What on earth has green been up to lately? We are taking a little time mid-summer to not march incessantly toward our goals… Enjoying the ride so to speak.
After the OD Khaleesi got a solid two weeks off. I’m happy to report that poulticing and wrapping her legs and maybe just continuing to work those tendons seem to be helping. The fluid was already less than last fall and the spring Bilmore 55 even though we trotted a good 12 miles on hard pack at the OD which is what I think is hardest on her joints.
Y’all are crazy…
Is what my farrier says no matter what the subject when I talk to him about our program and what is working and not and advice from him- one of the smartest horse guys I know. This was in response to a picture of the limestone ridges on the trail and then talking about the impact of the hard pack and asking what he thought of her legs and joints.
They seem good to me- I usually notice if anything seems off when I’m working on their feet.
Good. That is also how I felt.
So we are starting to ride again in between struggling with my garden and trying to continue to balance life and work, summer volunteer commitments and even making hay for friends to get through the winter (much of my hay is already there on the farm in the form of some pretty nice small sized round bales that I like to have in the worst of winter. I know square is ‘better’ but it’s more important to me they have 24/7 forage access especially in the worst of the wind chills and below freezing temps).
Since we have no events until the end of August I’m enjoying Khaleesi and we’ve done some trail clearing rides, a good mountain rocky climb as well as gone alone for a speed loop in mid-day heat.
We kept a very respectable 5.7 overall with our moving average at 6.5. We trotted the entire loop except a few short canters and I loved seeing her heart rate even on a warm July afternoon hanging between 105-120 depending on the incline. She dropped easily into the 60s when we’d walk and stand in the river.
I also have a go-pro now! Though I’ve played with it I haven’t figured out how to share the video clips and I’m sure you’ll be the first audience to see some of the nauseating canter through the field footage.
I’ve spent a little time during this ‘in between’ time reflecting on the process we’ve gone through and though I still have some fine tuning and things I’d like to improve, I feel good about what we’ve accomplished as a green team.
I know there were some who thought I’d lost my mind taking on such a project but a lot of people gave me support and encouragement and believed in me and my process. As much as anyone can say in this business I am enjoying a solid relationship with an equine partner who thinks enough of me to keep me safe up there and works together with me as a team.
And she makes me laugh!
Just today in the barn I spent a few minutes scratching her ear. The mare who often seems to say don’t touch! Said instead yes- that’s the itchy spot… Now the other ear… Can you rub my head too?
Then she lowered her head to my knee and pushed her nose into my leg. Gently.
It was a nice moment to share. Sometimes the journey is the goal…
Somehow I’ve picked up a clog in my system. I have a feeling it’s been building from a slowing of the flow to an all out blockage and after that happens the trash starts to accumulate.
I can rationalize the clog is not worth keeping- but nothing I try casually seems to be opening the drain.
Maybe I need a diet cleanse too… This seems to be big enough to disrupt the whole system.
I hate being ‘off’
This is a whole new week. I am determined to somehow shake out of this physical and emotional rut – I’ve accumulated to much junk and not all of it even belongs to me! I have no right keeping anyone else’s stuff either….
As I head to the barn for our weekly morning with Pam I am aware and try not to dump my emotional junk on my horse.
Even through my best efforts to control my breathing and movements to be calm and ‘serene’ as possible I see a horse who is more antsy as I saddle her, dances around when I fly spray, and once at Pam’s walks ahead of me making me have to stop calmly every 4 steps to ask her to regroup. This is all regression from where we’ve come and I have no doubt: it’s me.
Horses don’t lie.
As I approach Pam she asks how are we doing today? I say …
Honestly not great. I’m unsettled and nothing is that serious I just can’t seem to get the clog open to let it go. It’s been growing for a while now and I’m done with it but still it hangs on!
As we talk I start to feel better just saying it. The things in my head that were looming seem just as small as they really are. And Khaleesi starts yawning and shaking her head next to me as if to say thank God you’re finally letting go of that tension – it was killing me!
The we started some review on our groundwork and we were a great team- I was clear-headed and only focused on what I was asking and my timing. She responded perfectly to my good movement and we clicked right in.
Then I realized: it was gone.
The clog had melted away and I was clear again… Just like that. Lighter and free. Horses prefer to travel light.
I felt relief and also happy to get moving onto learning some new things now that I had let go of junk that was weighing me down.
Twelve days after the OD 50 and Khaleesi’s rear joints are almost back to no fluid at all. The first time they filled last fall it took a few weeks for them to go down so this is good improvement. I hope building her fitness, continuing to work and rest her structure, ligaments and joints as well as wrapping and running her legs have all helped.
I am ready to get her back on trail but not hurried. This is vacation week with Ed so we are focused more on house projects and took a day to hit the lake together. The nice thing of endurance for me has been cycles of work interspaced with down time to rest and heal so there are times to focus elsewhere.
Working on the outdoor kitchenrelaxing day at the lake
We did get back to the arena this week however and every visit to learn new things I am more addicted to the rectangle. I used to think riding around an arena would be dull but in some ways it’s more exciting than the trail because I am actually learning how to drive!
Sure- you can do many similar things on trail- but I generally don’t and I’ve never been with riders who stop on a trail ride to see if they can perfect their form in a circle or routinely do lateral work unless they have to move over or open a gate – I have spent an afternoon working on sepentines around trees (alone of course) and I can just about put my horse wherever I need to especially at a standstill (opening a gate) but not at walk or trot with mind to controlling a specific foot at the specific time. And these specific communications are hard enough for me without also dealing with trees and obstacles when I’m trying to learn something for the first time.
I find that Khaleesi is more engaged with me in the arena than on the trail where we work on basically going straight a lot. Correction: I am engaged full time with her in the arena.
My horse goes on autopilot in the woods for sections at a time … No: I go on autopilot (and when we’re talking 50 miles- that is ok!), but there is no autopilot in the arena.
I first asked Pam for help because I knew I wasn’t posting well and my horse has a big trot. I knew we would not be a successful endurance team until I learned how to ride better.
We have SO far to go, but on the other hand we have also come so far!
Pam said we had some good success this week and remembered back to the day I first came over when she wondered to herself what the chances were I could actually get hurt just trying to ride around the rail! She said she was always relieved that I didn’t fall off my horse!
Now we at least know how (though are not reliably consistent in some of them) to:
Look where I’m going! (Especially in circles and when going on diagonal to the rail)
Walk with nice impulsion and do some pretty good circles!
Better back ups alternating hands matching up with the correct foot.
Time my leg to request her back leg to move over at the appropriate time (feeling where the feet are at the walk!)
Quiet my excess hand and leg ‘noise’ still can do better here.
Post more quietly in my feet- I’m still leaning forward and could use to work on my seat.
Trot on the rail!!!! (Boy we used to be all over the arena at the trot- just staying on the rail took us many many weeks of trying last year and this year)
Trot in some pretty good circles! π
And we just began asking for turns on her hind (still and at the walk).
She is lifting more in her front now and moving really well. And we are having such fun learning together.
It’s a little like having a sports car you have been driving around without really knowing how to use it to its full ability. It’s fun to take it on a track and see what it can do – not just going fast but maneuvering it without losing control.
I can tell she is enjoying it too. It adds variety to our world and breaks up all the trails and conditioning yet the lateral work we do in the rectangle is wonderful for adding strength and helping her carry herself well.
Rain and work have me grounded a few more days but I am looking forward to hitting the trail again soon!ο»Ώ
We’re back in rest & recovery mode; I have put in a little groundwork time, some attention to Faygo and even got one of the farm horses out for another fitness ride so he’s ready when ‘mom’ returns to ride him this summer. Oh- and I’ve gotten some gardening and paperwork done too!
The highlight of our rest week by far was going back to Foxtrot Farm for our Jedi training with Pam.
We began by checking in with my groundwork which is coming along but those small things that are the big things (how high my arms are and the angle my body is when I ask) are still needing outside eyes.
Don’t bring your energy up until you’ve passed her shoulder… You’re too close to use your rope effectively… Here- give me your hands… Like this.
I am convinced my horse (and all the horses in world) are perfect in their ability to be a horse. It is my job to get better and functioning in their world.
I am still amazed when I get better at my communication how immediately better my horse is at doing the thing I want.
We finished the session by working on very specific use of my leg. Now I live and ride in the country. I can open any gate on my horse by asking her to step over and move her hind and on the trail I can get her to move over- but somehow when we are moving, the precision of CROSS THAT BACK LEG OVER THIS INSTANT is muddled. I struggle keeping her on the rail at a trot which is also a product of my legs not speaking very clearly in motion.
We got a lovely cross over in the walk and then turned it into two or three beautiful trot on the rail loops – and called it a day because it worked so well. She was perfect. What I did to ask made sense.
Crossover at the walk- I had to really shorten my reins at first as she took my one leg pressure to mean go faster instead of only move over
If I am having trouble with my horse and not getting what I want it must be one of these: horse does not understand what I’m asking; horse is in fear and cannot think; horse is trying to tell me something is wrong (pain from equipment?); horse does not respect my leadership and does not want to be my partner.
Speaking of equipment issues: I gave up on the traditional snaffle but instead tried the Phoenix Rising transition bit which has direct pressure communication similar to the snaffle but has the same mouthpiece she is used to and it worked like a dream. I love the feel and quality of their bits and don’t know why it didn’t occur to me to start here instead of the snaffle! I will be switching to that bit full time now in all of our riding to see how it goes.
Photo courtesy of Phoenix Rising – the transition bit
Of course I am working on the first problem horse does not understand what I’m asking because if that occurs that is always my failure. However I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the concept of leadership to my horse.
I don’t want a soldier horse who only says “yes ma’am how high?” Sometimes when I hear people talk about getting their horse to respect them that is what I hear the goal to be. But on the other hand I don’t want a horse that doesn’t do what I ask because it’s just not clear or the horse doesn’t trust or respect my leadership.
What I do hope for is a horse who enjoys my partnership (that is a two-way conversation, but not an argument or fight) respects and trusts me as a leader, she chooses me to lead.
I have found in riding other horses as well this becomes really important: I need to immediately be a rider the horse can accept as deserving the lead role for my own safety. Universally horses know what qualities they will accept as a leader.
Susan and me riding two of the farm horses. They are not worked with often and used to picking up passengers not working in a relationship with humans. It is a good learning opportunity for us.
So what does my (or any) horse need from me to be her accepted leader?
Here is a list I’m compiling:
1. Consistency. I can’t let my mood or my distractions change how I interact with my horse. I need to be the same human day to day and ask the same way for things. This for me does not mean a time schedule- I actually prefer not to come to the barn at the same time every day. My horses are not on a feeding schedule, they are interested in me no matter what time I show up and they are not stressed by a late feeding (they are on 100% pasture turnout so do not depend on me for feeding) or when I miss a day to visit altogether.
2. Unemotional. Horses will not respect an emotional leader. Herd leaders are not emotional. This means I am not allowed to EVER get angry, frustrated, fearful or even too excited. Fair and balanced is the key.
So am I perfect? Of course not. I am not prone to fear and anger but if I’m not careful frustration can creep in. I know now that any moment I allow myself to go to any of those emotions in an instant I have failed my horse.
Horses will show disrespect to a leader who gets emotional- sure you have good reasons for a fear response and it can be easy to get frustrated when things aren’t going how you think they should- but you do not get to explain that to your horse.
Bottom line at that moment is: you are emotional and cannot be trusted. That is all they know. The horses will learn it can refuse you or that it can push your buttons. No matter what, the horse is being a horse. It’s your job to act like a leader- then you are one.
As for excited this was a good aha for me- I’ve learned that release to a horse is letting the energy and tension go away. That is the peace they seek. If my horse does something well and I get excited I have not released my horse. Makes sense for the human to ‘celebrate’ but to the horse it’s confusing. This is in learning particularly – I will certainly say after finishing the OD50 I had excitement and adrenaline in my body as I got off and rubbed her neck and told her proudly job well done girl! But I do keep the tone more low key than I might had I not understood the concept of energy and horses.
3. Ask appropriately. There are lots of ways to ask things… You can request, demand, nag, beg… I try to remember to ask my horse clearly first, then if she isn’t paying attention or blowing me off I will step up the pressure and demand, but I never demand before I ask. It’s just rude. Like Buck says: do as little as you can and as much as it takes. When it comes to nagging- I had to be reminded of this a few weeks ago and here is an example:
I’m speaking to Pam and Khaleesi’s job is to stand quietly and not eat. There are times she can eat and times I ask her not to. We have consistency in this communication- she can ask to eat and I will pop the rope (lightly) to say not now. She takes a bite of grass. I pop her with the lead “don’t eat”. We continue talking then eventually repeat eat-pop. A minute later same: eat-pop. That’s 3. She’s blowing me off so the next pop needs to mean something POP!!!!! She looks at me “ok I won’t eat.” Done. She stood quietly until we were finished.
I was nagging her not to eat. This can happen with just about anything they already understand. They obey and then disobey. It’s a question of your leadership style. Try to notice when you nag and instead get it done.
4. Avoid boredom and frustration. These two things will create disrespect of my leadership. I don’t let my horse get bored. Change things up, when you accomplish something don’t keep drilling it right then, they are smart animals and need to switch their minds as well. Go back to it later if you want. Always ride the same trail? Go in reverse direction.
Frustration is more obvious- it can show up in your horse when you don’t allow them time to process what they’ve learned. This all assumes you can read your horse- when it’s thinking, processing or ready to move on. (Also something I’m working on)
Have you seen your horse lick and chew while you are working? That is a sign of them thinking not being tired or bored. Give them the time when they need it.
Khaleesi yawns, licks and chews often. I don’t interrupt her processing and thinking time. I was doing some groundwork with one of the farm boys and had not seen him go into think mode yet – when he finally did it was a big breakthrough. He realized I would give him that time and we had a better connection immediately.
Frustration also comes when your request is not clear to the horse so it can’t get the answer right or when we as the humans have bad timing. Horses think independent thoughts so much faster than humans and if you ask and don’t release in a way that is immediate to the horse (then allow them to go back and process) they can become frustrated not understanding why they don’t get a release. Since nothing they do is right they might as well stop trying.
Speaking of release, Buck says it MUST be 100% release, not a partial release. Some percentage of release is not release to a horse. He believes a struggle in too many riders comes when they don’t release completely which can cause frustration which leads to a horse losing respect for the rider.
5. Never think in terms of winning. I am never at odds with my horse in my mind. We do not fight and I do not win when we do something right. I always consider us to be on the same team and always help my horse be with me if things are not working. A horse wants to follow a good leader – if this process isn’t working the first step for me is to ask where I am failing. What broke down?
I can always assume my horse will behave like a horse. It is her job. It’s that simple. I never win- we succeed.
6. No force. This is tough because what we think of as force in humans and what a horse sees as force is not always the same. I am still working out this concept. One concept of force is anything that restricts her choice. So that could mean a lead rope or a fly mask…. I use a lead rope but thankfully my horse walks up to me and lowers her head into the halter… I’ve put a fly mask on her and heard her tell me on no uncertain terms she HATED it. She walked right up to the fence and started banging her foot! (This I’ve never seen) I went back in and she let me quietly take it off and went happily on her way. So in those cases she had choice. Many of us well meaning humans take away these majestic smart beings choices with blankets and other helpful tools. I also learned this winter that Faygo is almost always ok with a blanket. Khaleesi sometimes is ok with a blanket (only with the worst weather coming) and she complies, other times she nips at me as I go to put it on her. I let her have a choice.
It’s amazing when the horse knows you are listening how much they will talk to you.
A horse trailer can be force- my horse does have a job and part of it is going on the trailer. Again, she gets on willingly so we are ok, but this is something she really kind of doesn’t get to choose? If she said one day ‘No thanks on the trailer.’ I would insist. Gray area. Still a topic I’m interested in sorting out.
I’m reading a great book right now by Ray Hunt who continues to repeat that you must make what you want to do the horse’s idea. He says “set it up for them and let them do it”.
One thing I have seen is when you prove yourself leadership material to your horse consistently, force and desensitization become non-issues. I do not intend to desensitize my horse, in fact I want her sensitive to her environment but especially sensitive to me. She is willing to do what I ask because I have proven myself. She doesn’t have fear issues because I’m not afraid. She doesn’t refuse my requests because she wants to be my partner.
I wondered what she would think of the caution flaps blowing in the wind at ride camp. I calmly walked over and stood by them and since I wasn’t worried she was curious and came closer to check them out. We weren’t desensitized to flapping caution tape, but she only needs to be afraid if I am afraid. I just pretended they weren’t even there.
With Khaleesi I’ve had almost 2 years to build this (though we’ve been in a good place overall from the start with it getting better as I learn) but my challenge is to be that leader when I am around or get on any horse. No matter what the back story, horses know leadership material. Just like the complete release, you can’t be kind of a leader most of the time- that fails the horse.
Ray Hunt says: remember you are not working on the horse- you are working on yourself.
I want to have the discipline to be that horse person.
It was the Old Dominion (I had never heard of Tevis) that first captured my imagination of riding 100 miles through an article in a local electrical co-op magazine.
The ride is nicknamed the Beast of the East and of the riders I’ve met (a very limited sampling) who’ve ridden both rides – most have said the OD 100 is a tougher ride to get a horse through than its more famous cousin the historical Western States Ride (Tevis). Recently I saw the OD 100 called on an endurance site: probably the toughest endurance ride in North America.
I am in no position to argue this point though I hope to be able to someday.
Regardless, the OD began my endurance journey and though I am not ready to take my horse to any 100 mile ride yet, the OD also has 50 and a 25 mile distances available. I volunteered for the OD 100 last June and went through the whole 24 hour period as a vet scribe (learned a ton), was able to ride the 25 last fall, and this year after completing our first 55 mile at Biltmore I registered Khaleesi and I for the OD 50.
Knowing full well what I was taking on I set about preparing the best I could for this ride taking everything I learned from my LD rides, everything I’d read about endurance riding, everything I could glean from my mentor, and the things I picked up on my first 55. It was a tough 50 to take on so early in her career and I also have the distinction of riding one of the small percentage of non-Arabs (Arabs are somewhat more genetically inclined toward the sport and win most of the major awards. They tend to cool more naturally and are built to sustain long miles at a fast speed without breaking down) but it is what it is. I just hoped we could keep our roll of completing each ride we start intact a while longer.
Spoiler alert: we did complete successfully!
Out of 69 riders to start only 39 completed. Khaleesi and I placed 21 and had a ride time of 9hours and 24 minutes. Including vet holds we were on the trail almost 11 1/2 hours.
We were basically mid-pack of those who finished and only had 30 minutes to spare. This means almost half of the riders who finished came in the last 30 minutes allowed in the 12 hours given to finish.
I am convinced looking back that the only way we were successful in our first attempt during a hard day at the Beast of the East was a million small things that went right either by plan, preparation or just plain luck.
#1- get the best farrier. Period.
If I had to choose one thing that probably had the biggest impact on finishing this ride it is my farrier. If I could afford it I would give him a raise.
Actually I could afford it if I walked the trail the next day with a pack mule to pick up all the random hoof boots and used twisted horseshoes (if they were worth anything). If the hoof boots weren’t so mangled and chewed up I could sell them on hoof boot exchange.
I am not anti hoof boot by the way, whatever works for you is good but only if it WORKS. There were many moments in the 9+ hours on trails that I thought it was amazing that any horse came through this ride sound. I was giving the odds pretty high that I would be taken down to a stone bruise or mystery lameness as we scrambled along the loose large rocks heading downhill about 6.5 mph picking up speed whenever we were safely (isn’t that a relative term) able.
its very hard to tell in the photo but this was pretty steep
But this point doesn’t end with the obvious catastrophic loss of a shoe on the ridge that can end your day in lameness and failure. It’s not just about how he shapes the shoes exactly to custom fit each hoof and then sets and nails them to not come off until he pulls them off… my farrier is responsible for how my horse moves on ride day and every training ride leading up to it. He has to understand her movement and her balance and all the angles and science involved including things you can’t see with the naked eye (structure inside the hoof and leg). How he shapes her foot based on her unique body structure and how long her “toe” is, how high her “heel”is all determine how efficient she can move like having the best and most comfortable running shoes for a marathon. It affects if she can trot out at a good speed all day or if she gets more tired and worn out from the extra effort involved in carrying herself (and me) on feet that are not quite angled right.
ride photo couresty of Becky Pearman: my farrier has Khaleesi moving nicelyTo top it off you haven’t a moment to waste on this ride and if you do lose a shoe it takes up precious time having the ride farrier get your spare tire on. My farrier sends me to each ride with our last shoes already custom shaped to each hoof. At least if we do lose a shoe we are ready with one ready to go and it will match the one lost. #2 training.
I do not underestimate this component for one second. All the time I invest in slowing down my communication to train her mind often with more priority than her body has served us well.
This is a fundamental bedrock that often doesn’t ‘feel’ as important when I’m doing it as the ride miles but it might be more so.
Many think that any time spent with your horse builds a relationship but this is not true. In fact spending time doing counterproductive things does the opposite and it takes knowledge and experience to know the difference with each horse – it’s not a motorcycle and it’s not a dog- in fact it’s not a human either. Your horse has a unique language and working from the ground up (literally) is key. I am glad for all the help I’ve gotten to learn this from people who do understand.
I see riders who are ok with- or even like and prefer- a horse that just wants to run. Saddle up the dragon and get someone to hold him while they climb on… Then hold on… Conversations with people asking about bits that will give them enough control to feel safer and who talk about blisters on their hands from trying to hold their horse from running away down the trail. What a fast horse.My horse eats up the trail.
I hear instead: I don’t truly have connection to my horse’s mind and am not the leader as soon as other horses are around.
Of course a whole lot of riders in this sport, especially successful ones, have a close partnership with their horse and are true leaders. They have finesse and are not dragging their horse around (or being drug) they do it without force and anger and those are the people I notice and watch.
We aren’t perfect. Our partnership is on a good start but it takes time. We will work on this until we die.
#3 the right conditioning.
I am lucky- this ride is close to home and I don’t have to go far to find similar terrain but the OD is famous for two things: mountain climbs and rocks.
I took some time after we rested up from Biltmore to climb some of the steepest mountain trails I had and did it in the hottest part of the day as well. We often have to scramble along rocky trails though it’s hard to find riding as rough for as long as the OD dishes out- in general we try to avoid that because it isn’t really that fun!
I also conditioned myself. I’ve been in the gym and doing strength training to become as fit as I can be. I need to float above my horse gracefully to make it easy on her, but the worst climb is two miles straight up the mountain and since we cannot go any faster than a walk I got off to save her energy and hoofed it myself leading her by hand.
#4 chose your mentors and crew wisely.
I am beginning to see a wide variety in style and priorities in the endurance community. I am grateful for the group of mentors and crew help Iβve found and that they work well with my goals and values.
This weekend I donβt believe we had equine deaths but it is not uncommon to see this for various reasons. This sport pushes humans and horses to the edges of what they are capable of and it can be easy to lose sight of what is really at stake. Your horses life, well being, future career and your own safety.
Looking at a mentor’s rider record can be helpful (do they end up pulled more than complete? are they often in the top 5 and have 4 or 5 horses listed in as many years? are they solid completion riders with one horse for many miles?) but then itβs helpful to see them with their horse and hear what others have noticed? what do the vets think? (they know it from the horseβs perspective!).
My farrier who I admire recommended I seek out Lynne and Iβve never regretted asking for her help. She is a smart, solid, conservative and experienced rider who often finishes in the top 10. I don’t hear her say how fast her horse is but instead she talks about how well he is doing. Big difference. Lynne did not ride the 100 this weekend on a horse that has been in the top 5 at every ride this season because the horse just βwasnβt himselfβ earlier in the week. She put her horse ahead of her goals because it is a tough ride to start with any doubt. I admire her for that. She volunteered her time instead. Double admire her for that.
Who you get advice and input from makes a big difference in the direction you will be headed. Choose wisely and if you see something that doesnβt work for you seek out other input.
#5 get there early.
In previous rides work precluded me from arriving more than the day before. This year because volunteers were desperately needed I decided to go on Thursday afternoon so I could have time to volunteer on Friday for vet-in.
This ended up being a more important decision than the thought I put into it.
First, even coming two days before the event I ended up with one of only about 10 spots left on the creek side against the tree line. This means shade until almost noon and itβs just a little cooler all the time by the creek. Anyone arriving Friday- even early would be across from us in the direct sun field.
Second, research shows that even a brief trailer ride (a couple hours) dehydrates a horse significantly. Because of the heat over this weekend getting into camp an extra day gave her time to drink and eat and not begin the ride slightly dehydrated.
Third, I was not hurried at all⦠in fact on Thursday evening I even had some downtime. That helps my mental state in a variety of ways. #6 attend the ride meeting.
β¦ and pay attention!
I sometimes hear people skip the ride meeting because theyβve ridden X years here and they heard the trail is the sameβ¦.
You never know what useful information or a marking change you might learn about- or trail tips including where they couldnβt get water to and where they could. What is available at the βno crewβ vet check? The 45 minutes spent hearing things over you already know is not wasted if understanding a ribbon change or new issue with the trail helps you ride smarter.
#7 while out thereβ¦
Ride smart. Pay attention. I ranked ahead of more than a few people who βshouldβ have finished ahead of me but they added an extra 2-5 miles due to an accidental detour.
Never ever tarry. Every second adds up to precious minutes. Some riders crossed literally in the seconds that meant complete or overtime.
When to get off. I rode with a nice and experienced rider at Big South Fork last fall there aren’t a ton of hills there but one or two that are steep. She cantered Leroy up the hill until he slowed on his own and she immediately jumped off. I asked her if everything was ok and she said of course: it’s easier for them to canter up the hill until they are tired. Then they must walk. But if we are walking, then I walk too. It saves my horse.
When we hit the start of the massive mountain climb I was still with Pascale and I heard that riders voice in my head as I jumped off and started hiking. Pascale did the same. It was two brutal miles of hiking straight up the mountain in the mid-day heat. After getting back on at the top we passed at least a few riders whose horses were still struggling even after it had leveled out.
Eat before youβre hungry and drink before youβre thirsty (from Karen Chaton). At the Biltmore I learned this endurance rider cannot live on PB&J alone. Easy to pack no need for refrigeration and can be smashed- I couldnβt eat another one at some point in the day.
For this ride I packed a mini-soft cooler to be able to bring hydrating and sweet watermelon, a lunchmeat wrap, hopefully colder water for later in the dayβ¦ I had salt and vinegar chips (I hear salty is also good for you), I had snack mixes and dried coconut. I ate at every vet check and though at home I can eat while riding (a granola bar etc) I find Iβm too focused at a ride to eat in between loops so I just make sure I eat well at every vet check. I drank less water early in the morning but went through almost all my drinks each loop after the first. I mix it up with one straight water and one gatorade, vitamin water or other coconut or tea based hydrating sports drink (I cut them with water because they are too much for me straight). If I donβt βfeelβ thirsty at least the flavored drinks are interesting enough to take a drink here and there.
Get your horse to eat on trail. I don’t know if we have this completely figured out but my rule is grab any bite you can without interfering with our pace. If we are stuck walking (like we were some of the roughest sections) then grab a mouthful here and there. If I saw a nice patch of grass I was able to walk her right into it and she would dig in. Then we’d keep on to the next spot.
We didn’t have any time to waste but keeping something in her gut was also important. It’s a fine line. We did ok with this.
#8 things I learned about heat riding.
Clip. The ride was forecasted to be hot and ended up being on the hottest day of the year so far (high of 95F). I know I needed every chance of cooling down so I did a partial clip a few days before. I’m new to clipping and yes- it’s not beautiful but it got the job done
Sponge. Most riders carry one but earlier this season it really wasnβt necessary for us so I hadnβt. This spring I saw a sponge for sale when ordering my cooling sleeves and threw one in the order again without a lot of thought. I used it at every water stop to help cool my horse and sometimes sponged my own arms to help my cooling sleeves **product placement note: I picked up the Kerrits cooling sleeves recently and love them. They definitely make my arms cooler and are better than sunscreen. Highly recommended.
Electolyte. I have read strong riders in the West who quote research that electrolying does not actually help. I’ve wondered but I will continue with electrolyted on races and harder training rides. I do not however e-lyte before the ride (when she hasn’t begun sweating) right now and I don’t do it the night before. My understanding is that until they lose the salts in sweat the balance is right and they don’t load extra. I also don’t want to annoy her the night before and possibly affect her eating and drinking. I doubled up on my electrolytes during this hot race however. We use enduromax and I mix with yogurt, molasses and some applesauce. She seems to like it enough not to fight me.
Ice and cool your horseβ¦ more. Special thanks to Kate Lawrence who taught me about the importance of core temperature. At the crew-less Laurel Run check I looked for some help (I didnβt send a crew bag and needed a sweat scraper). Kate who was a volunteer saw me and took me on for the entire hold and was one of the many things that went right for me that enabled us to finish strong.
Before we could pulse we went into the shade and sponged ice water all over Khaleesi. Once we got her pulse time (just a few minutes) she told me not to vet yet. We had 30 minutes technically to make it over to the vet and just because her outside temperature had cooled and her heart rate was βlegalβ didnβt mean she was ideal. It was so hot that horses were pulsing in the pulse box then walking up in the sun to vet and their CRIs were going back up into the 80s and vets were having to hold rider cards to be sure the horse was fit to continue. She didnβt want that to happen to us so we continued to ice down K for another 2-3 minutes past when sheβd pulsed. Then she sent me around in the shade (not directly) to the vet area and told me to wait in the shade for the vet.
The trot out at Laurel Run is not friendly. It runs you in the full sun down a rocky dirt hill and back up. I was certain at this point after the monster rocks (and small rocks, and embedded rocks, and bouldering) in the second loop- then the rocks up and down the trot out that Iβd hear βI think sheβs off a little onβ¦β
But no. Dr. Bob said she was spot on and looked great. Her CRI was solid at 64 and we met Kate at our saddle where she had a bucket for me to sit down, a sandwich, a water and a cold gatorade, hay and feed for Khaleesi and more ice water that she continued to sponge onto my horse in the shade for 15 more minutes.
I would not have thought to do this but what she did for me was get down into the core temperature of my horse on this 95F afternoon so that when we left Laurel Run we were back at 100%. Horses who just did what they needed to meet criteria may have been heading back on the trail only 50% cooled down and we still had 20 hot miles to go.
We were fresh to run, and thatβs what we had to do for the next 12 miles. We were now on relentless gravel roads that would take us down back into Bird Haven. Still, the relentless gravel was welcome compared to the boulders and rocks and the ridge climb that got us up there. As we left the vet check Kate reminded me to keep moving at all costs- the breeze will help and never let her stop in sunny areas. If you have to walk- only do so in the shade. Because of Kate- we never had to walk- not for the next 12 miles. But we did pass a rider or two who wasnβt so lucky.
The third loop was our fastest overall with an average speed of only 6.7mph.
We made it into the last Bird Haven to find Ricky and Amy ready for us.
They have been a godsend to run into and are wonderful friends. For someone so young Amy has many years in the sport and knows every hack possible. She also learns quickly and after Biltmore when my 3-way rigging had her wondering what was going on- she resaddled Khaleesi perfectly while I was in the bathroom like sheβd been doing it all her life.
Ricky and Amy taking off my saddle as my feet barely hit the ground
As Iβm still dismounting they have her saddle coming off practically underneath me and are dousing her with cool water and have the heart rate monitor started to see how long until we can pulse. Thankfully K does drop pulse βlike a stoneβ and it never takes more than a minute to walk her over to the P&R box.
We went through Vet Check 3 with no trouble and an even better recovery than VC2 (60/56). She had all As at this point in the ride except her cap refill (hydration in the gums) was a B-. She was not showing any other signs of dehydration (skin tenting was an A) and I knew she was drinking well so Dr. Art suggested because of the heat the blood goes to the capillaries in the gums last and itβs more likely a sign of her being hot than dehydrated. Her gut sounds were +/- on each side so considering she was trying to eat everything in sight (a good sign) she was sent on her way.
Amy and Ricky took her, did some more sponging as I sat down to eat my snacks and refilled cool water into my pack. This hold is only 30 minutes before the last 6 miles into camp so there isnβt much time to relax. She looked fantastic. The benefit of an out and back ride is that she was more familiar with the area and was heading home to camp since Laurel Run so she didnβt have that mental crash where she ground to a halt like at Biltmore. Sheβd also done 55 before so maybe wasnβt so shocked to still be out at mile 44.
Leaving the vet checks is always hardest for us. She pulls the turn around and wants to go back (even at Laurel Run!! when I was trying to head her βhomeβ she wanted to go back and visit with Kate who had cool water and never ending feed bowl!). She tried to circle a few times but after a little discussion we headed out and she got with the program.
Home.
The last 6 miles is not hard but has rocky sections that slowed her down. We had plenty of time (90 minutes to complete what we should do in an hour or less) so if she asked to slow in the rocks I let her even though part of my brain was also headed home and wanted her to keep flying through. I could just imagine getting this far and then a stone bruise putting her off at the final check and getting pulled at the finish line (how disappointing that would be!). So since finishing at 6:15 or 6:44 is really the same (complete) I tried to use my head instead of my fast racing heart.
We still passed 6 riders in that last section for various reasons to cross the finish line at 6:12pm.
I was incredibly proud of my horse. At that moment all the tiny details that went right for us to bring us strong across the finish when so many werenβt so lucky flashed through my mind.
Every minute we didnβt wait at a water crossing she wasnβt interested inβ¦ every time we asked to pass a friend who wasnβt moving through the rocks as wellβ¦ and the relationship we had to leave new buddies behind for various reasons and move out in front or aloneβ¦ everything added up to get us through.
Itβs humbling and also exciting when things go right. You prepare the best you can and then you hope. I know one day we will not be so fortunate, and I hope on the day we canβt start due to a heel bruise or the day we have to pull for some reason we jump back in and give as much back to those in the same position this weekend who gave to us.
But for today we celebrate. We conquered the (half) Beast of the East on our first try on one of the tougher days in recent years.
Two days later my horse looks good. She is a little slow and a little stiff maybe, but after poulticing and wrapping her joints are in better shape (less puffy and fluid) than after Biltmore. Her back is perfect- I asked the vets to really check (not just the routine spine press) and not a twitch or a flinch. She is loving the wide tree Phoneix Rising saddle and after that 50 miles I can say it’s her saddle for now.
legs wrapped and victory shake before a nap in the pen
And best of all, we are still friends.
I felt pretty good though tired- better than I’d felt at Biltmore. The next day was ok once I got moving but I crashed hard in the afternoon like I had a hangover and slept from 5pm-7am. Monday I felt good enough to help put up 400 bales of hay and unload to some friends.
I want to be sure to thank those who all made the day a success. Dianne Conolly and all the OD board and volunteers. The entire vet staff who support and encourage us and help us care for our equine partners.
the amazing vet staff
Lynne Gilbert my ‘official’ mentor as well as Ricky and Amy Stone crew extraordinaire! Kate Lawrence and Nathan Payne for the extra help when I needed a hand.
Nathan helps with Khaleesi at Bird HavenAnd a few more photos from the weeken:
Night Before in Camp late night last hand walk for some grass and to stretchAt the start: photo couresy of Dr Birksthe power line hill in the first loop. Nothing compared to the falls hill in the second loop.my favorite shot at Bird Haven 1Still rocky but the easy first part of the second loop with Pascale and MajPretty moment on the ridge before the worst of the big ridge rocksI heard riders comment that the OD is about survival and the right to say you made it through than lretty trail and views… here I respectfully disagree!legs wrapped and back in camp
My week hasn’t gone exactly as planned. After a Tuesday with a ton of small bloopers and small mostly harmless mishaps I looked forward to ending the day with a cool drink and a few early packing chores.
As I jumped in my truck to drive home from the barn – it didn’t start. I was pretty sure it was the starter.
Ed came to get me and we investigated together. It was the starter we agreed. Upon inspection it was broken and hanging barely in place by the wires.
Wow- how’d you manage to do that Jaime? Danny the farm manager asked.
Apparently I’ve got truck destruction powers greater than most. At least that’s what it seems from the amount of work I’ve had done on it this year.
Each repair I’m certain is the last for a while. I’ve had it rebuilt piece by piece!
Well at least the good news is a starter is simple to replace and not hard to find. If I picked it up the next day Ed said he would put it in after work and I should be fine to still leave Thursday.
I drive the 45 minutes into town early and bought the part then started thinking… What if this ends up being not so simple. If we wait for Ed it’s after hours and I can’t get anything else we might need.
Maybe I should try this myself. The guys all said it’s easy…
Called dad. My auto guru.
Dad- what are the chances I can get this done?
Well… If you can handle geting dirty… We’re talking grease that’s hard to wash off.. And you can handle a broken nail or two and some frustration- maybe cursing… And nothing else goes wrong in the process… All favorable conditions for swapping out the starter… I give you 70% chance of success.
So I headed to the barn. Some ratchets and tools in hand and a few rags.
For once I’ll make a long story short:
Danny wasn’t getting under the truck without lifting it off the ground. We used the tractor to put a block under the wheel.
Conditions weren’t favorable- a stud bolt was missing and the way the starter had broken the end of the cone piece was jammed in there and I couldn’t get it out to save my life.
the original broken starter
But after 6 hours including a trip to Monterey (30 minute drive each way) for a bolt and momentary help from someone each time I got too stuck: Dad via FaceTime on and off for advice, Danny, then a random guy who drove up looking for Danny (who also couldn’t get the stuck part out), then Robbie who helps manage the farm next door and I happen to know works on cars (he got the stuck piece out first try like it was easy)…
used my phone to see what was going on inside the hole the broken off piece
by the time Ed pulled up from work with a few more tools he thought could be helpful- we were just about to try turning her over.
It was a moment… I had followed through the whole process and done most of it myself and honestly I gave it 50/50 that it would start.
It did!
Sent my mechanics team off and at least I got the truck and trailer washed and a few things set out.
Went to finally visit the girls and feed them. Khaleesi has all 4 shoes and looks good! I told her to get a good nights sleep. We are pulling out for base camp tomorrow!
…..so wait a minute. Let me do the math here… I spend all winter riding my horse as much as possible even when it’s not fun and then we finally come out of the cold and get into ride season, and if I do one 50 mile ride per month with a week of rest going in and going out….
I only get to ride my horse like 2 weeks out of each month and not without breaks in between conditioning rides in that window.
Look at the bright side… At least I have some time to work in the garden now. This could be good for my home life…
Hope to see some life in here soon!
And it’s given me the chance to help get some friends’ horses in shape for summer riding (so they can keep up with us when we can ride). I’ll have some more time for Faygo although she has developed quite a fan club and I’m happy with the regular riders who are enjoying her and that is going well right now.
But spending so much time working together with Khaleesi has really bonded us and of course I want to ride her every day! So it’s ironic that this very sport that has helped inspire that relationship also has taught me that you can over work a horses joints and body and wear them down physically and mentally.
Thankfully I’ve got some new work for us on the ground and this we can do everyday even for 30 minutes or so just to spend some time together and continue the bond and also our education.
step that front leg over
Lately I am working on how to more accurately and lightly move Khaleesi’s shoulder or hind separately.hind end- cross over please
I also have a pretty decent leading game but I want her back ups to have better response and move with some life. She has only one back up speed and it is plodding. I would like her to back up with some speed if I ask her to, similar to how I’ve been asking her to move forward with some life but without trotting/jogging. Rainy Sunday spent in the barn with smaller space working on pivoting the hind around the fore
I have become addicted to working with her- not just because I want to be able to get better at these fundamentals that will solidify everything we do- but because through my Simple Equine Teaching virtual lessons I’m learning how to read my horse, what I’m seeing when I look at her, what it means, how to get the subtle signs of equine language BEFORE she feels she has to yell her communication to me (dumb human) because I’m not trying hard enough to hear the whispers, andhopefully WAY before she shuts down completely to believing humans even care to hear.
I’m enjoying the deeper bond that comes from learning how to ask the same way and release at just the right moment. It’s one thing to understand the concept, most people with horses do, and another thing to practice it, set up video and watch painfully as I miss opportunities (when is she processing and I’m too quick to move on and when is she resting and she looks away distracted and I lost her to boredom in that split second) and then I forget which way my palm is supposed to be on the lead rope: yes. That does make a difference.
I am improving! Even though I felt like there were many wasted moments, when I went through some clips frame by frame it was hard to find examples of her truly not paying attention to me.
I want to be a good teacher- but since my horse is already good at being a horse I am trying to teach myself.
Consistency and timing.
Leadership but without force.
Know the difference between taking time to think– geting ready to try and blowing me off and needing increased pressure.
Not asking so much she gets confused, not so little she gets bored.
What this time together has done is prove I’m trustworthy as a leader. I love how when we are ready to work she gives me her full attention and asks: ok- what are we doing today?
I’ve reflexed back recently to a conversation I had with a friend at least a year ago who said it was fortunate for me I ended up with a compliant horse who basically willing and didn’t pose much challenge.
At the time I wholeheartedly agreed.
Lucky me.
But in the past year of learning I can see my strength and weakness and have learned about my horse and horsemanship. I am going to take a little more credit for the work we have done together and acknowledge that Khaleesi is not an ‘Earth’ type easy going mellow horse. She is also not a ‘Water’ Arab who has to be in constant motion- but she has a confidence and strong opinions. She is not the suffer in silence type- she is a good mirror of any mistakes. She is Arab-Saddlebred-Racking Horse (all strong minded breeds) with 1/4 Walker which gives a little calm spirit in the mix. No matter what she is a horse and something told me to seek a new path than I’d known when I started her and though I didn’t know a lot- I somehow knew to put in the leadership energy she needed as a horse to convince her I was strong enough but not forceful, I would not get emotional when things weren’t working, I would pay attention to what she needed to communicate but not be easily swayed to do what she wanted without good reason, I would NEVER put her in a situation she was not ready for- I believed the horseman who said you make a winner out of your horse and they will make a winner out of you.
I didn’t have all the tools yet but somehow the seed was there and I sought them out in every corner I saw a shadow or glimpse.
Now I am still at the bottom of a hill to learn and climb – so make no mistake I’m not bragging of my brilliance – but I will take some credit for the time and love and energy I’ve put into starting this horse who has become my best friend.
I love when she’s taking a moment in between and I have totally let the energy go out of my body and she yawns and licks because we did something right together.
Then sometimes at the end of that process she will lower her head closer to me and breathe so deep in and out it is low and rich and feels like the breath of the earth.
At that moment I am her comfort, her leader and her friend. I want to build on those until we are that team. That is how we get to 100.
We also get to 100 by getting every other detail right.
It’s going to be hot at the OD on Saturday and it’s Virginia so I’m going to assume humid. I have debated a trace clip before and wish I’d had (Biltmore) and this time I decided to try. I’m getting better with the clippers though I’m not salon quality yet. Bottom line I don’t have a self-cooling pure Arab, this will help her in the heat.
Next is the saddle and back plan. After riding some tough workouts in the Phoneix Rising wide tree her back is perfect. Not a flinch or a rub. Not a misplaced hair or dry spot. She fidgets less when I put it on. I’ve ridden in it enough to have changed out the fenders for leathers and adjusted my stirrups to suit me. It’s the saddle I plan to use in the OD.
Last is fluid in the rear leg joints. It’s not bad and she’s not lame. After Biltmore she filled up in her joints- not enough to cause a vet check issue. Enough to make me wonder what I can do to help lessen it. I asked my farrier about lower impact rubber shoes that are becoming more popular and he gave me this brilliant and insightful advice (love my farrier): it’s because of the nature of extreme riding you are doing – that’s what causes it. Have you been rubbing down her legs? Try a poultice?
No.
I cold hosed a little but not at Biltmore, we didn’t have a hose.
I had wondered about ice boots or cold therapy but had enough other bigger concerns that I just hadn’t worried- her joints filled last fall and took a month or so to clear up but it hasn’t reappeared until the 55 miler. Two vets said its ok- it’s not a lameness issue, and she just might be built that way- it might happen in extreme work.
Just think if you ran a marathon he added you would be better off if you stretched or got a massage right?
Right.
So better late than never I picked up a cooling clay poultice and gave her a leg rub twice in the past few days and left it on to draw out impurities and excess fluid.
I think it’s helped and they are a little firmer in the joint already. I will definitely rub her legs to increase circulation this weekend- in the holds and poultice after the ride.
Meanwhile I’m hitting the gym a little more and hoping to be sure I’m for the challenge. A fit rider who can stay strong and balanced longer in the saddle will help as well.
After two solid weeks off and some shorter rides to get back in the swing- she is rolling on ahead full steam toward our second and more challenging 50.
We did a fun ‘home brew’ LD over the weekend where I loaded up Kahleesi and Faygo in the morning with Susan and we rode 12.5 miles home then took a ‘vet check and hold’ while Susan traded horses and rode Levi with me and Khaleesi the 12.5 miles back to the trailer.
girls get a lunch break as we get Levi ready for the second loop
Great day and fun ride. We finished the last hour in the rain but it was better than being hot and neither of us minded.
We took it easy on both training partners but enjoyed the company. It was not a hard ride for K.
Susan enjoying Levi in the rainy finish as we pull into hidden valley: 25 miles in about 5 1/2 hours riding time
Today we went solo for a 19 mile mid-day heat climb to make me feel better about heading into the infamous OD next weekend.
I love the ride I chose but was glad I didn’t bring any new friends along after riding it again. I am not sure if everyone would have enjoyed it as much as I did. It’s a good climbing-training ride, but hard to work up much speed and some of the sections have really overgrown.
The last time I did this ride was in February with Susan. It’s a whole different ball game alone this time of year.
First Khaleesi and I left the property with the landscaping crew creating all types of noises and distractions. The trailer was near the main gate exit so it took some focus to push through the distraction.
On the trail we had gotten less than 1/2 mile when the excitement began: a mama turkey was in the small 3 foot space between us and the farm fence and couldn’t take off well. It was a whole lotta noise and commotion closer than I like being to a crazed turkey on a young horse. Thankfully Khaeesi thought about spinning but realized she had no where to go and I faced her to the turkey as it worked itself into the air finally -practically on top of us.
She’s solid- she handled it well and we moved on.
I spent a good amount of time early on warming up working on that energized walk. Especially because my rough cut trail in and out is a one track obstacle course through the woods and hard to pick up much speed safely.
I struggle with the balance of staying calm and release when she gets in rhythm yet keeping fast walk energy. If I’m too calm my energy doesn’t match the walk. Not nearly as simple as it seems for me.
She seems to feel so ‘heavy’ in the heat.
And my trails are like a rain forest jungle lately. I know the snakes are out and we travel a lot of untraveled roads out there. Um- roads would be a stretch in most cases.
As we made our way through thickening laurel, rhododendron and the clipped maze of berry briars I thought how fortunate I have been to not have encounters anything in my years of riding alone in very low traffic areas that have put us in undue peril. At least I’d told someone the basic route we were taking and was wearing my bright fushia spf cooling shirt that Ed gave me for my birthday last year. my bright shirt!
The one we tease the search and rescue helicopters couldn’t miss.
Knock on wood.
After making our way down the mountain we cut over to no mans land. The place in between the national forest and the hunt club. I had forgotten how lonely this area is. Like no other people have seen it in decades. I’m sure that’s not true- but on a Wednesday out of hunting season it sure feels like it.
MOST of the parts I ride you can see the ground – so snakes should at least be visible. I discouraged K from random grazing in the Rocky overgrown areas near streams and runs. No need to temp fate with a cottonmouth. At least the rattlers generally warn us. They worry me less.
We make our way past the old car disintegrating in the woods and this part of the trail has many downs that are maneuverable but again make speed a challenge. Small pines mostly that we can step over or duck- but what becomes very apparent is that every (every) large rock on this trail is overturned. It’s kind of eerie to see so many of them. Scattered around are the poop piles.
Bears. Definitely more than one and probably pretty recent.
I’ve seen a few bear with Faygo. She freezes but then continues on with some extra snorting and sniffing- but I’ve yet to come upon a bear with Khaeesi. Considering how well she did with the turkey flying almost on top of us I give her a fighting chance of being fine- but we won’t know until we know.
These overturned large rocks went on over a mile. At least. And I remembered we weren’t to the creepy-est section of the ride yet (why did I choose this one alone again?). It’s equally magical as it is eerie.
magical yet creepybeautiful tiny flowers
I think there may have been a home site there like 200 years ago- there a pretty periwinkles and little flowers, a run that always has water and it’s a sheltered pretty place. I would build a home there except it’s far from any road in or out now.
We break into the field areas and I beg her to JUST KEEP MOVING! She keeps lingering trying to grab a lush bite of something untouched. But I keep imagining a snake bite on her nose in the grass and a surprising a napping bear moving through the fields- forget baby fawns that could mean a mama popping out right in front of us.
Short video going through the deserted meadow-woods
We make it through without incident and come out onto the 4- wheeler roads that I planned the ride around. They have a significant climb and are perfect for a last hill work out.
The part I was thinking about when I chose this ride!
Some of the inclines are insanely steep- I ask for a power walk and at the top I stop and watch the HRM to see how she’s recovering. It’s over 80F and humid and I am happy with what I’m seeing she’s back to 64 in less than a minute each time:
Then we come to a gorgeous fern valley with a little spring where she finally drinks for the first time today. It’s like Jurassic park but without dinosaurs. Serene.
Lots of downhill follow and she is not nearly as good as Faygo in technical downhills. If we go too fast she slips.
We aren’t breaking any speed records today.
Finally we get through the mountain parts and drop into the recreation area and its smooth sailing home. I pushed her- we ended up electrolying twice- right after the big climbs and then almost home when she drug me into a creek for a big drink. As the pace picked up she sweat more.
She told me she was hot and this was hard but I asked her to keep it up. Generally speaking she’s not barn sour (sometimes I wish she was more I could use that!) but within a mile from the barn she began offering to canter at every opportunity. I knew you had more reserves!
Overall on the way home we picked up a little mph but still hung around 5.
We pushed harder the last mile and walked across the highway and by the time we got to the barn we were down.
Like a stone a friend says of her heart rate.
I’ve been riding her in the wide tree saddle and she definitely likes it better (I can see the difference in her attitude when I tack her up) I do too. The owner of Phoneix Rising said it’s pretty unusual for a horse to fill in and build so much top line they change a tree size.
But then she added you’re not the average trail rider.
We’re going to keep our eyes on it and for now I’m not really riding the two mares together so both are using the same saddle for the moment.
My farrier showed up at 6:30 the next morning and after a little more energy than usual from her he asked when the last time I’d ridden her was?
We did 25 miles Monday then I did a 19 mile climb in the mid-day heat yesterday.
Well you aren’t riding her hard enough <teasing… I think>
I know <kidding… Not kidding>
Rest up girl. In more words of wisdom from our farrier: the OD ain’t no glorified trail ride you know.
I took a personality profile as a college student (Myers Briggs type) and remember distinctly the line that stated for my type the best way to see something get accomplished is to tell me either it can’t be done, or can’t be done by me.
Note to husband if he ever reads this: it does not work with mundane tasks such as housework or gardening. Must be something grand and interesting!
It’s rare as an adult anyone bothers to tell me something can’t be done but my brain occasionally takes that role when something seems overwhming.
Two choices are possible: quit or get to work.
So I get to work.
I went to the barn Wednesday morning to wok and ride (we still have a 50 coming up in early June).
The horses were at the farthest corner of the field when I arrived and did not come to greet me.
the tiny white speck is Faygo- you can’t even make put Khaleesi in the distant R corner
Faygo for her credit did try to walk my direction but Khaleesi pinned her ears and herded the mare back into the corner.
Not surprising. I’ve struggled recently.
Ironically she still came eagerly to the gate after the 55… It was the bit change fits and struggle in training that inspired her to communicate disinterest in working together.
I walked out half way in the field and the girls finally relented and came toward me. I am no fool. They know my presence generally includes breakfast (or lunch or dinner depending only schedule).
Faygo walked right past me to stand by her dish and Khaleesi stopped at my position in the field and looked at me.
I stood still, I raised my hand to her palm down.
Want to say hi? Still friends? Not really. Also I can’t let Faygo eat all the food.
She lingered another moment and then continued on her path.
I can hardly blame her. At least she came in.
I turned to head the direction of the gate and Khaleesi stopped again. I walked in line with her and she invited me over.
She stood still while I rubbed her and she willingly lowered her head in the halter for me to lead the rest of the way in.
That’s better.
I fed Faygo in the field and Khaleesi and I went into the barn for breakfast then worked on some of the front-hind exercises.
I got a little better. I took small steps and enjoyed watching her process and think-Wednesday was a yawning fest all around.
After some positive groundwork I saddled her for a conditioning ride.
As for equipment I put my new favorite reins on my biothhane headstall with her favorite “4beat” (Phoenix Rising) comfort bit.
But I also have watched her filling out this spring and had this nagging feeling I should try my wide tree version of our (also Phoenx Rising) saddle – the one I ride Faygo in.
I tried that saddle on her in the winter and it fell right down onto her withers as it was too wide for her “A frame” shape. She has muscled in so much this spring I have been wondering if I need to revisit that.
Of course I’ve avoided it because anything having to do with saddle fit- especially after all we went though to ‘solve’ this last fall is an absolute nightmare and I hold my hands over my ears doing the “LA LA LA LA LA” dance just thinking about it. I solved this problem. I invested in a saddle I love.
If I’m truly honest there’s a part of me that just doesn’t want to know.
The sad news was that the wide tree looked good on Khaleesi. In my opinion, very good.
So I rode her in it.
We had a great 12 mile ride. It was hot and humid and the trail had a pretty steep rocky-technical early climb then a nice ridge ride out and back.
I wanted to work on a forward energized walk when she isn’t naturally in the mood. The heat made her feel lethargic and she would have been more motivated if we’d had company.
I struggled getting her to stay in that energy. She would either kick into a trot and I had to let her know “That’s not what I’m asking” or she would take a few steps and then lull back into the dull lazy walk.
I decided to get off and work it from the ground and a lightbulb went off.
That energized walk feels really different in my body and in her movement. On the ground we have a good leading game- however, I never lead this style of walk.
I walk normal, super slow, and even moderately fast. I practice leading at the trot for our trot outs.
I have never practiced a true energized walk on the ground.
She would drag, I would drive and she would trot to keep up. I tried again. I collected my energy and finally there in the woods she came with me exactly.
I stopped. Buck talks about how important timing and true release is. If I want her to learn quickly I use ask the same exact way each time and realize completely. Complete release has to be more than just physical.
Physical is two fold for me: stop; but also I now do a body scan to see if I’m holding tension anywhere. Unlock my knees, soften my eyes, lately I find I have to move my jaw and tongue as they tend to hang on the most to tension.
One thing I remind myself is not to get excited that we did it. High emotions are not a release for the horse, even if it’s triumph.
And I do a check on my brain. Have I stopped thinking about the fast walk? Release the brain as well.
We stood together in total relaxation while she yawned and licked. Her tongue came out of her mouth. She did three sets of this- literally 9 big yawns.
these aren’t the best full yawn shots but I am trying to be low key low energy so its hard to not interrupt the process with pictures!
I hope she was thinking about a fast energized walk, but I also hoped she was thinking about our relationship and my leadership.
The rest of the ride went well.
Occasionally I would stop and ask her to pivot around her front or hind. She did pull some turn arounds and I had to kick her in the shoulder a few times to block them.
The way home is more gradual downhill and we trotted about 5 miles straight while I worked on feeling her trot legs and tried to notice why the R diagonal doesn’t feel right. I also worked on a gentle sitting trot to see if I could better follow her movement.
We got back to the trailer and I gave her big rubs and told her I thought she was doing great. She had fantastic sweat patterns under her pad from the saddle but hardly any sweat on the rest of her body for it being so warm.
I am not sure what to do about the saddle but since I have a wide tree I will use it for now and see how her back does and how she moves in it.
Thursday I had to work so upon stopping at the barn to feed, I haltered both horses and went back over the groundwork we had done since Tuesdsday.
I saw this and it reminded me that small steps in the right direction are what matters:
Day 3 in a row it’s starting to look good. I noticed that even with the flies now out en force- she was laser focused on me hardly shaking her head or being distracted from either working or thinking. Thursday morning she was completely in tune with me and giving the right answers on the first try.
We went to see my closest mentor today! It’s so nice to have some experienced eyes on what I’m doing.
I need some direction and help. I’m full of inspiration yet floundering around with my groundwork and on Sunday our time in the arena was less than perfect.
It was so helpful to have a pair of eyes on me but oh how small I feel as a speck on the bottom of the mountain of horsemanship in front of me.
Will I ever be good at this?
I can’t seem to think of more than one thing at a time and throw my energy around carelessly creating movement I don’t want from my wonderfully sensitive horse.
The good news is that I can practically look at a foot and tell it to move in my mind and she will. The bad news is I can’t seem to walk around her hind with fly spray without translating energy that tells her move away from me! How cool that was to find that she may not love being sprayed- but if I don’t put energy with the fly spray bottle toward her legs she actually DOES stand still!
Oh the problems we don’t know we are creating. Reminds me of the many horse people who have said something like:
Your horse is smart. Your horse is going to learn something. Hopefully it’s the things you intend to teach.
There was also a moment I tried: asking her to step her front foot over. I did my signal and after a moment she stepped over… AND forward toward me.
Good- but you don’t want her to move toward you.
I know!
Well you asked her to. When you signaled you weren’t straight. You pulled your arm back slightly. She was doing exactly what your signal said.
Of course she was. She is better at horse Jedi language than I am. Being a horse and all.
This is why I need help!
I am armed this week with some solid new ground moves and my goal (similar to Bucks groundwork) is to be able to separate hind and shoulder and move them independently. Also to have better control of each foot- to ask her to back up with which foot I want to move specifically not just go back.
In the saddle I have gotten better at one important thing this year: I know what each foot is doing at the walk. I can now time my request at the walk with a footfall by feel.
πππππππππ
However at the trot came the blow up. Just like on Sunday, we went around once or so but it felt really wrong. Then she pinned her ears tried to turn me toward the fence and threw a fit.
I was glad for someone else to see this unusual behavior.
Try again- do not let her turn you. Kick her! Get a few nice steps and then stop. Keep your butt deep in that saddle!!
We walked to start (fine) picked up a trot and again- pinned ears, angry, fighting, head around nipping toward my shoe even.
I think I got one or two accidental trot steps where her ears were forward and we stopped.
This was the second time I’d seen this but it was so out of character for her personality we both agreed something is wrong. We agreed it was big communication that was trying to tell me something and didn’t seem just like a sour attitude. I was glad to get a second opinion because I don’t want to encourage naughty blow ups but I also don’t want to ignore her trying to tell me something isn’t right. That starts a problematic chain of events with the horse developing a negative opinion of me which is very very hard to counteract.
Once you’ve lost their trust it’s a long road to regain it.
My hope is that it coincided with the snaffle bit change and something is annoying or painful with the trot in the snaffle. (Could have been my hands moving too much- even though I tried to fix that issue and still the blow up came).
One thing is for sure- she is not a mare to suffer in silence. No stoic martyr in this girl- flies bothering her, feet sensitive on hard rocks, or something she doesn’t like she will tell me!
Not wanting to end on such a terrible note (I know we do that for the horse but I probably would have gone home and cried myself it was such a fight we had) we walked the arena again and worked on circles and better rein communication from me.
She was basically ok. We ended positive.
I had a full day and after dropping Khaleesi off I just wanted to take a nap. I felt like my brain was rattling around with all kinds of things I needed to sleep on and process.
I needed a moment to lick and chew and yawn.
No luck- appointments and a diner engagement were on the calendar.
Next step is to try the other bit and see if that makes the difference. If it ain’t broke maybe we don’t need to fix it.
Overall however I was feeling a little hopeless and like the mountain was so big and how could I find the time it would take to get anywhere. I was talking to my dad and said (half joking):
It was so much easier when I could just ride around on my horse in ignorance to all this. We were pretty good together… We could do basically what we needed to. Now I can never go back to that but man this is a lot of work!
A little later I heard a timely interview with western horseman Richard Winters. What he said reminded me that I have the grit to keep at anything I care about – and truly I would never go back to being just a ‘horseback rider’ even if I could. I will go the next day and get a little better. I will climb up the mountain one little footfall at a time even if I only get to the foothills it will be better than never taking a step!
She is so worth the price.
Really anyone can learn to be a horseback rider. Horseman is a more elite group. I don’t think everyone is willing to pay the price it takes to truly become a horseman. –RichardWinters
green to 100 