Donahoo Dressage

Two loaded weekends!

2011-11-15T20:34:00.002-06:00

The first weekend of November, I participated in the William Woods University Completely Relaxed Dressage Schooling show with two horses. Topaz trailered in for two days of tests in the Intro series, and I also had the privilege of piloting Max in his first dressage show at 1^st level. Max is owned by good friend and client, Jojo Kyger, who boards her two fabulous mounts at K&L where I manage and train out of. Max is very familiar with the big leagues in the jumpers and is temporarily changing tack to gain strength behind and suppleness over the topline.

Both horses were absolutely amazing… I am so proud of Topaz for again showing us how down-to-earth she really is. A seamless warm up sent us into two great tests Saturday and two even better tests on Sunday. The judge had some very complimentary things to say about her, and gave us great tips to improve on. The first day, Intro A and B yielded a 65%, and the second day, Intro B and C were a 66% and a 68% respectively, tying us for the high point of our division. She is really starting to understand my aids quicker and relax over her back, making it easier to set her up in the transitions and figures. Leah and Myles were the best team and the most supportive parents of “baby horse”, who’s not so baby anymore!

Max participated on Saturday, giving me all the same work in the warm up that he’d given at home, which was delightful. My disadvantage was changing rings between the warm up and the show ring, which had him quite curious as to where the jumps were. By the second test, the tension had subsided drastically and he really locked in on his job. I was stoked with a 63% and a 68% for 1^st level test 1 and 2! I know that with strength in his hind end, the lengthenings and lateral work will only become easier. I was beyond the moon with excitement for his polite behavior and adaptation to the scene, as it was his first show to ever attend and not take a fence!

I also have to give mad kudos for my amazing groom Jen, who really helped keep all the stray ends together and get us to the ring relaxed and looking fabulous J

Both horses took a few days off to rest before gearing back up for another weekend at The Woods to participate in a clinic with Pierre St. Jacques for the Equestrian Academic Showcase. While the list of his accomplishments is longer than this blog post, Pierre was a member of the Gold medal winning team at the 2010 World Equestrian Games with Lucky Tiger. It was a huge privilege to ride under world class instruction!

Max’ lesson went very well as Pierre focused on establishing an even connection in the bridle. It was a challenging lesson as I was not used to riding so boldly forward. I learned a LOT from the exercises and figures Pierre put us through, and Max benefitted from it immensely, with some moments of serious improvement! I had also been quite structured in my schooling with Max, but found the benefit in breaking it down to the nitty gritty and using my aids to get the results instead of relying on the figure or exercise. We came away with LOTS of homework that will keep us busy this winter.

I had a blast in Topaz’ lesson on Sunday. Pierre really unloaded a new system for establishing the connection with a young horse, and it worked beautifully. I have been hesitant to lock into one particular “school of thought” or another in regards to a system of training, and instead try and focus on what works best to talk to each horse individually. Hitting the “nail on the head”, so to speak, by the end of the ride Topaz was exploring steps of leg yield, had suppleness in the topline, and was gaining consistency in a solid connection.

Thank you to Karen and WWU for hosting the clinic, Pierre for such great lessons, and Leah and Jojo for the opportunity!

In the insanity between loaded weekends, I had a very exciting delivery late Friday night. No exaggeration, at 11:11pm on 11/11/11, Atticus W came off the trailer at K&L having made the trip from Watchman PRE horses in Modesto, California. A 2009 Iberian gelding, “Finch” is an Andalusian/Trakehner cross sired by Kamiakin. Kamiakin’s season has yielded great success with rider Mija Paris, who were named Champion in the IALHA USDF All Breeds Year End awards at Training level in the Open division with a median score of 73.036%! He is going to make a fantastic show horse for someone with dreams of a partner with fantastic gaits and a great mind.

As an affiliate with Watchman PRE horses, K&L will host Atticus for training and sales. This winter I will focus on his ground work and he’ll be backed in the spring. If you are looking for your next partner in crime, look no further and don’t hesitate. Price will reflect his level of training.

Check back soon to see more pictures, video, and progress!

Fall 2011

2011-10-15T14:31:00.000-05:00

Lots of things have happened in the 8 months since my last post!

Starting from “the top”, here’s the scoop to catch everyone up.

Topaz and Tres went to a fun show at the National Equestrian Center in Lake St. Louis in early March. Topaz was an absolute star and was very relaxed about all of it, despite a massive, crowded warm-up, and loud stabling. Topaz won her first class (ever) and took the blue in Non-Stock Conformation Halter. She was then entered in an English Pleasure class, where she was a rock star and kept her composure the entire class of 20+ horses in a small ring :)

Leah’s mare Tres was the Reserve Champion in the Horse Coupon Book’s Season of Excellence contest. Terry Waechter of Watchman PRE horses graciously awarded her a free breeding to Fugitivo XII! This was a delightful surprise, as only the winner of the contest was to be awarded a free breeding. Tres is now confirmed in foal to Fugi, due Spring 2012. Fugi is being campaigned by Para Dressage rider Susan Treabess toward the 2012 US Olympic Games in London.

In March, Topaz developed a mass on her lip and after careful observation and two weeks of steady growth, we had it biopsied through Equine Medical Services. Unfortunately, it was quite a rough diagnosis to swallow as we listened to the vets explain the rarity (and severity) of a mast cell tumor. For a horse of her age, we came to understand the career limitations of a cancer diagnosis, the (expensive!) treatment options, and the unknown chance of reoccurrence. It was because of its rarity that the Missouri University Teaching Hospital was so willing to see our case and help sponsor her surgery, which went phenomenally. Unfortunately, the road is never a clear and easy path with Topaz, and several days later, she had completely destroyed her lip, ripping out most of the stitches and then some. Her lower lip was missing a chunk of flesh as big and deep as a dinner steak – several times bigger than the tumor that had been removed!

So, with a few months of rehab now ahead of her, Topaz was sidelined again. Leah and I are now walking testimonials to the power of Vetricyn. This miracle gel healed up her lip in about 8 weeks with minimal scarring.

I took most of spring to focus Sport towards our on campus recognized show at 4th level, but some last minute changes introduced me to Don Giovanni, a recently donated 13 year old Oldenburg. “Gio” and I went to a clinic with Axel Steiner in late April, which was an incredibly educational opportunity!

Over the summer, I took the temporary Assistant Trainer position with Lyndon Rife in Pilot Point, Texas. If I hadn’t been accepted as the Graduate Assistant at William Woods beginning in the fall, I would’ve accepted the permanent position without blinking an eye! In addition to working with two fabulous trainers full time, the clients and horses made every day a great one. Thank you to Lyndon, Julie, Jillian, and countless others! Congratulations to John Rees, the new (permanent) assistant trainer :)

When I returned to Fulton, Missouri to start my Masters, Topaz was also ready to go back to school, and did so absolutely flawlessly. In September, she went to her first schooling show put on by the CDCTA and was old-hat to everything there. Rope flags strung between barrels, an open grass warm-up, and a flat bed trailer for a judges stand didn’t faze her in the slightest. We came away with a 2nd and 3rd in Intro C and Training 1, with lots of good feedback and an overall educational experience. I’m such a proud (step) mom!

However, in the habit of always throwing a kink in her training, Topaz decided to throw another scare at us. We recently had a half-dollar size mass removed out of her hip that came back from the lab as a fatty lipoma. The vets are shaking their heads at this one, as the chances of a cancerous tumor the first time were slim to none, and now within the same year, another has appeared (thankfully benign). I suppose it just gives new meaning to the phrase “a one in a million horse”!

Also in the move back to Fulton, I have been given the opportunity to “set up shop” at K&L Hightime Stables in Millersburg. As a 22 acre property with a beautiful 8 stall barn, an enclosed indoor and a new outdoor arena, it is the perfect set up for my current work load. Topaz moved here in August to continue her training, which allows MyLeah Andalusians property in Calwood to function as the breeding base of their operation. I can now offer full training and lessons on school horses and to outside clients with this great facility.

In the near future, I am anxiously awaiting a clinic with Pierre St. Jacques. Pierre is this year’s WWU Equestrian Showcase Clinician! He was the first alternate for the US team at the 2010 World Equestrian Games with Lucky Tiger – I distinctly remember watching him as the test rider before the freestyle last October :) Also coming up in November is a schooling show at WWU, where I may be riding a few horses.

Praying for a long fall and an easy winter!

Until next time,

Lauren

Topaz, FTW!

2011-02-23T22:52:00.000-06:00

You often hear people say you never know when you'll meet the person who will change your life. I've found that shock-to-the-system kind of relationship with Topaz. Our relationship today began after a crazy turn of events that started several years ago where I met Leah in creative writing class, of all places!

In our fourth ride tonight, Topaz continued the trend of "see what I can do to absolutely blow Lauren away". Totally relaxed, she was game for everything I asked of her, including cantering both directions.

We're heading to the National Equestrian Center in Lake St. Louis this weekend for the Fun and Frolic schooling show :) She's accompanying Tres, just to gain experience on the show grounds and see her way around a big event. Leah is riding Tres while Topaz and I will go in a halter class, and possibly a 4 and Under walk/trot class depending on how she adjusts and schools on Friday. I'm giddy just thinking about it. While you can never predict ANYTHING with horses, she's acted like such an old hat with everything thus far that I can only hope she'll be just as much of a star on our field trip :) I'm a believer that optimism counts for at least 60% of life!

Topaz has been such an unexpected, highly rewarding experience. I am so grateful every chance I have to work with her and have found that even as the "teacher", I'm the one learning the most.

"By learning you will teach; by teaching you will understand." _ Latin Proverb.

To vote for Topaz and I in the Horse Coupon Book/Season of Excellence contest to win a free breeding, follow the links below:

First, "Like" Horse Coupon Book

and then "Like" my essay!

Thank you SO much to everyone who has voted thus far and continues to pass the word to others. I am so excited for this possibility, and to have so many people step out and support it makes me know I'm the luckiest girl in the world to have so many wonderful friends.

Sincerely,

Lauren

Moment of Truth!

2011-02-20T12:36:00.001-06:00

Well, I warned you... the time has come to help me win a breeding!

Miss Topaz had her THIRD ride under saddle on Friday and was absolutely amazing. She even cantered a few steps under saddle in addition to improved steering and control :) She's picking up so quick!

SO, in two easy steps, you vote for my essay to send Topaz and I to the finals!

On Facebook, find and "Like" Horse Coupon Book.

Next, follow this link and "Like" my essay :) The accompanying essay under Fugitivo XII is written by Topaz' owner Leah for her other mare Tres (recall our dressage show adventures in a previous post?) - click "Like" on that one while you're there so that we can all make it to the finals!

The winner is supposed to be announced before March 5th... and with my birthday on the 2nd, this could definitely qualify as the BEST BIRTHDAY PRESENT EVER. 22 years in the making and I'd (kind of) finally have my first horse!

Thank you very much to everyone who can help - passing the info on to friends and family is also doubly appreciated! You can do this through the 28th of February.

Crossing fingers & toes,

Lauren

Battling Old Man Winter

2011-02-15T15:39:00.000-06:00

Just when I thought I'd get less busy... life happened again. I wouldn't change a minute of it but there's lots going on in my final semester here at WWU. Bitter cold, feet of snow, and nasty weather have all sidelined us from being anywhere close to outdoors, which leaves us to trailering in with horses, if that's even possible.

Several weeks ago, before the Snowpocalypse hit, I got one last session with Topaz in before the storm. It wound up being very successful and we logged our first official ride under saddle! We even learned to steer a little bit! Now that the snow is residing and spring is on the way (according to that blessed groundhog) I have big plans for this spring!

Most recently, was my submission to an essay contest held by Season of Excellence and Horse Coupon Book for a Win a Free Breeding contest! Leah & Myles have really presented me with the opportunity of a lifetime to help select a stallion for a designer dressage foal out of Topaz eventually, but we figured it wasn't too early to start looking. We found Fugitivo XII independently, and then discovered that he was in the contest! February 20th, the essays go live on their Facebook page and the top 5 essays in each category with the most "likes" move on to the finals, where a panel will select one winner.

Having said that, y'all can expect an update here shortly with more information (and lots of pleading to vote for us!). Until then, know that Topaz, Sporty, and I are wishing everyone a warm and productive winter!

Lauren

Fall 2010!

2011-01-13T23:05:00.002-06:00

WOW!

It seems I apologize every post for all the updates I have missed and the amount of lapsed time between posts, but the past 6 months has covered so much, I can’t help but say sorry again!

After leaving off the last post with the Magnolia show, I have so much to share! I’ll start from the top and bring everyone up to speed…

The DDC Lemonade Daze show can be summed up in three words: HOT HOT HOT. I went down the centerline both days when the thermometer read over 100 degrees! Sport was body clipped, of course, but hydration and shade were big concerns the entire weekend. Since we were already qualified at 3rd level, Sport and I did two freestyle tests! We rode to a Van Halen compilation mix, which got everyone in the audience rockin’. The first test wasn’t the greatest as the sound system was in the process of exploding above us, but day 2 was very, very fun and my friends and family all came out to support. It was my first but certainly not last experience with riding a freestyle! Travis again came out to take pictures, Mary Beth was there as my mentor and groom, and the entire crew from Lyndon Rife’s farm was nice enough to let me stable with them and feed in the mornings!

In early August Sport and I made the long haul back up to Fulton, Missouri to William Woods. Everyone was very impressed with his improvement. With only 6 weeks until the Regional Championship, we used the time to work on details and improve his collection. We attended a clinic with WWU alum Erin Ackley, which gave us great insight to freer changes and more supple lateral work. In all, we made a lot of improvement and started working in the double with much success.

I started working with Leah Strid’s Topaz de la Plata, a 3yo Andalusian mare, sporadically during the semester. This mare is going to be something extra-special, let me tell you. After only a few sessions of working on the ground, I casually swung up onto her back one day and she looked at me like “so, what’s next?” She’s got the sharpest mind I’ve ever seen on a horse this young. Sadly, we cannot anticipate injury, and right as we put a schooling show on the calendar, she was sidelined when a dog spooked her through a fence. Myles (Leah’s husband) did a great job of working with her when I was busy with school and shows! Topaz and Tres are the latest of their herd at MyLeah Andalusians in Calwood, just outside of Fulton.

Midway through the semester the opportunity presented itself to switch hats for minute. A good friend of mine Kate Vanbenthuysen rides competitive western events with her all-around horse My Patriot's Hightime. Her young horse, Jade needed experience at a schooling show, leaving Patriot free for the weekend, and when Kate offered to let me have the ride, I jumped right on it! What a fun experience to ride a very successful, produced western horse and be able to feel and understand the similarities and differences between the two disciplines. Patriot was a wonderful, patient teacher as I learned the ropes of western pleasure and showmanship. I wore more bling than I'd ever seen at a beauty pageant, and we wound up taking Western High Point of the show much to the credit of a wonderful coach and horse!

Early October, I took a trip with one of my best friends to the WEG in Lexington, KY. The entire week was the first time I’d been able to see that caliber of dressage at a big event. Between the new world records, the shopping, and the weather, it was only to get back on my horse that I wanted to return to Missouri! But, only a week away from our big show, I used that extra energy to motivate us for the Region 4 Championships!

Heading to Lake St. Louis for the regionals was a very great experience. After months of work with Sport, I felt we were very prepared. Unfortunately, in packing for the show, I managed to throw out my neck when I tried to lift something heavy off of a tall shelf. Two emergency chiropractor appointments weren’t enough to get me aligned just right, however, and I wound up barely hacking the first day and scratching my first test of the weekend. After lots of rest and TLC, I rode my freestyle test on Saturday in order to get in the ring before my Championship ride on Sunday. I was very excited, as we were also riding to new music. Mary Beth flew in from Dallas to visit and see our freestyle, too! While Sport had been fabulous for our hack, the ring became very intimidating to him when it was filled with bustling people at the A end. Once I lost the suppleness to a big spook, it was incredibly hard to regain his trust. His tension became cause for extra changes, and we lost our counter canter early in his attempt to avoid the scary corner. I was also extremely sore, so the thought of coming unseated was of extra concern! By the end, I was optimistically happy about how we had at least stayed on the general path of the freestyle… but needles to say I was now concerned and sore heading into the final and most important day of the regional show.

With my amazing mentor Mary Beth and unflappable groom Ericka Schaefer, we took the night to crash early and relax. Sunday, I felt much better about the next chance in the ring; my neck was looser, Sport was calm, and everyone was very supportive.

With a smooth warmup, a calm lap around, and a conservative, relaxed frame, by the end of the test, I couldn’t keep the grin off my face! It was a very clean test, and I was super happy with how it compared to his previous performance in the ring. The test earned us 7th place with our final average. Sport and I rode in the ribbon ceremony sporting our big purple ribbon. Between Karen letting me borrow her Escape when my truck died, Ericka tacking up because I couldn’t lift the saddle, and Mary Beth reminding me that I could be successful despite the adversity, I felt I did the easy part of the weekend!

After the regional show, we both took some downtime to let the pressure off for a while. A few weeks after regionals, we picked back up and set our sights on 4th level for an on-campus schooling show. We garnered scores of 62.5 and 68.6! I was incredibly proud of him and very excited for all the work we’d done from the beginning of the summer. Because Topaz was sidelined, I took Leah’s other mare Tres in the Intro classes to help her get some added exposure to the show environment. It was a very educational experience for all involved, and I was very happy with Tres’ effort and improvement. The rest of the semester, Sport and I worked towards the canter pirouettes and improved tempi changes.

CDCTA was kind enough to host me as a judge in late November for one of their schooling shows. This was an amazing opportunity for which I am so thankful! Beth Hussey of Fairfax Farms parked a pickup at the end of her ring for me to gain experience in the judges box and I had so much fun! Stacey Bates was a fantastic scribe, and afterward we all enjoyed a poodle-skirted pony quadrille and fire dancers! WOW! My favorite participant was riding an adorable (and very correct!) dressage mule :)

As the semester came to a close, I was sad to have to let Sport down for a month during my absence over Christmas break, but extremely optimistic about my winter plans. Once school let out, I packed my bags for a two-week stint in sunny Florida, where I traveled to Knoll Dressage for an interview and tryout. Based in Chuluota, Florida, Knoll Dressage is home to Anne Gribbons’ training facility. I was introduced through Laura Graves, who I met at the YRGP last year. I was so excited to finally meet Diddy (and of course, see Laura again!) and see what the facility was all about. It was the fastest, most unforgettable two weeks of my life, and I learned so much while I was there. The barns, the horses, the staff, and the training were all I’d ever dreamed they could be. I am absolutely stoked to say that I am planning to go back on a more permanent basis as soon as possible!

However, “as soon as possible”, has to wait until I get through one more semester at William Woods. Finishing up my senior year is top priority at the moment, and I return now to this miserably cold weather in anticipation of what is to come in the next year. I have big plans for this semester and beyond, and I have made a resolution to update more frequently! Sport and I are looking to head into the show ring at 4th level around April, and I’ll be putting more time into developing Topaz, as well! Lots to do and not enough time to do it!

Warm wishes to everyone this winter, and bad alliterations to the rest of you!

Lauren

Magnificent Magnolia!

2010-07-20T15:45:00.001-05:00

So in the month I've been absent from the blog, Spork and I have been doing LOTS of work in preparation for the Windy Knoll show this past weekend. Amidst two weeks of rain, the stress was high as I was running low on ground above water. Thanks to Joe Baily and Bre Dorsett of Normandy Farms (where the below picture was taken), I was able to trailer to Keller to their facility to do some run throughs and touch ups before we departed.

Friday morning, the trailer ride down was uneventful (the best kind of road trip) and Sport settled in nicely. Our school went very well and my faithful steed assured me there wasn't much to be concerned with in the arena or warmup area, minus farm tractors, which of course are made of goblins and alligators. As always it was a pleasure to braid for Solstice Farms' Loverboy, and I wrapped up my night.

Our first ride was Saturday morning. and Sport really gave it his all for me. Our second flying change, a spectator jumped into a bush at the end of the arena, which made for an "eventful" change, hah! That lit him up but we finished alright. With lots of room to improve, I wasn't sure how we'd come out, but we received our first qualifying score with a 63.1. I was beyond stoked! I knew we had a few things to improve after receiving a 4 (that exciting flying change!), but we also earned a 9 in the same test. For only a month and a half together essentially, I couldn't have been more proud of the Lamborghini!

Day 2 started with a summer shower in the morning - while this wouldn't normally bother Sport, this was his first time back in a stall since he moved to Texas so it stressed him out. With a handful of carrots and a chair, I held his leadrope and babysat him all morning so he'd stay calm. *sigh* ... The things we do for our horses.... the list could fill a book!

The rain let up just in time for us to warm up. The only issue with the footing was directly at A, where the roof didn't cover the last 3 feet of the short side. Coincidentally, that's exactly where the halt, rein back is in the test. So I took it conservatively, let him be where he needed to, and we aimed for a correct, accurate test. It didn't seem to phase him at all - we had much better changes, our half passes felt great, and we came away with our second qualifying score of a 65.1!

The entire weekend was a massive success. Sport earned Jr/YR high score the first day and 3rd level (all divisions!) high average the second day. I couldn't have been happier for our first show together this season. We've officially put the Region 4 Regional Championships on our calendar for October 2010 at Lake St. Louis. If you'd like to be a sponsor, please contact me!

Of course I could NEVER have done this alone. While this may sound like an Academy Awards Speech, the people who got me here deserve WAY more thanks than I can give (and I just KNOW you want to be one of these people!) To my sponsor, Ashley, I was the best duck I could be. Mary Beth was my unwavering support and deserves Groom of the Year award for keeping us on time and hydrated all weekend - extra thanks for use of her trailer. For the few lessons I could squeeze in, thank you to Lyndon Rife, Julie Madriguera, and Patti Pace. And the Normandy Farms crew for letting us trailer out of the mud to use a regulation arena before the show.

Our next plan of action is rocking and rolling (hint hint) towards the DDC Lemonade Daze Show in Las Colinas July 31st and 1st. I am working diligently to fix and adjust a few things so we can be as successful as possible. Hopefully the heat will stay at bay for the most part.

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Stay tuned for more updates, including more on the Armbands for All campaign. Part I of an article I wrote has been published on the Dallas Dressage Club website here! Part II is coming in August!

Rock & Roll,

Lauren & Sport

(Thanks Travis for the amazing pictures!)

USDF Connection Feature

2010-06-23T18:24:00.003-05:00

A few updates!

Here's my second shoutout to The Dressage Foundation for their amazing Young Rider Graduate Program. USDF Connection featured an article on it and was kind enough to use my words:

This is a screen shot edition of the page, but I'm working on getting the article on here, trust me! I even had to cut off where it introduces me - that first quote on the top left hand side is me! Props to Roz Kinstler on such a great article - this program needs more exposure!

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As far as the earlier article on arm bands, protocol changes, safety regulations, etc, please bear with me. I've created another blog to direct traffic towards - I'll publish it once the template and setup is complete!

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Unfortunately this week, I had to turn down an opportunity to groom at the Young Rider Championships in Lexington. While I would have LOVED to serve Region 9, I just couldn't swing the costs of lodging and transportation to Lexington, but I send all my luck to the competitors on this year's team in every region!

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Sport and I are officially headed to the Windy Knoll Farms Summer Dressage Show in Magnolia, TX in July! I am PUMPED. It was through generous sponsorships that this opportunity is possible, and I am super grateful for every ounce of help I can get. Looking to head to the Lemonade Daze show following that one - please contact me if you'd like to be a sponsor!

Carrots & Sugar Cubes,

Lauren

MEDICAL ARM BANDS FOR ALL

2010-06-15T23:23:00.006-05:00

So the Houston show didn’t exactly go as planned… bear with me, this is long, tedious, and totally worth your time.

I took my laptop in hopes of doing an update over the weekend in my downtime, but alas, no free internet at the EQCenter. So on Friday, after my braiding signs were up, I found a comfortable seat in the show ring to watch “warm-up day” festivities. Little did I know where my weekend would take me.

In between cruising the internet on my phone and watching riders school through the rings, there was a commotion from Ring 2 and I looked up in time to watch a horse spooking. He spun and gave a buck that sent his rider to the ground. The horse didn’t go far, confused and shaken, but the rider didn’t move. Nearby trainers ran over as many cries went out not to let her move, although she hadn’t moved since she hit the ground. Riders in the ring dismounted, the horse was collected, but the rider lay still. I yelled down from the stadium seats if she needed an ambulance. A moment later, someone said yes and I pulled out my phone.

I was immediately connected with local dispatch and I headed down towards the arena (down a flight of stairs and around to the arena entrance) as I informed her that I was at the Equestrian Center and needed an ambulance. I gave her the road and the city name and informed her that there was a fallen rider, conscious, but with severe back pain. Dispatch gave me hell about needing a specific address or a cross street and I had to sprint outside to find the numbers on the building. I’m thinking just Google already - it comes up on Mapquest!

I guess it’s just not that easy.

Finally with dispatch confirmed that an ambulance was on the way, I was let off the phone. Two riders who had dismounted had stabilized the rider’s neck and legs. I finally was able to get the rider’s name; Sarah, and I introduced myself. We went through all the precursory questions and Sarah, in evident pain, started rattling off information; where her keys, truck, and purse were, her medical allergies, and where to find her phone. At this point, I realize that no one had “claimed” Sarah – turns out, she traveled to the show alone and did not have a trainer or family member present. She was talking to me; I was her person (for all the Grey’s Anatomy fans who may be reading). I sprinted across the show grounds alongside her closest friend Bobbie Paulk, whose horse had been shuffled into the care of her husband. Bobbie helped me get her cell phone and purse from the car and I called her husband and left voicemails on his cell and work numbers. The ambulance pulled into the arena and the paramedics took the information from her license and made note of everything. As she was being loaded, I asked Sarah if she’d like me to go with her and she said yes, as I still hadn’t reached her husband.

Armed with two purses and a cell phone in each hand (one hers), I asked the ER staff where I could find Sarah. Sarah who? They asked. Shit. I didn’t even know her last name – it had all been a blur of madness to make sure she was okay. Picking up the day timer in her purse, it was the ever-familiar USEF membership card that jumped out at me. Perfect. I told them the situation and handed them the card with her last name spelled on it. I had beaten the ambulance to the hospital, so I sat down to wait as they confirmed that Sarah was on her way.

I was finally brought to the room where she was. Still strapped to the backboard with a neck collar, Sarah looked terrified and worried. I cleaned the blood off her nose where she’d collided with her horse – her helmet visor saved her a broken nose. I listened to her explain the rest of her medical history to the attending nurses, some of which prompted more tests and scans. I finally got ahold of her husband, who would be battling Austin traffic for a few hours before he could get there. I also got word from the show ground that the horse was taken care of, injury free, and settled back in his stall. Over the next few hours, she was wheeled away intermittently for X-rays and CT Scans. I took up my post near a wall plug for my phone charger and prayed for good news for this stranger I’d just met through the worst of circumstances. I started to wonder how many people go to a show alone like this? I’d only done it once and I certainly never will again, but I remember believing that it was a way to “prove myself” at the time even though the truth was just that no one was available that weekend. Making the long haul solo, warming up, showing, getting through a test with only yourself to coach, relying on your horse for companionship, it was all a rare one-on-one bonding experience away from home. How satisfying, and yet, how dangerous.

It was confirmed after X-rays that she fractured her L1 vertebrae and would go in for more tests to determine if and how bad the surrounding compression damage was. She finally got an IV and morphine. Tim, Sarah’s husband, arrived after I’d spent a few hours getting to know this fascinating woman. It seemed that the wheels never stopped turning as much as I tried to distract with conversation – there was one concern after another as to how she’d cope with this, rearrange that, or postpone plans. The prognosis and stress was debilitating, her spinal fracture aside.

Before she could express her concern with how she’d get her horse home, I offered to drive her truck and trailer back to Austin the following day – I had plenty of downtime during the day anyway as the horse I usually groom for had scratched. It was absolutely amazing how the events lined up so well. So on Saturday morning, I loaded up Shimmer, her Dutch Warmblood, and headed out for the two hour drive west. I couldn’t imagine the stress they must go through, and to be two hours out of town on top of it all. Everything went without incident on the trip home for Shimmer, and when I called to check on Sarah, Tim informed me she’d been transferred downtown in order to see a specialist.

Thankfully though, Sunday morning when I called to check on Sarah again, the verdict was that she would not need surgery. They molded a brace for her back and would be waiting a few days for it to be made – a “turtle shell” to prevent any further damage while she recuperates. A day or two of observation, and then she’ll be released home for her long road to recovery.

During the entire ordeal I kept playing the “what if?” game, running through different scenarios. I played back over the scene in my head, asking myself “how could this have gone smoother?” and “what more could be done to prevent such chaos?” “what if Sarah had been unconscious?” Competitors may often travel to shows unaccompanied – in today’s world where work and play schedules conflict, a horse-show husband may not be able to tag along. Add kids or school to the mix and I can imagine it’s a downright miracle to have everyone pack up and leave for a weekend.

While Sarah certainly wouldn’t have gone without urgent care, things would have been different had she not been able to tell us her medical history and allergies. It got me wondering how many riders may be riding with a medical history that would be vital for emergency personnel to be aware of in order to treat them effectively.

It’s no secret that working with horses is dangerous. How some people ignore a helmet when working with and riding several-thousand-pound, free-thinking animals is beyond me, especially after an accident like Courtney King-Dye’s. I know, I know, I used to be in that boat, but I woke up quick when an Olympian in my sport was debilitated. My Charles Owen and I are best of friends.

I am in no way saying that we should put a halt to the sport, but precautions to match the risks should be taken as such.

PROTECT YOURSELF.

When you travel with your horse, to a show, lesson, or a trail ride, bring someone with you if you can, and have them stay with you at all times when you’re mounted. Just having someone to hang around and check out the concession stand while you’re warming up isn’t enough – it would be just as bad for your person to be absent at the time of an accident than not there at all!

If you can’t bring someone with you, let people know when and where you’ll be. Designate times to call them and give them updates, and even line up the “if you don’t hear from me by this time, call this person” to find out. Keep your cell phone charged and ON you while riding – there are a million different belt clips and thingamajigs to keep yourself connected – no excuses here. And yet it seemed as though at the time of Sarah’s accident, I was the closest one with a phone – and I was in the stands!

Your trainer needs to be aware of your medical conditions, history, and care. This may include a copy of your driver’s license and insurance card(s), hospital preferences, allergies, emergency contacts, and how to take care of your horse should you be rendered incapable of doing so yourself.

Your equipment, tack, feed, and care should be CLEARLY LABELED. Meaning a complete stranger could follow the steps to tucking your horse in like nothing changed. This includes grain, spray bottles (Is it Liniment? Fly spray? Who knows!) hay, meds, supplements, and clearly spell out your veterinarian and farrier. This doesn’t just go for when you’re on the road, either. Your home barn needs just as much, if not more organization in case you can't be there to feed or care for them.

While it took an accident of Courtney King’s caliber to spur helmet regulations be put into motion, I do not believe it should take an act of negligence or failing/improper medical assistance to require that all riders aboard a horse on a USEF-sanctioned show wear a medical arm band. I’m already on top of seeing that this issue is addressed at the national level eventually. We cannot rely on minimal emergency contact information (not medical!) buried somewhere in a file folder in the show office to be the saving grace in the event of an accident.

As of right now, the only USEF affiliate to require a medical arm band is the US Eventing Association, but this is only required when jumping:

2. MEDICAL CARDS. An approved and completed medical card is required any time while
jumping. It must be enclosed in a transparent, waterproof carrier. It must be securely
attached to the competitor’s upper arm on the outside of the competitor’s clothing. It must
include any relevant medical history, injury (particularly to the head), drug allergies and current
medication. Athletes are responsible to record all injuries on the card. Failure to wear
one’s own medical card shall be penalized by a fine of $100. (Payable to the Organizing
Committee) EC 2/16/10 Effective immediately.

A rider can sustain injury that rules them unconscious or unresponsive just by being in the wrong place at the wrong time, not just from taking solid fences or a 4’ oxer. EVERYONE on a horse needs this information on them – there is no guarantee your person will be a reliable back up in case you’re a diabetic transplant patient who happens to be allergic to penicillin, and OH YEAH you can't tell anyone because you're now a concussion-ridden lump on the ground. Slight exaggeration, but you get my point.

Personally, I stumbled upon RoadID when I was a triathlete a few years ago. My workouts often took me running or biking miles or hours from home, and the customized ID had everything on it that an EMT would need to know. Brilliant. They even make a version now with a web link where you can keep your information updated and include an infinite amount of medical history. They’re comfortable, sleek, you can pick your color, and it never fails that someone asks “what’s that?” The more that know the better! They’ve got hundreds of testimonials of people that were saved because EMTs and responding medical staff knew the information they needed.

Another issue at hand is the need for clarification in the Emergency Response Protocol as dictated by USEF, which currently states that “Exhibitors are asked to not make 911 calls using their cell phones.” EXCUSE ME, WHAT? This is so that instead, Show Management may call from a landline and direct the ambulance to hold sirens and find the best and fastest entrance. But there are several things wrong here. When show management DID finally get to the ring, they were on a cell phone connecting to 911 long after I'd been given confirmation that help was on the way and was allowed to hang up.

While I totally understand that spectators don’t need to call 911 if an EMT is on the grounds, and that during the show, a ring steward would have radioed a report of an accident in to the office and the EMT would have responded within minutes, as one is required during competition. However, an EMT wasn’t on the grounds yet, as competition had not started. No one from show management oversees warm-up and show rings on the schooling day. Assuming (worst case scenario) I had been the only one to see the accident, a trek to the show office could greatly impede medical assistance. Minutes count. Definitely an amendment needed here.

Another thing that needs to change is that this response protocol be visible ALL over the show grounds. Emergencies create panic, and panic can make you forgetful. Someone who isn’t versed in dealing with an equestrian related injury (or emergency response in general!) needs to be able to follow instructions to get the fastest help. Even when I myself called 911, I had to sprint around the damn block to find the address – everyone I passed on the way outside didn’t know it either. The address needs to be posted on signs everywhere, probably as a permanent fixture if possible. But it certainly wouldn’t hurt to have Emergency Protocol with the facility address and directions put up in common places – bathrooms, bulletin boards, arena entrances – more than just the show office. The show office can be too crowded and busy to do “light reading” of small-print Emergency Response Protocol on the wall.

While this has been an EXTREMELY long post, I hope that anyone who has read it all will agree with me that action needs to be taken. Trust me, while I’m already working on it, but the more support the better. This is about coping with emergencies effectively and protecting our equestrian athletes from preventable mistakes in medical assistance. Protect yourself.

You’ll be hearing more on this from me as I venture into the realm of bylaws changes and affiliate backing for rule amendments. I’m not backing down from this one!

Helmets & Medical Arm Bands to all,
Lauren

P.S. Sarah is home now, on the road to recovery. She'll face 2-3 months of bed rest and downtime before she begins therapy. But considering the extent of her accident, she's doing as good as she can be!

Summer camp with LTR Dressage

2010-06-08T15:05:00.001-05:00

Under the amazing coaching of Lyndon Rife and Julie Madriguera, last weekend I hauled Spork up to Pilot Point to watch, learn, and ride in the Adult Camp! Despite an early morning haul, Spork was great under saddle and really gave it his all for me. Battling the heat wasn't easy, but making the decision to have him body clipped again was! (Look for the blog post on that adventure soon!)

Our first ride on Sunday was with Julie and she really helped give me the right tools to make Spork flexible and supple, managing his weight and strength in the right places. We also worked diligently to train in the right variation of the gaits - meaning we may not walk a "show ring walk", but it was the walk that makes sure he's really listening and defines the timing of the aids. Those training moments are what make it easy and clear when I am asking for that show ring walk. Julie also reminded me that I needed to let Sport make mistakes sometimes - I picked up pretty early on the signs before he would make one (losing the cadence in the canter before breaking to trot, etc) and would refresh him to prevent it. However, letting him make the mistake presents an opportunity to teach the correction and train past it. It all made everything much easier in the end, and I got some great feedback. Once he was showered down, Spork seemed pretty happy with himself, too!

Monday began with a seminar with "S" judge Sue Malone-Casey on the accuracy and placement of correct geometry in the dressage tests. She also talked a lot on how to train and ride according to what the judge sees - it was a great new perspective! (Found it interesting that Sue's Grand Prix horse is ALSO named Lamborghini!) From there we went right into morning lessons and I cleaned some tack as I watched and took pictures of some of the other riders until my battery died.

My second lesson of the weekend was with Lyndon over the lunch break. While the heat was more manageable the second day, Spork was tired on Day 2 and we took more breaks. Lyndon helped me to find the exact position that would support him in the trot, really activating the hind end in the half halt, and had me play a lot with positioning in the canter to prevent his haunches from drifting. The excercises were wonderful for showing where the strengths and weaknesses were, and gave me lots of good homework until I can get up north again.

The ride home was smooth and uneventful (minus losing his tail wrap somewhere along I-35!) and Spork was happy to be home. Much thanks goes out to my sponsors who made attending possible. Hoping to be headed down the centerline late July to give us as much time to prepare as possible.

Anyone headed to HDS this weekend can get on my braiding/grooming list in advance by emailing me: LRDonahoo@owls.williamwoods.edu ! I'll also be headed up to the ODS show the weekend after!

Body Clips & Carrots to all,

Lauren

P.S. Happy Birthday Leah!

Spring 2010!

2010-05-28T12:13:00.000-05:00

There’s no hiding the fact that I’ve been very behind with the blog lately – big changes have come my way in the dressage world AND the “real world” and the crazy-busy of it all swallowed me whole. Here’s an installment to the Updated Life of Lauren.

Early February I put aside the goal to chase the Young Rider team this year. While it was a disappointment, I am not sad to make the decision since I made some others that will benefit me in the long run. And while I am no longer working with Mary Claeys, I had a school horse, Sport (“Lamborghini”) brought down from Missouri for the summer and he is boarded nearby. I have high hopes to be back in the show ring at the end of July.

Since February I have been working closely with Patti Pace of Almosta Ranch. I have been able to concentrate on the biomechanics with a strong focus on myself and developing a rapport with the horses I ride there. It was there that I also began vaulting and lunge lessons aboard Gus (“A Horse of a Different Color”) who was recently short-listed for the 2010 WEG as a demonstration horse for the Vaulting events, Remington, a 6yo Trakehner gelding owned and dearly loved by Rebeckah Altschul, and for the sake of this article, we’ll call him “Mr. Special Needs”, a Westphalian gelding I co-leased with Rebeckah.

Gus allowed me to work through weight and balance issues and was very tolerant of my weak core. With focus on my inside seat bone and shoulder positioning, the rest has simply fallen into place. I feel much more secure in my transitions, pairing my developing strength with better timing of the aids. I have learned to trust myself in the balance and am working to delete my bad habits from my riding. I’m reminded every day how valuable it is to ride under supervision!

Remington and I participated in a clinic with Hans Biss late March and have since participated in a few schooling shows (going undefeated!). While the Trakehner breed is popular for their late-maturity, Remington has surpassed that standard with more scope and talent than his brain knows what to do with. He is by far one of the most complicated and difficult horses I’ve had the privilege to ride and learn from – and boy have I learned a lot. It’s horses like these who are giving me the tools to become a versatile trainer in the long run. His stellar movement and love for jumping has ensured us an exciting journey the last few months. Rebeckah and I have focused on keeping him happy and forward in his work, supplemented with jumping and trail rides. After a schooling session through a gymnastic with a vertical set to 3’, as I cantered him out of it I turned to her and was elated to find the jump untouched – it hadn’t felt like he’d jumped it at all! Our showing endeavors have been very successful at Intro and dabbling into Training level. Remington truly enjoys the show ring! This summer we will continue to build on the fundamentals, gaining a stronger sense of security in the outside rein with a forward, submissive frame (and a happy, confident horse!).

Mr. Special Needs (MSN) came to Rebeckah and I with only one thing on his agenda: trust someone. This 16 yo Westphalian gelding had a speckled history of trainers “fixing this and fixing that”. He’d developed a severe upside-down-neck from the resistance he carried in his work, most likely the result of every training aid and device available. He was tense and worried, trusting his rider to be in a frame for only fleeting moments at a time under saddle. “Special Needs” is an appropriate description for this horse, whose soul seemed to be rocked off kilter. We started slow, always positive, with no expectations and no goals other than to let him see that nothing, including his rider, was out to get him.

In the three months we’ve worked with MSN, he has come a tremendously long way, crossing bridges we didn’t expect to see water under for several more months. In addition to developing a strong, balanced frame, MSN has taught us all that we must trust what and how he is telling us what he needs, and that patience is the most important ingredient to developing the aids. He has developed a fantastic canter, an elastic, “through” trot, and gained tremendous strength in his transitions. Schooling the changes seemed to trigger the stress and panic, which in the beginning resulted in explosive escapes from the frame after the change or extreme over-collection and ducking behind the bridle as an evasion. But when we simply stopped, patted him, and moved on to something different, he slowly realized that the work was as simple as the rest. His ears now flop in the canter, his gaits have become confident and supple, and through different patterns and experiments, he now warms up beautifully and easily without resistance or stress.

Financially, the lease and travel distance to work with MSN were a strain, and I regret that I had to withdraw from the lease in order to work full time (though I adore my job). Though I continue to ride him in lessons once a week, this horse has made a lasting impression on me and it is my sincere wish that I could continue working with him full time. Rebeckah has made astounding improvement with him after she took over the lease and is learning the feel of an upper-level mount as they progress together. While originally we all said he would never have to see the show ring again, his progress and trust have developed so beautifully that it is hard not to imagine that this pair will be on the schooling show circuit fairly shortly!

Just two weeks ago, Sport (“Lamborghini”) made his venture to Texas (much thanks to WWU alum Katie Hudson of Bray’s Training Stable in Little Rock, AR for helping with his shipping!). A 21 year old neon-orange Trakehner, Sport has been an icon for the WWU dressage program. I lovingly refer to him as Spork – with his troll-hair forelock and quirky demeanor, it just seems fitting! I was able to ride and show him briefly last summer before returning home, and was elated that he’d be able to spend the summer in Tejas with me! I have high hopes to make it down the centerline in late July with him, but for now, Spork and I are taking it nice and easy. He’s thoroughly enjoying his turnout and light hacks in a big open field.

I spend the weekends riding, teaching, or grooming at horse shows and braiding. I recently had the opportunity to work with Lyndon Rife at the Texas Dressage Classic in Tyler and had a great time with friends at the DDC Spring Show in Las Colinas!

I am looking forward to the HDS Summer show in a few weeks at the Great Southwest Equestrian Center in Katy. Anyone who needs braiding, please feel free to contact me in advance! I am also available for pre-show clipping, tack cleaning, test calling, etc.

Flash Gordon

2010-02-01T14:49:00.000-06:00

After checking the board, my morning begins with horses that need handling – the youngsters, projects, and babies. Basic leading, handling, grooming, and spoiling with LOTS of treats, naturally! I’ve gained a lot from these lessons, one in particular that really stayed with me.

Flash came in less than a week ago, a small gelding with a dull chestnut coat, four legs with chrome and a star. Adorable, but malnourished, underweight, and completely “gone” as I said to Mary. His eyes and demeanor carried years of history. He seemed like a war veteran almost, a horse who truly shocked me – I had to check to make sure he was only two! He acted twenty, leading without issue, standing cross tied and never moving, completely tolerant of handling, grooming, even sudden noises and spooky things never phased him. He refused to eat. He took a treat cautiously and simply held it in his mouth. He watched everything, observing although absent. He simply wasn’t present, and it was a sight that just broke me.

I took a liking to him – a well bred Hanovarian in bad hands. I never doubted he’d be one of those recovery stories and in my daily handling of Flash (“Flash Gordon” of course), he came around. After four days, I came out last Wednesday morning to see nothing more heart warming than him playing! He cantered (beautifully despite desperately needing farrier attention) up and down the fence line, frolicking. As I approached his paddock, his eyes were wide with the world and he nickered at me and spun and trotted as I came to greet him. He stood patiently to be haltered and devoured a treat. He ate everything in his bucket.

I watched this horse wake up. I felt the energy return to his body, quite literally, and I am so excited to see where he will go! It really is unfortunate I can’t keep them all!

Pics and more updates to come!

Chrome & Carrots,

Lauren

YRGP!

2010-01-31T22:05:00.000-06:00

Oh, Florida, how I miss thee! Despite being in a conference room for twelve hours of the day, (not that I’m complaining of course!) I did get to experience some of the beauty of the 70 degree temperatures and palm trees!

West Palm was a wonderful setting for the 2010 Young Rider Graduate Program. I met so many wonderful people, both attending and teaching, and learned so much my hand was tired from all the note taking! It was an absolute privilege to be in attendance, and it really was a pivotal experience.

My roommate, Laura Graves, is a student with Anne Gribbons. I’m immediately a fan of her boy Diddy, and we shared lots of laughs during the weekend (and maybe a fear of anything resembling Jersey Shore).

Our program began on Saturday night with a session by Kate Poulin and Todd Flettrich. They really set the tone for the weekend by sharing their thoughts on “What I Know Now that I Wish I’d Known Then”. Everyone presenting over the entire weekend made it clear that they were here to assist and help as we developed into working professionals. They shared personal highs and lows, personal stories, and amazing advice.

Saturday began early and went until nearly 10 pm after we all finished dinner. Included were sessions on smart business, barn, and people management, an equine lawyer, Beth Clarke, a masseuse, a veterinarian, and several wonderful riders including Micheal Barisone and Reese Koffler*. We finished the night with an intimate dinner with Henk van Bergen, who I also shared a table with his Wife, Wilma, and George and Roberta Williams. Everyone shared great experiences and lots of touching stories.

*Remember a few posts ago when I told you the Thomas horses left to their new home in Lexington? Before Reese sat down beside me over the lunch break, I had no idea that it was none other than herself! I was baffled at the coincidence, and though Reese hadn’t been able to meet them yet because of her winter season in Florida, we both shared our excitement over the 4 boys! PS Good luck in the Masters next weekend, Reese!*

Sunday we finished with more wonderful sessions including George Williams, Carol Lavell, JJ Tate, and Courtney King to name a few. I believe I finished with roughly 40 pages of notes, not to mention a roomful of contacts and a wonderful network. The entire weekend solidified my goals, relit my inspiration, and gave me all the determination in the world to succeed this season. Once the YRGP concluded, some participants caught flights home and a few stayed for the FEI Trainer’s Conference in Loxahatchee.

So I jumped in the car, and off we went! Laura’s set of directions took us in the wrong direction of the Trainers’ Conference, which by default fulfilled my wish to see the ocean! The three pics I got were taken through the sunroof over the bay wall. Three cheers for detours! Once we finally arrived at the McPhail arena in White Fences, we had missed lunch but still caught some great feedback from Henk and watched some amazing horse/rider pairs. Included in the lineup was none other than Melissa Allen! I’d clinic-ed with Melissa at school in Missouri and had “become a fan” of her mare on the Region 4 circuit. Another instance of this crazy small world! I caught up with her before her ride on Sunday morning and caught a few pics – shh, don’t tell! The rest of the day was stellar, and we ended early after watching some beautiful piaffe! Henk was generous and spared time for a picture, and both he and his wife wished me the best in my career.

My flight home was a hard one to catch – I’d completely fallen in love with Florida! I’ll DEFINITELY be back. Hopefully sooner rather than later, but as fast as I can manage for sure!

Special thanks!

Laura, for the ride to the Trainer’s Conference! Kathie Roberston for the ride to the Trainer’s Conference on Day 2, and Holly for the ride back to the hotel on Sunday! Without the help, I’d have been stuck, literally!

More thanks goes out to Roz Kinstler and Donna Rochetti with USDF, who helped to keep the entire program on track!

To all the presenters, thanks thanks and ever thanks for all of your spectacular teaching and shared advice. “Efforts and courage are not enough without purpose and direction.” - Kennedy

And most of all, my warmest thanks to The Dressage Foundation! Without your contributions, the program never would have happened, and while it isn’t until after the conference that I realize how valuable it is, I am not without absolute appreciation for your HUGE contributions to everyone in attendance. The program truly enhanced and inspired further investment in my equestrian education.

Since my return to BPF, I’ve been focusing on a program centered on working with the young horses in the morning and moving toward the riding horses and finishing on the competition mounts. Winter has been very successful for both Mary and I. We have LOTS of new horses and new clients - we are all STOKED at BPF! Included in that batch of new horses is a horse I'm quickly becoming close to: Cadeaux de Lion AKA Caddy Shack! Caddy is a Holsteiner gelding who has had some extended time off after his last competition season at PSG. He has joined Zar in my quest for Young Riders 2010! He is a complete dream to ride, and I have changed and improved so much in only a handful of rides. Riding upper level and FEI mounts really brings it out of you, whether you have it or not! I cannot say thank you enough! We are working diligently to recooperate and condition him for the late spring/summer season! Included is a "before" picture before our first riding lesson together!

More to come soon! Trying to get lots of good training and rest before this show season starts. Sponsor info is on the way, too!

Long naps & sweet dreams to all!

Lauren

FLORIDA!

2010-01-16T13:12:00.000-06:00

Long overdue on updates and posts, I know. I have a recent post on Caramia still under edit as I'm waiting on some very exciting new updates :) But enough of the excuses:

Currently in West Palm Beach, Florida for the Young Rider Graduate Program, hosted by the USDF & USEF. I am beyond stoked to be here as the education seminars are lead by the Who's Who of the equestrain community. Lots of exciting stuff planned for that, as well as the FEI Trainers' Conference immediately following in Wellington.

Free Wifi (woohoo!) will help me get some more updates up faster while I'm here in this amazing weather. But no promises as there's this very enticing thing close by called a beach :) And in the middle of Texas, all we get to see is lakes. SO forgive me if I take the opportunity - I'm going to take in everything I can while I'm here!

Sandy Shores & Snaffles!

L

USDF Convention ATX 2009!

2009-12-11T23:52:00.003-06:00

Austin, Texas! Where the stars at night shine big and bright (clap, clap, clap clap). Home of the Horns (HOOK EM) and host of the USDF Convention December 2-6!

Previous desire to go has been hindered by the ominous, directly-following finals week, which overlaps. But this year, as a recipient of the Youth Convention Scholarship, I said I can't pass it up! And on I went!

Funded by the Youth Executive Board Silent auction, my scholarship covered my stay in the Renaissance host hotel, my registration, and travel expenses. Without their help, I would have been unable to attend and would have sorely missed the opportunities and education I gained! So, to the interwebs that might reach them, thank you YEB & USDF!

I was able to attend 6 University sessions, which get me credit for my participation in "continuing education". One which was directed at the Youth attendees featured a wonderful presentation by Jane Savoie (who signed my copy of her book That Winning Feeling!) and Hilary Clayton. Jane is a previous Olympian and Dr. Clayton is the leading researcher on Horse and Rider Biomechanics, along with being a DVM at MSU.

Jane & Hilary also gave separate seminars that were open to the entire audience at convention. Jane's work is fabulous with Finding Emotional Balance and Dr. Clayton shared her research with Stabilography and force plate experiments studying postural sway.

Another seminar hosted Ann Guptill, Sandy Howard, and Terri Ciotti-Gallo (Tigger Montague had an emergency, unfortunately!) on Fabulous Freestyles and included video to help attendees gain a better understanding and enthusiasm for producing your own freestyle at any level.

The salute Gala & Awards Banquet was a festive event featuring 6 Olympians in attendance! Including Debbie McDonald on behalf of Brentina, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame. Also in attendance was Linda Zang, another Hall of Famer, Steffen Peters, Jan Brink, Jane Savoie, and Lendon Grey.

Katie Mauldin was gracious enough to share her family and celebrate with me as she received the award for Adult Amateur Reserve Champion Training Level, earned above her mare Bogota. She helped me celebrate my bronze medal, as well :) Michelle Hawkes, a boarder at Mary's, also received her Bronze! Congrats to all!

Following the Gala were two wonderful days of Symposium at the Travis County Exposition Center, featuring Jan Brink. Jan boasts a wonderful career, highlighted by the recently-retired Briar who was an Internationally-renowed Grand Prix horse. Jan has brought 7 horses to the world circuit of Grand Prix dressage and keeps 39 horses in training at his barn in Sweden. His experience on the world circuit includes 3 Olympic Games, 8 World Cup Finals, 2 World Championships, 4 European Championships, a Win at the CDIO Aachen, and over 200 Grand Prix appearances.

His students for Symposium were mostly aboard young and developing horses. The symposium this year stressed training for the lower levels of the sport as most trainers have the majority of their students under third level. His words of advice were not just training and excercises, but ways in which to communicate with your horse, your student, and how to effectively use the training to get the result.

On the training of the dressage horse: Ask yourself if "In this moment" it is the best it can be. Not the best that is possible.

On Improvement: "Learn to master the three zones of a horse; the stretch, comfort, and panic. Finding the deviations will improve your rate of improvement"

"ONLY remember and remark on the good. You don't give directions to your house and include where not to go."

On the Warmup: "You don't want someone waking you up and pressuring you about work first thing in the morning. Wake up and get your coffee first, then pressure. Same with a horse - use your warmup [effectively]!"

"If I have to warm-up in a rude way (Rollkur, whip, spurs), I'd rather stop and play tennis."

On Grand Prix Movements: "Passage is the result of the work you do in the trot"

"Shorter steps are the embryo to collection."

On Behavior & Applied Training: "Horses do not understand 'tomorrow'. They understand a signal in that moment. [Not that you need to connect movements to make a pretty test.]"

"Don't keep going until you have or create a mistake."
"Abandon the rule that you must have the counter canter before changes. Get your balance in all canters."

On the rider's comfort zone: "Don't be afraid to sweat. You must ask for something to get something"

Woes, Winnings, and Winter!

2009-12-08T23:22:00.001-06:00

Hokay, LOTS of updates! My apologies and here’s all the NEW NEWS to do with BPF, myself, and the horses!

Championships!

Loading up for a l-o-n-g show starting Wednesday, Mary started feeling pretty sick. We made it all the way to the show grounds without getting lost! (unusual in the Houston area for us) Unpacked on the show grounds, schooled in the afternoon, settled everyone, hustled Mary into bed, and prepped ourselves for the start of the showing on Thursday.

Thursday

-Zar & I warmed up the week in Third 3 with a 60.465. We rode in a different ring (outside) which didn’t allow me to watch Mary’s test. (She’d lost her voice by this point, too) The gods of weather were not on my side particularly, as tests were being postponed by the minute as torrential rains came in 5 minute increments. I thought I’d be lucky enough to jump in between bouts, but when circling the ring, I had to muster up some of my eventer spirit and get on with it. The base of the footing held up well, despite the sloppy conditions. Zar had one spook (his first with me) down the centerline, and we took the medium/extended gaits conservative, but overall I was very happy with how he listened. By the end of the test, my top hat brim had enough water in it to fill a bucket! I was still all smiles and was elated with my 2nd place ribbon.

-Mary took Lito into his second I-1 test (of his life!) and rode well despite Lito’s tension in the ring. He began warming up fairly calm, but scary objects, goblins, blowing tarps, and generally terror seemed to line the walkway to the show ring. Not to mention, Mary’s illness took a nasty turn and (as we later found), it turned out to be pneumonia in her left lung. But the show must go on!

-Mary’s second test of the day was in the Southwest Championship (CH) on Cadeaux and placed tenth in a steep class.

Friday

-Lito and Mary went in the Southwest PSG CH and faced a lot of the same issues. Shuttling between the hotel with Dane & Maggie and staying only conscious enough to remember her test, she was wiped by the time she was finished.

-I debuted at 4-1 but didn’t feel as confident as I’d set myself up to be. I’ll admit to being distracted in the warm-up and without immediate feedback (Mary’s missing voice!) I wavered going down the centerline. Combined with Zar’s energy burst and elusive half halts, a 53 was accurate for the test and left me with plenty of feedback for Saturday.

Saturday

-Mary was bedridden while I was up at the crack of dawn to take care of the horses and put myself through my second 4-1 test of the weekend. While I was essentially on my own, I coached myself through the warm-up and felt great headed to the ring. However, the timing of the steward was awful and we wound up wasting a lot in between. Either way, I went down the centerline as one of the first rides of the day in the beautiful sunshine with a big smile. I made a lot of personal improvements, didn’t choke, and was able to restore suppleness when the distractions glittered over Zar’s miniscule attention span. Of course, lots of improvements, but I was stoked to come away with a 56.744 – almost 4 percentage points higher!

-Mary’s USDF PSG CH with Lito went better than any of her tests with him that weekend. Switching between 4 different rings in the weekend proved to be a challenge for his suppleness, but he gave more variation in his gaits and applied himself much more thoroughly. Mary and I are both optimistic that she can work with Lito to get a relaxed, technically correct test – it’s just going to take lots of practice!

Sunday

-Mary took Lito through the I-1 again and came away with a 52.368%. Not to the specs we’d like, but considering her half-dead sense of health, we’re holding our congratulations for the fact that she stayed on!

-Cadeaux went in the USDF I-1 CH with Mary later that day. Nursing this 17 year old eventer-convert has been quite the challenge and after a wonderful season, Cadeaux was still forward in his work. So forward, that he got away a little too much in the changes and embellished his extended gaits! Mary’s last test of the weekend was a relief and the pneumonia still hadn’t let up.

-Zar & I went in the Southwest 3rd level CH late in the afternoon. I felt that the test had great moments and others where I couldn’t find the go button. While I had amazing control in the transitions and the pirouettes, the long weekend had taken its toll on the impulsion, so mediums and changes were flat. Our final centerline was exciting (though accurate!) with a passage step before the final salute – but only the side judge caught it! The average score between the two judges was a 58.372 – sorely, two out of the ribbons! But I was pleased with the score and our progress – having only been together for a few months and still hanging on in the championship rankings!

Regionals was a tough weekend all around with the first half having cooler, daunting weather, and battling Mary’s horrible illness. The drive home took longer with a Houston-inspired detour, and all were well to get home and sleep in our own bed!

So much for a short update, I suppose.

The rest of November went by very quickly with a Thanksgiving visit to my friends & family in Fulton. Work on the farm was spent with a lot of the young horses, as the show horses took an extended break for the end of the season. Not long after we returned from Regionals, the Thomas horses were shipped to their new home in Lexington – Cadeaux, Walt, Ryan, and Cody will be sorely missed!

Moving on, I have recently returned from USDF Convention as a Youth Scholar. The picture is of Katie Mauldin and I at the Salute Gala. I received my Bronze and Katie received the Adult Amateur Reserve Champion Rider for Training level, earned aboard her mare Bogota, who was a pleasure for me to braid on multiple occasions this season. The next post will be a more in-depth report on all of my adventures in Austin!

I was also recently accepted into the Young Rider Graduate Program! I am UBER stoked for this extended weekend in Florida in January. I’ll be in a packed schedule of seminars and presentations by industry professionals who put this program together in order to provide young riders with an easier bridge into the professional world and international competition ring. Lots of pro’s come and talk – including Hilary Clayton, who I just had the privilege of seeing at convention, and an evening with Henk van Bergen. The program also allows me to continue to the FEI level Trainer’s Conference. Needless to say, I can’t wait. And West Palm Beach doesn’t hurt much, either ;)

As I’m wrapping up this all-conclusive post, I’d love to say thank you to a few sponsors, The Shiflet family, and the VanBenthuysen family. Without the generosity of sponsors, I would be far more limited! More info on that to come!

The semester is wrapping up, winter training is underway, I start a new job on Monday, and Christmas is around the corner! It seems like only yesterday was my first time pulling up the driveway of the farm!

I know I promised last time that I’d be more on top of the posts, but I’m SERIOUS this time. Plus, if you read all three pages of this post, you’re a trooper, and I thank you. To one of my readers, Leah, who BEGS for more updates, I’d like to say congrats to you and Myles. I wish you the happiest and weather-cooperative wedding ever this weekend and all my love for your long future ahead!

Goodnight for now, but not for long! Pics, posts, and more bad alliterations are all in the works!

Spurs & Snowflakes,

Lauren

To Write or To Ride, what an unnecessary question.

2009-10-15T12:37:00.000-05:00

You know what they say... you can't live life if you're always reporting it!

So here's a long overdue update on the Life of Lauren:

Because of a technical (however, unforeseen) error on my part, I will still be going to championships, but am ineligible to compete in the USDF sponsored championship class. Because of the rules, you must declare a "change of region" to compete in a region's championships if it is one other than your "home region". Well, my thoughts last year were only to fill out this form because I was competing in a region different than I qualified in. Well, they still had me at "home" in Region 4, where my beloved school is, and Home Sweet Home happens to be in the big Lone Star State, happily centered in Region 9. Without a COR form, that makes me DQ-ed. Frustrating? Absolutely. BUT, because I sprinkled extra optimism on my Wheaties this morning, I'm not going to let me down - it is only ONE of my FIVE tests that entire weekend. SO I'm replacing it with a 4th level test in the open show. Woo! (Even more optimistic, this now gives me two shots at earning scores for my Silver medal!)

So besides technical errors and WAY too much rain for your ordinary house plant, things have been good! The current theme is babies! The fuzzy, four-legged, nibbling kind, of course. Mary and I started 4 new horses on the farm over this past week, and I've learned a WHOLE bunch. Mostly where not to be by trial and painful error, but hey, it trumps book learning. Right? So between a bruised arm, a bite mark on my hand, and a few other colorful spots that seem to come out of nowhere, I'm doing great! I'm also learning that the Key to All is patience. Humbug.

Zar & I have had great lessons recently. There for a few days, it was (really!) cold and none of the horses were particularly happy about stretching, suppling, or working in general, so we had some easy days, but then we had rides centered around collection and canter pirouettes and those just seem to make everything grand again :D

Schooling shows are making their way to The Board as Life After Regionals is coming closer into focus. I'm hoping to contain Cara enough to bust out some Intro & Training, so we'll see. She's really starting to come along!

Between school, the barn, and the ridiculous amounts of rain (that I'm still slightly averse to driving in), I was unable to make it to the Heike Kemmer Clinic. BIG sad face. But once things calm down for the winter, I've got some possibilities for next spring. Like hopefully the Young Rider Graduate Program *crosses fingers.

Uneventful compared to our madness of a show schedule from earlier this month, but it's much more manageable and WAY less stressful for right now. Everyone definitely needed a break - and the horses are definitely showing their appreciation for it. More updates soon - sooner than the last, I promise!

Sunshine & Snaffles,

Lauren

F&N: The only thing missing is YOU!

2009-10-06T23:25:00.000-05:00

Fitness & Nutrition: A (small) slice from the desk of Lauren.

Fitness.

Obviously a very broad topic, but I'm going to talk about how it directly relates to the equestrian community.

Fitness for equestrians has to be split into two categories: the rider and the horse. While there are obvious fitness requirements of our mount depending on the discipline (racing vs. eventing vs. trail riding, for instance), I'm going to get specific and talk about fitness of the rider.

We all know it; fitness is key to being successful in our equine endeavors. Dressage Today featured Steffen Peters multiple times recently, including his fitness regimen that worked to get him to Beijing '08. No big deal. But it's been a very well-versed lesson that we must be working to improve ourselves AND our horses in order to make correct progress. (Pictured right is Steffen and I during a clinic I audited at Fox Run Farm in Columbia, MO, October 2008.)

So here's a few thoughts on fitness and how it's helped, helping, and teaching me what I'm missing in the saddle.

I've been experimenting with my own fitness plan for years. As an ex-triathlete, marching band and color guard member, and aspiring marathon-er, I could talk for days about how crucial cross-training is, but I'd like to know what works for you? We expect our mounts to work for us, focused and intensely, for up to 45 - 50 minutes, but what are we doing for them? Could we have the same stamina? Use the same core muscles? Balance as well as we expect them to? Are we as flexible and supple in all of our joints and muscles? I'll talk about what has worked best for me and hope that my experiences can help you to develop or share what supplements your riding.

I make it a point to always be doing something during a riding season (which is always, haha). Maybe it's a commitment to a running plan for that semester or a yoga regimen, depending on the area I'm struggling with. This past spring, I was facing some serious stamina issues when I jumped up a level, so I upped the CVR. This fall, my pilates class has been incredible to show me where I hold too much and don't release my tension. It's helped to restore balance and retrain myself to think from the core before any movement. Not to mention the fundamentals of coordination, focus, and relaxation, which all go hand in hand with my work in the saddle, where we expect the same qualities of the 1500lb. equine underneath us. Thanks, Kim!

While my pilates class doesn't provide the CVR I should be getting, I'm also doing lots of work on the farm, like walking or jogging several miles a day from pasture to pasture, not to mention riding or working up to 8 horses. One of Mary's piaffe/passage lessons from the ground had me jogging in-step slightly behind the horse to better learn to apply the timing of the aids. (wicked helpful!)

This summer, I was a member of the Anytime Fitness around the corner, and the ability to workout whenever I wanted was a huge help in managing a busy schedule. It's all about what works for you.

Ideally, in my perfect world, I'd be able to participate in (and afford) a Bikram Yoga class every day. I discovered this type of yoga through one of my best friends, Susan Shiflet, who introduced me to this "hot yoga" with no idea of how much I would fall in love with it. In a Bikram yoga setup, the studio is heated to roughly 110 degrees. The sessions are 90 minutes long and go through a series of extended poses, making the muscles develop through detox and contraction. I cannot swear by anything like I swear by Bikram. Strength, flexibility, joint or muscle pain, sleeping disorders, weight loss, you name it, Bikram can help or cure it. Not to mention heat tolerance and extreme sweat ;) The Grapevine location is the one I frequent whenever possible. If anyone would love to sponsor me a few months of membership, just leave my name at the front desk ;) Or if you try it, let them know I referred you!

After Bikram, I'd be good to start my barn work, get the horses and students through their programs, and after the barn I'd hit the gym or the pool for some cardio. By then, I'd probably scarf some carbs before collapsing into bed, but a girl can dream, right?

As a triathlete, I came to find that the pool was an incredible tool for developing all of the above qualities without stress to joints and bones. I have a bad knee, so running on concrete, for instance, isn't on my list of Things I Adore. A pool, however, relieves me of the gravity, decreases my body mass to roughly 15%, and allows for resistance training at the same time. My time in the pool helped my asthma problems as my lungs grew accustomed to expanding in the added pressure, making everything I did on land much easier. My strides lengthened, my muscle tone developed in ways I never expected, and my coordination score doubled in only a few short weeks. It's a great way to combine the cardio with the strength.

I also enjoy rock climbing (hello, upper body!) but that's an occasional treat as I'm usually out of commission for a few days after that, haha. Kayaking is another ;)

There's lists upon lists of activities you can do to improve fitness and benefit your health. Don't be intimidated to take a dance class or hop into intramurals to keep yourself tuned up :) You might find someone who's doing the same thing - like I did on my first day of Pilates, when I discovered that my instructor is an eventer!

Nutrition.

That dreaded word. Especially around horse shows. Personally, I know I have a lot of room to grow here, but with Tucker Dining hall while I'm at school and a plethora of fun stuff in the pantry while I'm at home, I certainly lack the discipline I have in the saddle. And don't even get me started on horse shows, where I'm sure we can ALL agree we fall through the cracks. I'll admit that some of my horse-show diets while braiding and grooming include a bag of chips and a shot of 5 Hour Energy for dinner and it's often 28 hours or more before I get to an entire meal, which is always Mexican food, religiously. I know, I know...

It makes me cringe talking about all of it - 10 times out of 10, it isn't conscious to completely blow the food pyramid. Show managements don't exactly bring in Subway, either, so it's an uphill battle both ways in the snow. However, I'm slowly learning what make good horse show snacks and what don't. Chocolate melts, people. Did you know that? Interesting concept in Texas, I know. Not so interesting or amusing around white breeches. Frozen cantalope, however, operates nicely under the same principle as it thaws into the most delicious, hydrating, light snack ever. Perfect for early rides, after rides, in between rides, and coveting while watching everyone else ride. Just wear a smock for the juciness :)

I won't preach the pyramid, but I operate under the main principles of protein for breakfast, and staying as snack-free as I can unless it's healthy or I'm starving. Peanut butter is a great way to get protein, too. One of the benefits of living at home during my internship is home-made cookin', which is amazing, and usually very good about being balanced between the different elements. I do my best to cut the carbonation for tea instead, too.

Just like we work up the training pyramid in dressage, we must work the rest of the elements in our life in a similar fashion.

While I don't have a personal trainer (I'll take one for Christmas in my stocking, please!) I do the best I can to regulate everything so that it complements or supplements each other. What works best for you? Any incredible words of wisdom? Want to add to my list of incredible horse show snacks? Comment, oh dear readers of the interwebs. You won't get swine flu, I promise. Or even equine flu....

F&N: the only thing missing is YOU to make it FUN. Get it?!

I should go into stand-up, I swear.

Pushups & Peanut Butter,

Lauren

PS! On Friday I got a call from USDF naming me one of their 4 recipients of the 2009 Youth Convention Scholarship! WEE! Jan Brink Symposium, Hilary Clayton seminars, Jane Savoie, Tigger Montague, oh boy am I excited! I'm thrilled to have the honor of attending this year, especially since I get to receive my Bronze medal, so having my reg. fees & accomodations covered adds to the bonus package. Maybe Dr. Clayton will sign my textbook ;)

The 2 Most Important Ingredients in Macaroni & Cheese

2009-09-30T22:02:00.002-05:00

Macaroni and Cheese, right? Let's apply my late-night hunger to horses for the next (chocolate) chunk of time and assume I'm talking about the 2 most important things in horse training as an extended metaphor... Bear with me, I'm going to try very hard not to ramble. :)

Hokay, so I'm no expert. Obviously. BUT, between all the horses I'm currently riding, training, and falling off of, I've learned two VERY crucial things in training and working with horses. While there are clearly millions of things to remember when working with equines, I'm talking about everything past basic handling, generally speaking. Generally.

The first, is to always have a plan. The second is to have the ability to quit that plan and change it for a different, preferably better one, at any point in time. Instantaneous or rigorously, tediously expected, it doesn't matter.

This is a decision-making concept related to the training of horses and riders, separately or together. Obviously a beginner rider is on a different path than a professional. While their decisions are to experiment with how to best move a horse forward or the techniques for safely brushing a horse, these concepts also apply when backing a colt or developing collection, for instance.

In terms of your equine partner, their track might be a very slow or very fast one. Every horse is going tohave a different game plan than their pasture-mate. From a Grand Prix mount to a yearling, or maybe to the horse off the killer truck who only know affection by the sound of a whip cracking.

Either or any situation, I've found that one of the worst thing you can do when attempting to make progress is to try and go at it without an idea of how.

This goes back to goal-setting. That sometimes ominous, always re-developing chore of figuring out what the hell is next. What comes before that is figuring out where you are right now. The ability to identify that is first and foremost and is hands down the cheese to the macaroni.

Take for example, the babies on the farm. I say babies because they might be 5 months old or 5 years old. Sometimes, the plan might be simply to walk all the way from turnout to the wash rack without the horse halting to gawk at that HUGE SCARY THING OMG. Sometimes it's to walk past the mirrors at the end - also terrifying. Sometimes it's to get all the way through longing without them spooking or turning towards you. In my case today, it was to have accurate transitions with Cara and a straight long diagonal with Spice. In Cavi's case, it was simply, to not die. (Surcingles are actually barrel-grabbing goblins, didn't you know?) BUT, those weren't necessarily the goals I started with. With Cara, I started with the idea of developing her canter all the way around the ring with 20m circles at E & B as my "finale". But after feeling what she gave me for the day, I realized that training the transitions was a better idea. With Spice, I wanted to develop the transitions, but after a spaghetti noodle for a diagonal, I realized she was drifting when I'd rebalance her with the new inside leg, so we came back to that first. In Cavi's case, truth be told, it was our goal from the beginning not to die, so I'd consider that a success! BUT the point is that while I abandoned those ideas, I had a new one - one that I assessed to be better for the given situation based on where I was at that moment.

Maybe it's split-second, maybe it's developed over the course of the ride, maybe it's based on how your first test went at a show. But always start with a goal and go from there. I make it an absolute point to never get on without a plan, regardless of the plan to trail ride or train piourettes.

So if we're combining our metaphor from Mac & Cheese with the one about what lemons life is throwing at you, we make the decision to have mac & cheese with lemonade on to drink, even if it's take out because the Turkey burned in the oven and the cork disintegrated into the wine bottle.

As my idol says, "If something isn't working, change it. No one will change it for you. And don't mistake change for quitting." - Courtney King-Dye.

Plans for Piourettes,

Lauren

2 for 1: Magnolia & Texas Dressage Classic

2009-09-29T00:00:00.000-05:00

Sorry for such a delay in posts - the last two weeks have been crazy!

Backing up, we'll start with Friday the 18th when Mary & I took Cadeaux, Pablito, and Zar to the Windy Knoll Farm I&II in Magnolia, Texas. Being a smaller show on a private facility, we took advantage of the homey barn, ample cross ties, and friendly, laid-back fellow competitors (not to mention a wonderfully enthusiastic Fran, the owner/manager/announcer). Zar gave me an AMAZING school on the Friday we arrived, Mary acclimated Lito and Cadeaux to the warm-up field and arenas, we found multiple Mexican restaurants so as not to break tradition, I braided the two warmbloods, and we got nearly 14 hours of sleep before our first day of classes :)

Mary's FEI classes were stacked pretty close, so I spent most of Saturday morning stressing and shuffling horses from warm up to ring, completely losing track of my own. I wasn't super concerned because it was my warm-up test 1, but with only 8 minutes of warm-up before going down centerline, I was certainly highly aware that we weren't set up for success. Naturally, the test warmed Zar up as we went, so my scores were 7s and 8s by the time we halted and left the ring, but a 56% was right on track for the test we put in. Our second test was MUCH improved, earning us a 63% - the last score I needed to be double qualified for Regional Championships!

Lito's debut at PSG was a 64%! The ring was absolutely goblin-infested, he convinced us, but the wonderful judge was very understanding and even spoke to him in German before the test to tell him everything was okay :) For his first test of the weekend without a warm-up class (the schedule made his 4th level test much later in the afternoon) we were SO impressed with how brave he was.

Cadeaux earned Mary her first-ever 9 on her first extended trot in the I-1. He put in a stellar weekend and was very forward moving, with a 66% on his Sunday.

Bon Dane of course accompanied us, this time with the entire back seat to himself. He took full advantage of it on the way home, when we welcomed our newest arrival to BPF. "Maggie" of course named for Magnolia, captured Mary's heart on the Friday we arrived - a little Jack Russell puppy with one spotted eye is hard to resist! Magnadoodle, as I lovingly refer to her, generates enough energy to fuel a country, and was good enough to sleep for an entire hour of our trek back home. Bon Dane, the spoiled older-brother, sulked miserably at the tiny fireball, who found the most amusement in his tail, which hung at perfect jumping distance from the ground. Even though he's been slow to show his affection for her, it's hard to resist something that barrel races around underneath Dane's legs, which are as tall as pine trees. Maggie is the 6th - yes, you heard me right - the 6th dog of Bridled Passion Farm. I'll try and resist publicly calling Mary the canine version of the crazy cat lady.

With only 4 days between the Magnolia show and the Texas Dressage Classic in Tyler, the horses had barely enough time to relax before they were packed up and shipped out again. I finally got a new truck - Jane - who I got to drive to Tyler on Thursday to meet the caravan :) She fits in perfectly at a horse show!

TDC on Thursday was a busy night with tack to clean after schooling and 6 horses to braid. Thursday was dreary with all the rings (all outdoor) under water and the dreary weather still hanging around. It wasn't until Saturday morning that we saw a glimpse of the warm weather we'd been promised. All the people who scratched after such a miserable weekend at the Yellow Rose really missed out - by Sunday, it was stunning, perfect horse show weather.

The three farm horses were happy in their oversized stalls :) Mary's birthday was Sunday and many friends were also in attendance, so overall it was a great weekend. Pablito earned a 71% at PSG - his second show following his debut! Cadeaux was steady, but tired and put in good tests for score around 64% and won his second test with a 66%! Michelle's C-Sir was the third of our three farm horses and earned Michelle 8's on her piourettes despite some exuberant changes down centerline :)

Saturday night, we enjoyed the $7000 Freestyle Challenge on the lawn. Lyndon Rife won the $3000 USDF Freestyle Challenge earlier in the afternoon, followed by the FEI division which was captured by Lisa Blackmon. I had the privilege of braiding Star in Stripes, owned and ridden by Pam Fowler-Grace, who took third! It is always wonderful to braid for Pam and Katie. Katie Mauldin's mount Bogota are a beautiful pair who absolutely dominate at Training.

The evening was concluded with Cracker Barrel and early celebrations of Mary's birthday, although I'm not allowed to say which one ;) The Crepe Paper Fairies visited overnight with a special surprise.

After a 3-day, 4-night show, all were exhausted and ready to head home. The horses will take a nice week break before some training before championships, when we'll hit the circuit again in Katy, Texas. We'll be taking three horses, all competing in both the Southwest Dressage Championships AND USDF Championships :) I just finished entries and am SO excited to be making my 4th level debut!

More to come this week after more calms down.

Pillow Wraps & Sweet Dreams to all!

Lauren

Rags to Prix St Georges

2009-09-16T22:30:00.006-05:00

This post is a shout-out to Pablito, or "Lito" (pronounced Lee-Toe) as Mary and I lovingly refer to him. Lito is the best kind of man; well-bred, great muscling, fantastic hair, and gelded. ;) Caught ya there, didn't I?

Lito has quite the history, some parts I know and some I'm quick to admit I don't. What I do know is that this kid is one incredible horse with an incredible story that goes something like this:

Lito's a registered Hanovarian, branded with the number 83 beneath his arked-H on his hindquarters. Bred and born in Germany, Lito sold for 185,000 Euros originally, but wound up in the hands of a pretty awful trainer who quickly made headlines. Mary has said that the trainer who he was under was charged for animal cruelty multiple times in multiple European countries when she border-hopped her way to a clean record out of bounds, so to say. The trainer was widely publicized, but she couldn't recall a name. The numbers are in the air, but any horse that gets beat __ number of times per __ minutes is too many. Now, here's the part I don't know. My assumption is that it's this woman, Christine W., who follows the same path as the woman Mary described. Can you say daddy issues, anyone? The Germans don't kid around, either - when they laid down the law, the person who videoed got sentencing, too, for not stepping in sooner than the end of the training session. (When I went back to find the info on her, I got the most success with info on this forum, where I love to get and share grooming tips, ideas, and great classifieds.) Either way, the trainer that Lito was in prison with, Christine or not, abused him, probably in more ways than one, and eventually wound up in a prison in some country - hopefully worse than "training" she put Lito in.

ANYWAY. The point is, it was bad. Lito was imported by Kai Handt of the North Texas Equestrian Center, head shy and hock-full of problems (get it, like chock-full, but... hock... hah.) including ulcers, a quick-to-develop-hard-to-rid hoof abscess, a dull coat, and the most obvious, his cranked-in stressed out dressage training. He couldn't spell the word trust if he had a Dictionary and a translator. The "training" left him brain fried and dangerous as he was quick to bolt or strike out - a shock to hear after meeting the "new" Lito. We even found this summer, after shedding out his winter coat, that scars along his cheek appeared, revealing Frankenstein-inspired stitching where a pipe had been smashed through his face (see photo).

By some good connections, Lito wound up at Mary's less than two weeks before I arrived, and I jumped in fast on his trip back to legal, correct dressage via affection, patience, and good health care. When I first saw Lito ridden by Mary, it was a frustrating ride that made me cringe in several places. Mary would ask for the simplest transitions without any contact or pressure on the bridle (he was too sucked in), but his tongue lolled out of his mouth and his eyes were strained and worried. Eventually after several repetitive circles, he'd take a deep breath and the tongue would recede and the gait suddenly became this gorgeous, tear-inspiring symphony of suppleness and connection. He filled up every ounce of the tack, and Mary said it was like "riding glass". The moment was a quick one, a rare moment that eventually turned into longer and longer segments each ride after that. He was still tense and rarely let go of his neck or back. Relaxation eluded him with the expectation that he'd be beaten. But from the beginning, even in his outbursts or moments of panic, Mary never laid a hand on him and has never ridden with a whip. Eventually, the spooks have been softer and less frequent, the bolting stopped, his lunging his calm, and he's learning that he can make a mistake and the world doesn't come to a crashing halt or abusive reactions.

Mary's supplement list changed weekly, he rotated through alternative therapies, joint supplements, ulcer treatments, and various limb wrappings to ensure he was always on the road to recovery. New things would develop based on his changes, but with 24-hour care, it's been a phenomenal progress to watch. He came off the trailer unrideable, uncooperative, and absolutely unprepared mentally to do dressage.

The Lito I met in June was still slightly stressed out - before his first competition in July, he bolted after a spook while lunging. Mary had been taking off the lunging equipment and was about to mount. The reins of his double were tangled around a jump standard when he skidded to a stop near the edge of the arena. Another spook, and he was off, the jump standard dangling behind him. Unfortunately, a metal jump cup sliced the pastern of his left hind. He was scratched from the show and sidelined for two weeks while the slice healed - he finally came back into work three weeks ago.
The Lito now is the most personable, bright horse I've ever met. He LOVES his extra-large foaling stall, and is guaranteed to meet me every morning with shavings in his tail from his all-night nap sprawled out. His personality makes you want to hand him buckets of treats and sweet feed. Even someone who doesn't know horses would be sucked in by his big brown, expressive eyes. He's got an in-freakin'-credible neck and a long back, but I've never seen a horse with so much talent. (Side note: No, I haven't seen every horse in the world; I'm only a 20 year old trying to make myself a professional by the time I age-in to the Open division, but DAMN, I don't know of any other horse who can canter a half pirouette and come out of it on the new lead without missing a stride - especially out of shape and on recovery from an injury. Double especially since he came back from a pipe through the face and a crazy German trainer and lord knows what else only two months ago. Right?!) He's quick to learn, eager to give, and his moments of stir-fry-for-brains are far fewer and longer in between. Yesterday, he surprised us with a few one-tempis, even!

Health-wise, this horse is now manageable on reasonable supplements, preventative ulcer meds, occasional alternative therapies (he doesn't attack the chiropractor anymore!), his coat is shiny, his topline is improving by the workout, and his strength and mind are emerging as fast as his personality. When he's not looking for something to fish into his mouth, (cross ties, reins, the curb chain - all things that make bridling turn into a hysterical game) he's turned out or enjoying the view from his condo of a stall. He has truly found love and patience, and has blossomed to say the least - he's not even head shy, if that tells you how much he's learned to trust again since his move to BPF.

If I could, I'd click "I'm a fan" on Facebook, or tag his page, or click "Like" as many times as allowed, however you want to say IREALLYLOVETHISHORSE.

Mary has brought him more than successfully back into work. He's competing at the PSG this weekend (his DEBUT!) with us in Magnolia, and I'm way excited to see where he goes. This will be his first show in the states as far as I know, since, well, all of it happened to him. Look out - he's on his way, people, and you know what I mean ;)

Lito is a testament to the term "classical training". While we obviously can't take credit for Lito's previous knowledge, his recovery and re-education has followed every step of the training scale using nothing but patience and positive reinforcement. No movement goes without preparation and conservation of the gait, waiting for the relaxation and the rhythm to settle. This is such a valuable skill and method to know when emerging into any circuit, as there are thousands of horses out there who are on their second or third home or career. This applies whether it's preserving the relaxation and rhythm or making sure your newly acquired rescue knows that a brush won't bite and carrots aren't poison. Lito is proof that no matter how dark it gets, there's always light, always a second chance, and nothing is impossible.

Piourettes & PSG,

Lauren

PS. More riding pics to come after the show this weekend!

pain meds, muscle relaxers, and a couch, oh my!

2009-09-14T21:43:00.000-05:00

So (if this works) here's the vid of Zar & I's last test at the HDS Laborious Show September 6th. Lots to improve on, but still exciting. Note the tophat ;) The final score was a 60.465 % if I'm correct - I'll double check that soon.

Keeping tonight's post short because, to be honest, the pain meds would probably prevent me from making sense if I tried anything more than this.

top hats & nightcaps,

Lauren

Life's Tough, Get a Helmet (and a paddle for the Ark)

2009-09-13T13:32:00.001-05:00

This weekend, Mary took Michelle and C-Sir to an Arab show across the metroplex and I headed to Las Colinas for the DDC Yellow Rose I&II for some braiding & grooming.

The Yellow Rose should’ve been renamed the September Showers or Where’s the Ark I and We Need Another Ark II. The rain started Friday and –literally – did not stop. And hasn’t yet. I felt sorry for show management – the last show (Lemonade Daze), they got reamed for having two rings side by side in the indoor, so they made every effort to change it for this show, making ring 1 very roomy and ring 2 and 3 in each of the outdoor arenas. But, at a show chock-full of DQs and a relentless supply of rain in the forecast, no one was happy with the sloppy footing or the fact that they couldn’t retract the decision to move a ring outside. This also forced all three rings into a single, cramped warm-up, sometimes 18 deep! By Sunday morning, ring 3 was closed and 90% of the entire show had scratched, but with no power overnight, walkie-talkies hadn’t charged either, leaving ring stewards to fend for themselves and many people late, an hour early to the wrong ring, and altogether very unhappy.

Friday night, amidst the drizzle, I tallied up several points on my Board of Things to Laugh At as I stood drenched, in the pouring rain, bathing a paint horse. But white must be white! The darling Buster Brown (owned and ridden by Taylor Anderson) was a willing patient as I QuikSilvered his spots until they were sparkling. The crowd of people under the awning enjoying their post-ride cocktails probably used me as the source of humor. What’s funnier than a drowned rat bathing a spotted, wet horse? Eventually dried and braided, Buster looked wonderful for his romp in the outdoor the next day – another moment where I had to ask myself if I was doing any good at all. After I was finished, I decided I’d apply to work in the Department of Redundancy Department in the show office.

Mouse (Andreas, owned and ridden by Mary Beth Henderson) was my main customer for the weekend. He’s a big sweetheart who cleans up nicely and is always enjoyable to work with. His new trainer is the wonderful Lyndon Rife who was a bright, enjoyable face throughout the dreary weekend. He was a pleasure to meet and learn from! I'm REALLY looking forward to the Heike Kemmer clinic at his new facility mid-October :)

I wish I had pictures of all the ponies from this weekend, but my camera was out of commission this weekend. I would’ve loved an album dedicated to pictures of all the versions of Wellies from the show, too, but maybe next time I get a rainout, I’ll have a Polaroid handy.

True to form, the rainy weekend was not without adventure on day 3. On my way to the equestrian center on Sunday morning to feed, the rain had taken its toll, leaving standing water and flooding along access roads and highways. Even driving cautiously, I happened to catch one of those puddles, hydroplaning and spinning me into the concrete median of I-635. After at least a 360, I wound up facing traffic in the HOV lane (3 lanes over from the one I was in!). I managed to bang up all four corners of my trailblazer, but scraped by without injury and avoided all other traffic by the blessings of Someone Higher Up. Sue (the trail blazer) was towed, I got to ride in the back of a cop car, and I can now stand to play a pretty good game of Never Have I Ever. The Dallas PD was especially nice and curious about my sport, so I answered their questions and they “hung out” with me while we waited for my dad to show up. We even managed to have a conversation in which one officer talked about “hoods” without referring to my newly crunched vehicle. While it certainly wasn’t the best way to start the day, I eventually made it to the show grounds to finish my grooming appointments, load Mouse, and head home for some heating pads and the couch.

I’d especially like to thank the good Samaritan, Kenneth, as I came to know, who stopped to make sure I was okay and wait until the emergency crews showed up. He actually got 911 on the way faster than my OnStar! Of course, I was quick to find the irony in his name – I’m convinced he’s a direct connection to Clark Kent, Superman, for being such a hero this morning. It was a complete blur this morning, but I do know he’s an off duty fireman who drives a blue Chevy. Mad props & much thanks, Kenneth.

Looking ahead, the Windy Knoll Classic I&II is this coming weekend in Magnolia, Texas. The show must go on! Not sure how I’ll be commuting to the barn quite yet, but I’ll keep the masses updated and informed of progress and show updates. Hopefully the commute South will be far less exciting than mine!

Rain & River Dances,

Lauren

Oblivious

2009-09-09T00:42:00.002-05:00

Howard Moore wrote about the Zeitlin family on the USEA blog, “you should always assume that the next person you meet will become an important part of your life.” Well, my life changed with the Zeitlin family, too when I met them during my first working student position on Megan Moore’s eventing farm in Lexington. But his words of wisdom are particularly fitting for my newest acquaintance.

I’ll be the first to admit I didn’t like Bree on first impressions. I had braided one horse of my five on Friday night of the Houston Labor Day Show, and had taken a break to refill water buckets for the farm’s horses when I saw her. She had two colors of yarn draped from her belt loops, quick braid tucked into a toolbelt and her iPod headphones were visible even in the shadows. Typical.

“What are you doing here so late?” she called out, her cigarette leaving a trail of smoke behind her. It’s only 9pm. And I’d really like you to put that out, I thought to myself

“Braiding. You must be Bree,” She shook my hand hesitantly, not understanding how I knew her name. “the other braider,” I finished, and she nodded in understanding. I’d seen her sign in the show office at every show I’d attended in the region.

“How many do you have tonight?” she asked.

“Five, you?” I heaved my water buckets to the stall as she followed. Five was a pretty good number in my head.

“Sixteen.” I gaped, nearly sloshing water into the aisle. “Well, twelve tonight and four in the morning.” I knew immediately that I was in her territory. Although she seemed alright with the fact that I'd taken five of her potential customers, but I wasn't sure why. Hell, even I seemed frustrated with not knowing how I missed sixteen - not that I'd ever be able to manage competing my own horse and braiding all of them.

I started to get the feeling Bree wasn’t leaving as she meandered behind me. There was something about her that made me feel suddenly on-the-spot, unorganized even. I tried small talk, seeing if she’d head off to tackle all twelve of her horses, but as I approached the stall of my next four-legged customer, she was right behind me, pulled a chair from the adjacent farm’s stall front, and propped her feet up on a tack trunk as if she owned it.

“Oblivious,” I read, laughing at the name on the stall sign, “who names their horse Oblivious?” She didn’t laugh, as she lit another American Spirit. I sighed, haltering the grey horse and setting up my ladder. I had no idea what was coming. As I was running the twine over my neck to cut strands to sew in, Bree started in with the questions.

“Why do you use twine? And why are you cutting them so long? How do you use a plastic needle?” I sighed, stepping up onto the ladder. My fingers felt like they couldn’t function, my part was crooked, and I was halfway through braiding the section down when Bree piped in again, “Wanna know a trick?” Something clicked in my head, and I decided I had to change my attitude. Why was I being so judgmental? I was the one always seeking instruction and criticism, but for some reason I caught myself shutting down my curiousity for defenses.

“Absolutely, you’re far more pro than I am.” She took my place on the step ladder and the night turned around completely. Her fingers, donning french-tipped acrylic nails, moved faster than mine were even capable of, twisting and poking her metal needle through around and under, tucking, pinning, and cutting off the ends on a perfect round braid in less than thirty seconds. She even started braiding upside down! I knew immediately I needed to learn as much as I could - this was a whole new level.

My braiding skills started with my working student position at Team CEO, (where the Zeitlin family still rides and trains) where I grabbed on to the basics of sewing in braids. Eventually, I changed the method to twine and added more intricate knots to make it pretty clean, but I’ve always been a fairly slow braider, taking anywhere from 25 to 45 minutes for a mane. As I would soon learn from Bree, her rule was “three country songs” – around 9 minutes.

I soon learned that I was doing everything – yes, everything – bass ackwards. I parted too large, used too many items to do my work, my twine wasn’t as good as yarn, and it was cut to nearly three times the length that it needed to be. I braided the twine in too soon, but I didn’t braid long enough before tying it off. I tucked it in through the middle of the braid instead of to the side, and tied way too many knots. And instead of finished one braid at a time, I did my manes in segments that left the braid too much time to loosen, fall out, or become wispy before tying them off. Not to mention my work was slow, not tight enough, and too visible to be presentable. It was going to be a long night.

Once I climbed back up onto the ladder, I remember looking at her one braid and thinking mine can never look that solid. She handed me her metal, blunt-tip needle and said she’d be back. I accidentally dropped it, the sound of it ricocheting off of my metal step ladder echoing in the quiet barn. “Good going, slick,” she called out, walking away. My fingers cramped and my thumbs were sore. I had to slow down to half-time in order to process the new method. Slowly, my braids came to resemble Bree’s, which I learned were the product of seven years on the circuit. She returned shortly, and I had her look at my three braids. She gave me a high-five. I found out later that while she was gone, she’d finished one of her horse’s entire mane and forelock, and I had sewed in three braids as if it were advanced physics. As I offered her back her needle, she shook her head and sat down comfortably again.

I listened intently as Bree spouted off the stats of rider’s she’s groomed for, horses she’d braided, her fastest time – seven horses in an hour – and her best opportunities, including around 70 horses a night at the Regional Championships. I learned her hard-as-nails background, her future plans, her riding career, the book she’s reading, listened to a new song on her iPhone, and all the meanwhile took criticism every time I placed a finger wrong. She was immediately like an older sister – someone I respected, but resented just enough to keep me focused on doing everything perfect in hopes of learning that I’d improved.

I laughed at the extreme irony of “Oblivious’” show name as I ambled out of the stall. While I’m not superstitious, sometimes the signs are too blatant to miss – even if you’re the drop-dead oblivious one.

On horse number four, it was getting late, and I was starting to realize why I’d been warned that this horse would be a tricky mane. The oily, short, thick hair on C-Sir seemed to be unmanageable – or maybe I just couldn’t press down any longer, we’ll never know. Bree quickly corrected me again, as she spliced her nails through the mane for a part, braided it upside down, and had a tight, rolled knot tied off ten seconds later. This was getting old.

“I don’t know how you do it with fake nails,” I said. “I can’t have them anymore – I can’t ride with them, they don’t stay clean, and I break them way too often to be worth it.”

“Show me how you hold your reins,” she said, frowning. The horse’s mane lost importance as she pulled several of her pieces of yarn out of her belt and I latched on to them as if I were holding my reins aboard Zar, my hands neatly and lightly rolled with thumbs on top. She was still frowning.

“But how do you give a half halt?” I relaxed and pulsed my fist, nails to my palm, where there was clearly no room left for acrylic nails. She was still frowning. “But you just let go of his mouth in the half halt. That’s ineffective. Hold them like this.” Her fingers beyond the knuckle straightened to lay flat against the base of the palm instead of where mine were rolled behind the thumb. Her nails didn’t interfere as she held the “reins”, and I watched as she gave a half halt that gave no slack, didn’t strain her hand, didn’t lose connection and returned to the relaxed, connected place where she started. The gears in my head starting turning.

“But show me how you shorten your reins,” I prompted, feeling as if I woke up again. Her right palm leaned in and down, the opposite left rein pulled through her hand with her thumb, and she returned again to hold her reins. I was the one frowning, now.

“How do you do it, then?” she said in response to the concentration lines on my face. I opened the bottom of my right hand, extended my fingers and pushed the slack of the rein up with my thumb, one-handed, now shorter than when I started.

“Woah. You just hit him in the mouth. You opened your hand to take more rein than you started with. You let him fall into dead space after you dropped him, essentially throwing him away, and then when you close your hand, you’re hitting him with a wall in the jaw because he went looking for that lost rein.” It all clicked. She was right. It was wrong to go from zero to a hundred and ten in one move when a horse is expecting negative numbers.

After taking clinics with multiple trainers, having numerous lessons at school, and never finding a great answer for “how to shorten your reins”, my “short hand” – no pun intended – had developed into a habit, one that I had been told wasn’t correct, but one I had never understood why it was wrong. It was quick, convenient, and worked well enough to get by. Now, it was suddenly crystal clear what was wrong. I was just missing the mechanism to fix it. I tried the new method of shortening several times, inching my way towards Bree’s hands holding “Zar’s mouth”.

”Now give me a half halt for a right to left lead change.” My hands pulsed with my corrected, open fingers, half halted, and took the new outside rein on the new lead with more ease and clarity than I’d ever comprehended from any article, lesson, or explanation. “ Perfect.” I was beaming.

Returning to the horse’s mane, I finished the last two in an hour and moved to clean my tack and organize the tack room with new energy. By the time I headed towards the trailer, it was 3:30 am and I was due up at 4:45 to feed. But it was as if I were new – this piece of information had filled a hole I’d missed for so long that I hadn’t ever expected to learn the correction, much less the correction from "the other braider".

Bree was big-sisterly enough to be my 4:45 wake-up call, and she congratulated me on Sunday after my success using my new tips in the show ring. I confessed to still having a habit to break, but she continued to offer advice until we left, knowing we’d meet again, up at the crack of dawn, braiding the following weekend at the next horse show.

What I learned that night will forever stay with me. While I may (note: probably) never braid like Bree, I met a friend, took great criticism, changed my attitude, and gained priceless knowledge. What I learned goes beyond instructions for how to braid or hold reins. It was humbling and reassuring to meet someone in the same industry doing similar things, both with different stories, but both ending on a piece of yarn – our newest “degree of separation”.

PS. Bree did convert me back to yarn, and I treasure my new braiding needle - a gift and a reminder for all the things that can always be better :)

BK Have it the BPF Way!

2009-09-08T00:18:00.001-05:00

The Houston Show started out with a promise for pouring rain the entire weekend, all of us unsure if the arenas were even covered, and Michelle leading us 30 miles too far South because I (copilot) fell asleep in the back seat – woops! We love her anyway! My 1/8th of the backseat to Bon Dane’s 7 hardly seemed fair, either. But we were in for some big surprises.

As of 9am, all of us were starving after being up for so long already, and when Burger King showed up on a road sign, we decided it had to be for burgers for breakfast. Being delirious and sleep deprived, it quickly became the hilarium for the weekend, and Bon Dane sported our BK crown while devouring his breakfast, too. Though we never did follow thru with wearing it in each of our warm-ups ….

All the bad predictions evaporated along with the rain forecast as soon as we arrived in Houston. While it was humid, it was completely manageable, and the horses settled in just fine :) Zar & I had our best school to date, I had five riders call for braiding, and we decided it was time to celebrate with our tradition of Mexican food after the stall decs were set up and the horses were happy.

It was a LONG night with lots of little preparations that were necessary for getting all 5 of our tests ridden by 11am. The schedule was closely packed and often overlapped warm-ups and ride times, leaving no spare time for last minute polishing. After braiding 6 horses, polishing tack, and organizing the tack room and Saturday’s schedule, I slogged my way to the trailer at 3:30am. I set my alarm for 4:45am to drop feed and head to the hotel to pick up Michelle and Mary – yes, on 1 hour of sleep!

Saturday’s schedule was crazy with Mary and Michelle riding in separate rings within ten minutes of each other. I ran around with a test book, water bottle, and Bon Dane for most of the morning until it was time for my ride. All the meanwhile, still managing to braid a few last-minute horses!

In short, Mary’s ride went stellar with a very forward-moving, motivated Cadeaux. Michelle was fairly pleased with her 4th level debut, and my ride showed me what a motor of a horse I ride! Small But Mighty rode to a 64. 615 – the first of my scores towards my USDF Bronze medal. Mary’s I-1 was her only ride of the day, but she also earned a 64.7 which counted towards her Gold! Michelle was ecstatic with her show results bringing home a 1st and a 2nd, and we had only my last test until we were finished for the day.

The second ride was very different from the first. Riding a stallion has taught me that consistency isn’t something I can rely on in the slightest. Going into the main indoor arena was change enough, and I hadn’t allowed much warm up since he usually peters out in the second test of the day. But boy was I proven wrong. Mr. Distracted motored me down the centerline after some serious jockularity on the outside of the arena. The in-gate was his center of attention any time we were faced that direction, and once I introduced medium or extended gaits, there was no coming back. I took every movement for what I could get out of it, redirected his energy as much as possible, and tried to stay patient, in control, and polite to my ADD mount. It’s of no surprise that the ride left me frustrated, as the test was a huge retraction from the previous ride. But I made a big effort not to let it get to me, and I still had a ton to look forward to. A 55 was on track for the test I presented, but I was determined to change it for Sunday.

After Mexican food (at the same place, by tradition's law), I hit a wall and crashed in the trailer for a few hours before evening chores and then hit the sack for the night at the hotel. I only vaguely remember waking up to Bon Dane’s howling somewhere around 10pm because I was taking up too much of the bed, much to Michelle and Mary’s delight.

Day 2 was incredible. I highly recommend waking up to Cobra Starship and Lil Wayne as warm-up music. With still no rain in sight, Day 2 heated up similar to Saturday, but preparations and appropriate warm-ups and been organized and went very smoothly. Mary’s I-1 went fantastically again for another 64+, her second score towards her Gold, both scores having double qualified her for the Southwest and GAIG/USDF Regional Championships. Michelle earned a 64+ even with an error, and there was much elation and bright smiles all around.

My first ride went fairly well. My timing in the changes combined with Zar’s morning freshness in the outdoor show arena made for some interesting renditions of flying changes, but a much improved walk pirouette (8's!). I was uncertain coming out of the arena, but was brought to tears when I found my test was a 64.615 – not only the exact same as Saturday, but my second score for my USDF Bronze medal! The celebrating and unpacking began.

After a several-hour break, I finished preparations for my last test, this time sporting my brand new top hat in celebration of my medal. I was nervous, but very anxious for the last ride. I wanted to see what we could re-accomplish in the ring that I had fallen in love with. With huge stadium seating, wonderful footing, and (the best part) a massive Texas flag directly over the centerline, it was quite a high feeling.

Our warm-up was directed at keeping him through, forward, and developing a clearer down transition from medium/extended canter. Going down the centerline, I felt prepared, capable, and strong, having just heard Mary say “may the stars and stripes of Texas be with you”. We avoided both breaks in the trot lengthen diagonals, nailed the shoulder-in and half-pass, had a solid, and a smooth halt-rein back, but my down-transition work made me shut down the walk too much in the pirouettes, which both stuck – frustrating after earning 8’s all weekend! The canter work wasn’t where I wanted it, but it did give me very clear indications for where we can improve. We started nicely collected, but the exuberant changes were late and while it was better, it was still very hard to collect him correctly. I worked to improve our canter half pass our second way, which worked (from a 6 to a 7!), but bringing him from medium canter to the 20 m circle still wasn’t secure enough for me to let go of him enough. I FINALLY achieved a down transition into collected canter going into our final centerline, but it was too much and he fell into the trot at D instead of X immediately after straightening him. I went with it, collected him up, and halted (and got a 7) with what was left of my energy.

It came back a 60.465 – not only a qualifying score for the Southwest championships, but for GAIG/USDF as well! Now a bronze medalist, we’re officially championship bound after only than two months together! And with two weeks until the Windy Knoll show in Magnolia, I have already developed our working game plan for cleaning up our test! I am very confident that these two past shows have taught me our strengths, developing improvements, and our points to work on. I am beyond stoked for where we are - I knew it was a stretch to try and qualify for the SW Championships, but we did it!

My Bronze medal has been a huge goal for me to accomplish, but it certainly was far from being earned alone. I must take the time to thank Karen Pautz for her huge help in developing me to this point. I earned all of my 1st and 2nd level scores aboard WWU's Raphaelo "Rizzo", who will always hold a special place in my heart. I am now ecstatic to say that not only did I accomplish it, but I accomplished all of it in less than a year! Sometimes the goal is not in finding the answers, but in finding someone who challenges you to ask the right questions.

I will leave it at that for this report – I have learned so much this weekend that it would be excessive to cram it all into one night’s post. But I look forward to more reports of all the new developments, including video footage of our last test!

Dreaming in Silver & Gold,

Lauren

The Board

2009-09-02T23:19:00.000-05:00

Every morning, my day starts by stopping at the end of the driveway for Mary's mail :) After an hour's commute, it's sometimes a rude awakening to open the door to humidity and 60 mph traffic, but others it's serene, the cloud cover is thin, or the sun hits the pastures and the shiny horses grazing just right to put a smile on my face. As I pull up the drive some days, Bondane may lope beside my window (at eye level!), and others, Touka, the farm's Great Pyranese cross, may bark until I step out of the car for her complimentary scratches.

It's 8 am, I'm setting down my gloves, the mail, and maybe an assortment of tack or training articles I've found to use for the day. Sometimes I see Mary as I pull in, and sometimes I don't see her until well after my first ride when she returns from morning errands to the feedstore. Today, I check The Board for my list of projects for the day. I've got a 5-horse lineup. I also see Mary has a lesson at 12, another student tonight, an approaching close date on a show, a list of supplements and equipment to order, a Coggins to pick up, a scheduled arrival of a horse to go into training, and the farrier appointment. (The picture is from my camera phone the day I returned after having been gone for two weeks in Missouri!)

Since I have a bad habit of getting sucked into rides, my board today has underlined "30 minutes per ride". I laugh to myself, knowing it's a playful jab to keep myself focused enough to get through the list and pack for the show.

I start with Ryan, as I prefer. He's a wonderful horse owned by Nancy Thomas. An Irish Thoroughbred, he can tend to be ornery, and is a challenge to supple. But he's good for me in that he's forgiving and only correct when I am, hence, a perfect schoolmaster. Having been an ex-eventer, he LOVES it when I use our warmup to hack and/or gallop a stretch instead of using the indoor immediately. I use my first ride of the day to stretch out, find my balance, zone in, and focus on one thing at a time. Without the pressure to compete him right now, my mind is solely on training as precisely and fairly as 8 am allows :) We've hit several breakthroughs recently. Or, as I should probably correct, I've made several corrections recently that have really helped us unlock and strengthen his back and topline. It's an ongoing, ever-changing process that is sometimes hindered by the question "is this problem him, or me?" But the question has led me to solve problems without the use of force, with constantly changing regimen, and broadening my ideas to change or edit. See? Even talking about it, I can get carried away for more than 30 minutes!

On to Scooter, Hannah's Quarter Horse gelding. Just a lunge today to keep him fresh for when Hannah returns :) After dropping him off at his pasture, I head down to grab Caramia, "Cara", from her paddock. Cara's a 4 year old Oldenburg mare who I restarted under saddle before I headed to Missouri. She'd had 30 days training and a year of pasture, but remembered her job as if she'd never had a break! After an awesome ride, I swear to Mary that I'd buy her if I could. She's solid black, great mind, natural engagement, and sweet as can be. (And I swore I'd never deal with a mare!) Hopefully her owner will let me take her to a schooling show later this year!

After Cara, it was lesson time with Mary. Our warmup is consistent of tons of long and low, really allowing him to raise his back and stay supple in order to sit down for our collected work. Of course, our warmup is never without his jockularity, the occasional "OH LOOK A CHICKEN" moments (or mare, as today would have it), neck throw, exuberant strike with a front leg, or truck-engine nicker towards a distant pasture. Oh, the wonderful world of riding a stallion! While Zar is super well behaved both on the ground and under saddle, and has been a stellar mount for me to learn correct stallion handling, etc, he is never without his personality, which follows him around like the angel and devil arguing on his shoulder - I'm convinced they hide in his mane! Plus, he's usually just full of it.

Today's lesson was very useful, with emphasis on riding from back to front, placement of the hind legs, and tempo. Since my move to BPF, I've found that while most of my experience lies in the lower levels, moving up means a big adjustment in tempo to allow for more suspension in the gait. We solidified our trot work, had some great canter moments, and ended with two very clean walk piourettes. After a short hack-out, Zar got his pre-show bubble bath (which he was THRILLED about) and various other preparations for the show ring. My maintenance of a grey/white horse has improved ten-fold, and I'd definitely say I could count the internship as "Hair Management 101" for as much as I condition and comb him out!

After tack cleaning, some trailer-packing, and a water break, I only have one more to go on my list; Spice. Especia is also a favorite (here's where I confess that I don't actually have ONE favorite, they're just ALL my favorite). Again, I swore I'd never have a mare, but she's definitely one I'd snatch if I had the opportunity. a 3yo Iberian Warmblood, this girl has the makings for FEI and the brain to follow suit. She was started by Mary, and has been a joy to ride. While she's got much more opinion than most mares I've ridden, she's (mostly) polite and enjoys her work (her way). We started with a trail ride/hack and worked through training level movements and some leg yield in the outdoor, which she loved. Her canter departs are getting much more clean and her stretchy trot is going to get 10's eventually with as much as she gives when you ask! I'd definitely take her and Cara to a schooling show if I had the time!

Our ride ended on a positive note, and I was satisfied to cross off all of my list, add a few notes, make a list of things to bring for the show, and climb into my truck for the hour's drive home. After all, the next thing on The Board is the Houston Show :) I'll stay the night Thursday at the farm to allow for our 6am departure to The Most Humid City in Existence.

Our ride times are going to be an artful maneuver, but we're all done early for the most part! I'm excited and nervous all at the same time, so wish us all good luck! I'll update as I can, but if I can't, I'll be back Monday with all the (great!) news and pictures!

Chomping at the bit,

Lauren

Houston-bound in 3 days!

2009-09-01T16:38:00.002-05:00

This week has been a lot of recovery! After ten days in Missouri finalizing plans, my happy return to the farm meant reorganizing and getting back in the swing of things. Plus, with only 8 days until the Houston show, it's also crunch time, my immediate first week of school, and back to my other job, too. I've kept it as condensed as possible with lunging several horses who got the ten days off and riding the show or client horses. Shown on the right is Ryan Air "Ryan", Nancy Thomas' Irish Sporthorse Gelding post-ride. :) After the show this weekend, it's back to the grind and playing with the babies! You can tell I'm really bummed, can't you?

On the flip side of the schedule, school is going great. With only two days a week, I can really focus on exactly what I need to study, my assignments are going to be easy to manage around the show schedule, and my teachers are all pretty laid-back about the weekends I might need to jet early to head out of town. Check plus! Also, he might never see this, but thank you Mr. McKnight for your chem class my junior year at Richland. Four years later, I'm now officially "reviewing" Chem I.

Zar & I have been having decent rides. I am thrilled with where our trot work is (for now) because I was scared I'd have lost my fitness having done far less riding during my recent ten day stint in Missouri. BUT! I must say I did get to ride a few times when I crammed in barn time before my recruitment schedule at WWU, so thank you Karen & Maggie! As for Zar's canter, I'm still trying to figure out the dynamic of such a small horse's movement combined with forward, combined with collection, all while maintaining a true gait and staying out of the bridle myself. No big deal, right? Right. Three cheers for learning! I'm pumped for the show nonetheless, and Mary said we can bring Bondane :)

As for my other job, I can't say how much I love Fresco's. Here's my sneaky amazing-review-plus-plea-that-you'll-come-say-hi-to-me-at-work :) You may think I'm bluffing when I tell you it's the best Mexican food around, but I can honestly say that even after almost 4 years working there, I have yet to say I can't eat it anymore. The only thing that hardly competes is Jalisco's in Fulton, for all you lucky people still up in Missouri!

Now that we're all hungry, I'll keep it short so you can go get a snack. Mary and I are leaving eeeeearly Friday morning for the Houson Laborious Day Shows I & II this weekend. We're also accompanied by Michelle, a boarder with her horse, too! Mary competing at I-1, Michelle at 4th, and myself at 3rd. Woohoo! I'm staying in the trailer (probably the only time I'm envious of a dorm room) to groom late/early all weekend, so I can't guarantee where or if I'll find free wifi, but the laptop is coming with me and I'll update as soon as I'm capable!

As a side note, sponsors get awesome ads here on the interwebs on this very blog, so keep that in mind!

"Achieve great things with small effort and large will." - unknown

Sugar cubes & peppermints,

Lauren

PS. The pic of Ryan & Zar are courtesy of Tiffany at Unique Equine Photography. You can find her work here!

Breaking it in!

2009-08-27T22:45:00.002-05:00

For all who know, and all who don't, I'm Lauren! I am a student at William Woods University in Fulton, Missouri in pursuit of my Bachelor's in Equestrian Science with a concentration in Dressage. This blog is my "diary" of my internship at Bridled Passion Farm in Cleburne, Texas, where I found Mary Claeys and several other outstanding opportunities. I'll be with Mary until August of 2010, breaking new ground in competition, learning, and experience on her training and breeding facility.

As for the blogging, bear with me, as I'm new to it, but catching on. I hope to supply all my followers with updates, stories, pictures, video, and maybe a little laughter! Although I can't make it look like I'm having too much fun, so occasionally, I'll throw in a complaint about all the slavery and torture ;)

As I've already been with Mary for about a month and a half now, I do have some exciting stories already, which I'll be sure to share, but for now, the most recent heads up is our venture to the Houston Laborious Day Shows I&II in Houston (duh) next weekend on September 5 & 6! This is my second show riding Electrizar, Mary's Andalusian Stallion, at third level.

More to come soon, & best of rides to all!