Week 3 - Lovely ride!

Today marked the three week point with APP C. And what a day it was! We had a LOVELY ride today. He is getting more and more in shape, and is really trying his heart out for me. This is all work he has NEVER been asked to do before, so there are still moments of confusion. But he tries so hard, I just love that about him.

Today was the first ride where I felt him really step up into the bridle in his transitions, and really keep the hind legs active and R-E-A-C-H-I-N-G in the trot. I am so pleased with his progress.

In one week, we will have the 'unveiling', assuming that APP C's owner and I are in agreement. I will post some pictures and video. After the unveiling, I hope to update with pictures and/or video once a week.

14 days of APP C

Today marked the half way point in the APP C trial. I have ridden him a handful of times now. And he continues to impress me each and every time I interact with him. 14 more days and the final determination will be made if he makes the change from APP Candidiate C to APP.

APP C - Superstar

K, so I haven't had APP C for very long. But I am utterly in love with him. He is SUCH a gentleman, and SUCH a good boy. I love his personality, and he does not know the word 'no'.

Today was the first time I rode him, and he is like riding a big comfy couch. *grins* I'm sure I was asking him things differently than he's been used to, but he tried his heart out for me. We shared the arena with another horse, and he didn't care. We took some video, but I won't be posting pictures or video until the 30 day trial is finished. I want to be sure that everything is settled before making any announcements.

So far, so good!

Two wonderful things today!

Ok, so I know that I said I wasn't going to give details on APP C during the trial, right? Well, today was just too good not to gush over. *laughs* Today, I got to the barn, nobody was around. This was my first opportunity to work him with just the two of us. It was really nice to have it quiet and easy. APP C was SUCH a star, he was focused, attentive, willing, really getting 'into me' (in a good way!). I am just loving his personality. He is such a 'giver' and a gentleman. Everything was so low key and easy today, we are figuring each other out, and finding our fit together. I just really love how he is digging the whole being in work thing. So, that was highlight number one of the day!

Highlight number two: I was poking around on youtube, and came across a wonderful video of the Grand Prix trainer, Mari Monda Zdunic, I was a working student for in Michigan. Had to share, it is a great exhibition ride on a wonderful Arabian stallion, Bay Count. Some of you may be familiar with his name because there was a group of McCoy bred Arabians brought up here in the 90's that are very closely related to Bay Count.

APP C

I have had the opportunity to work APP C a few times now. He is on a 30 day trial to see how things go. So far, so wonderful! *grins* He is a super sweet guy, I like him a lot. He also really surprised me with his movement. I was not expecting that much from him, as I had only seen him standing in a paddock and had no idea how he moved.

Not planning to give very detailed updates during the trial. If all goes well, and the three of us (me, APP C, and APP C's owner) are all happy, then I'll post details.

So, for now, the update is that things are going well, and I am thoroughly enjoying APP C.

Watching old video tapes

So, last night Erica and I decided to pull out the old VHS tapes and watch old horse videos. Wow, there were some CRINGE WORTHY moments recorded on that magnetic tape. *sighs* There were also some shining moments that I had not remembered. It's great to find video of horses and barns that I thought I had no visual record of.

For instance, I found the video I made when I went to go look at a TB gelding. I ended up buying that gelding. I also found the tape I made of him when I was selling him 3 years later. Such a lovely boy!

I also found the video of the first class I rode my Moosie mare in. And then the video I made to evaluate her lameness issues 2 years later. =( A year after that, I sold her to her current owner.

I found video of Abba, the 19 yo Hanovarian mare that was given to me. That video really made me cringe. So many issues, and really all of them caused by my lack of skill. *sighs* I am glad I have that video, though. It makes me redouble my resolve to continue to improve.

I need to get myself the equipment to get all of his old VHS media transferred to digital. Then I can post more videos. I really do love being able to share the wonderful horses I have been so lucky to know.

In APP news, Candidate C should be moving in the next 2 days. YAY! Now, hopefully the temps will get just a bit warmer...although there's a heated indoor, so I don't have to worry too much. Except for cooling out. *sighs* Long winter coats + good work outs = long cool out. Ew.

The Lovely Roxy

So, I was trying to make myself wait and not post all of these videos at once. Rationing, you know. But I am impatient and want to share! So, here we have the very lovely Roxy.



Roxy is a Dutch mare by Olympic Ferro. She came to me as a resale horse in 2006. She is a wonderful mare, powerful mover and a great personality. She sold to a breeder in New York who is very happy with her.

Also, in unrelated news, I met Candidate E and saw a video of Candidate F. There are additional Candidates at that barn, but E and F are the prime candidates for now. Issues with E is that she is for sale. And F is not in the state yet. But I like them both very much. So I may end up working out a separate arrangement for E and F. We will see how things go with C.

Speaking of C, he should be moving to the indoor facility this week! Soooo excited!

Intro Test B

Lovely, flawed Intro Test B from 2007 AHR Nationals. I actually START Intro Test A. And then, the judge reminds me that I am supposed to be riding Intro Test B. oops! NOT a good mistake to make at Nationals. *sighs*

So, this is Ziggy. He is 7 in this video. He was owned by one of my students, and had been giving her problems, so she asked me to ride him in this show. He is a strong, powerful horse and he was using that against his young rider. In this test, I have him too short in the neck (boo!) in a lot of places, and you can see how his trot gets very 'up/down' instead of forward. That is from the tension of keeping him too bottled up in front. Shame on me. =(


I REALLY enjoyed that horse, and he has a lot of potential. You can see when I remember to ALLOW him to stretch into the contact that his trot is lovely. He has a WONDERFUL walk, lots of overtrack and stretch. This horse has oodles of potential. This video is a good reminder to myself to always keep the horse telescoping into the hand, instead of bringing them to the hand. BIG difference.

Pictures from this ride:

Active behind, but too deep in front. My hands are too low. If I lifted them a bit, that would have helped him open up in front. I also need to SIT UP!


Much better activity, more open, not too deep. Notice the better line from elbow to bit...not broken as it was in the last picture. Still on the forehand, but for Intro, that's OK. Still a tad short in the neck.


This one kinda makes me drool a little bit. *laughs* Look at that hock action and hind leg engagement. YAY! Also, I don't hate my position in this one. *laughs* And he's not too short in the neck or too deep. w00t!


Love the horse in this picture, hate my facial expression. *laughs* This is a great free walk, he is really striding out and stretching.