Jimmy Gets An Attitude Adjustment

Yesterday I had a quick hour before my lesson was to arrive so I thought I could squeeze in a good hack on Jimmy before I taught. I thought wrong.

As I mentioned, he's having a bit of a 'tude problem from what I believe is his own teenage-minded (he's a teenager in people years - and acts exactly like a 16 year old human boy most days!!) stubbornness. He's bitter that I haven't been out and working him as much as I should, so he's showing me through attitude. Alright Jimmy, I get it. Thanks.

We worked for about 35 minutes (I'll admit I was gabbing a bit & didn't get on until late) and he just wouldn't relax. He had way more steam than he could blow. I couldn't work him down because my lesson had arrived and was tacking up her horse, so I cooled him down (which takes him about one lap, no matter how worked up he is) & untacked. I left his boots and halter on & put him in what we're now calling the "Naughty Boy Pen". It's a little 14x14 paddock just between our aisle and indoor arena & I didn't even put on his blankey. He had to chill out - LITERALLY so he stood naked in the cold until I was finished with my lesson. He stared at me through the window the whole time, eyes pleading. "Mom.....MOM?!? I'M NAKED!!!!!!!!!!!!!" (Jimmy is always FULLY clothed. I like protecting him from nips and bumps so he always has some kind of sheet or blanket on - even in the summer he usually wears a fly sheet)

After my lesson my student asked for a demo so I got to ride my favorite mare for a few minutes, then it was back to JC the Naughty Boy. DISCLAIMER: WHAT I AM ABOUT TO SAY IS NOT TYPICAL BEHAVIOR FOR ME BUT IN SOME INSTANCES I DEEM IT NECESSARY FOR ANY TYPE OF PROGRESSION. THIS IS ONE OF THOSE INSTANCES. I tacked him up again and put on draw reins. I try  to NEVER EVER EVER use them, but based on how he was fighting me one specific way and just wouldn't quit I chose the draw reins as my weapon of choice. He hasn't worn them in probably close to two years so I was curious to see if he would remember them.

I got on & trotted enough to get his heart pumping again (if it had ever stopped...) & went to the canter, which is where he was causing me problems. Instead of cantering collected and appropriately, he was kind of hog-wild and flinging his front end all over the place, so I was using the draw reins as a light reminder of how to behave. They worked like a charm. It only took about fifteen minutes because he immediately remembered what draw reins were all about. He tried fighting me a few times seriously and with a little spur in his side & the draw reins keeping his front end in place he realized this was no battle worth fighting. We ended on a splendid note cantering beautiful figure eights with full changes in the middle. Good job, little man.

The Horses Are Coming

Some of you may know, I am the Creative Director / Graphic Designer for the new event, Horse Days this year in Belvidere, IL.

Last Sunday we had a meeting and talked about all of the events, speakers, workshops, and clinics that we're hosting. We went around the table to discuss where we thought we could improve and how we thought we could make the event even better. Something you should know: at these meetings I am the ONLY hunter/jumper person, so I feel like the ambassador for all things hunter/jumper. Well it came time for me to pipe-in and they said "Jess? Your thoughts?" and because I always believe honesty is the best policy I told them how I felt.

After much consideration and discussion, Horse Days 2011 will be putting the wheels in motion to host a $1,500 Gambler's Choice Jumper Classic on Saturday evening, August 20th. While the prize money isn't set, the idea of the event was one I had up my sleeve that I've always been hoping to ride Jimmy in. I'm guessing the fences will be 3'-4' and entries will be in the ballpark of $50 for the class, with a minimum of $50 cash back to the lowest ribbon. I'm ecstatic about this and I hope you all Midwestern-ians (?!) will come and ride or come and watch!!!! And everyone else from around the country: interested in coming to Chicago...in August? (I know how crazy that sentence sounds...) Horse Days is going to be a blast and I seriously think everyone who owns or is interested in horses should come out and see what we're all about!!


Check out our website to learn more & even buy your tickets online!!

"The dog days are over
The dog days are done
Can you hear the horses?
Because here they come" 
– Florence + The Machine

Jimmy Is Ready To Work

Every day Jimmy seems to be stronger & stronger, now I fear he's TOO strong. He's got a flicker of an attitude flaring up here and there and I'm not really thrilled with it. I know he's a horse and he's young...and quite honestly he wouldn't be Jimmy if he didn't throw a fit here & there I just am getting rubbed the wrong way by his recent attitude problem.

Today with Lucy he was quicker than normal and it irritated me. If I hadn't been frozen solid I would have thrown a leg over and worked him after her lesson to take his edge off but I couldn't move my fingers, let alone ride. I didn't expect it to be so chilly today!!!

I think his attitude is stemming from my lack of consistency this month. Since I know a random outburst is typical for him I think I just need to take this one in stride and let him be. I'll do what I can to keep things consistent and steady for him, and next week I think I'll put Lucy on one of our other horses.

WHEN WILL SPRING BE HERE?! 

Catching Up

Well it's probably been a solid month since I've gotten a good ride in. I don't mean "Oh, I got to ride today!" I mean a brow-beating, catch-your-breath, concentrate-so-hard-you-forget-what-time-it-is ride. Last night I did that :-) ....it was so enjoyable!!

Because of our my lack of work ethic this month as a whole, I'm going to estimate that Jimmy and I are about 5 weeks behind in where I was hoping to be right now to get ready for the season. First it was the blizzard, then it was horribly cold, then I was sick, then it was my birthday (Oh yeah, I'm 23 now! Hoorah!), so now it's FINALLY time to get back to work. Thankfully, lessons haven't suffered throughout this month, I've actually acquired another client who will be on the team to show with us this summer. Exciting!!!

So last night Jimmy and I tried to work as a team and we were in all honesty only 70% together, if that much. Lateral work was okay, not great...He rooted at the bit quite frequently and was entirely too impatient when it came to walk breaks - he just wanted to get back to work & wouldn't relax. We jumped only because he needs to remember how, and he was about straight as the Pride parade to every fence....which made me crazy, but I couldn't blame him. It's been a WHILE since we've really worked on anything at all - and I think the last thing we really worked on over fences was turns...so it'd make sense that he was a little wonky. Nothing like sending mixed signals!!

My focus tonight will be patience and straightness. I'll have about an hour when I get there before my students so I'll be sure to spend it wisely. And speaking of lessons...look what my dad gave me & my brother came out to hang up!!!! HOORAY!!! A LESSON BOARD!!! I feel so official :-D Happy riding!!

Podiatry Clinic – Morrie Waud

Click here to download the flyer.

I'm thinking I'd like to go to this, any takers? I'd love some company in the car ride up there so if you'd like to meet me in Palatine, I'll drive (my new Honda Fit!!!!!!!). It's $39 if we register before 3/7/11. Let me know :-D Dr. Jacob Goodin is the surgeon who performed JC's OCD removal surgery, so I'd love to go see him speak!

Camelot Horse Weekly

Today I learned about a Non-For-Profit Organization called Camelot Horse Weekly. Anna from Diary of a Mad Horsewoman shared the cause on her Facebook, so I'll quote her on how it works.

"Basically its the 'end of the line' for the auction market horses. Every Wednesday night the girls on the Facebook page go and see the new arrivals and post them online. They ride, lead, etc the ones they can and try to provide some kind of description. Basically, if you find one you want, you just call Frank at the auction and give him a hip # and your credit card number, then it's all yours. The 'discussion' tab on their page has people willing to do quarantine and ship them where you want them, most for very reasonable prices. The total auction price already includes a coggins and health cert. The auction is in New Jersey, but there are a lot of people associated with them that are willing to ship all over."

I am usually pro-slaughter, because I believe that some horses are best put out of their misery & if they are mentally unsafe, they aren't doing anyone any good alive. I'd rather horses get slaughtered than starved, and I'd rather their meat feed hungry mouths than rot in the earth. That being said, looking through the photos of the horses from last week (2/9/11) on the Camelot Horse Weekly Facebook page was one of the more difficult things for me to stomach through. Normally I can look through photos of starving horses with a neutral eye and think "Help is coming for them" but in this case, this is it. I don't know how many of those horses were saved, but the thought that every one of their gorgeous necks were broken and they were all chopped to bits for my dog's food is gut-wrenching.

I know I'm a trainer, and I'm a trainer who makes part of her income from selling horses so this will sound backwards, but for the love of horses, PLEASE look into rescuing. If you are looking to take on another horse, or you've recently lost your beloved equine buddy, at least research the choice. Rehabilitating Jimmy's mentality has been the most challenging, but rewarding experience in my life and if my lifestyle were such that I could allow more four-legged friends into my life I absolutely would be rescuing a new horse every day – but it's not. So I am asking all of you - before you scour the internet to find your next "perfect mount" and spend thousands and thousands of dollars on a perfect pedigree, think about the rescues. People often become tied up in their minds with the thought "I need a horse". For one moment, I'd like you to think about all those horses who need you.

Jimmy Choo in SmartPak!

Well everyone knows Jimmy & I are huge fans of SmartPak, so when they ask customers to write reviews I almost always do - and they're always good because I LOVE them!

A few months ago they were asking for customer reviews for an upcoming publication, so I submitted one and a photo of Jimmy & I, hoping to at least get a "We're glad to hear from you!" back. It went much farther than I'd anticipated – this month Jimmy & I are published in the "SmartPak Guide to Horse Care"!!!! SO EXCITING!!!! See the testimonial below. I'm thrilled! Click to zoom <3