mgli 2014

Last weekend was the Michigan Great Lakes International Draft Horse Show and Pull. I think I mentioned earlier that it was the first year that the Haflingers were there and they were doing their Haflinger and Hitch Pony Championship Series. The top four hitches that competed at qualifying events and had the highest points were driving against each other. So, of course I had to go watch!

Going to MGLI is always a fun time. We get to see the big hitch horses, all different kinds of hitches, baby horses, pulling horses, and do a little shopping.

Aside from the Haflingers, the coolest part was the farm team obstacle. 

I took a couple videos and some photos, so enjoy!

He had "googles" around each eye.

Haflinger line up

My Woody!

Brabants!

ravenous draft

The following photos are very disturbing. . .do not scroll down if you don't think you can handle it. . .

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These are the photos of a draft horse at dinner time. It is just awful. 

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Shyloh looks terrified.

See how she runs the other horses off their food? See how she won't let the other horses eat? No? Me either.

But, I guess because Reba is big, she intimidates people. Especially those who don't know much about herd dynamics or how horses eat. 

All Reba does is simply eat some food, then slowly walk to the next pile of food to see if there is anything better there. She does not eat all the food then go on to the next pile. She does not pin her ears or chase other horses off. The other horses could stay (clearly, they sometimes do) or check out another food pile. 

But apparently, walking around checking out all the food turns feeding time into a "circus." Ugh. Just let horses be horses! And also, I really need my own horse keeping facility.

/end rant.  

rides on reba

Remember when I had a panic attack on Shyloh?

The solution to help me get over my anxiety is to ride Reba. I mean, if I can ride a Shire, I can surely ride a Haflinger.

There are a few steps to riding a Shire. . .

1. Find a saddle with a flat tree. Because the back of a Shire is wiiiide.

2. Find a girth that is taller than you. Because the Shire is rooouuuund.

3. Find a ladder to get on the Shire. Because the Shire is taaaall.

Once all those steps have been completed, you can ride the Shire. 

Me and Reba!

Terry gave me lessons on her horse, which was super nice. Even though Reba is way out of my comfort zone height wise, I knew she was not going to do anything overly stupid. After I got used to the English saddle, her larger strides and her slight clumsiness, oh and then her bullheadedness, we were all good.

My main focus was to be able to ride a steady horse and work on my balance. So we did lots of exercises like walking around with my eyes closed and my arms out to the side, reaching up to Reba's super far away poll, leaning back in the saddle as far as I could, walking without reins and doing crazy arms, and putting my legs over on the same side of her in the saddle. I worked a lot on trying to not lean forward and I feel I was semi successful with this.

I also worked on adjusting to rein and leg pressure. I am not sure of anyone knows just how difficult is it to move a Shire when she doesn't want to move. Let my legs tell you, it is hard! And I am always a bit timid with my leg pressure because Shy is so sensitive. So I had to learn to use more pressure. Reba also responds differently than Shy, so I had to adjust my cues as well. 

Steering was also addressed, since Reba had a need to be on top of Terry at all times. Trying to steer her away was a chore, but I did it. We put out cones and boxes and used what we had to make a course for me and Reba to go through. 

Most of the lessons were in the round pen, one lesson was in the pasture (we put the other horses in the round pen). I felt that lesson was the worst, but Terry said it was the best. I think because after the balance exercises, I felt I had no goal, except to walk around the must larger space. And Reba did not want to walk. And, I believe Reba kept trying to knock me off on the tree branches. 

The longer I rode, the more relaxed I became. If we had a week's break between lessons (fair week), it was like starting back at square one. But even so, the initial couple minutes up on that horse sends me into a high anxiety mode. I think that is just the way it is going to be. It calms down after those first few minutes though, usually. I'd like to continue my lessons on Reba and also get Shy going. I think it will be good for all of us. 

another fair

The day after the Monroe County Fair, we headed to Wood County in Ohio for a pull in hitch show. Luckily, I spent most of Saturday at home, but Terry was with the horses at the fair, since they were not allowed to leave until 11pm Saturday night. So I had some rest under my belt, but Terry was pretty exhausted.

We were not showing, but going to support Beth and her Haflingers for their classes. Beth did really well with Art in the single cart and farm obstacle, but ran into a problem when she hitched Art and Curly together. Let's just say, Curly was being a dingbat. . .

Curly and Art

Curly and Art, again, in step

Go Art!

But, we had a fun time watching the hitches with the horses and draft ponies. It was a good time. There was even a hitch of Haflingers this time!

Cute little pinto pony

Draft pony, guessing a Clyde/Hackney cross. Look at that action!

Haflinger

Percheron

Clydesdale

Men's single pony cart class

Another of those draft pony crosses. So much action!

Farm team class

Working together

Six horse Clydesdale hitch

Six horse Percheron hitch

They had the full gambit of hitches - single, tandem, team, unicorn, four, and six - and other Percherons, Belgians, gray Percheron ponies, and black draft ponies, but I didn't get photos. Spent a lot of time at the trailer with Beth's ponies. 

Do I still have a horse? Yes. Shyloh is back home, happy that her herd has fully returned. This week's forecast calls for thunderstorms, but I will get out to see her and give an update on the sassy pony soon. 

monroe county fair 2014

It has been radio silence over here for the past few days. I have not even seen a computer and the small amount of time spent at home I have been getting a couple hours of sleep. Why? It's county fair time!

While I didn't show Shyloh, I spent the days with the barn and the big horses. They were hauled in Wednesday night, but I spent the day checking out the fair.

It was mule hitch day which was fun to see. Beth came up and we walked the fair and watched the hitches. We spent a lot of time chatting with the judge, who was a friend of Beth. It was a nice day. Some friend's of ours were showing their Gypsy horses in 4-H and we also watched their trail patterns. Kim had a foal on the way and we offered to go to her barn to check on the mare, since she had to stay at the fair with her nieces. No problem! We went to love on the other Gypsy babies (who are getting so big!) and check on the mare. No foal, but boy was she close. Turns out, that night a filly was born!!

Thursday was the driving classes. It was Isaac's second show and the first show with Jaime driving the new cart. They looked real sharp!

Before entering the show ring

Terry and Reba were in the cart class as well. Reba was a picklehead and caused a little backup. . .but they did look real nice. 

On their way into the ring!

Thee big hitch was Heritage Hills Belgians. They won almost all of the hitch classes; tandem, team, four and six horse hitch. They did not win the unicorn, though. And they bought the whole draft barn pizza later that night, how nice!!

Awesome!

Between the hitch classes, the minis came out to do some fun demos to keep the audience entertained. Meatball and Dexter were part of the fun. They did racing, a barrel pattern, poles, and a driving demo. It was so much fun and the audience really enjoyed it. 

Jaime and Meatball, cantering to the finish!

Anthony and Dexter zooming by!

Cowboy hat on a mini? Yes please!

There was also a ridden draft demo with Kyle on Clutch and Terry on Reba. 

Friday was halter classes. Hidden Creek Draft Horses took Grand Champion Mare for Clydesdales and Shires (Reba), Grand Champion Gelding for Clydesdales and Shires (Clutch), and Grand Champion Percheron Gelding (Isaac). Notch did win the Percheron Geldings 5 and over, but Isaac beat him out for Grand Champion. 

Notch

Isaac

Reba

Clutch

After halter, I went to watch Jessica and Sarah jump their Gypsies. It was great to be able to hang out with those kids and their mom, Christina and their aunt Kim. 

Weee! Jessica and Saiorse

One of the baby Belgians got cast in her stall and Kyle and Terry helped to get her up. She was so calm about it and walked off just fine. Then there was a moment when I saw a cow going into a horse stall. I questioned it, then noticed the hooves sticking out the back of the cow. . .it was having a baby!

Brand new baby!

By this time, I was exhausted. From helping with the big horses, getting them ready for the show, keeping the stalls clean, and walking them back and forth from the stalls to the trailer, I just wanted to sit and sleep. Although, I do admit, it was cool walking the big horses down the midway :)

Cows sleep funny

It's hard being bacon

So cute!

This little one was right across from us! She liked checking out the big horses.

We did walk through the fair to check out the other things they had to offer. It was a fun time, but I am glad it is over. It was a lot of work and I didn't even have a horse there!