tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67096302692028101152024-03-05T10:45:53.494-08:00Buxton Equestrian Buxton Equestrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05350423510468996569noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6709630269202810115.post-24987308310130645192018-11-02T07:59:00.001-07:002018-11-02T07:59:11.550-07:0025 Questions, stolen from The $900 Facebook Pony<div>
I saw this blog post on <a href="https://the900facebookpony.com/" target="_blank">The $900 Facebook Pony</a>, and I love these things, and I haven't been blogging much, so I thought I would give it a go!</div>
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<b>1. Why horses? Why not a sane sport, like soccer or softball or curling?</b><br />
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I've been in love with horses ever since I was little. I remember my cousin going to an agricultural college and taking her horse with her, and I decided that's what I wanted to do. I'm also not sane to start with, so why join a sane sport?<br />
I dabbled in a bit of everything as a kid, got really in to volleyball, but horses were always my thing. They were there for me during the tough times of high school, and gave me confidence and courage when I needed it.<br />
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<b>2. What was your riding "career" as a kid?</b><br />
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I started at 8 with two half-wild paint ponies named Maggie and Duchess. They spent two years trying to kill me before my parents decided they needed to go and I got PB, aka. Peanut Butter Smoothie, a QH/Arab pony gelding, who was a saint. I showed him in little hunter schooling shows for 3 years until I outgrew him, then had to take a step back from showing because my TB/Paint mare, Missy, refused to get on a trailer. I worked with her for a couple years, but also outgrew her, and sold her to buy Vinnie.<br />
Vinnie and I did a bit of everything: dressage to first level, evented to Training level, and jumpers to 1.10m.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiURA7a86ZdliwOwMl5HRa2eLm_rE_Q3XNGBTChgvlvAsy7lrjLGT4VksxqetBcUi-IGIxbFzGpNotv6FOcUuP1JED2bQZ3Mf94yXD6uudmnr5U8FhUf9FMgGwNYkk0JmyoIubT958WKwAM/s1600/559886_10152335054990105_1215659693_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="541" data-original-width="873" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiURA7a86ZdliwOwMl5HRa2eLm_rE_Q3XNGBTChgvlvAsy7lrjLGT4VksxqetBcUi-IGIxbFzGpNotv6FOcUuP1JED2bQZ3Mf94yXD6uudmnr5U8FhUf9FMgGwNYkk0JmyoIubT958WKwAM/s320/559886_10152335054990105_1215659693_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maggie and I at summer camp. I was stylin' back then.</td></tr>
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<b>3. If you could go back to your past and buy ONE horse, which would it be?</b><br />
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PB. I loved him so much, and he was such an amazing pony.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">PB; and again, I'm super stylish.</td></tr>
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<b>4. What disciplines have you participated there?</b><br />
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I rode Maggie western as a kid, though we didn't really do anything. Then I've done hunters, jumpers, dressage, and eventing.<br />
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<b>5. Have you ever bought a horse at auction or from a rescue?</b><br />
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I've bought 3 at auction. Two QH weanlings, Easy and Sonny, and a TB/Clyde/Hackney, Charlie.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sonny as a 2 y/o</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sonny, the day we brought him home, and Charlie</td></tr>
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<b>6. What was your FIRST favorite horse breed- the one you loved most as a kid?</b></div>
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Thoroughbreds. </div>
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I grew up reading the Thoroughbred series and wanting to be a jockey (that dream died when I was 5'8" at 12 years old). All I wanted was to live in Kentucky and ride racehorses all day long.</div>
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<br /><b>7. If you could live and ride in any country in the world, where would it be?</b></div>
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I'm not much of a traveler, so I don't think I would go far. Maybe to Aiken, SC. It's warm without being stifling, not much of a winter, and lots to do.</div>
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<b>8. Do you have any horse-related regrets?</b></div>
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I regret my teenage brain. I feel like I could have kept Vinnie sound longer if I wasn't a stupid kid that had to show every single weekend. He was an amazing horse and I think of what we could have done if I had been smarter, and that's what really kills me. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vinnie just causally popping over this massive prelim oxer.</td></tr>
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<b>9. If you could ride with any trainer in the world, ASIDE from your current trainer, who would it be?</b><div>
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William Fox-Pitt. He is really tall, like me, so I think that he would have some really good advice on controlling your body to not interfere with the horse.</div>
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I also really like Laine Ashker. She seems very happy go lucky and positive, and I need that in my life.</div>
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<b>10. What is one item on your horse-related bucket list?</b></div>
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I want to ride in a 1* one day. That would be amazing.</div>
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<b>11. If you were never able to ride again, would you still have horses?</b></div>
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Definitely. And to be honest, I would find a way to ride. I'm too stubborn to be told 'never'.</div>
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<b>12. What is your "biggest fantasy" riding goal?</b></div>
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Again, to ride in a 1*, but I would also love to ride an upper level dressage horse to really feel how movements are supposed to be. </div>
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<b>13. What horse do you feel like has taught you the most?</b></div>
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I don't think any one horse has taught me the most. I've learned a lot from all my horses. What comes to mind immediately is that Vinnie taught me to love even when he doesn't love me back (and shows it in the form of biting and kicking). Bella taught me perseverance and how fun going fast could be. Lily has reinforced that perseverance, she needs to take her time and really understand the questions, then she's 100% game.</div>
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They've all taught me about trust, heartbreak, love, and so many other things.</div>
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<b>14. If you could change one thing about your current horse/riding situation, what would it be?</b></div>
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I love both my current horses. Lily and Zippy are amazing. Situationally, I would say that I would love to have an indoor, and the funds to continue lessons year round. I know that would really make a huge difference in my riding, but I'm doing the best I can with what I have, and that's fine with me.</div>
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<b>15. If you could compete at any horse show/venue in your home country, where would it be?</b></div>
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Bromont! We'll get there someday!</div>
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<b>16. If you could attend any competition in the world as a spectator, what would be your top choice?</b></div>
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I haven't traveled at all, so I'm pretty simple in the things I want. I would love to go to Kentucky 4* one day.</div>
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<b>17. Have you ever thought about quitting horses?</b></div>
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Nope. 1000 times no.</div>
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<b>18. If you could snap your fingers and change one thing about the horse industry, what would it be?</b></div>
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The costs. The costs of shows, the costs of running a barn, the costs of owning horses. Or I could become a millionaire, whichever is easier. </div>
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<b>19. What's the dumbest horse-related thing you've done that actually turned out pretty well?</b></div>
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I don't think there's just one thing. I have repeatedly over the years bought horses sight-unseen, and I can honestly say I've never come home with a bad one. </div>
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<b>20. As you get older, what are you becoming more and more afraid of?</b></div>
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Getting hurt. I look at some of the upper level xc stuff that used to thrill me and now I'm like, um no thanks. </div>
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<b>21. What horse-related book impacted you the most?</b></div>
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I don't think there was really one single book. I read a ton when I was younger, and each book had something different to teach me, so I like to think they all impacted me. </div>
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<b>22. What personality trait do you value most in a horse and which do you dislike the most?</b></div>
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Value most: a good brain and work ethic</div>
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Least: no work ethic</div>
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<b>23. What do you love most about your discipline?</b></div>
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The camaraderie. Every one wants every one to do well, we all cheer each other on and you feel just as bad when your friend has a bad day as you do if you have a bad day. </div>
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<b>24. What are you focused on improving the most, at the moment?</b></div>
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My damn shoulders and posture! I look like the Hunchback of Notre Dame 99% of the time, and I'm sick of it!</div>
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Buxton Equestrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05350423510468996569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6709630269202810115.post-49619491660269779312018-05-29T19:03:00.000-07:002018-05-29T19:03:36.796-07:00Twisted Pine Horse Trials recapLast Sunday, Lily and I headed to Twisted Pine Farm for their horse trials. We had never been here before, and this is also my first time competing in the SOCTA series. I was excited for a new venue and a little nervous, as we hadn't been able to school xc yet. We had a decent start time, and left the farm at 6:30 am to make the 2.5 hour drive. I usually event with my friend, Tori, but she wasn't able to make it this time, so it was just Lily and I, and my parents came along as well. It's definitely different when you don't have a friend along to psyche you up!<br />
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We arrived in plenty of time for me to get a lay of the site. I walked show jumping and cross country with my mother, who wasn't very good for my confidence. We walked up to a particularly big and scary jump on cross, and the first thing she said was "there's no way Lily will go over that". Thanks mom.<br />
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The jump in question was quite large and airy with no ground line. Lily is notorious for spooking at random shit, so to say I was nervous was an understatement.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The eliminator</td></tr>
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<br />I put it in the back of my mind and tacked up for dressage. Lily is usually very good in dressage, but the last week she had been a little stiff to the left. I wasn't expecting much, just hoping she would put in a solid test. She ended up putting in the best test of her life, scoring 71.5% and two 9's and finishing first after dressage. I didn't know this until after we had completed all 3 phases though, as I don't tend to look at results earlier. I find it puts pressure on myself if I'm doing well.<div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beginning our dressage warm up, before my mother got bored of taking pictures.</td></tr>
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<br />After a quick break and tack change, we headed to show jumping. The course was nice and flowed well, so I was looking forward to it. Lily warmed up beautifully. Our round was okay though; I think I must tense up when I go in, as our beautiful warm up led to a bunch of tight spots and one rail. I was still happy with her though, she jumped well and listened, even if I rode like shit.<br />
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We had a half hour before cross country, so Lily had a short break and tack and clothing change and we headed out. I didn't do a huge warm up with her being so soon after show jumping. I watched a couple people leave the start box, and I was actually feeling really psyched to do the hay wagon jump. This is when I learned that some people had complained and the jump had been taken out. Boo. The optimum time was suuuuuuuuper slow at 5 min 1 second, so I had planned where I could waste some time if needed. It was needed. Lily jumped very well, had a great gallop, and even with wasting time, we still finished at 4 min. Oops. I wasn't too upset though, as Lily is finally figuring out her job: she's learning how to gallop without getting on the forehand, and she's not spooking at every. little. thing. She was looky at the water and the two colorful jumps that followed, but went over them no problem. After we finished and I hopped off, she wasn't even puffing. I guess she's fitter than I thought!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Good mare through the water!<br />Photo copyright Ian Woodley</td></tr>
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Everyone ended up having TONS of speed time faults, so we didn't fall that far down in placings with ours, finishing fourth. Our next event will be Dreamcrest on July 1, and I cannot wait!</div>
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Buxton Equestrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05350423510468996569noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6709630269202810115.post-23870319289805172122018-05-22T18:41:00.001-07:002018-05-22T18:41:09.252-07:00First show of the year! (recap)Last Saturday we loaded up 3 horses and drove an hour to a new show series in Kingston to compete in the jumpers. This location also holds some of the South East Trillium zone shows, so I figured it would be a quality show, and I was right. The rings were lovely, the jumps were lovely, and the courses were great and flowed really well. Perfect for the first show of the year.<br />
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Kristy brought Ozzie, and I rode him in the 0.60m division. Ozzie competed on the A's as a 5 and 6 y/o, but he is now 16, and really hasn't done a whole lot in the past 10 years. Kristy took him to a couple shows last year, where he proceeded to be a complete jack ass. Kristy can't ride right now, so I convinced her to let me take him and see what he would do. He completed exceeded my expectations. He warmed up well, settled in, and when we walked into the ring for our rounds, he was all business. 100% ready to go. He jumped beautifully, gave me auto changes almost every time they were needed, and was just a pleasure to ride. He definitely needs to be jumping bigger next time, but this was a great confidence boost for Kristy to see him go so well, as she can be nervous and that makes him more of a jerk. He took home Reserve Champ for the division, and I was so incredibly proud of him.<br />
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Zippy competed in the .75m division. This was his second show, and man, he completely exceeded my expectations.<br />
At his first show, he couldn't be left tied to the trailer because he was rearing and attacking his reflection. Needless to say, I was a bit worried about how he would be this time, but thankfully, he was a complete angel, although he did still stare at his reflection the whole time he was tied.<br />
He warmed up very well and bravely, and had springs over the warm up jumps. We went in for our first round and he was a little shell shocked, and stopped at the first and second fence, but happily went over on the second try. He seemed to understand the game after that, and just got better and better as we went around the first round, and the second and third. He jumped out of his skin over every single fence, and even threw in a bunch of flying changes.<br />
We pulled off a fourth in our second round which was the icing on the cake. His next show will be another jumper show in June, and I'm really looking forward to it!<br />
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Michaela (a student) and Cross (Piper's pony) also competed in the .75m. Although they didn't ribbon, I was extremely proud of Michaela for trying so hard. Her biggest issue is her mind, and by the last round, she was actually riding, and man, her and Cross will be so competitive once they put the pieces together! That pony is quick!<br />
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<br />Buxton Equestrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05350423510468996569noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6709630269202810115.post-3289918922237409972018-05-10T18:20:00.001-07:002018-05-10T18:20:24.498-07:00Curtis Barbour clinic recapLast Saturday I held our annual event clinic with Curtis Barbour. This is the third year running it, and it's always such a fun day with great people and lots of learning. It was busy this year with 18 riders from grasshopper to prelim.<br />
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I rode Zippy in the pre-entry group. He is such a brave horse, but we still have issues with steering and staying straight. Curtis teaches a lot about keeping the horse very straight between two hands and two reins, and riding off your outside aids to turn the shoulder. We always start by riding square turns, keeping the horse straight and not allowing much inside bend. Zippy is decently good at this on the flat, but once jumps come into play, he gets a bit excited and things kind of go out the window. None the less, he tries very hard. He was really 'up' for the first half hour or so of our lesson. I think he was a bit overwhelmed with all the horses, plus our lesson had started about 20 min late, meaning he had been walking on a loose rein for 20 min. In his mind, I swear he was thinking, um, why are we working? I'm done now.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So excited. Must canter sideways.</td></tr>
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We worked through a course of both stadium and xc type jumps. It started with a x rail with 10ft placing poles on either side, left bending line to a vertical, turn right to a 2 stride, another right turn to a corner, bending line to coops, left turn to a coffin. This was only Zippy's second jump school this year, and he really worked his ass off, doing more then I've ever asked of him. Curtis reminded me to really sit up, which is always a bad habit of mine, and to stop trying to help Zippy so much to the perfect take off spot. After Zippy settled, he put in a couple really nice rounds. This horse has such a nice jump, he really has springs in his ass! I'm really looking forward to getting him out to some events this year, but we have lots to work on before then.<div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boing!</td></tr>
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I rode Lily next in a semi-private. We did mostly the same course, jumps a bit higher. Again, Curtis drilled me to sit up. I felt like I was riding on her ass, but when I sit up and stay there, things go sooo much better. Amazing how riding properly makes things easier. Duh. Lily was jumping me out of the tack, as normal. She has such a powerful hind end and her front end is finally catching up to her. She only knocked one fence all day. I really have to try and give her a nice release to let her use her back. She was so quiet and so wonderful all day, that I could really work on perfecting our rounds and my position. I didn't get any media from her aside from a few videos.<div>
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One of my biggest goals this year is to SIT UP and keep my damn shoulders back. I feel like it's working, I actively remind myself throughout my rides to sit up and bring my shoulders back. </div>
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First show of the year is this Sunday, a jumper show in Kingston. I'll be taking Zippy in the .75m, as well as riding Ozzie, a boarder's horse, in the .60m, and Michaela is taking Cross in the .75m. The weather looks great and I'm pumped to get out there!<br /><div>
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Buxton Equestrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05350423510468996569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6709630269202810115.post-28264557660498665382018-04-23T07:17:00.000-07:002018-04-23T07:17:03.958-07:00Spring means poopSpring seems to have finally made an appearance, which is so nice, yet means that there is SO much to do. Clinics at the farm start this Saturday, so now myself and my dad are frantically trying to get pastures scraped so that the farm doesn't look disgusting and so there is parking for everyone. We started on the pony field this weekend, and it took about 5 hours to semi-finish. We couldn't complete it given all the ice under the mountains of poop. I don't understand how little animals can make so much mess. It looks better already though, which makes me happy, even though my hands ache from shoveling. <div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brody loves water. Piper loves playing with Brody.</td></tr>
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Piper and I had a great ride together yesterday; most of my ride was just walking around on Lily coaching Piper on Cross, but then we did a little bit of trot work. Nothing spectacular, as in the middle of our ride, a client came by to talk about her new horse who is arriving next weekend. </div>
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I'm super impressed with how well Piper is doing though. It really is true that being around horses constantly and observing makes you learn so much faster. Piper just turned 7, but is already so knowledgeable about some things, and is able to get her pony ready almost 100% by herself. She is going to show Cross in the w/t division this year, and I'm going to let her do the x rail classes as well. Hopefully Cross will behave herself and not run around like an idiot. Time shall tell.</div>
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I'm super excited for the dressage clinic this weekend with Briannon Johnson. I have been riding with Bri for about 3 or 4 years now, and she is such a fun coach and friend, and also someone who I find I can really talk to about the equine industry. I am likely just riding Lily, as Zippy I feel is still too green to really benefit. I might change my mind though, so we'll see. </div>
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I started Zippy on Omeprazrole last Thursday to treat suspected ulcers, and the change in his behavior already it amazing. He's a very lovey guy, but does not like it when you touch his girth area. I'm definitely regretting that I didn't do the Omeprazole earlier, but at least he's on it now. I'm really hoping it'll make a difference under saddle as well, as sometimes he's very sucked back and behind the leg. I'm really looking forward to this season with him!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zippy enjoying the sun and his first naked weekend of the year.</td></tr>
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Buxton Equestrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05350423510468996569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6709630269202810115.post-77040033388964331922018-04-15T13:23:00.000-07:002018-04-15T13:23:00.612-07:00Spring is here... Or not.Here in Ontario we are having what is hopefully our last blast of winter. Today and yesterday have been cold, and rainy, with freezing rain and ice pellets, and snow. Super fun. Today is a high of -5 with gusts of wind up to 75 km/h.<br />
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The last month, aside from this weekend, has been awesome though. Lily and Zippy are getting fit and started working in the sand ring last week. Lily seems to have matured over the winter and is ready to work in a more upright frame. Zippy is very much still a baby, but given he just turned 6, that's fine with me. I'm super excited to compete them both this summer.<br />
I've also started working with my friend and boarder's Hanoverian mare, Huxley. She is an 8 y/o 16.3 mare by Harvard. She is so lovely and I know she will be amazing with time; she is just so so green right now. We are just working on being steady and developing the muscle to be able to hold the same pace. Nothing too exciting, but I'm hoping to do some stuff with her this year too, just w/t dressage and maybe the hacks.<br />
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Things are getting busy for spring, as I start holding clinics on April 28, beginning with a dressage clinic with my coach, Bri Johnson. I'm excited to get down to business and really start working on things. <div>
The following weekend I am holding a jump clinic with event rider Curtis Barbour. This is Curtis' third year doing a clinic at my farm, and it's always a ton of fun and well attended. Last year we had to reschedule to June due to a downpour, so I'm praying for good weather this year! </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2RW57lEnrL4VJIPD0GpVYEIaMGIwXaYKUk3XuVLkSizqYf4an-PCCpEFDMa-8xE7J4x-suvQrlxd9UhH4U8XGqHXSkHNI07kMs-PxBAgSpXiLZMQyoAPiWQIhRRgXovHwI9Mdp_XeIIV9/s1600/19030314_10159047593415105_6052758934714584398_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="556" data-original-width="720" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2RW57lEnrL4VJIPD0GpVYEIaMGIwXaYKUk3XuVLkSizqYf4an-PCCpEFDMa-8xE7J4x-suvQrlxd9UhH4U8XGqHXSkHNI07kMs-PxBAgSpXiLZMQyoAPiWQIhRRgXovHwI9Mdp_XeIIV9/s320/19030314_10159047593415105_6052758934714584398_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lily and I at the Curtis Barbour clinic last June</td></tr>
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This year my friend, Tori, and I are also running a short course series. Tori used to run 3 a year at her old farm, and since moving, there have been no short courses in this area. So we are running the "Boss Mare Short Course series", one at my farm and one at her parent's farm. We have already had such huge support from local businesses; I'm really looking forward to it!<br /><div>
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Buxton Equestrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05350423510468996569noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6709630269202810115.post-87311979966806338522018-01-12T15:46:00.001-08:002018-01-12T15:46:49.323-08:00Bad things come in 3's, right?I'm so glad the last 7 days are over. They have been very trying on me, both mentally and physically, with working so much, and the cold, and then yesterday the January thaw started. It was 8C, and sunny, and a whole shit load of snow was melting. We have a lot of snow this year. So yesterday I got to the farm from work, to find this lovely mess.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxzhk5CxhEictSDXkiJq6WIZRkkkzYWGOuKQknrtRuK1T5GDNQWCJ3eq7lHGO67QEWaMrNgdK9qnlupImBju3bB3EK-K4V0meUJXKsQZL9CXDzgYmrLndMnVuBe45wYH5GAJjqKRtBTgN7/s1600/26794170_10160062907240105_960511165_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxzhk5CxhEictSDXkiJq6WIZRkkkzYWGOuKQknrtRuK1T5GDNQWCJ3eq7lHGO67QEWaMrNgdK9qnlupImBju3bB3EK-K4V0meUJXKsQZL9CXDzgYmrLndMnVuBe45wYH5GAJjqKRtBTgN7/s320/26794170_10160062907240105_960511165_n.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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Two stalls were completely under about 2" of water, and two more were half under water. So. Much. Wasted. Shavings. I started shoveling around the barn, moving snow, clearing paths for water to flow, and praying that the water would drain before tonight, when we're supposed to have a flash freeze (this morning was 6C, now it's -1C). I slogged through tons of water, pulled wheelbarrow after wheelbarrow of soaked shavings out, and got things finished. Then I went to the house and cried. I don't cry often, but man, I was so damn tired and nothing seems to be going right this week.<br />
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This morning was a snow day, so I took Piper with me to the farm, picked up a siphon pump on the way, thinking if there was still water I would try and siphon it out. Thankfully, all the water had drained out. The mats were all wet still throughout the entire barn, but at least there were no puddles. The fan is on and hopefully will help dry things up.<br />
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Piper and I got out for a hack this morning while it was warm, and it felt so good to be on Lily again. This afternoon I went for a massage, given to me for Christmas by one of my awesome borders, and it was awesome.<br />
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Next week WILL be a good week!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The best donkey ears <3</td></tr>
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<br />Buxton Equestrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05350423510468996569noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6709630269202810115.post-17454225394018137422018-01-07T17:02:00.002-08:002018-01-07T17:02:18.496-08:00The Polar Vortex from HellWe've finally had a break from the extreme cold, thank god, because I am absolutely exhausted. Today was only -10, which felt so good after -30 to -40 temperatures for the last 3 days.<br />
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Thursday I worked a 12 hour shift at the local feed store. The extra money is nice after Christmas and since I used to work there, I'm pretty savvy with most things. I got to the farm to feed just after 8pm, and it was something stupid like -38 with the wind chill. Everyone seemed okay, but got extra blankets, and I left the ponies and the paint mare (Sierra) that goes out with them inside, since they don't have a big shelter, and it was supposed to be even colder all night. I got home at 10:30 that night and stood in a steaming shower for a good 20 min before I could feel my ass and legs. Stupid me forgot my insulated overalls.<br />
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Friday morning was still stupid cold, and I was working in the office, so dad took care of things at the farm and left the ponies and Sierra in for the day. They weren't too excited to go out anyways. One of my boarders texted me mid-morning to say that her mare and two others were shivering outside, so she brought them in too. Stupid Vinnie was standing in the doorway to the run in and wouldn't let anyone else inside. That night, the ponies and Sierra went back out, and I left the 4 mares and Vinnie in. I don't normally leave anyone in, but they were all so cold. It's so much more work to leave them in though, which added on quite a bit of extra chore time to an already long day of work. I got home late again, I think it was 9PM, and I just could not warm up.<br />
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Saturday morning, everyone went back out, but my dad called me to tell me there had been an accident with Sierra where she had been scared by a round bale being put into the feeder and had run into the tractor. Insert eyes rolling here. Why do horses have to do the stupidest things on the coldest day of the freaking year?! I rushed down to the farm to meet Sierra's owner and my poor father who was beside himself. We agreed it needed to be stitched and called the vet. It took me about 4 hours to do the extra work from everyone being inside, as well as keeping an eye on Sierra, until the vet came. Luckily, my dad let us set up in his heated shop to stitch her up, as it was just so damn cold out that the meds would have frozen while we were working on the mare. My vet did an awesome job stitching Sierra up, with two layers of stitches.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVfmXKHLW5TYhE_gyY1Pwra5ETei3ArS5T_8wDt3yctJo3wYjI_XO6seKFqxyD_hBb3ZgPhH_AOJsAcmzSeqDcN9xjVS6Ak4mQ_xDRGdwyfek22lJ986BCxHmnDDpaoyx13zuEHwh_ESFw/s1600/26219841_10204102617002075_2568620380928609201_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="540" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVfmXKHLW5TYhE_gyY1Pwra5ETei3ArS5T_8wDt3yctJo3wYjI_XO6seKFqxyD_hBb3ZgPhH_AOJsAcmzSeqDcN9xjVS6Ak4mQ_xDRGdwyfek22lJ986BCxHmnDDpaoyx13zuEHwh_ESFw/s320/26219841_10204102617002075_2568620380928609201_n.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg50G2NyPzYCEY-5CcsdNP4krZuekvXg4ODHIV-dTUmD-AbYFlMcL_edBXRSsi3GBseCiPaM0CviplSZP4cdoYcUxsdWOvuhr4DR2MQchjYvMffCSmtxY6UKZclqQYlWWgx9bUBDAp-T6F-/s1600/26167976_10204102617162079_924471664584207527_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg50G2NyPzYCEY-5CcsdNP4krZuekvXg4ODHIV-dTUmD-AbYFlMcL_edBXRSsi3GBseCiPaM0CviplSZP4cdoYcUxsdWOvuhr4DR2MQchjYvMffCSmtxY6UKZclqQYlWWgx9bUBDAp-T6F-/s320/26167976_10204102617162079_924471664584207527_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful stitch job!</td></tr>
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I was so exhausted, and I still am. You don't realize how much the cold takes out of you until you work outside in it constantly. I'm so looking forward to more normal temperatures this week, including a couple days above zero towards the end of the week! Hopefully no more hurt ponies!<br /><br />Buxton Equestrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05350423510468996569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6709630269202810115.post-48302309061120624082018-01-03T06:42:00.000-08:002018-01-03T06:42:01.766-08:00WHY DOES THE AIR HURT MY FACE?!Nothing super exciting has been going on lately; it's been so fucking cold, like an average of -20 C, that about all I do is go to the barn to feed and make sure everyone is warm and alive and that nothing has broken or frozen and go back to the house. Add in some grooming because they are all soooo itchy in their million blankets required to keep them warm. Oh, and the occasional sewing of rips because my horses are assholes and don't appreciate nice stuff. That about sums it up.<br />
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On the bright side, there are only two more months until March, which means spring, which means I can go outside without the air hurting my face. Which is a plus, and I'm super excited for that. I'm sure the horses are too, because they are like Michelin men with their blankets on right now.<br />
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The holidays were crazy, as always, with the kids and 4 Christmases and all that jazz. It was nice though, I enjoyed my break from work and caught up on my sleep (like, a lot of catching up on sleep). I went back to work yesterday, picked up some extra work at the local feed store, and I'm dreaming of being debt-free (that's not gonna happen with horses) and riding again.<br />
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Enjoy some pictures of my Thoroughbreds. I have decided I have an addiction, but I'm okay with it.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9e0DpHnOONuzfe2qhm2aHv1PtnccIBf_fTGqiQKSrltw-Q6NGdbbeYe9o7hIUezVsbw6LKeUmoYKnSVLzMGTQlfcBMVt23-0ccTIg3ARQ2uX9LyUb8gGowe6w7jX38STssIRj6NJxrSjD/s1600/26114166_10160017583230105_4608192563597148954_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9e0DpHnOONuzfe2qhm2aHv1PtnccIBf_fTGqiQKSrltw-Q6NGdbbeYe9o7hIUezVsbw6LKeUmoYKnSVLzMGTQlfcBMVt23-0ccTIg3ARQ2uX9LyUb8gGowe6w7jX38STssIRj6NJxrSjD/s320/26114166_10160017583230105_4608192563597148954_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zippy, aka Mr. Photogenic</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX8usJ9aArDeRREODlIcqN5hC8DxetGp3rWV0jhLsTiwRjpaJhDnTpKw5pvRURGLHiBy_Ui0hmZHib2t3EVS9wPmTKBoaGr6fZGJBdQm5tWGIQkCxl0ydYJVCYyaaofgGmCdWXIW5drIfz/s1600/26167045_10160017582660105_7105405200542979370_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX8usJ9aArDeRREODlIcqN5hC8DxetGp3rWV0jhLsTiwRjpaJhDnTpKw5pvRURGLHiBy_Ui0hmZHib2t3EVS9wPmTKBoaGr6fZGJBdQm5tWGIQkCxl0ydYJVCYyaaofgGmCdWXIW5drIfz/s320/26167045_10160017582660105_7105405200542979370_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lily, aka. Ms. Unphotogenic</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4AFTRTD_88RjyxeHyMSIXXI7D_yX00yqRdcQ3vemB2K52o1NHFQJDdq54eyRLFg1NoWBV4nltfPrDPPr0NswLZXj80QOXExnLWEt8HOP-mrj9ixilfCsgbqcd5hnTEB8nN_HlDFIMcW8s/s1600/26169641_10160017582875105_9189230363666161322_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4AFTRTD_88RjyxeHyMSIXXI7D_yX00yqRdcQ3vemB2K52o1NHFQJDdq54eyRLFg1NoWBV4nltfPrDPPr0NswLZXj80QOXExnLWEt8HOP-mrj9ixilfCsgbqcd5hnTEB8nN_HlDFIMcW8s/s320/26169641_10160017582875105_9189230363666161322_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tom, who must put his mouth on everything</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitUg7BpUevk1WUkM4-xCFc27qH8QLmlcjRPgPR_G91ghTbx_f70jtd_Mhg8o3esfrx17MszmnieqExPdhWnjQH12VmZw2emLRGtRLYVCcgmJ2Pi8Z5zC94k3khgqyqjIZ34TkoY9tGIZmd/s1600/26165470_10160017582485105_2608193860039376451_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="790" data-original-width="790" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitUg7BpUevk1WUkM4-xCFc27qH8QLmlcjRPgPR_G91ghTbx_f70jtd_Mhg8o3esfrx17MszmnieqExPdhWnjQH12VmZw2emLRGtRLYVCcgmJ2Pi8Z5zC94k3khgqyqjIZ34TkoY9tGIZmd/s320/26165470_10160017582485105_2608193860039376451_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bella, Ms. Beautiful</td></tr>
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<br />Buxton Equestrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05350423510468996569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6709630269202810115.post-55468204317685587532017-12-21T16:29:00.002-08:002017-12-21T16:29:55.117-08:00Goals for 2018I'm terrible at goals. I always make them but I never write them down and then I forget about them and remember them after the fact or never remember them at all. My memory in general just plain sucks. I've tried writing them down in a journal, but that doesn't seem to work either. So, maybe having them written in this blog will help, and I'll be able to look at them throughout the year and remind myself what I want to do.<br />
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<b>Goal 1: Complete a pre-training event (novice) with Lily.</b><br />
Lily upgraded to entry level (beginner novice) in July 2017 with good success. What my friend and I thought would be a good upgrade course for our horses turned out to be a really hard course where half our division got eliminated. Lily got around clear xc with time, and although she was really brave and was trying so hard, it wasn't our best round. She finished off this year nice and brave, riding forward over a lovely course in horrible weather. She has come SO far from our first event where she was looking at EVERYTHING (omg a bird. And a squirrel. Where did that jump come from? THERE'S A PERSON SITTING THERE!), and is turning into a great horse. I'm looking forward to kicking butt this year and hopefully we can move up to pre-training towards the end of the season.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvkD8oLbYoBteZPXFzVsLhHejElNBlcWZi40i7JTpiE1bm3mtoG1YzMt8OQKOUgne6b6G0aK3C0Xqp-aZqIBYm054gGjPzDG0YMaEKjyKUgPirj9XZFnkRpcdcs-7itmb4GPjsiRbuv4p3/s1600/20637871_10159370653450105_4611409948378240316_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="674" data-original-width="960" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvkD8oLbYoBteZPXFzVsLhHejElNBlcWZi40i7JTpiE1bm3mtoG1YzMt8OQKOUgne6b6G0aK3C0Xqp-aZqIBYm054gGjPzDG0YMaEKjyKUgPirj9XZFnkRpcdcs-7itmb4GPjsiRbuv4p3/s320/20637871_10159370653450105_4611409948378240316_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lily schooling at Abydos this past summer</td></tr>
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<b>Goal 2: Get Zippy out to his first event</b><br />
This was a goal for Zippy last year, and I fully intended to take him to an event in September, when he came down with another abscess. And then another. And another. He ended up having half the season off rehabbing abscesses and only made it to one show in July (where he was perfect, let me tell you). There is a super baby-friendly event in July at Glen Oro, and I'm really hoping to take him there. Or, I will settle for unsanctioned, at this point I really don't care. I just want to get him out and about; nor do I care how we place, I just want to finish. He is such a cool little horse.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyvvl2vE86eHnF40HNMKBPcBrEPWTGsHQIF5IzDx0fsRU3WV4Q1IVKQBqHjsx8ztv2k8ER_ZDqCvudqEMh0tLiro5mAtl0AszmJQKpt10g3_gjmUj8JOay295iKBcITra1ohv5lLGSi78y/s1600/18952574_10159036739090105_318143882979284033_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="913" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyvvl2vE86eHnF40HNMKBPcBrEPWTGsHQIF5IzDx0fsRU3WV4Q1IVKQBqHjsx8ztv2k8ER_ZDqCvudqEMh0tLiro5mAtl0AszmJQKpt10g3_gjmUj8JOay295iKBcITra1ohv5lLGSi78y/s320/18952574_10159036739090105_318143882979284033_n.jpg" width="304" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zippy at a clinic in May, jumping his first course *baby brain exploding*</td></tr>
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<b>Goal 3: Run a short course event</b><div>
I've picked a date (July 8) and advertising has begun. I have lots of jumps to build, lots of jumps to paint, and lots of sponsors to find. And ribbons to order. And judges to find. And a whole bunch of other things I really don't want to think about right now. BUT IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, DAMMIT!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Please come back summer</td></tr>
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<b>Goal 4: Become more confident with myself </b><div>
This is pretty self explanatory. I want to lose some weight, eat better, enjoy life a little more.</div>
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<b>Goal 5: Take more lessons</b></div>
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I generally take a monthly dressage lesson, but this year I only took about 3, maybe 4, jump lessons. I want Lily's dressage to get stronger and our jumping to become more confident (my jumping, Lily is plenty confident). </div>
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BRING IT ON 2018!<br /><div>
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Buxton Equestrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05350423510468996569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6709630269202810115.post-61197314331393020902017-12-18T07:28:00.001-08:002017-12-18T07:28:18.268-08:00Clinic recap- Brandon McMechanYesterday, my friend, Tori, and I went to a clinic at a local facility to ride with CCI** rider Brandon McMechan. Brandon is originally from the Belleville area, but now lives in the GTA and rides with 4* rider Kendal Lehari.<br />
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The clinic was at Windhill Equestrian Center in Belleville, a beautiful new facility with a lovely indoor. I have ridden here before as I have had horses on consignment for the owner, and Brenda is great to deal with and opened her barn up to our horses when the weather turned out to be brutally cold (-15 C, or 5 F for the Americans).<br />
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I was also very lucky that a friend of mine loaned me her trailer for the day, as my family puts ours away for the winter, and otherwise I would have been unable to go. I'm lucky to have such great friends.<br />
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Tori and I arrived and brought our horses in the barn to tack up. I could not believe how cold it was, and stupid me forgot my quarter sheet, so I ended up folding a square cooler Tori lent me and using it instead. It actually worked quite well. I got on Lily and she was obviously cold as well, I have never felt her back so tight, so we walked around until she warmed up and seemed to be feeling better. I haven't ridden her all week but she went right to work like she always does, no silliness at all.<br />
We warmed up w/t/c and then began cantering a 20m circle over a pole, a few times each way, focusing on keeping the rhythm the same and letting the horses figure out how to get over the pole. A few times each way and then it was raised to a small vertical, which we cantered over as well.<br />
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After that, we began cantering the verticle on the circle and incorporating a 10m circle before the vertical, focusing on turning off the outside aids and keeping the canter 'up' and off the haunch. Lily did great to the left and had some trouble to the right, which is to be expected, the right is her harder side. She is not as fit as normal so I know some of it was lack of fitness as well, and she was being quite lazy and not really jumping off my aids. After we did this both ways, we did the same thing but with a few steps of walk at the beginning of the 10m circle. This really got Lily off my leg and she was jumping into the canter very nicely.<br />
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We then did a figure 8 over 3 low verticals, again focusing on turning off the outside aids and really riding through the turns, followed by adding in a vertical and an oxer on the diagonal. The turns after the diagonal fences were quite short and sharp, so it really made me sit up and ride through them. Being so tall, I am constantly fighting against my upper body to really sit up tall and not let myself get forward, so this was a great exercise.<br />
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After this we added a 2 stride line of verticals. Lily crashed through them the first time, but the second time she sat up and jumped up more. Lily is a big mare with a very powerful hind end, so I'm constantly reminding her to keep her weight on her haunch and really sit up, so these exercises were great for her.<br />
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We finished with a course, and Lily jumped out of her skin over the two oxers. We jumped some of the biggest jumps I've ever done with Lily, about 3'6", and she had no issues with them. It has been really cool to see her get confidence in herself and really understand what I'm asking. She just amazes me every time I ride her, so tries to hard.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo from Touch A Rainbow HT last summer. Lily just giving the fence an extra two feet of clearance.</td></tr>
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<br />Buxton Equestrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05350423510468996569noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6709630269202810115.post-344905420514572372017-12-16T13:52:00.003-08:002017-12-16T13:52:56.750-08:00Snowy SaturdayWe got a big dump of snow last night, and the boys have been getting really bored lately. We've had ridiculously cold temperatures this week, -20 plus windchill, so I haven't been riding. I don't deal well with cold.<br />
Enjoy some pictures of Zippy and Tom in the snow!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zippy just wanted to walk around. No silliness at all.</td></tr>
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<br />Buxton Equestrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05350423510468996569noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6709630269202810115.post-32230904153972218952017-12-14T08:11:00.001-08:002017-12-14T08:11:30.219-08:00A year in reviewThe other day I was thinking about how my business has grown. 2017 was totally different from 2016 in terms of what the majority of my work involved, and I like to think things are working out well.<br />
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In 2016, I was riding A LOT of horses. Well, a lot for someone who also worked a part time job, lived half an hour away from her farm, and also had to do all the other normal farm chores. I have at least 2 horses in for training each month from March through to November. It was crazy. And as much as I love training, I found that it made me really tired and not as happy to ride my own horses. The nice thing about training horses is the extra income. It really helps.<br />
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2017 brought on hardly any training horses (two in total) but a ton of lesson students, while barely advertising. I had 12 regular lesson students through the year, with a few extra here and there. I taught 3 nights per week, which helped me still have time for everything else: riding my own horses, going to my hubby's baseball, and going to the kid's sports things. Bronco and Cross were quite fit and really stepped up to the plate to do a couple lessons (just w/t mostly) 3 nights a week. They really are the best ponies.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The spawn of satan herself (the pony, not the kid)</td></tr>
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Like I said earlier, I really didn't advertise this year. I like to think that I've been around for long enough now that people just know where I am and what I do (wishful thinking, probably). I had no trouble filling boarding spots when boarders moved out for various reasons (bought their own farm, moved to an indoor for winter). And I mean no trouble, like the day I was given notice, I had people scheduled to move in, and in both occurrences, I actually had more horses move in then I was hoping for. There are 14 horses on the farm right now, 7 of my own and 7 boarders. I like to say I really only have 5 though, as the ponies are the kids'. It makes me feel better, so shush.<br />
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This year was pretty damn good at the farm; I'm happy with what I accomplished personally and professionally. I'm looking forward to next year, I have a great group of ladies and horses (and kids and ponies), and I'm really excited to grow and expand more.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vinnie & Bella</td></tr>
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<br />Buxton Equestrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05350423510468996569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6709630269202810115.post-10250641134588586512017-12-10T13:26:00.002-08:002017-12-10T13:26:36.734-08:00Stupid cold. Stupid winter.Winter is here, and excuse the language, but it fucking sucks. I hate winter. I hate the cold, the frozen ground, having to wear so many layers that you can't move, not being able to ride because it's so cold, the fact that it gets dark by 4:30 pm. I could continue. I could write a whole page on why I hate winter.<br />
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I actually got in a few rides this last week, just hacking out with Lily, mostly walk with a bit of trot work, and Tom got longed last Monday as well. The weather was decent up until Friday, when the wind chill just made things miserable. Yesterday wasn't too bad, neither was today. Highs around 0, which I can work with. Though this Wednesday things are supposed to get disgusting, with a high of -11. I just have one more week to keep Lily in work, as we have a clinic next Sunday.<br />
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I don't generally do clinics over the winter, as I take my trailer off the road, but my friend Tori convinced me to go this one with a local 2* eventer, so I'm borrowing a friend's trailer. Super excited for it! It'll be nice to get my butt kicked once more before the end of the year.<br />
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My lovely SO and his friend did get a shelter finished for the ponies today, which is great, and just in time for the stupid weather this week! Super happy to finally have it done. It's not 100% finished, but at least they have a wall to block wind from the west and north, and a roof.<br />
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<br />Buxton Equestrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05350423510468996569noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6709630269202810115.post-50822313493007737042017-12-01T16:53:00.003-08:002017-12-01T16:53:59.542-08:00Fun-day FridayFridays are great. I love Fridays. Especially when I don't have to work at the office and I can spend my day with the ponies.<br />
Started off this morning picking up an order of Buxton Equestrian gear. I had a jacket done, a saddle pad for Piper for Christmas, and some toques, hats and polos for clients! Everything looks great and I love that people want to rep the farm!<br />
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After the usual morning chores, my mom came down to take some pictures of Tom for me. I have him casually listed for sale, but he's impossible to take pictures of alone. He's lazy, so I have to chase him around and that means I can never been in a good spot to take pictures. My mom has a really nice camera and is learning to take nice shots, and she definitely got some good ones of him today. Mr. Fancy Pants sure is learning how to carry himself. Even my vet thought he was super cute.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He looks like such a chunker here!</td></tr>
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<br />I rode Zippy next. Unlike last week, where I rode everyone at least 3 times, this week has been crazy and I've hardly ridden at all. Zippy isn't the type that needs to be ridden daily to be able to work, however I've found that he is much more workmanlike if he is ridden at least every other day. This meant that today, he was really lazy. He still put in some really lovely flat work, and I was really happy with him. His canter is coming along nicely as he learns to stretch over his back, and he is learning to stay straighter through his body. I had set up a little gym line originally for Lily, so I thought I would let Zippy pop through it. He hasn't really jumped since before all his abscesses, so I really wasn't sure what to expect. This was a little more then he has done, though it was still simple: raised trot pole, 10 ft to tall x rail, 10 ft to raised trot pole. <div>
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We trotted in the first time to let him figure out where to put his feet, something he is still learning, and he bounded right over, though after the first trot pole I could really feel him thinking and trying to figure out how to get his body over the x rail, which he knocked down. The second time through, he had it totally down, and had no problems. We did it a few times from canter each way, and he was just great. I love this horse. He has such a neat little jump and is quite powerful. I think he'll be really fun.<div>
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The vet came next to look at Lily's leg, which I was concerned about as she has been dealing with some fungus of some sort on the front of her hind left cannon, and the last week the leg has stocked up if not wrapped. My vet wasn't too concerned, gave me some antibiotics and said to make sure she gets worked every day, even if it's just chasing her around the sand ring for 10 min. I didn't have much after he left before I had to feed, so I threw her in the ring and let her run. Man, was she ever having fun. The trot that this horse has is amazing. She has so much suspension and can just really cover ground and flick her toes out. I'm sure the dog chasing her on the other side of the fence helped too!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Levitating!</td></tr>
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<br />Great day! Came home to the kids and hubby and decorated our tree for Christmas. I am so thankful for the warm weather this year!<br /><br />
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Buxton Equestrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05350423510468996569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6709630269202810115.post-8063578715663703022017-11-29T16:34:00.000-08:002017-11-29T16:34:04.481-08:00He's da bomb!I think my favorite part about getting Thoroughbreds off the track is restarting them. I love seeing them develop their own personality, and watch their brains work as they try to understand this new way of going.<br />
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I purchased Tom, JC Tomthebomb, from Finger Lakes Racetrack in Farmington, New York in May. Very rarely do I spend the kind of money I spent on him on an OTTB, but he was super cute and advertised as 16.3 at only 3 y/o. The trek down there isn't that far, only 4 hours, so I was pretty excited when he came up on my computer screen. My dad and I set off early one morning and were a the track by 10 am. When Tom was led out to meet us, I couldn't believe how cute he was. however, he was definitely not 16.3. Given that I had already spent a decent chunk of money getting his paperwork done to bring him home, I wasn't going to leave him there, so we loaded up and headed home. I guessed he was probably 16h, and I was bang on. Well, he's 16 1/2h.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How can you not love this face!?</td></tr>
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He was pretty anxious about life, so he had the whole summer and fall to just hang out and learn to be a horse again, and that things weren't nearly as stressful as he thought they were. I don't keep any of my horses inside, and Tom is no exception. He does better outside anyway. They all come in for about 30-60 min daily to eat their grain and relax, then out they go.<br />
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I started Tom back into work 2 weeks ago. I had ridden him a few times this fall, just w/t in the ring for 10 min a couple times and once on a hack in the field with a friend. He is SO easygoing (ie. LAZY). Getting this horse to show any amount of spark is ridiculous; he just doesn't care. I rode him a few times, just seeing what he knew, getting his steering figured out and the fact that he had to go when I said go. We did a little canter each way, which was lovely once I convinced him it wouldn't be that much effort. He picked up both leads no problem, and is actually quite balanced. Then he began work on the longe. He's been in side reins 3 times now, and is really starting to understand that I would like him to try and stretch down and move out. I keep our work short on the longe, 20 min at the most, as he is such a baby still and it's hard work for him.<br />
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I can really see him enjoying being back to work. He is so happy to stand in the cross ties and be groomed and loved on. He stands so well, so quiet, and readily takes the bit and walks out to the ring. He was quite funny today, with everyone else running around like idiots, he decided he needed to as well, though he was very polite about it. He's starting to get very confident about where his feet are, and he can canter a very nice circle when he gets his motor going. We also did some trot poles for the first time, and he stretched very nicely over them.<br />
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He's in a bit of an ugly baby stage right now, but I think with time and work, he's going to be such a nice little horse for someone!Buxton Equestrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05350423510468996569noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6709630269202810115.post-9271136596629497442017-11-23T07:08:00.000-08:002017-11-23T07:08:12.185-08:00Ponies, ponies, poniesIt's nearing the end of November, and generally this is when the weather gets pretty sketchy in Canada. However, this month, it's been pretty good, which means I've been able to get lots of riding in.<br />
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I have started lightly riding Tom this week, and he is so hilarious to ride. I always find it funny that people think TBs and OTTBs are crazy, because when I restart them they are generally so damn lazy. Tom is no exception; I have to carry a stick with him and he thinks trotting more then once around the sand ring is way too much work. Since he is still such a baby, we aren't doing much; he has done a little bit of trot work, walked over some poles, and cantered a few strides each way. I like to get them out hacking as well; gives them variety and gets them thinking about where their feet are, since they are used to being ridden on perfect footing. Tom thinks hills are way too much effort, and he isn't so sure about going out alone, but he does what he's asked with minimal silliness. The work seems to be calming him down in the field too, not that he is super hyper, but he gets anxious when others start work for the day.<br />
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Zippy has been putting away at relaxing into the contact. He tries so hard and wants to be a good boy. His canter is coming along well, he's straightening out and getting stronger. I took him out for a gallop in the fields the other day, and for the first time he actually stretched out and galloped, as opposed to keeping his head up to protect his mouth. He seemed to really enjoy it once he realized it was fun and not a big deal. He accompanied one of my boarder's with her horse on a hack on Tuesday as well; her horse is not a great trail horse, and Zippy was just so calm and carefree that it seemed to really help Ozzie settle.<br />
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Lily has been an angel as always. Hack on Monday and light flat work yesterday. She focused very well considering Ozzie and another boarder, Huxley, were being lunged while we rode, all 3 of us in the sand ring. Her right lead canter is getting better, but I think she needs to see the chiropractor again, or I need some lessons, as she feels a bit stiff behind. We're going to do a jump clinic in December with a local 2* eventer, so I'm really looking forward to that.Buxton Equestrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05350423510468996569noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6709630269202810115.post-9222079294164267722017-11-16T18:30:00.000-08:002017-11-16T18:30:13.675-08:00Zippity-do-da<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don't make me work, I'm too cute</td></tr>
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It must be the end of the season, because Zippy is finally feeling better and working well. I've been able to get him in semi-consistent work the last couple weeks (well, as best I can given the stupid Canadian winter and daylight savings time), and he's been going really well.<br />
Instead of No Stirrup November, we've been participating in No Noseband November, courtesy of Zippy cutting his lower jaw very close to the noseband. Good job, buddy.<br />
Yesterday we worked noseband-less, and tried out a different bit. He is incredibly sensitive in his mouth, and normally goes in a mullen mouth happy mouth loose ring, which he likes. Since I had to switch him from his Micklem due to his cut, I thought I would try a different bit and see if he would be happier now that he was a little more confident he wouldn't get slammed in the mouth (which is what ended his racing career). I put him in a loose ring happy mouth with losenge, which is relatively soft as well. Yeah, he didn't like it. At all. We did get some nice work in, especially at the trot towards the end, but he really didn't want to take any contact, so we'll scrap that bit.<br />
Today he was able to go back to his mullen mouth and the Micklem. He really seems to like how the Micklem sits on his face, and he will take more contact in the mullen mouth. I always start my rides with 5 min of walking on a loose rein; Zippy really needs this, as he tends to come out very tight in his back, and asking him to go right to work is just a recipe for disaster. After our 5 min walk, I picked up contact and asked him to start working long and low, and he came down much quicker then he had yesterday. This is a horse that really needs a thorough warm up before he can really get down to work. He did some lovely trot work, and his trot-walk transitions are getting so much more balanced; he used to just hang on the bit right into the walk, and it was such a horrible feeling. Now he is starting to stay round and step under himself into walk, which is nice to feel. His canter work is improving as well; because of his last race and getting slammed in the mouth, he was always so stiff in the canter, just protecting his mouth (I'm assuming, anyway). He seems to finally be understanding that it's much more comfortable to come round, and that I won't pull on him. When he comes round and really underneath himself, he has the most balanced canter, it's incredible. I think he's going to be an amazing jumper with time, though he's pretty good at it now given how green he is.<br />
I'm really looking forward to seeing where this guy goes in life. Can't wait to get out on the cross country course with him next year!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chilling after a ride in his Draper Therapies cooler</td></tr>
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<br />Buxton Equestrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05350423510468996569noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6709630269202810115.post-35813343509512942432017-11-12T09:14:00.000-08:002017-11-12T09:14:33.675-08:00Round and round we goI always think that once show season is over, I'll have more time to do things I have been putting off all summer. Somehow, that doesn't seem to work quite as planned.<br />
This past week has been pretty busy. I was in the office two days, then had two busy days at the farm. I was able to ride Zippy and Lily a few times last week.<br />
Lily had an awesome jump school early in the week; she was quite forward and happy to be jumping, since we hadn't jumped since Will O'Wind at the beginning of October. She was very bold, so we did pattern with 4 jumps and constant turning, which I found in an article that Practical Horseman posted last month. It kept her listening as she was constantly unsure of where we were going next, which in turn kept her light on the front, which can be a challenge for her when she gets excited.<br />
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Zippy had a couple trail rides and a light flat school. He still has that cut under his chin, so he's been going without a noseband, and seems to quite like it. His challenge is always stretching down and relaxing; he likes to go around very tight and with his head in the air like a giraffe. So we worked on relaxation and suppleness and asking him to come round and stretch down. He isn't strong enough to consistently come round, but he gets lovely moments here and there. I'm really looking forward to next year with him.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It is SO hard having a job</td></tr>
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Friday was a complete write off riding wise; it was a high of -7 Celsius, plus the wind chill, so the ponies were bundled up and did a whole lot of nothing all day, while I ran errands with my mom and got some Christmas shopping done.<br />
Mike and I tried to start a shelter for the ponies yesterday, but the ground was frozen so we couldn't get any posts in the ground. We'll try again on Thursday and if the ground is still frozen we will build a portable shelter instead. Fingers crossed the warm weather and rain this week gets the frost out of the ground!<br />
Eve left this morning for her new home, and I had a lovely woman come to see a client's horse for sale. Everyone is definitely looking to find their new horse to work with over the winter for next show season!Buxton Equestrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05350423510468996569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6709630269202810115.post-65728635255807875322017-11-04T15:44:00.000-07:002017-11-04T15:44:06.826-07:00Things I LoveI thought I would do a shout out to some things I love, including products and businesses.<br />
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First off is <a href="http://www.drapertherapies.com/">Draper Therapies</a>. I have their <a href="https://www.drapertherapies.com/product/draper-equine-therapy-anti-sweat-sheets/">anti sweat sheet </a> and the horses absolutely love it. It's perfect for summer when you want to throw something on at a show to keep the bugs off, and I love it for the cooler weather under a cooler after a ride. I've noticed differences in Lily and Zippy who both wear it as often as possible; they are happier to work over their backs and more supple.<br />
I also have a <a href="https://www.drapertherapies.com/product/draper-body-therapy-ladies-blue-t-shirt/">t shirt</a> and the quality is lovely. It is super comfortable and seems to give me some relief from my shoulder pain (caused by completely destroyed shoulders. Thanks horses.)<br />
Next on my list to purchase is the <a href="https://www.drapertherapies.com/product/draper-equine-therapy-no-bow-wraps/">no bows</a>. I frequently wrap my horses' legs after work, so I'm excited to try these! If they are anything like the anti sweat sheet, I know the horses will love them.<br />
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Next is <a href="https://rideanottb.com/">Ride an OTTB</a>, Clothing for the OTTB Lover. This is a new venture by Zippy's first mom, and I received my first t shirt the other day. Linda has created some really cute tops with awesome sayings on them. I got "When the coffee you're drinking costs more than your horse". The quality is great and Linda was awesome to deal with when I had an issue with ordering on the website. I really want to get "Chestnuts are the best nuts", but I feel I need to add another chestnut to my herd first!<br />
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I LOVE my equine chiropractor, <a href="http://www.petchiro.ca/">Dr. Katy Spiewak</a>. She has been such a huge part of my horses' lives the past few years, especially Bella, keeping everyone feeling their best and able to perform their best. She is so gentle and patient with the horses and really takes her time to do a thorough exam. Not only that, but she works on one of my boarder's other pets as well, including her dogs, cat, and cockatoo! Dr. Katy is one of a kind.<br />
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My farrier, Jon Taylor, is also a big part of my barn family. He has to be the most patient person I've ever met, and drops everything when I need him at the barn for an abscess or lost shoe (not that I have many lost shoes!). He is great with the OTTBs that have just come off the track, as most of them really don't know how to stand well when they first come to me. He always explains to me what he is doing, as I love to learn, and listens to all my thoughts and suggestions. I really lucked out with Jon!<br />
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<br />Buxton Equestrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05350423510468996569noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6709630269202810115.post-21438987526750727572017-11-03T08:50:00.000-07:002017-11-03T08:50:08.045-07:00Foal Friday!Who doesn't love foals? They are so cute, and even if they're devils, you can't help but love them. The plus of getting horses from their breeder is that you get tons of baby pictures! Enjoy baby Vinnie and baby Zippy, before they grew up into holy terrors!<div>
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Zippy was born at a farm north of Mohawk racetrack, and the farm owner still has his mother and full brother. He has a few siblings out there as well. Linda is also a photographer and artist, so I got sooo many lovely pictures of him, and even a video of him standing for the first time. These are a few of my favs, though it's so hard to pick.</div>
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I purchased Vinnie from his breeders, and he was their first foal, so they also provided me lots of baby pictures. </div>
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Happy Friday!</div>
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Buxton Equestrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05350423510468996569noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6709630269202810115.post-27373624963256447032017-10-31T17:56:00.004-07:002017-10-31T17:56:43.350-07:00Really, Zippy?Some days, I wonder what horses think. Do they spend all night thinking up new ways to hurt themselves? Okay, maybe it's only Zippy does this.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plotting how to get out of work</td></tr>
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This summer and fall has been very trying; and as spoiled as I'm sure it makes me sound, I was very thankful to have more then one horse to ride.<br />
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Zippy had 3 or 4 abscesses in 6 weeks, which completely derailed our competition plans. Which is fine, he's only 5 and there's always next year.<br />
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After the 4th (ish) abscess, I had the farrier pull his shoes. We had put them back on after the first abscess was dug out as he has very thin soles and flat feet, and my farrier felt leaving his shoes on would be better for him. Once we pulled them, he actually seemed happier, so I think the shoe was preventing the abscess from fully draining.<br />
So, after a couple weeks, I started him back into light work. Shortly after that, he was running around like an idiot in the field and misjudged the corner of a field as he was running around it, and smoked his hip off the post. Hard. Hard enough he broke the brace posts. All I could think was f*ck. That's gonna make him lame.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Running faster then he ever did on the track...</td></tr>
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He seemed fine, no worse for wear, just a small cut on the hip. He was still only in light work, so I figured we'd work things out, and if he seemed sore I'd get the chiro in to see him.<br />
Last week, he was having a harder time bending left, which is unlike him. He had hit his right hip, but I still figured it had something to do with it. The farrier trimmed him this past Wed, and found a abscess in his left hind. Explains the lack of wanting to bend, but also shows me the personality of this horse. He tries so damn hard.<br />
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Yesterday, he came in with a small but decently deep cut on his lower jaw. I cleaned it up and treated it. I could kill this horse, I swear, he's an accident waiting to happen.<br />
But then he gives me his cute look, and I just fall in love with him all over again.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How can you be mad at this face?</td></tr>
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<br /><br />Buxton Equestrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05350423510468996569noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6709630269202810115.post-50677510649903544152017-10-28T17:11:00.003-07:002017-10-28T17:11:19.555-07:00A horse of a lifetimeI have had quite a few horses pass through my farm since I began my business after I graduated college in 2010. I have had some really, really nice TB's that I wanted to hold on to, but the business side of me said I had to let them go.<br />
May 2015 I got a text from a friend saying a contact of hers had a couple TB mares that needed a home. One she thought I would really like. She described her as a 5 y/o, roughly 16.3 mare, that was BIG. She had track trained as a yearling, but due to owner finances, never made it to the track. She came to this breeding farm, where she had a colt as a 4 y/o, but then didn't catch that year, or the spring of her 5 y/o year, so she needed to go. My friend said I needed to see this horse, that I wouldn't regret it. The picture she sent me wasn't the greatest, but she had yet to steer me wrong.<br />
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So off I went with my dad and my trailer, figuring I could restart this mare and sell her for decent money, if she was as nice as my friend said she was. We got to this farm, and it was huge. There were easily 100 horses there, including several really nice stallions. I was lead into a field of 30+ mares and introduced to this big, brown mare, with a long, tangled mane and horrible feet. I looked at her and thought, what's the worst that can happen? She's big boned, huge for a TB actually, and had such a kind eye on her. I handed the man some money, and lead the mare to my trailer. She hadn't been on a trailer in who knows how long, but up she got, no issues, and she didn't make a peep the whole way home.<br />
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She sat in the field for a month or so before I found the time to begin working with her. It didn't take long before I was on her back, and her lovely attitude never changed. We worked away for the summer, and come Thanksgiving weekend I took her to her first show, where she pinned very well in the hacks against good company, and went around like she had done this her whole life.<br />
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By that time, I had decided Lily would not be a resale, that I would keep her. I sold another gelding that I had planned on keeping instead.<br />
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Lily has come a long way since 2015. Last year, she completed her first season eventing at pre-entry level. This mare is so brave, she will jump anything I ask her to, but she likes to look at her surroundings on cross country, so we have really taken our time getting her confident in her job. This year, she upgraded to entry in August at Glenarden, and finished in fifth, despite half our division being eliminated because of horrible footing in show jumping and a very difficult cross country course. She won the Pre-Entry Open division at Championships in September at Caledon, my first ever win eventing, finishing on her dressage score. Then she put in two more amazing event at entry level.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lily kicking ass in 40 degree weather in September</td></tr>
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<br />It is so amazing bringing a horse from the start; the difference in Lily's confidence is unreal, and I love knowing that I have been such a huge part of that. I don't think I've ever had such an enjoyable horse; she is wonderful to handle and be around, and she tries her heart out under saddle. She is not marish, she gives me 100% every time out, no matter the conditions. Our last event at Will O'Wind was very trying with the weather conditions, including huge wind and rain storms throughout the day, resulting in half the competitors calling it quits and going home, yet Lily came out and tried her best for me, jumping through puddles in show jumping and galloping through some high winds on cross country.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cross country in a wind storm</td></tr>
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I have had several coaches tell me this is a horse of a lifetime, and I am so excited to see where we might go. I am in no rush though; I want a horse that I trust to get us out of sticky situations on cross country, and one that knows her job inside and out. So if it takes us 5 years to get to Training level, I'm fine with that. Hell, I'm fine if it takes us 10 years. I'm enjoying the ride and the company of this wonderful mare.Buxton Equestrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05350423510468996569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6709630269202810115.post-5585490703620581432017-10-26T18:04:00.003-07:002017-10-26T18:04:39.540-07:00The daily grindBusy, busy day today, but I feel like I got a decent amount of things accomplished. As the season winds down, my horses are in lighter work, and I really enjoy hacking them out and starting the baby OTTBs back into light work. <div>
Lily is doing light dressage work and lots of walk hacks as I fight a fungus that has taken up residence on her right hind cannon. It showed up before our last event, Will O'Wind, but I didn't want to mess with it too much and make her sore, so we kept things at bay for a couple weeks until show season was over. Now I've been attacking it full force, but it is proving hard to figure out. I think I've finally found a combination that is working to dry it out and kill it: scrub with iodine, then cover with Blu-Kote spray (which I had no idea was anti-fungal until I talked to my friend who works at the feed store. Good to know!). The rain-rot like scabs seems to be drying up, and it's not nearly as sore to the touch as it was last week. Thankfully she hasn't been lame on it, and going for walks keeps the swelling down.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view through Lily's ears</td></tr>
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I'm bringing Zippy back in to light work; he was off for most of August and September with a HUGE abscess that just would not go away. It first appeared after his first show in August; he showed Sunday and on Wednesday he was lame. He has a history of abscesses so I was confident that's what it was. Two weeks of soaking and foot-wrapping later, and it still had not popped. Jon, our amazing farrier, came out and dug this massive abscess out, I just could not believe all the puss that was oozing out of the hole. I soaked and wrapped his foot for a week, then Jon came and put Zippy's shoe back on. Zippy has very flat, soft soled feet, so we felt that putting the shoe back on as soon as possible was the best course of action, and the abscess appeared to have fully drained. I gave him another week off to recover, and things seemed back to normal, so I began riding him again. That led to 2 weeks of the same schedule: I would ride him Thursday, Friday, he would have Saturday off, Sunday he would be 3 legged lame, abscess would pop again from the same spot Monday, by Wednesday he would be good as new. </div>
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During all of this, my hopeful show schedule for Zippy was obviously out the window. I had hoped that he would debut in eventing at Touch A Rainbow unsanctioned, but it was not to be, so Lily took his place. Then I hoped he would be ready for a small combined test on Thanksgiving weekend, but he still was not feeling 100%. Luckily, or not, the show was cancelled and rescheduled for this Sunday. </div>
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Jon came out at the beginning of October and pulled Zippy's shoes, and I was fully ready to let him chill until spring, but he has been feeling great so we've started back to light work and he's entered in the 2' division at the combined test this Sunday, assuming he feels good. </div>
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Jon dug another small abscess out of Zippy's left hind today, which was a surprise to me as he's been working really well this week, but I'm glad we seem to be getting his feet semi-sorted out. I think it'll be a process of figuring out how to keep him happiest; Jon and I have discussed shoes and pads next spring, but we'll see what the winter does for Zippy's feet.</div>
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Tom has also been doing a bit more work. He went for his first hack on Monday with Vinnie for company, and was wonderful. He didn't put a foot wrong, though he was pretty sure he was not made to go up and down hills and that it was way too much work. I had a young woman and her coach come try him this morning, and again, he was lovely and tried hard for them. He is such a sweetheart of a horse, I think he's going to make someone very happy. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tom making sure I'm sure he needs to work this hard</td></tr>
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Tomorrow is Friday and Eve is getting her tendon ultrasounded; fingers crossed all goes well and she has a new mom by the end of the day! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Buxton Equestrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05350423510468996569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6709630269202810115.post-19628576132558317362017-10-22T07:21:00.000-07:002017-10-22T07:21:09.027-07:00Respecting othersI'm probably going to get slammed for this, but it is one of my biggest pet peeves, and it happens more then it should. Not just in the equine industry, but in life in general.<br />
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Last week, I spent several hours talking with a young woman about Tom, who she was interested in purchasing. She asked all the normal questions, then everything else one could think of. In the end, she made an appointment to see him on the 21 at noon.<br />
Friday came around, and I messaged her to confirm. Didn't hear anything back, so I had to assume she was coming on Saturday. As I said before, I don't live on my farm, so I have to be sure I'm there if someone might be coming, meaning taking both kids with me because Mike was working.<br />
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We went about our day, and of course, she didn't show up. I didn't think she would, but it doesn't irritate me any less. I spent several hours total out of my day to speak with her and answer any questions she may have about Tom, yet she couldn't take 2 seconds out of her day to say she wasn't coming. Later on that day, she messaged me that she had purchased a horse and wasn't seeing Tom (obviously).<br />
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People don't seem to give a rat's a$$ about other's time anymore. If it doesn't affect them, they don't care. My father is in the same boat: he runs an auto repair shop, and the number of times people make appointments and then not show up, or show up hours later, is ridiculous.<br />
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This is my business; I am potentially losing the sale to someone else every time I schedule a block of time for you not to show up. It's time lost riding other horses, doing farm maintenance, and spending time with my family on a Saturday.<br />
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That's my rant. I know a lot of people will say I shouldn't air my dirty laundry, but maybe this will make one person realize that they're actions have consequences.Buxton Equestrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05350423510468996569noreply@blogger.com2