Tuesday, January 13, 2015

B & Wick join the party!

One of my 2015 Q1 goals was to get my friend B's leased OTTB Wick loading well enough to be deemed road worthy. We've been working on this for a while - since November, actually - tho B switched her lease and we restarted when Wick became the main man. 

i am queen of awkward selfies - complete with dusty eyelashes - while isabel just looks adorable

B wants to get into eventing too and joined our lesson at OF a few weeks ago using their lesson ponies while we sort the trailer thing. Again - I know a lot of people don't do all this preliminary training stuff to haul horses places - they just pop 'em on the trailer and hit the road. And usually that all works out just fine. I know this. 

But I'm also pretty new to trailering (and generally a worrier), so I want to feel totally confident that we won't run into any problems off property with the horses (neither of which belong to me....). Therefore I am slow and deliberate. 


But!! Last Saturday was the day. We did all the preparation and practicing and trial runs. Wick was fine. Isabel seemed less thrilled about sharing her royal chariot... but tuff stuff princess. 

I really really wanted to back out, tho - given the below-freezing temps, zillions of chores to do before leaving, and my own general sense that the circumstances weren't quite perfect... 


But B was determined - and answered my doom and gloom-y texts throughout the week with pumped up responses about how we were totally going to plow through the chores no problem, and that it'd all be fine. In her words: 'we got this.' And we did!! 


And the horses were obviously fine. I was a little worried that Isabel would get all worked up with another horse in the trailer - but she actually seemed very happy to have company. There was no calling out or pawing - they just dug into their hay. B and I were very impressed with how very quiet (in the best kind of way) both horses were. 

Wick observes the new setting with calm curiosity

And it was the same when we arrived at OF. B brought all her stuff for the lesson - but was expecting that maybe they'd just be hand-walking around on this first trip to get Wick acquainted. That was totally unnecessary tho - he was one cool customer (B was more nervous than he was lol), so she saddled him up and off to the indoor we went!




And it was a great lesson! There was a TON of stuff going on in the indoor - a couple people were raking and shoveling dirt from the deeper corners into the track, trying to even it out. Another person was dragging a leaky hose around watering the arena to keep the dust down. Plus a couple dogs were running loose. Wick took a good look at everything but was unfazed. 

Trainer P seemed to like Wick too - and was able to help B work through his left lead issues pretty effectively. Hurray for magic trainer dust! B was so happy with how everything went - she later said that if the Ravens had won their game, the day would have been better than her wedding day lol.


whoa. somebody get control of that wild and crazy ottb!!

The lesson as it related to me and Isabel was maybe a little more boring. We flatted ok, and jumped ok. There was some redemption up a one-stride grid on the centerline - the jumps weren't exactly tiny and Isabel still felt maybe a touch backed off. But I actually rode the horse (shocking!) and it was all fine. 

Really tho - the big exciting thing was bringing Wick - and I'm really looking forward to having a partner in crime for our future eventing adventures!! 

22 comments:

  1. Everything horse related is better with friends. I miss going on adventures!

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    1. i agree!! it's been fun doing stuff on my own, but it'll be 100x better with a 'team' (even if it's just a team of two lol)

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  2. Right now I'm super jealous of anyone with a) a trailer, b) an indoor.

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    1. the trailer has seriously changed my life. esp as someone who's never owned a horse, it's totally revolutionized my participation in equestrian activities!

      and the indoor is also my everything right now... tho we only see it once a week.... this will hopefully be changing soon tho!

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  3. Sounds like a fantastic time! Hmm...a truck and trailer is on my Christmas list this year. The Christmas that happens in June that is (I wish!) If you don't mind me asking what type of truck and trailer do you have? Any tips on owning/driving/setting up a truck and trailer combo?

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    1. ooh truck/trailer shopping is exciting!!! (tho admittedly harder than i expected). i wrote a post in august ("the rig") summarizing my experience.

      essentially - i got a used truck with enough capacity to tow (and STOP) a fully loaded two horse bumper pull. for me, this is a chevy silverado 1500 v8 with 4wd (optional, but highly recommended). i had help from a knowledgeable friend while searching, and my family mechanic inspected the truck before purchasing

      my Calico trailer was purchased new (dealer is linked on august post) and is pretty much the most inexpensive trailer on the market. but it's all new so it should hold up with proper care.

      given the new trailer and the truck's excellent condition, maintenance has been simple so far. I expect to do yearly tune ups/inspection on both.

      there are other bloggers who have written more knowledgeably than i can. here's a good starting point too: http://diaryofahorseobsessedgirl.blogspot.com/2014/10/horse-showing-on-budget-is-it-cheaper.html

      good luck!

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    2. Your truck is exactly what we have! :D And I've been eyeing the Calico trailers: Zoe at the barn has a slant load version and I love it.

      Riding adventures are definitely better than friends! Regarding prepping horses for trailering, I ALWAYS do. I once spent 4 hours trying to load a new horse on a trailer for the first time...he required Dormosedan and a crew of 6 burly men to PHYSICALLY get him on the trailer: 2 men pushing, one pulling, 3 + me lifting each leg. It was crazy! So I don't wing it anymore. Whenever we have a trailering adventure planned and the horses haven't left the farm in a while, I like to practice with them a few times beforehand too. :)

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    3. thanks! i LOVE the truck - it's 14 yrs old with 200k+ miles and runs like a champ. it is perhaps my most favoritest worldly possession lol. the calico has been fab too. it's not fancy, but who cares. i also enclosed it with plexiglass too - if you're interested there's a post about that in my november archives.

      and wow - that story sounds horrible, like exactly what i'd like to live without. noooo thank you!! and another bonus of all the prep work is what it does for me: trailer loading/unloading becomes so routine and such a non-issue that it doesn't even factor into things like show nerves.

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    4. *"Riding adventures are definitely better *WITH* friends!" My phone lately...sheesh!

      And definitely: trailer loading/unloading practice before an event really helps trailering be one less thing to worry about on the big day! :)

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    5. i agree - and anything that helps relieve nerves is worth it in my book :)

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  4. I completely agree: adventures are way better with friendz!! ;)

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  5. Woohoo Yay for pumped up companionship for eventing (and lessoning) adventures.
    Wick & Miss Izzy look amazing. The Green and purple look so good on them ☺

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    1. lol thanks!! they are definitely very color-oriented ponies, and we best not forget :)

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  6. So glad things worked out - can't imagine having a better day/time than that!

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    1. thanks - me too! we really had a great time - esp bc it reaffirmed that all of our big exciting plans for the following year might actually become reality!

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  7. It's just so much more fun when you have friends to go with you on horse adventures!

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    1. yay - it's really been a long time since i got to enjoy it, so it's super exciting!!

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  8. Thank you so much for the t&t info! I'll definitely read up your post and the link you provided. Super helpful stuff! I heard about the stopping part being even more important than going. I guess it can apply for anything that moves really...lol. Thanks again!!

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    1. good luck!! the shopping was definitely harder work than i anticipated, but oh so rewarding!!

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  9. Yay!! I'm glad it went so well!!! :D

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    1. me too!! now the horses can just settle in to a nice easy routine :)

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