Yeah, I really am the world's worst blogger. This year I'm going to try to be a little bit better at keeping riding logs and keeping up with my progress, as I've got a LOT going on.
Last show season finished up okay. Acorn and I had our best ride yet in the first test of our Championship pair, and in the second test (despite a stellar warmup) we were excused less than halfway through. He was spooking at every. single. letter. Now I'm not exaggerating when I say that prior to that day, Corn had never spooked with me. I think, ONE time he dashed sideways a few steps at a child running out of the woods screaming in his general direction, but that's it. Deer, trucks. golf carts, flower boxes... literally, nothing had ever spooked him before our Championship test. It was a HUGE bummer and a crappy way to end the season.
Gali, who had a very mellow season due to shows cancelling, a poorly timed leg cut and shows filling up early, finished the season on our highest note. We went to the ECRDA Championship show, which was held in an indoor that is 3' bigger on each side than the arena. Gali was a superstar despite the absolutely "terrifying" trot around the ring, and we ended up putting in two great tests to come out as Reserve Champion for the Training Level Sr. division. Super proud!
However, since the fall, he's been really lame. His ringbone has progressed pretty drastically, and he's had a very, very rough winter. I've been trying lots of different therapies, and was considering taking him up to New Bolton for an alcohol arthrodesis, but we're trying something called OsPhos first. It's a recently approved treatment for Navicular and so far, so good. He's only just over 2 weeks into his first round of treatment, and already his walk has drastically improved. I'm trying not to get my hopes up, but I really hope that this helps him like I think it will.
Acorn has been in steady work, and he continues to improve. I get very frustrated with him because he's SUCH a naturally talented horse, he's got great gaits and very good conformation, but his brain gets in his way, and he stresses out about working hard. Sofia is (hopefully) going to start jumping him a little more, and he's always way happier when he's in a mixed program, so maybe he'll become a little easier to work with. We had some really nice canter work in our last few lessons, so I'm looking forward to seeing what I can get out of this horse this year. I would *love* to take him first level at some schooling shows, but I need to tap into his brain and get him to chill out about some stressful situations (ie: work). He's still for sale, but no real interest yet.
Oh, last November we got Katie back to our farm. She's Nicole's horse now, and the plan is for me to show her at the USDF shows this year and get my scores for my Training & First level rider's achievement certificates. I'm thrilled to have my 'first' horse back, and she has been an absolute joy to ride. She came up lame about a week ago - thinking it's the ground and that she needs shoes, but our vet is coming out tomorrow to take a look.
Rowdy has continued to be adorable and bratty. He's great for the kids but occasionally decides he's gonna be a bucking bronco with me when I start making him work. He's getting way better and I absolutely love riding him. Unfortunately, he's *also* lame right now :( He got kicked a little while ago, and while he's probably just a grade 1 lame, his leg hasn't really improved in terms of swelling. Vet thinks it's a bone chip, and when he's out tomorrow he's going to take a few xrays and see what's up. Goals for him this year just include some training level work, some showing, and getting him to be a lot better at basic things like being bathed, standing on crossties while the barn's busy, standing still for mounting and trailering.
So... that's the state of the herd! All of the other lesson ponies are doing great, and teaching has been a blast.
