Hackamore Heaven & Rain (finally!)

So after I professed my love for the nathe bit yesterday, I rode Justin in a hackamore for the first time. Katie had suggested it during our last lesson because Justin tends to get a bit quick and tosses his head occasionally. I'd tried a hackamore with Gold a few years ago, but I think the combination of Gold's problems and my inexperience with using a hackamore just led to a big messy situation that made us both more frustrated. But with Justin, it really seemed to be the answer to our prayers!

I literally rode with loopy reins the whole time, and he didn't even so much as take one quick step. I really felt like I could ride him with my legs, seat, and stomach, and we felt more in sync than we've ever been. It makes sense to me that Justin would only get quick if he's unhappy with the bit/rein pressure on his mouth, because even the very first time I rode him I noticed how sensitive he is to the bit. (I actually noticed in the spring that he went much better when I simply rode him in a halter and lead rope than in his normal bridle.)

So I have a newfound love for my hackamore. I also have a newfound love for Flower, the mare that bucked me off a few weeks ago. We has a phenomenal ride today, she didn't pop a buck once and was really focused and willing. She usually gets distracted by her herd that gets turned out right next to the indoor arena, and she will obnoxiously call to them several times throughout our rides, but she didn't do that at all today! We jumped a bit too, and OH MY GOODNESS. This mare can jump! She has a huuuge jump, is honest, bold, and forward, but not too quick at all. I was very impressed. I think she is going to come a long way very quickly.

Benny was a charm today, too. I've switched him into the nathe and a flash, and he is really learning to soften and move into the bridle very well. I was getting worried because he was developing a pretty massive under-neck, but I've been lunging him a couple times a week which seems to be helping. I jumped with him yesterday, which went super! Benny is just such an awesome and sweet pony. I can't wait to find him a little girl in the spring! :D

I also started riding another horse of Alyse's yesterday, a big, young, bay gelding named Piccadilly I believe? He's very cute, big hunter-type. He's very green, but he doesn't seem to have a bad bone in him (knock on wood). I'm hoping to get a few of Alyse's guys to a schooling show or two before it gets too cold, but we'll see how that goes.

Justin's getting today off, still have to ride Lock and baby Corbin. I'm contemplating buying a weeks subscription to FEI TV so I can catch the WEGs, but it's $30, which is an awful lot of money. Oh horse world, why must you be so expensive?!

Ode to the Nathe

Oh Nathe bit,

in all of your wire and rubbery goodness,

how you keep my hands soft when they want to be strong,

preserving my ponies' gentle mouths.

Thank you for teaching me that a hot horse

sometimes simply needs the kindest solution.

No Pelham, nor gag, nor any exquisite bit offering quick results

can please my horses the way you do.

I want to tell the world,

shout from atop the tallest mountain,

"Hello world! Look no further! For the Nathe has come to solve your problems!"

A horse only gets one mouth in his life,

it is time we learned to respect it,

not destroy it.

It is time we learned to ride!

-William Shakespeare

(via Kelsey Siegel)

Who needs a saddle?

When I'm too injured to use a saddle, we do this:

(I love my horse.)

Sidelined

I've been trying to start this blog for months now, and what better chance to really get it started than when I'm stuck on the couch with a fractured ankle? I was riding one of our landlord Alyse's horses last week, and was bucked off for the first time in probably at least a year. Of course, having been so long since my last fall, the higher powers saw it fit to award me with a substantial injury, a nice ankle sprain/small fracture. I'm trying to take it slow so things can heal properly, but it's so hard! I hate being stuck inside and not being able to ride my horses. But, as I said, at least I'm getting a chance to do this blog.

I suppose for this first entry I'll just write about my current horses and projects.

• Just In Time ("Justin") - Justin is my 7 year old, 14.2 Mustang X gelding that I've had for almost a year now. I paid $500 for him as a birthday present to myself last year, which was a shock to not only my poor father but also to myself and everyone else. I wasn't looking for a new horse at all, after having lost Gold two months earlier. But Justin (who was then "Cowboy,") was going to be taken to auction at the end of the week if he wasn't given a home before then. So I figured I could at least afford to keep him out of auction and find him a forever home eventually. I wasn't expecting this to be his forever home! But he's stuck with me forever, this pony isn't going anywhere anytime soon. When I first bought him, Justing was barely even rideable. Very high strung, anxious, and incredibly green, the simple process of getting ready to ride was a struggle in itself. We pushed through, though, and by early this year, we had made a complete turnaround. With the help of Advanced-level eventer, Katie Wherley, we began the season successfully at Beginner Novice, and plan to end the season at Training level, which nobody was expecting! Justin is one of the most talented horses I have ever been lucky enough to work with, and everyone that we've ridden with or has seen us go seems to agree. This pony is limitless. Incredibly smart and determined, Justin and I have created a team together that I believe will not only reach great heights, but has also become the most important thing in my life.
• Benson Hedges ("Benny") - Benny is the newest addition to the Monocacy clan, a 14.1 hh, 7 year old Connemara gelding. Benny was a late bloomer, having spent the first seven years of his life serving as a lawn ornament. Benny is incredibly talented and smart, his gaits are smooth enough to sleep on, and his attitude is incredibly hard to not fall in love with! We're taking things slow, working mostly on his balance in the walk and trot right now, but I have jumped him a couple of times, and I can see this pony taking a very lucky little girl far along in whatever sport he ends up in. Benny is currently offered for sale to the right home only, and will probably be actively for sale in the Spring of 2011.
• Lock - Lock is a 4 year old, 14.1 chestnut Welsh/TB X gelding. Lock is very correct in his conformation, and has been well started under saddle. Currently schooling around 2' and working on changes, this pony will be perfectly suited for the Hunter ring. Lock is offered for sale, with an asking price of $15,000. For more information, contact kelseysiegel@gmail.com
• Corbin - 3 year old, blue roan 14 hh (approx.) gelding. Just started under saddle last week, and already incredibly easy and quiet. (Walking around the entire arena on the buckle!) Corbin is also for sale, and price will increase with training/show experience. Email kelseysiegel@gmail.com for more information.
• Flower - Flower is a 6 year old, 16.1 hh grey TB mare. She is incredibly elegant and athletic, big build with 3 gaits to die for. Flower would be great as a hunter, but would also excel as a Dressage or event horse. She's still very green, but is willing and aims to please. For more information, email kelseysiegel@gmail.com