How Standardbreds Changed My Life

September 11, 2011: Delaware All-Horse Parade

2011-12-21T13:39:00.003-05:00

This was my second year participating in the Delaware All-Horse Parade in Delaware, Ohio. SPHO had an awesome presence with over 20 riders in our group!

Haylie and I decided to drive out for this parade, and spent a lot of time prepping our decorations! I decided to take Falco, as he hadn't been in a parade before and I felt it would be good experience for him.

We arrived early (AMAZING for those of you that know us lol) and went to work on decorating our horses. We were interupted with a little bit of rain but all-in all, it turned into a great ride! All the horses were great and well behaved, and we had a wonderful time! <3

July 15, 2011: Moonlight Ride- Sycamore State Park

2011-12-21T13:22:00.002-05:00

I seem to be a little behind in documenting my adventures in this blog, so I am going to try and get caught up following my calendar of events from this past year.

I belong to OHC for Montgomery County - and while I haven't attended many events, I like the program and what they stand for. They do a lot of amazing work on some of my favorite trails around home.

OHC sends out monthly newsletters, as well as organizes a lot of rides in the parks closest to home. They almost always do a moonlight ride on full moons - and I had seen many email come through and finally decided I wanted to try it out.

Haylie, Colette & I (along with Naven) showed up at the last minute as the group was preparing to leave. They were kind enough to wait on us, and luckily we had tacked up all the horses before we loaded them in the trailer so they were ready to roll once we unloaded.

Most of the OHC members ride some kind of gaited horse. My horses being gaited, I thought we should have no problem. Boy was I wrong! I decided to take Ace on this ride - as Ace and I have a better connection since I've had him longer and I knew this might be a challenging ride for me since it was dark and I would really have to trust my horse.

Poor Chance, Colette's breeding stock paint, did not know what he had signed up for! Ace did his very best to keep up but I did end up letting him trot to keep up. His poor little rack just isn't as fast as those walking horses!

We had a couple water crossing, at which Ace proved yet again why he will have a permenant home in my barn for the rest of his lifetime. He waltzed through without a hint of hesitation. However, the New Vocations Standardbred mare that Haylie was riding (her first trail ride) was not sure convinced this water wasn't going to swallow her whole! Ace was a very good boy and helped to encourage (aka - DRAG) her through the water crossings.

By this point, I'm pretty sure the OHC group (who had just met us all for the first time) was now convinced we all three were entirely crazy lol. We showed up late, with our horses tacked up. We brought a three year old on a night ride, and had a horse with us that had been under saddle all of a week and was on her first real trail ride.

Thank goodness for our guides that were familiar with the trails! I doubt I would have made it if not! The group was very accomodating to us having to stop for Naven's potty breaks and for our lessons on the water crossings.

All in all, we had a very good time. I will not lie - there were a couple times in the woods when my "suicide" reflex kicked in and I cranked back on my reins and squeezed my legs in fear when I could no longer see my horses head, much less where his feet were landing! It was an amazing exercise in trust and I left feeling a whole new appreciation for all the hard work I have put in to Ace. He is worth his weight in gold!

And regarding those OHC riders - they are serious! I like to think we put on some pretty decent miles when we go riding, but after a 2.5 hour ride in the dark trying to keep up with them, my legs were in jello-state when I hopped off and I nearly hit the ground! I felt it the next day and I'm sure Ace did too!

SPHO Open Summer Show - July 9, 2011

2011-08-22T15:15:00.000-04:00

I decided to take BOTH my horses to the SPHO Open Summer Show on July 9, 2011. It was in Lancaster, Ohio at the fairgrounds. I showed both horses in over 10 classes and came home with a TON of ribbons! I'll update with my placings when I get them from the club, but I came home with a couple blue ribbons! I was pretty excited!

But WOW... showing two horses that much alone is a tough gig! Glad I had so much fun!

Darke County Fair Open Show - August 21, 2011

2011-08-22T15:07:00.002-04:00

Haylie & I took Felix & Falco to the Darke County Fair's Open Show on Sunday, August 21st. Both horses looked awesome (with the help of their fake tails lol) and they both did really well. It started raining right before our class, but it still went ok.

We showed in two easy-gaited classes. Haylie took 5th in the horsemanship/equitation class but neither of us placed in the pleasure class. We aren't sure the judges knew what to make of our racking horses - although we are still 'easy gaited', it's not the smooth look they are accustomed to seeing with the walking horses. We were also told the judge didn't even know what gaits to call during the class - which isn't a good indicator that they have judged many horses like ours.

Regardless, it was a good experience for both of them - and anytime I get to dress up in fun clothes and ride my horse is always a good day for me! :)

Donkeys & More

2011-08-22T15:05:00.002-04:00

My friends show donkeys & mules, and I went to a show in Lima, Ohio this past weekend to help them (and hang out!).

I ended up "ass-sitting" Radar! :) Check out those ears!!

SPHO Camping Trip - August 13/14 - Bainbridge, Ohio

2011-08-22T14:57:00.005-04:00

My horse club, SPHO of Ohio, sponsored an event (with the help of New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program) at Lazy H Cabins in Bainbridge, Ohio. We had lovely air conditioned cabins, and horse stalls (although we picketed our horses b/c the stalls were full!) and walking distance to Paint Creek State Park.

I went with Haylie, Jason, Colette & Rob (and Austin of course!). We rode Saturday and Sunday over 35 miles! Most of the trails were pretty flat and mild - but there were a lot of open spaces to RUN and both of my horses cantered! I even got Falco to canter in the arena when we got back! For those of you that don't know standardbreds, that's a big deal because they don't usually know how (or like to) canter!

It was a great weekend, and I'm sure a place we will return!

Cowboy Mounted Shooting

2011-07-29T15:58:00.002-04:00

Last Saturday (July 23), some new "horsie" friends suggested I join them for a mounted shooting clinic at Faustman Ranch put on by 1st Ohio CMSA (Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association). Last minute, I decided to get the trailer, grab Falco out of the field he'd been standing in untouched for 3 weeks, and go.

So, off we went! I wasn't quite sure what to expect, and not going to lie, I was pretty darn nervous! I have fallen off enough lately and wasn't too eager to do it again. Surprisingly, Falco was amazing and didn't seem too bothered at all by it! He was more upset with me that I put ear plugs in his ears than the fast that I was shooting two rounds from a Colt .45 off his back!

It was a pretty neat process... they paired us up with a gun-broke horse and had us trot around in circles in the arena, while someone went to the other end of the arena and fired the gun. Our horses fed off the broke horses, and allowed them to feel secure that nothing was going to happen. Then they moved into the center of our circle and fired the gun. The horses could smell the gunpowder and had to walk through the smoke. After this, they had us partner with a single horse and they ran the course with us next to them and they shot the gun from their horse. We did this twice. After that, we were able to go on our own and run the course by ourselves! I ran twice with Falco and it was awesome! I am HOOKED!

"Falco" - registered name Far Out Hall

2011-07-29T15:53:00.002-04:00

Haylie and I took some photos of Falco - and WOW does he look amazing!!!

Fourth of July Weekend

2011-07-14T16:30:00.002-04:00

I had a bit of unexpected circumstances leave me without any plans for the entire long weekend. My poor horse Falco took the blunt end of the deal - and had to keep me entertained all weekend with what was probably 15+ miles on the trails! Nothing like working out your frustrations from the back of a beautiful horse :)

Saturday - we rode at Darke Co Fish & Game, Sunday at Twin Creek Metro Park, and Monday at Hueston Woods. I was equally exhuasted (as was Haylie) as the horses by the time it was all said and done - but much needed time to think left me feeling much better about the situation. Good things come to those who wait, and I need to learn to wait! :)

Kentucky Horse Park Breed Demonstration - June 17-19, 2011

2011-07-08T09:37:00.008-04:00

SPHO of Ohio returned again to Kentucky Horse Park June 17-19 to provide breed demonstrations for their parade of breeds. Unfortunately, due to the weather, our first morning demo was just a "walk through" in the pavilion, and then the 2nd morning demo the next day, we brought the guests to the Big Barn and did the demo in the barn. The other two demos went very well... although Ace was NOT a fan of the clapping and was a little bit of an idiot! It happens though I guess! Here are some pics!

Firecracker Mishap

2011-06-09T16:41:00.002-04:00

With the Fourth of July holiday coming up, Wal-Mart has already started putting their small firecrackers out for purchase. I was there the other night and picked up a box of "snappers". You know, the little things you throw on the ground and they make a loud "SNAP" sound?

I entertained myself briefly the other night at the barn at the expense of my friends - throwing them randomly at their feet and watching them jump. It was rather entertaining until I dropped one and it didn't go off, and I stepped on it and scared the pejeebers out of myself!

I was having trouble with getting my lawnmower started a couple nights later and my dad came out to help me. Austin was helping him and intently watching every move he made. At this point, he had my (ghetto) lawnmower hooked up to jumper cables and was about to connect the other end of the cables to my car.

I had been stalking Austin with a handful of snapper firecrackers in my hand - anxiously awaiting the right moment to throw them and hope for a good chuckle when he jumped. However, my timing could not have been more perfect even if I had planned it... which I did not (honest!)...

Dad is leaning over the motor of the (running) car with jumper cables in hand, getting ready to attach the last cable to the battery. At that precise moment, my genius self saw that Austin had finally turned away and quit watching me and so I tossed the handful of firecrackers at his feet. It just so happened that the precise moment I chose was exactly when my dad was hooking up the last jumper cable to the battery of the car! It had never even occurred to me that this might sound like sparks or what my dad was doing would be affected at all! He came unglued and raised his head up, narrowly missing smacking his head on the raised hood of the car.

At this point, I am crying I am laughing so hard. I barely scared Austin but Dad nearly had a heart attack! It couldn't have been timed better if I had tried!!

I don't think he believed me when I said I was sorry... hard to hear it over my roaring laughter :)

Memorial Day Weekend Camp-Out

2011-05-31T14:34:00.005-04:00

We camped this weekend at Hueston Woods State Park with the horses - there were 13 horses (including my two), about 10 people and probably 15 of our dogs! :) It was a great time! Both of my horses were awesome - here's a couple pics!

My New Vocations Success Story

2011-05-26T15:06:00.004-04:00

My horses and I are featured on New Vocation's Website in their Success Stories! Pretty cool!

http://www.horseadoption.com/inspector-hall-and-far-away-hall-standardbred/

First Big Trail Ride for Falco

2011-05-26T15:00:00.001-04:00

I went with Haylie and Jason for a day-ride at Hueston Woods on Sat May 21. Falco was a champ and seemed to have a good time! He finally dusted off his brain and decided to use it!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Ace & Falco - my Equine Therapists

2011-05-26T14:38:00.007-04:00

I used to be better at this blogging thing... but lately my "equine therapists" seem to have taken over my life - and I can't imagine it any other way! I get to do a lot of really cool stuff with my horses and I have met some really amazing people. I'm going to try and be better about recording some of this stuff!

APRIL 7-10, 2011 - EQUINE AFFAIRE
Columbus, Ohio

Ace and I participated in a breed demonstration showing off the Standardbreds with SPHO of Ohio. We demo'd gaited saddleseat, and Ace was amazing!

April 29 & 30, 2011 - SPHO SPRING SHOW
Hilliard, Ohio

Ace and Falco both came with me to the first SPHO show of the year at the Franklin Co Fairgrounds. Ace and I ribboned in every class and even won first in two! Woohoo! Aside from the "unplanned dismount" from Falco on Friday night, it was a great weekend!

HOLIDAY LIGHTED HORSE PARADE, NOVEMBER 2010
Greenville, Ohio

SPHO of Ohio was well-represented in Greenville's annual lighted horse parade! I rode Falco and my sister rode Ace! What a fun night!