Its hard to believe that this coming weekend is the start of the event season on the west coast. Galway Downs kicks things off on Saturday, and although I won't be going, I do wish I could be spending the weekend in warm Southern California!
Here in the semi-frozen tundra the preparation for the first event of the year (Twin Rivers) is well underway. Cha Cha managed to pop an abscess, which took him out of commission for a few days, but he's all healed now and back in work. We have had such a dry winter that I think maybe he got a bruise from running around barefoot on the frozen ground- usually the snow covers up all those pesky rocks. At any rate, he gets his shoes on today, and our first gallop is scheduled for thursday (or Sunday, if it snows)- the joys of winter in the mountains...
Baby CoCo (I need to stop calling her that- she's five this year, for crying out loud!) continues to learn the meaning of work, and most of her fussing and carrying on is disappearing with consistent riding. She is set to make her competition debut at St. John's HT in April. The year is shaping up to be a busy one, with several young horses coming in for training and competition. I love bringing along green horses- they are so rewarding because EVERYTHING is a cool new lesson or skill.
One of the biggest drawbacks to trying to bring along young horses in Utah is the lack of schooling opportunities. In a perfect world, the young horses would go to some schooling events, maybe a dressage show or two, and go do jumpers for a while before setting off at a recognized event. In a perfect world, ALL the shows in the entire state of Utah wouldn't end up on the same weekend! Arrgh! So, we create a mini-show here at the farm- courses set up in the indoor some days, dressage court set up other days, riding out in the field (once the ice melts and we can safely cross the creek to get there), and the occasional foray to Ogden for some cross-country schooling. Its not perfect, but having fewer showing opportunities has forced me to become more creative in my training and teaching, so everyone, horse and human, gets the most out of the time spent in the saddle.
In other news, my parents bought a house up here in Heber, so they will be moving up at the end of February. I'm gone to Twin Rivers at the end of February- how convenient is that?! Of course, I'll be helping with the move, and since the house has 16 irrigated acres of pasture, I'll be helping with the moving of a couple of horses, as well! Plans are for a small "horse retirement" business, and a home for mom's pony, Heidi. Dad has bought a tractor, so they should be all set to take on their new occupation!
That's all for now- remember to send in your entries for Twin Rivers if you are going, and keep looking ahead to warmer weather!
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Only 2 years later...
OK- So I promised a blog. And a new name for said blog. Here you go!!
We are ready to kick of the 2012 season here at TME, and I promise I will keep everyone updated with the comings and goings!
2011 was a great season, both for me, and for my students. I started the year far too early at the Feb. Galway, and although the horses weren't really fit enough, schooled enough, or out of hibernation enough, we had a pretty good show and managed to miss the -40million degree weather at home in Utah. Unfortunatley, Cha Cha came up lame just before Twin Rivers, so Delilah was left to carry the torch for the entire spring season. She stepped up to the plate, and had some great finishes at training level. By July, Cha Cha was back to competition, and we spent a great two weeks at Coconio HT in Flagstaff, AZ. Delilah was phenominal in the Training 3-day, although I need practice counting and walking courses... She has no idea that I got her eliminated by jumping the wrong 3rd to last XC fence, however. Cha Cha had his first event back, and was super at training level, although he picked up a stop at the water. I don't blame him- I couldn't see the fence, either, with the sun angle...
The season went on- we went to Knox Farm camp (always a riot!), some schooling shows, did some dressage, went to some events, go run away with at Goose Downs (thank you, Cha Cha). Along the way, I had two students qualify for the Galway T-3day, had two students win at two different events (yeah, Susan and Lani), had a student win the Charles Owens Technical Merit XC award (congrats, Summer), scored a 25 in dressage with Delilah (and was subsequently given a technical stop on XC- oh well), and had a fall in the XC warm-up.
We finished the season at Galway. Cha Cha got his final qualifying score in the prelim, and Delilah was a super-star to finish 5th in the Training 3-Day division A. Lani and Summer also finished really well in the T-3Day (the first long format for both of them). The weekend was horrifically wet, muddy, and fairly miserable, but everyone had a good time nevertheless.
After Galway, the horses had a few weeks off, and came back in to work after thanksgiving. Cha Cha is working better than ever (and is learning both piaffe and passage in hand!), and baby Coco is training for her competition debut in April. Teaching is starting to pick back up, and I'm excited to see some students for the first time in 2012!
Until next time... remember training is about what we forgive
Ingrid
We are ready to kick of the 2012 season here at TME, and I promise I will keep everyone updated with the comings and goings!
2011 was a great season, both for me, and for my students. I started the year far too early at the Feb. Galway, and although the horses weren't really fit enough, schooled enough, or out of hibernation enough, we had a pretty good show and managed to miss the -40million degree weather at home in Utah. Unfortunatley, Cha Cha came up lame just before Twin Rivers, so Delilah was left to carry the torch for the entire spring season. She stepped up to the plate, and had some great finishes at training level. By July, Cha Cha was back to competition, and we spent a great two weeks at Coconio HT in Flagstaff, AZ. Delilah was phenominal in the Training 3-day, although I need practice counting and walking courses... She has no idea that I got her eliminated by jumping the wrong 3rd to last XC fence, however. Cha Cha had his first event back, and was super at training level, although he picked up a stop at the water. I don't blame him- I couldn't see the fence, either, with the sun angle...
The season went on- we went to Knox Farm camp (always a riot!), some schooling shows, did some dressage, went to some events, go run away with at Goose Downs (thank you, Cha Cha). Along the way, I had two students qualify for the Galway T-3day, had two students win at two different events (yeah, Susan and Lani), had a student win the Charles Owens Technical Merit XC award (congrats, Summer), scored a 25 in dressage with Delilah (and was subsequently given a technical stop on XC- oh well), and had a fall in the XC warm-up.
We finished the season at Galway. Cha Cha got his final qualifying score in the prelim, and Delilah was a super-star to finish 5th in the Training 3-Day division A. Lani and Summer also finished really well in the T-3Day (the first long format for both of them). The weekend was horrifically wet, muddy, and fairly miserable, but everyone had a good time nevertheless.
After Galway, the horses had a few weeks off, and came back in to work after thanksgiving. Cha Cha is working better than ever (and is learning both piaffe and passage in hand!), and baby Coco is training for her competition debut in April. Teaching is starting to pick back up, and I'm excited to see some students for the first time in 2012!
Until next time... remember training is about what we forgive
Ingrid
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