spring clinic 2014

The annual spring clinic has come and gone. Months of preparation by many people are now over until next year. This was the first year that I have gone to the light horse clinic and the driving clinic. And even though I did not take a horse to the light horse day, I still learned quite a bit. 

The kids had a ton of fun on the light horse day. The clinicians were very helpful and offered a lot of small group demonstrations in showmanship, English equitation, Western equitation, trail and trail-in-hand. 

Showmanship

English Equitation

Western Equitation

Trail

The cutest part was a lunch time discussion of the Harry Hughes Youth Group on what Sportsmanship means. The best quote was from a poem that two girls came up with: "be a friend, not a rear end." 

Sportsmanship discussion

The driving day was a ton of fun for me because I got to bring Shyloh and drive Meatball. We had some great clinicians who have many many years of experience showing in the draft and driving world. They were very hands on in our sessions and even hopped in the carts with some drivers to offer instruction. We were broken up into small groups for the draft braiding, showmanship, safe harnessing and hitching, and single driving sessions. Then there was a demonstration on team driving.

Braiding manes and tails

Showmanship

Safe harnessing and hitching

Driving

More driving and team set up

The raffle was a success, too! I think a lot of people were impressed with the generosity of the donors and all the different items that they could choose to win from. The kids were super excited when their names were pulled out of the bucket for winning! And the Youth Group had a fun time drawing the names on both days. A lot of kids went home with some very cool prizes. 

Raffle Day 1

Raffle Day 2

The spring clinic is the kick off to a very busy summer! I am excited for all the fun that is to be had.

spring clean up

Show season begins soon. But before that, spring clinic! And that is next weekend already!

This weekend, we had our Spring Clean Up to get the grounds cleaned from the winter and ready for show season!

Clearing trees

Building a sandbox for the little ones

Trimming trees

Using tree trucks and repurposing wood to build a bench

We do our showing at the Harry Hughes Youth Equestrian Center. Their mission is to empower youth leadership and positive sportsmanship, encourage community connectedness, and provide a safe family environment through the equine world. They really focus on the kids and I think they are a good organization to be involved with. For me, it is low key showing and mostly about hanging out with a great group of people and their horses. 

Every year they hold a free spring clinic for the kids. Saturday's clinic focuses on light horse topics such as  showmanship, English equitation, Western horsemanship, trail in hand, and trail. There will also be a lunchtime discussion about sportsmanship presented by the Harry Hughes Youth Group. Sunday's clinic focuses on drafts and driving. There will be sessions in braiding and rolling your draft for show, draft showmanship, a lunchtime discussion on the rules and show day readiness, safe harnessing and hitching, and team set up and driving. It is always an educational and fun time.

This year, I proposed the idea of holding a raffle at the clinic to help raise money for maintenance and upkeep of the grounds, mainly the driveway and announcer's booth. My idea was accepted by the board and I set out to contact various equine companies to ask for donations to the cause. So all the registered participants for will be given five free raffle tickets with the option to (hopefully) purchase more tickets. All auction items will be on display so anyone can place their ticket(s) in the box for the item they want to win.

Really, so much awesome stuff from some great businesses and people!

I started contacting companies in January and have been working ever since to collect donations. Some of the board members, local companies, and individuals (including myself) made donations as well. But I really want to give a huge shout out to the following equestrian businesses for their more than generous donations!

A Horse Box

Animed

Chick's Saddlery

Drafty Gals

Equilite's Sore No-More

Equine Gourmet

Five Star Horse Decorations

Hawthorne Products

Higher Standards

Horse Teeth Co.

Horseloverz

HorseTech

Mane 'n Tail

Mrs. Conn's

Nicker Bait

NickerDoodles

Pony Pizza Company

Riding Warehouse

Rod's Western Palace

Shapley's

Tough 1

Valley Vet

Wahl

Ziky Boutique

I am very excited to see how this fundraiser goes for Harry Hughes and how much we can raise for the grounds. I am also so amazed at the awesome stuff that was sent to us for the fundraiser and I want to say thank you to these awesome companies for sending their products to help us So fellow bloggers, a lot of these are businesses started by individuals, so if you can support them! All of them are on Facebook, so if you are too, give them a "like." And, if you are in the area of Northwest Ohio, come on over and check it out! It is free and fun!

show success

I would most definitely call our first show as the Northwest Ohio Driving Circuit a success! We had a great turnout and everyone had a good time. 

And best of all. . .

I drove Shyloh in the Draft Working Cart class and she did awesome! Beth rode in the cart with me, just in case. Shy was listening great and was very calm. And she was being lazy. She was walking like she had no place to go! And when it came time to trot, she was inconsistent in keeping it up, but that is okay. For our first time in an actual cart class, I could not have been happier! And we got fifth place!

That was our first ribbon ever! 

We also did halter, showmanship, trail-in-hand, and line driven reinsmanship (where Shy refused to enter the arena and our circles looked like ameobas). And even though we did not place in any of those classes, we had so much fun.

We also got the Most Improved award for the show, because we drove in the cart class. A whole winter of hard work and tons of help from Jaime, Becky, and Beth, got us to this point. I will be forever grateful for them.

I didn't take nearly as many photos as I wanted, but here are some from our fantastic day!

Line driving Shy

She looks sleepy

Practicing in the cart!

Pleasure driving class, Becky driving Allie

Pleasure driving class, Flo with Nick

Youth cart class, Beth and Regina with Art

Youth cart class, Chelsea and Cody in his three piece suit

Kyle and Clutch

Becky and Maddie driving Allie, getting ready for youth cart class

Shady the donkey!

Pretty Gypsy pony

Another pretty Gypsy Pony

Skylar the cart dog. He had so much fun, he finally passed out from exhaustion.

Shy

On our way to the show!

Grand Reserve Champion in halter! Go Jaime and Notch!

Little Shady

Youth showmanship class. Great turnout!

Haley rode Notch and Kyle on Clutch

big clinic day

Holy farmer's tan! Whew are my arms red. But it was well worth it. I think a lot got accomplished today. Jaime's aunt let me borrow her trailer and I got up super early to pick up Shyloh and head to the clinic with Terry, Jaime, and Kyle.

Peeking out the window

First up was braiding manes and tails. For draft manes, a special ribbon is used to make a type of braid called a mane roll. The draft tail gets a braid and a bun. Shy got a tail cut because her tail was as long as it has ever been and was hanging on the ground. I knew I would have to cut it at some point, so no better day than today. Becky used Shy as the demonstration pony, which was good for me since I have been incapable of doing it on my own. Lesson one: It really does require two people. Lesson two: my attempts at the mane roll had me using sections of hair that was too thick. Lesson three: Shyloh can really clamp those butt muscles! Wow. She showed some of her best clamping during the tail bun demonstration. Lesson four: Becky can do some tight braids! But when all was done, the results were very pretty. Becky did a fantastic job.

Pretty tail!

After that, we had showmanship and halter practice. What I learned in this part of the clinic is that you are not supposed to let your horse fall asleep while waiting for your turn. Shy always falls asleep.

zzzzzzzzzzzzzz

She must find it boring. . .I also learned a little bit more about showing showmanship and halter, so I will be able to put that to use come showtime. . .if I can keep my horse awake in the line up.

Our lunch break included a discussion on Scotch bottom shoes. While I will never put those shoes on Shy, it was interesting to learn about them. I did not stay for the whole discussion, about halfway through I went to check on Shy. As I was petting her neck I found a tick! I am not looking forward to starting this whole tick thing again. Yuck.

Up next was safe harnessing and hooking to the cart. Beth was awesome and helped me fit the new harness to Shy, which included many confusing buckles and punching new holes. I may have to get a new saddle piece, but this one will work for now. Good thing for Beth, because she knew all these tips and tricks to get the harness to fit Shy just right. 

New harness!

Next she hooked Shy up to her cart and took her driving. This horse messes with me so bad because she was damn near perfect for Beth. They had a great start and Shy was doing very well. Then I got in the cart. I don't know why I am such a bundle of nerves with her. It is frustrating to me, but there is not much I can do about it, except keep on practicing. There was a point today where I was questioning myself and Shy because I have no confidence when it comes to riding or driving her. While I still don't, I think now that maybe me and Shy can make it work,

Cruisin'

When Beth was driving her, we discovered that the ball bearings on my wheels are shot. My new wheels. The wheels I have never used until today. What the hell? So I got out of the cart and Beth drove her back to unhook her. When Shy saw she was near her trailer spot, she started acting up. She would not back up for Beth and was giving her a hard time. I would have had a meltdown myself, but Beth handled it like it was no big deal. After Beth got Shy to do what she wanted, we unhooked her and  Beth went to hook Art.

I think Skylar liked it!

Beth also took her new puppy, Skylar for his first cart ride on Art. How cute are all of them?  Art took a couple kids around for some cart rides and I watched Curly. . .or Moe. He has two names. I have mane envy when looking at him.

Look at all that on Moe/Curly!

Art!

By now, most people had left and it was just a bunch of us Northwest Ohio Driving Circuit people still at the clinic. Jaime's aunt had found a saddle and she brought it for me to try on Shy. So I did and it seemed to fit pretty well. Haley was volunteered to get up on Shy and try it out. Shy was actually very good for Haley, quick, but good. Haley had Shy super trotting and turning and said she would be good at barrels, haha!

Then, I got on Shy! I haven't really been on this horse since October. . .well no one has aside from me sitting on her bareback a few times. As usual, I was a bit nervous (just because I know what she can be capable of), so I asked Haley to walk next to me. Shy was actually very good for me. We walked a bit, then I just sat on her and chatted for a while. It felt good to sit on my horse!

When I got off of her, this little boy asked to ride Shy. I said yes, but that I would walk with him. Shy was perfect for him. Absolutely perfect. *Proud pony moment*

Shy and her new buddy. She really liked him!

By now, we all were sunburned and tired, so we packed up and headed home. Shy seemed so happy to be home, she nickered when she stepped off the trailer and wanted to trot to her pasture. Once in there with the halter off, she took off towards the back where the rest of her herd was. 

On the way home after dropping Shy off, I drove the truck with the trailer. . .first time ever towing anything! And I did awesome. Now I am about to fall asleep dreaming happy pony dreams. Shy was a good pony today!

monday musings by shyloh #51

Well folks, I lucked out. No show for me. It was bittersweet. See, I did not have to do any work and I got to stay home with my buddy Robbie and graze, but I missed all my horse show friends. . .and that delicious Ohio grass.

Picking at the teeny bit of grass

Allie shared some photos with me of the great time that she had at the show. Good for her, I say. 

Jaime and Kyle in the riding class. Jaime took first!

Art and Sierra. Art can do this funny lip thing. And Sierra took first!

Kyle and Clutch

A mule! But sadly, no donkeys at the show.

Terry's first time driving! Notch was a champ!

A mini!

Notch and Terry again. Notch is taller than the van!

Kyle and Clutch in reinsmanship

Jaime and Notch in cart class

Beth and my show love Rambo. Isn't he handsome?

All my draft buddies!

I am sure I will be perfectly sound from here on out. . .ha!

~Shyloh