The Foxhunting Friesian goes Western

Remember back when I posted about putting together a Zorro costume for Daatje and I?  Well, since then, I've been kinda on the lookout for a western saddle that we could tool around in, and also use as part of our Zorro outfit.

Holy crap I found one.  Was on the way back from a trip to Maine and stopped in at the BEST tack shop in the world, Double G Tack.  I LOVE that store!  If I lived closer, I'd be broke for certain.  Anyway, we went upstairs to peak at the used consignment saddles and this baby was sitting on the saddle rack:

It's a Simco in really great condition, and the price was exactly what I had in mind!  I could not leave without it.  It'd only been in the shop for a week, and who knows when I'd be back!  So, I bought it. 

Brought it home and tried it on Daatje and it fits her back like it was made for her!  Better than any of my english saddles (except for the Sensation Jump, which is a perfect match for her as well).  I still need to get a western pad, cinch and curb strap before I can ride her in it, but here's a shot of her sporting her western duds, minus the missing gear:

I think she looks smashing in western tack and I'm having a blast seeing just how versatile this mare can be! 

On the home front, we're busy, busy, busy installing the fencing and working getting the stalls completed so the horses can come home.  It's keeping me from regular blogging, I'll get better, I promise!  Especially as hunting season draws near.  It is very hard to believe that the first Saturday hunt of the season is less than a month away!!!

Here's a shot of my barn with in-progress fencing as it was this morning before I left for work:



And of the stalls my Dad has been working so hard on to finish:

This weekend I'm taking a break from the property and bathing and body clipping all three horses.  Then, on Sunday, I'm taking Daatje to the WNRDC Stadium Practice Day.  It's a schooling day where the WNRDC sets up a course of stadium fences (18" x-rails through 2'11") and for just $30 you can jump up to 6 rounds at any height you choose.  Pretty cool!  I hope to bring someone along to take pics.....will let you know how it goes!

Marked improvement

Thank goodness, it looks like her back soreness is going to be short lived.  I checked her this morning, and there's barely a muscle twinge when I run my fingers down either side of her spine.  Phew.  I'll bet we'll be able to go for a ride this weekend.  In the Sensation, of course!  I've already been to their website and it seems they've got a few Formal Dressage models in stock.  I just have to unload a few unused items of tack to get the bulk of the price and then we're going to be the proud owners of one of them. :)  It would be nice if they're still available.  If not, it's about a 3-4 month wait for a custom order.

We'll see how fast I can sell the other stuff.  Ebay is a wonderful thing! (sometimes......)

I purchased a digital image from Vivian Earabino of Daatje and I at the hunter pace two weeks ago.  Such fun!   



God damnit.......

Sigh.

I should have known better.  Remember that awesome Laser 747 that fit Daatje so well?  Well, it's not going to work out after all.  (grrrrrrrr)

I had an AWESOME dressage school last night.  We worked for 45 minutes, transistions, lengthenings, working on balance and straightness....the usual basic stuff

Tonight her back is so sore I can't even lightly brush it without getting a seriously dirty mare stare.  Complete with pinned ears and swishing tail.  I feel terrible. :(  My poor dear mare.  Not ONCE during our ride did she give me the slightest inclination that she was uncomfortable.  She worked hard, was totally focused, forward and responsive.  Oh, I wish she had let me know!  I will never put that saddle on her back again.

So, we're back to s-q-u-a-r-e- o-n-e.  Sigh. 

I know what I have to do.  They look funny, totally unconventional, but totally comfortable for the both of us. I've never had such success with a saddle as I've had with our Sensation G3 Jump.  It appears it's time for me to invest in their Formal Dressage model. 

There goes $1,400.  And my plans to do a dressage test at the Groton House Summer Classic.  God knows I'm not going to do it in my Sensation Jump saddle and unless I'm doing a test bareback, that's the only thing I've got right now that won't sore her back.

Mare, mare, mare.

It's ok though.  I'm so busy with setting up the farm to bring the horses home, it's silly for me to try to compete in the midst of it all.  Too distracting and added stress.....

I'm just really sorry I made her back sore.....my poor mare.  I'll give her a couple weeks off from being ridden and when I can curry her back again without getting dagger eyes, we'll go for a ride.  Until then, if I have time to work with her, we'll do some long lining.  It's been a while and not a bad thing to practice every now and then.

So, looks like the Laser is going up on Ebay for a song.  Anyone looking for one, might want to keep their eyes open! 

Myopia Hunter Pace and infrequent blogging.....

Well, we had a wonderful time at the Myopia Spring Pace Sunday, May 20th.  The weather was gorgeous and Daatje was phenominal.  My friends horse had never been on a pace before (OTTB turned dressage horse) so he had a few things to wrap his mind around and she was a model babysitter.  Go Daatje. :)

There are a ton of photos of us coming across the finish line at  VE Photography.  We're actually the cover shot for the album, which I think is kinda cool.  Most of the photos of us are on page 2, if you want to wander over an check them out. 

Daatje led most of the way, was fairly brave jumping without a lead and even logged her first brush jump.

We really don't have anything on the schedule unless I can bring ourselves to compete at the Groton House Summer Classic.  I've been so busy working on the property that I have barely had any time to go for a hack, let alone school for competition.

Which brings my to why I don't blog much these days.  I want the horses to come home by Labor Day and we've got stalls to build and fencing to put up before then!  It seems like every waking moment that I'm not a work, I'm spending working on the property.  A temporary sidetrack to my regular routine, but well worth it in the end.

Here's where we left off yesterday after 8 hours of working in the barn, constructing what will be Daatje and the mini's stalls.....

This used to be a beautiful 4-stall horse barn with full loft, feed and tack rooms.  Badly neglected over the years, the last owners ripped out the custom cedar stalls to use it as a garage.  (Grrrrrr)  We're working hard to correct that.

Here's what the barn looked like the day the contractor started working on it.....

And a few weeks later....

So, that's what's been keeping me from riding much.  But, with any luck we'll have the horses home in a few months and I'll have time to fit in training rides and competing instead of construction. :P

New saddle!

I've been (not so) secretly searching for a new dressage saddle.  Finally at my limit of working overtime trying to keep a good balance in the Carlton, I was eager to find a treed saddle that would help me out a little bit and still work for Daatje.  But what should I look for?  I've had many over the years, so I knew what I *didn't* want (Wintec, Bates, Kieffer, Duett, Albion, Arabian Saddle Co, Collegiate, Ansur, KN) and she's so broad shouldered....(what drove me towards treeless in the first place)....it makes her very hard to pick a saddle that sits right on her.

I was at a show a month ago, and saw someone riding a beast of an Irish horse.  His shoulders rivalled Daatje's, if not wider.  I quickly ran over and asked her what she was riding in.

A Laser.  The really lovely expensive saddles with the mechanicaly adjustable trees.  That also happen to be really wide.

So, the hunt was on.  Shortly thereafter, I found one used, a Laser 747, for a reasonable price.  We tried it and both really liked it!

And, it's "stupid wide". :)

So, we're rejoining the "land of the treed".  It needs a bit of maintenance (billets and a re-flock) due to it's age, but other than that, we have a winner.  Hooray!

Next weekend is the Myopia Hunter Pace, which we intend on doing, if the weather holds.  I should have photos and a full report.....but until then, here's a quick clip of Daatje enjoying a 2'6" coup I built a couple of years ago. 

Does this rider make my butt look big?

My has it been a shamefully long time since Daatje and I have attempted to school dressage.  There was a time when we were solid at 1st level and schooling some 2nd level moves, but now?  Disconnected might be a good way to put it!  My brother came out a couple of weeks ago and took some photos of us while schooling in the field.  (Thanks Nate!)  It was blatantly obvious to me, after looking at some of the photos mid-ride (educational tool when too poor for lessons!) that I was rounding my shoulders, sitting in a godforsaken chair seat with piano hands (blame the dingbat whacker for that!) and causing Daatje to be short in the neck and too deep behind the vertical.  Ugh.  Knowledge is power though, so after seeing the photos, I went back to work to try to correct the errors of my ways.  Here are some photos of the efforts after.

She has a ridonkulously short neck to begin with, so I have to be super careful not to scrunch her up in front.  So easy not to notice with a high necked horse!

With Daatje, I'm happy to see her light in front and slightly in front of the vertical.  I think we're picking up our canter here.

Really trying to maintain my out-of-shape-for-dressage self....but look at how nicely she's stepping under.  She really is a joy to ride.  So comfortable and balanced!

We had a good workout, the both of us!  Only 30 minutes of just trying to maintain a good rhythm and balance and we were pooped!

I sure do wish I had the resources for more dressage lessons.  Maybe someday.  For now we'll have to work with what we've got!  Getting back into shape will help.  I'm glad Daatje doesn't mind if her rider makes her butt look big. :)

All shortcomings are quickly forgiven with a few peppermint cookies.  ;)  Don't worry Daatje, we'll get back into practice this spring!

Is that a Western bridle?

You may remember my mention of Daatje and I being Zorro and Tornado for Halloween this year?  Well, I finally got the bridle/bit/reins that I want to use as part of that get-up so I had Daatje model for you all. :)

You'll notice there's no curb strap....I don't have one to match this bridle yet, so no riding in it until then, but I think she looks smashing in Western tack! 

I'll have to school her in this bridle some before we're ready for the Halloween Hunt/Costume classes/Hunter Paces though.  Although she's had driving training in a Liverpool, and hunts in a Pelham, she doesn't neck rein well enough for me to be comfortable riding her in this bit in an exciting setting.  It will give us something to play around with!  :)

So, after I took these modeling shots, we tacked up in our regular gear and went for one of the best trail rides we've had so far this winter.  It finally snowed, which I really could have done without, but it makes for great footing out on the trails!  We enjoyed quite a few good gallops.  I think she missed being able to get a good run in.