Happy Friday, everybody! We are finally getting a break from the heatwave, just in time for the weekend! And even better -- I don't have any major plans keeping me busy either. Yay!
barn cat-mouflage
Not that it makes much of a difference, since of course Charlie is still healing.... It's just gonna take the time it takes, ya know? But maybe we'll get out for some wanderings anyway? We'll see.
lol be scared, Bess!
In the meantime, I'm getting excited looking into fall, and even winter! Situations being changeable, as always, a new and kinda major opportunity just opened up at our barn, with a very experienced and very credentialed resource suddenly becoming available.
And said resource turns out to be really eager to share her knowledge and expertise with the rest of us mere mortals, specifically in the form of bi-weekly or monthly in-barn activities!!!!!
i know these are kinda dinky ribbons... but aren't they fun?
We organized the first activity for this past week, an in-house twilight fix-a-test dressage clinic (taking advantage of the dressage court set up from last week's recognized horse trials).
Obviously I was disappointed to give up my entry after Charlie went through his second high tensile wire fence in as many weeks.... But a major silver lining was that my spot was taken by, omg, Amy and Punky!!! They've been rarer than hen's teeth here on ye olde blogge... and for reasons and stuff... But omg they did a thing and it was good!
ready to rock 'n roll at this fix-a-test clinic!
It was overall a super fun day, too. The forecast was slightly violent, but we managed to get through our schedule before the storms hit. My bootleg (shh don't tell anybody) dressage scoring sheets were easy to use, as was the quick scoring form I whipped up in google sheets.
Plus we got everybody's cell phone set up right on the judge's table (see photo) to record their test from the judge's perspective, complete with comments and scores in real time. There were special ribbons for "High Score" and "Most Improved," and much fun was had by all!
meanwhile, in charlieland.....
We'll hopefully get another couple of these types of activities on the schedule, but I'm also trying to brainstorm other formats for when it's dark out and we can't monopolize an entire lighted ring for one horse at a time.
clearly living his best life, minus the tussles with tensile obvi
This judge also specializes in gymnastics and cavaletti type activities too, so maybe we'll do some sort of group night type thing? Anybody know of any way to game-ify grids or ground pole exercises? A way to sorta get scores and ribbons and stuff, while also focusing on educational outcomes? Hit me up, lol.
SIR! these choices that you are making!! stahhp!
Charlie, for his part, seems to be feeling better and better. While the leg blew up enormously for a day or two after his most recent incident, it's actually looking quite good. We're still using the schmoo daily, tho it doesn't seem to have as much long-term stick as Swat. I'll compare notes after a few more days.
The horse is happy, tho, and that's what matters haha. He's such a goon -- this particular pasture from the photos is definitely his favorite bc he likes to get allll the way into the stream to find the deepest pools to drink from -- which naturally necessitates scampering and skittering across all those gigantic boulders etc. Not exactly something you'd think he'd be any good at.
literally a different picture from a different day, sent to me by a barn mate. this goofy horse, i swear
But he seems to love it haha, leaping around like a friggin 1,400lb mountain goat LOL....
And I know, I know... letting horses loose into streams is ecologically devastating... Just remember, tho, this ain't my stream, and it's various branches have had decades of loose horses wandering through it on this farm. So we can enjoy Charlie's little slice of cuteness, yes? Yes :)
Anyway. Hope y'all are leaping into the weekend with as much enthusiasm as Charlie!
i hope so too!!!! lmk if you have any ideas for how to turn grids and ground poles into games lol (that don't necessarily require much height or need all riders to be at the same level)
he really has come so far from his days on the track, when the presence of a log or bushy shrub blocking his path was absolutely confounding to him LOL
Your barn fun ideas are terrific. I would love to participate in group activities with an educational bent but also the opportunity for low-key competition. Cute barn kitty, by the way, and enjoyed seeing your horse's creek play. He really does look like he is right in his element!
charlie loves playing in his little creek lol! and yea i'm excited about these barn activity ideas. it really is a huge barn with a ton of people spread across multiple barn units -- it would be nice to have more opportunities to mix and mingle (and learn a thing or two lol)
I think for a poles competition, if you don't want to do speed you could do something with carrying water (or beverage of choice ;) and least amount spilled wins!
ooooh nice! one of these days we'll definitely have to do gymkhana type stuff! i think for the involvement of this particular judge, we'll probably want to focus on education around technique, riding correctness, etc -- maybe like how they judge the YEH jumping competitions? or maybe we just bag the "judging" aspect of it for grids and groundpoles, idk haha -- we'll see!
What a totally fun barn activity! Also Charlie crossing a stream, be still my heart. I saw the first picture and my breath caught in my throat lolol. Anxiety much?
i love seeing him look so playful lol <3 tho yea i've had to get a little strategic about when i apply the keratex bc lord knows he'll just rinse it off in the stream!
Ohhh so exciting! I hope you and Charlie get to participate in the upcoming fun stuff!
ReplyDeletei hope so too!!!! lmk if you have any ideas for how to turn grids and ground poles into games lol (that don't necessarily require much height or need all riders to be at the same level)
DeleteThat video is so great! He seems to absolutely love it!! Also how fun to have that in house opportunity!
ReplyDeletehe really has come so far from his days on the track, when the presence of a log or bushy shrub blocking his path was absolutely confounding to him LOL
DeleteWhat a great idea for the barn activities. And Charlie clearly thinks he’s Invincible
ReplyDeleteya know.... there's pros and cons to having a horse who believes he's superman lol. cons? a lotta wound clean up. pros? SO FUN to ride tho lol
DeleteYour barn fun ideas are terrific. I would love to participate in group activities with an educational bent but also the opportunity for low-key competition. Cute barn kitty, by the way, and enjoyed seeing your horse's creek play. He really does look like he is right in his element!
ReplyDeletecharlie loves playing in his little creek lol! and yea i'm excited about these barn activity ideas. it really is a huge barn with a ton of people spread across multiple barn units -- it would be nice to have more opportunities to mix and mingle (and learn a thing or two lol)
DeleteI think for a poles competition, if you don't want to do speed you could do something with carrying water (or beverage of choice ;) and least amount spilled wins!
ReplyDeleteooooh nice! one of these days we'll definitely have to do gymkhana type stuff! i think for the involvement of this particular judge, we'll probably want to focus on education around technique, riding correctness, etc -- maybe like how they judge the YEH jumping competitions? or maybe we just bag the "judging" aspect of it for grids and groundpoles, idk haha -- we'll see!
DeleteWhat a totally fun barn activity! Also Charlie crossing a stream, be still my heart. I saw the first picture and my breath caught in my throat lolol. Anxiety much?
ReplyDeletei love seeing him look so playful lol <3 tho yea i've had to get a little strategic about when i apply the keratex bc lord knows he'll just rinse it off in the stream!
Delete