Forward Motion

I spent so long riding horses that needed babysitters that I am now reveling in Cuna's awesome babysitting ability. I know that when I take him out, he will be quiet, happy, and confident pretty much regardless of where we go, who we're with, or what we're doing. He calms spooky horses, leads scared ones, and is a beacon of support for worried riders (his own or otherwise).

Have I mentioned how much I adore him? He is the best horse ever. 

Anyways. I decided to take full advantage of his extraordinary abilities and take one of our budding eventers out for a trot set yesterday. Cuna bravely led the way. It didn't matter at all that he is 19 and the horse out for it's first serious work was 8. 

We walked all the way to the bottom of the mountain, then turned to come up a different road. (Maybe some time I will take pictures for you... it's pretty cool.) Immediately, Cuna leaped into a canter and jumped a dry creek. The little mare behind us was a smidgen intimidated. 

I brought him back to a trot and did my best to keep him in it. The mare stayed with us pretty well. I had my hands full keeping Cuna at a reasonable pace. By "hands full", I mean I had a ton of weight as he used me for balance and plowed ahead. He's a smart horse though. He knows that we walk to the bottom, trot up, walk at the top, then gallop up the next hill. 

Since the horse with us seemed to be in reasonably good shape (and I wanted to show her rider a good time), we decided to go ahead with the gallop. Cuna speed-walked to the base of the next big hill, tossing his head and trotting any time I tried to half halt or pick up the reins. 

I made sure the other rider was ready at the base of the hill, then picked up my reins.

Old picture, same idea

Anyone who's ever galloped a thoroughbred knows what happened next. I took a steady contact with Cuna and we both balanced off it. I stayed in balance over his withers, feeling the rhythm of his stride flowing through my whole body. He flew up the hill like it was nothing. As we crested the ridge and took in the mountain range beyond it, I patted him and assured him he was still the best racehorse in the world. 

Waiting for the other horse to catch up, I just sat and enjoyed the awesome partnership Cuna and I are developing. He knows where the "finish line" is, so he's perfectly happy to watch the other horse come galloping up. As soon as the mare arrived, he started trucking down the mountain, back to the barn. 

He has a big, swinging walk that he uses when he's won the race. It's not just that he's going home. He just enjoys the race. 

Time for a bath. 

 Back at the barn, he was his cute, snuggly self. He mugged me for peppermints and let me hug him. He was polite and respectful while I untacked him and let me hose him off without a single objection.

Grazing after bath time

I know several of you are going through the same process I just did/am--realizing your current horse isn't right for you (and you for it) and having to move on. I've been there and it sucks and is hard, but let me tell you:

Have the right horse is worth it. Every single bit. 

I spent three years with Izzy and I love her. I went through hell with her, several times. I thought she's be with me forever, but she's very, very happy with her new person and I am completely smitten with Cuna--the awesome old guy has been there with me every step of the way. I am quite sure I couldn't have let Izzy go if he hadn't been there, staring at me every second and reminding me that I could be happy and this whole riding thing could be fun. 

The Clothed Horse

Between his babysitting jobs (frequent) and my dressing him up (as often as I can afford stuff I want him to need), poor Cuna has had it up to his eyeballs with doing stuff he doesn't like. Unfortunately, due to the rather large amounts of precipitation we've received in the past two days, trotting in the hills is out for a while. We can't jump because the arenas are currently serving as a duck pond.

In order to make things a little easier on him, I decided that we'd condense down today's torture and play dress up, do a photoshoot, and babysit all at the same time. 

Chocolate with cream. Opinions? 

 He was not amused.

He also thought that he didn't need a fly bonnet when it's windy and in the mid forties.

He's never been a fashionista, I guess. He doesn't understand that I really can't saddle shop until I have a budget and I definitely can't saddle pad shop until I have a saddle. I am relegated to buying him small, cheap items that do not impinge upon the "save up for a saddle" fund and trying out color schemes on him with said items in the mean time.

"Please take it off. The other guys might see me."

My current plan is to keep it classy with chocolate and cream. It's understated enough that we shouldn't look ridiculous and it's in keeping with my taste, which is for colors to blend together as harmoniously as possible.

It's my first foray into finding the right colors for Cuna and my little non-color-coordinated brain feels like exploding. I think I like it... hard to say.

 Part of me still wants navy blue with a tiny bit of white and just a sprinkling of crystals to catch the sun... Hm.

Resigned to his fate

Since the whole point of babysitting is to not rile up the sit-ee, we didn't work super hard today. Ok, I'm blaming the other horse and the truth is that I was cold and tired and hungry and didn't need much of an excuse.

We were in the indoor, which made Cuna ride a little different. I actually had to put some leg on to get him forward, but then he went right up into the contact and even demonstrated a little bending while we did trot figure eights.

Some people might say it's because we've been working hard and he's getting fitter, but I'm sure it's related to the bonnet.

Someone Pissed Off the Rain Gods

In light of the fact that it was pouring rain like it never does here, I decided today was the day to take some cute close ups of Cuna. At least, as cute as you can get with crappy lighting, the world's cheapest smartphone, and myself involved. Here is our best attempt at a myspace picture. It is not easy with a touchscreen phone, let me tell you. :-p 

It was raining so hard that even with a completely waterproof coat with a hood, I didn't want to go out in it. Cuna was the perfect hangout buddy. He scavenged for hay in between a thorough grooming and all the picture taking. He made faces at a few of the horses in their stalls, but true to form, didn't do anything naughty. Also, he is the boss of most of them. 


Gotta love that classy halter. 

This was our view from the barn aisle. You can't really tell from here, but there was a shallow stream running down the middle of the road. I didn't want to get closer for a better picture because of all the water.

Plus, there was no hay by the door. Cuna was not interested.

I know he's worn the cooler before, but he got the teeniest bit wet in the aisle, so I put it on him for a few minutes to make sure all was well. As you can tell, he'd pretty well reached the end of his picture tolerance at this point.

The arenas are completely flooded. I was planning on trying another new saddle on him and just walking around to see how it felt, but when it's raining like that, there is no point. Tomorrow, I guess. I think it's supposed to be sunny again.

If not, we're gonna have to go gator hunting. It's like the everglades around here!

Who Let the Tack 'ho Out?!

A little over a month ago, I ordered a fancy custom halter for Cuna. I have been driving my husband absolutely mad while waiting for it to come--every day I was looking for a package and then disappointed when it didn't come.

Ok, so I have the maturity of a two year old when I'm excited about something. It's part of my charm... right?

A right side veiw

Anyways. Yesterday, the halter finally came. I pranced in the front door holding it and almost squealed when I pulled it out of the package. Almost squealed. Not actually. 

I was super excited to bring it to the barn this morning and carved out a few minutes to put it on Cuna and admire him. It's just right for him--strong and solid and high quality and not showy or fancy.

To Cuna's disgust, I followed that up with a photoshoot and then dragged him all around the barn, showing everyone there how adorable he looked in the new halter.

It says "Hakuna Matata" on the plate

Poor guy. It's hard to be a saint all the time. I did try to make up for it by handgrazing him for a while instead of riding. He's also sporting a new lead rope that I bought a while ago, but refused to get out until today so that it could be "new" at the same time the halter is.

So. Pretty.

In other exciting news, Ellie who has dogs and takes pictures and is generally awesome is foraying back into the equine world. You can check out her adventures here.

Not Exactly Prix St George

Posing for peppermints. It's the only way.

I took Cuna for a nice long trot in the hills yesterday morning. He was super by himself, but sort of thought he was a wild racehorse coming up the hills. Manageable, but he wanted me to know that he was capable of going way, way faster. Old man cracks me up. I did let him canter/gallop up the next hill, which was superb.

Interestingly, about half way up the first hill, Cuna just arched his neck and pranced right on up. If he was a normal, bendy horse, I would have said he connected through his topline, went onto the bit, and carried himself. Since this is Cuna, I just say pranced. It was a fun feeling while it lasted.

That brings us to today. I wanted to get him out and just do some nice, forward, long and low type work to make sure he was comfortable and not just standing around getting stiff. Of course, what I think of when I think "long and low" and what Cuna think of are not the same thing.

Shamelessly kypped off google - not me

I think of this: harmonious forward movement, very light contact on the reins as the horse balances over his haunches and takes the contact towards the ground through the rider's soft, following hand. The seat is light and relaxed and the whole picture is one of grace and comfort.

Do not ask me why I envisioned my ride going like this.

Anyways. I spent a good long time walking and trying to move Cuna off my legs. He was ok, but a little quick. In keeping with the general dressage-ish principles I know, I put my leg on and picked up a little contact before asking for a trot.

As per his normal, Cuna stuck his nose straight out in the air and trotted off.

Well, ok. I put a loop in the rein, thinking we would have this nice, powerful, forward stride.

Cuna fell on his forehand and got quicker and quicker, nose still out in the air.

This was obviously going nowhere productive. Also, the old guy clearly feels fine. I ditched the magical dressage picture in my head and focused on riding the horse under me. I noticed that he got quicker and fell towards the gate, the bulged out near the gate, then got behind my leg and slowed as we went away from it. Maybe we can't be magic, but we can have a consistent tempo. I used my posting to regulate his stride, and gave him a kick when he backed off.

Then I picked up a little more contact. We did figure eights in one end of the arena. The individual loops were small enough that I had to really concentrate to keep him straight down center line, then bend(ish) around the circles while staying off my inside leg and on that even tempo.

After a few loops, I noticed that Cuna was staying balanced and connected. Instead of sticking his nose out like a pony, he came on to the bit a little bit and pushed off his hind end. Yes, I had about 60 pounds in my hands, but that's par for the course with us.

It wasn't the magical dressage ride I wanted, but it was the best sustained dressage work I have ever seen out of him.

Sunday Picture!

Blog super reader, Ellie, took a screen capture of our rocking grid video. Look how awesome we are!! I know that sounds pretentious, but I actually have a jumping picture of myself that I approve of. This is a big deal. :-)

I mean, maybe it's just so blurry that the flaws are obscured, but pretty much it looks like I'm balanced over my feet with a vertical stirrup leather, flat back, nice bend in my elbows  and looking where I'm going. George Morris would point out that my raincoat is unattractive, but I would point out that it was sleeting. (Now it's 90f. Go figure.)

I Have a Cunning Plan

I haven't said anything about it, but you probably noticed the complete lack of goals set for this year. Not weekly, not monthly, not anything. That was because on Izzy I didn't feel confident enough to say I wanted to do anything. At all. Then the situation with Cuna was in flux and then I still didn't know where I was headed.

I am a ridiculously motivated and goal oriented people (and grumpy, pessimistic people make me crazy, but that's another topic for another day). Now that I feel like Cuna and I are really clicking and making some progress, I decided I finally felt emotionally ready to make a plan for this year.

Especially after watching this video:


Yep. This is the grid from the other night, culminating in the 2'9" oxer. Look how far we've come. I mean... yeah... We're happy and forward and jumping giant jumps in style. I'm no professional, but I like how quiet my leg is and how my upper body is still and balanced. Cuna mostly approves of my hands (haha, watch the head flips) and we are connecting well.

Which brings us to the title: I have made a plan for us for this year.

MAY 27 - We will do the event derby (and probably one day of the XC clinic) at the Mitteleider's at  Beginner Novice.

JULY 1 - We will do the event derby at Rafter K at (most likely) Beginner Novice.

AUGUST 4-5 - We will do the horse trials at the Mitteleider's, debuting at (omg!) Novice.

The way I see it, we are already comfortably schooling show jumping at BN height (2'7"). We can do all kinds of crazy crap that is way, way harder than anything we will see in the ring until a much higher level. Cuna is an XC master, so I don't see that presenting any particularly huge hurdles. We'll have one show to get our crap together, one show to get bored, and then we'll move up.

I am so excited.

PS For those of you who have other things to do than just root around my page all day, please note that there is a new tab: "Keeping Up with Cuna" that lists all of our videos. I thought it would be cool to have them together.

Because We're Awesome

Bear with me. This is going to be a somewhat scattered post, but there are tons of exciting things going on right now and I want to talk about all of them.

We jumped this

I know you saw out jumping awesomeness in the last post, but yesterday we had a grid night. I got to set the grid, which was fun, but then I rode, too.

It doesn't look that impressive from this angle, but it's a crossrail to 2' vertical bounce, then a one stride. We went through nicely with just a vertical on the end of the one stride, but then it got put up to a 2'9" square oxer. It wasn't quite as big as our mondo jump from the other day, but pretty intimidating for someone who's comfort zone has been crossrails up to this week.

I couldn't both stand in the picture for perspective and take it, so that's all you get.

It looks big to me, not gonna lie. That said, I didn't feel scared or maxed out. In fact, I saw the oxer go up, and I thought, "That looks fun. I want to try it."

Stop.

Think.

Yes, I just said that. Me, the scared rider who is not even sure what I'm headed for.

Not only did I try it, Cuna was super, I was calm and it was FUN. We were right of center, but we were straight, so it's all good. In fact, as we came over the second fence in the bounce, I remember feeling just a hair ahead of Cuna. I pushed my hips back and kept my hands in his mane, and BOOM!! Oxer. Love it.

There is video, but y'all are going to have to wait for it. So sorry. It's not on my phone.

NEXT BIG EXCITING NEWS

Izzy is out on trial with someone right now. She seems to be doing well and the lady brought her back for a lesson today. I only ever jumped Izzy 2'9" once and other than that stayed around 2'. Steph has jumped her around 3' a little, but not a ton.

Here's Izzy today in the lesson. Believe it or not, this was not the biggest jump. Steph cranked the back oxer up to 3'6" and pony mare FLEW over it. Like a boss. I am so proud of her. She is so pretty and talented and cool. I absolutely love watching her.

FINAL BIG EXCITING NEWS

I have been feeling really bad for Cuna lately--I mean, he is 19 and I am working his tail end off. (Or on, technically, since he's building muscle like only a Thoroughbred can). I can't really afford to do his hock injections until Izzy sells and I'm done with the 'paying-for-two-horses' thing, so I pretended I could afford to have the chiropractor look at him today.

He watched Cuna walk, looked him over, fixed one tiny thing, and pronounced him in fine shape. And gave me a major discount. w00t

So yes. Many exciting things in my neck of the (mountains?) woods.

Superstars

I'm trying to contain myself, but I think Cuna is pretty much the best horse ever. Scratch "pretty much". He is.

Why the sudden effusiveness? Well, we had a jump lesson yesterday. It started out really easy--I was trotting and cantering over crossrails with plenty of space in between to get comfortable and straight. I was like "yes, Operation Make This Fun is in full swing. I can do this."

Then Steph hopped off the horse she was riding and started putting fences up.

Ever the optimist, I'm like "Ok, just 2' verticals. Still no biggie. I'm on Cuna."

And then this:



OMG WE JUMPED A GIANT JUMP!!!!!

(Shut up Monica. It's big to me.)

The first time around I let him get too long to the oxer, which meant would would get to the groundpole funny which meant the jump would be funny. I saw that about two strides out and went "Oh sh*t" and stuck my hands in his neck. He got us out of it, but Steph stopped to set things back up.

Basically, she said I need to ride like I mean it, even if I screwed him up. "If you quit right in front of the fence, the horse... well, Cuna won't, but most horses would stop or panic."

Dear Cuna,

I love you.

Many peppermints,
Me

Anyways. We ended on the series in the video and I was really, really happy. I mean, that's the biggest thing I've jumped in probably years and I was/am fine. A little nervous looking at it, but I'm learned to just do my thing and trust Cuna and it works out.

So fun.

A Day in the Life of Cuna

Cuna has a new turnout buddy--Irie the Haflinger pony, hereinafter called "pony". I turned them out together for the first time on Monday and it was absolutely hilarious to watch. For your viewing pleasure, I attach a video...
 
They went on like this until pony full on charged Cuna and was like "KNOCK IT OFF D***HEAD I DON'T WANT TO PLAY RACEHORSE ONE MORE F****** TIME!!!

Don't blame me. Ponies are profane creatures by nature.