equestrian team meet

Kathy and I mucked stalls at the speed of light today so we could go watch the high school equestrian team meet at the fairgrounds. Dulce's owner, Jillian is riding Dulce and Caesar for one local team (at the high school I attended!) and Louise, the reiner is riding for another high school. 

It was fun to get out and watch all the kids ride. We saw some bareback riding, jumping, trail, reining, and gymkhana. Sadly, we did not get out in time to see Jillian ride Dulce in hunt seat, but we did see her do trail with Caesar.

For the second week in a row, poor Casear is scared of the mailbox. But with practice, I am sure he will overcome this fear. 

Then we Louise do her thing in reining. Since she is a pro, it is no surprise she took first in her class! She was the only horse that did an actual sliding stop and executed near perfect spins. Louise really is such a good horse!

Kathy really liked this horse and his coloring. He was a nice looking horse. 

It was nice to get out and have a relaxing Saturday around horses! I can't believe how many high schools have an equestrian team these days. When I went to high school, we never had such a thing, and it wasn't even that long ago! There is one more meet left this season, unless the team qualifies for regionals.  I think Shyloh wants to be on the team next year. . . what do you say? I just have to find a high school kid to ride her. . .

And I found this at the barn today! Always an adventure in nature!

Praying Mantis!

a ride au jus

At our barn, we have a fantastic little quarter horse mare named Au Jus aka Louise. I guess she is a Juicer horse, and not knowing bloodlines, I think this is a good thing. She has competed for the majority of her life in reining, in fact this upcoming season her her last in the show ring. Then, she is going to be a mama mare!

I got to ride Louise yesterday! Louise is a sliding stop, spinning, goes straight into a lope from a stand still kind of mare. She is quite the different ride from Shyloh starting with the fact that she has been competing for longer than Shy is old. Louise is impeccably trained.

Robin took the photos! They are amazing!

I know, I know. . .no brain bucket. I was not plan on riding, but Louise's mom rode her right to the arena door as I was headed out and demanded that I get on this mare! So I did. I can't believe how uncomfortable I was without a helmet!

For being a reiner, this horse is lazy! She has zero get up and go. Louise is trained with spurs, so my bumping got her no where. I was told to kick harder, but, being used to riding Shy (forgetting the fact that it has been over a month since I've ridden her), I was so apprehensive about bumping harder.

But I did and I got her to walk on. . . we walked for a bit, a really short bit. Then I had her stop. She doesn't stop like normal. To stop Louise, you stretch your legs out in front and lean back. And she stops, immediately. 

I love her double eared bridle.

Riding Louise had led me to two separate conclusions. 

One, Shy is way way more green that I was led to believe. But that's okay. Even though I am green, too, I am more than willing to put in the time and money (and hence more time to get more money), and inevitable bumps and bruises to put into Shy to get her where I want her to be. I don't want to show her, I just want to trail ride and drive for fun with her. Basically, I want to have fun with her, which I am.

Two, I am much more afraid to get back into riding than I thought! I am reminded of this fall by the continuing pain my my tailbone every time I sit or stand. And if I am going to be truly honest with myself, my confidence is more shattered than I thought. So, while I had the opportunity to ride this excellently trained horse, I was still scared. 

But I have begun to take steps to correct both situations, so hopefully we are on the path to riding soon! I can't wait to write about it, hopefully next week.

And. . . I hurt my tailbone again!