More pictures, less words

Butterball and I returned to JT's on Saturday for a fun pop around the jumps again. With more media this time! Overall it was just a really delightful day. I work a ton of weekends, so the ones I'm off I usually spend with my husband (if I'm not at a horse show). But he was at CE all weekend, which meant I was free to pretend I was a teenager again and hang at the barn all day. 

Overall it was more of the same as earlier in the week, but we did add a bending line from an oxer to the skinny. We struggled with the line a bit. I just kept getting funny distances, but we ended up sorting it out, you can see it in the video. I also worked soooooo hard at keeping my hands down and forward and giving the poor perfect pony an actual release over the fences. It's a new feel for me (how embarrassing is that), but a good one. He was much appreciative of the release though. He was also more game through the grid this go round, with very few wiggles. 

How cool is this pony, ya'll??? We're doing a dressage lesson today and then are headed to Rocking Horse this weekend for our first recognized novice. 

Getting Gritty vs. Opting Out

Butterball and I had a jump lesson on Tuesday. It was a really fun course set around a grid down the middle of the arena. The grid was three bounce crossrails, one stride vertical, two stride oxer. Butterball and I hadn't jumped since our cross country school, so I was a little rusty. This is apparent in the video Holly was kind enough to take. 

This was our first or second go through of one version of the course and features my miss as well as a position fault that JT set to work fixing immediately after. For whatever reason I was wanting to pull back with my hands through the grid, so it was a great place to work on hands down, shoulders up. She had me grabbing mane through it to emphasize the hands down and staying down. 

We did a few different courses. After the one in the video she put a couple of jumps up, but left the skinny, the vertical in the grid, and the oxer that was the start of the five stride line all relatively small. We then did them as an angled line across the diagonal, skinny, angled three strides to the XX vertical, angled four strides to the oxer (the blue dashed path in my beautifully created course above). Butterball was totally game and once I closed my leg and showed him the line across to the vertical he was all business about it. Like wedges, Ben and I quite enjoyed the angled lines, so it was fun to try it on BB. I think having a very specific point to ride to helps me ride better than the general flat face of a jump (or angled face of a corner LOL). 

There were a few cones distributed throughout the course to encourage USING the ring and not cutting corners. There were two at the start of the grid, two at the end, and one at the end of the 5 stride to 1 stride line. They were honestly more helpful than I'd like to admit, although both BB and the other horse did take out one at the end of the gymnastic line. You'd think that saying go straight after would get us to do the same thing, but the visual of the cones was REALLY helpful. 

We finished up with a few more trips through the grid. JT ended up adding wedge shaped placing poles to the oxer and putting the XX filler as angled directives to the vertical since BB and the other horse we were jumping with were wanting to wiggle through the line. Each time through I was working on hands DOWN into the neck, grabbing mane, and staying tall with my shoulders. The final oxer height was substantial, I want to say 3'6", but honestly it might've just been 3'3" and I haven't seen that height in a while. BB took a look at it and wiggled through the bounces and I didn't fix it. He wiggled over the vertical and then ducked out of the oxer. Honestly I might have even given a right tug on the rein to turn him out of it. JT had us turn back in, one tap, and then let him settle and take a look at it. She told me to get gritty, and I reasoned in my head she'd never asked us to do anything we (BB or any other horse!) aren't capable of. So I kicked him straight through the first few fences the next go round and he jumped it great. We did it one more time and WOW. He can seriously jump. It is a whole new feeling at this height and will take some work to stop feeling jumped out of the tack. His whole jump, from knees to back to hind end is just incredible. I wish I had video of that trip through. 

Since he had a long conditioning ride Monday and a jump lesson Tuesday, Wednesday was our bareback hack day. I am trying to use the ditches as hills, which is kinda amusing. We serpentine back and forth up and down across them. They mowed the whole shoulder of the quiet road the barn is on, so now I can see where there are trash and holes to avoid, which is great. 

The camera minimizes the slope as usual, but it is reasonably steep in a few portions, just lacking in distance lol. But still, better than nothing?? 

Pesky cut is FINALLY healed up so it's just a scar at this point. I'm still putting Wound Wonder on it daily to try to minimize scarring so it won't be a spot where he wants to get rubbed. 

It is CRAZY to me how good his feet are - the holes from the prior set of shoes are just... holes... the wall hasn't chipped or torn up or anything... 

Meeting the weanling gang. Ben was pretty rude to them, but Butterball was just as sweet as could be 

Wednesday Wanders at Watermelon Pond

I tried to drum up a friend to go with, but horses, trailers, and work schedules being what they are, Butterball and I ended up solo at Watermelon Pond on Wednesday. I really dislike trotting laps to do a 20 minute trot set, so my goal was a bit over an hour walk and then 20 minutes trot and 3x3 minutes canter. I've been to Watermelon Pond quite a few times (Yoshi trip, Ben trip, Goggles trip). But each of those trips had something in common: Ms. GY. 

Butterball got off the trailer calmly and pleasantly. He did a bit of a dance when a hiker walked up, but overall was pretty settled. 

This is new! 

"You seem to have tied me so that I can't reach the grass.... WHY??"

Headed down into the pretty woods. Pony was fairly high headed at this point.

Back in the sun, open fields to our left 

Such a beautiful day 

Shallow pond 

Then some speckled woods 

Open fields

Then we picked up the trot and did a 20 minute trot and then our canter sets. I practiced the galloping position from Naked Horse and it felt pretty stable most of the time. He did a few sideways canters, presumably when we got close to deer or hogs. I made a few turns during our trot and canter, generally trying to loop back towards the east and the parking area. And I was thrilled when it looked like we were headed straight at the exit as I finished the last canter. But... we weren't....

We finished up at the purple X and I was parked at the red X. Hrmmmm. I mapped it as the crow flies once I got home and it was two miles. But I had a bit of an internal panic as I figured out that I was close to the other parking area that is quite a few miles further of a drive. Rather than trying to find trails to head home, we just followed the perimeter fence back (other than cutting off that little corner at the very top left). ATVs drive on that fairly often, so it was pretty deep in a few spots, but a lot of it was still really nice. 

Since we were walking now, I let him stop to watch the herd of deer that were in the woods and were reacting to our presence

There were goats in the field. He was alert but okay with those. But he was NOT okay when three LGD came RUNNING up to the fence barking. It was the only sketch moment of the whole trip because he backed off the trail and was going a bit sideways through the field that had gopher tortoise holes and other sketchy things. Fortunately I got him stopped and then he regrouped. Completely fair my friend, three wolf like things bolting at you is pretty concerning. 

The rest of our perimeter walk home was pretty relaxed

And he started trying to snack

THIS is what the view to the exit should look like 

Proving what a GOOD BOY he is, this entrance made him spook pretty hard on the way in. But after a little coaxing we went through it. On the way back out, he was totally solid through it with no worries. 

Enjoying snacks after getting sponged off

Garmin view of our ride. I forgot to turn it on right at the start, obviously. Total distance from it was 6.71 miles in 1:18 with an average speed of 5.1 mph, 48 feet of ascent. 

Feeding the Hony

After four years of keeping thoroughbreds, keeping a half welsh kiddo at an ideal weight caused a bit of panic initially. JT said he was generally a work six days a week kinda dude, okay I can do that. But how do I feed him? Or not feed him, really.

Butterball was pretty happy in the feeding system at JT's barn - in during the day with the world's tiniest hole slow feed hay net (that his owner kindly gave me) and then out at night with minimal grass and a round bale of tifton. But he moved up to my home barn with LOADS of grass in October, so I entered the world of grazing muzzles. 

Per recommendations, I got a GreenGuard Muzzle and then pretty rapidly their specific halter since he removed it rapidly without their halter. Even once I got the halter, it took quite a few nights of modifying before I got it adjusted so that he could eat but not rub it off on the fence. Now he's wearing it most of the time unless he can talk Ben into taking it off over the fence. 

I spoke with my BFF in NJ and asked if he really needed to be wearing a grazing muzzle every night. She said the short answer was probably yes, but the practical application of muzzles is difficult. She recommended submitting an insulin level after a night out on grass, using the grass as a glucose tolerance test essentially. If it wasn't high after a night on grass, then he could go out without the muzzle, but just keep an eye on his weight. I had submitted an insulin level when I ran blood as part of his PPE and it was 21 (reference range <20 uIU/mL). The day before Milton I pulled another after he chowed down outside the whole night without a muzzle, and it came back this week as 22. Woohoo! Pony can go out free! We're still going to do a MWF with muzzle, other four days without so that he doesn't get fat, but overall I was pleased with this approach. And I think it will make him much easier to manage over the summer. Our soil is so sandy and he looooooves a good roll, so the combo of sweat and sand was really setting him up to get rubs if he had to be in it every night. 

HALP! Report pony abuse! 

Grain wise, he switched to Seminole brand with the move, but still gets a small helping of ration balancer twice a day. He also gets OneAC and Relyne GI. For hay, he is on two flakes of orchard grass in the teeny tiny hole hay net. He still has it finished after about six hours, but without that net, he'd inhale it in less than an hour. I'm considering one of the portagrazer type things, but now that he doesn't have to be muzzled every night, I'm a bit less worried about his teeth dealing with soo much in the way of his food. 

I also baked him a tray of Low Starch Apple Cinnamon Horse Treats and he thinks they're pretty great. They were super easy to throw together. Ben also likes them, but Goggles was pretty sure they weren't food. 

Those of you with experience with easy keeping critters, any tips of tricks to share?

Outfitting the Hony

At one point I commented that NONE of my things for Yoshi fit Ben and then NONE of my things for Ben fit Goggles. I retract those statements. But... NONE of my things for Ben and Goggles fit Butterball. Actually none. Saddle pads being the only exception. The things the others could share/pass down... Blankets, bridles, reins, bits, XC boots, stadium boots, breastplate, girths... Yeah. None of that fits Butterball. I can't even use the same reins because horse length reins are long enough on him to risk getting my foot caught in them. Essentially my complaints between the others were that the same saddle didn't fit each. And Ben and Yoshi are the same blanket size, but Goggles is slightly larger (but could squeeze into Ben's extras until he got his own...) 

I was able to buy BB's bit, schooling bridle, show boots, blanket, and sheet from his old owner, which was excellent. The blanket and sheet did not come in fun pony patterns, but I couldn't pass up a good deal. But that still left quite a few things to acquire or modify.

Saddle: Because I still have Goggles and still need to be able to ride him, it made the most sense to send off my Forestier to get repaneled to fit the pony. The rep came out and watched me ride and we went through JT's and AT's saddles and picked out what he liked best. He objected the most to feeling restricted through his shoulder/wither, so we ended up removing all half pads as well. The rep decided to do a shoulder cut out panel with a pony panel (shorter overall length) and a narrower channel in the back. 

Also pictured - adorable turquoise halter 

Bridle: Another one of JT's students has a pony and has been my source of all things pony for this journey. She has an Antares Figure 8 for her pony. I have the PSoS figure 8 for Ben and Goggles. While I'm happy with the leather quality, the lower strap on the noseband buckles in a really annoying spot. When I tried the Antares, I was in love. While the PSoS has good leather, the Antares is like butter. 

Is he not the cutest thing ever?? 

I paired it with a set of Lemieux Rubber Grip Continental Reins when I placed by order from Redpost. I think I've discussed, but I require stops on my reins. Partly so I don't let them slip and partly so when riding alone I don't get in the habit of riding with them waaaaayyyy too long. When I did Ben's dressage warm ups at shows by myself I'd count stops, put my hands there, and then ride him into that length of frame after a warm up. Redpost was also recommended by Holly and made the $$$$ Antares bridle a bit more affordable. Plus shipping was insanely quick considering it is international. 

His dressage bridle is still TBD. He's not going to have a dressage saddle for quite a while, so I may just keep riding him in the figure 8 set up for all three phases. It's non-traditional, but he said a firm NO to Holly's Antares anatomic noseband, so the hunt is paused. 

Bit: This charming creature does all three phases in a Neue Schule Turtle Top with Flex Full Cheek. I was able to buy his from his owner at half the retail price.

We have played some with a Bombers preferred contact molded loose ring bit to see if it helps with the chomping he likes to do sometimes. 

Breastplate: Also recommended by fellow pony owner was the Anka Lumiere Breastplate with running attachment. 

Ft: Lumiere breastplate and equifit open fronts and fetlock boots 

Girth: After some discussion, it was decided that belly guard girths seem to cinch the whole saddle, pad, +/- half pad combo down onto a moderately witherless creature best. I have been quite happy with my LeMieux girths for Ben and Goggles, so I added their Arika contoured short stud girth to my Redpost order. 

Boots: In keeping with trying to be responsible, I bought a pair of used Majyk equipe boots for Butterball. They're black and red, wouldn't be my first choice, but at 1/3 the cost of new... can't beat that! 

Also ft. white Pro choice bell boots

Fly Sheet: I've been pretty happy with using a neck sleazy and then a discount fly sheet for keeping horse clean and braids in place with Ben before early morning rides, so I picked up a Rugged Ride Fly Sheet for Butterball from Chick's. The quality seems fine for what I ask of it. Florida is generally too hot to use fly sheets regularly unless there is a specific reason to protect. 

And that's a wrap! Hony is now outfitted and dressed for all three phases and daily life. My bank account is grateful that we're done with that phase of horse acquisition! 

Worded Wednesday Walks: My Dream Horse

We all came through Milton just fine. Less rain and wind than Helene by a long shot here, we didn't even lose power. Thank goodness. I feel for the people to the south, some of the rivers we canoe a lot are flooding and going to get even higher over the next week. I am ignoring the whispers of yet another storm out in the Atlantic right now. 

Back to ponies... Butterball's cut right in front of the girth is STILL healing. And after our XC lesson two weeks ago, I got serious about NOT putting a girth back on him until it is healed.

Pesky little thing, taken about a week ago

So in that spirit, we've done a TON of bareback hacking. 

Some of us have been snacking too 

As I explored a powerline cut bareback in misting rain the day before Milton, I realized this is what I've been searching for. I think my greatest joy comes from the quiet walks in the woods. I LOVE jumping and can really savor those moments where things click in dressage and there is a new understanding of moving off the leg and another degree of lift to the withers. But truly? I want a horse I can hop on and hack through the woods on and feel like they're having a good time too. Bonus that this one has the comfiest pony back so he is MADE for sitting on bareback. 

Butterball is not (yet) a seasoned trail horse, so he certainly has his moments. He spooked pretty hard at a banner flapping in the wind directly behind him and less hard at machinery rustling in woods that he couldn't see through. But generally he approaches things in a confident manner with a sense of curiosity. After those spooks, he came right back down to earth. And food trumps all for this pony, so a mouthful of grass later and he was totally content. He just took a moment to pause and stare at the clown donkey and horse duo across the road from the barn and the herd of cows that TROTTED towards him at the fence. After consideration, he wanted to head closer to them to investigate. 

It doesn't hurt that he's adorable and a heck of an athlete, but his level headed confidence is my absolute favorite thing. 

Those ear tips tho 

💗💗

What is your ideal horse? Which characteristic in a horse is MOST important to you? 

Wednesday Walks: Through Pony Ears (and Bonus Cats)

Here we go again. This *looks* to be more mild than Helene for our area. We'll be on the north side this round instead of the east, so tornado chances are minimal, which is always nice. Only change is that Butterball is closer to home. He'll be out in the field, next to but not with Ben. 

Pretty dappled sunlight, post hurricane ride 

Interested in what's going on over there! 

Why yes, I do think you set this fly mask here for me! 

Kittens at JT's, OMG do I love them 

Hacking from our new home barn

Crossing the main road which I haven't dared to do on Goggles yet

But BB is pretty perfect

Why yes, I did set that up to be your bed 😂