Penance

July 1, 2011 6 Comments

Me & my buddy Frank

We had another up and down week, Derby and me,  as his back got sore again after my ride on Sunday. I *did* try another shim in my Mattes pad, which could have caused the soreness. Or, maybe after his winter off,  we’re asking too much too soon with multiple trot sets and stretching.  Who knows.

So he had a few days off,  just longing, and after discussing it with Christy, I decided that I’m going back to square one in terms of building fitness.  Hour long rides at a walk for a week.  Then introducing a couple short trot segments of no more than five minutes each, and then gradually increasing the trot, and adding short canters in about a month. And – hand to God – I swear on a stack of Bibles that I won’t mess with the shims and padding.

So on Wednesday we walked,  in hand, in the outdoor arena.  Walked and walked, in the deeper footing, over poles.  Derby signaled his boredom with sighs but plodded along next to me.  Because we weren’t mounted, and because I also needed to get a workout in, we also jogged a bit – the two of us, me in my big Wellies – around the outdoor.  As I was putting Derby away, Kim arrived, running late, and asked me of I could ride Frank, as she needed to get on Prior but both needed some work.  I was more than happy to hop on my old pal, and spent the ride doing penance for Derby, trotting around in two-point, and posting from a half-seat, keeping my butt out of the saddle as much as I could.  Gaahh.  I need to do more of that kind of work.  It kills.

On Thursday,  I tacked up Derby for one of our walking rides.  I had asked Christy if we could hack out off the property a short way, just so I could see how Derby would be.  He’s done lots of trails and schooled XC – and as expected, he was fine.  I was a little trepidatious – I generally am with most “first time” moments – but he was a good boy – even when we had to weave through pine trees and wade through belly-high grass.  We got out a little way – having tackled the parts of the trail I don’t love (pine trees, a drainage ditch, the tall grass) and Derby started acting a bit nervous.  Not bad, at all – just a leeetle looky and snorty.  Because a good experience was important to me – I am putting my own confidence back together and am frankly managing my experiences by setting myself up for success –  I asked Christy to turn around.  She was surprised but I wanted to get back before I had any issues.  A successful maiden voyage was the desired outcome.

We headed back, and Derby felt tense and was a little spooky.  This was all manageable – on the spookiness Richter scale, where 1 is a look and 10 is eating dirt while your horse flees into the next county, this was a 1.5.  No biggie.  And that was the point.   Getting out and back successfully and quietly is the first step I needed.  And it worked – I’m eager to take Derby back out, and am certain that he’ll be fantastic on the trails.  And we learned later that three was another rider in amongst the pine trees, and she had flushed a deer, so Derby’s avid interest in what was going on elsewhere was legit.

We ended the ride schooling bend in the outdoor.  I need to work on establishing a more forward, marching walk with Derby, who tends to get slow.  Anyway, it was a good night.  However,  I still find myself riding defensively.  I have to get it through my head – and into my instinctive reflexes – that this horse isn’t Maddie.  I can trust this boy. I *need* to trust this boy.

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Stretch goals

June 24, 2011 2 Comments

Finally! I'm staying out of his way, and presto - the back comes up. Good boy!

Stretchy trot is not a movement I’ve practiced much or ride well.   But as I’ve noted previously, I need to make a point of riding Derby over his back, and stretching into contact, in order to start building correct muscle, fitness, and his top line.  I’m also trying to build my riding muscles back up and improve the independence of my hands.  We focused on these issues in my lessons later this week.

A nice albeit fleeting moment from our lesson 6/22

On Wednesday, Christy had me pick up from my earlier ride on Atlanta, and focus on moving the horse around with my seat, while also keeping my hands quiet.   We had some nice moments but really, the ride was mostly about me trying to get my act together, and continue to figure out what makes Derbyhorse tick.

She had me start by asking Derby to relax and give his neck at the walk.  We then moved into some trot work, starting out on a loopy rein.  I’ve discovered that I have to stay out of Derby’s face, and instead use my seat and leg aids – especially an active inside leg – to generate the results I want.

Which is easier said than done for me at the moment.

Tonight’s ride was better, chiefly because Christy had us do a new exercise that worked really well.  I started out  trotting on a loopy rein, exaggerating the loop to keep my hands entirely out of the picture.

Christy then had me do two things – post from a half seat, staying off his back, and simultaneously move him around without the reins – which is another way of saying “get busy with your inside leg!”

The response from Derby was almost immediate:

Derby stretches on a loopy rein.

Derby stretched down, and stayed there.  We motored around like that for a while, despite the fact that I was dumping him on his forehand.

Christy had me gently shorten the reins a hair,  and focus keeping my hands steady, telling me to think of my hands as side reins.  She also had me close my fingers, reminding me that “There’s no way for you to give with open fingers,” while also telling me to let Derby find the end of the reins and invite him to hold the contact in his stretch.

And that’s when things started to feel pretty good indeed.  Derby’s back came up a bit, and while he wasn’t moving with a big, ground-covering stride, he was holding the contact and keeping his back up – a definite improvement from motoring around on his forehand as we had been doing earlier in the ride.  We were able hold the stretch for as long as I was able to maintain the light seat, steady hands and active inside leg, which as you can see from the video below of this ride is still very much a work in progress.  And while the quality of the trot wasn’t great, in reality, there’s only so much I can do at once. I’ll start asking him for a proper working trot as I get better at holding the light seat with independent hands.  Anyway, for the sake of documentation, here it is:

The good news is that we really got the hang of stretching, and eventually Derby brought his back up, seeking and holding the contact.  I’m really pleased, because after spending the last few months watching Christy patiently build Remy’s fitness, I know that a lot of steady trot work in a stretchy, connected frame is an important building block.  And, at training level, the stretchy trot carries a double coefficient – it’s an important test of the horse’s connection.   Getting good at this is important, but I know I can do this on my own and that we’ll improve.  Tonight was just the start.

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Joy, Pain & the Outside Rein

June 20, 2011 1 Comment

Today was truly a day with ups and downs, starting right off the bat with a text from the barn – Derby had been kicked.  It wasn’t an emergency, but he did have some scrapes and the location – the lower part of his chest – isn’t ideal.  The barn owner and her daughter (an ER nurse, and a nurse-to-be) did some triage and cleaned things up.  He’s tender but sound.  Happily, Derby and the other low man in the group who also gets picked on a lot are being moved tomorrow.  This is a relief to me – clearly Derby (and Remy) weren’t in a compatible group – and horses can be tough on each other.

I did an easy ride on Derby tonight, wanting to be sure he was okay after his ordeal this morning, and he was.  We rode outside and he was moving well and willingly.    It sure felt better than yesterday – I had a hideous ride, due (I’m sure) to the lingering effects of the weekend.   My riding muscles were screaming, it was hot, and I think we lasted about 20 minutes.

Today was decidedly better, but I still wasn’t terribly happy with myself.  I could feel myself tipping forward, and letting my leg curl back, so I did some laps in two-point and also did a good exercise Christy taught me – standing two beats and then posting two beats, over and over.  It helps build balance and steady the lower leg.  We did these exercises with loop in the rein – I wanted to be sure that I didn’t accidentally pop him in the mouth if I bobbled.

After we had been moving around for a while, I worked on Derby’s responsiveness to my leg.  I’m still wearing tiny spurs (until my legs are stronger and steadier) but a larger pair have been purchased.   For now, I have to turn my toes all the way out and poke very deliberately if I want to put some spur on.  Which I did, when Derby declined to heed my request (delivered via the inside leg) to step his fine self over, and fill up my outside rein.  He bent outward, effectively counterbending a bit.  I turned my heel in and *poked*.  A ha!  He stepped over!

I’m being very, very careful not to nag with my aids.  My legs are either on or off at the moment – I’m trying to avoid grey areas.  And after a few pokes with the spur, Derby stepped nicelyunderneath himself, and somewhat  into my outside rein when I asked with just some calf pressure.  I say “somewhat” because Derby resists contact a bit, but I’m pretty sure it’s partially a  training issue but primarily a rider issue – he’s better when he’s 1) warmed up and 2) I really ride.

I finished the ride practicing working from my seat – steering Derby with my leg and seat aids, and halting from my seat.  It’s all a work in progress but this sweet boy is a quick study.

After I put Derby away, it was time for my lesson.   Cathy is away this week, and has handed me Atlanta’s reins.  After a rough patch this spring with sore hocks and some farrier issues, Cathy has gotten to the bottom of Atlanta’s issues, and the mare is going magnificently.  I had such fun riding her, and can’t wait to get back on tomorrow and do more.

Christy had seen my ride yesterday which I know wasn’t pretty, and asked me what we were working on tonight.  I told her that I suspected it would be more of the seat and balance issues, but once we got going  … well, things went pretty well.  It was great to ride a big, proper trot again, and while Christy agreed that my stamina has waned, she told me that my form was looking pretty good.  Hooray!  I don’t suck after all!  After hearing that, as I cruised around on Atlanta, I felt nothing but joy.

So the focus turned away from my postion, and instead to the outside rein, and moving the mare around with my seat.  We did an exercise I remember doing with Maddie, when Christy needed to get.me.off.the.inside.rein already.  She had me bend the mare to and fro, from just my seat, keeping my hands still.  Then – and tonight with Atlanta – the effect was immediate – the mares both softened and stretched into the contact, backs up and engaged.

We also did some transition work, because I forgot entirely how to ride a graceful downward transition.  By half-halting the mare as I posted, and gradually slowing Atlanta, I was able to produce a nice, smooth, relatively engaged transition. This will be a particularly good exercise to work with Derby on as he gets stronger – half halts are an area of communication we need to improve.

Speaking of Maddie ….

We got some exciting news this weekend about my former mount, Maddie.   She and Heather (her new owner) competed in their first HT this weekend – a rated show up at Silverwood.   They went out at BN (Maddie is just learning to jump) and … they won!  Heather is clearly the perfect person for Mads, who looked enthusiastic and happy in the videos I got to see.  It was thrilling watching my old girl out on XC and in the stadium.  I’m so proud of her!  Congrats to Heather on a job very well done, indeed.  🙂

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We’re on our way!

June 17, 2011 Leave a comment

Awaiting the farrier

Things are looking up for Derby.   He seems to be settling into his herd, establishing himself as the low man on the totem pole.  However, when I watched him interact with the three geldings with whom he shares turnout, they seemed to be settled into a groove, moving each other around with a nasty look – no real violence.

The bumps and bruises (and sore muscles) that unfortunately accompany introduction into a new herd seem to be subsiding.  This week I rode Derby a couple times, and he moved out pretty well.

Because he had the winter off, Derby isn’t terribly fit.  He’s in good condition – sleek and shiny – but needs to develop more strength, flexibility and endurance (as does his rider, frankly.)  Right now, rides are short – I’m doing 10-15 minutes of warm up at the walk, working on his suppleness during that period.  While we walk, I ask him to follow a direct rein, which he does nicely, turning his head quietly when I ask.  I also move him around from my seat, using one seatbone, and then the other, to move in a shallow serpentine.  He’s good at this and very responsive, which bodes well for us!  Finally we do some shoulder in.

Trot work is a great way to build condition on a horse, and that’s where we’ll be focusing for a while.  Right now, we’re doing about 3 laps of the indoor, both ways.  Happily, Derby has a nice, rhythmic cadence to his trot, so we don’t have to work on that.   As he gets fitter, we’ll emphasize stretching into contact, and moving out into a bigger gait.  For the moment, though, what’s really important is building strength and correct muscle, to protect against injury and support our development together.

On Wednesday night, I got some very decent stretch from Derby, and he was working nicely over his back.  Building top line is a key priority, and this is the way to do it.

On Thursday, I took the day off work, and Derby had his first farrier appointment since arriving at Silver Fern. It was a non-event – he’s a good boy, and stood nicely the whole time.   Later that afternoon, we had our saddle fitting appointment with Kate Lamacki, the Master Saddler from Barrington Saddlery.  We tried a few saddles on Derby, and I rode him in an Albion that we both really liked.   It’s reasonably priced and hopefully we’ll be able to get one ordered soon.  In the meantime, we determined that the Schleese I had on trial wasn’t a good fit, so that one went back.  I’ll continue to ride in my Wintec Isabell until the new saddle arrives.

I’m going to be away for the next few days.  Hopefully, Christy’s schedule will enable her to do a training ride on Derby.  And then, on to next week, when the consistent work will begin!

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It’s all connected

June 12, 2011 Leave a comment

A riddle wrapped in an enigma, slathered in mud.

For the last week my interactions with Derby have been on the ground – my saddle doesn’t fit him well, and he started to get a little sore after I rode him for a short duration, despite using a slightly wider gullet that looked better balanced on him.  As I noted earlier, he started to get a little resistant shortly into our ride – light on the front end and unwilling to move forward freely – signs, in my experience, that the saddle is uncomfortable.  However, after the ride his back wasn’t sore.  The next day, however, was a different story – Derby started to show what I’d call mild soreness.

I was out of town in the middle of last week, and I asked Christy to do some training rides on Derby, if his back recovered.  However, on Tuesday he was very sore, and Wednesday he wasn’t much better.  On Friday, Christy went over him more thoroughly, and discovered that Derby was also very sore in his left hind muscles.

Horses are like dominoes.  One thing can affect many others. Atlanta is a good example of this – she was very back sore a while ago, when she was due for hock injections and had some shoeing issues on her hind feet.  Now that she’s had her hocks done and the shoeing problem has ben addressed, she’s going beautifully, and her back feels good.  (She sure used it in the training ride she had with Christy last week!)   Christy suggested that something else was going on – that one short ride in a less-than-ideal saddle could cause this much persistent soreness – such as a slip in the mud or torquing something during turnout.  I put him on the longe line today to see how he moved.

Moving to the left, he looked fine, stretching while he trotted, moving out willingly and tracking up.   He stepped neatly into a canter when I asked.  Everything looked good.

It was a different story going to the right, however.   He was short behind and didn’t stretch while trotting.  When I asked him to canter, he swapped leads behind.    We stopped.

I hadn’t been giving him any bute, because I wanted to gauge the recovery of his back. And tonight, after we stopped longing, his back looked pretty good, but his hiney was still pretty sore.  I gave him a couple grams of bute, and after discussing it with Christy, decided that a short ride tomorrow – mostly at the walk,  and focusing on stretching, would be the plan.  I have a Schleese saddle on trial that looks like it fits him pretty well.  We’re going to do gentle “horse yoga” – bending, stretching and giving – but I won’t be engaging his hind legs.  We’ll just work on straight lines and big loops.  Hopefully, he’ll recover in a few days – our saddle fitting is tentatively scheduled for the 16th.  Hopefully I’ll have a saddle I can ride confidently in soon.

 

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Riding back to front

June 10, 2011 1 Comment

Derby and I are still awaiting a saddle fitting, which has left us temporarily grounded.  My friend Cathy generously said I could ride her lovely mare Atlanta in my lesson on Thursday, however, a couple days of business travel and a wild thunderstorm the night before had wiped me out.  I groomed and tacked Atlanta, and handed the reins to Christy, for a previously scheduled training ride.

I used to watch Christy ride all the time, before she turned pro.  These days, my opportunities to see her ride are much less frequent, and I when I do see her ride, it’s usually on one of her own horses.   Watching her ride Atlanta was a rare treat, because it’s fun (but also very humbling) to see the effect correct riding has on a horse – especially one as fancy as Atlanta.  Needless to say, the mare sure looked different than when I’ve ridden her in the past.   There’s a reason why I have a day job, I guess.

Atlanta has had some time off recently, but is going beautifully now.  Christy focused her ride on stretching the mare, and working her over her back to help build her top line.  This is exactly the type of work I will need to do with Derby, once we get going.

Atlanta is uphill, working over her back, and stretching beautifully into the contact.

Christy started her ride on Atlanta softly asking her to release her neck and become supple.  She started with a little shoulder fore at the walk, and then upped the lateral work ante from there, moving the mare’s shoulders and haunches in and out, asking her to to step under herself and reach, reach, reach into the bit.

They moved into trot, and Christy continued to insist that Atlanta reach into contact and stretch.  It was a textbook display of riding back-to-front, and the mare really responded, covering a ton of ground, working in a lower, stretchy frame.

As cool as that was to watch, watching the canter work was even cooler.  The mare’s back was up, and her canter was balanced and something to behold.

I have always enjoyed watching Christy ride my horse, even though it is (as I mentioned earlier) it’s humbling.  I’ve ridden Atlanta a couple times, and it was all I could do to invite a little stretch at the walk.   Riding bigger gaits back to front is, at the moment, something I struggle with.

I watched and learned, wide awake, and inspired.

A beautiful, uphill canter, again with nice contact.

 

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Seeking professional help.

June 7, 2011 5 Comments

I continued to mess with my saddles, pads and shims in an effort to cobble something together that would work for Derby until Kate Lamacki, a Master Saddler (one of four in the US) and Qualified Saddle Fitter can work us into her schedule.   When I tried the Wintec with a medium narrow gullet, the saddle was pommel high.  On Sunday, I switched to a medium gullet, which looked a hair wide, and added ultra ThinLine shims to my Mattes pad.  The balance looked OK, the wither clearance was fine, it didn’t feel like it was pinching.

I rode Derby for about 20 minutes, when he started to feel resistant – he was unwilling to go forward, and was starting to toss his head.    I promptly dismounted.

Despite the short ride, the clean white saddle pad didn’t reveal anything in the sweatmarks – it was hot, and Derby was pretty dirty.  The pad was one big smear of sweat, fly spray and dust.   I didn’t see any dry spots on his back, and I poked and prodded for soreness, but didn’t find anything.

However, on Monday night, Christy palpated Derby’s back, and found a couple spots that were a bit sore, which was no surprise, given what transpired under saddle the night before.  There was no way I was going to compound the situation by riding,  so we spent the evening exploring the farm, and grazing with Liz and Cloud.

So we’re grounded until we meet with Kate, and (hopefully) find a new saddle that fits us perfectly.

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Adjustments

June 5, 2011 2 Comments

A very good boy.

I’ve had Derby for just a few days, but the more time I spend with him, the more I like him.   He’s proving to be sweet, gentle, willing and sensible – just what I was seeking.

He’s also a quick study.  His first walk through the back aisle of the barn when it was empty elicited some snorty looking around.  The same trip today?  Nothin’ but a thang.

He was trepidatious about the wash rack, but after giving him a minute to check it out, he followed me in – and I have to give him some credit – the water was draining slowly, and there was a really big puddle on the floor.  His attitude was “Well, if you say it’s OK, it must be OK.”

He’s an easy horse to be around and work with – and I’m really enjoying him.

Yesterday was really hot, and I was pressed for time, so I didn’t ride, principally because I needed to try a couple different saddles, which would take a little extra time.  So instead of riding, I decided to do a short session on the longe line.

I’ve spent a fair amount of time longing different horses, and have had some real a-ha moments.  There was one break through session free-longing  Jag in which we were so in synch that I was able to guide him around the arena – over poles (something he always avoided if he could), changing directions and gaits.   What made that night so cool was Jag’s unwavering focus on me.  He read and responded to my every move and cue.

Maddie and I had some interesting moments too.  She was not as tuned-in to humans, was more easily distracted, and I had to work hard to gain and keep her attention.  She also would constantly test me – which at its heart is a respect issue, since longing is more about using your position to influence the horse and get the outcome you  seek.   She and I did have some good moments – I used longing to gain her attention when she was wound up and uncooperative more than once.  And shortly before she went to her new home, I was able to work her at liberty, getting her to canter serpentines all down the arena.

Longing is interesting to me, because I think it lets you evaluate how responsive and attentive the horse is.   Derby turned out to be a star. The barn was almost empty, and most of the other horses were outside.   I put Derby on the longe line, and went into the arena.    Initially he was a bit tense, and immediately stepped off into a trot.  I stepped toward his shoulder and said “walk,” and he did.  We did some transitions in all three gaits, and worked a bit on standing still, in both directions.   Derby was attentive, responding to a quiet verbal command or shift in my stance.

We cooled out, and I led him into the indoor wash stall, to continue introducing him to all areas of the barn.  After a quick rinse off, we hung out and grazed for a while.

Today I had more time, and went out with my newly-adjusted Wintec Isabell and a cool old Stubben Romanus. I tried the Stubben first but hopped off almost immediately because my stirrups were too short.  I ride with extra long leathers, and past experience with this saddle has suggested that standard leathers would work.  The last time I rode in it, I ended up having to wrap my leathers, because the shortest hole wasn’t short enough.  Every saddle is different, and they ride differently on different horses.  However, today, the wrapped leathers were too short, probably because Derby has such a deep girth.  I had to get off to unwrap the leathers.    I hopped back on.

I love the Romanus but unfortunately, in about 1 minute I determined  it doesn’t leave enough wither clearance on Derby.  Rats.  I hopped back off and we went back into the barn to try the Isabell.  I put in a wider gullet, and am using my Mattes pad with a Thinline shim in the front.  It was better than the medium-narrow, and we had a good (and uneventful) ride but I don’t think it’s a perfect fit.   I’m scheduling a saddle fitter for next week.  I think the new pony will need a new saddle, too.   This isn’t entirely unexpected.  There’s always a period of adjustment with new horse.  We’ll get there.

A shiny Derby chills after today's multiple saddle changes and subsequent ride.

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Meet Derby

June 2, 2011 10 Comments

Our second ride, first time outside, cantering to the right

Big news, folks – there’s a wonderful new horse in my life! Meet Derby, an 11 year old OTTB that moved in this week.  I’m doing a lease-to-buy on this nice boy, and I have to tell you, I’ve fallen hard for this one.  I knew after one ride that he was the horse for me –  I felt happy and confident when I went for the test ride.    He arrived on Tuesday, and we had our first ride last night – which was totally uneventful.   The strange indoor arena didn’t phase him in the least.  Tonight we rode outside, and once again, Derby was a total star.

Working a stretch

Christy took some video of the ride, which, frankly, I’m embarrased to share with you.  I’ve been riding so inconsistently lately that my strength and balance are pretty much shot.  I feel like a flopping fish and don’t look much better!

Some nice bend

Derby also needs to get in shape.  He was on vacation over the winter, and while he’s in good condition and weight, he needs muscle.  So, we’ll spend the next few weeks doing a lot of conditioning work.  I also need to regain my independent seat and steady my leg.  Happily, this is a horse I can see myself doing a lot of no-stirrup work.  However, before we go there, I want to get Derby’s top line built, and find a saddle that I’m sure fits him well.

I’m still feeling very out of synch and discombobulated with Derby, but we have had some nice moments that leave me eager and impatient to get over this conditioning hump and get my riding legs back.

I also need to figure Derby out.  He has a lot of training but is very resistant to contact.  You can’t just push him into the outside rein and get to work.  He needs to warm up on a loopy rein.  Actually, given the current state of my riding, this isn’t a bad thing.  Riding with pronounced loop in the reins forces me to use my legs and seat to influence the horse. And once I put him to work, Derby is much better about accepting contact.  I’m pretty sure that once I get my strength and balance back, my hands will be steadier and more independent, which will help Derby too.   For now, I love the fact that this is the sort of horse that can go around on the buckle in a new environment.  He is the very soul of a good boy, and I’m crazy about him.

Cantering to the left.

Before my energy totally waned, we got some nice canter both directions, but not before I had to send Christy back to the barn for a whip.  Derby is very responsive to voice aids – a chirp will send him forward, but I’d like him to be lighter and more responsive to my legs and seat, and I’ll be making that a priority over the next few weeks.

We finished up the evening with another grooming session, hand grazing and cookies.   I’m beyond thrilled with this sweet, fancy horse.  Next ride should be on Saturday.  Stay tuned!

 

 

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WakeUp Graces Lamplight, Wins Young Horse Selections

May 23, 2011 4 Comments

WakeUp and Emily in the warm up.

On Sunday Christy and I ventured out to Lamplight, a gorgeous show ground outside of Chicago, to see the young horse selections (and some other rides).  In particular, we wanted to see WakeUp, a six year old stallion, and one of the top young horses in the world – he just missed making the finals in the 5 year old championship in Verden last year.   WakeUp, ridden by Emily Wagner, took top honors this weekend too – you can read about it on Dressage Daily.

Because he’s still a youngster, WakeUp was shown in a snaffle, and the six year old test doesn’t ask for upper level movement.   It does ask for collection and extensions in all gaits, however, which was really fun for me to watch.  I don’t yet know enough yet to be able to spot details like late changes behind in a line of tempis, for example, but I am starting to develop my eye for gait quality.

WakeUp is a “wow” mover.  He’s so through, supple and suspended that he makes other horses – other lovely, lovely, horses – pale in comparison.

What was really interesting is the fact that WakeUp, according to some reports I’ve seen, is 17 hands tall.  I was surprised when I read that fact this morning, because he doesn’t look it.  He’s so well balanced and works so beautifully within himself that he appears smaller.  There’s nothing hulking or gangly about this horse.  He just might be perfect.

A ten walk, or close to it, leaving the warm up.

This was the first time I’ve ever seen a ‘big time’ horse that is competing at the top of the sport internationally.  And it was fun to hear my fellow spectators – some of whom didn’t know who that black stallion in warm up was – exclaim at his beauty and presence.

“Who is that!?”

“I just found my mare’s husband!”

Their comments affirmed and validated my own reaction to watching this gorgeous horse.  WakeUp is a truly exceptional horse.

It was a treat and a privilege to watch Scott Hassler, the US Young Horse dressage coach, put WakeUp and Emily through their warm up paces.   And it was fun to see Emily’s big smile and hear her say “I’m ready!” at the end of the warm up, minutes before turning in a performance Dressage Daily called “nearly flawless.” WakeUp was bred in Kansas, and is registered with the American Warmblood Registry – proof that you don’t need an import to play at the highest levels of our game!

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