So much going on - and trading evening feed for photos

It's been busy since last Thursday. Brenda, a friend from Michigan, stopped on her way home from a cruise to visit for a few days. Brenda is not a horse person, so I was a bit concerned how this would go, because literally Wellington is ALL horses. I thought the Friday night Challenge of the Americas (COTA)  -a fun musical freestyle competition that serves as fund raiser for Breast Cancer Research- would be something a non-horse person could enjoy. And luckily I was right, it was great fun!

The COTA Winning Team ("Pirates of the Caribbean")

Saturday we actually found something non-horsey to do: Art Fair at the Beach in Juno. It was stifling hot, so we actually ditched the art in favor of the beach. Brenda left Sunday morning and I didn't miss a step and went to the  "Champagne and Shadbelly*" evening at a beautiful Spanish themed farm. Funny tidbit: The 'champagne' was actually from Germany (German Sekt = sparkling wine) and quite good.

It was a nice event with well-known riders -even a para-Olympian- modeling the shadbellys. And I was quite excited to meet Emily, who came from Ohio to compete her GP Morgan at Global. It was so nice to find (finally!) a fellow Morgan lover and competitor. They are few and far in between here, if there are a handful I'd be surprised.

Speaking of Morgan lovers: I've been in touch with Nadette, the editor of the Morgan Dressage Association newsletter, and she thought a write up about the "Welly-World" experience would be good. She also wants photos, but I literally have only one where I am actually on the horse. So I asked Vivian if she'd volunteer. (I might have 'guilted' her into it because I sometimes feed her horse for her at night when she is busy).

I was in for a surprise: I thought Viv would use my cell phone and do a few snap shots - but she showed up with her camera today and did such a great job that I might now be guilted into doing more evening feeds...

Who can resist that face??

Happy Campers

"Can you please get a move on and dig the sugar out??" or
"Ein schoener Ruecken kann auch entzuecken" ("A beautiful rear can also endear")

*A shadbelly (North American English) is a type of riding coat worn in certain equestrian situations by fox hunting members, dressage riders, eventers (in the dressage phase of the higher levels), and occasionally by other hunt seat riders. 

This coat is considered an element of very formal riding attire, and its use is therefore reserved for the most formal forms of equestrianism. (Wikipedia)

Cold spell in Florida - and the boys in the real cold are making progress

So we are experiencing a cold spell, last night the temps -gasp- were in the 50sF, and we are in the mid 60s now. Cold enough for the thin blooded Floridians to bring out the sweaters for them and blankets for the horses - and for our expat Canadian Vivian to don a down coat.

I felt a bit like a bad mom because I only put an Irish knit sheet on Remy. Even though he is clipped I know he hates to be hot, and really, all that extra chubbiness he still carries keeps him warm. I saw by the manure piles that he still spent most of the night in his paddock, and not in his stall.

However, due to the cold and blustery weather we decided to longe Remy in side reins first - after he had a chance to strut his stuff in the round pen unencumbered by equipment  (wise choice!). Roz suggested to put the side reins a bit higher this time, and it really helped with Remy's self carriage. It settled him down, but once I had climbed on and we were going in the arena he still had to throw in the beginning of an "exit stage left". In Remy's defense, the high winds really rattled the palm trees and the fake flowers in the letter boxes. We finished on a good note, and as Roz said "ahead of the game".

This afternoon the vet came for Boti's teeth and we used that visit to also have the health certificates issued. Yes, it's already time to think about our return trip. We will be heading North sometime during the last week of March. The vet started to do the paperwork, glanced at Remy's papers, looked again, and asked almost incredulously "He is really a Morgan??" "Wow!"

Last night Sally and I went to dinner, and as the place was crowded we were seated at one of the community tables. Later on the waiter seated a man carrying a large bag next to me. Looked like a photographer... until he opened the bag and the cute head of a Havanese dog (national breed of Cuba) popped up. We had a nice chat with what turned out a Jumper rider, and when we exchanged names I thought his had a familiar ring to it. Google at home provided the answer: Our dinner companion had been on the Olympic show jumping team!

Encounters like that are typical in the Welly-World of Florida... and speaking of Florida: I noticed the other day Paulette carrying a bag of mothballs to her horse trailer. Hmm, what was that all about? Turns out snakes don't like the smell (neither do I for that matter), and so a few mothballs prevent "Blinde Passagiere" (stowaways) of the serpens kind.

Does that mean Remy has a speed limit??

Meanwhile in the real cold (single digits F) in Michigan: JP and Chambord continue with their lessons and are making great progress. Lisa sent me some video clips today and wow: I discovered that they do can listen - LOL! Without joking, they had a lovely ride and I am so happy and proud how well this trio is working together. It would be so easy to say: Nah, too cold, too much hassle to hitch the trailer, load Chambord, drive to our lesson (even though it's just down the road), unload, schlep the equipment, etc. etc. That is determination, people!

Now it's time to put my down coat on and head back to the barn...in Florida...

A day in our Florida life - Beach, what beach??

Several people have asked how I am spending my days in Florida. With just one horse to take care off it seems I should have plenty of time for lounging at the beach.

First of all, driving takes up quite a bit of time. It's about 20 min. to the barn one way, and the tack store, grocery stores, etc. are of course in the opposite direction another 20 min. or so.

Well... here it goes:

5:45 a.m.
Wake up, quick breakfast chat in the kitchen with Paulette, off to the barn
7:00 a.m.
Feed and water the hungry boy, dress and turn out Boti, then clean stall and paddock
9:00 a.m.
Lesson
10:30 a.m.
Shower Remy, turn him out in the larger paddock with the nice rolling spot
(He says "A hardworking guy needs a roll in the sand")
Clean saddle, girth, bridle, boots, etc.
Noon:
Lunch hay for Remy, check water, pick manure
Muesli and Yoghurt for me

1:30 p.m. to about 4:00 p.m.
Bodywork on horses, errands, laundry, write blog (!), etc. (Today I had to get a tire on my car fixed)
4:30 p.m.
Back to the barn
5:00 p.m.
Handwalk Remy about 3 - 4 miles (There are miles of paved roads that are hardly used,                      and as he works on soft surfaces it's important to use different grounds. Walking on hard ground strengthens tendons)
Spell of turnout in the larger pasture (Remy doesn't want to stay there long, it's too lonely for him)
6:30 p.m.
Dinner for Remy, check water, pick up manure in stall and pasture
7:30 p.m.
Shower
Dinner for me. If I'm lucky I'm invited to a homecooked meal (thanks for Sunday, Vivian!), otherwise it's salad from Panera or Whole Foods. Some nights there are educational programs, or dinner at a restaurant (tonight Sally, Roz and I are going to a seafood place, yay!)
Fall into bed

Beach, what beach??
               

A lovely Monday ride - and how's that for color coordination?

Monday morning started out with long lining, and I have to say I am really happy on how well I'm getting the hang of it. At least so far I've avoided to tangle us up, much to the relief of Remy.

The long lining really sets the tone for our riding session, and wow, did it feel good today. I had Remy truly on my seat, and his movements got more buoyancy. Roz quipped "now you just have to ride what you've created". Yes, ma'am!

The Dream Team

And how's that for color coordination??
The tree is called "Flame of the Forest" - how fitting!

Friday night = Freestyle Night - and he would ask to wear something special

Forgot this one: Every other Friday is Freestyle Night at Global. It's starts at 7 p.m. but by 6 p.m. the seats are taken. Last Friday I went with the Argentinian 'clan': Jota, Mercedes, Marion, and Dolores. My ear for Spanish is definitely getting a work out, which is fun.

It was a beautiful evening, and we got to see some very good performances.

The vendor tents in the background give it a bit of 'Arabian Night' feeling. It is definitely quite a charged atmosphere for the horses.

If I would ever take Remy there I'd have to tell him it's nothing else than the police horse training we did - and he would probably ask to wear his Riot Gear!

It's Sunday - hacking for all

Last night I was invited to a lovely dinner "en famille" by Paulette and Jota. It was great fun to meet the sons, their girlfriends, and Tica, the beautiful (and sometimes vocal Kakadu).

Tica, also a college girl (yes, she goes to college with Marcel)

It was a full house, and yes, Ingrid, admittedly, I had to channel you when I figured out that I needed to wait my turn for a shower as I had to share the bathroom with five other people. Still, luckily not a Rotel situation, I don't have to wake up to "the smell of unwashed passengers"!

Sundays at White Fences are very relaxed, it seems the word is "Hacking Day". Remy and I joined a group outing and it was fun. Remy had never been out on the trails with a larger group of other horses as usually it's just the four of us (I bet he misses Chambord... and yes, yes, JP, I do miss you, too!). So that is another great experience for us. I know I repeat myself, but I enjoy the beautiful scenery very much.

I also spent some time visiting Adam's tortoises. They live in a large pen (paddock? not sure what you call it) between the two barns.

Hi, Handsome!

A touch of Asia: Bamboo next to the paddocks

Beautiful Live Oak (it's called Live Oak because the trees keep their leaves all year)

What ever works best - and just boils down to common sense

So I'm a bit late with my write up on the Panel Discussion "Key Factors for Developing the Equine Athlete - More Than Just Good Riding".

Panelists were Adrienne Lyle (Dressage), Katherine Bateson (Dressage), Bobbie Rebar (H/J), Erynn Ballard (Jumpers), Alexa Pessoa (Jumpers)

The panelists all agreed that cross training is important for the horses: Working on different surfaces, taking the dressage horses out of the arenas, doing cavaletti work, hacks, and OTOH working the jumpers on the flat. It was stressed the "Injuries come from fatigue", repetitive movements often lead to stress injuries in horses as well as in humans.

On the importance of footing the opinions differed a bit: While the dressage riders look for perfect footing and rather scratch that risk a potential injury the jumpers said they were a bit less picky and just make sure that they give the horses the appropriate aftercare, i.e. icing of legs. Interestingly for me the jumpers stated that the likelihood of injury is higher in the jumper warm up rings as the jumps are always in the same spot and those with the usage the horses could come closer to the base of the footing. It was also interesting to learn that the good old grass footing actually had lots of benefits if ridden on with correct shoes/studs.

Regarding the feeding again there were different opinions, based on the particular sport requirements. Dressage and Hunt horses get lots of hay throughout the day fed out of haynets and a feed with managed protein levels. The high jumpers feed less hay and high octane feed. The life of a competition horse is stressful, and the majority has gastric ulcers. All the panelists highly recommend Gastroguard, most give it on a daily (!) basis. Gastroguard prevents and treats gastric ulcers in horses. It is quite expensive, about $45 per syringe.

Regarding the rider's mental fitness programs the responses covered a wide span: From "Never done anything" (Dressage), to listening to Meditation app (Jumper), to Hypnosis "it changed my world" (Dressage), to "I am riding 16 horses a day, and the more I have the better I deal with anxiety"(Jumper).

On dealing with their student's nerves the agreement was that as a trainer one has to be very positive, especially before the student goes into the ring. It is also important to figure out of the fear is physical or mental. "Physical fear is much harder to deal with than mental fear".

Often the horses are more stressed in the warm up ring (couldn't agree more!), and studies showed that the heart rate of horses (and riders) is often higher in the warm up than in the competition arena (again, so true in Remy's and my case). All the panelists agreed that the homework should have been done at home, at the show it truly has to be a warm up and not a schooling session. "Keep it as stress free as possible", "Less it more!".

It really was another lovely event in a beautiful setting at the White Horse Tavern, I met very interesting people, and the food was lovely.  It was sponsored by BI (they even tried to teach the pronunciation to the attendees = Boehringer Ingelheim). Kudos to the young staff veterinarian who gave a funny performance regarding the name.

In the end, no earthshattering news, no secrets revealed (Not that I had expected that). It's just good common sense: There are a number of individual approaches out there, just pick the one that is the best fit for you and your horses physical and mental wellbeing.