I Ride My Wonder Pony at Lieway!

On the Friday when we arrived at Lieway, Kelsey schooled Renny first and he was perfect.  She even jumped him over some fussy flowered obstacles.  And then Sarah rode him and he was quiet and sure of foot.  And then it was my turn.  Michelle snapped a few pictures and I am so grateful that she did.  I am riding my little pony, my wonder pony.  And I am riding him in the same arena where I used to show his mother, Docs Unspeckled Rock.  When he was first born, I was hoping and praying that I might eventually have the courage to just sit on him once before selling him.  But look at us now. He's my true blue sweet faithful darling pony.  I could not be more happy.

First Times!!!!

So, here's what I know about Renny's second show experience and his first time in 2012.  We took him to the show grounds while he was under the weather.  All three of his rode him in the schooling session, including a young rider who had only a single lesson on him.  He was mellow and calm about everything, including arriving, schooling, getting a bath, walking the show grounds.  He was happy.  And on the morning of his show classes, he just strode purposefully toward the arena, happy to be with everyone.  The only thing he looked at, and not in a worried way, was the judge climbing into her tall booth!  And so by the time little Sarah and Renny walked into their first class, she had ridden him once when he was 2, once that week in a lesson, and twice in two very brief schooling sessions.  And then they went into their first class with 22 other horses.  The class was so large, they had to split it.  Renny was in the first split and made his cut.  And he was adorable and perfect for the final rounds.  And he won SECOND place out of 22 horses in his very first class of the year.  Here you see them coming out of the arena with their ribbon!  He went on to get another ribbon before he was retired for dehydration.

So, in Renny's brief show life, here's how he stacks up -- two shows, four classes, four ribbons, including a 4th place out of 17 in his first class ever at a rated show!  2 4ths, 1 2nd, and 1 1st!!!

I was so proud of how beautifully Sarah rode him.  They looked happy together.  You can see here that Renny knows he did a good job with his young friend!

Team Renegade Holding a Pre-Show Meeting

Here is Team Renegade, holding a little pre-show meeting.  You can see that Renny's Show Rider is giving him encouragement and a pep talk.  And you can see that he's eating it up!  LL Cool Renny!!!

Team Renegade!!

In this photo, we had just arrived at Lieway Show Grounds and Kelsey had taken off his shipping wraps and readied him for his schooling.  Here's his team -- Kelsey his trainer, Sarah his show rider, Michelle, his groom and barn mom (legs behind him), and his Grama his personal photographer and assistant.  We are all happy at this moment because Kelsey, Sarah, and I will all soon be riding this wonder wonder WONDER pony!!!

Renny's Show Rider

Here's a photo on Friday before the show.  It was a beautiful day.  I played in my garden, relaxed, went to Tractor Supply for last minute show supplies.  I listened to the news that I'll Have Another was scratched from The Belmont.  And then I went to the barn.  I walked out to Renny's pasture and, as usual, he walked cheerfully right up to me!  Then I gave him a big bath.  He got bathed along with Max and Molly.  And then his show rider showed up, Sarah!  In these photos, you see her giving him some love and affection as he stands ready in his shipping wraps before getting on the trailer!  So cute!

Renny's Clover (Mis)Adventures!

So, the week of Renny's first show of 2012 was hectic, let me tell you.  He was in his 5th week of antibiotics for his nose infections.  He just started prednisolone on Monday again. He moved to a new rich pasture.  He got a really bad case of diarrhea beginning on Tuesday.  He had his first riding lesson with Sarah to get ready for his show and his stools were so loose that he had to poop while being ridden -- which he NEVER wants to do.  He had a terrible time getting loaded onto the trailer and so was stressed out when we arrived.  He got ridden by 3 people, starting within 20 minutes of his arrival at the show grounds.  He decided that he didn't like their water and began a drinking strike.  So, drinking less in combination with his really loose diarrhea resulted in a dehydrated pony.  He only got to show in two of his classes -- which he did beautifully in.  And we had to spend the time feeding him gatorade soaked apples, giving him electrolytes.  He had lots of great friends.  Stacey found a giant syringe to force water in him, electrolytes, and even a very nice visiting vet.  Amy gave him 5 full syringes of water which Renny meekly swallowed entirely.  Sarah A. loved on him and fed him peppermints.  And Sarah S. checked his gums for signs of improvements.  He had lots of loving hands and eyes on him.  He was cared for by Ricky who kept telling me kindly that many of the young horses had developed diarrhea that week because of getting on new pasture.  

I was so relieved when we got him home on that blazing hot Sunday.  I put him in his stall and he seemed visibly more relaxed.  I gave him more electrolytes and fed him more apples soaked in gatorade.  And then I went out to the barn early on Sunday morning and was greeted by Ricky who told me to look in his stall -- in his stall he had a giant lake of pee right in the middle and then regular brown full-formed nugget poops.  He wanted his automatic waterers back. I got a text from the owner of St. George who was so delighted that he was better and had been following closely his progress.  And when I saw her again, she gave me advice about how to manage Renny's show travel stress.

I told her that on Wednesday when I pulled him out of his pasture he just looked circular to me -- bloated.  And he was ouchy and cranky.  And she said that it was flowering clover time and that that's what happens to young horses who eat too much flowering clover.  He got diarrhea from his treat.  She gave me advice about how to care for him.  And all I could think is that I'm so very happy to be at St. George where I feel my animals are safe.  

Anyway, this photo is Renny's new travel kit that I've made based on this experience.  It's in a bright red heart-shaped bucket.  And in this bucket you will find a thermometer, a giant syringe, peppermints, probiotic and electrolyte pastes, probiotic treats, and his favorite flavor gatorade for soaking apples.  If you're going to expect great things from a great pony, you've got to manage his game day stresses!  Love my pony.  Love his people.

Rory's First Days!

Here is a January 26th, 2008 photo of Rory, in the very first few days when she arrived.  What a busy year we had!  We got a wonderful new kitten and a wonderful new foal!  Namaste.

Baby-Making Blues

Here are photos that were taken on April 15, 2008, two days before Renny's due date and almost three weeks before his relaxed arrival.  You can see that Hailee was thoughtfully resting and getting ready for motherhood.  She was round and plump and ready!

Spring Kittens!

Here are photos taken on April 22, 2008, in the weeks before little Renny was born.  You can see the beauty of Spring just bursting in the days leading up to his birth.  And here are my happy little home kittens, relaxed and satisfied overlooking their world!

A Mouthful of Hay

Here is an August 2008 photo before Renny was weaned.  He is having a relaxed happy meal with his mother, Hailee.  I'm writing this entry on Sunday, February 26th, 2012.  And right now, I have to share a barn with the person who drove Hailee to an auction house.  I made a terrible mistake and Hailee suffered.  So, this photo breaks my heart.  Hailee looks so happy and satisfied with her job as Renny's mom. May she be safe and loved at her new home.

Curlin's Beauty

Here is a photo by Timothy Clary for Getty Images, of Curlin in a fabulous win before heading to the breeding shed!

Bird in a Tree

Here are July 2009 photos of a bird's nest on a small tree on the corner of our block.  Zelia and I would pass this tree each day on our happy walks.

My Beautiful Jackass

Here is a March 20, 2008 photo of Jackass, relaxing in the months before my darling Renny was born.  He's such a solid strong presence.  He's the very best companion animal a girl could ever hope to share a home with.

My Home Team

Here are the two cutest boyfriends ever...happy little guys.

Some Mellow Rides!

Here are Thanksgiving photos and videos.  And I'm writing on a beautiful sunlit winter day on February 26th.  My little herd has gotten a bit bored with the indoor ring, so this week we decided to shake things up.  I rode my little team several times separately this week for lazy relaxed mellow rides, including a happy bareback ride with just a halter and line.  It felt so relaxed and liberating to be just rest mentally!

Renny Really Rolls

Here are two photos and a video from late June, 2011 when Kelsey was working my little fellow and helping him be strong.  I am writing this entry on Sunday, February 26th on a beautiful sunlit day, after several weeks of truly fun rides on my little pony.  For example, just yesterday, for our Saturday morning lesson, Renny was relaxed and solid for our work.  He was happy with upward and downward transitions and transitions within gaits.  He had well-defined collected, working, and extended trots, and collected and extended canters.  He had relaxed serpentines and 10 and 20 meter circles.  And he was just so fun and friendly over cavaletti, ground poles, and a canter pole.  I really liked the feel of how responsive he was about collecting his canter and then surging forward into my hands with power for the lengthened.  He was just delightful.  

My Lovely Violet

Here are a Thanksgiving photo and video of Emily and Violet and I am writing this entry on a beautiful gorgeous sunlit Sunday on February 26th.  I can tell you that more and more, I find that I care about my Violet even more.  She shows her heritage in her grace and elegance.  She shows her sweetness in her intelligent care about having a good work ethic.  She's sensitive and sweet and funny and bold. She has strong opinions and wants to be loved.  She's very much like the horse version of a Southern belle.  I just adore her!

A Happy Fun Ride at the Close of a Tough Week!

So, on Thursday morning, my vet called and said he could come and see Violet, so I went out to the barn and collected my herd.  The vet came and listened to her lungs and took some blood.  He said that her lungs sounded perfect, just great. They were quiet.  We put a big plastic glove over her nose to make her want to breathe deeply and when she did, the breath sounded wonderful and clear.  He said that her little inflammation did not turn into an infection.  And he gave me four packets of dexamethasone to help treat her, if she ever had any troublesome outbreaks of inflammatory airway disease again.  If she coughs roughly or had the motorboat breathing, we can put a packet on her feed and she'll be more comfortable.  But he said that he didn't think that we'd have to do much more for her -- that seemed healthy, comfortable, and happy.  So, I hope that's how it turns out.  She had the breathing difficulty on a day that she was indoors all day and had to go through a blowdown and had flakes of new hay.  And she's been on a change of bedding over the past month, so she might have just had an allergic reaction to everything.  And what's super nice about St. George is that they paid attention to what the vet said and helped me develop a plan.  And they are being very careful about making sure Violet's environment is low of pollutants and that she gets lots of fresh air and turnout.  I feel blessed to be at St. George.

Anyway, that night, I rode in our usual Thursday night lesson with Sophie, Reaghan, Nicole, and Lex.  I was determined to just be quiet and relaxed and soft and sweet with her.  And we had a wonderful ride, everyone did!  We were having lots of fun with upward and downward transitions and leg yielding through cones and going over cavaletti and ground poles.  And then we jumped a bounce with two close bounces, a single stride, and then a double stride to an oxer.  It was wonderful!  And then we had to go through the course backwards without reins.  The entire time, Violet was relaxed, easy, soft, and happy.  And best of all, she did NOT cough even once.  She'd had lots of love from her trainer, owner, vet, and barn manager and barn friends.  She'd had lots of outdoor turnout.  And she was doing great!  That Thursday ride was such a relief!

Assessing My Girl for IAD

Here are Thanksgiving photo and video of Violet, having a fun little relaxed session with Emily.  I'm writing this on a beautiful sunlit Sunday on February 26th. In yesterday's post, I talked about a little health scare Violet had earlier this week.  So, I called the vet and talked with both Drs. Lenke and Zimmerman.  And on Wednesday, I went to see Violet and gave her a relaxed quiet 35-40 minute ride, during a lesson with the college kids.  Violet was able to work at all gaits and seemed pretty comfortable.  She had four coughs total -- two while I was grooming and tacking her, and two while we were warming up at the walk.  But they were soft coughs and didn't involve her entire body and she seemed quiet and breathed softly the entire ride.  But I still wanted the vet to come and take a look.

Violet's Coughing Fit!

Here is a photo of Violet, taken over Thanksgiving break with the wonderful rider, Emily, and a video at the same time with both Emily and Kelsey on my little happy herd.  You can see my hard-working sweethearts.  I'm writing this entry on a beautiful sunlit afternoon at my dining room table on Sunday, February 26th.  This week has been a bit more exciting than usual!  On Monday, Violet and I had a mellow little quick ride, but we didn't ride in our usual lesson.  And then on Tuesday when I showed up, I pulled Violet out of her stall and she was coughing.  And while I groomed her, she coughed the entire time.  And I mean a big body-wracking cough.  She'd put her head out and lengthen her neck and just cough.  So, I brought her to the arena and while we were waiting, she coughed.  Stacey told me to get on and see how she was.  And as soon as we started trotting, she began sounding exactly like a motorboat idling -- you could hear the gurgling and wheezing.  We stopped immediately and I pulled her saddle off and got on her bareback.  We spent a quiet time together and Violet was sweet and soft.  Stacey called Beth for advice, soaked hay for her, and gave me her expert advice about how to make Violet comfortable and happy.  My beautiful girl was not feeling well and it was the weirdest noise I'd ever heard.  But she seemed very comfortable right after we stopped working her. 

Namaste. Rock on. Writing.

Here is a photo taken March 9, 2011 of my beautiful handsome kind Jackass.  I'm writing this entry on Saturday, February 11th, 2012.  Last January 2011, Barb told me I should try to write stories.  It took me more than a year to finally screw up the courage, but I am trying.  I spent the last two-three evenings trying to organize my thoughts for a 14 chapter creative non-fiction book I want to write about the whole adventure of Hailee and what life in the herd has taught me.  The final kick in the pants is having to deal constantly with Bad Penny.  I just couldn't take it anymore.  I am really hoping that I muster the discipline to write both academic and creative fiction diligently and habitually.  Maybe I will be able to do so.  This week I completed an internal grant application and wrote part of Chapter 1 of the book I'm loosely calling Good Ponies and Bad Pennies.. Anyway, Namaste.  Rock on.  Write!

Patience is a Virtue

Here is a photo from March 21, 2011 that Lex took of Renny. He is a full year older and more handsome than this photo.  But he also has a chewed off tail and a fungus nose which is cracked and peeling.  Sigh.  Poor buddy is having rough times.  Anyway, I am writing this entry on Saturday, February 11th and I just want to say that I am working on the virtue of patience.  Not well, but I am trying.  Bad Penny.

Flying Lead Changes for My Girl!

Soft Training in 2012 with a Talented Kind Trainer!

Here are some photos and video taken on January 3rd with Emily.  I am writing this entry on Saturday, February 11th.  So, during our Thursday night lesson this week, Violet and I had some good and bad moments.  Among the good moments were that we got flying lead changes in both directions!!!  We didn't get them all, but we got some pretty ones.  So, I managed to have three separate rides on both my horses this week that earned me some lead changes!!  I hope some day to train my horses to give them consistently.  That was the good part.  The funny/bad part was that Stacey had set up a course which required deep corners, tight turns and many changes of lead.  That's fine, but part of it would take us the bad direction by the gate.  We were supposed to travel around the jump, we emergency jumped going in that direction just a few days before.  And sure enough, Violet decided to leap away from the gate and took us so close to the standard that I hit it with my leg and we knocked it over.  She skittered a bit, so I circled her around and she had the temerity to look surprised to see the standard on the ground.  Embarrassing.  But we survived.  And our course was pretty good.  We had to redo the one outside line because we took it a bit rough.  In our second way through, it was embarrassing because we were supposed to halt and I asked for the halt right off the jump and she gave a screaming cartoon instantaneous absolutely statuesque square halt not to be obedient, but just to avoid the TERROR of the gate.  Honestly, I am so tired of riding in the indoor arena!!  But again, let me close by saying that she also gave me flying lead changes and I had three separate rides with lead changes this week!!  Props!

Flying Lead Changes for My Baby!

Here is a photo at dusk on June 29th, 2011.  I'm writing this entry on Saturday, February 11th, 2012.  I've had an eventful riding week.  The Sunday before, Renny and I got flying lead changes in both directions in our lesson with Janet.  And then on Wednesday, we rode in lessons with a few members of the BGSU Equestrian team and Brynn and Farrah, and we got flying lead changes in both directions again.  I have a feeling that I'll eventually be able to get them consistently -- to help solidify them on him. It was an awesome week to know that the changes weren't just a hothouse fluke!!!

Violet and I Crash About!

Happily Jumping a 2.9 Course in 2012!

Here are some photos and video taken on January 3rd, during a training ride with Emily.  I am writing this entry on Saturday, February 11th, after an eventful week.  I've been upset about the Bad Penny and a kind friend gave me very good advice about how to diminish the power I let that person have over my feelings and wellbeing.  She was so sage.  And I got good advice about how to nurture both academic and creative writing.  And I got to ride Violet, during her complete protest of the winter.  Stacey had a fence set up as a bending line fence off the rail by one of the corners by the bad gate.  I was riding Violet in our Tuesday private lesson and she was being tight and stiff and hollow-backed and when I cantered her by the gate, she did a crazy girl leap off the rail and found herself right in front of the jump, moving fast.  So, we had to emergency jump it and I swore like Al Swearingen in Deadwood.  It was funny.  And I had no problem.  Though it was annoying.  It surprised Violet, so I had to ride her around and around at a trot and canter around that gate until she respected my leg and got off the inside.  It was rough.  But we closed out our lesson with a fun little exercise jumping a cross rail at a diagonal angle toward the other gate.  We went both directions toward and away from the gate and the purpose was to jump, take a few steps, and halt.  We managed that well, after our crazy wild emergency jump.  I am so sick of the indoor arena!

Violet Throws me a Snow Day Curve

Jumping 2.9 in 2012!

This photo and video are from Emily's training ride on Violet on January 3rd.  I'm writing this entry on Saturday, February 11th.  We had a nice heavy snowfall and I went to the barn super early to ride my two horses.  Lessons were cancelled because of the BGSU Equestrian Team show at the University of Findlay.  I rode Renny first and he was worried by the blowing skittering snow and the bright lights at the door and the weird noises.  But Violet decided to throw me a curve.  I lunged her first with her saddle.  And she was super professional.  She was great about upward and downward transitions and listening to my voice and being obedient.  And she was happy to travel up and down the arena and by the gates.  She just threw a couple of wrinkles and bucks into the works for good measure, but she wasn't really committed to them.  And she was paying close attention to my mood.  She was relaxed, but was looking for the memo from me.  So, I tried to keep my butt quiet and my mood light.  And we had a fun ride.  She was great.  We trotted and had a nice light canter.  We worked on half moons, serpentines, and figure 8s.  We used most of the arena and she wasn't too troubled by the gate.  She wanted to lift her right jaw up and away out of my hands, but if I worked at her lightly and not jabbingly, she was happy to work on a long collection.  It was great.  I really liked it, especially the canter. She was a terrific girl.  I kept her inside today because it was bitterly cold, so I'm hoping she's not too wild and crazy tomorrow.  We'll see!

Renny Shows his Mama's Side

Here are some photos from June 29, 2011 when Renny and I were taking our private lesson with Stacey.  I love how forward his beautiful ears are.  He helped me gain confidence as a rider over the course of this past year.  Anyway, I am writing this entry on Saturday, February 11th.  We had a snowstorm on Friday night, so I got to wake up to that wonderful pre-dawn sound of snow plows.  And so I drove out to the barn early and it was windy and bitterly cold.  I was going to ride both Renny and Violet.  The snow was cold and sort of icy and not heavy, so with the wind, it skittered across the roof.  And we had lots of sunshine, so the indoor arena was a weird eerie bright.  The two windows at the doors were just blazing white, kind of like what heaven might be like past them.  And snow had blown under the gate into the dark dirt.  And so though the ground was dragged and rich and deep and nice for riding, Renny was really up.  He's never up, so I took notice.  I walked him around the arena and he just was fascinated and concerned by the white backlit windows and he skittered and scooted and danced away from the gate.  I got on him and I could feel his neck muscles tight as he lifted his head high and stared with his nostrils flaring and whirring.

But I rode him.  Not well.  It took a while to get him to go.  I only got him about 2/3rds of the way down the arena.  We worked serpentines, shallow figure 8s, half-moons, halts, trots from the halt.  He wouldn't back because he didn't want to be obedient and submissive while he was scared.  And so though it was worrying to me to have such an up powerful pony, here's a good piece of the story.  At one point, he did commit to a shy like his mother -- he suddenly ducked his left shoulder out from under me, turned sharp, spun, and then did a rapid circle.  And I could feel myself respond.  I could feel my butt following his shoulder and back and spin.  And I could feel my shoulders falling back and my belly getting soft and jelly-like.  And I could feel my soft belly letting my shoulders come springing slowly up to follow my hips.  And I didn't come off.  I didn't come close to coming off.  It was great.

But I sure hope he's not up tomorrow!

Peace, Love, Pony

Peace, Love, Pony.  With this little pony, I will weather any storm.

Jackass and Nightmares

I need to start writing!  So, I hope and pray that I begin writing non-fiction, at least trying to write stories!

So, what does this have to do with Jackass?  Well, if you feel unsafe and you are having nightmares?  You want your little Jackass to sleep calmly next to you, purring in a possessive satisfied fashion.  It's all good!

Bad Penny.