Pro Ride (and some video clips!)

I've been seriously remiss on getting videos posted on here but I haven't really figured out a good way to get new vids at the new barn.  But I finally snapped out of my stupor while watching N work the mare yesterday and got some phone video.  Not the best, (and not a lot) but better than nothing I suppose.

Also, it's been blazing sunshine (blazing, freezing sunshine) this week, which usually means wind, which usually means that the barn doors are closed, which left Prair illuminated in a nice shaft of sunlight coming in from her window.

She's so calm and peaceful here, I think she likes it.

floppy ears

I've been meaning to schedule a time to watch Prair get worked from the ground, but I've been so greedy about gobbling up as much saddle time as I can before the baby asks me to stop, that I haven't wanted to sacrifice a trip to the barn to spectate.

Sacrifice is hardly the right word however, as I always end up really enjoying watching Prair from the ground (I guess that bodes well for the rest of the year when I'm grounded..).  It's really valuable to watch someone else ride and work through the same issues I feel when I'm in the saddle.  Helps to get a good perspective on what the hell is going on and apply that to my own rides.

As what is quickly becoming usual, the mare was really good.  I cannot emphasize how frigging calm she's been.  This week in particular the wind has been something fierce and makes that terrifying pop-crack-snapping sound on the metal building.  It sort of sounds like massive amounts of ice cracking off a glacier - which as you can imagine sends a bunch of the horses into orbit.  Prair notices the sound, but she has yet to really react with her feet.  I tend to just feel her pop above the bit and turn a giant ear and eyeball toward the noise.  (where is this mare COMING FROM).

Amazing-Groom-to-the-Stars was just getting Prair out of her stall to tack up, but I grabbed her back and opted to tack her up myself and tke care of her quick Equiband lunging warmup before handing over the reins and watching from the middle of the ring.

N's ride looks very similar to what she has me do during our lessons (it just looks a bit smoother, a tad more relaxed and a ba-zillion times more consistent).  Lots of haunch/shoulder in, some spiraling in and out, leg yields, reversing the bend, etc.

Prair is continuing to relax more and more in her work (especially jumping) and getting comfortable (and happy) in a slower, more balanced jump.  She's more easily rocking back and fitting in extra strides and really starting to pull her shoulder up more when the fences go up.

In general N is asking her to work on less contact and get used to holding herself up without constant support.  I really like where it's going, but you'll see in the video it leaves Prair a little busy looking.

I'm very happy with all the floppy ears and quiet pace though.  I continue to be astounded at how much leg (and spur!) the mare is accepting and using to help lift her frame instead of zooming off to god knows where.

A couple quick clips.... first of some warm up trot work.  You can see some of the loft returning to her step.  I think that has more to do with the injections and getting comfortable using her back again than anything else - but regardless it's nice to see.



Finally, a short jump video.  This is really indicative of how we've been riding.  Small fences, circles in between to reestablish the quality, and very.... low... key.



It looks like we might drop down to 2'6" to start at Thermal and really try to solidify a happy, easy, experience.  I'm so curious to see how the mare responds to the atmosphere and I really don't know what to expect.  I feel like Prair has always stepped it up at previous shows, but this is a whole other caliber.  I know it will be great miles for both of us and lots of learning no matter where we end up!

This weekend is slammed, so I likely won't get to ride again until Tuesday, then N leaves Wednesday but I'll either sneak in a hack or a lesson with the assistant before getting everything all prepped to go on Friday!

Prair has officially started on both her GastroGard and her Regumate so everything should be good and happy and not too stressy for the trip.

Loving this mare right now...

Gersemi Jacket Review

So, when I splurged on the Gersemi jacket and vest I really was thinking ahead to next winter. However even though we have been spared all the totally craptastic weather that the rest of the country seems to be getting hammered with, we've got a bit of a cold snap here and I used it as an excuse to bust out the new jacket for my lessons this week.

In full confession I also thought that the jacket would be primarily used for working around the barn, grooming, tacking up, etc. as I typically shed my outer layer prior to mounting up and rely on the big mare to warm me up in short order.

However, the last couple days have been in the low-mid twenties which is either balmy warm for some of you or hideously cold. For me it really just means that it's cold enough that I leave my jacket on when I ride, and in this case it was the new Dalia Jacket from Gersemi.

This may be the best cold weather riding jacket I've ever owned. I was keen on a lot of its features for the hanging-around-the-barn job I thought it would have, but I'm really impressed how well it works in the saddle.

First off, the length is optimal for me. Ideal barn jackets cover your butt which somehow keeps you about 80% warmer than hip-bone length coats. This coat hits me in the perfect spot to stay a bit toastier, but doesn't go so low that it restricts movement or is a pain when squatting down low, picking hooves or anything else you're liable to do around your horse.

Secondly, the high collar is lifesaving.

I've always enjoyed high collars. They are helpful to shrink into like a turtle when you're trying to catch a horse out in the wind, and I prefer a high collar to the bulk of a scarf when I'm at the barn. If you know me in real life you know that I adore scarves and wear them pretty much all the time in my non-horsey ventures year round, but something about them just bugs me at the barn. High Collar is preferable for me.

Said collar also does a great job of folding down in the front so you don't get everything all steamy when you're actually breathing hard, while still standing upright in the back and keeping your neck warm.

Pockets. The two flap pockets are generously sized and positioned so that when you are sitting the trot your cell phone isn't thwapping up and down obnoxiously. It's also hard to see but there are two additional slash pockets up higher for hand warming (complete with fuzzy liner).

Yesterday when I actually got on, I used the two way zip to open up the bottom of the coat a bit to allow for sitting in the saddle, but today I realized that Gersemi also built in two additional zippers on the side that each open up a 2" gusset to expand for riding. They are sewn in on a seam and the zipper is nearly hidden so they are pretty much invisible when not in use. I like that.

Finally, the overall fit is great for not looking like a total marshmallow in the saddle. The jacket is roomy enough (in a size L for me) to still have a thin pullover and vest underneath, but fitted enough that someone can still tell what the heck your body is doing under all those layers.

I guess I should also mention that the Dalia Jacket is lined with that silver-meshy stuff which is probably what helps it stay so toasty warm without too much bulk, while still keeping the whole thing darn breathable.

Today I was definitely huffing and puffing and sweating during my ride, but i suffered no post-ride-sweat-chills when I hopped off.

Honestly, for $130 (on sale), this is one of the best values on barn wear that I've gotten in a while. For being an attractive, well tailored coat, I am certainly impressed with the attention to detail that makes it so functional in the saddle.

Two big thumbs up from over here.

Closer than I think

Sometimes my brain plays tricks on me.  One of it's favorite tricks is that big-fun-events (like honeymoons or "Thermal" are always "very far away."

That is, until they aren't.

I went down for a lesson with Prair this morning and while enjoying (yet another) conversation of "gee golly wow she's learning so fast"  (Other words were used but the overall gist wasn't particularly esoteric), I mumbled the words "I can't wait to see how far she gets before Thermal."  Only to be promptly reminded that we in fact leave for the mythical show next week.

N heads down on the 12th, the horses (and myself) follow on the 14th which really means I've got... two (2??) more lessons before we all reconvene in the desert.

I really felt like I was getting my shit together until I started panicking about only having TWO LESSONS LEFT.

Bah.

That's not lots.  And today we didn't even jump!!! I mean, we had a great flat session but holy moley at most I've got two more jump schools before we're supposed to look like the most Huntery-Hunters who ever Hunter-ed... or something.

On the upside, the mare really does continue to impress.  We did lots of leg yields, focusing on slowing the angle, lots of haunches in and lots of lengthening and collecting.  Today when I really tried hard to think about using as little rein as possible I nearly squealed with excitement at how much more responsive the mare is being to my seat and leg in compressing herself together.  She felt so compact and manageable!

So, I guess maybe things as set up as well as they can be with only 6 weeks of prep at the new barn.

But regardless, OMG A WEEK(ish).

Feeling a bit more like this

Than this...

Gus' Great Adventure (or moving to a new barn)

Saturday it was Gus' turn to head to a new home, and although he will only be there temporarily, it was more excitement than the old man is used to so as you can imagine he.... didn't really care at all.

The Boy was a trooper and went with me to the barn to clear out my locker (which was a big mish-mash of Gus' stuff plus everything from Prairie's locker that didn't make it to the new place). You truly don't know how many saddle pads you have until your husband looks at you and asks if "this pile should go with the other two piles, or somewhere else."

I like saddle pads.  Colors are fun... and they are cheap enough it never feels like a big expenditure? Good news is we can literally carpet/wallpaper a nursery with the extra pads for cushioning if need be...

Anyway, the whole packing/organizing ordeal went much faster than expected so after we scraped off the outer layer of mud on Mister Gus, we were on the road.

One of the (many) things I love this horse for is the fact that he runs on the trailer.  He doesn't stop, he doesn't sniff, he doesn't do anything except prick his ears, charge onto the trailer and stick his head out the window wondering why we aren't on the road yet.

"why aren't we on the road yet"

Such.  A.  Gem.

Which is why I was slightly alarmed to hear some serious scrambling after being on the road for only a mile or so.

I pulled over, The Boy hopped out and took a peek and confirmed that Gus was in fact upright and on the correct side of the trailer (we no longer assume this to always be the case), but said he was shaking a bit.

Gus doesn't stress out in the trailer so when we got to a better spot I pulled over and checked on him myself.  Apparently the extra two minutes of driving was all it took for him to calm down, but I did see a couple hoof skid marks on the mats so I'm thinking he slipped a little?  No dents or bangs or bodily damage so I patted him on the nose, moved his haybag a little closer (Gus' preferred mode of travel is to sit on the buttbar) and we hit the road.

90 minutes later we pulled into D's place.  Not knowing if she was in the house or in the barn, I opened Gus' window and went off searching.

Great Gus Quality #345:  Stands in trailer while you forget all about him and gossip/catch up/pat noses of other ponies.

When we finally remembered who the star of the day was, we went back to the trailer where Gus was still happily looking out his window and slowly munching hay.

He unloaded like the good boy he is, ate some grass and walked to his new stall totally calm and happy.

Pia on the other hand was none too pleased that someone else was getting attention.  While Gus sat calmly in his stall, the Red Mare proceeded to become more and more agitated (maybe because he was ignoring her?) and threw a bit of a fit.

nose intrusion

Small fit aside, she looks great.  She's kept her weight really nicely this winter and is behaving herself.

Anyway, Gus is joining the herd temporarily.  Since D's own horses have shifted a bit that leaves Pia, another wb mare who she has fallen madly in love with, a charming Haffie gelding and Mr. Gus.

Quite the entertaining bunch.

couldn't take a picture without someone's nose in my face

Gus nose-blocking my shot of the barn...

Finally out of nose range

After a nice dinner out, more catching up and a final check on the ponies, The Boy and I headed back home and literally rolled into bed at 8:45pm (I swear to god it felt like 2am).

I woke up to a series of great texts saying the Gus had a quiet night (slept, drank, ate lots) and had already located the muddiest spot in the pasture to roll in (why do I even wash his blankets..).

Mr Man enjoying his new turf

I probably won't get to go visit again before Thermal, but I'm hoping to squeeze in a trail ride with the big guy before he moves back down here in April.  D's place backs up into all sorts of logging roads and trails and I'd love to get out for a nice spring hack.