the return home

For fair, the big horses had to stay at the fairgrounds from Wednesday night through Saturday night. I think it was so the stalls had horses in them and the fair goers could look and see them. I spent all the days except Saturday at the fair. It was fun to meet people and answer their questions about the horses. Most of them where what kind and how big. But some people actually knew what they were talking about. 

Since the horses were stalled for those days and kept stalled except for when they were showing, we made sure to get them out a bit since they are used to being in a pasture all the time. When Terry and Kyle took Reba and Clutch for a walk, they got swarmed by people. Everyone wanted to touch the horses, take their photo, or ask questions. One guy came up with his baby, so young she still didn't have teeth. We let her pet Clutch's nose and she just squealed with glee. It was very cute. The big horses were very well behaved. 

On Thursday, the minis were trailered in for entertainment between the hitch classes. This left poor Shyloh back home all by herself. Luckily, Shy could care less if she is with twenty horses or no horses. I like to think she actually enjoyed some alone time away from the minions. 

When the day was over, I went back to the barn with Kyle, the minis, and the carts. She saw the trailer pull up and ran to the gate and whinnied. I think she was hoping it was her big drafts. When we unloaded the minis, she gave a small nicker, then when right to Dexter and gave him a half nelson. 

Then she bit him on the neck and walked away. Of course, Dexter followed her, but Shy ignored him. Next, she walked up to Meatball and gave him a big sniff. I guess to make sure it was really him? After, Meatball rolled for a good five minutes. . .he can't stay clean for too long!

I wasn't there when the drafts got home, but I heard they were very happy to be home. There was a lot of tearing around the pasture and Shy gave her very deep nickers. She was happy to have them home. I am sure everyone was happy to be home. Fair is no joke!

double judged show

Yesterday we had a double judged show for our Northwest Ohio Driving Circuit. Unfortunately, I could not bring Shyloh since all the fees were doubled as well and we were only bringing one trailer. It was rather relaxing to visit and hang out and not have to worry about showing.

Jaime was taking Isaac to help prepare him for fair in a week and a half. Noah was showing his little Meatball. And Terry was showing Reba in the cart classes.

First up, Jaime had Isaac in Halter class. He placed first with both judges, then went on to win Halter Champion under both judges. How awesome is that?

He is a nice looking horse!

When Issac was brought into the ring for cart class, he began to act up. He started rearing and hopping and refusing to go forward. With a horse as big as him, it is easy to get intimidated by his baby tantrums. Luckily, Beth showed up and was able to walk Jaime through the tantrum and Issac straightened up. 

Isaac did very well during the class and ended up taking first and second. Later Jaime asked for feedback from the judge who gave them second and she said that Isaac was having baby brain. So, basically, he just needs more miles and to grow up a bit longer. I think he is going to be a forced to be reckoned with in the next couple years!

He has the nicest, floaty-est trot.

Terry took Reba in pleasure cart class and pleasure reinsmanship class. Reba did great and they took a first and second place for one class and a second and third for the other class. Her feedback was to work on lengthening the trot for the road gait, not speeding it up. 

Fancy!

It seems that everyone is getting fancy for the driving classes now. Even Bethany got all dressed up to take her mule, Millie, in the draft class.

More fancy

Noah showed his pony, Meatball. They were adorable together. Noah got his first blue ribbon on the riding class! It is hard to beat a cute kid on a cute pony, both decked out in English attire and tack! They also took home a third and a lot of fifths. Noah doesn't care what place he gets, he just has fun showing his pony.

Super cute

Beth brought Rambo to ride around on since she is working on making him a trail pony. He is really good for her and she even took him in a fun class, Splash and Dash! They took second! Wish I could have stayed to watch them, but we had to leave.

I also got to ride in the cart with Jessica and her Gypsy, Sairose. Youth riders need an adult to ride with them, so I said I would. I like riding with Jess and her mare, they are a great team. The only problem is the arena is very hard to drive in, really makes the horses work to pull the carts, and does not make for a very comfortable ride for the people.

As always, it was a fun time with friends and horses. And even though I am not taking Shy to fair, I am excited to support my barn and be a part of all the action.

Isaac and his Mini Me, Gracie

first show this year

What a weekend! We had our first show with the Northwest Ohio Driving Circuit (in which my horse no longer drives) and I think it was quite successful. I was so busy on show day I took a grand total of three photos, so I am borrowing photos that friends took. 

We loaded up the horses (seven total, plus three carts, four harness sets, five saddles, and a plethora of other necessary tack) and ended up taking two trailers and three trucks. No joke. We go big or go home. 

We left slightly behind schedule, but not as late a usual so we got to the show with time to spare to get horses ready and decorated for halter classes. While me and Shyloh didn't place in halter or showmanship, Shy and Lily got a fourth place! Even Shy's smile at the judge when we were setting up didn't seem to help our chances. Noah showed Meatball for the in-hand classes and got second place in showmanship! And Isaac took home a third in halter.

While we were waiting for the other participants to finish their patterns in showmanship, we could hear Tommy from the stands asking if it was his turn with Cwutch yet. So cute.

For in-hand trail, me and Shy had the best class we ever had. Shy performed every obstacle perfectly. I felt great coming out of that class and we placed second! Beth and Rambo took first place. 

While Shy did great with me, she gave Lily a little bit of trouble for her trail-in hand class. Now we know what we need to practice. 

For this show, I bit the bullet and did the riding class. I mounted Shy near the trailer and she gave me so much hell when I tried to get her to walk away. I almost gave up, but Beth walked me through it and got us to the ring. Once Shy saw Clutch in the ring, I had no more problems from her, my frustrating buddy sour horse. Shy was great during the class, it was walk/trot, but we only walked it since we haven't been working on trot and I wasn't comfortable with it in such a large arena. 

After we did the reverse, Shy thought it appropriate to stop right in front of the stands, spread her back legs, and pee. And not just any old pee, a five minute long pee that was gallons and gallons and gallons. Right in front for everyone to see and comment on. I kept saying, is she done yet and the unanimous response was nope, each time. Classy, Shy. 

Shy did great and even kept her composure when another rider got bucked off from a wasp that was bugging the horse. Luckily, the rider seemed okay and got back on. My only complaint from that class was that she kept playing with her bit and trying to eat the shanks when we were lined up. 

Lily was up next for lead line riding on Shy. And since Shy did so well during the riding class, I decided to sign up for the ridden trail class, just to see. . . Shy took all the obstacles very easily. We veered from the pattern on purpose (I let the judge know), but we did walk over the bridge and do a couple of the other obstacles. 

For the last lead line class, Lily rode Shy through the trail course. I held the lead line loose, and Lily worked her through each obstacle on her own. I only had to interfere once during the back up when Shy was crooked and I just scooted her rear end over. And they took first place! 

Our classes where over, since we weren't driving, but Terry was driving Reba in her first classes and Notch was being driven by Sierra. Sierra took a couple ribbons with Notch and Terry got a first and second place with Reba for driving. 

It was a really fun and busy show. Hidden Creek Draft Horses did well as a team. And I know what I really want to work on with Shy, trot and trail. I think we can do well! And Tommy said that maybe he will get some wibbons next time. 

monday musings by shyloh #132

Aside from being an awesome pony for my Lily, I went on my first real life, off the property trail ride! And it was so much fun! Allie's friend Anthony rode me because he is a much much much better rider than Allie and has confidence, which makes me feel better about everything. 

Ready to go!

We went out with Kyle and his new horse, King Leonitas (Leo), Terry and Reba, Jaime and Dexter, and Allie and Meatball. I did walking, trotting, cantering, aaaaaaaand galloping! 

Meatball was a jerkface, but that is another story

I went over bridges and through water. Water that came up to my belly!

We did this four times!

We also met some other riders and stopped to chat for a while by the water crossing. 

New friends!

 I did some leading and a lot of following. I stayed with the pack really good and even tolerated the carts. I was not spooked by a single thing. And I liked Anthony. He rode me on a loose rein the whole time and was calm and nice to me. Allie was so happy for me!

:)

Look at me go!

Waiting

Getting ready to go fast!

Fun times!

Now if she can just chill out we can have that much fun together, too!
And for more of my awesome adventures with my little one, check it out here. My weekend was beyond fantastic!

~Shyloh

beans

And not the kind you eat. Beans and how you get the bean is one reason I am so happy to have a mare!

Me and Jaime decided to give Meatball a bath the day it was 80 degrees. Pointless as that was, since a)he rolled in dirt right after and b)it stormed the next day, but oh well.

Meatball was less than pleased about his bath. But he was more upset about what came first. . .

Angry wet pony

Big Isaac got his bath first. He was awesome for it. And because he was "hanging down" Jaime figured she might as well clean him in his nether regions. Jaime is a pro at sheath cleaning. She has all geldings and their ding dongs shine. Seriously. You almost need sunglasses when they drop. Anyway. . . Big, giant, 18+ hang Isaac was totally cool with being cleaned down there. And Jaime got the bean. Gross.

Issac!

So next she decided to give Meatball a go, since she hasn't cleaned him yet. Mostly because he is semi feral when he is not hooked to a cart. And he did not hold anything back with Jaime. She reached right up there and announced that she could feel the bean and it was huge. Apparently, Meatball had grown quite attached to his bean because he did not want her to remove it. I stepped in to help contain the little 37 inch pony while he reared, tried evasive maneuvers, and even bit me (little bastard). After what seemed like hours of trying to hold Meatball still enough to clean him, Jaime finally got the bean! Woot woot! And it was bigger than Isaac's! Crazy!

Meatball's looked much bigger in person. . .also, who takes photos of beans? Crazy people, that's who.

As if Meatball did not have enough trauma in his life at that moment, we also bathed him to try and get some of his hairs gone. He is going to need a clip though, he is so hairy. He hated his bath and was shivering, so after, we put Shady's old cooler on him (I miss that silly donkey), which was way too small, but helped him out. He hated it and tried to rip it off. But, how cute, it looked like a baseball jersey on him!

Batter up!

After that, to spite us all, as soon as we turned him loose, he rolled. He dropped immediately, right under Dexter and rolled and rolled and rolled until his was covered in hay, dirt, and grass. 

Wasted no time getting dirty again

Shameful

He is a spicy Meat-a-ball!

monday musings by shyloh #130

I went on a trip this weekend! I do really love going on trips. It is fun to get out and see the world.

Ready to go!

We went to my most favorite place, Harry Hughes in Ohio, for a clinic. Allie worked on some braiding and showmanship with me. Then she used Meatball for the driving portion. I think I am just not cut out to be a driving horse, it makes my heart beat super fast just seeing carts now. And Meatball does have so much fun with it. He would make a good CDE pony! He loves to go fast and can cut a sharp turn.

Cody was making Meatball drift!

But while we were down there, Allie did go for a ride! In the open! I was having fun and being a brat. 

Showmanship session

I got to ride down with the minions and all the other big horses went together in the big trailer. When Allie started riding me, she took me between two trailers. It was a little scary at first and I started breathing quick, but when I got to the end of the trailers, I saw Isaac! And I just wanted to stand next to him.  But Allie kept me going, even with my protests. Then I saw Notch, Clutch, and Reba with a perfect Haflinger sized space in between Reba and Notch. And I knew that was were I needed to be. I tried everything in my power to get into that spot.

Haley and Mary the big Haflinger

Allie was getting upset with me because I was using my awesome bending abilities to keep my head where she wanted, but move my back end where I wanted. Even once we got walking away, I showed Allie how well I could side pass. I really didn't want to leave my friends!

Riding!

We did a couple more laps around the trailers with me putting up a fight every time we passed my friends. But I have to say, Allie did win, even though it made her uncomfortable and a hunched over mess. And even though we fought, she says I did good because I didn't freak out and run away or even scoot. Allie says there is hope for me yet. . .the jury is still out on hope for her though!

~Shyloh

new animals that are not horses

With nicer weather comes. . .mud! But the mud will go away and we can still have fun even with the mud. But wait. . .after the mud comes more freezing. What the. . .?

The other weekend, Terry's friend, Michele, came out to the barn. She got her first "lesson" in driving as we had Terry hook Meatball up (she is still trying to learn all about the harness) and drive him around the driveway. Then Michele took him for a spin. As spicy as Meatball can be in the pasture, he is such a good driving pony.

Later that day, Kyle and Terry rode their big black horses bareback around the driveway and did some jousting. I got a chance to jump on Clutch bareback, but he is soooo much bigger than Shyloh and his movements are just so much more, I didn't stay on long at all. And he has no mane to hold on to!

Slowest jousting ever. . .although Terry almost fell of from laughing so hard!

Shy has been sassy as can be lately! She sure is feeling the spring, even though it is still cold. We had a lesson planned for last weekend, but cancelled because of the cold. Wimps, I know, but after experiencing some weather above freezing no one wants to brave the below freezing weather!

Remember when I just said my horse doesn't like to get dirty? Then I show up to this? Which really isn't that dirt compared to the others.

In other news, I got some new pets.

That is NOT a sailor hat on her head.

Meet Whitney Houston the Barred Plymouth Rock. She will be living at the barn with all the other chicks. (All of the chickens have famous people names, like Paula Dean, Roy Orbison, Mary Poppins. . .)If she is a hen, I will get brown eggs from her. I hope she is a hen!

I also got Otto von Bubbles and his sidekick Blitzkrieg the snail. I was moved into my own office at work and it is so lonely, so I got some company. Plus, the kids who come see me should enjoy them. 

And. . .vote for us in She Moved To Texas' March Madness Semi Finals! We cleared the first round.