Monday, August 13, 2012
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Combined Test in the Heat Wave
Last Wednesday we ventured over to Hillcrest Farm to compete in a schooling show at the Novice level. I had the confidence to move him up to Novice after an excellent lesson the week before.
Houston and I worked until we were ringing wet the entire week before to be as ready as we could be.
We were fortunate to ride at 8:45 am that morning, it was humid, no breeze and stifling. Houston was fantastic, we moved more forward than normal, his transitions were smooth and then he gave me a little buck before the canter depart. I wasn't upset and I smiled after it happened because if my 21 year old feels like bucking, more power to him. We received a 34.5 which is really good for the non-dressage queens that we are. The judge was tough and so was our competition.
Shortly after dressage ended we geared up for the show-jumping round with lots of bending lines and tough turns. My handsome old guy handled it like a pro and bounded through the course was ease. We even got into a tight 1 stride and came out like this.
So many times I'm reminded just how lucky I am to have this amazing ex-racer as my eventing partner. He tries his heart out for me on a daily basis and never ceases to make me smile or feel more blessed to ride him. Houston was able to take home a distinguished yellow ribbon after his strong efforts last week. This 21 year old has a lot left in him and I'm excited to see where it takes us.
Houston and I worked until we were ringing wet the entire week before to be as ready as we could be.
We were fortunate to ride at 8:45 am that morning, it was humid, no breeze and stifling. Houston was fantastic, we moved more forward than normal, his transitions were smooth and then he gave me a little buck before the canter depart. I wasn't upset and I smiled after it happened because if my 21 year old feels like bucking, more power to him. We received a 34.5 which is really good for the non-dressage queens that we are. The judge was tough and so was our competition.
Shortly after dressage ended we geared up for the show-jumping round with lots of bending lines and tough turns. My handsome old guy handled it like a pro and bounded through the course was ease. We even got into a tight 1 stride and came out like this.
Monday, June 4, 2012
The Men in My Life
I'm fortunate to have two wonderful men in my life.
This is the most recent photo I was able to share with them both.
Both bring a smile to my face on a daily basis and most of the time don't even have to say a word. I was blessed to spend the weekend with both of them and reminded of how special they each are.
Monday, May 7, 2012
First Trip to the Carolina Horse Park
Derby Day, Cinco de Mayo and Carolina Horse Park all in one day! May started out with a bang. Houston and I packed up at 7:30 am to travel 2.5 hrs to the Horse Park for our first horse trials of the season. Neither of us had competed at the horse park we I was very excited/nervous and he was very talkative. He talked to everyone in warm-up, everyone in the barns we passed and every horse that passed him.
The heat rose to almost 80 before we even rode our dressage test- whew! But we got through it with a decent score for us and Houston even greeted the judge upon trotting down the center line with a huge neigh.
2 hours later the cross-country was walked and we were gearing up for a quick show-jumping round and then off to cross-country we went. Show- Jumping was flawless- I love this horse!
We started cross-country with gusto and Houston was a machine soaring over everything and keeping the perfect pace. We approached number 10, the water complex and he stopped dead 10 feet away and refused to have anything to do with the water.
After about 3 minutes we were eliminated. Houston was genuinely scared and thought something was going to happen if we went in the water, he's not one to refuse or do anything dirty. We will plan some water schooling days this summer and try again in the fall. Nothing changes how amazing he was during EVERYTHING until the water. I'm very proud of my old guy and look forward to the next event.
The heat rose to almost 80 before we even rode our dressage test- whew! But we got through it with a decent score for us and Houston even greeted the judge upon trotting down the center line with a huge neigh.
2 hours later the cross-country was walked and we were gearing up for a quick show-jumping round and then off to cross-country we went. Show- Jumping was flawless- I love this horse!
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| Houston & Jason watching the division ahead of us. |
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| Excited to go Cross-Country |
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| This is as close as we ever got..... |
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Happy 21st Birthday Houston
My wild, crazy, lovable Houston is 21! His birthday present arrived this week.
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Bright Eyes
I realize this post is way out of order but the topic is often at the forefront of my mind.
In September of 2009 I experienced something all horse owners dread. Finding your horse in the pasture with an eye swollen shut. Houston approached the gate for his morning feeding and his left eye was the size of a softball. Of course it was on a weekend, he doesn't operate on a weekday injury schedule.
The vet came out and discovered an ulcer on Houston's eye. A lavage system was put in place and we began treatment four times a day with three different medications in hopes that the ulcer would dissolve.
A week later the lavage system was removed and the ulcer was still there with little improvement. Houston's patience with me, treatment and stall rest was phenomenal he was more patient than I was. Dr. Bradford decided to do a scrape to see if we could get some cells from the ulcer and determine what it was and why it wasn't healing. Watching a HUGE needle be plunged into my horses eye socket was a little unnerving to say the least.
Four days later the scrape showed nothing and Houston had little improvement. The referral to Virginia Tech came only a few days later and off we went to see the Ophthalmologist. Sounds crazy, but when you love your horses you see specialists :o).
Virginia Tech was a gift from God. The doctors were amazing, helpful, informative and determined to help Houston and me. Another scraping was done and we were sent home with 4 more medications to do 4 times a day. Daily phone calls came from the vet student assigned to Houston and 3 days after our appointment a fungus grew in their lab from the ulcer scraping.
The thought was he had poked himself with his hay and was growing a fungus as a result from a mold spore. While they were optimistic the fungus would die and Houston could go back to normal work they were not optimistic that the ulcer would dissipate and advised he would have a scar.
3 weeks of treatment 4 times a day, a very patient horse and with lots of family and friends support, Houston was treatment free. The ulcer receded and he was left scar-less and this beautiful eye is healthy once again. I are thankful everyday for all the Vets who worked together to heal Houston.
In September of 2009 I experienced something all horse owners dread. Finding your horse in the pasture with an eye swollen shut. Houston approached the gate for his morning feeding and his left eye was the size of a softball. Of course it was on a weekend, he doesn't operate on a weekday injury schedule.
The vet came out and discovered an ulcer on Houston's eye. A lavage system was put in place and we began treatment four times a day with three different medications in hopes that the ulcer would dissolve.
A week later the lavage system was removed and the ulcer was still there with little improvement. Houston's patience with me, treatment and stall rest was phenomenal he was more patient than I was. Dr. Bradford decided to do a scrape to see if we could get some cells from the ulcer and determine what it was and why it wasn't healing. Watching a HUGE needle be plunged into my horses eye socket was a little unnerving to say the least.
Four days later the scrape showed nothing and Houston had little improvement. The referral to Virginia Tech came only a few days later and off we went to see the Ophthalmologist. Sounds crazy, but when you love your horses you see specialists :o).
Virginia Tech was a gift from God. The doctors were amazing, helpful, informative and determined to help Houston and me. Another scraping was done and we were sent home with 4 more medications to do 4 times a day. Daily phone calls came from the vet student assigned to Houston and 3 days after our appointment a fungus grew in their lab from the ulcer scraping.
The thought was he had poked himself with his hay and was growing a fungus as a result from a mold spore. While they were optimistic the fungus would die and Houston could go back to normal work they were not optimistic that the ulcer would dissipate and advised he would have a scar.
3 weeks of treatment 4 times a day, a very patient horse and with lots of family and friends support, Houston was treatment free. The ulcer receded and he was left scar-less and this beautiful eye is healthy once again. I are thankful everyday for all the Vets who worked together to heal Houston.
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Schooling
After a hiatus from our last event, we are ready for the next one a year later. With a lot of changes in my life and Houston getting older it took a year before we were both ready to compete again. We will be heading to the Carolina Horse Park May 5th for a low key starter horse trails.
Today we schooled cross-country for the first time in a very LONG time. Needless to say I have a champ! 21 years young and bucking all the way. Houston really spent more time playing then he did schooling, but the schooling was great for me he just thought it was a party.
Today we schooled cross-country for the first time in a very LONG time. Needless to say I have a champ! 21 years young and bucking all the way. Houston really spent more time playing then he did schooling, but the schooling was great for me he just thought it was a party.
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