Home Away from Home.

Bailey and I were now successfully jumping obstacles and I felt like we needed another challenge.

My trainer had told me about a local horse show that she would be traveling to with a few other students.  I decided to sign up too.

It would be Bailey’s first time traveling off the property since she had arrived at Anchor Way Farm over a year ago.  I hadn’t competed away from home in at least two years.  My nerves were on over drive.

Bailey and I warming up before our classes at Fox Hollow Riding Academy.

I had the same goals as I did for the home show that we had participated in April.  I wanted Bailey’s first experience to be rewarding and positive, so we only entered two classes.  As I have stated in previous posts, a regular division has three jumping rounds and a flat phase.  However, Bailey was not ready to take on any obstacles away from home so we decided to compete in two flat classes of different divisions.

I was ready for Bailey to have a meltdown, bolt, spook or what ever chaos that might ensue.  Horses are unpredictable creatures, but I feel this is what draws me to the sport.

Everything is built on a foundation of trust.

We entered the ring and without hesitation Bailey walk, trot, and cantered willingly when I asked.  Yet again this ex-race horse amazed me with her level of intelligence and maturity.

Even though we placed next to last in both classes, I left Fox Hollow Riding Academy feeling just as successful as I did when attending the 2015 ETHJA awards banquet.  The ribbons and trophies will never matter as much to me as the work that goes into winning them.

Below is a short video of the judge asking for a walk to canter transition and Bailey willingly executing the cue.

 

 

 

Finding Her Wings.

Bailey was now a master of ground poles.  The next step was something I had been dreaming about from the moment I knew she would be mine.

Jumping.

My trainer and I set up a lesson at the end of August.  I warmed up Bailey just as I had done so many times before and worked on flat work for the beginning of the ride.  Then my trainer set up a small box, Bailey’s first solid obstacle.

Some horses become insecure about where to put their feet when they see their first real fence.  It was imperative that I remain confident and encourage Bailey to keep moving forward.  As we trotted to the base of the green boxes, my heart raced as Bailey found her wings.

She soared.

Bailey jumping a solid obstacle in August 2017.

Bailey tossed her head in amusement just as she had done when she encountered ground rails, and I was thrilled.  I knew in that moment that Bailey enjoyed jumping as much as I did.

Ashley and I decided that one jump was enough for the day and I cooled Bailey down.  It was a single obstacle, a course of fences consists of 8 or more, but it was still a major milestone for a young horse.

 

Poles.

Throughout the month of July, Bailey and I focused on building muscle in the fields and flat work in the riding ring.  Her willingness to learn is a trait rarely found in ex-race horses, let alone mares.

It was now August and I planned a lesson with my trainer in order to find ways to challenge Bailey.  She was responding to all the aids on the flat and Ashley decided to add in a new element.

Ground poles.

Bailey cantering over ground poles in July 2017.

While not intimidating, poles are the foundation for jumping large fences.  Bailey awkwardly trotted over the first few but quickly figured out where to put her feet.

Ashley then challenged me to canter over them.  Throughout the past year, Bailey and I developed a level of trust and communication that would now be tested.  With nothing to lose, I cued my ex-race horse to canter and we soared. Bailey tossed her head playfully and I could tell she enjoyed the concept of jumping.

 

Ashley patting Bailey after a successful lesson.

 

From Loss to Hoss.

July finally arrived and Bailey was given the green light by my trainer to resume a regular working regimen.  Her weight had improved significantly and even her coat looked shinier from the nutrients in her new feed.  I was encouraged to see my horse transform from a runner’s build into one that resembles a body builder.

She was a chunk.

Fat is beneficial but Bailey was still lacking muscle which could only be gained through regular exercise.  We began work lightly in order to avoid any strains or injuries.

After a week, Bailey was conditioned enough to resume the work we had temporarily suspended since the beginning of May.  It was frustrating to halt the progress we had been making since she had arrived the year before, but I knew it would be beneficial in the long run.

Bailey gained almost 400 pounds in a span of two months.

Spend A Little Time.

Bailey had strict rules to relax and not do anything physically demanding for the next two months. She enjoyed spending time during the day with her new friend, Scooby, and slept inside a stall at night.

It was an easy lifestyle.

I spent time taking photos with Bailey during her re-cooperation in June 2017.

I decided to make the most of the free time to build a stronger relationship. Grooming became my favorite past time and I would take Bailey on walks around the property just as I had done when she first arrived.  Some days I would take a book to the barn and read while Bailey munched on the grass around me, it was very peaceful.

Bailey and I enjoying each other’s company in June 2017.

She gradually began adding weight to her bony structure and her overall attitude became more lively.  It was encouraging to see that the new strategy my trainer and I put in place was working.

Bailey would still need a few more weeks to re-cooperate the fat and muscle she had lost.

Patience is the key lesson I learned throughout these two months.

 

Losing Weight.

Thoroughbreds are notorious for their high metabolisms.  Bred to work like an athlete, these horses can be tricky to keep at a healthy weight.

Bailey was visibly underweight in April 2017 and needed a new diet.

It was spring, a time when most horses begin to pack on the pounds due to the sweet grasses growing in the fields. Bailey had lost weight throughout the winter and it was now becoming apparent that she was going to need help in order to gain it back.  It was strange buying rice bran and weight supplements.  I had grown accustomed to Candy Bar who could look simply at food and gain five pounds.

Without the proper nutrition, Bailey would not be physically able to meet the demands of the sport.  It was imperative that my trainer and I work together in order to find a diet that would work.

Bailey began receiving a new grain, specifically tailored to meet a young horse’s nutritional requirements.  It is called Essential K Tribute and is a great source of amino acids, organic minerals, fatty acids, and antioxidants; all of which she was lacking in her feed.

My trainer and I also decided to change Bailey’s turnout routine because she was being bullied by the dominant mares.  There was small lot designated to four retired geldings that were docile and could potentially be a better fit for Bailey’s personality.

One in particular, Scooby, took great interest in my big filly and they quickly became great pals.

Bailey and her friend, Scooby, in May 2017.

My trainer advised me to give Bailey some time off, or rehab.  Her body needed to rest in order to gain the weight and muscle she had lost throughout the winter.

She was prescribed two months of total relaxation.

 

 

A Taste of Success.

It was now April and the ETHJA show season was in full swing.  In 2015, Candy Bar and I would’ve started competing in March in order to accumulate points by end of the year.

Bailey and I riding in our first show together in April 2017.

Bailey and I weren’t interested in whether or not we received points, the experience at a competition was more important.  My trainer holds an annual show on the property at Anchor Way Farm and I decided to sign up.

Horse shows can be an upsetting environment for a young horse, so I wanted to see how Bailey handled the situation.

Due to her racing background I felt that Bailey would be accustomed to hearing loud noises from an intercom, people running back and forth, and strange horses getting a little too close for comfort.

We entered 2 flat classes and ended up winning one.

I was ecstatic.

Bailey could’ve become anxious and I would’ve understood completely.  However, she kept her level head just as she had done when the flock of pigeons flew up behind her the day I met her in July 2016.

She had a taste of being a competitor and seemed to enjoy every second of it.  I knew she was going to become a wonderful show horse with more training.

Below is a short video of Bailey and I in our first show together, this is a flat class.

Leaving the Classroom.

Horses are accustomed to being in open fields and quickly grow bored of regular training in a fenced arena.  Similar to giving a child recess at school, this is exactly what Bailey needed.

Bailey enjoys being out of the riding ring in March 2017.

Field work is important not only for the horse’s mind, but also their physical well-being.  A proper riding arena is level and keeps the horse going around in a circular shape. This is excellent for jumping a course of fences, but Bailey would need to strengthen her muscles and stamina before that could be a possibility.

In order to initiate this, I began taking my ex-race horse into the open fields surrounding Anchor Way Farm.  The hilly land is an excellent environment for encouraging Bailey to engage her muscles.

Imagine running on a flat track verses running up a flight of stairs, which one is more effective?  This is the same concept.

I’m a huge advocate for riding out in open fields.  The benefits are endless.

I noticed Bailey’s stamina strengthen, her muscles grew and she seemed mentally happier to be out of the riding ring.  While not a permanent fix, it also quieted her jigging, discussed in a previous post.

The Jig.

Something I feel every equestrian can agree annoys them to no end is jigging.

Imagine the horse dancing in place, this is what riders call the jig.

It stems from impatience and is a vice that many off-the-track Thoroughbreds possess due to being accustomed to a fast lifestyle.  The next time you watch a major race, such as the Kentucky Derby, pay close attention to the horses as they are being led to the starting gate. You will notice that they bounce around in excitement as they become more aware that the race is near.

This mindset does not vanish when a horse leaves the track, many times it’s a habit that stays with them.

Bailey was no exception.

Her intelligence made her anticipate my next move so I had to find ways to out smart her.

In order to do so, I would change up the riding routine so that she could not expect the next cue.  Horses are masters of repetition and quickly remember patterns.  For example, many riders will go in order of gaits when riding their horse.  They will begin at the walk, warm up at the trot, and spend time at the end cantering.  Bailey quickly realized this pattern and began to anticipate the cues before I even asked them which caused her to dance in place or jig.

To counter this, I would change the patterns, leaving her unable to expect what would happen next.  She finally began to relax and wait for my cues, this would make training in the future less challenging for both of us.

Bailey pictured after a successful ride in February 2017.

Lunging.

Lunging is a useful tool in the world of equestrian sport.

Many people imagine an athlete doing squats when they hear this term, but for horses it is a different method of stretching.

Instead of working the horse in the saddle, a rider will take a long rope, attach one end to the horse and hold the other end.  Using voice aids, body language and a long whip the horse will work in a large circle around the rider.  It is useful because it keeps the rider safe, the horse is able to expel any unneeded energy, and it focuses on the aids.

Giving Bailey a pat after lunging on a chilly afternoon.

It became routine to lunge Bailey before each ride throughout the winter in order to let her baby brain settle.  Thoroughbreds are a breed known for their excitable nature and it’s easier to work in the tack when they have a good warm up.  It ensures that Bailey and I are able to focus on the skills to be taught, similar to letting a kid play outside for a few minutes before class begins.

Below is a video of Bailey learning to canter on the lunge line in January 2017.