Summer so far

Apologies for the lapse in posts. I was at horse shows for a lot of May and June and then I had the pleasure of being in a friend's wedding. In all of the hustle and bustle, I didn't carve out the time to sit down and write.

If I had to sum up horse show season thus far, I would have to say it's a mixed bag. We have had some good classes, we have had some not good classes. I did go home home with a blue ribbon from one show, but in thinking back to all of the rides so far this season, I would not count that one as my best. Our best class that I think we've had so far, we got third place, which was a good ribbon in a class of nice horses. We were on our game and it felt super satisfying exiting the ring with that yellow ribbon. I was proud of my horse for working so hard and we really worked as a team. That was a good one.

There have been times this season that I have questioned if this show world is really for me and I don't think I've really answered that for myself yet. I think maybe I will scale back and stick to the local shows and just have fun, rather than putting the pressure on myself (which no doubt my horse feels when I'm riding) and showing out of New England.  Not sure what I'm going to do, I guess that's a to be continued. For now, I don't have any plans to show next. I'm sure I will later in the season, but not for the next little while.

I'll leave you with a picture of our victory pass at a show in NH...

What makes him such a great horse?

Our local television station came out to the barn today to tape a segment for their nightly half hour program on which they showcase what's happening around New Hampshire. They often run stories about local businesses, farmers' markets, artisans, and so on. My trainer asked me if I would be willing to head over and answer some questions about Mario on camera and also do some riding. Uh, yes!

It was a really fun afternoon. The reporter interviewed my trainer and her staff, they walked around and videoed the grounds as well as horses being worked. It was a super opportunity to get the word out about American Saddlebreds and Saddle Seat riding. Even if it was just on the local level. Hopefully a viewer or two will get the spark to start riding lessons and will come out to the farm and experience the joy that comes with riding. All you have to do is ride once to get hooked. Smile.

Thinking back on the day, one of the reporter's questions sticks out in my mind. What makes Mario such a great horse?

I hope that my answer did justice to him. In a nutshell I responded that he was a true ambassador for his breed. He is an absolute show horse at his core - he loves to go out in the ring and let everyone know that he's somebody. But in the off season when showing is far from our minds, he goes to the beach and out on the trails through the woods and is happy (and safe!) as can be out there. He is everything you could ever want in a horse.

I do not know if what I said in my interview will make it to the segment. Nevertheless I will post a link to whatever ends up airing here for you so that you can see the farm and its happenings.

What exactly is Saddle Seat?

I'm guessing that those of you who read this blog (Hi, Uncle Gary!) have very little idea what I'm talking about when I discuss my style of horseback riding. So here's a little tutorial about the style of riding that I compete in: Saddle Seat. This is by no means a complete description of my chosen riding style, but more of a glimpse, so that some of what I talk about here on this blog makes sense.

As widely respected American Saddlebred trainer, Smith Lilly, aptly puts it in his newly released book, Saddle Seat Horsemanship:

     Saddle Seat horsemanship, at its core, is about the careful development and refinement of the natural exuberance and inherent majesty that all horses possess...Such training should be enjoyable for both horse and trainer. We are only asking the horse to do what he most enjoys and delights in doing of his own accord. And, in turn, we as riders and trainers come to know the indescribable joy that comes from riding a horse that is giving all of the proud carriage, all of the height of action and all of the natural charisma that he has to offer.

Commonly, I'm asked where the jumps are. No, I do not jump. And no I don't race. Yes, we go around a ring, but there's a lot more to it than simply going around in a circle.

Within Saddle Seat you may choose to show in equitation or performance classes. In equitation it is the rider that is being judged (overall picture is important, so it's key that your horse is turned out nicely also). For further reading about equitation, you may want to spend some time reading this site. I'm not going to dive much deeper into equitation because Mario and I show in performance classes. In performance classes, it is the horse that is being judged. There are several divisions from which to choose when showing in performance.

Last year Mario and I competed in a performance division called Country Pleasure. According to the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Rule Book, a horse showing in Country Pleasure should exhibit the following:

      Manners and suitablity as a pleasure horse are paramount. Transitions from one gait to another should be smooth and effortless. Special emphasis is given for a true, flat walk. Entries must be asked both ways of the ring to halt and stand quietly on the rail. Horses must stand quietly and back readily in the lineup. A Country Pleasure horse may be less showy than a Show Pleasure horse.

We did pretty well in this division last year. But over the winter Mario has been working a little differently and showing us (my trainer and me) that he wants to do a little more in the show ring. Normally, the next "step up" would be Show Pleasure. Show Pleasure has many of the same requirements as Country Pleasure with the exception of halting. Also a Show Pleasure horse is generally more animated than a Country Pleasure horse. But, Mario is working a lot more animated and really wanting to be a big, bold-going show horse, the stronger he gets (all the while still being a perfect gentleman).

This year, we will be showing in a division called Park. A Park horse (again, according to the USEF Rule Book),

     To be shown at an animated or flat walk, trot and canter. Horses should stand quietly in the lineup. The Park horse should be stylish with finish and quality and well-mannered. The performance should be animated and graceful at all gaits.

There are some significant differences between a Park class and a Country Pleasure class. In a Park class, flat walking and halting are not a requirement. Neither is backing. Manners are still important, but there is more emphasis placed on performance. Of course, we won't really know if this is the right move until we get him in the ring in a couple of weeks, up against the other guys. The great thing about Mario, is that he is suitable for Country Pleasure, so we can always go back to that if we've misjudged him in the off season. It will be interesting to see!

For more information about the American Saddlebred and Saddle Seat riding:

The American Saddlebred Horse Association (ASHA)

Show Season

Today is the first day of spring. Looking outside here in New Hampshire you wouldn't know it. Instead of those first traditional signs of spring we have a fresh blanket of snow covering everything. 12" of it. Mother Nature may throw snow at us, delaying our spring time warmth, but she can't stop the beginning of horse show season! It is so here and I am amped to get out there and show my horse.

The list of shows for Mario and me is a bit unknown at this point but one is a definite: Devon (http://www.devonhorseshow.net/). I went to Devon for the first time last year and just had the best time. It's the one horse show that I can think of off the top of my head that has top-notch hunter/jumpers and saddle seat contenders. The show organizers want exhibitors to be there and it's apparent. There's "Devon Club" every evening (free drinks and food), they deliver a goody basket daily to each barn containing horse and people treats, the footing in the ring is excellent for the horses rain or shine, and the town itself has lots of fun shops. It's a good time!

Some likely shows that we'll attend are:

UPHA Chapter 14 Spring Premiere
Springfield, MA
(no website available)

Bonnie Blue
Lexington, VA
(http://www.horsecenter.org/Events/May-2012/Bonnie-Blue-National-Horse-Show-USEF-rated.aspx)

Greater Boston Charity Horse Show
Topsfield, MA
(http://www.greaterbostoncharityhorseshow.com/)

Syracuse International
Syracuse, NY
(http://www.ashany.org/)

ASHAV
Lexington, VA
(http://www.ashav.net/)

Mario started working differently in the off-season and we made the decision to switch his division this year. When you have a young horse, you have to let them tell you when they're ready and what they want to do. So the schedule for 2013 will really be decided by my trainer (I'll be going to Devon, however, even if my horse is not!). I'll  keep you posted on our progress as we get into the season.

How We Came to Be

"He can take you to the store!" a woman's voice exclaimed from the porch. My horse trainer and I looked at each other with grins creeping onto our faces, we shrugged, and walked toward her. We still joke about that to this day.  Oh, you need a gallon of milk? Mario can take you to the store. Mario is my horse and this is the story of how we came to be.

The woman who called to us from the porch is the manager/trainer at a famous American Saddlebred breeding farm in Kentucky. When it was time for me to find a new horse, this was the first stop that we made. As we got to the porch, she started giving us additional details about the horse she wanted me to try.

"The Brian Horse" she called him, was a four year old gelding who came to her from another breeder. When he arrived on her farm, she decided he needed some "extra work" and sent him to a Mennonite in town for some additional training. While there, "Brian" went all over town pulling a buggy ("He can take you to the store, you see!"). Not exactly a big selling point since I was looking for a show horse, but I guess if times got tough, it was good to know that he could be my transportation.

"He needs to be loved," I remember her saying.

We walked into the barn and I took a peek into the one stall with the open door. Instantly, I knew what she meant. I saw a timid, chestnut horse with a white star on his face and a kind eye. He needed some weight, and definitely, yes, some love. OK, a project I thought to myself. He wasn't much to look at, but judging a horse before you get him out of his stall is a mistake.

When it was my turn to ride him, I knew right away that I liked the way this horse carried himself. Some horses will "hang on the bridle" and the rider has to carry their horse's head around with the reins. It gets heavy fast and it's not a fun ride. This was not a characteristic that I was interested in having my horse possess. Brian set his head all on his own and didn't require much from me. I was happy with the way this was going. It was hard to wipe the smile off my face as we struck a trot. Now it was time to see if he could take both canter leads.

Brian was not broke to canter, so we headed to a bullpen and I had to run him into the canter. It was not pretty but he did take both leads eventually and my trainer said it was workable. He had also never worn a full bridle (a requirement for the show ring and some horses refuse to wear them). This was a risk if I chose to take him back to New Hampshire. A project.

When we left the farm that day, I really didn't want to leave Brian there. But there were a couple more appointments to keep and that was the right thing to do. I tried out additional horses and there was one that I had to consider. He was completely finished and could have gone to a horse show that day. He was a nice horse, kind and easy to ride but he didn't have that "it" factor for me. My trainer said she'd be happy to have either of them in the barn and that the decision was up to me. I had to get back to New Hampshire for work and she was staying in Kentucky for a horse show. She told me to think about it on the plane ride home and to let her know when I made my decision.

For me, it never really was a decision. As hokey and cliche as it sounds, that horse chose me. Broke is boring and why do it if it's easy? There's no challenge in that. I had a gut feeling about this guy. As soon as we landed and the pilot gave the OK to turn on electronic devices, a wave of panic came over me, what if someone else scooped him up already? From the plane, I called my trainer on the phone.

"The Brian Horse." I told her when she answered. 

I'm going to call him Mario, I thought to myself as I looked out the plane window. I realize it's sort of a silly name. I named him after the Nintendo game character. It just came to me and I decided to stick with it.

That was a year and a half ago. Below is a video of our very first ride at home together. He's green in the video, that will be obvious! But the parts are all there. I love this guy. Choosing to bring him home was the right decision.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=jPTy-FGffJs