"  So that's good.  I still think they are on the short side, though.

I was pissed that I didn't get to ride.  I only get one day a week and to not have that really kind of sucks, but Violet is getting the best of care.  I got a text yesterday saying she was much better.  She's getting some bute, is being turned out at night to keep everything moving, and has hoof pack under the wraps.  There's nothing more to be done other than give her time.  I'm just disappointed with this farrier.  I don't understand why he wouldn't see this.

Anyway, on a good note, everyone had good runs, cross country while I was there was really quite as far as issues go, and we had some exciting news come up.  Marcea and Ginny bought Riley, so he's officially a part of the Market Street Team!  I look forward to seeing where this big guy will go.

Marcy and Riley clear a Training fence