The Soloist

I went on a long solo ride today after work. I've mentioned before that I rarely ride solo so it was nice to go out on a challenging ride where I could just focus on Brego and myself.

We did the four mile loop to the next town and back and stopped along the way to sprint around two laps of the gallop track. Then a brisk trot home through a neighborhood. I have discovered that evening on a nice day is the perfect time for a horde of small children to be running around the neighborhood, screaming, riding bikes, dribbling basketballs. Luckily, Brego understands noisy children and we safely trotted through and made it home.

The old mare apparently trotted around the pasture in our absence and called but otherwise was sane, thank goodness. Brego did not seem to miss her much on the ride, although he did call to one horse we passed in a field. Otherwise he was alert, but responsive, perhaps a bit less bold than when we ride out with a buddy.

Over the four miles, we got about 30 minutes of trotting in two long 15 minute stretches. We got to go fast at the gallop track and then trotted up the ginormous hill to the house. Brego was barely sweaty and not winded, but he felt tired by the time we got home, so I think he got a good muscle workout from all the hills.

All in all, very good training for our solo cross country trips, and a wonderful way to end the day.

Modern Eventing

Andrea has put together a wonderful post on Modern Eventing on her blog.

Please read it.  Think about it.  Discuss it.  When need smart minds and loud voices right now.

Legging Up

Never one to rest on our laurels, we hit the trails after work today. We headed for the packed road in the next town and did two canter sets up the hill. Brego felt strong and fresh.

On the way home, I had trouble keeping him in the walk. He wanted to move out. Finally, after many corrections, we walked peacefully home.

As we approached the farm, I noticed that my (other, non-horsey) neighbor had placed two logs next to the trail. I had harmlessly mentioned to him about a week ago that it would be fun to jump some logs, you know, while I was riding on his trails through his property. So he found two logs and placed them by the trail for me. Have I mentioned how much I love my neighbors?

I took Brego up and over the log and Brego, formerly known as Mr. Chippy, launched into the biggest, roundest jump from a stride out to clear this little 2' log. Needless to say, I was jumped out of the tack. So I have some work to do, and Brego has made it clear he's ready to start jump training.

And now we just need a few more days of sunshine to get the jumps set up and then we will begin.

I love this horse.

Dressage Show Videos

I want to thank all my readers for their kind words and warm wishes regarding my show. It means a lot to me that there are so many people pulling for us to do well!


Brego was very strong for the first test, Training 2, and you can see a lot of tension from me just holding him together. He wanted to run back to the trailer which was behind A, so every time we turn away from the judge, I was holding him back. The second test, Training 3, was less "crisp" but he was more relaxed and workmanlike. The stretchy trot just didn't happen, but the judge said she would rather him stay in balance than throw his head down and fall forward, so she was happy with what she saw. We had a lot of trouble with halts, to the point that before I could finish my salute, the judge called out "You just blew your 9!" and laughed. We usually don't have these troubles at home, but I think because he was so forward, I was too strong with my aids, and he just weaved trying to figure out what I wanted.

Anyway, enjoy the video! I put both tests into the same video, so sit back, relax, and pretend I am Bettina Hoy! Woot!





Dressage Show - April 26, 2009 from Eventing Percheron on Vimeo.

Brego Looks Nice In Blue

Brego had a big day today. We placed first in both of our divisions, scoring a 64.6 on Training Test 2 and 62 on Training Test 3. A storm was rolling in, so a stiff breeze coupled with the show atmosphere meant Brego was nice and forward.

He was so forward that he bucked and bolted in warmup, but once my initial "I'm going to die" thoughts retreated, I actually thought it was funny. It was not major and we recovered in a couple of strides. Yesterday, when it was 90 degrees, I was lamenting to my trainer that Brego is so behind the leg, I longed for a horse that would spontaneously burst into a trot from a walk. Well, what a difference a day makes!

His head and neck look nice, just need to work on the junk in the trunk.

I did get videos of both rides, but the perfectionist in me is pretty unhappy with my riding. Brego did great, aside from some minor distracted fussing, but my hands were noisy and I looked slouchy. And although I think he's lost some weight, he is still much bigger than I would like for competition, so that's something I need to address soon. I will probably post the videos tomorrow, when I have more time to put them together.

You know, I should be happier about the show. And I *am* happy, just not thrilled. The judge was very enamored with Brego, even calling him "superb". She said once the stretch trot came on board, we were ready to move up, that he had all the fundamentals of training level. She did appropriately discourage some horses so over bent, their necks looked broken at the third vertebrate. She scored Brego the highest of all the training level riders, and I am not sure yet if we won High Point over the entire show.

And yet, I wish I was a better rider. Watching Rolex this weekend gave me a twisted view of riding. Um, only the top 0.001% of all riders look like Bettina Hoy. Well, actually only one. And I love Brego, but he is no Upper Level anything. So I am happy and I realize this is a great performance for two weeks of lessons and the winter off. I'm just ready to be *really good*. And Brego is ready for me to be really good as well.

Despite his sad eye, Brego was in a pretty good mood most of the day. We just got home and he is tired.

Meanwhile, my next lesson will be over fences. I have a Hunter Pace lined up for May 16th and then my first three phase of the season will be May 31.

Here's a fun anecdote. My trainer came to watch, not in an official capacity, but just to see how we did. She was very, very happy with the tests, but again, she's only seen Brego for the last two weeks and some videos of him from last year. Anyway, I showed her the old picture of Brego where he was on his forehand and she gasped and said, "Oh my God!" I asked her if she could believe it was the same horse. She said, "No... and you have an incredible imagination to see what he could be."

I take that as high praise indeed. :)

Ride Times Posted

We have our ride times for the first show of the season.  Wow, I am nervous, even though it is "just" a fundraising schooling dressage show.  It's been raining all week so I haven't ridden since Sunday.  It should be dry enough today to at least get out and the arena should be ready tomorrow.

I am also doing the Training 3 test which is brand new for me, the stretchy trot being particularly difficult.  However, I wanted to get the test "broken in" at a schooling show before debuting it at a big show, so I figured now was the time, unprepared or not.

Oh my, so much to do.  Clean tack, bath the winter gunk off of Brego, clean up his mane, prep the trailer, fill the water tanks, learn my tests (ack!).

At 10:50 am on Sunday, I will be turning up the centerline for the first time in the '09 season.  It's here. 

Just

Ok, I admit it, I am sore as hell from my conditioning ride yesterday. Brego seems totally fine. His tendons feel nice and tight, no heat, a little sore over his loin. But I am in pain. My thighs hurt to the touch and my lower back is chanting death threats.

I, officially, am pathetic.

So to stretch both of us out, I took Brego on the trails behind my house bareback, just walking, enjoying the sun, looking for the moose sighted recently. We paused at the brook for Brego to drink and I took this picture with my phone.



Just beautiful. And I got to share it from the back of an incredible horse. Just... happy.