All posts tagged mounted games

TBT 12/19/13

December 19, 2013

I am trying out this “Throw back Thursdays” thing.

Here is a photo of myself and my pony Osh Kosh. I was about 19 years old which puts this in the 1998 time frame. I am at home, in my parents pony paddock.

I still have Osh Kosh. He is in his late 20s/early 30s and out on free lease with a pony club family.

1 Comment

by riderofchaos on December 19, 2013 • Permalink

Posted in Throw Backs

Tagged horse, mounted games, pony, tbt, throw back thursdays

Posted by riderofchaos on December 19, 2013

https://blueridgepony.com/2013/12/19/tbt-121913/

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.

Poe and I after Hug a Mug Race – Photo Credit: Little Belle Photography

Mitchell and Cowboy in Flag Race – Photo Credit: Krista/Blue Ridge Pony

Poe and I in High Low Race – Photo Credit: Little Belle Photography

A fossil pony that will canter up to an object, stop and then stand, is a goldmine!

Courtney in Bottle Race – Photo Credit: Krista/Blue Ridge Pony

Bella and Misty Litter Race – Photo Credit: Krista/Blue Ridge Pony

Poe and I on the start line – Photo Credit: Little Belle Photography

Jill and Sara in 3 Mug Race – – Photo Credit: Krista/Blue Ridge Pony

Kimi and Pepper in High Low Race – – Photo Credit: Krista/Blue Ridge Pony

Poe and I in Flag Race – Photo Credit: Little Belle Photography

Colleen and Sasha in Balloon Race – Photo Credit: Krista/Blue Ridge Pony

Hunter and Happy in Flag Race – Photo Credit: Krista/Blue Ridge Pony

Poe and I finishing in Ride and Run Race – Photo Credit: Little Belle Photography

Sarah and Chip at his first games competition – Photo Credit: Little Belle Photography

Jessie and Baily in Toolbox Raced – Photo Credit: Krista/Blue Ridge Pony

Brian and Nelly making a correction in High Low Race – Photo Credit: Krista/Blue Ridge Pony

1 Comment

by riderofchaos on December 4, 2013 • Permalink

Posted in Mounted Games

Tagged horse, mounted games, pony

Posted by riderofchaos on December 4, 2013

https://blueridgepony.com/2013/12/04/thanksgiving-taylormade/

A Shot of Poe

December 3, 2013

This is a photo that was taken of Poe and I at Gobbler Games two weeks ago.

Thank you M. Wallach.

Gobbler Games 2013

November 26, 2013

Saturday was the annual Gobbler Games, gamblers choice competition held in Nearsville, Virginia. This is always a really fun and laid back schooling competition that I enjoy.

This year Carol Ann and I drove up together. It was cool and crisp, with some sun, making it a great day for a competition.

In gamblers choice competitions everyone draws a teammate at random for the first session. Everyone draws a new teammate for the second session. So everyone gets to ride with two different people. This makes for a really fun opportunity to get to ride with people you might not get to ride with otherwise.

Carol Ann and I were paired up for the first session. She was on her newer pony Jinny, who is still green and was a little distracted. She did well and I was particularly happy with our handoffs.

Poe was very good. We still need to work on our starts, which improved greatly in the second session. Mainly he needs to settle in more and learn to stand and wait quietly. I have to keep him moving between races which makes my start timing sketchy. Sometimes he will stand nicely with another pony but as his anticipation builds he starts to back up, so I move him forward in circles. This is something that should improve with experience.

He was really into taking handoffs this weekend. He was eager to roll out full tilt, and eagerly began anticipating his turn. This is something I think our team is ready to speed up too so it was encouraging to have my pony so eager for handoffs.

His breaks are also greatly improved. And he stood like a rock for me to perform steady skills, like picking a ball off a cone and placing a flag in the four flag holder. He seems to really understand this and can set his impatience aside for these skills. He also seems much happier in the hackamore. Which I am sure helps.

His three mug was much smoother than at our last competition. That is a race that when performed well feels really cool.

The one skill I was a little unsure of was barrel turns. This is something I really need to work on. End turns in general really. Our carton turns were clean and appropriately tight, although we need to up the speed a little. Our first two barrel turns were not bad, although again, lacking the speed we need to build up to.

On my third barrel end turn I did not set the turn up as cleanly and I did not push Poe out enough through the turn, and he dropped his shoulder into it and we took the barrel out. Bloop.

Consequently I begin half halting and checking up very early in most races to set up my end turns. I really need to work on our end turns so we can push speed to the end, and not loose so much ground setting up the turns. This is again something that will come with continued training and experience.

In bottle race, which was the race I took the end barrel out in, I pushed for some speed on the way home. After I leaned and picked the bottle on the fly, Poe porpoised a few times. Not quite bucks, but something verging on bucks. I needed to pull his head up and kick him on but honestly, I grabbed the pommel and cantle, and let out a half hearted squeaky yelp, before I kicked on. Luckily I survived. Close one! (Insert cheesy grin).

My partner for the second session was Eliza. I have never had the opportunity to ride with her and she was a whole lot of fun. I really enjoyed her attitude and how upbeat she was. I think we made a pretty good pair.

I totally blew balloon race for us, blowing past it with out even being close to popping a balloon. I shocked myself at how crappy that was.

Eliza also made a mistake, which turned out to be pretty hilarious. She missed her put-in, in two flag, but quickly circled around, and picked the flag up off the ground at a trot from her pony’s back. Total skill. But then her saddle rolled around to the side of her pony. I laughed pretty hard. It was such a fantastic correction until, whoop.

Eliza was also super awesome in hula hoop race. We put me first, and being a non-vaulter, I was a little nervous she would forget and leave me in the dust. That, or Poe, who has only done this race once, and was not super excited to be held by another rider, would give her some issues. But boy, Eliza held into Poe like it was life and death, talking to him and me all along, and she stayed with me until I was mounted enough to give her the “Go!” Then for her part, Eliza had a superman vault, and we were over the line in no time like we play the race together all the time.

It was a super fun competition. And I was happy with Poe and my performance. We ended up in third place, behind Eliza, who was behind Paxton. I won a gift card to Sheetz! Score!

As always, thanks go out to Stacey and Anita or putting on another fantastic competition.

*photos by Lindsey M*

1 Comment

by riderofchaos on November 26, 2013 • Permalink

Posted in Mounted Games

Tagged equestrian, horse, mounted games, pony, pony games

Posted by riderofchaos on November 26, 2013

https://blueridgepony.com/2013/11/26/gobbler-games-2013/

Mid-Atlantic Mounted Games #5 ~ 2013

October 22, 2013

Last weekend, the really rainy one, was the big season finally games competition on the east coast. We all traveled to Upper Marlboro, Maryland to the PG Equestrian Center, for the Mid-Atlantic #5 Competition.

I arrived Friday afternoon, in a heavy downpour, that continued for the rest of the day and into the night. I attempted to set up my portable paddock but the paddock quickly filled with inches of standing water. Simon’s rider, Stephanie from Antiques Roadshow, had reserved Simon a stall, but I was planning on saving the expense by keeping Poe in a paddock for the weekend. But really, I just couldn’t leave him in standing water all weekend. So I moved him into the barn and bedded him down in a nice dry stall.

It continued to rain and rain and rain and by the time we had the ponies settled in, Linda, Kim and I were soaked through and just wanted to go somewhere dry for dinner. Shortly after dinner we returned to the grounds in time for Carol Ann’s arrival followed by the Lockyers and not long after that it was time for bed. I decided to move into an empty stall for the night, where i could move around easily, and remain dry all night. Daisy seemed pleased with the idea.

It continued to downpour all night, and into the morning, until just before it was time to enter the competition ring, when it luckily let up to a drizzle. The ring was still a mess, although the amazing drainage and footing at this facility, made it useable even in the extreme conditions we were under. It was not slick, just wet. very wet.

All the ponies were keeping their pace down, not willing to move out. It almost looked like the whole arena had been put on slightly slow motion.

Poe started out the session trying me a little, refusing to go out initially, but with a little firmness he gave in and kicked into gear. He has such a perfect attitude for this sport. He is aggressive and competitive. He is also super smart and attentive. I think he likes to work together, although he does try me quite frequently, making sure I mean business.

We spent the two weeks between MA4 and this competition working on our breaks and it paid off. He was much more attentive and ready to stop quickly. I think he just needs the full idea and he will have awesome breaks. I also think I need to sort out a better bit for him. I tried him in a kimberwick and he hated it. It was not a pleasant ride at all.

Side note: I am going to try a mullen happy mouth and see what he thinks, and Simon’s old combination bit and maybe a hackamore.

There were a few bumpy races, and a simple mistake, or a dropped handoff would put a team at the end of the pack.

This is the first competition where we have had two heats of Fossil teams, which made for a whole new ride for team Old School. We won both of our prelim heats, but we tend to ride our worst in the final session, which was going to be our most difficult. It also seems like our main competitor teams improve with each session. So we were certainly a wound up going into the A final.

Poe also held himself together, and kept up the awesomeness, improving continuously. He did give me a weird one in the very last race though. It was Flag Fliers and we were starting the race. He was very attentive and ready, and just as the referee dropped the flag he let out a buck before taking off, very odd and putting us about two strides behind, but we managed to hold and then make up our position, coming home with a clean pull, and easy hand off. And I am proud to say my team held it together, riding much better than normal during the final, and took the win by about 10 points, winning 8 of the 12 races in the session (a few races were cut from the final since it was still raining and sloppy). Go Old School!

The win at this competition and the win at the last one bumped us up to second in the series overall finish, behind the super competitive team in pink, Time Flies.

Back to the social part of the weekend, it was our friend Averi’s birthday, and we had a fun social dinner and birthday celebration with her Saturday night, with lots of laughs and fun. It also continued to rain for the whole weekend, I don’t think my hair was dry until Monday!

The photos today are from a selection of amazing MGAA photographers including Genevieve of EquiStar Photography, Jill of Little Belle Photography, Shannon Thornton and Karen Hecker. Thank you for sharing your amazing skills!