EquiSearch Community

Another Horse

horse_angel730 — Sun, 11 May 2008 02:03:00 GMT

Thanks for reading my blog,even thogh tI may be bloogging WAY too much.If I ever write something totally stupid that any good horseman(or woman) ashould know, just tell me because I'm so new to this. My riding instrutor,Lindsey, has found another horse for me to try.I don't want to!!!! My heart's stuck on Angel(the posibbly unbroke bay two-year old QH filly.) If she's unbroke, it'll be $300 plus feed and board.Ugh, Why does finding the right horse have to be so hard??? I found several good ones on the web today but they were all too far away. Anyway, the horse Lindsey found is a registered spirited 14.3 hhpaint bay mare that was used as a therapy horse before she was retired or something( I don't know why she's not anymore.) My favorite part is the price. Are you ready? $200!!!!!!!! Can you get a good horse that cheap? Isn't that too old to breed? I only want one foal but still... Lindsey said that since she's spirited, that it would be okay but I'm not so sure.;I don' t even know her name. There's several questions Iwant answered. Does she have good conformation? Has she ever had a foal before?? If yes, was she a good mother? Is she shoed?( I've heard it's better if horses aren't shoed) I just don't know. I read a thread on this website taht said a horse could be $200 amonth. I knew it wasn't going to be cheap but had no idea wha it WAS going to be.Well I need some help if I'm going to see this through.Alittle feedback, alittle 'YOur'e going to be fine' a little 'It's all worth it.' Because I'm starting to wonder...

Is it really worth it???

Signed by Yours Truely,

Drama Queen

Is she right?

horse_angel730 — Fri, 09 May 2008 20:23:00 GMT

horse crazers of Equus,

I found a horse and she looks perfect...except two things, one is I don't know if she's trained and since I'm a first-time owner she had better be trained.Two is that I haven't even ridden her yet.She loks like a good horse.She stands for the farrier(ok all that 's been done to her hooves is a one-time trim), the profile said she's sweet(but when can you trust those things?), her legs look good and it said ahe has no known vices. She's a two year old Quarter bay filly. Her name is Colonel's Angel Fire,barn name Angel.I'm absolutley in love with her, but I'm hesitant because of the training thing. Go to the web address below t ocheck her out, and there's a link on that website for more info about her. ON the second website, you go to Barnsales and keep scrolling down until you find her.

http://www.equinenow.com/horse-ad-52043

please tell me she's a good horse for me,

Angela

EEEEEEP! My First Blog

pdstables — Fri, 09 May 2008 12:49:00 GMT

Well, this is my first blog!! Yay! So, I have a paint mare named Rayne, and a paint gelding named Bandyt. Rayne is about fifteen (my age, how funny) and Bandyt just turned 3 in april. So I'm going to colorado to visit my mom and step-dad this summer as well as train bandyt (boo-boo) and Mira. I can't wait for ESE and school to be over.

First Blog

horse_angel730 — Fri, 09 May 2008 00:42:00 GMT

My first blog! Coolio! Okay, I know most people write about their horses the first time they blog, but I don't have a horse... yet. I am currently in the market for a well- trained not too pricey mare. I can't believe it! I'm finally getting a horse! I just subscribed to Equus to day and made an account today.Since I don't have a horse I can tell you about the horse I ride for my lessons. She's a beautiful Palamino named Pie. She's always ready to go faster, just like me so we're a perfect match. She is pretty frisky and can be a little hard to handle, but that's what makes her so fun to ride. Another horse I ride is a 19 year old Morgan mix. Her name is Susie and she's a beautiful dark bay. Her owner went to college and when she came back all the owner wanted to do was run and jump, so that 's all she made Susie do. Now, after you ride her , your hands and arms hurt from holding her back to a walk or trot. If Pie is fun t oride because she's frisky and ready to go,Susie's a blast. That's it for now, I'll keep you posted on my horse owning ( or non owning) status.

love ya all,

waiting 4 the right horse

Newest Member of the Vaagen Horse Showing Family

inclined2ride — Thu, 08 May 2008 15:08:00 GMT

Say "Hi" to baby Kat!

After years of mailing my niece horsey presents, horsey cards and mulitple trip outside, when she comes to visit, to see the horses. I have finally suceeded in creating a horse crazy kid. Since I have none of my own (and never have any) I will have to make do with my brother's little girl. this really hasn't been hard either since my brother was raised around horses and even did some showing himself and his wife my sister in-law also rode horses in college and did some showing.

So when I called up ealier this spring and asked if baby Kat would like to show Stretch in her first Lead Line class - the answer was an enthusiastic YES! Grandma Vaagen pledged to pick her up an outfit and also help out with stall fee for the show. I offered to pick up the lead line class fees and the the show we picked out to do at is the upcoming Monroe Show because it is near where my brother and sister-inlaw lives. She is 3 and I know that's young but not too young for a quick Leadline class - I never did Leadline when I was young I and want to make sure she can if she wants. She's a total ham and I have no doubt that she will love being the center of attention for the 5 minute class.

I contacted show staff and asked them to add a Leadline class - they had no problem doing so even promising some cute awards for her and any other child who wants to do it.

Grandma and I hunted online for a couple of weeks for a used Leadline outfit that was in-style and her size, we gave up and ended up buying a new one from Unicorn Horse Show Clothes - an online company that specializes in Leadline and Walk-Trot clothes. Grandma went with the Leadline-in-a-box kit, which will provide Kat with chaps, a shirt, pants and a handlers shirt for whoever leads her in the class. She picked out the below shirt and pants and chaps to match.

In addition to paying part of Stretch's stall fee (which is very nice considering the Monroe Shows put on by Washington State Quarter Horse Association - changes the HIGHEST stall fees around at $165 per stall, incase you are keeping track...one can attend AQHA's Select World Show and pay less for a stall ) Grandma will also be at the show to watch and is letting me crash with her in the hotel. Which is very nice because with my skylight shot all to heck my living quarters my LQ Horse Trailer is not exactly the ideal waterproof shelter that is required for rainy type shows in and around the Seattle area . Hence the reason why Grandma choose a hotel over bunking with me.

Bonus for Stephanie!! Since I have somewhere to stay during the Mornoe show I won't have to buy a plug-in at the Fairgrounds RV park and can put off buying a new skylight for another month or two. This frees up a small amout of cash, so I can pick-up the over-reach boots for Stretch, english boot hooks and a pair of darker DevonAir breeches that just went on sale at Stateline Tack instead!

We'll do an after photo during the show with her all decked out in her new horse show outfit on Stretchers...

It's All About Money Honey

inclined2ride — Thu, 08 May 2008 14:12:00 GMT

So much about horse showing can be about money.

How to move it around, space out buying things, who's important to pay who's not, and their is always a certain amount of luck to it. There have been times when I just didn't know how I was going to make things work and then after a few days of thinking on it I would come up with a solution or something really lucky would happen like my mom deciding to come to the Monroe show and footing the bill for a hotel room. After a few fairly financially taxing months, that was a break I really needed. Sometimes I just have to admit that I can't afford something and put it on a list of things to budget for next year or sometime in the future. And sometimes you just have to talk to other people, network and be creative like when I fixed my trailer jack.

A Cowgirl's Advice On Batteries

I also needed to replace the battery for my living quarters - I stopped at Costco, my preferred battery purchasing stop - and picked up a Deep Cycle Marine/RV battery (which is what you use in a LQ trailer outfitted for a battery). $83.00 There are nicer batteries on the market, and I have tried them, but in my experience for doing what I do with them (using them to power my living quarters) they all have lasted EXACTLY the same. So while I don't get the cheapest ones at Wal-Mart (I have had problems with those), I do save a few bucks by buying from Costco***God Bless Costco*** don't know what my little horseshowing butt would do without them. I replace the battery in my LQ about every other year sometimes once every two years. Ideally you run it completely dead then charge it completely - this will get you the longest life out of your batteries. If you truck charges your battery/s when its running this could be a problem as the short charges and incomplete discharges can wear out your battery real quickly. I prefer to plug mine in and do the right way. I if I know I will outlast a battery I will take a fully charged spare with me.

Thoughts on paying trainers...

I have also made a trip down to Lewiston for and riding lesson and paid my trainer what I still owed him from the last show. $175.00 - I rarely do that. I believe it's better business to paid in full at the time services are rendered. Building up a balance with a trainer just sets you up for trouble. I have seen clients bail on them while still owing them hundreds and even thousands of dollars. Because of the "under the table" nature of their business trainers have very little recourse and usually end up eating the loss, which is sad because it's hard enough to be a horse trainer - self employed with little or no health insurance trying to make ends meet. I watched a client do this to a trainer-friend of mine just a short while ago and it made me so mad...

I have a very low opinion of people who do that to trainers - if for some reason the client felt that they didn't need to pay their debt it is something that should be agreed upon by both parties before the horses leave the trainer's barn. Never, never, never flake-out on your bills - it is the fastest way to earn a bad reputation and burn bridges in the Horse World. If for some reason you can't pay, work it out with the trainer - they'll usually gladly wait for you to get the money or set up a payment plan rather than be left with a loss. In short, you know who you are, GROW UP and PAY YOUR BILLS and pay them on time.

Save when you can

During the winter when I have my horse at my parent's place or boarded elsewhere, I will continue to set aside a monthly training fee - pool it together then give it to my trainer when I drop my horse off in Jan/Feb. This will give me a couple of months credit - but I will continue paying him, at a slightly reduced rate - this allows me the money to horse show. I will eventually catch up to myself but about the time I do I will have a 3 pay period month that will allow me to give him a chuck of money and i will continue paying my usual rate. Not all trainers will do that for you - but using a dedicated savings account you can do it yourself. Just a little trick I thought I would share.

Happy Friday!

Tuesday Morning Lesson

saddleupnride — Wed, 07 May 2008 14:43:00 GMT

My lesson with Lani this morning went really, really well again. This time, it was just me and one other girl, so I got plenty of individual attention. I really am learning a lot from Lani, even though she mainly teaches only beginners, because I'm sorry to say (but it's true) Barb never really took the time or effort to teach us the basics. I've learned quite a bit from reading so much, but there's still more to learn. Today, I learned that as a rule of thumb, you should be able to fit 4 fingers between the elbow (at the top of the front leg) to the girth of the saddle. At Barb's I was just "taught" to throw it on where it looks right. I rode a cute mare named Splash today, and she had to be lunged before the lesson, so I learned what you're actually supposed to do with the reins when you lunge a horse (I always just used a halter because I didn't know what to do with them). I also learned about your body positioning while lunging, the horse's body language while lunging, and things like that. It was actually really helpful and informative. When I got on, I learned even more still. She actually is a very good instructor when she takes the time and effort to be one. She gave me exercises to do that will help improve my riding, which will help me out all summer when I'm riding without any instruction! She had me do crazy stuff - first staying up out of the saddle for two beats and sitting down for one beat while posting the trot, and then vice versa. It eventually led up to me staying up for 6 beats of the trot, down for 1, doing that 3 times, and then staying down for 6 beats and posting up for 1. And then she had me post the canter (which is not natural and quite difficult, but good for your legs). She's helping me learn to use my legs and body more - rather than just my hands and heels. I've developed that tendency I think from riding so many different horses and having such intense lessons. I get nervous about the horse and just pull or kick, or I'm afraid that if I really use my body and core muscles, then I'll get tired early on in the lesson and not be able to keep up with the class, when in reality it's the opposite. If I just relax and use my whole body to ride, I'll be less tired in certain areas (I'll use my whole body, not just certain parts), and the horses will listen better. Another exercise that she had me do that will help at the canter is holding the reins in one hand and putting the other either on my hip or the back of the saddle. I tend to lean forward and pull on the reins (less work for my thighs and seat), which gives me no control over a horse that wants to run off, and I follow the horse's mouth so much with my hands and not my seat, that it looks like - as Lani puts it - I'm at a baseball game cheering. Haha. It's something to keep in mind and work on. When I put my hand on my hip, I move my hands less, and when I put it on the back of the saddle, I use my seat and sit in the saddle better. She also gave us a little anatomy lesson on thigh muscles and corrected our positions while we were at the halt, which is always helpful. I feel like I've learned so much in these two lessons with Lani - possibly more than both semesters of group PE classes.

Thinking Aloud

inclined2ride — Mon, 05 May 2008 16:53:00 GMT

Thinking Aloud is good for people.
Women have a particularly good grasp on this, we do it to each other all the time. Call one another up, bounce idea off of our girl friends, announce new purchases, gossip, vent about husbands or whatever is on our minds at that point in time.

My blog is all about thinking out load - gives me a chance to mentally put things in order. Perhaps someone will spot some process some little thing from my thinking that will help their horse life some how...I can only hope.

More Stuff I Need to Buy:
As it turns out finding myself with one and now possible two serious Hunt Seat prospects has increased the amount of money I am putting out for the horses. You see I haven't shown English in years - years. So I have all ready had my Navy Blue English jacket taken in, as its seems that I have lost weight since I last showed Hunt Seat. Either that or I always had a big jacket, since it was a gift to me (and I was a poor high school student) and my family was never up on getting clothes to fit properly that is entirely possible. But its a nice wool jacket and I have taken care of it. Since its Navy it has never gone out of style, its not the trendiest thing in the show pen but its out-of-style either. Works for me. My Hunt Seat education as a youth was very traditional and as a result I prefer to err on side of conservative with my Hunt Seat dress anyway.

I did get myself two new dickies (those cool things that fit under your jacket that make it appear as if you have an English shirt and collar on when in reality it goes only to mid chest level) one is kacky striped with Navy piping & has my initials embroidered on it the other has a light blue pattern with Navy piping on it. WAY bolder than I would usually ever go in the Hunt Seat show pen, but they were really inexpensive and I wasn't the only exhibitor out with them so I am "living a little".

So that leaves my Breeches which, apparently, are too light. The search is on for darker yet affordable pair. I already know I can't live without knee patches so I know I need those and would prefer to stick to the color tan. I admit I was little annoyed with Todd for pointing that out to me, but the next time I was waiting outside the show pen he politely asked me to look around at everyone's clothes and see if I noticed anything. It was immediately apparent that my breeches were several shade lighter than everyone else's. So what? You may ask. Well although its not quite as bad, its similar to showing up in a pair of rust breeches. You know and everyone else knows it was a trend that is now out-of-style. Not really the way I would like to draw attention, you see, so the search is on and until them my lighter breeches will have to just work.

I also need:

Boot Pulls because I know have calves - in fact I am half tempted to take my boot into the local saddle show and have them put a zipper in one so that I could get my boots on and off more easily. I wonder if that's possible?.....

To find my Black Gloves: this should not require a purchase I know I have them somewhere....nice leather ones that I paid good money for...

Over Reach Boots for Stretch: Because Stretch has such a deep reach from behind when I am lunging him he is constantly smacking his front feet with his back. This will happen without a doubt after his white feet have been clipped and washed and whitened so that the blood will splatter all over and stain his feet and for the rest of the show he will look as is he walked out of a slaughter house. Perfect. I already use PC boots on him but he still gets the base of his hoof in the back so I just need to break down and do it.

A Rolling Cooler: able to carry a days worth of drink supplies to the barn with ease.

An iLive iPod Boombox: I live my life with music - can't sing a lick, but I love listening to music it actually helps me focus, stay on task, and reduces stress. Having something going in the tack stall at the shows is so nice, I just need something that is tough enough to handle being in a barn and is battery powered. The above model seems to fit the bill.

Skylight for Trailer Living Quarter: Still making due with my duct tape repair job, I am thinking before heading to my next show in Monroe this will HAVE to be fixed, the rain over there amazing me and if I want to be dry at all - I think I will have to belly up the credit card and fix this one.

Trailer Update: I can't recall if I mentioned this in other posts - to top off my list of *** to do I had to go and purchase a new trailer jack last week, as during my first show of 2008 I discovered that the original jack was broke - for good, and stuck the heck on my truck. So on the bright side, I got a really good deal on one through work and had hubby cut the old one off and called in a favor to get the new one welded on for free. $125.00 later I have a new and much improved jack. Not motorized (not in my wildest dreams could I afford one of those) but I can now get it up and down with one arm with ease. My trainer, Joe Smith, said that I would be amazed at how long my original jack wasn't working right when I got the new one on and felt the difference - boy was he right!!! What used to be a work-out and a half is now a piece of cake to unhook the trailer!

Here is the selfish part: Even with all this stuff to do and money that needs to go toward my horse stuff, I just purchased a pair of Lucchese Boots from the Clothes Horse Connection store. Not riding boots mind you - boots to go "out" in. I got a really good deal on them or I wouldn't have done it, but I have been wanting a pair of boots that I could wear "out" for so long and I just love this pair they were exactly my size - AND they came down in price $85 - the past owner did not wear them so they are brand new. $100 for a brand new pair of Lucchese boots is unheard of!! So they are mine now - I will be picking them up from the gal who runs the store, Maggie, in Monroe at the end of the month. Aren't they cute?! I fully plan on pairing these up with western jeans and main stream designer jeans (yet to be purchased) when I go out.

I can get some major dancing accomplished with these babies!

Visit Maggie's store online here for used show apparel and tack: http://www.clotheshorseconnection.com/

First post on here. EVER.

real horsepower — Mon, 05 May 2008 01:04:00 GMT

ha! This is my first post on my blog. Cool beans. Ok, just a little bit about the horses that own me. My horse, Sedona, is a 5 year old QH/ Percheron cross we got from the Uniontown Stock Auction in Alabama on Nov. 20, 2007. She came off the Farquhar State Cattle Ranch where she worked cows. Personally, I think she's too big to be a good cutting horse, but since I haven't seen her work cows she may yet surprise me. Heck, she surprises me everyday. Sedona is about 16hh to 16 1/2hh, and she's a pretty sorrell with a white blaze. My dad says she looks like a quarter horse on steroids, just to give you a good mental picture since my dang computer isn't letting me put pictures on here! *rant* She was green as grass when we got her, although the paper on her said "anyone can ride." Bull crap. Yeah, she knows when you pull to the left that means go left, etc., but it was up to her whether or not she felt like moving. She's come so far since then, but we still have a long way to go. My aunt really helped me out with her, teaching Sedona (and me!) the basics, like lunging, ground manners, etc. Sedona was my first horse, and had it not been for my aunt, I would have been one of those stories you see telling you why green horses and green riders don't mix. Sedona's still learning, but right now the only bad thing about her I can think of is she kicks at other horses when she is in one of her moods. She's never kicked at me or anyone else, and yes, we have walked directly behind her, she just doesn't like other horses being too close. (If anyone has a solution, tell me!)

Toby is Sedona's pasture mate. He's my aunt's 32 year old TWH gelding. Being completely honest, if you looked out into the pasture, you'd think he was a mule from a distance. He's a blood bay, but he has quite a few gray hairs from his old age. Looks aside, though, he's one of the best riding horses out there ( I think). He doesn't spook, and he calms Sedona down just by being there. He's a great teacher for any kid new to riding.

I'll post more later. I have to go to bed!

All the rain!!

Pretty Palomino — Fri, 02 May 2008 18:06:00 GMT

I am taking this space up with my complaint about all the stinkin' dadblamed,stupid,excessive,drowning RAIN!!!! AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!! I hate it I hateit because I cannot ride I cannot even get outside without being soaked!!!!

Show Number Two

inclined2ride — Fri, 02 May 2008 15:26:00 GMT

Seeing the light in Western Pleasure. Owning Horsemanship.

This last show in Spokane, Wa was a blast!! I arrived at the fair grounds after I had snuck away from work a bit early - just in time to do my Western Pleasure class for that day. Actually I might have been able to do my Hunt Seat class too but I arrived 10 minutes to show time and I am such a headcase when I am rushing that I decided to let it go and just focus on Western Pleasure.

My trainer, bless his heart, had Stretch all cleaned up, banded and ready to go - and was even willing to help me prepare for Hunt Seat if I wanted to try and do that. But boy when I told him that "no - I wasn't going to do that to myself" he was so relieved and assured me that I had made the better choice. It gave me time to rush my tack over to the tack stall, tack up Strech in his show tack, and then rush back over to the my trailer and throw on my show clothes.

After a long conversation with my Wyoming friend via cell phone, I had convinced myself to do Horsemanship and Trail so to prepare for Horsemanship I memorized the pattern and put on my cream chaps matched with my light blue wstrn show shirt (this was also nice because it is one of 2 western show shirts I have that I can wear thremal underwear under - and it was cold out I needed it this weekend) topped with my straw hat, which is one of the few combinations I have that I could use in a novice horsemanship class.

Our western pleasure class went well - we won it, but there was only 2 people in the class and the other was my fellow barn mate, Marti, and she wasn't having the best of times with her horse. Its always hard to enjoy your win when it comes as the result of someone else's horrible ride. The ideal win is of course when everyone in your class has a good go and your horse comes out on top. I wanted to stop in the class and help her so bad - one of the many trainers who were keeping an eye on me (there were 3, my trainer Joe, his friend Todd, and his other trainer friend Carolyn Rice) - perhaps it was Joe I heard - I just can't be sure. They kept urging me forward even though Marti was stuck in the cornner with her horse "Stop looking back! Keep riding...show your horse!" I heard coming from the rail - so I did. But I did offer Marti a big hug on both days after the class, because you what, I have BEEN there and its not a happy place. I also stepped up and won the class the next day with one more person in the class, in front of my parents who stopped by to watch me and visit their beloved horse Patrick. I was as high as a kite!

The Coup d'état

The whole time on friday I said nothing of a horsemanship class to my trainer or barn friend Kelly - because they had been pressuring me to do horsemanship since I bought Stretch (because they are right, he would be great at it - but that's not the point). I don't really like Horsemanship at all - I usually suck at the patterns, I think its boring and it seems to be in AQHA shows, where horses go when they aren't quite good enough to compete in Western Pleasure. So I have resisted it and refused to do it maybe more because I was being harassed about it than anything else. So because deep down I am NOT stupid nor that stuborn, I knew that they were right - and have been peeking at the patterns looking for an easy one to try. This weekend I found an easy one and had it memorized - and was ready to go - my plan was to surprise everyone and jump in the class.

But my evil plans were cut off at the pass by my trainer who didn't think it was the best idea and thought that if I was now interested in Horsemanship he'd like oppurtunity to tune up Stretch's stops and turn arounds before I jumped in the class. Of course the reaction I got was worth the effort of memorizing the pattern and actually putting some thought into what I was wearing. "Now wait a minute....wait a minute...you said..." was what I heard and he was very animated when he said it. I know exactly what I said before - but I've changed my mind. It was glorious! At least this way it was my idea and I owned it. I didn't do the class, it was bad enough I sprung it on him like that, I at the very least followed his advice and decided to wait - but I will give it a shot this year I think.

I know this would make me seem like an annoying client, but if that's the worst that i do - I think I am alright. And besided that's just me, part of being Stephanie.

Hunt Seat

Hunt Seat also went well, although there was only one other person in the class, and in the Novice and then in the next one that followed if kind of felt like Stretch would've preferred to have just been loping instead of trotting so I didn't feel like I could push him as far as i know he can go - so we did take the class or anything but we did well and the placings were very fair I thought.

I got to try out my new dickies that my friend Tracy made for me and I used the one Kelly bought for me for my birthday. Also my jacket fit so much nice after Tracy had taken it in. All looked very nice, don't know what I would do without my show friends. I continued to recieve comments about my light colored breeches...Todd says I need darker ones...and I have been looking its just that I don't have a lot to spend on new ones. So I guess if I come across a good used pair I will pick them up - other than that my breeches will just have to be a little lighter than what everyone else is wearing.

As it turns out - because the show was so small I was the only Novice that showed in more than one event under all four judges and I won the Novice Performance Catagory Hi-Point Award. A bonus horse sheet!! Yay for Stretch!

Man it was cold.....

Oh and I have to tell you it was sooo freaking cold that weekend...I had three layers on poor Stretch - two on Patrick (who isn't yet being shown and we are not trying to keep a show coat him) plus a hood. It actually snowed off and on - and it was real nice and windy to boot. Never got over 40 degrees the whole time. By the end of the show Stretch was so sick of all of his clothes and the stupid hood - he actually ran from me in his stall when i came at him with the hood! And when I got home my feet and hands just ached from being so cold all weekend. It was cold but it was fun - is that not what showing is all about?

Horse Jewelry

lesleytaylor — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 20:50:00 GMT

Here's a cute necklace that I found. It's modern and adorable! From Orange Peel Enamel

Also need advice.

cowboy651 — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 12:21:00 GMT

I have a great 9 year-old Draft-X mare. I've owned her for several years and she is a great mount and friend. One draw back is that when we go on a 2+ hours trail ride, which is frequently, she gets a little jiggy on the way back. I've done alot of the recommended training routines with a little success but not completely. She does not relax comming back. I have narrowed it down to one strong possibility. Annie does not urinate while under saddle. She only will urinate in her stall or in the turn out area. I have seen her hold it for 5+ hours. Once I put her back in the stall after a ride, she immediately urinates. I feel bad for her because I'm sure she is uncomfortable. It also makes for a difficult return trip for both of us. Unfortunately, I don't have that kind of time (5+ hours) to stay out with her on a regular basis to train her that it's ok to go while we're out riding. Anybody have a suggestion as to how to correct this? Thanks.

Leave-in coat conditioners

g054682 — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 19:08:00 GMT

I'm hoping that someone has an opinion on the best spray-on coat conditioners out there. So far I've seen Eqyss Premier Rehydrant Spray and Healthy Hair Care recommended, and I'm leaning towards the Eqyss spray, but I want to make sure that it's really going to be helpful for my horse's coat--I'm looking for something to put moisture back in after bathing and that won't attract dust since I generally bathe only for shows. Any opinions? Thanks

EASTERN OREGON LIVING!!!!

Pretty Palomino — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 23:25:00 GMT

I am tired of not being able to get information on real living in eastern Oregon. Particularly about the baker county and surrounding areas. I want to know from people who make a living over there out in the country. How do people deal with snakes riding in the heat and how do you deal with the weather over there! And what about low income rate?(fact or fiction?) Is there anybody out there with any info PLEASE??!!!

horse questions

melissapatches — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 16:44:00 GMT

I have a mare we think is pregnant but now she is in heat we got a horse from my aunt we think is geldedbut he is completely mounting and doing the nasty is this normal and could my mare still be pregnant

Thoughts on AQHA's Green Horse Western Pleasure

inclined2ride — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 21:23:00 GMT

AQHA Green Horse Classes New for 2008 - horses must have earn less than 10 points or be in its first year of showing in that event.

I have been chewing on this for awhile and a lot of people have different opinions about it - but I am just now reaching my final end opinion of the class.

It seems to be going well enough at the shows I have been to - there have been just as many horses in Green Horse as the other Jr or say Sr horse classes so there is definitely a demand for it. I just had thoughts in my mind on whether AQHA needed to add yet another class to its ever growing class schedule. It was hard enough before Performance Halter to hold an AQHA show and keep it affordable. The other issue I needed to wrap my mind around is who is the Green Horse class benefiting?

Well the answer to the second question according to AQHA is its benefiting the horses under 10 points in a specific event (amatuer or professional) - from what I have seen, its basically benefiting the trainers - now before you jump to conclusions I am not saying this is bad - I am just stating what I have seen. It benefits the trainers by keeping horses in thier trailers. Clients will be more inclined to send thier horses to shows if they know they will get shown. I see that most of the trainers had a Jr. Horse to show, a Sr. Horse and yes now a Green Horse - three different horses, even if the Jr. Horse was technically a green horse the trainers I saw were using three different horses. Of course as time goes on this may change and it also may be different in different areas of the country. Our shows have gotten pretty smaller up here (but show costs have gone up just as much as other areas) so one has to work twice as hard to collect up those points. I would imagine that as the year goes on they will rotate those horses down into the Jr. Horse Class as thier Green Horses point out.

As an amatuer this also benefits me because if I have a horse that's not quite "JR Horse" material my trainer can still hop on him and take him into the Green Horse class and put some show ring expirience on him, without irritating the client whos horse is usually in the "JR Horse Class. But as an amatuer showing an inexperienced hrose this class does very little to nothing for me. Packed with trainers you have to have a horse that is just a "knock out" mover to place above the trainers in Green Horse just like any other Open class. Regardless of whether it's true - as an amatuer you feel like you need to have a horse and a ride that is twice as good as all the trainers put together to place and then even still you may not win. It feels alot like a glass ceiling - once all the trainers that have had good rides have placed then they reach into the pool of amatuers that have had good rides.

I don't know - I am just being honest in what I see and how it feels to be there. You get to feeling that if they have created this class to give horses a chance at getting some expirence without all the "super tough" horses in the class then they ought to do the same for amatuers but at the same time I don't think AQHA needs to add any more classes until show attendance goes back up. Also the class was created for the horses right? So what better class for them than an Open class? To give amateurs more experience without "super tough" competition AQHA offers Novice Amatuer classes. So there lies the conflict.

Do I think Green Horse taking away from the Jr Horse numbers?....Maybe slightly for now - not much though
Do I think that Green Horse is benefiting anyone other than the trainers? Yeah but the bigger benefit is for the trainers
Do I think that Green Horse is a benefit to the shows? Yet to be determined
Do I think Green Horse benefits the horse at all? Not really - a good talented horse will raise up through the ranks of Jr. or Sr. Horse without a Green Horse boost, they did before. A weaker horse may have a chance to pick up some points where otherwise it would not have.
Would I compete in a Green Horse class? Maybe if I had a super good horse I knew was up to the competition and my trainer didn't or couldn't show him.

What benefit will Green Horse points bring to the market? Yet to be determined. One has to ask why would there be any benefit at all if the horse is only ever good enough to pick up a couple of Green Horse points once in a while? He will eventually point out of Green Horse, be unable to place in Jr. or Sr. and be right back to where he would be with without the Green Horse class. Committed to novice & youth ranks & pattern classes. So how exactly does this help a horse's value?

Any thoughts on the subject anyone?

More on the Pasco, Wa Show

inclined2ride — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 15:18:00 GMT

There is so much I could write forever...

Okay so in addition to having a successful Hunter Under Saddle class and improving in Western Pleasure I just had an all around good time. There was no "barn drama" that I was aware of, seemed there may have been some drama in other barns but ours was pretty content. We all had successes and found things to work on.

The classes were pretty full - all of the pleasure/HUS classes were all at least a point or more - reining was small, but the rest of the show seemed good sized. And some pretty tough horses there and some pretty tough trainers were there too with thier Youth clients all in tow. So the youth classes were good sized too.

Early in the morning on Sunday I had to get up early to get ready for my Hunt Seat class and even though I despise waking up early, I love early mornings. It was so nice to be in the outdoor arena lunging Stretch as the sun came up. The air was fresh, crisp, and cold with a slight hint of dampness a lovely undertone of horses. The birds were starting to become active for the day and were out in force providing a soundrack for the morning. Stretch loped at will around me at will (usualy I can't get him to go to go the end of the line - I think he actually feels more secure being a little closer to whoever is lunging him, about 5 ft in is his perference), I couldn't have been in a better spot at that time not even in my warm trailer bed.

My little friend, Cheyanne Adams, pictured below in her year-end award glory - competed in youth reining, to the surprise of many people. Had I known she was going to sneak in the ring on her Dad's reining horse I would've been sure to have gone over to watch her run, but thats how Cheyanne is, alot of the time she just has to "go for it" with very little to no warning. Her parents, my friends, Kelly and Troy are very wise parents not to block that energy too much. She did very well - I believe I heard a 2nd and a 4th called out. My trainer, Joe, and I were riding in the outdoor at the time and both exchanged a glance and following eyeroll when we heard her name called - as she was not supposed to compete in reining on her Dad's horse, Barney, until his lead changes were locked in better later this summer - but the event didn't surprise us one bit.

I'll make the offical call right now and say she will have her Dad's horse stolen away by the end of the year. She has been out growing her own horse since late last year and Barney is just way more fun.

Learned some things have changed in Hunter Under Saddle classes since I last showed, dickies are exceptable - and not just plain ones either - color is "in" now. I even saw some rat catchers with **GASP** rhinestones on them. Now I may not be ready for such flare being that I was taught traditional was the way to go with english dress, since I was little, but it was interesting to see. My friends were out in force in to bring me up to speed. My friend Kelly has ordered a new dickie for me for my Birthday that is a tad more up to date than my old traditional english shirt (which is kinda peach colored so at the time, I thought I was walking the line). And my other friend Tracy is going to add my initials to the collar - I guess pins are out now... One of my trainer's friends, another trainer, Carolyn Rice also showed us how to do our hair so that it not only looks better but takes up less time to do and allows the hat to sit properly on ones head. I will have to take pics of it and post it to the blog during the next show so I can share this neat trick.

I watched my friend, Calie Johnson's, horse, Sport, go in the Green Horse western pleasure class. He still didn't appear to like this bosal much but has made LOTS of progress since I had seen him last, via the internet, at the Vegas show. Because I was dealing with some sort of stomach bug, and spent a good portion of the night in the bathroom, I was unable to get up early and go through the warm-up trail pattern with Stretch on Saturday - and hence I couldn't help her out by asking my trainer to ride Sport though the warm-up trail pattern with me - but this coming weekend in Spokane I may be able to get that done. Calie wants Sport to be a trail pattern horse and my trainer would like Sport to be a Western Pleasure horse first then a trail horse. Calie could care less about WP - so I always try to work some middle ground in whenever I can between the two.

Kelly won a reserve all-around high point award on her mare, Hannah, that weekend and I believe that Todd - another trainer, friend and friend of Joe, took a first or second in his Junior horse class on his Junior horse, Jake. I can't be because as soon as my classes were over I needed to head back to the barns to be closer to the bathrooms...

Can't wait till next weekend!!! It's sooo nice to be excited to show again! Plus my stomach is feeling much better now.

Need some advice :)

MissyRoy — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 14:33:00 GMT

I need some help so let me know any of your tips. I've been training my mare for a couple of years hoping she's my next big jumper. However she needs a lot of work on her canter. She's great on her right lead, but her left lead is very ... very weak. She feels completely unco-ordinated and unballanced and keeps breaking her canter to the left. To make matters worse, I also ride weaker on the left lead than the right. So please, anyone I need some tips and pointers on what I can do and any excersices that can help us strengthen our left lead canter.

A Hunt Seat Success

inclined2ride — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 18:22:00 GMT

The weekend show was a sucess!

Not only did me and Stretch improve in our Western Pleasure class placing squarely in the middle of the pack as opposed to at the back of the pack, but we also won our Hunt Under Saddle Class! Not having shown Hunt Seat for almost ten years I wasn't expecting much, just wanted to get in there and get him used to working a little further off the rail and maybe see how he moved compared to everyone else's horse.

And he was wonderful! Cute and bright, with a great stride I couldn't have asked for much more. We had one hang-up on a lope to trot down transistion but with a bit of practice that will go much smoother I just know it. I was trying to be so careful because I knew I hadn't tried that transistion english before, just trying ever so gentlely to bring him out of that canter into a trot that I confust the poor boy. He is used to a lope to wall transistion so that's what he offered me first - then feeling the pressure I tried to rush him into trot, feeling my urgency and picking up on my distress Stretch thought he did it all wrong and flew back into the canter, so I brought him back down again and he offered me a slow western jog, which I accepted knowing that he had no idea I wanted that BIG trot so I pushed him back up into it, the whole thing was over in seconds and only one Judge spotted it. Completely understandable - Stretch tried his heart out for me, how could I ask for any more? Standing in the line up when went to call first place out there was a pause - and I knew I had it. I had entered that class at the gate so they had to look up my number info on the fly. When they called out my number and Stretch's name I caught my breath and a fine mist came to my eyes.

I had been so worried for so long about showing - it was my first placing above a 4th ( with 4 horses in the class ) since 2005. I have been so worried over whether I should sell my horses or just quit showing all together (because its ALOT of money to spend on a hobby that you're not good at). I was just so relieved that ONE I was in the showring being competitive again and that TWO I had found something that Stretch really likes to do and is good at - because he is such an angel of a horse and I didn't want to have to sell him to find something that I could compete on.

Now I know one 1st Place doesn't fix all my problems but I have proved to myself that I can be competitive and I am pretty sure I have found a class that Stretch can be good at.

Many other things took place this weekend (including riding Patrick) and I will get to them i just needed to write about the good stuff first.

Off to the Show

inclined2ride — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 17:03:00 GMT

Up to this point things have gone as planned.

Trailer is packed and cleaned somewhat.
Truck is in shape (or at least as good as it can be) to make the trip. Cross your fingers for me!
Arrived to work a tad late this morning but it always seems to take me longer than I think to get through traffic with the trailer.
House is clean although I didn't have time to do any additional laundry, so I will have to run a load when i get home if I want socks next week to wear.

Have heard from my trainer and my horses have arrived in Pasco at the event center, are all settled in, and have been ridden already. I guess Pat was acting his age but that's to be expected from a not quite 3 yr old. I will leave directly from work for Pasco tonight thankfully there is a gas station right by my work so I will top off my tank then jump on the innterstate which is also right near my office, the only other stop I might make will be to grab a sandwhich when I get in - then its unloading and set-up time, hopefully someone will have room in a tack stall for me. Sometimes I stop and fuel at Conell which is 25 miles outside of Pasco that way I don't have to limit my driving while in Pasco for fear of running out of gas and having to use a gas station that doesn't support my gas card. I almost always unhook while I am at the shows - the trailer is more stable (which is important in Pasco because it tends to be windy and nothing keeps you up all night like the wind rocking your trailer around) that way and I can go grab something to eat or make an emergency run to Walmart to whatever the case may be.

I have two classes that I am aware of - Novice Western Pleasure and Novice Hunter Under Saddle, on Sat. morning I will also make a run through the Trail Warm-Up class for practice with Stretchers and if he is behaving I will ride Patrick a little, other than that it should be a fairly easy weekend.

If there is W-Fi at the TRAC I will post this weekend and keep you updated, if not I will save then post on Monday.

A quick NW Quarter Horse Show Schedule as follows:

4/10 - 4/13 - MC/DC - Pasco, WA
4/17 - 4/20 - Spring Fling - Spokane WA
4/24 - 4/27 - Southeastern Show Circuit - Walla, Walla WA
5/15 - 5/18 - Central Washington Show Circuit - Pasco WA

I will not be attending all of these but this is what is going on in the NW for QH shows during the next month or so. To see a tentative show schedule for the year and further information about any of these shows please click on this link: www.mountainstatesqha.com

Signing off.......Wish me luck!

It's Alive!!

inclined2ride — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 16:31:00 GMT

The Horse Trailer Lives!!

With some help from hubby (still on a nice patch since last weekend's lovelyness) the trailer was freed from its mud and snow grave and after a quick mexican fiberglass job on the roof vent from yours truely, it's good to go. I just love duct tape don't you?

Seizing the moment I threw a bunch of easy to grab tack in it and put some items in the back that I stored in the living quarters over the winter. Let me just take moment to fill you in on some Steph history so you understand why I do some of these things.

In college I wished for a living quarters trailer but could not afford one working part-time so at the AQHA and Open shows that I attended I would clean out my 3 horse bumper pull stock trailer as best as I could - set-up a cot, cooler, sleeping bag, all of my show clothes and camped for the entire show in my trailer. Shortly after I got my first "real" job one of my old hometown "colville" horse buddies decided to sell a 2 Horse Slant LQ Horse Trailer she just recently aquired - it didn't have plumping other than a hand pump sink and no air conditioning, but it did have a bed, table, fridge, micrcowave, lots of cabinet space, rear tack and lots of nice windows with blinds. It was just right for one person AND it was cheap. PERFECT. I paid for it in full put a little work into it and still have it to this day. It's metal so it's not as light as I would prefer but it's only a 2 Horse so it's small enough that my half-ton Ford truck can handle it with some enhanced suspension and good tires.

I've had this little package for 8 years now - I have kinda outgrown it but it's paid for itself and I love the lack of a monthly payment so I am making it work for little longer. Everything in it works perfectly with the exception of the roof vent that I ruined this winter - although annoying it should only cost me 60 - 70 bucks to fix this summer. And I could use the oppurtunity to replace my current roof vent / fan combo with a much nicer one that would keep me much cooler - so I may just do that if I have the spare cash. Another bonus is that hubby set up my trailer a couple of years ago for dry camping. I have generator and an invertor for my battery. The battery will power most of my LQ and inner trailer lights and my roof vent fan (which sucks the hot air out of my trailer and blows it outside - you'd be AMAZED at the differnce this can make). Kick on the generator and I can have TV, Coffee, Fridge, curling iron, heat, AND no RV Hook-Up fee at the horse show. If this sounds cheap to you, it is - but when you are working for a living and still trying to afford to horse show every little bit counts. Because I insist on avoiding needless fees (like RV hook-ups) I have spare cash get nice show clothes when I need them or a new peice of horse tack or horse clothing and its not a bank breaker.

Because my trainer is in Lewiston, ID I don't usually haul my own horses to the shows. I would have to drive 2.5 hours to pick them up then however long it takes to get to the show - plus if the horses go with him he has an extra day or so that can ride them and prepare them before I get to the show after I get off work on friday, this is important with younger horses. When I have a nice broke show horse I will make the effort to haul him myself to avoid mileage fees. Because of my lack of horse cargo I can store a large amount of equipment, feed and shavings in the "horse compartment" of my trailer - and I do.

So after throwing my gear back were it belongs I hit the house and finished my clean up efforts. Leaving me with only trailer packing to do tonight. Luckly I got food the other day and I got my truck tuned-up on Monday so I am feeling pretty prepared. I will take my packed trailer to work with me and leave for the show the second I get off work! I am SO excited I could just burst!

Regardless of a tune up I will still check the following items before I leave in the morning:

oil
washer fluid
air pressure on truck and trailer tires
trailer/truck electrics
coolent level

I check this stuff before I go anywhere with the horse trailer.

3 Days and Counting - Handy Check Lists

inclined2ride — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 17:53:00 GMT

I have tonight, tomorrow and Thursday to be ready for my first Quarter Horse show of 2008. The Mid Columbia Dessert Classic in Pasco, Wa.

During that time I have to pack, and complete a number of tasks to get ready for the show. Most pressing is that I have to get my trailer out of its parking spot. Being clever, I parked it on 2x10's before the winter so it wouldn't sink in the mud which is great, however, my truck will still be trying to get traction in that mud while trying to pull it out to our driveway and there is stil a snow drift cover the right wheel well. I think if I don't get my truck stuck in the mud - it should be fine.

I am waiting for Thursday to give it a shot, its the only day its not supposed to rain and/or snow so I was think it would be my best chance to pull it out and fix the roof vent in the living quaters. If it doesn't work I have a standing offer to bunk with one of my friends at the show and I could just take my car down - the problem with that is that I have SO much gear that it doesn't all fit in my car and now that I am adding english gear to the mix it would be extremely difficult to fit the stuff that I need into my car.

The following is a short list of to do items for my own benefit - but I also have these Pre-Show Checklist.xml & Horse_Show_Checklist.txt lists that you can download (just click on the underlined part) and use for yourself if you'd like, I find them very handy. Like most folks I also like to leave my house in good order so I have been cleaning house like crazy this week. It just sucks when you come home all tired from the show and you have to do the dishes and wash clothes then figure you have no food at home - so I try to take care of all that.

My To Dos:

-Get out and Clean Trailer
-Pack Tack back in Trailer
-Pack Show Clothes back in Trailer (English and Western)
-Pack Regular Clothes
-Duct Tape Roof vent
-Pack Generator & Extra Propane
-Clean Show Saddle (Ha! Like this one getting done)
-Pick up blue show blouse at cleaners
-Double Check with Trainer make sure he has horse's tails
-Pick up and pack Hat
-Pack Sleezies
-Iron Jean (yes I startch all of my jeans that I take to a horse show, I just thing a nice crease down the middle looks so nice and professional)
-Wash new Jean (I always wash new clothes, you never know whose been trying them on)
-Buy extra battery if I can afford one
-Get food for show + cooler ice (since I will not be purchasing an RV plug at $35 a night)

Classic Series events held at Dover Downs

SBWhisperer27 — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 16:59:00 GMT

Yesturday kicked off the opening legs of the Classic Series for the older stars in the sport at Dover Downs in Delaware. The finals will be held later this year at The Meadowlands.

Classic Series Oaks (older female trotters)

Tim Tetrick steered Buck I St Pat to an easy 1:53 track record score, just one-fifth off the world record over a five-eighths-mile oval to win the $85,000 Classic Oaks. The 5-year-old went right to the front and never was headed in scoring her fourth victory of the year for owners Howard Taylor, Ed Gold, Abe Basen and Ron Fuller.

While setting the winning fractions, Tetrick and the daughter of Jailhouse Jesse kept runner-up Snazzy Millie and John Campbell a length back, challenging on the outside from the mid-backstretch to the finish line. Speed N The Tunnel with Tony Morgan got up to finish third.

Classic Series Open Pace (older male pacers)

In the $85,000 Pacing Classic, Artistic Fella followed the cover of Manhardt and George Brennan, testing front-pacing Total Truth and Brian Sears from the clubhouse turn until turning for home before Tim Tetrick unleashed the Pacific Fella 5-year-old down the lane on the way to a 1:50.3 victory.

It was the 2007 Breeders Crown winner's first start off a 1:55 qualifying race at Spring Garden Ranch in South Florida. Counting back to last Fall, the Steve Elliott-trained Artistic Fella has now won his last four races in a row for owner Joe Alborano. Veteran Casimir Camotion rolled down the lane to finish second for Ron Pierce while Mr Feelgood and Andy Miller were the show finishers.

Classic Series Distaff (older female pacers)

My Little Dragon enjoyed a perfect two-hole trip, racing behind odds-on favorite Southwind Tempo in the $85,000 Classic Distaff Pace before exploding to victory.

John Campbell got Southwind Tempo away smartly and controlled the early fractions. At the top of the stretch, Brian Sears took My Little Dragon to the outside and dashed past the leader in a 1:51.3 performance. Southwind Tempo held on for second with her entrymate Benear and Cat Manzi closing for third. Adam Victor & Son own My Little Dragon, a winner of nearly $1.6 million in purses.

Classic Series Open Trot (older male trotters)

The biggest surprise on the super-fast program came in the $85,000 Trotting Classic where 6-1 Enough Talk, a recent purchase by P Kleinhans Racing Inc., could not be caught in a 1:52.2 effort. That clocking lowered the world record for an older trotting gelding on a five-eighths-mile track, breaking the old standard of 1:53.1 held by Woody Woodrow. American Lane with Cat Manzi was the second-place finisher in front of Green Day and Tim Tetrick.

Race favorite Vivid Photo got away near the back in the 10-horse field. Roger Hammer took the former Hambletonian and Trotting Classic champion to the outside, then weakened on the backstretch and finished off the board for one of the rare times in his career.

The Classic Series's next stop is Mohawk Racetrack in Campbellvile, Ontario on Saturday, May 31, 2008.

A great horse greiving & tribute site.

Scout's Mom — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 01:36:00 GMT

Grab your Kleenex box and visit http://www.hoofbeats-in-heaven.com/

I just got done bawling my eyes out.