Training, Progress, Competitions

Status Update
03/05/10

Yeah! Frankie’s Hocks were done 11 days ago. He went back to work 7 days ago and boy was he happy. Mentally, I think it was good for him and I to take 4 days off riding. Physically he breathed a sigh of relief.

I could feel him really coming through, most noticeable at the trot. He is so funny at home, or more specifically, at home and not jumping. He just lopes around at the canter. I can get collection, but have to work REALLY hard for a forward canter. Forget about gallop, he has to be a wild man for that!

After not jumping for 4+ weeks I gave it a go on Sunday. I chose to ride outside, better footing and more room. I had no plans to jump big. I just wanted to see if I could get a nice, quiet figure eight going. Just two fences, both verticals, one about 3′6″ the other 3′9″ (we warmed up smaller of course). He was charging the fences. Not in a protective I need to shoot over them, more of a “woohoo this is fun”. So, I wasn’t mad and didn’t get in his face about it, plus he had 4 days off and only a short ride the day before because of bad footing. I did have to circle or pull up a few times because I could tell he was going to attempt to leave 1-2 strides away from the fence OR I would have to pick at him all the way to the fence taking away his stride. Both those options are bad so I picked circle or halt. Never got him real quiet, but listening. Most importantly sticks weren’t flying!

With our flatwork I have been putting him in draw reins once a week and then riding him exclusively in the Chambon. I have been using the Miklem Multibridle and I think Frankie likes it and the bit I have been using is a Myler jointed D ring. All in all, I can’t complain about his flatwork at all.

On Wednesday I decided to get him back in the jumping routine. Trot fences! I set up two trot fences and two canter fences (plus a warm up). I was riding inside because of the weather so I wasn’t sure if I was going to attempt the canter fences or not. One trot fence was 3′9″ and the other was 4′, both had a trot pole 9′ out. He was fantastic! Both fences were on the diagonal so I had a hard time keeping him straight because he wants to turn before we land because there isn’t much room. He stayed quiet, calm, and was jumping pretty good, though not great. Big thing though, he wasn’t knocking them down! I decided to do the canter fences which were 3′6″ and 3′9″. I try to stay soft and not pick at him, but it’s hard when I know he can make a big move if I don’t keep it in check. So, The first two weren’t pretty. Again, which was better. The key was he really wasn’t making a move, he was just making me work really hard at keeping his canter. The third try was the charm. He was such a good boy. I was able to soften in front of the fence and HE added, nicely and jumped really well. Good boy Frank!

The day after jumping I decided to ride outside even though it was sleeting. The indoor is getting the rut back so I opted for the outdoor. The outdoor footing was a little rough because it was used for turnout so some horses rolled and got down to the base in two spots. Grrr. Plus there was manure EVERYWHERE!! However there are only two jumps up and a pile of them close to one end so there was plenty of space to ride to avoid the bad spots. I decided to do some lateral work and he was a champ. He anticipates so much though, not by getting nervous, just by assuming we are going to do a leg yeild or half pass and just doing it before I ask. Sweet, but I wasn’t always planning on that OR was planning the other direction. Silly Frankie.

Today was a day off. He went outside so I just stopped in, brushed him and de-ticked him. Since Lyme disease is so prevalent in my area and when I first moved here would find at least one tick a day on him I decided to try some “product”. I swear by Equi-spot. It doesn’t work on flies, but I have not found a tick on him since I have used it. I didn’t use it over the winter, but it’s supposed to warm up so I rather be safe than sorry.

Here are the major obstacles me and Frankie are dealing with:

Ulcer’s – Currently he has been doing really well with no symptoms on GNF. However I worry once I start trailering him regularly that may not be enough.

ADD – Frankie has terrible ADD keeping him focused is a daily chore.

Soundness – His hocks were done, he is obviously comfortable. I also have him on Adequan, but want to make sure that is enough.

Back Sore – I am WAITING for my new saddle and hope that a properly fitting saddle will make him more free in his back.

Relaxing – Keeping him relaxed has a lot to do with the top four issues, but also keeping my mood in mind because he feeds off me so much

Overriding – My issue, I need to stop being a control freak and let Frankie make mistakes at the fences so he can figure it out. I’m just not sure Frankie wants to figure it out, therefore I have to find a good balance of control and freedom…

[leave a comment]

Frustration and a glimpse of the outdoors
02/08/10

So riding has been very uninspiring. It’s cold, really cold, and the indoor is small and boring.

It’s even harder when the ring gets the rail rut that is REALLY hard to ride in and out of. Often you’re better off either making the ring even smaller than it already is OR staying on the rail.

Luckily I have had a handful of opportunities to take Frankie outside. He appreciates this more than I do I think. Sure, we are still in the ring, but it’s bigger, the scenery is much better, and so is the lighting. The footing, although a little hard, is much better than the indoor since no one else is riding outside.

Me and Frankie’s ventures outside have brought some fun “dressage” work that have surprised me. Since we have both been so bored, I thought maybe teaching him and myself a “trick” might be entertaining for both of us.

I thought lead changes would be a challenging balance and collection exercise for us. So initially I started going down the center line and changing rein and even direction a little bit for a change. I was able to get a change every two strides on my first day. It wasn’t pretty or straight. That wasn’t the idea. Frankie is a big boy with an enormous stride so that was better than I anticipated. He seemed to enjoy it, but was somewhat confused as to why I couldn’t decide what direction I wanted.

I didn’t drill him, I only did this about 4 times and called it quits.

The second time outside, a few days later, I tried again. This time Frankie wasn’t in the mood. I got changes, maybe every 3-4 strides with dramatic bends. Not pretty at all. I only tried twice and then gave up.

Then I tried our third time outside and wow! I didn’t even have to change the bend, just asked with my leg and he switched, stayed collected, and seemed to think it was fun! We got 4 changes every other stride! AMAZING!! I did it twice and haven’t been outside since. I have to say, that is a fun “trick”!

His flat-work has been fantastic! Transitions are almost perfect, though a little sluggish especially inside. He has been hard to get forward at the canter, but isn’t doing the lazy four beat thing that I HATE!

A fun exercise that seems to keep him light on my aids is the one stride canter transitions. I do one canter stride then walk or trot a few strides then one canter stride and mix it up. As long as I don’t ask for the transitions in the same spots he really responds well.

Our jumping has been terrible. We had a week of no jumping just because the footing was bad and then there were always other people riding. So, it had been about 3 weeks of inconsistent jumping all together. I had a pretty good routine going, jumping twice a week. One day of big trot fences (4′3″+) and small canter fences (3′3″) and one day of “course” jumping, but smaller fences (3′6″-3′9″) going for calm, quiet, and steady. It had been going well.

Then we had 3 weeks of not jumping much at all so I was ready to get him over some fences last weekend. I set up some bigger trot fences (4′3″), a few smaller canter fences (3′3″-3′6″). I jumped a few of the trot fences and he just wasn’t using himself. Clearing them, but heaving himself over them. The great thing about the trot fences is it generally REALLY gets him using his hind end, backs him off, and he is very relaxed over them. He wasn’t tense, but he wasn’t trying.

So, I moved to cantering over the smaller fences. Well he thought it would be much more fun to SHOOT over them and through them. GRRRRRRR.

Back to the trot fences.

He knocked the first one down, I went to the next, he knocked that one down, to the third and he stopped three strides away and started bucking. F*^#ing A@*hole! Grrrr.

I got off, reset the two trot fences he knocked down, got back on and trotted them again. He knew I was pissed. He cleared all three, but it was ugly; crooked, doing everything he could to not use himself outside of rushing.

I got off again, set all the fences to 3′6″ and decided to just canter around, calmly and finish with a nice quiet course. There were 5 fences set up total. Fence 1, down, fence 2, down, fence 3 down, fence 4, down. I’m not talking grazing the fences. I’m talking sticks are flying. He was tense, but backed off. we went to fence 5 and by some miracle, he cleared it. Good boy? No.

I didn’t feel like getting down to reset the other 4 fences so I just kept jumping fence 5; over and over and over again. He left it up. He wasn’t jumping pretty, he wasn’t trying or really paying attention. He knew I was pissed, which makes him shut down a bit. After jumping the one fence about 25 times, I called it quits. What else was I to do. I needed to take a step back and evaluate the situation.

Evaluation took a few days. However I did come to a conclusion, and for the most part it is a good conclusion.

Frankie needs his hocks done again. Bad because it’s expensive. Good because it can be fixed.

In the heat of the moment, I can’t think that it could be something simple and health related. He’s sound, working well on the flat—pain isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. It has been almost a year since he was last injected and he has done a lot of hard work since then. He generally drops rails, carelessly, when he needs his hocks done.

Since our terrible day of jumping we have had some good hacks, well, as good as they can be inside. I’m not asking a whole lot since he has to feel it even when he isn’t jumping. His hocks get done in a week so I will update as soon as I get him over some more jumps.

The weather sucks, it’s cold, snowy, and miserable. Does winter ever end?

[leave a comment]

Evaluating Progress
01/18/10

Winter is just tough. The indoor is small, so it’s hard for me to work Frankie properly to keep him in shape and to work over fences the way we NEED to.

My goal for winter was to have Frankie relaxed enough to jump around a 4′ course like a hunter.  I mean loose rein, quiet, and relaxed.

Problem is, 4′ in the indoor is virtually impossible.  Sure, 3 fences-but that is hardly a course.  3′6″ is even difficult.

Yesterday, I had a two stride set up with four single fences.  The two stride was impossible because over the fence we were having to turn to make the corner.  This was making him anxious and tense while I was concentrating on keeping him straight over the fence, which made for dropped rails.

The other direction was better, but then it was corner, one stride, oxer, two strides vertical, two strides, corner.  Ahhhh!

The single fences were better, but still difficult because of corner anticipation, along with both of us staying relaxed in between fences.

All in all he has been good.  However, in the indoor, the biggest jumps we can do in course form are probably 3′3″, which isn’t super helpful.  So it looks like I am going to have to make courses out of 3 fences.  No lines.  Boring, but it is what it is.

I would work on gymnastics, but a true gymnastic wouldn’t really even fit.  Gymnastics have to be set big for Frankie to get any benefit out of them.  When they are small, even if they are set tight, he is able to get through them with zero effort.  Plus our biggest hurdle is relaxing!

I did, however, find the miracle cure for everything wrong that your horse does or ever will do.

The Micklem Multibridle.  The bridle has intrigued me for some time.  Unfortunately, there isn’t much information on it out there.  The few people who had used it before were, well, not people that I would trust their judgment or opinion in any way, shape, or form.

I wasn’t looking for the lunge caveson or the bitless bridle.  The part that interested me most was the ergonomic design that the bridle claims to have.  It looks different, that’s for sure.  Plus, even though Frankie has the one side of him that is Mister Mellow, Cool, Calm, Collected, Nothing Phases Him Horse; he also has the side of Mister Sensitive, Anxious, Nervous, Everything Bothers Him Pain in the Ass Horse.

Knowing that tightening the noseband on a bridle too much will instigate teeth grinding, is there something else in the bridle, a little more subtle that might create enough discomfort or irritation that could effect where Frankie’s brain might be?

Well, I’ve ridden in it twice now.  First ride I decided to go all the way and jump in it.  Not just jump, but to jump in a Dee instead of my usual pelham.  Wow.  I was expecting the usual problem which is no whoa.  Surprisingly, he was incredibly receptive and responsive.  I was able to get him back in the corners, even with the tense small indoor ride.   It’s a miracle for only $170.

I hacked him in today with the De-Gouge and he was REALLY good.  Not a great ride, but just because of my lack of inspiration.  Not bridle related.

For anyone who reads this and doesn’t know that I can be “sarcastic,” please note that this bridle is not a miracle piece of tack that will fix all of your horse related problems.  That was just a joke because 75% of all horse people are looking for just that (100% of the time it’s usually the rider who is the problem.)

I would, however, suggest anyone that has a sensitive horse to give this bridle a try.  Also, I think a very practical use for this is for a beginner rider, one that isn’t quiet with their hands yet.  I will update you with my continued experience with it, since two rides is hardly a true test period.

I can’t seem to gauge me and Frankie’s progress.  I can only hope the ring gets drug, the weather warms up, and jumping 3 fences 4 times can equal a course.  Maybe by spring I will be surprised with what I have accomplished.  I sure hope so anyway.

[leave a comment]

Good Morning, 2010
12/26/09

I know. What’s the worst thing you can do with a blog? Not write.

I failed.

I am still here, and I do plan on continuing with the site. I will not be updating after every ride as I would like. Just not enough time in the day.

I do, however, plan on continuing to update frequently. As frequently as possible.

Since the last post Frankie has made a ton of progress and we have learned a lot together.

Our current “problems”:

1. Still struggling with getting his stomach back on track.

2. Saddle fitting problems have gotten worse.  He bit me pretty bad today when tightening the girth.

3. It’s cold outside and we are stuck in the indoor.

Our current “solutions”:

1. I was using ranitidine and without it we saw explosive diarrhea, frequent defecation, nervousness, anxiety and weight loss . Rantidine was getting a little expensive so I have started a new regimen:

  • Platinum Performance
  • Osteon
  • GNF

I will keep you updated on the results.

2. I have been in search of the perfect saddle.  Of course, this perfect saddle couldn’t cost a million dollars.  First I went the route of used saddles.  If anyone out there is looking for a good quality used saddle I would highly suggest http://www.highendusedsaddles.com/ the customer service is phenomenal.  However, I didn’t find the saddle for Frankie.  Since he is so interestingly built, I need a saddle that has a narrow tree with clearance for his withers.  Hermes would be perfect.  Except for the price!  Plus I didn’t want a saddle that would ONLY work on Frankie.  So I decided to go with the Prestige saddle.  The carbon fiber tree is “changeable”, therefore I can buy  it narrow and have it adjusted wider if another horse comes my way.  It’s also well made, comfortable, and holds its value.

3. Life is too short to live in a freezer.  My new motto.  I hate riding in an indoor, and it’s even harder when the indoor is small.  This winter, I will make the best of it.  My rides might be shorter than in the summer; 30 min average instead of 50 min average.  I won’t be doing any courses—or at least any with lines.  I will probably complain a lot. There have been some important additions to my gear to alleviate some of my cold discomfort:

  • Ariat Bromont Tall Boots – My feet have not been cold for the first time EVER in winter!
  • SSG Pro Show Winter Riding Gloves – the first winter riding gloves that I can actually ride in.
  • Polartec Cozy Helmet Cover – I look retarded, but I’m warm

I will keep you updated with other warm favorites as I use them.

I struggled with continuing a Road to Rolex site because Frankie and I will be jumpers, not eventers. After much thoughti I decided that just because Frankie is a fancy pants and needs the pampering of a hunter/jumper show doesn’t mean that there isn’t still a road-to-rolex. There is the Rolex/USEF National Show Jumping Championship AND now the Rolex/USEF Show Jumping Ranking List (as if I could actually afford to show full-time…). In any case, maybe we’ll make said-road to said-Rolex-championship the metaphorical pilgrimage to…uh…something cool in competition, or Road to Rolex for short. I think that works, don’t you?

I’ll be back writing more. Frankie and I haven’t gone anywhere without you. We have been working hard, getting better, making mistakes, learning, and most importantly, having fun doing it.

2 Commments

Getting Back on Track
09/20/09

Today was a new day for me and Frankie. Primarily in what we are as a team.

After yesterday’s lesson, I have realized one thing for sure. Frankie is a jumper. Frankie was bred to be a jumper, he has proven himself as a jumper, and with some work and re-finishing, he will be a successful jumper once again.

My goals as a rider is to get to Rolex. I really enjoy eventing. The atmosphere is so much more laid back and, cross country is a blast. I also have a very personal goal with Frankie. I bred him, raised him, trained him, and showed him through open jumpers. But after getting him into the open jumper ring, I was burned out. I didn’t keep going and I would like to.

The thing is, anyone can go out, buy a very expensive, made horse, to win just about anything. Hunters, jumpers, eventing, and dressage. Through the top levels. Sure with jumpers and eventing there is a certain amount of balls needed and some navigation skills. But if you have a horse that is schooled well to do his/her job, outside of steering and a little (sometimes none) throttle control, you just sit there.

That is not fun for me. I need to feel like I got there, through hard work, talent, and good (and sometimes bad) riding. I always want to feel like I’m learning and adding tools to my belt.

Frankie is not an easy ride. He never has been. For me and Frankie, I think it’s the jumper ring—and of course I want to go big. Since we haven’t shown over the big sticks in a long time, it’s going to take a little bit to get us back there. I’m confident that we will though. The tough part is that jumpers are more expensive to campaign. There just isn’t anything cheap about it. That is going to limit the amount we will actually be able to show.

Eventing isn’t over for me. I need a horse. Once I find a ride, I will be heading to Rolex. I have no doubt.

Determination is on my side and that is always a good thing.

Frankie will continue to be in a training program filled with dressage, as much as we both find it somewhat tedious. It will only help me and Frankie as a team in the jumper ring and help me as a rider once I start back eventing.

Today’s ride was that of my ole’ jumper riding. I always worked on dressagish stuff; with the few dressage tests I have done, I have a new appreciation of what it is and what it isn’t.

We went to the outdoor to ride, equipped with the De Gauge. Frankie was feeling a bit lazy so I started out with some walk/trot and trot/walk transitions periodically throwing in some smaller circles. His focus was, well, all over the place. So I threw in some bending to the inside, giving and taking. This all seemed to help both his motor and his attention.

Once we were in a good spot we started working on some transitions within the trot. Extension, collection, regular (medium)…

Frankie was great, though he does hate collection. Then we moved to the canter. He was doing his old four beat annoying canter he does when he doesn’t want to work forward, especially on a circle. So, we did forward canter once around, collected, then after a bit he would start his four beat shuffle so I would shoot him forward and do the same until he held a nice, collected canter.

Reverse, repeat.

Then I worked on me a bit. I tend to shift my body a lot when I ask for a flying change. Only when working on the flat. I don’t ask for changes when I’m jumping, those are automatic. But on the flat I shift and sometimes look down (terrible habit). So I worked on staying straight, looking forward, and letting it happen. His changes weren’t great, but they got better.

Back to the trot, a little stretching. Then he got tense, mostly because there was a lesson going on and people weren’t giving me a heads up to what the were jumping so I would have to circle without planning. I hate that.

A little more canter and back to a stretching trot.

Pretty good ride.

Ride time: 45 minutes

Health update – Frankie needs to gain lots of weight. He is eating his medication well with a bran mash, he just finished a Panacur powerpac, and with his teeth just floated, all he needs is the groceries.

Equipment update – I need a new saddle. YIKES. I have had my saddle now for almost 10 years. It is a County Stabilizer. It was made for Frankie’s mom. She was a bit broader than him. It’s a medium tree and Frankie needs a narrow. It had fit, then the tree broke, and now somehow with the new tree it seems way too wide. Even when he gains weight I don’t think it’s going to fit him. I have to start researching saddles.

2 Commments

Fantastic Lesson
09/19/09

Despite my lack of a solid goal for me and Frankie I decided to take him off to the A hunter/jumper barn for a lesson.

Wow and what a lesson it was! Not only had Frankie improved significantly but the showering of compliments definitely answered some questions for me. Compliments aren’t something that this particular trainer is necessarily known for.

Needless to say, our lesson was terrific. We did not work on big fences, but smaller, 3′6″ for the most part. It was in between the fences that we were really trying to get smoothed out.

I think I might be on track…I just need to work it out in my head and come up with a plan.

Good boy Frankie!

[leave a comment]

Take it or Leave it? I’ll Leave it.
09/18/09

I was really looking forward to today’s ride. I’m not sure why. I hadn’t actually finalized my thoughts of riding and riding Frankie, but it was a beautiful day and it just seemed a great day to ride.

I didn’t have a huge amount of time to ride. I had to get Josh to his MRI appointment. Still, I had at least 40 minutes to spend on Frankie’s back.

We headed outside and I had him in the De Gauge.

He wasn’t really bad, he just wasn’t really good either. Maybe he was bored and most likely I was feeling bored. It was just more of a stretch your legs kinda ride than anything. Not very satisfying for me and I doubt for him either.

I would have almost rather not ridden and just daydreamed about what a great ride I would have had.

Ride time: 30 long minutes

[leave a comment]

Genuinely Spooky Frankie…
09/17/09

So, the vet came out yesterday. My only true complaint was that Frankie had really gotten cranky and not so nice to be around. Only on the ground really. Under saddle he has been good most of the time. Frankie decided that he might try to kick the vet, aiming for the head.

Frankie has never liked vets. Maybe he hates them because one of my best friends is an equine veterinarian, who also gelded Frankie. I’m not sure. This was a new aggressive level for Frankie.

The vet decided a shot of Depo would make him a much nicer, gentler animal. It’s supposed to last about 4 weeks, not effect much under saddle, just change his “anger” and “agitation” level. Which in turn will help with his stomach.

I was hoping to see a much calmer Frankie. But instead Frankie wanted to kill every horse that looked at him, he usually does, but this was with more ferocity.

He also was pawing, not in the cute ADD Frankie paw, but in the irritated more recent cause of pawing. So the Depo isn’t working great.

Then I got on his back. Went to the outdoor since it was so nice outside. I’m warming him up and he plants his feet, I can feel his heart beating under my leg. His head is lifted so high in the air, I could only imagine how much pressure the De Gauge was giving on his poll and bit. He was spooking, genuinely, at a tractor part. Of course it took me a minute to figure out what he was spooking at. The only thing he honestly might spook like that at, is a group of deer running about. Then I realized what it was and smacked him, he walked slowly and carefully up to the fence where the scary objects sat, just on the other side. He was weary. I was dumbfounded.

He got over it for the most part after he was able to approach the area. Frankie doesn’t spook.

Then our ride was fabulous. We were working on some lateral work, shoulder in, haunches in, and leg yields. He was being really, REALLY good. Then something scarey happened. I mean terrifying. A horse came walking down the driveway with a rider on it’s back. OMG!

Poor Frankie was shaking. Yeah, he was really scared of this. I can only blame Depo because nothing else makes sense. Then I also figured, female hormones make woman crazy, it would only make sense.

Anyway, we finished out with a good, stretching trot and an overall great ride.

Only 3 weeks and 6 days for this stuff to wear off.

Ride time: 40 minutes

[leave a comment]

Totally Aimlessly Riding
09/16/09

Well, since Frankie’s stomach ache and our last event I have been really wondering aimlessly when I have been riding.

Today’s ride was just the same. Sure, I was working on him being round, forward, and through. But it just wasn’t the same. I don’t have the same motivation. Of course I also want to take it easy on him a bit with his ailment.

He was really good today, but I need to sit back and really figure out what I want to accomplish riding and riding Frankie.

Ride time: 30 minutes

[leave a comment]

Agitated Frankie Surprisingly Good Under Saddle
09/13/09

I brought Frankie inside, and he was agitated. It was lunch time—he wanted his food. He was also a wad of anxiety. Pooping non stop, and he just couldn’t stand still. I finally got him tacked up and considered scratching the ride thinking that if he is this anxious, riding him isn’t going to do his ulcers any good.

Instead, I thought I would get on and see how he was.

I chose to ride inside today because the outdoor had some spots underwater, and it looked like it might be hard.

The indoor was challenging as well, there was a rail rut. So Frankie had to be on his toes as to not trip going in and out of the rail.

Once I got on, he seemed to calm down a bit. I walked him for a few minutes and then started trotting. He seemed happy to be moving. He has not been getting worked very hard, long, or nearly as often this past week. He might actually be missing it.

I figure once I come up with a plan and he has been on the medication for at least a week I can up his work load.

He was so good today. I just worked on walk/trot and trot/walk transitions along with a more forward canter, circles, and some serpentine’s.

He was so good I decided to run through a dressage test.

He was PERFECT! First try. Relaxed, supple, forward, through, round; all to end with a square halt.

Good boy Frankie.

Ride time: 25 minutes

Health Update: He still seems so skinny to me, and I hope this ucler treatment helps him gain some weight. He seems to be eating his grain, beet pulp, and medicated bran just great. Hay on the other hand, he doesn’t seem very interested in. Hopefully that will change.

[leave a comment]

« Older Entries

About

Kristine Oakhurst encounters mud, splashes, grass stains, and dirt on the Road to the Rolex 3 day Event. Follow her and her partner, Frankie as they start from scratch after making the switch from Open Jumpers.

Around the Web

citizenhorse.com
facebook.com/equestrian
twitter.com/citizenhorse
flickr.com/photos/citizenhorse

The Horse

Frankie IconFrankie
Learn more about 12 year old Holsteiner mount Frankie Sinatra.

Leave a Message

message IconSay Hello
Want to leave some words of encouragement? Help Kristine and Frankie along.

Next Event

message IconBack to Jumpers, We Think...
TBD