Barn cleaning day - horse people are hard workers

With Jan's passing the Down Under Stables is now officially owned by Ellen and Bob. It is Roz' training 'HQ', and Remy's college.

Over the years a lot of things had found their ways into the two barns. Jan was so frugal that it seemed she was just a few steps away from being a hoarder "well, we might use that again one day" was a common saying.

So it was high-time for a major cleaning. Luckily a crew of hard working and fun people showed up on a very hot and muggy day. And very lucky (for me) that Jean gave me a face mask. One look at the accumulated dirt, dust, and racoon droppings almost did me in, but hey -  horse people are (almost) fearless!

Taking a break from removing Racoon droppings

Men at work. Comment from Michael "Typical stance for this species"

Enjoying the BBQ (vegetarian sausages, yummy!)

Horse people are used to hard work - so what's cleaning out a few dirty barns? 

As long as you don't inspect our houses too closely...

Take the walls away - and you have a different horse

Finally - the weather was decent enough this week to venture into the outdoor arena and the footing was just perfect.

I was amazed in the difference it made in Remy. He was forward, happy, and cruising along without reminders from your truly to keep that rear engine power coming. We are doing our "One-day snaffle / one day double" routine, and in the indoor Remy has a tendency to creep behind when wears his double bridle. Not so outside, he's taking me places there (and most of the time it's where I want to go).

We had some of the best extended trots today, and all I had today is keeping my core engaged. Roz gets a kick out of it when she has to remind me "don't be so surprised when it works!"

Happy 4th of July! And happy anniversary: Five years of citizenship!

This is not the buffet line! - and "he looks like he ate Pesto"

Rain and heat = overgrown trails. The rain finally abated, and now we have summer heat. It means  that the trails are quite overgrown and the grass in the open meadows is high. What's a hungry horse to do? Remy asks. Snacking, of course!

While it was lovely on the trails I had my hands full reminding Remy that we are not cruising down the buffet line. I understand, buddy, it's tempting, probably like me standing at the dessert table. So despite my best efforts Remy happily cruised along with his snacks. At one point JP glanced over and quipped "he looks like he ate Pesto" (What does that tell you? JP is a foodie*!).

We did have a good week training, and so a bit of goofing off on the trails is easy to accept. I was very happy that Remy kept it together when a runner surprised us by coming up behind and not saying a word, thus startling Remy. She was lucky that he doesn't kick, and that I have a decent seat. Otherwise at least one of us would have gotten her!

*Foodie: A person with a particular interest in food; a gourmet.

Land Under Water - and "the work helps him to settle"

OK, Michigan weather is unpredictable, we all know this. But lately we just seem to have rain, rain, and then some more of that. It's been "Land Under Water" for way too long. I felt bad for the competitors at the show, slushing around in the water. Even though the footing at Waterloo is good, with the deluge lots of people were scratching their classes.

Remy settled in nicely, walked around and behaved like a champ. No sign of nervousness at all. So when the time was right (in our case it means the warm up arena was almost devoid of other riders) I took a deep breath and in we went. Remy looked around but then settled into the work. As Roz puts it "the work helps him to settle". We do have a warm up routine that seems to work well. After walk, trot, some shoulder-ins, half-passes, and canters we called it a success and a day! Yay!

It was also very rewarding for me that my clients' horses responded well to their bodywork sessions. Especially one horse improved considerably and that made me very happy. It's also remarkable (for me) how working on the horses calms me down. Win-Win all around.

Now... how about that sunshine??

"Zwergenaufstand", long lining - and tips for the trailer

Our recent lessons were a mixed bag, mostly good, but one day Remy decided he had to voice his opinion about the changes. As Roz puts it "he is allowed to his opinions, but he is not allowed to voice them too strongly". And sure enough, I had to deal with a "Zwergenaufstand" (unnecessary fuss) during our changes on the long side, all of a sudden, I found myself in the midst of some serious bucks. Really, Remy?? Thank you, one rein stop.

Next day we went to long lining, and Roz showed me where the problem was: Remy did not like the idea of being straight on the left rein. Interestingly, when Roz gets on he's perfectly fine, if it's me the little stinker still tries to see if I'm serious about the whole thing. "You mean, I really should listen?? and even do what you say??". Ah, yes, buddy, that's the idea!

Roz and I went to audit a long lining clinic, it was interesting but not anything new to our program. I was surprised to see the clinician working with all the horses himself, instead of the participants being schooled. It's good to see how it's done, but then once you get home how will you recreate it if you've never practiced it?

This week Thursday through Saturday it will be "take your horse to work days". I have clients at the Waterloo show and Remy gets to hang out there. Glenda is coming with Boomer, so we both have great company. The idea is for Remy and me to stay chill, enjoy, and tackle our -MY- Waterloo (Nomen est Omen??) phobia.

With travel comes trailering, and the question how best to feed hay during a  trip. Our straight load trailer came with hay feeders, but the boys used to root through them and a lot of hay ended up on the floor. Hanging vertical hay bags puts the hay too close to their faces and can cause allergies and breathing issues.

Voila - Enter JP's brilliant and easy solution: Hay bags clipped in horizontally!

A small, sturdy hay bag (this one is from SmartPak) clipped in horizontally. The horses have to lower their heads (which is healthier), it keeps them busy, and there is less waste: Win-Win!

Another great idea, this one from US Rider, is to have emergency information in your trailer. If you have an accident and are incapacitated, who should the Emergency Responders contact? Who is authorized to make decisions? We have this completed form taped to the tack room door.

Should have known better - and the resident chouchoteur has the anwer

Sunday's trailride didn't exactly turn out as expected, Remy was uncharacteristically nervous and jumpy. His back felt so tight that I hopped off and led him for part of way. It was nice enough when we left home, but then the weather changed and it became quite stormy. I thought the guys could handle it, as I just had observed them on Saturday standing out in the pasture quietly grazing in thunder and lightning! 

My resident horse chouchoteur (whisperer) pointed out that of course the horses are quieter in a familiar setting with the option to seek shelter at the barn. Quite different on the trails when all off a sudden it looks like someone turned the lights off and put the fan setting on 'high'. Duh!

I didn't want to leave it on a shaky note, so today, instead of heading to our dressage lesson we hit the trails again. The sun was shining, all was nice and quiet - and sure enough, so were the four of us. Didn't need a chouchoteur to figure that one out...

And here is a special note for Michael: MY Remy drinks well water straight out of a hose - while YOUR Remy sips Veuve Cliquot out of Baccarat flutes ...LOL!

Remy says "A manly man drinks straight out of a hose... but I wouldn't mind trying some bubbly!"

A week in pictures - with quite a few "Whews"!

Out in our 'extended backyard' Kensington - where we found out that the boys are "Turkey Proof". Whew!

JP and Chambord are doing a good job over ground poles

Until Chambord decides he needs to spice things up. JP stayed on and with him. Whew!
 (picture: Norman Thelwell)

Still not enough 'spice' for JP: This is what I saw when I came home! "Whew" was replaced by "WT*???"

My friend Stephanie affectionately calls him "das franzoesische Kletteraeffchen*"

A good week training for us: Remy and I have enough spice, thank you very much! Back to "Whew"!

*"A little French tree-climbing monkey"