A large percentage of the time I spend in the saddle is what I call "toodling". I field enough questions about what exactly that means that I now give you the definitive expert toodling bible.
love this pic
What (is toodling):
Toodling is undirected meandering, generally on a loose rein, with loosely defined goals and limited rider input.
Why (is this different than hacking):
When someone says they're hacking their horse, they generally mean they are riding outside the arena in some sort of purposeful way. Toodling is in or out of the arena and while sometimes yes you're going in a direction with a purpose, you're also not hitting a step goal or fitness angle.
toodle time!
When (is toodling appropriate):
All toodles all the time. I mean, not really, but horses are pretty smart creatures. I'm all for a couple "work" rides a week, but above and beyond that, it feels like drilling to me and I find drilling intolerable. Toodling is a way to spend time in the saddle, but relax and rest sore muscles. It keeps riding fun and engaging on both sides so saddle time isn't always work time.
bliss
Where (does one toodle):
Anywhere, really. In the winter, we toodle around the indoor and smoosh things. In the summer, we go all over the property and should I ever get my rear in gear to haul out somewhere, we can do that too.
ditch practice
Who (should toodle):
I'm a highly motivated go-getter type of person. It is SO EASY for me to fixate and drill and push and suck the fun out of relaxation. (I'm terrible at vacation. Sigh.) I like to have a clear delineation for "this is fun and easy and simple and just be happy". If you're a person who needs more structure in your life or you're prepping for an imminent Olympics, then toodling is maybe not for you.
How (do I start toodling):
Slip the reins. Hold the buckle in one hand. Look at the world around you. Pet the horse. Wander the fields. Find a buddy to laugh with. Ride under the stars. Stop and watch the sunset.
Courage was a horse that was deeply sensitive to pressure--I probably had to toodle 3-4 times for every 1 time I schooled him. ZB is totally not worried about pressure, but I want her to have time to develop strength and recover, so it's probably more of a 1:1 ratio (counting training rides, haha).
As for the looming question, "aren't you a shitty trainer because you choose to have fun with yourself instead of actually teaching them something," well, no. Walking on a loose rein is a skill. Standing still is a skill. Boldly navigating terrain is a skill. Learning to not micromanage is a skill.
I've been a bit gloomy about our show prospects lately--dealing with things outside of horses hasn't left the funds/energy to have the season I wanted and Courage.
Yeah him.
He's got the idea of first level work pretty well, but he needs lots and lots of time to process it right now. He needs show miles to get comfortable in the ring and he needs home miles to really relax into his work.
So whatever, right? There will be horse shows next year.
Except I'm basically 12.
I resigned myself to not showing at all for about 90 seconds, then last minute on Thursday, I wiggled in to a local show on Saturday. At first level. What the hell.
could it really go worse?
For our last show, I tried to hop on the day before and w/t/c in a circle just because. That was a bad idea. Don't want to repeat that. I showed up Friday morning before this show and Courage nickered at me. He NEVER does that.
So as our last show-prep before moving (back) up to first level at a show, we did these things:
graze through the fence
try to roll in the manure pile
have a bath
play with grooming equipment
I normally try to RIDE the beastie and at least get him a little tired before going on an adventure, but eh... we haven't been stunningly successful lately. Might as well try something new.
If I were smart, I'd drag this out into 2-3 posts because it's good content and I like comments.
are those dapples i see?
So uh. Try not to judge too harshly for smashing a lesson and an overnight show into the same monster post here.
Our goal this year is bronze scores at first level, which means we need a lengthening. Thus, I asked for a whole lesson/pro ride devoted to that. My trainer warned me that it could be explosive.
Hint: it wasn't. It's also 4 minutes of me trotting in a circle, so really not offended if you don't watch.
Here's what I loved about this lesson--we were asking Courage to do something new and hard. In previous years/months, that basically meant he would check out and flail into the sunset.
But he didn't. He stayed right with me and kept trying for me.
also i love this picture
That is an amazing feeling. It's new for us and I love it.
So show. For scheduling reasons, we hauled in the night before. I was glad we did. Courage(/Aimee) hasn't been on a field trip since last October and I had a merry little meltdown about pretty much everything while I followed the trailer over to the facility.
I kinda sorta got myself under control, but by the time we were ready to ride, they'd closed all the arenas except this giant xc field on the far end of the property and OF COURSE I'd hauled in with a badass eventer who thought riding in a field sounded fun instead of like the terrible idea it actually was.
across the property, through this gate, down the road, over the bridge, to the field
Look, he LOVES being a dressage horse. He LOVES his white sand box. He LOVES his tiny little world where we don't have to deal with cows and terrain and grass sharks. Why address problems we don't need to have?
So we went to ride in the field on the far end of the property. Courage was tense on the way there. I couldn't really put him to work and engage his brain, because all the roads are gravel with big rocks and I didn't want to bruise his feet. I mostly just stuck my grabby hand on the standing martingale and pulled on that instead of the reins while letting him look at the big scary world.
Alyssa galloped around and did eventer stuff. Courage and I walked tiny figure eights in a small corner and talked to Lindsey (who doesn't have to haul her horse in the night before to keep from having meltdowns).
and posed dramatically by the strangely-not-scary pile of brush
The point of this story is not to illustrate how fully C-Rage and I have integrated into the DQ lifestyle (which we have), but rather to point out that I rode my own horse through things that I knew would be challenging for us and FELT FINE. Like. I never even wanted to cry and bribe Lindsey to ride him for me, because he's my horse and I've got this.
And then show day came.
sparkle hats!
I had a pretty decent plan put together to deal with it--I know my horse and myself well enough to plan a LOOOOOOONG ass warm up, because sometimes you just need to walk for 40 minutes. Or longer. In a tiny indoor with like 6 other horses. All of whom are tense and/or explosive. Including mine.
It took a long time to get away from OH GOD OH GOD OH GOD on Courage's part, but I just kept breathing and riding and staying loose, and eventually, he joined me. And again. It wasn't the most fun ride I've ever had, but I knew I could do it and I knew he could do it.
I knew we could do it. Together.
this is a yes
Then we left the crowded, dark indoor and walked into the outdoor show arena. The horse ahead of us left the arena. It was just Courage and I in a whole new place. (and our AMAZING test reader. omg. life saver. THANK YOU)
I'm not going to sit here and lie to you and say it was the best ride ever. We did training level 2 and then a break and then training level 3. Some parts were very good. Some parts were a little messy. It wasn't magical, but I rode most of the time and Courage stayed with me. It didn't feel amazing. It just felt right. Connected. Rideable.
on the right lead even
I certainly left some points on the table--our geometry was not super fantastic and there were things I wanted to do better. I rode conservatively instead of pushing for brilliance. Courage is more educated this year and by his second test, he was actually about 75-80% of the horse I have at home.
Yes on his first outing of the year. Yes with me up. Yes with a new (to us) judge who looks at fancy warmbloods all day.
bam
Hours later, I went to pick up my tests.
65% on training 2.
70% on training 3.
yup
Our high mark last year was 67% at training. My lifetime high score was a 70% (eventing score: 30) in a beginner novice test.
We tied it and I KNOW there was more in there.
This horse, you guys. <3
dorky and we love it
It hasn't been easy, but I am so glad I stuck it out with him. He's my horse now. The one I pour my heart and soul into and know he's there for me. The one I can't wait to see every day. The one I trust because we've been to hell and back together.
Lest it sound like I'm complaining, Courage and I have been busting our butts doing dressage stuff, and for the most part, it's going really well. The other night I had a (perfectly good) ride. It even included some of the best leg yields I've ever done, bar none.
plus so attractive
But.
Courage and I were both just ON EDGE. The whole time. At one point, he blew a gasket randomly just to point out the problem. And it's not even that I'm riding with a lot of tension or asking for hard things or, well, anything. It's just that we've been so focused on Dressage and Goals and Important Stuff and even with our toodle-hacks around the indoor, things just weren't working for us.
I mean, I literally got off from a perfectly fine ride and wanted to have a melt down complete with tears, and I'm not a crying person.
So that's obviously productive.
totes a hunter get up LULZ
But then Saturday and Sunday, I rode with a fellow boarder who does the hunters at a proper barn most of the time and competes on the A circuit. I threw on jump tack and we pretended to be hunters with her. It certainly didn't hurt that our boarder friend was like "omg this horse needs to be a hunter". (I dunno how she looked past our sparkles and colors and clip job, but thanks boarder friend!)
I hadn't sat in my jump saddle in months and I'd forgotten how much fun it can be. We didn't even go over a pole, but I just really worked on staying balanced over Courage, pushing my hands forward and not worrying about the contact, and keeping my eyes very disciplined.
right lead!
We even got our first ride in the outdoor arena of the year on Sunday. Courage was SUPER. Our boarder-friend talked to us about some hunter flat work and we did some simple exercises and just rolled forward. Courage still had some extravagant airs, but neither of us got worked up about it.
It isn't a magic cure-all, but it was a great way for both of us to de-stress for a few days.
See, I do this thing where I get really, really focused on certain goals and pursue them at the expense of everything else.
And then I get burned out and quit doing everything for a while.
That's not a particularly great character trait, but it's very consistent. Thus, in an attempt to continue adulting before the burnout phase kicks in, I am voluntarily taking a little break with Courage.
so fancy
He got Sunday after the show off. Monday we toodled in the stock saddle a little because he was still down a shoe.
And then Tuesday we toodled more and played neck reining trail horse all around the property in our cheapie mechanical hackmore that we're trying out.
yeah rainbow sparkles
I'm enjoying the little things, like busting out the rainbow sparkle brush we won at our last derby. Oh, and I maybe possibly bought myself the rainbow roping reins I've been wanting forever because obviously. Champion dressage horses need rainbow reins.
repping the OTTB
We're mostly just hacking around the property, opening gates, and walking through ditches, but I think it's so important for both of us to have some time to hang out, have fun, and not pick. At all.
We might jump tomorrow. Or we might go bareback in a halter.
I told myself that after the ongoing cluster that was last year, this year had to be better. Right?
Well, yesterday was on a mission to single-handedly prove me wrong and all the situations are ongoing. Huzzah.
For the past year and a half or so, I have really embraced the ammy life. Horses are a hobby and the barn is a haven. I don't go there for stress or drama or weirdness. I want to enjoy my horse. That is all. I'll admit to being rather abominably rude to my fellow boarders by being completely unsocial for most of the winter because I just needed time alone.
I realize horses mean different things to different people and I am learning to respect that.
But for me, the barn is where I go to unwind. I need to feel safe. I need to relax. I need to have fun.
Because sometimes the rest of my life is the opposite of that and I need one place I can get away from it all for an hour or so and just breathe.
I'm not denying reality, but I can't handle it all the time. It is so freeing to ride my horse. I can focus on our connection and improve our ride and push all the other thoughts out of my mind.
I've been really lucky at my past thee barns--each one has been a uniquely wonderful place that has allowed me to heal from different hurts.
I love to pull into the driveway and let out a sigh of relief. For a few minutes at least, I have a safe haven to relax in.
Despite my better efforts, life is totally spinning out of control right now. Nothing bad, just feeling completely and totally overwhelmed. Like "I can't deal with checking my email" style overwhelmed. It's not fun.
Which made this afternoon particularly nice. The weather was perfect, high 60s and sunshine. The trees are changing to red and gold.
Dust dapples
Courage came out just great, very quiet. He's getting a little bit fuzzy right now. Not quite enough that I want to clip yet, but more than plenty to hold dust. I had to laugh when I saw this:
Yes. His dapples are made of dust. I don't think they really show up on his actual hair, but there must be a different texture to hold the dirt in that pattern.
Fall ears
Since we've spent the past two days pushing obedience and contact (and since I seem to have citizenship on the crazy train), today was supposed to be easy and low key, so both of us could unwind.
I opened all the gates to the pastures and we just hacked through them on a loose rein. Big swooping turns, no contact, just walking and taking in the season.
After a while, we both took a deep breath. We watched the neighbor horses play. We looked at the far borders of the back field. We took turns choosing where to go.
And it was lovely.
A softer look, usually for footwear
When I went to put him away, I finally had a chance to take my time. I put dressing on his hooves, did his stretches, scratched his ears, and fed him cookies. We tried on a different sheet, even. I think it looks quite dashing--the color really suits him better than Cuna.
I even took the time to finally clean my much-abused tack. I used to be so good about cleaning it every day, but there hasn't been time.
I love when the barn is like this. A place to slow down and take a deep breath and smile again before returning to the craziness of life. It leaves a little sunny, happy place in my soul that I can go back to when everything else feels bleak.
Anyways. I'm breaking my personal rule again and talking about hoofcare. Here goes.
Cuna has stereotypical crappy thoroughbred feet. We tried to do some work on them this winter, but pretty much as soon as his shoes got pulled, his feet fell apart and it was a no go.
Living it up
Enter semi retirement.
Our farrier came out and pulled Cuna's hind shoes so he could be safely turned out with other horses. At the time, he looked at his front feet, but declared them to be ok and set another date to come and check.
A few days later, I noticed that Cuna's right front looked all manner of funny, with the hoof wall coming over the shoe and the nails suspiciously loose. Before I had time to call the farrier about it the next day, Cuna did a wild stallion gallop around the pasture and left the shoe behind.
Our farrier was out again last night, supposedly to put the shoe back on. He and I stared at Cuna's bare right front. Cuna had done quite a number on it, chipping out both sides and leaving a lopsided toe. Hmmmm.
The farrier chewed and spat. "How long is he on vacation for?" he asked.
"Mid September," I said.
He got that face that tells me he's thinking, then said, "We should probably just leave his shoes off."
It's not blood. That's fly goop to keep hives away.
Basically, due to the nature of a big, grassy pasture, Cuna's hooves get wet, then dry, then wet, then dry. That cycle causes some natural expansion/contraction of his feet. The problem is that the nail get bent out when the hoof expands, then don't come back in when it contracts. This sets him up to lose shoes and potentially get injured as the sole of his hoof make contact with the shoe.
I feel pretty apprehensive, based on the fact that Cuna has never been able to go barefoot successfully. That said, I'd be thrilled if it worked out. It's cheaper for me and it has to be nice for him.
The best part was walking him away from his appointment and seeing how comfortable he looked. The last time he had his shoes off was that horrible day at the vet and it was sheer agony for him to stand without shoes.
He's come a long ways. He's pasture sound, fat, and happy, loving life in the herd. Here's hoping he can do that barefoot.
This Saturday was the big day. I showed up to the barn after spending a couple hours at the track (yay racehorses!) and gave Cuna a thorough grooming and bath. The new place doesn't have a proper washrack, so I wanted to make use of the nice one we had. I even conditioned his whole body. He glowed like a copper penny and felt like a velveteen plush horse.
Then it was time to go.
J came and picked up Cuna. He loaded and hauled like a champ after we convinced him that yes, he really did have to get in the trailer. I followed her to the new barn with all the stuff Cuna needs for the next couple months in my car. It really doesn't take that much for a horse to stand in a field.
We unloaded. I started to lead Cuna around the perimeter of the fence to show it to him, but he kept snorting and prancing. I laughed at his antics and pulled the halter off.
He promptly gave himself the grand tour.
So much space to move around!
A cute barn!
Friendly people
What's that? A buddy?
Two buddies??
Once he got settled, I put his fly mask back on and got his stuff moved into the tack room. I only brought really exciting things like fly spray, his fly sheet, and my grooming kit. I think I'll take a wash bucket out soon and call it good.
This horse needs cookies.
Cuna supervised the whole process. He's starting to train J and her family to feed him cookies.He thought it was especially great to poke his nose in through the window and get treats, although he was pretty confused as to why he wasn't in the barn.
After the initial excitement, Cuna acted like he'd lived there his whole life. He relieved himself, checked out the fence line and nibbled on the grass.
I thought I would be worried about him, but I think he's going to be just fine.
I checked up on him again on Sunday, and he's doing really well. Today he should get initiated to the "herd" (of two) and his vacation begins in earnest.
I brought him here because I thought he needed it, but I'm realizing that I probably need it even more than he does. The two of us can recover together.
Yesterday, I got Izzy out and lunged her. I decided it was bad for our corporate mental gealth to try to ride. She did ok. Still an idiot, but better.
Today, I got her out and lunged her. She was ok. I ran the lunge line through the inside bit ring and back to the girth and lunged her, which asked her to step up from behind and reach down and she was good. I got on her and rode.
It was ok. I focused on keeping her forward and straight was a secondary consideration. Yeah, we ran around on the forehand. Yeah, she kept bulging out towards her friends. However, she didn't buck or freak out and I was happy with her when I got off. That's what mattered today.
Her leg is still massive, so I hosed it for like 10 minutes, until the swelling went down. The good news is that we've done enough with water lately that she actually feel asleep while I was doing it. (Note that in her mock sale ad, I didn't say she bathed. She doesn't. She hates water very much.)
I wanted to write today about the nice dressage ride Izzy and I had yesterday; about how she's learning to step under herself and we're really making progress; and how the only mystery at the moment is why she stocked up last night after a light walk/trot workout yesterday. Yes, that was the blog I was going to write.
Instead, I went for a ride this morning. It started well--Izzy was responding and I was prepared to build on yesterday. She was just tense in one corner for no particular reason. As I rode her through it to see why, she leaped into the air and bucked, then plunged forward and bucked again. I'm pretty sure I didn't sit up like I should have, but I yelled at her and managed to get her head up and turned in a circle, so we stopped. I regained my stirrups and asked her to go forward gently. I was immediately glad that I had only asked gently, because I could tell in that instant that she was ready to buck again.
Grrr.
It didn't help at this point that there was a massive freaking out draft horse in the arena with us and another one in the round pen. Not their fault, but it wasn't helping my mood.
I decided the best course of action was to hop off and put Izzy on the lunge line. She galloped around like a maniac. My usually-lazy warmblood took off running around me. I didn't even need the whip I was carrying. She ran at least five minutes one way, then we switched directions and she ran the other way. I got back on after that and we tried to work again. Just when I was starting to get her attention, the lady got off the one freaking out draft horse, tied him up in the arena, and brought the other one in to ride.
Instantly, I lost Izzy's focus. I tried asking her to canter, and she tore off. Since she very nearly fell over when bucking, I took my time turning her in a circle so we didn't have a catastrophic wreck. I got her back under control, did two walk/trot transitions, and got off just as one of the draft horses tried to take the arena fence down. (To all the good drafts and draft owners out there: I'm not hating on you. It's just that these two are extremely destructive and strong willed and I can't stand them most of the time. Especially when I'm cranky.)
As I led Izzy out of the arena, she nearly ran over the top of me. Just because. That made me madder than I already was, so I took her to the round pen instead of her pen, took her tack off, and turned her loose. She galloped around like a maniac. I even pulled the (empty) water trough off the rail because she was acting dumb and my cousin had an accident with a horse, a water trough, and a round pen.
I put my tack away. I wandered around. She finally more or less settled down, so I went and caught her. She was completely soaked in sweat, so I tied her up and thought, "Huh. Here we have a teachable moment." I mean, she's hot, sweaty, and tired. She stocked up last night, so cold hosing is in order regardless. Besides, I was sure she was tired enough to stand still.
Again, I was wrong. She had a royal fit when I started spraying her (lightly) with the hose. However, she was securely tied, she knows better than to pull back, and I was in a mood. I sprayed her until she stood still and gave up. When she was thoroughly rinsed and hosed, I left her tied (good practice!) while I went to find a sweat scraper. (Apparently, mine has wandered off.) She more or less stood, but by the time I found one, the arena was empty of riders.
I know an opportunity when I see it. I had already figured out that this mess was most likely caused by having a weekend off, followed by light work and no turnout. Someone's mare is in good shape, has engaged the TB side of her brain, and she had no way to express it. Sigh. The trials of horses.
Anyways. I seized my opportunity and turned Izzy loose in the arena. She galloped off. I watched her run around like a maniac for five or ten minutes, then thought, "Well, I might as well get the other girl." I put my old TB mare out with her, thinking that she'd just run Izzy into the ground like she normally does. Instead, Cassie (the TB) galloped merrily around for a while, but apparently wasn't in a hard running mood. They played for at least 20 minutes, but Cassie decided she wanted to be done, so I caught her and tied her outside the arena. That lured Izzy over long enough to catch her, and then I was able to take them both home.
Leave it to Izzy to turn a 40 minute ride into a two and a half hour meltdown.
Lesson learned: when turnout is scarce, institute an arena turnout schedule for Izzy so she has some time to relax and be a horse. I'll have to work out something more concrete for her.
I am now the proud owner of one fabulous pony and two Ansur treeless saddles. You can say it. I'm a lucky girl.
Here's my saddle when I first got it yesterday. Note my stylish fleecy penguin blanket stand. I love penguins. The saddle is beautiful and in great shape. Here is Izzy wearing the saddle after a hard workout. I tried to have Cathy take a couple pictures of us while riding, but they were alternately fuzzy or showing off some of my riding flaws, so you'll have to wait til I have better pictures. (In Cathy's defense, it is ridiculously hard to get good pictures in the doom bubble. The lighting is wonky.)
We had to borrow a girth and I used the leathers from my other Ansur, so they're brown. I really wish I could afford new leathers, a nice girth, and more flexible irons, but that's not really in the cards right now. I have about $100 to find a girth and maybe another dressage pad. I can borrow some irons and leathers and I'm pretending that my bridle actually matches.
The great thing about Ansurs is that Izzy loves them. There's no fitting problems and balkiness when I saddle up. She was very happy in it. She was also having a stupid day, wherein she spooks at absolutely everything and acts like a complete idiot. For whatever reason, I was having a brave day, so I lunged her, then just hopped on. She spooked all over the place at stupid things, and I thought back to the excellent blog post by tango dressage and went, "Hm, I will ride what she's giving me now."
So I did. Izzy would spook and gallop forward. I'd bend her inside and out to soften her. Izzy would spook in place. I'd spank her for getting behind my leg and ride her forward. The great thing was that Izzy was so "up" that she was really forward today. I used that. We didn't take many walk breaks, but we did lots of transitions and work that is hard when she doesn't want to go forward. In my lessons with Cathy, she's been having me give the inside rein and relax my body to get Izzy to settle. I tried this, and after a couple circles, Izzy actually relaxed a bit and quit leaning through my hands constantly. She listened to my seat nicely and gave me a little shoulder-fore while I released my inside hand.
Wow.
So, all in all, we turned a bad day into a good day, all on a fabulous saddle.
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