Winter-y Days, and a Tour

This is where Jack and Arabee have been spending most of their time lately:




And since lately it's been doing a lot of wintry precipitation, they've been standing in the shed, watching the icicles grow.


This is where they live. It's an add-on to the back of a corn crib/tool shed on the farm. There are two 10x12' stalls, and a 12x16' run-in shed that they ALWAYS have access to. In front of the stall doors is a little overhang, it's 3-4 feet, I can't remember for sure now.


The horses are only in their stalls for about 30 minutes AM and PM while they eat their grain and we do the rest of the chores, feeding the goats and dogs, checking water, putting out hay. In the winter they only get "pasture" turnout if the ground is really frozen, but really they have 23/7 paddock access, in the area you now see them in. In the summertime, they get pastured during the day, but we shut them out of the pasture at night.



My "tack/feed room" is actually a section of the old Corn Crib that the stalls are built onto. I have a 1.5' step up into the wooden floor, and that area has been "coon-proofed" by chicken wire, so the racoons can't get in there and eat the feed. To put the feed in the horses' stalls, I just open the little sliding doors from inside the tack/feed room and pour it in their bucket that's mounted to the wall, then go around and let them in to eat. Very handy.

I've got an old office desk with drawers that I keep odds and ends in, plenty of hooks for misc. horse stuff, saddle racks. Matt welded me some hooks out of old horseshoes (aren't they cute?) for the inside of the door, and he nailed on a wire basket to keep brushes and hoof picks in.

I just "park" Arabee in front of the tack room door, and everything is in reach. She ground ties very well. Jack tends to wander.....but then he is really ridiculously spoiled - I've let him get away with way too much. He ties to a post reliably though.

It may not be the equine "Ritz" but it is perfect for what we need!

Goals - Here We Go!

A list, in writing, of my training goals for Arabee (and me) from today through the day of our first LD ride!

Maybe if I get it in writing and publicize it, I'll have an easier time sticking to it. This list assumes I am able to ride 4-5 x per week (weather permitting), that Arabee continues to enjoy the the rides and doesn't get sour - I don't want to push her too hard and take the fun out of it for both of us.

Now - 2/6: Get hoof boots all around, get a good-fitting saddle. In the mean time walk in-hand to familiarize with trails around home and build rider fitness.

2/7 - 2/13: Build up riding time from 30 min walk/trot/canter to about 45 minutes.

2/14-2/20: Build up riding time from 45 minutes walk/trot/canter to 1 FULL hour.

2/21-2/27: Ride mostly at a working to fast trot, with some walking and canter added in for a FULL Hour each ride.

Starting 2/28: Each Saturday as weather and other committments allow - Ride out. As in, trailer away to somewhere and ride with other horses on real trails. At some point I'll need to "practice" camping with Arabee, to make sure she's used to whatever (tying/electric corral) way we overnight her at rides.

2/28-3/6: Longer workouts.

3/7-3/13: Longer workouts, more hills.

3/14-3/20: Faster workouts over same distances

3/21-3/27: Maintain speed, increase hills.

3/28-4/3: Fast(ish) workouts, over hills, varied terrain

4/4-4/10: Fast workouts (trot and canter), on hills, varied terrain. "Peak" conditioning program.

4/11-4/17: Gradually ease-up on workouts, with a day off on Thursday and/or Friday

4/16, 4/17, 4/18: First LD Competition! Day off the day before ride day, trailer in, and set up camp, vet in, and ride to complete and enjoy saddle time!

What do you think? Is this do-able? I believe these are realistic goals that can be accomplished, but I may be way off-base. Who knows, I may not find a good-fitting saddle in time....or any number of things could happen, but Lord-willing - this is my course! Here we go!

Saddle Up! - A Follow Up

Since I posted last about needing to purchase a new, better fitting saddle I have done much research, had many very helpful comments (thank you!) and Kitt Hazelton has posted her write-up of Arabee and her recommendations for the best saddle for her. Be sure to read it!

I haven't ridden at all since a week ago Wednesday, in part due to the weather, in part due to sudden onset stomach flu throughout my family, in part due to saddle fit, in part due to needing hoof boots!

Hoof boots from Renegade are on order - I decided to buy the Jade (with Arizona Copper a second choice if the Jade isn't in stock) for Arabee's front hooves, Michelle has offered to let me try her easyboots for her hinds.

I'm doing a lot of searching and learning about different saddles and how they fit/don't fit.

Here are my "leanings" . . . but they're still very broad yet!

• used Bob Marshall Sports Saddle - this seems to be a very very popular treeless saddle, with ALOT of great reviews and success stories. I know someone who will allow me to test ride a Bob Marshall, which is a definite plus. There are some used ones available at reasonable (ish) prices, but there are cheaper saddles out there.
• used Abetta Arabian endurance - if I can find one! I also know someone who'd let me try an Abetta Arabian on Arabee to see if their tree fits her, to see if this is even an option. If I go this route I'll likely change the rigging and the stirrups as in this link: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...et_saddle4.jpg
• preferably used, possibly new Thorowgood Broadback saddle, either AP or Dressage. This is a synthetic saddle distributed in the US by Dover Saddlery, but if you research this saddle, "pretend" you're from europe or canada - the foreign site is more informational.

So, it looks like the key here is to get the snow to melt! I can't even begin to think of hauling out with the roads the way they are right now. In the meantime I'll be looking up any used saddles in the models listed above nationwide!

Thanks to everyone for all their input! The search continues . . .

Saddle Up! It's time for a change!

In my whole life’s experience with horses until I began this blog and training for endurance, no one had ever suggested to me that my horse’s saddle might not fit properly. It was not something I considered.

Now, I don’t believe that my horses had always been in pain when I rode them, either. I knew/know the basics of saddle fit. I understand the concepts pretty well, how the tree is supposed to follow the shape of the back with the weight resting well-spread over the thick muscles running on either side of the spine, but never touching the spine or withers, that it must not be too long nor too short for the horse so as not to “bridge” or cut in, and how the gullet is supposed to follow the angle of the horse. This all (while not an all-inclusive list on saddle fitting) makes sense to me.


The trouble is that I just don’t have the eye for this kind of thing! It’s embarrassing to say, sad but true. My head knows what it is supposed to look like, but when my eye looks at the horse…..I can’t SEE the difference between a good-fitting or poorly fitting saddle. Same goes for conformation (shoulder angle, length of back, croup, being well-balanced, pastern length…I know the terms and what you’re supposed to have/look for…but I would never make a good judge – I just have a terrible time SEEING these things.

So I have enlisted the help of Kitt Hazelton with Trumbull Mtn. Tack Shop, Inc. She has a blog (see link in my sidebar), and has added a feature where she will give recommendations for saddle fit. I asked her if she would do an evaluation on Arabee and our current saddle, and let me know what she thought. I hear that her evaluation of Arabee and her saddle is to be the next blog post she does. She has mentioned briefly that she doesn't think the current saddle I'm riding in is best for my mare, but has said that she'll go into more detail in this next post.



So now, since the saddle I currently have (photo shows the saddle "all wrapped up" ready to be removed after a ride - attached is crupper, breastcollar, stirrups, girth, saddle pad - this has really improved my tacking time!) isn’t the best for my lovely mare, I’ll be needing a new one, ASAP. I must be very budget conscious, so a good used saddle is likely in my future.

• I am attracted to the Wintec saddles (synthetic, easy care, lightweight, interchangeable gullet, CAIR panels), in particular the Wintec Pro Stock CS with Swinging Fender (it’s the bottom one on the page) I have found a used one for sale, but it’s unlikely I will be able to try it before I buy.
  
• I’m also considering the treeless option. I like that the treeless can be lightweight and that they often can be fitted easier. I don’t like that they are frequently said to be less secure (for the rider).

I have always really liked the security that the western seat offered. However, I REALLY don’t want a horn, I always found that grabbing the horn off-sets my balance more than just squaring up and holding on with my thighs! Plus the danger of getting “horn gut” is a risk I'd rather not encounter. So, that's why I like the idea of the Australian type saddle - western security without a horn.....BUT I've never ridden in an Aussie saddle before.

This is a HUGE investment for me and my family, and one I'm not taking lightly due to the present poor economy and uncertain times. Admittedly, the idea of riding endurance is thrilling to me, BUT, horse stuff is not a "need" in the same category as food, shelter, clothing....so if I have to break the bank to buy a saddle that fits, endurance is out.

I'd very much appreciate any input whatsoever anyone could give me about their saddle choices, how they work for them, any tips or suggestions at all at this time will be very valuable to me - Thanks in advance!

Hoof Boots

Okay.
I have measured and remeasured Arabee's hooves.

Right Front: 116L x 116W
Left Front: 119.5L x 116W

Right Hind: 118L x 111W
Left Hind: 117L x 112W

That puts her in a size 0 all around on the Renegades, and Easyboot Epic and Bares. So no matter what I get it looks like it will be 0's.

I really am leaning towards the Renegade for the front feet. From the descriptions on the the webpages, the Renegade sounds like a better boot in many ways - but then I don't have real life experience to really be able to say that at all. Between the Epics and Bares, I like the closure design of the Bares better, because the Epics look like they could catch on something and come off a bit easier. I understand that the Bares are known to be harder to "catch on to" for first time boot users, but I am pretty sure with enough motivation I could learn any kind eventually. I want the best boot, not necessarily the "easiest."

If I go with a pair of new Renegades for Arabee's front feet, I will have to choose a color. I could just go with black, but Arabee has primarily "white" hooves, so black boots wouldn't really blend in anyway, so I'm leaning towards either "Arizona Copper" "Jade" or "ChocoLatte." I hope Renegade doesn't mind if I post a sample of each boot color on here - it is for color comparison to some of the posted photos of Arabee on here. If I get the Copper or Latte color, my hope is that they would match Arabee's beauty-ous chestnut coloring. If it doesn't match, I'll probably go with Jade, since they don't have any blue. (blue is my favorite color).

Arizona Copper is first:

Jade is second:

Last but not least, Choco Latte:

Any votes on which color to choose???

Arabee's had the weekend off, since we were out of town for the weekend and got back around noon today. It snowed a bit. I trimmed Jack's feet after lunch - it's hard to do his feet because he's so stiff in his joints and he gets tired of standing in one spot, so I try to rotate feet pretty often (Jack is 29). He was decent about it though, good ole Jack! It was frustrating because each time I put his foot down, I had to brush all the snow off again before I could trim that foot again, but all in all it wasn't so bad at all. (can i say "all" more times in one sentence? ha..)

Taking it Easy

Arabee pretty much got this afternoon off. This was tough for me, since it was close to being in the 50's in the sun! Calm breeze - would have been perfect riding weather! But, no hoof boots yet, and I need to confirm saddle fit.

So, first I measured her front hooves for the hoof boots. I then took photos of her back and a conformation photo, then saddled her for some photos of her with the saddle on. Then wasn't she surprised when the saddle came off and I didn't get on!

Then I trimmed her hind feet, which she was very polite about. I use a jack to rest her feet on, which happens to be painted red, and she gets a little red paint on her hooves each time I trim, so I wanted to wait until the paint wore off to take the photos to show you how her feet look now. I am pretty happy with her back feet.

I am glad that I'm seeing to her comfort. It is important to me that this endurance thing is a fun experience for both of us. Saddle fit and hoof fitting is pretty huge!

Enjoy the picture I posted? That's Arabee (on the left!) with Matt and Cora. Cora really enjoys animals and the outdoors.

Happy Horse, Happy Rider......

But, a horse with sore feet is most definitely NOT a happy horse, and so we had a VERY SHORT ride yesterday.

I just couldn't find anywhere comfortable for her to go. She was ok on the grass, but even that was frozen solid still and very uneven, so I called it quits pretty fast. We wandered a bit in the woods across the road, which was okay for her, but I don't think anything faster than a walk would have been good.

Being forced to keep "conditioning rides" to a walk isn't going to get her very fit very fast!

So begins my search for a good hoof boot that will arrive QUICKLY!

Being as my husband farms, I pretty much will have to plan on riding in rides that are not held during planting season, hay time, or harvest season. So that means rides before April, maaaaybe July, August, September (early), or after the harvest is finished, which is totally variable year to year. It just depends on the weather. I may find that we have perfect weather, it only takes 2 weeks to finish all the planting, and we're done! Or like 2008, We ended up planting some fields THREE TIMES before the fields in the river bottoms stopped flooding and drowning out the little sprouts.....it takes three times as long to finish that way. So the faster I get boots on my horse and she is able to start moving out, the better. I am aiming to have my first LD completed in April. If I can find a CTR in March, I might try to go to it.

Anyway, I have been looking into the hoof boots. I really like the idea of the Easyboot Glove. BUT I can't consider it right now, because I have to have boots here ready to use ASAP. So then there's the Easyboot Edge, Bare, and Epic, and I'm interested in Renegades. I fully plan on keeping Arabee barefoot, except for the hoof boots. I was going to start with just a pair of front boots (but maybe that isn't for the best? should she need all 4 booted?)

Anyone have any suggestions for what to try? Best deals?

AERC convention

So I am thinking of maybe crashing the AERC Conference:
http://www.aerc.org/Mem_Con_ComingInfo.asp

Louisville is only about an hour from my house.

I'm not an AERC member (yet.....although I have to be cost conscious and if I'm only planning on a few rides I may opt just for the per ride fee for non-members), so I probably shouldn't even consider going to the conference. Maybe I shouldn't free-load off of everyone else and just show up.....

BUT all I want to go for is the SHOPPING! :-)

The reins I am using now are not right....I have a pair of split reins, and they feel great in my hands, but I don't think they're safe. They're so long that they dangle around Arabee's knees, they're leather, and the grip probably won't be great if they get wet (which they will eventually).

I also believe a new helmet that fits better would be a great idea. The one I have is well over 7 years old....surely they've come up with better styles/materials since then!

I also have a return item for Distance Depot www.distancedepot.com and they say on their site that they'll be there - I had requested an english to western girth converter for Christmas before I really knew what I wanted. I've decided the dressage girth I'm using now is working just fine, so I am hoping to return that for store credit to get either reins or a helmet.

I may also try to purchase some hoof boots for Arabee - by then I should have a good idea of what her ultimate hoof shape and size will be.

The thing is that I hate having to mail order everything. It is so nice to be able to touch the stuff you're thinking of buying so you'll know how it feels, you know it fits, and I always feel much more confident buying something that way.

Is it a bad idea to head to the Galt House (where the conference is held) and just wander around the Trade Show, even if I'm not a member of AERC? I sure hope not....because I really want to go!

Anyone have any suggestions for rein and helmet styles that they use and LOVE??

Monday Ride

Yesterday I rode Arabee again. The last time I had ridden her was a week ago Monday, so I wasn't sure how she'd behave. She was very good, although on Friday and Sunday I did walk her in hand around the woods (on trails and in places she'd never been before...with the hope of expanding her comfort zone) so I am sure that helped a lot.

The ground was very frozen, and it was clear that her feet were tender. I know eventually I am going to need to get her some hoof protection in some form, but for right now I believe Arabee's feet are still "in transition" so I am wanting to hold off on that until I think her feet are in the shape they want to be in. She's got beautiful soles, they have changed shape a lot since I started putting the mustang roll on her feet (nice concavity and a well-defined toe-callus), but I am still working out some slight flaring, you can see in her white line where it keeps getting tighter and tighter. I need to update the mustang roll on her fronts again. She seems to need this about every 2 weeks right now. I am hoping that once she gets in the right shape for her feet that this will slack off.

I think that for the most part we are right on track for both my comfort zone and her foot hardiness. We are doing short distances of trotting in places where it's comfortable for her to do that (and when it's frozen hard like it is now there aren't a lot of places to do that). She is getting the chance for her tendons and bones and structures to get "legged up" with all this walking so hopefully her whole body gets fit at the same time, rather than her aerobic fitness first before the rest of her. It won't be perfect, but I think it will help prevent lameness rather than if I tried to do all trot/canter all the time. Adding the trotting has really helped with her attitude. We start with about 5 minutes of walking, then trot a little while, and then she gets much more focused and is calmer at the walk even in new territory. I am blessed with a wonderful mare - she's got a great mind. You can always tell when she's bored - she "invents" things to spook at.

I think we both are ready to really increase the trotting, but I know I can't until the ground thaws a little bit - right now it is so uneven I really need to keep her slow so she can pick her footfalls better. She had fun yesterday we rode in the woods across the road, her ears were alert to what was around her but she was relaxed. First time over there under saddle, but that was where I'd taken her on our walks Friday and Sunday.

I am also antsy to start re-affirming that we can canter safely. Back (in 2002!) when I was riding her regularly and showing, Arabee was always good at throwing in little crowhops at each canter stride. I posted about her breaking into the canter from the trot a few weeks back and her bucking, which I think was accentuated by the presence of the crupper. She wasn't out of control, but it isn't the way I like to travel! She has a nice canter, and once the footing is good I need to practice it under saddle so that if she breaks gait and starts cantering on her own she is used to what the crupper feels like at that gait, and we can avoid unnecessary bucking!

I am still not 100% sure that I NEED to use the crupper, but my thinking is that 1) I already have it, 2) she's used to it now (mostly), 3) I ride with a pretty loose girth, and have experienced the saddle slipping forward on a downhill without it, so this will prevent that from happening, 4) If I do my training rides with all the tack she will be ridden in on rides, then it won't be something new the day of a ride.

Dreaming of Warmer Days Ahead

An oil painting, of a girl on her arabian mare, trotting through wildflowers bareback. Looks like fun, doesn't it?? It's hanging on my living room wall. I oughta frame it, I guess.

Anyway, I wanted to give a little hope for warmer days to come, since I think a LOT of us are going through a cold snap!