All posts tagged horse

Falling From the Ground

December 15, 2013

Last Saturday I had a fall. Ridiculously, I had not mounted up yet. I am smooth like that sometimes.

Here is what happened.

I was feeding and I noticed that Simon’s long luxurious forelock was all matted up with burrs. I picked them out and then I sprayed showsheen in to help get the little bits out. Simon does not care to have his face sprayed. So he pulled back, and I grabbed the front if his blanket with my right hand.

The silly pony started to trot away, me still holding with my right hand crossed over my body, and running sideways. I thought to myself, “yep, I am going to fall”. So I let go before Simon got going any faster.

Proudly, I remembered, and used my Pony Club “how to fall” training. I hit hard, but I rolled into it, and avoided hitting my head on the ground or a hoof! Go me!

I did rip a hole in my favorite winter breeches, and two holes in my knee with a little gravel ground in for good measure. And three days later I woke up to a massive, tea-plate, sized bruise on my leg. Battle wounds.

For his part, Simon trotted back and let me finish brushing his showsheen soaked forelock.

I was proudly telling my friend Lindsey how that old Pony Club, “how to fall” training came in handy, to which she promptly retorted, “but that Pony Club 101, “put a halter on your pony to groom him” training went right out the window.”

4 Comments

by riderofchaos on December 15, 2013 • Permalink

Posted in Pony Stuff

Tagged horse, pony

Posted by riderofchaos on December 15, 2013

https://blueridgepony.com/2013/12/15/falling-from-the-ground/

Winter Sunset

December 14, 2013

I took these photos on Thursday while attempting to ride Simon on his snowball shoes.

Snow Pads?

December 13, 2013

Over the past week we have had a few light snow storms, mixed with some ice. Although we did not end up with a large accumulation, it has stayed cold, and the stupid white stuff is not melting. Well, more precisely, It is not melting in the horse field, trails and areas I ride. The yard is fine! AHHH. Both of my ponies have shoes on, and both are walking on snowballs. Which means I have not been riding. And that is driving me crazy.

Yesterday I gave in, and I hopped on Simon and rode him around the field, which involved him uncomfortably slipping and sliding. He is very protective of himself and is extremely careful in less than perfect footing. Not the most exciting ride to say the least.

Trail riding, that’s what I like to do on the weekends in the winter. Spend my day, ambling through the woods, catching some beautiful views, spending time with my pony and my dog outdoors. ahhh, I can feel the piece of mind already. Luckily I live in an area that has ample trails. Unfortunately, the trails are all in the mountains, in the woods, and tend to be snow-covered even when the horse field is not.

Will we have a particularly snowy winter? Shoot, it’s not even winter yet. Will January and February be white? Should I get snow pads put on when the ferrier comes out?

I have not tried snow pads before. I am aware that there are two main types of snow pads. There are the traditional full coverage ones. They pop the snow out, keeping them free of snowballs, but they cover the entire bottom of the hoof, preventing access to the sole. There are also snow rim pads, which I know less about. I lightly read they are better for “snow and melt” environments where conditions change quickly. I am sure Google will help me become more informed. The ferrier is another great source of information on shoeing. Duh. So I’ll also ask him.

6 Comments

by riderofchaos on December 13, 2013 • Permalink

Posted in Pony Stuff, Trail Riding

Tagged horse, pony, snow, Trail Riding

Posted by riderofchaos on December 13, 2013

https://blueridgepony.com/2013/12/13/snow-pads/

Thelwell Poe – 2013

December 12, 2013

Just about everyone in the horse world is at least a little familiar with the Thelwells. They are the misshapen, naughty cartoon ponies that crash through fences, and have short legged kids attempting to ride them.

Poe’s former owner recently sent me a photo of him the day she took her daughter to try him out. He sure does look like a Thelwell in the photo. That or a bloated tick. If his mane and tail were just a little shaggier, they could have passed as riding in a costume class! I love it. Compare the images below and see what you think?

Thanksgiving Taylormade

December 4, 2013

Normally I do not take my ponies on a trip to visit my parents, but this Saturday was the first Taylormade Winter Games Competition of the season. Taylormade Stables is just down the road from my childhood home and my parents are awesome enough to welcome my ponies to visit for a few days.

After two days of family fun, I loaded up and headed to the Taylor’s. I spent a few hours setting up equipment for the masters sessions, taking some photos and cheering everyone on. It was exciting to see some of the intermediate riders moving up into the masters division. What a fabulous time I had socializing with my horse family.

When it was my turn to ride I tacked Poe up early and walked him around. Because he was anxious and fidgety I was happy to get extra time in the saddle before we went in the ring.

There were four other riders in my division. Sarah rides on the team, Red Solo Cup, and was on her new pony, Chip, who is brand new to games. He did fantastic and I think Sarah was happy with his performance. Anne rides on the team, Time Flies, and she was on her Morgan. Although he has been with Anne for 15 years, he is new to games. He also performed exceptionally well and seemed to take to games. Laura rode her TB mare, Annie, who is an unusual tall mounted games pony. For a TB she really seems to take to it with level headed enthusiasm. Mackenzie was on another larger mount, who was lovingly referred to as, “the fox hunting rhinoceros”. A lovely looking mare that’s new to the sport. Poe and I completed our division of five.

Poe certainly did his part and ran like a pro. After the first few races I decided I needed to stop checking-up to slow down so early in an attempt to set Poe up for a nice smooth end turn. Eventually he is going to be making faster end turns, and I felt this was the time to step it up.

We started with balloon race, I let him run all the way up. He executed a much quicker end turn. Next we had barrel end turns, which require the pony to turn around a barrel while the rider performs a skill. This is a task that has been a little sloppy for Poe and I. The goal is to get close enough for the rider to pick or place equipment, but not so close that the barrel gets knocked into. A pony dropping a shoulder or even a hip into the barrel is very common.

We had Hug-a-Mug, Bottle and then Association race, all required making an end turn around a barrel. They all went really well. I kept Poe moving into the turns with minimal set up, just keeping my inside leg on. It really shows how far Poe has come that he responded so well. I was particularly happy with his association turn. His starts were also much improved. He stood and waited before races and was calmer moving into his starts. Towards the end of the second session, as night was coming on, he started to get less tolerant between races. But was still completely cooperative during the races. He is moving out much more confidently as he learns this sport. It really fits his mind well.

I was telling a friend how Poe tolerates schooling at home and has tolerated the two trail rides I have taken him on but he really likes games. His heart and mind are both there. He doesn’t just tolerate it. He loves it.