Meet my newest mount

I just realized I dont think I ever formally introduced my "baby" horse Kiss (jc name KissTheButterflies).

Finally having my girls together at the same barn felt really nice

I saw an ad posted about her and just could not stop thinking of her. I had fresh money in my pocket to go towards her purchase and it was burning a hole in my pocket.

The day I went to look at her (she is 3 in this picture)

If any of you remember Typo in my adding to the roster post...I sold him pretty quickly to an adult male as his first horse because he is just so chill. I knew pretty quickly he wouldn't be sticking around...i like my feisty mares...and he fit perfectly in with his new owner's agenda. They still are building together and happy which makes me super happy.

One of our first off farm schoolings...can you say wood allergy!?

 Kiss has by far been way easier, more sane and willing than Tillie was at this young age. Sure she has her moments, but she is just so NICE. She was so good at her first few events last season. Worried for sure and just wiggly...so not like the cocky tillie dragging my butt around.

First ever full event, looking the part already

Both my mares could not be any more opposite. Kiss is typically happy to plod along however fast or slow you ask...sometimes more on the slow side. She tends to be a worrier which is something we are working on. Really managing her confidence and protecting that.

Another outing in the season at Loch Moy...having some baby feelings about it all

She jumped around very well and confident though!

She isnt as brave as tillie, but once you show her the way shes usually pretty honest. I admit to not always giving her the driving, supportive ride she always needs to things simply because I am not used to that! Its been a learning curve for me but a very fun one. Hence us sticking at intro last year to feel one another out...we were about to move up to BN for one final event but all the darn rain foiled that and everything was cancelled.

Dressed up in "racing gear" for a paper chase

All that rain didnt help set us up for success this year just yet. This season we are struggling with her big feet somewhat, but we got pads put on and so far **knocking on all the wood** that has seemed to keep her happy and comfortable.

Did i mention she sometimes feels like a human blender?

My goal for her this year (shes is now 5) is to keep plugging away at the confidence building. Lots of miles, traveling and exposure. We will likely live in BN land for a while until she tells me she's bored.

Schooling at tranquility last fall

 The mare has some talent in there I am excited to see come out, but must be careful not to push too fast too soon...because she is so much easier than tillie was, its easy to get carried away.

Not touching this mom!!

Scope for days

 Her legs and feet are so much thicker than Tillie....and her body longer. Its been interesting learning how to put her together. Shes also much lighter in my hands...

First day of trying her

Last week

She was so young and awkward, I really tried to take some time with her...i gave her most of this winter off and the time off hasnt disappointed. Shes come back well aside from the feet issue. 

Just because shes cute

 Our first schooling of the season she was doing much better jumping across and not so up and down...however we went again when the footing was wet and we had that issue again which makes me things studs are needed sooner than I realized.

So that is Kiss!! My princess pony...while Tillie is very much still queen bee. We have a busy season planned between the two! 

when on the mend

As I talked about in my recent posts, we have been addressing recent feet issues in this dry heat. In addition to that, we have had some extreme temps putting us in a heat advisory restricting actual riding capabilities...

so we graze and hang out...

So take a really fit thoroughbred, red head mare...give her roughly two rides over a week...mix it together and you get a monster. Yep, legit. 

Seriously though, she isn't nearly as bad as she used to be...but the fire breathing dragon version of Tillie has re-visited us even in this heat and I have to say, I really didn't miss it. Ok maybe a little part of me is happy to know it still exists (meaning Tillie still has the feisty tendencies and is feeling good), but I am quite happy not experiencing the rearing, bolting and all four legs coming off the ground. 

Trail ride on Friday

Friday was my first ride back on her since getting her feet redone and she was still slightly ouchy occasionally on her left front so we took to the woods and trails for a hack. Miss sassy pants walked with such a HUGE marching and swinging walk my abs were on fire about 15 minutes in...I couldnt reprimand her though since she was keeping it to four beats (barely), but fine. I get it. Mare had some time off and is fit so has some willies to get out. 

Like spooking at this long...

Or spooking at absolutely nothing here

going so fast in the walk its blurry!

Spooking and getting excited at seeing open space

Look VERY hard for her friends

getting confused because she cant see them

In all seriousness though, she was ok for this ride...just forward in the walk which isnt a bad thing. With my recent concerns of her being tired, Im pleased she feels good! Just wish we could rein it back in a bit. 

And the spookiness??!? Who knows...she isnt typically that flighty. She can be when she is in heat, but I guess with her being all energetic and jazzed up it comes with the territory.

Does anyone else find their own horses get spooky after a few days off?

Quite pleased with herself after

So knowing she felt good enough to walk that well and jig at times...she felt sound enough to try trotting her around in our ring which, with the soft footing, she felt great. So I planned to come early saturday to try to beat the heat to put in an actual dressage ride.

Gunner says noooo dont leave me!!

I get on and start warming her up. She felt much better then my previous disaster of a lesson but still a bit guarded. She felt more like the horse I have been used to though...that is until after we warmed up and I started asking for harder things. 

I asked the mare to sprial in on a circle tracking right and she fell in with her right shoulder and barrel so I took a half lap using leg to ask her to pick it up. Nope, she just braced on me and on the inside rein. I then added just a touch of spur and suppling and all hell broke loose. 

She basically spun out away from the spur and lifted her shoulders in protest. Well ok then...I knew I had to basically work her here until we got an appropriate response which we started over but the minute I asked for the spiral in, she anticipated spur and did the same thing and I closed the outside leg to eliminate the spin and lack of forward...welp mare thought rearing and going backwards was appropriate. 

But I is so cute!

I took a breath, threw out my dressage whip in case that was causing some of the melt down and decided ok lets just trot like a normal horse larger and take it slower. She was tense and balled up and really wanted to build. I chose to use sitting trot and my seat to help package and would say slow and go to reward her when she behaved. She did this well for about 3/4 of a large lap until I released my half halting seat aids on one and she literally BOLTED full speed. 

**head desk** Can you say overly excited?! After a discussion at this point which resulted in back humped and jumping all four feet off the ground in response though she let out a sigh and we put in some solid work W/T/C and some practice with shoulder-in and I called it a day. 

Unfortunately Sunday she got herself a day off and yesterday due to my own physical issues (shoulder pain) but I enlisted a dear friend to hop on her this morning in the hopes she wont be so crazy for our dressage lesson this evening. 

Here is hoping she can calm the fuck down soon!  

The calm before the storm

I have been a bit quiet lately...partially from the insanely hot weather limiting my riding time, Tillie having some shoeing issues (Ill elaborate more later) and just generally feeling not motivated this week.

I will need to kick our butts into gear though because we have another event coming early August. After speaking with my trainers, Ill be doing a lighter "Test" run at Training level just before so that means I need to at least be spending time in the saddle pushing buttons.

Magic cushioned up for the night

The bigger issue lately has been the hard footing and the fact that Tillie's feet grew insanely fast this cycle. Only after 3 weeks, I texted my farrier asking for him to try to push up our date and come as soon as possible with how bad her feet were starting to chip from being too long. I tried to help her out and pack her feet but the non-stop stomping at flies has just compounded the issue that much faster. 

Matchy matchy!

Unfortunately, my current farrier has suddenly seemed to have stopped communicating and I became so desperate I asked around and put in call to a new farrier that came highly recommended from not just one, but two of the barns I travel to with trainers. So I was super excited when she was super responsive and pretty easy to schedule to come right away.

Thankfully we did because my dressage lesson on Weds with C felt like such a disaster that I was close to tears...A) I HATE when my horse doesnt feel good...and with her left front shoe about to fall off it wasnt a huge surprise. and B) Thats ALOT of money to spend to just work through this sort of thing.

Dont get me wrong, any lesson with C is worth it, but I wish I had known just how bad Tillie was feeling and opted to ride one of hers instead.

soooo tired

I am hopeful and leaning towards just how wonky Tillie felt was due to her feet...but I of course worry the wear and tear of this sport could be catching up to her. My only reason for not going all the way there yet (dont get me wrong Ive already whined and sobbed to fellow equestrians about my fears) is that in the past when her feet have gotten in not so great shape shes been a bit funny in her movement and ALMOST presents herself as being lame or mechanical...like stabby behind and just harder to get to relax into the work.

Typically my mare really digs in and is game. But this lesson was the opposite and it wasnt fun.

I am anxious to hop on her with her freshly done feet today and have a light hack around. This week has been almost an entire week off for her which I dont think is a bad thing...so its the calm before the storm (pending how she feels) because we have some prep work to do to continue with our training.

I have a new regime planned for her twinkle toes which include packing after harder XC days/schoolings among a few other things. This time last year we struggled with some foot issues, so now I know it isnt just one off situations, but this time of year is hardest on her so will require more maintenance for me and just staying on top of her (with more frequent trims). So now I have a more responsive farrier, maybe we can stay on top of this!

New year, New problems

Well, as you all read, Tillie had lost a hind shoe right after getting shod...Yay for all this mud!

She was find when I rode her New Years Day but wanted my farrier to come tack it back on as soon as possible. Saturday rolls around for our usual jump lesson and he was able to meet me at that farm.

I got to practice self loading her when preparing to leave and she really was not a fan of the whip so got a bit crooked off the ramp on me. So I calmly circled and tried again just slowing it all down and VOILA! easy peasy she walked right on!  

Her shoes cost more then mine

As he was tacking it on, it became apparent Tillie was not comfortable and kept pointing the toe or acting like she had a hot nail. My farrier removed the shoe, hoof tested her and she was sore ALL around the foot. She also tore a huge chunk out of the outside of the foot which probably was the culprit.

**SIGH**

He put it back on once again and trotting her on the driveway she was reallly not happy. Well I was already there and decided I could at least hack her around at the walk with her walking decently on it. 

Depressed watching this really awesome jump lesson.

What is even more disappointing is the longer we walked it out she sounder she got so by the end of the lesson I probably could have jumped around too IF I had gotten it done earlier in the day. I think the banging on it just got her a bit tender...BUT thats horses eh. 

I was at least able to capture some great videos of barn mates which Im sure Emma will be posting about soon! All the horses were sassy and awake! 

Loading up to come home, Tillie once again got a bit crooked on me anticipating the whip and proceeding to try to bulldoze me over. One good tap on her shoulder got her backing up and respecting my space and she walked right on.

I am thinking the next few times Ill have the whip with me in case, but just rub it all over her again to make sure she knows it isnt scary.

All in all it was an ok day and watching the fellow barnmates was quite fun!