Sunday, October 23, 2016

a funny thing happened on the way to the forum

Another weekend, another opportunity to do all the things with Charlie. Poor guy, I was at the barn for the better part of four hours yesterday.... Have no fear tho - he spent plenty of time hangin in his stall eating hay while I was there, but I did pull him out a couple separate times to play.

Including. Ahem. Continuing with our ground work / trailer practice.

The ever-important Step 1 being: Start with a relaxed and unsuspecting ponykins. Check. 

A surprise twist for Step 2, though: instead of hooking the truck up to the tiny step up stock trailer, shimmy on over to barn mate's more generously sized chariot. (Used with permission, obvi).

Commence standard ground work routine, which has progressed very nicely to something that approximates lunging at the walk and trot (tho the trot rarely lasts longer than a circle), with the added bonus of lunging over cavaletti. Good boy, Charlie.

Move the circus out to the trailers and intersperse grazing breaks in with ground work on and off the trailer ramp. Horse is clearly unfazed.

Then. Ya know. Just nonchalantly put horse on trailer. Nbd. Then weep softly as the gravity settles in on what this implies. Commence calculating out all the financial acrobatics associated with the horse's more sophisticated taste in transportation. 


Note that the horse's preference between the trailers couldn't be more obvious. Sadness.

Let your mind go even a little crazier when this amazing 15 horse rig pulls up. Might as well go big, right?!?

Most important, tho, is the final step of full on anguish. Gaze wistfully out the barn door at the colorful fall foliage, and despair that money doesn't, in fact, grow on trees. 

Decide to start small. After two and a half years, the Dover trailer hitch cover has finally succumbed to the elements. This, at least, is a cost I'm prepared to cover. Le sigh. 


****

Oh - and don't forget to get your Week 3 2ptober times in to either me or Megan before midnight tonight!!

68 comments:

  1. He might not hate your trailer- I bet that he can get comfortable with it too.

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  2. Could it be that the bigger trailer has a ramp which he's used to and yours is a step up? Try borrowing another bigger trailer that's a step up and see what kind of result you get first.

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    1. Yes the ramp undoubtedly makes a difference

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  3. Your barn mate's trailer is my dream trailer. Although my spoiled horse prefers the huge van. Fancy racehorses have such high standards ;)

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    1. I know right?!? It's like they think they're celebrities or something and need the red carpet rolled out for them!!

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  4. Charlie has expensive taste :) I hope for your sake that doesn't show up in saddle shopping too!

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    1. Omg haha noooooo!!!! Lol. At least so far, by all appearances I will be making zero tack purchases for Charlie. Not bad!

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  5. Horses always = bigger, better, MOARRR! And that is why we are all horse poor (but it is so worth it!!!)

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    1. Haha that's what I keep telling myself - that it's so worth it!

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  6. Isn't that always the way?!
    Still I'm glad he went in happily & calmly for you - figures crossed on the mathematics front

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    1. Lol thanks - the arithmetic may involve some hand waving and magically vanishing decimals and whatnot lol.

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  7. hahah ooooh noooo. the side ramps really help!!!

    yesterday i got to see how racehorses travel. and i was like no wonder runkle doesnt want to get on a tiny bumper pull.

    you will figure it out!

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    1. Ha yea. They certainly like to travel in style!! That side ramp tho. I reeeeally liked it!!

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    2. True dat! Racehorses rarely travel in dinky little step ups. Almost everything has a ramp, especially if they travel cross the country.

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  8. Sounds like one of many bitter sweet horse/money moments. Damn you expensive creatures!

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    1. OMG so expensive tho!!! Why couldn't I have chosen a more economical hobby like airplanes?!?

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    2. lol fun fact, airplanes are almost as expensive. My dad has several and their "board" is up there with horses. Not even counting the PP and fuel costs. Mom regularly bitched about it in addition to the horses. Haha

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    3. But at least planes fly you places and have an actual purpose besides giving us the feels. I guess thats what you meant lol

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    4. Hm. Ok bad example. Maybe I should choose a more economical hobby like priceless artwork collecting?!?

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  9. For some reason, ginormous rigs like that fascinate me.

    I got 29 seconds today in two point.

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    1. Meee too - I adore those giant rigs!!

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    2. I'm so curious about climbing in and out of them -- it seems so steep!!!

      My two point time is still 8 min for this week. No improvement this week. Womp womp.

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  10. Horse just wants you to know he's bigger than Isabel

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  11. Stampede currently only fits in my barn's 6 horse if that makes you feel better, lol.

    My time for this week is 6:08.

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  12. The step up can make a big difference for some horses. Houston was always a bit of a derp with a step up esp if the trailer was smaller than he liked.

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  13. Charlie Murray; Making wallets cry 2k16

    My time for this week is 4:08

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  14. seriously...i love the side ramp too but the one i bought is extra wide and extra tall and with a ramp and did not break my bank. Kingston 2 horse LOVE! As long as it is open and airy with a ramp I bet Charlie will love it :) GO SPEND THE MONEY....can't take it with us. LOL Or go by the exact copy of your barnmates trailer if you can swing it (Jealous)

    PS are you going to Plantation?

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    1. Ha I'm certainly gonna see what I can do!!! Also - what plantation show? I went to the 3* earlier this fall but won't personally be competi until at least next year. Le sigh.

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  15. I two pointed on the trail a little for you today, just because I could 😉 and glad loading in friend's trailer went so well, although booooo for money not going on trees!

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    1. Yay for two point practice!! And yea boo for money being a limited resource and such :(

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  16. Some horses like ramps. Other horses (like Batty) think ramps are going to kill them...

    2 point time for the week: 25:16.38 and I'm still walking! I did 15 some minutes on a trail ride yesterday but it was easier today after my lesson for some odd reason (thank you podcasts!).

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    1. Crazy time - way to go and congrats on being the first to crack the 20min+ mark!!!

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  17. Welp.... time to get a new bus! My best time this week is 15:04.

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  18. Charlie wants a Charlie sized rig! Also I'm at 2:30 (ish)

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  19. I always liked ramps more so because my horses were lazy and way too good at tripping backing off like the klutzes they are. But as someone who purchased two who are perfect self-loaders and unloaders, thank you for taking the time to get it right with Charlie!

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    1. I honestly don't have a preference between ramps or step ups, most horses seem fine with both tho some have an easier time with one or another. All the same tho, agreed that it's worth the time to help the horse get it right

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  20. Some horses really like ramps, others really dislike ramps. Both of mine really dislike ramps. Try a bigger trailer without a ramp and see how he does. Or tell him to get a job if he wants a bigger trailer. Ha! Congrats on Charlie going right in the trailer! Maybe he will go right in yours now and no new trailer is needed?

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    1. Emma: "Dear Charlie, please get a job."

      Charlie: "Hay Ima HORSE!!!!"

      Emma: "Good talk."

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  21. Gotta love a ramp! My time is 5:50!

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    1. I don't really care one way or another about the ramp, I think the difference here was just space (esp bc with the side exit the horse could just walk right on through the whole thing)

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  22. I'm sure if you convince him enough, he'll put up with the smaller rig for a while longer ;)

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  23. For some reason Emma, I can't seem to get the reply to work to reply to your response to mine wayyyyyyyyyy up. ANYWAY, Plantation has a starter trial this weekend coming up. :) 29th.

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    1. Gotcha gotcha!! Sadly no I won't be going to this one but maybe next year?!?

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  24. I had a feeling the smaller trailer was the issue, although I'm surprised he had trouble loading at all, being a former racehorse? One of the (many) great things about OTTBs is their exposure to literally everything at the track...most OTTBs have no problems with the trailer just because they're hauled all over creation from a young age :)

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    1. Diiiiiid you have a feeling bc I have written about this process extensively?!? LOL

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    2. I guess I'm confused...does Charlie have trailer and/or loading issues? I'm just trying to follow the reason for all the emphasis on working with the trailer right now :)

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    3. i'm sorry you are confused. i understand that my posts addressing this topic have been lengthy. here they are again so you can satisfy your curiosity:

      http://fraidycateventing.blogspot.com/2016/09/trailer-loading-starts-in-arena.html

      http://fraidycateventing.blogspot.com/2016/10/fat-man-in-little-trailer.html

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    4. Ooh this one also speaks a lot to my reasoning and philosophy behind this aspect of Charlie's training:

      http://fraidycateventing.blogspot.com/2016/10/a-good-brain-deserves-good-foundation.html

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    5. Racehorses typically travel in style with lots of other horses. Often in rigs like that big fancy one above. They're shipped from tracks like that. For other hauling, they are almost exclusively hauled in things with ramps.

      Your mid-western or western (not California) racehorse might have seen a stock type step up, but I wouldn't guarantee it. Almost every ex-racehorse I've dealt with has taken substantial training to "get" a step up trailer and a stock type one at that.

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    6. Oooh oooh and here is the YouTube video again showing what the endgame is here. It's not just about trailer loading. It's about self loading in the easiest drama free way bc my horse life style includes frequent trailer trips - often up to two or three per week.

      Note that the taller chestnut in this video is also an ottb. He went through the same training program to learn how to self load like a champ.

      https://youtu.be/ORm6lKDTuJw

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    7. And Austen - at many big race horse farms, they have those natural type earthen platforms such that the vans can pull through a lower track that allows the van entrance to be level with the ground - so the horse just walks straight in, no step or ramp. Kentucky is filled with these platforms.

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    8. Oooh! Yes! I had forgotten about that. Hell, that's how I had to load Pig onto his first big step up stock trailer.

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    9. Oh Pig.... Such a speshul snowflake lol. Whatever works tho, right?

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    10. We almost did the same thing with Peony's mare once when she was being recalcitrant.

      Funny story: I do know a couple of trainers up in northern California who insist on hauling their horses around loose in the jankiest old stock trailers!!! It's hilarious because it's not even like those particular trainers are hurting for money. Those horses are so fucking trailer broke when they come off the track though, I feel like you could get one into a Prius.

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  25. Pony is lame, so no time this week :(
    Also Charlie is looking adorably fuzzy!

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    1. Isn't he so super fuzzy?!? Almost makes him look not that skinny any more lol. Boo lame ponies tho :(

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  26. B prefers ramps too! I think theres something about step ups (and downs!) that he gets weird about. My trainer has a massive ramp load and he goes in and out without question. Mine is roomy, but a step up and he def questions it from time to time. DAMN HORSES

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    1. Some horses definitely have preferences!! I don't think Charlie cares about the step up honestly, the trailer is just small for him - there isn't a lot of room for him to continue going forward into the trailer once he is part way on

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  27. Ramps make everything so much easier. But step ups are so much cheaper. Ah well, its not like I can go buy a trailer tomorrow anyways lol

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  28. I've made my case on bigger trailer=stress free hauling. But I want to put your mind at ease that it doesn't necessarily mean super expensive. I got my 7'6" warm blood size trail-et for $1500. It wasn't the prettiest and had some rust but was very open with ample space and my horse was finally happy. It may take some searching and non conventional ideas but you may find something that you both can agree on. I could care less what people thought when I rolled up in my rusty trailer. My horse was safe and that's all that mattered to me.

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