June show

So we went up to the show on Friday morning, and were able to get in and get the horses settled and the trailers set up by lunch time.  Around 2 the arena opened up and we were able to have a ride.  Lucy was amazing.  She had a look around while I walked her around in hand, but was curious but not spooky.

Our ride on Friday night was great, and then I got her cleaned up and C's daughter banded her for me.  Saturday was HOT (ended up being 34 Celsius, last weekend we were happy when it was 10 degrees!)  Halter mares was first and the class ended up having 29 horses in it.  We did not place, but Lucy set up quickly and stood quietly the entire class.

Showmanship was next and I was a little nervous about this class.  It was both AQHA and an open class.  We ended up going second, and Lucy did awesome!  Her set up was good, her pivots were solid and her trot was good.  Everything could have been a bit sharper, but I was so happy with her, considering that she hasn't ever done much showmanship. We ended up being 2nd and 3rd in AQHA and 4th in the open.

Lucy was born on a PMU ranch in Manitoba (Yes they do breed performance horses with pedigrees and movement) and as eligible for NAERIC funds for all of her placings.  Hopefully the money she earned from this show will pay for her trailering!

We had a quiet ride that night, and it finally cooled down that night so that all of us were able to get a good nights rest.

The next day I went and rode in the morning, thinking back on it now I should have skipped the morning ride and rode her harder in the warm up right before the class (things you learn after the fact).  By the time I had her somewhat warmed up for the pleasure class she was grumpy and hot.  She still would have been hot either way but I think she didn't want to go to work the second time that day.

Our pleasure class was a mixed bag.  Her walk and jog were good but she was way too quick at the lope.  I knew the minute she loped off that we were going for a ride!  I wasn't much help to her in this class either.  I was trying not to pick on her and screw her up, but get her to slow down but also at the same time leaving her alone as she lopes better that way.  I also didn't use the ring to my advantage and lost my spot on the rail a bunch of times, she rides better when we have a rail to follow.  I also managed to have her break down to a trot for me for a stride because I tried to slow her down at one point. Dispite all that we managed to get a 7th.

Our horsemanship pattern was next and I was really worried about getting the wrong leads.  My legs are not very strong (esp my right leg) and often Lucy picks up the cue to canter on the correct lead by what direction we are going.  Its not always the best option but I have to work with what I have.  The pattern called for a left lead lope in a straight line from A to B, halt at B 360 to the right lope right lead straight line to C, jog a circle to the right stop and back.  Lucy got her leads but our lope ran out of gas before we got all the way to C.  We also did rail work and her lope was much better at this point, so I think our warm up was not enough to get her ready for the pleasure class.

We ended up placing 1st and 2nd in the AQHA portion and 5th over all.

I have more pictures coming but here a few to hold you over until everyone uploads them.

at the end of our western pleasure class

Lucy chilling in her stall.

So I forgot my helmet

But I rode anyways :(. I took it home to clean it and forgot it. I know bad me, but I lunged beforehand and didn't lope or do anything silly just a 20 min ride with lots of rising trot. I normally never ride without it now but this day I did.  And I got a picture of me and Oscar, although i wanted one of us riding together, this one will have to do for now.

Barn weekend

Oh how I've missed the challenges of a halter baby!  Poor Bella didn't know what hit her this weekend.  Her every day routine got smashed when we practiced 'setting up' for 2 min each time I turned her out in the indoor.  (I put all the horses that are stuck inside out in either the indoor or our 'one horse' turnout 2 x a day while cleaning stalls) 

I do want to add a disclaimer at this point.  I do lunge babies at this age (5-6 months) for 5 min every 2 or 3 days for 2 weeks.  I only do this until they know "how" to lunge and then I stop until they are yearlings where they get a refresher. When the babies are away from home at multi day horse shows they need to be able to release some energy in a safe manner.  All they need to know is how to stay on a circle and be stoppable. I also spend about 5 min per day (usually broken up into at least 2 sessions) on how to 'set up' for a judge, have someone walk around them, and how to trot in hand.  Once Bella is home at the end of the month she is going to live in the new run-in shed with Chilly, which she more than likely will like more than showing, but she loves the attention right now!

And after 5 days of only me handling the studs the mouth action has been shut down big time!  Both are well behaved but tend to nip, and I cant stand that!  The Goodbar stud just returned home from a trainers in the USA a couple of weeks ago and is still grumpy and sullen mannered.  Hopefully if we can get him back into work again he'll feel better if he has a purpose in life.  Some days I would rather deal with stallions than mares or geldings any day! 

Bella Baby, getting ready to be halter horse!

Chevy, 4yo stallion by Radical Hour

One of Bella's appaloosa characteristics, the white around her eyes.  (she is a solid but has stripped feet, and the spotted skin in several areas) 

Rusty 2yo stallion by Goodbar, out of an IA mare.

Chestnut on the right is Chilly, then Mister then Jeanie (the mother of Bella)