April BEST

This month, we had two shows and this past weekend, we were at BEST (Black Eyed Susan Horse Show Series).  This show is also at the PG Equestrian Center.  We shipped the horses in Friday evening, which is great since I had two horses plus Ronin to ride at the barn before going over.  We shipped over around 6pm to get the horses settled in for the night.  The show is only about 15-20 minutes from the barn, so it is very easy to get to.  I stayed the night at Amy's house (just up the hill from the barn - i.e., on the property) so that I didn't have to drive the hour or so drive home.  My division is the last of the day on Saturday and I needed to ride a horse at the barn before heading to the show.  So I drove down to the barn when the gates were opened at 8am and rode the horse.  I then got the rest of my tack and headed down to the show at 10am.  I had asked my friend to feed Ronin his breakfast so that I didn't have to worry about being there to feed.

Ronin enjoying watching the horse show

Ronin really enjoyed watching the show.  We faced the two arenas so he got to watch the horses all day.  He would grab a bite of hay, stick is head out to watch and eat, and repeat.

The horse show was huge!  There were 10+ in each division and 24 in one of them!  So needless to say, I had a long time to wait.  We ended up stepping into the arena under the lights at 10pm and the last class, the undersaddle, finished at 11:30pm.  Ronin was great under the lights.  He could care less about how the jumps look with the lights either shining right on them or back lighting them, which caused a few horses to take a second look with all the shadows in front of the jump.  The medal course was quite fun with a couple of roll backs.  Then it was right into the flat phase of the medal.  He was super and we won!  I couldn't be happier. 

Then the two hunter rounds and the undersaddle.  Ronin was a little confused since I had to get off to remove his martingale for the flat phase, then get off and put it back on for the hunter rounds, then get off again to remove it for the undersaddle.  He doesn't really need a martingale, but it helps to break up his neck and complete the look for the hunter ring (I know, all about the look in the hunters).  He was great in the first round and won the class.  I had a rail in the second class and by the flat, he wanted to be done and was quite up and not happy about having to show so late and so was I.  Way past our bedtime!

After the last class, we went back to his stall to untack and get him settled for the night.  Since we jump a few rounds, he gets standing wraps for the night to support his legs.  We only put them on for the show overnight and do not when they go home.  When they are home, they get to go out to their fields and walk around so they do not need them.  At the shows, they are in a stall and can't move around too much, so this is a way to help them out a little.  

Left the show at 11:57pm and arrived back at the barn at 12:18pm.  Quickly got into pajamas and right to bed.  On Sunday, our division is first at 8am.  So I got up at 6am and was back at the show at 6:30am to get him ready to show again.  Since he is grey, I had to use some green spot remover to clean him up a tad before he was ready to show.  Both he and I were quite tired and I made a few mistakes.  He was still great.  We were third in the medal, 6th in the first hunter round, second in the second round, and fifth in the undersaddle.  I was very happy with the second round and happy with the result.  We were both exhausted from the night before; we will just have to make it work.

Hopefully, the show management will figure out how to make the show run faster or reorganize the classes so that we are not going so late at night.  It is tough, the ring was run well, there are just so many entries.  When I received counts at 10:30am, there were 230 hunter trips, 74 equitation trips, and 12 flat classes.  And I believe there were more adds later.  So if you do the math, that is a lot of showing.  Here is the breakdown:

2.0mins/Rd + 10mins/flat = ~12 hrs

2.5mins/Rd + 10mins/flat = ~14 hrs

The courses were a little long and the typical estimate for a fences round is 2 minutes, but I think that with ponies showing and a long approach to the first fence, 2.5 minutes is more accurate.  So if everything runs perfect, it would be 14+ hrs of showing just based on numbers, plus you have to add in time to change the heights of jumps and water/drag the ring.  The show manager is very aware of the situation and is trying to fix the problem.  He was nice enough to compensate the adults who had to show so late by taking $50 off our entry fees, which was incredibly nice (it is better for him to give us back $50 than for us to scratch and to lose the $93 in entry fees for the day).

Well, this weekend we have a much needed break.  My husband and I will be having some fun with a friend and her husband visiting the Baltimore Historic Ships in the Inner Harbor and on Sunday.  We will also be doing some spring cleaning and exchanging winter clothes for spring/summer clothes.  Then Ronin and I have two BEST shows the next two weekends.  The first one is a MHSA Regional show with a TB show.  I am very excited about the TB show since Ronin was registered with the Jockey Club and he gets to do some of the special classes they are offering (a Handy Hunter class and a Hunter Derby)!  I also have IHSA Nationals the Friday before the TB show.  

MSA April

So this past Sunday, Ronin went to a show, the Maryland Saddle Association.  We signed up to do the Warm Up trip, the Adult Amateur (AA) hunters, and the MHSA Adult Medal.  I got there at 7:30 am to cheer on our lead line rider and to help feed and get the horses settled (they came in on Saturday).  My division was the last one, so it was a lot of waiting around, and I mean a lot.  My classes didn't end up going until about 6:30/7pm (and that was after they had moved 3 large divisions out of our ring to another one).  Ronin was a little grumpy about having to go so late, but good thing he likes to jump.  So to past the time, two littler girls groomed him and he was in heaven!

Loving life - two kids grooming him

Checking out all the horses at the show passing by

Even though it was late and the lights were on, he was quite good.  A little quick and fiesty, but still well behaved.  We had nice trips in the division and received 1st and 2nd!  He was third in the hack, which is fine since he really does not move great.  Then it was time for the medal class.  We had a decent trip and a great flat phase.  And won!  So excited.  The medal takes the top 20 over the year for the final so this is a good start.  After all the classes were over, they announced Champion and Reserve and we were Champion!  Great way to wrap up the very long day.  Didn't get home til 10pm, quick shower and passed out.  Hopefully will have video soon as one of the fathers video-ed the rounds.  Will update later.

Shoes

Ronin was due for his feet to get trimmed, so on Tuesday, the farrier came out to reset his shoes.  We put him back in steel for the extra support, so he didn't need a new set.  Unlike the aluminum, which you pretty much have to get new every time since they wear down quickly, the steel shoes can last more than one shoeing cycle.  Ronin has had some trouble keeping his shoes, so we I tried him in a new invention that was created in the UK.  He tends to play in his TO and pull his shoes while leaping about.  I was tired of having to re-shoe him every 2-3 weeks due to a lost shoe.  So, I found these online, Shoe Secure.  Here are the benefits of these devices:

• Prevents shoe loss and hoof damage from over-reaching
• Accommodates a range of horseshoe sizes, including remedial shoes.
• Quick and Easy to fit using two bespoke SupaStuds
• Re-usable on successive shoes.
• Durable, flexible and light weight giving months of use
• Highly refined product design crafted to maximise protection without impacting performance or gait
• Allows the farrier to properly balance the shoe on the hoof providing adequate support for the heels
• Allows freedom of airflow to avoid risk of infection or fungal problems

Thankfully, they came in black!

Such a cutie :)

So, 6 weeks ago, we drilled and tapped the front shoes (adding a hole to the shoe and creating the thread) so that we can use these (basically, they are a "shield" that protects the back and sides of the shoe).  Well, I have to say, they worked!  He went a full shoeing cycle and the shoes never budged.  They are pretty easy to put on too.  Once I get the holes cleaned out and prepped (granted, the longest part of the task), they only take about 1 minute per foot to put on.  Super easy and they work.  They are only used in turnout and I remove them to ride.  When I remove them, I check his heels to make sure there are no rubs.  When it is wet outside, I put some petroleum jelly on his heels to seal out moisture and it works great.

Ronin likes to give kisses when he is finishing up his feet :)

Ronin's Shoe Secures:

Success at Zones

So this past weekend, I made the trip down to Roanoke, VA, to Hollins University (Zone 4) to compete in the IHSA Zone Finals on Sunday, April 6th.  So, Saturday was quite the busy day.

Woke up pretty early to do some chores around the apartment and go grocery shopping.  Got to the barn at 11am to ride Ronin.  I jumped him on Friday outside over some bigger fences to prepare for the following weekend (I have two shows coming up.  MSA on April 13 and BEST on April 19-20).

Ended up riding an extra horse a little because he was quite fresh and his owner is just getting back in the saddle after having her first child.  So we wanted to make sure that he was going to be safe to ride and oh boy did he need his butt put back into place.  The horse has been on his own "maternity" leave since his owner could not ride him.  Let's just say he liked his vacation and did not want to get back to work.  After some trotting around, I asked him to canter and he absolutely did not want to.  He sort of reared but all four feet came off the ground, so more of a leap.  After quite a bit of kicking and growling at him, he cantered nicely.  After many trot to canter transitions, he smoothed out and got back into work.  His owner then got on and he was a perfect gentleman.

Then off to Zones.  The other alumni, who qualified in both flat and fences, offered to drive down, so I met her and her student (who qualified in the Individual Intermediate Flat) at her house.  We left around 2pm and started the 3.5-4 hour drive down to Roanoke.  The drive was quite uneventful, thankfully, and there was only one small accident on 81 which did not cause too much delay.  We safely arrived at the hotel and went to dinner, then off to catch some z's at the hotel.  And let Zones begin!

Program

Schooling horses started at 7am with the flat horses then 7:45 for the jumping horses.  We watched the horses and made some notes about them.  Hollins University and Bridgewater College brought horses for the show.  There was not a bad draw among them.  All of the horses were straight forward and very nice.  It was such a treat to have them and I was excited to ride.  At 9:30, we walked the course, which for Alumni, was the same as the Novice course, a simple hunter course consisting of two single fences, outside line, long approach to an oxer, and finishing over the other outside line.

The ring was beautifully decorated with lots of brush, flowers, gates, and boxes.  Before the show started, Hollins University retired one of their long time partners with IHSA, Oyster Pond.  There was a lovely ceremony with a speech by the President of the University.

Oyster Pond Retirement Ceremony

Then the show started at 10am.  My fences class was the last one, so I was able to happily watch all of the other riders show.  Finally, around noon, it was time to draw horses for the fences class.  For IHSA, you draw a random horse.  We drew from a silver cup and I drew "Sycamore Ridge".  He was quite a cute little hunter and seemed straight forward.  He was being ridden in the classes before me, so I made sure to pay attention to him.  The rider right before me indicated while on course that the saddle was slipping around and she had some trouble with his jump (she was opening early over the jumps and catching him in the mouth a little).  I made a mental note to stay with his jump and to also have the horse handler check the girth.  After the rider unmounted, the handler moved the saddle up and tightened it.  Once I got on, she re-tightened the girth since he does blow out a little.  After walking around a bit on the buckle, I asked her to check it one more time.  To me, it still seemed a little loose, but she said that it was as tight as it would go.  I made a mental note to really stay in the center of the saddle and thankfully, I have long legs to wrap around him.

The other alumni drew '1' and went first on Darius (another very cute hunter).  I didn't get to see her round since I was outside.  But she came out and it was game on!  I picked up my reins and headed into the arena at the walk.  Walked a few steps in and picked up the canter.  He was very responsive and had a nice forward canter.  So I got up into my half seat and picked up a good pace.  He was very fun to ride and jump around, very adjustable to the fences, and listened well.  I noted that some of the other riders had a tough time with his lead change, so I made sure to set him up a little for it.  First fence went ok; the distance was good, but he jumped a little out of form over the fence, but my position held.  He landed the incorrect lead, so a lead change was necessary.  I set him up a little and he flew a beautiful change.  Next fence was also a single, so stayed nice and straight and galloped up to it.  The lines were set at about 72' which is a normal 5 strides at a decent height (usually 2'9"-3').  These fences were quite a bit smaller, more like 2'3", so I cantered nicely in and continued all the way down the line asking him to move forward.  Nice 5 strides, landed the lead and reset a little so that I could just canter the long approach.  He kept a very nice rhythm and I was able to canter nicely down to the single oxer.  A little set up again since the last line seemed to be riding easier for most of the horses and it was the end of the course heading to the gate.  I got in nicely and settled a little bit with some voice and stretched my body back and he responded perfectly.  We fit the 5 strides in nicely and landed on the wrong lead.  Set up the change again and really stepped into my outside iron.  Nice lead change, but the saddle slipped quite a bit when I shifted my weight!  Thankfully we were done and the saddle moved back to center easily. Exited the ring at a walk and hopped off and gave him a huge pat.  He was a blast!

Sycamore Ridge, photo cred Goucher College J.F. 

 Since it was just the two of us, we went right back into the arena for awards.  My number was called at the winner!  I was very excited.  We got a large ribbon and for being champion, I received a pair of Piper Breeches from Smartpak :)  I just go the new catalog in the mail and had marked a few that I liked.  I was planning on buying a pair and now I just won a pair!  Being a Smartpak customer already, I know that I really like these breeches and will be a needed addition to my schooling ones.

So now it's off to Nationals in Harrisburg on May 1-4.  Nationals are over 4 days; Hunt Seat Equitation is Thursday - Saturday; Western is Friday - Sunday.  The Alumni O/F class is on Friday, May 2, at 8:00am.  So I will be up there bright and early to watch the horses school.  Hopefully Nationals will go as well as Zones and I hope to bring you some good news next month.

Now, it's back to Ronin.  He is getting some new shoes today and he goes to the show this weekend.  I am showing him Sunday in the AA division.  Hopefully I can get him clean and looking like a show horse again.  We've had some crazy amounts of rain and he is looking more like a spotted appaloose than a grey.  Here's to some elbow grease and a lot of shampoo :)

Rain Rain GO AWAY!

So, this weekend ended a little different than anticipated.  We had torrential down pours slated for this weekend.  The host college decided to cancel the last show of the season (and with good reason!).  Many inches of rain this weekend which created very sloppy conditions, which were not safe to ride in.

Therefore, I was unable to compete and did not qualify on the flat.  Oh well.  However, I am now going to Nationals in the O/F class!  So instead of going to the IHSA show, I ended up helping out at the MD Spring Festival at the PG Equestrian Center with a few of our riders.  They were showing in the covered arena.  After a very long day (I started at 4am to braid the pony and two horses) and not getting back to the barn til 7:30pm, I promptly drove up to the house, showered and passed out...zzzz....

Woke up the next day, rode Mr. Ronin, then carpooled to the Regional show on Sunday.  Since I was already at the barn, I was picked up by friend's parents and off to the show.  It was quite short and the show didn't start til 11am (yay!!!).  Many of the classes only had 1-2 riders qualify, so those classes did not run as those riders were going straight to Zones.  Only 1 fences class and 3 flat classes had more than 2 riders, so it was a quick show (over at noon).  The rider I was supporting rode well and ended up third in her first Regionals class ever (in the largest class - 7).  Happy she rode well, but unfortunately, you have to be 1st or 2nd to move on to Zones.  So I will be going to Zones next weekend without them (which is sad because I have had so much fun with them this year).  But the good thing is I will be carpooling with the other alumni and one of her riders so we can share gas and hotel.  It will be a fun weekend and I am very excited :)

Long weekend with lots of weather.  So much rain and now it's snowing again!

Rain/Snow outside my window