Backyard Horse Trials of Middlest

We had what I'd call an action packed weekend. We were fortunate enough to make the to-do list of Huz's sister Katie and family who joined us from Chicago for a few days and a few yee-haws at the Barn Party on Saturday.As well as Football Friday Night, the Homecoming game- which led to the Saturday night Homecoming Dance (not the only dance in town, as we do-si-doed our way around the barn). And Sunday morning, as we waved "Goodbye" to the Pederson family, Middlest and I followed them out the drive in the horse rig on our way to her first independent Horse Trials competition. With all these doin's, lemme tell ya, there's a lot of photos. Where to start the story? Why at the end of course. Sunday.

Middlest and I traveled about 2 hours to Springfield for Patty Miller's  Backyard Horse Trials. It is my absolute favorite. It is just what I wish I could manage here at Cowfeathers.  This is its 21st year, and according to my friend, Kara,  who has been attending to compete for most of those, it hasn't changed a bit. It is friendly and fun, and the rule is you can't take yourself too seriously. To that end, when you check in you are asked to select a plastic dinosaur to put in your pocket. For no one carrying around a plastic dinosaur can get too serious.

 

Middlest was extra-blessed by having a support and cheer section for her first Horse Trials. Also riding were Kara and another compatriot of mine, Judy. But, for support, Kara's Huz and her sweet Ava- who brought her pony Peaches for entertainment, Judy's daughter Anna- also a Pony Clubber mate and coach for Middlest and friends Des and Gayle.

Middlest had a late start time- blessed be! So we arrived in the sunshine of the cool morning for her to tack up Patch and go ride her dressage test.

Coach Kara and baby Ava evaluate the ride. They scored in the mid forties, which was respectable enough to put Middlest in 4th place after dressage.

 No one getting ready to eat an owl cupcake can take themselves too seriously either. Yum!

 After lunch it was Coach Kara's turn to take the cross country course on her grey mare, Indy.

 After a small, Indy-style glitch at the beginning of the course, they hit their stride and put in a great round.

 

 

Then it was Judy and Bella's turn, and they were awesome! They looked like pros putting in a controlled and clean round.

 Then it was Middlest's turn to warm up and get ready to start the often most challenging, but undoubtedly most fun portion of a horse trial.

Coach Kara's little helper just couldn't stay awake to see it.

 I'd say they are having fun, as going over fence 10 Middlest looks for me out beyond the fence line and flashes me a smile. Patches and Middlest had a wonderful ride. They were, in my biased opinion (which does not mean it isn't true) the best pair in their division, making it look seamless. They were certainly the ones with the most consistent pace and ride, it was so well done!!!! And without any faults.

Rosy cheeked and grinning. It is an unequaled feeling.

 With only one more phase to go, Coach Anna takes Middlest out on the stadium course to "walk the course." This means the rider walks the course, the horse is traditionally not supposed to see the course before being scored. You look at the fences, the approaches, the angles, the strides and your "lines"- or where you want to guide the horse to go between each fence. Often ridden in an arena, this phase at this event is not only in the open, but incorporates a cross country fence or two.

Coach Kara went first- being in the highest division, and rode . Indy did not make for an easy trip around the course, navigating the triple in such a fashion as to make me wonder if she's got a spine. I've got no doubts about Kara's as she somehow managed to pull out a clean round.

 

Judy and Bella had a slightly less successful trip , as Bella forgot about the control part and wanted to demonstrate her speedy. Judy decided to help her remember. But the mare likes to jump!

 

 And then, it was Middlest's division. She and Patch went about it just like they were in our own front field popping over fences with just a halter and a leadrope. Once again, the best pair out there, they had a even paced, dynamic ride, going "clean" (no faults), and having a blast!

 Maybe a little breathless.... now only to wait for the ribbons!

 Winning third place! That is the yellow part. The blue is first place and Patty Miller believes they are all winners just for being here. Since she orders the ribbons and runs the event, by golly, they all get a blue.

And the last member of the support staff gets in a photo a the end. So proud of her Middlest for giving it a go!

Horse Hunters International- The Winner Is....

Choice #1, the youngster barrel racer with a need for a new career!
As still (sort-of) unnamed, he arrived this weekend. He has been nervous since arriving, but now, in day 3 is starting to make himself more at home. Naturally, his first night here he had to find a way to injure himself- not seriously, but still. It meant the second day here he had to endure a scrubbing and treating of his injury, and lemme tell ya, he was a big ol' baby about it. He has started to submit gracefully to my ministratoions now, but it took a while on Sunday. He was never lame, but he was swollen over his laceration, so I have yet to ride him since I signed the check. Ugh. I've hopes for the near future.
The following are pictures taken by my friend and dressage guru, Christie. She is also featured in one of the photos. We went down to ride the guy after I tried out, and fell in love with, Choice #3, Bandit. But, this guy won me over again with his willingness and heart, and we did push him a bit.

Mainly, I included this photo because it showh how big he stands! I am still surprised when I stand next to him, I believe he's taller than Oslo was, though not nearly as large.

He's got a Cadillac Canter, such a lovely balanced gate, and so high in the front.

And, what a beautiful setting. This is at Wes' farm, with hills all around, almost like being back in the Blue Ridge.

I was riding him without spurs, and he was a bit mystified. When Christie got on him, he became more responsive, plus, as Wes says "She's a real good jock!"

Butt shot. The end. (Thanks, Christie....)

Horse Hunters International, Choice #3

Now, we have a contest! Today I went to try out Bandit, a 10 yr old paint gelding. He is calm, and relaxed, a happy horse. He has been being worked in dressage on the flat and over some fences (for the past few months). He is forward, and fairly balanced -crazy considering his confirmation/injury changes to his left fore- has nice movement and could be called "cute" or "flashy".
In the photos he is being ridden by the very capable woman that has been riding and training him, she is taller than I- the horse is probably 15.3hh. I rode him on the flat, which was pleasant and energetic and then switched saddles and jumped him over a course about 2'-2'4 ish, including one cross country type fence. He is new to jumping but very positive and honest to the fence.

Positives:

I could take him right out and do whatever I wish to do, tomorrow. I really had fun riding him.

He has a nice foundation, and I don't see any reason why he isn't as capable as anything I usually get my hands (behind) on.

He is a positive, happy guy. I like his personality, and think we would get on well together.

I do think that should Middlest continue to ride she could move up to this horse at some point.

 

Negatives:

He is on the top of the age range I was looking for, so, like me, he comes with some battle scars and history. I am somewhat concerned with his long term soundness due to the funky left front limb. He has some significant scarring above the knee, with some chronic cellulitis type enlargement to the knee area, and then he is fetlock varus, with what feels like cold medial high ringbone. That being said he is sound, and has been for a long time.

He is at the top of my price range (above?). Hoping they will be negotiable in this buyers market.

 

 

Kuken Haus

 I promised photos of the new, improved outdoor chicken yard when it was complete. If I'm being thorough, it isn't completely complete, as I still have the little door to build that will separate the outdoor house from the indoor one. Traditionally, we have used a straw bale to block the opening in inclimate or Icelandic weather. I am hoping a door is more practical and less space consuming. The new house is in the same footprint as the old one. I really wanted to enlarge it, but due to constraints in other features of the barn, that remained impractical. With the new enclosure, I wanted to have more structure to attach the hardware cloth ( note; chicken wire isn't a good choice for chickens! It is ineptly named. Chicken wire tends to rust and fall to pieces too easily, is easily torn and no true defense against curious hungry varmints). I also wanted a way to shade the birds, as they tend to stay indoors when it is too hot because the enclosure is in the full sun. Most afternoons they get to go out and about, picking at the grass, looking for bugs and giving themselves dust baths, but on the days they aren't let out it would be nice to have a pleasant outdoor pen.

 So on the west side of the house, they have a little garden. In the garden is a sweet autumn clematis, that will grow great big and need taming, a knockout rose, a bright green Little Princess spirea, a lonicera, and a few other cuties like catmint and Heuchera. The little garden is fenced against goose assault- a true frustration for the geese. They are dying to modify the plantings!

If the critters let any of these plants live, the chicken yard will be nicely shaded in the hot summer. In the meantime, they have shutters and a flower box lending shade around the west side "window".  Also in this project has been the reconstruction of the side gate there between the chicken house and the water trough. Now moving inside to work on the chicken house and the Palais d'Hiver a poulet!
(That is the chicken winter palace.)
Preview.......the newly painted exterior of the Winter Palace, in Globe Amaranth,  and huz working on the chicken water.

I understand they're Superior!

A break from Horse Hunters, to focus on Band Success!

Yesterday evening was the first band contest of our high school band's season. Now, I can't quite claim, year 4, that the idea of marching band is a new one to me, anymore. But, I am still a newbie.

Marching Band is BIG in mid-America. It has import and gravitas and identity- as much as anything at my old Alma mater. Perhaps that is a poor example, as I don't remember much import being given to any of the sports teams, or the orchestra- we had no marching band. In any case, Marching Band is somewhat of an institution here.
And, you don't just march around for parades and football half-time, if you are in a "competition band"you participate in Contests. These are usually held on Saturday evenings, in a high school football stadium, and bands come to perform their show for a panel of "adjudicators". (That means judges).  There are other types of high school marching bands, exhibition bands and dance bands that are great fun to watch, but concentrate more on the fun and less on the precision.
Bands are also put into a class, according to the size of their high school. The largest schools- with 901 or greater students in grades 10-12 are given a class of "AA", and the smallest schools, 300 or fewer students in grades 10-12, are a class "C".  Our high school is a "A", so 501-900 students in grades 10-12.

The big prize in these competitions is the score at the end. Each Band will receive a "1", "2" or "3", depending on the judges opinions of their excellence. A "1" is the coveted award of a Superior Rating. This, during the contest season is also the score that earns you an invitation to the State Finals, in which the best bands compete for the Superior Rating score. It isn't easy, and they don't just give the best score away.
During the competition season, the contests will also award trophies to the bands that excel in certain categories.  Last night the awards were presented for each class, "C", "B", "A" and "AA". Then there were overall awards for Best Auxiliary (that is the color guard, or flag corps that dances and dashes about the field, tossing and spinning flags or rifles), Best Percussion, Best Visual Effect (that is how well the marching formations interpret the music being played, as well as all the other visual aspects of the show), Best General Effect (which is the best visual and best music together), Best Marching, and Best Music.
After the overall awards, the special awards of the Esprit de Corps, and Grand Champion awards were named. Lastly, the bands who earn the Superior Rating of a "1" and qualify for State Competition are announced.
Our band marched at 7:30 in the evening (and these shows are on-time..it is part of the score) with their program "24601" the music from Les Miserables. Eldest is the Field Commander, or head Drum Major. Middlest has just commenced her first year marching as a saxophone. The music begins kind of softly, and then builds to this fantastic sound. Brings tears to your eyes- well, you have to be there. I tried to get Huz to film it on our little video camera, but as usual, the battery was dead. Maybe next time.

These are pictures of Eldest doing her thing at the show. She salutes at the beginning with her hat on, then takes it off (there are rules for how even that is done) and then conducts the show, ending with another salute- this one hatless.

When all the bands have played, the host band gets to play as well. They play only for a score, and the hopes of qualifying for the State Finals. The host band doesn't get considered in the awards. Then the Field Commanders from each band are asked to the sidelines for the awards ceremony. Our band has a lot of wonderful traditions, and one of them is their professionalism, every moment of the competition, including awards. They march in, and they march out. No smiling, everything precise. It makes them look like they are in a class by themselves.

 Here is Eldest in the foreground and her Assistant Drum Major, flanked by some of the student leaders in the band. They are marching to the sidelines for the awards.

 This is the first award they received, for Class "A" Best Auxiliary.

This is towards the end of the award ceremony. They have accumulated...and I see a few smiles.

 The haul included 8 awards. Class "A" Best Auxiliary, and First place, then for Overall Awards, They earned Best Auxiliary, Best Visual, Best Marching, Best General Effect, the Esprit de Corps Award, and Grand Champion! That left few awards for the other bands.
And, the icing on the cake was earning a Superior Rating and a early berth in the State Finals! The only band in the entire competition to be rated thus. Quite an accomplishment!

I finally got a picture of Middlest, after the awards and out of uniform, looking rather pleased for good reason!

My date. Proud Papa.

 

Horse Hunters, Int'l...Choice #2

Choice #2
Is a 10 year old Oldenburg gelding, probably 15.3hh (for description of what I'm talking about here, non-horse folks, check out Horse Hunters, International blog from yesterday- oh, and while I'm sort of discussing the "hand" measurement, it is only 4 inches...so you can't be 15.4hh, that is 16 hh. Kind of like saying a board is 3 feet 12 inches long- that is 4 feet! So, to the lady I met the other day, that wanted to sell me her horse, who claimed he is about 16.7hh? This is an equine basic, get it right, or seem foolish.) 

This is me riding him this morning, as the sun got higher and the temps got hotter. He is very cute, with nice gaits, if a bit lackadaisical. At this stage in my ride, the owner was wielding the camera, and I was wearing out my legs trying to make him track up and move out a bit.

This is where I told her I was wearing out my legs trying to make him track up and move a bit. She is an accomplished dressage rider, and kindly jumped right in with some instruction and encouragement to get me doing what I need to do to get him to move on. I got it, but it wasn't pie. More like creme brulee.

This is the photo from his advertisement, of the owner making creme brulee look like pie.

 Positives;

• Very elevated in the front end with a nice self carriage.
• He is very responsive, with great brakes.
• He has been ridden out of the arena some, maybe not really "trail" but in the open. If he is brave we could grow together.
• He is full of personality.

Negatives:

• He is not an easy ride, I don't see him as something Middlest could move on to in the next few years.
• He has done some cross rails, but does not have real jumping experience.
• His ground manners are difficult. He is ULTRA mouthy- I have green stuff all over my shirt and collar. He is constantly reaching for you if you're on the ground and will nip. Putting on a halter, bridle, leading him... all like having an octopus with 8 mouths. He was also testy about having his back feet picked, so, kicky enough that it would not be do-able by many folks.
• He is difficult to fit, saddle-wise. The owner is currently riding him in a tree-less saddle. (and so did I...it was different!) This means probably investing in custom saddle(s) for him.
• He is at the top of my price range- making previous bullet point even tougher.

Horse Hunters, International*

* International is a bit of an exaggeration. It is more along the lines of Horse Hunters within a 100 mile radius, but the other sounded better.

Huz was watching a programme (the British spelling is just so...international) on tele the other night, that featured a young couple with an astronomical income looking for a vacation home in St. ____ ( I don't know what island, it has blue water, palm trees and expensive, very expensive real estate).  House Hunters, International.
I thought maybe there is something to this. You are presented with only three real estate options that mostly meet your criteria, you go home, drink something,  create the old "Pros and Cons" lists, and then make a life altering decision in front of a camera man. Sign a bunch of papers and BAM! You're International.
I am not in the market for a home, second or otherwise. I'm rather chuffed with this old pile of bricks, at this point seemingly held together by dirt. (Maybe I should do more cleaning and less Horse Hunting?) But, I am in the market for "A New Equine Partner"...doesn't that sound so 2012?

So, here is my version of Horse Hunters, International. The last bit will have to be justified by my looking at horses in Ireland on the Internet.
I will present my choices here, and maybe, even choose one. The thing is, I can't guarantee it will be just three!

Okay,
Choice #1

This is TheHorseWithNoName. Well, he has one, but it made no sense. Ottalottakickinsomething...
He is a lovely, 16.3hh (okay, for those of you playing, with no horse experience, a hh = hand, and a hand=4", and this is measured at the withers= top of the shoulder, where the mane joins the back, so this guy is 67" at the wither, or about 5'6", which is considered a tallish horse.) 6 year old. He has been given a lovely responsive foundation with a true horseman who does barrel racing. At age six, he has matured to a size too large for the job of turning around barrels at high speed.  He was fun to ride, and large enough for me. I like his age and personality.
He has had no jumping experience, but has been on the trail and in show situations.
My horsefriends will notice right away that I'm riding him in a western saddle. This was not easy for me, it put my leg in a difficult place, and was larger, and harder than I'm used to (barring the saddle I grew up riding in which was a 50...now 80 year old Argentine Borrelli- and that thing was like a stone.)
He is the least expensive of the horses I have ridden so far, but also one of the finest trained. He also lacks experience in my field of interest.


Tune in for the next choice in future blogs......and weigh in with comments!

Friday night football, Saturday Hay Song and Banquet for a Star!

"Hay! Moving hay...dadada da...moving hay " That's the Hay Song. They play it in every band thing from 6th grade upwards. It helps these farm kids enjoy their Saturdays in song.

Friday night was a home football game, starring Eldest as Field Commander for the marching band, and Middlest as one of the supporting players on saxophone. Humid was the way you could describe the atmosphere, along with enthusiastic. The game starting kickoff was returned for six by the home team- perhaps the highlight of the whole game. I believe it was the only six points the team earned.
The half-time show is the most important bit though (said by a parent of two band members).
The Golden Sound of the Vikings are doing a show of songs from Les Miserables this year, and Eldest is in charge of a field of marchers, half of whom are freshman, and marching for the first time. It is a challenge, but the kids are working doubly hard, and the show is going to be fantastic!

 This is Youngest, with his friends. He is on the end. He is the only He. Seems to be a theme for him.

 Eldest on her podium. Here, she is actually conducting to her Assistant Drum Major on the other side of the field, who then conducts the band, as they are all facing away for this part.

 It is hard to get a picture of Middlest, she moves around a lot and has a flip folder attached to her saxophone with the music on it. She is required to have this until she can "pass off" on her music, which means play it individually from memory for the Band Director. She has the opportunity to do so next week. Then, my pictures might be better. For now, she is the girl just right of center, with a saxophone, and you can see all but her elbow and what is covered of her face by the flip folder.

 Besides the half time show, and the pre-game show, Eldest conducts the band in the stands, as they play inspiring little bits for the team and the crowd, as well as some longer songs during time outs etc. We had a long time out in the third quarter, when the electric company caused a black out by cutting the power to the field. The lights in the press boxes came on quickly but it took a good 15 minutes for the field lights to get warmed up and come back on. During this time, the two bands took turns playing songs in a "battle of the marching bands in the stands in the dark".

 This is what night time football without lights looks like. My flash could illuminate the folks in front of me, but the field? No dice.

 This is what Youngest looks like when the lights come back on!

And then Saturday morning dawns early when Mom and Dad are pressing you to get up and put on jeans and boots and grab your gloves and eat your Wheaties, because, today, m'dears, is Hay Day!  Dadada  da- HAY! Duhnduhn dah..dadada  da-HAY!

Sing it kids!

To be honest, there were a few tears, and some griping attitudes, but those quickly disappeared in the sweat of moving bales

 

Huz is allergic to hay. Dust. Horses. Poultry. This is unfortunate. But, he did not make me go it alone. Thank goodness. We moved 250 bales, three times, which makes it 750 bale-moves. This is not easy for me when my shoulders are 100%, but now, really NOT easy. Still, I managed, which means I am healing.  

Borrowing a enormous flat bed trailer from generous neighbors meant moving the hay in one load was possible. A real boon. I shudder to think how many pick up truck loads that would have been, even with big ol' Blondie. Thank you Steeles!!!!

We got all but about 80 bales put up in our barn before we had to quit to go "git purty" for a banquet. So, Eldest, Huz and I claimed first showers and tried to ignore our dust-irritated red eyes, and hay prickle reddened arms. I pulled a dress over my head and put some killer heels on my feet. Then, put my feet up. Tired. We are tired.

 

But we rallied and drove to Ohio Christian University to celebrate our communities young leaders.Eldest had been selected to represent our school district as one of the outstanding candidates for National Youth Council on Leadership. There were 8 or 9 girls (not sure why only girls, c'mon boys!)  from our school district, and roughly the same number from the other 3 districts in the county.
. The process involved application, essay and interview, letters of recommendation, a session with a professional photographer,  and then this banquet. A committee chooses one young leader from each district to represent the county at the Town Meeting for Tomorrow in St. Louis. Students from 10 other states will also attend. They split into focus groups, make plans for implementing a program in their school district and then return to get started. There are also several opportunities for scholarships within the program. The entrance to the banquet was filled with fantastic photos of all the candidates and a short summary of their accomplishments. It was so awesome to read all that these kids are doing. These are the stars of the county, and it shows in their academics, and public service as well as leadership roles.
We were thrilled that they chose Eldest to represent her school district! Along with a nice little scholarship and a plane ticket to St. Louis she will be experiencing a whole new atmosphere, one filled with kids that are also headed to be the leaders of tomorrow.

WAY TO GO ELDEST!