Another Tail of a Tale

Sorry!  Life has been crazy to sit down and write from time to time.

But I went out late last night to go visit and hang out with the horses.  Number one:  I was very surprised to find three other people in the barn after 10pm at night.  Who knew?  I thought I was the only crazy weirdo going out that late during winter...

Number two: horses still have all eyes, ears, and legs intact.  Major plus.

Number three: I have had a long, cranky week filled with an excessive amount of stress.  It's amazing how just bringing the horses in, checking them over, brushing them down, and hanging out reduced my blood pressure and made me happy.

I went ahead and let them loose in the indoor.  They always seem happy in this mess and slop to take advantage of the dry footing. 

The filly and I played some of our "games".  OK, so I don't really know what to call them, but I always enjoy free lunging horses while they are loose.  Not really all that unusual. 

I also have a thing where I run across the arena and wait for her to come and find me.  It usually takes only a moment or two. 

We practice lining up at the mounting block loose.  Wait filly, until that actually serves a purpose...

We stand up at halter loose. 

I found the flag/carrot stick type whip and had her come up and touch it.  She touched=positive reinforcement with a treat. Works for me.  I'd rather have her not be scared to death of that plastic.

I decided to take her tail down and condition and put it back up.  In typical crazy Arabian owner fashion, I have been trying to grow the filly's tail this winter.  She is not yet three, so it was decent length for a young horse, but not very long yet.  I put it up this fall and it's been slowly growing.  I think it's been probably a month to a month and a half since it was pulled down.

Last night

Last Spring.  Don't you love the wet rat look?

Hopefully tomorrow will be an awesome day off of work and I can have a chance to go out and ride. 

How about you guys?  Anyone else put tails up out there?  Talk about the lone holdout on most of these horse blogs I think.... :) 

MM: Star

I have mentioned Star in the past.

I suppose this isn't so much a separate Memory Monday, but still somewhat relevant. 

My wonderful friend J has been there every step of the way from when Star was euthanized and the guilt I felt to wondering what to do with Star's tail/mane hair.  She picked up the hair from me the other week and had a beautiful little keychain made.  

I still need to take a picture of the keychain, but somehow it seems comforting.  Although, it is also a bit of a strange thought carrying around part of my horse in my purse...

Now what to do with the rest...I'm thinking about perhaps some horse hair pottery.

Happy (Belated) Valentine's Day

Dear Semi Ferals,

I loved you so much this Valentine's Day, I went ahead and ordered myself another vet bill.

Good thing, it was just a clogged tear duct on the filly.  You are such a wobbly drunk.  When you couldn't even pick your head up off the wall, I really did have to laugh.  A pair of Coggins on both the filly and mare and we are good to go.  Can I please pay all my bills off now?  Please don't sustain any injuries in 2014. 

Love, 

Your Semi Feral (and quite horse poor) Rider

PS

Things are going well here.  Had a nice shopping extravaganza yesterday.  Brought home more tack than I can use from the adventure, so I suppose it's time to move other tack out.  So if anyone is looking for Pessoa snaffle bits (and one rubber Pessoa pelham), cob sized Red Barn standing martingales, pony sized Red Barn hunter bridle, size 32 show shirts, some show breeches (32 and 34 I think), some magnetic wraps, and that's just the start...just let me know.  All of the stuff in the above list is new.  Don't ask me why I have so much tack. 

Of Being A Disabled Equestrian Part II

Recently, I announced that I am a disabled equestrian.

I just wanted to follow up with some research I've recently done.  I know that I need to start to get my ducks in a row if I'd like to continue to show!

USEF requires a Dispensation Certificate.

Oops.  Something else seems wrong with this picture.  Can I get a dispensation for this too?

It specifically asks what the disability is, what's the medical diagnosis, what adaptive aids are needed and so forth.  Absolutely zero adaptive aids besides what is approved & listed on the sheet can be permitted in the ring.

A copy of the certificate must accompany all entries when sent in.

So, now that I've found the right certificate, all that's left would be to find equipment that would work!

Off to try and see what might work as a microphone/head set combination.  Better yet, finding a little ear piece that can communicate with a microphone and fit under the helmet comfortably.  

Any suggestions?  :) 

MM: Catch Handling

Last year, I had originally planned and wanted to take my filly and show her in hand at a June show.  However, I didn't get my ducks in a row and was still recovering financially from a previous show, so I was settling into the idea of enjoying the weekend with the husband I had off.

Then I received a phone call.  The trainer that had originally schooled the filly in hand needed a catch handler.  The amateur that was going to show these horses had a family emergency to attend to, so would I please come and show?

OK...

Except, I had not shown a horse sporthorse in hand at this point.

Also, the weather was a little gross.  More like pea soup.

But I went ahead and put on the only polo shirt I owned and off we went.

Three horses to show.   Hey, it couldn't be too bad, could it?  

I decided the first step was figuring out what I needed to do again.  Second step was to figure out if I could actually run that far in deep footing.  Third step was to make sure I actually had the right horses at the right time.

Horse one was a very pretty Straight Egyptian Arabian mare.  I don't think she's had many life experiences.  She was very good though.  The footing was terrible.  The girl before me ran in rubber boots.  I passed on that one.

But I gave it a go.  I didn't expect much since I had known the mare for approximately .025 seconds and had just learned about 15 seconds before which way to run on the triangle.

Sorry, I look a little derpy.  Kind of how I look in real life too.  

Not that long ago, I looked up the scores.  I was fairly impressed.  Then I looked more closely.  I ended up third.  Horse #1 that beat me has multiple national titles and was national champion in hand a previous year.  Horse #2 also had a national title in hand.  I was .9% behind those mares.  Not too bad.  The judge was pretty friendly and gave me a few suggestions. 

OK...so not to bad I suppose.

Let's try again.  

They moved the triangle to the parking lot.  The next horse I was a little concerned about.  I had known him for much longer than the mare I handled.  He was a two year old gelding.  Very athletic and intelligent, but needs to know where he stands with someone.

This whole "where he stands with someone" ended up being schooling him in the parking lot.

Is it a bad sign when people come over to watch and see what's happening?

He really wasn't too bad, but he just forgot that he has boundaries and he should progress in the right line, speed, and preferably not on top of me.

So into the arena we went, pretty hopeful.  The walk was fine and then the first trot around the triangle he was a little squirrely and ended up a little more sideways than extended.  I made it back to the apex and the judge told me "Again."

I asked if she was serious.  The whole thing?

Yes, the whole thing.

So around we went.  OK, so the distance of the triangle isn't that bad, but when you are running through mud...

No pictures of this guy that aren't the pro shots, sorry. 

But he was amazing.  Really cool extended trot.  Go figure.  We placed fifth in a good sized group of geldings.  The sixth placed gelding took national titles this year.  The others in front of me were more mature, fitter, and also with national level titles.

Not too bad.

Horse number three...also a two year old gelding.  Happened to be just about the sweetest two year old gelding around.  I loved him.  Very gentle and friendly.

We took second to a mature gelding who shows Prix St George.  I'll take it. 

It is often harder to show those funny looking two and three year olds against finished mature horses.  The horses all did their jobs wonderfully, despite having to make a makeshift ring in the parking lot.

I learned a lot and didn't make a total fool out of myself catch handling.  The horse owners were all thrilled to death.

Great experience and memory all the way around.

Of Being A Disabled Equestrian

But what really is a disability?

A physical impairment is defined by ADA as "any physiological disorder or condition, cosmetic disfigurement, or anatomical loss affecting one or more of the following body systems: neurological, musculoskeletal, special sense organs, respiratory (including speech organs), cardiovascular, reproductive, digestive, genitourinary, hemic and lymphatic, skin, and endocrine."

Most days, I don't really think of myself as being disabled.  I work more than full time.  I have advanced education.  I am a contributing member of society.

But there are times, when of course, it becomes painfully obvious, that as hard as I try, I am disabled.  

I have a congenital bilateral hearing loss.  I am also really good at lipreading and guessing.  In a day to day situation, it isn't obvious of my disability.  I doubt most of my coworkers know.  Some do.  Mostly when I am standing oblivious to some kind of alarm going off.  Oops.

But how does this affect the equine aspect of my world?

It really has been a defining thing.  It's a bit silly, but it has kept me confined for a long time to what I thought I could do.  How could I show in a ring class?  How would I hear the announcer?

Even showing in-hand, numbers for winners or called or numbers are called to go to the gate. 

Stressful.

My (often misadventure) is starting dressage hasn't been pain-free either.  All tests must be memorized.  But then I realized, the bell.  The bell that gives you forty-five seconds to enter the ring.  Good grief.  

Not much of a warm-up.  Rather more of a waddle my horse around while trying to stare down the judge at the other end.  

Riding in a mixed arena is entertaining.  I love riding with other people since I am more relaxed and happy.  I figure it stems from when I eat dirt, then someone else will be there to scrape me up off the footing.

But in reality, when people are having lessons or jumping or calling out diagonals.  Or pretty much doing complex things where listening is a major precipitating factor, it gives me a mild panic attack.

Oh no...it's the jerk in the ring.

Egads.

But there is an upside.  There are some awesome people out there.  Stewards and the gate keeper came to my rescue in my first halter class after I realized I could hear approximately 0% in the ring with the acoustics of the arena.  Talk about laying my fate in in their palms. 

Slightly dramatic. 

But I am used to being an independent person.  Despite this disability, I do not like relying on other people.  I am used to disappointment.

But still kindness comes.

At the first dressage show (albeit, a schooling one), the gate keeper was very kind and fished me out of my aimless wandering so I could go in.  I also had the best helper friend in the world keeping tabs on things.  Good thing she has functional ears.  The judge wasn't quite sure what to do, but made sure I was able to see her motion to me when it was time for the semi feral and I to make our grand entrance.

I did compete in a main ring class.  Couldn't really hear much of the announcer there either, but the horse did.  At least it was a one horse class with a well patterned horse.  The mare deserved the ribbon. I do have to look more into what kind of dispensations I can have from USEF, as I do want to show the filly in more main ring classes. 

As for riding with other people.  Not sure how to always fix that one.  Because of the crazy work hours, there are often not really other people around.  Saturdays can be hectic though when I am out.  In the past, I have abstained from riding, simply from the fear of being in the way.

Not sure how to avoid that one.

But there you go.  A bit of perspective from one disabled rider.  I am not perfect and certainly don't speak for any segment of the population, but just myself. 

How about you?  Any disabled riders out there?  How about riders you've met?  I love to hear stories of other people's triumph over adversity. 

Education

It's another cold day in the frozen tundra.

Surprising, right?

I'm pretty sure it's winter nine months out of the year. 

Regardless, I trekked out to the barn.  There was a lesson with a young shareboarder going on in the indoor, so I went ahead and brought out the semi feral mare with intentions of lunging her to see what the mare thought today.

She was pretty lazy and listening well, so I went ahead and saddled her, confident that there would be minimal disruption to the young juvenile equestrian in the arena.  I would hate to be that person, interrupting a juvenile's chance to learn.  ;)

So we did our usual pony-go-round, with a few less circles and leg yields, since it's quite a bit more work avoiding other people.  ;)  

Another boarder came into the barn, accompanied with two compatriots.  The three are veterinary students. 

I have always enjoyed introducing people to horses and teaching people the basics about horses.  Probably from the years of doing the summer camp thing.  So, it was a pleasure introducing willing adults to horses.  

Both students enjoyed a ride on the mare.  She was quite good and on the lazy side.  One student had horse experience, but just from the summer camp side of things with trail string horses.  She was thrilled when she discovered that the seat could control the horse and a little bit of leg could have the horse move laterally towards the wall.  Magic buttons!

I remember that same exhilaration about seeing "more" beyond just gaits, stop, and go and trail riding. 

The non-equine experienced student had the joy of learning how to brush a horse, pick feet, and put on a halter.  The mare was quite patient and cooperative.

How is it that she was so easy going and gentle about someone taking a few minutes to figure out how to even pick up the halter when I get the evil eye if I am fumbling around in my heavy gloves longer than approximately .5 seconds. 

Maybe this mare of mine is more of an educator than I know.