travel bug blog hop

Question from Viva Carlos: What is your best tip for traveling with horses?

Since I don't have my own trailer or truck, I have to rely on Jaime, Kyle, or Terry to get me and Shyloh were we need to be. Luckily, we go the same places they go, so that makes everything so much easier.

I am a planner, I like everything packed and checked the day before so we can just load horses and get to our destination. For shows, those are about an hour away. 

We must have:

Tack - saddles, saddle pads, bridles, harnesses, carts, show halters, driving whips

Water buckets

Hay

Mane rolling and braiding stuff - decorations, rubber bands, string, ribbons

Grooming bag

Hoof Polish

ShowSheen

Fly Spray

Chairs

Pooper Scooper

Show clothes and boots

Helmets

Extra Halter

Extra Lead Ropes

Air pump (for cart tires)

Tools to put carts together

Am I forgetting anything?

Don't forget to enter my giveaway for a beta biothane halter bridle from Two Horse Tack! Ends Saturday at midnight, EST (I added an extra day).

hump day haflinger series #23

Wendy Soucy grew up on a small horse farm where her parents raised Morgans. Growing up, she was active in Pony Club and 4-H. Upon graduating Pony Club, Wendy received an "A" rating. Wendy's primary discipline was Eventing, but she also showed Hunter, Saddle Seat, Western, and Driving. In 1980, Wendy was a member of the Area 1 NAJRC Event Team. Their team finished second, winning them the silver medal. 

In 1992, Wendy became involved in carriage driving and her Haflinger was to become the horse she was going to use. Although Wendy enjoyed starting him under harness, she enjoyed riding him more, as he was so forward and willing. And it felt good for her to be back in the saddle. 

Gorgeous Max!

Haflinger: Maximum Exposure YES or Max

Sire and Dam: Magnum RVM x Tickles US FOF

Age: 7 year old gelding

Height: 14.2 hh

Personality: Max is smart and playful.

Favorite Food: Ha, what doesn’t he like to eat. But he does love watermelon.

Likes: Other than eating, he loves to play, tearing around the paddock, annoying his pasture mate, tossing the jolly ball, and stealing the dog’s Frisbee.

Quirks: Max squeaks when he is feeling fresh before he is about to try a buck or leap. Gives her fair warning to prepare ( shh, he doesn't know that).

Discipline: Competitive Trail Riding (CTR)

Competitive Trail Riding measures the fitness of a horse or pony as they travel over a marked trail of 15 to 100 miles. Horses are examined thoroughly before, on trail and after finishing, by qualified judges and veterinarians. The events are strictly timed and penalties are given for finishing too early or too late. Horses are judged by how quickly their heart rates drop and other physical and metabolic measurements. The horses who show the highest level of physical fitness win. The goal is to condition your horse to the highest level of fitness and take care of it so that the horse completes the ride with as little stress as possible. The best part is that the training involves putting miles on the trails and roads. Wendy tries to get in 25-35 miles each week.

Stamford Stampede 2013

Awards: The real award for Wendy in competition is to have a happy trail horse, pass all vet inspections and complete the ride with a horse in good form. 2013 was her first season of Competitive Trail Rides. They successfully completed all rides entered! At the final ride of the season the vet told her they were impressed with my horses muscle tone and body condition.

• Stamford Stampede CTR 25, Stamford, NY -6th Place
• Brookfield CTR 30, Brookfield, NY – 8th Place
• No Wine-ing CTR 30, Hector, NY -3rd Place

When Max was five, Wendy took him to a three day CTR clinic to see if they had what it took. That is when they both fell in love with the sport. Max successfully competed in 15 mile mock ride on the last day of the clinic, finishing in second place. This is when Wendy knew she had found their new career together. Wendy has competed in the show ring all her life and was happy to leave that behind her with the discovery of Competitive Trail Riding. 

Max playing with the frisbee!

Wendy saw her very first Haflinger at a carriage show. Then in 2005, she was asked to judge the Haflinger Classic that was held at Twin Birch Farm. Over the weekend, she fell head over heels in love with Haflingers and knew she needed to own one. She was very impressed with their temperament, versatility, and beauty. Wendy also found that the people involved with the breed where friendly and encouraging to one another. 

Wendy's goals with Max are to continue trail riding and conditioning with the hopes of competing in a 50 mile CTR. But most of all, Wendy wants to enjoy many more years of beautiful countryside through the golden ears of her Haflinger. 

monday musings by shyloh #134

I am not feeling particularly inspired lately. . .

Here is me taking my frustration out on Allie's hoodie.

Stupid hoodie, it's too hot for you anyway.

And why are there no treats in the pocket?

Bo-ring!

And that is pretty much life right now. I did not take part in the barn door removal and escape while no one was home like the big horses. I did not bust open the gate to my pasture and take the two leggers on a chase through the grass like my minions. 

The only exciting thing going on is Allie's giveaway of a halter bridle, just like mine! So if you want to be cool like me, enter the giveaway! Share it, like it, post it, tweet it, comment on it, whatever. Just enter it!

Halter Bridle Giveaway!

~Shyloh

side passing problems

I am having "my horse thinks to much for herself" problems. She really does have a hard time just stopping to listen without thinking.

Also, pony has perm hair!

We have spent the past couple weeks working on different trail obstacles for the show. Mainly side passing and backing, since those can be our problem areas. Also, I have been working on getting Shyloh to slow down and listen to me. 

She sure is shiny!

But now, as soon as she sees that pole on the ground and I walk her up to it, she steps over it and immediately begins to side pass. While I am all, yay for side passing!, I am also, pony, you must listen to me! 

<3

So we spent a good chunk of time today getting Shy to walk up to the pole and whoa. Then step over the pole and whoa. No side passing. This was much harder for her than the actual side passing! She just wants to side pass. Frustrating. Letting Shy have the space she needed, she would walk up to the pole, over the pole, side pass to the end, then smile, like look, I did it! My horse is a nut.

Treats for meeeeeee!

But eventually, I as able to get her to stop side passing. And when she gave me nice stops at and over the pole, we quit. Since it was hot out, we relaxed in the barn and Shy got some hay that was on the ground. She loved that.

No hay for chickens!

I also did a pre-wash on her tail with white vinegar. We have a show next weekend already! And we are so not ready for riding. . .

And. . .don't forget to enter my contest for a beta biothane halter bridle!

two horse tack halter bridle giveaway

In my newfound love of all that is beta biothane and halter bridles, Two Horse Tack is giving me the opportunity to do a giveaway to share the love! To read my review on the halter bridle, click here.

Shyloh modeling the three different styles of the halter bridle

To review: Two Horse Tack is home to handmade halters, bridles, harnesses, breast collars, reins, and other items. All made in the USA. They have leather, but offer beta biothane in all of their tack. Beta biothane comes in many colors and it is so easy to clean. It is also strong and durable and waterproof. 

The giveaway is a Quick Change Halter Bridle with Snap on Browband. The halter bridle comes in three pieces and is quick and easy to change around. The hardware is stainless steel. And you can pick the two colors you want it in! Or you can pick a solid color, bling, reflective overlay, or camo.

There are a ton of color combinations to choose from. Go crazy! Or choose a different style, it's up to you!

Sizes available are draft, warmblood/TB, horse, cob, Arab, large pony, small pony, mini, and even custom for those hard to fit heads.

 Go here to enter with Two Horse Tack

Leave a comment on which style or color combinations that you would like to win. But in order to enter, you must click the link and enter through Two Horse Tack website.

Share! Do lots of sharing of the contest!

Two Horse Tack will pick the winner. Good luck everyone! Giveaway ends Saturday June 21st at midnight EST. 

Oh, and everyone who enters gets a $10 off coupon for anything at Two Horse Tack. Pretty cool!