Monday, July 22, 2013

Week 37: Out and About

                The last two weekends have been full of adventure! Finn competed in his first BN event and then we participated in a dressage schooling show. For the last week I have also been teaching the farm summer camp so it is safe to say that I am exhausted! At Flora Lea, Finn warmed up beautifully for dressage but then decided to take a step out of the ring during our test, resulting in elimination. We were permitted to complete the jumping phases of the show and Finn was a very good boy! He definitely put some extra room in over the bigger fences and he put in a fantastic cross country round. At the dressage schooling show Finn and I completed two dressage tests. We scored a 30 and a 34, with an 8 on our one free walk! Finn was much steadier in the bridle than he was at Flora Lea and he proved to be a tough competitor bringing home two 2nd place finishes. One of our second places came out of a group of 7!!!



                In hopes of improving Finn’s basics, I have been schooling a lot of transitions. I do walk-trot, trot-walk and walk-halt transitions at the beginning of every ride to solidify Finn’s understanding of leg and seat aids. By teaching Finn to half halt off of the leg instead of the bridle, I am increasing the likelihood that Finn will pick up difficult maneuvers more easily. I have also been jumping with Sally Cousins more frequently. Sally has been helping me to position my leg more forward and keep Finn’s balance up before the fence.
                Something that I feel really helps Finn and I improve is being surrounded by some of the best people in the business. I don’t mean that I train with all of them; instead I mean that I get to watch them teach and ride. Being at Bit O Woods farm has made it easy for me to watch some of the best at work. Whether I am watching Jill Henneberg jump her two horses or I am watching Sally teach jump lessons to upper level riders, I am always watching and hoping to steal some of their secrets. I feel like the time we spend out of the saddle is almost as important as the time we spend trotting circles and cantering figure 8’s. Although being a good rider would benefit my horse, having a large toolbox of resources will help him and me almost as much.

                I am going to be taking a little bit of time between now and Finn’s next event. My hope is to work on Finn’s fitness and balance. My ultimate goal for this horse is that he will be competitive at the upper levels and in order to that, I need to be careful to not overdo it with Finn too early. Every single day I feel like Finn and I are learning something new and I can only hope that we can continue on this path.

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Week 35: Immersion

                This last week has taught me so much that I thought I would update the blog earlier than usual. Finn and I have been busy prepping for another event while I have been trying to work on my new project called Teens for TB’s. Teens for TB’s is an organization dedicated to uniting young riders who are in the process of retraining thoroughbreds or young riders interested in retraining thoroughbreds. So far I have been using a facebook page to communicate with the young riders in my area and I have made contacts with Thoroughbred Charities of America and The Jockey Club Incentive Program about growing my efforts.
                In my efforts to learn more about OTTB’s I ended up meeting with Barbara Luna from Turning for Home. I arrived at Parx at about 9 in the morning and my dad and I made our way through security and into the backstretch where we met Ms. Luna. We started by talking about how much TB’s actually learn at the track. Despite some of the claims in my Ted talk, I now firmly believe that TB’s are given far more training and experience at the track then many people can understand.
                As we walked from the office to the stabling I saw horses heading out for morning exercise and horses walking beside grooms. Many of the horses seemed very content in their jobs. In the barns horses hung their heads out over their doors; some ears pricked more forward than others. The trainers and exercise riders were friendly and they all invited me to ask questions.
                At Parx I had the amazing opportunity to meet Finn’s race trainer, Eli Betancourt. I walked with Barbara Luna to Betancourts barn and she talked to me a bit about what she remembered about Corofin. Both Betancourt and Luna commented on Finn’s sweet and playful personality. Betancourt also offered a very interesting story. During the time that Finn was owned by Betancourt, Finn coliced and almost died. When the vets told Eli to put Finn down, he refused and gave Finn an enema by himself. Without Finn’s trainer, Finn would be dead. I can not explain how greatful I am that he saved Finn!
                Overall, I learned more than I coul have imagined at the track. Not only did I gain insight into the lives of thoroughbreds during their careers, I learned more about the people that make these horses. I was naïve to ever consider a thoroughbred a green horse. They may seem green, but in reality they have lived in an environment that tests them on every level.

                This weekend I will be competing Finn in his first Beginner Novice event. I will be trying my best to get my dressage scores down and have save and effective jump rounds. I will write more about Finn this weekend!