Pretending to be an U-Boat - and battling separation anxiety

Saumur is back at school. I felt really guilty taking him away from his buddies. The three of them are getting along so well, it is really astonishing. But Saumur needs to get back into the swing of things, in two weeks we have the freestyle clinic with Karen Robinson, and it wouldn't be fair to take an unfit horse.

Our lesson focused on me truly 'sinking' into the saddle. This is rather difficult for me, I come from the school where slouching is considered a cardinal sin. So, in order to be straight (or what I perceive as being straight) I get stiff. Once I really let me weight sink into the saddle I can feel the difference in Saumur. We had some wonderful trot half-pass work, and then Sandy had us do a new exercise on the diagonal: half-pass - straight - leg-yield - straight - half-pass. That was really nifty. Saumur worked very well. I noticed, however, that he needs a haircut, as he got quite sweaty. In preparation of the Michigan Winter, Saumur already sports the beginning of his thick winter coat. So, next weekend we'll have to call on our expensive French hairstylist - JP!

Remy and Chambord didn't seem to mind being without Saumur. We took them on a road trip today, I wanted to see how Remy is loading and riding in our trailer. Of course, I saw that he was fine when we went with Valerie to the vet clinic for his pre-purchase exam; and also Bob told us what a great traveler Remy is. Still... our trailer has a ramp, whereas Remy is used to step ups. And here was the 'aha'-moment: Remy loaded fine, but was a bit confused about backing out on the ramp. Smart boy that he is he figured it out quickly. We also did groundwork and I rode him.

All three of them sure earned their deer carrots today - wonder where my carrot cake is??

What do Salad and Equine Digestive Health have in common?

Not much, other than I attended a SmartPak Webinar while munching on a salad for lunch.

 All in all, the webinar covered a lot of things that are –or should be- common knowledge, i.e. the importance of turnout, regular feedings, etc.

Here are the key points that I found interesting:

- Horses are hindgut fermentors, which means the fiber is fermented in the hindgut (large intestine)

-        As non-ruminant herbivores, horses are designed to graze 17 hours per day and need at least 1% of the body weight (or 50% of total ration) per day as forage

-     Horses salivate 5 – 10 liters per day, the saliva is very alkaline

-        The stomach is the “holding and mixing tank” and has a size of 2 – 4 gallons, food stays between 30 min. and 12 hours, the average transit time is between 2 – 4 hours. The horse has the smallest stomach in relation to size of all animals

-        The esophagus is 4 – 5 ft long and a “one way street”, no vomiting. Contrary to what a lot of people think, a choke is not an airway obstruction, it is caused by feed lodged in the esophagus

-        The small intestine is 70 ft long and the main function is “Digestion”

-        The large intestine (hindgut) consists of Cecum (4 ft long), and the colon (20 -24 feet). The total transit time is 35 – 50 hours

Important to consider:

-        Hoses produce 10 – 30 liters of gastric acid per day for the chemical breakdown of food. If there is too much time between meals the gastric acid erodes the stomach lining and can cause ulcers
-        Minimize levels of NSC (Non-structural carbohydrates = sugars and starches)
-        Hay in the winter is crucial to keep horses warm, the fermentation of hay creates body heat
-        It is VERY IMPORTANT to make feed changes gradually, that also pertains to hay
-        90% of racehorses and 60% of active show horses have gastric ulcers
-        Colic in horses causes more deaths than any other diseases
-        To prevent colic horses must have small, frequent meals, with hay or forage always available

Considering the above our boys are having a good chance of digestive health based on our feeding program. And… so should I, for that matter: I’m a fellow herbivore with a penchant for salads. If only I could figure out how to get my digestive system to keep me warm in the winter – hay, anyone?!

Tangled in the rules and regulations of year end award guidelines

It’s this time of year again – the deadline for the year end award applications is coming up. And, of course, every organization has to have different rules and regulations. At least the USDF makes it easy, the scores are automatically tabulated and the results are just a mouse click away.

 

Aside from the USDF, I belong to three organizations that offer year end awards, and here are their requirements:

 

1)      Submit top 2 scores from 2 different judges (but can be one competition), copy of front of test sheets.  Average of the 2 scores counts

 

2)      Submit top 3 scores from 3 different judges, 3 different competitions, copy test sheets, tabulation of tests, and membership card. Average of the 3 scores counts

 

3)      Submit top 5 scores from 4 different competitions, 4 different judges, copy of front of test sheets. Median score (the 3^rd out of 5) is the one that counts.

 

Jeez, I really had to think hard in order to keep track of who wants what, sorting and copying the test sheets several times over, tracking down membership numbers, registration numbers, etc. All that in the hopes of making the grade for a good year end placing. And yes, of course, I want first place! But I also realize that there will always be people that are better, or that some just have the luck of the scores lining up according to the guidelines. For example, one can have great scores, but if they come from the same competition, tough luck.

 

Nevertheless, this exercise just confirmed that "Team Saumur" did good, our averages according to the guidelines above are:

1. 65.125%
2. 64.745%
3. 65.122%

 The USDF has already verified that we are 2^nd in the All Breed Awards for 3^rd level, and 1^st in the Vintage Cup.

 

It’s nice to know that we have made progress over last year, but it’s even nicer to have it confirmed in black and white. Untangling the web of requirements really was worth it!

The baby needs clothes - and has to deal with a bit of separation anxiety

What a beautiful fall weekend! We had a great time introducing Remy to neighbors and friends yesterday. The boys really enjoyed the sunny pastures, but even more they were enamored with the treats everybody brought them. Another telling observation: there was no fighting over the treats!

So today I planned to get Remy introduced to our outdoor arena, longe him, and then hop on. The good news is that Saumur's snaffle bridle and KK bit fit Remy. My saddle looks to fit reasonably well with a Thinline pad, but I have to see how it feels when I ride in it. Unfortunately, the rather skinny youngster is wearing a different girth size than the big boys -- guess I need to buy another girth (I only have about six already...).

Our outdoor footing is still pretty 'mushy' from all the rain we had, and there was lots of commotion going on next to our outdoor arena: the neighbor on a noisy lawnmower, cars, trucks, people riding bikes, four-wheelers, hayrides... you name it. I thought it more prudent just to longe. Remy was pretty jumpy and clearly not ready to relax. I longe my horses in a cavasson, not off the bit, as it has been proven that longing off the bit is harsh on their mouths. Remy settled down after a while and I walked him down the road to show him a bit of the neighborhood.

Then came the next test for him, staying home alone! JP and I took Chambord and Saumur on a trailride. While getting them ready in the outdoor Remy started to run and scream and I was VERY tempted to say "let's just stay home" -- But then, nothing would have been gained, other than Remy learning that screaming gets him results. The boys didn't care about the Remy's antics, they were happy to go out. And sure enough, we hadn't even gone down towards the park entrance yet when we saw Remy quietly grazing.

Chambord was quite the star today, a piece of Kudzu got wrapped around his hind leg and trapped him. JP got off and pried the stubborn growth away from Chambord's leg, who patiently waited to be freed. Then JP had to climb back on from the ground (we always use a mounting block) and again, Chambord stood like a rock. All the while Saumur, who doesn't have much use for the word 'patience'  stood next to his friend, without fidgeting. Good boys!

When we came home Remy was still quietly grazing, and the 'big boys' were eager to go into the barn, one to use the bathroom, the other one to search for food. Easy to figure out their priorities!?

The difference a childhood makes --

Today I turned out all three boys together, with some major anxiety on my part. Not to worry, it was like they've been all out together forever. Even "Macho-Man" (Chambord) was fine. And Saumur and Remy acted like long lost brothers, immediately sharing a pile of hay.

Having Remy here really makes me realize the difference a childhood makes - on one side Saumur, treated harshly and 'trained' with methods I don't want to dwell on... on the other side Remy, who learned respect and manners in a positve environment.

As we all know, plenty of people and animals survive horrible childhoods to become happy grownups, but it takes years and patient help... With Saumur it took years to get him to overcome his extreme fright - and we are still not there. He will always be worried, ready to take off from the demons of his past. And here now the contrast, Remy, who exudes self-confidence and curiosity. How I wish that everyone could grow up without any demons!

Finally - the big day!

After four days on the road Remy finally made it. I was rather anxious about the logistics, i.e. unloading, having him settled etc. Well, I needed have worried: Remy stepped off the trailer onto the road, followed me down the driveway into the barn, and settled into his stall. He went right for the food and water. The excitement was when both Saumur and Chambord came to the stall (it has a door to the outside) to check out the new kid. Some squealing and kicking, and then I took the older boys to the pasture away from the barn to give Remy time to relax.

Susanne came at noon and we turned Remy out. Well, this is one cool horse! There was some more squealing and a bit of striking and kicking through the fence, but nothing major. No tearing around, or bucking and kicking fits. I am working from home today so I can keep an eye on everybody. It is wonderful, I can see them all while working. Everybody is happily munching.

It sure is a good start for our extended family!

To much time to second guess --

And the wait continues – I spoke with Bob (the driver) yesterday and he said he should be in Michigan sometime this afternoon. I got a bit worried because he asked me which horse was mine, and where exactly in Michigan I was… After it was established that Remy is the right one, Bob said he would like to have him at his own barn “he is so sweet, follows me like a puppy dog, and he eats and drinks well”.

That was good to hear, because I am getting panic attacks about all the things that can go wrong. In addition, this time lag gave me plenty of time to second guess my decision. It is interesting the reaction I get when I tell people about it. It’s almost like some are waiting for a sort of justification. JP always points out how similar Saumur and I are, that we both are constantly construing scenarios in our heads with things to be worried about. Right he is! I currently have a nervous twitch to prove it.

George gave a clinic at Sandy’s this weekend. It was strange not to ride, I get restless ‘just watching’, I am much better doing. But really, I didn’t have much choice due to the meetings all week. I asked George about coming with both boys to Ohio in the Spring, and he said we could arrange it. Sandy is planning to take two of her horses, so we could have a fun training week together.  I actually applied for a Scholarship from the Morgan Dressage Association, it sure would be a big help. It’s a bit daunting to think about the expense of training and showing two horses.

Next month we’ll do a freestyle clinic with Karen Robinson, hopefully this will kick us off to get the 3^rd level freestyle together. 3^rd time is a charm, right? The other times we attempted a freestyle clinic Saumur was almost uncontrollable in the strange arenas. He got nicknamed “Bumble Bee” because he was wearing yellow leg wraps and just buzzed around.

The best of both worlds - "Relaxing the Soul"

We couldn’t have asked for better weather this weekend –absolute gorgeous Michigan fall days, where the trees are ablaze with color and the sun makes the yellow leaves shine like gold.  

Friday we had a lovely trailride to the ‘other side’ of the park. That entails negotiating steep hills, climbing over fallen trees, and of course, encountering lots of wildlife. Chambord sure has an in-built GPS, he knows exactly which way to dinner and his steps are definitely livelier towards his ‘gamelle’ (in this case: food dish).

Saturday we set out for lessons at Sandy’s – only to find after arrival that the tack room of our trailer was locked and the key was at home! After some heated discussion “Who left the keys at home???” Sandy came to the rescue and offered to borrow a saddle and bridle from her. We were no worse for the wear – Saumur worked beautifully. He went straight into the work mode, even after spending most of the previous week on the trails in a rubber Pelham. We worked on the collection in the canter, where I really have to remind myself to move my left hand more towards my right hip (not crossing the neck, of course) and taking my right hand about an inch from his neck to the right in order to keep him straight. “When he is straight, it’s effortless”.

Our trot half-passes are increasing in difficulty, the steeper angles (for example H to B) require more precision and I have to remember to aim his chest at the letter. I was really happy with how good it felt, Saumur was right with me the whole time. To finish we worked on the pirouettes. Sandy reminded me to think of them as really small circles. Our turns on the haunches received “9”s from different judges this summer, so that’s a good start. Unfortunately, I get Saumur ‘stuck’ sometimes, so I have to focus on keeping him moving.

Barb came with her trailer to pick up a horse, when she heard about our plight with the locked door she suggested we try her key: Low and behold – it opened our door! Just in time, so JP and Chambord had their own gear for the lesson. But how scary, there you lock thousands of dollars worth of equipment in your trailer – and somebody else’s key opens it! Lesson learned: No more leaving our saddles in the trailer at shows, that’s for sure.

JP and Chambord had an excellent lesson, too. I am amazed how far they both have come. Chambord is rather opinionated (as is his rider J), they are a great team and really fun to watch.

Ah, and our trailride yesterday… in German we say “die Seele baumeln lassen”, which means “to relax the soul” – and that’s exactly what all four of us did. It can’t get any better than that!

The best laid plans... and more delays

Latest news is that Remy will be leaving Montana next Tuesday (instead of today), arriving on Thursday or Friday. Unfortunately, that timing is not the greatest as Remy will arrive right when my new boss from France is here for the week. Not a good introduction to say “uh, I need to leave now, my new horse is arriving!”

The best laid plans… so if all goes well Bob (the driver) will call about an hour before coming to our area, JP leaves his job and drives to meet Bob at the Interstate Exit. It will be quite a feat to unload: the truck and trailer are too large to fit into our drive way, and we live on a fairly narrow dirt road. Luckily there is a dead end road with a big circular turnaround right next to our property. So Bob can turn around and unload there, and JP can walk Remy home. Susanne, my fellow German horse ‘nut’ (sorry! But true) lives nearby and she also offered to help. (Thank you!). All the while I will be sitting in the office fighting for my job –

 It doesn’t take a village to get a horse but it sometimes sure seems like it.

For those of you interested in Remy’s breeding: Yes, I freely admit I am in no way an expert in bloodlines. So here it goes: FRM Flower of Remington is by Caduceus Denver out of Bar Y’s Lori Lynn. Caduceus Denver’s description: “Denver, with his strong Brunk and Western Working Family pedigree, is a source of height, excellent movement, good looks and good minds. Behind him are the three branches of Brunk greatness—Jubilee King, Flyhawk and Senator Graham. Jubilee King comes through such good ones as Agazziz, Mickey Finn, Ken Carmen, and more. Plus there are crosses to Jubilee King’s sister, Sentola. Flyhawk comes down through various good breeding stock too. There is also the Western Working Family from Romanesque and various Linsley descendants. The bottom mare line goes to early Montana breeding. Throughout this pedigree there was careful breeding for good working horses with good minds. Many of his ancestors were strong breeding horses, some founding their own families. This is a strong horse with a strong pedigree bringing the wonderful old Morgans to today.”

Ivy League or Community College?

The perfect weather we are currently enjoying does push the nagging thoughts “what about winter” in the background, but just temporarily.

We’ve been contemplating on how to go about winter work with now three horses. Boarding all three boys for four or five months seems pretty cost prohibitive. There really is no ideal solution. I feel like a parent with limited funds having to decide on college for several kids: Ivy League or Community College?? Saumur really should continue with consistent work, he is the ‘senior’, so giving him extended time off and then bringing him back would be hard on his body. Also, with the goals of a 3^rd level freestyle and successfully hitting 4^th next year neither he nor I can afford a prolonged break. Ergo Saumur will be slated for Ivy League = Sandy’s. That leaves Chambord and Remy. Chambord and JP have so much fun with their lessons, and they should continue, but they do not need a full training program. Remy is just a baby, and can also have a ‘reduced program’ in the winter.

 So… options…the riding club down the road from us offers ‘social memberships’, which means for an affordable annual membership fee we could use the large indoor arena. That would allow us to keep Chambord and Remy at home longer, and trailer five minutes (instead of one hour) to the indoor. Good plan, but with drawbacks (of course!). The place has a very active lesson program for western and jumping. I was told that “things sometimes get really crowded” in the evenings. It’s fine if the lesson is Western Pleasure, it’s another thing if the arena is full of jumpers. Guess we need to go there several nights on a ‘fact finding mission’ – also to see how we would be received by the people there. When I talked to the manager I could hear the gears grinding in her head “German accent, dressage… oh no, not a dressage queen!” - and I hadn’t even fessed up to the Quarter Horse with the dressage saddle yet!

A spin in the woods - watch out for those nuts

Well, the weather gods seem to try to make up for the rain and cold last week by offering just perfect riding weather. Sunny, warm, low winds – can’t get much better, so last night we took the boys out for a ride in Kensington.

Saumur, who will spook at light rays coming into the indoor, seemed relaxed and happy, albeit still on alert (as he always is). Chambord marched along, more concerned on how to best snatch some snacks along the way without JP preventing him from doing it.

 It was amazing on how many deer were out that evening. There is no hunt allowed at Kensington, the park does a “controlled cull” in the winter, but the population this year seems to have grown more than usual. We literally had deer coming at us from all sides. And, of course, the deer standing on the trail has to wait until we are really close, and then flash the white tail and take off at the last moment. Or, another one of my favorites: We think they all have passed crossing right in front of us when a straggler comes scrambling along. Luckily the boys are used to it as the deer herds also go through their pastures to get to the apple trees.

It was pleasant and relaxing ride, until I got a reminder from Saumur that he still does what he thinks he needs to do - getting us away from (perceived) danger! We were trotting up the hill close to home when he suddenly took a jump to the side. The reason: A squirrel was throwing nuts. I guess we could really have gotten hurt if a nut would have  hit us…

Back to lessons - and a twinge of homesickness

The weather last week was just awful: rain, rain, and more cold rain. We barely managed to fit in some short sessions in the sloppy outdoor arena. So Saturday JP and I -and the boys of course- made our way to Sandy's for lessons. It didn't bode well at the beginning, first the "check engine" light came on in the truck, then the storm/tornado sirens went off in Milford due to the gusting winds. Always being the cautious one, I contemplated turning around but JP was determined to get to his lesson.

Luckily the truck cooperated and the boys traveled well despite the high winds swaying the trailer. Saumur surprised me by being eager to work and not goofing all over the arena. I wasn't sure what to expect after a hiatus from being indoors. It seemed he was happy to be back to work, we could even work over light rays coming through the doors. Chambord was just the energizer bunny with JP. He trotted like on a mission.

The pang of homesickness came last night when I read an email from my friend Ingrid in Germany. She had just attended the annual stallion parade at the State Stud Farm in Marbach. I used to go there every year and always had a wonderful time. It is spectacular, and I truly miss events like this in the US. The Gestuet Marbach is one of the oldest stud farms in Germany, over 500 years old. The setting is in the country side "Schwaebische Alb", and during the annual "Stallion Parade" they not only show the stallions but also dressage, jumping, driving and some stunt riding. A crowd pleaser is always the herd of Arabian mares and foals presented free. I read the review this morning: 9000 people attended the 4 hour show with 150 horses. Ah, I really would have loved to be there. Ingrid wrote that as a 'consolation' she bought me a calendar, so at least I can look at the beautiful pictures.

But really, I shouldn't dwell on it too much: six weeks from now I will be on my way to my 'pilgrimmage' to the "Stuttgart German Masters", which is the largest indoor show covering Dressage, Jumping, Driving, and Eventing. The European elite riders will be there and I will get to see Totilas under his new rider. It is a great combination of wonderful things: Friendship and Horses!