Blog :: Horses and Riding
February 2007
Update, Update, Update
Ah ha! The secret HorseBlogs announcement at last!
So, my little server move last week did have a purpose, but it’s not one that’s really relevant to anyone reading this blog except for two things.
One: you can now access this blog by going to haltnearx.com. That’s for anyone who hates the dashes in the URL.
Two: I’ve moved HorseBlogs to its own domain. The reasons are many, and complicated… yeah, ok. Not so much. I could, so I did.
In the long run, I think it’ll be healthier for the database this way. For instance: suppose someone liked the idea of the database but thought that I was a raving lunatic? This way, unless they actually read the About pages and follow the links (and who does that?!), they’ll never, ever know I had anything to do with it. Sneaky, right?
Also, this makes it easier to credit/give fair weight to anyone else working on the database—there’s more neutrality this way. (And suddenly I crave Swiss chocolate…)
Now, I’ll admit it’s not quite done. The design is a bit rough, and I haven’t even looked at it in Internet Explorer, but I can think of at least three layout errors it’ll have off the top of my head. (So why didn’t I fix them? Good question. Because I loathe Internet Explorer with the fire of a thousand gas grills and I refuse to put in the hacks to fix all IE’s problems until the very end.) So you’ll have to excuse the rough edges until I get some sleep and can add those hacks in.
Also, you’ll notice that not all the new features are up and not all the blogs have been moved over. All my excuses sound like whining, so I’ll just point out that what is there, works. That’s something, isn’t it?
So, without further rambling—the new site: http://HorseBloggers.com
Oooh, I love site launches. Even half-complete site launches. They make me feel all fuzzy.
All Ahead Full
The server move is done, so comments are back on. I am going to put the HorseBlogs submission form back right after I post this, as well, so that should be working too.
I will eventually get around to making a non-techy post. Really.
January 2007
How do you increase entries at a Dressage show?
Personally, I’d offer an unmounted class. Participants would do a modified test at the walk and “trot” and would be judged on accuracy and turnout. I think it would be a riot.
But in more practical terms, one of the problems in this region is that entries are way, way down. I’m not sure why–I’ve been away for a while–but it’s sad to see.
How would you go about trying to spark interest for Dressage amoung the hunter/jumper riders? In my area, just about any of the hunter/jumper riders showing 2′6″ or above could put in a decent Training Level test. The 14-17 eq kids could do a strong First Level test–some of them could do a Second Level test, although it wouldn’t be as strong as someone specifically training Dressage.
My point: they have the abilities. The horses are suitable enough. But you don’t see riders crossing over at all.
I’m afraid Dressage is going to die out.
What would happen if there were an Individual Cross-Disciplinary medal? Over the course of the season, riders would have to show in, say, one Dressage class, one Hunter class, and one Jumper class. Would it encourage H/J riders to at least try out Dressage? Maybe. And who knows–they might like it and want to try more of it. Imagine!
Or maybe a team cup? One Dressage rider, one hunter rider, one jumper rider. And/or a Western rider. Each rider declares a division at the beginning of the summer, and all the points they earn in that division go toward the team cup. It all gets magically mathed out at the end of the summer, and the team with the highest points wins. At the very least, maybe it would get people out to the Dressage shows, to cheer on their team members. And if they’re going out anyway… maybe they’d bring their horses? Try a class or two on their own?
If all that’s too much work, though, I stand by what I said the first time: a horseless Dressage class would be a lot of fun. I’d lose points because I toe out at the walk, but I bet I could make them up by doing accurate figures.
December 2006
Self-Reflection in an arena mirror
The indoor arena has mirrors set up. Nothing surprising about this. They’ve been there for years.
It was like Princess G had never seen them before. I have never seen a horse react to the mirrors like this. Walking down the long side towards the mirror, this big TB mare just about turned herself inside out: prancing, snorting, high-stepping, and other -ing verbs that all translate into either “OMG I’m going to explode!” or else “OMG, check out that cute mare! Let’s be Best Friends Forever!”
And yet as soon as we turned the corner, she deflated and walked normally. Except that, as we rounded the next corner, she turned to look at the mirror–as if to ask where the other horse was and why it hadn’t followed her.
Six times we repeated this: prance, snort, deflate, look for the other horse.
And then she gave it up.
Weird.
Those Chestnut TB Mares
I love ‘em.
For example, Her Highness. Her Highness is one of the mares I walk a couple times a week. She and I get along great, because we both want attention on our terms and none of that lovey-dovey huggy stuff.
Over the past year, we’ve come to certain understandings, mostly revolving around who is the Alpha Mare (me, natch). Other understandings: Thou Shalt Not Step on the Alpha Mare’s Foot While She Is Grooming You. Thou Shalt Not Turn Your Butt Towards the Alpha Mare When She Is In The Stall With You. Thou Still Art Not the Alpha Mare, and if You Keep Pretending To Be the Alpha Mare, the Alpha Mare Will Do Something Unspeakable To You, Like Clean Your Udder, So Un-pin Those Ears Right Now, Missy.
And so on. She’s a TB with personality, and I loff her.
So, Sunday, we were walking in the arena. There’s scaffolding in the corner (blocked off so the horses wouldn’t get caught up in it, but clearly visible). It’s been there for a few weeks. But as we walked past it Sunday, she decided to spook. Decided, yes. This was calculated.
She crouched down, preparing to jump forwards or sideways, and then looked at me. She immediately got an “oh, crap” look on her face. We were just heading into the corner, she was on the rail, and I was to the inside.
I’ve never seen her pull backwards during a spook, so I guess that’s not an option for her. She also knows better than to run over the top of people–so even when she spooks, given half a second to think she picks the space without a person standing in it over the space with a person standing in it. Which meant that, having seen me, she realized spooking sideways was… well, an option, but a very bad one. Her only other choice? To jump forward–in the direction of the scaffolding.
For ten or fifteen seconds she crouched, trying to figure out what to do. I talked to her, hoping she’d just step forward, but she had her dignity to think of, after all. Walking forward would be tantamount to admitting there was nothing worth spooking over in the first place.
She compromised by jumping forward and to the side just a little bit. Then stood there with her head hanging down and the most embarrassed expression on her face that I have ever seen.
Poor mare! All that setup, and nowhere to go!