Equi-trek, a competitive trail riding organization in southeastern Louisiana aka Scottie wins her first blue :)

I have found something that is cheap, easy, and super fun to do in the Baton Rouge area.  It is a group called Equi-trek (http://www.equi-trek.org) , and it is a competitive trail ride organization for southeast Louisiana.

The people are extremely supportive and friendly.  If you own a TB or are an English rider (like myself haha) and you think that a group like this might be a little judgey, do not worry.  You can ride english and no one care one bit.

 I do not have a trailer at the moment, and I have met a new friend, simply by asking a member of the group if she would give me a ride (shout-out to Tami!).  And she said yes!  And now I have a new friend, and I have a new equine activity.

The premise is simple: six to ten miles of trails with approximately six judged trail obstacles, which range from inclines/ravines to crossing bridges to backing through an L to jumping a log to dragging a barrel behind your horse.  They are all super fun!  

See: http://www.equi-trek.org/Subpages/Challenges.htm

If the obstacle is too scary or makes you uncomfortable, you just simply don't do it.  There is no pressure from other riders.  If you don't want to compete for ribbons, you can just ride as a "companion", which means you can try or not try any of the obstacles and still enjoy the trail ride.

It was a goal of mine to haul Scottie a few times this spring because I wanted to see how she would handle herself off the farm.  She is an ex-racehorse, so I wasn't expecting any major problems, and lo and behold there were none.  It also increased her confidence enormously at home, and she has been better behaved.

She really seems to get out and look at new things.  She didn't balk at water crossings, foot bridges, other horses running, birds in the trees, weird cones, dogs barking, trucks passing, mud, etc.  She also did the majority of the obstacles or gave it a good try (most of the time it was human error, not horse error haha).  Its a great bonding experience with your horse because you try things that you don't think they can do... when they do it....well, its an amazing feeling!!

I have taken Scottie on two Equi-treks and she has won her divisions both times.  :)

Equi-trek is done for the summer, but should start up again in the fall.  Keep tuned to the website for more information.

And we started jumping....

And.... we started jumping....

There is an in-house jump trainer at my facility (check outhttp://www.louisianasporthorse.com/ for more info), and since I do not have a trailer, it is nice to have access to jumps at home.  

I've finally gotten Scottie to the point that I feel like she is communicating and listening on a regular basis (equi-trek and hacking out has been a big contributor to this).  She has also been sound for a long time (knock on wood), so I decided it was time to take the plunge into jumping.

I am working on flat-work with Sue Bruns, so I explained to the jump trainer that I strictly wanted to work on jumping exercises/techniques (poles, etc) in his lessons, which he was cool with.  

The good news:

- Scottie can trot (literally trot without jumping) approximately 2 feet (very high knee action haha)

- She hasn't stopped yet - goes straight through the grid

- She doesn't get all worked up/hyper/super excited

- She calmly stops at the end 

- She hasn't started anticipating

- Cross rails vs. verticals do not seem to phase her

The bad news:

- At a certain height (the height she can no longer simply trot like a cavaletti), she still continues forward, but crashes through the jump with whatever foot did not make it at a trot.

- She does not seem alarmed when she knocks the poles and doesn't really make an effort to NOT knock the poles

- When she does manage a small jump, her form is sh*t haha

We have only had two lessons.  So while she doesn't seem super excited or exceptionally naturally talented at jumping, she is more than willing and is remaining calm.  I am glad to see that she did not get super revved up once we started jumping and become unmanageable or stop listening.  She seems not to know exactly what to do with her feet.  Hopefully a few more lessons will help her figure it out.  I also think that I probably need to start incorporating jumping either on the lunge or free-lunging so that she can figure it out without a rider.

As far as talent and form.... I would much rather have a safe, dependable horse that can hopefully eventually truck me around a 2'6 to 3' course at a local show than a "talented" horse that is nuts.  As I've mentioned before, I really need an all-around horse, so as long as she keeps trying for me, I'll give her a bit of a break.

And at least she's not a dirty stopper!

Benefits of hacking out

So, although my final goal with Scottie, provided she stays sound enough, is to attend baby events or local jumping shows.  However, at this stage in her training, it is as important, if not more important to me that I can use her as a recreational/pleasure/trail horse.  I really enjoy trail riding and think it is important for all horses to be able to be able to hack out.

Hacking out and trail riding is great for young and old horses.

- Great for building up endurance, top-line, and muscling in general.  Horses are generally more forward hacking out, so the horse is naturally using its hind end.  Hacking out is essentially cross-training and potentially builds up different muscles than he would be using in arena work.

- Prevents arena sourness - you can still get a great workout, it just occurs in a different environment.  I've been working on lateral work down the cow road.

- Boosts horse's confidence and dependability as a overall mount.

- Provides a mental break for both horse and rider.

- Develops communication and trust between horse and rider.  Unexpected things happen on the trail.  The horse needs to be able to listen to the rider's aids (open gate, go around rock, etc).  In addition, it places trust in the horse... As a rider, you cannot make a horse pick the path down a steep incline... you have to sit back and trust the horse will make smart decisions.

- Adds value to the horse in the long-term.  If a show horse sustains an injury, his worth will diminish.  However, if you have a horse that is trail-safe, he has another low-impact career option with you or with another owner.

I am lucky to board at a place that has a nice grass path and some cow pastures to hack out of the arena.  The footing is decent, so you can walk, trot, and canter on the path.  I try to hack Scottie out at least once a week, especially the day after a taxing lesson.  I think it allows her brain to decompress and she looks forward to going "out".  That way, she is still getting a work out, but it is a different type of mental environment.

I also use it as a workout for my older gelding.  It is great for him because he does have some arthritis, but walking out a steady march gets him moving and gives him a good workout as well.

So, take your horse out of the ring and onto the trails!

The devil is in the lateral work

Yes, it has been too long since I've done a Scottie update!  It is so much easier just to upload pictures on facebook, but I do want to try and keep this going.

Scottie and I have have continued to take dressage lessons with Sue Bruns.  The biggest challenge for me at this point is lateral work.  I never mastered lateral work, although my trainer in high school (Laura Windmiller, Diamond W Ranch, Dodge, Wisconsin http://www.diamondwranch.info/) did incorporate a lot of dressage work into hunter-jumper training.  I have been introduced to the concepts, and have a basic understanding of the techniques, but have never had to teach a young horse how to do it.  Previous horses always, at some point or another, had someone else teach them the commands, and then they just kind of figured out what I wanted based on my crappy aids.

With a totally green horse, it is different though, because they tell on you.  If you do not ask correctly, they simply do not do it.  If you ask to aggressively, they overreact.  If you don't ask enough, nothing happens!  

My biggest challenge right now is re-learning how to be soft - the whole concept behind "asking" the horse first, and then getting after them with progressively stronger aids until you get a response.  This has been difficult for me because my first thought is if the horse doesn't move off my leg, I want to give a kick as a "punishment", but with a green horse, they haven't gotten the understanding of an older, more trained horse, so all you are doing by asking "harder" is making the horse more dull to your aids.

Lately, I have been playing a game with myself in my head... how little can I do to get a response out of the horse, especially with transitions and turning.  Turns out, Scottie is actually very, very responsive and reactive...  I just have to give her the time to react to my aid, instead of forcing it on her.

Sue worked with Scottie a bit on the ground, and then I got on.  I now carry a dressage whip ONLY for lateral work, and I can get her to leg yield  both directions by myself.  Lots of work for one simply movement, but it makes for a much softer, responsive horse!

A website that I have found particularly useful is http://horselistening.com/

The language used is similar to the philosophy Sue Bruns has, and it is worded in a way that makes sense to me.  I suggest everyone check it out.  I also ordered the books, which can be found on amazon.  However, several of the articles in the first book are included in the second, so I suggest buying one or the other.

Sue Bruns - Baton Rouge (LOUISIANA) Area Dressage Trainer

Another quick testimonial (hopefully someone will be googling "Baton Rouge dressage trainers" or "Louisiana dressage trainers" or something along those lines) for my trainer, Sue Bruns.

SUE BRUNS: 603.969.9912

OPENINGS FOR NEW STUDENTS

* Certified instructor of English riding lessons
* Dressage concentration, having trained and worked with top international U.S. team riders for 30 years (including Carol Lavell, Michael Poulin, Pamela Goodrich, Verne Batchelder)
* Has trained multiple horses to Third/Fourth level and loves teaching all levels of riders
* Dressage training is valuable to any method or level of riding.  It is about developing balance and relaxation in both horse and rider than translates to better performances in any discipline.
* Dressage training can be performed in Western tack
* I will travel to your farm to teach on your horse, OR I can teach you on my trained dressage horse in Port Allen

RATES:
Group or Child: $25
Individual Adult: $30
Lesson on my trained horse: $40

CONTACT: 
SUE BRUNS (603)-969-9912
SJBRUNS@hotmail.com

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Now my testimonial!

Sue has been working with Scottie and I since I bought Scottie in January 2014.   She is extremely knowledgeable, and has great ways of explaining concepts in lessons.  Scottie and I progress much, much faster when we have weekly lessons with Sue.

Sue is an excellent horsewoman and believes less is more.  I am just riding Scottie in a simple French link, no gadgets or other training gimmicks.  She understands and easily explains TRUE dressage foundation work.  She is patient, and kind, and enjoys working with all levels of horses.  I like her because she likes OTTBs and understands some of the complexities that come along with working with these off-track greenies.  She has helped me work through some the behavioral issues with Scottie, as well as some more advanced work (lateral, bending, suppleness, transitions, canter cues, etc).

I only have the experience of working with her on my green OTTB, but I have seen her ride her gorgeous warmblood (pictured above), and can tell you that Sue absolutely knows high level/Grand Prix dressage moves as well :) (Can you tell I am actually not a dressage rider due to my lingo?? haha).

I enjoy riding with her because I want Scottie to be really solid on the flat before we start jumping.  I am a firm believer that a solid foundation increases the horses value, as well as their longevity as a competition horse.  I am not a dressage rider, nor do I particularly "like" dressage, but I do understand its importance in training, especially OTTBs.

You do not have to be a dressage rider to benefit from Sue's lessons.  She is an all-around horsewoman and can help with general riding, communicating with your horse (english or western), and any flatwork training, ENGLISH or WESTERN.

Things that have improved with Sue's help:

My:
- consistent use of correct aids
- confidence
- general riding technique

Scottie's
- focus
- attention span
- bending/suppleness/softness (although we still have a long way to go)
- transitions

She is taking students, so give her a call!!!

Southeastern Louisiana Farrier Shout-out!

After reading about the horrors of the Monica Thors scandal, it made me realize how lucky I am to have found a farrier that knows what he is doing in the area.  I know he covers large areas between Lafayette, Baton Rouge, Hammond-ish, and probably more, if you ask him!

JW PEREZ

My testimonial:

After several bad farrier jobs on my older TB gelding by several different farriers, the final straw came when the last farrier literally crippled my TB to the point that he couldn't walk.  It was so bad, I thought FM had foundered.  He was VERY VERY VERY sore and had to be on stall rest for almost two weeks with wraps on >:(

JW was recommended to me by my old vet, Dr. Lindsey Schuell (now in Houston).  I have been using him for approximately a year now and FM has NEVER been sore after a trim (even on gravel). He has literally changed the way my gelding moves (much freer and with less stiffness).   I refuse to let another farrier touch FM now because he is so much better after JW.  He is a completely different horse.

Scottie actually has decent feet, but for the months that I was constantly battling abscesses, JW came out more than one time on a text message asking for help.  He comes out "just to make sure" there is no problem.  She is now totally sound and barefoot (even on rock)

After I moved barns, I was terrified that JW would not come to my new barn but he does :)  He goes above and beyond for his clients, and will come out for an emergency ASAP!

If you would like his contact information, please email me at howard.annie@gmail.com and I will provide it to you!

I CANNOT RECOMMEND JW PEREZ ENOUGH!!

Seattle Slew grand-daughter broodmare FREE TO GOOD HOME - Midway, Kentucky

"Any Old Port" by Seattle Sleet by Quimperle by Hold Your Peace, she's a 2001 model, chestnut with white - flashy. 16.2 hands, selling as BROODMARE sound only.

REFERENCES REQUIRED!  If interested email me at howard.annie@gmail.com with 2 references, one being a vet.  Buyer 100% responsible for shipping!

Previous client has to say:

"She has had 7 foals 4 to race 4 winners, she has a 2y/o that has not started, think it's turned out, they normally break her babies, train for 60-90 days and then turn them out till the fall. That baby might go to Oaklawn for the winter or they might wait till next spring to start it back. Then there's a yearling that is being broke now and a weanling. 

She would be great for a state bred program or show horse broodmare - she's got big grass feet. The  man who owns her is one of my old clients, the mare use to board with me when I had my farm in KY - he is getting out of the breeding business.  She is free to good home.

Here's some old pictures of her - the filly by her side is Hard headed she fractured her skull and me and Jennifer saved her - against the advise of one of the big surgeons around here, lol - girl power. She broke her maiden earlier this year, so proud of her.

I can't guarantee that she's sound enough to ride, never have been unsound for any reason I know of while living with me and she lived with me for 5 years, the occasional hoof abscess. Keep in mind she has probably not had a person on her back since 2004/05 when she was bred for the first time. She was strictly a broodmare for the past 10 years. With her flashy markings she will throw color, people like the chestnut mares to breed for color, use to know the reasons but haven't done it since late 90's, a bit foggy but do remember they always would take a flashy chestnut TB mare."