Cheap turnout tips: One for the coat.

In my job we have to get the racehorses looking like a million bucks!!  As good as it's possible to get a horse to look. I've learnt heaps of turnout tips, that are super duper cheap and thought I might share them with you guys.
Today's tip is for their coats.
People spend so much money on really expensive shampoos and sprays to get that sleek shiny coat on their horse.
These things can really pricey.
At work we buy the cheapest cooking spray from the supermarket....
Spray that all over your horse's coat,

Then brush it in and your done.

It's costs $1-$3 dollars. Makes your horse's coat shiny and looking amazing.
Doesn't take a lot of work.
It also doesn't make the saddle area or the reins slippery!!

Repost: Pretrainers featuring Sundy!

I didn't like the way my other post turned out so I'm re doing it.

At our 'private ' track where we train and keep our pretrainers, is also where my ponies are kept.
My favourite horse at work is doing her training here at the moment.
Sundae (pronounced Sundy) is personally owned by Emma who bred her and has owned her since she was a foal.
Sundy is full of personality. She absolutely loves people and is full of sass. She's super cheeky but has the biggest heart and will try her heart out if she likes you.

Because of her massive personality and sass, she doesn't always go well for some people. But I just clicked with her from the start and Emma has made me her main rider. 

I can tell just from riding her round the track that she is going to be an amazing jumper. She's small but fast and she has that amazing uphill bouncy canter, and is quick on her feet with a smart mind. 

After talking about it it was agreed that I could take her after her racing career!!  Just, because you can never have enough horses!! 

Here are some photos of Sundae and I working with another filly with Emma on-board.  

Breaking in Rocket!

It started as a comment on Facebook.  A friend has just brought another racehorse, a Road To Rock filly. I commented saying that Road To Rock was one of my favourite sires and tend to be really nice horses. Also one of my favourite mares at work is out of Road To Rock.
After that comment the lady messaged me and asked if I would break 'Rocket' in for her.

She had done a really good job with the groundwork (long-lining, lunging etc). Which made it a lot easier for me.
When I got there Rocket was standing patiently waiting with the saddle on. She accepted the bridle no problems and we took her into the yards. After laying all over her and patting her all over while doing so I hopped on properly.
I waited for the usual, her back to come up or for her to start bucking but she stood there like she'd done it a million times before. I got her moving round the yard, turning, stopping and going forward.
She was so quiet i had to keep asking, "are you sure she hasn't already been broken in before ".
The owner took the lead off and I kicked her round the yard by myself.  Rocket was so good,  there was one point when we started trotting that she threw her head down, put a few decent bucks in, but i stayed with her and kept the forwardness and she continued like a champ.

She's by far the easiest horse I've broken in. Can't wait to see this lil mare as her career develops. 

Sophie's problems - part 2

Sophie was the same with the new saddle on. That rules out saddle fitting issues and pain related problems.
I took a few videos of her reactions and sent them to my boss to see what she thought.
She's a really experienced horse person and I have a lot of respect for her.
After looking at the videos she said she thinks I'm right and that it doesn't really look like it's pain causing her to act the way she has been.
She also said that I know my horse best and if I also don't think it's pain related then she had a couple of other suggestions for me.
One of those was also a suggestion by Dom in a comment on my last post.
A few of the racehorses are the same and it's hormonal/ovary problems which could be making her so reactive and like she's hurting.

It really makes sense that this is what's bothering her as she's a very sensitive mare, had a few foals and she's always been inclined to get silly and grouchy when she's in season.

So I'm now on the lookout for a good treatment system and/or supplements to help her with this. More $$$ for the horses!!

I also shortened my stirrups and demonstrated how I ride at the track.  

This is general pacework stirrup length, we ride even shorter for gallop days.  

Please excuse the no helmet in the photos, I do normally wear one but I left it at work.

Sophie's problems!!

Sophie is such a sweetheart, but has always been very sensitive. I've been working very slowly with her taking my time. Every time I use leg on her or if my leg touches her side she would pin her ears and let out a pigroot.
After taking it slow she is now walking and trotting, and accepting my leg nicely so we decided to try cantering.
She bucked. A lot. And they weren't just little bucks either she meant business.
Because she is so sweet by nature and generally tries to please, that acting like this is not normal for her.
So after a fair few attempts I decided to give her the benefit of the doubt and see if pain was related to her bucking.
So far I've ruled out her back. She has no problems there.
Her saddle seems to fit her nicely but to be sure I'm going to try her with a track saddle on. One that fits her nicely and the ones we used are designed to be as comfortable and pain free as saddles get.
Hopefully if this "weather bomb" we have been hit with is passed by tomorrow I'll see how she goes in that.

Ride out for Sophie.

Sophie had her first ride out the other day. My little sister rode Poppy and we went for a short hack out on the farm.

We had to ride down the road for 100 metres or so but its a quiet road so we didn't have to worry about any traffic.

 In the beginning it was a bit overwhelming for her and she jig-jogged a bit. I kept relaxed and my reins long and she settled nicely and we ended really well!!
The photos.....

Olivia and Poppy

And Sophie and I 

When your running low on time....

On the days I just don't have enough time to ride them both, I ride out for a trot on the roads, riding one and leading the other....

The first time I did this I made sure I had plenty of time and started in a confined area. I didn't really have to worry about it though because once Goldrush got the hang of it he was quite happy to trot alongside.
It makes life so much easier somedays and my little ol Spud is such a patient lead pony.

Of course no ride would be complete without my little helper coming along.
Diesel is growing so fast!!

Track work.

I'm absolutely loving having a track for me to ride my ponies around. It's really good fitness work and I know they love being able to open up and go hard a couple of times a week.
Goldrush had his first experience on the track the other morning, we just kept it to a walk the first time around because he was quite spooky and unsure of everything, the second round we trotted and he was a lot more confident. We didn't gallop just fast cantered two rounds. He loved it once he was over all the scaries!!  unfortunately no pictures, but we did 4 rounds of gallop on Spud.
This pony is so cute. He puts his ears back digs his feet in and goes as fast as he possibly can!!

Tentative plans!!

The ponies are doing so well.
After being there for one night the neighbour who is a really lovely person, and often comes over to chat with us when we work the racehorses fell in love with them, he offered me his paddock to use if I wanted to, so they get an hr or two to stuff there faces and run around in the mornings.

I also was a bit worried about them in the yards all day, not being able to get away from the sun, so we set them up in bigger yards with a little run in each for them. 

They are settled in really well and are relaxed and happy so I'm a happy mum :)

As for riding they are both working really nicely. They are ridden every day and I alternate between schooling dressage, games training and hacking out. Occasionally when I can they will get fitness work round the track. I'm also hoping to get a little jump or two set up. 

Goldrush is growing up so much, on our road rides he trots along nicely and if.he's unsure he will just look at it warily rather than shy at it.
In his schooling we have progressed from moving sideways off my leg at a halt to moving over at a walk and trot as well. I choose a line 5 meters in from the fence and leg-yield to the fence line and then back out again. He's responding so well to all the transitions and circles, figure of 8's and serpentines. I'd just like him to work with a bit more energy now and also not to try break out of his circles to get closer to his friends. He tries this once at the start of every ride until he gets told off and then he settles nicely.

And for the title of my post we have tentative plans to take Spud to a one day event on the 11th of February and also regionals for mounted games on the 25th and 26th of February. So we are training for those. And he's still my solid go hard little man <3 div="">

Spud wants to be a racehorse.

Today after working 10 horses at work I jumped on Spud and rode him around our private, smaller track that we use to train the pretrainers.
And we went for a gallop round.
It sure is strange riding little Spuddy round, after the big racehorses but he loved it and went as fast as his little legs would take him.

2017 Goals!!

My goals for this year....

For Sophie :
- Keep her happy and healthy!!
- Get her schooling nicely, doing basic dressage in a nice relaxed frame and working properly using her body.
- Take her to a show/competition
-  Teach her to do pole work and start jumping her.
- Be able to hack her out alone and in company.

For Goldrush:

- Keep him happy and healthy. 

- Continue with his schooling. 

- Take him out as much as possible on either lessons, competitions or just a float ride to a beach or trail ride in new places. 

- Get him jumping consistently. I've popped him over a couple of small teeny tiny cross jumps but he's never jumped properly before. 

- Be able to do running vaults on him

- Take him to his first mounted games competition. 

For Spud:

- Keep him happy and healthy! 

- Get some weight off him so he's not fat!!

- Take him to an ode (one day event) 

- Get him out to a few mounted games competitions. 

- Teach him a few tricks and see how he goes with bareback and bridleless work. 

For Me:

- Keep working towards my goals of becoming a jockey. Ride in more jumpouts and get as far as I can and as my boss thinks I'm ready for in a year. 

- Workout/run 3-5 times a week. 

- Be happy. Enjoy the little things. 

- Have more confidence in myself and stop doubting myself so much. 

- Work hard. 

- Be a good person.
- Make more time for family and friends. Go on adventures. Experience new things and make the time to relax and have fun. 

Sophie. start of 2017

With the new grazing and actual flat area suitable for riding, I've been able to bring Sophie back into work properly.

Started with giving her hooves a trim.

Then lunged her 

Then lastly I rode her. This girl is a sweetheart!! Although in saying that she's very picky on who she trusts and let's handle her. But we have a good bond and she tries for me. 

Sophie is learning that she is no longer a racehorse and im in the process of retraining her. At the moment she is learning to relax, lower her head and accept my leg. She did really well today despite the wind, she was nice and relaxed. The most challenging thing with her at the moment is to accept my leg. Every time my leg is on (even very lightly) she puts her ears back, and tenses through her back. But we are making progress!! 

I am keeping her at a walk and trot for now until she is relaxed and accepting my leg. Then we will move onto canter. She is a very sensitive mare but has heaps of potential.