tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6265532665818559722024-02-07T17:42:52.505-08:00The Surrey SaddleryThe Surrey Blog! Maryland's oldest full service saddlery, The Surrey was originally established in 1953. Now located in Darnestown, MD and continuing our tradition of good service, good quality and good friends. Offering unique items and gifts for you and your horse! (301) 299-TACK! Our blog lists current sales, area events, and our sponsored rider Sheri Thornley's blog. We hope you will come back often and soon!TheSurreySaddleryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16228965591640882028noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-626553266581855972.post-39980364159455361842016-11-20T10:52:00.001-08:002016-11-20T10:52:55.967-08:00What I Learned this SeasonI have to say I admire the people that can sit down and write their thoughts as soon as they have them. I think I used to be able to do that, but for whatever reason, my brain takes a lot more time to sort itself out lately. It ends up being a lot of over analyzing, rationalizing, and looking for answers to WHY. But it's Sunday, and it's cold outside, and for once I don't really have an excuse :)😏<br />
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Sometimes there is no answer for why something happened. That is one thing I've learned. We equestrians spend an inordinate amount of time not only preparing ourselves for our athletic events, but we also have to prepare our equine partners. We do our best to be sure both are fit and mentally prepared. But there are sooooo many things that can change the outcome of our endeavor no matter how prepared we think we are. For example, this fall at Waredaca, Toga and I were having a stellar cross country round, when at the take-off of the second to last fence, he suddenly veered to one side, then jumped the jump. I landed first, right under him, and he rolled me a bit. For the first hour or so after I got up, I searched for a reason for the behavior. This was the first time Toga "stopped" (although he really didn't, he did end up jumping) at any cross country jump that I can remember. I've come off him before, but those two times XC were when he bounced me out of the tack on landing. I asked people around me, I watch the video that I am so lucky was taken of the fall, and I tried and tried to figure out what happened. It took me a few days to finally say....well, shit happens. I don't know what made him spook like that, but I do know that if I had taken the fear and suspicion forward, I wouldn't have had the great rides I did at VHT the following weekend. I said OUT LOUD that we were going to have a great round, and as Toga did his airs-above-the-ground on his way to the start box, I knew he had no lasting issues and I shouldn't either.<br />
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<a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/o2o42zjimihekww/VID_20161022_134512865.mp4?dl=0&oref=e">https://www.dropbox.com/s/o2o42zjimihekww/VID_20161022_134512865.mp4?dl=0&oref=e</a><br />
thanks Tracy McKenna for the video!<br />
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I learned that saying what you believe, and just as importantly, saying <i>what you want to do</i> OUT LOUD makes a difference. I read Coach Daniel Stewart's book <i>Pressure Proof Your Riding</i> and it says in one section that, basically, whatever comes out of your mouth, your brain tries to make happen. To some people I guess that's Psych 101, but it hit home for me when I thought about how many times I have said "Oh I hope I don't ride off course" or " I am the queen of riding off course". Well I don't say that any more. I say I will NOT ride off course and I will have an AWESOME ride, and I do my best no matter what has happened before. And I <u>visualize</u> riding the whole course before I go in. Over and over. And in 2015 and 2016 I did not ride off course in show jumping. Not once. And I won't do it again. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. :)<br />
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I've said this before. that sometimes you may not have the best luck, but you just have to work with what you have. I was reminded that every horse I've ever competed was green when I got it. I either broke, trained, or retrained them all. I've never had a "made" horse, so how I would ride, where I would be, what I could do if I'd had a made horse to start with, with remains a mystery. But I don't care, because I've done well with some of them, and it's always a challenge. Blind eyes, broken necks, mental baggage, big tendons...yeah not ideal, but sometimes there's a light at the end of the tunnel. B (Biricchino) may not make the upper levels of eventing because of his neck, but he sure will make someone a beautiful Training packer and the best trail ride anyone has ever sat on. Toga won't go Intermediate any more, but he loves his job and if he wants to just go Training, he can do it forever. Uh, if I can keep him away from Addie in the summer :)) Now I have Buddy, the latest OTTB with the looks and movement, and so far attitude....we shall see about the heart and skill. This one will require a bit more patience than B, so I may have to say OUT LOUD that I won't push him. Everyone that knows B knows his funny, dorky, "whatever" attitude mixed with just enough **** you when we jump is why I was able to push him on a bit faster than I might another green bean. Plus the fact that Toga was out with a giant splint last summer/fall so B was all I had to ride.... We've had more than our fair share of rails in stadium, but ZERO stops in show jumping or XC. When he gets quicker up front, he will quit hitting jumps. But that's part of what we skipped, and what we will work on over the winter.<br />
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This year was focused on the AECs - which was a <b>blast </b>- and that will probably be my goal again for 2017. Toga and I finished 6th in the Master Amateur Training division, and 8th at the Area II Championships. I finished on the (bottom of the) leaderboard without taking T to too many shows, that's kind of cool. I think Toga is already qualified, so I will try to get B to the AECs as well, in the Novice championship. He was (ironically) the high place amateur novice horse at VHT and the third at SureFire where he pretty much ran away with me the whole cross country. Our overall scores reflect what really happened, I just think it's funny that he has high placings at anything. I think it will be a challenge to keep Toga sound this year (just 17 yr old horse creakiness), but I won't take him out as much as I have in the past. Besides, it's almost too expensive to Event any more, let alone with two horses. B will start early at Southern Pines, and maybe I'll take Buddy down there with me. The next few months Toga will chillax, and B will work on his canter departs and jump grids. Buddy will just circle and see how much he wants to do! <br />
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I appreciate The Surrey letting me post my ramblings and I hope to keep up better as the season begins in the spring. Getting away from the farm has been, and appears to continue to be difficult, but things always seem to work out. Starting the horses out on the great footing in NC not only jump starts their training, but it jump starts my brain into forward, positive thinking. <br />
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My horses are SO ready<br />
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I hope everyone has a great Holiday Season! Go shop at The Surrey 🎄<br />
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'Sheri Thornleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00383676771507842222noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-626553266581855972.post-43494709340322283782016-08-24T04:29:00.000-07:002016-08-24T04:29:08.891-07:00Doing the best you can with what you haveThe other day at my lesson, Packy asked me what we had to do to win the dressage at the AECs - besides being lucky. After I realized he wasn't giving me a hard time, we talked about how much luck really does factor in to how your six minutes in the arena ends up. How you feel that day, how your horse feels that day, the weather, the atmosphere of the show, then the hundreds of stupid little things you can do wrong or that can go wrong once you go down center line. If all the stars line up and you get a good day, what can you do to keep the mistakes to a minimum, and what can you do to show you and your horse's best performance. Multi-task much? <br />
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Luck has a lot to do with my riding "career". Riding is not my living, it's my hobby and my lifestyle. I don't go horse shopping for my next competition horse, they just kind of show up. Even Toga, who I bought on a whim as a sales project, wasn't a plan. Here and there, nice horses have been pointed in my direction and I have had the luck to notice them. I have had a lot of projects, and almost all of them have been nice horses that I was happy to see go on and do well. (Too) many of them I kept, and have had the pleasure and fun of being pretty competitive on. I'm not saying hours practicing in the saddle and every extra penny haven't contributed, but I sure have been lucky -maybe fortunate is a better word - to have these nice horses end up in my life.<br />
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When you do get lucky and have a nice horse to work with, the road from there isn't always easy. We all know that horses spend most of their day looking for a way to hurt themselves, and the rest of the day doing it. So injuries and illnesses have to be expected. If you get away without any of that you are MORE than lucky! Sometimes you have to take what is handed you, and make the most of it. <i>Look past what you see, and see what you have.</i><br />
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When B arrived off the track a year ago, the first thing we noticed was a few scars behind his poll on the right side of his neck. It kind of looks like burn scars. We (Dr. Lewis and I) really didn't have much information about his life so it wasn't until I started riding him that we thought much of it. Some fussiness and reluctance to bend through his neck led us to take a closer look. We X rayed his neck and found that he had broken facets at C5. Pretty ugly mess in there, lots of jagged and gnarly looking bone. Not a great sight. Turns out he was in a field accident when he was a foal and was found all mangled but they don't know what he did. I guess going in a straight line didn't bug him.<br />
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I've always said that attitude is 75% of a horse's worth.. More than half for sure in my limited opinion, but that's what I think. So now I have a horse with a broken neck, BUT he's sweet, quiet, brave, doesn't spook, hacks on the buckle, and is willing to work in spite of the neck issue. So on we go, We injected the messed up facets, and gave him osphos to try to stop the arthritis from progressing. He struggles on the flat but tries hard. Turns out he is a really good mover, and the stronger he gets, the less he paddles, and the better his transitions are getting. He behaves such that when he is round and over his back, he is more comfortable than when he is inverted. There you go - just what we want! He competed at Novice at his first recognized event and was totally competitive. Had fussy moments in show jumping - still trying to figure out a bit he likes - but jumped all the jumps and loped around cross country like an old horse. And he got a 32 in dressage go B! All that wouldn't have been possible if he wasn't the kind, eager to please animal that he is. For the rest of the summer we will work on transitions and jumping in a straight line, and wait for the weather to cool off and the ground to soften.<br />
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Toga has always had an issue with his eye. It prevented him from being sold for a lot of money, twice. Lucky for me, he didn't get sold and I got to compete through the CCI** level and have more fun than I can even express. Toga's eye didn't bother him until 2013, and unfortunately it took some very difficult and frustrating rides to realize that it was his eye that was at least one of our problems. His cataract and floaters had gotten really bad, so bad he wouldn't go near a jump. We covered the eye to see how he would deal with just one, and BOOM, he was a new man. He took a deep breath and said let's get back to work. So after getting special permission to wear his eye patch in competitions, he's back in the ring. There is definitely a vision aspect of his performance now, I think he struggles with depth perception. for instance airy oxers seem to bother him. He will stay at Training level where he is confident and eager to run and jump. <br />
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So here we are, ready to compete in the Master Training division at the AECs. We will be very competitive - we need to get lucky to some extent, but we have been working hard and doing all I can to keep the old man comfortable. We have been working extra hard on our flatwork, and a few extra jump schools have us both eager and confident. Toga has some normal older horse aches and pains besides his eye, but he powers on, tries as hard as he can, and still gets so excited at the start box I can hardly get in there and touch my watch. I would take 100 horses with some odd soundness issues if they have a heart and mind like my Toga and B ( and Marley, and Buddy, and Tommy, and Juice, and Fred). Might be hard to ride, but it's worth it.<br />
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<br />Sheri Thornleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00383676771507842222noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-626553266581855972.post-9610313427396813582015-11-10T04:40:00.002-08:002015-11-10T04:40:37.676-08:00Starting Over....AgainThere has been a LOT of starting over going on at Southwind in the past year, but even though there are pretty good stories to tell, the only one I want to dwell on is about the young horse with No Sense of Urgency. <br />
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Biricchino ("Imp" in Italian), or just B as we call him, came to my farm after a lackluster career at the track and basically having nothing else to do. He had an ulcer on his eye and scars on his neck, but he was sweet and you could see he was going to be quite attractive. It didn't take much more than a bath to see that was true - 4 years old, 16.2 at the withers 16.3 butt high, black with just enough white to make him flashy. <br />
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I don't know how many times I have told myself I didn't want to do a young horse again, but here I was totally excited to start another one, again. His first trail ride ever he led, on the buckle, looking around at his new wide world. He's never refused to go anywhere or do anything on a trail ride, it is his most favorite thing. For that reason alone I knew he was special and worth seeing what else he could do. <br />
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Ordinarily, when I get a horse off the track, they get tossed into the field to unwind. B ran in April of 2015, then was turned out until I got him in May. He hung out with my horses doing some hacks while Toga was getting ready for Seneca and beyond. But at some point, Toga cracked a splint bone but didn't present lame for some time after he did it. By the time he limped, there was already some remodeling going on in the bone. So Toga was put on stall rest, and stayed there for 4 months. Grumpus was not happy about it as the left side of B's face will attest to...the only two stalls in the barn where the horses can touch are the two that B and Toga are in, so there is lots of snapping and biting. A four year old and a grumpy competition horse side by side can be quite noisy. <br />
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Fast forward two months and B is an event horse. He has competed in three unrecognized events, and earned ribbons in all of them. Fairly good dressage, a couple rails, but always clean cross country. So much better EVERY time he competes. All that with a broken neck. Yup, come to find out, those scars near his poll are from a horrible accident he was in as a foal. Farther down his neck (C5 I think) the facet is mangled. Explains a lot of his behavior when he throws his head up in the air, but so far it's been manageable. When he is round and over his back, he seems very comfortable and flexible. When he gets frustrated or pissy and throws his head in the air I think it hurts. So we do a lot of work in draw reins and jump in a running martingale to keep him at least level. Seems to be working! We xrayed his neck it's not a pretty picture, but I will go month to month and see how much he can take. So far he is getting better EVERY time out, and his weakest part is still his hind end. Since he's still growing and really a baby, I am happy with every forward step he takes. And he never takes a step back.<br />
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THAT is what I look for in any horse I want to work for. Forward steps. Moving ahead from where you left off. To me, it shows a good work ethic, williingness, and brains. Mr. B has the brains ten times over I would settle for in an OTTB. If he can't handle the dressage as he moves up, he will still have so many options since he is amenable to whatever I throw at him. What a good man.<br />
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So this weekend B will go to his first recognized event at Beginner Novice level, which honestly he is getting bored at already. But hopefully we can finesse the canter transitions and show off his gorgeous trot, then jump around for fun. He is a blast to ride and after this weekend will finally get his well deserved time off. Toga will start back again.... his time off has been good for his body but not his brain. He is a worker bee and VERY jealous. The few times I have been on him he's been very obviously excited to be back in the picture. Very sound and ready to roll. I am looking forward to next year with him hoping he will qualify for the AECs again. The eventing Pirate will be back :)<br />
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I have always said that I think brains are the most important part of a project horse's package, and B is the perfect example. So happy to do whatever, and when he figures it out, it's on to the next challenge. Working through his physical problems are almost easy because he tells me when he can't do something, rather than tell me he won't. What a pleasure...I sure do get to ride some really nice horses, and again I have a LOT to look forward to :))<br />
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<br />Sheri Thornleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00383676771507842222noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-626553266581855972.post-1354246758861430752015-07-25T09:37:00.000-07:002015-07-25T09:37:55.820-07:00No excuses, nowhere to goIt's been a long time since I sat down in front of the blog page. The past months have been tough, to say the least, and every time I thought about writing, I found myself ready to be angry at something. But it's time to take a deep breath, look forward, and focus on the positive.<br />
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Starting with the negative, however, last winter SUCKED. In soooo many ways it was the worst ever. I made it to Southern Pines, but I really shouldn't have. I can't tell you how much I appreciate the people that stepped up to help out during broken pipes and snow storms. It was no picnic in So Pines either, it snowed, rained, and iced for most of the time I was there. Toga came up lame with some weird swelling not unlike lymphangitis, but not lymphangitis... so he was along for the hacks. Ari was awesome, and won his second Preliminary with Andrew McConnon up, then stayed behind to be sold. For those of you who haven't heard me lament on the reasons I sold that beautiful animal, it's because it hurt me to ride him. The way he moves just KILLS my back and it wasn't doing either of us any favors to continue with me on him. He's living in Kentucky now and it appears he is loved there just as much as he was here. I miss his sweet face and perfect attitude.<br />
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Came home from Southern Pines to my very own episode of Hoarders. Ugh. That's a sad story not really belonging here.<br />
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Toga started out the year being amazing as usual, 11th at Carolina, kicking butt for 2nd at MCTA , 7th at VHT, and then Addie rode him to win at Jenny Camp and to 2nd at Seneca Valley Pony Club Horse Trials. All finished on his dressage score, his jumping back to spectacular. A few weeks later, after schooling super well in all phases, Toga came up three legged lame again. Turns out he cracked a splint bone, was not lame, then must have re-injured it and then was VERY lame. Xrays show significant remodeling, so he is healing. But three weeks later he is still quite lame, so I have to really put the AECs out of my brain. It's just not going to happen. So watch out next year, we will just have to be twice as good at Tryon :))<br />
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But in the meantime, I had a bit of luck in all of it. A young horse bred my my vet's family, was in need of a home due to an uneventful career at the race track. No sense of urgency. Welcome Biricchino, now "B" because it stuck, who could be Ari reincarnated in a TB body. Beautiful, quiet, sweet, and big. But the kind of big I CAN sit to.<br />
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He is four years old, and talk about perfect timing! He has stepped into the void left by me not having anything to ride ... He's still sooo green, but every time I sit on him we pick up where we left off and get better. He is a good mover, LOVES to hack out, and seems to think jumping is OK. He's schooled XC twice, and actually pulled me into the water at Woodstock. I think he's a brave horse, just young and needs to see things. I'm pretty excited about his future, but am trying not to push him too hard too fast. Of course (are you kidding me of course I did) I ran the schedule of what would I have to do to qualify him at BN at the AECs this year.....but no, I think he needs to be able to canter a 20 meter circle better first ha ha. But it crosses my mind. Every day. No, stop.<br />
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So begins a totally new chapter in my riding career. As I wait for Toga to heal, I am starting another young TB - one of my favorite things to do, I've discovered - looking forward to seeing how far he can go. Toga will stay my main man, we just have to forget about this year's big goals. It's not over yet...maybe the Area II championships, maybe a destination goal of the Mid South horse trials in KY. Maybe B will get dragged along, maybe not, but my money is on him competing at something recognized this fall. Many updates to follow for sure.<br />
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Sometimes it feels like things just don't want to work out no matter what I do, and the past nine months or so have sure tested me. This farm has been the hardest thing I've ever had to deal with, but I believe it works out in the end. This is one of the best summers ever, the grass is green and thick, the place looks amazing and the horses are happy and healthy. I have always believed that good things DO happen to good people (eventually), and most of all that what goes around comes around. Good or bad, it really does. Just have to be patient. Here's to Toga getting better and B catching up with him in the future!<br />
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<br />Sheri Thornleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00383676771507842222noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-626553266581855972.post-16394914057035112842014-11-11T14:47:00.000-08:002014-11-11T14:47:02.564-08:00A Homemade Champion<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This fall has been a blur. After I got home from France, it was ride, ride, ride...compete, compete, compete. It was a real struggle to decide which of my horses to ride at each show, so I did the illogical and irresponsible thing and took both. Well, they are both fun to hride and they both do well! Fellow horse nuts can understand spending every last dime you have on a horse show, but I'm sure my non horse friends must think I'M nuts. But it's done, and am very happy to have done it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Taking Ari and Toga to one day shows on the trailer together is a challenge at best. Nearly impossible, really, but with help it can work. At Seneca they behaved fairly well but performed just kinda yuk. Jumped well, both of them, but the flat work was very ordinary. No problem. Then on to Marlborough where they were both great and Toga took home the top prize in his division and also the TIP award. I started feeling the old tiger in Toga's tank at that show, and let him cruise around cross country. What fun it is to let him find his stride and just point and shoot. He is easy to rate when he's runnning at a higher speed and jumps much more out of stride. REally REALLy fun. Ari was great too...a bit shaky on the hilly stadium course, but every time out he's been better and better.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Morven was a bit weird...the stadium in the muck threw ME off and both of my horses crawled around - only getting one rail each but it was pretty ugly. Just an off day for sure. Toga still ended up 4th, he seems to pop up in the ribbons out of nowhere, Ari was 11th. I had spent a brief moment at the bottom of the leaderboard but knew this one would throw me off it again.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then we went to Kelly's Ford where I perfected Whirlwind Eventing, riding the two horses in the same division with only minutes between the rides. The organizers did their best to wait for me, but did forget I was coming back with Toga to show jump and had changed the course down to Novice when I got there (within the time the Training division was still supposed to be running). So I was the one everyone was talking about in the barn that they had to rebuild the course for, and had to wait XC for. I was first on XC with Ari, but since they were about 20 minutes behind starting, and stadium was well finished by then, I was definitely putting a screw in their efforts to finish ahead of time. They were great about it though, and Toga and I showed them how it's done. Toga finished second, and Ari finished 4th. The TD said to me "you might think about getting some help next time"....ya THINK? Believe me, it's crossed my mind jeeeeez. I think they still finished well inside the printed show schedule. It's nice down there.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So I popped up on the leaderboard again, and then we went to Virginia Horse Trials, with Ari in the Area II Championships, and Toga in an OT division. Ari's dressage was the best EVER and we were 7+ points ahead at the end of dressage. Toga got a little tangled up in his left lead canter and his walk was lateral, so he did OK but was only 5th after the flatwork.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then we went on the hill for cross country and it was COLD!!! I think it's the first time I didn't sweat on course the wind was brutal but at least we didn't get the rain during the day they had predicted. Ari took off like a rocket - very unlike him - and flew easily around the championship course. It was the easiest XC ride I've ever had on him. The only fence that was a little weird was the prelim trakhener we shared that was on a half stride off a hill. He jumped it but couldn't quite figure out from where so it was a bit awkward. But I have never been so happy after a ride - I never had to kick or drive, I didn't get ahead or behind him, he listened to every half halt...it was awesome. Then Toga, who was more than patient waiting on that freezing hill, only showed his signature enthusiasm</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">just as we entered the box. He then skipped around the course like it wasn't even there just as comfortable and smooth as he's ever gone. I forgot to check the optimum time for the OT class and thought I'd gotten speed faults but since it was shorter I was OK. A bit of a watch learning curve issue at the start left me guessing where I was on time. But it all worked out. A stellar day for both boys and the best thing is Ari was still ahead by a rail.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Stadium day was equally cold and windy, but at least sunny. I finally got to wear all my new stuff (didn't want to ruin it in the weather in the past shows!) - my Ovation britches, a new RJ Classic shirt (Addie's), my Heritage gloves, and Charles Owen helmet - thanks to the generous help of The Surrey Saddlery! So even though I looked the part, warming up Ari was making me feel pretty frazzled. But he felt so loose and happy, and was jumping so great I couldn't believe it. Packy had us hop a BIG oxer at the end and Ari went to it so calmly and smoothly it took my nerves down by a 1000% even when he hit it the first time. I really had expected Dorkus to be tired and sloppy, but he was the opposite. Such a good boy and when we jumped around the course I knew he was going to do well. The rail we had was my misjudgement and a moment of indecision (and forgetting to count...) that he had to fix on his own so he tipped it over but it just made him sharper for the rest. Again I didn't get ahead or behind him and I felt like I could do a proper release and keep my legs where they belonged and my heels down. Imagine that ha ha. Even with the rail we stayed in the lead and Ari won his first big title. VERY very proud of my boy that I bred, raised, broke, and have been riding since the beginning. I was just thinking yesterday that since he was born</span>, <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've never thought he would be anything but a good horse. Just totally expected him to be how he is, but it's really a big achievement and a lot of luck. He's been hard for me to ride because of his big movement, but his attitude is so so easy. What a love. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> The pressure was off for Toga - this ride was for fun. I misread the program and arrived on the freezing hill an entire division before I was supposed to, so T and I did a long walk through the trailers, trying to stay out of the wind. He warmed up really well...no stop in him that day... and every time I took a detour into the warmup ring he just popped whatever I pointed him at. I stalked the poor steward every few minutes since it wasn't in any order we could follow. FINALLY we went in and my hero popped around like old times. He seems to have gotten back whatever confidence he lost last year when his eye started going bad. He loves wearing his cover, and I don't notice any issues at all. He finished fourth in one of the Open classes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So ends my competition year. I am (probably just for today) third on the leaderboard for Master Training Rider (fossils ha ha) but haven't got the time, money or energy to chase the points. It wasn't on my goal list for this year anyway, so even showing up on it is a bonus. But this was a great year... a complete learning experience starting with figuring out how to ride my monster moving warmblood, and including starting Toga over with his total new outlook on jumping. As horrible as last year ended, this one finished up great and I have only happy thoughts about next year. I may or may not sell Ari (you have no idea how hard my broken body struggles to follow his giant stride), I am going to look at my options and in the meantime keep him in work. Toga gets some well deserved vacation time, but he gets very jealous if I ride Ari for too long without him and very very grumpy. That one loves his job :) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I'm looking forward to spending time with my friends in Southern Pines in the spring, and that will get us well started for next year. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I want to thank EVERYONE that taught me, helped me, supported me, and cheered me on this year. This big list includes Packy McGaughan, Judy McGaughan, Heather Achen, The Surrey Saddlery, Dana Norquist, Lisa Austin, Lisa Gubenia, Bobby Costello, Andrew McConnon, Erika Jenkins, Addie and Jenny Thornley - all my family and friends, my Southwind family, the Banbury Cross family of riders that is forever helpful and supportive...EVERYONE Thank YOU for helping me continue to learn and do well with my most amazing equine partners. See you on course!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Sheri Thornleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00383676771507842222noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-626553266581855972.post-83016261694464559622014-09-11T17:14:00.000-07:002014-09-11T17:14:37.030-07:00Ari takes a break, Toga steps up, and I go to FranceSo right after Seneca....<br />
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Ari banged his leg, got cellulitis and blew a GIANT hole out of the side of his leg. It was a chain of events that just snowballed into a huge infection that had nowhere to go but OUT. So for the past month and a half I have been wrapping and treating the hole that has now filled in and the skin is beginning to come across the wound. Panalog is expensive, but it's a miracle. The sample bandage things Dana and I scooped up at the Carolina International came in very handy, and all the crazy colored polo wraps Susan gave to Jenny because they were single colors, have been used on a daily basis. It pays to never throw anything away sometimes! <br />
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I went to the New Jersey Horse Park (my first time there ever) for the summer horse trials with Toga...it was fun, we were second, but the venue wasn't what I expected. I thought it was going to be this fabulous facility but it was just OK. It was crazy expensive to get there - $58 just in tolls! But I got to visit with Elinor, who may or may not have been prepared to be head groom for the day, but was awesomely helpful, just like old times. Toga and I had a horrible stadium warmup that included me hitting the ground, but once we got in the ring by ourselves he was great. Since then I have concluded that the busy warm up rings are the one thing that T doesn't deal well with, with only one eye. I think it's too random, too much coming from all sides for him. <br />
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Toga and I continued on to Fair Hill, where we finished third and had the BEST show jump round in a long, long time. Nobody else in warmup was the first plus, then the course on the hill is always open and rolling - just what my XC machine loves. He jumped boldly and so steady I was thrilled. Cross country after that was just icing on the cake. My boy is back! I thought I had time penalties but realized later in the day that I hadn't set my watch to one minute before I asked for the one minute warning...very funny I was a minute faster than I thought I was but luckily did not get speed faults. Toga wondered why I kicked him on at fence 14, but was more than happy to oblige. Erika Jenkins, aka Zoom Groom, was my help extraordinaire for the weekend - I felt spoiled! I got to wear my new Charles Owen helmet, my new super comfortable Ovation britches, and use my Heritage XC gloves <u>finally</u> (didn't want to ruin all my new stuff in the rain at NJ) many thanks to The Surrey Saddlery! I LOVE the gloves I can actually feel the button on my cross country watch and they are so light and perfectly sticky. The only thing missing was Ari, who was still home nursing the gaping hole in his leg and some lingering swelling up by his hock. At this point I realized getting to the AECs would be way too stressful and way too lonely since none of the "usual" bunch of us was going. Maybe next year.<br />
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My next big adventure was France. My friend Amy and I have traveled around the world since 2001 and have always been drawn back to Kenya. But this year we tried something a little more cultural and civilized. And as luck would have it, the trip ended a few days before the beginning of the World Equestrian Games eventing, so we stayed for it! The tour began in the Loire Valley, where we rode from chateau to chateau, eating gourmet meals, drinking local wines, and learning about early French royal life. I was happy to soak up the fascinating history lesson and thoroughly enjoyed my French Trotter "Upercut" who was a perfect gentleman once the bug got out of his ear bonnet....yes the week started with an exciting bucking fit that ended with an emergency dismount. But once we figured out what was wrong he settled and was a real blast to ride. A very well run and fun trip for sure. Didn't get chased by a lioness, but oh well, maybe next time :))<br />
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We went from the last chateau to the hotel that the USEF had reserved for owners, family of riders, and spectators for the eventing portion of the WEGs. Our room was pretty awful - I couldn't wash my hair in the shower without bumping the curtain in any direction it was so tiny. It was in a pretty little town called Alencon, but it was hours from the venues. So we spent a ton of money on transportation until the USEF contingency got there and we could ride the buses. I got to go to the cocktail party the night before the dressage, where everybody who is anybody was there, plus me. The weather had ceased to be pleasant, so dressing up wasn't the option we had planned on. But it was fun, and we got to enjoy some more of the great local wines, cheeses, and bread that we'd come to love. We were out early for the jogs at Haras du Pin, a national stud farm which was as beautiful as any of the chateaus we had visited. I stood next to WFP's father and family and listened to him talk about all the other riders that he'd trained. Dressage Day 1 was cold and wet, but the USEF was thinking ahead when they planned the "goody bags" because they gave us stadium seats with ball caps and rain ponchos...JUST what we needed that day. It was a pleasure watching the horses go, even though the judging was confusing at best. It was hard for me to try to recognize what was a good movement when the three judges would score a 4, 5, and 6 for the same move. Over and over. Oh well, it was fun and there were many great rides. The first day was pretty crappy to look around as they didn't have many vendors there, or food trucks as I'm sure you've heard. But there weren't that many spectators there either, and if you went to get food at an hour other than 12 noon, there weren't any lines. But both days it seemed that EVERYONE went for food at the exact same time. Not me, I never waited in line for anything including the potties, which contrary to popular belief, were quite civilized at the Eventing venue. The second day of Dressage there were many more vendors, and more food as well.<br />
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We didn't get rained on any more after Thursday, but the mud continued to build up on the bottom of our shoes as we tromped around the grounds. I got to walk the XC course with Coach O'Connor and it was a great opportunity to listen to him and look at the course from his perspective. The ground looked deep but pretty solid since nobody had been walking on the track except the riders. It was a very hilly course, and they ended up taking a big hill and two jumps off the course because of the deep footing. We all had high hopes for the team but when Buck and many of the first horses out on course struggled to get past the last water, it didn't look good for anyone. But as the day went on it seemed that the riders must have adjusted their strategies because more and more got around. Many had problems, but the ones that didn't made it look easy. I met a fascinating older gentleman from Belgium that sat next to me and critiqued the riders as they went through the big water. He was a fountain of information I could have listened to him all day. But at the end of cross country day, only four of our riders made it over the finish line, and our team was out of contention.<br />
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Oddly, the jogs the next morning were at Haras du Pin, and then right away the horses were shipped an hour north to the stadium at Caen. It was like being at a soccer game complete with the crazed announcer shouting in French. The horses seemed pretty cool and collected though and there were a lot of nice rounds. Kim Severson got a huge ovation when she rode clear she was one of the first of the day. All our riders did a great job. I had to run out to catch a train to Paris so missed Boyd's ride but it was the only way we were going to make our flight the next morning. So we caught the train from Caen to Le Mans, then on to Paris where we stepped off the elevator into the Sheraton (THANK GOODNESS because we had NO plan at that point) and passed out for the night. Long trip home the next day I watched the movies Maleficent (awesome) , Godzilla (awful), and Noah (REALLY bad) in an effort to make time go by I was so happy to get home.<br />
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As I turned my phone on when we landed in Philadelphia I got a text that my three month old colt, Cody, was on the way to the hospital with a badly scratched eye. Sheeeeeesh it never ends. He had to have surgery to repair the hole before it ruptured, but is home and doing really well. Back on Monday for the sutures in his eyelids out and hopefully the go ahead to be a normal boy again. He's a big personality but he's been a great patient, letting us put meds in his eye six times a day through a catheter. We've had to rig it a couple times, but in the big picture it's lasted WAY longer than I thought it would. Carolyn and Carol have been HUGE help as well, besides taking Cody to New Bolton Center, they help with shifts doing the meds throughout the day. Couldn't do it without them! The past week and a half has pretty much revolved around eye medicine time.<br />
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This weekend both Ari and Toga go to Seneca Valley Pony Club Horse Trials. After that we do Marlborough, Morven, Kelly's Ford, and probably Virginia Horse Trials. In retrospect I am extra glad I'm not going to the AECs since Cody's little eye adventure was pretty darn expensive. So staying local this fall but still doing a fair number of events. Looks like I've cracked onto the Fossils division of the USEA Leaderboard, which I haven't been on since 2003, SOOOOOOOo I'm going to have to resist the urge to chase points :() Having two horses at the same level is helpful......<br />
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Good to be home. <br />
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<br />Sheri Thornleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00383676771507842222noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-626553266581855972.post-77585925006875109722014-07-03T04:22:00.000-07:002014-07-03T04:22:22.733-07:00Kittens, horse shows, and a Full BarnWhat a crazy busy month June was! When I bought this farm almost ten years ago, it was my hope that I could sit back a bit and "play owner".... I'm not complaining (much) but it has been the opposite! Seems like there is never a time I can sit down and not feel guilty about doing so. BUT it's all good stuff....this past month we got all new footing in the indoor arena - something I could only have dreamed about doing had it not been for the extreme generosity of some of my boarders. It was a test of my patience for sure, because it seemed like it would never be finished. I felt like a bus driver full of kids saying "are we there yet"? Disrupting the lesson and riding schedules for 50 horses for three weeks is not something I ever want to be in the middle of again. But it's done, it's beautiful, and we are all back to normal. Just in time for one of our Famous Southwind Farm Combined Test and Jumpaloozas - a semi yearly event that is a lot of work to put together but a lot more fun to watch happen. We had nearly 60 entries, which is about the limit on our parking field. Our little Derby-like course seemed to ride really well and it was a pleasure to watch everyone go around. Again, it is thanks to the generous volunteer work of so many of our boarders that make it go so well. I have a GREAT group of boarders here and I can't thank them enough for being so awesome!<br />
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<i>Off topic</i> I have more than my fair share of cats and kittens right now. I did volunteer to foster some kittens from the vet hospital that Jenny works at, but I should have known that I wouldn't be able to resist keeping one (at least). I kind of inherited another young cat with a food allergy, so her plan to be a barn kitty probably won't happen. And just returned is a kitten with an eating disorder - she WON'T - but I actually think we've got her sorted out. She can go on to her adoptive home I don't think they will have any more trouble. How, you ask, did we get a kitten that refused to eat anything unless it was forced on her? Well we gave her a ravioli one night and she never looked back. My tiny kitten Niblet was the same way until one day I dropped a noodle which she promptly inhaled, and then just started eating solid food. So kind of as a joke we tried it with Tiny, and the next morning she ate another ravioli, then drank kitten milk from a bowl, and is eating kitten dry food. Go figure.<br />
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And my horses are awesome. I have a new baby boy out of Carol Herron's mare Riva, by Ari's sire Ariadus. He's very handsome, very friendly and VERY big. A real colt already, he's a lot more naughty than Ari was at his age, but it's not malicious, just playful. Not sure what I will do with him since in the year since we bred his mother, I have learned that the warmblood movement is not so great for my bones. I healed a bit crooked from the BIG OUCH a few years ago, and the way of going of the big warmblood hurts me quite a bit. I've been struggling with Ari a lot because of this. I do love me a TB :))<br />
<img alt="Photo: This one is pretty gorgeous" class="scaledImageFitWidth img" height="378" src="https://scontent-1.2914.fna.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/p526x296/10526093_4403336897224_178749483656532710_n.jpg?oh=7c47169dd9bc14a06bc7479ec6dc1e64&oe=5417A3BE" style="top: 0px;" width="504" /><br />
Ari and Toga were superstars at Waredaca. It was pretty wet that weekend (what is Waredaca without a muddy parking lot, though?) so I just let Ari lope around the XC so he had a bit of time, but still finished second with a 29.10. Addie and Toga were also quite amazing and finished third on a 27 in T's last Novice for a while. They were also reserve TIP winners...again :)) So fun to watch Toga cruise around. Seneca went great for them as well, doing Addie's first Training finishing 4th with a little bit of XC time. Another bout of rain left Bittersweet Field pretty soft, so Addie was very smart to lope around. Another TIP award .....then there was me. Ari was very good in dressage, he tried really hard to keep his feet underneath himself in the deep ring. I was pretty happy with it and went into stadium confidently. We've been schooling grids - a LOT of grids - lately and it has really helped his jumping form. I rode the first 1/3 of the course thinking it was one of his best ever, then rode to an oxer and crashed. It wasn't an OH CRAP moment or anything, I saw a distance and rode to it. But when I got there the distance wasn't, and as Ari tried to put in another 1/4 step I think he looked down at the gravel in front of the jump and just couldn't do it. I popped off and we both kind of landed halfway in the jump. The noise of my air vest deploying (VERY happy I had it on for stadium) scared Ari and he ran off. I feel bad for him, it was his first stadium stop EVER and it really wasn't his fault. Just one of those classic misses that couldn't be fixed. I'm not at all discouraged and I don't think it's going to be any kind of issue. He had a week off because either there or in the field he banged a hind leg and has a giant hematoma I've been waiting to go down. It's much better but he may always have a bump.<br />
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In this heat it's tough to get motivated, let alone be an effective rider. I've learned that if I am not in a good frame of mind, it's not even worth getting on. Hacks and some short jump schools keep the horses fit, we have some fun, but don't overheat their bodies or brains. Hopefully we will get some rain soon so the ground will be good once the heat breaks.<br />
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Still trying to figure out what to do with the summer as far as my competition schedule....again I try not to compete in the intense heat for all of our sakes. But now that there are shows every weekend everywhere, it's hard to sit back and take a break while the competition rides on. I feel the pressure to keep riding - not so much because my horses need it, but because everyone else is. Trying to make smart decisions about my summer riding. And this year I have an added obstacle to work around (if you want to call it that ) I am going to France on a riding trip and then....wait for it....the WEGs!! As if riding through the castles of southern France weren't good enough, we just happen to be at the end of that trip at the beginning of the WEGs. Only makes sense right?? Once again, thanks to Amy I am about to embark on another once-in-a-lifetime event. Soooo excited :))<br />
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I will get a couple shows in before I leave for Texas and the AECs at the end of September. Ari is going for sure, and if Toga qualifies...we'll see. I don't think he can go at Training level - according to the list, he's qualified at Novice but I don't think that is correct. He did win one, but I think he's competed at too high a level in the past. Maybe on a Training team? I wonder how many Adult teams they will get way out there. Might be worth thinking about that too.<br />
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I've rambled on enough...out to the barn now which, for the first time in about six years, is full. It's a big relief but now a big challenge to keep the fields in good shape because of the extra grazers. There are good and bad sides to both a full barn and being down a few. Always something! But we have some great new people with really nice horses and I look forward to taking care of them all. <br />
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Au revoir for now Sheri Thornleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00383676771507842222noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-626553266581855972.post-91773112051718106412014-05-28T04:21:00.000-07:002014-05-28T04:21:19.974-07:00What a difference a year makesA year ago, I was struggling with my confidence and struggling to understand why it was so difficult to ride both Ari and Toga. SO much has happened since then - most significantly figuring out that Toga's issues were from his bad eye getting much worse. Since he's been wearing the patch when I ride him, he's back to his old cocky self. It's changed my riding as well, from defensive to offensive. Instead of riding a stadium course wondering if he is going to stop, I can now focus on the straightness and striding that I need to. He is an amazing animal and I'm more and more proud of him every day. We are starting from scratch with a few Novice horse trials before slowly moving back up. He has been super at the low level, getting great dressage scores and jumping around clean and easy. Addie is riding him at Waredaca this weekend, and then her first Training at Seneca. It's exciting to watch him lope around and take care of her like he did at the MDHT starter this past weekend. I give him a lot of credit for keeping that "bridled enthusiasm" under control! I think at this point my goal would be a CCI* at some point in the next year. He's ready, but like Packy said recently at MCTA "We're just happy to have him back in the ring." REALLY happy.<br />
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Ari continues to get better and better. He is a big challenge for me in that his movement and style doesn't really do my body much good. Since I got hurt a few years ago, certain horses really mess with my hips and back. Ari is one of those horses, unfortunately. But in spite of that, I have gotten more used to it and I think we are finally getting it together. I watch my pictures from the shows and see that my leg is steadier, I'm staying WITH him better, and he is using himself a lot better. It's a slow process (#myfirstwarmblood) but I know we're going in the right direction. The flatwork is better too. He is a naturally really good mover, but keeping that gigantic, slow moving body together is tough for him and keeping him fit is an entirely different program than for my quick little TBs. A challenge, but one that I am willing to tackle given that he is a consistent contender and often wins. He's a good soul and tries so hard to do what he thinks I want him to do. I think he will be absolutely amazing, I just have to be patient and make sure it comes together in the right order. Sure he can do the Preliminary dressage, and will jump cross country without blinking an eye, but we want the jumping form to tighten up before he moves up. It will happen but I'm not setting any time goals for it.<br />
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The AECs are Ari's goal again this year. We are qualified, and I am determined to do better than we did last year. It was a really fun show, but I think this will be my last year there for a while. It's a LONG way away and there are other big shows I'd like to compete at. The cost of eventing (see my tirade on Facebook in March...) has slowed me down, especially trying to compete two horses. Sticking close to home this year, for the most part, until Texas, and luckily we are in an area where have so many shows, recognized and unrecognized, within a reasonable travel distance. <br />
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Waredaca is next for both horses, then Seneca. Good luck to everyone at the shows - did you see how many Southwind riders are competing?? We have a VERY talented group of dressage, event, and hunter riders at our farm!! And thanks to The Surrey for supporting me and letting me chat about my many learning experiences while I bring Ari along, and bring Toga back :))<br />
<br />Sheri Thornleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00383676771507842222noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-626553266581855972.post-61369414573593399932014-03-04T07:49:00.000-08:002014-03-04T07:49:29.569-08:00As I sit here listening to the predictions/guesses for the latest upcoming snow/sleet/rain/ice event, I am struck by how exhausting this winter has been. Not just physically - plowing snow, walking horses up and down slippery paths, forking hay, running back and forth for hay and fuel every few days, riding while shivering (takes WAY too much energy) - but mentally as well. How many days have I spent (at this point still WILL I spend) planning the week days in advance. If it snows, what do we need to do? If it rains, what do we need to do? And ice - that's the worse thing. No power...all of it has drained the energy out of me. So THAT's my excuse for not writing in a few months :) For sure at the end of the day, my brain is not trying to be creative, it's trying to shut down.<br />
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But there is a lot to think about for the season that is only a few weeks from starting.<br />
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<i>...Well that was about a month ago</i>. Since then, two more big snows, lots of ice, power outtages, and frozen pipes are still plaguing Maryland. I, however, am waiting for the weather to change in Southern Pines. I came down just before the snow that came yesterday, and enjoyed a wonderful first hack in the Foundation in 72 degree weather. That was Sunday...today it is 24 so far....What a crazy winter this has been.<br />
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We are all sick of the weather so enough about that. This show season promises to be interesting, to say the least. Ari is continuing to get his act together, which is no small feat since he won't quit growing. He's over 17 hands now, a full two inches taller than this time last year. I think he is finally slowing down, though, because he seems much more coordinated in all that he does. Since we've been stuck in the indoor since November (sorry more weather) I think all my horses are a bit ring sour. This has manifested itself in Extreme Spooking Games. The pigeons, who are with us 365 days a year, have morphed into carnivorous birds of prey. The sunbeams on the floor are certainly white hot laser beams. Spectators are aliens here to hurt horses, of course. And I don't know WHAT Ari thinks the jump blocks are in the corner, but if they move from day to day he is sure they are evil, and they will catch him if he goes anywhere near that end of the ring. Has developed some amazingly quick lateral movements, none of which I ask for. Sigh. At least he's fit. <br />
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After our lackluster dressage test at the AECs, I've been working really hard to sharpen Ari's flatwork. He is much better, and doing some of his best trot work ever. I have to say, I do prefer the feel of a TB in general, but when that big trot shows up - WOW. He's gotten sharper off the ground to the jumps as well and really seems to want to leave the rails up now. This weekend we will show at Novice - haven't jumped a course or XC since fall - then on to Training at the second Southern Pines, and my first time at The Fork. We will be working with Bobby Costello and Mark Weissbecker again this year, I'm really excited. If all things go as planned, Ari will go to the AECs again this year, and hopefully move up to Preliminary in the fall.<br />
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Toga...the "big" horse is going blind in his left eye for real this time. LONG story short, he's had an issue with that eye since I've owned him, maybe his entire life. It's never bothered him at all (obviously) until last summer. Things started just getting weird with him, and after the eye specialist looked at him it was pretty clear that between the cataract and the massive number of floaters in the back of his eye, he is not going to be able to compete with that much distraction. The doctor said every time he moves his eye it's like dark things jumping at him. Poor guy. There are a lot of options, from surgery to fix the cataract, to removing the eye entirely, to "killing" the inside of the eye. In the meantime, the eye doctor told me to put a cover on and see how he dealt with life with one eye. Well, Toga took a deep breath (a sigh of relief actually) and has settled into life with an eye patch on very happily. So I've decided to just ride him with the cover, and let his eye do what it's going to do. He is happy to put it on, and is confident and LESS spooky. He knows where his feet are, and jumps straighter. It is a bit heavy since the cup has to completely cover the eye and has to be opaque, so it rubs him a bit, but I hope to have something custom made for him that won't be an issue. Now we just have to start at the beginning again and school him to see if he wants to compete again. I have permission to compete with the eye cup, so we will start at Novice and see how it goes! Toga has gotten me farther than any other horses I've ever ridden, so he owes me NOTHING. If he doesn't want to do it any more that's fine with me....but I think he will :)) He is here in Southern Pines to get fit and have fun - we'll see!<br />
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Here's to Spring coming SOON, to a good start to the eventing season, and to keeping up with this post a lot better..... :)) Good luck to everyone!!<br />
Sheri Thornleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00383676771507842222noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-626553266581855972.post-9853344434015473812013-10-14T04:28:00.001-07:002013-10-14T04:28:52.969-07:00On the AECs and Where Is Toga???Well our trip to Texas was a great success. Ari didn't place, but he jumped the best he ever has. I'd say that this was the hardest Training level cross country course I've ever ridden, as it should have been, almost a move-up Prelim course. Questions Ari had never seen before he took in stride and all with a smile on his (and my) face. GOOD fun. After two days on the road, the third day ride was the best all week. He felt amazingly loose and forward. Every day after that was different, ending with Ari as a slug on dressage day, and me unprepared for it with a too short warm up and no whip. At any other show I would have said "eh, that was OK" but this one I wanted some flash. I wanted what he does when he wins the dressage. But I didn't get it, so we started at the bottom. At least I'm used to that :) But it wasn't sooo bad I was definitely more disappointed in the score than the horse.<br />
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Like I said, cross country was challenging and fun. It was HOT down there so we were lucky to go early in the morning. The start was delayed because of the sun in our eyes (they didn't know that was going to happen???????????) and they had to redecorate the ditch and wall because we couldn't see it in the morning light (they didn't know that was going to happen????????) . So after a lot of milling around and hurry up and waiting we were off over a true championship course. Kudos to the AECs this year for providing what was, for me, the first championship level course I've ridden at a championship. Thank you.<br />
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Show jumping was like being at Wellington (I was told) it was a GORGEOUS course with some of the most ornate standards I've ever seen. Very nice, flowing course it rode so well and enabled directionally impaired riders like me to navigate around without the fear of making a wrong turn, without making it too easy. Ari was quite impressed with the decorations and was a bit distracted at the first two fences, but after that he jumped like a big horse. I'm so proud and can't wait to share the video when I get it.<br />
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Overall, the AECs this year were fun, at a great venue, but I sure wish they would do it later in the year down there. There wasn't any shade, so watching the other divisions just about melted you. We were so lucky to have the BEST stalls on the property (NOT telling) with the most shade available all day. And Ann Adams and I had the BEST camping spot under a tree (also NOT revealing the location) If we go back we will for sure try to get those spots again. We'll see!<br />
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As Ari and I were traveling, Toga was home with his eye patch on. We are checking to see if his odd behavior is truly because of changes in his vision. Well, I know we should take time to make SURE, but I am SURE he is tortured by that vision issue. When I put on his eye cover, he instantly settles. No spooking, no anger. When I ride him, he is straight, confident, and only spooks off the eye he <u>can</u> see out of.. It's really strange. I didn't know what to expect, but I did think he would be a bit nervous about what was going on on his left side that he couldn't see. Oddly, it's like he just doesn't care. I jumped him last week and he was completely confident and went to the fences straight and quietly. Just jumped little stuff, but it was little stuff he had a meltdown about a few weeks ago.<br />
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So this means something has to be done about that eye. My main concern at this point may seem silly, but I wonder if horses know when they are different in appearance. If he doesn't have an eye, will he feel he is less beautiful than he is?? Will the other horses treat him strangely because he looks strange? I've seen them pick on horses with masks on, and watch them spook at little ponies on a daily basis. So they recognize <i>different</i>. Toga is a beautiful animal -who knows it - with a big ego. A bully already in the field, and grouchy to work around, I wonder if he will be more defensive if the others treat him differently. Remains to be seen, I guess, because I think the best option is to remove his eye. The surgery to try to fix it would involve three separate issues - removing the vitreal "junk", removing the cataract, and then lasering some holes in the front and back of the cataract (which I think they just take the inside out of it to start with) because of some thickness....it's pretty complicated and has been done so infrequently they can't even say what the odds are that it may work. That in itself is bad odds for me. Plus there is always risk of future issues with any surgery that leaves the eye intact. Removing it totally is the sad option, but the safest. I feel confident he will be a much more settled horse. The doctor said most horses come back to the level they were at - fine with me what ever he gets back to!!Sheri Thornleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00383676771507842222noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-626553266581855972.post-76852725071569891052013-09-03T17:32:00.001-07:002013-09-04T04:26:39.160-07:00Rideability Rideability. I don't think it's a real word...spell check says ride-ability or ride ability. But we hear our coaches and fellow riders use that word constantly. It is what we all wish our horses had, or that they do have and are happy about it - it is the key to being able to negotiate whatever pattern, test, or course we ride properly, quietly, and efficiently. Without rideability, we have.....hmmmm....what Toga and I have had for a while. The equine part of the team takes over more than his/her share of the decision making.<br />
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At the end of 2012, I was more than ready (I thought) to try to move up to Advanced in the spring. I was confident in all three phases, even though the dressage was never stellar, and show jumping was not my strong suit. Cross country was a blast, and after two years of Intermediate, I felt like I wanted to give it a try. But at the beginning of this year, things fell apart. As you have read in my last few blogs, the show jumping has begun to intimidate me to the point where I felt I had to step back and start again.<br />
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Turns out, part - a BIG part - of my problem was that I was letting Toga run the show when it came to show jumping. He is very careful and rateable cross country, but in stadium he (thinks he) knows better than me. Well, if I am to move up successfully, that has to change. I have to learn to count strides in combinations ACCURATELY. I have to have a plan, and RIDE THAT PLAN. To be honest, I really had no idea how much of what went on in the show jumping ring has been Toga's plan, and how little I had to do with how it all went on. And when I can't even remember the course, you know it's not going to end well. This summer has been all about riding a plan, riding quietly, and making my horse listen. Virginia HT was a good run as far as rideability, as was Seneca, but this past weekend at Loudon it just didn't work.<br />
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I'm not going to blame Toga entirely, and I'm not going to blame myself entirely either. It was a very difficult show jumping course in a lot of ways and I won't say more. Toga put in a nice dressage test, scoring better than Ari (? how is that possible??) but not feeling quite right behind going to the left. He seemed quite willing to move and do what I asked, but on the left lead canter he seemed stuck. He's been a bit that way lately, so he's had acupuncture and massages, etc. Even galloping on the left lead on a straight line isn't the same as on the right lead. But he hadn't seemed unwilling to do anything. Until Saturday, when he said NOPE I'm not jumping today. He flipped me off in warmup (what a drag to get that stupid air vest off before I went into the ring) and then again at the second stop on course. I got him to a crappy distance at the third fence (not ALL my fault) but he could have jumped the fourth. I dunno. I really felt like he didn't want to do it from the minute we got into the ring. Will have to have him checked out it's possible he's having a Lyme's relapse, hope its not something worse. OR it could be me overdoing the rideability issue. Hope I can figure it out quickly.<br />
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Ari was great at Loudon. His dressage was awesome and I really thought we would be in the 20s. But he scored a 35 with some comments that just didn't seem to make sense. But it always goes that way - when you think you were great, you weren't....when you think eh-that was just OK, you win the dressage. Oh well. But I was very very happy with it. Stadium was a wake up call for him...we hadn't jumped a real course all summer so he was a bit slow and lazy over the fences and smacked a few really hard. But the last one he hit made a good impression and the rest of the course he jumped great. Cross country was sooooo good. Since I already blew my score in stadium, I worked the whole course to make sure his rhythm stayed steady, and that we got the distances in the combinations correct. Rideability. He lengthened and shortened his strides when I asked him to. Good good boy. I won't make the mistake I did with T and let him take charge without me noticing. <br />
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As long as we get Toga figured out, both horses are headed to Seneca, and then Ari on to the AECs. I think he'll be very competitive and we will work to win it. Toga is qualified for the Area II championships, so as long as he is sound, we will compete there. I would love to do the CCI* with him at VHT, so Morven would be a good warm up. Keep your fingers crossed that my most amazing, talented jumping horse doesn't have something really wrong with him! Maybe we need to work out a happy medium between who is in charge - if that's what it is, I am very happy to keep working on it :))Sheri Thornleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00383676771507842222noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-626553266581855972.post-31727166268588407192013-07-13T07:05:00.000-07:002013-07-13T07:05:14.914-07:00What are the chances...Don't get me wrong... I think Toga is the BOMB and he has taken me farther in my riding experiences than any horse I've ever ridden, and there is no horse I know with more talent, scope, and drive than him. But I have to say that I haven't had as much fun in quite a while as I have just lately with Ari.<br />
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What are the chances that you already have an amazing animal, then take an old mare out of the field and breed her because you like the way the stallion's babies have snark - and get yet another horse that shows that bit of special that we all pray for. I am so lucky. They are polar opposites, Toga and Ari, one is quick, sharp, and hot...the other is quiet, a bit lazy, and feels like you are riding in slow motion. Both are amazing. After riding a dressage test on Ari I think more about what scores he WILL get more than what he <u>did</u> get. Each test I know he could do a lot better in certain spots, and I know once we get the sharpness up, he will be stunning.<br />
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We've been a bit skeptical about Ari's jumping ability. He is a very long horse, and being a warmblood, a bit slow off the ground. At first he really didn't mind hitting rails and jumped through them as much as over them. It was discouraging but I had the feeling that he needed a challenge to make him pay attention. After his win at Novice at MCTA I took the plunge and decided to move him up at the next event. He totally stepped up at Kelly's Ford and it was there I felt like I had a real cross country horse. His stadium was great as well and he really tried not to hit anything. Only one rail there and we finished second. Yesterday at MD Horse Trials Ari jumped like a big horse, using himself beautifully, and keeping a rhythm that made the round a pleasure. I looked at my pictures before I left and you can see the big smile that tells how much fun I was having and how proud I am of him. He literally loped around cross country without one second of hesitation at anything it was such an easy ride. He deserved to win.<br />
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In my continuing quest to improve my stadium rides on Toga, I've been working very hard on quiet, steady rides, especially through combinations. I ride small jumps over and over in practice, just trying to maintain a smooth pace. Toga gets really wound up when we jump, and riding through a combination is very difficult on him when he decides he can do it in a different number of strides than I think we should. It comes up FAST! My last few schools on him have been very good and I was excited to see if I could bring it to the show. He quietly picked up the canter (instead of leaping through the air) and loped to the first fence (instead of dragging me to it) jumped it beautifully, and continued around to the second jump. Around the corner I remember thinking "wow this is nice" and I probably took my leg off and let my guard down at just the wrong moment. Toga is 13 years old now, and has gotten smart enough to know that if it's not right, it's not right. We got to the second fence WAY too quietly and slowly, and there was no way he could get up off the ground at the close distance we got to so he said no. I wasn't mad at him (he made the right choice for a change) and am very proud to say that at that moment I forced myself NOT to try to catch up the time, NOT to change my plan, and just turned back to it and finished the course as if it never happened. It wasn't the best round - but he was ridable and quiet. Quiet - Toga. That made me very happy. He was so relaxed cross country I realized I had to step it up about half way through and actually kicked him on. Very civilized.<br />
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And OH! What are the odds that you start in NINTH place with a 24?? When the winner has an 18 it's pretty good odds. All these years I've been complaining that I never start at the top because our scores are so mediocre....and I get a great score and still start in the middle! Kind of funny I think but it sure took the pressure off. The test was really nice, I thought, but really didn't expect that score. My division was tough - good company included a Rolex horse. All the scores were relatively low and I think we all deserved it I watched a few ahead of me go and they were beautiful tests. Toga was in good form this weekend I'm proud of him. He didn't cool down very well though, I think the humidity got to him more than anything. I took him back to the cooling tent and let him snorkel in the ice water. He was acting OK but just wouldn't cool down for a long time. I took him home and cold hosed him for a bit he's fine.<br />
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So Toga isn't qualified for the AECs at Preliminary, and I'm not prepared to ride Intermediate at a Championship this year. BUT Ari is qualified at Training, and I really think we can be competitive. We'll keep working on the flat work, and jump as much as possible so that if Tyler, TX works out, we will be READY!! Sheri Thornleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00383676771507842222noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-626553266581855972.post-48337541782286584352013-06-09T12:42:00.000-07:002013-06-09T12:42:07.033-07:00My Wish I was at Bromont blogI've been watching the Eventing Nation entries about the Bromont event going on this weekend and even though it's raining and the course sounds brutal, I do wish I could be there. Not saying I <i>should</i> be there, but it is for sure one of the most beautiful venues I've ever seen. Maybe next year :)<br />
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In the meantime, things are shaping up. Toga and I are taking a deep breath and using time at Preliminary to sort out a few issues in dressage and show jumping. We competed at MCTA and finished winning the trophy for the best placed MCTA member at Preliminary! Toga was super in dressage and although our jumping was a bit shaky due to my nerves and his enthusiasm, it went well with two double clears. What a relief. Then to top things off, Ari kicked butt and WON an open Novice division and we won ANOTHER trophy from MCTA! Ari has been on the back burner for the past year, but I think this is his big time to shine, and he continues to be a pleasure to ride and train.<br />
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Two weeks after MCTA, I took a chance and entered Ari in his first Training event at Kelly's Ford. Under the (false) impression that it was a "move up course", Ari, Spike and I set off to this event with no expectations at all (except that it would be a "soft" course as written in the omnibus...). But fter walking the courses, I realized it might be too much for Ari and decided if he had the littlest bit of trouble or hesitation I would retire. We did our dressage on bumpy grass, but he held it together and was super. I didn't know he'd won the dressage until after show jumping, where he jumped the biggest Training course I'd seen in a long time with only one rail. What a brave boy - it gave me confidence that he would be fine over the giant XC course. And I was right. The only thing that phased him was the tiger trap - sunken road in the woods - skinny on a bending line out of the woods. THAT popped his eyes out but what a good boy to go anyway. Even the ditch and wall that horrified me (for his sake) proved to be just something in his way. In stadium he gets a bit strong and sometimes takes charge at the jumps, but on XC I feel him think "I got this" as soon as he puts his eyes on the jump...no rushing, just a feeling of confidence that is so so cool. I felt it again at Waredaca last week when he saw we were heading for the water and he literally attacked it. So much fun! He was again a star on the flat earning a 27.5 but this time he was only 6th, and then finished 6th after one rail in a pretty spooky show jumping round. Nowhere to go but up with this one.<br />
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I took Toga to the Virginia Horse Trials, taking a chance that he would settle there better than he has in the past, and he did. He actually laid down in the middle of the day instead of trying to climb out the concrete walls. He was pretty good (very relaxed FINALLY) on the flat, but then a real jerk cross country. He did not respect the jumps - or me - and nearly jumped me out of the tack over a skinny. I was pretty upset with him the whole way round until we got to the one really challenging combination and then he showed me the Toga I love and jumped through it perfectly. Show jumping the next day was wonderful - he was the most relaxed he's been all year. We had two rails, but I rode the best I have, and he jumped the best he has the whole season and I was happy to take them. I think we finished 8th.<br />
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Next on the radar is Seneca for both of my boys. My focus has been on the show jumping and learning to ride through related distances correctly. It's amazing how much I've let Toga decide how we jump through a course without even realizing it. Well I realize it now, and I can't let Ari go that same route. He doesn't have the scope and agility that Toga has, so I have to be careful that we do it right. And regardless of Toga's talent, I need to be more accurate and consistent in all my jumping. I'm hoping that over the summer I can improve those skills and in the fall continue upward with both horses. Maybe Richland Park? Maybe the AECs ? That would be a tough one since it's in Texas this year, but maybe if we get a crowd together it could be affordable. Packy's crew came home with a LOT of prizes last year I think we can do it again! Sheri Thornleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00383676771507842222noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-626553266581855972.post-78768833464256884772013-04-21T06:16:00.003-07:002013-04-21T06:49:45.346-07:00One step back...<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sometimes the step you take isn't forward. But taking a step back doesn't have to be a bad thing. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's been a long time since I sat down to write about my riding adventures. Saying I've been busy is an understatement. I've been to Argentina and back in the meantime - beautiful riding in the Andes and galloping in fields near Buenos Aires. The trip's timing wasn't the best...I arrived home and in five days left for Southern Pines for my first show of the season. I was not prepared mentally to concentrate on the upcoming event.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I can go on and on about what was going on in my head the weekend of Southern Pines I. But the final result was a total loss of focus and I rode off course on Toga in show jumping. I knew going into the ring that I was not on my game - I couldn't repeat "my plan" back to Packy without having something else come into my thoughts to interrupt. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was riding Preliminary that weekend and had hoped to use it as a school for the next show where I would move back up to Intermediate. I was allowed to ride XC the next day and it was great. I didn't let the bad times (one of my excuses...) frazzle me and wandered over to the start box when I was good and ready. Toga actually walked into the start box and was quite civilized the whole way around his first course of the season. Whew.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But the stadium screwup totally blew my confidence. I have done it before (remember Stuart a couple summers ago?) and the thought that it might be a continuing problem shook me to my core. I worked hard with Bobby Costello for the next two weeks, especially with Ari who was apparently in the middle of an awkward growth spurt (OK Ari, 17 hands is ENOUGH) and very hard to ride. It was like I was on someone else's horse - I hit him in the mouth without fail no matter how hard I tried to stay with him, it was horrible. My schools with Toga were better, but my brain just would not work with my body. I don't think I have ever been so frustrated with my riding. So the next show was also at Preliminary for Toga, and we ended up with a ribbon and a little bit of an ego boost.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had a really good season with T last year. We traveled all over and did really well, both of us feeling very confident and hopeful for a move up in 2013. But all of a sudden even the Intermediate stadium looks daunting to me. Granted, 3'11" is pretty high, but on a winged wonder like Toga I never really noticed. Am I getting old? Is it because I'm riding Ari at Novice? Or have I just taken a bigger look at my skills and decided that Advanced may not be on my radar for quite some time. Yes. I've had a lot of help :)) deciphering why my head has taken such a big step back and I think I will also choose the answer that says I am having a hard time switching between Ari and Toga. They are two ends of the riding spectrum - a quick, small, snappy, sassy TB, and a huge, lumbering giant of a warmblood. I'm not making excuses, just trying to figure it out so I can fix it. If it is the case that I'm riding Toga differently because of Ari, I sure need to make that right. T is my first priority. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have never ridden above Intermediate, so I am at the point in my skills where</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">if I'm doing something wrong, or if I need to know how to do something new or different, someone has to teach me how. It's a scary place to be and I think maybe that hit me quite hard this spring. So Advanced is still a goal, but it's not on the calendar any more. Right now I have to take a deep breath, take a small step back, and regain the confidence I had last year. Riding a perfect round at Preliminary is my new goal, and if it takes all year I don't care. I'll try to get to jumper shows (fitting that into the eventing year can be difficult) and will continue to ride Ari up the levels when HE is ready. Can't forget about that young man, who is so sweet and willing but WOW what a mover it's so so hard to sit on him! It's nice to start somewhere decent in the results with a good dressage score.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">BUT speaking of dressage, I have also taken a deep breath with that. Toga is a keen competitor, and keeping that energy in check in the dressage ring has always been a challenge. I get the elusive lead changes only when we don't need them, and usually get "tense" comments on my tests. The past two shows have been a big change from that. Taking the attitude that instead of riding what I get, when I get in there, I will fix it and continue on as if it didn't happen, no matter what it costs me - has resulted in a much more relaxed and obedient ride. Go figure?? I relaxed and so did my horse, what a concept. It worked at SP II and again this weekend at Fair Hill. We had two great rides and not a hint of a lead change or exuberant transition. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My point is that <b>so</b> much of our riding is mental. I have a lot more respect for the pros that have many different horses to ride, and are expected to do well on all of them no matter what kind of ride they are. I envy those that can ride any division and remember the courses as they change. I think I can do that as well, but will have to filter out a lot of the noise in my head to focus on just what's in front of me. Our horses can feel our fear, our nervousness, our hesitation. Toga stopped at the first fence in stadium yesterday (our first Intermediate of the year) and I came off. I thought I had my head together, but obviously something was wrong. It wasn't a perfect distance, but Toga is brave and loves to jump so when there is a stop there is a good reason. The jumps looked big to me, so I must have told him that somehow. Time to step back and fix this. I'm looking forward to MCTA on both my horses, and to the rest of the season as a steady ride forward into the confidence I had before, and to strengthening my skills that need to be more detailed and technical than ever. </span>Sheri Thornleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00383676771507842222noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-626553266581855972.post-33116278025012389062012-10-21T03:28:00.001-07:002012-10-21T03:28:13.753-07:00<b>Starting back when I was getting ready to go to NY for my dad's
funeral, I forgot to call the blacksmith to tell them Toga's feet were a
mess even though he wasn't due to be shod that week. Forgot until the
day before Middleburg, so I went to that show with shoes hanging by a
thread. Lost one in dressage, had the show farrier put one on, went on
that day to jump clean in stadium. Next day was XC and when I went to
jog in the warmup he hopped three legged for about 8 steps. I jumped
off and looked at his foot and thought well that's it. While I was
waiting for the vet I got back on and then when I jogged he was
completely sound. So (against the bad feeling in the back of my head
driven by the fact that I was 2nd going into XC and could WIN) I went to
the start box where he almost walked in. THAT should have been warning
enough because usually we go into the box on two legs with fire up his
ass. He stopped at the fourth fence, I felt it coming from ten strides
away (another LOUD signal I ignored). Once again I went on against my
better judgement so when he stopped at the seventh fence I pulled up
ashamed of myself for starting in the first place. He had lost the
other shoe by then. He was sound, but I knew something was up.<br /><br />The
next week was a cluster**** of trying to get shoes on. We wanted to
wait a day to see if he'd stepped on a clip or nail, then decided to
glue shoes on since Fair Hill was three weeks away and again we'd be at
the end of a shoeing cycle. I turned Toga out for a few hours before
Tom got there - my NEXT mistake since you can't glue shoes on wet feet.
SOOOOO another day goes by. Finally get the shoes on and Friday Toga
was sound and schooled amazingly. But on Monday his LF was on fire with
a little filling in his leg. We gave him banamine and amacarb (sp?)
for two days hoping to slow down what might be a bruise. But he's just a
little off on that foot and there is still heat and a pulse. In the
meantime, he hasn't galloped since five days before Middleburg so even
if he's completely sound today, there's no way he's fit enough for 9
minutes of XC next weekend. My head keeps saying "well maybe if...."
but no way. I'll wait till the last minute to scratch - not sure why
I'm definitely not going - I guess that voice in my head is still
hopeful in spite of everything.<br /><br />In the big picture though, this
has been a great year for Toga and me. We got to Bromont CCI** early in
the year and it was a BLAST to ride there and we did a respectably good
job. Finished in the ribbons at Stuart CIC** and the AECs. My show
jumping phobia is slowly going away as we are more experienced every
time out. We jumped a few clean rounds this year, and the rails have
been simple tips, not blatant mistakes or misses. We finished in the
top ten six out of ten starts...not bad!! Toga is a cross country
MACHINE it is soooo much fun to steer him around. He just looks for the
flags :) If I can get south enough this winter, I'd like to shoot for
the CCI*** at Bromont...yikes but totally possible. Really the only
thing standing in our way of doing just as admirably at Advanced as we
have at Intermediate is our mutual distaste for dressage - mine because I
never seem to know when it's right (it feels great to me the judges
hate it; it feels like crap the judges hate it) and his because he's a
TB and we are too wound up for that stuff. Jump jump jump. Plus lead
changes, what a drag.<br /><br />I'm going to take both horses to the
Virginia Horse Trials - if both are sound...- and that will be it for
Toga for a bit. Ari may do some unrecognized stuff but he'll go with me
this winter with the hopes of moving up quickly to Training. I lost a
lot of time with him this year between his weird two-week-long fever and
the foot issues that followed. He's very brave and loves to jump just
needs to get the back half into the same county as the front half. He
is a gorgeous mover and soon he'll be getting amazing scores - maybe Ari
and I won't have to jump our way up from the bottom :) No offense
Toga, but that gets a little disheartening. Next year could be an
outstanding one I'm really looking forward to it. <br /></b>More after VHT :)<br />SheriSheri Thornleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00383676771507842222noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-626553266581855972.post-717820098145700992012-06-21T08:24:00.000-07:002012-06-21T08:24:44.693-07:00What better to do on the hottest day of the year so far than to think about the COOLest event I've ever been to. If you ever want to feel like you are riding at the Olympics, ride at Bromont. It was an Olympic venue years ago, and the sign with the rings is still up on the hill - the first thing you see as you drive up to the event that makes you feel like you are really somewhere special.<br />
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It was a bit confusing leading up to Bromont, having never competed outside the U.S. before. I sent all my forms in to the secretary, but didn't hear back for WEEKS. My check was cashed (promising, yet unnerving) right away but not a word about whether or not I had everything in order. Finally I heard back from Janette - who was wonderful from then on to help me with <u>everything</u> I needed to know, including that I had to fill out a (7 page) form with the USEF for permission to compete outside my country. I had no idea....So I got all that done and again waited for some sort of list which finally came out just a couple weeks before we left.<br />
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Toga, on the other hand, was ready way before I was. I always worry that he's not fit enough, especially when it's hot and humid. I didn't want to count on it being cooler up there like I did at Stuart last year, and have it be brutal. He was fit and I thought our schooling was going really well, with improvements in the flatwork and my show jumping.<br />
<br />
The drive up was long but uneventful. I had my friends Dana and Lisa with me so that was helpful over the 13 hours it took to get there, with rest stops, fuel stops, the border, and once each way to close my eyes for a few minutes. At my first vet check, the FEI vet seemed overly concerned with Toga's hear murmur - which I've known about for years and have had it checked out for what he does. But I had to scramble to get the report for the vet to look at and was more than a bit panicked that I wouldn't get to run at all. It all worked out thanks to quick help from Dr. Lewis' office, Dr. Keane's office, and New Bolton Center. Not a word about it from another vet after that. Not even in the vet box after XC...<br />
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I don't want to bore you with the details, but overall, it was the most impressive course I've ever ridden, as well as the most beautiful. What a gorgeous setting and the jumps themselves were works of art. Bromont should spring for some new stadium jumps to keep up with the beautiful of cross country :) I made a couple big mistakes in dressage that sent me toward the bottom again to start, but the ride XC made up for it. I rode totally off my line in a combination and got 20 for my first "run out" ever (we didn't run out just never got pointed at the jump..rider error...) but fixed it quickly and easily. The rest he just skipped around, this time taking much better distances to the bigger jumps instead of leaving out strides. It felt like the whole trip was much easier for him than I would have expected. And the 8min 15sec course reinforces my love for the long cross country. So much more time to get a pace going and think about what's coming up and how to ride the plan. For me, it's a much smoother ride. Compared to the previous ride at Fair Hill, it was night and day. He ran easily and smoothly at Bromont, and listened to everything I asked of him. What a pleasure. And it was a HARD course!!<br />
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Toga recuperated really quickly from the ride and was feeling great for the jog and stadium in the morning. I tried to be less nervous about show jumping (tried...) and I felt a lot better about it than I usually do. I pushed where I should have waited a couple times and got two rails, but we got our leads and he was pretty ride-able. <br />
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It was a great experience, loads of fun, we had great weather, and had a blast camping in my trailer. Spike was a hit and the perfect horse show dog. Can't wait to do it again next year. Now we look forward to where our first Advanced horse trials might be after the CIC** at Stuart in a few weeks. Need to practice that stupid test....<br />
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<br />Sheri Thornleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00383676771507842222noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-626553266581855972.post-53068999334684112372012-05-15T04:36:00.000-07:002012-05-15T04:36:11.732-07:00Time is FLYING by as we prepare for Bromont. I entered quite a while ago, and being new to the process, kind of freaked at first when there was no entry list or any word from the secretary for a long time. Still no entry list, but that's because the USEF has to approve who goes to Canada, or anywhere out of the country. What a process!! A seven page application to drive a few hours out of the country....oh well it's done - my check was cashed, I have a golf cart reserved, as well as a camping spot. Can't wait!<br />
<br />
MCTA went really well. Absent was my baby Ari, who had an unusually persistent fever. I took Addie's little horse Juice Box, who rose to the challenge and jumped clean and fast at Novice. The division was huge and he finished in the middle. Not bad for being yanked into training at the last minute! Toga's dressage was so much better than I expected since he had to wait on the trailer in the heat for most of the day. He was obedient and accurate, and did a good job on the uneven ground. The next day he was ready to jump, and hopped around stadium easily. I almost made it into the start box for cross country without a hitch, but the final 5-4-3-2-1 lit the fire and, as usual, we went in a bit wild. I couldn't get to my watch to start it until I was halfway to the start box - I have to figure out a better system to hit that button! Maybe a whole minute early?? I definitely need two hands on the wheel at the start! BUT at least I get in there on my own and I expect it will improve over time (maybe?) (I hope?).<br />
<br />
Toga cruised around cross country at a pace I was a little surprised about. Fair Hill had been such a battle over who was in charge of pace, but this time he settled quickly. I didn't press him until the end where we ended a little slow, but at least very consistent. There was plenty more energy so I was pretty happy taking some time to ride the jumps a little more accurately. Well, most of them..... we jumped into the water and on the way to the log out I lost one side of my reins. I could only pull on one side, and since the approach to the out was on a bending line, Toga just aimed straight ahead looking for the next jump. At the last second I grabbed the rein back and kind of pointed him and my body towards the log on the lump. Toga knows to stay between the flags and oozed himself over - what a good man. He shook it off and continued on business as usual. We finished seventh with a lot of confidence gained from the rides.<br />
<br />
Next stop is another Fair Hill this weekend. The great rain we've had the last couple days will make the footing super and I'm looking forward to the event. We've been working hard on the flat work, really pushing for a better frame and more flexibility. Toga tries really hard and we are learning together. He does what I ask him to do, so it's up to me to learn to do it right. Ari is back in work and bounced back to where he was before he got sick very quickly. We lost that great conditioning he got in the sand in NC, but he should lope around the Novice course no problem. The dressage...well we'll stay in the ring.... :) Should be a great weekend my boys are ready!Sheri Thornleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00383676771507842222noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-626553266581855972.post-22086618628870382802012-04-23T09:36:00.000-07:002012-04-23T09:36:30.780-07:00I have to keep everything in perspective. I had a stop in stadium this weekend, but Toga jumped the course like it was a novice course after we fixed that first fence. I fell at Southern Pines - at the jump where NINE riders fell before it was taken off course - but Toga gave me the best dressage test EVER. We didn't get to show jump that weekend, but I spent two weeks training for it and it is paying off now. I pushed him past a distance yesterday, but after I realized what I'd done, I calmed down and rode, really rode. We haven't been in the ribbons at Intermediate for a while, but all the phases are getting better and better all the time. Patience, patience.<br />
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I didn't write my big long story of Southern Pines. I spent over two weeks training with Bobby Costello, with Ari and Toga both. We went to the first SP event and Toga rocked fifth in the Preliminary, and baby Ari got a brown ribbon in his first recognized show ever. Both of them were a blast to ride that weekend, and even though I didn't get to show Ari at the next event, I rode almost every day in the great sand footing in the Foundation. What an amazing training tool sand footing can be! I have never noticed such a difference in strength as I did when I got Ari home after that. He went from dragging a bit into his canters to simply stepping into them, and from barely being able to stay balanced in a twenty meter circle to cantering ten meter circles with no trouble. Toga show jumped a <u>lot</u> in anticipation of our stadium at Intermediate. Even though I didn't get to ride it, we were ready. A little more confident, and a little more focused. It all helps.<br />
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The big adventure this summer will be Bromont! My entry is in the mail and I got some good advice from friends this weekend about what kind of paperwork I need for the travel. I've heard it's an amazing venue, and I can't wait!! We'll do the CCI** there - I love the longer cross country and after Toga dragged me around this past weekend at Fair Hill I'm pretty sure he'll be plenty fit. And we CAN do the dressage.... I got four 8s this weekend...unbalanced, unfortunately, by a couple 4s from a lead change that shouldn't have been, and breaking into the canter in an exuberant medium trot. It's all there. So we're taking all the good parts of each show and will put them together...first at MCTA in two weeks then another Fair Hill before we're off to Canada : ) Ari will do his first Novice at MCTA - watch out for this guy he is pretty fancy and TONS of fun to ride. It will be nice to start a little farther up the ranks after dressage....he's Toga's alter ego in a lot of ways - very laid back and warmblood-ish. Not a lot of fire breathing but very kind and compliant. And he likes to jump BIG bonus. I hope to take him to the AECs this year along with T. Lots of big adventures coming up!!<br />
<br />Sheri Thornleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00383676771507842222noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-626553266581855972.post-66476193471695147942012-02-29T15:33:00.002-08:002012-02-29T16:30:56.129-08:00Third time's the.....charm????So whoever made up the superstitious saying "things always happen in threes" is now my worse enemy. A couple weeks ago I flipped off Toga while running my mouth and not paying attention in a jump school. My fault for sure. Less than a week later I got bucked off and dragged - has anyone else ever gotten their foot stuck in the REINS?? I did and got pulled across the ring until I kicked my foot loose. Not ENTIRELY my fault... a few circumstances led to a snowball effect with the bucking. OK now I'm really sore, but even worse really nervous about when fall #3 was going to happen. <br /><br />I've been hunting with Potomac Hunt this season. It's been about 27 years since I hunted regularly - I actually hunted for a living with Greenspring Valley Hounds. I was a groom for a few years and got to go out almost every time on members' horses. Good memories. This year I've been out with Potomac, and even though I've forgotten a few of the specific protocols (my "good afternoon" was met with "technically it's good morning" oops oh yeah) (you're not supposed to wear black gloves oops oh yeah) it's been a really fun time. There have been a few runs through really deep going that have made me cringe, but that's one of the hazards of hunting. Along with rocky going, cows (very scary), trappy jumps, holes, and wire. Yes, wire underground, on the ground, between trees - almost always nearly invisible. I don't think in my hunting past I ever had an encounter with wire. But yesterday I sure did. On one of the great runs we had, we crossed a stream and climbed up a pretty steep hill. I was behind probably 15 or 20 other horses, in the back of the first field. All of a sudden I saw a "branch" coming at my face and I put my hand up. The next thing I knew, I was being ripped (literally) off the back of my horse! This one definitely NOT my fault!! It happened so fast I really had no idea what was going on until I felt the barbed wire cutting my hand and tearing my britches. I let go of the mare (thank goodness) and she ran off, not far. When I stood up there was wire all around me, I had to pull it off. SOOOOOOOO scary, and the worse part was the mental image I had of this lovely mare with cuts all over her, as I imagined she would have. But once again I was lucky in that she had nothing but a scratch under her eye. NOTHING else. My clothes took the beating - shredded gloves, britches, tights, and my good hacking jacket (thanks, Candace, for reminding me it was ratcatcher and saving me from additional embarassment) was torn in a number of places. My hand is pretty cut up, a few scratches on my leg, and a bruised thigh I guess I hit a rock or something when I hit the ground. BUT all things considered I am one LUCKY person, it could have been so, so much worse. Off we went for another hour of running :)<br /><br />The "charm"? Let's hope that was fall #3 and I'm DONE. All three falls were bad enough, but at least nothing broke, or was cut too badly. Now I'm not as nervous looking forward to my trip to NC next week, and the competitions I'll be doing there. Very very excited, actually - both my horses are ready, and they have been very very good in all the schools. Ari hasn't jumped xc in a while, but I don't think he'll have an issue. He's so eager to jump anything in front of him it's so cute. And Toga's flatwork is so much better than we left off I'm really psyched. I had his teeth done last week and he has ramps...not just regular ramps, but stees (I think that's what they're called) ramps, which are less common and a pain in the ass to deal with. PLUS he's parrot mouthed and this time he needed his front teeth filed down. But what a difference in his work afterward - very happy to flex, and very straight instead of the head tilt he's famous for. Can't wait!!!<br /><br />I'll try to get on here and let everyone know how it's going in Southern Pines... in the meantime, ride your line and 'ware wire!Sheri Thornleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00383676771507842222noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-626553266581855972.post-81636244676586978952012-02-22T15:57:00.000-08:002012-02-23T04:37:57.540-08:00It's almost time...To say this winter had been busy would be a huge understatement. Sometimes I wonder if it's because I'm getting older that time seems to fly by so fast. I had a lot of plans for this winter, but for a variety of reasons they seem to have blown past me. I've been riding regularly...Toga started back at the end of December, very sound and VERY ready to move forward. He seems to have picked up just where we left off which is really helpful and really fun. My young horse Ari is ready to go...his epiphany I out on a trail ride one day has left him a jumping machine just like his "brother". A year ago I couldn't get him near a pole on the ground, and now he drags me down to anything I point him at. What fun!!! Except that he is nearly 17 hands tall and moves like the Titanic....very very big. A huge change from the quick, instant reaction of a thoroughbred. When I ask Toga to move, he says, "when, where, how fast?" when I ask Ari, he says, "huh? what? Oh OK what was it you wanted me to do?" That time lapse is very disconcerting and very hard to switch back and forth from. But he's one of the sweetest horses I've ever ridden, so even though it's hard to ride, it's a pleasure. I'm looking forward to winning the novice AECs on Ari - which he is more than capable of. One thing will be very different for me is that I just may start with a good dressage score instead of having to jump up! Ari is 1/2 Holsteiner and ALL warmblood in his movement. Not as much work for him as it is for Toga.<br /><br />In two weeks we leave for Southern Pines, NC. I can't say Toga is very fit, but he'll make it around at Preliminary the first time just fine. Ari will be surprised at a five minute canter, but he will also be fine. We've done a lot of trotting this winter, which gets them pretty fit pretty fast. The temperatures have been very pleasant, but the ground has been very wet which makes just getting to our galloping places a challenge. So trotting and cantering indoors and in the big outdoor arena has been our answer. We've done it before, and it always works out. Once you get the gallops in at your first couple events, they seem to keep it up very easily. I've had a few lessons now, and I'm really excited about how Toga has taken to the dressage this winter. He seems to be happy to be in the higher frame, and WOW he moves great!! Very exciting.<br /><br />Toga will do the Preliminary at SP I and Ari will go BN. Then Toga moves back to Intermediate at SPII and Ari gets to play in the big sandbox for a couple weeks since they don't have lower levels at the second one. He'll have to wait to catch something at home. We'll be working with Bobby Costello, and staying with my friend Dana who has been living down there for about a year now. I'm pretty jealous :) Just hoping I can get in a xc school and a couple more jump schools in before we leave; we'll have a lesson with Bobby when we get there. SOOO excited to get this new season going! Big plans for the big horses :)<br /><br /><br /><br />Anyone who runs a boarding stable these days knows that it's becoming a cost prohibitive business. It's been really rough this winter trying to keep up with the rising hay, feed, fuel, etc bills, but thank goodness it's been mild weather. It sure helped with heating costs. Anyway, I wasn't able to take lessons for a while so I worked on my position and Toga's straightness issues. The time off was just what he needed, because he was ready to go and ready to move on. My hopes to get to jumper shows crumbled as the days flew by. Turns out there are very few shows for an Intermediate jumper in our area. Plenty of stuff for Junior, but not for T. Thanks to the weather, though, we got a lot of schools in at home.Sheri Thornleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00383676771507842222noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-626553266581855972.post-3812060330529659102011-12-20T16:03:00.000-08:002011-12-20T16:24:12.523-08:00Happy Holidays and Many Thanks<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtpR8fyku2p0ZIk9l3u06mNoRLCXPE3ZgnKnGSClIp_XsjkSljS50TYcriTHeXt8X1B05mCEBH7B9CU7XJmbDBz4glbyRfjPAkSFHwXUHLihl4LDaNgBGTld0z0WGpb21T5yTQfTXdfFo/s1600/TOGA.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 247px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtpR8fyku2p0ZIk9l3u06mNoRLCXPE3ZgnKnGSClIp_XsjkSljS50TYcriTHeXt8X1B05mCEBH7B9CU7XJmbDBz4glbyRfjPAkSFHwXUHLihl4LDaNgBGTld0z0WGpb21T5yTQfTXdfFo/s320/TOGA.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5688370471460351906" border="0" /></a><br />Happy Holidays and a happy New Year to all my friends who have supported me and Toga this year! Special thanks to The Surrey for their continuing sponsorship in 2012 as we continue to learn and advance through the levels. This past year was an amazing journey and I couldn't have accomplished it without the help of my sponsors, friends, trainers, and Toga's MANY fans. We have an exciting future to look forward to that includes (God willing) Bromont, the AECs, and FHI. With any luck we'll try our first Advanced horse trials in the fall! I'm so lucky to have an equine partner like Toga, and now my youngster Ari is right on his heels. Watch out for that boy in the spring! (you'll have to look UP, he's quite tall...) After the next couple months working with Packy fine tuning our flatwork and hopefully catching some jumper shows, we'll (Ari gets to go too!) spend a couple weeks with Bobby Costello in Southern Pines and begin our horse trials season there.<br /><br />Thank you to everyone (thank you Allie Conrad for this great pic) - have a great holiday and I'll talk to you soon!Sheri Thornleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00383676771507842222noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-626553266581855972.post-70076042736184643802011-11-25T03:54:00.000-08:002011-11-30T03:59:16.823-08:00A lot to be thankful forIt's been over a month since Fair Hill, but I can remember each fence on the cross country course like I rode it yesterday. It was a miserable week in the rain - mud up to our ankles, making keeping the horses clean for jogs and dressage just about impossible. I got there before it really poured on us, so I was lucky to get my trailer parked in a spot close to my barn and park the truck where I could get in and out. Spike the puppy and I stayed in my trailer all week... I am almost all set up now including a generator to keep me warm and entertained. But it's pretty amazing how little free time you have even with only one horse at an event. There's hacking, cleaning the stall, cleaning tack, feeding, carrying this and that around - really no spare time to waste. And walking cross country. Holy cow it takes a long time to walk a CCI** course!! It's an almost nine minute course to ride, and over an hour and a half to walk. I walked it three times - once alone in the rain with Spike along for a run (half the course I had to carry him four pounds gets heavy FAST), once in the rain with Packy, and again in the rain I ran around checking out a few particulars. Very busy week.<br /><br />The first jog was uneventful with the rain holding off on our group, thank goodness. It was chilly but not cold, actually almost too warm in the evenings to cover them up. Dressage was also good to me as far as the weather, even though the footing was very deep and pretty much one big puddle in the arena. Toga was very well behaved, and in the big picture did one of his best tests yet. We blew the first turn on the haunches, and he jigged once in the walk, but he gave me real medium trots and canters. I was very pleased with it. We got our usual mediocre score, but at least it was not at the bottom. <br /><br />Only one jump was taken off course for cross country. The footing at Fair Hill is pretty amazing, and the fact that it isn't ridden on at all except for the show helps. They also asked that spectators not walk on the course, and for the first time I realized how much that is to the competitor's benefit to make that request. After hundreds of course walks, just the human footsteps can tear the ground up at take off and landing points. At the top of a bank, for example, it was obvious where people had been walking, and a lot of the grass had been worn away. I will pay more attention when I'm walking someone else's course in the future. There were some very deep spots, but I felt Toga could manage it.<br /><br />On the long walk to warmup Toga lit up. He was keen to jump and I had to keep him moving. Knowing that this would be his longest run ever, I tried to keep it calm but it wasn't easy. I did get into the box on my own, and he instantly settled into a great gallop. The first quarter of the course seemed to be the deepest, and I tried to stay as close to the rope as I could get and stay out of everyone else's tracks. He jumped easily through the bank to corner ABC where I watched a lot of people have trouble earlier that morning. I was pretty indecisive at the double brush, which translated to Toga saying "WHERE do you want me to jump from???" and he twisted in the air over both. But straight through good boy.<br /><br />Again I was thankful for having such an honest and eager horse at the ABCD mushrooms across the road. Packy told me to be careful jumping down the bank, and I found out what he was talking about when we got in a little too close to the out and T almost tripped up the bank on the other side. But instead of running out at the skinny coming right at us, Toga took charge and went right to it. I took out the flag with my toe because we got to it a bit on an angle, but he got over it instantly and jumped perfectly through the duck pond water which had taken its toll on a lot of other riders that day. And he skipped around the rest of the course. He galloped steady and strong the whole trip, and we finished only one second over the time. SO cool. The fact that there was so much time between fences helped us both I think to organize our thoughts, chill out, and ride a plan. Had some nice chats with T on our ride. And we had time to listen to the cheers of his fans without getting distracted and screwing up :) He acted like he wanted to go again when we pulled up gotta love an OTTB. But we were missing a front shoe and I had no idea where, so no idea how long he'd been running on a bare foot. At that point I was happy for the sloppy footing to some degree.<br /><br />Toga jogged sound Saturday evening, and fine on the grass Sunday morning, but as soon as we hit the pavement I heard him limp. The vet would have let me re-present him, but there was no way I was going to jump him no matter what. We really were not sure what was bothering him at the time, but I wouldn't take a chance. So we walked back to the barns and I have to say it was difficult to keep back the tears. This had been my goal for the last couple years, and to have it cut short was hard. Worse still was that Toga could be seriously hurt, I still didn't really know what was wrong.<br /><br />Turns out it was a bruised heel (which wasn't obvious for a couple days) and within the week he was sound. So even though I didn't get to finish the two-star, I ran around cross country better than most, had a BLAST doing it, and have a sound horse to move on with.<br />Sheri Thornleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00383676771507842222noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-626553266581855972.post-10752902927489778822011-09-19T14:42:00.001-07:002011-09-19T15:39:19.583-07:00One step awayWell I haven't made any really stupid mistakes lately, but my luck has been a little sketchy. I'd never been to Loudon before - need I say more?? Have you ever walked that course?? Wow it's beautiful BUT if you don't know where you're going, you are in trouble. With Hurrican Irene ready to hit at any moment (see Brian O'Connor's video on Eventing Nation it's a hoot) I zoomed into Oatlands with the hope that I'd get all three phases in before the rain came. They were awesome to move my cross country to Saturday, but it meant a bit of a rush and changing start times. I couldn't decide when to walk my cross country course, so decided on the spur of the moment to do it right after I walked stadium. Off I went with a map I begged of a passerby, all by myself. After the second fence I was LOST. It is such a big property, that you really can't see fence to fence or really even guess where it might be. So I wandered around looking for my jumps (the map was NO help) until someone came behind me and directed me along. I ended up following this person around the course, which I guess WAS my stupid mistake of the weekend since I focused on where she was going and didn't pay attention to everything around me. Being in a bit of a rush to make my show jumping time, and then on to XC, I realized as I put my pinney on that I really did not know my way around the course. I hoped I would figure it out as I rode along, but seriously doubted it. I couldn't remember what things looked like all the way around. Show jumping was great, with a tipped rail at the last fence - why you don't get long to a downhill vertical - but really nice. <br /><br />I left the start box on a very spooky and strong horse. The third fence was an A - B then over a stream crossing which left a couple riders quite wet and made Toga jump sideways over it. He then scrambled over the big oxer right after that, and really didn't want to settle. The one fence I had a question about was next - a double bank where we jumped a trakhener over the middle of it. Never had seen that before. So Toga ran up the bank, I think assuming it was a hop over the log at the top down to a skinny. At the last second he took a look into the bottomless ditch under that log, and stopped dead. That was our first stop XC in a very long time, and he was really upset about it, so after we turned and jumped it he continued on quite frazzled. I couldn't get him calmed down and a couple jumps later I rode past the B element of a combination. Sigh. The mistakes you can make are more than I had anticipated! The REALLY good thing about walking home from there was that we'd lost a shoe by then, and had we continued on the (at that time before the rain) really hard ground, we would be dealing with a bruise right now.<br /><br />Next was the AECs. A 12 hour drive where we drove through the bands of rain from yet another hurricane. We got down there perfect timing - had we been any earlier our stalls would have been flooded. You could see where the water had run through the stalls just hours before. I could write a ton about the facility and the show, and how to be better prepared next time, but this is about the riding. More bad luck followed me there, as I got my packet and my bridle number 1. Yuk. Nobody wants to be first I got it this time. It only made a difference in my dressage score in that I really think I was judged more harshly than the last in my division, but I was really happy with the big picture. Toga's poll was up, he was soft and flexible, and very obedient. Listened too well a couple times, but I was really pleased with the test. VERY pleased. He was a really good boy. BUT we started near the bottom of the heap at the end of the day. That was pretty discouraging.<br /><br />THIS cross country course I walked three times. Very flat and totally different from Loudon in that you could see every fence from the one before. A very very spectator friendly facility. Nothing new this time, but a very long ABCD through the water with big jumps in the water. With a little bit stronger bit this time out, we left the start box unassisted for the first time all season. Was a bit dodgy getting in, but once on course it was all business. Toga picked a pace and just skipped around the course. We were very fast, but he was totally rideable and rateable and EASY to ride. What a rush!! We were second on course at 8:30 in the morning, so there was a definite sun factor happening and I couldn't see my line to the corner at #9, so that was the one fence that didn't go as planned. It wasn't awful, just not the plan. I almost couldn't see the right hand flag the sun was shining so brightly off the corner. The rest was beautiful . Double clear moved up to 15th.<br /><br />http://youtu.be/LZUjYLx6cks<br /><br /><br />Show jumping started out a little discombobulated..... a great warmup, but he didn't want to pick up the left lead turning to the first jump. Once we got there, Toga was jumping well, and it seemed to be going smoothly. At fence #7 he stopped, and I flipped off, landing on my feet totally surprised and confused. I have looked at the video and can't figure out what happened. I remember that the distance I saw three strides out was not there at the base of the fence, and my best guess at this point is that Toga lengthened his stride three steps out and I didn't feel it. So when we got to the jump, the spot I saw was gone, and I must've dropped him. Or he just quit. Not like him, and it appears in the video he could've jumped the jump, but for whatever reason he didn't and we walked home again. Big disappointment again, but I know my horse can do this job, and he likes it, and he keeps getting better. I think I'm a bit spoiled always expecting to go clean when we really are quite green at this level. Middleburg is next, and our last out before Fair Hill CCI** which I am really excited about. I think we are ready :)Sheri Thornleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00383676771507842222noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-626553266581855972.post-69818603181324463602011-08-23T04:04:00.000-07:002011-08-23T07:46:10.356-07:00Fair Hill and Ari sees the lightIt's been almost three weeks since Fair Hill but it seems like yesterday. The days are flying by and summer is almost over. We finally have temperatures below 100 so it feels like fall. The heat is the one thing that I do notice takes a toll on Toga - no surprise but once again I feel like I get a little behind the rest of the eventing world when I try to give him a break. Remember the old days when Seneca was the end of the spring season and it didn't start back up until Difficult Run? No more - there are shows all summer regardless of heat and hard ground. We have to pick and choose and hope that the organizers take the weather and footing into account. We risk losing a LOT of money by deciding not to run somewhere when we get there and find out the conditions are less than adequate. At any rate, it is hard to take a break any more at any time. So we've been out once a month this summer and it's been brutal. Fair Hill was no exception - it was HOT but at least it wasn't AS hot as it had been the days before. Thank goodness for aerators to make our cross country tracks ride-able.
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<br />After my brain spaz at Stuart, I was determined not to do anything stupid at this show. I rode my dressage test over and over in my head and practiced at home (by myself that being my first mistake) on every horse I ride. Toga seemed pretty relaxed and forward and I was happy with warmup. As I rode the beginning of the test there was a bell ring that was very frantic. Not the little "start your test" ring, but a HEY STOP kind of ring. Forgetting that my signal was a whistle, I stopped and looked confusingly at the judge. It wasn't her, it was the judge at the next ring over. She waved me on and was kind enough not to give me an error there. But not to disappoint - I rode my canter loop from the long side to quarter line, not quarter line to quarter line. Rode it exactly as I'd memorized it so when the judge blew the whistle I was pretty confused again. She told me what I'd done and off I went once more. As I came to the same move in the other direction, my brain said to do what she'd said this way as well, but for some reason I rode past it again. This time I knew the whistle was coming so I just fixed it and finally finished the test. All that and I still got a fair score but started out 13th.
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<br />Toga was super in warm up for stadium. I was there alone, so had no one to set fences for me. This is often a problem for me since I go to most of my events by myself. I try to follow behind someone that warms up starting over smaller jumps, but so many people just go jump big right from the start. It was hard that day to get behind anyone starting small, but finally the jumps went down and I got to pop over a few. Very few. But Toga was feeling really soft and was jumping great. He got a little impatient waiting for his turn, but once we got in the ring he put in one of his best rounds this year. It was steady and he was so easy to ride. Double clear there put us in 8th.
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<br />The cross country was a great gallop. Not as many combinations as we've seen but enough to keep T on his toes. He cruised around, taking a bit more control than he usually does, but probably because there was so much time to run. We made it in one second under the time, to be one of only two Intermediate rides that made the time. We finished second, our first time in primary colors at this level. So in spite of yet another stupid mistake, we redeemed ourselves a bit from Stuart. Next time at Loudon we will school, though, as a reminder to Toga that he has to listen to me. It's been hard to train on the hard ground but we got in a good gallop yesterday.
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<br />In the meantime, the light bulb went on for Ari, my baby. He's four now, and really should be doing more, but he's kind of at the bottom of the list because of how busy I've been at the farm. One day out hacking he decided jumping is fun. We were at a log in the way, and at first I thought I would turn around rather than fight with him about it. But all of a sudden he took a deep breath and just stepped over it. From then on, every time he saw a log he <span style="font-style: italic;">went</span> to it. And jumped! For real jumping too. So just to see if what I was feeling was a real epiphany, I followed Addie and her pony over some jumps in the ring, and he did everything. This is the baby that wouldn't go near a pole on the ground last winter.... now he just lopes around whatever you point him at. Sometimes there is a big look first, but he'll do it. What fun :)
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<br />Loudon is this weekend and I'm hoping we get cross country done before the hurricane gets here... ten days from that we are headed south to the AECs. This was a last minute add, but I'm excited to get the practice at a big show before Fair Hill, and I really think we can be competitive. Wonder what my next dumb mistake will be...hope I get it out of the way before I get to Georgia...
<br />Sheri Thornleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00383676771507842222noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-626553266581855972.post-77267206606916426702011-07-18T11:09:00.000-07:002011-07-18T12:00:35.081-07:00At least I don't toodle any more....<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXyKU4fzmq4bIwJtczW8gXM8DbrMFhp285max4T2-XS_jb4Ox_eHQi5b0ccE_uORiTaqxjndlxc5z03StiACtHZGhU1nBHXPoTczspjhzczkBwu-qYVy3PEAqy4HQg-DAymrNYrvJhpDo/s1600/stuart+bank.bmp"><br /></a>I have a new Most Memorable Moment in Eventing....nobody said it had to be a <span style="font-style: italic;">good </span>moment, but it's one that I will never forget. It followed a brief moment when I was actually proud of myself and was listening to someone else tell quite a crowd all about it.<br /><br />This past weekend I went north to the Stuart Horse Trials in Victor, NY. I'd never been there before but lots of people told me it was a great event. It was a long trip for me to drive alone - seven hours - but what a beautiful drive. Along the rivers and through the mountains, across some open highway and through some lovely little towns. The view varied enough to make the drive not a bad one at all. My poor GPS lady had a meltdown near the NY/PA border on Route 15 in both directions. She started yelling at me to make a U turn as soon as possible and to TURN NOW for about ten miles. All I can figure is that the road has changed since the GPS was loaded because there was nowhere to turn and I certainly didn't want to turn around! Having not paid attention to her once before and totally missing an exit on the way to Kentucky made me a bit nervous about ignoring her. It all turned out well though and I made it to Stuart faster than I had expected. I love my new trailer too I truly believe it is a much smoother ride for the horses than my old one. Both directions Toga came off fresh and relaxed - not wide-eyed and frazzled like he has so many times in the past.<br /><br />Thinking it would be a lot cooler up there was wishful thinking. The nights were cooler for sure, but the days were hot and humid. I got there midday on Wednesday since it usually takes a while for Toga to settle in when we go away. But he was asleep in the stall within an hour and never acted nervous or upset at all. Go figure. Since my dressage time was 4:33 on Friday, I could easily have gone up Thursday and had plenty of time for him to chill. The people were all over me when I arrived, helping carry all my stuff to my stall, and bringing water over. The volunteers at Stuart are so proud of their show. Many of them have been doing the same job there since the event started over 20 years ago. It was fun talking to them. I am pretty well set up to stay in my trailer except for a generator - which would have made the last two nights more bearable if I'd had a fan. My sun shower was awesome now I just have to figure out how to get it up higher.<br /><br />So there was a lot of down time. Too much for me, and too much for T I think. I rode him twice on Thursday and Friday morning. By the time it was our turn for dressage, it was past his dinner time, he was bored, and the flies were TEARING him up. I got off twice to spray him - used four different brands throughout the weekend to no avail - but he was so focused on the biters that he just wouldn't let me ride. Had some rearing, some flying changes, some striking at bugs, but the nice part was that the judge did give me credit on the nice parts. So along with my 3 and a few 5s, I got a couple 8s and 7s. Still, a 39.6 put me almost at the bottom. Again. Sigh. I was pretty angry about it because it was a lack of focus on his part that I think was the problem and he's a big boy now, needs to pay attention.<br /><br />I walked the cross country course twice - the first time I was concerned about how hard the ground was, but they worked on it for three days with the aerator and by Saturday I thought it was fine for Toga. I watched quite a few of the CCI** horses go and it wasn't pretty. A lot of runouts and a few falls later I decided to not look at it any more and just worry about myself. After riding it, I think the two downhill- turning- to- skinnies early in the course were just early in the course... and at least my horse wasn't really focused on his lines yet so it was easy to be distracted. He was very quiet warming up and Liza and I both didn't want to bother him as he dozed in the shade. Quite a change from the usual breathing fire into the start box scene. He was very spooky at the start - there was a pond with a canoe before the first jump, and the second jump was alongside all the vendor tents. A lot to look at. He was hard to turn at the first two combinations, that were fences 4 and 6. But once we got over the ditch and wall, we both took a deep breath and I just let him gallop. I had pressed my watch twice, so it was off. Toga cruised around pretty much at one steady pace the whole time. I didn't press him, just balanced him up in front of the jumps when I saw our spot. He jumped way to early at the bank but just bounced up it like that was how it was supposed to be. Everything jumped well, and as I walked back from the finish I heard I'd only been five seconds over the time. I let him lope to the last jump so I know if I'd pressed him even a little we could have made it. Gotta love a Thoroughbred!!! Fastest time in our division and we moved up from 25th to 3rd. I was much happier Saturday night.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXyKU4fzmq4bIwJtczW8gXM8DbrMFhp285max4T2-XS_jb4Ox_eHQi5b0ccE_uORiTaqxjndlxc5z03StiACtHZGhU1nBHXPoTczspjhzczkBwu-qYVy3PEAqy4HQg-DAymrNYrvJhpDo/s1600/stuart+bank.bmp"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 291px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXyKU4fzmq4bIwJtczW8gXM8DbrMFhp285max4T2-XS_jb4Ox_eHQi5b0ccE_uORiTaqxjndlxc5z03StiACtHZGhU1nBHXPoTczspjhzczkBwu-qYVy3PEAqy4HQg-DAymrNYrvJhpDo/s320/stuart+bank.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630764523927104882" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Now to the Most Memorable Moment. Sunday morning I knew I had another long wait to go. My division was last of the day, so I got to watch a LOT of show jumping. I walked my course which was a "lot of unrelated distances to remember" but really just two big loops. Toga felt amazingly loose and happy, and our warm up was quiet and smooth. I was READY. Not nervous, just excited to maybe finish towards the top of the class. I went in the ring feeling like it was going to be perfect. As I went to the first jump, I heard Brian O'Connor telling the crowd how I'd had a fast XC the day before and moved up from 25th to 3rd. Wow, I thought, pretty good. Jumped the first jump perfectly and went in a perfect six strides to the one stride in and out, jumped that perfectly too. Only that wasn't fence two, it was fence ten and in the OTHER DIRECTION. A few horrible seconds later I was walking out of the ring wondering why the heck I'd done that. So my moment was one of extreme embarrassment. Will I ever do that again?? Who knows. I don't know why I did it in the first place so it's hard to fix. But I DO know that I will never focus on anything but exactly what's in front of me again!! I feel like I let Toga down but what can you do. It was a beautifully run show and in the big picture I had my best ride ever along with one of the most frustrating. So it was worth it and I'll keep learning something new every time. On to the next one and new mistakes to be made I'm sure :)Sheri Thornleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00383676771507842222noreply@blogger.com