A few great reasons to trail ride . . .

Bucky & I did the MA 2010 "Ride for the Cure" June 6th along with some good friends. We had a great time, managed to stay mostly dry, and rode 10 miles to raise money for the Susan G. Komen foundation.




The ride overall was a success despite skies threatening to rain all day, we had fun and Bucky & Haley had a good ride. For the most part they were VERY well behaved except for a few bucks from Bucky at the canter.


We rode in memory of my aunt Dyanne, who passed away from breast cancer and in support of my Nana, a breast cancer survivor.




Today we completed the 7 miles ACTHA "Ride for Rescues" in Springfield, VT and also had a great time. Both buckskins were in good shape and a little frisky to start off! They settled in and were good trail ponies for the remainder of the ride.



This ride had six judged obstacles and we did our best, though very green Haley tried her best at each obstacle. Bucky was good (as long as it wasn't the dreaded trotting poles!) and we placed 3rd in the pleasure division.



We also worked on trailer loading this week which paid off, both horses loaded very easily to go to the ride and home! Something never to take for granted with young horses.

Show #2 . . . the real thing!

This weekend we headed to the River Riders Open 4-H show at West River Stables, it was our first "real" show . . . where we would compete in classes with other horses in the ring. Bucky was fantastic and I was so proud of him!
He was a little quick, but overall very good for having 10 green horses in the ring and I was just happy that it was a good experience for him.


He has a big stride for such a little horse!



If only his mom could remember how to ride huntseat . . . we did get 4th in equitation though.



He was great in trail class, minor leap over trotting poles, did the mailbox, bridge and gate well, our practice has paid off. BUT I forgot an obstacle . . . oh well, he was great and we had fun!

First show!

On Saturday Bucky, Haley, Ali & I headed off to our first show! We found the ideal opportunity to introduce them to showing at the SYALER Dressage Schooling Show at Langwood Farm. So we brushed, braided, and borrowed gear!




We had a beautiful day and the show was small, so the horses quickly settled in and were very well behaved!





Bucky trotting in the indoor, he was good and even got the high point horse award for the day.

Photo from SYALER

The judge was also very nice and gave many helpful comments and things for us to work on.




Haley has only been really going under saddle for a few months and has been being ridden (and loved!) by my best friend Ali. Haley has had some biting issues and had only been ridden in a bitted bridle for a week prior to the show.

Photo from SYALER

She was also a star though and did very well for Ali.




What a pretty mare, Ali has done a fantastic job with her. We are looking forward to more adventures with the buckskins this summer!

A good cause . . .

Bucky is doing very well in his training, we have big plans for this spring & summer. Next weekend we are going to a Centered Riding clinic and we have a few fun trail rides scheduled as well. One that is very dear to me is the 2010 MA Ride for the Cure, which is going to be held this June in Barre, MA.




Not only do we get to go on a trail ride with some great people, but it is to raise funds for a very worthy cause. We will be riding in memory of my aunt Dyanne and in honor of my grandmother, Claire, a breast cancer survivor. There are many other women we will also be riding to remember and honor.



Consider sponsoring us for this ride by making a donation here to the Susan G. Komen foundation:

Trotting poles . . .

Despite Bucky's success as a trail horse, he is still very skeptical about things under his feet. We spent a good deal of time this fall working on trotting poles. We started with one and gradually added a few more, he seemed to get the idea.

He was very careful and cautious to *not* let the poles touch his feet though and you can see the look of concern on his face . . .

And then of course . . . he tapped a pole and *IT MOVED*, which lead to this giant leap over the rest of them. The funny thing is that Bucky has never shown a tendancy toward jumping, but I think he did a pretty good job in this photo!

And after a few more tried, back to trotting, although a little more cautiously . . . I think we'll do some more lunging before I ride him over poles ;-)

Trail riding fun!

So we have had a busy fall, getting Bucky out and about on the trails. His stifle seems much better on the straightaways and trails rather than doing circles in the ring. And he has fun! After a few more local rides with friends we did a few organized trail rides this fall . . .






We ventured off to North Brookfield, MA for the Sportman's Club fall ride . . . we had fun with all our VT Morgan friends and completed the 8 mile ride and all the obstacles.





Bucky was fantastic, calm and brave, he even was the leader at times! We went through rivers and over logs, up hills and through mud . . . (thats Bucky up front)




Next we ventured off with best friend Ali and borrowed horse Flash to a 4-H trail ride in Lyndeborough, NH after finding our way there we had a great ride on the "the boys". Riding a BUCKskin we had to make sure we would not be mistaken for a deer, that silly scarf sure does the trick!




Flash is an experienced trail horse and set a great example for Bucky to follow . . . there was more riding on the road on this ride so Bucky got used to all kinds of traffic. The train tracks gave both horses pause though!




Checking our directions . . . hoping for a few more good rides before winter!

Poor Bucky!

He doesn't really look like a lame horse , does he? Unfortunately Bucky has an upward fixating patella, so he is not classically "lame", but every once in a while his stifle goes "pop" and out goes his knee, causing him to stumble. Poor fella! Having been through this before with another horse, I know I need to get Bucky in better shape. Building up those gluteal muscles are what he needs to hold the stifle in place.





The challenge becomes maintaining his confidence and willingness to work while getting him in shape despite the random instability in his gait from the locking stifle. Poor Bucky has started counter cantering in the lame direction and reluctant to pick up the trot that direction as well!

Up-hill work, cavalettis and trotting are all helpful, so hopefully we'll have some good weather to keep up his exercise schedule. I am hoping we can resolve this with exercise since it is not too severe. Wish us luck!

If you want to see his patella lock, there is a video here:

http://www.youtube.com/user/tlmstar1#play/all/uploads-all/0/gk0qsM85cJs