Just go trail riding? (vent)

[Holly Jeanne]

I'm starting to wonder if the universe is telling to just start taking my horses out on the trails and enjoying them.

After 18 years horseless, bought one 12 years ago. Horse of a lifetime. Turned out to be a photic headshaker. Kind of had it under control and was progressing getting lessons from her breeder. Did one schooling show and did well. Was pretty excited about this dressage thing. :lol:

Because of job, moved. I'm in KY but far enough from Lexington that there was no way I could board there. Found a boarding barn but had trouble finding a dressage instructor. Wasn't happy boarding and bought my own farm. Still kind of in a dressage dead zone. Bought a trailer 4 years ago but didn't have the money to do weekly lessons and could only do lessons on weekends when most instructors were showing or already booked with clients. Did manage to get a few lessons but ended up loosing my OTTB and youngsters training money with her. Finally found a couple of other people and an instructor who would come down for us. Got my youngster started under saddle and things were looking up. One friend got out of horses, other one moved hers. Back to no instructor and no ring to use.

After some financial hits in the last year, I've been working my 5 yo myself (between injuries - she's a walking accident ;)) and hoping to start getting monthly lessons somewhere (still hoping for that but have a couple of bills to pay off first). In the meantime, decided a schooling show would be good experience and fun. Found one on a weekend I could actually do it. Put it on my calendar two weeks ago. Went back to try to figure out how to enter, the date has been changed to when I'm out of town. :no: There are some snowbird schooling shows in the winter but my horses are out 24/7 and I don't have a barn so no way to bath in winter. Not sure that's the first impression I want to make on a judge.

I guess that's life but I'm really frustrated. I'm tired of volunteering at shows, watching others show, and listening to my friends talk about shows and lessons. I'm never going to be able to afford to show much and everytime I think I've got lessons set up, something happens. Is the universe telling me to give up dressage? Don't get me wrong, I do realize how fortunate I am to have a farm and to have horses. I'm just wondering if I need to re-evaluate my interest in dressage. Thanks for listening. Sigh.

[Alexie]

if it were me i wouldn't worry about not bathing your horse

just give her a damn good brushing :)

i know what you feel like, i've been struggling to get out and about for years too, its one thing after another isn't it?

[mzm farm]

Don't despair! Schooling shows are just that - for fun and experience. Ours do not require white breeches nor braids. Many people get all decked out for their fun, I get my horses out of their fields and sometimes rinse them off, then off we go. Guess what, I do not go crazy about grooming, just try to present a clean and workmanlike horse. The judges are always supportive and have great constructive critique to offer. It kinda helps that we usually bring home the blues (ribbons that is ;) ).

Go and have fun! You win a ribbon big show or small, not a pot o gold:D

[exvet]

I've shown my horses in their winter woolies, brushed but not bathed many times in both schooling and recognized shows. I say go for it and do not worry about the impression of others regarding appearances. Go and have fun.

[quietann]

Go for it! Seriously, it's a schooling show, and in the winter if it is cold the vast majority of people will not bathe their horses beforehand... just get good with a brush! (Now of course I have a Palomino, so I may have to bathe her mane and tail and rinse off her socks at least, should I ever take her to a winter-ish schooling show...)

[thatmoody]

The only reason to go all out in a schooling show is to practice your braiding :lol:. We usually bathe them, but then it's warm here even in the winter! But it's nice to have the relaxed dress code, and the practice.

Don't let that type of setback get you down - I've seen all kinds of stuff at schooling shows, and it's a good place to learn plus to get areas to improve so that you have a focus for your work!

[snbess]

HJ...read the quote in your signature line. Believe it. Live it. Stop seeing the obstacles and find a way to get going on the goals. I like the winter schooling show idea. If you can't find an instructor, maybe you can find a friend or someone you volunteer with to give you eyes on the ground. Or videotape yourself and look at where you need improvement. Watch videos, read books, scribe for the judges at those shows you volunteer at. You can find a way to move forward while you are in that limbo between instructors and cash. Just a thought...

Sandra

[rugbygirl]

Just go dude.

If your horse isn't a danger to others, no one will care if he's a bit woolly or dirty. We've had grey horses with poo-stains win ribbons at schooling shows...one horse comes up lame, we decide at the last minute to take another...no time for a bath, just a good brushing.

Clean your tack, wear something suitable (also clean) brush your horse and maybe stick a braid in if you want to practice...and get out there!

A lot of Dressage riders wait and wait and wait. I think because the sport is about perfection, people wait way too long to show or to move up the levels. You won't get a 90% on Training Level. Isabelle Werth won't get a 90% on Training Level. Get out there and rate your performance against your personal best. I've crashed through tests, I've entered the arena and had to lead the horse OUT after they decided to play the "statue game" at X. No one cares. You might get a snotty judge or have a trainer make some stupid comment about "preparedness", but every horse has bad days. Every horse has a "first show"! Heck, Salinero's done some pretty unpredictable things at top-level shows! As I said, as long as you're not a hazard in the ring, give 'er. You paid the entry fee, you get to finish your test and see what the judge had to say.

You don't make as much progress training outside of lessons, but you do still progress. Each test will get you a new slew of judges' comments to work on.

Some people might look down their noses at woolly horses, unprepared horses, unprepared riders, forgetting the test, not having a "proper" saddle...screw them. Everyone started somewhere. Some people look down their noses at EVERYTHING. At any schooling show, if you are friendly and approachable and do your best (and don't abuse your horse) you are guaranteed to make some friends and have a good time.

[rugbygirl]

Here, use this as motivation:

http://s136.photobucket.com/albums/q188/Perrys_mama/?action=view&current=MVI_1373.flv

The judge at this show laughed and laughed...my three year old pony did what I thought was a super job at his first show. The comment was: "not enough test to judge, but nicely behaved horse and nice riding".

It was fun to clean him up, work toward a test and get the "show experience".

[mickeydoodle]

The snowbird shows in Lexington have all sorts of horses and people. No need to braid, wear clean outfit, knock the biggest clumps of mud off.

[Ginger]

I don't bathe pony for the Snowbird shows. He's out 24/7 too, no way am I going to remove his coat grease. Just be clean (a good curry will do) and tidy. And they're schooling shows - everyone is there for the experience. You'll fit right in. :)

[Holly Jeanne]

Thanks for all the encouragement folks! I just really thought that, by 12 years of being back into horse ownership after being without for 18 years that I might actually have done training level by now. Sigh. I'll see if I can't make the December one. Unfortunately, that's after the time change so I'll only be able to ride on weekends at that time of year. Oh well, the pros of having my own farm is that I've been able to keep my photic headshaker as I choose and get an additional horse. Actually, I bred and raised my 5 yo. The cons are that I don't have a ring or ground eyes. Sure wish they hadn't changed the date on the November show. Anyway, I appreciate all the encouragement!! And thanks for letting me vent.

Get out there and rate your performance against your personal best.
Hehehe. My personal best was my ONLY time in the dressage ring. That was a 74 at Intro II.

A lot of Dressage riders wait and wait and wait. I think because the sport is about perfection, people wait way too long to show or to move up the levels.
That's so true!

You don't make as much progress training outside of lessons, but you do still progress. Each test will get you a new slew of judges' comments to work on.

That would be good.

[sunnycher]

Before we had a barn, I would give him a bath in the horse trailer - bucket with warm water and soap. I had to rinse off with cold, but as soon as I was done, we squeegy really good, put on a baker blanket next to the horse with a winter blanket over the top, and walked him dry. It worked great. The walking warmed him up fine. It was cold out, but the sun was shining, so not too bad. I did that a couple of times. The rest of the time, just use a hot towel - wring out all the excess water, and give a spit bath.

Good luck, and don't give up.

[HappyTalk]

Keep him in a turn out sheet and use baby wipes. I have an overo paint and the baby wipes really work to keep the white areas clean. Don't sweat it; it's a winter schooling show.

Good Luck!!!

[SillyHorse]

Here, use this as motivation:

http://s136.photobucket.com/albums/q188/Perrys_mama/?action=view&current=MVI_1373.flv

The judge at this show laughed and laughed...my three year old pony did what I thought was a super job at his first show. The comment was: "not enough test to judge, but nicely behaved horse and nice riding".

It was fun to clean him up, work toward a test and get the "show experience".
That was pretty darned funny! :lol:

I agree with everyone else, Holly Jeanne. Go, and have fun.

[mellsmom]

My OTTB does not DO water of any kind. He has never been braided EVER for any show yet we have consistently gotten year end awards in our local dressage association at the schooling show level.
I also have brown tack and use a figure eight noseband and wear olive green breeches and a Tipperary helmet.
The local DQ's are even nice to me and know my name. Scary isn't it?

[Holly Jeanne]

Not really scary Mellsmom. I happen to know what a good rider you are. :)

[Auventera Two]

You don't have to bathe for winter shows. I never did. You can use a warm damp cloth to scrub the hair backwards, and a stiff brush. Keep dipping the rag in a bucket of hot water and wringing it out. It really takes the dirt off and shines them up nicely. Use a good coat polish like Cowboy Magic or Vetroline Shine.

Trim the ear fuzz but don't eliminate it, make sure you have a good bridle path and braid job or roach, banged tail, and polished hooves. NO problem!

[evenstar]

Funny post Rugbygirl! Love the judge's comment.

Good pony to stay in the arena!

[pines4equines]

Awwwhhh, hook up the trailer and go trail riding! You'll love it.

[oldenmare]

From years upon years of scribing experience (I counted once and stopped after hitting 500 hours of scribing.... and still had more to count):

The ONLY time I have ever heard a judge comment negatively about a horse/rider turnout was about 6 years ago at the USDF Regional Championships.

The horse had apparently been pulled out of a muddy field, mane braided (mud in braids, all over coat, legs, tail, etc). It appeared that the horse had not even been brushed, much less curried and any attempt with water was totally unapparent.

Yep - for a championship class. True, it was training level, but still........ some of the sharpest groomed horses I've seen at championships are at training level.

The judge's comment "you think they would have at least brushed him before a championship class" - "they" being the trainer and entourage that were obviously with this rider.

For bathing in winter, I use a special nozzle on sink in my mudroom that hooks to garden hoses - so I have warm water. And then, I only scrub down legs - rest of body groomed with lots of curry combs and brushes. A cactus cloth is good for removing sweat marks and ground in mud.

Besides - dressage isn't about how pretty you and horse are - its about how harmonious you and horse are....

[Holly Jeanne]

She was a pretty good girl last night.

dressage isn't about how pretty you and horse are - its about how harmonious you and horse are....

We'll see how harmonious we are after over a month of only riding on weekends (weather permitting). :lol:

I'm hauling to a place with a ring on Sunday so that we can actually canter more than a few strides at once before hitting uneven, hard ground. Can't do that every week but maybe once a month...

[oldenmare]

Ahhh, Grasshoppa, harmony is a journey and a destination. Rarely achieved overnight.

Go. Have fun. In the words of Kerry A (a guy I used to know),

"It ain't nothang but a thang" (hard to get his accent in writing)

Thus is the secret to life.