Some of the Allied forces.
My compadre and I...
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Spring 2009 WWI Battle
Here are some pictures from last weekend's Spring 2009 WWI reenactment battle event:
Some of the Allied forces.
Some of the Allied forces.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Hail and Rain
Today two friends and I decided to go on a short trail ride instead of the normal drill practice (nobody else showed up). A storm front has rolled in during the night so the day started with showers. As I saddled Max and for a moment I considered aborting but the rain let up so I finished saddling and rode Max over to my friends' house to meet up with my two trail companions.
By this point, the wind had blown out the storm clouds and it was actually cleaer and sunny with a few scattered white clouds. We proceeded to ride down Orcas Ave towards the arena at Gabriellano Park. Max and his two equine companions were all animated and buzzed up by the cool breezy weather so it made riding more difficult than usual. What also didn't help was that one of my friends would allow his horse to trot up whenever the horse felt he was falling behind. Since Max and I were bringing up the rear, Max would get excited about being left behind and he'd want to trot out.
The weather was beautiful but I really couldn't enjoy it since I was having to monitor Max's behavior. We made our way east on the Haul Road, crossing the river that empties out of Big Tujunga Canyon, and headed towards the ponds. We then made our way through the woods along a narrow single-track. I haven't been this way an awhile and in some areas there were low-lying branches that I had to duck, while having to keep Max under control. Not like when Chenault and Max used to ride through here on a regular basis.
I also think one of the basic problems was that I hadn't ridden Max for about four days and the weather was such that Max was acting fresh. Then combine with two other very active horses. I propbably should have lunged Max first- that will teach me.
After working our way down the forest trails leading away from the ponds, we decided to lead towards home since one of my friends wasn't feeling well. As we made our way down the Haul Road, the weather had rapidly changed and there was now another storm front heading our way. What was especially challenging was that one of my friends wanted to run his horse out. This probably should have been done in the arena but in the interest of time, we stopped and let him run his horse out about 500 yards down the Haul Road. Naturally, I was expecting a rodeo with Max, given his overall attitude. Fortunately, I was able to keep him in place by relaxing my seat (not easy!) and not using the bit to hold Max in check.
Shortly after, the storm hit in force- hail and driving rain. Unfortunately, while I did have a rain jacket with me, the circumstances didn't allow me to get it on so I was soaked completely through my shirt layers to my skin. Not fun.
We made our way back towards home and finally we got into a trot and decided to take refuse under the freeway bridge that crosses Orcas Ave. as it leads into Gabriellano Park. After more misery, we finaly made it to the underpass and we took refuge until the rain and hail stopped. For the most part I was able to able to calm Max down so he'd stand still but he was still anxious to get home and it showed in his demeanor.
Finally, we started up again and Max only relaxed once we turned the corner at the intersection of Orcas Ave. and Longford Street. Afterwar gettng back to the stables, I decided to run Max since he seemed so eager to move out quickly. I made Max run a number of laps around the track along with some other manuevers. Max wasn't happy with this but he needs to learn not to be barn sour.
Overall, it was a real challenging day and not a lot of fun when Max is buzzed up. In retrospect, I should have lunged Max first before simply riding off, since I hadn't ridden in four days. I also need to ramp up the riding schedule- thiswill change once my WWI event is finally DONE.
Fortunately, my riding skills are better than what they used to be and thus I was able to keep things under control. I spent the rest of the day drying off and recovering from a very wet ride- the hail wasn't so bad, the driving rain was.
Wheew!
By this point, the wind had blown out the storm clouds and it was actually cleaer and sunny with a few scattered white clouds. We proceeded to ride down Orcas Ave towards the arena at Gabriellano Park. Max and his two equine companions were all animated and buzzed up by the cool breezy weather so it made riding more difficult than usual. What also didn't help was that one of my friends would allow his horse to trot up whenever the horse felt he was falling behind. Since Max and I were bringing up the rear, Max would get excited about being left behind and he'd want to trot out.
The weather was beautiful but I really couldn't enjoy it since I was having to monitor Max's behavior. We made our way east on the Haul Road, crossing the river that empties out of Big Tujunga Canyon, and headed towards the ponds. We then made our way through the woods along a narrow single-track. I haven't been this way an awhile and in some areas there were low-lying branches that I had to duck, while having to keep Max under control. Not like when Chenault and Max used to ride through here on a regular basis.
I also think one of the basic problems was that I hadn't ridden Max for about four days and the weather was such that Max was acting fresh. Then combine with two other very active horses. I propbably should have lunged Max first- that will teach me.
After working our way down the forest trails leading away from the ponds, we decided to lead towards home since one of my friends wasn't feeling well. As we made our way down the Haul Road, the weather had rapidly changed and there was now another storm front heading our way. What was especially challenging was that one of my friends wanted to run his horse out. This probably should have been done in the arena but in the interest of time, we stopped and let him run his horse out about 500 yards down the Haul Road. Naturally, I was expecting a rodeo with Max, given his overall attitude. Fortunately, I was able to keep him in place by relaxing my seat (not easy!) and not using the bit to hold Max in check.
Shortly after, the storm hit in force- hail and driving rain. Unfortunately, while I did have a rain jacket with me, the circumstances didn't allow me to get it on so I was soaked completely through my shirt layers to my skin. Not fun.
We made our way back towards home and finally we got into a trot and decided to take refuse under the freeway bridge that crosses Orcas Ave. as it leads into Gabriellano Park. After more misery, we finaly made it to the underpass and we took refuge until the rain and hail stopped. For the most part I was able to able to calm Max down so he'd stand still but he was still anxious to get home and it showed in his demeanor.
Finally, we started up again and Max only relaxed once we turned the corner at the intersection of Orcas Ave. and Longford Street. Afterwar gettng back to the stables, I decided to run Max since he seemed so eager to move out quickly. I made Max run a number of laps around the track along with some other manuevers. Max wasn't happy with this but he needs to learn not to be barn sour.
Overall, it was a real challenging day and not a lot of fun when Max is buzzed up. In retrospect, I should have lunged Max first before simply riding off, since I hadn't ridden in four days. I also need to ramp up the riding schedule- thiswill change once my WWI event is finally DONE.
Fortunately, my riding skills are better than what they used to be and thus I was able to keep things under control. I spent the rest of the day drying off and recovering from a very wet ride- the hail wasn't so bad, the driving rain was.
Wheew!
Thursday, March 19, 2009
At The Race Track
Last Saturday as part of the Equine Production Class that I am taking at Pierce College, we went on a field trip to Santa Anita Race Track. Now, I've never been much of a horse race fan because it simply looked way too arcane with all the betting, odds, handicapping and all the technical stuff. Just never been my thing.
However, since the instructor was going to take us on a tour on the "backstretch" of the track and see how things work away from the public (backstage, so to speak), it seemed too interesting to want to miss (going there wasn't a requirement for the class).
We were to meet as a class at trackside at 7 am and that meant that I had to get up at about 5 am (talk about an early day!). From what we were told, the "day" at the track starts at 3 or 4 in the morning and doesn't end until about late afternoon after the last race.
So there I was at Santa Anita at about 6 am, in the dark and with some very vague instructions. I had to park a long ways off and then walk up and then had to seatch for the way in. After awhile I managed to find a way in and wound up at "Clockers", the trackside snack bar. It was definately bustling with all sorts of racing industry types and what appeared to be handicappers. At this point, horses were being exercised- "breathed" as the term goes and people were watching the various horses to see what they were doing and, I suppose, get clues about future performance.
After gathering, the instructor then took us over to the stands where we met a trainer friend named Darryl Vienna of his who would later give us teh tour. He gave us an overview of the Throughbred industry, a little background information about himself, and answered various questions. The one thing that stood out is that whiel he's done well in the the business, he was not optimistic about its future unless some fundamental changes were made- it just isn't attracting enough new race fans- i.e., younger folks and in many areas, the real estate which the track sits on is more valuable than what racing takes in, hence the push to turn them into other developments. It also didn't help that the management of most of the race tracks in the US belong to non-racing corporate entities who don't understand horses or racing- just recently, the corporation that owns Santa Anita declared bankruptcy.
Mr. Vienna also gave us an overview of training and preparing a horse for racing (not too many races, give them time to rest between races, etc.). He also noted that sometimes the owners push too much to race a horse too often, leading to various health problems. Finally, Mr. Vienna indicated that nobody is really happy about the new Federally mandated track surface and that it's actually increased injuries rather than reduce them. He predicted that in about two years, tracks would revert to older surfaces (it seems to be a mixed bag as to whether or not the new surface is good or bad).
In terms of getting into the training business, Mr. Vienna stated that not very many young people are interested in going into the business because of the long hours and low pay to start- bascially your day starts at 4 am and it's a 7 days a week proposition. You start off as a hot walker, exercising horses on the ground and then working your way up, depending on dedication, competence, and an affinity for horses. Mr. Vienna also mentioned that because the State regards horse racing as an entity that can affect the public good, licenses are required (issued by the California Horse Racing Board) of all people who work at the track, whether they're a jockey or a janitor or anything in between.
We also got to meed a jockey, a David Flores, and while he was no doubt a great source of information, it had to be coaxed out a bit (not everyone is a great public speaker :-0) but Mr. Vienna helped here. Mr. Flores was going to be riding one of Mr. Vienna's horses later that day (Fourth Race, 3/14/09). The one thing that stands out is that it doesn't take much to have a horrendous accident. But at the same time, you really can't think about that when you're riding- you have to stay focused on the job. Be alert but focus on the job.
Finally, we toured the stables themselves and while the public side of the track looks shiney and new, the backside was about one step up from some of the more dumpier boarding stables I've been to- very functional and with minimal upkeep. Just enough to make things safe for the horses and that's it. Apparently the trainers are not charged anything for using the stables (apparently, the track makes it up on the back end with their take of the winnings) but each horse has a well-bedded stall and they're well taken care of (I'd hope so, given the money tied up in the industry!). What was also funny was that being two and three-year olds, they were the most curious bunch, checking us out as we passed by (we were instructed to walk in the center of the barn asle and keep our hands to our sides- for very good reason, some of these two year olds will bite if you're not careful. Basically, crappy ground manners are tolerated so long as the horse wins races.
After a few more stops at the stabling paddock and the receiving barn (where the horses participating in a particular race are verified that they are the actual horses that are being advertised as racing), we ended the tour. By this time it was about 12 Noon and while the first race was a 1 PM, I left before the race since I wanted to go ride Max.
Overall, it was an interesting experience and certainly underscored that even with the current poor ecnonomic climate and decline of the horse racing industry, it still generates a lot of money and has some of the finest horses anywhere. It's also evident that there's going to need to be some changes in the way things are done if the industry is going to survive.
Some of the other notable things were that the exercise riders are extremely talented and competent- these juys can ride! (Duh!). They all have two-point stances to die for with some riding standing erect, Roman style. What was also amazing that the horse's demeanors ranged from calm to completely wacko with eyes rolling back into their heads and no matter what has happening, the riders were calm and completely in control- they'd be carrying casual conversations even if the horse was rearing or acting stupid.
Finally, the other thing that stuck out was the large number of Mexicans/Hispanics that make up the industry- it's clear that it's a better life than what's available in Mexico but the hours are long and the pay minimal. Without them, the industry would probably disappear overnight.
A very instructive day.
However, since the instructor was going to take us on a tour on the "backstretch" of the track and see how things work away from the public (backstage, so to speak), it seemed too interesting to want to miss (going there wasn't a requirement for the class).
We were to meet as a class at trackside at 7 am and that meant that I had to get up at about 5 am (talk about an early day!). From what we were told, the "day" at the track starts at 3 or 4 in the morning and doesn't end until about late afternoon after the last race.
So there I was at Santa Anita at about 6 am, in the dark and with some very vague instructions. I had to park a long ways off and then walk up and then had to seatch for the way in. After awhile I managed to find a way in and wound up at "Clockers", the trackside snack bar. It was definately bustling with all sorts of racing industry types and what appeared to be handicappers. At this point, horses were being exercised- "breathed" as the term goes and people were watching the various horses to see what they were doing and, I suppose, get clues about future performance.
After gathering, the instructor then took us over to the stands where we met a trainer friend named Darryl Vienna of his who would later give us teh tour. He gave us an overview of the Throughbred industry, a little background information about himself, and answered various questions. The one thing that stood out is that whiel he's done well in the the business, he was not optimistic about its future unless some fundamental changes were made- it just isn't attracting enough new race fans- i.e., younger folks and in many areas, the real estate which the track sits on is more valuable than what racing takes in, hence the push to turn them into other developments. It also didn't help that the management of most of the race tracks in the US belong to non-racing corporate entities who don't understand horses or racing- just recently, the corporation that owns Santa Anita declared bankruptcy.
Mr. Vienna also gave us an overview of training and preparing a horse for racing (not too many races, give them time to rest between races, etc.). He also noted that sometimes the owners push too much to race a horse too often, leading to various health problems. Finally, Mr. Vienna indicated that nobody is really happy about the new Federally mandated track surface and that it's actually increased injuries rather than reduce them. He predicted that in about two years, tracks would revert to older surfaces (it seems to be a mixed bag as to whether or not the new surface is good or bad).
In terms of getting into the training business, Mr. Vienna stated that not very many young people are interested in going into the business because of the long hours and low pay to start- bascially your day starts at 4 am and it's a 7 days a week proposition. You start off as a hot walker, exercising horses on the ground and then working your way up, depending on dedication, competence, and an affinity for horses. Mr. Vienna also mentioned that because the State regards horse racing as an entity that can affect the public good, licenses are required (issued by the California Horse Racing Board) of all people who work at the track, whether they're a jockey or a janitor or anything in between.
We also got to meed a jockey, a David Flores, and while he was no doubt a great source of information, it had to be coaxed out a bit (not everyone is a great public speaker :-0) but Mr. Vienna helped here. Mr. Flores was going to be riding one of Mr. Vienna's horses later that day (Fourth Race, 3/14/09). The one thing that stands out is that it doesn't take much to have a horrendous accident. But at the same time, you really can't think about that when you're riding- you have to stay focused on the job. Be alert but focus on the job.
Finally, we toured the stables themselves and while the public side of the track looks shiney and new, the backside was about one step up from some of the more dumpier boarding stables I've been to- very functional and with minimal upkeep. Just enough to make things safe for the horses and that's it. Apparently the trainers are not charged anything for using the stables (apparently, the track makes it up on the back end with their take of the winnings) but each horse has a well-bedded stall and they're well taken care of (I'd hope so, given the money tied up in the industry!). What was also funny was that being two and three-year olds, they were the most curious bunch, checking us out as we passed by (we were instructed to walk in the center of the barn asle and keep our hands to our sides- for very good reason, some of these two year olds will bite if you're not careful. Basically, crappy ground manners are tolerated so long as the horse wins races.
After a few more stops at the stabling paddock and the receiving barn (where the horses participating in a particular race are verified that they are the actual horses that are being advertised as racing), we ended the tour. By this time it was about 12 Noon and while the first race was a 1 PM, I left before the race since I wanted to go ride Max.
Overall, it was an interesting experience and certainly underscored that even with the current poor ecnonomic climate and decline of the horse racing industry, it still generates a lot of money and has some of the finest horses anywhere. It's also evident that there's going to need to be some changes in the way things are done if the industry is going to survive.
Some of the other notable things were that the exercise riders are extremely talented and competent- these juys can ride! (Duh!). They all have two-point stances to die for with some riding standing erect, Roman style. What was also amazing that the horse's demeanors ranged from calm to completely wacko with eyes rolling back into their heads and no matter what has happening, the riders were calm and completely in control- they'd be carrying casual conversations even if the horse was rearing or acting stupid.
Finally, the other thing that stuck out was the large number of Mexicans/Hispanics that make up the industry- it's clear that it's a better life than what's available in Mexico but the hours are long and the pay minimal. Without them, the industry would probably disappear overnight.
A very instructive day.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Cavalry on the Plains
The US Army (and especially the Cavalry) and the American West have always been favorite subjects of mine so here are a few pictures that were painted by Frederick Remington during the era:
Breakfast on the Plains
Arizona Sandstorm
An infantryman (aka "Walkaheap")
Cavalry Officer
These are some arresting images.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
So What's Your Story?
Here's a horsey questionnaire that's been making the rounds on various equestrian blogs/boards and Facebook. Like others, I thought I’d post my answers here. I won’t officially tag anyone, but it might be fun if readers passed it on by filling it out and posting it to your blogs with your own experiences, and encourage your readers to do the same. Hope you decide to play along! And if you do, leave a comment here letting us know :-)
1. How old were you when you first started riding? I officially started when I was 26, courtesy of the US Army. I've always been a bit obsessed with horses since I was a kid- the usual Lone Ranger- Gene Autry stuff and anything to do with the US Cavalry (even the 7th Cavalry and it's unfortuante encounter with the Lakota at the Little Big Horn in June 1876).
2. First horse ridden: When I was about five years old I took a few riding lessons but I have no memory of it whatsoever. The one I do remember was when I did pulled a TDY tour with the Caisson Platoon/Old Guard at Ft. Myer, Virginia. I don't recall the horse's name but it was a nasty Mustang that the Caisson Platoon reserved for new riders- more to screw with their heads than anything else. My first experience included having the horse take off at a trot straight towards the end of the arena, which was a brick wall, and then swerving at the last minute. Fun.
3. First horse trotted on: The nasty Mustang mentioned above in #2.
4. First horse cantered on: Mickey
5. First Horse fallen off of: Max (my current horse)
6. Most recent horse fallen off of: Max- August 2008 at Morro Bay. We wound up getting lost and wandering down a trail meant for hikers. Max doesn't like closed in spaces and when we became trapped by low-lying trees, he reared up and attempted to climb up a large rock, dumping me in the process. He then dumped right afterwards when I attempted to remount and some passing surfers spooked him (it was the surf boards they were carrying). Max earned a new name: Alpo Boy because if someone had come along offering to take him off my hands and send him off to slaughter, I would have done it in a heartbeat- I was THAT pissed off. We've gotten past it pretty much...
7. Most terrifying fall: I fell off Max on some rocks in a riverbed when Max shied at something. I managed to bang and bounce my head multiple times on the rocks and cracked my helmet in several places- lucky I was wearing one!.
8. First horse jumped with: Max (over some cavalettis)
9. First horse who ran away with you: None- so far
10. First horse that scared the crap out of you: An Arab that belongs to a friend of mine. His mouth is so sensitive that I could feel that all I needed to do was give a hard jerk and the horse would rear up and fall on me. Talk about quiet hands!
11. First horse shown: Max- I've never taken Max to a formal show but I did enter a NATRC event. We won Fifth Place for horse fitness- I never did get my ribbon since they screwed up in computing the scores at the event so we found out after the fact. Oh well.
12. First horse to win a class with: N/A
13. Do you/have you taken lessons: I've been taking lessons for the past six years or so.
14. First horse you ever rode bareback: Buckshot, who promptly dumped me.
15. First horse trail ridden with: Faz, a tempermental Arab who decided to take mercy on me and gave me a good ride with no issues. Basically he was cutting me a break.
16. Current Barn name: Mitchell Ranch
17. Do you ride English or western?: Military...actually English (I catch flak all the time from my friend who ride Western)
18. First Horse to place at a show with: N/A
19. Ever been to horse camp?: No, not formally. I have camped with my horse Max but that's different, I think...
20. Ever been to a riding clinic? No.
21. Ridden sidesaddle? No. I might try it on a lark- but in an arena! :-)
22. First horse leased: Max
23. Last Horse Leased: Max
24. Highest ribbon in a show: 5th for horse fitness at a NATRC event (never did get the actual freakin' ribbon though).
25. Ever been to an 'A' rated show? No.
26. Ever competed in pony games/relay races? No.
27. Ever fallen off at a show: N/A
28. Do you ride Hunter/Jumpers? No- maybe someday.
29. Have you ever barrel raced? No.
30. Ever done pole bending? Not formally. A couple times we set up poles that we rode around at a trot/gallp and attempted to strike at with a sword.
31. Favorite gait: The canter- with a good canter, I can go all day.
32. Ever cantered bareback? Yes- lots of times.
33. Have you ever done dressage? Yes
34. Have you ever evented?: No- looks way too much like equine demolition derby for my taste.
35. Have you ever mucked a stall? Yep- lots of them (is there any other answer?)
36. Ever been bucked off? Twice. Tried using a curb bit on Max and was too rough. Max objected and I wound up on the ground. And it hurts landing on a holstered pistol twice in an hour.
37. Ever been on a horse that reared? Yes, a few times with Max.
38. Horses or ponies?: Definately horses – at 6'1" and 230 pounds, I'm way too big.
39. Do you wear a helmet? Always. I’ve been dropped on my head way too many times and the helmet saved me. The alternative is a lot worse.
40. What's the highest you've jumped: 2 feet I think.
41. Have you ever ridden at night? All the time- definately a test of confidence but it's good for both horse and rider. During the winter, it's either that or I don't ride at all, the way my work schedule is.
42. Do you watch horsey television shows? Once in a while.
43. Have you ever been seriously hurt/injured from a fall? Not really but I have some nasty bruises.
44. Most falls in one lesson: Zero. Really. :-)
45. Do you ride in an arena/ring? Sometimes but mostly for lessons only. I prefer to ride in the field or on trails.
46. Have you ever been trampled by a horse? No
47. Have you ever been bitten? Yes- NOT FUN! :-(
48. Ever had your foot stepped on by a horse?: Yes- sometimes even twice in a week. Not pretty.
49: Favorite riding moment: When I took Max to Morro Bay in 2007 and I ran him down the beach with some friends. I've never seen him move that fast- it was like he dropped three feet and he had no neck. It was like a rocket. I held on with the deepest canter seat I could muster and prayed that he didn't shy (well, at least I would have landed on sand). It was both terrifying and exhilerating at the same time and the adrenaline rush. Between the sea spray, wet sand, sun, etc., it was the perfect moment. I hadn't felt that since I was in the Army.
50. Most fun horse you've ridden: Like a lot of riders, just about every horse I've ridden have been fun in their own way but Max is probably the best all-round I’ve ever ridden
1. How old were you when you first started riding? I officially started when I was 26, courtesy of the US Army. I've always been a bit obsessed with horses since I was a kid- the usual Lone Ranger- Gene Autry stuff and anything to do with the US Cavalry (even the 7th Cavalry and it's unfortuante encounter with the Lakota at the Little Big Horn in June 1876).
2. First horse ridden: When I was about five years old I took a few riding lessons but I have no memory of it whatsoever. The one I do remember was when I did pulled a TDY tour with the Caisson Platoon/Old Guard at Ft. Myer, Virginia. I don't recall the horse's name but it was a nasty Mustang that the Caisson Platoon reserved for new riders- more to screw with their heads than anything else. My first experience included having the horse take off at a trot straight towards the end of the arena, which was a brick wall, and then swerving at the last minute. Fun.
3. First horse trotted on: The nasty Mustang mentioned above in #2.
4. First horse cantered on: Mickey
5. First Horse fallen off of: Max (my current horse)
6. Most recent horse fallen off of: Max- August 2008 at Morro Bay. We wound up getting lost and wandering down a trail meant for hikers. Max doesn't like closed in spaces and when we became trapped by low-lying trees, he reared up and attempted to climb up a large rock, dumping me in the process. He then dumped right afterwards when I attempted to remount and some passing surfers spooked him (it was the surf boards they were carrying). Max earned a new name: Alpo Boy because if someone had come along offering to take him off my hands and send him off to slaughter, I would have done it in a heartbeat- I was THAT pissed off. We've gotten past it pretty much...
7. Most terrifying fall: I fell off Max on some rocks in a riverbed when Max shied at something. I managed to bang and bounce my head multiple times on the rocks and cracked my helmet in several places- lucky I was wearing one!.
8. First horse jumped with: Max (over some cavalettis)
9. First horse who ran away with you: None- so far
10. First horse that scared the crap out of you: An Arab that belongs to a friend of mine. His mouth is so sensitive that I could feel that all I needed to do was give a hard jerk and the horse would rear up and fall on me. Talk about quiet hands!
11. First horse shown: Max- I've never taken Max to a formal show but I did enter a NATRC event. We won Fifth Place for horse fitness- I never did get my ribbon since they screwed up in computing the scores at the event so we found out after the fact. Oh well.
12. First horse to win a class with: N/A
13. Do you/have you taken lessons: I've been taking lessons for the past six years or so.
14. First horse you ever rode bareback: Buckshot, who promptly dumped me.
15. First horse trail ridden with: Faz, a tempermental Arab who decided to take mercy on me and gave me a good ride with no issues. Basically he was cutting me a break.
16. Current Barn name: Mitchell Ranch
17. Do you ride English or western?: Military...actually English (I catch flak all the time from my friend who ride Western)
18. First Horse to place at a show with: N/A
19. Ever been to horse camp?: No, not formally. I have camped with my horse Max but that's different, I think...
20. Ever been to a riding clinic? No.
21. Ridden sidesaddle? No. I might try it on a lark- but in an arena! :-)
22. First horse leased: Max
23. Last Horse Leased: Max
24. Highest ribbon in a show: 5th for horse fitness at a NATRC event (never did get the actual freakin' ribbon though).
25. Ever been to an 'A' rated show? No.
26. Ever competed in pony games/relay races? No.
27. Ever fallen off at a show: N/A
28. Do you ride Hunter/Jumpers? No- maybe someday.
29. Have you ever barrel raced? No.
30. Ever done pole bending? Not formally. A couple times we set up poles that we rode around at a trot/gallp and attempted to strike at with a sword.
31. Favorite gait: The canter- with a good canter, I can go all day.
32. Ever cantered bareback? Yes- lots of times.
33. Have you ever done dressage? Yes
34. Have you ever evented?: No- looks way too much like equine demolition derby for my taste.
35. Have you ever mucked a stall? Yep- lots of them (is there any other answer?)
36. Ever been bucked off? Twice. Tried using a curb bit on Max and was too rough. Max objected and I wound up on the ground. And it hurts landing on a holstered pistol twice in an hour.
37. Ever been on a horse that reared? Yes, a few times with Max.
38. Horses or ponies?: Definately horses – at 6'1" and 230 pounds, I'm way too big.
39. Do you wear a helmet? Always. I’ve been dropped on my head way too many times and the helmet saved me. The alternative is a lot worse.
40. What's the highest you've jumped: 2 feet I think.
41. Have you ever ridden at night? All the time- definately a test of confidence but it's good for both horse and rider. During the winter, it's either that or I don't ride at all, the way my work schedule is.
42. Do you watch horsey television shows? Once in a while.
43. Have you ever been seriously hurt/injured from a fall? Not really but I have some nasty bruises.
44. Most falls in one lesson: Zero. Really. :-)
45. Do you ride in an arena/ring? Sometimes but mostly for lessons only. I prefer to ride in the field or on trails.
46. Have you ever been trampled by a horse? No
47. Have you ever been bitten? Yes- NOT FUN! :-(
48. Ever had your foot stepped on by a horse?: Yes- sometimes even twice in a week. Not pretty.
49: Favorite riding moment: When I took Max to Morro Bay in 2007 and I ran him down the beach with some friends. I've never seen him move that fast- it was like he dropped three feet and he had no neck. It was like a rocket. I held on with the deepest canter seat I could muster and prayed that he didn't shy (well, at least I would have landed on sand). It was both terrifying and exhilerating at the same time and the adrenaline rush. Between the sea spray, wet sand, sun, etc., it was the perfect moment. I hadn't felt that since I was in the Army.
50. Most fun horse you've ridden: Like a lot of riders, just about every horse I've ridden have been fun in their own way but Max is probably the best all-round I’ve ever ridden
Monday, March 16, 2009
Mondays...
Today I decided to take a day off from work and get caught up with some things around the house and go to a dental appointment. Naturally I had to work in some time with Max so I decided to do my weekly lesson in the afternoon.
The weather here has warmed up quite a bit and Max is still shedding his winter coat so he's been pretty misearable and cranky lately. When I went to groom him, there were lumps on both sides of his neck which appeared to be hives, something he's never had before. I checked his temperature and it seemed to be OK and his overall demeanor seemed OK, so I proceeded with saddling him.
We then started to warm up with the usual sorts of dressage drills. However, lately Max has been refusing to canter in some instances and at one point he wanted to go back to his stall. After having a "discussion" with him, we got that resolved but it still concerns me. Given the weather shifts, the winter coat and all, I think he's feeling miserable and cranky. I also think that his arthritis may be acting up again (it does cool down pretty fast at night still).
I've got a dose of Adequan so I'll give him that but I want to see what happens with the hives/lumps. His appetite is good and he's acting his usual self (except for the cranky "I don't wanna!" moments). I've got some more investigation to do here.
For the lesson itself, it seemed like today Max just couldn't get the right lead canter at all. This is normally his "good" side and it usually requires very little effort on my part to get him to go. The left lead has traditionally been the problem area- maybe I overtrained it?
We kept working at it, regressing to increasingly simpler manuevers to get him to go. Of course, mixed in it was operator error on my part (balance, folding the pelvis underneath me, etc.) and Max was getting increasingly frustrated with me (goddammit Dad, what the hell to you want me to do?!"). We finally got him to launch into the right lead canter after some remedial work and then gradually built him up so he was properly executing them from the walk and even from a standing start.
I'm going to go a bit easy on him (which isn't hard since my schedule is a mess right now), give him the Adequan, and otherwise keep an eye on everything. Max appears sound (my trainer observed him) and he doesn't exhibit any pain behaviors, so those are good signs. I'll also work on the canters, mixed in with other manuevers. I also need to work on my backing up- Max is now assuming that I always want to do a rein-back and will beging to turn automatically. Max sometimes tries to hurry things along and I need to exercise more decisive direction at the right moment.
Always something with Max...definately not a motorcycle I can put away between sessions. :-)
The weather here has warmed up quite a bit and Max is still shedding his winter coat so he's been pretty misearable and cranky lately. When I went to groom him, there were lumps on both sides of his neck which appeared to be hives, something he's never had before. I checked his temperature and it seemed to be OK and his overall demeanor seemed OK, so I proceeded with saddling him.
We then started to warm up with the usual sorts of dressage drills. However, lately Max has been refusing to canter in some instances and at one point he wanted to go back to his stall. After having a "discussion" with him, we got that resolved but it still concerns me. Given the weather shifts, the winter coat and all, I think he's feeling miserable and cranky. I also think that his arthritis may be acting up again (it does cool down pretty fast at night still).
I've got a dose of Adequan so I'll give him that but I want to see what happens with the hives/lumps. His appetite is good and he's acting his usual self (except for the cranky "I don't wanna!" moments). I've got some more investigation to do here.
For the lesson itself, it seemed like today Max just couldn't get the right lead canter at all. This is normally his "good" side and it usually requires very little effort on my part to get him to go. The left lead has traditionally been the problem area- maybe I overtrained it?
We kept working at it, regressing to increasingly simpler manuevers to get him to go. Of course, mixed in it was operator error on my part (balance, folding the pelvis underneath me, etc.) and Max was getting increasingly frustrated with me (goddammit Dad, what the hell to you want me to do?!"). We finally got him to launch into the right lead canter after some remedial work and then gradually built him up so he was properly executing them from the walk and even from a standing start.
I'm going to go a bit easy on him (which isn't hard since my schedule is a mess right now), give him the Adequan, and otherwise keep an eye on everything. Max appears sound (my trainer observed him) and he doesn't exhibit any pain behaviors, so those are good signs. I'll also work on the canters, mixed in with other manuevers. I also need to work on my backing up- Max is now assuming that I always want to do a rein-back and will beging to turn automatically. Max sometimes tries to hurry things along and I need to exercise more decisive direction at the right moment.
Always something with Max...definately not a motorcycle I can put away between sessions. :-)
More Places That I Ride
For the curious, here are some more places that I ride to on a more or less regular basis:
The alley behind the Hansen Dam Equestrian Center. The 210 Freeway is on the right.
The sheep pens. This is a nice objective for a short ride and offers a lot of varied terrain so the horses get some good exercise.
The alley behind the Hansen Dam Equestrian Center. The 210 Freeway is on the right.
Going up Little Tujunga Canyon. This used to be a narrow trail before the owner of Middle Ranch widened after the fires last October. The fires, for the most part, stayed on the otherside of Osborne, it's a road on the left but it's hard to make out in this picture. The basic idea is to create a firebreak...hopefully.
The sheep pens. This is a nice objective for a short ride and offers a lot of varied terrain so the horses get some good exercise.
This is the fire road leading away from the sheep pens. I follow this for about a quarter mile until I pick up the trail heading back towards The Oaks. You can also pick up the Doc Larsen Trail from this road- which would be a left turn, heading further up into the hills. If you follow the fire road long enough, you can go over the hills pictured in front and eventually wind up at Foothill Boulevard.
As you can tell from the green grass, it's a smorgasboard of good eating for the horses. By August, this will all be brown except in some canyons.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Cpt. Kirk Rides! Ahead Warp Factor...
It's been a frustrating week with little riding (work and my WWI projects) so here's some relief. Featured in this month's issue of Cowboys and Indians Magazine, William Shatner!
For those who may not know, besides being an actor (especially with Star Trek), Shatner also is into the equestrian scene and he raises American Saddlebreds and Quarterhorses at a farm in Kentucky. Here's more. Enjoy!
For those who may not know, besides being an actor (especially with Star Trek), Shatner also is into the equestrian scene and he raises American Saddlebreds and Quarterhorses at a farm in Kentucky. Here's more. Enjoy!
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Some Interesting Horse Pictures
Here's a couple of interesting pictures I found:
Here's when things go VERY wrong. Taken somewhere in Uruguay.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Daylight Savings Time is Here!
It's nice to be able to tack up and ride while it's still light out! With the changeover due to Daylight Savings Time having started, I was able to actualy get some riding while it was still light. While that didn't seem to impress Max too much, it did allow me to work on several different figures so they'd be a bit more accurate in the execution.
Last night we worked on transitions from the canter to the walk- mostly riding in a circle on the canter, coming to a complete halt, and then walking out after waiting about three seconds (or when Max quits wiggle-wagging). It was a bit rocky and it's tough to stay centered when bringing Max to a halt from the canter.
One of the biggest challenges is bringing Max to a complete halt and then not "riding" him further. I can do this pretty well from the trot but the canter is a lot tougher. We had some good ones but this is going to require more practice.
We also worked on some other types of transitions and then practiced dragging the log around a bit. Max is getting pretty good about dragging the log and I've also been working on pulling from a side-pass and backing up (and not having him think that an animal is pursuing him).
I'm also going to start working more on the rattling aluminum cans in a bucket challenge- while I may not encounter this precise obstacle on the trail, it wouldn't hurt to get him used to "weird stuff that makes noise".
I'll have more time once I'm done with my WWI battle event with the Great War Historical Society.
Last night we worked on transitions from the canter to the walk- mostly riding in a circle on the canter, coming to a complete halt, and then walking out after waiting about three seconds (or when Max quits wiggle-wagging). It was a bit rocky and it's tough to stay centered when bringing Max to a halt from the canter.
One of the biggest challenges is bringing Max to a complete halt and then not "riding" him further. I can do this pretty well from the trot but the canter is a lot tougher. We had some good ones but this is going to require more practice.
We also worked on some other types of transitions and then practiced dragging the log around a bit. Max is getting pretty good about dragging the log and I've also been working on pulling from a side-pass and backing up (and not having him think that an animal is pursuing him).
I'm also going to start working more on the rattling aluminum cans in a bucket challenge- while I may not encounter this precise obstacle on the trail, it wouldn't hurt to get him used to "weird stuff that makes noise".
I'll have more time once I'm done with my WWI battle event with the Great War Historical Society.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Charge!
Here's a picture of modern day French Garde Republique charging. Pretty interesting.
After studying the picture a little, I notice that one of the riders (on the left, farthest from the camera) is standing up in the saddle- whether this is an attempt at two-point seat or simply standing up, is a little hard to tell but I suspect it's the latter. Looking at the legs and the lean in the upper body, it appears that the rider is top-heavy and out of balance. If the horse shies or abruptly stops, that rider is going to get launched.
The rider in the center appears to have a better seat and it appears to be a two-point stance with the rider centered low and the calves bearing a lot of the rider's weight. This is far more better than the first rider.
Yeah, I know everyone's a critic. :-)
Monday, March 9, 2009
Riding Through Shadow Hills
Yesterday, Max and I did something a little different from the usual by riding through Shadow Hills. OK, now that may sound a tad boring and "so what?" but it was an interesting step for Max since he hasn't had a lot of experience riding in a residential neighborhood. Sure, we've ridden up and down Orcas Avenue many times but that's just one route and not for a long distance.
After our usual Sunday lesson, it was such a beautiful day (cool, sunny, just a few clouds) that I decided to go for a short ride around Gabriellano Park. I had made most of the circuit when I encountered some friends of mine riding the opposite direction (one of them boards their horse at a place in Shadow Hills and everyone was accompanying her home just for the fun of it). I joined them and soon we'd crossed under Wentworth Avenue by way of a tunnel that runs underneath Wentworth.
We then followed a fireroad leading over a set of hills behind East Valley Feed and Tack. We then threaded our way through a number of bridal paths that follow the local streets. It's real neat to see that horses have been integrated into the neighborhood with the bridal paths that take the place of formal concrete sidewalks. It's definately easier on the horses and a lot safer than riding out in the street. However, at the same time you still have to be careful because of all the various sorts of noises and activity going on the various backyards. Max is usually pretty good but he definately was taking the whole scene in and was very aware of his surroundings.
We eventually followed a loop that took us along Stonehurst Avenue and past East Valley Feed and Tack. What was especially neat was that about a year or two ago, I'd helped install some of the bridal paths along Stonehurst Avenue (my arms were sore for days!) and now I got to utilize my handiwork. I usually don't ride over this way so I never though I'd actually be riding Max on the paths. Cool!
We made our way through the tunnel under Wentworth Avenue and made our way home. Max was definately up for going home and it was overall a nice ride except for the idiot rental riders and other clueless people we encountered going down the path leading towards Gabriellano Park. To be expected for a nice Sunday, I guess.
Overall, still a good day.
After our usual Sunday lesson, it was such a beautiful day (cool, sunny, just a few clouds) that I decided to go for a short ride around Gabriellano Park. I had made most of the circuit when I encountered some friends of mine riding the opposite direction (one of them boards their horse at a place in Shadow Hills and everyone was accompanying her home just for the fun of it). I joined them and soon we'd crossed under Wentworth Avenue by way of a tunnel that runs underneath Wentworth.
We then followed a fireroad leading over a set of hills behind East Valley Feed and Tack. We then threaded our way through a number of bridal paths that follow the local streets. It's real neat to see that horses have been integrated into the neighborhood with the bridal paths that take the place of formal concrete sidewalks. It's definately easier on the horses and a lot safer than riding out in the street. However, at the same time you still have to be careful because of all the various sorts of noises and activity going on the various backyards. Max is usually pretty good but he definately was taking the whole scene in and was very aware of his surroundings.
We eventually followed a loop that took us along Stonehurst Avenue and past East Valley Feed and Tack. What was especially neat was that about a year or two ago, I'd helped install some of the bridal paths along Stonehurst Avenue (my arms were sore for days!) and now I got to utilize my handiwork. I usually don't ride over this way so I never though I'd actually be riding Max on the paths. Cool!
We made our way through the tunnel under Wentworth Avenue and made our way home. Max was definately up for going home and it was overall a nice ride except for the idiot rental riders and other clueless people we encountered going down the path leading towards Gabriellano Park. To be expected for a nice Sunday, I guess.
Overall, still a good day.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Horse Breeding & Stallions
My equine class at Pierce College has been interesting and there's been a lot of interesting information put out- the instructor is a real treasure trove. Definately instructive.
Last night we went into breeding operations and dealing with stallions. The two things I went away with were:
1. If you keep a stallion, YOU HAD BETTER KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING!
2. Breeding is a crapshoot and you had better be ready to lose money. A LOT OF MONEY.
I pesonally have no interest whatsoever in breeding horses but it was very instructive and I learned a lot that I just had never thought about before. Personally, unless you're breeding, there's no reason to keep a stallion around and you're a potential hazard to everyone around you. NONE. Period.
Of course, the way we handle breeding in many respects runs counter to how it's done in the wild (yes, the basic act remains the same but everything else isn't). It's amazing how we've bent the horse to meet our requirements, especially when money is on the line. What's also striking is that in many ways, it's like rolling dice- you can get your mare bred to a suitable stallion, wait 9 months and then have the foal die on birth or be born with some defect that pretty much renders them useless. And now you're out a lot of money for board, vet bills, etc. and nothing to show for it. Sure you could get a refund on the stud fee but still...
On the other hand, since we've recently had some foals at the stables, it's interesting because I now know a more about the theoretcial basis for why certain horses are bred and I can see it in action- theory and reality. Foals are always cool to watch, no matter what. :-)
In these poor economic times, it really makes little sense to breed unless we're talking about race horses or something else that's high-dollar. People are literally giving them away or abandoning them and there's basically too many horses out there (I'll save the horse slaughter issue for another day). Not good.
It's also amazing just how much money is tied up in breeding operations, especially in the Thoroughbred industry and especially in Kentucky. I spent three years in Kentucky courtesy of the Army and I made regular trips to Lexington but it never really registered before. It's making a lot more sense now although I seriously doubt that I'll ever get mixed up in it (got a few million you can give me to try it out? :-)).
We'll be taking a field trip out to Santa Anita race track next Saturday so that will be a chance to learn how the foals are eventually put to use.
You learn something new everyday...
Last night we went into breeding operations and dealing with stallions. The two things I went away with were:
1. If you keep a stallion, YOU HAD BETTER KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING!
2. Breeding is a crapshoot and you had better be ready to lose money. A LOT OF MONEY.
I pesonally have no interest whatsoever in breeding horses but it was very instructive and I learned a lot that I just had never thought about before. Personally, unless you're breeding, there's no reason to keep a stallion around and you're a potential hazard to everyone around you. NONE. Period.
Of course, the way we handle breeding in many respects runs counter to how it's done in the wild (yes, the basic act remains the same but everything else isn't). It's amazing how we've bent the horse to meet our requirements, especially when money is on the line. What's also striking is that in many ways, it's like rolling dice- you can get your mare bred to a suitable stallion, wait 9 months and then have the foal die on birth or be born with some defect that pretty much renders them useless. And now you're out a lot of money for board, vet bills, etc. and nothing to show for it. Sure you could get a refund on the stud fee but still...
On the other hand, since we've recently had some foals at the stables, it's interesting because I now know a more about the theoretcial basis for why certain horses are bred and I can see it in action- theory and reality. Foals are always cool to watch, no matter what. :-)
In these poor economic times, it really makes little sense to breed unless we're talking about race horses or something else that's high-dollar. People are literally giving them away or abandoning them and there's basically too many horses out there (I'll save the horse slaughter issue for another day). Not good.
It's also amazing just how much money is tied up in breeding operations, especially in the Thoroughbred industry and especially in Kentucky. I spent three years in Kentucky courtesy of the Army and I made regular trips to Lexington but it never really registered before. It's making a lot more sense now although I seriously doubt that I'll ever get mixed up in it (got a few million you can give me to try it out? :-)).
We'll be taking a field trip out to Santa Anita race track next Saturday so that will be a chance to learn how the foals are eventually put to use.
You learn something new everyday...
Sunday, March 1, 2009
More Warm and Dry
Like yesterday, today was pretty warm with temperatures going into the 80s. Perfect riding weather...except for the fact that Max still has his winter coat.
Today I did my ususal weekly lesson and focused intensively on canter-halts as well as other transitions. Also, I worked on my lead transitions while doing serpentines at the canter. Previously, changing leads at the trot (we're not to flying lead changes quite yet) has always been a bit rough and I've never felt that I was doing it right. Well, I'm right about that- I wasn't doing them right.
As things turned out, I have a tendency to lean forward when trying to transition into the canter that's actually making it more difficult for Max to do it, by placing too much weight on the front end. The key, as I learned, is to keep in the vertical, or slightly behind the veertical, and keep one's hands positioned in a normal position- give some rein so the horse can move but don't move your hands forward. The horse should be able to move into the canter with ease with the normal cue. Your body needs to remain centered in the seat.
It needs to look and be effortless- your legs should be doing all the work by delivering the correct cue. It also helps if you've been working with your horse and are able to cue them into the correct right or left lead (it's taken years for me to perfect this).
Once I was doing this, it was a joy to ride. What's also neat is going into the canter from a halt. You shouldn't have to move any part of your body, except for the legs when they cue. Essentially, you need to help your horse get into the correct lead by not putting extra weight on the front, which is what people tend to do when going into a canter.
We definately have some new homework to do!
When I was done with my lesson, I decided to do something that wasn't so physical so we practiced dragging a small log around the arena and working around the rattling aluminum cans. Basically, this is a continuation of the trail trial practice that I was doing last weekend. My goal is keep working on these, and other obstacles to get Max used to them by sheer repetition. Max did very well and it was a good way to cool-down from practice.
I ended by giving Max a nice cool bath to wash away all the accumulated dirt and cool him down. Naturally, he then rolled and got himself all muddy again. Go figure...
Today I did my ususal weekly lesson and focused intensively on canter-halts as well as other transitions. Also, I worked on my lead transitions while doing serpentines at the canter. Previously, changing leads at the trot (we're not to flying lead changes quite yet) has always been a bit rough and I've never felt that I was doing it right. Well, I'm right about that- I wasn't doing them right.
As things turned out, I have a tendency to lean forward when trying to transition into the canter that's actually making it more difficult for Max to do it, by placing too much weight on the front end. The key, as I learned, is to keep in the vertical, or slightly behind the veertical, and keep one's hands positioned in a normal position- give some rein so the horse can move but don't move your hands forward. The horse should be able to move into the canter with ease with the normal cue. Your body needs to remain centered in the seat.
It needs to look and be effortless- your legs should be doing all the work by delivering the correct cue. It also helps if you've been working with your horse and are able to cue them into the correct right or left lead (it's taken years for me to perfect this).
Once I was doing this, it was a joy to ride. What's also neat is going into the canter from a halt. You shouldn't have to move any part of your body, except for the legs when they cue. Essentially, you need to help your horse get into the correct lead by not putting extra weight on the front, which is what people tend to do when going into a canter.
We definately have some new homework to do!
When I was done with my lesson, I decided to do something that wasn't so physical so we practiced dragging a small log around the arena and working around the rattling aluminum cans. Basically, this is a continuation of the trail trial practice that I was doing last weekend. My goal is keep working on these, and other obstacles to get Max used to them by sheer repetition. Max did very well and it was a good way to cool-down from practice.
I ended by giving Max a nice cool bath to wash away all the accumulated dirt and cool him down. Naturally, he then rolled and got himself all muddy again. Go figure...
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