Dressage Show

Hello readers,

Recently, I participated in a  CDS Dressage show.  It was so much fun!  I did Training Level test one and got a 64.something percent, and I did Intro Test C and got a 72.something percent.  I won both my classes, and I got to use Izzy's owner's Dressage saddle.  It was very rewarding, since I was training Isabel from scratch practically for dressage, and now we have come so far.  I was very proud of her.  She did as told and did her best.  My riding school did very well also.  We got plenty of blue ribbons, and my trainer won her Prix Saint Georges test! (The competition was fierce)

The only bad thing that happened was that my boots were squeaky!

LOL

Thx 4 reading!

Snomochan

School

Hello readers,

Summer has come to an end sadly, and school is starting.  But that doesn't mean you can't spend time with your horse!

Here are some tips for how to fit horses in with homework during your day.

-Do as much homework as you can at school.
-Listen to the lesson, so you don't waste time reading the lesson over at home.
-Do homework while in the car.
-Don't get detention.
-Eat a big lunch so you can go a good 4 hours without food.
-If you have afterschool activities, pack your horse gear in your gym bag so you don't have to go by home to pick up your clothes and you can go straight to horses.
-Always have a snack with you so you don't have to pull over to 7-11 and waste precious time.
-Always have water.
-Do priorities first at the barn.  Don't let the first thing you do at the barn be filling in on gossip with your barn friends or texting about how much you hate your new teachers.
-Do things efficiently at the barn and learn how to multitask.  Example:  Rinse the bit and feed bucket at the same time.
-Have a watch.  The moon and sun are unreliable for time.
-Do your homework while waiting for your ride to pick you up from the barn.
-Shower at night, not in the morning.  It winds you down and makes your night more comfortable.  It also gives you one less thing to worry about.
-Pack your backback and lay out your clothes the night before so all you have to do is eat, brush your teeth, and hit the road.  This allows you to sleep longer.
-Try not to wear lots of makeup, as this adds around 20 extra minutes to your morning schedule that could be spent sleeping.
-Always set an alarm for when you would like to wake up.  And make the sound something really loud and annoying.

-Get at least 8 hours of sleep to be well rested for the next day.
-ALWAYS EAT BREAKFAST!!!!

Hope this helps!  If you have any more suggestions comment below please!

Stalls Vs Pasture

Hello Readers,

I'm just wondering.  Which do you prefer?

Stalls
Stalls keep horses warmer, prevent them from getting hurt from the rough and tumble way of the pasture, and makes sure they get all the hay they need, but is an unnatural living style for the horse.  They do not get to socialize and gallop with the herd, which can depress a horse and cause vices such as weaving and windsucking, and in rare cases cause colic.

Pasture
Pasture is the normal way of living for a horse.  They get to socialize, go where they please, roll in the mud, and play with the other horses.  On average horses are happier in the field.  They get to graze also, but they get hay when there is not enough grass.  However, horses can lose lots of weight in the winter, since it is cold out and he might not get his fair share of hay.  They can get more easily injured, since they can get scraped by a tree branch or bruised by a horse kicking him or bitten.  Horses play rough.


What do you think?

Comment with your answers!

Random Grooming Tips

Hello readers!

Today I'm going to give random grooming tips.  Hope these come in handy!

-To get poop and grass stains out, use unscented baby wipes.  Scrub the wipe on the stain until the stain disappears. Throw away the wipe.  I like to use baby wipes because they are gentle, and the stain doesn't trickle down the body in a fluid form since it gets absorbed into the wipe.
-Once a week, spray non-silicone based coat conditioner on your horse's body (Eqyss is good).  It gives the coat a nice shine/smell and repels dirt and dust for the rest of the week.
-Also once a week, spray silicone based coat conditioner thoroughly in the mane and tail and brush it in (Show Sheen is good).  It gives a long lasting shine, prevents tangles, keeps burrs from getting caught in the tail, and spreads fragrance when the tail swishes.
-Don't brush the tail every day!  It will pull out too many hairs.
-To remove sweat stains, curry your horse while rinsing after a ride, or use miracle groom or Cowboy Magic.
- Once a week in the summer, every other week in the winter, apply hoof conditioner.  It gives a nice shine and prevents cracking.
-If your horse has a wild mane you would like to tame, use quic braid.
-Spray fly spray on the brushes often.
-Keep the brushes really clean.
-For a healthy coat, add a pinch of flax to your horse's grain.

These are all I can think of now.  I will have more in the future.
Thanks for reading!

Snowmochan

Dressage Tips Needed

Hello everybody,

I have a dressage show coming up and I have a problem that unfortunately just flared up.  Isabel always falls into her circle and leans against my inside leg.  It's really annoying and I have to kick her really hard with my inside leg and slap my crop on her inside shoulder, which stops her falling in the for the moment, but makes her throw her head in the air.

Does anyone have another idea of how to stop Isabel from doing this?  And I already checked my seat, leg and rein pressure, and my head, but nothing seems to be wrong.

Please comment with your answers, I need them!

Thanks for your help!

Snowmochan

Hello

Hello!

I got first in the Hunter Pace and got first individually and overall in the Pony Club shingdig.

YaY

Snowmochan

The next few days

Hi Readers!

For the next few days, I may not be posting as much stuff on my blog.  This is because I am going to a hunter pace and a big Pony Club shingdig.  When I get back I will fill you in on the details.

~Snowmochan

Chase

Hello readers,

This is my first "Before this blog post".  These posts tell you about stuff that happened before I set up this blog.

This is Chase

Chase was my first lease horse.  He was a 143 liver chesnut gelding Morgan, and 24 years old.

He was so sweet, curious, and kind.  You couldn't help but smile when you saw him look at you.

He had the comfiest canter, and he loved to jump.
When I rode him for the first time, I thought he was so weird, and I think that he thought the same thing about me.

Over time, we grew to understand each other better, and soon we were having so much fun.
I did a dressage show with him.

We were progressing rapidly.
But then, he suddenly couldn't keep up. 

He became dehydrated and sick, and would coilc a lot.
He eventually got better, but his age would catch up to him.
He was getting stiff.  Jumping was too much for him.

Soon, my trainer decided I needed a horse that was younger, more robust, and could jump over 2 feet.
Isabel came along, and I started a lease with her instead of Chase.

I got to do much more with Izzy, and I'm glad I stopped leasing Chase.
But I haven't forgotten Chase.

I still stop by his stall with a handful of hay.  I hear he is doing well. 
I am so glad he was my first lease horse.  He was the best thing for my riding career.  I wouldn't be the same without him
I love you Chase!
Snowmochan

SMB opinions?

Hello Readers,

I was just thinking about sport medicine boots.  Many people say that they are the best all-around boots because they give protection everywhere on the cannon bones, tendons, and fetlocks.  They are fitted to the contours of a horse's leg, so there will not be any rubbed skin, and they provide shock absorbtion.  Other people protest that these boots do not allow horses to move correctly by restricting the leg movement, and therefore can damage the leg.  You can see SMBoots at http://www.horse.com/leg-and-hoof-protection/sports-medicine-boots/593/,

What do you think about SMSs?  Do you think they are the best boots ever, good for only on discipline, or should never be used at all?  Please comment your answer and explain your thoughts. 

Thaks for reading,

Snowmochan

Mini Horse Care Lesson 1: Untacking

Hello readers!

Welcome to my first Mini Horse Care Lesson!  I will periodically post these lessons on my blog.  These lessons will show you how to perform certain horse care tasks!  Today's lesson is: Untacking.

1)  Dismount
2)  Put reins over your horse's head.

 3)  Run up both stirrups.

1                                               2

3

4)  Undo throatlatch of the bridle.

5)  Undo noseband of the bridle.

6)  Lift up noseband from inside of the bridle.

7)  Cup hand under the opening to your horse's mouth and grab the crownpiece of your horse's bridle, lift the crownpiece over your horse's ears, and bring your hand down slowly, allowing the horse to spit out the bit.  Catch the bit with your hand.

8)  Bring reins closer to your horse's head, giving you more control.

9)  With the lead rope unattached, put on the halter.

10)  Slip reins over the horse's head and attach the lead rope.

11)  Unbuckle both sides of the girth. (Saddle)

12)  Flip girth upside down on the seat of the saddle.  If you put the sweaty side on the saddle it will ruin the leather.

13)  Saddle pad and all, carry the tack to a place to sit.

If your saddle is going to sit out for a while before going in the tack room, make sure it is covered to protect the leather from the sun.
14)  Undo the boots.

Thanks for reading!

~Snowmochan

Lesson

Hello readers!

I had my lesson today, and it was so much fun!  I learned how to post the canter.  Posting the canter is so much fun!  You stand up in the stirrups for one stride, and sit down for the next and repeat.  Posting the canter is supposed to help keep your legs still and to keep horses that gradually change their speed to keep the same pace, because if they change their pace, the cantering will become uncomfortable.  This was good for Isabel, because it prevented her from slowing down.

We jumped 2 six and did lots of bending and gymnastic lines.  I think we did well, except when I would approach a jump and Isabel would try to change leads in front of it.  The jump was on a diagonal, and usually when I would canter across a diagonal,  I would make Isabel change the leads.  This day I wanted her to change leads over the jump and not on the diagonal line.  Since Isabel was expecting to change leads so much when I asked her to stay on the same lead she started bucking.

Overall the lesson went really well.

Today's Question:  Should salt be fed in a block or loose and added to grain?  Blocks provide constant access to salt, and horses can have a lick whenever they want to, but many horses despise the taste of those blocks, and can end up being deficient in salt.  When you feed loose salt you can be sure that your horse gets the salt you give to him, but you have to be constantly changing his salt amount to provide him with enough, and if you feed the wrong amount, that guarantees that your horse had the wrong amount, not a maybe.   There is no right or wrong answer.  Comment to broadcast your thoughts.


Thanks for reading,

Snowmochan

Good Morning

Hello readers!

I know I am writing this super early, but I am awake since I have a horseback riding lesson today.  I will be jumping and fill you in on details later on.

I was thinking about having a mini horse care lesson every once in awhile on my blog.  So also stay tuned for mini horse care lessons!

Thanks for reading,
Snowmochan

Isabel

Hello,

This is my lease mare, Isabel.  I call her Izzybel usually.  She is a cute, fat, tobiano, American Warmblood.   I ride her 2 days a week in the school year, and 4 days in the summer.  We jump together and do dressage and trails.  She is lazy, but loves being ridden since she is the center of attention.

I have never done a show with her.  I was supposed to earlier this year, but unfortunately the day before the show I fractured my ankle in a soccer accident.

Isabel lives in the pasture.  She loves it there.  She is the leader of her herd.  I'm glad she has a good time there, but she always goes to the bottom of the pasture and wallows in a muddy stream. LOL

Isabel is very docile.  She lets me curry her everywhere and does not bloat when I tighten her girth.  She does not spook at rustling in the bushes or squirrels scurrying across the road.  The only things she is scared of are barrels, and the occasional trail rider.

I wish I could buy Isabel.  She is one of a kind.

Todays Question:  Is neoprene for horse boots good or bad?  Neoprene absorbs shock, but does not breathe, keeping moisture trapped on the horse's leg, making it easier for it to slip.  There is no right or wrong answer.  Comment to broadcast your answer.

Thanks for reading!
~Snowmochan

Welcome

Hello,

I am Snomochan.  Welcome to my blog!  I have just started it today, and nothing important has happened yet, but stay tuned for future posts!


FYI
This is a Picture of my dog, Snowflake.  She needs a trim Hahaha. :p


~Snowmochan